Vincent v. Bunch

489 S.E.2d 592 (1997) 227 Ga. App. 480

VINCENT
v.
BUNCH et al.

No. A97A0206.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

July 18, 1997.

Cabaniss & Adkins, George M. Cabaniss, Jr., Atlanta, for appellant.

Hawkins & Parnell, H. Lane Young II, Atlanta, Edward C. Henderson, Jr., for appellee.

Gary P. Bunch, pro se.

RUFFIN, Judge.

Charles Vincent sued attorney Gary Bunch and Gary Bunch, P.C. (collectively "Bunch") for legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty. Bunch moved for partial summary judgment and requested oral argument. Vincent responded to the motion one day late. Citing Vincent's failure to respond on time, Bunch moved to strike the response as untimely and requested that the trial court preclude Vincent from presenting oral argument on the motion. The trial court subsequently struck Vincent's response and granted partial summary judgment to Bunch without hearing oral argument from either side. Vincent now appeals from the trial court's grant of partial summary judgment. For reasons which follow, we reverse.

1. Vincent argues that the trial court committed reversible error by ruling on Bunch's summary judgment motion without holding oral argument. We agree.

Uniform Superior Court Rule ("USCR") 6.3 provides that "oral argument on a motion for summary judgment shall be permitted upon written request made in a separate pleading bearing the caption of the case and entitled ``Request for Oral Hearing,' and provided that such pleading is filed with the motion for summary judgment or filed not later than five (5) days after the time for response." Under this rule, "``whether oral argument is heard is within the power of the parties, and is not left to the discretion of the trial court. All a party need do is make a written request for oral argument and it shall be held.' ... [Cit.] Moreover, the trial court's failure to hold oral argument cannot be considered harmless error, because doing so ``would not encourage adherence to the Uniform Rules and would render the mandated hearing a hollow right.' [Cit.]" Dept. of Transp. v. APAC-Ga., 217 Ga.App. 103, 107(5), 456 S.E.2d 668 (1995).

Bunch argues that Vincent forfeited his right to argue orally by not filing a timely response. A party who fails to respond to a summary judgment motion, however, "``merely waives his right to present evidence in opposition to the motion....' [Cit.]" (Emphasis supplied.) Standex Intl. Corp. v. Driver, 223 Ga.App. 645, 478 S.E.2d 605 (1996). The party does not waive the right to present oral argument on the motion. See Spikes v. Citizens State Bank, 179 Ga. App. 479, 481(1), 347 S.E.2d 310 (1986) ("[i]f appellant[, who failed to respond to a summary judgment motion,] wanted to present oral argument, all he needed to do was request it in writing as provided in [USCR] 6.3 and it would have been permitted").

Bunch further contends that because Vincent did not request argument pursuant to USCR 6.3, he cannot complain about the trial court's refusal to hold argument. The record shows, however, that the mandatory hearing requirements of USCR 6.3 were triggered without a request from Vincent. Bunch made a timely request for argument, which the trial court acknowledged by scheduling a hearing on the summary judgment motion. The scheduled date remained set until the parties arrived for the hearing, at which point the trial court struck Vincent's written response and determined that Bunch's motion could be ruled upon without oral argument. Vincent argues that until the hearing date, he reasonably relied upon Bunch's request and the trial court's hearing schedule in not filing his own oral argument request. We agree.

"The law does not require a useless act." Tendler v. Thompson, 256 Ga. 633, 634, 352 S.E.2d 388 (1987). Although Vincent certainly could have filed a separate request, it would have been cumulative and unnecessary under USCR 6.3, which requires that "one of the parties" request argument. (Emphasis supplied.) Richmond Leasing Co. v. First Union Bank of Augusta, 188 Ga.App. 843, 845(2), 374 S.E.2d 746 (1988). The trial court had no discretion to deny oral argument in this case. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court's ruling on Bunch's motion for partial summary judgment, and we remand this case to the trial court with instructions that oral argument be held on the motion. See APAC-Ga., supra; Pit Stop v. Jackson, 216 Ga.App. 648(1), 455 S.E.2d 358 (1995).

2. In light of our decision in Division 1, Vincent's remaining enumerations of error are moot. Pit Stop, supra at 649, 455 S.E.2d 358.

3. Finally, the parties have filed several motions with this Court. Vincent has moved to strike Bunch's brief on appeal, and Bunch has moved for sanctions for frivolous appeal. Upon review, we hereby deny both motions.

Judgment reversed and case remanded with instruction.

BIRDSONG, P.J., and HAROLD R. BANKE, Senior Appellate Judge, concur.