Spring Lake Prop. Owners Ass'n, Inc. v. Peacock, 390 S.E.2d 31 (Ga. 1990). · Go Syfert
Spring Lake Prop. Owners Ass'n, Inc. v. Peacock, 390 S.E.2d 31 (Ga. 1990). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“the question of attorney fees under ocga 13-6-11 is a question for the jury.”
77 citation events (36 in the last 25 years) across 3 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Dana Zahler v. National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2006-1 (gactapp, 2020-06-10)
Treatment trajectory · 1991 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1991 2008 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 26 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Dana Zahler v. National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2006-1 (2×) also: Cited "see"
Ga. Ct. App. · 2020 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the question of attorney fees under ocga 13-6-11 is a question for the jury.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Caradigm USA LLC v. Pruithealth, Inc.
11th Cir. · 2020 · confidence medium
Owners Ass’n v. Peacock, 390 S.E.2d 31, 32 (Ga. 1990) (holding that trial testimony showed that, prior to the litigation, there was no bona fide controversy).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Yash Solutions, LLC v. New York Global Consultants Corporation
Ga. Ct. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
Owners Ass’n, Inc. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990) (holding that there was some evidence to support a jury award of attorney fees under OCGA § 13- 6-11 when the appellant built a gate that obstructed the appellees’ easement and “[t]he failure of appellant to admit its mistake and remove the obstruction across appellees’ easement showed stubborn litigiousness”); Ins.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) GT Software, inc. v. Webmethods, Inc.
11th Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
Owners Ass’n, Inc. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80 , 390 S.E.2d 31, 31-32 (1990) (allowing an attorneys’ fees award of $7500 under § 13-6-11 when only $1 in damages had been awarded); see also La-Roche Indus., Inc. v. AIG Risk Mgmt., Inc., 959 F.2d 189 , 193 (11th Cir.1992) (“[W]e are governed by the law in Georgia which places the question of attorneys’ fees within the province of the jury and provides that the court should not vacate such an award unless there was absolutely no evidence to support it.”).
cited Cited as authority (rule) City of Hoschton v. Horizon Communities
Ga. · 2010 · confidence medium
Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) L. S. Land Co. v. Burns
Ga. · 2002 · confidence medium
“The standard of review of an award of attorneyt’s] fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is whether there is any evidence to support the award. [Cit.]” Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bryan v. Brown Childs Realty Co., Inc.
Ga. Ct. App. · 2001 · confidence medium
“The standard of review of an award of attorney fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is whether there is any evidence to support the award. [Cit.]” Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Parks v. Breedlove
Ga. Ct. App. · 1999 · confidence medium
Smith and Eldridge, JJ., concur. 1 Spring Lake Property Owners &c. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990). 2 Id. 3 OCGA § 9-11-16. 4 Fussell v. Carl E.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Southern Co. v. Hamburg
Ga. Ct. App. · 1996 · confidence medium
Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ); R.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Page v. HSI Financial Services, Inc.
Ga. Ct. App. · 1995 · confidence medium
E.g., Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990) and cit.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Citizens & Southern Trust Co. v. Hicks
Ga. Ct. App. · 1995 · confidence medium
“The question of attorney fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is a question for the jury. [Cit.] The standard of review of an award of attorney fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is whether there is any evidence to support the award. [Cit.]” Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
cited Cited as authority (rule) R. T. Patterson Funeral Home, Inc. v. Head
Ga. Ct. App. · 1994 · confidence medium
Fuller v. Moister, 248 Ga. 287 ( 282 SE2d 889 ) (1981).” Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ).
cited Cited as authority (rule) WMI Urban Services, Inc. v. Erwin
Ga. Ct. App. · 1994 · confidence medium
Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Webster v. Brown
Ga. Ct. App. · 1994 · confidence medium
OCGA § 13-6-11; Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Gwinnett County Board of Tax Assessors v. Network Publications, Inc.
Ga. Ct. App. · 1993 · confidence medium
Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990); Gaston v. Mullins, 168 Ga. App. 371 ( 309 SE2d 166 ) (1983).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lewis v. Rogers
Ga. Ct. App. · 1991 · confidence medium
“The question of attorney fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is a question for the jury. [Cit.] The standard of review of an award of attorney fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is whether there is any evidence to support the award. [Cit.]” Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Deloitte, Haskins & Sells v. Green (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1991 · confidence medium
Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 )); where there is any evidence to support an award we are not authorized to disturb it.
discussed Cited "see" RIVERS v. SOUTH AUCTION AND REALTY Et Al. (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2019 · signal: see · confidence high
See generally Milum v. Banks , 283 Ga. App. 864 , 870 (2), 642 S.E.2d 892 (2007) ("[I]n the absence of a specific and timely objection, a party waives error relating to the manner in which questions are submitted to the jury.") (punctuation omitted). 9 See King , 347 Ga. App. at 606 , 820 S.E.2d 445 . 10 (Punctuation omitted.) Miller v. Lynch , --- Ga. App. ----, ---- (1), --- S.E.2d ----, 2019 WL 2559527 (Case No. A19A0005, decided June 21, 2019), quoting Canton Plaza, Inc. v. Regions Bank, Inc. , 315 Ga. App. 303 , 303-304, 732 S.E.2d 449 (2012). 11 See Trotter v. Summerour , 273 Ga. App. 26…
discussed Cited "see" Hendon v. SUPERIOR ROOFING CO. OF GEORGIA (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2000 · signal: see · confidence high
See Spring Lake Property Owners Assn, v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ); compare Gen.
discussed Cited "see" Home Insurance v. Wynn (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1997 · signal: see · confidence high
See Spring Lake Property &c. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990); Caswell v. Jordan, 184 Ga. App. 755, 759 (4) ( 362 SE2d 769 ) (1987) (physical precedent only). 12.
discussed Cited "see" Baker v. Miller (2×)
Ga. · 1995 · signal: see · confidence high
See Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Christopher v. Sinyard (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2012 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Cf. Heyde v. Xtraman, Inc., 199 Ga. App. 303, 306 ( 404 SE2d 607 ) (1991); Abbott Foods of Ga., supra; see also Kissun v. Humana, Inc., 267 Ga. 419, 421 ( 479 SE2d 751 ) (1997). 11 Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80, 81 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990); City of Lilburn v. Astra Group, 286 Ga. App. 568, 570 ( 649 SE2d 813 ) (2007). 12 See Backus Cadillac-Pontiac v. Ernest, 195 Ga. App. 579, 581 (2) ( 394 SE2d 367 ) (1990) *871 (questions concerning bad faith, stubborn litigiousness, and unnecessary trouble and expense, under OCGA § 13-6-11, are generally for the jury to decide). 13…
examined Cited "see, e.g." Anderson v. Cayes (4×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2006 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Pulte Home Corp. v. Woodland Nursery & Landscapes, Inc. (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1998 · signal: compare · confidence low
Compare Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).” Williams Tile &c. *458 Co. v. Ra-Lin & Assoc., 206 Ga. App. 750, 752 (5) ( 426 SE2d 598 ) (1992).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Burlington Air Express, Inc. v. GA. PACIFIC CORPORATION (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1993 · signal: see also · confidence low
OCGA § 13-6-11 (expenses of litigation may be awarded plaintiff in contract action where defendant has acted in bad faith, has been stubbornly litigious, or has caused plaintiff unnecessary trouble and expense); see also Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990) (question of attorney fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is question for jury).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Williams Tile & Marble Co. v. Ra-Lin & Associates, Inc. (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1992 · signal: compare · confidence low
Compare Spring Lake Property Owners Assn. v. Peacock, 260 Ga. 80 ( 390 SE2d 31 ) (1990).
SPRING LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
v.
PEACOCK Et Al.
S90A0100.
Supreme Court of Georgia.
Apr 5, 1990.
390 S.E.2d 31
McClure, Ramsay & Dickerson, Allan R. Ramsay, for appellant., English, Tunkle & Smith, Richard D. Tunkle, for appellees.
Clarke.
Cited by 33 opinions  |  Published
1 passage pin-cited by 1 case
Pinpoint authority: bottom 68%
Citer courts: Court of Appeals of Georgia (1)
Clarke, Chief Justice.

The single issue in this appeal is whether the court erred in not granting appellant a directed verdict, judgment notwithstanding the verdict, or new trial on the award of attorney fees to plaintiffs/appellees.

The parties agree that the only basis for an award of attorney fees in this case is OCGA § 13-6-11. This section provides for an award of attorney fees against a defendant who has 1) acted in bad faith, 2) been stubbornly litigious, or 3) caused plaintiff unnecessary trouble and expense. Defendant/appellee Spring Lake Property Owners Association, Inc. (hereinafter Spring Lake), contends that because there was a bona fide controversy in this case, OCGA § 13-6-11 attorney fees are not available.

A jury in Rabun County found that appellees Billy Peacock, Jane Peacock, and Billy Veal have an easement of ingress and egress into their properties across the property of Spring Lake. They were awarded damages in the amount of $1.00, and attorney fees in the amount of $7,500. The court ordered Spring Lake to remove a gate constructed across the easement and enjoined Spring Lake from taking any action to interfere with the appellees’ easement.

By warranty deed to appellees’ predecessor in title, the grantor conveyed the right to use the Old Frank Bleckley Road. All the parties agree that appellees have the right to an easement on the Old Frank Bleckley Road. The only question is whether this road is located on Spring Lake’s property. Appellees contend that this road is located on property conveyed to Spring Lake’s predecessor in title. Spring Lake contends that there is a bona fide controversy concerning the location of the road described in the deed. Spring Lake insists that the case turned on the credibility of various witnesses, which shows the existence of a bona fide controversy. Therefore, according to Spring Lake, the trial court erred in allowing the jury to consider the issue of attorney fees.

Appellees claim that Spring Lake erected a gate across appellees’ easement and then attempted to justify its action on the basis that the Old Frank Bleckley Road (which Spring Lake agreed appellees[*81] had the right to use) was not located within Spring Lake’s property. Prior to trial Spring Lake contended that the Old Frank Bleckley Road was an old abandoned logging road below its dam rather than across Spring Lake’s property. Appellees concede that if Spring Lake had consistently claimed that the Old Frank Bleckley Road was not located on its property, this would have been a good argument for the existence of a bona fide controversy. However, at trial, Spring Lake abandoned this claim for the claim that the Old Frank Bleckley Road was the Mudd Creek Road. Because the Mudd Creek Road has always been a public road and because it does not go anywhere near appellees’ property, appellees reason that Spring Lake’s claim that it was the Old Frank Bleckley Road proves the absence of a bona fide controversy. The failure of appellant to admit its mistake and remove the obstruction across appellees’ easement showed stubborn litigiousness.

The question of attorney fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is a question for the jury. Brannon Enterprises, Inc. v. Deaton, 159 Ga. App. 685 (285 SE2d 58) (1981). The standard of review of an award of attorney fees under OCGA § 13-6-11 is whether there is any evidence to support the award. Fuller v. Moister, 248 Ga. 287 (282 SE2d 889) (1981). The trial testimony of Spring Lake’s president showed that Spring Lake abandoned its theory that the Old Frank Bleckley Road was an old logging road located off its property and now contended that the Old Frank Bleckley Road was the Mudd Creek Road acknowledged by all to be.a public road. There was also testimony at trial that after Spring Lake erected the gate across appellees’, easement, appellees met with officers of Spring Lake along with Herschel Grist, who drew the original plat of the Spring Lake property. Mr. Grist informed appellees at this meeting that the Old Frank Bleckley Road was the road running through their property. We agree with appellees that this constituted some evidence from which the jury could have concluded that there was no bona fide controversy.

The court charged the jury as follows:

Where there is a bona fide controversy for the tribunals to settle and the parties cannot adjust it amicably, there should be no burden of one with the counsel fees of the other unless there has been wanton or excessive indulgence in litigation.
Generally expenses of litigation including attorney fees ( are not allowed as a part of damages unless the defendant has acted in bad faith, has been stubbornly litigious or has caused Plaintiff unnecessary trouble or expense.
If the evidence shows that a genuine dispute exists whether of law or fact attorney fees are not authorized.
[*82] Decided April 5, 1990. McClure, Ramsay & Dickerson, Allan R. Ramsay, for appellant. English, Tunkle & Smith, Richard D. Tunkle, for appellees.

There was no objection to this charge. We find no error in the trial court’s refusal to grant Spring Lake a directed verdict, judgment notwithstanding the verdict, or new trial on the award of attorney fees.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.