MIKELL, Judge.
Marion Davis appeals
To prevail on a motion for summary judgment, the moving party must demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact, and that the undisputed facts warrant judgment as a matter of law.
So viewed, the record demonstrates the following relevant facts. Tibsen & Fair, Inc. ("Tibsen"), developed the Dogwood Forest subdivision in Charlton County and recorded a plat referencing a 0.394-acre common area adjoining the St. Marys River for use by residents of the subdivision (the "first plat"). This common area was deeded to the Dogwood Forest Homeowners' Association, Inc. ("HOA"), and Tibsen sold several lots with deeds that referenced the first plat. About ten months later, Tibsen recorded a new plat (the "second plat") in the same subdivision that omitted the common area described in the first plat and created a different 0.310-acre common area, and incorporated the original common area into a new lot. This new lot was then conveyed to Marion Davis.
The plaintiffs then filed an action for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against both the developers and Davis, arguing that they had an easement in the original common area by virtue of their property deeds referencing the first recorded plat. They sought a declaration that they had a continued easement in that area and an injunction, preventing Davis from interfering with their use and enjoyment of such easement. The plaintiffs moved for summary judgment, but the trial court denied the motion. The trial court recognized the "[w]ell-established law ... that the sale of a single lot which references a plat containing such a common area for the use of purchasers of lots completes the granting of [an] easement."
The plaintiffs then filed a renewed motion for summary judgment in light of additional evidence. In support of this motion, the plaintiffs submitted the affidavit of Robert Foreman, current president of Dogwood Forest Homeowners' Association, which addressed the factual questions raised in the trial court's order. Foreman testified that there had never been a discussion or vote at
1. As a threshold matter, we note that Davis has failed to comply with Court of Appeals Rule 25(c)(1), which requires that the sequence of arguments in a brief follow the order of the enumeration of errors and be numbered accordingly. Davis includes two enumerations of error, but only one argument section. As we have previously held, Rule 25(c)(1)
However, to the extent that we are able to discern which enumeration is supported in the brief by citation of authority or argument, we will address each enumeration.
2. Davis contends that the trial court erred in granting the plaintiffs' renewed motion for summary judgment after it denied an earlier motion for summary judgment. Finding no error, we affirm.
The trial court did not err in considering the plaintiffs' renewed motion for summary judgment after plaintiffs submitted the affidavit of Robert Foreman, the president of the HOA. Nothing in the summary judgment statute limits the number of times a party may make a motion for summary judgment.
Further, the law of the case rule did not prohibit the trial judge from granting the plaintiffs' renewed motion for summary judgment in this case. OCGA § 9-11-60(h) provides in pertinent part that "any ruling by the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals in a case shall be binding in all subsequent proceedings in that case in the lower court and in the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals as the case may be." Although "the law of the case rule has formally been abolished... it [still] applies to rulings by one of the appellate courts; they are binding in all subsequent proceedings, including a second trial."
On their first appearance before this Court, the plaintiffs sought review of the trial court's order denying their original motion for summary judgment. Because the trial court's order was nonfinal, this Court's denial of Davis's Application for Interlocutory Review does not operate as res judicata.
3. Davis next argues that the trial court erred in granting the plaintiffs' motion
Georgia law is clear that "where a developer sells lots according to a recorded plat, the grantees acquire an easement in any areas set apart for their use."
Davis argues that the plaintiffs, as members of the HOA, agreed to exchange their easement in the original 0.394-acre common area for an easement in a different common area, as indicated in the second plat. The plaintiffs' easement in the original common area cannot be lessened by the recording of the second plat that did not include the original common area, but instead substituted for a different common area.
The Supreme Court of Georgia has held that such abandonment may be effectuated by an action of a homeowners' association.
In the present case, unlike in Hampton Ridge, Davis has not presented any evidence that either the plaintiffs or the HOA on their behalf abandoned their interest in the original easement. After reviewing the record, we conclude that Davis has failed to present evidence sufficient to create a triable issue of fact as to whether the HOA agreed to exchange the original common area easement for another.
The plaintiff's renewed motion for summary judgment was supported by the affidavit of Robert Foreman, the first purchaser of a lot in the subdivision and president of the HOA. In his affidavit, Foreman testified that there had never been any discussion or vote at any HOA meeting regarding a transfer, trade, exchange or abandonment of any common area belonging to the HOA. Foreman also testified in his capacity as the president of the HOA that there is no document reflecting any agreement to transfer, trade, exchange or abandon the original common area easement. Davis did not provide any affidavits or other evidence creating an issue of fact on this issue, and the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment to the plaintiffs.
Judgment affirmed.
SMITH, P.J., and DILLARD, J., concur.