Dillard, Presiding Judge.
Becky Sullivan appeals from the trial court's grant of Karen Bunnell's motion to dismiss an action to hold her in contempt of a divorce decree. Becky filed this action against Bunnell individually and in her capacity as agent for her father, Timothy Sullivan, after first filing the identical suit solely against Timothy. Specifically, Becky contends that the trial court erred in determining that (1) it lacked personal jurisdiction over Bunnell in both her individual capacity and her capacity as an agent, and (2) it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to consider Bunnell in contempt or compel her compliance with the divorce decree that was entered into between Becky and Timothy.
The record reflects that after 23 years of marriage, Becky and Timothy Sullivan divorced in 2012. In the midst of the divorce, Timothy moved to California, where his daughter, Karen Bunnell, resided. Thereafter, Timothy hired counsel in Georgia to represent him in ongoing settlement negotiations, and Bunnell assisted him with e-mail and telephone conversations to his counsel.
In June 2012, Timothy executed a power of attorney, which appointed Bunnell to act as his agent. At some point after executing the power of attorney, Timothy was put under care and supervision for dementia, and he was deemed unable to make sound financial and medical decisions on his own. Then, in July 2015, in a letter from counsel by and through Bunnell acting on behalf of her father as power of attorney, Becky was informed that Timothy could no longer send his TRS payments because he was incapacitated by Alzheimer's Disease, the payments were necessary to maintain his placement in an assisted-living facility, and the failure to send the payments was not a willful violation of the parties' divorce decree. Becky responded with a letter demanding compliance with the terms of the parties' divorce agreement.
Thereafter, Becky filed a motion for attachment of contempt against Timothy on August 27, 2015, for his failure to send the TRS payments. Then, in October 2015, she amended the motion to add Bunnell both individually and in her capacity as a fiduciary for Timothy, and Bunnell was personally served by substitute service in both capacities. Bunnell, who is a resident of California, filed a limited answer by special appearance and a motion to dismiss for lack of personal and subject-matter jurisdiction.
Following a hearing on the motion to dismiss, at which Bunnell's attorney made a special appearance on her behalf, the trial court granted the motion to dismiss after finding that it lacked both personal and subject-matter jurisdiction over Bunnell. This appeal follows.
1. Becky first argues that the trial court erred in finding that it lacked personal jurisdiction over Bunnell both in her individual capacity and in her capacity as power of attorney on her father's behalf. We agree.
A defendant who files a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction has the burden of proving same.
The Supreme Court of Georgia has also explained that nothing in the Long Arm
The first two prongs are analyzed to determine whether "a defendant has established the minimum contacts with the forum state necessary for the exercise of jurisdiction."
In her motion to dismiss, Bunnell argued that there were "no factual allegations of ... business or sufficient contacts with Georgia so as to warrant jurisdiction" over her in either capacity. Suffice it to say, Becky disagreed with this assertion, alleging that, during the pendency of the divorce proceedings, Bunnell (1) "was intimately aware of the details and contents of the settlement documents"; (2) "hired Georgia counsel and actively engaged in renegotiating the settlement terms prior to the entry of the [f]inal [d]ecree"; and (3) had several exchanges with Georgia counsel, subsequent to the entry of the final divorce decree, about Becky's claims of Timothy's non-compliance.
We decline Becky's invitation to subject Bunnell to the personal jurisdiction of this state based on Timothy's contempt of the
That said, Becky's motion for contempt also alleges that Bunnell, acting as Timothy's agent, "hired Georgia counsel to draft and send correspondence ... indicating that due to changes in his health and residence, he would no longer be sending any TRS payments to [Becky] effective August, 2015." And in her response to Bunnell's motion to dismiss, Becky further alleges that Bunnell has, for some time, been involved in communications with her regarding Timothy's non-compliance with the TRS-terms of the divorce decree and acted to reduce the TRS payments by modifying deductions. Then, in July 2015, Bunnell notified Becky that the TRS payments would cease altogether.
These post-divorce allegations sufficiently allege that Bunnell has done some act or consummated some transaction in this state, although she did so on behalf of her father as power of attorney. But, at least as to individuals who act as agents or fiduciaries on behalf of a corporation, our Supreme Court has concluded that "[t]he status of ... individual defendants as employees or officers does not somehow insulate them from jurisdiction."
Here, Bunnell is alleged to have been a primary participant in the activities at issue — i.e., the nonpayment of TRS payments in violation of Becky and Timothy's divorce decree.
Accordingly, for all of the foregoing reasons, the trial court erred in determining that it could not exercise personal jurisdiction over Bunnell.
2. Sullivan further argues that the trial court erred in holding that it lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to hold Bunnell in contempt. Once again, we agree.
Although the parties and trial court framed this issue in the context of lacking subject-matter jurisdiction, this was more properly an argument that Becky's attempt to hold Bunnell in contempt failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
In the case sub judice, Becky asserted that the trial court could hold Bunnell in contempt of the divorce decree under OCGA § 15-1-4 (a) (3), which provides that the power of a court to punish for contempt of court extends to, inter alia, "[d]isobedience or resistance by any officer of the courts, party, juror, witness, or other person or persons to any lawful writ, process, order, rule, decree, or command of the courts[.]" Although Bunnell argued that she could not be held in contempt of a divorce decree to which she was not a party, in Georgia, the violation of a court's order by one who was not a party to the proceedings can be punished as contempt if "it is alleged and proved that the contemnor had actual notice of the order for disobedience of which he is sought to be punished."
Here, it is alleged that Bunnell, acting as Timothy's power of attorney with knowledge of the relevant order, aided in implementing the non-payment of TRS funds to Becky in violation of the former couple's divorce decree and settlement agreement.
Judgment reversed.
Rickman and Reese, JJ., concur.