THI RD DI VI SI ON DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE and BROWN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

June 27, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 33 0 . VALADE v

. M E RIW E THER & THARP, LLC et al

.

R E E S E
, J u d g e.

T h i s i n v as i o n o f p ri v acy l aws ui t aro s e fro m t h e d i v o rce an d ch i l d cu s t o d y

l i ti g at i o n b et ween J en n ifer Val ad e an d K en n et h Val ad e. K en n et h V al ad e, al l eg ed l y

at t h e ad v i ce o f h i s at to rn ey s

— El i zab et h Do ak

, Pat ri ck M eri wet h er, an d Meri wet h er

& Th arp , LLC (co l lect i v el y , t h e “ A t t o rn ey s ”)

— s ecret l y reco rd ed J en n i fer Val ad e

an d Cry s tal Ri m ert in a b ed ro o m an d s u b s eq u en t ly d i s tri b ut ed t h o s e reco rd i n g s

. Th e

t ri al co u rt i s s u ed a p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t o rd er, an d J en n i fer Val ad e, Ri m ert

, an d

t h e A t t orn ey s al l ap p eal ed fro m t h at o rd er. W e h av e al read y ad dres s ed Ri m ert ’ s an d

t h e A t t o r n ey s ’ ap p eal s , 1 an d n o w t urn to J en n i fer Val ad e’ s ap peal fro m t h e s am e

s u m m ary ju d g m en t o rd er. J en n i fer Val ad e arg u es t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n : (1 )

1 See Ri mer t v. Mer i wet h er & Th a r p , 3 6 1 Ga. A p p

. 5 8 9 (8 6 5 SE2 d 1 99 ) (2 0 2 1 ).fi nd i ng t h at h er i n v as i o n o f p r i v a c y cl ai m s were b arred b y t h e ex cl u s iv e rem ed y

p ro v is i o n i n t h e ab u s i v e l i ti g at i o n s t at u t e, O CGA § 5 1 -7 -8 0 et s eq .; an d (2 ) g ran t i n g

s u m m ary ju d g m en t i n fav or o f t h e At t o rn ey s o n h er n eg l i g en t s u perv i s i o n cl ai m

. Fo r

t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n fra, we affi rm t h e tri al co u rt ’s f i nd i n g s on t h e n eg l i g en t

s u p erv i s i o n cl ai m , b u t rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e ab u s iv e l i t i g at i o n

s t at u te co m

p l et el y b arred J en n i fer Val ad e’ s i n v as i o n o f p ri v acy cl ai m

.

W e s u m m ari zed t h e rel ev an t fact s , v i ewed i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

n o n m o v i n g p art i es b el ow, i n t h e p ri o r ap p eal :

J en n i fer Val ad e fi l ed fo r d i v o rce ag ai n s t Ken net h Val ad e i n J u l y 2 0 1 3

. Ken n et h Val ad e h i red t h e At to rn ey s to rep res en t h i m i n t he d i v o rce.

Do ak g rad u at ed l aw sch o o l i n 2 0 1 0 an d h ad b een wo rk in g at Meri wet h er

& Th arp t h e p ri o r th ree y ears s i n ce p as s i n g t h e G eo rg i a Bar. A cco rd i n g

t o Ken n et h V al a d e, d u ri n g an in i t i al m eet i n g wi t h t h e At t o rn ey s , M eri wet h er ad v i s ed h i m t o p lace a “ n an n y c a m ” i n J en ni fer Val ad e’ s

b ed ro o m , an d t h at i t was l eg al t o d o so an d d i rect l y rel at ed t o t h e i s s u es

i n t h e d i v o rce. Do ak ag reed wi t h t h i s ad v i ce. At th e t i m e, t h e co u rt h ad

a s tan d i n g o rd er i n di v o rce act i o n s t h at p ro h i b i ted a p art y fro m “ p l aci n g

u n d er s u rv ei l l an ce

. . . fo r t h e p u rp os e o f h aras s i n g an d i n t i m id at i n g th e

o t h er p art y .”

Ken n et h Val ad e p ro ceed ed t o i n st al l i n J en n i fer Val ad e’ s b ed ro o m a

co v ert s u rv ei l l an ce cam era t h a t h e had recei v ed fro m a p ri vat e

i n v es t i gat o r. At t h e t i m e, t he Val ad es w e r e n o t l i v in g t og et h er, w i t h

2J en n i fer Val ad e occu p yi n g t h e m ari t al h o m e o n t h e week day s, an d

Ken n et h Val ad e o ccu p y i n g t he h o m e o n t h e week en d s

. T he cam era w as

m o t i o n -act i v at ed an d v i d e o was reco rd ed t o an SD card

. A m o n g o t h er

reco rd i n g s, t h e cam era cap t u red J en n i fe r V a l a d e an d Ri m ert in b ed

t o g et h er h av i n g s ex u al rel at io n s

.

Ken n et h Val ad e s h o wed t h e reco rd i n gs t o D o a k an d t h e p ri vat e

i n v es t i g at o r. M eri wet h er s en t a l et t er t o J en n i fer Val ad e’ s co u n sel o n

Au g us t 2

, 2 0 1 3

, st at i n g t h at Ken n et h Val ad e h ad recen t ly b eco m e aware

t h at J en n i fer Val ad e was h av i n g s ex wi th Ri m ert i n t he m ari t al h o m e.

Th e l et t er dem an d ed th at “ [t ] h is b eh av i o r m u s t s t o p i

m m ed i a t el y. ”
(Em p h as is i n o ri g in al .) Ot h erwi s e, Ken n et h Val ad e w ou l d seek an

em erg en cy

h eari n g , wh i ch wo u l d “ fo rce h i m t o p res en t al l ev id en ce o f

M s

. Val ad e’ s ad u l t ero u s , l es b i an rel at i on s h i p t h ereb y m ak in g i t p u b l i c

reco rd .” Th e At t o rn ey s s u b s eq u en t l y fi l ed a m o t io n wi t h th e t ri al co u rt

s eek in g an em erg en cy h eari n g

. Th e m o t i o n rev eal ed th at Ken n et h

Va l ad e had p l aced a cam era i n t h e h o m e, wh ich had reco rd ed J en n i fer

Val ad e an d Ri m ert en g ag i n g i n s ex ual rel at i o n s

. 2

J en n i fer Val ad e fi l ed a co m p l ai n t ag ai n st Ken net h Val ad e, th e A t to rn ey s , an d

o t h ers al leg i n g cl ai m s ag ai n s t t he At t o rn ey s o f, am o n g o t h er t h in g s , vi o l at i o n s o f h er

co m m o n l aw ri g h t t o p ri v acy an d neg l i gen t t rai ni n g an d s u perv i s i o n b y Meri wet h er

2 Ri mer t

, 3 6 1 Ga. Ap p . at 5 9 0 (fo o t n o te o m it t ed ).

3& Th arp o v er it s em p l o y ee Do ak

. Th e tri al co u rt i ss u ed a s u m m ary ju d g m en t o rd er,

an d t h is ap p eal b y

J en n i fer Val ad e fo l l o wed

.

S u m m a r y ju d g m en t i s p ro p er w h en t h ere is n o g en u i n e i s s u e o f

m at eri al fact an d t h e m o van t i s en t i t l ed to ju dg m en t as a m at t er o f l aw.

A d e n o v o s tan d ard o f rev i ew ap p l i es to an ap p eal fro m a g ran t or d en i al

o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, an d we v i ew t h e ev i den ce, an d al l reas o n ab l e

co n cl u s i o n s an d i nferen ces drawn fro m i t

, i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o

t h e n o n m ov an t

. 3

W i t h t h es e g u i d in g p ri n ci p l es in m i nd

, we n o w t urn t o J en ni fer Val ad e’ s cl ai m s o f

erro r.

1

. Jen ni fer V al ad e arg ues t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at h er i n v as i o n

o f pri v acy cl a i m s w e r e b arred b y t h e ex cl u si v e rem ed y pro v i si o n i n th e ab u s i v e

l i ti g at i o n s tat u t e.

Un d er Geo rg i a’ s ab u s i v e l i t i g at i o n s t at u t o ry s ch em e, “ [a] ny p ers o n wh o t ak es

an act i v e p art i n t h e i ni t i at i o n , co nt i n uat i on , o r p ro cu rem en t o f ci v i l p r o ceed i ng s

ag ai n s t an o t her s h al l b e l i ab le fo r ab u s i v e l i t i g at i on i f s uch p ers o n act s : ( 1 ) [ w ]i t h

m al i ce; an d (2 ) [w] i t h o u t s u b st an t i al j u s ti fi cat io n

. ” 4 A “ [c] i v il p ro ceed i n g ” i s d efi n ed

3 Ri mer t

, 3 6 1 Ga. Ap p . at 5 9 1 (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed ).

4 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 1

.

4as “ an y act i o n , s u i t

, pro ceed i n g, co u n t ercl ai m , cro ss -cl ai m , t h i rd -p art y cl ai m , o r o t h er

cl ai m at l aw o r i n eq u i t y .” 5 A “ [c] lai m ” i s defi n ed as “ an y al l eg at i on o r co nt en t i o n o f

fact o r l aw as s ert ed i n s u p p o rt o f o r i n o p p os i t i o n t o an y ci v i l p ro ceed i n g , d efen s e,

m o ti o n , o r ap p eal .” 6

Th i s s t at u t ory sch em e “ i s t h e ex cl u s i v e rem ed y fo r ab u s iv e l i ti g at i o n

. ” 7 “ [N] o

cl ai m o t her t h an as p r o v i d e d i n t hi s art i cl e o r in Co d e Sect i o n 9-1 5 -1 4 s h al l b e

al l o wed

, wh et h e r s t at u t ory o r co m m o n l aw, fo r t h e to rt s of m al ici o u s u se o f ci v i l

p ro ceed in g s , m al i ci o us ab u s e o f ci v i l p ro ces s , n o r ab u si v e l i t i gat i o n [.] ” 8

As a co n d i t io n p reced en t t o as s ert i n g a cl ai m fo r ab us i v e l i t i g at i o n, a p l ai n t i ff

m u st s en d wri t t en n o t i ce t o t h e p o t en t i al d efen d a n t g i v i n g t h e d efen d an t “ an

o p p o r t u n i t y t o v ol un t ari l y wi t h d raw, ab an d o n, d is co n ti n u e, o r d i s m i s s t h e ci v i l

p ro ceed in g , cl ai m , defen s e, m o t i o n , ap p eal

, ci v il p ro ces s , o r o t h er p o s it i o n .” 9 Ab s en t

ex cep t i o n s n o t rel ev an t h ere,

5 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 0 (1 ).

6 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 0 (2 ).

7 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 5

.

8 Id

.

9 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 4 (a).

5[i ] t s h al l b e a co m p l et e d efen s e t o an y cl ai m fo r ab u s i v e l i t i g at i o n t hat

t h e p ers on ag ai n s t w h o m a c l ai m o f ab u s i ve l i t i g at i o n is as s ert ed h as

v o l u n t ari l y w i th d rawn , ab an d o n ed

, d is co n ti n u ed

, o r d i s m i s s ed t he ci v i l

p ro ceed i n g , cl ai m , d efen s e, m o t i o n , ap p eal

, ci v i l p ro ces s , o r o t h er

p o s i t i o n wh i ch t h e i n

ju red p ers o n cl ai m s co ns t i t u t es ab u s i v e l i t ig a t i o n

wi t h in 3 0 d ay s aft er t h e m ai l i n g o f t he n o t ice req u ired . . . o r p ri o r t o a

ru l i n g b y t h e co u rt . . . wh i ch ev er s hal l fi rs t o ccu r[.] 1 0

W h en t as ked wi t h i n t erp ret i n g a s t at u t e,

we ap pl y th e fu n d am en t al ru l es o f s t at u t ory co ns t ru ct i o n t h at req ui re u s

t o co n s t ru e t he s t at ut e acco rd i n g t o it s t erm s , to g i v e wo rd s t h e i r p l ai n

an d o rd in ary m ean in g , an d t o av o i d a co ns t ru ct i o n t h at m ak es so m e

l an g uag e m ere s u rp l u s ag e. At t h e s am e t i m e, we m u s t s eek t o effect uat e

t h e i n t en t o f th e l eg is l at u re.

. . . In o ur s earch fo r t h e m e a n in g o f a

p art i cu l ar s t a t u t o r y p ro v i s i o n , we l oo k n ot o n l y t o t he wo rd s o f t hat

p ro v i s i o n , b u t w e co n s id er i t s l eg al co nt ex t as wel l

. A ft er al l

, co n t ex t i s

a p ri m ary d et erm i n an t o f m ean i n g

. F o r c o n t ex t

, we m ay l o o k t o o t h er

p ro v i s i o n s o f th e s am e st at u t e, t h e s t ru ct ure an d h i s t o ry o f t h e wh ol e

s t at u t e, an d t h e o t her l aw

— co n st i t u t i o n al

, s t at u t o ry , an d co m m o n l aw

al i k e

— t h at fo rm s t h e leg al b ack g ro u nd o f th e s tat u to ry p ro v i s i o n i n

q u es t i o n

. 1 1

1 0 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 2 (a)

1 1 Mo f f i t t v. S ta t e , 35 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 1

, 2 6 3 (8 5 7 SE2 d 2 6 4 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

6In a cas e wi t h s i m i l ar f act u al ci rcu m s t an ces

— wh ere a part y co v ert l y

s u rv ei l l ed an ot h er en g ag i ng i n s ex u al rel at i o n s

— we hel d t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s cl ai m s

as s ert i n g i n v as i o n o f p ri v acy d i d “ n o t fal l wi t h i n t h e ab u s i v e l i t i g at i o n p arad i g m .” 1 2

Ho wev er, w e rel i ed o n t h e fact t h at t h e s u rv ei l l an ce o ccu rred “ wel l b efo re an y l eg al

act i on co m

m en ced ,” an d t h u s “ t h e act i v i t i es u n d erl y in g t h e cl ai m s [s t o o d ] ap art fro m

— an d [d i d ] n o t d ep en d u p o n

— t h e l i t i gat i o n ” b et ween t h e p art i es

. 1 3 H ere, h o wev er,

we are faced wi th a s i t u at i o n wh ere t h e s u rv ei l l an ce o ccu rred du ri n g l i t i g at i o n an d

wh ere t h e p u rp o s e o f t h e s u rv ei l l an ce was t o g ai n an ad van t ag e i n t he l aws u i t

.

W h en we h av e h el d t h at t h e co m p l ai n ed -o f co n d u ct was en co m p as s ed b y t h e

“ i n it i at io n , co n t i n u at io n , o r p ro cu rem en t of ci v i l p ro ceed i ng s ” 1 4 s uch t h at th e ab u s i v e

l i ti g at i o n s t at u te ap p l i ed

, t h e co n d u ct h as al way s d i rect l y co rres p o n d ed t o a ju d i ci al

fi li n g o r p ro ces s

. Fo r ex am p l e, w e h av e h el d t h at th e ab u s iv e li t ig at i o n s t at u t e ap p l i ed

ag ai n s t co n d u ct i n fi l in g an d l i t i g at i n g an ad o p t io n p ro ceed i n g , 1 5 in fi l i n g a l i s

1 2 Ro g er s v. Du p r ee , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p . 7 7 7 , 7 8 3 (1 ) (b ) (8 2 4 SE2 d 8 2 3 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

1 3 Id

.

1 4 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 1

.

1 5 See S t a p l er v. Bo l i n g , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p. 7 9, 8 3 (2 ) (8 15 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ).

7p en den s an d d el i v eri n g a co p y o f t h e n o t i ce to an i n t e r e s t e d t h i rd p art y , 1 6 an d in

m ak i n g al l eg ed fal se s tat em en t s fi l ed wi t h a d i sp o ss es s o ry act i o n an d d u ri n g a

d ep os i t i o n

. 1 7 An d i n t h e s u rv ei l l an ce cas e, ci t ed s u pra, we h el d t h at t h e cl ai m s rel at i n g

t o t h e d i s cl o s u re o f th e s e x u a l r e lat i o n s h i p t h ro u g h t he fi l i ng o f a co m p l ai n t fel l

wi t h i n t h e ab u s i v e l i t i g at i on s t at u t e. 1 8

Here, b y co n t ras t

, t h e s urv ei l l an ce o n Ri m ert an d J en n i fer V a l a d e d i d n ot

i n v o l v e a co u rt fi l i n g o r a ju d i ci al pro ces s , s u ch as d is co v ery

. As s u ch

, t h i s co n d u ct

d i d n o t in v o l v e t h e “ i n i t i at i o n, co n t i n u at i o n , o r p ro cu rem en t o f ci v i l p ro ceed i n g s [.] ” 1 9

W e di s t i n g u i s h b et ween t h e s u r v e i l l an ce an d t h e s u b s eq u en t l et ter t o J en n ifer

Val ad e’ s co u n sel an d m ot i o n fi l ed wi t h t he d i v o rce co u rt wh i ch di s cl o s ed t h e s ex u al

rel at i o n s h i p

. Th e l et t er an d m o t i o n co n s t i t u t ed a “ [c] l ai m ” 2 0 as s e r t ed i n co n n ect i o n

1 6 See M e a d o w S p r i n g s Reco ver y, LLC v. W

o f f or d

, 3 19 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9, 8 3 (1 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d 1 0 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

1 7 See S l o n e v. Myer

s , 2 8 8 Ga. Ap p . 8

, 1 0 -1 1 (2 ) (6 5 3 SE2 d 3 2 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

1 8 See Ro ger

s , 3 4 9 G a. Ap p . at 7 8 1-7 8 2 (1 ) (a).

1 9 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 1

.

2 0 See OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 0 (2 ) (“ ‘ Cl ai m ’ i n cl u des an y al l eg at i o n or co n t en t i o n o f
fact o r l aw as s ert ed i n s u p p o rt o f o r i n o p p o s i t i o n t o an y ci v i l p ro ceed i n g , d e fen s e,

m o ti o n , o r ap p eal .”).

8wi t h t he co n t i n u at i o n o f a ci v i l p ro ceed in g

. 2 1 Th e s u rv ei l l an ce of Ri m ert an d J en n ifer

Val ad e d i d n o t fal l wi t h i n t h e ab u s i v e li t ig at i o n s t at u t e ’s d e f i n i ti o n o f cl ai m , as t h e

act o f s urv ei l l i n g an o t h er i s n o t an al l eg at i o n o r co n t en t i o n o f fact o r l aw. 2 2 No r d id

t h e s u rv ei l l an ce, s t an di n g al o n e, res ul t i n t h e co nt in u at io n o f ci v i l p ro ceed i n g s

.

Th i s i n t erp ret at i o n al s o co m p o rt s wi t h t h e ot her p ro v i s i on s o f t h e ab u s i v e

l i ti g at i o n s tat u t e. Un d er OC G A § 5 1

- 7

- 8 2 (a), i t i s a co m p l et e d efen s e t o wi t h d raw

t h e cl ai m , p o s i t i o n , o r l aws u i t i n res p o n s e t o an ab us i v e l i t i g at i o n cl ai m

. T h at rem ed y

d o e s n o t m ak e sen se w i t h res p ect t o t h e i n vas i o n o f p ri v acy cl ai m al l eg ed h ere, o r

o t h er t o rt s t h at p art ies i n l i t i g at i o n co u l d c o m m it ag ai n s t o n e an o t h er t h at are

u n co nn ect ed t o a ju d i ci al p ro ces s

. “ Fo r ex am p l e, a t o rt cl ai m fo u n d ed o n a v i o l en t

as s au l t [i s n o t ] s ub

ject t o th e ab u s i v e l it i g at i on s t at u t e, ev en i f t h e a s sau l t were

co m m i t t ed t o i n t i m id at e a wi t n es s .” 2 3

In s u m m ary , J en n i fer Val ad e’ s cl ai m s p rem i s ed o n th e s u rv ei l lan ce d o n o t fal l

wi t h i n t h e am

b i t o f th e ab us i ve l i t i g at io n s t at u t e. A n y c l a i m s s t em m i n g fro m t h e

2 1 See Ro ger

s , 3 4 9 G a. Ap p . at 7 8 1-7 8 2 (1 ) (a).

2 2 See OCGA § 51 -7 -8 0 (2 ).

2 3 Ro g er s , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. a t 7 9 2 ( M cFad d en , P. J

., co n cu rri n g in p art an d
d i s s en t i n g i n p art ).

9s u b s eq u en t d i s cl o s u re o f t h e s ex u al rel at i o n sh i p i n fi l in g s m ad e wi t h t h e d i v o rce

co u rt

, h owev er, are p reem pt ed b y th e ab u s i ve l i t i g at i o n s t at u t e. Acco rd in g l y , we

r e v e rs e t h e tri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s io n t h at t h e ab u s i v e li t ig at i o n s t at u t e co m p l et el y

b arred J en n i fer Val ad e’ s i nv as i o n o f p ri v acy cl ai m

.

2

. J en n ifer Val ad e arg u es th at t he t ri al c ou rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t to t h e At t o rn ey s o n h er n eg li g en t t rai n i n g an d s u p erv i s io n cl ai m s

. Sh e

co n ten d s t h at i t was fo res eeab le t h at Do ak wo ul d cau s e t h e t y p e o f h arm al l eg ed in

t h i s c a s e , as h er s u p erv i s or i n st ru ct ed an d ap p ro ved o f th e p l an t o p lace a h i d d en

cam era i n t h e b ed ro o m

.

“ An em p l o y er m ay b e h el d l i ab l e fo r neg l i g en t s up erv i s io n o n ly wh ere t h ere

i s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o es t ab l is h t h at t he em p l o y er reas o n ab l y k n ew o r s h o u l d h av e

k n o wn o f an em

p l o y ee’ s t en d en ci es t o en g ag e i n cert ai n b eh av i o r rel ev an t t o t h e

i n ju ri es al l eg ed l y i n cu rred b y t h e p l ai n t i ff.” 2 4 As we h el d i n Ri m ert ’ s p ri or ap p eal o n

t h i s cl ai m , t h e reco rd was d ev o i d o f ev i d en ce t h at Do ak w as u ns u i t ed fo r

rep res en t at i o n or t h at s h e h ad a p ro p en s i t y t o co m m i t t he t y pe o f h arm al l eg ed i n t h i s

2 4 Ri m er t , 3 6 1 Ga. Ap p . at 5 9 2 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o tn o t e o m it t ed ).

10cas e. 2 5 Acco rd i n gl y , t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t err in g ran t in g s um m ary j u d gm en t o n t h e

n eg li g en t t rai n i n g an d s up erv i s i o n cl ai m s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n pa r t a n d r ever

sed i n p ar t

. Br o wn
, J., c o n c u r s. Do yl e,

P. J., co ncu r

s i n p a r t a n d d i ss en t

s i n p ar t

.

2 5 See id

. ; s ee al s o M

u n r o e v. Un i ver

s a l H ea l th S vcs

. , 2 7 7 Ga. 8 61

, 8 66 (2 ) (5 9 6
SE2 d 6 0 4 ) (2 0 04 ); Leo v. W a f f le Ho u s e , 2 9 8 G a. Ap p

. 83 8

, 8 4 1 (2 ) (6 8 1 SE2 d 2 5 8 ) (2 0 0 9).

11A2 2 A0 33 0 . VALADE v

. M E RIW E THER & THARP, LLC et al

.

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e, d i s s en ti n g i n p art an d co n cu rri ng i n p art

.

I d i s s en t t o Di v is i o n 1 becau s e I b e l i e v e t h at J en n i fer Val ad e’ s i n v as i o n o f

p ri v acy cl ai m s are b arred by t h e ex cl u s i ve rem ed y p ro vi s i o n o f t h e ab u s i v e l i t i g at i o n

s t at u te, 1 an d t h erefo re, I w o ul d affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t as

t o t ho s e cl ai m s ag ai n s t Ken n et h Val ad e’ s at t o rn ey s . I fu l ly co n cu r i n Di v i s i o n 2

.

1

. Ou r ab us i v e l it i gat i o n s t at u t e p ro v i d es t h at “ [a] n y p ers o n wh o t ak es an act i v e

p art i n t h e i n i t iat i o n , co n t in u a t i o n , o r p ro cu rem en t o f ci v i l p ro ceed i n g s ag ai n s t

an o th er s h al l b e l i ab l e fo r ab u s i v e l i t i g at i o n ” i f t hat p ers o n act s “ [w] i t h m al i ce” an d

“ [w] i t h o ut s u b s t an t i al ju st i fi cat i o n .” 2 Th i s s tat u t o ry fram ewo rk i s t h e ex cl u s i v e

1 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 0 et s eq . Th i s arg u m en t was n o t rai s ed b y t h e d efen d an t s i n
t h e rel at ed cas e i n v o l v i n g Cry s t al Ri m ert

, wh i ch was rev i ewed by t h is Co u rt i n Ri m er t
v. Mer i wet h er

& Th a r p, LLC , 3 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 9 (8 6 5 SE2 d 1 9 9) (2 02 1 ).

2 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 1

.rem ed y fo r ab u s i v e l i t i g at i o n , 3 an d b ecau s e Val ad e’ s i n v as i o n o f p ri v acy cl ai m s s t em

fro m t he “ co n t i nu at i o n ” o f ci v i l p ro ceed i n g s b et w een her an d h er ex

- h u s b a n d

, in

wh i ch p ro ceed i n g s h e w as rep res en t ed b y t h e d efen d an t s , t h e cl ai m s are p recl u d ed

. 4

Th i s Co u rt ex p l ai n ed

t h at t h e ab u s i v e l i ti g at i o n s t at u t es s t ri k e a bal an ce b et ween th e

co m p et i n g p u b l ic i nt eres t s o f p res erv i n g free acces s t o t h e co u rt an d

p rev en t i n g s eri o u s ab u s es o f l aws ui t fi li n g

. Th i s bal an ce i s i n ten d ed t o

p rev en t th e p ro l i ferat i o n o f u n n eces sary cau s es o f act i o n fo r t h e al l eg ed

i m p ro p er fi li n g o f l aws u i t s [t h at ] w o u ld h av e a ch i l l i n g effect o n th e

ex erci s e b y

ci t i zen s o f t h ei r ri g h t o f acces s t o t h e co u rt s

. 5

Th e i s su e o f ad u l t ery freq u en t l y i s an i s s u e in d iv o rce p ro ceed in g s

. 6 W h i l e n ot

ev ery at t orn ey wo u l d hav e co un s el ed a cl i en t t o reco rd a s o o n-t o -b e-ex s p ou s e i n a

3 OCGA § 5 1 -7 -8 5

.

4 Cf. Den n i s v. Ad

co ck

, 1 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 5

, 42 9 -4 3 0 (4 ) (2 2 6 SE2 d 2 9 2 ) (1 9 7 6 ) (ap p l y i ng p re-s t at u to ry l aw t o h o l d t hat d efen s e at t o rn ey ’ s act o f g et ti n g h eal t h care

reco rd s wi t h o u t th e co n s en t o f t h e p l ai n t i ff-p at i en t was n o t an i n v as i o n o f p ri v acy an d
i n s t ead a reb ran d ed l i b el cl ai m t h at w as pro h i b i ted b ecau se t h e ev i d en ce an d i t s u s e b y t h e d efen da n t at t o rn ey s was pri v i l eg ed as “ p ert i nen t ev i den ce i nt ro d uced i n a ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g an d rel at i n g t o i t s s ub ject m at t er”).

5 M e a d o w S p r i n g s R eco ver y v. W o f f or d

, 31 9 Ga. Ap p. 7 9

, 8 2 (1 ) (7 34 S E2 d

1 0 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ), q u o t in g Ph il li p s v. McDo n a l d

, 21 9 Ga. Ap p. 1 5 2

, 1 5 5 -1 5 6 (2 ) (g ) (4 6 4
SE2 d 3 9 0 ) (1 99 5 ). See al s o Ro ger s v. Du p r ee , 3 4 9 Ga. A pp

. 7 77

, 7 88 (8 2 4 SE2 d 8 2 3 ) (2 0 1 9) ( Ba r n es
, J. co n cu r r i n g i n p a r t a n d d i s s en t in g

i n p a r t ).

6 See, e.g

., Kl u g e v. Ren n , 2 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 98 (4 8 7 SE2 d 3 9 1 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

2p ri v at e b ed ro om wi t h an o th er ad u l t i n o rd er t o s up p o rt t he al l eg at io ns o f ad u lt ery , t h e

v eh icl e fo r Val ad e t o o b t ai n red res s ag ai n s t t he at t orn ey s fo r an y d am ag e sh e s u ffered

as a res u l t o f t h at act was an act i o n fo r ab u s iv e l it i gat i o n o r n ot h i n g at al l

. 7 “ Al l o f t h e

m i s co n du ct al l eg ed t o h a v e b e en co m m it t ed b y [Ken n et h Val ad e’ s ] at t o rn ey s

o ccu rred i n t h e co urs e o f th ei r rep res en tat i o n ” o f h i m , an d J en n ifer Val ad e “ m ay n ot

av o id t h e req u irem en t s o f th e s t at u t e m erel y b y ch aract eri zi n g [h er] cl ai m s ari s i n g

fro m t he al l eg ed l y ab u s i v e l aws u i t as s o m e o t her cau s e o f act io n.” 8 A cco rd i n g ly

, I

wo u l d affi rm

t he tri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary j u d gm en t as to t h e d efen d an t s wi th

reg ard t o t h i s i ss u e.

2 . I co n cu r fu l l y

wi th t h e m ajo ri t y

wi t h Di v i s i o n 2

.

7 See i d . See al s o Den n i s , 1 3 8 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 9 -4 3 0 (4 ).

8 (Pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro g er s , 3 4 9 G a

. Ap p. at 7 88 ( Ba rn es J. ), q u o t i n g S l o n e v. Myer

s , 2 8 8 Ga. Ap p. 8

, 1 1 (2 ) (6 5 3 SE2 d 3 23 ) (2 0 0 7 ), o v erru l ed i n p art o n

o t h er g ro u n d s , Reeves v. Up s o n Reg i o na l Med

. Cen t er , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 82 (7 2 6 SE2 d

5 4 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ). W h i l e I d i s ag r e e wi t h t h e m ajo ri t y i n R og er s , i .e., t h at a v i deo m ad e
p r i o r to t h e fi l in g o f an y cl ai m s b u t i n an t i ci p at i o n o f li t ig at i o n fal l s o u t s i d e o f t h e
p reem pt i v e effect o f th e ab u s i v e l i t i g at i o n s t at u t e, t h at i s su e i s n o t b efo re u s b ecau s e i n t h i s cas e, th e d i v orce p ro ceed i n g was fi l ed b efo re th e vi d eo was t ak en

. Co m p are Ro g er s , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p . 7 7 7 , 7 8 2 -7 8 3 (1 ) (b ).

3