FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, L A N D and WA

TKI NS, 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

D ecem ber 4, 2023



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 3 A1 22 5

. FULLER LIFE CHIROPRACTIC CENTER, P.C. et al

.

v . THREADGILL et

al

.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Fo l l owi n g t h e g r a n t o f t h ei r ap p l i cat i o n fo r i n t erl ocu t o ry ap p eal

, Fu l l er Li fe

Ch i ro p ract ic Cen t er, P. C., Ro nal d Dean Fu l l er, II, D. C., an d Ch ri s t o p h er W

. Od o m ,

D. C., ap p eal fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er den y i n g t h e i r m ot i o n fo r ju d g m en t o n t h e

p l ead i n g s o r, al t ern at i vel y , m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e ch i ro p ract i c m al p ract i ce act i o n

b ro u gh t ag ai n st t h em b y J o d i M ari e Th read g i l l an d Ch arl es A. T hread g i l l

. T h e cen t ral

q u es ti o n i n t h i s ap p eal i s wh et h er a p ro fes s i o n al n eg l ig en ce act i o n al leg i ng b reach o f

t h e s t an d ard o f care by a ch i ro p ract o r i s s u b ject t o t h e fi v e-y ear s t at u te o f re p o s e

a p p l i cab l e t o act i on s fo r m ed i cal m al p ract i ce. Fo r t he reas o n s d i s cu s sed b el o w, w ean s wer t h at qu es t i o n i n t he affi rm at i v e. Becau s e th e t ri al co u rt co ncl u d ed ot h erwi s e,

we rev ers e.

W h en , as in t h i s cas e, t h e d efen d an t s fi l e a m o t i o n fo r ju d g m en t

o n t h e p lead i n g s a n d d o n ot i n tro d u ce affi d av i t s , d ep o si t i o n s o r

i n t erro g at ori es i n s u p p o rt o f t h e m ot i o n , s u c h m o t i on i s t he eq u i v al en t

o f a m o t i on t o d i s m i s s t h e co m p lai n t fo r fai l u re t o s t a t e a cl ai m u p o n

wh i ch rel ief can be g ran ted

. Su ch a m o t i o n s h ou l d n o t b e gran t ed un l es s

t h e av erm e n t s i n t h e co m p l ai n t d i s cl o s e wi t h cert ai n t y t h at th e

p l ai n t i ff[s ] wo u l d n o t b e en t i t l ed t o rel i ef u nd er an y st at e o f fact s wh ich

c o u l d b e p ro v ed i n s up p o rt o f [t h ei r] cl ai m

. (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u a t i o n

o m i t t ed .) Mo n t

g o mer y v. Ba n k o

f Amer i ca , 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 34 3

, 3 4 3 (7 4 0

SE2 d 43 4 ) (2 0 1 3). W e rev i ew d e n ov o a tri al co urt ’ s ru li n g o n a m o t i o n

fo r ju d g m en t o n t h e p l ead i n g s o r m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s , an d we co n s t ru e th e

c o m pl ai n t i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e p lai n ti ffs an d d raw a l l

reas o n ab l e i n feren ces i n t h ei r fav o r. Id

. See Ca mp bel l v. Ci r r u s Ed

. , 3 5 5

Ga. Ap p

. 6 37

, 63 8 (8 4 5 SE2 d 3 8 4) (2 0 2 0 ). “ In o u r d e n o v o rev i ew, we

m ay co ns i d er ex h i b i t s at t ach ed t o an d i n co rp o rat ed i n t o t h e co m p l ai n t

an d an s w er.” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) 1 1 0 Ha m p t o n P o i nt

, LLC v. R o s s , 3 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 0

, 6 3 0 (8 9 0 SE2 d 3 3 ) (2 02 3 ). See OCGA

§ 9 -1 1 -1 0 (c) (“ A co p y o f an y wri t t en i ns t ru m en t wh i ch i s an ex h i b i t t o

a p l ead i ng i s a p art t h ereo f fo r al l p u rp o ses .”).

So v iewed

, t he p l ai n t i ffs ’ co m p l ai n t an d ex p ert affi d av i t at tach ed th eret o s h o w

t h e fo l l o w i n g

. At al l t i m es rel ev an t t o t h i s laws u i t

, Drs

. Fu l l er a n d O d om were

ch i ro p ract o rs l i cen s ed t o pract i ce i n Geo rg i a. Dr. Fu l l er was th e pri n ci pal own er o f

2t h e Fu l l er Li fe Ch i ro p ract i c Cen t er (“ Fu l l er Li fe”), an d Drs

. Fu l l er a nd Od o m

p ro v id ed ch i ro p ract i c t reat m en t t o Fu ll er Li fe p at i en t s

. J o d i e Th read g i l l s o u g ht

ch i ro p ract i c t reat m en t at Fu l l er Li fe o n Au g u s t 7 an d 8

, 2 0 1 2

. On Au gu s t 7

, 2 0 1 2

, Dr.

Fu l l er p erfo rm ed a ch i ro pract i c ad ju s tm en t or m an i pu l at i o n o f M rs

. Th read g i l l ’ s

s p i n e, an d Dr. Od o m p erfo rm ed a ch i ro p ract i c ad ju s t m en t o r m a n i pu l at i o n o f h er

s p i n e t h e fo l l o wi n g day

. As a res u lt o f t h es e s p i n al ad ju s t m en t s o r m an ip u l at i o n s ,

M rs

. T h read gi ll al l eg ed ly s u ffered s ev ere, p erm an en t i n ju ri es t o h er s pi n al co rd an d

d i s cs

.

On Au g u s t 6

, 2 01 4

, M rs

. Th read g i l l an d h er h u s b an d

, Ch arl es Th read g i l l

, s u ed

Drs

. Fu ll er an d Od o m an d Fu l l er Li fe, al l eg i n g t h a t t h e d efen d an t ch i ro p ract o rs

p ro v id ed n eg l i g en t ch i ro p ract i c care an d t reat m en t t o M rs

. T h read g i l l o n Au g u s t 7

an d 8

, 2 0 1 2 , an d t h at t h ei r n eg l i g en ce cau s ed h er s p i n al co rd an d d i s c in ju ri es

. Th e

co m p l ai n t fu rt h er al l eg ed t h at t h e Cen t er was l i a b l e b as ed o n t he d o ct ri n e o f

res p o n d eat s u p eri o r. Th e Th read g i l l s at t ach ed t o t h ei r co m p l ai nt an ex p ert affi d av i t

i n wh i c h a c h i ro p ract or o p in ed t h at Drs

. Fu l l er an d Od o m b reach ed t h e ap p l i cab l e

s t an d ard o f care fo r ch i ro p ract i c d o ct o rs i n t hei r t reat m en t of M rs

. Th read g i l l an d t h at

t h ei r d ev i at i o n s fro m

t h at s t an d ard were t h e p ro x im at e cau s e o f h er i n ju ri es

.

3Th e Th read g i l l s v o l un t ari l y d i s m i s sed t h ei r act i o n w ithout preju d i ce o n Au g u s t

1 5

, 2 0 1 7

. O n Feb ru ary 1 4

, 2 01 8

, t h e Th read g i l l s fi led a ren ewal act i o n ag ai n s t t h e

d efen d an t s p urs u an t t o OC G A § 9 -2 -6 1. 1 Th e al l eg at i o n s i n th e ren ewal co m p l ai nt

an d at t ach ed e x p ert affi d av i t were t h e s am e as t h o s e co n t ai n ed in t h e o ri g i n al

co m p l ai n t an d affi d av i t

.

Th e d efen d an ts an s wered

, d en yi n g li ab i l i t y

. Su b seq u en t l y , on Feb ru ary 7,

2 0 2 2 , t h e d efen dan t s fi l ed a m o t i on fo r ju d g m en t o n t h e p lead i n g s o r, al t ern at i v el y ,

t o d i s m i s s t h e ren ewal act i o n fo r fai l u re t o s t at e a cl ai m u p o n wh i ch rel i ef co u l d b e

g ran t e d ( “ d i s m i ss al m o t i o n ”). Th e d efen d an t s arg ued t h at t h e Th read g i l l s ’

ch i ro p ract i c m al p ract i ce cl ai m s were b arred b y OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ), 2 t h e fi v e-y ear

1 OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 (a) p ro v id es i n rel ev an t p art : W h en an y

cas e h as b een co m

m en ced i n ei th er a s t at e o r fed eral co u rt
wi th i n t h e ap p l i cab l e s t at u te o f l i m it at i o n s an d t h e p l ai n t i ff d i s co n t i n u es o r d i s m is s es t h e s a m e , i t m ay b e reco m m en ced in a co u rt of t h is s tat e o r i n a fed eral co urt e i t h e r w i t h in t h e o ri g i n al ap p l icab l e p eri o d of l i m i t at i on s o r wi th i n s ix m o n t h s aft er t h e d i s co n t i n u an ce o r d i s m is s al

, wh i ch ev er i s l at er,

s u b ject t o t h e req u i rem en t o f p ay m en t o f co s t s i n t h e o ri gi n al act i o n [.]

2 OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 p ro v i des i n p art : (a) Ex cep t as o t h erwi s e p ro v i d ed i n t h i s art i cl e, an act i o n fo r m ed i cal

m al p ract i ce s h al l b e b ro u g h t wi t h i n t w o y ears aft er t h e d at e o n w h i c h an i n ju ry o r d eat h ari s i n g fro m a n eg l i g en t o r wro n g fu l act o r o m i s si on o ccu rred

. (b ) No t wi t h s t an d i n g s u b s ect i o n (a) o f t hi s Co d e s ect io n , i n n o ev en t

m ay an act i o n fo r m ed i cal m al p ract ice b e b ro ug h t m o re t h an fi v e y ears aft er

t h e d at e o n wh i ch t h e n eg l i g en t o r wro n g fu l act o r o m i ss i o n o ccu rred

.

4s t at u te o f r e p o s e ap p l i cab l e t o act i o n s fo r m ed i cal m al p ract i ce. Th e Th read g i l l s

o p p o s ed t h e d is m i s s al m o t i o n , co n t en d i ng t h at OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ) d i d n o t ap p l y to

cl ai m s al leg i n g p ro fes si o nal n eg l i g en ce b y a ch i ro p ract o r; t h at t he d efen d an t s were

b arred fro m rai s i n g a s t at u t e-o f-rep o s e d efen s e becau s e t h ey rai sed it in an u n t i m el y

m an n er an d were eq u i t ab ly es t o p p ed fro m as sert i n g s u ch a d efen s e b as ed o n frau d;

an d t h at t h e ren ewal co m

p lai n t i n cl u d ed cl ai m s fo r o rd i n ary n eg l i gen ce t h at were n ot

co v ered by

t h e s tat u t e o f rep o s e.

In ad d res s i n g t h e d efen d an t s ’ d i s m i s s al m o t i o n , t h e t r i a l co u rt fram ed t h e

co n tro l l in g q u es t i o n as wh et h er “ fo r t h e p u rp o s es o f OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ), t reat m en t

b y a ch i ro p ract o r i s m ed i c a l t r e a t m en t s u ch th at an act i o n ag ai n s t a ch i ro p ract o r

wo u l d b e c o ns i dered a m ed i cal m al p ract i ce act i on .” Th e t ri al co urt an s wered i t s

q u es ti o n i n t h e n eg at i v e, co n cl ud i n g t h at t h e st at u t e o f rep o s e d o es n o t ap p l y t o “ n o n

m ed i cal act s , erro rs , o r o m i s s i o n s ” an d t h at treat m en t b y a ch i ro pract or d o es n ot

co n st i t u t e t h e “ p ract i ce o f m ed i ci n e.” In s up p o r t o f i t s co n cl u si o n , t h e tri al co u rt

rel i ed o n an u no ffi ci al o p in i o n o f t h e A t t o r ney Gen eral o f Geo rg ia i ss u ed i n 1 9 7 2,

(c) Su bs ect i o n (a) o f t h is Co d e sect i o n i s i n t en d ed t o creat e a two -y ear

s t at u t e o f l im i tat i o n s

. Su b s ect i o n (b ) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n i s i n t en ded t o creat e a fi v e-y ear s tat u t e o f u l t i m at e rep o s e an d ab ro g at io n

.

5wh i ch co n c l u d ed t h at ch i ro p ract o rs were “ n ot co n s i dered p h y s i ci an s fo r i n s u ran ce

p u rp os es ” an d reas o n ed t h at

t h e d efi n i ti on of “ ch iro p ract i c,” as s et fo rt h i n Ga. Laws 19 2 1, p

. 1 6 6
(Ga. Co d e An n

. 84 -5 0 1 ), i s n o t bro ad e n o u g h t o bri n g ch i ro p ract i c

wi t h in t he d ef

i n i t i o n o f “ p ract i ce o f m ed i ci n e” co n tai n ed in G a. Co d e.

An n

. § 8 4 -9 0 1 , as am en ded b y Ga. Laws 1 9 7 0, p . 3 0 1

.

1 9 7 2 Op

. At ty

. Gen

. No

. U7 2 -1 7 (“ AG Op i ni o n ”). 3 Becau s e t he t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed

t h at ch i ro p ract i c t reat m en t was n o t t h e p r a c t i ce o f m ed i ci n e, t he co u rt ru l ed t h at

OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ) d i d no t b ar t h e Th read g i ll s ’ ren ewal act i o n ev en t h o u g h i t “ was

refi l e d m o r e t h a n fi ve y ears aft er t h e s u bject ev en t .” Co ns eq u en t l y , t h e t ri al co u rt

d en ied t h e d efen d an t s ’ d i s m i ss al m o t i o n

.

Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e d efen d an ts a cert i fi cat e of i m m ed i at e rev i ew, an d t h e

d efen d an t s fi l ed an ap pl i cat io n fo r i n t erl o c u t o ry ap p eal

, wh i ch t h i s Co u rt g ran t ed

.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

At t h e o ut s et

, we n o t e t h at

[a] p ro p erl y fi l ed r e n ewal act i o n s t an ds o n t h e s am e fo o ti n g as th e

o ri g in a l act i o n wi t h res p ect t o s t at u t es o f l i m i t at i o n

. Acco rd i n g l y , i f a

3 Th e c u r r e n t d e fi n i t i on o f “ ch i ro p ract i c” i s fo u n d at OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 (2 ), an d t h e

cu rren t d efi n it i o n o f “ p ract i ce o f m ed i ci n e” i s fo u n d at OCGA § 4 3 -3 4 -2 1 (3 ).

6ren ewal act io n i s p ro p erl y fi l ed wi t h i n si x m o n t hs aft er d is m i s s al o f th e

o r i g i n al act i o n , i t rem ai n s v i ab l e ev en t h o u g h t h e s tat u te o f li m i tat i o n

m ay h av e ex p i red

. Ho wev er, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt [o f Geo rg i a] h as h el d

t h at t h e l eg is l at u re n ev er i n t en d ed fo r t h e di s m i s s al an d ren ewal s tat u t es

t o o v erco m e t h e fi ve-y ear st at ut e o f rep os e fo r m ed ical m al p ract i ce

act i o n s s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ). [See] W r i g h t v. Ro b i n s o n , 2 6 2

Ga. 8 4 4

, 8 4 6 (1 ) (4 2 6 SE2 d 8 7 0 ) (1 9 93 ).

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Bl a ckwel l v. Go o dwi n , 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 1

, 8 6 3

(2 ) (5 13 SE2 d 5 4 2) (1 9 9 9 ). Th e fi v e-y ear s t at u t e o f rep o s e “ s tan d s as an u ny i el d i n g

b arri er t o a pl ai n t i ff’ s ri g ht o f act i o n ,” is “ ab so l u t e, ” an d “ d es tro y s t h e prev i o u s l y

ex i s t in g ri g h t s s o t h at

, o n t h e e x p i r a t i on o f t h e st at u t o ry p eri od

, t h e cau s e o f act i o n

n o lo n g er ex is t s .” W

r i g h t

, 2 62 Ga. at 8 4 5 (1 ). T h u s , i f a p l ai n t iff refi l es h er act i o n fo r

m ed i cal m al p ract i ce m o re th an fi v e ye a r s a f t e r t h e d at e u p o n w h i ch t he al l eg ed

n eg l i g e n t a c t o r o m i s si o n occu rred

, t h e act i o n i s s u b ject to d i s m i s s al p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ). See i d

. at 8 4 6 (1 ) ; Ca r r v. Ki nd r ed Hea l t h ca r e O

per a ti n g , 2 9 3

Ga. A p p. 8 0, 82 (2 ) (6 6 6 SE2 d 4 0 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ); Bl a ckwel l

, 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 6 3 -8 6 5 (2 ).

It is u n d i s pu t ed t h at t h e Th read g i l l s ’ ren ewal act io n was fi l ed m ore t h an fi v e

years aft er t h e al l eg ed n eg l i gen t act s an d om i s s i o ns o f Drs

. Fu l l er an d Od o m

.

Acco rd in g ly

, if OCGA § 9-3 -7 1 (b ) ap p l i es t o t he Th read g i l l s’ cl ai m s , th ei r ren ewal

act i on was t i m e-b arred an d s h o ul d h av e b een di s m i s s ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt

. See W r i g h t

,

72 6 2 Ga. at 8 4 6 (1 ) ; Ca rr , 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 2 (2 ); Bl a ckwel l

, 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 6 3 -8 6 5

(2 ).

1

. Th e d efen dan t s arg u e tha t the tr i al co u rt erred in co n cl u di n g t h at p ro fes s i o n al

n eg li g en ce cl ai m s as s ert ed ag ai n s t ch i ro p ract o rs are n o t s u b ject to O CGA § 9 -3 -7 1

(b ). Acco rd i n g t o t h e d efen dan t s , a p ro fes s i on al n eg l i g en ce act i o n ag ai n s t a

ch i ro p ract o r i s an “ act i o n fo r m ed i cal m al p ract i ce” as t h at p hras e i s u sed i n t h e s t at u t e

o f rep o s e.

In ad d res s i ng wh et h er OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ) ap p l i es t o p ro fes s i o n al n eg l i g en ce

cl ai m s ag ai n s t ch i ro p ract o rs , we are m in d fu l t h at

[i ] n co ns i deri n g a s t at u t e’ s m ean i n g, co u rt s m u s t affo rd t h e w o rd s o f th e

s t a t u t e t h ei r o rd i n ary m ean i ng , an d we m u st p res u m e th at t h e G en er a l

As s em b ly m ean t wh at i t s ai d an d s ai d w h at i t m ean t

. W h ere th e

l an g uag e o f a s t a t u te i s p l ai n an d s u s cep t i b le t o on l y o n e nat u ral an d

reas o n ab l e co n st ru ct io n, co u rt s m us t co n s tru e t h e s t at u t e acco rd i n g l y

. In

fact

, wh ere t h e l an g u ag e o f a s t at ut e i s p lai n an d u n am b i g u ou s , ju d i ci al

co n s t ru ct io n i s n o t o nl y

u n n eces sary b u t fo rb i d d en

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t e d

. ) S o u th er n S ta t es Ch emi ca l v. Ta mp a Ta n k &

W el d i n g , 3 1 6 Ga. 7 01 , 7 1 3 (2 ) (8 8 8 SE2 d 5 5 3) (2 02 3 ).

Gu i d ed by

t h es e s t at u to ry

co ns t ru ct i o n p ri n ci p l es , we t u rn t o t h e l an g u ag e o f

OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ), wh i ch p ro v i d es t h at an “ act i on fo r m ed i cal m al pract i ce” can n ot

8“ b e b ro u gh t m o re t h an fi v e y ears aft er t h e d at e o n w h i c h t h e n eg l i g en t o r wro n g fu l

act o r o m i s si o n o ccu rred .” Th e p h ras e “ act i o n fo r m ed i cal m al p ract i ce” as u s ed i n t h e

s t at u te o f rep o s e i s d efi n ed i n OCGA § 9 -3 -7 0 :

As u s ed i n t h i s art i cl e, t h e t erm “ act i o n fo r m ed ical m al p ract i ce”

m ean s an y cl ai m fo r d am ag es res u l t i n g fro m t h e d eat h o f o r i n ju ry t o an y

p ers on ari s i n g o u t o f:

(1 ) H ea l t h

, m ed ical

, d en t al

, o r s u rg ical s erv ice, d i ag n o s i s ,

p res cri p t i o n , t r ea t men t, o r ca r e r en der ed b y a per s o n a u th o r i

z ed b y l a w

t o p e r f o r m s u c h s er vi ce o r b y an y p ers o n act i n g u n der t h e s u p erv i s i o n

an d co n tro l o f t h e l awfu l l y au t h o ri zed p ers on ; o r

(2 ) Care or s erv i ce ren d ered b y an y p u b l i c o r p ri v at e h o s p i t al

,

n u rs in g h om e, cl in i c, ho s p i t al au t h o ri ty

, faci li t y , o r i n s t i tu t i o n , or b y an y

o ffi c e r, ag en t

, or em

p l o y ee t h ereo f act i n g wi t h i n t h e s co p e o f h i s

em p l o y m en t

.

(Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) By t he pl ai n l an g u ag e of t h es e s tat u tes

, t h e fi v e-y ear s t at u t e o f

rep o s e en co m

p as s es cl ai m s fo r dam ag es res u l t i n g fro m i n j u ry t o a p l ai nt i ff ari s i n g o ut

o f “ [h ] eal t h

. . . t reat m en t [ ] o r care” p ro v i d ed by a p ers o n a u t h o ri zed b y l aw to

p erfo rm s u ch s erv i ce. An d we co n cl u d e t h at p ro fes s i o n al n eg l i gen ce cl ai m s ag ai n s t

ch i ro p ract o rs fo r i n

ju ri es ari s i n g fro m t h ei r t reat m en t an d care of t h ei r pat i en t s fi t

wi t h i n t h at s t at u t o ry

d efi n i t i o n

.

9Ch ap t er 9 o f T i t l e 4 3 o f t h e Offi ci al Co de of Geo rg i a A n n o t at ed ad d res s es t h e

l i cen si n g an d reg u l at io n o f ch i ro p ract ors

. Ch i ro p ract o rs wh o c o m p l y w i t h t h e

l i cen si n g req u i rem en t s an d ot her ru l es i m p o sed b y t h at ch ap ter h av e t h e ri g h t to

p ract i ce “ ch i ro p ract i c” as th at t erm i s d efi n ed i n OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 (2 ) an d “ to ev al u at e,

d i ag n o s e, an d ad

ju s t p at i en t s acco rd i n g t o s p eci fi c ch i ro p ract i c m et h o d s i n o rd er to

co rrect s p i n al s u b l u x at io n s o r to ad ju s t t h e art i cu l at i o n s o f t he h u m an bo d y .” OCGA

§ 4 3-9 -1 6 (a). “ Ch iro p ract i c” i s d efi n ed i n OCGA § 4 3-9 -1 (2 ):

“ Ch i ro p ract i c” m ean s t h e ad ju s t m en t o f t h e art i cu l at i o n s o f t h e h u m an

b o d y , i n cl u d i n g il i u m , s acru m , an d co ccy x, an d t h e u s e o f X-ray

,

p ro v i d ed th at t he X-ray sh al l n o t be u s ed fo r t h erap eu t i cal p u rp os es

. T he

t erm s h al l al so m ean t h at s ep arat e an d d i s t i n ct b ran ch o f t h e h eal i n g art s

wh o se s ci en ce an d art u t i l i ze t h e i n heren t recu p erat i v e p o w ers o f th e

b o d y an d t h e rel at i o n s h i p b e tween t h e m u s cu l o s k el et al s t ru ct u res an d

fu n ct i o n s o f t h e b od y , p art i cu l arl y o f t he s p in al co l u m n an d t h e nerv o u s

s y s t em , in t h e res t o rat io n an d m a i n ten an ce o f h eal t h

. Ch i ro p ract i c is a

l earn ed p ro fes si o n wh i ch t each es t h at t h e rel at i o n s h i p b et ween s t ru ct u re

an d fu n ct io n i n t he h u m an b o d y i s a si g n i f i can t heal t h fact o r an d t hat

s u ch rel at io n s h i p s b et ween t h e s p in al co l u m n an d t h e n erv ou s s y st em

are m o s t s i gn i fi can t

, s i n ce t h e n o rm al t ran s m i s s i o n an d ex p r e s s io n o f

n erv e en erg y are es s en t i al t o t he res t o rat i o n an d m ai n t en an ce o f h eal th

. Ho wev er, t h e t erm s hal l n o t i n c l u d e t h e u s e o f d ru g s o r su rg ery

. T he

ad ju st m en t referred to i n t h i s p arag rap h an d s u b sect i o n (b ) o f Co de

Sect io n 4 3-9 -1 6 m ay o n l y b e ad m i n i s t er e d b y a d o ct o r o f ch i ro p ract i c

10au t h ori zed t o d o s o b y t h e p ro vi s i o n s o f t h is ch ap t er; p ro v i d ed

, h o wev er,

t h at t h e p ro v i s i on s o f t h i s Co d e s ect i on sh al l n o t p rev en t an y o t h er

h eal th care p ro v i d er f

r o m a d m i n i s t eri ng t ech n i qu es au th o ri zed wi t h i n

t h ei r s co p e o f p ract i ce.

Th e “ sco p e o f prac t i c e o f c h i ro p ract o rs ” i s s et o u t in OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 6

. In

p erfo rm i n g t h e “ ch i ro p ract ic ad ju s t m en t o f t h e s p i n e o r art i cu l at i o n s o f t h e h u m an

b o d y ,” ch i ro p ract o rs are au t h ori zed t o p erfo rm “ m an u al ad ju s t m en ts an d ad

ju s t m en t s

b y m ean s o f el ect ri cal an d m ech an i cal d ev i ces wh ich p ro d u ce t ract i on o r v ib rat i o n.”

OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 6 (b ). Ad d i ti o n al l y , ch i ro p ract o rs wh o co m p l y w i t h Ch ap t er 9 m ay

u s e cert ai n t reat m en t “ m od al i t i e s ,” wh i ch “ i n cl u d e an y p h y s i cal ag en t ap p l i ed to

p ro d uce t herap eu t i c ch an g e t o b i o l o g i c t i s s u es i n cl u d i n g t h erm al

, aco u s t i c,

n o n i n v as i v e li g h t

, m ech an ical

, o r el ect ri c e n e r g y , h o t o r co l d p ack s , u l t ras o u n d,

g al v an i s m , m i cro wa v e , d i at h erm y , an d el ect ri cal s t i m

u l at io n .” Id

. Ch i ro p ract o rs in

co m p l ian ce wi t h Ch ap t er 9

m ay u t i l i ze an d reco m

m en d th erap eu t i c p r o c ed u res effect i n g ch an ge

t h ro ug h t h e ap p l i cat io n o f cl i n i cal sk i l l s an d serv i ces t h at at t em p t t o

i m p ro v e fu nct i o n , i n cl u di n g t herap eu ti c ex erci se, t h erap eu ti c act i v i t i es ,

m an u al t h erap y t ech n iq u es , m as s ag e, an d s t ru c t u r al s u p p o rt s as t h ey

rel at e t o t h e art i cu lat i o n s o f t h e h u m an b o dy ; p ro v i d ed

, h o wev er, t h at th e

s am e s h al l n ot b e co n s tru ed t o al l o w c h i r o p ract o rs to t reat p at ien t s

o u t s i d e t h e s co p e o f pract i ce o f ch i ro p ract i c as s et fo rt h i n t h i s ch ap t er.

11OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 6 (b ). Su ch ch i ro p ract o rs al s o “ m ay reco m m en d t h e u s e o f n u t ri t i o n al

an d d iet ary s u p pl em en t s,” OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 6 (i ), an d th ey “ h av e t h e ri g h t t o s i g n

h eal t h cert ifi cat es , rep o rt i n g t h e s am e t o t h e p ro p er h eal t h o ffi cers t h e sam e as o t h er

p ract i t i o n ers .” OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 6 ( d )

. Ch i ro p ract o rs , h o w ev er, can no t “ p res cri b e o r

ad m i n i st er m ed i ci n e t o p at i en t s , p erfo rm s u rg ery , o r p ract i ce o bs t et ri cs o r

o s t eo p at h y

. ” OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 6 (e).

In s u m , Geo rg i a l aw d efi n es ch i ro p ract i c as a “ h eal i n g art [ ] ” a i m e d a t “ t h e

res t orat i o n an d m ai n t en an ce o f h eal t h

, ” OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 (2 ); l i cen s ed ch i ro p ract o rs

m ay “ ev al u at e, d i ag n o se, an d ad ju s t p at i en t s

. . . t o co rrect s p in al s u b l ux at i o n s o r to

a d ju s t t h e art icu l at i o n s o f t h e h u m an b o d y ,” OCGA § 4 3-9 -1 6 (a); an d l i c e n s e d

ch i ro p r a c t o r s are en t i t l ed t o us e o n t h ei r p at i en t s a wi d e ran g e o f th erap eu t i c

p ro c ed u res an d t reat m en t m o d al i t ies

, i ncl u d i n g “ an y p hy s i cal ag en t ap p l i ed to

p ro d uce t h erap eu t i c ch an g e t o b i o l og i c t is s u es ,” OCGA § 4 3 -9 -1 6 (b ). Gi v en t h e

s t at u t o r y d efi n i t i o n o f “ ch iro p ract i c” an d t h e s co p e o f p ract i ce affo rd ed to

ch i ro p ract o rs , we c o n c l u d e t h at ch i ro p ract o rs are au t ho ri zed u n d er G eo rg i a l aw to

p ro v id e “ [h ] eal t h

. . . t reat m en t [ ] [an d ] care” t o th ei r p at i en t s , s u ch th at an act i o n

al l eg in g p r o f

e s s i o n al n eg l i g en ce ag ai n s t a ch i ro pract or m eet s t h e defi ni t i o n o f an

“ act i o n fo r m ed ical m al p ract ice” s et fo rt h i n O CGA § 9 -3 -7 0 (1 ). See g en eral l y Ga.

12Co m

p

. R. & Reg s

. , r

. 1 0 0 -1 0 -.0 1 (b ) (Geo rg i a Bo ard o f Ch i ro p ract i c Ex am i n ers

reg u l at i o n p ro v id in g t h at “ [t ] h e d oct o r o f ch i ro pract i c h a s t h e r es po n si b i l i t y a s a

p r i ma r y h ea l t h ca r e p r o vi de r t o ex am i n e, es t ab l i s h a d i ag n o s i s / cl i n i cal i m p res s i o n,

ren d er treat m en t an d /o r referral

, c o m m en su rat e wi t h h i s / h er fi n di n g s ”) (em p h as i s

s u p p li ed ); Fo s t er v. Ga

. Bd

. o f Ch i r o p r a ct i c Exa mi n er

s , 2 5 7 Ga. 4 0 9

, 4 1 9 (1 4 ) (3 5 9

SE2 d 8 7 7 ) (1 9 8 7) (t reat i n g ch iro p ract ic m ed i ci n e as am o n g t h e “ h eal t h p ro fes s i o n s ”

i n ap pl y in g rat i o n a l -b as i s st an d ard t o co n s t i t ut i o nal ch al l en g e to a reg u l at i o n

p ro s cri b i n g cert ai n co n d u ct b y ch i ro pract o rs ). Acco rd i n gl y , pro fes s i o n al n eg l i g en ce

act i on s ag ai n s t ch i ro p ract ors are s ub ject t o t h e s t at u t e o f rep o s e i m p o sed b y OCGA

§ 9 -3 -7 1 (b ).

In co n cl u d i ng t h at ch i ro pract o rs were n o t s ub ject t o t h e s t at ut e o f rep o s e, t h e

t ri al co u rt reas o n ed t h at ch i ro p ract i c i s n o t t h e “ p ract i ce of m ed i ci ne,” a p h ras e wh i ch

i s d efi n ed i n t he M ed i cal Pract i ce Act o f Geo rg i a, OCGA § 4 3 -3 4 -2 0 et s eq

. See

OCGA § 4 3 -3 4 -2 1 (3 ). 4 Bu t t h e “ ‘ t h e p ract ice o f m ed i ci n e’ i n OCGA § [4 3 -3 4 -2 1 (3 )]

4 OCGA § 4 3 -3 4 -2 1 (3 ) p ro v i d es :

“ To p ract i ce m ed i ci n e,” “ t h e pract ice o f m ed i ci n e,” o r “ p ra ct i ci n g

m ed i ci n e” m ean s to h o ld o n es el f o ut to t h e p u bl i c as b e i n g e n g ag ed i n t h e d i ag n o s i s o r t reat m en t o f d i s eas e, d efect s , o r i n ju ri es of h u m an bei n g s; or t h e

s u g g es t i o n , reco m

m en d at i on , o r p res cri b i n g o f an y fo rm o f t reat m en t fo r t h e i n t e n d ed p al l i at i on , rel i ef, o r cu re o f an y p h y s i cal

, m en tal

, o r fu n ct i o n al

ai l m en t o r defect of an y p ers o n wi t h t he i n t en t i o n of recei v i n g t h erefo r, ei t h er

13fo r pu rp o s e s o f l i cen s i n g an d reg i s t rat i o n [o f p h y s i ci an s ] i s n arro w wh ereas t h e

m ean i n g o f ‘ m ed i cal m al pract i ce’ i n OCGA § 9-3 -7 0 fo r p urp o s es o f l i m i t a t i o n o f

act i on s i s b ro ad ,” an d t h e p h r a s e “ act i o n fo r m ed i cal m al p ract ice” co nt ai n ed in

OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ) “ p lai n l y en co m p as ses m o re t h an t h e pract ice o f m ed i ci n e.”

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed

. ) Zech ma n n v. Th i g p en , 2 10 Ga. Ap p. 7 2 6

, 7 2 7

(1 ) (4 37 SE2 d 4 75 ) (1 9 9 3 ).

W e h av e rep eat ed l y n o t ed t h at th e b ro ad s co p e o f O CGA § 9 -3 -7 0 i s n o t

l i m i t ed t o l i cen s ed ph y si ci an s

. Br a d wa y v. Amer i c a n Na t

. Red Cr o ss , 2 6 3 Ga. 1 9

, 2 1 ( 4 2 6 SE2 d 8 4 9 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (b l o od b an k ); Zech m a n n , [2 1 0

Ga. Ap p

. at 7 2 7 (1 )] (o p to m et ri s t ); A l l r i d v. Emo r y Un i v. , 1 6 6 G a. Ap p

. 1 3 0

, 1 3 1 (1 ) (3 0 3 SE2 d 4 8 6 ) (1 9 8 3 ), aff’ d, 2 5 1 Ga. 3 6 7 (3 06 SE2 d 9 0 5 )

(1 9 8 3 ) (h o s p i t al d i sp en s i n g d ru g ).

d i rect l y o r i n d irect l y , an y fee, g i ft

, o r co m p en s at i o n wh at s o ev er; o r t h e

m ai n ten an ce o f an o ffi ce fo r t h e rec e p t i o n , ex am i n at i o n, an d t reat m en t o f

p ers o n s s u fferi n g fro m d i s eas e, d efect

, o r i n ju ry of bo d y o r m i n d ; o r at t ach i n g

t h e t i t l e “ M .D.,” “ Op h

. ,” “ D.,” “ Do p

. ,” “ Su rg eo n ,” “ Do ct o r,” “ D.O.,” “ Do ct o r

o f Os teo p at h y , ” “ A l l op at h i c Ph y si ci an ,” “ O st eo p at h i c Ph y si ci an ,” o r

“ P h ys i c i an ,” ei t h er al o n e o r i n co n n ect i o n wi t h o th er wo rd s, o r an y o t h er

wo rd s o r ab b rev i at i o n s t o o n e’ s n am e, i n d i cat in g th at s u ch p ers o n i s en g ag ed

i n th e t reat m en t o r d iag n o s i s o f d i s eas e, d efect s, o r i n ju ri es t o h u m an b ei n g s , p ro v i d ed t h at t h e t erm s “ d o ct o rs o f m ed i ci n e,” “ d o ct o rs of o s teo p at h i c

m ed i ci n e,” “ d o ct ors o f m ed i ci n e l i cen s ed t o p ract i ce i n t h e s t at e,” an d s i m i l ar

t erm s wh erev er u s ed o r ap p eari n g i n t hi s art icl e o r el s ewh ere s h al l m ean an d

i n cl u d e o nl y

t ho s e p ers o n s l i cen s ed u n der t hi s art i cl e.

14Ro b in s o n v. W il l ia ms o n , 2 4 5 G a

. A pp

. 1 7, 1 8 -1 9 (1 ) (5 3 7 SE2 d 1 5 9 ) (2 0 0 0 )

(p h arm aci s t ). See Ch ar t er Pea ch f o r d Beh a vi o r a l Hea l t h S

ys t em v. Ko h o ut

, 2 3 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 52

, 4 5 4 (a) (5 0 4 SE2 d 5 1 4 ) (1 9 98 ) (p h y s i cal preced en t o n l y ) (n ot i n g t h at

“ OCGA § 9 -3 -7 0 (1 ) an d (2 ) d efi n es an ‘ act i o n fo r m ed i cal m al p ract i ce’ s o b ro ad l y

. . . t h at t h e d efen d an t m ed i cal d o ct o rs , p sy ch o l o g i s t s , m en t al h o sp i t al s , an d t h e

d i et i ci an al l co m e wi t h i n t h e act ”). Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fo cu s o n wh et h er ch i ro p ract i c

t reat m en t co n s t i tu t ed t he “ p ract i ce o f m ed i ci n e” t h erefo re was m i s p l aced

.

Ad d it i on al l y , t h e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y rel i ed u p o n a 1 9 7 2 u n o ffi ci al AG

Op i n i on t o s u p p o rt it s d eci s i o n t h at p ro fes s i o nal n eg l i gen ce act i o ns ag ai n s t

ch i ro p rac t o rs are no t s u b ject t o t h e s t at u t e o f rep o s e. See 1 9 7 2 Op

. At t y

. Gen

. No

.

U7 2 -1 7

. As an i n i ti al m at t er, “ o p i n i o n s o f t he At t o rn ey Gen eral are n o t b i n d i n g u p o n

t h i s [C] o u rt

, ev en w h ere ap p l icab l e t o t h e i s s u es b efo re us .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) C. W

. Ma t t h ews Co n t r a ct o r Co

. v. Co l l in s , 2 14 Ga. Ap p

. 5 32

, 5 3 3 (4 4 8

SE2 d 2 34 ) (1 9 9 4 ). In an y ev en t

, t h e AG O p i n i o n rel ied u p o n b y t h e t ri al co u rt i s n ot

ap p li cab l e t o t h e i s s u e s b e fo re u s b ecau s e it ad d res sed w h et h er ch i ro p ract o rs are

p h y s i ci an s fo r i ns u r a n c e p u rp o ses , n o t wh et her act i o n s al l eg in g p ro fes s i o n al

n eg li g en ce ag ai n s t ch i ro p ract o rs are co n s i d e r e d a c tions f or m e dic a l m a l pr act i ce u n d er

t h e s t at ut e o f rep o s e; t h e A G Op i n i o n rel i ed u po n t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e “ p ract i ce o f

15m ed i ci n e,” wh i ch i s n arro wer t h an t h e d efi ni t i o n o f “ act i o n fo r m ed i cal m al p ract i ce,”

as d i s cu s sed s u p ra; an d t h e A G Op i n io n w as is s ued b efo re OCGA § § 9 -3 -7 0 an d 9 -3

-

7 1 (b ) were en act ed an d t h u s can n o t b e co n s t ru ed as co n tem p l at in g o r ad d res s i n g an y

o f t h e m at t ers rai s ed i n t h i s cas e. See Ga. L

. 1 9 7 6, p

. 1 3 6 3

, § 1 ; Ga. L. 19 8 5

, p

. 5 5 6,

§ 1

.

Fo r al l o f t h e afo rem en t i o n ed reas o n s , we co n cl u d e t h at p r o f e s s i o n al

n eg li g en ce cl ai m s ag ai n s t ch i ro p ract o rs are s u b ject to t h e fi v e-y ear s t at u t e o f rep o s e

i m p o s ed b y O CGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ). Acco rd i ng l y , t he Th read g i l l s ’ p ro fes s i o n al

n eg li g en ce cl ai m s ag ai n s t th e d efen d an t s as sert ed i n t hei r ren ewal act io n were s u b ject

t o t he s t at u t e o f rep os e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n co n cl ud i n g o th erwi se.

2

. “ [T] h i s Co u rt m ay affi rm a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n a m o t i o n to d i s m i s s i f i t i s

ri gh t fo r an y reas o n , s o l o n g as t h e arg u m en t was fai rl y p res en ted to th e co urt b el o w.”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ci t y o f Al p h a ret t a v. F

r a n ci s , 3 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 4,

4 5 8 (2 ) (8 8 3 SE2 d 40 0 ) (2 0 23 ). W e t h erefo re co n s i d er t h e al t ern at iv e arg u m en t s fo r

d en y i n g t h e d efen dan t s ’ d is m i s s al m o t i o n t h at were rai s ed b y t h e Th read gi l l s i n t h e

t ri al co u rt

. Ho wev er , w e d o n o t fi n d th e T h read g i l l s ’ al t ern at i v e arg u m en t s

p ers u as i v e.

16(a) In o p p o s i n g t h e d i s m i s s a l m o ti o n , t h e Th read g il l s arg u ed t h at t h e

d efen d an t s were b arre d f r o m p u rs u in g t h ei r s tat u t e-o f-rep o se d efen s e b ecau s e t h ey

d i d n o t rai s e i t in t i m el y m an n er. Th e Th read g i l l s em p h as ized t h at t h e defen d an t s d id

n o t as s ert OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ) as a d efen se i n t h ei r an s w ers an d i n s tead rel i ed u p o n

t h e s t at u t e o f rep o s e fo r t h e fi rs t t im e i n t h ei r d is m i s s al m o t i o n fi l ed s ev eral y ears

aft er t h e ren ewal act i o n co m m en ced

. Bu t “ u n l i k e a s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n , a s t at u t e o f

rep o s e g en eral l y c a n n o t b e wai v ed

, i f n ot i n i t i al l y p l ed

, o r t o l l ed .” Tr a x-Fa x v.

Ho b b a , 2 7 7 Ga. A p p. 4 6 4

, 4 6 9 (2 ) (a) (6 27 SE2 d 9 0 ) (2 0 0 6). See Mi l ler v. V i t n er , 2 4 9

Ga. A p p. 1 7, 17 (5 4 6 SE2 d 9 17 ) (2 0 0 1) (“ Th e s tat u te o f u l t i m at e rep o se d o es n o t b ar

a cau s e o f act i o n fro m b ei n g b ro u g h t

, wh i ch i s a d efen s e t o t h e m eri t s t h at can b e

wai v ed

, b u t ab ro gat es an y cau s e o f act i o n s o t h at n o cau s e o f act i o n co n ti n u es to

ex i s t ; t h u s , t h e cau s e o f act i o n ceas es t o ex i s t i n l aw aft er t h e fi v e y ears h av e

p as s ed .”). Th e d efen d an ts t h erefo re d id n o t wai v e t h ei r s tat u t e-o f-rep o s e d efen s e by

fai l i n g t o as s ert i t earl i er i n t he l i t i g at i o n

. See Tr a x-Fa x , 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 6 6 (2 ), 4 6 9

-

4 7 0 (2 ) (a) (co n cl ud i n g t h at defen s e p red i cat ed o n OCGA § 3 4 -9 -2 4 5 h ad n o t b een

wai v ed as u n ti m el y , w h ere t h e s t at u t e i n q ues t i o n was d et erm i n ed t o be a s t at u t e o f

rep o s e).

17(b ) Th e T h read gi ll s al s o arg u ed t h a t t he d efen d an t s w ere eq u i t ab l y es t o p p ed

fro m rai si n g t h ei r s tat u t e-o f-rep o se d efen s e. As we h av e ex p l ai n ed

,

In cert ai n n arro w ci rcu m st an ces , a d efen d an t m ay b e eq u i t ab l y es t o p p ed

fro m rai s i n g t h e s tat u t e o f rep o s e as a d efen s e. In o rd er fo r th i s t o ap p l y , h o wev er, a p l ai n t iff m

us t s h o w frau d by offeri n g ev i d en ce o f a k no wn

fai l u re t o rev eal neg l i g en ce. In o t h er wo rd s , t h ere m us t b e a s ep arat e an d

i n d ep en d en t act o f frau d

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Go l d en v. Fl o yd Hea l t h ca r e Mg mt

. , 3 6 8 Ga. Ap p.

4 0 9 , 4 1 9 (3 ) (a), n . 1 2 (8 9 0 SE2 d 2 8 8 ) (2 0 23 ).

Th e T h read g i l l s arg u ed in t h e co u rt b el o w th at t h e d efen dan t s were eq u i t ab l y

es t o p p ed fro m rai s in g a s t at u t e-o f-rep o s e d efen s e b ecau s e th ey p erfo rm ed

m an i p ul at i o n s o f M rs

. Th read g i l l ’ s s p i n e wi th o u t fi rs t o b tai n i n g her i n fo rm ed

co n sen t

. T h e Th read g i l ls al s o as s ert ed t h at t h e defen d an t s were eq u i t ab l y es t o p p ed

b ecau s e t h ey pro d u ced a d o cu m en t d u ri n g d i s co v ery i n wh i ch D r

. Od o m d en i ed

p erfo rm i n g a s p i n al m an ip u l at io n o n M rs

. Th read g i l l o n Au g u s t 8

, 20 1 2, an d b ecau s e

t h ey cl ai m ed i n t h e l it i gat i o n t h at M rs

. T h read g i l l h ad n o t b een t reat ed at Fu l l er Li fe

o n t h at d at e.

Th e co n d u ct o f t h e d efen d an t s al l eg ed by t h e T h read g i l l s d o es n o t s u p p ort a

cl ai m o f eq ui t a b l e e s t o pp el

. Th e d efen d an ts ’ al leg ed fai l u re to o b t ai n M rs

.

18Th read gi l l ’ s i n fo rm ed co n s en t befo re p erfo rm i n g t h e s p i n al m an i p u l at i o n s o n h er t h at

al l eg ed l y l ed t o h er i n

ju ri es was n o t a “ frau d s ep arat e fro m t h e u nd erl y i n g [al l eg ed ]

n eg li g enc e ” tha t w ould s u pp o rt t h e ap p l i cat i o n o f eq u it ab l e es t o p p el

. S mi t h v. Ka yf a n ,

3 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 1

, 6 5 5 (8 7 4 SE2 d 4 6 5 ) (2 0 2 2 ) (n ot i ng t h at eq u i t ab l e es t o p p el

req u i res “ a s ep arat e an d i n dep en d en t act o f frau d ” o ccu rri n g aft er t h e al l eg ed m ed i cal

m al p ract i ce). See W

i lh el m v. Ho u s t on Co un t

y , 3 10 G a. Ap p

. 5 0 6

, 5 0 9 (1 ) (c) (7 1 3

SE2 d 6 6 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (n o t i n g t h at eq u i tab l e es t o p p e l can b e ap pl i ed w here t h e

d efen d an t ’ s frau d “ o ccu rred a f t er th e p l ai n t i ff’ s in

ju ry accru ed an d

, as a res ul t o f t h at

frau d, t he p l ai n t iff d i d n o t fi l e s u i t u n t i l aft er t h e rep os e p eri o d ex p i red ”) (em p h as i s

in o r igina l)

. F ur

the rm ore, d o cu m en t s p ro d u ced b y t h e d efen d an ts aft er t h e Th read gills

fi led t h ei r laws u it

, an d as s ert i o n s m ad e b y t h e d efen d an t s du ri n g t h e l i t i g at i o n , ev en

i f f a l s e, d o n o t s u p p o rt an eq u i t ab l e es t o p pel cl ai m , wh i ch ari s es on l y wh ere, “ as a

res u l t o f [t h e] frau d

, th e p l ai nt i ff d i d n o t fi l e s ui t u n t i l aft er t he rep o s e p eri o d

ex p ired .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) PTI Ro ys t on v. Eu ba n ks

, 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p.

2 6 3

, 2 7 2 (2 ) (8 6 1 SE2 d 1 1 5 ) (2 0 2 1 ). See Os b u r n v. G o l d m a n , 26 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 3

, 3 0 4

(1 ) (a) (6 0 3 SE2 d 6 95 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (ex p l ai n in g t h a t a p p l i cat i o n of eq u it ab le es t o p p el

req u i res ev i d en ce o f frau d “ o n w h i ch t h e p l ai n ti ff reas o n ab l y rel i ed in fo rb eari n g t h e

b ri n g i n g o f a l aws u i t ”). Ac c o rd i n g l y , t h e T h read g i l l s h av e fai l ed t o al l eg e an y

19co n du ct b y t h e d efen dan t s t hat wo u l d eq u i t ab l y es to p t h em fro m rai s i n g a s t at u t e-o frep o s e d efen s e.

(c) Las t ly

, i n o p p o s i n g t he d i sm i s s al m o t i on , t h e Th read gi l l s arg u ed th at t h ei r

ren ewal co m

p l ai n t i n cl ud ed a cl ai m t hat t h e d efen d an t s fai l ed t o o b t ai n M rs

.

Th read gi l l ’ s i nfo rm ed co ns en t b efo re p erfo rm i n g p h y s i cal m an i p u l at i o n s an d

ad ju s t m en t s o n h er s p i n e, an d t hat t hi s cl ai m so u nd ed i n ord i n ary n eg l i g en ce an d t hu s

d i d no t fal l wi t h i n t h e p u rv i ew o f OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1 (b ). See Pi ed mo n t Ho s p

. v. D. M.

,

3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 2

, 4 4 5 ( 2 ) ( 7 7 9 SE2 d 3 6 ) (2 0 1 5) (“ [B] y i t s t erm s , OCGA § 9 -3 -7 1

ap p li es o n l y t o cl ai m s fo r m e d i c al m al p ract i ce, n ot to cl ai m s fo r o rd i n ary

n eg li g en ce[.] ”).

As an i n i t i al m at t er, as p o i nt ed o u t b y t h e d efen dan t s i n s e e k i n g d i s m i s s al o f

t h e Th read gi l l s ’ ren ewal act i o n , o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as hel d t hat “ Geo rg i a d o es n ot

reco g n ize a co m

m o n l aw d o c t r i n e o f i n fo rm ed co n s en t ”; t h at “ t h e d o ct ri n e o f

i n fo rm ed co n sen t fo r heal t h p ro ced u res an d t reat m en t i s defi n ed i n G e o r g i a

e x cl u s i v el y b y s t at u t es an d reg u l at i o n s ”; an d t hat “ [t ] h ere i s n o q u es t i o n t h a t

ch i ro p ract i c treat m en t s a re n o t am o n g t h e p ro ced u res d es i g n at ed in [Geo rg i a’ s

i n fo rm ed co n s en t s t at u te,] O CGA § 3 1 -9 -6 .1 [,] fo r wh i ch i n fo rm ed co n s e n t i s

req u i red .” Bl o t n er v. Do r ei ka

, 2 8 5 Ga. 4 8 1

, 4 8 4 -4 85 (2 ) (6 7 8 SE2 d 8 0 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Th e

20Th read gi l l s t h u s fai led t o s t at e an i nfo rm ed co n sen t cl ai m , i rres pect i v e o f wh et h er t h e

s t at u te o f rep o s e was ap p l i cab l e t o s u ch a cl ai m

.

Nev ert h el es s , ev en i f t h e Th read g i l l s ’ in fo rm ed co ns en t cl ai m cam e wi t h i n t h e

am bi t o f Geo rg i a’ s i n fo rm ed co n s en t st at ut e, OCGA § 3 1 -9 -6 .1 (wh i ch i t do es n o t ),

t h at s t at ut e p ro v i d e s t h at “ [a] fai l u re t o co m p l y wi t h t h e req u i rem en t s o f t h i s Co d e

s ect i on s h al l n o t co n s t it u t e a s ep arat e cau s e o f act i o n b u t m ay g i v e ri s e t o an act i o n

fo r m ed i cal m al p ract i ce as d efi n ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 9 -3 -7 0 an d as g o v ern ed b y o t h er

p ro v is i o n s o f t hi s Co de rel at in g t o s u ch act i o n s[.] ” OCGA § 3 1 -9 -6 .1 (d ). Hen ce, s u ch

a cl ai m s t i l l wo u l d be s u b jec t t o t h e fi v e-y ear s t at u t e of rep os e fo r m ed i cal

m al p ract i ce act i o n s

. See Bl a ckwel l v. Go o d wi n , 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 1

, 8 6 3 (2 ) (5 1 3 SE2 d

5 4 2 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (co n cl u di n g t h at t h e p l ai n t i ffs ’ cl ai m fo r t he al l eg ed f a i l u re t o o b t ai n

co n sen t fo r an i n

ject i o n was s ub

ject t o t h e fi ve-y ear s t at u t e o f rep o s e fo r m ed i cal

m al p ract i ce act i o n s b as ed o n OCGA § 3 1 -9 -6

. 1 (d )). Th e T h read g i l l s t h erefo re fai l ed

t o s t at e an y

cl ai m s t h at were n o t s u b

ject t o an d b arred b y

t h e s t at u te o f rep o s e.

Fo r al l of t h es e reas o n s , t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d et erm i ni n g t h at t h e Th read g i l l s ’

ren ewal act i o n was n ot bar r e d b y t h e s t at u t e o f rep o s e fo r m ed i cal m al p ract i ce

act i on s

. Becau s e t h e d efen d an t s ’ di s m i s s al m o t i o n s h o u ld h av e b een g r a n t e d

, we

rev ers e t he ju d g m en t

.

21Ju d

g men t r ever sed . La n d a n d W a tki n s , JJ., co n cu r

.

22