SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, RI C K M A N and REESE, 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 17, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 65 6

. ADVANTAGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM S

v

. CLEVELAND, AS ADM INIST R A T O R OF THE ESTATE OF

NICHOLAS CLEVELAND et al

.

M I LLE R , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

U p o n b ei n g d i sch arg ed fro m a m en t al h eal t h care faci l i t y op erat ed by

A dva nta ge B e ha vior a l H e a lth S y ste m s ( “ A dv an t ag e”), Ni ch ola s C le ve l a nd c om m itte d

s u i ci de. Cl ev el an d ’ s p aren t s t hen fi l ed t h i s neg l i g en c e an d wro ng fu l d eat h act i o n

ag ai n s t Ad v an t ag e, an d Ad v an t ag e fi l ed a m ot io n fo r a p ro tect i v e o rd er, seek i n g to

h av e p o rt i o n s o f i t s reco rd s o n Cl ev el an d d ecl ared p ri v il eg ed

. Th e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed

an ord er ru l i n g t h at o n l y s om e o f t he reco rd s were p ri v i l e g e d a n d t h at A d v an t ag e

l ack ed s t an d i n g t o as s ert t h e m en t al h e a l t h pri v i l eg e t o ex cl ud e o t h erwi s e rel ev an t

ev i d en ce at t r i a l

. F or th e fo l l o wi n g reas o n s , we affi rm th e tri al co urt ’ s ru l in g as towh i ch reco rd s w ere p ri v i l eg ed

, b u t we rev ers e i ts r u l i n g t h at Ad van t ag e l ack ed

s t an d i n g t o as s ert t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e.

Th e reco rd s h ows t h at on M arch 2 9

, 2 01 6

, Cl ev el an d p res en t e d at At h en s

Reg io n al M ed i c a l Cen t er wi t h co m p l ai n t s an d /o r a h i s t o ry o f s u ici d al t h o u g ht s ,

b i p o l ar di s o rd er, s ev ere d ep res s i o n , h al l uci n at i o n s , a n d al co ho l u s e d i s o rd er.

Cl ev el an d was ex am i n e d by D r

. Ed ward Green

, a m em b er o f th e h o s p i t al ’ s em erg en cy

d ep art m en t

, wh o co m

p l et ed a Fo rm 1 0 1 3 o rd eri n g t h at Cl ev e l an d b e in v o l u n t ari l y

co m m i t t ed t o Van t ag e Po i n t

, a m en t al h eal t h c a r e f a c i l i t y o p erat ed by Ad v an t ag e. 1

C l e v e l an d recei ved t reat m en t at Van t ag e Po in t fo r two d ay s u nt i l h i s d i s ch ar g e o n

Ap ri l 1 , 2 0 1 6, an d h e co m m i t t ed s u i ci d e a few h o u rs l at er.

In M ay 2 0 16

, Cl ev el an d ’ s p aren t s req ues t ed a co p y o f h i s m ed i cal reco rd s fro m

Ad v an t ag e, an d Ad v an t ag e p ro d u ced al l th e r e c o rd s wi t h o u t red act i o n

. In Oct o b er

2 0 1 6

, Cl ev el an d ’ s p aren ts ’ at t o rn ey s req u es t ed a cert i fi ed co p y o f t h e m ed i cal rec o rd s

fro m Ad v an t ag e, an d Ad v a n t a g e a g ai n pro d u ced t h e reco rd s wi t h o u t red act i o n

. In

1 Ad v an t ag e is a s t at e co m m u n i t y serv i ce b o ard wh i ch o perat es p ro g ram s an d

p ro v id es t reat m e n t an d s u p p o rt s erv ices reg ard i n g m en t al h eal t h

, d ev el o p m en t al

d i s ab i l i t i es , an d ad d i ct i v e di seas es

. See OCGA § 3 7 -2 -6 (a). Van t ag e Po i n t o ffers

s h o rt -t erm

res i d en t i al s erv i ces fo r i n d i v i d u al s wi t h p s y ch i at ri c an d s u b s t an ce ab u s e d i s o rd ers , an d i t s st aff i n cl u des a p s y ch iat ri s t

, a n urs e p ract i t i o ner, nu rs es , cl i n i ci an s , t ech n i ci an s, an d o p erat i on al s u p p o rt s t aff.

2J u n e 2 0 17

, Cl ev el an d ’ s p aren t s fi l e d t h e i n s t an t act i o n ag ai ns t Ad v an t ag e, 2 rai s i n g

cl ai m s of wro n g fu l d e a t h a n d p ro fes s i o n al n eg li g en ce b as ed o n t h e al l eg at i o n t h at

Ad v an t ag e fai l ed to p ro p erl y e v al u at e an d t reat Cl ev el an d ’ s s u i ci d e ri s k an d

i m p ro p erl y d i sch arg ed h i m

g i v en t h at ri s k

.

Ad v an t ag e f

i l e d a m ot i o n fo r a pro t ect iv e o rd er, s eek i n g ru l i n g s t h at cert ai n

d i s p u t ed p o rt i on s o f t h e m ed i cal reco rd s b e d ecl ared pri v i l eg ed 3 u n d e r t h e m en t al

h eal t h p ri v i l eg e p ro v i d ed fo r i n OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a) an d t h at fu rt h er d i s cl o s u re o f

an y p ri v i l eg ed reco rd s b e p recl u d ed

. Ad v an t ag e arg u e d t h a t

, i n ad d i t i o n to

co m m u n icat io ns b et ween Cl ev el an d an d m en t al h eal t h care p ro v i d ers an d

co m m u n icat io ns b et ween t h e p ro v i d ers t h em sel v es , reco rd s of a sse ssm en t

, d i ag n o s i s ,

an d t reat m en t were p ri v i l eg ed an d t h erefo re i n ad m i s s i b l e as ev i d en ce at t ri al

.

Th e p l ai n t i ffs op p o s ed t h e m o t i o n , arg u i ng t h at t h e d is p u t ed po r t i o n s o f t h e

reco rd s , wh i ch t h ey d es cri b ed as “ d i ag n o s es , m ed icat i o n s , pres cri p t i o n s, g o al s ,

p l an [s ] o f t r e at m en t, o rd ers , o b s erv at io n s , as s es s m en t s an d no n -m en t al h eal th

2 T h e p l ai nt i ffs al so n am ed as a d efen d an t t h e G e o r g i a Dep art m en t o f

Beh av i o ral Heal t h an d Dev el o pm en t al Di s ab i l i t i es , b u t t h ey s u b seq u en t l y d i s m i s s ed

t h i s d efen d an t wi t h o u t p reju d i ce.

3 Th e p art i es ag reed t h at cert ai n p ort i on s of t h e reco rd s were p ri v i l eg ed an d

h i g h l i g h t ed th es e p o rt i o n s i n o ran g e. Ad v an t ag e h i g h l i g h ted t h e d i s p u t ed p o rt i o n s o f

t h e reco rd s an d s u b m i t t ed al l o f t h e reco rd s t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r an in ca mer a rev i ew.

3reco rd s ,” were n o t p ri v i l eg ed

. Th e p l ai n ti ffs as s ert ed t hat un d er OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1

(a) o n l y p o rt i o n s of t h e reco rd s refl ect in g c o m m u n i cat i o n s b et ween Cl ev el an d an d

cert ai n m en t al h eal th care p ro v i d ers were p ri v i leg ed

. Th e p l ai nt i ffs al s o arg u ed t h at

i t ap p eared s o m e o f t he reco rd s were n o t creat ed b y p ro v id ers s u b ject t o t h e m en t al

h eal t h p ri v i l eg e.

Th e t ri al co u rt i s s u e d an o rd er ru l i ng t h at (1 ) o n l y cert ai n p o rt i o n s o f t h e

d i s p u t ed reco rd s co nt ai n ed p ri v i l eg ed i n fo rm at i o n , an d (2 ) Ad v an t ag e d id n o t h av e

s t an d i n g t o a s s e r t t h e m en t al h eal th p ri v i l eg e o n b eh al f o f Cl ev el an d t o ex cl u d e

o t h erwi s e rel ev an t ev i d en ce at t ri al

. 4 Reg ard i n g wh i ch p o rt i o n s o f t he reco rd s were

p ri v i leg ed

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e d i ag no s es , m ed icat i o ns , an d p res cri p t i on s

were n o t p ri v i l eg ed

. No t i n g t h at OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a) ap p l i es t h e m e n tal h eal th

p ri v i l e g e t o co m

m u n i cat i o n s o n l y , t h e tri al co u rt d ecl i ned to co n s t ru e th e p ri v i l eg e

ag ai n s t d i s cl o s u re o f co n fi d en t i al co m m u n i cat io n s s o b ro ad l y as t o en co m p as s

d i ag n o s es an d m ed i cat i o n s p res cri b ed , b ecau s e d o i n g s o w o u l d ren d er m ean i n g l es s

OCGA § 3 7 -3 -1 6 6 (a) (8 .1 ), wh i ch p ro v i d es t h at t h e n o n -p r i v i l e ged p o rt i o n s o f

4 Th e t r i al co u rt al s o ru l ed t h at t h e p ri o r rel eas e of t h e reco rd s b y Ad v an t ag e d i d n o t co n s t it ut e a wai v er o f Cl ev el an d ’ s m en t al heal t h pri v i l eg e. Th is ru l i n g i s n ot

co n tes t ed o n ap p eal

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ad d res s wh et her t h e reco rd s were creat ed

b y p ro fes s i o nal s s u bject t o t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e.

4m en t al h eal t h reco rd s m ay be r e l eas ed t o t h e l eg al rep res en t at i ve o f a d eceas ed

p ers o n ’ s es t at e.

R e ga r din g wh at i t ch aract eri zed as g o al s , ob s erv at io n o rd ers / l ev el s , o bject i v e s,

an d p l an s of treat m en t

, t he t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at m an y o f th es e reco rd s were n ot

p ri v i leg ed b ecau s e t h ey co ul d n o t b e ch aract eri zed as co n fi d en t i al co m m u n i cat i o n s

.

In s t ead

, t h e t ri al c o u r t f o u n d t h at t h ey were ex pect at i on s o f s t aff an d were n ot

p art i cu l ari zed to Cl ev el an d as a res u l t of an y co m m u ni cat i o n s fro m h i m

. Am o n g t h es e

reco rd s were t h o s e i n d i cat i n g (1 ) t h at t h e f a c i l i t y h ad g o al s t h at Cl ev el an d n o t b e a

d an ger t o h i m s el f, t ak e m ed i cat i o n s as p res cri b ed

, an d d ecreas e al co ho l wi th d rawal

s y m p to m s ; (2 ) t hat h e wo u ld b e en co u rag ed t o at t en d g ro u p t h erap y ; an d (3 ) h o w

o ft en s t aff m em

b er s w e r e ch eck i n g o n hi m

. T h e t ri al co u rt fo u nd t h at reco rd s

i n d i cat i n g Cl ev el an d ’ s s t res s lev el an d h is own co m m en t s o n h i s st res s l ev el were

p ri v i leg ed , reas o n i n g t h at t h e reco rd s cam e fro m p at i en t co m

m u n icat i o n

.

Reg ard i n g wh at i t ch aract eri zed as o b s e r v a t i o n s , th e tri al co urt st at ed t h at i t

d et erm i n ed wh et h er t h e o b s erv at io n s w ere t h e res u l t o f co m m u n icat i o n wi th

Cl ev el an d

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo un d t h at s ev eral ob s erv at io n s wer e p ri v i leg ed b ecau s e

t h ey cam e fro m co m m

u n i cat i o n s b y Cl ev el an d

, aro se i m m ed i at el y ou t o f h i s

co m m u n icat io ns , o r were co m

m u n i cat ive in na tur e

. S uc h r e c o r ds i ncl u d ed i n d i cat i on s

5o f w h et h er Cl ev el an d h ad s ui ci d al th o u g h t s, h ow h e s l ep t

, h ow m u ch al c o h o l h e

d ran k

, an d h i s li v i n g an d em pl o y m en t si t uat i o n

. T h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at o t h er

o b s erv at i o n s were no t p ri v i leg ed b ecau s e t h ey were treat m en t-d i rect ed

, were b y t h e

t reat m en t p ro v i d ers , o r refl ect ed g o al s o f treat m en t an d co n cl u s i o n s o f t he p ro v i d ers

.

Su ch reco rd s i n d icat ed t hat Cl ev el an d m et wi t h a so ci al wo rk er, h ad an ap p ro p ri at e

ap p earan ce, was i n t eract i ng w el l wi t h ot h ers , wat ch ed t el ev i s i o n, was co o p erat i ve,

an d was i n a d et o xi fi cat i o n pro gram

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at a reco rd s u m m ari zi n g

a di s cu s si o n bet ween Cl ev el an d an d a treat m en t p ro v i d er was p ri vi l eg ed

, an d reco rd s

i n d i cat i n g Cl ev el an d’ s d es cri p t i o n o f h i s m o o d an d wh et her h e accep t ed o r d ecl i n ed

reh ab were al so p ri v i leg ed

, bu t a reco rd i nd i cat i n g h e at t en d ed g ro u p t h erap y was n ot

p ri v i leg ed

.

Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d wi t h o u t d i s cu s s i o n o r ex p l an at i o n t hat t h e Fo rm 1 0 1 3

fro m Dr. Green was n o t p ri v i l eg ed . Th e t ri al co urt fo u n d t h at a reco rd s h o wi n g t h at

Cl ev el an d h ad a “ serv i ce cl as s ” o f “ ps y ch iat ri c t reat m en t ” was n o t p ri v i leg ed b ecau s e

i t s i m pl y co n cern ed t h e fact o f t reat m en t

. Th e t ri al co u r t fo u n d t h at cert ai n

as s es s m en t s refl ect ed Cl ev el an d ’ s an s wers t o q u es t i o ns , an d cert ai n t reat m en t g o al s

were cl earl y d ev el o p ed as a res u l t o f co m m u n i cat i o n s wi t h h i m , re n deri n g b o th

p ri v i leg ed

. T h e t ri al co u rt f o u n d t h at cert ai n p lan s o f care, i n cl ud i n g reco rd s

6i n d i cat i n g th e fu t u re di scu ss i o n s a t reat m en t p ro v i d er p lan n ed t o h av e wi t h Cl ev el an d

a n d reco rd s co ns i st i ng o f g en eral treat m en t go al s an d d i ag n os t i c i nfo rm at i o n , we r e

n o t p ri v i l eg ed

.

N e x t

, h o wev er, t h e t ri al co urt ru led t h at A d v an t ag e d id n o t h av e s t an d i n g t o

a s s e r t t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e o n b eh al f o f Cl ev el an d at t ri al

, reas o n i n g t h at

Ad v an t ag e was a s t ran g er t o th e p ri v i l eg ed co m m u n i cat i o n s b et w een Cl ev el an d an d

h i s i n di v i d u al m en t al h eal t h care p ro fes si o n al s

. Th e t ri al co u rt s tat ed t h at it “ m a[d e]

n o det erm i n at io n as t o t h e t e s t i m o n y o f an y i n d i v i d u al m en t al h eal t h care

p ro fes s i on al .” 5 W e gran t ed Ad v an t ag e’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r i n t erl ocu t o ry ap p eal

, an d t h i s

ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

1

. Fi rs t

, we ad d res s t h e p l ai n ti ffs ’ arg u m en t t h at Ad v an t ag e’ s ap p eal s h o u l d b e

d i s m i s s ed d ue t o i t s fai l u re t o fi l e an en u m e r a t i o n o f erro rs

. W e co n cl u d e t h at

al t h o u g h Ad v an t ag e h as n ot fi l ed o r i n cl u d ed i n i t s ap p el l an t ’ s b ri ef an en u m erat i o n

o f erro rs , i t i s ap paren t fro m t he n o t i ce o f ap p eal

, t h e reco rd

, an d t h e b ri ef wh at erro rs

Ad v an t ag e as s ert s , an d we d ecl i n e t o d i s m i s s t h i s ap p eal

.

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (f) p ro v i d es :

5 Becau s e Ad v a n t a g e i s a s t at e en t i t y , th e pl ai nt i ffs co ul d n ot n am e t h e i n d i v i d u al m en t al h eal t h care p ro fes s i o n al s as d efen d an t s i n t h i s act i o n

. See OCGA § 5 0-2 1-2 5

.

7W h ere i t is ap paren t fro m t h e n o t ic e o f ap p eal

, t h e reco rd

, th e

en u m erat i o n o f erro rs , o r an y co m b i n at i o n o f t h e fo reg o i n g , wh at
ju d g m en t o r ju dg m en t s were ap p eal ed fro m o r wh at erro rs are s ou g h t t o

b e as s ert ed u p o n ap p eal

, t h e a p p eal s hal l b e co n s i dered i n acco rd an ce

t h erewi th n o t wi t h s t an d in g t h at t h e n o t i c e o f ap p eal fai l s t o s p eci fy

d efi n i t el y t he ju d g m en t ap p eal ed fro m o r t hat t h e en u m erat i o n o f erro rs

fai l s t o en u m erat e cl earl y t h e erro rs s o u g h t t o b e rev i ewed

. . . .

“ Th e l eg i s l at u re, i n en act i n g OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (f), h as i m p o s ed o n t h e ap p el l at e co u rt s

a s t at u t o ry d u t y to d i scern wh a t e r ro rs an ap p el l an t i s at tem pt i n g t o art i cu l at e.”

(Pu n ct u at i on o m i t t ed

. ) Fel i x v. S t a t e , 2 7 1 Ga. 53 4

, 5 3 8 ( 5 2 3 S E 2 d 1 ) (1 9 9 9 ). Al s o,

we are m i n d fu l o f o u r Su prem e Co u rt ’ s cau t i o n i n g t h at t h e APA i s to b e l i b er a l l y

co n st ru ed s o as to b ri n g ab o u t a d eci s i o n o n t h e m eri t s o f ev ery cas e ap p eal ed an d to

av o id refu s al t o co n s id er an y p o i n t s rai s ed t h erei n

. See i d .; OCGA § 5-6 -3 0

. See al s o

Ho l y Fel l o ws h i

p Ch u r ch o

f Go d i n Ch r i s t v. Fi r

s t Co mmu n it

y Ba n k o f Hen r y Co u n t y ,

2 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 0

, 4 0 2 (5 3 0 SE2 d 2 4 ) (2 0 00 ) (“ A s a g en eral ru l e, t h i s s t at e’ s

ap p el l at e co u rt s sh o u l d reach t he m eri t s o f ap p eal s wh en ev er po s s i b l e. Th e p o l i cy i s

t o av o i d t h e d i s m is s al o f an ap p eal an d to reach t h e m eri t s o f a cas e wh en ev er i t i s

reas on ab l e t o d o s o .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). M o reo v er, OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (b ) p ro v i d es :

No ap p eal s h a l l b e d i s m i s s ed o r i t s v al id i t y affect ed fo r an y cau s e n o r

s h al l co n s i d erat i o n o f an y en u m erat ed erro r b e refu s ed , ex cep t :

8(1 ) Fo r fai l u re t o fi le n o t i ce o f ap peal wi t h i n t h e t i m e req u i red as

p ro v i d ed i n t h i s art i cl e o r wi t h i n an y e x t e n s i o n of t i m e g ran ted

h ereu n d er;

(2 ) W h ere t h e d eci s i o n o r ju d g m en t i s n o t t h en ap peal ab l e; o r

(3 ) W h ere t h e q u es t i o n s p res en t ed h av e b eco m e m o o t

.

In s ev eral recen t cas es , t h i s C o u rt h as co n s i d ered ap p eal s d es p i t e t h e

ap p el l an t ’ s fai l u re t o fi l e an en um erat i o n of erro rs wh ere we co u ld d i s cern t h e erro rs

as s ert ed on ap peal

. See St at e v. Ma r t i n ez -Pa l omi n o , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p. 3 0 4

, 3 05 n. 2 (7 6 4

SE2 d 8 8 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ); S ta t e v. Cr a p p , 3 1 7 Ga

. Ap p. 7 4 4

, 7 4 4-7 4 5 (1 ) (7 3 2 SE2 d 8 0 6 )

(2 0 1 2); Ja cks o n v. S t a t e , 3 1 4 G a

. A p p

. 2 7 2

, 2 72 n

. 1 (7 2 4 SE2 d 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ); S t a t e v.

Ma d i s o n , 3 1 1 Ga. A p p. 31

, 3 2 (1 ) (7 1 4 SE2 d 71 4 ) (2 01 1 ), o v erru l ed o n o t h er g ro u nd s

b y S t a t e v. Co hen

, 3 0 2 Ga. 6 1 6 (8 07 SE2 d 8 6 1 ) (2 0 1 7 ); B l o cku m v. Fi el da l e Fa r ms

Co r p

. , 27 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 1

, 5 92 (1 ) (6 10 SE2 d 8 2 ) (2 0 05 ); Les l ie v. W il l ia ms , 2 3 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 6 5 7

, 6 5 8 -6 5 9 (1 ) (5 1 0 SE2 d 1 3 0 ) (1 99 8 ), d i s ap p ro v ed o f o n o t h er g ro u n d s by

Her r v. W i th er s , 2 37 Ga. Ap p

. 42 0 (5 1 5 SE2 d 1 7 4) (1 9 9 9 ). Th i s Co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n

i n Ma r ti n ez -Pa l o mi n o , s up ra, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 0 5 n

. 2

, i s i ll u s t rat i v e of t h es e cas es :

“ No t wi t h s t an d i n g t h e St at e’ s fai l u re t o i ncl u d e an en u m erat i o n o f erro rs i n i t s b ri ef,

t h i s Co u rt i s req u ired t o co n s i d er t h e ap p eal b ecau s e we can d is cern fro m t h e St at e’ s

9b ri ef an d t h e reco rd t h e erro rs t h at th e St at e i s as s ert i n g o n ap p eal

. Co ns eq u en t l y , we

d en y [t h e ap p el lee’ s ] m o t i o n to d i s m i s s t h e ap p eal .” (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). Co m p are

Ba ker v. S t a t e , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p. 5 3

, 5 3 -5 4 (7 6 1 SE2 d 4 7 7 ) (2 0 1 4) (d i s m is si n g ap p eal fo r

fai l u re t o i n cl u de en um erat i o n o f erro rs wh ere “ [n ] o t h i n g i n [t h e ap p el l an t ’ s ] b ri ef can

b e co ns t ru ed as an en um erat i o n o f e rro r as t o a s p eci fi c ru l i n g m ad e b y t h e t ri al

co u rt .”).

Ho wev er, i n Co m

p let e W i r i n g S o ls

. , LLC v. As t r a G r o u

p

, In c. , 33 5 Ga. Ap p.

7 2 3

, 7 2 6 ( 7 8 1 S E2 d 5 9 7) (2 01 6 ), t hi s Co u rt d i s m i s s ed an ap p eal t hat co nt ai n ed n o

en u m erat i o n o f erro rs , d ecl ari n g t h at “ i n th e ab s en ce o f an en um erat i o n o f erro rs fi l ed

i n co m pl i an ce wi t h OCGA § 5 -6 -4 0

, t h i s Co u rt wi l l n o t co m b t hro u g h t h e ap p el l at e

b ri ef t o at t em

p t t o d i s cern w h at erro rs t h e ap p el l an t see k s t o as s ert o n ap p eal .”

(ci t at i o n s o m i t ted ). Th ere, th e ap p el l an t s ’ b ri ef co n t ai n ed (1 ) a s e c t i o n t i t l ed

“ St an d ard o f Rev iew” wh i ch s tat ed t h e s t an d ard o f ap p el l at e rev iew an d i n cl u d ed a

g en eral s t at em en t th at t h e ju dg m en t was n o t s u pp o rt ed b y t h e ev id en ce an d was b as ed

o n erro n eo u s fi n d i n g s o f fact

, an d ( 2 ) a s ect i o n t i t led “ St at em en t o f Fact s ” wh i ch

m i x ed t o g et h er as s ert ed fact s , cl ai m s o f erro r, s u p po rt i n g arg u m en t s , an d ci t at i o n s to

au t h o ri t y

. Id

. at 7 2 4

. Th i s Co u rt rem ark ed t hat n o th i ng i n t h e b ri ef w as “ s u ffi ci en t to

10co n st i t u t e an ‘ en u m erat i o n o f erro rs ’ req ui red t o b e f i l e d p u r s u an t t o O CGA § 5 -6

-

4 0 .” Id

.

In o t h er cas e s, th is Co u rt an d t h e Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg i a h av e d i s m i s s ed

ap p eal s b as ed o n t h e ab s en ce o f an en u m erat io n o f erro rs , bu t t h o s e cas es (1 ) d i d n ot

ad d res s w h e t h er t h e erro rs as s ert ed on ap p eal co u ld b e d i scern ed fro m o t h er

d o cu m en t s , an d / o r (2 ) w ere d eci d ed at a t i m e wh en ap p el lat e co u rt ru l es req u i red t h e

en u m erat i o n t o b e fi led sep arat el y fro m t h e ap p el l an t ’ s b ri ef. See Lo wer y v. S mi t h

,

2 2 5 Ga. 8 1 4 (1 7 1 SE2 d 5 0 0 ) (1 9 6 9 ); Ri l ey v. Ga

. Dep t

. o f Reven u e , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 6

(6 7 3 SE2 d 4 9 ) (2 00 9 ); S t r o m v. Lo n d o n , 2 57 Ga. Ap p

. 8 8 9 (5 7 2 SE2 d 4 0 9 ) (2 0 0 2 );

Mi l es v. Emmo n s , 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p . 4 87 (5 0 7 SE2 d 7 6 2 ) (1 9 9 8).

In a cas e d eci d ed t h i s y ear, St a t e v. Fr eema n , Ga. Ap p

. (8 2 5 SE2 d 5 38 ) (2 0 1 9 ),

t h e a p p e l l an t fai l ed t o fi l e o r i n cl u de i n i t s b ri ef an en u m erat i on o f erro rs

. W h i l e

reco g n izi n g t h e “ ap paren t t en s i o n ” b et ween t he cas es i n w h i ch t h is Co u rt h as

co n si d ered an ap p eal d es p i t e s u ch a fai l u re an d t h e h o ld i n g i n Co mp l et e W i ri n g S o l s

.,

LLC

, t h i s Co u rt co n cl u d ed it co u l d co n s i d er t h at ap p eal becau s e “ i n o u r ex am i n at i o n

o f t h e St at e’ s no t i ce o f ap p eal an d th e reco rd

, w e can cl earl y as cert ai n t h e s i n g l e

al l eg ed l y erro n eo u s ru l i n g as s ert ed .” Id

.

11I n l i g h t o f t h e s t at u t o ry m an d at es fav o ri n g co ns i d erat i o n o f t h i s ap p e a l

, o u r

d u t y t o co n s tru e t h e APA fo rg i v i n g l y , an d t he ap p aren t t en s i on i n t h e cas e l aw, we

a r e n o t p ers u ad ed t h at t h e fai l u re t o t i t l e a sect i on of an ap p el l an t ’ s b ri ef as an

“ En u m erat i o n of Erro rs ” neces s ari l y req u i res d i s m i s s al o f t h e a p p eal

. Here, i n t h e

“ Arg u m en t ” s ect i o n o f i t s b ri ef, Ad v an t ag e arg u es t h at (1 ) “ [t ] h e t ri al co urt erred in

co n cl u d in g t h at t h e m en t al heal t h p ri v i l eg e do es n o t ap pl y t o t h e d i ag n o s es ,

m ed i cat i o n s , p res cri p t i o n s , g o al s , ob s erv at i o n s , an d treat m en t p l an s i n Cl ev el an d ’ s

m en t al h eal t h reco rd s ,” an d (2 ) “ [t ] h e t ri al co u rt i n co rrect l y h el d t hat Ad v an t ag e l ack s

s t an d i n g t o as s ert t h e m en t al heal t h p ri v i l eg e.” Th u s , we can cl earl y as cert ai n t h e t wo

ru l i n gs Ad v an t ag e as s ert s were erro neo u s , an d we decl i n e to d i s m i s s th i s ap p eal

. See

Fel i x , su p ra, 27 1 Ga. at 5 3 9 (“ A n erro r o f l aw h as as i t s bas i s a s peci fi c ru l i n g m ad e

b y th e t ri al co u rt .”). H o wev er, we em p h as i ze fo r Ad v an t ag e an d ot her ap p el l an t s t h e

i m p o rt an ce o f fo l lo wi n g ap p el l at e p r a c t i ce ru l es , i n cl u d i ng th e fi li n g o f an

en u m erat i o n o f erro rs

. Su ch ru les fo s t er ju d i ci al effi ci en cy an d ai d ap p e l l at e co u rt s

i n reach i n g t h e ri g h t res u l t , an d fai l u re t o fo l l o w t h em m ay res u l t i n d is m i ss al o f an

ap p eal

.

2

. Nex t, we m

u st res o lv e t h e p art i es ’ d i s p ut e o ver t h e p ro p er s t an d ard o f rev i ew

t o ap p l y to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er. Ad v an t ag e as s ert s t h at t h e o rd er i s s u b j ect t o d e

12n o v o rev i ew, wh i l e th e p l ai nt iffs as s ert t h at we s ho u ld rev i ew i t fo r a n ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

. As s h o wn i n D iv i s i on 3 b el o w, wh et h er Ad van tag e h as st an d i n g t o as s ert

t h e m en t al h eal th pri v i l e g e i n t h e ci rcu m s t an ces p res en t ed do es n o t i nv o l v e an y

fact ual d et erm i n at i o n s an d o n l y p res en t s a qu es t i o n o f l aw. A s “ t h e s t an d ard o f rev i ew

fo r a q u es t i o n o f l aw o n ap p eal i s de no v o ,” Ga

. Tr a n s mi s s i o n Co r p

. v. W o r l ey , 3 1 2

Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 5

, 8 5 6 (7 2 0 SE2 d 30 5 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at io n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ), we wi l l

rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s t an d in g ru l in g d e n o v o

.

W e wi l l

, ho wev er, rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s u l t i m at e ru l i n g s reg ard i ng wh et h er

cert ai n reco rd s were p ri v i l eg ed fo r an ab u se o f d is cret i o n , w hi l e rev i ewi n g an y fact u al

d et erm i n at i o n s un derl y i n g t h o s e ru l i n gs fo r cl ear erro r. In Co o ks ey v. La n d r y , 2 9 5 Ga.

4 3 0 (7 61 SE2 d 6 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ), u po n a m en t al h eal th p at i en t ’ s d eat h , h i s p aren t s s o u g ht

an i n j u n ct i o n d irect i n g h i s p s y ch i at ri s t to tu rn o v er al l o f t h e p at i en t ’ s reco rd s

.

W ithout r e v ie w ing the r e c or ds a nd w ith o u t m ak i n g an y d i s t i nct i on b et ween p ri v i l eg ed

an d n o n -p ri v i leg ed i nfo rm a t i o n , t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at eq u i t y s up p o rt ed t h e

p aren t s ’ p o s i t i on an d i ss u ed t h e i n ju n ct i o n

. Id . at 4 3 0-4 3 1. On ap p eal

, t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt of Geo rg i a s t at ed t h at “ [t ] h e i s s ue t o b e d eci d ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt i n t h i s ap p eal

was a l eg al o n e, wh et h er t h e p s y ch i at ri c reco rd s s ou g h t b y ap p el l ees c o n s t i t u t e

p ri v i leg ed m at t ers pro tect e d f r o m d i s cl o s u re u n d er Geo rg i a l aw. Acco rd i n g l y , we

13rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s l eg al det erm i n at i o n s d e n o vo .” (Ci t at i on o m i t t ed .) Id

. at 4 3 1

(1 ).

Th i s Co u rt an d t h e Su prem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a g en eral l y rev i ew t he g ran t o r

d en ial o f a m o t i o n fo r p ro t ect i v e o rd er u si n g th e ab u s e o f d is cret i o n s t an d ard o f

rev i ew. Al exa n d

er Pr o p er t i es Gr o u

p In c. v. Do e , 2 80 Ga

. 3 0 6

, 3 0 7 (1 ) (6 2 6 SE2 d

4 9 7 ) (2 0 0 6 ); M

i n cey v. Ga

. Dep t

. o

f Co mm. Af

f a i r s , 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 0

, 7 44 (1 ) (7 0 8

SE2 d 6 4 4 ) (2 0 1 1). T h e ap p el l at e co u rt s al so g en eral l y rev i ew f o r a n a b u s e o f

d i s cret i o n a “ d eci s i o n a s t o d i s co v ery m at t ers , i n cl u d i n g t h e ap p li cat i o n o f a

p ri v i leg e.” Gwi n n et t Ho s

p

. S ys

., In c. v. Ho o ver , 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7

, 88 (7 85 SE2 d 9 1 8 )

(2 0 1 6); Br o wn v. Ho wa r d

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 18 2

, 1 83 (7 7 8 SE2 d 8 1 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ). See W il es

v. W i l es , 2 6 4 Ga. 5 9 4

, 59 8 (2 ) (4 4 8 SE2 d 6 81 ) (1 9 94 ) (ap pl y i n g ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

s t an d ard t o r e v i e w t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i ng th at p at i en t was en ti t led t o th e b en efi t o f t h e

m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e).

Here, i n co n t r a s t t o Co o ks ey , t h e t ri al co u rt carefu l l y rev iewed t h e d i s p u t ed

reco rd s an d b as ed m os t o f i t s p ri v i leg e ru l i ng s o n s p eci fi c fact u al d et erm i n at i on s

reg ard i n g wh et h er t h e reco rd s aro s e fro m p at i en t co m m u n i cat i o n s

. Acco rd i n g l y , we

d et erm i n e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s u l t im at e p ri v i leg e ru li n g s s h ou l d b e rev i ewed fo r an

ab u se o f d i s cret i o n , an d we wi l l accep t t h e tri al co u rt ’ s s p eci fi c fact u al fi n d i ng s

14u n d erl y i n g t h o s e ru l i n g s u n l es s t h ey are cl earl y erro n eo us

. “ [I] n v ari o u s co n t ex t s , we

accep t fact u al fi n di n g s un l es s t h ey a r e c l earl y erro n eo u s an d rev i ew a t ri al co urt ’ s

u l t i m at e d eci s io n on th e part i cu l ar i s s u e fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i on .” (Ci tat i on o m i t t ed .)

Reed v. S ta t e , 29 1 Ga. 1 0

, 13 (3 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 1 1 2) (2 0 12 ). See Gr a ves v. S t at e , 2 9 8 Ga.

5 5 1

, 5 5 4 (2 ) (7 8 3 SE 2 d 8 9 1 ) ( 2 0 1 6 ) (i n rev i ewi n g t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ad m i s s i o n o f

s i m i l ar t ran s act i o n ev id en ce, t h i s Co u rt accep t s t he t ri al co urt ’ s fact ual f i n d i n g s

u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s an d rev i ews fo r ab u se of d i s cret io n i ts u l t i m at e d eci s i o n t o

ad m i t t h e ev i d en ce); Br o wn , s u p ra, 3 3 4 G a. Ap p

. at 1 8 3 (“ Fu rt h e r , w e al s o m ay

rev i ew t he d o cu m en t s at i s s u e t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y ap p l i ed

t h e [m en t al h eal t h ] p ri v i l eg e.”) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ).

3

. Tu rn i ng to th e m eri t s , we ag ree w it h Ad v an t ag e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

ru l i n g i t l ack s s t an d i ng t o as s ert t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e.

“ Geo rg i a l aw p ro v i d es s ev eral p ri v i leg es rel at ed t o m en tal h eal t h

, wh i ch

,

co l l ect i v el y , are referred t o as t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e.” Br o wn , s up ra, 3 3 4 Ga.

Ap p

. a t 1 8 5 (1 ); s ee S ta te v. Her en d een , 2 7 9 Ga. 3 23

, 3 2 5 (6 1 3 SE2 d 6 4 7) (2 0 0 5 ).

Sp eci fi cal l y , OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a) p ro v i d es :

15Th ere are cert ai n ad m i s s i o n s an d co m m u n i cat i o n s ex cl u d ed fro m

ev i d en ce o n g ro u n ds o f p u b l i c p o l i cy , i n cl u d in g, b ut n o t l i m it ed t o , th e

fo l l o wi ng :

. . .

(5 ) Co m m u ni cat i on s b et ween p s y ch i at ri s t an d p at i en t ;

(6 ) Co m m un i c at i on s b et ween li cen sed p s y ch ol o g i s t an d p at ien t as

p ro v i d ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 4 3 -3 9 -1 6 ;

(7 ) Co m m u n i cat io n s b et ween a l i cen s ed cl i n i cal so ci al wo rk er, cl i n i cal

n u rs e s peci al i s t i n p s y ch i at ri c/ m e n t al h eal th

, l i cen s ed m arri ag e an d

fam i l y t h erap i st , o r l i cen s ed p ro fes s i o n al co un s el or an d p at i en t; [an d ]

(8 ) Co m m u n i cat i o n s b et ween o r am o n g an y p s y ch i at ri s t

, p s y ch o l o g i s t

, l i cen s ed cl i n i cal s o ci al wo rk er, cl i n i cal n u rs e sp eci al i s t i n

p s y ch i at ri c/ m en t al h eal t h

, l i cen s ed m arri ag e an d fam il y t h erap is t

, an d

l i cen s ed p ro fes s i on al co u n s el o r w h o are ren d eri n g p s y ch o t h erap y o r

h av e ren d ere d p sy ch o t h erap y t o a p at i en t

, reg ard in g t h at p at ien t ’ s

co m m u n i cat io ns wh i ch are o t h er w i se p ri v i l eg ed b y p arag rap h (5 ), (6 ),

o r (7 ) o f t hi s s u b s ect i o n

. . . .

OCGA § 4 3

- 3 9

- 1 6 p ro v i d es t hat “ [t ] h e co n fi d en t ial rel at i o n s an d co m m u n i cat i on s

b et ween a li cen sed p sy ch o l o g is t an d cl ien t are p l aced u p on t h e s am e bas i s a s t h o s e

16p ro v id ed b y l aw b et w een at t o rn ey an d cl ien t ; an d n o th i n g i n t h is ch ap te r s h al l b e

co n st ru ed t o req ui re an y

s u ch p ri vi l eg ed co m

m u n i cat i o n t o b e d i scl o s ed .”

“ Th e p ri m ary p u rp o s e o f t he [m en t al h eal t h ] p ri v i leg e i s t o en co u rag e t h e

p at i en t t o t al k freel y wi t h o u t fear o f d is cl o s u re an d em b arras s m en t

, t hu s en ab l i n g t h e

p s y ch i at ri s t t o ren d er effect i ve t reat m en t of t h e p at ien t ’ s em o t i o n al o r m en t al

d i s o rd ers .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Co o ks ey , su p ra, 29 5 G a. at 4 3 2 (2 ).

Th e p ri v i l eg e “ rem ai ns i nv i o l at e ev en t h o ug h t h e p at i en t ’ s care an d t reat m en t o r t h e

n at u re o r ex t en t o f t h e p at ien t ’ s i n ju ri es are p u t i n i s s u e i n a ci v i l pro ceed i n g .” Id

. at

4 3 2 -4 3 3 (2 ). See al so Mi n cey , s u p ra, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 4 5 (1 ); OCGA § 2 4 -1 2 -1 (a).

“ M oreo v er, an d of p ri m ary im p o rt an ce i n t h i s cas e, i s t he fact t h at u n l ik e o t h er

reco g n ized p ri v i leg es , t h e [m en t al h eal t h] p ri v i l eg e s u rv i v es th e d eat h o f t h e p at i en t .”

(Ci t at i o n an d fo o t n ot e o m i t ted .) Co o ks ey , s u p ra, 2 9 5 Ga. at 4 33 (2 ).

Here, w e co n cl u d e th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ru l i n g t h at A d v an t ag e d o es n ot

h av e s t an d i n g t o s eek t o ex cl u d e o t h erwi s e rel ev an t ev id en ce b y as s ert i n g t h e m en t al

h eal t h p ri v i l eg e o n b eh al f o f Cl ev el an d at t ri al

. I n t h e ab s en ce o f a wai v er b y t h e

p at i en t

, 6 p ri v i l eg ed m at eri al is n ei t h er d i s co v erab l e n o r ad m is s i b l e at t ri al

, an d

n o t h i n g p recl u d es Ad v an t ag e fro m as s ert i n g t h e p ri v i l eg e.

6 Th ere i s n o co nt en t i o n t h at Cl ev el an d wai v ed t h e p ri v i l eg e.

17In Co o ks ey , s u pra, 2 9 5 Ga. at 4 3 4 -4 3 5 (2 ), th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h el d

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d i rect i n g t h e p s y ch i at ri s t t o t u rn o v er al l o f t h e p at i e n t ’ s

reco rd s

. T h e Su p rem e Co u rt reas o n ed th at t he pri v i l eg e s u rv iv es th e d eat h o f t h e

p at i en t

, n o t i n g t hat “ it i s t h e p ro m i se o f co n fi d en t i al it y t h at en co u rag es p at i en t s to

o p en ly di s cu s s t h ei r em o t io n al an d m en t al h eal t h i s s u es

. If p s y ch i a t ri s t -p at i en t

co m m u n icat io ns were p ro t ect ed o n l y u n t i l t he p at ien t ’ s d eat h

, p at i en t s m i gh t n o t feel

as free t o m ak e t h e d i s c l o s u res n eces s ary fo r effect i v e t reat m en t

, t h ereb y i m p ed i n g

t h e p ri m ary g o al o f t h e p ri v i l eg e.” (Ci t at i on o m i t ted .) Id

. at 4 3 3 n

. 6 (2 ). Si g n ifi can t l y ,

t h e Su p rem e Co urt ex p l ai n ed t h at “ t h e p ri vi l eg e i s h el d o n l y b y th e p at i en t an d wai v er

o f t h e p ri v i l eg e m

us t b e ex p res s l y m ad e b y t h e p at i en t

, o r, i n t h e ab s en ce o f a n

ex p res s wai v er b y t he p at i en t

, o n e s eek i ng t h e d i s cl o s ure o f p ri v i leg ed m en tal -h eal th

reco r d s m

u s t es t ab l is h a w ai ver b y t h e p at i en t ’ s d eci s i v e u n eq u i v o cal co n d u ct

r e a s o nab l y i nferri n g t h e i nt en t t o wai v e.” (Ci t at i o n, p u n ct u at i o n , an d fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ; em

p h as i s s u p p li ed .) Id

. at 43 3 (2 ). See a l s o W i l l et t v. S t a t e , 2 2 3 Ga. Ap p.

8 6 6

, 8 6 8 (1 ) (4 79 SE2 d 1 3 2 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (“ Th e ri gh t t o as s ert t h e p ri v i leg e b el o ng s t o t h e

p at i en t .”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed i n Co oks ey , s u pra, 29 5 Ga. at 4 3 3 (2 ),

t h at

18[c] o n s i s t en t wi t h t h e p ro t ect i on s a f f o rd ed p s y ch i at ri s t -p at i en t

co m m u n i cat io ns ev en aft er a p at i en t ’ s de a t h

, o u r l eg is l at u re h as

d et erm i ned t h at a d ece a s e d p at i en t ’ s rep res en t at i v e can n ot wai ve th e

p s y ch i at ri s t -p at i en t pri v i l eg e. See OCGA § 3 1 -3 3 -4 (p ro v i d i n g t hat

s t at u t es au t h o ri zi n g t he rel eas e of h eal t h reco rd s to a d eceas ed p at ien t ’ s

rep res en t at i v e “ s h al l n o t ap pl y t o p s y ch i at ri c, ps y ch ol o g i cal

, o r o t h er

m en t al h eal t h rec o r d s o f a p at i en t ”); OCGA § 3 7 -3 -1 6 6 (a) (8 .1 )

(au t h o ri zi ng m en t al h eal t h faci l i ti es to rel eas e a d e c e as ed p at ien t ’ s

m e n t a l h eal t h reco rd s “ t o t h e l eg al rep res en t at i v e of [t h e] d eceas ed

p at i en t ’ s es t a t e , ex cep t fo r m at t ers p ri v i l eg ed u n d er t h e laws of t h i s

s t at e.”).

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt fram ed t h e p ri v i l eg e as a n earl y ab s o l ut e o n e, em p h as i zi n g t h at

“ t h e p a t i en t i s th e h o l der of th e p s y ch iat ri s t -p at i en t pri v i l eg e an d ab s en t w ai v er b y t h e

p a t i en t

, p ri v i l eg ed co m

m u n icat i o n s m ay n o t be disc l o s ed

. ” (Em p h as i s i n o ri gi n al .) Id

.

a t 4 3 4 n

. 7 (2 ). See al so i d

. at 4 3 4 (2 ) (“ [U] nd er Geo rg i a l aw co n fi d e n t i a l

co m m u n icat io ns bet ween a p s y ch i at ri s t an d p at i en t m ay no t b e d i s cl o s ed ab s en t

wai v er b y t h e pat i en t

. . . .”). Th erefo re, Co o ks ey cert ai n l y s u g g es t s t h at i f a p at i en t

d o es no t wai v e t h e m e n t al h eal t h p ri v il eg e, u p o n t h e p at i en t ’ s d eat h hi s o r h er

p ri v i leg ed m en t al h eal t h reco rd s are ab s o l u t el y pri v i l eg ed an d are t herefo re n ei t h er

19d i s co v erab l e n o r ad m i s s ib l e at t ri al

, reg ard l es s o f w h o rai s es t h e i ss u e o f t h e

p ri v i leg e. 7

Ot h er cas es su p p o rt t h e co n cep t th at t he m en tal h eal t h p ri v i l eg e ap pl i es i n t h e

ab s en ce o f a wai v er b y t he pat i en t an d reg ard l es s of wh o rai ses t h e i s s u e, w h et h er i t

b e an i n d i v i d u al m en t al h eal t h p ro fes s i o n al

, a m en t al h eal t h care faci l i t y , o r an o t h er

en t i t y

. In An n a n d

a l e a t S u wa nee, In c. v. W

ea th er l y , 1 9 4 G a. Ap p

. 80 3 (3 9 2 SE2 d 2 7 )

(1 9 9 0), t h e p l ai n t iff fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t a m en tal h eal t h faci l i t y o n b eh al f o f t h e es t at e

o f a p at i en t wh o d i ed i n a fi re s et b y an o t h er pat i en t

. Ci t in g t h e m en t al h eal th

p ri v i leg e, t h e faci l it y o b

ject ed t o t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s req u es t t h at t h e faci l i t y p ro d u ce al l

rep o rt s referri n g t o th e o t h er p at i en t

, bu t t h e tri al co u rt o rd ered t h e faci l i t y t o p ro d uce

7 Pri o r t o Co o ks ey , i n S ims v. S t a t e , 2 5 1 G a. 8 7 7

, 8 8 0 (5 ) (3 1 1 SE2 d 1 6 1 ) (1 9 8 4), t h e d efen d an t i n a m u rd er cas e s ou g h t t o hav e a p s ych i at ri s t t es t i fy to

s t at em en t s m ad e b y th e v ict i m d u ri n g j o i n t co u n s el i n g s es s i o ns w i t h t h e d ef e n d an t

an d t h e v i ct i m

. Th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h el d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err in

refu si n g t o al l o w t he t es t i m o n y , as t h e v ict i m ’ s co m m u n i cat i on s t o t h e p s yc h i at ri s t

wer e e n t i t l ed t o p ro t ect i on an d t h e p ri v i leg e s u rv i v ed t h e v i ct i m ’ s d eat h. Id

. at 8 8 1 (5 ). Th e Su p rem e Co u rt n o t ed t h at t h e i s su e o f th e St at e ’s s t a n d i n g t o as s ert t h e

p ri v i leg e was n o t rai s ed

, b u t t h ere were co m p et in g l i nes o f au t h o ri ty o n t h e i s su e: s o m e h o l d i n g t h at o n ly t he p ers o n al rep res en tat i v e o f t h e co m m u n ican t o r t h e

p s y ch i at ri s t m ay as s ert t h e p ri v i l eg e aft e r t h e c o m m u n i can t ’ s d eat h, an d o t h ers h o l d i n g t h a t t h e t ri al co urt h as d i s cret i on t o i nv o k e t h e p ri v i l eg e o n i ts o wn m o t i o n i n t h e co m

m u n i can t’ s a b s e n c e

. I d

. at 8 8 1 n

. 7 (5 ). Co o ks ey ap p ears t o h av e l arg el y

res o l ved t h i s i s s u e, su ch t h at i n t h e ab s en ce of a w ai v er b y t h e p at ien t

, m at eri al

co v ered b y t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e rem ai n s n earl y ab s o l u t el y pri v i l eg ed aft er a

p at i en t ’ s d eat h

.

20t h e reco rd s

. Id

. Th i s Co u r t h e l d t h at t o t h e ex ten t t h e reco rd s i n v o l v ed

co m m u n icat io ns b et ween t h e p at i en t an d a p sy ch i at ri s t o r p s y ch o l o gi s t , t he reco rd s

were p ri v i l eg ed an d “ n ot t o b e p ro d u ced

. ” Id

. at 8 0 4

. See al s o Her en deen

, s u p ra, 2 7 9

Ga. at 32 7 (i n t h e ab s en ce o f a w ai v er o f t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e by t h e p at i en t s ,

an y i n fo rm at i o n i n t h e p o s s es s i o n o f a m en t al h eal th faci l i t y wh i ch h ad it s o ri g i n s in

co m m u n icat io ns fro m t h e p at ien t s t o co v ered m en t al h eal t h p ro v id ers was p ri v i l eg ed

an d n o t s u bject t o d i s cl o s u re p urs u an t t o a s u b p o en a).

In F r eema n v. S ta te

, 1 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 3

, 3 43 -3 4 4 (1 ) (3 9 6 SE2 d 6 9 ) (1 99 0 ), t h e

d efen d an t cal l ed a p s y ch i at ri st t o t es t i fy reg ard i n g h is co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e v i ct i m , h i s

p at i en t

, h ad p s y ch i at ri c d i so rd ers

. Th e St at e ob ject ed on th e b as i s o f t h e m en t al h eal th

p ri v i leg e, an d i t was es t ab li s h ed t h at t h e vi ct i m h ad no t wai v ed t h e p ri v i l eg e. Th i s

Co u rt co n cl u d ed : “ Th is pri v i l eg e i s ab s o l ut e. Th e req u i si t e co nfi d en t i al rel at i o n s h ip

ex i s t ed

. W it h o u t a wai v er, t h ere was n o b as i s fo r t he ad m i ss i o n o f t es t i m o n y ab o ut

c om m unic a tions be tween ps y ch i at ri s t an d pat i en t .” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t ted .) I d. a t 343- 344

(1 ). See al s o Tr a mmel v. Br ad b er r y , 2 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 2

, 4 2 3 ( 6 ) (5 6 8 SE2 d 7 1 5 )

(2 0 0 2) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y) (“ A s t o ci v i l co m m i t m en t o r t reat m en t by

p s y ch i at ri s t, p s y ch o l og i s t

, o r co u n s el o r, t h e ab s o l u t e p ri v i l eg e of [fo rm e r OCGA

§ 24 -9 -2 1

, cu rren t OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 ] ap pl i es ex cep t wh en wai v ed b y t h e p at i en t

21al o n e.”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ); S cr o g g in s v. S t a t e , 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 2, 1 2 4 (4 ) (5 1 4 SE2 d

2 5 2 ) (1 9 99 ) (“ T h e [m en tal h eal t h ] p ri v i l eg e i s ab s ol u t e, an d u nl es s i t i s wai v ed

, t h e

i n fo rm at i o n s o u g h t i s n ot d i s c o v e r ab l e.”) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ); M il i ch

, Ga. Ru l es o f

Ev i d en ce 2 0 1 8-2 0 1 9, § 23 : 4 (“ Th e cl i en t i s t h e h o l d er o f t h e p ri v i l eg e an d t h u s o n l y

t h e cl i en t m ay

as s ert o r wai v e i t .”).

By way o f co nt ras t

, i n Jo h n s o n v. St a t e , 2 54 Ga. 5 9 1

, 5 95 (2 ) (3 3 1 SE2 d 5 7 8 )

(1 9 8 5), t he Su p r e m e C o u r t o f Geo rg i a h el d t h at th e d efen d an t l ack ed s t an d i n g to

o b ject t o t h e t es t i m on y

o f h i s co -d efen dan t ’ s cel l m at e reg ard i ng p s y ch i at ri c rep o rt s

o n th e cel l m a t e ’s m en t al co n d it i o n

. Th e Su prem e Co urt ex p l ai n ed th at t h e m en t al

h eal t h p ri v i l eg e b el o n g ed t o t h e cel l m at e, w h o g av e t he t es t i m o n y wi t h o u t cl ai m i n g

p ro t ect i o n o f t h e p ri v i l eg e. Id

. at 5 9 5 n

. 2 (2 ). Th erefo re, t h e cel l m at e i n Jo h n s o n m ay

h av e i m p l i ci t l y w ai v ed h is p ri v i l eg e b y t es t i fy i n g , wh i l e i n t h i s cas e Cl ev el an d i s

d eceas ed an d t h ere i s n o co n t en t i o n h e wai v ed h i s p ri vi l eg e.

M o reo v er, a ru l e t h at a faci l i t y i n p o s s es s i on o f p ri v i l eg ed i n fo rm at i o n m ay n ot

as s ert t he m en tal h eal t h p ri v i l eg e

— wh et h er t o p rev en t d i s cl o s u re o f s u ch

i n fo rm at i o n d u ri n g d is co v ery o r t o p rev en t ad m i s s i o n o f s u ch in fo rm at i o n at t ri al

—

wo u l d co n t rav en e t h e p ri v i leg e’ s p u rp o s e o f en co u rag i ng free co m m u n i c a t i on s

b et ween p at i en t s an d m en tal h eal t h p ro v i d ers

. See Her en deen

, s u p ra, 2 7 9 Ga. at 3 2 5

22(“ As far as t he i n d i v i d ual p at i en t ’ s p ri v at e i n teres t i s co n cern ed , co n fi d en t i al i t y i s a

s i ne q u a n on fo r su cc e s s f u l p s y ch o th erap eu t i c t reat m en t s i n ce a p s y ch o t h erap i st ’ s

ab i l i t y t o h el p a p at i en t i s co m p l et el y d ep en d en t u p o n t h e p at i en t’ s wi l l i n gn es s an d

ab i l i t y t o tal k freel y , an d as s u ran ces o f co nfi d en t i al i t y an d p ri v il eg e fo s t er t h e

p s y ch o th erap i st ’ s ab il i t y t o fu nct i o n .”) (ci tat i o n o m i t t e d); Mi n cey , s u p ra, 3 0 8 Ga.

Ap p

. at 7 4 5 (1 ) (“ [I] n o rd er t o en co u rag e a pat i en t to sp eak freel y t o h is or h er m en t al

h eal t h pro fes s i o nal

, w e d ecl are s u ch co m m u n icat i o ns ‘ a b s o lu t el y p ri vi l eg ed ,’ an d

p ro t ect t h em fro m d is co v ery i n t h e ab s en ce of an affi rm at i v e wai v er b y th e p at i en t .”)

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

W e reco g ni ze t h at t he m en t al heal th p ri v i l eg e an d t he at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri v i l eg e

are l arg el y co ex t en s i v e, s ee OCGA § 4 3 -3 9 -1 6

, an d t h at t h e r u l e p r o v i d i n g t h at

co m m u n icat io ns b et ween at to rn ey an d cl i en t are p ri v i l eg ed can n o t b e i n v o k ed fo r t h e

b en efi t o f p ers o n s wh o are s t ran g ers t o th e at t o rn ey -cl i en t rel at i o n s h i p

. See W h i t e v.

Reg io n s Ba n k

, 2 7 5 Ga. 3 8

, 4 1 (2 ) (c) (5 6 1 SE2 d 8 0 6 ) (2 0 0 2 ); S ch a f f er v. Fo x , 3 0 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 5 8 4, 5 8 7 (2 ) (6 9 3 SE2 d 8 5 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Ho w e v e r, t h is d o es n o t al t er o u r

co n cl u s i o n h ere fo r t w o reas o ns

. Fi rs t

, we are bo u n d by Co o ks ey an d o t h er pri o r cas es

d es cri b i ng t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e as nearl y ab so l u t e an d ap p l i ca b l e i n t h e

ab s en ce o f wai v er b y th e p at i en t

. Seco nd

, we reject t he co ncep t t h at a m en t al h eal th

23faci li t y , wh i ch em p l o y s i n d i v id u al m en tal h eal t h p ro vi d ers an d is th e cu s t o d i an o f t h e

p a t i en t’ s reco rd s , i s a “ s t ran ger” t o t h e p ro vi d er-p at i en t rel at io n s hi p. In d eed

, a

h o s p it al o r m en t al h eal t h faci l i t y can b e h el d li ab l e fo r t h e i m p r o per d i scl o s u re o f

p ri v i leg ed m en t al h eal th reco rd s

. See Ken n es t o n e Ho s p

. v. Ho p s o n , 2 7 3 Ga. 1 4 5 (5 3 8

SE2 d 7 4 2 ) (2 0 0 0 ); S let t o v. Ho s p

. Au t h.

, 2 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 3

, 2 0 6 (1 ) (5 2 1 SE2 d 1 9 9 )

(1 9 9 9).

W e al so ack n o wl ed g e th at “ i t i s no s m al l m at t er fo r a co u rt

, gi v en i t s fo cu s o n

t h e p u rs u i t o f t ru t h an d ju s t i ce, t o h o l d th at p o t en t i al l y rel ev an t ev id en ce i s s h i el d ed

fro m [ad m i s s i on at t ri al ] ,” Co o ks ey , s u p ra, 2 9 5 Ga. at 4 3 5 (3 ), es p eci al ly i n l i g h t o f

t h e fact t h at Ad v an tag e h as prev i o u s l y d i s cl o s e d t h e reco rd s

. “ Ou r leg i s l at u re,

h o wev er, h as d et erm i n ed th at t h e p u b l i c p o l i ci es su p po rt i n g t he creat i o n o f a m en t al

h eal t h p ri v i l eg e n eces si t at ed en act m en t o f a nearl y ab s o l u t e pri v i l eg e, o n e wi t h o ut

ex cep t i o n i f th e p at i en t i s d eceas ed o r t h e nat u re o f th e p at i en t ’ s m en t al co n d i t i o n i s

p u t at i s su e.” Id . at 4 35 -4 3 6 (3 ). Acco rd i ng l y , we co n cl u d e t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred

i n ru l i n g t h at Ad v an t ag e d o es n o t h av e s t an d i n g t o ex cl u d e o t h erwi s e rel ev an t

ev i d en ce b y

as sert i n g t h e m en t al h eal th p ri v i l eg e o n b eh al f o f Cl ev el an d at t ri al

.

4

. In arg u i n g t hat “ [t ] h e t ri al co u rt erred i n co n cl u d in g t h at t h e m en t al h eal th

p ri v i leg e d o es n o t ap p l y t o t h e d i ag n os es , m ed i cat i on s , p res cri p t i o n s, g o al s ,

24o b s erv at i o n s , an d t reat m en t p l an s i n Cl ev el an d ’ s m en t al h eal t h reco rd s ,” A d v an t ag e

ch al l en g es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s p ri v i l eg e ru l i n g s i n t o t o wi t h o u t an al y zi n g o r ch al l en g i n g

an y sp eci fi c ru l i n g s

. Ad v an t ag e bro ad l y as s ert s t h at t h e m en t al h eal th pri v i l e g e

a p p l i es n o t ju s t to act u al co m m u n icat i o ns b et ween p at i en t s an d m en t al h eal t h

p ro fes s i on al s , b u t al s o t o i nfo rm at i on wi t h o ri g in s i n s u ch co m m un i cat i o n s

. It arg u es

t h at d i ag n o s es , m ed i cat i o n s , p res cri p t i o n s , g o al s , o b s erv at i o ns , an d t reat m en t p l an s

n eces s ari l y o r i g i n a t e fro m co m m u n icat i o n s , as t h e on l y way m en t al h eal th

p ro fes s i on al s can d iag n o s e p at i en t s , d et erm i n e w h at m ed i cat io n s t o p res cri b e, co l l ect

o b s erv at i o n s , o r dev i s e t reat m en t p l an s i s b y co m m u n i cat i n g w i t h t h em , an d t h e

m e n t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e m u s t be ap pl i ed h ere i n o rd er t o ad van ce t h e p ri v i l e g e ’s

p u rp os e.

Beca u s e Ad v an t ag e o n ly p ro v i d es arg u m en t ch al l en g in g t h e tri al co urt ’ s

p ri v i leg e ru l i n g s as a wh o l e an d at l eas t s o m e o f t h es e ru li n g s were n o t erro n eo u s , t h i s

en u m erat i o n of erro r fai l s

. Th e t ri al co u rt d id n o t ru l e th at t he “ d i ag n o s es ,

m ed i cat i o n s , p res cri p t i o n s, g oal s , o b s erv at i o n s , an d t reat m en t p lan s ” i n t he reco rd s

were cat eg ori cal l y no t p ri v i l eg ed

. In s t ead

, at l eas t as t o t h e g o al s , ob s erv at i o n s , an d

t reat m en t p l an s , t h e t ri al co u rt an al y zed t he reco rd s an d ru led t h at s om e reco rd s were

25p ri v i leg ed an d s o m e were n o t

, d ep en d i n g o n wh et h er t h ey aro s e fro m p at i en t

co m m u n icat io ns

.

It i s wel l -s et t l ed t h at t h e m en t al h eal t h p ri v i leg e ap p l i es t o “ co m m un i cat i o n s ”

an d “ ad m i s s i on s ” b et ween p at ien t s an d co v ered m en t al h eal th p ro v id ers , as wel l as

co m m u n i cat io n s b et ween s u ch p ro v i d ers reg ard i n g p at i en t co m m u n icat i o n s

. See

OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 01 (a); C o o ks ey , s u p ra, 2 9 5 Ga. at 43 3 n

. 5 (2 ); Dyn i n v. Ha l l

, 2 0 7

Ga. A p p

. 3 3 7

, 33 8 (1 ) (4 2 8 SE2 d 8 9) (1 9 9 3 ); Mr o z i n s ki v. Po gu e , 2 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 1,

7 3 4 (2 ) (4 2 3 SE2 d 4 05 ) (1 9 9 2 ). Th e p ri vi l eg e al s o ap p l i es t o “ an y i n fo rm at i o n t h at

t h e [m en t a l h e a l t h ] p ro fes si o n al h ol d s wh i ch h as i t s o ri g i ns i n ” co m m u n i cat i on s

b et ween th e pat i en t an d t h e pro fes s i o n al

. See M i n cey , s u p ra, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 4 6 (1 ).

See al s o Co o ks ey , su p ra, 2 9 5 Ga. at 4 3 2 n

. 4 (2 ) (“ T he p r o t ect i o n s affo rd ed t h es e

co m m u n icat io ns ex t en d t o co m m un i cat io n s b et ween o r a m o n g a p s y ch i at ri s t an d

o t h er m en t al h eal t h p ro fes s i o n al s l i s t e d i n OC G A § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a) (8 ) an d i n cl u d e a

p s y ch i at ri s t’ s co n cl u si o n s t h at o ri g i n at ed in co m m u n i cat i o n s b et ween th e p at i en t an d

t h e p s y ch i at ri s t .”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ); Her en d een , s u p ra, 2 7 9 Ga. at 3 27 (“ An y

i n fo rm at i o n i n t h e p o s s es si o n of [t h e p ro fes s i o n al s o r faci l it y ] wh i ch h ad i t s o ri g i n s

i n co m m u n i cat i on s fro m t h e p at i en t s to t he m ed ical h eal t h p ro v i d ers i s pri v i l eg ed .”)

(ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ); Mr o z i n s ki

, su p ra, 2 05 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 3 4 (2 ) (“ In fo rm at i o n wh i ch

26o r i

g i n a t ed a s co m

m u n i cat i o n s fro m t h e p at ien t m ay b e p ri v il eg ed .”) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ; em

p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ). Th e p ri v i l eg e d o es n o t ap p l y t o t h e fact

o f t reat m en t o r t h e d at es o n wh i ch treat m en t was ren d ered

. Co o ks ey , s u p ra, 2 9 5 Ga.

at 4 3 3 n

. 5 (2 ); Jo hn s o n , s u p r a , 2 5 4 G a

. at 59 7 (7 ); Mi n cey , su p ra, 30 8 Ga. Ap p

. at

7 4 6 (1 ).

Here, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n ru l i n g t h at at l eas t s o m e o f

t h e d i s p u t ed reco rd s were n o t p ri vi l eg ed

, b as ed on i t s f a c t u a l f i n d i n g s t h at t h es e

r e c o r d s d i d no t h av e t h ei r o ri g i n s i n p at ien t -m en tal heal t h p ro fes s i o n al

co m m u n icat io ns

. On e d i s p u t ed r e c o rd in d icat es t h at Cl ev el an d w as recei v i n g

p s y ch i at ri c t reat m en t, an d t h e m en t al h eal th p r i v i l e g e d o es no t ap p l y t o t h e fact o f

t reat m en t

. Ot h er d i s p u t ed reco rd s s i m p l y s h o w t h at Cl ev el an d p art i ci p at ed in cert ai n

act i vi t i es , s u ch as m e e t i n g wi t h a s o ci al wo rk er, at t en di n g g ro u p t herap y , an d

wat ch i n g t el ev i s i o n , o r s ho w th at h i s ap pearan ce was ap p ro pri at e. T h e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t cl earl y err i n fi n d i ng t h a t t h es e reco rd s d id n o t h av e t h ei r o ri g i n s i n p at i en t

co m m u n icat io ns

.

27W h i l e i t i s ar g u a b l e t h at s o m e p o rt i o ns o f t h e reco rd s wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt

d eem ed n o n -p ri v i leg ed act u al ly h ad t h ei r ori g i n s i n p at ien t co m m u n i cat i o n s , 8 we d o

n o t res o l ve th at i ss u e i n t h i s a p p e a l b ecau s e i t i s n o t p res en t ed t o us

. A d v an t ag e

b ro ad l y ch al l en g es t h e t ri al co urt ’ s pri v i l eg e ru l i ng s as a wh o l e, an d at l eas t s o m e o f

t h e s e r u l i n g s were n o t erro n eo u s

. Ad v an t ag e, as t h e ap p el l an t

, b ears t h e b u rd en t o

s h o w erro r affi rm at i v e l y b y arg u m en t an d b y ci t at i o n t o t h e reco rd

. See Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s Ru l e 25 (c) (2 ). As Ad v an t ag e’ s ch al l en g e t o t h e en t iret y of t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

p r ivile ge r

uling s fai l s , we wi l l n o t m an u fact u re o r an al y ze m o re s peci fi c en u m erat i on s

o f erro r o r arg u m en t s n o t as s ert ed b y Ad v an t ag e. 9 See H es s Oi l & Ch emi ca l Co r

p

. v.

8 Fo r i n s t an ce, wh i l e t h e tri al co u rt ru l ed th at t h e d iag n o s es were n o t p ri v i l eg ed

, i n Fr eema n , s up ra, 19 6 G a. A p p

. a t 3 4 3-3 4 4 (1 ), t h i s Co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at t h e

m en t al h eal t h pri vi leg e ap p l i ed t o a p s y ch i at ri s t ’ s t es t i m o ny t h at as a res u l t o f h i s

ev al u at i on s o f t h e v i ct i m , h is fo rm er p at i en t, he fo u nd t h e v i ct i m t o b e s u fferi n g fro m

m ajo r p s yc h i a t r i c d i s o rd ers

. W e n o t e th at wh ere act ual co m m un i cat i o n s are n o t at
i s su e an d a t ri al co u rt m

u st d et erm i n e wh et h er d i sp u t e d m a t e r i al h ad i t s o ri g i n s in

p at i en t co m

m u n i cat i on s , ap p li cat i o n o f t he pri v i l eg e can b e a fact -i n t en si v e i n q u i ry , al t h o u g h s u ch i n q u i ry

s h o u ld b e g u i d ed b y

p reced en t s uch as Fr eema n

.

9 W e al s o n o t e t h at

, as t h e p lai n t i ffs p o i n t o u t, i t i s n o t ap p aren t fro m t h e reco rd

o n ap peal wh et h er s o m e o f t h e d i s p u t ed reco rd s i n v o l ve co m m u n i cat io n s b et ween Cl ev el an d an d co v ered m en t al h eal t h p ro v i d ers o r ag en ts t hereo f un d er OCGA § 2 4

- 5 -5 0 1 (a). “ In o rd er t o i n v o k e t h e st at u t o ry m en t al h eal t h p ri v i l eg e i n Geo r g i a , t h e

req u i s i t e r e l at io n s h i p o f m en t al h eal t h p ro vi d er an d p at i en t m u s t h av e ex i s t ed .” (Pu n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Her en d een , s u p ra, 2 7 9 Ga. at 3 26

. Un d er t h e c l e a r t erm s o f

OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a), t h e p ri v i leg e o n ly ap pl i es t o c o m m un i cat i o n s i nv o l v i n g

p s y ch i at ri s ts

, p s y ch o l o gi s ts

, l i cen se d c linic a l soc ia l w or k e r s, cl i n i cal n u rs e s p eci al i s t s

28Na s h

, 2 2 6 Ga. 7 0 6

, 7 08 (1 7 7 SE2 d 70 ) (1 9 7 0 ) (“ T h e d u ty o f th e ap p el l at e co u rt i s to

co rrect erro rs al l eg ed t o h av e b een m ad e in t h e t ri al co u rt an d n o t t o m an u fact u r e

t h em .”).

In co n cl u s i o n , w e rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g t h at Ad van t ag e l ack s s t an d i n g

t o ex cl u d e p ri v i l eg ed m at eri al at t ri al b y as s ert i n g t he m en t al h eal t h pri v i l eg e.

Ho wev er, we affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n gs reg ard i ng wh et her d i s p ut ed p o rt i o n s o f

Ad v an t ag e’ s reco rd s were p ri v i l eg ed

.

Ju d g men t af fi r med i n p a r t a n d r ever s ed i n p a rt

. Ri c k

ma n a n d R ees e, JJ.,

co n cu r

.

i n p s y ch i at ri c/ m en t al h eal t h

, l i cen sed m arri ag e an d fam il y t h erap i s t s , a n d l i cen s ed

p ro fes s i on al co u ns el o rs

. See OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a) (5 )

- ( 8 )

. T h e p ri v i l eg e al s o

ap p li es t o ag en t s o f co v ered m en t al h eal t h p ro v i d er s

. See Ho o ver , s u pra, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 8 -8 9 (1 ); Pl u n ket t v. Gi n s b u r g , 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0

, 21 (4 5 6 SE2 d 5 9 5) (1 9 9 5 ).

See al s o Myer

s v. St at e , 2 5 1 Ga. 8 8 3

, 8 8 4 (2 ) (3 1 0 SE2 d 5 0 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ) (“ W h ere t h e

n u rs e i s an ag en t o f t he h o s p i t al rat h er t han t h e co m m u n i can t ’ s do ct o r, h o wev er, t h e d o ct o r’ s p ri v il eg e w i l l no t p ro t ect co m m u ni c a t i on s m ad e t o t he n u rs e.”) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

29