THI RD DI VI SI ON GOBEI L, COOM ER, and HODGES, 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.

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M ar ch 15, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 92 6

. STACY AARON ON BEHALF O F THE W RONGFUL D E A T H B E NEF I C I A R I E S O F E D I T H A A A R O N v. U N I T E D HEALTH SERVICES OF GEORGIA, INC., et al

.

C O O M E R , J u d ge.

In t h i s i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal
, we d eci d e wh et her a b i nd i n g arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t

ex i s t s i f o n e p art y d o e s n o t s i gn t h e ag reem en t. St acy A aro n , o n b eh al f o f Ed i t h a

Aaro n ’ s wro n g fu l -d eat h ben efi ci ari es , ap p eal s t h e t ri a l c o u r t’ s ord er s t ay i n g h i s

l aws u i t ag ai ns t th e en t i ti es ru n n in g t h e n u rs i n g h o m e t h at he al l eg e s h a r m e d h i s

m o th er an d co m

p el li ng arb i t rat i o n

. 1 Fo r t h e reas o ns t hat fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

1 Th e Ap p el l ees i n t h i s cas e are Un i ted Heal t h Serv i ces o f Geo rg i a, In c., UHSPru i t t H o l di n g s , In c., Pru i t t Heal th
, In c., Pru i t t Heal t h Care M an ag em en t , In c., Pru i t tHeal t h -Pro p ert y M an ag em en t , LLC, Pru i t t Heal t h Co n s u l t i n g Serv i ces , In c., Pru i t tHeal t h T h erap y Serv i ces , In c., Pru i t t Heal t h -Sav an n ah
, LLC, an d Ran dy W es t , NHA. Fo r s i m

p l i ci t y , we cal l t h em , co l l ect i vel y , “ Pru i t t Heal t h.”On a p p e a l f r o m t h e g ran t o r d en i al o f a m o t io n t o co m pel arb it rat i o n , t h e

s t an d ard o f rev i ew is “ wh et h er th e t ri al co u rt was co rrect as a m at t er of l aw.” Ti l l ma n

Pa r k, LLC v. Da b b s-W

il l i a ms Gen

. Co n t ra ct o rs , 2 9 8 Ga. A p p

. 2 7, 2 9

– 3 0 (6 7 9 SE2 d

6 7 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). “ [T] h e co ns t ru ct i o n o f an arb i t rat i o n

ag reem en t , l i ke an y o t h er co n t ract , p res en t s a q u es t i o n of l aw, wh i ch i s s u b ject t o d e

n o v o rev i ew.” Id

at 3 0 (fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed ).

Th e reco rd h ere s h o ws t h at in O ct o ber 2 0 1 4
, E d i t h a w as ad m i t t e d t o a

Pru i t tHeal t h n u rs i ng h o m e i n Sav an n ah

. 2 Pri o r t o h er ad m i s s i o n , Ed i th a g av e h er so n

St acy p ower o f at t o rn ey

. He si g n ed an ad m i s s i o n ag reem en t o n h is m o t her’ s b eh al f,

wh i ch was al s o s i g n ed by a Pru i t t Heal t h rep res e n t a t i v e. Th e ad m i s s io n ag reem en t

co n tai n ed no arb i t rat i o n cl au s e an d d i d n o t refer t o a s ep arat e arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t

. Sep arat e fro m t hi s fu l l y ex ecu t ed ad m is s i o n ag reem en t i s a p art i al l y ex ecu t ed

arb i t rat i on ag reem en t ( t h e “ A g reem en t ”). Th e Ag reem en t li s ts t h e p art i es as

“ Un i Heal t h PA C S a v a n n a h
, LLC,” an d “ Ed i t h a

. . . an d B Aaro n,” ev en th o u g h “ B

Aaro n ” is n o t Ed i th a’ s rep res en t at i v e an d d id n o t s i g n th e Ag reem en t

. Al t h ou g h t h e

p re-p ri nt ed p o rt i o n o f t h e Ag reem en t s ays t h a t i t was ‘ m ad e an d en t ered i n t o ” o n

2 Th e d eced en t ’ s n am e ap p ears as “ Ed i t h” an d “ Ed i t ha” i n t h e reco rd

. W e refer
t o h er as Ed i t h a.

2Oct o b er 2 3
, St acy d i d n ot s i gn i t u n ti l t he n ex t d ay

. Th e Ag reem en t p ro v i d es t h at a

s i gn at u re b i n d s Ed i t h a an d an y o n e e n t i tl ed t o s u e b ecau se of h er d eat h

. No

rep res en t at i v e o f Pru i tt Heal t h s i g n ed t he A greem en t , e v en t h o u g h t he A g reem en t

co n tai n s a s i g n a t u r e b l o ck fo r a Pru i tt Heal th rep res en t at i ve t o s ig n

. Bo t h t h e

ad m i s s i o n an d t he arb i t rat i on ag reem en t s we re p rep ared b y Pru i t t Heal t h an d

p res en t ed t o Ed i t h a d u ri n g h er ad m i s s i o n p ro ces s at Pru i t t Heal t h ’ s faci l i t y

.

Pru i t tHeal t h m ai n t ai n ed t h e p art i al l y ex ecu t ed Ag reem en t i n i t s reco rd s

.

Ed i t ha p as s ed away w i t hi n week s of her d i s ch arg e fro m t h e n urs i ng h o m e.

St acy s ued Pru i t tHeal t h o n beh al f o f h er wro n g fu l d eat h b en efi ci ari es fo r n eg l i g en ce,

v i o l at i o n s o f t h e b i l l of ri g h t s fo r res i d en t s o f l o n g -t erm care faci l i ti es , m ed i cal

m al p ract i ce, frau d
, an d wro n g fu l d eat h

. Pru i t t Heal t h an s wered t h e l aws u it an d al s o

s ep arat el y

m o ved t o co m

p el arb i t rat i o n . Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o t io n , h o l d i n g

t h at t h e p art i es h ad m

u t u al l y as sen t ed t o t h e Ag reem en t. T h e t ri al co u rt reas o n ed t h at

Pru i t tHeal t h n eed n o t s i g n t h e Ag reem en t b ecau s e i ts act o f en t eri n g t h e “ ex act d at e

t h e ag reem en t was s i gn ed ” an d “ o t h er s p eci fi c l an g u ag e” ab o u t t h e p art i es i n d i cat ed

i t s as s en t t o t he Ag reem en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt cert i fi ed t h e o rd er fo r i m m ed i at e rev i ew,

an d we g ran t ed St acy ’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r i n t erl o cu to ry ap p eal

.

3In a s i n g l e en u m e r at i o n o f erro r, St acy arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

h o l d i n g t h at t h e p art ies h ad m u t u al l y as sen t ed t o arb i t rat e. W e d i s ag ree.

“ W h et her t h ere i s a val i d ag reem en t t o arb it rat e is g en eral ly g o v ern ed b y s t at e

l aw p ri n ci p l es o f co n t ract fo rm at i o n

... .” Tr i a d Hea lt h M g mt

. o f Geo r g i a , III, LLC v.

Jo h ns o n , 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 20 4
, 2 0 6 (2 ) (6 79 SE2 d 7 8 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Un der Geo rg i a l aw, a

wri t ten , un s ig ned co n t ract can b e en fo rceab l e i f t h e p art i es m u t u al l y as s en t t o i t s

t erm s

. Co ch r a n v. Ea s o n , 2 27 Ga. 3 1 6
, 31 8 (1 ) (1 80 SE2 d 7 02 ) ( 1 9 7 1 ); S i l vey v.

W yn n , 1 02 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 3
, 2 8 3 (1 ) (1 1 5 SE2 d 7 74 ) (1 9 6 0); Co m ves t
, LLC v. Co r

p o r a t e

S ecu ri t i es Gr o up , In c ., 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p . 2 7 7 , 2 8 0 -2 81 (3 ) (5 0 7 SE2 d 2 1) (1 99 8 ).

In d et erm i n i n g i f p art i es h ad t h e m u t u al as s en t o r m eet i n g o f t h e m i n d s

n eces s ary t o reach ag reem en t , co u rt s ap pl y an o b j ect i v e t h eo ry o f i n t en t
wh ereb y o n e p art y ’ s i n t en t i o n i s d eem ed to b e t h at m ean in g a reas o n ab l e

m an i n th e p o s i t i o n o f t h e o th er co nt ract i n g p art y wo u l d as cri be t o th e fi rs t p art y ’ s m an i fes t at i o n s o f as s en t , o r t h at m e a n i n g wh i ch t h e o t h er

co n t ract i n g p art y k new t h e fi rs t p art y as cri b ed t o h is m an i fes t at i o ns o f

as s en t

. In s o m e i n s tan ces , t h e o n l y co n d u ct o f t h e p ar t i es m an i fes t i n g i n t en t i s t h e ex p res s l an gu ag e o f t he ag reem en t

. In o t h er i n s tan ces , t he
ci rcu m s t a n c es su rro u n d i n g t h e m ak i ng o f t he co n t ract , s u ch as

co rres p o n d en ce an d d i s cu s s i o ns , are rel ev an t in d eci d i n g i f t h ere was a

m u t u al as s en t t o an ag reem en t, an d co u rt s are free t o co n s i d e r s u ch

ex t ri n s i c ev i d en ce.

4Co x Br o a d

ca s t i n g Co r

p

. v. Na t

. Co l leg i a te A t h l et i c A s s n. , 2 5 0 Ga. 3 9 1
, 3 9 5 (2 9 7

SE2 d 7 3 3) (1 9 8 2) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

Th e reco rd b efo re u s s up p o rt s t h e co n cl u si o n th at t h e part i es m u t u al l y ag reed

t o arb it rat e t h es e cl ai m s . Fi rs t, St acy s i gn ed t h e Ag reem en t an d i n i t i al ed each p ag e,

i n d i cat i n g h i s i n t en t to b e b ou n d b y i t

. S ee Bo s t wi ck Ba n ki n g Co

. v. Ar n o l d
, 2 2 7 Ga.

1 8
, 2 3 (1 7 8 SE2 d 8 9 0 ) (1 9 7 0 ) (“ A co u rt m a y t a k e j u di ci al n ot i ce t h at t h e s i g n at u re

o f an i n d i v i d u al o n t h e face o f a n o t e

. . . i s t h e u n i v ers al m et h o d of s i g ni ng a co n t ract

t o as s u m e a p ers o n al o b li g at i o n .” (ci t at i on o m i t ted )).

As t o Pru i tt Heal t h
, i t d raft ed t h e Ag reem en t , p res en ted it t o St acy fo r ap p ro v al
,

an d ret ai n ed i t i n i t s reco rd s aft er St acy d em on s trat ed as s en t t o th e t erm s. Pru i t t Heal th

al s o fi l l ed i n t h e d at e o f in t en d ed ex ecu t io n an d sp eci fi cal ly t ai l o r e d t h e co n t ract

l an g u ag e t o t he p art i es

. See Tu r n er Br o a dca s t in g

S ys t em, In c. v. McDa vi d , 3 0 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 5 9 3
, 5 9 7 (1 ) (6 9 3 SE2 d 8 7 3) ( 2 0 1 0 ) ( “ [I] n cas es s u ch as t hi s o n e, t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces s urro u n di n g t h e m ak in g o f t h e co n t ract , s u ch as co rres p o nd en ce an d

d i s cu s s i o n s , are rel ev an t i n d eci d i n g i f th ere was a m u t ual as s en t t o an ag reem en t .”

(ci t at i o n s o m it t ed )). M o reo v er, Pru it t H eal t h h as ex p res s l y s t at ed i n i t s p lead i n g s i t s

i n t en t i o n t o b e b o un d b y

t h e Ag reem en t

.

5In a d d i t i o n to s t ro n g ev i d en ce t h at b o t h p art i es m u t u al l y as s en t ed t o t h e

Ag reem en t at t h e ti m e o f t h e pat i en t ’ s ad m i ss i o n , Pru i t t Heal t h so u gh t t o en fo rce t h e

Ag reem en t at i t s fi rs t av ai lab l e o p p o rt u ni t y

. S ee Bu r so n v. M i l t o n Ha l l S

u r g i ca l

As s o cs

. , LLC
, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 9
, 1 6 7 (2 ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 2 3 9 ) (2 01 7 ). On t h e s am e d ay i t

fi led i t s an s wer, Pru i t t H eal t h al s o fi l ed a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s , o r al t ern at i v el y , a m o t i o n

t o co m p el arb i t rat i o n

. See W

eya n t v. Ma cIn t

yr e, 2 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 1
, 2 8 3 -2 84 (3 ) (4 3 8

SE2 d 6 4 0) (1 9 9 3 ) (arb i t rat i o n req u i red wh ere p art y m ad e k n o w n h i s i n ten t i o n t o rel y

u p o n t he arb i t rat i o n cl au se, an d
, aft er act io n was fi l ed
, as s ert ed t h e arb i t rat i on cl au s e

i n h is an s wer an d p ro m

p t l y m o ved t o co m

p el arb i t rat i o n ). Cf

. Ti l l ma n G r o u

p , In c. v.

Kei t h
, 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 0, 6 8 1 (2 ) (4 1 1 SE2 d 7 9 4 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (By “ l i t i gat i n g t h e m eri t s o f

t h e ap p el l ees ’ cl ai m

. . . w i t ho u t fi l i n g a m ot i o n [t o co m p el arb i t rat i o n ] o r o t h erwi s e

s eek i n g t o i n it i at e arb i t rat i o n pr o ceed i n gs , t h e ap p el l an t wai v ed i t s ri g ht to i n si s t u p o n

arb i t rat i on .”); Na t

. Pa r en t s’ Res o u rce In s ti t u t e f

o r Dr u g Ed

u ca t io n , In c. v. Pea ch t r ee

Ho t el Co

. , 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p . 6 3 7
, 6 3 8 (2 ) (4 1 1 SE2 d 8 84 ) (1 9 9 1 ).

Becau s e t h e p art i es m

u t u al l y as s en t ed t o t h e Ag r eem en t , an d Pru i t t Heal th

s o u g ht t o en fo rce t h e Ag reem en t as earl y as p ract i cab l e, w e fi n d t h at t h e A g reem en t

i s en fo r c eab le. Th u s, St acy m ay n o t u ni l at eral l y res ci n d t h e A g reem en t b y fi l i n g a

cl ai m i n l i eu o f arb it rat i on s i m p l y b ecau s e Pru i t t Heal t h fai l ed t o s i g n it

. S ee Ta yl o r

6v. Ta

yl o r , 2 1 7 Ga. 2 0
, 2 3 (2 ) (1 2 0 SE2 d 8 74 ) (1 96 1 ) (W h ere a p art y accep t ed a p ap er

an d ret ai n ed i t i n h i s p o s ses s i on , “ h e as s en t ed t o i t s t erm s as freel y as i f h e had affi x ed

h i s s i g n at u re t o t h e s am e.” (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed )).

Acco rd i ng l y , we ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt th at t h e ci rcu m s t an ces d em o n s t rat e

t h at t h e p art i es i nt en d ed t o fo rm an d
, i n f a c t , f o r m ed a b i nd i n g co n t ract t o arb i t rat e

cl ai m s ari s i n g b et w een t h em

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Go b ei l

, J., co n cu rs

. H

o d g es , J., d i s s en t

s .*

* THI S OPI NI ON I S P HYSI CAL PRECEDENT O N LY. COURT OF

APPEALS RULE 3 3 .2 (a ).

7

# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 92 6

. STACY AARON ON BEHALF OF THE W RONGFUL D E A T H B E

N E F I C I A R I E S O F E D I T H A A A R O N v

. U N I T E D HEALTH SERVICES OF GEORGIA, INC. et al

.

H O D G E S , J u d g e, d i s s en t i n g

.

Th e m ajo ri ty ’ s h o l d i n g p erm i t s a nu rs i n g h om e to d ep ri v e a p art y o f hi s d ay in

co u rt d es p i t e t h e ab s en ce o f an en fo rceab l e arb i t rat i on ag reem en t

. Co n s eq u en t ly
, I

res p ect fu l l y

d i s s en t

.

As t h e p art y s e e k i n g t o co m p el arb i trat i o n, Pru i t t Heal t h m u s t “ p ro v [e] t h e

ex i s t en ce o f a v al i d an d en fo rceab l e ag reem en t t o arb i t rat e,” wh i ch “ i s g e n eral l y

g o v ern ed b y s t at e l aw p ri nci p l es o f co n t ract fo rm at i o n .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Un i t ed

Hea lt h S vcs

. o f Ga

. v. Al exa n d

er , 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p. 1
, 2 (2 ) (8 0 2 SE2 d 3 1 4) (2 0 1 7 ). Fo r

o v er a cen t u ry , Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e h el d t h at i f a co n t ract cal l s fo r s ig n at ures , i t i s n ot

co m p l et e u n l es s s ig ned

. See, e.g ., Cl ar ke Br os

. v. McNa t t , 1 3 2 Ga. 6 1 0
, 6 1 4 (6 4 SE2 d

7 9 5 ) (1 9 09 ) (“ If a co n t ract i s in t en d ed t o be s i g ned b y b o th p art i es , an d s o ap p ears o n

i t s face, i t i s n o t co m

p l et e u n t il t h u s s i g n ed .”) (ci t a t i o n o m i tt ed ); MAPEI Co r p

. v.

Pr o ss er , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1
, 8 4 (2 ) (a) (7 6 1 SE2 d 5 0 0 ) (2 0 1 4) (“ A co n t ract t h at i si n t en d ed t o b e s i g n ed b y b o t h p ar t i e s , a n d s o ap pears o n i t s face, i s co m p l et e wh en

t h u s s i g n ed .”). 1

Un d er Cl a r

k Br o t h er s an d MAPEI Co r

p

. , t h e Ag reem en t i s i n co m p l et e b ecau s e

i t cal l s fo r s i g nat u res , a n d P r u i t t Heal t h n ev er si g n ed i t. Th e Ag reem en t co n t ai ns a

s i gn at u re b l o ck fo r Pru i t t Heal t h
, wh i ch Pru i tt Heal th di d n o t s i g n

. It a l s o c o n t ai n s a

ch eck l i s t d i rect i ng Pru it tHeal t h t o “ [s ] ecu re ap p ro pri at e s i g n at u res ” an d to “ [h ] av e

.

. . t wo (2 ) h eal th care cen t er/ ag en cy w i t nes s es ex ecu te t h e co n tract .” Pru i t tHeal t h d id

n ei t h er o f t h o s e t h in g s

. Th e Ag reem en t ev en m i s i d en t i f i es t h e p ers o n s i g n i n g o n

b eh al f o f Ed i t h a Aaro n

.

Th e A g reem en t i s u nen fo rceab l e becau s e i t l ack s m u t u al as s en t

. M u t u al as s en t

i s an el em en t o f a n y v a l i d co nt ract , an d a co n t ract l ack i n g m u t u al as s en t i s

u n en fo rceab l e. OCGA § 1 3 -3 -1 ; Tr a n S o ut h Fi n a n ci a l Co r

p

. v. Ro o ks
, 2 6 9 G a. Ap p.

3 2 1
, 3 2 4 (1 ) (6 04 S E 2 d 5 6 2 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Du e t o Pru i t tHeal t h ’ s fai l u re t o ex ecu t e t h e

1 See al s o Tu r n i

p seed v. Ja j e , 2 6 7 Ga. 3 2 0, 3 2 4 (2 ) (b ) (1 99 6 ) (h o l d i n g t h at a

s al es co n t ract s i g n ed b y o nl y o n e o f th ree o wn ers i s i n co m p l et e); Ma cDo n a ld v. W h i pp l e , 2 7 3 G a. Ap p

. 40 9
, 4 1 0 (1 ) (6 1 5 SE2 d 1 5 0 ) (2 0 05 ) (h o ld i n g t h at a co n t ract t h at i s n o t s i g n ed by t h e p ro p er p art y i s “ i nco m p l et e an d u nen fo rceab l e as a m at t er o f l a w”); Tr a n S

ou t h Fi n a n ci a l Co r

p

. v. Ro o ks
, 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. 32 1
, 3 24 (1 ) (6 0 4 SE 2 d 5 6 2 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (h o l d i ng an arb i t rat i o n cl au se un en fo rceab l e fo r l ack of si g n a t u r e s ); Pa r ad i es S

h o p s , In c. v. Fi r

s t Amer i ca n C

o m m er ci a l Ba nco r

p , In c. , N o

. 1 : 0 5 -CV0 0 4 9 0 -J EC, 2 0 0 5 W L 81 5 5 2 17
, at * 2 (N.D. G a. No v

. 21
, 20 0 5) (d en y i n g m o t i o n to

co m p el arb i t rat i on , n o t i n g t h at “ [n ] o s i g n at u re u s u al ly m ean s n o ag reem en t .”).

2Ag reem en t , an d St acy ’ s rev o cat i o n o f h is as sen t o n b eh al f o f Ed i t ha Aa r o n , as

i n d i cat ed b y t h e fi l i n g o f a l aws u i t , t h e Ag reem en t w as u n en fo rceab l e wh en

Pru i t tHeal t h s o u g h t t o co m p el arb i trat i o n. By th en , t h ere was no t h i n g fo r Pru i t t Heal th

t o as sen t t o an d th u s no m eet in g o f t h e m i n ds

. See Gr ah a m v. HHC S t

. S i mo n s , In c. ,

3 2 2 G a. Ap p. 6 9 3
, 6 9 7 (2 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 5 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ [I] t i s w el l s et tl ed t h at an

ag reem en t b et ween t w o p art i es wi l l occu r on l y wh en t h e m i n d s o f t h e p art i es m eet at

t h e s am e t i m e . . . .”).

Th e m ajo ri t y m i s s es t h e p o i n t b y arg u i n g t h at Pru i t t Heal t h “ s o u g h t t o en fo rce

t h e Ag reem en t at i t s fi rs t av ai l ab l e o p p ort u n i t y .” By t h e t i m e Pru i t tHeal t h at t em p t ed

t o en fo rce t h e A g reem en t , i t was t o o l at e. Part i al p erfo rm an ce o f a co n t ract t o wh i ch

t h e o t h er p art y h as al read y wi t h d rawn as sen t can n o t rev i ve an u nen fo rceab l e

ag reem en t

.

B ecau s e t h e m ajo ri ty en fo rces an u nen fo rceab l e arb i t rat io n ag reem en t , I

res p ect fu l l y

d i s s en t

.

3