2 9 7 GA. 5 0 1

F INAL COP Y

S 1 5 A 0 0 1 1 . NEUMAN v . THE S TATE.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t He my Ne u m a n wa s in d ic te d a n d trie d fo r m u rd e r a n d fire a rm

p o sse ssio n in c o n n e c tio n with th e sh o o tin g d e a th of Ru sse ll “ Ru sty ”

S n e id e r ma n

. N e u m a n p le d n o t g u ilty b y re a so n o f in sa n ity

, c la im in g th a t h e

su ffe re d fro m m e n ta l illn e ss th a t re n d e re d him in c a pa b le of d istin gu ish in g

b e twe e n rig h t a n d wr o n g i n r e la tio n to h is c rim e s. Th e ju ry fo u n d Ne u m a n

g u ilty b u t m e n ta lly ill, a n d Ne u m a n n o w a p p e a ls, c o n te nd in g th a t th e tria l c o urt

e rre d in ru lin g o n th e a dm issio n a n d e x c lu sio n o f c e rta in e v id e n c e

. Be c a u se th e

tria l c o u r t e rre d in a d m ittin g e v id e n c e

, wh ic h w a s p ro te c te d b y th e a tto rn e y

c lie n t p riv ile g e , we n o w re v e rse

. 1

1 O n Feb ru ary 8

, 2 0 1 1, a DeK a l b C o u n ty g ran d ju ry i n d ict ed Neu m an fo r

m al i ce m u rd er an d p o s s es si o n o f a fi rearm d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n o f a fel o n y

. Du ri n g

Feb ru ary 1 3 t h ro u g h March 1 5

, 2 0 1 2, Neu m an was t ri ed b efo re a j u ry

. On M arch 1 5,

2 0 1 2

, t h e ju ry ret u rn ed a v erd i ct o f g u i l t y b ut m en t al l y il l o n t h e co un t o f m al i ce

m u r d er an d gu i l t y o n t h e p o ss es s i o n co u n t

. On t h e s am e d ay

, t he co u rt s e n t e n c e d

N e u m a n t o l i fe w i t ho u t t h e p o ss i b i l i t y o f paro l e fo r th e m urd er co n v ict i o n an d f

i v e

co n secu ti v e y ears t o s erv e o n th e p os s es si o n co n v i ct i o n. Neu m an fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al o n M arch 2 0

, 2 0 1 2

, wh i ch was s u bs eq u en t l y am en d ed

. Th e tri al co u rt h el d

a heari n g o n Neu m an ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al o n M arch 4

, 20 1 4

, an d d en i ed th e m o t i o n

i n an o rd er fi l ed M arch 1 7

, 2 01 4. Neu m an fi l ed a n o t i ce o f ap peal o n Ap ri l 10

, 2 0 1 4.

Th e ap p eal was do ck et ed t o t h e J an u ary 2 0 1 5 t erm o f t h i s Co u rt an d o ral l y arg u ed o nVie we d in th e lig h t m o st fa vo ra b le to th e ju ry ’s v e rd ic t, t h e e v i d e n c e

a d d u c e d a t tria l e sta b lish e d a s fo llo ws. S h o rtly a fte r 9:0 0 a .m

. o n No v e m b e r 1 8

,

2 0 1 0, Sn e id e rm a n wa s wa lk in g to his c ar o u tsid e of a Du n wo od y d a y c a re c e n te r

a fte r h a v in g ju st d ro p p e d off h is so n

, wh e n Ne u m a n a p p ro a c he d a n d sh o t h im

fo u r to fiv e t i me s i n th e n e c k a n d to rso

. S n e id e rm a n wa s pro n o u n c e d d e a d

a p p ro x im a te ly a n h o u r la te r.

Ne u m a n d o e s n o t d isp ut e th a t h e p la n ne d a n d pe rp e tra te d S n e id e rm a n ’s

m u rd e r. He a d m itte d th a t h e h a d a n a ffa ir wit h S n e i d erm a n’s wife

, p la n n e d

S n e id e rm a n ’s m

u rd e r, pu rc h a se d a d isg u ise a n d a g u n

, re n te d a c a r, sh o t

S n e id e rm a n

, th re w th e g u n in a la k e

, disp o se d o f th e d isg u ise

, a sk e d th e p e rso n

fro m wh o m h e ha d p u rc h a se d th e g u n to lie to th e p olic e

, a nd lie d to th e p o lic e

h im se lf. Ad ditio n a lly

, witn e sse s fro m t h e sc e n e a t th e d ay c a re id e n tifie d

Ne u m an a s th e sh oo te r d u rin g tria l. Ba llistic e vid e n c e sh o we d th a t th e b u lle ts

th a t k ille d S n e id e rm a

n m a tc h e d th e g u n Ne u m a n h a d p u rc h a se d

.

At tria l, b o th Ne u m a n a n d th e S ta te pre se n te d e xp e rt w itn e sse s wh o

o p in e d o n Ne u m a n’s m e n ta l c a p a c ity a t t h e tim e o f th e sh o o tin g. Ne u m a n ’s

J an u ary 2 0 , 2 0 1 5.

2e x p e r ts c o n c lu de d th a t h e su ffe re d fro m “ b ip o la r d iso rd e r with psy c h o sis,

e x p e rie n c in g d e lu sio n s,” wh ic h m a d e Ne u m a n (1 ) in c a p a ble o f d istin gu ish in g

b e twe e n rig h t a n d wro n g , (2 ) b e lie v e h e n e e d e d to k ill S n e id e rm a n in o rd e r to

p ro te c t S n e id e rma n ’ s c h i l d re n fro m h a rm b y th e ir fa th e r, a n d (3 ) lie to p o lic e

a n d ta k e e ffo rts to c o n c e a l h is id e n tity so th a t S n e id e rm a n ’s w i f e w o u ld n o t

k n o w h e k ille d he r h u s b a n d

. Ne um an ’s e x p e rts c o n c lu d e d th a t h e wa s n o t

m a lin g e rin g a n d h a d su ffe re d d e p re ssiv e a n d m a nic e piso d e s th ro u g h o u t h is life

c o n siste n t with th e ir d ia g n o sis o f b i p o la r d iso rd e r. In re b u tta l, th e S ta te

p re se nte d e xp e rts wh o c o n c lu d e d th a t Ne u m a n wa s a b le to distin g u ish rig h t

fro m wro n g a t th e tim e o f th e sh o o tin g a n d th a t th e sy m pto m s a n d be h a v io rs h e

re p o rte d we re in c o n siste nt with g e nu in e m e n ta l illn e ss. In p a rtic u la r, o ne o f th e

S ta te ’s e x pe rts b e lie v e d N e um a n wa s fa k in g sy m p to m s o f m e n ta l illn e ss, wh ile

a n o th e r S ta te e x p e rt o p in e d th a t Ne u ma n sh o we d n o sig n s o f m e n ta l illn e ss,

h a llu c in a tio n s, o r d e lu sio n s wh ile in ja il. Ad ditio n a lly

, th e S ta te p re se n te d

te stim o n y fro m n u m e ro u s frie n d s a n d c o-wo rk e rs o f Ne u m a n wh o sta te d th a t

th e y ha d n e v e r witn e sse d a n y sy m p to m s or b e h a v io rs c o n siste n t with a m e n ta l

illn e ss in v o lv in g m a n ic e p iso d e s, de l u s i o n a l th in kin g

, o r h a llu c in a tio n s, a n d th a t

to th e c o n tra ry , Ne u m a n wa s h ig h fu n c tio n in g

.

31

. T ho u g h Ne u m a n h a s n o t e n u m e ra te d th e g e n e ra l g ro u nd s, we fin d th a t

th e e v id e n c e a s su m m a

riz e d a b o v e wa s su ffic ie n t to e n a b le a ra tio n a l trie r o f fa c t

to c o n c lu d e b e y o n d a re a so na b le d o u b t th a t Ne u m a n wa s g uilty o f th e c rim e s o f

wh ic h h e wa s c o n v ic te d . Ja c k so n v . Virg in ia , 4 4 3 U. S

. 3 07 (9 9 S Ct 2 7 8 1

, 6 1

LE2 d 56 0 ) (1 9 7 9 ). Th e ju ry wa s lik e wise a u t h o r i z e d to re

je c t Ne u m a n ’s

in sa n ity d e fe n s e

. 2 S e e Ch o isn e t v

. S ta te

, 2 9 5 Ga

. 5 68 (1 ) (7 6 1 S E2 d 3 2 2 )

(2 0 1 4 ); Du rre n c e v . S ta te , 2 8 7 Ga . 2 1 3 (1 ) (b ) (6 95 S E2 d 2 2 7) (2 0 1 0 ).

2

. Ne u m a n c on te n d s th a t th e tria l c ou rt e rre d in its fa ilu re to q u a sh th e

su b p o e n a s o f Dr. P e te r T h o m a s, a lic e nse d p s y ch o lo g ist, a n d D r. Ju lie Ra n d

Do rn e y

, a fo re n sic p sy c h ia trist. Afte r Ne um a n e n te re d a p le a o f n o t g u ilty

, h is

c o u n se l b e g a n in v e stig a tin g Ne u m a n ’s p sy c h o lo g ic a l sta te a t t h e t i m e o f th e

sh o o tin g

. At th e re q u e st o f Ne u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s, Dr. Ra n d D o rn e y a n d D r.

Th o m a s m e t with N e u m a n to i n i t i a lly e v a lu a te h is p sy c h o lo g ic a l issu e s, a n d th e y

re p o rte d th e ir fin d in g s to N e u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s. U p o n th e a dv ic e o f th e se

d o c to rs, Ne u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s th e n hire d a n e x p e rt w itn e ss to c o n d u c t a fo re n sic

p sy c ho lo g ic a l e v a lu a tio n o f Ne u m a n to a sse ss h is c rim in a l re sp o n sib ility

. Afte r

2 S e e OCGA § 1 7 -7 -1 3 1 (c) (d i s t i n g u i s h i n g b et ween v erd i ct o f “ n o t gu i l t y by

reas on o f i ns an i t y ” an d v erd i ct o f “ g u i l t y b u t m en tal l y

i l l ”).

4th is e xp e rt’s e v a lu a tio n

, Ne u m a n c h a n g e d h is ple a o f n ot gu ilty to n o t gu ilty b y

re a so n o f in sa n ity

.

Up o n le a rn in g th a t b o th Dr. Ra nd Do rn e y a n d Dr. T h o m a s h a d m e t with

Ne u m an

, th e S ta te so u g h t th e d o c to rs’ re c ord s, o v e r Ne u m an ’s o bje c t i o n s. Afte r

two he a rin g s, th e c o u rt o rd e re d th a t b o th Dr. R a n d D o r n e y a n d Dr. Th o m a s

“ tu rn o v e r a ll re c ord s in [th e ir] p o sse ssio n c o n c e rn in g [th e ir] e v a lu a tio n (s) a n d

in te rv ie w(s)” o f N e um a n fo r a n in c a m e ra re v ie w. Afte r th is re v ie w , th e c o urt

p ro v id e d th e S ta te with th e d o c to rs’ no te s c o n c e r n in g th e ir e v a lu a tio n s o f

Ne u m an a n d N e um a n ’s st a t e me n t s to th e m

. It is u nd isp u te d th a t u p u n til th is

tim e

, Ne u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s ha d n e ve r in te n d ed t o c a ll Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y o r D r.

Th o m a s to te stify a t tria l. Ho we v e r, in lig h t o f th e c o u rt’s ru lin g s, th e d e fe nse

a n tic ip a te d th a t th e S ta te w o u ld c a ll th e d o c to rs a s re b utta l witn e s s e s, a n d

th e re fo re , n e e d e d to c a ll th e m a s p a rt o f th e d e fe n se ’s c a se -in -c hie f. 3

Ne u m a n a

rg u e s th a t th e tria l c ou rt e rre d in a llo win g th e S ta te a c c e ss to th e

d o c to rs’ n o te s a n d e va lu a tio n o f h im a n d sta te m e n ts h e m a d e to th e d o c to rs

3 Befo re cal l i n g t h e d o ct ors t o t es t ify , as wel l as th ro u g h o ut t h e t ri al , Neu m an

rei t erat ed h i s o b

ject i o n s t o th e St at e h av i ng acces s t o t h e d o ct o rs ’ n ot es an d reco rd s

an d t o pres en t i n g t h i s ev i den ce t o t h e ju ry

.

5b e c a

u se th is e vid e nc e is p ro te c te d b y th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e

. 4 F o r re a so n s

e x p la in e d b e lo w, w e a g re e

, a n d we re j e c t t h e S ta te ’s c o n te n tio n th a t m e re ly

ra isin g a n in sa nity d e fe nse wa iv e s th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p r i v i le g e fo r th e se

c o m m u nic a tio n s.

Th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e is “th e old e st o f th e p r i v i l e g e s fo r

c o n fid e n tia l c o m m

u n ic a tio ns k n o wn to th e c o m m o n la w,” Up jo hn Co

. v

. Un ite d

S ta te s, 4 4 9 U

. S

. 38 3, 3 8 9 (II) (1 0 1 S Ct 6 7 7

, 6 6 LE2 d 5 8 4 ) (1 9 8 1 ), a n d h a s lo n g

b e e n re c og n iz e d in Ge o rg ia

. S e e F ire Assn

. o f P h ila d e lp h ia v. F le m in g, 7 8 Ga

.

7 3 3 (3 ) (3 S E 4 2 0 ) (1 8 8 7 ). Th e p riv ile g e a llo ws fo r o p e n c o m m u n ic a tio n s

b e twe e n a n a tto rn e y a n d h is o r h e r c lie nt, fre e fro m a p p re h e n sio n o f c o m

p e lle d

d isc lo su re s, th e re b y e n a

b lin g th e a tto rn e y to g a th e r c o m ple te a nd a c c u ra te

in fo rm a tio n a

bo u t th e c lie n t’s situ a tio n

. S e e P a u l S

. Milic h, G e o rg ia Ru le s o f

4 Al t h o ug h o n ap p eal Neu m an fram es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s al l eg ed erro r as a fai l u re

t o q u as h t h e d oct o rs ’ s u b p o en as

, t h ere w as n o ex p res s ru l i n g b y t h e tri al co u rt o n

Neu m an ’ s m o t i o n t o q uas h th e s u b p o en a fo r Dr. T h o m as an d Neu m an di d n o t fi l e a

m o ti o n t o q u as h wi t h reg ard t o Dr. Ran d Do rn ey

. Ho wev er, t h e co u r t ’s o r d e r s

d i rect i n g t hat t h e d o ct ors tu rn o v er t h ei r fi l es were effect i v el y t h e s am e ru l i n g a s a

d en ial o f a m ot i o n t o q u as h

, an d Neu m an co n ti n u ed t o o b ject t o th e St at e’ s acces s to

t h e d o ct o rs ’ reco rd s an d t h e ad m i s s io n o f ev i d en ce at t ri al

. Ad d it io n al l y

, t h e St at e h as

n o t arg u ed t h at Neu m an d i d n o t p ro p erl y p res erv e t h i s i s s u e fo r ap p eal o r o t h erwi s e

o b ject t o t h e m an n er i n wh i ch t h e i s s u e h as b een fram ed

. Acco rd i n g l y

, we co n s i d er

Neu m an ’ s en u m erat i on o f erro r o n ap p eal t o h av e b een p ro p erl y rai s ed

.

6Ev id e nc e , § 2 1 :1 , a t 8 5 7 -8 5 8 (2 0 1 4 -2 0 1 5 e d.).

F ro m a pra c tic a l sta n d

p o in t, la wy e rs c o u ld n o t re p re se n t th e b e st in te re sts

o f th e ir c lie nts a n d g a th e r c o m p le te a n d a c c u ra te in fo rm a tio n with o u t a ssista n c e

fro m a v a rie ty o f in div id u a ls. In o rd e r th a t th e a tto rn e y m a y p ro p e r l y p r e p a re

h is o r h e r c a se

[i] t h a s lo n g b e e n th e la w o f Ge org ia

, in k e e p in g with th a t o f o th e r

Un ite d S ta te s ju risd ic t i o n s, th a t th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e

“ i n c lu d e s, b y n e c e ssity

, th e n e two rk o f a g e n ts a n d e m p lo y e e s o f

b o th th e a tto rn e y a n d c lie n t, a c tin g un d er t h e d ire c tio n o f th e ir

re sp e c tiv e p rin c ip a ls, to fa c ilita te th e le ga l re p re se n ta tio n .”

Da v is v

. S ta te

, 2 8 5 G a

. 3 4 3

, 3 5 0 (6 7 6 SE2 d 2 1 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (S e a rs, C. J.,

c o n c u rrin g ); se e Ta y lo r v

. Ta y lo r, 1 7 9 Ga

. 6 9 1

, 6 9 2 -6 9 3 (1 7 7 S E 5 8 2 ) (1 9 3 4);

F ire Assn

. o f P h ila de lp h ia , 7 8 Ga . a t 7 3 8 ; Milic h , § 2 1:3 , a t 8 6 1

.

Co n siste n t with th is g e ne ra l prin c ip le

, a n d a fte r a re v ie w of a u th o rity fro m o th e r

sta te s o n th is i ssu e

, we jo in n u m e ro u s o th e r ju risd ic tio n s in h old in g th a t th e

a tto rn e y -c lie n t priv ile g e a p p lie s to c o n fid e n tia l c o m m un ic a tio n s, re la te d to th e

7m a tte rs on wh ic h le ga l a d vic e is b e in g so u g h t

, b e twe e n th e a tto rn e y s, th e ir

a g e n ts, or th e ir c lie n t, a n d a n e x p e rt e n g a g e d b y th e a tto rn e y to a id in th e c lie n t’s

re p re se n ta tio n ; th e priv ile g e is n o t w a iv e d i f t h e ex p e rt will ne ith e r se rv e a s a

witn e ss a t tria l n o r p ro v id e a n y b a sis fo r th e fo rm u la tio n o f o th e r e x p e rts’ tria l

te stim o n y

. S e e

, e .g

., Un ite d S ta te s v

. A lv are z

, 51 9 F 2 d 1 0 3 6

, 1 0 45 -1 0 4 7 (3 d

Cir. 1 9 7 5) (a tto r n e y

- c lie n t priv ile ge a p p lie s to a d e fe n d a n t’s c o m m u n ic a tio n s

with a n on -te stify in g p sy c h ia tric e x p e rt); P e o p l e v

. Kn u c k le s, 6 5 0 NE2 d 9 7 4

,

9 8 1 (II) (Ill. 1 9 9 5 ) (a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile ge “ p ro te c ts c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e twe e n

a d e fe n d a n t wh o ra is e s a n in sa n ity d e fe n se a n d a p sy c h ia trist e m p lo y e d b y

d e fe n se c o u n se l to a id in th e p re p a ra tio n o f th e d e fe n se

, if th e p sy c h ia trist will

n o t te stify a n d th e p sy c h i a t r i s t' s n o te s a n d o p in io n s will n o t b e u se d in th e

fo rm u la tio n o f th e o th e r d e fe nse e x p e rts' tria l te stim o n y ” ); S ta te v. Hito p o u lu s,

3 0 9 S E2 d 7 4 7 (S .C. 1 9 8 3 ) (a d e fe n d a n t’s c o m m u n ic a tio n s to a p sy c h ia trist

e m p lo y e d b y th e d e fe n d a n t’s a tto rn e y to a id in his d e fe n se a re c o ve re d b y th e

a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e ); Ho u sto n v

. S ta te

, 6 0 2 P 2 d 7 84

, 78 9 -7 9 0 (Ala sk a

1 9 7 9) (in o rd e r fo r d e fe n se c o u n se l to a sc e rta in wh e th e r th e re is a v a lid in sa n ity

d e fe n se

, a n e x p e rt’s e x a m in a tio n o f th e d e fe n d a n t is pro te c te d b y th e a tto rn e y

c lie n t p riv ile ge

, a s lo n g a s te stify in g e x pe rts d o n ot re ly up o n th a t e x p e rt’s

8re p o rt); S ta te v

. P ra t t

, 3 9 8 A 2 d 4 2 1

, 42 4 (Md

. 1 9 7 9 ) (in c rim in a l c a se s,

“ c o m m un ic a tio n s m a d e b y a d e fe n d a n t to a n e x p e rt in o rd e r to e qu ip th a t e x p e rt

with th e n e c e ssa ry in fo rm a tio n to p ro vid e th e d e fe n d a n t' s a tto rn e y with th e to o ls

to a id h im in g iv in g h is c lie n t p ro p e r le g a l a d vic e a re with in th e s c o pe o f th e

a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e ” ); P e o p le v

. Hillik e r, 1 8 5 NW2 d 8 3 1

, 8 33 -8 3 4 (Mic h

.

Ct. Ap p . 1 9 71 ) (c o n fid e ntia l c o m m u n ic a tio n s m a d e to a n a tto rn e y b y a d o c to r

o r p sy c h ia trist o n b e h a lf o f th e c lie n t a re p ro te c te d b y a tto rn e y -c lie n t priv ile g e ). 5

If c o un se l la te r e le c ts to c a ll th e e x p e rt a s a witn e ss a t tria l, th e c lo a k o f p riv ile g e

e n d s.

He re

, Ne u m a

n ’s c o u n se l e n g a g e d b o th Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y a n d Dr. Th o m a s

to a ssist in e v a lu a tin g a n in sa n ity d e fe n se fo r N e u m a n

. N e u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s

c a lle d Dr. Ra

n d Do rn e y a n d a sk e d h e r to e v a lu a te th e c a se a n d a sse ss wh e th e r

Ne u m an p re se n te d a n y p sy c h o lo g ic a l issu e s. Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y a g re e d to a ssist

Ne u m an ’s a tto rn e y s, b u t o n ly a s a c o n su lta n t a nd n o t a s a n e x p e rt witn e ss, d u e

to h e r fu ll p ra c tic e lo a d a t th e tim e . S h e u n d e rsto o d h e r ro le a s a c o n su lta n t to

5 Ou r ho l d i ng acco rd s wi t h t h e v i ew ex p res sed b y Pro f es s o r M i l i ch i n h i s

t reat i s e o n Geo rg ia ev id en ce. M i l i ch

, § 2 1 : 3 , at 8 62 (“ W h en t h e ex p ert i s n o t h i red

t o b e a wi t n es s b u t on l y t o as si s t t h e at t o rn ey o r cl i en t wi t h a leg al m at t er, t h e ex p ert

i s p art of t h e p ri vi l eg ed n et w o rk .”).

9e n ta il wo rk in g fo r N e u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s a s a n a g e n t fo r th e de fe nse te a m

,

sc re e n in g Ne u m a n to a sse ss wh e th e r th e re we re a n y p sy c h o lo g ic a l issu e s, a n d

c o lle c tin g o b

je c tiv e te stin g to d e te rm in e if th e re we re m e n ta l issu e s th a t n e e d e d

to be e x p lo re d fu rth e r. P u rsu a n t to h e r u n d e rsta n d in g o f h e r ro le a s a c o n su lta n t,

sh e m e t with Ne u m a n fo r a fe w h o u rs fo r a sc re e n in g in a n e ffo rt to fin d m a jo r

a re a s o f p sy c h o pa th o lo g y ; sh e d id n o t pe rfo rm a fo re n sic e v a lu a tio n fo r in sa n ity

o r re v ie w a ll o f th e e v id e n c e in th e c a se

.

Afte r th is in iti a l r ev ie w, Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y c a lle d Dr. T h o m a s a n d a sk e d

h im to p e rfo rm o b

je c ti v e te stin g on Ne u m a n to se e if th e re we re a n y sig n s o f

m a jo r p sy c h o p a th o lo g y o r ma l i n g e rin g

. Dr. Th o m a s a g re e d to h e lp Dr. Ra n d

Do rn e y bu t e m

ph a siz e d th a t “ th e re wa s n o w a y [h e ] c o uld te stify b e c a u se th is

[wa s no t h is] a

re a .” Dr. Th o m a s sp o k e w ith N e u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s a n d in fo rm e d

th e m a b o u t th e n a tu re o f his e x p e rtise a n d wh a t he wa s w illin g to d o

, a n d

Ne u m an ’s a tto rn e y s in stru c te d Dr. Th o m a s to a d m in iste r so m e te sts to Ne u m a n

a n d h e lp th e m d e v e lo p th e ir c a se w i t h a b e tte r u n d e rsta n din g o f Ne u m a n ’s

p sy c ho lo g ic a l issu e s. Dr. Th om a s m e t with Ne u m a n a n d e x pla in e d to h im th a t

h e wa s th e re a t t h e b eh e s t of h is la wy e rs in o rd e r to h e lp th e la wy e rs d e v e lo p

th e ir c a se a

n d th a t wh a te v e r N e u m a n d isc u sse d with Dr. T h o m a s wa s b e twe e n

10Dr. Th o m a s, Dr. Ra nd Do rn e y

, a n d Ne um a n ’s a tto rn e y s. He p e rfo rm e d a v e ry

b rie f c l i n ic a l in te rv ie w o f Ne u m a n a s we ll a s a p sy c h o lo g ic a l pe rso n a lity

in v e nto ry

. Dr. T h o m a s re po rte d h is re su lts to Dr. Ra n d D o rn e y

, wh o in tu rn m e t

with Ne u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s to d isc u ss p o ssib le n e x t ste p s.

At th e re q u e st o f Ne u m a n ’s c o u n se l, Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y an d D r. Th o m a s

th e n m e t with Ne u m a n a t th e ja il fo r a pp ro x im a te ly th re e ho urs to re vie w so m e

o f h is t e s t re su lts. Afte r th is m e e tin g

, Dr. Ra nd D o rn e y in fo rm e d Ne u m a n ’s

a tto rn e y s th a t fu rth e r e x p lo ra tio n o f Ne u m a n ’s m e n ta l issu e s wa s n e c e ssa ry a n d

re c o m m e n d e d d o c to rs wh o m ig h t b e a b le to se rv e a s e x p e rt witn e sse s a t tria l a n d

c o n d u c t a fu ll e v a lu a tio n o f Ne u m a n

. Th u s, th e d oc to rs wo rk e d a t th e d ire c tio n

o f N e u m a n ’s c o u n se l to e va lu a te him a n d a sse ss wh e th e r h e p re se nte d a n y

p sy c ho lo g ic a l is su e s, a nd th e d o c to rs c o m m u n ic a te d th e ir im

p re ssio n s a n d

a sse ssm e n ts a nd Ne u m a n ’s o wn sta te m e n ts to h is a tto rn e y s.

Ne ith e r Dr. Th o m a s n o r D r. R a n d D o rn e y c o n d u c te d a n in d e p e n d e n t

in v e stig a tio n o f th e fa c ts o f th e c rim in a l c a se

, n o r d id th e y re v ie w a n y d isc o v e ry

.

Ne ith e r d o c to r p re p a re d a n e v a lu a tio n o f Ne u m a n’s m e n ta l c a p a c ity with re g a rd

to in sa n ity to b e u se d in c o u r t

, n or d id th e y p ro fe ssio n a lly tre a t Ne u m a n

.

F in a lly

, n e ith e r o f Ne u m a n ’s e x p e rt wi t n e s s es a t tria l re lie d o n Dr. Ra n d

11Do rn e y ’s o r Dr. Th o m a s’ n ote s in th e fo rm u la tio n o f th e ir e x p e rt o p in io n s.

Th e S ta te a rg u e s th a t c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e twe e n Dr. Ra n d D o r n e y

, D r.

Th o m a s, a n d Ne um a n a re n o t p ro te c te d b y th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile ge b e c a use

th e y we re n o t c on fid e n tia l. S e e Da v is, 2 85 G a

. a t 3 4 7 (le tte rs we re n o t p ro te c te d

b y th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e b e c a u se th e y d id n o t c o n ta in c o n fid e n tia l

c o m m u nic a tio n s). Th e S ta te c o n te n d s th a t Ne u m a n sig ne d a fo rm

, p re se n te d to

h im wh e n Dr. Th o m a s a n d Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y m e t with h im a t th e ja il, wa iv in g

a n y c o n fid e n tia lity . Th e fo rm re a d s, in p e rtin e n t p a rt, a s fo llo ws:

Yo u ha v e b e e n re fe rre d b y Mr. R o b e rt R u b in [Ne u m a n ' s tria l

c o u n se l] fo r a n in d e p e n d e n t m e d ic a l e x a m in a tio n

. Th e p urp o se o f

th is e x a m in a tio n is to [sic ] c rim in a l re sp o nsib ility & p sy c h te stin g

. Th e e x a m in a tio n is n o t c o n fid e n tia l, n o r is it fo r th e p u r p o se o f

tre a tm e n t. An y th in g we d isc u ss in th e e x a m in a tio n m a y be in c lu d e d

in th e writte n re po rt o r m a y b e d isc lo se d in c o u rt. Th e re fo re

,

n o t h i n g is o ff th e re c o rd a nd a ny th in g y o u sa y o r d o d urin g th e

e v a lu a tio n is n o t a se c re t. Wh e n th e e v a lu a tio n is c o m p le te a writte n

re p o rt w ill b e p ro vid e d to y ou r a tto rn e y

. Y o u d o n o t h a v e to

p a rtic ip a te in th e e x a m in a tio n o r a n swe r a n y q u e stio n s y o u d o n o t

w i s h to a nswe r. If y o u h a v e q u e stio n s o r c o n c e rn s y o u m a y a sk a t

a n y tim e a n d if y o u wan t to sto p th e e x a m in a tio n

, y o u m a y sto p a t

a n y tim e

.

Im p o rta n tly

, Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y sp e c ific a lly e x p la in e d t o Ne u m a n

th a t sh e a n d Dr. Th o m a s we re g o in g to “ e x p lo re

. . . so m e o f th e se issu e s

o n h is te stin g, bu t a lso to re p o r t th a t in fo rm a tio n d ire c tly b a c k to ” o n ly

12Ne u m a n' s a tto rn e y s, a n d h is a tto rn e y s wo u ld th e n d e c id e h o w to u se th e

in fo rm a tio n

. Alth o u g h th e f o r m s t a te s th a t th e e x a m wo u ld n o t b e

c o n fid e ntia l, it a l s o sta te s th a t th e e x a m is a t th e re fe rra l of Ne u m a n ’s

a tto rn e y a n d in fo rm a tio n w o u ld b e re p o rte d to tria l c o u n se l. Wh e n a

c lie n t a u th o riz e s h is la wy e rs o r th e ir a g e n ts, e x p re ssly o r im p lie d ly

, to

wa iv e h is c on fid e n tia l c o m m u n ic a tio n s a s n e c e ssa ry to c a rry o u t h is

re p re se n ta tio n

, th a t d o e s n o t a u th oriz e th e o th e r p a rty to th e litig a tio n to

d e m a n d th a t th e w a iv e r b e e x e rc ise d

. S e e G e o rg ia Ru le s o f P ro fe ssio n a l

Co n du c t, Ru le 1 .6 (a ) (“ [a ] la wy e r sh a ll m a in ta in in c o n fid e n c e a ll

in fo rm a tio n g a in e d in th e p ro fe ssio n a l re la tio n sh ip w ith a c lie n t

. . . e x c e p t

fo r d isc lo su re s t h a t ar e im p lie d ly a u th oriz e d in o rd e r to c a rry o u t th e

re p re se n ta tio n ” ) a n d c o m m e n t [6 ]

.

In a dd itio n

, D r. Ra n d Do rn e y te stifie d th a t sh e wa s re q u ire d to g e t

Ne u m a n’s sig n a tu re in o rd e r fo r h im to d isc u ss h is p sy c h o lo g ic a l h e a lth

with h e r, a n d th is fo rm

, wh ic h sh e ty p ic a lly u se d fo r fo re n sic e va lu a tio n s,

wa s th e o n ly fo rm th a t sh e ha d a t th e tim e ; sh e ra re ly d id c o n su ltin g wo rk

a n d d id n o t h a v e a fo rm sp e c ific a lly fo r a c o n su lta tio n

. Ba se d on h e r a n d

Dr. Th o m a s’ ro le s a s c on su lta n ts to th e d e fe n se te a m a nd h e r e x p la n a tio n

13to Ne u m a n

, D r. Ra n d Do rn e y d id n o t u n d e rsta n d th is fo rm to b e

Ne u m a n’s c o n se n t to a

“ fu ll c rim in a l re sp o n sib ility e v a lu a tio n .”

Afte r a re v ie w o f th is e v id e n c e

, w e c on c lu d e th a t th e

c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e twe e n Dr. Th o m a s, D r. Ra n d Do rn e y

, an d Ne u m a n a t

th is ja il m e e tin g we re in te n d e d to b e c o n fid e ntia l w ith in th e d e fe n se te a m

a n d to b e re p o rte d to Ne u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s to b e tte r a sse ss ho w to p re pa re

h is in sa nity d e fe n se

. O u r c on c lu sio n is fu rth e r su p p orte d by th e fa c t th a t

o n ly a fte r Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y c o mmu nic a te d h e r a sse ssm e n t fro m th is

m e e tin g to Ne u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s d id h is a tto rn e y s th e n se e k o u t a n e x p e rt

witn e ss to te stify a t tria l a n d to c o n d u c t a fo re n sic p sy c h o lo g ic a l

e v a lu a tio n o f Ne u m a n

.

Mo re o v e r, th is fo rm o n ly c o v e re d t h e o n e j a il m e e tin g

. It d id n o t

c o v e r th e p rio r m e e tin g s t h a t e a c h d o c to r ha d with Ne u m a n o r th e

c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e twe e n Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y

, Dr. Th o m a s, a n d Ne u m a n ’s

a tto rn e y s. Th e re is n o e v id e n c e to su p p o r t a c o nc lu sio n th a t th e se

c o m m u n ic a tio n s we re in te nd e d to b e a n y th in g b u t c o n fid e n tia l. 6

6 Th e St at e rel i es o n W eak l ey v

. St at e, 25 9 Ga. 2 0 5 (2 ) (3 7 8 SE2 d 6 88 ) (1 9 8 9 ),

t o s u p p o rt i ts arg um en t t h at t h e at t orn ey -cl i en t p ri v i l eg e d oe s n ot ap pl y wh en an

ex p ert ’ s rep o rt

, m at eri al

, o r t es t i m on y d o es n o t co n t ai n co n fi d en t i al co m m u n i cat i on s

14We fin d th a t th e c o m m u n ic a t i on s be twe e n Ne u m a n, D r. Th o m a s,

Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y

, a nd Ne u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s we re in te n de d to b e

c o n fid e ntia l b e c a

u se it wo u ld fo ste r a n e n viro n m e n t in wh ic h th e d o c to rs

c o u ld p ro b e N e u m a n fo r th e tru th

, a s p a rt o f th e a tto rn e y s’ a sse ssm e n t o f

th e v ia b ility o f a n in sa n ity d e fe nse

. Th u s, we c o n c lu d e th a t th e n o te s a n d

re c o rd s of Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y an d D r. Th o m a s, wh ic h th e tria l c o u rt o rd e re d

b e tu rn e d ov e r to th e S ta te

, we re p ro te c te d b y th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t

p riv ile g e

. 7

Th e S t a t e a sse rts th a t Ne um a n wa iv e d a ll p riv ile g e s b y ra isin g a n

b et ween th e d efen d an t an d t h e defen d an t ’ s at t o rn ey

. In W eak l ey

, t he at t o rn ey -cl i en t

p ri v i leg e d i d n o t ap pl y t o t h e t es t i m o n y o f a fi rearm s ex p ert

, wh o h ad b een ret ai n ed

b y th e d efen s e, b ecau s e we fo u n d t h at n o n e o f t he tes t im on y co n cern ed co n fi d en t i al

co m m u n icat io ns b et ween th e defen d an t an d t he d efen d an t ’ s at t o rn ey

. 2 5 9 Ga. at 2 0 5.

Here, h o wev er, D rs

. Ran d Do rn ey an d Th o m as rel ay ed N eu m an ’ s own s t at em en t s

,

an d t h ei r n o tes bas ed on t hes e s t at em en t s

, d irect l y t o Neu m an ’ s at t o rn ey s

. Th es e

were co nfi d en t i al co m

m u ni cat i o n s

.

7 Ou r co n cl u s i o n t h at th e at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri v i l eg e ap p l ies i s n o t v o id ed b y t h e

d efen s e’ s d eci s i o n to cal l t h e d o ct o rs t o t es ti fy at t ri al . Neu m an ’ s at to rn ey s m ad e a

s t rat eg i c t ri al d eci s io n t o cal l t he d o ct o rs as p art o f t hei r cas e-i n -ch i ef o n l y aft er t h e

t ri al co u rt o rd ered t he d o ct o rs ’ reco rd s b e t u rn ed ov er t o t h e St at e; th ey d i d s o i n an

effo rt to co n t ai n p o t en t i al l y d am ag i n g t es t i m o n y

, rat h er t h an wai t i ng fo r t h e St a t e

i n ev i t ab l y to cal l t h e d o ct ors as reb u t t al wi t n es s es

. See Harl ey -Dav i d s o n M o t o r Co

.

v

. Dan i el

, 24 4 G a

. 2 8 4 (2 ) (2 6 0 SE2 d 2 0 ) (1 97 9 ) (n o t in g t h at o n ce i t is k n o wn t h at

t h e co u rt wi l l ad m i t ev i d en ce o v er o b j ect i o n, t ri al s t rat eg y

m ay i n cl u d e i n t ro d u ci n g

t h e h i g h l y

p reju d ici al ev i d en ce t o am el i o rat e i t s effect o n t h e ju ry ).

15in sa nity d e fe n se

. 8 Ho we v e r, th e a tto rn e y -c lie nt p riv ile g e is vita l in c a se s

su c h a s th is o n e wh e re th e d e fe n da n t’s sa n ity is a t issu e b e c a u se th e

p riv ile g e a llo ws th e a tto rn e y s to c o n su lt with th e n o n -te stify in g e x p e rt in

o rd e r to fa m ilia riz e th e m se lv e s with c e n tra l m e d ic a l c o n c e p ts, a sse ss th e

so u n d ne ss a n d a d v a n ta g e s o f a n in sa n ity d e fe n se

, e va lu a te p o te n tia l

sp e c ia lists, a n d p ro b e a d v e rse te stim o ny

. P ra tt, 39 8 A2 d a t 4 2 4

. “ ‘On ly

a fo o lh a rd y la wy e r wo u ld d e te rm in e ta c tic a l a n d e v id e n tia ry stra te g y in

a c a se with p sy c hia tric issu e s with o u t th e g u id an c e a nd in te rp re ta tio n o f

p sy c h ia trists a

n d o th e rs sk ille d in th is fie ld .’” Ho usto n

, 6 0 2 P 2d a t 7 9 0

,

n .1 1 . Mo re ov e r, a b la nk e t wa iv e r o f a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e b y ra isin g

a n in sa n ity d e fe n se wo u ld c h ill a de fe n d a n t’s willin g ne ss to c o n fid e in h is

a tto rn e y s o r a ny d e fe n se -e m plo y e d c o n su lta n ts o r e x p e rts. Kn uc k le s, 6 5 0

NE2 d a t 9 8 1 ; Ho usto n

, 6 0 2 P 2 d a t 7 9 2 ; P ra tt, 3 9 8 A 2 d a t 4 2 4 -4 2 5

.

8 Th e St at e co n t en d s t h at w he n a c r im ina l de f e nd an t rai s es a d efen s e ch al l en g i n g

h i s m en t al cap aci t y

, he wai ves an y p h y s ici an -p at i en t pri v i l eg e, an d t h at co n fi d en t i al

co m m u n icat io ns b et ween a p s y ch o l o g i s t an d a cl i en t en jo y t he s am e s t at u s as t h o s e

b et ween at t o rn ey an d cl i en t

. See St at e v

. Here n d e e n

, 2 7 9 Ga. 32 3

, 3 2 7 (6 1 3 SE2 d

6 4 7 ) (2 0 0 5 ). Ho wev er, th e is s u e o f a ph ys i c i a n -p at i en t p ri v i l eg e i s n ot b efo re u s

b ecau s e t h e p ri v i l eg e o n l y ari s es wh en t h e cl i en t i s b ei n g seen fo r t reat m en t

, wh i ch

d i d n ot o ccu r i n t h i s cas e. See Ro g ers v

. St at e, 28 2 Ga. 6 5 9 (6 ) (b ) (6 53 S E 2 d 3 1 )

(2 0 0 7)

.

16Ad d itio n a lly

, w ith o ut t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f p r i v i l e g e

, t h e d e f e n d an t’s a tto rn e y s

ru n th e risk th a t th e p sy c h ia tric e x p e rt t h e y h a v e h ire d to e v a lu a te th e

d e fe n da n t will re n d e r a n o p in io n in c o n siste n t with th e d e fe n se ’s in sa n ity

th e o ry a n d th e e x p e rt w ill th e n b e m a d e a n in v o lu n t a r y witn e ss fo r th e

S ta te

. Alv a re z

, 5 1 9 F 2 d a t 1 0 4 6 -1 0 4 7

. 9 We a re m in d fu l o f th e p re ju d ic e

th a t wo u ld re su lt if th e trie r o f fa c t le a rn s th a t a m e n ta l h e a lth

p ro fe ssio n a l, w h o is te stify in g fo r th e S ta te

, wa s o rig in a lly c o nsu lte d a n d

th e n re je c te d b y th e d e fe n se

. Kn uc k le s, 6 5 0 NE2 d a t 9 8 1 ; P ra tt, 3 9 8 A2 d

a t 4 2 5

. Th e a tto rn e y s m

u st b e fre e to m a k e a n in fo rm e d ju d g m e n t a b o u t

th e b e st c o u rse fo r th e d e fe n se a n d sh o u l d n ot be re stric te d fro m

c o n su ltin g m

u ltip le e xp e rts h o ld in g po ssib ly c o n flic tin g v ie w s du e to th e

fe a r th a t th e y a re c re a tin g a witn e s s fo r th e Sta te

. Alv a re z

, 5 1 9 F 2 d a t

1 0 4 7 ; Kn u c k le s, 6 5 0 NE2 d a t 9 8 1 ; P ra tt, 3 9 8 A2 d a t 4 2 5

. F o r t h e se

re a so n s, we a lig n o u rse lv e s with o th e r j u r i sd ic tio n s th a t h a ve re je c te d a

wa iv e r o f a tto rn e y -c li e n t p riv ile g e m e re ly b e c a u se th e d e fe n d a n t ha s

p la c e d h is sa n ity a t issu e

. S e e Alv a re z

, 5 1 9 F 2 d a t 10 46 -1 0 4 7 ; Kn u c k le s,

9 As d i s cu s s ed i n fra, t hi s i s es s en t i al l y wh at o ccu rred h ere.

176 5 0 NE2 d a t 9 8 0 -9 8 1 ; Ho u sto n

, 6 0 2 P 2d a t 79 1-7 9 2 ; P ra tt, 3 9 8 A2 d a t

4 2 4 -4 2 6.

F in a lly

, th e S ta te a rg u e s th a t a n y e rro r in p ro v id in g it a c c e ss to th e

d o c to rs’ file s a n d in a llo win g th e m to te stify wa s h arm le ss. We disa g re e

.

Th e S ta te u se d th e e v i d e n c e f ro m Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y a n d Dr. Th o m a s to

a rg u e th a t Ne u m a

n wa s m a lin g e rin g a n d to im p e a c h th e sta te m e n ts

Ne u m a n m a d e to d e fe n se e x p e rt witn e sse s wh o e v a lu a te d his sa n ity

. Th e

S ta t e cr o s s -e x a m in e d b o th d o c to rs o n th e fla ws in th e ir a sse ssm e n ts,

in c lu d in g b r e v i ty a n d a la c k o f th oro u g h n e ss, a s we ll a s o n th e issu e o f

m a lin ge rin g

. Th e S ta te a lso q uo te d fro m Dr. Th o m a s’ n o t e s d u rin g its

c lo sin g a rg u m e n t to su p p o rt th e th e o ry th a t N e u m a n wa s ly in g o r fa k in g

h is sy m p to m s o f m e nta l illn e s s

. In a d d itio n

, th e ju ry sp e c ific a lly

re q u e ste d to se e Dr. Th o m a s’ n o te s, wh ic h c o n ta in e d st a te m e n ts th a t

Ne u m a n w a s p o ssib ly m a lin g e rin g an d th a t Ne u m a n h a d to ld Dr. Th o m a s

th a t h e k n e w wh a t h e h a d d o n e wa s wro ng

. 1 0 Th is e v id e n c e wa s d ire c tly

1 0 Neu m an o b

ject ed t o sen d in g th es e n o tes t o t h e ju ry

. Aft er heari ng arg u m en t

o n th e i s su e an d fu rt h er p ro b i n g o f t h e ju ry

, t he co urt s eem ed s at i s fi ed t h at t h e ju ry

n o lo n g er wan t ed t o s ee t h e n o t es

, an d t h erefo r e

, t h ey were n o t s en t o u t t o t h e ju ry

. Ho wev er, t h e ju ry ’ s s p eci fi c req u es t s h o ws t h at Dr. Th o m a s ’ e v a l u at i o n m ay h av e

fact ored i n t o t h ei r d el i b erat i o n s

.

18c o n tra ry to th e c o nc lu sio n s re a c h e d b y Ne um a n ’s e x p e rt witn e sse s. In th is

wa y

, Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y a n d Dr. Th o m a s, a lth o u g h e n g a g e d b y th e d e fe nse

t o e v a lu a te N e um a n

, b e c a m e in v o lu n ta ry witn e sse s fo r th e S ta te

, wh o s e

te stim o n y

, a t l e a st in p a rt, u ltim a te ly u nd e rc u t Ne u m a n’s de fe n se

. S e e

Alv a re z

, 51 9 F2 d a t 1 0 4 7 ; Kn u c k le s, 6 5 0 NE2 d a t 9 8 1 ; P ra tt, 3 9 8 A2 d a t

4 2 5

. T h u s, we re

je c t th e S ta te ’s co n t e n tio n th a t D r. Ra nd Do rn e y ’s a n d

Dr. Th o m a s’ te stim o n y wa s m e re ly c u m u la tiv e o f o th e r e v id e n c e a n d th a t

a n y e rro r wa s h a rm le ss.

Ac c o rd in g ly

, we c o n c lu d e th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in disc lo sin g to

th e S ta te Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y ’s a n d Dr. T h o m a s’ n o te s a n d r e c o rd s

c o n c e rn in g Ne u m a

n

. Th is e v id e n c e wa s n ot h a rm le ss, a n d th e re fo re

, we

m u st re ve rse Ne u m a n ’s c o n v ic tio n

.

3

. W e n o w a d d re ss Ne u m a n ’s o nly o th e r e nu m e ra tio n o f e rro r th a t

m a y re c u r o n re tria l. 1 1 Ne u m a n arg u e s t h a t t h e t r ia l c o u rt e rre d b y n o t

1 1 To b e cl ear, we do n o t ad dres s Neu m an ’ s co n ten t io n s t hat (1 ) t h e t ri al co u rt

erred by fai l i n g to al l o w a w i t nes s t o t es ti fy ab o u t wh at h ap p en ed wi th Sn ei derm an ’ s

wi fe o u t s i d e th e co u rt ro om aft er t h e wi t n es s t es t i fi ed ; an d (2 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

i t s fai l u re t o g ran t a n ew t ri al aft er i t was d i s cl o s ed t h at t he St at e h ad u s ed t es t i m o ny

fro m Sn ei d erm an ’ s wi fe d u ri n g Neu m an ’ s t ri al an d t hat s h e w a s l a t e r co n v i ct ed o f

p erju ry fo r t hi s t es t im o n y

.

19a llo win g th e d e fe n se to in tro d u c e sta te m e n ts fro m Dr. Ge o rg e Wa rsa w, a

p sy c h o th e ra

p ist. In th e m o n th s p rio r to th e sh o o t i n g

, Ne u m a n a n d h is

wife p a rtic ip a te d in jo in t m a rita l c o u n se lin g se ssio n s a s we ll a s in d iv id u a l

c o u n se lin g se ssio n s with Dr. Wa rsa w. Ne u m a n in te n d ed f o r his e x p e rt

witn e ss to sta te th a t sh e b a se d h e r op in io n in p art o n sta te m e n t s th a t

Ne u m a n’s wife m a d e to Dr. Wa rsa w, wh ic h D r. Wa rsa w th e n re c o rd e d in

h is file s. Ne u m a n c o n te n d s th a t th e sta te m e n ts we re n o t h e a rsa y b e c a use

th e y we re m a de fo r m e d ic a l dia g n o sis o r tre a tm e n t, se e fo rm e r OCGA §

2 4 -3 -4

, 1 2 a n d e v e n if th e y we re h e a rsa y

, h is e xp e rt m a y re ly o n h e a rsa y to

fo rm th e ba sis fo r h e r o p in io n s. S e e fo rm e r OCGA 2 4 -9 -6 7

. 1 3

Ho w e v e r, w e a g re e with th e S ta te th a t c o m m u nic a tio n s b e twe e n D r.

Wa rsa w an d Ne u m a n ’s wife we re p riv ile g e d . F o rm e r OCGA § 2 4 -9 -2 1

(7 ), 1 4 in e ffe c t d u rin g Ne u m a n ’s tria l, pro t e c te d a s priv ile g e d

c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e twe e n a p a tie n t a n d a lic e n se d p ro fe ssio n a l c o u n se lo r

1 2 Effect i v e fo r p ro ceed i n g s o n an d aft er J an u ary 1

, 2 01 3

, t hi s ex cep t i on i s n o w

co d ifi ed at OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 03 (4 ).

1 3 Effect i v e fo r p ro ceed i ng s o n an d aft er J an uary 1

, 2 0 1 3

, t h is i s n o w co d i fi ed

at OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 7

.

1 4 Effect i v e fo r p ro ceed i ng s o n an d aft er J an uary 1 , 2 0 1 3

, t h i s i s n o w co d i fi ed

at OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (7 ).

20d u rin g th e psy c h o th e ra p e u tic re la tio n sh ip

. 1 5 Th e p riv ile g e is he ld o n ly b y

th e p a tie n t, a

n d th e re f o r e

, o n l y th e p a tie nt m ay wa iv e it. Co o k se y v

.

La n d ry

, 29 5 Ga

. 43 0 (2 ) (7 6 1 S E2 d 6 1 ) (2 0 14 ). It is c le a r fro m th e re c o rd

th a t a lth o u g h Ne u m a n ’s wife wa iv e d a ny p riv ile ge with re g a rd to th e jo in t

c o u n se lin g se ssio n s sh e a nd Ne u m an a tte nd e d w ith D r. Wa rsa w

, sh e d id

n o t wa iv e a n y p riv ile g e re ga r d i n g h e r in div id ua l se ssio ns w ith D r.

Wa rsa w. Th u s, sta te m e n ts sh e m a de d u rin g th o se in d iv id u a l se ssio n s a re

p riv ile g e d, a

n d th e tria l c o urt p ro p e rly e x c lu d e d th e m

.

Ju d g m e n t re v e rse d

. All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r, e xc e p t Me lto n

, J., wh o

d isse n ts.

MELTON, Ju stic e , d isse n tin g.

Be c a u se th e re is n o th in g u n c le a r a b o u t Ne u m an ’s w a iv e r o f

c o n fid e ntia lity with re sp e c t to h is c o m m un ic a tio n s with Dr. Th om a s a n d

Dr. Ra n d D o rn e y

, I c a n n o t a g re e with th e m a jo rity ’s e rro ne o u s c o n c lu sio n

1 5 Dr. Geo rg e W ars aw i d en t i fi es h i m s el f as a p s y ch o t h erap i s t wi t h a Ph .D. in

co u ns el i n g an d p sy ch o l o g ical s erv i ces

. Reg ard l e s s o f wh et h er h e i s act u al l y a

p s y ch o lo g i s t

, p s y ch i at ri s t

, a s o ci al wo rk er, o r s o m e o t her t h erap i s t, co m m u n i cat i on s

b et ween h i m an d h i s p at ien t wo u l d b e co v ered b y t h e p ri vi l eg e. See fo rm er OCGA

§ 2 4-9 -2 1 (5 )-(7 ) (n o w OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 01 (5 )-(7 )).

21th a t th e se c o m m u n ic a tio n s we re p ro te c te d b y a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e . I

th e re fo re m

u st re sp e c tfu lly d isse n t.

As th e m a jo rity p o in ts o u t, Ne u m a n sig ne d a fo rm w h e n h e m e t with

Dr. Th o m a s a nd Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y a t th e ja il, a nd th is fo rm sta te d in p art:

Y o u ha v e b e e n re fe rre d by Mr. Ro b e rt Rub in fo r a n

in d e p e n d e n t m e d ic a l e x a m in a tio n

. Th e p u rp ose o f th is

e x a m in a tio n is to [sic ] c rim in a l r e s p o n sib ility & p sy c h

te stin g

. T h e e x a min a tio n is n o t c on

fid e ntia l

, n or is it fo r th e

p u rp o se o f tre a tm e n t. An

y th in g w e d isc uss in th e e

x a min a tio n

ma y b e in c lu d

e d in th e w ritte n re

po rt or ma

y b e disc lo se d in

c o u rt. T h e re fo re

, n o th in g is o

ff th e re c o rd a nd a n

y th in g y o u

sa y o r d o d u rin g th e e v a lu a tio n is n o t a se c re t. W h e n th e

e v a lu a tio n is c o m

p le te a writte n re p o rt will be p ro v id e d to

y o u r a tto rn e y

. Yo u d o n o t h a v e to p a rtic ip a te in t h e

e x a m in a tio n o r a n swe r a n y q u e s t i o n s y o u do n ot wish to

a n swe r. If y ou h a v e q u e stio n s o r c o n c e rn s y o u m a y a sk a t a n y

tim e a n d if y ou wa n t to sto p th e e x a m in a tio n

, y o u m a y sto p

a t a n y tim e

.

Th is d o c u m e n t sp e a k s fo r itse lf, a n d th e ma j o rity h a s n o t g iv e n a n y

p e r s u asiv e re a so n to su p p o rt its c o n c lu sio n th a t th e d oc u m e n t wo u ld

so m e h o w do a n y th in g o th e r th a n c o n v e y a c le a r in te n tio n to sh o w th a t th e

c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e twe e n Ne um a n a n d Drs. Th o m a s a n d Ra n d Do rn e y

we re “n o t c on fid e n tia l.” It d o e s n ot m a tte r th a t th is f o r m “ wa s t h e o n ly

[o n e ] th a t [Dr. Ra n d Do rn e y ] ha d [a va ilab le ] a t th e tim e .” Ma j. Op

. a t 5 0 7

.

Wh a t m a tte rs is th a t th is is th e d o c u m e n t th a t wa s a c tu a lly u se d

, a n d th a t

2 2th is sp e c ific d o c u m e n t sig n e d b y Ne u m a n in fo rm e d h im th a t “ n o th in g

[wa s] o ff th e re c o rd a n d a n y th in g [h e sa id ] or d [id ] du rin g th e e v a lu a tio n

[wa s] n o t a se c re t.” No r d o e s it m a tte r th a t t h e w ritte n re p o rt fro m th e

e v a lu a tio n wa s t o b e p r o v id e d to Ne u m a n ’s a tto rn e y s, b e c a u se th e fo rm

c le a rl y s t a t e d th a t a n y th in g in c lu d e d in th e writte n re p o rt fro m th e

e v a lu a tio n m a y a lso “ b e d isc lo se d in c o u rt .” Th e fa c t th a t th e a t t o r n ey s

w o u ld re c e iv e th e re po rt first is to b e e x p e c te d

, b u t it d o e s n o th in g t o

c h a n g e th e fa c t th a t th e wa iv e r fo rm in d ic a te d th a t a ny su c h re p ort c o u ld

a lso b e la te r disc lo se d in c o u rt a n d wo u ld n o t o th e rwise b e c o n fid e n tia l.

F u rt h e rm o re

, b e c a

u se Dr. R a n d Do rn e y an d Dr. Th o m a s m e t with

Ne u m a n a t th e ja il to sp e c ific a lly d isc u ss Ne u m a n’s te st re su lts th a t we re

in c lu d e d in th e ir re c o r d s a n d n o te s, it c a n n o t b e sa id th a t th e fo rm ’s

sta te m e n t th a t “ [a ] n y th in g

. . . d is c u s s [e d ]

. . . m a y b e in c lu d e d in [a ]

w r i t t e n re p o rt or m a

y b e d isc lo se d in c ou rt” wa s no t b ro a d e n o u g h to

c o v e r th e e n tire ty of th e c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e twe e n Ne u m an a n d th e

d o c to rs. In d e e d

, th e p rio r c o m m u n ic a tio n s b e twe e n Ne um a n a n d Drs.

Ra n d Do rn e y a n d Th om a s on ly se rv e d a s th e b a sis fo r a n y writte n

m a te ria ls th a t th e wa iv e r fo rm m a de c le ar w o u ld n ot b e c on fid e n tia l. Th e

2 3m a

jo rity ’s e ffo rts to m in im iz e th e im p a c t o f th is wa iv e r f

o r m a re

u n p e rsu a siv e

.

In th is c o n n e c tio n, c o n tra ry to th e m a jo rity ’s re a so n in g

, th e wa iv e r

fo rm sim ply d o e s n o t sa y th a t Ne u m an wa s o n ly wa iv in g “h is c o n fid e n tia l

c o m m u n ic a tio n s a s n e c e ssa ry to c a rry ou t h is re p re se nta tio n.” Ma j. Op

. a t

5 0 7

. Th e fo rm sta te s m

u c h m o re b ro a d ly th a t th e c o m m u n ic a tio n s we re

“ n o t c o n fid e n tia l” a nd th a t “ [a ] n y th in g ” d isc u s s e d “m a y b e d isc lo se d in

c o u rt,” with o u t sp e c ify in g t h a t o n ly N e u ma n ’s a tto rn e

y s wo u ld b e

a u th o rize d to ma k

e su c h c o u r t d

i s c lo s u r e s

. F u r th e r u n d e rsc o rin g th e b ro a d

n a tu re o f th e w a iv e r, th e fo rm th e n g o e s o n to in d ic a te th a t “ n o th in g is o ff

th e re c o rd ” a n d th a t a

n y th in g sa id or d o n e with Drs. Ra nd D o rn e y a n d

Th o m a s w o u ld “ n o t [b e ] a s e c r e t.” In th e a b se n c e o f th is wa iv e r fo rm

sig n e d b y Ne u m a n

, I wo u ld a g re e with th e ma j o r i t y th a t th e

c o m m u n ic a ti on s b e twe e n Ne um a n a n d Drs. Ra n d Do rn e y a n d Th o m a s

we re p ro te c te d b y a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e

. Ho we v e r, I c a nn ot ig n o re th e

p la in la n g u a g e o f th e b ro a d ly d ra fte d wa iv e r fo rm in d ic a tin g oth e rwise

.

Th e m a jo rity

, o n th e o th e r h a n d

, is stra in in g to n a rro wly in te rp re t th e p la in

la n g u a g e o f th e wa iv e r fo rm in a n e ffo rt to b ro a d e n th e sc op e o f th e

2 4a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e h e re wh e n we sh o u ld in ste a d be c o n stru in g th e

a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e a s n a rro w ly a s p ossib le :

Th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile ge p ro t e c ts c o m m u n ic a tio n s

b e twe e n th e c lie nt a n d th e a tto rn e y th a t a re in te n de d to b e

c o n f i d e n t i a l ; t h e p r o t e c t i o n d o e s n o t e x t e n d t o

c o mmu n i c a t i o n s wh ic h a re n o t o f a c o n fid e n tia l n a tu re

. . . . In d e e d

, th e sta tu te s o u tlin in g th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e a re

n o t b ro a d ly c o n stru e d ; th e a tto rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e e m b o d ie d

in [fo rm e r] OCGA § 2 4 -9 -2 4 h a s b e e n c o n fin e d “ to its

n a rro w e st p e rm issib le lim its.” In a sm uc h a s th e e x e rc ise o f th e

p riv ile g e re su lts in th e e x c lu sio n o f e v id e n c e

, a n a rro w

c o n stru c tio n o f th e p riv ile ge c o m p orts with th e v ie w th a t th e

a sc e rta in m e n t o f a s m a n y fa c ts a s p o ssib le le a d s to th e tru th

, th e d isc o ve ry o f wh ic h is th e o b je c t o f a ll le g a l in v e stig a tio n

.

(Cita tio n a nd p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d ; e m p h a sis su p p l i e d

. ) D a

v i s v

. S t at e

, 2 8 5

Ga

. 3 4 3

, 3 4 7 (6 ) (6 7 6 S E2 d 2 1 5 ) (2 0 09 ) (Le tte rs th a t d id n o t c o n ta in

c o n fid e ntia l in fo rma t i o n a n d we re n o t be twe e n c lie n t a n d h is a tto rn e y s,

b u t we re b e twe e n p riv a te in v e stig a to r a n d c lie n t’s a tto rn e y s, we re n o t

p ro te c te d b y a tto rn e y -c lie n t priv ile g e ). B e c a u se I b e lie v e th a t th e m a

jo rity

is in c orre c t fo r h a v in g c o n c lu d e d th a t th e n o te s a nd re c o rd s o f Drs. Ra n d

Do rn e y a n d Th o m a s we re su b je c t to th e a tt o rn e y -c lie n t p riv ile g e u n d e r th e

c irc u m sta n c e s o f th is c a se , I m u st re sp e c tfu lly d isse n t.

2 5D e c id e d Ju n e 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

– Re c o n sid e ra tio n d e nie d Ju ly 1 3 , 2 0 1 5

.

Mu rd e r. De Ka lb S u p e rio r Co u rt. Be fo re Ju d g e Ad a m s.

Mille r & K e y

, J. S c o tt Ke y ; P e te rs, Rubin & S h e ffie ld

, Do u g la s N.

P e te rs, Ro be rt G. Ru

b in , fo r a p p e lla n t.

Ro be rt D. Ja m e s, Jr., Distric t Atto rn e y

, An n a G

. Cro ss, De b o ra h D.

We llb o rn

, Assista n t Distric t Atto r n e y s; S a m u e l S. O le n s, A tto rn e y

Ge n e ra l, P a tric ia B. Atta wa y Bu rto n

, De p u ty A tto rn e y Ge n e ra l, P a u la K.

S m ith

, S e n io r A ssis ta n t Atto rn e y Ge n e ra l, C lin t C. Ma lc o lm

, Assista n t

Atto rn e y Ge n e ra l, fo r a

p p e lle e

.

2 6