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

, REESE and BROWN, JJ.

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

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

A ugust 19, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 05 5 . W E ST et al . v . BOW SER et al

.

B R O W N , J u d g e.

In W es t v. Bo ws er , 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 3 (8 6 0 SE2 d 9 0 4 ) (2 0 2 1 ), we rev ers ed t h e

t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er co m

p el l in g arb i t rat i o n i n a wro n g f u l d eat h act i o n fi l ed b y J o b e

W es t

, i n d i v i d u al ly an d as ex ecu t o r of t h e es t a t e o f R o n al d W es t

, an d Kel l y

Bl o tt en b erg er as t h e s u rv i v i n g ch i l d ren of Ro n al d (co l l ect i v el y “ t h e p lai n t i ffs ”)

ag ai n s t Pro v id en t G ro u p -C r e ek s i d e Pro p ert ies

, LLC, d /b / a Pro v i d en t Vi l l ag e at

Creek s id e, Pro v i d en t Res ou rces Gro u p , In c., an d Pro v i d en t Res o u rces M an ag em en t

,

LLC (co l l ect i v el y “ t h e Pro v i d en t d efen d an t s ”). Pert i n en t l y , we h el d i n Di v i s i o n 1 (a)

t h at t h e p ro v i s io n s of t h e Geo rg i a C o d e p e r t ai ni n g t o g u ard i an s o f ad u l t ward s , s ee

OCGA § 2 9 -4 -1 et s eq

. (“ t h e Gu ard i an s h i p C o de”), d i d n o t g iv e J o b e, as Ro n al d ’ s

g u a r d i an , t h e au t h o ri t y to en t er i n t o a p re-d i s p u te arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t (“ t h eA rb i trat io n Ag reem en t ”) o n Ro n al d ’ s b eh al f. Id

. at 1 0 6 -1 0 7 (1 ) (a). W e b a s e d t h a t

h o l d i n g o n o u r p reced en t i n CL S NF, LLC v. Fo un t a i n , 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 76 (8 4 3 SE2 d

6 0 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (“

Fo un t a i n I

”). W es t , 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p . at 1 0 6 -1 0 7 (1 ) (a), (b ).

Th ree m o nt h s lat er, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt rev ers ed Fo u nt a i n I , h o ld i n g t h at t h e

Gu ard i an s h i p Co d e gran t s a g uard i a n au t ho ri t y t o en t er in t o a b i n d i ng p re-d i s p u t e

arb i t rat i on ag reem en t w here t h e ex erci s e o f s u ch p o wer is reas o n a b l y n eces s ary to

p ro v id e ad eq u a t e l y f

o r t h e ward ’ s s u p p o rt

, care, h eal th

, an d w el fare. CL S NF, LLC

v. Fo u n ta i n , 3 1 2 Ga. 41 6 (8 63 SE2 d 1 1 6 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (“ Fo u n t a i n II

”). T h ereaft er, o u r

Su p rem e Co u rt g ran t ed cert i o rari i n t h i s cas e, v acat ed ou r d eci s i o n , an d rem an d ed to

t h i s Co urt fo r reco ns i dera t io n i n l i g h t o f Fo u n ta i n II

. Pr o vi d en t Gr o u p -Cr eeks i d

e

Pr o per t ies v. W

es t , Cas e No . S2 1 C1 2 5 3 (No v . 2 , 2 0 21 ). W e n ow affi rm

.

1

. In l i g h t of Fo u n t a i n II

, we v acat e Di v i s i o n 1 o f o u r earl ier o p i n i o n

. In i t s

p l ace, we h o l d t h at OCGA § 2 9 -4 -2 3 (a) (4 ) o f t he Gu ard i an sh i p Co d e g av e J o b e t h e

au t h o ri t y t o en t er i n t o t h e Arb it rat io n Ag reem en t o n Ro n al d ’ s b eh al f. See Fo u n t a in

II , 3 12 Ga. at 4 2 0 -4 2 1

.

2

. In Di v i s i o n 2 o f o u r op in i o n , we d ecl i n ed t o ad d res s th e p lai n ti ffs ’ rem ai n i n g

arg u m en t s rel at ed t o t h e en fo rceab i l it y of t h e Arb i t rat i o n Ag reem en t

. W es t

, 3 6 0 Ga.

Ap p

. at 1 0 9 (2 ). Gi v en o u r h o ld i n g in Di v i si o n 1

, we n ow fi n d i t n eces sary t o ad d res s

2t h o s e arg u m en t s

. Th e p lai n t i ffs co n t en d t h at t h e ag reem en t i s u n s u p p o rt ed by

c onsiderat i o n , t h at J ob e w as frau d u l en t l y i n d u ced i n t o s i g n i n g t h e ag reem en t

, a nd tha t

t h e ag reem en t i s v o i d u n d er Geo rg i a l aw an d as ag ai n s t p u bl i c p o l i cy

. W e fi n d t h es e

co n ten t i o n s u n av ai l i n g

.

W h et h er a v al i d an d en fo rceab l e arb i t rat io n ag reem en t ex i s ts i s a q u es t i o n o f

l aw. M il l er v. G GN

S C A t l a n t a , 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 4

, 11 7 (1 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 6 8 0) (2 0 1 3 ).

“ On ap p eal fro m t h e g ran t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o 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 i s wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt was co rrect as a m at t er o f l aw. Th e co ns t ru ct i o n

o f an arb it rat i o n ag reem en t

, l i k e an y o t h er co n t ract

, p res en t s a q ues t i o n o f l aw, wh i ch

i s su b ject t o d e no v o rev i ew.” (Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Aa r o n v. Un i t ed

Hea lt h S vcs

. o f G a

. , 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 3

, 5 6 3 -5 6 4 (8 2 6 SE2 d 4 4 2 ) ( 2 0 19 ). “ An d t h e

v al i d i t y o f an arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t i s g en eral l y g ov ern ed b y s t at e l aw p ri n ci p l es o f

co n tract fo rm at i o n .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Un i t ed Hea l t h S vcs

. o f Ga

.

v. Al exa n d

er , 3 4 2 G a. Ap p

. 1, 2 (2 ) (8 0 2 SE2 d 3 1 4 ) (2 0 1 7 ). See al s o Lyn n v. Lo wn d es

Co u n t y Hea l t h S

vcs

. , 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p . 2 4 2 , 2 4 5 (2 ), n .3 (8 4 0 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (“ Th i s

p ri n ci p l e s t i l l ap p l i es i n cas es

. . . wh ere t h e arb i t rat i on ag reem en t s t at es t h at t h e

ag reem en t i s t o b e go vern ed by t h e Fed eral Arb i t rat i on Act .”). “ As t h e p art y s eek i n g

arb i t rat i on , [d efen d an t s ] b ear[ ] t h e b urd en of p ro v i n g t h e e x i s ten ce o f a v al i d an d

3e nfo rceab l e ag reem en t t o arb i t rat e.” (Ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Tr i a d H e alth

Mg mt . o f Ga ., III v. Jo h n s o n , 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p . 2 0 4, 2 0 6 (2 ) (6 7 9 SE2 d 7 8 5) (2 0 0 9 ).

(a) Th e p l ai n ti ffs arg u e t h at t h e Arb it rat i o n Ag reem en t i s a s ep arat e an d d i s t i n ct

co n tract fro m t h e Res i d en t i al Ag reem en t an d th us req ui res s ep a r a t e an d d i s t i n ct

co n si d erat io n

. Th e Pro v i d en t d efen d an t s arg u e t h at t he t ru e co n s id erat i on i n t h e

co n tract i s t h e m

u tu al p ro m i s es t o arb i t rat e an y d i s p ut es

. W e ag ree wi th th e Pro v i d en t

d efen d an t s

.

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, m u t u al p ro m is es an d ob l i g at io n s are su ffi ci en t

co n si d erat io n t o s up p o rt a co n t ract

. See At l a nt a S i x Fl a g s Pa rt n er s h i p v. Hu g h es , 1 9 1

Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 4

, 4 0 7 (1 ) (3 81 SE2 d 6 05 ) (1 9 8 9 ). See al s o Ru s h i n g v. Go l d Ki s t

, 2 5 6 Ga.

Ap p

. 11 5

, 11 9 (3 ) (5 6 7 SE2 d 3 8 4 ) ( 2 0 0 2 ). Here, t h e Arb i t rat i o n A g reem en t

d em o n s t rat ed m

u t ual i t y of ob li g at io n , as i t req u i red bo t h p art i es t o s u b m i t an y an d al l

d i s pu t es t o b in d i n g arb i t rat i on

. Acco rd i n g l y , th ere was su ffi ci en t co n si d erat i o n to

s u p p ort t h e Arb it rat i o n Ag reem en t

. See At t en b o r o u g h v. Di ll a r d ’s Dep t. S to r e , No

.

1 : 0 6 -CV-0 29 1 -TW T, 20 0 6 W L 1 6 6 3 2 9 9

, at * 2 (II) (N.D. Ga. Ju n e 9

, 20 0 6) (h o l d i n g

t h at arb i trat i o n ag reem en t was s u p p o rt ed b y co n s i d erat i o n “ as i t req u i red b o t h t h e

P l a i n t i ff an d t h e Defen d an t t o s u b m i t al l d is cri m i n at i o n an d ret al i at i o n d i s p ut es

rel at ed t o t h e Pl ai n t i ff’ s em pl oy m en t to ‘ fi n al an d b i n d in g arb it rat i o n ’ ”). See al s o

4Ca l ey v. Gu l f s t r ea m Aer o s

pa ce C o r p

. , 4 2 8 F3 d 1 3 5 9

, 1 37 6 (II) (E) (3 ) (1 1 t h Ci r.

2 0 0 5 ).

(b ) Th e p lai n t i ffs nex t co n t en d th at J o b e was frau d u l en t l y i n du ced t o s i g n t h e

Arb it rat io n Ag reem en t . W e d i s ag ree.

“ In g en eral

, a p art y al l eg in g frau d ul en t i n du cem en t to en t er a co n t ract h as t wo

o p t i o n s : (1 ) affi rm th e co n t ract an d s u e fo r d am ag es fro m t h e frau d o r b reach ; o r (2 )

p ro m p t ly res ci nd t h e co n t ract an d s u e i n t o rt fo r frau d .” Ekel ed o v. Amp o r

fu l

, 2 8 1 Ga.

8 1 7 , 8 1 9 (1 ) (6 4 2 SE2 d 2 0) (2 00 7 ).

Hav i n g el ect ed t o s eek res ci s s i o n an d pu rs u e a cl ai m fo r frau d

, [t he

p l ai n t i ffs are] req u i red t o p ro v e t h at [t h e Pro v i d en t d efen d an t s ] t h ro u g h

m i s rep res en t at i o n , act

, o r art i fi ce in t en t i o n al l y induc e d [ J o b e] t o s ig n th e [Arb i t rat i on ] Ag reem e n t a n d t h at [J o be] ju s t ifi ab l y rel i ed o n th e

m i s rep res en t at i o n , act

, o r art i fi ce, b ei n g reas o n ab l y d i l i g en t i n th e u s e

o f t h e faci l it i es at [h i s ] co m m an d.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Leg a cy Aca d emy v. Ma mi l o ve , 2 9 7 Ga. 1 5

, 1 7 (1 )

(7 7 1 SE2 d 8 6 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ). In t hi s vei n , th e p lai n t i ffs co n ten d t h at J ob e was frau d u l en t l y

i n d u ced t o s ig n t h e Arb i t rat i o n Ag reem en t b ecau s e he was “ m ad e t o b el iev e b y t h e

rep res en t at i v es of Pro v i d en t Vi l l ag e t h at h e was req u i red t o s i g n al l o f th e d o cu m en t s

p l aced befo re h i m , wh i ch ap p aren t l y i n cl u d ed t h e Arb it rat i o n Ag reem en t .” H o wev er,

5[o ] n e can n o t cl ai m t o b e d efrau d ed ab o u t a m at ter eq ual l y o p en t o th e

o b s erv at i on o f al l p art i es wh ere n o s p eci al rel a t i o n s h i p o r t ru s t o r

co n fi d en ce ex i s t s

. Fu rt h er, i n t h e ab s en ce o f s p eci al ci rcu m st an ces o ne

m u s t ex erci s e ord i n ary d i l i g en ce i n m ak i n g an i nd ep en d en t v eri fi cat i o n

o f co n t ract u al term s an d rep res en tat i o n s , fai l u re t o do wh i ch wi l l b ar an

act i o n b as ed o n frau d

. O n e n o t p rev en t ed fro m read i n g t h e co n t ract

, an d

h av i ng t h e c a p a c i t y an d o p p o rt u n i t y t o d o s o , can n o t aft er s ig n i ng i t

cl ai m h e was frau du l en t ly i n du ced t o s ig n b y p ro m i s es wh ich co n t rad i ct

t h e ex pres s t erm s o f t h e co n t ract

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Meg el v. D o n a l d s on , 2 8 8 G a. Ap p

. 5 1 0

, 5 1 4 (2 )

(6 5 4 SE2 d 6 5 6 ) (2 0 0 7). Acco rd Res u l ts Or i en ted v. Cr a wf o r d

, 2 45 G a. Ap p

. 4 3 2

, 4 3 9

(1 ) (b ) (5 3 8 SE2 d 7 3 ) (2 0 00 ). A s t he pl ai n ti ffs t h em sel v es p o i n t o u t

, t h e A rb i t rat i o n

Ag reem en t ex pres s l y p ro v i d ed

, i n b o l d

, al l -cap s , t h at “ I F THI S AGREEMENT I S

NOT SI GNED, THE RESI DENT W I LL STI LL BE ALLOW ED TO RECEI VE

SERVI CES AT THE FACI LI TY

. ” (Em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al

. ) Th e pl ai n t i ffs as s ert t h at

J o b e was n o t g i v en t he op po rt u n i t y t o read th e d ocu m en t s , b ut n o t h i ng i n t h e reco rd

s h o ws t h at J ob e was p r even t ed fro m read in g t h e Arb i t rat i on Ag reem en t

. See Leg acy

Aca demy

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 18 (1 ) (al l eg at i o n s th at d efen d an t s gav e t h e fran ch i s e ag reem en t

t o t h e p l ai n t i ffs o n th e s am e d ay i t w as s i g n ed an d to l d t h em t h at t hey h ad t o s i g n t h e

d o cu m en t s t h at d ay or an o t h er fran ch i s ee wo u l d be al l o wed t o t ak e t h ei r d es i red

6l o cat io n w e r e l e g al l y in su ffi ci en t t o su p p o rt a fi n d i n g t hat t h e p l ai n t i ffs were

p rev en ted fr o m read i n g th e ag reem en t th ro u g h frau d o r m i s l ead i n g art i fi ce). He

s i m p l y ch o s e n ot t o d o s o b efo re s i g n i n g t h e ag reem en t

. A b s en t an y ev i d en ce o f frau d

t h at p rev en t ed J o be fro m read in g th e Arb it rat i o n A g ree m e n t

, p l ai n t i ffs ’ cl ai m t h at

J o b e was frau du l en t l y i n d u ced t o s i g n b y s t at em en t s wh i ch co n t rad i c t th e ex p res s

t erm s o f t he A rb i t r a t i o n Ag reem en t fai ls

. See i d

. (b ecau s e th e p re-co n t ract u al

rep res en t at i o ns b y t he d efen d an t s u p on wh i ch t h e p l ai n t i f f s al l eg e t h ey rel i ed

ex p res s l y co n trad i c t t h e ag reem en t

, t h ei r rel i an ce o n s u ch rep res en t at i o n s was

u n reas o nab l e as a m at ter o f l aw).

(c) Pl ai n t i ffs as s ert t h at th e Arb i t rat i o n Ag reem en t i s v o id un d er Geo rg i a l aw,

s p eci fi cal l y , t h e “ Rem ed i es fo r Res i d en t s o f Pers o n al Care Ho m es Act ,” O CGA § 3 1

-

8 -1 3 0 et s eq ., an d t h e “ Bi l l of Ri g h t s fo r Res i d en t s o f Lo ng -Term Faci l i ti es , ” OCGA

§ 3 1-8 -1 0 0 et s eq

. Pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 3 1 -8 -1 3 3

, th e p l ai n ti ffs p oi n t o ut

, “ [p ers o n al

care h o m e r] es i d en t s ’ ri g ht s s h al l i n cl ud e al l ri gh t s en u m erat ed i n t h e ru l es an d

reg u l at i o n s o f t h e D e p art m en t o f Co m m u n it y Heal t h

, in cl u d i n g , b u t n o t l i m i t ed t o,

p ro ced ural p ro t ect i o ns rel at i ng t o ad m i ss i o n, t ran s fer, o r d i sch arg e o f res i d e n t s .”

Su b s ect io n (a) o f O C GA § 3 1 -8 -1 3 6 fu rt h er p ro v id es : “ A n y res i d en t o r t h e

rep res en t at i v e o r leg al su rro g at e o f t h e res i d en t, i f an y , m ay b ri n g an act i on i n a co u rt

7o f co m

pet en t ju ri s d i ct i o n t o reco v er act u al an d p u n i t iv e d am ag es ag ai n s t a p ers o n al

care h o m e or i ts g o v ern in g b o d y , ad m in i s t rat o r, o r em p l o y ee fo r an y v i o l at i o n o f t h e

ri gh t s o f a res i d en t g ran ted un d er t h i s art i cl e.” See al so OCGA § 3 1 -8 -1 36 (c) (“ Th e

ri gh t o f a res i den t to b ri n g an act i o n p u rs u an t t o t h i s Co d e s ect i o n i s i n ad d it i on t o an y

an d al l ot h er ri g h t s, rem ed i es , o r cau s es o f act io n t h e res i den t m ay hav e b y s t at u t e o r

at co m m o n l aw.”). Th e p l ai nt iffs t h en p o i n t t o Sect i o n 1 1 1 -8 -6 3 -.1 6 o f t he Ru l es an d

Reg ul at io n s of t h e Geo rg i a Dep art m en t o f Co m m u n i t y H eal t h

, wh i c h p ro v i d es in

rel ev an t part t h at an “ as s is t ed l i v i n g co m m u n i t y m u s t n o t us e a wri t t en ad m i s s i o n

ag reem en t o r an y o t h er wri t ten ag reem en t s i gn ed b y t h e res i d en t o r t h e res i d en t ’ s

l eg al rep r e s e n t a t i v e w h ich w ai v es o r at t em pt s t o wai v e an y o f t h e res i d en t ’ s ri g h t s

t h es e r u l e s p ro t ect .” Ga. Co m p

. R. & Reg s ., r. 1 1 1 -8 -6 3 -.1 6 (1 ). Bas ed o n t h es e

p ro v is i o n s , t he p lai n t i ffs as sert t h at t h e Arb i tr a tion A gr e e m e nt t a kes away J o b e’ s ri g ht

as a res i d en t t o b ri n g an a ct i o n i n co u rt an d h av e a ju ry tri al

, i n vi o l at i o n o f t h e

Rem ed i es fo r Res i d en ts o f Pers o n al Care Ho m es Act an d th e Ru l es an d Reg u l at i on s

o f t h e Dep art m en t of Co m m u ni t y H eal th as wel l as t h e Un i t ed St at e s a n d Geo rg i a

Co n s t i t u t i o n s.

It is wel l es t ab l is h ed t h at “ [p ] art i es to a b i n d in g arb i trat i o n a g r e e m e n t can

wai v e co ns t i t u ti o n al ri gh t s , i n cl u d i n g t he ri g h t t o t ri al b y ju ry t o o bt ai n a q u i ck an d

8s i m

p l e res o l u t i o n o f t h e d is p ut e.” W i se v. Ti d a l Co ns t r uct i o n Co

. , 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 0,

6 7 4 (2 ) (5 8 3 SE2 d 4 66 ) (2 0 0 3 ). See al s o Gr een e v. Hu n d l ey , 2 6 6 Ga. 5 9 2

, 5 9 5 (2 )

(4 6 8 SE2 d 3 5 0 ) (1 9 9 6 ); Bu rn h am v. Co o n ey , 2 6 5 G a. Ap p . 2 4 6 , 2 4 7 (1 ) (5 9 3 SE2 d

7 0 1 ) (2 0 0 4 ). M o reo v er, th e Arb i t r a t i o n Ag reem en t p ro vi d es t h at “ t h e p art i es

ex p res s l y s t i p ul at e th at t h e Fed eral Arb i t rat i o n Act

, 9 U.S.C. § § 1 -1 6

, s h al l

ex cl u s i v el y g o v ern t h e en fo rcem en t o f t h is Ag reem en t .” See Tr ia d

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at

2 0 6 (“ [i ] f t h e i n t en t o f t h e p art i es i n d i cat es t h at arb it rat i o n w o u l d b e go v ern ed b y t h e

FAA, t h i s Co u rt wi l l en fo rce t h e i n t en t io n s o f t h e p art i es ”) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). See al s o Ha r ri s o n v. Eb er h a r d t , 2 87 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 1

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

8 2 6 ) (2 00 7 ). An d

, “ t h e FAA p reem p t s an y s tat e l aw t h at co n fl i ct s wi t h i ts p ro v i s i on s

o r u nd erm i n es th e en fo rcem en t o f p ri v a t e arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t s .” La n g f i t t v.

Ja cks o n , 2 84 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2 8, 6 3 4 -6 3 5 (3 ) (6 4 4 SE2 d 4 6 0 ) (2 0 0 7 ). “ Th e FAA s i m p l y

r e q u i r es co u rt s t o en fo rce p ri v at el y n eg o t i at ed ag reem en t s t o arb it rat e, l i k e o t h er

co n tract s, in acco rd an ce w i t h t h e i r t erm s

. Th us , t h e FAA w i l l p re[ ] em p t s t at e laws

wh i ch req u i re a ju d i c i a l fo ru m fo r t h e res o l u t i o n o f cl ai m s wh i ch t h e co n t ract i n g

p art i es ag reed t o res o l v e b y arb i t rat i on .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) BDO

US A, LLP v. Co e , 32 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9

, 8 3 (1 ) (7 6 3 SE2 d 7 4 2 ) (2 0 14 ). To t h e ex t en t t h at

t h e Rem ed i es fo r Res i d en t s o f P e r s o n a l C a r e Ho m es Act

, t he Bi l l o f Ri g h t s fo r

9Res id en ts o f L o n g -Term Faci l i t i es , o r an y co rres p o n d i n g reg u l at i o n s p ro h i b i t

arb i t rat i on o f t h e p l ai nt iffs ’ cl ai m s , t h ey are p reem p t ed b y t h e FAA. See Ma rmet

He a l t h C a r e Ct r

. v. Br o wn , 56 5 U. S. 53 0

, 5 3 3 (I) (1 3 2 SCt 12 0 1

, 1 8 2 LE2 d 4 2 )

( 2 012) ( st at e’ s p ro h i b i t io n ag ai n s t p re-d i sp u te ag reem en t s t o arb i t rat e p ers o nal -i nj ur y

o r wro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m s ag ai n s t n u rs i n g h o m es p reem p t ed b y t h e FAA); W

ea ver v.

Do e , 3 7 1 P3 d 1 17 0

, 1 1 7 4

, 1 1 7 7 (Ok l a. Ci v

. Ap p

. 20 1 6 ) ( p r o v i s i o n o f O k l ah o m a’ s

Nu rs i n g Ho m e Care Act p ro v i d i n g t h at an y wai v er o f th e ri gh t t o co m m en ce an act i o n

ag a i n st t h e n u rs in g h o m e o wn er o r l i cen s ee fo r an y i n t en t i o n al o r neg l i g en t act o r

o m is s i o n s h a l l b e n u l l an d v o i d an d wi th o ut l eg al effect preem p ted b y th e FAA);

Fo s ler v. Mi d

wes t Ca r e Ct r

. II

, 3 9 8 Il l

. Ap p. 3 d 56 3

, 5 6 5 (9 2 8 NE2 d 1 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (FAA

p reem pt s t he p ro v i s i on s o f Il l i n o i s ’ s Nu rs i n g H o m e Care Act t h at p u rp o rt t o n u l l i fy

a nu rs i n g h o m e res i d en t ’ s wai v er o f t h e ri gh t t o co m m en ce an act i o n i n co u rt an d to

a ju ry t ri al ).

( d ) Fi n al l y , th e pl ai n t i ffs co n t en d th at t h e Arb i t rat i o n Ag reem en t i s

u n en fo rceab l e b ecau s e i t i s v o i d as ag ai n s t p u b l i c p o li cy

. OCGA § 13 -8 -2 (a)

p ro v id es : “ [a] co n tract t h at is ag ai n s t t h e p o l i cy o f t h e law can n o t be en fo rced .” Th e

s t at u te t h en l i s ts s ev eral t y p es o f co n t ract s t hat are v o i d as ag ai n s t p u b li c p o l icy

, n o n e

10o f wh i ch are rel ev an t h ere, 1 b u t t h e l i s t is ex p res s l y n o n -ex h au s t i v e. OCGA § 1 3 -8 -2

(a). Th u s ,

[w] e are n o t r e s t r ict ed b y t h i s l i s t i n v o i d in g co n t ract s t h at are ag ai n s t

p u b l i c p o l i cy ; h o w e v e r , t h e p o wer o f t h e co u rt s to d ecl are a co n tract

v o i d fo r b ei ng i n co n t rav en t i o n o f a s o u n d p u b li c p o l i cy i s a v ery

d el i cat e an d u n d efi ned p o wer, an d

, li k e t h e p ower to d e cl are a st at ut e

u n co n s t i t u t i o n al

, s h ou l d b e ex erci sed o n l y i n cas es free fro m d o u b t

. T he

au t h ori t y o f th e l awm ak i n g po wer t o i n terfere wi t h t h e p ri v at e ri g ht o f

co n t ract h as i t s l i m i t s, an d t h e co u rt s s ho u l d b e ex trem el y cau t i o u s i n

ex erci s i n g the p ow e r t o supe rv is e pri v at e co n t ract s wh i ch t h e lawm ak i n g

p o wer h as n o t d ecl ared u n l awfu l

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Ed wa r ds v. Gr a

pef i el ds

, 26 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 9

, 4 0 3

(1 ) (5 99 SE2 d 4 89 ) (2 0 0 4 ). See al s o In n ova t i ve Ima g es v. Su mmer vi l l e , 3 0 9 Ga. 6 7 5,

6 8 1 (3 ) (a) (8 4 8 SE2 d 7 5 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (“ co u rt s m u st ex erci s e ex t rem e cau t i o n i n d ecl ari n g

a co n t ract vo i d as ag ai n st p u b l i c p o li cy an d m ay d o s o o nl y wh ere t h e cas e i s free

fro m d ou b t an d an i n

ju ry t o t he p u b l i c cl earl y ap p ears ”) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

1 Th es e i n cl u de c o n t ract s t en d i ng t o co rru p t leg i s l at i o n o r t h e ju d i ci ary ;

co n tract s i n gen eral res t rai n t o f t rad e, as d is t in g u i s h ed fro m co n t ract s wh i ch res t ri ct

cert ai n co m

p et i ti v e act i v i t i es (res t ri ct i v e co ven an t s ); co n tract s t o ev ad e or op p o s e t h e

rev en u e l aws o f an o t h er co u n t ry ; wag eri n g co n t ract s ; an d co n t ract s o f m ai n t en an ce

o r ch am pert y . OCGA § 1 3 -8 -2 (a) (1 ) - (5 ).

11o m i tt ed ). W e co n cl ud e t h at t h e al l eg ed v i o l at i o n o f p ub l i c p o l i cy in t h i s cas e i s n o t

“ free fro m

d o u b t .”

Co n trary t o t h e p l ai n t i ffs ’ as s ert i o n s , “ b i n d in g arbitr a tion a gr e e m e nt s g en eral l y

a r e no t i n co n t rav en t io n o f t h e p u b l i c p o l i cy o f t h i s St at e.” In n o va t ive Ima g es , 3 0 9

Ga. at 68 2 (3 ) (a). In d eed

, “ [b ] y en act i n g t h e [Geo rg i a A rb i trat i o n Co d e]

, t h e Geo rg i a

Gen eral As s em

b l y h as es t ab l i s h ed a cl ear p u b li c p o li cy i n fav o r o f arb i t rat i o n .” Hel ms

v. Fr an kl in Bu i l der

s , 30 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 3

, 8 65 (7 0 0 SE2 d 6 0 9) (2 0 1 0 ). No n et h el es s , t h e

p l ai n t i ffs as s ert t h at t h ere al s o i s a s t ro n g p u b l i c p o l icy i n t h i s St at e fo r th e p ro t ect i o n

o f t he el d e r l y a g a i ns t ab us e. See OCGA § 1 6 -5 -1 0 0 et s eq

. (“ Pro t ect i o n o f El d er

Pers o n s”); OCGA § 3 0 -5 -1 et seq

. (“ Di s ab led Ad ul t s an d El der Pers o n s Pro t ect i o n

Act ”); OCGA § 30 -8 -8 0 et s eq

. (“ Lo n g -t erm Care Faci l i t y Res i d en t Ab u s e Rep o rt i n g

Act ”). Rel y i n g o n Li ch o n v. Mo r s e , 3 2 7 Mi ch

. Ap p

. 3 7 5 (9 3 3 NW 2 d 5 0 6 ) (2 0 1 9 ), in

wh i ch t h e M ich i g an Co urt o f Ap p eal s fo u n d an em p lo y m en t co n tra c t ’s arb i t rat i o n

cl au s e un en fo rceab le i n a cas e i n v o l vi n g s ex u al as s au l t i n t h e wo rk p l ace, i d

. at 3 9 4

-

3 9 5 (II), t h e p l ai n t iffs urg e u s t o ad o p t a s i m i l ar s t an c e wi t h reg ard t o t h e

en fo rceab i li t y o f an arb i trat io n cl au s e i n t h e co n t ex t o f el d er ab u s e i n a l i cen s ed care

faci li t y

. Th e p l ai n t i ffs ’ rel ian ce o n Li ch o n i s m i sp l aced fo r s ev eral reas o n s

. Fi rs t

, t h e

co u rt i n Li ch o n d i d n o t det erm i n e wh et her t h e arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t i s co n t rary to

12p u b l i c p o l i cy . 3 27 M i ch . Ap p

. at 3 90 (II), 3 9 7 (II) (“ [T] hi s Co u rt i s as k ed t o d eci d e

wh et h er t h e s ex u al as s au l t an d b at tery o f an em p l o y ee at th e h an d s of a s u p eri o r i s

co n du ct rel at ed t o em

p lo y m en t

. W e co ncl u d e t h at i t i s n o t .”). In d eed

, s o m e o f t h e

q u o t at i o n s em

p lo y ed by t h e p l a i n t i ffs i n t h ei r b ri ef are m erel y a reci t at i o n o f t h e

p l ai n t i ff’ s arg u m en t s i n th at cas e. Id

. at 3 8 3 (I) (A). Ad d i t i o n al l y , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

o f M i ch i g an v acat ed t h e Co urt o f Ap p eal s ’ d eci s i on i n Li ch o n

. Li ch o n v. Mo r s e , 5 0 7

M i ch

. 42 4

, 4 4 6 (IV) (9 6 8 NW 2 d 4 6 1 ) (2 02 1 ). Th e p l ai n t i ffs h av e p o i n t ed t o n o

Geo rg i a cas es fi nd i n g an y cat eg o ry o f arb i t rat io n ag reem en t s v oi d as ag ai n s t p u b l i c

p o l i cy

. W e d ecl i n e t o d o s o fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e h ere. 2 M o reo v er, s u ch a p u b l i c p o l i cy

wo u l d ru n afo u l of t h e FAA. See Br o wn , 5 6 5 U. S. at 5 3 3 (I) (W es t Vi rg i n i a’ s p u b l i c

p o l i cy p ro h i b i t io n ag ai n s t p re-d i s p u t e ag reem en t s t o arb i t rat e p ers o nal -i n ju ry o r

wro ng fu l -d eat h cl ai m s ag ai n s t nu rs i n g h o m es p reem pt ed by t h e FAA). Acco rd i n g l y ,

we n o w affi rm

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er co m p el l i n g arb i trat i o n.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

2 In arg u i n g t h at t h e Arb i t rat i o n Ag reem en t i s v o i d as ag ai ns t p u bl i c po l i cy , t h e

p l ai n t i ffs as s ert

, i n p as s i n g , t h a t t h e ag reem en t i s “ un co n s ci o n ab l e.” H o wev er, t h e d o c t r i n e s o f u n co n s ci o n ab l e co n t ract s an d co n t ract s t h at are v o i d as ag ai n s t p u b l i c

p o l i cy are “ s o m ewh at di s t in ct ,” an d th e an al y s es sh o ul d n o t b e co n fl at ed

. In n o va t i ve Ima ges , 3 0 9 Ga. at 6 8 0 (3 ), 6 8 4 (3 ) (b ).

13