SECOND DI VI SI ON DOYLE, C. J.

, M I LLER, P. J.

, and REESE, J.

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

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

June 19, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 40 4 . SM ITH et al . v . DIFRANCESCO.

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

In t h i s ap p eal

, we m

u s t det erm i n e wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y fo u n d t h at

t h e d efen d an t d o ct o r was en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e pl ai n t i ff d o ct or’ s cl ai m

o f d efam at io n p er s e b as ed o n t h e d efen dan t ’ s t ran s m i s si o n o f a l et t er t o p at i en t s in

wh i ch t h e d efen d an t cal l ed in t o q u es ti o n t h e pl ai nt i ff’ s ab il i ty t o p ract i ce m ed i ci ne.

Fo r t h e reas o ns t h at fo ll o w, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er an d rem an d t he cas e fo r

fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s

.

“ On ap p eal fro m a g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we rev i ew t h e e v i d en ce d e

n o v o t o d et erm i n e wh et her t he t ri al co u rt erred i n co n cl u d i n g t h at no g en u i n e i s s u e

o f fact rem ai n s an d t h at t h e m o vi n g p art y i s en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw.”(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ch a p ma n v. C. C. Di cks o n Co

. , 2 7 3 Ga. Ap p . 6 4 0 , 6 4 1 (1 ) (6 1 6

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

So v iewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at Cen eg en i cs i s a co m p an y t h at p ro v i d es ag e

m an ag em en t s erv i ces th ro u gh o u t t h e co u n t ry an d o p erat es a cl in i c in A t l an t a t h ro u g h

CG Ph y s i ci an s , LLC (“ CG Ph y s i ci an s ”). Dr. Ran d y Sm i th i s t h e s o l e s h areh o l d er o f

CG Ph y s i ci an s an d at al l rel ev an t t i m es was a l i cen s ed p h y s i ci an

. Cen eg en i cs an d CG

Ph y s i ci an s fo rm ed a m an ag em en t co m p an y t o h an d l e t h e ad m i n i s t rat i v e d u t i es o f t h e

At l an t a p ract i ce.

In 2 0 1 3

, at Cen eg en i cs ’ i n s i s t en ce, Sm i t h st o p ped seei n g p at i en t s at t h e At l an t a

cl i n i c an d d i rect ed h i s fo cu s to b u s i n es s d ev el o p m en t

. Dr. Li s a Di Fran ces co an d

an o th er p h y s i ci an were h i red t o t ak e o v er pat i en t care i n t h e cl i ni c. In M arch 2 0 1 4,

Sm it h l eft Cen eg en i cs al to get h er. He t h en c o n tact ed at l eas t s o m e CG Ph y s i ci an s

p at i en t s b y

e-m ai l t o o ffer h i s an t i -ag i n g p ro g ram s

.

At l eas t t wo o f th es e p at i en t s co nt act ed Di Fran ces co , ex p res s i n g co n cern ab o ut

t h e e-m ai l s fro m Sm i th

. Di Fran ces co au t h o ri zed Cen eg en i cs t o s en d a l et t er t o al l CG

Ph y s i ci an s p at i en t s t o ad dres s t h es e co n cern s

. In t h e l et t er, D i F r a n c e s co m ad e t h e

fo l l o w i n g s t at em en ts :

2Yo u m ay h av e recei v ed an e-m ai l fro m a p h y s i ci an b y t h e n am e o f Dr.

Ran d y Sm it h reg ard i n g y o u r Cen eg en i cs pro g r a m

. At o n e ti m e Dr.

Sm i t h was a p hy s ici an wi t h Cen eg en i cs At l an t a.

W e are co n t act i n g y o u so t h at y o u m ay m ak e an i n fo rm ed d eci s i o n i f Dr.

Sm i t h at t em

p t s t o co n tact y o u t o e n t i ce y o u t o di s co nt i nu e y o u r

Cen eg en i cs Ag e M an ag em en t Pro g ram wi t h m e . . . .

Dr. Sm i t h i s n o lo n g er au t h o ri zed t o o ffer t h e Cen eg en i cs Pro g ram

. . . .

W h i l e Dr. Sm it h was an earl y p i o n eer in an t i -ag i n g m ed ici n e, m u ch h as

ch an g ed s i n ce h i s earl y d ay s i n t h e p ract i ce, an d a l o t h a s ch a n g ed over

t h e l a s t yea r si n ce [

Dr

. S mi t h ] l a s t h a d t h e a bi l i t

y t o p r act i ce med i ci n e

.

If y o u wo u ld li k e m ore i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t an y t h i n g y o u m a y h e a r o r

recei v e ab o u t ch an g in g y o u r co u rs e o f t reat m en t

, p l eas e feel free t o

co n t act us

.

(Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) Di Fran ces co s en t t hi s l et t er o n ly t o pat i en t s o f CG Ph y s i ci an s

.

Th ereaft er, Sm i t h s ued Di Fran ces co fo r defam at i o n b as ed o n h er l et t er t o CG

Ph y s i ci an s ’ p at i en t s. He al s o req u es t ed eq ui t ab l e rel ief an d p u n i t i v e d am ag es

. Th e

3t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s um m ary ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Di Fran ces co , fi n d i n g t h at t h e l et t er

was n ot d efam at o ry

p er s e. 1

1

. Sm i t h fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran t i n g s um m ary ju d g m en t

t o D i Fran ces co b ecau s e t h e s t at em en t at is s u e co n s ti t u t ed d efam at i o n p er s e, as i t d id

n o t req u i re i n n u en d o t o b e u n d ers t oo d as i n ju ri o u s . W e ag ree.

“ A l i b el i s a fal s e an d m al i ci o u s d efam at io n o f an o t h e r , e x p res sed i n p ri n t

,

wri t in g , p i ct u res , o r s ig n s , t en d i n g t o i n j u re t h e rep u t at i on o f t h e p ers o n an d ex p o s i n g

h i m t o p u b l i c h at red

, co n t em p t

, o r ri d i cu l e.” OCGA § 5 1

- 5

- 1 ( a ). Th ere are fo u r

el em en t s t o a d efam at i o n cl ai m : “ (1 ) a fal s e an d d efam at o ry s t at em en t co n cern i n g t h e

p l ai n t i ff; (2 ) an un p ri v i l eg ed co m m u n i cat io n t o a t h i rd p art y ; (3 ) fau l t b y t h e

d efen d an t am o u n ti n g at leas t t o n eg l i g en ce; an d (4 ) sp eci al h arm o r t h e act i o n ab i l i t y

o f t h e s t at em en t i rres p ect i v e o f s p eci al h arm .” (Ci t at io n a n d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Ma t hi s v. Ca nn o n , 2 7 6 Ga. 1 6 , 2 0 -2 1 (2 ) (5 73 SE2 d 3 7 6) (2 00 2 ).

Here

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t he s t at em en t was n ot d efam at o ry p er s e

b ecau s e i t req ui red in n u en d o t o b e u n d ers to o d as i n ju ri o u s

. W e d i s ag ree. “ A wri t t en

1 CG Ph y s i ci an s was al s o n am ed as a p l ai n t i ff. It i s u nd i s p u t ed t h at th ere was

n o s t at em en t m ad e co n cern in g t h i s en ti t y , an d Sm i t h do es n o t ch al l en ge t h e g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t wi t h res pect to th i s p l ai n ti ff. Sm i t h ’ s breach o f co nt ract c l ai m s

ag ai n s t Cen eg en i cs rem ai n p en d i n g i n th e s u p e ri o r co u rt an d are n o t p art o f t h i s

ap p eal

.

4d efam at o ry s tat em en t is act i o n ab l e as ei t h er l i b el p er se o r l i b el p er qu o d .” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Za r a ch v. At l a nt a Cl a i ms As s n

. , 2 3 1 G a

. A p p

. 6 8 5, 6 8 8 (2 ) (5 0 0 SE2 d 1 )

(1 9 9 8). Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

, an d Sm i t h co n ced ed

, t h at Sm i t h al l eg ed o n l y l i b el p er

s e.

Li b el p er s e co ns i s t s o f a ch arg e t h at o n e i s g u il t y o f a cri m e,

d i s h o n es t y o r i m

m o ral i t y

. St at em en t s t h at t en d t o i nju re o ne i n hi s t rad e

o r b u s i n es s al s o are l i b el o u s p e r s e

. W h en d et erm i n i n g wh et h er wo rd s

are d efam at o ry as a m at t er o f l aw, co urt s m ay n o t h u nt f o r s t r a i n ed

co n s t ru ct io n s an d m

u s t rel y u p o n t h e wo rd s t h em s el ves i n co n s i d eri n g

wh et h er a s t at em en t w as d efam at o ry p er s e. Defam at o ry wo rd s w h i c h

are act i o n ab l e p er s e are t h o s e wh ich are reco g n i zed as i n ju ri o u s o n t h ei r

face

– wi t h o ut t h e ai d o f ex t ri n s i c p ro o f. Ho w e v e r , if th e d efam at o ry

ch aract er o f t h e wo rd s do es n ot ap p ear o n th ei r face b u t [t h ey ] o n l y

b eco m e defam at o ry b y t h e ai d o f ex t ri n s i c fact s , t h ey are n o t d efam at o ry

p er s e, b ut p er q u o d

, an d are s ai d t o r e q ui re i n n u en do

. Th e l aw i s

ab u n d an t ly cl ear i n Geo rg i a

– wo rd s t h at are l i b el ou s p er s e do n o t n eed

i n n u en d o

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i on o m it t ed .) Id

. In o th er wo rd s , “ [t ] h e defam at o ry ch aract er

o f wri t t en m at eri al m

u s t ap p ear o n it s face.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

. at 68 9 (2 ); s ee al s o

Co t tr el l v. S

mi t h

, 2 9 9 Ga. 5 1 7

, 5 2 3 (II) (A) (7 8 8 SE 2 d 7 7 2 ) (2 0 1 6) (wo rd s t h at

req u i re ex t ri n s i c p ro o f t o s ho w t h ei r defam at ory n at u re are n o t l ib el p er s e). As o u r

Su p rem e Co u rt recen t l y

ex p l ai n ed

,

5[a] s fo r d efam at io n i n reg ard t o a trad e, p ro fes s i o n , o r o ffi ce, th e k in d o f

as p ers i o n neces s ary to co m e u n der t h i s p h as e of t h e ru l e o f [d efam at i o n ]

p er s e m u st b e on e t h at is es p eci al l y i n ju ri o u s to t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s rep u t at i o n

b e c a u s e o f th e p art i cu l ar d em an d s or q ual i fi cat i o ns o f p l ai n t iff’ s

v o cat i o n

. Th e w o rd s m

u s t ei t h er be s po k en o f th e p l ai n ti ff i n co n n ect i o n

wi t h h i s cal l i ng o r t hey

m u s t b e o f s u ch a n at ure s uch as t o ch arg e h i m

wi t h s om e d efect of ch aract er o r l ack o f k n o wl ed g e, s k i l l

, or cap aci t y as

n eces s ari l y to affect h i s co m p et en cy s u c c e s s fu l l y t o carry o n h i s

b u s i n es s , t rad e, o r p ro fes s i o n

.

(C i t a t i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

. at 5 2 4 (II) (A). W h ere a s t at em en t i s

d efam at o ry p er s e, t h e el em en t of d am ag es i s i n ferred

. S t ra n g e v. Hen d er s o n , 2 2 3 Ga.

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

Here, t h e wo r d s i n Di Fran ces co ’ s l et t er, on th ei r face, i n cl ud ed t h e p h ras e

“ s i n ce Sm i th l as t h ad t h e ab i li t y t o p ract ice m ed i ci ne.” To d et erm i n e i f t h es e wo rd s

are defam at o ry p er s e, we co n s i d er t h ei r “ n at u ral an d o b vi o u s m ean i n g s , ” S mi t h v.

S t ewa r t

, 29 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6, 9 7 (2 ) (b ) (6 6 0 SE2 d 82 2 ) (2 00 8 ), an d “ l o o k [] to t h e p l ai n

i m p o rt o f t h e wo rd s .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed

. ) Bel l emea d

, LLC v. S t o ker

,

2 8 0 Ga

. 6 3 5

, 6 3 7 (6 3 1 SE2 d 6 9 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Th e “ ab il i ty t o p ract i ce m ed i ci ne,” i n i t s

n o rm al an d o b v i o u s m ean i n g , i n d i ca t e s t h at Sm i t h h as l o s t h i s l i cen s e o r n o l o n g er

6h as t h e p hy s i cal o r m en t al cap aci t y t o p ract i ce m ed i ci n e. 2 Th is in t erp ret at i o n req u i res

n o in n u en d o b ecau s e ei t h er m ean in g i s in ju ri o us to Sm i t h ’ s r ep u t at i o n i n h i s

p ro fes s i on

. See Co t tr el l

, s u p ra, 2 9 9 G a. at 5 2 4 (II) (A); Bel l emea d

, su p ra, 2 8 0 Ga. at

6 3 7 ; s ee al s o Ul t i ma Rea l E s t at e In ves t men t

s

, LLC v. S

a d d l er , 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 5

, 6 3 6

(1 ) (5 1 6 SE2 d 3 6 0 ) (1 9 9 9) (s t at em en t s t h at p l ai n t i ff “ d i d n o t k n o w wh at h e was

d o i n g ” i n h i s b u s in es s d eal i n g s were act i o n ab l e as s l an d er).

Di Fran ces co arg u es t h a t t h e ch al len g ed s t at em en t refers t o Sm i t h’ s ab i l i t y to

p ract i ce wi t h Cen eg en i cs , b ut n ot h i n g i n t h e wo rd s th em s el v es w o u l d reas on ab l y l ead

a read er t o th at i n terp ret at io n

. Th e av erag e read er v i ewi n g t h e en t i re l et t er wo u l d n ot

u n d ers t an d i t t o m ean t h at Sm i t h was s ti l l l icen s ed t o pract ice m ed i ci n e b u t s i m p l y n o

l o n g er ab l e t o p ract i ce wi th Cen eg en i cs

. See Lu ca s v. Cr a n s h a w , 28 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 0,

5 1 3 (1 ) (6 5 9 SE2 d 6 1 2 ) (2 0 0 8) (i n st ru ct i n g co u rt s to l o o k at a wri t in g as t h e av erag e

r e ad er to wh o m i t i s ad dres sed wo u l d ). An y read er wo u l d n at u ral l y co n cl u d e t h at

S m i t h co u l d n o l o n g er p ract i ce m ed i ci n e. W e t h us can n o t ad o p t Di Fran ces c o ’s

“ s t rai n ed co n s t ru ct i o n ” t h at t h e s t at em en t on it s face referred o n l y t o Sm i t h ’s

i n v o l v em en t wi t h Cen eg en i cs rat h er t h an h i s ab il i t y t o p ract i ce m ed i ci n e g en eral l y

.

2 See h t t p s: / / w ww.m erri am -web s t er.co m /d i ct i o n ary

/ ab i l i t y (d efi n i n g t h e t erm

“ ab i l i t y ” as t h e “ p h y si cal

, m en t al

, o r l eg al p o w e r t o d o s o m et h in g ” o r “ co m p et en ce i n d o i n g s o m et h i ng ”).

7See Za ra ch

, s u p ra, 2 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 8 8 (2 ). Acco rd i ng l y , th e t ri al co u r t e r r e d in

fi nd i ng t h at t h e s t at em en t was n o t d efam at o ry p er s e.

2

. Sm i t h n ex t arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n fi nd i ng t h at t h e s t at em en t was

p ri v i leg ed as a m at ter o f l aw. Ag ai n , we ag ree.

Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at Di Fran ces co was en t i t led t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n

t h e al t ern at e g ro un d t hat t h e ch al l en g ed s tat em en t was p ri vi l eg ed

. See OCGA § 5 1 -5

-

7 ; Smi t h

, s u p ra, 29 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 9 1 (1 ) (s et t i n g o u t el em en t s o f d efam at i o n t o i n cl u d e

u n p r ivi l eg ed

co m m u n icat i o n ).

A d efen dan t wh o h as m ad e a s t at em en t th at i s d efam at ory m a y n e v e r t h el es s

av o id l i ab i l i t y i f th e s t at em en t was pri v i l e g e d

, ab s en t a s h o wi n g o f act u al m al i ce. 3

S a ye v. Del o i t t e & To u ch e, LLP

, 2 95 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 8

, 1 3 0 (1 ) (a) (6 70 SE2 d 8 1 8 )

(2 0 0 8).

St at em en t s m ad e wi t h a g o o d fai t h i n t en t on th e p art o f t he s peak er t o p ro t ect

h er i n t eres t i n a m at t er i n wh i ch s h e i s co n cern ed are s u b ject t o co n d i t io n al pri v i l eg e.

See OCGA § 5 1-5 -7 (3 ). T o es t ab l i s h t h at t h e defam at o ry s t at em en t was co n d i t i o n al l y

3 Geo rg i a l aw reco gn i zes t wo d i fferen t k i n d s o f pri v i l eg e, ab s ol u t e an d

co n di t i o n al

. S

a ye , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 3 0 -1 3 1 (1 ) (a). Di Fran ces co d o es n o t arg u e t h at

t h e s t at em en t at i s s ue h ere is ab s o l u t el y p ri v i l eg ed

. See OCGA § 5 1

- 5

- 8

. T h u s , we l o o k t o wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p e r l y fo u n d t h at D i Fran ces co ’ s s t at em en t was

s u b ject t o co n d i t i o n al p ri v i l eg e.

8p ri v i leg ed

, Di Fran ces co m u s t s h o w t h at (a) s h e act ed i n go o d fai t h ; (b ) i n co n n ect i o n

wi t h an i nt eres t t o b e u p h el d ; (c) th e s t at em en t was p ro p erl y l i m i t ed i n i ts s co p e an d

o ccas i o n ; an d (d ) p u bl icat i o n was m ad e t o p ro p er p ers o ns

. S p eed wa y Gr a d i n g Co r

p.

v. G a r d n er , 2 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 9

, 4 4 2 (2 ) (4 25 SE2 d 6 7 6 ) (1 99 2 ); OCGA § 5 1 -5 -7 (3 ).

See al s o D o mi n

y v. S h u mp er t

, 23 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 0

, 50 4 -5 05 (2 ) (5 1 0 SE2 d 8 1 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

Th e q u es t i o n o f co n d it i o n al p ri v i l eg e i s t y p ical l y fo r t h e ju ry

. Co hen v. Ha rt l a g e , 1 7 9

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

Bas ed o n t h e l i m i ted reco rd b efo re u s , we co n cl u d e t h at t h ere rem ai n s a

g en ui n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact reg ard i n g al l t h e el em en ts of p ri vi l e g e. Di Fran ces co

arg u ed

, an d t he t ri al co u rt fo u n d

, t h at th e s t at e m e n t was p ri vi l eg ed b ecau s e

Di Fran ces co act ed i n g o o d fai t h an d l i m it ed p u b l i cat i o n o f t h e s t at em en t t o p at i en t s

Sm it h has co n t act ed

. 4 Sm i t h arg u es i n res p o n s e t h at Di Fran ces co d i d n o t act i n g o o d

fai t h b ecau s e s h e d id n o t t ak e an y s t ep s t o d et erm i n e t h e t ru t h o f t h e s t at em en t

, s h e

was m o t i v at ed b y g reed rat h er t h an a co n cern fo r p at i en t s , an d b ecau se t h e p at i en t s

4 D i Fran ces co a r g u ed befo re t h e t ri al co u rt t h at t h e st at em en t was p ri v i l eg ed

as b o t h a s t at em en t i n p erfo rm an ce of a p u bl i c d u t y an d as o n e m ad e wi th a g o o d fai th

i n t en t to pro t ect h er i n t eres t i n t h e m at ter u n d er OCGA § 5 1-5 -7 (1 ) an d (3 ). Th e t ri al

co u rt fo un d o n l y t h at it was p ri v i l eg ed as a go o d fai t h s t at em en t t o p ro t ect o n e’ s i n t eres t

.

9wh o recei v ed t he m es s ag e were n o t ju s t Di Fran ces co ’s p at ien t s b u t were i n s t ead

p at i en t s o f h i s p ract i ce, CG Ph y s i ci an s

.

Th e reco rd d o e s n o t co ncl u s i v el y sh o w t h at Di Fran ces co act ed i n g o o d fai th

b ecau s e it is u n d i s p ut ed t h at Sm i t h was at al l t im es l icen s ed t o p ract ice m ed i ci n e an d

Di Fran ces co h ad n o b as i s to b el i ev e o t h erwi s e. Cf. S mi t h v. Hen r

y , 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 1,

8 3 2 -8 3 3 (1 ) (6 2 5 SE2 d 9 3 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (s peak er act ed i n g o o d fai t h wh en h e bas ed t h e

ch al l en g ed s t at em en t o n co n v ers at io n s w i t h th e p l ai n t iff an d o t her em p l o y ees o f t h e

t ax as s es s o r’ s o ffi ce an d h e bel i ev ed h i s co m m en t s were t ru e). M o reo ver, t h ere i s a

fact ual q u es t i o n as t o w h et h e r t h e s t at em en t was p ro perl y l i m i t ed i n sco p e o r

au d ien ce. Th e reco rd b efo re u s co n t ai n s o n l y t h e affi d av i t s o f Sm i t h an d D i Fran ces co ,

e-m ai l s b et ween Di Fran ces co an d Cen eg en i cs ab o u t t h e s t at em en t i ss u ed t o p at i en t s

i n wh ich Di Fran ces co as k s Cen eg en i cs t o co n t act al l h er p at i en t s , an d a co p y o f t h e

CG Ph y s i ci an s m an ag em en t ag reem en t. Th es e d o cu m en ts d o n o t co n cl u s i v el y

es t ab l i s h wh o recei v ed t he l et t er fro m Di Fran ces co o r th at t h e p u bl i cat i o n was

p ro p erl y l i m i ted t o o n l y

Di Fran ces co ’ s p at i en t s wh o recei v ed co m m u n i cat i o n f

ro m

Sm it h

. See S

mi t h v. Ven ca r e, In c. , 2 38 Ga. Ap p

. 6 21

, 6 2 6 -6 2 7 (2 ) (e) (5 19 SE2 d 7 3 5 )

(1 9 9 9) (wh ere t here i s s o m e ev i d en ce t o reb u t cl ai m o f an el em en t of p r i v i l eg e,

10s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i s i m

p ro per) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o nl y ). Th erefo re, t h e q u es t i o n

o f p ri v i l eg e i s fo r t he ju ry

. Co h en , s u p ra, 1 7 9 Ga. Ap p . at 8 4 9

.

Ac c o rd i n g l y , th e ev i d en ce d i d n o t au t h o ri ze t h e t ri al co u rt t o co ncl u d e, as a

m at t er of l aw, t h at Di Fran ces co ’ s s tat em en t was p ri vi l eg ed

. W e t h erefo re rev ers e t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran ti n g s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s

.

3

. Fi nal l y , b ecau s e we co n cl u de tha t sum m a r y j udg m en t was i m

p ro per, we n eed

n o t ad dres s Sm i t h ’ s cl ai m o f act u al m al ice.

Ju d g men t r ever sed a n d ca s e r ema nd

ed . Do yl e, C. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

11