FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI PKI N, 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.

https ://w w w

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

M ar ch 11, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 77 8 . COOPER v . KANA HOTELS, INC.

G O B E I L
, J u d g e.

Th i s ap p eal ari s es fro m i n

ju ri es Kel v i n Co o p er al l eg ed l y s us ta ine d w hen h e fel l

i n a h o t el m an ag ed b y K a n a H o t el s , In c. (“ Kan a”) i n Oct o b er 20 1 4

. Co op er t i m el y

s u ed t h e h o t el ’ s o wn er, W ed ge Ho l d i ng s , In c. d / b /a Em bas s y S u i t e s (“ W ed g e”), in

s t at e co u rt i n Oct o b er 2 0 1 6

, al l eg i n g n eg l i g en ce. He t hen o b t ai n ed l eav e o f co u rt to

ad d Kan a as a part y d efen d an t i n 2 01 7

. Aft er Co o p er v ol u n t ari l y d i s m i s s ed t h e s t at e

co u rt act i o n , he fi l ed a ren ewal act i o n i n su p eri o r co u rt i n 2 0 1 9

. 1 Co o p er n o w ap p eal s

fro m t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o K an a, arg ui n g th at t h e co u rt

e rro n eo u s l y d et erm i n ed t h at t h e u n d erl y i n g 2 0 1 6 cas e was “ v oi d ,” rat h er t h an

1 C o o p er’ s wi fe pu rs u ed a cl ai m fo r l o s s o f co n s o rt i u m i n s t at e co u rt

. S h e

v o l u n t ari l y

d i s m i s s ed h er s t at e co u rt act i o n an d ren ewed h er s u i t i n s u p eri o r co u rt

.“ v o i d ab l e.” Co o p er al so as s ert s t h at t h e s u p eri or co u rt erred b y fi n d i n g t h at t h e

ad d it i o n o f Kan a i n A u gu s t 20 1 7 d i d n o t rel a t e b a c k t o t h e o ri g in al Oct o ber 2 0 1 6

co m p l ai n t ; an d i n d et erm i n i n g as a m at t er o f l aw t h at Kan a d i d n o t co m m i t frau d

. Fo r

t h e reas o n s ex p l ai n ed m o re fu l l y b el o w, we affi rm

.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s ap p ro pri at e wh en t here i s n o g en u i ne i s s ue

o f m at eri al fact an d t h e m o v an t i s e n t i t l e d t o ju d g m en t as a m at ter o f

l aw. W e ap p l y a d e n ov o s t an dard o f ap p el l at e r e v i e w an d v i ew th e

ev i d en ce, an d al l reas o n ab l e co n cl u s i o n s an d i n feren ces d rawn fro m i t

, i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e n o n m ov an t

.

Co mmu n i t

y Ma r ket p l a ce P r o per t i es

, LLC v. S

u n Tr u s t B a nk

, 3 0 3 G a. A p p

. 40 3

, 4 0 4

(6 9 3 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci t at i on an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). To t h e ex ten t t hat “ [t ] h e

i s su e o n ap p eal in v o l v es t he p ro p er co n s t ru ct i o n o f t h e ren ewal s tat u e, OCGA § 9 -2

-

6 1 , we ap p l y a d e n o vo s t an d ard o f rev i ew.” Gr es h a m v. Ha r ri s , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p . 4 6 5,

4 6 5 (7 65 SE2 d 4 0 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h ows t h at Co o p er fi l ed s u it i n t h e St at e Co u rt o f Fu l t o n

Co u n t y ag ai n s t W ed g e fo r i n ju ri es h e al l eg ed ly s u s tai n ed w h e n h e fel l i n W ed g e’ s

At l an t a h o tel o n Oct o b er 1 0

, 2 0 14

. Co o per s en t co rres p o nd en ce t o th e h o t e l o n

J an u ary 2 9

, 2 0 1 5

, d irect ed t o “ Em b as s y Su i t es .” Th e l et t er req u es t ed “ t h e n am e an d

co n tact in fo rm at i o n o f t h e i n su rer” o r, al t ern at iv el y , req u es t ed t h e i n s urer to co n t act

2Co o p er’ s at t o rn ey d i rect l y

. Th e l e t t er d i d n o t i n cl u d e a req u es t fo r m an ag em en t

i n fo rm at i o n , an d Co o p er ack n o wl ed g es th at h e recei v ed a res p o n s e t o t h i s

co m m u n icat io n i n t h e fo rm of a l et t er fro m Li b ert y M ut u al sh o w i n g W ed g e as i t s

i n s u red

.

Co o per fi l ed h i s s t at e co u rt co m pl ai n t n am i n g W ed g e as t h e o n l y d efen d an t o n

Oct o b er 3

, 2 0 16

, s ev en d ay s pri o r t o th e ex pi ry o f th e ap p l i cab l e t wo y ear st at u t e o f

l i m i tat i on . See OCGA § 9 -3 -3 3 (“ act io n s fo r i n j u ri es t o t h e p ers o n s h al l b e b ro u g ht

w i t h i n two y ears aft er t h e ri g h t o f act i o n accru es ”). Co o p er u n s u cces s fu ll y t ri ed t o

s erv e W ed g e w i t h t he co m p l ai n t b y serv in g Ken t Dev an t i er, t h e h o tel ’ s g en eral

m an ag er, o n Oct o b er 17

, 2 0 16

. Dev an t ier was n o t a u t h o ri zed t o accep t serv i ce o n

b e hal f o f W ed g e. O n Ap ri l 7

, 2 0 1 7

, Co o p er fi l ed a s eco n d am en d ed co m p l ai n t

,

p u rp ort i n g t o ad d K an a, a co rp o rat io n t h at h e al l eg ed “ ex erci s es s o m e m a n ag eri al

co n tro l o v er” t h e ho t el

, as wel l as an o t h er p o t en ti al l y l i ab l e en ti t y , So u t h p ort Ho t el

Co m p an y , LLC (“ So u t h p o rt ”). Co n t em p o r a n eo u s ly wi t h t h at co m pl ai n t

, Co o p er fi l ed

a m o t i o n t o ad d Kan a an d So u t h p o rt as d efen d an t s p u rs u an t t o OCGA § § 9 -1 1 -1 5 an d

9 -1 1 -2 1

.

Th e s t at e c o u r t en t ered an o rd er o n s ev eral p en d i ng m o t i o n s o n A u g u s t 3 1,

2 0 1 7

. In t h e o rd er, th e s t at e co u rt (1 ) g ran t ed W ed g e’ s m o t io n t o d i sm i s s , fi n di n g t h at

3Co o p er had fai l ed t o pro perl y o r t i m el y s erv e W ed g e; (2 ) g ran t ed So u t h p o rt ’ s m o t i o n

t o d i s m i s s , fi n d i n g t h at Co o p er fai l ed t o ex erci s e du e d i li g en ce i n s erv i n g So u t h p ort ;

an d (3 ) g ran t ed Co o p er’ s m o t i on t o ad d K an a as a d efen dan t

, n o t i n g th e m o t i o n was

“ n o t op p o s ed ” an d “ wel l -fo u nd ed .” Co op er t h en s erv ed Kan a o n Sep t em b er 6

, 2 0 1 7.

On J an u ary 2 9

, 2 0 1 8

, Kan a fi l ed a m ot i on t o d i sm i s s t h e st at e co u rt cas e b as ed

o n t h e ex p i rat io n o f t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n an d l ach es

. Th e s tat e co u rt d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n , b u t g ran t ed Co o p er’ s m o t i on t o co m p el d i s co v ery o n t h e i s s u es o f “ s erv i ce,

n o t i ce, an d rel at i o n b ack u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c).” Kan a t h en fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h a t t h e d i sco v ery i t co n d u ct ed co n fi rm ed t h at Kan a

recei v ed n o n o t ice of t h e in s ti t ut i o n o f t he s tat e co u rt act i o n p ri o r t o t h e r u n n i n g o f

t h e st at u t e o f l i m it at i o n

. Bef o r e t he s t at e co u rt ru l ed o n Kan a’ s m o t io n , Co o p er

v o l u n t ari l y

d i s m i s s ed t h e s t at e co u rt act io n o n Feb ru ary 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

.

On J u n e 24

, 2 0 19

, Co o p er fi l ed a ren ewal act i o n i n t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f

Fu l t o n Co u n t y, n a m i n g Kan a, W ed ge, an d So u t h p o rt as d efen d an t s

. Co o p er s erv ed

Kan a wi t h t h e co m

p l ai n t

, an d Kan a t h en fi led a m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. In t h e

m o ti o n an d s u p p o rt i ng b ri ef, Kan a a r g u ed t h at Co o p er co u ld n o t ren ew h i s act i o n

ag ai n s t Kan a b ecau s e h e fai l ed to co m m en ce t h e s t at e co u rt act i o n ag ai ns t K an a u n t i l

aft er t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n h ad al read y ex p i red

, an d t h e co m p l ai n t n am i n g Kan a d id

4n o t rel at e b ack t o t h e o ri g i nal co m p l ai n t b ecau s e Kan a h ad n o n o ti ce o f t h e s ui t b efo re

t h e l i m i t at i o n p eri o d ran

. Co o p er res p o n d ed

, arg u i n g i n pert i n en t part t h at h is s u p eri o r

co u r t s u it co n s t i t u t ed a v al id ren ewal act i o n , h e s at is fi ed t h e rel at i o n b ack

req u i rem en t s of OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c), an d a m at eri al is s u e o f fact ex i s t ed as to

wh et h er Kan a co m

m i t t ed frau d

, as co n t em

p l at ed i n OCGA § 9 -3 -9 6, t h at wo u l d t o l l

t h e ru n n i n g o f t h e s t at ut e o f l i m i t at i o n “ u n t i l wel l aft er M r. Co o per s erv ed Kan a o n

Sep tem b er 6 , 2 0 1 7

. ”

T h e s up eri o r co u rt g ran t ed i n part an d d en i ed i n p art 2 K an a’ s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, co n cl u d i n g i n rel ev an t p art t h at Co op er co u l d no t av ai l h i m s el f

o f OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 ’ s ren ewal p ro v i s i o n s b ecau s e h i s s tat e co u rt s u i t was v o i d s i nce

Co o p er fai l ed t o s erv e W ed g e, t h e o n ly p art y n am ed i n t h e o r i g i n a l co m p l ai n t

. Th e

s u p eri o r co u rt al s o co n cl u d ed t h at Co o p er’ s am en d ed st at e co u rt co m pl ai nt ad d i n g

Kan a as a d efen d an t d i d n ot rel at e b ack t o t h e dat e o f t h e o ri g i n al co m p l ai n t b ecau s e

h e d i d n o t t i m el y p ro v i d e K an a wi t h n o ti ce o f t h e s u i t as req u i red b y OCGA § 9 -1 1

-

1 5

. Th us , Co o p er’ s cl ai m s ag ai n s t K an a were b arred b y t h e s t at u t e o f l im i t at io n

. W i th

r e g a rd to Co op er’ s arg u m en t t h at Kan a’ s frau d t o l l ed t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n , t h e

2 Th e s u p e r i o r co u rt d en i ed Kan a’ s m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t as to
Co o p er’ s wi fe’ s l o s s o f co n s o rt i u m cl ai m ; t h is cl ai m rem ai n s p en d i ng i n t he s u p eri o r

co u rt an d i s n o t at i s s u e i n t h i s ap p eal

.

5co u rt ru l e d t h at Co o p er h ad n o t d em o ns t rat ed frau d u n d er OCGA § 9 -3 -9 6

. Th i s

ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

On ap p eal

, Co o p er arg u es t h at t h e s up eri o r co u rt erred b y co n cl u di n g t h e 2 0 1 6

s u i t was wh o l l y v o id

, rat h e r t h an m erel y v o i d ab l e. H e al s o arg u es t h at th e s u p eri o r

c o u r t e r r e d b y ru l i n g t h at t h e s eco n d am en d ed co m p l ai n t d id n o t rel at e back t o t h e

d at e o f th e o ri g i nal co m

p l ai n t b ecau s e Co o p er fai l ed t o n o ti fy K an a o f t h e s ui t wi t h in

t h e s t at ut e o f li m i tat i o n as req u i r e d b y OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c). In a rel at ed arg u m en t

,

Co o p er as s ert s t he s u p eri o r co u rt erred b y d et erm i n i n g as a m at t er o f l aw t h at Kan a

d i d n o t co m

m i t frau d s o as to t o l l t h e s t at u t e o f l im i t at i o n. Pret erm i t ti n g wh et h er t h e

s u p eri o r c o u rt erred b y ru l i n g t h at th e 2 0 1 6 st at e co urt s u it was v o i d

, rat h er t h an

v o i d ab l e, we h o l d t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt pro p erl y g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Kan a

b as ed o n i t s s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n d efen s e.

W i t h res pect t o Co o p er’ s 2 0 1 7 ad d i t io n o f Kan a t o t h e 2 0 1 6 st at e co u rt s u i t

, “ in

o rd er fo r an ad d i t i o nal p art y t o b e ad d ed to an ex i s t i n g su i t b y am en d m en t p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § 9 -1 1-1 5, leav e o f co u rt m u s t fi rs t b e s o u g h t an d o b t ai n ed p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 1 .” Ma t

s o n v. No b l e In v. Gr o u

p

, L L C

, 2 8 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 0, 6 5 4 (2 )

(6 5 5 SE2 d 2 7 5 ) (2 0 07 ) (ci t at i o n, p u n ct u at i o n , an d em p h as i s om i t t ed ). W here, as h ere,

t h e p art y wo u l d b e ad d ed aft er t h e ru n ni n g o f t he s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n , th e co u rt m u s t

6d et erm i n e wh et her t h e cl ai m ag ai n s t t he new p art y rel at es b ack t o t h e d a t e o f t h e

o ri g i nal co m

p l ai n t

. C a l l a w a y v. Qu i n n , 3 47 Ga. Ap p

. 32 5

, 3 2 9 (2 ) (8 1 9 SE2 d 4 9 3 )

(2 0 1 8).

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c) p ro v i d es :

W h en ev er t h e cl ai m or d efen se as s ert ed i n t h e am en ded p l ead in g ari ses

o u t o f t h e co nd u c t

, t ran sact i on , o r o ccu rren ce s et fo rt h o r at t em p t ed t o

b e s et fo rt h i n th e o ri g i n al pl ead i n g , t h e am en dm en t rel at es b ack t o t he

d at e o f t he o ri g i nal p lead i n g

. An am en d m en t ch an g i n g t h e p art y ag ai n s t

wh o m a cl ai m i s a s s e r t ed rel at es b ack t o t h e dat e o f t he o ri g i nal

p l ead i n g s i f t h e fo reg o i n g p ro v i s i o n s are s at i s fi ed

, an d i f wi t h i n th e

p eri o d p ro v i d ed b y l aw fo r co m m en ci ng t h e act i o n ag ai n s t h im t h e p art y

t o b e b ro u gh t i n b y am en d m en t (1 ) h as recei ved s u ch n ot i ce o f th e

i n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e act i on t h at h e wi l l n o t b e p reju d i ced in m ai n t ai n in g h i s

d efen s e o n t h e m eri ts

, an d (2 ) k n ew o r s h o u l d h av e kn o wn t h at

, b u t fo r

a m i st ak e co n cern i ng t h e i d en t i t y o f t h e p ro p er p art y , t h e act i o n wo u l d

h av e b een b ro ug h t ag ai n s t h i m

.

Pu t an o th er way , t h ree co n d i t i o n s m u s t b e m et b efo re a co urt can au t h o ri ze t h e

ad d it i o n o f a n e w p art y d efen d an t an d t h e rel at i o n b ack o f cl ai m s as t o t h at n ew

d efen d an t : (1 ) t h e am en d m en t ad d i n g t h e n ew d efen d an t aro s e o u t o f th e s am e fact s

as t h e o ri g in al co m

pl ai n t ; (2 ) t h e n ew d efen d an t h ad s u ffi ci en t , t i m el y n o t i ce o f t h e

act i on ; an d (3 ) wi t h i n t h e s t at ut e o f l i m i tat i o n , t h e n ew d efen dan t s h o u l d h av e k n o wn

7t h at b u t fo r a m i st ak e co n cern i n g h i s id en t i t y as a pro p er p art y , t h e act io n wo u l d h av e

b een bro u g h t ag ai n s t h im

. Do yl e Di cker

s o n Ti l e Co

. v. Ki n g , 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 32 6

, 3 2 7

-

3 2 8 ( 4 3 6 SE2 d 6 3) (1 9 93 ). Fo r an am en d m en t to rel at e b ack t o t h e o ri g in al fi li n g,

t h ere m u s t “ b e a s t r i ct ad h eren ce t o t h e l et t er o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c) b y t h e o n e wh o

wo u l d rel y u p o n i t as au t h o ri t y fo r t h e ad d i t io n o f a n ew part y t o an ex i s t i n g act i o n.”

S wa n v. Jo h n s o n , 2 1 9 Ga. A p p

. 4 5 0

, 4 5 1 (1 ) (4 6 5 SE2 d 68 4 ) (1 99 5 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ).

Her e , i t i s u n d i s p u ted t hat Co o p er d i d n o t o b t ai n a co u rt o rd er t o ad d Kan a

wi t h i n t h e s tat u t e o f l i m i t at i o n , n o r d i d it s erv e Kan a wi t h t h e am en ded co m p l ai nt

wi t h i n t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i on , wh i ch ex p i red o n Oct ob er 1 0

, 2 0 1 6

. Th u s , fo r t h e

ad d it i o n o f K a n a t o b e effect i v e, t h e am en d ed co m pl ai n t m us t rel at e b ack t o t h e

o ri g i na l c o m

p l ai n t. AC Co r

p

. v. Myr ee , 22 1 G a. Ap p

. 5 13

, 51 4 (1 ) (4 7 1 SE2 d 9 2 2 )

(1 9 9 6). Kan a h ad t h e b u rd en o n s u m m ary ju d g m en t to d em o n s t rat e t hat Co op er fai l ed

t o m eet at l eas t o n e o f th e rel at i o n -b ack req u i rem en t s i n OCGA § 9 -1 1-1 5 (c). S wa n ,

2 1 9 Ga. Ap p . at 4 51 (1 ).

In s u p p o rt o f Kan a’ s arg u m en t t h at i t d i d n o t recei v e t i m el y n o t i ce o f t h e s u i t

,

i t s u b m it t ed t h e affi dav i t o f t h e h o t el ’ s m an ag er, Dev an t i er. Dev an ti er av erred t h at h e

fi rs t l earn ed of t h e s tat e co u rt s u i t o n Oct o b er 1 7

, 20 1 6, o n e week a f ter t h e ex p i rat i o n

8o f t h e s t at u t e o f l im i tat i o n , wh en Co o p er p ers o n al l y s erv ed h i m in an effo rt to p erfo rm

s erv i ce o n W ed g e. Fu rt h er, Dev an t i er s t at ed t h at h e h ad n ev er b een a reg i s t ered ag en t

fo r Kan a, n o r was h e au t h o ri zed t o accep t s erv i ce o n K a n a ’s b eh al f. Si m i l arl y , in

Co o p er’ s res p o n s e to Kan a’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, Co o p er co n ced ed t h at

“ Kan a recei v ed d i rect no t i ce o f t h e 2 0 1 6 [c] as e n o l at er t h an Oct o b er 1 7

, 2 0 1 6

, wh en

M r. Co o p er p ers o n al l y s e r v e d t h e Gen eral M an ag er o f t h e [h ] o t el

, Ken t Dev an t i er,

wi t h t h e co m

p lai n t t h at s p eci fi cal l y referen ced th e [h ] o tel an d M r. Co o per’ s i n ju ri es

t h at h ad b een t h e s u b

ject o f an i n tern al K a n a i n c i d e n t r ep ort

. . . .” Ho w ev er, t h e

reco rd is d e v o i d o f e v id en ce t h at Kan a h ad n ot i ce o f t he 2 0 1 6 s u i t p ri o r t o t h e

ex p irat i o n o f t h e s t at u t e o f l im i t at i o n

. 3 An d

, un d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c), “ t h e [ad d ed ]

d efen d an t m

u st h av e h ad n o t i ce o

f t h e a ct io n i ts el

f

, n ot n o t i ce o f t h e i n ci d en t[,] ”

wi t h i n t h e ap p li cab l e l i m i t at i on p eri o d

. Ta n n er ’s Ro me, In c. v. In g r am , 2 36 Ga. Ap p.

2 7 5 , 2 7 6 (5 1 1 SE2 d 61 7 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (em p h as i s s u p p l ied ).

O n ap p eal

, Co o p er d o es n o t al l eg e t h at Kan a had n o t ice o f t he s u i t b e f o r e

Oct o b er 1 7

, 2 0 16 ; i ns t ead

, h e co n t en d s t h at Kan a’ s rel at i o n s h i p wi th W ed g e i s

s u ffi ci en t l y cl o s e as to ren d er t h e fi l i n g o f t h e co m p l ai n t ag ai ns t W ed g e on Oct o b er

3 No t ab ly

, n ei t h er t h e o ri g i n al co m p l ai nt no r t h e fi rs t am en d ed co m p l ai nt

n am ed Kan a as a p art y

.

93

, 2 0 1 6, s u ffi c i e n t t o p r o v i de Kan a wi t h n o t i ce o f t h e 2 0 1 6 s ui t

. In s u pp o rt o f t h i s

arg u m en t

, Co o p er ci t es Ta nn er ’s Ro me, In c., a cas e i n w h i ch t h e ad d e d d e f e n d an t

ad m i t t ed i t was a s i s t er co rp o rat i o n t o t h e o ri g i n al defen d an t

, an d ad m i t t ed t h at “ i t

k n ew o r s h o u l d h av e k n o w n t he act i o n wo u l d hav e b een b r o u g h t a g a i n s t i t .” Id

. at

2 7 6

. Co ns eq u en tl y , t h i s Co u rt h el d th at val i d serv i ce o n “ t h e s i s ter co rp o rat i o n , aft er

t h e ex p i rat io n o f t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at io n was ti m el y n o t i ce o f t h e act io n , an d t h e

req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c) were m et .” Id

. In arri v i n g at o u r d eci s i o n i n t h at

cas e, we ex p res sl y d is t i n g u i s h ed Ha r r i s o n v. Go l d en , 2 19 Ga. Ap p. 7 7 2 (4 6 6 SE2 d

8 9 0 ) (1 99 9 )

, “ b ecau s e i n t h at cas e t h e s u b s t i t u t ed d efen d an t an d t h e ex i s t i ng

d efen d an t w ere u nrel at ed .” Ta n n er ’s Ro me, In c. , 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 76

. In t h e i n s t an t

cas e, u n l i k e t h e d efen dan t in Ta nn er ’s Ro m e, In c. , Kan a h as no t ad m i t t ed t h e

rel at i o n s h i p o f t he p art ies

, an d t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at K an a an d W ed g e are “ s i s t er”

co rp o rat i o ns o r th at Kan a an d W ed g e s h are reg i s t ered ag en ts

. Id

. at 2 7 6

. Bas ed o n t h e

fo reg o i n g , t h e s u peri o r co u rt co rrect ly co n cl u d ed t hat Co o p er’ s am en d ed co m p l ai nt

n am i n g Kan a d id n o t s at i s fy t h e rel at i o n -b ack req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5

.

Co o per arg u es th at

, becau s e a re c o m m e n c e d cas e en v i s i o ned b y t h e ren ewal

s t a t u t e i s an act i on d e n o vo , Ho b b s v. A rt hu r , 2 6 4 Ga. 3 5 9

, 3 6 0 (4 4 4 SE2 d 3 2 2 )

10(1 9 9 4), h e was p erm i t t ed t o fi l e a ren ewal act i o n u n der t h e ci rcu m s t an ces pres en t in

t h i s cas e. W e d i s ag ree. Geo rg i a’ s ren ewal s t at u te p ro v i d es :

W h en an y cas e h a s b e en co m m en ced in ei th er a s t at e or fed eral co u rt

wi t h in t h e ap pl i cab le s t at u t e o f l im i t at io n s an d t he p l ai n t iff d i s co n t i n u es

o r d i s m i s ses th e s am e, i t m ay b e reco m m en ced i n a co urt o f t h is s t at e

.

. . ei t h er wi t h i n t he o ri g i n al ap p l i cab le p eri o d o f l i m it at i o n s o r wi t h i n s i x

m o n t h s aft er t h e d i s co n t i n u an ce o r d is m is s al , wh i ch ev er i s l at er[.]

OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 (a). Th is s t at e’ s ap p el lat e c o u r t s h av e h el d th at “ o u t si d e o f i s s u es

co n cer ni n g t h e st a t u te o

f li mi t a t i o n , cl ai m s an d d efen s e s r a i s ed i n a ren ewal act i o n

are co n si d ered i n d ep en d en t l y o f t h at wh i ch o ccu rred i n t h e o ri g in al act i on .” S u n Tr u s t

Ba n k v. Li l l i st o n , 3 0 2 Ga. 8 4 0

, 8 4 3 (8 0 9 SE2 d 8 1 9 ) (2 0 18 ) (em p h as i s s up p l i ed ).

He r e , C oo p er fi l ed t h e am en d ed co m p l ai n t n am i n g Kan a on Ap ri l 7

, 2 0 1 7

, a

co m p l ai n t t h at h e lat er di s m i s s ed

. Th i s fi li n g , as wel l as Co o p er’ s ren ewal co m p l ai nt

i n s u peri o r co u rt

, bo t h were fi l ed o u ts i d e t h e ap pl icab l e s tat u te o f l i m i t at i o n

. Becau s e

Co o p er’ s cau s e o f ac t i o n a g a i n s t Kan a d i d n o t rel at e b ack t o t h e d at e of t he i n i t i al

co m p l ai n t i n t h e s t at e co u rt act i o n , Co o p er’ s cl ai m ag ai n s t Kan a was ti m e-b arred at

t h e t i m e h e d i s m i s sed t h e st at e co u rt act i o n , an d th e cl ai m rem ai n s t i m e b arred

. Kan a

was t h erefo re en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t on i ts s t at u t e o f l i m i t at io n defen s e. See

Co t to n v. Na t i o n s Ba n k, N. A.

, 2 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 06

, 6 07 (5 48 SE2 d 4 0 ) (2 0 0 1 )

11(p erm i t t i n g d e f e n d an t t o rai s e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n d efen s e i n ren ewal act i on wh ere

d e fen dan t al l eg ed t h at p l ai n t i ff’ s o ri g i n al co m p l ai n t was fi led o u t s id e s t at u t e o f

l i m i tat i on ).

As t o Co o p er’ s as s ert i o n t h at Kan a co m m i t t ed frau d s o as t o ex t en d t h e s t at u t e

o f li m i t at i o n , Co op er al l eg ed in h i s am en d ed co m p l ai nt an d arg u es o n ap peal t h at t h e

s t at u te o f li m i t a ti o n was to l l ed as t o Kan a b ecau s e Kan a, W ed g e, an d So u t h p o rt

“ ex h i b i ted a p ers i s t en t co u rs e o f co n d u ct t h at prev en t ed M r. Co o p er fro m effi ci en t l y

d et erm i n i n g t h e p ro p er p art ies t o jo in as [d ] efen d an ts i n t h e 2 0 1 6 [ c] as e[.] ”

Sp eci fi cal l y , i n res p o n s e t o Kan a’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, Co o p er s u b m i t t ed

t h e affi d av it o f h i s at t o rn ey , wh erei n t h e at t o rn ey s t at ed t h at h e s en t co rres p o n d en ce

t o th e ho t el o n J an u ary 2 9

, 20 1 5

. Co o p er m ai n t ai n s t hat Kan a fai l ed t o co m p l y wi th

i t s o bl i gat i o n s u nd er OCGA § 3 3 -3 -2 8

, an d as a res u l t

, h e d i d n ot di s co ver th at Kan a

m an ag ed t h e h ot el u n t i l aft er th e ex p i ry o f th e rel ev an t l i m i t at i o n p eri o d

. Th at s t at u t e

d i rect s t h at wi th i n 3 0 d ay s o f recei p t o f a wri t t en req u es t

, an i n s u red “ s h al l d i s cl o s e

t o th e cl ai m an t o r h is at t orn ey t h e n am e o f each k n own i n s u rer wh i ch m ay b e l i ab l e

t o t he cl ai m an t u p o n s u ch cl ai m .” OCGA § 3 3 -3 -2 8 (a) (2 ).

As an i n i t i al m at t er, to t h e ex t en t Co o p er arg u es th at Kan a h ad a d u t y to

res p o n d to h i s J an u ary 2 0 1 5 l et t er req u es t i n g i n s u ran ce i n fo rm at i o n , an d t h e fai l u re

12t o res p o n d t o t h e let t er co n s t i t u t e d a frau d u l en t om i s s i o n , we are u n p ers u ad ed

. Th e

J an u ary 20 1 5 l et t er u p on wh i ch Co o p e r ’s f r a u d al l eg at i o n res t s i s d i rect ed to

“ Em b as sy Su i t es ” an d req u es t s “ t h e n am e an d co n tact i n fo rm at i o n o f t h e i ns u rer” o r,

al t ern at i v el y , req u es t s t he in s u rer t o co n t act Co o p er’ s at t o rn ey d i rect l y

. Th e l et t er

d o es n o t i n cl ud e a req u es t fo r m an ag em en t i nfo rm at i on , an d Co o p er ack n owl ed g es

t h at h e recei v ed a res p o n se t o t hi s co m m u ni cat i on i n t h e fo rm o f a l et t er fro m Li b ert y

M u t u al s h o wi n g W ed g e as i t s i n s u red

. Th i s ev i d en ce w as in su ffi ci en t

, as a m at t er o f

l aw, t o es t ab l i s h frau d t h at wo u l d h av e t o ll ed t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n u n der OCGA

§ 9 -3 -9 6

. 4 See Sh i

p ma n v. Ho r iz o n Co r

p

. , 2 4 5 Ga. 8 0 8

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

(o n l y act ual frau d i n v ol v i n g m o ral t u rp i t u d e t o l l s t h e s t at u e o f li m i ta t i on ; co n s t ru ct i v e

frau d d o es n o t t o l l t h e s t at u t e).

In an y ev en t

,

[a] l t h o u g h u n d er OCGA § 9 -3 -9 6 t h e d efen d an t ’ s frau d wh i ch d eb ars o r

d et ers t h e p l ai n t i f

f fro m b ri n g i n g an act i o n w i l l t o l l t h e p eri o d o f

l i m i t at i o n u n t i l t h e p lai n t i ff’ s d i s co very o f t h e frau d

, frau d wh i ch t o l l s

4 In co n t ras t t o t h e l ack o f ev i d en ce Co o p er s ub m i t ted o n t h is i ss u e, Kan a d em o n s t rat ed t hat (1 ) a p l acard l o cat ed o u t s id e o f t h e ho t el ’ s reg i s t rat i o n area i n fo rm s

g u es ts t h at t h e h o t el i s “ m an ag ed by Kan a Ho t el Gro u p ”; an d (2 ) Kan a’ s n am e

ap p ears p ro m i nen t l y at t h e t o p o f t h e i n ci d en t rep ort p rep ared in co n nect i o n wi th

Co o p er’ s acci d en t

.

13t h e s tat u t e of l im i t at i o n m u s t b e s u ch act u al frau d as co u ld n o t h av e b een

d i s co v ered b y

t h e ex erci s e o f o rd i n ary

d i l i g en ce, i n t he ab s en ce of an y

co n fi d en t i al rel at i o n

.

Mi l b ur n v. Na t i o n wi d

e In s

. Co

. , 2 2 8 Ga. Ap p. 3 9 8

, 4 0 2 (1 ) (c) (4 9 1 SE2 d 8 4 8 ) (1 9 9 7 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). Im p o rt an t l y , “ t o es t ab l i sh t o l l i n g un d er OCGA §

9 -3 -9 6

, [Co o p er] m

u s t p ro v e t h at [Kan a] en g ag ed i n a s p eci es o f frau d t h at co n ceal ed

t h e exi s t en ce o

f th e ca u s e o

f act i o n .” S t ewa r t v. W

a r n er , 25 7 Ga. Ap p

. 32 2

, 3 2 3 (5 7 1

SE2 d 1 8 9) (2 00 2 ) (c i t a t i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p li ed ).Th u s ,

b ecau s e n o n e o f Kan a’ s act io n s o r in act i on s p rev en t ed Co o p er fro m di s co v eri n g t h e

ex i s t en ce o f h i s n eg l i g en ce cl ai m , an y p o ss i b l e co n ceal m en t b y Kan a o f it s s t at u s as

a p ot en t i a l l y l iab l e p art y “ do es n o t co ns t i t u t e co n ceal m en t o f t h e ex i s t en ce o f t h e

cau s e o f act i o n t o av o i d t h e ru n n i ng o f t h e s t at u te o f l i m i t at i on .” Id

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Pi p ki n , J., co n cu r

.

14