SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREW, P. J.

, M I LLER and B RA NCH, JJ.

N O T I C E: M oti ons for r econsi der ati on m ust b e physi cal

l y r ecei ved i n our cl er k’ s offi ce w ithi n ten day s of the date of deci si on to be deem ed ti m el y fi l ed.

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

Septem b er 3, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 42 2 . EW ING v . EW ING.

M I LLE R , J u d ge.

Th i s i n t erl o cu t o ry ap peal ari s es fro m a d i v orce cas e i n wh ich th e h us b an d fi l ed

a m o t i o n fo r a p ro t ect i ve o rd er s eek i n g t o pro h i bi t o r l i m it t h e wi fe’ s d i s c o v e r y

req u es t s wi t h reg ard t o p ri v at e em ai l s o n t h e hu s ban d ’ s i Ph on e. 1 Th e h u s b an d al s o

fi led a m o t i o n to q u as h t h e wi fe’ s s u b p o en as fo r t h e p ro du ct i o n o f h i s i Ph o n e reco rd s

.

Th e h u sb an d ap p eal s fro m t h e d e n i al o f b o t h m o t i o n s , co n t en d i ng th at (1 ) t h e t ri al

co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n t o l i m i t t he wi fe’ s u s e o f t h e em ai l s ,

1 Th e h u s b an d o ri g i nal l y fi l ed h i s ap p eal i n t h e Geo rg i a Su prem e Co u rt

. Aft er

t h e cas e was t ran s ferred t o t h i s Co u r t

, we g ran t ed t h e h u s ban d ’ s ap pl i cat i o n fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry

rev i ew.an d (2 ) t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o t io n t o q u as h t he wi fe’ s s u b p o en as

. 2 Fo r

t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w we affi rm

.

“ [A] tri al ju d g e h as b ro ad d i s cret i o n i n t h e en fo rcem en t o f t h e d i s co v ery

p ro v is i o n s o f t he Ci v i l Pract i ce Act

, an d we w i ll n o t i n t erfere w it h t he ex erci s e o f t h at

d i s cret i o n ab s en t cl ear ab u se.” ( Fo o t n o t e o m i t ted ) Amer i ca n Ra di o s ur g er y, In c. v.

Ra kes , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 1 , 1 6 6 (2 ) (7 5 1 SE2 d 8 9 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e r e c o rd sh o w s t hat t h e h u s b an d an d wi fe were m arri ed in

Decem b er 2 0 0 4

. On Ch ri s t m as Ev e 2 0 1 3

, t h e h u s b an d an d wi fe w ere t rav el i n g wi th

t h ei r ch i l d ren t o Lo u i s i an a wh en t h e wi fe p ick ed u p t h e h u s b an d’ s i Ph o ne 3 an d t ri ed

t o o p en hi s m

u s i c p l a y l i st

. Th e wi fe i n ad v ert en t ly op en ed t h e hu s b an d’ s em ai l

ap p li cat io n an d s aw a p h o t o o f a wo m an , C. M

., wi t h her h ead ly i ng o n t h e h u s b an d ’ s

ch es t

. W h en s h e as k ed t he hu s ban d ab ou t t h e p i ct u re, h e to ld h er t h at h e an d C. M

.

were at a wo rk fu nct i o n

.

2 A t t h e o u ts et

, we n ot e t h at t h e h u s b an d fai l ed to i n cl ud e an en u m erat i o n o f

erro r i n h i s b ri ef, as i s req u ired b y Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 2 (a) an d Ru l e 2 5 (a) (2 ).

Acco rd in g ly

, we ad d r es s th e h u s ban d ’ s arg u m en t s t o t h e ex t en t t h at we are ab l e to
d i s cern t h em

fro m t h e n o ti ce o f ap p eal an d t h e reco rd . See OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (f).

3 Al t h o u g h t h e h u sb an d h ad an i n d i v i d u al co n tract fo r t h e i Ph on e, t h e h u s b an d

an d wi fe u s ed each o t h er’ s p ho n e “ al l o f t h e t i m e ,” a n d t he wi fe wo u l d p l ay g am es

an d t ak e p i ct ures wi t h t h e h u s b an d ’ s p ho n e.

2Earl y t h e nex t m o rn i n g aft er t h e fam il y h ad g o n e t o b ed

, t h e w i fe ret ri ev ed t h e

h u s b an d ’ s i Ph o n e, op en ed hi s em ai l ap p li cat i o n an d fo u n d an o t h er p i ct u re o f C. M

.

wh o was weari n g a s w im s u i t

. T h e wi fe al s o fo u n d s ex u al l y ex p l i ci t v i d eo s o f C. M

.

wh i ch C. M . h ad s en t t o t h e h u s b an d b y em ai l

.

Th e wi fe t h e n w o k e h er s i s t er an d as k ed t h e s i s ter fo r h el p i n fo rward i n g t h e

h u s b an d ’ s em ai ls

. Th e wi fe’ s si s t er fo rward ed t h e h u s b an d ’ s em ai l s c o n t ai n i n g t h e

p i ct u res an d v i d eo s o f C. M . t o t h e wi fe’ s em ai l acco un t

.

An h o u r o r s o l at er, t h e wi fe u s ed t h e h us b an d ’ s i Ph o n e t o t ex t C. M. Th e wi fe

as k ed C. M

. i n a t ex t t o “ s h o w m e h o w m u ch y o u m i s s m e[.] ” C. M

. res po n d ed by

s en d in g a p h o t o o f h ers el f l ay i n g d o w n an d bl o w i n g a ki s s

. Th e wi fe t hen s en t C. M

.

a ph o t o s o t h at C. M

. wo ul d k n o w s h e was t ex ti n g th e wi fe. A t t h at p o i n t

, th e h u s b an d

cam e i n to t h e ro om , as k ed fo r h i s p h o n e, an d g rab b ed h i s s t u ff s o h e co u l d l eav e.

Th e h u s b an d su b s e q u e n t l y fi l ed fo r a di v o rce, co nt en d i n g t h at t h e p art i es ’

m arr i a g e w as i rret ri ev ab l y b ro k en

. Th e wi fe fi l ed a co u n t ercl ai m fo r d i v o rce

co n ten d in g t h at

, i n t er al i a, t h e hu s b an d was g u i l t y of ad u l t ery

. Du ri ng d is co v ery , t h e

wi fe s ub p o en aed C. M

. f o r t h e p u rp o s e o f t ak i n g h er d ep o s i t i on , an d t h e wi fe

s u b p oen aed t h e h u s b an d ’ s i Ph o n e reco rd s fro m h i s wi rel es s carri er. Th e w i f e al s o

3s erv ed t h e h u s b an d wi th n o t i ce o f h er i n t en t t o t ak e h i s d ep os i t i o n , as wel l as a

req u es t fo r p ro d uct i o n o f d o cu m en t s

.

Th e h us ban d fi l ed a m ot i o n fo r a p ro tect i v e o rd er an d o b j ect i on t o t h e wi fe’ s

d i s co v ery req u es ts

. In h i s m o t i o n , t h e h u s b an d s o u gh t an o rd er ei t h er p ro h ib i t i n g o r

l i m i ti n g t h e wi fe’ s d i s co v ery wi t h reg ard t o i n fo rm at i o n o b t ai n ed f r o m h i s p h o n e

wi t h o u t h i s k n o w l e d g e o r p erm i s s i o n

. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e h u s b an d so u gh t an o rd er

p ro h ib i t i ng t h e wi fe fro m t ak i n g C. M .’ s d ep os i t i o n an d pro h i b i t in g an y d i s cu s s i o n

d u ri n g h i s d ep o s i t i o n reg ard i ng t h e em ai ls wh i ch t h e wi fe v i ewed o n h i s p ho n e.

T h e h us b an d al s o fi led a m o t i o n to qu as h t h e w i fe’ s s u b p o en a f o r t h e

p ro d uct i o n o f h i s i Ph o n e reco rd s

. Th e t ri al co u rt d en ied t he h u s b an d ’ s m o t i o n s fo r a

p ro t ect i v e o rd er an d t o qu as h t h e s u b p o en a fo r h i s i Ph o n e reco rd s , an d t h i s ap p eal

en s u ed

.

1

. T h e hu s b an d co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n in d en y i n g h i s

m o ti o n fo r a p ro tect i v e o rd er. W e d i s cern n o erro r.

W h en a part y s eek s a p ro t ect i v e ord er wi t h reg ard to d i sco v ery , t he tri al co u rt

“ m ay m ak e an y o rd er w h i c h j u s t i ce req u ires t o p ro t ect a p art y o r p ers o n fro m

an n oy an ce, em

b arras s m en t

, o p p res s i o n , o r u n d u e b u rd en o r ex p en s e[.] ” OCGA § 9

-

1 1 -2 6 (c). Pro t ect i v e o rd ers , h owev er,

4s h o u l d n o t b e award ed wh en t h e effect is t o fru s t r a t e an d p rev en t

l eg i t i m at e d i s co v ery

. Fu rt h er, t h i s Co u rt h as hel d t h at p ro t ect i v e ord ers

are i nt en d ed t o b e p ro t ect i v e

– n ot p ro h i b i t i ve

– an d

, un t i l s u ch ti m e as

t h e [t ri al ] co urt i s s at i s fi ed b y s u bs t an ti al ev i den ce t h at b ad fai t h o r

h aras s m en t m o ti v at es t h e d i s co v ero r’ s act i o n , t h e c o u r t s ho u ld n o t

i n t erv en e t o l i m i t o r p ro h i b i t t h e s co p e o f p ret ri al d i s co v ery

.

(Pu n ct u at i on a n d fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed

. ) Ga lb r ea th v. Br a l ey , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 1

, 1 1 3

(7 3 3 SE2 d 4 1 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ). Th e g ran t o r den i al o f a m o t i o n f o r a p ro t ect i v e o rd er

g en eral l y l i es wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i on an d th i s Co u rt wi l l n o t rev ers e t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g ab sen t cl ear ab u s e. See Ag i o Co r p. v. Co o s a wa t t ee Ri ver Res o r t As sn

. ,

3 2 8 Ga. Ap p . 6 4 2 , 6 4 2 -6 4 3 (7 6 0 SE2 d 6 91 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

“ Part i es m ay o b t ai n d is co v ery reg ard i n g an y m a tt er, n ot p ri v il eg ed

, wh i ch i s

rel ev an t t o t h e s u b

ject m at t er i n v o l v ed i n t h e p en d in g a c t i o n [.] ” (Pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ). “ [I] n t h e d i s co v ery c o n t ex t

, co urt s s h o u l d an d

o rd i n ari l y d o i n t erp ret rel ev an t v ery b ro ad l y t o m ean m at t er t h at i s rel ev an t to

an y t h i n g t h at is o r m ay b eco m e an is s u e in t he l i t i g at i on .” (Ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) B o wd

en v. Med i ca l Cen t er

, In c. ,

_ _ G a

.

_ _ , * 1 3 (2 ) (a) (Cas e No

.

S1 4 G1 63 2

, d eci d ed J u n e 1 5 , 2 0 1 5 ).

5“ It i s n ot g ro u n d fo r o b ject i o n t h at t h e in fo rm at i on so u g h t w i l l b e in ad m i s s i b l e

at t h e t ri al i f t h e i n fo rm at i on s o u g h t ap p ears reas o n ab l y c a l c u l a t ed t o l ead t o t h e

d i s co v ery o f ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce.” (Pu n ct u at io n o m it t ed .) OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ).

M o r e ov er, i n di v o rce cas es , s u ch as t h i s cas e, i n wh i ch t h e eq u it ab le di v i s i o n o f

p r o p e r t y i s at i s s u e, t h e co n d u ct o f t h e p art i es , i n cl u d i n g ev i d en ce o f a s p o u s e’ s

al l eg ed ad u l tery

, is rel ev an t an d ad m i s si b l e. See W o o d v. W o o d

, 2 83 Ga. 8, 1 1 (5 )

(6 5 5 SE2 d 6 1 1 ) ( 2 0 0 8 ). Acco rd i n g l y , t h e wi fe is en t i t l ed to en g ag e i n d i s co v ery

wh i ch m ig h t l ead t o a d m i ss i b l e ev i d en ce o f th e h u s b an d ’ s al l eg ed ad u l t ery

. See

OCGA § 9 -1 1

- 2 6 ( b ) ( 1 )

. Cf. S mi t h v. S mi t h

, 2 9 3 Ga. 5 63

, 56 6 (5 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 4 5 6 )

(2 0 1 3) (t ri al co u rt d i d n ot ab u s e i t s d i scret i o n i n d en y i n g hu s ban d ’ s m o ti o n fo r n ew

t ri al b as ed o n n ewl y d i s co v ered ev i d en c e o f wi fe’ s ad u lt ery wh ere h u s b an d h ad

o p p o rt u ni t y t o en g ag e i n d is co v ery co n cern i ng t h e p os s i b i li t y o f al l eg ed ad u l t ery an d

h e ch os e n ot t o ).

Th e h u s b an d n ev ert hel es s arg u es t h at he i s en t i t l ed t o a p ro t e c t i v e o rd er

p ro h ib i t i n g t h e wi fe fro m as k i n g q u es t i o n s ab o u t t h e em ai ls

, p i ct u res an d v i d eo s

wh i ch t h e wi fe vi ewed o n h i s i Ph o n e an d fo rward ed to o t h ers

. In s u p p o rt o f h i s

arg u m en t

, t h e hu s b an d rel i es o n Ra ns o m v. R a n s om , 2 5 3 G a. 6 56 (3 2 4 S E 2 d 4 3 7 )

(1 9 8 5), w h i ch hel d t h at Geo r g i a ’s wi ret ap pi n g s tat u te, OCGA § 1 6 -1 1 -6 2

, p ro t ect s

6s p o u ses fro m i n v as i o ns u po n t h ei r p ri v acy , i n cl u d i n g t h e cl an d es t i ne reco rd i n g o f a

s p o u se’ s p ri v at e t el ep h o n e co n v ers at i o n s

. See i d at 6 5 8 (1 ). Ra n s o m , h o wev er,

i n v o l v ed t h e i s s u e of wh et her t h e reco rd ed tel ep h o n e co n v ers at i o n s were ad m i s s i b l e

fo r im p each m en t p u rp o s es at t h e p art i es ’ d i v o rce tri al

, n o t wh et h er a s po u s e i s en t i t l ed

t o as k q u es t io ns d u ri n g d i s co v ery wh i ch m i g h t l ead t o a d m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce. See

Ra n so m , 2 5 3 Ga. at 6 5 9 (3 ). 4

Reg ard l es s o f t h e a d m i s s i b i l it y o r i n ad m i s s i b il i t y o f t h e co nt en t o f t h e

h u s b an d ’ s em ai l s , in cl u d i n g t h e p ho t o s an d v id eo s o f C. M

., t h e wi fe i s en t i t l ed to

en g a g e i n d is co v ery wh i ch m i g h t l ead t o ad m i s s i b l e ev id en ce o f th e h u s b an d ’ s

al l eg ed ad u l t ery

. Co n s eq u en t l y , t h e t ri al co urt d i d n ot ab u s e i t s d is cret i o n i n d en y i n g

t h e h u sb an d ’ s m o t i o n fo r a p ro t ect i v e o rd er.

2

. W i t h o u t ci t i n g an y au t h o ri t y , t he h u s b an d arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n t o q u as h t h e wi fe’ s s u b p o en a fo r h i s i Ph on e reco rd s , b ecau s e t h e

s u b p oen a i s t he fru i t o f t h e p oi s o no u s t ree. W e d i s ag ree.

As s et fo rt h ab o v e, m at t ers wh i ch are rel ev an t an d n o t p ri v il eg e d are

d i s co v erab l e, reg ard l es s o f wh et h er t h e in fo rm at i on s o u g h t wi l l b e ad m is s ib l e at t ri al

.

4 Th e h u s b an d al s o ci t es t o Mi d d l et o n v. Mi dd l et on , 2 59 Ga. 4 1 (3 7 6 SE2 d 3 6 8 ) (1 9 8 9), wh i ch h el d th at t ap e-reco rd i n g s m ad e b y th e h u sb an d o f t h e wi fe’ s las ci v i ou s

co n vers at i on s o n a fam i l y t el ep h o n e were i nad m i s s i bl e.

7OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ). T h e h u s b an d do es n o t arg ue t h at hi s i Ph o n e reco rd s are n ot

d i s co v erab l e. Acco rd i n g l y , t h e h u s b an d h as n o t s ho wn t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n

d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n t o q u as h t h e s u b p oen a fo r h i s i Ph o ne reco rd s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . An d

r ews , P. J., a n d

Br an ch , J., co n cu r

.

8