THI RD DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and BRA NCH, 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.

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

M ar ch 25, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A1 85 1

. BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE U NIVERSITY

SYSTEM OF GEORGIA v . W INTER. BR-0 9 4

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Pet er W i nt er bro ug h t s ui t ag ai n s t t h e Bo ard o f Reg en t s fo r b reach o f an

em pl o y m en t co n tract

. Th e Bo ard ap p eal s t h e t ri al c o u rt ’ s den i al o f i t s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju dg m en t. A s a p art o f i t s ru l i n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl us i v el y den i ed t h e

Bo ard ’ s cl ai m of s o verei gn i m m u n i t y

, t h ereb y au t h o ri zi n g t h i s d i rect ap p eal u n d er t h e

co l l at eral o rd er d o ct ri n e. See Bd

. o f Reg en t s & c. Ga

. v. Ca n a s

, 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 5

, 5 0 7

(1 ) (6 7 2 S E 2 d 4 7 1 ) (2 0 09 ). Fo r t h e reas on s t h at fo l l o w

, we rev ers e an d rem an d fo r

en t ry o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f t h e Bo ard

.

S u m m a r y ju d g m en t i s p ro p er wh en t h ere is no g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fa c t

an d t h e m o v an t i s en t i tl ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er of law. O CGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c). W erev i ew a g ran t o r d en i al of s u m m ary ju d g m en t d e n o vo an d co n s t ru e t h e ev i d en ce in

t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e n o n m o v a n t

. Ho m e Bu i l d er s As sn

. o f S a va n n a h v.

Ch a t ha m Co u n ty , 2 7 6 Ga. 2 4 3 , 2 4 5 (1 ) (5 7 7 SE2 d 5 6 4 ) (2 0 0 3 ). 1

Co n st ru ed i n fav o r o f W i n t er, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at i n May 2 0 0 5

, Wi n t er, a

Bri t i sh ci t i zen an d po s td o ct o ral res earch s ch o l ar wh o w a s fi n i s h i n g a res earch

fel l o w s h i p at t h e U n iv ers i t y o f Kan s as (“ UK”), co n t act ed a n d b eg an n eg ot i at i on s

ab o ut p o s t d o ct o r a l em

p l o y m en t wi t h Dr. Ren e Al v arez i n t h e D ep art m en t o f

In fect i o us Di s eas es (“ DID”) at t h e Co l l eg e of Vet eri nary M ed i ci n e at t h e U ni v ers i t y

o f Geo rg ia (“ UGA”). M ean wh i l e, b ecau s e W in ter’ s “ J -1 ” ed u cat i o nal ex ch an g e v i s a

t h a t en ab l ed h i m t o w o rk at U K was ab o u t to ex p i re, W i nt er ap pl i ed t o t h e Un i t e d

St at es Ci t i zen s h i p an d Im m i g rat io n Serv i ces (“ USCIS”) fo r a ch an ge of s t at u s

(“ COS”) t o a “ B” v i s i t o r/ t o u ri s m v i sa, wh i ch d o es n o t al l o w em pl o y m en t

, to co v er t h e

t i m e u n t i l h e co ul d ob t ai n an o t h er p o s i t i o n

. In a s eri es o f em ai l s

, W i n ter an d Al v arez

t h en n eg o t i at ed t h e t erm s o f h i s p o s s i bl e em p lo y m en t at UGA, in cl u d i n g h i s s a l ary

an d s t art d at e. In t hree su cces si v e em ai l s o n J u n e 2

, Al v arez st at ed t h at i f W in t er was

1 W i n t er d i d n o t fi le an y affi d av it s or o t h er s wo rn tes t im on y i n res p o n s e t o t h e

Bo ard ’ s m o t io n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t

, an d he w as n o t d ep o s ed

. He rel i es s o l el y o n

t h e do cu m en t s p ro d u ced i n di s co v ery

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t here i s n o t es t i m o n y i n t h e

reco rd fro m W i n t er reg ard i n g an y co n v ers at i o n s t h a t h e had i n co n n ect i o n wi t h h i s

n eg ot i at i on s wi t h UGA fo r em p l o y m en t

.

2s t il l i n teres t ed

, h e co u ld d raw up a fo rm al o ffer an d b eg in t h e n eces s ary p ap erwo rk ;

W i nt er res p o n d ed t h at he “ w o u l d b e i n teres t e d

. . . a n d

. . . l o o k [ed ] fo rward to

re c e i v in g t h e fo rm al o ffer”; an d Al varez rep l i ed t h at a fo rm al o ffer wo u l d b e

fo rt hco m i n g an d “ I am g l ad y o u h av e ch o s en t o j o i n ou r l ab s

. ” W i n t er as s ert s i n h i s

b ri ef t h at b y t h i s em ai l

, Al v arez ack n o wl ed g ed W i n t er’ s accep t an ce o f t h e o ffer o f

em pl o y m en t

.

On J u n e 6

, Al v arez s en t t o W i n ter a w ri t t en o ffer o f a p o s t d o ct o ral fel l o ws h ip

i n t h e DID. Th e l e t t e r o u t l i n e d t h e jo b d u t i es an d p ro v id ed a t erm o f o n e y ear

b eg in n i n g J u l y 1 wi t h a s al ary o f $ 3 8

, 7 12

, “ p en d i n g ap pro v al b y [UGA] .” On t h e

s am e d ay

, Al v arez s en t a rev i sed l et t er i d en t i cal to t h e fi rs t b u t co n t ai n i n g a st art d at e

o f Au g u s t 1 an d o m i t t i n g t h e co n d i t i o n t h at t he o ffer was s u b ject t o U GA ap p ro v al

.

Al t h o u g h W i n t er m ay h av e i n d i cat e d t h at h e was Bri ti s h

, nei t h er l et t er referred to

W i nt er’ s i m

m i g rat i o n s t at u s

. W i n t er d i d n ot t h ereaft er accep t t h e fo rm al o ffer in

wri t in g

. At t he ti m e, t h e Bo ard o f Reg en t s h ad a p ol i cy o f n o t p ro v i d i n g po s t-d o ct o ral

fel l o w s a wri t t en em

pl oy m en t ag reem en t

.

Th ro u g h t h e r e m ai n d er o f Ju n e, W i n t er an d UGA co rres p on d ed ab o u t t h e

p a p erwo rk t h at UGA req u i red i n co n nect i o n wi t h h i s em p l o y m en t an d ab o u t h o w

UGA wo u l d as s i s t wi t h g et t i n g Wi n t er t he co rrect v i s a. In t ern al UGA d o cu m en t s

3s h o w t h at o n Ju n e 2 3

, Al v arez wro t e t o t h e DID ch ai r, seek i n g h i s ap p ro v al o f h i ri n g

W i nt er an d s t at i n g t h at “ [w] e are t ry i n g t o g et Dr. Pet er W in t er s t art ed i n ou r l ab as

a p o s td o ct o ral fel l o w.”

M ean wh i l e, o n J u n e 2 8

, i n co n n ect i o n wi t h W i n ter’ s COS, USCIS sen t W i n t er

a “ req ues t fo r ev id en ce” (“ RFE”) an d s t at ed t h at W in t er’ s COS was b ei n g h el d

p en di n g h i s res p o n s e, wh i ch w as n o t d u e u n t i l Sep t em b e r 2 0

. As ev id en ced b y a

s u b s eq u en t s eri es o f wri t i n g s, W i n t er an d DID b eg an t o d i scu s s t h e s t ep s n eces s ary

t o ch an g e Wi n t e r ’ s i m

m i grat i o n s t at u s t o “ H-1 B” fo r t em p o rary em

p lo y ees

, s o t h at

h e co u l d b e em

p l o y ed at UGA. 2 In earl y J u l y

, DID s taff s o u gh t as s i s t an ce fro m

UGA’ s In t ern at i o n al St u d en t , Sch o l ar an d Im m i g rat i o ns Serv i ces Offi ce (“ ISSIS”).

ISSIS i n i t i al l y d eci d ed t o w ai t fo r USCIS t o ap pro v e W i n t er’ s COS a pp l i cat i o n b efo re

s u b m i t t i n g an H-v i s a ap p l i cat i o n ; ISSIS al so l earn ed t hat W i n t er h ad n o t res p o n d ed

t o t he RFE. By n o w i t was l at e J u l y , an d W in t er rel o cat ed t o UGA o n J u l y 2 4

.

At t h e b eg i n n i n g o f Au g u s t

, W i n t er m et wi th ISSIS ab o u t h i s H-v i s a

ap p li cat io n an d was t o l d t h at UGA co u l d n o t su b m it an H-v i s a ap p l i c a t i o n u n t i l

W i nt er res p o n d ed t o t he RF E

. Wi n t e r t h erefo re res p o nd ed t o t h e RFE o n Au g u s t 2

2 Th e ap pl i cab le fed eral reg u l at i o n s p ro v i d e t h at it i s th e em p lo y er s eek i n g to

em pl o y a q u al i fy i n g t em

p o rary em

p l o y ee wh o m

u s t p et i t i o n fo r H-1 B s t at u s

. 8 CFR

§ 2 14 .2 (h ) (l ) (i ) & (2 ) (i ) (A).

4an d p ro v i d ed a co py o f h i s res p o n s e t o UGA. ISSIS t h en t o l d W i n t er t h at U GA co u ld

n o t s ub m i t t h e H-v i s a ap pl i cat io n u n t i l W i n t er’ s COS ap p li cat i o n was ap pro v ed an d

h e was g i v en a B-v i s a. 3 Aft er rev i ewi n g W i n t er’ s res p on s e t o t h e RFE, ISSIS

d et erm i n ed t hat UGA co u l d no t p ro ceed wi t h t h e H-v i s a ap p l i cat io n b ecau se W i n t er

d i d n o t m en t i o n i n h i s res po n s e t o t he RFE t hat h e pl an n ed t o wo rk at UGA s t art i n g

Au g u s t 1 , 2 0 0 5

.

Becau s e U GA w o ul d o r co u l d n o t p ro ceed o n h i s H-v i s a ap p l i cat i o n

, an d wi th

ad v ice fro m ISSIS, Wi n t er t u rn ed t o an al t ern at i v e ap pro ach

, wh i ch was t o s eek

rei n s tat em en t of h i s J -1 v i s a at UK an d h av e i t ad m in i s t rat iv el y t ran s ferred t o UGA.

ISSIS ad vi s ed W in ter t h at h e wo u l d n eed t o wi t h d r a w h i s p en d i n g COS i n o rd er to

s eek rei n s t at em en t of h i s J -1 s t at u s an d t h at fai lu re t o d o s o co u ld m ean t hat h i s COS

wo u l d b e g ran t ed

, ch an g i n g h i s J s t at us t o B, an d m ak in g h i m u n em p l o y ab le. 4 W i n t er

3 Th e reco rd

, h o wev er, co n t ai n s a s i g n ed l et t er d at ed J u l y 1 4 fro m t h e h ead o f

DID t o USCIS req u es t i n g H-1 B s t at u s fo r W i nt er fo r t h e p er i o d Au g u s t 1

, 2 0 0 5 to

J u n e 3 0, 2 0 0 6

.

4 UGA i s precl u d ed b y l aw fro m em p l o y i n g a p ers o n wi th a t o uri s t v i sa. See 2 2

CFR § 4 1 .3 1 (b ) (1 ) (2 ).

5t o o k t he n eces s ary s tep s

, an d on Au g u s t 1 1

, h e i n fo rm ed UGA t h at U K h ad rei n s t at ed

h i s J v i s a an d t ran s ferred i t t o UGA. 5

On Au g u s t 1 2 an d t h e f o l l o w i n g d ay s

, s ev eral do cu m en t s were s i g n ed in

co n nect io n wi t h W in t er’ s em p l o y m en t at UGA. A d ep art m en t h ead si g n e d a U GA

fo rm t h at refl ect ed th at W i n t er’ s “ s t art / co n t ract ” d at e was Au g u s t 1

, t h at h e was

el i g i b l e fo r b en efi t s

, an d t h at h e h ad b een as s i g n ed an e m p l o ye e i d en t i fi cat i o n

n u m b er. Th at s am e d ay

, W i n ter s i g n ed an In t el l ect u al Pro p ert y Ag reem en t (t h e “ IP

ag reem en t ”) wi t h UGA t h at s t at ed t h at “ [a] s p art o f t he co n s i d erat i o n fo r m y

em pl o y m en t b y [UGA]

, I u n d ers t an d an d ag ree th at [UGA] an d t h e [UGA] Res earch

Fo u n d at i o n

, In c., h av e an in teres t i n an y in t el l ect u al pro p e r t y t h at I m ay m ak e o r

d ev el o p wh il e an em

pl oy ee o f t h e Un i v e r s i t y ”; a DID d ep art m en t rep res en t at i v e

s i gn ed t h i s a g r e e m en t as a wi t n es s

. W i n t er al so s i g ned a Bo ard o f Reg en t s Lo y al t y

Oat h (s weari n g l o y al t y t o th e co n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e U n i t ed St at es an d Geo rg i a) as “ an

em pl o y ee o f th e Un i v ers i t y Sy s t em o f Geo rg i a.” Th ree d ay s lat er, b o t h W i n t er an d a

UGA rep res en t at i v e s i g n ed a St at e D ep art m en t fo rm reg ard i n g W i n t er’ s e ligibility fo r

J -1 v i s a s t at u s

. Th e n e x t d a y, a DID d ep art m en t h ead s i g ned a UGA “ E m p l o y ee

5 An o ffi ce m an ag er/ ad m i n i s t rat i v e as s is tan t fo r DID av err e d in an affi d av i t

t h at W i n t er’ s s t art d at e was ex t en d ed to Sep t em b er 1

, b ut t h e affi dav i t d o es n o t s t at e

wh en t h i s o ccu rred

.

6Pers o n nel Rep o rt ” i ns t ru ct i ng an em p l o y ee t o p u t W i n t er on t h e p ay ro l l fo r on e m o n th

an d s tat i n g t h at W i n t er wo u l d b eco m e a “ p o s t d oc” i n Sep t em b er.

Un fo rt u n at el y

, al s o o n Au g u s t 1 2

, USCIS m ai l ed an ap p ro v al o f Wi n t er’ s

ap p li cat io n fo r a v is i t or/ to uri s m v i s a, an d b y Au gu s t 1 7

, t h e p art i es l earn ed t h at

W i nt er’ s s t at u s h ad c h a n g e d f r o m J t o B an d th at h e was no w u n em p l o y ab l e i n t h e

Un i ted St at es

. UGA t o l d W in ter t h at h i s o n l y rem ai n in g o p t i o n w o u l d b e t o ag ai n

p u rs u e an H -v i s a, an d UGA l eft t h e p ro ces s i n W i n ter’ s h a n d s

, refu sed t o p ay a

$ 1 ,0 0 0 ex p ed i t i n g fee t hat wo ul d h av e accel erat ed t h e p ro ces s o f o bt ai n i n g an H v i s a,

an d g av e W i n t er a d ead l i n e o f Sep t em b er 1 6 to s h ow p ro o f t h at h e h ad o bt ai n ed t h e

n eces s ary v i s a. W i n t er di d n ot o r co u l d n o t o b tai n t h e H v i s a a t t h a t t i m e, an d o n

Sep tem b er 1 4

, UGA s en t a l et t er t o W i n t er s tat i n g t h at i t w as w i t hd rawi n g i t s “ o ffer”

o f em p l oy m en t b ecau s e Wi n t e r h ad n o t o b t ai n ed t h e ap p ro p ri at e v is a s t at u s i n a

t i m el y fas h i o n t o wo rk at UGA. Co n s eq u en tl y

, W i nt er fi l ed su i t fo r b reach of co n t ract

i n t he St at e Co u rt o f Fu l t o n Co u n t y

. Aft er t h e tri al co u rt den i ed t he Bo ard ’ s m o t i o n

fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we gran t ed t h e Bo ard ’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r i nt erl o cu t o ry rev i ew.

On ap p eal

, t he Bo ard co n t en d s t h e t ri al co u rt erre d by den y i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o t h e Bo ard fo r t h ree reas on s : (1 ) t he St at e Co u rt o f Fu l t o n Co u n t y i s n ot

t h e p ro p er v en u e fo r t h i s act i o n b ecau s e G eo rg i a l aw p l aces v en u e ex cl u s i v el y i n t h e

7Su p eri o r C o u r t o f Fu l to n Co u n t y ; (2 ) t h e Bo ard i s en t it l ed t o so v erei g n i m m u n i t y

b ecau s e t h ere i s no s i g n ed wri t t en co n t ract bet ween t h e p art i es an d t h e Bo ard ’ s

s o v erei g n i m

m un i t y i s on l y wai v ed fo r act i o ns ex co n t ract u; an d (3 ) ev en i f t h ere was

a w ri t t en co n t ract

, UGA was au t h o ri zed as a m at t er o f l aw t o res ci nd an y em p l o y m en t

ag reem en t b ecau se W i n t er l ack ed t h e ap pro p ri at e v i s a t o l eg al l y wo rk fo r UGA.

1

. W e fi rs t reject th e Bo ard ’ s arg u m en t th at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t h av e

ju ri s d i ct i o n o f W i nt er’ s su i t

. T h e Bo ard cl ai m s t h at OCGA § 5 0 -2 1-1 req u i res t h at al l

b reach o f co n t ract cl ai m s ag ai n s t t h e Bo ard o f Reg en t s m u s t b e b r o u g h t i n t h e

Su p eri o r Co urt o f Fu l t o n Co u n t y. Th i s Co d e s ect i o n p ro v i d es t h at so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y i s w ai v ed “ as t o an y act io n ex co n t rac t u fo r t h e b reach of an y wri t t en

co n tract

. . . en tered i n t o by t h e s t at e, d ep art m en t s an d ag en ci es o f t he s tat e, an d s t at e

au t h o ri t ies .” OCGA § 5 0-2 1-1 (a). It al s o p ro v id es :

Ven u e wi t h res p ect t o an y su ch act i o n s h a l l b e p r o per i n t h e Su p eri o r

Co u rt o f Fu lt o n Co un ty

, Geo rg i a. Th e p ro v i s io n s of t hi s s u b s ect i on sh al l

b e cu m u l at i v e an d s u p p l e m e ntal t o an y o t her v en ue p ro v i s i o ns p erm i t ted

o n Ap ri l 1 2 , 1 98 2 , o r t h ereaft er p erm i t ted b y l aw.

OCGA § 5 0-2 1 -1 (b ) (em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed ). T h e Bo ard co n t en ds th e wo rd i n g “ s h al l b e

p ro p er.

. . ” req ui res t h at b reach o f co nt ract act i o ns ag ai n s t t h e s t at e b e b ro ug h t i n t h e

s p eci fi ed co u rt

. T h i s p l a i n l an g u ag e, h o w ev er, o nl y m ean s t h at v en ue can n o t b e

8co n tes t ed i n t h e s p eci fi ed co u rt

. Co m p are OCGA § 5 0 -2 1 -2 8 (wh i ch p ro v i d es

, am o n g

o t h er t h i ng s

, th at t ort act i o n s ag ai n s t t h e s t at e “ s h a l l b e b r o u g h t i n t h e s t at e o r

s u p eri o r co u rt o f th e co u nt y wh erei n t h e l o s s o ccu rred ”) (em ph as i s s u p p l i ed ).

M o reo v er, t h e p l ai n m ean i n g o f t h e las t s en t en ce o f s u b sect i o n (b ), s h o ws th at v en u e

fo r s u ch a cl ai m i s n o t ex cl u s i v e t o t h e Su peri o r Co u rt o f Fu l t on Co u n t y

, b u t rat h er

t h at v en u e i n t h at co u rt “ sh a l l b e cu m u l at i v e an d s up p lem en t al t o ” o t h er l eg al v en ue.

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .) Acco rd in g l y

, t h e t ri al co urt h ad ju ri s d i ct i o n o f W i n t er’ s s u i t

.

2

. Th e Bo ard co n t en d s th e t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y i n g t h at i t i s e n t i t l e d to

s o v erei g n i m m

u n i t y a s a m at t er o f l aw. As s ho wn ab o v e, t h e d efen se o f so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y

, wh i ch ap p l i es t o th e Bo ard of Reg en ts

, i s w a i v e d as to an y act i o n “ ex

co n tract u fo r t he b reach o f an y wri t ten co nt ract .” Ga. Co n s t

. o f 1 9 8 3

, Art

. I, Sec. II,

Par. IX (c); s ee al s o OCGA § 2 0 -3 -3 6 (s o v erei g n i m m u n it y ap p li es t o t h e b o ard o f

reg en t s ); Bd

. o f Reg en t s o f Un i v. S ys t em o f Ga

. v. Ba r n es

, 3 2 2 G a

. A p p

. 4 7

, 4 9 (2 )

(7 4 3 SE2 d 6 0 9 ) (2 01 3 ) (s am e). An y wai v er o f i m m u n it y m u s t be s tri ct l y fo l l o wed

,

“ an d an im

p l i ed co n t ract wi l l n o t s u p p o rt a wai v er o f i m m u n i t y u n d er t h e p ro v i s i on s

o f t h e Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u t i o n .” Id

. at 5 0 (2 ) (ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ). Th e part y s eek i n g to

b en efi t fro m t h e w ai v er, here W i n t er, h as t h e b u rd en o f pro v i ng a wai v er of i m m u n i t y

an d

, t herefo re, t h e b u rd en o f pro v i n g t h e ex i s t en ce o f a wri t t en co n t ract

. Id

. at 4 9 -5 0

9(2 ). Fo r t he fo l l owi n g reas o ns

, we h o l d t h at ev en i f t h ere was an ag reem en t b et ween

t h e part i es

, t hat ag reem en t was n o t i n wri ti n g

, an d t h eref o r e t h e Bo ard ’ s so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y was n ot wai v ed

.

(a) Th e part i es cl earl y d i d n o t en t er i n to a fo rm al

, trad i t io n al wri t t en ag reem en t

t h at bo t h p art i es s i g n e d

. T h e Bo ard h ad a p o l i cy o f n o t p ro vi d i n g po s t-d o ct o ral

fel l o w s a w ri t t en em

p l o y m en t ag reem en t

, an d t h ere i s no ev i d en ce o f s u ch an

ag reem en t in t h e reco rd

. A l so

, W i n t er arg u es i n h i s b ri ef t h at h e accep t ed t h e Bo ard ’ s

o ffer vi a em ai l o n J u n e 2

, t wo m o n t h s b efo re h e s i g n ed an y d o cu m en ts in co n n ect i o n

wi t h h i s em

p l o y m en t

. Th ere i s n o ev i d en ce wh at so ev er o f a wri t t en em p l o y m en t

ag reem en t d at ed at or ab ou t t h e t i m e t h at W i n t er co n t en d s h e accep t ed em p l o y m en t

. 6

6 W i n t er’ s arg u m en t t h at p u r s u an t t o t h e fo rm er Geo rg i a El ect ro n i c Reco rd s

an d Si g n at u re Act (Ga. L

. 1 9 9 7

, p

. 1 0 52

, § 1 ) hi s em ai l s co n s ti t u t ed si g n ed wri t i ng s

s u ffi ci en t to es tab l i s h a wri tt en ag reem en t f o r p u r p o s es o f w ai v i n g so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y i s wi t h ou t m eri t. Th at act

, wh i ch w as rep l aced b y t h e Geo rg i a Un i fo rm

El ect ro ni c T ran s act i o n s Act i n 2 0 0 9 (Ga. L. 2 0 0 9, p

. 69 8

, § 2 ), p ro v i d ed

, am o n g o t h er

t h i n g s

, t h at “ [w] hen a ru le o f l aw req u i res a s i gn at u re, an el ect ro n i c s i g n at u re s at i s fi es

t h at ru l e o f l aw.” OCGA § 1 0 -1 2 -4 (d ) (2 0 0 5 ). An d an “ el ect ro n ic s i g n at ure” w as

d efi n ed as “ a s i gn at u re creat ed

, t ran s m i t t ed

, recei v ed

, or s t o red by el ect ro n i c m ean s

an d i n cl u d es b u t i s n o t l i m i t ed t o a s ecu re e l e c t r o n i c si g n at u re. OCGA § 1 0 -1 2 -3

(2 0 0 5). Bu t Wi n t e r h a s n o t p ro v i d ed an y ev i d en ce t h at h e p ro v i d ed an el ect ro n i c

s i gn at u re at an y ti m e d u ri n g h i s n eg ot i at io n s wi t h UGA. M o reo v er, t h e 1 9 9 7 act al s o

p ro v id ed t h at “ [n ] ot h i n g i n th i s ch ap ter s h al l b e co n s t ru ed t o req u i re an y d ep art m en t

,

ag en cy

, au t h o ri t y

, o r in s tru m en tal i t y o f t h e st at e o r i t s po l i t i cal s u b d i v i si o n s to creat e,

s en d

, recei v e

, s t o re, reco gn i ze, accep t

, b e bo u n d b y

, o r o t h erwi s e u s e el ect ro n i c

reco rd s or el ect ro n i c s i gn at u res .” OCGA § 1 0-1 2 -4 (i ) (1 ). An d W i n t er h as n o t s h o wn

t h at t h e Bo ard ev er el ect ed t o b e b o un d b y el ect ro n i c s i g n at u res at t h at t i m e.

10(b ) W i nt er h as n ot carri ed h i s b u rd en o f s h o w in g t h at t h e p art i es en tered i n to

s i gn ed co n t em

p o ran eo us wri ti n g s s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab li s h a wri t t en co n t ract

. He m ak es

t h ree arg um en t s

.

(i ) W i n t er co nte nd s t h e J un e 6 o ffer s i g ned by Al v arez to get h er w i t h d o cu m en t s

h e si g n ed o n Au g u s t 1 2 co ns t it u t e si g n ed co n t em p o ran eo us wri t in g s

. W e di s ag ree.

A wri t t en co n t ract can co n s i s t o f m ul t i p l e d o cu m en t s “ as lo n g as al l t h e n eces s ary

t erm s are co n t ai ned i n s i g n ed co n t em p o ran eo u s wri ti n g s.” B aker v. Jel l i b ea n s

, In c.

,

2 5 2 Ga. 4 5 8 , 4 6 0 (1 ) (3 1 4 SE2 d 8 7 4 ) (1 9 8 4 ) (m u lt i pl e d o cu m en t s m eet i n g t h i s tes t

s at i s fy t h e s t at u t o ry req u i rem en t s an d p u r p o s e o f t h e St at u t e o f Frau d s ); Bd

. of

Reg en t s v. Tys on

, 2 61 Ga. 3 6 8

, 3 6 9 (4 0 4 SE2 d 5 5 7 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (ap p l y i n g reas o n i n g o f

B a k e r t o q u e s t i o n o f e x c o n t r a c t u w a i v e r o f so v erei g n i m m u n i t y)

.

“ Co n t em po ran eo u s ” in t hi s s et t i n g d o es n o t “ co n no t e p erfect o r ab s o l u t e co i n ci d en ce

i n p o i n t o f t i m e” an d h as b een h el d t o m ean “ reas o n ab l y co n t em p o ran eo u s .” Da bb s

v. Key E q u i p

. Fi na n ce

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 0

, 5 7 4 (6 9 4 SE2 d 16 1 ) (2 0 1 0) (ci t at i o n,

p u n ct u at i o n an d fo ot n o t e o m i t t ed ); s ee al s o Ma nr y v. Hen d r i cks

, 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 2,

4 5 3 (1 8 SE2 d 97 ) (1 9 4 1 ) (“ On e t h i n g i s co n t em po ran eo u s wi t h a gi v en t ran s act i o n

wh en i t i s s o rel at ed i n p o i nt o f t i m e as reas o n ab ly to b e s ai d to b e a p art o f s u ch

t ran s act io n .”). Nev ert h el es s

, a n i n e-week i n t e r v al b et ween t h e ex ecu t i o n o f

11d o cu m en t s s t ro n g l y su g g es t s t h at t h os e do cu m en t s are n ot co n t em p o ran eo u s

. See

Newel l R ecycl in g o

f At l a n ta v. Jo r d

a n Jo n es & Go u l d i n g

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 4

, 4 6 6 -4 6 7

(7 3 1 SE2 d 3 6 1 ) ( 2 0 1 2 ) (d o cu m en t s d at ed t h ree m o nt h s ap art are n ot

co n tem p o ran eo u s ). 7

In ad d i t i o n, t h e J u n e ev en t s an d t h e Au g u s t 12 ev en t s s t ro n g ly s u g g es t t h at t wo

d i ffe r en t ev en ts o r tran s act i o n s o ccu rred at t ho s e t i m es

, n o t o n e. M o re sp eci fi cal l y

,

W i nt er co n t en d s h e accep t ed UGA’ s o ffer i n J u n e; in o t h er wo rd s

, t h e p art i es en t ered

i n t o an ag reem en t at t h at t i m e an d t h at ev en t w as co n cl u d ed

. Two m o n t h s t h en p as s ed

d u ri n g wh i ch W i n t er m o v ed t o At h en s

, wh i ch i s co n s i s ten t wi t h W i n t er’ s

u n d ers t an d i n g t h at h e al read y h ad an em p l oy m en t a g r e e m e n t

, wh i ch

, as we h av e

al read y s h o wn

, w as no t i n wri t i n g

. Th en i n earl y Au g u s t

, W i n t er an d UGA co n t i n u e

t o at t em p t to res o lv e W i n ter’ s v i s a i s s u es an d ev en tu al l y s i g n s ev eral em p lo y m en t

7 Co m p are P a t t er

s o n v. Ben n et t S t r eet Pr o

p er t i es , 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 96 , 9 0 0 (1 )

(7 2 6 SE2 d 1 4 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (g u aran t y an d t wo o t her ag reem en t s were s i g ned w i t hi n t h ree

d ay s an d were p art o f th e s am e t ran s act io n ); Ho n g In ves t men ts v. S ar s f i el d

, 3 1 2 Ga.

Ap p

. 8 2

, 8 3 (7 1 7 SE2 d 6 7 9) (2 0 1 1 ) (l eas e an d g uaran t y ex ecu t ed o n e d ay ap art were

s u ffi ci en t l y co n t em

p oran eo u s an d p art o f t he s am e t ran s act i on ); B d

. o f Reg en t s o f t h e

Un i v. S ys t em o f Ga

. v. Do e

, 27 8 Ga. Ap p. 87 8 -8 7 9 (6 3 0 SE2 d 8 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (d o cu m en t s

s i gn ed 2 4 d a y s ap art were co n t em p o ran eo u s ); Ma nr

y

, 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 5 3 -4 5 4

(d o cu m en t s dat ed s i x d ay s ap art i n t h e s am e t ran s act i o n h el d t o b e co n t em p o ran eo u s );

Ma r i et ta S

a v. B a n k v. Ja n es

, 6 6 Ga. 2 8 6

, 2 8 8

- 2 8 9 ( 1 8 8 1 ) (co n t ract i n wri t i n g ev en

t h o u g h co m

p ri s ed o f a n o t e an d l et t ers d at ed 2 0 d ay s ap art ).

12rel at ed do cu m en t s o n Au g u s t 1 8

. Th es e ev en t s i n earl y Au g u s t are n o t o n l y s ep arat e

i n t i m e fro m t he ev en t s o f earl y J u n e b u t refl ect t h at th e p art i es were en g ag ed i n a

c o m p l et el y sep arat e act i vi ty

, fi n al i zi n g ad m i n i s trat i v e d et ai l s rel at ed to W i n t er’ s

em pl o y m en t

. Th u s

, t h e s i g n i fi can t t i m e i nt erv al b et ween t h e J u ne 6 an d Au g u s t 1 2

co m b i ned wi t h t h e b e h a v i o r o f t h e p art i es s h o ws t h at t h e J u n e d ocu m en t s an d t h e

A u g u st d o cu m en t s s h ou l d n o t b e treat ed as co n t em p o ran eo us i n t hi s cas e

.

Acco rd in g ly

, t he J u n e an d Au g u s t d o cu m e n t s d o n o t co n s t i t u t e s i g n ed

co n tem p o ran eo u s wri t i n g s s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i sh a wri t t en ag reem en t fo r t h e p u rp o s e

o f wai v i n g s o verei g n i m

m u n it y

.

(i i) Wi n ter al s o arg u es t hat bo t h p art i es s ig ned co n tem p o ran eo us d o cu m en t s

o n Au g u s t 1 2 t h at co n s t i t u t e s i g n ed co n t em po ran eo u s w ri t i n g s s u ffi ci en t t o co n s t i t u t e

a wri t t en ag reem en t ; h e ci t es t h e Lo y al ty Oa t h

, t h e IP ag reem en t

, an d t h e St at e

Dep art m en t cert i fi cat e of el ig i b i l i t y fo r J -1 v i sa s t at u s

. Th i s arg u m en t, t o o, i s wi t h o ut

m eri t

. Fi rs t

, t h es e d o cu m en t s d o n o t i n c l u d e a l l o f t h e t erm s an d co n d i t i o n s o f

W i nt er’ s al l eg ed em

p l o y m en t ag reem en t

. Tys on

, 2 6 1 G a

. at 36 9 (n o wri t t en

ag reem en t wh ere m

u l t i p l e co nt em

p o ran eo u s d o cu m en t s d i d no t co n tai n al l t h e

n eces s ary t erm s o f ag reem en t ). Seco n d

, t he o n l y d ocu m en t o f t h e t h ree s i g n e d b y

s o m eo n e fro m UGA i s th e St at e Dep art m en t cert i fi cat e, wh i ch was ob v i o u s ly s i g n ed

13f

o r t h e p u rp o s e o f co m

p l y i n g wi t h fed eral reg u l at i o n s an d n o t as a p ar t o f a n

em pl o y m en t co n t ract

. T h u s

, W i n t er h as n o t s h o wn t h at UGA s i gn ed an y d o cu m en t s

o n o r a b o u t Au gu s t 1 2 th at rel at e t o t h e t erm s o f h i s em pl oy m en t

. Th e o n l y o t h e r

d o cu m en t s t h at we h av e fo u n d i n t h e reco rd d at ed o n o r ab o ut A u g u s t 1 2 t h at are

s i gn ed b y UGA o ffi ci al s are cl earl y in t ern al ad m i n i s t rat i v e fo rm s an d n ot d o cu m en t s

wh ereb y UGA p u rp o rt s t o en t er i n t o em p l o y m en t t erm s wi t h W in t er.

In s h o rt

, W in t er h as fai l ed t o s ho w t hat t h e p art ies s i g n ed o n o r ab ou t Au g u s t

1 2

, co n t em

p o ran eo u s w r i t i n gs t h at co nt ai n t h e n eces s ary t erm s o f em p l o y m en t as

req u i red b y Ba ker v. Jel li b ea n s

, 2 5 2 Ga. 4 58 (1 ). Th e cas e o f Bd

. o f Reg en t s v. Do e

,

2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 8

, u p o n wh i ch W in t er rel ies

, i s d i s t i n g u is h ab l e. In t h at cas e, Geo rg i a

Tech s en t a wri t t en o ffer t h at co n t ai n ed al l t h e n eces s ar y t e r m s of an em p l o y m en t

ag re e m e n t

, i n cl ud i n g a s p eci fi c s al ary

, b en efi ts

, an d s t art i ng d at e; t h e l et t er al s o

req u es t ed a “ fo rm a l l et t er o f accep t an ce.” Twen t y -fo u r d ay s l at er, t h e p l ai n t i ff

accep t ed t h e offer i n wri t in g an d t h e co u rt h el d t h a t t h e r e was a wri t t en ag reem en t

.

Id . at 8 7 9 , 8 8 1 (1 ) (a).

(i ii ) W i n t er al s o arg u es t h a t a r e f eren ce to co n s i d erat i o n i n t h e IP ag reem en t

s o m eh o w p ro v es t h at t h e p art ies s i g n ed co n t em p oran eo u s wri t i n g s co n t a i n i n g t h e

n eces s ary t erm s o f em

p l o y m en t

. W e di s ag ree. Al t h o u gh

, as s t at ed i n t h e IP

14ag reem en t

, W i n t er si g n ed t h e IP a g r e e m e n t “ [a] s p art o f t h e co n s id erat i o n fo r [h i s ]

em pl o y m en t ,” t h at lan g u ag e can n o t o v erri d e t h e ab o ve reas on i n g

, i .e., t h at t h e J u n e

6 o ffer was n o t co n tem

p o ran eo u s wi t h t h e Au gu s t 1 2 d o cu m en t s an d t h at t h e Au g u s t

1 2 d o cu m en t s s t an d i n g al o n e were i n s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i sh a w r i t t e n a g reem en t

.

Fu rt h er, t h e IP ag reem en t s tan d i ng al o n e ad d res s ed o n l y o n e a sp ect o f W i n t er’ s

em pl o y m en t an d i t was n o t s i g n ed b y UGA.

Fo r t h e ab o v e reas o n s

, we co n cl u d e th at W i n t ers h as n o t carri ed h i s b u rd en o f

s h o wi n g t h at t h e B o ard of Reg en t s wai v ed i t s s o verei gn i m m u ni t y fo r a cl ai m o f

b reach o f c o n t r a c t

. S ee G a

. Dep t

. o f Co mmu ni t

y. Hea lt h v. D a t a In q u i r

y

, 3 1 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 6 8 3

, 6 8 6 -6 8 7 (1 ) (b ) ( 7 2 2 S E 2 d 4 0 3) (2 0 1 2 ) (wi th o u t ev i d en ce o f s i g n ed

co n tem p o ran eo u s ag reem en t s p l ai n t i ff fai l ed t o carry b u rd en o f s h owi n g ex is t en ce o f

a wri t t en co n t ract fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f wai vi n g s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y ). Th e t ri al co urt ’ s

d eci s i o n i s t h erefo re rev ers ed an d th e cas e rem an d ed fo r en t ry o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

i n fav o r o f t h e Bo ard o f Reg en t s

.

3 . Th e Bo ard ’ s fi n al en u m erat i o n o f erro r i s t h erefo re m o o t

.

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed a nd ca s e r ema n d

ed wi th d i r ect i o n

. B a r n es

, P. J., a n d

Bo g gs , J., co n cu r

.

15