FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and COLVI 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 ay 6, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 04 3 . GENERAL M OTORS LLC v . BUCHANAN et al

.

M E R C I E R , J u dg e.

In t h i s wro n g fu l deat h / p ro d u ct li ab i l i t y act i o n

, Gen eral M ot o rs LLC (“ GM ”)

fi led a m o t i o n fo r a pro tect i v e o rd er s eek i n g t o p rev en t t h e d ep o s i t io n o f i t s CEO. Th e

t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n, an d GM n o w ap p eal s

, as s ert i n g t h at t he co urt ’ s o rd er

v i o l at es OCGA § 9-11- 26’ s pr ohibitions a ga inst a bus i v e d is co v ery p ract i ces

. GM al s o

u rg es t h i s Co u rt t o ap p l y t h e ap ex d o ct ri n e

– a fram ewo rk u s ed b y s o m e c o u r t s to

d et erm i n e wh et h er t o p erm i t t h e d ep o s i t i o n o f a h i g h

- ran k in g co rp o rat e ex ecu t i v e. 1

Fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g reas o n s

, w e affi rm th e t ri al ’ s ru l i n g an d d ecl i n e t o ap pl y t h e ap ex

d o ct ri n e.

1 See, e.g

., S

mi t h v. Ci t

y o f S t o ckt o n

, 2 0 1 7 U.S. D i s t

. LEXIS 4 4 76 7

, * 3 -4 (IV)

(E.D. Cal . 2 0 1 7 ).Th e u n d erl y i n g fact s are u n d i s p u t ed

. In No v em ber 2 0 1 4, Gl en d a M ari e

Bu ch an an (“ M ari e”) was d ri v i n g h er 2 0 0 7 Ch ev y Trai lb l azer wh en i t v eered o ff t h e

ro ad way an d l an d ed i n a d i t ch

. 2 Sh e d i ed fro m i n ju ri es s u s t ai n ed i n t h e wreck

. In M ay

2 0 1 6

, M ari e’ s h u s b an d Ro b ert Bu ch an an

, i n d i v i d u al l y an d as ad m i n i s t r a t o r o f h er

es t at e, fi l ed s u it ag ai n s t G M al l eg i n g t h at i t was l i ab l e fo r M ari e’ s d eat h b ecau s e o f

a d ef e c t i n t he Trai l b l azer an d GM ’ s fai lu re t o w arn o f t h e d efect

. 3 Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e

al l eg ed th at t h e el ect ro n i c s t ab i l i t y co n t ro l 4 o r St ab i l i t rak s y s t em d i d n o t en g ag e to

“ p rev en t t h e veh i cl e fro m l o s i n g co n t ro l an d l eav i n g t h e ro ad .” Bu ch an an al l eg ed t h at

a co m p o n en t o f t h e St ab i l i t rak s y s t em

, t h e s t e eri n g wh eel an g l e s en s o r (“ SW AS”),

2 Th e Trai l b l azer was in p art d es i gn ed

, m an ufact ured

, m a r k e t ed an d s o l d by

Gen eral M o t o rs Co rp

. (“ Ol d GM ”). Ol d GM d ecl ared b an k ru pt cy i n 2 00 9

, a n d i t s

as s et s were s ol d t o wh at b ecam e Gen eral Mo t o rs LLC (“ New GM ”). As p ar t o f t h e

s al e ag reem en t

, New G M as s u m ed l i ab il i ti es t o t hi rd p art i es fo r d eat h or p ers o n al

i n ju ry cau s ed b y m o t o r v eh icl es m an u fact u red o r s o l d b y Ol d G M. See Bu t l er W o o t en

& Pea k LL P v

. GM LLC

, 9 4 3 F3 d 1 2 5

, 1 31 -1 3 2 (II) (B) (2 n d Ci r. 2 01 9 ). W e wi l l

s i m p l y refer t o New GM as GM fo r p u rp o s es o f t h i s o p i n io n

.

3 Bu ch an an n am ed a s eco n d d efen d an t

, b u t th at p art y was l at er di s m i s s ed fro m

t h e s u i t

.

4 El ect ro n i c s t ab i l i t y co n t ro l h el p s a d ri v er m ai n tai n co n t ro l o f th e v eh i cl e wh en

h e or s h e o v ers t eers o r un d ers t eers by b rak in g t h e ap p ro p ri at e w h e e l a n d i n s o m e

cas es b y al s o red uci n g t h e en g i n e p o wer. It a d d s a c o n t ro l u n i t t h at m o n i t o rs t h e

s t eeri n g wh eel an g l e an d veh i cl e ro t at i o n

.

2fai l ed

, d i s ab l i n g St ab i l i t rack

. Bu ch an an al so s ou g h t p u n i ti v e d am ag es fo r GM ’ s

“ fai l [u re] t o warn o f a k no wn d efect ” i n i t s Trai l b l azers

.

Du ri n g d i sco v ery

, Bu ch an an ’ s co u n s el s en t GM a req ues t t o d ep o s e i t s CEO,

M ary Barra. 5 Th e req u es t n o t ed t h at Barra “ ‘ led GM t hro u g h a reck o n i n g o f i t s cu l t u re

an d s afet y p ract i ces ’ ” as a res u l t o f l i ti g at io n i n vo l v i n g a d i fferen t GM v eh icl e d efect ;

ha d “ w ork ed i n Gl ob al Pro d u ct Dev el o pm en t an d Gl o b al M an uf a c tur i ng E n gine e r ing,

b o t h of wh i ch d o u b tl es s deal t wi t h v eh i cl e en gi n eeri n g d ev el o p m en t an d s afet y ; ” an d

creat ed t he Sp eak Up fo r Safet y (“ Sp eak Up ”) p ro g ram

t o “ en g en d er a ‘ s afet y

fi rs t ’

cu l t u re,” fi x p ro bl em s rat h er t h an m erel y i d en ti fy t h em

, an d en co u rag e fo ll o w-u p s o

t h at GM ’ s s afet y g ro u p wo u l d be h el d acco u nt ab l e. Bu ch an an ’ s co un s el as s ert ed t h at

Barra was “ t h e o n l y p ers on w h o can s p eak t o t h e i s s ue of wh y GM h as n o t act ed an d

wh y t h e [Sp eak Up ] Pro g ram h as fai l ed t o r e m ed y t h e d efect s i n t h e SW AS, a p art

k n o wn t o b e p res en t i n s o m e 7 70 ,0 0 0 G M v eh icl es

. ” Co u n sel ci t ed t o t h e d ep o s i t i o n

o f a GM p ro d u ct i n v es t i g at o r wh o t es t i fi ed th at t h e “ warran t y [cl ai m ] rat e” o f t h e

SW AS was ab o ut 1 0 p ercen t an d t h at GM h ad o v er 7 3

, 7 1 1 warran t y cl ai m s t h ro u g h

5 Barra b ecam e CEO o f GM i n J an u ary 2 01 4

. Pri o r t o b eco m i n g CEO, s h e h el d

v ari o u s po s i t io n s at GM an d it s p red eces s o r b eg i n n i n g i n 1 9 80

, i n cl u di ng ex ecu t i v e

p o s i t i on s fo r GM b eg i n n i n g i n 2 0 0 8

.

3J u l y 2 0 1 8, b ut GM ’ s i nt ern al i nv es t i g at i on l eft t h e m at t er “ to b e d et erm i n ed ” an d i t

was reco m

m en d ed t h at t he i n v es t i g at i o n b e cl o s ed “ w i th n o fi el d act i o n .”

GM m o v ed fo r a pro t ect i v e o rd er t o p rev en t Barra f r o m b ei n g d ep o s ed

,

as s ert i n g t h at Bu ch an an co u l d o b t ai n t h e i n fo rm at i o n s o ug h t b y d ep o s i n g l o wer-l ev el

GM em p l o y ee s w i t h p e r s on al k n o wl ed g e o f th e al l eg ed SW AS defect

, an d t h at h i s

req u es t t o d ep o s e GM ’ s hi g h es t ran k i ng o ffi cer “ i s th e ve r y t y p e of h aras s m en t

,

o p p res s i o n

, em

b arras s m en t

, an d u n d u e b u rd en an d ex p en s e t h at OCGA § 9 -1 1

- 2 6 (c)

i s d es i g ned t o p ro t ect ag ai n s t .” It al s o a rg u ed t hat b o th t h e ap ex d o ct ri n e an d t h e

a p p l i cat i o n o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (c) i n Geo rg i a’ s s t at e an d fed eral co u rt s p rec l u d e d

t h e tak in g of Barra’ s d ep o s i t i o n

. At tach ed t o t h e m o t i o n fo r a p ro t ect i v e ord er was

Barra ’s a ffi dav i t i n wh i ch sh e av erred th at s h e was n o t i n v o l ved i n t he d es i g n,

d ev el o p m en t

, o r m an ufact u re o f th e SW AS at i ss u e, an d h as no d ir e c t

, u n i q u e,

s p eci al i zed o r su p eri or k n o wl ed g e ab o u t t h e SW A S i n t h e 20 0 6 -2 0 0 9 Trai l b l azers

.

Barra s t at ed fu rt h er t h at al t h o ug h t h e Sp eak Up p ro g ram was i m p l em en t ed d u ri n g h er

t en u re as CEO, s h e d i d n o t co n du ct an y Sp eak Up i n v es t i g at i o n s an d d i d n o t recei v e

i n d i v i d u al rep o rt s ab o ut each i n v es t ig at i on

.

Aft er h eari n g arg u m e n t fro m b ot h co u n s el

, th e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at

Bu ch an an ’ s at t em

p t t o d ep o s e Barra was a reas o nab l y cal cu l at ed at t em p t t o d i s co v er

4ev i d en ce t h at m i g h t b e ad m i s s i b l e a t t ri al

. Th e co u rt p o i n t ed t o Barra’ s p u b l i c

s t at em en t s d u ri n g recen t l it i g at i o n reg ard i n g a d i fferen t al l eg ed v eh i cl e d efect

, an d

o t h er s t at em en t s Barra m ad e co n cern i n g “ GM ’ s s afet y cu l t ure an d effo rt s to

i n v es t i g at e an d el i m in at e s afet y i s s u es [.] ” Th e co u r t fo u n d fu rt h er t h at “ th ere i s n o

ex p res s o r i m

p l i ed l aw i n Geo rg i a f

o r t h e ‘ ap ex d o ct ri n e’ o r o t h er fram ewo rk t h at

i m p o s es pres u m

p t i ve h u rd les to s eek in g d i s co v ery (o r d ep o s i t i o n tes t im o n y ) fro m

cert ai n co rp o rat e i n d i vi d u al s.” Th e co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at GM di d n o t s h o w g o o d cau s e

fo r t h e i ss u an ce of th e p ro t ect i v e o rd er an d d i rect ed t h at th e d ep o s it i o n o f Barra “ g o

fo rward at a m

u t u al ly co n ven i en t d at e an d t i m e w i t hi n fo rt y -fi v e (4 5 ) d ay s o f t h e d at e

o f t h i s [o ] rd er, an d th e d ep o s it i o n s h al l b e h el d i n Det ro i t

, M i ch i g an

. Ex cl u d i n g t i m e

s p e n t o n o b

ject i on s

, t h e d ep o s i ti o n i s l i m i t ed t o 3 h o u rs .” W e gran t ed GM ’ s

ap p li cat io n fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry rev i ew, an d t h i s ap peal fo l l owed

.

Pu rs uan t t o O CGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ), p art i es to a l aws u it m ay “ o b t ai n d i s co v ery

reg ard i n g an y m at t er, n o t p ri v i l 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 th e pen d i n g act i o n

, wh et h er i t rel at es to t h e cl ai m o r d efen s e o f t h e p art y s eek i n g

d i s co v ery o r t o t h e cl ai m o r d efen s e o f an y o t h er p art y [.] ” Ho wev er, OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6

(c) p ro v i d es i n rel ev an t p art t h at

5[u ] p o n m o t i o n b y a p art y o r b y t h e p ers o n fro m w h o m d is co v ery i s

s o u g h t a n d f

o r g o o d cau s e s h o wn

, t h e co u rt i n wh ich t h e act i o n i s

p en d i n g o r, al t ern at i vel y

, o n m at ters rel at i n g to a d ep o s i ti o n

, t he co u rt

i n t h e co u n t y wh ere th e d ep o s i t i o n i s t o be t ak en m ay m ak e an y o r d e r

wh i ch ju s t i c e r e q ui res t o p ro t ect a p art y o r p ers o n fro m an n o y 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 urd en o r ex p en s e, i n cl u d i n g

. . .

(1 ) Th at t h e d i s co v ery n o t b e h ad ; [o r] (2 ) Th at th e di s co very m ay be

h ad o n l y o n s p eci fi ed t erm s an d co n di t i o n s , i ncl u d in g a d es i g n at i o n o f

t h e t i m e o r p l ace[.]

Th e ru l i n g o n a m o ti o n fo r a p ro t ect iv e o rd er l i es wi th i n t h e s o un d d i s cret i o n o f t h e

t ri al co urt

, an d we w i l l o n l y rev ers e t h e co u rt ’ s d eci s io n wh en i t h as ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n

. 6 S

m i t h v. No r th s id

e Ho s p

. , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 0

, 7 0 3 (8 2 0 SE2 d 7 58 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

“ Th i s i s b ecau s e a t ri al co u rt h as b ro ad di s cre t i o n t o co n t ro l al l d i s co v ery m at t ers

.

An d as t o p ro t ect i ve o rd ers

, a t ri al co u rt wi l l o n l y ab us e i t s d i s cret i o n wh en i t s ru l i n g

i s u n s u p p o rt ed b y an y ev i d en ce o f reco rd o r wh en t h at ru li n g m is st at es o r m i s ap p li es

t h e rel ev an t l aw.” Id . (ci tat i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6 GM as s ert s th at de n o vo rev iew i s req u i red b ecau s e th e t ri al co u rt m i s ap p l i ed

OCGA § 9 -1 1

- 2 6

. I t i s t ru e t h at we rev i ew ap p eal s i n v ol v i ng th e co n s t ru ct i o n o f a

s t at u te u n d er t h e d e no v o s t an d ard

. See Bl a ke v. KES

, 33 6 Ga. Ap p. 4 3

, 4 7 (7 8 3 SE2 d

4 3 2 ) (2 0 16 ). H o w ev er, t h e co n s t ru ct i o n o f t h e s t at u t e i s n o t at i s s ue h ere, an d t h e t ri al

co u rt o n l y

ex erci s ed i t s d i s cret i o n t o act u n d er i t

.

61

. GM arg u es th at t he tri al co urt

, i n d en y i n g i t s m o ti o n fo r a p ro t ect iv e o rd er,

v i o l at ed OCGA § 9-1 1 -2 6 ’ s p ro h i b i t i o n s ag ai n s t ab u s i v e di s co very p ract i ces

. Ci t i n g

Ta n k e rs l ey v. S

ecu r i ty Na t

. Co r

p

. , 1 2 2 G a. Ap p

. 1 2 9 (1 7 6 SE2 d 2 7 4 ) (1 9 7 0 ) an d

W h eel in g -Cu l li

g a n v

. Al l en

, 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7 6 (5 33 SE2 d 7 9 7 ) (2 0 00 ), GM as s ert s

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred as a m at t er o f l aw b y fai l i n g t o ack n o wl ed g e fact o rs s u ch as

wh et h er Barra h as u n i q u e k no wl ed g e o f t he i s s u es i n t h e c a s e a n d wh et h er t h at

i n fo rm at i o n co u l d b e ob t ai n ed b y o t h er l es s -i n s tru s i v e m ean s

. 7 Cert ai n l y th e co u rt

ma y co ns i d er a m

y ri ad of fact ors t o d et erm i n e wh et h er GM s h owed g o od cau s e to

p ro t ect Barra fro m an n o y an ce, em b arras sm en t

, o p p res s i o n

, o r u nd u e b u rd en o r

ex p en s e. H o wev er, n ei t h er Ta n ker sl ey no r W

h e el i n g-Cu ll i

g a n s tan d fo r t h e

p ro p os i t i on t h at t h e t ri al co urt mu s t co n s id er t h es e fact o rs wh en res ol v i n g a m o t i o n

fo r a p ro t ect i v e o rd er. 8

7 Th es e fact o rs are wh at m ak e u p t h e ap ex d o ct ri ne, wh i ch we d ecl i n e t o ap p l y

h ere. See Di v . 2

.

8 In Ta nker

s l ey

, t h i s Co u rt h el d

, i n on e s en ten ce an d wi t h o u t an y an al y s i s

, t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n qu as h i n g a d efen d an t’ s req ues t fo r ad m i s si o n s an d n o t i ce

t o t ak e t h e d ep os i t i o n o f t h e p res i d en t o f a co rp o r a t i o n b e c a u se t h e i n fo rm at i o n

s o u g ht was al read y ad m i t t ed o r h ad al read y b een s ecu red b y t h e us e o f i nt erro g at o ri es

,

an d an y o t h er in fo rm at i o n co u l d b e s ecu red b y fu rt h er in t erro g at o ri es

. Su p ra, 1 2 2 Ga.

Ap p

. at 1 3 0 (1 ). An d i n W h eel i n g -Cu l li

g a n

, b ecau s e th e r e c o r d d i d n o t co n t ai n

i n t erro g at o ri es wh i ch were neces s ary fo r ap p el lat e rev i ew, w e as s u m ed t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g q uas hi n g a d ep o s i t i on was s u p p o rt ed by t h e ev i d en ce an d affi rm ed

.

7Bu ch an an as s ert s t h at Barra’ s d ep o s i t i o n t es t i m o n y i s reas o n ab l y cal cu l at ed to

l ead t o t he d i s co very o f ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce to s u p p ort h i s fai l u re t o w a r n an d

p u n i t i v e d am ag es cl ai m s

. 9 In part i cu l ar, h e cl ai m s t h at t h e t es t i m o n y wi l l h el p ex p l ai n

wh y th e SW AS rem ai n ed a p ro b l em “ To Be Det erm i ned ” fo l l owi n g t wel v e y ears aft er

t h e fi rs t s al e o f t he 2 0 0 7 Trai l b l azers an d t en s o f t h o u s an d s o f warran t y cl ai m s

. An d

t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at Barra’ s p u b l i c s t at em en t s d u ri ng recen t li t i t at i o n i nv o l v i n g

a di fferen t al l eg ed v eh icl e d efect

, an d h er s t at em en t s ab ou t GM ’ s s afet y cu l t u re an d

ef f o r t s t o i n ves t i g at e an d el i m i n at e s afet y i ss u es

, ju s ti fy h er d ep o s it i on to d i s co v er

ev i d en ce t h at m i g h t b e ad m i s s i b l e at t ri al

.

Th e p art i es d o n o t d i s p u t e t h at Barra m ad e t he f o l l o w i n g st at em en t s i n Ap ri l

an d J u ly o f 2 01 4

, m o n th s b efo r e M a r i e ’s acci d en t

. Du ri n g a co ng res s i o n al

i n v es t i g at i o n i n t o a d i fferen t al l eg ed v eh i cl e d efect

, Barra st at ed t h at s h e wo ul d s t an d

wi t h h er n ew v i ce p res i d en t of g l o b al v eh i cl e s afet y t o q u i ck l y i d en t i fy

an d res o l v e

Su p ra, 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 7 77

.

9 GM arg ues t h at Bu ch an an ’ s p u n i t iv e d am ag es cl ai m is b arred b y a ru l i n g o f

t h e b an k ru p t cy co urt an d b as ed u p o n p o st -acci d en t co n du ct

. Ho wev er, th e t ri al co u rt

m ad e n o ru l i n g o n t h i s i s s u e, an d OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ) p ro vi d es t h at “ [i ] t i s n ot

g ro u nd fo r o b

ject i o n t h at th e i n fo rm at i o n s o u g h t w i ll b e i n ad m i s s i b le at t h e tri al i f t h e

i n fo rm at i o n s o u g h t ap p ears reas o n ab l y cal cu l a t e d t o l ead to 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.”

8an y p ro d u ct safet y is s u es

, an d t h at s h e wo u l d rev iew al l fu t u re d eat h in q u i res i n GM

v eh icl e cras h es

. In A pri l 2 0 1 4, Barra i n s t i tu t ed t h e Sp eak Up p ro g ram t o en co u rag e

an d reco g n i ze em

p l o y ees fo r co n t ri b u ti n g id eas t o m ak e GM veh i cl es s afer, an d fo r

s p eak i n g u p wh en t h ey s ee so m et h i n g t hat co u ld i m p act cu s t o m er s afet y

. GM as s ert s

t h at t h es e s t at em en t s are i rrel ev an t t o Bu ch an an ’ s cl ai m s b ecau se Barra was n ot

i n v o l v ed i n t h e Sp eak U p p ro g ram at an o p erat i on al o r tech n i cal l ev el an d t hu s co u ld

n o t t es t i fy o n h o w i t fu n ct i o n s o n a d ay -t o-d ay b as i s , an d s tat ed i n h er affi d av i t t h at

s h e w as n o t i n v o l ved i n t h e i n v es t i g at i o n o f th e SW A S i n M ari e’ s T rai l b l azer an d h ad

n o k n o wl ed g e o f an y

i s s u es rel ev an t t o t h i s cas e.

“ In t h e d i s co v ery co nt ex t

, co urt s s h ou 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 t o an y t h i ng t h a t i s o r m ay beco m e an

i s su e i n t h e l i t i g at i o n .” Ewi n g v. Ewi n g

, 3 3 3 Ga. A p p

. 76 6

, 7 6 8 (1 ) (7 7 7 SE2 d 5 6 )

(2 0 1 5) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Bu ch an an so u gh t i n fo rm at io n co n cern i n g

wh y GM h ad n o t rem ed i ed t he al l eg ed d efect i n t h e SW AS, wh i ch i s rel ev an t t o i t s

fai l u r e t o w a r m an d p u n i t iv e d am ag es cl ai m s

. See, e.g

. , i d

. (ev i d en ce o f al l eg ed

ad u lt ery rel ev an t i n d iv o rce act io n ). Fu rt h er, t h e fact t h at Barra i n h er affi d av i t d en i ed

h av in g k n o wl ed g e o f an y i s s u es rel ev an t t o t hi s cas e d o es n o t d em a nd t h at t h e

p ro t ect i v e o rd er b e g ran t ed

, es p eci al l y i n l i g ht o f h er o t h er s t at em en t s. See Br i d g es

9v. 2 0t h Cen t u r y Tr a vel

, 14 9 Ga

. A p p

. 8 3 7

, 8 3 8 (2 56 SE2 d 1 0 2 ) (1 9 7 9 ) (co n t en t i o n

t h at i n di v i d u al at i s s u e fo r m o ti o n fo r p ro t ect iv e o rd er h ad n o k n owl ed g e o f s u b ject

m at t er o f s u it “ m

u s t o b v i o u s ly

y i el d t o t h e o v erri d i n g p ol i cy o f l i b eral l y co n s t ru i n g

t h e ap p l i cat i o n o f t he d i s co v ery l aw”). Th ere was ev i d en ce h ere to su p po rt t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s co ncl u s i o n t hat t h e in fo rm at i o n Bu ch an an s eek s i s r el ev an t an d ap p ears

reas on ab l y cal cu l at 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 den ce. See OCGA §

9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ).

Th ere was al s o ev i d en ce t o s u p po rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n t h at GM d i d n ot

m eet i t s b u rd en o f s h o w i n g g o od cau se fo r a p ro t ect i v e o rd er un d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6

(c). “ W h at co n s t i t u tes ‘ g o o d cau s e’ m u s t b e l eft l arg el y

t o t he t ri al j u d ge wh o h as a

l at i t u d e of di s cret i o n i n det erm in i n g wh et h er t h e s ho wi ng h as b een m ad e.” H a r r i s v.

Ten et Hea l t h s

ys t em S p a l d i n g

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 4

, 90 1 (3 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 6 1 8 ) ( 2 0 1 3 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). GM arg u es o n l y th at t h e d ep o s i ti o n wo u l d s erv e

n o ot h er p u rp o se t h an to h arras s Barra an d su b ject GM t o un d u e b u rd en an d ex p en s e

b ecau s e hi g h -ran k i n g ex ecu t iv es s h o u l d n o t b e co m p el l ed t o t es t i fy u n l es s t h ey h av e

u n i q u e k no wl ed g e o f t h e i s s u es an d t he i n fo rm at i o n can n o t b e o b t ai ned b y o t h er

m ean s

. A s we h av e ex p l ai n ed h o wev er, t here i s n o au t h o ri t y req u i ri n g t h a t t h es e

fact ors b e s at i sfi ed i n ord er t o d ep o s e a h i g h -ran k i n g ex ecu t i v e. An d

, ev en t h o u g h

10GM m ad e n o o th er s ho wi n g t h at ju s t i ce req u i red Barra be p ro tect ed fro m “ an n o y an ce,

em barras s m en t

, o p p res s i o n, o r u n d u e b urd en o r ex p en s e,” th e tri al co u rt ex erci s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n un der OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (c) (2 ) t o set “ s p eci fi ed t erm s an d co nd i ti o n s ” fo r

t h e d ep o s i t i o n i ncl u d i n g t h at i t b e h el d i n Det ro i t wh ere Barra w o rk s an d l im i t ed t o

t h ree h o u rs . See Os b or n e v. Ba n k o f Del i g ht

, 1 7 3 Ga. Ap p

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

5 2 3 ) (1 98 5 ) (p ot en t i al fo r h aras s m en t o r b u rd en “ m ay b e m i n im ized b y t he i m p o s i t i o n

o f l es s er res t ri ct io n s t h an t h e co m p l et e fo recl o s u re o f t h e req u es ted d i s co v ery ”).

“ [T] h e d i s co v ery p ro ced u re i s t o b e co n st ru ed l ib eral l y i n fav o r o f s u p p l y i n g

a p art y wi t h t h e fact s ,” B o wd en v. Med ica l C e n t e r

, 2 9 7 Ga. 2 8 5

, 2 9 1 (2 ) (a) (7 7 3

SE2 d 6 9 2 ) ( 2 0 1 5) (ci t at io n s

, p u n ct u at i on

, an d em p h as i s o m i t t ed ), an d “ i t i s o n l y in

rare cas es

, b as ed o n go o d cau s e s h o w n

, t h at t h e t ri al co u rt m ay refu s e a d ep o s i t i o n

al t o g et h er.” Os b o rn e

, s u pra. “ Pro t ect i v e ord ers

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

– n ot

p ro h ib i t i ve[.] ” Id

. ( ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ). Un der t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

p res en t ed h ere, as t here was ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

, we fi n d n o

ab u se o f t h e co u rt ’s d i s c r e t i o n i n d en y i n g G M ’ s req u es t fo r a p ro t ect i v e o rd er to

p rev en t Barra’ s d ep o s i t i o n

.

2

. GM an d s ev eral am i ci u rg e t h i s Co u rt t o ap p l y t h e ap ex d o ct ri ne t o p rev en t

Barra’ s d ep o s i t i o n

.

11Un d er t he ap ex do ct ri n e

, a n in d iv i d u al ob ject i n g t o a d ep o si ti o n m u s t

fi rs t d em o n s t rat e h e i s s u ffi ci en t l y h i g h -ran k in g t o i nv o ke t h e d ep os i t i o n

p ri v il eg e. Up o n t h i s sh o wi n g, t h e co u rt th en co n s id ers w h et h er t h ere are

“ ex t rao rd i n ary ci rcu m s t an ces ” t h at ju s t i fy d ep o s in g th e h i g h -ran k i n g

o ffi ci al s

, b as ed o n (1 ) wh et h er th e d ep o n en t h as un i q u e fi rs t -h an d

,

n o n -rep et it i v e k n o wl ed g e o f t h e fact s at i s su e i n t h e c a s e ; a n d (2 )

wh et h er t h e p art y s eek i n g t h e d ep o s it i o n has ex h au s ted o t h er l es s

i n t ru s i v e d i s co v ery

m et h o d s

.

Gi ven s v. News o me

, 2 0 2 1 U .S. D i s t

. LEXIS 3 1 3 5

, * 1 2 (B) (E.D. Cal

. 2 0 2 1 ) (ci t at i on s

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); s ee In r e Tyl en o l

, 2 0 14 U .S. Di s t

. LEXIS 8 99 8 1

, * 7 -8 (III)

(b ) (E.D. Pa. 2 0 14 ). So m e st at e co u rt s an d fed eral d i s t ri ct co u r t s

, i ncl u d i n g d i s t ri ct

co u rt s w i t h i n t h e E l e v en t h Ci rcu i t

, h av e ap p l ied t h e ap ex d o ct ri n e. 1 0 Ho wev er, o u r

s t at e ap p el l at e co u rt s h av e n o t ap p l i ed t h e do ct ri n e, an d we d ecl i ne t o d o so h ere. Th e

ap ex doc tr ine is inc onsiste n t wi t h Geo rg i a’ s d i s co v ery pro v i s i on s t h at req ui re a l i b eral

co n st ru ct i o n i n fav o r o f s u p p l y i n g a p art y wi t h fact s

, Bo wd

en , s u pra, an d t hat p l ace

1 0 See, e.g

., Rei l l

y v. Ch i po t l e Mexi ca n Gr i l l

, 2 0 1 6 U.S. Di s t

. LEXIS 1 9 3 4 0 7,

* 1 3 -2 0 (II) (B) (2 ) (c) (S.D. Fl a. 2 0 1 6 ); Da s h t peyma v. Li b er t

y In s

. Co r p

. , 2 01 2 U.S.

Di s t

. L EXIS 1 9 8 5 1 4

, * 8 -9 (IV) (C) (N.D. Ga. 20 1 2 ). W e hav e fo u n d n o cas e fro m t h e

El ev en th Ci rcu i t Co u rt o f Ap p eal s ap p l y i n g t h e ap ex d o ct ri n e. Al t h o u gh GM ci t es to

fed eral co u rt o f ap p eal s cas es t h at

, i t arg ues

, ap p l y t h e d o ct ri n e (wi t h o u t s peci fi cal l y

referri n g t o i t b y n am e), we hav e fo u n d o n ly o n e t h at m en ti o n s t h e ap ex d o ct ri n e, an d

i t h o l d s t h at t h e l o wer co u rt erred i n rel y in g u p o n i t t o g ran t a p ro tect i v e o rd er. See

S er r a n o v. Ci n t a s Co r

p. , 6 9 9 F3 d 8 8 4 , 9 0 1-9 0 2 (II) (C) (3 ) (6 t h Ci r. 2 0 1 2 ).

12t h e b u rd en u po n t h e p art y s eek in g a p ro t ect i v e o rd er t o s h o w cau s e fo r t h e o rd er. See

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (c); see al s o Bl u eMo u nt a i n Cr ed i t Al t er n at ives Ma s t er

Fu n d L.P.

v. Reg a l En t er t a i n men t Gr o u p

, 4 6 5 P3 d 1 2 2

, 1 3 1 -1 3 2 (III) (B) (Co l o

. Ct

. Ap p

. 2 0 2 0 )

(f e d e r a l c o u rt s d o n o t un i fo rm l y ap p l y t h e ap ex do ct ri n e, an d a g ro wi n g n u m b er o f

s t at es h av e reject ed it ; th e ap ex d o ct ri n e s h i ft s t h e b u rd en t o t h e par t y s e e k i n g t h e

co rp o rat e ex ecu t i v e’ s d ep os i t i o n ); Cr es t In fi n i t i II, LP v. S

wi n t o n

, 1 74 P3 d 9 9 6

, 1 0 0 3

-

1 0 0 4 (Ok l

. Su p

. Ct

. 20 07 ) (d ecl i n i n g t o ap p l y t h e ap ex d oct ri n e b ecau se it s h i ft s t h e

13b u rd en t o t h e p art y seek i ng d i s co v ery ). 1 1 Th e creat i o n o f an ex cep t i o n t o t h e

d i s co v ery ru l es fo r h i g h -ran k i n g ex ecu t i v es i s b es t l eft fo r t h e l eg i s l at u re.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med

. Co l vi n

, J., co n cu r s

. D i l l a r d

, P. J., co n cu r

s f u l l y a n d

s p eci a l l y.

1 1 GM as s ert s t h at Geo rg i a co u rt s oft en l o ok t o fed eral co urt s fo r gu i d an ce o n

d i s co v ery i s s u es

. W h i l e t h i s i s t ru e, t h e ap ex d oct ri n e cl earl y co n t rad i ct s o u r st at u t o ry

d i s co v ery p ro v i s i o n s

, t h ere i s al m o s t n o ap p l icat i o n o f t h e d o ct ri n e bey o n d f e d e ral

d i s t ri ct co u rt s

, an d i n t h o s e co u rt s i t i s n o t ap pl i ed i n a co n s i s t en t m an n er. Fu rt h er, t h e

reas on we oft en l o o k to fed eral co u rt s fo r g u i dan ce o n d i s co v ery i s su es i s b ecau s e

Geo rg i a’ s Ci v il Pract i ce Act d i s co v ery p ro v is i on s gen eral l y co n fo rm v ery cl o s el y to

t h e fed eral p ro v i s i o n s

. See Bo wd en

, s u p ra at 2 9 1 n .5

. Ho w ev er, Geo rg i a’ s p ro v i s i o n

g o v ern i n g t h e s co p e o f d i sco very i s b ro ad er t han t h e fed eral ru l e. O CGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6

(b ) (1 ) p ro v i d es t h at “ [p ] art i es m ay o b tai n d i s co v ery reg ard i n g an y m a t t e r, n ot

p ri v i leg 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 ol v ed i n t h e p e n d i n g act i o n,”

wh i le Fed

. R. C i v

. P. 2 6 (b ) (1 ) p ro vi d es th at “ [p ] art i es m ay o b t ai n d i s co v ery

reg ard i n g an y n o np ri v i l eg ed m at t er t h at i s rel e v a n t t o an y p art y ’ s cl ai m

. . . an d

p r o p or t i o n a l to t h e n e ed

s o f t h e ca s e, co n s i d

er i n g th e i mp o r t a n ce o

f t he i s s u es at

s t ake in t h e a ct i o n

, t h e amo u n t i n co n t r o ver s y, t he p a r t ies ’ r el a t i ve a cces s t o r el eva nt

i n f o r ma ti o n

, t h e p a r t ies ’ r es ou rces

, t h e i mp o r t a n ce o f t h e d i sco ver

y i n res o l vi n g t h e

i s su es

, a n d w h et h er th e bu r d en o r exp en s e o

f t h e pr o p o s ed d i s co ver

y o ut wei g h s i t s

l i kel y b en ef i t .” (Em p h as i s su p p l i ed .) See al s o B owd en su p ra (n o t i n g t h at

, u n l i k e

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6

, Fed

. R. Ci v. P. 2 6 h as been su b st an t i al l y am en d ed o v er th e y ears

,

“ i n cl u d in g s ev eral am en d m en t s t o n arro w t h e s co p e o f d i s co v ery ”).

14A2 1 A0 04 3 . GENERAL M OTORS LLC v

. BUCHANAN et al

.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e, co n cu rri n g fu ll y an d s p eci al l y

.

Al t h ou g h I fu l l y co nc u r in the m a j or ity ’ s t h o ug h t fu l an d wel l -reas on ed o p i n i o n,

I do s y m p at h i ze wi t h t h e co ncern s ex p res s ed b y Gen eral M o t ors ab ou t th e p o t en t i al

fo r l i t ig an t s t o u s e G eo rg ia’ s fo rg i v i n g d i s co v ery s t an dard s t o u n d u ly b u r d en h i g h

ran k i n g ex ecu t i v es an d n eg at i v el y im p act b u s i n es s i n o u r s t at e. Ev en s o

, I ag ree wi th

t h e m ajo ri t y t h at o u r h an d s are t i ed

. Th e Ap ex Do ct ri n e m ay v ery wel l b e a p o l i cy t h at

Ge o r g i a s h o u l d ad o p t, b u t i t wi l l h av e to be t h e Gen eral As s em bl y o r o u r Su p rem e

Co u rt t h at d o es i t

. I am n o t i n fav o r o f fas h i on i n g s u ch a d o ct ri n e o ut o f wh o l ecl o t h,

n o m at t er h o w d es i rab l e t h e u n d e r l y i n g p ol icy m ay b e fo r Geo rg i a’ s b u s i n es s

en v iro n m en t . Th i s i s s u e i s , t o p u t i t p l ai n l y

, ab o v e o u r p ay g rad e.