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October 23, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A2 30 3

, A 15A 2304. S M I T H v. N O R T H S I D E HOSPITAL, INC.,

et al .; an d v i ce v ers a.

D I LLA R D , Ch i ef J u d g e.

In S mi t h v. No r t h s i d

e Ho s p i t a l

, I n c

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

(“ S m i t h II ”), t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a rev ers ed o u r p rev i o u s d eci s i o n i n S mi th

v. No r t h s i d

e Ho s p i t a l

, In c ., 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p. 84 3 (7 8 3 SE2 d 4 8 0) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ Smi t h I ”) an d

r em an ded t h e cas e wi t h di rect i o n

. Sp eci fi cal l y , o u r Su p rem e Co u rt rev ers e d t h i s

Co u rt ’ s h o l d in g affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o f E. Ken d ri ck Sm i t h ’ s act i o n to

co m p el No rt hs i d e Ho s p i t al

, In c. an d i t s p aren t co m p an y , No rt h s i d e Heal t h Serv i ces ,

In c. (co l l ect i v el y , “ No rt h s i d e”) t o p ro v i d e h i m wi t h acces s t o ce r t a i n d o cu m en t s in

res p o n s e t o h i s req ues t un d er t he Geo rg ia Op en Reco rd s Act (t h e “ Act ”). 1 I n d o i n g

1 S ee OCGA § 3 1 -7 -7 0 et

s eq

.s o , t he Su p rem e Co urt co n cl u d ed t h at th e t ri al co u rt ap p li ed t h e w ro n g l eg al s t an d ard

t o t h e u n d i s p u t ed fac t s i n fi n d i n g t h e d o cu m en t s at i s s u e w ere n ot p u bl i c reco rd s

wi t h i n t h e m ean in g o f t h e Act

, an d i t rem an d ed t h e cas e fo r t he t ri al co u rt t o ap p l y t h e

co rrect l eg al st an d ard

, as s et fo rt h i n S mi t h II

, i n d et erm in i n g wh et h er t h e d o cu m en t s

were p u b l i c wi t h i n t h e m ean i ng o f t h e Act ; an d i f s o , wh et h er t h ey m ay n ev ert h el es s

b e wi t h h el d u n d er a s t at u t o ry ex cep t i o n

. Acco rd i n gl y , we ad o p t t h e ju d g m en t o f o u r

Su p rem e Co urt

, rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m is s al o f Sm i t h ’ s act io n , an d rem an d t h e

cas e fo r fu rt h er pro ceed i n g s co n s i s ten t wi t h S mi t h II. Bu t b efo re d o i n g s o , we s t i l l

h av e o n e o th er i s s u e t o ad d res s.

S mi t h I i n v ol v ed cro s s -ap p eal s , Cas e No s

. A1 5 A2 30 3 ( i .e. , Sm i t h ’ s p ri m ary

ap p ea l ) an d A1 5 A 2 3 0 4 ( i.e.

, No rt hs i d e’ s cro s s -ap p eal ), an d t he Su p rem e Co u rt o f

Geo r g i a , i n S

mi t h II

, o n l y ad dres s ed o u r d eci s i o n i n t h e p ri m ary ap p eal

. In S mi t h I

,

we ori g i n al l y ag reed wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co ncl u s i o n t h at t h e d o cu m en t s at i ss u e were

n o t p u bl i c d o cu m en t s as a m at t er o f l aw, an d t h u s, we d i s m is sed No rt h si d e’ s cro s s

ap p eal

, wh i ch ch al l en g ed a p re-t ri al d is co v ery ru l i n g as m oo t

. Bu t g i v en o u r Su p rem e

2Co u rt ’ s rev ers al o f Smi t h I

, No rt h s i d e’ s cro s s-ap p eal i s no l on g er m o o t

, an d we wi l l

n o w ad d res s i t

. 2

Sp eci fi cal l y , No rt h s i d e arg u es t h a t t h e tri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n by

en t eri n g a p ro t ect i v e o rd er, p ro h i b i t i n g i t fro m s eek i n g in fo rm at io n du ri n g d i s co v ery

reg ard i n g t h e i d en t it y

an d m o t iv es o f in d i vi d u al s o r en t i t i es o n wh o s e b eh al f Sm i th

al l eg ed l y i n i ti at ed t hi s act i o n . W e d i s ag ree.

Th e fact s an d p ro ced u ral h i s t o ry u n d erl y in g No rt h s i d e’ s cro ss -ap p eal are

es s en t i al l y u n d i sp u t ed an d are s et fo rt h i n g reat er d et ai l i n S mi t h I an d S

mi t h II

. Bu t

t o s u m m ari ze, t h e reco rd sh o ws t h at t h e Co m m i s s io n ers o f R o a d s an d Rev en u es o f

Fu l t o n Co u n t y pas sed a res ol u t i o n i n 1 96 6

, creat i n g t h e Fu l t o n Co u n t y Ho s p i t al

Au t ho ri ty (t h e “ Au t h o ri t y ”), w h i ch wo u l d “ h av e an d ex erci s e al l o f t h e p o wers

g ran t ed an d pres cri b ed i n t h e H o s p i t al Au t h o ri ty Laws .” 3 Th e p u rp o se o f creat i n g t h e

2 S ee, e.g

. , Po s ey v. M

ed

. Ct r

. -W

., In c

. , 1 84 Ga. Ap p. 40 4

, 40 4 (3 6 1 SE2 d 5 0 5 ) (1 9 8 7) (ad d res s i n g , u p o n rem an d fro m t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a, i s su es i n a

p ri m ary ap p ea l a n d c ro s s -ap p eal o n t he m eri t s th at rem ai n ed o p en fo l l o w i n g t h e

rev ers al o f o u r i ni t i al deci s i o n i n t h e pri m ary ap p eal ); In t ’l In d em. Co

. v. En

f i n g er , 1 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 26 8

, 2 68 (1 ), (2 ) (3 2 9 SE2 d 5 7 5 ) (1 9 8 5 ) (ad d r e s s i n g , f o l l o wi n g t h e Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s rev ers al o f this C o u rt ’ s h o l d i n g i n t h e pri m ary ap p eal

, a cro s s -ap p eal

o n t h e m eri t s t h at was d eem ed m o o t t h e fi rs t t i m e t h e cas e was b efo re u s ).

3 S mi t h II

, 3 0 2 Ga. at 5 1 8 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

3Au t ho ri ty was t o i m p ro v e an d i n creas e h o s pi t al faci l i t i es t o s erv e th e co m m u n i t y

. 4 To

t h at en d

, t h e Au t h ori ty o p en ed No rt h s i d e Ho s p i t al

, wh i ch i t o wn ed an d o perat ed fo r

ap p ro x i m at el y

2 5 y ears

. 5 B u t i n t h e earl y 19 9 0 s, reco g n i zi n g “ t h e rap i d l y ch an g i n g

h eal t hcare en v i ro n m en t i n wh i ch it o p erat ed ,” t h e Au t h o ri t y co m m i s s i o n ed a s t u dy

o n t h e m at t er an d u l t i m at el y d et erm i n ed t h at “ t he bes t way t o im pro v e t he ho s p i t al ’ s

p erfo rm an ce was t o res t ru ct u re t h ro u g h a l o n g-t erm leas e o f th e h os p i t al an d rel at ed

as s et s fo r o p erat io n b y a p ri vat e, ch ari t ab l e, no n pro f i t c o rp o rat i o n .” 6 Th u s , o n

No v em b er 1

, 1 9 9 1

, t h e Au t h o ri t y ex ecu t ed a leas e an d t ran sfer ag reem en t (t h e

“ A g reem en t ”) wi t h t h e newl y fo rm ed N ort h s i d e Ho s pi t al

, In c., a p ri v at e, no n p r o f i t

co rp o rat i o n. 7 Un d er th e A g reem en t

, t h e Au t h o ri t y l eas ed t he h o s p i tal faci l i t i es an d

t ran s ferred al l o f i t s “ Op erat i n g As s et s ” an d “ Ex i s t i ng Op erat i o n s ” fo r a t erm o f 4 0

y ears i n ex ch an ge fo r a y earl y ren t p ay m en t o f $ 10 0 ,0 0 0

. 8 Th e l eas ed faci l i ti es

4 Id

.

5 Id

.

6 Id

. (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

7 Id

.

8 Id

. at 5 1 8 -1 9

.

4i n cl u d ed t he ho s p it al

, a s u rg ery cen ter, o ffi ce b ui l d i n gs , an d i m p ro v e m e n t s

. 9

Ad d i t i o n al l y , t he Au t h ori ty g av e No rt h s id e t h e p o w er t o act o n it s b eh al f an d o p erat e

t h e ho s p i t al s u b

j ect t o cert ai n res t ri ct i o n s

. 1 0 An d each y ear s i n ce t h e Ag reem en t was

ex ecu t ed , t he Au t h o ri t y reaffi rm ed i t s co n cl u s i o n t hat i t s ag reem en t wi t h No rt h s i d e

p ro m o t es t h e p u b l i c h eal t h n eed s o f t h e co m m u n i t y

. 1 1

Part i cu l arl y rel ev an t to t h e i n s t an t d i s p u t e, No rt h s i d e e n t e r e d i n to

t ran s act io n s

—

b et ween 2 0 1 1 an d 2 0 1 3

— t o acq u i re fo u r p ri v at el y own ed p h y s i ci an

g ro u ps

. 1 2 Sm i t h l earn ed of t hes e t ran s act i o ns i n 2 0 13

, an d h e sen t a let t er t o No rt h s i d e

an d t h e Au t h o ri t y , en t i tl ed “ Op en Reco rd s Req ues t ,” s eek i n g acces s to fi n an ci al

s t at em en t s an d o th er d o cu m en t s rel at ed t o t h e acq u i s i t i on s

. 1 3 In res p o n s e, t h e

Au t ho ri ty i n fo rm ed Sm i t h t hat i t d i d n o t p o ss es s an y su ch d o cu m en t s , an d No rt h s i d e

d ecl i ned t o co m

p l y wi t h th e req u e s t

, c o n t en d i n g th at i t w as n ot s u b ject t o t h e Act

9 Id

. at 5 1 8

.

1 0 Id

. at 51 9

.

1 1 Id

.

1 2 Id

.

1 3 Id

.

5b ecau s e i t was a p ri v at e, n o n p ro fi t h o s p it al

. 1 4 No rt hs i d e al s o n o t ifi ed Sm i t h th at

, ev en

i f i t were s u b

j ect t o t h e Act

, t h e “ h i g h l y s en s i t i v e” d ocu m en t s h e req u es t ed wo u l d b e

s t at u t ori l y ex em

p t un d er s ev eral p ro v i si o n s o f t h e Act

, i n cl u di n g t h e trad e-s ecret s

ex cep t i o n

. 1 5

Th ereaft er, Sm i t h

— an At l an t a a t t o rn ey

— b ro u g h t t h i s act i o n t o co m p el

No rt h s id e t o rep l y wi t h h is o p en reco rd s req u es t

. 1 6 Di s co v ery en su ed

, an d o n

No v em b er 1 8

, 2 01 3

, No rt hs i de s en t Sm i t h a l et t er, req u es t i n g t h e nam e o f t h e cl i en t

o r cl i en t s wh o e n g ag ed h i m an d h is l aw fi rm t o pu rs u e t h i s act i o n

. Th e n ex t d ay ,

Sm it h d ecl in ed th e req u es t

, no t i n g t h at t h e Act req ui res pu b l i c reco rd s to b e m ad e

av ai l ab l e t o “ an y p ers o n ” wh o req ues t s t h em

. Th us , Sm i t h co n t en d ed t hat t h i s m at t er

was fo cu s ed s o l el y o n No rt hs i d e’ s fu n ct i o n s , i t s rel at i on s h i p wi t h th e Au t h ori t y , an d

t h e d o cu m en t s i n q u es t i o n , “ no t o n an y t hi n g co n cern i n g [h i m ] .”

Nev ert h el es s , o n Decem

ber 3

, 2 0 1 3

, No rt h s i d e sen t Sm i th a no t i ce of i t s i n t en t

t o d ep o s e h i m o n Decem b e r 1 1

, 20 1 3

. An d rat h er t han res p on d i n g t o t h e req u es t

,

Sm it h fi l ed a m ot i o n fo r a p ro t ect i v e ord er t o n u l l i f y N o r t h s i d e’ s “ i m

p ro p er

1 4 Id

.

1 5 Id

. 5 1 9 -2 0

.

1 6 Id

. at 52 0

.

6d ep os i t i o n n o ti ce.” Sp eci fi cal ly

, Sm i t h arg ued t h at t he p ro p o s ed dep o s i t i o n was

i rrel ev an t t o t h e i s s u es i n t h e cas e b ecau s e t h e Act m ak es p u b l i c reco rd s av ai l ab l e to

an y o n e wh o req u es t s th em , an d an y in d i v i d u al i zed qu es t io n i n g o f t h e req u es t er i s

b o t h u nn eces s ary an d i n ap p ro pri at e. Di s co very co n t in u ed an d b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt

ru l ed o n h i s i n i t i al m o t i o n fo r a p ro t ect i v e o rd er reg ard i n g t h e d ep o s i t i o n n o t i ce,

Sm it h fi l ed a s eco nd m o t i o n fo r a p ro t ect i v e o rd er, t h is t im e as k i n g t h e co u rt to

p ro h ib i t a n

y d i s co v ery reg ard i n g h i m s el f or th e i d en ti ty an d p urp o s es of h i s al l eg ed

cl i en ts

. Fo l l o wi n g No rt hs i d e’ s res p o n s e b ri ef i n o pp o s i t i o n t o t h e m ot i o n an d a

h eari n g o n th e m at t er, t h e t ri al co u rt u l t i m at el y i s s u ed t h e p r o t ect iv e o rd er.

Sp eci fi cal l y , as req u es t ed

, t h e co u rt ’ s p ro t ect i v e o rd er p r o h i b i t ed “ an y d i s co v ery

co n cern in g [ ] Sm i t h ’ s p u rp o s es i n b ri n g i n g [t h i s ] act i o n, o r t h e i d en t i ty an d p u rp o s es

o f an y o f h i s al leg ed cl i en t s

. ” No rt h s i d e’ s cro s s-ap p eal

, ch al l en g i n g t h e p ro p ri et y o f

t h at o rd er, fo l l ows

. 1 7

1 7 W h en t hes e cas es were i n i t i al l y d o ck et ed i n S mi t h I

, t h e p art i es , as req u i red

b y t h e ru l es o f t h i s Co u rt

, fi l ed ap pel l at e bri efs i n No rt h s i d e’ s cro s s -ap p eal

. Bu t aft er S mi th II

, t h e cro s s -ap p eal

, Cas e No

. A1 5 A2 3 04

, was rei n s t at ed i n t h i s Co urt

, an d t h e

p art i es fi l ed new, rev is ed ap p el l at e b ri efs acco rd i n g t o t h is Co u rt ’ s o rd i n ary b ri efi n g

s ch ed u l e t h at fo ll o ws t h e d o ck et i n g o f a cas e. W h i l e we h av e co ns i d ered al l o f t h e

p art i es ’ b ri efs

, we n o t e t h at No rt h s i d e’ s arg u m en t s are es s en t ial l y t he s am e i n b o th

o f i t s b ri efs , ex cep t as o t h erwi s e d i s cu s s ed i n n ot e 2 2

, i n f ra

.

7Th e g ran t or d en ial o f a m o t i o n fo r p r ot ect i ve ord er “ l i es wi t h i n t h e s o u n d

d i s cret i o n o f t he tri al co u rt

, an d we wi ll rev ers e t h e co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n t h i s reg ard

o n l y wh en i t h as ab us ed i t s d i s cret io n .” 1 8 Th is i s b ecau s e a tri al co u rt h as b ro ad

d i s cret i o n t o co n t ro l al l d is co v ery m at t ers

. 1 9 A nd as to p ro t ect i v e o rd ers , a t ri al co u rt

wi l l o n ly ab us e i t s d i scret i o n w h e n i t s r u l i n g i s “ u n s u p p ort ed b y an y ev i d en ce o f

reco rd o r [wh en ] th at ru l i n g m i s s t at es o r m i s ap p l ies t h e rel ev an t l aw.” 2 0 Th at s ai d

, in

Geo rg i a, p art i es m ay

o bt ai n d i sco v ery

reg ard i n g an y

m at t er, n o t p ri v il eg ed , “ wh i ch

i s rel ev an t t o t he su b

ject m at t er i n vo l v ed i n t h e p en d i n g act i o n , wh et h er it 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 very .” 2 1 W i th t h es e g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es

i n m i n d , we wi l l n o w ad d res s No rt h s i d e’ s cl ai m o f erro r.

1 8 Mi n cey v. Ga

. Dep ’t o

f Cmt y. Af f a i r s , 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p. 7 4 0

, 7 4 4 (1 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d

6 4 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

1 9 S ee N. D r u i d Dev., LLC v. Po s t

, Bu ckl ey, S

ch u h & Jer n i

ga n

, In c

. , 3 3 0 Ga

. Ap p

. 4 3 2

, 4 3 4-3 5 (1 ) (7 6 7 SE2 d 2 9 ) (2 0 1 4 )(“ Tri al c o u r t s a r e affo rd ed b ro ad

d i s cret i o n t o co n t ro l d i sco very

. . . an d t h i s Co u rt wi ll n ot rev ers e a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

o n s u ch m at t ers ab s en t an ab us e o f t h e d is cret i o n.” (p un ct u at io n o m it t ed )).

2 0 Lewi s v. Lewi s , 3 1 6 Ga. A p p

. 6 7, 6 8 (7 2 8 SE2 d 7 4 1 ) ( 2 0 12 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

2 1 Mi n cey , 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p . at 7 4 4 -7 5 (1 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

8Sp eci fi cal l y , N o r t h s i d e arg u es th at t h e tri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n by

i s su i ng t he p ro t ect iv e o rd er, t h u s p recl u d i n g d i s co v ery reg ard i n g t he id en t i t y a n d

p u rp os es o f Sm it h ’ s al l eg e d c l i e n t o r cl ien t s , becau s e d o i n g s o w as co n t rary to

Geo rg i a l aw an d th e d is co v ery s o u g h t i s rel ev an t t o th e Act ’ s trad e-s ecret s

ex cep t i o n

. 2 2 W e fi n d t h i s arg u m en t u n av ai li n g.

In rel ev an t p art

, O CGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 1 (a) p ro v id es t h at “ [a] ll p u b l i c reco rd s s h al l

b e o p en fo r p ers on al i n s p ect i o n an d co p y i n g , ex cep t t h o se wh i ch b y o rd er of a co u rt

o f t h i s s tat e o r b y l aw are s p eci fi cal l y ex em p t ed fro m d i s cl o s ure.” An d o u r Gen eral

As s em b l y co d i f i ed t h e p u b l i c p o l i cy

u n d erl y i n g t h e Act as fo l l o ws :

2 2 In i t s rev i s ed ap p el l at e b ri e f

, s u b m it t ed to t hi s Co u rt fo l l o wi ng S mi t h II

, No rt h s id e arg u es fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e t h at i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t t h e i d en t i ty a n d p u rp o s es

o f Sm i t h an d h i s al l eg ed cl i en t or cl i en ts i s rel ev an t t o Sm i t h’ s cred i bi l it y an d s u b ject

t o d i s c o v e r y fo r p u rp o s es o f cro s s -ex am in at i o n

. Bu t No rt h s id e d i d n ot rai s e t h i s

a r g u m e n t b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt o r th i s Co u rt i n Smi t h I

, an d t h u s , we d ecl i n e t o

co n si d er i t n o w. S

ee OVIP, In c. v. Bl o ckb u s ter Text i l es

, LLC

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p. 27 6

, 2 7 8 (1 ) (6 5 6 SE2 d 9 0 7) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ [I] s s u es p res en t ed fo r t h e fi rs t t im e o n ap p eal fu rn i s h

n o t h i n g fo r u s to rev iew, fo r t h is i s a co u rt fo r co rrect io n o f erro rs o f l aw co m m i t t ed

b y t he t ri al co u rt wh ere p ro p er ex cep t i o n i s t ak en

. O ne m ay n o t ab an do n an i s s u e in

t h e t ri al co u rt an d o n ap p eal rai s e q u es t i o n s o r i s s u es n ei th e r r a i s e d no r ru l ed o n (b el o w).” (p u n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed )). Reg ard l es s, we reject No rt h s i d e’ s o t h er arg u m en t s ,

s et fo rt h s u

p r a , b e cau s e Sm i t h’ s cred ib i l i t y as a t ri al wi t n es s is i rrel ev an t t o t h e

co u rt ’ s d et erm in at i o n as t o wh et h er t h e req u e s t e d do cu m en t s are p u bl ic reco rd s o r

q u al i fy fo r t h e t rad e-s ecret s ex cep t i o n

.

9Th e Gen eral As sem b l y fi n d s an d d ecl ares t h at t h e s tro n g p ub l i c p o l i cy

o f t h i s s t at e i s i n f

a v o r o f o p en g ov ern m en t ; t h at o p en g o v ern m en t i s

es s en t i al t o a free, o p en , an d d em o crat i c s o ci et y ; an d th at p ub l i c acces s

t o p u b l i c reco rd s s h o ul d b e en co u rag ed t o fo s t er co n fi d en ce i n

g o v ern m en t an d s o t h at t h e p u bl i c can ev al u at e th e ex p en d it u re of pu b l i c

fu n d s an d t h e effi ci en t an d pro p e r fu n ct i o n i n g o f i t s i n s t i t u t io n s

. T he

Gen eral A s s em

b ly fu rt h er fi n d s an d d ecl ares t h at t h ere i s a st ro n g

p res um p t i o n t h at p ub l i c reco rd s s h o u ld b e m ad e av ai l ab l e fo r pu b l i c

i n s pe c t i on wi t h o u t d el ay

. Th i s art i cl e s h al l be b ro ad l y co ns t ru ed to al l o w

t h e i ns p ect i o n of g o v ern m en t al reco rd s

. Th e ex cep t i o n s s et fo rt h i n t h i s

art i cl e, t o get h er wi t h an y o t h er ex cep t io n l o cat ed el s ewh ere i n t he Co d e,

s h al l b e i n t erp ret ed n arro wl y t o ex cl u d e o n l y t h o s e p o rt i o n s o f reco rd s

ad d res s ed b y

s u ch ex cep t i o n

. 2 3

Fu rt h er, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as h el d t hat t h e ri g ht o f acces s affo rd ed b y

t h e Act i s a “ pu b l i c ri g h t o f t h e Peo p le as a wh o l e[,] ” rat h er t han a p ri vat e ri g h t v es t ed

i n an y p ar t i c u l a r p ers o n

. 2 4 In d eed

, as ack n o wl ed g ed by ou r Su p rem e Co u rt

, “ [t ] h e

2 3 OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 0 (a).

2 4 Dea l v. Co l ema n , 2 9 4 Ga. 1 7 0

, 1 8 4 (2 ) (b ) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). W h i l e t h e Su p rem e Co u rt in Dea l ad d res s ed a s t at u t o ry ex cep t i o n fro m i n s pect i o n i n a fo rm er

v ers i on o f t h e Act

, t h at s t at u t ory p ro v i s i o n i s n o t rel ev an t t o t h e cas e a t h a n d

, an d

t h ere h av e b een n o am en d m en t s t o t h e A c t s o s ig n i fi can t t h at t he reas o n i n g an d

an al y s i s s et fo rt h i n Dea l as t o t h e p ub l i c n at u re o f th e ri g h t affo rd ed b y t h e Act i s n o l o n g er ap p l i cab l e. S

ee i d

. at 17 0 -7 1

, 1 7 4-7 5 (2 ) (b ) (ad d res s i n g w h et h er OCGA § 5 0

- 1 8 -7 2 (a) (4 7 ), wh i ch was ad d ed t o t h e Act i n 2 0 1 2 an d ex e m p t e d cert ai n reco rd s

co n cern in g a p art i cu l ar t rai n i n g p ro g ram at a t ech n i cal s ch o ol fro m i n s p ect i o n,

ap p li ed t o a p en d in g l aws u i t ).

10p u rp os e o f G eo r g i a ’s O p en Reco rd s Act i s to al l o w t h e p u b l i c t o ev al u at e t h e

ex p en d i tu re o f

pu b l i c f u n d s an d t o fo s t er co n fi d en ce i n go v ern m en t t h ro u g h o p en n es s

t o t he p u b l i c. ” 2 5

Gi v en t h es e co d i fi ed p u b l i c p ol i cy co n cern s , t h e Act “ t reat s al l p u b l i c reco rd s

as s u b ject t o d i s cl o s u re, ex cep t t h o s e wh i ch b y o rd er o f a co u rt o f t hi s s t at e o r b y l aw

are p ro h i b i t ed o r s p eci fi cal ly ex em p ted fro m b ei n g o p en t o i n s p ect i o n .” 2 6 An d as t o

act i on s fo r ju d i ci al en fo rcem en t o f t h e A ct

, i t p ro v i d es t h at th ey “ m ay be bro u g h t by

a n y per so n , fi rm , co rp o rat i o n , o r o th er en ti t y .” 2 7 Mo reo ver, t h e Act d o es n o t “ l i m i t t h e

au t h o ri t y t o co m

m en ce an en fo rcem en t act i o n t o pers o n s wh o h ad m ad e a req u es t fo r

reco rd s o r t o p er

s o n s wi t h a s

p eci a l or p er

s o n al i n t er es t i n th e r eq u es t ed r eco r d s .” 2 8

Las t l y , w h en an act i o n t o en fo rce t h e Act i s bro u g h t

, “ t h e fi rs t i n qu i ry i s wh et h er t h e

2 5 Ci ty o f At l a n t a v. Co r ey En t m’t , In c ., 2 7 8 Ga. 4 74

, 4 7 6 (1 ) (6 0 4 SE2 d 1 4 0 ) (2 0 0 4) (em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed ) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); a cco r d S ta te Rd

. & To l l wa

y Au t h.

v. El ec. Tr a n s a c t i o n Co n s u l t a n t s Co r p ., 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

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

2 6 Co r ey En t m’t

, In c ., 2 7 8 Ga. at 4 7 6 (1 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

2 7 OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 3 (a) (em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ).

2 8 Dea l , 2 94 Ga. at 1 8 2 (2 ) (b ) (em p h as i s s u p pl i ed ).

11reco rd s are ‘ pu b l i c reco rd s ’ ” 2 9 as d efi n ed b y t he Act

, an d i f s o “ t h e seco n d i n q u i ry i s

wh et h er t h ey are p ro t ect ed fro m p u b l i c d is cl os u re” u n d er a s tat u t o ry ex cep t i o n

. 3 0

Here, No rt h s id e co n ced es t hat t h e i d en t i t y an d p u rp o s es o f Sm i t h ’ s cl i en t o r

cl i en ts h av e n o beari n g o n wh et h e r h e has s t an d i n g t o s eek acces s to p u b l i c

d o cu m en t s v i a an o p en -reco rd s req u es t

. In d eed

, t h e p l ai n l an g u ag e o f t h e Act

p ro v id es t h at a n

y p er s o n m ay b ri n g an act i o n t o co m p el t h e d i s c l o su re o f p u b l i c

reco rd s

. 3 1 Nev ert h el es s , No rt h s i d e arg ues t h at it is en t i t l ed t o d i s co v ery reg ard i n g

t h o s e m at t ers b ecau s e t h e i d en t i t y an d p urp o s es o f Sm i t h ’ s cl i en t— an d wh et h er t h e

cl i en t i s a co m

p et i t o r o f N o rt h s i d e wh o i s “ p u rs ui n g t h is cas e t o g ai n eco n o m i c v al u e

an d fo r co m

p et i t i v e p u rp o s es

— i s p o t en t i al l y d i s po s it i ve o f wh et h er t h e reco rd s

s o u g ht b y Sm i th are t rad e s ecret s t h at are ex em p t fro m d i s cl o s u re.”

2 9 H a r d a w a y Co

. v. Ri ves , 2 6 2 Ga. 6 31

, 6 3 2 (1 ) (4 2 2 SE2 d 8 5 4 ) (1 9 9 2 );

a cco rd Bo wer s v. S h el t o n , 2 6 5 Ga. 2 47 , 2 4 9 (2 ) (4 53 SE2 d 7 4 1 ) (1 9 9 5).

3 0 Ri ves , 2 6 2 Ga. at 6 3 2 -3 3 (1 ); a cco r d Bo wer s , 2 6 5 Ga. at 2 4 9 (2 ).

3 1 See s u p r a n o t e 2 7 & acco m

p an yi n g t e x t ; s ee a l

s o Mo nu med i a II, LLC v. Dep ’t o f Tr a n s p

. , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9

, 5 2 (1 ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 2 15 ) ( 2 0 1 7 ) ( “ [ W] h en t h e l an g u ag e o f a s tat u t e i s “ p l ai n an d s u s cep t i b le o f o n l y o ne n at u ral an d reas o n ab l e

co n st ru ct i o n , co urt s m

u s t co n s t ru e t h e s t at u t e acco rd i n gl y .” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

12Al t h ou g h d eci d ed i n a so m ewh at d i fferen t fact u al co n t ex t

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

o f G eo rg i a’ s d eci s i o n i n At ch i s o n v. Ho s p i t a l Au t h o ri t

y o f Ci t y o f S t

. Ma r ys 3 2 i s

i n s t ru ct i v e i n co n s i d eri n g t h e is s u e b efo re u s. In At ch i n s o n , t h e p l ai n t i ff, a Geo rg i a

res i den t

, s o u g h t cert ai n t el ep ho n e reco rd s o f a p u b l i c en t i t y fo r i n sp ect i o n u n d er t h e

Act

. 3 3 Bu t th e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at t h e reco rd s were no t s u b ject t o i n s pect i o n b ecau s e

t h e p l ai n t i ff was “ o n ly a no m i n al p l ai n t i ff act i n g i n th e real in t eres t ” o f h is em p l o y er,

a Fl o ri d a co m

p an y

. 3 4 Th e t ri al co u rt fu rt her co n cl u d ed t h a t th e Fl o ri d a co m p an y ,

wh i ch was n o t a Geo rg i a res id en t

, was at t em p t i n g t o d o , t hro u g h i t s em p l o y ee, t h at

wh i ch i t co u l d n o t d o fo r i t s el f. 3 5 Th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f G eo rg i a rev ers ed

, ex p l ai n i n g

t h at

, i n d et erm in i n g wh et h er cert ai n reco rd s are s u b ject t o i n s p ect i on u n d er t h e Act

,

“ t h e ju d i ci ary m

us t b al an ce th e in t eres t o f t h e p u b li c i n fav o r o f i n s p ect i o n ag ai n s t t h e

i n t eres t o f t h e p u b l i c in fav o r o f n o n -i n s pect i o n i n d eci d i n g t h i s i s s ue.” 3 6 An d in

a p p l yi n g t h i s b al an ci n g t es t

, o ur Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at p ro hi b i t i n g i n s p ect i o n o f

3 2 2 4 5 Ga. 4 9 4 (2 6 5 SE2 d 8 01 ) (1 9 8 0 ).

3 3 S ee i d

. at 4 9 4

.

3 4 Id

.

3 5 Id

.

3 6 Id

. at 49 5 (3 ).

13reco rd s u n d er t h e Act m u s t b e b as ed o n “ t h e n at u re of t h e i n fo rm at i o n ” s o ug h t

, n ot

t h e co n nect i o n s o f t h e pers o n s eek i n g t h e i nfo rm at i o n wi t h a n o n p art y

. 3 7 In deed

, t h e

Act d o es “ n o t li m it t h e au t h ori t y t o co m m en ce an en fo rcem en t act i o n t o pers o n s wh o

h ad m ad e a req u es t fo r reco rd s o r t o pers o n s wi th a s p eci al o r p ers o n al in t eres t i n t h e

req u es t ed reco rd s

. ” 3 8

Tu rn i n g t o t he i n s t a n t cas e, th e t ri al co u rt

, in g ran t i n g t h e p ro t ect i v e o rd er

l i m i ti n g d i s co v ery , f

o u n d

, co n s i st en t wi t h At ch i s o n , th at “ t h e i nt en t io n s an d

m o ti v at i o n s b eh i n d an Op en Reco rd s Act req u es t are i rrel ev an t [.] ” Th e co u rt al s o

n o t ed i ts p ri o r fi n d i n g , i n d i s m i s s i n g a co u n t ercl ai m No rt h s id e fi l ed ag ai n s t Sm i t h,

t h a t g i ven t h e co d i fi ed p u rp o s e o f t h e Act

, “ p erm i t t i n g p art ies s ub ject to [ o p e n

reco rd s ] req u es ts t o b ri n g co un t ercl ai m s reg ard i n g t h e m o t i v a t i o n an d p u rp o s es

b eh in d t h e r eq u es t s fo r d ocu m en t s t o s u ch act i on s w o u l d h av e a ch i ll i ng effect o n

ci t i zen s ’ ri g h t s t o i n sp ect p u b l i c d o cu m en ts an d u lt i m at el y t h e i r r i g h t t o an o p en

Geo rg i a g o v ern m en t .” 3 9

3 7 Id

.

3 8 S ee s u p r a n o t e 2 8 & acco m

p an y i ng t ex t

.

3 9 Wh en i t an s wered Sm i t h ’ s co m pl ai n t

, No rt h s i de as s ert ed a co u n t ercl ai m , al l eg in g , i n t er al i a , t h at Sm i t h was en gag ed i n a co n s p iracy wi t h o t h ers t o “ co m m i t

t h e t o rt s o f u n fai r co m p e t i t i o n , i n t erferen ce wi th co n t ract ual rel at i o n s h ip s ,

14Nev e r t h el es s , i n an at t em p t t o o v erco m e Geo rg i a’ s s tro n g , co d i fi ed p u b l i c

p o l i cy i n fav o r o f o p en g o v ern m en t an d t h e p res u m p t i o n t h at p u bl i c reco rd s s h o u ld

b e m ad e av ai l ab l e t o t h e p u b l i c w i t h o ut del ay , 4 0 N o rt hs i d e co n t en ds t h e p ro t ect i v e

o rd er was co n t rary to Geo rg i a l aw, wh ich p ro v id es fo r a bro ad s co p e o f p erm i s s i b l e

d i s c o v ery

. An d No rt hs i de is co rrect t hat “ [p ] art i es m ay o bt ai n d i s co v ery reg ard i n g

an y m at ter, n o t p ri v i l eg ed

, wh i ch i s rel ev an t t o t h e su b j ect m at t er i n vo l v e d i n t h e

p en di n g act i o n in cl u d in g th e i d en t i t y of p ers o n s h av i n g k n o wl ed g e o f an y

d i s co v erab l e m at t er.” 4 1 M o reo ver, i s l i k ewi s e t ru e t h at “ [i ] t i s wi t h i n t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

int erferen ce wi t h on g o i n g an d p ro s p ect ive busine s s r e la tionships, a tte m pting to obta in

b u s i n e s s s ecret s u n d er fal s e p ret en s es , an d p u rs u i n g a s h am , fal s e, an d fri v o l ou s l aws u i t i n o rd er t o gai n u nfai r an d im p ro p er co m

pet i ti v e ad v an t a g e

. ” Th es e cl ai m s

were b as ed o n Sm i t h’ s al l eg ed ag reem en t t o b e u s ed as a “ s t an d -i n ” pl ai n t i ff t o s h i el d

t h e i d en t i t y an d u n l awfu l p urp os es o f h i s cl i en t o r cl i en t s

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i s m i s s ed

t h e co u n t ercl ai m fo r s ev eral reas on s , i n cl u d i n g t h at t h e A ct al read y p r o v i d es

p ro t ect i o n s fo r t rad e s ecret s , t h e m o t i v at i o n beh i n d a p art icu l ar Geo rg i a res i d en t ’ s

req u es t fo r p u b l i c reco rd s i s i rrel ev a n t

, an d p erm i t ti n g s u ch a co u n t ercl ai m wo u ld

h av e a ch i l l i n g effect o n ci t i zen s ’ ri g h ts t o i n s p ect p ub l i c d o cu m en t s

. In g ran t i n g t h e

p ro t ect i v e o rd er at is s u e i n t h i s ap p eal

, t h e t ri al co u rt rel i ed o n m uch o f th e s am e

reas on i n g

.

4 0 S ee OCGA § 5 0 -1 8 -7 0 (a).

4 1 Ten et Hea l th ca r e Co r

p

. v. La

. Fo r u m Co r

p

. , 2 73 Ga. 20 6

, 2 1 0 (2 ) (5 3 8 SE2 d

4 4 1 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ) ( q u o t i n g OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ));

a cco rd B o wd

en v. Th e Med

. Ct r

., In c. , 2 9 7 Ga. 2 8 5

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

15s o u n d l eg al d i s cret i o n t o d et erm i n e th e p erm i s s i b l e ex t en t o f d i s co v ery , keep i n g in

m i n d th at t h e d i sco very p ro ced u re i s t o be co n s tru ed [fo rg i vi n g l y ] i n fav o r o f

s u p p ly i n g a p art y wi t h t he fact s .” 4 2 Nev ert h el es s, a t ri al co u rt h as “ wi d e d i scr et i o n in

t h e en t eri n g o f o rd ers p erm i t t in g o r p rev en t i ng th e u s e o f di s co very wh i ch op p res s i ve,

u n reas o nab l e, u n d uly bur de nsom e or e xpe n sive

, ha r a s sing, h a r sh, insulting, an n o y i n g,

em barras s i n g , i n cri m i n at i n g , or d i rect ed to wh o l l y i r r el e v a n t a n d i mma t er i a l o r

p ri v i leg ed m at t ers . . . .” 4 3

Here, N o rt h si d e co m

p l ai n s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt fai led t o ack n owl ed g e t h e

f o rg i v i n g s t an d ard s “ ap p l i cab l e t o di s co v ery an d cro s s -ex am i n at i o n [,] ” an d c l a i m s

t h at t h e sp eci

fi c d i s co v ery i t req u es t ed was rel ev an t

, in p art

, “ t o s u p p o rt i t s d efen s es

an d t o t es t Sm it h ’ s cred i b i l i t y as a wi t n es s .” Bu t as p rev i ou s ly ex p l ai n ed

, No rt h s i d e

n ev er arg u ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt t h at i t n eed ed t he req u es t ed d i s co v ery t o ch al l en g e

Sm it h ’ s cred i b i l i t y, a n d we d o n o t co n s i d er arg um en t s m ad e fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n

4 2 Ten et H ea l t h ca r e Co r

p ., 2 7 3 Ga. at 2 1 0 (2 ); a cco r d DeLo it t e Ha s ki n s & S el l s v. Gr een

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

4 3 S ech l er Fa mi l y P’s h i p v. Pr i me G r

p ., In c

. , 2 5 5 Ga. Ap p . 8 5 4

, 8 5 7 (2 ) (5 6 7

SE2 d 2 4) (2 0 0 2 ) (em

p h as i s s u pp l i ed ); s ee Mea d Co r p

. v. M a s ter a ck

, 2 4 3 Ga. 2 1 3,

2 1 5 (2 5 3 SE2 d 1 6 4 ) (1 9 79 ) (“ [T] h e t ri al co u rt h as a wi d e d i s cret i o n i n t h e en t eri n g

o f o rd ers t o p rev en t t h e u s e o f d i s co v ery wh ich i s u n reas o nab l y b u rd en s o m e, u n d u l y

ex p en s i v e, o r d irect ed t o i rrel ev an t o r i m m at eri al m at t er.”).

16ap p eal

. 4 4 An d in an y ev en t

, No rt h s i d e fai l s t o ex p lai n ho w Sm i t h ’ s cred i b il i t y as a

wi t n es s o r ev en h i s t es t i m o ny i n g en eral i s rel ev an t t o wh et h er th e reco rd s at i s s u e are

s u b ject t o d i s cl o su re u n d er t h e Act

.

No rt h s i d e al s o m ai n t ai n s t h at t h e d is co v ery i t s eek s i s rel ev an t t o i t s t rad es ecret s d efen s e. In t h i s reg ard

, O C G A § 5 0 -1 8 -7 2 (a) (3 4 ) p ro v id es t h at “ [p ] u b l i c

d i s cl os u re s h al l n o t b e req u i red fo r reco rd s t h at are .

. . [a] n y trad e s ecret s o b t ai n ed

fro m a p ers o n or bu s i n es s en t i ty t h at are req u i red b y l aw, reg u l at i o n , b i d

, o r req u es t

fo r p ro p os al t o b e su b m i tt ed t o an ag en cy .” An d OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 6 1 (4 ) defi nes “ t rad e

s ecret s ” as

i n fo rm at i o n , wi th o u t reg ard t o fo rm , i n cl u d i n g, b u t n o t l i m i t ed to

,

t ech n i c a l o r no n t ech n i cal d at a, a fo rm ul a, a p at t ern , a co m

p i l at io n , a

p ro g ram , a dev i ce, a m et h o d

, a t ech n i q u e, a d rawi n g , a p ro ces s , fi n an ci al

d at a, fi n a n ci al p l an s , p ro d u ct p lan s , o r a l i s t o f act u al o r p o ten t i al

cu s t om ers o r s u p p li ers w h i ch i s n o t co m m o n ly k n o wn b y o r av ai l ab l e t o

t h e p u b l i c an d wh i ch i n fo rm at i o n : (A) Deri v es eco n o m i c val u e, act ual

o r p o t en ti al

, fro m

n ot b ei n g g en eral l y k n o wn t o , an d n o t b e i n g read i l y

as cert ai nab l e by p ro p er m ean s b y , o t h er p ers o n s wh o can ob t ai n

eco n o m i c v al ue fro m i t s d i s cl o su re o r u s e; an d (B) Is t h e su b j ect o f

effo rt s t h at ar e reas on ab l e u n d er th e ci rcu m s t an ces to m ai n t ai n i t s

s ecrecy

.

4 4 S ee s u p r a n o t e 2 2

.

17Fu rt h er, w h et h er a part i cu l ar t y p e o f i n fo rm at io n “ c o n s t i t u tes a t rad e secret i s a

q u es ti o n o f fact

. ” 4 5

No rt h s i d e d o e s n o t d i s p u t e t h at

, reg ard l es s o f wh et h er Sm i t h req u es t ed t h e

d o cu m en t s at i s su e an d i n i t i a t e d t h is act i on on b eh al f o f o n e of i t s co m p et i t o rs o r

s o l el y o n h i s o wn b e h a l f

, i t i s s t i l l req u i red t o p ro ve t hat t he d o cu men t s req u es t ed

q u al i fy as trad e secret s u n d er OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 6 1 (4 ). In d eed

, ev en i f Sm i t h i n i t i at ed

t h i s act io n s ol el y o n h i s o wn b eh al f, N o rt h s i d e, as t h e defen d a n t

, h as t h e b u rd en o f

p res en t i ng ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o s at i s fy b o t h p ro n g s o f OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 6 1 (4 ) in

o rd er t o es t ab l i s h t h at t h es e do cu m en t s are trad e s ecret s an d ex em p t fro m d i s cl o s u re. 4 6

As t o t h o s e s t a t ut o ry req u i rem en t s , No rt h s i d e arg u es t h at t h e i d en t it y an d p u rp o s es

o f Sm i t h ’ s al l eg ed cl i en t, wh o No rt h s id e b el i ev es i s o n e o f i ts co m p et i t o rs , i s “ k ey ”

t o d em o n s t rat i n g th at t h e i nfo rm at i o n at is su e i s (1 ) n o t co m m o n ly k n o w n , (2 ) d eri v es

eco n om i c v al u e fro m n o t b ei n g d i s cl o se d

, a n d (3 ) s u b j ect t o reas o n ab l e effo rt s to

m ai n t ai n i t s s ecrecy

.

4 5 S t a t e Rd

. & To l l wa

y Au t h

. , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p. at 4 89 (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

4 6 S e e Ba co n v. Vo l vo S

er v. Ct r

., In c ., 2 6 6 Ga. A p p

. 54 3

, 5 4 4 (1 ) (5 9 7 SE2 d

4 4 0 ) ( 2 00 4 ) (q u o t i n g OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 3 1 (4 ) an d n o t i n g , i n t h e co n tex t o f an

em pl o y m en t d i s p u t e, t h at i f t he d efen d an t “ d oes n o t p ro v e b o t h pro n g s o f t h i s t es t

, i t
i s n o t en t i t l ed t o p ro t ect io n u nd er t h e [Trad e Secret s ] Act .”).

18Bu t ev en as s u m i n g Sm i t h ’ s cl i en t is a co m p et it o r o f No rt h si d e, t hat co m p et it o r

co u ld o nl y p ro v i de ev i den ce as t o wh et h er i t has acces s t o t h e i n fo r m a t i o n , n ot

w h e t h er i t i s co m

m o n l y kn own t o t h e p u b li c. Fu rt h er, as t o w h et h er th e req u es t e d

i n fo rm at i o n d eri v es eco no m i c v al u e fro m n o t bei n g d i scl o s ed

, N o rt h s i d e co n ced ed

at t h e heari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r a p ro t e c t iv e o rd er t h at i t co u l d es t ab l i s h it s t rad es ecret s defen s e w i t ho ut o b t ai n i ng d i s co very as t o t h e i d en t it y an d p urp o s es o f Sm i t h ’ s

cl i en t o r cl i en t s

. 4 7 In d eed

, t h ere i s n o req u irem en t t h at a d efen d an t pres en t ev i d en ce

reg ard i n g an y p art i cu l ar co m p et i t o r’ s eco n om i c i n t eres t i n t h e i n fo rm at i o n s o u g h t in

o rd er t o es t ab l i s h t h a t t he i n fo rm at i o n i t s el f co n st i tu t es a t rad e s ecret

. Las t l y , i t i s

u n cl ear h o w No rt hs i de co u l d es t ab l i s h i t s o wn effo rt s t o m ai n t ai n th e s ecrecy o f t h e

d o cu m en t s at i s s u e b as ed o n i n f o r m a t i o n reg ard i ng an al l eg ed co m p et i t o r.

Pres u m ab l y , o n l y N o rt h si d e wo u l d h av e k no wl ed g e o f i ts o wn effo rt s i n t h is reg ard

.

In s u m , wh i l e t h e Su p re m e Co u rt ’ s d eci si o n i n At ch i s o n d i d n o t s peci fi cal l y

i n v o l v e an y ex cep t i on s fro m d i s cl o s u re un d er t he Act

, we fi n d i t s reas o n i n g

p ers u as i v e, at l eas t w h e n t h e t rad e-s ecret s d efen s e is as s ert ed

. Th i s i s b ecau s e,

reg ard l es s o f t h e i den t i t y an d p u rp o s es o f an y i n t e r es t ed t h i rd p art y o r n o n p art y

4 7 Sp eci fi cal l y , aft er h eari n g No rt h s i d e’ s arg um en ts o pp o s i n g t h e p ro t ect i v e

o rd er, th e t ri al co u rt as k ed

, “ So y o u h a v e o th er way s o f es t ab l i sh i n g t hat y o u r d o cu m en t s are t rad e s ecret s ? ” An d No rt h s i d e res p o nd ed , “ Y es , i n ev ery cas e.”

19co m

p et i t o r , t h e d o cu m en t s s ou g h t i n an o pen -reco rd s req u es t ei t h er co nt ai n t rad e

s ecret s as d efi ned b y OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 6 1 (4 ) o r t h ey d o n o t

. Th u s, g i v e n t h e b r o ad

d i s cret i o n a t ri al co u rt h as t o co n t ro l di s co very m at t ers ; t h e m i n i m al p ro bat i v e v al ue,

i f an y , o f t he i den t i t y

an d m o t i v es o f Sm i t h ’ s al l eg ed cl i en t s ; an d Geo rg ia’ s s t ro n g,

co d ifi ed p u b l i c p o l icy i n fav o r o f o p en g ov ern m en t as ex p res s l y p ro m u lg at ed b y t h e

Gen eral As s em

b l y , w e co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t ab u s e i t s di s cret i o n in

p recl u d i n g No rt h si d e fro m s eek i n g d is co v ery reg ard i n g t h e i d en t i ty an d m o t i v es o f

Sm it h ’ s al l eg ed cl i en t o r cl ien t s

. 4 8

4 8 See Do u gl as As

p h al t Co

. v. Li n nen ko h l

, 3 20 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 7

, 4 2 9 ( 1 ) (7 4 1

SE2 d 1 6 9 ) (2 01 3) (h ol d i n g t h e t r i al co u rt d i d n o t ab u se i t s d i s cret i o n i n i s s u i n g a

p ro t ect i v e ord er l im i ti n g d is co v ery wh en , i n t er a l i a , t h e ap p el l an t d i d n o t s p eci fy

wh at i n fo rm at i o n t h at t h e req u es t ed d i s co v ery wo ul d h av e rev eal ed bey o n d w h at h ad

al read y b een d i s cl o s ed ); An d er s o n v. Mer

g en h a g en , 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 6

, 5 5 2 (3 ) (6 4 2

SE2 d 1 0 5) (2 0 0 7) (h o l d in g th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab us e i t s d i s cret i o n wh en i t g ran t ed

a m o t i o n t o qu as h a s u bp o en a s eek i ng cel l ph o n e reco rd s w h e n t h e i n fo rm at i o n

s o u g ht was no t rel ev an t o r reas o n ab l y cal c u l at ed t o lead 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); Da g el v. Lemcke

, 24 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 43

, 2 4 4 -4 5 (2 ) (5 3 7 SE2 d

6 9 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en ial of a m o t i o n to co m p el cert ai n d i s co v ery

p ri o r to ru l i n g on a m ot i o n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t wh en t he req u es t ed d i s co v ery was

“ i m m at eri al ” t o t h e d is p os i t i o n o f t h e m o t i on ); Hen so n v. Am. Fa mi l y Co r p

. , 1 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 4

, 7 3 2 (1 0 ) (3 21 SE2 d 2 0 5 ) (1 9 84 ) (affi rm i n g t h e tri al co u rt ’ s en fo rcem en t

o f p rev io u s l y i m

p os ed res t ri ct i on s on d i s co v ery , n o t i n g t h at a “ tri al co u rt h as a wi d e l at i t u d e i n d e t e r m i n i n g wh at i s an d wh at i s n o t g erm an e to t h e i s s u es ; an d in

ex erc i s i ng t h i s di s cret i o n , i t m ay co n si der s u ch fact o rs as t h e rel ev an cy o f t h e i n fo rm at i o n b ei n g s o ug h t an d t he l i k el i h oo d t h at t h e d i s co v ery effo rt s i n q u es t i o n are b ei n g m ad e fo r p u rp o ses o f h aras s m en t a n d i n t i m i d at i o n rat h er t h an fo r bo n a fi d e d i s co v ery p u rp o s es ”).

20Fo r al l t hes e reas o n s , i n Cas e No

. A1 5 A2 3 0 4

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t

o f Sm i th ’ s m ot i o n fo r a pro tect i ve o rd er. Ad d i t i o n al ly

, we rem an d Cas e No

.

A1 5 A2 30 3 fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s is ten t wi t h t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a’ s

d eci s i o n i n S

mi t h II.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n Ca s e No

. A1 5

A 2 3 0 4 a n d r ever

s ed a nd rema n ded i n Ca s e

No

. A 1 5 A2 3 0 3

. Ba r n es

, P. J., El l i n g t o n

, P. J., McFa d den

, P. J., R a

y, McMi l l i a n

, a n d

Rees e, JJ., co n cu r

.

21