SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER 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 /

Jul y 16, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 14 1 . HOW ERTON v . HARBIN CLINIC, LLC, et al

.

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

Fo l l owi n g th e l o s s o f h er jo b as a su rg i cal t ech n i ci an at Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen t er,

M i n d y H o wert o n fi l e d s u i t i n Fl o y d Co un t y Su peri o r Co u rt ag ai ns t Harb i n Cl i n i c,

LLC an d o ne o f i t s em

p l o y ees

, Ken n et h C. San d s

, M

. D. Ho wert o n as s ert ed cl ai m s

ag ai n s t b o t h d e f

e n d an t s fo r t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi t h her em p l o y m en t co n t ract

,

as s au l t an d b at t ery

, an d i n t en t i o n al i nfl i ct i o n o f em o t i on al d i s t res s

. Sh e al s o as s ert ed

a cl ai m ag ai ns t Harb i n Cl i n ic fo r t h e n eg l i g en t h i ri n g , ret en t i o n, an d s u p erv i s i o n o f

San ds

. Ho wert o n n o w ap p eal s fro m a n ord er o f t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t in g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Harb i n Cl i n ic a s to al l o f th e cl ai m s Ho wert o n as s ert ed ag ai n s t i t an d

g ran t i n g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t t o San d s on al l o f Ho wert o n ’ s cl ai m s ag ai ns t h i m

, o t h er

t h an as sau l t an d bat t ery

. Fo r reas o n s ex p l ai ned m o re fu l l y b el o w

, we fi n d t h at t h e t ri alco u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o San d s on Ho wert o n ’ s cl ai m s fo r t o rt i ou s

i n t erferen ce wi t h h er em pl oy m en t co n t ract an d i n t en t i o n al i n fl ict i o n o f em o t i o n al

d i s t res s

. W e t h erefo re rev ers e t h at p art o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er. W e affi rm t h e g ran t

o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Harb i n Cl i n i c o n al l o f t h e cl ai m s H o wert on as s ert ed ag ai n s t

i t

.

On an ap p eal fro m a gran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we rev i ew t h e reco rd d e

n o v o

, co n s tru in g t h e ev i den ce an d al l reas o n ab l e i n feren ces th at can b e drawn fro m

i t i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p art y o p p o s i n g t h e s u m m ary ju dg m en t m o t i o n.

W r ig h t v. IC En ter

p r i s es

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 3 (7 6 5 SE2 d 4 8 4 ) (2 0 1 4). M o reo v er, t h e

u n refu t ed t es t i m o n y o r s wo rn p l ead i n g s o f t h e p art y o p p o s i n g su m m ary j u d g m en t

m u st “ b e t ak en as t ru e fo r p u r p o s es o f d eci d i n g t h at m o ti o n .” Pea ch Bl o s s o m Dev.

Co

. v. Lo we El ec. S

u p p ly Co

. , 3 0 0 G a. Ap p

. 2 6 8

, 2 71 (6 8 4 SE2 d 3 9 8 ) (2 0 09 ) (ci t at i o n

a n d p u n c t u at i o n om it t ed ). Ad d i t i o n al l y

, wh ere th e reco rd s h o ws th at o ne o r m o re

wi t n es s es h av e o ffered co nfl ict i n g t es ti m o n y ab ou t a m at eri al fact , i t i s fo r t h e ju ry

,

an d n ot t h e co u rt

, t o res o l v e t h at co n fl i ct

. S mi t h v. Ten et Hea lt h S

ys tem S p a l d i n g

, 3 2 7

Ga. Ap p . 8 7 8 , 8 7 9 ( 1 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 4 0 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed ).

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o Ho w ert o n, as t h e n on -m o v an t

, t h e reco rd

s h o ws t h at Harb in Cl i n ic, LLC, i s a m u l t i -s p eci al t y

m ed i cal p ract i ce wi t h l o cat i on s

2i n no rt h Geo rg i a, i n cl u d in g Ro m e. Fro m Ju l y 2 0 06 t h ro u g h J u n e 20 1 1, H arb i n Cl i n i c

em pl o y ed K en n e t h C

. S a nd s

, M

. D., as an o rt h o p ed ic s u rg eo n i n i t s Ro m e o ffi ce.

Harb i n Cl i n i c, i n t u rn

, h ad an ag reem en t wi t h Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen t er (“ FM C”) u n d er

wh i ch p h y s i ci an s em

p l o y ed b y Harb i n Cl i n i c h ad s urg i cal p ri v il eg es at FM C. 1 Th e

o p erat i n g ro o m s i n wh i ch Harb i n Cl i n i c d o ct o rs p erfo rm ed s u rg ery were s taffed by

FM C p ers o n n el

, i n cl ud i n g n u rs es an d s u rg i cal t ech n ici an s em p l o y ed b y FM C.

Fro m Ap ri l 2 0 0 8 u n ti l O ct o b er 2 0 1 2, Mi n d y H o wert o n was em p l o y ed as a

s u rg i cal t ech n i ci an at FM C. Ho w ert o n was h i red t o wo rk FM C’ s fi rs t s hi ft

, an d i t was

d u ri n g t h i s s h i ft t h at San ds reg ul arl y p erfo rm ed hi s s u rg eri es

. In l at e 2 0 08

, Ho wert o n

was as s i g n ed to on e o f t h e t wo FM C s u rg ical t eam s t h at w o rk ed w i t h San d s an d s h e

rem ai n ed o n t h at t eam

u n t i l ap p ro x i m at el y

Feb ru ary 2 0 1 1

.

Acco rd i ng t o Ho w ert o n, t h e at m o s ph er e i n t h e o p erat i n g ro o m wh en San d s was

p erfo rm i n g s u rg ery was o v ert l y s ex u al

, wi t h San d s en g ag i n g i n u n p ro fes s i o n al

co n du ct o f a s ex u al n at ure. San d s b eh av ed in ap p ro p ri at el y to ward s Ho w ert o n al m o s t

i m m ed i at el y aft er t h ey

b eg an wo rk i n g t o g et h er, wi t h San d s as ki n g Ho wert o n ab o ut

h e r s e x li fe an d ab o u t t h e ap p earan ce o f h er breas t s an d h er g en i t al s

. San d s g r o p e d

1 A co py o f t h e ag reem en t b et ween FM C an d Harb i n Cl i n i c d oes n o t ap p ear in

t h e reco rd , s o i t s ex act t erm s are u n k n o wn

.

3Ho wert o n ’ s b reas t s wh i l e reach i n g fo r an i n s t ru m en t du ri n g s urg ery o n at l eas t o n e

o ccas i o n ; t o l d Ho wert o n h e h ad g o n e i n t o t h e op erat i n g ro o m wh ere s h e was

u n d e r g o i n g a g y n eco l o g i cal p ro ced u re fo l lo wi n g a m i s carri ag e s o h e co u l d t ak e “ a

p e ek ” at h er gen i t al s ; an d as k ed Ho wert o n t o h i s h o m e t o hav e a g l as s o f wi n e an d

rel ax

, ex p l ai n i n g t h at h is wi fe an d ch i l d ren w ere o u t o f t o wn

. Acco rd i ng to Ho wert o n,

t h es e in ci d en t s o f h aras s m en t b eg an to es cal at e i n ap p ro x i m at el y Decem b er 2 0 1 0

. At

ab o ut t h at t i m e, fo l l o w i n g an o p erat i n g ro o m d i s cu s s i o n ab o u t h ai r co l o r, San d s

, wh o

h as a s h av ed h ead

, p u l l ed d o wn h i s s cru b p an ts t o ex p o s e h i s p u b i c h ai r an d t h e t o p

o f h i s p en is t o Ho wert o n

, o s t en s i b l y t o d e m o n s t rat e t hat h e h ad red h ai r. On o n e

o ccas i o n b et w een Decem b er 2 01 0 an d J an uary 2 01 1

, San d s rem ark ed t h at Ho wert o n

w a s s o p al e s h e wo ul d “ g l o w i n t h e d ark i n t he b ed ro om .” San d s t hen t rap p ed

Ho wert o n i n a co rn er o f t he s cru b ro om an d l i ft ed h er t o p s o t h at h e co u l d ex am i n e

h er s k in

. San d s al s o l i ft ed H o w ert o n ’ s s h i rt o n a s eco n d occ a s i o n

, t hi s ti m e s o h e

co u ld ad m i re h e r fl at st o m ach

. Fi n al l y

, i n l at e J an u ary 2 0 1 1

, San d s s t art ed a

co n vers at i on am o n g t h e o p erat in g ro o m st aff as t o w h et h er an y o f t h em wo u l d ch eat

o n th ei r s p o u s e wi t h an ex -l o v er. Aft er su rg ery t h a t d ay

, San d s fo ll o wed Ho wert o n

o n t o t h e el ev at o r wh ere s h e was p rep ari n g t o t ran sp o rt s urg i cal i n st ru m en t s

. W h en

t h ey were al on e, San ds t o ld Ho wert on t h at i t was n o t an ex -l ov er h er h u sb an d s h o u ld

4be w or

r ie d a bo ut ; i n st ead

, h er hu s b an d sh o u l d b e co n cern ed ab o u t s om eo ne H ow e r ton

c u r r e n t ly h ad co n t act wi t h

. Ho w ert o n b el i ev ed t h at San d s w as referri n g t o h i m s el f

,

an d s h e in t erp ret ed h i s co m m en t as m ean i n g t h at h e wan t ed t o h av e an affai r w i t h h er.

At s o m e p o i n t d u ri n g her em pl o y m en t at FM C, Ho wert o n b eg a n fi l li n g i n as

a su rg i cal t ech n i ci an o n t h e s eco n d s h i ft

, an d i n earl y 2 0 1 1 s h e b eg an d i s cu s s i n g wi th

h er s u p eri o rs t he po s s i b i l it y of t ran s ferri n g t o t he s eco n d s h ift fu l l t i m e. On J an u ary

2 7

, 2 0 1 1

, Ho wert o n h ad a tel ep h o n e co n vers at i o n wi th Lee Fo rd

, t h e a s s i s t an t

d i rect o r o f FM C, i n wh i ch s h e as k ed ab o u t t h e p o s s i b i l it y o f m o v i n g t o a p erm an en t

p o s i t i on o n s eco n d s h i ft

. Du ri n g t h at s am e co n v ers at io n

, H o w e r t o n t ol d Fo rd o f

s ev eral s p eci fi c i n st an ces of San d s ’ s sex u al l y h a r as s i n g co n d uct

. 2 Acco rd i n g to

Ho wert o n

, Fo rd res p o n d ed b y t el l i n g h er n ot t o wo rry ab o ut San d s

, b ecau s e

Ho wert o n wo u l d b e g i ven a p o s i t i o n o n s eco n d s h i ft

.

2 Ho wert o n t es t i fi ed t hat s h e h ad n o t rep o rt ed San d s ’ s co n d u ct p re v i o u s l y

b ecau s e s h e feared San d s wo u l d h av e h er fi red

. Ho wert o n ex p l ai n ed t h at s h e s aw h o w

m u ch m o n ey San d s b ro u gh t i n t o FM C b ecau s e o f al l t h e s u rg eri es h e p erfo rm ed

, an d

s h e as s u m ed fro m th i s fact t h at San d s w o u l d h a v e si g n ifi can t cl o ut at t h e h o s p i t al

. Ho wert o n fu rt h er st at ed t h at in March 2 0 0 9

, s h e l eft wo rk at th e en d o f h er s h i ft

, aft er

s p eak i n g wi t h t h e ch arg e n u rs e wh o was her s u p erv i s o r. San d s l at er cal l ed Ho wert o n

an d ch as t i s ed h er fo r l eav i n g wo rk wi th o u t h i s p erm i s s i o n

. Acco rd in g t o Ho wert o n,

San ds t o l d h er t h at h e “ s i g n ed h er p ay ch eck s ,” h e “ d eci d ed h e r h o u rs ,” an d t h at

Ho wert o n d i d n ot u n d ers t an d h o w m u ch i n f l u e n c e San d s h ad

, n ot j u s t at FM C, b ut

t h ro u g h ou t t h e l ocal m ed i cal co m m u n i t y

.

5Befo re Ho wert o n ’ s t ran s fer t o t h e seco n d s h ift c o u l d b e co m pl et ed

, a

co n fro n tat io n o ccu rred b et ween San ds an d Ho wert o n ’ s h u s b an d

, Sco t t

. Sh o rt l y aft er

m i d n i g ht o n Feb ru ary 1 7

, 20 1 1

, San ds b eg an t ex t in g Ho wert o n

. San ds t o l d Ho wert o n

t h at h e n eed ed t o s p eak wi t h h er an d as k ed i f s h e co u l d t a l k o r i f h er h u s b an d was

h o m e. W h en Ho wert o n res p o nd ed t h at s he co u l d co m m u n i cat e b y t ex t, San d s rep l i ed

t h at h e wan t ed t o s p eak wi t h h er an d t h at h e wo u l d cal l h er t h e n ex t d ay

. At

ap p ro x i m at el y 1 : 4 0 a.m

. , Sco t t Ho wert o n t ex t ed San d s , i d en t i fi ed h i m s el f, an d t o ld

Sa n d s t h a t h e had reco rd ed t h e m es s ag e San ds left on “ t h e 2 7 t h”; 3 t h at h e b el i ev ed

Sa n d s h a d t h reat en ed Ho wert o n ’ s jo b i n t h at m es s ag e; t h at b ecau se o f San d s ’ s

“ i n ap p ro p r i at e act i o ns l at el y ” he h ad al l owed h i s wi fe “ t o k eep m y d i gi t al reco rd er

wi t h h er”; an d th at Ho wert o n h ad reco r d e d t h e co n v ers at i o n i n wh i ch San d s h ad

i n t i m at ed t hat h e wan t ed t o h av e an affai r w i t h Ho wert o n

. Sh o rt l y aft er Sco t t s en t t h at

m es s ag e, San d s cal l ed Ho w ert o n ’ s cel l p h o n e an d Sco t t an s wered

. Th e two m en h ad

an arg um en t

, d u ri n g wh i ch San d s al l eg ed l y t o l d Sco t t t h at h is wi fe was fi red

. Aft er

Sco tt t o l d San d s t hat h e was reco rd i n g t h ei r co n v ers at io n

, San d s ab ru p t l y en d ed t h e

cal l

.

3 Pres u m ab ly t h i s d at e referred t o t h e 2 7 t h o f J an u ary

, wh ich is t h e s am e d ay

Ho wert o n t es t i fi ed t hat s h e rep o rt ed San d s’ s s ex u al h aras sm en t t o Lee Fo rd

.

6Du ri n g h i s d ep o s it i o n

, San d s ad m i tt ed th at he m ay h av e t o ld Sco t t he co u ld

h av e Ho wert o n fi red

. He fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at d uri n g t h ei r co n v ers at i o n Sco t t accu s ed

S a nds o f i n ap p ro p ri at e co nd uct t o ward s Ho wert o n an d t h at t h ro u g h ou t h i s “ ran t i n g s ,”

Sco tt “ k ep t co m i n g aro u n d t o wh y h e s en t [h i s wi fe] t o th e h os p i t a l w i t h a t ap e

reco rd er.” San d s ad m it t ed t h at h e n ev er fo l l o wed u p wi t h H o w ert o n t o d et erm i n e

wh et h er sh e h ad u s ed th e t ap e r e c o r d e r Sco t t referred t o wh i l e at wo rk an d

, i f s o,

wh ere s h e h ad u s ed i t.

As a r e s u l t o f h i s co nv ers at i o n s wi t h Sco t t

, San d s co n t act ed Gi a Py l es

, t h e

ch arg e nu rs e at FM C wh o was res p o ns i bl e fo r s ch ed u li ng s taff i n t h e o perat in g ro o m s

an d wh o s erv ed as Ho w e r t o n ’ s d i rect s u p erv i s o r, at ap p ro x i m at el y 7 : 0 0 a.m

. t h e

m o rn i n g o f Feb ru ary 1 7

. San d s t o l d Py l es th at he h ad l earn ed t h a t Ho wert o n was

reco rd i n g co n v ers at i o n s t h at were o ccu rri n g i n th e o p erat i ng ro o m

. Al th o u g h San d s

t es t i fi ed t h at h e s p o k e o n l y t o Py l es ab ou t Ho wert o n ’ s al l eg ed l y m ak i n g reco rd i ng s

i n t h e o perat i n g ro o m

, Ho wert on p ro du ced ev i d en ce s h o wi n g th a t San d s h ad

co n tact ed ev ery o n e o n bo t h o f h i s o p erat i ng ro o m t eam s an d to l d t h em t h at Ho wert o n

7wo u l d n o l o ng er b e wo rk i n g w i t h t h em

. 4 San d s rep o rt ed l y t ol d s om e t eam m em b ers

t h at Ho wert o n h ad b een b ri n g i n g a t ap e reco rd er i n t o t h e o perat i n g ro o m

. He t o ld

o t h e r t e a m m em

b ers t h at Ho wert o n h ad b een fi red fro m t h e t eam b ecau s e s h e h ad

s av ed s o m e m es s ag es San d s h ad s en t h er an d th a t s h e wa s n o w accu s i n g San d s o f

h aras s m en t

.

Al s o o n t h e m o rn i n g of Feb ru ary 1 7

, Ho wert o n recei v ed a cal l fro m Lee Fo rd

,

as k i n g h er t o co m e t o t h e h o s p i t al t o fi ll o u t th e p ap erwo rk n eces s ary

fo r Ho wert o n

t o b eg i n wo rk on t h e seco n d s hi ft

. W h en Ho wert o n arri v ed fo r th at m eet in g s h e fo u n d

4 Th e ev i d en ce Ho w ert o n p res en t ed i n o pp o s i t i o n t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t

i n cl u d ed t ran s cri p t s of t el ep h o n e co n v ers at i o n s Ho w ert o n h ad wi t h s ev eral o f h er

t eam m em

b ers an d wi th h er t h ree s u p erv i s o rs

. Bo th in t h e co u rt b el o w an d i n t h i s

Co u rt

, San d s arg u e s th at t h es e t ran s cri p t s are i n ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce an d sh o u l d b e

ex cl u d ed fro m co n si d erat i o n i n d eci d i ng San d s’ s s um m ary ju d g m en t m o t i o n

, as t h ey

were n ot p ro p e r l y a u th en t i cat ed an d d o n o t rep res en t t h e b es t ev i d en ce o f t h e

reco rd ed co n v ers at i o n s. Th e t ran s cri p t s o f t hes e p h o n e cal l s

, h owev er, m erel y s erv ed

t o co rro b o r a t e Ho wert o n ’ s o wn t es t i m o n y

. Th u s

, ev en i n t h e ab s en ce o f t h e

t ran s cri p t s

, San d s wo u l d n o t h av e b een en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t an d t h erefo re

an y co n s i d erat io n o f th e t ran s cri p t s at t h e su m m a r y j u d gm en t s tag e w as h arm l es s

erro r. See Ci tr u s To wer Bo u l e va r d Ima g i n g Ct r

. v. Owen s

, 3 2 5 G a. A p p

. 1

, 1 1 (4 )

(7 5 2 SE2 d 7 4 ) (2 0 13 ); B r ewer v. W i l l ia ms

, 1 6 7 G a. Ap p

. 1 51

, 1 5 3 (6 ) (3 05 SE2 d

8 9 1 ) (1 9 83 ). M o reo ver, i t ap p ears fro m th e reco rd t h at Ho wert o n w i l l b e ab l e to

p ro d uce t h e act u al reco rd in g s an d au t h en t i cat e t h e s am e at an y t ri al o f t h i s cas e. See

Ro d ri g u ez -No va v. S t a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga. 8 6 8

, 8 6 9 -8 7 0 (2 ) (7 6 3 SE2 d 6 9 8 ) (2 0 1 4) (“ an au d io

reco rd i n g can b e au t hen t i cat ed b y t h e t es t i m o n y o f o n e p art y t o t h e r e c o r d e d

co n vers at i on ”) ( c ita

tions om itte d) ; H

e r n a nd ez -Ga rci a v. S t a t e

, 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 5

, 4 6 3

(4 ) (a) (7 4 5 SE2 d 7 0 6) (2 01 3 ) (t ran s cri p t s o f au d i o reco rd i n g s can b e au t h en t i cat ed

b y ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t hat t hey accu rat el y

refl ect t h e reco rd ed co n v ers at i o n s ).

8b o t h Fo rd an d Dr. Beck y Lo wrey

, t h e FM C d i rect o r of s u rg i cal s erv i ces

, wai t i n g fo r

h er. In s t ead o f d i scu s s i n g Ho wert on ’ s t ran s fer, h o wev er, b o t h wo m en q u es t i o n ed

Ho wert o n ab o u t wh at h ad h ap p en ed wi t h San d s

. Lo wrey al s o t o ld Ho wert on t h at s h e

h ad b een i n fo r m e d t h a t H o w ert o n “ was weari n g a w i re” i n t h e o p erat i n g ro o m an d

t h at s uch co n d uct “ was a HIPAA v i o l at i o n an d g ro u n d s fo r t erm i n at i o n

. ” W h en s h e

real ized t h at Fo rd an d Lo wrey w an t ed t o d i s cu s s t h e s i t u at i o n wi t h San d s

, Ho wert o n

cal l ed h er h u s b a n d t o co m e to t h e m eet i n g becau s e s h e wan t ed h i m t o ex p l ai n h i s

c on v ers at i o n wi th San d s

. W h i l e t h ey were wai t i n g fo r Sco t t t o arri v e, Ho wert o n as k ed

i f t h ey co u l d d is cu s s her t ran sfer t o t h e s eco nd s h ift

. Lo wrey res p o nd ed t hat s h e was

u n s u re as t o wh et h er t h ey co u l d m ak e th e t ran s fer, as FM C d id n o t b el i ev e

Ho wert o n ’ s s k i l l l ev el was “ u p t o p ar.” Th i s was t h e fi rs t cri ti ci s m Ho wert o n h ad ev er

h eard o f h er jo b sk i ll s. Fo rd al s o i n d i cat ed t h at an ad di t i o n al reas o n fo r d el ay i n g t h e

t r a n s f e r w a s t h at FM C d i d n ’ t k n o w “ h ow al l th i s is g o i n g t o wo rk o u t

. . . wi t h Dr.

San ds .” Lo wrey t h en ag reed t h at t h ey d i d no t k n o w h o w t h e s i t uat i o n was “ g o i n g to

wo rk .”

Sh o rt l y aft er t h at m eet i n g

, Lo wr e y cal led Ho w ert o n an d to l d h er t h at t h e

s eco n d s h i ft p o s i t i o n s h e h ad b een pro m i s ed was no t cu rren tl y av ai lab l e. To s ep arat e

Ho wert o n fro m San ds

, h o wev er, FM C p ro po s ed m o v i n g Ho w ert o n t o wo rk o n

9o u t p at i en t su rg eri es

, as op p o s ed t o i n p at i en t su rg eri es

. 5 Lo wrey t o l d Ho w ert o n t h at

i n t he o u t p at i en t p o s it i on s h e wo u l d wo rk at l eas t t h ree d ay s a w eek fo r ei gh t t o t en

h o u rs a day an d t hat Ho wert o n wo u l d p ro b ab ly be as ked t o w o rk ad d i t i o n al d ay s

, as

wel l as s o m e o v ert i m e. Acco rd i n g t o Ho wert on

, t he h ou rs s h e wa s pro m i s ed i n t h e

o u t p at i en t p o s i t i o n n ev er m at eri al i zed an d h er h o urs were s i g n i fi can t ly red u ced aft er

s h e t ran s ferred t o t h at p o s i t i o n. Th e red u ct i o n i n in co m e cau s ed s e v e r e fi n an ci al

d i s t res s

, i n cl u d i n g t h e l o s s o f Ho wert o n ’ s h o m e an d h er car. Ho wert o n ’ s em p l o y m en t

wi t h FM C en d ed i n Oct ob er 2 0 1 2

. In J u n e 2 0 1 1, San d s res i g n ed fro m Harb i n Cl i n i c

an d t o ok a p os it i o n wi th a m ed i cal p ract i ce i n Fl o ri d a.

In Feb ru ary 2 01 3

, Ho wert o n fi l ed t h e cu rren t l aws u i t ag ai n s t H arb i n Cl i n i c an d

San ds

. Sh e as s ert e d c l a i m s ag ai n s t b o t h San d s an d Harb i n Cl i n i c fo r t o rt i ou s

i n t erferen ce wi t h h er em p lo y m en t co n tract

, as s au l t an d bat t ery

, an d i nt en t i o n al

i n fl i ct i o n o f em ot i o n al d i s t r es s

, al l eg i ng t hat Harb i n Cl i n i c was l i ab le fo r San d s ’ s

co n du ct u n d er t h e d oct ri n e o f res p o n d eat s up eri o r. Ho wert o n al s o as s e r t e d a cl ai m

ag ai n s t Harb i n Cl i n i c fo r i t s n eg l i g en t h i ri n g

, ret en t io n

, an d s up erv i s i o n o f San d s

.

5 In t h e s eco n d sh i ft p o s i t i o n

, Ho wert o n wo ul d s ti l l hav e b een wo rk i n g i n t h e

s am e op erat i n g ro o m s as San d s, an d t h ere was t h erefo re a ch an ce t h at s he an d San d s

wo u l d en co u nt er each o t h er. Ou t pat i en t s u rg eri es t o o k pl ace i n a d i fferen t b u i l d i n g

an d s o t ran s ferri n g Howert o n t o t h e o u t p at i en t p o s i t i o n g reat l y red u ced t h e p o s s i b i l i t y

o f an y i n t eract i o n b et ween Ho wert o n an d San d s

.

10Bo t h Harb i n Cl i n i c a n d San d s m o v ed fo r su m m ary j u d gm en t on al l of Ho wert o n ’ s

cl ai m s ag ai n st t hem

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g o n t h a t m o t i o n

, th e tri al co u rt g ran t ed

s u m m ary ju dg m en t to b o t h San d s an d Harb i n C l i n i c o n Ho wert o n’ s cl ai m s fo r

tor tious inte r f

e r e n ce an d in t en t i on al i nfl i ct i o n o f em ot i o nal d i st res s ; g ran t ed s u m m a r y

ju d g m en t t o Harb i n Cl i n i c o n Ho wert o n ’ s cl ai m fo r as s au l t an d bat t ery o n t he g ro u nd s

t h at Harb i n Cl in i c co u ld n o t b e h el d v i cari o u s l y l i ab l e fo r t h e co n d u ct o f San d s t h at

s erv ed as a b as i s fo r t h at cl ai m ; an d g ran t ed su m m ary ju dg m en t t o H arb i n Cl i n i c o n

Ho wert o n ’ s cl ai m fo r n eg l i g en t h i ri n g

, ret en t i o n

, an d s u p erv i s i o n. Ho wert o n n o w

ap p eal s fro m t h at o rd er. 6

1

. In h er fi rs t en u m erat i o n o f erro r, Ho wert o n as sert s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred

i n g r an ti n g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t ag ai n s t h er an d i n fav o r o f San d s on h er cl ai m fo r

t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi t h h er em p l o y m en t co n t ract

. 7 W e ag ree.

6 Ho wert o n h as no t ap p eal ed t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t to Harb i n Cl i n i c

o n her cl ai m t h at Harb in Cl i n i c i s v i cari o u sl y l iab l e fo r San ds ’ s al l eg ed as s au l t an d

b at t ery

. N o r h as San d s cro s s-ap p eal ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’s d e n i a l o f h i s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t as t o t hat cl ai m

. Acco rd i n gl y

, t he as s au l t an d b at t ery cl ai m i s n ot

at i ss u e i n t h i s ap p eal

.

7 In h er ap p el l at e b ri ef, Ho wert o n co n ced es t h at H arb i n Cl i n i c can no t b e h el d

v i cari o u s l y l i ab l e fo r San d s ’ s al l eg ed t o rt i o u s i n t erferen c e wi t h Ho wert o n ’ s

em pl o y m en t co nt ract

. W e t h erefo re affi rm t h e t ri a l co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Harb in Cl in i c o n t h i s cl ai m

.

11To p rev ai l o n h er to rt i o us i n t erferen ce cl ai m ag ai n st Sa n d s

, Ho wert o n m u s t

p ro v e t h at sh e h ad a val i d em pl o y m en t co n t ract w i t h FM C; th at San d s act ed

wro ng fu l l y an d wi t h o u t pri vi leg e wh en h e rep o rt ed t o Ho wert o n ’ s s u p eri o rs t h at s h e

was reco rd in g co n v ers at i o n s i n t h e o perat in g ro o m ; t h at San d s act ed del i b erat el y an d

m al i ci ou s l y ; t h at as a res u l t o f San ds ’ s co n d u ct

, Ho wert o n ’ s em p l o y m en t wi t h FM C

was ad v ers el y affect ed ; an d t hat co n s eq u en tl y

, Ho wert o n s u ffered d am ag es

. See

At l a n t a M

a r ket Ct r

. Mg mt

. v. McLa n e

, 2 6 9 Ga. 6 04

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

(a) “ To es t ab l i s h t h at a d efen d an t act ed w it ho u t p ri vi l eg e, th e p l ai n t i ff m u s t

s h o w t h at t h e d efen d an t was a s t ran g er t o th e co n t ract ” wi t h w h i ch h e al l eg ed l y

i n t erfered ; o n e wh o i s n o t a s t ran g er t o a co nt ract can n o t b e h el d l i ab l e fo r t o rt i o u s l y

i n t erferi ng wi t h t h at ag reem en t. Br a t h wa i t e v. Fu l t o n -DeKa l b H o s p

. Au t h

. , 3 1 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 1 1

, 1 1 3 (1 ) (7 2 9 SE2 d 6 2 5 ) (2 0 12 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). I n t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al

co u rt fo u n d t h at San d s w a s n o t a s t ran g er t o Ho w ert o n ’ s em pl o y m en t co n t ract

b ecau s e h e was an u n i n t en d ed t h i rd -p art y b en efi ci ary

o f t h at co n t ract . Th i s h o l d i n g

was i n erro r.

Th e ru le t h at a th ird -p art y b en e f i c i ary o f a co n tract i s n o t a s t ran g er t h eret o

ev o lv ed fro m th e law pro vi d i n g t h at an i n t en d ed t h i rd -p art y b en efi ci ary m ay s u e to

en fo rce a co nt ract ev en t ho u g h h e i s n o t a p art y t o t h e ag reem en t

. “ In o rd er fo r a t h i rd

12p art y t o h av e s tan d i n g to en fo rce a co n tract

, i t m u s t cl earl y ap p ear fro m t h e co n t ract

t h at i t was i n t en d

ed fo r h i s o r h er b en efi t .” Bo l ler v. Ro b er t W

. W o o d r u ff Ar ts Ct r

. , 3 1 1

Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 3

, 6 9 8 (3 ) (7 16 SE2 d 7 1 3) (2 0 1 1) (p u n ct u a t i o n an d fo o t n ot e o m i t t ed ;

em ph as i s i n ori gi nal ). See al s o OCGA § 9 -2 -2 0 (b ) (“ [t ] he b en efi ci ary o f a co n t ract

m ad e b et wee n o t h er p art i es fo r h i s b en efi t m ay m ai n t ai n an act i o n ag ai n s t t h e

p ro m i s o r o n t h e co n t ract ”). To h av e s t an d i n g t o su e o n a co n t ract

, “ [t ] h e t h i rd -p art y

b en efi ci ary n eed n o t be s p eci fi cal l y nam ed [t h erei n ] ; t h e d i s p o s it i ve i s su e i s wh et h er

t h e [co n t ract i n g ] p art i es ’ i n t en t i o n t o b en efi t t h e t h i rd p art y i s s h o wn o n t h e face o f

t h e co nt ract .” Di ll o n v. R ei d

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4

, 4 0 (4 ) ( 7 1 7 S E2 d 5 42 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on o m it t ed ). Th us

, t h e m ere fact t h at an i n di v i d u al wo u ld

recei v e s o m e i n ci d en t al b en efi t fro m p erfo rm an ce of a co n t ract i s i ns u ffi ci en t t o m ak e

t h em an i n t en d ed t h i rd -p art y b en e f i c i a r y o f t he ag reem en t. Bo l l er

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. at

6 9 8 (3 ).

In t h e c o n t e xt o f a t o rt i o u s in t erferen ce cl ai m

, t h e cat eg o ry of t h i rd -p art y

b en efi ci ari es ex cl u d ed fro m t h e s o -cal l ed “ ‘ s t ran g er d o ct ri n e’ h as b een ex p an d ed to

co v er t ho s e wh o b en efi t fro m t h e co n t ract o f o t h ers

, w i t ho u t r e g a r d t o wh et h er t h e

b en efi ci ary was i n t en d ed b y t h e co n t ract i n g p art i es t o b e a t h i rd -p art y ben efi ci ary .”

At l a n t a M

a r ket Ct r

. Mg mt

. , 2 6 9 Ga. at 6 0 9 (2 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). To be an u n i n t en d ed

13t h i rd -p art y b en efi ci ary

, an i n di v i d u al o r en t it y m u s t h a v e a l eg i t i m at e an d d i rect

eco n om i c i n t eres t i n t h e co n t ract at i s s u e. See Ma b ra v. S F, In c.

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2

, 6 5

(7 2 8 SE2 d 7 3 7 ) (2 01 2 ) (“ [t ] ho s e wh o h av e a d i rect eco n o m i c in t eres t i n o r wo u ld

b en efi t fro m

a co nt ract wi t h wh i ch t h ey are al l eg ed t o h av e i n t erfered (ev en t h o u g h

n o t i n ten d ed t h i rd -p art y b en efi ci ari es o f th e co n t ract ) are n o t s t ran g ers t o t h e co n t ract

an d can n o t h av e t o rt i ou s ly i n terfered ”) (ci t at i o n o m it t ed ); Di s a s t e r S vcs

. v. ERC

P a r t n er s hi p

, 2 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 9

, 7 4 1 (4 9 2 SE2 d 5 2 6 ) (1 9 9 7 ) (t o q u al ify as a n

u n i n t en d ed t hi rd -p art y b en efi ci ary

, “ [t ] he d efen d an t m us t h av e a b o n a fi d e eco n o m i c

i n t eres t i n t h e co n t ract ”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ); La ke Ti g h t s q ueez e v

. Ch r

ys l er Fi r s t

Fi n a nci al S

vcs

. Co rp

. , 2 1 0 G a

. Ap p

. 1 7 8

, 18 1 (5 ) (4 3 5 SE2 d 48 6 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (s am e).

Th u s, wh ere a p art i cu l ar p ro ject o r t ran s act i o n i nv o l v es “ ‘a c o m p reh en si v e s et o f

i n t erwo v en co nt ract s

, ’ ” each o f t h e p art i es to an y i nd i vi d u al co n t ract in v o l v ed i n t h e

t ran s act io n i s a t h i rd p art y -b en efi ci ary o f th e ot h er c o n t r a ct s n eces s ary t o co m p l et e

t h e p ro ject

. A t l a n ta Ma r

ke t C t r

. Mg mt

. , 2 6 9 Ga. at 60 9 (2 ), q u ot i n g Jef f er s o n -Pi l ot

Co mmu n i ca t i o n s Co

. v. P h o en ix Ci t y Br o a d ca s t i n g o f At l a n t a

, 2 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7

, 6 0

(1 ) (4 2 1 SE2 d 2 9 5 ) (1 9 9 2 ). No t ab l y

, h o wev er, o n e d o es n o t beco m e an u n i n t en d ed

t h i rd -p art y b en efi ci ary o f a co n t ract s i m p l y b ecau s e h e m i g h t recei ve s o m e i n ci d en t al

b en efi t fro m

p erfo rm an ce o f t h at ag reem en t

.

14In t h i s cas e, San d s arg u ed

, an d th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

, t h at H arb i n Cl in i c h as an

ag reem en t wi t h FM C fo r t h e u s e o f i t s o p erat i n g ro o m s ; t h at t h i s ag reem en t req u i res

FM C t o em

p l o y q u al i fi ed p ers o n n el t o wo rk i n t he o p erat i n g ro o m d u ri ng s u rg eri es

p erfo rm ed b y H arb in Cl i n i c p h y s i ci an s ; an d t h at b ecau s e San d s c o ul d n o t p erfo rm

s u rg e r y w i t ho u t FM C em p l o y ees

, h e had a d i rect eco n o m i c i n t eres t i n FM C’ s

co n tract s wi t h i t s i n d i v i d u al em p l o y ees

, i n cl u d i n g Ho wert o n

. Th i s reas o n i n g i s

i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e ap p l i cab l e l aw.

Ou r cas es m ak e cl ear t h at t o q u al i fy as an u n in t en ded t h i rd -p art y b en efi ci ary

o f a co n t ract

, a p art y m

u s t h av e a d i r ect eco n o m ic i n teres t i n t he s u b ject o f t h e

s p eci fi c co n t ract at i ss u e. Fo r ex am p l e, i n D i s a s t er S

er vi c e s

, 2 2 8 G a. A p p

. 7 3 9

, a

co rp o r a t e e n t i t y k n o wn as ERC h ad co n tract ed t o b u y a b u i l d i n g i n wh i ch Eas t ern

Ai rl in es (“ EAL”) had a l eas eh o l d i n t e r e st

. Id

. Th u s

, t he s al e of t h e b u i l d i n g al s o

i n v o l v ed a s ep arat e co n t ract fo r t h e b u y o u t o f EAL’ s l eas eh o l d i n teres t

. Befo re t h e

s al e co u l d b e co m

p l et ed

, h o w ev er, an d wh i l e EAL was s t i l l i n p o ss es s i o n o f t h e

b u i l d i n g p u rs u an t t o i t s l eas e, t h e b u i l d in g s uffered s i g n i fi can t fi re dam ag e. Id

. EAL,

wh o b o re res p o n s ib i l i t y fo r rep ai ri ng t h e d am ag e, co nt ract ed wi t h Di s as t er Serv i ces

,

In c. (“ DRI”) t o rep ai r t h e b u i ld i n g i n t h ree p h as es

. Id

. Aft er th e fi rs t p h as e o f rep ai rs

was co m pl et ed

, ERC as k ed t h a t E AL d el ay an y fu rt h er rep ai rs “ s o t hat ERC co u ld

15n eg ot i at e a p u r c h a s e o f t h e fee s i m p l e i n t eres t i n t h e b u i l di n g

. . . an d h av e t o t al

o wn ers hi p an d co n tro l o f t h e b u i l d in g

. ” I d

. ERC t h ereaft er n eg o t i at ed fo r t h e

p u rch as e o f t h e b u i l di ng “ as -i s.” Id

. at 7 4 0. EAL t h en as s i g n e d i t s ri gh t s un d er t h e

l eas e to ERC an d th is “ fi n al ag reem en t rel i ev ed EAL of an y d u t y t o h av e t h e b u i l d i n g

rep ai red an d as s i g n ed t o ERC an y ri g ht s t o t h e [fi re] i n s u r an ce p ro ceed s .” Id

.

Fo l l o wi ng th is t ran s act i o n

, E AL ex erci s ed i ts ri g h t t o can cel t he rep ai r co n t ract wi th

DRI. DRI th en s u ed ERC fo r t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi t h i ts co n t ract ual an d b u s i n es s

rel at i o n s h i p wi t h E AL. T h e tri al co u rt g ran ted su m m a r y j u d g m en t t o ERC an d t h i s

Co u rt affi rm ed

, fi n di n g t h at ERC was n o t a s t ran g er to t h e rep ai r co nt ract b ecau s e i t

was an u n i n t en d ed t h i rd -p art y b en efi ci ary o f t h at ag reem en t

. S p eci fi cal l y

, we h el d

t h at ERC h ad a di rect fi n an ci al i n t eres t i n t h e rep ai r co n t ract

, b ecau s e t h e su b ject o f

t h at co n t ract was a b u i l di ng wh i ch ERC h ad ag reed t o p u rch as e. Id . at 7 4 0 -7 4 1

.

Si m i l arl y

, i n Jef

f er s o n -Pi l o t Co mmu n i ca t i o n s Co

. , Jeffers o n -Pi l o t co n t ract ed

wi t h Ph o en i x Ci t y

t o p u rch as e a rad i o st at i o n t h at was b ei n g b u i l t b y Ph o en i x Ci t y

.

Aft er a d is p u t e aro s e b et ween t h e p art i es as t o wh o wo u l d b ear cert ai n co ns t ru ct i o n

co s t s

, J effers on Pi l ot wro t e a let t er t o Ph o en i x Ci t y ’ s co n s t ru ct i o n l en der, i n fo rm i n g

i t o f t he part i es ’ d i sag reem en t

. Id

. at 5 8. I n a s u b s e q u en t b reach o f co n t ract act i o n

b ro u gh t b y J effers o n -Pi lo t, Ph o en i x Ci t y as sert ed a co u n tercl ai m fo r t o rt i ou s

16i n t erferen ce w i t h i t s co n st ru ct i o n l o an co n t ract

. Ph o en i x Ci t y p rev ai l ed on t hi s cl ai m

at t ri al b u t o n ap p eal

, t h i s Co u rt rev ers ed

. In s o d oi n g

, w e f o u n d t h at b ecau s e t h e

s u b ject o f t h e l o an co n tract was a s t ru ct u re w h i ch J effers o n -Pi lo t h ad ag reed t o

p u rch as e, J effers o n -Pi lo t h ad a d i rect fi n an ci al i n t eres t i n t h at co nt ract . Id . at 6 0 -6 1

(1 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, Jeffers o n -Pi l o t was n o t a s t ran g er to t he lo an co n t ract

, as it was an

u n i n t en d ed t h i rd -p art y

b en efi ci ary

o f t h at ag reem en t . Id . at 6 1 (1 ).

Un l i ke t h e d efen d an t s i n Jef fer s o n -Pi l o t an d Di s as t er S

er vi ces

, San d s h as n ot

d em o n s t rat ed t h at h e h as a d i rect eco n o m i c i n t eres t i n H o wert o n ’ s p ers o n al

em p l o ym en t co nt ract wi t h FM C. Th e reco rd sh o w s t h at t h ree s ep arat e co n t ract s

res u l ted in Ho w ert o n a n d S a n d s wo rk in g to g et h er: H arb i n Cl i ni c’ s co n t ract wi th

F M C; Harb in Cl i n i c’ s co n t ract wi t h San d s ; an d FM C’ s co nt ract wi t h Ho wert o n.

Un l ik e t h e co n t ract s at is s u e i n Di s a s t er S vcs

. an d Jef

f er s o n -Pi l o t

, h o wev er, t h es e

t h ree ag reem en t s d o n o t co ns t it u t e “ a c o m p r e h en s iv e i n t erwo v en s et of co n t ract s .”

Jef f er s o n-Pi l ot

, 2 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 0 (1 ). Sp eci fi cal l y

, t he co n t ract s at i ss u e i n Di s a s t er

S vcs

. an d Jef

f er s o n -Pi l o t

, al t h o u g h s ep arat e, each i n v ol v ed t h e s am e s u b ject m at t er,

n am el y a s p eci fi c b u i ld i n g

. Each o f t h e t h ree co n tract s at is s u e i n t h i s cas e, h o wev er,

a d d r e s s es a s p eci fi c s ub

ject t h at i s s ep arat e fro m an d i nd ep en d en t o f th e s u b ject

ad d res s ed b y

t he o t her t wo co n t ract s

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, on e co n t ract s et s fo rt h t h e t erm s

17fo r t h e u s e o f FM C’ s op erat i n g ro o m s b y Harb i n Cl i n i c p h y s ici an s ; o n e set s fo rt h t h e

t erm s o f Harb in Cl i n i c’ s em p l o y m en t o f S a n d s; an d on e s et s fo rt h t h e t erm s o f

Ho wert o n ’ s em

p l o y m en t wi t h FM C.

Th e fact t h at t h ere was n o d i rect rel at i o ns h ip b et ween Harb i n Cl i n ic’ s co n t ract

wi t h FM C an d Ho wert o n ’ s i n d i v i d u al em p l oy m en t co nt ract i s fu rt h er dem o n s t rat ed

b y th e fact t hat t h e ag reem e n t wi t h H a rb i n Cl i n i c m erel y req u i red FM C t o s t aff i t s

o p erat i n g ro o m s wi t h q u al i fi ed p ers o n n el ; i t d i d n o t req u ire FM C ei t h er t o em p l oy

p art i cu l ar i n d i v i du al s o r t o as s i g n s p eci fi c em p l o y ees t o part icu l ar o p erat i n g ro o m s

.

Rat h er, t he co n t ract b et ween FM C an d H arb i n Cl i n i c g av e FM C co n t ro l o v er wh i ch

o f i t s em p lo y ees were as s ig n ed t o a s p eci fi c o perat in g ro o m

. Th u s

, Ho wer t o n ’s

as s i g n m en t t o San d s ’ s o perat i n g ro o m was a co i n ci d en t al

, rat h er t h an a di rect

, res u l t

o f Harb i n Cl i ni c’ s co n t ract wi t h FM C. It was al s o a co i n ci d en t al res u l t of Ho wert o n ’ s

em pl o y m en t co n t ract wi t h FM C, as FM C co ul d an d d i d as s i g n H o wert o n t o op erat i n g

ro o m s o t h er t han San d s’ s

. Gi ven th es e f a c t s

, n ot h i ng i n th e reco rd s u p p o rt s t h e

co n cl u s i o n t h at San d s, as an em p l o y ee o f Harb i n Cl i n ic, h ad a d i rect eco n o m i c

18inte r e st in the c o n tract s FM C h ad wi t h i t s i n d i v i d u al em pl o y ees

, i n cl u d i n g Ho wer ton. 8

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e tri al co u rt erred i n h o l d i n g th at San d s was a t hi rd -p art y b en efi ci ary

o f Ho w ert o n ’ s em

p l o y m en t co n t ract

.

Ad d it i on al l y

, i n an al y zi n g San d s ’ s cl ai m t h at h e was n ot a s t ran ger t o t h e

co n tract at i ss ue, t h e t ri al co u rt n ei t h er ack n o wl ed g ed n o r ap p l i ed t h o s e cas es t h at

h av e ad d res sed cl ai m s o f t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi th an em pl o y m en t co n t ract

. Th o s e

cas es s ho w t h at G eo rg ia h as l o n g r eco g n i zed t hat ev en an at -wi l l em p l o y m en t

co n tract “ i s a v al u ab l e co n t ract ri g h t

, wh i ch m ay n o t b e u n l awfu l l y i n t erfered wi t h by

a t h ird p ers o n wi t h o u t s u ch au th o ri t y .” Mo o r e v. Ba r g e

, 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 2

, 5 5 3 ( 1 )

(4 3 6 SE2 d 7 4 6 ) (1 9 9 3 ), ci t i n g Ga . Po wer Co . v. Bu s bi n , 2 4 2 G a. 6 1 2

, 6 1 3 (2 ) (2 5 0

SE2 d 4 4 2 ) (1 9 7 8 ). U nd er Geo rg i a l aw, t herefo re, an em p l o y ee h as a cau s e o f act i o n

fo r t ort i o u s i n t erferen ce wh ere “ a p art y wi t h n o au t h o ri t y t o d i s ch arg e [t h e em p l o y ee]

,

b ei n g a c t i v a t e d b y an u n l awfu l s ch em e o r p u rp o s e t o i n ju re an d d am ag e t h e

em pl o y ee, m al ici o u s l y an d u n l awfu l l y p ers u ad es t h e em p l o y er t o b reach t h e co n t ract

8 It m ay b e t hat San d s

, l i k e al l o t h er su rg eo ns o p erat i n g at FM C, recei v ed s o m e

i n ci d en t al b en efi t fro m FM C’ s co n t ract s wi t h i t s i n d iv i d u al em p l o y ees

, i n t h at t h e

p res en ce o f s u ch p ers o n nel h el p ed t o faci li t at e s u rg ery

. W e d ecl i n e t o h o l d

, h o wev er,

t h at t h is k i nd o f in ci d en t al b en efi t is su ffi ci en t t o t ran s fo rm San d s

, as an em p l o y ee o f

an en t i ty t h at co n t ract ed wi t h FM C, i n t o an u n i n t en d ed t hi rd -p art y b en efi ci ary o f

FM C’ s co n t ract s wi t h i t s em pl oy ees

.

19wi t h th e em p l o ye e.” M

o o r e

, 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 3 (1 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). See al s o Br a t h wa i t e

, 31 7 Ga. Ap p. at 1 1 3 (1 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, wi t h res p ect to

em pl o y m en t co nt ract s

, t h e cat e g o r y o f “ n o n -s t ran g ers ” wh o are p ri vi l eg ed an d

t h erefo re i m

m un e fro m a t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce cl ai m i s q ui t e l i m i t ed

. It i n cl ud es o n l y

co rp o rat e p ri n ci p al s o r o ffi cers o r co -em p l o y ees w h o hav e t h e au th o ri t y to t erm i n at e

o r reco m m en d t h e t erm i n at i o n o f t h e em p l o y m en t o f th e p ers o n as sert i n g t h e t o rt i ou s

i n t erferen ce cl ai m

. S e e D o n g v. S h ep ea r d Co mmu n i t

y Bl o o d Cen t er

, 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p.

1 3 7

, 13 8 (2 ) (5 22 SE2 d 7 2 0) (1 9 9 9 ) (wh ere d efen d an t w as em p l o y ee’ s s up erv i s o r an d

h ad t h e au t h ori t y to ev al u at e em p l o y ee an d reco m

m en d h i s d i s ch arg e, sh e was n o t a

s t ran ger t o t he em

p l o y m en t r e l a t i o ns h i p an d co u l d n o t b e h el d l i ab l e fo r t o rt i ou s

i n t erferen ce); Hyl t o n v. Amer i ca n As sn

. Fo r Vo ca t i o n a l In s t r u ct i o n a l Ma t er i a l s

, 2 1 4

Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 5

, 6 38 (2 ) (4 4 8 SE2 d 7 4 1 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (t h o s e wi t h au t h o ri t y t o s up erv i s e an d

e v a l u a t e p l ai n t i ff in h i s jo b an d t o t erm i n at e p lai n t i ff’ s em p l o y m en t “ were n o t

s t ran gers t o t h e [ e m

p l o y m en t ] co nt ract [an d ] co u l d n o t b e l iab l e fo r t o rt i ou s

i n t erferen ce” wi t h t h at co n t ract ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ); Jo h ns o n v. Ro g er s

, 2 1 4 Ga. Ap p.

5 5 7

, 5 5 9 (3 ) (4 4 8 SE2 d 7 1 0 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (s u perv i s o r wi t h au t h o ri t y t o reco m m en d

t erm i n at i o n an d s up eri o r au t h ori zed t o t erm i n at e p l ai n t i ff’ s em p l oy m en t we r e n o t

s t ran gers t o th e p l ai nt i ff’ s em p l o y m en t co n t ract ). A d d it i on al l y

, t h e al l eg ed ly t o rt i ou s

20co n du ct m

us t fal l wi th in t h e s co p e of t h e jo b d u t i es o f th e co -em p l o y ee wh o en g ag ed

i n t hat co n d u ct

. Th u s

, a co -em p l o y ee wh o h as n o au t h o ri t y t o d i s ch arg e o r

reco m m en d t h e d i s c h a rg e o f t h e em p l o y ee i n q ues t i o n m ay b e h el d l iab l e fo r

t o rt i o u s l y i n t erferi n g wi t h t h at em p l o y ee’ s co n t ract

. See Ni ch o l s o n v. W i n d h a m

, 2 5 7

Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 9

, 4 3 2 (2 ) (5 7 1 SE2 d 4 66 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (n o t “ al l co -wo rk ers are im m un e fro m

s u i t fo r t o rt i ou s i n t erferen ce” wi t h an em p l o y m en t co n t r a c t ; su ch i m m u n i t y i s

av ai l ab l e o n l y t o t h o se “ co -em p l o y ees en g ag ed i n co n d u ct ‘ wi t h in t h e s co p e o f t h ei r

au t h o ri t y ’ ”); B r at h wa i te , 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p . at 1 1 3-1 1 4 (1 ).

Br a i th wa i t e s erv es as an ex a m p l e of ju s t h ow bro ad l y G eo rg i a’ s co u rt s h av e

d efi n ed “ s t ran gers ” t o an e m p l o y m en t co nt ract

. Th e d efen d an t i n th at cas e, Qu i n n,

h ad s u p erv i s ed Brai t hwai t e i n h er j o b as a co d i n g s peci al i s t at Grad y Ho s p i t al

. 3 1 7

Ga. A p p

. at 1 1 2. Aft er l earn i n g o f al l eg at i o n s t h at Qu i n n h ad en g ag ed i n m i s co n d u ct

i n h er p ri o r jo b

, Brai t h wai t e rep o rt ed t h i s i n fo rm at i o n t o Qu i nn ’ s s u p erv i s o r an d

fo l l o wi n g an i n v es t i g at io n

, Qu i n n was fo rced t o res i g n. Id

. Aft er h er res i g n at i o n,

h o wev er, Qu i n n m ai n t ai ned co n t act wi t h t h e h o s p i t al ’ s CFO, wh o ev en t u al l y re-h i red

Qu i nn

. Id

. Aft er b ei n g rei n s t at ed

, Qu i n n f i r e d Brai t h wai t e an d Brai t h wai t e s u ed

,

as s ert i n g a cl ai m ag ai n s t Qu i n n fo r t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi t h h e r em p l o y m en t

co n tract

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i s m i s s ed t h i s co u n t o f t he co m p l ai n t, co n cl ud i n g t h at

21b ecau s e Qu i nn was Brai t h wai t e’ s s u perv i s o r an d h ad t h e au t h o ri ty t o fi re Brai t h wai t e,

s h e was no t a s t ran g er t o t he em p l o y m en t co n t ract . Th i s Co u rt rev ers ed

, n ot i n g t h at

t h e co m p l ai n t “ al l eg ed th a t

, w h i l e n o t em pl o y ed b y Grad y

, Qu in n t o o k act i o n s to

t o rt i o u s l y i n t erfere wi t h Brat h wai t e’ s em p l o y m en t co n t ract wi t h Grad y b y s o l i ci t i n g

an d o bt ai n i n g an ag reem en t wi t h [t h e h o s pi tal ’ s CFO] t o t erm i n at e Brat h w ai t e aft er

Qu i nn was re-h ired .” Id

. at 1 1 4 (1 ). Th u s

, b ecau s e “ [t ] hes e al l e g a t i o n s c o n cern ed

act i on s tak en b y Q u i nn w h en sh e was a s t ran ger t o t h e em pl o y m en t co n t ract ” (i

. e.,

wh en Qu i n n w as wi t h o u t t h e au t h ori t y t o s u perv i s e an d t erm in at e Brai t h wai t e’ s

em pl o y m en t ), Qu i n n co u l d b e h el d l i ab l e fo r t h at co nd u ct . Id

.

In t h i s cas e, San d s was n o t ev en a co -em p l oy ee o f Ho wert o n, as t h ey wo rk ed

fo r two sep arat e en ti t i es

. Al t h ou g h a co n t ract u al rel at i o n s hi p of s o m e k i n d ex i s t ed

b et ween t h es e t wo en t it i es

, t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce s ho wi n g th at an y s u ch ag reem en t

au t h o ri zed San ds

, as an em p l o y ee of Harb i n Cl i n i c

, t o fi re FM C’ s em p l o y ees o r

reco m m en d t h ei r term in at i o n

. In d eed

, San d s tes t ifi ed t h at h e was wi th o u t au t h o ri t y

ev en t o rem o v e Ho we r t o n f r om t h e t eam t hat s t affed hi s o p erat i n g ro o m ; rat h er, h e

h ad t o as k FM C t o rem o v e h er.

As t h e fo reg o i n g d i s cu s s i o n d em o ns t rat es

, Sa n d s was n ei t h er a p art y to

Ho wert o n ’ s em

pl oy m en t co n t r act n o r an i n t en d ed th i rd -p art y b en efi ci ary t h ereo f.

22Ad d i t i o n al l y

, S a n d s h ad no d i rect eco n o m i c in t eres t i n Ho wert o n ’ s em p l o y m en t

co n tract

. Gi v en th es e fact s

, an d i n th e ab s en ce of an y ev i d en ce s ho wi n g t h at h e h ad

t h e au t ho ri t y t o t erm in at e Ho wert o n o r reco m m en d her t erm in at i o n fro m FM C, we

fi nd t h at San ds was a st ran g er t o Ho wert on ’ s em p l o y m en t co n t ract an d th erefo re i s

n o t i m m u n e fro m Ho wert on ’ s cl ai m

fo r t ort i ou s i n t erferen ce.

(b ) San d s arg u es t h at ev en i f h e was n o t a s t ran ger t o Ho wert o n ’ s em p l o y m en t

co n tract

, h e is n ev ert hel es s en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e t ort i ou s in t erferen ce

cl ai m b e c a u s e i t i s “ u n di s p u t ed ” t h at h e d i d n o t act wi th m al i ci o u s i n t en t

. W i th

res p ect t o t o rt i o u s i n t e r f

e r e n ce cl ai m s

, t h e t erm “ m al i ce” is “ to b e g iv en a l i b eral

m ean i n g ; m al ici o u s o r m al i ci o u s l y m ean s an y u n au t h o ri zed i n t erferen ce, o r a ny

i n t erferen ce wi t h o u t leg al ju s t i fi cat i o n o r ex cu s e.” Ren d en

, In c. v. Li b er t

y Rea l Es t a t e

Lt d

. P a r t n er s h i p III

, 2 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 3, 3 3 4 (2 ) (4 4 4 SE2 d 8 14 ) ( 1 9 9 4 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ). Here, San d s co n t en d s t h at Ho wert o n can n o t p ro v e m al i ce b ecau s e h e was

req u i red by l aw t o rep o rt h er HIPAA v i o l at i on . At t h e h eari n g on San d s ’ s s u m m ary

ju d g m en t m o t i on

, t h e t ri al co u rt reject ed t h i s arg u m en t

, fi n di n g t h at San d s h ad fai l ed

t o s h o w an y k n owl ed g e o n h i s p art t h at Ho wert o n ’ s reco rd i n g s v i o l at ed HIPAA.

Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e t ri al co urt n o t ed t h at t h e ev i d en ce fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e t h at San d s

k n ew t h at Ho wert on h ad reco rd ed co n fi d en ti al p at i en t i nfo rm at i on ; rat h er, i t s h o wed

23o n l y t h at S a n d s w a s aware t h at Ho wert o n h ad reco rd ed h i s al l eg ed l y i nap p ro p ri at e

co m m en t s

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t he tri al co u rt fo u nd t h at t h ere was at l eas t a fact u al q u es t i o n

as t o wh et h er San d s h ad act u al k n owl ed g e o f a HIPAA v i o lat i o n . W e ag ree.

San d s t es t i fi ed at hi s d ep o s i ti o n t h at Sco t t i n fo rm ed h i m vi a t ex t m es sag e t h at

Ho wert o n h a d b e en t ap i n g co n v ers at i o ns t h at o ccu rred in t h e op erat i n g ro o m to

o b t ai n ev i d en ce o f S a n d s ’s s ex u al h aras s m en t ; t hat h e was s o st u n ned b y t h i s

rev el at io n t h at h e “ wro t e d o wn t h e t ex t s ‘ v erb at im ’ ”; an d t h at h e h ad m ai n t ai n ed h i s

h a ndw r itte n c opy o f Sco t t ’ s t ex t s

. In h i s s up p lem en t al i n terro g at o ry res po n s es

, 9 San d s

s u p p li ed th e co n t en t o f t he t ex t m es s ag es t h at were ex ch an g ed b et ween hi s cel l p h o n e

an d Ho wert o n ’ s p h on e; n o n e o f t h o s e m es s ag es co n t ai n a s t at em en t t o th e effect t h at

9 Aft er rev eal in g d u ri n g h i s d ep o s i t i o n t h at he ha d t ran s cri b ed t h e tex t m es s ag es

t h at were ex ch an g ed d u r i n g t h e earl y m o rn i n g h o urs of Feb ru ary 1 7

, San d s

supple m en t ed h i s i n t erro g at o ry res p on s es t o pro v i de wh at h e sai d w ere t he “ ve r ba tim ”

t ex t s

. In h er res p o n se t o San d s’ s s u m m ary ju d g m en t m o t io n

, Ho wert o n q u o t ed fro m

t h es e d is co v ery res p o n s es

. Sh e al s o fi l ed a req u es t

, to get h er wi t h h er n o t i ce o f fi l i n g

o f o ri g i n al d i s co v ery

, as k i ng San d s t o fi l e th e o ri g in al s o f b o t h h er d ep o s i t i o n an d h i s

v eri fi ed i n t e r ro gat o ry res po n s es

. San d s fi l ed t h e o ri g i n al o f Ho wert o n ’ s d ep o s i t i o n

as wel l as h i s i n i t i al v eri fi ed di s co v ery res p o n s es

, b ut n o t h i s s up p l em en t al res p o n s es

. San ds d i d n ot fi l e a rep l y b ri ef i n wh i ch h e d i s p u t e d t h e q u o t es s et fo rt h in

Ho wert o n ’ s p l ead i n g s, an d a l t h o u g h h i s s up p l em en t al res p o n s es (as q u o t ed in

Ho wert o n ’ s b ri ef) were p res en t ed t o an d co ns i d ered b y t h e t ri al co u rt at t h e h eari n g

b e l o w

, San d s d i d n o t ob ject t o t h ei r p res en t at io n o r cl ai m t hat Ho wert o n h a d

m i s rep res en t ed h i s res p o ns es

. A d d i t i o n al l y

, San d s h as n ot ch al l en ged t h e accu racy

o f th es e q u ot es o n ap p eal

. Gi v en t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we h av e t reat ed t h e q u o t at i on s

s et fo rt h i n t h e p l ead i n g s as accu rat e.

24Ho wert o n was reco rd i n g co n v ers at i o n s i n t h e o perat in g ro om

. Rat h er, Sco t t i n fo rm ed

San ds t h at h e h ad reco rd ed t h e m es s ag e San d s l eft o n “ t h e 2 7 t h ”; th at b ecau s e o f

San ds ’ s “ i n ap p ro p ri at e act i o n s l at el y ” h e h ad al l o wed h i s wi fe “ to k eep m y d i g i t al

reco rd er w i t h h er”; an d t hat Ho wert on h ad reco rd ed t h e co n v ers at i o n i n wh i ch San d s

i n t i m at ed t h at h e wan ted t o h av e an affai r w i t h Ho wert o n

. Ho wert o n t es ti fi ed t h at t h e

reco rd ed co n v ers at i o n t o w h i ch Sco t t w as referri n g t o o k p lace i n an el ev at o r an d n ot

i n t he o p erat i n g ro o m

.

W i t h res p ect to i nf

or m a tion he obtai n ed d u ri n g h i s t el ep h o n e co n v ers at i o n wi th

Sco tt

, San d s t es t i fi ed t hat Sco t t accu s ed h i m o f act in g i nap p ro pri at el y t o ward s

Ho wert o n an d t h at Sco t t “ kep t co m in g aro u n d t o wh y h e s en t [h is wi fe] t o th e h o s p i t al

wi t h a t ap e reco rd er.” San ds d i d n o t t es t i fy

, h o w ev er, th at Sco t t t o l d h im s peci fi cal l y

t h at H o wert o n w as reco rd in g co n v ers at i on s i n t h e op erat i n g ro o m

. Fi n al l y

, San d s al s o

ack n owl ed ged t h at h e n e v e r d i s cu s s ed wi th Ho wert o n w h at s h e h ad reco rd ed o r

wh ere s h e h ad reco rd ed i t

.

W e ag ree w i t h th e tri al co u rt t h at t h i s ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at a ju ry qu es t i o n ex i s t s

n o t o n l y as t o San d s ’ s k n o wl ed g e o f a HIPAA v i o l at i o n

, bu t al s o as t o San d s ’ s m o t i v e

an d i n ten t i n rep o rt i n g an y s u ch v io l at i o n . In o t her wo rd s

, as th e t ri al co u rt n o t ed , a

fact ual q u es t i o n ex i s t s as t o wh et h er San d s rep o rt ed t h e al l eg ed HIPAA vi o l at i o n

25b ecau s e h e fel t l eg al l y o b li g at ed t o d o s o

, o r b ecau s e h e w as s eek i n g t o u n d erm i n e

Ho wert o n at h er jo b i n h o p es o f u n d erm i n i n g h er s ex u al h aras s m en t al l eg at i o n s

.

(c) San d s fu rt h er arg u es t h at Ho w ert o n ’ s t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce cl ai m m u s t fai l

b ecau s e t h ere i s n o ev id en ce t h at h i s rep o rt reg ard i n g Ho wert o n ’s a l l eg ed HIPAA

v i o l at i o n i n d u ced FM C t o t ak e act i o n wi t h r e s p ect t o Ho wert o n ’ s em p l o y m en t

co n tract

. Co ns tru ed i n fav o r o f Ho wert o n, h o wev er, t h e reco rd sh o w s t h at p ri o r to

San ds ’ s rep o rt

, Ho wert o n h ad recei v ed an offer o f em pl o y m en t on t h e s eco n d s h i ft ; 1 0

t h at aft er San ds ’ s rep o rt

, th e s eco n d s h i ft p o s i t i o n w a s n o l o n g er av ai l ab l e to

Ho wert o n ; t h at in her m eet i n g wi t h h er s u p eri ors o n t h e m o rn i n g San d s m ad e h i s

rep o rt

, H o w ert o n ’ s jo b s k i l l s were cri t i ci zed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e; t h at H o wert o n was

1 0 Bo t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt an d o n ap p eal

, San d s arg u ed t hat Ho wert o n’ s cl ai m

t h at s h e recei ved th e jo b o ffer at i s s ue co n s t it u tes i n ad m is si b l e h ears ay

. Th i s

co n ten t i o n i s wi t h ou t m eri t

. “ T e s t i m o n y i s co n s i d ered h ears ay if t h e wi t n es s i s

t es t i fy i ng t o an o t h er p art y ’ s s t at em en t i n o rd er t o p ro ve o r d em o n s t r a t e t h e t r u t h o f

t h e m at t er as s ert ed i n t h at s t at em en t .” In r e Bu r t o n

, 27 1 Ga. 4 9 1

, 4 9 4 (3 ) (5 2 1 SE2 d

5 6 8 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th us

, Ho wert o n ’s t e s t im o n y as to

s p eci fi c s t at em en t s m ad e b y h er s u p erv i s o r s i n o fferi n g Ho wert o n t h e p o s i t i o n o n

se c o nd s hift wo u l d co n s t i t u t e i n ad m i s s i b l e h ears ay

. Ho wert o n co u l d tes t ify

, h o wev er,

t h at s h e req u es ted a t r a n s fer t o s eco n d s h i ft ; t h at s h e rep ort ed San d s ’ s s ex u al l y

h aras s i n g co n d u ct to h er s u p eri o rs ; an d t hat at s om e t i m e aft er m ak i ng t h at req u es t

an d p ro v id i n g t h at rep o rt

, s h e was o ffered a p o s i t i on o n t he s eco nd s h i ft

. Su ch fact s

wo u l d b e wi t hi n H o wer t o n ’s p ers o n al k n o wl ed ge an d t h erefo re w o u l d n o t b e

co n si d ered h ears ay

. See P a l en ci a -Ba r r on v. S t a t e

, 3 18 Ga. Ap p. 30 1

, 3 0 5 -3 06 (2 ) (b )

(7 3 3 SE2 d 8 2 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ); News o me v. S ta t e

, 2 88 G a. 64 7

, 6 49 -6 5 0 (2 ) (7 06 SE2 d 4 3 6 )

(2 0 1 1).

26t ran s ferred t o o u t p at i en t s u rg ery s o as t o rem ov e h er fro m t h e b u i l d in g w h ere San d s

wo rk ed ; an d t h a t fro m t h at p o i n t fo rward Ho wert o n ’ s h o u rs at FM C were s t ead i l y

r e d u c e d u n t i l t h ey b ecam e n on ex is t en t

. Th i s ev i d en ce i s s uffi ci en t t o creat e a ju ry

i s su e on t h e q u es ti o n o f w h et h er S a n d s ’s co n d u ct i n t erfered wi t h Ho wert o n ’ s

em pl o y m en t co n t ract

.

In l i g h t o f t h e fo reg o i n g, we fi n d t h at San d s was n o t en t i t l e d t o s u m m ary

j ud gm en t o n Ho wert o n ’ s t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce cl ai m

. Sp eci fi cally

, the e vide nc e show s

t h a t H o w e r t o n had a val i d em p l o y m en t co nt ract wi t h FM C an d th at San d s was a

s t ran ger t o t h at co nt ract

. Th e ev i d en ce fu rt h er s h ows th at q u es t i o n s o f fact ex i s t as to

wh et h er San d s act ed d el i b erat el y an d m al i ci o u s l y i n rep o rt i n g Ho wert o n ’ s al l eg ed

HIPAA v i o l at i o n; wh et h er San ds ’ s co nd u ct ad v ers el y affect ed Ho wert o n ’ s

em pl o y m en t wi t h FM C; an d wh et h er an d t o wh at ex t en t H o wert o n s u ffered d am ag es

as a res ul t o f San ds ’ s al l eg ed co n d uct

.

2

. H o wert o n fu rt h er co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g su m m a r y

ju d g m e n t t o San d s o n her cl ai m fo r i n t en t i o nal i n fl i ct i o n of em o t io n al d i s t res s

. 1 1 In

1 1 In h er ap p el l at e b ri ef, H o wert o n co n ced es t h at Harb i n Cl i n i c can n o t b e h el d

v i cari o u s l y l i ab l e fo r San d s ’ s co n d uct wh i ch s erv es as t h e b as i s fo r h e r cl ai m o f

i n t en t i o n al i nfl ict i o n o f em o t i o n al d i s t res s

. W e t h erefo re affi rm t he t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t

o f s u m m ary ju dg m en t t o Harb i n Cl i n i c o n t hi s cl ai m

.

27an al y zi ng t h i s c l a i m o f erro r, w e are co g n izan t o f t h e fact t h at

, un d er G eo rg i a l aw,

“ [t ] h e b u rd en wh i ch t h e p l ai n ti ff m u s t m eet i n o rd er t o prev ai l in t h i s cau se of act i o n

i s a s t ri n g en t o ne.” Met r o

p o l i t a n At l a n t a Ra

pi d Tr a n si t Au t h

. v. M

o s ley

, 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p.

4 8 6

, 49 0 -4 9 1 ( 3 ) ( 6 3 4 SE2 d 4 6 6 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). Th e

p l ai n t i ff i s req u i red to p ro v e t h at t h e d efen d an t en g ag ed i n “ o ut rag eo u s co n d u ct ,” an d

Geo rg i a’ s d efi n i t i o n o f t h at t erm p ro v i d es a h i g h d eg ree o f t o l eran ce fo r a wi d e

v ari et y o f q u es t i o nab l e co n du ct

. “ Si g n i fi can tl y

, t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n d u ct ‘ m u s t b e s o

ex t rem e i n d eg ree, as t o g o b ey o n d al l p o s s i b l e b ou n d s o f d ecen cy

, an d t o b e reg ard ed

as at ro ci o u s

, an d u t t erl y i n to l erab l e i n a ci v il i zed co m m u n i t y .’ ” Ki r

kl a n d v. Ta mp l i n

,

2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 41

, 2 4 5 (2 ) (6 4 5 SE2 d 6 5 3) (2 00 7 ), q u o t i n g Ma r ti n v. No r t h Amer i ca n

Va n L i n e s

, 2 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 8 7, 1 9 0 (2 ) (c) (1 99 7 ). As ex p l ai n ed m o re fu l l y b el o w,

h o wev er, we fi n d th i s t o b e o n e o f t h o se rel at iv el y rare cas es wh ere t h e co n d u ct

co m p l ai n ed o f m eet s Geo rg i a’ s n arro w d efi n i t i o n o f o u trag eo u s

.

To rec o v er fo r in t en t i on al i n fl ict i on o f em o ti o n al di s t res s

, a p l ai n t i ff m u s t s h o w

t h at t h e d efen d an t act ed i n t en ti on al l y o r reck les s l y ; t h at h i s co n d u ct was ex t rem e an d

o u t rag eo u s ; t hat t h e p lai n t i ff s u ffered em ot i o n al d i st res s as a res u l t o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s

co n du ct ; an d t h at t he em ot i o n al d i s t res s s h e ex p eri en ced was sev ere. Gh od r a t i v.

S t ea r n es

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 1

, 3 2 3 (7 2 3 SE2 d 7 2 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ). At t h e s u m m ary ju d g m en t

28s t ag e, a co u rt m u s t d et erm i n e, as a m at t er of law, wh et her t h e av ai l ab l e e v i d e nce

w o u l d p e r m i t a ju ry t o fi n d b o t h t h at t h e d efen d an t ’ s co nd u ct ro s e t o th e l ev el o f

o u t rag eo u s n es s req u i red to s u p p o rt an in t en t i o nal i n fl i ct io n o f em o t i on al d i s t res s

cl ai m an d wh et h er t h e d i s t r e s s s u ffered b y t h e pl ai n t i ff ro s e to t h e l ev el o f s ev eri t y

req u i red t o reco ver fo r s uch a cl ai m

. Bl o cku m v. Fi el d a l e Fa rms Co r

p

. , 2 75 Ga. 7 9 8,

8 0 1 (3 ) (5 7 3 SE2 d 3 6 ) (2 00 2 ). As n o ted ab ov e, pl ai n t i ffs b ear a h eav y b u rd en wi th

res p ect t o b o t h o f th es e el em en t s

, b u t m o s t es p eci al l y “ i n es tab l i s h i n g t h e t y p e o f

ex t rem e an d o u t rag eo u s co n d u ct n eces s ary t o s u s t ai n a cl ai m fo r i n t en ti o nal i n fl i ct i o n

o f em o t i o n al d i s tres s .” Mea rs v. Gu l f s t r ea m A er o s

p ace Co r p.

, 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p. 6 3 6

, 6 4 0

(2 ) (a) (4 8 4 SE2 d 6 59 ) (1 9 9 7 ). A p l ai n t i ff m eet s t h i s b u rd en b y co m i ng fo rward wi th

ev i d en ce wh i ch w o ul d al l o w “ re a s o n a b l e p ers o n s [t o ] fi n d th e pres en ce o f ex t rem e

an d ou t rag eo u s co n d u ct ,” as d efi n ed u n d er Geo rg i a l aw, as wel l as s ev ere em o t i o n al

d i s t res s res u l ti n g fro m t h at co n du ct

. Y a r b r a y v. S o u th er n Bel l Tel

. & Tel eg r a p h Co

. ,

2 6 1 Ga. 7 0 3

, 7 0 6 (2 ) (4 0 9 SE2 d 8 3 5) (1 9 91 ). W h ere t h is b u rd en i s m et

, th e q u es t i on s

o f wh et h er t h e defen d an t’ s co n d u ct an d t h e res ul t i n g d i st res s s u ffered b y t h e p l ai n t i ff

warran t reco v ery u nd er t h e l aw b eco m e o n es fo r t he j u ry

, wh i ch “ m u s t fi n d t h e fact s

an d m ak e i t s o wn det erm in at i o n

. ” Id

. In t hi s cas e, co n s t ru i n g t h e e v i den ce in

Ho wert o n ’ s fav or an d g i v in g h er t h e b en efi t of al l reas o n ab l e do u b ts an d i n feren ces

,

29we fi n d t h a t sh e h as pro du ced s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce to creat e ju ry q u es t i on s as to

wh et h er San ds en g ag ed i n ex t rem e an d o ut rag eo u s co n d u ct an d, i f s o

, wh et h er t h at

co n du ct cau sed Ho w ert on s ev ere em o t i o n al d i s tres s

.

(a) Co n d u ct t h at can b e ch aract e r i zed as m erel y v ul g ar, t as t el es s

, ru d e, o r

i n s u l t in g wi l l n o t s u p p o rt a cl ai m fo r i nt en t i o nal i n fl ict i on of em o t i o n al d i s t res s

.

Tr o nca l li v. Jo n es

, 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0

, 1 5 (3 ) (5 1 4 SE2 d 4 7 8) (1 9 9 9 ). See al s o As h ma n

v. Ma r s h al l ’s o f MA

, 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 8

, 2 29 (1 ) (5 3 5 SE2 d 2 6 5 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (“ [a] ct i o n ab l e

co n du ct d o es n o t in cl u d e i n su l ts

, t h reat s

, i n d i g n i t i es

, an n oy an ces

, p et t y o p p res s i o n s

,

o r o t her v i ci s si t u d es o f d ai l y li v i n g b u t m u s t g o b ey o n d al l reas o n ab l e bo u n d s o f

d ecen cy ”). Rat h er, t h e c o n d u ct o n w h i ch an in t en t i o nal i n fl i ct io n o f em o t i o n al

d i s t res s cl ai m

i s b as ed m

us t b e s o ab u s i v e o r o b scen e t h at reas o n ab l e p eo p l e wo u ld

n at u ral l y as s u m e t h at t h e t arg et o f s u ch co n d u ct w o u l d ex p eri en ce “ i n t en s e feel i ng s

o f h u m i li at i o n

, em

b arras s m en t , fri g h t o r ex t rem e o u t rag e.” Jo nes v. Fa yet t e Fa mi l

y

Den ta l Ca r e

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 30

, 2 3 2 (7 1 8 SE2 d 8 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (p h y si cal p reced en t o n l y ).

See al s o Mea r

s

, 2 2 5 Ga. A p p. at 6 4 1 (2 ) (b ). As we h av e ex p l ai n ed prev i o u s l y

, “ [t ] h e

ru l e o f t h u m

b i n d et erm in i n g w h e t h e r t h e co n du ct co m pl ai n ed o f was s u ffi ci en t l y

ex t rem e an d o u t rag eo u s i s wh et h er t h e reci t at i on o f t h e fact s t o an av erag e m em b er

30o f t h e co m

m u n i t y wo u l d aro u s e h er res en t m en t ag ai n s t t h e d efen dan t so t h at s h e

wo u l d ex cl ai m ‘ Ou t rag eo u s!’ ” As h ma n

, 2 4 4 Ga. A pp

. at 2 2 9 (1 ) (fo ot n o t e o m i t t ed ).

In as ses s i n g wh et he r co n d u ct is s u ffi ci en t l y o ut rag eo u s t o s u p p o rt an

i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f em ot io n al di s t res s cl ai m

, we h av e fo u n d t h at co n d u ct wh i ch

o ccu rs i n t h e c o n t ex t o f t he vi ct i m ’ s em p l o y m en t “ ‘ m ay p ro d u ce a ch aract er o f

o u t rag eo u s n es s t h at m i gh t o t h erwi se n ot e x ist. ’ ” F ay e tte F ami l y Den ta l Ca r e

, 3 1 2 Ga.

Ap p

. at 23 2, q u ot in g B r i dg es v. W i n n-Di xi e At l an t a

, 17 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 7

, 2 3 0 (1 ) (3 3 5

SE2 d 4 4 5 ) ( 1 9 8 5 )

. Th i s ru l e res u l t s fro m t h e fact t h at t h e wo rk p l ace “ p res en t s a

h i erarch y o f s t ru ct u red rel at i on s h i p s w h i ch can n o t eas i l y b e av o i d ed ” an d t h e r e b y

“ p ro v i d es a cap ti v e v i ct im w h o m ay fear rep ri s al fo r co m pl ai n i n g

, s o t h at t h e i n

ju ry

i s ex acerb at ed b y rep et i t i o n .” Co l ema n v. H o u s i n g Au t h

. o

f Amer i cu s

, 1 9 1 Ga. Ap p.

1 6 6

, 1 6 9 (1 ) (3 8 1 SE2 d 30 3 ) (1 9 8 9 ) An d wh ere a d efen d an t h as en g ag ed i n a s eri es

o f act s o r a p erv as iv e p at t ern o f co n d u ct al l eg ed l y cau s i n g e m o t i o n a l d is t res s

, we

m u st v i ew t h e d efen d an t ’ s act s cu m u l at i v el y

, rat h er t h an i n d i vi d u al l y

, w he n a sse s s i n g

t h ei r e x t rem e an d o u t rag eo u s n at u re. See Fer ma n v. Ba i l ey

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 8

, 2 9 1

(2 ) (a) (6 6 4 SE2 d 2 8 5 ) (2 0 0 8 ) ( “ e v i d en ce o f [d efen d an t ’ s ] perv as i v e pat t ern o f

h aras s i n g b eh av io r d em o n s trat ed t h e ex t rem e an d o ut rag eo u s n at u re o f h i s co n d u ct

,

es p eci al ly gi v en t h e co n t ro l t h at h e ex erci s ed o ver” t h e p l ai n t iff as h er em p l o y er);

31Mea r

s

, 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 4 0 (2 ) (a); Tr i mb l e v. Ci r cu i t Ci t y S t o r es

, 2 20 G a. Ap p

. 4 9 8,

4 9 9 (4 69 SE2 d 7 7 6 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

Here, th e reco rd s h o ws t h at San d s en g ag ed i n at l eas t t wo s peci fi c i ns t an ces o f

co n d u ct t h at wo u l d s u p p ort an i n t en t io n al i n fl i ct io n o f em ot i o n al d i st res s cl ai m

.

Th es e i n cl u d e San d s ’ s al leg ed l y t el l i n g H o wert on t h at h e h ad g o ne i nt o t h e op erat i n g

ro o m w h il e s h e was u n d erg o i n g a gy n eco lo g i cal p ro ced u re fo l l o wi n g h er m i s carri ag e

i n o rd er t o v i ew h er g en i t al s

. Ho wert o n t es t i fi ed th at no t l o n g a f t e r t h e p ro ced u re,

San ds t o l d h er h e h ad g o n e i n t o t h e o p erat i n g ro om “ wh i l e m y l eg s were up i n t h e

s t irru p s

. . . an d g ot a p eek .” He m ad e t h i s co m m en t i n fro n t o f o t h er s taff m em b ers

,

wh i le H o wert o n was as s i st i n g i n San ds ’ s o p erat i n g ro o m

. San d s t h en p ro ceed ed to

q u es ti o n o n e of t h o s e o th er s t aff m em b ers

, wh o h ad al s o as si s t e d i n H o wert o n ’ s

p ro ced ure. Acco rd i n g to Ho wert o n

, San d s as k ed t h i s s t aff m em b er “ wh at [Ho wert o n ]

l o o k ed l i k e d o w n t h ere. If I s hav ed

, wh at co l o r m y carp et w as

. Di d I h av e a l an d i n g

s t ri p

. . . . If I h ad bi g li p s

. . . .” W e t h i n k t h at an av erag e m em b er o f t h e co m

m u n i t y

,

u p o n h eari n g of t h i s co n d uct

, wo ul d res p o n d w i t h o u t rag e. 1 2 Ad di t i o n al l y

, a

1 2 San d s ’ s t el l i n g Ho wert o n t h at h e en g ag ed i n t h i s co nd u ct i s

, wi t h o u t m o re,

s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt a cl ai m fo r i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f em o t i o nal di s t res s

. Ho wert o n

wo u l d n o t n eed to p ro v e t h at San d s act u al l y en t ered t h e o p erat i n g ro om

, o n l y t h at h e

t o l d h er h e d i d s o.

32reas on ab l e ju ry co ul d v i ew t h i s co n d u ct as ex ceed i n g “ a l l reas o nab le b o u n d s o f

d ecen cy s o as t o b e reg ard ed as at ro ci o u s an d u t t erl y i n to l erab le i n a ci v i l i zed

co m m u n it y .” A s h ma n , 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p . at 2 2 9 (1 ) (fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

Si m i l arl y

, a ju ry co u l d al s o co n cl u d e t h at San ds ’ s al l eg ed co n d u ct i n ex p o s i n g

h i s p u b ic h ai r an d t h e t o p of h i s p en i s t o Ho wert o n t o d em o n s t rat e t hat h e d id

, i n fact

,

h av e red h ai r wa s s o “ ab u s i v e o r o b s cen e as n at u ral l y t o h u m i l i at e, em b arras s

,

fri g ht en

, o r ex t rem el y o u t rag e” Ho wert o n

. Tr o n ca l l i

, 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 5 (3 ) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). See Fa yet t e Fa mi ly Den t a l Ca r e

, 3 1 2 Ga

. A p p

. at 2 3 3

(c o n d u c t o f p l ai n t i ff’ s em p l o y er i n ex p os i n g h i m s el f an d m as t u rb at i ng i n t h e

wo rk p l a c e c o u l d b e co n s i d ered ex trem e an d o u t rag eo u s ); Ma n g ru m v. Rep u b l i c

In d u s

., 2 6 0 FSu p p2 d 1 2 2 9

, 12 5 6 (III) (D) (N. D. G a. 2 00 3 ) (s u p erv i s o r’ s al l eg ed

ex p os u re o f h is p en i s t o an em p l o y ee co ul d co ns t i t u t e s u ffi ci en t l y ex t rem e an d

o u t r a g eo u s co n d u ct t o s u p p o rt an i n t en ti o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f em ot i o nal di s t res s cl ai m

u n d er G eo rg i a l aw). Fi n al l y

, th e ju ry co ul d al s o v iew t h e fact t h at San d s ’ s en g ag ed

i n a p erv as i v e p at t ern of h aras s i n g b eh av i o r an d t h at h e d i d s o i n Ho wert o n ’ s

wo rk p l ace as ev i d en ce o f t h e ex t rem e an d o u trag eo u s n at u re o f h i s co n d uct

. Fer ma n

,

2 9 2 Ga. Ap p . at 2 91 (2 ) (a).

33(b ) “ Em o t i o n al di st res s i n cl u d es al l h i g h l y u n pl eas an t m en t al react i o ns s u ch as

fri g ht

, ho rro r, g ri ef, sh am e, h um i l iat i o n

, em b arras s m en t

, an g er, ch ag ri n,

d i s ap p o in t m en t

, wo rry

, an d n au s ea.” Jo n es v. W ar n er

, 30 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9

, 42 -4 3 (3 )

(6 8 6 SE2 d 8 3 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). To reco v er fo r s u ch

d i s t res s

, h o wev er, i t m

us t b e ex t rem e. Id

. T o d em o n s t rat e t h at t h e em ot i o nal d i s t res s

s h e s uffered was sev ere, a p l ai n t i ff m us t s h o w, at t he v ery l eas t

, t h at p h y s ical an d / o r

m en t al m an i fes tat io n s of th at d i s t res s req u ired her t o s eek m ed i cal o r p sy ch o l o g i cal

t reat m en t

. See Tr o n ca ll i

, 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 1

- 1 2 ( a f fi rm i n g ju ry verd i ct i n fav o r o f

p l ai n t i ff o n an i n t en t i o nal i nfl i ct i o n o f em o t i o n al d is t res s cl ai m w h ere t h e ev i d en ce

s h o w ed t h at as a res u l t o f t h e d efen d an t ’ s b eh av io r, sh e “ d ev el o ped sh i n g l e s

,

ex p eri en ced n au s ea a n d v o m it i n g

, b ecam e fri g h t en ed an d d ep res s ed

, an d s o u g ht

p s y ch o lo g i cal co u n s el i n g ”); Co l ema n

, 1 9 1 Ga. Ap p. a t 1 6 8 -1 6 9 (1 ) (em o t i o n al

d i s t res s s uffered b y p l ai nt iff as a res u l t o f s ex ual l y h aras si n g co n d u ct was s u ffi ci en t l y

s ev ere t o s u p p o rt a cl ai m fo r i n t en t io n al i n fl i ct i on o f em o t i o nal d is t res s; ev i d en ce

s h o wed t h at s h e s u ffered “ ph y s i cal m a n i f e s t at i o n s (h ead ach es

, cry in g

, ch es t p ai n s )

as wel l as m en t al an d em o t i o n al s y m pt o m s (u p s et

, d es p on d en cy

, d ep res s i o n )” an d

t h at s h e s o u g h t m ed i cal t reat m en t fo r t h es e co n d i t i o n s ); An d er s o n v. Ch a t h a m

, 1 9 0

Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 9

, 5 6 7 (8 ) (3 79 S E 2 d 7 9 3 ) (1 9 8 9) (u p h o l d in g j u ry v erd i ct i n fav o r o f

34p l ai n t i ff o n an i n t en t i o n al i nfl i ct i o n o f em o t io n al d i s t res s cl ai m wh ere t h e ev i d en ce

s h o wed t h at s h e su ffered “ si g ni fi can t p h y s i cal m an i fes t at i o n s d irect l y res u l t ing f ro m ”

t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n du ct ). C om p a r e Fa yet t e Fa mi ly Den t a l Ca re

, 3 1 2 G a. Ap p

. at 2 3 3

-

2 3 4 (ev i den ce s h o wi n g th at p l ai n t i ff was “ s h o ck ed ” an d “ u p s et ” an d t h at sh e s u ffered

a d ep res s ed s ex d ri ve was i n su ffi ci en t as a m at t er of l aw t o p ro v e s ev ere em o t i o n al

d i s t res s

, g i v en t h at p l ai n ti ff “ s o u g h t n o t reat m en t fro m an y t y p e of d o ct o r,

p s y ch i at ri s t, p s y ch o l o g i s t

, or co un s el or”); W a r n er

, 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 -4 3 (3 )

(p l ai nt i ff’ s ev i d en ce fai l ed t o p ro v e s ev ere em o t i o n al d i s t res s wh ere i t sh o wed o n l y

t h at pl ai nt i ff s u ffered an x i et y

, n erv o u s n es s

, s leep l es s n es s

, an d i rri t ab i l i t y an d t h at s h e

fai l ed t o s eek m ed i cal or ps y ch i at ri c t reat m en t fo r t h es e s y m p t o m s); Ab d

u l -Ma l i k v.

Ai r Tr a n A i r wa

ys

, 2 97 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 2

, 8 5 8 (1 ) (6 7 8 SE2 d 5 5 5 ) (2 00 9 ) (affi rm i n g g ran t

o f s u m m ary ju dg m en t t o d efen d an t o n pl ai nt i ff’ s i nt en t i o n al i n fl ict i o n o f em o t i o n al

d i s t res s cl ai m ; ev i d en ce s h o wi n g o nl y t h at p lai n t i ff s u ffered s l eep l es s n es s an d wei g ht

g ai n an d th at p l ai n t i ff s o u g h t n o p ro fes s i o n al h el p fo r t h es e s y m p t o m s was

i n s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab l i s h s ev ere em o t i o n al d i s t res s ).

Acco rd i ng to Ho wert o n, San d s ’ s co n du ct m ad e h er feel “ an g ry ,” “ d i s t res s ed ,”

“ h u m il i at ed ,” “ u ps et ,” an d “ d i s tu rb ed .” Sh e fu rt her t es ti fi ed t h at t h e s tres s sh e fel t as

a res u l t o f wo rk i ng wi t h San ds p ro m p t ed h er t o s eek t reat m en t fro m h er fam i l y

35p h y s i ci an fo r t h es e s y m pt om s

. Ho wert o n ’ s m ed i cal reco rd s s h o w t h at s he v i s i t ed h er

fam i l y p h y s ici an at l eas t t h ree t i m es d u ri n g t h e l a s t s i x m o n t hs s h e wo rk ed wi th

San ds

. On J u n e 10

, 20 1 0

, H owert o n m ad e a “ n ew p at i en t ” v i s i t t o h er fam i l y

p h y s i ci an

. On th i s v i s i t

, Ho wert o n rep ort ed ex p eri en ci n g al op eci a (h ai r l o s s ), s t res s

,

an x iet y

, m i g rai n es

, s l eep d i ffi cu l t i es , an d fat i g u e. Her p h y s i ci an p u t h er o n a “ t ri al ”

p res cri pt i o n o f an an t id ep res s an t (Lex ap ro ), an d Ho wert o n t es t i fi ed t h at s h e t o o k t h i s

m ed i cat i o n fo r ap p ro x im at el y t wo m o n th s

. A t her fo l l o w-u p v i s i t t wo week s l at er,

Ho wert o n ’ s p hy s ici an p res cri b ed an an t i -an x iet y m ed icat i o n an d a s leep ai d , an d i t

ap p ears h e ren ewed th o s e p res cri p t i on s i n D e cem b er 2 0 10

. A t t h at Decem

b er v i s i t

,

Ho wert o n ag ai n rep o rt ed s u fferi n g fro m al o p eci a an d an x iet y

. Th i s ev i d en ce, wh i ch

s h o ws t h at Ho wert o n s u ffered p h y s i cal an d m en t al m an i fes t at i o n s o f h er al l eg ed

em ot i o n al di s t res s sev ere en ou gh t o req u ire m ed ical t reat m en t

, s u ffi ces to al l o w h er

i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f em ot i o n al d i s t res s cl ai m t o s u rv i v e s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

.

As t h e fo reg oi n g d em o n s t rat es

, Ho wert o n pres en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce to

al l o w r e a s o n a b l e ju ro rs t o co n cl u d e t h at San d s ’ s al leg ed co nd u ct was ex t rem e an d

o u t rag eo u s an d t h at s h e s u ffered s ev ere em o t i o n al d i s t res s as a res u l t o f t h at

36co n du ct

. 1 3 A cco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju dg m en t t o San d s

o n Ho wert o n ’ s cl ai m

fo r i n t en ti o n al i n fl ict i o n o f em o t i o nal d i s t res s

.

3

. Fi n al l y

, Ho wert o n co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Harb in Cl in i c o n h er cl ai m fo r n eg li gen t s u perv i s i o n

. 1 4 W e d i sag ree.

“ Fo r a n em

p l o y er to b e h el d l i ab l e fo r neg l i g en t s u p erv i s i o n, t h ere m u s t b e

‘ su ffi ci en t ev i den ce t o es t a b l i s h t h at t h e em pl o y er reas o nab l y k n ew o r s h ou l d h av e

k n o wn o f an em

p l o ye e’ s t en d en ci es t o en g ag e in cert ai n b eh av i o r rel ev an t t o t h e

i n ju ri es al l eg ed l y i n cu rred b y t h e p l ai n t i ff.’ ” No v a r e Gr o u p v. Sa r if

, 2 9 0 Ga. 1 8 6,

1 9 0 -1 9 1 (4 ) (7 1 8 SE2 d 3 0 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ), q u o t i n g Leo v. W a f f l e

Ho u s e

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 38

, 8 4 1 (2 ) (6 8 1 SE2 d 25 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Here, t h e reco rd i s d ev o id

1 3 In h is b r i ef, San ds arg u es t h at we s h o u ld affi rm t he tri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o hi m o n Ho wert o n ’ s i n t en t i on al in fl ict i o n o f em o ti o n al d i s t res s

cl ai m b ecau s e Ho wert o n h as fai l ed to s ho w th at h er em o t i o n al d i s t res s res ul t ed fro m

San ds ’ s co n d u ct

, rat h er th an o th er ci rcu m st an ces in Ho wert o n ’ s li fe. Th e qu es t i o n o f

cau s at i o n

, h o wev er, i s “ p ecu l ia r l y

. . . f o r t h e ju ry

, an d a co u rt s h o u l d no t t ak e t h e

p l ace o f t h e ju ry i n ” res o l v in g t h at q u e s t i on

. W i l l i a ms v. Ken n ed

y, 2 4 0 Ga. 1 6 3 (1 )

(2 4 0 SE2 d 5 1 ) (1 9 7 7 ). See al s o Al l en v. Zi o n Ba p t i s t Ch u r ch o

f Br as el t o n

, 3 2 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 0 8, 2 1 6 (1 ) (c) (7 6 1 SE2 d 6 0 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ [c] au s at i o n i s u s u al l y a ju ry q u es t i o n,

ex cep t i n p l ai n

, p al p ab l e an d u n di s p u t ab l e cas es ”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ).

1 4 Ho wert o n ’ s c om

p l ai n t as sert ed cl ai m s ag ai n s t Harb i n Cl in i c fo r n eg l i g en t

h i ri n g, ret en t i o n

, an d s u p erv i si o n o f San d s

. On ap peal

, h o wev er, Ho wert on co n ced es

t h a t Harb i n Cl i n i c can n ot b e fo u n d l i ab le fo r t h e n eg l ig en t h i ri n g an d ret en t i o n o f

San ds an d s h e d o es n ot ch al l en g e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s gran t o f s um m ary ju dg m en t to

Harb i n Cl i n i c o n th es e cl ai m s

.

37o f an y ev i d en ce sh o wi ng t h at Harb i n Cl i n i c k n ew o r s h o u l d hav e kn o wn o f San d s ’ s

p ro p en s it y t o en g ag e i n u n pro fes s i o n al an d s ex u al l y h aras s i n g co n d u ct

. By

Ho wert o n ’ s o wn ad m i s si o n, s h e d i d n o t rep o rt San d s’ s co n d u ct t o an y o n e u n t i l

J an u ary 2 0 1 1

, ap p ro x i m at el y t hree week s b efo re s he l eft San d s ’ s s u rg i cal t eam

. An d

Ho wert o n m ad e t hat rep o rt on l y t o h er s u perv i s o rs at F M C

. Th ere i s n o ev i d en ce

s h o wi n g i f o r wh en t h i s i n fo rm at i o n reg ard i n g San d s ’ s al l eg e d co n d u ct was

co m m u n icat ed t o H arb i n Cl i n i c p ri o r t o i ts b ei ng s erv ed w i t h t h e co m p l ai n t

. No r i s

t h ere an y ev i d en ce s h o wi n g th at Harb i n Cl i n i c had prev i o us l y recei v ed co m p l ai n t s

reg ard i n g al leg ed l y

i n ap p ro p ri at e co n d u ct b y San d s.

Fu rt herm o re, Harb i n Cl i n i c p ro d u ced ev id en ce s ho wi n g t h at i t d i d a t h o ro u g h

b ack gro un d ch eck o n San d s b efo re h i ri n g h i m

, an d t hat ch eck rev eal ed n o in d i cat i o n

t h at San ds h ad ev er en g ag ed i n an y k i n d o f im pro p er co n d u ct

, s ex u al l y h aras s i n g o r

o t h erwi s e, p ri o r t o h i s em

p l oy m en t wi t h Harb i n Cl i n ic. Gi v en t h e ev i d en ce of reco rd

,

t h e t r i a l c ou rt di d n o t err i n g ran t i n g s um m ary ju d g m en t t o Harb i n Cl i n i c o n

Ho wert o n ’ s n eg l i g en t s u perv i si o n cl ai m

. See Do e I v

. Y o u n g W o men ’s Ch r i s t i a n

As s n

. o f Gr ea t er At l a n t a

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 3

, 4 0 8 (2 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 4 5 3 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(affi rm i n g g ran t of sum

m a r y j u d g m en t t o em

p lo y er o n cl ai m fo r n eg l i g en t s u p erv i s i o n

38wh ere t h e r e c o r d was “ d ev oi d o f ev i d en ce” t h at t he em p l oy ee i n q u es t i o n h ad ev er

en g ag ed i n s i m i l ar b eh av io r); Leo

, 29 8 Ga. Ap p . at 8 4 2 (2 ) (s am e).

Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h ab o v e, we rev ers e th e g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t in

fav o r o f San ds o n Ho wert o n ’ s cl a i m fo r t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi t h h er em p l o y m en t

co n tract an d her cl ai m fo r i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f em o t i o n al d i s tres s

. W e affi rm t h e

g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju dg m en t i n fav o r o f Harb i n Cl i n ic as t o al l o f H o wert on ’ s cl ai m s

ag ai n s t i t

.

Ju d g men t a f f i rmed i n p a r t a nd r ever

s ed in p a r t. Mi l l er

, J., co n cu r

s

. An d r ews

,

P. J., co ncu r

s i n Di vi s io n s 1 a n d

3 a n d i n t h e j ud

g men t

.

39