FI FTH DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, REESE and BETHEL, 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 l s .us /r ule s

M ar ch 7, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 98 8

. AM ERICAN A CAD. OF GEN. PHYSICIANS, INC. et

al . v . LAPLANTE.

BETHEL, J u d g e.

Am eri can Acad em

y o f Gen eral Ph y s ici an s

, In c. (t h e “ Acad em y ”), Am eri can

Co l leg e o f Gen eral M ed i ci ne, In c. (t h e “ Co l l eg e”), an d Am eri can Bo ard o f Gen eral

Pract i ce, In c. (t h e “ Bo ard ”), (co l l ect iv el y

, t h e “ Org an i zat i o n s ”) ap peal fro m an o rd er

en fo rci n g t h e Set t l em en t Ag reem en t (t he “ Ag reem en t ”) wi t h Sh arro n L ee LaPl an t e

( “ L a P l an t e”). Th e Org an i zat io n s arg u e t h e t ri al co u rt erred in en fo rci n g t h e

Ag reem en t b ecau s e t he Org an izat i o n s’ ag en t s ex ceed ed t h ei r au t h o ri t y

, an es s en t i al

p ro v is i o n o f t he A g reem en t i s v o i d as ag ai ns t p u bl i c p o l icy

, an d th ere was n o m eet i n g

o f t h e m i n d s b et ween part i es

. Fo r t h e reas on s ex p l ai n ed b el o w

, we a f f i r m b ecau s e

t h ere ex i s t ed a su ffi ci en t m eet i n g o f t h e m i nd s t o v al i d at e an d en fo rce th e Ag reem en t

.On ap p eal fro m a t r i a l c o u rt ’ s o rd er to en fo rce a s et t l em en t ag reem en t

, t h i s

Co u rt ap p l i es a d e n ov o s t an d ard o f rev i ew b ecau s e

t h e i s s u es rai s ed are an al o g o u s t o t h os e i n a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t

, [an d ] i n o rd er t o s u cceed o n a m ot i on t o en fo rce a set t l em en t

ag reem en t

, a p art y

m u s t s h o w t h e co urt t h at t h e d o cu m en ts

, affi d av i t s

,

d e p o s i t i on s an d ot her ev i d en ce i n th e reco rd rev eal th at th ere i s n o

ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o creat e a j u ry i ss u e o n at l eas t o n e es sen t i al el em en t

o f t h e Ap p el l an t ’ s cas e. Th u s, we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce i n a l i gh t m o s t

fav o rab le t o th e n on m o v i n g p art y [.] 1

So v i ewed

, t h e e v i d en ce s h o ws t h at Th e Org an i zat i on s fi l ed a co m p l ai nt

al l eg in g li b el

, s l an der, an d o th er cl a i m s a g a i n s t LaPl an t e on Ap ri l 1 3

, 2 0 1 2

. Aft er

co n ten t i o u s d i sco very d i s pu t es

, t h e cas e was o rd ered t o m ed i at i o n i n O ct o b er 2 0 1 3.

In J an u ary 2 0 1 4

, LaPl an t e m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n al l cl ai m s

, wh i ch t h e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed i n p art an d d en i ed i n p art

. 2 M ed i at i o n o ccu rred o n Au gu s t 2 8

, 2 0 1 5

, at

1 Jo h n s on v. DeKa lb Ct

y., 3 1 4 G a

. Ap p. 7 9 0

, 79 1 (7 2 6 SE2 d 1 0 2 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

2 Su m m ary ju d g m en t was g ran t e d i n LaPl an t e’ s fav o r as t o t h e cl ai m s fo r

s erv i ce m ark i n fri ng em en t, d ecep t i v e t r a d e p ract i ces

, an d breach o f co n t ract

. Su m m ary ju d g m en t was d en i ed as t o t h e s l an d er an d l i b el cl ai m s

.

2wh i ch Drs

. J o s e G arci a 3 (“ Dr. Garci a”) an d Geo rg e Co vert 4 (“ Dr. Co v ert ”) an d

at t o rn ey R o b ert Dy er (co ll ect i v el y

, t h e “ Ag en ts ”) ap p eared o n b eh al f o f t h e

Org an i zat i on s ; LaPl an te, h er at t o rn ey

, an d a m ed i at o r were al s o p res en t

. Th e p art i es

reach ed an ag reem en t wh ereb y LaPl an t e ag reed t o r e m o v e h er web si tes 5 fro m t h e

I n t e r n et

, n o t p u b l i s h an y fu t u re web s i tes u si n g t h e d o m ai n n am es i d en t i fi ed i n t h e

Ag reem en t

, an d n o t p u b li s h an y i n fo rm at i o n o n an y web s it e i n t h e fu t u re rel at i n g to

t h e Org an i zat i o n s

. In ret u rn

, t h e Org an i zat i o n s ag reed t o rem o v e t h ei r web s it es 6 fro m

t h e In t ern et an d n o t p u bl i s h a web s i t e i n t h e fu t u re u s i n g th e d o m ai n n am es i d en t i fi ed

i n t he Ag reem en t . Th e Ag reem en t al s o p ro v id ed fo r a g en eral rel eas e b y each p art y

fro m “ an y a n d al l act i o n s

, cau s es of act i o n, s u i t s

, d eb t s

, s u m s o f m o n ey

, acco u nt s

,

o b l i g at i o n, d em an d s an d d am ag es

, o f ev ery nam e, k i n d an d n at ure w h at s o ev er, p as t

3 D r

. Ga r c i a ’s offi ci al t it l e at t h e ti m e h e s i gn ed t h e Ag reem en t was Ch i ef

Fi n an ci al Offi cer fo r t h e Bo ard an d t h e Co l leg e.

4 Dr. Co vert ’ s offi ci al t i t l e at t h e ti m e h e s i gn ed t h e Ag reem en t was Pres i d en t

an d CEO o f t h e Acad em

y

.

5 LaPl an t e o wn ed t he web s i t es w i t h t h e d o m ai n n am es : www.aag p s cam .co m

,

w w w

. a c g ma l e r t

. c o m, w w w

. a b g p a l e r t

. c o m, a n d w w w

. a a g p a l e r t

. c o m

. T h e

Org an i zat i on s s u ed LaPl an t e al l eg i ng i n p art t h at LaPl an t e us ed those web si t es t o p o s t

d efam at o ry

m at eri al ab o u t t h e Org an i zat i o n s an d t h ei r m em b ers

.

6 Th e Org an i zat i o n s o wn ed t h e web s it es w i t h t h e d o m ai n n am es :

www.ab g p .o rg , www.aap g

. o rg , an d www.acg m .o rg

.

3o r p res en t

, wh et h er k no wn or u n k n o wn

, wh et h er at l aw o r i n eq u it y

, ari s i n g o r

ex i s t in g o n acco u n t o f an y act i o n or fai lu re t o act o n o r b efo re t h e b eg in n i n g o f t i m e

t o t he d at e o f t h i s Ag reem en t.”

Th e Ag reem en t was read i n t o t h e reco rd b y th e m ed i at o r i n t he p res en ce o f t h e

t ri al ju d g e, t he p art ies

, an d t h ei r co u n s el

, an d aft er a s h o rt d i s cu ss i o n i n o p en co u rt

,

was s i g ned b y th e p art i es

. Ab o u t a m o n t h lat er, LaPl an t e m o v ed t o en fo rce t h e

A gr e e m e n t, al leg i n g th e Org an i zat i o n s fai led t o co m p ly wi t h t h ei r res p o n sibilitie s. O n

Feb ru ary 1 0

, 2 0 1 6

, t h e t ri al co u rt h eard arg u m en t s o n t h e m o ti o n an d l at er i s s u ed an

o rd er fi n d i ng p arag rap h s t wo a n d f o u r v al i d an d en fo rceab l e. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

t h at t h ere ex i s t ed a s u ffi ci en t m eet i n g o f t h e m i n d s t o v al i d at e an d en fo rce p arag rap h

t wo o f t he Ag reem en t an d ord ered t he Org an i zat i o n s t o t ak e d o w n t h e i r web s i t es

. .

Th e t ri al co u rt fu rt h er fo u nd p arag rap h fo u r t o b e val i d an d en fo rceab l e as t he p art i es

cl earl y in t en d ed rel eas e o n e an o t h er o f an y an d al l cl ai m s w h i ch wo ul d i n cl ud e i s s u es

reg ard i n g p ro fes s i o n al co nd u ct . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

1

. Th e O rg an i zat i o n s arg u e t h e t ri al co u rt err ed in en fo rci n g t h e A g reem en t

b ecau s e th e Ag en ts ex ceed ed th ei r au t h or it y

. Th e Org an i zat i on s co nced ed i n t h ei r

b ri ef t h at t h e Ag en t s were s en t b y t h e Org an i zat i o n s t o at t e nd c o urt -o rd ered m ed i at i o n

wi t h au th o ri t y to “ s et t l e t h e cas e” an d co n t ract o n beh al f of t he Org an izat i o ns

. Bu t t h e

4Org an i zat i on s arg u e t h at t h e A g en t s ex ceed ed t hei r au t h o ri t y i f t h e i n t e n t o f t h e

Ag reem en t was to d en y t h e Org an i zat i o n s a p res en ce o n th e In t ern et

. At th e h eari n g

o n L aPl an te’ s m o t i o n to e n fo rce, t he O rg an i zat i o n s rei t erat ed t h at t h e i s s u e o f

wh et h er t h e Ag en t s ex ceed ed t hei r au t h o ri t y w as co n t i n gen t u p o n wh et h er t h e t erm s

o f t h e Ag reem en t p ro h ib it ed t h e Org an i zat i o n s fro m h av i n g an y p res en ce wh at s o ev er

o n t he In t ern et

. Ho wev er, o n ap p eal

, t h e Org an i zat i o n s n ow arg u e t h at t h e A g reem en t

i t sel f was “ ex t rao rd i n ary ,” “ en t i rel y rep u gn an t ” an d “ s o u n reas o n ab l e” b ecau s e t h e

Ag en t s ag reed t o s h ut d o wn th e Org an i zat i on s ’ o wn web s i t es wi t h o u t su ffi ci en t

reas on

, an d t h at t h e Ag en t s i m p l i ed l y ex ceed ed t h ei r au t h ori t y b y s i g n i ng i t

. Th i s

arg u m en t was n o t rai s ed i n t h e co u rt b el ow.

It i s w el l s et t l ed t h at is s u es p res en t ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal fu rn i s h

n o t h i n g fo r u s t o rev i ew[,] 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 th e t ri al co u rt wh ere p ro p er ex cep t i o n i s t ak en

. N o r

m a y [a p l ai nt i ff] al ter t h e co u rs e of i t s arg u m en t s m i d -s t ream

, rai s i n g

i s su es o n ap p eal t h at were n o t rai s ed b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt

. 7

7 Pi n n a cl e Pr o

p

. V, LLC v. Ma i n l i n e S

u p p ly o f At la n ta

, LLC

, 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 9 4,

1 0 0

, (7 3 5 SE2 d 1 6 6) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed ). S ee a ls o Pf ei f f er v.

Ga

. Dep t

. o

f Tr a n s p

., 27 5 G a. 8 2 7

, 8 2 8 -2 9 (2 ) (5 73 S.E.2 d 3 8 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (Co u rt o f

Ap p eal s p ro p e r l y refu s ed t o rev i ew arg u m en t m ad e i n o p p o s i t i o n t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t t hat was rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap peal ) ; CPD Pl a s ter i ng

, In c. v. Mi l l er

, 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 2

, 1 7 4 (1 ) (6 4 3 SE2 d 3 92 ) (2 00 7 ) (p art y co u l d n o t ab an d o n an i s s u e

i n t h e t ri al co urt a n d o n a p p eal rai s e q u es t i o n s o r is s u es n ot rai s ed b el o w); an d

5He r e

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e Ag reem en t di d no t p ro h i b i t t h e

Org an i zat i on s fro m h av i n g an y web p res en ce, b u t on l y p ro h i b i t ed t he Org an i zat i on s

fro m u s i n g t h e afo rem en t i o ned d o m ai n n am es an d web s i t es

. Th e Org an i zat i o n s n o w

s eek t o al t er t h ei r arg u m en t o n a p p e a l b y rem ov i n g t h e co nd i t i o ns u p o n wh i ch t h e

Ag en t s ex ceed ed t h ei r au t h o ri t y

. Th i s can n o t b e do n e o n ap p eal

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h i s

en u m erat i o n o f erro r l ack s m eri t

.

Bu t ev en i f t h e Org an i zat i o n h ad rai s ed t h i s arg um en t b el o w, i t wo ul d s t i l l fai l

b ecau s e “ [i ] n Geo rg i a, s et t lem en t ag reem en ts a r e h i g hl y fav o red u nd er t h e l aw an d

wi l l b e u p h el d wh en ev er p os s i b l e” an d t h e l aw can no t co n cern i t s el f wi t h t h e

Org an i zat i on s l i n g eri n g d i s co n t en t o v er a b arg ai n s t ru ck o n t h e reco rd an d wi t h t h e

b en efi t o f co un s el

. S

a n d er s v. Gr a ves

, 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7 9

, 7 7 9 (6 7 8 SE2 d 2 2 0 ) (2 0 0 9 )

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot err wh en i t en fo rced t h e Ag reem en t

.

2

. Th e Org an i z a t i o n s nex t arg u e t hat an es s en t i al el em en t o f th e A g reem en t

co n trav en es fed eral l aw an d i s v o i d a s a g a i n st pu b l i c p o li cy

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e

Org an i z a t i o n s co n t en d t h at th e g en eral rel eas e l an g u ag e i n p arag rap h fo ur o f t h e

V e n t u r e Des i

g n v. O r i g i n al Ap p a l a ch i a n A r t wo r

ks

, In c., 1 9 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 2, 4 3 4 (3 )

(3 9 8 S E 2 d 7 8 1 ) (1 99 0 ) (co n tract o r co u l d n ot arg u e fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal t h at

an in d em n i t y ag reem en t w as co n t rary t o p u b l i c p o l i cy u n d er ap p l i cab l e st at u t e an d

was t h erefo re i n v al i d ).

6Ag reem en t i s u nen fo rceab l e b ecau s e i t wo u l d i l l eg al l y req u i re t h e Org an i zat i o n s t o

av o id co m

p l i an ce wi t h fed eral l aw wh i ch req u i res h eal t h care en t i t i es t o rep o rt

fi nd i ng s fro m t h ei r peer rev i ew act i o n s

. 8 Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at LaPl an t e h ad n ot

s u b m i t t ed h ers el f to t h e au t h o ri t y o f th e Org an i zat i o n s 9 b ecau s e h er m em b ers h i p wi th

t h e Org an i zat i o ns ex p i red i n 20 1 0

, an d t h e Org an i zat i o n s d i d n o t h av e a ri g h t to

en g ag e i n a rev i ew o f LaPl an t e’ s p ro fes s i on al co nd u ct

. W e ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt

.

Th e ev i den ce s h o ws t h at LaPl an t e was a m em b er o f t h e Org an i z a t i o n s fro m

2 0 0 5 u n t i l ap pro xi m at el y 2 0 1 0 wh en s h e s to p ped p ay in g m em b ers h i p d u es

. Th e t ri al

co u rt fo u n d t hat LaPl an t e h ad n o t b een a m em b er fo r a n u m

ber o f y ears an d s h o u ld

h av e b een d ro p p ed fro m t h e Org an i zat i o n s ’ m e m b e r s h i p ro ll s

. Ho w ev er, t h e

Org an i zat i on s arg u e LaPl an t e i s s t i l l a m em ber b ecau se s h e n ev er fo rm al l y res i g n ed

8 Heal th Care Qu al i ty Im

p ro v em en t Act of 1 9 86

, 4 2 USC § 1 1 1 3 3 (a) (1 ) (c) (i )

(3 ) (“ HCQIA ” ) p ro v i des in p art t h at “ [e] ach h eal th care en t it y w h i ch

. . . i s a

p ro fes s i on al s o ci et y [an d] t ak es a p ro fes si o n al rev i ew act i on wh i ch ad v ers el y affect s

t h e m em bers hi p o f a p h y s i ci an i n t h e s o ci et y

, s hal l rep o rt t o t h e Bo ard o f M ed i cal

Ex am i ners

. . . t h e n am e o f t he p h y s i ci an o r p ract i t i o n er i n v o l ved

, a d es cri p ti o n o f t h e

act s o r o m i s s i o n s or o t h er reas o n s fo r t h e act i o n or, i f kn o w n

, fo r t h e s u rren d er.

. . as

t h e Secret ary

[o f Heal t h an d Hu m an Serv i ces ] d eem s ap p ro p ri at e.”

9 Th e Acad em

y i s a “ h eal t h care en t i t y ” u nd er H CQIA. Fo r o ur p u rp o s es

, a

h eal t h care en t i t y m ean s a p ro fes s i o nal s o ci et y of h eal t h care p ract i t i o n ers t hat en g ag e

i n p ro fes s i o n al rev i ew act i v i t y t h ro u g h a fo rm al p eer rev iew p ro ces s o f i t s m em b ers

. S ee 4 5 CFR § 6 0 .3

.

7h er m em

b ers h ip

. Th is arg u m en t d o es n o t co m p o rt wi t h t h e t erm s o f t h e

Org an i zat i on s ’ m em

bers h i p ag reem en t wh i ch req ui res m em b ers t o p ay

an nu al d u es

i n o rd er t o m ai n t ai n t hei r m em b ers h i p

. Th o s e s am e t erm s al s o n o t e t h at t h e p eer

rev i ew o f m em

b ers i s l i m i t ed t o t h e t i m e i n w h i ch t h ey are m em b ers

. In t h i s cas e, t h e

p eer rev i ew p ro ces s was n ot i n i t i a t e d u n t i l Feb ru ary 2 0 1 6, n earl y si x y ears aft er

LaPl an te’ s m em

b ers h ip ex p i red

. 1 0

It is wel l es t ab l is h ed u n d er Geo rg i a l aw t hat

[t ] h e card i n al ru l e of co n s t ru ct i on i s t o as cert ai n t he i n t en t i o n o f th e

p art ies

. If t hat i n ten t i o n i s cl ear an d it co n t rav en es n o ru l e o f l a w a n d

s u ffi ci en t wo rd s are u sed t o arri v e at t h e i n t en ti on

, i t s hal l b e en fo rced

.

. . . Fu rt h er, t h e co n s tru ct i o n wh i ch wi l l u p h o l d a co nt ract i n wh o l e an d

i n ev ery p art i s t o b e p re f e rred

, an d

. . . n o co n s t ru ct io n i s req ui red o r

ev en p erm it t ed wh en t h e l an g u ag e em p l o y ed b y t h e p art i es i n t he

co n t ract i s p l ai n, u n am

bi g u o u s

, an d cap ab l e o f o nl y o ne reas o n ab l e

i n t erp ret at i o n

. It i s wel l es tab l i s h ed t h at a co u rt s ho u l d av oi d an

i n t erp ret at i o n o f a co n t ract wh i ch ren d ers p o rt i o ns o f t h e l an gu ag e of th e

co n t ract m ean i n g l es s

.

Fr eu n d v. W

a r r en

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 5

, 7 6 8 –6 9 (7 4 0 SE2 d 7 2 7 ) (2 0 1 3) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

1 0 Th e d o cu m en t s rel at ed t o t h e p eer rev i ew act i o n were n o t i n cl u d ed wi t h t h e

reco rd o n ap p eal

.

8Here, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at

, p er t he t erm s o f t h e Ag reem en t

, t h e p a r t i es

cl earl y i nt en d ed t o h av e n o fu rt h er d eal i n g s wi t h o ne an o t h er, wh i ch wo u l d i n cl u d e

i s su es reg ard i n g p ro fes s i o n al co n d u ct

. No t hi n g i n t h e reco rd s ug g es t s LaPl an t e i s s t i l l

a m em b er o f t h e Org an i zat i o n s an d t h e r efo re s u bject to t h ei r p ro fes s io n al rev i ew

au t h o ri t y

. Th e O rg an izat i o n s d i d n o t ap p eal t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t hat LaPl an t e i s n o

l o n g er a m em

b er, an d a s s u c h

, we ag ree t h at t h e Org an i zat i o n s are u n d er n o

o b l i g at i o n u n d er fed eral l aw o r h av e au t h o ri t y u nd er t h e t erm s o f t h ei r m em b ers h ip

ag reem en t t o rev i ew an d rep ort o n t h e p ro fes s i o n al co n du ct o f LaPl an t e. 1 1

3

. Fi n al l y

, t h e O rg an izat i o n s arg u e t h a t t h e Ag reem en t i s u n en fo rceab l e

b ecau s e t h ere was n o m eet i n g o f t he m i n d s

. In t h e t ri al co u rt

, t h e Org an i zat i on s

arg u ed i t was u ncl e a r f ro m t h e l an g u ag e i n t h e Ag reem en t an d s u b s eq u en t

co rres p o n d en ce wi t h LaPl an t e wh et h er th e O rg an i zat i o n s were barr e d fro m ev er

h av in g an y p res en ce on th e In t ern et

. Th e Org an i zat io n s co n ced e t hat t h e A g reem en t

m ak es cl ear t h at t h e p art i es co u l d n o t u s e t h e d o m ai n n am es or web s it es d efi n ed

1 1 Th e Org an izat i o ns arg u e t h i s Co urt ’ s h o l d i ng Ta yl o r v. Ken n es t o n e Ho sp

., In c. ap p l ies b ecau s e an y co n t ract t o av o i d t h e p eer rev i ew rep o rt i n g req u i rem en t s o f

HCQIA were v oi d as ag a i n s t p u b l i c p o l icy

. 26 6 Ga. A p p

. 1 4

, 2 2 (4 ) (b ) (5 9 6 SE2 d

1 7 9 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Th e h ol d i n g i n Ta yl o r i s d is ti n g u i s h ed by t h e fact t h at t he d oct o r h ad

s u b m i t t ed h i m s el f t o t h e au t h ori t y o f t h e h o s p i t al an d w as th erefo re s u b ject t o t h e p eer

rev i ew. Fu rt h er, th e ag reem en t b et wee n t h e h o s p i t al an d t h e d o ct or on i t s face

v i o l at ed t h e rep ort i ng req u irem en t s o f t h e co m p l et ed p eer rev i ew. Id

.

9t h erei n

. Bu t t h e O r g a n i zat i o n s co n t en d t h at t h e Ag reem en t was i n t erp ret ed by

LaPl an te t o m ean t h e Org an i zat i o n s are b arred fro m p u b l i sh i n g “ an y web s i t e o n an y

d o m ai n n am e.” W e d i s ag ree.

“ [A] n ag reem en t bet ween t wo p art i es wi l l occu r o n l y wh en t h e m i n ds o f t h e

p art i es m eet at t h e s am e t i m e, up o n t h e s am e s u b ject -m at t er, an d i n t h e s am e s en s e.

Co x B r o a d

. Co r p

. v. Na t ’l Co l l eg i a t e At hl et i c As s ’n

, 2 5 0 G a

. 3 9 1

, 3 9 5 (2 9 7 SE2 d

7 3 3 ) (1 98 2 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t ted ). “ In d et erm i ni n g i f p art i es h a d t h e m u t u al as s en t o r

m eet i n g of t h e m i n d s n eces s ary t o reach ag reem en t

, co u rt s ap p l y an o b j ect i ve t h eo ry

o f i n t en t wh ereb y o n e p art y ’ s i n t en ti o n i s d eem ed to b e t h at m ean i ng a reas o n a b l e

m an i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e o t h er co n t ract in g p art y wo u l d as cri b e t o t h e fi rs t p ar t y’s

m an i fes t at i o n s o f as s en t .” Id

. “ W h en p art ies t o a co n t ract

. . . k n o w t h a t t h ey h av e

d i fferen t i n t en ts wi t h res p ect t o cert ai n lan g u ag e b efo re t h ey en t er i n t o t he co n t ract

,

t h ere can b e n o m eet i n g o f t h e m i n d s u po n t h e s am e s u b ject m at t er an d i n t h e s am e

s en s e an d n o ag reem en t o n t h at i s s u e.” Id

.

In t h i s cas e, aft er t h e part i es reach ed a s et t l em en t i n m ed i at io n

, th e t erm s o f t h e

Ag reem en t were read i n t o t h e reco rd b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt

. Aft er t he t erm s were read

,

t h e fo l lo wi n g d i s cu s s i o n o ccu rred b et ween t h e tri al co u rt an d co u n s el fo r t h e p art ies :

10COURT: O k ay

. M ay I as k a q u es t i o n ? I kn o w i t ’ s p ro b ab l y i rreg u lar fo r

– i n a m ed i a t i o n

, bu t i n t h e co n t ex t o f rem o v i n g web si t es

, i s t h e

–

wi t h ou t d efi n i n g wh at t h at m ean s

, I gu es s i t wo u l d b e i m p o rt an t fo r m e

t o k n o w t h at t h e part i es ’ co n t em p lat i on i s t hat t h e web s it es wo u l d n o

l o n g er b e act iv e. M ean i n g t hat s o m eo n e co u ld n ot ad d co n t en t t o t h o s e

web s i t es an d al l p art ies u n d ers t a n d t hat

, ev en aft er t h es e web si tes are

rem o v ed

, th ere m a y b e cach ed s h ad o ws of th es e web s it es fo rev er.

M EDIATO R: An d I t h i n k I can s t at e t h e u n d ers t an d i n g o f th e p art i es

,

Yo u r H o n o r, t o

– t o b e co rrect ed b y Co u n s el

, i t ’ s th ei r i nt en t t o tak e

t h es e s i t es d o w n

– COURT: (In t erp o s i n g) S o t h ey ’ re n ot act i v e?

M EDIATOR:

– n o t act i v e. Co m p l e t el y t ak e t h em d o wn an d t h ey ’ re

g o i n g t o h av e t o wo rk wi t h t h e d o m ai n p ro v i d ers t o

– n o bo d y can

p ro v i d e an y n ew co n ten t

, react i v at e t h es e we b s i t es

, an d t h at ’ s wh y we

i d e n t i f i e d b o t h t h e d o m ai n n am es th at acces s t h e s it e an d t he s i t es

t h em s el ves

. Is t h at an accu rat e s t at em en t? LAPLANTE’ S COUNSEL:

T h a t ’s c o r r e c t

. O R G A N I Z A T I O N S ’ C O U N S E L : T h a t ’s o u r

u n d ers t an di n g as wel l , Yo u r Ho n o r.

No wh ere i n t h e reco rd d o es LaPl an t e as s ert t h at t h e Org an i zat i o ns are b arred fro m

h av in g a p res en ce o n t he In t ern e t

, 1 2 a n d t h ere i s no wh ere i n t h e Ag reem en t t h at

1 2 Th e O rg an izat i o n s referen ces L aPl an t e’ s No v em ber 2 0 15 let t er wh ere

LaPl an te res t at es t h e t erm s o f t h e Ag reem en t req u iri n g t h e Org an izat i o n s t o rem o v e

t h ei r d o m ai n n am es an d web s i t e s f r o m t h e In t ern et

. Th e Org an i zat io n s ’ at t em p t to

i n t erp ret t h i s l et t er t o m ean L aPl an t e i m p l i ed t he Org an i zat i o ns were b arred fro m

h av in g a p res en ce o n t h e In tern et i s a fal l acy

. Th e Ag reem en t s p eci fi cal l y d efi n es t h e

web si t es an d d o m ai n n am es s u b ject t o i t s t erm s

, w h i ch i s wh at LaPl an t e referen ced

i n h er l et t er.

11p ro h ib i t s ei t h er p art y fro m ev er h av i n g a p res en ce o n th e In t ern et

. Th e Ag en t s

, o n e

o f wh o m was an at t o rn ey fo r t h e Org an i zat io n s

, h ad t hree o p p o r t u n i t i es (t h e i n i t i al

d r a f t i n g o f t h e Ag reem en t

, in o p en co urt wh en t h e A greem en t was read i n t o t h e

reco rd

, an d aft er t h e t ri a l c o u r t ’ s fu rt her i n q u i ry ) t o rai s e an y o bject i o n s o r as k

cl ari fy i ng q u es t i o n s befo re si g n i n g t h e Ag reem en t i f th ey s u s p ect ed LaPl an t e’ s i n t en t

d i ffered fro m t h ei rs

. T h e t ri al co u rt fo un d t h e l an g uag e o f p arag rap h t wo o f t h e

Ag reem en t was s p eci fi c to t h e d o m ai n n am es an d p art i cu l ar web s i t es i d en t i fi ed

t h erei n , an d t h at i t d i d n o t s ay t h e p art i es co ul d n o t h av e a p res en ce o n t h e In t ern et

.

W e ag ree.

Fu rt her, t h e Org an i zat i o n s arg u e fo r t he fi rs t t i m e on ap p eal t h at u n d er t h e

o b ject i ve t h eo ry s t an d ard i n Co x, t h ere was n o m eet i n g o f th e m i n d s b ecau se LaPl an t e

co u ld n o t reas o n ab l y b el i ev e t h e Org an i zat i o n s wo u l d au t h o ri ze t h e Ag en t s to

ab an do n t h ei r web s it es an d d om ai n n am es

. Bu t t h e Org an i zat i o n s arg u ed i n t h e t ri al

co u rt b el o w t h at t he m eet i n g o f t h e m i n d s d i d no t o ccu r b ecau s e L aPl an t e’ s i n t en t to

p ro h ib i t t h e Org an i zat io n s fro m h av in g an y In t ern et p res en ce wh at s o ev er wa s n ot

co n tem p l at ed b y t h e p art ies at t h e t i m e t h e Ag reem en t was s i gn e d

. “ Ro u t i n el y

, t h i s

Co u rt refu ses t o rev i ew i s s u es n o t rai s ed i n t h e tri al co u rt

. To co ns i d er t h e cas e o n a

co m p l et el y d ifferen t bas is fro m t h at p res en t ed b el o w wo u l d b e co n trary t o t h e l i n e o f

12cas es ho l d i n g

, [p l ai n ti ffs ] m u s t s t an d o r fal l up o n t h e po s it i on t ak en i n t h e t ri al co u rt

.

Fai rn es s t o t h e t ri al co u rt an d t o t h e p art ies d em an d s t hat l eg al i s s u es b e as s ert ed i n

t h e t ri a l co u rt .” 1 3 Fo r t hi s reas o n

, we wi l l n o t co n s id er t h e Org an i zat i o n s ’ o b ject i v e

t h eo ry arg u m en t rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal

.

4

. LaPl an t e s eek s t h e i m

p o s i t i o n o f $ 10 ,0 0 0 ag ai n s t t h e Org an i zat i o n s an d t h ei r

co u ns el u n der Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 1 5 (b ). 1 4 Al t h o u g h we are n o t a b l e t o d i s cern

an y reas o n ab l e gro u n d u po n w h i ch t he Org an i zat i on s m i gh t h av e an t i ci p at ed t h e

r e v e r s a l of t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t

, b as ed o n t h e reco rd we can n o t s ay t h at t h ei r

a p p e a l was t o tal l y fri v o l ou s or s o lel y t o d el ay t h e en fo rcem en t o f t h e Ag ree m e n t

.

Bl o mb er g v. Co x En t er

p r i s es

, In c., 22 8 G a. Ap p

. 1 78

, 18 0 (2 ) (4 9 1 SE2 d 4 3 0 ) (1 9 9 7 )

(ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ). Th erefo re, we d ecl i n e t o g ran t LaPl an te’ s m o t i on fo r s an ct i o n s

.

Ju d g men t Af f i r med . Di l l a r d, P. J., a n d Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

1 3 S ee W a l l s v. S u mt er Reg ’l Ho s

p

., In c., 29 2 Ga. A p p

. 8 6 5, 8 6 7 -6 8 (1 ) (6 6 6

SE2 d 6 6 ) (2 0 0 8 )(ci t at i on s o m i t t ed ).

1 4 Du ri n g t h e p en d en cy o f t h i s ap p eal

, Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru le 1 5 (b ) g o v ern i n g

s an ct i o n s fo r fri v o l ou s ap p eal s was rep l aced b y Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 7 (e) (2 ).

13