FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and PI N SON, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

M ar ch 1, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 56 2

. EM ORY HEALTHCARE, INC. v

. VAN ENGELEN et

al

.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Em o ry Heal t hcare, In c. ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co urt ’ s den i al o f i ts m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s an d co m

p el arb i t rat io n i n t h i s m ed i cal -m al p rac tic e a nd w r on g fu l-d eat h act i o n

b ro u gh t b y Il l e v an E n g el en an d J a cq u el i ne “ J ack i e” Ki n g s t o n v an En g el en

. 1

Sp eci fi cal l y

, Em o ry arg u es t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n ho l d i n g th at t he p lai n m ean i n g o f

t h e arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t s h o ws i t was n o t ap p li cab l e t o cl ai m s ari s i n g fro m care an d

t reat m en t p ro v i d ed t o t h e v an E n g el en s ’ b ab y

, Is ab el le, wh o was u nb o rn at t h e t i m e

1 Th e v an En g el en s b ro u gh t t h i s act i o n i n t h ei r i n d i v i d u al cap aci t i es

, as t h e s u rv i v i n g

p aren ts o f Is ab el le v an En g el en , an d as co -ad m i n is t rat o rs fo r h er es t at e.o f t h e ag reem en t ’ s ex ecu t io n

. Fo r t h e reas o ns set fo rt h i n f r a

, we d i s ag ree wi t h Em o ry

an d affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er. 2

Th e reco rd s h ows J ack ie wen t t o Em o ry Jo h n s Creek Ho s p i tal wi t h v ag i n al

b l eed i n g o n J u ly 1 0

, 2 0 1 9

, wh i l e s h e was 3 1 week s p reg n an t

. Sh e was d i s ch arg ed b ut

ret u rn ed t h e n ex t m o r n i n g o n J u ly 1 1

, 2 0 19

, t h i s t i m e wi t h v ag in al b leed i n g an d

co n tract io n s

. A n d w h e n J a ck i e was ad m it t ed to t h e h os p it al o n J ul y 1 1

, 2 0 1 9

, s h e

sign ed t wo i d

en t ica l co p i es o f Em o ry ’ s t h ree-p ag e ad m i s s i o n / re gistr a tion a gr e e m e nt. 3

On p ag e t wo o f t h i s ag reem en t was a cl au s e en t i t l ed “ Ag reem en t t o Al t ern at i v e

Di s p ut e Res ol u t i o n ,” wh i ch p ro v i d es , i n rel ev an t p art :

I ag ree t h at an y cl ai m o r di s p ut e ari s i n g o u t o f or rel at ed t o t h e p ro v i s i o n

o f h e a l t h c a re serv i ces t o m e b y Em o ry

, s hal l b e res ol v ed b y fi nal an d

b i n d i n g arb i t rat i o n

, ex cep t as ot h erwi s e pro v i ded h erei n

. I ag ree t h at t h i s

p ro v i s i o n i s g o v ern ed by t h e Fed eral Arb i t rat i o n A ct

. I u n d ers t an d an d

ag ree t h at t h is ag reem en t i n cl u d es an d en co m p as s es an y cl ai m s ari s i n g

o u t o f o r rel at in g to h eal t h care s erv i ces wh i ch s h al l b e p ro v i d ed t o m e

u p o n t h i s ad m i s s i on as w el l as al l h eal t h care s erv i ces p ro vi d ed t o m e b y

Em o ry i n t h e fu t u re, fo r an y fu t u re co n d i t i o n (s ), reg ard l es s o f wh et h er

2 Oral arg u m en t was h el d i n t h i s cas e o n Oct o b er 5, 2 0 2 1, an d i s cu rren tl y arch i v ed

o n t h e Co u rt ’ s web s i t e. S e e C o u r t o f Ap p eal s o f Geo rg i a, Oral Arg u m en t, Cas e No

. A2 1 A1 5 6 2 (Oct . 5 , 2 0 2 1 ), av ai l ab l e at h t t p s : / / www.g aap p eal s.u s / o av / A2 1A1 5 6 2 .p h p

.

3 Sh e al s o s i gn ed a s i n g le co p y o f t hi s s am e ag reem en t d uri n g h er v is i t o n J u l y 1 0

, 2 0 1 9

.

2t h e fu tu re s erv i ces are fo r a wh o l l y u nrel at ed o r d i fferen t co nd i t i o n t h an

t h e w i t hi n ad m i s s i o n

. . . . I u n ders t an d t h at t h is ag reem en t i s al s o

b i n d i n g o n an y i n di v i d u al o r en t i t y cl ai m i n g b y o r t h ro u g h m e o r o n m y

b eh al f. I u n d ers t an d th at t h i s ag reem en t i s v o l u nt ary an d i s n o t a

p reco n d i t i o n t o recei v i n g h eal th care s erv i ces

. . . . NOTE: If th e

i n d i vi d u al s i gn i n g th i s ag reem en t i s do i n g s o o n b eh al f of hi s o r h er

m i n o r ch i l d o r an y o t h er pers on fo r wh o m h e o r s h e i s l eg al l y

res p on s i b l e, t h e si g nat u re b el o w affi rm s t h at h e o r s h e h as t h e au t h o ri t y

o r o b l i g at i o n t o co nt r a ct wi t h Em o ry fo r t h e p ro v i s i o n o f h eal t h care

s erv ices t o t h at m i n o r ch il d o r o t h er p ers o n

, an d t h at h is or h er ex ecu t i o n

o f t h i s ag reem en t i s i n fu rt h eran ce o f t h at au t h o ri ty o r o b l i g at i o n

.

A s i g n a t u r e l i n e f

o r t h e “ P a t i e n t

, P a r e n t

, G u a r d i a n o r A u t h o r i z e d

Rep res en t at i v e” fo l l o wed t h e al t ern at i v e-d i s p ut e-res o l ut i o n p ro v i s io n

. Jack i e s i g n ed

h er n am e u n d er t he p r o v i s i o n i n b o t h ag reem en t s p res en t ed t o h er d u ri n g h er

ad m i s s i o n

. 4 T h e l as t p ag e of each ag reem en t al s o co n t ai n ed a s i g n at u re l i n e fo r t h e

“ p at i en t o r p at i en t rep res en t at i v e.” An d d i rect l y un d er t h i s l i n e was a l i n e t o des i g n at e

4 Jack i e s ig n ed t he d ocu m en t s u s i n g her m ai d en n am e, Ki n g st o n

, b ecau s e s he h ad

n o t y et ch an g ed h er s urn am e aft er m arry i n g

.

3t h e “ Rel at i o n s hi p o f Rep res en t at i v e t o P a t ien t .” J ack i e s i g ned h er n am e o n t h e l i n e

d es i g n at ed fo r t h e “ p at i en t o r pat i en t ’ s rep res en t at i v e” on both d o cu m en t s at 7 : 2 4 a.m

.

an d 7 : 3 5 a.m

., res pect i v el y

, b u t o n n ei t h er ag reem en t d i d s h e ot h erwi s e i n di cat e h er

rel at i o n s h i p t o t h e p at i en t

.

Th e m e d i c a l p r o v i d ers w ere u n ab l e t o s to p J ack i e’ s l ab o r, an d b ab y Is ab el l e

v an En g el en was b o rn at 1 2 : 2 6 a.m

. o n J u ly 12

, 2 0 1 9

. An d fo l l o wi n g Is ab el l e’ s b i rt h,

o n t h e ag reem en t s i g n ed b y J ack i e at 7 : 2 4 a.m

. o n t h e p r e v i o u s d ay

, th e h o s p i t al

p l a c e d a s t i ck er i n t h e u p per ri g h t -h an d p o rt i o n o f each p ag e, wh i ch co n t ai n ed t h e

d es i g n at i o n “ Ki n g s t o n , J G A” an d refl ect ed a d at e o f b i rt h o f J u l y 1 2

, 2 0 1 9; ag e o f

0 ; fem al e s ex ; an d ad m is s i o n d at e o f J u l y 1 2

, 2 0 1 9

. Trag i cal l y

, Is ab el l e nev er l eft t h e

h o s p it al an d d i ed t wo week s l at er aft er s ufferi n g i rrev ers i b le b rai n dam ag e d u e to

o x y g en d ep ri v at i o n

. 5

5 Is ab el l e s u ffered card iac arres t i n t h e NICU aft er an en d o t rach eal t u b e was p l aced

i n h er es o p h ag u s rat h er t h an h er t rach ea fo r s ev eral h o u rs , cau s i n g h er l un g s t o co l l ap s e.

4In N o v e m b e r 20 2 0

, J ack i e an d h er h us b an d fi led a wro n g fu l -d eat h act i o n o n

b eh al f o f Is ab el le, al l eg i n g m ed i cal m al p ract i ce. Em o ry fi l ed a m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s an d

c o m p e l arb i t rat i o n

, arg u i n g t h at t h e J u l y 1 1

, 2 0 1 9 ag reem en t s i g ned at 7 : 2 4 a. m

.

co m p el l ed arb i trat i o n o f Is ab el l e’ s cl ai m s rai s ed i n t h e c o m p l ai n t. Th e p l ai n t i ffs

o p p o s ed t h e m o t io n, co n t en d i n g t h at t he arb i t rat i o n cl au s e di d n o t ap p l y t o cl ai m s

rai s ed o n b eh al f o f Is ab el l e, b ut o n l y t h o s e o f J ack i e.

Th e t ri al c o u rt d en i ed Em o ry ’ s m o t i on

, fi nd i ng t h ere was n o v al i d an d

en fo rceab l e ag reem e n t r e q u i ri n g arb i t rat i o n o f t h e cl ai m s b ro u g h t on b eh al f o f

Is ab el l e. In d o i n g s o

, t h e co urt reas o n ed t h at a p l ai n read i ng o f t h e ag reem en t s “ fai l s

t o s h o w t h at an y o f t hem i s ap p l i cab l e t o [t h e ch i l d ] ’ s cl ai m s

, ” an d t h a t t h e

“ arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t s ap p l i ed t o an y cl ai m s o f [t h e m o t her]

, i n di v i d u al l y

, an d h er

i n d i v i d u al cl ai m s are n ot at i s s u e i n th i s act i o n.” Th e co u rt t h en cert i fi ed i t s o rd er fo r

i m m ed i at e rev iew, an d we g ran t ed Em o ry ’ s ap p li cat i o n fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

.

W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i ng o r d en y i n g a m o t i on t o co m p el

arb i t rat i on d

e n o vo

. 6 An d Em o ry

, as th e p art y s eek i n g arb it rat i o n

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

6 Mi ll er v. GGNS C At l an t a

, LLC

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 4, 1 17 (1 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 6 8 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

5p ro v in g t h e ex is t en ce o f a v al i d an d en fo rceab l e ag reem en t to arb it rat e. 7 Im p o rt an t l y

,

wh et h er t h ere i s a v al i d ag reem en t t o arb i trat e i s “ g en era l l y g o v ern ed b y s t at e l aw

p ri n ci p l es of co n t ract fo rm at i o n

, an d i s ap p ro p ri at e fo r det erm in at i o n b y t h e co u rt

. ” 8

S u f f i c e i t t o s ay

, “ a co nt ract is v al i d o n l y if th e part i es as s en ted to th e co n t r a c t

t erm s ,” 9 wh i ch is co m m o n l y i n d i cat ed b y s i g n i n g t h e ag reem en t. 1 0 Acco rd i n g l y

, a

p art y can n o t b e req u i red to “ s u b m i t t o arb i t rat i o n an y di s p u t e w h i ch h e has n o t ag reed

t o s u bm i t .” 1 1 Bu t t he q u es t i on h ere i s n o t wh et h er t h e ag reem en t s i g n ed by Jack i e was

7 Tr i a d Hea l t h Mg mt . o

f Ga ., III, LLC v. Jo h n so n

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p . 2 0 4 , 2 06 (2 ) (6 7 9

SE2 d 7 85 ) (2 0 09 ).

8 Co l ema n v. Un i t ed Hea l t h S vcs .o f Ga

., In c.

, 34 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 2

, 6 8 3 (1 ) (8 1 2 SE2 d

2 4 ) (2 0 18 ) (ci t at i o n s & p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

9 Id

.

1 0 S ee Bo s t wi ck Ba n ki n g Co

. v. Ar no l d

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

co u rt m ay tak e ju d i ci al n o t i ce t hat t h e s i g n at u re o f an i n d i v i d u al o n t h e face o f a n ot e, at

t h e b o t t o m o n t h e ri g h t, w i th o u t l i m i t i ng o r d es cri pt i v e wo rd s b efo re o r aft er i t

, i s t h e

u n i v ers al m et h o d of s i g n i n g a co n t ract t o a s s u m e a pers o n al o b l i g at i o n .”); Cen t u r y 2 1

Pi n et r ee Pr o

p s

., In c. v. Ca s o n

, 22 0 G a. A p p

. 3 5 5

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

(“ Cl earl y

, t he b es t way fo r [t h e p art y ] t o h av e i n d i cat ed i ts as s en t t o t h e t erm s of t h e wri t t en

co n t ract wo u l d h av e b een t o si g n t h e d o cu m en t .”). Cf

. Co ch r an v. Ea s o n

, 2 2 7 Ga. 3 1 6, 3 1 8

(1 ) (1 80 SE2 d 70 2) (1 9 71 ) (“ As s en t t o t h e t erm s of a co n t ract m ay b e g i v en o th er t h en b y

s i g n at u res .”).

1 1 Co l ema n

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p . at 6 83 (1 ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d S

. P o i n t Ret a i l

Pa r t n er s

, LLC v. N. Am. Pr o

p s. At l a n t a

, Lt d

. , 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 9

, 4 2 1 (1 ) (6 9 6 SE2 d 1 3 6 )

(2 0 1 0 ); s ee Emo r

y He a l t h c a r e

, I

n c. v. Fa r rel l

, 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p. 6 2 1

, 6 2 4 (8 5 9 SE2 d 5 7 6 )

(2 0 2 1 ) ( “ I t i s wel l es t ab l is h ed t h at

, u n d er b o t h Geo rg i a an d fed eral l aw, arb it rat i o n i s a

6v al i d

, b u t rat her wh et h er s h e s i g n ed t h e ag reem en t o n beh al f o f Is ab el l e. W e co n cl u d e

s h e d id n o t. 1 2

Si g n i fi can t l y

, t h e card i n al ru l e of co n t ract co n s t ru c t i o n i s “ t o as cert ai n t h e

i n t en t i o n o f t h e p art i es

, a s s et o u t i n t he l a ng u a g e o f th e co n tr act

. ” 1 3 In d eed

, i t i s wel l

m at t er o f co n t ract an d a p art y can n o t b e req u i red t o s u bm i t t o arb i trat i o n an y d i s p u t e w h i ch

h e h as n o t ag reed s o t o s u b m i t.” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed )).

1 2 Becau se we co n cl u d e t h e ag reem en t d o es n o t en co m p as s t h e cl ai m s at i s s u e, t h e

p o l i cy o f fav o ri n g arb i t rab i l i t y d o es n o t ap pl y

. See Fa r r el l

, 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 62 4 -2 5

(“ [W ] h i l e am

b i g ui t i es i n t h e lan g u ag e o f an ag reem en t s ho u ld b e res o l ved i n fav or o f

arb i t rat i o n

, we do n o t o v erri d e t h e cl ear i n t en t o f t he part i es

, o r reach a res u l t in co n s i s t en t

wi t h t he p l ai n t ex t o f t h e co n tract

, s i m p l y b ecau s e t h e p ol i cy fav o ri n g a r bi t rat i o n i s

i m p l i cat ed .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); W es t v. Bo ws er

, 3 6 0 Ga. A p p

. 1 0 3

, 1 0 8 (1 ) (c) (8 6 0

SE2 d 9 0 4 ) (2 0 2 1 ) (“ W e o n l y ap p ly t h e p res u m p t io n of arb i t rab i l i t y t o t h e i n t erp ret at i o n o f

co n t ract s i f we h av e al read y d et erm i n ed t h at

, u nd er s t at e l aw, th e p ar t i e s f o r m ed a val i d

ag reem en t t o arb i t rat e.

. . . [T] h e fi rs t t as k o f a co u rt as k ed t o c o m p e l a r b i t rat i o n o f a

d i s p u t e i s t o d

et er mi n e wh et h er th e p a r ti es ag r eed t o ar b i t r a t e t ha t di s p u t e

. Here, b ecau s e

n o v al i d an d en fo rceab l e ag reem en t t o arb i t rat e was fo rm ed

, t h e fed eral p o l i cy i n fav o r o f

arb i t rat i o n d o es n o t co n t ro l.” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

1 3 Co p el a n d v. Ho me Gr o wn Mu s i c, In c.

, 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 3

, 7 4 8 (1 ) (8 5 6 SE2 d 3 2 5 )

(2 0 2 1 ) (p u n ct u at io n om i t t ed ) (em p h as i s s u pp l i ed ); a cco rd S h iel d s v. RDM, LLC

, 3 5 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 0 9

, 4 1 3 (1 ) (8 4 4 SE2 d 2 9 7 ) (2 0 2 0); s ee La n g l ey v. M P S p ri n g La ke, LLC

, 3 0 7 Ga.

3 2 1

, 3 2 4 (8 34 SE2 d 8 0 0 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (“ Th e card i n al ru l e o f co n t ract co n s tru ct i on i s t o as cert ai n

t h e i nt e n t i o n o f t h e p art i es .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed )); Mi l l er

, 32 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 1 8 (2 )

(“ Un d er Geo rg ia l aw, t h e card i n al ru l e o f co n t ract co n s t ru ct io n is t o as cert ai n t h e i n t en t o f

t h e p art i es

, as ev i d en ced b y t h e l an g u ag e o f t h e co n t ract .”).

7es t ab l i s h ed t h at t h e co ns t ru ct i o n o f a co n tr act i s “ a q u es t i o n o f l aw fo r t h e co u rt ,” 1 4

i n v o l v i n g t h ree an al y t ical s t ep s:

Th e fi rs t st ep is t o d eci d e wh et h er th e l an g u ag e o f t h e co n t ract i s cl ear

an d u nam b i g u o u s

. If s o

, t h e co n t ract i s en fo rced acco rd i n g t o i ts p l ai n

t erm s

, an d th e c o nt ract al o n e i s l o o k ed t o fo r m ean i n g

. Seco n d

, i f th e

l an g uag e o f t h e co n tract i s am b i g u o us in s o m e r e s p ect

, t h e ru l es o f

co n t ract co n s tru ct i on m

u s t b e ap p l ied b y th e co u rt t o res o lv e th e

am b i g u i t y

. A n d fi n al ly

, i f am b i g u it y rem ai n s aft er ap p l y i n g th e ru l es o f

co n s t ru ct io n

, t h e i s s u e o f wh at t h e am b i g u o u s l an g u ag e m ean s an d wh at

t h e p art i es in t en d ed m

us t b e res o l v ed b y a ju ry [o r t he t ri al co u rt at a

b en ch t ri al ]

. 1 5

So

, wh en t h e t erm s o f a co n tract are cl ear an d u n am b i g u ou s

, t h e rev i e wi n g co u rt

“ l o ok s o n l

y t o t h e co n t r a ct

i t s el f t o d et erm i n e t h e p art i es ’ i n t en t .” 1 6

1 4 Co p el a n d

, 3 5 8 G a. Ap p

. at 7 48 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d S hi el d s

, 3 5 5 Ga.

Ap p

. at 4 1 3 (1 ); s ee Fa r r el l

, 3 59 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 2 4 -2 5 (“ [T] h e q u es ti o n o f arb i t rab i l i t y

— i .e.

, wh et h er an ag reem en t creat es a d u t y fo r t h e p art i es t o arb i trat e t he p art icu l ar gri ev an ce— i s

u n d en i ab l y

an i s s u e fo r ju d i ci al d et erm i n at i on .” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

1 5 Co p el a n d

, 3 5 8 G a. Ap p

. at 7 48 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d S hi el d s

, 3 5 5 Ga.

Ap p

. at 4 1 3 (1 ); S ta nl ey v. Go v’t Emp s

. In s

. Co

. , 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p. 3 4 2, 3 4 4 (1 ) (8 1 0 SE2 d

1 7 9 ) (2 01 8 ).

1 6 La n g l ey

, 3 0 7 Ga. at 3 2 4 (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ) (em p h as i s s u pp l ied ); s ee Fa r r el l

, 3 5 9 Ga. A p p

. at 6 2 5 (“ [W ] h en t h e l an gu ag e o f a co n t ract i s p l ai n an d u n am bi g u o u s

, n o

co n s t ru c t i o n i s r eq u i red or perm is s i b l e an d t h e term s o f t h e co nt ract m u st b e g i v en an

i n t erp ret at i o n o f o rd i nary s i g n i fi can ce.” (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed )); Mi l l er

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. at

1 1 8 (2 ) (“ [I] f t h e t erm s o f a co n t ract a r e p l a i n an d u n am b i g u o us

, t h e co n t ract u al term s

8I n t h i s cas e, we ag ree wi t h t he t ri al co urt t h at t h e t erm s o f t h e arb i t r a t i o n

ag reem en t are cl ear a n d u n am b i g u o u s

, an d a p l ai n read i n g o f t h e co n t ract fai l s to

s h o w t h at i t was ap p l i cab l e t o c l a i m s ari s i n g fro m t h e treat m en t o f bab y Is ab el l e.

In d eed

, a co m

p a r i s o n o f t h e ag reem en t s Jack i e s i gn ed u po n h er ad m i ss i o n t o t h e

h o s p it al o n J u l y 1 1

, 2 01 9 (wh i ch were id en t i cal ), s h o ws t h e on l y d i fferen ce b et ween

t h e t wo ag reem en t s i s t h at o n e w as s i g n ed at 7 : 2 4 a.m

. an d t h e o t her at 7 : 35 a.m

. Th e

fact t h at t h es e arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t s were s i g n ed m i nu t es ap art o r th at J ack i e s i g n ed

t h em w h i l e i n pre-t erm l ab o r i n n o w ay al t ers th e i d en t ica l l an g uag e i n b o t h

. 1 7 In s t ead

,

al o n e d et erm i n e t he part ies ’ i n ten t .”); S

. Po i n t Ret a i l Pa r tn er

s

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 2 (1 ) (“ If

t h e l a n g u ag e o f a co n t ract is p l ai n

, u nam bi g u o u s

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

i n t erp ret at i o n

, n o co ns t ru ct io n i s req u i red o r ev en p erm i s s ib l e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt en fo rces

t h e co n tract acco rd i ng t o i t s l i t eral m ean i ng .”).

1 7 Em o ry ci t es to OCGA § 3 1 -9 -2 t o s up p o rt i t s as s ert i o n t h at J ack i e s i g n ed o n e o f

t h e t wo ag reem en t s fo r p u rp o s es o f o b t ai n i n g treat m en t fo r h e r u n b o r n b ab y

. It fai l s t o

m en t io n

, h o wev er, t h at J ack i e was n o t r eq u i r ed t o si g n an ag reem en t t o ob t ai n t reat m en t

f o r I s a b el l e b ecau s e u n d er OCGA § 3 1 -9 -2

, p aren t s m ay co n s en t t o t reat m en t fo r t h e i r

ch i l d ren i n wri t i n g o r o ral l y

. S ee OCGA § 3 1 -9 -2 ( a ) ( 3 ) ( “ I n ad d i t i o n t o s u ch o t h er

p ers o n s as m ay b e au t h o r i z ed an d em p o wered

, an y o n e o f t h e fo l l o wi ng p ers o n s i s

au t h o ri zed an d em

p o w ered t o co n s en t

, ei t h er o ral l y o r o t h erwi s e, t o an y s u rg i cal o r m ed i cal

t reat m en t o r p r o c e du res n o t p ro h i b i t ed b y l aw wh i ch m ay b e s u g g es t ed

, reco m m en d ed

,
p res cri b ed

, or d i rect ed b y a d ul y l i cen s ed p h y s i ci an [ ]

. . . [i ] n t he ab s en ce or u n av ai l ab i l i t y

o f a l iv i n g s p o u s e, an y p aren t

, wh et h er an ad u l t o r a m i n o r, fo r h is o r h er m in o r ch i l d [.] ”).

In an y ev en t

, a p l ai n read i n g o f t h e ag reem e n t s s i g n ed b y J ack i e m ak es cl ear t h at t h e

arb i t rat i o n cl au s es co n t ai n ed i n t h o s e ag reem en t s d o n o t ap pl y t o Is ab el l e.

9l o o k i n g o n l y at t h e “ p l ai n an d u n am b i g u o u s ” t erm s o f t h e ag reem en t s Jack i e si g n ed

, 1 8

t h e t wo ag reem en t s s h ow n o di st i n g u i s h in g fact o rs t o m at eri al l y al t er t h e t erm s u p o n

wh i ch s h e ag reed

. 1 9

Th e k ey h ere is t h at J ack i e’ s s i g n at u re on b o t h ag reem en t s u n a m b i g u o u s l y

i d en t i fi es t h at t h ey

were s i g n ed i n h er p er

s o n a l cap aci ty

, n o t as a rep res en t at i v e fo r

h er u n b o rn b ab y

. 2 0 C o n t r a c t s

, o f co u rs e, “ m ay b e s i g n ed b y on e act i n g i n a

rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y ,” 2 1 an d “ [t ] rad i t i o nal pri n ci p l e s o f ag en cy l aw m ay b i n d a

1 8 S ee Mi l l er

, 3 2 3 Ga

. A p p

. at 1 1 8 (2 ) (“ [I] f t h e t erm s o f a co n t ract are p l ai n an d

u n am b i g u o u s , t h e co n t ract u al t erm s al o n e d et erm i n e t h e p art i es ’ i n t en t.”).

1 9 S ee s u p r a n ot e 1 0 & acco m

p an y i n g t ex t

.

2 0 S ee Kea ne v. An n ice Heyg o o d Tr evi t t S u p po r t Tr

. , 2 85 Ga. Ap p. 1 5 5

, 1 5 7 ( 6 4 5

S E 2 d 6 4 1 ) (2 0 07 ) (reject i ng arg u m en t t h at g uaran t o r s i g ned g u aran ty in rep res en t at i v e

cap aci t y becau s e wh i l e “ t h e g u aran t y referen ces t h e fact t h at [t h e s i g nat o ry ] i s a

s h areh o l d er, . . . i t d o es n o t ex p res s l y p ro vi d e t h at [t he s i g n at o ry ] is s i g n i ng th e g u aran t y

i n t h is cap aci t y ” an d t h e “ l an g uag e em p l o y ed b o u n d [t h e s i g n at o ry ] i n h i s p ers o n al

cap aci t y ”). Cf

. Ci t r us To wer Bl vd

. Ima g i n g Ct r

., LLC v. O wen s

, 32 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 5 -6 (7 5 2

SE2 d 7 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ [T] he g u aran t o r u n d er t h e Gu aran t y is s p eci fi cal l y d es i g n at ed as th e PC.

No t o n ce, b u t t wi ce. In d eed

, t h e n am e o f t h e PC i s cl e a r ly wri t t en o n t h e si gn at u re l i n e

al o n g wi t h [t h e PC’ s p ri n ci p al ’ s ] si g n at u re, u nd er wh i ch i s [t h e PC’ s p ri n ci pal ’ s ] s i g n at u re

ag ai n

, an d wh i ch i s t h en fo l l o wed b y an in d icat i o n t h at he i s s ig n i ng in a rep res en t at i v e

rat her t han a p ers o n al cap aci t y . Th e ex p res s an d u n am b i g u o u s l an g u ag e o f t h e Gu aran t y

es t ab l i sh es t h at t he g u aran to r i s t h e PC, n o t [t he PC’ s p ri n ci p al ]

. ” (fo o t n ot es o m i t t ed )).

2 1 E l wel l v. K

e e f e

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 3

, 3 9 5 (7 1 8 SE2 d 5 8 7) (2 0 1 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m i t t ed ); acco r d En vi si o n P r i nt i n g

, LLC v. Eva n s

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

, 63 7 (7 8 6 SE2 d 2 5 0 )

(2 0 1 6 ).

10n o n s ig n at o ry t o an arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t.” 2 2 Bu t i m p o rt an t l y

, n o th i n g i n ei t h er

ag reem en t i n d icat es t h at J ack ie was s i g n i n g as h er un b orn ch i l d ’ s rep res en t at i ve.

I n d e e d

, J ack i e d i d no t co m p l et e t h e s p eci fi c l i n e t o d es i gn at e t h e “ Rel at i on s h i p o f

Rep res en t at i v e to Pat i en t” o n ei t h er ag reem en t

. 2 3 M o reo v er, no wh ere o n ei t h er

ag reem en t i s J ack i e’ s u n b o rn ch i l d i d en t ifi ed as t h e act u al p at i en t, 2 4 an d t h e b el at ed

2 2 Jo h n s o n , 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 0 6 (2 ) (p u n ct uat i on o m i t t ed ).

2 3 S ee Ba t es v. An da l u z W

at er b i r th Ct r

. , 2 9 8 Or. Ap p

. 7 3 3

, 7 3 9 (4 4 7 P3 d 5 1 0 ) (2 0 1 9 )

(“ Th ere is n o t h i n g i n t h e tex t o r co n t ex t o f t h e arb i t rat io n ag reem en t

, o r i n t h e rem ai nd er

o f t h e M id wi fe Di s cl o s u re, t hat ev i n ces an i n t en t o f t h e p art i es t h at [t h e m o th er] wo u ld

, b y

s i g ni n g i n h er i n d ivi d

u a l ca p a ci t y

, al s o b e s i g n i n g o n b eh al f o f h er ex p ect ed ch i l d

. ”

(em p h as i s s u p p l i ed )). Cf

. Jo h n s o n

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 0 6 (2 ) (n o t i n g t h at ad m i s s i o n co n tract

wi t h arb i t r a t i o n cl au s e co n t em p l at ed t h at t h e p at i en t b e b o u n d b y i t s p ro vi s i o n s an d t h at

t h e p at i en t ’ s s o n was act i n g i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y w h e n h e ch eck ed o ne o f el ev en

b o x es by wh i ch to i n d i cat e cap aci t y i n wh i ch h e rep res en t ed t h e pat i en t as a fi d u ci ary );

Do yl e v. Gi u l i u cci

, 6 2 Cal

. 2 d 6 0 6

, 6 0 7 (4 0 1 P2 d 1 ) ( 1 9 6 5 ) (u p h o ld i n g ap p l i cat i o n o f

arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t t o m in or wh en “ [p ] lai n t i ff’ s fat h er en t ered i n t o a co n t ract fo r m ed i cal

an d s u rg i cal s erv i ces wi t h d efen d an t

. . . o b li g at i n g [t h e m ed i cal ] gr o u p ‘ t o p ro v i d e t h e

s am e care an d s erv i ce t o d ep en den t s o f t h e Su b s cri b er (p l ai nt i ff’ s fat h er) as i s av ai l ab l e fo r

t h e Su b s cri b er’ ”).

2 4 Th e arb i t rat i o n a g r e em en t was l i m it ed t o a cl au s e wi t h in t h e gen eral ad m i s s i o n

p ap erwo rk

, whic h in cl u d ed t h e n o t e t h at “ [i ] f t h e in d i v i du al s i g n i ng t h i s ag reem en t i s d o i n g

s o o n b eh al f o f h i s o r h er m in o r ch i l d o r an y o t h er p ers o n fo r w ho m he o r s h e i s l eg al l y

res p o n s i b le, t h e si g nat u re b el ow affi rm s t h at h e o r s h e h as t he au t ho ri t y o r ob l i g at i o n t o

co n t ract wi t h Em o ry fo r th e p ro v i s i o n o f h eal t h care s erv ices t o t h at m i no r ch i l d o r o t h er

p ers o n

, an d t h at h i s or h er ex ecu t i o n o f t h i s ag reem en t i s i n fu rt h eran ce o f t h at au t h o ri t y

o r o b l i g at i on .” Bu t as p rev i o u sl y d i s cu s s ed

, J ack i e s i g n ed u nd er t h i s no t e o n b o t h co p i es

o f th e ag reem en t

, n ei t h er o f wh i c h s e p a rat el y i d en t i fi ed Is ab el l e as t h e p at i en t s h e

rep res en t ed

. J ack i e al s o s i gn ed t h e co p i es wh il e fi l l i n g o ut t h e g e n e r al ad m i s s i o n

11ad d it i o n o f a s o m ewh at v ag u e p at i en t -i d en t i fi cat i o n s ti ck er t o the 7:24 a

. m

. a g reem en t

d o es no t al t er t h i s fact

. 2 5

E m o r y lam en t s th at affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er wi l l i n v al id at e a l l

ad m i s s i o n fo rm s s i g n ed b y m o t h ers o n b eh al f o f th ei r u n b o rn ch i l d ren

, b u t t h i s i s

fu n d am en t al l y u n t ru e. Had Jack i e d es i g n at ed o n t h e l i n e b en eat h h er s i g nat u re i n o n e

o f t h e ag reem en t s t h at s h e was s i g n i n g i t i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y (s o m et h i n g an

Em o ry em

p l o y ee co u l d h av e eas i l y d o u b l e ch eck ed ), th e co nt ract s wo u ld b e s ep arat e

an d d i s t i nct

. 2 6 Fo r ex am

p le, co u rt s h av e co m

p e l l e d arb i t rat i on fo r a ch il d wh en a

p ap erwo rk t o o bt ai n ad m i ss i o n as a p at i en t h er s el f

. Th u s

, J ack i e’ s s ig n at u re b el o w t h i s

l an g u ag e o n wh i ch ev er fo rm Em o ry n o w cl ai m s p e r t a i ned to Is ab el l e s i m p l y can n o t,

wi t h o ut mo r e , i n d i cat e s h e was s ig n i n g i n a rep res en t at iv e cap aci t y fo r an o t h er u n nam ed

i n d i v i d u al

. If t h at were t ru e, J ack i e wo u l d h av e s ig n ed b o t h ag reem en t s i n a rep res en t at i v e

cap aci t y an d n ei t h er ag reem en t i n h er p ers o n al cap aci t y

.

2 5 It i s u n d is p ut ed t h e p at i en t -i d en t i fi cat io n st i ck er at t ach ed t o t h e 7 : 2 4 a.m

.
ag reem en t was ad d ed o n l y a f t er J ack i e g av e b i rt h t o Is ab el l e, w hi ch o ccu rred a f t er J ack i e

s i g n ed t he ag reem en t— m ak i n g i t “ a u n i l at eral m o d i fi cat i o n o f a co n t ract p rev io u s l y

en t ered i n t o b et ween t he p art i es

, ” wh i ch can no t in fo rm th e m ean i n g o f t h e co n t ract J ack i e

as s en t ed t o wi t h h er s i g n at u re. See Ed en v. Ed en

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 4

, 8 6 8 (1 ) (8 1 2 SE2 d

3 1 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (“ It i s el em en tal t h at i t i s no t p o ss i b l e t o h a v e a u n i l at eral m o d i fi cat i o n o f a

co n t ract p rev io u s l y en t ered i n t o b et ween t h e p art i es .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed )); a cco r d A m. Exp r es s Tr a vel Rel a t ed

S er vs

. Co

. v. Ber l

ye

, 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 35 8

, 3 6 0 (2 ) (4 1 4 SE2 d 4 9 9 )

(1 9 9 1 ).

2 6 Th e arb i t rat i o n ag r e e m e n t i n t h i s cas e i s di st i n g u i s h ab l e fro m t h at q u o t ed i n

an o t h er recen t d eci s i o n

. In CL S NF, LLC v. Fo u n t ai n

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 6

, 17 9 (1 ) (8 4 3

SE2 d 6 0 5 ) (2 0 20 ), r ever

s ed o n o t h er g r o u nd

s

, 31 2 Ga. 4 1 6 (8 63 SE2 d 1 1 6 ) (2 0 2 1 ), we

12m o th er “ s i g n ed t wo arb i trat io n ag reem en t s

, o n e i n h er n am e, an d o n e i n t h e n am e o f”

h er y et u n b o rn an d u nn am ed “ Bab y o r Bab i es .” 2 7

In s um

, b ecau s e t h e cl ear an d u n am b i g u o u s t erm s o n t h e face o f each

ag reem en t s h o w t h at J ack i e si g n ed t h e co nt ract s i n h er p e r s o n al cap aci ty

, n o t i n a

co n cl u d ed

— i n n on -b i n d i n g d i ct a

— t h at d es p i t e a rep res en t at i v e’ s fai l u re t o i n d i cat e t h e

c a p a c i t y i n wh i ch sh e was s i g n i n g an ag reem en t o n beh al f o f an i n co m i n g res i d en t t o a

s k i l l ed n u rs i n g faci l i t y

, m ak i n g her t h e p art y t o th e co n t ract

, th e co n tract co n t em p l at ed t h at

h er si g n at u re was i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y b ecau se t h e l an gu ag e of th e arb i t rat i o n

ag reem en t p ro v i ded t h at “ Res id en t ” i n cl u d ed “ t h e Res i d en t

, hi s o r h er g u ard i an

, at t o rn ey -i n -fact

, ag en t

, s p o n s o r, rep res en t at i v e, o r an y pers o n wh os e cl ai m i s d eri v ed

t h ro u g h o r o n b eh al f o f Res i d en t.” Id

. Th e ag reem en t fu rt h er pro v id ed t h at

, if i t was s i g n ed

“ b y th e Res i d en t ’ s rep res en t at i v e[,] t h at i n di v i d u al rep res en t s t hat h e o r s h e is au t h o ri zed

an d has n o reas o n t o b el iev e t h at th e Res i d en t wo u l d n o t h av e si g n ed t h i s Ag reem en t i f h e

o r sh e were co m

pet en t an d ab l e t o d o s o .” Id

. Ad d i t i o nal l y

, t h i s lan g u ag e w as i n cl u d ed i n

an arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t s ep ar a t e fro m t h e g en eral ad m i ss i o n a g r e e m e n t

. Id

. at 1 7 7

. J ack i e,

o n t h e o t her h an d , co n s en t ed t o t reat m en t i d en t i fi ed as a p at i en t i n b o th ag reem en t s.

2 7 S ee McKi n s t r

y v. Va l l ey Ob s t et r i cs -Gyn eco l o gy Cl i n i c, P.C.

, 4 2 8 M ich

. 1 6 7

, 1 7 4

(4 0 5 N W2 d 8 8 ) (I) (1 98 7) (h o l d i n g t h at arb i t rat i on ag reem en t b o u n d m i n o r wh en

“ [M ot h er] s i g n ed t wo arb i trat i o n ag reem en t s

, o ne i n h er n am e, an d o n e i n t h e n am e o f

‘ Bab y o r Bab i es M cKi n s t ry ’ ”); s ee a l s o Jo h n s o n , 9 8 Ga. Ap p . at 2 0 6 -0 7 (2 ) (n o t i n g t h at

t h e ad m is s i o n co n t ract wi t h th e arb i t rat i o n cl au s e co nt em p l at ed t h at t h e p at i en t b e b ou n d

b y i t s p ro v i s i o n s an d t h at th e p at i en t ’ s s o n was act i n g i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y wh en h e

ch eck ed on e o f el ev en b o xes b y wh i ch t o i n di c a t e c a p aci ty i n wh i ch h e rep res en t ed t h e

p at i en t as a fi d u ci ary ).

13rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y o n b eh al f o f h er u n b orn b ab y

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al

o f Em o ry ’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m is s an d co m p el arb i t rat io n

. 2 8

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mer ci er

a n d Pi n s o n , JJ., co n cu r

.

2 8 To t h e ex t en t Em o ry p os i t s a n ew l eg al t heo ry i n it s “ i n ten d ed b en efi ci ary ”

as s ert io n s

, we d o n ot co n si d er an y s u ch arg u m en t b ecau s e i t was n o t m ad e b efo re t h e t ri al

co u rt

. See, e.g

. , Ci t

y o f Ga i n e s vi l l e v. Do d

d

, 2 7 5 Ga. 8 3 4

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

(“ [T] h e ap p el l at e co u rt s act i n s u ch cas es as co u rt s rev i ewi n g t h e d e c i s i o n s o f t h e t ri al

co u rt s

. In s uch a ro l e, an ap p el l at e co u rt i s, am o n g o t h er t h i ng s

, a co u rt fo r t he co rrect i o n

o f erro rs o f l aw. An erro r o f l aw has as i t s b as i s a s p eci fi c ru l i n g m ad e b y t h e t ri al co u rt

. Th ere h av i n g b een n o ru l i n gs b y th e t ri al co u rt o n t h e i s su es rai s ed o n ap p eal

, t h ere are n o

ru l i n g s t o rev i ew fo r l eg al erro r.” (ci t at i o n s & p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed )). Ad d i t i o n al l y

, we d o

n o t ad d res s an y o f Em o ry ’ s arg u m en t s rel at ed to p aro l ev id en ce b ecau s e t h e t erm s o f t h e

ag reem en t s are cl ear an d u nam b i g u o u s

. S

ee, e.g

. , OCGA § 13 -2 -2 (1 ) (“ Paro l ev i d en ce i s

i n ad m i s si b l e t o ad d to

, t ak e fro m

, o r v ary a wri tt en co n tract

. Al l t h e at t en d an t a n d

s u rro u n d i ng ci rcu m s t an ces m ay be pro v ed an d

, if t h ere i s an am b i g u i t y

, l at en t o r p at en t,

i t m ay b e ex p l ai n ed ; s o

, i f o n l y a p a r t o f a co nt ract i s red u ced t o wri ti n g (s uch as a n o t e

g i v en i n p u rs u a n ce o f a co nt ract ) an d i t i s m an i fes t th at t h e wri t i n g was no t in t en d ed t o

s p eak t h e wh o l e co n t ract

, t h en p aro l ev i d en ce i s ad m i s si b l e[.] ”); Ir vi n v. La xmi

, In c.

, 2 6 6

Ga. 2 0 4, 2 0 5 (1 ) (4 67 SE2 d 5 10 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (“ Paro l ev i den ce m ay no t b e co n s i d ered u n l es s t h e

wri t t en i n s t ru m en t i s am

b i gu o u s .”).

14