FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI NSON, 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

June 24, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 16 0

. M I LDRED TOOM ER, IN HER CAPACITY AS

ADM INISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF M ILTON

M CBRIDE v . M ETRO AM BULANCE SERVICES, INC.

P I N S O N

, J u d g e.

M i l t on M cBri d e was i n

ju red wh en t w o em

p l o y ees o f an am

b ul an ce co m

p an y

d ro p ped h i m fro m a s tret ch er. He d i ed m o re t h an a y ear l at er. Th e ad m i ni s t rat o r o f h i s

es t at e, M i l d red To o m er, s u ed t h e co m p an y an d t h e t wo em

p l o y ees t o reco v er fo r h i s

i n ju ri es

, ju st i ns i d e t h e s t at u t o r y l i m it at io n peri o d fo r p ers o n al -i n ju ry act i o n s

. Bu t

l at er, d u ri n g d i s co v ery

, T o o m er l earn ed t h at M cBri d e ’s i n j u ri es fro m t h e s t ret ch er

i n ci d en t cau s ed h i s d eat h

, s o sh e am en d ed h er c o m p l ai n t to ad d a wro n g fu l -d eat h

cl ai m . Th e t ri al co u rt d i s m i ss ed t he wro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m as u n t i m el y

.

W e rev ers e. Th e n ew cl ai m w as t i m el y b ecau s e i t rel at ed b ack t o t h e o ri g i n al

co m p l ai n t u n der OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c). Th e n ew cl ai m aro s e o u t o f t he sam e co re o fo p erat i v e fact s t hat g av e ri s e t o To o m er’ s i n i ti al n eg l i g en ce cl ai m s : M cBri d e b ei n g

d ro p ped fro m th e s t ret ch er an d s u s t ai n i n g s eri o u s i n ju ri es

. Th e rel at i o n -b ack i n q u i ry

h ere i s n o t affect ed b y t he ru l e t h at we m u st “ st ri ct l y co n s t r u e ” t h e wro n g fu l -d eat h

s t at u te. Th at ru l e i s n o t a t ru e “ s t ri ct co ns t ru ct i o n ” ru l e, b u t i n an y ev en t

, we are n ot

i n t erp ret i n g t h at s t at u t e. N o r d o es Mi les v. A s h l a n d Ch em. Co

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

(4 1 0 SE2 d 2 9 0 ) (1 99 1), wh i ch reject ed a di s co very ru l e fo r wro n g fu l -d eat h act i o n s

,

h av e an y th i n g rel ev an t t o say ab o u t t h e rel at i on -b ack q u es t i o n here. Fi n al l y

, To o m er

co u l d p r o p erl y ad d t h e cl ai m b ecau s e s h e w as act i n g i n t h e s am e cap aci t y i n fi l i n g

each cl ai m

, an d ev en i f t h at were n ot s o

, ad d in g t h e n ew cl ai m was p ro p er u n d er t h e

t es t s et o u t i n Mo r r i s v. Ch ewn i n g

, 2 0 1 G a. A p p

. 6 5 8

, 6 5 9 -6 0 (4 1 1 SE2 d 8 91 ) (1 9 9 1 ).

Back gro u n d

M e t ro Am

bu l an ce Serv ices p ro v id es n o n -em erg en cy m ed i cal t ran s p o rt fo r

p at i en t s wh o are no n -am

b u lat ory

. On Ap ri l 2 8

, 2 0 16

, two M et ro em p l o y ees

, M i l ag ro s

Bracero an d K e ys h a Fo rd

, were t ak i n g Mi lt o n M cBri de back t o h i s h o sp i t al ro o m

fro m a ro u t i n e ap po i n t m en t

. Th ey were carry i n g M cBri de o n a s tret ch er b ecau s e h e

i s p arap l eg i c. Bu t h e h ad n o t b een p ro p erl y s ecu red i n th e s t ret ch er fo r t ran sp o rt

, an d

h e fel l o ff t h e s t ret ch er o n t o p av em en t

. M cBri d e su s t ai n ed m u l t i p le i nju ri es in t h e fal l

,

i n cl u d i n g a fract u red n eck an d s p i n e.

2M cBri d e d i ed o n J u n e 2 6

, 2 0 1 7

. A l it t le l es s th an ten m o n th s l at er, o n Ap ri l 1 0,

2 0 1 8

, t h e ad m inistr a tor of M c B r ide ’ s e st at e, To o m er, b ro u gh t a p ers o n al -i n ju ry act i o n

ag ai n s t Met ro s eek in g d am a g e s f o r m ed i cal ex p en s es an d p ai n an d s u fferi n g

. Th i s

was ju st b efo re t h e t wo -y ear s t at u t e o f l i m it at i o n s fo r p ers o n al -i n ju ry act i o n s ex p i red

.

See O CGA § 9 -3 -3 3 (“ [A] ct i o n s fo r i n ju ri es t o t he p ers on s hal l b e bro u g h t wi t h i n t wo

y ears aft er t h e ri g h t o f act io n accru es . . . .”).

Du ri n g d i s co v ery , To o m er co n s u l t ed wi t h an ex p ert fo ren si c p at h o l o g i s t , Dr.

M a tthia s O koy e

. A f

t e r rev i ewi n g t h e m ed ical reco rd s an d ev id en ce, Dr. Ok o y e o p i n ed

t h at McBri d e’ s d eat h was cau s ed b y co m p l i cat i o n s fro m t he n eck fract u res h e

s u ffered as a res ul t of h i s fal l fro m t h e s t ret ch er. So o n O ct o b er 21

, 2 02 0

— t h ree y ears

aft er M cBri d e’ s d eat h —To o m er am en ded h er co m p l ai n t u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 to

ad d a cl ai m

fo r wro n g fu l deat h ag ai n s t al l o f t h e d efen d an t s

.

M e t r o m o v ed t o di s m i s s t h e wro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m

, co n ten d i n g t h at i t wa s

b arred b y t h e s t at u t e o f li m i t at i o n s

. Th e t ri al co urt gran t ed t h e m ot i o n

. T oo m er arg u ed

t h at t h e wro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m rel at ed b ack t o t h e o ri gi n al co m pl ai n t un d er OCGA §

9 -1 1 -1 5 (c), b u t t h e co u rt reas o n ed t h at t h e wro n g fu l d eat h cl a i m co u l d no t rel at e

b ack t o t h e i n i t i al co m

pl ai n t b ecau s e (1 ) i t d i d no t ari s e fro m t h e sam e i n ju ry al l eg ed

i n t h e i n i t i al co m

p lai n t

, (2 ) w r o n g f

u l -d eat h cl ai m s can n o t t ak e ad v an t ag e o f t h e

3rel at i o n -b ack p ro v is i o n o f OCGA § 9-1 1 -1 5 (c), an d (3 ) T o o m er was act i n g i n a

d i fferen t cap aci t y i n b ri n g i n g t h e p ers o nal -i n ju ry cl ai m th an sh e w as i n bri n g i n g t h e

wro ng fu l d eat h cl ai m

. W e g ran t ed To o m er’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r i nt erl o cu to ry rev i ew o f

t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er.

Di s cu ss i o n

Wh e n rev i ewi ng a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n a m o t i on t o di s m i s s an am en d e d

co m p l ai n t as u n t i m el y , we ev al u at e “ wh et h er t h e fact s p ro v ab l e u n d er th e am en d ed

co m p l ai n t aro s e o ut o f t h e co n du c t al l eg ed i n t h e o ri g i n al co m p lai n t .” Ten et

Hea lt h sys t e m GB

, In c. v. Th o ma s

, 3 0 4 G a. 8 6

, 8 9 (8 16 SE2 d 62 7 ) (2 0 1 8) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). Th is “ rel at i o n -b a ck i s s ue

. . . i s m o re an al o g ou s t o a d i sm i s s al o n t h e

p l ead i n g s ” an d t he p ro p er s t an d ard o f rev i ew i s d e n o v o . Id . (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1

. A n ew c l a i m i n a n am en d ed co m p lai n t “ rel at es b ack t o t h e d at e o f t h e

o ri g i nal p l ead i n g ” w h en i t “ ari s es o u t o f t he co n d u ct , t ran sact io n , o r o ccu rren ce s et

fo rt h o r at tem

pt ed t o b e s e t f

o rt h i n t h e o ri g i nal p l ead i n g .” Ten et

, 3 04 Ga. at 9 0;

Deer i n g v. Keever

, 2 8 2 Ga. 1 6 1

, 1 6 3 (6 4 6 SE2 d 2 6 2 ) (2 0 0 7). (“ Un d er OCGA § 9 -1 1

-

1 5

, an am en d m en t t o a co m pl ai n t m ay rai s e a n ew cau s e of act i o n ”). Th e i d ea i s t h at

al l o wi n g t h e am en d m en t ev en aft er t h e l im i t at io n peri o d h as ru n d oes n o t dep ri v e t h e

d efen d an t o f a s t at u te of l i m i t at i o n ’s p r o t e c t io n fro m s tal e cl ai m s if t h e i n i t i al

4co m

p l ai n t g av e a d efen dan t fai r n o t i ce o f t h e co n d u ct

, t ran s act i o n

, o r o c c u r r e n c e

g i v i n g ri s e t o t h e am en d ed co m p l ai n t

. M or r i s v. Ch ewn in g

, 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 8

, 6 5 9 -6 0

(4 1 1 SE2 d 8 9 1 ) (1 9 9 1). Th i s rel at i on -b ack p ro vi s i o n is “ l ib eral l y co n s t ru ed i n fav o r

o f al l owi n g am en d m en t s .” Deer i n g , 2 8 2 Ga. at 1 6 3

.

Th e “ s am e co n d u ct

, t ran s act i o n

, o r o ccu rren ce” q u es t i o n “ t u rn s o n fai r n o t i ce

o f th e s ame g en er a l f

act s i t u a t i on fro m wh i ch t h e cl ai m ari s es .” Ten et

, 3 0 4 Ga. at 9 0

-

9 1 (ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ; em

ph as i s i n o ri g i n al ). Pu t an o t h er way

, “ rel at i o n b ack d ep en d s

o n t h e ex i s t en ce of a co m

m o n ‘ co re o f o perat iv e fact s’ u n it i ng t h e o ri gi n al an d n ewl y

as s ert ed cl ai m s.” Id

. at 9 0 (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). T h e n ew cl ai m rel at es

b ack if t he fact ual al l eg at i o n s i n t h e o ri g i n al co m p lai n t an d t h o se s u p p o rt i n g t h e n ew

cl ai m i n t h e am en d ed co m p l ai n t are “ cl os e i n t i m e, p l ace, a n d s u b ject m at t er, an d

i n v o l v e ev en t s l ead i n g u p t o t h e s am e i nju ry

, s u ch t h at t h ere was b u t a s i n g l e

‘ ep i so d e-i n -s u i t

. ’ ” Id . at 9 1

.

J u s t so h ere. To o m er’ s o ri g i n al co m p l ai n t

, fi led i n h er cap aci t y as ad m i n i s t rat o r

o f M cBri d e’ s es t at e

, a l l eg ed n eg l i g en ce an d s o ug h t t o reco v er fo r M cBri d e’ s “ p ai n

an d s u fferi n g ” as w el l as h i s m ed i cal ex p en s es

. A s s o o n as To o m er o b tai n ed t h e

o p i n i o n fro m h er ex p ert wi t n es s t h at M cBri d e’ s deat h was l i k el y cau s ed b y h i s fal l

fro m t h e s t ret ch er, s h e am en d ed t h e co m p l ai nt to ad d a w ro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m s eek i n g

5t o reco v er fo r t h e “ fu l l eco n om i c v al u e o f [M cBri de’ s ] l ife.” Th at cl ai m ari s es o ut o f

t h e s am e co re o f o p er a t i v e f a c t s t h at g av e ri s e t o h er i n i t i al neg l i gen ce cl ai m s :

M cBri d e n o t b ei n g s ecu red p ro p erl y t o t h e s t ret ch er, fal li n g fro m t h e s tret ch er t o t h e

p av em en t

, an d su s t ai n i n g i n ju ri es t o h i s n eck a n d s p i n e. Al t h o ug h t h e am en d ed

co m p l ai n t n ewl y al l eg es t h at t h o s e i n ju ri es (p art i cu l arl y t h e n eck fract u res ) l at er l ed

t o M cBri d e’ s d eat h, i t al l eg es t h e s am e ep i so d e as t h e ro o t cau s e. Al t h o u g h t h e

o ri g i nal co m

p l ai n t “ d i d n o t ex p res s l y p ray fo r d am ag es fo r t h e fu l l v al u e o f t h e

d eced en t ’ s l i fe

. . . t he o ri g i nal p l ead i n g g i v es fai r no t i ce o f t h e g en eral fact si t u at i o n

o u t o f wh i ch t h e cl ai m ari s es an d s p eci fi e s t h e c o n d u ct o f [t h e d efen d an t s ] u p o n

wh i ch [To om er] rel i es .” Mo r r i s

, 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 59 (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u a t i o n

o m it t ed ). Th i s i s en ou g h fo r t h e wro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m to rel at e b a c k t o t h e o ri g i n al

co m p l ai n t un der OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 5 (c). See Ten et

, 30 4 G a. Ap p

. at 8 9-9 1 (p at i en t wh o

f i l e d a n i n i t ial co m

pl ai n t fo r p ro fes s i o n al n eg li g en ce w as p erm i t ted t o fi l e an

am en d ed co m

p l ai n t wh i ch rel at ed b ack fo r l i m i t at i on s p u rp o s es fo r ad d i ti o n al co u n t s

o f s i m p l e n eg li g en c e w h e n t h e al l eg ed wro ng fu l act s t o ok pl ace as a res u l t o f t h e

s am e h o s p i t al ad m i s s i o n fo r th e p at i en t’ s u n st ab l e s p i n e); Jen s en v. En g l er

, 3 1 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 8 7 9

, 8 8 3 -8 4 (1 ) (b ), (2 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 5 2 ) (2 0 12 ) (am en d ed co m p l a i n t ag ai n s t

s u rg eo n

, ad d i n g p ro fes s i o n al n e g l i g en ce an d bat t ery cl ai m s

, rel at ed b ack

, fo r

6l i m i tat i on s p u rp o s es

, t o o ri g i n al t i m el y co m p lai n t fo r o rd i n ary n eg li g en ce, wh en al l

cl ai m s aro se fro m

p at i en t ’ s g al l b l ad d er s urg ery , fo l l o w -u p , an d d i sch arg e).

2

. T h e tri al co u rt d ecl i n ed t o al l o w t h e n ew wro n gfu l -d eat h cl ai m t o rel at e b ack

b ecau s e “ [t ] h e wro ng fu l d e at h s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n i s co n s t ru ed n arro wl y ,” an d t h e

co u rt s aw “ n o t h i n g i n O C G A § 9 -1 1 -1 5 th at sp eci fi cal l y ad d res sed o r al t ered t h e

n arro w co n s tru ct i on .” Th at reas o n i n g h as a co up l e o f p ro b l em s

.

To b eg i n wi t h

, we s ho u l d cl ari fy s o m et hi n g ab o ut t h e ru l e o f so -cal l ed “ s t ri ct ”

o r “ n arr o w ” c o n s t ru ct io n o f t h e wro n g fu l -d eat h s t at ut e, wh i ch al l o w s reco v ery in

cas es i n wh i ch t he d eat h o f a h um an b ei n g res ul t s fro m n eg l ig en ce. See O CGA § 5 1

-

4 -1 et s eq

. It i s t ru e t h at ou r Su prem e Co u rt h as s ai d th at t h e wro n gfu l -d eat h s t at u t e,

b ei n g in dero g at i o n o f t he co m m o n l a w

, m u s t b e “ s t ri ct l y co n s t ru ed .” Th o mp s o n v.

W a t so n

, 18 6 Ga. 3 9 6

, 40 5 (1 97 SE 7 7 4) (1 9 3 8 ), d i s ap p ro v ed o f o n o t h er g ro u n d s by

W a l den v. Co l ema n

, 2 1 7 Ga. 59 9

, 6 0 4 (1 2 4 SE2 d 2 6 5) (1 9 6 2). Bu t each t i m e t h e

Co u rt has s ai d t h i s o r s om et h i n g l i k e i t

, th e Co u rt h as m ad e cl ear t h at t hi s i s n o t q u i t e

a ru l e o f s t r i c t co n s t ru ct i o n i n t h e us u al s en s e— t h at i s

, it i s no t a ti eb reak er t h at

req u i res ch o o s i n g th e n a r r o wer co ns t ru ct i o n wh en m u l t i p l e reas o n ab l e on es are

p res s ed

. In s t ead

, t h e C o u rt s i m p l y ex p lai n s t h at “ [t ] h e ex p res s lan g u ag e o f t h e Act

wi l l b e fo l l o wed ” an d “ n o ex cep t i o n s t o t h e req u i rem en t s of t h e Act wi ll b e read i n to

7t h e s t at u t e by t h e co u rt s .” To l b er t v. Ma ner

, 2 7 1 Ga. 2 0 7

, 2 0 8 (5 1 8 SE2 d 4 2 3) (1 9 9 9 )

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo ot n o t e o m i t t ed ); s ee al s o Lo vet t v. Ga rvi n

, 2 3 2 Ga. 7 47

, 7 4 8 (2 0 8

SE2 d 8 3 8 ) (1 9 74 ) (“ Si nce [t he wro n g fu l -d eat h s t at u t e] gi ves a ri gh t of act i on n o t h ad

u n d e r c o m

m on l aw, i t m

u s t b e l im i t ed s tri ct l y t o t he m ean in g o f t h e l an g u ag e

em pl o y ed an d no t ex t en d ed b ey o n d i t s p l ai n an d ex p l i ci t t erm s .”); Th o mp s on

, 1 8 6 Ga.

at 40 5 (ex p l ai n i n g th at s tat u t es “ i n d ero g at i o n o f t he co m m on law

. . . m

u s t b e l i m i t ed

s t ri ct l y t o t h e m ean i n g o f t h e l an g u ag e em p l o y ed

, an d n o t ex t en d ed b ey o n d t h e p l ai n

an d ex p l i ci t t erm s of th e s t at u t e”). Th o se i n s t ru ct i o n s so u n d a l o t l ik e w h at we al read y

d o w h en we i nt erp ret s t at u t es : g iv e t h e s t at u t ory t ex t i t s “ p l a i n a n d o rd i n ary

m ean i n g ,” “ v i ew[ed ] i n t h e co n t ex t i n wh ich it ap p ears ,” Dea l v. Co l ema n , 2 9 4 Ga.

1 7 0

, 1 72 (7 5 1 SE2 d 33 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ), an d d o n’ t creat e ju d g e-m ad e ex cep t i o n s n o t fo u n d

i n t h e s t at u t e, s ee, e.g

., Tu r n er v. G eo r g ia Ri ver Net wo r

k

, 2 97 Ga. 3 0 6

, 3 0 8 -0 9 (7 7 3

S E2 d 7 0 6 ) (2 0 15 ) (“ Th e d o ct ri ne o f s ep arat i o n o f p o wers i s an i m m u t ab l e

c o n s t i t u ti o n al pri nci p l e wh i ch m u s t be s t ri ct l y en fo rced

. Un d er t h at doc t r ine

, sta tutor y

co n st ru ct i o n b el on g s t o t h e co u rt s

, l eg i s l at i o n t o t he l eg i s l at u re. W e can n o t ad d a l i n e

t o t h e law.”); Mo r

s e v

. S u n Tr u s t Ba n k, N.A.

, A2 2 A0 2 0 0

, 2 02 2 W L 1 5 3 3 84 1 at * 7

(Ga. Ct

. Ap p

. M ay 1 6

, 2 0 2 2 ) (“ [I] t i s n o t th e ju d i ci ary ’ s p ro vi n ce t o creat e ex cep t i on s

8t o st at u t es .”). Th o se b as i c ru l es o f st at u t o ry co n s tru ct i on ap p l y t o t he wro n g fu l -d eat h

s t at u te, t o o

. 1

Bu t w h at ev er th at ru l e o f co n s t ru ct i o n ’ s i m p o rt fo r i n t erp ret i n g t h e wro n g fu l

d eat h s tat u te, we can p u t i t as i d e h ere, b ecau s e w e are n o t i n t erp ret i ng t h e wro n g fu l

d eat h s tat u t e. Th e q u es t i o n h ere i s wh et h er an o t h erwi s e p ro per wro ng fu l -d eat h cl ai m

(at t hi s st ag e) ad d ed i n an am en d ed co m p l ai n t rel at es back t o t h e o ri g i n al co m p l ai n t

.

W e an s wer t h at q u es ti o n b y ap p l y i n g t h e Ci v i l Pract i ce Act ’ s rel at i o n -b ack p ro v i s i o n,

OCGA § 9 -1 1-1 5 (c), n o t t h e wro n g fu l -d eat h s t at ut e. A nd i f we co n cl ud e t h at t h e n ew

cl ai m rel at es b ack (an d as we ju s t ex p l ai n ed

, we d o ), ev en t h en “ t h e g en eral t wo -y ear

s t at u te o f l i m i t at i o n fo r p ers o n al i n ju ry cl ai m s ” ap p li es

, b ecau s e th e wro n g fu l -d eat h

s t at u te d o es n o t h av e i t s own s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i on

. DeKa lb M ed

. Ct r

., In c. v. Ha wki n s

,

2 8 8 Ga. Ap p

. 84 0

, 8 4 5 (2 ) (a) (6 5 5 SE2 d 8 2 3 ) ( 2 0 0 7 ), ov erru l ed o n o th er g ro u nd s

1 W e al s o n o t e t h at t h e co m m o n p h ras i n g o f th e m o re gen eral ru l e o f

co n st ru ct i o n ab o u t s t at u t es i n d ero g at i o n o f t h e co m m on l aw— t hat s u ch s t at u t es are

t o be “ s t ri ct l y co n st ru ed ”— has b een cal l ed “ a rel i c o f t he co urt s ’ h i s t o ri cal h o s t i l i t y

t o t h e em erg en ce o f s t at u t o ry l aw.” An t on i n Scal i a & Bry an A. Garn er, Read i n g Law:

Th e In t erp ret at i o n o f L eg al Tex t s 3 1 8 -1 9 (2 0 1 2 ). A l t ho u g h i t m ak es s en s e t o p res u m e

t h at a s t at u t e d o es n o t ch an ge t h e co m m on l aw u n l es s it d o es s o cl earl y

, i f a s t at u t e

d o es cl earl y ch an g e th e co m m o n l aw, i t i s n o t ap p aren t wh ere a co u rt wo ul d g et t h e

p o wer to l i m i t t h at cl ear ch an g e t h ro u g h a ru l e o f co n s t ru ct i o n. See Tu r n er

, 2 9 7 Ga.

at 3 0 8 -0 9

.

9reco g n ized b y Ga

. D ep t

. o f Tr an s p

. v. Del o r

, 3 5 1 Ga. A p p

. 4 1 4

, 42 0 (2 ) n

. 2 5 (8 3 0

SE2 d 5 1 9) (2 0 1 9). 2

M et ro res i s t s rel at i o n b ack b as ed o n Mi l es v. A s h l a n d Ch emi ca l Co

. , 2 6 1 Ga.

7 2 6

, 7 2 7 -2 8 (4 1 0 SE2 d 2 9 0) (1 9 9 1 )

, w h i c h h el d t h at t h e “ d i s co v ery ru l e” d o es n ot

ap p ly t o cl ai m s fo r wro n g fu l d eat h : p l ai n t i ffs m u s t fi l e a wro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m wi t h in

t wo y ears o f t h e d eat h, reg ard l es s o f wh en t h ey d i s co v er wh at cau s ed t h e d eat h

. 2 6 1

Ga. at 72 6

. . B u t t h at h o l d i n g i s n o t i n co n s is t en t w it h o u r h o ld i n g h ere t h at t h e

w r o n g f u l -d eat h cl ai m rel at es b ack t o t h e o ri g i n al co m p l ai n t

. If a cl ai m rel at es b ack

t o t he o ri g in al co m

p l ai n t, i t i s d eem ed fi l ed as of t he d at e o f t he o ri g i n al co m p l ai n t

.

An d h ere, t h at co m

p l ai nt was fi led wi t h i n t wo y ears of M cBri d e’ s d eat h

. So To o m er’ s

wro ng fu l -d eat h cl ai m

i s t i m el y wi t h o u t ap p l y i n g a d i s co v ery ru l e.

2 In t he rel at ed co n tex t s o f t o l l in g an d ren ewal act i o n s, we hav e n ot read s p eci al

wro ng fu l -d eat h ex cep t i o n s in t o t h e rel ev an t s t at u t es

. See DeKa l b Med i ca l Ct r

., 2 8 8

Ga. Ap p

. at 8 4 4-4 8 (h o l d i ng th at t h e p ro v i s i o n wh i ch t o l l s t h e s t at u te o f l i m i t at i o n fo r

m i n o r p l ai n t iffs

, OCGA § 9 -3 -9 0 (a), ap p l i ed t o a m i n o r’ s cl ai m f o r t h e w ro n g fu l

d eat h o f a p aren t an d ex t en d ed t h e l i m i t at i o n p eri o d u n t i l t h e p l ai n t i ff reach ed t h e ag e

o f m ajo ri t y ); S

o ma n i v. Ca n n o n

,

_

_ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ (1 ) (8 7 2 SE2 d 9 ) (2 0 2 2) (t o l l i n g o f

t wo -y ear l i m i t at i o n p eri o d fo r m i n o r ch i l d ’ s wro n g fu l d eat h act i o n d i d n ot en d , an d

l i m i tat i on p eri o d d i d n o t b eg in t o ru n

, wh en co n serv at o r p rev i o us l y fi l ed w r o n g fu l

d eat h l aws u i t o n ch il d ’ s b eh al f ag ai n s t o t h er d efen d an t s ); S t okes v. Hi l l

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p.

2 5 6

, 2 5 7 (7 4 9 SE2 d 8 1 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (reco gn i zi n g t h at w h en p l ai n ti ff fi l ed an d d i s m i s s ed

a wro n gfu l d eat h l aws u i t wi t h i n t h e t wo -y ear s t at u t e o f l im it at i o n t h a t s h e l at er

d i s m i s s ed

, p l ai n t i ff h ad t h e ri gh t t o fi l e o n e ren ewal act i o n u n d er OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 t h at

wo u l d rel at e b ack t o t h e o ri g i n al s u i t ).

10M et ro al s o p oi n t s o ut t h at t h e Mi les Co u rt d ecl i ned t o ap p l y t he d i sco v ery ru l e

t o wro ng fu l -d eat h cl ai m s b as ed o n t h e Co u rt ’ s b el i ef t hat “ [t ] o p ro l o n g t h e ru n n i n g

o f t h i s p eri o d wo u l d b e t o s u bject t h e d efen d an ts t o p o ten t ial l y i n fi n it e l i ab i l i t y an d

i s c o u n t e r t o t h e p o l i cy u n derl y i n g s t at u t es o f l i m i t at i o n

. ” Id

. at 7 2 8. Bu t fo r o n e

t h i n g

, rel at i o n b ack do es n ot t o l l a s t a t u t e o f l i m i t at i o n l i k e a d is co v ery ru l e d o es

.

Rel at i o n b ack is b u t a l i m i t ed m ean s o f t u rn i ng b ack th e effect i v e fi li n g d at e fo r a s et

o f fact u al l y rel at ed cl ai m s

. Fo r an o t her, rel at i on b ack d o es n o t su b j ect d efen d an t s to

“ p o t en t ial l y in fi n i t e l i ab il i t y ,” b ecau s e o n l y t h e l i m i t ed u n i v ers e o f cl ai m s t h at aro s e

fro m t h e s am e co n d u ct

, t ran s act i o n

, or o ccu rren ce m ay b e ad d ed

. An d fi nal l y

, i n an y

ev en t, t h o s e k in ds o f po l i cy co n cern s can n o t o v erri d e t h e p l ai n l an g uag e o f t h e Ci v i l

Pract i ce Act

, wh i ch al l ows rel at i o n b ack u nd er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces wi t h ou t l i m i t i n g

t h e k i n d s o f cl ai m s t hat m ay t ak e ad v an t ag e o f i t

.

3

. In ru l i n g th at T oo m er’ s wro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m was t i m e-b arred

, t h e t ri al co u rt

al s o n o ted t hat To o m er was act i n g i n a d i fferen t cap aci t y th an wh en s h e fi l ed t h e

o ri g i nal co m

p l ai n t

. 3

3 M et ro arg ues t h at To om er wai v ed t h i s arg u m en t b ecau s e s h e d i d n o t rai s e i t

b el o w. Bu t t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er gran t ed t h e d e f e n d an t s ’ m ot i o n t o d i s m is s i n p art

b ecau s e i t fo un d t h at s he was act i ng “ i n a d ifferen t l eg al cap aci t y as ad m i n i s t rat o r o f

t h e es t at e (p ers o nal i n

ju ry cl ai m ) an d as h ei r o f t h e d eced en t (wro ng fu l d eat h cl ai m ).”

Becau s e t h e t ri al c o u r t r u l e d o n t h i s b as i s

, i t i s p ro p erl y b efo re u s. See, e. g.

11Fi rs t

, we reject t h e p rem i s e t h at To o m er was act i n g i n a di fferen t cap aci t y

. Sh e

h ad t h e s t at u t o ry ri g h t to b ri n g b o t h t h e in i t i al p ers o n al -i n ju ry act i o n u nd er OCGA §

9 -2 -4 1 an d t h e wro ng fu l -d eat h cl ai m u n d er O CGA § 5 1-4 -5 (a) i n h er cap aci t y as t h e

ad m i n is t rat o r of McBri d e’s es t at e. 4 An d n ei t h er t h e tri al co u rt n o r M et ro o ffer an y

b as i s fo r co n cl u d i n g th at h av i n g d i f f e r e n t st at ut o ry au t ho ri t y fo r t h e t wo cl ai m s

s o m eh o w p recl u d ed ap p li cat i o n o f t h e rel at i o n -b ack p ro vi s i o n

.

Seco n d

, ev en i f To om er were act i n g i n d i fferen t cap aci t i es i n fi l i n g h er i n i t i al

an d am en d ed co m

p l ai n ts

, t h at wo u l d n o t en d t h e i nq u i r y. C o m p l ai n t s “ m ay b e

am en d ed t o ch an g e th e cap aci t y o f t h e p l ai n t i f f

, ” an d t h e am en d ed co m

p l ai n t wi l l

rel at e b ack t o t h e o ri g i n al o n e if t h e t h ree-p art t es t i n Mo r r i s

, 2 0 1 Ga. A p p

. at 6 5 9, i s

m et

. Th i s t es t req u i res a p l ai n t i ff t o s h ow t hat (1 ) t h e cl ai m “ as s ert ed in t he am en d ed

La f o nt a in e v. Al exa n der

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

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

4 Co d e Sect i o n 9 -2 -4 1 pro v i d e s t h a t “ N o act i on fo r a t o rt s h al l ab at e b y t h e

d eat h o f ei t h er p art y

. . . . Th e cau s e o f act i o n, i n t h e cas e o f t he d eat h o f t h e p l ai n t i ff

an d i n t h e ev en t t h ere i s n o ri g h t o f s urv i v o rs h i p i n an y o t h er p ers o n

, s h al l s u rv i v e to

t h e p ers o n al rep res en t at i v e o f t he d eceas ed p l ai n t iff.” An d OCGA § 5 1 -4 -5 p ro v i d es

t h at th e ad m i n i s t rat o r o r ex ecu t o r o f th e deced en t ’ s es t at e m ay bri n g a wro n g fu l -d eat h

cl ai m wh en “ t h ere i s n o p ers o n en t i t led t o b ri n g an act io n fo r t h e wro n g fu l d eat h o f

a d eced en t .” OCG A § 5 1 -4 -5 (a); s ee S ea y v. Va l d o s t a Ki dn ey Cl in i c LLC 3 5 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 7 8, 3 7 9 (1 ) (8 37 SE2 d 5 2 9) (2 0 2 0 ). Al t h o u gh a wro n g fu l -d eat h cl ai m g en eral l y

b el o n g s t o a su rv i v i n g s p o u se, ch i l d o r s u rv iv i n g p aren t s, s ee OCGA § 5 1 -4 -2 (a), at

t h e t im e o f h i s d eat h

, M cBri de h ad n o s p o u se o r ch il d ren an d h i s p aren t s were

d eceas ed

.

12co m

p l ai n t ari s es o u t o f t he co n d u ct

, t ran s act i o n, o r o ccu rren ce set fo r t h ” i n t h e

o ri g i nal co m

p lai n t

, ( 2 ) t h e r e i s an “ i d en t it y o f i n t eres t b et ween t h e o l d an d n ew

p art i es ,” an d (3 ) rel at i o n b ack wi l l n o t p reju d i ce t h e d efen d an t

. Mo r r i s

, 2 01 Ga. Ap p.

at 6 5 9

.

To o m er wo u l d p as s t h at t es t h e r e. W e h av e al read y ex p l ai n ed wh y t h e

wro ng fu l -d eat h cl ai m in t h e am en d ed co m p l ai n t aro se fro m t h e s am e co n d u ct

,

t ran s act io n , o r o ccu rren ce s et fo rt h i n t h e o ri g i n al co m p l ai n t

. T o o m er al s o “ h ad t h e

s a m e b e n e fi ci al i nt eres t i n t he s u b ject m at t er o f t h e l i t i g at io n an d was as sert i n g a

c l a i m fo r reco v ery o f d am ag es res u l t i n g fro m th e s am e al l eg ed act s o r o m i s s i o n s

. ”

M o r r i s

, 2 0 1 Ga. A p p. at 6 5 9

. An d fi nal l y

, t h ere was no p reju d i ci al d el ay b ec a u s e

To o m er “ d id n o t p ro p o s e th e am en d m en t as a d i l at ory m eas u re b ut i ns t ead s o u g h t in

g o o d fai t h” t o ad d t h e wro n g fu l d eat h cl ai m as s oo n as i t was b ro u g h t t o her at t en t i o n.

Mo r r i s

, 2 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 5 9 ; s ee S ea y

, 35 3 Ga. Ap p. at 3 8 2 ( 1 ) ( t ri al co u rt s h o u ld

h av e p erm i t ted am en d m en t t o wro n g fu l d eat h co m p l ai n t to ad d p at i en t’ s wi d o w as

p l ai n t i ff o u t s i de t h e s t a t u t e o f l i m i t at i o n to rel at e back t o th e in i t i al co m p l ai n t fi l ed

b y p at i en t ’ s es t at e an d ch i l d ren wh en p art ies s h ared an i d en t i t y o f i n t eres t s an d cl ai m

aro s e fro m o ccu rren ces al l eg ed i n o ri g in al co m p l ai n t ).

*

13Fo r th e ab o v e reas o n s, we co n cl u d e th at To o m er’ s wro n g fu l-d eat h cl ai m was

t i m el y

, an d s o we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g M et ro ’ s m ot i o n t o d i s m i ss

To o m er’ s am en ded co m

pl ai n t

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . McFa d

d en , P. J., a n d

Go b ei l , J., co ncu r

.

14