THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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

A pr i l 5, 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 09 4

. C

. R

. OF THOM A SVILLE, LLC et al

. v. HANNAFORD

et al

.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

Th e d efen d an t s i n t hi s m ed i cal m al p ract i ce an d wro n g fu l d eat h act io n ap p eal

fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g t h ei r m o t io n t o di sm i s s

, o r, al t ern at i v el y

, t o s t ay

p ro ceed in g s an d co m

p el arb i t rat i o n

, fo l lo wi n g o u r g ran t o f t hei r ap p li cat i o n fo r

i n t erl o cu t o ry rev i ew. 1 See C.R. o f Th o ma s vi l l e v. Ha n n af o r d

, Cas e No

. A2 1 I0 1 7 6

(Ap r. 2 2

, 2 0 2 1 ). Th e d efen d an t s c o n t e n d

, i n rel ev an t p art

, t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

m i s ap p li ed o ur d eci s i o n i n Tr i a d Hea l t h Mg mt

. o f Ga

., III v. Jo h n so n

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p.

2 0 4 (6 7 9 SE2 d 7 85 ) ( 2 0 09 ), wh en i t ru l ed t h at t h e deced en t i s n o t b o un d b y h er

1 Th e n am ed d efen dan t s are: C.R. o f Th om as v i l l e, LLC, o p erat i n g as Th o m as v i l l e

Heal th an d Reh ab ; C. Ro s s M an ag em en t , LLC; an d M i ch ael Eu g en e W in g et , Sr.h u s b an d ’ s s i g n at u res o n t h e arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t at is su e h ere. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at

fo l l o w , we d i s ag ree an d affi rm

.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at

, i n 1 9 9 6

, J u d y H an n afo rd ex ecu t ed a po wer o f at t o rn ey

(“ P O A ”) ap p o i n t i n g her h u s b an d

, p l ai n t i ff Leo Han n afo rd

, as h er at t o rn ey -i n -fact

.

Am o n g o t h er t h i n g s, t h e POA au t h o ri zed Leo “ t o s i g n [J ud y ] in or o ut o f an y h o s p i t al

o r nu rs i n g h o m e. ” J u d y was ad m i t t ed t o a s k i l l ed n u rs i n g faci l i t y ru n b y t h e

d efen d an t s i n M arch 2 0 1 7

, at w h i ch t i m e Leo s i g n ed a Nu rs i n g Ho m e Ad m i s s i o n

Ag reem en t (t h e “ Ag r e e m e n t ”) am on g t h e faci l i t y

, J u d y as “ Res i d en t ,” an d Leo as

“ Res p o n s i b l e Part y .” Th e Ag ree m e n t p ro v i d es

, i n rel ev an t p art

, t h at “ [a] n y an d al l

cl ai m s

, co n t ro vers i es

, [o r] d i s p u t es

. . . ari s in g o ut of o r i n an y [way ] rel at i n g t o [t h e]

Ag reem en t

. . . s h al l b e res o l v ed ex cl u s i v el y by b in d i n g arb i t rat i o n

. ” Leo p ri n t ed an d

s i gn ed h i s o wn n am e in t h e Ag reem en t ’ s s p aces d es i g n at ed fo r t he p ri nt ed n am es an d

s i gn at u res o f b o t h t he “ Res id en t ” an d t h e “ Res i d en t ’ s Rep res en t at i v e.” 2 Bel o w Leo ’ s

s i gn at u re, t h e p re-p ri nt ed Ag reem en t fo rm co n t ains se ve r a l opt i o n s u n der b o t h “ Leg al

2 W h i l e t h e pre-p ri n t ed Ag reem en t fo rm ap p ears t o h a v e b een d es i g n ed wi t h t h e

i n t en t t h at pri n t ed an d s i g n ed nam es b e ad ded ab o v e th e “ Res i d en t ” a n d “ R es i den t ’ s

Rep res en t at i v e” d es i g n at i o ns

, Leo p ri n t ed an d s i g n ed h i s n am e b el o w t h o s e d es i g n at i o ns

. We as s u m e, fo r p u rp o s es o f t hi s ap p eal

, t h at L eo i n t en d ed t o p ri n t an d si g n h i s n a m e a s

b o t h “ Res id en t ” an d “ Res i d en t’ s Rep res en t at i v e.”

2Rep res en t at i v e” an d “ Res p on si b l e Part y .” 3 Th e o p t io n de s i g n at ed “ Sp o u s e” u n d er t h e

h ead in g “ Res p o n s i bl e Part y ” was ch eck ed ; n on e o f t h e o p ti o n s un d er t he h ead i n g

“ Leg al Rep res en t at i v e”

— i n cl u d i n g “ Ag en t u n d er a

. . . Po wer o f A t t orn ey ”

— was

s el ect ed

. It ap p ears t o b e u n d i s p u t ed t h at th e d efen d an t s d i d n o t k n o w o f J u d y ’ s POA

wh en Leo s i g n ed t h e Ag reem en t

.

J u d y d ied i n 2 01 9

. In 2 0 2 0

, Leo

, i n d i v i d u al ly an d as J ud y ’ s su rv i v i n g s p o u s e

an d ex ecu t o r o f h er es tat e, s u ed t h e d efen d an t s

, s eek i n g d a m ag es fo r i n ju ri es J u dy

s u s t ai n ed wh i l e s h e was a res i d en t at t h e n u r s i n g faci l i ty

, fo r h er s u b s eq u en t d eat h,

fo r v i o l at i o n s o f Geo rg i a’ s Bi l l o f Ri g h ts fo r Res i d en t s o f Lo n g -t erm Care Faci l i t i es

,

OCGA § 3 1 -8 -1 0 0 et seq

. , a n d fo r l o s s o f co n s o rt i u m

. Ci t i n g th e Ag reem en t ’ s

arb i t rat i on p ro vi s i o n an d t h e POA, t h e d efen d an t s m o v ed t o d i s m i s s t h e co m p l ai n t

,

o r, al tern at i v el y

, t o s t ay t h e pro ceed i n g s an d co m p el arb i t rat i o n. Th e t ri al co u rt d enied

t h e m o t i o n o n g ro u n d s t h at : (i ) Leo s i g n ed t h e Ag reem en t as J u d y ’ s s p o us e an d n ot

p u rs u an t t o t h e POA; (i i ) t h e d efen d an t s fai l ed to es t ab l i sh t h at J ud y kn ew o f t h e

arb i t rat i on ag reem en t o r au th o ri zed L eo t o ag ree t o arb i trat e t h e cl ai m s at is s u e h ere;

3 Th e Ag reem en t d efi n es (i ) “ Leg al Rep res en t at i v e” as “ an y pers o n wi th t h e l eg al

au t h o ri t y t o act o n b eh al f o f an in co m p et en t or i n cap aci tat ed p at i en t (e.g

. , a l eg al g u ard i an

o r ag en t w i t h p o w e r o f at to rn ey )”; an d (i i ) “ Res p o n s i bl e Part y ” as “ a fam i l y m em b er o r

o t h er p ers o n in t eres t ed i n t h e Res i d en t ’ s wel fare wh o u n d ert ak es cert ai n res po n s i b i l i t i es

i n co n n ect io n wi th t h e Res i d en t ’ s s t ay at t h e Faci l i ty .”

3a nd (i ii ) reg ard l es s

, u n d er OCGA § 9 -9 -6 2

, t he arb i t rat i on ag reem en t i s u n en fo rc e a ble

a s t o c l ai m s fo r m al p ract i ce b as ed o n act s t h at o ccu rred aft er Leo s ig n ed i t

. Th i s

i n t erl o cu t o ry

ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

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

arb i t rat i on

. Mi l l er v. GGNS C At l a n t a

, 32 3 G a. Ap p

. 1 14

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

(2 0 1 3); s ee Y

a t es v. CACV of Co l o r a d o

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 42 5

, 4 2 5 (6 9 3 SE2 d 6 2 9 )

(2 0 1 0) (“ T h e q ues t i on o f wh et h er a v al i d an d en fo rceab l e arb i t rat i on ag reem en t ex i s t s

. . . r e p r es en ts a q u es t i o n o f l aw, s u b ject t o d e n o v o rev iew.”). Th e fact ual fi n d i ng s

o n w h i c h t h e ru li n g i s bas ed

, h o wev er, wi l l n o t b e o v ert u rn ed un l es s cl earl y

erro neo u s

. See Ed Vo

yl es Jeep -Ch r

ys l er v. W a h ls

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 87 6

, 8 7 7 (6 7 0 SE2 d

5 4 0 ) (2 00 8 ). 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 p ro v i n g t h e ex i s t en ce

o f a v al i d an d en fo rceab le ag reem en t t o arb i trat e. Tr i a d Hea l t h

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 0 6

(2 ); s ee Y a tes , 3 03 Ga. Ap p . at 4 3 0 (1 ).

“ Un d er b ot h G eo rg ia an d fed eral l aw, arb i t rat i o n i s a m at t er o f co n t ract [,] an d

a p art y can n ot b e req u i red to s u b m i t t o arb i t rat i o n a n y d i s p u t e wh ich [s h e] h as n ot

ag reed s o to s u b m i t .” Y

a t es

, 3 03 Ga. A p p

. at 43 0 (1 ); acco rd Emo r y Hea lt h ca r e 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 ). Th u s, “ [w] h et h er t h ere i s a

v al i d ag reem en t t o arb i t rat e i s gen eral l y g ov ern ed b y s t at e l aw p ri nci p l es o f co n t ract

4fo rm at i o n

, an d i s ap p ro p ri at e fo r d et erm i n at i o n by th e co u rt ,” Tr i ad Hea l t h

, 2 9 8 Ga.

Ap p

. at 2 0 6 (2 ), ev en wh ere t h e ag reem en t at i s s ue s t at es t h at i t i s t o b e g o vern ed by

t h e Fed eral Arb i t rat i o n Act (“ FAA”), s ee Y at es

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3 0 (1 ). A co n t ract

re q u i res a m eet i n g o f t h e m in ds t o ren d er i t v al i d an d b i nd i n g

. US A Mf g

. Co r p

. v.

Per f ect io n -S ch wa n k, In c.

, 2 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 63 6

, 6 38 (1 ) (6 1 0 SE2 d 6 0 0 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ [O] n e

o f t h e es s en t i al req u i rem en t s of a v al i d co n tract is t h e as s en t o f t h e p art i es t o t h e t erm s

o f t h e co nt ract .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); acco rd OCGA § 1 3 -3 -1

. Th u s

,

“ t h e card i n al ru le of co n t ract co n st ru ct io n i s t o as cert ai n t h e i nt 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 uag e o f t h e co n t ract .” M i l l er

, 3 23 Ga. Ap p. at 1 18 (2 ). In t h at

v e i n

, “ an i nd i v i du al wh o h as n o t co n s en t ed t o an arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t can n o t b e

co m p el l ed t o arb it rat e cl ai m s .” Hel ms v. F ra n kl in Bu i l der

s

, 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 3

, 8 6 5

(7 0 0 SE2 d 6 09 ) (2 0 10 ); acco rd W ed emeyer v. Gu lf

s tr ea m Aer o s

pa ce Co r p

. , 3 2 4 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 7, 4 9 (1 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 2 41 ) (2 0 1 3) (“ Arb i t rat io n i s a m at t er o f co n s en t

, n ot

co erci o n . . . .”) (ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1

. W e fi rs t ad d res s t h e d efen d an t s’ arg u m en t t hat t h e t ri al co u rt m i sap p l i ed o u r

d eci s i o n in Tr i ad H

ea l t h

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 4

, wh en i t ru l ed th at J u d y is n o t b o u n d by

Leo ’ s s i g n at ures o n t h e Ag reem en t . W e affi rm t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h i s i s s u e.

5In Tr i a d Hea l t h

, t h e p l ai n t i ff s u ed s ev eral defe n d a n t s fo r n u rs i n g h o m e

n eg li g en ce t h at al l eg ed l y l ed t o h i s fat h er’ s h os p it al i zat i o n

, i l l n es s

, an d d eat h

. 298 G a.

Ap p

. at 2 0 4 -2 0 5. Th e d efen d an t s m o v ed t o co m pel arb i t rat i o n bas ed on an arb i t rat i o n

ag reem en t i n a n “ Ad m i s s i o n Co nt ract ” th at t he pl ai n t i ff s i g n ed as h i s fat h er’ s

“ Fi du ci ary Part y ” wh en t h e fat h er en t ered t h e n u rs i n g ho m e. Id

. at 2 0 5

. Bel o w t h e

s i gn at u re l i n es

, th e co n t ract li s t ed “ 1 1 b o x es co rres p o nd i n g t o v ari o us cap aci t i es in

wh i ch t he fi d u ci ary m i gh t b e rep res en t i n g t he p at i en t

, s u ch as gu ard i an

, at t o rn ey -i n

fact

, an d t ru s t ee, am on g o t hers .” Id

. at 2 0 7 (2 ). T h e on l y b ox ch eck ed was “ i m m ed i at e

fam i l y m em

b er.” Id

. Th i s Co u rt rev ers ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al of t h e m o t i o n to

co m p el arb i t rat i o n o n g ro u n d s t h at

, as rel ev an t h ere: (i ) t he d eced en t h ad ex ecu t ed a

g en eral POA i n fav o r of t h e p l ai n t iff th at was i n effect wh en t h e p l ai n t i ff s i g n ed t h e

Ad m i s s i o n Co n tract ; an d (i i ) t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s ex ecu t i o n of t h e A d m i s s i o n Co n t ract o n

b eh al f o f h i s fat h er was “ n eces s ary

, req u is i te o r p ro p er,” wi t h i n t h e s co p e o f t h e POA,

an d t h e fat h er t h erefo re was b o u n d t h ereb y

. Id

. at 20 7 -2 08 (2 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, J u d y ’ s POA g av e Leo t h e au t h o ri t y : (i ) “ [t ] o co nt ract fo r t he p erfo rm an ce

o f s erv i ces ” fo r h er; (i i ) “ t o s i g n [h er] i n o r o ut o f an y h o s p i t al o r n u rs in g ho m e”; an d

(i ii ) “ to do an d perfo rm al l a n d e v ery act an d t h i n g wh at s o ev er req u is it e, n eces s ary

an d p ro p er t o b e d o ne i n an d ab o u t t h e p rem i s es

, as fu l ly

, t o al l i n t en ts an d pu rp o s es

,

6as [s h e] m i g h t o r c o u l d d o

, i f p ers o nal l y p res en t

, . . . [t ] h ereb y rat i fy i n g an d

co n fi rm i n g al l t h at [h er] s ai d at t o rn ey

. . . s h al l l awfu l l y d o

, or cau s e to b e d o n e,” by

v i rt u e o f t h e POA. W hi l e s o m e o f t h e ab o v e l an g u ag e res em b l es t h e l an g u ag e o f t h e

POA i n Tr i a d Hea l t h

, s ee 2 9 8 Ga. A p p

. at 2 0 7 (2 ), t h ere are t wo k ey d is ti n ct i on s

b et ween t h e fact s i n Tr i ad Hea l t h an d t h e cas e b efo re u s

.

Fi rs t

, t h e ad m i s s i o n ag reem en t i n Tr i a d Hea lt h ex pres s l y i d en t i f ie d the pla intif

f

as a “ Fi d u ci ary

Part y .” 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 0 5 . An d t he rel at i o ns h i p o f an ag en t t o h i s

p ri n ci p al i s fi d uci ary i n nat u re. Ko ch v. Co ch ra n

, 2 5 1 Ga. 5 5 9, 56 0 (3 0 7 SE2 d 9 1 8 )

(1 9 8 3); s ee W

r i g h t v. Ap a rt men t In ves t men t & Mg mt

. Co

. , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 7

, 5 9 2 (2 )

( a ) ( 7 2 6 SE2 d 7 7 9 ) (2 0 12 ) (“ W h ere an ag en cy rel at io n s hi p ex i s t s

, t h e ag en t h a s a

fi du ci ary d u t y t o h i s p ri n ci p al .”); Bl ack ’ s Law Di ct i o n ary 7 7 0 ( 1 1 t h ed

. 2 0 1 9 )

(d efi ni n g “ fi d u ci ary ,” i n rel ev an t p a rt

, as “ [s ] om eo n e wh o i s req u i red t o act fo r t h e

b en efi t o f an o t h er pers o n o n a l l m a t t ers wi t h i n t h e s co p e o f t h ei r rel at io n s h i p ; o n e

wh o o we s t o a n o t h er t h e d u ti es o f g o o d fai t h

, l o y al t y

, du e care, an d di s cl o s u re”).

Th u s, th e p l ai n t i ff’ s s i g n at u re o n t h e ad m i s s i o n ag reem en t as a “ fi d u ci ary ” i n Tr i a d

Hea lt h co n s t i t u t ed ev i den ce t h at h e was affi rm at iv el y ex erci s i n g h i s au t h o ri t y u n d er

t h e d eced en t ’ s POA. Here, ho wev er, Leo s ig n ed th e Ag reem en t n o t as a fi d u ci ary

—

an d n o t ev en as a “ Leg al Rep r e s en t at i ve”

— b u t rat h er o n ly as t h e “ Sp o u s e” an d

7“ Res p o n s i b l e P a r ty

, ” w hic h w e ighs ag ai n s t t reat i n g h i s s i g n at u re as h av in g b een m ad e

p u rs u an t t o t h e POA. See g en eral l y As hb u r n Hea lt h Ca r e Cen t er v. Po o l e

, 2 8 6 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 4

, 2 6 -2 7 (6 4 8 SE2 d 43 0 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (t h e m ere fact t h at o n e sp o u s e s i g n ed an

arb i t rat i on ag reem en t as an “ au t h o ri zed rep res en t at i v e” o f t h e o th er s p o u s e, wi t h o ut

m o re, can n o t es tab l i s h ag en cy ). An d o n th e fact s o f t h i s cas e, i g n o ri n g Leo ’ s ex p res s

d eci s i o n to ch o o s e t h o s e o p t i on s an d reject t h e co n t ract u al o p t io n s t o s i g n as “ Leg al

Rep res en t at i v e” an d / o r “ Ag en t u n d er a

. . . Po wer o f At t o rn ey ” w o u l d ri s k “ ru n [n i n g ]

afo u l o f Geo rg i a l aw, wh i ch req u i res u s t o g iv e m ean i n g t o ev ery t erm o f a co n t ract

rat h er th an co n s tru e an y t erm as m ean i n g l es s.” Emo r y Hea l t h ca r e , 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. at

6 2 7 (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Seco n d

, th e d eced en t i n Tr i a d Hea l t h was i n c a p a c i t at ed wh en t h e p l ai n t i ff

s i gn ed th e ad m i ss io n ag reem en t

. 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 07 (2 ). An d w e o b s erv ed i n Tr i a d

Hea lt h t hat t h e d eced en t ’ s i n cap aci t at i o n was o n e o f th e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h e

t ran s act io n s h owi ng t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s ex ecu t i o n o f t h e ad m i s s io n a g r e em en t was

“ n eces s ary

, req u i s i t e o r p ro per, wi t h i n t h e s co p e o f t h e ag en cy co n t em p l at ed b y ” t h e

POA. Id

. (p un ct u at i on o m i t ted ). He r e

, h o wev er, n ei t h er p art y h as i den ti fi ed an y

reco rd ev i d en ce s u g g es t i n g t h at J u d y was i n cap aci tat ed o r o t h erwi s e u n ab l e t o rev i ew

8an d accep t o r reject t h e Ag reem en t wh en Leo si g n ed i t

. 4 T h u s

, t h e reas o n i n g i n Tr i a d

Hea lt h

— i n w h ich en t eri ng i n t o t h e arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t was “ n eces s ary

, req u i si t e

o r pro p er” wi t h i n t h e s co p e of t he POA wh i l e t he d eced en t was in cap aci t at ed

— d o es

n o t ap p l y h ere. See i d. (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); cf. As h b u r n Hea lt h Ca r e Cen t er

, 2 8 6

Ga. A p p

. at 2 6 -2 7 (affi rm i n g t h e d en i al o f a m o t i on t o co m p el arb i t rat i o n o n g ro u nd s

t h at , i n t er al ia, t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at th e deced en t “ k n ew ab o u t t h e arb i t rat i o n

ag reem en t

, au t h o ri zed h er h u s b an d t o si g n t h e d o cu m en t, o r o t h e r wi s e ag reed to

arb i t rat e cl ai m s ari si n g ou t o f her n u rs i n g h o m e s t ay ”). Pu t an ot h er way

, t h ere i s n o

ev i d en c e h e r e t h at Leo ’ s act o f s i g n i n g hi s o w n nam e t o t he Ag reem en t was

“ r eq u i s i te, n eces s a r

y an d p ro per” u n d er t h e POA. 5 (Em p h as i s s up p l i ed .) T o t h e

4 In t h at v ei n

, nei t h er p art y id en t i fi es an y reco rd ev i d en ce s h ed d i n g an y l i g h t o n wh y

Leo (rat h er t h an Ju d y ) s i g n ed t h e Ag reem en t. N ev ert h el es s

, t h e fact t h at L eo reject ed t h e

o p t i o n t o s i g n as “ Leg al Rep res en t at i v e”

— wh i ch t h e A g reem en t d efi n es as a p ers o n w i t h

“ l eg al au t h o ri t y t o act o n beh al f o f an i n co mp et en t o r i n ca p a ci t a ted p at i en t ”

— co n st i t u t es

s o m e ev i d en ce th at J u dy was n o t i n cap aci t at ed wh en Leo s i g n ed t h e A gr e e m e n t. (Em p has i s

s u p p l i ed .) To t h e ex t en t t h at an y ad d i t i o n al ev i den ce po t en ti al l y co u l d s u p p o rt a co n t rary

fi n d i n g t h at Leo w as affi rm at i v el y ex erci s i n g h i s au t h o ri t y u nd er t h e POA at t h at t i m e, i t

was i n cu m

b en t o n t h e d efen d an t s — wh o b ear t he b u rd en o f es t ab l i s h in g an en fo rceab l e

arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t

— t o pres en t s u c h e v i d e n ce to t h e tri al co u rt

. See Y at es

, 3 0 3 Ga.

Ap p . at 4 3 0 (1 ); Tr i a d

Hea l t h , 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p . at 2 0 6 (2 ).

5 Th e fact t hat Leo p ri n t ed an d s i g n ed h i s o w n n am e (rat her t h an J u dy ’ s n am e) i n t h e

s p aces d es ig n at ed fo r “ Res i d en t” d o es n o t h i n g t o h el p t h e d efen d an t s m eet t hei r b u rd en

,

as i t s h ed s n o l ig ht o n e way o r an o t h er o n wh et h er, b y d o i n g s o

, Leo i n t en d ed t o ex erci s e

h i s au th o ri t y t o u n i l at eral l y act o n J u d y ’ s b eh al f pu rs u an t t o t h e POA, as o p p o s ed t o m erel y

9co n trary

, Leo at t es t ed i n an affi d av i t t h at h e d i d no t s ig n t h e A g reem en t p u rs u an t to

t h e POA (wh i ch s ug g es t s t h at J u d y was n o t in cap aci t at ed at t h e t i m e). See Ext r emi t y

Hea lt h ca r e v. Acces s t o Ca r e Amer i ca

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 6

, 2 5 4 (1 ) (7 9 3 SE2 d 5 2 9 )

(2 0 1 6) (wh i l e p aro l, o r ex tri n s i c, ev i d en ce “ can no t b e u s ed t o co n t rad i ct o r v ary t h e

t erm s o f a v al i d w ri t t en ag reem en t

, ” i t “ m ay b e u s ed t o s h o w,” as h ere, t h at n o s u ch

ag reem en t ex i s t ed ). 6

Im p o rt an t l y

, t h e p art i es h av e n o t ci t ed

, an d we h av e n o t fo u n d

, an y Geo rg i a

ap p e l l a t e d eci s i o n s s t an di n g fo r th e p ro p o s i t i o n th at th e m ere ex i s ten ce o f a POA,

wi t h o u t m o re, i s d et erm i n at iv e as t o wh et h er t h e p ers o n i n wh o m th e POA res t s b i nd s

h i s p ri n ci p al m erel y b y s i g n i n g h i s o w n n am e t o an ag reem en t t o w h i ch t h e p ri n ci p al

act i n g o n J ud y ’ s b e h a l f a s h e r sp o u s e, as i n d i cat ed b y h i s sel ect i on of “ Sp o u s e” (an d

reject i o n o f “ Ag en t u nd er a

. . . Po wer o f At t o r n e y” ) i m m ed iat el y b el ow h i s s i g n at u res

. Th u s

, ev en to s ay t h at Leo s i g n ed t h e Ag reem en t “ o n Ju d y ’ s b eh al f” beg s t h e q u es t i o n as

t o t h e c a p a ci t y in wh ich h e was act i n g wh en h e d i d s o

. An d becau s e t h e an s wer t o t h at

q u es t i o n

— at b es t

— i s u ncl ear on t h e p art icu l ar fact s o f th i s cas e, t h e d efen d an t s h av e n o t

m et th ei r bu rd en of s h o w i n g t h at Leo was affi rm at iv el y ex erci s i n g h is au t ho ri t y u n d er t h e

POA wh en h e si g n ed t h e Ag reem en t

. Se e Y a t e s

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3 0 (1 ); Tr ia d Hea l t h

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p . at 2 0 6 (2 ); s ee al s o g en eral l y n o t e 2 , ab o v e.

6 In d eed

, t he d efen d an t s ’ en t i re arg u m en t i s prem i s ed o n ev i den ce e x t r i n s i c t o t h e

Ag reem en t: t h e POA. W e t h erefo re reject t h e arg u m en t in t hei r r e p l y b ri ef t h at p aro l

ev i d en ce i s i n ad m i s s i b l e u n d er t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e. See Ext remi t y Hea lt h ca r e

, 3 3 9 Ga.

Ap p . at 2 5 4 (1 ).

10i s a p art y. 7 Gi v en th e i m p o rt an t d i st i nct i o n s b et ween th e cu rren t cas e an d Tr i a d

Hea lt h

, w e n o w h o l d t h at t he ex i s t en ce o f a POA b et ween s p o u s es

, s t an d i n g al o ne,

i s i n su ffi ci en t to b in d t h e p ri n ci p al u n d er t he fact s o f t h i s cas e. Rat h er, t h ere m u st b e

s o m e ev i d en ce t h at t h e ag en t was i n t en t i o nal l y or affi rm at i v el y ex erci s i n g h i s

au t h o ri t y u n d er t h e POA fo r t h e p ri n ci p al t o b e b o u n d

. See g en eral l y Mi l l er

, 3 2 3 Ga.

Ap p

. at 1 1 8 (2 ) (“ t h e card i n al ru l e o f co n t ract co n s t ru ct i o n i s t o as cert ai n t h e i n t en t

o f t h e p art i es ”); cf. OCGA § 1 0-6 B-1 3 (“ E x cep t as o t h erwi s e p ro vi d ed i n t h e p o wer

o f at t o rn ey

, a p ers o n accep ts ap p oi n t m en t as an ag en t u n d er a p o w er o f at to rn ey by

exer ci s i ng a u t h o r i t

y o r p er f o r m i n g du t i es a s an ag en t o r b y a n y o t h er a s s er t i o n o r

co n du ct i n d i ca t in g a c cep t a n ce .”) (em p has i s s up p l i ed ). As i n Tr i a d Hea l t h

, s u ch

ev i d en ce m ay be fo un d i n (a) t h e ex p res s d es i g n at io n o f t h e ag en t as a fi d u ci ary o n

7 Th e fact t h a t t h e POA i d en t i fi ed ad m i s s i o n t o a n u rs i ng ho m e as o n e o f t h e

n u m ero u s act s au t h ori zed in t h e POA al s o ad d s n ot h i n g t o o u r an al ys i s

, a s i t s i m i l arl y

s h ed s n o l i g h t o n wh et h er L eo i n ten d ed t o affi rm at i v el y ex erc i s e t h at au t h o ri t y wh en h e

s i g n e d h i s o w n n am e t o t h e A g reem en t

. Mo re i m p o rt an t l y

, i t do es n o t h in g t o h el p t h e

d efen dan t s m eet t h ei r ap p el l at e b u rd en

— as t he p art i es ch al l en g i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g

— o f e s t a b l i s h i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt cl earl y erred w h en i t d et erm i n ed t h at t h ey d i d n o t

s at i s fy t h ei r i n i t ial b u rd en o f s ho wi n g t h at

, wh e n L e o s i g n ed h is o wn nam e t o t h e

Ag reem en t, h e was affi rm at i v e l y e x erci s i n g h i s au t ho ri t y u n d er th e POA t o u n i l at eral l y

o b t ai n J u d y ’ s ad m is s i o n t o t h e d efen d a n t ’s f a c i l it y

. See Y

a t es

, 30 3 Ga. Ap p. at 4 3 0 (1 );

Tr i a d Hea l t h

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 06 (2 ); Ed Vo yl es Jeep -Ch r

ys l er

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p. at 8 7 7 ; s ee

al s o To lb er t v. To o le

, 2 9 6 Ga. 3 5 7

, 3 6 3 (3 ) (7 6 7 SE2 d 2 4) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ It i s [t h e ap p el l an t ] ’ s

b u rd en

, as t h e p art y ch al l en g in g t h e ru l i n g b el o w, t o affi rm at i v el y s h o w err o r f r o m t h e

reco rd o n ap p eal .”).

11t h e face o f t h e ag reem en t at i s s u e an d (b ) t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s i n cap aci t at i on at th e t i m e t h e

ag reem en t i s ex ecu t ed

, t h ereb y n eces s i t at in g t he ex erci se of on e’ s a u t h o ri t y as

at t o rn ey -i n -fact fo r an o t her.

I n t h at reg ard

, t h e d efen d an t s h i gh l i g h t an Ag reem en t p ro v i s io n t h at ap p ears

t wo p ag es b efo re Leo ’ s s i g nat u res an d s t at es :

If t h i s Ag reem en t i s ex ecu t ed b y t h e Res i d en t’ s Rep res en t a t i v e, t hat

i n d i vi d u al ag rees th at h e o r s h e i s si gn i n g b o t h as Rep res en t at i ve an d i n

h i s o r h er o wn cap aci ty

, an d fu rt her warran t s an d rep res en t s t h at th e

Res i den t h as ex pres s l y ves t ed i n t h e Rep res en tat i v e t h e au th o ri t y t o act

o n t h e Res i d en t’ s b eh al f i n t h e Res i d en t ’ s fi n an ci al

, heal t h

- r e l a t ed

,

co n t ract u al

, an d o t h er affai rs an d as su ch is t h e Re s i d e n t ’ s au t h ori zed

ag en t wi t h res pect t o t h e ex ecu t i o n o f t h i s Ag reem en t

.

To th e ex t en t t h at t h i s g en eral p ro v i s i o n arg u ab l y m ay b e read t o co n t rad i ct th e m o re

s p eci fi c t erm s o f L eo ’ s ex p res s el ect i o n t o si g n h i s own nam e a s “ S p o u s e” an d h i s

reject i o n o f t h e op t i o n s t o s i g n as “ Leg al Rep res en t at i v e” an d/ o r “ Ag en t u n d er a

. . .

Po wer o f At t o rn ey ,” we co n s t ru e an y p o t en t i al am b i g u i t y i n t h i s reg ard

— as t h e t ri al

co u rt ap p ears to h av e do n e

— ag ai n s t t h e d efen d an t s as d raft ers o f t h e Ag reem en t

. 8

See OCGA § 1 3 -2 -2 (5 ) (“ If t h e co n s t ru ct i o n [o f a co n t ract ] is d ou b t fu l

, t h at wh i ch

8 Se e n o t es 3 an d 4

, ab o ve (ad d res si n g th e Ag reem en t ’ s d efi n i t i o n o f “ Leg al

Rep res en t at i v e”).

12g o es m os t s t r o n g l y ag ai n st th e p art y ex ecu t i n g th e i n s t ru m en t o r u n d ert ak i n g t h e

o b l i g at i o n i s g en eral l y t o b e p referred .”); Ea g l e Jet s v. A t l a n t a Jet

, 3 4 7 Ga. A p p

. 5 6 7,

5 7 2 (2 ) (a) (8 2 0 SE2 d 19 7 ) ( 2 0 1 8 ) (am b i gu i t i es i n a co n t ract are “ res o l v ed m o s t

s t ro n g l y ag ai n s t t h e d raft er”); s ee al s o Ho l l a n d v. H ol l a n d

, 2 8 7 Ga. 8 6 6

, 8 6 8 (1 ) (7 0 0

SE2 d 5 7 3) (2 0 1 0) (“ In co n st ru i n g co n t ract s, a s p eci fi c p ro v i s i o n wi l l prev ai l o v er a

g en eral o n e.”).

A b s en t ev i d en ce t h at Leo was in t en ti o n al l y o r affi rm at i v el y ex erci s i n g h i s

au t h o ri t y u n d er t h e POA

— an d g i v en th e ev i den ce t o t he co n t rary o n t h e face o f t h e

Ag reem en t an d i n Leo ’ s affi d av i t

— t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err wh en i t co n cl u d ed t h at

t h e d efen d an t s d i d n o t m eet t h ei r b u rd en of s ho wi n g t h at Leo i n t en d ed t o act p u rs u an t

t o t h e POA wh en h e si g n ed t h e Ag reem en t

, s o as t o b i n d J u d y t o t h e a r b i t rat i o n

p ro v is i o n

. A s a res u l t

, t h e t ri al co u rt t herefo re al s o d i d no t err wh en it (a) co n cl u d ed

t h at t h e d efen d an t s d i d n o t m eet t h e i r b u rd en o f es t ab l i s h in g an en fo rceab l e

ag reem en t t o arb i t rat e an d ( b ) d en i ed th e defen d an t s ’ m o t io n t o d i s m i s s

, o r, i n t h e

al t ern at i v e, t o s t ay t he p ro ceed i n g s an d co m pel arb it rat i o n on t h at b as i s

. W e t h erefo re

affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g i n t h i s reg ard

.

2

. Gi v en o ur ru l i n g i n Di v i s i o n 1

, we n eed n o t a d d r e s s th e d efen d an t s ’

co n ten t i o n t hat t h e arb i t rat i o n ag reem en t i s s u b ject t o t h e FAA. Ev en i f t h at i s t h e

13cas e, i t n ev er t h el es s rem ai n s s u b ject to s t at e l aw co nt ract fo rm at i o n p ri n ci p l es

, as

ap p li ed i n o u r an al y s i s i n D i v i s i o n 1. See Y a t e s

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p. at 4 30 (1 ); Tr i a d

Hea lt h

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p . at 2 0 6 (2 ).

3

. Ou r ru l i ng i n Di v i s i o n 1 l i k ewi s e m ak es i t u n neces s ar y t o a d d res s t h e

d efen d an t s ’ ch al l en g e t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’s a l t e r n at i v e co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e arb i t rat i o n

ag reem en t h ere i s ren d ered u nen fo rceab l e as t o Leo ’ s m al p ract ice cl ai m s b y OCGA

§ 9 -9 -6 2 , an i s s u e o n wh i ch we ex pres s n o o p i n i o n

.

4

. Fi n al l y

, g i v en o u r ru l i n g i n Di v i si o n 1, we s i m i l arl y ex p res s n o o pi n i o n o n

Leo ’ s co n t en t i o n t h at t h e ag reem en t t o arb i t rat e i s v o i d as u n co n s ci on ab le, an i s s u e

t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t reach

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

14