In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: Ju n e 1 5, 2 01 5

S 1 4G1 6 3 2 . BOWDEN v . THE MEDICAL CENTER, INC.

NAHMIAS , Ju stic e

.

Ge o rg ia la w g iv e s a h o sp ita l a lie n fo r th e re a so n a ble c ha rg e s fo r its c a re

a n d tre a tm e nt o f a n in

ju re d p e rso n a g a in st a ll c a u se s o f a c tio n a c c ru in g to th a t

p e rso n on a c c ou n t o f h e r in ju rie s, a n d e sta

b lish e s a p ro c e ss fo r th e h o sp ita l to

p e rfe c t its lie n fo r th e a m o un t c la im e d to b e d u e

. S e e OCGA §§ 44 -1 4 -4 7 0

, 4 4

-

1 4 -4 7 1

. Th e Me d ic a l Ce n te r, In c

. (TMC) p r o v i d e d h o sp ita l c a re to Da n ie lle

Bo wd e n

, wh o d id n o t h a v e h e a l t h i n s u ra n c e

, a fte r sh e wa s in ju re d in a c a r

wre c k

, b i l l e d h e r $ 2 1,4 09 .5 9 fo r h e r c a re

, a n d file d a ho sp ita l lie n fo r th a t

a m o u n t. In a su b se q u e n t la wsu it, Bo wd e n so u g h t to in v a lid a te th e lie n o n th e

g ro u n d th a t th e b ille d c h a rg e s we re g ro ssly e x c e ssiv e a n d d i d n o t re fle c t th e

re a so na b le v a lu e o f th e c a re sh e re c e iv e d , wh ile TMC a lle g e d th a t $ 2 1 ,4 0 9 .5 9

wa s a re a so n a

b le a m o u n t fo r Bo wd e n ’s c a re a n d so u g h t a d e c la ra to ry ju d g m e n t

e sta b lish in g th e v a lid ity o f its lie n

.

Du rin g d isc ov e ry

, TMC o b je c te d to Bo wd e n ’s re q u e sts fo r, a m o n g o th e rth in g s

, i n f

o rm a tio n a n d d o c u m e n ts re ga rd in g th e a m o un ts th a t th e h o sp ita l

c h a rg e d in su re d p a tie n ts fo r th e sa m e ty p e o f c a re

. Bo wd e n file d a m o tio n to

c o m p e l d isc o v e ry

, wh ic h th e tria l c o urt gra nte d su b je c t to th e e n try o f a

p ro te c tiv e o rd e r to e n su re c on fid e ntia lity

. On in te rlo c u to ry a p p e a l, th e Co u rt o f

Ap p e a ls re v e rs e d

, h o ld in g th a t th e tria l c o urt a b u se d its d isc re tio n in g ra n tin g

th e m o tio n be c au s e “ t h e d isc o v e ry Bo wd e n se e k s is n o t re le v a n t to h e r c la im

th a t TMC’s m e d ic a l c ha rg e s fo r h e r tre a tm e n t we re u nre a so n a b le .” T h e Me d ic a l

Ce n te r, In c

. v

. Bo w d e n

, 3 2 7 Ga

. Ap p

. 7 1 4

, 7 14 (7 6 1 S E2 d 1 16 ) (2 0 1 4 )

. We

g ra n te d Bo wd e n ’s p e titio n fo r c e rtio ra ri to re vie w th a t h o ld in g

.

As e x p la in e d b e lo w, wh e re th e su b je c t m a tte r o f a la wsu it in c lu d e s th e

v a lid ity a n d a m o u n t o f a h o sp ita l lie n fo r th e re a so n a b le c ha rg e s fo r a p a tie n t’s

c a re

, h o w m

u c h th e h o sp ita l c h a rg e d o th e r p a tie n ts, in su re d o r u n in su re d, fo r th e

sa m e ty p e o f c a

re d u r i n g t h e sa m e tim e p e rio d is re le v a n t fo r d isc o v e ry

p u rp o se s. Th e C o u rt o f Ap p e a ls e rre d in c o n c lu din g o th e rwise a nd in h o ld in g

o n th a t g ro u n d th a t th e tria l c o u rt a b u se d its d isc r e t i o n i n g ra n tin g Bo wd e n ’s

m o tio n to c o m

p e l. Ac c o rd in g ly , we re v e rse th e Co u rt o f Ap p e a ls’ ju d g m e n t.

1

. On Ju ly 1

, 2 0 1 1

, th e re n ta l c a r in wh ic h Da n ie lle B o w d e n wa s a

p a sse n g e r wa s in vo lv e d in a n a c c id e n t. At a b o u t 1 0 :4 0 p .m

., Bo w d e n

, wh o wa s

22 1 y e a r s o ld a n d d id no t h a v e h e a lth in su ra n c e

, wa s ta k e n b y a m b u la n c e to

TMC’s h o sp ita l in Co lu m b u s, Ge o rg ia

, wh e re sh e re c e iv e d e m e rg e n c y m e d ic a l

tre a tm e nt th a t in c lu d e d su rg e ry f o r a b ro k e n le g

. At so m e po in t o n Ju ly 2

,

Bo wd e n ’s m o th e r a lle g e d ly sig n e d a n a d m issio n fo rm th a t sa id in re le v a n t p art:

I, th e u nd e rsig ne d

, a m se e k in g tre a tme n t a t Th e Me d ic a l Ce n te r,

In c

. . . . fo r my se lf o r a pe rso n fo r wh o m I a m re sp on sib le fo r

h i s / h e r m e d ic a l c a re

. . . . Th e u n de rsig n e d a g re e s, wh e th e r a s
Ag e n t, G u a ra nto r, o r P a tie n t, th a t in c o n sid e ra tio n o f th e se rv ic e s to

b e re n d e re d to th e p a tie n t, th e u n d e rsig n e d is in d iv id u a lly o b lig a te d

to p a y th e a c c o u n t in fu ll o f th e Ho sp ita l, a n d a tte n d in g p h y sic ia n s,

o r o rg a n iz a tio n s, o r o th e r sa tisfa c to ry fin an c ia l a rra n ge m e n ts m u st

b e m a d e p rio r to tim e o f p a tie n t d isc ha rg e

.

Bo wd e n wa s disc h a rg e d fro m th e h o sp ita l o n Ju ly 4

. On Ju ly 1 3

, sh e re tu rn e d

to th e h o sp ita l fo r ph y sic a l th e ra p y a nd a lle g e d ly sig n e d th e sa m e a d m issio n

fo rm h e rse lf. TMC b ille d Bo wd e n a to ta l o f $ 2 1 ,4 0 9 .5 9 fo r h e r c a re a n d file d

a h o sp ita l lie n fo r th a t a m o u n t p u rsu a n t to OCGA § 4 4 -1 4 -4 7 0 (b ). 1

1 OCGA § 44-14-470 (b) say s:

Any p erson, f

irm, ho s p i t a l authority

, or corporation operating a hospital, nursing

home, or phy sician practice or providing traumatic burn care medical practice in this

state shall have a lien for the r e a s o n a b l e c harg es for hospital, nursing h ome, phy sician practice, or traumatic burn care medical practice care and treatment of an injured person, which lien shall b e upon any and all causes of action accruing to the

person to w hom the care was furnished or to the leg al representative of such person

on account o f injuries g iving rise to the causes of action and which necessitated the

hospital, nursing h ome, phy sic i a n p r a c t i c e

, o r p r o vider o f traumatic burn c are medical

practice care, subject, however, to any a ttorney ’ s lien. T h e lien provided f or in this

subsection is only a lien ag ainst such causes o f action and shall not be a lien ag ainst

3On Ju ly 2 7

, 2 0 12

, th e re n ta l c ar c o m p a ny ( E n te rp rise ) file d a c om p la in t

in in te rp le a d e r a g a in st Bo w d e n a n d TMC a n d p a id $2 5,0 0 0 in to th e re g istry o f

th e tria l c o u rt. Th e c o m

p la in t a lle g e d th a t En te rp rise wa s se lf-in su re d with a n

in su ra n c e c e rtific a te th a t p ro v id e d a u to m o b ile c o v e ra g e u p to $ 2 5 ,0 0 0 ; th a t

Bo wd e n p re se n te d a c la im a g a in st En te rp rise

, wh ic h En te rp rise o ffe re d to se ttle

fo r th e p o lic y lim it; a n d th a t th e o ffe r wa s re je c te d b e c a

u se Bo wd e n a n d TMC

we re un a b le to a gre e o n h o w m

u c h o f th e se ttle m e n t p ro c e e d s sh o u ld g o to TMC

to re le a se its h o sp ita l lie n

. 2

On Au g u st 2 0 , 2 0 1 2 , Bo wd e n a n swe re d th e c o m p la in t a n d file d a c ro ssc la im a g a in st TMC, a lle g in g th a t sh e wa s u nin su re d a nd in d ig e n t a t th e tim e o f

h e r tre a tm e n t a n d th a t h e r b ill o f $ 2 1,4 0 9 .5 9 wa s gro ssly e xc e ssiv e a n d d id n o t

r e fle c t th e re a so n a

b le v a lu e in th e c o m m

u n ity o f h e r tre a tm e n t. Bo w d e n a l s o

a lle g e d th a t th e e m e rg e n c y n a tu re o f he r in ju rie s a n d tre a tm e n t p re v e n te d h e r

fro m u tiliz in g th e p ro v isio n s o f O C GA § 3 1 -7 -1 1 to m a k e p re -tre a tm e n t c o st

such injured p erson, such leg a l representative, or any other property or assets o f such

persons and shall not be evidence o f such person’s fai l u r e t o p a y a debt. This

subsection shall n ot be construed to interfere with the ex emption from this part

provided by Code Section 44-14-474 [ ex empting money s that become due under the

workers’ compensation statutes]

.

2 TMC had offered to settle its lien for $8,333, but B o w d en declined.

4c o m

p a r i s o n s

. 3 S h e d e nie d sig n in g a pa y m e n t c o n tra c t w ith TMC a n d a lle g e d

th a t a n y su c h c o ntra c t wo u ld b e vo id a s b o t h p ro c e d u ra lly a n d su b sta n tiv e ly

u n c o n sc io na

b le

. Bo wd e n a sse rte d a c la im a g a in st TMC fo r u nju st e n ric h m e n t

a n d

, a lte rn a tiv e ly

, b re a c h o f c o n tra c t a n d v io la tio n o f Ge o rg ia ’s v e rsio n o f th e

Un ifo rm De c e p tiv e T ra d e P ra c tic e s Ac t (“ U DTP A” ), O CGA § § 1 0 -1 -3 7 0 to 1 0

-

3 OCGA § 31-7-11 say s:

(a) Any hospital shall, upon request, provide a written summary o f c ertain

hospital and related services charg es, including but not limited to:

(1) The averag e total charg es p er patient day f o r th e facility ’ s previous

fiscal y ear; (2) The daily rate for a room in said h ospital, which rate shall include an

ex planation of the categ ories of services included in said charg e; (3) Anesthesia c h arg es, with a n ex planation o f the categ ories of services

included in this charg e; (4) Operating

room charg es; (5) Recovery

room charg es; (6) I ntravenous administration charg es; (7) Emerg e ncy room c h arg es, with an ex planation of the categ o ries of

services included in the charg e; (8) The charg e for the patient care kit or admis s ion kit or other such

items furnished to the patient on admission;

(9) Charg es for spec i f ic routine tests, including but not limited to a complete blood count, urinaly sis, and chest X-ray ; and

(10) Charg es f

or specific s p e cial tests, including but n ot limited to

electrocardiog

ram, electroencephalog

ram, CAT scan of the head,

CAT scan of liver, CAT scan o f lung s, CAT scan of skeletal sy stem,

spirometry , and complete pulmonary function.

Such written summary of charg es shall be composed in a simple clear f a shion

s o as to enable consumers to compare h ospital charg es and make c os t

effective decisions in the purchase of hospital services.

(b) The [ Department of Community H ealth] shall adopt r ules a nd reg ulations to

implement the provisio n s o f this Code section and shall implement such

reg ulations as provided in Code Section 31-7-2.1.

51 -3 7 5 . As re lie f, sh e so u g h t d a m a g e s a n d a tto rn e y fe e s a n d a sk e d th a t TMC’s

“ lie n b e d ism isse d .”

Alo n g with h e r a

n swe r a n d c ro ss-c la im

, Bo wd e n se rv e d on TMC a re q u e st

fo r p ro du c tio n o f d o c u m e n ts a n d a se t of se v e n writte n in te rro ga to rie s, a s

d isc o v e ry a

u th oriz e d by th e Civ il P ra c tic e Ac t

. S e e OCGA § § 9 -1 1 -3 3

(a u th o riz in g i n t e rro g a to rie s to p a rtie s); 9 -1 1-3 4 (a u th o riz in g

, a m o n g o th e r

th in g s, re q u e sts fo r p r o d u c tio n o f d o c u m e nts). Th e d o c u m e n t re q u e st

so u g h t: (1 ) m e d ic a l re c o rd s a n d b ills re la te d to Bo wd e n ’s tre a tm e n t a n d th e

h o sp ita l lie n ; a n d (2 ) fo r its fisc a l y e a rs 2 0 1 0 , 2 0 1 1 , an d 2 0 12 , TMC’s p ric in g

a g re eme n ts with Me d ic a id

, Me d ic a re

, B lu e Cro ss/Blu e S h ie ld of Ge o rg ia

, a n d

TRICARE a

n d TMC’s o wn in d ig e n t c a re p ro g ra m p ric e s. Th e in te rro g a to rie s

a sk e d TMC w h a t Bo w d e n ’s sp e c ific

, ite m iz e d c h a rg e s wo u ld h a v e b e e n if sh e

we re c o v e re d b y Me d i c a id

, Me d ic a re

, Blu e Cro ss/Blu e S h ie ld o f G e o rg ia

,

TRICARE, o r TMC’s in dig e nt c a re p ro gra m ; wh a t T MC’s to ta l g ro ss re v e n ue s

we re fro m se rv ic e s b ille d a t th e OCGA § 3 1 -7 -1 1 ra te s a n d fro m se rv ic e s b ille d

a t le ss th a n th o se ra te s fo r th e fisc a l y e a r p rio r to Bo wd e n ’s a d m issio n ; fo r fisc a l

y e a rs 2 0 10 a n d 2 0 1 1

, th e p e rc e n ta g e s o f p a tie n ts wh o p a id th e § 3 1 -7 -1 1 ra te s

a n d wh o p a id le ss th a n th o se ra te s; a n d

, sin c e Ju ly 1

, 2 0 1 1

, h ow m a n y un in su re d

6p a tie n ts TMC h a d tre a te d in its e m e rg e n c y ro o m a n d h ow m a ny o f th o se p a tie n ts

TMC h a d b ille d fo r th e ir tre a tm e n t.

On Au g u st 23

, 2 0 1 2

, TMC a n swe re d En te rp rise ’s c o m p la in t a n d file d a

c o u n te rc la im a lle g in g th a t it b ille d Bo wd e n th e “ fa ir a n d re a so n a b le a m o u n t” o f

$ 2 1

, 4 0 9 .5 9 fo r th e c a re th a t sh e re c e iv e d a n d re q u e stin g th a t th e tria l c o u rt e n te r

a d e c la ra to ry ju d g m e n t th a t its h o sp ita l lie n fo r th a t a mo u n t wa s “ v a lid a n d

a tta c h e s to a n y se ttle m e n t p ro c e e d s re c e iv e d b y Da nie lle B o w d e n .” On

S e p te m b e r 2 1

, TMC a n swe re d Bo wd e n ’s c ro s s

- c l a im

, d e n y in g h e r a lle g a tio n

th a t h e r b ill wa s g ro ssly e x c e ssiv e an d did no t re fle c t th e re a so n a b le v a lu e o f h e r

tre a tm e nt. On th e sa m e d a y

, TMC se rv e d re sp o nse s to Bo wd e n ’ s d i s c o v e ry

re q u e sts. Th e re sp o n se s a re n o t c o n ta in e d in th e re c o rd on a p p e a l, b ut it a

p p e a rs

fro m o th e r m a te ria ls in th e re c o rd th a t T M C pro v id e d Bo wd e n with c o p ie s o f

h e r m e d ic a l re c o rd s a n d b ills b u t n o o th e r d o c u m e n ts a n d th a t TMC an swe re d

n o n e o f th e in te rro g a to rie s, in ste a d re sp o n d in g o nly with b o ile rp la te ob je c tio n s.

On Ja nu a ry 16

, 2 0 1 3, B o wd e n file d a m o tio n un d e r OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 7 (a )

to c o m p e l th e re m a in in g d isc ov e ry fro m TMC. On Ja n ua ry 1 7

, Bo wd e n se rv e d

a se c o n d se t of disc o v e ry re q u e sts o n TMC, se e k in g a b la n k c o p y o f e v e ry fo rm

th a t TMC u se d fro m 20 06 to 2 0 1 2 th a t a sk e d p a tie n ts to g u a ra n te e or a uth o riz e

7p a y m e n t fo r m e d ic a l tre a tme n t o r to a ssig n b e n e fits to TMC o r th a t d isc u sse d

h o w or a t wh a t r a t e s p atie nts o r th e ir in su re rs m ig h t b e c h a rg e d

, a nd a sk in g

TMC to id e n tify th e sp e c ific d a te s d u rin g wh ic h e a c h fo rm wa s in u se

. Bo wd e n

a lso file d a m o tio n to e x te n d th e d isc o ve ry p e rio d fo r 90 da y s. On F e bru a ry 1 5

,

TMC file d a brie f o p p o sin g Bo wd e n ’s m o tio n to c om p e l, fo c u sin g its o b

je c tio n s

o n re le v a n c e a

n d c on fid e ntia lity

. On F e b ru ary 20

, TMC re sp o n de d to Bo wd e n ’s

se c o nd se t o f d isc o v e ry re q u e sts, ra isin g n um e ro u s ob je c tio n s b u t pro d u c in g n o

d o c u m e nts a n d n o t a n swe rin g th e in te rro g a to ry ; Bo wd e n th e n a m e n d e d h e r

m o tio n to c o m

p e l to in c lu d e th e se c o n d se t o f re q u e sts.

Th e tria l c ou rt h e ld a h e a rin g o n th e m o tio n to c om p e l o n Ma y 3 0

, 2 0 1 3

.

Bo wd e n a rg u e d th a t in fo rm a tio n c o n c e rn in g h o w m u c h TMC c h a rg e d o th e r

p a tie n ts, wh e th e r in su re d o r u n in su re d

, fo r th e sa m e c a re du rin g th e sa m e tim e

p e rio d w a s re le v a n t to th e re a so n a b le n e ss o f TMC’s c h a rg e s fo r h e r c a re

. TMC

a rg u e d th a t Bo wd e n ’s d isc o v e r y r e q u e sts so u gh t in fo rm a tio n th a t wa s n o t

re le v a n t to th e c a se a nd a sk e d th e c o u rt to e n te r a p ro te c tiv e o rd e r in th e e v e n t

th a t it g ra n te d Bo wd e n ’s m otio n

, n o tin g th a t m an y of its a gre e m e nts with h e a lth

in su ra n c e c o m

p a n ie s in c lu d e d c o n fid e ntia lity c la u se s. S e e OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (c )

(a u th o riz in g th e c o u rt to e n te r, fo r g o o d c a use sh o wn

, “ a n y o rd e r wh ic h ju stic e

8re q u ire s to p ro te c t a p a rt y o r p e rso n fro m a n no y an c e

, e m b a rra ssm e n t,

o p p re ssio n

, o r u n d u e b u rd e n o r e x p e n se

, in c lu d in g on e or m o re o f th e

fo llo win g :

. . . (7 ) Th a t a tra d e se c re t o r o th e r c o nfid e n tia l re se a rc h

,

d e v e lo p m e n t, o r c o m m e rc ia l in fo rm a tio n n o t b e d isc lo se d or b e d isc lo se d o n ly

in a de sig n a te d wa y ” ). O n Ju n e 2 0

, 20 1 3

, th e tria l c o u rt e n te re d a n o rd e r

g ra n tin g Bo wd e n’s m otio n to c o m p e l su b je c t to th e e n try of an a

p p ro p ria te

p ro te c tiv e o rd e r to e n su re c o n fid e n tia li ty

, wh ic h th e p artie s we re d ire c te d to

su b m it with in 2 0 d a y s. Th e tria l c ou rt th e n g ra n te d T MC’s re q u e s t f o r a

c e rtific a te of im m e d ia te re v ie w; th e Co u rt o f Ap p e a l s g ra n te d TMC’s

a p p lic a tio n fo r in te rlo c u to ry a p p e a l; a n d TMC file d a tim e ly n o tic e o f a p p e a l. 4

On a p p e a l, th e Co u rt o f Ap p e a ls re v e rse d th e tria l c ou rt’s d isc o v e ry o rd e r,

h o ld in g th a t th e c o urt h a d a bu se d its d isc re tio n in g ra ntin g th e m o tio n to c o m p e l

b e c a u se “ th e b ro a d ra n g e o f d isc o v e ry Bo wd e n re qu e sts is n o t r e l ev a n t to h e r

c la im .” Bo wd e n

, 3 2 7 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 7 1 9

. We g ra n te d Bo wd e n ’s p e titio n fo r

4 A fter the trial court g ranted B owden’s motion to c ompel, TMC filed a motion for summary judg ment a

nd supporting materials, and B owden then filed a motion and supporting affidavit asking

the court to deny TMC’s motion and to reopen and ex tend the di s c o very p eriod in lig ht of the

ong oing discovery dispute, noting that the court had not y et ruled on her previously filed motion to

ex tend the discovery period. See OCGA § 9-11-56 (f). I t does n ot appear from the record on appeal

that the trial court has ruled on these motions. See OCGA § 5 -6-34 (b) (stating that the filing of a

notice of a

ppeal after the g ranting of an application for interlocutory a ppeal acts as a supersedeas).

9c e rtio ra ri.

2

. (a ) OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 c o n ta in s th e g e n e ra l p ro v isio n s re g a rd in g

c iv il d isc o v e ry in G e o rg ia c o u rts. As to th e sc op e o f d isc o v e ry , § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b )

(1 ) sa y s th a t in g e n e ra l, u n le ss o th e rwise lim ite d b y o rd e r o f th e c o u rt,

P a rtie s m a y o b ta in d isc o v e ry re g a rd in g a n y m a tte r, n o t p riv ile g e d

, wh ic h is re le v a n t to th e su b je c t m a tte r in v o l v e d in th e p e n d in g

a c tio n

, wh e th e r it re la te s to th e c la im o r d e fe n se o f th e p arty se e k in g

d isc ov e ry o r to th e c la im o r d e fe n se o f a n y o th e r p a rty

. . . .

Mo re o v e r, “ It is n o t gro u n d fo r o b je c tio n th a t th e in fo rm a tio n so u g h t will b e

in a d m issib le a t th e tria l if th e in fo rm a tio n so u gh t a pp e a rs re a so n a

b ly c a lc u la te d

to le a d to th e d isc o v e ry o f a d m issib le e v id e n c e .” Id

. In th is c iv il su it, Bo wd e n

se e k s t o i n v a lid a te TMC’s h o sp ita l lie n o n th e g ro u n d th a t th e lie n a m o u n t

–

wh ic h wa s th e a mo u n t TMC b ille d h e r fo r

– gro ssly e x c e e d s th e re a so n a b le

c h a rg e s fo r h e r c a r e

, wh ile TMC a lle g e s th a t $ 2 1 ,4 0 9 .5 9 wa s a re a so n a b le

c h a rg e fo r h e r c a re a n d se e k s a d e c la ra to ry ju d g m e n t th a t its lie n is va lid

. Th u s,

th e “ su bje c t m a tte r in v o lv e d in th e p e n din g a c tio n” in d isp u ta bly in c lu de s

wh e th e r, in th e w o rd s o f th e h o sp ita l lie n s t a t u t e s, “th e a m o u n t c la im e d to b e

d u e ” b y TMC, OCGA § 44 -1 4 -4 7 1 (a ) (2 ), c o n sists o f th e “ re a so n a b le c h a rg e s”

fo r B o wd e n ’s h o sp ita l c a

re

, § 4 4 -1 4 -4 7 0 (b ). S e e Bo wd e n

, 32 7 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 7 1 7

1 0(“ At issu e in th is c a se is wh e th e r TMC’s c h arg e s to B o wd e n we re re a so n a b le .” ).

Th e q u e stio n

, th e n

, is wh e th e r th e d o c u m e nts Bo wd e n re q u e ste d a n d th e

in te rro g a to rie s sh e pro p o u n d e d a re “ re le v a nt”

– in th e b ro a d d isc ov e ry ra th e r

th a n th e n a rro we r tria l s e n s e o f th a t te rm

– to th e re a so n a b le n e ss o f TMC’s

c h a rg e s fo r h e r c a re

. As th e Un ite d S ta te s S u p r e m e Co u rt e x p la in e d in

in te rp re tin g th e a n a lo g o u s fe d e ra l ru le o f c iv il p ro c e d u re a s it re a d a t th a t tim e :

T h e k e y p hra se in th is d e fin itio n

– “ re le v a n t to th e su b je c t m a tte r

i n v o l v e d in th e pe n d in g a c tio n ”

– ha s b e e n c o n stru e d b ro a dly to

e n c o m p a ss a n y m a tte r th a t b e a rs o n

, o r th a t re a so n a bly c o u ld le a d

to o th e r m a tte r th a t c o u ld b e a r o n

, a n y issu e th a t is o r m a y be in th e

c a se

.

Op p e n h e im e r F u nd

, In c

. v

. S a n d e rs, 4 37 U.S

. 3 4 0

, 3 51 (9 8 S Ct 2 3 8 0

, 5 7 LE2 d

2 5 3 ) (1 9 7 8 ) (fo o tn o te a

n d c ita tio n s o m itte d ). T h u s

, in th e disc ov e ry c o n te x t,

c o u rts “ ‘ s h o u ld a n d o rd in a rily d o [] in te rp re t “ re le v a nt” v e ry b ro a d ly to m e a n

m a tte r th a t is re le v a n t to a n y th in g th a t is o r m a y b e c o m e a n issu e in th e

litig a tio n .’” Id

. a t 3 5 1 n

. 1 2 (c ita tio n o m itte d ). Se e ge n e ra lly 8 Ri c h a rd L.

Ma rc us, F e d e ra l P ra c tic e & P ro c e d u re § 2 0 08 (3 d e d . u p d a te d 2 0 1 5). 5

5 I n 1972, the General Assembly “comprehensively and e x haustively ” revised the discovery

provisions of the Civil Practice Act to conform very closely

, althoug h not entirely

, to the discovery

provisions of the F ederal Rules of Civil Procedure as they had been amended in 1970. Ga. L

. 1970,

p. 510. Cases and commentary interpr e t i n g t h e lang uag e used in the 1970 version of the federal

discovery rules are therefore persuasive authority in interpreting Georg ia’s discovery statutes. See

1 1In a c c ord a n c e with th is v ie w, th is Co u rt h a s e x p la in e d th a t “ th ro u g h th e

d isc o v e ry p ro c e ss, n o n -p riv ile g e d in fo rm a tio n wh ic h is in th e p o sse ssio n o f o n e

p a rty a n d wh ic h g iv e s th a t p a rty a ta c tic a l a d va n ta g e m a y b e re q u ire d to b e

sh a re d with th e o p p o sin g sid e ,” a n d we ha v e c a u tio n e d t r ia l c o u rts th a t in

e x e rc isin g th e ir d isc re tio n to d e te rm in e th e pe rm issib le sc op e o f d isc o v e ry

, th e y

sh o u ld “ k e e p [] in m in d th a t th e d isc o v e ry p ro c e d u re is to b e c o n stru e d lib e ra lly

in fa v o r o f su p p l yi n g a p a rty with th e fa c ts.” Te n e t He a lth c a re Co rp

. v

.

Lo u isia n a F o ru m Co rp

., 2 7 3 Ga

. 2 0 6

, 2 10 (5 3 8 S E2 d 4 4 1 ) (2 0 0 0 ). S e e a l s o

Ha m p to n Isla n d F o u n d e rs, LLC v

. Lib e rty C a p ita l, LLC, 2 8 3 Ga

. 2 8 9

, 2 9 7 (6 5 8

S E2 d 6 1 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (n o tin g th a t th e d isc o ve ry ru le s a re de sig n e d to re m o v e th e

p o te ntia l fo r se c re c y a n d to p ro v id e p artie s w ith k n o wle dg e o f a ll th e re le v a n t

fa c ts to re d u c e th e e le m e nt of su rp rise a t tria l); W a y n e M

. Pu rd o m

, Ge o rg ia

G

. H

. Bass & Co. v. F u lton County B d. of Tax Assessors, 268 Ga. 327, 327-328 (486 S E 2 d 8 1 0 )

(1997) (looking to c o u rt decisions and commentary interpreting a federal d iscovery rule as persuasive authority in construing an identically worded Georg ia discovery statute). The Georg ia

discovery statute at issue here

– OCGA § 9-11-26

– was virtually i d e n t i c a l to the c orresponding

federal rule that was in effect in 1972; the only substantive difference was in § 9 -11-26 (b) (4) (A)

(ii). Aside from technical amendments, OC G A § 9-11-26 has not been r evised since 1972. Over

the pa s t 4 3 y e a r s

, however, F e deral Rule o f Civil Procedure 26 has been substantially amended,

including several amendments to narrow the scope of discovery

, and further a mendments will take

effect on December 1

, 2015, unless Cong ress disapproves them. See Order adopting amendments

t o F e d e r a l R u l e s o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e ( A p r

. 2 9

, 2 0 1 5 )

, a v a i l a b l e a t

http://www.supremecourt.g ov/orders/or d e r softhecourt.aspx ; 8 F ederal Practice & Procedure § 2008

(discussing prior amendments to Rule 26).

1 2Civ il Disc o v e ry § 4 .5 (u p d a te d 2 0 1 5 ) (d isc ussin g th e Ge o rg ia c o u rts’ b ro a d

v ie w o f wh a t is re le v a n t fo r d isc o v e ry p u rp o se s).

Th e a m ou nts th a t TMC c h a rg e d to (a n d a g re e d to a c c e p t a s p a y m e n t in fu ll

fro m ) o th e r p a tie n ts tre a te d a t th e sa m e h osp ita l fo r th e sa m e ty p e of c a re d u rin g

th e sa m e g e n e ra l tim e fra m e th a t Bo wd e n wa s tre a te d m ay n o t b e d isp o sitiv e o f

w h e t h e r TMC’s c ha rg e s fo r Bo wd e n ’s c a re w e re “ re a so n a b le ” u n d e r OCGA

§ 4 4 -1 4 -4 7 0 (b ), to th e e x te n t th a t th e oth e r p a tie n ts we re n o t sim ila rly situ a te d

in o th e r e c o n o m ic a lly m e a n in g fu l wa y s. B u t th a t d o e s n o t m e a n th a t h o w m u c h

TMC c h a rg e d th o se o th e r pa tie n ts is e n tire ly irre le va n t

– p a rtic u la rly in th e

b ro a d d isc o v e ry se n se

– to th e re a so n a b le n e ss o f th e c h a rg e s fo r Bo w d e n ’s c a re

.

S e e M c Millia n v

. Mc Millia n

, 3 1 0 Ga

. A p p

. 7 3 5

, 7 4 0 (7 1 3 S E2 d 9 2 0 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(Bla c kwe l l

, J.) (d istin g u ish in g b e twe e n d isp o sitiv e a n d p ro b a tiv e in fo rm a tio n

fo r p u rp o se s o f d e c id in g wh a t is “ re le v a n t” in th e d isc o ve ry c o nte x t).

Th e fa ir a n d re a so na

b le v a lu e o f g o o d s a n d se rv ic e s is o fte n d e te rm in e d

b y c o n sid e rin g wh a t sim ila r b u y e rs an d se lle rs h a v e p a id a n d re c e iv e d fo r th e

sa m e p ro d u c t in th e sa m e m a rk e t, with a d ju stm e n ts u p wa rd o r do w n wa rd m a d e

to a c c o u n t fo r p e rtin e n t diffe re n c e s, a n d we se e n o re a so n wh y th e sa m e c a n n o t

b e tru e o f h e a lth c a re

. S e e Me lo v

. Allsta te In s. C o

., 8 0 0 F S up p.2 d 5 9 6

, 6 0 2 (D.

1 3Vt. 2 0 1 1 ) (o bse rv in g th a t “re le v a n t e v id e n c e o f th e re a so n a b le v a lu e o f m e d ic a l

se rv ic e s” m a y in c lu d e “ e v id e n c e a s to wh a t th e p ro v id e r u su a lly c h a rg e s fo r th e

se rv ic e s p ro vid e d

, o r wh a t o th e r p ro v id e rs u su a lly c h a rg e ” ); Ma rk A. Ha ll &

Ca rl E. S c h n e i d e r, P a tie n ts a s Co n su m e rs: Co u rts, Co n tra c ts, an d th e Ne w

Me d ic a l Ma rk e tp la c e

, 1 0 6 Mic h

. L. R e v . 6 4 3 , 6 8 6 (2 0 08 ) (“ In p ra c tic e

, c o u rts

[se e k in g to d e te rm in e th e re a so n a b le ne ss o f h e a lth c are c h arg e s] p rim a rily a sk

(1 ) wh a t th e p ro v id e r usu a lly c h a rg e s fo r th e se rv ic e an d ( 2 ) w h at o th e r

p ro v id e rs u su a lly c h a rg e .” ). S u p p o se th a t, a s Bo wd e n a rg u e d a t th e m o tio n to

c o m p e l he a rin g

, 9 9 % o f TMC’s p a tie n ts wh o re c e iv e d th e sa m e c a re a s sh e d id

d u rin g th e sa m e tim e p e rio d h a d in su ra n c e a n d t h e re fo re p a id th e sa m e m u c h

lo we r su m fo r th e ir c a

re

– sa y

, ju st $ 1 ,0 0 0

. Un d e r th a t sc e n a rio

, a fa i r m in d e d

ju ro r m ig h t c on c lu d e th a t th e “ re a so na b le c h arg e ” fo r th a t c a re wa s m u c h c lo se r

to $ 1,0 00 th a n to th e $2 1 ,4 0 9 .5 9 th a t TMC bille d B o w d e n

. Bo wd e n is e n title d

to d e te rm in e if e v id e n c e e x ists to su p po rt su c h a n a rg u m e n t.

Of c o u rse

, TMC w o u ld b e e ntitle d to p re se n t e v id e n c e a n d to ar g u e in

re sp o n se th a t wh a t it c h a rg e d its i n s u r e d p a tie n ts is no t fa irly c o m p a ra b le to

wh a t it c h a

rg e d u n in su re d p a tie n ts lik e Bo wd e n, b e c a u se th e in su re d p a tie n ts

w e r e c ha rg e d b a se d o n th e h o sp ita l’s c on tra c ts with th e ir in su re rs t h a t

1 4re a so na

b ly re fle c te d su c h e c o n o m ic fa c to rs a s vo lu m e d isc o un ts o r p ro m ise s o f

p ro m pt a n d fu ll p a y m e n t, or b a se d on th e ra te s th a t th e g o v e rn m e n t wa s willin g

to p a y u n de r Me d ic a re o r Me d ic a id

. S e e Hu n tin g to n Ho sp

. v

. Ab ra nd t, 7 7 9

NYS 2 d 8 9 1

, 8 9 2 (N.Y. Ap p

. Te rm 2 00 4 ) (“ Th e fa c t th a t le sse r a m o u n ts fo r th e

sa m e se rv ic e s m a y be a c c e p te d fro m c o m m e rc ia l i n s u re rs o r go ve rn m e n t

p ro g ra m s a s pa yme n t i n f u ll d o e s no t in d ic a te th a t th e a m ou n ts c ha rg e d to

d e fe n d a n t we re no t re a so n a b le

. ” )

. TMC m ig h t e ve n a rg u e th a t th e v a rie d

a m o u n ts it c h a rg e d p a tie n ts fo r th e c are it p ro vid e d w e re wh o lly u n re la te d to th e

re a so na b le v a lu e o f th a t c a re

. S e e Ha ll & S c h n e id e r, su pra

, a t 6 6 5 (sta tin g th a t

so m e “ [h ] o sp ita l e xe c u tiv e s c o n fe ss th a t ‘th e va st m a jo rity o f [c h a rg e s] h a v e n o

re la tio n to a n y th in g , a

n d c e rta in ly n o t to c o st’” (fo o tn o te o m itte d )).

Th e re m a y b e re a so n s wh y so m e o r a ll o f th e in fo rm a tio n a n d d o c u m e n ts

TMC wo u ld h a v e to pro v id e in re sp o n se to th e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s o rd e r m a y n o t b e

a d m issib le a t tria l. S e e Mc Millia n

, 3 1 0 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 7 4 0. Bu t a s th e a d v i s o r y

c o m m itte e ’s n o te o n th e 1 9 7 0 a m e n d me n ts to th e c o rre sp on d in g fe d e ra l ru le

e x p la in e d , th a t is n o o b sta c le to d isc o v e ry :

S in c e d e c isio n s a s to re le v a n c e to th e su b je c t m a tte r of th e a c tio n

a re m a d e fo r d isc o v e ry p u rp o se s we ll in a d v a n c e o f tria l, a fle x ib le

t r ea t me n t o f re le v a nc e is re q u ire d and th e m a k in g o f d isc o v e ry

,

1 5wh e th e r v o l u n ta ry o r u n d e r c o u rt o rd e r, is n o t a c o n c e ssio n o r

d e te rm in a tio n o f re le v a n c e fo r p u rp o se s o f tria l.

F e d

. R. Civ

. P ro c

. 2 6 a d v iso ry c o m m

. n ote

. At issu e no w is a n o rd e r c o m p e llin g

d isc o v e ry

, n o t a ju d g m e n t v a lid a tin g o r in v a lid a tin g TMC’s h o sp ita l lie n o r e v e n

a ru lin g on th e a d m issib ility a t tria l o f sp e c ific e v id e n c e

– a ll m a tte rs o n wh ic h

we e x p re ss n o o p in io n

. F or p re se n t p u rp ose s, a ll we h o ld is th a t th e d isc o v e ry

Bo wd e n so ug h t ma y h a v e so m e re le v a n c e to th e re a so n a b le n e ss o f TMC’s

c h a r g e s f o r h e r c a re

, a n d th u s, a ssu m in g n o o th e r o b je c tio n s to h e r v a rio u s

re q u e sts a re m a d e a

n d su sta in e d

, b e fo re th is c a se p ro c e e d s to su m m a ry ju d g m e n t

o r tria l, n o t o n ly TMC b u t Bo wd e n is e n title d to se e wh a t th e in fo rm a tio n a n d

d o c u m e nts sh o w a n d wh e th e r th e y su pp o rt h e r c la im s a n d d e fe nse s. S e e

Mc Millia n

, 3 1 0 G a

. Ap p. a t 7 4 1

. S e e a lso Ha ll & S c h ne id e r, su p ra

, a t 68 4 -6 8 7

(d isc u ssin g, in th e c on te x t o f th e c u rre n t h e a lth c a re m a rk e tp la c e

, d iffe re n t wa y s

th a t th e re a so n a

b le v a lu e o f h o sp ita l a n d o th e r m e d ic a l c a re ha s be e n d e te rm in e d

b y c o u rts a n d m e th o d s of v a lu a tio n p ro p o se d b y le g a l a n d e c on o m ic s sc h o la rs).

Co n se q u e n tly

, th e tria l c ou rt a c t e d with in its disc re tio n in o rd e rin g T MC to

p ro v id e th e re q u e ste d d isc o v e ry

.

1 6(b ) To re a c h th e c o n tra ry c o n c lu sio n

, th e Co u rt o f Ap p e a ls re lie d

o n th e fo llo win g a na ly sis. F irst, th e c o urt n o te d th a t ho sp ita ls a re fr e e to

c o n tra c t with in su ra n c e c o m p a n ie s to se t pre fe rre d ra te s fo r th e ir in su re d s, c itin g

a se rie s o f its p re c e de n ts b e g in n in g wit h C o x v

. Ath e n s Re g io na l Me d ic a l

Ce n te r, In c

. , 2 7 9 G a

. A p p

. 5 8 6 (6 3 1 S E2 d 79 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ), wh ic h h old

– in th e

su m m ary ju d g m e n t c o n te x t

– th a t c h a rg in g u n in su re d p a tie n ts h ig h e r ra te s th a n

in su re d p a tie n ts do e s n o t c o n stitu te b re a c h o f c o n tra c t, u n ju st e nric h m e n t, o r a

v io la tio n o f th e UDTP A

. Se e Bo wd e n

, 3 2 7 Ga

. Ap p. a t 7 1 8 (c itin g

, in a d d itio n

to Co x

, S a tte rfie ld v

. S o u t h e r n Re g io n a l He a lth S y s., In c

. , 2 8 0 Ga

. A p p

. 5 8 4

(6 3 4 S E2 d 53 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ); Mo rre ll v

. We llsta r He a lth S y s., In c

, 2 8 0 G a

. A p p

. 1

(6 3 3 S E 2 d 6 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ); a n d P itts v

. P ho e b e P u tn e y Me m

. Ho sp

., 2 7 9 Ga

. Ap p

.

6 3 7 (6 3 1 S E2 d 8 3 0 ) (2 0 0 6 )). In re sp o n se to Bo w d e n ’s a rg u m e n t th a t th e Co x

lin e o f c a se s wa s in a

p p lic a b le b e c a u s e s h e d id n o t sig n a c o n se n t fo rm fo r

t r e a tm e n t th a t o b lig a te d h e r to p a y th e h o sp ita l c h a rg e s, th e Co u rt of A p p e a l s

sa id th a t Bo wd e n ’s m o t h er sig n e d su c h a fo rm o n Bo wd e n ’s b e h a lf a s

a u t h o r iz e d b y OCGA § 3 1 -9 -2 (a ) (3 ) a n d th a t in a n y e v e nt c on se n t fo r

e m e rg e nc y tre a tm e nt is im p lie d b y la w u n d e r OCGA § 3 1 -9 -3 (b ). S e e B o wd e n

,

3 2 7 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 7 1 8 n.3

. F in a lly

, th e c o u r t sa id th a t Bo wd e n c o u ld p ro v e

1 7th ro u g h e x p e rt te stim o n y o r e v id e nc e fro m oth e r m e dic a l p ro v id e rs o r

c o n su m e rs th a t TMC’s c h a rg e s we re u n re a so n a b le . S e e id . a t 7 1 7 -7 1 8. 6

We se e th re e b a sic fla ws in th is a na ly sis. F irst a nd fo re m o st, th e Co u rt o f

Ap p e a ls a

p pe a rs to h a v e c o nc lu d e d

, b a se d o n its Co x lin e o f c a se s, th a t if

Bo wd e n sig n e d a c o n tra c t to p a y fo r h e r tre a tm e n t, sh e w o u ld b e pre c lu de d fro m

c h a lle ng in g th e re a so n a b l e n e ss o f th e c h arg e s re fle c te d in th e ho sp ita l’s lie n

.

Bu t th e Co x lin e of c a se s d o e s n o t d ire c tly a pp l y h e re

, b e c a

u se th o se we re

su m m ary ju d g m e n t c a se s, n o t d isc o v e ry c a se s, an d n o n e in v o lv e d a c h a lle n g e

to a h osp ita l lie n

. An d th e g e n e ra l p ro po si t i o n th a t ho sp ita l c ha rg e s a re

a u to m a tic a lly “ re a so n a

b le ” wh e n e v e r th e p a tie n t (o r so m e o n e a u th oriz e d to a c t

o n h e r b e h a lf) h a s sig n e d a c on tra c t a g re e in g to p a y th o se c h arg e s is in c o rre c t,

b e c a u se th e c o n tra c t p ric e fo r g o o d s a n d se rv ic e s d oe s n o t n e c e ssa rily e q u a l th e ir

re a so na b le v a lu e

. S e e

, e .g

., City o f Ca lh o u n v

. N. Ga

. Ele c tric Me m

. Co rp

., 2 6 4

Ga

. 2 0 5

, 2 0 8 (4 4 3 S E2 d 4 6 9 ) (1 9 94 ) (re c o g n i z i n g th e d istin c tio n b e twe e n th e

6 The Court of Appeals also cited its opinion in MCG Health, I nc. v. Kig ht, 325 Ga. App.

349 (750 SE2d 813) (2013) ( Kig ht I )

, for the proposition that where a hospital has contracted with

an insurance company to accept a certain reimbursement rate, “the hospital would be entitled to

collect the full am o u n t o f i t s bill under the lien statute, n ot merely the lower reimbursement rate

contracted between the insurance company and the hospital.” B owden, 3 27 Ga. App. at 717 (citing

Kig ht I

, 325 Ga. App. at 353). However, in Kig ht v. MCG Health, I nc., 296 G a. 687 (769 SE2d 923)

(2015) (Kig ht I I ), we deemed this part of the Court of Appeals’ opinion in Kig h t I to be d icta. See

Kig ht I I , 296 Ga. at 690.

1 8c o n tra c t p r i c e a n d th e re a so n a b le v a lu e o f se rv ic e s). S e e a lso 2 4 Ric h a rd A.

Lo rd

, W illisto n o n Co n tra c ts § 6 4 :2 (4 th e d

. 2 0 1 5 ) (sa m e ). OCGA § 4 4-1 4 -4 7 0

(b ) sa y s th a t th e h o sp ita l ha s a lie n fo r th e “ re a so n a ble c ha rg e s” fo r a

p a tie n t’s

c a re

, n o t a lie n fo r “ wh a te ve r th e p a tie n t a g re e d to p a y

. ” In d e e d

, th e lie n is n o t

a g a in st th e p a tie n t, b u t ra th e r a g a in st th e c a u s es o f a c tio n g iv in g rise to th e

p a tie n t’s in

ju rie s, se e id

., a nd th u s th e lie n is n o rm a lly p a id o ff b y th e to rtfe a so r

o r th e to rtfe a so r’s in su re r

– n e ith e r o f wh o m wa s a p a rty to a n y c o n tra c t b e twe e n

th e p a tie n t an d th e h osp ita l.

S e c o n d

, a s th e c a se n o w sta n d s, n o c o ntra c t b y Bo wd e n to p a y fo r h e r

tre a tm e nt h a s b e e n e sta b lish e d

. In Bo wd e n ’ s cr o ss-c la im

, sh e sp e c ific a lly

a lle g e d th a t “ [t] he re is n o v a lid writte n c on tra c t o r n on -writte n c on tra c t b e twe e n

[h e r] a nd [TMC] fo r th e p ro v isio n o f m e d ic a l se rv ic e s an d g o o d s” a n d th a t a n y

su c h c o n tra c t wo u ld be “ vo id d u e to u n c on sc io na b ility .” S he fu rth e r a lle g e d

th a t “ [i] f a n im

plie d c o n tra c t fo r m e d ic a l tre a tm e n t is fo u n d to e x ist, [TMC] is

e n title d to re c o v e r fro m th e in te rp le a de d in s u r a nc e fu nd s on ly th e re a so n a b le

v a lu e o f th e b e n e fit c o n fe rre d.” TMC d id n ot a sk th e tria l c o urt to a d d re ss th e

m e rits o f Bo wd e n ’ s a l l e g a tio n s th a t no v a lid c o n tra c t e xists b e fo re th e c o urt

ru le d o n th e m o tio n to c o m p e l d isc o v e ry

, se e fo o tn o te 5 a bo v e

, an d “ [n ] o rm a lly

,

1 9th e tria l c o u rt will n o t d e te rm in e w h e th e r th e le ga l th e o ry u po n w h ic h th e

d isc o v e ry is b a se d is so u nd

. . . [ u n l es s ] th e c la im o r d e fe n se is su ffic ie n tly

b a se le ss.” Ge o rg ia Civ il D isc o v e ry § 4 .5

. S e e a lso Au sti n v

. Cl a r k

, 2 9 4 Ga

.

7 7 3

, 77 6 -7 7 7 (7 5 5 S E2 d 7 9 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (Na h m ia s, J., c o n c urrin g ) (d isc u ssin g th e

se q u e n c in g o f d isc o v e ry a n d disp o sitiv e m otio n s on p a rtic u la r issu e s). Co m pa re

Be st C o n c re te P ro d s

. C o

. v

. Me du sa Co rp

., 1 5 7 Ga

. Ap p

. 9 7

, 1 0 0 -1 0 1 (2 7 6

S E2 d 1 47 ) (1 9 8 1 ) (h o ld in g th a t wh e re th e tria l c o u rt h a d a lre a d y d ism isse d

Be st’s c la im o f disc rim in a to ry p ric in g a s p re e m p te d b y fe d e ra l la w, d isc o v e ry

f r o m Me d u sa a s to its d e a lin g s with o th e r c u sto m e rs wa s p ro p e rly re fu s e d a s

irre le va n t).

Mo re ov e r, o n th e d a y b e fo re th e h e a rin g o n th e m o tio n to c o m p e l, TMC

fo r th e first tim e p ro v id e d Bo wd e n with a c o p y of th e fo rm c o n se n tin g t o a n d

a g re e in g to pa y fo r B o wd e n ’s e m e rg e n c y tre a tm e n t th a t wa s a lle ge d ly sig n e d b y

h e r m o th e r, b u t Bo wd e n de n ie d a u t h o riz in g h e r m o th e r to sig n a p a y m e n t

c o n tra c t o n h e r b e h a lf, a nd th e fo rm b y its o w n te rm s a pp e a rs to o blig a te o n ly

Bo wd e n ’s mo th e r to pa y fo r th e e m e rg e n c y c a re

, a s it sa id th a t “ th e u n d e rsig n e d

[i.e

., Bo wd e n ’s m o th e r] is in d iv id u a lly o b lig a te d to pa y th e a c c o u n t in fu ll to th e

Ho sp ita l.” No r do OCGA § § 3 1 -9 -2 an d 3 1 -9 -3 su pp ort th e C o u rt o f Ap p e a ls’

2 0ru lin g

. OCGA § 3 1 -9 -2 (a ) (3 ) a u th o riz e s p a r e n ts to c on se n t to m e d ic a l

tre a tm e nt o n b e h a lf o f th e ir a d u lt c h ild re n wh o a re un a b le p e rso n a lly to c o n se n t

in c e rta in situ a tio n s, b ut it d o e s n o t sa y o r e ve n su gg e st th a t p ar en t s c a n b in d

th e ir a d u lt c h ild re n to p a y me n t te rm s in c lu de d in a tre a tm e n t c on se n t fo rm

.

S im ila rly

, OCGA § 3 1 -9 -3 (b ) sa y s o n ly th a t wh e n a n e m e rg e n c y e x ists, c o n se n t

to m e dic a l tre a tm e n t re c o m m e n d e d b y a d u ly lic e n se d p h y sic ia n m a y b e im p lie d

b y l a w; th e sta tu te d o e s no t a d d re ss th e pa tie nt’s o b lig a tio n to p a y fo r su c h

tre a tm e nt – m

u c h le ss p a y wh a te v e r a m o u n t th e h o sp ita l d e c id e s to c h a rg e

.

F in a lly

, th e Co u rt o f Ap p e a ls’ o b s e rv a tio n th a t Bo wd e n c o u ld sh o w

th ro u g h e x p e rt te sti m o n y or e v id e nc e fro m oth e r m e dic a l p ro v id e rs o r

c o n su m e rs th a t TMC’s c h a rg e s we re u n r ea s o n a b le se e m s to a c k n o wle d g e

(c o rre c tly ) th a t h o w m

u c h o th e r p a tie n ts are c ha rg e d fo r th e sa m e se rv ic e s in th e

sa m e m a rk e t is re le v a n t to th e issu e o f re a so n a ble n e ss. If th a t is so , th e n m o re

d ire c tly a p p lic a b le in fo rm a tio n o f th a t ty p e

– h o w m u c h TMC itse lf c h a rg e d

o th e r p a tie n ts fo r th e sa m e se rv ic e s

– wo u ld be e ve n m o re re le v an t. Th e

a v a ilability o f o n e fo rm o f p ro o f d o e s n o t m a k e o th e r fo rm s o f p ro o f irre le v a n t

u n d e r OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ). S e e Ha m p to n Isla n d F o u n d e rs, LLC, 2 8 3 Ga

.

2 1a t 2 9 5 -2 9 7

. 7

(c ) F o r th e se re a so n s, th e C o u rt of Ap pe a ls e rre d in h o ld in g th a t

th e tria l c o u rt a

b u se d its d isc re tio n in gra n tin g Bo wd e n ’s m o tio n to c o m p e l o n

th e gro u n d th a t a ll o f th e d isc o v e ry Bo wd e n so u g h t wa s n o t “ re le v a n t” u n d e r

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ). We th e re fo re re ve rse th e Co u rt o f Ap p e a ls’ ju d g m e n t.

Ju d g m e n t re ve rse d . All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

7 I n some situations, the productio n i n d i s c o v e ry o f one ty pe o f relevant information may make it possible to demonstrate that producing another very similar, o r another less relevant, ty pe

of information would be u nduly burdensome or ex pensive, justify ing a p r o t e c t ive order under OCGA

§ 9-11-26 (c). B ut TMC has not arg ued for a protective order on this g round.

2 2