FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M cFA DDEN, P. 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

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

M ar ch 11, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 65 9 . BETHUNE v . BETHUNE.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Th i s i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal co n cern s a d i s co v ery d i s p u t e i n a pro ceed i n g u n d er

t h e G eo rg i a Po w er o f At t o rn ey Act

. T h e t ri al co u rt was cal led u p o n “ t o co n s t r u e a

p o wer of at t orn ey [,] re v i ew t h e ag en t ’ s co n du ct

, an d g ran t ap p ro pri at e rel i ef[.] ”

OCGA § 1 0 -6 B-1 6 (a). Th e p ri n ci p al u nd er t h e p o wer o f at t o r n ey i s M ary J ewel l

Bet h un e ( h e rei n aft er “ t h e p ri n ci pal ”). Th e ag en t i s ap pel l ee Do nal d Bet h u n e

(h erei n aft er “ t h e ag en t ”), o n e o f t h e pri n ci pal ’ s s o n s. Th e p et i t i o n er i s ap p el l an t

Ri ch ard Bet h u n e (h erei n aft er “ t h e p et i t i o n er “ ), wh o i s al s o t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s s o n

.

Th e d is co v ery at i s s u e fal l s i n t o two cat eg o ri es : (1 ) in fo rm at i on an d d o cu m en t s

rel at ed t o t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s an d th e ag en t ’ s b an k acco u n t s d u ri ng p eri o d s b efo re t h e

p o wer o f at t o rn ey wen t i n to effect

, an d (2 ) th e p ri n ci p al ’ s l as t wi l l an d t es t am en t

. Th et ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e ag en t’ s m o t i o n s fo r p ro tect i v e o rd ers an d to q uas h s ub p o en as

rel at ed t o t h at d is co v ery

. Am o n g o t h er t hi n g s

, th e t ri al co u rt h el d t hat t h e req u es t ed

i n fo rm at i o n an d d o cu m en t s were n o t rel ev an t t o t h e p ro ceed i n g an d t hat t h e wi l l was

s u b ject t o at t orn ey -cl i en t p ri v i l eg e.

As d et ai l ed b el o w, th e t ri al co u rt cl earl y ab u s ed h i s d i s cret i o n i n h o l d i n g t h at

t h e req u es t ed i n fo rm at i o n an d d o cu m en t s were i rrel ev an t

. So as t o t h e b an k i n g

reco rd s

, w e v acat e t h e ord er an d rem an d th e cas e fo r t h e t r i al co u rt t o reco n s i d er

wh et h er t o p erm i t d i s co v ery o f t h o s e reco rd s

. Bu t we affi rm t he o rd er as t o t h e wi l l

b ecau s e, as t h e t ri al co urt co rrect l y h el d

, t he wi l l was su b j ect t o a t t o rn ey -cl i en t

p ri v i leg e.

1

. Pr o ced u r a l h i s t o r y.

On Oct o b er 2 7

, 2 02 0, p et i t i o ner Ri ch ard Bet h un e fi l ed an act i o n s eek in g rel i ef

u n d er t h e Geo rg i a Po wer o f At t o rn ey Act

, OCGA § 1 0 -6 B-1 et seq

. He as s ert ed i n h i s

p et i t i o n t h at

, u n d er a g en eral p o wer o f a t t o rn ey ex ecu t ed o n No v em ber 1 4

, 2 0 1 9,

Do n al d Bet h u n e was act i ng as t h e ag en t fo r t h e p art ies ’ 8 9 -y ear-o l d m o t h er.

Th e p et i t i o n rai s ed s ev eral co ncern s ab o ut t he ag e n t ’s h an d l i n g o f t h e

p ri n ci p al ’ s fi n an c i a l affai rs

, m an y s p eci fi cal l y cen t ered o n t h e ag en t ’ s act i o n s in

co n nect io n wi th t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s b an k acco u n t s . Fo r ex am p l e, t h e pet i t i o n er as s ert ed

2t h at t h e ag en t h ad t ak en cert ai n fu n d s o u t o f t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s b an k acco u n t an d p l aced

t h em i n an acco u n t th at was o nl y i n t h e ag en t ’ s n am e. In h i s an s wer, t h e ag en t d en i ed

o r co n t es t ed t h e p et i ti o n er’ s ch aract eri zat i o n o f h is act i o n s i n c o n n ect i o n wi t h t h e

b a n k acco u n t s

. T h e ag en t al s o as s ert ed a defen s e th at referred t o fi n an ci al d eal i n g s

b et ween t h e p ri n ci p al an d t h e ag en t p red at i n g t he p o wer o f at t o rn ey :

Res p o n d en t ’ s au t ho ri t y t o m an ag e t h e fu n d s ab o u t wh i ch Pet i t i o n er h as

co n cern s i n h is Sect i on 1 0

- 6 B-1 6 Pet i t i o n was n o t d eri v ed fro m

, o r

g o v ern e d b y

, t h e N o vem

b er 1 4

, 2 01 9

, G en eral Po w er o f At to rn ey

, b u t

em an at es fro m t h e f

a c t t h a t s uch fu n d s were h el d f o r t h e la s t s ever a l

yea r s i n b an k acco u n t s d es i g n at i n g Res p o n d en t an d M ary J ewel l

Bet h u n e as t h e jo i n t t i tl eh o ld ers t h ereo f.

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .)

As t h e cas e pro g res s ed

, t h e ag en t ch al l en g ed s o m e o f t h e p et i ti o n er’ s d i s co v ery

req u es t s d i rect ed t o h im s el f an d to t h i rd p a r t y b a n k s

. He s o u gh t a p ro tect i v e o rd er

reg ard i n g an d so u g h t t o q u as h i n p art s u b p o en as fo r d ep os i t i o n s t h at t h e p e t i t i o n er

i s su ed t o t h e b an k s u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 0 ( b ) ( 6 )

, i n w h i ch t h e p et i t i on er s o u g ht

reco rd s fro m J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 6

, fo rward o f ban k acco u nt s b el o n gi n g t o t h e ag en t o r t h e

p ri n ci p al

. An d h e s o u g h t a p ro t ect i v e o rd er reg ard i n g t h e p et it i o n er’ s req u es t t h at h e

p ro d uce co p i es o f ch eck i n g acco u n t s t at em en t s an d can cel ed ch eck s fo r an y acco u n t s

3h o l d i n g fu n d s b el on g i n g to t h e p ri n ci p al o r b ei n g h e l d o n h e r beh al f, wi th o u t d at e

res t ri ct i o n , an d t h at h e p ro d u ce t h e p ri nci p al ’ s l as t wi ll an d t es t am en t

.

Aft er h eari ng arg um en t fro m t h e p art i es

, th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e ag en t ’ s

m o ti o n s to q u as h an d fo r p ro t ect i v e o rd ers

. Th e t ri al co u rt p ro h ib i t ed di s co very o f an y

b an ki n g reco rd s p red a t i n g No v em b er 1 4

, 2 01 9 (t h e effect i v e dat e o f t h e p o wer o f

at t o rn ey ), fi n d i n g am o n g o t h er t h i n g s t hat t h o s e reco rd s were “ n ei th er rel e v a n t n o r

m at eri al t o an y al l eg ed act io n s p u rs u an t t o t h e p o w er o f at to rn ey .” An d t h e t ri al co u rt

h el d th at t h e ag en t was n o t req u i red t o p ro d u c e t h e p ri n ci pal ’ s wi l l

, b ecau s e t h e

req u es t was “ i m

p ro p er fo r t he s am e reas on s as are t h e req u e s t s f o r t h e b an k i n g

reco rd s wh i ch p red at e t h e po wer o f at t o rn ey ” an d b ecau s e t he wi l l was “ p ro tect ed by

[t he p ri n ci p al ’ s] a ttor

ne y

- c lie nt pr i v i l eg e, [wh i ch h ad ] n o t been co m pro m i s ed t h ro u g h

d i s cl os u re t o [t h e ag en t ]

. ”

W e g ran t ed t h e p et i t i o n er’ s req u es t fo r i n t erl o cu t ory rev i ew o f t h e s e ru l i n g s

.

2

. An a l ys i s

.

Geo rg i a’ s Ci v i l Pract i ce Act p ro v i d es fo r b ro ad d i s co v ery i n t o al l m at t ers t h at

are rel ev an t an d no t p ri v il eg ed

. S e e OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 ). See al s o H i ckey v.

R RE F BB S BL Acq u i s i t i o n s

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 41 1

, 4 14 (2 ) (a) (7 8 5 SE2 d 7 2 ) ( 2 0 1 6 )

(“ Th e o n l y req u i rem en t s p lac e d b y t h e Geo rg ia l eg i s lat u re o n d i s co v ery req u es t ed

4fro m n o n p art i es i s t hat th e d ocu m en t s m u s t b e rel ev an t an d n o n pri v i l eg ed

. ”) (ci t at i o n

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

Ou r Ev i d en ce Co d e defi n es “ rel ev an t ev i den ce” as t h a t w h i ch h as “ an y

t en d en cy t o m ak e t h e ex i s ten ce o f an y fact t h at is o f co n s eq u en ce t o t he d et erm i n at i o n

o f t h e act i o n m o re p ro b ab l e o r l es s p ro b ab l e t h an i t wo u l d b e wi t h o u t th e ev i d en ce.”

OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 1

. “ T h i s i s a b i n a r y qu es t i o n

— ev i den ce is ei t h er rel ev an t o r i t i s

n o t .” Mo o n v. S t a t e

, 3 1 2 G a. 3 1

, 5 1 (3 ) (a) (8 6 0 SE2 d 5 1 9) (2 0 2 1 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). “ In t he co n t ex t o f d i s co v ery

, co u rt s s h o u ld an d ord i n ari l y d o

i n t erp ret ‘ rel ev an t ’ v ery b ro ad l y t o m ean m at t er t h at i s rel ev an t t o an y t h i ng t h at i s o r

m ay b eco m e an i s s ue in t h e l i t i g at i o n .” Hi ckey

, 3 36 Ga. A p p

. at 4 1 4 (2 ) (a) (ci t at i o n

a n d p u n c t uat i o n o m i t t ed ). “ Th e d i s co very p ro ced ure is t o b e g i v en a l i b eral

co n st ru ct i o n i n fav o r o f su p p ly i n g a p art y wi t h t h e fact s wi t h o ut referen ce t o wh et h er

t h e fact s s o u g h t are ad m i s s i b l e u p o n t h e t ri al o f t h e act i on .” Cl a yt o n Co u n t

y Bd

. of

Ta x As ses s o r

s v. La ke Sp i vey Go l

f Cl u b

, 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 3, 6 96 (2 ) (4 2 8 SE2 d 6 8 7 )

(1 9 9 3) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

“ Th e t erm

‘ n o t p ri v i l eg ed ’ [i n OCGA § 9 -1 1-2 6 (b ) (1 )] refers t o t h e co n cep t

o f ‘ pri vi l eg es ’ as t h at t erm i s u sed i n t h e l aw of ev id en ce.” Hi l l

, K e r t s c h e r &

W h a r t o n

, LLP v. Mo o d

y

, 30 8 Ga. 7 4 , 7 8 (2 ) n . 2 (8 3 9 SE2 d 5 35 ) (2 0 2 0 ). Un d er o u r

5Ev i d en ce Co d e, “ [c] o m m u ni cat i o ns bet ween at to rn ey an d cl ien t ” are p ri v i l eg ed

.

OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a) (2 ). 1

“ A t ri al co urt h as wi d e d i s cret i o n i n en t eri n g ord ers t o p r e v e n t t h e u s e o f

d i s co v ery d i rect ed t o i rrel ev an t o r i m m at eri al m at t er.” A t l a n t a Jo u rn a l -Co n s t i t u t i o n

v. Jewel l

, 2 5 1 G a. Ap p

. 8 0 8

, 8 1 2 (2 ) (5 5 5 SE2 d 1 7 5 ) (2 0 0 1 ). Bu t al t h o u g h t h at

d i s cret i o n i s wi d e, i t can be ab u s ed

. See, e.g

., RTA S t r at eg y v. S il ver Co m et Ter mi n al

Pa r tn er s

, 3 4 7 G a

. A p p. 2 6 6

, 26 8 -2 6 9 (8 1 7 SE2 d 7 2 0 ) (2 0 18 ) (t ri al co u rt erred in

g ran t i n g m o ti o n t o co m

p el d i s co v ery

t h at was n ei t h er rel ev an t t o t h e s u b ject m at t er

o f th e u n d erl y i n g d is p u t e n o r reas o nab l y cal cu l at ed t o l ead t o th e d i s co v ery o f

ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce); Cl a yt o n Co u nt

y Bd

. o f Ta x As s es so r

s

, 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 9 5 -6 9 6

(2 ) ( t r i a l c o u rt erred i n l i m it i n g d i s co very o f d o cu m en t s t h at ap p eared reas o n ab l y

cal cu l at ed to l ead to t h e d i s co v ery of ad m i s s i b le ev i d en ce, wh ere t h e p art y o p p o s i n g

t h e d i sco very fai l ed t o s ho w t h at t he part y s eek i n g t he d ocu m en t s was m ot i v at ed by

b ad fai t h o r h aras sm en t i n r e q u e s t i n g t h em ). W e “ w i l l n o t i n t erfere wi th [t h e t ri al

1 Th i s p ro vi s i o n ret ai ns t h e p ri v i l eg e s et fo rt h i n fo rm er OCGA § 2 4 -9 -2 1 (2 ).

Becau s e t h ere i s n o m at eri al l y i d en t i cal Fed eral Ru l e o f Ev id en ce, “ ou r cas e l aw

i n t e r p ret i n g t h at fo rm er p ro v i si o n ap p l i es

. ” St a t e v. A lma n z a

, 3 0 4 Ga. 5 53

, 5 5 7 (2 )

(8 2 0 SE2 d 1 ) (2 01 8 ). Co m pare OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a) (2 ) wi t h Fed . R. Ev i d . 5 0 1 &

5 0 2

.

6co u rt ’ s d i s co v ery ] d eci s i o ns ab s en t a cl ear ab u s e [o f d is cret i o n ] .” S i mo n v. Mu r p hy

,

3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 1, 2 9 6 (2 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 3 8 0 ) (2 0 19 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

W i t h t h es e p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d

, we t urn to th e s p eci fi c d is co v ery d is p u t es i n t h i s

cas e.

(a) Ba n ki n g

r eco r d s p r ed a t i n g t h e ef f ect i ve d a t e o f t h e p o wer

o f a tt o r n ey.

Th e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at t h e b an k in g reco rd s p red at in g t h e po wer o f at t o rn ey

were n ot d i s co v erab l e b ecau s e, am o n g o t h er t h i n g s, t h ey were i rrel ev an t t o t h i s

act i on . Th e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed h i s d i s cret i o n i n s o ru l i n g.

Th e fact t h at t h e reco rd s p red at ed t h e p o w e r o f at t orn ey d o es no t al o n e

d et erm i n e t h ei r rel ev an ce. As d i s cu s s ed ab ov e, ev i den ce i s rel ev an t i f i t h as an y

t en d en cy t o m ak e t h e ex i s t en ce o f a “ fact o f co n s eq u en ce” t o t h e act i o n m o re o r l es s

p ro b ab l e. OCGA § 2 4-4 -4 0 1. T h i s p ro ceed i n g u n d er t h e Geo rg ia Po wer o f At t o rn ey

Act i n v o l v es a rev i ew o f t h e ag en t ’ s co n d u ct i n co nn ect i o n wi t h h is du t i es t o t h e

p ri n ci p al

. See OCGA § 10

- 6 B-1 6 (a). Th e Geo rg i a Po wer o f At t o rn ey Act req u i res

an ag en t

, am o n g o t h er t h i ng s , t o “ [a] ct l o y al l y fo r t h e p ri nci p al ’ s b en efi t [,] ” OCGA

§ 1 0 -6 B-1 4 (b ) (1 ), t o “ [a] ct s o as n ot t o creat e a co n fl i ct o f i n teres t t h at im p ai rs t h e

ag en t’ s ab i l i t y t o act im

p art ial l y i n t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s b es t i nt eres t [,] ” OCGA § 1 0 -6 B-1 4

(b ) (2 ), an d t o “ [a] ct wi t h th e care, co m p et en ce, an d d i l ig en ce o rd i n ari l y ex erci s ed by

7ag en ts i n s i m i l ar ci rcu m s t an ces [.] ” OCGA § 1 0 -6 B-1 4 (b ) (3 ). Th e i n t errel at i o n s h ip

b et ween t h e fi n an ces o f t h e ag en t an d t h e p ri n ci p al

, b o t h b efo re an d aft er t h e p o wer

o f a t t o r n e y b ecam e effect i v e, p ert ai n s t o i s s u es s uch as t h e ag en t’ s l o y al t y t o t h e

p ri n ci p al

, t h e ex i s t en ce o f co n fl i ct s o f i n t eres t b et w ee n th e t wo

, an d t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

u n d er wh i ch o rd i n ary d i l i g en ce i s as s es s ed

. Ou r Su prem e Co urt reco g n i zed t h at p o i nt

i n LeCr a w v. LeCr a w

, 26 1 Ga. 98

, 9 9 -1 0 0 (4 0 1 SE2 d 6 9 7 ) (1 9 9 1), affi rm i ng t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ru l i ng t h at a p ower o f at t o rn ey au t h o ri zed th e ag en ts to m ak e cert ai n m o n et ary

g i ft s b ecau s e t h os e g i ft s co n ti n u ed t h e p ri nci p al ’ s earl i er p ract i ce. Si m i l arl y , i n t h i s

cas e t he ag en t arg u es t h at act i o n s h e t o o k in co n n ect i o n wi t h th e p ri nci p al ’ s b an k

acco u n t s o r fu n d s s i m

p l y co nt i n u ed an earl ier p ract i ce b et ween t he t wo ; i n deed

, i n h i s

an s wer t h e ag en t p oi nt s t o t hi s earl i er p ract i ce as t h e so u rce o f h i s au t h o ri t y t o act as

h e d i d aft er t h e po wer o f at t o rn e y wen t in t o effect

. Un der th es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we

can n ot s ay th at t he b an k i n g reco rd s p red at i n g t h e p o wer o f at to rn ey h av e no t en d en cy

t o m ak e t h e ex i s t en ce o f a “ fact o f co n s eq u en ce” t o t h i s p ro ceed in g m o re o r l es s

p ro b ab l e.

Th e fact t h at t h e b an k i n g reco rd s are rel ev an t d o es n o t au t o m at i cal l y m ean t h at

t h ey are d i s co v erab l e i n t h i s cas e. As t he ag en t as s ert s

, t h ey are co n fi d en t i al i n n at u re.

Bu t “ rel ev an t n o n p art y b an ki ng reco rd s are di s co verab l e, wi th i n t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e

8t ri al co u r t

, n o t w i t hs t an d i n g t h at

, i n t he d i s co v ery p ro ces s

, n o np art i es ’ p ri v acy

i n t eres t s m

u s t be acco m

m o d at ed .” S

p eed y Ca r e Tr an s

po r t v. Geo r

g e

, 3 48 Ga. Ap p.

3 2 5

, 3 31 (2 ) (b ) (8 2 2 SE2 d 6 8 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ). M o r e o v er, t h ere i s n o “ reas o n ab l e

ex p ect at i o n o f p ri v acy i n c o p i e s o f ch eck s an d d ep o si t s li p s rel at in g t o a ch eck i n g

acco u n t

, as t h ey are i ns t ru m en t s o f co m m erci al trad e w h i ch m

u s t n eces s ari l y b e

ex p os ed t o n um ero u s p ers o n s i n t h e o rd i n ary co u rs e o f bu s in es s .” Hi ckey

, 3 3 6 Ga.

Ap p

. at 4 1 7 (2 ) (c) (ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). In st ead

, a p ro t ect i v e o rd er m ay

b e s ou g ht to i n s u re t h e reco rd s ’ co n fi den t i al i t y

. See S ech l er Fa mi l

y Pa r t n er s h i p v.

Pr i me Gr o u

p , 2 55 Ga. Ap p . 8 5 4 , 8 5 9 (5 ) (5 6 7 SE2 d 2 4 ) (2 0 02 ).

Nev ert h el es s

, wh ere “ p art i es seek d i s co v ery of u n p ri v i leg ed b u t s e n s i t i v e

m at eri al s

, t h e tri al co u rt m us t b al an ce t h e req u es ti n g p art y ’ s s p e c i f i c n eed fo r t h e

m at eri al ag ai n s t t h e h arm t h at wo ul d res u l t b y i t s d i s cl o s u re.” At l a n t a J o u r n a l

Co n s t i t u t i o n

, 2 5 1 Ga. A p p

. at 8 1 2 (2 ). Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u sl y fo u n d t h at

t h e b a n k i n g r e c ord s were i rrel ev an t

, w e m ay i n fer t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed

—

al s o erro neo us l y

— t hat t h e p et i t i o n er h ad n o n eed fo r t h em . So t he t ri al co u rt m u s t

rev i s it t h i s b al an ci n g t es t

. W e t h erefo re “ v acat e t h e [t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g as t o t h e

b an ki n g reco rd s ] an d rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r t he ju d g e t o p erfo rm t h e

9b al an ci n g t es t i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h i s o pi n i o n .” Id

. at 8 1 3 -8 14 (2 ). See al s o Ha mp t o n

Is l a n d Fo u nd

er s v. Li b er t y Ca p i t a l

, 28 3 G a. 2 8 9

, 2 9 6 -2 9 7 (4 ) (6 5 8 SE2 d 6 1 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

(b ) Th e p r i nci

p a l ’s l a s t wi l l a n d t es t a men t

.

Th e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at t h e ag en t d id n o t n eed t o p ro d uce t h e p ri n ci pal ’ s las t

w i l l an d t es t am en t o n s ev eral al t ern at i ve gro u n d s, i n cl ud i n g t h at t h e wi l l was n o t

rel ev an t an d t hat it was s u b ject t o t h e at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri v i l eg e. Co n t rary t o t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n

, t h e wi ll was rel ev an t

. A s d is cu s s ed ab o ve, on e o f th e p u rp o s es o f

t h i s act io n was t o “ rev i ew t h e ag en t ’ s co n du ct ” i n co n n ect io n wi t h hi s res p on s i b i l i ti es

u n d er t he p o wer o f at t o rn ey

, OC G A § 1 0

- 6 B-1 6 (a), an d am o n g o t h er t h in g s

, t h e

Geo rg i a Po wer o f At t o r n e y Act req u i red th e ag en t t o “ [a] t t em pt t o p res erv e t h e

p ri n ci p al ’ s es t at e p lan

, t o th e ex t en t act u al l y k n o w n b y th e ag en t

, i f p res erv i n g s u ch

p l an i s co n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s b es t i n t eres t b as ed o n al l rel ev an t fact o rs [.] ”

OCGA § 1 0-6 B-1 4 (b ) (6 ). E v i d en ce of th e t erm s o f t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s wi l l wo u l d h av e

a t en d en cy t o m ak e t h e ex is t en ce o f a fact of co n s eq u en ce t o t h i s p ro ceed i n g m o re o r

l es s p ro b ab l e. See OCGA § 2 4 -4 -4 0 1

.

Nev ert h el es s

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t cl earl y ab u se h i s d i s cret i o n i n co n cl u d i n g

t h at t h e wi l l was n o t di sco verab l e b ecau s e i t w as s u b ject to at to rn ey -cl i en t pri v i l eg e.

Th e p ri v i l eg e affo rd ed t o co m m u n i cat i o n s b et ween an at t o rn ey an d a cl i en t ex t en d s

10t o w i l ls t h at h av e n o t b een s ub m i t t ed t o p ro b at e. See DeLo a ch v. Myer s

, 2 1 5 Ga. 2 5 5,

2 5 8 (2 ) (1 0 9 S E 2 d 7 7 7 ) (1 9 59 ); S ch a ff er v. Fo x

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 58 4

, 5 8 7 (2 ) (6 9 3

SE2 d 8 52 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Bu t s ee g en eral l y S wi dl er & Ber l i n v. Un i t ed S t a t es

, 5 2 4 U. S. 3 9 9,

4 0 4

- 4 0 5 (1 1 8 SCt 2 08 1

, 1 4 1 LE2 d 3 7 9 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (i d en t i fy i n g v ari o u s s t at e co u rt

d eci s i o n s

, i n cl u d i n g DeLo a ch

, 21 5 Ga. at 2 6 0 (2 ), t hat “ vi ew tes t am en t ary d i s cl o s u re

o f co m m u n i cat i o n s as an ex cep t i o n t o t h e p ri v i l eg e” a f t er t he t es t at or’ s d eat h ).

Th e at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri v i l eg e b el o n gs t o t h e p ri n ci p al

, as t h e cl i en t

, s ee S p en ce

v. Ha mm

, 2 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 7

, 3 5 8 (1 ) (4 8 7 SE2 d 9 ) (1 9 9 7 ) (p h y s i cal preced en t ) (ci t i n g

Mo cl a i r e v. S ta t e

, 2 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 0, 3 6 3 (5 ) (4 5 1 SE 2 d 6 8 ) (1 9 9 4 )), an d t h e

p et i t i o n er arg u es t h at t h e ag en t can n o t i n v o k e i t

. W e are n ot p ers u ad ed b y t h i s

arg u m en t fo r t wo reas o ns

.

Fi rs t

, th e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e at t o rn ey wh o d raft ed t h e wi l l al s o i n vo k ed t h e

p ri v i leg e o n h er b eh al f. Th at at to rn ey

, wh o al so rep res en ts t h e ag en t

, s t at ed i n a l et t er

t o t h e p et i t i o n er’ s at t o rn ey t h at h e w as “ n o t at l i b ert y t o d i scu s s [t he wi l l ’ s ] co n t en t s

. . . wi t h o u t [t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s ] wri t t en au t h ori t y

. ” Th e at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri vi l eg e m ay b e

i n v o k ed o n t he cl i en t’ s b eh al f b y t he at t o rn ey

. See M o cl a ir e

, 2 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 3 (5 )

(n o t i ng t h at t h e at to rn ey -cl i en t p ri v i l eg e “ was p ro p erl y i n v o k ed b y [an ] at t o rn ey ” o n

11b eh al f o f a cl i en t t o prev en t th e at t o rn ey fro m b ei n g co m p el l ed t o g i v e t es t im o n y t h at

wo u l d i m p each t h e cl i en t , wh o was t es t i fy i n g as a s t at e wi t n es s i n a cri m i n al t ri al ).

Seco n d

, an ag en t wi t h au t h o ri t y t o e x e r ci se t h e pri n ci p al ’ s l eg al ri g h t s m ay

i n v o k e t h e at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri vi l eg e on t h e p ri nci p al ’ s b eh al f. See S ch a f f er , 3 0 3 Ga.

Ap p

. at 5 8 7 (2 ) (an ex ecu t or s tan d s i n t h e p l ace o f a d eceas ed t es t at o r an d m ay

, i n t h at

cap aci t y

, i n v ok e t h e at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri v i leg e t o p rev en t t es t i m o n y fro m t h e

d eceas ed ’ s at t o r n e y r eg ard i n g t h e p rep arat i o n o f wi l l s ). See al s o J o h n D. Had d en

,

Green ’ s G eo rg i a Law o f Ev id en ce § 5 : 1 8 (2 0 1 9 -2 0 2 0 ed .) (“ fi d u ci ari es act i n g i n t h e

cl i en t’ s i n t eres t q u al i fy

t o cl ai m t h e p ri v i leg e”). W e reco g ni ze t h at t h e ag en t i n t h i s

cas e, as t h e res p o n d en t t o t he pet i t i o n

, p ers o n al ly b en efi t s fro m in v ok i n g th e at t o rn ey

cl i en t p ri v i leg e. An d i f h e were o n l y act i n g i n hi s p ers o n al cap aci ty

— i n es s en ce, as

a st ran g er t o t h e at t o rn ey -cl ien t rel at i o n s hi p

— h e co ul d n o t i nv o ke t h e p ri v i l eg e. See

S ch af f er

, 3 03 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 8 7 (2 ). Bu t th e ci rcu m s t an ces of t h i s cas e do no t co m p el

a co n cl u s i o n t hat t h e ag en t is act i n g o n ly i n h i s p ers o n al cap aci t y

. T h e p o wer o f

at t o rn ey ex p res sl y g av e th e ag en t au th o ri t y t o ex erci s e t h e p ri n ci p al ’ s l eg al ri g h t s o n

h er beh al f. No th i n g i n th e reco rd s u g g es t s t h at t h e p ri n ci p al au th o ri zed t h e d i s cl o s u re

o f h er p ri v il eg ed co m

m un i cat io n s reg ard i n g t he t erm s o f h er wi l l o r t h at s h e, o r h er

ag en t o n h er b eh al f, h ad d i s cl o s ed t h at i n fo rm at i o n t o a st ran g e r t o t h e rel at i o n s h ip

12o r t ak en an y o t h er act i o n t h at wo ul d d ep ri v e h er o f t h e ri g h t t o i n v ok e t h e at t o rn ey

cl i en t p ri v i leg e as to t hat i n fo rm at i o n

. Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we d i s cern n o cl ear

ab u se of d i s cret i o n i n th e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h at t h e at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri vi l eg e ap p li es

an d b ars t h e d i s co v ery

.

W e are n o t p ers u ad ed by t h e p et i t i o n er’ s arg u m en t th at t he Geo rg i a Po wer o f

At t o rn ey Act p ro v i d e s an ex cep t io n t o th e at t o rn ey -cl i en t p ri v i l eg e i n t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces

. Th e pet i t i o n er p o in t s t o t he st at ut o ry pro v i si o n

, m en t i o ned ab o ve,

req u i ri n g an ag en t t o “ [a] t t em p t t o p res er v e t h e pri n ci p al ’ s es t at e p l an [.] ” O CGA §

1 0 -6 B-1 4 (b ) (6 ). Bu t n o t h in g i n t h e p lai n l an g u ag e o f t h at p ro vi s i o n p u rp o r t s t o

creat e an ex cep t io n t o t h e at to rn ey -cl i en t pri v i l eg e s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 2 4 -5 -5 0 1 (a)

(2 ). W e d ecl i n e t o read t h e Geo rg i a Po wer of At t o rn ey Act t o req u ire d i s cl o s u re o f

t h e t erm s o f a p ri n ci pal ’ s wi l l wh ere, as h ere, t h o s e term s are o t h erwi s e p ri v i leg ed an d

p ers o n s au t h o ri zed t o i n vo k e t hat p ri v i l eg e o n b eh al f o f t h e p ri n ci p al h av e d o n e s o.

As o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as h el d

,

i f t h e p u rp o s e o f [a] p ri v i l eg e i s t o b e s erv e d

, t h e p a rt i ci p an t s i n th e

co n fi d en t i al co n v ers at i o n m u s t b e ab l e t o p red i ct wi t h s o m e d e g r ee o f

cert ai n t y wh et h er p art i cu l ar d is cu s s i o ns wi l l b e p ro t ect ed

. An u n cert ai n

p ri v il eg e, o r o n e wh i ch p u r p o rt s t o b e cert ai n bu t res ul t s i n wi d el y

v ary i n g ap p l i cat io n s by t h e co u rt s

, i s l i t t le b et t er t h an n o p ri v i leg e at al l

.

13Co o ks ey v. La n d ry

, 2 9 5 Ga. 4 3 0

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

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

Fo r t h es e reas o n s

, we fi n d t h at th e t ri al c o u r t d i d n o t cl earl y ab u s e h i s

d i s cret i o n i n co n cl u d in g t h at t h e p r i n c i p al ’ s wi l l was p ri v i l eg ed

, an d t h erefo re

g ran t i n g t h e ag en t ’ s m o t i on fo r an o rd er p ro tect i n g i t fro m p ro d u ct i o n

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n p a r t a n d va ca ted i n p a r t a n d ca s e r ema n d ed

. Ri ckma n,

C. J., a n d S en i o r Ap p el l a te Ju dg e Her b er t E. Ph i p p s co n cu r

.

14