THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

October 6, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 41 3

. W IN T ERBOER v

. FLOYD HEALTHCARE

M ANAGEM ENT, INC d / b / a FLOYD M E DICAL CENTER.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

J an i ce W in t erb o er ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f h er m o t i on fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t an d i t s g ran t o f s u m m ary j u d gm en t t o Fl o y d Heal t hcare M an ag em en t

, In c.

d / b / a Fl o y d Med i cal Cen t er (“ Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen ter”) o n t h e l at t er’ s co m p lai n t as to

u n p ai d m ed i cal bi l l s fo r t reat m en t o f W in t erb o er’ s n o w-d eceas ed ad u l t so n , J o s h ua,

aft er s h e s i g n ed J o s hu a’ s ho s p it al -reg i s t rat i o n co n s en t fo rm s

. W i n terb o er co n t en d s ,

i n t er a l ia

, t h at s h e s ig n ed t h e fo rm s i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y an d n o t as a p ers o n al

g u aran to r. W e ag ree t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n gran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Fl o y d

M ed i cal Cen ter an d i n d en y i n g W in t erb oer’ s m o t i o n an d , acco rd i n g l y , we rev ers e.Vi ewed i n th e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab le t o W i n t erb o er, t he no n m ov an t

, 1 t h e reco rd

refl ect s t h at h er ad u l t s o n , Jo s h u a, was s ev erel y i n cap aci t at ed aft er a m o t o r-v eh i cl e

a c ci d en t t h at o ccu rred wh en h e was a t o d dl er. Al t h o u g h J os h u a h ad n o g u ard i an o r

co n serv at o r, an d al t ho ug h W i nt erb o er di d no t h av e fi n an ci al or m ed i cal p o wer o f

at t o rn ey fo r J o sh u a, s h e p ro v i d ed fu ll -t i m e care fo r h er s o n un t i l h i s d eat h in

D e c e m be r 201 4

. W in terb o er p ai d fo r Jo s h u a’ s m ed i cal an d l i v in g ex p en s es u s ing tr ust

fu n d s t h at wer e recei v ed as p art o f an an nu i t y fo l l o wi n g t h e acci d en t an d a l eg al

s et t l em en t

.

On A p ri l 2 5

, 2 0 11

, an d J u ne 2 2

, 2 0 11

, W i n t erb o er t o ok J os h ua t o Fl o y d

M ed i cal Cen t er fo r em erg en cy m ed i cal t reat m en t w h en h e was i n res p i rat o ry d i s t res s

an d

, at s o m e p o i n t i n t h e p ro ces s o f h i s ad m i s si o n , sh e s i g ned reg i s t rat i o n co n s en t

fo rm s fo r h i s treat m en t

. Bu t wh e n t h e m ed i cal b i l l s as s o ci at ed wi t h t h es e ex t en d ed

h o s p it al v i s i t s wen t u n p ai d

, Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen t er fi l ed s u it ag ai n s t bo t h Jo s h u a a n d

1 S ee, e.g

. , B l a ke v. KES

, In c. , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 2

, 7 4 2 (7 6 6 SE2 d 1 3 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ On ap p eal fro m t h e g ran t of s u m m ary ju d g m en t t h i s Co u rt co n d u ct s a d e n o v o

rev i ew o f t h e ev i d en ce t o det erm i n e wh et h er th ere i s a g en u i n e is s u e o f m at eri al fact

an d wh et h er t h e u n d i s p u t ed fact s , v i ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

n o n m o v i n g p art y , warran t ju d g m en t as a m at ter o f l aw.” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

2W i nt erb o er, co n t en d i n g t h at W i n t erb o er p ers o n al l y g u aran t eed p ay m en t o f her s o n ’ s

b i l l s wh en s h e s i g ned t h e reg i s t rat i o n co n s en t fo rm s

. 2

Su b s eq uen t l y , W i n t erb o er an d J os h u a m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, an d t h e

t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h ei r m ot io n s

. Fl o y d M ed i c al Cen t er t h en fi l ed fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t i n No v em

b er 2 01 4. Bu t b efo re t he t ri al co u rt co u l d ru l e u p o n t h i s m o t i o n,

J o s h u a p as s ed away

i n Decem

b er 2 0 1 4

. J o s h u a’ s co u ns el t hen fi l ed a s u g g es t i o n o f

d eat h

, an d Fl o yd M ed i cal Cen t er co n s en t ed t o d i s m i s s i n g i t s act i o n ag ai n s t h i m

.

Nev ert h el es s , th e act i o n ag ai n s t W in t erb o er co n t in u ed

, an d s h e res p o n d ed an d ag ai n

m o ved fo r s um m ary

ju d g m en t i n J an u ary

2 01 5

.

2 It i s n o t en t i rel y cl ear fro m t he reco rd wh y t h e m ed ical b i l l s were n ev er p ai d,

b u t t h ere i s a s u g g es t i o n b y W i n t erb o er’ s co u n s el i n t h e s u m m ary -ju d g m en t -h eari n g

t ran s cri p t t h at t h e t o tal am o un t fo r t h e b i l l s ex ceed ed t he m ax i m u m am ou n t th at co u ld

b e wi th d rawn fro m Jo s h u a’ s t ru s t fu nd i n a g i v en m o n t h

. W in t erb o er al s o tes t i fi ed in

h er dep o s i ti o n th at s h e at t em p t ed t o free up fu n d s fro m an ot h er so u rce b u t was

t h wart ed b y h er ex -h u sb an d. Acco rd i n g t o W i n t e r b oer, aft er al l o f th i s t ran s p i red

, J o s h u a was p l aced o n Med i cai d an d

, t o h er kn o w l ed g e, al l s u b s eq u en t h o s p i t al b i l l s

were co vered b y

t h at s o u rce. W e also note tha t F loy d M e dical Cen t er’ s co m p l ai n t o ri g i n al l y s o u g h t t o co l l ect

u n p ai d m ed i c a l b i l l s fo r a t h i rd h o s p i t al v i s i t as wel l, b ut th e s i gn o r o n t h o s e fo rm s

was Jo s h u a’ s co u s i n , n o t W i n t erb o er. Nev er t h el es s , Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen ter d i d n ot

p u rs u e a cl ai m ag ai n s t th e c o u s i n , o n l y Jo s h u a an d W i n t erb o er, an d t h e cl ai m fo r

u n p a i d b i l l s as s o ci at ed wi th th i s t h ird v i s i t was ev en t u al l y ab an d on ed b y Fl o y d

M ed i cal Cen t er’ s d is m i s s al o f i t s cl ai m ag ai ns t J os h ua b ecau se i t co n ced ed at t h e

s u m m ary -ju d g m en t heari ng t h at i t was n o t s e ek i n g t o reco v er t h o s e fu n d s fro m W i nt erb o er.

3Fo l l owi n g a h eari n g on Fl o y d M ed ical Cen ter’ s m o t i o n fo r sum m ary ju d g m en t

,

t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o ti o n , ag ai n d en i ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t as t o W i n t erb o er

b y ad o p t i n g t h e reas o n i n g o f t h e earl i er d en i al

, an d award ed Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen t er

$ 2 4 3 ,2 0 4 .9 6 fo r t he u n p ai d m ed i cal b i l l s as s o ci at ed wi t h J o s h u a’ s h o s p i t al v i s i t s i n

Ap ri l an d J u n e 2 0 1 1

. Th i s ap p eal b y W in t erb o er fo l l o ws

.

1

. W i n terb o er fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ra n t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen t e r a n d d en y i ng h er m ot i o n wh en s he s i g n ed t h e

r e g i s t rat i o n co ns en t fo rm s i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci ty an d n o t a p ers o nal cap aci t y

.

W e ag ree.

Th e fo rm s W i n t erb o er si g n ed i n Ap ri l an d J un e o f 20 1 1

, en t it l ed “ Reg i s t rat i o n

Co n s e n t ,” are i den t i cal

. At t h e to p o f t h e fo rm i n al l cap i t al l et t ers ap p ears t h e

fo l l o w i n g p arag rap h :

I, t h e p at i en t

, h ereb y req u es t t h at I recei v e t reat m en t / care d u ri n g t h i s

h o s p i t al ad m is s io n , em erg en cy [d ep art m en t ] o r o u tp at i en t v i s i t

. I

u n d ers t an d t h at i f I am to b e p ro v i d ed a s eri es of o n g o i ng serv i ces b as ed

o n m y p h y si ci an ’ s o rd ers , t hat m y co n s en t an d au t h ori zat i o n wi l l be

acq u i red o n l y

o n ce fo r al l s erv i ces p ro v id ed i n t h e s eri es . I v o l u n tari l y

m ak e an d ex ecu t e th e fo l l o wi ng au t h o r i z at i o n s , co n s en ts

, as s i g n m en t

,

cert i fi cat i on an d req u es t s

.

4Fro m t h ere, cen t ered u p on th e p ag e an d ap p eari n g i n b ol d

, al l -cap i t al fo n t

, t h e

fo rm co nt ai n s a h ead er fo r t h e “ p at i en t ’ s au t h o ri zat i on an d co n s en t fo r m ed i cal an d

s u rg i cal t reat m en t

, an es t h es i a, x -ray ex am i n at i o n , c o n s en t t o s earch

, p h y s i cal

r e s t rai n t s , d i s p o s al o f t i s s u es , an d o t h er rel at ed m at t ers .” Th e two p arag rap h s t h a t

fo l l o w i n s m al l

, s tan d ard fo n t t h en d et ai l an d p ro v i d e t h e p at i en t ’ s au t h o ri zat i o n fo r

t h o s e t h i ng s , s p eak in g i n t erm s o f wh at “ I

, ” th e pat i en t

, co n s en t s t o b y s i g n i n g t h e

d o cu m en t

.

Nex t

, cen t ered on t h e p ag e an d a p p e ari n g i n b o l d

, al l -cap i t al fo n t

, t h e fo rm

co n tai n s a h e a d er fo r t h e “ p at i en t ’ s as s i g n m en t o f in s u ran ce b en efi t s fo r

h o s p it al / p h ys i c i an serv i ces , g u aran t ee o f acco u n t

, an d au t ho ri zat io n fo r rel eas e o f

m ed i cal i n fo rm at i o n .” It i s th e p arag rap h t h at ap p ears b en eat h t h i s h e a d e r i n s m al l

,

s t an d ard fo n t th at co n t ai n s t h e l an g u ag e at i ss u e in t hi s ap p eal

. T h e en t i re p arag rap h

p ro v id es as fo l l o ws :

I h ereb y i rrev o cab l y t ran s fer an d as s ig n t o t h e Ho sp i t al

, EDP an d

al l o t h er p h y s i ci an s al l i n s u ran ce b en efi t s o t h erwi s e p ay ab le t o m e b u t

n o t t o ex ceed t h e Ho s p it al ’ s or E D P ’s o r al l o th er p h y s ici an s reg u l ar

ch arg es ren d ered to m e fo r t h i s p eri o d o f h o s p i t al i zat io n

. I au th o ri ze m y

i n s u ran ce carri er, t h i rd p art y p ay or o r m an ag ed care o rg an i zat i o n t o p ay

s u ch b en efi t s d i rect l y t o t h e Ho s p i t al

, EDP a n d a l l o th er p h y si ci an s i n

m y b eh al f. I u n der

s t a n d t h a t I am f

i n a n ci a l ly r es

po n s i b l e t o th e

5Ho s

p i t a l

, EDP an d a ll o t h er p h

ys i ci a ns f o r ch a r ges no t pa i d u nd

er th e

a s s i gn men t

. In t he ev en t t h at i n ad d i t io n t o h o s p it al

, EDP an d al l o t h er

p h y s i ci an s ’ b en efi t s, I am e n t i t l ed t o an y i n s u ran ce o r o t h er ben efi t s

co v eri n g o t h er p h y s i ci an s erv i c e s , I h ereb y as s ig n sai d b en efi t s t o th e

p h y s i ci an s ren d eri n g care o r t reat m en t t o m e d u ri n g t h i s s t ay o r

o u t p at i en t v i s i ts

, to b e ap p l ied t o m y bi l l fro m s u ch p h y s i ci an

. Fo r a n d

i n co n s i d er a t i on o f s er vi ces r en d

er ed b y t h e Ho s p it a l

, ED P, o r o t h er

p h ys i ci a n s t o t h e b el o w n a med pa t i en t

, th e u n d er s i g n ed j o i n t l

y a n d

s ever a l ly i f mo r e th an o n e) g u a r a n t ees p a ymen t o f a l l ch a rg es i ncu r r ed

f o r s a i d pa t i en t in a cco r d

a n ce wi t h t h e p ol i cy o

f pa ymen t of s u ch bi l l

s

. I u n d er s t an d th a t I a m f

i n a n ci al l y r es p o n s i b le t o t h e Ho s

p i t a l f o r

ch a r g es n o t p a i d u n d

er t h e a s s i g n men t

. I fu rt h er au t h o ri ze an y h o l d er o f

m ed i cal i n fo rm at i o n o r rec o rd s co n cern i n g m e t o rel eas e s u ch

i n f o r m at i o n o r reco rd s t o m y i n s u ran ce carri er, t h i rd p art y p ay o r,

m an ag ed care o rg an i zat io n o r t o an y o t h er i n su ran ce carri er, i n cl u d i n g

wo rk er’ s co m

p en sat io n ca r r i e r s , ag ai n s t wh i ch I h av e m ad e, o r sh al l

h ereaft er m ak e, a cl ai m

. I fu rt her u n d ers t an d t h at i t m ay b e neces s ary t o

co n t act m y p as t o r p res en t em

p l oy er(s ) i n reg ard s t o t h i s cl ai m

. I p erm i t

a co p y o f t h i s au t h o ri zat i o n t o b e u s ed i n p l ace o f t h e o ri g i n al

. 3

Aft er t h i s p arag rap h

, t h e fo rm co n t ai n s t wo m ore cen t ered

, b o l d, al l -cap i t al i zed

he a de r s f o r “ pa t ie nt’ s M e dic a r e cert i fi cat io n , au t h o ri zat i o n t o rel eas e i n for m a tion, a nd

p ay m en t req ues t” an d “ Me d i g a p an d m ed ical as s is tan ce,” each fo l l o wed b y a

3 W e h av e s u p p l i e d em p h as i s t o t he m o s t p ert i n en t l an g u ag e, b u t h av e

o t h erwi s e co p i ed t he lan g u ag e o f t h e p a r a g rap h ex act l y as i t ap p ears , i n cl u d i n g

g ram m at ical an d t y

po g rap h i cal erro rs t h at are o ri g i n al t o t h e fo rm

.

6p arag rap h i n s m al l

, s t an dard fo n t d et ai l i n g t h e p at i en t ’ s au t h o ri zat i o n s an d

cert ifi cat i o n s rel at ed t o t h o s e h ead ers

.

Fi n al l y , at t h e bo t t o m of t h e fo rm are t h ree l in es fo r s i g n at ures o r o t h er

i n fo rm at i o n , each l i ne d e s c ri b i n g i n al l -cap i t al i zed fo n t wh at i n fo rm at io n i s t o b e

p ro v id ed

. Th e fi rs t l i n e is fo r t h e “ s i g n at u re o f t h e p at i en t .” Th e s eco n d li n e i s fo r t h e

“ s i g n a t u r e o f p ers o n act i n g fo r p at i en t.” An d t h e t hi rd l i ne p ro v i d es an area fo r t h e

p ers o n “ act i ng fo r [t h e] p at ien t ” t o d es cri be h is o r h er “ rel at i on s h i p t o p at i en t ” an d

t h e d at e.

Bel o w t h e th ree s ig nat u re l i n es are th ree b o x es t h at m ay b e ch eck ed

. Th e fi rs t

b o x i s to i n d i cat e t h at “ [i ] t i s i m p ract ical f

o r t h e p a ti en t to ex ecu t e t h e do cu m en t

b ecau s e p at i en t’ s m en t al o r p h y si cal co n d i t i o n i s s u ch t h at p at i en t s h o u l d n o t b e as k ed

t o t ran s act b u s i n es s .” Th e s eco n d b o x i s t o i nd i cat e t h at “ [t ] h e p at i en t is a m i n o r.”

A n d t h e t h i rd b o x i s t o i n d i cat e t h e s i g n o r’ s ack n o wl ed gm en t t h at h e or s h e h as

“ recei v ed s m o k in g ces s at i o n i n fo rm at i o n fro m t h e h o s p i tal .” 4 A d d it i o n al l y , i n t h e

b o t t o m ri g h t -h an d co rn er of t h e fo rm i s a s m al l area en ti t led “ p at i en t i d en t i fi cat i o n,”

4 It i s n o t p ert i n en t t o t h e i s s ues o n ap p eal

, b u t we n o t e th at t h i s t h i rd b o x was ch eck ed o n b o t h fo rm s

.

7an d b el o w t h i s , a p p l i e d b y a t y p ed s t i ck er, are, i n ter a l i a , t h e p at ien t ’ s n am e, t h e

p at i en t ’ s ag e an d g en d er, t h e n am e o f t h e at t en d i n g p h y s i ci an , an d t h e d at e.

In t h i s m at ter, t h ere are s l i g h t d i fferen ces i n t h e way W i n t erb o er s i g n ed t h e

fo rm i n Ap ri l 2 0 1 1 an d t h e m an n er i n wh i ch s h e s i g n ed t h e fo rm i n J u n e 2 01 1

. On t h e

Ap ri l 20 1 1 fo rm , t h ere i s n o p at i en t n am e li s ted o n t h e “ si gn at u re of p at i en t” l i n e, b ut

W i nt erb o er s i g n ed h er n am e o n t he l i n e fo r “ s i g n at u re o f p ers o n act in g fo r p at i en t ”

an d i d en t i fi ed h ers el f as t he p at i en t ’ s “ m ot h er” o n t h e l i n e fo r “ rel at i o n s h i p to

p at i en t .” Sh e al s o ch eck ed t h e b o x i n d i cat in g t hat i t was “ i m p ract i cal fo r t h e p at i en t

t o ex ecu t e t h e d o cu m en t b ecau s e p at i en t ’ s m en tal o r p h y s i cal co n d i t io n i s su ch t h at

p at i en t sh o ul d n o t b e as k ed to tran s act b u s in es s .” An d t he “ p at i en t i d en t i fi cat i o n ” area

o n t h i s fo rm

l i s t s “ W i n t erb o er, J o s h u a Dav i d ” as t h e p at i en t

.

On t h e J u n e 2 0 1 1 fo rm , W i nt erb o er s i g ned h er n am e o n t h e “ s i g n at u re o f

p at i en t ” l i n e an d wro t e i n her s o n ’ s n a m e , Jo s h u a W i n t erb o er, o n t he l i n e fo r t h e

“ s i g nat ure o f p ers o n act i n g fo r p at i en t ” b efo re i d e n t i fy in g h ers el f as t h e p at i en t ’ s

“ m o t h e r ” o n t h e l i n e fo r “ rel at io n s h i p to pat i en t .” Sh e al s o n o t o nl y ch eck ed t h at i t

was “ i m p ract i cal fo r t h e p at i en t t o ex ecu t e t h e d o cu m en t b ecau s e p at i en t ’ s m en t al o r

p h y s i cal co n d i t i o n i s s uch t h at p at i en t s h o u l d n o t b e as k ed t o t ran s act b u s i nes s ” b ut

8al s o t h at “ [t ] h e p at ien t is a m i no r.” Des p i t e t h es e o b v i o us s cri v en er erro rs , t h e “ p at i en t

i d en t i fi cat i o n ” area l i s ts “ W i nt erb o er, J o s h u a Dav id ” as t h e 3 0 -y ear-o l d p at i en t

.

Bas ed u p o n W i n t erb o er’ s co m p l et i o n o f t h es e fo r m s an d t h e l an g u ag e

em ph as i zed s u

p r a , Fl oy d M ed i cal C e n t e r m ai n t ai ns t h at W i n t erb o er p ers o n al l y

g u aran teed p ay m en t o f her s o n ’ s m e d i c a l b i l l s

. Th e t ri al co u rt ag reed

, o n ce ag ai n

d et erm i n i n g t h at W in t erb o er, “ i n s i g n i n g t he fo rm , o b l i g at ed h er s on t o b e res p o n s i b l e

fo r t he p ay m en t an d o b l ig at ed hers el f as w el l .” Bu t we d i s ag ree t h at W in t erb o er was

ren d ered p ers o n al l y li ab l e fo r p ay m en t o f t h e a s s o ci at ed b i ll s si m p l y b ecau s e s h e

s i gn ed t h e fo rm s i n a rep res en t at i v e cap aci t y o n b eh al f o f h er s o n.

At t h e o u t s et

, we n o t e th at t h e i s su e o f co nt rac t c o n s t ru ct i o n i s “ u s u al l y a

q u es ti o n o f l aw fo r th e co u rt t o res ol v e an d

, as s u ch

, i t i s s ub ject to d e no vo rev i ew.” 5

In t h i s res p ect

, t here are t h ree s tep s in v ol v ed i n t h e co n s t ru ct i o n o f a co n t ract

. 6 Fi rs t

,

t h e c o u r t m

u s t d eci d e wh et h er “ t h e l an g u ag e o f t he co n t ract i s cl ear an d

5 At l a n t a Emer

g en cy S er vs ., LLC v. Cl a r

k , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 9

, 1 1 (1 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d

4 3 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ); s ee a l

s o B d

. o f Co mm’r

s o f Cr i s p Ct y. v. Ci ty Co mm’r

s o f t h e C i t y o f

Co r d el e , 3 15 Ga. Ap p

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

6 S ee At l a n t a Emer

gen cy S er vs

. , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 1 (1 ); B d

. o f Co mm’r

s of

Cr i s p Ct y. , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p . at 6 9 9.

9u n am

b i g u o u s .” 7 An d i f t h ere is n o am b ig u i t y , t h e co n t ract i s en fo rced “ acco rd i n g to

i t s p lai n t erm s , an d th e co n t ract al o n e i s l o o k e d t o f o r m ean i n g .” 8 Of co u rs e, a

co n tract i s u n am

b i g u ou s wh en i t i s “ cap ab l e o f o nl y o n e reas o n ab le i n terp ret at i o n

. ” 9

In th e s eco n d s t ep , i f t h e co n t ract i s am b i g u o us i n s o m e res p ect

, “ t h e ru l es o f co n t ract

c o n s t ru ct i o n m

u s t b e ap p l i ed b y th e co u rt t o res ol v e t h e am b i gu i t y .” 1 0 Fi n al l y , i f

am bi g ui t y rem ai n s aft er ap p l yi n g t h e ru l es of co n s t ru ct i on , “ t h e i s s u e o f wh at t h e

am bi g uo u s l an g u ag e m ean s an d wh at t h e p art i es i n t en ded m us t b e r es o l ved b y a

ju ry .” 1 1

7 At l a n t a E

mer g en cy S er vs

. , 3 2 8 G a. Ap p. at 1 1 -1 2 (1 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Bd

. o f Co m m’r

s o f Cr i s p Ct y. , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p . at 6 9 9

.

8 A t l a n t a E mer

g en cy S er vs

. , 3 2 8 G a. Ap p

. at 1 2 (1 ) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Bd

. o f Co m m’r

s of Cr i s p Ct y. , 3 1 5 G a. Ap p

. at 6 99 ; s ee a l s o OCGA § 1 3 -2 -3 (“ Th e card i n al ru l e o f co n s tru ct i o n i s t o as cert ai n th e i n t en t i o n o f t h e p art ies

. If t h at
i n t en t i o n i s cl ear an d i t co n t rav en es n o ru le o f l aw an d s u ffi ci en t wo rd s are u s ed to
arri v e at t h e i n t en t i o n , i t s h al l b e en fo rced i rres p ect i v e o f a l l t ech n i cal o r arb i t rary

ru l es o f co ns tru ct i o n .”).

9 At l a n t a Emer

g en cy S er vs

. , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 2 (1 ) ( p u n c t u at i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd S t ef a n o Ar t s v. S ui , 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p . 8 5 7 , 8 6 0 (1 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 1 9 7 ) (2 0 10 ).

1 0 At l a n t a Emer

g en cy S er vs

. , 3 2 8 G a. Ap p

. at 1 2 (1 ) ( p u n c t u a t i on o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Bd

. o f Co m m’r

s o f Cr i s p Ct y. , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p . at 6 9 9

.

1 1 At l a n t a Emer

g en cy S er vs

. , 3 2 8 G a. Ap p

. at 1 2 (1 ) (p u n c t u a t i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Bd

. o f Co m m’r

s o f Cr i s p Ct y. , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p . at 6 9 9

.

10As n o t ed s u pr a , t h e fo rm at i s su e i ncl u d es t h e fo l l owi n g s en t en ce b uri ed i n t h e

m i d d l e o f a parag rap h t hat i s u n d er a h ead er th at hi g h l i g h t s , i nt er a l ia

, t h e p a t i en t ’s

g u aran tee o f acco un t :

Fo r an d i n co n s i d erat i on o f s erv i ces ren d ered b y t he Ho s p i t al

, EDP, o r

o t h er p h y s i ci an s t o th e bel o w n am ed pat i en t

, t h e u n d ers i g ned jo i nt l y an d

s ev eral l y if m ore t h an o n e) g u aran t ees p ay m en t o f al l ch arg es i ncu rred

fo r s ai d p at ien t i n acco rd an ce wi t h t he p ol i cy of p ay m en t o f s u ch b i l l s

.
I u n d ers t an d th at I am fi n an ci al l y res p o n s i b l e t o t h e Ho s p it al fo r ch arg es

n o t p ai d u n d er t h e as s i g n m en t

. 1 2

No t w i t hs t an d i n g t h i s l an gu ag e, wh i ch b ro ad l y ap pl i es t o “ t h e u nd ers i g n ed ,” t h e fo rm

co n tai n s s i gn at u re l i n es fo r t h e p at i e n t a n d f o r a “ p ers o n a ct in g f

o r [t h e] pat i en t .” 1 3

Th e fo rm t h en p erm i t s ad d i t i o n al i n fo rm at i on t o d es cri b e wh o i s s i g n i ng o n b eh al f o f

t h e p at i en t an d wh

y t h a t p ers o n i s d o i n g s o b y p ro v i d i n g a l i n e fo r t h e p ers o n ’ s

“ rel at i on s h i p t o [t h e] p at i en t ” an d b o x es to b e ch eck ed i f “ [i ] t i s im pract i c al fo r t h e

p at i en t to ex ecu t e t h e d o cu m en t b ecau s e [t h e] p at i en t ’ s m en t al or ph y s i cal co n d i t i o n

i s su ch t h at [t h e] p at i en t sh o u ld n ot be as k ed t o t r a n s a c t b u s in es s ” an d / or i f “ [t ] h e

p at i en t i s a m i n o r.”

1 2 Ty p o g rap h i cal erro rs i n o ri gi n al

.

1 3 Em ph as i s s u p p l i ed

.

11Th es e co nfl i ct in g p o rt i o ns o f t h e fo rm

— t h e l an g u ag e b ro ad l y as s o ci at ed wi th

g u aran teei ng p ay m en t an d t h e l i n es an d b o x es as so ci at ed w i th wh o i s s i g n i n g t h e

fo rm an d wh

y

— ren d er t h e co n t ract am bi g u o u s

. 1 4 Nev ert h el es s, we are m i n d fu l t h at

“ [t ] h e co n s t ru ct i o n wh i ch wi l l u p h o l d a co n tract in wh o le an d i n ev ery part i s t o b e

p referred

, an d t he wh o l e co nt ract s h o u ld b e l o o k ed t o i n arri v in g at t he co ns t ru ct i o n

o f an y p art [.] ” 1 5 Th u s , h ere, th e bro ad g u aran t ee l an g u ag e m u s t b e read i n p a r i

ma t er i a wi t h t h e s i gn at u re l i n es a n d t h e ch eck -b o x es th at p ro v i d e a d d i t i o n al

i n fo rm at i o n rel ev an t t o t h e u n i q u e ci rcu m s t an c e s t h a t s u rro u n d t h e s i g n i ng o f t h e

fo rm at a g i v en t i m e. Ad d i t i o n al l y , i t i s a card in al ru l e o f co n t ract co n s t ru ct i o n t h at

1 4 Cf

. Bd

. o f Tr u s t ees o

f N. Ka n . Ci t

y. Mem. Ho s

p . v. Co nwa

y , 6 7 5 SW 2 d 3 6,

3 6 -3 9 (I) (M i s s

. Ct

. Ap p

. 1 9 8 4 ) (h o l d i n g t h at wi fe m ad e an “ u n a m b i g u o u s ,

u n q u al i fi ed pro m i s e

. . . t o p ay fo r h os p i t al s erv i ces ren d ered t o ” h er h u sb an d wh en

s h e s ig n ed a d o cu m en t t hat w as s ep arat e fro m t h e p at i en t ’ s reg is t rat i o n fo rm , wh i ch

s h e di d n o t si gn an d wh i ch li s t ed h er h u s b an d as t h e “ pers o n res p o n s ib l e fo r t h i s

acco u n t

, ” an d wh en th e sep arat e d o cu m en t was en t i t l ed “ Gu aran t ee o f Acco u n t ” an d

p ro v id ed “ I wi l l p ay an y u np ai d b al an ce o n d i sm i s s al ” an d “ I ag ree t o b e res p o n s i b l e fo r h o s p i t al s erv ices ren d ered t o t h i s p at i en t ”).

1 5 OCGA § 1 3-2 -2 (4 ); see a l s o Pa u l v. Pa u l

, 2 3 5 Ga. 3 8 2

, 3 8 4 (2 1 9 SE2 d 7 3 6 ) (1 9 7 5) (“ Ev ery

o t h er ru le i s s u b s erv i en t t o t h i s o n e. ‘ T he fu n d am en t al ru l e, t h e ru l e wh i ch s wal l o ws u p al m o s t al l ot h ers i n co n s t ru in g a p ap er, i s t o g i ve it t h at m ean i n g wh i ch wi l l b es t carry i n t o effect t h e i n t en t o f th e p art i es

. Th i s is t h e o bject o f t h e ru l es

o f i n t erp ret at i o n , t o d i s co v er t h e t ru e i n t en t o f th e p art i es , an d i n do i n g t h i s we are to

t ak e th e wh o le o f (t h e i n s t ru m en t ) t o g et h er, an d t o co n s id er th i s wi t h t h e su rro u n d i n g ci rcu m s t an ces

. ”(p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed )).

12wh en “ t h e co n s tru ct i o n o f a co n t ract i s d o u b t fu l

, th e co n s t ru ct i o n t h at g o e s m o s t

s t ro n g l y ag ai n st t h e d raft er o f t h e ag reem en t i s t o b e p referred .” 1 6

In t h e cas e s ub j u d i ce , W i n t er b o e r l e f t a ch eck m ark t o i n d icat e t h at s h e was

s i gn i n g t h e fo rm b ecau s e it w as i m p ract i cal fo r t h e pat i en t

, h er ad u l t s o n , “ t o ex ecu t e

t h e d o cu m en t becau s e [t h e] pat i en t ’s m en t al o r p hy s i cal co n d i t io n [was ] s u ch t h at

[t he] p at i en t s h o u l d no t b e as k ed t o t ran s a c t busi n es s .” Ad d i t i o n al l y , t h e s i gn at u re l i n e

p ro v id es t h at a s i g n at o ry o t h er t h an th e p at i en t i s “ act in g f or t h e p at i en t .” Th u s , i t i s

cl ear t h a t Wi n t e r b o er in t en d ed t o s ig n

— an d d i d s i g n— t h e fo rm i n a rep res en t at i v e

cap aci t y b ecau s e t h es e l at t er p o rt i o n s o f t h e fo rm l i m i t t h e o t h erwi s e b ro ad g u aran t ee

p ro v is i o n

.

1 6 Rei ch ma n v. S

o u t h er n Ea r

, No se & Th ro a t S

u r g eo n s

, P

. C

. , 2 66 Ga. Ap p. 6 9 6

, 6 9 9-7 0 0 (1 ) (5 9 8 SE2 d 1 2 ) (2 0 0 4 ); s e e a ls o O CGA § 1 3 -2 -2 (5 ) (“ If t h e

co n st ru ct i o n i s d o u bt fu l

, th at wh i ch g o es m o st s t ro ng l y ag ai n s t t he p art y ex ecu t i n g

t h e i n s t ru m en t o r u nd ert ak i n g th e o b l i g at i o n i s g en eral ly t o b e p referred [.] ”); Her t z Eq u ip

. R en t a l Co r

p

. v. E va n s , 2 6 0 Ga. 5 3 2

, 5 3 3 (3 9 7 SE2 d 6 9 2 ) (1 9 9 0 ) (ci t i n g to
OCGA § 1 3 -2 -2 (5 ) fo r t h e pro p o s it i o n t h at “ i f a co n t rac t i s c a p a b l e o f b ei n g

co n st ru ed t wo way s , i t wi l l be co n s t ru ed ag a i n s t t h e p r ep arer an d i n fav o r o f t h e

n o n -p rep arer”).

13An d h ere, b ecau s e W i n t erb o er s i g n ed t h e fo rm o n b eh al f o f h er ad u l t s o n as h i s

ag en t, n o t i n a p ers o n al cap aci t y , s h e d i d n o t ren d er h ers el f p ers o n al l y l i ab l e fo r an y

u n p ai d m ed i cal b i l l s. 1 7 Acco rd i n g ly

, th e t ri al co u rt e r r e d i n g ran ti n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen t er an d i n d en y i n g s um m ary ju dg m en t t o W i nt erb o er.

2

. Becau s e we h av e rev ers ed o n W i n t erb o er’s f i r s t e n um erat i o n o f erro r, we

n eed n o t ad d res s h er rem ai ni n g en u m erat i o n s , wh i ch are t h at t h e fo rm do es n o t s at i s fy

t h e st at u t e o f fr a u d s , a n d t h a t t h e fo rm i s a co n t ract o f ad h es i o n wi t h a p ers o n al

g u aran ty p ro v i s io n t h at i s u n co n s ci o n ab l e an d v o i d as ag ai n s t p u b l ic p o l i cy

.

1 7 S ee OCGA § 1 0-6 -5 3 (“ Th e fo rm in wh i ch t he ag en t act s i s im m at eri al ; i f t h e

p ri n ci p al ’ s n am e i s d i s cl o sed an d t h e ag en t p ro fes s es t o act fo r h i m , i t wi ll b e h el d to
b e t h e act o f t he p ri n ci p al .”); D over v. Bu r n s , 1 8 6 Ga. 1 9

, 21 -2 2

, 2 9 (3 ) (1 9 6 SE 7 8 5 ) (1 9 3 8) (h o l d i n g t hat at t o rn ey ’ s b ro t h ers -i n

- l a w w ere n ot ren dered p ers o n al l y l i ab l e in s e ttle m e nt o f at t o rn ey ’ s acco u n t s wh en t h e ag reem en t d es cri bed th e b r othe r s- in- l a w

as “ ag en t s o f” t h e at t o rn ey ); Ti ll er v. S p r a d l ey , 3 9 Ga. 3 5

, 35 -3 8 (1 86 9 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

n o t e p ro m i s i n g t o p ay “ fo r co t t on s eed fo r J .’ s p l an t at i o n ” an d s i g ned

, “ S., Ag en t fo r J .,” was t h e n o t e o f J

. , wh o was al o n e p ers o nal l y l i ab l e). Cf

. O CGA § 3 1 -9 -2 (a) (6 ) (B) (“ In ad d i ti o n t o s u ch ot h er p ers o n s as m ay b e au t h o ri zed an d em p o wered

, an y o n e

o f t h e f o l l o w i n g pers o n s i s au t h o ri zed an d em p o wered t o co n s en t

, ei t h er o ral l y o r

o t h erwi s e, t o an y s u rg i cal o r m ed i cal t reat m en t o r p ro ced u res n ot p ro hi b i t ed b y l aw wh i ch m ay b e s u g g es t e d

, r e c o m m en d ed

, p res cri b ed

, o r di rect ed b y a d u l y l i cen s ed

p h y s i ci an :

. . . . U p on t h e i n ab i l i t y o f an y ad u l t to co n s en t fo r h i m s el f o r h ers el f an d

i n t h e ab s en ce o f an y pers on t o co n s en t u n der parag rap h s (1 .1 ) t h ro ug h (5 ) o f t h i s

s u b s ect i o n , t h e fo l l o w i n g p ers o n s i n t h e fo l lo wi n g o rd er o f p ri o ri t y : . . . An y p aren t
fo r h i s o r h er ad u lt ch il d [.] ”).

14Fo r al l o f t h e fo reg o i n g reas o ns , we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary

j udg m en t t o Fl o y d M ed i cal Cen t er an d i t s d en i al o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t to W i n t erb o e r

.

Ju d g men t rever

s ed

. McFa d

den

, J., co ncu r

s

. El l i n g t o n

, P. J.

, c o ncu r s in

j u d g men t o n l y.

15