THI RD DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and HODGES, J.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

https ://w w w

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

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

.

June 25, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 08 7 . DELLINGER-ALLEN et al . v . O’ BRIEN.

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

E. Am an d a D el li n g er-A l l en (“ Del l in g er-Al l en ”) an d E. Am an d a Del l i n g erAl l en

, LLC d /b / a Th ri v e Co u n s el i n g (“ Th ri v e”) s u ed Al l i s on O’ Bri en fo r d efam at i o n,

b reach of co n t ract

, v i o l at i o n of t h e Geo rg i a Co m p ut er Sy s t em s Pro t ect i on s Act

, an d

at t o rn ey fees

. O ’ Bri en an swered a n d m o v ed t o s t ri k e t h e d efam at i o n an d b reach o f

co n t ract co u nt s o f t h e co m p l ai n t p u rs u an t t o t h e G eo rg i a an t i -SLAPP s t at ut e. 1 See

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1

. 1

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g

, t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Co b b Co u n t y g ran t ed

1 “ ‘ St rat eg i c laws u i ts ag ai n s t p u b l ic p art i ci p at i o n ,’ o r ‘ SLAPPs ,’ are m eri t l es s

l aws u i t s b ro u g h t n ot t o vi n d i cat e l eg al l y co g n i zab le ri g h t s

, b u t i n s t ead t o d et er o r

p u n i s h t h e ex erci s e o f co n s ti t u t i o n a l r i g h t s o f p et i t i o n an d free sp eech b y t y i n g u p

t h ei r tar g e t ’ s res o u rces an d d ri v i n g u p t h e co s ts o f l i ti g at i o n .” (Fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed .)

W i l kes & McHu g h

, P .A. v. LTC Co n s u l t i n g

, 3 0 6 Ga. 2 5 2

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

(2 0 1 9)O’ Bri en ’ s m o t i o n

, an d Del l in g er-Al len an d Th ri v e ap p eal

. Fo r t h e fo l l o w i ng reas o n s

,

we affi rm t h at po rt i o n o f t h e tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s t ri ki n g Del l i n ger-Al l en ’ s d efam at i o n

cl ai m , b u t rev ers e as t o Th ri ve’ s cl ai m fo r b reach o f co n t ract

.

Accep t i n g D el li n g er-Al len ’ s al l eg at i o n s as t ru e, 2 t h e reco rd dem o ns t rat es t h at

O’ Bri en co n t ract ed wi th Th ri ve o n M arch 1, 2 0 1 6 t o pro v i d e co u n s el i n g s erv i ces to

Th ri v e’ s cl i en t s

. 3 To b eco m e a l i cen s ed co u n s el o r, O’ Bri en wo rk ed u n d er Del l i n g erAl l en ’ s d i rect i o n an d s u p erv is i o n u n t i l Decem b er 15

, 20 1 6

. Th e rel at i o n sh i p s o u red

i n Decem b er 2 0 1 6, cu lm i nat i n g i n a d i s pu t e b et ween Del li n g er-Al l en an d O’ Bri en

co n cern in g t h e am o u n t O’ Bri en o wed t o b uy o u t t h e rem ai nd er o f h er co n t ract wi th

Th ri v e. 4

O’ Bri en as k ed Del l i n g er-Al l en t o pro v i de h er wi t h a do cu m en t d em on s t rat i n g

t h e nu m b er o f d i rect ex p eri en ce h o u rs s h e wo rk ed u n d er Del l i n g er-Al l en i n o rd er to

2 W i l kes

, 30 6 Ga. at 2 6 2 (2 ) (b ) (“ T he p l ai n ti ff’ s ev i d en ce i s accep t ed as t ru e;

t h e d efen d an t ’ s ev i d en ce i s ev al u at ed t o det erm in e if i t d efeat s t h e p l ai n ti ff’ s s h o wi n g

as a m at t er o f l aw.”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed ).

3 O’ Bri en ’ s M arch 1

, 2 0 16

, co n t ract wi t h Th ri v e rep l aced an earl i er March 2,

2 0 1 5

, co n t ract

. To t h e ex t en t t h e t wo co n tract s co n t ai n d i fferen t p ro v i s i o n s

, t h e

p art i es h av e n o t rai s ed an y arg u m en t s b as ed u p o n an y al l eg ed d i fferen ces

.

4 Th e d i s p u t e was b as ed u p o n a d i s ag reem en t as t o t h e l en g t h an d t i m i n g o f

O’ Bri en ’ s m at ern i t y

l eav e.

2o b t ai n h er p ro fes s i o n al co u n s el i n g l i cen s e. Del l i n ger-Al l en refu s ed b ecau s e s h e d id

n o t feel O’ Bri en was fu l fi l l i n g t h e t erm s o f h er co n t ract wi t h Th ri v e, an d th u s o ffered

t o p ro v id e p ro of o f O’ Bri e n ’s h o u r s “ i f [O’ Bri en ] s i g n ed a p ro m is s o ry n o t e fo r t h e

am ou n t [Del l i n ger-Al l en ] fel t [O’ Bri en ] o wed .” O’ Bri en d ecl i n e d

. “ Aft er fu rt h er

co n si d erat io n an d d is cu s s i o n ,” De l l i n g er-Al l en

, t h ro u g h co u ns el

, fi n al ly p ro v i d ed

O’ Bri en wi t h p ro o f o f t h e d i rect cl i n i cal ex p eri en ce h o urs O’ Bri en earn ed o n

Decem b er 2 3 , 2 0 16

.

To reco v er t h e am o u nt O’ Bri en al l eg ed l y o w ed

, T hri v e fi l ed an act io n ag ai n s t

O’ Bri en in t h e M ag i st rat e Co urt o f Co b b Co un t y o n Feb ru ary 1 7

, 2 0 17 t o co l l ect

$ 4 ,7 7 8 .3 3

. Th ereaft er, O ’ Bri en fi l ed an et h i c a l c om pla i nt w ith t

he Geo rg i a Co m

p o si t e

Bo ard o f Pro fes s i o n al Co u n sel o r s

, So ci al W o rk ers an d M arri ag e an d Fam i l y

Th erap is t s (t h e “ Bo ard ”) o n o r ab o u t March 3 0

, 2 0 1 7 (t h e “ g ri ev an ce”). In i t

, O’ Bri en

cl ai m ed t h at wh en s h e as k ed fo r h er

s i gn ed an d n o t ari zed l icen s u re p ap erwo rk fo r h o u rs of di rect p o s t

g rad uat e cl i n i cal ex p eri en ce

. . . , M s

. Del l i n ger refu s ed to rel eas e th e

fo rm t o [h er] un t i l [s he] p ai d [Del l i ng er-Al len ] o r s i g n ed a fo rm ag reei n g

t o m ak e p ay m en t s o v er 6 m o n t h s

. [O’ Bri en ] as k ed s ev eral t i m es fo r

[h er] l i cen s u re fo rm

, as [s h e] h ad co m pl et ed t h e h ou rs fo r l i cen s u re an d

n eed ed t h e fo rm t o ap p l y fo r fu ll l i ce n s u re as a m arri ag e an d fam i l y

3t h erap i s t

. [Del l i n g e r

- Al l en ] refu s ed an d sen t a co py o n l y aft er

[O’ Bri en ’ s ] at t o rn ey co n t act ed h er.

Si m i l arl y

, O’ Bri en w ro t e o f h er co n cern “ t h at M s

. D el l i ng er’ s b eh av i o r i s i n vi o l at i o n

o f sev eral co d es of et h i cs an d ex p l o i t s t h e t ru st an d d ep en d en cy o f as s o ci at e l i cen s ed

t h erap i s ts .”

O’ Bri en s up p l em en ted h er g ri ev an ce o n Apr il 1 1, 2017. 5 In res p o n s e, th e Bo ard

em ai l ed Del li n ger-Al l en o n J u n e 1 3

, 2 0 17 an d req ues t ed t h at s h e p ro v i d e ad d i t i o n al

i n fo rm at i o n , i n cl u d i ng :

1

. Do y o u n o w, o r h av e y ou ev er, p ro v i d ed s u p erv i s i o n o f/ an d

d irect ed wo rk ex p eri en ce fo r, [O’ Bri en ] at y o ur

. . . b us i n es s

,

Th ri ve Co u n s el i n g Cen t er?

2

. Di d y o u refu s e[] t o s ig n an d su b m it fo rm s re q u i red fo r th e

l i cen s u re ap pl icat i o n o f M s . O’ Bri en ? If y es , wh y h av e y ou refu s ed ?

5 Del l i n g er-Al len ’ s co m

p l ai n t o n l y ci t ed O ’ Bri en ’ s M arch 3 0

, 2 0 1 7 g ri ev an ce

t h at s h e s en t t h e Bo ard

. Al t h o u g h D e l l i n g er-Al l en l at er referred t o O’ Bri en ’ s

s t at em en t s i n t h e Ap ri l 1 1

, 2 0 1 7 s u p p lem en t al g ri ev an ce t h at D el l i ng er-Al l en

“ f r a u d u l en t l y an d d ecei t fu ll y ex pl o i t ed h er p o s i t i o n as [O’ Bri en ’ s ] d i rect o r b y

wi t h h o l d i n g s i g n at ure on earn ed d i rect cl i n i cal ex p eri en ce h o u r s u n t i l [O’ Bri en ]

s i gn ed a p ro m i ss ory n o t e,” th i s b as is fo r rel i ef was no t i n cl u d ed i n an am en d ed

co m p l ai n t

.

43

. W h at t rai n i n g h av e y ou had as i t p ert ai ns t o s u p erv i s i o n ?

On J u n e 16

, 2 0 1 7, Del l i ng er-Al l en rep l i ed t o t h e Bo ard ’ s i n q ui ry

, no t i n g t h at s h e h ad

p ro v id ed O’ Bri en wi t h “ h er Su p erv is i o n Veri fi cat io n Fo rm s fo r l i cen s u re” an d “ h er

fo rm s fo r Di rect W o rk Ex p eri en ce,” an d d et ai li n g her t raining in supe r v is i on

. O’ Bri en

fi led an u p dat e t o h er o ri g i n al g ri ev an ce wi th t he Bo ard o n J u ne 2 9 , 2 01 7

.

Del l in g er-Al l en an d Th ri v e fi l ed t h e p res en t act i o n i n t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f

Co b b Co un t y o n Sep tem

b er 5

, 2 0 1 7

, al l eg i n g cau s es o f act i o n fo r d efam at i o n

, b reach

o f co n tract

, v i o l at i o n o f th e Geo rg i a Co m pu t er Sy s t em s Pro t ect i o n Act

, an d at t o rn ey

fees

. 6 O’ Bri en an s wered an d m o v ed t o s t r ik e an d t o d i s m i ss Del li n g er-Al l en ’ s

co m p l ai n t

. 7 Co n cern ed t h at O ’ Bri en ’ s m o ti o n “ m i g h t b e v al i d,” t h e t ri al co u rt o rd ered

l i m i ted di s co v ery t o o b t ai n O ’ Bri en ’ s co m m u n i cat i o ns wi t h th e Bo ard

. Aft er

ad d it i o n al b ri efi n g an d a h eari ng

, t he t ri al co u rt g ran t ed O’ Bri en ’ s m o ti o n an d s t ru ck

6 Del l i n ger-Al l en al l eg ed t h at

, at s o m e p o i n t

, t h e m ag i s t rat e co urt act i o n was

res o l ved at m ed i at i o n. O’ Bri en d o es n o t co nt es t Del l i ng er-Al l en ’ s s t at em en t

.

7 Al t h o u g h O’ Bri en d i d no t s p eci fy t h e co u n t s o f Del l in g er-Al l en ’ s co m p l ai nt

wh i ch s h o u l d be s t ru ck o r d is m i s s ed

, D el l i n g er-Al l en ’ s res p o n s e ad d res s ed o n l y t h e

d efam at i o n an d b reach o f co n t ract co u nt s

.

5Del l i n g er-Al l en ’ s d efam at i on co u n t an d Th ri v e’ s b reach o f co n t ract co u n t fro m t h ei r

co m p l ai n t

. 8 Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Fi rs t

, Del l in ger-Al l en co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in g ran t i n g

O’ Bri en ’ s m ot io n t o s t ri ke D el li n g er-Al l en ’ s cl ai m fo r d efam at i o n

. W e fi nd n o erro r.

(a) Cu r r en t

An t i -S LAPP S t a t u t e . OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1

. 1 (b ) (1 ) p ro v i d es t h at

[a] cl ai m fo r rel i ef ag ai ns t a p ers o n o r en t i t y ari s i n g fro m an y act o f s u ch

p ers on or en t i t y w h i ch co u ld reas o n ab l y b e co n s t ru ed as an act i n

fu rt h eran ce o f t h e pers o n ’ s o r en t i t y’s r i g h t o f p et it i on or free s p eech

u n d er th e Co n st i tu ti o n o f t h e Un i t e d S t a t es or t h e Co n s t i t u ti o n o f th e

St at e o f G eo rg ia i n co nn ect io n w i t h an i s s ue of p u b li c i n t eres t o r

co n cern s h al l b e s u b

ject to a m o t i on t o st ri k e u n les s t h e co u rt d et erm i n es

t h at th e n o n m ov in g p art y h as es t ab l i s h ed t h at t h ere i s a p ro b ab i li t y t hat

t h e n o n m ov i n g p art y

wi l l p rev ai l o n t he cl ai m

.

Fu rt h erm o re,

[a] s u s ed i n t hi s Co d e s ect i o n

, t h e t e r m “ act i n fu rt h eran ce o f th e

p ers on ’ s o r en t it y ’ s ri g h t o f pet i t i o n or f r e e s p e ech u n der th e

C o n s t it u t i o n o f t h e Un i t ed St at es o r t h e Co ns t i t u t i o n o f t h e S t a t e o f

Geo rg i a i n co n nect i o n wi t h an i s s u e o f p u b l i c i n t eres t or co ncern ” sh al l

i n cl u d e:

8 W e n o t e t hat t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er was p rep ared b y O’ Bri en ’ s co u n s el

.

6( 1 ) An y wri t ten o r o ral s t at em en t o r w ri t i n g o r p et i t i o n m ad e b efo re a

l eg i s l at i v e, ex ecu t i v e

, o r ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g

, o r an y o t h er o ffi ci al

p ro ceed i n g au t h o ri zed b y l aw;

(2 ) A n y wri t t en o r o r a l s t a t em en t or wri t i ng o r pet i ti o n m ad e i n

co n n ect i o n wi t h an is s u e u n d er co ns i d erat i o n o r rev i ew b y a l eg is l at i v e,

ex ecu t i ve, o r ju d i ci al b o d y

, o r an y o t h er o ffi ci al p ro ceed i n g au t h ori zed

b y l aw;

. . . [an d ]

(4 ) An y o th er co n d uct i n fu rt h eran ce of t he ex erci s e o f t h e co n s t i t u t i o nal

ri gh t o f pet i t i o n o r free s p eech i n co n n ect i o n wi t h a pu b l i c i s s u e o r an

i s su e o f p ub l i c co n cern

.

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1 .1 (c).

In W i l kes

, 9 o u r Su p rem e Co u rt n o t ed t hat , i n v i ew o f “ wh ol es al e rev i s i o n [s ] ”

i n 2 0 1 6

, “ [t ] he t ex t o f O CGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1 .1 (b ) (1 ) m ak es cl ear t hat t h e an al y s i s o f an

9 Of co u rs e, “ we ap p l y t he l aw as it ex i s t s at t h e t i m e o f ap peal rat h er t h an t h e

l aw p rev ai l i n g at t h e ren d i t i o n o f t h e ju d g m en t un d er r e v i e w [ .] ” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Br a d fo r d v. Gen

. El ec. Cr ed it Co rp

. o f G a

. , 1 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 2,

7 8 3 (3 59 SE2 d 7 5 7 ) (1 98 7 ); acco rd Ha m mo n d v. St a te

, 3 34 Ga. Ap p

. 78 1

, 78 3

, n

. 1 2

(7 8 0 SE2 d 4 4 0 ) (2 0 15 ) (s am e). Th e t ri al co u rt fi led i t s o rd er g ran t i n g O’ Bri en ’ s

m o ti o n t o st ri k e o n J u n e 7

, 2 0 1 9

, wh i l e t h e Su p rem e Co urt deci d e d Wi l kes o n J u n e

2 4

, 2 0 1 9

. 3 0 6 Ga. at 2 6 5. Acco rd i n g l y

, we are b o un d t o ap p l y W i l kes i n ev al u at i n g

t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er. See Br a d f o r d , 1 8 3 Ga. Ap p . at 7 8 3

.

7an t i -SLAPP m o t i o n i nv o l v es t wo s t ep s .” (Fo o tn o te om i t t ed .) 3 0 6 Ga. at 2 5 2

, 2 6 1 (2 )

(b ).

Fi rs t

, t h e co u rt m

us t d eci d e wh et h er t he p art y fi l i n g t h e an t i -SLAPP

m o t i o n (u s u al l y

, t h e d efen d an t ) h as m ad e a t h res h o l d s h o wi n g t h at t he

ch al len ged cl ai m i s o n e ‘ ari s i n g fro m ’ p ro t ect ed act iv i t y. I f a co u rt

c o n c l u d es th at t h is t hres h o l d s h o w i n g h as b een m ad e, i t m u s t pro ceed

t o t h e s eco nd st ep o f t he an al y s i s an d d eci d e wh e t h e r th e p l ai n t i ff h as

es t ab l i sh ed t hat t h ere i s a p ro b ab i l i t y th at t h e p l ai nt i ff wi l l p rev ai l o n th e

cl ai m

.

(Ci t a t i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Jo s h u a Da vi d M el l b er g, LLC v. Imp a ct

Pa r tn er sh i p

, LLC

, No

. A2 0 A0 0 0 4

, 2 0 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. LEXIS 3 0 3

, at * 4 (Ga. Ap p

., J u n e

3

, 2 0 2 0 ); s ee al s o W

i l kes

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 2 6 1 -2 6 2 (2 ) (b ). “ On l y a cl ai m t h at sat i sfi es b o th

p ro n gs o f t h e an t i -SLAPP s t at u t e

— i .e., t h at ari s es fro m p ro t ect ed act iv i t y an d l ack s

e v en m i n i m al m eri t

— i s a SLAPP t h at i s s u b j ect to b ei n g s t ri ck en .” (Ci t at i o n

,

p u n ct u at i o n

, an d em

p h as i s om i t t ed .) W

i l kes

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 2 6 2-2 6 3 (2 ) (b ). W e rev i ew

an o rd er g ran t in g o r d en y i n g an an t i -SLAPP m o ti o n d e n ov o . Id . at 2 6 3 (2 ) (b ).

(b ) St ep O n e

— W

h et h er O ’

B r i e n ’s Gr i eva n ce wa s i n Fu r th er a nce o f a

Co ver ed Ri

g h t

. Fi rs t

, t h e t ri al co u rt was req u ired t o d eci d e w h et her O’ Bri en “ m ad e

a t h res ho l d s ho wi n g t h at t h e ch al l en g ed cl ai m [w as ] on e ‘ ari s i ng fro m ’ p ro t ect ed

ac t i v i t y .” W

il kes

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 2 6 2 (2 ) (b ); s ee al s o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1 .1 (b ) (1 ). “ A

8d efen d an t m eet s [h er] b u rd en by d em o n s trat i n g t h at t h e act u n d erl y i n g t h e ch al l en g ed

cl ai m ‘ co u l d reas o n ab l y b e co n s t ru ed as ’ fi t t i n g wi t h i n o n e of t h e cat eg o ri es s p el l ed

o u t i n [OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1 .1 (c)] .” W i l kes

, 3 0 6 G a. at 2 6 2 ( 2 ) (b ). On e s u ch cat eg o ry

i n cl u d es “ [a] n y wri tt en o r o ral s tat em en t o r wri t in g o r p et it i on m ad e b efo re a

l eg i s lat i v e, ex ecu t i v e, o r j u d ici al pro ceed i n g

, o r an y o t h er o ffi c i al pro ceed i n g

au t h o ri zed b y

l aw[.] ” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1 .1 (c) (1 ).

In t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt s u m m ari l y fo u n d t hat O’ Bri e n ’s s t at em en t s t o t h e

Bo ard “ were m ad e i n fu rt h eran ce o f [O’ Bri en ’ s] ri g h t t o p et i t i o n t o a l eg i s l at i ve,

ex ecu t i v e, o r ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g p u rs u an t to OCGA § 9 -1 1-1 1 .1 (b ) (1 ).” Del l i n g erAl l en d o e s n o t co n t es t th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g rel at ed to h er cau s e o f act i o n fo r

d efam at i o n

, 1 0 an d w e co ncl u d e t h at t h e fi n d i n g was n o t erro n eo u s

. See OCGA § § 4 3

-

1 -2 (creat i n g p ro fes si o n al l i cen s in g b o ard s d i v i s io n i n o ffi ce o f s ecret ary o f st at e), 4 3

-

1 0 A-4 ( c reat i n g t h e Bo ard an d p ro v i d i n g t hat m em b ers are ap p oi n t ed b y t h e

g o v ern o r), 4 3 -1 0A-5 (c) (1 ) (d efi n in g d u t i es o f t h e Bo ard ); Ga. Co m p

. R

. & R eg s

.,

r. 1 35 -8 -.0 1 (es t ab l i s hi n g t h e Bo ard ’ s co m pl ai nt pro ced u re); co m

pare RCO Leg a l

, P.

1 0 As a res ul t

, Del l i n g er-Al l en h as wai v ed an y arg u m en t rel at ed t o t he fi rs t s t ep

o f t h e tri al co u rt ’ s an ti -SLAPP an al y s i s rel at ed t o d efam at i o n

. See g en eral l y Da g n e

v. S c h r o ed

er

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6

, 4 1 (3 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 42 6 ) (2 0 1 6) (“ M at t ers n ot

en u m erat ed as erro r wi l l n o t be co n si d ered o n ap peal an d are t h erefo re p res u m ed to

b e b i n di n g an d co rrect .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

9S

., In c. v. Jo h n so n

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 1

, 66 8 (2 ) (b ) (8 2 0 SE2 d 4 9 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (co n cl u d i n g

t h at rev i ew o f a St at e Bar gri ev an ce “ co u l d reas o n ab l y b e co n s t ru ed as st at em en t s

m ad e i n co n n ect i o n wi th o ffi ci al p ro ceed i n g s”); Jef f er s o n v. S t r i p li ng

, 3 1 6 G a. Ap p.

1 9 7

, 1 9 9 -2 00 (1 ) (7 28 SE2 d 8 2 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (fi n d i n g t hat co m p l ai n t s t o t h e Offi ce o f t h e

Gen eral Co u n s el o f t he St at e Bar o f G e o r g i a were “ o ffi ci al pro ceed i n gs au t h o ri zed

b y l aw” an d

, t h erefo re, s u b

j ect t o an t i -SLAPP s t at u te) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

(c) S t ep Two

— W

h et h er Del l i n g er -Al l en Demo n s t r a t ed a Pr o b a b i l i t y of

Pr eva i l i n g o n H

er Cl a ims

. Del l i n g er-Al l en co nt en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

ap p ly i n g t h e seco n d s t ep o f th e an t i -SLAPP an al y s i s b ecau s e s h e “ pres en t ed a p ri m a

faci e s h o wi n g o f fact s t o s u s t ai n a fav o rab le ju d g m en t i f h er ev id en ce is cred i t ed .” 1 1

W e d i s ag ree.

1 1 Del l i n g er

- A l l en ’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ap p li ed an i n co rrect b u rd en

o f p ers uas i o n i s m i s p l aced

. Al t h o u g h t he t ri al co u rt d i d refer to a “ p rep o n d eran ce o f

t h e ev i d en ce” s t an dard i n an earl i er h eari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er co rrect l y n o t ed t h at

Del l i n g er-Al l en was r e q u i r e d t o a s ho w a p ro b ab i li t y t h at s he wo u l d p rev ai l o n h er

cl ai m

. See Mo n d

y v

. M a g n o l i a Ad

va n ced Ma t er i a l

s

, 3 0 3 Ga. 76 4

, 7 7 2 (4 ) (b ) (8 1 5

SE2 d 7 0 ) (2 0 18 ) (“ an y d is crep an cy b et ween [an ] o ral p ro n o un cem en t an d t h e wri t t en

ru l i n g wi l l b e res o l v ed i n fav o r o f t h e wri t t en ju dg m en t ”). W e n eed n ot d eci d e h ere

t h e pract i cal d i fferen ce b et ween t h e t erm s “ p ro b ab il i ty ” an d “ p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e

ev i d en ce.” Bu t s ee, e.g

., Ca r b o n e v. CNN

, No

. 1 : 1 6 -CV-1 7 2 0 -ODE, 20 1 7 U. S. Di s t

. LEXIS 2 1 6 2 8

, at * 7 -* 8 (N.D. Ga. Feb

. 14

, 2 0 17 ) (n o t i n g t h at Geo rg ia’ s an t i -SLAPP

s t at u te “ es s en t ial l y creat e s a Ru l e 1 2 (b ) (6 ) ‘ p l u s ’ s t an d ard fo r cas es wi th a Fi rs t

Am en d m en t n ex u s ”); Ro ss er v. Cl ya tt

, 34 8 Ga. Ap p . 4 0 , 4 3 (2 ) (a) (8 2 1 SE2 d 1 4 0 )

(2 0 1 8).

10Th e fi rs t s t ep of t h e an ti -SLAPP an al y si s h av i n g b een es t ab l i s h ed

, t h e b u rd en

s h i ft ed t o Del l i n g er-Al l en t o es t ab l i s h “ t h at t h ere is a p ro b ab i l i t y t h at [s h e] wi l l

p rev ai l o n [h er] cl ai m .” Mel l b er g

, No

. A2 0 A0 0 0 4

, 2 02 0 G a. Ap p

. LEXIS 3 0 3

, at * 4.

To m eet t h i s b urd en

, t h e p l ai n t i ff m u s t d em o n s t rat e t h at t h e co m p l ai n t

i s bo t h leg al l y s u ffi ci en t an d s u pp o rt ed b y a s u ffi ci en t p ri m a faci e[ 1 2 ]

s h o wi n g o f fact s t o s u s t ai n a fav o rab l e ju d g m en t i f t h e ev i d en ce

s u b m i t t ed by t h e p l ai nt i ff i s cred i t ed

. [To t hat en d ,] [t ] h e p l ai n t iff’ s

ev i d en ce i s ac c e p t e d as t ru e; t h e d efen d an t ’ s ev i d en ce i s ev al u at ed t o

d et erm i ne i f i t d efeat s t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s s h o wi n g as a m at t er o f l aw.

(Ci t at io n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W i lkes

, 3 0 6 G a. at 26 2 (2 ) (b ); s ee al s o RCO

,

3 4 7 Ga. Ap p. at 6 67

, n .1 0 (h ol d i n g t h at “ [t ] o s at is f y t h e s eco n d p ro n g, a p l ai n t i ff

res p o n d in g t o an an t i -SLAPP m o t i o n m u st s tat e an d s u bs t an t i at e a l eg al l y su ffi ci en t

cl ai m ”) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, th e tri al co u rt fo u n d

, wi t h ou t an y an al y s i s, t h at Del l i n g er-Al l en fai l ed to

d em o n s t rat e “ t h at t h ere i s a p ro b ab i l i t y t hat [s h e] wi l l p rev ai l o n th e cl ai m

. Th e Co u rt

1 2 See g en eral l y S

pi vey v. S p i vey , 2 0 2 Ga. 6 44

, 64 9 (1 ) (4 4 SE2 d 2 2 4 ) (1 9 4 7 )

(“ Li t era l l y

, t h e wo rd s, ‘ p ri m a faci e ‘ m ean ‘ at fi rs t v i ew.’ A ‘ p ri m a faci e cas e’ m ay

b e d efi ned as on e in wh i c h t h e e v i d en ce i n fav o r of a p ro p o s i t i o n i s s u ffi ci en t to

s u p p o r t a f

i n d i n g i n i t s fav o r, i f t h e o p p o n en t p ro d uced n o ev i d en ce, o r i f al l t h e

ev i d en ce t o t h e co n t rary b e d i s reg ard ed .”), s up ers ed ed b y s t at u te o n o t h er g ro u n d s as

reco g n ized b y R eeves v. W eb b , 2 9 7 Ga. 4 0 5

, 4 0 7 -4 08 (1 ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 6 41 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

11fi nd s th at t h e Co m pl ai n t an d su p p l em en t s t o t h e Co m p l ai n t t o t h e Co m

p o s i t e Bo ard

are t ru e.” Nev ert h el es s

, i n accep t i n g Del l in g er-Al len ’ s ev i d en ce as t ru e an d ap p l y i n g

o u r d e n o v o rev i ew, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err.

“ To es t ab l i s h a cau s e of act i o n fo r d efam at i o n

, a p l ai n t i ff m u s t s u b m i t ev i d en ce

o f (1 ) a fal se an d d efam at o ry s t at em en t ab ou t [h er] s el f; (2 ) an u np ri v i l eg ed

co m m u n icat io n t o a t h i rd p art y ; (3 ) fau lt b y t h e d efen dan t am o u n t in g at l eas t to

n eg li g en ce; an d (4 ) s p eci al d am ag es o r d efam at ory wo rd s “ i nju ri o u s o n t h ei r face.”’

(Ci t at i o n o m i t ted .) RCO

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 6 8 (2 ) (c). Im p o rt an t l y

, “ [b ] ecau s e fal s i t y

i s an es s en t i al el em en t o f b ot h l i b el an d s l an d er, t ru t h i s a p erfect defen s e t o a

d efam at i o n act i on .” (Ci t at i on o m i t t ed .) Lu ca s v. Cr an s h a w

, 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 0

, 5 1 2

(1 ) (6 59 SE2 d 6 12 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

Here, we n eed o n ly

l oo k t o t h e fi rs t el em en t o f Del l i n g er-Al l en ’ s d efam at i o n

cl ai m t o co n cl ud e t h at s h e fai l ed t o d em o ns t rat e a p ro b ab i l i t y t h at s h e wi ll p rev ai l o n

h er cl ai m

. 1 3 In h er o ri g i n a l g r i ev an ce t o t h e Bo ard

, O’ Bri en s t at ed th at Del l i n g erAl l en refu s ed t o rel eas e th e li cen s i n g fo rm s t o h er u n ti l s h e ei t h er p a i d De l l i n g er1 3 D e l l i n g er-Al l en ’ s recu rri n g arg u m en t t h at O ’ Bri en kn ew h er s t at em en t s t o

t h e Bo ard were f

a lse be c a use D e llin g er-Al l en h ad al read y g i v en O’ Bri en h er l i cen s i n g

fo rm s ov erl o o k s t h e fact t h at

, reg ard l e s s o f t h ei r t im i n g

, O’ Bri en ’ s st at em en t s

p ro v id ed a t ru t h fu l acco u n t o f t h e p art i es ’ i n i t i al i n t eract i o n s

.

12Al l en o r si g n ed a pro m i ss o ry n ot e. Fo r her p art

, Del l i ng er-Al l en ack no wl ed g ed t h at

s h e in i t i al l y refu s ed t o p ro vi d e O’ Bri en wi t h t h e l icen s i n g do cu m en t s b ecau se s h e d id

n o t feel O’ Bri en was fu l fi l l i n g t h e t erm s o f h er co n t ract wi t h Th ri v e. As a res u l t

,

Del l i n g er-Al l en o ffered t o su p p l y t h e d o cu m en t s “ i f [O’ Bri en ] s i g ned a p ro m i s s i o ry

n o t e fo r t h e am o u n t [ D el l i n g er-Al l en ] fel t [O’ Bri en ] o wed

. ” In d eed

, i t w as o n l y

“ [a] ft er fu rt h er co ns i derat i o n an d d i s cu s si o n ” t h at Del l i n g er-Al l en

, t h ro u g h co u n s el

,

fi nal ly p ro v i d ed O’ Bri en wi th t h e do cu m en t s. Th at Del l in g er-Al l en u l t i ma t el y

p ro v id ed O’ Bri en w i t h t h e l icen s i n g do cu m en t s i s i rrel ev an t

— t h e su b st an ce o f

O’B r i e n ’ s g ri ev an ce was Del l i n ger-Al l en ’ s i n i t i al u l t i m at u m an d i ts p o s s i b l e

rel ev an ce t o t he Bo ard ’ s ru l es an d s t an d ard s

. Acco rd i n g l y

, ev en accep ti n g Del l i n g erAl l en ’ s ev i d en ce as t ru e, Del l i n g er-Al len can n o t s h o w t hat O’ Bri en ’ s g ri ev an ce was

fal s e. T h e r e f

o re, D el li n g er-Al len can n o t d em o n s t rat e a p ro bab i l i t y t h at s h e wo u ld

p rev ai l i n h er d efam at i o n act i on ag ai n s t O ’ Bri en

. See g en era l l y V i t o v. In ma n

, 2 8 6

Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 6

, 6 4 8 (1 ) (6 4 9 SE2 d 7 5 3 ) (2 0 0 7) (fi n d in g t h at p l ai n ti ff co u l d no t reco v er

fo r s l an d er b ecau s e o f i n ab i l i t y t o p ro v e fal s i t y an d reco g ni zi ng t h at “ [ d ]e f a m at i o n

l aw o v erl o o k s m i n o r i n accu raci es an d co n cen t rat es u p on s u b s t an t i al t ru th ”) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

13In s h o rt

, Del li n g er-Al l e n s e e k s t o reco ver fo r d efam at i o n becau s e s h e

u l t i m at el y p ro v i d ed t h e l i cen s i n g d o cu m en t s t o O’ Bri en

, o st e n s i b l y ren d eri n g

O’ Bri en ’ s co m

p l ai n t fal s e, wh i l e ack n o w l ed g in g t h at O’ Bri en ’ s g ri ev an ce accu rat el y

s t at ed t h e p art i es ’ i n t eract io n s

. Th i s

, th e l aw d oes n o t al l o w

. Ac c o r d i n g l y

, we

co n cl u d e t h at t h e tri al co u rt di d n o t err i n g ran t i n g O’ Bri en ’ s m o t i o n t o s t ri k e

Del l i n g er-Al l en ’ s cau s e o f act i o n fo r d efam at i o n

.

2

. Seco n d

, Th ri v e co n t en d s th e t ri al co u rt erred i n gran t i n g O’ Bri en ’ s m o t i o n

t o s t ri k e i t s cau se o f act i o n fo r b reach o f co n t ract

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Th ri v e arg u es t h at

O’B r i e n b reach ed t wo p ro v i s i o n s o f h er i n dep en d en t co n t ract o r ag reem en t wi th

Th ri v e: ( 1 ) Parag rap h 7 (c), 1 4 co n cern i n g t h e ret u rn o f co nfi d en t i al i n fo rm at i o n in

O’ Bri en ’ s p o s s es si o n u po n t erm i n at io n o f t h e ag reem en t ; an d ( 2 ) P a r ag rap h 9

, 1 5

1 4 “ Co n tract o r ag rees t h at h e o r s h e wi l l t reat as co n fi d en t ial an d n o t u s e, o t h er

t h an i n t h e co u rs e o f p erfo rm in g Serv i ces p urs u an t t o th i s Ag reem en t

, o r d i scl o s e in

an y m an n er d u ri n g t he T erm o f th i s Ag re e m en t o r at an y t i m e fo l l o wi n g t h e

t erm i n at i o n of t hi s Ag reem en t an y co n f i d en t ial o r p ro p ri et ary dat a o r i n fo rm at i o n

rel at i n g t o Th ri v e Co u ns el i n g

. . . . Up o n t erm i n at i o n o f t h i s Ag reem en t, Co n t ract o r

s h al l pro m

p t l y d el i ver t o Th ri v e Co u n s el i n g al l o ri gi n al s an d co p i es o f al l

Co n fi d en t i al In fo rm at io n i n Co n t ract o r’ s act u al o r co n s t ru ct i v e p o ss es s i o n .”

1 5 “ Co n t ract o r ag rees n o t t o t ak e an y act i o n o r m ak e an y s tat em en t (v erb al l y o r

i n w r i t i n g ) wh i ch is i n t en ded

, o r wo u l d reas o n ab l y b e ex p ect ed

, t o harm Th r i v e

C ounse ling, its r e pr e se nt at i v es

, em p l o y ees, inde pe n de nt c ontr a c tor s, othe r A ssoc ia te s,

o r t h ei r rep u t at i on o r wh i ch wo u l d reas o n ab l y b e ex p ect ed t o l ead t o u n w an t ed o r

u n fav o rab l e p u b l i ci t y

t o Th ri v e Co u n sel i n g. . . . Th i s ag reem en t i s i n effect d u ri n g

14p ro h ib i t i ng s t at em en t s wh i ch wo u l d h arm Th ri v e o r wh i ch wo ul d “ lead t o u n wan t ed

o r u n fav orab l e p u b l i ci ty

t o Th ri v e. . . .” Fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g reas o n s , we rev ers e.

(a) Pa r a g r a

p h 7 (c)

. Th ri v e fi rs t arg u es t h at O ’ Bri e n f a i l e d t o ret u rn cert ai n

co n fi d en t i al i n fo rm at i o n t o i t

, i n v i o l at i o n o f Parag rap h 7 (c ) o f t he p art i es ’

ag reem en t

. 1 6 Des pi t e t h e a b s e n c e o f an y s h owi n g o f a b reach o f Parag rap h 7 (c),

Th ri v e co rrect l y no t e s t h a t O’ Bri en fai l ed to m ak e “ a t hres h o ld s h o w i ng t h at t h e

ch al l en g ed cl ai m [was ] o n e ‘ ari s i n g fro m ’ pro t ect ed act i v it y .” W i l kes

, 30 6 Ga. at 2 6 2

(2 ) (b ); s ee al s o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1 .1 (b ) (1 ). In fact

, t h e o n l y a r g u m e n t Th ri v e

p res en t ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, ei t h er o ral l y o r i n w ri t i n g

, co n cern i n g i t s b reach o f

co n tract cl ai m co n s i s t ed o f t h e f o l l o wi n g st at em en t b y Th ri v e’ s co u n s el d u ri n g an

i n i t i al h eari n g o n i t s m o t i on t o s t ri k e:

Th e co n tract cl ai m i s b as i cal l y t h e s am e [as t h e d efam at io n cl ai m ]

. T he

co n t ract cl ai m s ay s [O’ Bri en ] m ad e t h es e s t at em en t s an d t h at was a

t h e t erm o f t h i s Ag reem en t an d fo r t wo y ears fo l lo wi n g i ts Term i n at i o n .”

1 6 W e n o t e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt m ad e no fi n d in g s o f fa c t o r c o n cl u si o n s o f l aw

rel at ed t o T hri ve’ s cau s e o f act i o n fo r b reach o f co n t ract

, al t h o u gh t h e ab s en ce o f

s u ch fi n d i n g s an d co n cl u s i o n s i s n o t n eces s ari l y fat al t o T h ri v e’ s arg um en t

. See

g en eral l y OCGA § 9 -1 1-5 2 (b ); McLeo d v. Cl emen t s

, 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p. 8 4 0

, 8 4 2 (1 ) (7 5 5

SE2 d 3 4 6 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (fi n d i n g t hat OCGA § 9-1 1 -5 2 (b ) “ do es n o t a p p l y to m o t i on s

ex cep t as p ro v i d ed i n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (b ), wh i ch rel at es t o i nv o l u n t ary d i s m i s s al s

an d i s n ot ap p li cab l e h ere”).

15b reach of t h e co n t ract

. So I as k th e Co u rt t o s t r i k e t h at cl ai m

, t o o

,

b ecau s e i t’ s b as i cal l y

t h e s am e t h i n g

.

A d efen dan t s at i s fi es h er b u rd en u n d er t h e fi rs t s t ep o f t h e an t i-SLAPP an al y s i s “ by

d em o n s t rat i n g t h at t h e act u n d erl y i n g t h e ch al l e n g e d c l a i m ‘ co u ld reas on ab l y b e

co n st ru ed as ’ fi t ti ng w i t hi n o n e o f t h e cat eg o ri es s p el l ed o u t i n [OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1

. 1

(c)] .” W i lkes

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 26 2 (2 ) (b ). O’ Bri en has n o t s h o wn an y co nn ect i o n b et ween

h er g ri ev an ce t o t h e Bo ard an d Parag rap h 7 (c) o f t h e ag reem en t

. See g en eral l y

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 1 .1 (b ) (1 ); W i l kes , 3 0 6 Ga. at 2 6 2 (2 ) (b ) (“ ch al l en g ed cl ai m [was ]

o n e ‘ ari s i n g fro m ’ p ro t ect ed act i v i t y ”). Du e t o O’ Bri en ’ s fai l ure t o m eet her t h res h o ld

b u rd en t o s at i s fy t h e fi rs t st ep o f t h e an t i-SLAPP an al y s i s

, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n gran t in g O’ Bri en ’ s m o t io n t o s t ri k e Th ri v e’ s breach o f co n tract cl ai m

b as ed u p on an al l eg ed breach o f Parag rap h 7 (c) of t h e p art i es ’ ag reem en t

. Th erefo re,

we rev ers e t h at p o rt i o n o f t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.

(b ) Pa r a g ra

p h 9

. A t fi rs t g l an ce, O ’ Bri en ’ s g ri ev an ce t o t h e Bo ard s eem s m o re

cl o s el y rel at ed t o t h e al l eg ed b reach o f t h e an t i -d i s p arag em en t cl au s e o f h er

ag reem en t wi t h Th ri ve. H owev er, O ’ Bri en fai l ed t o art icu l at e th at h er act o f fi l i n g a

g ri ev an ce wi t h t h e Bo ard was p erm i s s i b le d es p i t e t h e ex i s ten ce o f Parag rap h 9

, s u ch

t h at Th ri v e’ s co m

p l a i n t s o u g h t t o s t i fl e pro t ect ed co n d u ct

. Fu rt herm o re, l eft u n

16an s wered i s t h e q u es t i on o f wh et h er Th ri ve, as a b u s in es s reg ul at ed by t h e s ecret ary

o f s t at e, co u ld p u rs ue an act i on ag ai n s t O’ Bri en b as ed u p o n a co nf i den t i al co m

p l ai nt

t o Th ri v e’ s g o v ern i n g bo d y ab o u t Del l i n g e r

- Al l e n

. See OCGA §§ 4 3 -1 -1 9 (h )

( d e f ining c onf id en t i al nat u re o f a l icen s i n g b o ard ’ s h eari n g pro ced u res g en eral l y ), 43-

1 0 A-1 7 (h ) (d efi n i n g co n fi d en ti al n at u re o f Bo ard ’ s h eari n g p ro ced u res ); Ga. Co m p.

R. & Reg s

., r. 1 3 5 -8 -.0 1 (4 ) (p ro v i d i n g t h at “ t h e n am e o f t he p ers o n o r bu s in es s en t i t y

ag ai n s t wh o m [a] co m

p l ai n t i s bei n g fi l ed s hal l b e t reat ed as co n fi den t i al ” d u ri n g t h e

Bo ard ’ s i n ves t i g at i on o f a co m p l ai n t ). St a t e d d i fferen t l y

, O’ Bri en fai l ed to m ak e a

t h res ho l d s h o wi ng t h at Th ri v e’ s b reach o f co n tract cl ai m as t o Parag rap h 9 aro s e fro m

O’ Bri en ’ s co n fi d en t i al g ri ev an ce ab o u t Del l i n g er-Al l en

. See W i l kes

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 2 6 2

(2 ) (b ); see al s o O C G A § 9 -1 1 -1 1 .1 (b ) (1 ). As a res u l t

, we rev ers e th e t ri al co urt ’ s

o rd er st ri k i n g Th ri v e’ s co m p l ai n t b as ed up o n an al l eg ed b reach o f Parag rap h 9 o f t h e

ag reem en t

.

In s u m

, w e co n cl u d e t hat t h e t ri al co urt co rrect ly gran t ed O’ Bri en ’ s m o t i o n to

s t ri k e Del l in g er-Al len ’ s cl ai m fo r d efam at io n

. Ho wev er, we fu rt h er co n cl u de t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt erred in s t ri k i n g Th ri v e’ s breach o f co n tract cl ai m

. Th erefo re, we affi rm in

p art an d rev ers e i n p art t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g O’ Bri en ’ s m ot i o n t o s t ri k e

Del l i n g er-Al l en an d Th ri v e’ s co m p l ai n t

.

17Ju d

g men t a f f i r med i n pa r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t

. McFa d

d en

, C. J., a n d Do

yl e,

P. J., co ncu r

.

18