2 9 7 Ga . 2 85

F INAL COP Y

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

N AHMI AS , Ju stic e

.

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

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

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

p e rso n on a c c ou n t o f h e r in ju rie s, a n d e sta b lish e s a p r o c e s s f o r th e h o sp ita l to

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

. S e e OCGA § § 4 4 -1 4 -4 7 0

, 4 4

-

1 4 -4 7 1

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

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

Bo wd e n , wh o d id n o t h a v e h e a l t h in su ra n c e , a fte r sh e wa s in ju re d in a c a r

wre c k

, b ille d h e r $ 2 1 ,4 0 9.5 9 f o r h e r c a re , a n d file d a ho sp ita l lie n fo r th a t

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

g r o u n d t h a t th e b ille d c h a rg e s w e re g ro ssly e x c e ssiv e a n d d id no t re fle c t th e

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

wa s a re a so n a

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

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

.

Du rin g d isc ov e ry , TMC o b je c te d to Bo wd e n ’s re q u e sts fo r, a m o n g o th e r

th in g s, in fo rm a tio n a n d do c um e n ts re g a r d i n g th e a m o un ts th a t th e h o sp ita l

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

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

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

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

. O n in te rlo c u to ry a pp e a l, th e Co u rt o f

Ap p e a ls re v e rse d

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

th e m o tio n be c a

u se “ th e d i s co v e r y B o wd e n se e k s is n o t re le v a n t to h e r c la im

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

Ce n te r, In c

. v

. Bo w d e n , 3 2 7 Ga

. Ap p

. 7 1 4

, 7 14 (7 6 1 S E2 d 1 1 6 ) (2 0 14 ). We

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

.

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

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

c a re , h o w m

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

s a me t y p e o f c a re d u rin g th e sa m e tim e p e rio d is re le va n t fo r d isc o v e r y

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

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

m o tio n to c o m

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

1

. On Ju ly 1

, 2 0 1 1

, th e re n ta l c a r in wh ic h D an i e l l e B o w d e n wa s a

p a sse n g e r wa s in v o lv e d in a n a c c id e n t. At a b o u t 1 0 :4 0 p .m ., Bo wd e n , w h o wa s

2 1 y e a rs o ld a nd did no t h a v e h e a lth i n s u r a n c e , wa s ta k e n b y a m b u la n c e to

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

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

2tre a tm e nt th a t in c lu d e d su rg e ry fo r a b ro k e n l e g

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

,

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

I, th e u n de rsig ne d

, a m se e kin g tre a t me n t a t Th e Me d ic a l

Ce n te r, In c

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

fo r h is/h e r m e d ic a l c a

re

. . . . Th e u n d e rsig n e d a g re e s, wh e th e r a s Ag e n t, G u a ra nto r, o r P a tie n t, th a t in c o n sid e ra tio n o f th e se rv ic e s to
b e re n d e re d to th e pa tie n t, th e u n d e rsig n e d is in d iv id u a lly o b lig a te d

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

o r o rg a n iz a tio n s, o r o th e r sa tisfa c to ry fin an c ia l a rra n ge m e n ts m u st
b e m a d e p rio r to tim e o f p a tie n t d isc ha rg e

.

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

. On Ju ly 1 3

, sh e re tu rn e d

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

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

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

1 OCGA § 44-14-470 (b) say s: Any person, firm

, h o spital authority

, or corporation operating a hospital,

n u r s i n g h o m e , or phy sician practice or providing traumatic b u rn care medical prac t i c e in this state shall have a lien for the reasonable charg es for hospital, nursing home, phy sician practice, or traumatic burn care medical practice care and treatment of an injured person, which lien shall be upon any and a ll causes of action accruing to the

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

on account of injuries g iving rise to the c auses of action and which necessitated the hospital, nursing h ome, phy sician practice

, o r p r o v i d e r o f t r a u matic burn c are medical practice care, subject, h owever, to any a ttorney ’ s lien. The lien provided for in this

subsection is only a lien ag ainst such causes of action and shall n ot b e a lien ag ainst

such injured p erson, such leg a l representative, or a ny o ther property o r assets o f such

persons and shall not be evidence o f s u c h p er s o n ’ s failure to pay a debt. This

subsection shall not be construed to interfere with the ex e mption f rom thi s part provided by Code Section 44-14-474 [ ex empting money s that become due under the workers’ compensation statutes]

.

3On Ju ly 2 7

, 2 0 12

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

u se Bo wd e n a n d TMC

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

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

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

. 2

On Au gu st 2 0

, 2 0 1 2

, Bo wd e n a n swe re d th e c o m p la in t a nd file d a

c ro ssc la im a g a in st TMC, a lle g in g th a t sh e w a s u n in su re d a n d in d i g e n t a t th e

tim e o f h e r tre a tm e n t a n d th a t h e r bill o f $ 2 1 ,4 0 9.5 9 wa s g ro ssly e x c e ssiv e a n d

d id n o t re fle c t th e re a so n a b le v a lu e in th e c om m

u nity o f h e r tre a tm e n t. Bo wd e n

a lso a lle ge d th a t th e e m e rg e n c y n a tu re of h e r in ju rie s a n d tre a tm e n t p re v e n te d

h e r fro m u tiliz in g th e p ro v isio n s o f OCGA § 3 1-7 -1 1 to m a k e pre -tre a tm e n t c o st

c o m p a riso n s. 3 S he d e n ie d sig n in g a p a yme n t c o n tra c t w ith TMC a n d a lle g e d

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

3 OCGA § 31-7-11 say s:

(a) A ny hospital shall, upon request, provid e a written

summary of certain hospital and related servi c e s charg es, including

but not limited to:

4th a t a n y su c h c o ntra c t wo u ld b e vo id a s b o t h p r o c ed u ra lly a n d su b sta n tiv e ly

u n c o n sc io na

b le

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

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

Un ifo rm De c e p tiv e Tra d e P ra c tic e s Ac t (“ UDTP A ” ), OCGA § § 1 0 -1 -3 7 0 to 1 0

-

1 -3 7 5

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

“ lie n b e d ism isse d .”

(1) The averag e total c harg es per patient day f or the facility ’s previous fiscal y ear; (2) The daily rate for a room in said h ospital, which r ate shall

include an ex p lanation of the categ ories of services included in said charg e; (3) Anesthesia charg e s, with an ex p lanation of the categ ories of services included in this charg e; (4) Operating

room charg es; (5) Recovery

room charg es; (6) I ntravenous administration charg es; (7) Emerg e ncy

room charg es, with an ex planation of the
categ o ries of services included in the charg e; (8) The charg e for the patient care kit or admission kit or other such items furnished to the patient on admission; (9) Charg es for specific ro u t i n e tests, including b u t not limited to a complete blood count, urinaly sis, and chest X-ray ; and (10) Charg es for specific special tests, including but not limited to electrocardiog r a m, electroencephalog ram, CAT scan of the head, CAT scan of liver, CAT scan of lung s, CAT scan of skeletal sy stem, spirometry , and complete pulmonary function.

Such written summary of charg es shall be composed in a simple clear fashion so as

t o en able consumers to compare hospital charg es and make c ost-effective decisions in t h e purchase of hospital services. (b) The [ Department of Community Health] shall adopt rules and

reg ulat i ons to implement the provisions of this Code section and shall implement such

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

5Alo n g with h e r a n swe r a n d c ro ssc la im

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

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

d i s c o v e ry a

u th o riz e d b y th e Civ il P ra c tic e Ac t. S e e OCGA § § 9 -1 1 -3 3

(a u th o riz in g in te rro g a to r i e s to p a rtie s); 9 -1 1-3 4 (a u th o riz in g , a m o n g o th e r

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

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

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

a g re e m e n ts with Me d ic a id

, Me d ic a re , Blu e Cro ss/Blu e S h ie ld o f Ge o r g i a , a n d

TRICARE a

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

a sk e d TMC wh a t Bo wd e n ’s sp e c ific

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

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

, Me d ic a re , Blu e Cr o s s/Blu e S h ie ld o f G e o rg ia

,

TRICARE, o r TMC’s in d ig e n t c a re p ro g ra m ; wh a t TMC’s to ta l g ro ss re v e n ue s

we re fro m se rv ic e s b ille d a t th e OCGA § 31 -7 -1 1 ra te s a n d fro m se rv ic e s b ille d

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

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

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

ra te s a n d wh o pa id le ss th a n t h o se ra te s; a n d

, sin c e Ju ly 1

, 2 0 1 1

, h o w m a n y

u n in su re d p a tie n ts TMC h a d tre a te d in its e m e r g e n c y r o o m a n d h o w m a n y o f

th o se p a tie n ts TMC h a d b ille d fo r th e ir tre a tm e n t.

6On Au g u st 23

, 2 0 1 2

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

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

$ 2 1

, 4 0 9 .5 9 fo r th e c a

re th a t sh e re c e iv e d a n d re q u e stin g th a t th e tria l c o u rt e n te r

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

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

S e p te m b e r 2 1, T M C a

n s w e r e d B o wd e n ’s c ro ssc la im

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

h e r b ill wa s g ro ssly e x c e ssiv e a nd d id n o t r e f l e c t th e re a so n a

b le v a lu e o f h e r

tre a tm e nt. On th e sa m e d a y , TMC se rv e d r e s p o n se s to Bo wd e n ’s d isc o v e ry

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

p p e a rs

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

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

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

On Ja nu a ry 16

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

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

, Bo wd e n se rv e d

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

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

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

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

, a nd a sk in g

7TMC to id e n tify th e sp e c ific d a te s d u rin g wh ic h e a c h fo rm wa s in u se

. Bo wd e n

a lso file d a m o tio n to e x te n d th e d isc o v e ry p e rio d fo r 9 0 d a y s. On F e bru a ry 1 5

,

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

je c tio n s

o n re le v a n c e a

n d c on fid e ntia lity

. On F e b ru a ry 2 0, T MC re sp o n d e d to Bo wd e n ’s

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

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

m o tio n to c o m

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

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

, 2 0 1 3

.

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

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

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

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

. TMC

a rg u e d t h a t B o wd e n ’s d isc ov e ry re q u e sts so u gh t in fo rm a tio n th a t wa s n o t

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

th a t it g ra n te d Bo wd e n ’s m otio n , n o tin g th a t m an y of its a gre e m e nts with h e a lth

in su ra n c e c o m

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

(a u th o riz in g th e c o u rt to e n te r, fo r g o o d c a use sh o wn , “ a n y o rd e r wh ic h ju stic e

re q u ire s to p ro te c t a p a rty o r p e rso n f ro m a n no y an c e , e m

b a rra ssm e n t,

o p p re ssio n , o r u n d u e b u rd e n o r e x p e n se , in c lu d in g o n e o r m o r e o f th e

8fo ll o w i n g :

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

,

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

in a d e sig na te d wa y

. . . .” ). On Ju n e 2 0

, 2 0 1 3

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

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

p p ro p ria te

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

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

su b m it with in 2 0 d a y s. Th e tria l c ou rt th e n g ra n te d T MC ’s re qu e st fo r a

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

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

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

h o ld in g th a t th e c o u rt h a d a b u se d its d isc re tio n in g ra n tin g th e m o tio n to c o m p e l

b e c a u s e “ t h e b ro a d ra n g e o f d isc o v e ry Bo wd e n re q u e sts is n o t re le v a n t to h e r

c la im .” B o w d e n , 3 2 7 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 7 19

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

c e rtio ra ri.

2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

notice of a

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

9c iv il d isc o v e ry in Ge o rg ia c o urts. As to th e sc o p e o f d isc o ve ry , OCGA § 9 -1 1

-

2 6 (b ) (1 ) sa y s th a t in g e n e ra l, u n le ss o th e rwise lim ite d b y o rd e r o f th e c o u rt,

[p ] a rtie s m a

y ob ta in d isc o v e ry re g a rd in g a n y m a tte r, no t p riv ile g e d

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

a c tio n , wh e th e r it re la te s to th e c la im o r d e fe n se o f th e p arty se e k in g d isc ov e ry o r to th e c la im o r d e fe n se o f a n y o th e r p a rty

. . . .

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

in a d m issib le a t th e tria l if th e in fo rm a tio n so ug ht a p pe a rs re a so n a

b ly c a lc u la te d

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

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

se e k s to in v a lid a te T MC’s h o s p i t a l lie n o n th e gro u n d th a t th e lie n a m o u n t

—

w h i c h wa s th e a m o u nt TMC b ille d he r fo r — g ro ssly e x c e e d s th e re a so n a b le

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

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

. Th u s,

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

w h e t h e r , in th e wo rd s of th e h o sp ita l lie n sta tu te s, “th e a m o u n t c la im e d to b e

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

fo r B o wd e n ’s h o sp ita l c a re , OCGA § 4 4 -1 4 -4 7 0 (b ). S e e B o wd e n , 3 2 7 Ga

.

Ap p

. a t 7 1 7 (“ At issu e in th is c a se is wh e th e r T MC’s c h a rg e s to Bo wd e n we re

re a so na b le .” ).

1 0Th e q u e stio n , th e n , is wh e th e r th e d o c u m e n ts Bo w d e n re q u e ste d a n d th e

in te rro g a to rie s sh e p ro po u n d e d a re “ re le va n t”

— in th e bro a d d isc o v e ry ra th e r

th a n t h e n a rro we r tria l se nse o f th a t te rm — to th e re a so n a b le n e ss o f TMC’s

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

. As th e U n i t ed S ta te s Su pre m e Co u rt e x p la in e d in

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

Th e k e y p h ra se in th is d e fin itio n — “ re le v a n t to th e su b je c t

ma t t e r in v olv e d in th e p e n d in g a c tio n ”

— h a s b e e n c o n s t r u e d

b r o a d l y t o e n c om

p a ss a n y m a tte r th a t b e a rs o n , o r th a t re a so n a b ly

c o u ld le a d to o th e r m a tte r th a t c o uld b e a r on , a n y i s s u e th a t is o r

m a y b e in th e c a se

.

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

, In c

. v

. S a n d e rs, 4 3 7 U. S

. 3 4 0

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

, 5 7 LE2 d

2 5 3 ) (1 97 8 ) (c ita tio n s a nd fo o tn ote s o m itte d ). Th u s, in th e d isc o v e ry c o n te x t,

c o u rts “ ‘sh o u ld a

n d o rd in a rily d o [ ] in te rp re t “ re le v a n t” v e ry b ro a d ly to m e a n

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

litig a tio n .’” Id

. a t 3 5 1

, n

. 1 2 (c ita tio n o m i t t e d )

. S e e g e n e ra lly 8 Ric h a rd L.

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

5 I n 1972, the General A ssembly “ comprehensively and e x haustively ” revised the discovery provisions of the Civil Practice Act to conform v ery closely

, althoug h not entirely

, to the discovery provisions of the F ederal Rules of Civil Procedure as they had been a mended in 1970. Ga. L

. 1970,

p. 510. Cases and commentary interpreting the lang uag e used in t h e 1 9 7 0 version of the federal discovery r

ules are therefore persuasive authority in interpreting Georg ia’s d iscovery statutes. See

G.H. B ass & Co. v. F ulton County B d. of Tax Assessors, 268 G a. 3 2 7

, 3 2 7

- 3 2 8 ( 486 SE2d 810) (1 9 9 7 ) ( looking to court decisions and commentary interpreting a federal d iscovery rule as persuasive authority in construing an identically worded Georg ia d iscovery statute). The Georg ia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

. v

.

Lo u isia n a F o ru m Co rp ., 2 7 3 Ga

. 2 0 6

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

Ha m p to n Isla n d Fo un d e rs v

. Lib e rty Ca p ita l,2 8 3 Ga

. 2 8 9

, 2 9 7 (6 58 S E2 d 6 1 9 )

(2 0 0 8 ) (n o tin g th a t th e d isc o v e ry ru le s a re d e sig n e d to re m o v e th e p o te n tia l fo r

se c re c y a n d to p ro v id e p a

rtie s with k n o wle dg e o f a ll th e re le v a n t fa c ts to re d u c e

th e e le m e n t of su rp rise a t tria l); Wa y n e M. P u rd o m , Ge o rg ia Civ il Disc o v e ry §

4 .5 (u p d a te d 2 0 15 ) (d i s c u s s in g th e Ge o rg ia c o u rts’ b ro a d v ie w o f wh a t is

discovery statute at issue here

– OCGA § 9-11-26

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

federal rule that was in effect in 1972; the only substantive difference was in O CGA § 9-11-26 ( b) (4) (A) (ii). Aside from technical amendments, OCGA § 9 -11-26 has not been revised since 1972.

Over the past 43 y ears, h owever, F ederal Rule of Civil Procedure 26 has been substantially amended, including several amendments to narrow the scope of discovery

, and further a mendments will take

effect on December 1

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

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

. 2 9

, 2 0 1 5 )

, a v a i l a b l e a t http://www.supremecourt.g ov/orders/or d e r softhecourt.aspx ; 8 F ederal Practice & Procedure § 2008 (discussing prior amendments to Rule 26).

1 2re le v a n t fo r d isc ov e ry p u rp o se s).

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

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

th e sa m e g e ne ra l tim e fra m e th a t Bo wd e n wa s tre a te d m a y no t be d isp o sitiv e o f

wh e th e r TMC’s c h a rg e s fo r Bo wd e n ’s c a re we re “ r ea s o na b le ” u n d e r OCGA

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

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

TMC c h a rg e d th ose o th e r p a tie n ts is e n tire ly irre le v a n t — pa rtic u l ar ly in th e

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

— to th e re a so n a ble n e ss o f th e c h arg e s fo r Bo wd e n ’s

c a re

. S e e Mc Millia n v

. Mc Millia n , 31 0 Ga

. Ap p

. 7 3 5

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

(2 0 1 1 ) (Bl a c k we ll, J.) (d istin g u ish in g b e twe e n d isp o sitiv e a nd p ro b a tiv e

in fo rm a tio n fo r p u r p o s e s o f d e c id in g wh a t is “ re le v an t” in th e d isc o v e ry

c o n te x t).

Th e fa ir a n d re a so na

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

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

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

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

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

. S e e Me lo v

. Allsta te In s. C o ., 8 0 0 F S up p.2 d 5 9 6

, 6 0 2 (D.

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

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

se rv ic e s p ro vid e d

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

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

Me d ic a l Ma rk e tp la c e , 1 0 6 Mic h

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

re

– sa y , ju st $ 1 ,0 0 0

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

, a fa i r m in d e d

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

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

. Bo wd e n is e n title d

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

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

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

wh a t it c h a

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

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

1 4re a so na

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

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

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

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

. v

. Ab ra nd t, 7 7 9

NYS 2 d 8 9 1

, 8 9 2 (N.Y. Ap p

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

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

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

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

. ” )

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

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

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

. S e e Ha ll & S c h n e id e r, su p ra a t 6 6 5 (sta tin g th a t

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

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

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

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

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

a d m issib le a t tria l. S e e Mc Millia n , 3 1 0 Ga

. Ap p

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

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

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

S in c e d e c isio n s a s to r e le v an c e to th e su bje c t m a tte r o f th e

a c t io n a re m a d e fo r d isc o v e ry p u rp o se s we ll in a d va n c e o f tria l, a fle x ib le tre a tm e n t o f re le v a n c e i s re q u ire d a n d th e m a k in g o f

1 5d isc ov e ry , wh e th e r vo lu n t a r y o r u nd e r c o u rt o rd e r, is n o t a

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

F e d

. R. Civ

. P ro c

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

. n ote

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

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

a ru lin g o n th e a d m issib ility a t tria l o f sp e c ific e v id e n c e — a ll m a tte rs o n wh ic h

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

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

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

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

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

n d su sta in e d

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

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

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

Mc Millia n , 3 1 0 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 7 4 1

. S e e a lso H a ll & S c h n e id e r, su p ra a t 68 4 -6 8 7

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

th a t th e re a so n a

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

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

Co n se q u e n tly

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

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

.

1 6(b ) To re a c h th e c o n tra ry c on c lu sio n , th e Co urt o f A p p e a ls re lie d o n th e

fo llo win g a n a ly sis. F irst, th e c o u rt no te d th a t h o sp ita ls a re fre e to c on tra c t with

in su ra n c e c o m

pa n ie s to se t p re fe rre d ra te s fo r th e ir in su re d s, c itin g a se rie s o f

its p re c e d e n ts b e g in n in g with Co x v

. A th e n s R e g io na l M e d ic a l Ce n te r, In c ., 2 7 9

Ga

. Ap p

. 5 8 6 (6 3 1 S E2 d 7 9 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ), wh ic h h o ld

— in th e su m m a ry ju d g m e n t

c o n te x t — th a t c h a

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

d o e s n o t c o n stitu te b re a c h o f c o n tra c t, u n ju st e n ric h m e n t, o r a v io la tio n o f th e

UDTP A

. S e e Bo wd e n , 3 27 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 7 18 (c it i n g , i n a d d itio n to Co x ,

S a t te rfie ld v

. S o u th e rn Re g io n a l He a lth S y ste m , In c ., 2 8 0 Ga

. Ap p

. 5 8 4 ( 6 3 4

S E2 d 5 3 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ); Mo rre ll v

. We llsta r He a lth S y ste m , In c , 2 8 0 Ga

. Ap p

. 1 (6 3 3

S E2 d 6 8 ) ( 2 0 0 6 ) ; a n d P itts v

. P h o e b e P u tn e y Me m

. Ho sp ., 2 7 9 Ga

. Ap p

. 6 3 7

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

o f c a se s wa s in a

p p lic a b le b e c a u se sh e did no t sig n a c o n se nt fo rm fo r tre a tm e n t

th a t o b lig a te d h e r to pa y th e h o sp ita l c h a rg e s, th e C o u rt o f Ap p e a ls s a i d th a t

Bo wd e n ’s m o th e r sig n e d su c h a fo rm o n Bo wd e n ’ s b e ha lf a s a u th o riz e d b y

OCGA § 3 1 -9 -2 (a ) (3 ) a n d th a t in a n y e ve n t c o n se n t fo r e m e rg e n c y tre a tm e n t

is im p lie d b y la w u n d e r OCGA § 3 1 -9 -3 (b ). S e e Bo wd e n , 3 2 7 Ga

. Ap p

. a t 7 1 8

,

n

. 3. F in a lly

, th e c o u rt sa id th a t Bo wd e n c o u ld p ro v e th ro u g h e x p e rt te stim o n y

1 7o r e v id e n c e fro m oth e r m e dic a l p ro v id e rs o r c o nsu m e rs th a t TMC’s c h a rg e s

we re u n re a so n a

b le . S e e id . a t 7 1 7 -7 1 8

. 6

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

Ap p e a ls a

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

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

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

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

.

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

u se th o se we re

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

to a h osp ita l lie n

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

a u to m a tic a lly “ re a so n a

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

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

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

re a so na b le v a lu e

. S e e , e .g ., City o f Ca lh o u n v

. N. Ga

. Ele c tric Me m

. Co rp ., 2 6 4

Ga

. 2 0 5

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

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

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

, for the proposition that where a hospital has contracted with

an insurance company to accept a certain reimbursement rate, “the hospital would be entitled to
collect the full am o u n t o f i t s bill under the lien statute, n ot merely the lower reimbursement rate
contracted between the insurance company and the hospital.” B owden, 3 27 Ga. App. at 717 (citing Kig ht I

, 325 Ga. App. at 353). However, in Kig ht v. MCG Health, I nc., 296 G a. 687 (769 SE2d 923) (2015) (Kig ht I I ), we deemed this part of the Court of Appeals’ opinion in Kig h t I to be d icta. See Kig ht I I , 296 Ga. at 690.

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

Lo rd

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

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

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

p a tie n t’s

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

. ” In d e e d

, th e lie n is n o t

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

p a tie n t’s in

ju rie s, se e id

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

o r th e to rtfe a so r ’ s i n su re r — n e ith e r o f wh o m wa s a p a rty to an y c o n tra c t

b e twe e n th e p a tie n t a nd th e h o sp ita l.

S e c o n d

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

tre a tm e nt h a s b e e n e st a b l ish e d. In Bo wd e n ’s c ro ssc la im

, sh e sp e c ific a lly

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

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

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

th a t “ [i] f a n im

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

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

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

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

ru le d o n th e m o tio n to c o m p e l d isc o v e ry , se e fo o tn o te 4 a bo v e , an d “ [n ] o rm a lly

,

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

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

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

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

. S e e a lso Au sti n v

. Cl a r k

, 2 9 4 Ga

.

7 7 3

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

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

Be st Co n c re te P r o du c ts Co

. v. Me d u sa Co rp ., 1 5 7 Ga

. Ap p

. 9 7, 10 0-1 0 1 (2 7 6

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

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

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

irre le va n t).

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

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

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

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

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

Bo wd e n ’s mo th e r to pa y fo r th e e m e rg e n c y c a re , a s it sa id th a t “ th e u n d e rsig n e d

[i.e

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

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

2 0ru lin g

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

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

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

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

.

S im ila rly

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

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

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

tre a tm e nt — m

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

.

F in a lly

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

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

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

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

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

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

d ire c tly a p p lic a b le in fo rm a tio n o f t h a t ty p e — h o w m

u c h T MC itse lf c h a rg e d

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

— wo u ld b e e v e n m o re re le v an t. Th e

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

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

.

2 1a t 2 9 5 -2 9 7

. 7

(c ) F o r th e se re a so ns, th e C o u rt o f Ap p e a ls e rre d in h old in g th a t th e tria l

c o u rt a b u se d its d isc re tio n in gra n t i n g Bo wd e n ’s m o tio n to c o m p e l o n th e

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

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

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

De c id e d Ju n e 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

.

Ce rtio ra ri to th e Co u rt o f Ap p e a ls o f Ge o rg ia

– 3 2 7 Ga . Ap p . 7 1 4

.

Ch a rle s A. Go we r, C h a rle s A. Go we r, Jr., Da v id T. Ro h we d d e r, fo r

a p p e lla n t.

F isc he r S c o tt, Bo b b y Le e S c o tt, S c o tt C. Cro wle y , fo r a pp e lle e

.

7 I n some situations, the productio n i n d i s c o v e ry o f one ty pe o f relevant information may make it possible to demonstrate that producing another very similar, o r another less relevant, ty pe of information would be u nduly burdensome or ex pensive, justify ing a p r o t e c t ive order under OCGA § 9-11-26 (c). B ut TMC has not arg ued for a protective order on this g round.

2 2