{"attribution":{"source":"legal.exploreworldai.com","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:gactapp-a26a0295-2026-06-24","cite_as":"NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:gactapp-a26a0295-2026-06-24)","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision","version":"legal-2026-11-03","fingerprint":"ewai:us:fae3c7","proof":"sha256:9f39531b362b889ad735644b6832069619159a82bbd2fd32329891ef0ac4a726","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","publisher":"NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal","terms":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om"},"brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","item":{"schema_version":"1.0.0","id":"us:gactapp-a26a0295-2026-06-24","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","brand":{"product":"NovaCopilot","platform":"ExploreWorldAI","infrastructure":"ExploreWorld Legal","infrastructure_url":"legal.exploreworldai.com","legal_entity":"Valkiv Ventures AB","permanent_url":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot","source":"Source: NovaCopilot","powered_by":"Powered by NovaCopilot","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor"},"sections":[{"title":"Front matter","paragraphs":["para_1","para_2","para_3","para_4","para_5","para_6","para_7","para_8","para_9","para_10","para_11","para_12","para_13","para_14","para_15","para_16","para_17","para_18","para_19","para_20","para_21","para_22","para_23","para_24","para_25","para_26","para_27","para_28","para_29","para_30","para_31","para_32","para_33","para_34","para_35","para_36","para_37","para_38","para_39","para_40","para_41","para_42","para_43","para_44","para_45","para_46","para_47","para_48","para_49","para_50","para_51","para_52","para_53","para_54","para_55","para_56","para_57","para_58","para_59","para_60","para_61","para_62","para_63","para_64","para_65","para_66","para_67","para_68","para_69","para_70","para_71","para_72","para_73","para_74","para_75","para_76","para_77","para_78","para_79","para_80","para_81","para_82","para_83","para_84","para_85","para_86","para_87","para_88","para_89","para_90","para_91","para_92","para_93","para_94","para_95","para_96","para_97","para_98","para_99","para_100","para_101","para_102","para_103","para_104","para_105","para_106","para_107","para_108","para_109","para_110","para_111","para_112","para_113","para_114","para_115","para_116","para_117","para_118","para_119","para_120","para_121","para_122","para_123","para_124","para_125","para_126","para_127","para_128","para_129","para_130","para_131","para_132","para_133","para_134","para_135","para_136","para_137","para_138","para_139","para_140","para_141","para_142","para_143","para_144","para_145","para_146","para_147","para_148","para_149","para_150","para_151","para_152","para_153","para_154","para_155","para_156","para_157","para_158","para_159","para_160","para_161","para_162","para_163","para_164","para_165","para_166","para_167","para_168","para_169","para_170","para_171","para_172","para_173","para_174","para_175","para_176","para_177","para_178","para_179","para_180","para_181","para_182","para_183","para_184","para_185","para_186","para_187","para_188","para_189","para_190","para_191","para_192","para_193","para_194","para_195","para_196","para_197","para_198","para_199","para_200","para_201","para_202","para_203","para_204","para_205","para_206","para_207","para_208","para_209","para_210","para_211","para_212","para_213","para_214","para_215","para_216","para_217","para_218","para_219","para_220","para_221","para_222","para_223","para_224","para_225","para_226","para_227","para_228","para_229","para_230","para_231","para_232","para_233","para_234","para_235","para_236","para_237","para_238","para_239","para_240","para_241","para_242","para_243","para_244","para_245","para_246","para_247","para_248","para_249","para_250","para_251","para_252","para_253","para_254","para_255"],"kind":"front_matter"}],"paragraphs":[{"text":"FIFTH DIVISION","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"BROWN, C. J.,","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"RICKMAN, P. J., and MERCIER, J.","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"physically received in our clerk’s office within ten","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed.","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"https://www.gaappeals.gov/rules","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"June 24, 2026","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"In the Court of Appeals of Georgia","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"A26A0295. ORTHO SPORT & SPINE PHYSICIANS, LLC v.","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"SNOWDEN et al.","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"RICKMAN, Presiding Judge.","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"This is the second appearance of this contentious discovery dispute before our","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"Court.1 Once again, non-party Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians, LLC (“Ortho Sport”)","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"challenges trial court orders requiring it to produce database reports and other","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"1 The dispute arose in Glenda Ochoa’s personal injury suit against John Ernest","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"Snowden, New South Trucking, LLC, LAD Truck Lines, Inc., and Protective","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"Insurance Company in the Superior Court of Oconee County for damages arising from","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"an automobile accident. As part of her damages, Ochoa sought to recover her past and","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"future medical expenses, and she relied on medical treatment and bills she received","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"from different providers, including Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians, LLC, an","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"orthopedic medical practice. Medernix, LLC v. Snowden, 372 Ga. App. 48, 48 (903","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"SE2d 728) (2024).","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"documents to the defendants. For the reasons set forth below, we vacate in part the","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"trial court orders and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"In the prior appeal, non-parties Ortho Sport and Medernix, LLC, challenged","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"the trial court’s order compelling them to produce a database report and other","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"documents to the defendants (“Production Order”) and a related protective order","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"(“Protective Order”). Medernix, LLC v. Snowden, 372 Ga. App. 48, 48 (903 SE2d","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"728) (2024). This Court concluded that the trial court had abused its discretion in","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"requiring Ortho Sport and Medernix to create and produce a requested database","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"report containing extensive financial and billing information because the report was","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"overly broad and was not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"evidence. Id.","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"We did, however, conclude that","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"the amount that Ortho Sport charged, wrote off, adjusted, or accepted","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"as payment in full from other patients for the same types of treatment at the","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"same medical facility during the same general time period as [plaintiff","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"Glenda] Ochoa may have some relevance – “particularly in the broad","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"discovery sense” – to the reasonableness and necessity of the charges for","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"Ochoa’s care and thus be discoverable.","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"2","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"Medernix, 372 Ga. App at 53-54(1). In addition, we recognized that “evidence that the","paragraph_id":"para_43","court_paragraph":2},{"text":"plaintiff’s counsel has a close relationship with and a history of making referrals to the","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"plaintiff’s treating physician can be relevant to show the bias of that physician” and","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"determined that documents reasonably calculated to lead to financial information","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"concerning a treating physician’s bias would be discoverable. Id. at 54(1). We then","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"vacated the Production Order and the Protective Order to the extent they required","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"Ortho Sport to create and produce the requested database report and remanded for","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"the trial court to determine whether a more limited report could be generated that","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"would be consistent with our opinion, “subject to reasonable restrictions on the use","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"and dissemination of any such report.”2 Id. at 56(1).","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"2 The Production Order also compelled Ortho Sport to produce (1)","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"communications between Ortho Sport, plaintiff’s attorneys, and any litigation funding","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"companies involved in the case, including communications logged into eClinicalWorks","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"and/or Salesforce (another software database utilized by Ortho Sport); (2) all","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"applicable contracts between Ortho Sport, plaintiff, plaintiff’s attorneys, and any","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"litigation funding companies involved in the case; (3) “HIPAA audit logs” reflecting","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"who had accessed plaintiff’s medical files and any changes made to those files; and (4)","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"a database report revealing Ortho Sport/Medernix’s billed charges or rates, as well as","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"any adjustments made to those rates charges or rates, “categorized by associated law","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"firm referral partner.” In the prior appeal, Ortho Sport did not contest the portions","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"of the Production Order that compelled it to produce those records and materials.","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"Medernix, 372 Ga. App. at 56(1), n.8.","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"3","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"On remand, the trial court conducted a lengthy hearing to determine whether","paragraph_id":"para_66","court_paragraph":3},{"text":"a report could be prepared that would be consistent with this Court’s opinion in","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"Medernix. During the April 2025 hearing, the trial court heard from Ortho Sport’s","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"revenue cycle management director, who oversees billing in the medical records","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"department and has ten years of experience using the eClinicalWorks system, a","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"medical billing and records software program utilized by Ortho Sport. Defendants’","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"healthcare consultant, who had been using eClinicalWorks since 1999, also testified.","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"The Ortho Sport employee initially testified that the manner in which Ortho Sport","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"posted most of its payments would not be conducive to producing a report showing","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"the amount that Ortho Sport charged, wrote off, adjusted, or accepted as payment in","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"full from other patients for the same types of treatment at the same medical facility","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"during the same general time period as Ochoa. Defendants’ healthcare consultant","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"testified that it is possible to run that information in eClinicalWorks but it would not","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"be possible to do so in one report because of the manner in which Ortho Sport applies","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"certain of its payments. Instead, it would require multiple reports and some","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"compilation of that information. The healthcare consultant testified that she could","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"explain in writing how to run the respective reports, and the trial court requested that","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"4","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"she do so, narrowing the scope as outlined in Medernix. After hearing from the","paragraph_id":"para_84","court_paragraph":4},{"text":"consultant, Ortho Sport’s employee agreed that it sounded possible to obtain the","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"requested information through multiple reports, although she was not familiar with","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"all of them, and that it would be helpful to her to have written instructions if she were","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"asked to run the reports.","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"Counsel then debated the appropriate time period for the reports, with","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"defendants seeking information spanning a period of three years from when Ochoa","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"began treatment and Ortho Sport trying to limit the range to the actual dates of","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"Ochoa’s treatment. The trial court ultimately determined that the reports should","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"cover an 18-month period, beginning with Ochoa’s first treatment at Ortho Sport.","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"The trial court also requested that the defendants and Ortho Sport agree to a","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"protective order to protect the information contained in the reports. Counsel for","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"defendants responded, “we generally are agreeable to a broad protective order with","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"two caveats. We just don’t want to have to throw it away because we want to be able","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"to show it to another judge if they ever take a position other than what is real.”","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"Following the hearing, the trial court issued an order compelling Ortho Sport","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"and Medernix to produce three eClinicalWorks reports based on certain search","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"5","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"criteria to the defendants (“Second Production Order”). The trial court included a","paragraph_id":"para_102","court_paragraph":5},{"text":"requirement in the Second Production Order that defendants and their counsel hold","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"the reports strictly confidential, subject to certain exceptions. As requested by the trial","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"court, the healthcare consultant provided detailed instructions on how to run the","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"eClinicalWorks reports with the applicable search criteria in the form of an affidavit","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"with an attached exhibit containing guidance applicable to each report.","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"During the post-remand hearing, counsel for defendants also requested a show","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"cause order requiring Ortho Sport and Medernix to produce previously requested","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"records and materials that were not part of the eClinicalWorks reports. The trial court","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"subsequently issued an order requiring Ortho Sport to produce numerous documents","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"in addition to the eClinicalWorks reports (“Show Cause Order”).","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"Ortho Sport’s appeal challenging the Second Production Order and the Show","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"Cause Order followed.3","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"1. Ortho Sport contends that the Second Production Order and the Show Cause","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"Order disregard this Court’s instructions in Medernix.","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"3 Ortho Sport also challenges a show cause order directed to Medernix to the","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"extent that it seeks to impose obligations on Ortho Sport. Medernix is not a party to","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"this appeal.","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"6","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"With respect to the eClinicalWorks reports required under the Second","paragraph_id":"para_121","court_paragraph":6},{"text":"Production Order, Ortho Sport argues that they are not properly limited to “patients","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"[who received] the same types of treatment at the same medical facility during the","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"same general time period as Ochoa.” Medernix, 372 Ga. App. at 54(1) (emphasis","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"omitted). Ortho Sport complains that they include patients who did not receive all of","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"the same medical treatments/CPT4 codes as Ochoa; they include patients who may","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"have received one of the same diagnostic codes, low back pain or lumbar facet joint","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"syndrome, but received different medical treatment; the time period improperly","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"exceeds the time during which Ochoa was being treated; and the clinical locations are","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"4 “CPT” code","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"stands for Current Procedural Terminology codes. CPT codes are a","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"national uniform coding structure created for use in billing and overseen","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"by the American Medical Association. They are used by all health","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"insurance companies and by Medicare and Medicaid. A code represents","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"at least two things: the procedure or service performed and the level of","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"complexity involved in it.","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"Medernix, 372 Ga. App. at 50, n.4.","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"7","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"tied to the practitioners who provided treatment to or oversaw the treatment of Ochoa","paragraph_id":"para_139","court_paragraph":7},{"text":"instead of being limited to the locations where Ochoa was treated.5","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"During the post-remand hearing, the trial court and counsel for Ortho Sport and","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"the defendants thoroughly examined the witnesses knowledgeable about the","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"eClinicalWorks system in an effort to comply with the remand instructions in","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"Medernix. As previously noted, adjustments to the original plan for obtaining the","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"requested information were necessitated by certain aspects of Ortho Sport’s billing","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"system. Under the circumstances presented here and given the trial court’s broad","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"discretion in controlling discovery, the trial court did not violate this Court’s opinion","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"in Medernix in ordering Ortho Sport to produce the eClinicalWorks reports outlined","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"in the Second Production Order. See Johnson v. Adcock, 377 Ga. App. 375, 381(2) (922","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"SE2d 668) (2025) (“Trial judges have broad discretion in controlling discovery,","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"including imposition of sanctions, and appellate courts will not reverse a trial court’s","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"decision on such matters unless there has been a clear abuse of discretion.”)","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"(punctuation omitted). See also Gen. Motors v. Buchanan, 313 Ga. 811, 814-15(2)(a)","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"5 Ortho Sport also complains that one of the reports addresses payments made","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"at the “global level,” but as discussed at length during the post-remand hearing,","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"multiple reports were necessitated by the way in which Ortho Sport posts certain of","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"its payments.","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"8","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"(874 SE2d 52) (2022) (“[I]t is not ground for objection that the information sought","paragraph_id":"para_159","court_paragraph":8},{"text":"will be inadmissible at the trial if the information sought appears reasonably calculated","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.”) (punctuation omitted).","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"Ortho Sport also complains that the Second Production Order improperly","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"requires the identification of patient identification numbers and payor names. With","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"respect to the patient identification numbers, the Second Production Order appears","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"to be internally inconsistent. On the one hand, it incorporates the healthcare","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"consultant’s affidavit and instructions on how to generate the eClinicalWorks reports","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"that are to be produced, and those instructions state that the patient account number","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"should be redacted before delivery.6 But the Second Production Order states that","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"Ortho Sport may not redact the patient identification numbers for any of its patients","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"whose information may be captured by the ordered search and production.","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"The record is also unclear with respect to the disclosure of payor names. One","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"set of instructions attached to the healthcare consultant’s affidavit uses payor name","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"6 The instructions attached to the healthcare consultant’s affidavit use account","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"numbers as a way to identify individual patients. The record here does not indicate any","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"distinction between patient identification numbers and account numbers — both are","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"used to identify individual patients.","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"9","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"as one search criteria for the report, but for another report, the payor name is","paragraph_id":"para_178","court_paragraph":9},{"text":"information that is to be redacted before delivery.","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"We need not consider the propriety of requiring the production of the patient","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"identification/account numbers or payor names when it is not clear that such","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"production was actually required. We therefore vacate the Second Production Order","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"to the extent that it required Ortho Sport to reveal patient identification/account","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"numbers for any of its patients, other than Ochoa, whose information may be captured","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"by the ordered search and production or to reveal payor names. We remand for the","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"trial court to clarify its ruling with respect to whether Ortho Sport may redact patient","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"identification numbers and/or payor names from the reports ordered to be produced.","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"See Haney v. Camp, 320 Ga. App. 111, 113(1) (739 SE2d 399) (2013) (remanding case","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"for trial court to clarify inconsistent ruling).","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"2. Ortho Sport contends that the Second Production Order and the Show Cause","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"Order require the production of information and documents that were never requested","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"to be produced.","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"First, Ortho Sport challenges the required production of three eClinicalWorks","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"reports instead of the one report mentioned in Medernix as having been requested by","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"10","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"defendants. But as explained above, Ortho Sport’s billing system necessitated the","paragraph_id":"para_196","court_paragraph":10},{"text":"production of three separate reports to obtain information that might have otherwise","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"been available in one report.","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"Next, Ortho Sport challenges the Second Production Order to the extent it","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"requires the disclosure of patient identification numbers for Ortho Sport patients","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"other than Ochoa because they were not previously requested. As set forth in Division","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"1 of our opinion, it is unclear whether such disclosure was required, and that issue will","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"be resolved on remand.","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"With respect to the Show Cause Order, Ortho Sport argues that the","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"requirement that it potentially be required to conduct a “hand-review of emails or","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"even the review of each of its files” to compile lists of the number of patients who","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"meet certain criteria exceeds both any request made by defendants and its discovery","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"obligations under OCGA § 9-11-34(a).7","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"7 OCGA § 9-11-34(a)(1) provides in part:","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"(a) Scope. Any party may serve on any other party a request:","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"(1) To produce and permit the party making the request, or someone","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"acting on his behalf, to inspect and copy any designated documents","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"11","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"Relying on Blount v. Blount, 373 Ga. App. 105, 110(4) (907 SE2d 719) (2024),","paragraph_id":"para_214","court_paragraph":11},{"text":"Ortho Sport argues that defendants’ request that it hand-review emails or files to","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"create a list was improper because it was not included in defendants’ discovery","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"requests or motion to compel. In Blount, this Court reversed a trial court order","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"granting a motion to compel production of documents to the extent that they were not","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"previously sought in the motion to compel or requested in discovery. Id. But here,","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"Ortho Sport is not challenging the information sought but the method of obtaining it,","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"an issue not addressed in Blount.","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"With respect to Ortho Sport’s obligations under OCGA § 9-11-34(a)(1), it","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"argues that it cannot be required to hand review emails or files to create a document","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"that does not already exist. In Medernix, this Court recognized that where a","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"“requested document is data drawn from the producing party’s electronic computer","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"storage system, that party can be tasked with translating the document through","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"detection devices into reasonably usable form.” 372 Ga. App. at 57(3) (punctuation","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"(including writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs,","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"phono-records, and other data compilations from which information can","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"be obtained, translated, if necessary, by the respondent through detection","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"devices into reasonably usable form)[.]","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"12","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"omitted). We also recognized the general rule that non-parties are not required to","paragraph_id":"para_233","court_paragraph":12},{"text":"create documents that do not exist, simply for purposes of discovery. Id. Accordingly,","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"we vacate the Show Cause Order’s “hand-review” requirement to the extent that it","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"seeks to impose on Ortho Sport a duty to create a document that does not exist, as","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"opposed to extracting the information requested from an existing database or program,","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"and remand for the trial court to clarify the scope of that requirement.","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"3. Ortho Sport contends that the Second Production Order violates the","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"procedural and substantive due process rights of its patients, other than Ochoa,","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"because it requires the production of patient identification numbers. Ortho Sport","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"concedes that this issue was not raised in the trial court but argues that it could not","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"have raised it below because defendants had previously agreed that Ortho Sport could","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"redact that information.8","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"8 As a general rule, “issues presented for the first time on appeal furnish","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"nothing for us to review, for this is a court for correction of errors of law committed","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"by the trial court where proper exception is taken.” Rodriguez v. State Farm Mut. 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