---
title: O.C.G.A. § 9-17-4. Waiver of privilege; criminal activity.
collection: code
id: 9-17-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 9-17-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-17-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-17-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-17-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t9-ch12-17-(v7a)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=201e3996_0#page=61
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-17.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CIVIL PRACTICE / GEORGIA UNIFORM MEDIATION ACT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 9-17-4. Waiver of privilege; criminal activity.

(a) A privilege under Code Section 9-17-3 may be waived in a record if it is expressly waived by all mediation parties and:

(1) In the case of the privilege of a mediator, it is expressly waived by the mediator; and

(2) In the case of the privilege of a nonparty participant, it is expressly waived by the nonparty participant.

(b) A person that discloses or makes a representation about a mediation communication which prejudices another person in a proceeding is precluded from asserting a privilege under Code Section 9-17-3, but only to the extent necessary for the person prejudiced to respond to the representation or disclosure.

(c) A person that intentionally uses a mediation to plan, attempt to commit or commit a crime, or to conceal an ongoing crime or ongoing criminal activity is precluded from asserting a privilege under Code Section 9-17-3.

## History

Code 1981, § 9-17-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2021, p. 646, § 2/SB 234.

## Law Reviews

For article with annual survey on trial practice and procedure, see 73 Mercer L. Rev. 265 (2021).