FI RST DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, C. J.

, PHI PPS, P. J, and BOGGS, 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.

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

Nov em ber 19, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 96 0 . KEY SAFETY SYSTEM S, INC. v . BRUNER et al

. DO-0 4 7

D O Y LE , Ch ief J ud g e.

Th i s ap peal ari s e s o u t o f t h e d eat h o f Pen n ey Lo u i s e Bru n er aft er t h e J eep

W ran g l er au t o m o b i l e i n wh i ch s h e was ri di n g in t h e fro n t p as s en g er s eat was

i n v o l v ed i n a ro ll o v er cras h, eject i n g h er d es pi t e her weari ng t h e s eat bel t

, wh i ch was

d es i g n ed

, co n s t r u ct ed

, an d i n teg rat ed i n t o t h e J eep b y K ey Safet y Sy st em s

, In c.

(“ Key ”). 1 W i l l i am A

. Bru n er, In d i v i d u al l y an d as Pe r s o n al Rep res en t at i v e o f t h e

Es t at e o f M s

. Bru n er (co ll ect i v el y “ t h e p l ai n ti ff”), fi led s ui t ag ai n s t Key an d v ari ou s

o t h er p ri v at e an d g o v ern m en t al en t i t i es

, al leg i ng cl ai m s o f fai l u re t o warn

, fai l u re to

recal l / ret ro fi t

, st ri ct p ro d u ct s l i ab i l i t y

, an d n eg l ig en ce reg ard i n g th e s eat bel t res t rai nt

1 Dai m l erCh r ys l er A G (“ Ch ry s l er”), wh i ch m an u fact u red t h e J eep

, w as n o t a

p art y t o t h e l i t i g at i o n

.s y s t em i n s t al l ed i n t he pas sen ger s i d e o f t h e Jeep

. Th e ju ry award ed ov er $ 4 .6 m i l l i o n

t o th e p lai n t i ff, ap p o rt i o n i ng 8 0 p ercen t fau l t t o Key an d 2 0 p ercen t t o th e d ri v er, M r.

an d M s

. Bru n er’ s d au gh t er

, A m a n d a. Key fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al

, m o t i o n fo r

ju d g m en t no t wi t h s t an di ng t h e v erd ict

, an d a rev i s ed m o ti o n fo r n e w t ri al

, wh i ch

m o ti o n s were d en ied b y

t he t ri al co u rt

.

Key ap p eal s

, arg u i n g t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y (1 ) d en y in g i t s m o t i o n s fo r

d i rect ed v erd i ct a n d f

o r ju d g m en t n o t wi t h s tan d i n g t h e verd i ct as t o th e p l ai n t i ff’ s

fai l u re t o warn cl ai m ; (2 ) ad m i t ti n g ex p ert t es ti m o n y reg ard i ng cert ai n s eat b el t

ret ract o r m ech an i s m tes ti n g o v er i t s o bject i o n at th e m o t i on i n l i m i n e an d at t ri al ; an d

(3 ) al l o w i n g t he j u ry t o v i ew t h e v i d eo o f t hat s am e t es t o v er i t s ob ject io n at t h e

m o ti o n i n l i m i n e an d at t ri al . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

Th e st an d ard fo r [a] d i rect ed v erd i ct i s as fo l l o ws : [If] th ere i s n o

co n fl i ct i n t h e e v i den ce as t o an y m at eri al i s s u e, an d t h e ev i d en ce

i n t ro d u ced

, wi t h al l reas o n ab l e d ed u ct i o n s t h e refro m

, s h al l dem an d a

p art i cu l ar v erd i ct

, s uch v erd i ct s h al l b e d i rect ed

. Th e ap p e l lat e rev i ew

s t an dard of a t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f a di rect ed v erd i ct m o ti o n i s t h e an y

ev i d en ce s tan d ard

. In co n s i d eri n g a ru l i n g o n a m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed

2v erd ict

, t he ev i d en ce m u s t b e co n s t r u ed m o s t fav o rab l y t o t h e p art y

o p p o s i ng t h e m o t i o n. 2

Vi ewed i n t hi s l ig ht

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at M r. Bru ner own ed t h ree v eh i cl es at

t h e t i m e o f t h e in s tan t ev en t s

, th e 2 0 0 3 J eep i n q u es ti o n

, as w e l l a s a 2 0 0 0

Vo l ks wag o n Beet l e an d a Fo rd F-1 5 0 p i ck u p t ru ck

. M r. Bru n er t es t i fi ed t h at am o n g

h i s fam i l y o f t wo ad u lt s an d t wo d ri v er-ag e d c h i l d r e n

, al l fo u r were al l o wed to

o p e rat e t he J eep

, b u t h e was t h e m ai n d ri v er. Hi s d au g h t er, A m an d a, was 1 7 at t h e

t i m e o f t h e ev en ts b u t d ri vi ng o n a l earn er’ s p erm i t.

On Sep t em

ber 2 3

, 2 0 0 7

, Am an d a an d M s

. Bru ner were i n v ol v ed i n a ro l l o v er

acci den t i n t h e J eep

. 3 Am an d a was d ri v i n g

, wh i l e M s

. Bru n er ro de i n t h e p as s en g er

s eat

, an d al t h o u gh b o t h were weari n g t h ei r s eat b el ts

, Ms

. Bru n er was eject ed fro m t h e

v eh icl e, s u st ai n i ng s ev ere i n ju ri es , i n cl u di n g h av i n g p o rt i o n s o f b o d y t i s s u e aro u n d

h er l o wer ab d om en an d u p p e r l eg s t o rn o ff b y t h e l ap p ort i on o f t h e s eat bel t

. M s

.

Bru ner s u rv i v e d f

o r a s ho rt t i m e aft er t he acci den t

, t el l i n g wi t n es s es t hat s h e was

2 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W i l s o n F o o d s Co r p. v. Tu r n er

, 2 1 8 Ga.

Ap p . 7 4 (1 ) (4 60 SE2 d 5 3 2 ) (1 9 9 5 ).

3 In v es t ig at o rs n ev er d et erm i n ed wh at cau s ed t h e J eep t o l eav e t h e ro ad way

.

3co n fu s ed ab o u t wh y s h e was eject ed b ecau s e sh e h ad b een w eari n g h er s eat b el t

. M s

.

Bru ner ev en tu al l y

s u ccu m b ed t o h er i n

ju ri es

.

M r. Bru ner t e st i fi ed t hat M s

. Bru n er was “ fan at i cal ” ab o u t p ro p er s eat b el t

u s ag e, wh i ch m ad e i t s u rp ri s i n g t o h i m t h at t h e p o l i ce at t h e s cen e in i t i al l y rep o rt ed

t h at s h e was u n b el t ed

. He t es t i fi ed t h at i n t h e ev en t o f a ro l lo v er, h e “ ex pect ed [t h e

s eat b el t s ] t o k eep y o u i n t h e s e at ” an d i f h e had k n o wn t h at t h ere was a ch an ce o f

eject i o n

, h e wo u l d n ot h av e p u rch as ed t h e v eh icl e. Mr. Bru n er t es t i fi ed t hat h e was

n o t w arn ed t h at p ro p erl y bel t ed o ccu p an ts co u l d b e eject ed fro m t he v eh i cl e, b u t i f

a warn i n g h a d a p p e a r ed o n t h e b el t

, h e wo u l d h av e read i t

. M r. Bru n er co u l d n ot

recal l wh et h er h e “ as p art o f t he acci d en t ” read th e J eep ’ s o wn er’ s m an u al

, n o r co u ld

h e recal l wh at o th er v eh icl es h e was co n s i d eri n g at t h e t i m e h e b o u g h t t h e J eep

.

St ev en M ey er, a m ech an i cal en g i neer, t es t i fi ed reg ard i n g t h e s eat b el t ret ract o r

m e c h a n i s m an d i t s b eh av i o r d u ri n g a ro l l ov er acci d en t

. Aft er s p eak i n g g en eral l y

ab o ut t h e v ari et y o f t es t s h e h ad p erfo rm ed on v ari o us t y p es o f res t rai n t s y s t em s

,

M ey er t urn ed t o t h e res t rai n t s y s t em i n q u es t i o n an d h i s h y

p o th es i s o f th e acci d en t

.

M e y er ex p l ai n ed th at t h e l at ch p l at e at t h e t o p p o rt i o n o f t h e s h o u l d er b el t b e c a m e

l o o s e at v ari o u s p o i n t s du ri n g t h e ro l l o v er, wh i ch al l o wed s l ack t o fo rm in t h e l ap

b el t

, wh ich t h en al l o wed M s

. Bru ner t o b e eject ed fro m t h e v eh i cl e. In arri v i n g at h i s

4co n cl u s i o n t h a t t h e s eat bel t res t rai n t s y s t em was d efect iv e, h e ex am i n ed t h e b el t in

q u es ti o n an d c o m

p ared it t o h i s ex i s t i n g k n o wl ed g e g l ean ed fro m p rev i ou s

i n v es t i g at i o n s

.

M ey er d es cri b ed t he res t rai n t s y st em i n q u es t i on as h av in g a b al l an d cu p cras h

s en s o r, wh i ch w as d es i g ned t o s en s e wh en t h e v eh i cl e was in an acci d en t an d l o ck t h e

s eat b el t ret ract or fro m

al l o wi n g an y m o v em en t o f th e bel t ; h e co m p a r e d t he d ev i ce

i n t h e pas s en g er s i d e t o ot h er cras h sen s o rs

, s u ch as t h e w eb s en s or o r l o ck in g l at ch

p l at e, wh i ch o p erat ed d i fferen tl y t h an t h e b al l an d cu p

.

Du ri n g h i s t es ti m on y , M ey er referred t o a vi d eo o f t he i n t ern al wo rk i n g s o f a

s eat b el t ret ract o r m ech an is m l i k e t h e o n e i n st al led i n t h e p lai n t i ff’ s J eep

. T h e v i d eo

i n c l u d e d a cl o s eu p o f th e m ech an i s m s ho wi n g wh en i t d et ach ed fro m t h e b el t

,

al l eg ed l y al l o wi ng sl ack to fo rm i n t h e b el t

, an d i n t h e co rn er o f t h e s creen t h e fro nt

o f a J eep Ch ero k ee ro l l i n g t o s h o w t h e an g l e o f t h e v eh i cl e d u ri n g t h e d et ach m en t o f

t h e res t rai n t fro m t h e b el t

. M ey er rep eat ed l y ex p l ai n ed t h at t h i s was n o t d es i g n ed to

b e a s i m u l at i o n o f t h e ex act ev en t s o f t h e cras h i n q ues t i o n

, b u t m erel y a v i s u al

d ep ict i o n o f h o w t he res t rai n t s y s t em op erat es u n d er ro ll o v er fo rces ; h e ex p l ai n ed

h o w i t wo u l d v ary

g i v en d i fferen t rat es o r d i rect io n s o f ro t at i o n.

5At t h e cl o s e o f ev i d en ce, Key arg u ed t hat t h e t ri al co u rt s ho u l d g ran t a d i rect ed

v erd i ct o n t h e p lai n t i ff’ s cl ai m o f fai l u re t o warn becau s e (1 ) th e p l ai n t i ff h ad fai l ed

t o s h o w cau s at i on v i a ev id en ce s h o wi n g wh at p ro d u ct h e wo u l d h av e p u rch as ed

i n s t ead o f t h e J eep h ad h e b een warn ed ; (2 ) t he p l ai n ti ff h ad n o t pro d u ced ev i d en ce

o f an ap p ro p ri at e warn i n g ; an d (3 ) t h e p l ai n t iff h ad n o t p ro d u ced ev i d en ce t h at

Ch ry s l er wo u l d h av e al l o wed Key t o ad d a warn i n g t o t h e p ro d uct

.

Aft er t h e v erd i ct

, K e y f

i l ed i t s rev i sed m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, arg u i n g

, am o n g

o t h er t h i n g s, th at th e t ri al co u rt erred b y al l owi n g t he pl ai n t i ff’ s ex pert t o p res en t t h e

ret ract o r ro t at i on t es t an d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y al l owed t h e fai l u re t o warn

cl ai m t o g o t o t h e ju ry b ecau s e t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev id en ce t o s up p o rt t h e cl ai m

.

Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed th e m o ti o n , an d t hi s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Key fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d e n yi n g i t s m ot i on s fo r a

d i rect ed v erd i ct an d fo r ju d g m en t n o t wi t h s t an d i n g th e v erdic t o n t h e p l ai n t iff’ s fai l u re

t o warn cl ai m

b ecau s e t h ere was i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o es tab l i s h a cl ai m

.

[If] a d u t y t o warn ari s es

, as i t do es in t h is cas e, t h i s du t y m ay be

b reach ed b y (1 ) fai l i ng to ad eq u at el y co m m u n i cat e th e warn i n g t o th e

u l t i m at e u s er o r (2 ) fai l i n g t o p r o v i de an ad eq u at e warn in g o f th e

p ro d u ct ’ s p o t en t i a l r i s ks

. W h i l e fai l u re t o read i ns t ru ct i o n s o r p ri n ted

warn i n g s wi l l p rev en t a p l ai n t i ff fro m reco v eri n g o n a cl ai m gro u n d ed

o n fai l u re t o p ro v id e ad eq u at e wa r n i n g o f t h e p ro d u ct ’ s p o t en t i al ri sk

,

6fai l u re t o read a w arn i n g d oes n o t b ar reco v ery wh e n t h e p l ai n t i ff i s

ch al len gi ng th e ad eq uacy o f t h e effo rt s o f t h e m an u fact u rer o r s el l er t o

co m m u n i cat e t h e d an g ers o f t h e p ro d uct t o t h e b u y er or u s er. Fai l u re t o

co m m u n i cat e an ad eq u at e warn i n g i n v o lv es s u ch q u es t io n s

, as are h ere

at i s s u e, as t o l o cat i o n an d p res en t at io n o f t h e warn i n g

. 4

M o reo v er, “ su ch su i t s are g ro u n d ed o n ei t h er a s tri ct li ab il i t y o r n eg l i g en ce

t h eo ry

, [an d ] p ro x im at e cau s e i s a n eces s ary el em en t o f t h e pl ai n t i ff’ s cas e.” 5

Qu es t i o ns o f ad eq u acy o f a warn i n g an d p ro xi m at e cau s e res u l t i n g fro m a co m p l et e

l ack o f warn i n g o r an i n ad eq u at e warn in g are “ p ecu li arl y q u es t io n s fo r t he ju ry .” 6

Key co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e gran t ed i t s m ot i o n s b ecau s e t h e

p l ai n t i ff fai l ed t o p res en t s u ffi ci en t p ro o f o f p ro x i m at e cau s e. Key arg u es t h at t h ere

was i n s uffi ci en t p ro o f t h at a warn i n g wo u l d hav e av oi d ed i n ju ry

, i .e., t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff

wo u l d h av e p u rch as ed a d ifferen t v eh i cl e. In s u p p o rt o f th i s arg u m en t

, Key ci t es

ev i d en ce i t p res en t ed at t ri al t h at (1 ) n o o t h er v eh i cl e so l d at t h at t i m e h ad a d i fferen t

res t rai n t m ech an i sm s u ch as a l o ck i n g l at ch p lat e; an d (2 ) veh i cl es wi t h web s en s o rs

s o l d in t h e Un i t ed St at es at t hat t i m e were n o t s et to b e tri g g e r e d d u r i n g a ro l l o v er

4 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W i l s o n Fo o d s , 2 1 8 Ga. Ap p . at 7 5 (1 ).

5 Id

.

6 Id

.

7cras h. K ey al so co n t en ds th at M r. Bru n er’ s t es t i m o ny t h at h e wo u l d h av e p u rch as ed

a d i fferen t car h ad an ad eq u at e warn i n g b een p ro vi d ed i s t o o s p ecu l at iv e t o s u p p o rt

h i s cl ai m

.

As an i n i t i al m at t er, th e fact t h at al t ern at i v e b el t i n g m ech an i s m s m ay o r m ay

n o t hav e b een pro du ced at t h at t im e i s b es i d e t h e p o i n t

. M r. Bru n er co u l d h av e

s el ect ed an y nu m

b er o f d i fferen t v eh i cl es th at wo u l d hav e b een l es s l i k el y to h av e a

ro l l o ver o ccu r th an t h e Jeep h ad h e b een ap p ro p ri at el y ap p ri s ed of t h e ri s k o f eject i o n

d es p it e p ro p er b el t i n g

. Th e d efen d an t ci t es t o n o pri o r p reced en t req u i ri n g a p l ai n t i ff

al l eg in g a fai l u re to warn cl ai m t o p ro v i d e e v i d e nce o f t h e p art i cu l ar al t ern at e

p r o d u ct s h e wo u l d h av e ch o s en h ad an “ ad eq uat e” warn i n g b een i n cl u d ed

, a n d w e

d ecl i ne t o ad op t s u ch a req ui rem en t at t h i s t i m e.

Des p i t e Key ’ s arg um en t t h at M r. Bru n er’ s t es t i m o n y is i n s u ffi ci en t

, s u ch

t es t i m o ny h as b een u p h el d as l eg al l y s u ffi ci en t t o creat e a q u e s t i o n o f fact

. 7

M o reo v er, i n ad d i t io n t o M r. Bru n er’ s t es t i m o n y

, th e p lai n t i ff al s o p res en t ed

7 See Mo r r is v. Ha r l ey Da vi d s o n Mo t o r C

o

. , C as e No

. 3 : 0 9 -CV-7 4 * 1 0 (III)

(M

. D. Ga., J u l

. 07

, 2 0 10 ); Th o ma s v. Hu bt ex Ma s h in en b au Gmb H & Co

. KG

, Cas e

No

. 7 :0 6 -CV-8 1 * 31 -3 4 (II) (4 ) (M

. D. Ga., Sep t

. 2 3

, 2 0 08 ) (d en y i n g m ot i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t as t o fai l u re t o warn cl ai m b ecau s e a fact q u es t i o n ex i s t ed as to

p ro x im at e cau s e b as ed on t h e em p l o y er ’s t e s t i m o n y th at it co m m u n i cat ed p ro d u ct

warn i n gs t o em

p l oy ees an d t h at p l ai n t i ff was a s afe em p l o y ee).

8t es t i m o ny o f a wi t n es s at t h e s cen e o f t h e acci d en t wh o heard M s

. Bru n er’ s d y i n g

d ecl arat io n s as s h e t ri ed t o g ras p wh y s h e h ad been eject ed fro m t h e v eh i cl e wh en s h e

h ad b een p ro p erl y b el t ed

. Co u p l ed wi t h M r. Bru n er’ s t es ti m o n y t h at M s

. Bru n er was

em ph at i c ab o u t s eat bel t u sa ge

, th i s t es t i m o ny au t h o ri zed a fi nd i n g th at M s

. Bru n er d id

n o t u n d ers t an d t h at a ri s k s t i ll ex i s ted fo r eject io n wh en an o ccu p an t of a v eh i cl e i s

p ro p erl y b el t ed o r t h at an ad eq u at e warn i n g b y Key wo u l d h av e p rev en t ed t h e h arm

.

To t h e ex t en t t h at Key arg u es t h at Ch ry s l er’ s warn i ng in i t s o wn er’ s m an u al

was ad eq u at e an d t h u s

, K ey h ad n o ad d i t i o nal d u t y t o warn

, Key fai l ed t o rai s e t h i s

i s su e at t ri al

. Acco rd i n g ly

, t hi s arg u m en t p res en t s n o t h i n g fo r t hi s Co u rt t o rev i ew o n

ap p eal

. 8 An d ev en as s u m i n g th at t h is i s s u e was befo re us

, t h e arg um en t m ad e b y Key

i s o n e o f ad eq uacy

, wh i ch wo u l d b e a fact q u es t i o n fo r t h e ju ry

. 9 T o t h e e x t en t t h at

8 Se e

, e

. g

. , S

her m a n v. Dev. Au t h

. o

f Fu l t o n Co

. , 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 89

, 6 9 5 -6 9 6

(4 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 6 63 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ T h e l aw i n G eo rg i a i s t h at becau s e t h e ap p el l at e co u rt s

are fo r co rrect i o n o f erro rs o f l aw, i s s u es w h i ch h av e n o t b een ru l ed o n b y t h e t ri al

co u rt m ay n o t b e rai s ed o n ap p eal .”) (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

9 See Ca md

en O i l Co

. v. Ja cks on

, 2 70 Ga. Ap p. 8 3 7, 8 4 1-8 4 3 (1 ) (b ) (6 0 9 SE2 d

3 5 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (fai l u re t o ad eq u at el y co m m u ni cat e a w a r n i n g i s n ot d efeat ed by a

p l ai n t i ff’ s fai l u re t o read ex i s t i n g warn i n g s ); Th o r n t o n v. E.I. Du Po n t De Nemo u rs

& Co

. , 2 2 F.3 d 2 8 4

, 2 8 9 (III) (b ) (1 9 9 4 ) (“ T h e g e n e r a l r u l e i n Geo rg i a is t h at t h e

ad eq uacy o f th e warn in g i s an i s s u e fo r th e ju ry

. W h et h er ad eq uat e effo rt s were m ad e

t o co m m u n i cat e a wa r n i n g t o t h e u l t i m at e u s er an d w h et h er t h e warn i n g i f

co m m u n icat ed was ad eq u at e are u n i fo rm l y h el d q u es t i on s fo r th e ju ry

. ”); Bea m v.

Oma r k In d u s t ., In c.

, 1 43 Ga. Ap p . 1 4 2 , 1 4 5 (1 ) (2 3 7 SE2 d 6 0 7 ) (1 9 7 7 ).

9Key arg u es t h at i t s d u t y t o warn was n u l l i fi ed b ecau s e Ch ry s l er wo u l d h av e p rev en t ed

t h em fro m ad di ng a warn i n g

, it i s wi t h o ut m o m en t

. Key ’ s d u t y i s d et e r m i n e d as a

m at t er o f l aw an d n o t as a m at t er o f Ch ry s l er’ s ru l es

. 1 0

2

. In t wo en um erat i o n s o f erro r Key co n ten d s t hat t h e t ri al co u r t e r r e d b y

ad m i t t i ng M ey er’ s tes t im o n y ab o u t an d v i d eo o f s i m u lat i o n s reg ard i n g t h e effect o f

cert ai n ro t at i o n al fo rces o n th e s eat b el t ret ract o r m ech an i sm o v er Key ’ s o b ject i o n at

t h e m o t i o n i n l i m i n e an d at t ri al

.

M o d el s

, m ap s

, s k et ch es

, an d d i ag ram s (as d i s t i n g u i s h ed fro m

d u p l i cat es ) are b y t h ei r n at u re gen eral l y n o t co n fu sab l e w i t h real

ev i d en ce, an d are ad m i s s i b l e s i m p l y o n th e b as is o f t es t i m o n y t h at t h ey

are s u b s t a n t ial l y accu rat e rep res en t at i o n s o f w h at t h e wi t n es s i s

en d eav o ri n g t o d es cri b e. So m e d is cret i o nary co n t ro l i n t h e t ri al co u rt i s

g en eral l y d eem ed ap pro pri at e, h owev er, s i n ce ex hi b i t s of t hi s k i n d

, d ue

t o i n a c c u r a c i es

, v ari at i on s o f s cal e, et c., m ay o n o ccas i o n b e m o re

m i s l ead in g t han h el pfu l. Nev ert h el es s

, wh en th e t ri al co u rt h as ex erci s ed

i t s d i s c r e t i o n t o ad m it

, i t wi l l o n l y rarel y b e fo u n d i n erro r, at l eas t i f

p o t en t i al l y m is l ead i n g i n accu raci es h av e b een p oi n t ed o u t b y wi t n es ses

f o r t h e p r o p o n e n t

, o r c o u l d h a v e b e e n e x p o s e d u p o n

cro s s-ex am in at i o n. 1 1

1 0 See Gi o r d

a n o v. Fo r d Mo t o r Co

. , 1 6 5 Ga. Ap p. 6 4 4

, 6 4 4 -6 4 5 (1 ) (2 9 9 SE2 d

8 9 7 ) (1 9 8 3 )

.

1 1 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) J. B. Hu n t Tr a n s p

., In c. v. Br o wn

, 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 4,

6 3 6 (1 ) (b ) (5 12 SE2 d 3 4 ) (1 9 9 9 ), q u o t i n g McCo r mi ck o n Evi den ce

, § 2 13

, p p. 1 2 -1 3.

10In t h i s i n s t an ce, th e s i m u l at i o n i n q ues t i o n was n o t p ro du ced i n o rd er to

recreat e t h e ex act acci d en t, wh i ch M e ye r t e s t i fi ed was n o t p o s s i b l e; in s t ead

, i t was

p ro d uced i n o rd er t o ex p l ai n cert ai n s ci en t i fi c p ri n ci p al s

, wh i ch Key ’ s ex p ert ag reed

i t d i d

. Th e hy

p ot h es i zed acci d en t v ari ab l es

, s u ch as v eh i cl e ro l l rat e an d an gl e o f t h e

s eat b el t ret ract o r at i m

pact

, wh i ch Key co nt en d s t h e v id eo fai l ed t o rep ro d u ce, were

t h o ro u g hl y ex p l ai ned t o t h e j u ry d u ri n g M e y e r ’ s t es t im o n y an d t h e tes t i m on y o f Key ’ s

ex p ert

.

Us e o f a v i d eo t ap e b y an ex p ert t o i l l u s trat e t h e ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o n y

i s g en eral l y p erm i s s i b l e. Here, [M ey er] creat ed a m o del t o ex p l i cat e

cert ai n [p ri n ci p l es o f p h ys i c s ] an d t ap ed a d em o n st rat i o n o f t h o s e

p ri n ci p l es i n act io n

. Th e t ran scri p t i n d i c a t es t h at t h e v i d eo [] was u s ed

fo r d em o n s t rat i v e p u rp o s es o n l y

, an d co n t rary t o [K e y’s ] c l ai m

, th e

reco rd d o es n o t refl ect i t s ad m i s s i on i n ev i d en ce. Th ere was no erro r. 1 2

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ph i

p p s , P. J., a nd

Bo g g s , J., co n cu r

.

1 2 (Fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed .) Co t t r el l

, In c. v. W i l l i a m s

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 7

, 3 6 3 -3 6 4 (2 )

(b ) (5 96 SE2 d 7 89 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

11