FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M C M I LLI A N and M ERCI ER, JJ.

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

October 27, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 64 9

. M AYOR A ND ALDERM EN OF THE C I T Y OF

SAVANNAH v . HERRERA et al

.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Li s a Ni co l l e Mu s e s u ffered i n cap aci t at i n g i nj ur ie s w he n the car s h e was d ri v i n g

was s t ru ck as s h e was at t em p ti n g t o m ak e a l eft h an d t u rn at t h e i nt ers ect i o n o f W h i t e

Bl u ff Ro ad an d Lee Bo u lev ard i n Sav an n ah

, G eo rg i a. An n J

. Herrera, as co n s erv at o r

fo r M u se, an d Gl ori a Fay M us e

, a s t h e g u ard i an o f M u s e, (“ Pl ai n ti ffs ”) fi l ed s u i t

ag ai n s t

, i n t er al i o s

, t h e M ay o r an d Al d erm en o f t h e Ci t y o f Sav an nah (t he “ Ci t y ”), 1

1 At th e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

, t h e o t h er d ri v er, Offi cer J u dd W es t

, was em p l o y ed

b y Gard en Ci t y

, G eo rg i a bu t was o n l o a n to Ch at h am Co un t y u nd er t h e t erm s o f a

Co u n t y -Ci t y ag reem en t creat i n g a t as k fo rce rel at ed t o d ru g en fo rcem en t act i v i t i es

. Pl ai n t i ffs n am ed Gard en Ci t y an d Ch at h am Co un t y as d efen d an t s b u t n o t W es t

, an d

i n a p rev i o u s ap p eal we fo un d Gard en Ci t y was en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary j u d gm en t u n d er

t h e b o rro wed s erv an t ru l e. Ga r d en Ci ty v. Her r er a

, 3 29 Ga. Ap p. 75 6

, 7 6 1 (1 ) (7 6 6

SE2 d 1 5 0) (2 0 1 4).co n ten d in g th at t h e Ci t y act ed n eg l i g en tl y i n l o cat i n g t h e p ai n ted s t o p b ar at t h e

i n t ers ect i o n an d act ed n eg l i g en t l y an d creat ed a n ui s an ce b y al l owi n g th e l i n e o f s i g ht

o f m o to ri s t s en t eri n g t h e i n t ers ect i o n t o b e ob s cu red b y t wo l arg e t rees

, o n e o f wh i ch

was l o cat ed o n t he Ci ty ’ s ri g h t o f way

. 2 Th e C i t y m o v ed fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t

,

co n ten d in g t h at t h e n eg l i g en ce cl ai m s were b arred b y s o v erei g n i m

m u n i ty ; t h e act s

al l eg ed d i d n o t ri s e t o th e l ev el o f n u i s an ce; t he Ci ty ’ s act io n s o r i n act i o n s were n ot

t h e p ro x i m at e cau s e o f t h e acci d en t ; an d t h e cl ai m s w ere b arred b y t h e d oct ri n e o f

a v o i d ab l e co ns eq u en ces

. 3 Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e Ci t y ’ s m ot i o n as to Pl ai n t i ffs ’

cl ai m b as ed o n t h e al l eg ed l y n eg l i g en t pl a cem en t o f th e s t o p b ar, b ut d en i ed t h e

Ci t y ’ s m o t i o n t o t h e ex t en t Pl ai nt i ffs ’ n eg l i g en ce an d n u i s an ce cl ai m s w ere b as ed o n

t h e o b s t ru ct i o n i n l i n e o f s ig h t cau s ed b y t h e t ree. Th e t ri al co urt i ncl u d ed i n i t s o rd er

a cert i fi cat e o f i m

m ed i at e rev i ew, an d t he Ci t y s o u gh t in t erl o cu t o ry rev i ew fro m t h i s

Co u rt , wh i ch we g ran t ed

.

2 Th e o t h er t ree w as l o cat ed o n p ri v at e p ro p ert y

. Pl ai n t i ffs al s o s u ed t h at

l an d o wn er, b u t t h os e cl ai m s were d i s m is s ed wi t h p reju d i ce.

3 Th e Ci t y al s o s o ug h t di sm i s s al of Pl ai n t i ffs ’ cl ai m fo r p u n i t i v e d am ag es

. Th e

t ri al co u rt g ran ted t he Ci t y ’ s m o t i o n a s t o t hat cl ai m

, an d Pl ai n ti ffs h av e n ot

ch al l en g ed t h at ru l i n g o n ap p eal

.

2W e fi rs t s et o u t t h e ci rcu m s t an ces s u rro u nd i n g t h e acci d en t

. 4 Lee Bo u l ev ard i s

a two lan e p u b li c ro ad t h at g en eral l y ru n s eas t to wes t

, an d W h i t e Bl uff Ro ad i s a fo u r

l an e ro ad wi t h t wo n ort h b o u n d an d t wo s o u t h b o u nd l an es d i v i ded b y a m ed i an

. Lee

Bo u l ev ard an d W h i t e Bl u ff Ro ad i n t e r s e c t at s ev eral p oi n ts

, an d t h e i n ters ect i o n

wh ere t h e acci d en t o ccu rred i s on t he wes t erl y en d wh ere acces s fro m L ee Bo u l ev ard

o n t o W h i t e Bl u ff Ro ad i s co n t ro l l ed b y a s to p s i g n at a t h ree-way “ T” i n ters ect i o n

(t he “ In t ers ect i o n ”). Dri vers o n Lee Bo u l ev ard at t em p t i n g t o acces s t h e s o u t h b o u n d

l an es o f W h i t e Bl u ff Ro ad are req ui red t o s t o p a t t h e s t o p s i gn

, trav ers e t h e t wo

n o rt h b o un d l an es o f W h i t e Bl u ff Ro ad , an d t h en t u rn l eft

.

Two l arg e o ak t rees

, o n e o f wh i ch is o n t he Ci t y ’ s ri g h t o f w ay

, were s i t u at ed

t o t he l eft o f t he d ri v er al o n g t he s i d e o f t h e ro ad way at t h e In ters ect i o n. A cco rd i n g

t o s ev eral wi t n es s es w h o h ad t rav el ed t h ro ug h t h e In t ers ect i o n

, t h e l i ne o f si g h t o f a

d r i v er l o o k i n g l eft t oward t h e n o rt h b o u n d l an es was o b st ru ct ed by t h e o ak t rees

s i tt i n g at t h e ed g e of th e ro ad w ay

, al t h o u g h t h e d eg ree o f o bs t ru ct i o n v ari ed

d ep en d i ng o n t h e v an t ag e p oi n t o f t h e d ri v er t rav ers i n g t h e In t ers ect io n s uch t h at t h e

4 As t h e n on m o v an t o n s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, t h e fact s are co n s tru ed i n fav o r o f

Pl ai n t i ffs

. Ho wev er, P l a i n t iffs b ear t h e b u rd en t o es t ab l i s h a wai ver o f so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y

. Al b er t

s o n v. Ci t y o f Jes u p, 31 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 46

, 2 4 8-4 9 & n .9 (7 18 SE2 d 4 )

(2 0 1 1) (p art y s eek i n g b en efi t o f wai v er has t o es tab l is h w ai v er an d t h us t ri al co urt ’ s

s u b ject m at t er ju ri s d ict i o n ).

3o b s t ru ct i on m i gh t b e t o t al o r n ear t o t al at s o m e p o i n ts bu t on l y p art i al at o t h er p o i nt s

.

An d

, t es t s co nd u ct ed at t h e s cen e b y i n v es t i g at i n g o ffi cers u si ng v eh i cl es s i m i l ar to

t h o s e i n v o l v ed i n t h e acci d en t d em o n s t rat ed t h ere were t wo b li n d s p o ts al o n g t h e

In t ers ect i o n an d t h at a car t rav el i n g fro m L ee Bo u l ev ard wo u l d h av e t o “ eas e u p ” p as t

t h e st o p b ar an d i n t ru d e i n t o th e ri g h t n o rt h b o u n d l an e o f W h it e Bl u ff Ro ad i n o rd er

t o h av e an u ni m

p e d e d v i ew. Fu rt h er, ev i d en ce was al s o p res en t ed t hat d ri v ers

t rav el i n g n o rt h b o u n d o n W h it e Bl u ff Ro ad h ad d i ffi cu l ty s eei n g cars s to p p ed at t h e

In t ers ect i o n b ecau s e o f t h e t rees

.

At t h e t i m e o f th e acci den t

, M u s e, wh o h ad ap p ro ach ed t h e In t ers ect i o n fro m

Lee Bo u l ev ard

, w as at t em p t i n g t o cro s s o v er t h e t wo n o rt h b o u n d l an es of W hi t e Bl u ff

Ro ad i n o rd er t o t urn left o n t o t h e s o u t h bo u n d l an es

. H o wev er, as s h e p u l l ed i n t o t h e

n o rt h b o un d l an es

, her 2 0 0 3 Ho n d a Acco rd Co u p e was s t ru ck o n t he dri v er’ s s i d e by

t h e 2 00 1 Ch ev r o l et Si l v erad o p i ck -u p t ru ck d ri v en b y Offi cer W es t

, wh o was

t rav el i n g n o rt h b o u n d o n W hi t e Bl u ff Ro ad

. Th e im pact s h o v ed t h e Acco rd o n t o t h e

cen t er m ed i an n ort h o f t h e In t ers ect i o n

, u p o n to t h e cu rb

, an d i n t o a ut i l i t y p ol e o n t h e

p as s en g er s i d e. 5

5 Th e v eh i cl es act ual l y co l l id ed t w i ce. Th ere was t h e in i t i al i m p act wh en W es t

h i t M u s e, wh i ch cau s ed b o t h v eh i cl es t o m o ve t o t h e l eft an d co l l i d e ag ai n

, at wh i ch

p o i n t M u s e s tru ck

t h e p o l e.

4M u s e recei v ed an in cap aci t at in g b rai n in ju ry as a res u l t o f t h e acci d en t an d h as

n ev er b een a b l e t o p r ov i d e an acco u n t o f wh at h ap pen ed

. Th e acci den t was

ex t en s i v el y i n v es t i g at ed

, h o wev er, an d po l ice i nt erv i ewed n u m ero us o t h er wi t n es s es

,

i n cl u d i n g W es t an d h i s p as s en g er, fel l o w o ffi cer Ch ri s t o p h er Bri an Bo at ri g h t

. W es t

t o l d o ffi cers t h at h e d i d n o t s ee M u s e in th e In ters ect i o n u n ti l m o m en t s b efo re t h e

co l l i s i o n an d t h at he at t em p t ed t o s t op

, b u t th at h e co u l d n o t av o i d h i t t i n g h er. Sev eral

wi t n es s es t o t h e acci den t t o l d p ol i ce i n v es t i gat o rs t h at W es t ap p eared t o b e sp eed i n g,

an d s o m e wi t n es s es s ai d t h ey o b s erv ed h im m o v i n g i n an d o u t o f t h e ri g h t an d l eft

l an es i n o rd er t o m an eu v er aro un d t raffi c; 6 at l eas t on e wi tn es s op i n ed t o p o l i ce t h at

M u s e m a y n o t h av e s een W es t d u e t o h i s s p eed an d l an e ch an g es

. In fo rm at i o n

o b t ai n ed fro m t h e ai r b ag m o d ul e i n d i cat ed t hat at ap p ro xi m at el y o n e s eco nd b efo re

d ep lo y m en t

, W es t w as t rav el i n g at 5 9 m i l es p er h o u r; t he p os t ed sp eed l i m it was 4 0

m i l es p er h o u r. An d p o l ice co n cl u d ed fro m t he t i re m ark s an d an g l e o f t h e v eh i cl es

t h at W es t was m o v i n g fro m t h e ri g h t l an e t o t h e l eft at t h e t i m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n

.

6 At t h e t i m e o f acci den t

, Bo at ri g h t t o l d p o l i ce W es t was t rav el i n g i n t h e l eft

l an e, b u t l at er t es t i fi ed h e was t rav el i n g i n t h e ri g h t l an e.

5Sev eral wi t n es s es

, i n cl u d i n g Bo at ri g h t i n h i s i n i t i al st at em en t t o p ol i ce, 7 s ai d

t h ey o b s erv ed M u s e s t o p b efo re en t eri n g t h e i n t ers ect i o n

, al t h o u g h wi t n es s acco u n t s

d i f fered co n cern i ng t h e preci s e p o i n t wh ere s h e s t o p p ed

, an d o n e wi t n es s s ai d i t

ap p eared t o h er t h at Mu s e was l o o k i n g f o r o n co m i n g t raffi c, b u t sh e co u l d n o t b e

cert ai n d u e t o t h e d i s tan ce. Bas ed o n t h e wi tn es s es ’ acco u n ts

, o n e i n v es t i g at i n g

o ffi cer co n cl u d e d i n hi s rep o rt t h at M u se st op p ed at t h e po i n t wh ere t h e ro ad s

i n t ers ect , o r ju s t i n t o W h i t e Bl u ff Ro ad

.

Pl ai n t i ffs al s o p res en t ed t h e rep o rt an d t es t i m o n y fro m an acci d en t

reco n s t ru ct i o ni s t, wh o, b as ed o n h i s reco n s t ru ct i o n of th e acci d en t an d t h e co n d i t i on s

at t he In t ers ect i on , t es ti fi ed t h at i n o rd er t o h av e a co m p l et el y u n o b s t ru ct ed v i ew, a

d ri v er h ad t o “ n o se” p as t t he s t o p b a r i n t o t h e n o rt hb o u n d l an e o f t raffi c. He al s o

o p i n ed

, b as ed o n h i s cal cu lat i o n s o f t h e p re-acci d en t p o s it i on s o f th e v eh i cl es rel at i v e

t o th e po i n t o f i m

p act

, W es t ’ s v eh i cl e was n o t v i s i b l e t o M u s e as s h e b eg an t o cro ss

W h i t e Bl u ff Ro ad

, an d t h at b y t h e ti m e s h e co u ld s ee h i s v eh i cl e i t was t o o l at e to

av o id t h e acci d en t

, m ak in g a cras h al l bu t un av oi d ab le. Th e ex p ert al so co n cl u d ed

7 Bo at ri g h t l at er t ol d p o l i ce an d tes t i f i e d i n h i s d ep o s i t i o n t h at h e n ev er s aw

M u s e s t o p

.

6t h at h ad t h e v i s u al o b s t ru ct i o n s b een rem o v ed

, b o t h Mu s e an d W es t wo ul d h av e b een

ab l e t o s ee each o th er i n t im e t o av o i d t h e acci d en t. 8

1

. S o ver ei g n Immu n i t

y. W e t u rn fi rs t t o t he t h res h ol d is s u e o f so v erei g n

i m m u ni t y

. Ci t y o f Tyb ee Is l a n d v. Ha r r o d

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 3

, 52 4 (7 8 8 SE2 d 1 2 2 )

(2 0 1 6) (s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y is n o t in t h e n at u re o f a n a f f i rm at iv e defen s e, g o i n g to

t h e m eri t s o f t h e cas es

, b u t i n s t ead rai s es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u bject m at t er j u ri s d i ct i o n

t o t ry t h e cas e an d s h o u l d b e d eci d ed at th e o u t s et ); Al b er t so n v. Ci t y o f Jes u p

, 3 1 2

Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 6

, 2 4 8 (1 ) (7 18 SE2 d 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ s o verei gn im m u n i ty is a t h res h o l d i s s u e

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt wa s req u i red t o ad d res s b efo re reach i ng t h e m eri t s o f an y o t h er

arg u m en t .”).

M u n i ci pal i t i es are p ro t ect ed b y s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y p u rs u an t t o Art i cl e IX,

Sect i o n II, Parag rap h IX 9 o f t h e Geo rg i a Co n s ti t ut i on u n l es s t h at i m m u n i t y i s wai v ed

b y th e Gen eral As s em

b l y o r b y t h e t erm s of th e Co n st i tu t i o n i ts el f. Ci t y of At l a n t a v.

Mi t ch a m

, 2 9 6 Ga. 5 7 6

, 57 7 (1 ) (7 6 9 SE2 d 3 2 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ); CS X Tr a n sp

., In c. v. Ci t

y of

Ga r den Ci t

y

, 2 7 7 Ga. 2 4 8, 2 4 9 (1 ) (5 8 8 SE2 d 6 88 ) (2 0 0 3 ); C i t y o f Gr een b o r o v.

8 A s t h e t ri al co u rt no t ed

, ev en i f t h e Ci t y ’ s req u es t t o e x c l u d e t h i s ev i d en ce

was g ran ted , o t h er ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd s u pp o rt s t h e s am e co n cl u s io n s

.

9 Th i s p ro v is i o n pro v id es : “ Th e Gen eral As s em b l y m ay wai v e t h e im

m u n i t y o f

co u nt i es , m

u n i ci p al i t i es , an d s ch o o l d i s t ri ct s b y l aw.”

7Ro wl a n d

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 48

, 1 4 9 (1 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 4 0 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ). Th at i m m u n i ty i s

rei t erat ed i n OCGA § 3 6 -3 3 -1 (a), wh i ch pro v i d es “ i t i s t h e pu b l i c p o li cy of t h e St at e

o f Geo rg i a t h at t h ere i s n o wai v er o f t h e s o v e r e i g n im m un i t y o f m

u n i ci p al

co rp o rat i o ns o f t h e s t at e an d su ch m u ni ci p al co rp o rat i on s s hal l b e i m m u n e fro m

l i ab i l i t y fo r d am ag es

. . . .” Ho wev er, s u b s ect i o n (b ) o f t h at sect io n carv es o u t a n arro w

wai v er: “ [m ] u n i ci p al co rp o rat i o n s s h al l n o t be li ab l e fo r fai l u re t o p erfo r m o r fo r

erro rs i n p erfo rm i n g t h ei r l eg i s l at i v e o r ju d i ci al p o wers

. Fo r n e g l e c t t o p erfo rm o r

i m p ro p er o r u n s k il l fu l p erfo rm an ce o f t h ei r m i n i s t eri al d u t i es

, t h ey s h al l b e l i ab l e.”

Mi t ch a m , 2 9 6 Ga. at 5 7 7 (1 ).

Fo r m o re th an a cen t u ry

, “ [t ] hi s p ro v is i on h as

. . . b een i n t erp ret ed t o m ean t h at

m u ni ci p al co rp o rat i o n s are i m m u n e fro m l i ab i li t y fo r act s t ak en in p erfo rm an ce o f a

g o v ern m en t al fu n ct i o n b u t m a y be l i ab le fo r th e n eg l i gen t perfo rm an ce o f t h ei r

m i n i s t eri al d u t i es .” Mi t ch am

, 2 9 6 Ga. at 5 7 7 (1 ). On e su ch m i n i s t e r i a l d ut y

, wh i ch

al s o h a s b e e n r e c o g n i zed fo r m o re t han a cen t u ry

, i s t h e d ut y o f a m u ni ci p al i t y to

m ai n t ai n ci t y st reet s i n a reas o n ab l y s afe co n d i t i o n fo r t rav el

. 1 0 Ho w e v e r

, a c i t y ’ s

1 0 See M a y o r o f M o n t ez u ma v. W

i l s on

, 8 2 Ga. 2 0 6 (9 SE 17 ) (1 88 8 ) (“ A

m u ni c i p a l c o rp o rat i o n can n o t b e h el d l i ab l e fo r d am ag es o ccu rri n g b y reas o n o f a

d efect i n i t s s t reet s

, s i d ewal k s

, s ewers o r b ri dg es

, wh en i t h as n o n o t i ce t h ereo f, o r

wh en s u ch d efect h as n o t ex i s ted fo r a s u ffi ci en t l en g t h o f t i m e fro m wh i ch n o t i ce can

b e i n ferred

, p ro v i d ed t h e co rp o rat io n h as b een gu i l t y o f n o n eg l ig en ce i n co ns t ru ct i n g

8l i ab i l i t y i n t h i s reg ard i s s p eci fi cal ly l i m i t ed b y s t at ut e as s et o u t i n OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3

(a):

A m

u ni ci p al i t y i s r e l i ev ed o f an y an d al l l iab i l i t y res u l t i n g fro m o r

o ccas i o n ed b y d efect s i n t h e p u bl i c ro ad s o f i t s m u n i ci p al s t reet s y st em

wh en i t h as n o t b een n eg l i g en t i n co n s t ru ct i n g or m ai n t ai ni n g t h e s am e

o r wh en it h as no act u al n o t i ce t h ereo f o r w h e n s u c h d efect h as n o t

ex i s ted fo r a s u ffi ci en t l en g t h o f t i m e fo r n o ti ce t h ereo f t o b e i n ferred

.

Th u s, “ [s ] t at ed p o s i t i v el y , “ m u n i ci p al i t i es g en eral l y

h av e a m i n i s t eri al d u ty

t o k eep

t h ei r s t reet s i n rep ai r, an d t h ey are l i ab l e fo r i n ju ri es res u l t i n g fro m d efect s aft er act u al

n o t i ce, o r aft er t he defect h as ex i s t ed fo r a s u ffi ci en t l en gt h o f t i m e fo r no t i c e t o b e

i n ferred

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m it t ed .) Ro q u emo re , 2 74 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 3

.

o r rep ai ri n g s am e.”); Ma

yo r & Co u n ci l o

f Da l t on v. W

i l s o n

, 11 8 Ga. 1 0 0 (4 4 SE 8 3 0 )

(1 9 0 3) (s et ti n g o ut wel l es t ab li s h ed ru l e t h at a m u n ici p al co rp o rat i o n is b o u n d t o k eep

i t s s t reet s an d s i d ewal k s i n a reas o n a b l y safe co n di t i o n ). See al s o Ma yo r a n d

Al d er men o f S a va n n a h v

. J

o h n s

, 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 71 9

, 7 23 (7 5 SE2 d 3 4 2 ) (1 9 5 3 ) (“ It

s eem s t h at t h e li ab i l i t y o f a m u n i ci p al it y fo r fai l u re t o k eep i ts s t reet s an d s i d ewal k s

i n rep ai r ex i s t ed at co m

m o n l aw, fo r Co d e § 6 9 -3 0 3 [ n o w OCGA § 3 2-4 -9 3 ] was

t ak en fro m t h e d eci si o n of o u r Su p rem e Co u rt i n Ma yo r & c. o f Mo nt ez u ma v. W

i l s o n

, 8 2 Ga. 8 0 6 (9 SE 1 7 )[.] ”); Ro q u emo r e v. Ci ty o f Fo r s yt h

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 0

, 4 2 2 -2 3

(6 1 7 SE2 d 6 4 4 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ it i s wel l s et t l ed . . . t h at a m u n i ci p al co rp o rat i o n i s b o u n d

t o keep i t s st reet s an d si d ewal k s i n a reas o n ab l y s afe co n d i t i o n fo r t rav el

. . . , an d i f

i t fai l s t o d o s o

, i t i s l i ab l e fo r d am ag es fo r i n ju ri es s us t ai n ed i n co n s eq u en ce o f s u ch

fai l u re.”) (ci t at i on an d p un ct u at io n o m it t ed .) Se e gen eral l y R. Perry Sen t el l J r.,

S t a t u t es o f No n s t a t u t or

y Or i gi n 1 4 . Ga. L. Rev . 2 39 , 2 56 -5 7 (1 98 0 ).

9Th e q u es t i on t h en t urn s o n wh at co n st i tu t es a d efect i n t h e p ub l i c ro ad s u n d er

OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3 (a), an d i n p art i cu l ar, wh et h e r o b j ect s ad j acen t t o th e ro ad t h at

o b s t ru ct t h e v iew of t rav el l ers o n t h e ro ad are co n s i d ered “ d efect s i n t h e p u b l i c

ro ad s .” A s ex p l ai ned b y t h i s Co u rt

, “ ‘ d efect s i n i t s s treet s ’ fo r wh i ch a m u n i ci p al

co rp o r a t i o n m ay b e l i ab l e u n d er t he pro v i si o n of t h i s co d e s ect i o n (an d i t s

p red eces s o r) h av e b een h el d t o i n cl u d e o bject s ad jacen t t o

, an d s u s p en ded o v er, t h e

m u ni ci p al i ty ’ s s t reet s an d s i d ewal k s

, t h e p res en ce o f wh i ch ren d ers t h e u s e o f t h es e

t h o ro u g hfares m o re h azard o us

. (Ci t s .)’ Ri ch a r d s v. Ma yo r & c. o f Amer i cu s

, 1 5 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 6 9 3

, 6 9 4 (2 8 2 SE2 d 1 2 2 ) (1 9 8 1 ).” Ki ckl i g h t er v. Sa va n n ah Tr a n s i t Au t h

. , 1 6 7

Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 8

, 53 0 (2 ) (3 0 7 SE2 d 4 7 ) (1 9 8 3). Th us

, i n Ki ckl ig h t er

, we d et erm i n ed t h at

a ju ry m u s t d eci d e wh et her a p o wer p ol e lo cat ed s i x in ch es o u t s i d e t h e cu rb l i n e o f

t h e st reet was a d efect wi th in t he m ean i ng o f t he s tat u t e ren d eri n g t h e Ci t y l i ab l e fo r

i n ju ri es recei v ed by t h e p l ai n t i ff aft er hi s arm

, wh i ch w as p r o p p ed i n an o p en bu s

wi n do w, b ecam e wed g ed b et ween t h e b us an d t h e p o le. Id . at 5 2 8

.

Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt h as l i k ewi s e ex p l ai n ed wel l o v er a h u n dred y ears ag o

, t h at

“ [t ] h e m u n i ci p al i ty s h o u l d n o t al l o w o b st ru ct io n s o r ex cav at io n s to a dj oin the tr a ve led

way wh i ch wi l l ren d er i t s u se u n s afe an d d an g ero u s

. Ci t i es are l i ab l e fo r n eg l i g en t l y

p erm i t t in g u n gu ard ed ex cav at i o n s n ear t h e l i n e o f t h e r o ad or s t reet

, as wel l as fo r

10n eg li g en t l y al l owi n g o bs t ru ct io n s l i k el y t o cau s e i n ju ry t o b e p l aced u po n o r n ear t h e

l i ne[.] ” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ci ty Co u n ci l o f Au gu s t a v. Th a r

p e , 1 1 3

G a

. 1 5 2

, 1 5 5 -5 6 (3 8 SE 3 89 ) (1 9 0 1 ) (“ [w] e are no t ab l e t o s ay t h at a wi re,

. . .

s t ret ch ed al o n g t h e m arg i n o f a s i d ewal k

, wh i ch i s p art o f a p u b l ic s t reet

, wo u l d n ot

b e a d an g ero u s o b s t ru ct io n [.] )”; Ha m mo ck v. Ci t y Co u n ci l o f Au g u s t a , 8 3 Ga. Ap p.

2 1 7

, 2 1 8 -1 9 (6 3 SE2 d 2 9 0) (1 9 5 1 ) (reject i ng Ci ty ’ s co n t en t i o n t hat d efect s i n cl u d e

o n l y d efect s i n t h e s u rface o f a s t reet o r s id ewal k an d no t d efect s o n t h e s i d e o r ab o v e

i t ).

Fu rt her, t he Ci t y ’ s li ab i l i t y i s no t l i m i t ed t o m an m ad e o b ject s o r o bs t ru ct i o n s

,

b u t ex t en d s t o “ d efect s w h ich are g rad u al l y b ro u g h t ab ou t b y t h e fo rces o f n at u re”

s u ch as t ree l i m

b s o r v eg et at i o n al o n g s i d e t h e ro ad

. Ba r n es vi l le v. S a pp i n g t o n

, 5 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 7

, 2 8 (1 9 7 SE 3 4 2 ) (1 9 3 8). See al s o Ri ch ar d s

, 15 8 G a. Ap p

. at 6 9 4 (i nv o l v i n g

a t ree l i m

b ex t en d i n g o ver t h e s t reet w h i ch b ro k e o f f a nd cru s h ed p l ai n t i ff’ s

h u s b an d ’ s v eh icl e, k i l l i n g h i m ).

Al t h ou g h t h e Ci ty ack n o wl ed g es t hat a “ defect ” w i t hi n th e m ean i n g o f s ect i o n

3 2 -4 -9 3 m ay i n cl u d e nat u ral co n d i t io n s t h at o ccu r al o n g s i de o r ov er a s t reet

, i t arg u es

t h at t h is cas e i s co n t ro l l ed b y preced en t i n wh i ch we h av e s p eci fi cal l y h el d t h at t h e

rem o v al o f v eg et at io n wh i ch b l o ck s a d ri v er ’s v i ew o f a traffi c co n t ro l d ev i ce i s a

11g o v ern m en t al

, n o t m in i s t eri al

, fu nct i o n fo r wh i ch t h ere i s no wai v er o f so v erei g n

i m m u n i t y. S ee, e.g

., A l b er t

s o n v. Ci t y o f Jes u p

, 31 2 Ga. A p p

. 2 4 6

, 2 4 9 -5 0 (1 ) (7 1 8

SE2 d 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ). W e d i s ag ree.

As an i n i t ial m at t er, al t h o u g h i t i s tru e t h at t h i s Co urt h as h el d t h at t h e Ci t y i s

i m m u ne fro m s u i t fo r cl ai m s ari s i n g fro m veh i cu l ar o r ped es t ri an acci d en ts th at o ccu r

as t h e res u l t o f v eg et at i o n b l o ck i n g t h e vi ew o f a t raffi c co n t ro l d ev i ce, o u r an al y s i s

i n t h o s e cas es fo cu s ed o n t h e fact t h at i ns t al l i n g an d m a i n t a i n i n g t raffi c co n tro l

d ev ices i n vo l v es a g o v ern m en t al fu n ct i o n

. Al so

, we s p eci fi cal l y d i s t i n g u i s h ed

acci den t s res u l t i n g fro m

o b s t ru ct i o n s t o t h e v i ew o f o n co m i n g t raffi c as o p p o s ed to

t h e vi ew o f t h e t raffi c co n t ro l d ev ice i ts el f, wh i ch s o v erei gn im m u n i ty co v ers

. See

Al b er t s o n

, 3 12 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 4 9 -5 0 (1 ) (“ [B] ecau s e ‘ i t is t he ob s tru ct i o n o f th e [s t o p

s i gn ]

, an d n o t o b s t ru ct i o n o f t h e s i g h t o f o n co m in g t raffi c w h i ch [Pl ai n ti ff] co n t en d (s )

cau s ed [h i m ] t o ad v an ce an d co ll i d e,’ so v erei g n i m m u n i t y b ars h is reco v ery ‘ fo r ev en

n eg li g en t ex erci s e o f t h i s g o v ern m en t al fu nct i on .’ ”); Cyr v. S a va n n a h

, 1 8 8 Ga. Ap p.

2 6 1

, 2 6 2 (3 7 2 SE2 d 6 5 9 ) (1 9 88 ) (Beas l ey

, J

., co n cu rri n g sp eci al l y ) (s am e). See al s o

Ro q uemo r e

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 2

- 2 3 (d i s t i n g u i s h i ng m in i s t eri al d u t y t o m ai n t ai n

s t reet s fro m g o v ern m en t al fu n ct i o n o f m ai nt ai n i n g s t reet l i g h t s ); M cKi n l ey v. Ci t

y of

12Ca r t e r

s vi l l e

, 23 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 9

, 6 6 0 (5 0 3 SE2 d 5 5 9 ) (1 9 9 8) (d i s t i n gu i s h i n g

g o v ern m en t al fu n ct i o n o f i n st al l i n g s t o p s i g n s at i n t ers ect i o n ).

Fu rt her, we h av e p rev i o u sly reco g n ized t h at v i s u al o b s t ru ct i o n s m ay b e a fact o r

i n m ak in g a Ci t y ’ s s t reet u n reas o n a b l y h azard o u s

. See Ma yo r an d A l d

er men of

Mi l l ed g evi ll e v. Ho l l o wa

y

, 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 4

, 7 35 (1 24 SE 8 0 2 ) (1 9 2 4 ) (n eg l i g en ce

act i on ag ai n s t t h e C i t y n o t s u b ject t o d em

u rrer wh en Ci t y h ad l awfu ll y erect ed

o b s t ru ct i on t h at was d i ffi cu l t t o s ee d u e t o a h i ll , fo rci n g d ri ver o f car t o v eer i n t o a

d i t ch wh en he d ro v e aro u n d i t ). Acco rd i n g l y

, i n l i n e w i t h t h i s l on g es t ab l i s h ed

p reced en t

, we fi n d th at a ju ry m u s t d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e t ree l o cat ed o n t h e Ci t y ’ s

ri gh t o f way ob s t ru ct ed t he v i ew o f o nco m i n g t raffi c su ch t h at i t was a “ defect ” wi t h in

t h e m ean i n g o f OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3

. 1 1

Ho wev er, t h at d o es n ot en d ou r an al y s i s b ecau s e t h e Ci t y i s l i ab l e o n ly i f i t h ad

n o t i ce o f t h e d efect

.

1 1 No r d o we bel i ev e t hat o u r Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s d eci s io n i n T o w n o f Fo r t

Og l et h or p e v. Ph i l l i

p s

, 2 2 4 Ga. 8 3 4 (1 6 5 SE2 d 1 4 1) (1 96 8 ) req ui res a d i fferen t res u l t

. Ph i l l ip s i nv o l v ed a t raffi c l i g h t t h at b l i n k ed g reen i n al l d irect i o n s

, cau s i n g nu m ero u s

acci den t s

. Th e Co u rt h el d t h at t h e i m p ro per o p er a t i o n o f t h e t raffi c l i g h t d i d n ot

co n st i t u t e a “ p hy s i cal o b s t ru ct i o n o r defect i n t h e s t reet ” u n d er th e p red eces s o r to

OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3

. Id

. at 83 7

. Th e Co u rt di d n o t co n s i d er o r a d d r e s s t h e i s s u e o f

wh et h er a d ri ver o n t h e ro ad wi t h an o b s t ru c t ed v i ew o f o n co m i n g traffi c m ay

m ai n t ai n an act i o n u n d er OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3

.

13Co n st ru ct iv e n o t i ce of a defect m ay b e i m p ut ed t hro u g h t h e k n o wl ed ge

o f t h e ci t y ’ s em

pl o y ees or ag en t s

, o r m ay b e sh o wn by tes t im o n y as t o

h o w l on g t h e d efect ex i st ed p ri o r t o t h e i n ju ry , o b ject i v e ev i d en ce t hat

t h e d efect ex is t ed o v er t i m e, o r ev i d en ce t hat o t h ers w ere i n ju red as a

res u lt o f t h e s am e co n d i t i o n o v er a p eri o d o f y ears

. . . . T h e q u es t i o n o f

c o ns t ru ct iv e n ot i ce o rd i n ari l y i s fo r t h e ju ry

, ex cep t i n t h e ab s e n c e o f

an y ev i d en ce o f co n s tru ct i v e n o ti ce t h at co u l d creat e a fact q u es t io n

, an d

i n s u c h a n i n s t an ce, t h e i s s u e o f n eg l ig en ce is a m at t er o f l aw.

. . .

Fu rt her, t h e l en g t h o f t i m e a d efect m u st ex i s t in o rd er fo r an i n feren ce

o f n o t ice t o ari s e i s o rd i nari l y a ju ry q u es t i o n.

Cl a rk v. Ci t

y o f At l a n t a , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p . 1 51 , 1 5 3 (7 4 4 SE2 d 1 2 2 ) (2 0 13 ).

H e r e, t h e reco rd s h o w s th at t h e Di rect o r o f Sav an n ah ’ s T raffi c Dep ar t m e n t

,

M ark W ei n er, vi s i t ed t h e In t ers ect i o n i n 1 9 9 8 t o ad d res s an o th er p ro b l em an d n o t ed

t h at “ sev eral t rees o n t h e eas t s i d e of W h it e Bl u ff ju s t so u th o f Lee B o u l e v a rd ”

i m p a i r e d d ri v er “ v is i b i l it y o n Lee Bo u l ev ard en t eri n g W h i t e Bl u ff Ro ad .” W ei n er

rep o rt ed t h i s fi n d in g an d m ad e a reco m m en d at i o n to rem o ve t h e t r e es t o th e t h en

Di rect o r o f Sav an n ah ’ s Pu b l i c W o rk s

, b u t t h e t rees were n o t rem o ved at t h at t i m e. In

2 0 0 7

, t h ree y ears b e f

o r e M u s e’ s acci d en t

, N i ch o las W eav er was al s o h i t at t h e

In t ers ect i o n wh i le at t em

p t i ng t o t u rn o n t o W h i t e Bl u ff Ro ad aft er s to p p i n g at t h e s t o p

s i gn o n Lee Bo u lev ard

. T h e p o l i ce rep o rt p rep ared fo l l o wi n g t h e 20 0 7 acci d en t

co n tai n ed a n ot at io n t h at W eav er’ s v i s i o n was o b scu red by t rees

, an d W eav er t es t i fi ed

14t h at t he t rees m ad e i t v er y d i f f i c u l t t o see at t he In t ers ect i o n

, an d at l eas t p art i al l y

b l o ck ed h i s vi s io n o f t h e o n co m i ng t raffi c an d t h e v eh i cl e t h at h i t h i m

. A n d i n

Decem b er 2 0 0 9

, ab o u t s ev en m o n t h s p ri or t o M u s e’ s acci d en t

, an an o n y m o u s cal l er

n o t i fi ed t h e Ci t y t hat t h e t wo t rees

, al o n g wi t h o t h er veg et at i o n, were o b s t ru ct i n g t h e

v i ew fo r d ri v ers at t em

p t i n g t o g o s o u th o n t o W h i te Bl uff Ro ad

.

Al t h ou g h t h e Ci ty arg u es t h i s ev i d en ce was i n s uffi ci en t t o p ro v i d e t h e req u i si t e

n o t i ce t o t h e Ci t y b ecau s e o n l y o n e acci d en t s p eci fi cal l y at t ri b u ted t o t he d efect h ad

o ccu rred at t h e In t ers ect i o n

, we fi n d s uffi ci e n t e v i d e n ce fo r a j u ry t o d et erm i n e

wh et h er t h e Ci t y h ad a c t u a l o r co n s tru ct i v e n o t i ce t h at t h e t ree was o b s t ru ct i n g t h e

v i ew o f m o t o ri s t s t rav el i n g t h r o u g h t h e In t ers ect i o n

. E .g

., Ci t y of Fi t z g er a l d v.

Ca r u t h er s

, 3 3 2 G a. Ap p

. 73 1

, 73 4 (7 7 4 SE2 d 7 7 7 ) (2 0 1 5) (p hy si cal p reced en t o n l y )

(ci t y ’ s ad m i s s i on t h at i t d i d no t d o cu m en t ev ery co m p l ai nt ab ou t h azard o u s t rees an d

ev i d en ce t h at t h e t ree was v i s i b l y d ecay i n g was s uffi ci en t t o creat e ju ry i s s u e o n

k n o wl ed g e); Ki ckl i

g h t er

, 1 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 3 0 -3 1 (2 ) (ev id en ce t h at th e p o l e had b een

i n p l ace fo r 2 4 y ears an d b o re scrap e m ark s fro m p as s i n g v eh i cl es s u ffi ci en t t o rai s e

a fact q u es t i o n o f i m

p l i ed no t i ce); cf. Ca r t er v. Geo r g i a Po wer Co

. , 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7

(4 1 8 SE2 d 3 7 9 ) (ci t y d i d n o t h av e n o t i ce th at t ree l im b t h at fel l w as ro t t ed wh en t h e

l i m b ap p eared n o rm al an d t h ere h ad b een n o reco rd o f an y co m p l ai n t o r rep o rt ab o ut

15t h e t ree). Acco rd i n g l y

, Pl ai n t i ffs ’ n eg l i g en ce an d n u is an ce 1 2 cl ai m s are n o t b arred by

s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y

.

2

. P r o x i ma t e Ca u s e. Th e Ci t y al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y

d en y i n g i t s m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t b ecau s e Pl ai n t i ffs can no t es t ab l i s h t h at t h e

o b s t r u c t i o n i n s i g h t cau s ed b y t h e t ree was a p ro x im at e o r co n cu rri ng cau se o f t h e

acci den t

, arg ui n g t h at t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t hat t h e acci d en t was wh o l l y at t ri b u t ab l e

t o W es t ’ s s p eed i n g an d M u s e’ s fai l u re t o y i el d

. 1 3

1 2 Th e Ci t y h as n o t as s ert ed s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y b ars t h e n u i s an ce cl ai m

, an d

ci t i n g Ci ty o

f Th o ma s vi l l e v. S

h a n k

, 2 63 Ga. 6 2 4 ( 4 3 7 S E2 d 3 06 ) (1 9 9 3 ), t h e t ri al

co u rt m ad e a t h res ho l d det erm i n at i o n i n i t s s u m m ary ju d g m en t o rd er t hat t h e n u i s an ce

cl ai m was n o t b arred

. Al th o u g h we q u es t i o n t h e ap p l i cat i on o f Sh a n k t o t h i s cas e, we

n e ed n o t p ars e t h i s i s s u e s i nce an y wai v er creat ed b y OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3 wo u l d a l s o

ap p ly t o t h e n u is an ce cl ai m

. See Ga

. Dep t

. o f Na t ur a l R e s ou r ces v. Cen t er f o r a

S u s t a i n a bl e Co a s t

, In c.

, 2 94 Ga. 5 9 3

, 5 9 6 (2 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d 1 84 ) (2 01 4 ) (ex pl ai ni n g t h at

S h a n k i s p rem i sed o n t h e tak i n g s cl au s e o f o u r Co n s t i t ut i o n); Ro wl a n d

, 3 34 Ga. Ap p.

at 1 4 9 (1 ) (s am e); H

o wa r d v. Go u rmet Co n cep ts In t l

., In c. v. Deka l b Co u nt y

, 2 4 2 Ga.

Ap p

. 52 1 (5 2 9 SE2 d 4 0 6 ) (2 0 0 0) (t ri al co urt p ro p erl y g ran t ed s um m ary ju d g m en t to

Co u n t y fo r an al l eg ed n u i san ce cau s i n g p ers o n al i n ju ry b ecau s e su ch i nju ry d o es n ot

co n st i t u t e p ers o nal p ro p ert y t h at can b e t ak en fo r pu rp o s es o f i n v ers e co nd em n at i o n ).

Bu t s ee To wn o

f Fo r t Og l et h o r

p e v. Ph i l l i

p s

, 22 4 Ga. 8 3 4

, 8 3 7 -3 8 (1 6 5 SE2 d 1 4 1 )

( 1 968) ( pla intif

f co u l d m ai n tai n n u i s an ce cl ai m bas ed o n m al fu nct i o ni n g t raffi c s igna l

wi t h o u t reg ard t o wh et h er i t i n vo l v ed a g o v ern m en t al o r m i n i st eri al fu n ct io n ).

1 3 Th e Ci t y arg u es t h at

, as t o p ro x i m at e cau s e, t h i s cas e i s i n d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e

fro m an d co nt ro l l ed b y Ho wa r d v. Go u r met

Co n cep t s In tl ., In c.

, 2 42 Ga. Ap p . 5 2 1,

5 2 3 (1 ) (c) (5 2 9 SE2 d 4 06 ) (2 0 0 0 ), i n wh i ch w e fo u n d t h at ev en a s s u m i n g t h e

v eg et at i on ab u t t in g t h e ro ad o b s t ru ct ed t h e dri v er’ s v i ew t o s o m e ex t en t

, t h e ev i d en ce

s h o wed t h at th e o t h er d ri v er’ s ex ces s i v e s p eed

, fai l u re t o m ai nt ai n co n t ro l

, fai l u re to

16“ W i t h res p ect t o p ro x i m at e cau s e, G e org i a l aw i s cl ear th at (t )h e p ro x i m at e

cau s e o f an i nju ry m ay b e t wo s ep ara t e a n d d i s t i n ct act s o f n eg l i g en ce act i n g

co n cu rren t ly (,) an d t h e p ers on i n ju red m ay reco v er fro m ei t h er or b o t h of t h e p ers on s

res p o n s i b l e. Th e m ere fact t h at t h e p l ai nt i ff’ s i n ju ri es w o u l d n ot h av e b een s u s t ai n ed

h ad o nl y o n e o f t h e act s o f n eg l i g en ce o ccu rred wi l l n ot o f i t s el f o p erat e t o l i m i t t h e

o t h er act as co ns t it u t i n g t h e p ro x i m at e cau s e.” Ha yes v. Cr a wf

or d

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5,

7 8 (7 3 0 SE2 d 2 6 ) (2 0 12 ). “ [T] o es t ab l i s h p ro x i m at e cau se, a p l ai n t iff m u s t s h o w a

l eg al ly at t ri b u tab l e cau s al co n n ect i o n b et ween th e d efen d an t ’ s co n d u ct an d t h e

al l eg ed in ju ry

. Co n vers el y

, n o m at t er h ow n eg l i g en t a p art y m ay b e, if hi s act s t an d s

i n n o cau s al rel at io n t o t h e i n ju ry i t i s n o t act i on ab l e.” (Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t e d

. ) R i

g g i n s v. Ci t

y o f S t

. Ma r ys

, 26 4 Ga. Ap p

. 9 5, 9 8 (1 ) (a) (5 8 9 SE2 d 6 9 1 )

(2 0 0 3).

Al t h ou g h t h ere are co n fl i ct s an d c o n t r a d i ct io n s i n t he ev i d en ce p res en t ed in

t h i s cas e, i t ap p ears es t ab l is h ed b ey o n d di s p ut e t h at t h e t ree o n t h e Ci ty ’ s ri gh t o f way

creat ed a p art i al o r to t al o b s t ru ct i o n fo r d ri v ers at t em p t i n g t o n a v i gat e t h i s

m ai n t ai n a p ro p er l o o k o ut an d d ri v i n g o v er t h e cen ter o f t h e ro ad i n t o t h e w ro n g l an e

was t h e s o l e p ro x i m at e cau s e o f acci d en t i n wh i ch t h e p l ai n ti ff s u ffered seri o u s i n ju ry

. Ho wev er, no t o n l y i s Ho wa r d fact u al l y d i s t i n g u is h ab le, i t i s l e g al l y i n ap p o si t e

b ecau s e t h at cas e co n cern ed a s u i t ag a i n s t a co u n t y

, n o t a ci ty

, an d i n vo l v ed a

d i fferen t s t at u te, OCGA § 3 2 -6 -5 1 rat h er t h an OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3

.

17In t ers ect i o n

, al t h o ug h t he ex t en t of t h e o b st ru ct i o n an d t h e ex t en t o f t h e d an g er

creat ed b y t h e o b s t ru ct i o n i s d i s p u ted an d are is su es t h at m u s t b e res o l v ed b y t h e ju ry

.

Fu rt h er, v i ewi n g th e ev i d en ce i n fav o r o f M u s e, as t h e n on m o v an t

, t h ere ex i s t s at

l eas t s o m e ev i d e n ce t h at M u s e s t o p p ed at s o m e po i n t at t h e In t ers ect i o n b efo re

p r o ceed i n g

, al t h ou g h it is u n cl ear ex act l y wh ere s h e st o p p ed

. Th e Ci t y arg u es t h at

b ecau s e t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at M u s e s t o p p ed a nd l o o ked b e f o r e t u rn in g

, i t i s

en t i t l ed t o s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

. Bu t an ey ewi t n es s or t es t i m o n y fro m M u s e o n t h i s

p o i n t i s n o t req u i red h ere wh en n u m ero u s wi tn es s es t es ti fi ed t h at Mu s e cam e t o a s t o p

b e fo re t u rn i ng

. A reas o n ab le i nferen ce fro m t h is ev i d en ce i s t h at M u s e s t o p p e d t o

l o o k at traffi c fo r her s afet y

. Co wa r t v. W i d en er

, 2 8 7 Ga. 62 2

, 6 2 4 (1 ) (a) (6 9 7 SE2 d

7 7 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (“ In o u r d e n o v o rev i ew o f t h e g ran t o f a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

we m u s t v i ew t h e ev i d en ce, an d al l reas on ab l e i n feren ces d rawn t h e r e fro m

, i n t h e

l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t he nonm ova nt. ” ) ( c i t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Co m p are

Ba co n v Ma

yo r & Al d

er men o f t h e Ci t y o f S a va n n a h

, 2 41 Ga. Ap p

. 21 1 (5 2 5 SE2 d

1 1 5 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (o bs t ru ct i o n w as n ot p ro x i m at e cau s e wh ere ch i l d ran i n t o st reet wi t h o ut

s t op p i n g o r lo o k i ng ); Ci t

y Co u n ci l o

f Au gu s ta v. Bo o ker

, 2 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 6

, 5 6 7 (1 )

(4 9 4 SE2 d 3 74 ) (1 9 8 5 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ) (weed s t h at m ay h a v e o b s cu red

v i ew of o n co m i n g t raffi c co n d i t i o n w as n o t p ro x im at e cau s e o f wreck wh en ch i ld

18ad m i t t ed h e d i d n ot s t o p an d lo o k b efo re ri di n g h i s b i k e i nt o th e st reet wh ere h e was

h i t b y a car).

Ad d it i on al l y

, al t h o u gh W es t ’ s s p eed an d freq u en t l an e ch an ges m ay h av e

co n tri b u t ed t o t h e acci d en t

, a ju ry co ul d co n cl ud e th at t h e fact t h at Mu se’ s v i e w o f

W es t ’ s t ru ck an d W es t ’ s v i ew o f M u s e’ s v eh i cl e m ay h av e b een p art i al ly

o r wh o l l y

o b s t ru ct ed b y t h e tree s u ch t h at n ei t h er d ri v er w as ab le t o s ee t h e o t h er u n ti l i t was t o o

l at e al s o co n t ri b ut ed t o t he acci d en t

. Acco rd i n g l y

, al t h o u g h i t i s p o ss i b l e i n t h i s cas e

t h at a ju ry co u ld d et erm i n e t h at a n u m b er o f fact o rs co n t ri b u t ed t o t h e acci d en t

, we

can n ot el i m i n at e as a m at t er o f l aw t h e o b s tru ct i on i n l i ne o f si gh t cau s ed by t h e t ree

as a p ro x i m at e o r co n cu rri n g cau s e o f t h e acci d en t

, an d t h u s

, s u m m ary j u d gm en t was

p ro p erl y d en i ed

. Ri

g g i ns , 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p . at 9 9 (1 ) (a).

3

. Avo i da bl e Co n s eq u en ces

. T h e Ci t y al s o co n t en d s t hat M u s e’ s cl ai m s are

b arred by t h e d o ct ri n e o f av o id ab l e co n s eq u en ces b ecau s e hav i n g prev i o u s l y d ri v en

t h ro u g h t h e In ters ect io n

, Mu s e k n ew ab ou t t he o bs t ru ct ed v i ew an d al so kn ew t h at

s h e co ul d h av e av o i d ed t h e In t ers ect i o n en t i rel y b y t ak i n g a d i fferen t ro u te t h ro u g h

an i n t ers ect i on o n t h e eas t erl y e n d o f Lee Bo u l ev ard

, wh i ch was co n t ro l l ed b y a

t raffi c l i g h t

.

19Th e d o ct ri n e o f av o i d ab l e co n s eq u en ces i s s et o u t in OCGA § 5 1 -1 1 -7

, wh i ch

p ro v id es :

If th e p l ai nt i ff by ord in ary care co u l d hav e av o i d ed t h e co n s eq u en ces t o

h i m s el f cau s ed b y t h e d e f e n dan t’ s n eg l i g en ce, he is n ot en t i t l ed t o

r e c o v e r

. In o t h er cas es t h e d efen d an t i s no t rel iev ed

, al t h o u g h th e

p l ai n t i ff m ay

i n s o m e way

h av e co n t ri b ut ed t o t h e i n ju ry s u s t ai n ed

.

“ In g en eral

, o rd i n ary d i l ig en ce i s t h at d eg ree o f care wh i ch is ex erci sed b y o rd i n ari l y

p ru d en t p ers o n s u n d er t h e s am e o r s i m i l ar ci rcu m s t an ces .” OCGA § 5 1 -1 -2

. As wi th

p ro x im at e cau s e, t h e qu es t i o n o f w h et her t h e p l ai n t i ff ex erci sed d u e care fo r h er

s afet y i s o rd in ari ly res erv ed fo r t h e ju ry

, ex cep t i n t h o s e c as es wh ere p l ai n t i ff’ s

k n o wl ed g e o f th e ri s k an d l ack o f d u e care i s c l e a r a n d p al p ab l e. Reed v. Ca r o l i n a

Ca s

. In s

. Co

. , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 1 3 0 , 1 3 6 (7 6 2 SE2 d 9 0 ) (2 0 1 4); D es a i v. S i l ver Do l l a r

Ci t y, In c. , 2 2 9 Ga. Ap p. 1 6 0, 1 6 6 (5 ) (4 9 3 SE2 d 5 4 0 ) (1 9 97 ).

Here, M u s e h ad reg u l arl y t rav el ed t h ro ug h t h e In ters ect i o n fo r a n u m b er o f

y ears an d

, bas ed on th e o verwh el m i n g ev id en ce t hat t h e t r e e s cau s ed at l eas t s o m e

o b s t ru ct i on

, w o ul d hav e b een aware o f th e d i ffi cu l ty o f s eei n g o n co m i n g t raffi c. It i s

al s o un d i s p u t ed t h at M u s e u s ed t h e o t h er i nt ers ect i o n ab o u t h al f t h e ti m e. H o wev er,

t h e ev i d en ce i s co nfl ict i n g as t o t h e d eg ree o f o b s t ru ct i o n c a u s e d b y t h e t ree,

p art i cu l arl y i n co m

b i n at io n wi t h a d ri v er wh o w as s peed i n g an d ch an g i n g l an es at t h e

20s am e ti m e. Cf. W es t o n v. Du n Tr a n s

p

. & S t r in g er

, In c.

, 3 0 4 Ga. A pp

. 8 4

, 88 (1 ) (6 9 5

SE2 d 2 7 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (p l ai n ti ff’ s d eced en t was aware th at h er v i ew o f o n co m i n g t raffi c

w as co m p l et el y o b st ru ct ed

, y et s h e en t ered t h e i n t ers ect i o n ); Zu mb a d o v. Li n co l n

Pr o per t y Co

. , 2 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 3 (4 3 3 SE2 d 30 1 ) (1 9 93 ) (s u m m ary ju d g m e n t fo r

d efen d an t in p rem i s es l iab i l i t y a c t i o n wh ere p l ai n t iff h ad eq u al k n o wl ed g e o f t h e

d an gero us co n d i t io n po s ed b y t h e ex i t b ut ch o s e t o u se i t i n s t ead o f an al t ern at i v e).

Th u s, g en u i n e i s s u es o f m at eri al fact ex i s t as t o wh et h er M u s e b y ord i n ary care co u ld

h av e av o id ed t h e co n s eq u en ces cau s ed by t h e Ci t y ’ s al l eg ed n eg l ig en ce, an d t h e t ri al

co u rt p ro p erl y

d en i ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n t h i s g ro u n d. 1 4

4

. Nu i s a n ce

. A p u b l i c n ui s an ce is d efi n ed i n O C G A § 4 1 -1 -2 as “ o n e wh i ch

d am ag es al l p ers o ns wh o co m e wi t hi n t h e s ph ere o f i t s o p erat i o n

, t h o u g h i t m ay v ary

i n i ts effect s o n in di v i d u al s

. ” Th u s

, “ a p ub l ic n u i s an ce req u i res s o m e act o r o m i s s i o n

w h i c h o b s t ru ct s o r cau s es i n co n v en i en ce t o t h e p u b l i c i n t h e ex erci s e o f ri g ht s

co m m o n t o al l .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) C i t y o f C o l l eg e Pa r

k v. 2 6 0 0

Ca mp Cr eek, LLC , 2 9 3 G a. Ap p . 2 0 7 , 2 09 (6 6 6 SE2 d 6 0 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

1 4 Un d er t h e ci rcu m s tan ces o f t h is cas e, we d ecl i n e t o h o l d as a m at t er o f l aw

t h at th e d o ct ri n e o f av o i d ab l e co n s eq u en ces b ars a p l ai n ti ff’ s cl ai m wh en p lai n t i ff h ad

k n o wl ed g e o f a d an gero u s i n t ers ect i o n b u t ch o o s es n o t t o u se an al t ern at i v e ro u t e an d

g en ui n e is s u es o f fact ex i s t as t o w h et h er p l ai n ti ff ot h erwi s e ex erci s ed d u e care in

t rav ers in g t h e i n ters ect i o n

.

21Th e Su p rem e Co u rt h as set o u t t h ree g u i d el in es t o d efi n e a n u i s an ce fo r

wh i ch a c i t y m ay b e h el d l i ab le. Fi rs t

, t he d efect o r d eg ree o f

m i s feas an ce m

u s t b e t o s u ch a d eg ree as wo u ld ex ceed t h e c o n c ep t o f

m e r e neg l i g en ce. Seco n d

, t he act m u s t be o f s o m e d u rat i o n

, an d th e

m a i n t en an ce o f th e act o r d efect m u s t be co n ti n u o u s o r reg u l ar l y

r e p et i t io u s

. Th i rd

, t h e ci t y m us t h av e fai l ed t o act wi t h i n a re a s o n a b l e

t i m e aft er k n o w l ed g e o f t h e d efect o r d an gero u s co nd i t i o n.

Th o mp so n v. Ci t

y o f F i t z g er a l d

, 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p . 7 2 5

, 7 2 7 (2 ) (5 4 8 SE2 d 3 6 8 ) (2 0 0 1 );

Ci t y o f Bo wma n v. Gu n n el l

s , 2 4 3 Ga. 8 0 9 (2 ) (2 5 6 SE2 d 7 8 2 ) (1 9 79 ).

Th e Ci t y arg ues t hat i t s t ree o n t he ri gh t o f way d o es n o t ri se t o t h e l ev el o f a

n u i s an c e b e c a u s e t h e d eg ree o f m i s feas an ce d i d n o t ex ceed m ere neg l i g en ce an d

b ecau s e th ere h ad been o n ly o n e p ri or acci d en t at t h e In t ers ect i o n i n wh ich i t was

d o cu m en t ed t h at t h e tree m ay h av e b een a co n t ri bu t in g fact or. As d is cu s s ed in

Di v i s i o n 1

, t he Ci t y h ad t h e n eces s ary n o t ice o f t h e o b s t ru ct i o n i n th e l i n e o f s i g ht

cau s ed b y t h e t r e e a s C i t y reco rd s fo r o v er a d ecad e b efo re t h e acci d en t h ad

referen ced t he o b s tru ct ed v i ew. An d a Ci ty wo rk er s en t t o ob s erv e t raffi c at t h e

In t ers ect i o n aft er th e acci d en t d o cu m en t ed a n u m b er o f “ n ear m i ss es ” d u ri n g t h e s h o rt

o n e h al f h o u r p eri o d s h e m o n i t o red t h e In t ers ect i o n

. In s u m , al t h o u gh t h e Ci t y m ay

co n ti n u e t o as s ert th at n o n u i s an ce ex i s t ed becau s e th ere i s o n l y o n e pri o r d o cu m en t ed

acci den t at t he In t ers ect i o n d u e t o t h e ob s t ru ct i on

, g en u i ne i s s u es o f m at eri al fact

22ex i s t as t o wh et h er t h e t ree co n s t i t u t ed a nu i s an ce, wh i ch m us t b e res ol v ed by a ju ry

.

E.g

., Ki ckl i

g h t er , 1 6 7 Ga. Ap p . at 5 31 -3 2 (3 ); Ri g g in s

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p . at 9 9 (1 ) (b ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

23