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M ar ch 30, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 80 2

. IN THE INTEREST O F THE ESTATE OF J OE LEONARD, J R.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

In t h i s neg l i g en ce act i o n, J oe Leo nard

, J r. s u e d M e l v i n Ceci l Co o p er an d

W h i t fi el d Co u n t y , G eo rg ia (“ t h e Co u n t y ”) t o reco v e r fo r t h e i n ju ri es h e s u s t ai n ed

w h i l e b ei n g t ran s p o rt ed in a bu s d ri v en b y Co op er an d o p erat ed by t h e Co u n t y.

Du ri n g t h e co u rs e o f t h e l i t ig a t i o n , L eo n ard p as s ed away an d Jan i ce L. Cro y ,

Leo nard ’ s d au gh t er an d t h e ex ecu to r o f hi s es t at e, was s u b s t it u t ed as p art y p l ai n t iff.

(Leo n ard an d th e E s tat e are co l l ect i vel y referred to h erei n a s “ Leo n ard .”) Th e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i n fav o r of t he Co u n t y b as ed u p on Leo n ard ’ s fai l u re

t o p ro v i d e t i m el y an te li t em no t i ce i n acco rd an ce wi th OCGA § 3 6 -1 1 -1

. 1 In h i s

1 In a p ri o r o rd er, t h e tri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary j u d g m e n t t o Co o per b as ed

u p o n h i s i m

m u n i t y as a Co u n t y

em p l o y ee. Th at o rd er i s n o t at i s s u e i n t h i s ap p eal

.ap p eal

, L eo n ard arg u ed t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n g r an t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t fo r

t wo reas o n s : b ecau s e h e s u b s t an t i al l y c o m p l i ed wi t h t h e s t at u t o ry req u i rem en t

reg ard i n g t h e t i m e fo r p re s e n t at i o n o f cl ai m s an d, al t ern at i v el y , b ecau s e t h e t i m e

p eri o d fo r t h e req ui s i te n o t i ce was t o l l ed b y Leo n ard ’ s i n cap aci t y

. N ei t h er arg u m en t

h as m eri t

. Acco rd i n g ly

, we affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h at t he Co u n ty was en t i t l ed

t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t b ecau s e t h e an t e l i t em n o ti ce was u n t i m el y

.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l p o s t u r e.

On ap p eal fro m t h e g ran t o r den i al o f a m ot i o n f o r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we co n d uct a d e n o v o rev i ew o f th e l aw an d ev id en ce,

v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce in t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o r a b l e t o t h e n o n m o v an t

, t o

d et erm i ne wh et h e r a g e n u i n e i s s ue o f m at eri al fact ex i s t s an d wh et h er

t h e m o v i n g p art y

was en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw.

W a r n el l v. Un i

f i ed Go vt

. o

f At hen s -Cl a r

ke Co u n t y , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 90 3 (7 6 3 SE2 d 2 8 4 )

(2 0 1 4) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

So v iewed

, t he ev id en ce s h o ws t h at o n J an u ary 30

, 2 01 2

, Jo e Leo n ard

, J r., t h en

8 2 y ears o l d

, was b ei n g t ran s p ort ed i n a b u s d ri ven by Co o p er an d o p erat e d b y t h e

Co u n t y

. Leo n ard u sed a m o t o ri zed wh eel ch ai r an d was t rav el in g wi t h an at t en d an t

.

On ce Leo n ard b oard ed t h e b u s , Co o per as s i st ed hi m in s ecu ri n g h i s wh eel ch ai r u s i n g

s t rap s des i g n ed fo r t h at p u rp os e. Leo n ard al l eg ed i n th e l aws u i t t h at Co o p er ro u n d ed

2a cu rv e at a h i gh rat e o f s peed

, cau s i ng t h e s ecu r i t y st rap s t o d et ach an d h i s

wh eel ch ai r t o ov ert u rn

. L eo n ard was t h ro wn t o t h e f l o or an d s u s t ai n ed t wo b ro k en

l eg s , wh i ch req u i red s u rg ery

. Sh o rt l y t hereaft er an d al l eg ed l y as a res u l t o f th e i n ju ry ,

Leo nard was p erm an en t l y co n fi n ed t o a m an ag ed -care faci l it y

.

On J u n e 5

, 2 0 1 2

, Leo n ard ’ s co u ns el s en t an a n t e l i t em n ot i ce l et ter t o t h e

Co u n t y At t o rn ey fo r W hi t fi el d Co u n t y , Ro b ert A. Sm al ley

, I I I

, at t he ad d res s o f

Sm al l ey ’ s l aw o ffi ce. Leo n ard fi l ed s u i t o n J an u ary 2 1

, 2 0 14

. Th ereaft er, Co o p er an d

t h e Co u n ty fi led an an s wer i n wh i ch t h ey as s ert ed t hat Leo n ard fai l ed to gi v e a t i m el y

an d / o r ad eq u at e an t e l i tem n o t i ce as req ui red b y OCGA § 36 -1 1 -1 (“ Al l cl ai m s

ag ai n s t co u n t i es m

u s t b e p res en t ed wi t h in 1 2 m o n t h s aft er t h ey accru e o r b eco m e

p ay ab l e o r t h e s am e are b arred

, p ro v i d ed t h at m i n ors o r o th er p ers on s l ab o ri n g u n d er

d i s ab i l i t i es s h al l b e al lo w ed 1 2 m o n t h s aft er th e rem o val o f t h e d i s ab i l i t y t o p res en t

t h ei r cl ai m s .”).

Fo l l owi n g d i s co v ery , t h e Co u n t y fi rs t m o v ed fo r su m m ary ju dg m en t o n t h e

g ro u nd s t h at t h e an t e l i t em n o t i ce fai l ed t o s u b s t an t i al l y co m p l y wi t h OCGA § 3 6 -1 1

-

1 b ecau s e Leo nard fai l ed t o s erv e i t o n an ag en t au t h o ri zed t o accep t s erv i ce o n t h e

Co u n t y ’ s b eh al f. See g en eral l y Co wet a Co u n t y v. Co o p er , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p. 41

, 4 3 (7 3 3

SE2 d 3 4 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p res en tat i o n o f n o t i ce u n d er OCGA § 3 6

- 1 1

- 1 g en eral l y i s

3s u ffi ci en t wh en g i v en t o an i n -h o u s e co u n t y at t o rn ey o r an y d ep art m en t o r o ffi ci al o f

a co u n t y ; i t i s n o t s u ffi ci en t , h o wev er, wh en g i ven t o o u ts i de l eg al co u n s el wh o h as

n o t b een au t h o ri zed b y t h e co u n t y to accep t n o t i ce o n t h e co u nt y ’ s b eh al f). Th e t ri al

co u rt fo u n d t hat a fact u al i s su e rem ai n ed o n t h i s i s s u e an d d en i ed th e m o t i o n . Aft er

t h e t r i al co u rt d en i ed t he Co un t y ’ s fi rs t m o t i o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t, co u n s el fo r

Leo nard p ers o n al ly

s erv ed t h e co m

p l ai n t o n s ev eral Co u n t y

co m m i s s i o n ers

.

Th e Co u n t y t h en fi l ed a s eco n d m o t io n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t

, al o n g wi t h an

affi d av i t fro m Sm al l ey , i n wh i ch h e av erred t h at

, “ [a] t al l m at eri al ti m es , th e W h i t fi el d

. . . Co u n ty Bo ard [o f] Co m is s i o n ers h a[d ] t ak en n o fo rm al act i o n t o au t h ori ze [h i m ]

t o accep t an t e l i tem n o t i ces o n b eh al f o f W h i t fi el d Co u n t y , Geo rg i a.” Th e t ri al co u rt

g ran t ed t h i s s eco n d m o ti o n , h o l d i n g t hat s erv i ce t o Sm al l e y d i d no t su b s t an t i al l y

co m p l y wi t h O CGA § 3 6 -1 1 -1

. Th e t ri a l c o u rt reject ed Leo n ard ’ s al t ern at i v e

arg u m en t al l eg i n g t h at a m en t al i ncap aci t y t o l l ed th e 1 2 -m o n t h p eri o d fo r fi l i n g t h e

an t e l i t e m n ot i ce. (Th e t ri al co u rt al s o d en ied Leo n ard ’ s cro s s-m ot i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t .) Th is ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

2

. S u b s ta nt i a l

co mp l i a n ce.

(a) Leo n ard en u m erat es as erro r t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary j u d g m e n t

t o t h e Co u nt y an d d en i al o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o hi m

. Al t h o u g h t h is en u m erat i o n

4co n tai n s cert ai n su rp l u s l an g u ag e, i t i s s u ffi ci en t fo r us t o co n si d er b o t h h i s

s u b s t an t i al co m

p l i an ce arg um en t an d hi s to l l i n g arg u m en t o n ap p eal

. See Fel i x v.

S t a t e , 2 7 1 Ga. 5 34 , 5 3 9 -5 4 0 (5 2 3 SE2 d 1 ) (1 9 99 ).

(b ) Th e t ri al co u rt d i d no t err i n ru li n g t h at Leo n ard fai l ed t o su b s t an t i al l y

co m p l y wi t h OCGA § 3 6-1 1-1

, wh i ch p ert i n en t l y req u i res t h at “ [a] ll cl ai m s ag ai n s t

co u nt i es m

u st b e pres en ted w i t hi n 1 2 m o n t h s aft er t h ey accru e o r b eco m e pay ab l e o r

t h e s am e are b a r r e d [.] ” L eo n ard b o re t he b u rd en o f p ro v i n g s u bs t an ti al co m p l i an ce

wi t h OCGA § 36 -1 1 -1

. See D ep t

. o f Co r r ect i o ns v. Gr a dy Mem. Ho s p. Co r p. , 3 3 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 1 5

, 3 1 7 (2 ) (7 75 SE2 d 7 7 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ); Co wet a Co u n t y v. Co o p er , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p.

4 1

, 4 2 (7 3 3 SE2 d 3 4 8 ) (2 01 2 ); Ba r n g ro ver , 2 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 9 6 (4 ). Th i s , h e fai l ed

t o d o

.

Leo n ard s en t a p u rp o rt ed an t e l i t em n ot i ce t o a “ p ri v at e law fi rm h i red b y t h e

Co u n t y t o rep res en t t h e Co un t y as o u t s i d e l eg al co u n s el .” See Co wet a Co u n t y , 3 1 8

Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3

. Here, t h e o u t s i d e co u n t y at t o rn ey ’ s affi d av i t co n fi rm ed t h at

, as in

Co wet a Co u n ty

, h e was n ot au t h o ri zed b y t h e Co u n ty t o accep t s erv i ce o f an t e l i t em

n o t i ces o n b eh al f o f th e Co u n t y

. See i d

. at 42

. Des p i t e t h e d i s s en t’ s ch aract eri zat i o n

o f t h e at t orn ey ’ s affi d av i t as “ carefu l l y wo rd ed ” an d “ s el f-s erv i n g , ” t h es e cri t i ci s m s

d o no t m an d at e t h at t h e affi d av i t m a y n o t b e co n si d ered i n s u p p o rt o f t he Co u n t y ’ s

5m o ti o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t, p art i cu l arl y s i n ce Leo n ard fai l ed t o p res en t fact s to

s at i s fy i t s b u rd en to s h o w ti m el y an t e l i t em n o t i ce. See g en eral l y Co wet a Co u n t y , 3 1 8

Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2

. Th e d i s s en t ’ s ap p aren t co n cern wi t h t he fi li n g o f t h e o u ts i de co u n t y

at t o rn ey ’ s aff

i d a v i t a ft er th e d en i al o f t h e Co u n t y ’ s fi rs t m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t i s al s o o f n o m o m en t

. See T. L. Ro g er s Oi l Co

. v. S

o u t h Ca r o l i n a Na t

. Ba nk

,

2 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 5

, 6 0 6 (2 ) (4 1 7 SE2 d 3 3 6 ) (1 99 2 ) (“ T he p rev i o u s den i al o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t d o es n ot p recl u d e a s u b s eq u en t g ran t i n g t h ereo f on t h e b as i s o f an ex p an d ed

reco rd .”).

Pri o r n eg o t i at io ns b et ween Leo n ard ’ s co u n s el an d t h e co u n t y at t o rn ey d i d n ot

au t h o ri ze t h e at t orn ey t o accep t s erv i ce o f t h e an te l i t em n o t i ce. O CGA § 3 6-1 1 -1 i s

n o t s at is fi ed wh en a part y sen d s a p u rp o rt ed an t e l i t em n o t i ce t o a co un t y ’ s i n s u rer o r

t h ere are v erb al d i s cu s si o n s co ncern i n g t h e n ot i ce. See Dep t

. o f Co r r ect i o n s , 3 3 3 Ga.

Ap p

. at 3 17 (2 ); Co bb v. B d

. of Co mmr

s

. o f Ro a d s & Reven u e o

f Ti f t Co u nt y , 1 5 1 Ga.

Ap p . 4 7 2 , 4 7 3 (2 ) (2 6 0 SE2 d 4 9 6 ) (1 9 7 9 ); Do ya l v. Dep t . o

f Tr a n sp

. , 1 4 2 Ga. Ap p.

7 9

, 8 0 (2 3 4 SE2 d 8 58 ) (1 9 7 7 ). Ev en wh en v i ewed i n a l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e to

Leo nard

, t he ev i d en ce rev eal s o n l y t h at h e s en t a p u rp o rt ed an t e l i t em n o t i ce t o a

“ p ri v at e l aw fi rm h i red b y th e Co u n t y t o rep res en t t h e Co u n t y as o u t s id e l eg al

co u ns el .” Co wet a Co u n t

y , 3 1 8 G a

. A p p

. at 4 3. Becau s e th i s cas e i s co nt ro l l ed by

6Co wet a Co u n t y , th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n g ran t i n g t h e Co u n t y ’ s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t d u e t o Leo n ard ’ s fai l u re to p ro p erl y s erv e t h e Co u nt y wi t h an an t e

l i tem n o t ice. It fo ll o ws t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t s h ou l d b e affi rm ed

.

3

. To l l i ng

.

Fu rt herm o re, t h e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y reject ed Leo n ard ’ s al t ern at iv e arg u m en t

t h at t h e an t e l it em n o ti ce p e r i o d w a s t ol l ed b y an al l eg ed i n cap aci t y t h at was n ot

res o l ved u nt i l h is ex ecu t ri x w as ap p o in t ed fo l l o wi n g h i s d eat h

. OCGA § 3 6 -1 1 -1

s t at es t h at “ [a] l l cl ai m s ag ai n s t co un t i es m u s t b e p res en ted wi t h i n 1 2 m o n t h s aft er

t h e y a ccru e o r b eco m e p ay ab l e o r t h e s am e are b arred

. . . . ” Ho wev er, “ [t ] h e a n t e

l i tem n ot i ce s t at u t e, l i k e a s tat u t e o f l i m i t at io n , m ay b e to l l ed .” Ca r t er v. G l en n , 2 4 3

Ga. Ap p

. 5 44

, 5 4 8 (2 ) (5 3 3 SE2 d 10 9 ) (2 0 0 0 ). See al s o OCGA § 3 6 -1 1 -1 (“ p ers on s

l ab o ri n g u n d er d is ab i l i t i es s h al l b e al l o w e d 1 2 m o n t h s aft er t h e rem o v al o f t h e

d i s ab i l i t y t o p res en t t hei r cl ai m s ”); Ja co b s v. Li tt l et o n , 2 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 3

, 40 6 (3 ) (b )

(5 2 5 SE2 d 4 33 ) (1 9 99 ). To t h at en d

, OCGA § 9 -3 -9 0 p ro vi d es , in p ert i n en t p art

, t h at

[i [n d i v i d u al s wh o are l eg al l y i n co m p et en t b ecau s e o f i n t el l ect ual

d i s ab i l it y o r m en tal i l ln es s , wh o are s u ch wh en t h e cau s e o f act i o n

accru es , s h al l b e en t i t l ed t o t h e s a m e t i m e aft er t h ei r di s ab il i ty i s

rem o v ed t o b ri ng an act io n as i s p res cri b ed fo r o t h er p ers o n s

.

See al s o OCGA § 3 6 -1 1 -1

.

7W h i l e a p lai n t i ff n eed n o t b e s o m en t al l y i n co m p et en t t h at h e s h ou l d be

co n fi n ed

, o r req u i re a g u ard i an , he m us t be so m en t al l y i nco m p et en t
(n o n co m p o s m en t i s o r i n s a n e), s o un s o u n d i n m i nd

, o r s o i m b eci l e i n

i n t el l ect

, t h at h e co u ld n ot m an ag e hi s o rd in ary affai rs of l i fe. Th e t es t

t o b e ap p l i ed is wh et h e r t h e o n e cl ai m i n g th e d i s ab i l i t y h as s u ch

u n s o u n d n es s o f m i n d o r im b eci l i ty as to i n cap aci t at e o n e fro m m an ag i n g

t h e o rd i n ary

b u s i n es s o f l i fe.

Ca r t er , 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 4 8-5 4 9 (2 ) (ci t i n g Ja co b s , 2 4 1 Ga. Ap p. at 40 6 ) (ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Su ch a det erm i n at i on “ m ay be m ad e by t he tri al co u rt as a

m at t er o f l aw, an d t h e b u rd en i s o n t h e p l ai n t iff t o p ro v e i n cap aci t y .” Id

.

In s u p p ort o f h i s arg u m en t

, Leo n a r d p res en ted t h e affi d av i t o f Dr. St an fo rd

Vo eg el e, wh o d i s cu s s ed h i s ev al u at i o n an d t reat m en t o f Leo n ard d u ri n g a t i m e p eri o d

t h at p reced ed Leo n ard ’ s acci d e n t

. Vo eg el e no t ed t h at Leo n ard s uffered a s t ro k e in

J an u ar y 2 0 0 9 an d t h at an M RI an d CT s can s i n Feb ru ary 20 0 9

, M ay 2 01 0

, an d

Oct o b er 2 0 1 0 s h o wed d eg en erat i o n o f t he w hi t e m at t er i n Leo n ard ’ s b rai n

. Vo eg el e

t es t i fi ed t h at t h e d eg en er a t i o n was a s i g n o f “ wo rs en i n g d em en t i a.” Vo eg el e al s o

n o t ed th at L eo n ard ’ s d au gh t ers co m p l ai n ed o f Leo n ard ’ s wo rs en in g d em en t i a an d

l o s s o f m em o ry

d u ri n g a Sep t em

b er 2 0 0 9 o ffi ce v i s i t . As a res u l t o f t h e st ro k e “ an d

p res en t i ng i n [Vo eg el e’ s ] o ffi ce o n m u l t i p l e o ccas io n s i n 2 0 0 9 an d 20 1 0 w i th l o s s o f

m em o r y an d m o o d ch an g es (ag i t at i o n ) aro u n d [Leo n ard ’ s] fam i l y ,” Vo eg el e

8d i ag n o s ed Leo n a r d wi t h A l zh ei m er’ s d is eas e in Sep t em b er 2 0 0 9, Decem

ber 2 0 1 0,

an d M arch 2 0 1 1

. Ul t i m a t e l y , Vo eg el e o p i n ed t h at b y Sep t em b er 2

, 2 0 0 9

, Leo n ard was

“ s o weak o f m i n d t hat h e w as i n cap ab l e o f un d ers t an d i n g an d act i n g wi t h d i s cret i o n

i n t h e o rd i n ary affai rs o f h is l i fe.” Vo eg el e ad d ed t h at

, “ as o f Sep t em b er 2

, 2 0 0 9 an d

at al l t im e s t h e r e a ft er, [Leo n ard ] was n o t o f s o u n d m i n d an d w as n o t m en t al l y

co m p et en t t o h an d l e hi s p ers on al

, b u s i n es s, h eal t h

, leg al an d fi n an ci al affai rs .”

Al t h o u g h Vo eg el e’ s affi d av i t d es cri b es Leo n ard ’ s co n d i t i o n as pro g res s iv e, Vo eg el e

d o es n o t r e v e a l an y fu rt h er d i s cu s s i o n o r t reat m en t o f Leo n ard ’ s co nd i t i o n aft er

Sep tem b er 2 1 , 2 0 1 1.

Ag ai n s t t h i s back d ro p , t h e t ri al co u rt s p eci fi cal l y ci t ed ev id en ce o f Leo n ard ’ s

m en t al co n d i t i on af

t er t h e Jan u ary 3 0

, 2 0 1 2, acci d en t : t h e m ed i cal n arrat iv e o f Dr.

J am e s L a s h l e y an d Leo n ard ’ s ex erci s e o f h is l eg al ri g h ts

. Th e t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at

L a s h l e y i n i t i al l y m et Leo n ard o n Feb ru ary 1

, 2 01 2 (t wo d ay s fo l l o w i n g Leo n ard ’ s

i n ju ri es ) an d t reat ed h i m o n m u l ti p l e o ccas i o n s t h er e a f t er, i n cl u d i n g p erfo rm i n g

s u rg ery to rep ai r Leo nard ’ s l eg s

. Las h l ey l as t s aw Leo n ard i n Sep tem ber 2 0 1 2

. In t h e

i n t eri m , Las h l ey n o t ed t h at L eo n ard ap p eared fo r each s ch ed u l ed v i si t an d t h at h e h ad

b een wo rk i n g w i t h h i s careg iv ers t o co m p l et e p h y s i cal t h erap y as req u i red

. Ab s en t

fro m Las h l ey ’ s rep o rt was an y no t at i o n t h at Leo n ard d id n o t un d ers tan d h i s t reat m en t

9p l an ; th at h e ap p eared ag i t at ed

, co n fu s ed

, o r s u ffer ed m em o ry l o s s ; or t h at h e was

u n ab le t o m ak e d eci s i o n s co n cern i ng h i s h eal t h care.

Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at Leo nard was ab l e t o p u rs u e h i s l eg al rem ed i es

. Fo r

ex am p l e, Leo n ard w as ab l e t o ret a i n c o u n s el

, s en d a p urp o rt ed an te l i t em n o t i ce,

en g ag e t he Co u nt y ’ s i n s urer, m ak e a s et t l em en t o ffer, an d fi l e a ci v i l act i o n ag ai n s t

t h e Co un t y

. M o reo ver, Leo n ard as s ert ed t h at

, b efo re t h e acci d en t

, h e was ab l e t o l i v e

at ho m e, p erfo rm pers o n al fu nct i o n s , an d t h at h is h eal t h “ was g o o d fo r a m an o f h i s

ag e.” Ba s e d u p o n t h i s ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u ded t h at Leo n ard ’ s “ m en t al

i n cap aci t y d id n o t p rev en t h i m fro m s en d in g an t e l i t em n o t i ce wi t h i n t he l i m i t at i o n []

p eri o d .”

Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces , we d i s cern n o erro r i n th e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n.

Fi rs t

, i t i s p art i cu l arl y t el l in g t h at

, d es p i t e cu rren t cl ai m s o f Leo nard ’ s i n cap aci t y , n o

rel at i v e o f Leo n ard ’ s p et i t i o n ed t h e p ro b at e co u rt to ap p o i n t a g u ard i an fo r Leo n ard

t o p u rs u e an y

l eg al ri g h ts o r o t h erwi s e m an ag e h i s affai rs

. See Pi vi c v. Pi t t a r d , 2 5 8

Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 5, 6 7 7 (5 7 5 SE2 d 4 ) (2 0 0 2 ). Seco n d

, Leo n ard ’ s ab i l it y t o m o n i t o r h i s

h eal t h, ap p ear fo r m ed i cal ap p o i n t m en t s , an d p art i ci p at e in p h y s i cal t h erap y as

o rd ered by h i s d o ct or p oi n t t o Leo n ard ’ s cap aci ty fo l l o wi n g t he acci d en t

. See

g en eral l y Ch a r t er Pea ch

f o r d B eh a vi or a l Hea l t h S

ys t em v. Ko h o ut

, 2 33 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 2,

104 6 0 -4 6 1 (d ) (5 0 4 SE2 d 51 4 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (m en t al cap aci t y t o a d m i t sel f t o h o s p i t al ).

Fi n al l y , a p art y ’ s ab il i ty t o p art i ci p at e i n l i t i g at i o n an d t o ot h erwi s e m an ag e l eg al

a f f a i r s , in cl u di n g t h e h i ri n g o f co u n s el an d t h e p u rs u i t o f a s et t l em en t ag reem en t

,

d em o n s t rat es m en t al cap aci t y an d wi l l n ot t o ll a l im i t at io n p eri o d. See Ha yes , 1 9 7 Ga.

Ap p . at 5 6 4 (5 ); Cu r l ee v. Mo ck En t er p r i ses , 1 7 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 4 , 5 9 9 (3 ) (3 2 7 SE2 d

7 3 6 ) (1 9 8 5 ).

Becau s e Leo n ard was no t l ab o ri n g u n d er a d i sab i l i t y t h at wo u l d t o l l t h e t i m e

fo r fi l i n g a n an t e l i t em n ot ice, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o t h e Co u n t y

o n t h e g ro u n d t h at t h e an t e l i t em n o t i ce was u n t i m el y

.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med

. Br a n ch

, J., co n cu rs ; An d r ews

, P. J., co n cu r

s i n D i vi s i on s

1

, 2 (b ) an d 3

, a n d i n t h e ju dg men t on l y i n Di vi s i o n 2(a

); El li n g t o n, P. J., a n d Di l l a r d,

J., co n cu r i n t h e j u d

gmen t o nl y; Ba r n es , P. J., a n d

Mi l ler , P. J., d i ss en t

.

11A1 5 A1 80 2 . IN RE: THE ESTATE OF J OE LEONARD, J R..

M I LLE R , Pres i d i n g J u d g e, d i s s en t i n g.

I res pect fu l l y d i ss en t t o th e m ajo ri t y ’ s o p i n i o n b ecau s e I wo u ld co n cl u d e t h at

Leo nard co m

p l i ed w i t h th e s tat u t o ry req u i rem en t s fo r p res en t m en t o f h i s an t e l i t em

n o t i ce an d t h at Sm al l ey , i n fact , h ad ap p aren t au t ho ri t y t o accep t t h e n o ti ce.

Th e p u rp os e o f p res en t i n g a cl ai m t o t h e Co u n ty p ri o r t o fi li n g s u i t i s t o g i v e

t h e Co u n t y an o p p o rt u n i ty t o i n v es t i g at e th e cl ai m , d et erm i n e t h e ev i d en ce, an d av o id

u n n eces sary l i ti g at i o n

. See Bu r t o n v. DeKa l b Co u n t y , 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 76

, 6 7 8 (4 1 5

SE2 d 6 47 ) (1 9 9 2 ). Im

p ort an t l y , OCGA § 3 6 -1 1 -1 d o es n ot s p eci fy t o wh o m t h e cl ai m

m u s t b e p res en t ed

. See i d ; co m pare OCGA § 3 6-3 3 -5 (req ui ri n g cl ai m s a g a i n s t

m u ni ci p al co rp o rat i o n s t o b e pres en t ed t o t h e m un i ci p al co rp o rat i o n’ s “ g o v ern i n g

au t h o ri t y ”).In th i s cas e, Leo n ard s en t a t i m el y fo rm al wri t ten an t e l i tem n o t ice o f h i s cl ai m

to S m a lle y , w ho ad m i tt ed l y was t h e d es i g n at ed Co u n t y At t o rn ey fo r W h i t fi el d Co u nty

at al l m at eri al ti m es wi t h reg ard to t h i s cas e. Sm al l ey accep t ed t h e no t i ce an d

d i s cu s s ed Leo nard ’ s cl ai m wi t h t he Co u n t y co m m i ss i o n ers

. Leo n ard s u bs eq u en t l y

fi led an d s erv ed h i s co m p l ai n t on Sm al ley

, wh o ack no wl ed g ed serv i ce o f t h e

s u m m o n s an d co m

p l ai n t o n W h i t fi el d Co u n t y ’ s b eh al f. W h en t h e Co u n ty an s wered

t h e co m p l ai n t i t d i d n o t rai s e i n s u ffi ci en t s erv i ce of p ro ces s as a d efen s e, ev en t h o u g h

s e r v i ce of a co m

p l ai n t u p o n a co u n t y mu s t be ma d e up o n a m ajo ri t y o f t h e

co m m i s s io n ers , t h e ch ai rm an o f t h e b o ard o f co m m i s s i o n ers o r an a ut ho r i

z ed a g en t

.

See Bu r t on , s u p ra, 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 7 7 -6 7 8

.

Th e m ajo ri t y fo cu s es on Sm al l e y ’ s carefu l ly wo rd ed affi d av i t i n wh i ch h e

s t at ed t h at t h e Co u nt y t o o k n o f o r m a l a ct i o n t o au t h o ri ze h im t o accep t an t e l i t em

n o t i ces o n t h e Co u n t y ’ s b eh al f. Im p o rt an t l y , Sm al l ey ’ s s wo rn affi d av it co nv en i en t l y

s t op p ed s h o rt o f s t at i n g t h at h e h ad n o a u t h o r i t y t o accep t an te l i tem n o ti ces

. Rat h er,

t h e fact th at Sm al l ey ack no wl ed g ed s erv i ce o f t h e co m p l ai n t o n b eh al f o f t h e Co u n t y

s h o ws t hat h e h ad ap p aren t au t h o ri t y t o a c t as t h e Co u n t y ’ s ag en t wi t h reg ard to

Leo nard ’ s cl ai m

. See Bu rt o n , s u p ra, 2 0 2 G a. A p p

. at 6 7 7 -6 7 8 (s erv i ce o f a co m p l ai nt

u p o n a co u n t y m ay b e m ad e o n t h e co u n ty ’ s au t ho ri zed ag en t ). Co n seq u en t l y , t h i s

2cas e i s d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e o n i ts fa c t s fro m t h e d eci s io n i n Co wet a Co u n t y , s u p ra, 3 1 8

Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3

, i n wh i ch t h ere was n o evi den c e t h a t t he l aw fi rm i n q u es t i o n was

au t h o ri zed t o act as t h e C o u n t y’s a g en t fo r t h e p u rp o s e of accep t i ng an t e l i t em

n o t i ces

.

Un l i ke th e m ajo ri t y , I wo u l d n o t read t h e d eci s i o n i n Co wet a Co u n t y s o

n arro wl y as t o h ol d t h at a d es i g nat ed co un t y at t o rn ey fro m an o u t s i d e law fi rm h as n o

ap p aren t au t h o ri t y u n d er an y ci rcu m s tan ces

. Un d er an y ci rcu m s t an ces , i t i s p at en t l y

u n reas o nab l e fo r a d es i g n at ed co u n t y at t o rn ey t o act i n t h is m a n n e r, i .e., to

ack n owl ed ge t i m el y

s erv i ce o f a co m

p l ai n t ag ai ns t a co u n t y , d i scu s s t h e cl ai m wi th

t h e Co u n t y , an d wai t u nt i l aft er ex p i rat i o n o f t he 1 2 -m o n t h an t e l i t em n o t i ce p eri o d

t o d en y h i s au t h o ri t y to accep t s uch n ot i ce. M o reo v er, t h e ju d i ci al s y s t em i n t h i s St at e

i s ab o v e t h i s t y

p e o f g am es m an s h i p

.

T h i s i n t erp ret at i o n i s co n si s t en t w i t h t h e p u rp o se o f t he p res en t m en t

req u i rem en t o f OCGA § 3 6 -1 1 -1

, an d i s , i n f a c t

, wh at h ap p en ed i n t h i s cas e. Th e

Co u n t y cl earl y h ad an o p po rt u n i t y t o i n v es t ig at e L eo n ard ’ s cl ai m , t o d et erm i n e t h e

ev i d en ce an d t o av o i d u n n eces s ary l i t i g at i o n i n t h i s cas e. See Bu r t o n , s u pra, 2 0 2 Ga.

Ap p . at 6 7 8

,

3Vi ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o Leo n a r d

, as t hi s Co u rt

m u st , I wo ul d fi n d t h at Sm al l ey h ad ap p aren t au th o ri t y t o act as t h e Co u n ty ’ s ag en t

fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f accep t i ng L eo n ard ’ s an te l i t em no t i ce an d

, t h erefo re, I wo u l d fi n d

t h at Leo n ard co m

pl i ed wi th t h e p res en t m en t req u irem en t o f OCGA § 3 6 -1 1-1

.

I am au t h o ri zed t o s t at e t h at Pres i d i n g J u d g e Barn es co ncu rs i n t h is d i s s en t

.

4