SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M C F A D DEN and RA

Y, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

Febr uar y 24, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A2 23 3

. M ALOOF v. M E TROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID

TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

R A Y , J u d g e.

St ep hen Gerard M al o o f, as ad m i n i s t rat o r of L o rrai n e M al o o f’ s e s t a t e, (t h e

“ Es t at e”), s u ed M et ro p ol i t an At l an t a Rap i d Tran s it Au t h o r i t y (“ M ARTA”) fo r

i n ju ri es s u s t ai n ed b y Lo rrai n e wh il e s h e was ri d i n g as a wh eel ch ai r b o u n d -p as s en g er

o n a M ARTA p ara-t ran s i t v an t h at co l l i d ed w i t h an o t her v eh i cl e. M ARTA fi l ed a

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary j ud gm en t as t o t h e Es t at e’ s rem ai n i ng cl ai m s fo r n eg l i g en ce in

fai l i n g t o p ro p erl y s ecu re h er w h eel ch ai r an d fai lu re t o m ai n tai n a l an e, 1 wh i ch t h e

t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

. Th e Es t at e ap p eal s fro m t h i s o rd er. Fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g reas o n s , we

1 I n M A R T A v. Ma l o o

f

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 4 (6 9 8 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 1 0 ), t hi s Co u r t

rev ers ed

, u p o n i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al of M ARTA’ s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n M al o o f’ s cl ai m s fo r wro n g fu l d eat h

.affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s gran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t as i t rel at es t o cl ai m s o f M ARTA’ s

n eg li g en ce fo r fai l i ng to p ro perl y s e cu re L o rrai n e’ s wh eel ch ai r, we v acat e t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t as i t rel at es t o cl ai m s o f M ARTA’ s n eg li g en ce fo r

fa i l u r e t o m a i n tai n a lan e, an d we rem an d t h e cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s

.

“ On ap p eal fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we co n d u ct a d e

n o v o rev i ew o f t h e reco rd t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e ev i d en ce, v i ewed in t h e li g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o th e n o n m o v i n g p art y , d em o n s t rat e s a g en ui n e is s u e o f m at eri al fact .”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Ben n et t v. MARTA

, 3 1 6 Ga. A p p

. 5 6 5, 5 6 6 (7 3 0

SE2 d 5 2 ) (2 01 2). Su m

m ary ju d g m en t i s ap p ro p ri at e o n ly wh ere t h ere i s no g en u i n e

i s su e o f m at eri al fact an d t h e m o v i n g p art y d em o n s t rat es t h at it i s en t it l ed t o ju d g m en t

as a m at t er o f l aw. Id

.

T h e r e c o r d sh o w s t h at o n A p ri l 1 3

, 2 0 0 5

, Lo rrai n e was a p as s en g er o n a

M ARTA p ara-t r a n s i t v a n

. Aft er Lo rrai n e g o t o n t h e b u s , s h e back ed h er p o wered

wh eel ch ai r i n t o po s it io n on th e v an , an d t h e d ri v er s ecu red t h e wh eel ch ai r t o t h e fl o o r

i n fo u r p l aces an d p laced a lap b el t o n h er. O n t h e d a y o f t h e acci d en t

, Lo rrai n e

refu sed t o wear t h e s h ou l d er h arn es s

. Lo rrai n e h ad ri d d en t h e v an at l eas t a “ co u p l e

2d o zen ” t i m es b efo re an d al way s d ecl i n ed us e o f t h e s h o u l d er h arn es s

. On ce Lo rrai n e

was s ecu red , t h e v an co n t in u ed al o n g i t s n o rm al ro u te.

As t h e v an b eg an t rav el i n g wes t o n Po n ce d e Le o n Av en u e, W i l l i am

Cl ev el an d ’ s v eh i cl e was al s o t rav el i ng w es t i n t h e l an e t o t h e l eft o f t h e M A RTA v an ,

cl o s es t t o o n co m i n g t raffi c. Th e M A RTA v an s lo wed d o w n t o m ak e a wi d e ri g h t t u rn

o n t o Pi ed m o n t Av en u e an d

, i n d o i n g s o, v eered in t o t h e o t h er wes t b o un d l an e. As

t h e MARTA v an t u rn ed

, Cl ev el an d ’ s ri g h t m i rro r s t ru ck an d b ro k e t h e l eft m i rro r o f

t h e M ARTA van

. Th e i m

pact s i m p l y p u s hed Cl ev el an d ’ s v eh i cl e’ s m i rro r i n ward

, b ut

d i d n o t d am ag e i t

. An t i ci p at i n g t h e i m p act

, t he M ARTA v an ’ s d ri v er s t ep p ed o n t h e

b rak es , an d Lo rrai n e fel l to t h e g ro u nd an d fract u red h er l eg

. Th e wh eel ch ai r

rem ai n ed s ecu red t o t h e fl o o r o f t h e v an

. Po l ice were s u m m o n ed to th e s cen e, an d

n ei t h er d ri v er was i s s ued a ci t at i o n as a res u l t o f th e in ci d en t

. Lo rrai n e was t reat ed fo r

h er i n j u ri es an d was im

m o b il e fo r sev eral m o n th s b efo re p as s i n g away o n Au g u s t 2 3,

2 0 0 5

.

As a res ul t of Lo rrai n e’ s in ju ri es , th e Es t at e fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t MARTA al l eg i n g

t h at “ M ARTA’ s v an d ri v er was n eg l i g en t i n fai li n g t o s ecu re t h e wh eel ch ai r p ro p erl y

an d i n fai l i n g t o m ai n t ai n h er l an e.” T h e Es t at e ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o M ARTA.

31

. Th e Es t a t e co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i ng t o gi ve ev i d en ti ary

wei g h t t o t h e t ran scri b ed an d reco rd ed

, b ut u n s wo rn , s t at em en t g iv en b y Lo rrai n e (t h e

“ St at em en t ”) t o an i n s u ran ce ag en t act i n g o n b eh al f o f M ARTA aft er t h e acci d en t o n

t h e g r o u n d s t h at i t co n s t i t u t ed h ears ay

. Lo rrai ne’ s St at em en t was p ro v i d ed t o t h e

Es t at e b y M ARTA i n i ts res p o ns e t o a req u es t fo r p ro d u ct io n o f d o cu m en t s , an d t h e

Es t at e rel i ed up o n t h e s t at em en t i n i t s res p o n s e b ri ef t o M ARTA’ s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t. MARTA o b ject ed t o th e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e St at em en t as h ears ay ,

an d t h e t ri al co u rt ag reed

.

“ Ad m i ss i b i l it y o f ev id en ce o n m o t i on fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t i s go v ern ed by

t h e ru l es rel at i ng to fo rm an d ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f ev i d en ce g en eral l y .” (Pu n ct u at i o n an d

fo o t n o t e o m it t ed .) Ca

p it a l Ci t y Devel o p er s

, LLC v. Ba n k o

f N. Ga

. , 31 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2 4,

6 2 5 -6 2 6 (1 ) (7 3 0 SE2 d 9 9 ) (2 01 2 ). Th i s Co u rt w i ll n o t d i s t urb a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

o n wh et h er t o ad m i t ev i d en ce as an ex cep t i o n t o t h e h ears ay ru l e ab s en ce an ab u s e

o f d i s cret i o n . Id

.

Fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e on ap p eal

, an d wi t h o u t p ro v i d i n g s u bs t an t i v e arg u m en t o r

ci t at i o n s t o t he reco rd

, t h e Es t at e co n t en d s th at Lo rrai n e’ s St at em en t i s su b ject to

4s ev eral ex cep t io n s fro m t h e h ears ay ru le u nd er Geo rg i a’ s n ew Ev i d en ce Co d e. 2 W e

ex am i n e each in t u rn

.

(a) Th en exi s t i ng men t al

, emo t i o n a l

, o r p h y s i ca l co n d i t i o n. OCGA 2 4 -8 -8 0 3

(3 ) p ro v i d es an ex cep t io n fro m th e h ears ay ru l e fo r s t at em en t s “ o f t h e d ecl aran t ’ s t h en

ex i s t in g s t at e o f m i nd

, em o t i o n , s en s at i on , o r p h y si cal co n d i t i o n

. . . b u t n ot i n cl u d i n g

a s t at em en t o f m e m o r y o r bel i ef t o p ro v e t h e fact rem em bered or bel i ev ed [.] ”

Ho wev er, b efo re a s t at em en t can b e ad m i t t ed u nd er t h i s ex cep t i o n, “ t h e d ecl aran t ’ s

s t at e of m i n d m

u s t b e a rel ev an t i s s u e.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) T. Ha r ri s Y o u n g &

As s o cs

. , In c. v. Ma rq u e t t e El ect r o n i cs

, In c. , 9 3 1 F.2 d 8 16

, 8 2 8 (III) (B) (1 1 t h Ci r.

1 9 9 1 ). 3 H ere, Lo rrai n e’ s st at e o f m i n d

, em o t i o n a l o r ph y s i cal co nd i t i o n i s n o t i s at

i s su e reg ard i n g M ARTA’ s al l eg ed n eg l i g en ce i n fai l i ng t o s ecu re h er s h o u l d er

2 Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e E s tat e co n t en d s t h at t h e St at em en t fal ls u n d er t h e fo l l o wi n g

ex cep t i o n s t o th e h ears ay ru l e u n d er Geo rg i a’ s n ew E v i d en ce Co de: OCGA § 2 4 -8

- 8 0 3 (3 ) (“ Th en ex i s t in g m en t al

, em o t i o n al

, o r p h y s ical c o n d i t i o n ”); OCGA § 2 4 -8

- 8 0 3 (6 ) (“ Reco rd s o f reg ul arl y co n d u ct ed act i v i t y ”); OCGA § 24 -8 -8 03 (8 ) (“ Pu b l i c

reco rd s an d rep o rt s ”) an d OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 7 (“ Res i d u al ex cep t i o n ”).

3 “ Becau s e OCGA § 24 -8 -8 03 m i rro rs Ru le 8 0 3 o f t h e Fed eral Ru l es o f

Ev i d en ce, we w i l l l o o k t o cas e l aw fro m fed eral co u rt s wi t h i n t h e El ev en th Ci rcu i t fo r

g u i d an ce i n i n t erp ret i n g th at st at u t e.” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) W ar e v. Mu l t i b a n k 2 0 0 9 -1

RES -ADC Ven t u r e, LLC

, 3 27 Ga. Ap p . 2 4 5 , 2 4 9 (2 ), n . 1 1 (7 58 SE2 d 1 4 5) (2 0 1 4 ).

5h arn es s

. Acco rd i n g l y , we can n o t c o n c l u de t hat t h i s h ears ay ex cep t i o n ap p l i es to

Lo rrai n e’ s St at em en t. See Id

. 4

(b ) Reco r d

s o f r eg u l ar l y co nd u ct ed a ct i vi t

y

. OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (6 ) p ro v i d es

t h at t h e fo l l o wi n g i s n o t ex cl u ded b y t h e h ears ay

ru l e:

a m em o ran du m , rep o rt

, reco rd

, o r dat a co m p i l at i on

. . . i f (A) m ad e at o r

n ear t h e t i m e o f t h e d es cri b ed act s , ev en t s , co n d i t io n s , o p i n i o n s o r

d i ag no s es ; (B) m ad e b y , o r fro m i n fo rm at i o n t ran s m it t ed b y , a p ers o n

wi t h p ers o n al kn o wl ed g e an d a b u s i n es s d u t y t o rep o rt ; (C) k ep t i n th e

c o u rs e o f a reg u l arl y co n d u ct ed b us i n es s act iv i ty ; an d (D) i t wa s t h e

reg u lar pract i ce o f t hat b u s i n es s act i v i ty t o m ak e t h e m em oran d u m ,

rep o rt

, reco rd o r d at a co m p i l at i o n , a ll a s sh o wn b

y t h e t es ti mo n

y o f th e

cu s t od ia n o r o t h er q u al i

f i ed wi t n es s o r b

y cer t i f i ca t i o n t h a t co mp l i es

wi t h [ rel eva n t co d

e s ect i o n s ]

. . . .

Here, Lo rrai n e’ s St at em en t d o es n o t fal l u n d er th i s ex cep t i o n of t h e h ears ay ru l e as

t h e Es t at e d i d no t at t em

pt t o co m p l y wi t h th e fo u n d at i o nal req u i rem en t s s et fo rt h in

OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 03 (6 ) wh en rel y i n g u p o n t h e d o cu m en ts

. See No b l e v. Al ab a ma Dep t

.

o f En vi r o n men t al Mg t

. , 8 7 2 F.2 d 36 1

, 36 6 -3 6 7 (III) (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 8 9 ) (d i s t ri ct c o u r t

erred i n ad m i tt i n g ev id en ce u nd er Fed .R.Ev i d

. 8 0 3 (6 ) wh en p art y s eek i n g ad m i s s i o n

4 Lo rrai ne’ s St at em en t d o es n o t rev eal wh et her sh e wan t ed M ARTA t o s ecu re

t h e s h o u l d er h arn es s u p o n her. Had s u ch s t a t e m e n t i n cl u d ed th i s i n fo rm at i o n , o u r d eci s i o n o n t h i s i ss ue m ay v ery wel l h av e b een d ifferen t

.

6o f d o cu m en t d i d n o t l ay ad eq u at e fo u n d at i o n fo r i t s ad m i s s i o n u nd er t h e b u s i n es s

reco rd s ex cep t i on t o t h e h ears ay ru l e).

( c ) P u b l i c R eco r d

s a n d Rep or t

s

. Lo rrai ne’ s St at em en t d oes n o t fal l u n d e r

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (8 ) as i t i s n o t a p u b l i c reco rd o r rep o rt

.

(d ) Res i d u a l Excep t i o n

. Fu rt h er, t h e E s t at e’ s arg u m en t t h at h er St at em en t fal l s

u n d er t he res i d u al ex cep ti o n fo u n d i n O CGA § 2 4-8 -8 0 7 i s w i t ho u t m eri t

. T h at co d e

s ect i on p ro v i d es t h at

[a] s t at em en t n o t s p eci fi cal l y co v ered b y an y l aw bu t h av i n g eq u i v al en t

c ircu m s t an t i al g uaran t ees o f t ru s t wo rt h i n es s s h al l n o t b e ex cl u de d by the

h ears ay ru l e, i f t h e co u rt d et erm i n es t h at : (1 ) Th e s t at em en t i s o ffered as

ev i d en ce o f m at e r i al fact ; (2 ) Th e s t at em en t i s m o re p ro bat i ve on th e

p o i n t f o r w h ich i t i s o ffered t h an an y o t h er ev i d en ce wh i ch th e

p ro p o n en t can p ro cu re t h ro u g h reas o n ab l e effo rt s ; an d (3 ) Th e g en eral

p u rp o s es o f t he ru les o f ev i d en ce an d t h e i n t eres t s o f ju s t i ce wi l l b es t be

s erv ed b y ad m i s s i o n o f t h e s t at em en t i n t o ev id en ce.

W e fi n d n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n i n t h e tri al co u rt ’ s co ncl u s io n t h at t he St at em en t

was n o t ad m i s s i b l e. T h e t ri al co u rt

, i n i t s o rd er, cl earl y n o t ed th at t h e St at em en t was

n o t m o re p ro b at iv e o n t h e p o i nt fo r wh i ch i t w as o ffered t han an y ot h er ev i d en ce

wh i ch co u l d b e p ro v i ded

. Th e Es t at e so u gh t t o i n t ro du ce t h e St at em en t fo r t h e

p u rp os e o f s h o wi n g t hat M ARTA d i d n o t p ro vi d e Lo rrai ne wi t h a s h ou l d er h arn es s

7o n t h e d ay

o f t h e i n ci d en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y n o t ed t h at t h i s ev i d en ce was n ot

i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e t es t i m o n y p ro v i d ed b y t h e v an ’ s d ri v er t hat L orrai n e d ecl i n ed

t o wear a s h o u l d er h arn es s t hat d ay an d th at t h e s ho u l d er h arn es s was o pt i o n al o n t h e

p art of t h e p as s en g er. Fu rt h er, t h e St at em en t l ack s th e “ eq u i v al en t ci rcu m s t an t i al

g u aran tees o f t ru s t wo rt hi n es s ” t h at Ru l e 8 0 7 req u i res a s L o r rai n e p ro v i d ed t h e

St at em en t t o M ARTA as p art o f an o n g o i n g i ns u ran ce i n v es t i gat i o n t h at s h e h o p ed

t o g l ean b en efi t fro m

. Un i ted Tech n o lo g i es Co r p. v. Ma zer , 5 5 6 F.3 d 1 2 6 0

, 1 2 7 9 (III)

(b ) (1 1t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 ).

(e) Bas ed u p on o u r co n cl u s i o n t h at Lo rrai n e’ s St at em en t d i d n o t fal l u n d er an y

o f th e h ears ay ex cep t i o n s en u m erat ed b y t h e E st at e, w e n eed n o t ad d res s wh et h er t h e

ad m i s s i o n o f Lo rrai ne’ s St at em en t wo ul d creat e an is su e o f m at eri al fact as t o t h e

Es t at e’ s cl ai m th at M ARTA w a s n e g l i g en t i n fai l i n g t o p ro p erl y s ecu re h er

wh eel ch ai r. Acco rd i n g l y , we affi rm t h e t r i a l co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t to

M ARTA o n th e i s s u e o f wh et h er M ARTA n eg l ig en t l y s ecu red Lo rrai n e’ s wh eel ch ai r

t o t he v an

.

2

. Th e Es t at e n ex t co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi nd i n g t h at t h e p o l i ce

rep o rt p rep ared b y t h e o ffi cer res p o n di n g t o t h e s cen e co n s t i t u t ed i n a d m i s s i b l e

8h ears ay b ecau se i t was u n swo rn

. Becau s e we fi nd th at t h e rep ort fel l u n der t h e p u b l i c

reco rd s ex cep t i on t o t h e h ears ay ru l e, OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 0 3 (8 ), we ag ree.

OCGA § 2 4 -8 -8 0 3 (8 ) p ro v i d es an ex cep t io n t o t h e h ears ay ru l e fo r

p u b l i c reco rd s , rep o rt s , s tat em en t s , o r d at a co m pi l at i o n s, i n an y fo rm , o f

p u b l i c o ffi ces , s et ti n g fo rt h :

. . . (B) M at t ers o b s erv ed p u rs uan t t o d u t y

i m p o s ed b y l aw as t o wh ich m at t ers t h ere w as a d u ty t o rep o rt

. . . o r (C)

In ci v i l p ro ceed in gs

. . . fact u al fi n d i n gs res u lt i n g fro m an i n v es t i gat i o n

m ad e pu rs u an t t o au t h ori t y g ran t ed b y law, u n l es s t h e s o u r c e s o f

i n fo rm at i o n o r o t her ci rcu m s t an ces i n d i cat e l ack o f t ru s t wo rt h i n es s

.

It has b een h el d t h at

, i n ci v i l cas es , wh en a p o l i ce o ffi cer p ers o n a l l y o b serv ed t h e

m at t er d es cri b ed i n a p o l i ce rep o rt

, t h at o ffi cer’ s rep o rt i s ad m i ss i b l e. See Jo n a s v.

Is u z u Mo t o r

s Lt d

. , 2 1 0 F.Su p p.2 d 1 3 7 3

, 1 3 7 8 (III) (A) (M

. D. Ga. 2 0 0 2 ) (i n a l aws u i t

ari s in g fro m an au to m o b i l e acci d en t

, p o l ice rep o rt co n t ai n i n g d i ag ram o f t h e acci d en t

ad m i s s i b l e u n d er Fed .R.Ev i d

. 8 0 3 (8 ) b ecau s e i t was p rep ared fro m t h e o ffi cer’ s o wn

p ers o n al o b s erv at i o n o f t h e s cen e).

Ac c ord i n gl y , t o t he ex t en t t h e p o li ce rep o rt referen ces o b s erv at i o ns m ad e by

t h e o ffi cer h i m s el f, t he co nt en t o f t h e p o li ce rep o rt i s ad m i s s i b l e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt

9erred i n fi n d i n g th at s u ch co ns t i t u t ed h ears ay

. 5 Fu rt h er, we can n o t fi n d t h at s u ch erro r

was h arm l es s wh ere t h e t ri al co u rt ex p res s l y n o ted i n i t s o rd er th a t “ w e r e [t h e

i n fo rm at i o n co n tai n ed i n t h e p o l i ce rep o rt ] ad m i s s i b l e, t h e [t ri al co urt ] wo u l d fi n d a

q u es ti o n o f fact o n th e i ss ue o f n e g l i g e n c e fo r cau s i n g t h e acci d en t b ecau s e t h e

o ffi cer’ s d ep i ct i o n o f t h e acci d en t an d t h e l o cat i o n o f t h e d eb ri s d es cri b e o n e t h i n g,

an d t he d ri v er’ s dep i ct io n o f t h e acci d en t d es cri b es an o t h er.” Acco rd i n g ly

, we v acat e

t h e o rd er as i t rel at es t o t h e i s s ue o f M A RTA’ s n eg l i g en ce fo r cau s i n g t he acci d en t

an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s

.

Ju d g men t a ff i r m ed i n p ar t

, r ever s ed i n p a rt

, a n d r ema n d

ed

. A ndr ews

, P

. J., a n d

McFa d den , J., co n cu r

.

5 W e n o t e t h at t h e p o l i ce rep o rt co n tai n s o u t -o f-co u rt s tat em en t s fro m t h i r d

p art i es m ad e t o th e po l i ce o ffi cer du ri n g t h e i n v es t i g at i o n

. As s u ch o u t

- o f-co u rt

s t at em en t s h av e n o t b een ch al l en g ed

, we ex p res s no o p i n i o n h erei n wh et h er t h ey

wo u l d b e ad m i s s i bl e t hro ug h t h e p o li ce rep ort at t ri al

.

10