THI RD DI VI SI ON DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

June 24, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A 2 2 A 0 1 6 5

. T HE G E O R G I A P O WE R C O M P A N Y v

. BRANDRETH FARM S, LLC.

A2 2 A0 16 6

. BRANDRETH FARM S, LLC et al

. v

. T HE GEORGIA

POW E R COM PANY.

A2 2 A0 20 8 . HELM S v . THE GEORGIA POW ER COM PANY.

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Th e d ay aft er Geo rg i a Po wer t ech n i c i a n s s erv i ced t h e el ect ri cal s y s t em at

Bran d ret h Farm s , a fi re b ro k e o u t i n a barn

, des t ro y i n g th e b arn an d o t h er s t ru ct u res ,

k i l l i n g m u l t i p l e h o rs es , an d i n

j u ri n g Nat h an i el Hel m s 1 an d J o h n Bran dret h, t h e o wn er

o f t h e farm

. Bran d ret h Farm s an d Bran d ret h (co l l ect i v el y , “ t he farm ”) s u ed Geo rg i a

Po wer, al l eg i n g t h at i t cau s ed t h e fi re an d as sert i n g cl ai m s fo r n eg l i g en ce, n eg l i g en t

1 Hel m s ’ s fi rs t n am e i s s p el l ed as “ Nat h an i el ” in h i s ap p el l at e b r i e f

, i n h i s

co m p l ai n t

, an d i n v ari o u s o t h er p l ead i n g s i n t h e t r i a l co urt an d “ Nat h an eal ” i n h i s

n o t i ce o f ap p eal an d h i s m ed ical reco rd s

.i n fl i ct i o n o f em ot i o n al di st res s , b reach o f co n t ract

, an d p u ni t iv e dam ag es

. Th e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed G eo rg ia Po wer’ s m o t i o n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t an d m o t i o n t o ex cl u d e

t h e tes t i m o n y of t h e farm ’ s ex pert s. Hel m s s u ed Geo r g i a P o w er i n a s ep arat e cas e,

as s ert i n g cl ai m s fo r n eg l i g en ce, n e g l i g en t i n fl i ct io n o f em o t i o nal d i s t res s , an d

at t o rn ey fees

, an d th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t to G eo r g i a P o w e r. In

Cas e No

. A2 2 A0 1 6 5

, Geo rg i a Po wer ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u r t ’ s ord ers den y i n g i t s

s u m m ary ju d g m en t m o t i o n an d i t s m o t i o n t o ex cl u d e t he tes t im on y o f th e farm ’ s

ex p ert s 2 ; i n Cas e No

. A2 2 A0 1 6 6

, th e farm ap p eal s t he tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g i t s

m o ti o n t o ex cl u d e th e t es t i m o n y o f G eo rg i a Po wer’ s ex p ert ; an d i n Cas e No

.

A2 2 A0 2 0 8

, t h e ad m i n i s t rat o r o f Hel m s’ s es t at e ap p eal s t h e g ran t of s u m m ary

ju d g m e n t t o Geo rg i a Po wer. 3 Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e i n Cas e No

.

A2 2 A0 16 5

, d i s m i ss as m o o t Cas e No

. A2 2 A0 16 6

, an d affi rm i n Cas e No

. A2 2 A0 2 0 8.

2 W e co n s o l i d at e t h es e t h ree ap p eal s fo r p u rp o s es o f t h i s o p i n i o n

.

3 Hel m s d i ed o n Feb ru ary 2

, 2 0 2 1

, an d a co n s en t o rd er w as en t ered s u b s t i t u t i n g St erl in W ad e Hel m s

– t h e ad m i n i s t rat o r of Nat han i el Hel m s ’ s es t at e

– as p l ai n t i ff. Fo r

p u rp os es o f t hi s ap p eal , we refer t o t h e p l ai n t i ff as “ Hel m s

. ”

2Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e p l ai n t i ffs

, 4 t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at

Bran d ret h i s t h e s o l e o wn er o f Bran d r e t h F a r m s , wh i ch i s a h o rs e b reed i n g an d

e x h i b i t i o n b us in es s l ocat ed o n p ro p ert y wi t h a b arn an d o t h er s t ru ct u res , i n cl u d i n g

Bran d ret h ’ s res i den ce. On Fri d ay , M arch 1 3

, 2 0 1 5, Geo rg i a Po wer sen t t ech n i ci an s

t o t h e farm t o w o rk o n t h e m ai n b arn ’ s el ect ri cal sy st em

. T h e t ech n i ci an s d et erm i n ed

t h at a bu ri ed l i n e su p p l y i n g p ower t o t h e barn was d efi ci en t, b u t co u l d no t b e rep ai red

t h at d ay

. As a res u l t

, th e t ech ni ci an s i n s tal l ed a “ s erv ice s a v e r ” dev i ce t o p ro v i d e

p o wer t o t h e b arn o ver th e week en d

, an d th ey t em p o rari ly rem ov ed th e barn ’ s el ect ri c

m et er fro m i ts b as e an d at t ach ed i t t o t h e s erv i ce s av er. 5 Th e fo l l o wi n g M on d ay , t h e

t ech n i ci an s d et ach ed t h e m et er fro m t h e s erv ice s av er, d i s co n n ect ed t h e s erv i ce s av er,

rep ai red t h e bu ri ed l i n e, an d rei n s t al l ed t he m et er to t h e b arn

. T h e y fi ni s h ed t h ei r

wo rk M o n d ay

aro u n d l u n ch

.

4 See S t er n v. P et t i s , 3 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8

. 83 ( 3 ) ( 8 4 7 SE2 d 8 2 4 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (“ Su m m ary ju dg m en t i s ap pro pri at e wh en n o gen u i ne i s s ues of m at eri al fact rem ai n

an d t h e m o v i n g p art y i s en t i t l e d t o j u d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw. W e rev i ew a t ri al

co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t d e n o v o , co n s t ru i n g t h e e v i d en ce an d al l

reas on ab l e i nferen ces i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r ab l e t o t h e n o n m o v i n g p art y .”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at io n o m i t ted ). See al s o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

5 Th e m et er was m an u fact u red b y El s t er, wh ich i s no t a p art y t o t hes e act i o n s

.

3Earl y

t h e nex t m o rn i n g , wh i l e s t an d i n g i n h i s carp o rt

, Bran d ret h saw fi re an d

el ect ri cal arci n g i n t h e area o f t h e b a r n w h e r e t h e m et er was l o cat ed

. He ran t o t h e

b arn t o s av e h i s ho rs es , b u t fi v e o f t h em d i ed

. In ad d i t i o n, t h e barn

, an ad j acen t aren a,

an d a co n n ect i n g b u i l d i ng were d es t ro y ed

.

Geo rg i a Po wer, t h e farm

, an d t he farm ’ s i n s u rer — Nat i o n al Su ret y

Co rp o rat i o n

— s en t ex pert s t o ex am in e t h e s cen e an d in v es ti g at e t h e cau s e of t h e fi re.

In t h e d eb ri s , t h ey d i s co v ered t wo ci rcu i t bo ard s fro m t h e b arn ’ s el ect ri cal m et er

l o cat ed 1 5 an d 2 1 feet away , i n d i cat i n g t h at t he m et er h ad ex p l o d ed

. Th ey al s o fo u n d

o t h er m et er co m

p o n en t s s h o wi n g t h a t e lect ri cal arci n g h ad o ccu rred wi t h i n t h e

d ev ice. Th e ex p ert s e n g a g ed b y t h e farm an d Nat i o n al Su ret y co n cl u ded t h at t h e

m et er m al fu n ct i o n ed fi rs t

, i n i t i at i n g a fi re t h at s p read t h ro u g h o u t th e barn

. Th ey

b l am ed Geo rg i a Po wer’ s t ech n i ci an s fo r ei t her dam ag i n g t he m et er d u ri n g t hei r wo rk

o r n eg l i g en t l y rep l aci n g i t wi th o u t n ot i ci ng t hat it w as defect i v e. Geo rg i a Po wer, o n

t h e o t h er h an d

, b el i ev ed t h at t h e fi re s t art ed el s ewh ere i n t h e b arn an d l at er s p read to

t h e m et er, cau si n g i t t o arc an d ex p l o d e.

Nat i on al Su ret y p ai d t h e farm $ 7 4 2

, 1 31 .1 9 fo r a p o rt i o n o f it s l o s ses an d t h en

fi led a s u b ro gat i o n act i o n ag ai n s t Geo rg i a Po wer i n th e Un i t ed St at es Di s t ri ct Co u rt

fo r t h e No rt h ern D is t ri ct o f G eo rg i a

. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt ex cl u ded t h e t es t i m o n y o f

4Nat i o n al Su ret y ’ s cau s at i on ex p ert

, Ed ward Bri l l

, u n d e r D a u b er t v. Mer r el l Do w

Ph a rma ceu t i ca l

s , 6 ru l in g t h at s o l i t t l e p hy s i cal ev i d en ce h ad s u rv i v ed t h e fi re t h at

Bri l l co u l d n ot ru l e o ut t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t hat t he fi re h ad o ri g i n at ed el s ewh ere an d t h en

s p read t o t h e m et er. 7 Th e co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at it s jo b was “ t o en s u re s i t u at io n s wi th

s u ch li t t l e ev i d en ce d o n o t l ead t o fi n al ex p ert co n cl u s i o ns b as ed o n s pecu l at i o n .” 8

Th e p l ai n t i ffs arg u ed t h at Geo rg i a Po wer co ul d b e fo u n d n eg l i g en t

, ev en

wi t h o u t Bri l l’ s t es t i m on y , u n der t h e d o ct ri n e o f res i ps a l o q u it u r, i n wh i ch a j u ry m ay

i n fer t h at t h e d efen d an t act ed n eg l i g en t l y i f “ t h e occu rren ce i n v o l v ed wo u l d n o t h av e

o ccu rred b u t fo r neg l i g en ce,” an d t he d efe n d a n t w as “ in ex cl us i v e co n tro l o f t h e

i n s t r u m en t al i t y

. ” 9 Th e d i st ri ct co u rt reject ed t h at arg u m en t

, h o w ev er, ru l i n g t h a t “ a

p ro d uct fai l u re can o ccu r ab s en t n eg l i g en ce[,] an d t h e m et er was n o t i n th e ex cl u s i v e

co n tro l of [Geo rg i a Po wer] .” 1 0 In t he ab s en ce of ev i d en ce t h at Geo rg i a Po wer’ s

6 5 0 9 U. S. 5 79 (1 1 3 SCt 2 7 8 6 , 1 2 5 LE2 d 4 6 9 ) (1 9 9 3 ).

7 See Na t

. S

u r e t y C o r p

. v

. Ga

. Po wer Co

. , 2 0 19 W L 4 3 9 4 4 03

, at *6 (II) (c) (2 0 1 9 U.S. Di st . LEXIS 1 5 65 6 6 ) (N.D. Ga. Sep t . 1 2 , 2 0 1 9 ).

8 See i d

.

9 Ma t t h ews v. Y

o p l ai t US A , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 1 , 5 9 4 (8 3 5 SE2 d 3 9 3 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

1 0 Na t . S u r et y Co r p. , 2 0 1 9 W L 4 3 9 4 4 03 at * 7

.

5n eg li g en ce cau s ed t h e fi re, th e d i s t ri ct co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d gm en t t o Geo rg i a

Po wer. 1 1

M ean wh i l e, Bran d ret h an d t he farm s u ed Geo rg i a Po wer i n Su p eri o r Co u rt o f

Pi ck en s Co u n t y

. Al t h o ug h fact di s co v ery was co nd u ct ed jo i n t l y wi t h t h e fed eral cas e,

t h e farm h i red a d ifferen t cau sat i o n ex p ert

, en g i n eer Dav id Leo n e. Leo ne ex am i n ed

t h e m et er’ s rem ai n s an d n ot ed t h at i t was m is s i n g t wo o f fo u r s m al l co t t er p i n s u s ed

t o h o l d t he m e t e r ’s p ro n g s i n p l ace. Leo n e t h eo ri zed t h at t h es e pi n s were m i s s i n g

b efo re t h e fi re an d h ad al l o wed ex ces s i v e m i cro -v ib rat i o n s wi t h i n t h e m et er, res u l t i n g

i n m ech an i cal wear an d fai l u re. Leo n e fu rt h er t h eo ri zed t hat t h e d am ag e t o t h e m et er

h ad b eg u n wi t h t h e arci n g an d was “ n o t a fi re-rel at ed p h en o m en o n .” L eo n e co u l d n ot

d et erm i n e wh en o r h ow th e p i n s wen t m i s s in g an d no t ed t h ey m ay h av e b een ab s en t

wh en Geo rg ia Po wer acq u i red t h e m et er fro m t h e m an u fact u rer. In t h at ev en t

, Leo n e

o p i n ed

, t he t ech n i c i a n s s h o u ld h av e n o t i ced t he m i s si ng p i n s w h en t h ey m o v ed t h e

m et er t o wo rk at t h e b arn

.

1 1 See i d

.

6Geo rg i a Po w er m o ved t o ex cl u d e L eo n e’ s t es t i m o n y as t o o s pecu l at i v e , 1 2 b ut

t h e s u p eri o r co u rt d i s ag reed

, ru l i n g t h at h is o p i n i on s were ad m i s s ib l e u n der OCGA

§ 2 4-7 -7 0 2 b ecau s e h e u s ed r el i ab l e m et h o d s an d h ad “ su ffi ci en t fact s an d d at a” to

wo rk wi t h

. Geo rg i a Po wer al s o m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g am on g o t h er

t h i n g s t h at t h e p l ai n t i ffs h ad n o ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce o f cau s at i o n , res i p sa l o q u i t u r d id

n o t ap p l y , an d t h e d i s t ri ct c o u rt ’ s Na t

. S u r et y Co r p

. ru l i ng was res ju di cat a. Th e

s u p eri o r co u rt al s o d en i ed t h i s m o t i o n , ru l i n g t h at Leo n e’ s o p in i on s were s u ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce o f cau s at i on , t h at t h e pl ai n t i ffs ’ res i p s a l o q u i t u r t h eo ry s h o u l d g o to a ju ry ,

an d t h at Geo rg i a Po wer h ad “ fai l ed t o p ro v id e cl ear p ro of o f t h o s e part s o f t h e reco rd

wh i ch are n eces s ary t o p ro v e i t s [res j u d icat a] d efen s e.” At Geo rg i a Po wer’ s req u es t

,

t h e t ri al co u rt cert i fi ed t h es e o r d e r s f or i m m ed i at e rev i ew. Geo rg i a Po w er fi l ed an

ap p li cat io n fo r i n t erl o cu to ry ap p eal t o t hi s Co u rt

, wh i ch we g ran t ed

, an d t i m el y fi l ed

i t s no t i ce o f ap p eal , wh i ch was d o ck et ed i n t h i s Co u rt as Cas e Nu m b er A2 2 A0 1 6 5.

Hel m s , wh o was at t h e farm t o t each a cl in i c an d su s t ai n ed bu rn s fro m t h e fi re

wh i le at t em

p t i n g t o r e m o v e eq u i p m en t an d res cu e h i s h o rs e an d o t h ers i n h i s care,

1 2 Geo rg i a Po wer a l s o m o v ed to ex cl u d e t h e tes t im on y o f an o t h er o n e o f t h e f a r m ’s e x p ert s , W es Du rh am , wh o o p i ned t h at t h e fi re s t art ed i n wo o d s i d i n g

s u rro u n d i n g t h e m e t er d u e t o a cat as t ro p hi c fai l u re o f t h e m et er. In co n cl u d i n g t h at

t h e m et er fai l ed

, Du rh am rel i ed o n Leo n e’ s o p i ni o n s

. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n t o ex cl ud e Du rh am ’ s t es t i m o n y

.

7al s o s u ed Geo rg i a Po wer, as s ert i n g cl ai m s fo r n eg li g en ce, n eg l ig en t i nf l i c t i o n o f

em ot i o n al d i s t res s , res p o n d eat su p eri o r, an d at t o rn ey fees

. G eo rg i a Po wer m o v ed fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, an d t h e t ri a l c o u rt gran t ed th e m o t io n on t h e g ro u n d s t h at

as s u m pt i o n o f t h e ri s k b arred Hel m s ’ s cl ai m s

.

Ca s e No . A2 2

A0 1 6 5

1

. R es j u d ica t a /

co ll a t er a l es t o

p pel

. Geo rg i a Po wer 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 ng i t s s u m

m ary ju d g m en t m o ti o n b ecau s e res j u d icat a bars t h e farm ’ s

cl ai m s . W e ag ree.

Th e d o ct ri n e o f res ju d i cat a p rev en t s t h e re-l i ti g at i o n o f al l cl ai m s

wh i ch h av e a l r ead y been ad ju di cat ed

, o r wh i ch co u l d h av e b een

ad ju di cat ed

, b et ween i d en t i cal p art i es o r t h ei r p ri v i es i n i d en t i cal cau ses

o f act io n. Res j u di cat a p rev en t s a p l ai n t i ff fro m i n s t it u t i n g a s eco n d

co m p lai n t ag ai n s t a d efen d an t o n a cl ai m t h at h as al read y b een b ro u g ht

, aft er h av i n g prev i ou s ly b een ad ju d g ed no t to b e en t i t l ed t o t h e reco v ery

s o u g h t o n t h at cl ai m

. Th ree p rereq u i s i t es m u s t b e s at i sfi ed b e f

o r e r es ju d i cat a ap p l i es –

(1 ) i den t i t y o f t h e cau s e o f act i o n , (2 ) i d en t i t y o f t he

p art i es or t h ei r p ri v ies

, an d (3 ) p rev i o us ad ju d i cat i o n o n t he m eri t s b y a

co u rt o f co m

p et en t ju ri s d i ct i o n. 1 3

1 3 (Fo o t n o t es o m i tt ed .) W

a l d r o u p v. Gr een e Co u n t

y Ho sp

. Au t h

. , 2 65 Ga. 8 6 4,

8 6 5 -8 6 6 (1 ) (4 6 3 SE2 d 5 ) (1 9 95 ). See al s o OCGA § 9 -1 2-4 0 (“ A ju d g m en t o f a co u rt

o f co m p et en t ju ri sd i ct i o n s h al l b e co n cl u s iv e b et ween t h e s am e p art i es an d t h ei r

p ri v i es as t o al l m at t ers p u t i n i s s u e o r wh i ch u n d er t h e ru l es o f l aw m i g h t h av e b een

p u t i n i s s u e i n t h e c a u s e w h erei n t h e ju d g m en t w as ren d ered u n t il t h e ju d g m en t i s

8Th e d efen d an t h as t h e b u rd en of p ro v i n g res ju d i cat a. 1 4

Th e farm arg u es th at Geo rg i a Po w er fai l ed t o m eet i t s b urd en o f p ro v i n g t h e

d e f e n s e b ecau se t h e reco rd d o es no t co n tai n cert i fi ed co p i es o f d o cu m en t s i n t h e

d i s t ri ct co u rt cas e, t h at t h e cau ses of act i o n are n o t i d en t i cal

, an d th at t h e i d en t i t y o f

t h e p art i es are n o t i den t i cal

. 1 5

(a) Pr o o f

. W e fi n d m e r i t l es s t h e farm ’ s arg u m en t (an d th e s u p eri o r co urt ’ s

co n cl u s i o n ) t h at Geo rg i a Po wer fai l ed t o m eet i t s b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t h e d efen s e o f

res ju di cat a b y “ cl ear p ro o f.”

rev ers ed o r s et as i d e.”).

1 4 See W a g g a ma n v. Fr a n k l i n Li

f e In s

. Co

. , 2 6 5 G a. 5 6 5 (1 ) (4 5 8 SE2 d 8 2 6 ) (1 9 9 5); Tr ej o -Va ld

ez v. As s o c i a t ed Ag en t

s , 3 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 1

, 4 65 (1 ) (8 5 0 SE2 d

8 6 3 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

1 5 W e n o t e t h at t h e farm do es n o t d is pu t e th at t h e t hi rd res ju d i cat a p rereq u i si t e

– “ a p rev i o u s ad

ju d i cat i on o n t h e m eri t s b y a co u rt of co m p et en t ju ri s di ct io n ”

– was

m et

. W a l d r o u p , 2 6 5 Ga. at 86 6 (2 ). Fu r t h erm ore, we no t e t h at al th o u g h Geo rg i a Po wer d i d no t as s ert i t s res j u d icat a d efen s e i n it s an swer, i t rai s ed i t b y m o t i o n , an d

t h erefo re, i t di d no t wai v e t h e d efen s e. See Ch r i s o n v. H & H In t er i o r s , 2 3 2 Ga. Ap p. 4 5

, 50 (2 ) (5 0 0 SE2 d 4 1) (1 9 9 8 ) (“ Res ju di cat a i s an affi rm at i v e defen s e an d m u s t b e

p l ead ed affi rm at i vel y

. OCGA § 9 -1 1 -8 (c). Th e p u r p o s e o f t h e req u i rem en t t h at
affi rm at i v e d efen s es b e p l ead ed i s t o p rev en t s u rp ri s e an d to g i v e t h e op p os i n g p art y fai r n o t i ce o f wh at he m

u s t m eet as a d efen s e. If i t i s n o t p l ead ed i t i s g en eral l y h el d

t h at t he d efen s e i s wai v ed

, b u t i f i t i s rai s ed b y m o ti o n , o r by s p eci al p l ea in

co n nect io n wi t h t h e an s wer o r b y m o t i o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t t h ere i s n o wai v er.”),

q u o t i n g McFa d

d en Bu s i n es s Pu b l i ca t i o n s v. Gu i d ry , 1 77 Ga. Ap p

. 8 8 5, 8 87 (1 ) (a) (3 4 1 SE2 d 2 9 4 ) (1 9 8 6 ).

9Cert ai n l y , “ [t ] h e defen s e o f res ju d i cat a m us t b e s u s t a i n ed b y cl ear p ro o f.” 1 6

An d “ [t ] he reco rd p o rt i o n s s u b m i t t ed m u s t rev eal w h i ch i ss u es i n v o l v ed i n t h e p res en t

s u i t were p u t i n i s s u e o r m i g h t h a v e b e e n p u t i n i s s u e i n th e p rev i o u s l i t i g at i o n .” 1 7

“ Bu t a fi n al p ri o r cert i fi ed o rd er o r ju d g m en t m ay be su ffi ci en t t o p ro v e th e d efen s e,

d ep en d i ng o n t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t he p art i cu l ar cas e.” 1 8

Here, each pag e o f th e co p y o f th e d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s p ri o r ju d g m en t t hat Geo rg i a

Po wer fi l ed i n su p p o rt o f i t s s u m m ary ju d gm en t was fi l e-s t am p ed

, an d th e ju d g m en t

was p u bl i s h ed

. 1 9 Th e farm d o es n o t co n t es t t h e a u t h en t i ci ty o f t h e d i st ri ct co u rt

ju d g m en t n o r d o es i t sp eci fi cal l y ch al l en g e t h e l ack of cert i fi cat io n fo r t h e ju d g m en t

.

In s t ead

, t h e farm b as es i t s arg u m en t o n t h e fact th at Geo r g i a Po w er fai l ed t o fi l e

cert ifi ed co p ies o f th e r eco r d i n t h e d i s t ri ct co u r t c a s e , i n p art icu l ar, t h e rel ev an t

1 6 (Pu n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Ma yer v. W yl ie

, 2 2 9 Ga. A pp

. 2 8 2

, 2 8 3 (2 ) (4 9 4 SE2 d

6 0 ) (1 9 9 7 ), q u ot i n g Gl en Oa k, In c. v. Hen d er s o n , 2 5 8 Ga. 4 5 5

, 45 8

, n .4 (3 6 9 SE2 d

7 3 6 ) (1 9 8 8 ).

1 7 Ma yer , 2 2 9 G a. Ap p

. at 2 8 3-2 8 4 (2 ).

1 8 Mo rg an Co u n t

y Bd

. o f Ta x As s es s o r

s v. Va n t a ge Pr o d

u ct s Co rp

. , 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 3 (7 4 8 SE2 d 4 6 8 ) (2 0 1 3), ci t i ng Bo o z er v. H i gd o n , 25 2 Ga. 2 7 6

, 2 7 8 (2 ) (3 1 3

SE2 d 1 0 0) (1 9 8 4).

1 9 See Na t

. S

u ret y Co r p

. v. Ga

. Po wer Co

. , 2 0 1 9 W L 4 3 9 4 4 0 3

, a t * 6 (II) (c) (2 0 1 9 U.S. Di st . LEXIS 1 5 65 6 6 ) (N.D. Ga. Sep t . 1 2 , 2 0 1 9 ).

10i n s u ran ce p o l i cy

. Bu t

, as i n M o r g a n Co u n ty Bd

. o f Ta x As s es s o rs v. Va n ta g e Pr o d u ct s

Co r p

. , 2 0 t h e di s t ri ct co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t co nt ai n s s u ffi ci en t d et ai l t o id en t i fy t h e i s s u e

l i t i g at ed an d d eci d ed i n t h at cas e, wh i ch was w h et h er Geo rg ia Po wer’ s n eg l i g en c e

cau s ed th e fi re at t h e farm

. 2 1 Un d er th e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h i s cas e, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

2 0 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p . at 8 2 6

.

2 1 In t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt cas e, Nat i o n al Su r e t y al l eg ed t h at Geo rg i a Po wer’ s

n eg li g en ce cau s ed th e fi re at t h e b arn

. Th e d i s tri ct co u rt ex cl u ded t he t es t i m o n y o f

Nat i o n al Su ret y ’ s ex p ert , Ed w ard Bri l l , ex p lai n in g t h at

l i tt l e ev id en ce s u rv i v ed t h i s fi re. It ap p ears t h at Bri l l ad eq u a t e l y

s u rv ey ed t h e ev i d en ce av ai l ab l e t o h i m , bu t h e h im s el f ac k n o w l e d g ed

rep eat ed l y t h e s carci ty o f ev i d en ce fo r h i m t o e v a l u at e. Fo r ex am p l e,

Bri l l co u l d n ot ru le o u t ot h e r p o s s i b l e i g n i t i o n so u rces o r wh et h er th e

m et er was act u al l y d am ag ed wh en i t was rem o v ed o r rei n s t al l ed

, m u ch

l es s wh i ch p art o f t h e m et er was dam ag ed as a res u lt

. As t h e g at ek eep er,

i t i s t h e Co u rt ’ s jo b t o en s u re si t u at i on s wi t h s u ch l i t t l e ev i den ce do n o t

l ead t o fi n al ex p ert co n cl u s i o n s b a s e d on s p ecu l at i o n. Th us , t h e Co u rt

fi nd s t h at Bri l l d i d n o t b ri d g e t h e g ap b et w een t h e d at a an d t h e o p i n i o n

p ro ffered

. Th e d at a i nd i cat es t h at t h ere was arci n g i n t h e m et er an d t hat

t h e wo rk d on e b y [Geo rg i a Po wer] i n t h e d ay s b efo re l i k el y i n v o l v ed

rem o v i n g an d rei n s t al l i n g t h e m e t e r

. As d i s cu s sed ab o v e, n ei t h er o f

t h o s e fact s l ead t o t h e co n cl u s i o n t h at [Geo rg ia Po wer’ s ] wo rk d am ag ed

t h e m et er, o r t h at th e m et er m al fu n ct i o ned an d cau s ed t h e fi re. Fu rt h er,

wi t h ou t s uch t es t imo ny f

r o m B r i ll

, [ Na t i o n a l S u r et

y] ca nn o t ca r r

y i t s

b u r d en o n ca u s a t i o n

.

11erred by fi n d i n g t h at Geo rg i a Po wer fai l ed t o p ro v i d e “ cl ear pro o f” o f i t s res ju d i cat a

cl ai m

.

(b ) Id

en t i t y o f p a r ti es

.

A p ri v y i s gen eral l y d efi n ed as o n e wh o i s rep res en t ed at t ri al an d

wh o i s i n l aw s o co n n ect ed wi t h a part y t o t h e ju d g m en t as t o hav e s u ch

an i d en t i t y o f i n t eres t th at t h e p art y to t h e j u d gm en t rep res en t ed t he s am e

l eg al ri g h t

. Th ere i s n o d efi ni t i o n o f “ p ri v i ty ” wh i ch can be

au t o m at i cal l y ap p l i ed t o al l cas es i n v o lv i n g t h e d o ct ri n es o f res ju d i cat a

(Em p h as i s s up p l i ed .) Na t

. S

u r et y Co r p

. , 2 0 19 W L 43 9 4 4 0 3

, at * 1 6. Th e d i s t ri ct co u rt
al s o reject ed Nat i on al Su ret y ’ s res i p s a l o q u i t u r arg u m en t:

Th e Co u rt do es n ot f

i n d t h i s arg u m en t ap p l icab l e i n th i s cas e b ecau s e

t h e el em en t s are no t s at is fi ed

. Res i p s a l o q u i t u r req u ires t h at : (1 ) th e

i n ju ry i s of a k i n d w h ich o rd i n ari l y d o es n o t occu r i n t h e ab sen ce o f

s o m eo n e ’s n e g li g en ce; (2 ) t he i n ju ry w as cau s ed b y an ag en cy o r

i n s t ru m en t al i t y wi t h i n t h e ex cl u s i ve co n t ro l o f t h e d efen d an t; an d (3 ) th e

i n ju ry m u s t n o t h av e b een d u e t o an y vo l u n t ary act i o n or co n t ri b u ti o n o n

t h e p art o f t h e p l ai n ti ff. Th e fi rs t an d s eco n d el em en t s are cl earl y n o t m et

i n t h e p res en t cas e

– p ro d u ct fai l u re can o ccu r ab s en t n eg l i g en ce an d th e

m et er was n o t in t h e ex cl u s iv e co n t ro l o f [Geo rg i a Po wer]

. Th u s

, ab s en t

Br i l l ’s o p i n i o n t es t i mo n

y, mer e s p ecu l at i o n li n ks [

Geo rg i a Po wer

] t o

t h e b a r n f i r e, a n d n o rea s o n a b l e j u r y co u l d f i n d i n [Na t i on a l S

u r et y’s ]

f a vo r

.

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .) Id . at * 3

.

12an d co l l at eral es t o p p el

, si n ce p ri v i t y d ep en d s up o n t h e ci rcu m st an ces

.

Pri v it y m ay b e es tab l i s h ed i f t h e p art y t o t h e fi rs t s u it rep res en ted th e

i n t eres t s o f t he p art y

t o t h e s eco n d s u i t

. 2 2

“ A p art y ’ s i n s u rer s t an d s i n t h e s h o es o f t h e i ns u red as t o i d en t i t y o f p art i es o r

p r i v i es .” 2 3 As t h e farm ’ s i n s u rer, Nat i o n al Su ret y an d t h e farm are pri v i es

. A s s o l e

p ro p ri et or, Bran d ret h i s in p ri v i t y wi t h t he farm

. 2 4 An d Nat i o n al Su ret y as s ert ed an d

l i ti g at ed t h e sam e n eg l i g e n ce cl ai m ag ai ns t Geo rg i a Po wer t h at Bran d ret h an d t h e

2 2 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Br o wn & W i l l i a ms o n To b a cco Co r

p. v. Ga u l t , 2 8 0 Ga. 4 2 0

, 4 2 1 -4 2 2 (1 ) (6 2 7 SE2 d 5 4 9 ) (2 0 0 6).

2 3 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Co ff ee Ir o n W o rks v. QORE, In c. , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 7,

1 4 0 (1 ) (b ) (7 4 4 SE2 d 1 1 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ), q u o t i n g Ci n ci nn a t i In s

. Co

. v. M a cLeo d

, 2 5 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 1

, 7 6 5 (4 ) (a) (5 7 7 SE2 d 7 9 9 ) (2 0 0 3 ). See al s o S a n d er s v. Tr i n i t y Un i ver s al

In s

. Co

. , 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 5

, 7 0 7 -7 0 8 (2 ) (6 47 SE2 d 3 8 8 ) (2 0 0 7) (h ol d i n g t h a t
i n s u ran ce co m

p a n y “ i s p ri v y t o i t s i n su red

. . . becau s e i t s t an d s i n t h e s h o es o f i t s i n s u red an d can h av e no great er ri g h t o f r e co v ery t han i t s i n s u red ”) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m i t t e d ); Amer i ca n S t a t es In s

. Co

. v. W a l ker

, 2 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 4, 1 9 5 (1 ) (b ) ( 4 7 7

SE2 d 3 6 0) (1 9 9 6) (i n s u rer s t an d s i n t h e s h oes o f i t s i n s u red ).

2 4 See McCu mb er v. Pet r o l eu m S vcs .Gr o u p

, LLC

, 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 9

, 4 6 1 -4 6 2 (1 ) (7 7 3 SE2 d 80 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (p h y s ical p reced en t on l y ). See al s o Da l t o n Pa vi n g &

Co n s t r

. v. S

o u t h Gr een Co n st r

. o

f Ga

. , 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 6

, 5 0 8 (6 4 3 SE2 d 7 5 4 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (h o l d i n g t h at d ev el o p er, o wn ers , an d p ro p ert y m an ag er were “ i n es s en ce t hi rd p art y b en efi ci ari es o f th e s u b co nt ract ” b et ween p l ai n t iff g en eral co n t ract o r an d d efen d an t

s u b co n t ract o r, wh o p rev i o u sl y arb i t rat ed cl ai m o v er co n tract ).

13farm al leg e i n t h i s c as e. 2 5 It fo l l o ws th at Nat i o n al Su ret y , th e farm

, an d Bran d ret h

“ [are] i n l aw so co n n ect ed

. . . [an d ] h av e s u ch an i d en t i ty o f i n t eres t ” t h at t h ey are in

p ri v i ty

. 2 6

(d ) Id en t i t y o f cl a i ms

.

A cau s e o f act i o n has b een d efi n ed as bei n g t h e en t i re s et of fact s

wh i ch g i ve ri s e t o an en fo rceab le cl ai m

. Th e q ues t i o n i n d et erm i n i n g

i d e n t i t y o f cau s e o f act i o n i s wh et h er bo t h cl ai m s aro s e fro m t h e s am e

s et o f fact s

. I t i s t h e en t i re s et o f fact s th em s el v es , on ce t h ey o ccu r,

h o wev er, th at g i ve ri s e t o t h e cau s e o f act i on , reg ard l es s of w h et h er th e

p art y fai l s t o i n cl u d e cert ai n fact s i n t h e fi rs t act i o n

. In co n s i d eri n g th e

en t i re s et o f fact s , we fo cu s o n t he wro n g t h at i s as s ert ed

. 2 7

Th e farm ’ s co m

p l ai nt in t h e i n s tan t cas e al l eg es n eg li g en ce, i nt en t i o n al

i n fl i ct i o n o f em o t i o nal di s tre s s , b reach o f co n t ract

, an d p u n i t iv e d am ag es

. Th es e

2 5 S e e McCu m b er , 3 3 3 G a. Ap p

. at 4 6 1-4 6 2 (1 ); Mi n n i fi el d v. W

el ls Fa rg o Ba n k, N.A.

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 2

, 5 1 6 -5 1 7 (3 ) (7 7 1 SE2 d 1 88 ) (2 0 15 ); Co f f ee Ir o n W o r ks , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 4 0 (1 ) (b ); Da l t o n Pa vi n g , 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p. at 5 0 8 -5 0 9

.

2 6 (Pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed

. ) B r o wn & W i l li a ms o n To b a cco Co r

p. , 2 8 0 Ga. at

4 2 1 -4 2 2 (1 ).

2 7 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Da s ht p eyma v. W

a l ker

, 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p. 6 4 4

, 6 46 (1 ) (8 5 9 SE2 d 7 9 9 ) (2 0 2 1 ), q u o ti n g Co en v. CDC S o ft wa r e Co rp ., 3 0 4 Ga.

1 0 5

, 1 0 5 (8 1 6 SE2 d 6 7 0) (2 01 8), Mo r r i s o n v. Mo r r i s o n , 2 8 4 Ga. 1 1 2 , 1 1 6 (3 ) (6 6 3

SE2 d 7 1 4 ) (2 0 0 8 ), an d S weet Ci t y La n d f i l l v. Lyo n , 3 5 2 Ga. A pp

. 8 24

, 8 36 (4 ) (b ) (8 3 5 SE2 d 7 6 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

14cl ai m s , i n cl u d i n g Bran d et h ’ s p ers o n al i n j u ry cl ai m an d t h e farm ’ s b reach o f co n t ract

cl ai m , are b as ed o n neg l i g en ce. 2 8 Nat i o n al Su ret y ’ s p ri o r s u i t ag ai n s t Geo rg i a Po wer

i n t h e d i s t ri ct co u rt i n v ol v ed t h e s am e s et o f fact s an d an id en t ical t h eo ry o f l i ab i l i t y ,

i .e., t h at “ Geo rg i a Po wer’ s n eg l i g en t wo rk o n t h e barn ’ s el ect ri cal s erv i ce eq u i p m en t

cau s ed t h e fi re.” 2 9 Th u s , t he i n s t an t cas e an d t h e di s t ri ct co u rt cas e i nv o l v e t h e s am e

s et o f fact s an d are b as ed o n t h e s am e wro n g : Geo rg i a Po wer’ s al l e g ed n eg l i g en ce.

An d at ho u gh Bran d ret h an d t h e farm n o w s eek t o reco v er fo r p ers o nal i n ju ri es ,

p u n i t i v e d am ag es , b reach o f co nt ract

, an d p ro p ert y d am ag es i n ex ces s o f t h o s e s o u g ht

2 8 In t h e co m

p l ai n t, t h e farm al l eg es t h at it en t ered i n to a co n t ract wi t h Geo rg i a Po wer “ fo r t h e pro vi s io n an d m a i n t en an ce o f el ect ri ci t y t o t h e Su b ject Pro p ert y in

e x c h a n g e fo r p ay m en t,” t h at “ [i ] m p l ied in t h e [a] g reem en t i s a d u t y req u i ri n g [Geo rg ia Po wer] t o p erfo rm i t s m ai n t en an ce d u t ies an d p ro v id e el ect ri ci t y in a fi t an d

wo rk m an l i k e m an n er t h at en s u res s afet y fo r t h e Su bject Pro p ert y an d i t s res i d en t s ,”

an d t h at Geo rg i a Po wer “ b reach ed i ts d u t y t o Bran d ret h Farm s b y fai li n g t o p ro p erl y

m ai n t ai n t h e eq u i pm en t at t h e Su b ject Pro p ert y

. . . [an d] b y fai l i n g t o p ro v i d e t h e

co n tract ed fo r s erv i ces an d el ect ri ci ty i n a m an n er s afe t o Bran d ret h Farm s an d t h e Su b ject Pro p ert y .” Gi v en t h e al l eg at i o ns an d th e fact t h at t h e co m p l ai n t d i d n ot

s p eci fy t h e co n t ract u al p ro v i si o n t h at Geo rg i a Po wer al l eg ed l y b reach ed

, t he “ b reach

o f co n tract ” cl ai m

i s n eces s ari ly

b as ed o n a n eg li g en ce t heo ry

.

2 9 Na t . S u r et y Co r p. , 2 0 1 9 W L 4 3 9 4 4 03 , at * 3

.

15b y Nat i o n al Su ret y , t h e n ewl y al l eg ed cl ai m s fl o w ed fro m t h e ex act s am e w ro n g , i

. e.,

t h e fi re p u rp o rt ed l y

cau s ed b y Geo rg i a Po wer’ s n eg l i gen ce. 3 0

Acco rd i ng l y , t h e cau ses o f act i o n are t h e s am e in t h e i n s t an t cas e an d t h e p ri o r

d i s t ri ct co u rt cas e. 3 1 In l ig ht o f t h e i d en ti cal cau s es o f act io n an d p art i es , res ju d i cat a

b a r s t h e farm ’ s cl ai m s ag ai n s t Geo rg i a Po wer i n t h e i n s t an t cas e. 3 2 T h erefo re, t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt erred b y

d en y i n g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t t o Geo rg i a Po w er.

3 0 See Cr owe v. El d

er , 29 0 Ga. 6 8 6, 6 8 8 -6 89 (7 2 3 SE2 d 4 2 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at res ju d i cat a ap p l i ed t o b ar s u b s eq u en t p ro ceed i n g b ecau s e “ [t ] h e recas t i n g o f t h e

s am e al l eg ed co nd u ct b y [t h e defen d an t ] as b reach o f co n t ract i n s t ead o f frau d d o es

n o t co ns t i t ut e a n ew o r d ifferen t cau s e o f act i on .”); Ha rr i s v. Deu t sch e Ba n k Na t

. Tr u st Co

. , 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 8

, 8 4 1 (7 9 2 SE2 d 1 1 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ Th e d o ct ri n e o f res ju d i cat a ap p l i es ev en i f s o m e n ew fact u al al l eg at i o ns h av e been m ad e, s o m e n ew rel i ef h as b een req u es t ed

, o r a n ew d e f e n d a n t has b een ad d ed

. It i s o nl y wh ere t h e

m eri t s were no t an d co u ld n ot h av e b een det erm in ed u nd er a p ro p er p res en tat i o n an d

m an ag em en t o f t h e cas e t h at res ju di cat a i s n o t a v iab l e defen s e. If, p u rs uan t t o an

ap p ro p ri at e h an d l i n g o f t h e cas e, t h e m eri t s were o r co u l d h av e been d et erm i n ed

, t h en

t h e d efen s e i s val i d .”) (ci t at i o n s , p u n ct u at i o n , an d em p h as i s o m it t ed ).

3 1 See Cr o we , 29 0 Ga. at 6 8 8-6 8 9 ; D a s h t p eyma , 35 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 64 6 -6 4 8 (1 ).

See al s o Ch o i cePo i n t S

vcs

. v. Hi er

s , 2 8 4 G a. A p p

. 6 4 0

, 6 4 3 ( 2 ) (6 4 4 SE2 d 4 5 6 ) (2 0 0 7) (“ t h e ad d i n g o f ad d i t i o n al cl ai m s fo r rel i ef wh ich g ro w ou t o f t h e s am e fact u al

s i tu at i o n d o es n o t am o un t t o t h e ad di n g o f a n ew o r d i fferen t cau s e o f act i o n ”) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); McCr a cken v. Ci ty o f Co l l eg e Pa r

k

, 2 5 9 Ga. 49 0

, 4 9 1 (2 ) (3 8 4

SE2 d 6 4 8 ) (1 9 8 9) ( “ So l o n g as a part y p l ead s b ut o n e wro n g in res p ect t o t h e s am e

t ran s act io n , t h e cau s e o f act i o n i s t h e s am e, an d i t m ak es n o d ifferen ce t h a t t h e

rem ed y s o u g h t t o b e ap pl i ed u n d er d i f f e ren t p ro ced u res g ro wi n g o u t o f t h e s am e

wro ng m ay

b e d i fferen t .”) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

3 2 See Da s h t

p eyma , 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p . at 6 4 8 (2 ).

162

. In l ig h t o f o ur h o l d i n g i n Di v i s i o n 1

, w e n eed no t ad d res s Geo rg i a Po wer’ s

rem ai n i n g en um erat i o n s i n t h i s ap p eal

.

Ca s e No . A2 2

A0 1 6 6

3

. In t h i s cro s s -ap peal o f Cas e No

. A2 20 1 6 5

, th e farm arg u es t h at t h e s u p eri o r

co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n b y d en y i n g i t s m ot i o n t o ex cl u d e th e t es t i m o ny o f Geo rg i a

Po wer’ s ex p ert

, T o n y Ech o l s. In l i g h t of o u r h o l d i ng i n D i vi s i o n 1

, t h is ap p eal i s m o ot

an d t h erefo re d i sm i s s ed

.

Ca s e No . A2 2 A0 2 0 8

4

. Hel m s co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran t in g s u m m ary ju d g m en t to

Geo rg i a Po wer as t o h i s cl ai m s. W e d i s ag ree.

In 2 0 1 5

, Bran d ret h h i red Hel m s t o t each a m o un t ed s h o ot i n g cl i n i c at t h e farm

o n M arch 1 7

, 20 1 5

. 3 3 O n M a r c h 1 6

, 2 0 1 5

, H el m s arri v ed at th e farm an d u n l o ad ed

s ev eral h o rs es – o n e h e o wn ed an d t hree o wn ed b y o th ers

– i n t o s t al l s l o cat ed i n t h e

farm aren a. He u n l o ad ed an d p rep ared eq u i p m en t i n t h e aren a t o b e u s ed i n t h e cl i n i c

t h e fo l l owi n g m orn in g , s et u p ri d i n g t ack an d feed o u t s i d e t he st al ls wh ere h e p l aced

3 3 Hel m s had p rev i ou sl y co n d u ct ed a s h o o t i n g cl in i c at t h e farm in No v em b er

o r Decem b er 2 01 4

, fo r wh i ch h e was p ai d $ 1,0 0 0 p er d ay p l u s t rav el ex p en s es , wh i ch

i n cl u d ed l o d g i ng at t h e farm

.

17t h e h o rs es , an d m ov ed p ers o n al b el o ng i ng s in t o t h e g u es t h o us e, wh ere h e s tay ed t h e

n i g h t . Hel m s al s o g av e l es s o n s at t h e farm t h at d ay

.

Th e nex t m orn i n g , Hel m s was al ert ed t o t h e fi re b y l i g h t s an d scream i n g , an d

h e i m m ed i at el y ru s h ed t o ward s t h e b arn an d aren a. Hel m s ran t o t he aren a fro m t h e

s i de fart h es t fro m

t he fi re, at wh i ch t i m e t h e b arn was “ fu l l y en g u l fed an d fal l i n g i n

o n i t s el f,” an d fi refi g ht ers were al read y o n th e s cen e, s o m e al read y s p ray i n g wat er o n

t h e fi re. W h en Hel m s e n t e r e d t h e aren a, wh i ch was al s o bu rn i ng , Bran d ret h h ad

s u cces s f u l l y g o t t e n t wo h o rs es o u t of t h e aren a. Hel m s b eg an “ h au l in g g ear o u t ,”

i n cl u d i n g h i s g u n s an d h o l s ters an d “ s t u ff” fo r an o t h er p ers o n.

Acco rd i ng t o Bran d ret h

, m el ti n g p las t i c was fal l in g aro u n d Hel m s as h e h au l ed

g ear o ut o f t h e aren a, an d Bran d ret h, afrai d t h at H el m s m i g h t d i e, t o ld Hel m s “ to

l eav e.” Hel m s t h en real i zed t h at t h ere were s t i l l ho rs es i n st al ls

, an d h e t ri ed t o rel eas e

t h em ; o n e was o n t h e g ro u n d an d an o t h er w o u l d no t l eav e th e st al l. Hel m s ’ s ho rs e an d

a n ot h er h e b ro u g ht d i ed i n t h e fi re, an d a t h ird t h at h e b ro u g h t s u rv i v e d b u t w a s

s ev ere l y i n

ju red

. H el m s , w h o was carri ed o u t o f t h e fi re b y a fi rem an , s u s t ai n ed

s eri ou s b u rn s t o h i s feet an d l eft fo rearm an d h an d

.

Hel m s s ued Geo rg i a Po wer, al l eg i ng t h at i t d am ag ed th e p o wer m et er m o u n t ed

t o th e b arn wh i l e p erfo rm in g rep ai r an d res t o rat i on wo rk

, cau s i n g t h e m et er to

18ex p lo d e. Hel m s ’ s cl ai m s i n cl u d e n eg l i gen ce, n eg l i g en t in fl i ct i o n o f em o t i o n al

d i s t res s , res p o nd eat s u p eri o r, an d at t o rn ey fees

. Geo rg i a Po wer m o v ed fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t

, i n part b as ed o n t he arg u m en t t h at Hel m s as s u m ed t h e ri s k o f i n j u ri es

. Th e

t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t he m o ti o n, co n cl u d i n g t h at as s u m p t i o n of t h e ri sk b arred Hel m s ’ s

cl ai m s an d reject i n g h i s co n ten t i o n t h at h i s cl ai m s urv i v es u n d er t h e res cu e d o ct ri ne.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

In Geo rg i a,

[t ] h e affi rm at i ve d efen s e o f as s u m p t i o n o f th e ri s k b ars a p l ai n ti ff fro m

reco veri n g o n a n eg l i g en ce cl ai m if it i s es t ab l i s h ed t h at h e, wi t h o u t

co erci o n o f ci rcu m s t an ces , ch o o s es a co u rs e o f act i o n wi t h fu l l

k n o wl ed g e o f it s d an g er an d wh il e ex erci si n g a free ch o ice as t o wh et h er

t o en g ag e i n th e act or n o t

. A d efen d an t as s ert i n g an as s u m p t i o n o f t he

ri sk d efen se m

u s t es t ab li s h t h at t h e p l ai n ti ff (1 ) h ad act u al k n o wl ed g e o f

t h e d an g er; (2 ) u n d ers t o o d an d ap p reci at ed th e ri s k s as s o ci at ed wi t h

s u ch d an g er; an d ( 3 ) v o l u n t ari l y ex p o s ed h i m s el f to t h o s e ri s ks

.
Kn o w l ed g e o f t h e ri s k m ean s th at th e p l a i n t i ff has b o t h act u al an d

s u b ject i v e kn o wl ed g e o f t h e s peci fi c, p art i cu l ar ri s k of harm as s o ci at ed

wi t h t he act i v it y

o r co n d i t i o n t h at p ro x im at el y cau s es i n ju ry

. 3 4

3 4 (Pu n ct u at i on om i tt ed .) W i l l i a ms v. Ci t

y o f Tyb ee Is l a n d

, 3 6 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 7 5,

7 7 7 (1 ) (8 7 0 SE2 d 1 00 ) (2 0 22 ), q u o ti n g Da l y v. B er r yh i l l

, 3 0 8 Ga. 83 1

, 8 3 4 (8 4 3

SE2 d 8 7 0) (2 0 2 0).

19In t h e i n s tan t cas e, Hel m s d oes n o t di sp u t e t h at h e as s u m ed t h e ri s k o f t h e fi re

wh en he en t ered t h e a r e n a. In s t ead

, h e co n t en d s t h at h i s cl ai m s urv i v es u n d er t h e

res cu e d o ct ri n e.

Th e res cu e d o ct ri ne ap p l i es wh en t h e d efen d an ts ’ n eg l i g en t act s

o r o m i s si o n s h av e creat ed a co n d i t io n o r s i t u at i o n w h i ch i n vo l v es

i m m i n en t a n d u r g en t peri l t o li fe an d p ro p ert y .[ 3 5 ] In s uch i n st an ces ,

t h o s e n eg l i g en t act s o r om i s si o ns are al s o n eg l i g en t i n rel at i o n sh i p t o al l

o t h ers wh o , i n t he ex erci s e o f ord i n a r y c a r e fo r t h ei r own s afet y u nd er

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces , at t em

p t t o res cu e t h e en dan gered l i fe o r p ro pert y b y

reas o n ab l y

ap p ro p ri at e m ean s

. 3 6

3 5 W h i l e t here i s “ l it t le d i fferen ce i n p ri n c i p l e bet ween res cu i ng li fe o r o n e’ s

o wn p r o pert y [,]

. . . [b ecau s e t] h e o n l y qu es t io n i n ei t h er cas e i s

. . . [wh et h er] t h e

s t im u l u s o f t h e n eg li g en ce u nd er t h e ci rcu m s tan ces cal l [s ] fo r t he effo rt t o res cu e as

a n o rm al react io n t o t h e s it u at i o n , wh i ch can no t b e s ai d t o b e ras h an d reck l es s as a

m a t t e r of l aw,” t h e m ai n d is t i n ct i o n i s t h at “ t h e ci rcu m s tan ces i n [res cu i n g h u m an l i fe] are l i k el y t o ju st i fy a g reat er ri s k an d m o re des p erat e effo rt t h an [res cu i n g o n e’ s

o wn p ro p ert y ] .” Ru s h t o n v. Ho wl e , 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 0

, 36 1 (5 3 SE2 d 7 6 8) (1 9 4 9 ). See

al s o Lo r i e , 1 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 5 5 (1 ) (“ A g reat er r i s k o f o n e ’s pers o n to s av e l i fe i s ju s t ifi ed th an in t h e effo rt t o s av e p ro p e r t y o n l y .”); Fl o wer s v. S l as h Pi n e El ect r i c Memb er s h i p Co rp

. , 1 2 2 G a. Ap p

. 2 5 4

, 2 5 8 -2 5 9 (1 76 SE2 d 54 2 ) (1 9 7 0 ) (ap p l y i n g t h e

res cu e do ct ri n e to a p ers on at t em p t i n g “ t o s av e h u m an l i fe”). Fo r t he reas o n s s et fo rt h

h erei n , t h i s d i s t i n ct io n is n o t rel ev an t t o o u r an al y s i s, an d we n eed n o t d eci de wh et h er

res cu i n g an i m al s / l i v es t o ck ju st i fi es a g reat er o r l es s er ri sk t h an res cu i n g p ro p ert y o r

o t h er l ife.

3 6 ( P u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Gr i n er v. Ga

. Fa r m Bu r ea u M u t

. In s

. Co

. , 2 6 6 Ga

. Ap p

. 2 8 9

, 2 9 2 (2 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 75 8 ) (2 0 0 4 ), q u o t in g Lo r i e v. S t a n d a r d Oi l Co

. , 1 8 6 Ga. Ap p . 7 5 3 , 7 5 4 (1 ) (3 6 8 SE2 d 7 6 5 ) (1 9 8 8 ).

20“ [T] h e d o ct ri n e o f res cu e n eces sari l y co n t em p l at es an as s u m

p t i o n o f t h e ri s k i n h eren t

i n t h e peri l creat ed b y t h e d efen d an t s ’ n eg l i g en ce an d al l o w s r e co v ery fo r i n ju ri es

t h ereb y i n cu r r e d

, f

o r t h e reas o n t hat t h e d efen d an t s were ch arg ed w i t h t h e

fo res eeab i l i t y o f t h ei r n eg li g en ce at t ract i n g res cu ers t o as s u m e t h e ri s k s .” 3 7 Th e

d o ct ri n e, h o wev er “ ap p l [i es ] o nl y i f [t h e p lai n t i ff w as ] act i n g s i m p l y as a vo l u n t eer

o r b y s t an d er.” 3 8

Here, t h e t ri al co u rt co ncl u d ed t h at Hel m s was n o t at th e s cen e o f t h e fi re as a

b y s t an d er o r v ol u n t eer. Hel m s h ad arri v ed at t he farm t h e n i g h t b efo re t o l ead a cl i n i c

t h e d ay o f t h e fi re, 3 9 h e gav e l es s o n s t h e ev en i n g b efo re t h e fi re, an d h i s lo d g i n g at t h e

g u es t h o u s e o n t h e farm was p art o f h i s co m p en s at i o n

. N ev ert h el es s , h is ag reem en t

wi t h t h e f

a r m req u i red h i m t o co n d uct a cl i n i c, an d i t i n n o way i m p os ed a d u t y o r

3 7 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). Tr a mmel

, 2 5 6 Ga. Ap p. 4 1 2

, 4 2 1 -4 2 2 (5 ) (5 6 8 SE2 d

7 1 5 ) (2 0 02 ), q u o t i n g W

a lker Ha u l i n g Co

. v. Jo h n s o n , 1 1 0 Ga. A p p

. 6 2 0

, 6 2 4 -6 2 5 (1 3 9 SE2 d 4 9 6 ) (1 9 6 4 ).

3 8 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Gr i n er , 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p. at 2 9 2 (2 ).

3 9 I n h is co m

p l ai nt

, Hel m s al l eg ed t h at h e “ was at Bran d ret h Farm s f o r t h e

p u rp os e o f p ro v id i n g t rai ni ng s erv i ces an d p erfo rm an ce of an i n s tru ct i o n al cl i n i c o n

t h e p rem i s es o f Bran d ret h Farm s .”

21o b l i g at i o n on h i m t o s av e pro pert y o r h o rs es fro m a b u rn i n g aren a. 4 0 Th erefo re, t h ere

i s at l eas t a q u es t i on o f fact reg ard in g wh et h er H el m s w as act in g as a

v o l u n t eer/ b y s tan d er fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e res cu e d o ct ri ne an al y s i s

.

Ou r an al y s is

, h o wev er, d o es n o t en d t h ere. W h et h er or n o t Hel m s q u al i fi es as

a vo l u n t eer o r b y s t an der fo r p u rp o ses o f t h e res cu e d o ct ri ne, i t p erm i t s h im t o reco v er

o n l y i f, as afo rem en t i o n ed

, h e, “ i n t he ex erci s e o f o rd i n ary care fo r [h i s ] own s afet y

u n d er t h e ci rcu m st an ces , a t t emp t [ ed ] t o r es cu e t h e en d

a ng er ed l i f e o r p r op er t

y b y

r ea s o n a b l y a p pr o p ri a te mea n s .” 4 1

Th e n eg l i g en ce wh i ch cau s es i n ju ry o r d an g er to an o t h er i s n eg l i g en ce

al s o as t o t h e res cu er, an d t h e l at t er i n an effo rt t o s av e h u m an l ife wi l l

4 0 See W a l ker Ha u l i n g , 1 1 0 Ga. Ap p. at 6 2 0 -6 2 3 (h o l d in g t h a t t h e res cu e d o ct ri n e ap p li ed t o an o ff d u t y fi rem an wh o was in ju red wh en h e, i n res p o n s e t o a cal l

f o r v o l un t eers , vo l u n t ari ly at t em p t ed to ex t i n g ui s h a fi re wh i l e “ u nd er n o d u t y o r

co m p u l s i o n t o d o s o ”). Co m

p are Gr i n er , 2 6 6 Ga. at 29 2 (2 ) (h o ld i ng t h at t h e res cu e d o ct ri n e d i d no t ap p l y t o a t o w t ru ck d ri ver w h o was i n ju red wh en h e p ierced t h e t i re

o f a p i ck up t ru ck trap p e d u n d er a t rai l er t ru ck i n an at t em p t t o u n wed ge th e p i ck u p

t ru ck becau s e h e “ was n ot s i m p l y a v ol u nt eer, o r b y s t an der,

. . . he was cal l ed t o t h e

s cen e b y t h e Geo rg i a St at e Pat ro l

, in h i s cap aci t y as a wreck er o p erat o r, becau s e h i s

n am e cam e u p o n t h e ro tat io n l i s t

. Hi s p res en ce at t h e s cen e, t h erefo re, was t h e res u l t

o f a co n t ract u al d u t y

. ”); S wo p e v. Gr een b r i a r M

a l l Lt d

. Pa r t n er s h i p , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p. 4 6 0

, 4 6 1 -4 6 2 (1 ) (7 65 SE2 d 3 96 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (h o l d i n g t hat th e pl ai n t i ff, wh o w as wo rk i n g

as a p ub l ic s afet y o ffi cer at t h e m al l

, di d n ot q u al i fy fo r t he res cu e d o ct ri n e wh en h e

was s h o t b y an arm ed ro b b er wh i l e t ry i n g t o s h i el d a p at ro n b ecau s e he was act i n g “ in

h i s cap aci t y

as a s ecu ri t y offi cer” wh en h e was s h ot ).

4 1 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed .) G r i n er , 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p . at 2 92 (2 ).

22n o t b e b arred o n t h e g ro u n d t h at h e d i d n o t ex erci s e o rd i n ary care fo r h i s

o wn s afet y

o r ev en t h at h e as s u m ed t h e ri s k o f i n ju ry to h i m s el f un l es s

h i s a ct i o n s a r e so i mp r ud en t a n d b eyo n d wh a t a p er so n i n t h e s ame

ci r cu ms t a n ces mi

g ht b e exp ect ed t o d

o t ha t th ey m u s t b e cl a s s i f i ed a s

r eckl es s o r

wa n t o n

. 4 2

“ W h et h er t he res cu er act s ras h l y o r wan t o n l y , ex cep t i n p lai n an d i n d i s p u t ab l e cas es ,

i s a q u es t i o n fo r t h e ju ry .” 4 3

Here, H el m s ’ s act i o n s in rep eat ed l y ru n n i n g i n t o t h e bu rn i ng aren a i n t h i s cas e

are p l ai nl y an d i n d i sp u t ab l y ras h an d wan t o n

. W h en Hel m s en t ered t h e b u rn i n g aren a,

fi refi g h t ers were al read y at t h e s cen e, an d so m e of t h em were s p ray i n g wat er o n t h e

fi re. Mel t i n g p l as t i c was fal l in g aro u n d h i m as h e p u l l ed g ear o u t o f t h e aren a. An d

Bran d ret h

, wh o had al read y m ad e val i an t effo rt s t o s av e as m an y h o rs es as h e co u l d,

t o l d H e l m s t o l eav e th e area b ecau s e h e was afrai d fo r Hel m s’ s l ife. N ev ert h el es s ,

i n s t e a d of perm i t ti n g t h e fi refi g h t ers to h an d l e t h e fi re an d res cu e, Hel m s ran b a c k

i n t o t h e b u rn i n g aren a, wi t h m el t i n g p las t i c fal l i ng o n h i m an d s m ok e en v el o p i n g t h e

area. Un d er t hes e ci rcu m s t an ces , h i s act i o ns ex h i b i t ed “ reck l ess a nd w a nton disr e g ard

4 2 (Em p h as i s ad d ed .) Lo r i e v. S t a nd a r d Oi l Co

. , 18 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 53

, 7 55 (1 ) (3 6 8

SE2 d 7 6 5 ) (1 9 8 8 ), ci t i n g Bl a nch a r d v. Rel i a b le Tr a n s f er Co

. , 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 3

, 8 4 5 (3 2 SE2 d 4 2 0 ) (1 9 4 4 ).

4 3 Bl an ch ar d

, 7 1 Ga. Ap p . at 8 4 5

.

23o f t he i m

m i n en t co n s eq u en ces ” su ch t h at h e as s u m ed t h e ri s k o f h i s act i o n s

. 4 4

Acco rd in g ly

, h i s cl ai m s are b arred as a m at t er o f l aw, an d t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err

b y g ran t i ng s u m

m ary ju d gm en t

.

Ju d g men t a f f i rmed i n Ca s e No

. A2 2

A0 2 0 8

. Ju d

g men t r ever

s ed i n Ca s e No

.

A2 2 A 0 1 6 5

. Ap

p ea l d i s mi s s ed i n Ca s e No

. A 2 2 A0 1 6 6

. Rees e, J., a n d S

en io r Ap p el l a t e

Ju d ge Her b er t

E. Ph i p p s co n cu r

.

4 4 Lo r i e , 1 8 6 Ga. Ap p . at 7 5 5 (1 ).

24