### F I LE D U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E LEVE NTH CI RCUI T Fe br uar y 1, 2005 T HOM AS K. KAHN C L E RK [ P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 04- 11082

________________________ D . C . D ocketN o. 03 -000 74 -C V -2 D A N I E L D . F L O O D , Indi vi du al l y a nd as the adm i nstra t or of the es t at e o f T H O M A S J . F L O O D , d e c e a s e d , P la in tif f - A p p e lla n t, v ersu s Y O U N G W O M A N 'S C H R I S T I A N A S S O C I A T I O N O F B R U N S W I C K , G E O R G I A , I N C ., D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lle e .

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f o rth e S o u th e rn D is tr ic t o f G e o r g ia

_________________________ ( F e b r u ar y 1, 2005) B efo re B IR C H , B A R K E T T an d C O X , C i rcu i tJu d g es.Th edo c ument T .J. si gne d p ro vide d: 1 Ide sireto eng ag evo luntari ly in t heYWCAfitne ss/a qu atic s p ro gra ms in o rde r to attempt to improv emy

physic al f

itn e ss. Iun ders tand

that th ea c tiv iti e s a

rede signe d to placea gradually

incre asingworkload on thebody and to thereby

attempt to develop and maint ain c ardiore sp irator y fitne ss, bo dy

c omp os iti on , f

le xibil ity, a

nd mus c ula r s tre ngth and endurance . 2 B IR C H , C i rc ui tJudg e: In thi s c as e w e det erm i ne w hether s um m ary j ud gm entshou l d h ave been gr a nt e d t o the de f

e nda nt , the Y oung W om a n’ s C hr i s t i a n A s s oc i a t i on of B runs w i c k, G e or gi a ( “ Y W C A ” ) , w he n the de c e de nt , T hom a s J . F l ood ( “ T . J . ” ) , dr ow ne d i n the YWC A p o o l a f

t e rs i g n i n g a l i a b i l i ty wa i v e r . On b e h a l f o f th e e s t a t e , Da n i e l D. F l oo d (“ D ani el ”) , T ho m as ’ s f ather, appeal s the deci si on of the di stri ctcourtthat g r a n t e d s u m m a ry j u d g m e n tt o th e Y WC A . We A F F I R M. I . B AC KG RO UN D O n 25 M a y 2001, w hi l e s t a y i ng i n B runs w i c k, G e or gi a , T . J . w e ntt o the Y W C A t o us e the s w i m m i ng pool . T . J . w a s a n e xpe r i e nc e d s w i m m e ra nd a c iv ilia n e m p lo y e e o f

th e U n ite d S ta te s N a v y . H e w a s u s in g th e p o o l to tr a in f o rh is u p c o m in g c o u r s e a t th e N a v y ’s S u r f a c e R e s c u e S w im m e rS c h o o l ( “S R S ” ) in J a c k s o n v ille , F lo r id a . A t 2 :3 0 P .M ., T .J . a rr iv e d a t th e Y W C A , b u t b e f o r e h e c o u ld ent erthe po ol he w as re qu i re d t o p ay t en do l l ar s a nd si gn a docum entl abel ed

“ I nf or m e d C ons e ntf

orF i tne s s /A qua t i c s P a r t i c i pa t i on” ( “ I nf or m e d C ons e nt D ocum ent ”) . H e then i ntrodu ce d h i m se l f t o o ne of the l i fe gu ar ds and b egan

1Iun ders tand thene e d f

or physic al e xaminatio n p ri or to b e g inningan e xerc ise progra m. Re alizingthat th ere sults of su c h a physic al e xaminatio n mi ght indic atethat I not beg in an exercise program, I elec t to have X NO T to have suc h an e xaminatio n p e rf

or me d. Ia ssumetheri sk

fo r a ny inj ur y Imight s uf

fer in a n e xerc ise program c onducted at the YWCA. Iunderstand that Iam re sponsible for monitoringmy own condition throughout thee xerc iseprogra

m and sh ould a ny unus ual sy

mptomsoc c ur , I

wi ll c e a semy pa rtic ipatio n a

nd inf or m th eins tr

uc tor of thesy mptoms . In signingthis consent form, I aff irm that Ihave read this for m in its entirety

and that Iunderstand thenatureof fitness/aquatics programs. I also aff irm that my

questions reg ardingthe fitness/aquatics programs havebeen a nswere d to my

satisfac tion. Al so , in c on side ratio n f

or be ingallo we d topa

rtic ipatein t

heYWCA fitness/aquatics programs, I agreeto assume the risk of suc h exercise, a nd further agree to hold harmless the YWCA and its staff member s conductingthe fitness/aquatics progra ms f ro m any and all c laims , s uit s, los se s, or re late d c a

us e s o f ac tio n f

or damag e s, including, but not limited to, such claims that may result from my

injury or death, acc idental or other

wise, during , or arising in any way from, the e x erc ise program. There fore , Iunderstand, that if Iam injured duringthese YWCA programs, that I am responsible for

paying my

medical c osts. R1-25 Exh. A. Grolemund a ssumed J ay

Totten’s lifeguardingduties at 3:00. 2 3 s w im m in g lap s s o m e tim e b e tw e e n 2 :4 5 a n d 3 :0 0 P .M . A tthi s t i m e, tw o l i fe gu ar ds, R ya n G rol em un d and P atri ck H offm an, w er e 2 o n d u ty, an d th e n u m b er o f sw i m m ers w as l o w . B o th l i feg u ard s n o t ed th atT . J. w as an excel l entsw i m m erand w as sw i m m i ng som e of hi s l aps und erw at er , c om i ng up f

ora i ronl y tw o orthr e e t i m e s e a c h pool l e ngth. A tappr oxi m a t e l y 3: 30, G r ol e m und s i gna l e d t o H of f m a n tha the w a s goi ng t o s t op l i f e gua r di ng survei l l ance and check the po ol chem i ca l s. S ho rt l y there af t er , T . J. w as di sc ov er edVi e we d in thelight m os t f

avo ra bleto t hepa rt y oppo singsumma

ry judgment, wemus t 3 assume T.J. was under wa ter for threeto five minutes before re scue e ffor ts beg an. 4 unc ons c i ous ; how e ve r , both pa r t i e s di s put e how l ong T . J . r e m a i ne d unc ons c i ous u n d e rw a te r . D a ni e l pr e s e nt s e vi de nc e tha tw hi l e G r ol e m und w a s c he c ki ng pool c he m i c a l s , H of

f m a n w a s a l s o a w a y f

r om hi s l i f

e gua r d s t a nd t a l ki ng t o G r ol e m und a n d n o t w a tc h in g th e p o o l. D u r in g th is tim e , D a n ie l a r g u e s th a t T .J . f e ll u n c o n s c io u s a n d w a s u n d e rw a te rf o rth r e e to f

iv e m in u te s b e f

o r e r e s c u e e f

f o r ts began. O n the ot her hand, the Y W C A pres ent s e vi dence thatH offm an w as sc anni ng the po ol and h ad ob se rved T . J. sw i m m i ng on l y 30 sec on ds before H of f m a n w a s a l e rt e d t o the dr ow ni ng a nd be ga n r e s c ue e f f or t s . R e ga r dl e s s , the 3 f a c ts in d ic a te T .J . w a s d is c o v e r e d b y a p o o l p a tr o n , D a r le n e M o y e , w h o s ig n a le d to the l i f e gua r ds f orhe l p. H of

f m a n i m m e di a t e l y s w a m t o T . J . , br oughthi m t o the surf ac e, and st art ed re susc i t at i on ef fort s thatw er e unsucces sf ul . T . J. w as l at er p r o n o u n c e d d e a d a t S o u th e a s t G e o r g ia R e g io n a l H o s p ita l. T he Y W C A ’ s e xp ertt es t i fi ed thatT . J. ’ s dea th w as caused by fr es h w at er dr ow ni ng due t o s ha l l ow w a t e rbl a c kout . T he Y W C A e xpe r ta l s o t e s t i f i e d tha tthe s tr e n u o u s e x e r c is e T .J . w a s d o in g in p r e p a r a tio n f o rth e S R S c o u r s e c a u s e d h im to h y p e r v e n tila te a n d p a s s o u t u n d e rw a te r . D a n ie l’s e x p e r t e s tim a te d th a t th r e e to fi ve m i nu t es el apse d b etw ee n w hen T . J. t oo k h i s l as tbrea th o f a i r a nd w hen h e w as5

d is c o v e r e d . D a n ie l f ile d s u it in d is tr ic t c o u r t c la im in g th a t th e Y W C A w a s n e g lig e n t. T he di stri ctcourtgrant ed sum m ary j ud gm entt o the Y W C A because the Inform ed C ons e ntD oc um e ntw a s a va l i d w a i ve rof the Y W C A ’ s l i a bi l i ty , a nd the a c t i ons of th e Y W C A w e r e n o t g r o s s ly n e g lig e n t. W e n o w r e v ie w th is d e c is io n . I I . DI S CUS S I ON W e r e vi e w de novo the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s gr a ntof s um m a ry j udgm e ntt o the Y W C A a nd vi e w the e vi de nc e a nd a l l r e a s ona bl e i nf e r e nc e s the r e f

r om i n the l i ght m os tf a vor a bl e t o D a ni e l . S e e P a tt on v. T r i a d G ua r . I ns . C orp. , 277 F . 3d 1294, 1296 ( 11th C i r . 2002) . T he Y W C A i s e nt i t l e d t o s um m a ry j udgm e nti f “ the pl ea di ng s, depo si t i on s, answ er s t o i nt errogat ori es , and adm i ss i on s on fi l e, t og ether w i th the af

fi davi t s, i f a ny, show thatthere i s no g enui ne i ss ue as t o any m at er i al f a c ta n d th a tth e mo v i n g p a r ty i s e n t i t l e d t o a j u d g me n ta s a ma tt e ro f l a w . ” Fe d . R. C iv . P . 5 6 ( c ) . D a ni e l pr e s e nt s thr e e i s s ue s on appe a l . F i r s t , D a ni e l a r gue s tha tthe I nf or m e d C ons e ntD oc um e ntT . J . s i gne d w a s a n i na de qua t e l i a bi l i ty w a i ve r , a nd there fore , the Y W C A ’ s a ct i on s s ho ul d b e e xam i ned u nd eran ordi nary negl i gence s ta n d a r d . S e c o n d , D a n ie l c o n te n d s th a t e v e n if th e I n f o r m e d C o n s e n t D o c u m e n t is a s uf f i c i e ntw a i ve r , the r e i s e nough e vi de nc e f ora j ury t o de t e r m i ne tha tthe6

Y W C A ’ s a ct i on s w er e gross l y negl i gent . T hi rd, D ani el ar gu es thatthe di stri ct c our te rr e d by gr a nt i ng s um m a ry j udgm e nton the gr os s ne gl i ge nc e i s s ue s ua s p o n te , w ith o u t a llo w in g D a n ie l s u f f ic ie n t o p p o r tu n ity to c o u n te r . A . T he I nf

or m e d C ons e ntD oc um e nt B ef ore T . J. coul d u se the Y W C A po ol , he w as re qu i re d t o si gn the Inform ed C o n sen tD o cu m en t . T h atd o cu m en tco n t ai n ed an ex cu l p at o ry cl au se i n w h i ch T . J. a g r e e d to a s s u m e th e r is k o f in ju ry d u r in g Y W C A e x e r c is e p r o g r a m s a n d to h o ld th e Y W C A h a r m le s s f

r o m a n y s u its f

o rin ju ry o rd e a th . D a n ie l a r g u e s th a t th is d o cu m en td i d n o th av e a p ro p er d i scl ai m er o f l i ab i l i ty o r assu m p t i o n o f th e ri sk c la u s e a n d o n ly ap p lie d to f itn e s s p r o g r a m s c o n d u c te d b y th e Y W C A . In G eorgi a, a par ty m ay exem pti t se l f f rom i t s ow n si m pl e negl i gence th r o u g h e x c u lp a to ry c lau s e s a s lo n g a s th e c la u s e is n o t “v o id a s a g a in s t p u b lic po l i cy . ” H al l v. G ar dens S ervs. , Inc. , 33 2 S . E . 2d 3, 5 (G a. A pp . 19 85 ); ac cord L o v e la c e v . F ig u r e S a lo n , I n c ., 3 4 5 S .E .2 d 1 3 9 , 1 4 0 - 4 1 ( G a . A p p . 1 9 8 6 ) . E x cu l p at o ry cl au ses i n fi tn ess cl u b co n tract s are g en eral l y n o tv o i d as ag ai n st pu bl i c pol i cy , se e H em bree v. John son, 48 2 S . E . 2d 40 7, 40 9 (G a. A pp . 19 97 ); how e ve r , the y “ m us tbe c l e a ra nd una m bi guous . ” D e p’ tof T r a ns p. v. A r apa ho C ons tr . , I nc . , 357 S . E . 2d 593, 594 ( G a . 1987) ( punc tua t i on om i tt e d) . A ny a m bi gui ty w i l l be i nt e rpr e t e d a ga i ns tthe dr a f t e r . S e e i d.We have f ound no Georg ia law to sug g est that each of the se threeclause s must be 4 present for an e x culpatory clauseto be valid. However, sinceall threearepresent here , we f ind that the Informed Consent Document has a valid ex culpatory clauseunder G eorg ia law. 7 T h e G e o r g ia C o u r t o f

A p p e a ls h a s u p h e ld e x c u lp a to ry c la u s e s th a t d is c la im a par ty’ s negl i gence w hen t hey c on t ai n (1) a c ov enantno tt o sue, (2) adi sc l ai m er of l i abi l i ty, and (3) an ass um pt i on of ri sk cl ause . S ee M y F ai r L ady of G eorgi a, 4 I n c . v . H a rr is , 3 6 4 S .E .2 d 5 8 0 , 5 8 1 ( G a . A p p . 1 9 8 7 ) ; L o v e la c e , 3 4 5 S .E .2 d a t 1 4 1 . D an i el co n t en d s th atal th o u g h th e In fo rm ed C o n sen tD o cu m en tati ssu e h ere h as a va l i d c ove na ntnott o s ue , i tl a c ks a s uf f i c i e ntl i a bi l i ty di s c l a i m e ra nd a s s um pt i on o f th e r is k c la u s e a n d th u s f a ils to ap p ly to th e f

a c ts o f th is c a s e . S p e c if ic a lly , D a n ie l c ite s to B a ts o n - C o o k C o . v . G e o r g ia M a rb le S e ttin g C o ., 1 4 4 S . E . 2 d 5 4 7 , 5 5 0 (G a. A p p . 1 9 6 5 ) fo r th e p ro p o si t i o n th at“ n eg l i g en ce” m u st b e e x p r e s s ly m e n tio n e d in o r d e rto h a v e a v a lid liab ility d is c la im e r , a n d w ith o u t it the I nf or m e d C ons e ntD oc um e ntonl y r e l e a s e s the Y W C A f r om c l a i m s a s s e r t e d by thi r d pa r t i e s . W e , how e ve r , do nota gr e e w i th D a ni e l ’ s r e a s oni ng. A l though B a t s on- C ook s c rut i ni z e s e xc ul pa t ory c l a us e s i n i nde m ni ty a gr e e m e nt s f orthe in te n t to h o ld th e in d e m n ito rliab le f o rth e n e g lig e n t a c ts o f

th e in d e m n ite e , s e e id ., subsequentdeci si on s of the G eorgi a C ou rtof A pp ea l s c l ar i fy that“ an excul pat ory cl ause do es no tneed t o exp re ss l y use the w ord ‘ negl i gence’ i n o rdert o b ara ne gl i ge nc e c l a i m . ” N e i ghbor hood A s s i s t a nc e C orp. of A m . v. D i xon, 593 S . E . 2d8

7 1 7 , 7 1 8 ( G a . A p p . 2 0 0 4 ) . I n f a c t, th e G e o r g ia C o u rt o f A p p e a ls h a s s ta te d th a t a pa r ty ’ s r e l e a s e f

r om “ a ny a nd a l l l i a bi l i t i e s , c l a i m s , orl a w s ui t s ” w i l l ba rthe oppone nt ’ s ne gl i ge nc e c l a i m s . M c C l e s ky v. V e r i c on R e s . , I nc . , 589 S . E . 2d 854, 855, 856 ( G a . A pp. 2003) ; s e e a l s o F l a ni ga n v. E xe c ut i ve O f f i c e C tr s . , I nc . , 546 S . E . 2d 55 9, 56 0, 56 1 (G a. A pp . 20 01 ) ( val i dat i ng the l i abi l i ty di sc l ai m erthat s t a t e s , “ [ t ] he c l i e nte xpr e s s l y a gr e e s t o w a i ve , a nd a gr e e s nott o m a ke a ny c l a i m f or dam ages ”) . H er e, T . J. “ agre e[ d] t o h ol d h arm l es s the Y W C A and i t s s t af f m em bers

. . . fro m an y an d al l cl ai m s, su i t s, l o sses, o r rel at ed cau ses o f act i o n fo r d am ag es, i nc l udi ng, butnotl i m i t e d t o, s uc h c l a i m s tha tm a y r e s ul tf r om [ hi s ] i nj ur y orde a th, ac ci dent al or ot herw i se , du ri ng , or ar i si ng i n any w ay fr om , the exerc i se prog ra m . ” R 1- 25 E xh. A . T hi s phr a s e i s vi r tua l l y i de nt i c a l t o the e xc ul pa t or y l a ngua ge ap p ro v ed o f i n M cC l esk y an d F l an i g an ; th u s, w e see n o reaso n w h y th i s cl au se wo u l d n o tb e a v a l i d l i a b i l i ty d i s c l a i m e ru n d e rGe o r g i a l a w. F u r th e r m o r e , D a n ie l a r g u e s th a t th e a s s u m p tio n o f r is k c la u s e is in a d e q u a te be c a us e T . J . onl y “ a s s um e [ d] the r i s k of [ hi s ] e xe r c i s e ” a nd notthe r i s k of us i ng the “ f a c i l i t i e s , ” a s i n the H a rr i s a nd L ove l a c e c a s e s . S e e H a rr i s , 364 S . E . 2d a t580; L ove l a c e , 345 S . E . 2d a t140. M or e ove r , D a ni e l a r gue s tha tthe I nf or m e d C ons e nt Do c u m e n ts h o u l d s p e c i f i c a l l y l i s te v e ry r i s kT . J . f a c e d wh i l e a tth e YWC A, i n cl u d i n g : th e ri sk l i feg u ard s w i l l l eav e th ei r p o st s t o co n d u ctm ai n t en an ce d u t i es,9

the ri sk l i fe gu ar ds w i l l di sr egar d thei r s urvei l l ance du t i es , and t he ri sk that m a n a g e m e n t w ill f

a il to s u p e r v is e th e lif

e g u a r d s . A g a in , w e d o n o t a g r e e w ith Da n i e l ’ s c o n t e n t i o n s . C o n s i d e r i n g th e e n t i r e I n f o r m e d C o n s e n tDo c u m e n ta s we m us t , s e e A r apa ho, 357 S . E . 2d a t595, T . J . a gr e e d t o “ a s s um e the r i s k f ora ny i nj ury [ he ] m i ghts uf

f e ri n a n e xe r c i s e pr ogr a m c onduc t e d a tthe Y W C A . ” R 1- 25 E x h . A ( e m p h a s is a d d e d ) . A d d itio n a lly , T .J . a g r e e d to h o ld th e Y W C A a n d its s ta f f m e m b e r s , in c lu d in g lif e g u a r d s , h a r m le s s f

r o m a n y la w s u its f

o rh is d e a th , b e it a c c i de nt a l orothe rw i s e . W e s e e no r e a s on w hy s uc h l a ngua ge s houl d notbe co n si d ered a su ffi ci en tassu m p t i o n o f ri sk b y T . J. A l th o u g h p rev i o u s cases u se s lig h tly d if

f e r e n t la n g u a g e , th e r e is n o in d ic a tio n G e o r g ia la w r e q u ir e s s p e c if ic la n g u a g e a s to e a c h r is k a s s u m e d d u r in g a n e x e r c is e r o u tin e a t a f itn e s s c lu b . F i na l l y , D a ni e l a r gue s tha tthe I nf or m e d C ons e ntD oc um e ntonl y c onc e rns e xe r c i s e pr ogr a m s c onduc t e d by the Y W C A a nd note xe r c i s e c onduc t e d by the i n d i v i d u al sep arat el y. W h i l e th e In fo rm ed C o n sen tD o cu m en td o es co v er ex erci se p ro g ram s co n d u ct ed b y th e Y W C A , i t s l an g u ag e b ro ad l y co v ers al l “ ex erci se pr ogr a m s c onduc t e d a tthe Y W C A ” w he the rthe y a r e s e l f - gui de d pr ogr a m s or f or m a l pr ogr a m s the Y W C A pr ovi de s . R 1- 25 E xh. A . W he n T . J . s i gne d the Inform ed C on se ntD ocum ent , i tw as apparentthathe i nt ended t o p er form a s el fgui de d e xe r c i s e pr ogr a m t o pr e pa r e hi m s e l f f orS R S tr a i ni ng. A ga i n r e a di ng the10

c o n tr a c ta s a w h o l e , T. J . w a s w e l l a w a r e th a th i s e x e r c i s e p r o g r a m a tth e Y W CA c oul d c a us e i nj ury orde a th, a nd he kne w tha tby s i gni ng the I nf or m e d C ons e nt D o c u m e n t h e c o u ld n o t h o ld th e Y W C A liab le . T hus , the I nf

or m e d C ons e ntD oc um e ntw a s a va l i d e xc ul pa t or y a gr e e m e nt th atw ai v ed th e Y W C A ’ s l i ab i l i ty fo r act s o f si m p l e n eg l i g en ce b u tn o tg ro ss negl i gence. W e m ustno w det erm i ne w hether the grantof sum m ary j ud gm entw as p r o p e ro n th e is s u e o f

g r o s s n e g lig e n c e . B . G ross N egl i gence G e or gi a l a w a l l ow s a pa r ty t o e xe m pti t s e l f f r om s i m pl e ne gl i ge nc e by cont ra ct , bu tno tgross negl i gence. S ee C ol on i al P rops. R ea l ty L t d. v. L ow der C ons tr . C o. , 567 S . E . 2d 389, 394 ( G a . A pp. 2002) . G r os s ne gl i ge nc e i s the abse nce of “ thatdegree of c ar e w hi ch everym an of com m on se nse, ho w ever in a tte n tiv e h e m a y b e , e x e r c is e s u n d e rth e s a m e o rs im ila rc ir c u m s ta n c e s .” O . C . G . A . § 5 1-1-4; ac cord C ol on i al P rops. R ea l ty, 56 7 S . E . 2d at39 4. D ani el p r e s e n ts e v id e n c e th a t th e R e d C r o s s lif e g u a r d in g s ta n d a r d s r e q u ir e lif e g u a r d s to obs e r ve e a c h s w i m m e re ve ry t e n s e c onds . H e c ont e nds tha tthe Y W C A l i f e gua r ds w e r e gr os s l y ne gl i ge ntbe c a us e the y vi ol a t e d the R e d C r os s s t a nda r ds by l e a vi ng thei r observat i on po st s a nd fa i l i ng t o survei l the po ol patrons for a tl ea stthree m in u te s .The c ourt found B arbazz a had signed a valid relea se for neg ligence a

nd there foreneede d 5 to prove gross neg ligence in order to re cover . I d. at 861. 11 H o w ev er, fai l u re t o ap p l y cert ai n safety st an d ard s d o es n o tn ecessaril y ri se to th e le v e l o f

g r o s s n e g lig e n c e . S e e B a rb a z z a v . I n t’l M o to rS p o r ts A s s ’n , I n c ., 53 8 S . E . 2d 85 9, 86 1-62 (G a. A pp . 20 00 ). In B arbazz a, F abri zi o B arbazz a w as i nj ur e d i n a s por t s c a rr a c e or ga ni z e d by the I nt e rna t i ona l M ot orS por t s A s s oc i a t i on ( “I M S A ” ) . S e e id . a t 8 6 0 - 6 1 . B a rb a z z a s u e d th e I M S A a r g u in g th a t it w a s g r o s s ly ne gl i ge ntf

ornotf ol l ow i ng i nt e rna t i ona l s t a nda r ds on t i r e w a l l c ons truc t i on a nd qua l i f y i ng r e qui r e m e nt s , w hi c h c ontr i but e d t o hi s i nj ur i e s . S e e i d. a t861. T hough 5 Ba rb a z z a p r e s e n t e d e v i d e n c e th a tth e I M SA d i d n o tf o l l o w s a f e ty g u i d e l i n e s f

r o m a to p m o to rs p o r ts a u th o r ity , th e c o u r t a f f irm e d th e g r a n t o f

s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t to th e IM S A b ecau se th ere w as n o ev i d en ce th e IM S A w as req u i red t o ap p l y th o se s t a nda r ds . S e e i d. a t861- 62. S i m i l a r l y he r e , the r e i s no e vi de nc e the Y W C A w a s r e qui r e d t o appl y the R ed C ross l i fe gu ar di ng st andards. T ho ug h the l i fe gu ar ds m ay have been i na tt e nt i ve , the i ra c t i ons di d notr i s e t o the l e ve l of gr os s ne gl i ge nc e . T he l i fe gu ar ds w er e guardi ng a poo l w i th o nl y afe w sw i m m er s, and t hey not i ce d that T .J . w a s s p e n d in g lo n g p e r io d s o f tim e u n d e rw a te ra s p a r t o f h is tr a in in g . A cc ordi ng l y, they w ou l d n otbe aw ar e of a ny prob l em un t i l T . J. fa i l ed t o surfa ce a f t e ra l ong pe r i od of

t i m e . F ur the r , upon r e a l i z i ng tha tT . J . w a s i n di s tr e s s , the12

l i fe gu ar ds t oo k i m m edi at e a ct i on and b egan res cue e ff ort s. T here i s no evi dence tha tthe i rr e s c ue e f

f or t s w e r e gr os s l y ne gl i ge nt . T hus , the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s gr a ntof s u m m a ry ju d g m e n t o n th e g r o s s n e g lig e n c e is s u e is a f f ir m e d . C . Su a S po nt e G r a ntof

S um m a ry J udgm e nt D an i el n ex targ u es th atth e g ran to f su m m ary j u d g m en to n th e g ro ss negl i gence i ss ue w as i n err or because the di stri ctcourtra i se d the i ss ue sua s po nt e. H ow ever , a di stri ctcourtm ay ent ersum m ary j ud gm entsua s po nt e i f the part i es ar e gi ve n a de qua t e not i c e tha tthe y m us tpr e s e nta l l of the i re vi de nc e . C e l ot e x C orp. v. C a tr e tt , 477 U . S . 317, 326, 106 S . C t . 2548, 2554 ( 1986) . A s both D a ni e l a nd the Y W C A a c know l e dge d i n the i rs um m a ry j udgm e ntbr i e f s t o the di s tr i c tc our t , R 1- 2 6 at9 ; R 2 -4 4 at1 3 ; a v al i d ex cu l p at o ry cl au se d o es n o tw ai v e l i ab i l i ty fo r g ro ss n e g lig e n c e u n d e rG e o r g ia la w . S e e C o lo n ia l P r o p s . R e a lty , 5 6 7 S .E .2 d a t 3 9 4 . H er e, the Y W C A m ade am ot i on for s um m ary j ud gm entt o d i sm i ss base d i n p art on the I nf

or m e d C ons e ntD oc um e nt ’ s e xc ul pa t or y c l a us e . D a ni e l w a s the r e f or e on not i c e tha tby a r gui ng the i nva l i di ty of the e xc ul pa t or y c l a us e he w oul d a l s o ha ve t o add re ss the gross negl i gence i ss ue, w hi ch he i n fac tdi d add re ss i n h i s r epl y bri ef to th e d is tr ic t c o u r t. R 2 - 4 4 a t 1 3 - 1 5 . M o r e o v e r , a s th e d is tr ic t c o u r t n o te d in its or de rde ny i ng r e c ons i de r a t i on, the c our tc ons i de r e d a l l the e vi de nc e pr e s e nt e d, a nd D ani el di d n otpres entany new evi dence thatthe di stri ctcourtdi d n otconsi der.13

R 5-59 at3. T hu s, w e f

i nd no error i n the di stri ctcourt ’ s gra ntof sum m ary ju d g m e n t. I I I . CONCL US I ON D a n i e l ap p e a l s th e d i s tr i c tc o u r t ’ s g r a n to f s u mma ry j u d g me n tt o th e Y W CA ar gu i ng thatthe courterre d b y f i nd i ng thatthe excul pat ory c l ause of the Inform ed C o n s e n t D o c u m e n t w a s v a lid , th a t th e r e w a s n o g e n u in e is s u e o f m a te r ia l f

a c t a s to g ro ss n eg l i g en ce, an d th atth e su a sp o n t e g ran to f su m m ary j u d g m en to n th e g ro ss n e g l i g e n c e i s s u e wa s p r o p e r . Up o n r e v i e w o f th e d i s tr i c tc o u r t ’ s d e c i s i o n , we c onc l ude tha tthe e xc ul pa t ory c l a us e w a s va l i d, the r e w a s i ns uf f i c i e nte vi de nc e of gr os s ne gl i ge nc e t o w i ths t a nd a s um m a ry j udgm e ntm ot i on, a nd the c our t ’ s gr a nt of s um m a ry j udgm e nts ua s pont e w a s pr ope r . A c c or di ngl y , the s um m a ry j udgm e nt g r a n te d b y th e d is tr ic t c o u r t is A F F I R M E D .