THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 28, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 44 6

. L AKESHORE CONTRACTING, LLC v

. LOPEZHERNANDEZ.

G O B E I L
, J u d g e.

Aft er h e was i n

ju red by a fal l fro m an al l eg ed l y d efect iv e l ad d er t h at h e cl ai m s

was p ro v i d ed to h i s em p lo y er b y Lak es h ore C o n t r a c ti n g, LLC (“ Lak es h o re”),

Bern ard o Lo p ez-H ern an d ez fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t Lak es h o re i n Cri s p Co u n t y Su p eri o r

Co u rt

, s ee k i n g t o r eco v er fo r h i s i n j u ri es

. Lak es h o re n ow ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s d en i al of i t s m o t io n f o r s u m m ary j u d gm en t

, arg u in g t h at Lo p ez-Hern an dez

fai l ed t o co m e fo rward wi t h an y ev i d en ce t o creat e a ju ry q u es t i o n o n t h e i s s u e o f

Lak es h ore’ s l i ab i l i t y

. Sp eci fi cal l y , Lak es h o re co n t en d s t h at Lo p ez-Hern an d ez fai l ed

t o co m e fo rward wi t h an y ev i d en ce s h owi n g ei t h er t h at Lak es h o r e h ad act u al o r

co n st ru ct i v e k n o wl ed g e o f t h e l a d d er’ s al l eg ed l y d efect i v e co nd i t i o n o r t h atLak es h ore o wed Lo p ez-Hern an d ez an y d u t y t o p ro vi d e h i m wi t h a “ s afe wo rk i n g

en v iro n m en t .” Lak es h o re fu rt h er co n t en d s t hat t h e u n d is p u ted ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at

L o p ez-Hern an d ez fai l ed t o ex erci s e o rd i n ary care fo r h is o wn s afet y

. Fo r reas o n s

ex p lai n ed m o re fu l l y b el o w, w e ag ree wi th Lak es h ore t h at Lo pez-Hern an d ez fai l ed

t o co m e f

o rward w i t h an y ev i d en ce th at Lak es h o re had act u al o r co n s t ru ct i v e

k n o wl ed g e o f th e l ad d er’ s al l eg ed d efect

. Acco rd i n g ly

, w e rev ers e t he t ri al c o u r t ’ s

o rd er an d rem an d fo r en t ry o f ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Lak es h o re.

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

, we

rev i ew t h e reco rd d e n o vo , co n s t ru i n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

n o n -m o v an t

. S

a m u el s v. CBOCS

, In c. , 3 19 G a. Ap p

. 4 2 1

, 4 2 2 (7 4 2 SE2 d 1 4 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

An d wh en co n du ct i n g t hat rev i e w , w e b e a r i n m i n d t h at t o p rev ai l o n a m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t :

t h e m o v i n g p a r t y m

us t s h o w t hat t h ere i s no g en u i n e d i sp u te as t o a

s p eci fi c m at eri al fact an d t h at t h i s s p eci fi c fact i s en o ug h

, reg ard l es s o f

an y ot h er fact s i n t h e cas e, t o en t i t l e t h e m o vi n g p art y t o ju d g m en t as a

m at t er o f law. W h en a d efen d an t m ov es fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t as t o an

el em en t o f t h e cas e fo r w h i ch t h e p l ai n t i ff, an d n o t t he d efen dan t

, wi l l

b ear t he b u rd en o f p ro o f at t ri al t he d efen d an t m ay s h o w t h at [i t ] i s

en t i t l ed t o s u m

m ary ju d g m en t ei t h er by affi rm at i vel y di s p ro v i n g t hat

el em en t o f t h e c as e o r b y p o i n t i n g t o an ab s en ce o f ev i den ce i n th e

reco rd b y wh ich t h e p l a i n t i ff m i g h t carry th e b u rd en t o pro v e t hat

2e l em en t

. A n d if t he d efen d an t d o es s o , t h e pl ai nt i ff can no t res t o n h i s

p l ead i n g s , b u t rat h er m

u s t p o i n t t o s p eci fi c ev id en ce g i v i n g ri s e t o a

t ri ab l e i s s u e.

Bea le v. O’S

h ea , 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 2 (7 3 5 SE2 d 2 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

Vi ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o Lo p ez-Hern an dez, as t h e n on -m o v an t

,

t h e reco rd s h o w s t h at La k e s h o re i s a g en eral co n t ract i ng co m p an y t hat b u i l d s an d

rem o d el s b o th re s i d e n t i al an d l i g h t co m m erci al p ro p ert i es

. Lak es h o re’ s s o l e o wn er

i s Greg W al k er, an d th e co m p an y h as n o em

p l o y ees o t h er t h an W al k er. Th u s , W al k er

s u b co n t ract s m o s t o f t h e jo b s t h at Lak es h o re i s h i red t o p erfo rm

. In May 2 0 1 6,

Qu al i t y S o l ut io n s , In c. h i red Lak es h ore to rep ai r a d am ag ed wal l at a Veri zo n

W i rel es s s t o re i n Newn an

. L ak es h o re s u bco n tract ed t h e jo b t o Dan n y M o n t an a, an d

M o n tan a, i n t u rn , h i red L o p ez- H e r n a n d ez an d W i l s o n Co ca t o as s i s t h i m wi t h t h e

p ro ject

. 1

1 Lo p ez-Hern an d ez t es ti fi ed t hat o n t h e n i g h t i n q u es t i o n , h e was wo rk i n g fo r
Dan ny M o nt an a , a n d h e w as p ai d fo r hi s w o rk b y Mo nt an a. Ad d i t io n al l y , W al k er

t es t i f i e d t h a t h e h ad h ired an d p ai d o n l y M on t an a, an d t h at an y wo rk ers h i red by

M o n tan a wo ul d b e p ai d b y M o n t an a. Th i s t es t i m o n y ap p ears t o es tab l i s h t h at Lo p ezHern an dez was n o t

, i n fact

, Lak es h ore’ s em p l oy ee. Nev ert h el es s , fo r p urp o s es o f t h i s

ap p eal , we h av e as s u m ed t h e ex i s t en ce o f an em p l o y er/ em

p l o y ee rel at i o n s h i p

.

3Lo p ez-Hern an d ez an d Co ca each t es t ifi ed at t h ei r res p ect i v e d ep o s i t io n s 2 t h at

b efo re trav e l i n g t o Newn an , t h e t w o o f t hem

, t og et h er wi t h M o n t an a, s t o p p ed by

W al k er’ s wo rk s ho p in Co rd el e t o p i ck u p m at eri al s n eed ed fo r t h e jo b

. A cco rd i n g to

b o t h m en , W al ker l o ad ed i t em s o n t o a t rai l er at t ach ed to Mo n t an a’ s t ru ck

, i n cl u d i n g

t h e l ad d er at i s s u e. Lo p ez-Hern an d ez fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at t h ere were n o o t her l ad d ers

o n t h e t rai l er. Th e m en th en d ro v e wi t h t h e l ad d er o n th e t rai ler fo r ap p ro x i m a t e l y

t h ree h o u rs t o reach t h e jo b s i te, t rav el i n g fro m Co rd el e t o Newn an

.

M o n t an a, Co ca, an d Lo p ez-Hern an dez b eg an wo rk at t he Veri zo n s t o re at

ap p ro x i m at el y 1 0 : 0 0 p. m ., aft er t h e s t o re h ad cl o s ed

. Th e m en bro u g h t t h e l ad d er i n to

t h e s t o re fro m t h e t rai l er, an d b o t h Co ca an d M o nt an a u s ed th e l ad d er wi t h o ut

i n ci d en t

, al t h o ug h n ei t h er m an s t ep p ed ab o v e t h e s eco n d ru n g

. Co ca t es t i fi ed t h at h e

was t h e fi rs t p ers o n t o us e t h e l ad d er an d wh en h e d i d s o , he m ad e s u re t h at t h e b races

o n ei t her s i d e w ere l o ck ed

. He al s o wal ked aro u n d t h e l ad d er t o m ak e s u re i t l o o k ed

s afe b efo re h e cl i m

b ed i t

. A l t ho u g h th e l ad der ap p eared s o m ewh at ol d an d s o m ewh at

wo rn o u t , Co ca d i d n o t s ee t h at i t was b ro k en o r o t h erwi s e l o o k ed u n s afe.

2 M o n t an a d i d no t g i v e a d ep o s i t i o n , an d t h e reco rd i n di cat es t h at h e co u l d n ot
b e l o cat ed

.

4At ap p ro x i m at el y 1 : 0 0 a. m ., Lo p ez-Hern an d ez m o ved t h e al read y -o pen l ad d er

t o hi s wo rk area an d b eg an t o as cen d t he s am e. As h e n eared t h e to p o f t he l ad d er, o n e

o f t h e ru n g s ap p aren t ly b ro k e o r g av e way , an d Lo pez-Hern an d ez fel l fro m th e l ad d er

h ead fi rs t

, s u fferi ng s e v e r a l i n ju ri es , in cl u d i n g a n eck i n ju ry t h at req u i red s u rg ery

.

Th e l ad d er fel l wi th Lo pez-Hern an d ez, l an d in g on i t s si d e. At h i s d ep o s i t i o n , Lo p ezHern an dez t es t i fi ed as t o h i s b el i ef t h at t he ru ng o n wh i ch h e at t em p t ed t o p l ace h i s

fo o t wh en h e fel l was al read y bro k en ex p l ai n i n g t h at he “ d i d n’ t feel t h at I h ad p u t an y

wei g h t o n i t ” b efo re th e fal l. Lo p ez-Hern an d ez ack no wl ed g ed

, h o w ev er, t h at h e d id

n o t p erfo rm ev en a cu rs o ry i n s p ect i o n o f t h e l ad d er, ev en t h o u gh n o th i n g p rev en t ed

h i m fro m d o in g s o

. In s t ead

, d es p i t e t h e lad d er’ s al l eg ed l y o l d an d wo rn ap p earan ce,

Lo p ez-Hern an d ez s i m

pl y as s um ed t h at t h e l ad d er w as i n g o o d co n d i ti o n an d was s afe

t o u s e.

A f t e r t h e acci d en t

, L o p ez-Hern an d ez fi l ed t h e cu rren t l aws u i t ag ai ns t

Lak es h ore, al l eg i ng t h at Lak es h o re p ro v i ded M on t an a an d h i s wo rk ers t h e l ad d er at

i s su e t o us e d u ri n g t h e co u rs e o f th e j o b at t h e Veri zo n s to re. Lo p ez-Hern an dez

fu rt her as s ert ed t h at Lak es h ore h ad act u al or co n s t ru ct i v e k n o wl ed g e of t h e l ad d er’ s

d e fect i v e co nd i t i o n an d t h at t he co m p an y was n eg li g en t i n fai l i n g t o i n sp e c t a n d

m ai n t ai n t h e l ad d er.

5Fo l l owi n g t h e cl o s e of d i s co v ery , L ak es h o re m o v e d f o r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

as s ert i n g t hat Lo pez-Hern an d ez h ad fai l ed to co m e fo rward w i t h an y ev i d en ce o f

L a k e s h o re’ s l i ab i l i t y

. 3 Th e t ri al co u rt d en ied t h e m ot i on , fi n d i n g t h at al t h o u g h n o

ev i d en ce s ho wed t h at Lak es h ore h ad act u al k n o w l e d g e o f t h e l ad d er’ s d efect

, a

g en ui n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact ex i s t ed wi t h res p ect t o wh et h er Lak e s h o r e “ i n t h e

ex erci s e o f ord in ary care s h o u l d h av e i n s p ect ed t h e l ad d er o r cau t i on ed Lo p ezHern an dez t o i ns p ect t he l ad d er b efo re u si n g [i t .] ” Ad di t i o n al ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

a d i sp u t ed i s s u e o f m at eri al fact ex i s t ed on t he q ues t i o n o f wh et h er Lak es h o re h ad a

“ d u t y t o p ro v i d e a s afe wo rk e n v i ro n m en t ” t o Lo p ez-Hern an d ez. Th e t ri al co u rt

cert ifi ed i t s o rd er fo r i m

m ed i at e rev i ew, an d we gran t ed Lak es h ore’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r

an i n t erl o cu to ry

ap p eal . Th is ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

1

. “ [T] o reco v er fo r i n

j u ri es cau sed b y an ot h er’ s n eg l i g en ce, a p l ai n t i ff m u s t

s h o w fo u r el em en ts : a d u t y , a b reach o f t h at d ut y , cau s at i o n an d d am ag es .” Go l d s t ei n,

Ga r ber & S a l a ma v. J. B.

, 3 0 0 Ga. 8 4 0

, 84 1 (1 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 8 7) (2 01 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Here, L ak es hor e c o nte nds tha t L o p e z

- H e r na ndez fai l ed t o co m e

fo rward wi t h an y ev i d en ce t h a t t h e co m p an y b reach ed an y d u ty i t o wed h i m

.

3 Al t h o u g h Lak es h o re d en i ed t h at i t o wn ed o r h ad p ro v i d ed Mo n t an a wi t h t h e l ad d er, i t s t i p u lat ed

, fo r p u rp o s es o f it s s u m m ary j u d gm en t m o t i o n , th at it s o wn ers h ip

o f t h e l ad d er co ul d b e as s u m ed

.

6S pe c if

ic a l l y , Lak es ho re as sert s t h at Lo p ez-Hern an d ez p ro d u ced n o ev i d enc e show ing

t h at Lak es h o re k n ew, o r s h o u l d h av e k n o wn , t h at t h e l ad d er w as s o m eh o w d efect i ve.

W e ag ree.

Un d er t h e l aw o f m as t er an d s erv an t , an em p l o y er i s req u i red t o u s e o rd i n ary

care to p ro v id e h i s em

p lo y ee wi t h t o o l s t h at are i n g o od co n d i t i o n an d reas o n ab l y

s u i t ed t o t h e u s e fo r wh i ch t h ey are i n t en d ed

. W i l l i a ms v. Ga r rb u t t Lu mb er Co

. , 1 3 2

Ga. 2 2 1

, 2 2 4 (6 4 SE 6 5 ) (1 9 0 9). See al s o A. F. Ki ng & S o n v. S i mmo n s , 1 0 7 Ga. Ap p.

6 2 8

, 6 29 -6 3 0 (1 ) (1 31 SE2 d 2 1 4 ) (1 9 6 3 ). Th e em p l oy er m u s t al s o u se o rd in ary care

i n i n sp ect i n g s u ch t o ol s t o en s u re t h ey are “ i n p ro per co n d i t i o n fo r u s e.” W i l l i a ms ,

1 3 2 Ga. at 2 2 4

. M o reo ver, t h e em p l o y er has a d ut y t o warn an em p lo y ee o f an y l at en t

d efect s i n t h e s up p l i ed to o l s o f wh i ch t h e em p l oy er i s , o r s h o u ld be, aware. Id

. at 2 3 1

-

2 3 2

. See al s o OCGA § 3 4 -7 -2 0

. Th e em p l o y ee, h o wev er, has a reci p ro cal d u t y to

ex erci s e care fo r h i s o wn s afet y , an d h e can no t reco v er fo r hi s i n j u ri es res u l t i n g fro m

a d efect i v e to o l i f, i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f ord i n ary care, h e co u ld h av e d i s co v ered t h e

d efect

. A. F. Ki n g , 1 07 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 3 0 (1 ). See al s o S mi th v. Fo u n d

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p.

8 1 6 , 8 2 1 (1 ) (b ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 2 8 7) (2 0 1 7 ).

Acco rd i ng l y , t o reco v er fo r i n ju ri es res u l t i n g fro m an al l eg ed l y d efect i v e t o ol

s u p p li ed b y o n e wh o em

p l o y ed h i m , t h e i n

ju red p art y m

u s t sh o w n o t o nl y t h at t h e t o ol

7was d efect i v e, b u t th at t h e em p l o y er was aware o f t h e d efect

, o r co u l d h av e l earn ed

o f t h e d efect “ b y t h e ex erci s e o f o rd i n ary care an d d i l i g en ce.” Geo r g i a R. & Ba n ki n g

Co

. v. Nel ms , 8 3 Ga. 7 0

, 7 4-7 5 ( 9 S E 2 d 1 0 4 9 ) (1 8 8 9 ). Here, h o wev er, Lo p ezHern an dez p ro v id ed n o ev i d en ce th at t h e l ad d er was d efect i v e. Th e m ere fact t h at t h e

l ad d er b ro k e wh i l e i n u se i s in s u ffi ci en t t o s h ow th at it was defect i v e i n s o m e res p ect

.

Ho l li n g s wo r t h v. Th o ma s , 1 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8

, 4 1 (1 ) (2 5 0 SE2 d 79 1 ) (1 97 8 ) (“ [t ] h ere

i s n o p res u m

p t i o n t h at th e t o o l s fu rn i s h ed t o an em p l o y ee b y t h e m as t er were

i n s u ffi ci en t fro m t h e m ere h ap p en i n g o f an acci d en t ” ) ( c i t a t i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). 4 Ad d i t i o n al l y , Lo p ez-Hern an dez’ s o p i n i on t es t i m o n y t h at t h e l ad d er was

b ro k en at t h e t i m e i t was su p p l i ed was b as ed on h is bel i ef t h a t h e h ad n o t p u t an y

wei g h t o n t h e b ro k en ru n g b efo re h e fel l

. Nei t h er Lo p ez-Hern a n dez’ s o p i n i o n o r

b el i ef, h o wev er, i s s u ffi ci en t t o d efeat Lak es h o re’ s s u m m ary j u d gm en t m o t io n

. As we

h av e ex p lai n ed b efo re, “ [g ] ues s es or s p ecu l at i o n wh i ch rai s e m erel y a co n j ect u re o r

p o s s i b i l i t y a r e n o t s u ffi ci en t t o creat e an i nferen ce o f fact fo r co n s i d erat i o n o n

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. ” Ba r cl a

y v. S t ep hen s o n , 3 3 7 G a. Ap p. 3 6 5

, 3 68 (1 ) (7 8 7 S E 2 d

4 Th e l ad d er w as un av ai l ab l e fo r i n s pect i o n , b u t L op ez-Hern an d ez had p i ct u res

o f t h e l ad d er as it l oo k ed b o t h p ri o r t o an d fo l l owi n g h i s fal l . Th e “ b efo re” p i ct u res

s h o w n o o b v i o u s defect in o r d am ag e t o t h e l ad der. Th e “ aft er” p i ct u res s h o w cl earl y

t h at t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e l ad d er was crack ed o r b ro k en , n ear t he t o p

.

83 2 2 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i on , p u n ct u at i o n , an d fo ot n o t e o m it t ed ). T h u s , w h ere a p l ai n t i ff’ s

p ro o f t h at th e d efen dan t b reach ed a l eg al d u t y “ i s b as ed o n m ere p o s s i bi l it i es , o r t h e

m at t er rem ai n s o n e o f p u re sp ecu l at io n , o r co n j ect u re, o r t h e pro b ab i l i t i es are at b es t

ev en ly b al an ced

, i t i s th e du t y o f t h e tri al co u rt t o g ran t s u m m ary ju d g m en t fo r t h e

d efen d an t .” Id

. (ci t at i o n, p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o tn o t e o m it t ed ) (h o l d i n g t h at a p l ai n t i ff’ s

“ ‘ feel in g s ’ an d ‘ v i ewp o i n t ’ a b o u t h o w [a] l ad d er co l l ap s ed [d i d ] n o t rai s e fact u al

q u es ti o n s ” as t o t h e cau s a t i o n e l em en t o f hi s n eg l i g en ce cl ai m ). See al s o Ta yl o r v.

Th u n d er b i r d La n es , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p . 1 6 7, 1 70 (1 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 3 08 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

No r d i d Lo p ez-Hern an d ez co m e fo rward wi th an y ev i d en ce s h owi n g t h at

L a k es h o re k n ew, o r s ho u l d hav e k n o wn , t h at t h e lad d er was s o m eh o w d efect i v e

. 5

Sp eci fi cal l y , Lo pez-Hern an d ez o ffered n o ev id en ce th at t h e d efect w as o bv i o u s fro m

5 In fi n di n g th at a m at eri al q u es t io n o f fact ex i s ted as t o wh et h er Lak es h o re h ad

co n st ru ct i v e k n owl ed g e o f t h e al l eg ed d efect

, t h e t ri al co u rt rel i ed o n a p rem i s es l i ab i l i t y cas e fo r t h e p ro p os i ti o n t h at “ [c] o ns t ru ct i v e k n owl ed g e m a y b e i n ferred wh en

t h ere i s ev i d en ce t hat t h e o wn er l ack ed a reas o n ab l e i n s pect i o n p ro ced ure.

. . . ” Gi b so n

v. Ha l p er n En t er

p r is es , 28 8 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 0

, 7 9 1 (6 5 5 SE2 d 62 4 ) (2 0 07 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). T h i s ru l e o f l aw i s i n ap p li cab l e, h o wev er, i n a cas e i nv o l v i n g

an em p l o y er’ s fu rn i s h i n g o f an al l eg ed l y d efect i v e t o o l

. Un d er t h e law o f m as t er an d

s erv an t

, t h e l aw p res u m es t hat “ t h e m as t er h as di sch arg ed h i s d u t y to [h is em p l o y ee]

b y p ro v i d i ng s u i t ab l e i n s tru m e n t a l i t i es fo r t he b u s i n es s , an d i n k eep i ng t h em in [g o o d] co n d i t i o n

. ” Nel m s , 83 Ga. at 7 5 -7 6 (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Acco rd in g ly

, t o av o id su m m ary ju d g m en t i n t h i s co nt ex t

, a p l ai n t i ff m u s t co m e fo rward wi t h s o m e affi rm at iv e ev i den ce sh o w i n g t h at a reas on ab le i n s p ect i on wo u ld

h av e rev eal ed t h e al l eg ed d efect . Id . at 7 6

.

9a v i s u al i n s pect i o n o f th e l ad d er an d

, in fact

, Co ca’ s u n di s p u t ed t es t i m o ny es t ab l i s h ed

t h e o p p o si t e. A n d g iv en th at Lo p ez-Hern an dez p ro ffered n o ev i d en ce t o es t ab l i s h t h e

n at u re o f t h e al leg ed defect

, h e can no t s h o w t h at t h e u s e of o rd i n ary care i n i n s p ect i n g

t h e l ad d er wo u ld hav e rev eal ed an y s u ch d efect

. See Fa mi l y Th ri ft v. B i r th r o n g , 3 3 6

Ga. Ap p . 6 0 1 , 6 0 4 (1 ) (7 8 5 SE2 d 5 4 7 ) (2 0 1 6) (i n a p rem i s es l i ab i li t y act i o n ari s i n g

o u t o f i nju ri es cau s ed b y an al l eg ed l y d efect i v e ch ai r, t h e pl ai n t i ff’ s fai lu re t o p res en t

an y ev i d en ce reg ard i n g t h e n at u re o f t h e ch ai r’ s d efect m ean t t h ere was “ n o l o g i cal

fo u n dat i o n fo r arg u i n g t h at s u ch a d efect s h o u l d h a v e b een d is co v ered d u ri n g [an ]

i n s p ect i on p ro ced u re”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m it t ed ); Fr eema n v. Ei ch h o l z , 3 0 8

Ga. Ap p. 1 8

, 2 3 (2 ) (7 0 5 SE2 d 9 1 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (s am e). See al s o B a l l a r d v. S o u t h er n

Reg io n a l Med

. Cen ter

, 2 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 9 6

, 9 8 (1 ) (4 5 3 SE2 d 1 2 3 ) (1 9 95 ) (“ t h ere i s n o

d u t y t o d i s co v er a d efect wh i ch i s n o t m an i fes t ed u n t i l t h e i n ci d en t cau s i n g t h e

i n ju ry ”).

G ive n tha t L ope z

- H e r

na nde z p ro v i ded no ev i d en ce s h owi n g t h at t h e l ad d er w a s

d efect i ve o r t h at Lak es h o re had act u al o r co n st ru ct iv e k no wl ed g e o f an y s u ch d efect

,

t h e tri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g Lak es h o re’ s m o t i o n fo r su m m ary ju dg m en t

. See

S h ep her d v. W

h i g h a m , 1 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 74

, 2 7 7 (2 ) (1 4 1 SE2 d 5 8 3 ) (1 9 65 ) (d efen d an t

em pl o y er en t i t l ed t o su m

m ary ju d g m en t o n p l a i n t i f

f ’ s cl ai m fo r i n ju ri es ari s i n g o ut

10o f an al l eg ed l y d efect iv e l ad d er, wh ere p l ai n t i ff fai led t o co m e fo rwar d wi t h an y

ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efect was o b v i ou s o r t hat a reas o n ab l e i n s p ect i o n w o u l d h av e

rev eal ed t h e d efect ). See al s o Nel ms , 8 3 Ga. at 7 5 (“ [t ] h e m ere fact t hat [a t o o l ] was

d e f e c t i v e

. . . an d t h at th e [p l ai n t i ff’ s ] in ju ry res ul t ed t herefro m , i s n o t s u ffi ci en t to

au t h o ri ze [an i n feren ce o f] n eg l i g en ce o n t h e p art o f t h e [em pl o y er] ”); Bea l e , 3 1 9 Ga.

Ap p

. at 2 (a d efen d an t i s e n t i t l e d t o su m m ary ju d g m en t wh ere it d em o n st rat es “ an

ab s en ce o f ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd b y wh ich t h e p lai n ti ff m i g h t c a r r y t h e b u rd en to

p ro v e [a n eces sary ] el em en t” o f h i s cl ai m ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2

. In l i g h t of o u r h o l d i n g i n Di vi s i o n 1

, w e n eed n o t ad d res s Lak es h o re’ s

rem ai n i n g cl ai m s o f erro r.

F o r th e reas on s set fo rt h ab o v e, we rev ers e t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ord er d en y i n g

Lak e s h o re’ s su m

m ary ju d g m en t m o t i o n an d rem an d fo r en try of ju d g m en t i n fav o r

o f Lak es ho re.

Ju d g men t rever

s ed an d ca s e r ema n d

ed wi th di r ect i o n

. Di l l a r d

, C

. J., a n d

Ho d g es , J., co n cu r

.

11