THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BETHEL, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA T E 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.

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

June 1, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 26 7 . LINGO v . EARLY COUNTY GIN, INC.

E LLI N G T O N , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Earn es t Li n g o ap p eal s fro m t h e o rd er o f th e Su peri o r Co urt o f Earl y Co u n t y

wh i ch affi rm ed t h e d eci s i o n o f th e Ap p el lat e Di v i si o n o f t h e St at e Bo ard o f W o rk ers ’

Co m p en s at i o n d en y i n g b en efi t s t o Li n g o b as ed p ri m ari l y o n a p o si t iv e d ru g s creen

.

Th e ap p el l at e d i v i si o n fo u n d t h at Li n g o ’ s em p l o y er, Earl y C o u n t y Gi n

, In c. (“ t h e

Em p l o y er”), was en t it l ed t o a reb u t t ab l e p res u m pt i o n p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 3 4 -9 -1 7

(b ) th at Li n g o ’ s wo rk

p l ace i n ju ry was cau s ed b y hi s i l l eg al m ari j u an a us e an d t h at

Li n g o h ad fa i l e d t o p res en t ev i d en ce o v erco m i n g t h at p res u m p t i o n. Pu rs u an t t o a

g ran t ed ap p l i cat i on fo r a d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal

, Li n go co n t en d s t h at (1 ) th e s u p eri o r

co u rt erred i n fai li ng t o co n s i d er wh et h er t h e Em p l o y er m et t h e s t at u t o ry p rereq u i s it es

fo r av ai l in g i t s el f o f th e reb u tt ab l e p res u m p t i on o f OCGA § 3 4

- 9 -1 7 (b ); (2 ) t h es u p eri o r co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g a s u ffi ci en t ch ai n o f cu st o d y fo r Li n g o ’ s u ri ne s am p l e;

an d (3 ) ev en i f t h e reb u t t ab l e p res u m pt i o n ap p l i ed

, Li n g o s u b m i t t ed su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o reb u t t h e p res u m p ti o n t h at h i s d ru g u s e cau s ed t h e wo rk p l ace acci d en t

.

Fo r t h e reas o n s th at fo l l o w, we v acat e t h e o rd er o f t h e s u p eri o r co u rt an d rem an d to

t h e ap p el l at e d i v i s i o n

.

In rev i ewi n g a wo rk ers ’ co m p en s at i o n award

, t hi s Co urt m u s t co n s t ru e

t h e ev i d en c e i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e part y p rev ai l i n g b efo re

t h e ap p el l at e di v i s i o n

. Th e fi n di n g s of t h e St at e B o a r d o f W ork ers ’

Co m p en s a t i o n

, w h en s u p p o rt ed b y an y ev id en ce, are co n cl u s i v e an d

b i n d i n g

, an d n ei t h er t h e s u p eri o r co urt n or t h i s Co u rt m ay s ub s t i t ut e

i t sel f as a fact fi n d i n g b o d y i n l i eu o f t h e St at e Bo ard

.

(Fo o t n o tes o m i t t ed .) La u r en s Co u n t y Bd . o f Ed u c. v. Dewb er r

y

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 4,

2 0 6 (6 7 4 SE2 d 7 3 ) ( 2 0 0 9 )

. Ho wev er, “ [w] e rev i ew q u es ti o n s of l aw i n a wo rk ers ’

co m p en s at i o n ap p eal d e n o v o u p o n a p l ai n l eg al erro r s tan d ard o f rev i ew.” S el ect i ve

HR S o l u t i o n s, In c. v. Mu l li

g a n , 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 7

, 1 4 8 (6 9 9 SE2 d 1 1 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at L i n go wo rk ed at a co t t o n g i n co m p an y as

a “ m o d u l e feed er.” He d irect ed d ri v ers as th ey b ack ed th ei r l a r g e

, h eav i l y -l ad en

m o du l e t ru ck s i n t o a lo ad i n g d o ck area wh ere h e wo u l d t h en as s is t i n un l o ad i n g

m o du l es o f un gi n n ed co t t o n o nt o a p l at fo rm fo r g i n n i n g. On No v e m b e r 2 0

, 2 0 1 4,

2Li n g o an d on e o th er em p l o y ee, Rau l Fl o res

, were o n d ut y at th e l o ad i n g d o ck

. Earl y

t h at aft ern o o n

, as Li n g o was s weep i n g u p co t t o n fro m t h e m o d u l e t ab l e n ear t h e g i n,

a t ru ck b eg an b ack i n g to ward t h e l o ad i ng d ock

. Becau s e Li n go was faci n g t h e

l o ad i n g d o ck

, h e d i d n o t s ee t h e t ru ck as it b a c k ed in

. Th e t ru ck st ru ck Li ng o fro m

b eh in d

, cru s h i n g h i m ag ai n s t t h e l o a d i n g d o ck

. Th e t ru ck t h at s t ru ck Li n g o d i d n ot

h av e a fu n c t i o n al b ack -u p b eep er. T h e ev i d en ce i s d i s p u t ed as t o wh et h er Fl o res

d i rect ed t h e t ru ck d ri ver t o b ack i n t o t h e l o ad i n g area.

Th ere i s co n fl i ct i n g ev id en ce reg ard i n g wh et h er Li n g o s h o u ld h av e been ab l e

t o h ear t he t ru ck as it b ack ed u p

, d es p i t e t h e ab s en ce o f a w arn i ng b eep er. Th e n o i s e

o f t he co t t o n gi n m ach i n ery ru n n i n g n earb y w as s u ffi ci en t l y l o u d t o p recl u d e n o rm al

c onve r sa ti o n

. Li n go ’ s em

p l o y er o ffered h i m earp l u g s t o p ro t ect h i s h eari n g

, bu t L ingo

was n o t weari n g t h em at t he t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

. Li n g o p res en t ed ev i d en ce fro m an

ex p ert wi t n es s w h o t o o k s o u n d m eas u rem en t s at t h e l o ad i n g d o ck a n d o p i n ed t h at

“ t h e s o u n d o f th e m o d u l e t ru ck was n o t d i s t i n g u i sh ab l e fro m t he b ack g ro u nd n o i s e”

o f t h e c o t t o n g i n

. Th u s

, th e ex p ert o pi n ed th at

, reg ard l es s of L i n g o ’ s l ev el o f

al ert n es s, h e wo u l d n o t h av e b een ab l e t o h ear t h e t ru ck b ack i n g up

. Th e g i n’ s g en eral

3m an ag er, h owev er, t es t i fi ed t hat t h e t ru ck ’ s ai r b rak es were l ou d en o u g h t o b e au d i b l e

o v er t h e g en eral d i n o f t he wo rk p l ace.

Li n g o was t ak en to a h o sp i t al i n Do t h an

, Al ab am a fo r e m erg en cy s u rg ery to

ad d res s s ev eral i n

ju ri es

, i n cl u d i n g p el v i c, ch es t

, an d ri b fract u res an d d am ag e t o h i s

s t om ach

, s pl een

, an d co l o n. T h e Em p l o y er req u es t ed a p o s t -i n j u ry d ru g t es t fro m a

l ab t ech n i ci an t h at i t h a d r et ai n ed

, an d sh e wen t t o t h e h o s p i tal t o ob t ai n a u ri n e

s am p l e. Becau se Li n go w as u n d erg o i n g s u rg ery

, t h e t ech n i ci an w as n o t p erm i t t ed in

t h e o p era t i n g r o o m

. T h e tech n i ci an t o l d an o p erat i n g ro o m n u rs e t h at s h e n eed ed a

u ri n e sam p l e. Sh o rt ly aft er t he req u es t

, th e n urs e ret u rn ed wi t h a u ri n e sam pl e, wh i ch

t h e tech ni ci an b ag g ed

, s eal ed

, an d l ab el ed

. Th e t ech ni ci an t es t i fi ed t h at sh e h as n o

fi rs t -h an d k no wl ed g e of wh o co l l ect ed t he s am p l e o r w h at p ro to co l s th at p ers o n

fo l l o w ed

. Th e s am

p l e was t ak en t o a d ru g t es ti n g co m p an y

, an d a s u b s eq u en t an al y s i s

rev eal ed t h e p res en ce o f can n ab i n oi d m et ab o li t es

.

On e o f Li n g o ’ s co -wo rk ers

, J ai m e Garza, t es ti fi ed t hat Li n g o was a fri en d o f

h i s

, t hat t h ey sm o k ed m ari ju an a t o g et h er dai l y

, an d t h at h e an d L i n g o h ad b ee n

s m o k i n g m ari

ju an a on th e p rem i s es t hro u g h o u t t h e m orn i n g o f t h e acci d en t

. He

cl ai m ed L i n g o m

u s t h a v e b een real ly “ m es s ed u p ” n o t t o h ear t h e t ru ck ’ s b eep er,

4wh i ch h e arg u ed L i n g o s ho u l d h av e h eard i f h e was n o t t e x t i n g o n h i s p h o n e. He

cl ai m ed t h at Li n go k ep t a “ po u ch ” o f m ari ju an a o n h i m

. Li n g o d i s p u t ed t h e

t es t i m o ny

, t es t i fy i n g th at h e on l y s m o k ed m ari ju an a wh en he was n o t wo rk i n g

. Th e

Em p l o ye r ’s g en eral m an ag er t es t i fi ed t h at he h ad n o ev i d en ce th at t h e em p l o y ees

were i n t o x i cat ed o n t h e jo b o r were s m o k i n g m ari ju an a o n t h e p rem i s es

. No n e o f t h e

em pl o y ees h ad fai l ed an y o f t h e ran d o m dru g s cre e n s c o n d u c t ed du ri n g 2 01 4

. Th e

reco rd s h o ws t h at n o m ari ju an a o r d ru g p arap h ern al ia was reco v ered f r o m t h e

cl o t h i n g t h at Li n g o h ad been weari n g on t h e d ay o f t h e acci d en t

. Th e ALJ fo u n d t h at

Garza’ s t es t i m o ny h ad “ s i g n i fi can t di s crep an ci es ” an d t h at Garza l ack ed cred i b i l i t y

.

Li n g o al s o p res en t ed an ex p ert w i t n es s wh o cri t i ci zed t he l ab ’ s ch em i cal

an al y s i s o f Li n g o ’ s u ri n e, n ot i n g t h at b ecau s e t h e res u l t s were n o t “ v al i d i t y t es t ed ,”

h e co u l d m ak e n o ju d g m e n t o n w h et h er t h e u ri n e s am pl e h ad b een d i l u t ed o r

c o n c e n t rat ed

. He al s o no t ed t h at a u ri n e s am p l e i s g en eral l y in ad eq uat e t o ev al u a t e

t h e ex t en t to wh i ch a p ers o n i s u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f m ari ju an a fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g

reas on s

. W h en m ari

ju an a i s sm o k ed

, i t wi l l b e m et ab o l i zed o u t of a p ers on ’ s “ b l o o d

s y s t em fro m an y wh ere b et ween h al f an h o ur an d an h o u r an d a h al f,” d ep en d i n g o n

a n u m ber o f fac t o r s

, s u ch as t h e p ers on ’ s h ei g ht an d w ei g h t

. Ho wev er, b ecau s e

5m ari

ju an a m et ab o l i t es are “ l i p o p h i l i c” an d can b e s t o red i n fat cel l s

, i t i s po s si b l e t h at

m et ab o l i t es wi l l co nt in u e t o l each i n to t h e u ri n e fo r d ay s or ev en week s aft er t h e d ru g

was l as t s m o ked

. Th e ex p ert as s ert ed t h at o n l y a b l o o d p l as m a t es t accu rat el y rev eal s

t h e ex t en t t o wh i ch m ari

ju an a i s cu rren t l y affect i n g co g ni t i o n

. Th u s

, t h e ex p ert o p i n ed

t h at t h e l ab res u lt s n ei t h er v al i d at ed n o r di s cred i t ed Li n g o’ s acco u n t o f h i s m ari ju an a

u s ag e. Rat h er, he co n cl u ded t h at t h e u ri n e tes t pro v i d e d n o “ em pi ri cal d at a t h at

[Li n g o ] was o r was n o t i m p ai red ” at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

.

Th e Em p l o y er as s ert ed i t was n ot l i ab l e u n d er OCGA § 3 4-9 -1 7 (b ) (2 ), wh i ch

p ro v id es i n rel ev an t p art t h at :

If an y am o un t o f m ari

ju an a

. . . i s in t h e em

p l oy ee’ s b l o od wi th i n ei g h t

h o u rs of t h e t i m e o f t h e al l eg ed acci d en t

, as s h own b y ch em ical an al y s i s

o f t h e em p l o y ee’ s b l o o d

, u ri n e, b reat h

, o r ot h er b o d il y su b st an ce, t h ere

s h al l b e a reb u t t ab le p res u m p t i o n t h at t h e acci d en t an d i n ju ry o r d eat h

were cau s ed b y

t h e i n ges t i o n o f m ari

ju an a[.]

Th e A LJ fo u n d t h at t h e Em p l o y er w as un ab l e t o av ai l i ts el f o f t hi s p res u m p t i o n

b ecau s e t h e Em

p l o y er wa s u nab l e t o s h o w wh o h ad o b t ai n ed t h e s am p l e as t h e l ab

t e c h n i c i an d i d n o t o b s erv e t h e s am p l e b ei n g t ak en an d th ere was n o t es t i m o n y o r

o t h er ev id en ce es t ab l i s h i n g t h i s i n it i al l i n k in t h e c h a i n o f cu s t o d y

. Ab s en t t h e

ev i d en ce o f t h e u ri n e s am p le, t he ALJ fo u n d t h e Em pl o y er was o th erwi se u n ab l e t o

6carry i ts b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t hat t h e acci d en t was cau s ed b y Li n g o ’ s m ari ju an a u s e an d

award ed h i m

b en efi t s

.

T he E m ploy e r ap p eal ed t o t h e ap p el l at e d i vi s i o n

, wh i ch rev ers ed

. T he a ppe lla te

d i v i s i on rel i ed u p o n ch ai n o f cu s t o d y ru li n g s f r o m c r i m i n al cas es

, h ol d i ng t h at an y

d efect i n t h e ch ai n o f cu s t od y wen t to t h e wei g h t o f t h e ev i d e n c e r a t her t h an i t s

ad m i s s i b i l i t y

. Becau se t here was n o real s u g g es t i o n t h at t h e uri n e s am pl e h ad b een

t am p ered wi t h

, t h e ap p el l at e d i v i s i o n fo un d i t s u ffi ci en t l y rel iab l e t o perm i t t h e

Em p l o y er t o av ai l i t s el f of t h e reb u t t ab l e p res u m p t i o n t h at Li n g o ’ s in

ju ri es were

cau s ed b y h i s u s e o f m ari

ju an a. Th e ap p el l at e d i v i s io n fu rt her fo u n d t hat L i n go fai l ed

t o reb u t th e p res u m

p t io n o f cau s at i o n b ecau s e t h e ev id en ce was co nfl i ct i n g reg ard i n g

wh et h er h e co u l d h av e heard t h e t ru ck b ack i n g u p ab s en t h i s d ru g u s e

. Li n g o

ap p eal ed t h e ap p el l at e d i v i s i on ’ s award t o t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

, wh ich affi rm ed u n d er

t h e “ an y ev i d en ce” s t an dard

.

1

. In h i s fi rs t t wo cl ai m s o f erro r, Li n g o co n t en d s t h at t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt erred

i n affi rm i n g t h e ap p el l at e d iv i s i o n ’ s ru l i n g t h at t h e Em p lo y er co u l d rel y o n t h e

reb u t t ab l e p res u m

p t i on o f OCGA § 3 4 -9 -1 7 (b ) b ecau s e t h e Em p l o y er fai l ed t o s at i s fy

t h e s t at ut o ry prereq ui s it es o f O C G A § 34 -9 -4 15 (d ) (5 ) g o vern i n g t he co ll ect i o n o f

7s am

p l es fo r em

p lo y ee d ru g s creen s

. Fu rt h er, t h e co u rt erred i n al lo wi n g t h e Em p l o y er

t o rel y on cri m i n al cas es co n cern i n g p ro vi n g t h e ch ai n o f cu s t o d y o f s a m p l es

co l l ect ed i n a wo rk ers ’ co m p en s at i o n m at ter. Fo r t h e fo l l o wi n g reas on s

, we ag ree.

I n c o n d uct i n g o u r rev i ew, we are g u id ed by t h e pu rp o s e o f t he W o rk ers ’

Co m p en s at i o n Act , wh i ch i s t o “ al l ev i at e t h e s u fferi n g o f i n j u red wo rk ers an d t h ei r

fam i l i es b y pro vi d i n g i m m ed i at e an d cert ai n fi n an ci al as s i s t an ce, reg ard l es s o f

wh et h er t h e i nju ry res u l ted fro m t h e fau l t of t h e em p lo y er, as l o n g as t h e i n

j u ry aro s e

o u t of an d i n t h e co u rs e o f em p l o y m en t .” Tr a vel e r

s In s

. Co

. v. S

o u t her n El ec.

, 2 0 9

Ga. A p p

. 7 1 8

, 7 1 9 (1 ) (4 3 4 SE2 d 5 0 7 ) (1 9 9 3 ). T he Su prem e Co u rt of Geo rg i a h as

h el d “ t h at a l i b eral co n s t ru ct i o n m u s t b e g i v en t o effect u at e t h e hu m an e p urp o s es fo r

wh i ch t h e [W o rk ers ’ ] Co m p en sat i o n Act was en act ed .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) S ch wa r t z

v. Gr een b a u m

, 2 3 6 Ga. 4 7 6, 4 7 7 (1 ) (2 2 4 SE2 d 3 8 ) (1 9 7 6 ).

OCGA § 34 -9 -1 7 s et s fo rt h g ro un d s fo r d e n y i n g a cl ai m an t wo rk ers ’

co m p en s at i o n b en efi ts b as ed u p o n t h e cl ai m an t ’ s m i s co n d uct

. Su b s ect i on (b ) o f t h i s

s t at u te p ro v i des

, i n t er al i a, “ [n ] o co m p en s at i o n s h al l b e al l o wed fo r an i n ju ry o r d eat h

d u e to

. . . b ei n g u n d er t h e i nfl u en ce o f m ari ju an a[.] ” A s n o t ed ab ov e, s u b sect i o n (b )

(2 ) p ro vi d es fo r a reb u t t ab l e p res u m p t i on t hat m ari

ju an a u s e cau s ed a w o rk i n ju ry i f

8an y am o u n t o f m ari ju an a is “ in t h e em

p l o y ee’ s b l o o d wi t h i n ei g h t h o u rs o f t h e t i m e

o f t h e al l eg ed acci d en t

, as s h o wn b y ch em i cal an al y s i s of t h e em p l o y ee’ s b l oo d

, u ri ne,

b reat h

, o r o t her b o d i l y s ub s tan ce[.] ” W i t h r es p ect t o t h e m an n er in wh i ch t h es e

ch em i cal t es t s are t o b e p erfo rm ed , t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg ia h as ex p l ai n ed :

[A] s a m at t er o f s t at ut o r y c o n s t ru ct i o n

, OCGA § 3 4 -9 -1 7 (b ) (3 )

i n co rp orat es o n l y t h e ap p l i cab l e d ru g t es t i n g p ro ced u res o f OCGA §

3 4 -9 -4 1 5

, an d

. . . [t h e a] p p l i cab i l it y o f th e reb ut t ab l e p res u m p t i o n i s

,

t h erefo re, d ep en d en t en t i rel y up o n co m p l i an ce wi th t he p r o ced u ral

req u irem en ts fo r t es t in g es t ab l i s h ed by OCGA § 3 4 -9 -4 1 5[.]

. . . [I] f th e

d ru g t es t fai l s t o co m

p l y w i t h p ro ced u res o f OCGA § 34 -9 -4 15

, th e

em p l o y er wi l l n o t b e en t i t l ed t o rel y u po n t h e reb u tt ab le p res u m p t i o n

au t h ori zed b y

OCGA § 3 4 -9 -1 7 (b ) (3 ).

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed .) G eo r g ia S el f -In s u r er s Gu ar a n t y Tr us t Fu n d v.

Th o ma s

, 2 6 9 Ga. 5 6 0

, 5 6 1 (5 0 1 SE2 d 8 1 8 ) (1 9 9 8 ). OCGA § 34 -9 -4 15 (d ) p ro v i d es

,

i n rel ev an t p art :

Al l sp e c i m en co l lect i o n an d t es t i n g u n der t h i s Co d e sect i o n s h al l be

p erfo rm ed i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e fo l l o w i n g p r o c e d u res :

. . . (5 ) A

s p eci m en fo r a t es t m ay b e t ak en o r c o l l ect ed b y an y o f t h e fo l l owi n g

p ers on s : (A) A p h y s i ci an

, a p h y s i ci an as s i st an t

, a reg is t ered p ro fes s i o nal

n u rs e, a l i c e n s e d p ract i cal n u rs e, a n urs e p ract i t i o n er, o r a cert i fi ed

p aram ed i c w h o i s p res en t at t h e s cen e o f an acci d en t fo r th e p u rp o se o f

ren d eri n g em erg en cy m ed i cal s erv i ce o r trea t m en t ; (B) A q u al i fi ed

9p ers on cert i fi ed o r e m p l o ye d b y a l ab o rat o ry cert i fi ed b y t h e Nat i o nal

In s t i t u t e o n D ru g A b u s e

, t h e Co l l eg e o f Am eri can Pat ho l o g i s t s

, o r th e

Geo rg i a D ep art m en t o f Co m m u n i t y He a l t h ; (C) A qu al i fi ed p ers o n

cert i fi ed o r em

p l o y ed b y a co l l ect io n co m

p an y [.]

Here, th e lab t ech n ici an d i d n o t k n ow w h o co l l ect ed t h e s p eci m en fro m Li n g o.

No r i s t h ere ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd t hat al l ows a fact -fi n d er t o d ed u ce wh o co l l ect ed

t h e sam p l e. Becau s e t h e s peci m en was t ak en wh i l e Li n g o was i n an o perat i n g ro o m

,

i t i s r e a s o n ab l e to a s s ume i t was t ak en b y a n u rs e, b u t as s u m pt i o ns b as ed o n

s p ecu l at i o n are n o t ev i d en ce. 1 Th e p ers o n wh o act u al l y d rew t he u ri n e s am p l e co u ld

1 [W h en an i n feren ce] i s fo u n d ed o n s p ecu l at i o n

, i t i s wi t h o u t

ev i d en t i ary v al ue. As we hav e h el d

, n o i n feren ce o f fact m ay b e

d rawn fr o m a p rem i s e wh i ch i s wh ol ly u ncert ai n

. A n d

,

i n feren ces m

u st b e b as ed o n p ro b ab i l i t i es rat h er th an m ere

p o s s ib i l i t i es

. Mo reo v er, wh en a p art y rel i es o n i n feren ces t o

p ro v e a p oi n t

, n ot o n l y m

u s t t h os e i n feren ces b e fact u al l y b as ed

,

t h ey m u s t t e n d i n s o m e p ro xi m at e d eg ree t o es t ab l i s h t h e

co n cl u s io n s o u g ht an d ren d er l es s p ro b ab l e al l in co n si s t en t

co n cl u s io n s

.

(Ci t at io n s an d p un ct u at i o n om itte d. ) Og l et r ee v. Na vi s t a r In t l

. Tr a n s p

. Co r p

. , 2 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 6 -7 (1 ) (5 3 5 SE2 d 5 4 5 ) (2 00 0 ). If, fo r ex am p l e, t h e Em

pl o y er i n t h i s cas e h ad i d en t i fi ed

ev ery o n e i n th e o p erat i n g r o o m as q u al i fi ed t o d raw t h e s am p le, t hen i t wo u l d b e

reas o n ab le to as s u m e t h at t he p ers o n wh o d re w t h e s am p l e was q u al i fi ed

. In t h i s cas e,

t h o u g h , t h ere i s n o ev id en ce es t ab l i s h i n g wh o was i n t h e o p erat in g ro o m

.

10h av e b een a nu rs e’ s as s i s t an t

, an i n t ern

, or s o m e ot h er h o s p it al em p l o y ee w h o d i d n ot

m eet t h e s tat u t o ry c r i t e r i a

. In t h i s cas e, t h e E m p l oy er’ s fai l ure t o es t ab l i s h t h at a

p ers o n au t ho ri zed u n d er t h e Co d e Sect io n to co l l ect t h e s am p l e i s f a t a l t o t h e

Em p l o y er’ s ab il i t y

t o rel y u p o n t h e reb u t t ab l e p res u m p t i o n i n OCGA § 3 4 -9 -1 7 (b )

(2 ). 2 “ Becau s e t h e W o rk ers ’ Co m p en s at i o n Act is i n d ero gat i on o f co m m o n l aw, i t s

p ro v is i o n s m

u s t b e s tri ct l y co n st ru ed .” (Ci t at i on an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Met ro p l it a n At l an t a Ra

pi d Tr a n s i t Au t h

. v. Br i d g es

, 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 0

, 2 2 4 (6 2 3

SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

In t h i s cas e, th e s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n ap pl y i n g ch ai n o f cu st o d y p reced en t

fro m t h e cri m i n al law i ns t ead o f an al y zi n g wh et h er t h e c o l l e ct i o n m et h o d m et t h e

req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 3 4-9 -4 1 5 i n d et erm i n i n g w h et h er t o ap p l y t h e reb u t t ab l e

p res u m p t i o n . Li n g o was n o t a cri m in al d efen d an t

. He was n o t b ei n g p ro secu t ed fo r

2 W e al s o n o t e t h at Li n go ’ s ex p ert wi t n es s g av e u n co n t rad i ct ed t es t i m o n y t h at t h e

u ri n e s am p l e t ak e fro m Li n g o was i n ad eq u at e t o as s es s t h e e x t e n t t o wh i ch Li n g o h ad

m ari ju an a i n h i s b l o o d wi t h i n ei g h t h ou rs of t h e acci d en t

, as req u i red b y OCGA § 3 4 -9 -1 7

(b ) (2 ). In o rd er to av ai l i t s el f o f t h e reb u tt ab l e p res u m p t i o n, t h e E m

p l o y er m u s t

d em o n s t r a t e t h at o n e m ay i n fer fro m th e ch em i cal tes t p erfo rm ed t h at m ari ju an a o r an y

o t h er co n t ro l l ed s u b s t an ce w as i n t h e em p l o y ee’ s bl oo d d u ri n g t h e req u i s i t e p eri o d

. In t h i s

cas e, t he Em

p l oy er al so fai l ed t o s h o w t h at o ne co ul d i n fer th at m ari ju an a was i n Li n g o ’ s

b l o o d wi t h i n ei g h t ho u rs o f t h e acci d en t b as ed up o n t h e res u lt s o f t h e s p eci fi c ch em i cal t es t

g i v en

. Th i s

, t o o

, i s fat al t o th e E m p l o y er’ s ab i l i ty t o rel y u p o n th e reb u t t ab l e p res u m p ti o n

i n OCGA § 3 4 -9 -1 7 (b ) (2 ).

11h i s m ari

ju an a us e an d h is em

p l o y er was n o t req u i red t o p ro ve h is “ g u i l t ” b ey o n d a

reas on ab l e d ou b t

. Li n g o i s a wo rk er wh o s e cl ai m m u s t b e ev al u at ed w i t h i n t h e

co n tex t o f t h e W o rk ers Co m pen s at i o n Act

.

2

. Li n g o al s o co nt en d s t h e Su p eri o r Co urt e r r e d i n co n cl ud i n g t h at h e h ad

fai l ed t o ad d u ce ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o reb u t t h e p res u m p t i o n t h at th e acci d en t was

cau s ed b y h i s m ari

ju an a u s e. W e d ecl i ne t o ad dres s t h i s i s su e b ecau s e n ei t h er we n o r

t h e s u peri o r co urt h av e h ad t h e b en efi t o f t h e ap p el l at e d i v i s io n ’ s an al y s i s o f t h e fact s

o f t h i s cas e wi t h o u t t h e ap p l i cat i o n of t h e p res um p t i on

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, we v acat e t h e

o rd er o f t h e s u p eri o r co u rt an d rem an d t o t h e ap pel l at e d i v i s io n fo r fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s so t h at i t m ay co ns i d er wh et h er t h e Em p l o ye r s a t i s fi ed i t s b u rd en o f

p ro v in g t h at Li ng o was i m p ai red b y m ari

ju an a u s e at t h e t i m e o f hi s acci den t an d t hu s

i n el i g i b l e fo r b en efi t s p urs u an t t o OCGA § 3 4-9 -1 7 (b ).

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n d ed wi t h d i r ect i o n

. S

en i o r Ap p el la t e Ju d

g e

Her ber t E. Ph i

p p s co n cu r

s

. Bet h el , J., co n cu r

s f u l ly a nd s p eci al l y.

12A1 8 A0 26 7 . LINGO v

. EARLY COUNTY GIN, INC.

B E T H E L , J u d g e, co n cu rri n g fu l l y an d s p eci al l y

.

If Earn es t Li n g o was in

ju red d u e t o h i s b ei n g u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f m ari ju an a,

h e i s n o t el i g i b l e fo r co m pen s at i o n . OCGA § 3 4 -9 -1 7 (b ).

I ag ree wi t h t h e m ajo ri t y t h at t h e Em pl o y er fai l ed to s at i s fy th e st at u t o ry t es t i n g

p ro t o co l s s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 3 4 -9 -4 1 5 ( d )

. I f u r th er ag ree th at t h is fai lu re o n t h e

p art o f th e Em

pl o y er d ep ri v ed i t o f t h e reb u tt ab l e p r e s u m p t i o n t h at Li n g o was

i m p ai red b y h i s u s e o f m ari

ju an a at t h e ti m e o f t h e acci d en t in wh i ch h e s u st ai n ed h i s

i n ju ri es

. An d I ag ree t hat t hi s m at t er s ho u l d b e rem an d ed fo r fa c t u a l a n d l eg al

co n si d erat io n wi t ho u t referen ce t o o r rel i an ce u p o n t h e s t at u to ry p res um p t i o n

.I wri t e s ep arat el y t o n o t e t hat t h e fai lu re t o fo l l o w t he co ll ect i o n p ro ced u re

req u i red t o cl ai m t h e reb u t t ab l e pre s u m p t i o n d o es n o t res u l t i n t h e au t o m at i c

e x c l u s i o n o f th e ev i d en ce co l l ect ed

. Des p i te th e fai l u re to fo l l o w th e s t at u t o r y

co l l ect i o n p ro ced u re, t he ev i den ce co l lect ed m ay b e ad m i t t ed an d co ns i d ered s o l o n g

as i t i s o t h erwi s e ad m i s s i b l e.

Des p i t e co n cern s reg ard i n g t h e ch ai n o f cu s t o d y an d t he rel i ab i l i t y o f t h e d ru g

s am p l e t ak en fro m Li n g o ex p res s ed b y t h e ALJ

, t h e Em pl o y e r s h o u l d b e p erm i t t ed

t o i n t ro d u ce t h e res u lt s o f t h e t es t as wel l as o th er ev i d en ce (i n cl u d i n g t h e t es t i m o ny

o f Li n g o ’ s co -wo rk er ) i n reg ard to wh et h e r L i n g o w as i m pai red d u e t o h i s u s e o f

m ari ju an a at t h e t i m e h e was i n ju red

. As t h e Pres i d in g Ju d g e co rrect l y n o t e s

,

c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e t es t i n g pro t o co ls s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 3 4 -9 -4 1 5 (d ) i s a

p rereq u i s i t e t h at m

u s t b e es t ab l i s h ed b y th e em pl o y er i n o rd er to g iv e ri s e t o t h e

reb u t t ab l e p res u m

p t i o n i n OCGA § 3 4

- 9 -1 7 (b ). See Th o m a s

, 2 6 9 Ga. at 5 6 1 (t h e

“ [a] p p li cab i li t y o f t h e reb ut t ab l e p res u m p t i o n is

, t h erefo re, d ep en d en t en t i rel y u p o n

co m p l ian ce wi t h t h e p ro ced u ral req u i rem en t s fo r t es t in g es t ab l i s h ed b y OCGA §

3 4 -9 -4 1 5”). Bu t n o t h i ng i n o u r cas e l aw s u g g es t s t h at co m p l i a n c e wi t h t h e t es t i n g

s t at u te i s a p rereq u i s i t e fo r a d mi s s i bi l i t y o f t h e res u l t s o f t h e t es t

. As t he ap p el l at e

d i v i s i on ru l ed

, refl ect i n g u p o n s t an d ard s u t i l i zed fo r th e ad m i ss i o n o f ev i d en ce in

2cri m i n al cas es

, t h e f a c t t h at t h e t es t fai l ed t o co m p l y wi t h t h es e req ui rem en t s g o es

m erel y t o t he wei g h t s u ch ev i d en ce s h o u l d b e g i v en i n d et erm i n i n g w h e t h e r L i n g o

was i m p ai red b y t he u s e o f m ari

ju an a at t h e ti m e o f t h e acci d en t no t wh et h er ev i d en ce

o f t h e t es t can b e co n s i d ered b y t h e t ri er o f fact at al l

. 1

Al t h ou g h t he Em

p l oy er s h o u ld n o t h av e th e b en efi t of t h e s t at u to ry reb u t t ab l e

p res u m p t i o n i n t h i s cas e, i t s h o u l d b e p erm i t t ed t o in t ro d u ce, an d th e fact fi n d er

s h o u ld co n s i d er, t h e res u l t s o f th e d ru g t es t i n g p erfo rm ed o n Li n g o b y t he Em p l o y er.

It i s fo r th e fact fi n d er t o d et erm i n e t h e wei g h t an d cred i b il it y to b e as s ig n ed t o s u ch

t es t an d t h e res u l t s t h ereo f.

1 See, e.g

., Na t i o n s v. S t a t e

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 9 2

, 9 9 ( 2 ) ( b ) ( 8 1 2 SE2 d 3 4 6 ) (2 0 1 8 )

(“ W h en t h e S t a t e seek s t o i n t ro d u ce i n t o ev id en ce an i t em t h at i s s u b j ect t o t h e ch ai n o f

cu s t o d y ru le, i t m

u s t es t ab l i s h wi t h reas o n ab l e as s u ran ce t h at t h e i t em s ei zed i s t h e s am e

as t he i t em b ei n g o ffered i n t o ev id en ce. Nev ert hel es s

, t h e St at e i s no t req u i red t o fo recl o s e

ev ery p o s s ib i l i t y of t am

p eri n g ; i t n eed o n l y

s h o w reas o nab l e as s u ran ce o f t h e i d en ti t y o f

t h e ev i den ce.

. . . Al s o

, t h i s co u rt h as reco g n i zed t h at wh ere, as h ere, t h ere i s n o affi rm at i v e

ev i d en ce o f t am

peri n g o r s u b s ti t u t i o n

, a m i s s i n g li n k i n t h e ch ai n o f cu s t od y d o es n o t al o n e

req u i re ex cl u s i on o f t h e ev i d en ce.

. . . W h at ev er d o u b t m ay h av e ari sen fro m t h e al l eg ed

m i s h an d l i n g o f ev i d en ce i n t h i s s p eci fi c cas e co u l d h av e b een arg u ed t o , an d co n s i d ered

b y

, t h e ju ry

, an d t he ju ry is ch arg ed wi th d eci d i n g h o w m u ch wei g h t t o g i v e ev i d en ce.

W here th ere i s o n l y a b are s p ecu l at i o n of tam p eri n g i t i s p ro per t o ad m i t t h e ev i d en ce an d

l et wh at ev er d o u b t rem ai n s g o t o i t s wei g h t .” (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )).

3