FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and M A RKLE, 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.

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

June 25, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 29 9

. CREBS et al

. v

. BASS PRO OUTDOOR W O RLD et al

.

M A R K LE
, J ud g e.

Du ri n g a v i s i t to a Bas s Pro s h o p i n 2 01 7

, Am an d a Creb s (“ Am an d a”) i n ju red

h er k n ee wh en s h e tri p p e d a n d f e l l o v er d eco rat i v e fen ci n g th at p ro t ru d ed i n t o t h e

w a l k way

. Th ereaft er, A m an d a an d h er h u s b an d (co l l ect i v el y “ th e p l ai n t i ffs ”) s u e d

B a s s P ro Ou td o o r W o rl d an d t h e gen eral m an ag er, Dal e W h i t e, (co l l ect i v el y “ t h e

d efen d an t s ”) fo r p rem i s es l i ab il i t y , v i cari o u s l iab i l i ty , an d l o s s of co n s o rt i u m

. 1 Th e

t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e d efen d a n t s , f i n d i n g th at t h e fen ce was

1 Th ey al so n am ed Jo h n Do e, a J oh n Do e, I n c

. , a n d BPS Di rect

, LLC as d efen d an t s

. Th ey l at er di s m i s s ed BPS D i rect

, LLC. M r. Creb s ’ s s ol e cl ai m is fo r l o ss

o f co n s o rt i u m , wh i ch is d eri v at i v e o f Am an da’ s cl ai m s. Lo vel a ce v. Fi g u r e S a l o n, In c. , 1 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1

, 53 (3 ) (3 4 5 SE2 d 1 3 9 ) (1 9 8 6 ) (h u s b an d ’ s ri g h t t o reco v er fo r l o s s o f co n s o rt i u m

d ep en d s o n wi fe’ s ri g h t t o reco ver).an o pen an d o b v i o u s co n d i t i o n

. Th e p l ai n t i ffs no w a p p e a l

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at

fo l l o w , we affi rm

.

W h et h er s u m

m ar y j u d g m en t i s g ran t ed o r d en i ed

, t h at d eci s io n en jo y s

n o p res u m

p t i o n o f co rrect n es s o n ap p eal

, an d an ap p e l l a t e c o u rt m u s t

s at i s fy i t s el f t h at t h e re q u i r e m en t s of OCGA § 9 -1 1-5 6 (c) h av e b een

m et

. An d i n co nd u ct i ng t h i s de n o v o rev i ew, we are ch arg ed w i t h

“ v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce, an d al l reas o n ab l e c o n c l u s i o n s an d i n feren ces

d rawn fro m t he ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e no n m o v an t

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Ri ver Pl a ce a t Po r t Ro ya l Co n d o. As sn

. v. S

a p p ,

_ _ G a. Ap p

.

_

_ (8 5 6 SE2 d 2 8

, 3 1

- 3 2 ) ( 2 0 2 1). Un d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6

, s u m m ary

ju d g m en t i s ap p ro p ri at e “ i f t h e pl ead i n gs , d ep o s i t i o n s , an s wers t o i nt erro g at o ri es , an d

ad m i s s i o n s o n fi l e, t o g et her wi th t h e affi d av it s , i f an y , sh o w t h at t h ere i s n o g en u i n e

i s su e as t o an y

m at eri al fact an d t h at t h e m o v i n g p art y i s en t i t l ed t o a ju d g m en t as a

m at t er of l aw.” Al t h o u g h su m m ary ju d g m en t g en eral l y i s n o t ap p ro p ri at e i n ro u t i n e

n eg li g en ce an d p rem i s es li ab i l i t y cas es , wh ere “ t h e ev i den ce i s p l ai n , p a l p a b l e an d

u n d i s p u t a b l e,” s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i s warran t ed

. R ob i n s o n v. Kr og er Co

. , 2 6 8 Ga.

7 3 5 , 7 3 9 (1 ) (4 9 3 SE2 d 4 03 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at Am an d a a n d her h u s b an d t o ok t h ei r y o u n g

s o n t o t h e Bas s Pro Sh o p i n Sav an n ah i n 20 1 7 s o h e co u l d h av e h is p i ct u re tak en wi th

2San ta. W h en th ey en t ered th e s to re, Am an d a t o o k a s h o p p in g cart an d p l aced h er so n

i n t h e s eat

. T h ey wal k ed t o t h e k io s k t o g et t h ei r t i m ed t i c k e t f o r San ta, an d t h en

p ro ceed ed t h ro u g h t h e ai s l es t o d o s o m e s h o p p i n g an d p art i ci pat e in s om e o f t h e

a c t i v i t i es t h e s t o re offered wh i l e fam i l i es w ere wai t i n g

. W hen i t was cl o s e t o t h e i r

t i ck et t i m e, Am an d a’ s hu s ban d g o t i n l i n e wh i l e Am an d a an d h er so n co n t i n u ed wi th

t h e act i v i t i es

. A s her h us b a n d a p p r o a ch ed t h e fro n t o f t h e li ne, Am an d a p ark ed h er

cart t o t he s i d e of an a i s l e , r e m o v e d her s o n fro m t h e s eat

, an d

, carry i n g t h e ch i l d,

m ad e h er way t h ro u g h th e ai s l e t o h an d h i m ov er t he r o p e t o h er h us b an d. As s h e

m an u ev ered th ro u g h t he ai s l e, Am an d a s t ru ck h er leg o n a p o rt i o n o f t h e ei g h t een

i n ch s p l i t - rai l fen ce t hat p ro t ru d ed ab o u t t h r e e i n ch es i nt o th e wal k way , an d fel l

,

l an d i n g o n h er k n ee an d b reak i n g h er p at el l a. Th e i n ju ry req u ired s u rg ery

.

Th e p l ai n t i ffs fi l ed s ui t

, an d

, i n h er d ep o s i ti o n, Am an d a s t at ed t h at s h e k n ew

t h e fen ce was t h ere. Sh e ex p l ai n ed t h at s h e h ad n o ti ced i t w as p art o f t h e d i s p l ay ;

n o t h i n g o b s t ru ct ed h er v i ew as s h e wal k ed th ro u g h t h e ai s le; an d s h e b e l iev ed s h e

co u ld n av i g at e t he ai s l e wh i l e carry i n g h er ch il d

. Sh e fu rt h er ex p l ai n ed t h at s h e was

p ay i n g at t en ti o n t o h er s urro u n d i n g s , b u t s h e was n o t l o ok i n g d o wn as s he wal k ed

,

an d t h e p ro t ru s i o n was n ot o b vi o u s t o h er. Sh e b el iev ed th ere was s u ffi ci en t s p ace fo r

h er to p as s t h ro u gh th e ai sl e, al t h o u g h t h e cart was t o o l arg e t o fi t

. Th e d efen d an t s

3s u b m i t t ed d ep o s i t io n t es t i m o ny fro m t wo h u m an fact o r s e xpe r ts, wh o d i s ag reed ab o ut

wh et h er t h e ch i l d b l o ck ed Am an d a’ s v i ew o f t h e fen ce an d wh et h er s h e wo u l d h av e

s een t h e p ro t ru d in g p o rt io n

.

Th e d efen d an t s m o v ed for s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h at Am an d a h ad act u al

o r co ns t ru c t i v e k n o w l ed g e of t h e fen ce, an d i t was an o p en an d o bv i o u s s t at i c

co n di t i o n t h at was p l ai nl y v is i b l e. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g , t he t ri al co u rt gran t ed t h e

m o ti o n , fi n d in g t h at th e fen ce was a hazard

, b u t t h at i t w a s o p en an d o bv i o u s , an d

Am an d a h ad eq ual k n o wl ed g e o f i t . Th e p l ai n t i ffs n o w ap p eal

.

In rel at ed en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, t he p l ai n t i ffs arg u e t h at t he t ri al co u rt fai l ed

t o co n s t ru e t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav orab l e t o t h em , an d erred i n fi n d i n g t h at

t h e h azard was o p en an d o b v i o u s , an d t h at Am an d a h ad act u al k no wl ed g e o f i t

. W e

d i s ag ree.

U n d er OCGA § 5 1 -3 -1

, a p ers o n wh o o wn s o r o ccu p i es l an d an d b y

ex p res s o r i m

p l i ed i n v i t at i o n , i n d uces o r l ead s o t h ers t o co m e u p o n h i s

p rem i s es fo r an y l awfu l p u rp o s e, i s l i ab l e i n d am ag es t o s u ch p ers o ns fo r

i n ju ri es cau s ed b y hi s fai l u re t o ex erci s e ord i n ary c a re i n k eep i n g th e

p rem i s es an d ap pro ach es s afe. In o rd er t o reco v er o n a p rem i s es l i ab i l i t y

cl ai m , a p l ai n ti ff m

u st s h ow (1 ) t h at t h e d e f e n d a n t h ad act u al o r

co n s t ru ct iv e k n o wl e d g e o f t he h azard ; an d (2 ) t h at t h e p l ai n t iff l ack ed

k n o wl ed g e o f t h e h azard d es p i te t h e ex erci s e o f o rd i n a r y c are d u e t o

act i o n s o r co n di t i o n s wi t h i n t h e co nt ro l o f t he o wn er/ occu p i er.

4Acco rd i ng l y , th e fu n d am en t al b as is fo r an own er o r o ccu p i er’ s l i ab i l i t y

i s t h at par t y’s s u peri o r k n o wl ed g e o f t h e h azard en co un t ered b y th e

p l a i n t i f f

. I n o t h er w o rd s , a p l ai n t i ff i s n o t en t i tl ed t o reco v ery if th e

u n d i s p ut ed ev i d en ce d em o n s t rat es t h at t he pl ai nt i ff’ s k n o wl ed g e o f th e

h azard was eq ual t o o r g reat er t h an t h at o f t h e d efen dan t

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on o m it t ed .) D’El i a v. Ph i l l i p s Ed i s o n & Co ., Lt d

. , 3 5 4 Ga.

Ap p

. 6 9 6

, 6 9 8 (8 3 9 SE2 d 7 21 ) (2 0 2 0 ). As we h av e ex p l ai n ed

, a p ro pert y o wn er h as

a d u ty t o al ert i n v i t ees t o “ h i d d en d a n g er s o r d ef ect s n o t o bs er va b l e ” t o t h e m

.

(Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed .) W

i l l i a m s I n ves t men t Co

. v. Gi ra r d

o t

, 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 2

, 7 6 3

(8 4 1 SE2 d 4 3 6 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

W h en a cl ai m

i n v ol v es a s t at i c co n d i ti o n , 2

t h e ru l e i s wel l es tab l i s h ed t h at t h e b as i s o f t h e p ro pri et o r’ s l i a b i l i t y i s

h i s s u p eri o r kn o wl ed g e an d i f h i s i n vi t ee k n o w s of th e co n d i t i o n o r

h azard t h e r e i s n o d ut y o n t he p art of t he p ro p ri et o r t o w arn [h er] an d

t h ere i s n o l i ab il i t y fo r res u l t i n g i nju ry becau s e th e i n v i t ee h as as m u ch

k n o wl ed g e as t he pro pri et o r d o e s

. If n o t h i ng o b s t ru ct s t h e i n vi t ee’s

a b i l it y t o s ee t h e s t a t i c co n d i t i o n

, t h e pr o pr i et o r ma

y s a f el y a s su me t h a t

t h e i n vi t ee wi l l

s ee i t a n d wi l l r ea l i

z e a n y a s s o ci at ed

r i s ks

.

2 “ A s t at i c co n d i ti o n i s o n e t h at d o es n ot ch an g e an d i s d an g ero u s o n l y i f

s o m eo n e fai l s t o s ee i t an d wal k s i n t o i t .” (Ci t at i on an d p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Jo n es La n g La S a l l e Op er a t i o n s v. Jo h n s o n , 3 5 0 G a. Ap p

. 4 39

, 4 4 0 (8 29 SE2 d 6 2 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

5(Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p li e d. ) M

c L e m o re v. Gen u in e Pa r t

s ,

3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 1

, 6 4 3 (7 2 2 SE2 d 3 6 6) (2 01 2 ); s e e a l s o R en t z v. Pr i n ce o

f Al b a ny ,

3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 38 8

, 3 9 0 (1 ) (7 9 7 SE2 d 2 5 4) (2 01 7 ) (“ co rn h o l e” g am e was o p en an d

o b v i o u s s t at i c co n d i t io n ); Ri d l e y v. Do lg en co rp , 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 61

, 56 3 (8 3 9 SE2 d

2 6 ) (2 0 2 0) (co n cret e p ark i n g ab u t m en t was op en an d o b v i o us s t at i c co n d it i o n an d

t h u s p ro p ri et o r was no t li ab l e fo r in v i t ee’ s t ri p an d fal l ). A s we h av e ex p l ai n ed

, “ in

ev ery d ay l ife, p ers o ns are req u i red t o n eg o t i at e fl oo rs , s t ep s , an d do o rway s ,” an d t h e

d efen d an t s a re n o t res po n s i b l e fo r h azard s t h at were o p en an d o b v i o us , an d co u ld

h av e b een av o i d ed i n t h e u s e o f o r d i n ary care. (Ci t at i o n o m i tt ed

. ) D’El i a , 3 5 4 Ga.

Ap p . at 6 9 9

.

Co n st ru i n g t h e ev id en ce i n t h e li g h t m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e p l ai n t i ffs

, t h e reco rd

s h o ws t h at Am an d a o b s erv ed t h e fen ce as p art o f t h e d i s p l ay b efo re s he en t ered t h e

ai s l e; s h e h ad wal k ed th ro u gh o t h er ai s l es i n th e s t o re; t h e s pl i t -rai l fen ce pro t ru d ed

ab o ut t h ree i n ch es i n to t he ai s l e; an d n o t h i n g o b s t ru ct ed Am an d a’ s v i ew. Th ere i s n o

d i s p u t e t hat th e fen ci n g was v i s i b l e, th at th ere was s uffi ci en t li g h t i n g , an d t h at t h e

fen ci n g d i d n o t b l en d i n t o i t s s u rro u n d i n g s

. A cco rd i n g l y , b ecau s e t he fen ci n g was an

o p en an d o b v i o u s s t at ic co n d i t io n , Am an d a h ad eq u al k n o wl ed ge o f t h e h azard

, an d

6t h e defen d an ts were en t i t l ed to s u m m ary j u d gm en t

. 3 Ren t

z , 34 0 Ga. Ap p. at 3 9 0 (1 );

Ri d l ey , 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p. at 5 6 3 ; D’El i a , 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p . at 6 9 9

.

Nev ert h el es s , t h e p l ai n t i ffs co n t en d t hat s um m ary ju d g m en t was i m p ro p er

b ecau s e Am an d a di d n o t s ee t h e p ro t ru d i n g fen ce o r ap p reci at e t h e ri s k

. Bu t, we h av e

ex p lai n ed t h at a p lai n t i ff i s req u i red t o

ex erci s e o rd i n ary care fo r h er o w n s afet y , an d m u st b y t h e s am e d eg ree

o f care a v o i d t h e effect o f t h e m erch an t ’ s n eg l ig en ce aft er i t b ecam e

ap p aren t t o h er o r i n t h e e x erci s e o f o rd i n ary care s h e s h o u ld h av e

l earn ed o f it

. Sh e m

u s t m ak e u s e o f al l h er s en ses i n a r e a s o n ab l e

m eas u re am o u nt i n g t o o rd i n ary care i n d i s co v eri ng an d av o id i n g t h o s e

t h i n gs t h at m i g h t cau s e h u rt t o h er.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro z y In ves t men t

s v. Br i s t o w , 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 8,

2 8 1 (4 ) (6 2 3 SE2 d 1 7 1) (2 0 0 5 ). Fen ci n g t hat o b vi o u s l y s t i ck s ou t i n t o t he wal k way

i s t h e t y p e o f h azard “ wh i ch a n y p e rs o n wi t h o rd i n ary , co m m o n s en s e wo u ld

3 Al t h o u g h t h e d efen dan t s refer to Am an d a’ s p ri o r t rav ers a l o f t h e area, t h e

reco rd is s o m ewh at am

b i g uo u s o n t h is p o in t

. Am a n da st at ed t h at s h e had wal k ed

t h ro u g h t h e s t ore b efo re th e i n ci d en t

, an d th at t h ere was fen ci ng i n o t h er areas o f t h e

s t ore, b u t n o t h i n g i n h er t es t i m o n y s h o ws th at s he s p eci fi cal l y t rav ers ed o t her areas

i n w h i ch t h e fen ce was pro t ru di n g i n t o t h e w al k way

. Reg ard l es s o f wh et h er Am an d a h ad p rev i o u s l y t rav ers ed t h es e areas , t h e o p en an d ob v i o u s n at u re of t h e fen ce s h o ws

t h at s he h ad eq u al k n o wl ed g e o f t h e h azard

. Ren t z , 3 4 0 G a. Ap p

. at 3 90 (1 ); Ri d l ey , 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p . at 5 63 ; D’El ia

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

.

7reco g n ize as s o m et h i n g t h at m i g h t cau se a p ers o n t o t ri p , s l i p , o r fal l .” Ho u s t o n v.

W a l -Ma r t S t o r es Ea s t , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p . 1 0 5 , 1 0 8 (1 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 4 0 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

Ad m i tt ed l y , a p l ai n ti ff i s n o t req u i red t o “ m a i n t ai n a co n s tan t l o o k o u t .”

(Ci t at i o n o m it ted .) Tes t o n v. S o u t h Co r e Co n s t r

. Co

. , 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 3

, 7 3 6 (7 8 3

SE2 d 9 2 1) (2 0 1 6). Bu t

, i n t h i s cas e, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t he p ro tru d i n g fen ce an d

i t s p ot en t i al da n g e r w o u l d h av e b een o b v io u s an d as cert ai n ab l e wi t h t h e u s e o f

o rd i n ary care. 4 See P i r

kl e v. Ro b s on Cr o s s i n g , 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

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

(2 0 0 5) (“ Ev en i f t he [wal k way ] was h azard o u s as p l ai n t i ff as s ert s , t h e co n di t i o n was

o p en an d o b v i ou s , an d t h u s , i n th e ex erci s e o f o rd i nary care, s h e co ul d h av e av o i d ed

i t

. Th ere i s n o d u t y t o warn o f t h e o b v i o u s.”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); s ee

al s o Ci t y o f Br u n s w i c k v. Smi t h

, 3 50 Ga. Ap p. 5 0 1

, 50 4 (8 2 9 SE2 d 7 8 1 ) (2 0 1 9 )

(p o t h o l e th at was n o t co n ceal ed was op en an d o bv i o u s s t at i c d efect o f wh i ch p l ai n t i ff

4 Th e p l ai n t i ffs ’ rel i an ce o n Pi n d a r v. H & H Fo o d S

er vi ce s , 3 2 6 G a. Ap p

. 4 9 3,

5 0 1 -5 0 2 (3 ) (7 5 6 SE2 d 7 2 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ), i s u n p ers u as i ve. Fi rs t

, t h at cas e i s p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y an d i s n ot b i n d i n g

. See Co urt o f Ap peal s Ru l e 3 3 .2 (a) (2 ). Seco n d

, t h at cas e i n v ol v ed s t at i c co nd i t i o ns t h at were n o t as cert ai n ab l e d u e t o o p t i cal i l l u s i o n s an d p oo r l i gh t i n g

. Nei t h er o f t h o s e fact o rs w as p res en t h ere. No r are w e p e r s u a d ed t h at Ha g a d o r n v. P r u d

en t ia l In s u r an ce Co mp a n y , 2 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 3 (5 9 8 SE2 d 86 5 ) (2 00 4 ), req ui res a d i fferen t o u t co m e fo r t h e s am e reas o n. See al s o Per ki n s v. Va l D’Ao s t a Co

. , 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 6 (6 9 9 SE2 d 3 8 0 ) (2 01 0 ) (p o o r l i gh t in g an d d ark en ed s u rfaces rai s ed a fact u al q u es t i o n ab o u t wh et her t h e p l ai n t i ff

s h o u ld h av e s een t h e cu rb o v er wh i ch h e t ri p ped ).

8s h o u ld h av e b een aware); H o us t o n , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 10 7 -1 0 8 (1 ) (s u m m ary ju d g m en t

was pro p er des p i t e p l a i n t i f f ’s arg u m en t t h at he d i d n ot g ras p t h e sp eci fi c h azard

b ecau s e “ t h i s is n o t a cas e wh ere t h e sp eci fi c h azard t hat cau s ed t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s i n ju ry

was h i dd en o r o ut s i de t h e real m o f an o rd i n ary p ers o n ’ s u n d ers t an d i ng .”); Per ki n s v.

Kr a n z , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 7 1, 1 7 3 (2 ) (7 28 SE2 d 8 0 4 ) ( 2 0 1 2 ) (s u m m ary ju d g m en t was

p ro p er in cas e i n v o l v i n g p e d es t ri an wh o was i n ju red b y t ree b ran ch ov erh an g i n g a

s i dewal k b ecau s e “ t h e t ree an d i t s o verh an gi ng bran ch es were v i s i b l e t o [t h e

p ed es t ri an ] an d w ere i n n o w ay a p i t fal l, m an t rap , or h id d en p eri l .”); Th e Ri g h t S t u f f

Fo o d S t o r es v. Gi l cr es t

, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p. 7 8 4

, 7 86 (6 3 2 SE2 d 4 0 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (p l ai n t i ff h ad

eq u al k n owl ed g e o f h azard wh ere s h e ad m i t t ed th at s h e o b s erv ed “ v ery v i s i bl e” h o s e

o n t h e g r o u n d ); Bect o n v. Ti r e Ki n g o f No r th Co l u mb u s , 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7

, 5 9 (5 3 9

SE2 d 5 5 1 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (affi rm i ng s u m m ary ju d g m en t wh ere p l an t er was op en an d o b v i ou s

s t at i c co n d it i o n , an d p l ai n ti ff fai l ed t o u s e o rd i n ary care wh en s h e s tep p ed b ack ward

wi t h o u t l o o k i n g , an d t ri p p ed o n i t ).

Am an da al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i g n o red h er d ep o si ti o n t es t i m o ny

es t ab l i s h in g t h at t h e p r o t ru s i o n was n o t o bv i ou s t o h er. Bu t t h at arg u m en t

m i s co n st r u es th e leg al s t an d ard an d i g n o res t h e ev i d en ce. No t ab l y , Am an d a

ack n owl ed ged t h at sh e was no t p ay i n g at t en t io n t o t he area as s h e w al k ed

, b u t t h at s h e

9k n ew t h e fen ce was t h ere. Th e tes t i m o n y an d o t h er ev i d en ce th u s p l ai nl y es t ab l i s h ed

t h at Am an d a s h ou l d h av e l earn ed o f t h e p ro t ru di n g fen ce rai l i n t h e e x erci s e o f

o rd i n ary care. M

cLemo r e , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 4 3 ; Ro zy In ves t men t s , 2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. at

2 8 1 (4 ); Bect o n , 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p. at 5 9

.

M o reo v er, ev en i f Am an da d i d n o t h av e act u al kno wl ed g e o f t h e d an g er d es p i t e

i t s op en an d o bv i o u s co nd i t i o n , s h e i s d eem ed t o h av e co n s t r u ct i v e k n o wl ed g e o f

h azard s i n p l ai n v iew. 5

Th e “ pl ai n v i ew” d o ct ri n e i s ap p l i ed to a ha z a r d i n p l ai n v i ew at a

l o ca t i o n w h e re i t i s cu s t o m ari ly fo u n d an d can be ex p ect ed t o b e, b u t

wh i ch t h e in v i t ee p ro fes s es n o t t o h a v e s een pri o r t o t h e fal l

. Ev en

t h o u g h t h e in v i t ee had n o act u al kn o wl ed g e o f t h e h azard b efo re b ei n g

i n ju red , t h e i n v it ee s h o u l d h av e k n o wn o f t h e h azard ’ s p res en ce.

Ro b in s o n , 2 6 8 Ga. at 7 4 3 (1 ); s ee al s o Ri dl ey , 35 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 65 -5 6 6 (s u m m ary

ju d g m en t p ro p er wh ere p l ai n t i ff ad m i t t ed t h at s h e h ad s een t he p ark i n g ab u t m en t

, b ut

t h at at t h e ti m e o f h er fal l

, s h e was no t p ay i n g at t en t i o n t o wh ere s he s t ep ped ). Here,

5 W e m ay affi rm t h e t ri al co u r t ’ s o rd er i f i t i s ri gh t fo r an y reas o n

. Pn eu mo Ab ex v. Lo n g , 3 57 Ga. Ap p . 1 7 , 2 5 (1 ) (a), n . 3 7 (8 4 9 SE2 d 7 4 6) (2 02 0 ) (“ Need l es s

t o s ay , a g ran t o f su m

m ary ju d g m e n t m

u s t b e affi rm ed i f i t i s ri g h t fo r an y reas o n, wh et h er s t at ed o r u ns t at ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er, s o l o ng as t h e m o v an t rai s ed t h e i s su e i n t h e t ri al co u rt an d t h e n o n m o v a n t h a d a fai r o pp o rt un i t y t o res p o n d .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

10t h ere i s n o d i s p u t e th at t h e p ro t ru d i n g fen ce w as i n p l ai n v iew. Th u s , A m a n d a h a d

eq u al o r co n s t ru ct i v e k n owl ed g e o f t h e h azard

, an d t he d efen d an ts were en t i t l ed t o

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Go b ei l , J., co n cu r

.

11