FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, COOM ER and M A R KLE, 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

October 25, 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 85 6 . CITY OF ALPHARETTA v . HAM BY et al

.

M A R K LE

, J ud g e.

To b y Ham

b y 1 fi l ed s ui t ag ai n s t t h e Ci t y o f Al p haret ta (“ t h e Ci t y ”), al l eg i n g h e

s u ffered i n

ju ri es aft er fal li n g o v er a ret ai n i n g wal l l o cat ed o n t h e Ci t y ’ s p ro p ert y

, an d

t h at t h e Ci t y was n eg l ig en t i n fai l i n g t o d es i g n an d co n s t ru ct a b arri er o n t op o f t h e

ret ai n i n g wal l

, r e n d e ri n g i t u n s afe t o t he g en eral p u bl i c. Fo l l o w i n g a t ri al

, t h e ju ry

ret u rn ed a verd i ct in Ham b y ’ s fav o r, award i n g h i m $ 45 9 ,5 7 5. Th e Ci ty n o w ap p eal s

,

arg u i n g t hat t h e t ri al co urt erred i n (1 ) d en y i n g it s m o ti o n fo r d i rect ed v erd ict o n (a)

Ham b y ’ s n eg l i g en ce cl ai m u n d er OCG A § 3 6 -3 3 -2

, an d (b ) Ham b y ’ s n eg l i g en ce

c l a i m u nd er OCGA § 3 2-4 -9 3 ; an d (2 ) th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n im p ro p erl y

1 Ham b y ’ s wi fe, Kri s t y Pay n e, al s o as s ert ed a cl ai m fo r l o s s o f c o n s o rt i u m

. Ho wev er, h er cl ai m

d i d n o t s u rv i v e s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

.ad m i t t i ng cert ai n ev i d en ce an d arg u m en t s at t ri al

. Becau s e t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at

t h e Ci t y h ad a d u t y

, ei t h er b y s tat u t e o r o rd in an ce, t o co n s t ru ct a b arri er, an d b ecau s e

Ham b y fai l ed t o s t at e a cl ai m

u n d er OCGA § 3 2-4 -9 3 (a), we rev ers e.

“ On ap p eal fro m t h e d en i al o f a m o t i on fo r a di rect ed v erd ict

, . . . we co n s t ru e

t h e e v i d e n ce i n th e l ig h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t he p art y o p p os i n g th e m o t i o n

, an d t h e

s t an d ard o f rev i ew i s w h et h e r t h ere i s an y ev id en ce t o s u pp o rt t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

.

Ho wev er, we rev i ew q u es t i o n s o f l aw d e n o vo .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Br o wn v. Tu cker

, 3 3 7 Ga. A p p. 7 0 4, 7 2 0 (8 ) (7 8 8 SE2 d 8 10 ) (2 0 16 ); s ee al s o OCGA

§ 9 -1 1-5 0 (a).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h a t

, o n t h e ev en i n g o f Feb ru ary 6

, 2 0 1 4,

Ham b y w as d ri v i n g ho m e wh en h e ex p eri en ced a s ud d en b ou t o f c o l i t i s an d s o i l ed

h i m s el f. He ex i t ed th e hi g h way at M an s el l Ro ad in Al p h aret t a l o o k i n g fo r a p l ace to

cl ean u p

. He pu l l ed i n t o th e p ark i n g l o t of a res t au ran t o ff o f Beav er Creek Ro ad an d

n o t i ced a p at ch o f w o od s acro s s t h e s t reet

. As h e was en t eri ng th e wo o d s

, H am b y fel l

o v er an 1 8 -fo o t ret ai n i n g wal l , wh i ch h ad n o b arri er o n t o p an d o t h erwi s e ap p eared

fl us h wi t h t h e g ro u n d

, an d in j u red h i s ri g ht h eel

, h i s l eft l eg

, sh o u l d er, an d b ack

.

Ham b y ’ s i n ju ri es req u i red s u rge r

y

, a nd he inc u r

r e d o v er $ 8 2,0 0 0 i n m ed i cal ex p en s es

.

2Th e Ci ty m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m e n t

, w hi ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

, an d t h e cas e

p ro ceed ed t o t ri al

.

At t h e cl o se o f Ham

b y ’ s cas e, t h e Ci t y m o v ed fo r a di rect ed verd i ct

, 2 as s ert i n g

t h at Ham b y ’ s neg l i g en ce cl ai m s are b arred b ecau s e t h e Ci t y h ad n o d u t y t o m ai n t ai n

t h e ret ai n i n g wal l u n d e r O C GA § 3 2 -4 -9 3

, an d t h ere was n o ev id en ce of an y o t h er

co d e o r s t at u t e req ui ri ng th e Ci t y

, wh i c h d i d n o t b u i l d t h e ro ad

, to erect a b arri er

ab o ve t he ret ai n i n g wal l

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

, a n d t h e j u r y ret u rn ed a

v erd i ct i n Ham

b y ’ s fav o r. 3 Th is ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. In t wo rel at ed arg u m en t s

, t h e C i t y cl ai m s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e

d i rect ed a v erd i ct i n i t s fav o r b ecau se i t was n o t req u i red t o erect a b arri cad e, an d t hu s

i t can n o t b e h el d l iab l e u n d er OCGA § 3 6 -3 3-2 fo r ex erci s in g i t s d i s cret i o n n o t t o d o

s o

. Fu rt h er, t he Ci t y arg u es th at Ham b y fai l ed t o s t at e a cl ai m u n der OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3

b e c a u s e t h e l ack o f a b arri er is n o t a d efect w i t hi n t h e m ean i n g of t h e s t at u t e, t h e r e

2 W e n ot e t h at t h e C i t y al s o m o v ed fo r d i rect ed v erd ict o n t h e b as i s o f

s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y

. Ho wev er, Ham

b y es t ab l i sh ed t h at t h e Ci ty wai v ed t h i s d efen s e

t h ro u g h t h e pu rch as e o f an i n s u ran ce p o li cy t h at co v ered Ham b y ’ s cl ai m s

, an d t h e

Ci t y d i d n o t o b

j ect t o t h e i n t ro d u ct i o n o f t h i s ev i den ce o r arg ue o n ap p eal t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n d en y in g i ts m o ti o n o n t h i s g ro u n d

.

3 Th e ju ry fo u n d Ham

b y 22 .5 % res p on s i b l e fo r h is i n ju ri es an d t he Ci t y 7 7 .5 %

res p o n s i b l e.

3was no l eg al d u ty req u i ri ng t h e Ci t y to erect o n e, an d th e l o cat i o n o f t h e ret ai n i n g

wal l i s n o t co v ered b y

t h e s t at ut e. W e ag ree an d ad d res s each arg u m en t i n t u rn

.

(a) Th e Ci t y fi rs t arg u es th at Ham b y h as fai l ed t o es t ab l is h t h at i t h ad a d u t y to

erect a b arri er ab ov e t h e ret ai n i n g wal l

, an d t h u s i t can n o t b e h el d l i ab l e u n d er OCGA

§ 3 6-3 3-2 fo r ex erci s i n g i t s d i scret i o n n ot t o d o s o . W e ag ree.

In o rd er t o hav e a v i ab le n eg l i g en ce act i o n

, a p l ai n t i ff m u s t s at i s fy th e

el e m en ts of t h e t ort

, n am el y

, t he ex i s t en ce of a d u t y o n t he p art o f th e

d e f en d an t, a b reach o f t h at d u t y

, cau sat i on o f t h e al l eg ed in ju ry

, a n d

d am ag e s r e su l ti ng fro m t h e al l eg ed b reach o f t h e d u t y

. Th e t h res h o l d

i s su e i n an y cau s e o f act i o n fo r n eg l i g e n c e i s wh et h er, an d t o wh at

ex t en t

, t h e defen d an t owes t h e p l ai n t i ff a du t y o f c a r e

. W h et h er a d u t y

ex i s ts u po n wh i ch l i ab i l i t y can b e b as ed is a q u es t i on o f law. Th e d u t y

can ari s e ei th er fro m a v al i d leg i s l at i v e en act m en t

, t h at i s

, b y s t at u t e, o r

b e i m p o s ed b y a co m m o n l aw p ri n ci p l e reco g n i zed i n t h e cas e l aw.

Gl o ver v. Ga

. P o w e r C o

. , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 72

, 3 7 5 (1 ) (8 1 9 SE2 d 66 0 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

Fu rt h erm o re, “ [w] h ere m

u n i ci p al co rp o rat i on s are n ot req u ired b y s t at u t e t o p erfo rm

an act

, t h ey m ay n o t b e h el d l i ab l e fo r ex erci s i n g t h ei r d i s cret i o n i n fai l i n g t o p erfo rm

t h e act .” OCGA § 3 6 -3 3 -2

.

4Th e p rem is e o f Ham b y ’ s n eg l i g en ce cl ai m 4 is t h at t h e Ci t y h ad a d u t y t o d es i g n,

co n st ru ct

, 5 an d m ai n t ai n th e ret ai n i ng w al l t o p erm i t s afe p as s ag e fo r t h e g en eral

p u b l i c an d

, b y fai l i n g t o erect a b arri er o r o th erwi se warn o f th e co n di t i o n

, i t cau s ed

t h e wal l t o b eco m e a hazard

. 6 Th e p art i es d i s pu t e w h et h er t h e act o f erect in g a b arri er

i s d i s cret io n ary o r m i n i s t eri al o n t h e p art o f t he Ci ty

. Ho wev er, Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e

co n si s t en t l y h el d th at act s s u ch as t h e erect i o n o f s t o p s i g ns an d b arri ers are

d i s cret i o n ary act s b y a m

u n i ci p al i t y

, an d t h erefo re a ci t y i s i m m u ne fro m l i ab i l i t y fo r

fai l i n g t o act i n t h e ab s en ce o f a l aw o r o rd i n an ce req u i ri n g it to p erfo rm t h at act

. See

Ri g g i n s v

. C i t

y o f S t

. Ma r ys

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 9 5, 1 0 1 (2 ) (5 8 9 SE2 d 6 9 1 ) (2 0 0 3 )

4 No t ab l y

, Ham

b y d id n o t al l eg e t h at t h e l ack o f a b arri er o n t o p o f t h e ret ai n i n g

wal l co n st i t u t ed a n u i s an ce.

5 Th e ev i den ce s h owed th at th e Ci t y d id n ot b u i l d th e ret ai n i ng wal l bu t h i red

a co n t ract o r to p erfo rm t he co n s t ru ct io n

. Ho wev er, t h ere was t es t i m o ny th at t h e Ci t y

acq u ired t i t l e t o t h e ro ad an d t h e ret ai n i n g wal l p ri o r t o t h e i n ci d en t

.

6 W e h av e h el d t h at “ a m

u n i ci p al co rp o rat i o n i s b ou n d t o keep i t s s t reet s an d

s i dewal k s i n a reas o n ab l y s afe co n d i t i o n fo r t rav el i n th e o rd in ary m o d es

, b y n i g h t as

wel l as b y d ay

, an d i f i t fai l s t o d o s o

, i t i s li ab l e fo r d am ag es fo r i n ju ri es s u s t ai n ed

i n co n s eq u en ce o f s u ch fai l u re.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Ro qu emo r e v.

Ci t y of Fo r s yt h

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 0

, 4 2 2 (6 1 7 SE2 d 6 4 4 ) (2 0 05 ). Ho wev er, Ham b y ’ s

rel i an ce o n Cl a r

k v. Ra ymo nd J. Pi t t

s

, In c.

, 1 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 2 (2 5 9 SE2 d 1 8 9) (1 9 7 9 )

i n s up p o rt o f t h i s p ro p o s i t i o n i s i n ap p l i cab l e h ere. In Cl a r k

, t h e p lai n t i ff s u ffered

i n ju ri es wh en an o b st ru ct io n o n a p u b l i c s i d ewal k, co m m on l y u s ed as a th o ro u g h fare

an d wh i ch t h e d efen d an t s ag reed t o m ai n tai n , cau s ed h i m t o fal l i n t o a d i t ch

. Cl a r

k

, 1 5 1 Ga. Ap p . at 1 94 (1 ). Th e fact p at t ern i n Cl a rk i s d i s s i m i l ar t o t h e cu rren t cas e.

5(h o l d i n g t h at

, ev en wh en a ci t y was o b l i g at ed b y a SPLOST referen d um t o co n s t ru ct

a s t o p l i gh t at an i n ters ect i o n t h e ci t y reco g n i zed as dan g ero us

, t h e ci t y was i m m u n e

fro m l i ab i l i t y fo r i t s d i scret i o nary d eci s io n s reg ard i ng i n st al lat i o n o f t h e l i g h t .); s ee

al s o Ta ma s v. Co lu m bu s

, 2 4 4 Ga. 2 0 0

, 2 0 2 (2 5 9 SE2 d 4 5 7 ) (1 9 7 9 ) (fi n d i n g t h at t h e

ci t y was n o t l i ab le fo r ch i l d ’ s d ro wn i n g in creek b el o w th e ro ad wh ere t h e ci t y ’ s

m ai n t en an ce of t h e ro ad was d eem ed a d i s cret i o n ary n o nfeas an ce) ; McKi nl ey v. Ci t y

o f Cart ers v i l l e, 2 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 9

, 6 6 0 (1 ) (5 0 3 SE2 d 5 5 9) (1 9 9 8 ) (h o l d i n g t h at “ t h e

erect i o n o f s t o p s i g n s an d b arri ers i s a d i scret i o nary act b y a m u n ici p al i t y

, wh i ch fact

ren d ers i t i m

m un e t o l i a b il i t y fo r fai l u re t o act i n t h e ab s en ce o f a l aw o r o rd i n an ce

req u i ri n g t h e ci t y to p erfo rm t h at act ”); McLa ug h l i n v. Ci t y o f R o s wel l

, 1 6 1 G a. Ap p.

7 5 9 (2 8 9 SE2 d 1 8) (1 9 82 ) (h o l d i n g t h at “ [w] h ere m u n i ci pal co rp o rat io n s are n ot

req u i red b y s t at u t e t o p erfo rm an act

, t h ey m ay n o t b e h el d l i ab le fo r ex erci s i n g t h ei r

d i s cret i o n i n fai l i n g t o p erfo rm t h e sam e.”); Bo wen v. Li tt l e

, 1 3 9 G a. Ap p

. 17 6 (2 2 8

SE2 d 1 5 9 ) (1 9 7 6) (p h y s i cal preced en t o nl y ) (“ In t h e ab s en ce o f a l aw o r o r d i n an ce

req u i ri n g t h e d efen d an t Ci t y o f Oci ll a t o erect a t raffi c li g h t at an i n t ers ect i o n

. . . , t h e

erect i o n an d m ai n t en an ce o f su ch a s ig n al i s d is cret i o n ary

, an d i t can n o t b e h el d l i ab l e

fo r m ere fai l u re to p erfo rm s u ch act .”); En g l a n der v. Ci t y o f Ea st Po i n t

, 1 3 5 Ga. Ap p.

4 8 7 (2 1 8 SE2 d 1 6 1 ) (1 9 7 5 ) ( “ D e c i d i n g wh et h er to erect o r n o t t o erect a t raffi c

6co n tro l s i g n

. . . i s an ex erci s e o f a go v ern m en t al fu n ct io n b y a m u ni ci p al i t y an d i t i s

n o t l i ab l e fo r an y

n eg l i g en t p erfo rm an ce o f t h i s fu n ct io n .”).

Here, Ham

b y h a s p ro d u ced n o s t at u t e o r o rd i n an ce t hat req u i red t he Ci t y to

c o ns t ru ct s u ch a b arri er. Ham b y ’ s ex p ert t es t i fi ed t h at i n d u s t ry s tan d ard s g en er a l l y

req u i re t h at a wal l f

o u r f e e t t al l o r h ig h er m

u st h av e a g u ard o f at l eas t fo rt y t wo

i n ch es h i g h an d m

u s t b e a b l e t o wi t h s t an d, at a m i ni m u m

, t wo h u n d red p o u n d s o f

p res s u re. Sh e ad m i t t e d

, h o we v er, t h at n o t h i n g in t h e b u i ld i n g co des at th e t i m e t h e

r e t a i n i n g wal l i n qu es t i o n was b u i l t r eq u i r ed a b arri er. Li k ewi s e, t h e Ci t y ’ s ex p ert

t e s t i f i e d t h at n ei th er of t h e ap p l i cab l e co d es i n effect at t h e t i m e t he wal l w a s

d es i g n ed an d co ns t ru ct ed req u ired a b arri er. Ab s en t an o rd in an ce o r s t at u t e req u i ri n g

t h e Ci t y t o erect a b arri er ab o v e t h e r e t a i n i n g wal l

, i t m ay n ot b e h el d l iab l e fo r

ex erci s i ng it s d i s cret i o n n o t t o d o s o

. OCGA § 3 6 -3 3 -2 ; s ee, e.g

., McKi n l ey

, 2 3 2 Ga.

A p p

. a t 6 6 0 (1 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, we co n cl u d e th at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g t h e

Ci t y ’ s m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct o n t h i s g ro u n d

.

(b ) Th e Ci t y nex t arg u es t h at Ham b y al s o fai led t o st at e a cl ai m u n d er OCGA

§ 3 2 -4 -9 3 b ecau s e t h e l ack of a b arri er i s n o t a d e f e c t w i t hi n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e

s t at u te, an d th e l o cat io n o f t h e ret ai n i n g wal l i s n o t an ar e a th e Ci ty in t en d ed t o b e

7u s ed b y t h e p u b l i c. W e ag ree th at Ham b y fai led t o s t at e a cl ai m u nd er OCGA § 3 2 -4

-

9 3

, an d t h erefo re t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e d i rect ed a v erd i ct o n t h i s gro u n d as wel l

.

OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3 (a) p ro v i d es t h at :

A m u ni ci p al i t y i s r e l i e v e d o f a n y a n d al l l i ab i l i t y res u l t i n g fro m o r

o ccas i o n ed b y d efect s i n t h e p u bl i c ro ad s o f i t s m u n i ci p al s t reet s y st em

wh en i t h as n o t b een n eg l i g en t i n co n s t ru ct i n g o r m ai nt ai ni n g t h e s am e

o r wh en it h as no act u al n o t i ce t h ereo f o r wh en s u c h d e f e c t h as n o t

ex i s ted fo r a s uffi ci en t l en g t h o f t i m e f o r n o t i c e t h ereo f t o b e i n ferred

.

i

. Def ect

W e h av e h el d th at “ [t ] he referen ce t o d efect s i n t h e Co d e s ect i o n refers t o t h e

p h y s i cal co n d i t i o n of t he s t reet i t s el f; i t i ncl u d es defect s b ro ug h t ab o u t b y t h e fo rces

o f n a t u r e an d b y p ers o n s an d wh i ch ren d er t h e s t reet u n s afe an d i n cl u d es o b j ect s

ad jacen t t o an d s u s p en ded o v er t h e s t reet .” (Ci tat i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

McKi n l ey , 2 3 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 6 0 (1 ); s ee al s o Ro q uemo r e , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 3

.

Here, Ham

b y fai l ed t o p res en t ev id e nce s h o wi n g t hat t h e l ack of a b arri er

co n st i t u t es a “ d efect ” wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3 (a). Th ere was n o

e v i d en ce s h o wi n g t h e ret ai n i n g wal l was p art o f t h e p h y s i cal ro ad o n wh i ch t h e

g en eral p u b l i c t rav el ed

. Ev en as s u m i n g t hat t h e ret ai ni n g wal l is p art of t h e p h y s i cal

co n di t i o n o f t h e ro ad

, t h e ex pert tes t i fi ed t h at t h e s t ru ct u re o f t h e ret ai n i n g wal l i s

8s o u n d. A s su ch

, ab s en t ev i d en c e t o t h e c on t rary

, we co n cl u d e t hat Ham b y h as n ot

s h o wn t h at t h e l ack o f a barri er o r o t h er p ro t ect i v e m eas u re co n s t i t u t es a d efect i n t h e

s t reet i t sel f as co n t em

p l at ed b y OCGA § 3 2 -4 -9 3 (a). See McKi n l ey

, 2 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at

6 6 0

.

i i

. Pu b l i c Us e

Ham b y al s o fai l ed t o s h o w t h at th e area wh ere th e ret ai ni n g wal l i s l o cat ed was

an area i n t en d ed b y t h e Ci t y t o b e us ed b y t he g en eral p u b l i c s u ch t hat t h e Ci t y was

req u i red t o k eep i t reas o n ab l y s afe.

[W ] h ere a p l ai n ti ff al l eg es t h at t he d efect iv e co n di t i o n w hi ch cau s ed

i n ju ry was l o c a t ed o n a p art o f t h e ci t y ’ s s t reet an d s i d ewal k s y s t em

,

t h ere m u st b e s om e ev i d en ce t h at t h e d e f e c t w as lo cat ed in an area

accep t ed b y t h e ci t y

, ei t h er ex p res sl y o r b y i m p l i cat i o n

, fo r u s e as a

s t reet o r s i dewal k

, b efo re t h e ci t y can b e ch arg ed wi t h l i ab il i t y fo r

n eg l ig en t ly

fai l in g t o m ai n t ai n t h e area i n a reas o n ab l y s afe co n d i t io n

.

Ci t y of Vi d a l i a v. Br o wn

, 23 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 1

, 83 3 (1 ) (5 1 6 SE2 d 8 5 1) (1 9 99 ) (p h y s i cal

p reced en t o n ly ); s ee al s o Kes ot v. Ci t y o f D a l t o n , 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 4

, 1 9 6 -1 9 7 (2 ) (9 4

SE2 d 9 0 ) (1 9 5 6 ) (“ In o rd er t o b i n d a m u n ici p al co rp o rat i o n fo r th e care o f a s t ri p o f

l an d

. . . , accep t an ce b y t h e pro p er ci ty au t h o ri t i es m u st b e s h o wn

. Th e a c c e p t an ce

9m ay b e ex p res s o r im p li ed

. . . . M

er e u s e b y t h e memb er

s o f th e p u b l i c i s n o t

s u f f i ci en t .”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s ad d ed i n o ri g i n al ).

Here, t h e tes ti m on y s ho wed t h at t h e ret ai n i ng wal l i t s el f i s n o t a s id ewal k

, an d

t h e ex pert ad m i t t ed t h at t here was n o p at h al o n g t h e s i d e o f t h e ret ai n i n g wal l fo r

p u b l i c u s e; n o r was t h ere an y ev i d en ce t h at t h e Ci t y i n t e n d ed fo r t h e area n ear t h e

ret ai n i n g wal l t o b e u s ed b y t he p u b l i c. To t h e co n t rary

, t h e Ci t y ’ s wi t n es ses t es t i fi ed

t h at t h e ret ai n i n g wal l was o n t h e o p po s i t e s i de o f Be a v e r C r e e k R o ad o n a g ras s

s h o u ld er wi t h n o wal k way an d was n o t i n t en ded fo r p ed es t ri an u s e

, w h e r e a s t h e

s i dewal k i n t en d ed fo r p ed es t ri an t raffi c wa s c o n s t ru ct ed o n t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e o f

Beav er Creek Ro ad

. As s u ch

, H am b y p res en ted no ev i d en ce o f t h e Ci t y ’ s in t en t i o n

fo r t h e ret ai n i ng wal l o r t h e area n ear i t t o b e u s ed b y t he p u b l i c.

Acco rd i ng l y

, Ham

b y fai l ed t o s h o w t h at t h ere w as a d efect t h e Ci t y was b o u n d

t o m ai n t ai n

, o r t h at t h e area wh ere t h e ret ai n i n g wal l was l o cat ed was i n t en d ed b y t h e

Ci t y fo r p u b l i c u s e. Th u s

, t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y i ng t h e Ci t y ’s m o t i o n fo r

d i rect ed v erd i ct o n th i s g ro u n d as wel l. See Br o wn

, 2 3 7 Ga. A p p

. at 8 3 3 (1 ); s ee al s o

Kes ot , 9 4 Ga. Ap p . at 1 9 6 -1 9 7 (2 ).

2

. Th e Ci t y arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in n o t di rect i ng a v erd i ct o n o t h er

g ro u nd s

, s u ch as t h e ap pl i cat i on o f OCGA § 5 1 -3 -2 3 u n d er t h e Recreat io n al Pro p ert y

10Act

, H am

b y ’ s al l eg ed fai l u re t o ad eq u at el y p ro v e hi s fu t ure m ed i cal ex p e n s e s

, an d

o t h er ev i d en t i ary m at t ers

. In l i g h t o f o u r co n cl u s i o n i n Di v is i on 1

, we do n o t ad d res s

t h e Ci t y ’ s rem ai n i n g arg u m en t s.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Do yl e, P. J., a nd

Co o mer

, J., co n cu r

.

11