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

M ar ch 6, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 48 7

. HILDEBRAND v

. CITY OF W ARNER ROBINS, et al

.

M A R K LE
, J ud g e.

J o h n J o s e p h Hi l d e b ran d

, III b ro u gh t a cl ai m fo r m an d am us ag ai n s t t h e Ci t y o f

W arn er Ro b i n s , Geo rg i a (“ t h e Ci t y ”), M ay o r Ran d y T o m s , an d t h e m em b ers o f t h e

Ci t y Co u n ci l (co l l ect iv el y , “ t h e d efen d an t s ”), s eek i n g t o co m p el th em t o ab id e b y t h e

Ci t y ’ s o rd i n an ces , ru l es , an d p ro ced u res , as w e l l as th e term s o f an o ral ag reem en t

,

reg ard i n g hi s d em o t io n an d ot h er d i s ci p l i n ary act i o n s i m p o s ed o n h i m

. 1 T h e t ri al

co u rt d is m i s s ed t h e co m

p lai nt fo r fai l u re t o s tat e a cl ai m p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 2

(b ) (6 ), an d Hi l d eb ran d ap p eal s

. Becau s e Hi l d eb ran d d i d n ot en u m erat e as erro r t h e

1 Hi l d eb ran d s u ed M ay or To m s i n hi s i n d i v i du al a n d o ffi ci al cap aci t y , an d t h e

co u nci l p ers o n s in t hei r o ffi ci al cap aci t i es

. Th e co u nci l p ers o n s nam ed i n t h e p et i t i o n

are Ti m Th o m as , Caro ly n Ro b b i n s, Ch u ck Sh ah een , Kei th Lau ri t sen , Cl i ffo rd

Ho l m es , an d M i k e Dav i s

.t ri al co u rt ’ s d i sm i s s al o f t h e Ci t y , we affi rm i n p art th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er wi t h res p ect

t o t h e Ci t y

. Ho wev er, b ecau s e t h e al l eg at i on s o f t h e co m p l ai n t

, v i ewed i n t h e l i g ht

m o st fav o rab l e t o Hi l d eb ran d

, d o n o t p recl u d e t h e p o s s i bi l i t y t h at h e co u l d in t ro d uce

ev i d en ce t h at wo u ld en ti t l e hi m t o m an d am u s rel i ef ag ai ns t th e rem ai n i n g p art i es , we

rev ers e i n p art

.

A m o t i on t o d i s m i ss fo r fai l u re t o s t at e a cl ai m u po n wh i ch r e l i e f m ay b e

g ran t ed

s h o u l d n o t b e su s t ai n ed u n l es s (1 ) t h e al l eg at i o n s o f t h e co m p l ai n t
d i s cl o s e wi t h cert ai n t y t h at t h e cl ai m an t wo u ld n o t be en t i t l ed to rel i ef

u n d er an y s tat e o f p ro v ab l e fact s as s ert ed i n s u p p o rt th ereo f; an d (2 ) th e

m o v an t es tab l i s h es th at t h e cl ai m an t co u l d n ot po s s i b l y in t ro d u ce

ev i d en ce wi t h i n t h e fram ewo rk o f t h e co m p l ai n t s u ffi ci en t t o warran t a

g ran t o f t h e rel i ef so u g ht

. If, w i th i n t h e fram ewo rk o f t h e co m pl ai nt

,

ev i d en ce m ay b e i n t ro d u ced w h ich w i l l s u s t ai n a g ran t o f t h e rel i ef

s o u g h t b y t h e cl ai m an t

, t h e co m p l ai n t i s s u ffi ci en t an d a m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s s h o u l d b e d en i ed

. In d eci di n g a m o t i o n to d is m i s s , al l p l ead i n g s

are t o b e co n st ru ed m o s t fav o rab l y t o t h e p art y

wh o fi l ed t h em , an d al l

d o u b t s reg ard i n g s u c h p l ead i n g s m u s t b e res o l v ed i n th e fi l i n g p art y ’ s fav o r.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Qu a r t er s Deca tu r

, LLC v. Ci t

y of Deca t ur , 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 3

, 7 2 4

(1 ) (8 2 0 S E2 d 7 4 1 ) (2 01 8 ). W e rev i ew d e n o v o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f t h e Ci t y ’ s

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s

. S

weet Ci t y La n d f i l l

, LLC v. Lyo n ,

_

__ G a. Ap p

.

__

_ (8 3 5 SE2 d

7 6 4 , 7 6 9 ) (2 01 9 ).

2Beari n g t h es e p ri n ci pl es i n m i n d

, w e t u rn t o t h e al leg at i o n s of t h e am en d ed

co m p l ai n t

. 2 H i l deb ra n d w as em p l o y ed as a n et wo rk ad m i n i s t rat o r fo r th e Ci t y , an d

was al l o wed acces s t o al l o f t he Ci t y ’ s o ffi ces an d co m p u t er s y s t em s

. Fo l l o wi n g an

i n v es t i g at i o n i nt o a s us p ici o u s Op en Reco rd s Act req u es t

, h e was s u s p en d ed wi t h o ut

p ay an d l at er d is ch arg ed fo r, am o ng o t h er t h in g s , wi l l fu l l y g i v i n g fal s e s t at em en t s to

h i s s u peri o rs o r t o t h e p u b l i c, i n cl u d i n g t h e fal si fi cat i o n o f Ci t y reco rd s

. Hi l d eb ran d

ap p eal ed h is t erm i n at i o n , b u t

, pri o r t o an ad m i n i s t rat i v e h eari n g , h e an d h i s at t o rn ey

m et wi t h M a y o r T o m s an d t h e Ci t y at t o rn ey , an d th e p art i es o ral l y ag reed t h at h e

wo u l d b e rei ns tat ed wi t h n o d i s ci p l i ne, p ai d fo r t h e d ay s h e was o n leav e wi t h o u t p ay ,

an d rei m b u rs ed a p o rt i o n o f h i s at t orn ey fees

. Th e h eari n g was t h en can cel ed

.

Des p i t e t h e ag reem en t , aft er ret u rn i n g t o wo rk , Hi l d eb ran d was d em o t ed an d

h i s acces s t o c e r

t ai n d ep art m en t s res t ri ct ed

. He as sert s t h at t hes e ad vers e em p l o y m en t

act i on s v i o l at e t h e C i t y’s co d e o f o rd i n an ces , wh i ch p ro v i d es fo r n o ti ce an d t h e

o p p o rt u ni t y o f a h eari n g wh en an em p l o y ee i s s o d i s ci p l in ed

. 3 H e fu rt h er cl ai m s t h at

2 In i ti al ly

, Hi l d eb ran d b ro u g h t cl ai m s fo r v i ol at io n s o f d ue p ro ces s , eq ual p ro t ect i o n,

an d 4 2 USCA § 1 9 8 3

, an d t he d efen d an t s rem o v ed t he act i o n t o fed eral d is tri ct co u rt

. Hi l d eb ran d t h en am en ded h i s co m p l ai n t t o as s ert t h e s i n g l e m an d am u s cl ai m t h at i s

t h e s u b ject o f t h i s ap p eal

, an d t h e fed eral co u rt rem an d ed t h e cas e t o t he s u p eri o r

co u rt

.

3 W e no t e t h at t h e no t i ces o f d i s ci p l i n ary act i o n wi t h r e s p e ct t o Hi ld eb ran d ’ s

s u s p en s io n an d t erm i n at i o n are a t t a c h ed t o hi s o ri g i n al co m p l ai n t an d in co rp o rat ed

3h e h as n o t recei v ed t h e fu l l b ack p ay o wed to h i m

. Hi l d eb ran d ’ s co m p l ai n t s eek s t h e

i s su an ce o f a wri t o f m an d am u s t o co m pel t h e d efen d an t s t o co m pl y wi t h t h e Ci t y ’ s

o rd i n an ces , ru les

, an d reg u l at i o n s reg ard i ng em p l o y m e n t d i s ci p l in e, as wel l as to

en fo rce t he p art i es ’ o ral ag reem en t

.

Th e d efen d an ts m o v ed t o d i s m i s s t h e co m p l a i n t fo r fai l u re t o s t at e a cl ai m

u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 2 ( b) (6 ). No t ab l y , ho wev er, n ei t h er p art y at t ach ed cert i fi ed

co p ies of t h e ap pl i cab le Ci t y o rd i n an ces t o t h ei r p l ead i ng s , n o r d o t h e o rd i n an ces

ap p ear an y wh ere i n t h e reco rd

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed th e m o t i o n

an d d i sm i s s ed Hi l d eb ran d ’ s co m p l ai n t

, fi n d in g t h at th e Ci t y was n o t a p ro per p art y

t o th e act i o n pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -4 -7 (b ); M ay o r To m s d i d n o t h av e a cl ear l eg al

d u t y t o carry o ut t h e r e q u es t ed rel ief; an d Hi l d eb ran d fai l ed t o ex h au s t h i s

ad m i n is t rat i v e rem ed i es . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

In h i s s o l e en um erat i o n o f erro r, H i l d e b r an d co n ten d s t h at t he t ri al co urt ’ s

d i s m i s s al o f h is m an d am u s act i o n fo r fai lu re t o s t at e a cl ai m was i n err o r

.

Sp eci fi cal l y , h e co n t en d s t h at h e h as a cl ear l eg al ri gh t t o rel ief b ecau s e t h e d i s ci p l i n e

i s in co n t rav en t i o n o f t he n o t i ce an d heari ng req u i rem en t s s et fo rt h i n t h e Ci t y ’ s

o rd i n an ces

. He fu rt h er co n ten d s t h at h e h as n o reco u rs e t o al t ern at i v e leg al rem ed i es

b y referen ce t h erei n

. 4b ecau s e t h e ad m i ni st rat i v e gri ev an ce an d h eari n g p ro ces s i s n o w fo recl o s e d t o h i m

d u e t o t he o u t co m e o f t h e a b o rt ed t erm in at io n p ro ces s

. W e co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt p rem at u rel y d i s p os ed o f t h i s act i o n wi t h o ut pro p er co n si derat io n o f t h e

co n tro l l in g l aw, n am el y

t h e Ci t y ’ s co d e o f o rd in an ces

.

OCGA § 9 -6 -2 0 s et s fo rt h a rem ed y fo r u n l awfu l go v ern m en t al i n act i o n : “ [A] l l

o ffi ci al d u t i es s h ou l d b e fai t h fu l l y p erfo rm ed

, an d wh en ev er, fro m an y cau s e, a d efect

o f leg al ju s t i ce wo u l d en su e fro m a fai l u re to p erfo rm o r fro m i m p ro p er p erfo rm an ce,

t h e wri t o f m an d am

u s m ay i s s u e to co m

p el a d u e perfo r m a n c e i f t h ere is n o o t h er

s p eci fi c l eg al rem ed y fo r t h e l e g a l r i g h t s[.] ” Qu a rt er s D eca t u r

, LLC

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p.

at 7 24 (1 ); s ee al s o Bi b b Co u nt y v. Mo n r o e Co u n t

y , 29 4 Ga. 7 3 0, 7 3 4 (2 ) (7 5 5 SE2 d

7 6 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ). M an d am

u s rel i ef i s av ai l ab l e “ o nl y i f (1 ) n o o t h er ad eq u at e l eg al rem ed y

i s av ai lab l e t o effect u at e t h e rel i ef s o u g ht ; an d (2 ) th e ap pl i can t h as a cl ear l eg al ri g ht

t o s u c h r e l i ef.” (Ci t at i on s om i tt ed .) Bi b b Co u n t y , 2 9 4 Ga. at 7 3 4 (2 ). Im p o rt an t l y ,

“ [w] h et h er a l i t i g an t h as a cl ear l eg al ri g h t t o t h e rel i ef s o u g h t d ep en d s o n t h e l aw

g o v ern i n g t h e su b

ject m at t er at is s u e.” Ha n s en v. DeKa l b Co u n t y Bd

. o f Ta x

As s es s o rs , 2 9 5 Ga. 3 8 5, 3 8 7 (2 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 3 5 ) (2 0 1 4).

On i t s face, t he co m

p l ai nt s t at es a cl ai m fo r m an d am u s

. Hi l d eb ran d as s e r t ed

t h a t h e h as a p ro p ert y i n t eres t in h i s p o s it i on wi t h t h e Ci t y , an d t h at h e c a n o n l y b e

5d i s ci pl i n ed i n acco rd an ce wi t h th e p ro ced u res s et fo rt h i n th e Ci t y ’ s co d e. He fu rt h er

al l eg ed t h at h e h as been dem o t ed an d o t h erwi s e d i s ci p l i n ed w i th o u t reco u rs e t o t h o s e

p ro ced ures , an d th at t h e Ci t y i s i n v i o l at i o n o f i t s own o rd i n an ces

. Th u s , Hi l d eb ran d

al l eg ed a cl ear l eg al ri g h t t o rel ief. See Qu a r t er s Deca t u r

, LLC

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 2 6

-

2 7 (“ A cl ear ri g h t t o rel i ef ex i s t s wh ere an o ffi ci al or ag en cy fa i l s e n t i r e l y t o act o r

co m m i t s a g ro s s ab u s e o f d i scret i o n i n p erfo rm in g a p ub l i c d u ty t hat t h e o ffi ci al o r

ag en cy i s req u i red b y l aw t o p erfo rm

. M an d am u s is t h e p ro per rem ed y wh en a

g o v ern m en t al b o ard f

a i l s t o co n d u ct a h eari n g as req u i red b y l aw.”) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ). Ad d i t i o n al l y , Hi l d eb ran d al l eg ed t h at h e h as n o ad eq u at e l eg al rem ed y

. At

t h i s s t ag e o f t he l i t i g at io n , we m u s t t ak e t hes e al l eg at i o n s as tru e. See Qu a r t er s

Deca t u r, LLC, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p. at 7 2 4 (1 ).

Th i s i s es p eci al l y s o d u e t o t h e ab s en ce o f t he ap pl i cab l e o rd i nan ces fro m t h e

reco rd

. See Ha n s en , 29 5 Ga. at 3 8 7 (2 ). Had t h e y b een at t ach ed to th e p l ead i n g s in

p ro p er fo rm an d i nco rp orat ed b y referen ce, th e t ri al co u rt co ul d h av e co n s i d ered t h em

o n th e Ci t y ’ s m o t i o n t o di s m i s s

. Ba b a l o l a v. H S BC Ba n k, US

A, N.A.

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p.

7 5 0

, 7 5 1

, n

. 4 (7 5 1 SE2 d 5 4 5) (2 0 1 3 ); OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 0 (c); see al so Lo r d v. Lo we ,

3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 2

, 2 2 4 (7 4 1 SE2 d 1 5 5 ) (2 0 1 2) (“ If t h ere is an y d i s crep an cy b et ween

6t h e al l eg at i o n s i n t h e co m p l ai n t an d t h e at t ach ed ex hi bi t s , t he la tte r co n t ro l .”) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

M o reo v er, t h e t ri al c o u r t c o u l d n o t

, n o r m ay we, t ak e ju d i ci al n o ti ce o f t h e

o rd i n an ces Hi ld eb ran d as s ert s as t h e b as i s fo r h i s m an d am u s cl ai m

. W

h i tf i el d v. Ci t y

o f At l a n t a , 2 9 6 Ga. 6 4 1 (7 6 9 SE2 d 7 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ Ci t y an d co u n t y o rd i nan ces m u st b e

al l eg ed an d p ro v en i n ord er to b e co n s i d ered b y t h e s u p eri o r an d ap p el l at e co u rt s o f

t h i s St at e. Th e p ro p er m et h o d o f p ro v i n g a ci ty ord i n an ce i s p ro d u ct io n o f t h e o ri g i n al

o rd i n an ce o r a cert i fi ed co p y t h ereo f.”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). An d

, al t h o u g h Hi l d eb ran d

b ears t h e u l t i m at e b u rd en of p ro v i n g t h at a cl ear d u t y i s i m p o s ed b y th e o rd i n an ces ,

Fo r syt h Co u n t

y v. W h it e , 2 7 2 G a. 6 1 9, 6 2 0 (2 ) (5 3 2 SE2 d 39 2 ) (2 0 0 0 ), at t h i s s t ag e

o f th e l i t i g at i o n , wh en t h e rel ev an t o rd i n an ces m ay s t i l l b e i nt ro d uced

, we can n o t s ay

t h at h e “ co u l d no t p o s s i b l y i nt ro d u ce ev i d en ce w i th i n t h e fram ewo rk of th e co m p l ai nt

7s u ffi ci en t t o warran t a g ran t o f t h e rel ief s ou g h t.” 4 Qu a r ter s Deca t u r

, LLC

, 3 4 7 Ga.

Ap p . at 7 2 4 (1 ).

A dditi o n al l y , wi t h o ut t h e o rd i n an ces , t h e t ri al co u rt l ack ed au th or ity to f ind tha t

Hi l d eb ran d h ad n o cl ear l eg al ri g h t t o th e rel i ef h e s o u g h t, an d t hat he fai l ed to

ex h au s t h i s ad m in i s t rat i ve rem ed i es ari s i n g fro m t h em

. “ Nei t h er t h e s u p eri o r co u rt s

n o r t h e ap p el l at e co u rt s can ad ju d i cat e a cl ai m o r d efen s e b as ed o n a ci t y o rd i n an ce

4 Th e d efen d an ts co nt en d th at Hi l d eb ran d’ s m an dam u s cl ai m fai l s b ecau s e i t s eek s to

en fo rce t h e t erm s o f t he o ral ag reem en t b et ween th e p art i es , an d “ m an d am u s wi l l n ot
l i e t o en fo rce p ri v at e ri g h t s u n d er a co n t rac t

. ” (Ci t at io n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed .)

La yer v. Ba r r o w Co u nt

y , 2 9 7 Ga. 8 71

, 8 7 2 ( 1) (7 78 SE2 d 15 6 ) (2 0 15 ). T h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er i s s i len t wi t h reg ard t o t hi s s p eci fi c i s s u e, al t h o u g h t h e d efen d an t s d id

arg u e i t b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt

. W e n o t e th at

, i n h i s p ray er fo r rel ief, H i l deb ran d s eek s

t o en f o r c e t h e o ral co nt ract

, h o wev er, h e al s o req u es t s t h at t h e d efen d an t s b e

c o m p e l l e d t o ab i d e b y “ t he o rd i n an ces , ru l es an d reg u l at i o ns o f th e Ci t y o f W arn er Ro b i ns wi t h reg ard t o em

p l o y ee t erm i n at i o n an d d i sci p l i n e.” W it h o u t t he o rd i n an ces ,

o r an y rel ev an t Ci t y em

p l o y m en t p o l i ci es an d pro ced u res as y et t o b e i nt ro d u ced

, we

can n ot t el l wh et h er t h e r e l i e f s o u g h t

, i n cl u d i n g t h e fai l u re t o p ay b ack p ay , ari s es

u n d er t h e o ral co n t ract o r u nd er Hi l d eb ran d ’ s ri g ht s u n d er t h e Ci t y co de. Si m i l arl y , t h e d efen d an t s’ a r g u m en t th at Hi l d eb ran d ’ s m an dam u s cl ai m fai l s b ecau s e i t
i m p erm i s s i b ly s eek s t o co m

pel a g en eral co u rs e o f co n d u ct i s u n av ai l i ng

. Hi l d eb ran d

s eek s s p eci fi c rel i ef u n der t h e Ci t y co d e an d

, g i v en o u r no t i ce p l ead i n g s t an d ard

, t h at
i s s u ffi ci en t to s t at e a cl ai m u p o n wh ich rel i ef m ay b e g ran t ed

. See Ca mp b el l v. Ai l i on , 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 2, 3 84 -8 5 (7 9 0 SE2 d 6 8 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ [T] he Geo rg i a Ci v i l

Pract i ce A ct req u ires o nl y n o t i ce p l ead i n g an d

, u nd er t h e A c t

, p l e a di n g s are t o b e

co n st ru ed l i b eral l y an d reas o nab l y t o ach i ev e s u bs t an ti al ju s t i ce co n si st en t wi t h t h e

s t at u to ry req u i rem en t s o f t h e Act .”); see al s o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -8 1 (t h e Ci v i l Pract i ce Act

ap p li es t o al l s p eci al st at ut o ry pro ceed i n g s wi t h r e g ard t o s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e

p l ead i n g s ).

8u n l es s t he o rd i n an ce h as been p ro p erl y p res en ted .” (Ci tat i on s om itte d

. ) W h i t f i el d

, 2 9 6

Ga. at 64 1

. 5 Becau s e t h e o r d i nan ces were n ot p ro perl y b efo re t h e tri al co u rt

, t h e

d i s m i s s al o f Hi l deb ran d ’ s m an d am u s cl ai m p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 (b ) (6 ) was

p rem at u re.

Nev ert h el es s , Hi l d eb ran d n ei t h er en u m e r a t e d as erro r n o r arg u ed i n h i s b ri ef

b efo re th i s Co u rt t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o f t h e Ci ty p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 9 -4 -7

(b ) was i m

p ro per, an d has t h u s fai l ed t o p r es erv e t h i s i s s u e fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew.

Po u ncey v. Ad

a ms , 2 0 6 Ga

. A p p

. 1 2 6, 12 9 (2 ) (4 2 4 SE2 d 3 7 6 ) (1 9 9 2 ). W e are

t h er e f o r e c o n s trai ned t o affi rm t h e d i s m i s s al of t he Ci t y , b u t o t h erwi s e rev ers e t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i ng t h e d efen d an ts ’ m o t io n t o d i s m i s s

. 6

5 In Wh i t f i el d

, ou r Su p rem e Co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e Ci ty o f At lan t a was p ro p erl y d i s m i s s ed fo r fai l u re t o s t at e a cl ai m b ecau s e W h i t fi el d fai l ed t o p ro p erl y i n t ro d uce

t h e rel ev an t p ark i n g o rd i n an ce. 2 9 6 Ga. at 6 42

. H o wev er, t h at cas e i n v o l v ed a d ecl arat ory act i on s eek i n g a ju d g m en t t h a t th e ord i n an ce was u n co n s t i t ut i o n al

, an d

t h e t ri al co u rt h eard an d en t ered a fi n al ru li n g o n t h a t u l t i m at e is s u e. Id

. at 6 4 1.

W h e r e a s , h ere, t h e t ri al co urt h eard an d ru l ed o n t h e d efen d an t’ s m o t i on t o d i s m i ss al o n e, rat h er t h an i s s u i n g a m an d am u s n is i t o t ry t he m eri t s o f t h e cl ai m p u rs u an t to OCGA § 9 -6 -2 7

.

6 T h e di s m i s s al of t h e Ci t y d o es n o t o t h erwi s e b a r H i l d e b ran d ’ s m an d am u s cl ai m b ecau s e “ m an d am

u s i s a p ers o n al act i o n ag ai n s t a p u b l i c o ffi ci al

, no t ag ai n s t t h e

g o v ern m en t .” (Ci tat i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted .) Ca r s o n v. Br o wn , 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p. 6 8 9

, 7 0 9 (3 ) (a) (8 2 4 SE2 d 60 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ). Fo r t hi s reas o n , we are w ho l l y un p ers u ad ed

b y t h e d efen d an t s ’ co n t en t io n t h at t h e m an d am u s cl ai m l i es ag ai n s t t h e Ci t y , an d u p o n

t h e d i s m i ss al o f t h e Ci t y , th e cl ai m l i k ewi se fai l s ag ai ns t t h e m ay o r an d

9Ju d

g men t a f f ir med in p a r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t

. D o

yl e, P. J., a nd Co o mer

, J.,

co n cu r

.

co u nci l p ers o n s i n t h ei r o ffi ci al cap aci t i e s

. S e e Ci ty o f Co ll eg e Pa r

k v. Cl a yt o n Co u n t y , 3 0 6 Ga. 3 0 1, 3 1 4 (4 ) (8 3 0 SE2 d 1 7 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (n o t i ng th at m an d am u s “ i s by

d efi n i t i o n a cl ai m ag ai n s t o ffi ci al s i n t h ei r o ffi ci al cap aci t i es .”). Ad d i t i o nal l y , we n o t e

t h at t h e d efen d an ts rel y o n cas es t h at d o n o t i n v o lv e s t at e l aw m an d am u s cl ai m s , b ut

rat h er cl ai m s b ro u g h t u n d er 4 2 USCA § 1 9 8 3

. 10