FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, D OYLE, P. J.

, and M ERCI ER, J.

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 27, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 18 5 . IRELAND v . W ILLIAM S et al

.

D ILLA R D , Ch i ef J u dg e.

In th i s i n t erl o cu to ry ap peal

, M i ch ael Irel an d ch al l en g es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al

o f h i s m o t i on fo r su m

m ary ju d g m en t i n Vera W il li am s ’ s (“ Vera”) n eg l i g en ce act i o n

ag ai n s t h i m rel at ed t o a fat al car acci d en t

, i n wh i ch her hu s ban d

, Th eo d o re W i l l i am s

(“ W i l li am s ”), was k i l l ed

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Irel an d arg u es t h at (1 ) t here i s n o ev i d en ce to

s h o w t h at h e was n eg l i gen t ; (2 ) Vera’ s co n ten t i o n s ab o u t h o w t h e acci d en t occu rred

are to o s p ecu l at i v e t o creat e a ju r y q u es t i on ; (3 ) t h ere are n o g en u i n e i s s u es o f

m at eri al fa c t a s t o wh et her Irel an d o wed Vera a l eg al d u t y ; an d (4 ) t es t i m on y o f an

acci den t reco ns t ru ct i on i s t d i d n o t creat e an y gen u i n e i ss u es o f m at eri al fact t h at m u s t

b e d eci d ed b y

a ju ry . Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i nf r a , we rev ers e.Vi ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o Vera ( i .e

., t h e n o n m o v i n g

p art y ), 1 t h e reco rd s h ows t hat in t h e earl y m o rn i ng h ou rs o f May 3 1

, 20 1 3

, Irel an d l eft

h i s ho m e i n Ti ft o n

, G eo rg i a, i n t en d i n g t o d ri v e to h i s jo b at a b rewi n g co m p an y in

Al b an y

, Geo rg i a, a t ri p t hat t y p i cal l y t ak es h i m b et ween 4 5 m i n u t e s t o an h o u r.

Du ri n g h i s co m

m ut e, Irel an d t rav el ed al o ng a ci t y h ig h way wi t h a p os t ed s p eed l i m i t

o f 4 5 m .p .h

. Acco rd i n g t o Irel an d

, t h e traffi c w as l i g h t, it w as d ark o ut

, an d t h e s t reet

was d im l y l i t

. Gi v en t h es e co n di t i o n s

, Irel an d d ro v e b et w een 4 0 t o 4 5 m .p .h

. wi t h h i s

h ead li g h t s o n

.

At ap p ro x i m at el y 5 : 3 4 a.m

., Irel an d was t rav el i n g i n t h e i ns i d e l eft l an e wh en

h e ch eck ed h i s rear-v i ew m i r r o r an d t h e ro ad ah ead t o en s ure t h at h e co u l d s afel y

m o ve in t o t h e ri g h t ou t s i d e l a n e an d t h en i n t o th e ri g h t-t u rn in g l an e to ward h i s

wo rk p l ace. 2 Bu t ju s t as Irel an d s h i ft ed l an es

, h i s v eh i cl e v i b rat ed an d jerk ed

, an d h i s

wi n ds h i el d sh at t ered

. W h i l e Irel an d k n ew t h at h e h i t “ s o m et h in g [

, ]” he d i d n ot

i m m ed i at el y real i ze t h at h e h ad s t ru ck a p ers on wi t h h i s v eh icl e.

1 S ee, e.g

. , La n g l ey v. MP S

p r i n g La ke, LLC

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 39

, 7 3 9 (8 1 3 SE2 d

4 4 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

2 As n o t ed i n

f r a

, t here i s co n fl i ct i n g t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g w het h er Irel an d was

m o vi n g i nt o t h e ri g h t l an e o r tak i n g a l eft t u rn wh en h e hi t W i l l i am s

, b ut p h o t o g rap h s

s h o w t h at t h e d am ag e t o h i s car was p ri m ari l y o n t h e far ri g h t o f t h e d ri v er’ s s i de.

2At t h e t i m e th e acci d en t o ccu rred

, g las s fro m t he wi n d s h i el d s hat t ered an d fl ew

i n t o Irel an d’ s face; a n d i n an effo rt t o av o i d y et an o t h er acci den t

, h e co n t i n u ed

d ri v i ng d o wn t h e h i g h w ay

, w h e r e h e p ark ed h i s car o n th e si de o f t h e ro ad

. Irel an d

t h e n e x i t ed h i s car, wal k ed b ack t o t h e s cen e o f th e co l l is i on

, an d s aw a m an i n t h e

ro ad

, l at er i d en t ifi ed as W i l l i am s

. By th i s t im e, a p a s s e r b y h ad al read y d i s co v ered

W i ll i am s an d cal l ed t h e po l i ce. Irel an d co m m en t ed to th e p as s erb y t h at h e d i d n o t s ee

W i ll i am s p ri o r t o t h e co ll is i o n. An d Irel an d al s o rep o rt ed t o t h e r e s p o n d in g o ffi cer

t h at h e d i d no t s ee W i ll i am s p ri o r t o h i t ti n g h i m w i t h h i s car, t h e co l l i s i o n was

s t art l i n g

, an d i t was “ v ery d ark ” i n t h e area wh ere t h e acci d en t h ap p en ed

. Ul ti m at el y

,

W i ll i am s s uffered fat al wo un d s as a res u l t o f b ei n g s tru ck b y Irel an d ’ s v eh i cl e.

On J u l y 7

, 2 0 1 4

, Vera fi l ed s ui t ag ai n s t Irel an d

, b o t h i n di vi d ual l y an d as

Ad m i n i s t rat ri x o f h er l at e hu s ban d ’ s es t at e, al l eg i n g t hat I r e l a n d was n eg l i g en t in

o p e r a t i n g h i s veh i cl e b y fai l i n g t o ex erci s e d u e care t o av o i d s t ri k i n g an d k i l l i n g

W i ll i am s

. Ad d it i o n al l y

, Vera co n t en d ed t h at Irel an d ’ s n eg l i g en ce was t h e s o l e an d

p ro x im at e cau se o f h er h us b an d ’ s i n ju ri es an d d eat h

. Irel an d an s wered t h e co m p l ai n t

,

d i s co v ery en s u ed

, an d o n J un e 3

, 2 0 1 5, Irel an d m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e co n t en d ed

, i nt er a l i a

, t h at neg l i g en ce can n o t be p res u m ed

, an d Vera

fai l ed t o p res en t ev i d en ce t h at an y a c t o r o m i s s i o n o n h i s p art w as n eg l i g en t .Vera

3res p o n d ed

, at t ach in g an affi d av i t fro m Sean Al ex an d er, an acci d en t reco ns t ru ct i o n i s t

wi t h ov er 1 7 y ears o f ex p eri en ce, in wh ich h e co ncl u d ed t h at i f Irel an d “ h ad

m a i n t ai n ed a p ro p er l o o ko u t i n t h e o p erat io n o f h i s v eh icl e, [h e] wo ul d eas i l y h av e

b een ab l e t o av o i d s t ri k i n g [W i ll i am s ] .” Al ex an d er fu rt h er cl ai m ed t hat i f Irel an d h ad

ex erci s ed d u e care i n t h e o p erat i o n of h is car, W i l l i am s wo u l d n o t h av e b een k i l l ed

.

Irel an d m o v ed t o ex cl u d e Al ex an d er’ s t es t i m o ny

, b u t fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g o n

t h e m at ter, t h e m o ti o n was d en i ed

. 3 Su b seq u en t l y

, th e tri al co u rt al s o d en i ed Irel an d ’ s

m o ti o n fo r su m

m ary ju dg m en t

, co n c l u di n g t h at “ t o o m an y fact u al i s s u es

, wh i ch

can n ot b e r e s o lv ed

, ex i s t i n t h i s cas e, an d s u m m ary j u d gm en t is i n ap p ro p ri at e.”

Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e co u rt fo u n d t h at t h ere w ere g en u i n e i s s u es o f m at eri al fact as t o h o w

t h e acci d en t o ccu r r e d

, wh et h er Irel an d b reach ed a d u t y owed to W i l l i am s

, an d

wh et h er co n fl i ct s in t h e ev id en ce p ro v i d ed b y Al e x a nd er can b e ex p l ai n ed o r

reco n ci l ed

. Th e t ri al co u r t c e r t ifi ed i t s ord er fo r i m m ed i at e rev i ew, an d w e g ran t ed

Irel an d ’ s ap p l i cat io n fo r an i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

. .

3 W h i l e Irel an d o b

ject ed t o Al ex an d er ’ s t e stim on y b el o w, h e h as n o t ch al l en g ed

t h e ad m is s i b i l i t y

o f t h at t es t i m o n y

o n ap p eal

.

4Su m

m ary ju d g m en t i s p ro p er wh en “ t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e as t o an y m at eri al

fact an d t h e m o v in g p art y is en t i t l ed t o a ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw.” 4 An d we

rev i ew a g ran t o r den i al o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t d

e n ovo

, co n s t ru i n g “ t h e ev i d en ce in

t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e n o n m ov an t .” 5 Th i s m ay b e d o n e by sh o w i n g t h e co u rt

t h at “ th e d ocu m en t s

, affi d av i t s

, d ep o s i t io n s an d o t h er ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd rev eal

t h at th ere i s n o ev id en ce s uffi ci en t t o creat e a ju ry i s s u e o n at leas t o n e es s en t i al

el em en t o f [t h e] p l ai nt iff’ s cas e.” 6 M o reo v er, at t he s u m m ary -ju d g m en t s t ag e, we d o

n o t “ res o l v e d i s p u t ed fact s

, reco n ci l e t h e i s s u es

, wei g h t h e ev id en ce, o r d et erm i n e i t s

cred i b i l i t y

, as t h o s e m at t ers m u st b e su b m i t t ed t o a ju ry fo r res o lu t i o n .” 7 N ev ert h el es s

,

i f t h ere i s n o ev i den ce s u ffi ci en t t o creat e a g en u i n e i ss u e as t o an y es s en t i al el em en t

o f t h e p lai n t i f

f ’s c l ai m

, “ t h at cl ai m t u m b l es l ik e a h o u s e o f card s [,] ” an d al l o t h er

4 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c); a cco r d La n g ley , 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p . at 7 4 0

.

5 La n g l ey , 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p. at 7 4 0 (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6 McQu a i g v. Ta r r a n t

, 2 69 Ga. Ap p

. 2 36

, 2 3 7 (6 0 3 SE2 d 7 5 1 ) (2 0 0 4 ); s ee a l s o

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

7 To o kes v. Mu r r a

y , 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 6 5, 7 6 6 (6 7 8 SE2 d 2 09 ) (2 0 0 9).

5fact ual di s p u tes are ren d ered i m m at eri al

. 8 W i t h t h es e gu i d i n g p ri n ci pl es in m i n d

, we

wi l l n o w ad d res s Irel an d ’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s

.

In s ev eral rel at ed cl ai m s o f erro r, Irel an d es sen t i al l y arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt

erro neo u s l y d en i ed hi s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t b ecau s e Vera p res en t ed

i n s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o es t ab l i s h t h e req u i red el e m e n t s o f a n eg l ig en ce act i o n

. W e

ag ree. 9

As we h av e p rev i o u s l y ex p l ai n ed

, to s t at e a cau s e o f act i o n fo r n eg l i g en ce i n

Geo rg i a, a p l ai n ti ff m

us t s h o w

8 McQu a i g

, 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 7 ; acco r d Dyes s v. Br ewt on

, 2 8 4 G a. 5 8 3

, 5 8 6

(6 6 9 SE2 d 1 4 5 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

9 Al t h o u g h t h e b u rd en i s o n t h e ap p el lan t t o s h o w erro r, Vera’ s res p o n s e to

I r e l an d ’ s fi rs t cl ai m o f erro r, i n wh i ch he arg u ed th at s h e fai l ed t o i d e n t i f y a n y

s p eci fi c act o f neg l i g en ce o n hi s p art th at cau s ed t h e acci d en t, do es n o t a i d u s in

res o l vi n g t h is ap p eal

. Th e “ arg u m en t ” s ect i o n o f V e r a ’s ap p el l at e b ri ef d ev o t es

ap p ro x i m at el y o n e p ag e t o th i s cl ai m

, an d i n st ead o f ad d res s i n g Irel an d’ s l eg al

arg u m en t s

, m erel y l i st s s ev eral i s s u es o f fact t h at

, i n h er v i ew, m u s t b e d eci d ed b y a

ju ry

. Bu t i n d oi n g s o

, Vera do es n o t p ro v i d e an y reco rd ci t at i o n s

, referen ces t o l eg al

au t h o ri t y

, o r ex p l an at i on as t o h o w s u ch l eg al au t ho ri t y ap pl i es t o t h e fact s o f t h i s

cas e. S ee, e.g

., S i r d

a h v. N. Sp r i n g

s As s o cs

., LLLP

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p. 3 4 8

, 3 5 1 -5 2 (2 )

(6 9 6 SE2 d 3 9 1 ) (2 01 0 ) (ex p lai n i n g t h at p art i es m us t s u pp o rt en u m erat i o n s o f erro r

wi t h arg u m en t an d ci tat i o n s o f au t h o ri t y

, an d m ere co n cl u s o ry s t at em en t s are n o t t h e

t y p e o f m ean i n g fu l arg u m en t co n t em p lat e d b y t h i s Co urt ’ s ru les ). As t o th e l eg al

arg u m en t s rai s ed i n o t h er s ect i o n s o f Vera’ s bri ef, we ad d res s th o s e wh en n eces s ary

.

6(1 ) a l eg al d u t y t o co n fo rm t o a st an d ard o f co n d u ct rai s ed by l aw fo r th e

p ro t ect i o n o f o t h ers ag ai n s t u n reas o n ab l e ri s k s o f h arm ; (2 ) a b reach o f

t h i s s t an d ard ; (3 ) a l eg al l y at t ri b ut ab l e cau s al co n n ect i on b et ween th e

co n d u ct an d t h e res u l t in g i n ju r y; a n d (4 ) l o ss or dam ag e t o p l ai n t iff’ s

l eg al l y p ro t ect ed i n t eres t res u l t i n g fro m t h e b reach

. 1 0

Fu rt h erm o re, al t h ou g h i s s u e s o f n eg l i gen ce are gen eral l y l eft t o t h e ju ry

, i n cas es

wh ere “ t h e al leg ed n eg l ig en t co n d u ct i s s u s cep t i b l e t o o n l y o n e i n f eren ce, t h e

q u es ti o n b eco m es a m at t er o f l aw fo r t h e co u rt t o d et erm in e.” 1 1

Here, th ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at Irel an d was d r i v i n g i n an u n s afe m an n er.

In d eed

, t h e u n di s pu t ed ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at at t h e t i m e o f t h e co ll i s i on , Irel an d was

d ri v i ng ei t h er b el o w or at th e s p eed l i m it w i t h h i s h ead li g h t s o n i n a d i m l y l i t area. An

o ffi cer w i t h t h e Al b an y Po l i ce Dep art m en t wh o res p on d ed to t he scen e t es t i fi ed t h at

t h e area was “ real l y n o t li g h t ed w el l at al l [,] ” an d t h ere were no cr o s swa l ks f o r

p ed es t r i a n s

. He fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at n o t h i n g h e o b s erv ed s u g ges t ed t h at Irel an d was

u n d er th e i n fl u en ce o f d ru g s o r al co h o l on h i s way t o wo rk t h at m o rn i n g

. In s t ead

, t h e

1 0 H u n s u c ker v. Bed

f or d

, 3 04 Ga. Ap p

. 20 0

, 2 0 1 (1 ) (6 9 5 SE2 d 4 0 5 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Br a d l ey Ct r

., In c. v. W es s ner

, 2 5 0 Ga. 1 99

, 2 0 0 (1 )

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

1 1 Hu n s u cker

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 0 1 (1 ) (p u nct u at i o n om i t t ed ); a cco r d Hen d r i x

v. S ext o n , 2 2 3 Ga. Ap p . 4 66 , 4 6 6 (4 77 SE2 d 8 8 1 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

7ev i d en ce s ho w s t h at Irel an d was fam i l i ar wi t h h i s ro u t e t o wo rk

, an d t h e res p o n d i n g

o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at h e “ rarel y ” s aw an y o n e cro s s t h e ro a d a t t h e l o cat i o n o f t h e

co l l i s i o n

. Fu rt her, as t o t h at l o cat i o n

, t h e o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at “ if y o u ’ re g oi n g t o cro ss

[t he s t reet ] [,] y o u n eed t o d o i t w h ere t h ere’ s an i n t ers ect i o n

. . . cl o s es t t o t h e cu rb as

y o u can

, n ot ju s t i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e s t reet .” Ul t i m at el y

, t h e offi cer d i d n o t g i v e

Irel an d a ci t at i on o r arres t h i m fo r v eh i cu lar h o m ici d e becau s e “ h e was s t i l l i n h i s l an e

o f t rav el g o i n g w e s t b efo re [a p ers o n ] en t ered th at lan e o f t rav el [wh o ] was n ’ t

s u p p os ed t o b e t h ere an d was s u b s eq u en t l y h i t .” In d e e d t h e p o l i ce rep o rt l i s t ed

Wi l l i am s ’ s “ Fai l u re t o Yi el d ” t o v eh i cl es as a co n t ri b u t in g fact o r in cau s i n g t h e

acci den t

.

In an y n eg l i g en ce cas e, t he t h res h o l d i ss u e i s wh et h er, an d t o wh at ex t en t

, “ t h e

d efen d an t o wes t h e p lai n t i ff a d u t y o f care.” 1 2 An d wh et h er a d u t y ex i s t s “ u p o n wh i ch

l i ab i l i t y can b e b as ed i s a q u es t i o n o f l aw.” 1 3 Sp eci fi cal l y

, th e d ut y can ari s e ei t h er

fro m “ a v al i d l eg i s lat i v e e n act m en t

, t h at is

, b y s t at u t e, o r b e im p o s ed b y a co m m o n

1 2 Di a mo n d v. D ep ’t o

f Tr a n s p

., 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 8 9

, 1 9 3 -9 4 (2 ) (7 56 SE2 d 2 7 7 )

2 8 1 (2 01 4 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); a cco r d Ci t y o f Ro me v. Jo r da n

, 26 3 Ga. 2 6

, 2 7 (1 )

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

1 3 Di a mo n d , 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p . at 1 9 4 (2 ); a cco r d Jo r d a n

, 2 63 Ga. at 2 7 (1 ).

8l aw pri n ci p l e reco gn i zed i n t h e cas e l aw.” 1 4 An d u n d er Geo rg i a l aw, al t h o u g h a d ri v er

m u st ex erci s e du e care wh en o p erat i n g a v eh i cl e t o av o i d co l l i d i n g wi t h a

p e d e s t r i an

, 1 5 OCGA § 4 0-6 -9 2 (a) pro v i d es t h at “ [e] v ery p ed es t ri an cro s s i n g a

ro ad way at an y p oi n t o t her t h an wi t hi n a m ark ed cro s s wal k o r wi t h i n an u n m ark ed

c r o s s wal k at an i n t ers ect i o n s h al l y i el d t h e ri g h t o f way t o al l v eh i cl es u p o n t h e

ro ad way u n l es s h e h as al read y

, an d u n d er s afe co n d it io n s

, en t ered t h e ro ad way .”

In d eed

, w e h av e h el d t h at s t at u t es m an d at i n g t h at a d ri ver y i el d t o a p ed es t ri an u n d er

cert ai n ci rcu m st an ces “ d o n ot ab ro gat e a ped es t ri an ’ s d ut i es t o ex erci s e ord i n ary care

fo r h er o wn safet y an d av oi d t h e co n s eq u en ces of an y n eg l i g en ce on th e p art o f

o t h ers .” 1 6

Bu t reg ard l es s o f th e ex i s t en ce o r ex t en t o f Irel an d ’ s d u ty of care i n t h i s cas e,

i t i s un d i s p u t ed t h at W i ll i am s at t em p t ed t o cro s s t h e h i g h way wh ere t h ere was n o

1 4 Di a mo n d

, 32 6 Ga. Ap p. at 1 94 (2 ); a cco r d Ra s n ick v. Kr i s h n a Ho s p

., In c

., 2 8 9 Ga. 5 6 5

, 5 6 6-6 7 (7 1 3 SE2 d 8 3 5 ) (2 0 11 ).

1 5 S ee O CGA § 40 -6 -9 3 (“ No t wi t h s tan d i n g o t h er p ro v i s io n s o f t h i s ch ap t er,

ev ery d ri v er of a v eh i cl e s h al l ex erci s e d ue care t o av oi d co l li d i n g wi th an y p ed es t ri an

u p o n an y ro ad w ay . . . .”); OCGA § 4 0 -6 -2 4 1 (b ) (“ A d ri v er s h al l ex erci s e d u e care

i n op erat i n g a m ot o r v eh icl e o n t h e h i g h way s o f t h i s s t at e an d s h al l n o t en g ag e i n an y

act i on s wh i ch s h al l d is t ract s uch d ri v er fro m t h e s afe o p erat i o n o f s uch v eh i cl e.”).

1 6 Ga f fr on v. Met ro

. At l a n t a Ra p i d Tr a ns i t Au th

. , 2 29 G a. A p p

. 42 6

, 4 2 8 (1 )

(4 9 4 SE2 d 5 4 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

9m ark ed cro s s wal k o r in t ers ect i o n

, an d n o ev i d en ce s ho wed t h at W i l l i am s h ad al read y

en t ered t he ro ad way u n d er s afe co n d i t i o n s

, wh i ch as p rev i ou s ly m en t i o n ed

, m i g ht

h av e ex cu s ed h i s fai l u re t o l eg al l y cro s s t he ro ad way at a c r o s s w a l k o r i n ters ect i o n

u n d er O CGA § 4 0 -6 -9 2 (a). Fu rt h erm o re, t here w as n o ev i d en ce to co u n t er Irel an d ’ s

t es t i m o ny t h at h e d i d n o t s ee W i l l i am s u nt i l i t was t o o l at e an d o t h er t es t i m o n y t h at

h e s ai d t h e s am e t hi ng t o a p as serb y an d t h e res p o n d in g o ffi cer im m ed i at el y aft er t h e

co l l i s i o n

. Un d e r s u ch ci rcu m s t an ces

, Vera p res en t ed n o ev i d en ce t h at an y s p eci f i c

n eg li g en t act o r o m is s i o n b y Irel an d was th e p ro x i m at e cau s e o f W i l l i am s ’ s d eat h

. 1 7

Nev ert h el es s

, in an effo rt t o s u r v i v e s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, Vera co n t en d s t h at

Al ex an der, h er ex p ert wi t n es s

, p ro v i ded s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o creat e a g en u i n e i s s u e

o f m at eri al fact as t o wh et h er Irel an d ’ s n eg l i g en ce cau sed t h e acci d en t. In th i s reg ard

,

we h av e ex p lai n ed

, “ n eg li g en ce i s n o t t o b e p res u m ed

, b u t is a m at t er fo r affi rm at i v e

1 7 S ee Ed wa rd s v. Ca mp b el l

, 33 8 G a. Ap p

. 8 76

, 88 1 (2 ) (7 9 2 SE2 d 1 4 2 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(“ [B] efo re an y n eg li g en ce, ev en i f p ro v en

, can b e act i o n ab l e, th at n eg l i g en ce m u s t b e

t h e p ro x i m at e cau s e of t he i n j u ri es s u ed u po n .” (fo o t no t e an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ));

El d er v. Ha yes

, 33 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 6

, 8 2 9 (7 8 8 SE2 d 9 1 5) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ Al t h o ug h q u es t i on s

o f cau s at i o n are gen eral ly fo r t he ju ry

, n ev ert h el es s, th ere m u s t b e s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce

t o creat e a j u ry q u es t i o n o n t h e i s s u e o f cau s at i o n. Pro o f of p ro xi m at e cau s e req u i res

a show i ng o f a leg al l y at t ri b u t ab l e cau s al co n n ect i o n b et ween t h e defen d an t ’ s c onduc t

an d t h e al l eg ed i n

j ury .” (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed )).

10p ro o f.” 1 8 I n d e e d

, wi t h ou t s o m e affi rm at i v e p ro o f of n eg l i g en ce, w e m u s t “ p res u m e

p erfo rm an ce o f d u t y

a n d f reed om fro m neg l i g en ce.” 1 9 Fu rt h erm o re, t h e fact t h at an

acci den t o ccu rred an d a p l ai nt iff s u ffered i n ju ry “ es t ab l i s h e s n o b as i s fo r reco v ery

u n l es s t he p l a i n t i

f f co mes f

o r wa r d wi t h evi d

en ce s ho wi ng th a t t h e a cci d en t wa s

ca u sed by t h e d

ef en da n t ’s n eg l i

g en ce

. ” 2 0 T hi s is b ecau s e “ g u es ses o r sp ecu l at i o n

wh i ch rai s e m erel y a co n ject u re o r p o ss i b i l i t y are n ot s u ffi ci en t to creat e ev en an

i n feren ce o f fact fo r co n si d erat io n o n s u m m ary ju d g m en t .” 2 1 In s t ead

, a p lai n t i ff m u s t

i n t r o d u ce ev i d en ce wh i ch “ affo rd s a reas o n ab l e b as i s fo r t he co n cl u s i o n t h at i t i s

m o r e l i k el y t h an n o t t h at t he co n d u ct o f t he defen d an t was a cau s e in fact o f t h e

1 8 Kel l y v. Fa n n

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 51

, 3 53 ( 8 0 7 SE2 d 98 ) (2 0 17 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco r d Hu n s u cker , 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p . at 2 0 2 (1 ).

1 9 Kel l y

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 5 3 (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t e d ) ; a c c o r d Hu n s u cker

, 3 0 4

Ga. Ap p . at 2 0 2 (1 ).

2 0 Kel l y

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 5 3 (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ) (em p has i s s u p p l i e d ) ;

a cco rd Hu n s u cker

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p . at 2 02 (1 ).

2 1 Hu n s u cker

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 0 2 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); a cco r d Br o wn v.

Amer s o n , 2 2 0 Ga. Ap p . 3 18 , 3 2 0 (4 6 9 SE2 d 7 23 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

11res u l t.” 2 2 Si m p ly p u t

, “ [a] m ere p o s s i b i l i t y o f s uch cau sat i on i s no t en o u g h .” 2 3 Fi n al l y

,

wh en i t co m es to ex pert t es t i m o n y l i k e Al ex an d er’ s

, o ur Supr em e Co u rt has ex p l ai n ed

t h at t h e ap p ro p ri at e s t an dard i s “ n o t wh et h er i t i s s p ecu l at iv e o r co n j ect u ral t o s o m e

d eg ree, bu t wh et h er i t i s wh o l l y s o .” 2 4 Bu t s p ecu l at i on an d co n ject u re b y an ex p ert i s

“ s t i l l s p ecu l at i on an d co nject u re, an d wi l l n o t s u p p o rt a v erd i ct .” 2 5

As n o ted s u

p r a

, t h e u n di s p ut ed ev id en ce i n t h i s cas e s h o w s th at

, at th e t i m e o f

t h e acci d en t

, Irel an d was d ri v i n g s afel y i n a d i m l y l i t area t h o u s an d s o f feet fro m t h e

n eares t cro s s wal k i n an area wh ere peo p l e d i d n ot t y pi cal l y cro s s t h e r o ad

. 2 6

2 2 Hu n s u cker

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 0 2-0 3 (1 ) (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Red mo n v. Da n i el , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p . 1 5 9 , 1 6 4 (1 ) (7 7 9 SE2 d 7 7 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

2 3 Hu n s u cker

, 3 0 4 G a. Ap p

. at 2 0 3 (1 ) ( p u n c t uat i on om i t t ed ); a cco r d

a cco rd Red mo n , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p . at 1 6 4 (1 ).

2 4 La yf i el d v. Dep ’t

o f Tr a n s p

., 2 8 0 Ga. 84 8

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

a cco rd Ga

. Dep ’t o

f Tr a n s p

. v. M i l l er

, 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 7, 8 6 2 (2 ) (b ) (6 8 6 SE2 d 4 5 5 )

(2 0 0 9).

2 5 La yf i el d

, 2 80 Ga. at 8 5 0 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d S wi n t v. M a e

, 3 4 0

Ga. Ap p . 4 8 0 , 4 8 5 (2 ) (7 9 8 SE2 d 2 3 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

2 6 W h i l e Irel an d t es ti fi ed t h at

, aft er a n e w Wa l -m art o pen ed

, h e “ m ay b e

n o t i ced ” s o m e o n e c r o s s t he ro ad i n th e rel ev an t area o n ce o r t wi ce a w eek

, h e

n ev ert h el es s co n s i d ered it “ a dan g ero u s p l ace t o b e t ry i n g t o g o acro s s .” Si m i l arl y

, t h e

res p o n d in g o ffi cer t es t i fi ed t h at p eo p l e “ rarel y ” cro s s t h e ro ad i n th e area wh ere

W i ll i am s was h i t an d t hat i f s o m eo n e w a n t e d t o c r o s s t he ro ad th ere, h e o r s h e

“ n eed [ed ] t o d o i t wh ere t h ere’ s an i n t ers ect io n

. ”

12Acco rd in g t o t h e res p on d i n g p o l i ce o ffi cer, Irel an d r e m a i n e d i n h i s lan e o f t rav el

wh i le d ri v i n g

, an d W i l l i am s’ s fai l u re t o y i el d t o h i s v eh i cl e was a co n t ri b u t in g fact o r

t o t h e acci d en t

. A s t o cau s a t i o n

, Vera arg u es th at t h ere w as ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h i n g

Irel an d h ad t he o p p ort un i t y t o s ee W i l l i am s an d av oi d h i t t i n g h i m

, an d t h at Irel an d ’ s

fai l u re to d o s o was t h e cau s e o f h er h u s b an d ’ s d eat h

. Bu t h er ex p ert

, Al ex an d er, d id

n o t p ro v i d e an y

t es t i m o n y

s u p p o rt i ng t h i s co n t en t i o n.

To t h e co n t rary

, Al ex an d er ag reed t h at t here are n o p ed es t ri an c r o s s wal k s at

ei t h er i n t ers ect i o n eas t o r wes t o f s i t e o f th e co l l i s i o n, an d t h e cl o s es t cro s s wal k i s

l o cat ed 6,0 0 0 feet a wa

y

. A n d w h i l e Al ex an d er t es t i fi ed t h at t h e rel e v a n t s t ret ch o f

h i g h way i s “ st rai g ht an d fl at ” wi t h n o vi s u al ob s t ru ct i o n s

, h e al s o n o t ed t h at W i l l i am s

was o n t h e s i d e of Irel an d ’ s car wh en h e was s t ru ck , n o t d i rect ly i n Irel an d ’ s l i n e o f

v i s i o n d o wn t h at ro ad

. 2 7 In d eed

, aft er an a l y zi n g t h e d am ag ed v eh i cl e, Al ex an d er

o p i n e d t h a t Irel an d fi rs t s t ru ck W i l l i am s o n t h e d ri v er’ s s i de of th e car w h i l e t h e

v eh icl e w a s m o v i n g t o t h e left an d t o ward t h e i ns i d e s t rai g h t l an e o f t raffi c. Bu t

2 7 A p ict ure o f t h e d am ag e t o Irel an d ’ s car co n fi rm s Al ex an d er’ s t es ti m o n y in

t h i s reg ard

, as i t s h o ws dam ag e t o t h e far ri g h t s id e o f t he car n ear an d ar o u n d t h e

ri gh t fro n t head l ig h t

. Bas ed o n t h e l o cat i o n o f t h e d am ag e, A l ex an d er co n cl u d ed t h at

“ [t ] h e o nl y an s wer, i n t h is cas e, t h at can be fo u n d was t h at [W il l i am s ] w as o n t h e

d r i ver ’s s i de o

f t he veh icl e an d t h at [Irel an d ’ s car] t ur n e d i n t o [h i m ] .” (Em p h as i s

s u p p li ed ).

13s i gn i fi can t l y

, Al ex an d er al s o t es t i fi ed th at h e co u l d n o t d et erm i n e wh i c h way

W i ll i am s was c o m i n g fro m wh en h e was s t ru ck d u e t o t h e “ lack of ev i d en ce

g at h eri n g ” an d b ecau s e h e “ [d i d n o t ] hav e t h e d at a.” Al ex an d er es t i m at ed t hat Irel an d

was t rav el i n g b et ween 2 6 t o 3 2 m .p .h

. at t h e t i m e o f t h e c o l l i s i o n

, wh i ch was m o re

t h an 1 0 m .p .h

. b el ow t h e s p eed l i m i t

, an d b as ed o n ro a d v i s i b il i t y co n d i t i o n s

,

W i ll i am s s h o u ld h av e b een v i s i b l e t o Irel an d fo r at l eas t 2 0 0 t o 25 0 feet

. 2 8 Ul ti m at el y

,

Al ex an der co n cl ud ed th at b as ed o n t h e s peed o f t h e car, d rag fact o rs

, an d p ercep t i o n

react i o n t i m es

, Irel an d had th e op p o rt u n i t y t o co m e t o a s t o p b efo re st ri k i ng W i l l i am s

.

Al t h ou g h Vera n o w cl ai m s t h at Al ex an der was ab l e t o d et erm i n e “ th e p o s i t i o n

a n d m o v em en t of [ ] W i l l i am s i n t h e ro ad w ay b efo re h is d eat h [,] ” t h i s co n t en t i o n

m i s rep res en t s t h e reco rd

. In d eed

, wh i l e Al ex an d er be lie ve d i t was p o s s i b l e fo r Irel an d

t o s ee 2 0 0 t o 25 0 feet i n fro n t o f h i m

, h e was u n ab le t o det erm in e i f W i l l i am s was in

t h e ro ad way fo r an y l en g th o f t i m e p ri or t o t h e acci d en t o r wh e t h e r h e s t ep p ed o ut

i n t o t h e ro ad at th e las t seco n d b efo re i m p act

. In fact

, Al ex an d er fo u n d i t “ mo s t

2 8 As p rev i o u s l y n o t ed

, Al ex an d er t es t i fi ed t hat

, at th e t i m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n,

W i ll i am s was o n t he d ri v er’ s s i d e o f Irel an d ’ s v eh i cl e, an d Ir e l a n d “ t u r n ed i n to

[h i m ] .” Th u s

, Al ex an d er ap pears t o s u gg es t t hat W il l i am s s h ou l d h av e b een v i s i b l e

2 0 0 t o 2 5 0 feet t o t h e s i d e o f h i s car, rat h er t h an d i rect l y i n fro n t o f h i m

.

14i mp or t a nt [ ] ” 2 9 t o co n v ey t h at h e was un ab l e t o d et erm i n e wh at W i l li am s was d o i n g

“ t wo seco n d s

. . . p ri o r to [t h e] co l l i s i o n .” He al s o ex p l ai n ed t h at h i s t es t s s h o w wh at

“ s h o u l d b e” v i s i b l e b as ed o n en v i ro n m en t al fact ors

, b u t he co u ld n o t s ay wh at Ir el a n d

s p e c i f i c a l l y wo u l d h av e s een at t he t i m e of t h e acci d en t. In s um

, wh i l e Al ex an d er

p o s i t ed t h at Irel an d co ul d h av e s een W i ll i am s an d av o i ded th e acci d en t

, h e t es t i fi ed

t h at h e was n o t ab l e t o d et erm in e wh i ch d i rect io n W i ll i am s was h ead ed b efo re h e was

s t ru ck , h o w W i l l i am s cam e t o b e i n t h e ro ad way

, o r i f h e was al read y i n t h e ro ad i n

t i m e fo r Irel an d t o s ee h i m

.

Su ffi ce it to s ay

, t h e fo reg o i n g t es t i m o n y b y Al ex an der i s far to o s p ecu l at i v e

t o es tab l i s h t h at an y s

p eci f i c n eg l i g en t act o r o m i s s i on b y Irel an d was th e p ro x i m at e

cau s e o f W i l li am s ’ s d eat h. 3 0 In d eed

, we recen t l y h el d in a n eg l ig en ce cas e— i n wh i ch

a d ri v er h i t a p ed es t ri an u nd er s i m i lar ci rcu m s tan ces

— t h at s u m m ary ju d g m en t was

ap p ro p ri at e wh en t h e d ri v er was n ot “ v i o lat i n g an y ru l es o f t h e ro ad ” at th e t i m e o f

t h e acci d en t

, t h e ped es tri an was h i t w h en cro s s i n g t h e h i g h way “ o u t s i de o f an

2 9 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

3 0 S ee, e.g

. , Ba

j a Pr o p s

., LLC v. Ma t t er a

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 1

, 10 5 (2 ) (8 1 2 SE2 d

3 5 8 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (rev ers i n g t he tri al co u rt ’ s den i al o f a m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t as

t o n eg l i g en ce cl ai m s wh en t h e p l ai n t i ff fai led t o co m e fo rward wi t h an y ev i d en ce o f

a s peci fi c, n eg l i gen t act o n t h e p art o f th e rel ev an t d efen d an t t h at p ro x i m at el y cau s ed

h i s al l eg ed i n

ju ri es ).

15av ai l ab l e cro s s -wal k [,] ” an d n o ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at t h e d ri v er saw t h e p ed es t ri an

p ri o r t o s t ri k i n g h er. 3 1 In t h at cas e, as h ere, a ju ry wo u l d n ot be au t h o ri zed t o “ i n fer

n eg li g en ce b ecau s e an in feren ce can n o t b e b as ed o n ev i d en ce wh i ch i s t o o u n cert ai n

o r s p ecu l at i v e or wh i ch rai s es m erel y a co n ject u re o r po s s i b i l i t y .” 3 2 W e fai l t o s ee an y

m ean i n g fu l d i s t i n ct i o n i n t h i s cas e, g i v en t h at Vera’ s ex p ert

, Al ex an der, ad m i t t ed l y

co u ld n ot d et erm i n e h o w t h i s p art icu l ar acci d en t o ccu r r e d

, w h ere W il l iam s was

l o cat ed i n t h e fi n al s eco n d s b efo re th e co l l i s i o n

, wh et h er Irel an d s aw W i l l i am s b efo re

s t ri k i n g h i m

, o r an y s p eci fi c act i o n Irel an d co u l d h av e t ak en t o av o i d d o i n g s o

. As a

res u l t, Vera has fai le d t o p res en t ev i d en ce o f t h e req u i red el em en t s of a n eg l i g en ce

cl ai m

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i ng Irel an d’ s m o t io n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t

. 3 3

3 1 Po l i t z er v. Xi ao ya n , 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p. 2 2 4 , 2 2 7 -2 8 (2 ) (8 0 1 SE2 d 1 1 4 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

3 2 Id

. at 22 7 (2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ).

3 3 S ee Kel l y

, 3 43 Ga. Ap p . at 3 5 4 (h o l di n g t h at s u m m ary ju d g m en t s h o u l d b e

g ran t ed t o a d ri v er, wh o hi t a b u l l

, wh en t h ere was “ n o ev id en ce o f h o w [t h e d ri v er’ s ]

co l l i s i o n wi t h t h e b u l l o ccu rred ” an d th ere was “ n o ev i d en ce o f an y t h i n g [t h e d ri v er]

co u ld h av e d o ne t o av o i d th e co l l i s i o n ” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); P o l i t z er

, 3 4 2 Ga.

Ap p

. at 22 7 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at a d ri v er, wh o h i t a ped es t ri an

, was en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary

ju d g m en t wh en t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at t h e p e d es t ri an

, wh o was d res s ed i n b l ack

cl o t h i n g

, cro s s ed a m ajo r ro ad way at n ig h t o ut s i d e o f a n a v ai l ab le cro s s -wal k

, an d

t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h a t t h e d ri v er was sp eed i n g

, was v i o l at in g an y ru l es o f t h e

ro ad

, o r s aw h er b efo re s t ri k i n g h er); H u n s u cker

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 0 1 (1 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at a d ri v er, wh o i n

ju red a p ed es t ri an

, was en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary ju dg m en t w h en “ t h e

o n l y ev i d en ce as t o [t h e d efen d an t ’ s ] m an n er o f d ri v i n g was t h at h e d ro v e wi t h i n t h e

162

. Becau s e we ho l d t h at Irel an d i s en t i tl ed t o s um m ary ju d g m en t fo r t he reas on s

s et fo rt h i n Di v is i o n 1 s u

p r a , we n eed n o t ad d res s es h i s rem ai n i n g arg u m en t s

.

Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s, t h e t ri a l c o urt erred i n d en y i ng Irel an d ’ s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Mer ci er

, J., co n cu rs . Do

yl e, P. J. d i s s en t

s

.

* THI S OPI NI ON I S PHYSI CALPRECEDENT ONLY. COURT OF

APPEALS RULE 3 3 .2 (a ).

s p eed l im i t o n a f

a m i l i a r ro ad at ni g h t i n m i s t an d

, aft er cres t i n g a h i l l

, co u l d n ot

av o id a b l ack -cl o t hed ped es t ri an s t ep p i n g i nt o h i s lan e”); McQu a i g

, 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. at

2 3 7 -3 8 (h o l d i n g t hat a dri ver wh o co l l i d ed w i t h an o t her car was en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary

ju d g m en t wh en

, i n t er a l ia

, th e p l ai nt i ff co u l d n o t s p eci fy h o w t h e dri v er co u l d h av e

av o i d e d t h e a c c i den t ); Jo h n s o n v. El l i s

, 1 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 3, 3 4 4 (3 4 6 SE2 d 1 1 9 )

(1 9 8 6 ) ( “ [T] h e j u ry co u l d n ot co n cl u d e t h at d efen d an t, wh o was l o o k i n g s t rai g ht

ah ead an d d i d n o t s ee p lai n t i ff befo re h e was o n t h e h o o d o f h er car, s ho u l d h av e s een

h i m in s u ch t i m e as to av o i d h i m .”). Cf

. Fo u n ta i n v. Th o mp so n

, 2 5 2 Ga. 2 5 6

, 2 5 7

(3 1 2 SE2 d 7 8 8) (1 9 8 4 ) (h o l d in g t h at a d ri ver o w ed a d u t y o f care t o av o id s t ri k i n g a

p ed es t ri an

, wh o

, u n l i k e t h e ped e s t r i a n in t h i s cas e, was l y in g i n ca p a ci t a t ed i n t h e

m i d d l e o f a cl ear, u n o b s tru ct ed p o rt i o n o f a h i g h w ay

, an d th ere was ev id en ce t h at t h e

d ri v er co u l d h av e seen t h e d eceas ed wel l b ef o r e h an d an d cert ai n l y i n ti m e t o s t o p o r

ev ad e h i m i f h e h ad b een m o re o b s erv an t ).

17A1 8 A1 1 8 5 . IRELAND v . W ILLIAM S et al

.

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

I res p ect fu l l y d i s s en t t o Di v i s i on 1

. Th e t es t i m o ny o f th e p l ai n t i ff’ s ex p ert

,

Sean Al ex an d er, creat es a g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact as to wh et h er Irel an d ’ s

n eg li g en ce p ro x i m a t el y cau s ed Th eo do re W i l l i am s ’ s d eat h

. 1 Acco rd i n g ly

, I wo u ld

affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f W i l l i am s ’ s m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d gm en t

.

1 See Fo u n t a in v. Th o mp s o n

, 2 5 2 Ga. 2 5 6

, 25 7 (3 1 2 SE2 d 7 88 ) (1 9 8 4 ); Ma yo

v. Ol d Do mi n i on F

r ei g h t Li ne, In c.

, 3 0 2 Ga. A p p

. 1 9

, 2 1-2 4 (6 8 9 SE2 d 83 7 ) (2 0 0 9 ).