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.

https ://w w w

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

Febr uar y 25, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A 1 4 5 7

. C OT TO N v

. P R O D I G I E S CHILD CARE

M ANAGEM ENT, LLC, d / b /a UNIVERSITY CHILDCARE

CENTER.

G O B E I L

, J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g an au to m o b i l e co l l i si o n

, An d rea L eah Co t t o n fi led a p ers o n al i n ju ry

co m p l ai n t ag ai n s t Bi an ca Bo u i e an d Bo u ie’ s t h en -em p l oy er, Pro d i g i es Ch i l d Care

M an ag em en t, al so k n o wn as Un i v ers i t y Ch i l d care Cen t er (“ Un i v ers i t y Ch i ld care”).

Ul t i m at el y

, t h e t ri al co u r t g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Un i v ers i t y Ch i l d care,

reject i n g Co t t o n ’ s t heo ry o f res po n d eat s u peri o r. Co tt o n ap p eal s

, arg ui n g t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n gran t in g s um m ary ju d g m en t b ecau s e t h ere was s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce i n

t h e reco rd to ren d er th e q u es t i o n o f res p o nd eat s u p eri o r a ju ry i ss u e. Fo r th e reas on s

s et fo rt h b el o w, we ag ree wi t h Co t t o n an d rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t

.On a ru l i n g o f a m ot i o n fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t

, t h i s Co u rt rev i ews d e n o v o t h e

l aw an d t h e ev i den ce, v i ewi n g t h e fact s an d i n feren ces i n fav o r of t h e n o n m o v i n g

p a r t y. H o l b r o o k v. S t a n sel l

, 2 5 4 Ga. Ap p. 5 5 3

, 5 5 3 (5 62 SE2 d 7 31 ) (2 0 0 2 ). Th e

reco rd i n t h i s cas e sh o ws t h at o n J an u ary 26

, 2 0 1 8

, Bo u i e, d ri vi n g a To y o t a Cam ry

,

cau s ed an acci d en t wi t h a T o y o ta Taco m a b ei n g d ri v en b y Co t t o n

. At t h at ti m e, Bo u i e

was en ro l l ed i n a co l l eg e co u rs e i n o rd er t o ad v an ce h er ed u cat i o n

. Sh e h ad b een

em pl o y ed as a d ay care t each er at Un i v ers i t y Ch il d care s i n ce J ul y 2 0 1 6

. U ni v ers i t y

Ch i ld care recen t l y h ad m ad e Bo u i e a l ead t each er bas ed o n h er co n t in u i n g ed u cat i o n,

b u t i t d i d n o t req u i re Bo u i e t o at t en d an y co l l eg e cl as s es o r p ay h er t u it io n . To earn

ex t ra cred i t fo r h er co l l eg e cl as s, Bo u i e v o l u nt eered t o p erfo rm i n a p u p p et s h o w, an d

s h e u sed h er l u n ch b reak fro m wo rk o n t h e d ay o f t h e acci d en t t o at t en d t h e s h o w.

W h en t h e acci d en t o ccu rred

, Bo u i e was ret u rn i n g t o Un i v ers i ty Ch i l d care fro m

t h e pu p p et s h o w, an d s h e was ru n n i n g l at e. Acco rd i n g t o Bo u i e, s h e h ad a co wo rk er

wh o h ad b een cri t i cal o f h er, an d Bo u i e f e ared t hat t h is co wo rk er wo u l d u s e h er

l at en es s fro m l u n ch as a reas o n t o cri ti ci ze h er. Bo u i e had h er p h o n e in h er h an d

wh i le d ri v i ng

. In t en d i n g to cal l U n i v ers i t y Ch i l d care to l et her m an ag er kn o w t h at s h e

was g o i n g t o arri v e l at er t h an an t i ci p at ed

, Bo u i e l o o ked away fro m th e ro ad t o s cro l l

2t h ro u g h t h e co nt act s o n h er p h o n e 1 t o fi n d t h e n u m b er fo r Un i vers i t y Ch i l d care. Bo u i e

n ev er act u al l y fo u n d th e p h o n e n u m b er s h e was s eek i n g

, n o r i n i t i at ed an act u al p h o n e

cal l wi t h h er em

p l o y er.

By t h e t i m e Bo u i e l oo k e d b a c k a t t h e ro ad

, her veh i cl e was i n t h e m ed i an

.

T r yi n g t o a v o i d a co l l i s i o n

, Bo u i e t u rn ed h er v eh i cl e m o re fu l l y

, b u t th e o nco m i n g

v eh icl e s t ru ck h er p as s en g er s i d e. Co t t o n ’ s t ru ck h i t Bo u i e’ s car at 2 : 2 4 p .m . Bo u i e

ad m i t t ed t h at t h e acci d en t w as “ a h u n d red percen t ” h er fau l t

, an d Bo u i e w as ci t ed fo r

d i s t ract ed d ri v i n g an d fai l u re t o m ai n t ai n l an e.

Co t t on fi l ed a co m

p l ai n t

, i n i ti al l y ag ai n st on l y Bo u i e, b u t l at er ad d i n g

Un i vers it y Ch i ld care as a d efen d an t

. Th e am en d ed co m p l ai n t as s ert ed t h at U ni v ers i t y

Ch i ld care was res p o ns i b l e fo r Bo u i e’ s act i o n s u n der a t h eo ry o f res p o n d eat s u p eri o r,

as sh e w as act i n g wi t h i n t he s co p e o f h e r e m p l o y m en t an d in fu rt heran ce o f

Un i vers it y Ch i l d care’ s bu s in es s at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci den t. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Co t t o n

as s ert ed t h at

, al t h o u gh o n h e r l u n c h b reak

, Bo ui e was at t en d i n g an ev en t rel at ed to

h er ed u cat i o n al d eg ree d u ri n g t h at b reak

, wh i ch Co t t on as s ert s was co n nect e d t o

Bo u i e’ s em

p l o y m en t

. A n d Un i v ers i ty Ch i ld care h ad “ st ri ct t each er-ch i ld cl as s ro o m

1 Th e p h o ne w as Bo u i e’ s p ers o n al cel l p h o n e, an d Un iv ers i t y Ch i l d care d i d n ot

p ro v id e o r p ay

fo r h er cel l p h o n e.

3rat i o s t o m a i n tai n t h ro u g h o u t th e d ay ,” wh i ch m ad e Bo u i e’ s at t em p t ed cal l t o h er

em pl o y er “ n eces s ary an d i n t h e i n t eres t o f [ U ni v ers i t y Ch il d care’ s ] bu s in es s an d

p e rs o nal affai rs .” Co t t o n al s o rai s ed a cl ai m o f n eg l i g en t t rai ni n g an d s u p erv i s i o n

ag ai n s t Un i v ers i t y

Ch i l dcare.

A ft er co n du ct i n g d i s co v ery

, Un i v ers i t y Ch il d care m o v ed fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t

. It arg u ed t h a t B o u i e w as o n h er l u n ch b reak

, off th e cl o ck

, i n h er o wn

p ers o n al v eh i cl e, an d u s i n g h er o wn p ers o n al cel l p h o n e at t h e t im e of th e acci d en t

,

m ean i n g t h at s h e was act i n g on h er o wn p ers o n al bu s in es s an d n o t wi t h i n t h e s co p e

o f h er em p l o y m en t

. A ft er a h ea r i n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Un i vers i t y Ch i l d care’ s

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

Su m m a r y j u d g m en t i s p ro p er “ i f t h e pl ead i n gs

, d ep o s i ti o n s

, an s wers to

i n t erro g at o ri es

, an d ad m i ss i o n s o n fi l e, t o get h er wi t h th e affi d av i t s

, . . . s h o w t h at

t h ere i s no 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 at t h e m o v i n g p art y i s en t i t l ed

t o j u d gm en t as a m at ter o f l aw.

. . .” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c). Here, Co tt o n s u ed

Un i vers it y Ch i l d care u n der a t h eo ry o f res p o n d eat s u p eri o r. Un d er t h e do ct ri n e o f

res p o n d eat s up eri or, em

p l o y ers are l i ab le fo r an em p l o y ee’ s t o rt i o u s co n d u ct wh en

,

at t h e t i m e o f t h e i n

ju ry

, t h e em

p l o y ee i s act i n g wi t h i n t h e s co p e of h er em p l o y m en t

4an d fu rt h eri n g h er em pl o y er’ s i n t eres t s

. OCGA § 5 1 -2 -2 ; Al len Ka ne’s Ma j o r Do d ge,

In c. v. Ba r n es , 2 4 3 Ga. 7 7 6 , 7 7 7 (2 5 7 SE2 d 1 8 6 ) (1 9 79 ).

W h et h er an em

p l o y ee i s act i n g wi t h i n t he s co p e o f em p l o y m en t i s n o rm al l y a

q u e s t i o n fo r t h e ju ry “ ex cep t i n p l ai n an d u nd i sp u t ab l e cas es

. ” Ha n ker s o n v.

Ha mmet t

, 28 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 0

, 6 1 2 (1 ) (6 4 7 SE2 d 3 1 9 ) (2 00 7 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

“ [S] u m m ary ju d g m e n t fo r th e em p l o y er i s ap p ro p ri at e wh ere t h e ev id en ce an d al l

reas on ab l e i nferen ces drawn t h erefro m s h o w t h at t h e em

p l o y ee was n o t en g ag ed i n

fu rt heran ce o f t h e e m

p l o ye r ’ s b u s i n es s

, b u t was o n a p ri vat e en t erp ri se o f t h e

em pl o y ee’ s own .” Ch o r ey, Ta yl o r & Fei l

, P.C. v. Cl ar k

, 2 73 Ga. 1 4 3

, 1 44 (5 3 9 SE2 d

1 3 9 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Geo rg i a l aw has co n s i s t en t l y h el d t hat em pl o y ees do n o t act wi t h i n t he s co p e

o f em p l o y m en t w h en th ey are co m m u t i n g t o an d fro m wo rk

, s ee, e.g

. , C e n t u r i o n

In d u s., In c. v. Na vi l le-S

a eg er

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 2

, 3 4 5 (1 ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 8 7 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ), n o r

wh en t h ey are o n t h ei r l un ch b reak

, Nel s o n v. S i l ver Do l l a r Ci t

y, In c.

, 2 4 9 Ga. Ap p.

1 3 9

, 1 45 (4 ) (5 4 7 SE2 d 63 0 ) (2 0 0 1 ). Th ere are, h owev er, ex cep t i o ns t o t h i s g en eral

ru l e. In t h i s ap peal

, t h e ex cep t i o n at i s s u e 2 i s wh et h er “ s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces ” ex i s t ed

2 Co t t o n co n ced es th at t h i s i s th e o n l y ex c e p t i o n po s s i b l y ap p li cab l e t o h er

cl ai m

.

5s u ch t h at B o u i e w a s a ct i n g wi t h i n th e s co pe o f h er em p l o y m en t wh i l e t rav el i n g to

wo rk

. Cl o W

h i t e Co . v. La t t i mo r e , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p . 8 3 9, 8 4 0 (5 9 0 SE2 d 3 8 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

Un d er Geo rg i a law, t h e “ s p ec i al ci rcu m s t an ces ” ex cep t io n m ay ari s e wh en

fact ors s u ch as th e fo l l o wi n g ar e p r e s e n t d u ri n g an em p l o y ee’ s wo rk co m

m u t e: (1 )

carry i n g wo rk m at eri al s in t h e em p l o y ee’ s car; (2 ) u s i n g a ph o n e fo r wo rk -rel at ed

cal l s; (3 ) recei vi n g a s t i p en d fro m an em p lo y er fo r a v eh icl e; o r (4 ) b ei n g “ o n cal l .”

DMAC8 1

, LLC v. Ng uyen

, 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 70

, 1 7 3 (1 ) (8 5 3 SE2 d 4 0 0) (2 0 2 1 )

(ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed ). Th i s co u rt h as fo u nd s uffi ci en t ev i den ce o f sp eci al ci rcu m s t an ces

t o rai s e a ju ry q u es t i o n wh ere an em p l o y ee g et s i n t o a car acci den t wh i l e co m m u t i n g

t o wo rk wh en t h ey are o n t h e p h o n e reg ard i n g b u si n es s -rel at ed m at t ers o r are

d i s t ract ed b y an i n co m i n g b u s i n es s -rel at ed cal l

. See Hu n t e r v. M o d er n Co nt i n en t al

Co n s t r

. Co

. , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 9, 6 9 1 (6 5 2 SE2 d 58 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ); Cl o W h it e

, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p.

at 8 4 0

.

Rel y i n g p ri m ari l y o n Cl o W h i t e an d Hu n t er

, Co t t o n arg u es t h at Bo u i e’ s u s e o f

h er cel l p h o n e i n t ry i n g t o fi n d h e r em p l o y er’ s n um

b er i n o rd er t o rep o rt h er l at e

arri v al fro m l u nch co ns t i tu t ed “ s p eci al ci rc um sta nc e s” suc h t h at s h e was act i n g wi t h in

t h e s co p e o f h er em

p lo y m en t at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

, o r at l eas t t h ere i s a q u es t i o n

o f fact fo r t h e ju ry to d eci d e. In Cl o W h i te

, p h o n e reco rd s s h o w ed t h at an em p l o y ee

6d ri v i ng t o wo rk m ad e t hree cal l s t o h i s em p l oy er aro u nd t he t i m e th at h e cau s ed a car

acci den t

. 2 63 Ga. Ap p

. at 83 9

. Th e p u rp o s e o f at l eas t o n e o f t h e cal l s was “ t o i n fo rm

t h e n i gh t s u p erv i so r o f [t h e em pl o y ee’ s ] arri v al t i m e, an d t o ob t ai n i n fo rm at i o n t h at

wo u l d as s i s t [t h e em

p l o y ee] i n fu l fi l l i ng h i s d u t i es at t h e o ffi ce.” Id

. W e h el d t h at

ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at t h e em p l o y ee “ m ay h av e” b een o n t h e ph o n e reg ard i n g m at t ers

o f co m p an y b u s in es s at t he t im e he cau s ed t h e car acci d en t was s u ffi ci en t t o c r e a t e

a ju ry qu es t i o n o n t h e i s s u e of s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces ren d eri n g hi m wi t h i n t h e s co p e

o f em p l o y m en t wh i l e d ri v i n g t o wo rk . Id . at 8 4 0

.

In Hu n t er

, p h on e reco rd s ref l e c t ed t h at an em

p lo y ee d ri v in g t o wo rk m ad e a

cal l t o a co wo rk er ju s t b efo re cau s i n g a car ac c i d e n t

. 2 8 7 Ga. A p p

. at 6 9 0

. Th e

co wo rk er al s o t es t i fi ed t hat h e cal l ed t h e em p lo y ee aro u n d t h e t i m e o f t he acci d en t

,

b u t t h e em

p l o y ee di d n ot an swer. Id

. Th e p urp o s e o f t h es e cal l s was b u si n es s-rel at ed

.

Id

. W e h el d t h at ev i d en ce sh o wi n g t h at t h e em p l o y ee “ m ay h av e b e e n o n h i s cel l

p h o n e reg ard i n g co m

p an y b u s i nes s wh en t h e acci den t o ccu rred o r t h at h e m i g h t h av e

b een d i st ract ed b y an i n co m in g cal l fro m [t h e co wo rk er] ” was s u ffi ci en t t o rai s e a ju ry

q u es ti o n as t o t h e ex i s t en ce o f s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces an d t h e p o t en t i al fo r v i cari ou s

l i ab i l i t y fo r t h e em

p l o y er. Id

.

7In a rg u in g t h at Bo u ie’ s u s e o f h er cel l ph o ne was a s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ce,

Co t to n s t res s es t h at Un i v ers i t y Ch i l d care was req u i red by l aw an d i n t ern al po l i cy to

m ai n t ai n s p eci fi c t each er-t o -ch i ld rat io s

, an d t h e d ay care i m p l em en t ed a s t ri ct

at t e n d a n ce p o l i cy t o en s u re th at t h o s e rat i o s were res pect ed

. 3 See Ga. Co m p

. R. &

Reg s. 5 9 1 -1 -1 -.3 2 (ad m i n i s t rat i v e co d e s et ti n g t each er-t o -ch i l d rat io s b as ed o n ag e).

Un d er t h is at t en d an ce p o l icy

, t each ers were req ui red to no t i fy t h ei r s u p erv i s o r i f t h ey

were g o i ng t o be l at e o r ab s en t fo r an y reas o n

. Si m p l y n o ti fy i n g a su p erv i so r was n ot

en o ug h

, t h e at t en d an ce p o l i cy req u i red t hat t each ers act u al l y s peak to t h ei r s up erv i s o r

t o rep o rt an y ab s en ce o r t ard i n e s s t o en su re t h at t he s u p erv is or recei v ed t h e

n o t i fi cat i o n

.

O n t h e d a y o f t h e acci d en t

, Bo u i e cl o ck ed o u t fo r l un ch at 12 : 5 3 p.m

. Bo u i e

an t i ci p at ed t h at th e p u p pet s h o w m i g h t t ak e a l i t t le m ore t h an an ho u r, an d as k ed h er

s u p e r v i s o r b efo re l eav i n g i f s h e co u l d ret u rn a l it t l e l at e, “ l i k e 2 [: 0 0 ]

, a l it t l e aft er

2 [: 0 0 ] .” Aft er t h e p u p p et s h o w en d ed

, Bo u i e real i zed t h at i t was “ l at er t han wh at [s h e]

h ad t o l d [h er] m an ag er.” Co t t o n arg u es t h at Bo ui e’ s at t em p t t o co n t act h er em

p l o y er

was “ ex act ly wh at h er em p lo y er t o l d h er t o d o i n s u ch ci rcu m s t an ces ; ” t h e at t em p t ed

3 As d es cri bed b y Bo u i e i n h er d ep o s i t i on

, U n i v ers i t y Ch i l d care em p l o y ed

v ari o u s t y p es o f s ub s ti t u t es t o co v er cl as s ro o m s i f a s i t u at i o n aro s e wh ere th ere was

g o i n g t o b e a s h o rt ag e o f t each ers t o m ai nt ai n t h e s tat e-m an d at ed rat i o s

.

8cal l was “ m an d at ed b y h er jo b d u t ie s

, ” a n d th u s s h e wi t h i n t h e s co p e o f h er

em pl o y m en t fo r Un i v ers i t y Ch i l d care wh en s h e cau sed t h e co l l i s i o n. Al th o u g h we d o

n o t ag ree wi t h Co tt o n ’ s i n s i st en ce t h at Bo u i e’ s act i o n s were affi rm at i v el y wi t h i n t h e

s co p e o f her em

p l o y m en t

, w e d o co n cl u d e t h at U n i v ers i t y Ch i l d care h as n ot

es t ab l i s h ed as a m at t er o f l aw t h at t h ey were n o t

.

Un i v ers i t y Ch i l d care arg u es t hat Bo u i e’ s d eci s i o n t o cal l h er em p l o y er wh i l e

d ri v i ng was p u rel y

p ers o n al

. W h en as k ed ab ou t wh y s h e d eci d ed t o cal l U ni v ers i t y

Ch i ld care wh en s h e real ized s h e w a s g o i n g t o b e l at e, Bo u i e d i d no t ci t e t h e

at t en dan ce p o l i cy as h er m o t i v at i o n

. Rat h er, s h e st at ed t h at i t was “ t h e ri g h t t h i n g to

d o ” t o l et h er em

p l o y er k no w wh en t o ex pect her b a c k a t wo rk

. 4 An d as d es cri b ed

ab o ve, Bo u i e h ad a co wo rk er s h e was co n cern ed m i g h t u s e h er t ard i n es s ag ai n s t h er.

Fu rt h er, Bo u i e k new t h at t h ere were “ l u n ch b reak ers ” wh o were av ai lab l e t o fi l l i n i f

h er cl as s ro o m fel l bel o w t h e s tat e-m an d at ed t each er-to- c hild r a tio. 5 H o w e ve r

, B o u i e’ s

4 Al t h o u g h we co n cl u d e t h a t Bo u ie’ s s u b ject i v e m o t i vat i o n fo r m ak i n g t h e

p h o n e cal l is n o t d i s p o si t i ve o f wh et her s h e was act i ng i n t h e sco p e o f h er

em pl o y m en t at t he t i m e o f t he acci d en t

, we n o t e t h at s h e al so s tat ed t hat s h e b el i ev ed

cal l in g was t h e ri gh t th i n g t o d o b ecau s e a b u si nes s “ n eed [s ] t o k n o w wh at ’ s g o i n g

o n ,” i n d i cat i n g t hat t h ere was s o m e m o t i v at i o n t o b en efi t h er em p l oy er wi t h t h e

i n fo rm at i o n n eed ed t o co nd u ct i t s b u s i nes s

.

5 Th ere i s v ery l i t tl e i n fo rm at i o n i n t h e reco rd ab o ut t he u s e o f t h es e s ub s t i t u t e

em pl o y ees

. Th ey w ere n o t m en ti o n ed in Un i vers i t y Ch i l d care’ s st at em en t o f m at eri al

9s u b

ject i ve m ot i v at io n i n m ak i n g t h e cal l i s no t t h e c e n t ral q u es t i o n. Th e t es t fo r

wh et h er Un i v ers i t y Ch i l dcare m ay b e fo u n d l i ab le fo r Bo u ie’ s act i o n s is w h et h er s h e

was at t h e t i m e o f t h e i n ju ry “ en g ag ed i n t h e m as t er ’s b u s i n es s ” o r “ at t h at t i m e

s erv i ng t h e m as t er.” Cl o W h i t e

, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 4 0 (ci t at i o n, p u n ct u at i o n

, an d

em ph as i s o m i t t ed ).

W e ag ree wi t h Co t t o n t hat s h e p res en t ed su ffi ci en t ev i d e n c e t o r ai se a ju ry

q u es ti o n o n t hi s i s s u e. At t he su m m ary ju d g m en t s t ag e, w e c o n s t ru e “ th e ev i d en ce

an d al l reas o n ab l e i n feren ces i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e n o n m o v an t .”

Co t ti n g h am & B u t l e r

, In c. v. Bel u

, 33 2 Ga. Ap p. 6 84

, 6 8 5 (7 7 4 SE2 d 7 4 7) (2 0 1 5 ).

G ive n the ev i den ce t h at Un i v ers i t y Ch i ld care s t res s ed t o i t s em p l o y ees t h e im

p o rta nc e

o f rep o rt i n g t ard i n es s, an d Bo u i e was i n t h e act o f co m p l y i n g wi t h her em

p l o y er’ s

p o l i cy wh en sh e cau sed t h e acci d en t, we can n o t s ay t h at t hi s i s a “ p l ai n an d

i n d i s p u t ab l e” cas e of an em pl o y ee act i ng en t i rel y o u t s i d e t h e s co p e o f t h ei r

em pl o y m en t

. H a n ker s o n , 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 1 2 (1 ).

fact s or m em o ran d u m i n s u pp o rt o f it s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t. It i s u n k n o wn

, fo r ex am p l e, h o w m an y s u b s t it u t es were em p l o y ed

, h o w a t each er w o u ld req u es t o ne,

o r h o w q u i ck l y t h ey co u l d arri v e. Fu rt her, i t i s u nk n o wn i f t h ere were “ l u n ch

b reak ers ” av ai lab l e o n t h e d ay o f Bo u i e’ s acci d en t

. In an y ev en t

, t he ex is t en ce o f

t h es e s u b s t i t u t e t each ers d i d n ot ex cu s e Un i vers i t y Ch i l d care’ s em

pl o y ees fro m

t h e

req u i rem en t t h at t h ey i m

m ed i at el y rep o rt wh en th ey b eco m e aware t h at are n o t g o i n g

t o b e i n t h ei r cl as s ro o m as ex p ect ed

.

10Un i v ers i t y Ch i ld care co u n t ers t h at t h ere was ev i d en ce i n Cl o W h i t e an d Hu n t er

t h at t h e em

p l oy ees m ay hav e act u al l y b een o n th e p h o ne at t h e t i m e of t h e acci d en t s

i n t ho s e cas es

, w hereas h ere, Bo u i e t es t i fi ed co n cl u s i v el y th at s h e h ad n o t y et i n i t i at ed

t h e p h on e cal l wh en th e acci den t o ccu rred . W e, h o wev er, fi n d t h i s d i s ti n ct i o n t o b e

o n e wi t h o u t a d i fferen ce i n t h i s cas e. Al t h o ug h Bo u i e h a d n o t act ual l y s el ect ed h er

em pl o y er’ s n u m

b er fro m h er co n t act s l i s t

, sh e in d i s p ut ab l y w as u s i n g h er ph o n e to

cal l h er em

p l o y er at t h e t i m e w h en s h e cau s ed t h e acci d en t

. If th e p o t en ti al d i s t ract i o n

fro m seei n g t h at o n e h as an i n co m i n g cal l f r o m a c o w o rk er is s u ffi ci en t to creat e a

ju ry q u es t i o n o n t h i s i s s ue, a s i n H u n t er

, t h en i t fo l l o ws th at t h e d is t ract i o n o f

m an u al l y s earch i n g fo r o n e’ s em p l o y er’ s p h o n e n u m

b er i s al s o s u ffi ci en t t o creat e a

ju ry q u es t i o n h ere.

Ad d it i on al l y

, we do n o t fi n d th e cas es rel i ed u p on b y Un i vers i t y Ch i l d care to

s u p p ort i t s arg u m en t th at t h ere were n o s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces to b e co m p el l i n g h ere.

Fo r ex am p l e, i n Fa r

z an eh v. Mer i t Co n s t. Co

. , 3 0 9 Ga. A p p

. 6 37

, 6 37 (7 1 0 SE2 d 8 3 9 )

(2 0 1 1), an em

p l o y ee wi th a co m

p an y -i s s u ed cel l p h o ne i n h i s car was fo u n d t o b e

o u t s i d e t h e s co p e o f em

p l o y m en t at t h e t i m e h e cau s ed a car acci d en t

, y et t h ere was

n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e em pl o y ee u s ed t he ph o n e at an y p o i nt b efo re o r aft er t h e

acci den t

. Si m il arl y

, i n Br ad d y v

. C o l l i ns Pl u m b i n g a nd Co n s t r

. In c.

, 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p.

118 6 2

, 8 6 8 (4 2 0 SE2 d 8 0 6 ) (1 9 9 2 ), t h e co u rt fo un d no ju ry q u es t i o n o n s p eci al

ci rcu m s t an ces ex i s t ed wh ere t h e em p l oy ee was dri v i n g a co m p a n y -o wn ed v eh i cl e

co n tai n i n g a t wo -way rad i o (fo r t h e p u rp o s e of co m m u n i cat i n g wi th h i s em

p l o y er),

was d ri v i n g h o m e f

r o m wo rk

, an d wh ere t h ere was n o ev id en ce t h at t h e rad i o was

b ei n g u s ed at th e ti m e o f t h e acci d en t

. See al s o W o o d v. B & S En t er

pr i s es

, In c.

, 3 1 4

Ga. A p p

. 1 28

, 13 2 (2 ) (7 2 3 SE2 d 4 4 3 ) (2 01 2 ) (fi n d in g n o e n t i tl em en t t o ju ry

i n s t ru ct i o n s o n em

p l o y ee’ s u s e o f cel l ph o ne wh en “ t h ere w as no ev i d en ce” t h at

em pl o y ee w a s u s i n g an em

pl o y er-s u p p l i ed cel l ph o ne at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t );

Ar ch er Fo r es t r

y, LLC v. Do l a to ws ki

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 6, 6 8 0 (3 ) (7 7 1 SE2 d 3 7 8 )

(2 0 1 5) (em

p l oy ee’ s u s e o f cel l p h o n e “ wi t h i n 2 5 m in u t es p ri o r t o ” a car acci d en t t o

cal l h i s em

p l o y er was n o t s u ffi ci en t t o creat e a ju ry q u es ti o n o n s co pe o f em p l o y m en t

b ecau s e t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at em p lo y ee was cal l i n g hi s em p lo y er at t h e t i m e o f

t h e acci d en t ). Si m i l ar t o t h i s cas e, t h e fo reg o i n g cas es do n o t i n v o l v e ev i d en ce o f

act u al cal l s aro u n d t h e t i m e o f t h ei r res p ect i v e acci d en t s

. Bu t

, cri ti cal l y

, n o r d o t h es e

cas es i n v o l v e ev i d e n ce of m an u al (an d p o ten t i al l y d i s t ract i n g ) s t ep s t ak en t o ward

m ak i n g a cal l aro u n d t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

. Here, Bo u i e was act i v el y i n t h e p ro ces s

o f i n it i at i n g a cal l wi t h h er em p l o y er t o re p o rt h er tard i n es s

, as sh e ap paren t l y was

req u i red t o d o u n d er co m

p an y p o l i cy

, at t he t im e o f t h e acci den t

. Th erefo re, u n d er t h e

12fact s o f th i s cas e an d g i v en t h e s t an d ard o f rev i ew fav o ri n g t h e n o n m o v an t

, we h o ld

t h at Co t t on p res en t ed ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t t o gi v e ri s e t o a ju ry q u es t i o n o n U ni v ers i t y

Ch i ld care’ s l i ab i l i t y

, as Bo u ie was p o t en ti al ly act i n g wi t h i n th e s co p e o f h er

em pl o y m en t at t he t i m e o f t h e acci d en t.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Ba r n es , P. J. co n cu r s

. J. Ma r kl e, d i s s en t

s

.

13A 2 1 A 1 4 5 7

. COTTON v

. P R O D I G I E S C H I L D C A R E

M ANAGEM ENT, LLC.

M A R K LE

, J ud g e, d is s en t i n g

.

Th e m ajo ri t y fi n d s t h at t h ere i s a ju ry q u es t i o n ab o u t wh et h er t he fact s o f t h i s

cas e co n s t i t u t e a sp eci al ci rcu m s t an ce t h at wo u l d h o l d th e em p l o y er l iab l e f

o r t h e

em pl o y ee’ s n eg li g en ce wh ere i t s em p l o y ee was s cro l l i n g th ro u gh t h e co n t act s i n h er

p ers o n al p h o n e fo r th e em p l oy er’ s p h o ne n u m

b er wh il e dri v i n g b ack t o wo rk fro m h er

l u n ch b reak

. DMAC8 1

, LLC v. Ng u yen

, 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 17 0

, 1 7 4 (1 ) (8 5 3 SE2 d 4 0 0 )

(2 0 2 1). I wo u l d n ot ex t e n d o u r p reced en t s o far as t o fi n d t hat th i s fact u al s cen ari o

co u ld co n s t i t u t e a s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ce. Fo r t h i s reas o n , I res p ect fu l l y d i s sen t

.

“ Th e l aw is cl ear t h at i n th e ab s en ce o f s p eci al ci rcu m s tan ces a s erv an t i n g o i n g

t o an d fro m wo rk i n an au t o m ob i l e act s o n l y fo r hi s o w n p u rp o s es an d n o t fo r t h o s e

o f h i s em p lo y er.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) DMAC8 1

, LLC

, 3 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. a t 1 7 3 ( 1 )

. Th e

m ajo ri ty fi n d s t h ere was a s peci al ci rcu m s t an ce h ere b ecau s e Bo ui e was cal l i n g h er

em pl o y er t o n o t i fy i t t h at s h e w o u l d b e lat e, wh i ch sh e w a s r e q u i r e d to d o b y h erem

pl o y er’ s p o l icy

. Bu t t h e cel l p h o n e was Bo u i e’ s p ers on al p ho n e; U ni v ers i t y

Ch i ld care n ei t h er pro vi d ed i t to h er, n o r p ai d fo r i t

, n o r ev en req u i red h er t o h av e o ne.

An d

, o n t h e d ay o f t h e ac c i d e n t

, i t i s u n d i s p ut ed th at Bo u i e h ad n ot d i al ed h er

em pl o y er’ s n u m

b er o r s p o k en t o an y o n e at th e d ay care wh en th e acci d en t o ccu rred

. 1

In co n cl u d i n g t h at t h es e fact s rai s e a ju ry q ues t i o n

, t h e m ajo ri t y rel i es o n t wo

cas es

, b o t h o f wh i ch I fi n d d i s t i n g u i s hab le. Fi rs t

, in Cl o W hi t e Co

. , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 9

(5 9 0 SE2 d 3 8 1) (2 0 0 3 ), t h e em p l o y ee o ft en u s ed h is cel l ph o n e t o m ak e an d recei v e

wo r k

- r e l a t e d cal l s

, an d h e u s ed t h e p h o ne o n t h e d ay o f t he acci d en t t o n o t i fy h i s

em pl o y er o f h i s l at e arri v al an d t o g et i n fo rm at io n i n p rep ara t i o n fo r h i s jo b d u ti es

o n ce h e arri v ed

. 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p. at 8 3 9

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, i n H u n t er v. Mo der n Co nt i n en t al

Co n s t r u ct i o n Co

. , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 9 (6 5 2 SE2 d 5 8 3) (2 0 0 7), t h i s Co u rt rel i ed o n Cl o

W h i te Co

. an d co n cl u ded t h at t h ere was a ju ry q u es t i o n wh ere t h e em pl o y ee m ay h av e

b een o n a cal l

, o r d is t ract ed b y an i n co m i ng cal l

, at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

, an d t h e

em pl o y ee had g iv en hi s cel l p ho n e nu m b e r t o o t h er em

p l o y ees to co n t act h i m

. 2 8 7

1 No r w o ul d I co ncl u d e t h at t h e cal l was i n fu rt h eran ce o f th e em p l o y er’ s

b u s i n es s

. At m o st

, it was Bo u i e at t em p t i n g t o fu l fi ll h er d u t y t o n o t i fy h er em p l o y er,

an d no t to fu l fi l l an y o f Un i vers i t y Ch i l d care’ s o b l i g at io n s

. Do u g h er t y Eq u i p

. Co

. v.

Ro p er

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 4

, 4 3 7 (1 ) (a) (7 5 7 SE2 d 88 5 ) (2 0 14 )

. A s t o U n i v ers i t y

Ch i ld care’ s o b l i g at io n t o m ai n t ai n p ro per r a ti o s

, t h e co m p an y h ad fl o at i n g s taff

m em b ers t h at co u l d fi l l i n t o m ai n t ai n t h e req ui red st aff-t o -ch i l d rat i o s wh il e t each ers

were o n l u n ch b reak s

.

2Ga. Ap p

. at 69 1. 2 In b o t h o f t hes e cas es

, t h e em p l o y ee reg u l arl y u sed h i s cel l p h o n e

t o m ak e an d recei v e w o rk -rel at ed cal l s

. Bu t t h e ev i d en ce h ere i s th e o pp o s i t e. Th ere

wa s n o a l l e gat i o n t h at Bo u ie u s ed h er ph o n e fo r wo rk -rel at ed cal l s

. M o reo v er,

n o t h i n g p rev en t ed Bo ui e fro m m ak i n g t h e cal l b e f o r e s h e b eg an d ri v in g o r fro m

p u l l i ng ov er to safel y s cro l l t h ro u g h h er ph o n e fo r t h e n u m b er; i n o th er wo rd s

, t h e

d i s t ract i o n was cau s e d s o l e l y by Bo u i e’ s o wn d eci s i o n an d n o t b y an y d i s t ract i o n

fro m a wo rk -rel at ed cal l.

Th e fact t h at Un i v ers i t y Ch i l d care h ad a p o l i cy req u i ri n g em p l o y ees t o n o t i fy

t h e d ay care o f t ard i n es s do es n o t creat e a s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ce, an d I wo u l d n o t read

t h e p o l i cy s o b ro ad l y as t o en co m p as s Bo u i e’ s co n d uct

. 3 Cf. Fa rz a n eh v. M e r i t

2 I wo ul d fu rt h er n o t e t h at t h es e t wo cas es ap p l y i n g t h e s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces

ex cep t i o n d at e b ack at l eas t 1 5 ye ars

. Si n ce t h at t im e, cel l p h o ne u s e has ri s en

, an d

m an y s t at es n o w h av e l aws p ro h i b i t i n g t he u s e o f a cel l p h on e wh i l e d ri v in g, al t h o u g h

G e o rg i a’ s own “ h an d s free” law d i d n o t g o i n t o effect u n t i l aft er Bo u i e’ s acci d en t

. OCGA § 4 0 -6 -2 4 1 (effect i v e Ju l y 1

, 2 0 1 8 ); s ee al s o Nat i o n al Co n fe r e n c e o f S t at e

Leg is l at ures

, Tr a

ff ic S a f et y Tr en d s : S t a t e Leg i s l a t i ve Act i o n 2 0 1 4

, av ai l ab l e at

n c s l

. o r g / r e s e a r c h / t r a n s p o r t a t i o n / t r a f f i c

- s a f e t y

- t r e n d s

- s t a t e

- l e g i s l a t i v e

- a c t i o n

2 0 1 4 .as p x (l as t v i s i t ed Feb ru ary 1 0

, 2 0 2 2 ).

3 In h er d ep os i ti o n t es t im o n y

, Bo u i e s t at ed t h at s h e di d no t rem em b er an y s u ch

p o l i cy

, an d t h at sh e was cal l i n g h er m an ag er b ecau s e it was th e ri g ht t h i n g t o d o an d

b ecau s e s h e feared an o t h er em pl o y ee was g oi n g t o cau s e t ro u bl e fo r h er i f s h e was

l at e. Un iv ers i t y Ch i l d care al s o h ad a p o l i cy th at em p l o y ees were n o t t o us e t h ei r cel l

p h o n es wh i l e wo rk in g

.

3Co n s t r

. Co

. , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 37

, 6 4 1

- 6 4 2 (7 1 0 SE2 d 8 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (d ecl i n i n g t o read

em pl o y er’ s p o l i cy o n au t o s afet y s o b ro ad l y as t o creat e sp eci al ci rcu m st an ce). It i s

co m m o n fo r em

p lo y ers t o h a v e a p o l i c y t h at req u i res em pl o y ees to cal l i n i f t h e

em pl o y ee wi l l be lat e o r ab s en t

. To v i ew t he ev i d en ce s u ch as th i s as creat in g a ju ry

q u es ti o n wo u l d es s en t i a l l y r es u l t i n t h e ex cep t i o n s wal l o wi ng t h e ru l e. DMAC8 1,

LLC

, 3 58 Ga. Ap p

. at 17 6 (2 ); s ee al s o Mi ll er v. Amer i ca n Gr eet i n g s Co r p

. , 1 6 1 Cal

.

Ap p

. 4t h 1 0 5 5

, 10 6 3 (7 4 Cal Rp t r 3d 7 76 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ W e en v i s i o n t h e li n k b et ween

res p o n d eat s u p eri or an d m o s t wo rk -rel at ed cel l p h o ne cal l s wh i le d ri v i ng as fal l i n g

al o n g a co n t i n u u m

. So m et i m es t h e l i n k bet ween t h e jo b an d t h e acci d en t wi ll b e cl ear,

as wh en an em

p l o y ee i s o n t h e p h o n e f o r wo rk at th e m o m en t o f t h e acci d en t

.

Oft en t i m es

, t he l i n k w i l l fal l i n t o a g ray zo n e, as wh en a n e m p l o y ee d ev o t es s o m e

p o rt i on o f h i s t i m e an d at t en t io n t o wo rk cal l s du ri n g t h e car tri p s o t h at t he jo u rn ey

can n ot b e fai rl y cal l ed en t i rel y p ers o n a l

. B u t s o m et im es

, as h ere, t h e l i n k i s d e

m i n i m i s

. . . . W hen t h at h ap p en s

, we fi n d n o res p o n d e a t s u peri o r as a m at t er o f

l aw.”); co m

p are E l l en d

er v. Nef f Ren t al

, 9 6 5 So 2 d 8 9 8

, 9 02 (La. C t

. A p p

. 2 0 0 7 )

(v i cari o us l i ab i l i t y i m

p os ed wh ere acci d en t o ccu rred wh i l e em p l o y ee was u s i n g

em pl o y er-p ro v i d ed cel l p h o n e; em p lo y ee freq u en t l y u s ed cel l ph o n e fo r wo rk -rel at ed

cal l s wh i l e d ri v in g; an d t h e em p l o y e e w a s a c t u al l y co n d u ct i n g b u s in es s at t h e t i m e

4o f t h e acci d en t ). Becau s e I wo u l d co n cl ud e t hat t here i s n o fact u al qu es t io n reg ard i n g

t h e em p lo y er’ s v i cari o us l i ab i l i t y o n t h es e fact s , I res p ect fu l l y d i s s en t

.

5