FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N and BROWN, 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

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

H I S

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

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

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

.

A ugust 17, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 03 6 . VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY, et al

. v . DAVIS.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Val d o s t a St at e Un i v ers i t y 1 ap p eal s t h e den i al o f i t s m o t io n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t i n El i zab et h Dav is ’ s act i o n ag ai n s t i t

. Dav i s a l l e g e d t h at

, as a res u l t o f

VSU’ s n eg l i g en ce, sh e fel l o ff of a “ l oft ed b ed ” i n h er d o rm ro o m an d s uffered s ev ere

i n ju ri es

. V SU arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n d en yi n g i t s m o t io n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t b ecau s e Dav i s ’ s l o ft ed b ed w as an “ o p en an d o b v i o us ” co nd i t i o n, wh i ch

p recl u d es l i ab il i t y . Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i nf r a , we rev ers e.

1 Th e Bo ard o f Reg en t s o f t h e Un i v ers i t y Sy s t em o f Geo rg i a i s al so a p art y to

t h i s ap p eal

, bu t fo r eas e o f referen c e we r e fer t o t he Bo ard an d Val d os t a St at e Un i vers it y

co l l ect i v el y

as “ V SU” t h ro u g h o u t t h i s o p i n i o n.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 Dav i s ( i.e

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

p art y ), 2 th e reco rd sh o ws t h at o n Au g u s t 8 , 2 0 1 6

, s h e m o v ed i n t o h er d o rm ro o m at

VSU t o b eg i n h er fres h m an y ear o f co ll eg e. Dav is ’ s ro o m co n t ai n ed t wo l o ft ed b ed s ,

o n e o f wh i ch w as h i g h er th an t h e o t h e r o n e

. An d b y t h e t i m e Dav i s arri v ed t o h er

ro o m , h er ro o m

m at e was al read y t h ere an d h ad ch o s en t h e b ed i n th e l ower p o s i t i o n.

Dav is i n i t i al l y wan t ed t o l ower h er b ed t o t he s am e h ei g h t as t h at o f h er ro om m at e’ s

b ed

, s o s h e s u b m i t t ed an o n l i n e req u es t t o VSU’ s h o us i n g d ep art m en t t o t h at effect

.

B u t t h i s r e q u es t was n ev er fu l fi l l ed

. A s a res u lt

, i n o rd er t o acces s h er bed

, Dav i s

wo u l d s t ep o n h er d es k an d th en cl i m b i n to her b ed becau s e t h ere w as n o l ad d er i n t h e

ro o m

. Lat er, aft er rearran g i ng t h e fu rn i tu re m u l t i p l e t im es , D av i s an d h er ro o m m at e

s et t l ed o n a “ fi n al [ ] arran g em en t ,” wh i ch Dav i s t h o u g h t was “ r e a l l y c u t e” an d

“ fu nct io n al .” An d o n ce t h e fi n al co n fi g u rat i o n was d o n e, Dav i s “ n ev er fo l l o wed u p

o n l o weri n g t h e b ed . . . b ecau se [s h e] was h ap p y wi t h i t .”

On Oct o b er 3 0, 2 0 1 6, Dav i s an d a fri en d at t en d ed a Hal l o w een p a r t y at a

frat ern i t y h o u s e. D av i s fi rs t wen t t o a p re-p art y , an d sh e h ad “ a co u p l e b e e rs ”

t h ro u g h ou t t h e co u rs e o f t he ev en i n g

. Th en , at t h e en d o f t h e n i g h t, Dav i s wal k ed

2 S ee , e.g

. , Ma rt i n v. H

er r i n g t o n M

i l l

, LP

, 31 6 Ga. Ap p. 6 9 6

, 69 6 (7 3 0 SE2 d

1 6 4 ) (2 0 1 2 ). In k eep i n g w i t h o u r s t an d ard o f rev i ew, t h e fact ual b ack g ro u nd s et fo rt h

i n t hi s o p i n i o n i s g l ean ed en t irel y fro m Dav i s ’ s o wn d ep o s i t i o n t es t i m o n y

.

2b ack fro m t h e part y al o n e an d ret u rn ed t o h er d o rm ro o m b y 1 1 : 0 0 p

. m

. Sh e recal l ed

feel in g “ [t ] ip sy ” aft er t h e part y , an d wh en s h e arri v ed ho m e, s h e fel l as l eep

. T h e n ex t

t h i n g Dav i s rem em

bered was fal l i n g ou t o f h er l oft ed b ed

, b lack i n g o u t

, an d wak i n g

u p on h er b ack wi t h h er ro o m m at e s t an di n g o v er h er as k i n g i f sh e w as al l ri g h t

. As

a res u l t o f t hi s fal l

, Dav i s s u st ai n ed s eri o u s i n ju ri es , wh i ch req u ired s urg ery an d a s t ay

i n t he i n t en s i v e care u ni t

.

Du e t o t h e n at u re an d s ev eri t y o f h er i nju ri es , Dav i s h ad t o “ m e d i c a l l y

wi t h d raw” fro m al l o f h er cl as s es at VSU i n N o v em b er 2 0 1 6

. Dav i s s u b s e q u en t l y

reg i s tered fo r t h e s p ri n g s em es t er, b ut wi t h drew fro m s ch o o l ag ai n a few week s i n to

t h e s em es t er b ecau s e her “ co n cu s s i on was s t i l l real l y b ad a n d [ s h e ] was n’ t ab l e to

co n cen t rat e o r p erfo rm

as [s he] h ad b een u s ed t o an d [s h e] was fai li n g ev ery t h i n g.”

Bu t d uri n g t h e b ri ef p eri o d o f t i m e t h at Dav i s ret u rn ed t o her d o rm ro o m , h er l o ft ed

b ed was l o wered t o t h e s am e h ei g h t as t h at o f h er ro o m m at e’ s b ed

. An d b ecau s e VSU

d i d n o t p ro vi d e h er wi t h a “ bed rai l ,” Dav i s p u rch as ed o n e an d in s t al l ed i t o n h er b ed

.

On Decem

b er 22

, 2 0 1 7

, Dav i s fi l ed a co m p l ai n t ag ai n s t VSU, as s ert in g t h at i t s

n eg li g en ce i n fai l in g t o i n s t al l s afet y rai l s o n h er l o ft ed b ed p ro x i m at el y cau s ed t h e

s eri ou s an d p erm an en t i n

j u ri es s h e s uffered fro m fal l i n g o u t o f t h e b ed

. Sh e cl ai m ed

t h at VSU h ad n o t i ce o f t h e s p eci fi c ri s k o f fal l i n g fro m t h e l o ft ed b ed s d u e t o s i m i l ar

3i n ci d en t s at ot h er s ch o o l s wi th i n t h e Un i v ers i t y Sy s t em o f Geo rg i a. VSU an s wered

t h e co m pl ai n t an d d is co v ery en s u ed

. Su bs eq u en t l y , VSU fi led a m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m e n t

, wh i ch was d en i ed b y t h e t ri al co urt in a s u m m ary o rd er. 3 W e g ran t ed

VSU’ s m o t i o n fo r an i nt erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

, an d t h i s ap p eal fo l lo ws

.

Su 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 in e i s s u e as t o an y m at eri al

fact an d t h e m o v i n g part y is en t i t l ed t o a ju dg m en t as a m at t er o f law.” 4 Fu rt h erm o re,

a d e n o vo s t an d ard o f rev i ew “ ap p l i es t o an ap p eal fro m a g ran t o r d en i al o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t

, an d we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce, an d al l reas o nab l e co n cl u s i on s an d i n feren ces

d rawn fro m i t, i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab le t o t he no n m o v an t .” 5 M o reo v er, at t h e

s u m m ary -ju d g m en t s t ag e, “ [w] e d o n o t res o l v e d i sp u ted fact s , r e c o nci l e t h e i s s u es ,

wei g h t h e ev i d en ce, o r d et erm i n e i t s cred i b i li t y , as t h o s e m at t ers m u s t b e s u b m i t t ed

3 A l t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er was cu rs o ry an d n ot ed t h at fi n di n g s o f fact

an d co ncl u s i on s o f l aw were u n n eces s ary , i t sp eci fi cal ly f o u n d t h a t t h ere was a

g en ui n e is s u e o f m at eri al fact as to w h e t h e r Da v i s ’ s l o ft ed b ed was an o p en an d

o b v i o u s co n d i t i o n.

4 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c); a cco r d Ma r t i n , 3 16 Ga. Ap p . at 6 9 7

.

5 Ma r t i n , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 9 7 (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

4t o a ju ry fo r res ol u t i o n .” 6 W i t h t h es e g u i di n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d

, we n o w a d d r e ss

VSU’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m

o f erro r.

VSU arg u es t hat t he tri al co u r t e r r ed i n d en y i n g i ts m o t i on fo r s u m m ary

j u d g m en t b ecau s e Dav i s ’ s l o ft ed b ed was an o p en an d o b v i o u s co n d i t io n , wh i ch

p recl u d es l i ab il i t y . W e ag ree.

In Geo rg i a, i n o rd er t o prev ai l o n a p rem i s es -l i ab il i ty c l ai m , a p l ai n t i ff m u s t

p ro v e t h at “ (1 ) t h e o w n er o r p ro p ri et o r h ad act u al o r co n s t ru ct i v e k n o wl ed ge o f t h e

h azard an d (2 ) t h e p l a i n t i f f l ack ed k n o w l ed g e of t h e h azard d es pi t e ex erci s i n g

o rd i n ary care.” 7 In d eed

, as a g en eral ru l e , o wn ers o r o ccu pi ers o f l an d are “ n ot

i n s u rers of t h e s afet y o f i nv it ees .” 8 So

, i n a p rem i s es -l i ab i l i t y cas e, s u ch as t h i s o ne,

t h e m ere fact t hat Dav i s fel l

, wi t h o u t m ore, “ d o es n o t gi v e ri se t o l i ab i li t y o n t h e p art

6 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).

7 W a r d v. A u t r

y Pet ro l eu m Co

. , 2 8 1 G a. Ap p

. 8 7 7

, 8 7 7 (6 3 7 SE2 d 48 3 ) (2 0 0 6 );

a cco rd Am. Mu l t i -Ci n ema

, In c. v. Br o wn , 2 8 5 Ga. 4 4 2

, 4 4 4 (2 ) (6 7 9 SE2 d 25 ) (2 0 0 9 );

W a r b er g v. S ai n t Lo ui s Br ea d

Co

. , 2 55 Ga. Ap p . 3 52 , 3 53 (5 6 5 SE2 d 5 6 1 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

8 Or f f v. S t o n ewo o d Res t

. Gr

p ., LLC , 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 8 8

, 4 89 (6 4 6 SE2 d 7 0 2 ) (2 0 0 7); a cco r d B a r t l et t v. M c D o n o u g h Bed

d in g Co

. , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p. 6 57

, 6 5 8 (7 2 2

SE2 d 3 8 0 ) (2 0 12 ); see Jo h n s o n S t

. Pr o p s ., LLC v. Cl u r e , 3 0 2 Ga. 5 1

, 5 3

, 8 0 5 SE2 d

6 0

, 6 5 (2 0 17 ) (“ W h i le no t a n i n s u r er o f t h e i n vi t ee’s s a

f et y , t h e o wn er/ o ccu p i er i s

req u i red t o ex e r ci s e o rd i n ary care t o p ro tect t h e i n v i tee fro m u n reas o n ab l e ri s k s o f

h arm o f wh i ch t h e o wn er/ o ccu p i er h as s up eri o r k n owl ed ge.” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ) (em p h as i s s u p p li ed )).

5o f [VSU] .” 9 In s t ead , t h e t ru e b as i s o f a p ro p ert y o w n er’ s l i ab i l i t y fo r an i n ju ry t o i t s

i n v i t ee i s “ t h e [o wn er’ s] s u p er i o r kn o wl ed

g e o f a co n d i t i o n t h a t m a

y e x p o s e t h e

i n vi t ees t o a n u n r ea s on a b l e r i sk o f h a r m .” 1 0 M o reo v er,

i t i s th e p lai n t i f

f ’s k n o w l ed g e o f t h e s peci fi c h azard wh i ch cau s ed th e
[i nju ry ] t h at d et erm i n es wh et h er t h e p l ai n t i ff can p rev ai l o n a p rem i s es [-

] li ab i l i t y cl ai m , n o t m erel y t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s k no wl ed g e o f g en eral l y

p rev ai l i n g h azard ou s co n d i t i o n s or o f o t h er h azard o u s co n d i t i o ns i n th e

area wh i ch p l ai n t iff o b s erv es an d av o i ds

. 1 1

Th e s up eri o r-o r

- eq ual -k n o wl ed g e ru l e i s “ th e p ract i cal ap p li cat i o n o f a ru l e t h at a

k n o wl ed g eab l e p l ai n ti ff can n o t reco v er d am ag es i f b y o rd i nary care [s h e] co u l d h av e

av o id ed t h e co ns eq u en ces o f defen d an t ’ s n eg l i g en ce.” 1 2 An d p art i cu l arl y rel ev an t in

9 O r f f

, 2 85 G a. Ap p

. at 4 8 9 ; a cco r d Ba r t l et t

, 3 13 G a. A p p

. a t 6 5 8 ; Br ya n t v. DIVY A, In c ., 2 78 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 1

, 1 0 2 (6 2 8 SE2 d 1 63 ) (2 0 0 6 ); s ee W o l f e v. Ca r t er , 3 1 4

Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 4

, 8 5 9 (2 ) (b ) (7 2 6 SE2 d 1 2 2) (2 0 1 2) (“ It i s a wel l s et t l ed p ri n ci p l e o f

n eg li g en ce l aw t h at t he o ccu rren ce o f an u n fo rt u n at e ev en t i s n o t s u f f i c i en t to

au t h o ri ze an i n feren ce o f n eg l i g en ce.” (p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed )); Gr eyh o u n d Li n es

, In c. v. W i l l i ams

, 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p. 4 5 0 , 4 5 1 (1 ) (6 5 9 SE2 d 8 67 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (s am e).

1 0 Or f f

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. a t 489 ( p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed ); a cco r d W i l l i a ms v. Jo h n s o n , 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p . 3 1 1 , 3 1 5 (1 ) (8 09 SE2 d 8 3 9 ) (2 0 1 8); W a r d , 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p . at 8 7 7

.

1 1 Or f f

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 9 0 (p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); acco r d W i l l i a ms , 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p . at 3 1 5 (1 ); W

a r d

, 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p . at 8 7 9 (2 ) (a).

1 2 O’S t een v. Rh eem Mf

g

. Co

. , 1 9 4 G a. Ap p

. 2 4 0

, 2 4 2 (1 ) (3 9 0 SE2 d 2 4 8 ) (1 9 9 0) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m it t ed ); s ee W es t o n v. Du n Tr a n s

p ., 3 0 4 G a. Ap p. 8 4

, 8 7 (1 ) (6 9 5 SE2 d 2 7 9) (2 01 0 ) (“ Un d er t he d o ct ri n e o f av o i d ab l e co n s eq u en ces ,

6t h i s cas e, ev en i f a d efen d an t “ had k n o wl ed ge o f t h e al l eg ed h azard o u s co nd i t i o n

. .

. , [a p l ai nt i ff] can n ot reco ver i f i t i s s h o wn t h at t h e h azard was o p en an d o b vi o u s .” 1 3

Las t l y , we are m i n dfu l t h at i n a p rem i ses -l i ab i l it y cas e, i s s u es of “ t h e d efen d an t ’ s

n eg li g en ce, t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s n eg l ig en ce, an d t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s l ack o f ord i n ary care fo r h i s

o wn s afet y are g en eral l y n o t s us c e p t i b le o f s u m m ary ad ju d i cat i o n

. ” 1 4 Bu t wh en t h e

ev i d en ce i s “ pl ai n , p al p ab l e, an d u nd i s p u t ab l e

. . . t he t ri al co u rt [can ] co n cl u d e t h at

a p art y i s en t i t l ed t o ju dg m en t as a m at t er o f l aw.” 1 5 Th i s i s s u ch a cas e.

. . . “ [i ] f t h e p l ai n t i ff b y o rd i nary care co u l d h av e av o i d ed t h e co n s eq u en ces t o h i m s el f [o r h ers el f] cau sed b y t h e d efen d an t ’ s n eg l ig en ce, [t h e p l ai n t i ff] is n o t e n t i t l ed to

reco v er.” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); OCGA § 5 1-1 1 -7 (“ If th e p lai n t i ff b y o rd i n ary care

co u ld h av e av oi d ed t h e co n s eq u en ces to h i m sel f cau s ed b y t h e d efen d an t ’ s

n eg li g en ce, he i s no t en t it led t o reco v er. In ot her cas es t h e d efen d an t i s no t rel i ev ed

, al t h o u g h t h e p l ai n t iff m ay i n s o m e way

h av e co n t ri b u t ed t o t h e i n ju ry s u s t ai n ed .”).

1 3 D’El i a v. Ph i l l i

p s Ed i s o n & Co

., Lt d

. ,

_ _ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ _,

_ _ _ (8 3 9 SE2 d 7 2 1,

7 2 4 ) (2 02 0 ); s ee Ci t

y o f Br u n s wi ck v. Smi t h

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 50 1

, 5 0 4 (8 2 9 SE2 d 7 8 1 ) (2 0 1 9) (“ In cas es i n v o l v i n g a s t at i c co n di t i o n , . . . a p l ai nt i ff i s h el d t o h av e k n o wl ed g e o f an o pen an d o b vi ou s co n d i t i o n

. ”); Co ckl i n v. JC P en n ey Co r p ., 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 79

, 1 8 1 (6 7 4 SE2 d 4 8) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ Reco v ery i s al l owed [i n a p rem i s es -l i ab i l i t y

cas e] o n l y wh en t h e p ro pri et o r h ad k n o w led g e an d t h e i n v i t ee d i d n o t .”); Br ya n t

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p . at 1 0 2

.

1 4 W a r d

, 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 7 7 ; a cco r d Am. Mu l t i -Ci n ema

, In c. , 2 8 5 Ga. at 4 4 5 (2 ); Ro b i n s o n v. Kr o g er

Co

. , 2 6 8 Ga. 7 3 5 , 7 4 8 (2 ) (B) (4 9 3 SE2 d 4 03 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

1 5 W ar d

, 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 7 7 ; a cco r d Am. M u l t i -Ci n ema

, In c. , 2 8 5 Ga. at 4 4 5 (2 ); Ken n es t o n e Ho s

p

., In c. v. H

a r r i s , 28 5 G a. Ap p. 39 3

, 3 9 5 (6 4 6 SE2 d 4 90 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

7Here, th ere is n o d i s p ut e t h at VSU h ad act u al o r co n s t ru ct i ve k n o wl ed g e o f t h e

l o ft ed b ed i n Dav i s ’ s d o rm ro o m

. Bu t t h e u n c o n t r o v ert ed ev i d en ce al s o s h o ws t h at

Dav is h ad eq u al k n o wl ed ge t h at t h e l o ft ed bed was rai s ed o ff t h e g ro u n d an d l ack ed

g u a r d rai l s befo re s he fel l

. 1 6 In d eed

, Dav i s s l ep t i n t h e b ed fo r ap p ro x im at el y t h r e e

m o nt h s pri o r t o her fal l i n lat e Oct o b er 2 01 6

. M o reo v er, s o on aft er arri v i n g at s ch o o l

,

s h e su b m i t t ed a req u e s t t o V SU t o h av e t h e bed l owered

, wh i ch s h o ws t h at (1 ) t h e

l o ft ed b ed was an o p e n a n d o b v i o u s s tat i c co n d i t i o n o f wh i ch Dav i s had act u al

k n o wl ed g e, an d (2 ) t h e d an g er p o s ed b y fal l i n g fro m t h e bed w as b o th ap p aren t an d

av o id ab le by t he ex erci s e o f reas o n ab l e care. Dav i s al s o i n st al led a s afet y rai l o n t h e

b ed wh en s h e ret u rn ed t o s ch o o l fo r t h e Sp ri n g sem es t er, p res u m ab l y t o p rev en t h er

fro m fal l in g ag ai n

. An d s i g n if i c a n t l y, we h av e rep eat ed l y h el d

— i n t h e co n t ex t o f

1 6 S ee Ho u s t o n v. Wa l -Ma r t S t or es Ea s t

, L.P.

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p. 1 0 5

, 1 07 -0 8 (1 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 4 00 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (h o l di ng th at cu st o m er h ad eq u al k n o wl ed g e t o d efen d an t

s t ore reg ard i n g p res en ce o f hazard by fl at t en ed card b o ard b o x es o n s t ore fl o o r b efo re h e s l ip p ed an d fel l o n th em , an d t h u s co u ld n o t reco v er o n p rem i s es -l i ab il i ty cl ai m );

LeCr o y v. Br a g g , 3 1 9 Ga. A p p. 8 84

, 8 8 7 (1 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 13 ) ( “ Becau s e [t h e

p l ai n t i ff’ s ] k n o wl ed g e o f th e h azard t h at cau s ed h er fal l an d res u lt i n g in ju ri es was at
l eas t eq u al t o t hat o f t h e l an d o w n e r , s h e m ay n o t reco v er. It fo l l o ws t h at t h e d efen d an t s s h ou ld h av e b een g ran t ed s u m m ary ju dg m en t on t h i s b as i s .”); Ha n n a h v. H a mp t o n Au to Pa r ts In c ., 23 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 92

, 3 94 (5 0 6 SE2 d 9 1 0 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at t h e d efen d an t s were n ot l i ab l e i n a p rem i s es -l i ab i l i t y cas e w hen t h e p l ai n t i ff an d

d efen d an t s h ad eq u al k n o wl ed g e o f t h e s t at i c c o n d i t i o n ( i.e.

, s t ai rs ) t h at cau s ed

p l ai n t i ff’ s i n

ju ri es wh en h e fel l ).

8as s u m

pt i o n -o f-t he-ri s k cas es

— t h at “ n o d an g er i s m o r e co m m o n l y real i zed o r ri s k

ap p reci at ed t h an t h at o f f al l i n g .” 1 7 As a res u l t

, u n d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces , ev en

v i e wi n g t h e ev i den ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o Dav i s, th e t ri al co u rt erred i n

d en y i n g VSU’ s m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t becau s e h er l o ft ed b ed co n s t i t u t ed an

“ o p en an d o b v i o u s ” co nd i t i o n , an d t h erefo re, s h e was b a r r e d f r o m reco v ery as a

m at t er o f l aw. 1 8

1 7 Li les v. In n er wo r

k, In c ., 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p . 3 5 2 , 3 5 4 (2 ) (6 31 SE2 d 4 0 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ) a cco rd Ka n e v. La n d s ca p e S t r u ct ur es

, In c ., 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4,

1 8 (7 0 9 SE2 d 87 6 ) (2 0 1 1 ); O’Nea l v. Si kes

, 2 7 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 1, 3 9 2 (6 0 9 SE2 d 7 3 4 ) (2 0 0 5); see Gr eg o r

y v. Jo h n s o n

, 2 4 9 Ga. 1 51

, 1 5 4 (2 8 9 SE2 d 2 3 2) (1 98 2 ) (n o t i n g t h at
d an gers o f fi re, f

a l l i n g f r o m h ei g h t s

, an d wat er are n o rm al l y u nd ers t o o d b y ch i l d ren ab s en t o t h er fact o rs creat i n g ad d it i o n al ri s k s o f harm o r fo res eeab l e d an g ers to
ch i l d ren wh o can n o t ap p reci at e t h e n at ure o f t h e h arm ”); Au g u s t a Amu s emen t s v. Po wel l

, 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 2

, 7 5 7 (9 2 SE2 d 7 2 0 ) (1 9 5 6 ) (ex p lai n i n g t h at “ co ns ci o u s n es s

o f t h e fo rce o f g rav i t y res u lt s al m o s t fro m an i m al i n s t i nct

. Cert ai n l y a n o rm al ch i ld

. . . k n o ws t h at i f i t s t ep s o r s l i p s fro m a t r e e , a f en ce, o r o t h er el ev at ed st ru ct u re, i t
wi l l fal l t o t h e g ro u nd an d b e h u rt ”).

1 8 S ee Ba rn es v. M

o r g a n t o n Ba

p t is t As s n. , 3 0 6 G a. Ap p

. 75 5

, 7 5 7-5 8 (1 ) (7 0 3

SE2 d 3 5 9) (2 0 1 0) (affi rm i n g g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o s h op p i n g cen t er aft er a b i cy cl i s t fel l o ff a 1 2 -fo o t ret ai n i n g wal l ad jacen t t o a s h o p p i n g cen t er park i n g l ot
b ecau s e t h e “ ret ai n in g wal l an d t he d ro p -o ff were an o pen a n d o b v i o us s t at i c

co n di t i o n o f wh i ch [t h e p l ai nt i ff] h ad act u al k n o wl ed g e, an d th e d an g er p o s e d by

fal l i n g t h erefro m was b ot h ap p aren t an d av o i d a b l e b y t h e ex erci s e o f reas o n ab l e care”); S o n es v. Rea l Es t a t e D e v

. G r o u p

, In c. , 2 70 Ga. Ap p

. 5 07

, 5 0 8 -0 9 (1 ) (6 0 6

SE2 d 6 8 7 ) (2 00 4 ) (affi rm i n g g ran t o f s u m m ary j u d gm en t t o t h e p ro p ert y o wn er wh en

co n st ru ct i o n w o rk ers fel l fro m a p lat fo rm t h at was 1 5 feet off t h e g ro u nd an d l ack ed

g u ard rai l s b ecau s e, i n t er a l i a , t h e ri s k o f fal li n g o ff t h e p l at fo rm was “ o p en an d

o b v i o u s ”); Go o d

ma n v. Ci ty o

f S myr n a , 2 3 0 Ga. Ap p. 6 3 0

, 6 32 -3 3 (4 97 SE2 d 3 7 2 )

9Fo r al l t h es e reas on s , we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f VSU’ 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 . Ri ckma n a n d Br o wn , JJ., co n cu r

(1 9 9 8) (affi rm i n g g ran t o f su m m ary ju d g m en t t o ci ty aft er a 11 -y ear-o l d ch i l d d i ed

wh en s he ro l l e r s k a t ed o ff o f t h e s t reet an d d o w n a s i x -fo o t d ro p b ecau s e ev en

as s u m in g t h e ci ty b reach ed a d u t y o f care , t h e s i x

- f o o t d ro p o ff an d t h e l ack o f an y b arri er “ were o b v i o u s feat u res ”); W i n ch es t er v. S un Va l l ey-At l an t a As s oc. , 2 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 14 0

, 1 4 1 -4 2 (2 ) (4 2 4 SE2 d 8 5 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (h o l d in g t h at o w ner w as n o t l i ab l e fo r i n ju ri es s u s t ai n ed b y fi v e-y ear-o l d ch il d wh o fel l o v er an ob v i o u s l y vi s i b l e ret ai n i n g wal l ); s ee a l

s o Y un v. Gr ea t W

o l f Lo d g e o f t h e Po co n o s

, LLC

, 1 8 2 FSu p p 3 d 1 8 2

, 1 8 6 (M .D. Pa. 2 0 1 6 ) (g ran t i n g h o t el ’ s m o t i o n fo r s um m ary j u d gm en t b as ed i n p art o n t h e

co n cl u s i o n t h at “ t h e ri s k s as s o ci at ed wi t h a b u n k b ed were k no wn an d o b v i o u s ”).

Dav is ’ s arg u m en t o n ap p eal

, as i t was b el o w, i s b as ed p ri m ari l y o n h er co n t en t i o n t h at
VSU co u l d n o t es t ab l is h an as s um p t i o n -o f-t h e-ri s k defen s e. Bu t b ecau s e w e h o l d t h at

Dav is ’ s n eg l ig en ce cl ai m is p recl u ded as a res u lt o f h er eq u al kn o wl ed g e o f t h e o p en

an d o b v i o u s h azard t h at cau s ed h er i n ju ri es , we need n ot s ep arat el y ad dres s o t h er

p o t en t i al b as es fo r g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

10