FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N and R EESE, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 29, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 18 4 . EVANS v . THE STATE.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

St ep han i e Ev an s ap p eal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h er m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al aft er a ju ry

co n vi ct ed h er o f o n e co un t o f i n v o l u n t ary m an sl au g h t er 1 in co n n ect io n wi t h t h e d eat h

o f Ro d n ey Grah am (“ RG”), 2 an i n m at e w h o d i ed wh i l e i n carcerat ed at t h e jai l ru n by

t h e Do u g l as Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce. Ev an s as s ert s on ap p eal t h at t h e ev i d en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t t o su p p o rt h er co nv i ct i o n

. A l t h o u g h we fi n d t h at t he ev i d en ce was

s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt a ju ry fi n d i ng t h at Ev an s ’ ac t i o n s an d in act io n s co ns t i t u t ed

reck l es s co n d u ct

, t h e al l eg ed cri m e u n d e r l y i n g t h e ch arg e o f i nv o l u n t ary

1 Th e ju ry acq ui t t ed E v an s o f a s ep arat e ch arg e of i n v o l un t ary m an s l au g h t er in

co n nect io n wi t h RG’ s d eat h

.

2 T o av o i d co nfu si o n

, we refer t o Ro d n ey Grah am as “ RG,” t o h i s fa m i l y

m em b ers b y t h ei r fi rs t n am es , an d t o Dr. J i m m y Grah am as “ Dr. Grah am .”m an s l au g h t er, we fi n d t h at th e St at e fai l ed t o p res en t ev id en ce s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e ju ry

t o fi n d bey o nd a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t h at Ev an s ’ reck l es s co nd u ct cau sed RG’ s d eat h.

Acco rd in g ly , we rev ers e.

1 . W h en t hi s Co u rt co n s i d ers t h e l eg al s u ffi ci en cy of t he ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt

a cri m in al co n v i ct i o n

, “ we m us t v i ew t he ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

v e r d i ct

, an d we i n q u i re on l y wh et h er an y rat io n al t ri er o f fact m i g h t fi n d b e yo n d a

reas on ab l e d ou b t f

r o m t h at ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t i s g u i l t y o f t he cri m es o f

wh i ch h e was co n vi ct ed

. ” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) W a l ker v. S t a t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 1 6 1, 1 6 3 (1 )

(7 6 6 SE2 d 2 8 ) (2 01 4 ). See al s o Ja cks o n v. Vi r g i n i a

, 4 4 3 U .S. 3 0 7 (9 9 SCt 27 8 1

, 6 1

LE2 d 5 6 0 ) (1 9 79 ). U nd er t h i s rev i ew, “ we p ut as i d e an y qu es t io n s ab ou t co n fl i ct i n g

ev i d e nce, t h e cred i b il i t y o f wi t n es s es

, o r t h e wei g h t of th e ev i d en ce, leav i n g t h e

res o l ut i o n o f s u ch t h i n gs t o t he d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri er o f fact .” W hi t e v. S ta t e

, 2 9 3 Ga.

5 2 3

, 5 2 3 (1 ) (7 5 3 SE2 d 1 1 5 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Rat h er, “ i n ev ery cas e t h e ju ry i s t h e arb i t er o f

cred i b i l i t y in cl u di n g as t o t h e d efen d an t ’ s ex p lan at io n

, an d t h e ju ry i s t h e b od y wh i ch

res o l ves co n fl ict i n g ev i d en ce, an d w h e r e t h e ju ry h as d on e s o, t h e ap p el lat e co u rt

can n ot m erel y su b st i tu te i ts ju d g m en t fo r t h at o f th e ju ry .” (Ci tat i o n o m i t ted .) Lo wer y

v

. S t a t e

, 2 6 4 G a. Ap p

. 6 5 5

, 6 5 8 (3 ) (5 9 2 SE2 d 1 0 2 ) (2 00 3 ). Nev ert h el e s s

, “ i t i s

ax i o m at i c t h at t he ev i d en t i ary b u rd en i n a cri m in al p ro s ecu ti o n i s u p o n t h e St at e to

2p ro v e ev ery m at eri al al l eg at i on o f t h e i nd i ct m en t an d ev ery es s en ti al el em en t o f t h e

cri m e ch arg ed b ey o n d a reas o nab l e d o u bt .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Jo n es

v. St a t e

, 2 7 2 G a. 9 0 0

, 9 0 2 (2 ) (5 3 7 SE2 d 8 0 ) (2 0 0 0 ). An d w h en t h e St at e fai l s t o carry

t h i s b u rd en

, t he defen d an t i s en t i t l ed t o a rev ers al o f hi s o r her co n vi ct io n

. See, e.g

.,

Ch es t n u t v. S t a t e

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9

, 7 7 (7 6 9 SE2 d 7 7 9 ) (2 01 5 ); Fu t ch v. S t a t e

, 3 1 6

Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 6

, 3 8 0 (1 ) (a) (7 3 0 SE2 d 1 4 ) (2 01 2 ); Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 1 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 3,

2 7 4 (1 ) (2 6 2 SE2 d 4 97 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

So v i ewed , t he ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at at t h e t i m e of RG’ s i ncarcerat i on at t h e

jai l

, Ev an s was s erv i ng as t h e s u p erv i s o r fo r t h e m ed ical d ep art m en t fo r th e Do u g l as

Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce. Th e d ep art m en t ’ s th ree ot h er em p l o y ees were Ch ad Sk i n n er,

Kel l i Bro wn

, bo t h EM Ts

, an d J od y Fai rc l o t h

, a m ed ical as s i s t an t

, an d al l fo u r

em pl o y ees wo rk ed at t he Do ug l as Co u nt y jai l

. Dr. J i m m y Grah am co n t ract ed as t h e

m ed i cal d i rect or fo r t h e sh eri ff’ s o ffi ce, wh i ch m ean t h e m ad e l i m i t ed

, reg u l ar v is i t s

t o t h e j ai l b u t was on -cal l fo r al l m ed i cal i s s ues

. RG w as ad m i t t ed t o t h e j a i l f o r a

p ro b at i o n v i o l at i o n o n W ed nes d ay

, Oct o b er 2 8

, 2 0 0 9

, an d t h e fo l l o wi ng Su n d ay

,

No v em b er 1

, h e s ub m i t t ed a fo rm req u es t i n g m ed ical as s i s t an ce, s tat i n g t h at h e was

v o m i t i n g

, co u l d n o t k eep an y t h in g d o wn

, an d was “ real ly weak .” Fai rcl o t h

, w h o was

o n cal l t hat d ay

, vi s it ed RG i n h i s cel l

, an d h e t o l d h er o f h is s y m p t om s an d al s o t h at

3h e h ad a h i s t o ry o f k i d n ey s t o n es an d i n fect i o n s

. Fai rcl o t h g av e RG m ed i cat i o n to

t reat h is s y m

p t om s. At aro u n d 1 0 p

. m

. t h at ni g h t

, RG cal l ed h i s wi fe, Cat h y Grah am

,

t o t el l h er t h at h e t h o u g h t h e was g et t i n g a k id n ey i n fect i on an d was co n cern ed t h at

h e was n o t g o i n g t o g et ad eq u at e care at t h e jai l

.

Th e n ex t m o rn i n g

, M on d ay

, No v em b er 2

, Fai rcl o t h r e p o rt ed t h e si t u at i o n

i n v o l v i n g RG to Ev an s

, an d t h ey arran g ed fo r h i m t o co m e t o t h e m ed i cal d ep art m en t

fo r a fo l lo w-u p

. Aft er a u ri n al y s i s rev eal ed b l o o d

, l eu k o cy t es

, an d b i li ru b i n i n RG’ s

u ri n e, wh i ch Ev an s an d Fai rcl o t h b el i ev ed t o b e in d i cat i o ns o f an i n fect io n

, t h ey

co n ti n u ed t reat i n g RG fo r n au s ea an d p ai n an d ad d ed an an t i b i o t i c t o t reat t h e

i n fect i o n an d Gat o rad e fo r h y d rat i o n

. Fai rcl o t h an d Ev an s al so p erfo rm ed a d ru g t es t

,

wh i ch refl ect ed t h e p res en ce of s ev eral i ll eg al d ru g s i n RG’ s u ri n e. In t h e m ean t i m e,

Cat h y h ad ob t ai n ed a no t e fro m Dr. Van ce B o d d y, R G ’s p h y s i ci an an d d el i v ered i t

t o t he jai l . Th e n o t e s t at ed t h at RG h ad a s ev ere k id ney p ro b lem an d i m

p ai red ren al

fu n ct i o n

, wh i c h c a u s ed h i m t o p as s m u l t i p l e k i dn ey s t o n es w eek l y an d req u i red

“ freq u en t narco t i c ad m i n i s trat io n an d m ed i cal o v ers ig h t [.] ” E v an s ack n o wl ed g ed

recei v i n g t h i s n o t e an d cal li n g Dr. Bo d dy ’ s Offi ce fo r fu rt h er cl ari fi cat i o n

. Du ri n g

t h at cal l

, s h e l earn ed th at Dr. Bo d d y h ad p res cri b ed Perco cet

, a n arco t ic, t o t reat RG’ s

co n di t i o n

, an d s h e k n ew t hat s h e was u n ab le t o ad m i n i s t er narco t i cs at t h e jai l

. Ev an s

4m ad e t h e d eci s i o n t o i n i t iat e t h e p ro t o co l fo r det o x b y g i v i n g RG ad d i t i o n al

m ed i cat i o n an d p l aci n g hi m in an i s o l at i o n ro o m at aro un d 1 1 a.m

. wi t h a cam era to

m o ni t o r h i m

.

Cat h y had al s o co m

m u ni cat ed RG’ s co n cern s t o h i s paren t s o v ern i g h t

, an d h i s

fat h er Ray Grah am cal l ed t h e jai l M o n d ay m o rn i n g an d s po k e t o a wo m an h e b el i ev ed

was Ev an s

. Ray to ld h er t h at RG h ad s eri o u s k i d ney p ro b l e m s a n d as k ed t h at h e

recei v e ap p ro p ri at e h el p

. Th e wo m an rep l i ed th at t h ey k n ew wh at was w ro n g wi t h RG

– h e was d et o x i n g

– an d t h ey d i d n ot n eed an y h el p o r an y m ed ical reco rd s

.

Co n cern ed ab ou t t h i s res p o n se, Ray s en t an e-m ai l t o t h e d i v i s i o n co m m an d er

o v e r s eei n g t h e D ou g l as Co u n t y jai l

, ex p l ai n i n g th at RG h ad “ a v ery bad k i d n e y

p ro b l e m ” t h a t cau s ed h i m t o p as s k id n ey st o n es week l y an d res u l t ed i n freq u en t

,

s ev ere k i d n ey i n fect i o ns

, req u i ri n g h o s p it al i zat i o ns d u e t o h i s ki d n ey s s h ut t i n g d o wn

.

Ray s t at ed t h at h e was co n cern ed t h at RG’ s k i d n ey s were i n d an g er o f s h u t t in g d o wn

ag ai n

, w h i ch co u l d en d an g er hi s l i fe or h i s lo n g-t erm h eal t h

. 3 Ev an s ad m it t ed t h at s h e

recei v ed an d read Ray ’ s e-m ai l

, an d aft er d i s cu s s i n g t h e is s u es rai sed i n t h e e

- m ai l

an d Dr. Bo d dy ’ s n o t e wi t h Fai rcl o t h

, s h e as k ed fo r a rel eas e f r o m R G t o o b t ai n h i s

3 W h en Ray recei v ed no res p o n se t o h i s e-m ai l, h e cal l ed th e j a i l a g a i n a n d

s p o k e wi t h Ev an s

, w h o t o l d hi m t hat h e c o u l d n o t t a l k wi th RG b ecau s e h e was in

i s ol at i o n

.

5m ed i cal reco rd s fro m o n e o f t h e l o cal em erg en cy ro o m s ( “ E R ” ). Ev an s rev i ewed t h es e

reco rd s

, wh i ch s h o wed t h at RG h ad v i si t ed t h e h o s p i t al ER on a n um b er o f occas i on s

fo r k i d ney s t o n e s

, i n fect i o n s

, an d ren al fai l u re, w h i ch so m et i m es req u i red

h o s p it al i zat i on

.

Th e n ex t d ay

, Tu es d ay

, No v em ber 3

, b et ween 8 : 05 a n d 9 : 0 0 a.m

., Ev an s v i s i t ed

RG i n h i s i s o l at i o n cel l t o gi v e hi m m ed i ci ne fo r n au s ea, wh i ch was th e o nl y t i m e s h e

ev er vi s i t ed RG’ s cel l an d th e l as t t i m e s h e had p ers on al co n t act wi t h h i m

. Th ereaft er,

s h e rel i e d o n B r o wn an d Sk i n n er, as wel l as o t h er n o n -m ed ical jai l em p l o y ees

, to

m o ni t o r RG’ s co n d it i o n ; h o wev er, t h e ev i d en ce su p po rt ed t h at Ev an s n ev er t o l d an y

o f t h em t h at RG s u ffered fro m a recu rri n g k id n ey co n di t i o n

, in v o l v i n g week l y k i d n ey

s t on es an d s eri o us in fect i o n s

. In s t ead

, t h ey were t o ld o n l y th at RG was d et o x i n g

. At

aro u n d 12 :3 0 t h at day

, J o a n G r a h am

, RG’ s m o t h er cal l ed t h e sh eri ff’ s offi ce to

d i s cu s s h i s co n d i t i o n an d t o offer t o b ri n g RG’ s m ed i cal reco rd s fro m t wo ho s p i tal s

wh ere h e h ad recei ved t reat m en t

. Ho wev er, sh e was t o l d t h a t t h e reco rd s w ere n ot

n eed ed ; rat h er, s h e was to l d t h at RG was d et o x i n g. Th at ev en i n g aft er Dep u t y T i n a

Sh ep h erd arri v ed fo r her 6 :0 0 p .m

. t o 6: 0 0 a.m

. s h i ft

, s h e n o t i ced t h at RG was “ real l y

weak ” an d t h a t h e h ad b een v o m i t i n g an d co u l d n o t k eep an y t h i n g d o wn

. T wo

d ep ut i es were req u i red t o t ak e h i m t o t h e s h o wer t h at n i g h t becau s e h e was s o weak

.

6Befo re D ep u ty Sh ep herd l eft t h e n ex t d ay

, W ed n es d ay

, No vem b er 4

, at aro u n d

6 : 0 0 a.m

., s h e s po k e wi t h Bro wn ab o u t RG’ s c o n d i t i o n

, t el l i n g h er h e w as “ real l y

s i ck ,” weak

, an d co u l d n o t k eep an y t h i ng d o wn

. Ab o u t a n h ou r lat er, d uri n g t h e

i n m at e h ead co un t

, Dep u ty Ro b ert Gl y n n G al e fo un d RG ly i n g face d o w n o n th e fl o o r,

s h ak in g an d m o an i n g

. Bro w n was s u m m o n ed t o t h e cel l t o ch eck o n RG. W h en

Bro w n t o o k h is v i t al s ig n s

, s h e c o u l d n o t g et a b l o o d p res su re read i n g

, h i s o x y g en

l ev el was ex t rem el y l o w, an d hi s p u l s e was el ev at ed

. Bro w n t e s t i fi ed t h at b as ed o n

t h es e o b s erv at i o ns

, s h e b el i ev ed RG h ad ex p eri en ced a s ei zu re. Dep u t y Gal e t es t i fi ed

t h at h e t o l d Bro wn at t h e t i m e t h at h e t h o u g h t RG n eed ed to go t o t h e h o s pi t al

, b ut

Bro w n t o l d h i m

t h at RG was d et o x i n g an d d i d n o t n eed t o g o t o t h e ho s pi t al . W h en

Ev an s arri v ed fo r h er s hi ft at aro u n d 8 : 0 0 a.m

., Bro wn to l d h er t h at s h e t h o u g h t RG

“ h ad h ad a s ei zu re, t hat h i s b o x e r s were w et

, t h at h e was l ay i ng face d o wn

, o n t h e

fl oo r, wh en [s h e] fi rs t s aw h i m

, an d t h at h e was s l o w t o aro u s e,” b ut s h e rep o rt ed t h at

h e l at er ap p eared to h av e co m e o u t o f t he sei zu re an d beco m e al ert an d o ri en t ed

. At

aro u n d 1 :0 0 t o 2 : 0 0 p .m ., a d ep u t y fo u n d RG l y i n g u n d er h is b u n k an d s h ak i n g . He

n o t i fi ed th e m ed i cal dep art m en t

, an d Ev an s s en t Sk i nn er t o ch eck o n RG. Sk i n n er

fo u n d RG l y i n g o n t h e fl o or of h i s cel l

, bu t he d id n ot t ak e RG’ s v it al s i g n s b ecau s e

h e was i n a ru s h t o p erfo rm o t h er t as k s

. Ho wev er, h e as k ed RG i f h e wan t ed t o g et in

7h i s b un k

, an d RG s ai d “ n o .” Sk i n n er rep o rt ed t h es e ci rcu m st an ces t o Ev an s. Dep u t y

Gal e s t at ed t h at h e c o n t in u ed t o ch eck o n RG th ro u gh o ut h i s s h i ft t h at d ay an d h e

co u ld see RG l y i ng o n h i s b ack

, o n t h e fl o or of h is cel l

, w i t h h i s h an d s i n t h e ai r,

s h ak in g

. Gal e tes ti fi ed t h at o n fo u r o ccas i o n s

, h e as k ed Ev an s an d / o r Bro wn t o ch eck

o n h i m

. Al t h o ug h h e co nt i n u ed t o u rg e Bro wn an d Ev an s th at RG n eed ed t o g o t o a

h o s p it al , t h ey

co n t in ued t o res po n d t h at RG was d et o x i n g. Aft er Sh ep h erd ret u rn ed

fo r her s h i ft t h a t e v e n i n g at aro u n d 6: 0 0 p .m

., d u ri n g t h e i nm at e head co u n t

, s h e

d i s co v ered

, RG ly i n g o n t h e fl o o r wi th h i s h a n d s i n th e ai r, un res p on s iv e, wi t h h i s

ey es wi d e o p en

, an d n ot m o v i n g

. A n o t h er dep u t y an d Sk i n n er b eg an CPR, b u t aft er

RG was t ran s p ort ed t o t h e h o s pi t al , h e was p ro n o un ced d ead

.

Ev an s was co nv ict ed o f i n v o lu n tary m an s l au g h t er u n d er OCGA § 1 6 -5 -3 (a)

“ i n t h at th e d efen d an t d i d cau s e t h e d eat h o f Ro d n ey Grah am

, wi t h o ut an y in t en t i o n

t o d o s o

, b y t h e co m

m is s i o n o f an u n l awfu l act ot h er t h an a fel o ny

, t o wi t : Reck l es s

Co n d u ct

, O.C.G.A. § 1 6-5 -6 0 (b )[.] ” M o re sp eci fi cal ly

, Co u n t T wo of t h e i n d i ct m en t

al l eg ed t h at Ev an s fai led t o p ro v i d e RG p ro p er m ed i cal care an d t reat m en t

i n t h at i n m at e Ro d ney Grah am was s u fferi ng f r om a l i fe t h reat en i n g

k i d n ey di s ord er w h il e i n c a r c erat ed at th e Do u gl as Co un t y jai l an d

d es p i t e rep eat ed req u es t s fro m fam i l y m em b ers of Ro d n ey Grah am th e

d efen d an t fai l ed t o pro p erl y t reat an d care fo r Ro dn ey G r a h a m an d

8fu rt h er, n o tw ithsta nding the se r e pe at ed req u es ts t o p ro v i de t h e n eces s ary

t reat m en t t h e d efen dan t fai l ed t o d o so res u l t i n g i n hi s deat h

, co n t rary t o

t h e l aws o f s ai d St at e, t h e g o o d o rd er, p eace an d d ig n it y t h ereo f.

Un d er OCGA § 1 6-5 -6 0 (b ), t h e reck les s co n d u ct s t at u t e,

[a] p ers on wh o cau ses b o d i l y h arm t o o r en d an g ers t h e b o d i l y s afet y o f

an o t her p ers o n b y co n s ci o u s l y d i s reg ard i n g a s ub s tan t i al an d

u n ju st i fi ab l e ri s k th at h i s act o r om i s s i o n wi l l cau s e ha r m o r en d an g er

t h e s afet y o f t h e o t h er p ers o n a n d t h e d i s reg ard co n s t i t u t es a g ro s s

d ev i at i o n fro m t h e s tan d ard o f care wh i ch a reas o n ab l e p e r s o n w o u l d

ex erci s e i n t h e s i t u at io n i s g u i l t y o f a m i s d em ean o r.

As t h e t ri al co u rt ch arg ed t h e j u ry

, “ t h e cri m e of reck l es s c o n d u ct i s

, i n es s en ce, an

i n s t an ce o f cri m i n al n eg l ig en ce[,] rat h er t h an an i n ten t i o n al act [,] w hic h c au s es b o d i l y

h arm t o o r en d an g ers t h e bo d i l y s afet y o f an o t h er.” See al so Ri ley v. S ta t e

, 2 5 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 2 7

, 4 29 (2 ) (5 5 1 SE2 d 8 3 3 ) (2 0 0 1 ). An d cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce is s t at u t o ri l y

d efi n ed as “ an act o r fai l u re t o act wh i ch dem o ns t rat es a w i l lfu l

, wan t o n

, o r reck l es s

d i s reg ard fo r t h e s afet y o f ot h ers wh o m i g h t reas o n ab l y b e ex p ect ed to b e i n ju red

t h ereb y .” OCGA § 1 6 -2 -1 (b ).

W e fi n d t h at t h e ev i d en ce at t ri al was s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt a fi n d i n g b y t h e ju ry

t h at Ev an s fai led t o p ro v i d e p ro p er m ed i cal care an d t reat m en t fo r RG’ s k i d n ey

d i s o rd er an d t h at h e r f

a i l u re to d o s o was i n reck l es s d is reg ard o f hi s s afet y

. Ev an s

9h ad i n fo rm at i o n f r o m m ul t i p l e s o u rces t h at RG’ s k i dn ey co nd i ti o n w as s ev ere,

req u i red cl o s e m ed i cal s up erv i s i o n

, an d h ad

, i n fact

, res u lt ed i n m u l t i p l e

h o s p it al i zat i on s

. Nev ert h el es s

, s h e d id n o t i n fo rm Dr. Grah am of RG’ s co n d i t i o n

b efo re s ch ed u l i n g an ap p o i n t m en t fo r t h e d o ct o r to s ee RG o n No v em ber 5

, fo u r day s

aft er RG fi rs t b eg an ex h i b i ti n g s i m i l a r s ym pt o m s as no t ed i n t h e h os p i tal m ed i cal

reco rd s

. In s t ead

, Ev an s fo cu s ed h er t reat m en t o n d et o x i n g h i m fr o m hi s p res cri b ed

n arco t i cs an d / o r i l l e g al d ru g s d es p i t e warn i n g s fro m RG’ s d o ct o r an d fam i l y an d

ev i d en ce i n t h e m ed i cal reco rd s s h o wi n g t hat h is d i s o rd er h ad p rev i o u s l y res u l t ed in

ren al fai l u r e

. M o r e o v er, E v an s fai l ed t o in fo rm Bro wn an d Sk in n er o r o t h er jai l

em pl o y ees

, u p o n wh om sh e rel i ed t o ev al u at e RG’ s co n d i t i o n

, t h at h e s u ffered fro m

a s ev e r e an d ap p aren t ly recu rri n g k i d n ey d i s o rd er, t h ereb y p rev en t i n g t h em fro m

co n si d eri n g t h at fact o r d u ri n g t h ei r ev al uat i o n o f h i s sy m pt o m s o f v o m it i ng

, s ei zu re,

an d ex t rem e weak n es s

.

Th i s ev i den ce s u p po rt ed a ju ry fi n d i n g t h at Ev an s d i s reg ard ed a s ub s tan t i al an d

u n j u s ti fi ab l e ri s k t h at her act s o r o m i s si o n s wo u l d cau s e h arm o r en d an g er R G ’s

s afet y

, an d t h at h er d i s reg ard co n st i tu t ed a g ro s s d ev i at i o n fro m t h e s tan d ard o f care

w h i ch a reas on ab l e p ers o n i n h er p o s i t i on wo ul d ex erci s e. L i k ewi s e, t h e j u r y w a s

au t h o ri zed t o fi n d t h at h er act i on s an d i nact i o n s d e m o n s t rat ed a wi l l fu l, wan t o n

, o r

10reck l es s d i sreg ard fo r RG’ s safet y s o as t o am o u n t t o cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce. See Mo r a s t

v. St a t e

, 3 2 3 G a. Ap p

. 8 0 8

, 8 1 3 (7 4 8 SE2 d 2 87 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (fai l ure t o s eek m ed i cal care

fo r ch il d wh o h ad b een b i t t en m u l t i p l e t i m es an d was s u fferi n g fro m ex ces s i v e

v o m i t i n g s u ffi ci en t to s up p o rt fi n d i ng o f cri m i nal neg l i g en ce). Acco rd i n g ly

, ap p l y i n g

t h e p ro p er s tan d ar d o f r e v i e w

, t h e ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e j u ry t o fi n d t h at

Ev an s was g ui l t y o f reck l es s co n d u ct

, t he u n derl y i n g u n l awfu l act t o th e i nv o l u n t ary

m an s l au g h t er ch arg e. See g en eral l y Pa t t er s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 8

, 3 3 0 3 1 (6 0 4

SE2 d 5 6 9 ) (2 0 04 ) (u p h o l d i n g j u ry v erd i ct fi n d i n g reck l es s co n d u ct ); Co wa n v. S t a t e

,

2 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 2

, 4 2 2 (4 61 SE2 d 5 8 7 ) (1 9 95 ) (s am e); Cr o s s v. S t a t e

, 1 9 9 Ga. Ap p.

2 6 6 , 2 6 7 (1 ) (4 0 4 SE2 d 6 33 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (s am e cri m i n al n eg l i g en ce).

Nev ert h el es s

, t o s up p o rt Ev an s ’ co n v i ct i o n fo r i n vo l u n t ary m an s l au g h t er, t h e

St at e was al s o req ui red t o pres en t ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at Ev an s ’ r eck l es s co n d u ct

cau s ed RG’ s d eat h wi t h i n t h e m ean i ng o f OCGA § 1 6 -5 -3 (a). Fo r ch arg es o f

i n v o l u n t ary m an s lau g h ter i n Geo rg ia, p r o o f o f cau s e req u i res pro o f o f p ro x i m at e

cau s e. See S t a t e v. Ja cks o n

, 2 87 Ga. 6 4 6

, 6 5 1 (2 ) n .4 (6 97 SE2 d 7 57 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Ou r

Su p rem e Co u rt h as d et erm in ed t h at “ [i ] n a cri m i nal cas e, p ro x i m at e cau s e ex i s t s wh en

t h e accu s ed ’ s act or o m i ss i o n p l ay ed a s u b s t an t i al p art i n b ri ng i n g ab o u t o r act u al l y

cau s i n g t h e v i ct i m ’ s in

ju ry o r d am ag e an d t he i n ju ry o r d am ag e was ei t h er a d i rect

11res u l t o r a reas o n ab l y p ro b ab l e co n seq u en ce o f t h e act o r o m i s s i o n.” (Ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) S

ka g g s v. S t at e , 2 78 Ga. 1 9 , 1 9-2 0 (5 9 6 SE2 d 1 5 9 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

Th e St at e’ s ev i d en ce o f cau s at i o n was p res en t ed t h ro u g h t he t es t i m o n y o f t h e

m ed i cal ex am i n er, wh o o p i n ed t h at RG “ d i ed of co m p l i cat i on s o f ch ro n i c ren al failure

wi t h el ect ro l y t e ab no rm al it y an d n e p h ro l i t hi as m ,” wh i ch an o t h er d o ct o r defi n ed as

h av in g “ [a] l o t o f ki dn ey st o nes .” 4 Th e m ed i cal ex am i n er ex p l ai n ed t hat ch ro n i c ren al

fai l u re o ccu rs ov er a p ro l o n g ed t i m e, week s

, m o n t h s

, o r y ears

. Al t h o ug h s h e t es t i fi ed

t h at had RG s een a d o ct o r earl i er, h e o r s h e c o u l d hav e i n t erv en ed t o co rrect t h e

e l ect ro l y t e ab n o rm al i t y

, s h e s t at ed t h at t h ere was n o as s u ran ce th at RG wo u l d n o t

h av e g o n e i nt o ren al fai lu re ev en w i t h s u ch t re a t m en t. Rat h er, i n res p o n s e to a

q u es t i o n a b o u t wh et h er RG wo u l d h av e s u rv i ved if h e h ad been t reat ed fo u r h o u rs

b efo re h e was fo u n d n o n -res po n s i v e, t he m ed ical ex am i ner t es t i fi e d t h at al t h o u g h

t h ere wo u ld h av e b een t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o t reat RG, s h e co u l d n o t “ m ak e t h at

as s es s m en t t h at

, i n fact

, t h e p at i en t w i l l h av e b een cu red o r wi ll h av e b een t reat ed

acco rd i n g l y .” A n d ev en t h o ug h t h e m ed i cal ex am i ner ack n o wl ed g ed th at g et t i n g RG

4 Al th o u g h th e St at e al s o pres en t ed th e t es t i m o n y o f Dr. Bo d d y an d t h e

em erg en cy ro o m d oct o r wh o d ecl ared RG’ s d eat h

, t h ey were n o t p res en t ed as ex p ert

wi t n es s es

, b ut in s tead t es t i fi ed as fact wi t nes s es

, as d id Dr. G rah am ; t hei r t es t i m o ny

d i d n o t ad d res s t h e cau s e o f RG’ s d eat h

.

12t reat m en t earl ier wo u l d h av e “ h el p ed ,” s h e tes t ifi ed t h at “ [n ] o b o d y k n o ws t o wh at

ex t en t t h i s t h erap y

wo u l d h av e h el p ed h i m

s u rv i v e.”

Li k ewi s e, t he m ed i cal ex a m ine r ’ s a f f i r m a tive r e s ponse to t h e qu es t io n o n cro s s

ex am i n at i o n as k in g

, “ [I] f s om eo n e h ad s een b l oo d i n h i s uri n e 4 8 h o u rs t o 6 0 h o u rs

earl ier, wo u l d t h ere h av e b een t h e p o s s i b i li t y t h a t t r e a t m en t co u ld h av e, at l eas t

,

p ro l o n g ed t h is li fe? ” w as i n s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e ju ry t o fi nd t h at E v an s ’ act i o n s o r

o m is s i o n s p ro x i m at el y cau sed RG’ s d eat h

. A l t h o u g h t hi s t es ti m o n y rai s es a

p o s s i b i l i ty o f s o m e t r e a t m e nt t h at co u l d h av e p ro l o n g ed RG’ s li fe, t h e m ed i cal

ex am i n er d i d n o t i d en t i fy wh at b l o o d i n t h e u ri ne i n d i cat ed n o r d i d s h e s p e c i fy t h e

“ t reat m en t ” th at co u ld h av e p o s s i b ly p ro l o n g ed li fe i n res p o n s e t o t h e p res en ce o f

b l o o d i n t h e u ri n e. An d i n fac t t h e ev id en ce s h o wed th at Fai rcl ot h an d Ev an s d id

res p o n d t o th e p res en ce o f b l o o d

, l eu k ocy t es

, an d b i l i ru b in i n R G’s u r i n e by

p res cri bi n g an an t i b i o t i c t o co m b at an y i n fect i o n

. Th e m ed ical ex am i n er t es t i fi ed t h at

at t he t im e o f RG’ s d eat h

, h e d i d n o t h av e an i n fect io n n o r was h is d eat h cau s ed b y

an i n fect i o n

. Th erefo re, wh i l e t h e ev i d en ce rai s es a p o s s i b il i t y t h at so m e un i d en t i fi ed

t reat m en t co ul d h av e p ro l o n g ed RG’ s l i fe, i t al s o r a i s e s t h e po s si b i l i t y t h at t h e

t reat m en t Ev an s p ro v i d ed RG was effect iv e i n t reat i n g an y i n fect i o n

.

13W e fi n d

, t h erefo re, t h at t h e St at e’ s ev id en ce fal l s s ho rt o f es t ab l i s h in g b ey o n d

a reas o n ab l e d o u b t t hat Ev an s ’ reck l es s co n d u ct was t h e p ro x i m at e c a u s e o f RG’ s

d eat h

. Th e p ro s ecu ti o n fai l ed t o p res en t ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h i ng th at Ev an s’ reck l es s

co n du ct p l ay ed a s u b s t an t i al part i n bri n g in g ab o u t o r act u al l y cau s i n g h i s d eat h

, an d

i t fai l ed t o d em o n s trat e t hat RG’ s d eat h was a d i r e c t o r reas o n ab l y p ro b ab l e

co n seq u en ce o f Ev an s ’ act io n s o r i n act i o n s

. At bes t

, t h e St at e’ s m e d i cal ev i d en ce

o n l y s u p p o rt ed t h e p o s s i bi l i t y t hat earl i er m o re ag gres s i v e m ed ical i nt erv en t i o n mi g ht

h av e ex t en d ed RG’ s l i fe.

Becau s e t h e St at e fai l ed t o carry i t s bu rd en t o es t ab l is h t h at Ev an s was g ui l t y

o f in v o l u n tary m an s l au g ht er b ey o n d a reas on ab l e d o u bt

, h er co n vi ct i o n m u s t b e

rev ers ed

. See Br o wn

, 1 5 2 Ga. Ap p . at 2 7 4 (1 ) (St at e’ s “ fai l u re t o p ro du ce ev i d en ce

co n nect in g [v i ct i m ’ s ] d eat h w i t h the a l le g ed u n l awfu l act s of t h e defen d an t s m an d at es

rev ers al ”). Co m

p are Lewi s v. St a t e

, 1 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 9

, 3 7 2 (5 ) (3 49 SE2 d 2 5 7 ) (1 9 8 6 )

(u p h ol d in g co n v i ct io n fo r i n v o l u n t ary m an s l au gh t er b as ed on ab u s e o f p rem at u re

ch i l d wh ere m ed i cal ex am in er ex p res s l y tes t i fi ed t h a t t h e cau s e o f d eat h was

p n eu m o n i a as s o ci at ed wi th m al n u t ri t i o n a n d ch i l d ab u s e); Ea r l y v. S ta t e

, 1 7 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 5 8

, 1 6 3 -6 4 (6 ) (3 16 SE2 d 5 2 7 ) (1 98 4 ) (u p h o l d in g co nv i ct io n fo r i nv o l u n t ary

m an s l au g h t er ev en wh ere ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at v ict i m ’ s lupus c on t ri b u ted t o h er fat al

14k i d n ey i n fect i o n wh ere m ed i cal ex p ert s were u n eq u iv o cal t hat t h e p h y s i cal i n ju ri es

d efen d an t i n fl ict ed on v ict i m an d t h e res u l t i n g i n fect i o n

, al o n g wi t h p ro l o n g ed

n eg lect , d i rect l y

an d m at eri al l y

co n t ri b u t ed t o h er d eat h ).

2

. Becau s e we h av e fo u n d t h at t he ev i den ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt Ev an s ’

co n vi ct i o n

, we n eed n o t a d d r es s t h e o th er en u m erat i o n s o f erro r s h e as s ert ed o n

ap p eal

.

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed

. Ba r n es

, P

. J., co n cu r s

. Rees e, J., co n cu r

s i n j u d g men t

o n l y. *

* THI S OPI NI ON I S PHYSI CAL PRECEDENT ONLY. COURT OF APPEALS

RULE 3 3 .2 (a ).

15