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RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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

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

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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

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Septem ber 20, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 99 8

. SCHOCK v

. HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH

et al

.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

M ark Sch o c k s u e d Ho l y Tri n i t y Cat h o li c Ch u rch (t h e “ Ch u rch ”) an d Ho l y

Tri n i t y Co u n ci l #8 0 8 1

, a/ k / a Kn i g ht s o f Co l u m bu s Co u n ci l # 8 08 1 (t h e “ Kn i g h t s o f

Co l um b u s ”), 1 fo r i n

ju ri es h e al l eg ed l y s u s t ai n ed wh en h e sl i p p ed an d fel l at a Len t en

d i n n er ho s ted by t h e Kn i g h t s o f Co l u m b u s an d h el d o n t h e Ch u rch ’ s p ro p er t y

. Th e

Ch u rch a n d t h e Kn i g h t s o f Co l u m b u s m o v ed fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, as s ert i n g t h at

Sch ock ’ s s u it was b arred by Geo rg i a’ s Recreat i o n al P r o p e r t y Act (“ RPA”), OCGA

§ 5 1

- 3 -2 0 et s eq

., an d t h at Sch o ck fai l ed to es tab l i s h t h e es s en ti al el em en t s o f h i s

cl ai m

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n s fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t aft er fi n d i n g t h at t h e

1 Sch o ck ’ s laws u i t n am ed an ad d it i o n al d efen d an t

, bu t th at d efen d an t h as b een

d i s m i s s ed fro m

t h e cas e.RPA s h i el d ed b o t h d efen d an t s fro m li ab il i ty fo r Sch o ck ’ s i n ju ri es

, an d S ch o ck

ap p eal s . Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h b el o w, we affi rm

.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s ap p ro p ri at e wh en “ t h e r e i s no gen u i ne i s s u e as t o an y

m at eri al fact an d

. . . t h e m ov i n g p art y i s 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.”

OCGA § 9 -1 1

- 5 6 ( c )

. On ap p eal fro m a ru l i n g o n a m ot i o n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t

,

t h i s Co u rt ap p l i es a d e no v o s t an d ard o f rev i ew, an d we v i ew t he ev i d en ce, i n cl u d i n g

an y reas o n ab l e co ncl u s i o n s an d i n feren ces t h at it su p po rt s

, i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e

t o t h e n on m o v an t

. See W

o r d o f Fa i t h Mi n i st r i es v. Hu r t

, 3 23 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 6

, 2 9 6 -2 9 7

(7 4 6 SE2 d 7 7 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e Ch u rch i s l o cat ed i n Peach t ree Ci t y an d

i s op en b o t h t o i t s m em

b ers an d t o t h e g en eral p ub l i c. 2 Th e Kn i g h t s o f Co l u m b u s i s

a serv ice o rg an izat i o n

, s ep arat e an d d i s t i n ct fro m t h e Ch urch

, t h a t co l l ect s an d

d o n at es fu n ds t o v ari o u s p ro g ram s a n d c h a r i ti es i n i t s co m m un i t y

. Th e Ch u rch

2 As an in it i al m at ter, we n o t e t h at Sch o ck ’ s ap p el l at e b ri ef d o es n o t co n t ai n a

s i ng l e ci t at i o n t o t h e reco rd as req u i red b y Co u rt o f Ap peal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (3 ). It i s n ot

t h i s Co u rt ’ s res p o ns i b i li t y t o s earch t h e reco rd o n b eh al f of a p art y

, W il l is v. Al l s t a t e

In s

. Co

. , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 0

, 5 4 2 (7 7 9 SE2 d 7 4 4) (2 0 1 5 ), an d t h e fai l u re t o co m p l y

wi t h o u r Co u rt ru le s ub

ject s Sch o ck ’ s u n s u p p o rt ed erro rs t o p o t en ti al ab an d o n m en t

. Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ). Ho wev er, b ecau s e w e can a s c e r t a i n Sch o ck ’ s

g en eral arg u m en t an d t he reco rd i s n o t b u rd en s o m e, we hav e ex erci sed o u r d i s cret i o n

t o res o l v e t h i s ap p eal o n t h e m eri t s. W i l l is , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 4 2

.

2p ro v id es t h e Kn i g ht s o f Co lu m b u s wi t h cu s t o d y an d co n t ro l o f a h al l l o cat ed o n t h e

Ch u rch ’ s p ro p ert y fo r t h e Kn i g h t s o f Co l u m bu s t o h o st a Len t en d in n er. Th e Ch u rch

d o es n o t p ay fo r o r pro v i de th e fo o d s erv ed at t he L e n t en d i n ners o r em p l o y ees to

wo rk at t he d i n n ers

, n o r do es t h e Ch urch recei v e an y d o n at i o n s fro m th e Kn i g h t s o f

Co l um b u s fo r p ro v i d i n g a v en u e fo r t h e d i n n ers

.

Acco rd i ng t o o n e o f i ts t ru st ees

, t h e K n i g ht s of Co l um

b u s h o s t s t h e Len t en

d i n n ers as a ch ari t ab l e serv i ce t o t h e co m m u n i t y

, an d t h e d i n n ers ’ p u rp o se is “ fo r al l

i n d i v i d u al s i n t h e co m

m u n it y t o s p en d t im e t o g et h er en jo y i ng a m eal

. ” Th e d i n n ers

are o p en t o t he p u b l i c, an d b o t h a d m i s s i o n a n d t h e fo o d are free o f ch arg e t o al l

.

W h i l e t h e Kn i g ht s o f Co l u m b u s accep t s do n at i o n s, i t d o es n o t req u i re t h at at t en d ees

m ak e a d o n at i on or p ay an en t ran ce fee t o at t en d t h e Len t e n d i n n e rs

. M o reo v er, n o

i t em s are s ol d at t h e Len ten di n n ers b y ei t h er t h e Kn i gh t s o f Co l u m b u s or t h e Ch u rch

.

Sch o ck wen t wi t h h i s m o t h er t o at t en d a Len t en d i n n er o n M arch 28

, 2 0 1 4 (t h e

“ Di n n er”). Sch o ck t es t i fi ed t h at h e en t ered th e h al l to g et fo o d w h i l e h i s m o t h er

rem ai n ed i n t he car t al k i n g o n h er p h o n e. Acco rd i n g to Sch o ck

, aft er fi l l i n g h i s p l at e

at o n e t ab l e, h e s l i p ped an d fel l o n a s u b s t an ce o n th e fl o or wh i l e wal k in g t o an o t h er

t ab l e. Sch o ck ad m it t ed t h at h e d i d n o t s ee an y t h i n g on th e fl oo r b efo re h e f el l

.

Al t h o u g h Sch o ck ’ s m o t h er t es ti fi ed t h at s h e was g o in g t o g iv e a d o n at i o n t o at t en d

3t h e Di n n er, s h e ad m i t t ed th at s h e h ad n o t d o n e s o p ri o r t o Sch ock ’ s fal l b ecau s e s h e

was s t i l l o u t s i de wh en h e s l ip p ed an d fel l

. T h i s ap p eal fo ll o ws t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary

j u d g m en t t o t h e Ch u rch an d t h e Kn i g ht s o f Co l u m bu s b as ed o n t h e ap p l i cab i l i t y o f

t h e RPA.

1

. Sch o ck fi rs t as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred b y fi n d i n g t h at t h e RPA b arred

h i s cl ai m s ag ai n s t b o th t h e Ch u rch an d t h e Kn i g h t s o f C o l u m b u s

. Sp eci fi cal l y

,

Sch ock arg u es t hat t h e Di n n er d i d n o t q u al ify fo r p ro t ect i o n u n d er th e RPA b ecau s e

i t “ was n o t a recreat i o n al act i v it y o p en t o t h e p u b l i c, an d free o f ch arg e t o t h e p u b l i c.”

W e d i s ag ree.

“ Th e p u rp o s e o f [t h e RPA] is t o en co u rag e o wn ers o f lan d t o m a k e l an d an d

wat er areas av ai lab l e t o th e p u b l i c fo r recreat i o n al pu rp os es b y l i m i t i n g t h e o wn ers ’

l i ab i l i t y t o ward p ers o n s en t eri n g t h ereo n fo r recreat i o n al pu rp o s e s

. ” OCGA §

5 1 -3 -2 0

. OCGA § 51 -3 -2 2 p ro v i d es t h at

, s u b j ect to cert ai n ex cep t i o ns no t rel ev an t

h ere, “ an o wn er o f lan d o w e s n o d u ty o f care t o k eep t h e p rem i s es s afe fo r en t ry o r

u s e b y o t h ers fo r recreat i o n al p u rp o s es or t o g iv e an y w a r n i n g o f a d an g ero u s

co n di t i o n

, u s e, s tru ct u re, o r act i v i t y o n t h e p rem i s es t o p ers o n s en t eri n g fo r

4recreat i o n al pu rp o s es .” 3 T h e RPA s h i el d s fro m li ab i l i t y “ an o wn er of l an d wh o ei t h er

d i rect l y o r i n d i rect l y i n v i t es o r p erm i t s w i t ho u t ch arg e an y p ers o n t o u s e t h e p ro p ert y

fo r recreat i o n al p u rp os es .” OCGA § 5 1 -3 -2 3

. Sch o ck d oes n ot d i s p ut e o n ap p eal t h at

t h e Ch u rch an d t h e Kn i g h t s o f Co l u m bu s co n s t it u t e “ o wn ers ” fo r p u rp os es o f t h e

RPA. See OC G A § 51 -3 -2 1 (3 ); s ee al so g en eral ly Ch a t h a m Ar ea Tr a n s i t Au t h

. v.

Br a nt l ey

, 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 7

, 2 0 6 -2 08 (3 ) (a) (8 3 4 SE2 d 5 9 3 ) ( 2 0 1 9 )

. Rat h er, h e

arg u es t h at t he Di n ner was n o t free of ch arg e an d o p en t o t h e p u b l i c

, a n d i t d i d n ot

s erv e a recreat i o n al p u rp o s e.

(a) Fr ee o

f ch a r g e

. “ As a p rereq u i s i te t o i m m u n i ty u n d er t h e Recreat i o n al

Pro p ert y Act

, t h e o wn er can n o t ch arg e a fee fo r ad m is s i o n to t h e p ro p ert y .” Ma l ea r e

v. Pea ch t r ee Ci t

y Ch ur ch o

f Ch r i s t

, 2 1 3 Ga. A p p

. 59 3

, 5 9 5 (1 ) (a) (4 4 5 SE2 d 3 2 1 )

(1 9 9 4) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n om itte d) ( phy sical p reced en t o n l y ). See al s o Mer cer

Un i v. v. S t o

f er

, 3 0 6 G a

. 1 9 1

, 19 9 (3 ) (8 3 0 SE2 d 1 6 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (“ [N] o ad m i s s i o n fee

m ay b e ch arg ed i f i m

m un i t y i s t o b e en

jo y ed .”). It i s u n d i sp u t ed t h at n ei t h er t h e

Ch u rch n o r t h e Kn i g h t s of Co l u m b u s ch arg ed a fee f

o r a d m i s s i on t o t h e Ch u rch

3 O CGA § 5 1 -3

- 2 5 s e t s fo rt h ex cep t i o n s t o th e s t at u te, b u t th e part ies d o n ot

co n ten d th at an y ex cep ti o n ap p l i es t o t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e. W e n ot e t h at al t h o u g h t h e

l an g u ag e o f th i s s t at u t e was am en d ed effect iv e J u l y 1, 20 1 8

, n o n e o f t h e ch an g es are

rel ev an t t o t h i s cas e, t o wh i ch t h e p ri o r v e r s i o n o f th e s t at u t e ap pl i es b ecau s e

Sch ock ’ s fal l o ccu rred i n 2 0 1 4

.

5p ro p ert y o r, sp eci fi cal l y

, th e Ch u rch h al l wh ere t h e Di n n er was s erv ed

. It i s fu r t h er

u n d i s p u t ed t h at Sch o ck d i d n ot p ay an ad m i ss i o n fee t o en t er t h e Ch u rch pro p ert y o r

t h e Di n n er v en u e. Th u s

, t h e Ch u rch an d t h e Kn i g h t s o f Co l u m b u s in v i t ed o r

p erm i t t ed Sch o ck t o en t er t h e p ro p ert y free o f ch arg e, as co n t em p l at ed b y OCGA §

5 1 -3 -2 3

.

In an at t em

pt t o ci r cu m

v en t t h i s fact

, Sch ock as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n ap p l y i n g th e RPA t o b ar h i s cl ai m s ag ai ns t b o th th e C h u r c h a n d th e Kn i g h t s o f

Co l um b u s b ecau s e t h e Di n ner i t s el f was n o t free o f ch arg e. A cco rd i n g t o Sch o ck

, t h e

Ch u rch an d t h e K n i g h t s of Co l u m b u s b o t h recei v ed “ a fi n an ci al b en efi t” fro m t h e

Di n ner by co l l ect i n g m on ey fro m at t en d ees

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Sch o ck cl ai m s

, w i t h o u t an y

c i t at i o n t o t h e ap p el l at e reco rd o r au t ho ri t y

, t h at a b as k et p l aced at t h e fro n t o f t h e

fo o d l i n e was “ a cl ear s i gn t o at t en d ees t h at t h e co l lect i o n o f m o n ies was ex p ect ed in

o rd er t o p art ak e i n t h e fo o d .” Sch o ck ’ s as s ert i o n s

, ho wev er, are co n t rad ict ed b y t h e

u n d i s p u t ed ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd

.

Th e u n d i s p u ted ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at t h e Di n n er was h o s t ed by t h e Kn i g h t s o f

Co l um b u s t h ro u gh i t s ch ari t y wo rk

, an d i nd i v i d u al s w ere n o t ch arg ed fo r t h e Di n n er.

W h i l e a b as k et accep t i ng d o n at i o n s s at n ear t he fo o d

, i t is u n d i s p u t ed t h at i n d i v i d u al s

wh o d i d n o t co nt ri b u t e n ev ert h el es s were perm it t ed t o at t en d t h e Di n n er an d p art ak e

6i n t h e fo o d

. T h es e u nd i s p u t ed f a ct s s u p p o rt ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl us i o n t h at

ad m i s s i o n t o t h e Di n ner was free o f ch arg e d es p i t e t h e p l ace m en t o f a b as k et

c o l l ect i n g d o n at i o n s at t h e fo o d l i ne an d “ fo recl o ses i s s u es o f fact (g en u i n e o r

o t h erwi s e) reg ard i n g l ack o f im m u n i t y u n der t h e Recreat i o n al Pro p ert y Act ” d u e t o

ch arg es fo r ad m i s si o n. Ma l ea r e , 2 1 3 Ga. Ap p . at 5 9 5 (1 ) (a).

M o reo v er, t h e reco rd i s u n d is p ut ed t h at ev en i f o th er at t en dees s o m eh o w fel t

co m p el l ed t o m ak e d on at i o n s d u e t o t h e p l acem en t o f a do n at i o n b as k et at t h e fro nt

o f t h e fo o d l i n e an d ev en i f s uch d o n at i o ns co u l d b e co ns t ru ed as an ad m i ss i o n fee,

Sc h o ck d i d n ot co nt ri b ut e an y m o n ey fo r t h e Di n n er. Sch o ck rel ies o n Ma yo r &

A l d e r m e n o

f Ga r den Ci t

y v. Ha r r i s

, 3 3 9 G a. Ap p

. 4 52 (7 9 3 SE2 d 6 2 8) (2 0 1 6 )

, t o

s u p p ort h i s arg u m en t t hat ad m i s s i o n t o t he Di n n er was n o t free of ch arg e; h o wev er,

t h at d eci s i o n was rev e rs ed b y t h e Su prem e Co u rt o f G eo rg i a, w h i ch s peci fi cal l y

co n cl u d ed t h at “ [a] lan d o wn er’ s l i ab i l i t y i s l i m i t ed t o t h os e i nju red p ers o ns w h o h av e

p ai d to us e t h e lan d o wn er’ s p ro p ert y fo r recreat i o n al p u rp o s es [.] ” M a yo r & Al d er men

o f Ga rd en Ci t y v. Ha r r i s

, 3 0 2 Ga. 8 5 3

, 8 5 6 (8 0 9 SE2 d 8 0 6 ) (2 0 1 8)

. T h a t h o l d i n g

m ak es cl ear t h at t he RPA’ s p ro t ect i o n s are av ai l ab l e t o t h e Ch u rch an d t h e Kn i g h t s

7o f Co l u m

b u s b ecau s e Sch o ck di d n o t p ay fo r h i s ad m i s s io n to t h e Di n ner. See i d

. 4

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err in co n cl u di n g t h at ad m is s i o n t o t h e Di n n er was

free o f ch arg e fo r Sch o ck

.

(b ) Op en t o t h e p u b li c

. Sch o ck fu rt h er m ai n t ai n s t h at t h e RPA d o es n o t o p erat e

t o b ar h i s cl ai m ag ai n s t t h e Ch u rch an d t he Kn ig h t s o f Co lu m b u s b ecau s e t h e Di n n er

was n o t o p en t o t h e p u b l i c wi t ho u t l i m i t at i o n . Sp eci fi cal l y , Sch o ck as s ert s

, wi t h o ut

an y ci tat i o n s t o t he reco rd o r au t h o ri ty

, t hat t h e Di n n er’ s “ r e l i g i o u s o ri g i n s

. . .

i n t ri n s i cal l y [s erv e] t o li m i t t h o s e w h o at t en d t o m em b ers of t h e [Ch u rch ] or Kn i g h t s

o f C o l um b u s

, o t h er Cat h o l i cs

, an d t h o s e n o t o f t h e Ch u rch wh o are i n v i t ed by

m em b ers .” W e d i s ag ree.

Co n trary to Sch o ck ’ s as s ert i o n s

, t here i s no ev i den ce i n t h e reco rd t o s u p p o rt

h i s cl ai m s t h at t he Di n n er was n o t o p en t o t h e p u b l i c, t h at a d m i s s i o n t o t h e Di n n er

was l i m i t ed b y an y cri t eri a, o r t h at at t en d ees were s creen ed p ri o r to b ei ng p erm i t t ed

free en t ry an d recei vi ng a free m eal

. In ad d it i o n

, Sch o ck o ffers n o ev i den ce t o s u p p o rt

4 Al t h o u g h th e Gen eral As s em b l y rev i s ed OCGA § 51 -3 -2 5 (2 ) as a res u l t o f

t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f G eo rg i a’ s d eci s io n i n Ha r ri s

, t h e fo rm er v ers i o n o f t he s t at u t e

ap p li es b ecau s e Sch o ck ’ s fal l o ccu rred i n 2 01 4

, an d t h e s t at u t o ry am en d m en t d i d n ot

b eco m e effect i v e u n t i l J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 8

. See S to f er

, 3 0 6 Ga. at 1 9 4 (2 ), n

. 4

. Th e st at u t o ry

ch an ges

, t h erefo re, as i n d i cat ed p rev i o u s l y

, are n ot rel e v a n t t o t h i s cas e, an d t h e

ru l i n g i n Ha r r i s ap p l ies i n t h is cas e. See i d

.

8h i s arg u m en t t h at t he rel i g i o u s s i g n i fi can ce of t h e ev en t d i s s u ad ed n o n -Cat h o l i cs

. In

fact

, i t i s u n d i s p u ted t h at t he K n i g h t s o f Co l u m

b u s ho s ted t h e Di n n er as a ch ari t ab l e

s erv i ce, an d

, i n d eed

, t h e p u r p o s e o f th e d i n n er w as fo r “ al l i n d i v id u al s i n t h e

co m m u n it y t o s p en d t i m e t o g et h er en jo y i n g a m eal .”

Th e Di n n er at i ss u e i n th i s cas e p aral l el s th e fal l fes t i v al in W o r d o f Fa i th

Mi n is t r i es

, i n wh i ch t h i s Co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t h e RPA i m m u n i zed fro m l i ab i l i t y a

ch u rch s p o n s o ri n g a free “ Hal l el u jah Fu n Ni g h t ,” i n t en de d as an al t ern at i v e to

t r a d i t i o n al Hal l oween act i v i t i es

, o n i t s g ro u n ds

. 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 29 7 -2 9 9 (1 ). Th e

s am e rat i on al e ap p l i es i n t h e cas e at h an d

, an d Sch o ck ’ s at t em p t t o d is t in g u i s h W

or d

o f F a i t h Mi n i s tr i es i s u n p ers u as iv e. Sch o ck al l eg es t h at t h e d i et ary an d o t h er

res t ri ct i o n s im

p o s ed b y Len t an d i m

p l em en t ed by t h e Kn i g h ts o f C o l u m b u s at t h e

Di n ner c r e a t e a n arro wer b en efi t t h an th e fal l fes ti v al at i s s u e i n W o r d o f Fa i th

Mi n is t r i es

. Ho wev er, b o t h t h e Di n n er an d t h e fal l fes t i val were free ev en t s h o s t ed o n

ch u rch p ro pert y

, an d Sch o ck fai l ed t o p res en t an y ev i d en ce d em o n s t rat i n g t h at t h e

Ch u rch o r t h e Kn i g h t s o f Co l u m b u s l im i t ed acces s t o Ch u rch p ro p ert y o r at t en d an ce

at th e Di n n er t o cert ai n m em b ers o f t h e co m

m u n it y

. T he t ri al co u rt

, t h erefo re, d i d n ot

err i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e Di n n er was o p en t o t h e p u b l i c.

9(c) Recr ea t i o n al p u r po s e

. Sch o ck arg u es i n h is ap pel l at e b ri ef th at th e Di n n er

d i d n o t hav e a recreat i o n al p u rp o s e, as req u ired fo r t he R P A ’s p r o t ect i o n t o ap p l y

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, h e as s ert s

, wi t h o u t an y ci t at i o n t o t he ap p el l at e reco rd

, th at t h e “ Len t en

d i n n er’ s p u rp o s e was cl earl y to rai s e m o n ey t o b en efi t th e Kn i g ht s o f Co l u m b u s .” W e

ag ai n d i s ag ree.

Th e RPA d efi n es t h e t erm “ recreat i on al p u rp o s e” b y l i st i n g a n o n i n cl u s i v e

g ro u p o f act i v i t i es

, in cl u d i n g “ p i cn i ck i ng ” an d “ v iewi n g o r en jo y in g h i s t o ri cal

,

ar c h eo l o gi cal

, s cen i c, o r sci en t i fi c s i t es .” O CGA § 5 1 -3 -2 1 (4 ). Geo rg i a ap p el l at e

co u rt s h a v e i n t erp ret ed t he RPA b ro ad l y

, fi n d i n g t h at i t “ en co m p as s es a n

y

recreat i o n al act iv i t y

, i .e., an y am u s em en t

, p l ay o r o t h er fo rm of rel ax at i on wh i ch

refres h es t h e m i nd o r b od y .” An d er so n v. A t l a n t a Co mmi t t ee f o r t h e Ol ymp i c Ga mes

,

2 7 3 Ga. 1 1 3

, 1 1 5 (1 ) (a) (5 3 7 SE2 d 3 4 5 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (em p h as i s s u p pl ied ); acco rd Ci t y of

Ch i cka ma u g a v. H

en t z

, 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 9

, 25 1 (6 8 4 SE2 d 3 7 2 ) (2 0 0 9 ). In fact

, as

m en t i o n ed p rev i o u sl y , t h i s Co u rt h as co n cl u d ed t h at a free fes t i v al ev en t o n ch u rch

p ro p ert y

, o p en t o th e co m m u n i t y

, s erv es a “ recreat io n al ” p u rp o s e t o wh i ch t h e RPA

ap p li es

. W

o r d o f Fa i t h Mi n i s t r ies , 3 23 Ga. Ap p . at 2 9 8 (1 ).

To s u p p o rt h i s arg um en t t h at s u m m ary ju d g m en t was n o t warran ted b ecau s e

a q u es t io n o f fact ex i s t ed r e g a r d i n g t h e Ch u rch ’ s an d t h e Kn ig h ts o f Co l u m b u s ’ s

10p u rp os e i n h o s t i n g t h e Di n ner, Sch ock m i st ak en l y cl a i m s t hi s cas e i s co n t ro l l ed by

At l a n t a Co mmi t t ee f

o r t he Ol ymp i c Ga mes v. H

a wt h o r n e

, 2 7 8 Ga. 1 1 6

, 11 7 -1 1 8 (1 )

(5 9 8 SE2 d 4 7 1 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Ho wev er, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt of G eo rg i a e x p res s l y

d i s ap p ro v ed t h e l an g uag e fro m Ha wt h o r n e u p o n wh i ch Sch o ck rel i es i n S t o f er

, 3 0 6

Ga. 19 1 at 2 0 1 -2 0 2 (4 ), an d Sch o ck ’ s rel i an ce o n Ha wt h o rn e t h erefo re i s m i s p l aced

.

In S t o f er

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt cl ari fi ed t h e rel ev an t an al y s i s u n d er th e RPA, ex p l ai n i n g

t h at i n o rd er t o es t ab li s h wh et h er a l an d o wn er m ai n t ai n ed t h e req u is i te recreat i o n al

p u rp os e an d i s t h erefo re en t i tl ed t o i m m un i t y u n d er t he RPA,

t h e t ru e s co pe an d n at u re o f t h e l an do wn er’ s i nv i tat i o n t o u s e i t s

p ro p ert y m

u s t be d e t e rm i n ed

, an d t h i s d et erm i n at i o n p ro p erl y i s

i n fo rm ed b y t wo rel at ed co n s i d erat i o n s : (1 ) t h e nat u re of t h e a ct i vi t y t hat

co n s t i t ut es t h e u s e o f t h e p ro p ert y i n wh ich p eo p l e h av e b een in v it ed t o

en g ag e, an d (2 ) t h e n at ure o f t he p r o per t y t h at p eo p l e hav e b een i nv i ted

t o u se. In o t h er wo rd s

, t h e fi rs t a s k s wh et her t h e act iv it y i n wh i ch th e

p u b l i c was i n v it ed t o en gag e was o f a k in d t h at q u al i fi es as recreat i o nal

u n d er t h e Act

, an d t h e s eco nd as k s w h e t h er at t h e rel ev an t t i m e th e

p ro p ert y was o f a s o rt t h at i s u s ed pri m ari l y fo r recreat i o n al p urp o s es o r

p ri m ari l y fo r co m

m erci al act i v i t y

.

Id . at 1 9 6 (2 ).

Co n trary t o Sch o ck ’ s arg u m en t

, t h e f a c t t h a t t h e Ch u rch an d th e Kn i g h t s o f

Co l um b u s m ay h av e s o l i ci t ed do n at i o ns an d o bt ai n ed an i n di rect fi nan ci al b en efi t i s

i m m at eri al

. In d eed

, “ [i ] t i s im pr oper t o co ns i d er a l an d o wn er’ s s u b ject i ve m o ti v at i on s

11i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e l an do wn er i s en t i tl ed t o i m m u n i t y u nd er t h e A ct .” S t o

f er

,

3 0 6 Ga. at 1 9 9 (3 ). Th e rel ev an t q u es t i o n i n st ead i s w h et h er “ t h e l an d o wn er act u al l y

i n v i t ed p eo p l e o nt o t h e p ro p ert y (d i rect l y o r i n d irect l y ) t o d o s o m et h i n g

‘ recreat i o n al ,’ o r w h et h er peo p l e h a v e i n s t ead b een al l o wed o n t o t h e p ro p ert y to

e n g ag e in co m

m erci al act iv i t y .” Id

. at 1 9 6 (2 ) (em p h as i s o m i t t ed ); see al so Mer cer

Un i v. v. S t of

er

, 35 4 Ga. Ap p

. 45 8

, 4 6 0-4 6 1 (8 4 1 SE2 d 2 2 4 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (t h e qu es t i o n i s

wh et h er, at t h e t i m e o f t h e recreat i o nal act i v it y

, t h e p ro p ert y was u sed p ri m ari l y fo r

recreat i o n al p u rp o s es o r p ri m ari l y fo r co m m erci al act iv i t y ).

Vi ewed i n t h i s l i g h t , t h e reco rd s h o w s t h at b ot h t h e nat u re o f t h e act i v i t y an d

t h e n at u re o f t h e p ro p ert y at t h e t i m e o f t h e Di n n er were p u r e l y r e c r eat i o n al

, n ot

co m m e r c i a l

. Th e u n d is p u t ed ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd s h o w s t h at t h e pu rp o s e o f t h e

Di n ner was t o al l o w in di v i d u al s i n t h e co m m un i t y t o g at h er t o get h er t o en jo y a m eal

.

Th e Di n n er was an o pp o rt u n i t y fo r t h e co m m u n i t y to co m e t o get h er, s o ci al i ze, s h are

a m eal , an d “ refres h [] t h e m i n d o r b o d y

. ” See A n der s o n , 2 7 3 Ga. at 1 1 5 (1 ) (a); s ee

a l s o Ma t hes o n v. Ga

. D ep t

. o f Tr a n s p

. , 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 92

, 1 9 6 (4 ) (6 3 3 SE2 d 5 6 9 )

(2 0 0 6). T h erefo re, Sch o ck was i n v i t ed to u se t h e pro p ert y fo r a recreat i o n al p u rp o s e.

See Ma t h es o n

, 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 9 4 -1 9 5 (1 ) (b ); Ga

. Dep t. o f Tr a n s p

. v. Th o mp s o n

,

2 7 0 Ga. Ap p . 2 6 5 , 2 6 7 -2 6 9 (1 ) (6 0 6 SE2 d 3 2 3) (2 00 4 ). M o reo ver,

12ev en if t h e [Di n n er] h ad t h e effect o f en co u rag i n g s o m e p eo p l e t o

co n s i d er jo i n i ng t h e [C] h u rch

, t h e r eb y al l owi n g th e [C] h urch t o

ev en t u al l y o r p o t en t i al l y p ro fi t b y i n creas ed t i t h es o r g i ft s to th e

[C] h u rch fro m th o s e n ew m em b ers

, t he co nn ect i o n b et ween t h e [Di nn er]

an d t h e [C] h u rch ’ s ev en t u al an d h y p ot h et i cal p ro fi t i s far t o o ten u o us t o

ren d er t h e v en t u re co m

m erci al

.

W o r d o f Fa i t h Mi n i s t ri es

, 3 23 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 9 8 (1 ) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed ).

Th e t ri al co urt d i d n o t err in f i n d i n g t h at th e RPA b arred Sch o ck ’ s cl ai m s

ag ai n s t b o t h t h e Ch u rch an d t h e Kn i g h ts o f Co l u m b u s

.

2

. Sch ock as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co m m i t t ed rev ers i b l e erro r b y n o t d eci d i n g

wh et h er t h e Ch u rch an d t h e K n i g h t s o f Co l u m

bu s es t ab li s hed t h at h e h a d n o t i ce o f

t h e h azard t h at cau s ed hi m t o s l ip an d fal l

. Th e t ri al co u rt

, h o w ev er, was n o t o b l i g at ed

t o d o so b ecau s e i t s p eci fi cal ly fo u n d t h at Sch o ck ’ s cl ai m s were barred b y t h e RPA.

“ [W ] h en a t ri al co u rt d et erm i n es t h at a cert ai n i s su e is d i sp o si t iv e of t h e cas e, t h ere

i s n o reas o n t o ad d res s an y fu rt h er i s s u es .” Ci t y o f Ga i n es vi ll e v. Do d

d

, 2 75 Ga. 8 3 4,

8 3 7 (5 7 3 SE2 d 3 6 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ). Acco rd i n g l y, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot err i n refu s i n g to

ad d res s t h e m eri t s o f Sch o ck ’ s s l i p -an d -fal l cl ai m

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ri ckma n , C. J., a n d McFa d d en , P. J., co n cu r

.

13