THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, A NDREWS and RI CKM A N, 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

October 4, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 88 0 . W A L-M ART STORES EAST L. P. v . BENSON.

E LLI N G T O N , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

In t h i s p rem i s es l i ab i li t y act i o n, Cat heri n e Ben so n s u ed W al -M art St o res Eas t

L. P. an d Sco t t Ferrel l i n th e St at e Co u rt o f Gwi n n et t Co u n t y s eek i n g d am a g e s f o r

i n ju ri es s u s t ai ned w h en s h e s l i p p ed an d fel l wh i l e s h o p pi n g at a W al -M art

. Fo l l o wi n g

t h i s Co u rt ’ s g ran t of t h ei r ap p l i cat i o n fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

, W al -M art an d Ferrel l

ap p eal fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s den i al o f t h ei r m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t co n t en d i n g,

am on g o th er th i n g s

, t hat t here is n o ev i d en ce t h at W al -M art had s u p eri o r k n o wl ed g e

o f an y h azard o us co n d it i o n an d t h at t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at Ferrel l

, a s t o re m an ag er,

d i rect ed

, p art i ci p at ed

, o r co o p erat ed i n an y act l ead i n g t o Ben s o n ’ s fal l

. W e rev ers e

fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h b el ow.A p art y i s en t i tl ed t o s u m m ary ju dg m en t if t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s ue o f

m at eri al fact an d t h e m o v i n g p art y is en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f

l aw. OCGA § 9 -1 1-5 6 (c). O n a p p eal fro m t h e g ran t [o r d en i al ] o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, w e co n s t ru e t h e ev i de n c e m os t fav o rab l y t o ward s

t h e n o n m o v i ng p art y

, w h o i s gi v en th e b en efi t o f al l reas o nab l e d o u b t s

an d p os si b le i n feren ces

. Th e p art y o p p o si ng s u m m ary j u d g m en t i s n o t

req u ired t o p ro d u ce ev i den ce d e m a n d i n g ju d g m en t fo r i t

, b u t i s o n l y

req u ired t o p res en t ev i d en ce t h at rai s es a g en u i n e i s s ue of m at eri al fact

.

Ou r rev i ew o f th e g ran t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t i s

d e n o v o

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Jo hn s o n v. Omo n d i

, 2 9 4 Ga. 7 4

, 7 5 -7 6 (7 5 1

SE2 d 2 8 8) (2 0 1 3).

So v i ewed

, th e ev i d en ce sh o ws t h e fo l l o wi ng

. On t h e aft ern oo n o f Ju l y 5

, 2 0 1 3,

Ben so n sl i p p ed an d fel l in a W al -M art i n Ro m e, Geo rg i a. It h ad been rai n i ng earl i er

i n t h e d ay

. Ben s o n en t ered t h e s t o re, wh ere t h e fl o o r was d ry

, wal k ed d o w n a n earb y

ai s l e, an d s l i p p ed

. Acco rd in g t o Ben s o n

, o n e o f h er feet wen t fo rward

, an d t h e o t h er

b ack

, an d s h e d id a “ s pl it ,” fal l i n g d own o n o ne k n ee an d t h en back ward s o n t o t h e

fl oo r. Sh e d i d n o t s ee an y t h i ng o n t h e fl o o r b e f o re s h e fel l

. Sh e t es t i fi ed

, h o wev er,

t h at s h e l an d ed i n a “ cl ear

. . . l i q u i d ” s u b s t an ce, an d t h at h er pan t s w ere wet aft er s h e

fel l

.

2W al -M art d i d n ot h av e cam era co v erag e of t he ex act l o cat i o n o f Ben s o n ’ s fal l

.

Th e reco rd co n t ai n s s u r v e i l l an ce v i d eo fo o t ag e s h owi n g t h e ves t i b u l e an d p o rt i on s

o f t h e ai sl es n ear t h e en t ran ce o f t h e s t ore fro m ap p ro x i m at el y an h ou r b efo re, an d

s h o rt l y aft er, Ben s o n’ s fal l

. On t h e v i d eo

, Ben s o n can b e s e e n e n t eri n g t he s t o re,

wal k i n g acro s s t h e fl oo r m at s an d p as t th e cau t i o n co n es p l aced i n s i d e t h e en t ran ce,

an d t h en d own an ai s l e t o h er ri g h t , wh ere s h e fel l o ff v i ew o f t h e cam era.

Th e ev i d en ce al s o s h o w ed t hat t h e W al -M art l o cat i o n was a larg e co m m erci al

es t ab l i s h m en t s el li n g g ro ceri es

, a m o ng o t h er p ro d uct s

, wi t h a h i g h v o l u m e o f

cu s t o m er t raffi c. W al -M art ’ s p o l i cy req u ired i t s em p l o y ees t o k eep a l o o k o u t fo r an d

t o i m m ed i at el y ad d res s s p i l l s o r o t h er h azard s

, an d i t s m a i n t e n an ce p ers on n el were

t rai n ed t o ci rcu l at e t h ro u g h th e s t o re a n d perfo rm an y n eces sary cl ean i n g an d

m ai n t en an ce. On rai n y d ay s

, t h e s t o re m ay p lace cau ti o n co n es at t h e fro n t en d o f t h e

s t o r e an d p l ace m at s at t he fro n t en t ran ce t o h el p p rev en t s l i p an d fal l acci d en t s

.

Em p l o y ees w ere al s o trai ned to “ d ry m o p ” t h e v es ti b u l e an d ai s les as n eces s ary

.

Acco rd in g t o t h e t es t i m o n y o f a W al -M art m an ag er t h en em p l o y ed a t t h e s t o re at

i s su e, t h es e p o li ci es were i n effect an d b ei n g fo l lo wed o n t h e d at e o f Ben s o n ’ s fal l

.

Th e s u rv ei ll an ce v i d eo sh o ws W al -M art em p l o ye e L e na Bran d b eg i n n i n g to

m o p t h e ai sl e wh ere Ben s on fel l 2 4 t o 2 6 m i n u t es befo re t h e fal l

. Bran d ’ s t es t i m o ny

3s h o wed t h at o n rai n y d ay s i t was h er n o rm al p ract ice t o d ry m o p t h e ves t i b u l e as wel l

as t h e ai s l e wh ere Ben so n fel l

. Th e s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo

, co n s is ten t wi t h Bran d ’ s

t es t i m o ny

, s h o ws her rep eat ed l y d r y m o p p i n g th e v es t i bu l e an d n earb y ai s l es

,

s o m et i m es g o i ng o u t o f v iew o f t h e cam era i n t h e p ro ces s

. Acco rd i n g t o Bran d

, s h e

i n s p ect ed fo r h azard s wh i l e d ry m o p p i n g

, an d , i f t h ere h ad b een an y cl ear l i q u i d o n

t h e fl oo r, s h e wo u l d hav e s een i t an d m o p p ed i t.

“ [I] n o rd er t o reco v er fo r i n ju ri es s u s t ai n ed i n a s l i p -an d -fal l act i o n

, an i n v i t ee

m u st p ro v e (1 ) t h at th e d efen d an t h ad act u al o r co ns t ru ct i v e k n o w l ed g e o f t h e h azard ;

a n d (2 ) t h at t h e p l ai n ti ff l ack ed k n o wl ed g e o f t h e hazard d es p i t e t he ex erci s e o f

o rd i n ary care du e t o act i o n s o r co n d i t i o n s wi th i n t h e co n t ro l o f t h e o wn er/ occu p i er.”

Ro b in s o n v. Kr o ger Co

., 2 6 8 Ga. 7 3 5

, 7 4 8 -7 4 9 (2 ) (b ) (4 9 3 SE2 d 4 03 ) (1 9 9 7 ). As to

t h e s eco n d p ro n g

, “ t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s ev i d en t i ary p ro o f

. . . i s n o t s h o u l d e r e d u n t i l t h e

d ef e n d a n t es t ab l i sh es n eg l i gen ce o n th e part o f t h e p l ai n ti ff

-- i .e., t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff

i n t en t i o n al l y an d un reas on ab l y ex p os ed s el f t o a h azard o f wh i ch th e p l ai n t i ff k n ew

o r, i n t h e ex erci s e o f o rd i n ary care, s h o u l d h av e k n o wn .” Id . at 7 4 9 (2 ) (b ).

St at ed an ot her way

,

t h e t ru e b as i s fo r l iab i l i t y i s t h e s u peri o r k n o wl ed g e o f t h e pro p ri et o r o f

t h e ex i s t en ce o f a co n d i t i o n t h at m ay s ub ject t h e i n v i t ee to an

4u n reas o n ab l e ri s k o f h arm

. In o rd er t o reco v er, t h e p lai n t i ff m u s t p ro ve

t h at t h e d efen d an t h ad s u p eri or k n owl ed g e o f a d an gero u s co n d i t io n t hat

was u n k n o wn t o t h e p l ai n t i ff an d t h at cau s ed t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s i n j u ri es

.

( C ita tions a nd punc tua t i o n o m i t t ed .) Ad a mch i ck v. Cr a cker Ba r rel Ol d Co u n t r y S t o re

,

In c. , 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p . 6 7 7, 6 7 8 (6 3 7 SE2 d 4 4 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

1

. W al -M art co n t en ds t h a t t h e t r i al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g i t s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t b ecau s e t h ere i s n o ev id en ce t h at it h ad su p er i o r k n o wl ed g e o f

an y h azard o u s co nd i t i o n

. A s Ben s o n co nced ed b el o w

, t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at W al

M art had act u al k no wl ed g e o f t h e al l eg ed hazard

. If a d efen dan t do es n o t h av e act u al

k n o wl ed g e o f t h e al l eg ed h azard

,

t h e cas e t u rn s o n wh et h er co n s t ru ct i v e k no wl ed g e o f t h e al l eg ed h azard

can b e i m pu t ed t o t he o wn er/ o ccu p ier. Co n s t ru ct i v e kn o w l ed g e can b e

es t ab l i sh ed i n t w o w ay s

. Fi rs t

, co n s t ru ct i v e kn o wl ed g e can be

d em o ns trat ed b y s h o wi n g t h at an em p l o y ee w as p os i t i o n e d i n th e

i m m ed i at e v i ci n i ty an d h ad th e o p p o rt u n i t y an d m ean s t o d i s co v er an d

rem o v e t h e h azard

. Seco n d

, co n s t ru ct i v e k n o wl ed g e m ay b e s h o wn b y

ev i d en ce t h a t t h e al l eg ed h azard was p res en t fo r s uch a l en g t h of t i m e

t h at i t w o ul d h av e been d i sco v ered h ad t h e pro p ri et o r e x erci s ed

reas o n ab l e care i n i n sp ect i n g t h e p rem i s es

.

Bl o cker v. W

a l-Ma r t S t o r es

, In c.

, 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p. 5 8 8

, 5 8 9 -5 9 0 (6 5 1 SE2 d 8 45 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

5Ho wev er, “ t o wi t h s t an d a m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, t h e p lai n t i ff n eed n o t s h o w

h o w l o n g th e hazard h ad b een p res en t un l es s t h e o wn er h as fi rs t d em o n st rat ed i t s

i n s p ect i on p ro ced u res .” (Pu n ct u at i o n an d fo ot n o t e o m i t t ed .) Ben ef i el d v. To mi n i ch

,

3 0 8 Ga. Ap p . 6 0 5 , 6 0 9 (1 ) (7 08 SE2 d 5 6 3 ) (2 0 1 1).

(a) Th e ev i den ce d oes n ot s h o w, n o r d o es Ben s o n co nt en d

, t h at t h ere was an y

W al -M art em

p l oy ee i n t h e area wh o h ad t h e o p p o rt u n i t y a n d m e an s t o rem o v e t h e

al l eg ed hazard aft er t h e ai s l e was m o p p ed b y Bran d

. Ben s o n arg u es

, h o wev er, t h at a

ju ry co u l d co n cl u de t h at Bran d cau s ed o r ex acerb at ed t h e h azard o u s co n d it i o n . See

g en eral l y Gi l b er t v. Au to

. Pu r ch a s i n g S er v.

, 2 5 4 G a. Ap p. 7 7 0

, 7 7 1 (5 6 3 SE2 d 9 0 6 )

(2 0 0 2) (“ [O] n e wh o creat es a d an g ero u s co n di ti o n o n hi s p ro p ert y h as co n s t ru ct i v e

k n o wl ed g e o f t h e d an ger.”) (fo o t n ot e o m i t t ed ). Th e s u rv ei l lan ce v i d eo sh o ws t h at

,

b efo re m o p p i n g t he ai s l e wh ere Ben s o n fel l

, Bran d p u t s o m e wh it e m at eri al u n d er t h e

m o p. Ben s o n arg u es t h at a t ri er o f fact co u l d co n cl u de th at Bran d u s ed t h e m at eri al

,

wh i ch Ben s o n co n ten d s t o h av e t h e ap p earan ce o f co m m erci al t o i l et p ap er, b ecau s e

h er m op was s at u rat ed wi th wat er. Ben s o n p o si ts t h at

, i f Bran d ’ s m o p was s at u rat ed

,

s h e w o ul d h av e b een s p read i n g wat er, n o r d r yi n g t h e fl o or. Th e ev i d en ce d o es n ot

s h o w wh at m at eri al Bran d p laced u n d er t h e m o p or wh y s h e p l aced i t t h e re, an d

Ben so n ’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e m o p w a s s at u rat ed an d t h at Bran d’ s act io n s cau s ed o r

6co n tri b u t ed t o th e al l eg ed h azard are b as ed o n s p ecu lat i o n

. “ [G] u es s es o r sp ecu l at i o n

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

i n feren ce o f fact fo r co n si d erat i o n o n s u m m ary ju d g m en t .” (Pu n ct uat i o n an d fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed .) Ba r cl a

y v. S t ep h en so n

, 3 37 Ga. A p p

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

Th u s, t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t hat W al -M art h ad co n s t ru ct i v e k n o wl ed g e of th e al l eg ed

h azard b ecau s e Bran d creat ed o r co n t ri bu t ed t o t h e h azard

.

(b ) W al -M art co n t en d s t h at i t i s en t i t l ed t o su m m ary j u d gm en t b as ed o n i t s l ack

o f co n s t r u c t iv e k n o wl ed g e o f t h e al l eg ed h azard b ecau se t h e ev i d en ce s h owed t h at

i t in s t i t ut ed an d fo l lo wed a reas o n ab l e i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u re.

[S] u m m ary ad ju d i cat i o n as t o co n s t ru ct i v e k n owl ed g e ari s i n g fro m th e

d u t y t o in sp ect i s n o t au t ho ri zed ab s en t p l ai n, pal p ab le an d u n d i s p u t ab l e

p ro o f t h at cu st o m ary i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u res or cl ean i ng p ract i ces were

i n p l ace, were act u a l l y fo l l o wed an d were ad eq u at e t o g u ard ag ai n s t

k n o wn o r fo res eeab l e d an g ers at t h e ti m e o f t h e p at ro n ’ s al l eg ed i n ju ri es

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Bu rn e t t v. In g l es Ma r ket s

, 2 36 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 5,

8 6 7 (5 1 4 SE2 d 6 5 ) (1 9 9 9). “ W h e t h e r a n i ns p ect i o n p ro ced u re i s reas o n ab l e as a

m at t er of l aw v ari es cas e-t o-cas e, d ep en d i n g o n t h e nat u re o f th e b us i n es s

, t h e s i ze o f

t h e s t ore, t he n u m

b er of cu s t o m ers

, t he n at ure o f t h e d an g ero u s co n di ti o n

, an d t h e

7s t ore’ s l ocat i o n .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Fo o d Li o n

, LLC v. W a l ker

, 2 9 0

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

Ben s o n m ai n t ai n s t hat wh et h er Bran d m o pp ed t he area wh ere s h e fel l rem ai n s

an i s s u e of fact b ecau s e t h at p o rt i o n of t h e ai sl e i s n o t s h o wn on t h e vi d eo

. H o wev er,

i n l i gh t o f t h e t es t i m o ny o f Bran d an d th e m an ag er, i n ad d i t i o n t o v i d e o s h o wi n g

Bran d m op p i n g d o wn t h e ai s l e i n t h e d i rect i o n wh ere Ben s o n fel l

, th e ev i d en ce s h o ws

o n l y t hat Bran d i n s p ect ed an d m o pp ed th e area of t h e fal l. Ben s o n al s o arg u es t h at

,

ev en i f t he fl o o r wh ere s h e fel l h ad b een i ns p ect ed an d m o p p ed l es s t h an a h al f h o u r

b efo reh an d

, th e reas o nab l en es s o f W al -M art ’ s i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u re rem ai n s an i s s u e

fo r t h e ju ry b ecau se t h e fal l o ccu rred i n a h i g h t raffi c area o f t h e s t o re wh ere g ro ceri es

were l o cat ed

. As w e h av e s ai d

, “ [t ] h e n at u re o f a s u p erm ark et ’ s

. . . b u s i n es s creat es

co n di t i o n s wh i ch cau s e s li p an d fal l s t o o ccu r wi t h s o m e freq u en cy

. Un d er t h o s e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, we h av e hel d t h at p rem i s es o wn ers h av e a d u ty t o i n sp ect wi t h g reat er

freq uen cy .” (Ci t at i on an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) F o o d Li o n

, LLC v. W

a l ker

, 2 9 0 Ga.

Ap p

. at 5 7 6 (1 ). An d “ [w] hen a p ro p ri et o r h as n o t i ce o f t he ri s k o f a p art i cu l ar h azard

,

we h av e fo u n d t h at a j u ry q u es t i o n a r i s es as to t h e reas o n ab len es s o f a s t o re’ s

i n s p ect i on pro ced u re ev en wh en an i n s p ect i o n was p erfo rm ed 1 5 m i n u t es b efo re t h e

p l ai n t i ff’ s fal l .” Id

.

8Here, t h e ori gi n an d co m p o s i ti o n o f t h e cl ear l i q ui d o n wh i ch Ben s on s l i p p ed

i s u n k n own

. Th ere i s

, h o wev er, n o ev i den ce t hat th e al l eg ed h azard was as s o ci at ed

wi t h an y o f th e p ro d u ct s so l d on t h e p rem i ses o r t h at W al -M art was t hen aware o f a

s p eci fi c h azard t o i t s cu s t o m ers o t h e r t h an t h at wh i ch m i g h t b e p os ed b y an

accu m ul at i o n o f rai nwat er. See i d

. (wh ere pl ai n t i ff s li p p ed o n a m i x t u re o f wat er an d

ch i ck en b l o o d

, an d d efen d an t s up erm ark et k n ew i t s fres h ch i ck en was o n s al e an d t h at

i t i n ev i tab l y d ri pp ed a m i x t u re o f b l o o d an d wat er o n t he fl o o r, an i ss u e o f m at eri al

fact rem ai n ed as t o wh et h er t h e su p erm ark et ’ s i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u res w ere reas o n ab l e

n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t h at a m an ag er h ad co m e t h ro u g h t h e area wh ere p l ai n t i ff fel l 1 5 to

2 0 m i n u t es b efo reh an d an d s aw n o wet n es s on t h e fl o o r); S h ep a r d v. W

in n D i x i e

S t o r es

, 2 41 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 6

, 7 4 8 -7 4 9 (1 ) ( 5 2 7 S E 2 d 3 6 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (i n s p ect i o n m ay b e

req u i red m o re freq u en t l y t h an ev ery 3 0 m i n u t es “ [w] h en a s u p erm ark et fi l ls a t ab l e

wi t h cru s h ed i ce an d p ro d uce, kn o wi n g t h at cu s t o m ers w i l l rem o v e t h e p ro d u ce an d

l i kel y cau s e at l eas t s o m e i ce t o fal l o n t h e fl o o r[.] ”).

Becau s e i t h ad b een rai ni n g earl i er i n th e day

, a t ri er o f fact co u ld co n cl u d e t h at

W al -M art was o n n o t i ce t hat it s cu s t o m ers w o u ld t rack rai n w at er in t o t h e s t o re. See,

e. g

., S ea s o n Al l Fl o wer S

h o p

, In c. v. Ro ri e

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 9

, 5 3 4 (7 4 6 SE2 d 6 3 4 )

(2 0 1 3) (“ It i s a m at t er o f co m m o n k n o w l e d g e t h at s o m e wat er wo u l d n o rm al l y b e

9p res en t at a p l ace wh ere sh o p pers co n t i n u al l y p as s i n an d o u t d u ri n g rai n y weat h er.”)

(fo o t no t e an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Nev ert h el es s, “ [i ] t i s n o t t h e d u t y o f p ers o n s in

co n tro l o f s u ch b u i l d i n g s to keep a larg e fo rce o f m o p pers t o m o p up t h e rai n as fas t

as i t fal l s o r b l o ws i n, o r is carri ed i n b y wet feet o r cl o t h in g or u m b rel l as .” (Fo o t n o t e

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Id

. See W a l ker v. S ea r s R o eb u ck & Co

. , 2 78 G a. Ap p

. 6 7 7,

6 8 0 (1 ) (6 29 SE2 d 5 6 1) (2 00 6 ) (acco rd ). Pu rs u an t to W al -M art p o l i cy

, Bran d d ry

m o pp ed t h e fl o o r a n d a i s l es n ear th e en tran ce t o g u ard ag ai n s t an accu m u l at i o n o f

wat er. Al t h o u g h m os t o f her effo rt s

, as s h o wn b y t h e v i d e o

, were d ev o t ed t o d ry

m o pp i n g t h e fl o o r i n t h e i m m ed i at e area o f t h e en t ran ce an d v es t i b ul e, s h e al s o

i n s p ect ed an d d ry m o pp ed th e ai s l e wh ere Ben s o n f el l n o m o re t h an 2 6 m i n u t es

b efo re h er fal l

. Th ere i s n o ev i d en ce o f an u nu s ual accu m u lat i o n o f wat er i ns i d e t h e

s t ore, an d t he h i g h t raffi c area n ear t he en t ran ce was dry wh en Ben s o n cam e t h ro u g h

t h e d o o rs

. Th us

, W al -M art s h o wed t h a t i t s i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u res

, as act u al l y

fo l l o w ed

, were ad eq u at e t o g uard ag ai n s t an y h azard s t o i t s cu st o m ers p o s ed b y t h e

rai n fal l earl i er i n t h e d ay

. See W i n n -Di xi e A t l a n t a v. Bi an co

, 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 2

, 2 9 3

(4 1 8 SE2 d 8 1 9 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (d efen d an t act ed wi t h reas on ab l e care un d er t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces b y i n s p ect i ng an d m o pp i n g t h e en t ran ce way t o t h e s t o re o n rai n y day s

an d b y m o p pi n g dry th e area wh ere p l ai nt i ff f e l l 2 0 t o 3 0 m i n u t es befo re h er fal l );

10Ha g i n v. W

i nn -Di xi e S t o r es

, 1 8 0 Ga. A p p

. 3 0 3

, 3 03 -3 0 4 (3 4 8 SE2 d 76 6 ) (1 9 8 6 )

(wh ere p ro p ri et o r s h o wed t h at i t s em p l oy ees i n s p ect ed t h e fl oo r ev ery 2 0 m i n u t es to

o n e h o u r t o ch eck fo r accu m u l at i o ns o f wat er o n rai n y d ay s

, an d t h e fl o o rs h ad b een

cl ean ed m i nu t es b efo re pl ai n t i ff’ s fal l, t he em p l o y ees t o ok reas o n ab l e s t ep s t o k eep

fl oo r m op p ed ). Co m

p are Smi t h v. To

ys “r ” Us

, 2 3 3 Ga. A p p

. 1 8 8

, 1 9 2 (5 04 SE2 d 3 1 )

(1 9 9 8) (as t h ere was n o p ro o f o f i n s p ect i o n b et ween 9: 3 0 a.m

. an d 1 1 :0 0 a.m

., wh en

p l ai n t i ff s l i p p ed i n a p u d d l e o f w at er i n s i d e t h e s t o re, a ju ry co u ld fi n d t h e p ro p ri et o r

h ad co n s t ru ct i ve k n o wl ed g e o f t h e h azard ).

Al t h ou g h Ben s o n m i g ht h av e s l ip p ed o n a cl ear l i q u i d su b st an ce o th er t h an

rai n wat er, t h e ev i d en ce s ho ws t h at t h e area wh e r e B e n so n fel l was i n sp ect ed an d

cl ean ed l es s t h an 3 0 m i n u t es b efo r e s h e f e l l

, an d t h at b efo re h er fal l W al -M art was

act i vel y pu rs u in g an i n s p ect i on p ro ced u re ad eq u at e t o ad d res s t h e pres en ce o f l i q u id

n ear t h e en t ran ce t o t h e s t o re, w h at ev er t h e s o u r ce an d n at u re o f t h e l i q u i d.

Acco rdingly

, w e c onc lude tha t W a l- M a r t ’ s pro ced u res were, u n der t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

,

reas on ab l e as a m at ter o f l aw. See Ho p ki n s v. Kma r t Co r

p

. , 2 32 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 5

, 5 1 7

-

5 1 8 (2 ) (5 0 2 SE2 d 47 6 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (wh ere m an ag er i ns p ect ed ch eck -o ut l an e ev ery 3 0

m i n u t es an d ch eck ed t h e area wh ere t h e p l ai n t i ff fel l 3 0 m i n ut es b e f o r eh an d,

p ro p ri et or m et b u rd en o f s ho wi ng co m plia nc e w ith r e as o n ab l e i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u res )

11(p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ); Do a k v. U. S

. Pr i me Pr o

p er ty, In c.

, 2 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 4

, 5 6 6

(4 6 9 SE2 d 8 12 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (i n sp ect i o n s o f co m m o n area o f s h o p pi n g m al l ev ery h al f h o u r

was reas o n ab l e); Dr a ke v. Kr o ger Co

. , 2 13 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2

, 7 2 -7 3 (1 ) (4 43 SE2 d 6 9 8 )

(1 9 9 4) (wh ere p l ai n t i ff s l ip p ed o n an u n i d en ti fi ed wet s u b s t a n c e i n a su p erm ark et

,

an d ev i d en ce s h o wed on t h e d ay i n q u es t i o n co -m an ag er p e r f o rm ed h i s d u t i es an d

p at ro l l ed t h e s t o re o n av erag e o f o n ce ev ery 30 m in u t es an d s aw n o s pi ll s or ev i d en ce

o f a fo rei g n s u bs t an c e o r l i q u i d

, s u p erm ark et s h owed t h at i t h ad ad hered t o a

reas on ab l e i n s p ect i o n p ro g ram ). Co m p are D avi s v. Br u n o ’s S

u p er ma r ket s

, In c.

, 2 6 3

Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 7

, 1 5 0 (2 ) (5 8 7 SE2 d 2 7 9) (2 0 0 3 ) (wh ere pl ai nt i ff s l i p ped i n a pu d d l e o f

cl ear l i q ui d t he s i ze o f a d i n ner p l at e i n t h e m i d d l e ai s l e o f a s u perm ark et

, an d t h e area

h ad b een i n s pect ed 3 0-4 0 m i nu t es befo reh an d

, s u perm ark et ’ s i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u res

were n o t s h o wn t o b e reas o nab l e as a m at t er o f l aw). Becau se W al -M art es t ab l i s h ed

t h at i t had fo ll o wed a reas o nab l e i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u re, t h e b urd en s h ift ed t o Ben so n

t o s h o w h o w l on g th e l iq ui d h ad b een o n t h e f l o o r

. See Da ni el v. Jo h n Q. Ca r t er

En t er p ri s es , 2 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 3 , 2 2 6 (4 6 0 SE2 d 8 38 ) (1 9 9 5 ). Ben s o n d oes n o t s h o w

“ t h at t h e l i q u i d h ad b een o n t h e fl o o r fo r a p eri o d o f t i m e s u ffi ci en t fo r i t t o h av e b een

d i s co v ered b y a re a s o n a b l e i n s p ect i o n .” Id

. It fo l l o ws t h at t h ere was an ab s en ce o f

12ev i d en ce t h at W al -M art h ad su p eri o r k n o wl ed g e o f t h e al l eg ed h azard

, an d t h at W al

M art was t h erefo re en ti t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Id

.

2

. W al -M art an d Ferrel l al s o co n t en d t h at , b ecau s e Ferrel l was n o t t h e o wn er

o r o ccu p i er o f t h e W al -M art wh ere Ben s o n fel l a n d t h e r e i s n o ev i d en ce o f h i s

i n d i v i d u a l n eg l ig en ce, h e is en t i t l ed t o su m m ary j u d gm en t

. See Demp s ey v.

S o u t h ea s t er n In du s

. Co n tr a ct i ng Co

. , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 14 0

, 1 4 4 (3 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 3 2 0 )

(2 0 1 1) (g en eral l y , “ an o ffi cer of a co rp o rat i o n wh o t ak es n o p art i n t h e co m m i s s i o n

o f a t o rt co m

m i t ted b y t h e co rp o rat i o n i s n o t p ers on al l y l i ab l e u n les s h e s peci fi cal l y

d i rect ed t h e p art icu l ar act t o b e d o n e o r p art i ci pat ed o r co -o p erat ed t h erei n ”) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Ben s o n co n ced ed b el o w t h at Ferrel l

, a s t ore m an ag er, was

en t i t l ed t o s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, an d s h e ag ai n co n ced es t h e i s s u e o n ap p eal

.

Acco rd in g ly , t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Ferrel l

.

3 . W al -M art ’ s o t h er cl ai m o f erro r i s m o o t

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . An d r ews a n d Ri ckma n , JJ., co n cu r

.

13