THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, 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 28, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A1 24 0 . M A TTHEW S v . YOPLAIT USA, INC. HO-0 4 1

H O D G E S , J u d g e.

In t h i s co nsum e r f

o o d pr oduc t li ab i li t y cas e, Tan geri n a Mat t h ews ap p eal s a t ri al

co u rt o rd er g ran t i n g Yo p l ai t USA, In c.’ s m ot i o n fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t

. M at t h e w s

as s ert s t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g su m m ary ju d g m en t t o Y o p lai t aft er

d et erm i n i n g t h at t h e d o c t r i n e of res i ps a l o q ui t u r ap p li es

. Becau s e we co n cl u d e t h e

t ri al co urt m is ap p l i ed t h e d oct ri n e, we rev ers e an d rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt

fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n.

Un d er Geo rg ia l aw,

[s ] u m m ary j u d gm en t i s p ro p er wh en t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s su e o f

m at eri al fact an d th e m o van t i s en t i t l ed t o ju dg m en t a s a ma t t er o f l a w

. A d e n o vo s t an d ard o f rev i ew ap p l ies t o an ap peal 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 den ce, an d al l reas o n ab l eco n cl u s i o n s an d i n feren ces d rawn fro m i t

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

t h e n o n m ov an t

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s su p p l i ed .) Ka ma ra v. H en s o n , 3 4 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 1 1 (7 9 6 SE2 d 4 9 6) (2 0 1 7 ). So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd rev eal s t h at M at t h ews

p u rch as ed a s m al l co n t ai n er o f s t rawb erry y o g u rt m an u fact u red an d p ack ag ed by

Yo p l ai t. M at t h ews al l eg ed t h e co n t ai n er rem ai n ed s eal ed u n t i l s h e o p en ed i t wh i l e

d ri v i ng h er dau g h ter to wo rk

. W h i le i n h er c a r , M at t hews o p en ed t h e co n t ai n er,

s t irred i t wi t h a pl as t i c sp o on , an d b eg an eat i n g , t h i n k i n g t h e cru n ch i ng s en s at i o n s h e

fel t w as cau s ed b y t h e s t rawb erri es

. Ho wev er, acco rd i n g to M at t hews

, s h e real i zed

t h at , aft er s wal l owi ng , s harp m et al frag m en t s were p res en t i n t h e y o gu rt . M at t h ews

i m m ed i at el y fel t t h ro at p ai n , real i zed h er l i p s o r g u m s were bl eed i n g, park ed h er

v eh icl e, an d cal l ed 9 11

. At th e h o s p it al

, M at t h ews u n d erwen t an en d o s co py , an d t h e

d o ct o rs g av e her h u s b an d t h e m et al fragm e nts r e m ove d f ro m h er g as tro i n t es t i n al t ract

.

Acco rd in g t o M at t h ews , t h e d o ct o r rem o v ed 1 7 m et al frag m en t s , m eas u r i n g o v er

1 .5 m m i n s i ze, fro m

h er s to m ach

.

M at t h ews s u ed Yo p l ai t fo r n eg l i g en ce u n d er OCGA § 5 1 -1 -2 3

, n eg l i gen ce p er

s e fo r v i o l at i o n o f t h e Geo rg i a Fo o d Act , OCGA § 2 6 -2 -2 0 et s eq ., an d ex p en s es o f

l i ti g at i o n

. Yo p l ai t fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h at (1 ) th e q u al i t y

2as s u ran ce p r o c e d u res i n i ts faci l i t y , i ncl u d in g s t rai n ers , s creen s , an d an x -ray

m ach i n e, wo u l d h av e cau g h t t h e m et al fl ak es , g i v en t h ei r s i ze an d n u m ber, i f t h ey

d eri v ed fro m

Yo p lai t

, (2 ) ex p ert t es t i n g co n fi rm ed t he m et al fl ak es were co m p o s ed

p ri m ari l y o f carb on an d i ro n an d “ d i d n o t l i k el y o ri g i nat e” fro m

t h e Yo pl ai t faci l i t y

b ecau s e Yo p l ai t

, i n acco rd an ce wi t h U. S. Fo o d an d Dru g Ad m i n i s t rat io n reg u l at i o n s ,

d o es n o t u s e t h e t y

p e o f m et al co m

pri s i n g t h e fl ak es i n it s faci li t y , an d (3 ) t h e n at u re

o f Yo p l ai t ’ s m an u fact u ri n g p ro ces s m ak es i t i m p o s s i b le fo r t h e m et al fl ak es t o h av e

b een d ep o s i t ed i n o nl y o n e y og u rt co n t ai n er, an d Y o p lai t h as n o t h ad an y o t h er

co m p l ai n t o f m et al fl ak es i n it s y o g u rt

.

In res p o n s e, M at t hews arg u ed t h at , d es pi t e t h es e co n t en t i o n s , t h e d o ct ri n e o f

res i p s a l o q u i t u r creat es a g en ui n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact fo r t h e ju ry t o d eci d e t h e

i s su e o f neg l i gen ce b ecau s e t h ere i s n o o t h er ex p l an at i o n fo r t h e pres en ce o f t h e m et al

fl ak es i n t h e s eal ed y o g u rt co n t ai n er o t her t h an Yo p l ai t ’ s n eg l i g en ce. M at t h ews n o t ed

t h at Yo pl ai t ’ s sen io r q u al i t y co n t ro l m an ag er at t h e faci l i t y wh ere t h e s u b ject y o g u rt

was pack ag ed ad m it t ed t hat “ m et al in cl u s i o n i s a s i g n i fi can t hazard i n t h e

m an u fact u ri n g an d p ro ces s i n g o f Yo p l ai t y o g u rt [.] ” In fact

, acco rd i n g t o t h e s e n i o r

q u al i t y co n t ro l m an ag er, t h e co n t ro l o f m et al i n cl u s i o n is an i m p o rt a n t p art o f

Yo p l ai t’ s m an u fact u ri n g an d p ack ag i n g op erat i on , an d t h e Yo p lai t faci l i t y ch eck s fo r

3i t at l eas t ev ery fo u r h o u rs , an d m o re o ft en if t h ere i s a ch an g e o r s t art u p

. Th e q u al i t y

co n tro l m an ag er t es t ifi ed th at al t h o u g h s h e h as “ very rarel y ” s een m et al i n y o g u rt

, i t

i s “ n o t u n h eard o f[,] ” an d s h e recal l ed t h at m et al du s ti n g fro m p i eces o f a gas k et h ad

p rev i o u s l y co n t am i n at ed y og u rt

, b u t was d i s co v ered b efo re l eav i n g t h e p l an t

. Sh e

ag reed t h at m et al i n cl u si o n i n y o g u rt d u e t o eq u i p m en t wi t h m et al p a r t s wo u l d b e

u n l i k el y , b ut co ul d o ccu r.

In ad d i t io n, M at th ews s u b m i t t ed a Y o p l ai t rep o rt fo r th e d at e t h e y o gu rt at i s s u e

was p ack ag ed in d i cat i ng t h at cu p s t ip p ed o ver an d t h e p ro d u ct i o n l i n e s u bs eq u en t l y

was rep ai red p ri o r t o t h e s u b j e c t yo g u r t bei n g s eal ed

. Ho wev er, Yo p l ai t n o t ed t h at

d es p it e a jam

fo r a t i pp ed y o g u rt cu p d u ri n g p ro d u ct i o n o f M at t h ews ’ s p ro d u ct

, t h e

m an u f a c t u r i n g reco rd s fo r t h at d at e i nd i cat ed t h e x -ray m ach in e p as s ed al l ch eck s ,

an d n o fo rei g n m at eri al was d et ect ed

.

M a t t h ews fu rt h er n ot ed t h at al t h o u g h Yo p l ai t u s es m u lt i pl e s creen s a n d

s t rai n ers t o rem o ve fo rei g n o b ject s fro m th e y o g u rt d u ri ng th e m an ufact u ri n g p ro ces s ,

t h es e s creen s an d s t rai n ers are u s ed b efo re fru i t i s ad d ed t o t h e y o g u rt

. Th e o n l y ch eck

fo r fo rei g n s ub s t an ces aft er t h e ad d i t i o n o f fru i t i s t h e x -ray m ach i ne t h ro u g h wh i ch

t h e s eal e d yo g u rt co n t ai n ers p as s

. Ho wev er, wh i l e Y o p l ai t ’ s s en io r q u al i t y co n tro l

m an ag er t es t i fi ed th at s h e bel i ev ed Yo p l ai t ’ s x -ray m ach i n e wo u l d h av e d et ect ed t h e

4s i ze an d q u an t it y o f t h e m et al frag m en t s s wal l o wed by M at t h ews , t h e x -ray m ach i n e

wo u l d h av e b een cal i b rat ed n o t t o d et ect “ p art i cu l at es ” o f t h e s am e “ d i fferen t i al ” o r

“ d en s i t y ” as s t rawb erri es

. Th e s en i o r q ual i t y co n t ro l m an ag er co ul d no t d efi n i t i v el y

s t at e t h at t h e d en si t y o f t he m et al fl ak es was d ifferen t fro m t h e s t rawb erry d en s i t y

b ecau s e s h e h a d n o t ex am i n ed t h e m et al frag m en t s ; s h e b el i ev ed i t was “ h i g h l y

u n l i k el y [,] ” bu t “ [n ] o t i m p o s s i bl e[,] ” t h at th e x -ray m ach in e wo u ld n o t hav e al ert ed

t o t he m et al fl ak es

.

Fo l l owi n g o ral arg u m en t an d a rev i ew o f t h e p art i es ’ b ri efs an d t h e co m p l et e

reco rd , t h e St at e Co u rt o f Cl ay t o n Co un t y fo u n d t hat

b as ed o n t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd o f t h e cas e at t h i s t i m e, t h e d o ct ri ne

o f r es i ps a l o q u i t u r d o es ap p l y

. Th ere i s an i n feren ce t h at th e m et al

fl ak es were in s ert ed i nt o t h e y o g u rt co n t ai n er p ri o r to t h e co n t ai n er b ei n g s eal ed

, as i t was s eal ed w h en i t l eft t h e m an ufact u rer, an d seal ed

b efo re o p en ed b y [M at t h ews ] t o co n su m e.

(Em p h as i s i n o ri g i n al .) No n e t hel es s , t he tri al co urt fu rt h er fo u n d t hat “ [Yo p l ai t ’ s ]

ev i d en ce o f t h e m an u fact u ri n g p ro ces s , h o wev er, d o es o v erco m e t h at in feren ce[.] ”

Th e co u rt t h en d et ai l ed ev i d en ce dem o ns t rat in g t h at t he m et al fl ak es l i k el y were n ot

t h e res u l t o f Yo p l ai t ’ s m a n u f a c t u ri n g o r p ack ag i n g p ro ces s an d g ran t ed s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Yo p l ai t . Th is ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

5In t wo rel at ed e n u m e rat i o n s o f erro r, M at t h ews fi rs t co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n g ran ti n g Yo p l ai t ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t aft er i t d et erm i n ed

res i p s a l oq u i t u r ap p l i ed . M at t h ews fu rt h er arg u es t hat , ev en i f res i p s a l o q u i t u r d id

n o t ap p l y , g en u in e is s u es o f m at eri al fact p recl u d ed ju d g m en t i n Yo p lai t ’ s fav o r. Fo r

t h e fo l l o wi ng reas on s , we co n cl u d e th at t h e t ri al co urt m i s ap p l i ed t h e d oct ri n e o f res

i p s a l o q u i t u r.

As t h i s Co u rt h a s r e c e n t l y rei terat ed

, “ res i p s a l o q u i t u r is a l eg al m ax i m t h at

m ean s t h e tran s act i on o r t h i ng s p eak s fo r i ts el f.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .)

Fa mi l y Th ri f t

, In c. v. Bi r t h r on g , 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 01

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

It is “ an ev id en t i ary b as ed ru l e wh i ch p ro v i d es fo r an in feren ce o f n eg l i gen ce t o ari s e

fro m t he o ccu rren ce o f an i n ju r y- c a u s i n g i n ci den t [.] ” Ken Th o m a s of Ga

., In c. v.

Ha l im

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 70

, 5 7 3 (5 9 7 SE2 d 61 5 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Th i s ru l e o f e v i d en ce i s

“ ap p l i ed i n cas es wh ere t h ere i s n o ev id en ce o f co n s eq u en ce s h o wi ng n eg l i g en ce o n

t h e part o f t h e d efen d an t. Th e d o ct ri n e au t h o ri zes , b u t d oes n ot req u i re , t h e ju ry to

i n fer fact s fro m t he ci rcu m s t an ces in w h i ch th e i n ju ry o ccu rred

, t h ereb y fi l l i n g t h e

ev i d en t i ary g ap [.] ” Ad

er ho l d v. Lo we’s Ho me Cen t er s , 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 4, 29 5 (6 4 3

SE2 d 8 1 1 ) (2 0 0 7 ); s ee al so Fa mi l y Th r i f t

, 3 3 6 Ga. A p p

. at 6 0 4-6 0 5 (2 )

. I n o t h e r

wo rd s ,

6[t ] h e pri nci p al b as i s fo r a p p l i cat io n o f t h e ru l e i s th at th e o ccu rren ce

i n v o l v ed wo u l d n ot h av e o ccu rred b u t fo r n eg l ig en ce, an d t h i s

n eg l ig en ce m ay

p ro p erl y b e ch arg ed t o t h e p ers o n i n ex cl us i v e co nt ro l

o f t h e i n s t ru m en t al i t y

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Per s i n ger v. S t ep By S tep In

f a n t Dev. Cen t er , 2 5 3

Ga. Ap p

. 7 68

, 7 7 0 (5 6 0 SE2 d 3 3 3 ) (2 00 2 ). “ [T] h e do ct ri n e of res i p s a l oq u it u r d o es

n o t req ui re el i m i n at i o n o f a l l ot h er p o s si bl e o ccu rren ces ; i t m u s t o n l y ren d er l es s

p ro b ab l e al l i n co n si s t en t co ncl u s i o n s .” (Ci t at i on an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted .) Id

. at 7 7 2.

Th e el em en t s o f t h e do ct ri n e o f res i p s a l o q u i t u r are wel l -s et t l ed : (1 ) an i n ju ry

wh i ch o rd i n ari l y d o es n o t o ccu r i n t h e ab s en ce o f so m eo n e’ s n eg l i gen ce; (2 ) t h e

i n ju ry m u s t b e cau s ed b y an ag en cy o r i n s tru m en t al i t y wi t h i n t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s

ex cl u s i v e co nt ro l ; an d (3 ) t he i n j u ry was n o t cau s ed b y an y v o l u n t ary act i o n o r

co n tri b u t i o n on t h e p art o f t he p l ai n t i ff. See Ha l i m , 26 6 G a. Ap p

. at 5 7 3

. “ Un l es s t h e

p l ai n t i ff can s h o w t h es e el em en t s , h e o r s h e i s n o t en ti t led t o p res en t t h e i s su e t o t h e

ju ry .” P er

s i n g er , 25 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 7 0

. Co m p are, e.g ., Pa r

ker v. D a i l ey , 22 6 Ga. 6 4 3,

6 4 5 (1 ) (1 7 7 SE2 d 4 4 ) (1 9 7 0) (fi n d i n g d o ct ri n e of res i p sa l o q u i t u r no t ap p l i cab l e

wh ere t i re fel l o n ch i ld ).

If t h e ev i den ce i n cl u des an i n co m p l et e ex pl an at i o n o f t h e fact s o f th e

o ccu rren ce t o th e ex ten t t h at t he t ru e cau s e i s s t i l l l eft i n d o ub t o r i s n o t
cl earl y s h o wn , t h e d o ct ri n e o f res i ps a l o q ui t u r rem ai n s i n t h e cas e, l eav in g t o t h e ju ry a p erm i s s i b l e i n feren ce o f n eg l i g en ce fo r t h em t o

7accep t o r reject

. . . . O n t h e o t h er h an d

, i f t h e cau s e of t h e a cci d en t i s

fu l l y ex p l ai n ed

, t h e d o ct ri n e d o es no t ap p ly

. . . . I t a l s o do es n o t ap p l y i f t h e ev i d en ce s h ows t h at t h e i n ju ry co u l d ju st as reas o n ab l y b een

cau s ed b y s om et h i ng o t h er t h an t h e d efen d an t s n eg l ig en ce.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Do yl e v. RS T Co n s t r

. S

p eci a l t y , 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p.

5 3

, 5 8 (1 ) (6 48 SE2 d 6 6 4 ) (2 0 0 7 ); b u t s ee At l a nt a Co ca -Co l a Bo t t l i n g Co

. v. Er g l e ,

1 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 1, 3 8 4 (2 ) (b ) (1 9 6 SE2 d 6 7 0 ) (1 9 7 3 ) (“ Th e ev i d en ce n eed n o t u t terl y

n eg at e t h e p o s s i b il i t y o f i n v ol v em en t b y t h i rd p ers o n s o r ex t ran eo u s cau s es as i s

co n ten d ed b y

t h e d efen d an t .”).

“ Res i p s a l oq u i t u r s h o u ld b e ap p l ied w i t h cau ti o n an d o n l y i n ex t rem e cas es ,

an d i s n o t ap p l icab l e wh en t h ere i s an i n t erm ed i ary cau s e wh i ch co u l d h av e p ro d u ced

t h e i n ju ry .” (Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S h ea t s v. Kr o ger Co

. , 3 3 6 G a. Ap p.

3 0 7

, 3 1 2 (4 ) (7 8 4 SE2 d 4 4 2) (2 0 1 6 ). M o reo ver, res i p s a l oq u i t u r is no t ap p l i cab l e

“ wh ere t h ere i s d i rect u n am b ig uo u s t es t i m o n y as to t he ab s en ce o f n eg l i g en ce b y t h e

d efen d an t

, o r wh ere t here i s n o fai r i n feren ce t h at th e d efen dan t was n eg li g en t .” Ho s p.

Au t h

. o f S t . Ma r ys v. Ea s o n

, 2 2 2 Ga. 5 3 6 , 5 4 1 (1 5 0 SE2 d 8 1 2 ) (1 9 6 6 ).

In t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e d o ct ri ne of res i p s a l o q u i t u r ap p l i es ,

b u t in s t ead o f al l o wi ng t he cas e t o g o t o a ju ry , t h e co u rt g ran t ed su m m ary ju d g m en t

8t o Yo p l ai t

, f i n d in g Yo p l ai t o v ercam e t h e i n feren ce o f n eg l i g en ce i nh eren t i n t h e

d o ct ri n e o f res i p s a l o q u i t ur. Th i s i s an i m p ro p er ap p l i cat i o n o f t he d o ct ri n e.

Res i p s a l o qu i t u r “ al l o w[s ] t h e ju ry t o d eci d e t h e cas e an d t o m ak e o r reject t h e

i n feren ce au t ho ri zed as i t s ees fi t

— i t d o es n o t creat e a p res u m pt i o n t o t h at effect fo r

t h e d efen d an t to o v erco m e.” (Ci t at i on an d em ph as is o m i t t ed .) McCu r l ey v. Lu d wi g ,

2 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 8, 8 0 0 (2 ) (4 5 2 SE2 d 5 5 4) (1 9 9 4 ); s ee al s o Per si n g er , 2 5 3 G a. Ap p.

at 7 7 1

. If a t ri al co u rt det erm i n es t h at res ip s a l o qu i t u r ap p li es , “ t h e cas e m ay p ro ceed

t o t h e j u ry [,] ” an d “ [ t ] he su ffi ci en cy o f th e ci rcu m s t an t i al ev id en ce, an d i t s

co n si s t en cy o r i n co n s i s t en cy wi t h al t ern at i v e h y p ot h es es , i s a q u es t i o n fo r t h e ju ry .”

(Ci t at i o n o m it ted .) Per

s i ng er , 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p. at 7 7 1 ; s ee al s o Da ws o n v. Amer i ca n

Her it a g e Li

f e In s

. Co

. , 1 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 6 , 2 6 9 (1 7 3 SE2 d 4 2 4 ) (1 97 0 ) (fi n d i n g t h at

“ t ri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e al l o wed t h e ju ry t o m ak e a d et erm i n at i o n o f w h et h er t h e

d efen d an t ’ s n eg li g en ce, i f an y , was t h e p ro xi m at e cau s e o f p l ai n t iff’ s i n ju ri es u n d er

a ch arg e i n cl u d i n g t h e pri nci p l e o f res i p s a l oq u i t u r”); S i n ko vi t z v. Pet er s La n d Co

. ,

5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 88

, 7 9 3 (6 4 SE 9 3 ) (1 9 0 9 ) (fi n d i ng t h at p l ai n ti ff “ had m ad e a p ri m a faci e

cas e [u n d er res i p s a l o qu i t u r] wh i ch s h o u l d h av e b een s u b m i t t ed t o a ju ry ”). 1

1 Cf. Tu gg l e v. Hel ms , 2 3 1 G a. Ap p

. 89 9

, 90 4 (4 9 9 SE2 d 36 5 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (“ Res

i p s a l oq u i t u r al l o ws a j u ry t o d raw an i n feren ce o f th e n eg l ig en ce al l eg ed an d

, i f t h e

req u i rem en t s of th e m a x i m are m et

, b ars s u m m ary ju d g m en t fo r t h e defen d an t .”)

9As o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as n o t ed

, t h e d o ct ri n e o f res ip s a l oq u i t u r warran t s an

i n feren ce o f n eg li g en ce t h at affo rd s a pl ai n t i ff “ an o p po rt u ni t y t o cl ai m at th e h an d s

o f t h e ju ry an i n feren ce d rawn fro m fact s wh i ch h e m a y r e l y u p o n as p ro o f o f t h at

wh i ch t h e l aw req ui res h i m t o p ro v e.” Pa lmer Br i ck Co

. v. Ch en a ll

, 1 1 9 Ga. 8 3 7

, 8 4 4

(4 7 SE 3 2 9 ) (1 9 04 ).

As d i s t in gu i s h ed fro m a p res u m pt i o n o f l aw,

. . . wh i ch m ay be

o v erco m e b y t h e i n t ro d u ct i o n o f ev i d en ce o f t h e ex erci s e o f reas o n ab l e

care an d d i l ig en ce o n i t s p art

, req ui ri n g t h e p lai n t i ff t o p ro d u ce ev i d en ce

o f t h e al l eg ed n eg li g en ce -- t he i n feren ce wh ich t h e ju ry m ay d raw fro m

p ro v ed fact s o f an u n u s u al an d ex t r a o r d i n ary o ccu rren ce u n d er t h e res i p s a l o q u i tu r ru l e is n ot o v erco m e as a m at t er of l aw b y ev i d en ce o f d ue care. . . . It i s t h e d ut y o f t h e ju ry t o m ak e fu rt h er i n q u i ry as t o wh et h er

t h i s in feren ce h as been o v erco m e b y a s at i sfact ory ex p l an at i o n

. . . . It i s fo r t h e ju ry t o w ei gh t h i s ev id en ce al o n g wi t h al l t h e o t h er ev i d en ce an d

d et erm i ne wh ere t h e p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce l i es

.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed .) Ma co n Co ca -Co l a B o t t l i n g Co

. v. Ch a n cey , 2 1 6 G a

. 6 1

, 6 9 -7 0

(3 ) (1 14 SE2 d 5 17 ) (1 9 6 0 ). In s h ort

,

[t ] h e m ax i m res i p sa l oq u i t u r i s o f li m i t ed ap p l icat i o n , b u t em b o d i es a

p erfect l y s o u n d l eg al pri n ci p l e. It is freq u en t l y d i ffi cu l t t o d et erm in e wh en i t can b e s afel y s ai d t h at t h e th i n g s p eak s fo r i t s el f. Ho w ev er, th e

p ro ces s b y w h ich i t i s t o b e det erm in ed wh et h er t h e p h y s ical fact s an d

ci rcu m s t an ces acco m

pan y i n g an i n

ju ry are s u ch t h at t h e act m ay b e s ai d

i t sel f t o s p eak th e n eg l ig en ce of t h e d efen d an t i s t o b e wo rk ed o u t b y th e

(M cM u rray , P. J

., di ss en t i n g ); Id

. at 9 0 6 (“ W h ere th e fact s w o u ld p erm i t a j u ry to
i n fer t h e ex i s t en ce o f ev i d en ce u n d er res ip s a l o q u it u r, it i s erro r t o g ran t a m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t .”) (El dri d g e, J ., d i s s en t i n g).

10ju ry

an d n o t b y

t h e co u rt . No t o n l y

i s n eg l ig en ce o r d i l i g en ce, i n ev ery

cas e wh ere ei t h er i s i n vo lv ed

, a q u es t i o n s o l el y fo r t h e ju ry , b u t i t i s al s o

t h e p rer o g a t i v e o f t he ju ry t o s ay i n t he fi rs t i n s tan ce wh et h er th e

ev i d en ce ad d u ced t o rai s e t h e i n feren ce o f fact -- t hat an ex t rao rd i n ary

an d u n ex p l ai n ed cas u al t y au t h o ri zes an i nferen ce t h at t he d efen d an t w as

n eg l ig en t

, i s s u ffi ci en t o r i n s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e p u rp os e.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) D a ws o n , 1 2 1 Ga. Ap p . at 2 6 9.

Hav i n g fo u n d t h at res ip sa l o q u i tu r ap pl i es i n t h is cas e, “ [t ] h e t ri al co u rt s h o u ld

h av e al l o wed t h e ju ry t o m ak e a d et erm i n at i o n o f wh et h er t h e d efen d an t ’ s n eg l i g en ce,

i f an y , was t h e p ro x i m at e cau s e o f [M at t h ews ’ s] i n j u ri es u nd er a ch arg e i n cl ud i n g t h e

p ri n ci p l e o f r e s ip s a l o q u it u r.” Da ws o n , 1 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 6 9

. Th erefo re, i t ap p ears

fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er t h at t h e co u rt m i s ap pl i ed t h e d o ct ri n e o f res i ps a l o q u it u r

b y i m p ro p erl y s ub s t i tu t i n g it s ju d gm en t i n p l ace o f t he ju ry ’ s o n t h e is s u e o f wh et h er

Yo p l ai t o v ercam e t h e i n feren ce o f n eg l i g en ce s u pp l i ed b y res i p s a l o q u i t u r.

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g Yo pl ai t ’ s m o t i o n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t

m u st b e rev ers ed

.

Th i s res u l t is n o t al tered by Yo p l ai t ’ s cu rren t arg u m en t t hat we m ay affi rm t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t p u rs u an t t o o u r d e n ov o rev i ew b ecau s e ev i den ce i n s u p p o rt o f

t h e “ ex cl us i v e co n t ro l ” el em en t o f res i ps a lo q ui t u r i s l ack in g

. Of n o t e, Yo p l ai t d id

n o t rai s e t h i s arg um en t as a b as i s fo r s um m ary j u d g m e n t

. See Lo cke’s Gr a p h i c &

11Vi n

yl S i gn s v. Ci t ico r

p Ven d or F i n a n ce , 2 8 5 G a. Ap p

. 8 2 6

, 8 28 (2 ) (a) (6 4 8 SE2 d

1 5 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (“ A n arg u m en t n o t rai s ed in t h e t ri al co urt i s wai v ed an d can n o t b e rai s ed

fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal

. ”). M o reo v er, we ex p res s n o o p in io n o n t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

i n i t i al fi n d i n g th at res ip s a l o q ui t u r ap p l i es b ecau s e t hat i s s u e is n o t p ro p erl y b efo re

t h i s Co u rt

. “ To secu re ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s ad v ers e ru l i n g s o n

. .

. o t her al l eg ed v i o l at i o n s

... , [t h e d efen d an t ] was req u i red t o fi l e ei t h er a cro s s -ap p eal

t o th e [m ai n ] ap p eal o r a sep arat e n o t i ce o f ap p eal .” S t a te v. Ni cker so n , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p.

5 7 6

, 5 81 (2 ) (7 4 9 SE2 d 7 6 8) (2 0 1 3); s ee al s o O CGA § 5 -6 -3 8 (a); co m pare Du n n v.

Fi ve S ta r Do d

ge-Jeep -Ea g l e-Ma z d

a , 2 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 8, 3 7 9 (5 3 7 SE2 d 7 82 ) (2 0 0 0 )

(h o l d i n g t h at

, o n rem an d fo l l owi n g rev ers al

, t ri al co u rt co u l d reco n s i der d efen d an t ’ s

arg u m en t s i n i t i al l y

rai s ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt ). Th is , Yo p l ai t fai l ed t o d o

.

In s u m , we co n cl ud e th at t h e t ri al co u rt m i s ap pl i ed t h e d o ct ri n e o f res i p s a

l o q u i t u r. In ad d i t io n, Yo p l a it fai l ed t o ch al l en g e, b y cro s s -ap p eal o r b y a s ep arat e

n o t i ce o f ap p eal

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n i t i al co n cl u si on th at res i p s a l o q u i tu r ap p l i es i n t h i s

cas e. Th erefo re, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t g ran t i n g Yo pl ai t ’ s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t an d rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t r i al co u rt fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i ng s

co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i ni on

.

12Ju d

g men t r ever

sed a n d ca s e r ema n d

ed wi t h d ir ect i o n

. Di l l a rd

, P. J., a n d

Go b ei l

, J., co n cu r

.

13