FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI LLA R D, C. J.

, RA Y and SELF, 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

Febr uar y 9, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A2 09 5 . DAVIS v . M ORRISON et al

.

D I LLA R D , Ch i ef J u d g e.

In t h i s ci v i l act i o n

, St ev en Dav i s s u ed Go rd o n Co u n ty D ep u t y Sh eri ff Ri ch ard

M o rri s on an d Go rd o n C o u n t y

, al l eg i n g t h at he su ffered in ju ri es i n an au t o m o b i l e

acci den t t h at was cau s ed b y M o rri s o n’ s neg l i g en t dri v i n g o f a co u n t y -o wn ed v eh i cl e.

M o rri s on an d t h e Co u n t y m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h at Dav i s ’ s cl ai m

ag ai n s t M o rri s o n w as b arred b y OCGA § 36 -9 2 -3 (a) an d t h at t h e Co u n t y co u l d n ot

b e h el d v icari o u s l y li ab l e fo r M orri s o n ’ s n eg l i g en ce. T h ereaft er, Dav i s d i s m i s s ed t h e

Co u n t y

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o M o rri s o n

. On ap peal

, Dav i s

co n ten d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n h o l d i n g t h at hi s cl ai m ag ai ns t Mo rri s o n i s b arred

an d t h at an y cl ai m ag ai n s t t h e Sh eri ff of Go rd o n Co u n t y i s b a r r e d b y h i s fai l u re to

p ro v id e an an te-l i t em

n o t ice. Fo r t he reas o n s s et fo rt h i n f r a , we affi rm

.V i ewed i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o D av i s ( i .e.

, t h e n o n m ov i n g p art y)

, 1 t h e

reco rd s h o ws t h at i n t h e earl y ev en i ng o f M arch 3 1

, 2 0 14

, Dav i s was trav el i n g i n h i s

p i ck u p tru ck n ear Cal h o u n, Geo rg i a, i n Go rd o n Co u n t y

, wh en h e s t o p p ed at an

i n t ers ect i o n to wai t fo r on co m i n g t raffi c to p as s b efo re m ak i n g a l eft -h an d t u rn

. Aft er

t h e o n co m i n g t raffi c p as s ed

, Dav i s b eg an t u rn i n g h is t ru ck wh en M o rri s on

— wh o was

d ri v i ng a co u n t y- o w n e d v eh icl e o n h is way t o t h e sh eri ff’ s o ffi ce’ s ev i d en ce

ro o m

— at t em p t ed t o pas s hi m on t h e l eft an d co l l i d ed i n t o h i s dri v er’ s s i d e d o o r. As

a res ul t o f t h e co l l i s i o n

, Dav i s s u ffered i n ju ri es t o h is b ack

, n eck

, leg

, an d s h o u l d er.

On Sep t em

ber 2 4, 2 0 1 4 , Dav i s ’ s co u n s el s en t an an t e-l i tem no t i ce t o Go rd o n

Co u n t y

, v i a cert i fi ed m ai l

, i n fo rm i n g i t s rep re s en tat i v es o f hi s cl ai m s ag ai n s t

M o rri s on an d t he Co u n t y

. Su b s eq u en t l y

, o n M arch 4

, 2 01 6

, Dav i s f i l e d a l aws u i t

ag ai n s t M o rri s o n an d Go rd o n Co u n ty

, al l eg i n g t hat he su ffered i n ju ri es i n t h e

au t o m ob i l e acci den t th at were cau s ed b y M o rri s o n ’ s n eg l i gen t dri v i n g o f t h e co u n t y

o wn ed v eh i cl e

. D a v i s s erv ed h i s co m p l ai n t u p o n M o rri s o n an d th e G o rd o n Co u n t y

co m m i s s io n ers

, b u t d i d n o t s erv e Go rd o n Co u n t y Sh eri ff M it ch Ral s t o n

. Th ereaft er,

1 S ee, e .g

. , S

wa ns o n v. Ta ckl i n g

, 3 3 5 G a. Ap p

. 8 1 0

, 8 1 0 (7 8 3 SE2 d 16 7 )

(2 0 1 6).

2M o rri s on an d t he Co un t y fi l ed an an s wer, an d

, d i s co very

— in cl u d i n g t he d ep o s i t i on s

o f Dav i s an d M o rri so n

— en s u ed

.

O n D e c e m

be r 1, 201 6

, M orri s o n an d t h e Co u n t y m o v ed fo r s um m ary ju d g m ent,

arg u i n g

, i n ter a l ia

, t h at Dav i s ’ s cl ai m s ag ai n s t M o rri s o n were b arred b y OCGA § 3 6

-

9 2 -3 (a), t h at t h e C o u n ty co u l d n o t b e h el d v i cari o us l y l i ab l e fo r M o rri s o n ’ s

n eg li g en ce, an d t h at Dav is ’ s fai l u re t o s e n d an an t e-l i t em n o ti ce t o Sh eri ff Ral s t o n

b arred an y cl ai m t h a t t h e s heri ff was v i cari o u s ly l i ab l e fo r Mo rri s o n ’ s n eg l i g en ce.

Sev eral w eek s l at er, Dav i s fi l ed a d is m i s sal wi t h preju d ice o f h i s cl ai m s ag ai n s t

Go rd o n Co u n t y

, an d ap p ro x i m at el y o n e week aft erward

, h e fi led a res p o n s e to

M o rri s on ’ s m o t i o n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t

. Bu t o n Ap ri l 2 0

, 2 0 1 7

, t h e tri al co u rt

g ran t ed M o rri s o n ’ s m o t io n . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o ws

.

S u m m a r y ju d g m en t i s p ro p er i f “ t h e pl ead i n gs

, d ep o s i ti o n s

, an s wers to

i n t erro g at o ri es

, an d ad m is s i o n s o n fi l e, t o g et her wi th t h e affi d av i ts

, i f an y

, s h o w t h at

t h ere i s n o g en ui n e i s s u e as t o an y m at eri al fact an d t h at t h e m ov i ng p art y i s en t i t l ed

t o a j u d g m e n t a s a m at t er o f l aw.” 2 If s u m m ary ju d g m en t i s g ran t ed

, i t en jo y s n o

p res u m p t i o n of co rrect n es s o n ap p eal

, an d an ap p el lat e co u rt m u s t s at i s fy i t s el f t h at

2 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

3t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c) hav e b een m et

. 3 In co n d u ct i n g t h i s d e n o vo

rev i ew, we are ch arg ed wi t h “ v i ewi ng t h e ev i d en ce, an d al l reas o n ab l e co n cl u s i on s

an d i nferen ces d rawn fro m th e ev i d en ce i n t he l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e

n o n m o v an t .” 4 Beari n g t h es e g u i d i n g p ri nci p l es i n m i n d, we wi l l n o w ad d res s Dav is ’ s

s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Dav i s co n ten d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t to

M o rri s on o n t h e g ro u n d t h at hi s cl ai m ag ai n s t M o rri s o n

, i n d iv i d ual l y

, was b arred by

OCGA § 3 6-9 2 -3 (a), arg u i n g t hat t h e s t at u t e do es n o t ap p l y t o s h eri ff’ s d ep ut i es

. W e

d i s ag ree.

Tas k ed wi t h i n terp ret in g t h e rel ev an t st at u t o ry lan g u ag e, we n eces s ari l y b eg in

o u r an al y s i s wi t h “ fam i l iar an d b i n d i n g can o n s of co n s t ru ct i o n .” 5 Fi rs t an d fo rem os t

,

i n co n s i d eri n g t h e m ean i n g o f a s t at u t e, o u r c h a rg e as an ap p el l at e co u rt i s to

3 S e e Co wa r t v. W

i d en er

, 2 8 7 Ga. 6 2 2, 6 2 4 (1 ) (a) (6 97 SE2 d 7 7 9) (2 0 1 0 ) ;

a cco rd Ma t t a-Tr o n co s o v. Tyn er , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . 6 3 , 6 5 -6 6 (8 0 6 SE2 d 1 0 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

4 Ben ef i el d v. To mi n i ch

, 3 0 8 Ga. A p p

. 6 0 5

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

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d S wa n s o n , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p . at 8 1 0

.

5 Ho l co mb v. Lo ng

, 3 2 9 G a. Ap p

. 51 5

, 5 1 7 (1 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 6 8 7) (2 0 1 4 ); a cco r d

Kemp v. Kemp , 3 37 Ga. Ap p . 6 2 7

, 6 3 3 (7 8 8 SE2 d 5 1 7 ) (2 0 16 ); In t he In t er es t o f L.

T. , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . 5 9 0 , 5 9 1 (7 54 SE2 d 3 8 0 ) (2 0 1 4).

4“ p res u m e t h at t h e Gen eral As sem b l y m ean t w h at i t s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t m ean t .” 6 An d

t o ward t h at en d

, we m

u s t affo rd t h e s t at ut o ry t ex t i t s p l a i n a nd o rd i nary m ean in g

, 7

co n si d er t h e t ex t co nt ex t u al l y

, 8 read t he tex t “ i n i t s m o st n at u ral an d reas o n ab l e way

,

as an o rd i n ary s p eak er o f t he En gl i sh l an gu ag e wo u l d ,” 9 an d s eek t o “ av o i d a

6 Dea l v. Co l ema n

, 2 9 4 Ga. 1 7 0

, 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 )

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ho l co mb , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p . at 5 1 7 (1 ).

7 S ee Ho l co mb

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 1 7 (1 ); a cco r d Dea l

, 29 4 Ga. at 17 2 (1 ) (a);

s ee a l s o Ti b b l es v. Tea ch er

s Ret i r emen t S

ys

. o f Ga

. , 2 97 Ga. 5 5 7

, 5 5 8 (1 ) (7 7 5 SE2 d

5 2 7 ) (2 01 5 ) (“ A s tat u t e draws i t m ean i n g

, o f co u rs e, fro m it s tex t

. ” (p u n ct u at i o n an d

ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )); Ch a n v. E l li s

, 2 9 6 Ga. 8 3 8

, 8 3 9 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 85 1 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (s am e);

S t a t e v. Ab l e

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 63 2

, 6 3 6 (7 4 2 SE2 d 14 9 ) (2 01 3 ) (“ A ju d g e i s ch arg ed

wi t h i n t erp ret i n g th e l aw i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e o ri gi n al an d / o r p lai n m ean i n g o f t h e

t ex t at i s s u e (an d al l t h at t h e t ex t fai rl y i m p l i es ).

. . .”); Si n g l et ar

y v. St a t e

, 3 1 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 57 0

, 57 2 (7 1 3 SE2 d 6 9 8 ) (2 0 11 ) ( “ I n co ns t ru i n g t h es e s t at u t es

, w e ap p l y t h e

fu n d am en t al ru l es o f s t at ut o ry co n s t ru ct i o n t h at req u i re u s t o co n s t ru e t h e s t at u t es

acco rd i n g t o t h ei r t erm s

, [an d ] t o g i v e wo rd s t h ei r p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean i n g

. . . .”

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

8 S ee Ar i z on a v. In ter Tr i b a l Co u n ci l o f A ri zo n a, In c.

,

_

_ _U.S.

_ _ _ (II) (B) (1 3 3

SCt

. 2 2 4 7

, 1 8 6 LE2 d 2 3 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (Scal i a, J .) (“ W o rd s t h at can h av e m o re t h an o n e

m ean i n g are g i v en co n t en t

, h owev er, b y t h ei r s u rro u n d i n g s .” (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ));

Dea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 17 2 (1 ) (a) ( “ [ W] e m u s t v i ew t h e s t at u to ry t ex t i n t h e co n t ex t i n

wh i ch i t ap p ears [.] ”); s ee a l s o Ti b b l es

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 5 5 8 ( 1 ) (“ Th e co m m o n an d

cu s t o m ary u s ag es o f t h e wo rd s are i m p o rt an t

, bu t s o i s t h ei r co n t ex t.” (p u n c t u a t i o n

an d ci t at i o n o m i t ted )); S

ch er r v. Ma r ri o t t In t ’l

, In c.

, 7 0 3 F3 d 1 0 6 9

, 1 0 77 (II) (C) (2 )

(7 t h Ci r. 20 1 3) (M an i o n

, J .) (n o t i n g t hat i n s t at u t o ry co n s t ru ct i o n cas es

, co u rt s “ b eg in

wi t h t h e l an g u ag e o f t h e s t at u te i t s el f an d t h e s p eci fi c co n t ex t i n wh i ch t h at l an g u ag e

i s u s ed .” (p u n ct u at i o n an d ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )).

9 Dea l , 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 2 -7 3 (1 ) (a); a cco r d Ho l co m b , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p . at 5 1 8 (1 ).

5co n st ru ct i o n th at m ak es s o m e l an g u ag e m ere su rp l u s a g e

. ” 1 0 In su m m ary

, wh en t h e

l an g u ag e o f a s tat u t e i s “ p l ai n an d s u s cep t i b le of o n ly o n e n at u ral an d reas o n ab l e

co n st ru ct i o n , co u rt s m

u s t co n s t ru e t h e s t at ut e acco rd i n g l y

. ” 1 1

Tu rn i n g t o t h e rel ev an t st at u t es

, i t is wel l es t ab li s hed t h at “ [a] l aws ui t ag ai n s t

a s heri ff i n h i s o ffi ci al cap aci ty i s co n s i d ered a s u i t ag ai ns t t h e co u n t y

, an d t h e s h eri ff

i s en t i t l ed t o as s ert an y defen s e o r i m m u n it y t h at t h e co u n t y

co u l d as s ert , i n cl u d i n g

s o v erei g n i m

m un it y .” 1 2 Bu t t he Geo rg i a Co n s t i t u t io n pro v i d es t h at “ th e Gen eral

As s em b l y m ay wai v e t h e i m

m u n i t y o f co u n ti es

, m

u n i ci p al i t i es

, an d s ch o ol d i s t ri ct s

b y s t at u t e.” 1 3 An ex am

p l e o f s u ch a wai v er i s i l l u s t rat ed b y OCGA § 3 6-9 2 -2 (a),

1 0 In t h e In ter es t o

f L.T.

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p. a t 5 92 (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d

Ho l co mb , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 1 8 (1 ).

1 1 Ho l co mb

, 3 2 9 Ga. A p p. at 5 1 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); a cco r d Lu a n g kh ot

v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. 4 2 3

, 4 2 4 (1 ) (7 3 6 SE2 d 3 9 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ); s ee a ls o D ea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 3

(1 ) (a) (“ [I] f th e s t at u t o ry t ex t i s cl ear an d un am bi g u o u s, w e at t ri b u t e t o th e s t at u t e i t s

p l ai n m ean i ng

, an d o u r s earch fo r s tat u t ory m ean i n g i s at an en d

. ” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )).

1 2 S t ren gt h v. Lo vet t

, 3 1 1 G a

. Ap p

. 3 5

, 3 8 (1 ) (7 14 SE2 d 7 23 ) (2 0 1 1 ); s ee

Gi l b er t v. Ri ch ar d

s o n

, 2 64 G a. 7 4 4

, 7 4 6 (2 ) n .4 (4 5 2 SE2 d 4 7 6) (1 9 9 4) (n o t i n g t h at

b ecau s e s h eri ff was s u ed i n h is cap aci t y as W al k er Co u n t y s h eri ff, p l ai n t i ff’ s cl ai m s

are, i n es s en ce, cl ai m s ag ai n s t W al k er Co u nt y an d t h e s h eri ff m ay rai s e an y d efen s e

av ai l ab l e t o t he co u n t y , i n cl u d i n g s o v erei g n i m m u n it y ).

1 3 Ca mer o n v. La n g

, 2 7 4 Ga. 1 2 2

, 1 2 6 (3 ) (5 4 9 SE2 d 3 4 1 ) (2 0 0 1); see S t r en g t h

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p . at 3 8 (1 ) (“ Un d er o u r Co n st i t u t i o n , Geo rg i a co u nt i es en jo y so v erei g n

6wh i ch pro v i d es : “ Th e s ov erei g n i m m u n i t y o f l o cal g o v ern m en t en ti t i es fo r a l o ss

ari s in g ou t o f cl ai m s fo r t he n eg l i g en t u s e o f a co v ered m ot o r v eh i cl e is w ai v ed u p to

t h e fo l l owi n g l im i t s

. . . .” N e v e r t h e l es s

, wh i l e th e Gen eral As s em b l y wai v ed

sove r e ign i m

m un i t y fo r lo cal g o v ern m en t en t i t i es i n s u ch ci rcu m s t an ces

, OCGA § 36-

9 2 -3 (a) pro vi d es : “ An y l o cal g o v ern m en t o f f icer o r emp l oyee wh o co m m i t s a to rt

i n v o l v i n g t h e u s e o f a co v ered m o t o r v eh icl e wh i le i n t h e p erfo rm an ce o f h i s o r h er

o ffi ci al d u t i es i s n o t s u b

ject t o l aws u i t o r l iab i l i t y t h erefo r.” 1 4

Here, i t i s u n d i s p u t ed t hat M o rri s o n i s em p l o y ed as a Go rd o n Co un t y s h eri ff’ s

d ep ut y an d t h a t h e w as d ri v i n g a co un t y -o wn ed v eh i cl e en ro u t e to t h e s h eri ff’ s

o ffi ce’ s ev i d en ce ro o m

—wh ere h e wo rk ed as an e v i d en ce cu s t od i an —wh en t h e

acci den t wi t h Dav i s o ccu rred

. Th u s

, u n d er th e p l ai n l an gu ag e o f O CGA § 3 6 -9 2 -3 (a),

M o rri s on i s no t su b

ject to l iab i l i t y fo r t h e acci d en t

, an d Dav i s ’ s cl ai m s ag ai n s t h i m

are b arred

. 1 5

i m m u n i t y, a n d can b e s u ed o n l y i f t h ey h av e wai v ed th ei r im m un i t y .” (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed )).

1 4 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

1 5 S ee W i l co x v. F en n

, 2 8 9 Ga. 7 50

, 7 5 1 -5 2 (7 1 6 SE2 d 1 4 4 ) (2 0 1 1) (h o l d i n g

t h at OCGA § 3 6 -9 2 -3 (a) b arred p l ai n t iff’ s l aws u i t ag ai n s t t wo i n di v i d u al co u n t y

p o l i ce o ffi cers ); DeLo a ch v. El l i o t t

, 28 9 G a. 3 19

, 3 2 1 -2 2 (1 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 7 63 ) (2 0 1 1 )

(h o l d i n g t h at OCGA § 3 6 -9 2 -3 (a) b arred pl ai n t i ff’ s l aws ui t ag ai ns t i n d i v i d u al ci t y

7Nev ert h el es s , Dav i s arg ues th at OCGA § 3 6 -9 2 -3 (a) d o es n ot b ar h i s cl ai m s

ag ai n s t M o rri s o n becau se OCGA § 3 6 -9 2 -1 et s eq

. d o n o t ap p ly t o a s heri ff’ s o ffi ce

i n an y cap aci t y

. In d o i n g s o

, D av i s fi rs t n o t es t h at al t h o u g h OCGA § 3 6 -9 2 -2 (a)

wai v es s o v erei g n i m

m u n it y fo r “ l o c a l g o v ern m en t en t i t i es ,” s heri ff’ s o ffi ces are

n o t ab l y ab s en t fro m t h e d efi n i t i o n o f t h at t erm fo un d i n OCGA § 3 6 -9 2 -1 (3 ), wh i ch

p ro v id es : “ Lo cal g o v ern m en t en t i t y m ean s an y co u nt y

, m u n i ci pal co rp o rat i o n

, o r

co n so l i d at ed ci t y -co u n t y g o v ern m en t o f t h i s s t at e.” Dav i s t h en reas o n s t h at b ecau s e

s h e r i f f ’s o ffi ces are n o t i n cl u d ed i n t h e d efi n i t i o n o f l ocal g o v ern m en t en t i t i es

,

s h eri ff’ s d ep u ti es can n o t b e ch aract eri zed as a “ [l ] o cal g o v e r n m e n t o ffi cer o r

em pl o y ee,” wh i ch O CGA § 3 6 -9 2 -1 (4 ) d efi n es t o m ean “ an o ffi cer, ag en t

, s erv an t

,

at t o rn ey , o r em

p l oy ee o f a l o cal g o v ern m en t en t i t y .”

W e d i s ag ree t hat t h e t erm “ l o cal g o v e r n m en t en t i t y ” s h ou l d b e co n s t ru ed s o

n arro wl y as t o ex cl u d e s h eri ffs ’ o ffi ces

, wh i ch t h o ug h s ep arat e fro m a co u n t y i t s el f,

n ev ert h el es s

, “ cl earl y p erfo rm g o v ern m en t al s erv i ces o n a l o cal l ev el .” 1 6 An d i n d eed

,

p o l i ce o ffi cer); Ra

y v. Ci t y o f W i l ki n s

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 6

, 4 28 -2 9 (1 ) (7 36 SE2 d 1 1 0 )

(2 0 1 2) (h o l d i n g t h at ci t y p o l i ce o ffi cer h ad i m m u n i t y fro m p l ai n ti ff’ s l aws u i t u n d er

OCGA § 3 2 -9 2 -3 (a)) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ).

1 6 Ch a n n el l v. Ho u s t o n

, 2 8 7 Ga. 6 8 2, 68 4 (6 9 9 SE2 d 3 0 8 ) (2 0 1 0 ); s ee La ws o n

v. Li n co l n Ct

y

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 27

, 52 9 (6 6 4 SE2 d 90 0 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ Th e Co ns t i t u t i o n o f

t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a d es i g n at es t h e s h eri ff as a ‘ co u nt y o ffi cer’ b u t g ran t s t h e s t at ed

8t h i s Co urt h as ex p l i ci t l y h el d t h at O CGA § 3 6-9 2 -2 (a) ap p l i es t o a cl ai m ag ai n s t a

co u nt y sh eri ff’ s d ep u t y fo r n eg l i g en t u s e o f a co u n t y -o wn ed m o to r v eh i cl e, an d

, t h u s

,

p recl u d es th e co u n t y s h eri ff fro m as s ert i ng s ov erei g n i m m u n it y as a defen s e. 1 7

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co urt d id n o t err in gran t i n g s um m ary ju dg m en t t o M o rri s o n o n

t h e g ro u n d t h at Dav i s ’ s cl ai m ag ai n s t M o rri s o n was barred b y OCGA § 3 6 -9 2-3 (a). 1 8

2

. Dav i s al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t

t o M o rri s o n on t he g ro u n d t h at an y cl ai m i n h i s co m pl ai nt t hat co u l d b e co n s t ru ed as

l eg i s lat u re t h e ex cl u si v e au t h o ri t y t o es t ab li s h t he s heri ff’ s ‘ q ual i fi cat i o ns

, p o wers

,

an d d u t i es .’ Ga. Co ns t

. Art . IX, Sec. I, Par. III (a) - (b ).”).

1 7 S ee S t r en g t h

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 8 -3 9 (1 ) (h o l d in g t h at

, un d er O CGA § 3 6 -9 2

-

2 (a), co u n t y sh eri ff wai v ed s o v erei g n i m m u ni t y as t o p l ai n t i ff’ s cl ai m t h at d ep u t y ’ s

n eg li g en t u s e o f co u n t y -o wn ed v eh i cl e res ul t ed i n acci d en t th at fat a l l y i n j u red

p l ai n t i ff’ s d eced en t ).

1 8 In h i s en u m erat i on o f e r r o rs

, Dav i s co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

h o l d i n g t h at h e fai l ed t o s u e th e Go rd o n Co u nt y Sh eri ff. No n et h el es s

, i n ad d res s i n g

h i s s e c o n d en um erat i o n

, h e s h i ft s fo cu s an d i n st ead co n t en ds t h at h i s co m p l ai nt

s u ffi ci en t l y as sert ed a cl ai m ag ai n s t Mo rri s o n i n hi s offi ci al cap aci t y as an em p l o y ee

o f t h e Go rd on Co u n t y Sh eri ff’ s Offi ce. Fu rt h erm o re, i n t h e fi r s t s e n t e n ce o f t h i s

arg u m en t

, D av i s ack n o wl ed g es t h at h e i s es s en t i al l y m ak i n g a co n t i ng en t arg u m en t

, i .e.

, t h at t h i s i ss ue b eco m es n eces s ary t o ad dres s o nl y i f t h i s C o u rt ag rees wi t h h i s

i n i t i al co n t en t i o n t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi nd i ng th at O CGA § 3 6 -9 2 -3 (a) b ars

h i s cl ai m ag ai n s t M o rri s o n. Bu t g i v en ou r h o l d in g i n Di v i s i o n 1 t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt

co rrect ly ap p li ed t h i s s t at u t e, we n eed n o t ad d res s t h i s en u m erat i o n o f erro r.

9a cl ai m ag ai ns t t h e Sh eri ff o f Go rd o n Co u n t y i s b arred b y h i s fai l ure t o p ro v i d e an

an t e-l i t em

n o t i ce t o t h e Sh eri ff. Ag ai n , we d is ag ree.

OCGA § 3 6 -1 1-1 pro vi d es t h at “ [a] l l cl ai m s ag ai n s t co un t i es m u s t b e p res en t ed

w i t h i n 1 2 m on t h s aft er th ey accru e o r b eco m e p ay ab l e o r t h e s am e are b arred

,

p ro v id ed t h at m i n o rs o r o t h er p ers o n s l ab o ri n g un d er d i s ab i li t ies sh al l b e al l o wed 1 2

m o n t h s aft er t he rem o v al o f t h e d i s ab i li t y to p res en t t h ei r cl ai m s .” D av i s c o n c e d e s

t h at h e d i d n o t s erv e an an t e-l i t em n o t i ce u p o n Go rd o n Co un t y Sh eri ff Ral s t o n , b ut

h e arg ues t h at

, u n d er OCGA § 3 6 -1 1 -1

, h is s erv i ce o f su ch n ot i ce u p o n t h e v ari ou s

Go rd o n Co u n t y o ffi ci al s was s u ffi ci en t

. Bu t t h i s Co u rt h as ex p l i ci t ly hel d t h at OCGA

§ 3 6 -1 1 -1 ap p l i es b ot h t o t h e co u n t i es an d t o t h e s heri ffs

, w h en s u ed i n t h ei r o ffi ci al

cap aci t i es

. 1 9 In d eed

, we h av e hel d t h at cl ai m s ag ai n s t a s h eri ff a r e no t s u s t ai n ab l e

wi t h o u t t h e an t e-l i t em n o t i ce. 2 0 A c c o r d i ng l y

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f M o rri so n

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ra y a n d S el f , JJ., co n cu r

.

1 9 S ee Co l u mb i a Ct

y. v. B r a n t o n

, 3 0 4 Ga. A p p

. 1 4 9

, 1 5 1 (6 9 5 SE2 d 6 7 4 ) (2 0 1 0 )

(h o l d i n g t h at O CGA § 36 -1 1 -1 “ ap p l i es b o t h t o Co l u m b i a Co u nt y an d to Sh eri ff

Wh i t t le, wh o w as s u ed in hi s o ffi ci al cap aci t y on l y ”), o ver r u l ed i n p a r t o n o t h e r

g r o u nd s by Ha r r i s o n v. M

cAf ee

, 3 3 8 Ga. A p p

. 3 9 3

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

2 0 S ee i d

. at 1 5 1 n .2 (h o l d i n g t h a t t h e cl ai m s ag ai n s t t h e s heri ff are n ot

s u s t ai n ab l e wi t h o ut t h e an t e l i t em n o t i ce).

10