THI RD DI VI SI ON

GOBEI L,

COOM ER 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

Febr uar y 21, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 49 1 . FREEM AN LOM AX et al . v . THE KROGER COM PANY.

G O B E I L

, J u d g e.

Th i s ap peal ari s es fro m a p rem i s es l iab i l i t y / n eg li g en ce act i o n bro u g h t by

F r e e m a n L om a x ( “ L om ax ”) an d h i s wi fe, Pat t i e L o m ax (co l l ect i v el y

, t h e “ p l ai n t i ffs ”),

ag ai n s t T h e Kro g er Co m p an y (“ Kro g er ” ) aft er L o m ax s l i p p ed an d fel l i n a Kro g er

s t ore. A ju ry fo u n d in fav o r of t h e p l ai n t i ffs an d award ed d am ag es

, an d th e t ri al co u rt

en t e red ju d g m en t acco rd i n g l y

. Th ereaft er, t he co u rt en t ered an o rd er (1 ) g ran t i n g

Kro ger’ s m o t i on fo r a ju d gm en t n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t h e v erd i ct (“ JNOV”), co n cl u d i n g

t h at t h e pl ai n t i ffs fai l ed t o s h o w t h at Kro g er h ad act u al o r co n s t ru ct i v e kn o wl ed g e o f

t h e h azard ou s co n d i t i o n an d t h at Lo m ax h ad s u p eri or kn o wl ed g e o f t h e h azard an d,

(2 ) h o l di n g t h at s h ou l d t h e J NOV b e rev ers e d

, Kro g er was en t i t l ed t o a n ew t ri al

b ecau s e t h at t h e v erd i ct was co n t rary t o t he ev i d en ce. Th e p l ai n ti ffs ap p eal t h at o rd er,arg u i n g t hat t h e tri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at t here was n o ev i d en ce t h at Kro g er h ad

co n st ru ct i v e k no wl ed g e o f t h e h azard t h at ca u s ed Lo m ax t o sl i p an d fal l b ecau s e,

acco rd i n g t o t he p l ai n t i ffs

, (1 ) Kro g er fai l ed t o fo l l o w r e a s o n a b l e fl o o r i n s p ect i o n

p ro ced ures an d (2 ) a Kro g er em p l o y ee was i n t h e i m

m ed i at e v i ci n i ty o f t he fal l an d

co u ld h av e rem ov ed t h e h azard

. Th e p l ai n t i ffs al s o arg u e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

g ran t i n g a n ew t ri al w h e r e t h e v erd i ct was n o t co n trary t o t h e ev i d en ce. Fo r t h e

reas on s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e i n p art an d affi rm i n p art

.

If t h e reco rd co n t ai n s “ a n y evi d en ce u p o n wh i ch t h e v erd i ct can b e b as ed

, t h e

ju ry i s free t o d is b el i ev e wh at ev er fact s are i n co n s is ten t w i t h t h ei r co n cl us i o n an d t h e

co u rt can n o t s u b st i t ut e i t s co n cl u s i o n fo r t h at o f t he ju ry an d en t er a [J NO V] .”

Og l et r ee v. Na vi s t a r In t l

. Tr a n s p

. Co r p

. , 2 7 1 Ga. 6 4 4

, 6 4 7 (5 2 2 S E2 d 4 6 7) (1 9 9 9 )

(em p h as i s s u p p li ed ).

W h en co n s i d eri ng wh et h er t h e t ri al co urt erred by g ran t i ng a m o t i o n fo r

J NOV, we rev iew an d res o l v e t h e ev i d en ce a n d an y do u b t s o r

am b i g u i t i es i n fav or o f t h e v erd i ct ; a J NOV i s n o t p ro p er u nl es s t h ere i s

n o co n f l i ct i n t h e ev i d en ce as t o an y m at eri al is s u e an d t h e ev i d en ce

i n t ro d u ced

, wi t h al l reas o n ab l e d ed u ct i o n s t herefro m d ema n d s a cert ai n

v erd ict

. T h u s

, a J

NOV m ay b e g ran ted o n l y wh en

, wi t h o u t wei gh i n g th e

cred ib i l i t y o f t he ev i d en ce, t h ere can b e bu t o n e reas o n ab l e co n cl u s i o n

as t o t he p ro p er ju d g m en t

. If t h e ev i d en ce i s co n fl i ct i n g

, or i f in su ffi ci en t

2ev i d en ce ex i s t s t o m ak e a “ o n e-way ” v erd i ct pro p er, a J NOV s h o u l d n o t

b e g ran t ed

.

Cr o o k v. Fo s t er

, 33 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6

, 3 8 ( 1 ) (7 7 5 SE2 d 2 8 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n om it t ed ; em

p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ). W h en rev i ewi n g t he g ran t o r d en i al o f a

m o ti o n fo r J

NOV, “ ap p el l at e co u rt s m u s t v iew t h e ev i d en ce in t he l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e p art y s ecu ri n g t h e j u ry v erd i ct .” Pl an e v. Un if

o r ce MIS S

er vi ces of

Geo rg i a

, In c.

, 23 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 7

, 7 58 (5 0 3 SE2 d 62 1 ) (1 9 9 8 ) ( c i t at i o n an d

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

Th u s v i ewed i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p l ai n t i ffs

, t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at

Freem an Lo m ax en t ered a Kro g er s t o re on Jan u ary 24

, 20 1 4

, at ap p ro xi m at el y 5 : 3 3

p .m

. At 5 : 4 5 p.m

., he en t e r e d t h e p ro d u ce d ep art m en t

, p u s h i n g a s h o p p i n g cart

co n tai n i n g a h an d-h el d s h o p p i n g b as k et an d s ev eral g ro cery i t em s

. Lo m ax p ark ed h i s

s h o p pi n g cart i n t h e p ro d u c e d e p art m en t an d u s ed th e b as k et t o ret u rn s o m e o f t h e

g ro cery i t em s t o t h ei r res pect i v e s h el v e s

. At 5 : 5 3 p .m

., Lo m ax ret u rn ed t o h i s

s h o p pi n g cart an d

, as h e b eg an p u s h i n g t h e cart

, s l i p p ed o n t h e t i l e fl o o r an d fel l in

a p u d d l e o f wat er, i n

ju ri n g h i s s h o u l d e r an d head

. A s t ore s ecu ri t y gu ard o ffered

as s i s tan ce, an d cal l ed “ fo r s o m eb o d y t o co m e an d g et [t h e] wat er” o ff t h e fl o o r. W h i l e

h e was o n t h e fl o o r aft er t h e fal l

, Lo m ax o b s erv ed w at er on t he fl o o r an d n o t i ced h i s

3cl o t h es w ere “ s o ak i n g wet .” A n earb y cu s t o m er co m m en t ed t h at th e fl o o r was wet

aft er t h e fal l

. Lo m ax d i d n ot k n o w t h e o ri g in o f t he w at er o n t h e fl oo r o r h o w l o n g i t

h ad been t h ere. Lo m ax s u s t ai n ed i n ju ri es t o h i s s h o u ld er an d h ead an d was t ak en fro m

Kro ger b y

am b u lan ce t o a h o s p i t al s ho rt l y aft er t he fal l

.

Th e p lai nt i ffs s u ed K

ro g er fo r n eg l i g en ce an d lo s s o f co ns o rt i u m

. At t h e cl o s e

o f th e p lai n t i ffs ’ cas e, K

ro g er m o v ed fo r a d irect ed v erd i ct

, arg ui n g t hat t h ere was n o

ev i d en ce t h at Kro g er h ad act u al o r co n s t ru ct i v e kn o wl ed g e o f th e wat er o n t h e fl o o r.

Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m ot i o n

. At t h e cl os e o f al l o f th e ev id en ce, Kro g er ren ewed

i t s m o t i o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ag ai n d en i ed t h e m ot io n

. Th e ju ry

ret u rn ed a verd i ct fo r t h e p l ai n t iffs o n Feb ru ary 8

, 2 0 17

, award i n g dam ag es t o Lo m ax

i n t h e am o u n t o f $ 5 0 0 ,0 0 0 o n h i s neg l i g en ce cl ai m

, an d $ 2 0 0

, 0 0 0 t o M s. Lo m ax fo r

l o s s o f co n s o rt i u m

. Th e t ri al co u rt t h en en t ered ju dg m en t o n th e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

. Kro g er

fi led a m ot i o n fo r J

N OV o r, i n t h e al t ern at i v e, a m o ti o n fo r a n ew t ri al . Fo l l o wi n g a

h eari n g o n t h e m o t i on

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran ted t h e m o t i o n fo r JNOV. Th e co u rt fu rt h er

h el d t h at i n t h e ev en t th e J NOV was v acat ed o r rev ers ed on ap peal

, Kro g er wo u l d b e

en t i t l ed t o a n ew t ri al

.

In g ran t in g t h e m o t i o n fo r J NOV, t h e t ri al co u rt an al y zed th e s u rv ei l l an ce vi d eo

an d ru l ed t h at t h e pl ai n t i ffs h ad fai led t o es tab l i s h t h at an y o f K ro g er’ s em

pl o y ees h ad

4ei t h er act u al o r co n s t ru ct i v e k n o wl ed g e of t h e h azard ou s wat er p u d d l e o n t h e fl o o r.

Fu rt h er, t h e t r i a l c o u rt h el d t h at t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at Lo m ax h ad s u p eri o r

k n o wl ed g e o f t h e h azard

.

1

. T h e pl ai n t iffs arg ue t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h ere was n o ev i d en ce

i n t h e reco rd t h at K ro g er h ad co n s t ru ct i v e k n o w l ed g e o f t h e wat er p u d d l e o n t h e

fl oo r. W e ag ree.

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

i n v i tee m us t p ro v e: (1 ) t h at t he d efen d an t h ad act u al [ 1 ] o r co n s t ru ct iv e

k n o wl ed g e of t h e h azard ; an d (2 ) t hat t he p l ai n ti ff lack ed k n owl ed ge o f

t h e h azard des p i te t h e ex erci s e o f o rd i n ary care d u e t o act i o n s o r

co n d i t i o n s wi t hi n t he 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 g er Co

. , 2 68 G a. 7 3 5

, 7 4 8 -7 4 9 (2 ) (B) (4 9 3 SE2 d 4 0 3 ) (1 9 9 7 ). In s l ip

an d fal l cas es

, co n s tru ct i v e k no wl ed g e m ay b e i m p u t ed t o t h e o wn er/ o ccu p i er wh ere

t h ere i s ev i d en ce th at (1 ) an em p l o y ee o f t h e p ro p ri et o r was i n t h e i m m ed i at e area o f

t h e h azard an d co u l d h av e e a s i l y s een an d rem o v ed i t ; o r (2 ) t h e h azard h ad b een

p res en t lo n g en o u g h t h at t h e p ro p ri et o r co ul d h av e di s co vered it t h ro u g h reas o n ab l e

1 Th e p l ai n t iffs d o n o t co n t en d t h at Kro g er h ad act u al k n o wl ed ge o f t h e wat er

p u d d l e o n t he fl o o r. Th erefo re, i n o rd er t o d em o n s t rat e k n o w l ed g e, t h e p l ai nt i ffs m u s t

p o i n t to ev i d en ce t h at Kro g er h ad co n s t ru ct i v e k no wl ed g e o f t h e h azard

. Pr es co t t v.

Co l on i a l Pr op er t i es Tr u s t, In c. , 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p. 7 5 3 , 7 5 4 (1 ) (6 4 2 SE2 d 4 2 5 ) (2 0 07 ).

5i n s p ect i on p ro ced u res

. W al la ce v. W

a l -Ma r t S t o r es

, In c.

, 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 3

, 3 4 5 (6 1 2

SE2 d 5 2 8 ) (2 0 05 ); s ee al so Kr o g er Co

. v. Br o o ks

, 2 31 G a. Ap p

. 6 50

, 6 5 4 (1 ) (a) (5 0 0

SE2 d 3 9 1 ) (1 9 9 8 ). W i t h reg ar d t o t h e s eco n d m et h od o f s h o wi ng co n s t ru ct i v e

k n o wl ed g e,

[t ] h e l en g t h o f t i m e t h e s u b s t an ce m u s t rem ai n o n t h e fl o o r b efo re th e

o w n er s ho u l d h av e d i s co v ered i t an d w h at co n st it u t es a reas o n ab l e

i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u re v ary wi t h each cas e, d ep en d i n g o n t h e nat u re o f th e

b u s i n es s

, t h e s ize o f t h e s t o re, t h e n u m b er of cu s t o m ers

, t he n at u re o f th e

d an g ero u s co n di t i o n

, an d t h e s t ore’ s l ocat i on

.

Da vi s v. Br u n o ’s S

u p er ma r ket s

, In c.

, 2 63 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 7, 15 0 ( 2 ) ( 5 8 7 SE2 d 2 7 9 )

(2 0 0 3) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n om it t ed ). Ho wev er, a pl ai n t i ff i n a s l i p an d fal l

act i on “ n eed n ot s h o w h o w l o n g t h e h azard h as b een p res en t ” u n les s t h e o w n er h as

d em o n s t rat ed t h at “ i t h ad a reas o n ab l e in s p ect i o n pro g ram in p l ace[] [an d ] t h at s u ch

p ro g ram was act u al l y carri ed o u t at t h e t i m e o f t h e i n ci d en t

. ” S h ep a rd v. W

i n n Di xi e

S t o r es

, In c.

, 2 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 6, 7 4 8 (1 ) (5 2 7 SE2 d 3 6 ) (1 9 9 9) (ci t at io n s

, p u n ct u at i o n,

an d fo o t n o t es o m it t ed ); s ee al so In g l es M a r k e t s

, In c. v. Ma r t i n

, 2 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 0,

8 1 1 (5 1 3 SE2 d 5 3 6 ) (1 99 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ) (“ a p l ai n t i ff n eed n ot

s h o w h o w l o n g a s u bs t an ce h as b een o n t h e fl o o r u n les s t h e d efen d an t h as es t ab l i s h ed

6t h at reas o n ab l e i n s p ect i on p ro ced u res were i n pl ace an d fo l l o w ed at t h e ti m e o f t h e

i n ci d en t ”).

Here, t h ere was co nfl i ct i n g ev i d en ce as t o w h e t h e r K r og er p ro p erl y

i m p l em en t ed i t s i n s p ect io n p ro ced u res o n t h e d at e o f Lo m ax ’ s acci d en t

. A cl erk in

t h e s t o re’ s p ro du ce d ep art m en t was res t o ck i n g p ro d u ce p ri o r t o t h e t i m e Lo m ax fel l

,

an d s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo d ep ict s t h e p ro d uce cl erk wal k b y t h e area wh ere Lo m ax fel l

at 5 : 3 7 p .m

. Th e cl erk t es t i fi ed t h at h e d id n o t l oo k do wn at t he fl o o r as he wal k ed by

t h i s area an d d i d n o t o b s erv e a s i zeab l e p u d d l e of wat er at t h is t i m e, bu t i f h e h ad

, h e

w o u l d h av e cl ean ed an d rem o v ed i t

. T h e pro d u ce cl erk al s o tes t i fi ed reg ard i n g t h e

s t ore’ s u s u a l i n s p ect i o n p ro ced u res

. St ore em p l o y ees were t rai n ed t o i n sp ect fl o o rs

an d ch eck fo r s p i l ls o r o t h er h azard s

. In t h e p ro du ce d ep art m en t

, em p l o y ees s wep t t h e

fl oo r at t h e en d o f t h ei r s h ift s

. Th e p ro d u ce cl erk ’ s s h ift d i d no t en d u n ti l 1 0 p .m

., an d

h e h ad n o t y et p erfo rm ed a s weep o f th e p ro d uce s ect i o n at t h e t i m e Lo m ax fel l

, n o r

h ad h e p erfo rm ed an i n s pect i o n o f t h e fl oo r.

In i t s o rd er g ran t in g t h e m o t i o n fo r JNOV, t h e t ri a l c o u rt ch aract eri zed t h e

p ro d uce cl erk ’ s trav ers i n g t h e p ro d u ce s ect i o n wh ere L o m ax fel l as a

“ ch eck u p / wal k t h ro u gh ” o f t h e area. Th e j u ry v i ewed t he s urv ei l l an ce fo o t ag e o f t h e

p ro d uce cl erk an d h eard h i s t e s t i m on y reg ard in g t he s am e. Th i s ev i d en ce d i d n ot

7d em an d a fi n d i n g t h at t h e cl erk ’ s wal k -t h ro u gh co n s t i t u t ed an in s p ect i o n, an d t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n s u bs t it u t i n g it s o w n ju d g m en t fo r t h at o f t he ju ry o n t hi s is su e. Au g u s ta

Co u n t r y Cl u b

, In c. v. Bl a k

e

, 2 8 0 G a

. Ap p. 6 50

, 6 5 5 (1 ) (a) (6 3 4 SE2 d 81 2 ) (2 0 0 6 )

(wh ere p l ai n t i ff pres en t ed s o m e ev i d en ce t h at h azard w o u l d h av e b een d i s co v ered i f

d efen d an t h ad fo l l o wed i t s cu s to m ary i n s p ect i o n an d m ai n t en an ce p ro ced ures

, t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g m ot i o n fo r d irect ed v erd i ct ).

Th e s t o re’ s m an ag er al s o t es t i fi ed as to Kro g er’ s cu st o m ary “ s t o re i n s p ect i o n

p l an .” Th i s p o l i cy req u i res em p l o y ees t o cl ean s p i l ls o r d eb ri s fro m t h e fl o o r i f t h ey

n o t i ce an y t h i n g

, an d fo r co u rt e s y c l e rk s t o p erfo rm s ix “ co m p l et e s weep [s ] ” o f t h e

s t ore d ai l y

. Th es e s weep s co n si s t o f an em p l o y ee cl ean i n g wi t h a l o n g b ro o m i n ev ery

ai s l e an d d ep art m en t

. W hen em p l o y ees p erfo rm fl o o r s weep s

, th ey el ect ro n i cal l y l o g

t h e s weep s i n t o t h e st o re’ s co m p u t er sy s te m u s i n g a nu m eri cal co d e. Th e s t o re’ s

s w e e p l o g f

o r t h e d at e o f Lo m ax ’ s fal l s h o w ed t h at a co urt es y cl erk co m m en ced a

s t orewi d e s weep at 5 : 2 9 p .m

. an d co m p l et ed th e s w eep at 5 : 5 3 p.m

. H o w e v e r,

s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo d ep i ct s t h e s am e cl erk as s i s t i ng cu s t o m ers at t h e cas h reg i s t er at

t h e t i m e sh e s u p p o s ed l y cl o ck ed o u t fo r t h e co m p l et e s weep

, an d cl ean i n g t h e s t o re

res t ro o m at t h e t i m e sh e s u pp o s ed l y co m p l et ed t h e s weep

. Th e m an ag e r co n fi rm ed

t h at t h e co u rt es y cl erk d i d no t co m p l et e t h e s weep

, a n d t e s t i f i ed th at t h e cl erk m ay

8h av e cl ock e d o u t fo r t h e s weep

, b ut fai led t o p erfo rm t h e s weep

. Th e m an ag er was

u n a b l e t o ex p l ai n t he di s crep an cy i n t h e el ect ro n i c s w eep l o g an d t h e su rv ei l l an c e

fo o t ag e o r t o i d en t i fy an y em p l o y ee wh o act u al l y carri ed o u t t h e i n s p ect i o n

p ro ced ures

, an d th e ju ry was au t h o r i z ed t o res o lv e t h i s co n fl i ct i n th e ev i d en ce

ad v ers el y t o Kro g er. See S h ep a rd

, 2 4 1 G a. A p p

. at 7 4 9 (1 ) (i n s l i p an d fal l cas e, g ran t

o f s u m m ary j u d gm en t in fav o r o f d efen d an t g ro cery s t o re rev ers ed w h ere m an ag er’ s

affi d av i t d i d n o t refl ect t hat h e o b s erv ed o r h ad p ers o nal k n o wl ed g e o f t h e i n s p ect i o n

p ro ced ures carri ed ou t o n d ay o f p l ai n t i ff’ s i n ju ry ). Th e ev i den ce ad d u ced at t ri al an d

o u t l i ned ab o v e p erm i t ted a co ncl u si o n th at K ro g er fai l ed to ad h ere t o reas o n ab l e

i n s p ect i on p ro ced u res o n t h e d a t e o f Lo m ax ’ s fal l, an d t h erefo re had co n s t ru ct i v e

k n o wl ed g e o f t h e h azard

. Acco r d i n g l y, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n set t i ng as i d e t h e

v erd i ct

.

Be c a u s e th ere was ev i d en ce fro m wh ich a ju ry co u l d i n fer t h at Kro g er h ad

co n st ru ct i v e k n o wl ed ge of t h e h azard (b as ed o n i t s fai l u re t o fo ll o w reas o n ab l e

i n s p ect i on p ro ced u res ), we n eed n o t r e a c h t h e i s su e o f wh et h er su ffi ci en t ev i d en ce

ex i s t ed to creat e a ju ry i s su e o n wh et h e r K r o g e r em p lo y ees were i n th e i m

m ed i at e

area o f t h e h azard an d co u l d h av e eas i l y s een an d rem o v ed i t. K r o g e r C o

. v.

S ch oen h o f f , 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 9

, 6 2 3 (7 5 1 SE2 d 4 3 8 ) (2 0 13 ).

92

. Th e Lo m ax es a l s o ch al l en g e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f Kro g er’ s m ot i o n fo r

a n ew t ri al

. W e fi n d n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n an d h en ce affi rm t he g ran t o f a n ew t ri al

.

As req u ired b y OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 0

, at t h e t i m e i t ru l ed o n t h e m o t i o n fo r a J NOV,

t h e t ri al co ur t a l s o r u l ed o n Kro g er’ s m ot i o n fo r a n ew t ri al

. Th e t ri al co u rt

co n di t i o na l ly g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n b as ed o n i ts d et erm i n at i o n t h at t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct was

co n trary t o t h e ev i d en ce an d ag ai n s t t h e pri n ci p l es o f ju s ti ce an d eq u i t y

. See OCGA

§ 9 -1 1 -5 0 (c) (1 ) (“ If t h e m o t i o n fo r [J NOV] . . . i s g ran t ed

, t h e co u rt s h al l al s o ru l e

o n t h e m o t i o n fo r a n ew t ri al , i f an y

, b y d et erm i n i n g wh et her i t sh o ul d b e g ran t ed i f

t h e j u d gm en t i s t h ereaft er v acat ed o r rev e r s e d a n d s h al l s p eci fy t h e gro u n d s fo r

g ran t i n g o r d en y i n g th e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al .”); s ee al s o OCGA § § 5 -5 -2 0 (“ In a ny

cas e wh en t h e v erd ict o f a ju ry i s f o u n d c o n t rary t o ev i den ce an d t h e p ri n ci p l es o f

ju s t i c e an d eq u it y

, t h e ju d g e p res i d i n g m ay g ran t a n ew tri al b efo re an o t h er ju ry .”)

an d 5 -5 -2 1 (“ Th e p res i d i ng ju d g e m ay ex erci se a s o u n d d is cret i o n i n g ran t i n g o r

refu si n g n ew t ri al s i n cas es wh ere t h e v erd i ct m ay b e deci d ed l y an d st ro n g l y ag ai n s t

t h e wei gh t o f t h e ev i d en ce ev en t h o u g h t h ere m ay ap pear t o b e s o m e s l i gh t ev i d en ce

i n fav o r o f t h e fi n d i n g

. ”).

Un l i ke o u r as s es s m en t o f a t ri al co urt ’ s g ran t o f a m o t i o n fo r a J NOV, we

rev i e w t h e f

i rs t gran t o f a n ew t ri al fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. See OCGA § 5 -5 -5 0

10(“ Th e fi rs t g ran t o f a n ew t ri al s h al l n o t b e d i s tu rb ed b y an ap p el l at e co u rt u n l es s t h e

ap p el l an t s h o ws th at t he ju d g e ab u s e d hi s d i scret i o n i n g ran t i n g i t an d t h at t h e l aw

an d fact s req u i re t h e verd i ct no twi t h s t an d i n g t h e ju d g m en t o f th e p res i d i n g ju d g e.”);

s ee al so Th o ma s v. W

i l ey

, 24 0 Ga. A p p

. 1 3 5

, 1 3 7 (3 ) (5 2 2 SE2 d 7 14 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ) ( “ i n t hi s s tat e t h e tri al ju d g e is v es t ed wi t h t h e s t ro n g es t o f d i s cret i o n s to

rev i ew t h e cas e an d t o s et t h e v erd i ct as i d e i f h e i s n o t s at is fi ed wi t h i t”).

Here, t h e t ri al co u rt i n t erp ret ed t h e s u rv ei l l an ce v i d eo as ev i d en ce t h at Lo m ax

h ad s u p e r i o r k n owl ed g e o f t h e h azard

. Al t h o u g h t h ere was co n fl i ct i n g ev i d en ce o n

t h e i s s u es as s um m ari zed ab o v e, t h e reco rd co nt ai ns ev id en ce fro m wh i ch t h e ju ry

co u ld h av e fo u n d t h at Kro ger lack ed k n o wl ed g e o f t h e hazard an d fo l l o wed

reas on ab l e i ns p ect i o n p ro ced u res

. Beca u s e t h e co n fl i ct i n g ev i d en ce wo ul d h av e

au t h o ri zed t h e ju ry t o ret u rn a v erd i ct fo r Kro ger, t h e fact s d o n o t req u i re t h e v erd i ct

n o t wi t h s t an d i n g th e ju d g m en t o f t h e p res i d i n g ju dg e p er OCGA § 5 -5 -5 0.

Acco rd in g ly

, we fi nd n o ab u s e o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s di s cret i on

. See Mo sl ey v. W a r n o ck

,

2 8 2 Ga. 4 8 8

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

Ju d g men t a f fi r med i n p a r t a n d r ever s ed i n p a r t

. C oo mer a nd Ho d g es

, JJ.,

co n cu r

.

11