SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER and RA

Y, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

October 15, 2014



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A0 78 4 . DEKALB COUNTY v . KIRKLAND et al

. M I-1 0 3

M I LLE R , J u d ge.

Ti m o t h y W

. Ki rk l an d an d St ev en L. P r u i t t (“ th e Pl ai n t i ffs ”) s u ed DeKal b

Co u n t y (“ t h e Co un t y ”) fo r, in ter al i a, b reach o f co n t ract b as ed o n t h e Co u nt y ’ s refu s al

t o al l o w t h e Pl ai n t i ffs t o us e t h ei r accru ed co m p en sat o ry t im e o r co m

p en s at e t h em fo r

t h at t i m e. T h e Co u n t y fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, a s s e rt i n g t h at t h e

Pl ai n t i ffs ’ cl ai m s were barred by s o v erei gn i m

m u n i t y an d t h e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n s

.

Th e t ri al c o u r t d en i ed t he Co u n t y ’ s m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, an d th e Co u n t y

ap p eal s

. 1 Fo r t he reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e.

1 Th e Pl ai n t i ffs al so s u ed t h e Co u n ty fo r u n ju s t en ri ch m en t

, p r o m i s s o ry

es t o p p el

, an d at t orn ey fees

. T h e t ri al co u rt d i s m i s sed t h e Pl ai n t iffs ’ cl ai m s fo r u n ju s t

en ri ch m en t a n d p ro m i s s o ry es t o p p el

, fi n d i n g t hat t he Co u nt y h ad n o t wai v ed

s o v erei g n i m

m u n i t y as to t ho s e cl ai m s , an d g ran ted t h e Co u n t y ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t as t o t h e Pl ai n t i ffs ’ cl ai m s fo r at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

. Th e“ Su m

m ary ju d g m en t i s ap p ro p ri at e w h en t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al

fact an d t h e m o v an t i s en t i tl ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw. W e ap p l y a d e n o v o

s t an d ard o f ap p el l at e rev i ew an d v iew 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

a n d i n feren ces d rawn fro m i t, i n t h e li g h t m os t fav o rab le t o th e n o n m o v an t .”

(Fo o tn o te o m i t t ed .) Co mmu n i t y Ma r ket pl a ce P ro p er ti es

, LLC v. S

u n Tr u s t Ba n k

, 3 0 3

Ga. Ap p . 4 0 3 , 4 0 4 (6 9 3 SE2 d 6 0 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s ho ws t h at Ki rk l an d beg an wo rk i n g f o r DeKal b

Co u n t y Fi re Res cu e Dep art m en t (“ D CFR”) i n 1 9 8 8

. Pru i tt beg an wo rk i n g fo r DCFR

i n Feb ru ary

1 9 89 . Nei t h er h ad a wri t t en co n t ract o f em p l o y m en t

.

DCFR c r e a t e d a vo l u n t eer K -9 Search an d Res cu e Team an d p ro v id ed t eam

m em b e r s wi th fo o d an d v et eri n ary care fo r t h e do g s

. Vo l u n t eer K-9 han d l ers were

res p o n s i b l e fo r ho u s i n g an d trai n i n g t h ei r do g s , i n ad di ti o n t o t h ei r reg ul ar DCFR

d u t i es

. O n o r ab o u t M ay 7

, 20 0 3

, DCFR b eg an award in g 2 4 ho u rs of co m p en s at o ry

t i m e p er m o n t h ( fi refi g h t ers n o rm al l y wo rk 2 4 -h o ur s h i ft s) t o K-9 h an d l ers to

co m p en s at e t h em fo r t h e h o urs t h ey s p en t t rai ni ng , h o us i n g an d cari n g fo r t h ei r d o g s

.

Pri o r t o t h at ti m e, K-9 h an d l ers recei v ed ad d i t i o nal co m pen s at io n rat her t h an

co m p en s at o ry t i m e.

Pl ai n t i ffs d i d n o t fi l e a cro s s -ap p eal ch al l en g i n g t hes e ru l i n g s

.

2In 2 0 0 0

, Ki rk l an d v o lu n t eered t o jo i n t h e K-9 team an d i n 2 0 0 4, Ki rk l an d was

p ro m o t ed to t h e p o s i t i o n o f cap t ai n

. Pru it t was p ro m o t ed t o cap tai n i n 2 0 0 3 a n d

b ecam e a v o l u nt eer K-9 h an d l er i n 2 0 0 8

. Fi re cap t ai n s i n t h e C o u n ty are o v ert i m eex em p t em p l o y ees , an d u p o n p ro m ot i on t o cap t ai n , Ki rk l an d an d Pru i t t u n d ers t o o d

t h at t h ey were no l o n ger el i g i b le t o recei v e o vert i m e wag es , b ut rem ai n ed el i g i b l e to

recei v e co m

pen s at o ry t i m e. Ov ert i m e-ex em p t em p l oy ees w ere n o t el i g i b l e t o recei v e

cas h co m p en s at i o n fo r co m

p en sat o ry t i m e an d h ad t o u se accru ed co m pen s at o ry t i m e

wi t h i n o n e y ear. Co d e o f DeKal b Co u n ty , § 2 0 -1 6 1 (c).

Effect i v e Ju l y 3 1, 2 01 0

, DCFR d i sco n t in u ed t h e m on t h l y award o f 24 h o u rs o f

co m p en s at o ry t i m e t o K-9 h an d l ers . Th e K-9 t eam w as d i sb an d ed i n Oct o ber 2 0 1 0.

DCFR em

p lo y ees b el o w t h e ran k o f cap t ai n wh o h ad m o re t h an 4 8 0 h o u rs o f

accru ed co m

p en s at ory t i m e were ab l e to recei v e co m pen s at io n fo r accru ed h o u rs in

ex ces s o f 4 80 ho urs p ri o r t o b e b ei n g p ro m o t ed t o cap t ai n. 2 In M arch 2 0 0 4, at t h e t i m e

2 Th e Co u n t y

Co d e p ro v i d es :

(a)

. . . Ti m e wo rk ed i n ex ces s o f th e st an d ard wo rk week

, wh i ch i s ap pro ved b y t h e d ep art m en t h ead i n ad v an ce o r i n

cas es o f em erg en cy as d et erm i ned b y t h e d ep art m en t h ead

,

s h al l b e cred i t ed as o v ert i m e.

. . . Co m p en s at o ry t i m e at th e

rat e o f o n e an d o n e-h al f (1 1⁄2 ) h o u rs fo r ev ery h ou r wo rk ed

3o f hi s p ro m o t i o n, Ki rk lan d h ad o n l y ap p ro x i m at el y 1 0 0 h o urs o f accru ed

co m p en s at o ry t i m e. Al s o, at t h at t i m e, Ki rk l an d was in fo rm ed (i n co rrect l y ) t h at h i s

p rev i o u s l y accru ed co m

pen s at o ry t i m e wo u l d n o t b e affect ed b y h i s p ro m o t i o n

.

On o r ab o u t Oct o b er 2 5

, 2 0 0 5

, DCFR i s s ued a m em o ran d u m t o em p l o y ees

reg ard i n g t h e accru al an d u s e of co m p en s at o ry t im e

. T he m em o s t at ed t h at em p l o y ees ,

i n cl u d i n g Pl ai n t i ffs

, co ul d n o t accru e m o re t h an 48 0 h o urs o f co m p en s at o ry t i m e, an d

o v ert i m e-ex em

p t em pl o y ees were t o t rack t hei r o wn accru ed h o u rs

.

Th e Co u n t y ’ s p ers o n nel p o l i ci es req ui re t h at a fi refi g h t er’ s req u es t fo r t i m e o ff,

w h e t h er u s i n g co m

p en s at o ry t im e o r an n u al l eav e, b e m ad e t o a b at t al i o n ch i e f

, i n

wri t in g , an d each b at t al i o n ch i ef h as t o co n s i d er DCFR s t affi n g n eed s wh en

rev i ewi n g an em

p l o y ee’ s req u es t fo r t i m e o ff. Co d e o f DeKal b Co u n t y , § § 2 0-1 6 1 (b );

i n ex ces s o f t he ap p l i cab l e s t a n dard wo rk week m ay be

g iv en t o em

p l o y ees el i gi b le fo r o vert i m e co m p en s at io n i n

l i eu o f cas h co m

p en s at i o n

.

(b ) El i g i b l e l aw en fo rcem en t

, em erg en cy m ed i cal

, fi re an d

s eas o n al em

p l o y ees m ay accru e u p t o fo u r h un d red ei g h t y (4 8 0 ) h o u rs o f co m

p en sat o ry t im e b efo re o v ert i m e

co m p en s at i o n m

u s t b e p ai d i n cas h. . . .

Co d e o f DeKal b Co u n t y , § 2 0 -1 6 1

.

42 0 -1 65 (d ). Acco rd i n g t o Ki rk l an d’ s o wn reco rd s , h e u s ed s o m e accru ed

co m p en s at o ry t i m e in 2 4 -h o u r i n crem en ts each y ear fro m 2 0 0 3 t h r o u g h 2 0 1 0.

Al t h o u g h Ki rk l an d was ab l e t o u s e s o m e of h i s co m p en s at o ry t im e, o t h er req u es t s to

u s e co m p en s at o ry t i m e were d en i ed b ecau se o f DCFR’ s s t affi n g n eed s

.

On o r ab o u t Sep t em

b er 1 1

, 2 0 09

, t h e Co un t y ’ s Ch i ef Ex ecu t i v e Offi cer i s s u ed

a m em o t o d ep art m en t head s i n d i cat i n g t hat fo r o v ert i m e-ex em p t em p l o y ees ,

co m p en s at o ry t i m e h ad t o b e u s ed wi t h i n o n e cal en d ar y ear o f t h e d at e t h at i t was

a ccru ed an d n o cas h p ay m en t wo u l d b e gi v en fo r u n u s ed co m pen s at o ry t i m e.

Ki rk l an d d ep o s ed t hat u n t i l recei p t o f t h i s m em o h e u n d ers t o o d t h at t h ere we r e n o

t i m e l i m i t s o n t h e u s e o f co m pen s at o ry t i m e.

Th at s am e m o nt h

, K i rk l an d was n o t i f i e d t h at h e h ad zero h o urs o f accru ed

co m p en s at o ry t i m e. Ki r k l a n d s e n t a m em o t o t h e Ch i ef Op erat i n g Offi cer s eek i n g

cl ari fi cat i o n of t h e co m

pen s at o ry t i m e p ol i ci es t h at ap p l i ed t o h i m

. In J u l y 2 0 1 0,

Ki rk l an d s en t a l et t er t o h i s s u p erv i s o rs , i nd i cat i n g t h at h i s reco rd s s h o w e d t h at h e

h ad 1 4 5 0 h o u rs o f co m

p en s at o ry t i m e accru ed s in ce 20 0 3

, e n t i t l in g h im t o cas h

p ay m en t fo r h i s accru ed ho u rs i n ex ces s of 4 8 0 h o u rs

. Th e Co u n t y p ay ro l l s up erv i s o r

ad v is ed Ki rk l an d t h at fi re cap t ai n s w ere n o t p ai d fo r t h ei r accru ed co m pen s at o ry t i m e

an d t h at h e wo u l d h av e t o u s e h i s accru ed co m p en s at o ry t im e i n l i eu o f v acat i o n

.

5In Oct o b er 2 01 0

, Ki rk l an d as k ed th e Co u n t y to ack n o wl ed ge t h at h e h ad 1 4 5 0

h o u rs of accru ed co m

p en s at o ry t i m e “ av ai lab l e t o u s e at [h i s ] l ei s ure.” Th at m o n t h,

t h e Act i n g Fi re Ch i ef in f o r m e d Ki rk l an d t hat u nd er DCFR’ s p o l icy req ui ri n g t h at

l eav e b e u s ed w i t hi n o n e y ear o f a c c r u a l

, Ki rk l an d h ad 1 6 8 h ou rs o f accru ed

co m p en s at o ry t i m e t h a t h a d t o b e u s ed b y t h e en d o f t h e y ear. Ki rk l an d u s ed h i s

accru ed ti m e acco rd i n g l y

. Ki rk l an d d i d n o t accru e an y co m p en s at ory t i m e i n 2 0 1 1,

an d h e ret i red effect i v e J an u ary 6 , 2 0 1 2.

Pru i tt b eg an accru in g co m p en s at o ry t i m e wh en h e j o i n ed t h e K-9 t eam i n 2 0 0 8.

Pru i t t d o es n o t recal l an y t i m e l i m i t o n t h e u s e o f h i s accru ed co m p en s at o ry t i m e an d,

u n t i l t h e Sep t em

b er 2 0 0 9 m e m o s t at in g o t h erwi s e, he u n d ers t o o d t h e Co u n t y ’ s

p o l i c i e s t o al l o w h im to accru e an d m ai n t ai n co m p en s at o ry t i m e i nd efi n it el y

. On

Oct o b er 16

, 2 0 1 0

, Pru it t req u es t ed t o us e co m p en s at o ry ti m e, an d h i s req ues t was

d en ied becau s e h i s s up erv i s o r’ s re c o rd s refl ect ed t h at Pru i t t h ad n o accru ed

co m p en s at o ry t i m e. Pru it t i ns t ead u s ed an n u al l eav e t o t ak e ti m e off. Pru it t al l eg es

t h at h e accru ed 74 4 h o u rs o f u n u s ed co m p en sat o ry t i m e th ro u gh No v em b er 2 0 1 0.

Pru i t t i s s t i l l cu rren t l y

em p l o y ed wi t h DCFR as a cap t ai n

.

In J u n e 20 1 2

, t h e Pl ai nt iffs fi l ed su i t s eek i n g co m p en sat i on fo r t h e i r u n u s ed

co m p en s at o ry t i m e, l ead i n g t o t h e i n s t an t ap p eal

.

6Th e Co un t y co n t en d s t h at t h e t r i a l co urt erred i n den 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 o n t h e Pl ai n t i ffs ’ cl ai m s fo r b reach o f co n tract . W e ag ree.

As p ro v i d ed i n Geo rg i a’ s Co ns t i t u t i o n , s o v erei g n i m m u ni t y

ex t en d s t o t he co u n t i es , an d a co u n ty ’ s s o v erei g n i m m un i t y can o nl y be

wai v ed by an Act o f t h e Gen eral As sem b l y wh i ch s p eci fi cal l y p ro v i d es

t h at s o v erei g n im

m u n i t y is t h ereb y wai v ed an d t h e e x t e n t o f s u ch

wai v er. Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, s o verei gn i m m u n i t y i s a n i m m

u n i t y fro m

s u i t

, rat h er t h an a m ere d efen s e t o l i a b i l it y , an d, t h erefo re, wh et h er a

g o v ern m en t al d efen d an t has wai v ed i t s s o v erei gn i m m u n i t y i s a

t h res h o l d i s s u e.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i on o m i tt ed .) Bd

. o f Co mmr s

. of Gl yn n Co u n t

y v. Jo h n s o n , 3 1 1

Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 7

, 8 6 9 (1 ) (7 1 7 SE2 d 2 7 2 ) (2 01 1 ). W h et h er s o v erei g n im m u n i ty h as b een

wai v ed i s a m at t er o f l aw, wh i ch we rev i ew d e n o vo

. Sa va g e v. E.R. S n el l Co n t r a ct o r

,

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

Co u nt i es h av e wai v ed so v erei g n im m un i ty fo r an y act i o n ex co n t ract u fo r t h e

b reach o f a wri t t en co nt ract

. Ga. Co n s t

. o f 1 9 83

, Art . I, Sec. II, Par. IX (c); Mer k v.

DeKa l b Co u nt

y , 2 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 1 (1 ) (4 8 6 SE2 d 6 6) (1 9 9 7). A s t h e p art y s eek i n g to

b en efi t fro m t h e wai v er, t h e Pl ai n t i ffs h av e t h e b u rd en o f es t ab l i s h i n g t hat th e Co u n t y

h as wai v ed i t s s o v erei g n i m m u n i t y

. Jo h n s o n , s u p ra, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p . at 8 6 9 (1 ).

7“ To co n s t i tu t e a v al i d co n t ract

, t here m u st b e p art i es a b l e t o co n t ract

, a

co n si d erat io n m o vi n g t o t h e co n t ract

, t h e as s en t o f t he p a r t i e s t o t h e t erm s o f t h e

co n tract

, an d a s u b

ject m at t er u p o n wh i ch t h e co n t ract can o p erat e. Each o f t h es e

es s en t i al t erm s m

u s t b e cert ai n .” (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed .) Ken n ed y v. Ga

.

Dep t. o f Hu m a n Res o u r ces Ch i l d S u p p or t En f o r cemen t

, 2 86 Ga. Ap p

. 2 2 2, 2 2 4 (1 )

(6 4 8 SE2 d 7 2 7 ) (2 0 0 7 ); s ee al s o OCGA § 1 3 -3 -1

.

“ In Geo rg i a, t h e co n s t ru ct i o n o f co n t ract s i n v o lv es t h ree s t eps. A t le a st initia lly

,

co n st ru ct i o n i s a m at t er of l aw fo r t h e co u rt

. Fi rs t, t he t ri al co u rt m u s t d eci d e wh et h er

t h e l an g u ag e is cl ear an d u n am b i g u o u s

. If i t i s, t h e co u rt s im pl y en fo rces t h e co n t ract

acco rd i n g t o i t s cl ear t erm s ; t h e co n t ract al o n e is l o o k ed t o fo r i t s m ean i n g .” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Immel

v. Immel , 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p . 4 24 , 4 2 6 (6 8 0 SE2 d 5 0 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

(a) It i s u n d i s p u t ed t h at n ei t h er Ki rk lan d n o r Pru it t h ad a wri tt en em p l o y m en t

co n tract wi t h DCFR. Mo reo v er, t h e Pl ai n t i ffs h av e no t i d en t i fi ed an y wri t t en co n t ract

p ro m i s i n g ov ert im e-ex em p t em p l o y ees t h e u se o f co m

p en s at o ry ti m e m o re t h an o n e

y ear aft er accru al an d cas h p ay m en t fo r u n u s ed co m p en s at o ry ti m e. Nev ert hel es s , t h e

Pl ai n t i ffs arg u e t h at t h e Co u nt y Co de co n s t it u t es a wri t t en co nt ract

, d efeat i n g t h e

C ounty ’ s cl ai m fo r s o v erei gn i m m u n i t y

. Th e Co un t y Co d e, h o w ev er, d o es n ot s u p p o rt

t h e Pl ai n t i ffs ’ arg u m en t

. Th e Co u n t y Co d e p ert i n en t ly

p ro vi d es :

8Emp l o yees exemp t f

ro m o ver t i me co mp en s a t i on m a y b e g ra n ted

co mp en s a t o r

y t ime at an h o u r-fo r-h o ur rat e at t h e d is cret i o n o f th e

d ep art m en t h ead

. If g r a n t e d

, s u ch co mp en s a t or

y t i me mu s t b e u s ed

wi t h in o n e (1

) ca len d a r yea r of t h e d a t e g ran t ed i n acco rd an ce w i t h

p ro ced u re s a s a p p l y t o an n u al l eav e as s et fo rt h i n sect io n 2 0 -1 6 5

,

s u b s ect i o n [(d )]

. Over t i me exemp t emp l oyees a r e no t el ig i b l e t o r ecei ve

ca s h co mp en s a ti o n f

o r u n u s ed b a l a n ces

.

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .) Co d e o f DeKal b Co u nt y , § 2 0 -1 6 1 (c).

At t h e rel ev an t ti m es , t h e Pl ai n ti ffs were cl as si fi ed as o v ert i m e-ex em p t fi re

cap t ai n s

. 3 Bas ed o n t h e cl ear l an g u ag e o f t he Co un t y Co d e, t h e Pl ai n t i ffs h ad t o u s e

an y co m p en s at o ry t im e wi t h in o n e y ear an d were n o t en ti t led t o cas h co m p en s at i o n

fo r an y u nu s ed t i m e. Co d e o f DeKal b Co u n t y , § 2 0 -1 6 1 (c). Th e Pl ai n t i ffs h av e n ot

p o i n t ed t o an y al t ern at e wri t t en co n t r a c t t h at al l o ws t h em , as o v ert im e-ex em pt

em pl o y ees , t o accru e an d u s e co m pen s at o ry t i m e i n d efi n i t el y n o r r e c e i v e

co m p en s at i o n fo r u n u s ed co m p en sat o ry t im e. 4

3 Pri o r t o bei n g p ro m o t ed t o cap tai n s , t h e Pl ai nt i ffs wo u l d h av e b een el i g i b l e

t o recei v e cas h p ay m en t fo r t h e i r u n u s ed co m p en sat o ry t i m e i f t h ey h ad m o re t h an 4 8 0 h o u rs accru ed

. Co d e o f DeKal b Co u n t y , § 2 0-1 6 1 (b ). At t h e t i m e o f h i s

p ro m o t io n t o cap t ai n , K i rk l an d h ad o n ly 10 0 h o u rs o f accru e d c o m p en s at o ry t i m e. Pru i t t d i d n o t accru e an y

co m p en s at o ry t i m e u nt il aft er h i s p ro m o t i o n t o cap t ai n

.

4 In d en y i n g t h e Co u n t y ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt rel i ed

o n F u l t o n Co u n t

y v

. L o r d

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 4

, 3 8 5, 3 8 9 (1 ) (7 46 SE2 d 1 8 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ),

9(b ) Nev ert h el es s , i n res p o n s e t o t h e Co u n t y ’ s arg u m en t th at t h e Co u n t y Co d e

p ro h ib i t s cas h p ay m en t o f co m p en s at o ry ti m e an d u s e o f co m p en s at o ry t im e aft er o n e

y ear fo r ove r

tim e

- e xe m

pt e m p l oy ees , t h e Pl ai n t i ffs res p o nd t h at as cap t ai n s, th ey were

n o t

, i n fact

, o v ert i m e-ex em p t em p l o y ees u n d er t h e Fai r Lab o r St an d ard s Act (2 9 CFR

§ 5 41 .3 (b ) (1 )). Th e Pl ai n t i ffs arg ue t h at as o v ert i m e-el ig i b l e em p l o y ees t h ey

were

en t i t l ed u n d er t h e Co u n t y Co d e t o accru e u p t o 4 8 0 h ou rs of co m p en s at ory t i m e an d

en t i t l ed t o cas h p ay m en t fo r an y h o u rs accru ed o ver t he 4 8 0 -h o u r l i m i t

.

Th e P l ai n ti ffs fi rs t rai s ed t h e arg u m en t t h at t h ey were no t o v ert im e-ex em pt

em pl o y ees i n an u n t i m el y res p on s e to t h e Co u n t y ’ s m o t i o n f o r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

an d t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e Pl ai n t i ffs were o v ert im e-ex em p t

.

W h en a m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t i s m ad e a n d s u p p o rt ed as

p ro v i d ed i n th is Co d e s ect i o n , an ad vers e p art y m ay n o t res t u p o n t h e

m e r e a l l eg at i o n s o r d en i al s o f hi s p l ead i n g , b u t h i s res p on s e, b y

affi d av i t s o r as o t herwi s e p ro v i d ed i n t h i s Co d e s ect i o n, m u s t s et fo rt h

s p eci fi c fact s s h owi n g t hat t h ere i s a g en u i n e i s su e fo r t ri al

.

i n wh i ch t h i s Co urt hel d t h at s o verei g n i m m u n i t y d i d n o t bar co u n t y em p l o y ees ’

cl ai m s fo r b ack p ay

wh i ch were b as ed o n wri t ten po l i ci es p ro m i s i n g “ eq ual p ay fo r

eq u al wo rk .” Ho wev er, t h e h o l d i n g in Lo r d was b as ed on t h e p rem i s e t h at “ p ay m en t

o f s a l a r y t o g o v e r n m en t em

p l o y ees i s

. . . no t barred b y an y s t at u t o ry im m u n i t y .” (Fo o tn o te o m i t t ed ; em

p h as i s ad d ed .) Id

. at 3 8 9 (1 ). Th e Pl ai n t i ffs h ere are n o t s eek i n g b ack p ay , b u t co m

p en sat i on fo r co m

p en s a t o r y ti m e. M o reo v er, u n l i k e t h i s cas e, in

Lo r d

, t h e co u nt y ’ s wri tt en p o l i ci es p ro m i s ed t h e rel i ef t h e p l ai n t i ffs s o ug h t

. Id

. at 3 8 5.

10OCGA § 9 -1 1-5 6 (e); s ee Co wa r t v. W i d en er , 2 8 7 Ga. 6 22

, 6 23 -6 2 4 (1 ) (a) (6 9 7 SE2 d

7 7 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

W h et h er a cap t ai n i n a p art i cu l ar fi re d ep art m en t i s o v ert i m e-ex em p t req u i res

a fact -s en s i t i v e i n q u i ry , fo cu s i n g o n wh et h er t h e em p l o y ees at i s s ue s p en d t h e

m ajo ri t y o f t h ei r ti m e o n m an ag em en t fu n ct i o n s , in cl u d i n g s u perv i s i n g o t h er

em pl o y ees

. See, e.g ., Dep t

. of La b o r v. Ci t

y of Sa p u lp a , 3 0 F.3 d 1 2 8 5

, 1 2 8 8 (II) (1 0 t h.

Ci r. 1 9 9 4 ). Fi re cap t ai ns in t h e Co u n t y s u p erv i s e t h e act i v i t i e s o f t h e fi re co m p an y

and subor dina

te pe r s o n n el

. Al t h o u g h t h e Pl ai n t i ffs arg u e t h at t h ey were m i s -cl as s i fi ed

u n d er t h e Fai r Lab o r St an d ard s Act

, t h ey hav e n o t s et fo rt h an y s p eci fi c fac t s in

s u p p ort o f t h i s cl ai m

. Th ere is n o ev i d en ce s ho wi n g t h at t h e Pl ai n t i ffs d i d n o t s p en d

t h e m ajo ri t y o f t h ei r t i m e o n s u p erv i s o ry o r m an ag em en t d u ti es

. See i d

. Th erefo re, t h e

Pl ai n t i f f s h a v e fai l ed to d em o n s t rat e t h at t h ere i s a g en u i n e is s u e o f m at eri al fact

reg ard i n g wh et h er t h ey

were m i s -cl as s i fi ed as o v ert i m e-ex em p t em p l o y ees

.

Un d er t h e cl ear an d u n am b i g u o u s t erm s o f t h e Co u nt y Co d e, t h e P l a i n t i ffs

,

aft er b ei n g p ro m o t ed t o t h e ran k o f c a p t a i n , were n o t en t i t l ed to u se co m p en s at o ry

t i m e accru ed m o re t h an a y ear earl i er an d t h ey are n o t en t i t l ed t o recei v e pay m en t fo r

t h ei r u n u s ed co m

p en s at o ry t i m e. Acco rd i n g l y , th ere i s n o wri t t en c o n t ract t h at

11p ro m i s ed t h e Pl ai n ti ffs co m p en s at i o n fo r accru ed ti m e a nd t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d en y i n g t h e Co u n t y ’ s m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t

. 5

Ju d g men t r ever sed . An d r ews , P. J., a n d Ra

y, J., co n cu r

.

5 Bas ed on o ur co n cl u s i o n ab o v e, we n eed n o t ad d res s th e Co u n t y ’ s al t ern at e

co n ten t i o n t h at t he tri al co u rt erred i n n o t g ran ti ng i t s m o ti o n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t
b as ed o n t h e s tat u t e o f l im i tat i o n s as t o t h e Pl ai n ti ffs ’ cl ai m s t h at are m o re t h an fo u r

y ears o l d.

12