THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

June 9, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 27 0 . GILBERT v . FREELAND.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

Th i s p ers on al i n

ju ry act i o n aro s e fro m a co l l is i on b et ween veh icl es dri v en by

Val eri e Gi l b ert an d M i ch ael Freel an d

. Gi l b ert fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t Freel an d fo l l o wi n g

t h e co l l i s i o n

, an d Freel an d s u b s eq u en t l y fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Th e

t ri al co u rt gran t ed Freel an d’ s m o t i o n

, an d Gi l b ert ap peal s t h e co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

. Fo r t h e

reas on s s et fo rt h i nfra, we rev ers e.

Co n st ru i n g t he ev i d en ce an d t h e i nferen ces drawn fro m i t i n t h e l ig h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o Gi l b ert as t h e no n -m o v i n g p art y

, 1 t h e reco rd sh o ws t h e fo l l o wi n g

. On

Oct o b er 1 3

, 20 16

, Gi l b ert w as d ri v i n g n o rt h o n In t ers t at e 7 5 (“ I-7 5 ”) i n h eav y t raffi c.

1 See Ra hma a n v. D eKa l b Co u n t y

, 3 0 0 Ga. A p p

. 5 7 2

, 5 7 2 -5 7 3 (6 8 5 SE2 d 4 7 2 )

(2 0 0 9).W h en Gi l b ert s l o w ed fo r t h e au t o m o bi l es i n fro n t o f h e r, Freel an d h i t her fro m

b eh in d , p u s h i n g h er i n to an o th er v eh i cl e.

Freel an d st at ed i n h i s affi d av i t t h at as h e was d ri v i n g o n I-7 5 h e “ [s ] ud d en l y

,

an d wi t h o u t warn i n g

, . . . b ecam e s i ck

. ” Freel an d i n d i cat ed t h at h e “ l o ok ed t o t h e

ri gh t fo r an ex i t ” an d t hat al l h e rem em b ered was “ reach i n g fo r a cu p t o v o m i t ” an d

t h en s o m eo n e fl ag g i ng h im d own an d i n fo rm i n g h im t hat h e h ad b een in an acci d en t

.

Acco rd in g t o Freel an d

, wh en h i s v eh i cl e cam e t o a s t o p h e “ real i zed t h ere was v om i t

o n [h i s ] cl o t h es an d i n s i d e t h e v eh i cl e[ ] ” an d h e “ b el i ev [ed ] th at [h e] p as sed o u t .”

F reel an d al s o s t at ed th at h e h ad n ot co n s u m ed an y “ al co h o l i c bev erag es

, d ru g s

, o r

m ed i cat i o n s wi t hi n t w en t y -fo u r h o u rs p ri o r t o t h e acci d en t

. ”

Al t h ou g h Gi l b ert s o u g h t reco rd s fro m Freel an d ’ s p h y s i ci an

, t h e faci l i t y

res p o n d ed t h at i t d i d n o t h av e t h es e reco rd s

. Ho wev er, Freel an d s t at ed in hi s affi d av i t

t h at h e “ was ch eck ed o u t b y [h i s ] do ct o r ” u p o n r e t urn i n g h o m e an d t hat h is d o ct o r

i n fo rm ed h i m th at h e ex p eri en ced “ a s u d d en d ecreas e i n [h i s ] h eart ra t e a n d b l o o d

p res s u re wh i ch l ed t o a red uced bl o o d fl o w in t he brai n, wh i ch was en t irel y

u n fo res eeab l e.”

Gi l b ert fi l ed su i t ag ai ns t Freel an d s eek in g d am ag es res u l t i n g fro m t h e cras h

an d at t orn ey fees

. Freel an d f i l e d a n an s wer an d s u b s eq u en t l y fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r

2s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i n wh ich he as s ert ed an act -o f-Go d d efen s e b as ed o n h is al l eg ed

l o s s of co n s ci o us n es s. Th e t ri al co urt fo u n d t h at t h e st at em en ts at tri b u t ed to

Freel an d ’ s p hy s i ci an i n cl u ded in Freel an d’ s affi d av i t w ere not “ co m p et en t ev i d en ce.”

Ho wev er, t h e co u rt ru led i n fav o r of Freel an d an d g ran t ed h i m su m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Gi l b ert n o w ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s p ro p er i f t h e p l ead i n g s, d ep os i t i o ns

,

an s wers t o i n t erro g at o ri es

, an d ad m i s s i o ns o n fi l e, to g et h er wi t h th e

affi d av i t s

, i f an y

, s h o w t h at t h ere i s n o gen u i ne i s s u e as to an y m at eri al

fact an d t h at t h e m o v i ng p art y i s en t i t l ed t o a ju d g m e n t a s a m at t er o f

l aw. Su m m ary ju d g m en t s en

jo y 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 a p p e l l a t e co u rt m u s t sat i s fy i t s el f d e n o v o th at th e

req u irem en ts o f OCGA § 9

– 1 1

– 56 (c) h av e been m et

. In o u r d e n o v o

rev i ew o f t he gran t o f a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we m

u s t v i ew

t h e ev i den ce, an d al l reas o n ab l e i n feren ces d rawn t herefro m

, i n t h e l i g h t

m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e n o n m o v an t

. 2

“ Th e ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f ev i d en ce o n m o t i on fo r s um m ary ju dg m en t i s g o vern ed b y t h e

ru l es rel at i n g t o fo rm an d a d m i s s i b i l i t y o f ev i d en ce g en eral l y

. W e rev iew a t ri al

co u rt ’ s d eci s io n reg ard i n g t h e ad m i s s i o n o r ex cl u s i o n o f ev i d e n c e f o r an ab u s e o f

2 Fa r m Bu r ea u Mu t

. In s. v. Cl a xt o n

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 9 (8 1 2 SE2 d 1 67 ) (2 0 1 8 )

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

3d i s cret i o n .” 3 W i t h t hes e g u i d in g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d, we no w t u rn t o Gi lb ert ’ s cl ai m s

o f erro r.

1

. Gi l b ert arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o s tri k e s t at em en t s o ffered

b y Freel an d t h at co n s t i t u t ed i n a d m i s s i b l e hears ay an d s p ecu l at io n

. Sp eci fi cal l y

,

Gi l b ert as s ert s t h at s t at em en t s b y Freel an d t h at h e b el iev ed h e p as s ed o u t w ere o v erl y

s p ecu l at i v e an d s t at em en t s at t ri b u t ed t o Freel an d ’ s p hy s i ci an were h ears ay

.

OCGA § 9-1 1-5 6 (e) req u i res t h at “ [s ] u pp o rt in g an d o p p o s i n g affi d av i t s s h al l

b e m ad e on p ers o n al k no wl ed g e, s h al l s et fo rt h s uch fact s as wo u l d b e ad m i s s i b l e in

t h e ev i d en ce, an d s h al l s h o w affi rm at iv el y t h at t h e affi an t i s co m p et en t to t es t i fy to

t h e m at t ers s t at ed t h erei n

. ” H o wev er, a s t at em en t t h at th e affi d av i t i s m ad e u p o n

p ers o n al k no wl ed g e “ i s g en eral l y s u ffi ci en t t o m eet th e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9

-

1 1 -5 6 (e).” 4 M oreo v er, OCGA § 2 4-7 -7 0 1 (a) p ro v i des :

If t h e wi t n es s i s n o t t es t i fy i ng as an ex p ert

, t h e wi t n es s ’ s t es t im o n y i n

t h e fo rm o f o pi n i o n s o r i n feren ces s h al l b e l i m i t ed t o th o s e o p i n io n s o r

i n feren ces wh i ch are:

(1 ) Rat i o n al ly

b as ed o n t h e p ercep ti on o f t h e wi t n es s ;

3 G o od h a r t v. At l a n t a Ga s Li

g h t Co

. , 3 49 G a. Ap p

. 6 5

, 7 2 ( 2 ) (a) (8 2 5 SE2 d

4 6 5 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

4 C r o s s v. W i l mi n g t o n Tr u s t

, 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 7

, 7 4 9 (1 ) (a) (8 6 0 SE2 d 2 1 2 )

(2 0 2 1).

4( 2 ) H e l p fu l t o a cl ear u n d ers t an d i n g o f t h e wi t n es s’ s tes t im on y o r th e

d et erm i nat i o n o f a fact i n i s s u e; an d

(3 ) No t b as ed o n s ci en t i fi c, t ech n i cal

, o r o t h er s p eci al i zed k n o wl ed ge

wi t h in t h e s co p e o f Co d e Sect i o n 2 4 -7 -7 0 2

.

W e n o t e t hat al t h o u g h Gi l b ert as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n rel y i n g u p o n

s t at em en t s f

r o m Freel an d ’ s p h y s i ci an

, th e t ri al co u rt act ual l y ru l ed t hat t h es e

s t at em en t s were “ n o t co m p et en t ev i d en ce.” Th u s

, an y as s ert i o n s t h a t t h e tri al co u rt

erred b y rel y i n g u p o n s t at em en t s b y Freel an d reg ard i n g wh at h i s p h y s ici an t o l d h i m

are wi t h o u t m eri t

.

Freel an d s t at ed in h i s affi d av i t t hat wh i l e d ri v i n g o n I-7 5

[h e] b ecam e s i ck

. Th e n ex t t h i n g [h e] rem em b er[ed wa s ] s om eo ne

fl ag g i n g [h i m ] d o w n s ay i n g [h e] h ad ju s t b een i n an acci d en t . [He d i d ]

n o t rem em

b er an y o f t h e d et ai l s o f t h e acci den t an d bel i ev e[d ] t h at [h e]

p as s ed o u t

. . . . To t h e bes t o f [h is ] k n o w l ed g e, [h e] p as s ed o u t an d d i d

n o t h av e an y co n t ro l o f th e v eh i cl e at t h e t i m e o f t h i s acci d en t

. . . . To

t h e b es t o f [h is ] k no wl ed g e, [h e h ad ] nev er had an i n ci d en t p ri o r t o t h i s

acci d en t wh ere [h e] b ecam e s i ck an d / o r pas s ed o u t an d h ad n o m em o ry

o f t h at t i m e.

Freel an d at t es t ed th at t h e s t at em en t s i n h i s affi d av i t were b as ed o n h i s p ers o n al

k n o wl ed g e an d i n v o lv ed h i s o wn reco l l ect i o n o f wh at o ccu rred b efo re an d aft er t h e

5cras h. 5 In s h o rt

, h e was d ri v i n g

, fel t s i ck

, reach ed fo r a cu p

, an d t h e n ex t t h i n g h e

rem em b ered w as b ei n g fl ag g ed d o wn an d i n fo rm ed t h at h e h ad b een i n a w reck

. Su ch

s t at em en t s co n cern i n g h is p ers on al ex p eri en ce of t h e cras h were rat i o n al l y b as ed o n

h i s p ercep ti o n s

, h el p fu l t o a cl e ar u n ders t an d in g o f h is t es t i m o n y

, an d were n ot

s ci en t i fi c. 6 Th u s , t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab us e it s d i s cret i o n in refu si n g t o s t ri k e t h i s

p art o f Freel an d ’ s affi d av it t es t i m o n y

.

2

. G i l b ert arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t in g Freel an d ’ s m o t i o n as t h e

ev i d en ce d i d n o t s u p po rt s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

“ Un d er ap p ro p ri at e ci rcu m st an ces

, i t m ay b e es t ab l i s h ed as a m at t er of l aw t h at

an act o f Go d was t he s o l e pro x i m at e cau s e o f an au t om o b i l e acci d en t

, t h u s en t i t l i n g

a defen d an t t o s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n a cl ai m t h at h i s al l eg ed n eg l ig en t op erat i o n o f

5 See Cr o s s , 3 6 0 Ga. Ap p . at 7 4 9 (1 ) (a).

6 See OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 1 (a); Ha r r is v. S t a t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 3 0 4

, 3 06 (1 ) (6 1 2 SE2 d

7 8 9 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ A l ay

wi t n es s m ay

rel at e h i s o r h er o p i n io n as t o t h e ex i s ten ce o f an y

fact s o l o n g as th e o p i ni o n i s b a s e d u p on t he p ers o n ’ s o wn ex p eri en ce an d

o b s erv at i o n s

, an d s o lo n g as t h e m at t er referred t o i s wi t h i n t h e s co p e o f t h e av erag e

[p ers o n ’ s ] kn o wl ed ge.”); s ee al s o Lee v. Th o ma so n

, 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p. 5 7 3

, 5 7 4 -5 7 5 (1 )

(6 2 7 SE2 d 1 6 8 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (co n si d eri n g ev i d en ce t h at d efen d an t “ cl ai m ed t h at h e d i d n ot

rem em b er t h e co l l i s i o n b ecau s e h e ‘ p as s ed o ut ’ ap p ro x i m at el y t en m i nu t es b efo re i t

h ap pen ed an d d i d n o t reg ai n co n s ci o u s n es s u n ti l . . . aft erward [ ] ”).

6an au t o m o b i le cau s ed an acci d e n t .” 7 OCGA § 1 -3 -3 (3 ) defi n es an “ Act o f Go d ” as

“ an acci d en t p ro d u ced b y p hy s ical cau s es wh ich are i rres i s t ib l e o r i n ev i t ab l e, s u ch as

l i gh t ni n g

, s t o rm s

, p eri l s of t h e s ea, eart h q u ak es

, i n u n d at io n s

, s ud d en d eat h

, or i l l n es s

.

Th i s ex pres s i o n ex cl ud e s al l i d ea o f h um an ag en cy .” Th u s, as we h av e h el d

p rev i o u s l y

,

a s u d d en an d u n fo res eeab l e l o ss o f co n s ci o u s n es s b y a d ri ver is a

co m p let e d efen s e t o a cl ai m t h at t he d ri v er n eg li g en t l y l o s t co n t ro l o f th e

au t o m o b i l e an d p ro x i m at el y cau s ed an en s u i ng acci d en t. It al s o fo l l o ws

t h at

, t o es t ab li s h an act o f Go d d efen s e b as ed o n il l nes s pro d u ci n g a l o s s

o f co n sci ou s nes s, t he d ri v er m u s t s h ow t h at t h e lo s s o f co n s c i o us n es s

p ro d u ced t h e acci d en t wi t h o u t an y co n t ri b u t i n g n eg l i g en ce o n t h e p art

o f t h e d ri v er. 8

Ho wev er, an act o f Go d “ i s an affi rm at i v e d efen s e u p o n w h i ch t h e d efen d an t carri es

t h e bu rd en o f p ro o f” o n s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, a n d a d efen d an t m o v i n g fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n t h i s d efen s e “ m ay n o t rel y u p o n an ab s en ce o f ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd

.

. . b u t m u s t carry t h e b u rd en o f affi rm at i v el y p ro v in g t h e d efen s e.” 9

7 Lewi s v. S

mi t h , 2 3 8 Ga. Ap p . 6 (5 1 7 SE2 d 5 3 8 ) (1 9 99 ).

8 Id . at 7 (ci t at io n s o m i t t ed ).

9 Id

.

7To s u p p o rt h i s as s ert i o n t h at h i s own st at em en ts reg ard i n g t h e cras h were

s u ffi ci en t t o es t ab li s h a p ri m a faci e cas e fo r h i s act -o f-Go d d efen s e Freel an d rel i es o n

Lewi s v. S mi t h

. 1 0 Ho wev er, Lewi s i s d i s t i n gu i sh ab l e fro m t h e pres en t m at t er. In Lewi s

,

t h e p l ai nt i ff d i d n o t d i s p ut e t h at t h e d efen d an t l os t co n s ci o u s nes s o n ap p eal

, an d t h i s

Co u rt n o t ed t h at t h e fact t he d efen d an t ’ s car cam e d i rect l y t oward t h e p l ai n t i ff aft er

s werv i n g acro s s t wo l an es o f h i g h way t en d ed t o s u p p o rt t h e d efen d a n t ’s cl ai m t h at

h e was u n co n s ci o u s

. 1 1 M o reo v er, t h e ev i d en ce d em o n st rat e d t h at t h e d efen d an t ’ s

p h y s i ci an s t at ed t h at t h ere was n o th i n g i n th e d efen d an t ’ s m ed i cal h is t o ry s h o wi n g

t h at h e m i g h t l o s e co n s ci o u sn es s

, an d t h e d efen d an t h ad s een a d o ct or t wo h o u rs

b efo re t h e acci d en t an d n o th in g i n h i s ex am i n at io n s ug g es t ed t h at he m i g h t s u ffer a

b l ack o u t. 1 2

1 0 2 3 8 Ga. Ap p . 6

.

1 1 Id . at 8.

1 2 Id

. Al t h o u g h Freel an d al s o rel i es o n H a l l i g a n v. Br o u n

, 28 5 Ga. Ap p 2 2 6

(6 4 5 SE 2 d 5 8 1 ) ( 2 0 0 7 ), t h is cas e i s d i s t i n g u i sh ab l e. In Ha l li g a n

, t h e d efen d an t ran

a red l i g h t

, s t ru ck an o t her v eh i cl e, an d s aw h i s p h y s i ci an aft er t h e co l l i s i o n w h o t o ld

t h e d efen d an t t h at h e “ ap paren t l y s u ffered fro m a co n di t i o n t h at cau s ed a s ud d en d ro p

i n h is b lo o d p res s u re.” Id

. at 2 26

. Here, Freel an d d i d n o t o ffer ad m i s s ib l e st at em en t s

fro m h i s p h y s i ci an

, an d t h e n at u re o f t h e co l l is i o n i t s el f di d no t s u g g es t t h at Freel an d

l o s t co n s ci o u s n es s

.

8Here, i n co n t ras t t o Lewi s

, t h e ci r c u m s t an ces o f t he co l l i s i o n d i d n o t l en d

ad d it i o n al s u pp o rt t o t h e t h eo ry t h at Freel an d p as s ed o u t as h e h i t Gi lb ert ’ s car fro m

b e h i n d

. Ad d i t io n al l y

, Freel an d o ffered n o d o cu m en t s reg ard i n g h i s ex am i n at i o n

fo l l o w i n g t h e cras h o r an y p o s s i b l e p ro cl i v i ty t oward l o s i n g co n s ci o u s n es s

, ev en

t h o u g h Freel an d s t a t e d i n h i s affi d av i t t h at h e had s een h i s p h y s i ci an fo l l o wi n g t h e

co l l i s i o n

. 1 3 Rat h er, t h e o n l y ev i d en ce Freel an d o ffere d reg ard i n g h i s l o s s o f

co n sci o u s n es s an d i t s p o s si b le cau s e was t h e s el f-s erv in g s t at em en t s t h at h e t h o u g ht

h e pas s ed o u t an d th at i t h ad n o t hap p en ed b e f o r e

. 1 4 T hu s

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

ru l i n g t h at Freel an d was en t i t l ed t o s um m ary ju d g m en t

. 1 5

1 3 A l t h o u g h Freel a n d a s s e r t s t hat Gi l b ert d id n o t arg u e h i s al l eg ed l o s s o f

co n sci o u s n e s s w a s fo res eeab l e, Gi l b ert d i d as sert th at Freel an d fai l ed t o o ffer

ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h i n g an y p o s s i b l e cau s e of th e l o ss o f co n s ci o us n es s, o r t h at i t was

fo res eeab l e.

1 4 Cf. Ha l l i

g an

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p at 2 2 6 (d i s cu s s ed s u p ra); S cr even Co u n t

y v.

S a n d l i n

,

_ _ _ G a. Ap p

.

_

_ _ ,

__ (Cas e No

. A2 2A0 1 8 6 d eci d ed M ay 4

, 2 02 2 ) (rev ers i n g

t h e tri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f s u m m ary ju d gm en t o n d efen d an t ’ s act -o f-Go d d efen s e

wh ere a wi t n es s t es t i fi ed h e s aw t h e d ri v er “ was n ’ t wak i n g u p

. . . h e was o u t

. . . l ay in g o n t h e s t eeri ng wh eel [,] ” an d t h e p h y s i ci an wh o saw t h e d ri v er fo l l o w i n g t h e

co l l i s i o n n o ted i n t h e e m e rg en cy p h y s i ci an reco rd t h at t h e d ri v er ex p eri en ced a

“ Sy n co p e”); Lewi s , 2 3 8 Ga. Ap p . at 7

.

1 5 See Pr emi er

/ Geo r g i a Mg mt

. Co

. v. Rea l t

y Mg m t

. Co rp

., 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8 0,

7 8 6 (3 ) (a) (6 1 3 SE2 d 1 1 2 ) (2 00 5 ) (“ Al l eg at i on s

, co n cl u s o ry fact s

, an d co n cl u s i on s

o f l aw can n o t b e u t il i zed t o su p p o rt o r d e f e a t m ot i on s fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t .”)

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); Lewi s

, 2 3 8 Ga. Ap p . at 7

.

93

. Al t h o u g h Gi l b ert al s o as s ert s t h a t F r e el an d fai l ed t o p res en t su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n h i s s u d d en -em erg en cy d efen s e, we ag ree

wi t h Freel an d t h at

, d es p i t e u s i n g t h e p h ras e “ s u d d en em erg en cy ,” hi s m ot i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t d id n o t ad v an ce t h i s arg u m en t

, an d t h e tri al co u rt d i d n o t b as e i t s

ru l i n g o n t h i s d efen s e. Th u s, we n eed n ot ex am i n e t h is cl ai m o f erro r.

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed

. Do yl e, P. J., a n d Sen i o r Ap

p el l a t e J udge H e rbe r t E

. Ph i

pp s

co n cu r

.

10