FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. 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

A pr i l 13, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 37 1

. RUSSELL v

. M USCOGEE COUNTY S C HOOL

DISTRICT et al

.

S E LF , J u d g e.

Th i s cas e aro s e o u t o f a co l l i si o n b et w een a car i n wh i ch ap p el l an t , Ro d eri ck

Ru s s el l

, w as a p as s en g er an d a s c h o o l b us own ed b y t h e M u s co g ee Co u n ty Sch o ol

Di s t ri ct (“ t h e M C S D ” ) a n d dri v en b y i t s em p l o y ee, Ri ch ard Sh o res

. Ru s s el l s u ed

Sh o res al l eg i ng h e was n eg l i g en t i n cau s i n g th e co l l i si o n an d al s o s u ed th e M CSD o n

t h e t h eo ry o f v i cari ou s l i ab i l i t y an d fo r n e g li g en t en t ru s t m en t o f a v eh i cl e an d

n eg li g en t h i ri n g

. Fo l l o wi n g t he en t ry o f a defau l t ju d g m en t ag ai n s t t h em

, t h e M CSD

an d Sh o res (co l l ect i v el y “ ap p el l ees ”) en t ered a s p eci al ap pearan ce an d m o v ed to

d i s m i s s th e co m

p l ai nt

, o r i n t h e al t ern at iv e, o p en d efau l t b as ed u p on Ru ss el l’ s fai l u re

t o effect p ro p er s erv i ce. Th e tri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s an d Ru s sel lap p eal s

. Fo r t h e r e a s o n s ex p l ai n ed b el o w, w e affi rm t h e p o rt i o n o f t h e tri al co urt ’ s

o rd er d i s m is s i n g t he co m

p l ai n t ag ai n s t Sh o res

, b u t rev ers e th e p o rt i o n d i s m i s s i n g t h e

co m p l ai n t ag ai n st t he M CSD.

On No vem

b er 3

, 2 0 14

, Ru s s el l fi l ed t h i s l aws u i t ag ai n s t th e MCSD an d Sh o res

,

s eek i n g d am ag es fo r pers o n al i n ju ri es ari s i n g o u t o f an au to m o b i l e acci d en t t h at

o ccu rred o n N o vem

b er 2

, 2 0 1 2

. 1 On M arch 1 0

, 2 0 1 5

, a co u r t

- a pp o in t ed p ro ces s

s erv er fi l ed an affi d av i t o f s erv i ce at t es t i n g t hat o n No v em b er 5

, 2 0 1 4

, he s erv ed t h e

M CSD b y l eav i n g a co p y o f th e s u m m o ns an d co m

p l ai n t wi t h “ t h e as s i s t an t fo r t h e

HR Dep art m en t

, 2 96 0 Maco n Ro ad

, Co l u m bu s

, Geo rg i a.” On Oct o b e r 1 6

, 2 0 1 5,

Ru s s el l fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r en t ry o f defau l t o n t h e g ro u n d t h at ap p el l ees fai l ed t o fi l e

an an swer.

On J an uary 2 8

, 2 0 1 6

, ap p el l ees fi l ed an an swer b y s p eci al ap p earan ce an d

m o ved to d i s m is s t h e co m p l ai n t p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 9-1 1 -1 2 (b ) (4 ) an d (5 ) o r, i n t h e

al t ern at i v e, o p en d efau l t b a s e d u p o n Ru s sel l ’ s fai l u re t o effect pro p er s erv i ce. In

s u p p ort o f t h e m o ti on

, Sh o res s u b m i t t ed h i s o wn affi d av i t s tat i ng t h at as o f J an u ary

2 8

, 2 0 1 6

, h e h ad n o t b een s erv ed w i t h t h e s u m m o n s o r co m

p l ai n t

. Ru s s el l d i d n ot

1 As No v em

b er 2

, 2 01 4 was a Su n d ay

, Ru ss el l fi l ed s u i t o n M o n d ay

, No v em b er

3 , 2 01 4 . See OCGA § 1 -3 -1 (d ) (3 ).

2res p o n d t o t h e m o t i on

. 2 In t h ei r an s wer, ap p el l ees rai s ed th e d efen ses o f i n s u ffi ci en cy

o f p ro ces s

, s erv i ce o f p ro ces s

, an d t h e ru n ni ng o f t he s t at u e o f l i m i t at io n

. On Au g u s t

2 , 2 01 6 , t h e t ri al co u rt g ran ted t h e m ot i on t o d i s m i s s fi n d i n g as fo l l o ws :

Defen d an t s h av i n g m o v ed fo r d i s m i s s al o f t h is act io n as t o cl ai m s

ag ai ns t th em s et fo rt h b y t h e Pl ai n t i ff, an d i t ap p eari n g t h at Pl ai nt i ff h as

n ei t h er res po n d ed n o r o b ject ed t o s u ch d i s m is s al

, an d s ai d M o t i o n

h av i ng co m e b efo re t h e Co u rt wi t h no res po n se, an d t he Co u rt h av i n g

co n s i d ered t h e M o t i o n

, an d t h e Arg u m en t an d Ci t at i o n o f Au t h o ri t y

,

h ereb y GRANTS [Defen d an t s ’ ] M o t i o n

. Th erefo re, th e ab o v e-s t y led

act i o n i s h ereb y

DISM ISSED.

On Au g u s t 3 0

, 2 01 6

, Ru s s el l fi l ed a “ m o ti o n an d b ri ef t o reco n s id er an d vacat e o rd er

g r an t i n g d efen d an t s ’ m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s.” Ru ss el l at tach ed an am en ded affi d av i t o f

s erv i ce t o t h e m o t i o n, i n wh i ch t h e co u rt -ap p oi n ted p ro ces s s erv er at tes t ed as fo l l o w s :

On [No v em

b er 5

, 2 0 14 ,] I en t ered t h e [M CSD] bu i l di n g an d w as

req u ired t o s ig n i n at t h e fro n t d es k o n t h e fi rs t l ev el

. I f i rs t as k ed th e

d es k at t en d an t wh ere t h e p ro pe r p l ace fo r t h e d ocu m en t s t o b e s erv ed

wo u ld b e an d was t o l d t h at I wo u l d need t o g o t o t h e HR d ep art m en t

. I

was g i ven a “ p h y si cal p as s ” t o en t er t h e b u i l d i n g an d i n s t ru ct ed wh ere

t o g o

. I w en t t o th e 2 n d fl o o r an d rep o rt ed t o t h e recep t i o n i st ’ s d es k. I

2 Ru s s el l ad m i t s as m

u ch i n h i s ap p el l at e b ri ef an d ex p l a i n s t h a t hi s o ri g i n al

at t o rn ey an d an “ as s oci at ed ” at t o rn ey b ro u g h t o n t o as s i s t wi t h t h e e n t r y o f d efau l t

were co n fu s ed as t o wh o b o re res p o n s i b i li t y fo r res p o n d i n g t o t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s

.

3ex p l ai n ed t h at I h ad l eg al d o cu m en t s t o s e r v e to th e [M CSD] an d w as

ad v i sed t h at

. . . s h e wo u l d n eed t o cal l so m eo n e t o fi n d t h e p ro p er p l ace

fo r t h em t o g o

, wh i l e I w a i t ed

. I w at ch ed as t h e recep ti o n i s t cal led

s o m eo n e an d co u l d h ear o v er t h e p h o n e t h e p ers o n s t at e t h at I co u ld ju s t

l eav e i t wi t h t h em at t h e fro n t d es k. I w as t h en t ol d th at I co u l d l eav e th e

d o cu m en t s wi t h h er. I was g i v en a n am e o f t h e Dep u t y Su p eri n t en d en t

,

Beck y Braat en

, t h at t he d o cu m en t wo u l d en d u p g o i n g t o

. I f u r t h er

b el i ev ed t h at was wh o t h e recep t i o n i s t w as s p eak i n g t o

. Becau se I

en t ered i n t o a s ecu red b u i l d i n g w i t h m u lt i pl e lev el s o f secu ri t y an d I w as

n o t ab l e t o j u s t wal k i n an d m eet wi t h th e Dep u ty Su p eri n ten d en t an d I

was fo rced t o fo l l o w t h e i n st ru ct i o n s o f t h e offi ce p ro t oco l

, I l eft th e

d o cu m en t at i o n wi t h t h e recep t i o ni s t

. I fu l l y bel i ev e t hat t h i s was th e

p ro ces s t h at t h e HR d ep art m en t fo l l o wed an d rep l icat ed

. E v ery o ne

i n c l u d i n g t he d o wn s t ai rs d es k at t en dan t k n ew wh ere an d wh o m th e

d o cu m en t at i o n wen t t o

. Th e recep t i o n i s t an d t he p e r s o n t hat s h e w as

s p eak i ng t o w as m ad e aware o f t h e d o cu m en t at i on an d wh at i t was i n

referen ce t o an d [i t s ] m ean i n g

.

Th e p ro ces s s erv er fu rt h er s t at ed t hat o n Au g u s t 1 5

, 2 0 1 6

, h e ret u rn ed t o t h e M CSD

t o s erv e a co p y o f th e sam e p ack ag e o f d o cu m en t s i n t h is cas e an d w a s t o l d b y t h e

re c e p t i o n i s t in th e “ HR d ep art m en t ” t h at

, fo l l o w i n g a ph o n e a cal l

, s h e h ad b een

i n s t ru ct ed to accep t t h e p ap erwo rk an d wo u ld p as s i t on t o “ M rs

. Tracey Fo x

, Di rect o r

o f Ri s k M an ag em en t fo r t h e [M CSD] .”

4On Au g u st 3 1

, 2 0 1 6

, Ru s s el l fi l ed a s u p p l em en t al b ri ef i n s u p p o rt o f m o t i o n

t o reco n s i d er an d vacat e o rd er g ran t i n g d efen dan t s ’ m o t i o n t o d i sm i s s

. In t h at b ri ef,

Ru s s el l p o i n t ed o u t t he M CSD ad m it t ed p ro p er s erv i ce i n a co m pan i o n cas e, wh i ch

was s erv ed b y t h e s am e co u rt -ap p o i nt ed pro ces s s erv er w i t h a n ear-i d en t i cal ret u rn

o f s erv i ce: “ On [Sep tem

ber 2 2 , 2 0 14 ]

. . . I p ers o nal l y s erv ed [M CSD] a co p y

o f t h e

s u m m o n s an d co m

p l ai n t

. . . t o d e fen d an t b y l eav i n g a co p y wi t h as s i s t an t fo r Hr.

Dep t. 2 9 60 M aco n Ro ad

, Co l u m b u s

, Geo rg i a.” 3 O n Sep t em ber 1

, 2 0 1 6

, b e fo re t h e

t ri al co u rt co u l d ru le o n t h e m o t i o n fo r r e c o n s i derat io n

, Ru s s el l fi l ed a n o t i ce o f

ap p eal fro m

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g ap p el l ees ’ m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s.

1

. In t wo rel at ed en u m e r a t i o n s

, Ru s s el l co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d i s m i s s i n g t h e co m

p l ai n t u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1-1 2 (b ) (4 ) an d (5 ) b ecau s e t h ere was

n o defi ci en cy in t h e p ro ces s i s s ued i n t h i s cas e an d n o i n s uffi ci en cy o f s er vi ce o f t h at

p ro ces s . In t hei r b ri ef, ap p el l ees co n ced e t h e fi rs t co n t en t i on , n o t in g t hat “ [i ] t i s t h e

s erv i ce o f t h e [c] o m

p l ai n t an d s u m

m o n s t hat was i n val i d .” Acco rd i n g l y

, we n eed o n l y

ad d res s t h e i s s u e o f t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f s erv ice i n t hi s cas e.

3 A p p e l l e e s n o t ed i n t hei r b ri ef i n s u p p o rt o f t h ei r m ot i o n t o d i s m is s t h at t h e

co m p an i o n cas e, b ro ug ht by t h e d ri v er o f th e v eh i cl e i n wh i ch R u s s e l l was a

p as s en g er, was d i s m i s sed wi t h o u t p reju d ice i n Au gu s t 2 0 15

, d u e to t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s

fai l u re t o ap p ear.

5“ W h en a defen d an t in a l aws u i t ch al l en g es t he s u ffi ci en c y o f s e r v i ce, t h at

d efen d an t b ears t h e b u rd en o f s h o w i n g i m p ro p er s erv i ce. Th e ret u rn can o nl y b e s et

as i d e u p o n ev i d en ce wh i ch is n o t o n l y cl ear an d co nv i n ci n g

, b u t th e s tro n g es t o f

wh i ch t he n at u re of t h e cas e wi ll ad m i t.” (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Fr a nch el l v. Cl a r

k

, 2 41 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 8

, 13 0 (3 ) (5 2 4 SE2 d 5 1 2 ) (1 9 99 ). “ Th e.

. . ret u rn

o f serv ice co n s t i t u t es p ri m a faci e p ro o f o f t h e fact s reci t ed t herei n, b ut i t i s n ot

co n cl u s i v e an d m ay b e t rav ers ed b y p ro o f th at su ch fact s a r e u n t r u e

. . . . W h et h er

ev i d en ce i s su ffi ci en t to o v erco m e fact s re f l e c t e d i n a ret u rn o f s erv i ce i s a m at t er

ad d res s ed t o t h e d i scr et io n o f t h e t ri al co u rt .” (Ci t at i on an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .)

Web b v. Ta t um

, 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9

, 9 1 (4 1 3 SE2 d 2 6 3) (1 9 9 1 ). Th i s Co u rt wi l l n o t

d i s t u rb t h o s e fi n d i n g s wh en s u p p o rt ed b y an y ev i d en ce. Fr an ch el l , s u p ra.

(a) At t h e o ut s et

, we n o t e t h at t h ere i s ab s o l u tel y no ev i d en ce in t h e reco rd t h at

Sh o res was s erv ed

. On t h e co n t rary

, Sh o res affi rm ed t h at as o f J a n u ary 2 8, 2 0 1 6

, –

1 4 m o n t h s aft er t h e co m

p l a i n t was fi l ed i n t h i s cas e

– h e s t i l l h ad no t b een s erv ed

wi t h t he s u m

m o ns o r co m

p l ai n t

. Acco rd i n g l y

, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n d is m i s s i n g

t h e co m pl ai n t ag ai n s t Sh o res fo r i n s u ffi ci en t s erv i ce o f p ro ces s

.

(b ) As fo r wh et h er s e r v i ce o f p ro ces s o n t h e M CSD was s u ffi ci en t

, OCGA §

9 -1 1 -4 (e) p ro vi des :

6[e] x cep t fo r cas es i n wh i ch th e d efen dan t h as wai v e d s erv i ce, th e

s u m m o n s an d c o m

pl ai n t s h al l b e s erv ed t o g et h er. Th e p l ai n t i ff sh al l

fu rn is h th e cl erk o f t h e co u rt wi t h su ch co p i es as are neces s ary

. Serv i ce

s h al l b e m ad e by d el i v eri n g a co p y o f t he s um m o ns at t ach ed t o a co p y

o f t h e co m

p l ai n t as fo l l ows :

. . . (5 ) If ag ai n st a co un t y

, m u n ici p a l i t y,

ci t y

, o r t o wn

, t o t h e ch ai rm an o f t h e b o ard o f co m m i s s i o n ers

, p res i d en t

o f t h e co u n ci l o f t ru s t ees

, m ay or o r ci t y m an ag er o f th e ci t y

, o r t o an

ag en t au t h o ri zed b y ap p o i n tm en t t o recei v e s erv ice o f p ro ces s

. If a g a i n s t

a n y ot h er p u bl i c b o d

y o r o r g a n i za t i o n s u b j ect t o a n a ct i o n

, t o t h e ch i ef

execu t i ve o

f f i cer o r cl er k t h er eo

f [.]

(Em p h as i s s up p l i ed .) OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (e) (5 ). Here, t h e M CSD arg u ed i n t h ei r m o t i o n

t o d is m i s s t h at s erv i ce u p o n “ t h e as s i s t an t fo r t he HR d ep art m en t ” was in su ffi ci en t

u n d er t h e s t at u t e. Rel y in g o n Fo s key v. Vi d a l i a Ci t y S ch o o l

, 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p . 2 9 8

, 3 0 2

(b ) (5 74 SE2 d 3 67 ) (2 0 0 2 ), an d t h e co u rt -ap p o i nt ed pro ces s serv er’ s fi rs t affi d av i t o f

s erv i ce, t h e M CSD arg u ed t h at “ t h e as s is t an t fo r t h e HR Dep art m en t” i s n o t t h e ch i ef

ex ecu t i v e o ffi cer o r cl erk o f t h e M CSD an d

, th erefo re, was n ot au t h o ri zed t o accep t

s erv i ce o n i t s b eh al f. See i d . (n o t i n g t h at p l ai n t i ff s erv ed t h e m ay o r o f t h e ci t y , wh o

was nei t h er t h e ch i ef ex ec u t i v e o ffi cer o r cl erk o f V i d al i a Ci t y Sch o o l Di s t ri ct

, as

p r o v i d e d b y OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (e) (5 )). 4 M erel y s tat i ng t h i s fact

, ho wev er, d o es n o t

4 In t h ei r ap p el l at e bri ef, t h e M CSD al s o r el ies o n A a r o n v. Gwi n net t Co u n t y

S ch oo l Di s t r i ct , No . 1 : 1 4 -CV-0 0 4 0 8-W SD, 2 0 1 5 U.S. Di st

. Lex i s 8 0 9 4 6 (N.D. Ga.

7m ak e i t t ru e. Th e M CSD b o re t h e b u rd en o f co m i ng fo rward wi t h ev id en ce t h at t h e

as s i s tan t fo r t h e HR d ep art m en t was n o t a “ cl erk ” wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e s t at u t e.

See Mu rr a

y v

. S l o a n Pa

per Co

. , 2 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 8, 6 4 9 (4 4 2 SE2 d 79 5 ) (1 9 9 4 )

(d efen d an t fai l ed t o m eet i t s b u rd en o f s h o wi n g t h at ad m i n is t rat i v e as s is t an t ’ s d u ti es

“ d i d n o t en t ai l m an ag eri al o r s u p erv i s o ry res p o n s i b i li t i es ” so as t o ren d er serv i ce o f

p ro ces s o n h er i n s u ffi ci en t u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (d ) (1 )).

In Mu r r a y

, p l ai n t iffs s u ed t h e d efen d an t co m p an y fo r i n

ju ri es s u s t ai n ed i n a

co l l i s i o n

. Pl ai nt iff s erv ed t h e d efen d an t co m p an y p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (d ) (1 )

b y leav i n g a co p y o f t h e s u m m o n s an d co m

p l ai n t wi t h th e ad m in i s t rat iv e as s i s t a n t

.

Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e d efen d an t co m p an y ’ s m o t i o n fo r su m

m ary ju dg m en t, o r

i n t h e al t ern at i ve, m o t i o n t o d i sm i s s o n th e g ro u nd o f i n s u ffi ci en t serv i ce o f p ro ces s

.

W e rev ers ed d is m i ss al of t h e co m p l ai n t

, fi n d i n g t h at t h e ad m i n i s t rat iv e as s i s t an t was

an au t h o ri zed ag en t f

o r t h e co rp o rat i o n

. W e co n cl u d ed t h at t he b u r d en was o n t h e

d efen d an t t o s h o w t h at t h e ad m i n i s t rat i v e as s i s t an t’ s res p o n s ib i l i t i es di d n o t en t ai l

J u n e 23

, 2 0 1 5 )

, wh ere t h e p l ai n t i ff co n ced ed t h at serv i n g an i ns u ran ce s p eci al i s t

em pl o y ed b y th e d efen d an t s ch o o l di s tri ct was n o t s u ffi ci e n t t o p erfect s erv i ce

b ecau s e s h e was n o t t h e CEO o r cl erk as p ro v i d ed b y OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (e) (5 ). Id

. at

* 8 -9

.

8m an ag eri al o r s u perv i s o ry res p o n si b i l i ti es an d t h at th e d efen dan t d id n o t p res en t

ev i d en ce t o m eet t h is b u rd en . Id . at 6 4 9 (2 ).

W e rei t erat e i n th is cas e t h at th e b u rd en i s o n t h e M CSD t o p res en t ev i d en ce

s h o wi n g t h at t h e as si s t an t was n o t a cl erk ju s t as t h e bu rd en was on t he d efen d an t in

Mu r r a y t o sh o w t h at t h e ad m in i s t rat i v e as s i s t an t was n o t an au t h ori zed ag en t fo r t h e

co rp o rat i o n. Th e M CSD fai l ed t o p res en t t h e t ri al co u rt wi t h an y ev i d en ce, wh et h er

b y affi d av i t o r o t h erwi s e, t o d i s p u t e t he as s is tan t ’ s p o s i t io n as a cl erk au t h o ri zed t o

accep t serv i ce u nd er t h e s t at u t e. See, e.g

., Nes m i t h v. La n d m a r k Do d g e

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p.

3 1 5

, 31 6 (6 9 1 SE2 d 2 4 0) (2 0 1 0 ) (d efen d an t fai l ed to p res en t t ri al co u rt wi th

co m p et en t ev i d en ce s h o wi n g ad m in i s t rat i v e as s i s t an t w as n o t au t h o ri zed t o ac c e p t

s erv i ce o n b eh al f o f co rp o rat i o n ). Co m p are S u m mer l i n v. Geo r

g i a Pi n es Cmt

y. S vc.

Bd

. , 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p. 8 31

, 8 3 3-8 34 (1 ) (6 3 0 SE2 d 1 15 ) (2 00 6 ), affi rm ed

, Geo r gi a Pi n es

Cmt y. Svc. Bd

. v. S u mmer l i n

, 2 82 Ga. 3 3 9 (6 4 7 SE2 d 5 6 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (rev ers i n g g ran t o f

s u m m a r y j u d g m en t t o d efen dan t b ecau s e pers o n n el m an ag er w as cl erk w i t h i n t h e

m ean i n g o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (e) (5 ), an d ex pl ai n i n g th at

, “ [w] h i l e t he wo rd ‘ cl erk ’ i s

n o t d efi n ed i n t h e s t at u t e, ‘ al l w o rd s, ex cep t w o rd s o f art

, s h al l b e g i ven t h ei r o rd i n ary

s i gn i fi can ce.’ Bl ack ’ s Law Di ct i o n ary d efi n es t h e wo rd ‘ cl erk ’ as a pers o n em p l o y ed

i n p u b l ic o ffi ce ‘ wh o s e du t i es i n c l u d e k eep i n g reco rd s o r acco u n t s .’ Th e Am eri can

9Heri t ag e Di ct i o n ary d efi n es th e w o r d ‘cl erk ’ as a p ers o n wh o w o rk s in an o ffi ce

‘ perfo rm in g s u ch t as k s as k eep in g reco rd s

, at t en d i n g t o co rres p o n den ce, o r fi l i n g .’ ”)

Gi v en t h at th e M CSD fai l ed t o c arry i t s b u rd en o f s h o wi ng t h at t h e as s i s t an t

was n o t a cl erk wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e s t at u te, we m u s t co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

erred i n g ran ti n g t h e m o t io n t o d i s m i s s as t o t h e M CSD. See Nes mi t h

, s u p ra

(rev ers in g d is m i s s al o f co m p lai n t ); Mu r r a

y , s u pra (s am e).

2

. Ru s sel l al s o arg u e s t h a t we m u s t v acat e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er an d rem an d

t h e cas e b ecau s e i t i s u n l i kel y t h e t ri al co u rt co n s i d ered t h e en t i re reco rd i n m ak i n g

i t s ru l in g ; rat h er, th e wo rd i n g o f t h e o rd er s u g ges t s t hat t h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed

ap p el l ees ’ m o t i o n t o d is m i s s b ecau s e Ru s s el l fai l ed t o res p o n d

. Gi v en o ur h o l d i n g in

Di v is i o n 1

, s u p ra, we n eed n o t ru l e o n th i s en u m erat i on

. Ho wev er, we no t e t h at wh i l e

t h e fai l u re o f a n o n -m o v i n g p art y t o res po n d d o es n o t au t o m at ical l y en t i t l e t h e

m o vi n g p art y t o ju d g m en t i n it s fav or, 5 th e o rd er h ere cl earl y s t at es th at t h e t ri al co u rt

co n si d ered t h e “ Mo t i o n

. . . an d th e Arg u m en t an d Ci t at i o n o f Au t h o ri t y ” b efo re

ru l i n g. Bas ed o n t h i s l an g u ag e, w e wi l l as s u m e t h at t h e tri al co u rt ex erci s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n an d co n s i d ered t h e en t i re reco rd b efo re ru l i n g o n t h e m o ti o n

. See Pea r so n

5 See Neel

y v. Jo n es

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p. 79 5

, 7 96 (5 9 2 SE2 d 4 4 7) (2 0 03 ), c i t i n g

Bi s h o p v. W es t mi n s ter S

ch o o l s , 1 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 1 , 8 9 2 (1 ) (3 9 7 SE2 d 1 4 3 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

10v. S

ma l l W o r l d Da y Ca r e Cen t er

, 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 84 3

, 8 4 4-8 4 5 (2 ) (a) (5 08 SE2 d 2 0 0 )

(1 9 9 8) (wh ere t ri al co u rt o rd er st at ed t h at “ t he d efen d an t ’ s [m o t i o n ] i s u n o p p o s ed an d

t h at n o g en u i n e i s s u es o f m at eri al fact rem ai n [,] ” t h i s Co urt wo u l d n o t as s u m e t h at

s u m m a ry ju d g m en t was g ran ted s im p l y b ecau s e th e p lai n ti ff d id n o t res p o n d t o

d efen d an t ’ s m o t io n ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n p ar t a n d r ever

s ed in p a r t

. Di l l a r d

, P

. J. a n d Ra

y, J.,

co n cu r

.

11