SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, RI C K M A N and REESE, 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

M ar ch 16, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 07 1 . CITY OF PENDERGRASS v . RINTOUL et al

.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

Th e Ci t y o f Pen d erg ras s (“ t h e Ci ty ”) ap p eal s fro m t h e fi n al ju d g m en t en t ered

ag ai n s t i t i n t h is wh i st l eb l ower act i o n , fo l l o wi ng a ju ry v erd ict i n fav o r o f Kat h eri n e

Ri n to u l (“ Ap p el l ee Ri n t o ul ”) an d W i l l i am Garn er (“ Ap p el l ee Garn er”) to t al i n g o v er

$ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0

. Th e Ci t y as s ert s t hat t h e t ri al co ur t e r r ed i n fai l in g t o g ran t it s m o t i on s

fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

. T h e Ci t y al s o as sert s t h at th e j u ry ’ s d am ag e award s t o t h e

Ap p el l ees were b o t h arb i t rary an d u n s u pp o rt ed b y co m p et en t ev i d e n c e

. Fo r t h e

reas on s s et fo rt h i nfra, we affi rm

.On ap p eal fro m a ju ry v erd i ct i n a ci vi l cas e, we v i ew t h e reco rd i n t h e l i g ht

m o st fav o rab l e t o t he j u ry ’ s v erd i ct an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al ju d g m en t

. 1 So v i ewed

,

t h e reco rd s h o ws t he fo ll owi n g fact s

. Ap pel l ee Ri n to ul was t h e Ci t y Cl erk fo r t h e Ci t y

fro m J an u ary 2 0 0 5 to J ul y 2 00 9

. In ad d i t i o n t o Ci ty Cl erk

, A p p el l ee Ri nt o u l h el d t h e

ad d it i o n al p o s i t io ns o f El ect io n Su p eri n t en den t

, L i b rari an , an d Co u rt Cl erk fo r t h e

Ci t y

. Ap pel l ee Garn er was a l i eu t en an t wi t h t h e Ci ty po l ice dep art m en t fro m J an u ary

2 0 0 5 t o Sep t em

b er 2 0 0 9

.

In J u n e 20 0 9

, t he Ap p el l ees g at h ered ev i d en ce wh ich t h ey b el i ev ed eq u at ed t o,

i n t er al i a, m i su s e o f p u b l i c t a x m o n e ys , m i s u se o f l o cal -o p t i on sal es t ax (“ LOST”)

fu n d s, m i s us e of ci t y eq u i p m en t

, bri b ery o f p u b l i c offi ci a l s , a n d em p l o y m en t o f an

u n d o cu m en t ed i m

m i g ran t

. On J u n e 2 7

, 2 0 09

, Ci ty Ad m i ni s t rat o r an d Ch i ef o f Po l i ce,

Ro b ert Ru s s el l (“ Ru s s el l ”), m et wi t h Ap p el lee G arn er, accu s ed Garn er of m ak i n g

d ero g at o ry s t at em e n t s ab ou t h i m , an d t hreat en ed t o t erm i n at e Garn er as a res u l t

.

Ap p el l ee Garn er reco rd ed t h e co n v ers at i o n wi t h Ru s s el l v ia t h e au d i o m icro p h o n e o n

Garn er’ s d u t y b el t

, wh i ch t ran s m i t ted to t h e reco rd i n g d ev ice i n h i s p a t r o l car. Th e

fo l l o w i n g day

, o n J u n e 2 8, t h e Ap p el l ees m et wi t h M el vi n To l b ert

, t he m ay o r

1 See Ga

. Dep t. o

f Tr a n sp

. v. Mi ll er , 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 85 7

, 8 5 8 (6 8 6 SE2 d 4 5 5 ) (2 0 0 9).

2(“ M ay o r To lb er t ”) o f t h e Ci t y

. Th e Ap p el l ees s u p p l i ed M ay o r T o l bert wi t h t h e

d o cu m en t s , reco rd i n g s, an d ev i d en ce i n o rd er fo r h im t o i n v es t i g at e wh at t h e

Ap p el l ees al l eg ed were m i s ap p ro p ri at i o n of ci t y fu n d s, m i s us e o f ci t y p ro p ert y ,

b ri b ery o f p u b l i c o ffi ci al s, an d o th er m is deed s b y ci t y o ffi ci al s an d em p l o y ees

.

Ap p el l ee Garn er al s o v o i ced co n cern s ab o u t p o t en t ial l y i l leg al act i o n s b y Ru s s el l

.

M a yo r To l bert req u es t ed t i m e t o i n v es ti gat e t h e al l eg at i o ns m ad e b y t h e

Ap p el l ees , at wh i ch t i m e h e req u es t ed t h at Ci t y At t o rn ey W al t er Harv ey (“ H arv ey ”)

rev i ew t h e d o cu m en t s an d ev i d en ce p ro v id ed b y th e Ap p el l ees t o det erm in e i f Ru s sel l

h ad m i s us ed ci t y

fu n d s. Ap p ro x i m at el y

a week l at er, Harv ey

rep o rt ed t h e res u l t s o f

h i s in v es t i g a t i o n t o M ay o r To l b ert

. As a res u l t o f th e i n v es t i gat i o n, M ay o r To l b ert

d o ck ed Ru s s el l ’ s s al ary

b y $ 10 ,0 0 0 p er y ear, an d rem o ved h i m fro m hi s p os i t i o n as

Ch i ef o f Po l i ce. A n ew ch ief o f p o l i ce, J am es LaRo q u e, w as l at er ap po i n t ed t o rep l ace

Ru s s el l

.

Fo l l owi n g t h e Ap p el l ees ’ co nv ers at i o n wi t h M ay o r To l b ert

, Ru s s e l l i s s u ed

o rd ers , v erb al l y an d i n wri t i n g , to Ap p el l ee Garn er m an d at in g t hat Garn er b e i s o l at ed

fro m al l ci t y em

pl o y ees

. Ru s s el l a l s o c o m m an ded Garn er n o t t o co n vers e wi t h an y

ci t y em p l o y ee, in cl u d in g fel l o w m em b ers of t he p o li ce fo rce, o r h e w o u l d face

t erm i n at i o n

. Th e Ci t y m o v ed t h e l o cat i o n o f t he p ol ice s t at i o n , reco rd s an d al l o t h er

3p o l i ce pers o n nel t o Ci t y Hal l

, b u t refu s ed t o al l o w Ap p el l ee Garn er acc es s t o t h e

b u i l d i n g aft er ch an g i n g th e l o ck s

. Th e Ci t y req ui red Ap p el l ee Garn er t o wo rk i n t h e

fo rm er p ol i ce b u i l di ng al o n e , s e q u es t ered fro m al l o t h er ci t y em pl oy ees wi t h o ut

t el ep ho n e s erv i ce o r an y of th e es s en t i al reco rd s an d eq u i p m en t req u i red to p erfo rm

h i s d u t i e s a s a p o l i ce o ffi cer, ex cep t fo r t h e u s e o f h i s p at ro l v eh i cl e wh il e o n d u t y

.

A fel l o w p o l ice o ffi cer wo rk i n g fo r t h e Ci t y fi l ed a co m p l ai n t ag ai n s t Ap p el l ee

Garn er, wh i ch l ed t o an i n v es t i gat i o n ag ai n s t Garn er. Th e Ci t y fi l ed a s tat em en t wi th

t h e Geo rg i a Peace Offi cers St an d a r d s an d Trai n in g (“ POST”) Co u n ci l reg ard i n g

Ap p el l ee Garn er’ s res i g n at io n, s t at i n g t h at G arn er h ad res i g n ed i n l i eu o f term i n at i o n.

A t t ri al

, J am es LaRo cq u e t es t i fi ed t h at h e k n ew A p p el lee Garn er’ s POST r e c o r d

(wh ich d et ai l s a l a w en fo rcem en t o ffi cer’ s t rai ni n g , em p l o y m en t h i st o ry , an d

v i o l at i o n s) was i n co rrect

, bu t d i d n o t t ak e an y at tem pt s t o rem o v e o r co rrect t h e fal s e

s t a t em en t

. Th e i n co rrect st at em en t s i n Ap p el l ee Garn er’ s POST reco rd n eg at i v el y

affe c t e d h is ab i l i t y t o g ai n em p l o y m en t wi t h o t h er d ep art m en t s fo l lo wi n g h i s

res i gn at io n fro m

t h e Ci t y

.

In J u l y 2 0 0 9

, M ay o r To lb ert m et wi t h al l ci ty em p l o y ees t o i n fo rm t hem t h at

t h ere wo u l d b e l arg e-s cal e l ay o ffs b ecau s e o f t h e ci t y ’ s peri l o u s eco n o m i c s i t u at i o n.

Ap p el l ee Ri n t o ul was t erm i n at ed at t h e co n cl us i o n o f t h e m eet in g , al o n g wi t h t h ree

4o t h er ci t y em p lo y ees

. Ho wev er, t h e o t h er t hree em p l o y ees were reh i red s h o rt l y

t h ereaft er. Fu rt h er, w i t h i n w eek s o f t erm i n at i n g Ap p el l ee Ri n t o u l, th e Ci t y h i red

ad d it i o n al p o l ice o ffi cers , J am es LaRo q u e as ch i ef o f p o l i ce, an d a ci t y cl erk

.

Th e Ap p el l ees i n i t i al l y s u ed t h e Ci t y an d ei g h t i n di v i du al ci t y o ffi ci al s al l eg i n g

ret al i at i o n u nd er th e Geo rg i a W h i s tl eb l o wer Act

, 2 Rack et eer In fl u en ced an d Co rru pt

Org an i zat i on s Act v i o l at i o n s , t am p eri n g wi t h ev i d en ce, wi t n es s t am peri ng , t h eft b y

c onve r sion, the f

t of se r v ic e s, c ri m i n al co n s p i racy , b ri b ery , ex t o rt i o n , an d m ak i n g false

s t at em en t s

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e Ci ty ’ s part i al m o ti o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t

.

On i n terl o cu t o ry

rev i ew, we v acat ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n J u n e 2 0 17

. 3

By t h e ti m e of t ri al

, a s i n g l e ret al i at i o n cl ai m rem ai n ed

, wi t h t he Ci t y rem ai n i n g

as th e s ol e d efen d an t

. At t h e cl o s e o f t h e p res en tat i on o f t h e Ap p el l ees ’ ev i d en ce, t h e

Ci t y m o v ed fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

, arg ui n g t h at Ap p el l ee Garn er w a s c o l l a t eral l y

es t o p p ed fro m rearg u i n g t h at he h ad been co n s t ru ct i v el y d i s ch arg ed an d t hat t h e Ci t y

was n o t a “ p ub l i c em

p l o y er” s u b

ject t o t h e G eo rg i a W h i s t l eb l o w er Act

, 4 b e c a u s e i t

d i d no t recei v e s t at e fu n d s

. Th e t ri al co u rt d en ied t he Ci ty ’ s m ot i o n , an d t h e Ci t y

2 See OCGA § 4 5 -1 -4

.

3 See Ri n t ou l

v. To l b er t , 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 8 (8 0 2 SE2 d 5 6 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

4 See OCGA § 4 5 -1 -4

.

5ren ewed i t s m ot io n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct at t h e cl os e o f ev i d en ce. Th e ju ry ret u rn ed a

v erd i ct fo r t h e Ap p el l e e s o n t h ei r cl ai m o f ret al i at i o n. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g o n a

m o ti o n fo r at t o rn ey fees

, t h e t ri al co urt i s s u ed a fi n al ju dg m en t o n J an u ary 3 0

, 2 0 1 8.

Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

“ Th e s t an dard o f ap p el l at e rev i ew o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f a m o t i o n fo r a

d i rect ed verd i ct i s t h e ‘ an y ev i den ce’ s tan d ard .” 5 Ad d it i o n al l y , “ a ju ry v erd i ct

, aft er

ap p ro v al b y th e t ri al co u rt

, an d t h e ju d g m en t th ereo n wi l l n o t b e d i s t u rb ed o n ap p eal

i f s u p p o rt ed b y an y ev i d en ce, i n t h e ab s en ce o f an y m at eri al erro r o f law.” 6 M o reo v er,

“ [t ] h e i s s u e o f d am ag es i s a m a t t e r fo r th e ju ry , an d a rev i ewi n g co u rt s h o u l d n ot

i n t erfere wi t h t h e j u ry ’ s d am ag es award u n l es s i t i s s o s m a l l o r ex ces s i v e t h at i t

ju s t ifi es an i n t erferen ce o f g ro s s m i s t ak e o r u nd u e b i as .” 7 Ad di t i o n al ly

,

t h e ap pel l at e co u rt m

us t co n s t ru e t h e ev i d en ce wi t h ev ery i n feren ce an d

p res um p t i o n i n fav o r o f u p h o l d i ng t h e v erd i ct

, an d aft er ju d g m en t , t he

ev i d en ce m

u s t be co n s t ru ed to u p h o l d t h e v erd i ct ev e n wh ere th e

ev i d en ce i s i n co n fl ict

. As l o n g as t here i s s o m e ev id en ce t o s u p p o rt th e

5 F. A. F. Mo t o r

Ca rs v. Ch i l d

er s , 1 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 1 (1 ) (3 5 4 SE2 d 6 ) (1 9 8 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

6 Ho r a n v. Pi r

kl e , 1 9 7 Ga. Ap p . 1 5 1 , 1 5 3 (2 ) (3 9 7 SE2 d 7 3 4 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

7 Gr een v. Pr o

f f i t t , 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p . 4 77 , 4 7 8 (1 ) (5 4 5 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

6v erd ict

, th e d en i al o f d efen d an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed verd i ct

, n ew t ri al

an d j.n .o .v . wi l l n o t b e d i s t u rb ed

. 8

“ Th e ju ry i s th e fi n al arb i t er o f t h e fact s , an d t h e v erd i ct m u s t b e co n s t ru ed b y t h e t ri al

an d ap pel l at e co u rt s i n t h e li g h t m o st fav o rab l e t o up h o l d i n g t h e j u r y v e r d i ct

. ” 9

Fu rt h er, i n o rd er t o p rev ai l o n a m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd ict

, an ap p el l an t m u s t s h o w

“ t h at th ere was n o co n fl i ct i n t h e ev i d en ce as t o a n y m a t e r i al i ss u e an d t h at t h e

ev i d en ce i n t ro du ced

, wi t h al l reas o n ab le d ed u ct i o n s th erefro m , d em an d ed t h e v erd i ct

s o u g ht .” 1 0

W i t h th es e g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i nd

, we t u rn n ow t o t h e Ci t y ’ s s p e c i fi c

cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Th e Ci t y as sert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o gran t it s m o t i o n s f o r

d i rect ed verd i ct

. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e Ci t y co n t en d s t h at t h e Ap p el lees fai l ed to p ro v e i t

8 S o u t h ea s t er n S

ecu ri t y In s

. Co

. v. H

o t l e , 22 2 G a. Ap p

. 1 6 1

, 16 2 (1 ) (4 7 3 SE2 d

2 5 6 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it ted ).

9 Pu cket t e v. Jo h n Ba i ley Po n t i a c-Bu i ck-GMC Tr u ck

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p. 13 8 (7 1 4

SE2 d 7 5 0) (2 0 1 1) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 0 Geo r g ia n Fi n e Pr o

p er t i es v. La n g , 3 4 7 G a. Ap p

. 6 3 5 (8 2 0 SE2 d 4 6 4 ) (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 ).

7i s a “ p u b l i c em p l o y er” an d t h at t h e Ap p el lees were no t “ pu b li c em p l o y ees ” wi t h i n t h e

m ean i n g o f t h e Geo rg i a W h i s t leb l o w er Act . W e d i sag ree.

Un d er OCGA § 4 5-1 -4 (a) (4 ), t h e t erm “ [p ] u b l ic em

p l o y er” i s d efi n ed as

t h e ex ecu t i ve, ju d i ci al

, o r l eg i s l at i v e b ran ch o f t h e s tat e; an y o t h er

d ep art m en t

, b o ard

, b u reau , co m m ission, a uthor i t y , o r o t h er ag en cy o f th e

s t at e wh i ch em

p lo y s or ap p o i n t s a p u b l i c em p l oy ee o r p ub l i c em

p lo y ees ;

o r an y l o cal o r reg i o nal g o v ern m en tal en t i ty t h at recei v es an y fu nd s fro m

t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a o r an y s t at e ag en cy

.

Un d er OCGA § 4 5-1 -4 (a) (3 ), t h e t erm “ [p ] u b l ic em

p l o y ee” i s d efi n ed as

an y p ers o n wh o i s em

p l o y ed b y t h e ex ecu t i v e, ju d i ci al

, o r l eg i sl at iv e

b ran ch o f t he s t at e o r b y an y o t h er d e p a r t m en t

, b o ard

, b u reau ,

co m m i s s i o n , au t h o ri t y , o r ot h er ag en cy o f t h e s t at e. Th i s t erm al s o

i n cl u d es al l em

p l o y ees , o ffi ci al s, an d ad m i n i s t rat or s o f a n y ag en cy

co v ered b y t h e ru les o f t h e St at e P e r s o n nel Bo ard an d an y l o cal o r

r eg i on al g o v ern m en t al en t i t y t h at recei v es an y fu n d s fro m t h e St a t e o f

Geo rg i a o r an y

s t at e ag en cy

.

Th e Geo rg i a W h is t leb l o wer Act “ ap p l i es t o t h e recei p t b y a p u b l ic em p lo y er fro m an y

p u b l i c em p l o y ee of co m

p lai n t s o r i n fo rm at i o n co ncern i n g t h e p os s i b l e ex i st en ce o f

8an y act i v i t y co ns t it u t i n g frau d

, was t e, an d ab u s e i n or rel at i o n t o an y s t at e p ro g ram s

an d o p erat i o n s u n d er t h e ju ri s d i ct i o n o f s uch p u b l i c em p l o y er.” 1 1

In i t s m o ti o n i n l i m in e, t h e Ci t y s t at ed t h at th e i s s u es t o b e t ri ed i n cl u d ed

wh et h er t h e Ci ty w as a p u b l i c em p l o y er, wh et h er t he Ap pel l ees were p u b l i c

em pl o y e e s , w h e t h er t h e Ap p el l ees m ad e a d i s cl o s u re u n d er OCGA § 4 5 -1 -4

, an d

wh et h er t h e Ci t y ret al i at ed ag ai n s t t he A p p el l ees

. W i t h i n t h e jo i n t p re-t ri al o rd er, at

t h e co m m en cem en t at t ri al

, t he Ci t y as s ert ed t h at wh et h er t h e Ci t y vi o lat ed t h e

Geo rg i a W h i st l eb l o wer Act was a d eci s i o n fo r t he ju ry

.

Du ri n g tri al

, t h e co u rt recei v ed t wo m o t i o n s fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct fro m t h e

Ci t y

. Th e fi rs t m o t i on was g i v en b y t he Ci t y at t he co n cl u s i o n o f t h e Ap p el l ee’ s cas ei n -ch i ef, an d t he s eco n d m o ti o n was gi v en at t h e cl o s e o f ev id en ce. At t h e co n cl u s i o n

o f each m o ti o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct

, th e co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e ev i d en ce creat ed arg u ab l e

q u es ti o n s fo r t h e ju ry , an d d en ied t h e m ot io n s.

At t ri al

, Ap p el l ees i d en t i fi ed t h ree so u rces o f fu n d s t h at t h e Ci t y h ad recei v ed

fro m t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a, i n cl ud i n g : LOST recei p t s ; a ch eck fo r $ 6 8 t h at t h e ci t y ’ s

m u ni ci p al co u rt recei v ed fro m t h e Geo rg i a Dep art m en t o f Dri v ers Serv i ces (“ DDS”);

1 1 Ca l d o n v. B o a r d o

f Reg en t s o f Un i v. Sys t em o

f G a

. , 3 1 1 Ga. A p p

. 15 5

, 1 5 8 (7 1 5 SE2 d 4 8 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t no t e o m i t t ed ).

9an d s erv i ces an d gran t m o n ey p ro v i d ed t o t he Ci t y ’ s l ib rary b y th e G eo rg i a Li b rary

Pu b l ic In fo rm at i o n N et wo rk fo r El ect ro n i c Serv i ces (“ PINES”) an d Pi ed m o nt

Reg io n al Li b rary Sy s t em (“ PRLS”).

Th e Ci t y o ffered t h e reb u t t al t es t i m o n y of i t s au d i t o r. Bo t h Ap p el l ee Ri n t o ul

an d M ay o r To l b ert t es t i fi ed t h at t h e Ci t y h ad recei v ed fu n d s fro m t h e St at e o f

Geo rg i a. M ay o r T o l b ert t es t i f i e d t h a t t h e Ci t y d i d recei v e fu nd s fro m t h e St at e o f

Geo rg i a ou t si d e o f LOST an d s p eci al -p u rp o se l o cal -o p ti o n s s al es t ax fu n d s

. Th e

au d it o r co n ced ed t h at n ei th er sh e n o r h er f i r m h an d l ed t h e au di t in g acco u n t s o f t h e

Ci t y d u ri n g t h e t im e fram e at is s ue. Un d er cro s s -ex am i n at io n , th e au d i t o r t es t i fi ed t h at

t h e wo rd “ refu n d” d i d n o t ap p ear o n t h e ch eck fro m Geo rg i a DDS. Sh e al s o t es t i fi ed

as t o t h e Ci t y ’ s l i b rary sy s t em , c o n fi rm i n g th e Ci t y av ai l ed it s el f of a h ig h s p eed

i n t ern et l i n e m ad e av ai l ab l e an d p ai d fo r b y t he St at e o f Geo rg i a. Al t h o u gh t h e Ci t y

d i d no t p h y s i cal l y recei v e m o n ey , it recei v ed th e v al u e fro m t h e St at e o f Geo rg i a fo r

t h e h i g h s p eed i nt ern et l i n e

. T h e Ci t y ren ewed i t s m ot i on fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct

fo l l o w i n g t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e ci t y au d i t o r.

Th e Ap p el l ees p ro v i d ed e v i d en ce t o s u p p o rt t h e verd i ct i n cl u d i ng , in t er al i a,

t h e t es ti m o n y o f Ap pel l ee Ri n t o u l reg ard i n g t h e t y pes o f fu n d s t h e Ci t y h ad recei v ed

fro m th e St at e o f Geo rg i a fo r i t s p u b l i c l ib rary an d h ow t h e Ci t y recei v ed LOST fu nd s

10fro m t h e St at e. Ap p el l ee Ri n t o u l al s o t es t i fi ed reg ard i n g h o w ci t y fu n d s w e r e

m i s ap p ro p ri at ed by t h e u s e o f ci ty fu n d s o n , i nt er al i a, p ers o n al d i n n e r s , l awn

eq u i p m en t fo r u s e o n p ers o n al p ro p ert y , an d l o an s t o ci t y em p l o y ees

. Ap p el l ee

Ri n to u l ’ s t es t i m o ny reg ard i n g fu n d i n g w as rel ev an t

, b ecau se i t s h o wed t h at t h e Ci t y

recei v ed fu n d s fro m t h e St at e, m ak i n g t h e Ci t y a p u b l i c em pl o y er. 1 2 M o r e o v er, by

p ro v id i n g t es t i m o n y reg ard in g s t at e fu n d i n g , Ap pel l ees were ab l e t o s h o w t h at t h ey

were p u b l i c em

p l o y ees em

p l o y ed b y t h e Ci t y

. 1 3

W e h av e p rev i ou s l y h el d t h at i t i s i m p ro per fo r a t ri al co u rt t o g ran t a m o t i o n

fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct wh ere t h e ex p ert t es t im o n y t h at fo rm s t h e su p po rt fo r th e v erd i ct

i s bas ed u p o n s p ecu l at i o n , g ues s , o r co nject u r e

. 1 4 Here, t h ere were co n fl i ct s i n t h e

ev i d en ce as t o m at eri al i s s u es o f t h e m at t er, 1 5 wh i ch are q u es ti o n s fo r t h e ju ry to

1 2 See OCGA § 45 -1 -4 (a) (4 ).

1 3 See OCGA § 45 -1 -4 (a) (3 ).

1 4 See Ci t y o f A t l a n t a v

. H

i g h t ower , 17 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 0

, 1 4 3 (3 3 8 SE2 d 6 8 3 ) (1 9 8 5) (em

p h as i zi n g t h at a verd i ct d ep en d en t o n g u es s , s p ecu l at i o n , o r co n ject u re

can n ot s t an d ).

1 5 See Un i f i ed Go vt

. o

f At h en s -Cl a r

ke Co u n ty v. No r t h

, 25 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 2

, 4 3 7 (2 ) (5 51 SE2 d 7 9 8 ) (2 00 1 ) (“ A d i rect ed v erd ict i s au t h ori zed o n l y wh en t h ere i s n o

co n fl i ct i n t h e ev i d en ce as t o an y m at eri al is su e an d t h e ev id en ce i nt ro d uced wi t h al l

reas on ab l e d ed u ct i on s t h erefro m , s h al l d em an d a p art i cu l ar v erd i ct .”) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

11res o l ve. 1 6 Ul t i m a t e l y, t h e ju ry d et erm i n ed t h at t h e Ci t y h ad “ ‘ ret al i at e[d ] ’ ag ai n s t

[Ap pel lee ] R i n to ul [,] ” w h o was a “ p u b l i c em p l o y ee[,] ” an d t h at t h e Ci t y h ad

“ ‘r e t al i at e[d ] ’ ag ai n st [Ap pel l ee] Garn er,” wh o was a “ p ub l ic em p lo y ee[,] ” u n d e r

OCGA § 4 5 -1 -4

. Th erefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt d id n o t err i n den y i n g t h e Ci t y ’ s m o t i on s

fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct

.

2 . Th e Ci ty co n ten d s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n refu s i n g t o d i s m i s s Ap p el l ee

Garn er’ s cl ai m , b ecau s e Garn er was co l l at eral l y es t o p p ed fro m arg u in g th at t h e Ci t y

h ad co n st ru ct iv el y d i s c h arg ed h i m

. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e Ci t y arg u es t h at Ap p el l ee

Garn er’ s res i g n at i o n w as n o t t h e p ro d u ct o f c o n st ru ct iv e t erm i n at i o n an d t h at h e

s u ffered n o “ ret al i at i o n ” wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f t h e Geo rg i a W h is tl eb l o wer Act

. W e

d i s ag ree.

In ad d it i o n t o s eek i n g a d i rect ed v erd i ct reg ard in g t h e “ p u b l i c em p l o y er”

s u b s ect i o n o f t h e Geo rg i a W h i s t l eb l o wer Act

, t h e Ci t y m ov ed fo r a di rect ed v erd i ct

co n cern in g Ap pel l ee Garn er ’ s c la im s of r e ta lia tion. U nd er t h e G eo rg i a W h is tl eb l o wer

Act , “ ret al i at i o n ” i s d efi n ed as

1 6 See Ca n t o n Pl a z a v. Reg i o ns Ba n k

, 31 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 03 (7 32 SE2 d 4 4 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ A m o t i on fo r d i rect ed verd i ct s h o u l d n ot b e g ran t ed wh ere t h ere ex is t s ev en s l i g ht

m a t e r ial i s s u es o f fact

, b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt i s s u b s t i tu t i n g i t s ju d g m en t f o r t h e ju ry ’ s [.] ”) (ci t at io n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

12t h e d i s ch arg e, s u s pen s i o n , o r d em o t i o n b y a p u b l ic em p l o y er o f a pu b l i c

em p l o y ee o r an y o t h er ad v ers e em p lo y m en t act i o n t ak en b y a pu b l i c

em p l o y er ag ai ns t a p u b l i c e m p l o y ee i n th e term s or co nd i t i o ns o f

em p l o y m en t fo r d i s cl o si n g a v i o l at i on o f o r n on co m p l i an ce wi t h a l aw,

ru l e, o r reg u lat i o n t o ei t her a s u p erv i s o r o r g o vern m en t ag en cy

. 1 7

“ Co n s t ru ct i v e d i s ch arg e o ccu rs wh en an em p l o y er d el i b era t e l y m ak es an

em pl o y ee’ s wo rk i n g co nd it i o n s i n t o l erab l e an d th ereb y fo rces h i m t o qu i t h i s jo b .” 1 8

M o reo v er, fo r a co n s t ru ct i v e d i s ch arg e t o o ccu r,

[t ] h e g en eral ru l e i s t h at i f t h e em p lo y er d e l i b erat el y m ak es an

em p l o y ee’ s w o rk i n g co n d i t i o n s s o i nt o l erab l e t h at t h e em p l o y ee i s

fo rced i n t o an i n v o l u n t ary res i g n at i on , t h en t h e em p l o y er h as

en co m p as s ed a co n s tru ct i v e di s ch arg e an d is as li ab l e fo r a n y il l eg al

co n d u ct i n v o l v ed t h erei n as i f i t had fo rm al ly di s ch arg ed t h e ag g ri ev ed

em p l o y ee. 1 9

1 7 OCGA § 4 5 -1 -4 (a) (5 ).

1 8 Br ya n t v. Jo n es , 57 5 F3 d 1 2 81

, 1 2 8 9 (II) (A) (3 ) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 9 ) (In t h e

co n tex t o f eq u al p ro t ect io n v i o l at i o n s u n der § 1 9 8 3

, in ten t i o n al race d i s cri m i n at i o n

v i o l at i o n s u n d er § 19 8 1

, an d ci v i l ri g ht s v i o l at i o n s u nd er § 1 9 8 5

, an Afri can A m e r ic a n c ounty m an ag er b ro u g h t cl ai m s al l eg i n g t hat o ffi ci al s ret al iat ed ag ainst him

fo r refu s in g t o s u pp o rt d i scri m i n at i o n ag ai ns t wh i t e m an ag ers .) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

1 9 Y o u ng v. S o u t hwes t er n S

a vi n g s an d Lo a n As s n

. , 5 09 F2 d 14 0

, 1 4 4 (I ) ( 5 t h

Ci r. 19 7 5 ) (In t h e co n t ex t o f ci v i l ri g ht s v i o l a t i o ns ag ai n s t fo rm er em p lo y ee fo r al l eg ed rel i g i o u s d i scri m i n at io n .) (ci t at io n s o m i t t ed ).

13Th e Ci t y arg u es t hat Ap p el l ee Garn er’ s as sert i o n t h at h e was s u b ject to

ret al i at i o n an d a h os t i l e w o rk en v i ro n m en t i s b arred b y co l l at eral es t o pp el

. Th e i s s u e

o f co l l at eral es t o p p el

, h o wev er, h ad al read y b een d eci d ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s p ri o r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t o rd er. W h i l e Ap p e l l ee Garn er w as b arred fro m as sert i n g t h e

co n st ru ct i v e d i s ch arg e cl ai m , t he t ri al co u rt ’ s s um m ary ju d g m en t o rd er di d n o t s t at e

t h at Garn er was barred fro m as s ert i n g a ret al iat i o n cl ai m

. Al th o u g h A p p el l ee Garn er

t es t i fi ed at t ri al t hat h e b el i ev ed h e h ad b een co n s tru c t i v e ly d i s ch arg ed fro m t h e

Ci t y ’ s p ol i ce d ep art m en t

, h e m ai n l y as s ert ed t h at h e w as s u b ject t o ret al iat i o n an d a

h o s t i l e wo rk en v i ro nm en t

.

Th e Ci t y arg u es t h at t h e Mu r r a y-Ob er t ei n d eci s i o n o f t h i s co u rt s h o u l d ap p l y

h ere. W e d i s ag ree. Mu r r a

y-Ob erte in c onc e r

ne d a f o r m e r e m ploy e e of t h e Go v ern m en t

T r a n s paren cy an d Cam p ai g n Fi n an ce Co m

m i s s i o n t hat as s ert ed cl ai m s fo r

pu rp o rt ed l y ret al i at o ry act s , wh i ch al leg ed l y t o o k p l ace aft er her em p l o y m en t wi t h the

Co m m i s s i o n

. 2 0 In Mu r r a

y-Ob er t ei n , we h el d t h at

i n l o o k i n g t o t he p lai n an d u n am b ig u ou s l an g uag e of t h es e p ro v i s i o n s

i n co n cert wi t h t h e W BA’ s d efi n i t i o n o f a “ p u bl i c em p l o y ee” as a p ers o n

“ wh o i s em

p l o y ed ,” i t i s ev i d en t t hat a “ p u bl i c em p l o y ee” as d efi n ed b y

2 0 See Mu rr a

y-Ob er t ei n v. Ga

. Go vt

. Tr a n sp a ren cy Co m m. , 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 7 (8 1 2 SE2 d 2 8 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

14t h e s t at ut e do es n o t ap p l y t o a f o rm er em p l o y ee wh o was al leg ed l y

ret al iat ed ag ai ns t aft er h er em pl o y m en t

, b u t i n s t ead l i m i t s ret al i at i o n t o

act s co m m i t t ed ag ai n s t cu rren t em p l o y ees

. 2 1

Here, Ap p el l ee Garn er as s ert s cl ai m s o f ret al iat o ry act i on s t h at t o o k p l ace wh i l e h e

was s t il l em

p l o y ed wi t h th e Ci t y an d t h e p o st -em p l oy m en t m i s ch aract e r i z a t i o n o f

Garn er’ s POST reco rd was a co n t i n u a t i o n o f th e ret al i at i o n t h at o ccu rred wh i l e h e

was a Ci t y

em p l o y ee.

Th ere was ev i d en ce o f ret al i at i o n fo r t h e ju ry t o co n s i d er, w h i ch co m p el l ed i t

t o ret u rn a v erd i ct i n fav or of t h e Ap p el l ees

. Ap p el l ee G arn er t es t i fi ed t hat p ri o r t o t h e

co n vers at i on wi t h M ay o r To l b ert i n J u n e 2 0 0 9

, h e was an i n t eg ral p art o f t h e Ci t y ’ s

p o l i ce dep art m en t an d t h at aft er t h e m eet i n g t h e Ci ty’s a ct i o n s t o ward Ap p el l ee

Garn er d ram at ical l y

wo rs en ed . Th e ju ry

h eard au di o reco rd i n g s o f t h e v erb al ab u s e

an d t h reat s t o Ap p el l ee Garn er’ s em p l o y m en t fro m R u ss el l

, as wel l as t es t i m o ny

reg ard i n g t h e im

m ed i at e t en -d ay s u s p en s i o n Garn er recei ved fo l l o wi n g h i s

co n vers at i on wi t h M ay o r To l bert

. Ap p el l ee Garn er al s o t es t i fi ed t h at al t h o u g h t h e

s u s p en s io n h ad b een rev o ked

, t h e Ci t y p ro h i b i ted h i m fro m tak i ng h is p at ro l v eh i cl e

h o m e, wh i ch Garn er st at ed was a $ 5 ,0 0 0 t o $ 1 0 ,0 00 a y ear b en efi t o f h i s em p lo y m en t

.

2 1 Id . at 68 1

.

15Ap p el l ee Garn er was s ub ject ed t o l o s s o f pay an d ran k, an d faced i s o l at io n fro m h i s

co l l eag u es wh en t h e Ci t y m o v ed t h e p ol i ce st a t i o n t o ci t y h al l an d d en i ed Garn er

acces s

.

In ad d i t i o n to th e ret al iat i o n h e faced wh il e s t i l l em p l o y ed wi t h th e Ci t y ,

Ap p el l ee Garn er al s o faced t he effect s o f t he Ci ty’s r e t al i at io n aft er res i g n i n g in

Sep tem b er 2 00 9

. Th e C i t y k n ew t h at Ap p el l ee Garn er’ s POST reco rd co n t ai n ed

erro neo u s an d fal s e i n fo rm at i o n rel at i n g t o h is em p l oy m en t w i t h t h e Ci t y , b u t fai l ed

t o co rrect t h e in fo rm at i o n

. Du e t o t h e n eg a t i v e effect o f h av i n g “ res i g n ed i n l i eu o f

t erm i n at i o n ” l i s t ed o n hi s POST reco rd

, Ap pel l ee Garn er faced d i ffi cu lt y i n fi n d i n g

an o th er j o b i n law en fo rcem en t wh en t h e Ci t y fai l ed t o co rrect Garn er’ s POST reco rd

.

Ap p el l ee Garn er was u n em p l o y ed fo r ei g h t m o n t hs an d was u n ab l e t o fi nd a jo b cl o s e

t o wh ere h e l i v ed

, s o h e accep t e d a j o b as m an ag er o f an au t o b o d y s h o p , req u i ri n g

h i m t o d ri v e 1 30 m i l es p er d ay

. Fo l l o wi n g h i s em pl o y m en t wi t h t h e au t o b o d y s h o p,

Ap p el l ee Garn er b eg an wo rk i n g p art t i m e as a m al l s ecu ri t y g u ard

, wo rk i n g

ap p ro x i m at el y 3 2 h o urs p er week

. Th e ju ry fo u n d t h at t h e Ci ty ret al i at ed ag ai n s t t h e

Ap p el l ees an d b as ed o n t h e fo reg o i n g , th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g a d i rect ed

v erd i ct

.

163

. T h e Ci t y arg ues t h at t h e ju ry ’ s award o f d am ag es t o each Ap p el l ee were b o th

arb i t rary an d u n s u p p o rt ed b y co m p et en t ev i d en ce. Sp eci fi cal l y , t he Ci t y as sert s t h at

n ei t h er Ap p el l ee Garn er n o r Ap p el lee Ri n t o u l p ro v i d ed ev id en ce su ffi ci en t t o p erm i t

t h e ju ry t o aw a r d a n y am o u n t o f d am ag es fo r l o s t w ag es

. Ad d i ti o n al l y , t h e Ci t y

co n ten d s t h at th e ev id en t i ary bas es fo r t h e ju ry ’ s l o s t wag es award s were m erel y

p ro d uct s o f s pecu l at i o n . W e d i s ag ree.

Th e g en eral ru l e o n ap p eal o f an award o f d am ag es is t h at a j u ry ’ s

award can n o t b e s u cces s fu l l y at t ack ed s o as t o warran t a n ew t ri al un l es s

i t i s s o fl ag ran t l y ex ces s i v e o r i n ad eq u at e, in l ig h t o f t he ev i d en ce, as t o

creat e a cl ear i m

p li cat i o n o f b i as , p reju d i ce, o r g ro s s m is tak e o n t h e p art

o f t h e ju ro rs

. Ev en th ou g h t h e ev i d en ce i s s u ch t o au t h ori ze a g reat er o r

l es s award t h an t h at act u al l y m ad e, t h e ap p el l at e co u rt wi l l no t d i s t u rb

i t u n l es s i t is s o fl ag ran t as t o s h o ck t h e co n s ci en ce. M o reo v er, t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ap p ro v al o f t h e v erd i ct creat es a p res u m p t i o n o f co rrect n es s t hat

wi l l n ot b e d i s t u rb ed ab s en t co m pel l i n g ev i den ce. 2 2

Th e Geo rg ia W h i s t l eb l ower Act p erm it s a prev ai l i n g p u b l i c em p l o y ee to

reco v er, i n ter al i a: rei n s t at em en t t o t h e s am e p o s i t i o n h el d b efo re t h e ret al i at i o n o r to

an eq u iv al en t p os i ti o n ; rei ns t at em en t o f fu l l fri n g e b en efi t s an d sen i o ri t y ri g h t s ;

2 2 Bo o ker v. Ol d er Amer ica n s Co u n ci l

o f Mi dd l e Ga

. , 2 7 8 Ga. A p p

. 4 0 7 , 4 1 1 (4 ) (6 29 SE2 d 6 9) (2 00 6 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

17co m

p en s at i o n f

o r l o s t wag es , b en efi ts

, an d o th er rem u n erat io n ; an d an y o t h er

co m p en s at o ry d am ag es al lo wab l e b y

l aw. 2 3

Here, as t h e arb it er o f t h e award an d t he fi n d er o f f a ct

, th e ju ry d eci d ed t h e

award o f d am ag es b as ed u p o n th e ev i d en ce an d t es t i m o n y o f t h e A p p el l ees

. Co n t rary

t o t h e Ci t y ’ s arg u m en t t h at n ei t h er Ap p el l ee pro v i d ed a b as i s fo r t h e ju ry t o d et erm i n e

l o s t w ag es , Ap p el lee Ri n t o u l tes t i fi ed th at s h e earn ed $ 1 6 p er h o u r wh i l e wo rk i n g as

t h e Ci t y Cl erk

. Ap p el l ee Ri n t o u l fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at sh e was ab l e t o fi n d s h o rt -t erm

em pl o y m en t fo r ap pro xi m at el y a y ear an d a h al f, b u t m o v ed t o W as h i n gt o n b ecau s e

h er h u sb an d accep t ed a jo b t h ere. Ap p el l ee Ri n t o u l l at er m o v ed b ack t o Geo rg i a, b ut

was u nab l e t o fi n d w ork d u e t o h er p en d i n g cas e ag ai n s t t h e Ci t y

.

Ap p el l ee Garn er t es t i fi ed t h at h e earn ed $ 1 7 .3 4 per h o u r at t h e t i m e o f hi s

res i gn at io n , b u t at t he t i m e of t ri al was o n l y earn in g $ 10 p er h o u r. Th e ju ry award ed

Ap p el l ee Ri n t o u l $ 2 18 ,0 0 0 i n l o s t wag es an d ben efi t s o f em p lo y m en t

, an d award ed

Ap p el l ee Garn er $ 1 7 5 ,0 0 0 in l o s t wag es an d b en efi t s o f em p l o y m en t

. Th e ju ry b as ed

i t s award d et erm i n at io n o n t es t i m o n y fro m t h e Ap p el l ees an d was t herefo re n o t a

p ro d uct o f b i as , p reju d i ce, o r g ro ss m i s t ak e.

2 3 See OCGA § 45 -1 -4 (e) (2 ) (B)-(E).

18Th e Ci t y al s o co n t en d s t h a t t h e co m p en s at o ry d am ag es were ex ces si v e. Th e

ju ry award ed Ap p el l ee Ri n t o u l t h e s u m o f $ 3 00 ,0 0 0 i n co m pen s at o ry d am ag es an d

award ed Ap p el l ee Garn er t h e s u m o f $ 3 7 2 ,6 0 0 i n co m

p en s at o ry d am ag es

.

W e hav e p rev i ou s l y h el d t h at a ju ry ’ s award o f co m p en sat o ry d am ag es wi l l b e

u p h el d “ [a]b s e n t an award so ex ces s i v e o r i n ad eq u at e as to s h o ck t h e ju d i ci al

co n sci en ce an d rai s e an irre s i s t i b l e in feren ce t h at p as s i o n , p reju d i ce, o r an o t h er

i m p ro p er cau s e i n vad ed t h e t ri al .” 2 4 Th e ju ry h eard t h e ev id en ce, o bs erv ed t h e

wi t n es s es an d d et erm i n ed t h e cred i b i l i t y , ve raci t y an d d em ean o r o f b o th th e wi t n es s es

an d t h e ev i d en ce an d m ad e i ts d et erm i n at i o n o f d am ag es t h erefro m

.

Th e Ci t y ap p ro v ed t h e v erd i ct fo rm p ri o r to th e ju ry recei v i ng i t an d in s p ect ed

t h e v erd i ct wi t h o u t o b

j ect io n aft er i t w as pu b l i s h ed

. 2 5 Bas ed o n t h e Ci t y ’ s ap p ro v al

o f t h e v erd i ct fo rm , i t l eft t h e d et erm i n at i o n o f d am ag es u p t o t h e ju ry

. M o reo v er,

d u ri n g t h e ch arg e co n feren ce, t h e Ci t y o n ly req u es t ed ad d it i on al v erb i ag e i n t h e

v erd i ct fo rm t o b et t er d efi ne t h e cau s al co n n ect i o n b et w een t h e v erd ict in terro g at o ri es

2 4 Cen t r a l o

f G a

. R

. Co

. v. Ca rt er , 2 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 52 8

, 5 3 0 (3 ) (4 4 2 SE2 d 2 6 9 ) (1 9 9 4) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 5 See Tu cker

v. Lo ve , 2 0 0 Ga. Ap p . 4 08 , 4 10 (3 ) (4 0 8 SE2 d 1 82 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (“ If

ei t h er p art y fel t t h e v erd i ct was v ag u e an d am b i g uo u s , o b

ject i o n s h o u l d h av e b een

m ad e wh en t h e v erd i ct was ret u rn ed s o t h at t h e ju ry co u l d cl ari fy i t s m ean i n g .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

19an d t he st at u t e. If th e Ci t y d es i red an ex p l an at io n o f t h e b as i s fo r t h e d am ag e award

,

i t h ad o p po rt u n i t y t o o b

ject t o t h e v erd ict fo rm , wh ich al lo wed t h e j u ry fu l l co n tro l

t o s et t h e d am ag e award

, an d c h a n g e o r refo rm t h e verd i ct fo rm pri o r t o ju ry

d e l i b erat io n

. 2 6 M o reo v er, t h e Ci t y d i d n o t req u es t a ju d g m en t n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t h e

v erd i ct at t h e p ub l i cat i on o f t h e v erd i ct

, n o r d i d th e Ci t y fi l e a m o t io n fo r new t ri al

. 2 7

Ul t i m at el y , th e j ury wei g h ed t h e t es t i m o n y an d ev i den c e a s pres en t ed an d m ad e

fact ual det erm in at i o n s i n o rd er t o award d am ag es t o t h e Ap p el lees b as ed u p o n t h o s e

fact s. T h u s , t h e C i ty ’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e j u ry ’ s d am ag es award was b as ed o n m ere

s p ecu l at i o n an d g ro s s l y

ex ces s iv e i s wi t h o ut m eri t

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Ri ckma n , J., co n cu r

.

2 6 See S o u t h er n Cr a t e & Ven eer v. McDo wel l

, 1 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 3

, 1 55 (3 ) (2 9 3

SE2 d 5 41 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (ex p l ai ni n g th at t h e ju ry was au th o ri zed to p l ace i t s o wn v al u e o n d am ag es wh ere n o ap p o rt i o n m en t as t o t h e d am ag es so u g h t was req u es t ed

, a n d t h e l u m p s u m v erd i ct fo rm

was n o t o b

ject ed t o wh en i t was ret u rn ed ).

2 7 S o ut hea s t er n S

ec. In s. v. Ho t l e , 2 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 1 (1 ) (4 7 3 SE2 d 2 5 6 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (“ Th e ap p el l at e co u rt m u s t co n s t r u e t h e ev id en ce wi t h ev ery i n feren ce an d

p res u m p t i o n in fav o r of u p h o ld i n g t h e v erd i ct

, an d aft er ju dg m en t

, t h e ev i d en ce m u s t
b e co n s t ru ed t o up h o l d t h e v erd i ct ev en wh ere t h e ev i d en ce i s i n co n fl ict

. As l o n g as

t h ere i s s om e ev id en ce t o s up p o rt t h e v erd i ct

, t h e d en i al of d efen d an t ’ s [m ot i o n ] fo r [d i rect ed v erd i ct ,] n ew t ri al an d j.n .o .v

. wi l l n ot b e d i st u rb ed

. ”) (ci t at io n s an d

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

20