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.

https ://w w w

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

A pr i l 5, 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 11 4

. M ASSEY v

. STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY

COM PANY.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

Pl ai n t i ff An g el M as s ey ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t in g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o d e f

e n d a n t S t at e Farm Fi re an d Cas ual t y Co m p an y o n h er cl ai m s fo r

b reach of co n t ract an d rel at ed cau s es o f act i on p rem i s ed o n al leg ed v i o l at io n s o f h er

h o m eo wn er’ s i n s u ran ce p o li cy wi t h St at e Farm

. On ap p eal

, M as s ey ch al l en g es o n l y

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g s as t o h er b reach -o f-co n tra c t c la i m s

. Becau s e M as s ey h as fai l ed

t o es t ab l i s h r e v e r s i bl e erro r o n t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g s t h at h er b reach -o f-co n t ract

cl ai m s are ti m e-b arred

, i n p art

, b y t h e term s o f t h e p o li cy an d o t h erwi s e u n s u p p o rt ed

b y reco rd ev i d en ce, we affi rm

.Vi ewed i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o M as sey

, th e n o nm o vi ng p art y , s ee Ci t y

o f S t

. Ma r ys v. Reed

, 3 46 G a. Ap p

. 5 0 8

, 5 0 8 -5 09 (8 1 6 SE2 d 4 7 1 ) (2 0 1 8 ), t h e reco rd

s h o ws t hat

, o n M arch 2 7

, 2 0 1 6

, a wat er l i n e co n n ect ed t o M as s ey ’ s refri g erat o r fai l ed

,

fl oo d i n g h er h o m e an d d am ag i ng t h e h o m e’ s st ru ct u re an d Mas s ey ’ s p ers o n al

p ro p ert y

. At t h e ti m e, h er h o m e was co v ered by a St at e Farm ho m eo wn er’ s i n s u ran ce

p o l i cy (t h e “ Po l i cy ”), p u rs u an t t o wh i ch sh e m ad e a cl ai m fo r t h e w at er dam ag e. On

t h e d ay o f t h e in ci d en t

, Mas s ey rep o rt ed t h e d am ag e t o S t at e Farm

, an d d efen d an t

Co rn d awg s

, In c. d /b / a Serv Pro of Cl ay t o n Co u n t y (wh i ch i s n o t a part y t o t h is ap p eal )

b eg an p ro v i di ng h o m e res t o rat i o n s erv ices

, wh ich co n t i n u ed fo r s ev eral d ay s

. 1

Sev eral w eek s l at er, M as s ey d i s co v ered m o ld in h er h o m e an d rep o rt ed t h e d i s co v ery

t o St at e Farm

. St at e Farm t h ereaft e r p ai d a t h ird p art y t o p erfo rm rep ai rs an d m o ld

rem ed iat i o n on M as s ey ’ s h o m e. Bet ween th e d at e of t h e in ci d en t an d Decem b er 2 0 1 6,

St at e Farm p ai d a t o tal o f m o re t h an $ 1 9 5 ,0 0 0 to M as s ey o r o n h er b eh al f u n d er t h e

Po l i cy i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t h e wat er d am ag e.

1 Serv Pro i s a m em

b er o f St at e Farm ’ s “ preferred s erv i ce p ro g ram ,” p u rs u an t

t o w h i ch St at e Farm p ro v i d es referral s fo r co nt ract o rs t o h o m eo wn ers m ak i ng cl ai m s

u n d er St at e Farm p o l i ci es

. As s u ch

, i t a p p e a r s t h at Serv Pro p erfo rm ed st ru ct u ral

m i t i gat io n s erv i ces o n M as sey ’ s h o m e p u rs u an t t o a referral fro m St at e Farm

.

2In M arch 2 0 1 7

, M as s ey s u ed St at e Farm an d Serv Pro fo r b reach of co n t ract an d

n eg li g en ce (t h e “ Fi rs t Laws u i t ”). Sh e v o l u nt a r i l y d i s m i s s ed t h at laws u i t wi t h o ut

p reju d i ce i n M ay 2 0 1 8

. M a s s e y t h ereaft er fi led t h e cu rren t act io n fo r b reach o f

c o n t ract an d n eg l i g en ce ag ai n s t St at e Farm an d Serv Pro i n No v em b er 2 0 1 8 (t h e

“ Cu rren t Laws u i t ”). Sh e am en d ed h er co m p l ai n t i n Sep t em

b er 20 2 0 t o ad d cl ai m s fo r

frau d an d m i s rep res e n t a t i o n

. Th e tri al co u rt g ran ted su m m ary ju d g m en t t o Serv Pro

i n J an u ary

2 0 2 1 ; t h at ru l i ng i s n o t at i s s u e i n t h i s ap p eal

.

Fo l l owi n g d i s co v ery

, St at e Farm m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n al l cl ai m s

ag ai n s t i t

. Am o n g o t her arg u m en t s, St at e Farm co n ten d ed t h at M as s ey ’ s b reach -o fco n tract cl ai m s

, i n part

, i m p ro p erl y s eek t o reco ver fo r Serv Pro ’ s al l eg ed n eg l i g en ce

an d o t herwi se are t i m e-b arred b y a o n e-y ear s u i t -l i m i t at i o n p ro v is i on i n t h e Po l i cy

.

Th e t r i a l co u rt g ran t ed St at e Farm ’ s m o t io n

, co n cl u di n g

, as rel ev an t t o t h i s ap p eal

,

t h at : (i ) b ecau s e an y d u t y o wed b y St a t e Farm t o M as s ey ari s es o u t o f t h e Po l i cy

,

M as s ey ’ s ex cl u s i v e rem ed y i s a b reach -o f-co n t ract cl ai m , an d h er n eg l ig en ce cl ai m

t h u s is b arred ; (i i ) an y cl ai m s fo r b reach o f co n t ract p rem i s ed o n act io n s by Serv Pro

fai l b ecau s e th ey s o u nd i n n eg l i g en ce; (i i i ) M as s ey ’ s cl ai m s t h at St at e Farm b reach ed

o n e o r m o re Po l i cy p ro v i s i o n s

, as s ert ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e i n t h e Cu rren t Laws u i t

, are

b arred b y t h e Po l i cy ’ s on e-y ear s u i t

- l i m i tat i o n pro v i si o n ; an d (i v ) h er frau d an d

3m i s rep res en t at i o n cl ai m s are b arred b y t h e ap p l i cab l e s tat u te o f li m i t a t i o n

. Th i s

ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

W e rev i ew d e no v o a gran t o r d en i al o f s u m m ary ju d g m e n t

, vi ewi n g t h e

ev i d e n c e a n d al l reas o n ab l e co n cl u s i o ns an d in feren ces d rawn fro m i t i n t h e l i g ht

m o st fav o rab l e to t h e n o n m o v an t

. Ci t y of S t

. M

a r y s

, 3 4 6 G a. Ap p

. at 5 0 8 -5 0 9.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s pro per wh en t h ere is n o gen u i ne is s u e of m at eri al fact an d t h e

m o van t i s en t it l ed t o j u d gm en t as a m at t er o f l aw. Id

. at 5 0 8 ; s ee OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

“ [T] h e b u rd en o n t h e m o v i n g p art y m ay b e d is ch arg ed b y p o i n t i ng o u t b y

referen ce

t o t h e affi d av i t s

, d ep o s i t i o n s an d o t h er d ocu m en t s i n t h e reco rd t h at th ere i s a n

ab s en ce o f ev i den ce t o s up p o rt t h e n o n m o vi n g part y ’ s cas e.” El l i s o n v. Bu r ger Ki n g

Co r p

. , 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1 4

, 8 1 9 (3 ) (a) (6 7 0 SE2 d 4 6 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c). If t h e m o v an t m eet s t h i s bu rd en

, t h e n o n m o v an t

“ can n o t res t o n [h er] pl ead i ng s

, b u t rat h er m u s t p oi n t t o s p eci fi c ev i d en ce gi v i n g ri s e

t o a tri ab l e i s s u e.” El l i s o n

, 2 9 4 G a. Ap p

. at 8 1 9 (3 ) (a) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); s ee OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (e).

M as sey co n t en d s t h at t h e t r i al co urt erred wh en i t ru l ed t hat h er b reach -o fco n tract cl ai m s are t i m e-b arred b y t h e Po l i cy ’ s o n e-y ear s u it -l i m i t at i o n p ro vi s i o n

. W e

d i s ag ree.

4It is u n d i s p u t ed t hat t h e Po l i cy req u i res an y act i o n ag ai n s t St at e Far m t o b e

b ro u gh t w i t h i n on e y ear aft er t h e d at e o f t h e l o s s o r d am ag e. 2 An i n s u red ’ s

co m p l ian ce wi t h an i n s u ran ce p o l i cy s u i t -l im i t at io n p eri o d i s a co n d i t i o n p reced en t

t o t h e i n s u red ’ s reco v ery i n a l aws u i t

. See Beck v. S t a t e Fa r m Mu t

. In s

. Co

. , 1 4 6 Ga.

Ap p . 8 7 8 , 8 7 8 -8 7 9 (2 47 SE2 d 5 4 8 ) (1 9 7 8 ).

M as sey fi led t he Fi rs t L aws ui t o n M arch 2 7

, 2 0 17

, ex act l y o ne y ear aft er t h e

wat er d am ag e in ci d en t o c c u r r e d. W ith r e s pe c t to he r b r e a c h-o f-co n t ract cl ai m s ag ai n s t

St at e Farm

, M as s ey ’ s co m p l ai nt at t h at t i m e p ro v i d ed , i n rel ev an t p art :

CONTRACT: BREACH

20

.

Pl a i nti ff Ang el Ma s s ey h ad a p o l i cy co n t ract w i t h Defen dan t St at e

Farm t h at i n s u red her Fay et t ev i l l e Ro ad res i d en ce fo r l o s s es

, d am ag e

an d p ers o n al i n

ju ri es ari si n g o ut o f t h e b ro k en refri g erat o r wat er l in e.

2 M ass ey d o es n o t ch al l en g e t h e v al i d i t y o f t he o n e-y ear d ead l i n e. See g en eral l y

Th o r nt o n v. Ga

. Fa r m Bu r ea u Mu t

. In s

. Co

. , 2 8 7 Ga. 37 9

, 3 8 0

- 3 8 1 (1 ) (6 9 5 SE2 d

6 4 2 ) (2 0 10 ) (Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e en fo rc e d o n e-y ear s u it l i m i t at io n s i n i n s u ran ce

p o l i ci es ).

5STATE FARM

21

.

Defen d an t had a d u ty o f f a i r d e a l i ng s an d a fi d u ci ary d u t y t o p ro t ect

Pl a i nti ff A ng el Ma s s ey ’ s p ro p ert y an d h eal t h

. De f e n d an t St at e Farm

b reach ed t h at d u t y wh en i t p u rp o sefu l l y l i m i t ed t he s c o p e an d wat er

res t o rat i o n effo rt s [s i c] o f Defen d an t SERVPRO.

22

.

Defen d an t St at e Farm ’ s fai l u re an d b reach cau sed Pl a i nti ff Ang el

Ma s s ey ’ s real an d p ers o n al p ro p ert y l o s ses an d d am ag es

.

In a p o rt i o n o f t h e co m

p l ai n t u n d er t he h ead i n g “ SERV PRO

, ” M as sey al s o al l eg ed

t h at St at e Farm “ b reach ed i t s co n t ract wi t h [h er] b y l i m i t i n g t h e ex t en t of [Serv Pro ’ s ]

s erv i ces

. ”

No t ab l y

, i n h er b reach -o f-co n t ract cl ai m s in th e Fi rs t Laws u i t

, Mas s ey d i d n ot

i d en t i fy an y Po l i cy p ro v is i o n s al l e g e d t o h av e b een b reach ed b y St at e Farm

. Sh e

rat h er al l eg ed o n l y

t h at St at e Farm : (i ) g en eral l y b r e a ch ed i t s “ d u t y o f fai r d eal i ng s

an d a fi du c i a ry du t y t o p ro t ect [h er] p ro p ert y an d h eal th ”; an d (i i ) b reach ed

u n i d en t i fi ed p ro v i s i on s of an u n i d en t i fi ed co n t ract “ b y l i m i t i n g t h e ex t en t o f

[Serv Pro ] ’ s s erv i ces .”

6In t h e breach -o f-co nt ract cl ai m s i n h er i n i ti al co m p l ai nt i n t h e Cu rren t Laws u i t

— fi l ed o n No v em

b er 1

, 2 0 1 8

— M as s ey ag ai n al l eg ed th at St at e Farm : (i ) b reach ed

i t s “ du t y o f fai r d eal in gs an d a f i d u c i a ry d u t y t o p ro t ect [h er] pro p ert y an d h eal t h ”

wh en i t “ p u rp o sefu l l y l i m it ed t h e s co p e an d wat er res t o rat i o n e f f o r t s [ s i c] ” o f

S e r v Pro ; an d (i i ) b reach ed u n i d en ti fi ed p ro v i s i o n s o f an u n i d en t i fi ed co n t ract “ b y

l i m i ti n g t h e ex t en t o f [Serv Pro ] ’ s s erv ices .” Sh e fu rt h er al l eg ed t h at St at e

Farm “ b reach ed ” a s i m i l arl y u n i d en t ifi ed “ co n t ract [] fo r s erv i ce co n cern i n g t h e wat er

d am ag e an d t he p rev en ti on o f p at h o g en s co n t am in at i n g [h er] h o m e.” Fi n al l y

, M as s ey

al l eg ed t h at St at e Farm b reach ed u n i d en t i fi ed p ro v i s i o n s o f t h e Po l icy b y fai l i n g to

p ay v ari o u s s u m s fo r l o s s es ari s i n g o u t o f t h e wat er d am ag e.

M as sey ’ s cl ai m t h at St at e Farm b r e a c h e d o n e o r m o re Po l i cy p ro v i s i o n s by

fai l i n g to m ak e v ari o u s p ay m en t s fo r co v ered l o s s es was u n t i m el y rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t

t i m e in t h e Cu rren t Laws u it

, wh i ch was fi l ed m ore t han t w o y ears aft er t h e M ay 2 0 1 6

wat er d am ag e i n ci d en t

. An d to t h e ex t en t t h at t h e Cu rren t Laws u i t arg u ab l y m ay b e

d eem ed a ren ewal act i o n

, s ee OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 (a), t h e p ro vi si o n s of t h at s tat u t e d o n ot

s av e t h i s cl ai m , fo r t h e reas on s t h at fo l l o w

.

Un d er t h e ren ewal s tat u t e, wh ere a t i m el y fi l ed ci v i l cas e i s d i s c o n t i n u e d o r

d i s m i s s ed fo r cert ai n reas o n s

, t h e p l ai n t i ff m ay re-fi l e t h e cas e wi t h i n s i x m o n t h s o f

7t h e d i s co n t i n u an ce or d i s m is s al

. See OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 (a). “ [A] p ro perl y fi led ren ewal

act i on s t an d s o n t h e s am e fo o t i n g as t h e o ri g in al act i o n wi th res p ect t o s t at u t es o f

l i m i tat i on

. Acco rd i n g l y

, i f a ren ewal act i o n i s p ro p erl y fi l ed wi t h in s i x m o n t h s aft er

d i s m i s s al o f t h e o ri g i nal act io n, i t rem ai n s v i ab l e ev en t ho u g h t he s tat u t e o f l i m i t at i o n

m ay h av e ex pi red .” 3 B l i e r v. Gr een e

, 2 63 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5

, 36 (1 ) (a) (5 8 7 SE2 d 1 9 0 )

(2 0 0 3) (ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

“ To s u s p en d t h e ru n n i n g o f t h e s t at u t e o f l im i t at io n i n a ren ewal act i o n

, t h e

cau s e o f act i o n m

u s t b e s u b s t an t i al l y t h e s am e as i n t h e o ri g i n al act i on

. A d efen d an t ’ s

l i ab i l i t y can n o t b e en l arg ed b ey o n d t h at i nd i cat ed b y t h e p l ead i ng s i n t h e fi rs t cas e.”

Bl i er

, 2 63 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 8 ( 1 ) ( a ) ( c i t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). A p l ai n t i ff

t h erefo re m ay

n o t am en d a co m

p lai n t “ t o at t em

p t t o ad d o t h erwi s e b arred cl ai m s to

ren ewal act i on s, wh en s u ch cl ai m s are n o t s ub s tan t i al l y t h e s am e as t h e cl ai m s i n t h e

o ri g i nal act i o n .” Id

. (ci tat i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ); acco rd W a r d v. Do d

s o n

, 2 5 6

Ga. A p p. 6 6 0

, 6 61 (5 6 9 SE2 d 5 5 4 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (“ If t he s tat u t e o f l i m i t at i o n h as n o t ru n,

t h e p l ai n ti ff m ay ad d new p art i es an d new cl ai m s t o t he refi l ed act i o n ; h o wev er, i f t h e

3 F o r pu rp o s es o f ad d res s i n g t he p ro p ri et y o f ren ewal act i o n s

, an i n s u ran ce

p o l i cy ’ s co n t ract u al l im i tat i o n p eri od s t an d s i n th e sam e fo o t i n g as a s t a t u t e o f

l i m i tat i on

. See g en eral l y

, e.g

., Au t o -Own er s In s

. Co

. v. Ha l e Ha ven Pr o p er t i es

, 3 4 6

Ga. Ap p . 3 9 , 4 8 (1 ) (b ) (8 1 5 SE2 d 5 7 4 ) (2 01 8 ).

8s t at u te o f l i m i t at i o n h as ex p ired

, t h e p l ai n t i ff i s li m i t ed t o s u i n g t he s am e d efen d an t s

u n d er t h e s am e t h eo ri es o f reco v ery .”).

Here, M as s ey ’ s co m

p l ai n t i n t h e Fi rs t Laws u i t al l eg ed nei t h er t h at St at e Farm

b reach ed an y Po l i cy pro vi s io n s n o r t h at St at e Farm fai l ed t o m ak e an y p ay m en t s fo r

co v ered l o s s es

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, h er cl ai m s t o t hat effect i n t h e Cu rren t Laws u i t

, fi l ed

m o re t h an o n e y e a r a f

t e r t h e wat er d am ag e i n ci d en t o ccu rred

, are b arred b y t h e

Po l i cy ’ s o n e-y ear s ui t -l i m i t at i o n p ro v i s i o n

. See Bl i er

, 2 63 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 8 (1 ) (a);

W a r d

, 2 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 6 1; Beck

, 1 46 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 7 8 -8 7 9. M o reo v er, t o th e ex t en t

t h at M as s ey ’ s breach -of

- c o ntr a c t c la im s m a y be read t o en co m p as s h er co n t en t i o n t h at

St at e Farm b reach ed a “ fi d u c i a r y d u t y ” o wed to h er, sh e d oes n ot ch al l en g e i n h er

ap p el l at e b ri ef t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at St at e Farm o wed n o fi d u ci ary d u ty t o h er,

an d s h e t h erefo re has a b a n d o n e d an y cl ai m s h e m ay h av e h ad i n t h at reg ard

. See

Ka r l sb er g v. Ho o ver

, 1 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 0

, 5 9 4 (2 3 6 SE2 d 5 2 0 ) (1 97 7 ) (“ [A] n ap p el l an t

i s req u i red i n i t s i ni t i al b ri ef t o fi l e an arg u m en t wh i ch s u p p ort s an y en u m erat i o n s o f

erro r i t do es n o t wi s h t o wai v e.”); s ee al so G r es h a m v. Ha r r is

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 4

, 1 3 8

(1 ), n

. 10 (8 2 5 SE2 d 5 1 6 ) (2 0 1 9) (co n cl ud i n g t h at t h e ap p el l an t wai v ed an y cl ai m t h at

9t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n m ak i ng a cert ai n fi n d i ng “ b y fai l i n g t o en u m erat e i t as an erro r

an d p ro v i d e an y

s u p p o rt i n g arg u m en t ” o n ap p eal ). 4

In ad d i t i o n

, Mas s ey al s o d o es n o t c h al l en g e i n h er ap p el l at e b ri ef t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s co n cl u si o ns t h at (a) n o reco rd ev i d en ce s u p p o rt s h er cl ai m (as s ert ed i n b o th

t h e Fi rs t an d Cu rren t Laws u i ts ) t h at St at e Farm b reach ed u n i d en ti fi ed p ro v i s i o n s o f

an un i d en t i fi ed co n tract “ b y l i m i t i ng t h e ex ten t o f [Serv Pro ] ’ s s erv i ces ,” an d (b ) to

t h e co n t rary

, t h e ev i d en ce i s u n di s p u t ed th at M as s ey h i red Serv Pro as an

“ i n dep en d en t s erv i ce p ro v id er,” as a res u l t o f w h i c h St at e Farm i s n o t l i ab l e fo r

Serv Pro ’ s c o n d u c t

. Sh e t h erefo re al s o h as ab an d on ed an y ch al l en g es s h e m ay h av e

h ad t o t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l in gs i n t h at reg ard

. See Gr es h a m

, 3 49 Ga. Ap p. at 1 3 8 (1 ),

n . 1 0; Ka r l

s ber g , 1 4 2 Ga. Ap p . at 5 9 4

.

Co n seq u en t l y

, M as s ey h as n o t m et h er bu rd en o f s h o wi n g t h at th e tri al co u rt

erred wh en i t (a) co n cl u d ed t h at h er b reach -o f-co n tract clai m s are t i m e-b arred

, i n p art

,

an d o t h erwi s e un s up p o rt ed b y reco rd ev i d en ce an d (b ) g ran t ed su m m ary ju d g m en t to

4 Al t h o u gh t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ex p res s l y ad d res s Mas s ey ’ s cl ai m t h at St at e

Farm b reach ed i t s “ d u t y o f fai r d eal in g s,” t h e co urt i m p li ci t l y r e j e c t ed t h at cl ai m

wh en i t g ran t ed St at e Farm ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t in fu l l

. M as s ey s i m i larl y

h as ab an d o n ed an y cl ai m s h e m ay h av e h ad i n t h i s reg ard b y fai l i n g t o el ab o rat e an y

s u ch arg u m en t i n her ap p el l at e b ri ef. See G r es h am

, 3 4 9 Ga. A p p

. at 1 3 8 (1 ), n

. 1 0;

Ka r l sb er g , 1 4 2 Ga. Ap p . at 5 9 4.

10St at e Farm o n th os e g ro u n d s. As a res u l t

, we need n o t ad d res s an y o f M as s ey ’ s

ad d it i o n al en u m erat i on s o f erro r, each of w h i ch co ncern t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s al t ern at i v e

b as es fo r g ran t i n g s um m ary j u d g m en t t o St at e Farm on h er b r e a ch -o f-co n t ract

cl ai m s

. 5 See, e.g

., N4

D, LLC v. Pa s s mo r e

, 3 2 9 Ga. A p p

. 5 6 5, 5 6 8 (3 ) (7 65 SE2 d 7 1 7 )

( 2 014) ( de c l i n i n g t o ad d res s ap p el l an t ’ s rem ai n i n g arg u m en ts wh en g ran t o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t was affi rm ed o n o n e o f m u lt i p l e al tern at i v e g ro u n d s ); B ul l i n g to n v. Fa yet t e

Co u n t y S ch o o l Di s t

. , 2 4 6 G a. Ap p

. 4 6 3

, 4 67 (2 ) (5 40 SE2 d 6 6 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (d ecl i n i n g to

ad d res s a n al t ern at i v e arg u m en t as t o t h e p ro pri et y o f a s u m m ary -ju d g m en t ru l i n g

b ecau s e “ [a] ju d g m en t ri g h t fo r an y reas o n wi l l b e affi rm ed ”). 6

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

5 Th e t ri al co u rt co ncl u d ed t h at M as sey ’ s b reac h- of

- c ontr a c t c la im s w ere b arred

o n t h ree g ro u n d s i n ad d i t i o n t o t h e Po l i cy ’ s s u i t

- l i m i t at i o n p ro v i s i o n : (i ) M as s ey ’ s

fai l u r e t o p ro v i d e St at e Farm wi t h an i n v en t o ry o f l os t o r dam ag ed p ro pert y

, as

req u i red b y t h e Po l i cy ; (i i ) a Po l icy p ro v i s i o n b ar r i n g c o v erag e fo r n eg l i g en t

wo rk m an s h i p ; an d (i i i ) St at e Farm ’ s s at i s fact i o n o f i t s o bl i g at i o ns t o M as s ey u n d er

t h e Po li cy . W e ex p res s n o o p i n i o n o n t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ru li n g s o n t h es e i s s u es

.

6 M as s ey h as ab an d o ned

— b y o n ce ag ai n fai l i n g t o el ab o rat e an y arg um en t in

s u p p o r t of

— an y cl ai m s s h e m ay h av e h ad t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran t i n g

s u m m a r y j u d g m en t o n an y o f h er rem ai n i n g cl ai m s, in cl u d i ng h er cl ai m s fo r

n eg li g en ce, frau d

, an d m is rep res en t at i o n

. See Gr es h a m

, 3 4 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 3 8 (1 ),

n . 1 0; Ka r l

s ber g , 1 4 2 Ga. Ap p . at 5 9 4

.

11