FI FTH DI VI SI ON

REESE, P. J.

, M A RKLE and COLVI N, 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.

https ://w w w

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Febr uar y 3, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A2 08 0 . CLEVELAND v . TEAM RTR2 , LLC.

M A R K LE

, J ud g e.

Th i s p rem i s es l i ab il i t y an d n eg l i g en t em p l oy m en t act i o n ari s es fro m t h e s ex u al

as s au l t o f Ni a Cl ev el an d b y a m as s ag e t h erap i s t at a s p a own ed b y Team RTR2

, LLC

d / b / a Zen M as s ag e (“ Zen M as s ag e”). T h e t r i al co urt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t to

Zen M as s ag e, an d Cl ev el an d n o w ap p eal s

, arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fi n d i n g

t h at t h e as s au lt was no t reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e. Cl ev el an d al s o ch a l l en g es t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s g ran t o f su m

m ary j u d gm en t as to h er d eri v at i v e cl ai m s fo r p u n it i v e d am ag es

an d at t o rn ey

fees , as wel l as th e g ran t o f a p ro t ect i v e ord er to Zen M as s ag e. Fo r t h e

reas on s th at fo l l ow, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t as t o t h e prem is es l i ab i l i t y

cl ai m an d t he at t en d an t cl ai m s fo r at t o rn ey fees an d p un i t i v e d am ag es ; we affi rm t h eg ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e n eg li g en t em pl oy m en t cl ai m s; an d we v acat e t h e

p ro t ect i v e o rd er.

To p rev ai l at s u m m a ry ju d g m en t u nd er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6

, t h e m o v i n g

p art y m us t d em o n s trat e t h at t h ere i s no g en ui n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact

an d t h at t h e u n d i s p u ted fact s , v i ewed i n t h e li gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o th e

n o n m o v i n g p art y

, warran t ju d g m en t as a m at ter o f l aw. On ap p eal fro m

t h e g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t th i s Co u rt co n d uct s a de n o v o rev i ew o f

t h e ev i d en ce t o d et erm i n e wh et h er th ere i s a g en u i n e is s u e o f m at eri al

fact an d wh et h er t h e u n d i s p u t ed fact s

, v iewed i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav orab l e

t o t h e n o n m o v in g p art y , warran t ju d gm en t as a m at t er o f l aw.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Li t tl e-Th oma s v. S el ect S p eci a l t y Ho s p .-Au gu s t a, I

n c

. , 3 3 3 Ga.

Ap p . 3 6 2 , 3 6 3 (7 7 3 SE2 d 4 8 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd refl ect s t h a t

, i n J u n e 20 1 5

, Ni a Cl ev el an d wen t fo r a

m as s ag e at Zen Mas s ag e, an d Gary T av ares was as s i g n ed as h er m as s ag e t h erap i s t

. 1

At t h e en d o f t h e s es s i o n

, T av ares o ffered to s h o w Cl ev e l a n d s o m e s t ret ch es

, an d

wh i le d oi n g s o

, h e i ns ert ed h i s fi n g ers i n t o h er vag i n a m u l t i p l e t i m es

. Aft er Cl ev el an d

l eft t he s pa i n a s t at e o f s h o ck

, s h e cal l ed th e p o l i ce, an d t h en rep o rt ed t h e as s au l t to

1 Pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -3 -9 9, th e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n s was t o l l ed wh i l e

Tav ares was awai t in g h i s cri m i n al t ri al

.

2an em

p l o y ee at Zen M as sag e, wh o i n t u rn no t ifi ed o ne of t h e o w n ers

, Mary LaBro i

. 2

Th e fo l l o wi n g d ay , M ary fi red Tav ares

.

Tav ares was ul t i m at el y arres t ed fo r ag grav at ed sex u al b at t e r y bas ed o n

Cl ev el an d ’ s al l eg at i o ns

. Cl ev el a n d f i l ed th i s ci v il act i o n

, as s ert i n g cl ai m s fo r

p rem i s es l i a b i l i t y

, n eg l i g en t em p l o y m en t, p u ni t i v e d am ag es

, an d at t o rn ey fees

p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

. 3

Di s co v ery rev eal ed th at

, i n 2 0 1 1 t h ro ug h 20 1 2

, t h ere were f i v e s ep arat e

i n s t an ces i n wh i ch di fferen t wo m en were s ex u al l y as s au l ted b y an o t h er m al e m as s ag e

t h erap i s t d u ri n g t h ei r s es s i on s at Zen M as s ag e, an d t h e o wn ers were aware o f t h es e

i n ci d en t s

.

Du ri n g t h ei r d ep o s i t i o ns , t wo Zen M as s ag e em p l o y ees t es t i fi ed t h at t h ey h ad

co n c e r n s ab o u t T av ares b ecau se h e wo u ld bo as t ab o u t t he way he t o u ch ed fem al e

cl i en ts

. Nei t h er em

p l o y ee e xpr e ss ed t h ei r co n cern s t o t h e o wn ers

, h o wev er. M ary al s o

co n fi rm ed t h at s h e h ad n ev er recei v ed an y co m p l ai n t s a b o u t T av ares

. M ary fu rt h er

t es t i fi ed t h at Tav ares was an i n d ep en d en t co n t ract o r, an d t h at s h e s creen ed h i m as s h e

2 M ary co -o wn s t h e s p a wi t h h er s o n , St ev en LaBro i

.

3 Cl ev el an d al so as s ert ed cl ai m s fo r vi cari o u s l iab i l i t y an d n u is an ce, b u t d o es

n o t ap peal fro m

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er as t o t h o s e cl ai m s.

3d i d al l ap p l i can ts fo r a m as s ag e t h e r a p i s t p o si t i o n

, en s u ri n g he h ad a s t at e-i s s u ed

l i cen se an d a co un t y p erm i t, b o t h of wh i ch req u i re a b ack g ro u n d ch eck

, an d carri ed

h i s o wn l i ab i li t y

i ns u ran ce.

Zen M as s ag e m o ved fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, arg u in g t h at Cl ev el an d ’ s cl ai m s

were p recl u d ed b ecau s e (1 ) Tav ares w as act i n g bey o n d t h e s co pe o f h is em p lo y m en t

,

an d t h erefo re Z en M as s ag e co u l d n o t b e v i cari o u s l y li ab l e fo r h i s act i o n s ; an d (2 )

Cl ev el an d fai l e d t o s h ow p ro x i m at e cau sat i on b ecau s e Tav ares ’ s act io n s were n ot

reas on ab l y fo res eeab l e t o Zen M as s ag e. Th e t ri al co u r t g ran t ed s um m ary ju d g m en t

t o Z en M as s ag e, fi n d i n g

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

, t h at t he p rem i s es l i ab i l i t y an d

n eg li g en t em

p l o y m en t cl ai m s f

a i l ed b ecau se Tav ares ’ s cri m in al act s were n ot

reas on ab l y fo res eeab l e, an d t hu s t h ere w a s n o p ro x i m at e cau sat i o n l i n k i n g Zen

M as s ag e t o Cl ev el an d ’ s i nju ry . Th is ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Cl e v e l a n d f

i rs t arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred by g ran ti n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Zen M as s ag e o n i t s p rem i s es l i ab i l i t y cl ai m b ecau s e a s ex u al as s au l t o f

a sp a cu s t om er b y a m as s ag e t h erap i s t w as reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e. G i v en t h e

ev i d en ce b efo re t he t ri al co u rt , we m u s t ag ree.

In Geo rg i a, a p ro p ri et o r o wes i t s i n v i t ees a d u t y “ t o ex erci s e o rd i n ary

care i n

k eep in g t h e p rem i s es an d ap p ro ach es s afe.” O CGA 5 1 -3 -1

. Al t h o u gh a p ro p ri et o r i s

4n o t ch arg ed wi t h i n s u ri n g i ts cu s t o m ers ’ s afet y

, i t “ i s b o u n d t o ex erci se o rd i n ary care

t o pro t ect i t s in v i t ees fro m un reas o n ab l e ri s ks o f wh i ch i t h as s u p eri o r k n o w l ed g e.”

Fa i r v. CV Un der

gr o un d , LLC

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p . 7 9 0 , 7 9 2 (1 ) (7 98 SE2 d 3 5 8) (2 0 1 7 ).

Ty p i cal ly , a p ro pri et o r i s i n s u lat ed fro m l i ab i li t y fo r t h i rd -p art y

cri m i n al act s

u n l e s s t h e act was reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e. Fa i r

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 9 2 (1 ); s ee al s o

Da ys In n s of Amer i ca

, In c. v. Ma t t

, 2 6 5 Ga. 2 3 5 (4 54 SE2 d 50 7 ) (1 99 5 ) (“ Si m p l y p u t

,

wi t h o u t fo res e eab i l i ty t h at a cri m i n al act wi l l o ccu r, n o d u t y o n t h e part o f t h e

p r o p ri et o r t o ex erci s e o rd i n ary care to p rev en t t h at act ari s es .”). A s ou r Su p rem e

Co u rt h as ex p l ai n ed

,

i f t h e p ro p ri et o r h as reas o n t o an t i ci p at e a cri m i nal act

, h e o r s he t h en

h as a d u t y t o ex erci s e o rd i n ary care to g u ard ag ai n s t i n ju ry fro m

d an g ero u s ch aract ers

. Acco rd i n g l y

, th e in ci d en t cau s in g t h e i n j u ry m u s t

b e s u b s tan t i al l y s i m i l ar i n t y p e to t h e p rev i o u s cri m i n al act i v i t i es

o ccu rri n g o n o r n ear t he p rem i s es so t h at a reas o n ab l e p ers o n w o u l d tak e

o rd i nary p re c a u t i o n s t o p ro t ect h i s or h er cu s t o m ers o r t en an ts ag ai n s t

t h e ri s k po s ed b y th at t y

pe o f act iv i t y

. In d et erm i ni n g w h et h er p rev i o u s

cri m i n al act s a r e s u b s t an t i al l y s i m i lar t o t h e o ccu rren ce cau si n g h arm

,

t h ereb y es t ab l i sh i ng t h e f

ores eeab i l i ty o f ri s k

, t h e co u rt m u s t i n q u i re i n t o

t h e l o cat i o n , n at u re an d ex t en t o f t h e p ri o r cri m i n al act i v i ti es an d t h ei r

l i ken es s

, pro xi m i t y o r o t h er rel at i o n s h i p t o t h e cri m e i n q u es t i o n

. W h i l e

t h e p ri o r cri m i n al act i v i t y m u s t b e s u b s t an t i al ly s i m i l ar t o t h e p art i cu l ar

cri m e i n q u es t i o n

, t hat d o es n o t m ean i d en t i cal

. W h at i s req u i red i s t hat

5t h e p ri o r i n ci d en t b e s u ffi ci en t t o a t t ract t he [p ro p ri et o r’ s ] at t en ti o n t o

t h e d an g ero us co n d i t io n w h i ch res u l t ed i n t h e l i t i g at ed i n ci d en t

. Fu rt h er,

t h e q u es ti on o f reas o n ab le fo res eeab i l i t y o f a cri m i n al at t ack is g en eral l y

fo r a j u ry ’ s d et erm i n at i o n rat h er t h an s u m m ary ad ju d i cat i o n by th e

co u rt s

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) S t u r b r id g e P a r t n er

s

, Lt d

. v. W a l ker

, 2 6 7 Ga.

7 8 5

, 7 8 6 (4 8 2 SE2 d 3 3 9) (1 99 7 ). In s u m

, Cl ev el an d m us t s h o w t h at T av ares ’ s as s au l t

o n h er w as s u b s tan t i al ly s i m il ar t o t h e p ri o r cri m i n al act s, t h u s es t ab l i s h i n g i t s

fo res eeab i l i t y ; an d t h at t h e o w n ers h ad s up eri o r k n o wl ed g e o f t h e r i s k o f h arm s h e

en co un t ered

.

(a) Fo res eeab i l i ty

Here, t h e reco rd rev eal s th at

, wi t h i n t h e p rev i o u s fo u r y ears

, t h ere h ad b een fi v e

i n ci d en t s i n v ol v i n g a s ex u al as s au l t o r i n ap p ro p ri at e t o u ch i n g b y a m al e m as s ag e

t h erap i s t ag ai n s t a fem al e cl i en t d u ri n g s es si o n s at Zen M as s ag e. On e o f t h e v i ct i m s

al l eg ed t h at t h e t h erap i s t p en et rat ed h er v ag i n a wi th h i s fi n g ers

– ex act l y t h e s am e act

at i s s u e h ere. Ev en t h o ug h t h ey d i d no t i n v o l v e Tav ares

, t h es e p ri o r act s were

s u b s t an t i al l y s im i l ar i n l o c at i o n

, nat u re an d ex t en t as th e as sau l t on Cl ev el an d.

S t u r b r i d g e Pa r t n er

s

, Lt d

. , 2 67 Ga. at 7 8 6 ; s ee Li t t le-Th o ma s

, 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 8 (3 )

(fi n di n g fi v e rep o rt s o f s ex u al as s au l t s of fem al e p at i en t s i n t h ei r h o s p i tal ro o m s b y

6d i fferen t m al e em p l o y ees su b s t an t i al l y s i m i l ar t o t h e h arm su ffered b y t h e pl ai n t i ff).

Th erefo re, t h ere i s s u f

f i ci en t ev i d en ce t o s h o w t h at t h e as s au l t o n Cl ev el an d was

reas on ab l y fo res eeab l e. 4 S t u r b r i d g e Pa r t n er

s

, Lt d

. , 2 6 7 Ga. at 7 8 6 (s u b s t an t i al

s i m i l ari t y o f t h e p ri o r act s t o th e p res en t h arm es t ab l i s h es reas o n ab l y fo res eeab i l i t y );

Med

. Cen t er H

o s p

. A u t h

. v. Ca ven d

er

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 9

, 4 7 3 (1 ) (7 7 1 SE2 d 1 5 3 )

(2 0 1 5) (“ Fo res eeab l e co n s eq u en ces are

. . . t h o s e w h i ch

, b e c a u s e t h ey h ap p en s o

freq uen t l y , m ay

b e ex p ect ed t o h ap p en ag ai n .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t ted ).

(b ) S u per i o r kn o wl ed

g e

“ Bu t ev en i f an i n t erv en i n g cri m i n al act m ay hav e b een reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e,

t h e t ru e g ro u n d o f l iab i l i t y i s t he s u peri o r k no wl ed g e o f t h e pro p ri et o r o f t h e ex i s t en ce

o f a co n d i t i o n th at m ay s u bject t h e i n v i t e e t o an u n reas o n ab l e ri s k of h arm .”

(Ci t a t i o n s an d em

p h as i s om i t t ed .) Fa i r

, 3 4 0 G a. Ap p

. at 7 9 2 (1 ); Ca mel o t Cl u b

Co n d o

. A s s n

., In c

. v. Af

a r i-Op o ku

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 8

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

(2 0 1 7). H ere, t h e o w n ers ’ s u p eri o r k n owl ed ge i s i nd i s pu t ab l e. Du ri n g t h ei r

d ep os i t i o n s

, b o t h o wn ers co n fi rm ed t h at t h ey k n ew ab o u t t he s i m i l ar i n ci den t s at t h ei r

4 Cl ev el an d a s sert s ad d i t i o n al gro u n d s t o s h o w reas o n ab l e fo res eeab i l i t y

, i n cl u d i n g t he o wn ers ’ ack n owl ed g m en t o f a h ei gh t en ed ri s k o f s ex ual as s au l t s i n t h e

industr y

, an d t h ei r p urp o rt ed awaren es s o f o t h er em p lo y ees ’ co n cerns a

b o ut T a va r e s’ s

b eh av i o r. In l i g h t o f t h e ab o v e, we n eed n o t co n s i der t h es e g ro u n d s

.

7s p a pri o r t o Cl ev el an d’ s as s au l t

. See Ra u t en ber g v. P o pe

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 3

, 5 0 6 (1 )

(8 3 1 SE2 d 2 0 9) (2 0 1 9 ) (o wn ers ad m i t t ed to k no wl ed g e o f s im i l ar cri m i n a l act s o n

p rem i s es ). M o reo v er, no t h i n g i n t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at Cl ev el an d k n ew o f an y s u ch

ri sk

. See Ca mel o t Cl u b Co nd o. As s n

., In c.

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 2 2 ( 1 ) (a) (i i ) (n o

ev i d en ce t h at p l ai nt i ff k n ew o f an y cri m i nal act i vi t y o n th e p rem i ses ). As s uch

, t h ere

i s am p l e ev i d en ce o f Zen M as s ag e’ s s u p eri o r k n o wl ed g e o f th e ri s k o f h arm

. Th e t ri al

co u rt t h u s erred by g ran ti n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t to Zen M as s ag e o n Cl ev el an d ’ s

p rem i s es l i ab i l i t y

cl ai m , an d we rev ers e. 5

5 Rel y in g o n OCGA § 5 1 -2 -4

, Zen M as s ag e arg ues t h at it can n o t b e h el d l i ab l e

f o r Ta v a res ’ s act s b ecau se h e was an i nd ep en d en t co nt ract o r. Th is arg um en t i s

m i s g u i d ed b ecau s e C l e v e l an d ’ s cl ai m s o n ap p eal are n o t fo u n d ed o n v i cari ou s

l i ab i l i t y

, b u t rat h er o n Zen M as s ag e’ s o wn co nd u ct i n fai l in g t o p ro t ect h er fro m h arm

wh i le on i t s p rem i s es

. Th erefo re, Tav ares ’ s s t at u s as an in d ep en d en t co n t ract o r h as

n o b eari ng o n i t s po t en t i al li ab i l i t y

. See En g l a n d v. Beer s Co n s t r

. Co

. , 2 2 4 Ga. Ap p.

4 4

, 4 7 (2 ) (4 7 9 SE2 d 4 2 0 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (“ OCGA § § 5 1 -2 -4 an d 5 1 -2 -5 l i m it an em p l o y er’ s

v i cari o u s l iab i l i t y o n l y

, an d d o n o t ap p l y t o a cl ai m ari s in g fro m t h e em p l o y er’ s o wn

co n du ct

. ”); s ee al s o Hi ckma n v. Al l en

, 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p. 7 0 1

, 7 0 2 (4 5 8 SE2 d 8 8 3 ) (1 9 9 5 )

(l an d l o rd was s u b

je c t t o l iab i l i t y fo r i n d ep en d en t co n t ract or’ s t o rt s b ecau se OCGA

§ 51 -3 -1 im

p o s es a n o n d el eg ab le d u t y to ex erci s e o rd i nary care t o k eep p rem i s es s afe

fo r i n v i t ees ).

No r are we pers u ad ed by Zen M as s ag e’ s rel i an ce o n Go l d s t ei n

, G a r b e r &

S a l a ma

, LLC v. J. B

. , 30 0 Ga. 8 4 0 (7 9 7 SE2 d 8 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ), an d To m s i c v. Ma r ri o t t In t l

., In c.

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 4 (7 3 9 SE2 d 5 21 ) (2 0 13 ). Go ld s t ei n i s d is t i n g ui s h ab l e fro m t h e

cas e at h an d becau s e it d i d n o t i n v o l ve p rev i ou s s i m i l ar cri m es o n t h e p rem i s es

. An d,

b ecau s e To ms i c is p h y s i cal p reced en t o nl y

, i t is n o t b i n d i n g o n o u r d eci s io n here. See

Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 3 3 .2 (a) (2 ). Ev en s o

, To ms i c i s d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e b ecau s e, in

fi nd i ng t h at t h ere was n o cau s al l i nk b et ween t h e ho t el ’ s co n d u ct an d th e p l ai n t i ff’ s

82

. Cl ev el an d n ex t co n t en d s t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran t i n g s um m ary ju d g m en t

t o Zen M as s a g e o n h er cl ai m s fo r n eg l i gen t h i ri n g an d ret en ti on b ecau se i t was

reas on ab l y fo res eeab le t h at Tav ares wo ul d s ex u al l y as s au l t cu s to m ers

. W e d i s cern n o

erro r.

Pu rs uan t to OCGA § 3 4 -7 -2 0

, an “ em p l o y er i s b o un d t o ex erci se o rd i n ary care

i n th e s el ect io n o f em p l o y ees an d n o t t o ret ai n t h em aft er k no wl ed g e o f

i n co m pet en cy [.] ” In o t h er wo rd s

, an em pl o y er m ay b e li ab l e fo r n eg l i g en tl y h i ri n g o r

r e t a i n i n g an em

p l o y ee “ o n l y wh ere t h ere i s s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o es tab l is h t h at t h e

em pl o y er reas on ab l y

k n ew o r s h o u ld h av e kn o wn o f an em pl o ye e’ s ‘ t en d en ci es ’ to

en g ag e i n cert ai n beh av i o r rel ev an t t o t h e i nju ri es al l eg ed l y in cu rred b y t h e p l ai n t i ff.”

i n ju ry , we fo cu s ed o n th e s p eci fi c al l eg at i o n s o f t h e h o t el ’ s b reach o f d u t y

. 3 2 1 Ga.

Ap p

. at 3 8 4 -3 8 5 (3 ) (b ). T h ere, t h e p rem i s es li ab i l i ty cl ai m s were b as ed s o l el y o n t h e

h o t el ’ s al l eg ed fai l u re t o i nv es t i g at e t h e o ffen d i n g em p lo y ee’ s back gro u n d a n d to

warn o f s u ch

. Id

. at 3 84 (3 ) (b ). No t ab l y

, th es e al l eg at i o ns were al s o t he b as i s o f t h e

n eg li g e n t e m

p lo y m en t cl ai m s

. Id

. An d we fo u n d t h at t h e ev i d en ce was in su ffi ci en t

t o es t ab l i s h th at t h e h o t el h ad t h e req u i s i t e kn o w l ed g e o f t h e o ffen d i n g em p l o y ee’ s

p ro p e ns i t i es t o co m

m i t b ad act s

. Id

. at 3 8 0 (3 ) (a). Here, h o wev er, Cl ev el an d

s p eci fi cal l y al l eg ed t h at Zen Mas s ag e b reach ed i t s d u t y of o rd i n ary care b y fai l i n g to

p ro p erl y m ai n t ai n i ts p rem i s es

, i n cl u d i n g i n s p ect i ng an d p at ro l l i n g i t

, an d to p ro p erl y

s u p erv i s e t h e treat m en t s occu rri n g t h erei n

. As we h av e ex pl ai n e d

, “ i s s u es s u ch as

h o w cl o sel y a p art i cu lar pro pri et o r s h o u l d m o n i t o r i t s p rem i s es

. . . , wh a t p r o p r i et o rs

s h o u ld kn o w a b o u t t h e p r op er t y’s co n d it i o n o r s t af

f ’s co n d uct a t a n y g iven t i me, a r e

q u es ti o n s t ha t

, i n gen er a l

, mu s t b e a n swer ed b

y j u r i es a s a ma tt er o

f f act r a t h er t h a n

b y j u dg es a s a m a tt er o

f l a w .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ; em ph as i s s u p p l i ed .)

Li t t l e-Th o ma s , 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p . at 3 6 7 (3 ).

9Mu n r o e v. Un i v e r s a l H e a l t h Ser vs

. , In c

., 2 7 7 Ga. 8 61

, 8 6 3 (1 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 6 0 4 )

(2 0 0 4). W h e r e a s a cl ai m fo r p rem i s es l i ab i l i t y res t s on an o wn er’ s s u p eri o r

k n o wl ed g e o f t h e pro bab l e o ccu rren ce o f t he cri m i n al a c t ( o r h azard ) at i s s ue,

n eg li g en t em

p l o y m en t cl ai m s h i n g e o n an em p l oy er’ s k n o w l ed g e o f a s p eci f i c

emp lo yee’s p r op en s i t

y t o cau se t h e t y

pe o f harm s u ffered b y t h e p l ai n ti ff. Id .; Li t t l eTh o ma s

, 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 3 (1 ), (2 ).

(a) Neg l i g en t h i r i n g

“ An em pl o y er b reach es i t s d u ty o f care b y h i ri n g a n em pl o y ee wh o i s n ot

accu s t o m ed t o act wi t h d u e care. Th e cau s at i on el em en t req u i res s h o wi n g t h at

, g i v en

t h e em p l o y ee’ s d an g ero u s p ro p en s i t i es

, t he v ict i m ’ s i nju ri es sh o ul d h av e b een

fo res een as t he n at u ral an d p ro b ab le co n seq u en ce o f h i ri n g t h e em p lo y ee.” (Ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) TGM As h l ey La kes

, In c. v. Jen n in gs

, 2 64 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 6,

4 5 9 (1 ) (a) (5 9 0 SE2 d 8 0 7) (2 00 3 ).

Here, t h e reco rd is d ev o id o f an y ev i d en ce t h at es t ab l i s h es t hat Zen Mas s ag e

k n ew o r s h o u l d h av e k n o w n o f Tav ares ’ s d an g ero u s p ro p en s i t i es

. Tav ares recei v ed

h i s m as s ag e t h erap i s t l icen s e two y ears p ri o r t o t h e in ci d en t at i s su e, an d was req u i red

t o p as s a cri m i nal b ack g ro u n d ch eck as p art o f th e l i cen s in g an d perm it t i n g p ro ces s

.

Th e o wn ers rel i ed o n t h es e b a c k g r o u nd ch eck s, an d req u i red T av ares to p erfo rm a

10p ract i cal m as s ag e p ri o r t o hi ri ng h i m

. Cl ev el an d p o i nt s t o n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e o wn ers

were req u i red t o carry ou t a m o re ex t en s i v e v et t i n g p ro ces s wh en t h ey h i red h i m

, o r

t h at t h ey wo u l d hav e fo u n d an y cau t i o n ary i n fo rm at i o n h ad th ey do n e s o. See Li t t l eTh o ma s

, 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 5 (1 ) (n o ev i d en ce t o s ho w t h at em p l o y er wo ul d h av e

d i s co v ered em

p l o y ee’ s pro pen s i t i es t o i n fl i ct t h e h arm s u ffered b y p l ai n t iff h ad i t

p erfo rm ed a m o re r i g o ro u s p re-h i ri n g i n v es t i g at i o n ); co m p are TGM As hl ey La kes

,

In c.

, 26 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 45 9 (1 ) (a) (q u es t i o n o f fact w h e t h er em p l o y er s h o u l d h av e

i n q u i red i n t o erran t em

p lo y ee’ s cri m i n al b ack g ro u nd wh ere m an ag e r k n e w o f h i s

p rev i o u s i n carcerat io n ). No t ab l y

, Tav ares recei v ed no p u b l i c rep ri m an d s ag ai n s t h i s

l i cen se pri o r t o h i s em

p lo y m en t at Zen M as s ag e. Becau s e t h e ev i d en ce was “ p l ai n an d

p al p ab l e” t h at Zen M as s ag e’ s h i ri n g p ract i ces were reas o n ab l e, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

err i n g ran t i n g su m

m ary ju d g m en t t o i t o n t h e n eg l ig en t h i ri n g cl ai m

. Li t t l e-Th o ma s

,

3 3 3 Ga. Ap p . at 3 65 (1 ).

(b ) Neg l i g en t r et en t i o n

Si m i l arl y

, Cl ev el an d ’ s n eg li g en t ret en t io n cl ai m fai l s b ecau se t h e ev i d en ce o f

reco rd is i ns u ffi ci en t to s h o w t h at Zen M as s ag e h ad t h e req u i s i t e kn o w l ed g e o f

Tav ares ’ s d an g ero u s p ro p en s i t i es aft er h e was h i red

. Cl ev el an d p o i nt s t o t h e

d ep os i t i o n t es t im o ny o f T av ares ’ s co wo rk ers i n wh i ch t h ey ex pre s s e d t h ei r

11d i s co m fo rt d u e t o h i s “ wei rd ,” “ co ck y ” d em ean o r an d h i s bo as ts ab o u t th e m an n er in

wh i ch h e t o u ch ed h i s fem al e cl i en t s

. Ho wev er, Tav ares n ev er ad m i t t ed t o h i s

co wo rk ers t h a t h e i nap p ro p ri at el y to u ch ed hi s cl ien t s ; rat h er, h e g av e t h e

“ i m p r e s s i o n ” t h at h e d i d s o b y h i s g es t ures m i m i ck i n g h i s t ech n i q ue. N o t ab l y

, t h e

c ow o rk ers di s cu s s ed t h ei r co n cern s o n l y am o n g s t th em s el v es

, an d n ev er i n fo rm ed t h e

o wn ers

. M o reo v er, t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at an y cu s t o m er co m p l ai n ed ab o u t Tav ares

p ri o r t o t he i n ci den t at i s s u e here. As s u ch

, t h ere i s no b as i s t o s u p p o r t Cl ev el an d ’ s

co n ten t i o n t h at Zen M as s ag e k n ew o r s ho u ld hav e k n own o f Tav ares ’ s d an g ero u s

p ro p en s it i es

. Co m

p are Ha r p er v. Ci t y o f Ea st Po i n t

, 2 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 5

, 3 7 7 (2 ) (5 1 5

SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (1 9 99 ) (t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran ti n g s u m m ary j u d gm en t to t h e ci t y b ecau s e

p ri o r rep o rt s o f p o l i ce o ffi cer’ s i n creas i n g ly d ev i an t b eh av i or rai s ed a q u es t i o n o f fact

as to i t s co n s tru ct i ve k n o wl ed g e o f h i s p ro p en s it i es t o co m m i t b ad act s ), d i s ap p ro v ed

o f o n o t her g ro u n d s b y Mu n r o e , 2 7 7 Ga. at 8 64 (1 ).

No n e the le ss, C le ve la

n d c onte nds tha t t h e em

p l o y ees ’ co ncern s ab o u t Tav ares ’ s

d an gero us p ro p en si t i es are i m p u t ed t o Zen M as s ag e u n der an ag en cy t h eo ry

. Fo r t h i s

p ro p os i t i on

, Cl ev el an d rel i es p ri m ari l y o n M i l la n v. Res i d

en ce In n By Ma r r i o t t

, In c.

,

2 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 6 (4 87 SE2 d 4 3 1 ) (1 9 9 7 ). Bu t

, i n th at cas e, w e fo u n d th at t h ere was

a q u es t i o n o f fact as t o wh e t h er t h e h o tel h ad n o t ice o f i t s em p l o y ee’ s d ev i an t

12b eh av i o r wh ere hi s co wo rk ers recei v ed co m p l ai n t s fro m g u es ts ab o u t h i m

, an d o n e

co wo rk er h ad ev en b een as s au l t ed h ers el f b y h i m

. Id

. Th es e fact s are di s t i n ct fro m t h e

cas e at h an d

. Al t h ou g h t h e em p l o y ees i n Mi l la n wi tn es s ed o r s u ffered t h e

i n ap p ro p ri at e b eh av i o r, T av ares ’ s co wo rk ers o n l y h ad “ co n cern s” an d “ i m p res s i o n s ”

ab o ut h i m

. Si m

p l y pu t : h u n ch es

, i m

p res s i o n s

, an d i n n u en d o are i n s u ffi ci en t t o rai s e

a q u es t i o n o f fact a s to Z en M as s ag e’ s co n s t ru ct i v e k n o wl ed g e o f Tav ares ’ s

d an gero us p ro p en s it i es

. Co m p are i d.; s ee S t

. Ju de’s Reco ver y Cen t er

, In c. v. Va u g h n

,

3 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 3

, 5 9 5 -5 9 6 (2 ) (8 4 1 SE2 d 10 8 ) (2 0 2 0) (ev i d en ce in s u ffi ci en t t o rai s e

q u es ti o n o f fact as t o reas o n ab l e fo res eeab i l i t y o f t h e rap e o f th e faci li t y ’ s res i d en t

wh ere o t h er fem al e res i d en ts o n l y en co u nt ered cat cal l s an d v erb al h arras s m en t fro m

t h i rd p art i es o u t s i d e t h e faci l i t y

, an d g en eral l y f e l t i t u n s afe t o wal k ou t s i d e aft er

d ark ).

A c c o r d i n gl y

, th e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y g ran t ed s um m ary ju d g m en t t o Ze n

M as s ag e o n Cl ev el an d ’ s n eg l i g en t em p l o y m en t cl ai m s , an d we affi rm

.

3

. In l ig h t o f o u r d eci s io n i n Di v is i o n 1 t h at t h e prem is es li ab il i t y cl ai m

s u rv i v es s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, we ag r e e w i t h Cl ev el an d t h at h er cl ai m s fo r p u n i t i v e

d am ag es an d at t o rn ey fees al s o s u rv i v e. See S t ep h en A. W h ea t Tr us t

v. S p a r ks , 3 2 5

Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 3

, 68 2 (7 ) (7 5 4 SE2 d 6 4 0 ) (2 0 14 ) (d eri v at i v e cl ai m s fo r p u ni t i v e d am ag es

13an d at t o rn ey fees s urv iv e s u m m ary ju d g m en t wh ere un d erl y i n g t o rt s u rv i v ed ).

Acco rd in g ly

, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary j u d gm en t o n t h es e cl ai m s

.

4

. Fi n al l y

, Cl ev el an d ch al l en g es th e t ri al co u rt ’ s g r a n t o f a p ro tect i v e o rd er

reg ard i n g cert ai n dep o s it i o n s t h at were n o t i ced fo r t i m es wh en co u n s el fo r Zen

M as s ag e were u nav ai l ab l e. Zen M as s ag e d o es n ot res p o n d t o t h i s arg u m en t

. Becau s e

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n was b as ed o n i t s award o f s u m m a r y j u d g m en t as t o a l l

cl ai m s

, i n l i gh t o f o u r ru l in g wi t h reg ard t o t he p rem i s e s l i a b i l i t y cl ai m an d i t s

d eri v at i v e cl ai m s , we v acat e t he g ran t o f t h e p ro t ect i v e o rd er.

Ju d g men t a f f ir med in p a r t

, r ever s ed i n p a r t

, a n d va ca t ed i n p a r t

. Rees e, P. J.,

a n d Co l vi n , J., co ncu r

.

14