THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN and M CM I LLI A 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Jul y 7, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 59 6

. CARD et al

. v

. DUBLIN CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

et al

.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

Ben jam i n an d A l fred a Card (“ t h e Card s ”) fi led t h i s act i o n fo r p ers o n al i n ju ri es

B e n j am in Card (“ Card ”) s uffered o n a co n s t ru ct i o n s i t e. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t e d

s u m m a ry ju d g m en t t o Du bl i n Co n s t ru ct io n Co m p an y , In c. (“ Du b l i n ”), t h e g en era l

c o nt ract o r, an d J&J M as on ry & Co n s t ru ct i o n Co

. (“ J &J ”), a su b co n tract o r, o n t h e

g ro u nd t h at Card w as a l i cen see an d t here w as n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t s act ed

wan to n l y , wi l fu l l y , o r i n t en t i o n al l y

.

As t o J &J

, t he C a r d s arg u e t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred b ecau se i n ad di t i o n to

as s ert i n g cl ai m s ari s in g fro m t h e co n d i t i o n o f t h e prem is es , t h ey as s ert e d c l ai m s

ag ai n s t J &J t h at h ad n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h Card ’ s s t at u s as a l i cen s ee o r i n v i t ee. W eag ree. Th e cl ai m s t h e Card s as s ert ed ag ai n st J &J i n cl u d ed cl ai m s of act i v e

n eg li g en ce; an d Card ’ s s tat u s as an i n v i t ee o r li cen s ee i s n o t rel ev an t t o t h o s e cl ai m s

.

Reg ard i n g t h ei r cl ai m s t hat d o ari se fro m t h e co n d i t io n o f t h e p rem i s es an d t h e

d efen d an t s ’ o ccu p at i on o f t ho s e p rem i s es , t h e Card s arg u e th at wh et h er Card was a

l i cen see or an in v i t ee i s a ju ry q u es t io n

. Bu t as t o J &J

, th e Card s hav e p oi n t ed t o n o

ev i d en ce t h at Card an d J &J s h ared a co m m o n pu rp o s e. So as t o s ub co nt ract o r J &J

,

Card was n o m ore t h an a l i cen s ee. Bu t as t o g en eral co n t ract o r Du b li n , we ag ree wi th

t h e Card s t hat wh et h er Card was an i nv i tee o r a l i cen s ee i s a ju ry q u es t i o n

.

W e decl i n e t h e d efen d an t s ’ i nv i t at i o n t o affi rm u n d er th e ri g h t-fo r-an y -reas o n

rat i o nal e b ecau s e t h e d efen s es t h at th ey arg u e en t it l e th em to s um m ary ju dg m en t al l

d ep en d o n d i s p u t ed i s s u es o f fact

. Ho wev er, we ag ree wi t h Du b l i n th at t h e Card s h av e

n o t s h o wn a co n t ract u al p ro v is i o n th at wo u l d m a k e D u b l in v i cari o u s l y l i ab l e fo r

J &J ’ s n eg l i g en ce.

1

. Fa ct s

.

On ap p eal

,

[w] e rev i ew d e n o v o a t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

c o n s t ru i n g t h e ev id en ce i n a l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e n on m o v i n g

p art y

. To p rev ai l a t s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, t h e m o v i ng p art y m u s t

d e m o n s t rat e t h at t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact an d t h at th e

2u n d i s p ut ed fact s , v iewed i n t h e n o n m ov an t ’ s fav or, w arran t ju d g m en t as

a m at t er o f l aw.

McGa ri t y v. Ha r t El ec. Memb er

s h i p Co r p ., 3 07 Ga. Ap p . 7 3 9 , 7 4 0 (7 0 6 SE2 d 6 7 6 )

(2 0 1 1) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

S o v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o w s t hat Card w o rk ed as a d el i v ery d ri v e r f o r a

co m p an y cal l ed Hag em ey er No rt h Am eri ca, wh i ch s ol d i n du s t ri al el ect ri cal p ro d u ct s

an d t o ol s . On t h e d ay

o f t he acci d en t

, Card m ad e a d el i v ery t o a co n st ru ct io n s i t e at

Geo rg i a Co l l eg e & St at e Un i vers i t y

. Card w as d el i v eri n g b u n d l es o f co n d u it t o Sp ei r

El ect ri c, a s u bco n t ract o r on t h e p ro ject

. Card wen t t o t h e g en eral co n t ract o r’ s t rai l er

t o l o cat e t h e Sp ei r co n t act p e r s o n

. N o o ne was i n t h e t rai l er. Card d i d n o t h av e t h e

t el ep ho n e n um

b er o f th e Sp ei r co n t act p ers o n , s o h e as k ed s o m e wo rk ers s i t t i n g

o u t s i d e t h e t rai l er i f t h ey k n ew wh ere t h e Sp ei r co n t act p ers o n was

. Th e wo rk ers t o ld

Card t h at t h e Sp ei r co n t act p ers o n was on t h e t h i rd fl o o r o f t he b u i l d i n g b ei n g

co n st ru ct ed

. Card s aw o th er wo rk ers en teri n g t he b u i l d i n g , he s aw n o s i g ns , t ap e, o r

o t h er k i n d o f warn i n g t h at h e sh o u l d n ot en t er, s o h e as s u m ed it was p erm i s s i b l e t o

en t er t he b ui l d i n g

.

Card en t ered t h e b u i l d i n g, wen t u p s t ai rs , an d fo u n d t h e Sp ei r co n t act p ers o n.

Th ey s t art ed t o ex i t t h e b u i l d i n g , Card l ead i ng t h e way , so t h at t h e Sp ei r co n t act

3p ers o n co u l d t ak e d el iv ery o f t h e co n d u i t

. J u s t as C a r d s t ep ped o u t o f t he d o o r, a

co n cret e-fi ll ed h o s e fro m a co n cret e p u m p i n g s t a t i o n o p erat ed b y J &J fel l fro m a

t h i rd -s t o ry wi n d o w, h i t h i m i n t h e b ack

, an d k n o ck ed h im d o w n

. Card w as i n ju red

an d req u i red m ed i cal t reat m en t.

Th e Card s fi led t h i s act io n , al l eg i n g t h at t he d efen dan t s w ere n eg l i g en t i n t h e

h an dl i n g o f t h e co n cret e-fi l l e h o s e an d i n fai li n g t o warn pers o n s i n t he v i ci n i t y o f t h e

t h reat o f t h e fal l i n g h o s e.

2

. Act i ve n eg l i

g en ce vs . co n di t i o n s o

f t h e p r emi

s es

.

So m e of t he cl ai m s t h e Card s as s ert ag ai n s t t h e d efen dan t s p ert ai n t o t h e fai l u re

t o wa r n o f t h e co nd i t i o n o f t h e p rem i s es wh il e s o m e pert ai n t o act s o f a c t i v e

n eg li g en ce o n t he p art o f J &J ’ s em p lo y ees

. Fo r t o rt cl ai m s o c c u r r i n g o n prem i s es ,

t h ere i s a l eg al d i s t in ct i o n

b et ween cau s es o f act io n wh ere t h e al l eg ed n eg l i g en ce ari s es fro m s t at i c

o r p as s i v e co n di t i o n s (s u ch as , p re-ex i s t i n g d efect s un at t en d ed o n th e

p rem i s es ) an d cau ses o f act i o n t h ereo n av erri n g act i v e n eg l ig en ce b y act

o r o m is s io n

. T h e reco rd es t ab l i s h es th at th e in ci den t o n wh i ch t h i s cau s e

i s g ro u n d ed ari s es [, at l eas t i n p art ,]

. . . fro m a cl ai m o f a c t i v e

n eg l ig en ce ari si n g fro m [J &J ’ s em pl o y ees ’ ] al l eg ed act s an d o m is s i o n s

o ccu rri n g [wh i l e Card was o n t h e p rem i s es ]

.

4W

a d e v

. M i t c h el l

, 2 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6 5

, 2 66 -2 6 7 (2 ) (b ) (4 24 SE2 d 8 10 ) (1 9 9 2 )

(ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). See al s o Li p h a m v. Fed

er a t ed D ep t

. St o r es , 2 6 3 Ga. 8 6 5

, 8 6 5 -8 6 6

(4 4 0 SE2 d 1 9 3 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (d i st i n g u is h in g cl ai m s ari s i n g fro m th e co nd i t i o n o f t h e

p rem i s es fro m cl ai m s ari s i n g fro m act i ve n eg li g en ce). Th e d i s t i n ct i o n i s i m p o rt an t

b ecau s e we fo cu s o n “ d i fferen t i n q u i ri es d ep en d i n g o n wh et h er t h e i n ju ry ari s es (a)

fro m p re-ex i s t i n g co n d i t io n s o r (b ) fro m act i v e neg l i g en ce, i .e., fro m th e p ro p ri et o r’ s

act s o r o m i s s io n s o ccu rri ng at t h e t i m e t h e p l ai n t i ff was o n t h e p rem i s es .” Br o wn l ee

v. W i n n -Di xi e A t l a nt a , 2 40 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 8

, 3 69 -3 7 0 (5 2 3 SE2 d 5 96 ) (1 9 9 9) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ). Fo r o n e t h i n g, as di s cu s s ed m o re fu l l y b el ow, t h e du t i es a d efen dan t o wes

m ay b e d i fferen t

, d ep en d i n g o n wh et h er a cl ai m ari s es fro m t he co nd i t i o n o f t h e

p rem i s es o r fro m

act iv e n eg l i g en ce.

3

. Cl a i ms a r is i n g f

r o m a l l eg a t i o n s o

f a ct i ve n eg l i

g en ce a g a i ns t

J& J.

Th e Card s arg u e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o J &J

s o l el y o n t h e g ro u n d t h at Ben jam i n Card was a l i cen see b ecau s e J &J o wed h i m a d u t y

i n d ep en den t o f an y du t i es ari s i n g fro m i t s s t at u s as an occu p i er o f t h e p rem i ses

. Th ey

ad d t h at t h ey as s ert ed m

u l ti p l e t h eo ri es o f reco v ery ag ai n s t J & J

, i n cl u d i n g s i m p l e

n eg li g en ce cl ai m s fo r fai l u re t o o p erat e t h e co n cret e p um p in a s afe m an n er, t h at d o

n o t em an at e fro m du t i es as a l an d o wn er o r occu p i er. W e ag ree th at th e Card s as s ert ed

5cl ai m s ag ai n s t J &J ari s i n g fro m al l eg at i o n s of act i v e n eg l i g en ce an d th at

, as t o t h es e

cl ai m s , Card ’ s s t at u s as a l i cen s ee o r i n vi t ee i s i rrel ev an t. So th e t ri al co u rt erred by

g ran t i n g s u m

m ary ju d gm en t t o J &J s o l el y o n t h e b as i s t hat Card was a l i cen s ee.

As t o t he cl ai m s o f act i v e n eg l i g en ce, J &J o wed Card a g en eral d u ty o f care.

Li p h am v. Fed

er a t ed Dep t. S t o r es , 2 6 3 Ga. 8 6 5

, 8 65 -8 6 6 (4 4 0 SE2 d 1 9 3 ) (1 9 9 4 ). “ In

o t h er w o rd s , l i ab i l i t y fo r [J &J ’ s em p l o y ees ’ ] fai l ure t o ex erci s e o rd i n ary care an d n ot

t o su b ject o t h ers t o an u n reas o n ab l e ri s k o f h arm i s b as ed o n ly o n th e n at u re o f [t h ei r]

n eg li g en t act [s ] an d i s n o t affect ed b y [Card ’ s ] s t at u s wi t h res p ect t o t h e p rem i s es .”

Id . at 8 6 6

.

Th e Card s al so arg u e t h at J &J o wed d u t i es t o Card

, reg ard l es s o f h i s s t at u s as

i n v i t e e o r l i cen s ee, b ecau se s u b co n t ract o rs o we d u t i es t o o th er wo rk ers o n t h e jo b

s i te. We f i r s t r e c o g n i zed s u ch a d u t y i n Do ke v. D o ver E l eva t or Co

. , 1 5 2 Ga. Ap p.

4 3 4

, 4 36 (2 6 3 SE2 d 2 0 9 ) (1 9 7 9 ). Th ere, an em p l oy ee of th e g en eral co n t ract o r o n a

co n st ru ct i o n p ro

ject fel l i n t o a v en t h o l e i n t he t o p o f an el ev at o r s haft

. He s u ed t h e

s u b co n t ract o r res p o ns i bl e fo r i n s t al l i n g t h e el ev at o rs

. Ob s erv in g t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff h ad

t h e ri g h t t o b e i n t h e area wh ere h e fel l wh i l e p erfo rm i n g h i s wo rk on t h e jo b s i t e, we

co n cl u d e d t h at

, “ res p ect i ng t h e v en t h o l e i n t o t h e el ev at or s h aft

, [t h e d efen d an t

s u b co n t ract o r] o wed al l co n s t ru c t io n wo rk ers o n t he jo b s i t e t h e d u t y t o ex erci s e

6reas on ab l e care i n t h ei r p ro t ect i o n .” Id

. Bu t we t h i n k t h at t h i s d ut y i s n o d i fferen t t h an

t h e g en eral d u t y o f care t hat o n e o wes t o o t h ers l awfu l l y o n t he p rem i s es

. See Li p h a m ,

2 6 3 Ga. at 8 6 5 -8 6 6 & n .2

.

4

. Li cen see vs . i nvi t ee.

Th e Card s as s ert ed cl ai m s ag ai n s t b ot h J &J an d Du b l i n ari si n g fro m t h ei r s t at u s

as o ccu p i ers o f t h e p rem is es

. As t o s u ch cl ai m s , “ [t ] h e du t y o wed b y a l an d o wn er [o r

o ccu pi er] t o o ne wh o en t ers up o n h i s p ro pert y d ep en d s , t o a cert ai n ex t en t

, o n

wh et h er t h e o n e en t eri n g t h e p ro p ert y i s an i n v i t ee, a l i cen s ee o r a t res p as s er.”

Li p h am , 2 6 3 Ga. at 8 6 5 (ci t at i o n s om i t t ed ). Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at Ben jam i n Card

was a l i cen s ee, b u t t h e Card s arg u e t h at wh et her Ben jam i n Card was an i n v i t ee o r a

l i cen see i s a ju ry

q u es t i o n . W e d i s ag ree as t o J &J b u t ag ree as t o Du b li n

.

Card ’ s s t at us i s i m

p o rt an t b e c a u s e, as n o t ed

, t h e d u t y of care o wed b y an

o ccu pi er o f l an d t o a p ers o n co m i n g u p o n t h e p ro pert y v ari es a n d i s d et erm i n ed

acco rd i n g t o t h e l eg al s tat u s o f th e p ers on en t eri n g t h e p rem i s es

. See Jo n es v. Ba r r o w ,

3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 7, 3 3 8 -3 3 9 (1 ) (6 9 6 SE2 d 3 6 3 ) (2 0 1 0 ); Ja r r el l v. JDC & As so cs ., 2 9 6

Ga. Ap p. 5 2 3

, 5 2 4 -5 2 5 ( 6 7 5 SE2 d 2 7 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ). A lan d o w n er o r o ccu p ier o wes t h e

d u t y o f o rd i nary care t o an i n v i t ee. OCGA § 5 1 -3 -1 ; Ja rr el l

, 29 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 2 5.

Th at d u t y m ay i n cl u d e a d u t y t o “ g iv e a warn i n g ad eq u at e t o en ab l e t h e i n v i t ee u p o n

7t h e p rem is es t o av o i d h arm ,” wh ere t h e d an g er i s n o t ap p aren t

. Kn o wl es v

. L a Ru e ,

1 0 2 Ga. A p p

. 3 5 0

, 3 5 3 (1 1 6 SE2 d 2 4 8 ) (1 9 6 0 ). A l an d o wn er o r o ccu p i er o wes a

l es s er d ut y

– t o av o id ca u s i n g w i l l f u l o r wan t o n i n

ju ry

– t o a l i cen s ee. OCGA §

5 1 -3 -2 (b ); Ja r r el l

, 2 96 Ga. A p p. at 52 5

. (Th e Card s d o n o t ch al l en ge t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

fi nd i ng t h at “ th ere i s no wi l l fu l

, wan t o n o r i n t en t i on al co nd u ct pres en t i n t h i s cas e.”)

“ Th e g en eral l y accep t ed t es t t o det erm in e wh et h er o n e is an i n v i t ee o r a

l i cen see i s wh et her t h e p art y co m i n g o n t o t h e b u s i n es s p rem i s es h ad p res en t b u s i n es s

rel at i o n s wi t h t h e own er o r o ccu p i er wh i ch w o u ld ren d er hi s p res en ce o f m u t u al

b en efi t t o b o th

, o r was fo r b u s i n es s wi t h o n e ot h er t h an th e o wn er o r o ccu p i er.” S cu l l y

v. Bd

. o f Reg en ts o

f t h e U n i v

. S y s t e m o f Ga

. , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 3

, 8 7 6 (1 ) (7 7 5 SE2 d

2 3 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

a. Ca r d ’s s t a t u s i n r el a t i o n t o J& J.

As s u m i ng th at J &J was , fo r p u rp os es o f t hi s an al y s i s , an “ occu pi er,” Card

, as

t o J &J

, w as “ n o m o re t h an a li cen s ee. ” C h a m b e r s v. Pea co ck Co n s t r

. Co

. , 1 1 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 6 7 0

, 6 7 7 (4 ) (1 55 SE2 d 7 0 4 ) (ci tat i o n om i t t e d )

. Th e Card s p res en t ed n o

ev i d en ce t h at Ben

jam i n Card was at th e co n s t ru ct i o n s i t e “ fo r a p u rp o s e co n n ect ed

wi t h or i n fu rt h eran ce o f [J &J ’ s ] al l eg ed b u s i n es s o r t h e co m m on i n teres t o f o r m

u t u al

ad v an t ag e o f [Card ] an d [J &J ] , o r t h at [J &J ] k n ew o f h is pres en ce i n t h e b u i l d i n g.”

8I d

. In Ch a mb er s , t he pl ai n t iff was d el i veri n g m at eri al s an d s u p p l i es t o a g e n e r a l

c o n t r a c t o r o n a co n s t ru ct i o n s it e wh en h e fel l i n t o an el ev at o r s h aft

. He s u ed t h e

g en eral co n t ract or as wel l as t h e s u b co n tract o r t h at was w o rk i n g o n t h e el ev at o rs in

t h e el ev at o r s h aft

. W e affi rm ed t h e g ran t o f a gen eral d em u rre r i n fav or o f t h e

s u b co n t ract o r, h o l d in g t h at t h e co m p l ai nt d i d no t “ p res en t an is s u e t h at t he p l ai n t i ff

wh en i n ju red was an i n v i t ee o f t h e su b co nt ract o r, ex p res s l y o r b y i m p l i cat i on .” Id

. at

6 7 7

. In o t h er wo rd s , t he pl ai n t i ff’ s b u s i n es s in p ro v i d i n g m at eri al s t o t he g en eral

co n tract or w as n o t s u ffi ci en t t o creat e a m u t u al in t eres t wi t h t h e s ub co n t ract o r, ev en

t h o u g h t he p u rp o s e o f b o t h th e p l ai n t iff’ s a n d t h e s u b co nt ract o r’ s wo rk co u l d b e

ch aract eri zed as t ak i ng s t ep s t o ward co m p l et i o n o f t he co n st ru ct i o n

.

b

. Ca r d ’s s ta t u s i n r el a t i o n t o Du b l i n

.

Bu t t h i s co n cl u s i o n d o es n o t res o l ve Card ’ s s t at u s as t o D u b l i n b ecau s e a

p e r s o n m ay hav e m o re t h an o n e s t at u s at th e s am e t im e. See Ch a mb er s , s u p ra, 1 1 5

Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 5 -6 7 7 (3

, 4) (p lai n t i ff was i n v it ee o f g en eral co n tract o r an d l i cen s ee o f

s u b co n t ract o r). See al s o Ch arl es R. Ad am s III, G a. L aw o f To rt s § 4 : 1 (a) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ An

en t ran t m ay hav e m o re t h an o n e s tat u s s i m u l t an eo u s l y

. Fo r ex am

p l e, i f a t en an t ren t s

p rem i s es f

r o m a lan d o wn er, t h e t en an t ’ s so ci al g u es t wo u l d b e a l i cen s ee as t o t h e

t en an t

, b u t

, at l eas t u nd er so m e ci rcu m s t an ces , co ul d s h are t h e t en an t ’ s i n v it ee s t at u s

9as to t h e l an d own er.”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). An d t he t ri al co u rt erred by h ol d i n g t h at as

a m at t er o f l aw, Card was a l icen s ee o f Du bl i n

.

Th e ev i d en ce w o u l d a u t h o ri ze a ju ry t o fi n d t hat Du b l i n an d Card s h ared an

i n t eres t i n g et t i ng t h e b un d l es o f co n d u i t d el iv ered t o Sp ei r. A ju ry co ul d fi n d t h at

Du b l i n s to o d t o g ai n i f i ts s ub co n t ract ors h ad t h e m at eri al s th ey n eed ed t o co m p l et e

t h ei r wo rk s o t h at t h e en t i re p ro ject co ul d b e co m

pl et ed

. A ju ry co u l d al s o fi n d t h at

Card n eed ed t o m ak e t h e del i v ery t o hi s em p l oy er’ s cu s t o m er as part o f h i s

em pl o y m e n t

. “ Th e [d el i v ery

o f t h e b un d l es o f co n du i t] b ei n g d o ne b y [Card ] co u ld

b e fo u nd t o b e a co m

m o n i n t eres t o f [Du b l i n ] an d [Card ]

, ev en i f i t w a s n o t f o r t h e

d i rect b en efi t o f [Du b l i n ] .” B a l l en g er Pa vi n g Co

. v. Ga i n es , 2 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 5

, 5 7 1

-

5 7 2 (2 ) (4 9 9 SE2 d 7 22 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t ted ). See al s o Kn u d s en v.

Du f fee-Fr eema n

, In c. , 9 9 Ga. Ap p. 5 2 0

, 5 25 (2 ) (1 0 9 SE2 d 3 39 ) (1 95 9 ) (l an d l o rd

i m p l i ed l y i n v i t ed p ers o n s h av i n g b u s i n es s wi t h t en an t t o co m e u p o n i t s p rem i s es fo r

t h at p u rp o s e).

Du b li n arg u es t h at ev en i f Card were an i n v i t ee wh en h e fi rs t cam e o n t o t h e jo b

s i te, h i s s t at u s ch an g ed t o t h at o f l i cen s ee o r t res p as s er wh en h e en t ered t h e

u n au th o ri zed area o f t h e s it e, bey o nd t h e g en eral co n t ract o r t rai ler, wi t h o u t D u b l i n ’ s

p erm i s s i o n

. Bu t “ [i ] f t h e i n v i t e e d o e s n o t g o b ey o n d t h at p art o f th e p rem i s es to

10wh i ch

, as t h e s i t uat i o n reas o n ab l y ap p ears t o h i m , t h e i n v i t at i o n ex t en d s , h e can n ot

b e h el d t o h av e b eco m e a m ere l i cen see b ecau s e, as a m at t er of fact

, t h e p u rp o s es o f

t h e i n v it at i o n co ul d h av e b een fu l fi l l ed wi t h o ut g oi n g o n s uch p art o f t h e p rem i s es .”

Ch a mb er s , 1 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 5 -6 7 6 (3 ) (ci t at i o n om i t ted ). An d Card t es t i fi ed t h at h e

s aw n o warn i ng t ap e, t h e b ui l d i n g was n o t ro ped o ff, an d o t h er wo rk ers were en t eri n g

t h e b u i ld i n g , s o he as s u m ed i t was p erm i ss i b le t o en ter. W h et h er Card ’ s en teri n g t h e

b u i l d i n g w as u n reas o n ab l e s o as t o ch an g e h is s tat u s t o th at o f l i cen s ee o r t res p as s er

i s a q u es t i o n fo r ju ry res o lu t i o n

.

5

. Ri g h t f or a n y r ea s o n

.

J &J an d Du b l i n arg u e t h at t h ei r s u m m ary ju d g m en t s h ou l d b e affi rm ed u n d er

t h e ri gh t -fo r-an y -reas o n rat i o n al e b ecau s e, as a m at t er o f l a w , Card ’ s fai l u re to

ex erci s e o rd i n ary

care fo r h i s o wn s afet y , eq u al kn o wl ed g e, an d as su m p ti o n o f ri s k

b ar h i s reco v ery

. T h e Card s h av e p res en t ed s uff i c i e n t ev id en ce t o creat e ju ry

q u es ti o n s o n t h es e d efen s es

.

a. Ca r d ’s f

a i l u re t o exer ci s e o r d i n a r y ca r e f o r h i s o wn s af

et y.

Th e d efen d an t s arg u e t h a t C ard fai l ed t o ex erci s e o rd i n ary care fo r h i s o wn

s afet y wh en he en tered t h e b u i l di n g , k n owi n g o f t h e d an g ers i nh eren t in co ns t ru ct i o n

s i tes

. Bu t Card t es ti fi ed t h at h e h ad been t o l d t h at was wh ere h e wo u l d fi n d t h e Sp ei r

11rep res en t at i v e, t h at was t h e o n l y e n t r a n c e h e saw, t h at o t h er wo rk ers were en t eri n g

t h e b u i l d in g t h ere, an d t h at h e s aw n o s i g ns , t ap e, o r o t her m at eri al warn in g h i m n ot

t o en t er t h e b u i l d i n g

. “ [T] h e ex t en t t o wh ich [Card ’s ] c o n d u ct co n t ri b u t ed t o h i s

[ i n j u r y ]

, i f at al l, i s cert ai n l y n o t p l ai n , p al p ab l e, an d u nd i s p u t ab l e, ren d eri n g t h i s

i s s u e in ap p ro p ri at e fo r s u m m ary ad ju d i cat io n .” Ba ker

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 5 4 (a) (i i )

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

b

. Eq u a l kn o wl ed ge.

Th e d efen d an t s arg u e th a t Card h ad at l eas t eq u al k n owl ed ge o f an y h azard

b ecau s e h e k new o r s h o u l d hav e k n o wn t hat t h e co n cret e p u m p i n g h o s e co u l d fal l

d u ri n g act i v e co n s t ru ct i o n

. T h ey h av e p o in t ed t o n o ev i d en ce t h at Card k n ew o f t h e

s p eci fi c h azard of t hi s part i cu l ar h o s e fal l i n g

. See St ra u s s v. Ci t y o f Li l b u r n , 3 2 9 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 61

, 36 4 -3 6 5 (7 6 5 SE2 d 4 9 ) (2 0 14 ) (wh et h er pl ai nt i ff “ h ad g reat er o r eq u al

k n o wl ed g e o f t he s

p eci f i c h a z a rd ” t h at al l eg ed l y cau s ed h er fal l was a q u es t i o n o f fact

t o b e d eci d ed at t ri al ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ); Tel l i

g ma n v.

Mo n u me n t a l Pr op er t i es , 16 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3

, 1 6 (2 ) (2 88 SE2 d 8 4 6 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (“ [I] t i s a

p l ai n t i ff’ s k n o w l ed g e o f t h e s p e c i fi c h azard

. . . wh i ch i s d et erm i n at i ve, n ot m erel y

h i s k n o wl ed g e o f t h e g en eral l y p rev ai l i ng h azard ou s co n d i ti o n s o r o f t h e h azard ou s

co n di t i o n s wh i ch he ob s erv es an d av o i d s .”). W h et h er Card had eq u al k n owl ed g e o f

12t h e h azard

, co ns i d eri n g h e h ad wi t n es s ed o t h er wo rk ers en t eri ng t h e b u i l d in g an d t h e

area was n o t m ark ed o ff as d an g ero u s , i s a di s p u t ed fact qu es t io n fo r ju ry res o l u t i o n.

c. As s u mp t i o n o

f r i s k.

Th e d efen d an t s arg u e t h at t h ey are en t it l ed t o s um m ary ju d g m en t b ecau s e Card

as s u m ed t h e ri s k o f i n

ju r y. G en eral l y , wh et h er a p art y as su m ed t h e ri s k o f i n ju ry i s

a ju ry q u es t i on

. Fi n d l ey v. Gr i f f i n , 2 9 2 Ga. A p p

. 8 0 7, 80 9 (2 ) (6 6 6 SE2 d 7 9 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

To p rev ai l on an as su m

p t i on o f ri s k d efen s e, a d efen dan t m u st s h o w t h at th e p l ai n t i ff

k n ew “ o f t h e s peci fi c, p art i cu l ar ri s k o f h arm as s o ci at ed wi th t h e act i v it y o r co n d i t i o n

t h at p ro x i m at el y cau ses i n ju ry

. Si g n i fi can t l y , a p l ai n t iff’ s co m p reh en s i o n o r g en eral

u n d ers t an d i n g o f n o n s peci fi c ri s k s t h at m i gh t b e as s o ci at ed wi th t h e act i v i t y at i s s u e

i s n ot s u ffi ci en t

. ” Ba ker

, 3 03 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 5 4 (b ) (ci tat i o n s o m it t ed ). As d et ai l ed

ab o ve, t h e d efen d an t s h av e n o t s h o wn t h at Card kn ew o f t h e s p eci fi c, p art i cu l ar ri s k

t h at t h e co ncret e p um

p h o s e wo u l d fal l. Th i s d efen s e al s o req ui res ju ry res o l u t i o n

.

6

. Du b l in ’s vi ca r i ou s l i a b i li t y

.

Du b li n arg ues t h at it can n o t b e h el d v i cari o u s l y l i ab l e fo r J &J ’ s al l eg ed

n eg li g en ce. “ [A] b s en t an ex p res s co n t ract u al d u t y , [a g en eral co n t ract o r] can n o t b e

h el d l i ab l e fo r d am ag e cau s ed b y t h e co l l at eral t o rt s o f i n d ep en d en t co n tract o rs .”

Fa u bi o n v. Pi ed

mo n t En g i n eer in g & Co ns t r

. Co r p ., 1 78 Ga. Ap p

. 2 56

, 25 9 (2 ) (3 4 2

13SE2 d 7 18 ) (1 9 8 6 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Bu t u n d er OCGA § 51 -2 -5 (3 ), “ [a] n em p l o y er

i s l i ab l e fo r t h e n eg l i g en ce of a co nt ract o r:

. . . [i ] f t h e wro n gfu l act i s t h e v i o l a t i o n

o f a d u t y i m

p o s ed b y ex p res s co n t ract u po n th e em p l o ye r

. ” T h e Card s arg u e t h at

Du b l i n h ad s u ch a co n t ract u al d u t y

. T h ey p o i nt t o p ro v i s io n s i n Du b l i n’ s co n t ract

wi t h Geo rg i a Co l leg e & St at e U n i v ers i t y t h at m ak e Du b l i n res p o n si bl e fo r th e wo rk

o f it s s u b co n t ract o rs

. Bu t “ t h e co n tract u al du t i es u n der wh i ch t h e em pl o y er wo u l d b e

l i ab l e fo r t h e act s o f t h e i n d ep en d en t co nt ract o r can n o t b e en fo rced b y o n e n o t a p art y

t o t h e co n t ract .” Ki d

d v. Den t sp l y In t l

. , 27 8 Ga

. A p p

. 3 4 6

, 3 5 0 (2 ) (6 2 9 SE2 d 5 8 )

(2 0 0 6) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th e Card s are s tran g ers t o t hat co n t ract

.

Ju d g men t r ever

sed

. Mi l l er

, P. J., co n cu r

s

. McMi l l i a n

, J., co n cu rs i n t h e

j u d g men t o n l y

.

14