FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, M I LLER and DI LLA RD, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

Nov em ber 17, 2014



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A1 24 1 . HILL v

. KONE, INC. DO-0 6 4

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Sh ak i ra Hi l l ap p eal s t h e g ran t o f su m m ary ju d g m en t t o Ko n e, In c., an el ev at o r

m ai n t en an ce co m

p an y, i n h er p ers o nal in

ju ry s u i t b as ed o n a t ri p an d fal l o n an

el ev at o r. Hi l l co nt en d s t hat fact u al i s s ues rem ai n as t o a p o t en t i al v io l at i o n o f OCGA

§ 8 -2 -1 0 6 (c), wh i ch wo u ld gi v e r i s e t o a sp o l iat i o n p res u m p t i o n b arri n g s u m

m ary

ju d g m en t

. Becau s e t h e reco rd co n t ai n s a fact u al d i s p u t e as t o t h at q u es t i o n

, we

rev ers e.

T o p rev ai l at su m m ary ju d g m en t un d er O CGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6

, th e

m o v i n g p art y m

u s t dem o n s t rat e t h at t here i s n o g en u i n e i ss u e o f m at eri al

fact an d t h at t h e u n d i s p u t ed fact s

, vi ewed in t h 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 i n g p art y

, w arran t ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw. On a p peal

fro m t h e g r a n t o f s u m

m ary j u d gm en t t h i s Co u rt co n d u ct s a d e n o v o

rev i ew o f t he ev i d en ce t o d et erm i n e w h et h er t here i s a g en u i n e i s s u e o fm at eri al fact an d wh et h er t h e u nd i sp u t ed fact s

, v i ewed i n th e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab le to t h e no n m o v in g p art y

, warran t ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f law. 1

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h a t a t ap p ro xi m at el y 1 0 : 0 0 p .m

. o ne n i g h t in

No v em b er 2 00 9

, Hi l l an d a co w o rk er en t ered an el ev at o r i n th ei r b ui l d i n g at t h e en d

o f th ei r s h i ft

, an d Hi l l t ri p p ed o n t h e el ev at o r’ s t h res h o l d

, wh ich p ro tru d ed ab o v e t h e

fl oo r l ev el

. Hi l l fel l an d w a s i n ju red wh en h er h ead s t ru ck t he m et al rai l i n g o n t h e

b ack w a l l o f t h e el ev at o r. Th e el ev at o r d oo r cl o s ed an d to o k t h em d o wn t o t h e

b u i l d i n g lo b b y

, wh ere a s ecu ri t y o ffi cer cal l ed 9 1 1 d u e to Hi ll ’ s in j u ry

. H i l l was t ak en

t o a h o s p i t al wh ere s h e was t r e a t ed fo r h er i n ju ry

. M ean wh i le, a fel l o w b u i l d i n g

o ccu pan t

, Crai g A l l en

, ro d e t h e s u b j e c t el ev at o r t o d et erm i ne i f i t was wo rk i n g

p ro p erl y

, an d he o b s erv ed t h at up o n g o i n g t o a h i g h er fl o o r, t h e el ev at or d oo rs wo u ld

n o t o p en . He ret u rn ed i n t h e el ev at o r t o t h e l o b b y an d rep o rt ed t h at t h e el ev at o r d id

n o t fu n ct i o n p ro p erl y

.

Th e reco rd al s o s h o ws t hat o n t h e d ay o f th e i n ci d en t

, an el ev at o r m ai n t en an ce

an d rep ai r tech n ici an em

p l o y ed b y Ko n e h ad b een at t he bu i l d i ng fo r ap p ro x i m at el y

1 (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed

. ) Ho m e Bu i l d er s As sn

. o f S a va n n a h v.

Ch a t ha m Co u n t

y

, 2 7 6 Ga. 2 4 3

, 2 4 5 (1 ) (5 77 SE2 d 5 6 4 ) (2 0 0 3), qu o t i n g La u ’s Co r p.

v. Ha s ki n s , 2 6 1 Ga. 4 9 1 (4 0 5 SE2 d 4 7 4 ) (1 9 9 1 ).

2n i n e ho u rs s erv i ci n g el ev at o rs o n e, t h ree, an d fo u r, p lu s t h e frei g h t el ev at o r. 2 Becau s e

o f t h e i n ju ry t o Hi l l , t h e i n ci d en t was rep o rt ed t o t h e Geo rg i a Dep art m en t o f Lab o r,

wh i ch s en t a rep res en t at i v e t o i n sp ect t h e el ev at o r w i t h a Ko n e em p l o y ee t h e n ex t

d ay

. Th e reco rd co n tai n s ev id en ce t h at t h e el ev at o r th ey i n s pect ed was t h e s eco n d o n

t h e l eft (el ev at o r n u m

b er th ree), wh ereas t h e el ev at o r Hi l l fel l i n was t h e fi rs t o n t h e

l eft (el ev at o r n u m

ber fo u r). No d efect s were fo u n d d u ri n g t h e i n s p ect i o n

.

Bas ed o n Hi l l ’ s i n

ju ry

, s h e su ed t h e b u i l d i ng o w n er an d Ko n e, wh i ch

m ai n t ai n ed t he el ev at o rs p u rs u an t t o a co n tract wi t h t h e b u i ld i n g o wn er. Fo l l o wi n g

d i s co v ery

, Ko ne m o ved fo r su m m ary j u d gm en t

, arg u i n g t h a t Hi l l co u l d sh o w n o

m at eri al i s s u e of fact as to i t s l i ab i l i t y

. In res p o ns e, Hi l l rel i ed in p art o n an affi d av i t

fro m h e r e x p e rt wh o av erred t h at t h e Ko n e s erv i ce t ech n ici an wh o m ai n t ai n ed t h e

el ev at o rs d i d so i n a m an n er i n co n s i s ten t w i t h t he ap p ro p ri at e KONE m ai n t en an ce

m an u al

. Fo r ex am

p l e, t he t ech n i ci an d en ied in a d ep o s i t i o n t hat cert ai n l ev el i n g

ch aract eri s ti cs s h o u l d b e ch eck ed d u ri n g ro u t i n e m ai n ten an ce, wh i c h d en i al

co n trad i ct ed t h e pro ced u re i n t h e m ai nt en an ce m a n u al

. Th e ex p ert al s o n o t ed

p ro b lem s wi t h Ko n e’ s reco rd keep i ng (i n cl u d i n g m i s l ab el i n g wh ic h e le va tor ha d be e n

2 Bas ed o n t he d es cri p t i o n b y Hi l l ’ s co wo rk er, t h e s u bject el ev at o r was el ev at o r

fo u r.

3s erv i ced ) an d t h at al l of t h e el ev at o rs i n t h e bu i l d in g h ad ex p eri en ced l ev el i n g i s s u es

i n t h e p as t

. Th e ex pert av erred t h at Ko n e b r e a c h e d i n d u st ry st an d ard s fo r p ro p er

m ai n t en an ce an d i ns p ect i o n an d t h a t “ h ad t he p ro p er t es t s an d i n s pect i o n an d

m ai n t en an ce o f t h e el ev at o rs t ak en pl ace, t h e co m p o n en t s th at we r e cau s i n g

m i s l ev el i n g i s s u es wo ul d h av e b een i d en t i fi ed

, an d K o n e wo ul d h av e k n o wn t o m ak e

t h e n eed ed co rrect i o n s t o t h e eq u i p m en t

. . . b efo re th e m al fu n ct i o n ” t h at i nju red Hi l l

.

Fo l l owi n g a h eari n g

, th e t ri al co u rt g ran ted t h e m ot i o n

, gi v i n g r i s e t o t h i s

ap p eal

.

Hi l l co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b ecau s e t h e reco rd co nt ai n s fact u al

i s su es as t o wh et her t h e p ro p er el ev at o r w as t ak en o u t o f s e r v i c e a n d i n s p ect ed as

req u i red b y OCGA § 8 -2 -1 0 6 (c), wh i ch i s s u es gi v e ri se t o a s p ol i at i o n p res u m p t i o n

p recl u d i n g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t at t h i s s t ag e. W e ag ree.

O CGA § 8 -2 -1 0 6 ad d res s es el ev at o r acci d en t s an d p ro v i d es as fo l l o ws

, i n

rel ev an t p art :

(a) Th e [b u i l d i n g ] o w n er o r l es s ee sh al l rep ort

, b y tel ep h o ne, t o th e

en fo rcem en t au t h ori ty on t h e sam e d ay o r b y n o o n o n t h e n ex t wo rk d ay

,

. . . al l el ev at o r

. . . rel at ed acci d en ts i n vo l v i n g p ers o n al in ju ry or deat h

.

Th e o wn er o r l es s ee sh al l al s o p ro v id e a wri t t en rep o rt o f t h i s acci d en t

wi t h in s ev en d ay s

.

4. . .

(c) An y el ev at o r

. . . i n v o l v ed i n an acci d en t des cri b ed i n s u b s ect i o n (a)

. . . o f t h i s Co d e s ect i on s h al l b e rem o ved fro m s erv i ce at t he t i m e o f th e

acci d en t. Th e eq ui

p men t s h a l l no t b e r ep ai r ed

, a l ter ed

, o r p l a ced

b a ck

i n s er vi ce u n t i l in s

pect ed b y a c e r t i f i ed i n s p ect o r f or t h e en f o r cemen t

a u t h o r it y

. 3

Th i s Co u rt h as h el d t h at fai l u re to co m p l y wi th t h e s t at u t e, wh et h er

i n t en t i o n al l y o r b y m i s t ak e, “ wo u l d co n s t it u t e a fo rm o f s p o l i at i o n o f ev i d en ce,

b ecau s e b y wo rk i ng o n t h e el ev at o r [p ri o r t o i n s pect i o n ]

, t h e ev i d en ce wo u l d h av e

b een t am p ered wi t h

, al tered [,] o r d es t ro y ed .” 4 “ Sp o l i at io n

. . . creat es t h e p res u m p t i o n

t h a t t h e e v i d en ce wo u l d h av e b een harm fu l t o th e s p o l i at o r. Pro o f o f su ch co n d u c t

wo u l d rai s e a reb u t t ab l e pres u m p t i o n ag ai n s t [Ko n e] t h at th e ev i d en ce fav o red [Hi l l ]

,

a fact ren d eri n g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i nap p ro p ri at e.” 5

Here, th ere i s ev i d en ce t h at t h e i ns p ect io n au t h o ri t i es were no t i fi ed an d cam e

t o i n s p ect t h e el ev at o r, b u t t h ere i s s o m e e v i d e n c e th at t h e p os t -i n ci d en t i n s p ect i o n

3 (Em p h as i s s u p pl i ed .)

4 La n e v. Mo n t

g omer y E l eva t o r Co

. , 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 3

, 5 2 5 (1 ) (4 8 4 SE2 d 2 4 9 )

(1 9 9 7).

5 (Ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed .) Id

.

5was d o n e o n t h e wro n g el ev at or. T h u s

, t h ere i s a q u es t i o n o f fact as t o wh et h er t h e

co rrect el ev a t o r wa s t ak en o u t o f s erv i ce an d wh et h er t h e co rrect el ev at o r was

i n s p ect ed i m

m ed i at el y fo l l owi n g t h e i n ci d en t

, as req u i red by OCGA § 8 -2 -1 0 6.

“ [T] h e fact t h at

. . . t h e s t at e in s p ect o r

. . . co u l d n o t i d en t i fy p reci s el y w h at cau s ed t h e

m i s l ev el i n g can h ard l y b e s u rp ri s i n g i n l i g h t o f t h e ev i d en ce th at ” th e i n sp ect i o n was

o n t h e wro n g el ev at or. 6 Becau s e t h e reco rd co nt ai n s a f a c t u a l d is pu t e as to

co m p l ian ce wi th OCGA § 8 -2 -1 0 6

, an d i n l i g h t o f t h e ex pert t es t i m o ny as t o Ko n e’ s

fai l u re t o pro p erl y m ai n tai n th e e l e v a t o r at i ss u e, s u m m ary ju d g m en t was n ot

ap p ro p ri at e. 7

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Mi l l er a n d

Di l la r d , JJ., co n cu r

.

6 Id . at 5 2 6 (1 ).

7 See i d

. See al so B ea ch v. B.F. Sa u l Pr o per t y Co

. , 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 9

, 6 9 6 (2 )

(6 9 4 SE2 d 1 47 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (p h y s i cal p reced en t o n l y ) (d u e t o s o m e ev i d en ce o f an i n ju ry

i m p l i cat i n g O CGA § 8 -2 -1 06

, ju ry was en t i t l ed “ i f n o t h i n g el s e” t o d eci de wh et h er

s p o l i at i o n aro s e u n d er OCGA § 8 -2 -1 0 6 ; “ [p ] ro o f of sp o li at i o n rai s es a reb u t t ab l e

p res u m p t i o n t h at t h e ev i d en ce wo u l d hav e been h arm fu l to [t h e pro p ert y o wn er] an d

t h u s t h e ev i d e n c e fav o red [t he p l ai n t i ffs ]

, a fact ren d eri n g t h e g ran t o f a d i rect ed

v erd i ct i n ap p ro p ri at e”); Th o ma s v. MARTA

, 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 9 8

, 1 0 0 -1 0 1 (1 ) (6 8 4 SE2 d

8 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (s u m

m ary ju dg m en t p recl u ded b y

s p ol i at i o n ).

6