FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M C M I LLI A N and M ERCI ER, 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

October 27, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A 1 7 A 1 2 9 0

. VINEYARD IN D U S T R I E S

, I N C

. d/b/a M c D O N A L D ’ S

RESTAURANTS v . DESTA BAILEY et al

.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Vi n ey ard In d u st ri es

, In c., d / b / a M cDo n al d ’ s Res t au ran t s (“ Vi n ey ard ”) ap p eal s

t h e ju d g m en t en tered ag ai n s t it i n a n eg l i g en ce act i o n bro u g ht b y Des t a Bai l e y

, as

p aren t an d g u ard i an f

or A ntonia B a iley

, a m i n or (co l l ect i v el y t h e “ Bai l ey s ”).Vi n ey ard

arg u es o n ap p eal t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n (1 ) al l o wi n g th e Bai l ey s ’ co u n s el t o u s e

s t ory bo ard s wi t h p i ct u r e s of tes t i fy i n g w i t nes s es an d q u o t at i o n s fro m t h ei r d ep o s i t i o n

t es t i m o ny i n o p en i n g s t at em en t t h at were i n co n s i s ten t wi t h th ei r t ri al tes t im o n y ; (2 )

ex cl u d i n g cert ai n tes ti m o n y b y Vi n ey ard ’ s ex p ert wi t n es s; an d (3 ) en t eri n g ju d g m en t

o n t h e p ai n an d su fferi ng d am ag es award ed b y t h e ju ry

, wh i ch V i n ey ard as s ert s was

i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e ev i d en ce at t ri al . Fo r t h e fo l l o wi ng reas o ns , we affi rm

.On ap p eal

, t h e p res um p t i o n as t o t h e v al i d i t y o f a ju ry v erd i ct req u i res t h at al l

t h e ev i d e n c e a n d ev ery p res u m p t i o n an d i n feren ce d rawn fro m t he ev i d en ce b e

co n st ru ed m o s t fav o rab l y t o t he ju ry v erd i ct

. McIn tee v. Der a mu s

, 3 1 3 G a. A p p

. 6 5 3,

6 5 3 (7 2 2 SE2 d 3 7 7 ) (2 0 12 ). So co n s t ru ed

, th e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at o n th e m o rn i n g

o f Ap ri l 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

, b efo re h ead i n g to s ch oo l

, An t o n i a Bai l ey (“ An t o n i a”) s to p p ed fo r

b reak fas t at a M cDo n al d ’ s res t au ran t o wn ed by Vi n ey ard

. A f t e r o rd eri n g

, An t o n i a

wen t to th e res t ro o m

, wh i ch was i n t h e o p p o s i t e d irect i o n fro m b o th t h e d o o r s h e h ad

en t ered an d t h e res t au ran t ’ s d ri n k m ach i n e. Aft er ex i t i n g th e res tro o m

, An t o n i a

wal k ed t o ward th e d ri nk m ach i n e. Sh e w as wat ch i n g wh e r e s h e w as wal k i n g an d

l o o k i n g at t h e d ri n k m ach i n e. Sh e was n o t o n h er cel l p h o n e o r ot h erwi s e d i s t ract ed

.

Nev ert h el es s , s h e s l i p p ed i n fro n t o f t h e d ri nk m ach in e an d fel l

.

An t o n i a rem em

bers t h at aft er s h e fel l s h e n o t i ced t h a t t h e fl o o r aro u n d t h e

d ri n k m ach i n e was w et

, an d a nu m b er of w i t nes s es t es t i fi ed t h at i t ap p eared t h at t h e

area h ad ju s t b een m o p p ed

. In fact

, wh en An t on i a lan d ed

, s h e w a s f a ci n g a

M cDo n al d s’ wo rk er wh o w as m o p p i n g an o t h er area o f t h e res t au ran t

. H o wev er,

A n t o n ia d i d n o t see a wet fl o o r s i g n i n t h e vi ci n i t y o f t h e d ri n k m ach i ne or i n t h e

d i rect i o n fro m wh ich s h e h ad wal k ed

, an d on e o f t h e cas h i ers

, wh o cam e t o h el p h er

aft er s h e fel l

, t o l d h er t h at t he em p l o y ee was m o p p i n g an d s h o ul d h av e pu t o u t a wet

2fl oo r si g n

. T h e o n l y wet fl o or s i g n an y o n e rem em b ered s eei n g was i n t h e v i ci n i t y

wh ere t he em

p l o y ee w as t h en m o p p i n g

, w h i ch was b y t h e d ri v e-t h ro u g h en t ran ce t h at

An t on i a h ad u sed t o en t er t h e res t au ran t

, al t h o u gh n ei t h er th e em p l oy ee n o r t h e s i g n

were t h ere wh en s h e en t ered t h e b u il d i n g

.

On Fe b r u ary 1 4

, 2 01 4

, D es t a Bai l ey fi l ed s u it o n b eh al f o f her t h en -m i n o r

d au gh t er, An t o n i a, ag ai n s t Vi n ey ard fo r d am ag es u n d er a n eg l i g en ce t h eo ry

. A ju ry

t ri al co m m en ced o n J a n u a r y 1 9

, 2 0 1 6 an d was co m p l et ed t wo d ay s lat er wi t h t h e

ju ry ’ s ret u rn of a v erd i ct i n fav o r o f t h e Bai l ey s. T h e t ri al co urt en t ered ju d g m en t in

acco rd an ce wi t h t h e v erd i ct

, award i n g $ 1 6 ,2 0 6 .5 1 t o Des ta fo r p as t m ed i cal ex p en s es

i n cu rred on b eh al f o f An t o n i a an d $ 2 8

, 2 2 4 .8 2 fo r p as t m ed i cal ex p en ses

, $ 29 ,9 9 9 fo r

fu t u re m ed i cal ex p en s es

, an d $ 6 0 0

, 0 0 0 fo r p ai n an d s u fferi n g t o An t o n i a. It al s o

en t ered ju d g m en t fo r Des t a Bai l ey i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ 1 0 ,9 28 .9 4 as i n t eres t u n d er

Geo rg i a’ s Un l i q u i d at ed Dam ag es Act

. Fo l l o wi n g t h e d en i al o f i t s m o t io n fo r a n ew

t ri al , Vi n ey ard fi l ed t hi s ap p eal

.

1

. In Vi n ey ard ’ s fi rs t en um erat i o n o f erro r, i t co nt en d s t h at th e Bai l ey s ’ u s e o f

d em o n s t rat i v e ex hi b i t s d u ri n g o p e n i n g s t at em en t wi t h qu o t at i o n s fro m wi t n es s es ’

d ep os i t i o n s was i m

p ro p er an d t h e q uo t at i o n s p reju d iced t h e ju ry b ecau s e t h ey

were

i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al

.

3In a ci v i l t ri al

, “ co un s el fo r ei t h er p art y s h al l b e p erm it t ed t o u s e a bl ack b o ard

an d m o d el s or s i m i l ar d ev i ces i n co n nect io n wi t h h i s a rg um en t fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f

i l lu s t rat i n g h i s co n t en t i o n s w i t h res p ect t o t h e is su es wh i ch are t o b e d eci ded b y t h e

ju ry

, p ro v i d ed t h at co u n s el s h al l n ot i n wri t i ng p res en t an y arg um en t t h at co u l d n ot

p ro p erl y b e m ad e o ral l y

. ” O CGA § 9 -1 0 -1 8 3. Co u n s el are g i v en w i d e l at it u d e i n t h e

u s e o f d em o ns trat iv es to as s i s t in th e ju ry ’ s u n d ers t an d i n g o f t h e i ss u es t o b e d eci d ed

at t ri al

. Ten ch v. Ga l a xy Ap p l i a n ce & Fu r n i t u r e S

a l es

, In c.

, 2 5 5 Ga. A p p

. 8 2 9

, 8 3 0 -3 1

(1 ) (a) (5 6 7 SE2 d 5 3 ) (2 00 2 ) (p h y s i cal preced en t o n l y ); Og l et h o rp e Po wer Co r p

. v.

S h er if f

, 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 9

, 3 0 3 (6 ) (4 36 SE2 d 1 4 ) (1 9 9 3 ). See al s o Lewyn v. Mo r r i s

,

1 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 9

, 2 9 0 (1 ) (2 1 7 SE2 d 6 4 2 ) (1 9 7 5 ) (“ Co u n s el fo r bo t h p art i es i n ei t h er

a ci v il or a cri m i n al cas e, p rel i m i n ary t o t h e in t ro d u ct io n o f ev i d en ce, m ay s t at e t o t h e

ju ry w h at each ex p ect s t o p ro v e o n t h e t ri al .”) (ci t at io n a n d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Up o n o bject i o n to s uch ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co u rt h as d i s cret i o n i n d et erm i n in g wh et h er

s u ch d em o ns trat iv e ex h ib i t s w i l l b e al l o wed

, wh i ch we wi l l u p h o l d ab s en t an ab u s e

o f th at d i s cret i o n

. Sh er i

f f

, 2 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 0 3 (6 ) (t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n al l owi ng co u n s el t o read l aw i n a ci v il cas e d u r i n g o pen i n g arg u m en t

an d t o pres en t “ su ch l aw b y m ean s o f ex cerp t s o n ch art s ”).

4It i s ev i d en t fro m t h e reco rd t h at Bai l ey s ’ co u n s el u s ed tri al b o ard s in o p en i n g

s t at em en t wi t h q uo t at i o n s fro m wi t n es s dep o s i t i on s an d t h at Vi n ey ard ’ s co u n s el

o b j e c t e d t o t h e i r u s e. Co u ns el ’ s s t at ed u s e fo r th es e t ri al b oard s w as t o as s i s t in

cl ari fy i ng t o t h e ju ry wh at h e i n t en ded t h e ev id en ce t o s h ow b y al l o wi n g th e ju ry “ to

read al o n g s o t h at i t d o es n ’ t al l s t ream t o g et her an d g e t l o s t

. ” Ho wev er, t h e t ri al

b o ard s were n o t i n cl ud ed i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal n o r do es i t ap p ear t h at Vi n ey ard

req u es t ed t h at t h ey b e p res erv ed fo r ap p eal

. As t he ap p eal in g p art y

, Vi n ey ard “ b o re

t h e b u rd en o f en su ri n g an accu rat e an d co m p l et e reco rd o n ap p eal an d o f t ak i n g s t ep s

t o hav e t h e r e c o rd s u p p l em en t ed wi t h an y neces s ary m at eri al s .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n c t u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Cen t r a l Ga

. W o m en ’s Hea l t h Cen t er

, LLC v. Dea n

, 3 4 2 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 2 7

, 1 3 3 (1 ) (a) (8 0 0 SE2 d 59 4 ) (2 0 1 7). See al s o Gr i f f i n B u i l d e r

s v

. S yn o vu s

Ba n k

, 3 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 3 0 7

, 30 9 (7 3 9 SE2 d 7 6 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ [I] t i s t h e ap p el l an t ’ s d u t y to

i n cl u d e in t h e reco rd o n ap p eal t h e i t em s neces s ary fo r th e ap p el l at e c o u r t t o

o b ject i vel y rev i ew t h e ev i d en ce an d p ro ceed i n g s g i v i n g ri s e t o [t h e t ri al c o urt ’ s

ru l i n g.] ”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ); Ga. Ct

. A p p

. R

. 18 (b ) (“ [I] t i s t h e

b u rd en o f t h e ap p eal i n g p art y t o en s u re t h at a co m

p l et e reco rd i s t ran s m i t t ed t o t h i s

Co u rt o n ap p eal [.] ”) A cco rd i n g l y

, we m u s t p res u m e t hat t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g

, an d t h u s we fi nd n o ab u s e o f di s cret io n i n p erm i t t i n g t h e t ri al

5b o ard s t o b e u s ed du ri n g o p en in g s t at em en t

. 1 See Cr a wf o r d v. S t a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 4 2 5

, 4 2 7

(2 ) (a) (7 0 4 SE2 d 7 7 2) (2 01 1 ).

2

. Vi n ey ard n ex t arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n al l o wi n g t h e Bai l ey s to

m ak e a p u rp o rt ed l y u n ti m el y o b ject i on t o a p o rt i o n o f Vi n ey ard ’ s ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o ny

an d i n ex cl u d i n g t h at t es t i m on y aft er a h eari n g

. T h e t r i al co u rt ’ s det erm in at i o n o f

w h et h er a wi t n es s i s q u al i fi ed as an ex p ert an d wh et her t o ex cl u d e a p ort i o n o r t h e

en t i ret y o f an e x p e r t ’ s t es t i m o n y s h al l n ot b e d i s t u rb ed ab sen t m an i fes t ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

. HNTB Ga

., In c. v. Ha mi l t on -Ki n g

, 2 8 7 G a. 64 1

, 6 4 2 (1 ) (6 9 7 SE2 d 7 7 0 )

(2 0 1 0); Ma s on v. Ho me Dep o t U

. S

. A

. , I n c.

, 2 8 3 Ga. 2 7 1

, 2 7 9 (5 ) (6 5 8 SE2 d 6 0 3 )

(2 0 0 8).

On t h e m o rn i n g o f t ri al

, th e Bai l ey s m ad e a v erb al m o ti o n in l i m i n e s eek i n g to

p recl u d e V i n ey ard ’ s ex p ert

, Dr. Eri c Bo u l ho u wer, Ph .D., fro m t es ti fy i n g reg ard i n g

o n e o f h i s fo ur pro p o s ed o p i n io n s

, arg u in g t h at i t was n o t b as ed u p o n a n y r el i ab l e

1 To t h e ex t en t t h at V i n ey ard al s o as s ert s erro r b as ed o n t h e Bai l ey s ’ co u n sel ’ s

read i n g dep o si t i on t es t i m o n y d u ri n g h i s o p en i n g s t at em en t

, we fi n d th at i t h as wai v ed

an y su ch arg u m en t o n ap p eal

. Vi n ey ard has n o t p o i n t ed u s t o an y o b j ect i o n i t rai s ed

t o t h i s p ort io n o f op en i n g s t at em en t or an y ru l in g b y t h e t ri al co u rt o n t h i s g ro u n d

. It

i s wel l s et t l ed t h at “ [w] h en a p a r t y f ai ls t o as s ert a co nt em

p o ran eo u s o b

ject i o n to

al l eg ed l y i m

p ro p er rem ark s o f co u n sel

, th e p art y w ai v es hi s ri g h t t o co m p l ai n ab o ut

t h e rem ark s o n ap peal .” (Ci t at i on an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W o m a ck v. Jo h n s o n

, 3 2 8

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

6m et h o do l o gy an d t h at i t wo u l d n o t b e hel p fu l t o t h e ju r y. T h e t ri al co u rt res erv ed

ru l i n g o n t h i s m o t i o n u n t il Vi n ey ard cal l ed Dr. Bo u l h o u s wer t o t es t i fy

. Th e t ri al co u rt

h el d a h eari n g s ho rt l y b efo re Dr. Bo u l ho u wer was cal l ed t o t es t i fy , an d b as ed u p o n

t h e v o i r d i re t es t i m o n y t h e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at al t h o u g h Vi n ey ard co ul d arg u e

t h e s u b st an ce o f Dr. Bo u l h o u wer’ s o p in i on

, h e co u l d n o t t es t i fy t o th at o p i n i o n as an

ex p ert

. 2

(a) Vi n ey ard fi rs t arg u es t h at t h e Bai l ey s ’ o b ject i on t o Dr. Bo u l h o u wer’ s

t es t i m o ny w as u n ti m el y b ecau s e i t was m ad e aft er t h e p ret ri al ord er was en t ered

, an d

t h e t ri al co urt co m

m it t ed rev ers i b l e erro r i n al l owi n g s u ch an u n ti m el y o bject i o n

.

Un d er OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2 (d ), th e tri al co u rt m ay

, u p o n m o ti o n b y on e o f t h e

p art i e s

, h o l d a p ret ri al h eari n g to d et erm i n e wh et h er a p ro p os ed ex pert wi t n es s

q u al i f i e s a s a n ex pert u n d er th e s t at u t e an d i f hi s t es t i m o n y m eet s th e req ui rem en t s

o f O CGA § 2 4 -7 -7 02 (a) an d (b ) t o t es t i fy as an ex pert

. Th e st at ut e p ro v i d es t h at s u ch

a h ear i n g an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g “ sh al l b e co m p l et ed n o l at er t h an t h e fi n al

p ret ri al co n feren ce.” OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2

.

In t h i s cas e, ho wev er, Vi n ey ard d id n o t i d en t ify Dr. Bo el h o u w er as an ex p ert

wi t n es s u n t i l o n e b us i nes s d ay b efo re t h e co n s o l id at ed p ret ri al o rd er w as fi l ed

. Th e

2 Th e s u b st an ce o f t h i s o p i n i o n wi l l b e ad dres s ed i n Di v i si o n 2 (b ) b el o w.

7p ret ri al o rd er res erv ed t h e Bai l ey s ’ ri g h t t o fi l e m ot i o n s t o ch al l en ge a n y l a t e

d i s cl os ed ex p ert s

, an d t h e Bai l ey s

, o n t h e m o rn i ng o f t ri al

, b ro u gh t t h ei r m o ti o n t o t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s at t en t i o n s ev eral d ay s aft er Dr. Bo el h o uwer w as p res en t ed fo r d ep o s i t i o n.

See OCGA § 9 -1 1-1 6 (b ) (“ Th e o rd er, wh en en tered

, co n t ro l s t h e s u b s eq u en t co u rs e

o f t h e act i o n u nl es s m o d i fi ed at t h e t ri al t o p rev en t m an i fes t i n ju s t i ce.”). M o reo v er,

t h e reco rd co nt ai n s n o i n d i cat i on t h at t h e t ri al co urt h el d a fi n al p ret ri al co n feren ce

at wh i ch th e m o t i on i n l i m i n e co u l d h av e b een heard

. A cco rd i ng l y

, we fi n d n o ab u s e

o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n t o en t ert ai n th e Bai l ey s ’ m o t i o n

. Gi a n no t t i v. Bel ez a

Ha i r S a lo n

, In c.

, 29 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 6

, 6 40 -4 1 (1 ) (6 7 5 SE2 d 5 4 4 ) (2 00 9 ) (n o ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n f

o r t ri al co u rt t o co n s i d er m o t i o n in l i m i n e to ex cl ud e ex p ert t es t i m o ny

wh en e x p e rt was i d en t i fi ed t wo y ears aft er i n t erro gat o ri es req ues t i n g n am es an d

o p i n i o n s o f ex p ert s were s erv ed an d d ep o s i ti o n was no t s ch ed u l ed u nt i l o n e week

b efo re t ri al ); Ga

. D ep t

. o

f Tr a n s p

. v. Ba l d wi n

, 2 9 2 G a. Ap p

. 8 1 6

, 8 1 8 n

. 3 (6 6 5 SE2 d

8 9 8 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (ack n o wl ed g i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s d is cret i o n t o en t ert ai n ob ject i o n t o ex p ert

t es t i m o ny ev en wh ere m o t i on in l i m i n e i s u n ti m el y ). Cf. Fo r d Mo t o r Co

. v. Gi b s o n

,

82 8 3 Ga. 3 9 8

, 4 0 3 (5 ) (6 5 9 SE2 d 3 4 6 ) (2 00 8 ) (m o ti o n t o e x c l u d e ex p ert t es t i m o ny

fi led sev eral m o n th s aft er fi n al p ret ri al co n feren ce was u n t i m el y ). 3

(b ) Vi n ey ard al so arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n gran t i n g t h e m o t i o n in

l i m i ne b ecau s e Dr. Bo u l h ou w er m et al l t h e cri t eri a fo r t es ti fy i n g u n d er OCGA § 2 4 -7

-

7 0 2 (b ) an d h i s o p i ni o n wo ul d h av e b een b o t h h el p fu l t o t h e ju ry an d rel ev an t

.

Dr. Bo u l h o u wer’ s d i s p ut ed o p i n i on w as t h at “ o n e can n o t co ncl u d e t o a

reas on ab l e d eg ree o f s ci en t i fi c cert ai n ty t h at had a d i fferen t o r ad d i t i o n al warn i n g

b een p re s e n ted t o an i n d i v i du al [i n An t o n i a’ s p o si t io n ] th at wo ul d neces s ar[i l y ]

c h a n g e t hei r b eh av i o r i n s u ch a m an n er as t o av o i d t h i s acci den t.” Dr. Bo u l h o u w e r

l at er ex p l ai n ed t h at “ t o a reas o n ab l e d eg ree o f s ci en t i fi c cert ai n t y ” m ean t t h at “ t h ere

was n o ev i den ce i n t h e s ci en t ifi c l i t erat u re t o s u p p o rt t h at an ad d i t i o nal warn i n g s i g n

wo u l d ch an g e s o m eo ne’ s beh av i o r,” n o ti n g t hat t h e s ci en t i fi c l i t erat u re s u g g es t s t h at

al t h o u g h s o m e p eo p l e m ay ch an g e t h ei r b eh av io r i n res p o n s e t o a warn i n g s i g n

, n ot

al l p eo p l e wi l l

. Dr. Bo u l h o u wer b as ed h i s o p i ni o n on hi s u n d ers t an d i ng o f t h e

s ci en t i fi c l i t erat u re

, an d h e b ro u g h t s ev eral art i cl es t o co u rt o f wh i ch h e was aware,

3 Becau s e OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2 carri es fo rward t h e l an g u ag e fro m fo rm er OCGA

§ 2 4-9 -6 7 .1 (d ) req u iri n g t h at m o t i o n s t o d et erm i n e t h e q ual i fi cat i o ns o f ex p ert s b e

h eard an d ru led u p o n no l at er t h an t h e fi nal p ret ri al co n feren ce, pri o r cas es co n s t ru i n g

t h at l an g u ag e u n d er t he earl i er s t at u t e rem ai n g o o d l aw.

9b u t u p on wh i ch h e di d n o t s p eci fi cal l y rel y

, i n fo rm in g h i s op i ni o n

. In ex p l ai n i n g h i s

o p i n i o n

, D r. Bo el h o u wer ci t ed o n e s tu d y th at dem o n s trat ed t h at n o t al l p eo p l e ch o s e

t o av o i d an area co n t ai n i n g a wet fl o o r si g n

, b u t h e co n ced ed t h at t h i s res earch m ad e

n o at t em pt t o s t u d y wh et h er t h o s e i n d i v i d u al s wh o ch o se t o pro ceed d es p i t e t h e

warn i n g al t ered t h e m an n er i n wh i ch t h ey t rav ers ed t h e affect ed area.

OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2 (b ) p ro v i d es :

If s ci en t i fi c, t ech ni cal

, o r o t h er s p eci al ized k n owl ed g e w i l l as s is t th e

t ri er o f fact t o u n d ers t an d t h e ev i d en ce o r t o d et erm i n e a fact i n i s s u e, a

wi t n es s q ual i fi ed as an ex p ert b y k no wl ed g e, s k i l l

, ex p eri en ce, t rai n i n g

,

o r ed u cat i o n m ay t es t i fy t h eret o i n t he fo rm o f an op i n i o n o r ot h erwi s e,

i f: (1 ) Th e t es t i m o n y i s b as ed u p o n s u ffi ci en t fact s o r d a t a; (2 ) T he

t es t i m o n y i s t h e p ro d u ct o f rel i ab l e p ri n ci p les an d m et h o d s; an d (3 ) T he

wi t n es s h as ap p l i ed t h e p ri n ci p l es an d m et ho d s rel i ab l y t o t he fact s o f

t h e cas e wh i ch h av e b een o r wi l l b e ad m i t t ed i n t o ev i d en ce b efo re th e

t ri er o f fact

.

Th e p art y s eek i n g t o rel y o n t h e ex p ert b ears t he b u rd en o f es t ab l i s h in g n o t o n l y t h at

an ex pert i s q u al i fi ed an d t h at t h e ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o ny i s rel i ab l e w i t hi n t h e m ean i n g

o f t h e s t at u t e, b ut al so t hat t he t es t i m o n y w i l l b e h el p fu l t o t h e ju ry

. S ca pa Dr yer

Fa b ri cs

, In c. v. Kn i

g ht , 2 9 9 Ga. 2 86 , 2 9 3 (7 8 8 SE2 d 4 2 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

10Al t h ou g h t h e t ri al co urt m ad e n o s p eci fi c fi n d i n g s i n i t s d et erm i nat i o n t h at Dr.

B o u l h o u we r co u ld n ot t es t ify ab o u t t h e o p i n io n at is su e, we fi n d t h at Vi n ey ard h a s

fai l ed t o carry i t s b u rd en t o s h o w t h at t he t es t i m o n y was ad m i s si bl e. Vi n ey ard arg u ed

b el o w t h at Bo u l ho u wer’ s t es t i m o n y m et t h e s t at u to ry cri teri a b ecau s e t h e Bai l ey s d id

n o t d i s p ut e h i s co m

p et en cy t o t es t ify as a h u m an fact o rs ex p ert

, “ t here i s l i t erat u re to

s u p p ort h i s o p i ni on ,” an d t h e o p i n i o n i s b as ed o n t h i s li t erat u re an d n o t ju s t h i s

p ers o n al o p in io n

. Ho wev er, p ret erm it t in g wh et her Vi n ey ard h as s h o wn t h at Dr.

Bo el ho u wer b as ed h i s o p i n i o n o n s u ffi ci en t fact s o r d at a o r wh et h er t h e o p i ni o n i s t h e

p ro d uct o f r e l i ab l e p ri nci p l es an d m et h od s

, Vi n ey ard h as fai l ed t o s h o w h o w Dr.

Bo el ho u we r a p p l i e d t h o s e p ri n ci p l es an d m et h o d s rel i ab l y t o t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, ev en as s u m i n g t h e l i t erat u re s h o ws t h at s o m e peo p l e res p o n d to

warn i n gs

, wh il e o t h ers d o n o t

, Dr. Bo el h o uwer fai l ed to ex p l ai n h o w s o m eo n e in

An t on i a’ s p o s i t i o n wo u l d h av e res p o n d ed t o a warn i n g s i g n i n t h e area o f t h e d ri n k

m ach i n e

. To t h e co n trary

, t h e g i s t o f h i s t es t i m o n y was th at n o on e co u ld s ay t o a

reas on ab l e d eg ree o f s ci en t i fi c cert ai n t y ho w an y o n e wo u l d react h ad a s i g n b een in

p l ace. M o reo v er, t he fact t h a t s o m e peo pl e d o n ot h eed warn i n g s i g n s an d o t h er

p eo pl e res p o n d t o t hem i s wi t h i n t h e co m m on k n o wl ed g e o f ju ro rs

, wi th o u t t h e n eed

11f

o r ex p ert o p i n io n, an d t h e t ri al co u rt p erm i t t ed Vi n ey ard to rai se t h at p o i n t i n i t s

arg u m en t t o t h e ju ry

.

Acco rd i ng l y

, we fi n d t h at V i n ey ard h as fai l ed t o es t ab li s h t h at th e tri al co u rt

a b u s ed i t s di s cret i o n i n ex cl u d i n g t h e ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o ny on t h i s i s s u e. See W i n t e r s

v. Fr u -Co n

, In c.

, 4 9 8 F3 d 7 3 4

, 74 1

, 7 4 3 (II) (C) (7 th Ci r. 2 0 0 7 ) (l o w er co u rt p ro p erl y

ex cl u d ed h um an fact ors ex p ert ’ s t es t im o n y wh ere i t fai l ed t o m eet req ui s i t e st an d ard s

o f i n t el l ect u al ri g o r); Ca l h ou n v. Y a ma h a Mo t o r Co r

p

. , 35 0 F3 d 3 1 6

, 3 2 2 (II) (A) (3 d

Ci r. 2 0 0 3 ) (t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n ex cl u d in g ex p ert op i ni o n t h at

l ack ed ad eq u at e fo u n d at io n i n l i t erat u re o r t es t i n g ); P r evi t o v. Ryo b i No r t h Amer i ca

,

In c.

, 7 6 6 FSu p p 2 d 7 5 9

, 7 6 6 (II) (B) (S.D. M is s

. 2 0 1 0) (ex cl u d i n g h u m an fact o r’ s

ex p ert ’ s t es t i m o n y b as ed u p o n i n s u f fi ci en t fact s an d d at a); Ca l vi t t v. Pr o ct er &

Ga mb l e Mf

g

. Co

. , 2 0 7 FSu p p 2 d 5 2 7 (I) (M .D. La. 2 0 0 2) (ex cl u d i n g t es t i m o n y o f

h u m an fact o rs ’ ex p ert wh ere ad eq u acy o f warn i ng was fact u al i s su e t h at ju ry co u ld

h an dl e wi t h o u t ex p ert h el p ).

3

. Vi n ey ard fu rt h er arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u r t e r r ed i n en t eri ng ju d g m en t

b ecau s e t h e ju ry award o f d am ag es was co n t rary t o t h e prep o n d eran ce o f t h e

ev i d en ce. W e fi n d n o erro r.

12“ W h ere a ju ry ret u rn s a v erd ic t a n d i t h a s t h e ap p ro v al o f th e t ri al ju d g e, t h e

s am e m u s t b e affi rm ed o n ap p eal i f t h ere i s an y ev id en ce t o s u p p o rt i t as t h e ju ro rs are

t h e s o l e an d ex cl u s iv e ju d g es o f t h e wei g h t an d cred i t g i v en t h e ev i d en ce.” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) McIn t ee

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 5 3

. See al s o B ea m v. Ki n g s l ey

, 2 5 5 Ga. Ap p.

7 1 5 , 7 1 6 (1 ) (5 6 6 SE2 d 4 37 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

(a) Vi n ey ard co m

p l ai n s t h at t h e ju ry ’ s ap p o rt i o n m en t of n o f a u l t t o An t o n i a

was erro r b ecau s e i t w e n t ag ai n s t t h e wei gh t o f t h e ev i d en ce an d t h at An t o n i a’ s

“ ad m i s s i o n s ” m ean t h at n o reas o n ab l e ju ry co u l d d et erm in e t h at Vi n ey ard h ad

s u p eri o r k n o wl ed g e o f t h e wet fl o o r. Vi n ey ard ci t es as ad m i ss i on s A n t o n i a’ s an s wers

o n cro s s -ex am i n at i on t h at

, b as ed o n her pas t ex p eri en ces i n res t au ran t s s u ch as

M cDo n al d ’ s

, s h e k new t h at t h e f l o o r i n fro nt o f a dri n k s t at i o n co u l d b eco m e wet

fro m ex ces s i ce an d dri n k s an d t h at s h e di d n o t need a s i g n t o t el l h er t h at

. H o wev er,

ev en t h o u g h An t o ni a ad m it t ed th at s h e k new t h at su ch areas co u l d b eco m e wet

, t h ere

was n o ev i d en ce t o s h o w t h a t s h e s aw t hat t h e fl oo r at M cDo n al d ’ s was wet t h at

m o rn i n g, t hat s h e k n e w i t h ad recen tl y b een m o p p ed

, o r t h at t h e wet area ex t en d ed

fro m t h e d r i v e

- t h r o u g h d o or t o t h e wal l

, n o t j u s t i n t h e i m m ed i at e area o f t h e d ri n k

m ach i n e. In fact

, t he ev i d en ce i s t o t h e co n t rary

. An t o n i a t es t i fi ed t h at s h e was al way s

carefu l aro un d d ri n k m ach i n es

, was n o t d is t ract ed

, was no t i n a h u rry

, was wat ch i n g

13wh ere s h e was g o i n g , was weari n g s n eak ers

, an d d i d no t s ee an y wat er o n t h e fl o o r

wh en s h e en t ered t h e d ri n k m ach i n e area. M o reo v er, th e ev i d en ce su p p o rt ed a fi n d i n g

t h at t h e fl o o r was wet

, n o t fro m s p i l l ed d ri nk s o r i c e

, b u t becau s e a Vi n ey ard

em pl o y ee h ad m o p ped t h e fl o o r aro u n d t h e d ri n k m ach i n e w i th o u t p o s t i n g a s i g n to

warn o f t h e wet su rface. Bas ed o n t h i s ev i d en ce, t h e ju ry was au t h o ri zed t o fi n d t h at

An t on i a b o re n o fau l t fo r h er fal l

.

(b ) Vi ney ard al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h ou l d h av e g ran ted a n ew t ri al o n

t h e is s u e o f dam ag es b ecau s e t h e award o f $ 60 0 ,0 0 0 fo r p ai n an d s u fferi n g, wh i ch

was 1 3 t i m e s t h e award fo r s p eci al d am ag es

, w as s o cl earl y ex ces s i v e t h at i t i s

i n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce.

“ Th e q u es t i o n o f d am ag es i s o rd i nari l y o ne fo r t h e ju ry ; an d t h e co u rt s h o u ld

n o t i n t erfere wi t h t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct u n l es s t he d am ag es award ed b y t h e ju ry are

cl earl y s o i nad eq u at e o r s o ex ces s i v e as t o be i n co n s i s t en t w i th t h e p rep o n deran ce o f

t h e ev i d en ce i n t he cas e.” OCGA § 51 -1 2 -1 2 (a). It is wel l es t ab li sh ed t h at t h e am o u nt

o f an award fo r p ai n an d s u fferi n g d am ag es

i s g o v ern ed b y n o o t h er s t a n d a r d t han t h e en l i g h t en ed co n s ci en ce o f

i m p art i al ju ro rs

. An d t h e d efen d an t h as a h eav y b u rd en un d er OCGA §

5 1 -1 2 -1 2 (a ) t o e s t ab li s h t h at su ch a d am ag e award i s ex ces s i v e. In

p art i cu l ar, ap p el l at e co u rt s s h o u l d b e h es i t an t t o s eco nd -g u es s verd i ct s

14wh ere t h e d am ag e award i s b as ed o n a n y s i g ni fi can t p art o n pai n an d

s u fferi n g

. . . . Th erefo re, fo r t h i s Co u rt t o ov ert u rn t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, i t

m u s t b e s o fl ag ran t l y ex ces s i v e o r i nad eq u at e, i n l ig h t o f t h e ev id en ce,

as t o creat e a cl ear i m

p l i cat i o n o f b i as

, p reju di ce, o r g ro s s m i s t ak e b y th e

ju ro rs

.

AT S ys t ems So u t h ea s t

, In c. v

. C

a r n es

, 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 1

, 6 7 1 (1 ) (6 1 3 SE2 d 1 5 0 )

(2 0 0 5).

Here, t h e ev i den ce s h o wed t h at aft er h er fal l

, An t o n i a fel t p ai n al o n g h er l eft

s i de fro m h er b o t t o m t o h er t h i gh an d d o w n her leg

. Th e s t o re m an ag er o ffered t o fi l l

o u t an i n ci d en t rep o rt

, bu t An t o n i a w an t ed to g et t o s ch oo l s o as to n o t b e l at e. Du ri n g

s ch o ol

, An t o n ia b eg an t o ex p eri en ce p ai n i n h er l e f t k n e e s ev ere en o u g h t h at h er

fat h er had t o p i ck h er up earl y fro m s ch oo l

. Th e n ex t day

, A n t o n i a wen t t o wo rk at

h er i n t ern s hi p wi t h a ped i at ri ci an ’ s offi ce b u t real ized t h at t h e p ai n was wo rs en i n g t h e

m o re s h e wal k ed aro u n d

. At t h at p o i n t

, th e d oct o r t o o k a l o o k at An t o n i a’ s k n ee an d

reco m m en d ed An to n i a s ee an o rt h o p ed i s t

.

On Ap ri l 2 2

, 2 0 1 3

, An t o n i a co n s ul t ed an ort h o p ed i s t

, an d a d i ag n o s t i c M RI

rev eal ed t h at s h e h ad a t o rn m en i s cu s

. Sh e u n d erwen t s u rg ery o n M ay 30 an d s p en t

t h e res t o f t h e s ch o ol y ear o n c r u t c h e s or i n a wh eel ch ai r. Pri o r to t h e fal l, An t o n i a

was en erg et i c an d an at h l et e w i t h n o h is to ry o f k n ee i s su es , p l ay i n g m u l t i p l e s p o rt s

15i n h i g h s ch o o l

. Aft er s u rg ery

, s h e was i n s ev ere p ai n

, b u t aft er p hy s i cal t h erap y

, s h e

was ab l e t o p u t s o m e wei g h t o n h er k n ee w i t h t h e as s is t an ce o f cru t ch es

, ev en t u al l y

i n creas i ng h er act i v i ty

l ev el i n an at t em

p t t o ret u rn t o co m

p et i t iv e s p o rt s. H o wev er,

t h e m o re act i v e An t o n i a was

, t h e m o r e p a i n s he h ad in her k n ee, s o s h e wen t t o a

s eco n d o rt h o p ed i s t i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 4

. Th e ort h o p ed i s t reco m m en d ed fu rt her p h y s i cal

t h erap y

, w h i ch An t o n ia u n d ert o o k

, an d an M RI wh en t h e p ai n s t i l l d i d no t reced e.

Bas ed o n t h e M RI res u l t s d uri ng t h e s u m m er o f 2 0 1 4

, th e o rt ho p ed i s t reco m m en d ed

a s eco n d k nee s u rg ery t o fi x a cart i lag e t ear, wh ich was p erfo rm ed on Decem b er 2 3,

2 0 1 4

.

Aft er t h e seco n d su rg ery

, An t o n i a ex p eri en ced s ev ere p ai n, s he h ad t ro u b l e

wal k i n g t o c l a s s an d aro un d her d o rm

, an d s he was un ab l e t o p art i ci p at e i n m an y

act i vi t i es wi t h fri en d s

. Ev en tu al l y s h e ret u rn ed t o her o rt h o p e d i s t an d h ad a t h i rd

M RI. Th at M RI s h o w ed th at t h e cart i l ag e t e a r w as n ot heal i ng

, an d t h e o rt h o p ed i s t

reco m m en d ed an o s t eo ch o n d ral al l o g raft t ran s fer s y st em (“ OATS”) p r o c e d u re.

An t on i a we n t t o a t h i rd o rt h o ped i s t fo r a s eco n d o p i n io n aft er recei v i n g t h e M RI

res u l ts

, an d t he t h i rd o rt h op ed i st co n cu rred t h at An to n io wo u l d ei t h er n eed t he OATS

p r o c e d u r e o r an o s t eo t o m y

, b u t p referab l y b o t h at t h e s am e t i m e. An t o n i a p l an s t o

h av e fu rt h er s u rg ery wh en s he g rad u at es fro m co l l eg e i n t h e s p ri n g o f 2 01 8 s o s h e can

16t ak e t im e t o reco v er b efo re s t art i n g p o s t -g rad u at e s ch o o l i n g. An t o n i a t es t i fi ed at t ri al

t h at s h e was n o t i n as m

u ch pai n as b efo re th e v i s it to h er t h i rd o rt h o p ed i st

, d u e in

p art t o a s p eci fi c k nee b race h e reco m m en d ed A n t o ni a u s e u nt i l t he s u rg ery

, al t h o u g h

s h e i s s t i l l ex p eri en ci ng pai n t hree to fo u r t i m es a week an d i s l im it ed i n h er act i v i t i es

.

Des p i t e t h i s ev i d en ce, Vi n ey ard co n t en d s t h at i n m ak i n g i t s award

, t h e ju ry

i g n o red u n d i s p u t ed t es t i m o n y at t ri al

, i ncl u d in g t h e Bai l ey s ’ ex p ert s ’ t es ti m o n y t h at

ad d it i o n al s u rg ery wo u l d l i k el y t ak e care o f t he p ai n An t on i a i s cu rren t l y s u fferi n g.

Ho wev er, d am ag es fo r pai n an d s u fferi n g are n o t awar d ed m erel y fo r th e p ai n t h e

p l ai n t i ff ex p eri en ces at th e t i m e o f t ri al o r t h e p ai n th e p l ai n t iff i s ex p ect ed t o s u ffer

fo l l o w i n g al l p o s s i b l e co r r e c t i v e s u rg eri es

. Rat h er, s u ch dam ag es are award ed fo r

p as t

, p res en t

, an d fu t u re p ai n an d s u fferi n g b eg in n i n g at t h e t i m e o f t h e i n ju ry fo r

wh i ch t h e l aws u i t was fi l ed

. Ca r n es , 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p . at 6 7 2

.

Th ere i s am

p l e ev id en ce i n t h e reco rd t h at A nt o n i a s u ffered s ev ere p ai n fo r at

l eas t t wo y ears aft er h er fal l, s t i l l ex p eri en ces p ai n

, an d wi l l l ik el y ex p eri en ce s o m e

p ai n aft er h er t h i rd k n ee su rg ery

. Vi n ey ard p o i n t s t o n o ev i d en ce l et al o n e co m p el l i n g

ev i d en ce, n o r h av e we fo u n d an y u p o n rev i ew o f th e reco rd

, t h at sh o w s t h at t h e

v erd i ct was s o ex ces s i v e as t o s ho ck t h e co n s ci en ce an d req u i re rev ers al

. Ca r n es

, 2 7 2

Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 1 -7 2 (1 ) ($ 1,2 5 0 ,0 00 v erd i ct was n o t ex ces s i v e al t ho u g h s p eci al

17d am ag es were on l y $ 74 ,7 9 1 .1 6 an d fu t u re s u rg ery wo u l d “ s ub s tan t ial l y r e l i e v e ”

p l ai n t i ff’ s p ai n ); Bea m v. Ki n g s l ey , 2 5 5 Ga. Ap p . at 7 16 (1 ) (affi rm i n g $ 2 .5 m i l l i o n

award fo r fu n eral ex p en s es an d p ai n an d s u fferi n g w h ere d eced en t s u rv iv ed fo r t wo

m i n u t es

, d ro wn i n g i n h i s o wn b l o o d

, a f t er t h e fat al cras h wh ere reco rd s u p p o rt ed

award an d ap p el l an t co u l d p o i n t t o n o co m p el l i n g ev i d en ce t o t he co n t rary ).

Th erefo re, t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t ab u se i t s d i scret i o n i n d en y i ng V i n ey ard ’ s

m o ti o n fo r a n ew t ri al o n t h e i s s u e o f d am ag es

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Mer ci er , J., co n cu r

.

18