FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, P. J.

, REESE, P. J.

, and M A RKLE, J.

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

.

Januar y 14, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 99 1 ; A2 0A1 9 92

. D M A C8 1

, LLC v. NGUYEN et al .; an d

v i ce v ers a. M A-0 6 6

M A-0 6 7

M A R K LE
, J ud g e.

As Gary Kai Cu m

m i n g s d r o v e t o wo rk d u ri n g i n cl em en t weat her i n J an u ary

2 0 1 8

, h e l o s t co n t ro l o f h i s car an d st ru ck an o t h er v eh i cl e, k i l l i ng Tu an Mi n h Ng u y en

(Tu an ) an d Tu an ’ s b ro t h er-i n -l aw. Tu an ’ s wi fe, Ho n g Ho a T

. Ng u y en (Ng u y en ) s u ed

Cu m m i n gs an d h i s em

p lo y er, DM AC8 1 , LLC, fo r n eg l i g en ce, res p on d eat s u p eri o r,

a n d n eg li g en t hi ri n g an d ret en t i o n. DM AC8 1 m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e

i s su e of wh et h er t h e acci d en t occu rred wh i l e Cu m m i n g s was i n t h e co u rs e an d r s co p e

o f h i s em p lo y m en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s um m ary ju d g m en t in part an d d en i ed i t

i n p art

, an d t h i s Co u rt g ran t ed in t erl o cu t o ry rev i ew. DM AC8 1 no w ap p eal s fro m t h e

p art i al d en i al o f i t s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary j u d g m en t i n Cas e N o

. A2 0 A1 99 1

, an dNg u y en ap p eal s fro m t h e part i al g ran t o f t h e m o ti o n i n Cas e No

. A2 0 A1 9 9 2. Fo r t h e

reas on s t h at fo l l o w, we co n cl u d e t h at DM AC8 1 w as en ti t led t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t

o n b o t h g ro u n d s

. Acco rd i n gl y , we rev ers e i n Cas e N o. A2 0 A1 9 9 1, an d we affi rm in

Cas e No . A2 0A1 9 9 2

.

“ On ap p eal fro m a t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o r d e n i a l o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, o u r

rev i ew o f t h e reco rd i s de n ov o , an d we co n s t ru e t h e fact s an d al l i n feren ces d rawn

fro m t h em in t h e l ig ht m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e n on m o v i n g p art y .” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Cen t u r io n In d u s

., In c

. v

. N

av ille

- Sae ge r , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 2

, 3 4 3

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

So v i ewed

, th e reco rd s h o ws t h at

, at t he t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

, Cu m m i ng s

wo rk ed fo r M cAl l i st er’ s Del i

, wh i ch was o wn ed by DM AC8 1

. Hi s u s u al jo b was to

wo rk o n t h e gri l l l i ne, b u t h e al s o as s i st ed t h e cat eri n g m an ag er w i t h d el i v eri es

. If h e

was s ch ed u l ed t o m ak e a cat eri ng d el i v ery , h e wo u ld u su al l y g o i n t o wo rk earl y an d

p rep t h e g ri l l l in e fo r l u n ch b efo re m ak i n g t h e d el i v ery u s i ng h is o wn car. On s ev eral

o ccas i o n s , h e was cal l ed i n o n h is d ay o ff t o h el p wi th cat eri n g

. A s a n h o u rl y

em pl o y ee, Cu m

m i n gs w as o n l y p ai d fo r t i m e o n ce h e cl o ck ed i n, an d he h ad t o h av e

t h e g en eral m an ag er’ s p erm i ss i o n t o co m e i n earl y w h en t h ere was a d e l i v e r y

2s ch ed u l ed

. W h en h e m ad e d el iv eri es , h e wo u l d recei v e a cas h p ay o u t t o co v er t h e co s t

o f g as i n ad d i t i o n t o h i s h o u rl y p ay

.

Th e d ay b efo re t h e acci d en t

, Cu m m i n g s wo rk ed hi s u s u a l s h i ft

. He was

s ch ed u l ed t o w o rk at 1 0 a.m

. t h e fo l l o wi n g m orn i n g, b u t t h e g en eral m an ag er cal l ed

h i m aro u n d 8 a.m

. an d as k ed h i m i f h e co u l d m ak e a cat eri ng d el i v ery

. Th e area was

u n d er a s t at e o f e m e rg en cy d u e t o a wi nt er s to rm , bu t Cu m m i n g s an d t h e g en eral

m an ag er d i d n o t d i scu ss t h e weat h er. Cu m m i n g s d i d n o t feel l i k e he co ul d s ay n o to

t h e g en eral m an ag er’ s req u es t , an d h e ag reed t o m ak e t h e cat eri ng d el i very

. 1

Cu m m in g s left h i s h o u s e a l i t t l e earl i er t h an u s ual i n o rd er t o g et t o wo rk an d

p r e p t h e g ri l l l in e b efo re t ak i n g t h e d el i v ery

. At ab o ut 9: 3 5 a.m ., wh i l e o n t h e

co m m u t e i n t o wo rk

, Cu m

m i n g s l o s t co n t ro l o f h is car an d s t ru ck an o th er v eh i cl e t h at

was i n t h e em erg en cy l an e, ki l l i n g Tu an an d h i s b ro th er-i n -l aw. Cu m m i n g s was o n l y

a few m i nu t es away

fro m wo rk wh en t h e acci den t o ccu rred

.

A b l o od t es t aft er th e acci d en t co n fi rm ed t h at Cu m m i n g s h ad m ari

j u an a i n h i s

s y s t em at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

, an d i t i s u nd i s p u t ed t hat Cu m m i n g s t o o k s o m e p ai n

1 Al t h o u g h t here was co n fl i c t i n g t es t i m o n y reg ard i n g wh et h er t h e g en eral

m a n a g e r i n s t ru ct ed Cu m

m i n g s t o co m e i n earl y , w h et h er Cu m m in g s h ad ev er b e e n cal l ed o n h i s day off t o m ak e a d el i v ery , an d wh et h er h e co u l d h av e refu s ed t o m ak e

t h e d el i very wi t h o u t b ei n g fi red

, we co ns i d er t h e t es ti m o n y i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e

t o t he p l ai n t i ffs , as t h e n o n-m o v an t s

. Cen tu ri o n In du s

. , In c. , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p . at 3 4 3

.

3m ed i cat i o n an d sm o k ed m ari ju an a aft er hi s s h i ft th e d ay b efo re t h e acci d en t

.

DM A C8 1 ’ s as s is t an t g en eral m an ag er, wh o w as Cu m m i n g s’ s fri en d

, k n ew t h at

C um m i n g s s o m et im es u s ed m ari ju an a, b u t D MAC8 1 d i d n ot co n d u ct b ack g ro u n d

ch eck s o r rev i ew dri vi ng h i s t o ri es befo re al lo wi n g em p l o y ees to m ak e d el i v eri es

. It

d i d i n cl u d e a q u es t i o n o n it s em p l o y m en t ap p li cat i o n i n q ui ri ng ab o u t an y acci d en t s

o r t i ck et s wi th in t he l as t t h ree y ears

. A s s uch

, DM AC8 1 was u n aware t h at Cu m m i ng s

h ad p ri or arres t s m o re t han s ev en y ears earl ier fo r m ari ju an a p o s s es s io n an d t raffi c

t i ck et s fo r reck l es s d ri v i n g an d DUI.

Aft er t h e a c c i d en t, Ng u y en fi l ed s ui t o n b eh al f o f h ers el f an d as t h e

ad m i n is t rat o r o f T u a n ’ s es t at e, cl ai m i n g t h at Cu m m i n g s an d DM AC8 1 were

n eg li g en t

, an d th at DM AC8 1 was l i ab le u n d er a t h eo ry o f res po n d eat s u p eri o r as wel l

as fo r n eg l i gen t h i ri n g a n d ret en t i o n

. DM AC8 1 m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

arg u i n g t h at Cu m

m in g s was n o t act in g i n t h e co u rs e an d s co p e o f h i s em p l oy m en t at

t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

. DM AC8 1 al s o as s ert ed t h at t h e g e n e r a l ru l e was t h at an

em pl o y er was n o t li ab l e fo r co n d u ct t h at o ccu r red wh il e t h e em p l o y ee was

co m m u t i ng t o wo rk

, an d n ei th er t h e ex cep t io n fo r s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces n o r s p eci al

m i s s i o n ap p l i ed u n d er t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e.

4Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o t i on i n p art an d d en i e d i t i n p art

, fi nd i n g t h at

t h ere were n o s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces t h at wo u l d h av e i m p u t ed l i ab i l i t y

t o DM AC8 1

b ecau s e Cu m

m i n g s was co m

m u t i n g t o hi s u s u al p l ace o f wo rk , b u t t h at t h ere was a

ju ry qu es t i o n reg ard i n g w h et h er Cu m m i n g s was o n a s p eci al m i s s i o n fo r DM AC8 1

at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt cert i fi ed i ts ord er fo r im m ed i at e rev i ew, an d

t h i s Co u rt gran t ed t h e i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p l i c a t i o n , l ead i n g t o t h es e ap p eal s , in wh i ch

b o t h D M AC8 1 an d Ng u y en as s ert t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n ap p l y i ng t h e ex cep t i o n s

.

Befo re we co ns i d er t h es e s p eci fi c arg u m en t s o n ap p eal

, we fi rs t s et o u t t h e

g en eral l aw co ncern i n g an em p l o y er’ s vi cari o u s l iab i li t y fo r t h e act s o f it s em p l o y ees

.

Ev ery m as t er sh a l l b e l i ab l e fo r t o rt s co m m i t t ed b y hi s s erv an t b y h i s

co m m an d o r i n t h e p ro s ecu t i o n an d wi t h i n t he s co p e o f h is b u s i n es s , wh et h er t h e s am e are co m m i t t ed b y n eg l i g en ce or v o l u n t ari l y . W h en a

s erv an t cau s es an i n

ju ry to an o t h er, th e t es t t o det erm i n e i f t h e m as t er i s

l i ab l e i s wh et h er or n o t t h e serv an t was at th e ti m e o f t h e i n ju ry act i n g

wi t h in t he s co p e o f h is em p l o y m en t an d o n t he b u s in es s o f t h e m as t er.

Th e tes t i s n ot t h at t h e act o f t h e s erv an t was d o ne d u ri n g t h e ex i st en ce

o f t h e em pl o y m en t, b u t wh et h er th e s erv an t was at t h at t i m e s erv i n g th e

m as t er. W h i l e a ju ry freq u en t l y m u s t res o l v e wh et her an em p lo y ee act ed

i n fu rt h eran ce o f h i s m as t er’ s b u s i n es s an d w i th i n t h e sco p e o f h i s

em p l o y m en t at t h e t i m e an in ju ry w as i n fl i ct ed

, t h e ev i d en ce in s o m e

cas es i s s o p lai n an d u n d i s p u t ab l e t h at th e co u rt m ay res o l v e a

res p on d eat s u p eri o r cl ai m as a m at t er of l aw.

. . . Th ere i s a l o n g s t an d i n g

5g en era l ru l e t h at an em p l o y ee i s en gag ed i n a pu rel y p ers o n al m at t er

wh i l e co m

m u t in g t o o r fro m

wo rk

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on om i tt ed .) Cen t u ri o n In d us

., In c. , 35 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 4 4 -3 4 5

(1 ); s ee al s o OCGA § 51 -2 -2

. 2

Th ere are ex cep ti o n s t o t h i s g en eral ru l e t h at are rel ev an t t o t h i s ap peal : t h e

s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces ex cep t i o n an d t h e s p eci al m i s s i o n ex cep t i o n. W e wi ll co n s i d er

each i n t u rn

.

Ca s e No . A2 0 A 19 9 2.

1

. In Cas e No

. A2 0 A1 9 92

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

t h at t h e s peci al ci r c um sta

nc e s e xc e p t i o n di d n o t ap p l y b ecau s e cat eri n g was b en efi ci al

t o D M AC8 1 ’ s b u s i n es s , Cu m m i n g s h ad b een cal l ed i n t o wo rk earl y o n t h e d ay o f t h e

acci den t

, an d h e was n o t ab l e t o d ecl i n e h i s e m p l o y er’ s s p eci al req u es t

. W e are n ot

p ers u ad ed

.

2 Becau se Cu m

m i n g s was d ri vi n g h i s o wn car, as o p p o s ed t o h i s em p l o y er’ s , t h ere i s n o p res u m

p t i on t h at h e w as act i ng i n t h e s co p e o f hi s em pl o y m en t. Cen t u r i o n In d u s., In c. , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 4 5 (1 ); Fa r z an eh v. Mer i t Co ns t r

. C o

. , I n c

. , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p . 6 3 7 , 6 3 9 -6 4 0 (7 10 SE2 d 8 3 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Co m p are Do u g her t

y Eq ui p

. Co

., In c. v. Ro p er , 32 7 Ga. Ap p

. 43 4

, 4 3 6 -4 3 7 (1 ) (a) (7 57 SE2 d 8 85 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (d is cu s s i n g b u rd en

s h i ft i n g an al y s i s t h at ap p l i es wh en em p l o y ee i s d ri v i n g em

p l oy er’ s veh i cl e at t i m e o f

acci den t , an d t h u s t he p res u m p t i o n ap p l ies ).

6“ Th e l aw is cl ear t h at i n t h e ab s en ce o f s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces a s erv an t i n g o i n g

t o an d fro m wo rk i n an au t o m o b i le act s on l y fo r h is o wn p u rp os es an d n o t fo r t h o s e

o f h i s em

p l o y er.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) H a r g et t ’s Tel e

p h on e Co n t r a ct o r

s, In c. v.

M c K e e h an , 2 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 8

, 1 7 0 (4 9 1 SE2 d 3 9 1 ) (1 9 9 7). So m e rel ev an t fact o rs

i n cl u d e wh et h er t h e em

p l o y ee was carry i ng wo rk m at eri al s o r u s i n g a cel l p h o n e o r

p ag er fo r wo rk -rel at ed cal l s ; wh et h er t he em p l o y ee recei v ed a s t i p en d fo r t he u s e o f

h i s v eh i cl e; o r wh et h er t h e em p l o y ee was “ o n cal l.” Fa r z an eh v. Mer it

Co n s t r . Co

.,

In c. , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 63 7

, 6 4 1 (7 1 0 S E2 d 8 3 9 ) ( 2 0 11 ); s ee al s o Cl o W h i te Co

. v.

La t t i m o re , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. 8 3 9

, 8 4 0 (5 9 0 SE2 d 38 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (em p l o ye e ’s u se o f cel l

p h o n e fo r wo rk at t i m e o f t h e acci den t rai s ed fa c t u a l q u e s t i o n ab ou t s p eci al

ci rcu m s t an ces ex cep t i on ); Ch ap p el l v. Ju n i o r Ach i evemen t o f Gr ea ter At l a n t a , 1 5 7

Ga. Ap p . 4 1 , 4 2 -4 3 (2 76 SE2 d 9 8 ) (1 9 81 ).

No n e o f t h o se fact o rs are ap p l i cab le h ere. Cu m m i n g s was m ak in g h i s u s u al

co m m u t e t o th e d el i at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

. He was t rav el i n g i n h i s o w n car, an d

h ad n o t y et cl o ck ed i n

. See Do ug h er t y E q u i p

. Co

., In c. v. Ro

p er , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 4,

4 3 7 (1 ) (a) (7 5 7 SE2 d 8 8 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (em p l oy ee i n acci d en t o n co m m ut e i n to wo rk was

n o t p erfo rm i n g d u t y fo r em p l o y er b u t was p erfo rm i n g h i s d u ty t o arri v e o n t i m e fo r

h i s jo b ). He was n o t u s in g a cel l p h o n e o r co n du ct i n g an y bu s i n es s fo r h i s em p l o y er

7d u ri n g t hi s co m m u t e, an d

, al t h o u g h Cu m

m i n gs w o u l d recei v e ad d i ti o n al p ay fo r t h e

d el i v ery t o co v er t h e co s t o f g as , h e w a s n o t b ei n g pai d fo r t h e t i m e i t t o o k h i m to

co m m u t e. See A r ch er Fo res t r

y, LLC v. Do l a t ows ki

, 33 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 6

, 6 7 9 (3 ) (7 7 1

SE2 d 3 7 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (n o sp eci al ci r c u m s t an ces ex i s t ed t o h ol d em p l o y er l i ab l e wh ere

em pl o y ee was o n co m

m u t e h o m e wi t h h i s s o n in th e em p l oy er’ s car, b u t t h ere was n o

ev i d en ce h e w as en g ag ed i n an y wo rk -rel at ed ph o n e cal l s d u ri n g th e dri v e). Co m p are

Hu n t er v. Mo d er n Co n t in en t a l Co n s t r

. Co

. , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 68 9

, 6 9 1 (6 52 SE2 d 5 8 3 )

(2 0 0 7) (fact u al q u es t i o n ab o u t wh et h er em p l oy ee w as o n cel l p h o n e w i t h a co -wo rk er

d u ri n g co m

m ut e t o wo rk rai s ed ju ry q u es t i o n ab o u t s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ces ex cep t i o n );

Cl o W h i t e Co

. , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 4 0

.

Th e fact t h at Cu m

m i n g s m ay h av e b een “ o n cal l ” t o m ak e d el i v eri es o n o t h er

d ay s d o es n o t m ak e t h i s a s p eci al ci rcu m s t an ce, es p eci al l y wh ere, as h ere, Cu m m i ng s

was al read y s ch ed ul ed t o wo rk h i s reg ul ar s h i ft t hat m o rn in g

. See Fa r z a n eh

, 3 0 9 Ga.

Ap p

. at 6 4 1 ; W

i l l ia m s v. Ba ker Co u n ty

, 3 00 Ga. A p p

. 1 4 9, 1 53 (1 ), n

. 1 2 (6 8 4 SE2 d

3 2 1 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (l i s ti n g cas es t h at h av e reject ed “ o n

- c al l ” s t at u s as a s p eci al

ci rcu m s t an ce). Co m

p are Pa t ter

s o n v. S o u t h ea s t er n News

p a p er s

, In c. , 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p.

2 4 1

, 2 44 (1 ) (5 3 3 SE2 d 1 1 9 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (fact t h at o n -cal l em p l o y ee was res p o n d i n g t o a

8cal l at t h e t i m e o f th e acci d e n t i s e v i d en ce t h at acci d en t o ccu rred i n s co p e o f

em pl o y m en t ).

W e t h erefo re co n cl u d e t h at Ng u y en has id en t i fi ed n o spe c ia l c ir c um sta nc e s that

wo u l d warran t ap p li cat i o n o f t h i s ex cep t i on

. To i n t erp ret t h e ex cep t i o n as Ng u y en

s u g g es t s wo u l d e f

f e ct i v el y i m

p o s e l i ab i li t y on em

p l o y ers an y t i m e an acci d en t

o ccu rred d u ri n g t h e em

p l oy ee’ s co m

m u t e, an d we d ecl i n e t o i n t erp ret t h e ex cep t i o n

s o b ro ad l y

. As a res u lt

, t he t ri al co u rt pro p erl y g ran t ed DM AC8 1 s u m m ary ju d g m en t

o n t h i s i s s u e, an d we affi rm t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g i n t h i s res p ect

.

Ca s e No . A2 0

A 19 9 1.

2

. In Cas e No

. A2 0A1 9 9 1

, DM AC8 1 arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g

t h at t h e r e w a s a fact ual q ues ti o n wh et h er t h e s p eci al m i s s io n ex cep t i o n ap p l i ed

b ecau s e th ere was n o ev i d e n c e f r o m wh i ch t h e ju ry co u ld fi nd Cu m m i n g s was

en g ag ed i n a s p eci al m i s s i on at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

. It co n t en d s t h at as k i n g

Cu m m i n g s t o rep o rt t o h i s reg u l ar jo b s i t e earl y , an d m ak i n g a d el i v ery du ri n g b ad

weat h er, d o n o t q u al ify

as s peci al m i s si o n s . W e ag ree.

Un d er t h e “ s p eci al m i s s i o n ” ex cep t i on , wh ere t h e em p l oy ee, b efo re o r

aft er cu s t om ary wo rk i n g h o u rs , i s o n h i s w a y

. . . fro m hi s h o m e t o

p erfo rm , s o m e s p eci al s erv i c e o r erran d o r t h e di s ch arg e o f s o m e d u t y

i n ci d en t al t o t h e n at u r e o f h i s em p lo y m en t in th e i n t eres t of, o r u nd er

9d i rect i on o f, hi s em p lo y er, an d an i n

ju ry ari s es en ro ut e fro m t h e h o m e

t o th e p l ace wh ere t h e wo rk is p erfo rm ed

, . . . s uch in ju ry i s co n s id ered

as ari s i n g o u t o f an d i n t h e co u rs e o f t h e em pl o y m en t

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on om i tt ed .) Cen t u ri o n In d u s

., In c. , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p. at 3 4 5 -3 4 6

(1 ); s ee al s o Bet

si l l v. S ca l e S ys t em, In c. , 2 6 9 G a. Ap p

. 3 9 3

, 3 96 (1 ) (6 0 4 SE2 d 2 6 5 )

( 2 0 0 4 )

. F o r t h e s peci al m i s si o n ex cep t i o n to ap p l y , “ [t ] h e sp eci al m is s i o n m u s t b e

m ad e at t he em

p l o y er’ s req u es t o r d i rect i o n.” Cen t u r i o n In d u s., In c. , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. at

3 4 5 (1 ). It is n o t en o u g h t h at t h e co m m u t e i s “ in ci d en t al to ” o r “ in t h e in teres t o f” t h e

em pl o y er. See Ha r

g et t’s Tel ep h o n e Co n t r act o r s

, In c., 2 28 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 7 0. Rat h er,

t h e fo cu s i s on t h e m i ss io n i t s el f an d wh et her i t i s “ s p eci al ” o r “ u n cu s to m ary ” an d

“ m ad e at t h e em

p l o y er’ s req u es t o r d i rect i o n.” Id

.

Here, t h e ev i d en ce s h o wed t h at Cu m m i ng s was s ch ed u led t o w o rk hi s reg u l ar

s h i ft t h e m o rn i n g o f t h e acci d en t

, an d h e was co m m u t i n g t o w o rk a few m i n u t es

earl ier t h an u s u al t o p rep are h i s wo rk s t at i on p ri o r t o m ak i n g t h e del i v ery

. He was n ot

b ei n g p ai d fo r h is co m

m u t e t i m e , a n d h e was h ead ed in to h is us u al jo b s i t e to

co m p l et e h i s n orm al j o b t as k s b ef o r e m ak i n g t he d el i very

. N o t h in g ab o u t t h e ev en t s

were s p eci al or u n cu s t o m ary

. He was n o t u s i n g a co m pan y car, o r m ak i ng b u s i n es s

rel at ed cal l s d u ri n g t h e co m m u te, an d DM AC8 1 di d n o t co n t ro l t h e m an n er i n wh i ch

10Cu m

m i n gs co m

m u t ed

. See H

a rg et t ’s Tel ep ho n e Co n t ra ct o rs , In c. , 2 28 Ga. Ap p

. at

1 7 0 (“ an em

pl o y ee’ s t ri p i s n o t a ‘ s p e c i a l m i s s i o n ’ i f i t i n v o l v es n o th i n g m o re t h an

t rav el t o h i s o r h er u s u al p l ace o f wo rk .”).

Ng u y en arg u es t h at t h i s cas e is co n tro l l ed by Pa tt er so n v. S ou t h ea s t er n

News p a per s

, In c. , 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 1 (5 3 3 SE 2 d 1 1 9 ) (2 0 0 0 ). Bu t t h at cas e i s

d i s t i n gu i sh ab l e. In Pa t t er so n , a s al ari ed em

p lo y ee, wh o o v ers aw d i s t ri b u t i o n o f t h e

n ews p ap er an d c o v ered fo r ab s en t d ri v ers , was cal l ed i n t o wo rk ou t s id e h i s n o rm al

s ch ed u l e t o fi l l i n fo r a d el i v ery p ers o n

. 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 2 41 -2 4 2

. Aft er co m p l et i n g

t h e del i v ery ro ut e, h e was i n v o l v ed i n an acci d en t wh il e d ri v i n g ho m e. Id

. at 2 4 2

. In

f i n d i n g t h at t h ere was a fact u al q u es t i o n w h et h er t h e em p l o y ee was i n v ol v ed i n a

s p eci al m i ss i o n , t h i s Co u rt re l i e d o n c a s es fro m o th er s tat es an d n o t ed t h at t h e

em pl o y ee’ s s h ift was a s p eci al req u es t fro m t h e em pl oy er, an d t h e em

p l o y er g ai n ed

a n i n ci d en t al b en efi t fro m us i ng i t s s al ari ed em p l o y ees t o fi l l i n o n d el i v ery ro u t e s

.

Id . at 2 4 3 (1 ).

Bu t th i s cas e is n o t l i ke Pa t t er s o n

. A l t ho u g h Cu m

m i n gs w as g o i n g t o m ak e t h e

d el i v ery t h at d ay at DM AC8 1 ’ s req u es t, h e w as al read y s ch ed ul ed t o wo rk h i s reg u l ar

s h i ft

, an d h e was c o m m

u t i n g t o wo rk t o co m

p l et e t as k s fo r t hat reg u lar s h i ft at t h e

t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

. On l y a f t e r h e c o m

p l et ed t h o s e t as k s wo u l d h e h av e m ad e t h e

11d el i v ery t h at fo rm ed th e b as i s o f t he al l eg ed s peci a l m i s s i o n

. In o th er wo rd s , t h e

d el i v ery , wh i ch m ay h av e b een at t h e em p l o y er’ s req u es t, w oul d h av e o ccu rred d u ri n g

h i s n o rm al wo rk s hi ft an d was u n co n n ect ed t o t h e co m m u t e t o wo rk

. Th i s d i fferen ce

i n t h e ti m i n g o f t h e s p eci al req u es t s et s t h i s cas e a p a r t fro m Pa t t er s on ’ s reas o n i n g.

See Do u g h er ty E

q u i p

. Co

. , In c. , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 3 7 (1 ) (a) (em p l o y ee i n acci d en t o n

co m m u t e i nt o wo r k w a s n o t perfo rm i n g d u t y fo r em p l o y er, b u t was p erfo rm i n g h i s

d u t y t o arri v e o n t im e fo r h i s jo b ). Cf. S mi t h v. Tr a vel er

s In s

. Co

. , 1 39 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5,

4 7 -4 8 (2 27 SE2 d 8 6 8 ) (1 9 7 6 ) (i n t h e co n t ex t o f a wo rk er’ s co m pe n s a t i o n cl ai m ,

i n ju ry d i d n o t o ccu r i n s co p e o f em p l o y m en t b ecau s e an em p l o y ee’ s t ri p i s n o t a

“ s p eci al m is s i o n ” i f i t i n v o l v es n o t h i n g m o re t h an t rav el t o h is u s u al wo rk p l ace). An d,

t h e f a c t th at t here w as a wi n t er weat h er ad v is o ry o r s t at e o f em erg en cy d u e t o t h e

weat h er d o e s n o t t ran s fo rm t h i s ro u t i ne co m m u t e i n t o a s p eci al m i s si on

. As n o t ed

,

Cu m m i n gs was s ch ed u l ed t o w ork h i s reg u l ar s h i ft th at m o rn i n g an d was co m m u t i n g

t o wo rk fo r t h at p u rp o s e reg ard l es s o f t h e d el i v ery req u es t

.

M o reo v er, P a t t er

s o n co n fi rm s t h at t h e m i s s i o n m u s t b e s pe c ia l or unc ustom a r y

.

Pa t t er s o n , 2 43 Ga. Ap p

. at 24 2 (1 ). Bu t m ak in g d el i v eri es wh en t h e cat eri n g m an ag er

was u n av ai l ab l e was n o t s p eci al o r u n u s u al

, as th e reco rd s h o ws t h at Cu m m i n g s h ad

d o n e s o o n s ev eral p ri o r o ccas i o ns

. Th u s , C u m m i n g s was n o t o n “ s o m e s p eci al

12s erv i ce o r erran d o r t he d i s ch a r g e o f s om e du t y i n ci d en t al t o t h e n at u re o f h i s

em pl o y m en t i n t h e i n t eres t o f, o r u n der d i rect i on o f, h i s em p l o y er” at th e t i m e h e

co m m u t ed i n t o wo rk t h at m o rn i n g

. Cen t u r io n In d us ., In c , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 4 5 -3 4 6

(1 ). Gi v en al l o f t he fact s, t h ere i s n o fact u al q u es t i o n ab o u t wh et her Cu m m i n g s was

o n a s p eci al m i s s i o n at t h e t i m e of t h e acci d en t

. 3 T o ex p an d t h e s p e c i a l m i s s i o n

ex cep t i o n t o t h es e fact s wo u ld res u lt i n t h e ex cep ti o n s wal lo wi n g t he ru l e. As s u ch

,

DM A C8 1 was en ti t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h i s i s s u e.

3

. Fi n al l y , DM AC co n t en d s t h a t i t was en t i tl ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e

cl ai m s fo r n eg l i g en t h iri n g an d ret en t i o n

.

It i s w el l s et t l ed t h at “ a d efen d an t em pl o y er h as a d ut y t o ex erci s e ord i n ary care

n o t t o h i re o r ret ai n an em p lo y ee t h e em

p l o y er k n ew o r s h ou l d h av e k no wn p o s ed a

ri sk o f h arm to o t h ers wh ere i t i s reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e fro m t h e em p l o y ee’ s

t en d en ci es o r p ro p en s i t i es t h at t h e em p l o y ee co u ld cau s e t h e ty p e o f h arm s u s t ai n ed

3 Al t h o u g h Cu m

m i n g s t es t i fi ed i n h i s d ep o s i ti o n t h at h e d i d n o t feel l i ke h e h ad

a ch oi ce b u t t o m ak e t h e d el iv ery , t h e ev i den ce s h o wed t h at DM A C 8 1 d i d n o t fi re

em pl o y ees wh o d ecl i n ed t o d ri v e i n i ncl em en t weat h e r

. E v en i f t h ere i s a fact u al

q u es ti o n ab o ut h i s ab il i t y t o d ecl i n e t h e d e l i very req ues t

, t h at wo u l d no t ren d er

s u m m ary ju d g m en t i m

p ro p er. Th e ab i l i t y t o fi re t h e em pl o y ee is b u t o n e fact o r t o b e

co n si d ered ; it i s n o t d i s p o s it i ve. Ga s s a wa y v. Pr eco n Co rp

. , 2 8 0 Ga. A p p

. 35 1

, 3 5 3 (6 3 4 SE2 d 1 5 3 ) (2 00 6 ) (i den t i fy i n g o n e r e l e v an t in q u i ry as “ wh et her t h e em p l o y er

ret ai n ed t h e p ower t o d i s ch arg e h i s em p l oy ee fo r fai lu re t o p erfo rm t h e erran d .”).

13b y t h e p l ai n t i ff.” (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Mu n ro e v. Un iver s al Hea l t h S

vcs

. , 2 7 7 Ga.

8 6 1 , 8 6 3 (1 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 6 04 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Ho wev er,

[fo r] an em

p l o ye r t o be l i ab l e fo r an au t om o b i le acci d en t u nd er th e

t h eo ry o f n eg li g en t hi ri n g an d ret en t i o n wh ere, as h ere, t h e al l eg at i o n i s

t h at t h e em

p l o y ee h ad a bad d ri v i ng reco rd an d wh ere t h e i n ju red d ri v er

was m erel y a m em

b er o f t h e g en eral p u b li c o n t h e p ub l i c h i g h way , t he

acci d en t co u l d n ot h av e o ccu rred wh i l e t h e em p l o y ee was s im

p l y

co m m u t i n g t o wo rk b u t h ad t o o ccu r wh il e t h e em pl o y ee was en g ag ed

i n t h e em p l o y er’ s b u s i nes s

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Do u g h er t y Eq u i pmen t Co

. , 32 7 Ga. A p p

. at 4 3 8

(1 ) (b ).

Here, t h e al l eg at i o n i n t h e co m p l ai n t w as t h at DM AC8 1 k n ew o r s h o u l d h av e

k n o wn o f Cu m

m i n g s ’ s h is t o ry o f d ru g u se an d t raffi c ci tat i o n s , wh i ch m ad e h i m

u n s u it ab l e fo r h an d li n g cat eri n g d el i v eri es , es p eci al ly i n b ad weat her. In l i g h t o f o u r

co n cl u s i o n th at Cu m

m i n gs was co m

m u t in g to wo rk an d wa s n o t en g ag ed in

DM A C8 1 ’ s b u s in es s at th e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t , t h e cl ai m s fo r n eg l ig en t h iri n g an d

14ret en t i o n m

u s t fai l

. 4 Id

. ; s ee al s o Cen t u r i o n In du s

., In c. , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p. at 3 4 8 (2 ); s ee

al s o Do u g h er t

y Eq u ip

. Co

. , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . at 4 3 8 (1 ) (b ).

Acco rd i ng l y , fo r th e fo reg o i n g reas o n s , DM AC8 1 was en t i t le d t o s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n al l cl ai m s

. W e t here f o r e affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g i n Cas e No

.

A2 0 A1 99 2 , an d rev ers e i n Cas e No . A2 0 A 1 9 91

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n Ca s e No

. A2 0

A1 9 9 2

. Ju d

g men t r ever

s ed i n Ca s e No

.

A2 0 A 1 9 9 1

. Ri ckma n

, P. J., a n d Rees e, P. J., co n cu r

.

4 Ng uy en arg u es t h at t h es e cl ai m s su rv i v e becau s e t h ere was ev i d en ce t h at t h e

m an ag er wh o hi red Cu m m in g s k n ew t h at Cu m

m i n g s u s ed dru g s , rai s in g a fact u al

q u es ti o n ab o u t DM AC8 1 ’ s o b l i g at i o n t o i nq u ire in t o Cu m m i n g s ’ s d r i v i n g h i s t o ry b efo re al l o wi n g h im t o m ak e d el i v eri es on p u b l ic ro ad s

. Th e fl aw i n t h i s arg u m en t i s

t h at Cu m m i n g s was n ot m ak i n g t h e d el i v ery at t h e t i m e o f t h e acci d en t

, an d t o h o ld

em pl o y ers l i ab l e fo r an em p l o y ee’ s dri v i n g un d er t h e i n fl u en ce d uri n g a n o rm al

co m m u t e wo u l d ev i s cerat e th e gen eral ru l e t h at em p l o y ers are no t l i ab l e fo r acci d en t s d u ri n g an em

p l o y ee’ s co m

m u te. Cen t u r i o n In d

u s

., In c. , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 4 8 (2 );

Do u g h er t y Eq u ip

. Co

. , 3 2 7 G a. Ap p. at 4 3 8 (1 ) (b ); TGM As h ley La kes

, In c. , 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p . at 4 6 1 -4 6 2 (1 ) (b ).

1516