FI RST DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, C. J.

, PHI PPS, P. J, and BOGGS, 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.

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

Jul y 6, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 60 6

. LITTLE-THOM AS et al

. v

. SELECT S P E CIALTY

HOSPITAL-AUGUSTA, INC. DO-0 3 0

D O Y LE , Ch ief J ud g e.

J o y ce Li t tl e-Th o m as an d W al t er Th o m as (co ll ect i v el y “ t h e Pl ai n ti ffs ”) ap p eal

fro m t h e g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t t o Sel ect Sp eci al t y Ho sp i t al -Au g us t a, In c. (“ t h e

Ho s pi t al ”) i n t h ei r su i t ag ai n s t t h e Ho s p i t al as s ert i n g v ari o us cl ai m s ari s i n g fro m a

rap e o f J o y ce b y a Ho s p i t al em p l o y ee. Th e Pl ai n ti ffs arg u e t h at th e t ri a l c o u r t

erro neo u s l y co ns t ru ed t h e l aw o r o v erl oo k ed g en u i n e i s su es o f m at eri al fact as t o t h ei r

cl ai m s fo r neg l i g en t h i ri n g

, ret en t i o n

, an d su p erv i s i o n an d fo r p rem i s es l i ab i l i t y

. Fo r

t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm i n p art an d rev ers e i n p art

.

To p rev ai l at s u m

m a r y ju d g m en t u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6

, th e

m o v i n g part y m

u s t d em o n s trat e t h at th ere 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 sp u t ed fact s

, v i ewed i n t he li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t ot h e n o n m o v i n g p art y

, w arran t ju d g m e n t a s a m at t er o f l aw. O n ap peal

fro m t h e g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t th i s C o u r t c o 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 wh et h er t h ere i s a gen u i ne i s s u e o f

m at eri al fact an d wh et her t h e u n d i s p 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 t o t h e no n m o v i n 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 he reco rd s h o ws t h at i n J u n e 2 00 9

, J o y ce w a s t r a n s f erred t o t h e

Ho s pi t al t o co n ti n u e reco v ery aft er s h e was t reat ed fo r a res p i rat o ry p r o b l e m a t

an o th er h o s p i t al

. Aft er s e v eral u n ev en t fu l d ay s o f reco v ery

, a cert i fi ed n u rs i n g

as s i s tan t (“ CNA”), W arre n B u t l e r

, cam e i n t o J o y ce’ s ro o m o n e ni g h t an d s ex u al l y

as s au l t ed h er an d rap ed h er. Feari n g a rep ri sal

, J oy ce d i d n o t rep o rt t h e i n ci d en t u n t i l

t h ree d ay s l at er wh e n

, s u fferi n g fro m ab do m i n al p ai n an d feari n g i n fect i o n

, s h e

n o t i fi ed h er d o ct o r. Fo l l o wi n g a p o l i ce i n v es t i g at i on

, Bu t l er ev en t u al l y co n fes s ed an d

p l ead ed gu i l t y t o rap in g J o y ce.

Th e Pl ai n t iffs fi l ed s u it 2 b as ed o n t heo ri es o f res p on d en t s u peri o r; n eg l i g en t

h i ri n g, ret en t i o n

, a n d s u p erv i s i o n ; an d p rem i ses li ab i l i t y

. Fo l l o wi n g d i sco v ery

, t h e

1 ( C i t at i on an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Ho me B ui l d er s As s n

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

Ch a t ha m Co u n t

y

, 2 7 6 G a. 2 4 3, 2 4 5 (1 ) (5 7 7 SE2 d 5 6 4) (2 0 0 3 ), q u 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 ).

2 W al t er fi l ed a s ep arat e l o s s o f co n s o rt iu m act i o n t h at l at er was co n s o l i d at ed

wi t h J o y ce’ s s u i t

.

2Ho s pi t al m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t, an d t h e Pl ai n t i ffs res p o n d ed b y v o l u n t ari l y

d i s m i s s i n g t h ei r res p o n d en t s u p eri o r c l a i m b ut o t h erwi s e o pp o s i n g th e m o t i o n.

F o l l o w i n g a h eari n g

, t he t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at t h ere was an ab s en ce of ev i d en c e

s h o wi n g t h at (i ) t h e H o s p i t al ’ s h i r i n g pro ces s was un reas o n ab l e, (i i ) Bu t l er h ad

d em o n s t rat ed t en d en ci es su ch t h at t h e H o s p i tal s h o u ld h av e fo res een t h at h e m i g ht

co m m i t a rap e, an d (i i i ) t h e Ho s p i t al k n ew o r s h o u l d h av e k n o wn o f a s ecu ri t y i s s u e

ari s in g fro m sex ual as sau lt s o r rap es b y em pl o y ees i n it s faci l it y

. T h e Pl ai n t i ffs n o w

ap p eal

, arg u i n g t h at s u m m ary ju d g m en t was im p ro p e r b e c au s e t h e ev i d en ce

d em o n s t rat es g en u in e i s s u es o f m at eri al fact . W e ag ree i n p art

.

1

. Neg l i gen ce i n th e d

eci s i on t o h i r e Bu t l er

. Un d er OCGA § 3 4

- 7

- 2 0

, “ [a] n

em pl o y er i s b o u nd to ex erci s e o rd i nary care i n t h e s el ect i o n o f em p l o y ees an d n o t to

ret ai n t h em aft er k n owl ed g e o f i n co m p et en cy

. . . .” “ Th us

, t h e ap p el lat e co u rt s h av e

reco g n ized t h at an em

pl o y er m ay b e l i a b l e f

o r h i r i ng o r ret ai n i n g an em p l o y ee t h e

em pl o y er k n o ws o r i n t h e co u rs e o f o rd i n ary care sh o ul d h av e k n o w n was no t s u i t ed

fo r t h e p art i cu l ar em

p l o y m en t .” 3 An em

p lo y er’ s l i ab i li t y

fo r s u ch a t o rt ari s es

3 Mu n r o e v. Un i ver

s a l Hea l th S

vcs

. , In c.

, 2 7 7 Ga. 8 6 1, 8 6 2 (1 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 6 0 4 )

(2 0 0 4).

3o n ly wh ere t here i s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o es t ab l i s h t h at t h e em p l o y er

reas o n ab l y kn ew o r s h o u l d h av e k no wn of an em pl o y ee’ s t en d en ci es t o

en g ag e in cert ai n b eh av i o r rel ev an t to t h e in j u ri es al l eg ed ly i n cu rred b y

t h e p l ai n t i ff, s u ch t h at it i s reas on ab l y fo res eeab l e t hat th e em pl oy ee

co u l d cau s e t h e t y

p e o f h arm

s u s tai n ed b y

t h e p l ai n t i ff. 4

Here, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at t h e Ho s pi t al ’ s h i ri n g p ro ces s i n cl u d ed a wri t t en

ap p li cat io n

, i n terv i ew, co nfi rm at i o n o f p ri o r em p lo y m en t

, a cert i fi cat i on o f Bu t l er’ s

CNA t rai n in g

, an d a cri m in al b ack g ro u n d ch eck

. Bu t ler’ s wri t t en ap p l i cat i on s t at ed

t h at h e h ad wo rk ed as a CNA at t h ree ot h er heal t h care p r o v i d ers

, s t at ed h e h ad n ot

b een co n v i ct ed o f an d w a s no t t h en faci n g a fel o n y ch arg e, an d l i s t ed t h ree

p ro fes s i on al referen ces

. Th e Ho sp i t al ’ s i n t erv i ewer d i s co v ered n o ad v ers e

i n fo rm at i o n d u ri ng t h e i nt erv iew an d rat ed Bu t ler t en o u t o f t en o n fo u rt een o f fi ft een

cri t eri a, wi t h t he o ne rem ai n i n g cri t eri a (“ p ro m o t ab i l it y ”) rat ed as “ n / a.” Th e Ho s p i t al

co n tact ed t wo o f Bu t l er’ s p ri o r em p l o y ers wh o v eri f

i e d h i s em

p lo y m en t d at es b ut

p ro v id ed n o o t her i n fo rm at i o n

. Th e cri m i n al b ack g ro u n d ch eck rev eal ed a s i x -y earo l d m i s dem ean o r co n vi ct i o n f o r p a s s i n g a b ad ch eck

. In s um

, pri o r t o Bu t l er’ s

em pl o y m en t

, t he Ho s p it al h ad n o i n fo rm at i on s h o wi n g t hat Bu t l er had t en d en ci es to

4 (Pu n c t u at io n o m it t ed .) Al len v. Zi on B a p t is t Ch u r ch

, 3 2 8 Ga. A p p

. 2 0 8,

2 1 3 -2 1 4 (1 ) (b ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 6 0 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ), q u ot i n g M u n ro e , 2 7 7 Ga. at 8 63

.

4en g ag e i n t h e cri m i n al s ex u al b eh a v i o r s uch th at i t was reas o n ab l y fo res eeab l e t h at

Bu t ler m i g h t rap e J o y ce. 5

Th e Pl ai n t i ffs n ev e rt h el es s arg u e t h at i f t h e Ho sp i t al h ad un d ert ak en

ap p ro p ri at e s creen i n g

, i t wo u l d h av e d i s co v ered fro m p ri o r em p l o y ers t h at h e h ad at

l eas t on ce b een t erm i n at ed fo r ru d e an d di s co u r t e o u s b e h av i or. Bu t u nd er t h e

ap p li cab l e l eg al s t an dard

, ev en t h i s d oes no t ri s e to a s u ffi ci en t s ho wi n g o f cri m i n al

o r v io l en t beh av i o r s u ch t h at

, at t h e t i m e i t h i red Bu t l er, t h e Ho s p i t al o v erl o o k ed

Bu t ler’ s p ro p en s i t y t o act as a s ex u al p red at o r. 6 Th ere m u s t b e so m e ev id en ce t h at t h e

Ho s pi t al s h o u l d h av e k n o wn o f Bu t l er’ s “ te n d e n c i e s t o en g ag e i n cert ai n b eh av i o r

rel ev an t t o t h e i n

ju ri es al l e g e d ly i n cu rred b y t h e p lai n t i ff, s uch t h at i t i s reas o n ab l y

fo res eeab l e t h at th e em

p l o y ee co u l d cau s e th e t y

p e o f h arm s u s t ai n ed b y th e p l ai n t i ff.”

Th u s, w h i l e an y i naccu rat e or in co m p l et e i n fo rm at i o n g at hered b y t h e Ho s pi t al m ay

h av e co n ceal ed th e fact t hat Bu t l er was “ an u n s u i t ab l e em p l o y ee fo r reas o ns u n rel at ed

t o [J o y ce’ s ] i n

j u ri es

, n o fact q u es t i o n rem ai n s as to [h er] n eg l i gen ce cl ai m t h at [t h e

5 See Mu n r o e

, 2 7 7 Ga. at 8 6 5 -8 66 (2 ). See al s o Do e v. Fu l t o n -Deka l b Ho s p.

Au t h

. , 6 2 8 F3 d 1 3 2 5

, 1 3 37 (II) B) (1 ) (1 1 th Ci r. 2 01 0 ) (co n cl u d i ng t h at h i ri n g

p ract i ce m et t he s u m

m ary ju d g m en t s t a n d a rd i n Mu n r oe d es p i t e bei n g “ les s t h an

i d eal ”).

6 See Mu n r o e , 2 77 Ga. at 8 6 6 (2 ).

5Ho s pi t al fai l ed to ] ex erci s e o rd i n ary care t o av o i d h i r i n g an em p l o y ee wh o p o s ed a

reas on ab l y fo res eeab l e ri s k o f i n fl i ct i n g” th e t y pe o f h arm s u ffere d b y J o y ce. 7

Acco rd in g ly

, b ecau s e t h e e v i d e n c e i s pl ai n an d pal p ab le t h at t h e Ho s p i t al ’ s h i ri n g

p ro ces s w as reas o n ab l e, t h e tri al co u rt d i d n o t err b y g ran ti ng s u m m ary ju d g m en t as

t o t he Ho s p i t al ’ s n eg li g en ce i n i t s d eci s i o n t o h i re Bu t l er. 8

2

. Neg l i g en ce i n r et a i n i n g o r su

p er vi s i n g Bu tl er as a n emp l oyee

. As i n t h e

h i ri n g co n t ex t

, an em

pl o y er h as a d u t y o f o rd in ary care “ n o t t o

. . . ret ai n an em p l o y ee

t h e em p lo y er k n ew o r s h o u l d h av e k n o wn p os ed a ri s k o f h arm t o o th ers wh ere i t i s

reas on ab l y fo res eeab l e fro m t h e em p l oy ee’ s “ t en d en ci es ” or p ro p en s it i es t h at t h e

em pl o y ee co u l d cau s e t h e t yp e o f h arm s u s t ai n ed b y th e p l ai n ti ff. Th e em pl o y er i s

s u b ject t o l iab il i ty o n l y fo r s u ch h arm as i s wi t h i n t h e ri s k .” 9 In ap p l y i n g t h i s s t an d ard

,

t h e S u p r e m e C o urt o f G eo rg ia h as cl ari fi ed t h at a p l ai n t i ff n eed no t s h o w t h e

d efen d an t em

p l o y er k n ew or s h o u l d h av e kn o w n of an em p lo y ee’ s p ro pen s i t y to

7 Mu n r o e

, 2 7 7 Ga. at 8 6 6 (2 ). See al s o Al l en

, 32 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 1 3-2 1 4 (1 ) (a).

8 See Mu n r o e

, 2 7 7 Ga. at 8 6 4 (2 ) (t ri al co urt can co n cl u d e as a m at t er o f l aw

t h at d efen d an t was n o t n eg l ig en t i f t h e ev id en ce i s p l ai n

, p al p ab l e, an d u nd i s p u t ab l e),

q u o t i n g Ro b i n so n v. Kr o g er Co

. , 2 6 8 Ga. 7 3 5 , 7 3 9 (4 9 3 SE2 d 4 0 3 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

9 (Pu n c t u a t i o n om i tt ed .) Mu n r oe

, 27 7 Ga. at 86 3 (1 ), q u o t in g Res t at em en t

(Seco n d) o f Ag en cy , § 2 1 3 Co m m en t (d ).

6co m

m i t t h e s peci f i c t o rt i ou s o r cri m i n al act th at cau s ed th e p l ai n ti ff’ s i nju ry

. 1 0 Rat h er,

t h e p l ai n t i ff m

us t o n l y s ho w t h at t h e h arm s h e s u ffered was “ wi t h i n t he ri s k ” p o s ed

b y t h e o ffen d i n g em

p l o y ee’ s t en d en ci es

. 1 1

In g ran t i n g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, th e t ri al co urt ru l ed t h at t he h arm s uffered by

J o y ce was n ot wi th i n t h e r i s k p o s ed b y Bu t l er. In o p p o s i t i o n to t h i s, t h e Pl ai n t i ffs

h av e i den t i fi ed ev i d en ce t h at Bu t l er d is pl ay ed u n p ro fes si o n al b e h a v i o r o n s ev eral

o ccas i o n s d u ri n g h i s ten u re w i t h t h e Ho s p i t al

. T here i s d ep os i t i o n tes t i m o n y fro m o n e

o f B u t l er’ s co wo rk ers s t at i ng t h at Bu t ler wo u ld y el l at p at i en t s an d w as “ ro u g h in

h an dl i n g t h em ,” h e w o ul d “ s cream

. . . t h ro w t h i n g s

. . . cu ss

. . . ran t [an d ] rav e.” Sh e

d es cri b ed Bu t ler as ag g res s i v e t o ward p at i en t s an d “ v ery g o o d a t s h u t t i n g t h e d o o r

wh en h e wen t t o d o wh at h e n eed ed t o d o ,” an d t h e co -wo rk er rep ort ed h er co n cern s

t o t h e Ho s p it al ch ai n o f co m m an d

. Fu rt h er, th ere were a n u m b er o f co m

p l ai n t s

d o cu m en t ed b y Ho s p i t al em p l o y ees i n 2 0 0 8 -2 0 0 9: a m al e p at i en t rep o rt ed t hat Bu t l er

was “ ro u g h ” an d had a “ b i g at t i t u d e”; a fem al e p at i en t rep ort ed t h at Bu t l er was ru d e

an d d i d n o t wan t t o cl ean u p aft er h er; a m al e p at i en t rep o rt ed t h at Bu t l er was ru d e;

an d a m al e p at i en t rep o rt ed t h at Bu t l er was “ ro u g h ” wi th h i m

. Ot h er s t aff h eard Bu t l er

1 0 See i d

.

1 1 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

.

7refer t o p at i en t s i n a d ero g at o r y m an n er. W h en co n fro n t ed w i t h th es e co m p l ai n t s

d u ri n g a d ep o s i t i o n

, a fo rm er Ho s p i tal ad m in i s t rat o r em p l o y e d ov er t h at t i m e

c o n ced ed t h at m o re s h o u l d h av e b een d o ne t o ad d res s t h e co m p l ai n t s ab o u t Bu t l e r

.

In ad d i t i o n t o ev i d en ce t h at t h e Ho s p i tal k n ew o r s h o u l d h a v e k n own t h at

Bu t ler was g en eral l y ro u g h

, ru d e, an d ag g res s i v e t o ward p at i en t s

, t h e Pl ai n t i ffs h av e

s u p p li ed ev i d en ce o f an i n ci d en t i n 2 0 0 4

, i n wh i ch Bu t l er “ i n ap p ro p ri at el y t o u ch ed ”

a fem al e p at i en t

. Th e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at t h e co nd u ct i n t h a t c a s e was ag g res s i ve,

n o n -co n s en s u al s ex u al co n t act wi t h a fem al e p at i en t wh o was p h y s ical l y v u l n erab l e.

Acco rd in g t o th e p at i en t ’ s s o n, h e rep o rt ed t h is ev en t t o t h e H o s p i t al s t aff o n d u t y at

t h e t i m e.

Vi ewi n g al l o f t h i s ev i d en ce i n th e l i g h t m o s t fav orab l e t o t h e Pl ai n t i ffs

, as t h e

s u m m ary ju d g m en t st an d ard req u i res u s t o d o, we co ncl u d e th at a rat i o n al t ri er o f fact

co u ld co n cl u d e t h a t th e Ho s p i t al k n ew o r s h o u l d hav e k n o wn t h at Bu t l er d i s p l ay ed

t en d en ci es t h at co u l d h av e cau s ed t h e harm s u ffered b y J oy ce. W e are m i n d fu l t h at

“ at t h e s u m

m ary ju d g m en t st ag e, co u rt s are req u i red t o co ns t ru e t h e ev i d en ce m o s t

fav o rab l y t o ward s t h e n o nm o v i n g p art y

, wh o i s g i v e n t h e b en efi t o f al l reas o n ab l e

8d o u b t s an d p o s si b l e i n feren ces .” 1 2 Ev en i f o n e m i g h t d o u bt t h at Bu t l er’ s wel l

d o cu m en t ed ru d en es s an d ro u g h t reat m en t of p at i en t s wo u ld

, t ak en al o n e, am o u n t to

an y t h i n g m o re s i n i s t er, we can n o t i gn o re t h e ev i d en ce o f a p ri o r i n ci d en t o f n o n

co n sen s ual s ex u al co n du ct ag ai n s t a p at i en t b y Bu t ler. Tak en as a w h o le, an d v i ewed

i n t h e p ro p er l i g h t

, t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o r t s an in feren ce th at t h e Ho s p i t al k n ew o r

s h o u ld h av e k n o wn t hat Bu t l er p o sed m ore ri s k t h an m erel y a p o o r b ed s id e m an n er

wo u l d p o rt en d

. 1 3 Acco rd i n g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y co n cl u di n g t h at t h e h arm J o y ce

s u ffered was o u ts i d e o f t h e ri s k p o sed b y Bu t l er’ s t en d en ci es an d co n d u ct

, an d we

rev ers e t h e g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t as t o th e Pl ai n ti ffs ’ n eg l i g en t ret en t i o n cl ai m

.

3

. Pr e m i s e s l i ab i l i t

y cl a i m

. U n d er OCGA § 5 1 -3 -1 “ [w] h ere an o wn er o r

o ccu pi er o f l an d

, b y ex pres s o r i m p l i e d i n v i tat i o n

, i n d u ces o r lead s o t h ers t o co m e

u p o n h i s prem is es fo r an y l awfu l p urp o s e, h e is l i ab l e i n d am ag es t o s u ch pers o n s fo r

i n ju ri es cau s ed b y h i s fai l u r e t o e x e rci se o rd i n ary care i n k eep i n g t h e p rem i s es an d

ap p ro ach es s afe.”

W i t h reg ard t o p rem i s es -l i ab i l i t y cas es

, . . . a s a g en eral p ro p o s i t i o n

,

i s su es of neg l i g en ce

. . . are n o t s u scep t i b l e o f s u m m ary ad ju d i cat i o n

,

1 2 (Pu n ct u at i on o m it t ed .) S mi t h v. Ten et Hea l t hS

ys t em S p al d i n g

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p.

8 7 8 , 8 7 9 (1 ) (7 6 1 SE2 d 4 09 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

1 3 See Al l en , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p . at 2 1 5 -2 16 (1 ) (c).

9b u t s h o u l d i n s t ead b e res o l v ed b y t ri al i n t h e o rd i n ary m an n er; an d . . .

t h e t ri al co u rt can co n cl u d e as a m at t er o f l aw t h at th e fact s d o o r do n o t

s h o w neg l i gen ce o n t he p art of t h e d efen dan t o r th e p lai n t i ff o nl y wh ere

t h e ev id en ce is p l ai n

, p al p ab l e an d un d i s p u t ab l e. In p ract i cal term s

, t h i s

m ean s t h at i s s ues s u ch as h o w cl o s e l y a p art icu l ar [p ro p ri et o r] s h o u l d

m o n i t o r i t s p rem is es an d ap p ro ach es

, wh at [p ro pri et o r s ] s h o u ld kn o w

ab o u t t h e p ro p ert y ’ s co n d i t i o n [o r s t aff’ s co n d u ct ] at an y g i v en t i m e,

.

. . are

. . . q u e s t i o n s t h at

, i n g en eral

, m u s t b e an s wered b y ju ri es as a

m at t er o f fact rat h er t h an b y ju dg es as a m at t er o f l aw. 1 4

W i th res p ect t o l i ab i l i t y

fo r cri m i n al act s o ccu rri n g o n t h e p rem i s es

,

i f t h e p ro p ri e t o r h as reas o n t o an t i ci pat e a cri m in al act

, h e o r s he t h en

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

d an g ero u s ch aract ers

. Acco rd i n g l y

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

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

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

o rd i nary p recau t i on s t o p r o t e ct h i s or h er cu s t o m ers o r t en an ts ag ai n s t

t h e ri s k p o s ed b y

t h at t y p e o f act i v i t y

. 1 5

Here, th e tri al co u rt ru l ed t h at t h e “ [p ] l ai nt i ffs h av e pres en t ed no ev i d en ce t h at

a ct u a l s ex u al as s au l ts had prev i o u s l y o ccu rred o n t he p rem i s es s u ch as t o p u t [t h e

1 4 (Pu n ct u at i o n om it t ed .) Ben ef i el d v. To mi n i ch

, 3 0 8 G a

. Ap p

. 60 5

, 6 0 7 (1 )

(7 0 8 SE2 d 5 6 3 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

1 5 (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at io n o m i t ted .) S t u rb r i dg e Pa r t n er s v. W a l ker

, 2 6 7 Ga.

7 8 5 , 7 8 6 (2 7 5 SE2 d 33 9 ) (1 9 9 7 ).

10Ho s pi t al ] o n no t i ce o f an o n g o in g s ecu ri t y is s u e.” 1 6 B u t as p o i n t ed o u t b y t h e

Pl ai n t i ffs i n t h e t ri al co u rt an d o n ap p eal

, t h e reco rd co n t ai n s ev id en ce o f s ex u al

as s au l t s o n at l eas t fi v e fem al e v i ct i m s i n Ho s p i t al ro o m s fro m 20 0 4 t o 20 0 8

, p ri o r to

J o y ce’ s rap e i n 2 0 09

. In 2 0 0 4

, t h e H o s p i t al recei ved a co m p l ai n t th at Bu t l er h ad

i n ap p ro p ri at el y t o u ch ed a fem al e p at i en t ; i n 20 0 7

, t h e H os p it al recei v ed a rep o rt t h at

a m al e em

p l o y ee h ad rap ed a p at i en t ; i n 2 0 0 7 o r earl y 2 0 0 8

, t he Ho s p i tal recei v ed

an o th er co m

p l ai n t fro m a p at i en t accu s i n g a m al e s t aff m em b er o f s ex u al as s au l t ; an d

i n 2 0 0 8

, t h e d au g h t er o f a fem al e p at i en t r e p ort ed t h at a m al e n urs e (i d en t i fi ed as

s o m eo n e o t h er t han Bu t ler) ex p o sed hi m s el f t o t he t wo w o m e n w h i l e m as t u rb at i n g

i n t he p at i en t ’ s ro om

. 1 7

Th e Ho s p i t al arg u es th at t h es e r e p o rt s are n o t cred i b l e o r were bas ed o n

u n rel i ab l e s o u rces ; b u t

, ag ai n

, t he sum m a r y j ud g m en t s t an d ard req u i res co u rt s t o v i ew

t h e ev i den ce i n t h e l ig ht m o s t f a v o rab l e t o t h e Pl ai n t i ffs as th e n o n m o v i n g p art i es

.

1 6 (Em p has is i n o ri g i n al .)

1 7 Th e Pl ai n t i ffs arg u e t h at an o t h e r as s au l t o ccu rred i n 2 0 06 b u t t h ei r reco rd

ci t es p o in t o n l y t o arg u m en t b y t h ei r at t o rn ey

, wh i ch i s no t ev id en ce. See Vi ck v.

To wer Pl a ce, L.P.

, 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 08

, 1 0 9 (2 ) (6 0 1 SE2 d 3 4 8 ) (2 00 4 ) (“ Ap p el l at e

ju d g es s h o u l d n o t b e ex p ect ed t o t ak e pi lg ri m ag es i n t o reco rd s i n s e arch o f erro r

w i t h o u t t h e co m

p as s o f ci t at io n an d arg um en t

. In ad di t i o n

, i t i s a b as i c p ri n ci p l e o f

ev i d en ce l aw t hat arg u m en t i s n o t ev i den ce.”) (p u n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

11Becau s e o f t h i s , t he t ri al co u rt erred b y co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e Pl ai n ti ffs h ad p res en t ed

“ n o ev i d en ce o f a ct u a l s ex u al as s au l ts ” 1 8 s u ch t hat th e Ho s p i t a l w a s n o t aware o f a

p o t en t i al s ecu ri t y p ro b l em

. Th es e act s are s u b s t an t i al l y si m i lar t o t h e h arm J o y ce

s u ffered

, an d t h ere i s ev i d en ce t h at each o f t he ab o v e s ex ual as sau l t s was rep o rt ed to

t h e Ho s p it al s t aff at t h e t i m e th ey h ap p en ed

. W h et h er t h es e rep o rt s were cred i b l e o r

warran t l i ab il i t y o n t h e p art o f th e Ho s p i t al are i s s ues t o b e res ol v ed b y a ju ry an d are

n o t pro p erl y res o l ve d b y t he tri al co u rt o n s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. A cco rd i n g l y

, we

rev ers e th e g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t as t o th e Pl ai n t iffs ’ p rem i s es l i ab i l i t y cl ai m

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed i n p a r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t . Ph i

p p s , P. J., a n d

Bo g g s, J.,

co n cu r

.

1 8 (Em p has is i n o ri g i n al .)

12