FI FTH DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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

.

A ugust 13, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 67 2 . BLAKE v . TRIBE EXPRESS, INC. et al

.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

Tai ran Bl ak e s u s t ai n ed i n ju ri es i n a m

ul ti -v eh i cl e co l l i s i o n t h a t h e al l eg es

res u l ted fro m t he n eg l i g en ce o f d efen d an t s Tri b e Ex p res s, In c. (“ Tri be”), an d

M arq u en t i n Pro ss er, it s em p l o y ee, wh o ran o n fo o t i n to traffi c o n I-7 5 N o rt h i n Hen ry

Co u n t y

, s et t i n g o ff a ch ai n o f ev en t s t hat cu l m i n at ed i n t he co l l i s i o n. T h e t ri al co u rt

fo u n d t h at Pro s s er was act i n g o u t s i d e t h e s co p e o f h is em p l o y m en t wi t h Tri b e at t h e

t i m e o f t h e co ll is i o n an d g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Tri b e. Bl ak e ap peal s t h at

ru l i n g, co n t en d in g t hat a g en ui n e i s su e o f m at eri al fact rem ai n s i n d is p u t e. W e

d i s ag ree an d affi rm

.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t is ap p ro p r i at e wh ere n o g en u i n e i s s ue o f m at eri al fact

rem ai n s an d t h e m o v i n g p art y i s en t it l ed to ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw. See OCGA§ 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c). Th i s Co u rt rev iews a t ri al co u rt ’ s s u m m ary ju d gm en t ru l i n g d e n o v o,

co n st ru i n g t he ev id en ce an d al l reas o n ab le i n feren ces i n fav o r o f t h e n o n m o v i n g

p art y

. See Ad

va n ced Di s

po s a l S er vs

. At la n ta v. Ma r cz a k

, 3 59 Ga. Ap p

. 3 1 6, 3 1 6 (8 5 7

SE2 d 4 9 4) (2 0 2 1).

Th e m at eri al fact s o f t h i s cas e are l arg el y u n di s p ut ed

. Vi ewed i n th e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o Bl ak e, t h e n o n-m ov an t

, t h e reco rd s h o w s t hat Pro s ser was em p l o y ed by

Tri b e as a tru ck d ri v er, an d

, on No v em b er 1

, 2 01 7

, h e m ad e a d el i v ery o n Tri b e’ s

b eh al f t o M o n t go m ery

, Al ab am a wh i l e d ri v i n g a Tri be-o wn ed t ract o r-t rai ler. Pro s s er

t h en d ro v e Tri b e’ s t ract o r-t rai l er t o Go rd on , Geo rg i a t o v i s i t h i s m o t h er. Th e t rai l er

was em p t y

. Up o n m ak i n g co n t act wi t h Pro s s er so m et i m e b et ween N o v em b er 1 an d

No v em b er 3

, 2 01 7

, Tri b e i n fo rm ed Pro s ser t h at h i s em p l o y m en t was t erm i n at ed an d

i n s t ru ct ed hi m t o ret u rn i t s t ract o r-t rai l er t o o n e o f it s t wo l o cat i o n s i n Gai n es v i l l e,

Geo rg i a.

O n N o v e m

b er 3

, 2 0 1 7

, Pro s s er dro v e fro m Go rd o n t o wi t h i n 2 0 0 y ard s o f

Tri b e’ s G ai n es vi ll e h ead q u art ers

. H o wev er, rat h er t h a n p ro ceed in g t o Tri b e’ s

h ead qu art ers

, Pro s ser t urn ed o n t o I-9 8 5 So u t h an d b eg an dri v i n g away fro m

Gai n es vi l l e. Pro ss er co nt i n u ed o n t o I-8 5 So u t h t h ro u g h At l an t a an d m erg ed o n t o I-7 5

So u t h as h e l eft t h e ci t y

. In Hen ry Co u n t y

, Pro s s er n av i gat ed t h e t ract o r-t rai l er o n to

2t h e ex p res s l an es

, d ri v i n g t h ro u g h s ecu ri t y b arri ers w h i ch were l o w ered t o p rev en t

acces s t o t h e ex p res s l an es

. W h en Pro s s er d ro v e t h ro u g h th e b arri ers

, d eb ri s fl ew o v er

t h e m ed ian wal l an d d am ag ed a p as s i n g v eh i cl e. 1

Pro s ser d ro v e s o u t h in t h e ex pres s l an es fo r ap p ro xi m at el y t wo m i l es u n t i l h e

s t ru ck t h e s i de rai l i n g an d b ro u g h t t h e t ract o r-t rai l er t o a s t o p n ear ex i t 2 2 4

. He t h en

ex i t ed t h e t ract o r-t rai l er, ran o n fo o t acro s s t h e ex p res s l an es , ju m p ed a b arri er, an d

ran i n t o t raffi c o n I-7 5 No rt h

. W h en Pro s s er d art ed i n to traffi c, a s p o rt ut i li t y v eh i cl e

(“ SUV”) s werv ed t o av o i d h i m an d

, i n d oi n g s o

, co l l i d ed wi t h Bl ak e’ s t ract o r-t rai l er.

Pro s s er was s t ru ck an d i n ju re d b y a t h i rd veh i cl e. Th e p o li ce rep o rt prep ared

fo l l o w i n g t h e in ci d en t in d i cat ed t h at

, b efo re b ei ng tran s po rt ed t o t h e h o s p i t al

, Pro s s er

h ad “ ran d o m fi t s o f rag e” an d “ co n ti n u al l y t ri ed t o g et u p, an d wal k i n to t raffi c.” Th e

rep o rt al so n o t ed Pro ss er’ s d il at ed p u p i l s

, rap id p u l se, an d el ev at ed b l o o d p res s u re.

W h i l e at t h e h o s p i t al

, Pro s ser d i d n o t r e s p o n d t o q u es t i o ns ab o u t wh at led t o t h e

co l l i s i o n o r wh at s u b s t an ces h e m i g h t hav e in g es t ed

. A s a res u lt o f t h e i n c i d en t

,

P r o s s er was i ss u ed ci t at i o ns fo r m u l ti p l e o ffen s es

, i n cl u d i n g d ri v i n g u n d e r t h e

i n fl u en ce.

1 Pro s s er was ch arg ed wi t h h i t an d ru n i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t h i s i n ci d en t

.

3On Sep t em b er 2 7

, 2 0 1 8

, a Hen ry Co u nt y g ran d ju ry i n d i ct ed Pro s s er fo r t h eft

b y t ak i ng o f Tri b e’ s t ract o r-t rai l er

, d ri v i n g u nd er t h e i nfl u en ce o f a d ru g

, d ri v i n g

u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f co cai n e, h i t an d ru n

, v i o l at i o n o f d u t y u p o n st ri ki n g a fi x ed

o b ject

, an d fai lu re t o m ai n t ai n l an e. On J u n e 3

, 2 0 1 9

, Pro ss er p l ead ed g u i l t y t o t h eft

b y t ak i ng

, d ri v i n g un d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f a d ru g, h i t an d ru n

, an d v i o l at io n o f d u t y

u p o n st ri ki n g a fi x ed o b

ject

. T h e rem ai n i ng co u nt s o f d ri v i ng u n d er t h e i n fl u en ce o f

co cai n e an d fai l ure t o m ai n t ai n l an e were n o l l e p ro s s ed

.

Bl a k e fi l ed t h i s l aws u i t i n Au g us t 2 0 1 8

, as s ert in g cl ai m s ag ai n s t Tri b e fo r

Pro s s er’ s n eg l i g en ce, as w el l as fo r Tri b e’ s n eg l i gen t h i ri ng

, t rai n i n g

, an d s u p erv i s i o n

o f Pro ss er. 2 Du ri ng h i s d ep o s it i o n

, wh i ch t oo k p l a c e l es s t h an a w eek b efo re h e

p l ead ed g u i l t y t o t h e ch arg es b ro u g h t ag ai ns t h i m

, Pro s s er t es t i fi ed t h at

, o n t h e d ay

o f t h e co ll i s i o n

, h e was ret u rn i ng t h e t ract or-t rai l er t o Tri b e i n Gai n es v il l e aft er b ei n g

t erm i n at ed

, as T ri b e h ad i n s t ru ct ed h i m

. Pro ss er s t at ed t h at

, u p o n a rri v i n g in

Gai n es vi l l e, he m ad e a wro n g t u rn an d ret u rn ed t o t he i n t ers t at e t o rero u t e. A cco rd i n g

t o Pro s s er, “ I real i zed I h ad b een g o i n g t o a po i n t wh ere I m i s s ed m y t u rn an d h ad to

recal cu lat e an d rero u t e t h e t r u c k t o get b ack o n th e in t ers t at e t o g et b ack o ff o n m y

2 Bl ak e al s o as s ert ed cl ai m s ag ai ns t Pr o s s e r

, b ut Pro s s er i s n o t a p art y t o t h i s

ap p eal

.

4ex i t ag ai n to g o in t he ri g h t d irect i o n .” Pro s s er el ab o rat ed

, “ I m ad e a wro n g t u rn an d

h ad t o rero u t e t h e t ru ck i n o rd er t o g et b ac k t o wh ere I was t ry i n g to g et t o o f

d ro p pi n g t h e t ract o r an d t r a i l er o ff. Th at ’ s h ow I en d ed u p b ack on t h e i n t ers t at e

t h i n k i n g t h at I was g o i n g in m y ri g h t d i rect i o n[.] ” W h en as k ed ab o u t t h e ev en t s

l ead i ng u p t o t h e co l l i s io n

, w h at s u b s t an ces h e m i g h t h av e i n g es t ed

, an d wh y h e

co n ti n u ed d ri v i ng aft er h i t t i n g t h e b arri ers res tri ct i n g acces s t o t h e ex p res s l an es

,

Pro s s er i n v o k ed h i s Fi ft h Am en d m en t ri g h t ag ai n s t s el f-i n cri m i n at i o n

.

Tri b e th ereaft er m o v ed fo r s u m m a r y j u dgm e nt, a r guing t h at Bl ak e’ s n eg l i g en ce

cl ai m ag ai n s t Tri be, wh i ch wa s p r e m i s ed o n res p o nd eat s u p eri o r, was n o t v al id

b ecau s e Pro s s er was act i n g o u t s i d e t h e sco p e o f h i s em p l o y m en t

. 3 Sp eci fi cal l y

, Tri b e

arg u e d t h a t Pro ss er was o perat i n g t h e t ract or-t rai l er at a p l ace an d fo r a p u rp o s e

u n au t h o ri zed b y Tri b e an d t h at Pro s s er’ s g ui l t y p l ea t o t h eft b y t ak in g w as “ d i rect

,

i rrefu t ab l e ev i den ce o f h is ad m i s s i o n t h at h e d i d n o t hav e au th o ri t y t o b e i n Defen d an t

Tri b e’ s t rac t o r

- t r a i l e r at t h e ti m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n .” In s u pp o rt of i t s m o t i o n

, Tri b e

3 Tri b e’ s m o t io n fo r s u m m ary ju d gm en t al s o ad d res sed cl ai m s as s ert ed by

Bl ak e fo r Tri b e’ s n eg l i g en t h i ri n g

, t rai n in g

, an d su p erv i si o n

, a s w el l as n eg l i g en t

en t ru s t m en t o f a co m

m erci al veh i cl e t o Pro s s er. In g ran ti ng s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, t h e

t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e i s su es w ere u n o p po s ed an d an y a r g u m e n t w a s wai v ed

b ecau s e Bl ak e fai l ed t o ad d res s t h e cl a i m s i n h is res p o n s e t o Tri b e’ s m o t i o n

. On

ap p eal , Bl ak e d oes n o t ch al l en ge t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n reg ard i n g t hes e i s s u es

.

5s u b m i t t ed

, am o n g o t h er t h i n g s

, Pro s s er’ s i n d i ct m en t an d th e fi n al ju d g m en t en t ered

u p o n h i s g u i l t y p l eas

. In res p o n s e, Bl ak e arg u ed

, as h e d o es on ap p eal

, t hat Pro s s er’ s

t es t i m o ny reg ard i n g m i s s i n g h i s t u rn an d ret u rn i ng t o th e i nt ers t at e to rero u t e t h e

t ract o r-t rai ler co n fl ict ed wi t h h i s g u i l t y pl ea t o t h eft b y t ak i n g an d t h u s creat ed a

g en ui n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact as t o wh et h er h e was act i n g i n t he co u rs e an d s co p e o f

h i s em p l o y m en t wi t h Tr i b e a t t h e t im e o f t h e co l li s io n

. Bl ak e d i d n o t s u bm i t an y

ev i d en ce s u p p o rt i n g h i s res p on s e i n o p p o s i t i o n t o Tri b e’ s m o t i o n

.

Th e t r i a l c o u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Tri b e, fi n d in g t h at Pro s s er was

act i ng o ut s i d e t h e s co p e o f hi s em pl o y m en t wi t h T ri b e at t h e t i m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n

. In

d o i n g s o

, t h e t ri al co u rt ap pl ied t h e b u rd en -s h i f t i n g f ram ewo rk u rg ed b y Bl ak e,

req u i ri n g Tri b e to reb u t th e p res u m p t i o n t h at Pro s s er was act i n g i n t h e s co pe o f h i s

em pl o y m en t

, wh i ch aro s e becau s e h e was d ri v i n g a Tri b e-o wn ed v eh i cl e, wi t h “ cl ear,

p o s i t i ve, an d u n co n t rad i ct ed ” ev i d en ce t h at h e was act i n g o u t s i de t h e s co p e o f h i s

em pl o y m e n t at t h e t i m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n

. 4 Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at Tri b e m et i t s

4 Bl ak e’ s res po n s e rel i ed u p o n t h e st an d ard an n o u n ced by o ur Su p rem e Co u rt

i n Al l en Ka n e’s Ma

j or Do d g e, In c. v. Ba r ne s

, 2 4 3 Ga. 7 7 6 (2 57 SE2 d 1 8 6 ) (1 9 7 9 ),

wh i le th e t ri al co u rt rel i ed u p o n t h i s Co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n i n Ma s s e y v. Hen der

s o n

, 1 3 8

Ga. Ap p. 5 6 5 (2 2 6 SE2 d 7 5 0 ) (1 9 7 6 ). Th e d ifferen ce i s i m m at eri al

, ho wev er, b ecau s e

b o t h cas es em

pl oy t h e s am e p res u m

pt i o n an d b u rd en -s h i ft i ng fram ewo rk

. See Al l en

Ka n e’s

, 2 4 3 Ga. at 77 7 (“ W h ere a v eh i cl e i s i n vo l v ed i n a co l l i s i o n

, an d i t i s s h o wn

t h at t h e au t om ob i l e is o wn ed by a p ers o n

, an d t hat t h e o p erat o r o f t h e v eh i cl e i s i n t h e

6b u rd en b y o fferi n g ev i d en ce t h at Pro s s er d ro v e ei g h t y m il es away fro m hi s i n t en d ed

d es t i nat io n an d p l ead ed g u i l ty t o th eft b y t ak i ng of Tri b e ’s t ract o r-t rai l er. Th e t ri al

co u rt reject ed Bl ak e’ s arg u m en t t h at Pro s s er’ s t es t i m o n y ab o u t m ak i n g a wro n g t u rn

creat ed a fact ual d i s p ut e precl u d i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, reas o n i n g th at t h e t es t i m o ny

an d Pro s s er’ s s u b s eq uen t g u i l t y p l ea w ere n ot i n d i rect co n fl i ct

. Th e t ri al co u rt

ex p lai n ed i t s fi n d i n g s as fo ll o ws :

Gi v i ng [Bl ak e] t h e ben efi t o f al l reas o n ab l e i n feren ces an d fi nd i n g t hat

Defen d an t Pro s s e r g o t l o s t i n G ai n es v il l e an d g o t b ack o n I-9 8 5

t rav el i ng s o u t h t o recal i b rat e h i s G PS, D efen d an t Pro s s er s t i l l k new

Tri b e’ s t ru ck n eed ed t o b e ret u rn ed t o Gai n es v i l l e. It i s co n t rary t o l o gi c

o r rea s o n t h a t a pro fes s i o n al d ri ver wo u l d b e l es s th an a m i le fro m h i s

d es t in at i o n an d t h en d ri v e 8 0 m i l es away fro m i t wi t h o u t m ak i n g a

co n s ci ou s d eci si o n t o d o s o

.

em pl o y m en t of th at p ers o n

, a p res u m p t i o n ari s es th at th e em

p l oy ee w as i n t h e s co p e

o f h i s em p l oy m en t at th e t i m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n

, an d t h e b u rd en i s t h en o n t he d efen d an t

em pl o y er t o s h o w o t h erwi s e.”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it ted ); Ma s s ey

, 1 3 8 Ga.

Ap p

. at 5 6 5 (1 ) (“ [U]n d e r Geo rg i a l aw[,] a p res u m p t io n ari s es wh en a s erv an t i s

o p erat i n g h i s em

p lo y er’ s veh i cl e at t h e t i m e o f a co l l i s i o n

, h e was i n t h e s co p e o f h i s

em pl o y m en t

. Th e b u rd en is th en u p o n t h e m as t er t o reb u t t h e p res um p t i o n by

ev i d en ce t h at i s cl ear, p o s i t i v e an d u n co n t rad i ct ed an d t h at s h o ws t h e s erv an t was n ot

i n t he s co p e o f h i s em

p l o y m en t .”) (ci t at i on s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

7Al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt i m p o s ed a h i g h er b u rd en o f p ro o f o n Tri b e t h an was cal l ed

fo r b y t he fact s o f t h i s cas e, i t co r r e ct l y fo u n d th at Pro s ser was no t act i ng i n t h e

co u rs e an d s co p e o f h i s em p l o y m en t wi t h Tri b e at t he t i m e o f t he co l l i s i o n

.

As an i n i t i al m at t er, we n o t e t hat t h e t ri al co u rt i m pro p erl y ev al u at ed Tri b e’ s

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary j u d gm en t p u rs u an t to t h e b u rd en -s h i ft i n g fram ewo rk en u n ci at ed

i n Al l en Ka n e’s Ma

j or Do d g e, In c. v. Ba r nes

, 2 4 3 G a. 7 7 6 (2 57 SE2 d 1 8 6 ) (1 9 7 9 ),

an d Ma s s ey v. Hen der

so n

, 1 3 8 Ga. A p p

. 5 65 (2 2 6 SE2 d 7 5 0 ) (1 9 7 6 ), wh i ch

es t ab l i s h es a reb u t t ab le pres u m p t i o n t h at a n em

p l o y ee i s act i n g i n t h e sco p e o f h i s

em pl o y m en t w h en he is op erat i n g h i s em p l o y er’ s v eh i cl e at t h e t i m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n

t h at cau s es t h e i n

j u ri es at i s su e. See Al l en Ka n e’s

, 2 43 Ga. at 7 7 7 ; Ma s s ey

, 1 3 8 Ga.

Ap p

. at 5 6 5 (1 ). Th i s fram ewo rk

, h o wev er, ap p l i es o n l y wh en t h e em p lo y ee-d ri v en

,

em pl o y er-o wn ed v eh i cl e i s i n vo l v ed i n t h e co l l i s io n t h at res ul t s i n t h e t o rt -cl ai m an t ’ s

i n j u r y. S e e Al l en Ka n e’s

, 2 4 3 Ga. at 7 7 7 -7 78

. Th e fact s o f t h i s cas e are

d i s t i n gu i sh ab l e becau se t h e Tri b e-o wn e d tract o r-t rai l er was n o t i n v ol v ed i n t h e

co l l i s i o n b e t w een Bl ak e’ s t ract o r-t rai l er an d t h e SUV t h at g av e ri se t o th i s l aws u i t

.

In s t ead

, t h at co l l i s i o n o ccu rred wh en t h e SUV s werv ed to av o id h i t t i n g Pro s s er aft er

h e ex i t ed Tri b e’ s t ract or-t rai l er an d d art ed o n fo o t i nt o t h e p at h o f th e SUV.

8Th erefo re, T r i b e’ s m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t is p ro p erl y ev al u at ed p u rs u an t to

t h e g en eral l aw o f res p o nd eat s u p eri o r.

“ Un d er t h e d o ct ri n e o f res p o n d eat s u p eri o r, a m as t er i s l i ab l e fo r t h e t o rt o f i t s

s erv an t o n l y t o t h e ex t en t t h at t h e s erv an t co m m i t t ed t h e t o rt i n co n n ect i on wi t h h i s

em pl o y m en t b y th e m as ter, wi th i n t h e s co p e of h i s em pl o y m en t

, an d i n fu rt h eran ce

o f h i s m as t er’ s bu si n es s .” B-T Two , In c. v. Ben n et t , 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p. 64 9

, 6 5 2 (1 ) (7 0 6

SE2 d 8 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ). “ [T] h e g en eral ru l e fo r d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e m as t er i s l i ab l e fo r

t h e act s o f an em

p l oy ee i s n o t wh et h er t h e act w as d o n e d u ri ng t h e ex i s t en ce o f t h e

em pl o y m en t

, b u t wh et her it w as d o n e wi t h in t h e s co p e o f t he act u al t ran s act io n o f t h e

m as t er’ s b us i n es s fo r acco m p l i s h i n g t h e en d s o f h i s em p l o ym e n t.” Id

. (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). W h et h er a n e m p l o y ee act ed i n fu rt h eran ce o f h i s em p l o y er’ s

b u s i n es s an d wi t h i n t he s co p e of h i s em p l o y m en t i s g en eral l y an i s s u e t o b e res o l v ed

b y t h e j u ry ; h o wev er, “ t h e ev i d en ce i n s o m e cas es i s s o p l ai n an d u n d i s p ut ab l e t h at

t h e co u rt m ay res o lv e a res p o nd eat s u p eri o r cl ai m as a m at t er o f l aw.” Cen t u r i o n

In d u s. v. Na vi ll e-S

a eg er

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 42

, 3 4 4 (1 ) (8 3 4 SE2 d 87 5 ) (2 01 9 ) (ci t at i o n

an d p un ct u at i o n o m i tt e d )

. “ Im p o rt an t l y

, su m

m ary ju d g m en t fo r t h e m as t er i s

ap p ro p ri at e wh en t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at t h e s erv an t was n ot en g ag ed i n fu rt h eran ce

o f hi s m as t er’ s b u si n es s b u t w a s o n a p ri v at e en t erp ri s e o f h is o wn .” Lu ca s v.

9Beckma n Co u l t er

, In c.

, 3 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 5

, 5 0 8 (2 ) (8 2 3 SE2 d 82 6 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See al s o Gr a ha m v. Ci ty o f D u l u t h

, 32 8 Ga. A p p

. 4 9 6

, 5 0 1

( 1 ) ( 7 5 9 SE2 d 6 4 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, i f a s erv an t s t ep s as i de fro m h i s

m as t er’ s b u s i n es s to d o a n a ct en t i rel y d i sco n n ect ed fro m i t, an d i n ju ry t o an o t h er

res u l ts fro m t he act

, th e serv an t m ay b e li ab l e, b ut t h e m as t er i s n o t l i ab le.”) (ci t at i o n

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

Here, t here i s n o ev i den ce i n t h e reco rd t hat Pro s s er, at t h e t i m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n,

was act i n g wi t h in t h e s co p e o f h i s em p l o y m en t o r i n fu rt h eran ce o f Tri b e’ s b u s i n es s

.

In fact

, as t h e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y fo u nd

, t h e reco rd co n t ai n s d i r e c t ev i d en ce t h at

Pro s s er was n o t act i n g i n t he s co p e o f h i s em p l oy m en t o r i n fu rt h eran ce o f Tri b e’ s

b u s i n es s i n t he fo rm o f Pro s s er’ s gu i l ty p lea t o t heft b y tak i ng o f T r i b e’ s t ract o rt rai l er. “ In Geo rg i a, a g u il t y p l ea i s an ad m i ss i o n ag ai ns t i n t eres t an d p ri m a faci e

ev i d en ce o f th e fact s ad m i t t ed .” Tr u s t g a r d In s

. Co

. v. Her n do n

, 3 3 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 7,

3 5 1 (1 ) (7 9 0 SE2 d 1 1 5 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (p hy s ical p reced en t o n l y ) (ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). See al s o OCGA § 2 4-8 -8 0 3 (2 2 ) (ev i d en ce o f fi n al ju dg m en t en tered u p o n

g u i l t y p l ea ad m i s si b le “ t o p ro v e an y fact es s en t i a l t o s u s t ai n t h e j u d gm en t ”). As

ev i d en ced b y h i s g u i l t y p l ea t o st eal i n g h i s em p l o y er’ s t ract or-t rai l er, Pro s s er cl earl y

act ed “ fo r p u rel y p ers o nal reas o n s u n co n nect ed wi t h [h i s ] jo b” wh en

, aft er ex i t i n g t h e

10s t ol en t ract o r-t rai l er, h e dart ed o n fo ot i n t o o n co m i n g t raffi c. 5 McCr a r y v. Mi d d l e Ga

.

Mg mt

. S er vs

. , 31 5 Ga. Ap p. 2 4 7

, 2 55 (2 ), n

. 2 6 (7 2 6 SE2 d 7 40 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (em p l o y er was

n o t l i ab l e fo r em

p lo y ee’ s t ort i ou s co n d u ct wh ere su ch co n d u ct aro s e fro m em p l o y ee’ s

effo rt t o co v er u p cri m in al act t o wh i ch em p l o y ee l at er p l ead ed g u i lt y ). See al s o

El l i ot t v. Lea vi t t

, 1 2 2 Ga. A pp

. 6 2 2

, 6 3 0 (6 ) (1 7 8 SE2 d 2 68 ) (1 9 7 0 ) (em p l o y ee’ s

“ co m p l et e d ep art u re fro m t h e s co p e o f em p lo y m en t an d t he i n t en d ed u s e o f t h e

[co m p an y ] v eh i cl e ” r e l i ev es t h e v eh i cl e’ s o wn er fro m l i ab il i t y as a m at t er o f l aw).

Tri b e t hu s m et i t s b u rd en o f p res en ti n g ev i d e n c e t h a t Pro s s er “ was n o t en g ag ed in

fu rt heran ce o f [Tri b e’ s] b us i n es s b u t was o n a p ri v at e en t erp ri s e o f h i s o wn .” Lu ca s

,

3 4 8 Ga

. Ap p

. at 50 8 -5 0 9 (2 ) (em p l o y er was n o t v i cari o u s l y l i ab l e fo r p l ai n t i f f ’s

i n ju ri es cau s ed b y acci d en t al d i s ch arg e o f em p l o y ee’ s h an d gu n wh ere em p l o y ee, in

v i o l at i o n o f em

p l o y er’ s po l i cy

, c a r r i ed h an d g u n i nt o cl i en t ’ s faci l i t y “ fo r p u rel y

p ers o n al reas o ns rat h er t h an fo r an y p u rp o s e b en efi ci al ” t o h i s em p l o y er).

5 Bl ak e arg ues t hat “ [i ] t i s n o t a ‘ fact ’ t h at [] Pro s s er st ol e th e t ru ck ” b ecau s e

Pro s s er’ s g u il t y

p lea “ i s n o t co n cl us i ve an d i s o n l y a ci rcu m s tan ce t o b e co n s i d ered

wi t h o t h er ev i d en ce i n a ci v il act i o n fo r d am ag es .” Bu t Bl ak e m i sap p reh en d s t h e cas e

l aw u p o n wh i ch h e p rem is es t h i s as s ert i o n

. Pro s s er’ s g u i l t y p l ea i s i n deed pri m a faci e

ev i d en ce o f t h e fact s ad m i t ted , i .e., t h at h e s t ol e Tri b e’ s t ract o r-t rai l er, b u t “ i t i s n ot

co n cl u s i v e t h at [Pro s s er] was n eg l i g en t [.] ” S et l i f f v. Li t t l et o n

, 26 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 1 1

, 7 1 4

(2 ) (5 92 SE2 d 1 80 ) (2 0 0 3 ).

11W h er e

, as h ere, “ a m o t i on fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t is s u p p o rt ed b y [ev i d en ce]

s h o wi n g a p ri m a faci e ri gh t i n t h e m o v an t t o h av e ju d g m en t ren d ered i n h i s fav o r, t h e

b u rd en s hi ft s t o t h e o p p os i n g p art y t o p ro d u ce reb u t t al ev id en ce s u ffi ci en t t o creat e

a g en u i ne i s s u e of m at eri al fact .” Ha s t y v. S p r u i ll

, 2 0 7 Ga. A p p

. 4 8 5

, 48 6 (4 2 8 SE2 d

4 2 0 ) (1 9 9 3 ). Bl ak e m ai n tai n s t h at Pro s s er’ s t es t i m o n y t h at h e m ad e a wro n g t u rn an d

ret u rn ed t o t h e i n t ers t at e i n Gai n es v i ll e to rero u te t he t ract o r-t rai l er co n t r a d i c t s h i s

g u i l t y p l ea an d t h ereb y creat es a g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact s u ffi ci en t t o s u rv i v e

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. 6 Sp eci fi cal l y

, Bl ak e t ak es an i n feren t i al l eap an d co n t en d s t h at

i f Pro ss er were l os t at t h e t im e o f t h e co l l i s i o n (p res u m ab l y as a res u l t o f t h e wro n g

t u rn ), t h en h e was act i n g i n t h e co u rs e an d s co p e o f h i s em p lo y m en t at th e t i m e o f t h e

co l l i s i o n

. Ho wev er, as t h e t ri al co u rt fo u nd

, Pro s ser’ s tes t im on y t h at he m ad e a wro n g

t u rn d o es n o t d i rect ly co n t rad i ct h i s g u i l t y p l ea. 7 In d eed

, i t i s en t i rel y p l au s i b l e t h at

6 W h i l e Bl ak e en um erat es t h ree erro rs in h i s ap p el lat e bri e f

, t h es e pu rp o rt ed

erro rs are p rem i s ed o n th e s i n g ul ar n ot i o n t h at Pro s s er’ s d ep o s i t i o n t es t i m o ny

co n trad i ct s h i s g u i l t y p l ea an d t h u s creat es an is s u e o f m at eri al fact t h at can o n l y b e

res o l ved b y

a ju ry

.

7 Bl ak e as sert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro perl y d et erm i n ed t h at Pro s s er’ s

d ep os i t i o n t es t i m o n y an d g ui lt y p l ea were n o t co n t rad i ct ory

. Ho wev er, i t i s wel l

s et t l ed th at “ [w] het h er [] t es t i m o n y i s co nt rad i ct o ry

. . . is a q u es ti on of l a w f o r t h e

t ri al co urt .” Li l es v. In n er wo rk, In c.

, 2 7 9 G a. Ap p. 3 5 2

, 3 5 3-3 5 4 (1 ) (6 3 1 SE2 d 4 0 8 )

(2 0 0 6) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). W e fi n d n o erro r.

12Pro s s er m ad e a wro ng t u rn an d n av ig at ed o nt o t h e i n t ers t at e t o rero u te, t h en

, at s o m e

p o i n t

, deci d ed no t t o ret u rn t h e tract o r-t rai l er t o Tri be. As t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er n o t es

,

“ [i ] f t h e co l l is i on had o ccu rred wi t h i n cl o s er p ro x i m i t y t o T ri b e’ s h ead qu art ers

. . . a

ju ry q u es t i o n wo u l d ari s e as t o wh et h er [Pro s ser] was s t i l l i n t h e co u rs e an d s co p e o f

h i s em p lo y m en t .”

M o reo v er, Pro s s er d i d n o t t es t i fy t h at h e was l o st ; h e t es t i fi ed t h at h e m ad e a

wro ng t urn i n Gai n es v i l l e

, e i g h t y m i l es n o rt h o f t h e si t e of t he co l l i s i o n

. Th u s

, h i s

t es t i m o ny i s

, at b es t, ci rcu m st an t i al ev i d en ce fro m wh i ch an i n feren ce co u ld b e d rawn

t h at Pro s s er was l os t an d w as act i n g i n t he co u rs e o f h i s em p lo y m en t a t t h e t i m e o f

t h e co l l is i o n

. Bu t “ i n p as s i n g u po n a m o t io n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, a fi n d i n g o f fact

w h i c h m ay b e i n ferred b u t i s n o t d em an d ed b y ci rcu m s t an t ial ev i d en ce h as n o

p ro b at i v e v alue a ga inst positive a nd un co n t rad i ct ed ev i den ce t hat n o s u ch fact ex i s t s .”

Pa t t er s o n v. Kevo n

, LLC

, 3 0 4 Ga. 23 2

, 2 3 6 (8 1 8 SE2 d 5 7 5 ) (2 01 8 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i tt ed ). See al s o W i n d er v. Pa ul Li

g h t ’s B u ckh ea d Jeep Ea g l e Ch r ys l er

Pl ymo u t h

, 24 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 07

, 7 1 1 -7 1 2 (3 ) (5 4 9 SE2 d 5 1 5 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (“ [C] i rcu m s t an t i al

ev i d en ce h as n o p ro b at i v e val u e i n es t ab l i sh i n g a fact wh ere s u ch ev i d en ce i s

co n si s t en t wi t h d i rect

, u n i m peach ed ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h e no n ex i s t e n ce o f s u ch

fact

. ”). Of co u rs e, i t i s p os s i b l e t h at Pro ss er was l o st wh en he ex i t ed Tri b e’ s t ract o r13t rai l er an d d art ed i n t o traffi c ei g h t y m i l es so u t h o f h i s i n t en d ed des t i n at i o n

, b u t h i s

t es t i m o ny t h at h e m ad e a wro n g t u rn do es no t n e c e s s i t at e t h at fi n d i n g

, an d Bl ak e

p o i n t s t o n o ot h er ev i den ce t h at wo u l d s u p p ort s u ch a fi n d i n g

. 8 U n d er t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces

, Bl ak e’ s as sert i o n t h at Pro s s er w as lo s t i s n o th i n g m ore t h an

s p ecu l at i o n

. See Ro s al es v. Da vi s

, 2 6 0 Ga. Ap p

. 70 9

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

(ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en ce t h at d o es n o t po i n t m ore s tro n g ly t o a co n cl u s i o n o p p o si t e

t h at es t ab l is h ed b y d i rect ev i d en ce “ am ou n t s to m ere s p e c u l at io n

, co n ject u re, o r

p o s s i b i l i ty i n s u ffi ci en t to p recl u d e s u m m ary ju d g m en t ”). Su ch s p ecu l at i o n can n ot

d efeat t h e p o s it i v e an d u nco n t rad i ct ed ev i d en ce t h at Pro ss er s t o l e T r i b e ’s t ract o rt rai l er an d t h u s was act i n g fo r p ers o n al reas o n s, o u t s i de t h e s co p e o f h i s em p lo y m en t

,

an d n o t i n fu rt h eran ce o f Tri be’ s b u s i n es s at t h e t i m e o f t h e co l li s i o n

.

8 B l ak e arg u es i n p as s i n g t h at Pro ss er’ s ab an d o n m en t of t h e tract o r-t ra i l e r i s

ev i d en ce t h at h e was act i n g in t h e s co p e o f h i s em pl o y m en t b ecau s e Pro ss er “ t es t i fi ed

t h at h e ran acro s s t h e h i g h way b ecau s e h e s m el l ed g as o l i n e an d w a s t r yi n g t o g et

away fro m t h e t r u c k ,” wh i ch

, Bl ak e as s ert s

, “ i s wh at [h e] was t rai n ed t o d o by

Ap p el l ee Tri b e if h e s m el led g as o l i n e.” Pro s s er t es t i fi ed , h o wev er, t h at i n t h e ev en t

o f a s u s p ect ed fu el leak

, Tri be’ s d ri v er’ s h an d b o o k d irect ed h i m t o “ [p ] u l l o v er, cal l

9 1 1

, al ert d i s p at ch

, [an d ] pu t o u t s afet y co n es fo r b y s t an d ers an d o t h er d r i v e rs .”

Pro s s er fu rt h er ack n o w l e d g e d t h at Tri b e’ s s tan d ard o p erat i ng p ro ced u re m an d at ed

t h at “ [ d ]ri vers wi ll n ot leav e t h ei r t ru ck un at t en d ed [.] ” Acco rd i n g l y

, Pro s s er’ s

t es t i m o ny t h at h e “ w as t ry i n g t o g et away fro m th e tru ck ” i s i n su ffi ci en t t o creat e a

g en ui n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact as t o w h e t h e r h e was act i n g in th e s co pe o f h i s

em pl o y m en t

.

14Bl ak e fu rt h er arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt i m p ro p erl y ren d ered d et erm i n at i o n s as

t o Pro s s er’ s cred ib il i t y

, h i g h l i g h t i n g t he fo ll o wi n g sen t en ce fro m t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

o rd er: “ Ev en t h o u g h D efen dan t Pro s ser al l eg es he was n o t aware o f t h e l o cat i o n o f

Tri b e, t he Co u rt fi n ds t h es e s t at em en t s are n o t t o b e g i ven cred i b i l i t y .” It is t ru e, as

Bl ak e arg u es

, t h at a t ri al co urt m ay n ot m ak e cred i b i li t y d et erm i n at i o n s i n ru l i n g o n

a m o t i o n fo r su m

m ary ju d g m en t

, s ee K/

C Ice, LLC v. Co n n el l

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 7 6

, 3 7 8

(1 ) (8 3 5 SE2 d 1 1) (2 0 1 9 ) (“ In d eci d i n g a m ot i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, n ei t h er t h e

t ri al co u rt n o r t h is Co urt can co n s i der t h e cred ib i l i t y o f wi t n es s es ; an d a fi n d er o f fact

m u st res ol v e t h e q u es t i o n of cred i b i l it y an d t h e co n fl i ct s i n t h e ev id en ce wh i ch i t

p r o d u c e s .”), b ut t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g d i d n o t hi n g e on i t s d i sb el i ef of Pro s s e r ’s

t es t i m o ny t h at h e d i d no t k n ow wh e r e Tri b e was l ocat ed

. 9 In s t ead

, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

d eci s i o n

, wh ich g av e Bl ak e t h e b en efi t o f al l reas o n ab le i n feren ces an d cred i t ed

Pro s s er’ s t es t i m on y t h at h e m ad e a wro n g t u r n i n Gai n es vi l l e, was p rem i s ed o n t h e

fact s (p ro v ed b y di rect ev i d en ce) t h at Pro ss er d ro v e ei g h ty m il es away f r o m

Gai n es vi l l e aft er co m i n g wi t h i n 2 0 0 y ard s o f h is d es t i n a t i o n a n d s u bs eq u en t l y

p l ead ed g u i l t y t o t h eft b y t ak i ng o f Tri b e’ s t ract o r-t rai l er. Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o p i n i o n o f

9 Th e reco rd s s h ows t h at Pro s ser d i d no t

, i n fact

, t es ti f y t h a t h e was u n aware

o f Tri b e’ s lo cat i on

. In st ead

, h e t es t i fi ed t h at h e di d no t kn o w t o wh i ch o f Tri b e’ s t wo

Gai n es vi l l e l o cat i o n s h e was s u p p o s ed t o ret u rn t he t ract o r-t rai l er.

15Pro s s er’ s cred i b i li t y t h u s was i m m at eri al t o i t s ru l i ng an d p res en t s n o c a u s e fo r

rev ers al

. Cf. Du

p r ee v. Ho u s to n Co u n t

y B d

. o f Ed

. , 3 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8

, 4 6 -4 7 (2 ) (8 4 9

SE2 d 7 78 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (“ W here cred i b i l i t y i s t h e co n t ro l l i n g q u es t i on

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

i s n o t ap p ro p ri at e.”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In d eed

, t h e p o rt io n s o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er t h at Bl ak e co n t en d s co n s t i t u t e

i m p ro p er cred i b i l i t y d et erm in at i o n s

, wh en read i n co n t ex t

, a p p e ar i n s tead t o b e

d et erm i n at i o n s t h at Pro s s er’ s t es t i m o n y ab o u t m ak i ng a wro n g t u rn d o es n o t s u p p o rt

t h e reas o n ab l e i n feren ce t h at h e s im p l y w as l o s t at t h e t i m e o f t h e co l l i s i o n

. Becau s e

o n l y reas o n ab l e i n feren ces can g i v e ri s e to a g en u i ne i s s u e o f m at eri al fact su ffi ci en t

t o p recl u d e s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, s ee La u ’s Co r p

. v. Ha s ki ns

, 2 6 1 Ga. 4 9 1, 4 9 5 (4 )

(4 0 5 SE2 d 4 7 4 ) (1 9 9 1 ), t he t ri al c o u r t d i d n o t err b y p as s i n g o n t he reas o nab l en es s

o f t he i n feren ce t h at Pro s s er was l o s t

, wh i ch w as prem is ed o n ci r c u m s t a n t i al

ev i d en ce, i n l i g h t of t he d irect ev i d en ce t h at Pro s s er was n o t act i n g i n th e co u rs e an d

s co p e o f h i s em

p l o y m en t. Cf. Pa t t er

s o n

, 30 4 Ga. at 2 3 6 -2 3 7 (s u m m ary ju d g m en t n ot

ap p ro p ri at e wh ere d efen d an t ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m m a r y j u d g m en t w as b as ed u p o n

ci rcu m s t an t i al ev i d en c e a n d p l ai nt i ffs “ p res en t ed ev id en ce wh i ch

, al t h o u g h

ci rcu m s t an t i al

, co n t rad i ct ed p o i n t b y po i n t t h e as s ert i o n s m ad e in ” d efen d an t ’ s

m o ti o n ).

16Bas ed o n w el l s et t l ed l aw, t h e ev i d en ce i s p l ai n an d u nd i sp u t ab l e t h at Pro s s er

was n o t act i n g i n th e co u rs e an d s co p e o f h is em p l o y m en t w i th Tri b e wh en h e ex i t ed

t h e Tri b e-o wn ed t ract o r-t rai l er ei gh t y m i l es away fro m h i s i n t en ded d es t i n at i o n an d

ran in t o t raffi c. Th e t ri al co u rt t h erefo re was p erm i t t ed t o res o l ve th i s res p o n d eat

s u p eri o r cl ai m as a m at t er o f l aw, an d i t di d n ot err i n gran t i n g s um m ary ju d g m en t to

Tri b e.

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

McFa d d en , P. J., co n cu r

.

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