Opinion ID: 71438
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: background facts and procedural posture

Text: At the time of Pogue's injury, Oglethorpe was the majority owner of a construction project, known as the Rocky Mountain Project in Floyd County, Georgia. The purpose of the project was to construct a pump storage facility in which water could be collected from a series of reservoirs and released through a hydroelectric power house to generate power at peak electrical usage hours. The principal contractor on the Rocky Mountain Project was Power Plant Constructors (Power Plant). At the time Oglethorpe contracted with Power Plant, Oglethorpe agreed to provide a wrap-up insurance policy to provide workers' compensation insurance coverage to all contractors and subcontractors on the construction site. Oglethorpe obtained such a policy from Argonaut Insurance Company, with Power Plant as the named insured. Oglethorpe's Corporate Safety and Loss Control Coordinator established a safety program for the Rocky Mountain Project, hiring four safety inspectors to represent Oglethorpe at the site. These safety inspectors were, technically, leased from RES, an employee leasing company that handled all administrative payroll and benefits functions for the safety staff in exchange for a fee paid by Oglethorpe. In all respects except for their payroll status, the four on-site safety inspectors functioned as Oglethorpe employees. David Pogue began working for Power Plant in October 1991 as a cement finisher. When Pogue began working at the site, the powerhouse was about ten percent complete. The bottom level of what was to be a seventeen story concrete structure had been laid. As each concrete floor was poured, large openings were fabricated in the floors to accommodate vents, wiring, and other structural components. As a safety precaution, some, but not all, of the openings were covered with pieces of plywood or plywood reinforced with two-by-fours, or had temporary wooden railings placed around them. Cement finishers, like Pogue, had no involvement in the placement of these safety precautions. On June 5, 1992, Pogue was working with another concrete finisher in the powerhouse. As was fairly typical throughout the powerhouse, there were several openings in the floor, some of which were covered and some of which were not. As concrete finishers, Pogue and the other man were responsible for patching any holes or rough spots in the walls of the room in which they were working. The work required the men to leave the room from time to time to replenish their supply of finishing concrete, which was mixed in another area. The pathway leading into and out of the room crossed an opening that was covered with plywood. Both men had, by necessity, walked on the plywood that covered this opening prior to Pogue's injury. At the time of Pogue's injury, he was entering the room, having just replenished his supply of concrete. As he stepped onto the plywood in his path, it suddenly and unexpectedly gave way under Pogue's weight. Pogue fell forty-eight feet, sustaining serious and disabling injuries. Pogue is currently receiving workers' compensation benefits pursuant to his employment with Power Plant. The policy through which these benefits are being paid is the wrap-up policy purchased by Oglethorpe. Pogue sued Oglethorpe and RES for negligent failure to provide a safe place to work and negligent inspection. Pogue's wife sued for loss of consortium. The district court granted summary judgment to Oglethorpe on the basis that Oglethorpe was immune from liability as one who provides workers' compensation benefits to an injured employee, pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 34-9-11. The district court also granted summary judgment to RES on the ground that the Pogues had presented no theory that would entitle them to recover from RES. On appeal, the Pogues have abandoned their claim against RES, and the only matter before this Court is the propriety of the grant of summary judgment in favor of Oglethorpe.