Opinion ID: 1135777
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Moonshadow

Text: Moonshadow submitted two affidavits from her treating mental health expert, Dr. Lynne Morrow, another well-qualified psychologist. In the first, Dr. Morrow stated as follows: The symptoms of PTSD which prevented her from confronting her father regarding the sexual abuse, and in particular confronting him through litigation, include persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with her trauma, efforts to avoid thoughts or feelings associated with the trauma, efforts to avoid activities or situations that arouse recollections of the trauma. Morrow Affidavit at ¶ 7. In the second affidavit, in support of other allegations contained in the complaint, Dr. Morrow repeated the above analysis and added: I believe that [by attempting confrontation through litigation] she would become increasingly dysfunctional and depressed, thereby making it very difficult for her to conduct her life normally, to maintain or pursue employment and, most important, creating the real danger of possible suicide. Supplemental Morrow Affidavit at ¶ 6. Nonetheless, the majority concludes that [t]here was no evidence to suggest Moonshadow was of `unsound mind' within the meaning of Allen. Op. at 527, 917 P.2d at 256 (emphasis added). The basis for this conclusion appears to be in the deposition of Dr. Morrow. (Moonshadow's therapist, the court says, admitted that she could function on a day-to-day basis, could support herself, and that she understood the nature of her legal rights. Op. at 527, 917 P.2d at 256. Although statements to this effect may have been made in the deposition, in part in response to a question posed by defendants concerning Moonshadow's ability to handle a hypothetical car accident, Dr. Morrow's two affidavits indicate to the contrary. Thus, although Dr. Morrow may have made seemingly contradictory statements regarding Moonshadow's competence in different situations, whether [the witness'] deposition testimony is entitled to be given more weight than the words of denial in [her] affidavit is not a question which can be answered on summary judgment. Tri-Cities, 273 S.E.2d at 906. Moonshadow also submitted her own affidavit and one from her sister  both of which detailed the abuse and alleged that its effects rendered Moonshadow incapable of confronting her father through litigation. Moonshadow's response to the defendants' motion for summary judgment alleged that the Allen definition of unsound mind surely applies to Plaintiff, who was literally incapable, emotionally, of taking even the most basic steps necessary to file a civil lawsuit. Clearly, Moonshadow has submitted enough evidence that she was unable to pursue her legal rights against her abusive father to defeat summary judgment on this issue. See Modern Roofing & Metal Works, Inc. v. Owen, 174 Ga. App. 875, 332 S.E.2d 14, 15-16 (1985) (plaintiff's admittedly weak allegation that he was unable to manage the ordinary affairs of his life due to depression resulting from the defendant's acts sufficient to invoke tolling provision) (emphasis added); See also Lowe v. Pue, 150 Ga. App. 234, 257 S.E.2d 209, 210, 212 (1979). In reaching the conclusion that the plaintiffs failed to provide factual support for their contentions, the majority clearly ignores the detailed and voluminous reports attached to the affidavits  over thirty single-spaced pages of facts, test results, observations, clinical notes, history from various sources, and medical diagnoses. Thus, the court's statement that the affidavits fail to reveal any facts to support the doctors' opinions, Op. at 527, 917 P.2d at 256, is patently, plainly wrong. A cursory reading of some of the reports, which were attached to the affidavits, demonstrate just how incorrect is the court's premise. The reports referred to in the affidavits are replete with both factual conclusions and supporting evidentiary facts.