Court Opinion

ID: 9583840
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:42:31.535599+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:59:57.878678
License: Public Domain

McMurray, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
The fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress alleged by plaintiffs was not an accident arising out of and in the course of employment. OCGA § 34-9-1 (4). Instead, plaintiffs rely upon the intentional misconduct of defendant Register subsequent to the physical injuries upon which any workers’ compensation claim is predicated. Therefore, I would hold that this lawsuit is not barred by OCGA § 34-9-11. In my view, the controlling analysis is that set forth in Griggs v. All-Steel Buildings, 209 Ga. App. 253 (433 SE2d 89). The reliance of the majority upon Wall v. Phillips, 210 Ga. App. 490 (436 SE2d 517) is misplaced since that case involves a suit based on an injury compensable under the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Act. The injuries which plaintiffs allege in the present case were inflicted upon Rusty LeBlanc while he lay in a hospital bed, bear no causal connection to the conditions under which his work was performed, and are not compensable under the Act. Plaintiffs having presented evidence of fraud, reliance, and resulting injuries, there are genuine issues of material fact requiring jury resolution. Therefore, I respectfully dissent.