Personal Injury

Appeals Court Says Driver May Be Liable for Leaving Tractor on the Side of the Road

October 24, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

The Georgia Court of Appeals recently addressed the issue of a defendant’s potential liability in a traffic accident where an “intervening act” of a third party may have also contributed to the plaintiffs’ alleged injuries. Reversing a trial judge’s decision, the appeals court held a defendant who causes a traffic obstruction may still be considered negligent even if other parties may also be at fault.

Granger v. MST Transportation, LLC

This case began with a tractor that ran out of gas in DeKalb County. The driver stopped his tractor in the right-hand lane of a three-lane road. The driver then flashed his lights and deployed reflective warning triangles before leaving the vehicle and walking to a nearby gas station. The driver ended up making three trips to the gas station, as he could only carry five gallons of gasoline in his cannister, and the tractor failed to start after the first two refueling attempts.

Georgia Supreme Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against State College Over a Technicality

October 20, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

The Georgia Supreme Court recently dismissed a personal injury lawsuit brought by a woman who fell into a pothole in a parking lot. The woman sued the property owner for maintaining unsafe conditions in the parking lot. In this case, the property owner was Dalton State College, part of the University System of Georgia. As the named defendant, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is immune from civil lawsuits unless certain conditions specified by Georgia law are met. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court found the plaintiff failed to meet one of those technical conditions.

Board of Regents v. Myers

There was no question the woman suffered serious injuries. After falling in the pothole at Dalton State’s parking lot, she required emergency treatment, extended orthopedic care, and several months of physical therapy. While still receiving treatment, the woman notified the Board of Regents of her intention to sue. Georgia law requires such notice be given in order to effect a waiver of the Board’s sovereign immunity.

Georgia Court Reinstates Auto Accident Lawsuit Despite Plaintiffs’ Missing Filing Deadline

October 10, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

It is always important in a personal injury case to present evidence in a timely manner. When one party files a motion or other pleading, the other party must file a response within a stated time limit. In particular, a plaintiff’s failure to meet any deadline may lead to dismissal of his or her lawsuit.

Hall v. Massally

Missing a deadline does not always mean the case is lost. Here is a recent example from the Georgia Court of Appeals. This case arose from a two-car accident. The driver and passengers of one vehicle sued the drive of the other vehicle. In a pretrial deposition, the driver of the plaintiffs’ vehicle testified he turned into what he believed to be an open right-hand lane. But as his car moved into the lane, there was a collision with the defendant’s vehicle. The plaintiff said the two vehicles interlocked and the defendant’s vehicle dragged his car about 20 to 30 feet across a median. After the two vehicles separated, he testified the defendant’s car continued to move “at a high rate of speed” for at least another 75 feet. The plaintiff concluded, based on his observations, that the defendant was driving well over the legal speed limit, “about ninety” miles per hour.

Georgia Appeals Court Orders New Trial in Personal Injury Case Where Defendant Admitted Liability

October 4, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Personal injury litigation is often complicated, but there are some simple rules that everyone should understand. For example, when a lawsuit enters pre-trial discovery, each party may serve written requests for admission on the opposing party or parties. Oftentimes, requests for admission simply help establish basic facts about a case—e.g., “The defendant was driving a red Honda Accord.” The other party can file a written response admitting or denying each request. But if a party declines to file a response within a specified time period, either 30 or 45 days under Georgia law, then the statement is deemed admitted by the non-responsive party.

Vis v. Harris

Here is a recent case where requests for admission played a critical role. This is a slip-and-fall case. The plaintiff said she was injured when she tripped on a defective piece of carpet at an Atlanta hotel. She named a hotel employee, the hotel’s owner, and its management company as defendants.

Atlanta Appeals Court Finds Automaker Not Responsible for Fatal Accident

September 19, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

On September 12, the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta declined to revive a personal injury lawsuit brought by a woman whose daughter died in an automobile accident. The plaintiff was administrator of her daughter’s estate, and she brought a lawsuit against the manufacturer of her daughter’s car. Both a Georgia trial judge and the Court of Appeals said the plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence to support her claims.

Hughes v. Kia Motors Corporation

Although this case was contested in Georgia courts, the actual accident occurred in Tennessee. In May 2005, the victim drove her Kia Optima automobile out of a restaurant parking lot in Chattanooga. While executing a turn, a Mack truck struck her car. The impact caused the Kia to collide with two parked cars, a tree, and several other objects, before coming to a stop near a private residence. Emergency personnel recovered the victim from the vehicle and transported her to a local hospital. She was initially breathing and responsive following the accident, but died of a traumatic brain injury the next day.

Appeals Court Finds “Passenger” Was Not Really a Passenger

August 29, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

A “common carrier” is a person or company that furnishes transportation to the general public in exchange for money. Georgia law requires all common carriers, such as bus operators, to “exercise extraordinary diligence” to protect its passengers in order to avoid liability for negligence. This is a higher standard than applies in most negligence cases, where an owner need only demonstrate “ordinary care” in keeping his or her premises safe.

Recently, a divided Georgia Court of Appeals addressed the applicability of the “extraordinary diligence” standard in the case of a ticketed passenger who tripped and fell on her way to board a bus. A majority of the court found she was not actually a passenger at that point, and therefore could only pursue a claim under the “ordinary care” standard for premises liability—which, unfortunately, was not available to her because of procedural issues.

DeMott v. Old Town Trolley Tours of Savannah, Inc.

Georgia Appeals Court Says Police Officer May Be Liable for K-9 Attack on Child

May 12, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

According to the American Humane Association, nearly 50% of dog attacks in the United States each year involve children under the age of 12. Bite rates tend to be higher for younger children. Young boys are also more susceptible to dog bites than girls.

Georgia law holds the owner of any “vicious or dangerous animal” liable for injuries caused in an unprovoked attack when the owner is careless or allows the animal “to go at liberty.” Many Georgia counties also require outdoor animals to be leashed or otherwise restrained. The existence of such laws is sufficient to prove the animal has a “vicious propensity” for purposes of liability.

Eshleman v. Key

Georgia Appeals Court Absolves Hotel Chain of Liability in Bathtub Accident

April 4, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Most hotels and motels are affiliated with a national brand such as Hilton or Marriott. This means that individual hotels are owned and operated locally but comply with certain standards imposed by the national brand. Recently, the Georgia Court of Appeals considered the issue of whether a national brand could be held liable for injuries sustained by a customer at a locally owned hotel.

Bright v. Sandstone Hospitality, LLC

Wingate by Wyndham is a brand name used by more than a dozen mid-priced hotels in Georgia (and about 100 throughout the country). In 2008, the plaintiff in this case checked into a Wingate owned and operated by Sandstone Hospitality, LLC. After taking a morning bath in his room, the plaintiff attempted to use the grab bar to lift himself from the tub. The bar separated from the wall, causing the plaintiff to fall and injure his lower back. He subsequently required surgery.

Georgia Appeals Court Distinguished Between Contract and Counteroffer

January 30, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Dealing with insurance companies is one of the many unpleasant consequences of a motor vehicle accident. Insurers often look to dispose of claims quickly. And while that may also be in the victim’s interest, it’s important not to get railroaded by an overzealous insurer. A recent decision by the Georgia Court of Appeals highlights one such insurer who insisted there was a settlement when, in fact, there was not.

Kemper v. Brown

The victim in this case was driving her motorcycle in March 2012. She was hit by another vehicle. The other driver was clearly at fault–he had been drinking and driving recklessly.

Fight Instigated at Golf Course Not an “Accident” for Insurance Purposes

January 24, 2014 | Benjamin S. Persons, IV

Golf is not supposed to be a contact sport. But when a fight broke out between two golfing groups at a Georgia club, litigation followed, and a federal appeals court had to settle at least one issue.. The court found the man who instigated the brawl could not turn to his homeowner’s insurance carrier to pay for his victim’s injuries.

Meritplan Insurance Company v. Leverette

The defendant in this case was playing golf with friends. At some point, he “exchanged verbal insults” with a golfer in another group. The argument escalated, and the defendant grabbed the victim’s golf club, prompting a physical fight. A member of the defendant’s golf group kicked the victim in the head to the point where he lost consciousness.