Thomas R. Stephenson v. Government Employees Insurance Company , 337 Ga. App. 365 ( 2016 )

FIFTH DIVISION
PHIPPS, P. J.,
DILLARD and PETERSON, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be
physically received in our clerk’s office within ten
days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed.
http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
June 9, 2016
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia
A16A0318. BARCLAY v. STEPHENSON et al.
A16A0319. JOHNSON et al. v. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
INSURANCE COMPANY.
A16A0320. STEPHENSON et al. v. GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES INSURANCE COMPANY.
A16A0321. JOHNSON et al. v. STEPHENSON et al.
PHIPPS, Presiding Judge.
Thomas Stephenson and his wife sued Mary Barclay, Carol Johnson, and
Thomas Johnson for damages sustained when Stephenson fell on property belonging
to Barclay and occupied by the Johnsons.1 Barclay’s umbrella liability insurance
carrier, Government Employees Insurance Company (“GEICO”), later filed a
1
The personal injury action also named Barclay’s husband, James Barclay, as
a defendant. However, he died during the pendency of the lawsuit, and it does not
appear that his estate or its representative has joined the appeals.
declaratory judgment action, seeking a determination of coverage. Following
discovery, Barclay and the Johnsons moved for summary judgment in the personal
injury suit, and GEICO sought summary judgment in the declaratory judgment action.
The trial court denied the motions filed by Barclay and the Johnsons, but granted
GEICO’s motion. These appeals followed. For reasons that follow, we reverse the
denials of summary judgment in the personal injury action and affirm the grant of
summary judgment to GEICO.
Summary judgment is appropriate when “the pleadings, depositions, answers
to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show
that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is
entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.”2 We review a trial court’s summary
judgment ruling de novo, construing the evidence and all reasonable inferences
favorably to the nonmovant.3
So viewed, the record shows that the Johnsons leased a home from Barclay on
Kensington Drive in Marietta. The Johnsons also owned a house, which they rented
2
OCGA § 9-11-56 (c).
3
See Forest Cove Apartments v. Wilson, 333 Ga. App. 731-732 (776 SE2d
664) (2015); Pirkle v. QuikTrip, 325 Ga. App. 597, 599 (2) (754 SE2d 387) (2014).
2
to Stephenson and his wife. Occasionally, Stephenson performed work for the
Johnsons in exchange for a credit against his rent payment.
In August 2008, Carol Johnson asked Stephenson to remove a chainsaw that
had become pinned in a tree under a partially-cut limb at the Kensington Drive
property. Stephenson agreed and, on September 6, 2008, arrived at the property with
an extension ladder. Thomas Johnson showed the tree to Stephenson, who asserted
that he needed to cut the limb to remove the chainsaw. Stephenson erected the ladder,
tethered it to the tree with a rope, and began cutting the limb with a pole pruner. The
work required him to move and re-tether the ladder several times to reach different
parts of the tree.
Stephenson’s pole pruner stopped working at some point, and he briefly left the
Kensington Drive property to repair it. During the 20 to 30 minutes he was away, the
Johnsons removed cut branches and debris from under the tree. When Stephenson
returned, he quickly realized that he needed to move the ladder again. According to
Thomas Johnson, Stephenson climbed the ladder, untied it from the tree, and began
“jumping it” to the next place he planned to cut. Stephenson denied “jumping” the
ladder, which he characterized as “an extremely dangerous thing to do.” Without
3
dispute, however, he untethered the ladder and it collapsed. Stephenson hung briefly
from the tree, then fell to the ground, injuring his ankle.
On August 27, 2010, Stephenson and his wife sued the Johnsons and Barclay
for over $1,000,000 in damages. Stephenson claimed that the Johnsons had failed to
keep the Kensington Drive property reasonably safe and had caused his fall. He also
alleged a premises liability claim against Barclay and asserted that she had
negligently entrusted the property to the Johnsons. In addition, Stephenson’s wife
asserted a loss of consortium claim against Barclay and the Johnsons. While the
personal injury suit was pending, GEICO filed a declaratory judgment action against
all parties, seeking resolution of coverage issues relating to the umbrella liability
insurance policy issued to Barclay.
Barclay and the Johnsons subsequently filed motions for summary judgment
in the personal injury action, and GEICO moved for summary judgment in the
declaratory judgment suit. Although the trial court denied the Barclay/Johnson
motions, it issued certificates of immediate review, and we granted their requests for
interlocutory appeal. Barclay’s appeal has been docketed as Case No. A16A0318, and
the Johnsons’ appeal has been docketed as Case No. A16A0321. The trial court also
awarded summary judgment to GEICO in the declaratory judgment action, generating
4
two additional appeals. In Case No. A16A0319, the Johnsons challenge the grant of
summary judgment to GEICO, and the Stephensons appeal the same ruling in Case
No. A16A0320.
Case No. A16A03214
1. The Johnsons argue that the trial court erred in denying their motion for
summary judgment as to the Stephensons’ personal injury claims. We agree.
“Where an owner or occupier of land, by express or implied invitation, induces
or leads others to come upon his premises for any lawful purpose, he is liable in
damages to such persons for injuries caused by his failure to exercise ordinary care
in keeping the premises and approaches safe.”5 The true basis for liability is the
owner or occupier’s superior knowledge of a perilous condition on the property.6
Recovery may result when the condition is known to the owner or occupier, but not
4
For ease of discussion, we will address the Johnsons’ appeal in the personal
injury suit first.
5
OCGA § 51-3-1; see also McGarity v. Hart Elec. Membership Corp., 307 Ga.
App. 739, 742 (1) (706 SE2d 676) (2011) (“An invitee is one who, by express or
implied invitation, has been induced or led to come upon premises for any lawful
purpose; he may be deemed an invitee if his presence on the property is of mutual
benefit to him and the owner or occupier.”) (footnote omitted).
6
See Forest Cove Apartments, supra at 734.
5
the person injured.7 Thus, “[w]here the uncontroverted evidence demonstrates that the
invitee had knowledge of the dangerous condition equal to that of the premises
[occupier], there can be no recovery by the invitee for injuries resulting from the
dangerous condition.”8
Stephenson was injured when the extension ladder he was using collapsed,
causing him to fall. The injury-causing condition, therefore, involved the ladder.
Without dispute, however, Stephenson brought the ladder onto the Kensington Drive
property and erected it. The evidence further shows that he had previously worked
with this ladder; had set up, climbed, and readjusted the ladder several times without
incident before it collapsed; and was familiar with its use. Stephenson had at least
equal – if not greater – knowledge of the ladder and its use than the Johnsons.9
Nevertheless, Stephenson and his wife contend that questions of fact remain
as to the Johnsons’ liability because the Johnsons must have bumped or hit the ladder
7
See id.
8
Id. (citation omitted).
9
See id. (contractor who fell through floor while repairing it had equal
knowledge of hazard posed by damaged floor joists); Yon v. Shimeall, 257 Ga. App.
845, 847 (1) (572 SE2d 694) (2002) (plaintiff who had previously used staircase had
equal knowledge of its alleged defects).
6
when Stephenson left to fix the pole pruner, destabilizing it and ultimately causing
it to collapse. According to the Stephensons, “there is no other rational explanation
for the ladder collapsing.”
The Johnsons, however, flatly denied moving, touching, or otherwise
disturbing the ladder. They admitted removing branches and debris from the ground
under the tree, but Thomas Johnson stated that he did not “go over by the ladder.”
And Carol Johnson testified that the ladder “wasn’t moved while [Stephenson] was
gone.” Stephenson and his wife have pointed to no evidence controverting the
Johnsons’ testimony. Moreover, although Stephenson asserted that “[i]n [his]
judgment, the base of the ladder had been accidentally bumped,” he did not see
anyone touch the ladder, it “looked intact” before it collapsed, and it did not appear
to have been moved before he climbed it the final time.
“[G]uesses or speculation which raise merely a conjecture or possibility are not
sufficient to create even an inference of fact for consideration on summary
judgment.”10 Thus, “[w]here a plaintiff’s proof of causation in a negligence case is
based on mere possibilities, or the matter remains one of pure speculation or
conjecture, or the probabilities are at best evenly balanced, it is the duty of the trial
10
Forest Cove Apartments, supra at 737 (citation and punctuation omitted).
7
court to grant summary judgment for the defendant.”11 Stephenson’s “feelings” and
“viewpoint” about how the ladder collapsed do not raise factual questions as to
causation. And his speculation that the Johnsons were intoxicated when he fell proves
nothing.
Stephenson and his wife offered no evidence that the Johnsons disturbed the
ladder before it collapsed, and the Johnsons unequivocally denied touching it. The
evidence further shows that Stephenson had moved and repositioned the ladder
multiple times that day. To conclude, in the face of such evidence, that the Johnsons
caused the ladder to fall would be mere conjecture. The trial court, therefore, erred
in denying the Johnsons’ motion for summary judgment on Stephenson’s premises
liability claim,12 as well as his wife’s derivative claim for loss of consortium.13
11
Pirkle, supra at 600-601 (2) (a) (citation omitted).
12
See Bryan Bank & Trust v. Steele, 326 Ga. App. 13, 15 (1) (755 SE2d 828)
(2014) (property owner entitled to summary judgment where claimant offered only
speculation about what caused her to fall on property); Pirkle, supra at 601 (2) (a)
(claimant cannot avoid summary judgment through speculation); Benson-Jones v.
Sysco Food Svcs. of Atlanta, 287 Ga. App. 579, 583 (1) (b) (651 SE2d 839) (2007)
(“An inference cannot be based upon evidence which is too uncertain or speculative
or which raises merely a conjecture or possibility.”) (punctuation and footnote
omitted).
13
See Briddle v. Cornerstone Lodge of America, 288 Ga. App. 353, 355 (654
SE2d 188) (2007) (husband’s loss of consortium claim not viable where defendant
8
Case No. A16A0318
2. Barclay argues that she is entitled to summary judgment because no
questions of material fact remain as to her liability. As noted above, the claims
against Barclay rest on theories of premises liability and negligent entrustment.
Stephenson and his wife allege that Barclay failed to keep her property in repair and
negligently entrusted it to the Johnsons, who were known alcoholics. Neither theory
supports recovery here.
(a) Premises liability. Barclay did not live on the Kensington Drive property.
She leased it to the Johnsons, who were responsible for the premises. Given these
circumstances, Barclay’s duties are controlled by OCGA § 44-7-14, which governs
tort liability for an out-of-possession landlord.14 Under that Code section:
Having fully parted with possession and the right of possession, the
landlord is not responsible to third persons for damages resulting from
the negligence or illegal use of the premises by the tenant; provided,
however, the landlord is responsible for damages arising from defective
entitled to summary judgment on wife’s personal injury claims).
14
See Boone v. Udoto, 323 Ga. App. 482, 487 (3) (747 SE2d 76) (2013)
(landlord that had no responsibility for maintaining and repairing the premises was
“out-of-possession”).
9
construction or for damages arising from the failure to keep the premises
in repair.15
Barclay, therefore, may be held liable only for damages caused by “failure to
repair the premises or faulty construction of the premises.”16 Although the allegations
are not completely clear, Stephenson and his wife apparently contend that Barclay
failed to repair a defect in the tree from which Stephenson fell. The term “repair,”
however, “contemplates an existing structure which has become imperfect, and means
to supply in the original structure that which is lost or destroyed, and thereby restore
it to the condition in which it originally existed, as near as may be.”17 Stephenson and
his wife have not cited any evidence that the tree had become “imperfect” or required
repair. Rather, a chainsaw was pinned under a tree branch, and Stephenson was asked
to dislodged it. We question whether such circumstances fall within the concept of
“repair.”18
15
OCGA § 44-7-14.
16
Gainey v. Smacky’s Investments, 287 Ga. App. 529, 530 (2) (652 SE2d 167)
(2007) (punctuation and footnote omitted).
17
Id. at 530 (2) (a) (punctuation and footnote omitted).
18
See id.
10
Moreover, even if the tree could be viewed as defective and in need of repair,
the record shows that Stephenson was not injured by any such defect. On the contrary,
he fell when the ladder he brought to the property collapsed under him. Barclay’s
alleged failure to repair the tree, therefore, did not damage Stephenson.19
Asserting that the Johnsons must have dislodged the ladder, causing it to
collapse, Stephenson and his wife also argue that Barclay is somehow responsible as
landlord for their purported actions. But an out-of-possession landlord is “not liable
to third parties for damages arising from the tenant’s negligence.”20 Regardless of any
actions taken by the Johnsons, Barclay may be held liable only for damages resulting
from faulty construction or a failure to repair. Furthermore, as discussed in Division
1, Stephenson and his wife have cited no evidence that the Johnsons caused the ladder
19
See Ranwez v. Roberts, 268 Ga. App. 80, 82-83 (1) (601 SE2d 449) (2004)
(out-of-possession landlord not liable to third party for damages caused by tenant’s
dog where damages resulted not from faulty construction or failure to repair fence,
but from tenant’s failure to keep dog inside fence).
20
Boone, supra at 486 (3) (punctuation and footnote omitted). See also OCGA
§ 44-7-14.
11
to collapse. The trial court, therefore, erred in denying Barclay’s motion for summary
judgment on the premises liability claim.21
(b) Negligent entrustment. Stephenson and his wife also allege that Barclay
negligently entrusted the Johnsons to supervise her property. Claiming that the
Johnsons are alcoholics, the Stephensons contend that “[t]his negligent entrustment
posed a foreseeable and unreasonable risk of harm to workers because [Barclay] knew
or should have known that because of [the Johnsons’] drunkenness, they would pose
a danger to workers on the premises.”
“Under the doctrine of negligent entrustment, a party is liable if he entrusts
someone with an instrumentality, with actual knowledge that the person to whom he
has entrusted the instrumentality is incompetent by reason of his age or inexperience,
or his physical or mental condition, or his known habit of recklessness.”22 This
doctrine typically applies when a vehicle owner entrusts a vehicle to an allegedly
21
See Ranwez, supra at 83 (1) (summary judgment for out-of-possession
landlord appropriate where evidence showed as a matter of law that landlord did not
violate duty owed to third party injured by tenant’s dog).
22
Gunn v. Booker, 259 Ga. 343, 347 (3) (381 SE2d 286) (1989) (citations and
footnote omitted).
12
incompetent driver.23 It has no application in this case, which does not involve
entrustment of any type of instrumentality, such as a vehicle. Barclay, therefore, was
entitled to summary judgment on the negligent entrustment claim.
(c) Loss of consortium. Because summary judgment should have been granted
to Barclay on the personal injury allegations, she is also entitled to summary
judgment on the loss of consortium claim filed by Stephenson’s wife.24
Case Nos. A16A0319 & A16A0320
3. In these appeals, the Stephensons and the Johnsons appeal the grant of
summary judgment to GEICO in the declaratory judgment action. The record shows
that Barclay and her husband had an umbrella liability insurance policy issued by
GEICO in effect when Stephenson was injured at the Kensington Drive property on
September 6, 2008. In the declaratory judgment action, GEICO alleged, among other
things, that it “may not have been provided with proper notice” of the Stephensons’
23
See, e.g., id. at 346-347 (3) (negligent entrustment of boat); McManus v.
Taylor, 326 Ga. App. 477, 480 (1) (756 SE2d 709) (2014) (automobile); Ga.
Messenger Svc. v. Bradley, 302 Ga. App. 247, 250 (2) (b) (690 SE2d 888) (2010)
(truck).
24
See Briddle, supra.
13
claims. The trial court agreed that notice was lacking and granted summary judgment
to GEICO.
(a) The Stephensons and the Johnsons argue that summary judgment was
improper because GEICO denied coverage, foreclosing relief under the Declaratory
Judgment Act.25 It is true that an insurer cannot deny coverage, then seek a
declaratory judgment as to rights and responsibilities under its policy.26 The record,
however, contains no evidence that GEICO denied coverage. On the contrary, it
stated in its declaratory judgment complaint that coverage was uncertain and that the
policy might not cover the claims. Given the uncertainty, it requested a declaration
of its rights and responsibilities. Declaratory relief was appropriate here.27
25
See OCGA § 9-4-1 et seq.
26
See Builders Ins. Group v. Ker-Wil Enterprises, 274 Ga. App. 522, 523 (2)
(618 SE2d 160) (2005).
27
See Atlanta Cas. Co. v. Fountain, 262 Ga. 16, 17-18 (413 SE2d 450) (1992)
(“[W]hen a claim for insurance has been made, and a legitimate question exists as to
the propriety of denying coverage, the insurance company may file a declaratory
judgment action before denying the claim. It is not necessary for the insurance
company to wait for the insured to file a lawsuit against it.”).
14
(b) The Stephensons and the Johnsons further argue that questions of fact
remain as to whether GEICO received sufficient notice of the personal injury claims.
We disagree.
“[A] notice provision expressly made a condition precedent to coverage is valid
and must be complied with, absent a showing of justification.”28 An unjustified failure
to give such notice ends the insurer’s coverage obligations.29 Although issues of
justification and timely notice often raise factual questions, “the facts and
circumstances of a particular case may render an insured’s delay in giving notice of
an occurrence to his insurer unjustified and unreasonable as a matter of law.”30
GEICO’s policy provided excess insurance coverage for damages “arising out
of an occurrence, subject to the terms and conditions of [the] policy.”31 The policy,
which required Barclay to maintain at least $100,000 in primary insurance coverage
on the Kensington Drive property, generally covered damages exceeding the primary
28
Lankford v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 307 Ga. App. 12, 14 (703 Ga.
App. 436) (2010).
29
Id.30
Plantation Pipe Line v. Stonewall Ins. Co., 335 Ga. App. 302, 306 (1) (780
SE2d 501) (2015).
31
(Emphasis in original).
15
insurer’s policy limits. It defined an “occurrence” as “an accident or event, including
a continuous or repeated exposure to conditions which results in personal injury or
property damage neither expected or intended by you.”32 And it set forth several
conditions, including:
1. Duties after Occurrence, Claim or Suit
(a) If an occurrence is likely to involve us under this policy an insured
shall promptly advise us of: (1) how, when and where the occurrence
took place; and (2) names and addresses of the injured and all witnesses.
(b) If information regarding a claim is received or if legal action is
begun, an insured must immediately send us a copy of every: (1) notice;
(2) demand; (3) report; (4) summons; or (5) other legal papers.
...
4. Suit Against Us. No action shall be brought against us:
(a) unless an insured has complied with the policy provisions; and
(b) until the obligations of an insured has been determined by trial and
judgment or by agreement signed by us.33
The policy terms, therefore, required the insured to “promptly” advise GEICO
of an occurrence likely falling within the umbrella policy and to “immediately” send
GEICO copies of legal papers regarding any claim or lawsuit. Coverage – as well as
32
(Emphasis in original).
33
(Emphasis in original).
16
the insured’s ability to sue GEICO – depended on compliance with these and other
policy conditions. Given these provisions, timely notice was an express precondition
to coverage.34
Despite this precondition, notice was significantly delayed here. Stephenson
fell on the Kensington Drive property on September 6, 2008, and he and his wife filed
their personal injury action approximately two years later, on August 27, 2010.
GEICO, however, was not notified of the incident until December 18, 2013, more
than five years after Stephenson fell and three years after he and his wife brought suit.
The Stephensons and the Johnsons claim that the delay was justified because
Barclay’s husband died shortly after the Stephensons filed suit, Barclay was ill and
grieving at the time, and she was not familiar with the family’s business affairs. But
they have pointed to no testimony from Barclay on the issue of notice. Barclay’s son-
in-law, who helped Barclay with her husband’s estate, testified that he notified
GEICO of the personal injury action when he became aware of the umbrella policy.
34
See Lankford, supra at 13-14 (notice provision constituted a precondition to
coverage where policy stated that insured could not bring action against insurer until
all policy terms had been met); Bituminous Cas. Corp. v. J. B. Forrest & Sons, 132
Ga. App. 714, 717-718 (1) (209 SE2d 6) (1974) (same); Compare Plantation Pipe
Line, supra at 312 (2) (notice not a precondition to coverage where policy included
no statement requiring insured to comply with policy terms before maintaining an
action against insurer).
17
He offered no explanation, however, as to why Barclay did not notify the insurer
about the claims before December 18, 2013. And the record shows that on October
27, 2010, Barclay served a verified discovery response in the personal injury action
through which she identified the GEICO policy as excess liability insurance coverage
that “would be or may be used to satisfy or indemnify part or all of the judgment
which may be entered in this case.”
The terms of the GEICO policy required prompt notice of any occurrence likely
to involve the policy and immediate notice of legal action. GEICO, however, was not
informed of the claims or the lawsuit seeking over $1,000,000 in damages for over
three years. Given this lengthy delay, Barclay’s knowledge of the GEICO policy and
its potential application, and the lack of evidence supporting justification, the trial
court properly found that GEICO did not receive timely notice of the claims.35 The
35
See Plantation Pipe Line, supra at 307-308 (1) (b) (insured failed to comply
with notice provision in umbrella insurance policy where it waited more than two
years after realizing its liability exposure exceeded limits of primary insurance to
notify excess carrier of occurrence); Lankford, supra at 15 (“[T]he failure to notify
an insurer of an accident for almost two years amounts to an unreasonable delay as
a matter of law.”) (citations omitted); Aegis Security Ins. Co. v. Hiers, 211 Ga. App.
639, 640 (440 SE2d 71) (1994) (insurance company entitled to summary judgment
where evidence showed that it did not learn about incident giving rise to claim until
22 months after incident occurred; notification delay unreasonable as a matter of law
because policy required insured to give “notice of an insurable event as soon as
practicable” and insured offered no justification for failing to provide timely notice).
18
insurer, therefore, was entitled to summary judgment in Case Nos. A16A0319 and
A16A0320.36
Judgments affirmed in Case Nos. A16A0319 and A16A0320. Judgments
reversed in Case Nos. A16A0318 and A16A0321. Dillard and Peterson, JJ., concur.
36
See Lankford, supra; Aegis Security Ins. Co., supra.19