339 S.E.2d 296 | Ga. Ct. App. | 1985
Lead Opinion
Del Bethune, as next friend of her son William C. Ramey, filed a complaint for damages resulting from injuries sustained by the son when he fell on an iron surveying pin. The pin was allegedly placed by defendant surveyors Robert K. Leake and W. E. Gilbert and Associates, Inc. (Gilbert), at the direction of defendant International Paper Realty Company (International Paper), on the boundary between the land of International Paper and neighboring lots. Bethune appeals from the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Leake and Gilbert. International Paper appeals from the trial court’s denial of its motion for summary judgment. The two cases are consolidated for disposition.
1. Bethune contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of defendants Leake and Gilbert because the record contains evidence that they placed the iron pin upon which Ramey was injured on the boundary of International Paper’s property. Our review of the record, however, discloses no evidence rebutting Leake and Gilbert’s assertion that they used only concrete markers, and not iron pins, in surveying International Paper’s property. Summary judgment was thus proper. “A defendant who has cast upon a plaintiff the burden of responding with evidence to create or preserve a genuine issue of fact is entitled to prevail by summary judgment in the absence of any rebuttal evidence. [Cits.]” Walker v. Hall, 123 Ga. App. 457, 458 (181 SE2d 508) (1971).
2. International Paper asserts that when Ramey was injured he was, at best, a licensee on its premises and that, therefore, the only duty it owed him was not to willfully or wantonly injure him. Since there is no evidence of willfullness or wantonness of record, International Paper contends that its motion for summary judgment should have been granted. “Where the injury for which a recovery is sought is caused by the dangerous statical condition of the premises, the injury to the licensee has to be occasioned by wilful and wanton negligence.” Leach v. Inman, 63 Ga. App. 790 (2) (12 SE2d 103) (1940). See also Brooks v. Logan, 134 Ga. App. 226, 228 (2) (213 SE2d 916) (1975).
However, it is also the law in this state that “ ‘[a] person responsible for a place, agency, instrumentality, or operation which is dangerous and likely to cause injury or damage to persons or property lawfully in its proximity is charged with the duty of taking due and suitable precautions to avoid injury or damage to such persons or property, and his failure to take such precautions constitutes negli
When the evidence in the instant case is construed as is required on motion for summary judgment, International Paper failed to show that no genuine issue of material fact remains with regard to its maintenance of a dangerous nuisance in close proximity to the adjoining property where Ramey was lawfully and rightfully located when he fell into the iron pin and was thereby injured on appellant’s property. Accordingly, notwithstanding any issue concerning the status occupied by Ramey when he “entered” International Paper’s property, the trial court did not err in denying the motion for summary judgment. See generally Cox v. Greenfield, supra. Compare Holcombe v. Harris, 143 Ga. App. 173 (237 SE2d 677) (1977); Brooks v. Logan, supra.
Judgments affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I would reverse Case No. 70935. The facts clearly show that the plaintiff’s injuries were not the result of a wilful or wanton act on the part of International Paper Realty Company. In my opinion, the plaintiff was a trespasser, and the standard of care owed to a trespasser is not to wilfully or wantonly injure him. Regardless of whose land upon which Ramey was trespassing, he was still a trespasser entitled to the lesser standard of care. Holcombe v. Harris, 143 Ga. App. 173, 175 (3) (237 SE2d 677); Handiboe v. McCarthy, 114 Ga. App. 541 (151 SE2d 905). There is no evidence of wilful or wanton negligence on the part of the appellant or any other landowner.
I respectfully dissent. I am authorized to state that Judge Sognier, Judge Pope and Judge Beasley join in this dissent.