Mattox v. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

• Decision Date: 11 July 1991
• Docket Number: No. A91A0893,A91A0893
• Citation: 409 S.E.2d 267,200 Ga.App. 697
• Parties: MATTOX v. METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 267

409 S.E.2d 267

200 Ga.App. 697

MATTOX v.METROPOLITAN ATLANTA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

No. A91A0893.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

July 11, 1991.

Reconsideration Denied July 29, 1991.

Certiorari Denied Oct. 18, 1991.

Glenville Haldi, Atlanta, for appellant.

Anthony M. Thomasson, Daniel P. Johnson, Atlanta, for appellee.

BIRDSONG, Presiding Judge.

Naomi Mattox appeals from the final judgment entered in favor of appellee and denying appellant's motion for new trial.

Appellant was a regular rider of MARTA for two-and-one-half years prior to the incident.She was injured when, after she boarded the train, her foot became lodged in the approximate 3 3/4 inch "gap" between the side of the train and the platform.Held:

1.In this state, a common carrier of passengers is not an absolute and unqualified insurer of the safety of its passengers.Rather, "[a] carrier of passengers must exercise extraordinary diligence to protect the lives and persons of his passengers but is not liable for injuries to them after having used such diligence."OCGA § 46-9-132.

"[O]n appeal, we must construe the evidence most strongly to support the jury verdict and the judgment"(Department of Transp. v. Hillside Motors, 192 Ga.App. 637, 639(2), 385 S.E.2d 746); likewise, in considering a ruling on a motion for directed verdict, the evidence must be construed most favorably to the party opposing the motion.McCarty v. Nat. Life, etc., Ins. Co., 107 Ga.App. 178, 184, 129[200 Ga.App. 698] S.E.2d 408.The standard for review of a directed verdict and a judgment n.o.v. are the same: "Where there is no conflict in the evidence as to any material issue, and the evidence introduced, with all reasonable deductions therefrom, shall demand a particular verdict, such verdict shall be directed."Pendley v. Pendley, 251 Ga. 30, 302 S.E.2d 554.And, " '[t]he standard of appellate review of the trial court's denial of a motion for a directed verdict is the "any evidence" standard.' "F.A.F. Motor Cars v. Childers, 181 Ga.App. 821(1), 354 S.E.2d 6.

"It is ordinarily for the jury to determine whether the performance or non-performance of a specific act is in compliance with the duty imposed on a carrier by the provisions of [OCGA § 46-9-132] as to the exercise by it of extraordinary care and diligence.[Cit.] What facts suffice to show the exercise of such extraordinary diligence is ordinarily for the jury."Modern Coach Corp. v. Faver, 87 Ga.App. 221, 229(2), 73 S.E.2d 497."The rule ... '[i]t is ordinarily a question of fact for a jury whether an owner or occupier of premises has exercised the proper care and diligence in keeping the premises safe for those invited thereon' is equally applicable to the duty of a carrier to exercise proper care in providing a safe place to board and leave a public conveyance, but the degree of care to be exercised is greater in the latter case."Columbus Transp. Co. v. Curry, 104 Ga.App. 700, 706(4), 122 S.E.2d 584.And where the "verdict is supported by some evidence ... it will not be disturbed by this court."Id.We find that the posture of the evidence in this case did not demand a verdict in favor of appellant, and that the trial court did not err in denying appellant's motion for directed verdict and in submitting the issue of appellee/defendant's liability to the jury.CompareBrooks v. Washington, etc., Auth., 861 F.2d 1282(USCA 11th Cir.);Owens v. Washington, etc., Auth., CANo. 87-3392, 1989 WL 27407(USDC D.C., March 6, 1990);Sledd v. Washington, etc., Auth.439 A.2d 464(DCCA).Appellant's first and second enumerations of error are without merit.

2.Appellant's third enumeration of error is without merit.Appellant's requested charge number 16, as crafted, was overly broad and confusing."If any portion of the request is inapt, incorrect, or not authorized by the evidence, denial of the request is proper."Llop v. McDaniel, Chorey, etc., 171 Ga.App. 400, 403(4), 320 S.E.2d 244.Moreover, the trial court charged the jury that "[o]nce it is shown that a passenger was injured in the process of boarding the train, a presumption arises that MARTA was negligent, and the plaintiff is entitled to recover all of the damages which were proximately caused by such negligence.This presumption may be rebutted by showing that MARTA was at all times in the exercise of extraordinary care or by proving any other defense of the defendant."See generallyPiller v. Hanger Cab Co., 115 Ga.App. 260, 263(2), 154 S.E.2d 420;Eason v. Crews, 88 Ga.App. 602, 613(1), 77 S.E.2d 245." 'A requested charge is properly refused when "the principle involved (is) substantially covered in the court's general charge...." ' "Milam v. Attaway, 195 ga.app. 496, 499(3), 393 S.E.2d 753.

3.Appellant's fourth enumeration of error is without merit.The trial court instructed the jury regarding the duty of a carrier of passengers to "exercise extraordinary diligence to protect the lives and persons of [the carrier's] passengers"(OCGA § 46-9-132), and precisely defined extraordinary diligence as follows: "the extraordinary diligence due by a carrier of passengers to those passengers is that extreme care and caution which very prudent and thoughtful persons exercise under like circumstances."This instruction substantially covered the legal principles contained in requested charge number 11.Milam, supra.

4.Appellant's contention that the trial court erred in refusing to give its requested charge number 12 is without merit.The first paragraph of appellant's requested charge number 12 is both confusing and misleading, particularly as it states "[t]he law does not fix an exact or a precise definition of ... extraordinary diligence" when the charge given the jury contained a precise definition of extraordinary diligence as above discussed." ' " 'A request to charge itself must be correct, legal, apt, even perfect, and precisely adjusted to some principle involved in the case.If any portion of the request is inapt or incorrect, denial of the request is proper.'(Cits.)"(Cits.)'[Cit.]"(Emphasis supplied.)Annis v. Tomberlin, etc., Assoc., 195 Ga.App. 27, 34(7), 392 S.E.2d 717;accordLlop, supra.

5.The first paragraph of appellant's request to charge number 13 was substantially covered by the trial court's charge to the jury regarding MARTA's duty to exercise "extraordinary diligence," by its definition of the term "extraordinary diligence," and by its charge as to the arising of a rebuttable presumption of negligence when it is shown a passenger was injured in the process of boarding the train.Regarding the second paragraph of the requested charge, that portion thereof relating to circumstances where "MARTA has not allowed a passenger a sufficiently reasonable time and opportunity to enter the train without danger" neither was reasonably raised by the evidence nor tailored thereto.Appellant in effect testified she had entered the train without incident, but then for some reason unknown to her, suddenly found her leg lodged within the gap.Only speculation unsupported by fact appears in the record regarding what caused appellant's leg to become so lodged, as appellant admitted repeatedly during her trial testimony that she did not know how the incident occurred.As a portion of the charge was inapt, the trial court did not err in declining to give the requested charge to the jury.Annis, supra;Llop, supra.

6.The trial court did not err in declining to give appellant's request to charge number 20.The trial court charged the jury that negligent or wrongful acts may be established either by direct or circumstantial evidence.The court...