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Charles v. Glover12/4/2002
Jesse Charles appeals the trial court's order granting summary judgment to Carl Jones and dismissing Jones from this personal injury case. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
"To prevail at summary judgment under OCGA § 9-11-56, the moving party must demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the undisputed facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, warrant judgment as a matter of law." Lau's Corp. v. Haskins. So viewed, the evidence shows that, on December 5, 1998, Charles was a passenger in a car driven by Thomas Glover. After stopping at a stop sign, Glover turned onto Highway 49, thereby pulling into the path of, and being struck by, a car driven by Jones.
As a result of the accident, Charles filed suit against both Jones and Glover, alleging that they were jointly and severally liable for his injuries. Jones filed a motion for summary judgment. The trial court granted the motion, finding that there was no evidence that Jones was negligent per se in the operation of his vehicle without headlights, and that there was no other evidence that Jones was negligent in any way in the accident since his vehicle had the right of way over Glover's vehicle at the time and place of the collision. The trial court dismissed and discharged Jones as a party defendant in the case.
In a single enumeration of error, Charles argues that, even though Jones did not violate OCGA § 40-8-20 and was not negligent per se, a genuine issue of fact exists as to whether Jones should have had his lights on and did not, thus contributing to or causing the collision.
A defendant may prevail at summary judgment under OCGA § 9-11-56 by showing the court that the documents, affidavits, depositions and other evidence in the record reveal that there is no evidence sufficient to create a genuine jury issue on at least one essential element of plaintiff's case. A defendant who will not bear the burden of proof at trial need not affirmatively disprove the nonmoving party's case; instead, the burden on the moving party may be discharged by pointing out by reference to the affidavits, depositions and other documents in the record that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party's case. (Punctuation omitted.) Etheredge v. Kersey.
OCGA § 40-8-20 requires a driver to display headlights "at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise and at any time when it is raining in the driving zone and at any other time when there is not sufficient visibility to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead." The evidence shows that on December 5, 1998, the sun set at 5:29 p.m., and the accident occurred at 5:52 p.m. It was a clear evening without rain, fog, or haze. As the accident occurred within a half-hour of sunset and there were no unusual weather conditions, Jones was not required under OCGA § 40-8-20 to have his headlights on.
Though not required by law to have his headlights on, Jones stated in his deposition that his headlights were in fact on, both because he remembered turning them on, and because the light from the headlights reflected off of Glover's car immediately before the collision. Jones testified that the accident occurred when Glover pulled out in front of him and that he did not have time to put on his brakes. Through this evidence, Jones has made a prima facie showing that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law with respect to Charles's allegation of negligence.
In a summary judgment analysis, once the movant has made a prima facie showing that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, the burd
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