309 Ga. 230 FINAL COPY
S20A0107. REID v. MORRIS et al.
BOGGS, Justice.
At about 5:00 p.m. on September 1, 2016, Lakenin Morris was
driving his older cousin Keith Stroud’s car when he collided with a
car driven by 18-year-old Alonzo Reid, sending Reid to the hospital.
Morris had been drinking with Stroud, and Stroud asked Morris to
drive his car and gave him the keys even though Morris was
obviously drunk and Stroud knew that Morris was drunk, did not
have a valid driver’s license, and had a habit of recklessness. Morris
later pled guilty to driving under the influence (DUI).
Reid sued Morris for negligence and Stroud for negligent
entrustment, and both were found liable for Reid’s injuries (Morris
by default and Stroud by summary judgment). In a bench trial, the
court awarded Reid more than $23,000 in compensatory damages,
which the court apportioned equally between the two defendants,
citing the current version of the apportionment statute, OCGA § 51- 12-33. See Ga. L. 2005, p. 1, §§ 12, 15 (requiring trier of fact to
apportion damages for causes of action arising on or after February
16, 2005, in cases to which the apportionment statute applies). The
trial court also found that Morris and Stroud acted while under the
influence of alcohol and further found, by clear and convincing
evidence, that they acted in a manner that showed willful
misconduct, malice, wantonness, and that “entire want of care which
would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to
consequences.” OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (b). The court ordered Morris to
pay $50,000 in punitive damages, the exact amount that Reid
requested.1
1 The punitive damages statute, OCGA § 51-12-5.1, says as follows:
(a) As used in this Code section, the term “punitive damages” is synonymous with the terms “vindictive damages,” “exemplary damages,” and other descriptions of additional damages awarded because of aggravating circumstances in order to penalize, punish, or deter a defendant. (b) Punitive damages may be awarded only in such tort actions in which it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of conscious indifference to consequences. (c) Punitive damages shall be awarded not as compensation to a plaintiff but solely to punish, penalize, or deter a defendant. (d) (1) An award of punitive damages must be specifically prayed for in a complaint. In any case in which punitive damages are claimed, the trier of fact shall first resolve from the evidence produced at trial whether an award of punitive damages shall be made. This finding shall be made specially through an appropriate form of verdict, along with the other required findings. (2) If it is found that punitive damages are to be awarded, the trial shall immediately be recommenced in order to receive such evidence as is relevant to a decision regarding what amount of damages will be sufficient to deter, penalize, or punish the defendant in light of the circumstances of the case. It shall then be the duty of the trier of fact to set the amount to be awarded according to subsection (e), (f), or (g) of this Code section, as applicable. (e) (1) In a tort case in which the cause of action arises from product liability, there shall be no limitation regarding the amount which may be awarded as punitive damages. Only one award of punitive damages may be recovered in a court in this state from a defendant for any act or omission if the cause of action arises from product liability, regardless of the number of causes of action which may arise from such act or omission. (2) Seventy-five percent of any amounts awarded under this subsection as punitive damages, less a proportionate part of the costs of litigation, including reasonable attorney’s fees, all as determined by the trial judge, shall be paid into the treasury of the state through the Office of the State Treasurer. Upon issuance of judgment in such a case, the state shall have all rights due a judgment creditor until such judgment is satisfied and shall stand on equal footing with the plaintiff of the original case in securing a recovery after payment to the plaintiff of damages awarded other than as punitive damages. A judgment Reid also asked the trial court to order Stroud to pay $100,000
in punitive damages, but the court declined. The court ruled that, in
spite of its findings that Stroud acted while under the influence of
alcohol and engaged in conduct susceptible to punitive damages, it
could not order him to pay punitive damages as a result of the Court
debtor may remit the state’s proportional share of punitive damages to the clerk of the court in which the judgment was rendered. It shall be the duty of the clerk to pay over such amounts to the Office of the State Treasurer within 60 days of receipt from the judgment debtor. This paragraph shall not be construed as making the state a party at interest and the sole right of the state is to the proceeds as provided in this paragraph. (f) In a tort case in which the cause of action does not arise from product liability, if it is found that the defendant acted, or failed to act, with the specific intent to cause harm, or that the defendant acted or failed to act while under the influence of alcohol, drugs other than lawfully prescribed drugs administered in accordance with prescription, or any intentionally consumed glue, aerosol, or other toxic vapor to that degree that his or her judgment is substantially impaired, there shall be no limitation regarding the amount which may be awarded as punitive damages against an active tort-feasor but such damages shall not be the liability of any defendant other than an active tort-feasor. (g) For any tort action not provided for by subsection (e) or (f) of this Code section in which the trier of fact has determined that punitive damages are to be awarded, the amount which may be awarded in the case shall be limited to a maximum of $250,000.00. (h) This Code section shall apply only to causes of action arising on or after April 14, 1997. of Appeals’ interpretation of OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) in Capp v.
Carlito’s Mexican Bar & Grill # 1, Inc., 288 Ga. App. 779 (655 SE2d
232) (2007), and Corrugated Replacements, Inc. v. Johnson, 340 Ga.
App. 364 (797 SE2d 238) (2017). The trial court understood those
decisions to hold that in OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f), “[t]he ‘active
tortfeasor’ means the DUI driver and this is the only person the
statute authorizes an award of punitive damages against.”
Reid argued in the trial court that OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f), as so
interpreted, violates the provision of Paragraph XI (a) of Article I,
Section I of the Georgia Constitution that guarantees that “[t]he
right to trial by jury shall remain inviolate[.]” The trial court
expressly but summarily rejected Reid’s constitutional challenge to
OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) based on Paragraph XI (a).
Reid timely appealed to this Court. Morris and Stroud did not
file briefs, but the Attorney General, the Georgia Defense Lawyers
Association, and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association all filed
helpful amicus briefs. The case was orally argued on April 22, 2020. As we explain below, OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) does not
categorically bar an award of punitive damages against Stroud,
because the term “active tort-feasor,” as used in the statute, is not
necessarily limited to drunk drivers. The trial court therefore erred
in finding that it was categorically prohibited from considering
whether Stroud was an “active tort-feasor” for purposes of analyzing
the appropriateness of punitive damages under the facts of this
case.2 Accordingly, we vacate in part the trial court’s judgment, and
we remand the case for the trial court: (1) to determine whether
Stroud was intoxicated to the degree that his judgment was
substantially impaired and whether he was an “active tort-feasor”
within the meaning of OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f); and (2) if so, to set the
amount of punitive damages to be awarded against Stroud.
2 As discussed above, Reid claims that OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) violates his
constitutional right to trial by jury; this claim was raised below and ruled upon by the trial court, and hence we have jurisdiction over this appeal. A separate question arose at oral argument about whether Reid is entitled to assert a jury trial claim at all, given that he consented to a bench trial. This appears to be a novel constitutional question, it has not been briefed or argued by the parties, and there is no decision on this point from the trial court. Our interpretation of OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) allows us to leave these questions for another day. Reid contends that, as a matter of statutory interpretation, the
trial court erred in ruling that in OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f), “[t]he ‘active
tortfeasor’ means the DUI driver and this is the only person the
statute authorizes an award of punitive damages against.” We agree
with Reid.
Statutory Background. The Tort Reform Act of 1987 made
several changes to Georgia damages law. See Ga. L. 1987, p. 915.
One change was the adoption of a new punitive damages statute,
OCGA § 51-12-5.1. See Ga. L. 1987, p. 915, § 5. Another was the
adoption of the apportionment statute, OCGA § 51-12-33, which at
the time of its enactment preserved joint and several liability with
rights of contribution and indemnity as the default rule in tort cases;
permitted, but did not require, the trier of fact to “apportion its
award of damages among the persons who are liable and whose
degree of fault is greater than that of the injured party according to
the degree of fault of each person”; and specified that “[d]amages, if
apportioned by the trier of fact as provided in this Code section, shall
be the liability of each person against whom they are awarded, shall not be a joint liability among the persons liable, and shall not be
subject to any right of contribution.” Ga. L. 1987, p. 915, § 8.
Two years later, in McClure v. Gower, 259 Ga. 678 (385 SE2d
271) (1989), we examined OCGA § 51-12-5.1, noting that it “sets
forth substantive and procedural rules to govern punitive-damage
awards in tort actions in this state.” Id. at 681. We then explained
the relationship among OCGA § 51-12-5.1’s various subsections:
Subsection (a) of § 51-12-5.1 defines punitive damages, and subsection (b) states the circumstances under which such damages are awardable. Subsection (c) states that “punitive damages shall be awarded not as compensation to a plaintiff but solely to punish, penalize, or deter a defendant.” Subsection (d) is divided into two paragraphs. Paragraph (1) of subsection (d) provides, in pertinent part, that, “in any case in which punitive damages are claimed, the trier of fact shall first resolve from the evidence produced at trial whether an award of punitive damages shall be made.” Paragraph (2) provides: If it is found that punitive damages are to be awarded, the trial shall immediately be recommenced in order to receive such evidence as is relevant to a decision regarding what amount of damages will be sufficient to deter, penalize, or punish the defendant in light of the circumstances of the case. It shall then be the duty of the trier of fact to set the amount to be awarded according to subsection (e), (f), or (g) . . . . Subsection (e) of § 51-12-5.1 provides for the award of punitive damages in tort cases arising from product liability; and it is generally provided that there shall be no limitation regarding the amount of the award, although there may be only one award for any act or omission, with seventy-five percent of any amounts awarded, less a proportionate part of litigation expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) being paid into the state treasury. Subsection (f) states that in other tort actions, if the defendant acted, or failed to act, with the specific intent to cause harm, there shall be no limitation regarding the amount of punitive damages awarded. Subsection (g) states that in tort actions not provided for in subsections (e) and (f), the amount of the punitive- damage award shall be limited to a maximum of $250,000.00.
McClure, 259 Ga. at 682 & n.7 (punctuation and footnotes omitted).
Four years later, in Mack Trucks v. Conkle, 263 Ga. 539 (436
SE2d 635) (1993), we elaborated on the statute’s “three-tiered”
structure for punitive damages awards:
It can be seen that subsections (e), (f) and (g) constitute a consistent statutory scheme for the regulation of punitive damages. In a case in which the cause of action arises from product liability, the risk falls on society as well as on the individual plaintiff who has been harmed. Because of the potential ability to damage numerous citizens, the defendant may be punished by the imposition of unlimited damages, but this may occur only one time. . . . As the risk and harm are distributed between the individual plaintiff and all citizens of Georgia, the legislature has seen fit to distribute a portion of the damages awarded to those at potential risk – all citizens of the state. . . . In a case in which the cause of action does not arise from product liability, but the defendant acted or failed to act with the specific intent to cause harm, the legislature has set no limit on the amount of punitive damages. Subsection (f). This is so because the defendant, acting with great culpability, placed an individual at risk. In this instance the individual is entitled to retain all punitive damages awarded him. The final tier of the statute involves neither product liability nor specific intent to harm. In this type case the individual plaintiff, rather than society, is harmed, but the legislature has determined that, absent specific intent to harm, there are public policy reasons which dictate that a cap should be placed on punitive damages. . . .
Id. at 542-543.
Evolution of OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f). As enacted in 1987, OCGA
§ 51-12-5.1 (f) said:
In a tort case in which the cause of action does not arise from product liability, if it is found that the defendant acted, or failed to act, with the specific intent to cause harm, there shall be no limitation regarding the amount which may be awarded as punitive damages.
Ga. L. 1987, p. 915, § 5. The effect of subsection (f) was to except
certain defendants from the protection of subsection (g)’s $250,000
cap on punitive damages awards. In 1997, the General Assembly amended OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f)
to its current form by inserting new language in two places. See Ga.
L. 1997, p. 837, § 1. As a result, OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) now says as
follows, with the inserted language italicized:
In a tort case in which the cause of action does not arise from product liability, if it is found that the defendant acted, or failed to act, with the specific intent to cause harm, or that the defendant acted or failed to act while under the influence of alcohol, drugs other than lawfully prescribed drugs administered in accordance with prescription, or any intentionally consumed glue, aerosol, or other toxic vapor to that degree that his or her judgment is substantially impaired, there shall be no limitation regarding the amount which may be awarded as punitive damages against an active tort-feasor but such damages shall not be the liability of any defendant other than an active tort-feasor.
The first insert expanded subsection (f) beyond defendants
found to have acted or failed to act with the specific intent to cause
harm to include defendants found to have acted or failed to act while
intoxicated to the degree that their judgment was substantially
impaired. But the second insert cut the other way. First, it restricted
the exception from subsection (g)’s $250,000 cap on punitive
damages awards to defendants who had the specific intent to cause harm or were sufficiently intoxicated and who were also “active tort-
feasors.”3 Second, it introduced a limited form of mandatory
apportionment by specifying that uncapped punitive damages
awards under subsection (f) “shall not be the liability of any
defendant other than an active tort-feasor.” Thus, under subsection
(f), joint and several liability for uncapped punitive damages awards
remained the default rule for defendants who had the specific intent
to cause harm or were sufficiently intoxicated if they were also active
tort-feasors. However, defendants who had the specific intent to
cause harm or were sufficiently intoxicated who were not active tort-
feasors, as well as defendants who did not have the specific intent to
cause harm and were not sufficiently intoxicated, could no longer be
held jointly liable for an uncapped punitive damages award against
an active tort-feasor who had the specific intent to cause harm or
3 That OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) refers to “the defendant” and “an active tort-
feasor” in the singular does not mean that only one defendant may be liable for punitive damages under this subsection. See OCGA § 1-3-1 (d) (6) (“[T]he rules provided in this subsection shall govern the construction of all statutes with respect to the subjects enumerated. . . . Number. The singular or plural number each includes the other, unless the other is expressly excluded. . . .”). was sufficiently intoxicated, and any punitive damages award
against them would be limited by the $250,000 cap in subsection (g).4
Application to This Case. The list of intoxicants in the first
insert to OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) resembles the list of intoxicants in the
DUI statute, which then as now said:
A person shall not drive or be in actual physical control of any moving vehicle while: (1) Under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive; (2) Under the influence of any drug to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive; [or] (3) Under the intentional influence of any glue, aerosol, or other toxic vapor to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive. . . .
OCGA § 40-6-391 (a). But for present purposes, more important than
what the General Assembly may have borrowed from the DUI
statute is what it left behind. Unlike OCGA § 40-6-391 (a), OCGA
§ 51-12-5.1 (f) says nothing about “driv[ing]” or “moving vehicle[s],”
instead referring more broadly to defendants who “acted or failed to
act[.]” And unlike OCGA § 40-6-391 (a), OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f)’s
4 As noted above, the General Assembly later amended OCGA § 51-12-
33 to make apportionment of damages mandatory in cases to which the apportionment statute applies. See Ga. L. 2005, p. 1, § 12. application turns on whether a defendant was intoxicated “to that
degree that his or her judgment is substantially impaired,” not
whether he or she was intoxicated “to the extent that it is less safe
for the person to drive[.]” Thus, the 1997 amendment to OCGA § 51-
12-5.1 (f) made uncapped punitive damages awards available
against more than just DUI drivers. Under the plain language of
OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f), a tort plaintiff like Reid may seek an uncapped
punitive damages award against any defendant who was intoxicated
to the degree that his or her judgment was substantially impaired
as long as that defendant also was an active tort-feasor.
OCGA § 51-12-5.1 does not define the term “active tort-feasor,”
but from the beginning, subsection (f) has made a distinction
between tort defendants who “acted” and those who “failed to act.”
The text thus suggests that an “active tort-feasor” is a defendant
who engages in an affirmative act of negligence or other tortious
conduct, as opposed to a defendant whose negligence consists of an
omission to act when he is under a legal duty to act. Moreover, this
reading of the text comports with a preexisting distinction in Georgia tort law. When the “active tort-feasor” language was added
to OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) in 1997, Georgia law already distinguished
between active and passive tort-feasors in the context of
contribution and indemnity among joint tort-feasors. See, e.g.,
Peacock Constr. Co. v. Montgomery Elevator Co., 121 Ga. App. 711,
713 (175 SE2d 116) (1970) (collecting cases, including Central of Ga.
R. Co. v. Macon R. & Light Co., 140 Ga. 309 (78 SE 931) (1913), and
holding that it was “well recognized” in Georgia law that “an action
over [for indemnity] lies where the liability of the tortfeasor
compelled to pay damages is passive, consisting only of negative acts
or omissions, e.g., in failing in his duty to inspect or discover a
defective condition, and where the proximate cause of the injury,
with respect to another tortfeasor, is active, consisting of positive
acts of negligence”).
Thus, in determining whether uncapped punitive damages are
available under OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) against a defendant like
Stroud, the question is not whether he was the DUI driver (or even
whether a DUI driver was involved in the case). The question is whether the defendant was intoxicated to the degree that his
judgment was substantially impaired and whether his conduct that
was a proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury “consist[ed] only of
negative acts or omissions, e.g., in failing in his duty to inspect or
discover a defective condition,” or instead was “active, consisting of
positive acts of negligence.” Peacock Constr. Co., 121 Ga. App. at 713.
Citing Capp and Corrugated Replacements, the trial court
ruled that in a tort case involving a DUI driver, the DUI driver alone
is the “active tort-feasor” for purposes of OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f). See
also American Material Svcs. v. Giddens, 296 Ga. App. 643, 647 (675
SE2d 540) (2009) (citing Capp). As explained above, however, there
is no such categorical rule. To the extent that Capp, Corrugated
Replacements, or Giddens suggests otherwise, they are hereby
disapproved.
Accordingly, we must vacate the trial court’s judgment to the
extent that the court failed to consider awarding punitive damages
against Stroud and remand the case for further consideration. See
Jova/Daniels/Busby, Inc. v. B & W Mech. Contractors, 167 Ga. App. 551, 553 (307 SE2d 97) (1983) (“[W]hether negligence is active or
passive is, generally speaking, a question of fact for determination
by the trier of facts.” (citation and punctuation omitted)). See also
Colt Indus. Operating Corp. v. Coleman, 246 Ga. 559, 561 (272 SE2d
251) (1980) (“‘Questions of negligence are ordinarily peculiarly
within the jury’s province . . . .’” (citation omitted)).
Judgment vacated in part and case remanded with direction. All the Justices concur.
BETHEL, Justice, concurring.
I concur in the opinion of the Court. I believe that the Court has faithfully examined the text of the statute and the relevant case
law. In short, I think the Court has applied the right tools and the
right law and delivered the right answer. But I fear the answer is
not what the General Assembly actually intended. So I write
separately to bring attention to the Court’s interpretation of “active
tort-feasor” in OCGA § 51-12-5.1 (f) in the hopes that the General
Assembly will consider whether our interpretation of its language
is, in fact, the desired law of Georgia.
Though it appears to be what the text says, I suspect that the
“active” modifier addressed by the Court was not meant to delineate
between tort-feasors whose torts involved affirmative acts and tort-
feasors whose torts involved a failure to act. I generally doubt that
the General Assembly intended to exclude from enhanced liability
exposure a tort-feasor who was shown to have personally intended
a harm but whose tort involved the withholding of some act
compelled by a legal duty, while subjecting a similarly malicious
tort-feasor whose breach of duty involved an affirmative act to such
liability. But suspicion and doubt are not proper tools for appellate judges. We employ familiar tools to understand text and precedent.
And reason is our constant aim and guide.
I am satisfied that the Court has properly interpreted the
language of this statute. So I join the opinion of the Court. I write
separately to let our legislators know of my suspicion and doubt and
to encourage them to consider whether what they passed is what
they meant.
DECIDED JUNE 29, 2020. OCGA § 51-12-5.1; constitutional question. Spalding State Court. Before Judge Thacker. Monge & Associates, Scott J. Harrison, for appellant. Keith S. Stroud, pro se. Lakenin Morris, pro se. Christopher M. Carr, Attorney General, W. Wright Banks, Jr., Dennis R. Dunn, Senior Assistant Attorneys General, Kurtis G. Anderson, Assistant Attorney General, Andrew A. Pinson, Solicitor- General, Ross W. Bergethon, Deputy Solicitor-General; Chambless, Higdon, Richardson, Katz & Griggs, David N. Nelson; Drew, Eckl & Farnham, Jeffrey S. Ward, Elissa B. Haynes; Balch & Bingham, Anne Kaufold-Wiggins, Philip Thompson; Hawkins Parnell & Young, Martin A. Levinson; The Summerville Firm, J. Darren Summerville, Anna G. Cross, Maxwell K. Thelen, amici curiae.