With one of three judges “reluctantly” concurring, a Georgia Court of Appeals panel has reversed a trial court and ruled against an inmate who was badly burned while doing maintenance work on a garbage truck.

The court said the city of Columbus was protected by sovereign immunity because the truck being repaired was not in “use” at the time.

In a case of first impression, the ruling said 2005 amendments to the state's sovereign immunity law mean that only the “negligent use” of such a vehicle would waive Columbus' sovereign immunity protection, wrote Judge Charles Bethel with the concurrence of Judges Elizabeth Branch and Christopher McFadden.

This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

To view this content, please continue to their sites.

Go To Lexis →

Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Go To Bloomberg Law →

Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

NOT FOR REPRINT