Benjamin Rayburn worked for Caffrey Construction Company as a tree cutter, and was clearing land for a new power line right of way when he was paralyzed by a falling limb. He sued Georgia Power Company, who had hired Caffrey Construction, for negligence. After extensive discovery, Georgia Power moved for summary judgment. The trial court granted the motion, and Rayburn appeals. For the reasons that follow, we affirm. On appeal we review the trial court’s grant of summary judgment de novo to determine whether the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, demonstrates a genuine issue of material fact. Summary judgment is proper only when no issue of material fact exists and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Preferred Real Estate Equities v. Housing Systems , 248 Ga. App. 745 548 SE2d 646 2001. Further, when ruling on a motion for summary judgment, a court must give the opposing party the benefit of all reasonable doubt, and the evidence and all inferences and conclusions therefrom must be construed most favorably toward the party opposing the motion. Moore v. Goldome Credit Corp. , 187 Ga. App. 594, 596 370 SE2d 843 1988. On motions for summary judgment, however, courts cannot resolve the facts or reconcile the issues. Fletcher v. Amax, Inc. , 160 Ga. App. 692, 695 288 SE2d 49 1981. When reviewing the grant or denial of a motion for summary judgment, this court conducts a de novo review of the law and the evidence. Desai v. Silver Dollar City, Inc. , 229 Ga. App. 160, 163 1 493 SE2d 540 1997.
So viewed, the record shows that Georgia Power determined that it needed to expand a substation in Glynn County to increase its capacity. The land over which Georgia Power’s right of way would run was “typical coastal plain of Georgia” with wet areas, marshy areas, creeks, and some high ground with planted pine. A committee established a proposed two-mile center line for the expansion, and Georgia Power’s land department crews set “control points” along the line by obtaining Global Positioning Satellite GPS data so that future survey work would be aligned with existing survey work. Georgia Power then hired an outside surveyor to determine the property lines and other topographical features of the center line and surrounding right of way, and Georgia Power’s land department used the outside surveyor’s data to fill in details on the map.
