Sign In
Events
Newsletters
Search

Close

Close Search

Cancel

SEARCH
MY LAW.COMNEW

Moss v. Georgia Dep't of Public Safety

The plaintiff failed to exercise due care for his own safety when he tried to jump over a water puddle in a grassy area instead of using a paved sidewalk.

X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

In a suit brought pursuant to the Georgia Tort Claims Act against the Georgia Department of Public Safety the Department and the Georgia State Patrol a division of the Department, Daniel C. Moss alleged that, while exiting the State Patrol office in Lawrenceville, he was injured when he slipped and fell because of a hazardous condition which the Department and the State Patrol negligently allowed to exist on the premises. Because the record shows that the alleged hazard was not a condition on the premises that the Department or the State Patrol had a duty to correct, and that it was an obvious condition which Moss saw and could have easily avoided, we affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the Department and the State Patrol.

1. The record shows that Moss left the State Patrol office on a rainy day and started walking to his car parked in the adjacent parking lot. Instead of walking on the paved sidewalk leading to the parking lot, Moss took a shortcut to the parking lot on what appeared to be a worn path across a grassy area. When he encountered a shallow puddle of water which had accumulated in a depressed area of the grass, he attempted to jump over the puddle. Moss said that he took a step at the edge of the puddle to attempt the jump, and the “ground gave way” or his “foot slid on into the mud or whatever,” causing him to fall. There was no evidence that anyone else had previously slipped and fallen in the area because of these conditions.

Trending Stories

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

LEARN MORE

More From ALM

Premium Subscription
With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Team Accounts
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Bundle Subscriptions
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
Go to CLE Center
Southeastern Legal Awards 2025
May 01, 2025
Atlanta, GA

The Daily Report is honoring those attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession.


Learn More
ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Awards 2024
December 11, 2024
Las Vegas, NV

This event shines a spotlight on how individuals and firms are changing the investment advisory industry where it matters most.


Learn More
Complex Claims & Litigation Forum 2025
February 24, 2025 - February 26, 2025
Las Vegas, NV

This conference aims to help insurers and litigators better manage complex claims and litigation.


Learn More
Go to Events Go to Webcasts
BUSINESS LITIGATION ATTORNEY -- HARTFORD, CT

McCarter & English, LLP is actively seeking a litigation associate for its office located in Hartford, CT. One to three years of experie...


Apply Now ›
Associate Litigator

Borteck & Czapek, P.C., based in Florham Park, is a boutique estates and trusts law firm specializing in estate planning and administrat...


Apply Now ›
Gwinnett County: State Court Staff Attorney

Gwinnett County State Court is seeking an attorney to assist the Judge by conducting a variety of legal research, analysis, and document pre...


Apply Now ›
Go to Lawjobs