Anglin v. Harris, 534 S.E.2d 874 (Ga. Ct. App. 2000). · Go Syfert
Anglin v. Harris, 534 S.E.2d 874 (Ga. Ct. App. 2000). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“a shadowy semblance 15 of an issue is not enough to defeat the motion for summary judgment.”
57 citation events (57 in the last 25 years) across 4 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Mark A. Thompson v. Dekalb County, Georgia (gactapp, 2022-03-07)
Treatment trajectory · 2001 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2001 2013 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 16 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Mark A. Thompson v. Dekalb County, Georgia (2×) also: Cited "see"
Ga. Ct. App. · 2022 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
a shadowy semblance 15 of an issue is not enough to defeat the motion for summary judgment.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ashley v. Doe
S.D. Ga. · 2024 · confidence medium
In recent years, Georgia courts have consistently engaged in the following inquiry: “whether plaintiff suffered from such unsoundness of mind or imbecility as to be incapable of managing the ordinary affairs of life.” Anglin v. Harris, 534 S.E.2d 874, 877 (Ga. Ct. App. 2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mattie L. Smith v. Six Flags Over Georgia II, Lp
Ga. Ct. App. · 2024 · confidence medium
Under this rule,2 “[t]he testimony of a respondent on summary judgment is to be construed against her where it is self-contradictory, vague, or equivocal.” Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga. App. 140, 142 (1) ( 534 SE2d 874 ) (2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) CLARK v. FYE
M.D. Ga. · 2020 · confidence medium
See Martin [v. Herrington Mill, LP], 730 S.E.2d at 165–67; Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga.App. 140 , 534 S.E.2d 874, 875 (2000); Carter v. Glenn, 243 Ga.App. 544 , 533 S.E.2d 109 , 111–12 (2000); Charter Peachford Behavioral Health Sys., Inc. *490 v. Kohout, 233 Ga.App. 452 , 504 S.E.2d 514, 519 (1998).”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) CLARK v. FYE
M.D. Ga. · 2020 · confidence medium
See Martin [v. Herrington Mill, LP], 730 S.E.2d at 165–67; Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga.App. 140 , 534 S.E.2d 874, 875 (2000); Carter v. Glenn, 243 Ga.App. 544 , 533 S.E.2d 109 , 111–12 (2000); Charter Peachford Behavioral Health Sys., Inc. *490 v. Kohout, 233 Ga.App. 452 , 504 S.E.2d 514, 519 (1998).”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Rhonda May Dixon v. Richard Alan Dixon
Ga. Ct. App. · 2019 · confidence medium
However, “[t]he testimony of a respondent on summary judgment is to be construed against her where it is self-serving, contradictory, vague, or equivocal.” Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga. App. 140, 142 (1) ( 534 SE2d 874 ) (2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Peter Meyer v. Gwinnett County
11th Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
See Martin, 730 S.E.2d at 165-67 ; Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga.App. 140 , 534 S.E.2d 874, 875 (2000); Carter v. Glenn, 243 Ga.App. 544 , 533 S.E.2d 109, 111-12 (2000); Charter Peachford Behavioral Health Sys., Inc. *490 v. Kohout, 233 Ga.App. 452 , 504 S.E.2d 514, 519 (1998).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Martin v. Herrington Mill, LP (3×) also: Cited "see"
Ga. Ct. App. · 2012 · confidence medium
Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga. App. 140, 142 (1) ( 534 SE2d 874 ) (2000) (punctuation omitted).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Catherine Martin v. Herrington Mill, L. P. (3×) also: Cited "see"
Ga. Ct. App. · 2012 · confidence medium
Thus, much of the social worker’s testimony constituted estimates or speculation, but “[a] shadowy semblance of an issue is not enough to defeat the motion for summary judgment.”16 As we have previously noted, OCGA § 9-3-90 serves “the legitimate and laudable purpose of protecting those who are in fact legally incompetent because of mental illness or disability.”17 However, as we have also rightly emphasized, “OCGA § 9-3-33 and other statutes of limitation also serve the legitimate public policy goal of promoting justice and furthering the certainty of time limitations while prev…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ford v. Caffrey
Ga. Ct. App. · 2008 · confidence medium
Hydrick, for appellee. 1 Hardin v. Phillips, 249 Ga. App. 541, n. 1 ( 547 SE2d 565 ) (2001) (citation omitted). 2 Wang v. Moore, 247 Ga. App. 666 -667 ( 544 SE2d 486 ) (2001). 3 Cramp v. Ga.-Pacific Corp., 266 Ga. App. 38 ( 596 SE2d 212 ) (2004) (citation omitted). 4 OCGA § 50-21-25 (a). 5 OCGA § 50-21-25 (b). 6 OCGA § 50-21-22 (7). 7 OCGA § 50-21-23. 8 OCGA § 50-21-24 (7). 9 See OCGA § 24-4-22. 10 See generally Teachers ’ Retirement System &c. v. Forehand, 234 Ga. App. 437, 441 ( 506 SE2d 913 ) (1998). 11 See 27 AmJur2d, Employment Relationship § 5, p. 557 (1996). 12 Hardin v. Philli…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) J. Kinson Cook of Georgia, Inc. v. Heery/Mitchell
Ga. Ct. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
“The testimony of a respondent on summary judgment is to be construed against her where it is self-contradictory, vague, or equivocal.” Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga. App. 140, 142 (1) ( 534 SE2d 874 ) (2000).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Georgia Southern & Florida Railway Co. v. Peters
Ga. Ct. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
See Smith v. Jones, 278 Ga. 661, 662 (2) ( 604 SE2d 187 ) (2004) (conclusory affidavit that is not supported by substantiating facts or circumstances is insufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact); Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga. App. 140, 142 (1) ( 534 SE2d 874 ) (2000) (testimony of a party construed against him when it is “self-contradictory, vague, or equivocal”).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Morrison v. JH HARVEY CO., INC. (9×) also: Cited "see"
Ga. Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
NOTES [1] 244 Ga.App. 140 (1), 534 S.E.2d 874 (2000). [2] 256 Ga. 27, 28 (1), 343 S.E.2d 680 (1986). [3] (Footnote omitted.) Anglin, supra, 244 Ga. App. at 142 (1), 534 S.E.2d 874 . [4] Shiver v. Norfolk-Southern R.
discussed Cited "see" LYDIE JOSEPH v. CINDY STAR BUTTON (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2025 · signal: see · confidence high
See Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga. App. 140, 140-141 (1) ( 534 SE2d 874 ) (2000) (noting that an action filed on the second anniversary of an injury falls within the limitation period while an action filed one day after the second anniversary of the injury would be time-barred).
examined Cited "see" Bass Custom Landscapes, Inc. v. Cunard (4×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Ga. Ct. App. · 2002 · signal: see · confidence high
See Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga. App. 140, 142 (1) ( 534 SE2d 874 ) (2000).
discussed Cited "see" Miller v. Kitchens (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2001 · signal: see · confidence high
See Anglin v. Harris, 244 Ga. App. 140, 141 (1) ( 534 SE2d 874 ) (2000); Kem Mfg.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
ANGLIN
v.
HARRIS Et Al.
A00A0812.
Court of Appeals of Georgia.
May 22, 2000.
534 S.E.2d 874
Charles E. Muskett, for appellant., Carter & Ansley, Keith L. Lindsay, for appellees.
Johnson, Phipps, McMurray.
Cited by 22 opinions  |  Published
1 passage pin-cited by 1 case
Pinpoint authority: bottom 81%
Citer courts: Court of Appeals of Georgia (1)
Johnson, Chief Judge.

Tracy Anglin filed a personal injury action against Larry Harris and his employer, Simbeck, Inc., on October 15, 1998, for injuries allegedly sustained on October 15, 1996, when the tractor-trailer Harris was driving collided with Anglin’s car. Harris and Simbeck, Inc. (collectively “Simbeck”), answered in November 1998, alleging that the accident actually occurred on October 14, 1996, and asserting that the two-year statute of limitation expired before the lawsuit was filed. In April 1999, Simbeck moved for summary judgment, which the trial court granted. Anglin appeals. We affirm.

1. Anglin contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment when a genuine issue of material fact exists as to the date on which the accident occurred. We disagree.

The date of the accident is material because, if the accident occurred on October 15,1996, the filing date of October 15,1998, falls within the limitation period; if the accident occurred on October 14,[*141] 1996, the suit is time-barred. [1]

In support of its motion for summary judgment, Simbeck submitted a Newnan Hospital admission summary showing Anglin was admitted to the emergency room and treated for accident-related injuries on October 14, 1996. The summary includes an “ACCIDENT DATE” of October 14, 1996. Simbeck also submitted a bill from a radiologist showing a typewritten service date of October 14, 1996, a hospital radiology report showing the date of exam as October 14, 1996, and a hospital bill showing the same admission date. In addition, Simbeck relied on a hospital consent to treatment form signed by Anglin’s husband and a witness, on which the date “10-14-96” is handwritten three times. An emergency department medical record also shows a treatment date of October 14, 1996; the date appears in both typed and handwritten form. A typewritten emergency room note shows the date of visit as October 14, 1996.

Simbeck also presented the affidavit of the officer who arrived on the accident scene. In his affidavit, the officer states that the collision occurred on Monday, October 14, 1996, contrary to his erroneous entry on a written police report showing the incident occurred on Monday, October 15, 1996.

In opposition to Simbeck’s motion for summary judgment, Anglin relied on the written accident report as originally prepared by the police officer, in which he indicates that the accident occurred on Monday, October 15, 1996. Anglin also relies on her own affidavit and her deposition in which she states that she is “sure” the accident occurred on October 15, which she says was a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and that the medical records and the officer’s affidavit are all wrong.

When a moving party makes a prima facie showing that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, the opposing party must come forward with rebuttal evidence at that time or suffer judgment against her; the adverse party may not rest on mere allegations or denials, but her response must set forth specific facts showing there is a genuine issue for trial. [2]

Simbeck met its burden of showing that the accident occurred on October 14, 1996. Anglin, on the other hand, failed to meet her burden of showing that it happened on October 15, 1996. Despite her conclusory statement that she is sure of the date, she equivocated on this issue. In her affidavit, she says the accident happened on Octo[*142] ber 15, then adds “I do not know if it was a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. But I do remember it being October 15, 1996. The calendar may show this to be Tuesday, but I do not agree.” On deposition, when asked why she insists that the accident occurred on October 15, she simply replies “That’s the date it was.” When asked what day of the week that was, she answers “I believe it was a Monday, Monday or Tuesday.” When told that the officer’s report indicates the accident happened on a Monday and asked whether she would dispute that, Anglin replies that she would not. And when asked “If it occurred on a Monday, would you concede that it occurred on October 14th, 1996?”, she responded ‘Yes, sir.”

Similarly, when asked on deposition why he maintains the accident occurred on October 15, 1996, Anglin’s husband states “It was just — It was the 15th.” The husband adds that his statement is based on the police report. When asked what day of the week that was, he replies, “Monday or Tuesday. Monday, I believe. Tuesday. It was the first of the week.” Her husband, therefore, was also unsure of when it happened. We note that he bases his date of October 15 solely on the police report, but the officer who authored it has since testified that the date he wrote on the report is incorrect.

Thus, Anglin’s own evidence is, at best, equivocal as to the day and date of the accident. The testimony of a respondent on summary judgment is to be construed against her where it is self-contradictory, vague, or equivocal. [3] In light of this principle, and considering the unequivocal medical records showing October 14 as the accident date and taking judicial notice of the calendar indicating that the second Monday in October 1996 was the fourteenth, there is no genuine issue of material fact as to when the accident happened. “A shadowy semblance of an issue is not enough to defeat the motion for summary judgment.” [4] The trial court correctly concluded that no genuine issue of material fact exists as to the date and that the applicable statute of limitation expired before the action was filed.

2. The only issue remaining for our consideration, therefore, is whether Anglin has presented evidence which would toll the statute. As she points out, the two-year statute of limitation provided by OCGA § 9-3-33 may be tolled where a plaintiff is mentally incompetent to handle her affairs. [5] In order to survive Simbeck’s motion for summary judgment, Anglin was required to present some evidence of[*143] mental disability which would toll the statute of limitation. [6] The test is whether she suffered from such unsoundness of mind or imbecility as to be incapable of managing the ordinary affairs of life. [7]

In support of her position that she was mentally disabled for several days after the accident, Anglin relies on her own affidavit in which she states that she became upset and very depressed after the accident, primarily due to her concern about her 16-month-old daughter, who was in the car at the time the tractor-trailer struck their car but was not physically injured. We note that Anglin, who was admitted to the emergency room complaining of arm, head, neck, and back pain, was diagnosed as having no acute injuries and was discharged about an hour later in good condition.

In her deposition given in February 1999, Anglin testifies that starting the evening of the accident she “just laid in bed” but remarked that she did so because of neck and back pain. She states that she stayed in bed for the next few days as well as a result of the neck and back pain. She adds that she “was just totally out of it with the pain and everything that happened,” that she slept and “sometimes just laid there and hurt” When asked why she was “out of it,” Anglin responds “[bjecause of the pain being so severe.” She agrees that her husband suggested going to see a doctor during those first few days but that they mutually decided to wait several days to see how she was feeling. She further agrees that she was unable to take care of her children at that time as a result of the pain in her neck and back.

In an affidavit executed in May 1999 and filed in response to Simbeck’s motion for summary judgment, Anglin avers that she was delirious, confused, disoriented, and “in a daze” for three or four days after the accident. She says that she stayed in bed on the evening of the accident primarily because of her mental condition. Anglin says she was unable to take care of her children or perform any household chores and that she was worried and “completely out of it.” Anglin says she “could not understand what was going on” and “could not understand what [my husband] was relating to me.”

When asked if she was mentally incapacitated during this time, Anglin replies that she was “totally out of it. Didn’t know what was going on.” She avers that she sought no treatment for mental incapacity. She also states that she knew where she was and knew who her husband, sister, and children were, but that she was unable to handle her normal activities because of the pain in her neck and back.

[*144] In his deposition, Anglin’s husband states that on the evening after the accident Anglin became “[d]isoriented, really out of it.” He states that she stayed in bed for three days and was unable to do anything around the house. He says she was not speaking clearly and not making sense. As examples, he states that he would tell her to take a shower and she would reply that she did not need a shower. Or he would tell her to get out of bed, and she would remark that she was staying in bed. Or he would offer her food, and she would respond that nothing sounded good to eat. He adds that he was concerned about Anglin’s mental state but that he did not take her to a mental health professional because they had no means of paying for treatment.

In contrast, Simbeck has pointed to evidence indicating that Anglin was not mentally incapacitated after the accident. For example, Simbeck notes that Anglin was able to give an insurance adjuster a statement upon leaving the hospital after the accident and she was able to tell her husband the details of the collision on the same day. Simbeck also points to evidence suggesting that her inactivity during the days following the collision was due to physical pain rather than any mental incapacity and correctly points out that only mental, not physical, disability tolls the statute. [8]

Anglin bore the burden of proving the mental incapacity which she alleges tolled the running of the statute. [9] The evidence in this case does not establish a tolling of the statute.

This court recently decided a nearly identical case. In Walker v. Brannan, 10 the plaintiff filed a personal injury action about two weeks beyond the limitation period. In her deposition, the plaintiff alleged physical injuries and made no mention of any mental incapacity. Then, after the defendant moved for summary judgment based on the running of the statute of limitation, the plaintiff filed an affidavit claiming she was mentally incapacitated for 20 days after the accident. In a whole court decision, we held that the plaintiff could not extend the statute of limitation by simply filing a belated and conclusory self-serving affidavit which contradicted the plain import of her deposition testimony. We agree with Walker and find it controlling here.

As the majority points out in Walker, OCGA § 9-3-90 serves the legitimate and laudable purpose of protecting those who are in fact legally incompetent due to mental illness or disability. At the same time, OCGA § 9-3-33 promotes the legitimate public policy goal of promoting justice and furthering the certainty of time limitations[*145] while preventing unfair surprise. The sort of physical pain and discomfort described by Anglin in the instant case, while perhaps very real, are not the mental incapacity contemplated by the tolling statute. Indeed, on deposition Anglin gives a rational explanation for staying in bed after the accident: her physical pain resulted in her not wanting or not being able to get up or do anything, and she and her husband decided to wait a few days to see if her physical condition improved before taking her to see a doctor about the pain. Like the plaintiff in Walker, Anglin does not support her position with any medical evidence. [11] We note that the examples Anglin’s husband gave of Anglin “not making sense” actually indicate that she did understand what he was saying, was communicating well, and was making decisions during those critical first few days after the accident.

Decided May 22, 2000. Charles E. Muskett, for appellant. Carter & Ansley, Keith L. Lindsay, for appellees.

The determination of whether one is mentally incapacitated within the meaning of the tolling statute can be made by the trial court as a matter of law. [12] The trial court was authorized to find that the evidence relied upon by Anglin does not demonstrate that she was mentally incompetent as required by the statute. [13] Because the record presents no genuine issue of material fact as to Anglin’s mental competence, the grant of summary judgment was proper. [14]

Judgment affirmed.

Phipps, J, and McMurray, Senior Appellate Judge, concur.
1

See Davis v. DESA Intl., 209 Ga. App. 318 (433 SE2d 410) (1993) (personal injury action filed on second anniversary of injury not time-barred); Weems v. Munson Transp., 210 Ga. App. 766 (1) (437 SE2d 640) (1993) (action filed one day after second anniversary barred).

2

Kem Mfg. Corp. v. Sant, 182 Ga. App. 135, 141 (5) (355 SE2d 437) (1987).

3

Hickey v. Askren, 198 Ga. App. 718, 722 (4) (403 SE2d 225) (1991).

4

(Citation and punctuation omitted.) Owen v. M & M Metro Supply, 198 Ga. App. 420, 422 (2) (401 SE2d 612) (1991).

5

See OCGA §§ 9-3-90 (a); 9-3-91; Chapman v. Burks, 183 Ga. App. 103 (357 SE2d 832) (1987).

6

See Woodward v. Sickles, 239 Ga. App. 505, 506 (521 SE2d 211) (1999).

7

Jacobs v. Littleton, 241 Ga. App. 403, 406 (3) (b) (525 SE2d 433) (1999); Hickey, supra at 721 (4).

11

We also find it noteworthy that in both Walker and the instant case, the plaintiffs were represented by attorney Charles E. Muskett. In both cases, the statute of limitation expired days before the suit was filed. And in both cases, after the defendant raised the statute of limitation defense, the plaintiff testified that she suffered from mental incapacitation for a number of days after the accident. In fact, both plaintiffs said they were “delirious” and they either “were not aware of the goings on” or “could not understand what was going on.” Coincidentally, both plaintiffs were “out of it” just long enough to cover the amount of time by which the attorney missed the filing deadline. We also note that in this case, Anglin retained attorney Muskett on December 22, nearly 22 months before the statute expired. It is not clear how long Muskett had the case in Walker.

12

Carter v. Glenn, 243 Ga. App. 544 (533 SE2d 109) (2000).

13

See Jacobs, supra; Charter Peachford &c. v. Kohout, 233 Ga. App. 452, 460 (d) (504 SE2d 514) (1998) (physical precedent only); Whisnant v. Coots, 176 Ga. App. 724, 726 (337 SE2d 766) (1985).

14

See Stone v. Radiology Svcs., 206 Ga. App. 851, 855 (3) (426 SE2d 663) (1992).