Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Auth., 433 S.E.2d 304 (Ga. Ct. App. 1993). · Go Syfert
Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Auth., 433 S.E.2d 304 (Ga. Ct. App. 1993). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
36 citation events (23 in the last 25 years) across 10 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Lee Roy Swafford v. United States (ca11, 2016-10-27)
Treatment trajectory · 1993 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1993 2009 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 11 distinct citers. How cited ↗
cited Cited as authority (rule) Lee Roy Swafford v. United States
11th Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Lowry v. Cochran, 305 Ga.App. 240 , 699 S.E.2d 325, 330 (2010); Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Auth., 209 Ga. App. 118 , 433 S.E.2d 304, 305-06 (1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kathleen Carlson v. Town of South Kingstown
R.I. · 2015 · confidence medium
However, we concluded that, to qualify as a charge under § 32 — 6—5(a)(2) the fee must be “imposed in return for recreational use of the land.” Hanley, 837 A.2d at 714 (quoting Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Authority, 209 Ga.App. 118 , 433 S.E.2d 304, 305-06 (1993)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lowry v. Cochran
Ga. Ct. App. · 2010 · confidence medium
Co., 237 Ga. 235, 237 ( 227 SE2d 336 ) (1976). 7 (Footnote omitted.) McCray v. FedEx Ground Package System, 291 Ga. App. 317, 322 (1) ( 661 SE2d 691 ) (2008). 8 OCGA § 51-3-20 et seq. 9 OCGA § 51-3-25 (1). 10 Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Auth., 209 Ga. App. 118, 119 (1) ( 433 SE2d 304 ) (1993) (nominal parking fee charged for each vehicle, regardless of the number of occupants or the type of vehicle, is not a “charge” for the recreational use of property under OCGA § 51-3-25). 11 (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Quick v. Stone Mtn.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hanley v. State
R.I. · 2003 · confidence medium
“For the charge to constitute an admission fee it must be established that it is imposed in return for recreational use of the land.” Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Authority, 209 Ga.App. 118 , 433 S.E.2d 304, 305-06 (1993).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Lee v. Department of Natural Resources
Ga. Ct. App. · 2003 · confidence medium
OCGA § 51-3-25 (2); Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Auth., 209 Ga. App. 118, 119 (1) ( 433 SE2d 304 ) (1993); Stone Mountain Mem.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cole Ex Rel. Estate of Cole v. South Carolina Electric & Gas, Inc.
S.C. Ct. App. · 2003 · confidence medium
Id. at 305-06; cf. Hogue v. Stone Mountain Mem’l Ass’n, 183 Ga.App. 378 , 358 S.E.2d 852 (1987) (holding an initial four dollar fee allowing re-entry during the course of the patron’s stay permitted the use of a vehicle in the park and did not constitute a charge for the recreational use of the park).
cited Cited as authority (rule) City of Louisville v. Silcox
Ky. Ct. App. · 1998 · confidence medium
Id. at 306.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) SOUTH GWINNETT ATHLETIC ASS'N, INC. v. Nash (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1996 · confidence medium
Auth., 209 Ga. App. 118, 119 (1) ( 433 SE2d 304 ) (1993).
discussed Cited "see" City of Tybee Island v. Godinho (2×)
Ga. · 1999 · signal: see · confidence high
See Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Auth., 209 Ga. App. 118 (1) ( 433 SE2d 304 ) (1993); Quick v. Stone Mountain Mem.
discussed Cited "see" Fulton Paper Co. v. Reeves (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1994 · signal: see · confidence high
See Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Auth., 209 Ga. App. 118, 120 (2) ( 433 SE2d 304 ) (1993).
discussed Cited "see" Spivey v. City of Baxley (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1993 · signal: see · confidence high
See Majeske v. Jekyll Island State Park Auth., 209 Ga. App. 118 ( 433 SE2d 304 ) (1993); Hogue v. Stone Mountain Mem.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
MAJESKE Et Al.
v.
JEKYLL ISLAND STATE PARK AUTHORITY
A93A0860.
Court of Appeals of Georgia.
Jun 3, 1993.
433 S.E.2d 304
Fendig, McLemore, Taylor & Whitworth, James B. Durham, for appellants., Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General, Roland F. Matson, John B. Ballard, Jr., Senior Assistant Attorneys General, for appellee.
Beasley, McMurray, Cooper.
Cited by 15 opinions  |  Published
Beasley, Presiding Judge.

Plaintiffs Carol and William Majeske appeal the award of the summary judgment and dismissal of their complaint in this action against defendant Jekyll Island State Park Authority to recover damages for personal injuries sustained by Mrs. Majeske resulting from a fall on defendant’s property.

[*119] Summary judgment was awarded on the basis that defendant is relieved from liability as a matter of law under the Recreational Properties Act (RPA), OCGA § 51-3-20 et seq. Plaintiffs claim that defendant is specifically exempted from the liability limitations of the RPA under OCGA § 51-3-25 (2), by virtue of a charge imposed on all motor vehicles entering the island by roadway. [1]

The parties entered into a stipulation of facts as follows: Defendant is in the business of tourism, and it advertises and promotes recreational facilities to attract visitors to Jekyll Island. Persons entering the island by roadway in an automobile are charged $1 per vehicle “parking fee” each time they drive onto the island, regardless of the number of persons traveling in the vehicle or the purpose for which the vehicle is entering the island. No fee is charged persons arriving at the island on foot or by boat, aircraft, non-motorized vehicle, or vehicle not required by law to be registered or operated by a licensed operator.

Plaintiffs rented a private home on Jekyll Island for a vacation. They had entered the island by automobile and paid the $1 fee. Mrs. Majeske was injured while stepping down from a footwalk bridge maintained by defendant as she was returning from a walk along the beach with her husband and friends.

1. The purpose of the RPA “is to encourage owners of land to make land and water areas available to the public for recreational purposes by limiting the owners’ liability toward persons entering thereon for recreational purposes.” OCGA § 51-3-20. The Act provides that “an owner of land who either directly or indirectly invites or permits without charge any person to use the property for recreational purposes,” OCGA § 51-3-23, may not be held liable for personal injuries resulting from unsafe or defective conditions existing on the premises. However, any liability which otherwise exists is not limited if the owner imposes a charge for the recreational use of the land. OCGA § 51-3-25 (2); Stone Mountain Mem. Assn. v. Herrington, 225 Ga. 746 (1) (171 SE2d 521) (1969). “Charge” is defined in the Act as “the admission price or fee asked in return for invitation or permission to enter or go upon the land.” OCGA § 51-3-21 (1).

In Hogue v. Stone Mountain Mem. Assn., 183 Ga. App. 378 (1) (358 SE2d 852) (1987), a specified fee was charged for each vehicle entering Stone Mountain Park regardless of the number of occupants. Such fee was held not to constitute a charge for the recreational use[*120] of the park. Accord Herrington, supra; Quick v. Stone Mountain Mem. Assn., 204 Ga. App. 598 (420 SE2d 36) (1992); Brannon v. Stone Mountain Mem. Assn., 165 Ga. App. 120 (299 SE2d 176) (1983).

Decided June 3, 1993 — Reconsideration denied June 18, 1993. Fendig, McLemore, Taylor & Whitworth, James B. Durham, for appellants. Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General, Roland F. Matson, John B. Ballard, Jr., Senior Assistant Attorneys General, for appellee.

Plaintiffs attempt to distinguish Hogue, supra (and by implication other cases involving Stone Mountain Park) by evidence that upon payment of the parking fee at Stone Mountain, entrants receive a vehicle sticker permitting them to leave and re-enter the park without additional charge, whereas vehicles entering Jekyll Island must pay the fee with each re-entry. However, the undisputed evidence shows that defendant’s $1 charge is strictly a vehicle parking fee which is imposed only if entering the property in a licensed, motorized ground vehicle. Accord Herrington, supra at 747. The fact that vehicle re-entry is not permitted without additional payment is not evidence that the charge is an admission fee. For the charge to constitute an admission fee it must be established that it is imposed in return for recreational use of the land.

The summary judgment motion was supported by affidavit testimony of defendant’s executive director stating that the facilities are open to the general public and no admission fee is charged for any person entering the park. A parking permit fee of $1 is charged for each vehicle entering the park regardless of the number of occupants or the type of vehicle. No fee is charged for persons entering the island by other means. Appellants have offered no counterevidence giving rise to a triable issue. OCGA § 9-11-56 (e); Lau’s Corp. v. Haskins, 261 Ga. 491 (405 SE2d 474) (1991). Appellee was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.

2. In reliance on Cedeno v. Lockwood, Inc., 250 Ga. 799 (2) (301 SE2d 265) (1983), plaintiffs assert the RPA is inapplicable because Jekyll Island is operated primarily to further defendant’s business interests. This theory was neither enumerated as error nor asserted below in opposition to summary judgment. It will not be considered now for the first time.

Judgment affirmed.

McMurray, P. J., and Cooper, J., concur.
1

In a previous order, defendant was granted partial summary judgment with respect to plaintiffs’ theory of wilful failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition under OCGA § 51-3-25 (1), but it was denied summary judgment on the admission fee theory. Defendant’s subsequent application for interlocutory appeal from that order was denied by this court. Jekyll Island State Park Auth. v. Majeske, A92I0243, July 13, 1992.