The Atlanta Gleaner.

Legal News

Edited By George Washington

(Testing in progress)

George Washington Statue at Federal Hall

Garrenv.Bryant

CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
Docket No.A25A1177
DecidedNovember 3, 2025
Reporter377 Ga. App. 699; 922 S.E.2d 902; 2025 Ga. App. LEXIS 531; 2025 LX 440404; 2025 WL 3074237
JudgesBROWN, Judge. Barnes, P. J., concurs fully. Rickman, P. J., concurs in Divisions 1 and 3, and dissents in Division 2.
Tags
CivilWrongful DeathOfficial ImmunityMinisterial DutyPrison Medical EmergencyAED ProtocolsCorrectional OfficersTales From the CryptBehind BarsThe System
Case Summary

After inmate Larry Burden died following repeated complaints of chest pain and a collapse in the prison yard, his mother sued several correctional officers for wrongful death, alleging they failed to carry out ministerial emergency-response duties imposed by prison policies and training. The officers claimed official immunity. The Court of Appeals of Georgia affirmed in part and reversed in part. It held that some of the alleged emergency-response obligations, including duties tied to checking and having an AED available, were sufficiently specific to support ministerial-duty claims against most of the officers, so dismissal on immunity grounds was not warranted across the board. But the court concluded that one newly hired cadet, Moore, could not be held on the same theory because there was no evidence he knew the policies or had the training that would make those duties ministerial as to him.

Opinion

Loading published copy…

The Far Side