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OGLETHORPE DEVELOPMENT GROUP, INC. v. COLEMAN

Supreme Court of Georgia1999-06-01No. S99A0672
271 Ga. 173516 S.E.2d 531

Summary

Holding. The court affirmed summary judgment in favor of the mayor on both the mandamus claim and the damages claim, holding that the mayor had no authority under the city charter to set the commissioners' agenda and that even if he did, official immunity would protect him from personal liability absent a showing of oppressive, malicious, or corrupt conduct.

Oglethorpe Development Group sought a writ of mandamus to force the Mayor of Albany to place a development proposal on the city commissioners' meeting agenda after the mayor denied the company's request to present a feasibility study. Oglethorpe also sued the mayor for monetary damages in his individual capacity, claiming he deliberately excluded the company from the agenda. The trial court granted the mayor's summary judgment motions on both claims.

The court affirmed, finding that the mayor had no legal duty or authority under the city charter to set the commissioners' agenda, making mandamus relief unavailable. Even if the mayor had possessed such authority, any decision regarding the agenda would constitute an official act entitled to governmental immunity. Oglethorpe failed to allege or prove facts that would overcome this immunity, such as conduct that was oppressive, malicious, corrupt, or without legal authority.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether a mayor has authority under city charter to set municipal commissioners' agenda
  • Availability of mandamus remedy when official lacks legal duty or authority
  • Applicability of governmental immunity to municipal officials sued in individual capacity
  • Requirements to overcome official immunity in damages action

Procedural posture

Oglethorpe appealed the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the mayor on claims for mandamus and monetary damages.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

Hunstein, Justice.

Oglethorpe Development Group, Inc. (Oglethorpe), a commercial developer, presented a proposal to the Board of Commissioners of the City of Albany (the “Commissioners”) concerning the operation of the city’s civic center and construction of a hotel and conference center adjacent thereto. The Commissioners authorized Oglethorpe to obtain a feasibility study and in late March 1997, Oglethorpe requested to appear before the Commissioners to present the study. This request was denied on April 1. Oglethorpe then filed a petition for writ of mandamus seeking to compel Franklin Coleman, Mayor of the City of Albany, to place the issue on the Commissioners’ agenda. Oglethorpe also sought monetary damages against Coleman in his individual capacity alleging that he deliberately prevented Oglethorpe from appearing on the agenda. Coleman filed motions for summary judgment as to both counts which the trial court granted. Oglethorpe appeals and we affirm.

1. To prevail on motion for summary judgment under OCGA § 9-11-56, the moving party must demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and the undisputed facts warrant judgment as a matter of law. OCGA § 9-11-56 (c). A defendant may do this by either presenting evidence negating an essential element of the plaintiff’s claims or establishing from the record an absence of evidence to support such claims. Lau’s Corp. v. Haskins, 261 Ga. 491 (405 SE2d 474) (1991). In this case, Coleman presented evidence that under the city charter he, as mayor, had no duty or authority to set the agenda for the Commissioners’ meetings. Because Oglethorpe offered no contrary evidence and mandamus will not issue to compel an officer to perform acts not within his official powers or duties, Cozzolino v. Hubert, 222 Ga. 43 (148 SE2d 435) (1966), the trial court properly granted summary judgment as to count one.

2. There is no merit to Oglethorpe’s claim for monetary damages against Coleman in his individual capacity. Even assuming, arguendo, that Coleman had authority to set the Commissioners’ agenda, such act. constitutes an official act to which immunity would apply. See Ga. Const, of 1983, Art. I, Sec. II, Par. IX (d); OCGA § 36-33-1. Oglethorpe has neither alleged nor presented evidence in support of a waiver of immunity. See OCGA § 36-33-4 (officer of municipal corporation shall be personally liable to one who sustains special damages as the result of an official act of such officer if done oppressively, maliciously, corruptly or without authority of law); Gilbert v. Richardson, 264 Ga. 744 (6) (452 SE2d 476) (1994) (state officers and employees shall not be subject to suit or liability for performing offi cial functions unless they perform ministerial acts negligently or perform ministerial or discretionary acts with malice or an intent to injure). Accordingly, we affirm the grant of summary judgment to Coleman as to the second count.

Decided June 1, 1999.

Leonard Farkas, for appellant.

Hodges, Erwin, Hedrick & Coleman, William A. Erwin, Al Grieshaber, Jr., for appellee.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.