Georgia Code, Title 51, Chapter 1 - General Provisions

• § 51-1-1 - Tort Defined
  A tort is the unlawful violation of a private legal right other than a mere breach of contract, express or implied. A tort may...
• § 51-1-2 - Ordinary Diligence and Ordinary Negligence Defined
  In general, ordinary diligence is that degree of care which is exercised by ordinarily prudent persons under the same or similar circumstances. As applied...
• § 51-1-3 - Extraordinary Diligence and Slight Negligence Defined
  In general, extraordinary diligence is that extreme care and caution which very prudent and thoughtful persons exercise under the same or similar circumstances. As...
• § 51-1-4 - Slight Diligence and Gross Negligence Defined
  In general, slight diligence is that degree of care which every man of common sense, however inattentive he may be, exercises under the same...
• § 51-1-5 - Meaning of "Due Care" in Reference to Child of Tender Years
  The term "due care," when used in reference to a child of tender years, is such care as the child's mental and physical capacities...
• § 51-1-6 - Recovery of Damages Upon Breach of Legal Duty
  When the law requires a person to perform an act for the benefit of another or to refrain from doing an act which may...
• § 51-1-7 - When Infraction of Public Duty Gives Cause of Action to Individual
  Injury suffered in common with the community, though to a greater extent, will not give a right of action to an individual for the...
• § 51-1-8 - Right of Action Arising From Breach of Private Duty
  Private duties may arise from statute or from relations created by contract, express or implied. The violation of a private duty, accompanied by damage,...
• § 51-1-9 - Recovery for Torts to Self, Wife, Child, Ward, or Servant
  Every person may recover for torts committed to himself, his wife, his child, his ward, or his servant.
• § 51-1-10 - Who May Bring an Action for Torts to Wife; Action by Wife Living Apart From Husband for Torts to Self or Children
  If a tort shall be committed upon the person or reputation of the wife, the husband or wife may recover therefor; if the wife...
• § 51-1-11 - When Privity Required to Support Action; Product Liability Action and Time Limitation Therefore; Industry-Wide Liability Theories Rejected
  (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Code section, no privity is necessary to support a tort action; but, if the tort results from...
• § 51-1-11.1 - Liability of Product Seller As a Manufacturer
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term "product seller" means a person who, in the course of a business conducted for the...
• § 51-1-12 - Liability for Ratifying Tort
  By ratification of a tort committed for his own benefit, the ratifier becomes as liable as if he had commanded that it be committed....
• § 51-1-13 - Cause of Action for Physical Injury; Intention Considered in Assessing Damages
  A physical injury done to another shall give a right of action to the injured party, whatever may be the intention of the person...
• § 51-1-14 - Violent Injury or Attempt to Commit Injury
  Any violent injury or illegal attempt to commit a physical injury upon a person is a tort for which damages may be recovered.
• § 51-1-15 - Right of Action for Abduction or Harboring of Wife
  A husband shall have a right of action against another for abducting or harboring his wife. Furnishing shelter and food to a wife driven...
• § 51-1-16 - Right of Action for Seduction of Daughter; Exemplary Damages
  The seduction of a daughter, unmarried and living with her parent, whether followed by pregnancy or not, shall give a right of action to...
• § 51-1-17 - Rights of Action for Adultery, Alienation of Affections, and Criminal Conversation Abolished
  Adultery, alienation of affections, or criminal conversation with a wife or husband shall not give a right of action to the person's spouse. Rights...
• § 51-1-18 - Furnishing Alcoholic Beverages to Minor Children; Gambling With Minor Children
  (a) The custodial parent or parents shall have a right of action against any person who shall sell or furnish alcoholic beverages to that...
• § 51-1-19 - Negligence by Person Given Trust or Confidence for Consideration
  When trust or confidence is reposed in a person in consideration of the payment or promise of a reward to him, negligence in the...
• § 51-1-20 - Liability of Persons Serving Charitable Organizations and Public Entities While Acting in Good Faith
  (a) A person serving with or without compensation as a member, director, or trustee, or as an officer of the board without compensation, of...
• § 51-1-20.1 - Liability of Volunteers, Employees, or Officers of Nonprofit Association Conducting or Sponsoring Sports or Safety Program; Liability of Association
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Compensation" does not mean or include any gift, any reimbursement for any reasonable expense...
• § 51-1-20.2 - Liability of Child Passenger Safety Technicians
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Child passenger safety technician" means a person who holds a current certification as a...
• § 51-1-21 - Liability of Owner of Watercraft for Torts Generally
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Owner" means a person other than a secured party who has title to personal...
• § 51-1-22 - Owner's Liability for Negligent Operation of Vessel; Express or Implied Consent Prerequisite
  The owner of a vessel shall be liable for any injury or damage occasioned by the negligent operation of the vessel, whether the negligence...
• § 51-1-23 - Sale of Unwholesome Provisions
  Any person who knowingly or negligently sells unwholesome provisions of any kind to another person, the defect being unknown to the purchaser, by the...
• § 51-1-24 - Sale of Adulterated Drugs or Alcoholic Beverages
  Any person who knowingly or negligently, by himself or his agent, sells adulterated drugs or alcoholic beverages to another person, by the use of...
• § 51-1-25 - Furnishing of Wrong Article or Medicine by Vender of Drugs and Medicines
  If a vender of drugs and medicines, by himself or his agent, either knowingly or negligently furnishes the wrong article or medicine and damage...
• § 51-1-26 - Survivability of Actions Under Code Sections 51-1-23 Through 51-1-25
  If death ensues as a result of any injury or damage in any case arising under Code Section 51-1-23, 51-1-24, or 51-1-25, the right...
• § 51-1-27 - Recovery for Medical Malpractice Authorized
  A person professing to practice surgery or the administering of medicine for compensation must bring to the exercise of his profession a reasonable degree...
• § 51-1-28 - Transfusions, Transplants, and Transfers of Human Blood, Tissue, Organs; Negligence Prerequisite to Recovery for Damages
  (a) The injection, transfusion, or other transfer of human whole blood, blood plasma, blood products, or blood derivatives and the transplanting or other transfer...
• § 51-1-29 - Liability of Persons Rendering Emergency Care
  (a) Any person, including any person licensed to practice medicine and surgery pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 and any...
• § 51-1-29.1 - Liability of Voluntary Health Care Provider and Sponsoring Organization
  (a) Without waiving or affecting and cumulative of any existing immunity from any source, unless it is established that injuries or death were caused...
• § 51-1-29.2 - Liability of Persons or Entities Acting to Prevent, Minimize, and Repair Injury and Damage Resulting From Catastrophic Acts of Nature
  Any natural person and any association, fraternal organization, private for profit entity, not for profit entity, religious organization, or charitable organization and the officers,...
• § 51-1-29.3 - Immunity for Operators of External Defibrillators
  (a) The persons described in this Code section shall be immune from civil liability for any act or omission to act related to the...
• § 51-1-29.4 - Liability of Voluntary Health Care Providers and Sponsoring Organizations; Cumulative Immunity; Application
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Free health clinic" means a nonprofit, charitable, or eleemosynary institution or organization which voluntarily...
• § 51-1-29.5 - Definitions; Limitation on Health Care Liability Claim to Gross Negligence in Emergency Medical Care; Factors for Jury Consideration
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Affiliate" means a person who, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls,...
• § 51-1-29.6 - Liability of Health Care Institutions and Providers Regarding Thc Oil
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Caregiver" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 31-2A-18. (2)...
• § 51-1-30 - Liability of Officers and Agents for Acts Performed While Fighting Fires or Performing Duties At the Scene of Emergencies
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term "fire department" includes volunteer fire departments established pursuant to local act, ordinance, or resolution or...
• § 51-1-30.1 - Exemption From Tort Liability of Drivers and Operators of Fire Apparatus in Certain Municipalities
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term "fire apparatus" means salvage and first-aid cars, chiefs' cars, hose wagons, pumpers, aerial trucks, water...
• § 51-1-30.2 - Immunity of Teachers and School Personnel From Liability for Communicating Information Concerning Drug Abuse
  Teachers and other school personnel shall be immune from any civil liability for communicating information in good faith concerning drug abuse by any child...
• § 51-1-30.3 - Immunity From Liability for Persons Providing Certain Services Upon Public or Private School Property and for Public or Private Schools Requesting Such Services
  (a) Unless it is established that injuries or death were caused by gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct: (1) No natural person who...
• § 51-1-30.4 - Immunity From Liability for Officers Providing Security At Nuclear Facilities
  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an authorized security officer as provided for in Code Section 16-11-124 acting within the scope of his or...
• § 51-1-31 - Liability From Donation of Canned or Perishable Food to Charitable or Nonprofit Organizations for Use or Distribution
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Canned food" means any food which has been commercially processed and prepared for human...
• § 51-1-32 - Separate Causes of Action for Personal Injury and Property Damage Caused by Motor Vehicle
  In cases arising from the wrongful or negligent operation of a motor vehicle in which the single wrongful or negligent act causes or results...
• § 51-1-33 - Settlement of Single Action Under Code Section 51-1-32 -- Evidence in Separate Action
  If the two causes of action specified in Code Section 51-1-32 are tried separately, the fact that a settlement has been made or that...
• § 51-1-34 - Settlement of Single Action Under Code Section 51-1-32 -- Effect in Separate Action
  The settlement of a claim or cause of action arising from a motor vehicle collision for property damage shall not bar or otherwise affect...
• § 51-1-35 - When Negotiating or Obtaining Statement From Injured Adverse Party Prohibited; Effect of Prohibited Settlement in Court Action
  (a) No person whose interest is or may become adverse to an injured person who is confined to a hospital or health care center...
• § 51-1-36 - Duty of Care of Operator of Motor Vehicle to Passengers
  The operator of a motor vehicle owes to passengers therein the same duty of ordinary care owed to others.
• § 51-1-37 - Negligent or Improper Administration of Polygraph Examination; Measure of Damages
  (a) Any person who is given a polygraph examination and who suffers damages as a result of such polygraph examination having been administered in...
• § 51-1-38 - Tort Immunity for Medical Students; Exceptions
  (a) No student who participates in the provision of medical care or medical treatment under the supervision of a medical facility, academic institution, or...
• § 51-1-39 - Liability for Injuries of Person Committing Crime on Political Subdivision Property
  A person who engages in a criminal act on property owned or leased by a political subdivision of this state and who suffers an...
• § 51-1-40 - Liability for Acts of Intoxicated Persons
  (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that the consumption of alcoholic beverages, rather than the sale or furnishing or serving of such beverages,...
• § 51-1-41 - Liability of Sports Officials At Amateur Athletic Contests
  (a) Sports officials who officiate amateur athletic contests at any level of competition in this state shall not be liable to any person or...
• § 51-1-42 - Limitation of Liability for Transportation of Senior Citizens by Volunteer
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Charitable organization" means any charitable unit of a religious or civic group, including those...
• § 51-1-43 - "Roller Skating Safety Act of 1993."
  (a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the "Roller Skating Safety Act of 1993."(b) As used in this Code...
• § 51-1-44 - Limitation of Liability for Dental Students
  (a) No dental student who participates in the provision of dental care or dental treatment under the supervision of a medical facility, academic institution,...
• § 51-1-45 - Immunity of Persons Serving Without Compensation As Athletic Team Physicians
  Any person licensed to practice medicine and surgery pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 and including any person licensed to...
• § 51-1-46 - "Drug Dealer Liability Act"; Purpose; Definitions; Actions Against Persons Participating in Illegal Marketing of Controlled Substances
  (a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the "Drug Dealer Liability Act."(b) The General Assembly finds and declares that...
• § 51-1-47 - Immunity for Disconnection of Motor Vehicle Air Bags
  The manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and sellers of a motor vehicle and those who, on authorization and direction of the owner or lessee, lawfully install...
• § 51-1-48 - Diligence Required in Reviewing Claims; Nonwaivable Liability is Not Created; Definitions
  (a) Any claim administrator, health care advisor, private review agent, or other person or entity which administers benefits or reviews or adjusts claims under...
• § 51-1-49 - Requirements for Maintaining Cause of Action Against Managed Care Entity; Notice; Independent Review
  (a) No person may maintain a cause of action pursuant to Code Section 51-1-48 unless the affected enrollee or the enrollee's representative: (1) Has...
• § 51-1-50 - Immunity of Broadcasters From Liability for Levi's Call: Georgia's Amber Alert Program
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Broadcast" means the transmission of video or audio programming by an electronic or other...
• § 51-1-51 - Limitations on Liability of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Providers
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Liquefied petroleum gas equipment" means a liquefied petroleum gas appliance or liquefied petroleum gas...
• § 51-1-52 - Federal Law Payor Guidelines and Criteria Not a Legal Basis for Negligence or Standard of Care for Medical Malpractice or Product Liability
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Criteria" means criteria relating to administrative procedures and shall not include criteria relating to...
• § 51-1-53 - Recreational Joint-Use Agreements
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Facilities" means a school's buildings, fixtures, and equipment, including, but not limited to, classrooms,...
• § 51-1-54 - Program and Treatment Completion Certificate
  (a) As used in this Code section, the term "Program and Treatment Completion Certificate" means the certificate issued pursuant to Code Section 42-2-5.2.(b) Issuance...

Last modified: October 14, 2016