Parris v. Gooch, Nos. A26A0423, A26A0424, A26A0425, 2026 WL 1825358, __ S.E.2d __ (Ga. Ct. App. June 24, 2026). The court (McFadden, P.J.; Watkins and Padgett, JJ., concur) affirms the denial of summary judgment to the defendant driver, his employer, and the employer's insurer. The court held that whether drug consumption impaired driving and proximately caused a collision is generally a jury question. Georgia has adopted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations as applicable to intrastate commerce, permitting negligence per se claims under those regulations. Ms.** 1–3. The court further held that evidence of an employer's actual or constructive knowledge of its driver's drug use and driving violations, combined with failure to train or remove the driver, was sufficient to support direct negligence, punitive damages, and attorney fee claims. The employer qualified as a "motor carrier" under the applicable direct-action statute, permitting claims against its insurer. Ms.** 3–6.
