Thomaston Acquisition, LLC v. Piedmont Construction Group, Inc.

Summary

The court answered both certified questions in favor of applying Georgia's acceptance doctrine to a negligent-construction claim brought by a subsequent purchaser that owns and operates the property. The doctrine generally shields the contractors once the original owner accepts the completed work, unless a recognized exception applies, and the relevant inspection is the original owner's inspection at acceptance. The court held that a subsequent sale does not revive liability for readily observable defects or eliminate exceptions for hidden or otherwise specially dangerous defects.