---
title: O.C.G.A. § 44-12-71. Hire of labor or services; standard of care.
collection: code
id: 44-12-71
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 44-12-71 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-71
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-71.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-71/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t44-ch8-15-(v32)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=9e9e06de_0#page=218
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-12-70.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PROPERTY / RIGHTS IN PERSONALTY / BAILMENTS / HIRING
---

# O.C.G.A. § 44-12-71. Hire of labor or services; standard of care.

The hire of labor or services is the essence of every bailment in which goods are delivered to another and compensation is paid for the care, attention, or labor bestowed upon them. It includes the contracts of forwarding and commission merchants, factors, keepers of wharves, mechanics, and all agents in such transactions. In all such cases, the bailee is not only bound to exercise skill in the labor and work bestowed but it is a part of his contract that he shall exercise ordinary care and diligence in keeping and protecting the articles entrusted to him.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, §§ 2075, 2076; Code 1868, §§ 2070, 2071; Code 1873, §§ 2096, 2097; Code 1882, §§ 2096, 2097; Civil Code 1895, §§ 2914, 2915; Civil Code 1910, §§ 3487, 3488; Code 1933, §§ 12-407, 12-408.