(Citations omitted.) Coultas v. Dunbar, 220 Ga. App. 54, 58 ( 467 SE2d 373) (1996)." Hardin v. Phillips, 249 Ga. App. 541, 545 (1) ( 547 SE2d 565) (2001).

(Citations and punctuation omitted.) Coultas v. Dunbar, 220 Ga. App. 54, 58 ( 467 S.E.2d 373) (1996). 2. Appellants' contention in their second enumeration of error that Phillips' complaint is also barred by an exception to the state's waiver of sovereign immunity is correct.

In her sole enumeration of error, Horton contends that summary judgment was improperly granted because she was suing Whitaker in an individual capacity for injuries caused by Whitaker's violation of State law occurring while Whitaker was performing a ministerial duty as a State employee. Merely styling a suit against a public officer as one brought against such person personally does not deprive the officer of immunity to which she might otherwise be entitled under the Tort Claims Act. Coultas v. Dunbar, 220 Ga. App. 54, 58 ( 467 S.E.2d 373) (1996); Brooks v. Barry, 223 Ga. App. 648, 649 (1) ( 478 S.E.2d 616) (1996). Thus, the fact that Horton sued Whitaker as an individual would not preclude the assertion of the defense of immunity.

[Cit.]' [Cit.]" Coultas v. Dunbar, 220 Ga. App. 54, 58 ( 467 S.E.2d 373) (1996). There being no competent evidence in the record that Barry acted in any capacity other than his official capacity, the trial court correctly granted his motion to dismiss for failure to file the requisite ante litem notice.