WPC'- 8ymHS=‰W|[N2Ϳ74"1!vDs6p}SrMi3]hFΓ7PL620*;5 |'BQn25D|bns+WFɵUJC]Q,qy yj(ܓꗻ/z@r"w0'j<`w\`,*W`onb;Me;rKh3^'[F@!SL %v'H2&%Jp0/i1:FTU[^;FHQjr6oUIfQu @xoEubagݍ{ s87oCrҶZ4/B.d_*x1dt9Jyd]a9}x*3Cؔ `I(Y# % 0 0 UNQ 0 0 z~ 0 0 0 0d* 0|N[ 0] 09E 0 0 0 0 0 0Z 0* 0 0 0 0! 0[" 03# 0$ 0$ 0% 0u&u&U^@>'^ ~'w'4''b'' m'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' 0'''' B(( 0( D3~) D-) 0K)) AS)*|* 0B+ 0D+ A*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*,*, D5, B -HP LaserJet 4Si,,,,,,02J+M 0_level1  X 2( ` hp x 223  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular2G+M 0_level2   /%` ` hp x /23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2D+M 0_level3   ," hp x ,23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5   C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt2A+M 0_level4  ` ) hp x )23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2>+M 0_level5   &hhp x &23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2;+M 0_level6   #p x #23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  28+M 0_level7  h  p x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  ӁLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 525+M 0_level8   pp x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  22+M 0_level9    x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2JM 0_levsl1  X 2( ` hp x 223  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2GM 0_levsl2   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2DM 0_levsl3   ," hp x ,23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2AM 0_levsl4  ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2>M 0_levsl5   &hhp x &23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2;M 0_levsl6   #p x #23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  28M 0_levsl7  h  p x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  25M 0_levsl8   pp x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  22M 0_levsl9    x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2JM 0_levnl1  X 2( ` hp x 223   5+ ` hp x 5  2GM 0_levnl2   /%` ` hp x /23   5+ ` hp x 5  2DM 0_levnl3   ," hp x ,23   5+ ` hp x 5  2AM 0_levnl4  ` ) hp x )23   5+ ` hp x 5  2>M 0_levnl5   &hhp x &23   5+ ` hp x 5  2;M 0_levnl6   #p x #23   5+ ` hp x 5  28M 0_levnl7  h  p x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  25M 0_levnl8   pp x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  22M 0_levnl9    x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  (hH  Z(Times New Roman ؝(L ~(:i+003|x- -U(|G2``$ !.8dd8         0  \ d(|3A$ !.8dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3A$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK)!dxdxP Pd !.8Ldd8     _  L8XXdd8  @ oLINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#Lo #Ԉ ,   January2000Session X XXL #LXX#MARGARETABBOTTv.ROBERTOGATEWAY,etal.XXL   `  AppealfromtheCircuitCourtforDavidsonCounty  h @@No.99C965Carol_Soloman_,Judge  X @@*AV) ` dE<` A (  @@TTNo.M199900653_COA_ԄR3CVFiledJuly28,2000 '  AV) ` dE<` A      ?+ ` hp x X?#LXXm#XXL)XXXXTheGeneralSessionsCourtofDavidsonCountyawardedajudgmentagainstthedefendantbelow,  NationwideInsuranceCompany,inacaseinvolvingacaraccident.Nationwidefiledanappealto  theDavidsonCountyCircuitcourtbutfailedtosecureatrialdatewithin45daysasrequiredby  #)LX)X#)XX)LDavidsonCountyLocalRuleofPractice20(b)(1999).Thecircuitcourtdismissedthecasedueto  Nationwidesfailure,andNationwidefiledaTennesseeRuleofCivilProcedure60.02motiontoset v asidethecircuitcourtdismissalduetoitsattorneysexcusableneglect.Whenthe#)LX)X#)XX)Lcircuitcourt f deniedRule60.02reliefNationwideappealedtothiscourt.Onappeal,wereversethedecisionof V thecircuitcourtfindingthatitshouldhavegrantedNationwidesrequestforRule60.02reliefand F setasidethedismissalofNationwidescircuitcourtappeal. 6 #XXX)X###LXXL#XXL Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourt f ReversedandRemanded  V   #LX #XX.LWilliamB.Cain,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichBENH.CANTRELL,P.J.,M.S.,and 6 PATRICIAJ.COTTRELL,J.,joined. & Sean_Antone_ԀHunt,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellants,RobertoGateway,EmmaBarton,and !  unnameddefendant/appellant,NationwideInsuranceCompany. "! LarryH._Hagar_,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellee,MargaretAbbott. $#   OPINION  f&!%   #LXX #XXL)XXXX  AfterMargaretAbbottwasinacaraccidentinDecemberof1996,shebroughtsuitinthe F(#' GeneralSessionsCourtofDavidsonCountyagainstRobertoGatewaya/k/aRobertoGatewoodand 6)$( EmmaBarton,aswellasagainstherownuninsuredmotoristcarrier,NationwideInsurance &*v%) Company.ThecasewastriedonMarch29,1999beforethegeneralsessionscourtwhichentered +f&* averdictinfavorofMs.AbbottagainstNationwideandwhichawardedherajudgmentinthe ,V'+  amountof$14,760. ,F(, ?+ ` hp x X?  Nationwide,Appellantinthisaction,filedanappealbondwiththeDavidsonCountyCircuit   CourtonApril7,1999.#)LX)X #)XX)LThedayafter#)LX)Xp#)XX)LNationwidefiledthisappealbond,#)LX)X#)XX)LԀtheDavidsonCounty  CircuitCourtClerksofficesentalettertoMs.Abbottsattorneyinforminghimthatthecasehad  beenappealedfromthegeneralsessionscourtandthatitshouldbesetfortrialwithin45days  pursuanttoDavidsonCountyLocalRuleofPractice20(b)(1999).#)LX)X$#)XX)LAppellantsattorney,SeanHunt, p statedinanaffidavitthatheneverreceivednoticethattheappealhadbeendocketedorthatithad `  notbeensetpursuanttolocalRule20. P    O#)LX)X#)XX)LnJune7,1999,thecircuitcourtenteredanorderdismissingtheappealandreinstatingthe 0  judgmentofthegeneralsessionscourt.Initsorder,thecourtexplainedthatsincethecasehadnot  p  beensetfortrialwithin45days,itmustdismissAppellantsappealinaccordancewithDavidson `  CountyLocalRuleofPractice20(b)andRule41.02oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure P  providingforinvoluntarydismissals.AppellantreceivedacopyofthisorderofdismissalonJune @  8,1999,andthenextday,June9,Appellantfiledthemotiontosetasidethecircuitcourtsdismissal 0  whichisthesubjectofthisappeal.   #)LX)X#)XX)L  Initsmotiontosetasidetheorderofdismissal,Appellantclaimedthatitscounsel,Sean  Hunt,hadmadeseveralunsuccessfulattemptstodeterminewhetherthematterwasreceivedand  docketedfromthegeneralsessionscourt.Thereafter,Mr.Huntmistakenlythoughtthismatterhad  beensetbyagreementofcounselashadanotherofhiscasesandhenotedthisinhisfiles.Inan  affidavit,Mr.Huntstatedthat"[a]pparently,thismistakeoccurredduetoconfusingthiscasewith p anothercasewhichhadbeenappealedfromGeneralSessionsCourt."Heassertedbyaffidavitthat ` he"receivednoNoticefromtheclerkindicatingthattheappealhadbeendocketednoranyNotice P fromtheclerkindicatingthatthematterhadnotbeensetpursuanttolocalRule20andwasabout @ to#)LX)XN#)XX)Lbe#)LX)XM#)XX)LԀdismissed.Thefirstindicationthatdefensecounselhadthatthematterhadbeendismissedwas 0 receiptoftheorderofDismissalonJune8,1999,theOrderbeingfiledonJune7,1999."Inits  p motiontosetasidetheorderofdismissal,AppellantsoughtRules60.02reliefforexcusableneglect ` onthepartofitscounsel. P Ѐ  Appellee,Ms.Abbott,filedaresponsetothemotiontosetasidetheorderofdismissal. 0 Appelleeattachedherattorneysaffidavitinwhichtheattorneyassertedthathehadreceivedanotice   ofappealfiledbyAppellantonApril1,1999andaletterfromthecircuitcourtclerksofficeon ! April9,1999indicatingthatthematterhadbeendocketed.Hestatedthathisonlycommunication "  withAppellantsattorneywasthroughaMay7,1999lettermakinganofferofjudgmentand #! offeringtosettlethecasethatwaspendingbeforethecircuitcourt.Otherwise,hehadnot $" communicatedwithdefensecounselsincethetimetheywereingeneralsessionscourtregardingthe % # case. p&!$ #)LX)X#)XX)L  #)LX)X!#)XX)LThetrialcourtalsodismissedAppellantsmotiontosetasidetheorderofdismissalaswell P(#& asitsmotiontoalteroramendthejudgment. #)LX)X"#)XX)LԀ Onappeal,Appellantarguesthat#)LX)X##)XX)Lthetrialcourterred @)$' infailingtosetaside,pursuanttoRule60.02,itsorderdismissingthecaseandinreinstatingthe 0*%( judgmentofthegeneralsessionscourtenteredinaccordancewithaDavidsonCountyLocalRule  +p&) ofCourt20(b). ,`'* #)LX)Xl##)XX)L  TennesseeRuleofCivilProcedure60.02permitsthecourttorelieveapartyoritslegal  representativefromafinaljudgmentorderorproceedingduetomistake,inadvertence,surpriseor  excusableneglect.#)LX)X$#)XX)L"Theburdenisuponthemovanttosetforthinamotionorpetitionand  supportingaffidavitsfactsexplainingwhythemovantwasjustifiedinfailingtoavoidthemistake,  inadvertence,surpriseorneglect."TennesseeStateBankv.Lay,609S.W.2d525,527(Tenn.Ct. p App.1980).RequestsforRule60.02relief"areaddressedtothetrialcourtsdiscretion,andthus `  appellatecourtsreviewdecisionsregarding[Rule]60.02reliefusingtheabuseofdiscretion P  standard."McCrackenv.BrentwoodUnitedMethodistChurch,958S.W.2d792,795(Tenn.Ct. @  App.1997)#)LX)X0&#)XX)L. 0      "Dismissalisadrasticremedywhenthepartyitselfisnotatfault...."Nelsonv. `  ApplicationGroup,Inc.,No.01A019703CV00137,1997WL706610,at*4(Tenn.Ct.App. P  1997).Thiscourthasstatedthat"[o]urjudicialsystemfavorsthejust,speedyandinexpensive @  determinationofeverysuitonitsmerits."Nelsonv.Simpson,826S.W.2d483,487(Tenn.Ct.App. 0  1991)(citingTenn.R.Civ.P.1andKeckv.NationwideSys.,Inc.,#)LX)X/)#)XX)L499S.W.2d266,#)LX)X+#)XX)L267-68(Tenn.   Ct.App.1973));#)LX)X,#)XX)LseealsoLay,609S.W.2dat527#)LX)X,#)XX)L.    ThisCourthasheldthat"[n]egligenceonthepartofthemovingparty[is]preciselythetype  oferroraRule60motionisdesignedtorelieve."#)LX)X,#)XX)LTatev.CountyofMonroe,578S.W.2d642,644  (Tenn.Ct.App.1978);Lay,609S.W.2dat527#)LX)X-#)XX)L.Furthermore,"mistake,inadvertence,surprise,  excusableneglectormisfortuneofthemovingparty'sattorneymaybegroundsforvacatingadefault p judgment."#)LX)X.#)XX)LLay,609S.W.2dat527(citing#)LX)X/#)XX)LKeck,499S.W.2d)(emphasisadded);seealsoCampbell ` v.Archer,555S.W.2d110(Tenn.1977)(grantinganewtrialduetoattorneymistakecitingRule P 60.02law).Inengaginginthefact-intensiveanalysisrequiredbyRule60.02,courtshaveconsidered @ severalfactorsincluding#)LX)X50#)XX)Ltheactionstakenbythemovingpartytocorrectitsoversight#)LX)X1#)XX)Landtheextent 0 ofprejudiceexperiencedbythenon-movingpartydueto#)LX)XU2#)XX)LtheRule60.02movantsmistakenor  p inadvertent#)LX)X2#)XX)Lconduct.See,e.g.,Simpson,#)LX)X{3#)XX)L826S.W.2d#)LX)X3#)XX)Lat486;#)LX)X/4#)XX)LԀLay,609S.W.2dat527-28; ` #)LX)Xy4#)XX)LApplicationGroup#)LX)X4#)XX)L,1997WL706610,at*4#)LX)XJ5#)XX)L. P #)LX)X5#)XX)L  Therecordinthecaseatbardoesnotindicatewhatfactorsthetrialcourtconsideredin 0 makingitsdecisiontodenyRule60.02relief.#)LX)X5#)XX)LԀHowever,uponreviewoftherecord,thiscourtfinds   thatthecircumstancesofthiscasesupportagrantofRule60.02relief.Itisclearthatthepartyitself, ! #)LX)X6#)XX)LNationwide,hasnofaulthereandthatallthefaultrestswithAppellantscounsel,Mr.Hunt.#)LX)X7#)XX)LԀSee "  Campbell,555S.W.2dat112-13(notingthepartyslackoffaultinitsdecisiontograntanewtrial). #! ItisalsoundisputedthatMr.Hunttookimmediateactiontocorrecthisoversight.#)LX)X8#)XX)LThedayafterhe $" learnedofthedismissalbyreceivingtheorderofdismissalfromthecircuitcourt,Mr.Huntfileda % # motiononbehalfofAppellanttosetasidethisdismissal.#)LX)X9#)XX)LFinally,thereisnoevidencethatthe p&!$ non-movingparty,Ms.Abbott,willsufferanyprejudicebyadelayedappealtothecircuitcourt. `'"%   Underverysimilarfacts,thiscourtreversedatrialcourtsdenialofRule60.02reliefinthe @)$' caseof#)LX)X:#)XX)LԀNelsonv.ApplicationGroup,Inc.,No.01A019703CV00137,1997WL706610(Tenn. 0*%( Ct.App.1997).Asinthiscase,thepartywholostinthegeneralsessionscourt,thedefendant,  +p&) appealedtothecircuitcourtbutfailedtosecureatrialdatewithin45daysasrequiredbyDavidson ,`'* CountyLocalRule20(b)whichwasatthattimeLocalRule19(b).#)LX)Xm<#)XX)LԀThecircuitcourtfirstdismissed  thedefendantsappeal,and,subsequently,itdeniedthedefendantsmotiontosetasidethat  dismissal.Onappealtothecourtofappeals,thisCourtreversedthedenialofRule60.02relief  reasoningasfollows:    X X?+ ` hp x X?ThisCourthasdeterminedthat[thedefendant]didnotcauseitslawyer'sfailureto `  complywithRule19;thatthelawyercompliedwithRule19bytimelyfilinga P  motiontoset;that,undertherule,thecasewasduetobeset;that[theplaintiff]did @  notobjecttothemotiontosetandnevercomplainedofanydelayinsettingthecase; 0  that[theplaintiff]willnotbeprejudicedbyadelayedtrial;andthat,underthe  p  circumstancesofthiscase,[thedefendant]shouldnotbepenalizedforitslawyer's `  failuretopromptlyfileanorderconfirmingthathismotiontosethadbeengranted. P   ` Dismissalisadrasticremedywhenthepartyitselfisnotatfault,andRule @  60.02(1)reliefshouldbegrantedwhenthelawyerrealizeshisoversightandtakes 0  stepstocorrectit.    X XE+ ` hp x X EId.at*4.Twomembersofthethree-judgepanelwroteconcurringopinionsclarifyingthatrelief  shouldnotbegrantedeverytimea#)LX)XO>#)XX)L"lawyerrealizeshis[orher]oversightandtakesstepstocorrect  it,"butthatthiswasonlyoneofmanyfactorstoconsider.#)LX)X,E#)XX)LԀSeeId.at*4-*5(Koch,J.andBussart,  J.,concurring).ItwasalsopointedoutthatthedefendantslawyerdidnotcomplywithlocalRule  19(b)asstatedinthemajorityopinionsincethatrulerequirestheactualsettingofthetrial.Id.at*4 p (Bussart,J.,concurring).However,theconcurringjudgesagreedthatthedefendantwasentitledto ` Rule60.02reliefunderthefactsofthiscase. P   Likewise,underthefactsofthecaseatbar,wefindthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretion 0 infailingtosetasidethedismissalofAppellantscircuitcourtappeal.Accordingly,thejudgment  p ofthetrialcourtisreversedandthiscaseisremandedtothecircuitcourtsothatAppellantmightset ` thetrialdateincompliancewithDavidsonCountyLocalRule20(b).Inourdiscretionandunder P Rule40_T.R.A.P._,costsonappealaretaxedtoAppellant,NationwideInsurance_Company._ @ #)LX)XF#)XX)L#XXX)X #   `     h   __________________________________________ "     `     h   WILLIAMB.CAIN,JUDGE