ÿWPC´ …# VU:a %› 0(¡b ÉwÕ å4í 0J 0TZ 0^® 0h 0rt 0|æ 0†b 0è 1ux 0dí U*Q B){ DC¤ AMç ú4v~.vÓ¬ B D3œ 0@Ï AOÆ^ 0D$ D/h B—˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 ,†r‰AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡- ù -Ó€ #DÒ 3|x 2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d7Border 1dd€-Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ðÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌOctober€4,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Geneva ÒÒ  BA Op Geneva Ò d%%%%'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€÷²XXdædÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑELLA€MAE€BROWN,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àPlaintiff/Counter„Defendant/à à)Ìà àAppellee,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àAppeal€No.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à01„A„01„9510„CV„00480ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àDavidson€CircuitÌÙ€€ÙßL€ !;+'h|‘©` ç `€€Lßà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€94D„3788ÌMARVIN€DOUGLAS€BROWN,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Counter„Plaintiff/à à)Ìà àAppellee.à àà àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌà@ àCOURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌAPPEALED€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌTHE€HONORABLE€MURIEL€ROBINSON,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌCAROL€DOWNTONÌ4205€Gallatin€RoadÌNashville,€Tennessee€37216Ìà àAttorney€for€Plaintiff/Counter„Defendant/AppelleeÌÌMARVIN€DOUGLAS€BROWN,€#78585ÌRiverbend€Maximum€Security€InstituteÌ7475€Cockrill€Bend€RoadÌNashville,€Tennessee€37209„1010Ìà àPro€Se/Defendant/Counter„Plaintiff/AppellantÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àREVERSED;€VACATED€Ìà@ àAND€REMANDEDÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌTODD,€P.J.,€M.S.ÌKOCH,€J.ÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓà@ àò òòòÔ€„ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óóóÔ€XÔÌÌà àà àThe€wife€of€a€prisoner€in€the€custody€of€the€Tennessee€DepartmentÏof€Correction€filed€for€divorce,€claiming€that€her€husband€was€guilty€ofÏinappropriate€marital€conduct.€€The€husband€answered€and€counterclaimed,€andÏmoved€the€court€to€order€the€wife€to€file€a€Bill€of€Particulars,€setting€forth€the€factsÏshe€was€relying€upon€as€grounds€for€the€pending€divorce.€€The€court€did€notÏrespond€to€the€husbandððs€motion,€nor€did€it€respond€to€the€husbandððs€Motion€forÏWrit€of€Habeas€Corpus€ad€Testificandum,€but€granted€the€wife€an€absolute€divorceÏwithout€affording€the€husband€the€opportunity€to€present€any€evidence.€€WeÏreverse,€and€vacate€the€trial€courtððs€order.ÌÌà@ àò òI.€€The€Marriage€and€Divorceó óÌÌà àà àThe€appellant,€Marvin€Douglas€Brown,€was€sentenced€to€serve€twoÏconsecutive€99€year€terms€of€imprisonment.€€He€has€been€continuously€confinedÏsince€January€15,€1974.€€In€1983,€Mr.€Brown€met€the€woman€who€wouldÏeventually€become€his€wife.€€Though€she€lived€in€East€Tennessee,€sheÏsubsequently€moved€to€Middle€Tennessee€to€be€near€the€prison€where€he€wasÏincarcerated,€and€she€made€regular€weekly€visits€to€the€prison€to€see€him.€€OnÏMay€27,€1989,€the€parties€were€married€in€the€chapel€at€the€Tennessee€StateÏPrison€in€Nashville.€€€€ÌÌà àà àDespite€the€rigors€of€the€husbandððs€confinement,€the€partiesÏmanaged€to€maintain€a€cooperative€relationship.€€Marvin€Brown€sent€his€wife€theÏmoney€he€earned€in€prison€to€help€her€pay€her€bills€and€to€enable€her€to€purchaseÏsome€items€for€her€use,€such€as€a€riding€lawn€mower€and€a€portable€storageÏshed.€€Ella€Mae€Brown€visited€her€husband€frequently,€bringing€him€special€foodÏeach€time,€supplying€him€with€shoes€when€he€needed€them,€and€contributingÏfunds€towards€his€court€costs.€€€€ÌÌà àà àEventually,€problems€arose€between€the€parties.€€The€nature€ofÏthese€problems€is€nowhere€stated€in€the€record,€though€the€appellee€refers€in€herÏbrief€to€ð ðexcessive€drug€abuseðð€on€the€part€of€the€husband€and€his€maintaining€aÏrelationship€by€correspondence€with€another€woman.€€On€October€21,€1994,€Mrs.ÍBrown€filed€a€Complaint€for€Absolute€Divorce,€citing€as€grounds€irreconcilableÏdifferences€and€inappropriate€marital€conduct.€€On€November€18,€1994,€Mr.ÏBrown€filed€an€answer€denying€that€he€had€been€guilty€of€inappropriate€maritalÏconduct.€€He€also€counter„claimed€for€divorce.€€ÌÌà àà àMr.€Brown€simultaneously€filed€a€Motion€for€a€Bill€of€Particulars,€andÏa€Motion€for€Appointment€of€Counsel.€€€The€court€did€not€issue€a€response€toÏeither€motion,€although€Mr.€Brown€filed€two€subsequent€motions€before€trial€for€aÏjudicial€ruling€on€his€Motion€for€a€Bill€of€Particulars.€€On€April€3,€1995,€Mr.€BrownÏfiled€a€well„reasoned€Petition€for€Writ€of€Habeas€Corpus€ad€Testificandum.€€TheÏtrial€court€again€failed€to€respond.€€ÌÌà àà àThe€divorce€hearing€took€place€on€August€29,€1995.€€The€husbandÏwas€not€present.€€The€court€heard€testimony€from€the€wife,€and€from€two€witnessesÏwhose€expected€participation€was€communicated€to€the€husband€only€a€fewÏhours€before€the€trial.€€A€corrections€officer€had€been€summoned€to€provide€aÏtranscript€of€a€taped€telephone€conversation€between€the€husband€and€wife.€€TheÏhusband€insisted€that€the€tape€contained€admissions€that€contradicted€the€wifeððsÏsworn€answers€to€the€husbandððs€interrogatories.€€The€officer€had€the€tape€in€hisÏpossession,€but€no€transcript€was€provided,€and€the€tape€was€not€admitted€intoÏevidence.€€€ÌÌà àà àAfter€the€hearing,€the€trial€court€issued€a€decree€granting€the€wife€anÏabsolute€divorce€on€the€ground€of€inappropriate€marital€conduct.€€The€decree€alsoÏdivested€the€husband€of€any€interest€he€might€have€had€in€the€house€that€the€wifeÏpurchased€during€the€course€of€the€marriage,€granted€to€the€wife€full€ownership€ofÏall€personal€property€currently€in€her€possession,€and€established€a€permanentÏrestraining€order€against€the€husband,€prohibiting€him€from€threatening,€comingÏaround,€or€harrassing€the€wife€in€any€way.€€This€appeal€followed.€€€ÌÌà@ àò òII.€The€Bill€of€Particularsó óÌÌà àà àA€prisoner€does€not€forfeit€his€constitutional€right€of€access€to€theÏcivil€courts€by€virtue€of€his€conviction€and€incarceration.€òò€Whisnant€v.€Byrdóó,€525ÏS.W.2d€152,€153€(Tenn.€1975).€€The€due€process€to€which€he€is€entitled€howeverÏis€somewhat€diminished€in€comparison€to€the€rights€he€could€exercise€if€he€wereÏnot€incarcerated.€For€example,€a€prisoner€who€files€a€civil€complaint€unrelated€toÏthe€legality€of€his€conviction€will€not€normally€be€allowed€to€make€a€personalÏappearance€in€court€to€present€his€case,€absent€unusual€circumstances,€525ÏS.W.2d€at€154,€but€he€may€testify€by€deposition.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„304.ÌÌà àà àDue€process€requires€notice€and€an€opportunity€to€be€heard.€òòÏMullane€v.€Central€Hanover€Bank€&€Trust€Coóó.,€339€U.S.€306,€70€S.Ct.€652,€94ÏL.Ed€865€(1950).€Though€incarceration€necessarily€limits€a€prisonerððs€right€to€beÍheard€by€personal€appearance,€it€does€not€preclude€him€from€receiving€the€sameÏnotice€of€actions€against€him€that€is€afforded€to€citizens€who€are€not€underÏsentence.€€We€note€that€the€Eastern€Section€of€this€court€recently€vacated€aÏdivorce€decree€granted€to€the€wife€of€a€prisoner,€because€the€defendant€did€notÏreceive€notice€of€the€date€of€the€hearing€until€four€days€before€it€was€to€take€place.€ÏThe€Court€found€that€the€limited€period€of€time€available€to€prepare€his€defenseÏwas€insufficient€to€accord€him€constitutional€due€process.€€òòTolbert€v.€Tolbertóó,ÏAppeal€No.€03A01„9406„CV„00230€(Filed€in€Knoxville€December€15,€1994).€€€ÌÌà àà àOur€legislature€has€provided€the€means€whereby€a€defendant€to€aÏdivorce€action€may€be€notified€of€the€basis€of€the€allegations€against€him.€€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€36„4„106€reads:ÌÒ 0 ÒÒ  ÒÓÓò òContents€of€petition€for€divorce.€„„€ó ó(a)€The€bill€orÏpetition€shall€set€forth€the€grounds€for€the€divorce€inÏsubstantially€the€language€of€ðð€36„4„101€or€ðð€36„4„102,Ïand€pray€only€for€divorce€from€the€defendant,€or€for€aÏdivorce€and€such€other€and€further€relief€to€which€theÏcomplainant€may€think€himself€or€herself€entitled.€€In€casesÏwherein€an€answer€is€filed,€the€court€shall,€on€motion€ofÏthe€defendant,€require€the€complainant€to€file€a€bill€ofÏparticulars,€setting€forth€the€facts€relied€upon€as€groundsÏfor€the€divorce,€with€reasonable€certainty€as€to€time€andÏplace.ÌÌÌÌÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓà àà àThe€intent€of€the€legislature€in€requiring€the€wording€of€the€petition€toÏsubstantially€follow€the€language€of€the€two€statutes€that€set€out€the€grounds€uponÍwhich€divorce€may€be€granted€is€to€prevent€the€petitioner€from€inserting€scurrilousÏmatters€into€so€public€a€document.€€See€òòFarrar€v.€Farraróó,€553€S.W.2d€741€(Tenn.Ï1977).€€At€this€early€stage€in€the€proceedings,€due€process€does€not€requireÏdetailed€notice€of€the€acts€that€the€complainant€is€alleging€the€defendant€has€beenÏguilty€of.€ÌÌà àà àHowever€after€the€defendant€has€answered€the€petition,€and€deniedÏthe€validity€of€the€grounds€recited€in€it,€he€is€entitled€to€a€Bill€of€Particulars,€so€heÏcan€know€what€he€is€accused€of,€and€defend€himself€against€the€petitionerððsÏcharges€if€he€wishes.ÌÌà àà àAs€the€appellee€points€out,€if€Mr.€Brown€cannot€make€a€personalÏappearance,€he€can€still€exercise€the€right€to€be€heard€by€submitting€a€deposition.€ÏSee€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„304(a).€But€without€a€Bill€of€Particulars,€he€hasÏbeen€deprived€of€the€opportunity€to€present€facts€that€would€negate€theÏallegations€that€are€implied€by€the€complaint€against€him.€€It€therefore€constitutesÏreversible€error€for€the€trial€court€to€have€failed€to€grant€Mr.€Brownððs€Motion€for€aÏBill€of€Particulars.€ÌÌà@ àò òIII.€Habeas€Corpus€ad€Testificandumó óÌÌà àà àThe€Writ€of€Habeas€Corpus€ad€Testificandum€is€a€common€law€writÏwhich€is€used€to€enable€a€prisoner€detained€in€a€jail€or€prison€to€be€broughtÏbefore€the€court€to€give€evidence.€€Blacks€Law€Dictionary,€4th€Ed.€(1957).€OurÏLegislature€appears€to€have€shut€the€door€on€the€use€of€this€writ€in€civilÏproceedings,€by€virtue€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„304(a):ÌÒ 0 ÒÒ  ÒÓÓò òDepositionsó ó.„„€(a)€In€no€civil€case€can€a€convict€beÏremoved€from€the€penitentiary€to€give€personal€attendanceÏat€court,€but€his€testimony€may€be€taken€by€deposition€asÏin€other€cases,€the€party€seeking€his€testimony€beingÏrequired€to€make€affidavit€that€the€convict€is€a€materialÏwitness€in€the€cause.ÌÌÌÌÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓà àà àNeither€party€has€raised€the€question€on€appeal€as€to€whether€theÏstatute€operates€to€bar€the€trial€court€from€considering€the€appellantððs€Writ€forÏHabeas€Corpus€as€Testificandum.€€We€note,€however,€that€despite€the€absoluteÏlanguage€of€the€statute,€relevant€case€law€supports€the€proposition€that€theÏconstitutional€rights€to€due€process€and€reasonable€access€to€the€courts€mayÏsometimes€require€that€a€party€litigant€be€personally€present€in€court,€even€if€thatÏlitigant€is€incarcerated.ÌÌà àà àIn€òòWhisnant€v.€Byrdóó,€525€S.W.2d€152,€154€(Tenn.€1975),€forÏexample,€our€Supreme€Court€cited€Article€1,€Secs.€12€and€17€of€the€TennesseeÏConstitution,€which€provide€respectively€that€ð ðno€conviction€shall€work€corruptionÏof€blood€or€forfeiture€of€estate,ðð€and€that€ð ðevery€man,€for€an€injury€done€him€in€hisÍlands,€goods,€person€or€reputation,€shall€have€remedy€by€due€course€of€law.ðð€€TheÏinteraction€between€these€provisions€led€the€court€to€hold€that€ð ða€prisoner€has€aÏconstitutional€right€to€institute€and€prosecute€a€civil€action€seeking€redress€forÏinjury€or€damage€to€his€person€or€property,€or€for€vindication€of€any€other€legalÏright€.€.€.,ðð€and€consequently€ð ð.€.€.€in€a€proper€case,€and€upon€a€proper€showing€ofÏparticularized€need,€the€trial€judge,€in€his€discretion,€may€issue€an€appropriateÏdirective€requiring€the€attendance€of€the€prisoner.ðð€ÌÌà àà àIn€òòTolbertóó,€supra,€the€court€noted€the€paucity€of€Tennessee€casesÏdealing€with€the€rights€of€incarcerated€defendants€in€civil€suits€to€be€personallyÏpresent€at€their€trials,€and€sought€guidance€from€other€jurisdictions€that€haveÏconsidered€the€question.€€The€court€found€a€helpful€discussion€of€the€reportedÏcases€to€be€contained€in€82€A.L.R.€4th€1063€(1990).ÌÌà àà àThe€court€cited€with€approval€the€lead€case€in€that€discussion,€an€enÏbanc€decision€of€the€Arizona€Supreme€Court,€òòStrube€v.€Strubeóó,€764€P.2d€731Ï(Ariz.€1988).€€The€òòStrubeóó€court€held€that:ÌÒ 0 ÒÒ  ÒÓÓð ðPrisoners€have€a€right€of€access€to€the€courts€forÏlegitimate€purposes.€At€least€with€respect€to€a€significantÏcivil€proceeding€initiated€against€a€prisoner€by€others,€weÏhold€that€there€is€a€presumption€that€the€prisoner€isÏentitled€to€be€personally€present€at€critical€proceedings,Ïsuch€as€the€trial€itself,€when€he€has€made€a€timely€requestÏto€be€present.€€Of€course€this€is€a€rebuttable€presumptionÍand€the€ultimate€decision€is€within€the€sound€discretion€ofÏthe€trial€court.ððÌÌÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓ764€P.2d€at€735.ÌÌà àà àThe€òòStrubeóó€Court€also€said€that€ð ð[t]he€courtððs€discretion€should€beÏexercised€after€balancing€the€interest€of€the€prisoner€against€the€interests€of€theÏother€parties€and€the€state,€including€the€authorities€having€custody€of€theÏprisoner.ðð€€764€P.2d€at€734.ÌÌà àà àWhile€the€òòTolbertóó€Court€did€not€go€so€far€as€to€hold€that€TennesseeÏhad€adopted€the€rebuttable€presumption€discussed€above,€it€did€place€theÏquestion€of€whether€to€permit€a€prisoner/defendant€in€a€civil€case€to€be€physicallyÏpresent€at€court€within€the€trial€courtððs€sound€discretion,€and€instructed€the€courtÏthat€its€discretion€was€to€be€exercised€with€the€best€interest€of€both€the€prisonerÏand€the€government€in€mind.ÌÌà àà àThe€following€language,€quoted€in€both€the€òòStrubeóó€and€òòTolbertóóÏopinions,€is€worth€repeating€for€the€guidance€of€trial€courts€that€must€exercise€theirÏdiscretion€when€faced€with€this€question:ÌÒ 0 ÒÒ  ÒÓÓð ðIf€it€is€apparent€that€the€request€of€the€prisoner€to€argueÏpersonally€reflects€something€more€than€a€mere€desire€toÏbe€freed€temporarily€from€the€confines€of€prison,€that€he€isÏcapable€of€conducting€an€intelligent€and€responsibleÏargument,€and€that€his€presence€in€the€courtroom€may€beÍsecured€without€undue€convenience€or€danger,€the€courtÏwould€be€justified€in€issuing€the€writ.ððÌÌÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒòòPrice€v.€Johnstonóó,€334€U.S.€266€at€284„85,€68€S.Ct.€1049€at€1059„60,€92€L.Ed.Ï1356€ÌÌat€1369€(1948).€€AndÌÌÒ 0 ÒÒ  Òð ð[the€judge]€should€take€into€account€the€costs€andÏinconvenience€of€transporting€a€prisoner€from€his€place€ofÏincarceration€to€the€courtroom,€any€potential€danger€orÏsecurity€risk€which€the€presence€of€a€particular€inmateÏwould€pose€to€the€court,€the€substantiality€of€the€matter€atÏissue,€the€need€for€an€early€determination€of€the€matter,Ïthe€possibility€of€delaying€trial€until€the€prisoner€isÏreleased,€the€probability€of€success€on€the€merits,€theÏintegrity€of€the€correctional€system,€and€the€interests€of€theÏinmate€in€presenting€his€testimony€in€person€rather€thanÏby€deposition.ðð€ÌÌÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒòòStone€v.€Morrisóó,€546€F.2d€730,€735„36€(7th€Cir.1976).ÌÌÌÌà àÓÓà àIn€the€òòTolbertóó€case,€supra,€the€court€affirmed€the€trial€courtððs€denial€ofÏthe€defendantððs€Motion€for€Writ€of€Habeas€Corpus€ad€Testificandum,€and€vacatedÏthe€trial€courtððs€decree€on€the€question€of€insufficient€notice€alone.€€The€courtÏfound€that€ð ðthe€Trial€Judge€did€not€abuse€his€discretion€and€properly€refused€Mr.ÏTolbertððs€request€to€be€present.ðð€€However€in€the€present€case,€the€trial€court€didÏnot€rule€on€the€defendantððs€motion,€and€thus€failed€to€exercise€its€discretion.ÌÌà àà àWe€accordingly€remand€this€case€to€the€trial€court€for€a€new€trial,€withÏinstructions€to€grant€the€defendantððs€Motion€for€a€Bill€of€Particulars,€and€to€issue€aÍruling€on€his€Motion€for€Writ€of€Habeas€Corpus€ad€Testificandum,€setting€out€in€itsÏorder€the€reasoning€behind€its€decision.ÌÌà@ àò òIV.ó óÌÌà àà àThe€decree€of€the€trial€court€is€vacated.€€Remand€this€cause€to€theÏCircuit€Court€of€Davidson€County€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€thisÏopinion.€Tax€the€costs€on€appeal€to€the€appellee.€ÌÌÓÓÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌHENRY€F.€TODD,€PRESIDING€JUDGEÌMIDDLE€SECTIONÌÌÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÇÑ  ÑÔ% € Ô