ÿWPC ôP!€üÐH'kÏ‹×;»ˆSÓÔ1iœE§uoü¸årš‡Ï—ÖÖ£±Ÿ½¾¢&nV@€\Ñû-ûç¶©¿ÚáI1LôL*ó-{KàåßäÑöD錩‘ÈŸ©TrØ9¢2£ªb¾£{h".€l×ÀŸ(Ëh(QnÝQÑò Û†X,,뾄}q{óIŒ4Ÿu[Ž| {[LnÚuïÄ–í¢>…÷¢sQ,€û &­ ¸OZé̘0ö°¸‰Ícá%ø,$¸iœ³‹M\X¥ä%bçù;\®œôçÎõ4$¶–sd qýQÕÓ_eã]ÍúdH³8§Ý"±³}±jß$V@ÒzE8Âï)\,`;¾|)ôlø@™ó…JÏ ‘ƒ„öÒ0/9ÌâØ¢‹]!Òf7˜¢e¢1_ˆÁ„^UwDm:`]*# LU:W %‘ 0(—b ¿n­Ëw@x4¸ÌÔ׳æ 0l™ 0D U:I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Bƒ AQ  Æñ 0D· 0Dû 0D? ? D/ƒ ƒ B² D3Ï ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡- ù -«<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@ HIEJKELMENOPÓ€ZÖ~-& ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X/ÁXXXÔÔ€‡{XX/ÁÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X/ÁX‡{ÔÐ  ÐÌJanuary€22,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó3|xZ ©Ò€°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€ô–§ôXXÔÝ ƒ üÝÿÝà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝMs.€Bell€does€not€contest€the€admissibility€of€the€best€interest€plea.€€A€guilty€plea€is€ordinarilyÐ Ü Ðadmissible€in€a€civil€trial€as€a€judicial€admission.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€40„35„313(b)(1).€€A€plea€of€òònoloÐ ¤È Ðcontendereóó,€however,€is€not.€€òòSeeóó€Rule€410(2),€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€€We€do€not€express€an€opinion€onÐ l Ðwhether€the€best€interest€ð ðAlford›ðð€plea€would€be€admissible€if€a€timely€objection€were€made.€€(For€aÏdiscussion€of€the€ð ðœAlford›ðð€plea€see€Part€III€below.)((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular d!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒñPñ›ñPñÑܰÑÑ„°ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ€ÑÑ7€/ÁXXdæXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò òÔ€¼¼XXÔÓ  ÓñZññPñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@EôÝ` 8ttxP,Üð  rßñPññZññZññZññZññPñ›ñPññZññZñßt€ )>.*jxöÿ` `€€@EêÜ` 8ttxP"ð È tß›ñZñà@  êàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@¦¦(êàAT€NASHVILLEó óÔ€X/ÁX¼¼ÔˆÐ ð Ð̛̜ÌÌÌHELEN€BELL,à ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð ‚ ¦ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àPlaintiff/Appellant,à à àà 8 àà  à)Ð Nr  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àAppeal€No.Ð 4X  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è à01„A„01„9802„CV„00079Ð >  МVS›.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð $  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àWarren€CircuitÐ æ  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àNo.€8868Ð Ìð  ÐTENNESSEE€FARMERS€MUTUALà  à)à è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # àÐ ²Ö  ÐINSURANCE€COMPANY,à à àà 8 àà  à)Ð ˜¼ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àDefendant/Appellee.à 8 àà  à)Ð dˆ ÐÌÌÌà@9 9 êàAPPEALED€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€WARREN€COUNTYˆÌà@  "êàAT€œMCMINNVILLE›,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@Ò Ò êàTHE€HONORABLE€CHARLES€D.€œHASTON›,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌPETER€J.€œSTRIANSE›Ì2100€First€American€CenterÌNashville,€TN€37238ÌÌAUBREY€HARPERÌ114€N.€College€StreetÌœMcMinnville›,€TN€37110Ìà Ø àAttorneys€for€Plaintiff/AppellantÌÌSTEVEN€A.€œDIX›Ì201€West€Main€Street,€Ste.€201ÌœMurfreesboro›,€TN€37130Ìà Ø àAttorney€for€Defendant/AppelleeÌ̛̜ÌÌà@||$êàREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDˆÌÌ̛̜Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àBEN€H.€CANTRELLÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.ÌÌCONCUR:ÌKOCH,€J.ÌCAIN,€J.ÌÐ  n9’39 ÐÓÓò òÔ€„¬s„XX/ÁÔòòà@tt(êàO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÔ€X/ÁX„„¬sÔˆÐ Ü ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€owner€of€a€homeownerððs€insurance€policy€sued€the€defendantÏinsurance€company€to€recover€benefits€allegedly€due€under€the€policy.€€The€defendantÏmoved€for€summary€judgment,€which€the€trial€court€granted,€based€on€the€plaintiffððsÏalleged€failure€to€comply€with€the€notice€provisions€in€the€policy,€and€on€her€bestÏinterest€plea€of€facilitation€to€commit€arson.€€We€reverse€the€trial€court.ÌÌà@²²-êàò òI.ˆÐ 8\ Ðó óÌà Ø àà 0 àHelen€Bellððs€œMcMinnville›€home€was€insured€under€a€homeowners€policy,Ïissued€by€Tennessee€Farmers€Mutual€Insurance€Company.€€On€November€27,€1995,Ïthe€home€was€destroyed€by€fire.€€Within€forty„eight€hours,€Ms.€Bellððs€fianc€RobertÏœHennessee›€verbally€notified€insurance€agent€Jeff€œFlatt›€about€the€loss.€€Mr.€œFlatt›Ïallegedly€told€Mr.€œHennessee›€that€the€insurance€company€was€already€aware€of€theÏfire,€that€company€investigators€were€working€with€the€fire€œmarshall›€and€local€lawÏenforcement€on€an€arson€investigation,€and€that€there€was€no€time€limit€on€the€filingÏof€a€claim.€€Ms.€Bell€submitted€actual€written€notice€of€the€fire€to€the€œinsuror›€onÏDecember€28,€1995.Ì€€€Ìà Ø àà 0 àMs.€Bell€was€indicted€for€arson€on€March€8,€1996.€€The€œinsuror›Ïsubsequently€refused€to€honor€her€claim€under€the€homeownerððs€policy,€asserting€thatÏshe€had€caused€the€fire€loss€to€her€home.€€On€November€26,€1996€she€filed€aÏcomplaint€in€the€Circuit€Court€of€Warren€County,€asking€that€a€jury€of€twelve€beÏallowed€to€determine€whether€the€insurance€company€should€be€compelled€to€honorÏits€policy,€to€reimburse€her€for€her€loss,€and€to€pay€a€25%€penalty€for€its€alleged€badÏfaith.€€€ÌÌà Ø àà 0 à€As€the€civil€case€proceeded,€so€did€negotiations€in€the€criminal€case.ÏPursuant€to€those€negotiations,€Ms.€Bell€entered€a€best€interest€plea€of€guilty€to€theÐ ;$5: Ðoffense€of€facilitation€to€commit€arson€on€January€29,€1997,€and€the€criminal€courtÏgranted€her€judicial€diversion.€€She€was€given€three€years€probation,€after€which€herÏplea€would€be€expunged€from€the€record€if€she€complied€with€the€conditions€ofÏprobation.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€insurance€company€filed€a€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment€on€theÏground€that€the€plaintiffððs€plea€in€the€criminal€case€voided€her€policy.€€A€memorandumÏin€support€of€the€motion€also€recited€that€the€insured€had€waited€over€thirty€daysÏbefore€notifying€the€company€of€the€loss,€and€that€she€cleaned€up€the€evidence€in€theÏinterim,€thus€hampering€the€defendantððs€investigation.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àOn€August€19,€1997,€the€trial€court€granted€summary€judgment€to€theÏdefendant,€citing€€ð ð.€.€.€€the€failure€of€the€insured€to€comply€with€the€notice€conditionsÏprecedent€to€coverage,€and€for€the€Plaintiffððs€admission€of€her€role€in€the€facilitationÏof€arson.ðð€€Ms.€Bell€subsequently€filed€a€Motion€to€Alter€or€Amend€the€Judgment,Ïaccompanied€by€the€affidavit€of€Robert€œHennessee›,€and€the€addendum€to€her€bestÏinterest€plea€of€guilty.œ×ƒ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€€The€addendum€had€been€prepared€contemporaneously€withÐ œ'À!$ Ðthe€written€plea,€and€had€been€signed€by€the€defendant,€her€counsel,€and€theÏprosecuting€attorney.€€In€it,€Ms.€Bell€acknowledged€that€she€was€voluntarily€enteringÏa€plea€of€guilty€because€her€best€interests€required€it,€but€stated€that€she€was€unwillingÏto€admit€participation€in€the€acts€constituting€the€crime.€€The€Motion€to€Alter€or€AmendÏwas€denied.€€This€appeal€followed.€€Ì̜Р¼4à.2 Лà@ÞÞ!êàò òII.€€The€Notice€Requirementó óˆÐ Ü ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€terms€of€the€insurance€policy€included€the€following€instruction€toÏpolicyholders:ÌÓÓà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àò ò1.à ˆ àWhat€to€Do€in€Case€of€Lossó óÐ\ €0 ¤0 ¤ ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà0ˆ0 ¤0 ¤àIf€a€covered€loss€occurs,€the€insured€person€must:Ð ˆ¤ˆ¤ ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà ˆ à(a)à à àgive€us€immediate€written€notice...€€€€€Ð@ 0 ¤0 ¤ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à à...Ìà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà ˆ à(e)à0à0 ¤0 ¤àexhibit€the€damaged€property€to€ò òusó ó€or€ò òouró óÐ ü  Ðrepresentative€as€often€as€may€beÏreasonably€required;Ð à¤à¤ ÐÌÓÓÌà Ø àà 0 àAs€the€appellee€points€out,€policies€requiring€ð ðimmediateðð€or€ð ðpromptððÏnotice€have€generally€been€interpreted€to€mean€that€the€notice€must€be€given€withinÏa€reasonable€time€under€the€circumstances€of€the€case.€òò€Allstate€Insurance€Co.€v.Ð \€ ÐWilsonóó,€856€S.W.2d€706,€709€(Tenn.€App.€1992).€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòœMelton›€v.€RepublicÐ <` ÐVanguard€Insurance€Co.óó,€548€S.W.2d€313€(Tenn.€App.€1976).Ð  @ ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àœWhile€under€our€prior€cases€failure€to€give€the€notice€was€an€absoluteÏdefense€to€an€action€on€the€policy,€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€has€now€said€thatÏwe€must€consider€whether€the€delay€in€giving€notice€resulted€in€prejudice€to€theÏinsurance€company.€€òòAlcazar€v.€Hayesóó,€____€S.W.2d€____€ñEñ(Tenn.€1998)ñEñ(filedÐ |) #& ÐDecember€21,€1998)ñFñ›ñFññFñ.€€The€Court€said€that€in€all€cases€pending€on€appeal€or€tried€inÏthe€future€the€failure€to€give€adequate€notice€put€the€burden€on€insureds€to€prove€thatÏthey€acted€in€good€faith€and€that€the€insuror€was€not€prejudiced€by€the€delay.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThus,€even€if€the€thirty„one€day€delay€in€giving€written€notice€in€this€caseÏwere€to€be€considered€unreasonable,€Ms.€Bell€could€still€avoid€the€failure„to„ñFññGññFñtñFññGññFñgiveñFññHñ„¼notice€defense€by€showing€that€the€delay€did€not€prejudice€the€insurance€company.€Ìâ âÐ |8 26 Ðà Ø àà 0 àWe,€therefore,€reverse€the€summary€judgment€granted€to€the€insuranceÏâ âcompany€on€the€notice€ñHññIññHñgñHññIññJñquestion.€€ñJññKññJñ€ñJññKññLñOn€remand€the€trial€court€should€consider€theÏreasonablñLññNñeñNññLñness€of€the€notice,€the€good€faith€of€Ms.€Bell,€and€the€prejudice€to€theÏinsurance€company.ñLññMññLñ.ñLññMñ›ÌÌà Ø àà@** êàò òIII.€€The€Best€Interest€Pleaó óˆÐ <`  ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àIn€òòNorth€Carolina€v.€œAlford›óó,€400€U.S.€25€(1970)€the€Supreme€CourtÐ ü  Ðaffirmed€the€constitutionality€of€the€so„called€best€interest€plea.€€The€Court€noted€thatÏan€ordinary€plea€of€guilty€in€a€criminal€case€consists€of€both€a€waiver€of€trial€and€anÏexpress€admission€of€guilt.€€However€in€a€best€interest€plea€(now€often€called€an€òòœAlford›óóÐ œÀ Ðplea)€the€defendant€consents€to€submit€to€criminal€penalties€without€trial,€and€withoutÏadmitting€guilt.€€The€State€of€Tennessee€permits€a€trial€judge€to€accept€a€best€interestÏplea,€when€the€defendant€enters€such€a€plea€voluntarily,€with€an€understanding€of€itsÏnature€and€consequences,€and€when€the€court€is€satisfied€that€there€is€a€factual€basisÏfor€the€plea.€òò€Seeóó€òòœDortch›€v.€Stateóó,€705€S.W.2d€687€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1985).€€TheÐ ü!  Ðrelevant€portion€of€the€addendum€to€Ms.€Bellððs€plea€reads:Ìà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àÓÓAlthough€the€Defendant€does€not€contest€the€fact€that€aÏfire€was€intentionally€set€at€her€home€located€at€3705ÏœYager›€Road,€œMcMinnville›,€Tennessee€on€November€27,Ï1995€and€that€said€fire€forms€the€basis€of€the€arsonÏcharge€contained€in€Count€One€of€the€indictment,€theÏDefendant€is€unwilling€to€admit€participation€in€the€actsÏconstituting€the€crime.€€Nevertheless,€the€DefendantÏhereby€represents€to€the€Court€that€the€best€interest€pleaÏof€guilty€herein€is€entered€by€the€Defendant€voluntarily,Ïknowingly€and€understandingly€and€further€represents€toÏthe€Court€that€the€Defendantððs€interests€require€entry€ofÏsuch€a€plea.Ð 0 ¤0 ¤ ÐÌÌÌÌÓÓà Ø àà 0 àThe€defendant€relied€upon€the€following€exclusion€in€the€insurance€policyÏfor€the€proposition€that€Ms.€Bell€had€rendered€herself€ineligible€to€collect€any€benefits:ÌÓ¡*Óò òà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àWeó ó€do€not€cover€loss€resulting€directly€or€indirectly€from:Ð|8 260 ¤0 ¤ Ðà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!à.€.€.Ð 0 ¤0 ¤ Ðà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!à8.à0ˆ0 ¤0 ¤àAn€action€by€or€at€the€direction€of€an€ò òinsuredÐ \:€48 Ðpersonó ó€committed€with€the€intent€to€cause€a€loss.Ð L;p59 ÐThis€exclusion€does€not€apply€to€loss€sustained€byÏan€ò òinsured€personó ó€who€does€not€participate€inÐ Ìð Ðsuch€action€nor€have€knowledge€of€such€action.Ð ˆ¤ˆ¤ ÐÌÓÓà Ø àÌà Ø àThe€trial€court€ruled€that€Ms.€Bellððs€plea€would€bar€her€from€any€recovery€underÏthe€insurance€contract€as€a€matter€of€law.€€We€believe€that€would€be€correct€if€the€pleaÏhad€been€of€the€type€whereby€the€defendant€admits€guilt.€€However€her€best€interestÏplea€did€not€contain€an€admission€of€guilt,€and€it€does€not€appear€to€us€that€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€40„35„313(b)(1)€indicates€a€legislative€intent€to€transform€a€best€interestÏplea€into€an€admission€of€guilt€for€purposes€of€a€civil€action.Ìà Ø àÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€insurance€company€argues€that€even€if€Ms.€Bell€did€not€admitÏcausing€the€fire,€the€addendum€to€her€plea€indicates€guilty€knowledge€that€wouldÏlikewise€preclude€recovery€under€the€contract.€€We€do€not€believe€that€the€plea€or€itsÏaddendum€is€sufficiently€informative€as€to€Ms.€Bellððs€role€in€the€arson€to€support€theÏtrial€courtððs€conclusion.€€We€therefore€find€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€grantingÏsummary€judgment€to€the€defendant,€or€in€the€alternative,€that€it€erred€in€refusing€toÏgrant€the€appellantððs€Motion€to€Alter€or€Amend€the€Judgment.€ÌÌà@oo-êàò òIV.ó óˆÐ œ'À!$ ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed.€€Remand€this€cause€to€theÏCircuit€Court€of€Warren€County€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.ÏTax€the€costs€of€appeal€to€the€appellee.€ÌÌÓӜ̛à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # à¼à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.ÌÌÌÌ̜РL;p59 ЇCONCUR:›ÌÌÌÌÌ_____________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌ_____________________________ÌWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEÌÌÐ  ü  ÐÑ  ÑÔ€¼çà¼XX9SÔò òà@êê.êàœñOñIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ Ü Ðà@™™(êàAT€NASHVILLEñOñó óñOñÔ€X9SX¼¼çàԈРò ÐÌÌÌÌHELEN€BELL,à ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð È ì Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àPlaintiff/Appellant,à à àà 8 àà  à)Ð ¨ Ì Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àAppeal€No.Ð ˜¼  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è à01„A„01„9802„CV„00079Ð ˆ¬  МVS›.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð xœ  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àWarren€CircuitÐ hŒ  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àNo.€8868Ð X|  ÐTENNESSEE€FARMERS€MUTUALà  à)à è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # àÐ Hl  ÐINSURANCE€COMPANY,à à àà 8 àà  à)à è àReversed€andÐ 8\ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àRemandedÐ (L Ðà Ø àDefendant/Appellee.à 8 àà  à)Ð < ÐÌÌÔ€¼çà¼XX9SÔò òòòà@uu'êàJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€Tóóó óˆÐ è  ÐÌÌÓÓÔ€X9SX¼¼çàÔà Ø àà 0 àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€theÐ *N ÐCircuit€Court€of€Warren€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel;€upon€considerationÏwhereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€summaryÏjudgment€to€Tennessee€Farmers€Mutual€Insurance€Company.Ìà Ø àà 0 àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€of€the€Court€filed€herein,€it€is,€therefore,Ïordered€and€adjudged€by€this€Court€that€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed.€ÏThe€cause€is€remanded€to€the€Circuit€Court€of€Warren€County€for€further€proceedingsÏand€for€the€collection€of€the€costs€accrued€below.Ìà Ø àà 0 àCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€Tennessee€Farmers€MutualÏInsurance€Company,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓÌÌÌà Ø àœÌà Ø à›à 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 à______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 à______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 à______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEñOñ›