ÿWPC‰ 2{Dᎄ©rìþsol |M~Ëõ(I½‰Ò¹(™ãhÈü$ ÐõT'¼‡>æh `hšåœ°J†AI%0"ÓRÎ IÆr•j4_¿èM=·)üÍp²%ÊšD&ì>Nî )«VrÝ ˆß«~-=àNZ…R6ÙÜ4Lép[T*bC •3Å‚5*9½§º¦§›‡,Üï/Ãýt»Ö´jÙñ…½þ0{ñdiR1¿¯s3~l4c4CB0À‰Œ¾ú4±´ãQœ¾³qú›LÅ5\7­€»:Ýz1H!©b`ËÜl,¨ÄþõÌcñÌyíñäx‘µ,©«¶i"t4‚Dྡྷ<‹öëÐ\tÞ¼A™Ýb§RÃr¨¬w2bðÈØõ>æê0*üAkézß·8¶c%ö^õž:8”˜™H‰AõPœ‘ꇸåÚd³À3OÀ¦H‹Å[ ÇLÓ®q8s>$JþQŒ"Ì£€AÏnÐá뎇!ÛÈ”¯Ç#9¸ºä%êþíé$k&ÿ»µu42xº5aÓ@嘺 ‘áÌîÜ„Ù"¿|$£½$ÄBѤó=uöCÎõ1@H¤¥ÑóHSƒO› ä;7@ŽT<*ijûéœv)¨» q7b %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÁÐ 0D‘ ÆÕ Æ› Æa Æ'UNíN;À=ÊýEÇ­Évvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvb~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 0놆†† Bqq 0¤Ž D32 D-e 0K’’ ASÝÆ0 0¤ö 0Dš A«Þ»~û(L (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularö~ì(`²¡¿ 3|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4Si,ü,,,,,ü0(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular ¶Ý ƒR$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô‚,ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56-7-105(a)€(1994). ÀÝ ƒR$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô‚,ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€47-18-101€to€„121€(1995). £Ý ƒR$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô‚,ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òòòSeeó óóó€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€4(h). - ù-(|G2$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€í¼»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô‚,ò»»Ô d(|3ù,$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€í¼»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ù,$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€í¼»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€í¼»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼í¼»»»ÔÑ8€ú+XXdð»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î°/í¼ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼í¼»îî°/ #ԈРÜ, ÐÓ  ÓJune€2000€SessionÐ X ÐÔ‡Xú+X»¼í¼ÔÌò òÔ#†¼í¼»XXú+î#ÔDOROTHY€CALATRELLO€BOLES,€òòet€al.óó€v.€TENNESSEE€FARMERSÐ  ` ÐMUTUAL€INSURANCE€CO.,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡Xú+X»¼í¼Ôó óÐ ( x ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Coffee€CountyÐ 0 € Ðà@@øøìàNo.€28,803€€€€€€John€W.€Rollins,€JudgeÐ  p ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ï` AßÐ ð@  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„à0 @ à00727„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€Ô_ÔJuly€27,€2000Ô_ԀРï?  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Î` AßÐ Ï Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡X¹XXXú+ÔIn€this€action€for€breach€of€insurance€contract,€Plaintiffs€Dorothy€Calatrello€Boles€and€her€husband,Ð Î ÐMarty€Boles,€appeal€the€trial€courtððs€final€judgment€dismissing€their€complaint€againstÐ º  ÐDefendants/Appellees€Tennessee€Farmers€Mutual€Insurance€Company€and€Lee€Brooks,€individuallyÐ ¦ö Ðand€as€agent€for€Tennessee€Farmers.€€Contrary€to€the€trial€courtððs€ruling,€we€conclude€that€theÐ ’â ÐPlaintiffs€adequately€complied€with€the€service€of€process€requirements€set€forth€in€rule€4.04€of€theÐ ~Î ÐTennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€€Accordingly,€we€reverse€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€of€dismissal,Ð jº Ðand€we€remand€this€cause€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.Ð V¦ ÐÓìÓà @ àÔ#†Xú+XXX¹ø#ÔÔ#†¼í¼»XXú+¦#ÔÔ‡Xú+X»¼í¼ÔÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Reversed;€andÐ 2‚ ÐRemandedó óÐ "r ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼í¼»àXú+¢#ÔÔ‡Xú+X.¼í¼ÔDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.,óóÐ R Ðand€òòAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€joined.Ð òB ÐÌDorothy€Calatrello€Boles€and€Marty€Boles,€Manchester,€Tennessee,€appellants,€òòò òPro€Seóóó ó.Ð Ò " ÐÌSteven€A.€Dix,€Murfreesboro,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Tennessee€Farmers€Mutual€InsuranceÐ ²"! ÐCompany€and€Lee€Brooks.Ð ¢#ò" ÐÓP ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼í¼»XXú+ #ÔÔ‡Xú+X»¼í¼ÔÐ ‚%Ò $ ÐÌÔ#†¼í¼»XXú+­ #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€Xú+X»¼í¼ÔÔ‡X¹XXXú+Ôà  àThe€Plaintiffsðð€home€and€personal€property€were€destroyed€by€a€fire€in€May€1997.€€Thereafter,Ð b'²"& Ðthe€Plaintiffs€filed€this€action€against€Tennessee€Farmers,€the€company€that€issued€the€PlaintiffsððÐ N(ž#' Ðhomeowners€insurance€policy,€and€Lee€Brooks,€a€claims€investigator€employed€by€TennesseeÐ :)Š$( ÐFarmers.€€In€essence,€the€Plaintiffsðð€complaint€asserted€that€the€Defendants€had€breached€theÐ &*v%) Ðprovisions€of€the€homeowners€insurance€policy€by€failing€to€pay€the€Plaintiffsðð€fire€loss€claim.€€TheÐ +b&* Ðâ âPlaintiffsðð€complaint€included€claims€for€breach€of€contract,€bad„faith€failure€to€promptly€pay€theÐ þ+N'+ý¾ Ðclaim,׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Consumer€Protection€Act,׃X×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€promissory€fraud,€and€intentionalÐ ° Ðâ âinfliction€of€emotional€distress.€€Ð œì ÐÌà  àThe€Plaintiffs€attempted€to€serve€the€Defendants€with€copies€of€the€summonses€andÐ tÄ Ðcomplaint€by€certified€mail€as€permitted€by€rule€4.04€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€€ò òòòSeeó óóóÐ `° ÐTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€4.04(10).€€The€Plaintiffs€addressed€Tennessee€Farmersðð€copies€to€Jack€Shofner€atÐ L œ ÐTennessee€Farmersðð€place€of€business€on€Hillsboro€Boulevard€in€Manchester,€Coffee€County,Ð 8 ˆ ÐTennessee.€€The€Plaintiffs€addressed€Lee€Brooksðð€copies€to€him€at€the€same€address.€€OnÐ $ t ÐDecember8,€1997,€a€postal€employee€delivered€the€copies€to€Tennessee€Farmersðð€Manchester€office.€Ð  ` ÐA€Tennessee€Farmers€employee€named€Barbara€Prater€signed€the€return€receipts€for€both€certifiedÐ ü L  Ðmail€deliveries€in€the€signature€blank€marked€ð ðAddressee€or€Agent.ðð€€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àThe€Defendants€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss€for€insufficiency€of€service€of€process.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.Ð À  ÐR.€Civ.€P.€12.02(5).€€In€support€of€their€motion,€the€Defendants€filed€the€affidavits€of€Vernon€Murray,Ð ¬ü  Ða€vice€president€for€Tennessee€Farmers€in€Columbia,€Tennessee,€and€Defendant€Lee€Brooks,€a€claimsÐ ˜è  Ðinvestigator€for€Tennessee€Farmers€in€Manchester.€€Murrayððs€affidavit€stated€that€Barbara€Prater€wasÐ „Ô  Ða€secretary€in€Tennessee€Farmersðð€claims€office€in€Manchester,€that€Prater€was€not€an€officer,Ð pÀ Ðmanaging€agent,€or€chief€agent€of€Tennessee€Farmers,€and€that€Prater€was€not€authorized€to€acceptÐ \¬ Ðservice€of€process€on€behalf€of€Tennessee€Farmers.€€Brooksðð€affidavit€similarly€stated€that€BarbaraÐ H˜ ÐPrater€was€a€direct€service€representative€in€Tennessee€Farmersðð€claims€office,€that€Prater€was€notÐ 4„ Ðauthorized€to€accept€service€of€process€on€Brooksðð€behalf,€and€that€at€no€time€did€Brooks€designateÐ  p Ðanyone€to€accept€service€of€process€on€his€behalf.€€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àIn€opposing€the€Defendantsðð€motion€to€dismiss,€the€Plaintiffs€submitted€various€discoveryÐ ä4 Ðmaterials,€including€depositions€and€responses€to€interrogatories€and€requests€for€admissions.€€In€herÐ Ð  ÐAugust€1999€deposition,€Barbara€Prater€testified€that€she€was€employed€by€Tennessee€Farmers€asÐ ¼  Ða€direct€service€representative€in€its€Manchester€office.€€Prater€had€signed€for€certified€mail€in€theÐ ¨ø Ðpast,€and€she€confirmed€that€she€signed€for€and€received€the€two€pieces€of€certified€mail€at€issue€inÐ ”ä Ðthis€case.€€When€asked€about€the€usual€office€procedure€for€handling€certified€mail,€Prater€testifiedÐ €Ð Ðthat€any€of€the€clerical€staff€or€the€other€direct€service€representatives€could€sign€for€certified€mail.€Ð l¼ ÐUsually,€this€responsibility€fell€on€the€employee€who€was€ð ðhandy.ðð€€Prater€worked€primarily€for€fourÐ X ¨ ÐTennessee€Farmers€claims€employees,€two€of€whom€were€Shofner€and€Brooks.€€Praterððs€dutiesÐ D!” Ðincluded€handling€mail€for€both€Shofner€and€Brooks.€€She€usually€opened€and€date€stampedÐ 0"€  ÐShofnerððs€mail.€€On€the€other€hand,€Prater€did€not€open€Brooksðð€mail.€€Instead,€she€usually€dateÐ #l! Ðstamped€the€envelope€and€laid€it€on€his€desk.€€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àIn€response€to€the€Plaintiffsðð€request€for€admissions,€Jack€Shofner€initially€denied€(1)that€heÐ à%0!$ Ðwas€the€chief€agent€of€Tennessee€Farmersðð€office€in€Coffee€County,€(2)that€Barbara€Prater€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðauthorized€to€sign€for€and€receive€certified€mail€addressed€to€Tennessee€Farmers€and€its€employees,Ð ¸'#& Ðand€(3)that€Prater€and€other€employees€regularly€signed€for€and€received€certified€mail€delivered€toÐ ° ÐTennessee€Farmers.€€In€a€subsequent€deposition,€however,€Shofner€contradicted€these€statements.€Ð œì ÐShofner€testified€that€he€was€the€district€claims€manager€for€Tennessee€Farmers€and€that€he€was€inÐ ˆØ Ðcharge€of€an€eight„county€district€that€included€Coffee€County.€€Shofner€further€testified€that,€as€theÐ tÄ Ðdistrict€claims€manager,€he€was€Tennessee€Farmersðð€highest€ranking€employee€in€Coffee€County.€Ð `° ÐShofner€indicated€that€Barbara€Prater€was€authorized€to€sign€for€certified€mail€addressed€to€ShofnerÐ L œ Ðand€other€Tennessee€Farmers€employees€at€the€Manchester€office,€and€he€agreed€that€ð ðpretty€muchÐ 8 ˆ Ðanyone€there€is€authorized€to€sign€for€certified€mail€when€they€receive€it.ðð€€Shofner€found€theÐ $ t Ðsummons€and€complaint€on€his€desk€on€December9€or€10,€1997,€when€he€returned€from€a€FarmÐ  ` ÐBureau€convention€meeting.€€Shofner€then€forwarded€the€summons€and€complaint€to€TennesseeÐ ü L  ÐFarmersðð€legal€counsel.€€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àIn€his€response€to€the€Plaintiffsðð€request€for€admissions,€Lee€Brooks€denied€that€BarbaraÐ À  ÐPrater€was€authorized€to€sign€for€and€receive€certified€mail€addressed€to€him€at€Tennessee€FarmersððÐ ¬ü  ÐManchester€office.€€Brooks€admitted,€however,€that€Prater€signed€for€and€received€the€certified€mailÐ ˜è  Ðcontaining€a€copy€of€the€summons€and€complaint€in€this€case.€€Brooks€also€admitted€that€he€actuallyÐ „Ô  Ðreceived€the€contents€of€the€certified€mail€envelope,€and€he€forwarded€the€copies€to€his€legal€counsel.€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àAfter€reviewing€ð ðthe€entire€record,ðð€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€granting€the€DefendantsððÐ H˜ Ðmotion€and€dismissing€the€Plaintiffsðð€complaint.€€In€support€of€its€dismissal,€the€trial€court€ruled€that,Ð 4„ Ðð ð[b]ased€upon€the€undisputed€affidavits€of€Henry€Lee€Brooks€and€Vernon€Murray,€the...Ð  p ÐDefendants€were€never€properly€served.ðð€€On€appeal,€the€Plaintiffs€contend€that€the€trial€court€erredÐ  \ Ðin€granting€the€Defendantsðð€motion€to€dismiss€because,€despite€the€affidavits€of€Brooks€and€MurrayÐ øH Ðindicating€that€Barbara€Prater€was€not€authorized€to€receive€service€of€process€on€the€DefendantsððÐ ä4 Ðbehalf,€the€record€contains€evidence€that€Prater€was€authorized€to€sign€for€and€receive€certified€mailÐ Ð  Ðaddressed€to€Tennessee€Farmers€and€its€employees€in€the€Manchester€office.€€The€Plaintiffs€alsoÐ ¼  Ðcontend€that€they€properly€served€Tennessee€Farmers€because,€contrary€to€his€responses€to€theÐ ¨ø ÐPlaintiffsðð€request€for€admissions,€Shofnerððs€deposition€testimony€revealed€that€he€was€TennesseeÐ ”ä ÐFarmersðð€chief€agent€in€Coffee€County.€€Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àWe€agree€with€both€of€the€Plaintiffsðð€contentions€on€appeal.€€Rule€4.04(10),€authorizingÐ X ¨ Ðservice€of€process€by€certified€return€receipt€mail,€contains€the€following€provisions:Ð D!” ÐÌà8  àà ` àService€by€mail€of€a€summons€and€complaint€upon€a€defendant€may€be€madeÐ #l! Ðby€the€plaintiff,€the€plaintiffððs€attorney€or€by€any€person€authorized€by€statute.€€AfterÐ $X" Ðthe€complaint€is€filed,€the€clerk€shall,€upon€request,€furnish€the€original€summons,€aÐ ô$D # Ðcertified€copy€thereof€and€a€copy€of€the€filed€complaint€to€the€plaintiff,€the€plaintiffððsÐ à%0!$ Ðattorney€or€other€authorized€person€for€service€by€mail.€€Such€person€shall€send,Ð Ì&"% Ðpostage€prepaid,€a€certified€copy€of€the€summons€and€a€copy€of€the€complaint€byÐ ¸'#& Ðregistered€return€receipt€or€certified€return€receipt€mail€to€the€defendant.€€The€originalÐ ¤(ô#' Ðsummons€shall€be€used€for€return€of€service€of€process€pursuant€to€Rule€4.03(2).€Ð )à$( ÐService€by€mail€shall€not€be€the€basis€for€the€entry€of€a€judgment€by€default€unless€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðrecord€contains€a€return€receipt€showing€personal€acceptance€by€the€defendant€or€byÐ h+¸&* Ðpersons€designated€by€Rule€4.04€or€statute.€€If€service€by€mail€is€unsuccessful,€it€mayÐ ° Ðbe€tried€again€or€other€methods€Ô& Ä Ôauthorized€by€these€rules€or€by€statute€may€be€used.МìÐ Ð  ÐÌTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€4.04(10).Ô'Äœ›1ÔÐ tÄ ÐÌà  àIf€a€plaintiff€elects€to€serve€a€defendant€with€process€by€the€method€of€certified€return€receiptÐ L œ Ðmail,€the€plaintiff€must€comply€with€the€remaining€provisions€of€rule€4.04.€€A€plaintiff€must€complyÐ 8 ˆ Ðwith€the€following€provision€when€serving€an€individual€with€process:Ð $ t ÐÌà8  àà ` àUpon€an€individual€other€than€an€unmarried€infant€or€an€incompetent€person,Ð ü L  Ðby€delivering€a€copy€of€the€summons€and€of€the€complaint€to€the€individualÐ è 8  Ðpersonally,€or€if€he€or€she€evades€or€attempts€to€evade€service,€by€leaving€copiesÐ Ô$  Ðthereof€at€the€individualððs€dwelling€house€or€usual€place€of€abode€with€some€personÐ À  Ðof€suitable€age€and€discretion€then€residing€therein,€whose€name€shall€appear€on€theÐ ¬ü  Ðproof€of€service,€or€by€delivering€the€copies€to€an€agent€authorized€by€appointmentÐ ˜è  Ðor€by€law€to€receive€service€on€behalf€of€the€individual€served.Ð„Ô Ð Ð  ÐÌTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€4.04(1).€€If€the€plaintiff€is€serving€a€corporation,€the€following€provision€applies:Ð \¬ ÐÌà8  àà ` àUpon€a€domestic€corporation,€or€a€foreign€corporation€doing€business€in€thisÐ 4„ Ðstate,€by€delivering€a€copy€of€the€summons€and€of€the€complaint€to€an€officer€orÐ  p Ðmanaging€agent€thereof,€or€to€the€chief€agent€in€the€county€wherein€the€action€isÐ  \ Ðbrought,€or€by€delivering€the€copies€to€any€other€agent€authorized€by€appointment€Ô& ° ÔorÐ øH Ðby€law€to€receive€service€on€behalf€of€the€corporation.Ðä4Ð Ð  ÐÌTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€4.04(4).Ô'°ø€8ÔÐ ¼  ÐÌà  àIn€ò òòòGarlandv.€Seaboard€Coastline€Railroad€Co.ó óóó,€658€S.W.2d€528€(Tenn.€1983),€our€SupremeÐ ”ä ÐCourt€considered€the€comparable€requirements€of€rule€4.04(3)€regarding€service€of€process€on€anÐ €Ð Ðunincorporated€association.€€Rule€4.04(3)€contains€the€following€provision:Ð l¼ ÐÌà8  àà ` àUpon€a€partnership€or€unincorporated€association€(including€a€limited€liabilityÐ D!” Ðcompany)€which€is€named€defendant€under€a€common€name,€by€delivering€a€copy€ofÐ 0"€  Ðthe€summons€and€of€the€complaint€to€a€partner€or€managing€agent€of€the€partnershipÐ #l! Ðor€to€an€officer€or€managing€agent€of€the€association,€or€to€an€agent€authorized€byÐ $X" Ðappointment€or€by€law€to€receive€service€on€behalf€of€the€Ô& Ä Ôpartnership€or€association.Ðô$D #Ð Ð  ÐÌTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€4.04(3).Ô'Äô$}<ÔÐ Ì&"% ÐÌà  àIn€ò òòòGarlandó óóó,€the€plaintiff€served€the€defendantððs€freight€agent€at€its€Johnson€City€office€inÐ ¤(ô#' ÐWashington€County.€€ò òòòSeeóóó ó€ò òòòGarlandó óóó,€658€S.W.2d€at€529.€€The€defendant€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss€onÐ )à$( Ðthe€ground€of€insufficient€service€of€process.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€ò òòòidó óóó.€€In€support€of€its€motion€to€dismiss,€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðdefendant€filed€affidavits€stating€that€the€freight€agent€was€neither€an€officer€or€managing€agent€ofÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€defendant€nor€an€appointed€agent€for€service€of€process.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€ò òòòidó óóó.€at€529„30.€€At€the€hearing€onÐ ° Ðthe€motion€to€dismiss,€however,€the€defendantððs€counsel€acknowledged€that€the€freight€agent€wasÐ œì Ðthe€chief€agent€in€charge€of€the€defendantððs€activities€in€Washington€County.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€ò òòòidó óóó.€at€531.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àIn€holding€that€the€freight€agent€was€a€proper€agent€through€whom€the€defendant€could€beÐ `° Ðserved€with€process,€the€court€reasoned€thatÐ L œ ÐÌà8  àthese€narrow€and€technical€definitions€urged€by€defendant€are€inconsistent€with€theÐ $ t Ðapparent€purpose€of€[rule]€4.04,€to€insure€that€process€is€served€in€a€mannerÐ  ` Ðreasonably€calculated€to€give€a€party€defendant€adequate€notice€of€the€pendingÐ ü L  ÐÔ& Ä Ôjudicial€proceedings.€.€.€.Ðè 8 Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` à....Ô'Äè °BÔÐÀ Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` à....€€As€the€highest€ranking€agent€for€defendant€in€Washington€County,€[theÐ ˜è  Ðfreight€agent]€stood€in€such€a€position€as€to€render€it€fair,€reasonable€and€just€to€implyÐ „Ô  Ðthe€authority€on€his€part€to€receive€service€of€process€on€behalf€of€the€unincorporatedÐ pÀ Ðassociation€pursuant€to€[rule]€4.04(3).€€We€therefore€find€the€Ô& ô Ôservice€to€be€valid€in€theÐ \¬ Ðinstant€case.ÐH˜Ð Ð  ÐÌò òòòGarlandó óóó,€658€S.W.2d€at€530„31€(citations€omitted).€€The€court€relied€on€decisions€holding€that€theÐ  p Ðcomparable€federal€rule׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô'ô\ÞDÔÐ  \ ÐÌà8  àdoes€not€require€that€service€be€made€solely€upon€a€restricted€class€of€formally€titledÐ ä4 Ðofficials,€but€rather€permits€it€to€be€made€ð ðupon€a€representative€so€integrated€withÐ Ð  Ðthe€organization€that€he€will€know€what€to€do€with€the€papers.€€Generally,€service€isÐ ¼  Ðsufficient€when€made€upon€an€individual€who€stands€in€such€a€position€as€to€renderÐ ¨ø Ðit€fair,€reasonable€and€just€to€imply€the€authority€on€his€part€to€receive€service.ððДäÐ Ð  ÐÌò òòòIdó óóó.€at€531€(quoting€ò òòòInsurance€Co.€of€N.€Am.v.€S/S€Hellenic€Challengeró óóó,€88€F.R.D.€545,€547Ð l¼ Ð(S.D.N.Y.€1980)).Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àIn€accordance€with€our€supreme€courtððs€reasoning€in€ò òòòGarlandó óóó,€we€conclude€that€Jack€ShofnerÐ 0"€  Ðwas€a€proper€agent€through€whom€Tennessee€Farmers€could€be€served€with€process€under€ruleÐ #l! Ð4.04(4).€€Despite€Shofnerððs€initial€denial€that€he€was€the€chief€agent€of€Tennessee€Farmersðð€officeÐ $X" Ðin€Coffee€County,€Shofnerððs€subsequent€deposition€testimony€revealed€that€he€was€the€district€claimsÐ ô$D # Ðmanager€for€Tennessee€Farmers,€that€he€was€in€charge€of€an€eight„county€district€that€includedÐ à%0!$ ÐCoffee€County,€and€that€he€was€Tennessee€Farmersðð€highest€ranking€employee€in€Coffee€County.€Ð Ì&"% ÐAs€the€highest€ranking€agent€for€Tennessee€Farmers€in€Coffee€County,€Shofner€ð ðstood€in€such€aÐ ¸'#& Ðposition€as€to€render€it€fair,€reasonable€and€just€to€imply€the€authority€on€his€part€to€receive€serviceÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€process€on€behalf€ofðð€Tennessee€Farmers.€€ò òòòGarlandó óóó,€658€S.W.2d€at€531.€€Moreover,€ShofnerððsÐ )à$( Ðtestimony€revealed€that€he€was€sufficiently€integrated€with€Tennessee€Farmers€that€he€knew€whatÐ ° Ðto€do€with€the€papers.Ð œì ÐÌà  àWe€also€conclude€that,€contrary€to€the€Defendantsðð€initial€denials,€Barbara€Prater€wasÐ tÄ Ðauthorized€to€receive€service€of€process€on€the€Defendantsðð€behalf.€€Although€our€research€revealedÐ `° Ðno€Tennessee€decisions€addressing€this€precise€issue,€under€similar€circumstances,€courts€in€otherÐ L œ Ðjurisdictions€have€held€that€an€employee€who€is€authorized€to€sign€for€and€receive€a€defendantððsÐ 8 ˆ Ðcertified€mail€is€also€authorized€to€accept€service€of€process€on€behalf€of€the€defendant€as€theÐ $ t Ðdefendantððs€agent.€€ò òòòSee,€e.g.ó óóó,€ò òòòFenderv.€Deatonó óóó,€503€S.E.2d€707,€710€(N.C.€Ct.€App.€1998),€ò òòòreviewÐ  ` Ðdeniedó óóó,€527€S.E.2d€666€(N.C.€1999);€ò òòòBay€Plaza€Management€Co.v.€Estepó óóó,€525€P.2d€56,€58€(Or.Ð ü L  Ð1974)€(applying€California€law);€ò òòòHill€Country€Spring€Water€of€Texas,€Inc.v.€Krugó óóó,€773€S.W.2dÐ è 8  Ð637,€639„40€(Tex.€Ct.€App.€1989)€(applying€Ohio€law).Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àIn€Tennessee,€rule€4.04€specifically€permits€a€plaintiff€to€serve€a€defendant€with€process€byÐ ¬ü  Ðserving€the€defendantððs€authorized€agent.€€Such€a€practice€is€permitted,€regardless€of€whether€theÐ ˜è  Ðdefendant€is€an€individual€or€a€corporation,€provided€the€agent€is€authorized€by€appointment€or€byÐ „Ô  Ðlaw€to€receive€service€on€behalf€of€the€defendant.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€4.04(1),€4.04(4).Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àIn€the€present€case,€both€Barbara€Prater€and€Jack€Shofner€testified€that€Prater€was€authorizedÐ H˜ Ðto€sign€for€and€receive€certified€mail€on€behalf€of€Tennessee€Farmers€and€its€employees€at€theÐ 4„ ÐManchester€office.€€In€accordance€with€this€authorization,€and€in€accordance€with€TennesseeÐ  p ÐFarmersðð€usual€practice,€Barbara€Prater€received€the€certified€mail€deliveries€for€both€Jack€ShofnerÐ  \ Ðand€Lee€Brooks,€and€she€signed€the€return€receipts€in€the€signature€blank€marked€ð ðAddressee€orÐ øH ÐAgent.ðð€€Based€upon€this€evidence,€we€conclude€that€Prater€was€an€agent€authorized€to€accept€serviceÐ ä4 Ðof€process€on€behalf€of€the€Defendants€and,€thus,€that€the€Plaintiffs€adequately€complied€with€theÐ Ð  Ðrequirements€for€service€of€process€set€forth€in€rule€4.04.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àWe€recognize€that,€in€response€to€the€Plaintiffsðð€request€for€admissions,€Lee€Brooks€deniedÐ ”ä Ðthat€Barbara€Prater€was€authorized€to€sign€for€and€receive€certified€mail€addressed€to€him€atÐ €Ð ÐTennessee€Farmersðð€Manchester€office.€€Brooksðð€assertion,€however,€was€contradicted€by€theÐ l¼ Ðtestimony€of€Barbara€Prater€and€Jack€Shofner,€who€stated€that€Prater€was€authorized€to€sign€for€andÐ X ¨ Ðreceive€certified€mail€on€behalf€of€both€Tennessee€Farmers€and€its€employees€at€the€ManchesterÐ D!” Ðoffice.€€In€our€view,€Brooks€had€the€burden€of€showing€that€Prater€was€not€authorized€to€receiveÐ 0"€  Ðservice€of€process€on€his€behalf.€€ò òòòSee,€e.g.ó óóó,€ò òòòRosenv.€Solomonó óóó,€374€F.€Supp.€915,€921€(E.D.€Pa.Ð #l! Ð1974),€ò òòòaffððdó óóó,€523€F.2d€1051€(3d€Cir.€1975).€€In€light€of€the€conflicting€testimony€on€this€issue,€weÐ $X" Ðwill€resolve€any€disputed€facts€in€favor€of€the€Plaintiffs.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€ò òòòMontgomery,€Zukerman,€Davis,€Inc.v.Ð ô$D # ÐDiepenbrockó óóó,€698€F.€Supp.€1453,€1459€(S.D.€Ind.€1988).Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àIn€urging€this€court€to€uphold€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€of€dismissal,€the€Defendants€contendÐ ¸'#& Ðthat€a€holding€that€Barbara€Prater€was€authorized€to€receive€service€of€process€on€behalf€ofÐ ¤(ô#' ÐTennessee€Farmers€ð ðwould€make€any€domestic€corporation€in€this€State€subject€to€service€of€processÐ )à$( Ðby€someone€leaving€a€summons€and€complaint€with€a€desk€clerk€or€receptionist.ðð€€We€reject€thisÐ |*Ì%) Ðrather€sweeping€characterization€of€our€holding€today.€€Barbara€Prater€was€not€merely€a€desk€clerkÐ h+¸&* Ðor€receptionist€with€whom€a€postal€employee€left€a€summons€and€complaint.€€Rather,€Prater€wasÐ ° Ðspecifically€authorized€to€sign€for€and€receive€certified€mail€on€behalf€of€Tennessee€Farmers€and€itsÐ œì Ðemployees€at€the€Manchester€office.€€When€presented€with€the€certified€mail€deliveries€addressedÐ ˆØ Ðto€Shofner€and€Brooks,€Prater€signed€for€both€pieces€of€certified€mail€as€the€addresseeððs€agent,€andÐ tÄ Ðshe€delivered€the€mail€to€the€addressees,€who€in€turn€forwarded€the€documents€to€their€legal€counsel.€Ð `° ÐUnder€these€particular€circumstances,€we€hold€that€Prater€was€authorized€to€receive€service€ofÐ L œ Ðprocess€on€behalf€of€the€Defendants.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àThe€trial€courtððs€judgment€of€dismissal€is€reversed,€and€this€cause€is€remanded€for€furtherÐ  ` Ðproceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellees,€TennesseeÐ ü L  ÐFarmers€Mutual€Insurance€Company€and€Lee€Brooks,€and€their€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issueÐ è 8  Ðif€necessary.Ô#†Xú+XXX¹0 #ÔÐ Ô$  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð à  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGE