ÿWPCŠ# …# VU:a %› 0@¡w@á4! 5 0„D 0DÈ  0J 0T^ 0^² 0h 0rx 0|ê 0†f 0ì 1u| 0dñ U6U B‹B)¨DCÑ AM D3aU*”.¾ 0@ìV,ÿ‚FÍÇv~”vÓ AOå!Æ4" 0Dú" D/># Bm#˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ<Ô6X9`+"Courier 10cpiX(ù$¡¡Ó  ÓÓ  Ó DDDÓ€·‚^!ø*3|x$(4(3DX$¤¤Ý ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 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`(Courier New d% Line 7 d''''7Border 1dd€-(Cþÿ << Gÿÿ&&&&'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Arial $Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌò òMarch€21,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€+ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò LÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòThe€òòNew€York€Times€Ruleóó€is€stated€as€follows:ÌÌóóà àòò"The€constitutional€guarantees€require€...€a€federal€rule€that€prohibitsÏa€public€official€from€recovering€damages€for€a€defamatory€falsehood€relatingÏto€his€official€conduct€unless€he€proves€that€the€statement€was€made€withÏ"actual€malice"€„„€that€is,€with€knowledge€that€it€was€false€or€with€recklessÏdisregard€of€whether€it€was€false€or€not."óóÌ õÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòThis€is€by€no€means€meant€to€be€a€complete€listing€of€cases€so€holding.óóÌ <Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòWe€should€note€that€our€Supreme€Court€in€òòVerranóó,€expressly€adoptedÏSection€580A›,€Restatement€(Second)€€of€Torts€(1977)€as€the€standard€forÏjudging€the€defamation€of€a€public€official.€That€standard€is€as€follows:̀̀€€ðð€œ580A›.€Defamation€of€Public€Official€or€Public€Figure.€One€who€publishes€aÏfalse€and€defamatory€communication€concerning€a€public€official€or€publicÏfigure€in€regard€to€his€conduct,€fitness€or€role€in€that€capacity€is€subjectÏto€liability,€if,€but€only€if,€he€ÌÌœ›œà à›œ(a)›€knows€that€the€statement€is€false€and€that€it€defames€the€otherÏperson,€or€ÌÌœ›œà à›œ(b)›€acts€in€reckless€disregard€of€these€matters.óóÌ ÃÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòInterestingly,€in€òòGertzóó,€the€defendant€implied€that€the€plaintiff€had€aÏcriminal€record.€The€implication€was€false.€€Here,€the€plaintiff€complains€ofÏstatements€stating€or€implying€that€he€had€a€criminal€record.€€The€statementsÏand€implications€were€also€false.€Further,€in€òòGertzóó,€the€defendant€published€aÏpicture€of€the€plaintiff€with€a€caption€which€plaintiff€deemed€to€be€defamato…ry.€€Here€we€have€a€similar€situation.€€The€defendants€published€a€picture€ofÏthe€plaintiff€which€the€plaintiff€claims€to€be€defamatory.óóÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ ¸ ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€’ñXXdÈdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÙ€€ÙßR€),(A1-j|` Å `€€@ÿRß›Þ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌKENNETH€EUGENE€CAMPBELL,€€€€€€€€)à àHAMILTON€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9610„CV„00337Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€L.€MARIE€WILLIAMSÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌHEIDI€ROBINSON€and€œSARKES›€€€€€€€)à àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌœTARZIAN›,€INC.,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌandÌÌÌKENNETH€EUGENE€CAMPBELL,€€€€€€€€)à àHAMILTON€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9611„CV„00364Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€SAMUEL€H.€PAYNEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌTIMES€PRINTING€COMPANY,€MARK€€€€)à àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌœCURRIDEN›,€and€HEATHER€œSMITH,›€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌÌÌÌCHARLES€G.€WRIGHT,€JR.,€Chattanooga€for€Appellant.ÌÌÌROGER€W.€œDICKSON›,€and€WILLIAM€P.€œEISELSTEIN›,€Miller€&€Martin,ÏChattanooga,€for€Appellees.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓà@ àòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌà€ àMcMurray,€J.ÌÌà àThese€consolidated€cases€present€two€common€issues€for€ourÏdetermination.€In€each€case,€the€trial€court€dismissed€the€com…plaint€which€sought€damages€for€defamation.€€The€court€determinedÏthat€the€plaintiff,€a€public€school€teacher,€was€a€public€officialÏfor€the€purposes€of€the€law€of€defamation.€€The€court€furtherÍfound€that€the€complaints€did€not€state€a€cause€of€action€forÏdefamation€against€a€public€official.€€We€affirm€the€judgment€ofÏthe€trial€court.ÌÌà àThe€issues€before€us€are€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà0 àà à1.à àIs€a€public€school€teacher€a€public€official?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à2.à àDoes€the€complaint€state€a€cause€of€action€even€ifÏa€public€school€teacher€is€a€public€official?ÌÌÓÓÌà àWe€will€discuss€the€issues€in€order.€€There€is€no€authorityÏfrom€this€jurisdiction€cited€by€either€party€and€our€research€hasÏrevealed€none€where€the€precise€question€presented€here€has€beenÏaddressed,€i.e.,€is€a€teacher€a€"public€official."ÌÌà àœNationwide,›€a€wide€split€of€authority€œexists€regarding›€theÏquestion€of€whether€a€public€school€teacher€is€a€public€official€Ïwithin€the€meaning€of€òòNew€York€Times€v.€Sullivanóó,€376€U.S.€254,€84ÏœS.€Ct.›€710,€11€œL.€Ed.€2d›€686€(1964).× ƒ. ××  ×€€œSee,€e.g.,›€òòFranklin€v.€LodgeÍ1108,€Benevolent€and€Protective€Order€of€Elksóó,€97€œCal.€App.€3d›Ï915,€€159€œCal.€Rptr›.€131€(1979);€and€òòTrue€v.€œLadner›óó,€513€A.2d€257Ï(Me.€1986);€òòRichmond€Newspapers,€Inc.€v.€œLipscomb›óó,€234€Va.€277,Ï362€œS.E.2d›€32,€36€œ(1987).›€€These€cases€held€that€a€public€schoolÏteacher€was€not€a€public€official€within€the€meaning€of€the€òòNewÏYork€Timesóó€œrule.€›€On€the€other€hand,€òòœBasarich›€et€al.,€v.ÏœRodeghero›,€et€alóó.,€24€Ill.€œApp.€3rd›€œ889,›€321€œN.E.2d›€739€(1974);ÏòòœElstrom›€v.€Independent€School€District€No.€270óó,€533€œN.W.2d›€51Ï(Minn.€App.€1995)€and€òòœKelley›€v.€œBonney›,€et€alóó.,€€221€Conn.€549,€Ï606€A.2d€693€(1991)€each€held€that€a€public€school€teacher€was€aÏpublic€official€within€the€meaning€of€the€òòNew€York€Timesóó€rule.× ƒ/ ××  ×ÌÌà àWhile,€as€noted,€our€courts€have€not€addressed€the€preciseÏissue€presented€here,€we€feel€that€under€the€direction€of€the€U.ÏS.€Supreme€Court€and€other€cases€in€this€jurisdiction,€it€isÏunnecessary€to€go€outside€our€own€jurisprudence€to€find€applicableÍauthority€that€a€teacher€is€a€public€official.€€In€òòœRosenblatt›€v.ÏœBaer›óó,€383€œU.S.›€75,€15€œL.Ed.›2d€597,€86€œS.€Ct.›€669,€(1965)€we€findÏthe€following€guidance:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àWe€remarked€in€òòNew€York€Timesóó€that€we€had€no€occa…sion€"to€determine€how€far€down€into€the€lower€ranks€ofÏgovernment€employees€the€'public€official'€designationÏwould€extend€for€purposes€of€this€rule,€or€otherwise€toÏspecify€categories€of€persons€who€would€or€would€not€beÏincluded."€(Citations€omitted.)€€No€precise€lines€needÏbe€drawn€for€the€purpose€of€this€case.€€The€motivatingÏforce€for€the€decision€in€òòNew€York€Timesóó€was€twofold.€ÏWe€expressed€"a€profound€national€commitment€to€theÏprinciple€that€debate€on€public€issues€should€be€unin…hibited,€robust€and€wide„open,€and€that€[such€debate]Ïmay€well€include€vehement,€caustic,€and€sometimes€un…pleasantly€sharp€attacks€on€government€and€public€offi…cials."€(Citations€omitted.)€€There€is,€first,€a€strongÏinterest€in€debate€on€public€issues,€and,€second,€aÏstrong€interest€in€debate€about€those€persons€who€are€inÏa€position€significantly€to€influence€the€resolution€ofÏthese€issues.€€Criticism€of€government€is€at€the€veryÏcenter€of€the€constitutionally€protected€area€of€freeÏdiscussion.€€Criticism€of€those€responsible€for€govern…ment€operations€must€be€free,€lest€criticism€of€govern…ment€itself€be€penalized.€€It€is€clear,€therefore,€thatÏthe€"public€official"€designation€applies€at€the€veryÏleast€to€those€among€the€hierarchy€of€government€employ…ees€who€have,€or€appear€to€have,€substantial€responsi…bility€for€or€control€over€the€conduct€of€governmentalÏaffairs.ÌÌòòœRosenblatt›óó,€15€œL.Ed.›€597,€605.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àòòœRosenblatt›óó€further€cautions€that€whether€a€person€is€a€publicÏofficial€should€œnot€be›€answered€by€reference€to€state„law€stan…dards.€€òòœRosenblatt›óó,€15€œL.€Ed.›€597,€604.€€We€understand€this€toÏmean€that€states€cannot€be€more€restrictive€than€the€United€StatesÏCon‚stitution€requires€in€determining€who€is€œa›€public€official,Ïhowever,€states€can€be€less€restrictive.€€Therefore,€states€canÏreach€lower€into€the€governmental€hierarchy€than€that€which€isÏrequired€by€the€United€States€Constitution€and€lesser€officers€orÏemployees€can€be€designated€"public€officials."ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àSo€long€as€they€do€not€impose€liability€withoutÏfault,€the€States€may€€define€for€themselves€the€appro…priate€standard€of€liability€for€a€publisher€or€€broad…caster€of€defamatory€falsehood€which€injures€a€privateÏindividual€and€€whose€substance€makes€substantial€dangerÏto€reputation€apparent.ÌÌÌòòGertz€v.€Robert€Welch,€Incóó.,€94€œS.€Ct.›€2997,€41€œL.€Ed.2d›€789Ï(1974).ÌÌÓÓÌà àThe€leading€case€in€this€jurisdiction€is€òòPress,€Inc.€v.ÏVerranóó,€569€S.W.2d€435€(Tenn.€1978).€€In€òòVerranóó,€the€Supreme€CourtÏin€holding€that€a€junior€social€worker€was€a€public€officialÏnoted:ÌÌÓÓà8 àWhile€the€law€of€libel€has€now€been€federalized,€or€atÏleast€constitutionalized€in€substantial€part€under€theÏfederal€constitution,€we€consider€the€provisions€ofÏTennessee's€constitution€to€be€both€relevant€and€signif…icant.€Section€19,€Article€I€reads,€in€pertinent€part:Ì€Ìà8 àà0 àà àThat€the€printing€presses€shall€be€free€toÏevery€person€to€examine€the€proceedings€of€theÏLegislature;€or€of€any€branch€or€officer€of€theÏgovernment,€and€no€law€shall€ever€be€made€to€re…strain€the€right€thereof.€The€free€communication€ofÏthoughts€and€opinions,€is€one€of€the€invaluableÏrights€of€man,€and€every€citizen€may€freely€speak,Ïwrite,€and€print€on€any€subject,€being€responsibleÏfor€the€abuse€of€that€liberty.Ì€Ìà8 àà àTo€the€extent€of€this€controversy€this€is€a€sub…stantially€stronger€provision€than€that€contained€in€theÏFirst€Amendment€to€the€Federal€Constitution€("CongressÏshall€make€no€œlaw€...€abridging›€the€œfreedom€...›€of€theÏpress")€in€that€it€is€clear€and€certain,€leaving€nothingÏto€conjecture€and€requiring€no€interpretation,€construc…tion€or€clarification.Ì€Ìà8 àà àThis€mandate€of€Tennessee's€Constitution€requiresÏthat€any€infringement€upon€the€"free€communication€ofÏthoughts"€and€any€stumbling€block€to€the€complete€free…dom€of€the€press€"to€examine€[and€publish]€the€œproceed…ings€...›€of€any€branch€or€officer€of€the€government"€isÏregarded€as€constitutionally€suspect,€and€at€the€veryÏthreshold€there€is€a€presumption€against€the€validity€ofÏany€such€impediment.Ì€Ìà8 àà àBut€it€does€not€constitutionalize€false€and€mali…cious€defamations,€and€publishers€are€answerable€forÏabuse.€We€equate€"abuse€of€that€liberty,"€as€used€in€ourÏconstitution,€with€the€phrase€"actual€malice"€as€used€inÏòòNew€York€Timesóó.ÌÌ€569€S.W.2d€435,€441.ÌÌÓÓÌà àòòVerranóó€is€further€instructive:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àWhile€the€term€"public€official"€has€not€beenÏdefined€with€precision,€it€causes€us€no€particularÏconcern.€Generally€the€title€and€nature€of€the€officeÏwill€provide€the€answer.€However,€we€find€nothing€magi…cal,€mysterious€or€mystical€in€the€terminology.€TheÏoccupant€of€any€position€in€any€branch€of€government€whoÏexercises€any€public€function€is€subject€to€the€New€YorkÏTimes€rule€as€to€all€conduct€in€his€official€capacity€orÏas€to€any€conduct€that€might€adversely€affect€his€fit…ness€for€public€office,€if€he€has€or€"[appears]€to€theÏpublic€to€have,€substantial€responsibilities€for€orÏcontrol€over€the€conduct€of€governmental€affairs."ÏòòRosenblattóó,€supra.Ì€Ìà8 àà àThis€does€not€necessarily€apply€only€to€high€publicÏposition.€Any€position€of€employment€that€carries€withÏit€duties€and€responsibilities€affecting€the€lives,Ïliberty,€money€or€property€of€a€citizen€or€that€mayÏenhance€or€disrupt€his€enjoyment€of€life,€his€peace€andÏtranquility,€or€that€of€his€family,€is€a€public€officeÏwithin€the€meaning€of€the€constitutional€privilege.ÌÌ569€S.W.2d€435,€441.ÌÌÓÓÌà àThere€is€other€authority€in€Tennessee€which€we€find€persua…sive.€€òòSeeóó€òòœFerguson›€v.€Union€City€Daily€Messenger,€Incóó.,€845ÏS.W.2d€162€(Tenn.€1992),€œin€which›€the€court€held€a€county€purchas…ing€agent€to€be€a€public€official;€òòMoore€v.€Baileyóó,€628€S.W.2d€431Ï(Tenn.€App.€1981)€œin€which›€a€county€environmentalist€for€the€StateÏdepartment€of€Health€was€found€to€be€a€public€official;€and€òòLyonsÏv.€Stateóó,€1993€WL€414840€an€unreported€opinion€from€this€courtÏfiled€at€Nashville,€October€20,€1993,€œin€which›€a€correctionsÏofficer€was€likewise€found€to€be€a€public€official.€€€In€òòJunior„œSpence›€v.€œKeenan›óó,€1990€WL€17241,€an€unreported€opinion€of€thisÏcourt,€filed€at€Nashville,€February€28,€1990,€the€court€addressedÏthe€issue€of€whether€the€principal€of€a€high€school€was€a€publicÏofficial.€€The€court€answered€in€the€affirmative€stating:œ× ƒ0 ××  ×›ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àAlthough€there€are€no€Tennessee€cases€involvingÏprincipals€or€teachers,€the€reasoning€of€the€òòVerranóó€caseÏapplies€to€Dr.€œSamella›€Junior„œSpence›€who€was,€to€theÍstudents€and€parents€she€dealt€with,€an€authority€figureÏand€a€government€representative.€Moreover,€her€actionsÏaffect€the€taxpayers€in€Tennessee.ÌÌÓÓÌà àIn€our€view,€the€above€statement€can€be€applied€equally€to€aÏpublic€school€teacher.€€Therefore,€we€concur€with€the€findings€ofÏthe€trial€courts€that€the€plaintiff€is€a€public€official.ÌÌà àThe€second€issue€requires€an€examination€of€plaintiff'sÏcomplaint€as€amended€to€determine€whether€it€contains€sufficientÏallegations€to€state€a€cause€of€action€against€a€public€official.€ÏIn€his€complaint,€the€plaintiff€generally€alleges€the€statementsÏwhich€he€attributes€to€the€various€defendants.€€Otherwise,€theÏcomplaints€in€these€two€consolidated€cases€are€identical.€€TheÏsole€allegations€in€each€complaint€attempting€to€allege€actualÏmalice€or€reckless€disregard€of€the€truth€or€falsity€of€the€state…ments€attributed€to€the€defendants€are:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àDefendants€published€the€above€mentioned€defamatoryÏstatements€with€reckless€disregard€for€the€truth€of€theÏinformation€published,€and/or€negligently,€by€failing€toÏcheck€original€arrest€and€court€records€and€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated.ÌÌÓÓÌà àPlaintiff€argues€in€his€brief,€without€supporting€œauthority,›Ïthat€the€above€allegations€state€a€cause€of€action€against€aÏpublic€official€because€the€defendants€in€failing€to€investigateÏthe€truth€or€falsity€of€the€statements€alleged€to€be€defamatory,Ïprior€to€publication,€constitutes€reckless€disregard€for€the€truthÏor€falsity€of€the€statements.€€We€respectfully€disagree.ÌÌà àIn€òòGertz€v.€Robert€Welch,€Incóó,€418€U.S.€323€at€332,€it€wasÏexpressly€held€that€the€"mere€proof€of€failure€to€investigate,Ïwithout€more,€cannot€establish€reckless€disregard€for€the€€truth.€ÏRather,€the€publisher€must€act€with€a€'high€degree€of€awareness€Ïof€...€probable€falsity.'"€(Ellipses€in€original€and€citations€areÏomitted).€€Plaintiff's€complaints€fail€to€allege€any€facts€whichÏwould€tend€to€show€that€the€publishers€of€the€statements€allegedÏto€be€false,€had€any€knowledge€of€probable€falsity.€€The€com…plaints€allege€that€"[œt]here›€were€no€reasonable€grounds€for€be…lieving€that€the€misstatements€of€fact€...€were€true."€€Hence,Ïunder€the€teachings€of€òòGertzóó,€assuming€the€allegations€of€theÍplaintiff,€without€more,€were€true,€the€plaintiff€would€not€beÏentitled€to€a€judgment€against€the€defendants.× ƒ1 ××  ×ÌÌà àWe€recognize€that€with€the€adoption€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€ofÏCivil€œProcedure,€effective€January€1,€1971,›€the€requirements€ofÏpleading€were€greatly€relaxed.€€"The€Tennessee€Rules€of€CivilÏProcedure,€while€simplifying€and€liberalizing€pleading,€do€notÏrelieve€the€plaintiff€in€a€tort€action€of€the€burden€of€averringÏfacts€sufficient€to€show€the€existence€of€a€duty€owed€by€theÏdefendant,€a€breach€of€the€duty,€and€damages€resulting€therefrom."€ÏòòSwallows€v.€Western€Electric€Coóó.,€543€S.W.2d€581€(Tenn.€1976).€€WeÏare€of€the€opinion€that€plaintiff's€complaints€fail€to€meet€theÏrequirements€of€Rule€8,€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€andÏòòSwallowsóó,€supra.ÌÌà àWe€affirm€the€actions€of€the€trial€courts€in€dismissing€bothÏcases.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€plaintiff€and€theseÏcases€are€remanded€to€the€trial€œcourt.ÌÌÌÓÓà€ à______________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Don€T.€McMurray,€JudgeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€Presiding€JudgeÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€JudgeÌÇÌÑ  ÑÑ7€¥°XXdÈXXdÈ7ÑÑ  Ñà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌKENNETH€EUGENE€CAMPBELL,€€€€€€€€)à àHAMILTON€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9610„CV„00337Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€L.€MARIE€WILLIAMSÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌHEIDI€ROBINSON€and€SARKES€€€€€€€)à àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌTARZIAN,€INC.,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌandÌÌÌKENNETH€EUGENE€CAMPBELL,€€€€€€€€)à àHAMILTON€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9611„CV„00364Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€SAMUEL€H.€PAYNEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌTIMES€PRINTING€COMPANY,€MARK€€€€)à àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌCURRIDEN,€and€HEATHER€SMITH,€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌÌ€Ìà@ àò òòòJUDGMENTóóó óÌÌÌÓÓà àThis€appeal€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€from€theÏCircuit€Courts€of€Hamilton€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel.€ÏØØÙ  ÙUpon€consideration€thereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€thatÏthere€was€no€reversible€error€in€the€trial€courts.ÌÌà àWe€affirm€the€actions€of€the€trial€courts€in€dismissing€bothÏcases.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€plaintiff€and€theseÏcases€are€remanded€to€the€trial€court.ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€PER€CURIAM›