ÿWPCñ …# VUNa %¯ 0(µU<Ýw@ 4Y m | 0J„ 0TÎ 0^" 0h€ 0rè 0|Z 0†Ö 0\ 1uì U,a 0d U,ñ U>B)[DC„ AMÇU* B>-[v~ˆvÓ D3Ù 0@  AOLÆ› 0Da D/¥ BÔ˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman 34D56T7D8U9 î:;Ó€GyJÚ .Ha b 3|xG2 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)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d!!!!7Border 1dd€-"Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial d #Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ ÔÝ  ÝÔ€$ÔÔ€$ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€$XÔÌÌò òAugust€8,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€$ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò%%%%'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€X„d&ÓÑ#€Xd#ÑÔ€ ÔÝ  ÝÑ7€;XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌà àà à€€Ï________________________________________________ÌÌò òSUSIANA€DIXON,€bnf€&€Niece€ofÌMARTHA€J.€MOSES,€ó óÌÌà àPlaintiff„Appellant,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àShelby€Chancery€#101766„3ÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€02A01„9504„CH„00069ÌÙ€€ÙÙ€€ÙßL€#&";+'h|,Á` Å `€€LßÌò òJOHNNIE€STREET,€ó óÌÌà àDefendant,ÌÌò òROBERT€C.€IRBY,€ó óÌÌà àGuardian€ad€litem„Appellee.Ì___________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àFOR€THE€THIRTIETH€JUDICIAL€DISTRICT€AT€MEMPHISÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€D.€J.€€ALISSANDRATOS,€CHANCELLORÌÌÌÌà@ àJames€M.€Gulley,€R.€Linley€Richter,€Jr.,€Ìà@ àLaw€Offices€of€Seymour€S.€Rosenberg,€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€AppellantÌÌà@ àRonald€D.€Krelstein€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€AppelleeÌÌÌÌò òòòà@ àVACATED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÌà@ àóóOpinion€filed:€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌÓÓà àThis€case€involves€an€award€of€guardian€ad€litem€fees.€€Appellant,ÏMartha€J.€Moses,€conservator€of€the€person€of€Susiana€Dixon,€appealsÏthe€trial€courtððs€order€€made€final€pursuant€to€Rule€54.02€awarding€aÏmoney€judgment€against€her€in€the€sum€of€$3,127.00€in€favor€ofÏappellee€Robert€C.€Irby,€guardian€at€litem€for€Susiana€Dixon.ò òÌó óà àOn€August€4,€1992,€Martha€Moses,€niece€of€Susiana€Dixon,€filed€aÏPetition€for€Annulment€of€Marriage€and€Appointment€of€ConservatorÏseeking€to€annul€the€marriage€between€Ms.€Dixon€and€Johnnie€Street,Ïand€to€have€herself€named€as€Ms.€Dixonððs€conservator.€€Ms.€MosesÍalleged,€òòinter€aliaóó,€that€Ms.€Dixon€was€not€competent€to€enter€into€aÏmarriage€contract,€that€Mr.€Street€mistreated€Ms.€Dixon,€and€that€heÏcoerced€her€into€taking€out€a€second€mortgage€on€her€home€for€hisÏpersonal€benefit.€€The€court€appointed€Robert€C.€Irby,€a€practicingÏattorney,€guardian€ad€litem€for€Ms.€Dixon.€€By€order€entered€December€2,Ï1992,€the€court€appointed€Ms.€Moses€conservator€and€directed€Mr.€IrbyÏto€continue€to€act€as€Ms.€Dixonððs€guardian€ad€litem.€€Irby€was€alsoÏauthorized€to€bring€any€necessary€legal€action€to€recover€Ms.€DixonððsÏproperty.Ìà àOn€January€10,€1994,€Mr.€Irby€filed€a€Petition€for€Instructions€ofÏthe€Court€seeking€an€accounting€from€Ms.€Moses€and€direction€from€theÏcourt€as€to€how€Ms.€Dixonððs€social€security€check€should€be€applied.€€AnÏorder€was€subsequently€entered€providing€that€Mr.€Irby€would€receiveÏMs.€Dixonððs€social€security€checks,€withhold€$200.00,€and€use€theÏbalance€to€pay€Ms.€Dixonððs€expenses€at€Heritage€Manor€of€Memphis,€herÏresidence.€€Despite€the€existence€of€this€order,€Ms.€Moses€contacted€theÏSocial€Security€Administration€five€times€in€an€attempt€to€have€Ms.ÏDixonððs€check€sent€directly€to€her€[Ms.€Moses].€€Ms.€Moses€neverÏcomplained€to€her€attorney€regarding€the€quality€of€Mr.€Irbyððs€servicesÍas€guardian€ad€litem€for€Ms.€Dixonððs€estate;€however,€she€contacted€theÏBoard€of€Professional€Responsibility€(Board)€alleging€that€Mr.€Irby€had,Ïòòinter€aliaóó,€improperly€received€money€from€Ms.€Dixonððs€estate.€€TheseÏcommunications€were€also€sent€to€Chancellor€Alissandratos.€€At€theÏdirection€of€the€Chancellor,€John€Robertson,€Clerk€and€Master,Ïresponded€to€Ms.€Mosesððs€letters,€directing€her€not€to€send€additional€òòexÏparteóó€communications€and€to€communicate€with€the€Chancellor,€ifÏnecessary,€through€her€attorney.Ìà àOn€June€21,€1994,€Mr.€Irby€filed€a€Petition€for€FurtherÏInstructions.€€A€hearing€took€place€on€June€29,€1994,€at€which€time€theÏcourt€found€that€Ms.€Moses€had€deliberately€frustrated€the€intentions€ofÏthe€court€by€interfering€with€Mr.€Irbyððs€actions€as€Ms.€Dixonððs€guardian.€ÏIn€response€to€questions€concerning€the€amount€of€time€Mr.€IrbyÏexpended€because€of€Ms.€Mosesððs€interference,€the€€following€dialogueÏtook€place€between€Mr.€Irby€and€his€attorney:€€Ìà8 àà8 àQ:€Would€you€briefly€describe€what€your€life€hasÏbeen€like€based€on€the€continual€assault€on€yourÏperformance€of€your€duties€by€Mrs.€Moses?€€HowÏmany€hours€would€you€say€you€have€spentÍresponding€to€her€various€complaints€to€theÏboard?€ÌÌà8 àà8 àA:€A€conservative€count€at€this€time€„„€and€IððmÏincluding€responding€to€the€letters€to€theÏChancellor€which€were€sent€to€Mr.€JohnÏRobertson€and€Mr.€Robertson€requested€myÏresponse€to€her€second€letter,€and€I€wrote€aÏlengthy€response€„„€total€time€would€be€thirty„five€to€forty€hours.€€ÌÌà8 àà8 àQ:€Now,€has€that€helped€or€hindered€you€in€theÏadministration€of€this€guardianship?ÌÌà8 àà8 àA:€Well,€itððs€very€much€hindered€me.€€I€might€add,Ïitððs€more€time€if€I€include€the€time€going€toÏSocial€Security€to€correct€the€„„€the€MarchÏcheck€was€supposed€to€come€the€first€week€inÏMay,€and€following€the€Heritage€Manor€applyingÍfor€rep€payee€status,€which€I€had€no€notice€ofÏuntil€the€check€did€not€arrive,€so€the€time€IÏwould€guess€would€be€forty„five€to€fifty€hoursÏbecause€I€had€to€go€to€Social€Security,Ïpersonally€exhibit€orders,€et€cetera,€and€I€haveÏhad€to€do€it€more€than€once.€€Ìà8 àà8 àà àWhat€it€has€done€to€my€schedule,€it€hasÏgreatly€interfered€with€my€work€schedule€.€.€.€.ÏLike,€for€example,€yesterday€I€spent€five€hoursÏgetting€ready€for€this€hearing€today,€so€it€hasÏbeen€the€most€inopportune€time.€€ÌÌOn€cross„examination,€Mr.€Richter,€attorney€for€Ms.€Moses,€had€theÏfollowing€dialogue€with€Mr.€Irby:€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àQ:€Just€a€few€things,€Mr.€Irby.€€You€have€statedÏthat€you€had€spent€about€forty„five€or€fiftyÏhours€going€to€the€Social€Security€office€to€tryÏand€straighten€out€the€check€situation;€is€thatÏcorrect?ÌÌà8 àà8 àA:€No.€€I€said€total,€straighten€out€the€SocialÏSecurity€check€situation€and€responding€to€yourÏclientððs€letters€to€Mr.€Robertson€as€well€as€toÍNashville,€I€mean€total.€€ÌÌDuring€closing€arguments,€the€court€made€the€following€statement:ÌÌà8 àà8 àI€think€he€said€thirty„five€to€forty€hours€to€dealÏwith€your€clientððs€complaints€and€then€he€saidÏplus€he€had€to€spend€some€additional€timeÏdealing€with€the€Social€Security€complaints.€ÏThatððs€what€I€wrote€down.€€ÌÌÓÓà àBased€on€these€statements,€the€trial€court€ruled€that€Ms.€MosesÏhad€ð ðunreasonably€consumed€the€time€of€Mr.€Irby€for€forty€hoursðð€andÏawarded€Mr.€Irby€a€fee€of€$3000.00,€plus€costs€of€$127.00,€for€hisÏservice€as€Ms.€Dixonððs€guardian€ad€litem€and€rendered€judgment€againstÏMs.€Moses€for€this€amount.€€The€trial€court€stated€that€the€fee€to€Mr.ÏIrby€was€justified€pursuant€to€both€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€17.03€and€Tenn.R.Civ.P.Ï11.€€ò òÌà àó óAppellant€presents€a€single€issue€on€appeal€which,€as€stated€inÏappellantððs€brief,€is:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€renderingÏjudgment€against€Appellant€to€compensateÏAppellee€for€his€time€spent€responding€to€aÏcomplaint€filed€against€him€with€the€Board€ofÏProfessional€Responsibility.€ÌÌÓÓà àSince€this€case€was€tried€by€the€court€sitting€without€a€jury,€weÍreview€the€case€ò òòòde€novoó óóó€upon€the€record€with€a€presumption€ofÏcorrectness€of€the€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court.€€Unless€theÏevidence€preponderates€against€the€findings,€we€must€affirm,€absentÏerror€of€law.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d).€€Ìà àIt€is€well€established€that€the€trial€court€has€discretion€to€awardÏcosts€in€a€civil€case.€€T.C.A.€€ðð€20„12„119€(1994).€€Fees€awarded€to€aÏguardian€ad€litem€for€his€or€her€services€are€taxed€as€costs€underÏTenn.R.Civ.P.€17.03.€€Appellee€argues€that€where€a€guardian€ad€litem€isÏalso€an€attorney,€any€time€he€or€she€spends€responding€to€the€Board€mayÏbe€awarded€as€costs€under€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€17.03.€€Ìà àThe€practice€of€law€is€a€privilege,€not€a€right.€€ò òòòCox€v.ÏHuddlestonó óóó,€914€S.W.2d€501,€505€(Tenn.€App.€1995).€€Any€attorneyÏpracticing€law€in€the€State€of€Tennessee€voluntarily€subjects€him€orÏher€self€to€the€ð ðdisciplinary€jurisdiction€of€the€Supreme€Court,€theÏBoard€[of€Professional€Responsibility],€the€hearing€committees€.€.€.€andÏthe€Circuit€and€Chancery€Court.ðð€€Rules€of€the€Supreme€Court,€Rule€9€Ô€$Ô€Ô€ÔððÏ1.1.€€Moreover,€an€attorneyððs€failure€to€respond€to€correspondence€fromÏthe€Board€results€in€temporary€suspension.€€Rules€of€the€Supreme€Court,ÏRule€9,€Ô€$Ô€Ô€Ôðð€4.3.€€We€concede€the€point€made€by€the€appellee;€that€is,€thatÍthe€actions€by€Mr.€Irby€that€caused€Ms.€Moses€to€complain€to€the€Board€Ïoccurred€while€he€was€acting€in€his€capacity€as€a€guardian€ad€litem,€notÏas€an€attorney.€€Moreover,€it€is€clear€from€the€record€that€theÏchancellor€found€that€Ms.€Mosesððs€actions€were€unreasonable.€€Ìà àCourts€have€wide€discretion€to€allow€guardians€a€reasonable€feeÏfor€their€time.€€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€17.03;€ò òòòAnderson€v.€Memphis€HousingÏAuthorityó óóó,€534€S.W.2d€125,€129€(Tenn.€App.€1975).€€However,€becauseÏof€the€competing€policy€considerations€at€issue,€we€hold€that€anÏattorney€who€acts€as€a€guardian€must€bear€the€particular€burden€ofÏresponding€to€the€Board€of€Professional€Responsibility€without€theÏexpectation€of€receiving€any€form€of€compensation,€regardless€of€theÏfact€that€the€attorney€was€acting€in€his€or€her€capacity€as€a€guardian€adÏlitem€at€the€time€the€complaint€arose.€€€ÌÑ7€^ŠXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  Ñà àIn€the€case€before€us,€the€chancellor€awarded€a€judgment€againstÏMs.€Moses€for€the€guardian€ad€litem€fees.€€Admittedly,€some€part€of€Ïthis€fee€was€based€on€the€time€Mr.€Irby€spent€dealing€with€Ms.€MosesððsÏcomplaint€filed€with€the€Board€of€Professional€Responsibility,€which€isÏnot€compensable.€€€The€chancellor€stated€that€the€award€of€fees€wasÏproper€pursuant€to€Rules€11€and€17,€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure,Ïbut€did€not€show€any€division€of€the€award€between€the€two€rules.€€RuleÍ17.03€provides€for€guardian€ad€litem€fees€to€be€awarded€as€part€of€theÏcosts€of€the€cause,€and€Rule€11€provides€for€sanctions€against€theÏoffending€party.€€We€are€unable€to€determine€from€the€record€before€usÏwhat€part€of€the€award€is€costs€and€what€part€is€sanctions€andÏtherefore€cannot€determine€whether€the€award€is€proper€under€theseÏcircumstances.Ìà àAccordingly,€the€order€of€the€trial€court€awarding€fees€to€theÏappellee€is€vacated,€and€the€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€forÏfurther€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€of€the€appealÏare€assessed€one„half€to€Ms.€Moses€and€one„half€to€Mr.€Irby.ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌ_________________________________ÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óÌÌ_________________________________Ìò òHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌ