ÿWPCø ‡- 4š ÂTÇË*úgÓG¦œ›Ã@ËŒÆ|6äÇBÅñbý4U‘}ÇÔ¨Öh"X;ccMÄ% Ò—õ³3ƒCßO¾ÆqDvÆ+q««b7f+›K:ìnÆ;üZäpºŸNºfiþwµ•ê½àI³öïOZk_”‚Ôî=«§·md?y¨+ÕõœÀ†óDZ—cÚÑø4• ^œô€@¹ðÚ‡HƒóÄzŠ.qãýAB¥éN5€*1M[È, Oˆƒ/‡¾Q)’ÓÃÒÒ=„„N›´0`‚Ïûƒø¿»Œ 徸½igiu‘´ÀÅ%E¼ÌÔÃŽ¸ŠÓÙyñ)þB‰É“ãíÝò­ÒÁd°þ5Å3dµB``ÿøÆ!Úè4ƒ‹ÌÇ™ßJ!¼!õûÏ`ÝÖ5Öâ¥AZž³!t·IÙ@“,pé׎ÛeùYÆ{²Õ«83vö`÷ F2JmShk`þ¢`/ èÍ©Ûøa>†ÜüØ|ì&ЦëãLøNe PXß”Gò%Îô£Ny³¡h=5Á •ÈÙÃY„)p9ºpƒßªŽó¿?0ïì»ylTtMÜzÜÇ+p$ôäK[¹¹íçEè,LàjŽ#²wð:†=šhÀÎU‘*# LU :W %‘ 0(—b ¿w@Ë4 n­.Ûã 0lç 0DSU@—U:×ð  U:U:?????????? By AQ–Æç 0D­ 0Dñ 0D55 D/yy B¨ D3ŘHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡- ù - ’“D”•D–—D˜™šÓ€¤©yË&3|x¥«<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@ úÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X_…XXXÔÔ€·]XX_…ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X_…X·]ÔÐ  ÐÌAugust€18,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóóô\  `(Times NewRomanTT,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular æÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÝ ƒ Ü™ÿÝÑT@R[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÓ  ÓÓÓÔ€XÙRXXXÔÔ€X XXXÙRÔà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓÔ€XÙRXXX ÔÔ€ô±ÆôXXÙRÔIn€their€brief,€appellants€refer€to€the€ð ðVictimsðð€Bill€of€Rights,ðð€a€proposed€amendment€to€theÐ ° ÐTennessee€Constitution€that€was€ratified€by€the€people€in€the€General€Election€of€November€3,€1998.ÏHowever,€this€amendment€appears€to€refer€only€to€the€criminal€justice€system,€and€in€any€event,€the€trialÏcourt€filed€its€final€order€in€this€case€on€October€9,€1998.€ úÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X_…XXXÔÔ€·]XX_…ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X_…X·]ÔÐ  ÐÌAugust€12,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular, øð 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  Ýñšñ›ñšñÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÑX°ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ€ÑÑ7€_…XXdædÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò òÔ€¼&¼XXÔÓ  Óñ¤ññšñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô±` 8ttxP,°ð  rßñšññ¤ññ¤ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô±` 8ttxP,°ð  rßñ¤ññšñ›ñšñà@  êàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@¦¦(êàAT€NASHVILLEó óÔ€X_…X¼¼&ÔˆÐ Ä ÐÌÌLANE€œDENSON›,€a€minor,€b/n/f€JOHNà  à)Ð ¤ô МDENSON›,€father,€and€DEBORAHà  à)Ð Š Ú МDENSON›,€mother;€and€JOHN€œDENSON›€)Ìand€wife,€DEBORAH€œDENSON›,à 8 àà  à)Ð V ¦ Ðindividually,à 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð < Œ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àPlaintiffs/Appellants,à 8 àà  à)Ð X  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àÐ î>  МVS›.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àAppeal€No.Ð Ô$  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è à01„A„01„9810„CV„00571Ð º  МDR›.€RICHARD€C.€BENJAMIN,€Directorà  à)à è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àÐ  ð  Ðof€Schools€for€the€Metropolitan€à 8 àà  à)à è àDavidson€CircuitÐ †Ö  ÐNashville€Public€Schools;€FLORENCEà  à)à è àNo.€œ96C›„4421Ð l¼ МKIDD›,€A€Director€of€Middle€Schoolsà  à)Ð R¢ ÐResponsible€for€Walter€Stokes€Middleà  à)Ð 8ˆ ÐSchool;€œEVALINA›€œCHEADLE›,€Principalà  à)Ð n Ðof€Walter€Stokes€Middle€School;à 8 àà  à)Ð T ÐMETROPOLITAN€GOVERNMENT€OFà  à)Ð ê: ÐNASHVILLE€AND€DAVIDSON€à 8 àà  à)Ð Ð  ÐCOUNTY,€TENNESSEE€FOR€THEà  à)Ð ¶ ÐMETROPOLITAN€NASHVILLE€PUBLICà  à)Ð œì ÐSCHOOLS;€and€METROPOLITANà  à)Ð ‚Ò ÐBOARD€OF€PUBLIC€EDUCATION,à  à)Ð h¸ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àDefendants/Appellee.à 8 àà  à)Ð 4„ ÐÌà@ï ï êàAPPEALED€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTYˆÌà@#êàAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@X X êàTHE€HONORABLE€WALTER€C.€œKURTZ›,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌALAN€MARK€TURKÌP.€O.€Box€3742ÌœBrentwood›,€Tennessee€37024„3742Ìà Ø àAttorney€for€Plaintiffs/AppellantsÌÌJAMES€L.€MURPHY,€IIIÌDIRECTOR€OF€LAW€OF€THEÌ€€€METROPOLITAN€GOVERNMENT€OF€Ì€€€NASHVILLE€AND€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌÌMARTHA€œZENDLOVITZ›ÌMETROPOLITAN€ATTORNEYÌ204€Metropolitan€CourthouseÌNashville,€Tennessee€37201Ìà Ø àAttorney€for€Defendants/AppelleeÌÌÌà@¤¤$êàAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDˆÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.ÌÌCONCUR:ÌKOCH,€J.ÌCAIN,€J.ÌÓÓò òÔ€„7„XX_…Ôòòà@tt(êàO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÔ€X_…X„„7ԈРÀ<8>o Їà Ø àà 0 àA€ten€year€old€boy€was€seriously€injured€at€a€Nashville€middle€schoolÏwhen€another€student€tripped€him€on€a€stairway€during€a€change€of€classes.€€TheÏinjured€boyððs€parents€sued€the€Metropolitan€Government€of€Nashville,€theÏSuperintendent€of€Schools,€and€other€school€officials€for€negligent€supervision€andÏnegligent€protection.€€The€trial€court€granted€summary€judgment€to€the€defendants.€ÏWe€affirm€the€trial€court.ÌÌà@êàò òI.€€Facts€and€Trial€Court€Proceedingsó óˆÐ D”  ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àLane€œDenson›€and€Christopher€Herbert€were€fifth„grade€students€atÏWalter€Stokes€Middle€School€in€Nashville.€€On€the€morning€of€December€7,€1995,ÏLane€teased€Chris€in€the€cafeteria€of€the€school,€by€calling€him€ð ðChris€œSherbert›.ðð€€AfterÏthey€left€the€cafeteria€to€go€to€their€homerooms,€and€were€ascending€a€stairway€to€theÏsecond€floor,€Chris€deliberately€grabbed€hold€of€Laneððs€ankle€from€behind,€intendingÏto€make€him€trip.€€Lane€fell€backwards€down€the€stairs.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àJohn€and€Deborah€œDenson›,€Laneððs€parents,€were€already€at€the€schoolÏfor€a€scheduled€parent/teacher€conference.€€They€reached€their€child€within€minutesÏof€the€incident.€They€found€him€face„down€and€unconscious€in€a€pool€of€blood€at€theÏfoot€of€the€stairs.€€The€œDensons›€scooped€Lane€up,€carried€him€to€their€car,€andÏbrought€him€to€the€emergency€room,€where€he€was€diagnosed€with€a€concussion,€aÏbroken€nose€and€other€injuries.€€The€youngster€subsequently€underwent€surgery€toÏrepair€his€nose€and€improve€his€breathing.€€Further€surgery€may€also€be€needed.€€€€€Ï€Ìà Ø àà 0 àOn€December€9,€1996,€the€œDensons›€filed€suit€under€the€GovernmentalÏTort€Liability€Act,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„20„101,€et€seq.,€naming€Metro€Government,Ïthe€Board€of€Education,€the€Superintendent€of€Schools,€the€Principal€of€Stokes,€andÏthe€Director€of€Middle€Schools€as€defendants.€€The€parents€claimed€that€Chris€HerbertÏhad€a€history€of€assaultive€behavior€towards€other€students,€which€the€authorities€atÏStokes€should€have€been€aware€of,€and€that€those€authorities€were€guilty€of€negligentÏsupervision€of€Chris€Herbert,€and€negligent€protection€of€Lane€Denson.ÌÐ p<À7> Ðà Ø àà 0 àThe€Densonsðð€complaint€also€included€a€claim€for€negligentÏmisrepresentation€and€for€failure€to€disclose€material€facts,€directed€against€defendantÏMetro€only.€€They€alleged€that€they€were€induced€to€enroll€their€son€at€Stokes€on€theÏbasis€of€representations€as€to€safety€and€discipline€found€in€a€packet€of€materials€sentÏto€them€by€the€school,€and€that€these€representations€were€belied€by€the€failure€ofÏschool€officials€to€take€appropriate€steps€to€prevent€this€incident.Ì€€€Ìà Ø àà 0 àOn€March€13,€1997,€the€trial€court€dismissed€the€individual€defendantsÏpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„20„310(b),€and€dismissed€all€claims€against€MetroÏexcept€for€negligent€supervision€and€protection.€€The€plaintiffs€subsequently€filed€aÏmotion€to€amend€their€complaint,€to€add€an€additional€claim€for€negligent€investigationÏof€the€incident,€and€for€violation€of€their€constitutional€due€process€rights.€€The€trialÏcourt€denied€the€motion€to€amend.€€ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€plaintiffs€attempted€to€discover€the€educational€records€of€ChrisÏHerbert€to€determine€if€the€child€had€a€proclivity€towards€violence€that€defendant€MetroÏknew€or€should€have€known€about.€€Defendant€Metro€attempted€to€limit€discovery€inÏaccordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€œ10„7„504ñ˜ñ(a)(4)ñ˜ñ,›€which€declares€that€ð ð[œt]he›€recordsÏof€students€in€public€educational€institutions€shall€be€treated€as€confidential,ðð€byÏmoving€the€Court€to€order€that€any€production€of€Chris€Herbertððs€records€be€underÏseal.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€Court€granted€the€motion,€and€ordered€that€Chris€HerbertððsÏcumulative€educational€record€be€filed€under€seal€for€an€in„camera€review.€€The€CourtÏalso€granted€Metroððs€subsequent€motion€for€a€protective€order,€which€sought€toÏprohibit€the€plaintiffs€from€seeking€discovery€of€any€events€subsequent€to€DecemberÐ ;`6: Ð7,€1995€in€regard€to€the€schoolððs€investigation€of€the€incident€or€its€disciplining€of€ChrisÏHerbert.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àFollowing€its€review€of€the€partiesðð€arguments€and€of€the€sealed€records,Ïthe€trial€court€granted€the€defendantððs€motion€for€summary€judgment€on€the€remainingÏclaims,€finding€liability€could€not€be€imposed€upon€the€school€system,€because€theÏinjury€to€Lane€Denson€was€not€foreseeable.€€This€appeal€followed.ÌÌà@ êàò òII.€€Negligent€Investigationó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€Densons€have€raised€two€issues€on€appeal.€€They€argue€that€theÏtrial€court€erred€in€dismissing€their€motion€to€amend€their€complaint€to€add€a€claim€forÏnegligent€investigation,€and€in€granting€the€defendantððs€motion€for€summary€judgmentÏon€their€claim€for€negligent€supervision/protection.€€We€will€deal€with€the€issue€ofÏnegligent€investigation€first.€ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àAfter€Lane€Denson€was€injured,€Mrs.€œEvalina›€œCheadle›,€the€principal€atÏStokes,€called€Chris€Herbert€to€her€office,€and€had€him€write€up€his€account€of€whatÏhad€happened.€€In€his€account,€he€admitted€that€he€grabbed€Laneððs€leg€because€LaneÏcalled€him€Chris€œSherbert›.€€Mrs.€œCheadle›€then€prepared€a€Standard€Student€AccidentÏReport€Form,€with€the€statement€of€Chris€Herbert€and€that€of€a€student€witnessÏattached.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àLane€Densonððs€parents€argue€that€Mrs.€œCheadle›ððs€report€was€incompleteÏbecause€she€failed€to€interview€other€witnesses,€and€that€other€school€officials€failedÏto€follow€it€up€with€a€thorough€investigation€of€the€circumstances€surrounding€theirÏsonððs€injuries,€particularly€the€prior€conduct€of€Chris€Herbert€as€revealed€by€his€schoolÏrecords.€€They€contend€that€Lane€Densonððs€due€process€rights€were€violated€by€theÏdefendantððs€failure€to€conduct€an€adequate€investigation,€as€well€as€by€the€failure€toÏreport€the€assault€and€battery€on€their€son€to€the€Metropolitan€Police€Department.Ð ;`6: ÐThey€also€claimed€that€they€had€to€expend€considerable€effort€and€money€to€conductÏtheir€own€investigation.€ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àWith€all€due€respect€to€the€appellants,€we€believe€œñ‘ñthat›€ñ‘ñthe›€argument€that€theirÏdue€process€rights€were€violated€by€the€€alleged€inadequacies€of€the€defendantððsÏinvestigation€is€misplaced.€€Such€rights€do€not€arise€in€favor€of€an€injured€party€in€theÏcontext€of€school€disciplinary€proceedings€against€the€party€causing€the€injury.׃×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€WeÐ ð@  Ðdo€not€minimize€the€grievous€injuries€Lane€Denson€suffered€as€a€result€of€the€actionsÏof€Chris€Herbert,€but€the€subsequent€investigation€and€the€resulting€proceedingsÏagainst€Chris€Herbert€œdññidññññoññ›€not€threaten€the€life,€liberty€or€property€of€the€Densons.€€AnÏindication€of€the€appellantsðð€confusion€about€this€issue€was€their€failure€to€cite€òòanyóóÐ pÀ Ðconstitutional€provisions€in€their€proposed€amended€complaint.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àIn€their€brief,€the€appellants€do€cite€the€Fourteenth€Amendment,€and€theyÏquote€with€approval€language€from€the€case€ofòò€œGoss›€v.€œLopez›óó,€419€U.S.€565€(1975),Ð ð@ Ðwhich€asserts€the€importance€of€due€process€in€school€disciplinary€proceedings.€€ButÐ Ð  ÐòòœGoss›óó€involved€the€due€process€rights€of€students€who€had€been€suspended€forÐ °"  Ðmisbehavior,€and€who,€as€the€Supreme€Court€determined€in€that€case,€were€entitledÏto€notice€and€a€hearing€before€the€suspension€could€be€ordered.€€The€situation€of€theÏstudents€in€òòœGoss›óó€is€not€in€any€way€analogous€to€that€of€Lane€Denson.€€Further,€we€doÐ P( #& Ðnot€believe€the€appellants€have€suffered€any€damages€as€a€result€of€the€investigationÏconducted€by€the€defendant.€€We€note€that€the€cost€of€conducting€an€investigation€isÏa€normal€part€of€any€lawsuit,€but€is€not€a€valid€element€of€damages.€Ì€Ìà Ø àà 0 àA€party€may€amend€a€complaint€or€other€pleading€once€as€a€matter€ofÏcourse,€at€any€time€before€a€responsive€pleading€is€served.€€Otherwise,€anÏamendment€requires€written€consent€by€the€adverse€party€or€leave€of€the€court.€€RuleÏ15.01,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€€The€grant€or€denial€of€a€motion€to€amend€is€within€the€soundÐ P7 26 Ðdiscretion€of€the€trial€court.€òò€œMerriman›€v.€Smith,óó€599€S.W.2d€548,€559€(Tenn.Ð ° ÐApp.1970).€€Among€the€factors€for€the€court€to€consider€in€determining€whether€or€notÏto€allow€a€complaint€to€be€amended€is€the€futility€of€the€proposed€amendment.òò€€HallÐ pÀ Ðv.€œShelby›€County€Retirement€Boardóó,€922€S.W.2d€543,€546€(Tenn.€App.€1995).€€In€lightÐ P   Ðof€the€lack€of€merit€of€the€additional€claims€in€the€proposed€amended€complaint,€we€Ïbelieve€that€the€trial€court€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€in€denying€the€appellantsðð€motionÏto€amend.€€We€also€believe€that€the€trial€court€did€not€err€in€limiting€discovery€to€eventsÏoccurring€on€or€before€December€7,€1995,€since€any€events€after€that€date€areÏirrelevant€to€the€appellantsðð€surviving€claim.ÌÌà@êàò òIII.€€Negligent€Supervision/ProtectionˆÐ pÀ Ðà@ääêàA.€€Standards€for€Summary€Judgmentó óˆÐ P  ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àIn€light€of€the€severe€injuries€suffered€by€Lane€Denson€within€anÏenvironment€that€all€parents€hope€will€be€safe€for€their€children,€it€is€not€surprising€thatÏthe€appellants€believe€that€the€school€failed€to€perform€one€of€its€most€fundamentalÏduties€„„€that€of€protecting€the€students€in€its€charge.€Unfortunately,€an€examinationÏof€cases€from€this€state€and€others€shows€that€danger€cannot€be€completely€excludedÏfrom€the€schoolhouse€or€the€classroom.€òò€Kindred€v.€Board€of€Education€of€MemphisÐ p&À!$ ÐCity€Schoolsóó,€946€S.W.2d€47€(Tenn.€App€1996);€òòRoberts€v.€Robertson€County€BoardÐ P( #& Ðof€Educationóó,€692€S.W.2d€863€(Tenn.€App.€1985);€òòBenton€v.€School€Boardóó,€386€So.2dÐ 0*€%( Ð831€(Fla.€œ4th›€DCA€1980);òò€œShante›€D.€by€Ada€D.€v.€City€of€New€York€œBd›.€Of€œEduc›.óó,€598Ð ,`'* МN.Y.S.2d›€474€(A.D.€1€Dept.€1993).€€In€recognition€of€this€unfortunate€fact,€our€courtsÏhave€stated€more€than€once€that€schools€are€not€expected€to€be€insurers€of€the€safetyÏof€children€while€they€are€at€school.€€692€S.W.2d€at€870.€€Also€seeòò€King€by€King€v.Ð °1-0 МKartanson›óó,€720€S.W.2d€66,€68€(Tenn.€App.€1986).Ð 3à.2 ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àNonetheless,€schools,€teachers€and€administrators€have€a€duty€toÏexercise€ordinary€care€for€the€safety€of€students,€a€degree€of€care€which€has€beenÏdefined€as€ð ðthe€care€an€ordinary€prudent€person€would€take€under€the€circumstances.ððÐ ;`6: ÐòòœHawkins›€County€v.€Davisóó,€591€S.W.2d€658,€660€(Tenn.€1965);òò€Snider€v.€Snideróó,€855Ð ° ÐS.W.2d€588,€590€(Tenn.€App.€1993).€€If€school€officials€fail€to€exercise€such€ordinaryÏcare,€a€school€system€may€become€liable€for€injuries€œforeseeably›€resulting€from€suchÏa€failure.€òò€Roberts€v.€Robertson€Countyóó,€supra.€€€€€€Ð P   ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€burden€of€proving€negligence€and€foreseeability€ultimately€restsÏupon€the€plaintiff,€but€in€ruling€upon€a€motion€for€summary€judgment,€the€trial€court€isÏobligated€to€view€the€pleadings€and€the€evidence€before€it€in€the€light€most€favorableÏto€the€opponent€of€the€motion.òò€€Wyatt€v.€œWinnebago›€Industriesóó,€566€S.W.2d€276Ð ° Ð(Tenn.€App.€1977).€€Summary€judgment€is€appropriate€only€when€there€are€noÏgenuine€issues€as€to€any€material€facts,€and€when€the€moving€party€is€entitled€toÏjudgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€Rule€56.04,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.;€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€847€S.W.2dÐ P  Ð208,€214€(Tenn.€1993).€€However,€a€disputed€fact€is€ð ðmaterialðð€only€if€it€must€beÏdecided€in€order€to€resolve€the€claim€at€which€the€motion€is€directed.€€847€S.W.2d€atÏ215.€€€€ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àIn€the€present€case,€the€appellantsðð€attorney€has€conducted€anÏexhaustive€investigation€in€order€to€uncover€evidence€that€Chris€Herbert€had€aÏtendency€towards€violent€behavior€such€as€should€have€put€the€school€on€notice€thatÏhe€was€a€danger€to€his€fellow€students€in€general,€or€to€Lane€Denson€in€particular.€ÏWe€note€that€apart€from€Chris€Herbertððs€cumulative€educational€record,€which€wasÏfiled€under€seal,€the€transcript€of€the€record€contains€1125€pages€of€pleadings,Ïmotions,€memoranda,€orders,€affidavits€and€notices,€as€well€as€the€depositions€ofÏtwelve€individuals.€€The€sheer€size€of€the€record€makes€it€inevitable€that€there€will€beÏdisputes€about€some€facts.€€However,€such€disputes€are€not€necessarily€sufficient€toÏpreclude€summary€judgment€for€the€defendant.ÌÌœÌÌÐ ;`6: Лà@PPêàò òB.€€The€Events€of€December€7,€1995ó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€facts€immediately€surrounding€the€incident€of€December€7,€1995€areÏfor€the€most€part€undisputed.€€Though€Chris€Herbert€and€Lane€Denson€were€notÏexactly€friends,€there€was€no€evidence€of€animosity€between€them.€€On€the€day€of€theÏincident,€it€appears€that€they€sat€near€each€other€in€the€cafeteria€when€Lane€teasedÏChris.€€At€deposition,€Chris€Herbert€testified€that€he€did€not€intend€to€make€Lane€fallÏdown€the€stairs€or€to€injure€him,€but€that€he€intended€him€to€trip€and€fall€forward.€€TheÏappellants€do€not€dispute€his€testimony.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àIt€was€customary€at€Stokes€for€homeroom€teachers€to€stand€outside€theirÏdoorways€before€the€beginning€of€classes€to€monitor€student€behavior€in€the€hallway.ÏOther€teachers€were€generally€posted€elsewhere€in€the€hallway€for€the€same€reason.ÏThese€procedures€were€followed€on€the€day€in€question.€€There€was€some€depositionÏtestimony€that€the€linoleum€tiles€on€the€stairway€where€Lane€fell€were€in€poor€shape,Ïbut€there€are€no€indications€in€the€record€that€this€made€the€stairs€inherentlyÏdangerous,€or€that€the€condition€of€the€stairs€contributed€to€Laneððs€injury.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àAppellants€argue€that€the€defendantððs€agents€were€negligent€in€notÏposting€an€ð ðeducational€professionalðð€on€the€stairwell€during€the€change€of€classes.ÏWhile€this€might€conceivably€have€prevented€Laneððs€injury,€it€is€self„evident€thatÏteachers€cannot€be€everywhere€at€once.€€Moving€a€teacher€from€one€location€in€theÏhallway€to€another€would€still€leave€a€gap€where€students€would€have€the€opportunity,Ïhowever€briefly,€for€making€mischief.€€See€òòœChudasama›€v.€Metro€Government€ofÐ Ð/ +. ÐNashvilleóó,€914€S.W.2d€922€(Tenn.€App.€1995).€€Thus€it€appears€to€us€that€the€schoolÐ °1-0 Ðcannot€be€found€negligent€for€not€posting€a€teacher€on€the€stairway€where€LaneÏDenson€was€injured.ÌÌœÌÐ ;`6: Лà@!êàò òC.€€Chris€Herbertððs€HistoryˆÐ ° Ðó óÌà Ø àà 0 àChris€Herbert€was€a€student€at€Percy€Priest€Elementary€School€from€theÏfirst€to€the€fourth€grade.€€When€he€was€in€the€third€grade,€he€brought€a€pocketknife€toÏschool.€€He€showed€it€to€some€other€children,€but€didnððt€wave€it€around€or€threatenÏanybody€with€it.€€In€accordance€with€the€policies€of€the€school,€he€was€suspended€forÏone€day.€€The€record€shows€that€he€was€suspended€from€riding€the€bus€four€timesÏwhile€he€was€at€Percy€Priest,€usually€for€standing€up€while€the€bus€was€moving,€butÏon€one€occasion€the€suspension€was€for€fighting.€€He€also€had€a€fight€with€another€boyÏat€the€bus€stop€while€he€was€at€Percy€Priest.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àIn€1995,€Chris€Herbert€began€attending€fifth€grade€at€Stokes.€€SometimeÏin€the€early€part€of€the€year,€he€was€suspended€from€riding€the€bus€for€fighting.€€OnÏSeptember€13,€1995,€his€stepfather€committed€suicide.€€We€need€not€describe€theÏcircumstances€surrounding€the€suicide€here,€but€they€were€such€as€would€make€aÏpowerful€and€disturbing€impression€on€any€child,€or€for€that€matter,€on€any€adult.€€HeÏwas€already€receiving€in„school€counseling€for€problems€with€anger,€but€after€theÏsuicide€additional€counseling€was€supplied€through€the€Metro€Police€Department.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àChris€Herbertððs€mother€informed€Mrs.€œCheadle›,€the€principal€at€Stokes,Ïabout€the€suicide,€and€Mrs.€œCheadle›€made€most€of€Chrisððs€teachers€aware€of€theÏunfortunate€event.€€It€is€apparent€that€his€stepfatherððs€suicide€continued€to€haunt€theÏchild.€€He€appeared€angry€much€of€the€time.€€On€one€occasion€he€shoved€his€deskÏand€walked€out€of€the€classroom,€slamming€the€door;€on€another,€he€burst€out€cryingÏin€class€for€no€apparent€reason.€€Chris€Herbert€was€bigger€than€most€of€the€otherÏchildren,€and€the€appellants€have€submitted€affidavits€of€a€number€of€students€statingÏthat€he€had€a€bad€temper,€that€they€were€afraid€of€him,€or€that€they€avoided€him.€€ButÏthere€is€no€evidence€that€his€teachers€were€ever€informed€of€these€concerns.Ìâ âÐ 09€48 Ðà Ø àà 0 àAppellants€argue€that€the€school€was€negligent€in€failing€to€adequatelyÏâ âdiscipline€Chris€Herbert.€€Apparently€they€believe€that€the€defendantððs€failure€toÏseparate€him€from€the€general€student€body€prior€to€December€7,€1995€was€a€causeÏin€fact€of€Lane€Densonððs€injuries.€€In€support€of€this€thesis,€they€refer€us€to€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€49„6„4001(a),€which€requires€school€systems€to€develop€a€code€of€acceptableÏbehavior€for€students,€and€to€the€Code€of€Student€Conduct,€which€was€adopted€by€theÏBoard€of€Education€pursuant€to€the€above€statute.€€Rule€5€of€the€Code€prohibitsÏstudents€from€assaulting€other€students.€€Rule€13€(referred€to€in€appellantsðð€brief€asÏa€zero€tolerance€policy)€reads€as€follows:ÌÒ0 €ÒÒ„ÒÓÓà@: : €àò òRULE€13.€€AGGRAVATED€ASSAULT€BY€STUDENTˆÐ à Ðà@––$€à(Amended€August€8,€1995)ó óˆÐ €Ð ÐÌ€€€€A€student€who€commits€aggravated€assault€will€beÏexcluded€from€school€for€one€calendar€year.€€A€student€whoÏintentionally€or€knowingly€commits€an€assault€which€causesÏserious€bodily€injury€to€another€student/or€others€will€beÏconsidered€guilty€under€this€rule.€€Upon€determination€that€aÏstudent€acted€in€self„defense,€it€will€not€be€considered€aÏviolation€of€this€rule.ÌÒ€0 ÒÒ„ÒÌÓÓÌà Ø àà 0 àAnother€section€of€the€Code€of€Student€Conduct€lays€out€the€proceduralÏdue€process€to€be€followed€in€case€of€rule€violations.€€In€cases€calling€for€a€short„termÏsuspension,€the€principal€may€suspend€a€student€from€attending€school€for€up€to€tenÏdays.€€However,€a€formal€hearing,€proceeded€by€a€written€notice€to€the€student€andÏhis€parents,€is€required€before€a€long€term€suspension€or€expulsion€can€be€imposed.€ÌÌ€à Ø àà 0 àIt€appears€to€us€that€appellants€have€confounded€the€defendantððs€failureÐ -P(+ Ðto€institute€due€process€procedures€for€a€one„year€suspension€of€Chris€Herbert€afterÏDecember€7,€1995,€with€an€alleged€failure€to€discipline€him€adequately€prior€to€thatÏdate.€€As€we€have€already€indicated,€the€appellants€have€no€standing€to€object€toÏactions€taken€(or€not€taken)€against€Chris€Herbert€after€he€injured€Lane€Denson,€soÏwe€may€only€examine€the€defendantððs€conduct€before€that€incident.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àœñ’ñIt€isñ’ññ“ñPutting›€aside›€for›€the›€moment›€the›€wñ“ññ”ñ€wñ”ñell„established›€œñ•ñprinciple›€ñ•ñthat›€ð ðthe€governing€authority€in€both€public€andÏprivate€schools€should€have€and€does€have€the€widest€discretion€in€the€matter€ofÐ º ÐÔ€XÙRX &&‘Ô›ÌÔ€¼É¼XXÙRÔÔ‡ŠJË Š¼¼ÉÔò òòòà@ºº'êàJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€TÔ#†¼É¼ ŠŠJË‹n#Ôóóó óˆÐ „ ÐÌÓÓÔ€XÙRX¼¼ÉÔà Ø àà 0 àÔ€&‘ &XXÙRÔThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€the€œCircuitÐ "!ž! ÐCourt›€of€œDavidson€County,›€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel;€upon€consideration€whereof,€thisÏCourt€is€of€the€opinion€that€in€the€œjudgment€of€the€trial€court›€there€is€œno€reversible€error.›Ìà Ø àà 0 àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€of€the€Court€filed€herein,€it€is,€therefore,€orderedÏand€œadjudged›€by€this€Court€that€the€œjudgment€is€affirmed.›€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€theÏœCircuit€Court›€of€œDavidson€County›€for€the€œexecution€of€the€judgment€and›€for€the€collection€ofÏthe€costs€accrued€below.Ìà Ø àà 0 àCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€œJohn€Denson€and€Deborah€Denson,ÏPrincipals,›€and€œAlan€Mark€Turk,€Attorney,€P.C.,€Surety,›€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÏnecessary.ÌÓӜ̛Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.›ÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE€›ÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE€ñ™ñ›