ÿWPC‚ …# VUFa %§ 07­äO 4R f 0}u 0Dò 6 w 6 0J@ 0TŠ 0^Þ 0h< 0r¤ 0| 0†’ 0 1u¨ U, 0dIU,­U6ÙB) B8DCU 0U˜ AMíU*:þd D3b‡•0 0@Lv~ŒvÓ  AOÝÆ, 0Dò D/6 Be˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0†<¾½Q 9Z ‹.Courier New RegularX&âõ$¡Ñ€²Ñ Ö€ÿÿÖ EÝ ƒ&¦)ÝÝ  Ýà@°°*ìàÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚÂZË 3|x¤(-(3‹Z$¤¤Ý ƒâõ!ÝÑ€²ÑÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó™Ó€2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d d####7Border 1dd(-3¦$©©Ý ƒâõ!ÝÑ€²ÑÝ  Ý€-%Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ôÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÔ€(ÔÔ€(ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€(XÔÌÌò òJune€11,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€(ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó$$$$'ÿÿdxd }Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ&)ÝÝ  Ýà@ àÚ  ÚÚ  Ú &Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€AFFIRMANCE€WITHOUT€OPINION.„„The€Court,€with€theÏconcurrence€of€all€judges€participating€in€the€case,€may€affirmÏthe€action€of€the€trial€court€by€order€without€rendering€a€formalÏopinion€when€an€opinion€would€have€no€precedential€value€and€oneÏor€more€of€the€following€circumstances€exist€and€are€dispositiveÏof€the€appeal:ÌÌà à(1)€the€Court€concurs€in€the€facts€as€found€or€as€found€byÏnecessary€implication€by€the€trial€court.Ìà à(2)€there€is€material€evidence€to€support€the€verdict€of€theÏjury.Ìà à(3)€no€reversible€error€of€law€appears.€Ìà àSuch€cases€may€be€affirmed€as€follows:€€"Affirmed€inÏaccordance€with€Court€of€Appeals€Rule€10(a)."Ì("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€!!X„d&ÓÑ#€!!Xd#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÒ ° ÒÒ À ÒÙ€€ÙÑ  ÑÑ € ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑßL€')%;+'h|` Å `€€LßÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OFÏTENNESSEE€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌREBECCA€ELLIOTT€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€KNOX€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€CA€No.€03A01„9601„CV„00004Ì€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€HON.€DALE€C.€WORKMANÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€JUDGE€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:ÌPERRY€H.€WINDLE,€III€and€€€€€€€:ÌBURKHALTER€&€WINDLE,€P.C.€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€€€€€:€€€€AFFIRMED€AND€REMANDED€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌTHERESA€COLLINS€WILLOCKS,€OF€KNOXVILLE,€TENNESSEE,€FOR€APPELLANTÌÌR.€FRANKLIN€NORTON€and€GEOFFREY€D.€KRESSIN,€WITH€NORTON€AND€LUHN,€OFÏKNOXVILLE,€TENNESSEE,€FOR€APPELLEESÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€MEMORANDUM€OPINION€ÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Sanders,€Sp.J.ÌÌÌÓÓà àà àThe€Plaintiff€has€appealed€from€a€summary€judgment€for€theÏDefendants€in€her€suit€for€legal€malpractice.€€We€affirm.ÌÌà àà àIn€April,€1993,€the€Plaintiff„Appellant€retained€the€lawÏfirm€of€Burkhalter€&€Windle,€P.C.,€including€Mr.€Perry€H.€Windle,ÏIII,€as€a€member€of€the€firm,€to€represent€her€in€an€employmentÏÖ€+Ödispute€with€her€former€employer,€Southern€Skillet€Corporation.€ÌIn€May,€1993,€Defendants€filed€suit€on€behalf€of€the€PlaintiffÏagainst€Southern€Skillet€alleging€violation€of€the€overtime€payÏprovisions€of€the€Fair€Labor€Standards€Act,€violation€of€the€EqualÏPay€Act,€and€retaliating€against€Plaintiff€for€filing€or€institutingÏa€proceeding€under€the€Fair€Labor€Standards€Act.ÌÌà àà àThe€case€was€set€for€trial€in€February,€1994.€€It€appearsÏthat€sometime€prior€to€November€5,€1993,€the€Defendant€offered€aÏsettlement€of€the€case€for€$7,500.€€On€November€5,€1993,€Mr.€WindleÏwrote€Ms.€Elliott€a€long,€detailed€letter€informing€her€of€the€offerÏof€settlement.€€He€explained€to€her€in€detail€the€ramifications€ofÏthe€lawsuit,€the€strong€points€and€the€weak€points€in€their€lawsuit,Ïand€an€estimate€of€expenses€for€taking€discovery€depositions,€etc.€ÏAs€pertinent,€he€said:€€"It€is€my€feeling€that€we€should€make€aÏcounter€offer€to€the€Defendant€to€see€if€they€will€increase€theirÏoffer."€€The€record€fails€to€show€the€amount€the€case€was€settledÍfor€but€prior€to€trial€Ms.€Elliott€executed€releases€for€her€claimsÏand€the€case€was€settled.ÌÌà àà àIn€May,€1995,€Ms.€Elliott,€acting€pro€se,€filed€suitÏagainst€the€Defendants,€alleging€legal€malpractice€in€handling€herÏcase.€€The€complaint€is€a€long,€convoluted€argument,€saying€theÏDefendant,€Mr.€Windle,€negligently€handled€her€case€and€broughtÏundue€pressure€to€bear€on€her€to€settle€her€case.€€She€asked€forÏ"$160,000€from€the€firm€of€Burkhalter€&€Windle,€P.C.,€for€theÏnegligence€of€the€partners€to€exercise€their€joint€responsibilitiesÏto€the€clients€and€their€profession€and€an€additional€$20,000€fromÏMr.€Windle€personally€for€his€specific€acts€of€negligence,Ïfraud/misrepresentation,€incompetence,€and€unprofessionalism."ÌÌà àà àThe€Defendants€did€not€file€a€timely€answer€to€theÏcomplaint€and€on€July€25,€1995,€the€Plaintiff€filed€a€motion€forÏsanctions€and€summary€judgment€against€the€Defendants€and€theirÏattorneys,€Geoffrey€D.€Kressin€and€Franklin€Norton€of€Norton€&€Luhn,ÏAttorneys,€"for€the€unnecessary€and€harassing€delay€in€answering€theÏcomplaint€filed€in€Circuit€Court€by€the€plaintiff€on€May€17,€1995."ÌÌà àà àOn€July€28,€Defendants€filed€a€Rule€12,€TRCP,€motion€toÏdismiss€the€complaint€or,€in€the€alternative,€a€Rule€56,€TRCP,Ïmotion€for€summary€judgment.€€Defendants€alleged€the€complaintÍfailed€to€state€a€cause€of€action€upon€which€relief€could€be€grantedÏand€that€there€was€no€genuine€issue€as€to€any€material€fact€and€theÏDefendants€are€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€They€alsoÏalleged€the€course€of€action€was€barred€by€the€applicable€one„yearÏstatute€of€limitations,€TCA€ðð€28„3„104,€in€that€Plaintiff€executed€aÏsettlement€agreement€of€her€lawsuit€on€December€15,€1993,€and€herÏcomplaint€was€filed€May€16,€1995.€€Defendants€also€alleged€they€didÏnot€fall€below€the€applicable€standard€of€practice€for€attorneysÏpracticing€law€in€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€and€similar€communities€andÏdid€not€deviate€from€or€fall€below€the€legally€accepted€standard€ofÏpractice€or€care€for€attorneys€in€Knoxville€and€similar€communities.€ÏIn€support€of€the€motion,€the€Defendants€relied€upon€the€affidavitsÏof€Defendant€Perry€H.€Windle,€III,€and€attorney€Joe€B.€Bagwell€andÏthe€entire€record.ÌÌà àà àThe€affidavits€of€both€Bagwell€and€Windle€stated€theyÏreceived€law€degrees€from€the€University€of€Tennessee,€were€admittedÏto€practice€law€in€the€State€of€Tennessee,€were€familiar€with€theÏlegally€accepted€standards€for€attorneys€practicing€in€Knoxville€andÏsimilar€communities,€were€familiar€with€the€facts€in€the€case,€andÏthe€Defendants€did€not€deviate€from€or€fall€below€the€legallyÏaccepted€standards.ÌÌà àà àThe€Plaintiff€did€not€respond€to€the€motion€to€dismiss€orÏfor€summary€judgment.€€She€did,€however,€file€a€motion€for€defaultÏjudgment€some€10€days€after€the€motion€to€dismiss€or€for€summaryÏjudgment€was€filed€by€the€Defendants.ÌÌà àà àUpon€the€hearing€of€the€motions,€the€court€sustained€theÏmotion€of€the€Defendants€for€summary€judgment,€finding€there€was€noÏgenuine€issue€of€material€fact€and€Defendants€were€entitled€to€aÏjudgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€He€found€the€Plaintiff's€motion€forÏdefault€judgment€was€without€merit€and€it€was€denied.€€The€complaintÏwas€dismissed€and€the€Plaintiff€has€appealed€and€presents€theÏfollowing€issues€for€review:€€"1.€€The€trial€court€erred€by€failingÏto€consider€a€pro€se€Plaintiff's€motion,€titled€as€summary€judgment,Ïas€a€motion€for€a€default€judgment€because€the€pro€se€PlaintiffÏsought€a€final€judgment€based€on€the€Defendants„Appellees'€failureÏto€respond€to€the€complaint€exceeded€sixty„eight€(68)€days"€and€"2.ÏAlternatively,€the€trial€court€committed€reversible€error€by€failingÏto€give€the€pro€se€Plaintiff,€Rebecca€Elliott,€an€opportunity€toÏobtain€an€expert€affidavit€inasmuch€as€the€Defendants€failed€to€fileÏany€responsive€pleading€until€sixty„eight€(68)€days€beyond€serviceÏof€the€complaint."ÌÌà àà àWe€cannot€agree,€and€affirm€in€accordance€with€Court€ofÏAppeals€Rule€10(a).× ƒ, ××  ×ÌÌà àà àà àà àThe€cost€of€this€appeal€is€taxed€to€theÏAppellant€and€the€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€anyÏfurther€necessary€proceedings.ÌÓÓÌÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€__________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Clifford€E.€Sanders,€Sp.J.ÌÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:€ÌÌÌ______________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.ÌÌÌ_____________________ÌDon€T.€McMurray,€J.Ì