ÿWPC| …# VUNa %¯ 0(µU<Ýw@ 4Y m 0ˆ| 0D H 0JP 0Tš 0^î 0hL 0r´ 0|& 0†¢ 0( 1u¸ U,- 0dY B½U,ÚU>B)DDCm AM°U*ý'' D3NwNø 0@Fv~†vÓ AO×Æ& 0Dì D/0 B_˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman ,-.E/0D1D2U3î4Ó€>DÒ  AØ'3|x>(8(2e$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°Òà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$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)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d%%%%7Border 1dd€-&Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÔ€(ÔÔ€(ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€(XÔÌÌSeptember€13,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó""""'ÿÿdxd mÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔThe€jury€awarded€plaintiff€back€pay€of€$65,975€for€both€the€OpenÏMeetings€Act€violation€and€the€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Human€RightsÏAct.€€Ì DÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€$ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ÔAwards€of€attorney€fees€are€provided€for€in€the€Tennessee€HumanÏRights€Act,€T.C.A.€ðð€4„21„306(a)(7)€(1995).€€Ì("ÿÿ$££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  ÝÑ7€eXXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌà àà à€€Ï________________________________________________ÌÌò òEDNA€FORBES,€ó óÌÌà àPlaintiff„Appellee,ÌÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àWilson€Chancery€No.€9325Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€01A01„9602„CH„00089Ìò òWILSON€COUNTY€EMERGENCYÌCOMMUNICATION€DISTRICT€911ÌBOARD€and€W.€J.€MCCLUSKEY,€ó óÌÌà àDefendants„Appellants.Ì___________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€WILSON€COUNTY€CHANCERY€COURTÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€C.€K.€SMITH,€CHANCELLORÌÌÌÌÌà@ àW.€Gary€Blackburn,€Blackburn,€Slobey,€Freeman€&€HappellÌà@ àof€Nashville,€For€AppellantsÌÌà@ àMargaret€L.€Behm,€Anne€C.€Martin,€Dodson€Parker€&€BehmÌà@ àof€Nashville,€For€AppelleeÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòVACATED€IN€PART,€AFFIRMED€IN€PART€AND€REMANDEDÌÌó óà@ àóóOpinion€filed:€ÌÙ€€ÙÙ€€ÙßL€')&;+'h|õóq` ç `€€LßÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌCONCURS:ÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌCONCURS€IN€PART,€DISSENTS€IN€PART:ÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌÌÌÌ›Ñ7€eXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓà àThis€case€involves€the€Tennessee€open€meetings€law€and€theÏTennessee€handicap€discrimination€law.€€Plaintiff,€Edna€Forbes,€allegesÏthat€defendants,€Wilson€County€Emergency€Communication€District€911ÏBoard€and€W.J.€McCluskey,€Chairman,€violated€the€Tennessee€HandicapÏDiscrimination€Act€and€the€Tennessee€open€meetings€act.€€After€a€juryÏtrial€with€the€use€of€special€interrogatories,€the€court€entered€an€orderÏon€the€jury€verdicts€which€found€violations€of€both€acts€and€€awardedÏplaintiff€$65,975.00€in€back€pay,× ƒ+ ××  ×€$38,675.00€in€front€pay,€$250,000.00Íin€damages€for€humiliation€and€embarrassment,€and€$50,000.00€forÏpunitive€damages.€€The€court€also€awarded€plaintiffððs€attorneyÏ$50,000.00€in€fees× ƒ, ××  ×€and€$6,455.00€in€expenses.€€Defendants€thereafterÏperfected€the€present€appeal.€€Ìà àEdna€Forbes€was€hired€by€the€Wilson€County€EmergencyÏCommunication€District€911€Board€(911€Board€or€Board)€on€May€8,€1991Ïas€the€first€Public€Safety€Answering€Point€Supervisor€for€the€newlyÏcreated€Board.€€Prior€to€accepting€a€position€as€supervisor,€Ms.€ForbesÏserved€on€the€Board€itself,€helping€to€establish€the€new€911€District.€€Ìà àOn€March€22,€1993,€after€several€months€of€discomfort,€Ms.ÏForbes€met€with€her€physician,€who€confirmed€that€she€had€colonÏcancer€and€scheduled€her€to€enter€the€hospital€on€March€24,€1993.€€Ms.ÏForbes€spent€the€next€two€days€preparing€her€office€for€what€sheÏanticipated€would€be€a€six€to€eight€week€absence.€€Among€other€things,ÏMs.€Forbes€asked€her€son„in„law,€John€Lauderman,€to€come€in€to€assistÏher€with€imputing€computer€information.€€Ms.€Forbes€also€asked€Mr.ÏLauderman€to€assist€in€the€office€until€the€relief€supervisor,€DotÍReynolds,€could€be€available€for€work.€€Ìà àOn€March€23,€1993,€Ms.€Forbes€called€W.J.€McCluskey,€chairman€ofÏthe€911€Board,€to€inform€him€that€she€had€been€scheduled€forÏemergency€surgery,€and€that€she€would€be€out€for€six€to€eight€weeks.€ÏAccording€to€Ms.€Forbes,€Mr.€McCluskey€yelled€at€her€when€she€said€sheÏwould€be€out€of€the€office,€and€told€her€she€would€be€getting€herselfÏinto€trouble.€€Ms.€Forbes€wrote€the€other€911€Board€members€to€informÏthem€of€her€absence.€€Ìà àMs.€Forbes€recovered€from€her€surgery€and€was€told€€by€herÏdoctors€that€she€could€return€to€work€on€May€11,€1993.€€A€few€daysÏprior€to€that€date,€Ms.€Forbes€informed€the€county€attorney,€MichaelÏJennings,€that€she€would€be€returning€to€work.€€Ms.€Forbes€testifiedÏthat,€during€her€entire€absence,€no€one€from€the€911€Board€called€herÏregarding€her€job€duties.€€Ìà àMs.€Forbes€alleged,€and€the€jury€found,€that€the€911€Board€madeÏits€decision€to€demote€Ms.€Forbes€not€at€its€regularly€scheduled€openÏmeeting€on€May€10,€1993,€but€at€a€meeting€of€the€Personnel€PolicyÏCommittee€several€days€earlier€which€was€closed€to€the€public.€€At€theÏclosed€meeting,€Mr.€McCluskey€presented€a€list€of€his€concernsÍregarding€Ms.€Forbesðð€job€performance.€€Ms.€Forbes€testified€that,€priorÏto€her€demotion,€Mr.€McCluskey€had€only€discussed€one€of€the€fifteenÏitems,€a€travel€voucher,€with€her.€€Furthermore,€the€members€of€theÏPersonnel€Policy€Committee€testified€at€trial€that€they€had€noÏindependent€knowledge€of€Ms.€Forbesððs€job€performance€prior€to€theÏprivate€meeting.€€Ms.€Forbes€was€not€contacted€regarding€any€of€theÏaccusations€leveled€by€Mr.€McCluskey€at€the€Personnel€PolicyÏCommittee€meeting.€€At€the€next€regularly€scheduled€meeting€of€theÏBoard,€May€10,€1993,€the€Board€voted,€without€discussion,€to€demoteÏMs.€Forbes€from€the€position€of€full„time€supervisor€to€that€of€part„time€operator.€€Ms.€Forbes€learned€of€the€Boardððs€decision€by€way€ofÏcertified€letter.€€Ìà àThe€jury€found€that€as€a€result€of€her€demotion,€Ms.€ForbesÏsuffered€a€physical€relapse,€embarrassment,€stress,€and€lack€of€sleep.€ÏMs.€Forbes€testified€that,€following€her€demotion,€she€was€neverÏcontacted€by€the€911€Board€to€work€in€any€capacity,€including€that€of€aÏpart„time€operator.Ìà àAppellants€present€eight€issues€for€review;€however,€we€perceiveÏthe€€dispositive€issue€to€be€whether€the€defendant„appellant€violatedÍthe€open€meetings€law.Ìà àThe€legislature€has€declared€that€it€is€the€policy€of€this€stateÏthat€ð ðthe€formation€of€public€policy€and€decisions€is€public€businessÏand€shall€not€be€conducted€in€secret.ðð€€T.C.A.€€ðð€8„44„101€(a)(1993).Ìà àT.C.A.€€ðð€8„44„102€provides,€as€pertinent€to€the€issues€before€us:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àò ò8„44„102.€€Open€meetings€„€ð ðGoverningÏbodyðð€defined€„€ð ðMeetingðð€defined.€„ó ó€(a)€AllÏmeetings€of€any€governing€body€are€declared€toÏbe€public€meetings€open€to€the€public€at€allÏtimes,€except€as€provided€by€the€Constitution€ofÏTennessee.ÌÌà8 àà8 à(b)(1)€ð ðGoverning€bodyðð€means:€(A)€The€membersÏof€any€public€body€which€consists€of€two€(2)€orÏmore€members,€with€the€authority€to€makeÏdecisions€for€or€recommendations€to€a€publicÏbody€on€policy€or€administration€.€.€.€.ÌÌà àà àà àà à*à àà à*à àà à*ÌÌà8 àà8 à(C)(b)(2)€ð ðMeetingðð€means€the€convening€of€aÏgoverning€body€of€a€public€body€for€which€aÏquorum€is€required€in€order€to€make€a€decisionÏor€to€deliberate€toward€a€decision€on€any€matter.ÌÌà8 àà8 à(c)€Nothing€in€this€section€shall€be€construed€asÏto€require€a€chance€meeting€of€two€(2)€or€moreÏmembers€of€a€public€body€to€be€considered€aÏpublic€meeting.€€No€such€chance€meetings,Ïinformation€assemblages,€or€electronicÏcommunication€shall€be€used€to€decide€orÍdeliberate€public€business€in€circumvention€ofÏthe€spirit€or€requirements€of€this€part.ÌÌÓÓà àPublic€notice€must€be€given€of€all€regular€or€special€meetings€of€aÏgovernmental€body.€€T.C.A.€€ðð€8„44„103.€€Secret€votes€are€prohibited,Ïand€minutes€of€the€meeting€are€required.€€T.C.A.€€ðð€8„44„104.€€Ìà àT.C.A.€€ðð€8„44„105€provides€in€pertinent€part:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àò ò8„44„105.€€Action€nullified€„€Exception.€„ó óÏAny€action€taken€at€a€meeting€in€violation€ofÏthis€part€shall€be€void€and€of€no€effect€.€.€.€.ÌÌÓÓà àAt€the€close€of€proof,€the€trial€court€submitted€a€specialÏinterrogatory€form€to€the€jury.€€In€response€to€the€question€ð ðDo€you€findÏthat€the€911€board€made€a€decision€or€deliberated€toward€a€decisionÏwithout€notice€to€the€public,ðð€the€jury€€answered€ð ðyes.ðð€€The€scope€ofÏour€review€of€findings€of€fact€by€the€jury€is€whether€there€is€anyÏmaterial€evidence€to€support€the€verdict.€€T.R.A.P.€13€(d).€€Ìà àThe€trial€court€also,€in€compliance€with€T.C.A.€€ðð€8„44„106€(b),Ïmade€the€following€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à1.€€The€parties€have€stipulated€that€no€noticeÏwas€given€to€the€public€of€the€Personnel€PolicyÏCommittee€meeting€which€occurred€a€few€daysÏbefore€the€May€10,€1993€911€Board€meeting.€Ìà8 àÌà8 àà8 à2.€€Five€(5)€members€of€the€911€Board€attendedÍthe€Personnel€Policy€Committee€meeting,€andÏfive€(5)€members€constitute€a€quorum€for€theÏ911€Board.€€T.C.A.€ðð7„76„105(f).€€Those€membersÏwere€Mr.€McCluskey,€Mr.€Purnell,€Mr.€Davis,€Mr.ÏCarpenter,€and€Mr.€Wharton.€€Ìà8 àÌà8 àà8 à3.€€Mr.€McCluskey,€Chair€of€the€911€Board,€askedÏthe€committee€chair€to€call€the€meeting;Ïtherefore,€this€was€not€a€chance€meeting€orÏinformal€assemblage.ÌÌà8 àà8 à4.€€Mr.€Davis€arranged€for€the€committee€to€meetÏat€the€First€United€Methodist€Church€in€WilsonÏCounty.€€All€prior€committee€meetings€had€beenÏheld€at€the€911€office€on€East€Main€Street€inÏLebanon.€€ÌÌà8 àà8 à5.€€At€the€outset€of€the€meeting,€the€committeeÏchair€stated€that€no€business€was€to€beÏconducted€at€the€meeting.€€However,€that€doesÏnot€mean€that€no€business€was€conducted,€forÏthat€was€the€whole€purpose€of€the€meeting.ÌÌà8 àà8 à6.€€Mr.€McCluskey€had€prepared€a€list€ofÏgrievances€of€problems€he€had€with€Ms.€Forbes.€ÏHe€had€requested€that€the€meeting€be€called€forÏthe€purpose€of€discussing€what€to€do€with€Ms.ÏForbes.€€At€the€meeting,€the€five€(5)€911€BoardÏmembers€discussed€that€list,€deliberatingÏtoward€a€decision€to€demote€her.€€ÌÌà8 àà8 à7.€€Although€the€911€Board€members€claim€thatÏthere€was€no€vote€taken€at€the€Personnel€PolicyÏCommittee€meeting,€there€was€deliberationÏtowards€a€decision€based€upon€Mr.€WhartonððsÏtestimony€and€the€actions€of€the€911€Board€atÍits€subsequent€meeting.€€At€the€subsequent€911ÏBoard€meeting€on€May€10,€1993,€the€911€BoardÏmembers€decided,€without€any€prior€deliberationÏor€any€discussion€with€Ms.€Forbes,€to€demote€Ms.ÏForbes.€€This€May€10,€1993€demotion€of€Ms.ÏForbes€was€an€announcement€of€a€decision€madeÏat€the€Personnel€Policy€Committee€meeting€aÏfew€nights€before€May€10,€1993.€€ÌÌà8 àà8 à8.€€The€Personnel€Policy€Committee€did€not€makeÏa€report€to€the€full€911€Board€at€the€May€10,Ï1993€scheduled€meeting€regarding€its€recentÏmeeting.€ÌÌà8 àà8 à9.€€At€the€May€10,€1993,€911€Board€meeting,€Mr.ÏCarpenter,€a€member€of€the€Personnel€PolicyÏCommittee,€made€the€motion€to€demote€Ms.ÏForbes,€and€Mr.€Davis€seconded€it.ÌÌà8 àà8 à10.€€The€911€Boardððs€decision€to€demote€Ms.ÏForbes,€without€discussion,€at€the€May€10,€1993Ï911€Board€meeting€violated€the€Open€MeetingsÏAct€because€the€Board€deliberated€towards€thatÏdecision€at€a€previous€meeting€not€open€to€theÏpublic.€T.C.A.€ðð€8„44„101€òòet€seq.óó;€ò òòòState€ofÏTennessee€v.€Town€of€Kingston€Springsó óóó,€19ÏTam€40„15€(Tenn.€App.€1993).ÌÌà8 àà8 à11.€€The€May€10,€1993€decision€to€demote€Ms.ÏForbes€is€void€and€of€no€effect.€€Tennessee€OpenÏMeetings€Act,€T.C.A.€ðð€8„44„105.ÌÌÓÓà àOur€review€of€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court€in€civil€actions€isÏòòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€aÍpresumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€finding,€unless€the€preponderanceÏof€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d).€€Ìà àAppellants€assert€that€the€open€meetings€act€is€not€applicable€inÏthe€instant€case€because€the€Personnel€Policy€Committee€is€not€aÏgoverning€body,€the€€committee€did€not€have€any€authority€to€make€anyÏdecision€about€plaintiffððs€job,€and,€regardless,€no€deliberationsÏoccurred€at€the€Personnel€Policy€Committee€meeting.€€Ìà àIn€ò òòòDorrier€v.€Darkó óóó,€537€S.W.2d€888€(Tenn.€1976),€our€SupremeÏCourt,€commenting€on€what€constitutes€a€governing€body€under€T.C.A.€€ððÏ8„44„102€(b)(1),€said:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 à€€It€is€clear€that€for€the€purpose€of€this€Act,€theÏLegislature€intended€to€include€any€board,Ïcommission,€committee,€agency,€authority€orÏany€other€body,€by€whatever€name,€whose€originÏand€authority€may€be€traced€to€State,€City€orÏCounty€legislative€action€and€whose€membersÏhave€authority€to€make€decisions€orÏrecommendations€on€policy€or€administrationÏaffecting€the€conduct€of€the€business€of€theÏpeople€in€the€governmental€sector.ÌÌ537€S.W.2d€at€892.ÌÌÓÓà àBased€on€ò òòòDorrieró óóó,€we€find€that€the€Personnel€Policy€CommitteeÏwas€a€ð ðgoverning€bodyðð€as€contemplated€by€T.C.A.€ðð€8„44„102(b)(1).€ÍMoreover,€there€is€material€evidence€in€the€record€to€support€theÏverdict€of€the€jury€that€the€911€board,€through€the€Personnel€PolicyÏCommittee,€not€only€had€the€authority€to€make€a€decision€aboutÏplaintiffððs€job,€but€did,€in€fact,€make€a€decision€or€deliberate€toward€aÏdecision€regarding€plaintiffððs€employment€at€a€scheduled,€privateÏmeeting,€held€without€notice€to€the€public.€€The€evidence€does€notÏpreponderate€against€the€trial€courtððs€findings€that€the€discussionsÏwhich€were€held€at€that€meeting€culminated€in€a€motion€at€theÏsubsequent€911€Board€meeting€to€demote€Mrs.€Forbes.€€Finally,€theÏpersonnel€policy€committee€maintained€no€minutes€of€its€meeting,€asÏrequired€by€T.C.A.€ðð€8„44„103.€€€€Accordingly,€the€record€supports€aÏfinding€that€the€open€meetings€act€was€violated€and€thus,€that€theÏaction€of€the€911€Board€is€ð ðvoid€and€of€no€effect.ðð€€T.C.A.€€ðð€œ8„44„105.›€ÏSince€the€boardððs€action€is€void,€plaintiff€has€not€been€demoted€and€isÏreinstated€to€her€position€as€supervisor.€€Because€there€was€noÏdemotion,€plaintiff€has€not€been€discriminated€against€ð ðin€the€hiring,Ïfiring€and€other€terms€and€conditions€of€employment,ðð€T.C.A.€ðð€8„50„103(a),€and€thus€has€no€cause€of€action€under€the€handicapÏdiscrimination€laws.€€Ìà àFor€the€reasons€stated€herein,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€courtÏholding€defendants€liable€for€violation€of€the€handicap€discriminationÏstatute€is€vacated.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€holding€thatÏdefendants€violated€the€open€meetings€act€is€affirmed,€and€plaintiffððsÏpurported€demotion€is€void€and€of€no€effect.€€The€case€is€remanded€toÏthe€trial€court€for€such€further€proceedings€as€may€be€necessary€toÏdetermine€proper€compensation€due€plaintiff€from€May€10,€1993.€€TheÏtrial€court€should€also€take€such€additional€steps€as€are€necessary€€toÏcomply€with€the€provisions€of€T.C.A.€€ðð€8„44„106.€€Costs€of€the€appealÏare€assessed€against€the€appellants.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:ÌÌó ó_________________________________Ìò òALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌ_________________________________Ìò òHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó ó̜ԀÔÔ€Ô