ÿWPCM ¦nxÏ…£NõJOãH7·F ÐäÚ< Rù7*±$™Í˘›ü&…K­Âùè4gèÂ'° —$Øq§¶Ë'\;QQ3NþÛ†R>¯PV¹2Ö@#Ï·ÞO’>©»_g»×oôOÕšp>àÍä@Îã„̤•Tµi¸õÅGq9xE/ƒë;$ÍEå#ÁEŠÁÆ8ìÍ<@Vè‘ïÃpþÏ* c :Àãañ”@’iéÏ€íõ+:ý£òSd%Ù‡v(fVèê³{£…´æG#»?¢Ÿ^»+gÒùtÂWÙ5{—Q—âå;&ª—ïDG°ôfùñ3ûïžé÷ÃeADA9ÐÙH¶öÜ`ÜXÞgA6ÿxÁªø³°[įwñ¿ê«G­SªfwN*¬!W¤ Üg<ÊÐH”ïȺp¨®‹¸ÀŒ¬¥è3²­DõÜ°úÃá©ë ̲8¿qÕäT Èå*–hŒ40žK8¿‡tQ¹b^iÓv¬l4›¼‡V¬}>Ñ ‡¾„ãÀ7jXûO@x5dý«/|Xd~]=ô\°”ÿ*R¦ø)ÇÇ}ñÉPx8Ç*Í(–:«À!¤¿”Å£á°\0 u€ÏŽŸ ºÜKÐÖê`RÃßÓ½7ŽÏ°›Ý߶/# ’UN %ë 0¿ñUH°UNøw@F4†š© ±´· 0k  n 0DŽ UNÒ p U:””””””””””””” AQÎÆ 0Då 0D) 0Dmm D/±± Bà D3ýýýýý B0˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(—/Ã$¡¡Ô€X,VXXXÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑTRY(3Ø' LetterY(3Ø' Letter3Ø' Letter3Ø' LetterTÑ<à09Z 0Courier (W1) Regular(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular PUQDRSETU[VUWUXÓ€b©yË&3|xbH ªÝ ƒ œ$ÝÔ€X±jXXXÔÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡ôNÈôXX±jÔÔ‡ôšÂ ôôôNÈÔOnly€the€Release€of€Lien€documents€were€already€a€part€of€the€record,€having€been€attached€as€Exhibits€toÐ ° ÐPlaintiff's€Complaint,€along€with€the€Gipson€Deeds€of€Trust,€Promissory€Notes,€Modifications€and€Security€Agreement.(³(3Ϻ$¤¤Ý ƒ/Ã!ÝÔ€X XXXÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑTRY$3Ø' Letter3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó Ý ƒ œ$ÝÔ€X±jXXXÔÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€XÃàXXX±jÔÔ€ôšÂ ôXXÃàÔThe€Trial€Court€Order,€taken€as€a€whole,€clearly€grants€summary€judgment€only€in€favor€of€TMS.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular fÝ ƒ œ$ÝÔ€X±jXXXÔÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡XÃàXXX±jÔÔ‡ôšÂ ôXXÃàÔPlaintiff's€proposed€order€is€not€in€the€record€on€appeal.€€We€suppose€that€the€underlined€"òòwithoutóó"€wasÐ ° Ðintended€to€read€"òòwithout€prejudice.óó" úÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XäqXXXÔÔ€û XXäqÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XäqX ûÔÐ  ÐÌAugust€27,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd....'ÿÿdxd dÝ ƒ/Ã!ÝÔ€X XXXÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑTRY$3Ø' Letter3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  ÝñXñ›ñXñÔ€XRMXXX ÔÓ  Óò òÔ€¼xM¼XXRMÔÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ LegalY$3Ø' Letter AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' LetterTÑÑ7€<øXXdðdÈ7ÑñbññXñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` 8ttxP°ð  rßñXññbññbññbññXñ›ñXñIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌñbñœßt€ )>.*jxÃÿN` `€€@E‹ ` 8ttxPþð N tß›ñbñAT€NASHVILLEÌó óÔ€XRMX¼¼xMÔÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌJOHN€and€ELIZABETH€GIPSONà h àà À àà  à)Ð | Ì Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p à01A01„9811„CH„00611Ð h ¸ Ðà  àPlaintiffs/Appellantsà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð T ¤ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìvs.à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àAppeal€As€Of€Right€From€TheÐ ,|  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àWilson€County€Chancery€CourtÐ h  ÐSTEVE€TAYLOR;€ROBERT€E.€ENGLISHà À àà  à)Ð T  Ðand€his€wife,€CATHY€Y.€ENGLISH;€TMSà À àà  à)Ð ð@  ÐMORTGAGE,€INC.€d/b/a€THE€MONEY€STOREà  à)à p àTHE€HONORABLE€C.€K.€SMITHÐ Ü,  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àCHANCELLORÐ È Ðà  àDefendant/Appelleeà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð ´ ÐÌÌÌÌÌòòñUñò òñUñFor€the€Appellantsóóà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à€€€€€òòFor€the€Appellee€TMS€Mortgage,€Inc.óóñUñó óñUñÐ <Œ ÐÌJERRY€GONZALEZà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à€€€€€DOUGLAS€A.€BRACEà  àÐ d ÐGRIFFITH€&€GONZALEZ,€P.C.€€€€€€€€à À à€€€€€JOHN€C.€ROCHFORDÐ P ÐLebanon,€Tennesseeà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à€€€€€ORTALE,KELLEY,HERBERT€&€CRAWFORDÐ ì< Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à€€€€€Nashville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌREVERSED€&€REMANDEDà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àSwiney,€J.Ð t"Ä  ÐÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÔ€¼xM¼XXRMÔòòò òOPINIONó óóóÐ '`"% ÐÔ€XRMX¼¼xMÔÓÓÓ  ÓÌà  àà ` àœAppellants€John›€and€Elizabeth€Gipson€("€Plaintiffs")€œasked,›€among€other€requestedÏrelief,€for€the€Trial€Court€to€determine€the€priority€between€Appellee's€œTMS€Mortgage,€Inc.'sÏ("TMS")›€mortgage€lien€interest€œand›€the€mortgage€lien€interest€of€the€œPlaintiffs€in€certain€propertyÏowned€by€the€individual€defendant€Steve€Taylor.›€€Plaintiffs€also€raised€a€fraud€claim€against€theÏoriginal€Defendant,€Taylor.€€The€Trial€Court,€after€œtreating›€œTMS'›€Motion€to€Dismiss€œas›€a€motion€forÏSummary€Judgment€pursuant€to€Rule€56€as€the€Trial€Court€œconsidered›€matters€outside€the€œpleadings,›Ïgranted€œsummary›€œjudgment›€in€favor€of€TMS€and€dismissed€with€prejudice€€Plaintiffs'€suit€againstÏTMS.€€œPlaintiffs›€then€took€a€voluntary€dismissal€without€prejudice€of€their€suit€against€the€individualÏdefendants.€€After€a€complicated€procedural€odyssey€due€to€the€bankruptcy€filing€of€€DefendantÐ ¶848 ÐTaylor,€this€œappeal€by€Plaintiffs€of€the€Trial€Court's€Amended€Order€€granting€summary€judgmentÏto€TMS›€was€submitted€on€briefs.€œPlaintiffs›€œraise›€several€issues€in€their€brief.€€€œPlaintiffs€first›€œclaimÏerror€by›€the€Trial€Court's€granting€of€œsummary›€œjudgment›€to€TMS€œwhen›€the€Plaintiffs€had€not€beenÏserved€thirty€œor›€œmore€days›€before€the€œhearing€on›€TMS'€œmotion.›€€Plaintiffs€œraise›€as€œan€additional›€issueÏœtheir›€claim€that€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€dismissing€Plaintiffs'€case€with€prejudice€as€to€TMS€"whenÏthere€existed€an€11€œU.S.C.›€œðð›€362€œbankruptcy›€œstay›€œon›€œthe€determination›€of€lien€œpriorities."€€For€theÏreasons€herein›€stated,€we€reverse€œthe›€Trial€Court's€œgrant›€of€œsummary›€œjudgment›€and€dismissal€of€theÏPlaintiffs'€complaint€against€œTMS€and€remand€the€case€to€the€Trial€Court.›ÌÓ  Óò òFACTSÐ pÀ Ðó óÓ  Óà  àà ` àPlaintiffs€held€three€promissory€notes€for€loans€made€to€Steve€Taylor€in€the€aggregateÐ H˜ Ðamount€of€$159,982.55,€which€were€secured€by€Deeds€of€Trust€€on€several€parcels€of€real€propertyÏowned€by€Taylor.€These€Deeds€of€Trust€were€recorded€on€February€7,€May€€27,€and€July€30,€1997.€ÏTaylor€sought€to€obtain€a€new€loan€from€TMS,€but€his€application€was€denied€because€of€theÏexistence€of€the€œPlaintiffs'›€liens.€€To€remedy€the€problem,€œTaylor›€obtained,€on€November€17,€1997,Ïthe€œPlaintiffs'›€signatures€on€three€documents€styled€"Full€Release€of€Lien,"€which€purported€toÏrelease€the€three€œPlaintiffs'›€Deeds€of€Trust.€€The€œPlaintiffs›€allege€that€in€return,€Taylor€made€theÏfollowing€oral€representation€to€them,€which€we€reproduce€from€€œPlaintiffs'›€appellate€brief:ÌÓÓÓ*°,XŠX© X°œX*Óà8  à.€.€.€[that]€a€release€of€the€Deeds€of€Trust€would€not€affect€his€debt€to€Plaintiffs€andÏthat€he€would€still€pay€back€every€penny€he€owed€.€.€.€[and]that€the€purpose€of€theÏrelease€was€to€show€Defendant€TMS€Mortgage,€Inc.,€that€he€did€not€owe€any€money.€ÏÐ Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÓà  àà ` àThe€œPlaintiffs'›€releases€were€recorded€November€21,€1997,€and€Taylor€made€noÏfurther€payments€on€tÔ% € Ôhe€notes.€€The€œPlaintiffs›€allege€that€Taylor€"has€further€made€representationsÏto€others€that€he€does€not€intend€to€pay€back€any€of€the€money€owed€to€Plaintiffs."Ìà  àà ` àOn€November€17,€1997,€Taylor€signed€a€Deed€of€Trust€in€favor€of€TMS€Mortgage,ÏInc.,€d/b/a€The€Money€Store,€to€secure€a€note€in€the€amount€of€$76,000.00,€on€property€that€was€theÏsubject€of€Plaintiffs'€Deeds€of€Trust€and€Release€Deeds.€The€TMS€Deed€was€recorded€on€NovemberÏ21,€1997.€€Ìà  àà ` àOn€August€12,€1998,€TMS€filed€a€Motion€to€Dismiss€the€œPlaintiffs'›€Complaint€underÏT.R.C.P.€12.02(6),€and€for€grounds€stated€that€"TMS€was€an€innocent€third€party€with€a€properlyÏrecorded€first€deed€of€trust€on€the€subject€property,€without€actual€or€record€notice€of€any€otherÐ <9Œ49 Ðoutstanding€mortgage."€€The€Motion€was€marked€at€the€bottom€of€the€first€page€with€the€followingÏnotation:ÌÓÓà8  àTHIS€MOTION€IS€EXPECTED€TO€BE€HEARD€ON€THE€òò€€€8th€€€€óóDAY€OFÐ ° ÐSEPTEMBER,€1998€AT€9:00€A.M.€€FAILURE€TO€FILE,€SERVE,€AND€INÏCHANCERY€CASES,€ENTER€IN€THE€MOTION€BOOK,€A€TIMELY€WRITTENÏRESPONSE€TO€THIS€MOTION€WILL€RESULT€IN€THE€MOTION€BEINGÏGRANTED€WITHOUT€FURTHER€HEARING.€Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÓœTMS›€attached€a€Memorandum€of€Law€to€its€Motion€to€Dismiss,€along€with€òòa€copy€of€its€Deed€ofÐ  d ÐTrustóó€and€copies€of€the€œPlaintiffs'›€Releases.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð à 0 Ðà  àà ` àOn€September€3,€1998,€the€œPlaintiffs›€filed€a€Brief€in€Opposition€to€TMS'€Motion€toÏDismiss,€protesting€that€the€requirements€of€the€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€had€not€been€met:€ÌÓÓà8  àA€Rule€12.02(6)€presenting€factual€matters€outside€the€pleadings€will€be€treated€asÏa€motion€for€summary€judgment€under€Rule€56€.€.€.€a€Rule€56€Motion€for€SummaryÏJudgment€must€be€supported€by€affidavits,€depositions,€etc.€€It€must€also€be€servedÏ30€days€before€the€hearing.€€T.R.C.P.€56.04€(A€requirement€not€met€here.)€€Also,€aÏmotion€for€summary€judgment€is€improper€if€no€discovery€has€been€obtained€in€theÏcase.€Ð Ð Ð  Ðà@òò'ìà*€€*€€*ˆÌÌà8  àMoreover,€summary€judgment€shall€be€denied€if€[there€is]€'any€doubt€whether€or€notÏa€genuine€issue€exists.'€€Defendant€TMS'€memorandum€states€that€it€was€an€'innocentÏthird€party€.€.€.€€without€actual€or€record€notice€of€any€other€outstanding€mortgage.'€ÏThis€is€an€issue€of€material€fact€and€is€unsupported€by€affidavits€or€other€evidence€.Ï.€.€.Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌà@òò'ìà*€€*€€*ˆÌà8  àEven€if€the€Court€excludes€outside€evidence€and€treats€defendant's€motion€as€a€RuleÏ12.02(6)€Motion,€the€pleadings,€taken€as€true,€assert€a€claim€for€which€relief€may€beÏgranted.Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÓà  àà ` àPlaintiffs€filed€with€œtheir›€brief€€their€counsel's€Affidavit€stating€that€further€discoveryÏwas€required€and€that€"any€motion€for€summary€judgment€at€this€stage€of€the€case€is€premature."Ìà  àà ` àA€hearing€on€TMS'€Motion€€was€held€on€September€8,€1998,€following€which€counselÏfor€TMS€sent€a€proposed€order€to€counsel€for€the€œPlaintiffs›€on€September€10,€1998.€€On€the€sameÏday,€the€œPlaintiffs€›€filed€an€"Objection€to€Proposed€Order"€under€Local€Rule€18.02:ÌÓÓà8  à.€.€.€[Plaintiffs]€object€to€the€contents€of€the€proposed€order€of€Defendant€TMSÏMortgage,€received€by€Plaintiffs'€counsel€on€September€10,1998.€€Plaintiff's€proposedÏorder€is€attached€showing€the€true€date€of€the€hearing€as€September€8,€1998€(notÏSeptember€7€as€shown€by€Defendant)€and€dismissal€òòwithoutóó€due€to€the€proceedingsÐ .T). Ðin€U.S.€Bankruptcy€Court.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ðê.:*/Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÓà  àà ` àOn€September€15,€1998,€the€Chancellor€signed€and€filed€œTMS's›€Order,€finding€thatÏâ â"TMS€is€not€a€proper€party€to€this€lawsuit€and€that€its€Motion€to€Dismiss€should€be€granted€.€.€.€theÐ ‚2Ò-3 Ðclaims€asserted€on€behalf€of€the€plaintiffs€against€defendant€TMS€Mortgage,€Inc.€are€herebyÏdismissed€with€prejudice."€Ìâ âà  àà ` àœPlaintiffs›€next€filed€a€Motion€to€Alter€Judgment€or€for€Findings€of€Fact€underÏT.R.C.P.€59.04€and€52.01(with€Memorandum€of€Law),€asking€the€Court€"to€alter€or€amend€its€rulingÏor,€in€the€alternative,€for€a€finding€of€fact€in€regards€to€its€dismissing€Plaintiffs'€claim€againstÏDefendant€TMS€Mortgage,€Inc.€òòwithóó€prejudice."€€Ð ¬ ü  Ðà  àà ` àTMS€filed€a€response€with€Memorandum€of€Law,€asserting€that€the€undisputed€factsÏin€evidence,€including€the€admissions€of€the€œPlaintiffs›€in€their€€Complaint€€and€the€TMS€Deed€ofÏTrust,€entitled€them€to€a€summary€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€TMS€also€conceded:ÌÓÓà8  àAs€the€Plaintiffs€correctly€asserted€in€their€Brief€in€Opposition€to€TMS's€Motion€toÏDismiss,€the€Motion€was€disposed€of,€pursuant€to€Rule€12.02(6),€as€a€Rule€56€MotionÏfor€Summary€Judgment€since€matters€outside€the€pleadings€were€presented.€€MoreÏspecifically,€TMS€attached€a€copy€of€the€deed€of€trust,€stamped€by€the€Register'sÏOffice€for€Wilson€County,€showing€the€first€priority€interest€of€TMS€in€the€subjectÏproperty.Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌPlaintiffs€filed€a€Reply€Brief€in€the€Trial€Court€complaining€thatÌÌà8  àA€court€speaks€through€its€written€orders,€and€the€order€signed€by€this€CourtÏdismissed€the€case€under€Rule€12.02(6),€which€is€a€dismissal€on€the€pleadings,€notÏon€the€merits.€€Furthermore,€if€Defendant's€motion€was€treated€as€a€motion€forÏsummary€judgment,€then€Plaintiffs€were€not€give€[sic]€the€required€30€days€underÏRule€56.04€before€the€date€set€for€hearing.€€Defendant's€motion€to€dismiss€was€filedÏon€August€12,€1998€and€set€for€hearing€and€actually€heard€on€September€8,€1998.€Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌà@ÙÙ&ìà*€€*€€*€ˆÌÌà8  àFinally,€Defendants€have€yet€to€show€this€Court€that€the€property€in€question€was€notÏpart€of€the€estate€of€the€debtor,€Steve€Taylor,€protected€from€just€such€rulings€as€theÏone€issued€by€this€Court€under€€ðð€362€of€the€Bankruptcy€Code.€€This€Court€lacked€theÏjurisdiction€to€dispose€of€and€determine€priorities€between€creditors€of€a€bankruptÏestate.Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÓà  àà ` àThe€Trial€Court€entered€an€Amended€Order€on€October€29,€1998,€finding€that€theÏOrder€the€œCourt›€previously€entered€on€September€15,€1998€should€be€amended€to€reflect€that€theÏCourt€considered€the€Defendant's€Motion€to€Dismiss€a€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment€pursuant€toÏRule€56.€€œThe€Trial€Court›€then€found€the€motion€to€be€well€taken€and€granted€œsummary›€œjudgment›Ïœdismissing€the€Plaintiff's€claim€"against›€the€Defendantsœ"׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€on€the€merits€and€with€prejudice.Ð œ1ì,2 Ðà  àà ` àPlaintiffs€œnonsuited›€the€case€against€Defendants€Steve€Taylor,€Robert€English€andÏâ âCathy€English€on€November€2,€1998,€and€appealed€the€Trial€Court's€Amended€Order€to€this€Court.Ð 45„06 Ðà  àà ` àCounsel€for€œTaylor›€filed€a€Plea€of€Bankruptcy€and€Notice€of€Automatic€Stay€in€thisÏâ âCourt€on€February€22,€1999,€which€stated€Taylor€had€filed€a€Chapter€7€Bankruptcy€proceeding€onÏJune€2,€1998.€€œPlaintiffs›€filed€a€Response.€€On€February€25,€1999,€this€Court€stayed€all€proceedingsÏin€this€appeal€pending€further€orders€of€the€Court.€€Ìà  àà ` àTMS€filed€two€motions€in€this€Court€to€lift€the€stay€of€proceedings.€€It€appears€fromÏthe€second€€motion€that€the€United€States€Bankruptcy€Court€for€the€Middle€District€of€TennesseeÏentered€an€order€lifting€the€automatic€stay,€which€provides:Ìà8  à1.à8` Ð Ð àDefendant€TMS€Mortgage,€Inc.€is€dismissed€WITHOUT€prejudice.ÐD” ` x` x ÐÓÓà8  à2.à8` Ð Ð àPlaintiffs€Motion€for€Abstention€and€vacation€of€a€previous€order€ofÐ ` Ðthe€Wilson€County€Chancery€Court€are€withdrawn.Ð ` x` x ÐÌà8  à3.à8` Ð Ð àAll€matters€raised€as€issues€before€the€Tennessee€Court€of€AppealsÐ Â Ðdealing€with€the€order€of€the€Wilson€County€Chancery€Court€forÏwhich€Plaintiffs€sought€an€abstention€are€to€be€adjudicated€by€theÏTennessee€Court€of€Appeals€and€a€Lift€of€stay€is€hereby€granted€inÏthat€proceeding.Ð ` x` x ÐÌÓÓà  àà ` àOn€March€29,€1999,€by€Order€of€this€Court,€the€stay€of€proceedings€entered€onÏFebruary€25,€1999€was€lifted€and€the€appeal€was€submitted€for€a€decision€on€the€record€and€briefsÏon€file.€ÌÓ  Óà @ àà @` àò òDISCUSSIONÐ Š Ú ÐÓ  Óà  àà ` àœó ó€It€is€first€necessary€that€this€Court€address€the€issue€raised€by€Plaintiffs€concerningÐ V"¦! Ðthe€automatic€bankruptcy€stay€as€a€result€of€Taylor's€filing€bankruptcy.€€Plaintiffs€state€this€issue€asÏfollows:€€"The€Trial€Court€erred€in€originally€dismissing€Plaintiffs'€case€'with€prejudice'€as€toÏdefendant€TMS€when€there€existed€an€11€U.S.C.€ðð362€Bankruptcy€Stay€on€the€determination€of€lienÏpriorities."€€ñLñÌà  àà ` àñLñPlaintiffs'€issue€on€the€bankruptcy€stay€was€resolved€by€the€United€States€BankruptcyÏCourt's€order€lifting€the€automatic€stay€and€allowing€this€appeal€to€proceed€as€reflected€by€thisÏCourt's€March€29,€1999€Order.€€The€Agreed€Order€of€the€United€States€Bankruptcy€Court€providedÏthat€"[a]ll€matters€raised€as€issues€before€the€Tennessee€Court€of€Appeals€dealing€with€the€order€ofÏtheWilson€County€Chancery€Court€for€which€Plaintiffs€sought€an€abstension€are€to€be€adjudicatedÏby€the€Tennessee€Court€of€Appeals€and€a€Lift€of€stay€is€hereby€granted€in€that€proceeding."€€SinceÏour€review€of€the€Trial€Court's€grant€of€summary€judgment€to€TMS€is€a€question€of€law,€our€reviewÏis€deòò€óónovo€with€no€presumption€of€correctness€attaching€to€the€Trial€Court's€judgment.€òòEyring€v.€FortÐ æ7639 ÐSanders€Parkwest€Med.€Cenóó.,€991€S.W.€2d,€230,€236€(Tenn.€1999).€€The€Bankruptcy€Court's€orderÐ ²95; Ðlifting€the€stay€to€allow€all€matters€raised€as€issues€before€this€Court€to€be€resolved€de€novo€by€thisÏCourt€renders€moot€Plaintiffs'€bankruptcy€stay€issue€ñQñas€to€ñQññSññRñINñRññSññTñin€ñTñthis€appeal.€€Ìà  àà ` àPlaintiffs€also›€contend€that€the€Trial€Court's€granting€of€œsummary›€œjudgment›€in€favorÏof€TMS€was€error€under€Rule€56€as€the€Trial€Court€"prematurely€dismissed€€plaintiffs'€case€œ'with›Ïœprejudice'›€under€T.R.C.P.€56€even€though€no€discovery€had€been€initiated€or€completed€œand›€non„¼movants€were€not€served€30€days€before€the€œhearing."›€€We€agree.Ìà  àà ` àRule€56€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€provides,€as€pertinent:ÌÓÓà8  àœà ` à56.04›€Motion€and€Proceedings€Thereon.€„€The€motion€shall€be€œÐ Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àserved›€at€least€thirty€(30)€days€before€the€time€fixed€for€the€hearing.ÌÌThis€Court€has€previously€held€that€failure€to€satisfy€the€thirty€day€requirement€œis›€error:€ÌÌà8  àœà ` àIn›€accordance€with€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€12.02,€the€motion€to€dismiss€œshouldÐ Ð Ð  Л€œà  àà ` àhave›€been€treated€as€a€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€The€œChancellor€Ð ¨ø Ðà  àà ` àshould›€have€allowed€the€Appellant€thirty€days€to€present€material€to€œÌà  àà ` àrespond›€to€a€œmotion›€for€summary€judgment€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€œÌà  àà ` àR.›€œCiv.›€P.€56.03.€€œñMñHowever,€the›€issue›€of›€fraud›€is›€not›€normally›€a›€proper›€ñMññQñ›ñQññMñÌà h àà h àsubject›€ñMññQñ›ñQññMñof›€summary›€judgment.ñMñ›€€ÌòòÌœWolfman›€v.€œPinter›,€óóNo.€03A01„9001„CH„00020€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Knoxville€January€31,€1990).Ð &v ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€has€held€that:ÌÌà  àà ` àThe€purpose€of€the€œrule›€is€to€allow€the€opposing€party€time€to€file€Ìà  àà ` àdiscovery€depositions,€affidavits,€œetc.,›€as€well€as€to€provideÌà  àà ` àfull€opportunity€to€amend.€€In€prescribing€the€thirty€(30)€day€periodÌà  àà ` àthe€œrule›€uses€the€word€"shall"€and€we€hold€that€it€is€mandatory€andÌà  àà ` ànot€œdiscretionary.Ìà@\\$ìà*€€*€€*€€*€€ˆÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ à.€.€.[w]here›€there€is€the€slightest€possibility€that€the€party€opposing€Ìà  àà ` àthe€œmotion›€for€œsummary›€œjudgment›€has€been€denied€the€opportunity€Ìà  àà ` àto€file€affidavits,€take€discovery€depositions€or€amend,€by€the€Ìà  àà ` àdisposition€of€a€œmotion›€for€œsummary›€œjudgment›€without€a€œthirty€(30)›€dayÌà  àà ` àinterval€following€the€filing€of€the€motion,€it€will€be€necessary€toÌà  àà ` àremand€the€case€to€cure€such€error.€œòòÐ †)Ö$) ÐÌCraven›€v.€œLawson›,€534€S.W.€œ2d.€653,655›€œ(Tenn.€1976).›ÌÌÓÓà  àà ` àóóTMS€argues€that€this€Court€held€in€òòTeachers€œIns›.€and€Annuity€œAssn.›€v.€Harris,€709Ð -n(- ÐS.W.€œ2d.€592›€(Tenn.€œ1985),€óóthatòò›€óóthe€œTrial›€œCourt's›€failure€to€wait€thirty€days€œbefore€its€hearing€on›€aÐ ê.:*/ Ðœmotion›€for€œsummary›€œjudgment›€does€not€require€that€the€œsummary›€œjudgment›€be€set€œaside.òò€€óóHowever,Ð ¶0,1 Ðin€that€case,€the€non„moving€party€did€not€oppose€the›€hearing€of€the€motion€within€the€thirty€dayÏœperiod€or›€œrequest›€a€continuance,€œnor›€was€œhe€prejudiced›€by€the€premature€hearing.€€œòòSee,óó›€òòTeachers€œIns›.óó€œòòÐ N4ž/5 Ðóóat›€œ595.›€œ€This€Court›€œreasoned›€œthat›€T.R.A.P.€Rule€36€œ(a)€does€not€require€that€relief›€be€granted€to€aÐ 6j17 Ðparty€responsible€for€an€error€or€who€failed€to€take€whatever€action€was€reasonably€available€toÏprevent€or€nullify€the€harmful€effect€of€an€œerror.›€œ€Also,€T.R.A.P.€Rule€36€(b)€provides€that€a€judgmentÐ ²95; Ðwill€not€be€set€aside€for€harmless€error€such€as€where€the€record€shows€no€prejudice€to€the€non„¼movant€or€"prejudice€to€the€judicial€process."›Ìà  àTMS's€argument€must€fail€in€this€case€œbecause,€unlike€the€situation€in€òòTeachers€Ins.,óó›€theÐ H˜ Ðœrecord€here›€shows€that€œPlaintiffs›€objected€to€the€hearing€being€held€prior€to€the€thirty€days€passing,Ïand€in€fact€filed€their€counsel's€œAffidavit›€œpursuant›€to€Rule€56.06€stating€that€no€discovery€had€yetÏbeen€œundertaken›€and€œthat›€the€motion€was€premature€for€that€reason.Ìà  àà ` àA€Rule€56€œsummary›€œjudgment›€is€appropriate€œ"€.€.€.€only›€when€there€is€no€genuine€issueÏas€to€any€material€fact€and€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law."€€òòByrd€v.Ð D”  ÐHall,€847óó€S.Wòò.óó2d€208,€214€(Tenn.€1993).€€€Unless€the€party€opposing€the€Rule€56€œmotion›€has€hadÐ ` Ða€œlegitimate›€opportunity€both€to€discover€facts€and€present€to€the€trial€court€its€position€as€to€theÏexistence€of€a€dispute€as€to€a€œñNñ"ñNñmaterial›€œfact,ñOñ"ñOñ›€a€trial€court€€cannot€determine€whether€or€not€there€is€aÏgenuine€issue€as€to€any€material€œfact.€€Neither€can€this€Court.›€€As€shown€in€the€record€before€thisÏCourt,€€Plaintiffs€complied€with€Rule€56.06€and€submitted€an€œAffidavit›€by€their€attorney€œasserting›Ïthe€necessity€of€further€discovery€and€œthat›€the€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment€was€premature€for€thatÏreason.€€Likewise,€the€record€is€clear€that€Plaintiffs€correctly€argued€to€the€Trial€Court€that€TMS'sÏmotion€was€a€Rule€56€œmotion›€which€required€that€it€be€served€thirty€days€before€the€hearing.€€€œThisÏCourt€cannot€hold€as€a€matter€of€law€from€the€record€that€the€Trial€Court's€decision€to€proceed€withÏthe€hearing€was€harmless€error.›Ìœò òÓ  ÓCONCLUSIONó ó›Ð %X $ ÐÓ  Óà  àà ` àœThe›€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€reversed€and€this€cause€remanded€to€the€TrialÏCourt€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€œOpinion.›€€Costs€on€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€œTMS.›ÌÓÓœÌñPñÌñPññVñÌÌÌñVñÌ›à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________________Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àD.€MICHAEL€SWINEY,€J.ÌÌœÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ²95; ÐñWñ‡ÌÌñWñCONCUR:›ÌÌÌœÌ__________________________________›ÌHOUSTON€M.€GODDARD,€œP.J.›ÌÌÌÌœ__________________________________›ÌCHARLES€D.€SUSANO,€JR.,€J.€