ÿWPCý q±‹q[ø¥¨àÏEoZBÓÍ¿hÉãCX«/éc•?€¯¤Ø`pßÄf:±c <®D> t8Õ†~9Ùeoþ¡ðÑu0Dz@Ê6Ðä/¬fG;6f;µÞULŽ£7;¯pˆ°Ðòx–°È^‡øCÅf^õÎÇSEú©<éÇXõZÊ)e¹]N¸<4ý¯UO¦ÎÅ(³ñ'X’¡ÚƒNÖ°íè×ÄÄW¯çB`t±{øYãJºàA¯v¹ØcœlÓÍ7?ÓÒy2ÀíM”ßPÊ΢-ûòˆ¤Ç:Jln¾JûüÅÒ¦÷ÑSÍHáÄ»0¯ÔFš)‡d)ˆ5 è¿Ú˜e™=,¤%ûÁ?ÒTcZ C»ßvŠJEf¨• °(1f®½¶Œ®AœéÜðºð¬e}=§ÄJ!-I00úÐIŽ„6iõ¹Ï§gdµÊ¨´~¡‚…lÇiaJfê*eî‡ËXðú¿ØÿVoò_CÿnÕ+cu%¾io¦]q¿6¯Úw_rFñXjºyjŽ”‡î§ö}î¾YNß:–РXzU&éèuü0Xj)Á,*C8TY58{ÌÓu Æ½x=-û„R0Qy3±ÙV¯6­X¶*O8òà‚À‚£C)`®ôCb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ U8N· w 4 z Ò— i x mz UN‘ Æß Æ¥ Æk Æ1U N÷NEGGEOOOO 0DQQQQQQ•8™™™™™™™™™™™™™bÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ 0 ÙÙÙÙ Bãã 0¤ D5¤ D-Ù 0K ASQƤ 0¤j 0D A«R˜HP LaserJet 4Si,ü,,,,,ü0»j )L (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularö~ì(¢Ø+00 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular (#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó úÝ ƒR‹$ÝÓ  ÓÔ€ôÅdò»»Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€XºXòôÅdÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ôÅdòXXºÔIn€responding€to€a€motion€to€dismiss€which€raised€a€number€of€procedural€issues,€the€most€relevant€beingÐ ° Ðfailure€to€exhaust€administrative€remedies,€€Mr.€Ô_ÔHerronÔ_Ô€stated,€in€part,€that€his€grievance:Ð xÈ ÐÌà8  àaddressed€only€one€subject:€ð ð[Ô_Ôv]iolationÔ_Ô€of€plaintiffððs€Fourteenth€Amendment€right€to€the€ConstitutionÐ X Ðas€a€result€of€Ô_ÔgrievantÔ_Ô€being€denied€the€equal€protection€and€substantive€due€process€guaranteesÐ Ð  Ðagainst€cruel€and€unusual€punishment€guaranteed€by€the€Eighth€Amendment€by€Warden€Morgan€andÐ ˜è ÐCO1€L.€Lore.ðð...€€The€only€subject€discussed€in€the€grievance€is€violation€of€plaintiffððs€FourteenthÐ ` ° ÐAmendment€right€against€cruel€and€unusual€punishment,€nothing€more.×Ã!×× C ×€Ð( xÐ Ð  ÐÌLike€the€trial€court,€we€believe€it€is€not€inappropriate€to€hold€Mr.€Ô_ÔHerronÔ_Ô€to€his€waiver.òò€See€Smith€v.€Frazieróó,€189€Tenn.Ð ¸   Ð71,€78,€222€S.W.2d€367,€370€(1949)€(Where€a€party€expressly€requests€that€a€court€proceed€in€a€certain€manner,€suchÐ € Ð  Ðparty€ð ðwill€not€be€allowed€to€complain€of€such€action.ðð).€ .Ý ƒRlh$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ‡XãcX»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMr.€Ô_ÔHerronÔ_Ô€also€asserts€that€he€was€not€required€to€file€a€disciplinary€appeal€because€hisÐ ° Ðgrievance€and€this€lawsuit€were€not€ð ðinitiated€as€an€action€predicated€on€the€issuance€of€theÐ  ð Ðdisciplinary€report.ðð€He€states€that€the€disciplinary€action€was€not€a€separate€cause€of€action€and,Ð à Ðthus,€the€disciplinary€appeal€was€not€relevant.€- ù-(›G2‹$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¬|»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€ôÅdò»»Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XºXòôÅdÔ d(|3Á$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¬|»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Á$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¬|»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¬|»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼¬|»»»ÔÑ8€ºXXdð»»d8ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îø?¬|ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼¬|»îîø? #ԈРÜ, Ðà@ÇÇ ìàOctober,€1999€SessionˆÐ X ÐÔ‡XºX»¼¬|ÔÌò òÔ#†¼¬|»XXºù#ÔÓ  ÓISAAC€L.€Ô_ÔHERRONÔ_Ô€v.€JACK€MORGAN,€WARDEN,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XºX»¼¬|Ôó óÐ  ` ÐÓ?ÓÌà@  ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Ô_ÔHickmanÔ_Ô€CountyˆÐ  h Ðà@À À ìàNo.€98„5083C„I€€€€€€Donald€P.€Harris,€JudgeˆÐ  X ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<×` A߈Ð Ø(  ÐÌà@ø ø ìàNo.€M1999„02774„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CVÔ#†¼¬|»XXºŸ#ÔÔ‡XºX»¼¬|Ô€„€Filed€August€9,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ԈР×'  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¶` AßÐ ·  Ðó óÌA€state€prisoner€appeals€the€trial€courtððs€dismissal€of€his€42€U.S.C.€Ô‡X)$ XXXºÔÔ#†¼c( » XX)$–#ÔððÔ#†¼¬|» »¼c(¦#ÔÔ‡XºX»¼¬|Ô€1983€lawsuit€alleging€cruel€andÐ ¶ Ðunusual€punishment€arising€from€a€corrections€officerððs€actions€in€bringing€disciplinary€charges€forÐ Ô$ Ðwhich€the€prisoner€received€a€verbal€warning.€€The€prisoner€also€appeals€the€trial€courtððs€orderÐ Ä Ðdirecting€the€Commissioner€of€Corrections€to€forfeit€a€number€of€the€prisonerððs€sentence€reductionÐ ´ Ðcredits€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð41„21„816€for€filing€a€frivolous€claim.€€Because€the€complaintÐ ¤ô Ðfails€to€state€a€claim€of€a€violation€of€the€Eighth€Amendment,€we€affirm€the€dismissal.€€Because€theÐ ”ä Ðclaim€had€no€basis€in€law€and€no€chance€of€success,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€the€claimÐ „Ô Ðwas€frivolous.€€Because€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð41„21„816Ô#†¼¬|»XXº#ÔÔ‡XºX»¼¬|Ô€does€not€contemplate€court€involvement€inÐ tÄ Ðcalculating€the€appropriate€number€of€credits€to€be€forfeited€for€the€filing€of€frivolous€lawsuits,€weÐ d´ Ðvacate€the€trial€courtððs€order€to€the€Commissioner€of€Corrections.Ð T¤ ÐÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€CourtÐ 4„ ÐAffirmed€in€Part,€Vacated€in€Part€and€Remandedó óÐ $t ÐÓÒ ÓÌòòÔ#†¼¬|»àXº› #ÔÔ‡XºX.¼¬|ÔPatricia€J.€Cottrell,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòBen€H.€Ô_ÔCantrellÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,€M.S.,óóÐ  T Ðand€òòWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ô D ÐÌIsaac€L.€Ô_ÔHerronÔ_Ô,€Only,€Tennessee,€Pro€Se.Ð Ô"$! ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€Michael€Moore,€Solicitor€General,€Pamela€S.Ð ´$ # ÐÔ_ÔLorchÔ_Ô,€Assistant€Attorney€General,€for€the€appellees,€Jack€Morgan,€Warden,€and€Lorenzo€Lore,Ð ¤%ô $ ÐCorrections€Officer.Ð ”&ä!% ÐÌà@55'ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼¬|»XXº´ #ԈРt(Ä#' ЀÌÔ€XºX»¼¬|Ôà  àÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔIsaac€L.€Ô_ÔHerronÔ_Ô,€a€òòóóstate€prisoner,€filed€this€òòpro€se€óócivil€rights€action€òòin€forma€Ô_ÔpauperisÔ_Ôóó.€€€HisÐ |*Ì%) Ðclaims€purportedly€arose€from€a€ð ðverbal€conversation€regarding€the€use€of€the€telephoneðð€withÐ h+¸&* ÐDefendant€Lore,€a€corrections€officer.€€According€to€Mr.€Ô_ÔHerronÔ_Ô,€when€he€requested€a€grievance€formÐ T,¤'+ Ðfrom€Mr.€LoreÔ#†XºX X X)$ä#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ,€who€had€just€spoken€to€him€in€a€derogatory€manner,Ô#†XºX X X)$ #Ô€Mr.€Lore€immediately€retaliatedÐ @-(,ýŽ ÐÔ_Ôby€charging€him€with€a€disciplinary€infraction€for€threatening€and€refusing€a€direct€order€of€aÐ ° Ðcorrections€officer.€€Mr.€Herron€was€tried€in€a€disciplinary€hearing€and€found€guilty€of€this€infractionÐ  ð Ðand€€was€issued€a€verbal€warning.€Based€on€this€incident,€Mr.€Loreððs€alleged€failure€to€give€Mr.Ð à ÐHerron€a€grievance€form€and€his€allegedly€retaliatory€filing€of€a€disciplinary€writeup€against€Mr.Ð €Ð ÐHerron,€Mr.€Herron€sued.Ð pÀ ÐÌÓ  ÓI.Ð P   ÐÓØÓÌà  àAlthough€Mr.€Herron€initialy€alleged€a€variety€of€causes€of€action,€he€affirmatively€waivedÐ 0 € Ðall€his€claims€except€his€claim€€alleging€denial€of€the€Eighth€Amendment€guarantee€against€cruel€andÐ  p  Ðunusual€punishment.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€€The€trial€court€dismissed€this€claim€for€failure€to€state€a€claim€upon€whichÐ `  Ðrelief€can€be€granted.€€We€affirm.Ð P  ÐÌà  àA€motion€to€dismiss€for€failure€to€state€a€claim€upon€which€relief€can€be€granted€tests€onlyÐ à0  Ðthe€sufficiency€of€the€complaint,€not€the€strength€of€the€plaintiff's€proof.€òòSee€Merriman€v.€Smithóó,€599Ð Ð  ÐS.W.2d€548,€560€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1979);€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€12.02(6).€On€a€motion€to€dismiss,€we€mustÐ À Ðtake€the€factual€allegations€as€true€and€may€dismiss€only€if€it€appears€that€the€nonmovant€was€entitledÐ ° Ðto€no€relief€under€the€facts€alleged.€€òòSee€Hishon€v.€King€&€Spaldingóó,€467€U.S.€69,€73,€104€S.Ct.€2229,Ð  ð Ð2232,€81€L.Ed.2d€59,€65€(1984);€€òòGordon€v.€City€of€Hendersonóó,€766€Ô‡X)$ XXXºÔS.W.2dÔ#†XºX XX)$½#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€784,€787€(Tenn.€1989).€Ð à ÐÌà  àWe€find€that€Mr.€Herron€was€entitled€to€no€relief€because€the€allegations€at€issue€simply€doÐ |Ì Ðnot€rise€to€the€level€of€an€Eighth€Amendment€violation.€€Prison€officials€violate€the€EighthÐ h¸ ÐAmendment€only€when€two€requirements€are€met.€€ð ðFirst,€the€deprivation€alleged€must€be,Ð T¤ Ðobjectively,€ððsufficiently€seriousðð€.€.€.€;€a€prison€officialððs€act€or€omission€must€result€in€the€denial€ofÐ @ Ðthe€ððminimal€civilized€measure€of€lifeððs€necessities.ðððð€€òòFarmer€v.€Brennanóó,€511€U.S.€825,€834,€114Ð ,| ÐS.Ct.€1970,€1977,€128€L.Ed.2d€811,€823€(1994)€(citations€omitted).€€ð ðThe€second€requirementÐ h Ðfollows€from€the€principle€that€ððonly€the€unnecessary€and€wanton€infliction€of€pain€implicates€theÐ T ÐEighth€Amendment.ðððð€òòId.€€óóThus,€a€prison€official€must€act€with€a€ð ðsufficiently€culpable€state€ofÐ ð@ Ðmindðð€to€inflict€a€cruel€and€unusual€punishment€under€the€Eight€Amendment.€€òòId.óó;€òòsee€Berryman€v.Ð Ü, ÐRiegeróó,€150€F.3d€561,€566€(6òòthóóÔ#†XºX X X)$#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€Cir.€1998);€òòsee€also€Luther€v.€Comptonóó,€5€S.W.3d€635€(Tenn.€1999).€Ð È ÐPrisoners€who€suffer€pain€needlessly€when€relief€is€readily€available€have€a€cause€of€action€againstÐ ´  Ðthose€whose€deliberate€indifference€is€the€cause€of€the€suffering.€€òòSee€Boretti€v.€Wiscombóó,€930€F.2dÐ ° Ð1150,€1154-55€(6òòthóóÔ#†XºX X X)$þ#Ô€Cir.€1991).€€Here,€Mr.€Herronððs€claim€that€he€was€subjected€to€retaliativeÐ œì Ðdisciplinary€charges€which€resulted€only€in€a€verbal€warning€simply€does€not€rise€to€the€requisiteÐ œì Ðlevel€of€an€ð ðunnecessary€and€wanton€infliction€of€painðð€violative€of€the€Eighth€Amendment.€€Further,Ð ŒÜ ÐMr.€Herronððs€claims€that€he€was€denied€a€grievance€form€when€he€asked€for€one,€even€though€heÐ |Ì Ðobviously€received€a€form€to€initiate€the€grievance€he€claims€as€a€prerequisite€to€this€lawsuit,€doesÐ l ¼ Ðnot€state€a€claim€for€cruel€and€unusual€punishment.€òòSee€Collmar€v.€Wilkinsonóó,€No.€97„4374,€1999Ð \ ¬ ÐWL€623708€at€*3€(6òòthóó€Cir.€Aug.€11,€1999)€(finding€that€a€retaliative,€false€disciplinary€action€did€notÐ L œ Ðviolate€the€Eighth€Amendment).€€Therefore,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€dismissal€of€Mr.€HerronððsÐ < Œ ÐEighth€Amendment€claim.Ð , |  ÐÌà  àà@‘‘)ìàII.ˆÐ  \  ÐÌà  àMr.€Herron€argues€that€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretion€by€finding€that€his€complaint€was€Ð ì<  Ðsufficiently€frivolous€to€warrant€the€forfeiture€of€sentence€credits.€€We€disagree.€€Ð Ü,  ÐÌà  àA€finding€by€a€trial€court€that€an€€òòin€forma€pauperisóó€action€filed€by€an€inmate€is€frivolous€orÐ ¼  Ðmalicious€carries€a€number€of€consequences,€including€authority€for€the€court€to€dismiss€theÐ ¬ü Ðcomplaint€prior€to€service€of€process€on€the€defendants,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„804(a),€paymentÐ œì Ðof€court€costs€and€related€expenses€through€deductions€from€the€prisonerððs€trust€account€andÐ ŒÜ Ðotherwise,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„807,€prohibitions€on€filing€subsequent€lawsuits€until€prior€costsÐ |Ì Ðare€paid,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„812,€and€forfeiture€of€good€conduct€sentence€reduction€credits,Ð l¼ ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„816.€€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„804(b)€sets€forth€three€factors€for€courtsÐ \¬ Ðto€consider€in€determining€whether€a€claim€is€frivolous.€These€factors€are:€"(1)€whether€the€claim€hasÐ Lœ Ða€chance€of€success;€(2)€whether€the€claim€has€a€basis€in€law€and€in€fact;€and€(3)€whether€the€claimÐ <Œ Ðis€substantially€similar€to€a€previous€claim€filed€by€the€inmate.€.€.€."€€Tenn.Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„804(b).€Ð ,| ÐA€claim€which€meets€these€factors€is,€obviously,€also€subject€to€dismissal€for€failure€to€state€a€claimÐ l Ðupon€which€relief€can€be€granted.€€This€court€has€held€that€a€motion€to€dismiss€for€failure€to€state€aÐ  \ Ðclaim€also€constitutes€a€motion€to€dismiss€the€case€as€frivolous.€òò€See€Sweatt€v.€Raneyóó,€No.€W1999„Ð üL Ð02458„COA„R3„CV,€2000€WL€791820€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€14,€2000)€(no€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ð ì< Ð11€application€filed).€€ð ðWe€do€not€wish€to€imply€that€every€complaint€which€fails€to€state€a€claimÐ Ü , Ðunder€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€12.02(6)€is€necessarily€frivolous.ðð€€òòCobb€v.€Wilson,€óóNo.€02A01„9811„Ð Ì! ÐCV000308,€1999€WL€1097847€at€*2€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Oct.€6,€1999)€(no€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11Ð ¼"   Ðapplication€filed)€(relying€parenthetically€on€the€following€language€in€Neitzke€v.€Williams,€490€U.S.Ð ¬#ü! Ð319,€329,€109€S.Ct.€1827,€1833,€104€L.Ed.2d€338,€349€(1989):€"finding€of€a€failure€to€state€a€claimÐ œ$ì" Ðdoes€not€invariably€mean€that€the€claim€is€without€arguable€merit.")€€However,€dismissal€on€suchÐ Œ%Ü # Ðgrounds€certainly€meets€any€minimum€requirement€for€consideration€as€a€frivolous€claim.Ð |&Ì!$ ÐÌà  àòòóóÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔThe€trial€court€herein€found€that€Mr.€Herronððs€claim€had€no€basis€in€law€or€fact€and€had€noÐ \(¬#& Ðchance€of€success€and,€consequently,€found€the€complaint€to€be€frivolous.€€We€review€that€findingÐ H)˜$' Ðunder€an€abuse€of€discretion€standard.€€€€òòSee€Farnsworth€v.€Comptonóó,€No.€02A01„9809„CV„00257,Ð 4*„%( Ð1999€WL€360567€at€*2€€n.1€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€7,€1999)€Ô#†XºX X X)$­.#Ô(no€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed).€Ð  +p&) ÐNot€only€do€we€think€the€trial€court€acted€within€its€discretion,€we€agree€with€its€finding.Ô‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€€Mr.€HerronÔ#†XºX X X)$%1#ÔÐ  ,p'* Ðclearly€failed€to€state€an€Eighth€Amendment€claim€and€expressly€waived€his€other€claims.€€HisÐ ° Ðcomplaint€had€no€chance€of€success€and€no€facts€set€forth€therein€stated€a€cognizable€claim.€€Ð  ð ÐAccordingly,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€Mr.€Herronððs€claims€were€frivolous€within€theÐ à Ðmeaning€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„804(b).Ð €Ð ÐÌà@pp(ìàIII.ˆÐ ` ° ÐÌà  àMr.€Herron€argues€that€the€trial€court€improperly€ordered€the€Commissioner€of€CorrectionsÐ @  Ðto€forfeit€one€hundred€twenty€(120)€days€of€Mr.€Herronððs€sentence€reduction€credits.€ConsiderationÐ 0 € Ðof€this€argument€must€begin€with€the€statutes€which€authorize€such€forfeiture.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÐ  p  Ð41„21„816€(a)€provides:Ð `  ÐÌà8  àThe€commissioner€shall€forfeit€an€inmateððs€good€conduct€sentence€reduction€creditsÐ ð@  Ðin€the€amount€specified€in€subsection€(b)€on:Ðà0 Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  à(1)€Receipt€by€the€department€of€a€certified€copy€of€a€final€order€of€a€state€or€federalÐ À Ðcourt€that€dismisses€as€frivolous€or€malicious€a€claim€or€lawsuit€filed€by€an€inmateÐ ° Ðwhile€the€inmate€was€in€the€custody€of€the€department;€andРðÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  à(2)€A€determination€that€the€department€has,€on€one€(1)€or€more€occasions,€receivedÐ €Ð Ða€certified€copy€of€a€final€order€of€a€state€or€federal€court€dismissing€as€frivolous€orÐ pÀ Ðmalicious€a€claim€or€lawsuit€filed€previously€by€the€inmate€while€the€inmate€was€inÐ `° Ðthe€custody€of€the€department.€ÐP Ð Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„816(a).Ð 0€ ÐÌà  àSubsection€(b)€of€€ðð€41„21„816€sets€out€the€amount€of€sentence€reduction€credits€theÐ ` ÐCommissioner€is€to€forfeit,€depending,€essentially,€on€the€number€of€cases€the€prisoner€has€filedÐ P Ðwhich€have€been€dismissed€as€frivolous.Ð ð@ ÐÌà  àUnder€our€reading€of€the€statute,€authority€for€the€forfeiture€of€credits€and€the€determinationÐ Ð  Ðof€the€number€of€credits€to€be€forfeited€is€given€to€the€Commissioner.€€We€see€no€basis€for€the€trialÐ À! Ðcourtððs€judgment€directing€the€Commissioner€to€forfeit€a€specific€number€of€credits.€€The€judicialÐ °"  Ðfunction€lies€in€the€determination€of€the€merits€of€the€lawsuit€and€whether€it€was€frivolous,€and€theÐ  #ð! Ðcourtððs€responsibility€with€regard€to€the€implementation€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€€ðð€41„21„816€is€to€sendÐ $à" Ðto€the€Department€of€Correction€a€certified€copy€of€its€final€order€dismissing€a€claim€as€frivolous.€Ô‡ X)$ XXXºÔÐ €%Ð # ÐòòSee€óóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€41„21„807(a).€€Ô#†XºX X X)$°<#ÔBecause€forfeiture€and€the€number€of€days€forfeited€areÐ p&À!$ Ðtriggered€by€receipt€by€the€Department€of€certified€orders€dismissing€cases€as€frivolous,€theÐ p'À"% ÐCommissioner€is€in€the€position€to€apply€the€statute€according€to€its€terms.€In€view€of€the€languageÐ `(°#& Ðof€the€statute,€the€trial€courtððs€order€directing€the€Commissioner€to€forfeit€one€hundred€and€twentyÐ P) $' Ð(120)€days€of€Mr.€Herronððs€sentencing€credits€is€vacated.€€This€holding€in€no€way€prevents€theÐ @*%( ÐCommissioner€from€fulfilling€his€responsibility€under€the€statute.Ð 0+€&) ÐÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔÐ  ,p'* Ðà  àÔ#†XºX X X)$µ?#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔOur€decision€to€vacate€the€order€directing€the€reduction€of€the€sentencing€credits€on€theÐ ° Ðground€that€the€trial€court€acted€beyond€its€authority€Ô#†XºX X X)$@#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔrenders€moot€other€issues€raised€by€Mr.€HerronÐ œì Ðregarding€that€forfeiture.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà@ll)ìàIV.ˆÐ `° ÐÌà  àIn€its€final€order,€the€trial€court€ordered€that€court€costs€and€filing€fees€be€taxed€to€Mr.€HerronÐ 8 ˆ Ðand,€acting€pursuant€to€Ô#†XºX X X)$ÿ@#ÔÔ‡X)$ XXXºÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÔ#†XºX XX)$|B#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€41-21-812Ô#†XºX X X)$ÒB#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ,€directed€the€clerk€to€decline€for€filing€all€Mr.Ð $ t ÐHerronððs€other€claims€not€seeking€injunctive€relief€from€an€act€or€failure€to€act€that€created€a€threatÐ  ` Ðof€serious€physical€injury€or€irreparable€physical€harm€until€he€paid€those€costs.€€For€the€first€timeÐ ü L  Ðon€appeal,€Mr.€Herron€challenges€the€constitutionality€of€€Ô#†XºX X X)$C#ÔÔ‡X)$ XXXºÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÔ#†XºX XX)$ÜD#Ô€41-21-812.€€This€issueÐ è 8  Ðcannot€be€raised€and€heard€for€the€first€time€on€appeal.€òò€See€LawrenceÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€v.€Stanford,óó€655€S.W.2d€927,Ð è8  Ð929€(Tenn.€1983).Ð è8  ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàV.ˆÐ À  ÐÌà  àIn€the€trial€court,€€Mr.€Herron€sought€an€order€directing€the€office€of€the€Attorney€General€toÐ ˜è Ðrecuse€itself€from€this€civil€rights€action.€€The€trial€court€denied€that€motion.Ô#†XºX X X)$§E#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€€On€appeal,€Mr.€Herron€Ð „Ô Ðmaintains€that€the€defendants€were€sued€in€their€personal€capacities€only,€and€were€sued€for€criminalÐ pÀ Ðacts,€€and€thus€were€not€entitled€to€representation€by€the€Attorney€General.Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àÔ#†XºX X X)$AG#ÔÔ‡X)$ XXXºÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÔ#†XºX XX)$˜H#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€8„42„103€grants€the€Attorney€General€the€discretion€to€provide€legalÐ 4„ Ðrepresentation€to€state€employees€who€are€sued€in€€civil€actions€for€damages€for€any€acts€or€omissionsÐ  p Ðoccurring€within€the€scope€of€their€employment.€€€The€record€clearly€shows€that€defendants€wereÐ  \ Ðstate€employees€acting€within€the€scope€of€their€employment€when€the€cause€of€action€arose.€€Thus,Ð øH Ðthe€Attorney€General€and€Reporter€was€acting€within€his€discretion€when€he€decided€to€provideÐ ä4 Ðrepresentation€to€the€defendants.€€The€Attorney€General€may€provide€such€representation€throughÐ Ð  Ðhis€assistants€or€through€other€attorneys.€€ð ðThe€method€of€providing€representation€is€within€the€soleÐ ¼  Ðdiscretion€of€the€attorney€general€and€reporter.ðð€Ô#†XºX X X)$îH#ÔÔ‡X)$ XXXºÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÔ#†XºX XX)$‰L#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€8„42„103(a)(3).Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àFurther,€Ô#†XºX X X)$ßL#ÔÔ‡X)$ XXXºÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÔ#†XºX XX)$\M#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔ€8„42„108€states,€ð ðà8 @d àAll€decisions€and€determinations€of€theÐ € Ð Ðattorney€general€and€reporter€shall€be€final€and€shall€not€be€reviewable€by€any€court.ðð€€Thus,€theÐ l!¼ ÐAttorney€Generalððs€exercise€of€discretion€here€is€not€reviewable.€€We€affirm€the€trial€court€on€thisÐ X"¨  Ðissue.€Ô#†XºX X X)$²M#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔÐ D#”! ÐÌà@SS(ìàVI.€ˆÐ %l # ÐÔ#†XºX X X)$OO#ÔÔ‡X)$ XXXºÔÌà  àAccordingly,€the€decisions€of€the€trial€court€to€dismiss€the€underlying€action€and€to€deem€theÐ ô&D"% Ðclaims€asserted€frivolous€within€the€meaning€of€Ô#†XºX XX)$ÓO#ÔTenn€Code€Ann€ðð€41-21-804(a)(2)Ô‡X)$ XXXºÔ€are€affirmed.€€The€Ð  à'0#& Ðtrial€courtððs€order€to€the€Commissioner€to€forfeit€a€specific€number€of€sentence€credits€is€vacated€andÐ ° Ðthe€case€is€remanded€for€such€proceedings€as€are€necessary.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€toÐ œì ÐAppellant€Ó*S,X„Xz –X°œX*ÓÔ#†XºX XX)$çP#ÔÔ‡ X)$ XXXºÔfor€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð ˆØ ÐÔ#†XºX X X)$xR#ÔÌÌÌà ½ àà  àà × àà m àà Å àà  àà u à__________________________________________Ð D ” Ðà ½ àà  àà × àà m àà Å àà  àà u àPATRICIA€J.€COTTRELL,€JUDGEÐ 4 „ Ð