ÿWPCØ exg5‚GjTU=šC_­5ŸC­±®Lê©×¾‘"Ì`ÓCÒ$Z›@Œþ…5Ý8:´¤Æq㯟_¬„vÊŸ<¥Ê͸Å=ãäîÓVaúÛvôTwÁ/45¬ä*BßïÛfºþ!:A5¹µ4¯A‚þ¢jŸ:Õ/†°¦b5²ˆv€KUúkšï]a2ÛáëQXW™èÛKàþ\oPxm%|Ar>ÐúÎØÕéAðqè×å-_V*WüŸ¡ËË“Ì¿w­žür>ÛÊô F!NŸz¨Q¤üÝàηÀ6 Ã|´ñìæ—ñCòùCkŽºµe×jé¢ëGÇUgÍ^ÜZìT¯‹/×T»n€ÂG8YúÂî¸ËñÁõçÖÿ¢WÅcR ú2è,æcÔŠö’Ô(’‡ë…*8²å·š"¶h÷æ)°GÇÖ?>à7åá²·«:³<Óx‘â'iÄyP^ôʲõ!‘*d ²°ë¹#ÑÅâbŠÀ•œÆ{ÇîÍ×à(C·Œ¬Q±@^“kk[þþþþþ AQYƪ 0Dp 0D´ 0Døø D/<< Bk D3ˆˆˆˆˆ B»˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX0¹V$¡legalÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€XUXXXÔÓÓÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑ w Dx y Uz U{ U| D} D~  € Ó€©yË&3|x‰ H ÔÝ ƒ )$ÝÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€ X’•XXXÔÓÓÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡ ôŽ«ôXX’•ÔÓÓThese€and€all€other€documents€filed€pro€se€by€the€Petitioner€are€mostly€unintelligible,€making€review€byÐ ° Ðthe€Trial€Court€and€this€Court€difficult.€€We€observe€that€Petitioner's€decision€to€terminate€the€services€of€€counselÏwas€ill„considered.(Õ(3™ý$¤¤Ý ƒV!ÝÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€XSXXXÔÓÓÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular úÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€Xx*XXXÔÔ€'SXXx*ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€Xx*X'SÔÐ  ÐÌAugust€27,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular #Ý ƒ )$ÝÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€XòÍXXXÔÓÓÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓÔ€ôþÎôXXòÍÔThe€Exhibit€indicates€that,€upon€motion€of€the€United€States€Attorney,€the€Court€dismissed,€withoutÐ ° Ðprejudice,€counts€1,€5,€8€and€12€against€the€Petitioner.€€The€outcome€of€the€federal€prosecution€as€to€any€otherÏcounts€is€unknown,€except€that€Petitioner€does€admit€that€"I€was€only€prosecuted€under€Federal€jurisdiction." uÝ ƒ ™ý$ÝÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€XSXXXÔÓÓÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡ô™ÛôXXSÔÓÓThese€and€all€other€documents€filed€pro€se€by€the€Petitioner€are€mostly€unintelligible,€making€review€byÐ ° Ðthe€Trial€Court€and€this€Court€difficult.€€ jÝ ƒ ™ý$ÝÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€XSXXXÔÓÓÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€ô™ÛôXXSÔÔ‡XSXôô™ÛÔÓÓ€Ô#†ô™ÛôXXS»#ÔThis€new€list€included€portable€gold€and€silver€scales,€kevlar€bulletproof€vests,€stun€guns,€weaponsÐ ° Ðholsters€and€rifle€scopes,€boxes€of€ammunition,€bearcat€scanners,€bow€and€arrow€sets,€an€electric€guitar,€oak€desk,Ïgold€necklaces,€40€pocket€knives,€eight€gold€and€silver€bracelets,€eight€sets€of€gold€wedding€bands,€30€looseÏdiamonds,€numerous€loose€sapphires,€rubies€and€pearls,€ten€"krugrans,"€a€camcorder,€antique€jars,€and€other€items.€ÏHe€also€claimed€$10,000.00€property€damage€and€$15,000.00€for€the€loss€of€his€Rottweiler€which€was€shot€andÏkilled€by€the€arresting€agent.€ #Ñ#€Pÿÿd#Ñ ‰Ý ƒ )$ÝÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€X²¤XXXÔÓÓÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓÔ€ôn¡ôXX²¤Ô€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÔ‡X²¤Xôôn¡Ô€Ô#†ôn¡ôXX²¤â#Ô40„33„213(a)€provides€that€the€reviewing€court€shall€use€the€preponderance€of€theÐ ° Ðevidence€standard€in€determining€whether€to€sustain€or€reverse€the€final€order€of€the€applicable€agency.€€However,€Ïsince€this€is€not€a€decision€on€the€merits,€the€appropriate€standard€of€review€is€that€set€forth€in€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð€4„5„322(h)(1„4). QÝ ƒ )$ÝÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€XòÍXXXÔÓÓÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓÔ€ôþÎôXXòÍÔFor€instance,€his€request€to€proceed€òòin€forma€pauperis€óówas€first€denied€because€Petitioner€wasÐ ° Ðincarcerated€in€Kentucky€and€thus€not€a€citizen€of€Tennessee,€but€upon€reconsideration,€the€Trial€Court€grantedÏthe€request€because€the€Petitioner's€home€address€at€the€time€of€his€arrest€was€in€Tennessee.€Upon€another€motionÏof€the€Petitioner,€the€Trial€Court€ordered€the€Department€of€Safety€to€furnish€him€a€printout€of€all€property€seizedÐ ê: Ð Ðby€the€Tennessee€Bureau€of€Investigation.€€Ruling€in€his€favor€in€another€motion,€the€Trial€Court€granted€him€anÏextension€of€time€in€which€to€file€a€brief.!"#$&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 ƒV!ÝÒ°ÒÒÀ°ÒÔ€XSXXXÔÓÓÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ý›ò òòòÑ€jÕÑÓÓñ€ ñœßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@E»±` 8ttxPó°ð  rß›ñ€ ñà@% % àóóIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@žž(àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÓìÓòòÌÌÌÓÓó óóóPAUL€C.€KESTERSON,à h àà À à)à  àÐ  ` Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)€€à  à01A01„9805„CH„00256Ð ü L  Ðà ` àPetitioner/Appellantà h àà À à)à  àÐ è 8  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìvs.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)à  àAppeal€As€Of€Right€From€TheÐ À  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)à  àDAVIDSON€COUNTY€CHANCERY€COURTÐ ¬ü  ÐMICHAEL€C.€GREENE,€à h àà À à)à  àÐ ˜è  ÐCOMMISSIONER€OF€THEà h àà À à)à  àÐ „Ô  ÐTENNESSEE€DEPARTMENT€OFà À à)Ð pÀ ÐSAFETY,à ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)à  àHON.€IRVIN€H.€KILCREASE,€JR.Ð \¬ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)à  àCHANCELLORÐ H˜ Ðà ` àœRespondent/Appellee.ñ} ñà À àñ} ñ›à À à)à  àÐ 4„ ÐÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à  àà h àà À àà  àFor€the€Appellee:Ð ä4 ÐÌó óóóPAUL€C.€KESTERSONà h àà À àà  àPAUL€G.€SUMMERSÐ ¼  ÐPro€Seà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àAttorney€General€and€ReporterÐ ¨ø ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPAULA€D.€GODSEYÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àCounsel€for€the€StateÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àNashville,€Tennessee€37243„0494ÌÌœÌAFFIRMED›à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àSwiney,€J.Ð #l! ÐÌòòÌà@DD(àò òO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óˆÐ à%0!$ ÐÌÌóóÓÓà ` àThis€appeal€involves€the€forfeiture€of€silver€and€gold€bars,€guns€and€collectable€coinsÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwhich€were€seized€from€the€Petitioner's€residence€by€the€27th€Judicial€Drug€Task€Force€pursuantÏto€a€drug„related€arrest.€€The€Commissioner€found€Petitioner€in€default€for€failing€to€appear€atÏthe€forfeiture€hearing€and€œforfeited€his€property€to€the€Drug€Task€Force.€€The€Trial€CourtÏaffirmed,€and€the›€Petitioner€appeals€pro€œse,€asking€this€Court€to€consider€the€case€on€the€merits.›€œÏThe€decision€of€the€Commissioner,€affirmed€by€the€Trial€Court,€was€a€default€judgment€and€notÏon€the€merits.›€œWe›€find€thatÔ% € Ô€œthe€Trial€Court€did€not€err€in€affirming€the€Commissioner's€defaultÏjudgment.€€Accordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€affirmed.Ìà@µµ)àò òòòBACKGROUNDˆÐ d7´27 Ðó óóóà ` àOn€December€16,€1993,€Investigator€David€Moore€of€the€27th€Judicial€Drug€Task€ForceÐ <9Œ49 Ðseized€personal€property€in€the€possession€of€Paul€Kesterson€[Petitioner]€at€Kesterson's€homeÐ ;d6; ÐÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  Ññ€ ñÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  ÑÑjÕÑÑ7€SXdìXXdì7ÑÑ  Ññ€ ñon€Swinging€Limb€Road€in€Dresden,€incident€to€his€arrest€on€drug„related€charges.€€Items€seizedÐ ° Ðñ} ñÑjÕÑÑ7€â–XdæXXdæ7ÑÑ  Ññ} ñincluded€at€least€700€silver€dollars,€4,500€silver€half€dollars,€numerous€silver€quarters,€dimes€andÏnickels,€five€gold€bars,€eight€silver€bars,€30€handguns,€28€rifles€and€shotguns€and€a€GraniteÏsecurity€safe.€€Ìà ` àPetitioner€obtained€the€counsel€of€two€attorneys,€each€of€whom€filed€a€separate€claimÏfor€recovery€of€the€property.€€On€January€26,€1994,›€attorney€Lawrence€White€of€Memphis€filedÏa€€Claim€for€Return€of€Property€with€the€Commissioner€of€Safety.€€The€following€day,€attorneyÏMichael€W.€Whitaker€of€Covington€filed€a€letter€with€the€Commissioner€of€Safety€indicatingÏthat€he€represented€Petitioner€and€requesting€a€hearing€and€a€return€of€the€œproperty.€€TheÏDepartment€of€Safety€wrote€to€the€Petitioner,€asking€him€which€of€the€two€attorneys€wouldÏrepresent€him€at€a€hearing€set€for€April€13,€1994,€but€the€letter€was€returned€to€the€DepartmentÏmarked€"addressee€unknown."›Ìà ` àPetitioner's€forfeiture€hearing€was€first€set€for€April€13,€1994,€and€both€attorneysÏreceived€notice.€€The€hearing€was€re„set€for€August€23,€1994,€œthen€for€December€7,€1994,€andÏthen›€for€February€28,€1995,€and€attorney€White€received€œnotice€of€each€hearing€date.€€TheÏCommissioner€found€that€the€hearings€were€continued€at€the€request€of€the€Petitioner€or€hisÏcounsel,€and€the€Petitioner€does€not€question€that€finding.›€€€Ìà ` àOn€May€29,€1996,€Petitioner€sent€letters€to€attorneys€White€and€Whitaker€asking€for€hisÏfile€and€informing€White€that€"I€feel€that€you€should€have€done€a€better€job€for€me.€€So€I€amÏgoing€to€go€pro€se€in€order€to€try€to€get€my€property€back."œÌÒ„ÀÒà ` àOn€June€4,€1996,€the€Commissioner€received€a€letter€from€the€Petitioner€requestingÏinformation€about€his€claim€and€providing€his€address€at€a€Lexington,€Kentucky€federal€prisonÏmedical€facility.€€On€June€20,€1996,€he€sent€a€pro€se€"Notice€of€Motion"€and€"Certification€inÏSupport€of€Releasing€Seized€Property"€to€the€"District€Court€of€Weakley€County,"€which€wasÏforwarded€to€the€Appeals€Division€of€the€Department€of€Safety.€€He€alleged€that€his€property€wasÏnot€obtained€with€drug€proceeds€or€by€any€other€illegal€activity€and€that€"the€attorneys€in€questionÏâ âabandoned€me€and€failed€to€put€me€on€notice€that€I€would€have€to€appear€in€Court€to€defend€myÐ  4ð/4 Ðproperty."ñ~ ñ׃×ñ~ ññ~ ñ׃ ×ñ~ ñÝ ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€€€He€attached€a€copy€of€the€receipt€for€seized€property€which€the€Drug€Task€Force€hadÐ ° Ðgiven€him,€as€well€as€a€five€page€list€of€items€he€alleged€had€also€been€seized.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ˆØ Ðâ âà ` àThe€Department€of€Safety€responded€to€his€inquiry€by€œletter€of€July€9,€1996,›€informingÏhim€that€his€attorney€had€placed€the€seized€property€on€hold,€and€that€a€hearing€would€be€heldÏin€the€month€of€October,€1996.€€€He€replied€œon€July€16,€1996,€that›€numerous€items€were€seizedÏand€never€turned€over€to€the€Department€of€Safety€and€that€he€œconsidered›€these€items€to€haveÏbeen€stolen,€and€œrequested›€an€investigation.€€œHe€also€stated€that€€"I€was€never€notified€by€attorneyÏas€to€the€status€of€my€property.€€Therefore,€any€default€question€is€the€fault€of€my€attorney.€"€€The›ÏDepartment€of€Safety€replied€œon€July€25,€1996,€informing€Petitioner€that›€most€of€the€issues€raisedÏœby€Petitioner€were›€not€within€its€jurisdiction€and€œadvising€him›€œof€the€next€step€to›€proceed€inÏclaiming€the€property€under€its€control.Ìà ` àOn€September€5,€1996,€the€Department€sent€Petitioner€notice€that€the€hearing€was€resetÏfor€October€7,€1996,€and€informing€him€that€"[œa]ny›€party€has€the€right€to€be€represented€byÏcounsel."€€œPetitioner€first›€asked€for€a€30„day€continuance€and€for€appointment€of€counsel.€œTheÏrecord€does€not€show€that€the€request€for€a€30„day€continuance€was€granted.Ìà ` àOn›€September€23,€1996,€œPetitioner›€sent€a€pro€se€"Notice€of€Motion"€and€"CertificationÏin€Support€of€Releasing€Property,"€which€was€filed€with€the€Department€of€Safety€on€SeptemberÏ30,€1996.€€€œWe€quote€several€of€€his€allegations€in€the€"Certification"€which€are€pertinent€here:ÌÓÓà8 ` à4)à0¸ ` ü!` ü!àExhibit€G€is€a€default€ORDER,€which€formally€confiscates€the€propertyÐ %X $ Ðand€monies€cited€within€exhibit€A.€€This€ORDER€was€issued€ex€parte€andÏpetitioner's€attorney€failed€to€appear€in€Court,€or€provide€petitioner€withÏany€kind€of€NOTICE€that€petitioner€was€required€to€defend€the€ownershipÏof€his€property€cited€within€exhibit€A.Ð ¸ ü!¸ ü! Ðà@‚‚*®à*€€€*€€€*ˆÌà8 ` à10)à0¸ ` ü!` ü!àI€was€not€prosecuted€within€State€jurisdiction,€however,€State€officialsÐ l*¼%* Ðconfiscated€the€property€cited€attached€hereto.Ð ¸ ü!¸ ü! Ðà@´´+®à*€€*€€*ˆÌà8 ` à11)à0¸ ` ü!` ü!àI€was€only€prosecuted€under€federal€jurisdiction.€€Therefore,€the€State€hasÐ -n(- Ðno€right€to€take€my€property€without€due€process€of€law,€or€with€dueÏprocess€of€law.Ð ¸ ü!¸ ü! Ðâ âà@‚‚*®à*€€€*€€€*ˆÐ Ð/ +0 Ðà8 ` à13)à0¸ ` ü!` ü!àEXHIBITS€H„1€thru€EXHIBITS€H„4€are€criminal€docket€sheet€fromÐ ° ÐWeakely€County€Circuit€Court,€in€which€shows€dismissal€of€charges€onÏdates,€which€properties€was€seized.Ð ¸ ü!¸ ü! Ðâ âà@®®.®àˆÌà8 ` à14)à0¸ ` ü!` ü!àFurthermore,€EXHIBIT€F„1€shows€dismissal€of€Federal€Indictment€ofÐ H˜ Ðcharges,€which€Federal€Gov.€pick€up€from€the€state€in€which€the€StateÏdelinguished€ñ ñ[sic]€ñ ñjurisdiction€over.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð d¸ ü!¸ ü! ÐÌà8 ` à15)à0¸ ` ü!` ü!àI€further€contend€that€the€State€Authorities€relinguished€jurisdiction€onceÐ à 0 Ðthey€turned€the€prosecution€over€to€federal€authorities.€€The€state€does€notÏhave€subject€matter€jurisdiction€to€seize€my€property.Ð ¸ ü!¸ ü! ЀÌÓ Óà ` àThe›€document€is€œgenerally€unclear,›€but€œit€is€clear›€that€œPetitioner›€œwas€on€notice€of€theÏOctober›€7,€œ1996€hearing€and€intended€to€appear›€to€contest€the€œseizure:›ÌÓÓà8 ` àSIR/MADAM:Ð ` ü!` ü! Ðà8 ` àPLEASE€TAKE€NOTICE€,€that€the€undersigned,€IN€PROPRIA€PERSONA,€willÏrespectfully€move€the€presiding€Judge€of€the€District€Court€of€Tennessee,€inÏDavidson€County€Chancery€Court.€€Of€the€Administrative€procedures€Division,Ïof€the€office,€of€the€Secretary€of€State,€17th€Floor,€James€K.€Polk€Bldg.,ÏNashville,€Tennessee.€€On€Oct.€7,€1996,€or€soon€thereafter€as€movant€may€beÏheard€for€an€ORDER€granting€petitioner's€motion,€for€the€return€of€seizedÏproperty€an€any€other€relief€this€COURT€deems€necessary.Ð ` ü!` ü! Ðà8 ` àà ¸ àPetitioner€will€rely€on€the€hereto€attached€CERTIFICATION€andÏEXHIBITS,€unless€otherwise€directed€by€this€HONORABLE€COURT.Ð ` ü!` ü! ÐÌÓÓà ` àThe€hearing€was€held€on€October€7,€1996,€and€Petitioner€did€not€appear€in€person€or€byÏcounsel.€€On€October€15,€1996,€the€Commissioner€entered€a€forfeiture€order€by€default€pursuantÏto€that€hearing€for€"assorted€silver€coins/silver€and€gold€bars/granite€safe,"€which€was€affirmedÏby€the€Appeals€Division€of€the€Department€of€Safety€on€the€same€day.€€On€November€12,€1996,Ïthe€Commissioner€entered€a€forfeiture€order€by€default€pursuant€to€the€same€hearing€for€58Ïweapons,€which€was€also€affirmed€by€the€Appeals€Division.€€Ìà ` àPetitioner€then€filed€this€suit€pro€se€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€County,€seekingÏreview€of€the€action€of€the€Department€of€Safety€and€asking€for€the€appointment€of€counsel.€€TheÏTrial€Court€declined€to€appoint€counsel€and€informed€Petitioner€that€"the€Court€does€not€haveÏthe€legal€authority€to€appoint€counsel€to€represent€the€Petitioner€in€this€civil€action."€€PetitionerÏfiled€various€pro€se€pleadings,€each€one€difficult€to€understand,€from€November€1996€throughÏJanuary€œ1998.€€The€Trial€Court€issued€Orders€on€the€motions,€in€several€instances€rulingÏfavorably€towards€the€Petitioner.׃Ê×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€€On€January€5,€1998,€Petitioner€wrote€a€letter€to€the€Clerk€ofÐ ‚2Ò-3 Ðthe€Chancery€Court€stating€that€".€.€.€the€State€of€Tennessee€has€sold€the€property€in€question€ofÏthis€litigation€which€is€before€this€Court€at€this€time."€€€Petitioner€continued€to€file€numerous€proÏse€pleadings,€complaining€of€the€auction€of€his€property.Ìà ` àThe€Trial€Court€issued€a€Memorandum€and€Order€on€April€22,€1998,€finding€that€theÏmerits€of€the€forfeiture€case€were€improperly€before€that€Court,€as€the€Commissioner€did€notÏdecide€the€case€on€the€merits:€€ÌÓÓà8 ` àTenn.€Code€Ann.ðð€4„5„309(a)€and€Rule€1340„2„2„.17€of€the€Rules€of€ProcedureÏfor€Drug€Asset€Forfeiture€Hearings,€Official€Compilation,€Rules€and€RegulationsÏof€the€State€of€Tennessee,€provide€that€if€a€party€fails€to€attend€or€participate€inÏa€hearing€the€agency€may€hold€the€party€in€default.€€The€petitioner€failed€toÏappear€at€five€separate€hearings€which€were€set€and€reset€in€attempts€toÏaccommodate€him.€€After€the€fifth€hearing€date,€the€Commissioner€declared€theÏpetitioner€in€default.€€The€Commissioner€was€very€generous€to€permit€the€hearingÏin€this€case€to€be€continued€four€times.€€His€decision€to€find€the€petitioner€inÏdefault€did€not€prejudice€the€petitioner's€rights€in€any€way.€€Therefore,€theÏdecision€of€the€Commissioner€is€affirmed.Ð ` ü!` ü! ÐÌà ` àOn€April€20,€1998,€the€Petitioner€filed€a€document€styled€"Initial€Review:"ÌÌà8 ` àCOMES€NOW€plaintiff,€Paul€C.€Kesterson,€Pro„Se,€requesting€the€HonorableÏJudge€Kilgrease›€to€review€the€motions€in€which€plaintiff€has€submitted.€€Plaintiff,Ïstates€as€this€has€been€a€long€extensive€litigation€process,€that€his€case€should€beÏreview€with€the€upmost€concern.€€Therefore,€plaintiff€requested€that€this€CourtÏreview€and€issue€any€and€all€necessary€ORDERS€to€preserve€Kesterson's€rights.Ð ` ü!` ü! ÐÌà ` àOn€May€1,€1998,€he€filed€a€document€styled€"Notice€[or€Motion]€to€Withdraw€Initial€ÌÌReview:"ÌÌà8 ` àCOMES€NOW,€plaintiff,€Paul€C.€Kesterson,€pro„se,€requests€to€withdraw€hisÏMotion€on€Initial€Review,€in€case€96„3029„I,€in€which€review€is€set€on€May€15,Ï1998.€€Due€to€the€judgment€render€on€April€22,€1998,€in€which€plaintiff€isÏAppealing.à  àÐÔ&$"&` ü!` ü! ÐÌà ` àOn€May€7,€1998,€petitioner€filed€a€Notice€of€Appeal.€€ÌÌÓÓño ñœño ñà@JJ)®àò òòòDISCUSSIONóóó óˆÐ l*¼%* ÐÓÓÓÓÓ'X‹XLxX°œX'Óà ` àThe€Petitioner's€claim€was€dismissed€by€the€Commissioner€of€the€Department€of€SafetyÏby€judgment€of€default€because,€although€he€had€notice€of€the€hearing,€he€did€not€appear€toÏprosecute€his€claim.€€He€could€not€appear€because€he€was€in€federal€prison€when€his€claim,€whichÏhad€been€continued€four€times,€was€finally€heard.œ€€"A€prisoner's€unavailability€for€hearings€andÏtrials€is€due€to€his€conviction.€€We€are€unaware€of€any€authorities€giving€compelling€reasons€toÏremove€prisoners€from€their€self„caused€restrictions€and€proceed€with€the€case€as€though€theyÏcould€proceed€at€will."€€òòState€v.€Moss,óó€No.€01A01„9708„JV„00424€(Tenn.€App.€Nashville,€MarchÐ 7P28 Ð20,€1998).›€œNor›€did€counsel€appear€in€œPetitioner's›€œbehalfñp ñ,ñp ñ›€because€he€had€fired€his€attorneys.€ÏœPetitioner€had€notice€of€the€hearing€date€and€knew›€that€œhis€personal›€appearance€œor€that€of€hisÏattorney€would›€be€required.ÌÓ+ °œXX‹XLxX§9+ÓÓ•9ÓÓÓà ` àœñq ñTheñq ññr ñOurñr ñ›€standard€of€review€of€œthñs ñeñs ñ›œñt ñisñt ñ›€œdecisionñu ñsñu ñ›€œofñv ñ€thisñv ñ›€administrative€œagencñw ñiesñw ññx ñyñx ñ›€is€governed€byÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„322,œ×ƒ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×›€which€provides:Ð à 0 ÐÓ¶=Óà8 ` à(h)€€The€court€may€affirm€the€decision€of€the€agency€or€remand€the€case€forÏfurther€proceedings.€€The€court€may€reverse€or€modify€the€decision€if€the€rightsÏof€the€petitioner€have€been€prejudiced€because€the€administrative€findings,Ïinferences,€conclusions€or€decisions€are:Ð ` ü!` ü! ÐÌà8 ` àà ¸ à(1)€In€violation€of€constitutional€or€statutory€provisions;Ð ` ü!` ü! Ðà8 ` àà ¸ àÐ ` ü!` ü! Ðà ` àà ¸ à(2)€In€excess€of€the€statutory€authority€of€the€agency;Ìà8 ` àà ¸ àÐ ` ü!` ü! Ðà ` àà ¸ à(3)€Made€upon€unlawful€procedure;Ìà8 ` àà ¸ àÐ ` ü!` ü! Ðà ` àà ¸ à(4)€Arbitrary€or€capricious€or€characterized€by€abuse€of€discretion€or€à (# àÐ ŽÞ Ðà ` àà ¸ àclearly€unwarranted€exercise€of€discretion;€orÌà8 ` àà ¸ àÐ ` ü!` ü! Ðà ` àà ¸ à(5)€Unsupported€by€evidence€which€is€both€substantial€and€material€in€light€¼à ` àà ¸ àof€the€entire€record.Ìà8 ` àÐ ` ü!` ü! Ðà8 ` àIn€determining€the€substantiality€of€evidence,€the€court€shall€take€into€accountÏwhatever€in€the€record€fairly€detracts€from€its€weight,€but€the€court€shall€notÏsubstitute€its€judgment€for€that€of€the€agency€as€to€the€weight€of€the€evidence€onÏquestions€of€fact.Ð ` ü!` ü! ÐÌà8 ` àœ(i)›€€No€agency€decision€pursuant€to€a€hearing€in€a€contested€case€shall€beÏreversed,€remanded€or€modified€by€the€reviewing€court€unless€for€errors€whichÏaffect€the€merits€of€such€œdecisionòò.›€€óóÐ<#Œ"` ü!` ü! Ðà ` àà ¸ àÌÓÓà ` àIn€this€case,€the€decision€was€not€a€decision€on€the€merits,€but€rather€a€default€judgment.€œÌOur€review€is€not€a€review€of€the€merits€of€the€case,€but€is€a€review€of€the€Trial€Court's€decisionÏaffirming€the€Commissioner's€decision€to€enter€default€against€the€Petitioner.€€Petitioner€makesÏno€argument€that€the€entry€of€default€was€improper,€but€instead€argues€that€he€would€haveÏprevailed€if€a€decision€on€the€merits€had€been€reached.€€Despite€the€Petitioner's€failure€to€addressÏthe€entry€of€default,€this€Court€has€considered,€under€the€standard€of€review€restrictions€of€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€4„5„322,€whether€the€Commissioner€and€the€Trial€Court€should€be€reversed.€€Ìà ` àRule›€1340„2„2€of€the€Rules€of€Procedure€for€Drug€Asset€Forfeiture€Hearings€œbecameÏeffective€February€18,€1995.€€The€hearing€in€question€occurred€on€October€7,€1996.€€The€seizureÏoccurred€on€December€16,€1993,€and€Petitioner€filed€his€claim€for€recovery€on€January€26,€1994.€Ð 45„06 ÐOn€both€of€those€last€two€dates,€the›€administrative€procedure€was€governed€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð€53„11„201€(Supp.€1992),€which€did€not€set€out€œa›€procedure€for€default€judgment.€€œHowever,Ïthe›€Uniform€Administrative€Procedures€Act,€Part€3,€Contested€Cases,€Rule€4„5„309,€œDefault,Ïprovides€guidance.›€€òòSee€Mid„South€Indoor€Horse€Racing,€Inc.€v.€Tennessee€State€RacingÐ  d ÐœComm'n.›,óó€798€S.W.2d€531,€536€(Tenn.€App.€1990)€("The€UAPA€applies€to€all€existing€agenciesÐ à 0 Ðand€to€all€pending€administrative€proceedings€unless€they€are€expressly€exempted.")Ìà ` àTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„309€provides:ÌÓÓEÓà8 ` àò òDefault.€€ó ó(a)€€If€a€party€fails€to€attend€or€participate€in€a€pre„hearing€conference,Ð D”  Ðhearing€or€other€stage€of€a€contested€case,€the€administrative€judge€or€hearingÏofficer,€hearing€the€case€alone,€or€agency,€sitting€with€the€administrative€judgeÏor€hearing€officer,€may€hold€the€party€in€default€and€either€adjourn€theÏproceedings€or€conduct€them€without€the€participation€of€that€party,€having€dueÏregard€for€the€interest€of€justice€and€the€orderly€and€prompt€conduct€of€theÏproceedings.€Ð ` ü!` ü! Ðà ` àÌÓÓà ` à€œIt€is€unnecessary€for€us€to€decide€whether€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„309€or€Rule€1340„2„2Ïcontrolled€at€the€October€7,€1996€hearing.€€Under€either€of€these€provisions,€the€entry€of€defaultÏagainst€the€Petitioner€was€available€to€the€Commissioner,€because€of€the€Petitioner's€failure€toÏattend€or€participate€in€the€hearing.€€€Since›€it€is€uncontested€that€the€Petitioner€had€notice€of€theÏhearing,€knew€that€either€he€or€counsel€would€be€required€to€appear€to€prosecute€his€œcase,›€firedÏhis€œcounsel,€and›€did€not€appear,€we€find€that€the€Trial€Court€did€not€œerr›€in€affirming€theÏCommissioner's€default€œjudgment.›ÌÓÓœòòà@)®àò òCONCLUSIONó óˆÐ %X $ ÐÌÓÓà ` àóóThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€affirmed€and€the€cause€is€remanded€to€the€Trial€CourtÐ Ô&$"& Ðfor€such€further€proceedings,€if€any,€as€may€be€required,€consistent€with€this€Opinion,€and€forÏcollection€of€the€costs€below.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€adjudged€against€the€Petitioner/Appellant.€›òòÐ l*¼%* Ðœñz ñÌñz ñ›ÌÓÓœñ{ ñÌñ{ ñ›à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àóó_____________________________________òòÐ ¶0,1 Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àóóD.€€MICHAEL€SWINEY,€J.òòà x àÐ œ1ì,2 ÐœóóÌÌÌñy ñÌÌÌÌÌÐ ²95; ЇÌÌñy ññ| ññy ñÌñy ññ| ñCONCUR:›ÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌHOUSTON€M.€GODDARD,€P.€J.ÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌCHARLES€D.€SUSANO,€JR.,€J.Ìñx ñœñx ñ