ÿWPC‚ Ò‰ìx¢é„ôSs댙ô×óÖür'í­4nʘ•ÿó©ç§ÿœX‘Jc‘"ÛŸfâE ~“çšÚ™ûÀ4œ+ÙP˜¥,ô  _÷!.Ž^qþO^[åVžõö°1DþÚYsF §_ûÚn2ŸÐÜ7`‚er›F0/Šš§àCÿÜÜÌZ"yC?ß7K£Ø³:!°§ñ\wj×üõƒD?@EABUCDDÓ€PQƒo!â3|xQ, øð AZ‹"Arial Regular Ô€ XõÏXXXÔÔ€ …PX XõÏÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ XõÏX …PÔÐ  ÐÌò òOctober€29,€1996Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ ô ¸ôX XõÏÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó(Œ(3qd$¤¤Ý ƒüƒ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÑTR[¨ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ÑÝ ƒ qd$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°Òà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡X´@XXXÔ€€Julia€and€Johnny€Metcalfe€are€the€parents€of€Billie€Metcalfe.€€BillieÐ ° ÐMetcalfe€was€16€years€old€at€the€time€of€the€accident€in€question,€and€her€parentsÏfiled€suit€in€their€own€right,€and€on€behalf€of€their€daughter.€€They€will€be€referredÏto€collectively€as€ð ðthe€Metcalfesðð€and€individually€by€their€own€names. oÝ ƒ u\$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ‡ X~XXXÔÓÓà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÓÓÔ‡Xf3XXX~Ô€€The€trial€court€also€directed€a€verdict€in€favor€of€the€Metcalfes€on€theÐ ° Ðissue€of€Cullumððs€negligence.€€That€decision€is€not€at€issue€in€this€appeal. d))))'ÿÿdxd(Œ3oü$££Ý ƒüƒ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÑTR[¨ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ý€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒüƒ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÑTR[¨ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  ÝÑ7€51XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€XTpXXXÔÓ  ÓѰÑñPññDñßr€ *<,(j 8` `€€@Eô ` ttx$,ð ×rßñDññPñà@Ì Ì ®àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ  Ðà@éé!®àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONˆÌà ` àà ¸ à€€€________________________________________________ÌÌò òBILLIE€J.€METCALFE,€ET€AL,€ó óÐ   ÐÌà ` àPlaintiffs„Appellees,€à À àà  àà p àShelby€Circuit€No.€58018Ð   ÐÌñQññPñßt€ *>.*jxø` `€€@E` ttx$H:ð œ tßñPññQñVs.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àC.A.€No.€02A01„9510„CV„00236Ð   ÐÌò òLARRY€J.€WATERS€and€CHARLESÐ    ÐW.€PRUITT,ó óÐ    ÐÌà ` àDefendants„Appellants.Ì___________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@œ œ ®àFROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€SHELBY€COUNTYˆÌñQñßt€ *>.*jxæü` `€€@E” ` ttx$ÌB( œ tßñQñà@<<®àTHE€HONORABLE€J.€STEVEN€STAFFORD,€JUDGE€BY€DESIGNATIONˆÌÌÌÌÌÌà@î î ®àC.€Philip€M.€Campbell€and€R.€Sadler€BaileyˆÌà@E E ®àLaw€Offices€of€Bailey€&€Associates€of€MemphisˆÌà@II(®àFor€AppelleesˆÌÌà@ÓÓ!®àPaul€E.€Lewis€of€MillingtonˆÌà@¼¼$®àFor€Appellant,€WatersˆÌÌñ=ñà@kk®àñ=ññ>ññ=ñrñ=ññ>ññ@ññ?ñrñ?ññ@ññAñRñAññ=ñobert€C.€Rosenbush€of€Millingtonñ=ññBñˆÌà@úú$®àFor€Appellant,€PruittñBñˆÌñCñÌÌÌñCñÌÌà@ ®àò òòòAFFIRMED€IN€PART,€VACATED€IN€PART€AND€REMANDEDˆÐ )"" ÐÌà@33'®àó óóóOpinion€filed:ˆÐ +$$ ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,ó óÐ 3,, Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àò òPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.Ð 4-- ÐÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÐ ;44: Ї›Ñ°ÑÓÓà ` àThis€is€a€legal€malpractice€case.€€Defendants,€Larry€J.€Waters€and€Charles€W.ÏPruitt,€appeal€from€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€on€a€jury€verdict€awardingÏplaintiffs,€Billie€J.€Metcalfe,€Julia€M.€Metcalfe,€and€Johnny€D.€Metcalfe,׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ° Ðcompensatory€and€punitive€damages.Ìà ` àThe€Metcalfes€retained€Waters,€an€attorney€in€Tipton€County,€Tennessee,€toÏrepresent€them€in€an€action€stemming€from€an€automobile€accident€which€occurredÏon€September€19,€1986.€€On€September€18,€1987,€Waters€filed€a€tort€action€onÏbehalf€of€the€Metcalfes€in€the€Circuit€Court€of€Tipton€County€against€variousÏdefendants€(hereinafter€referred€to€as€the€underlying€case)€and€subsequently€startedÏthe€discovery€process.€€On€March€15,€1990,€Waters€voluntarily€non„suited€theÏunderlying€case.€€On€March€6,€1991,€Waters€refiled€the€underlying€case,€but€failedÏto€have€service€of€process€issued€properly.€€On€December€16,€1992,€the€trial€courtÏgranted€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€some€of€the€defendants€because€the€statuteÏof€limitations€barred€the€claim.€€The€underlying€case€against€the€remainingÏdefendants€was€dismissed€on€May€14,€1993€for€lack€of€prosecution€because€WatersÏfailed€to€appear€at€trial.€€Waters€did€not€inform€the€Metcalfes€that€the€underlyingÏcase€had€been€dismissed€until€a€New€Yearððs€Eve€party,€seven€months€later.€€WhenÏWaters€told€Johnny€Metcalfe€that€the€underlying€case€had€been€dismissed,€WatersÏdid€not€tell€him€the€reason,€but€instead€told€him€that€it€was€not€worth€appealing.Ìà ` àWaters€practiced€law€with€defendant,€Charles€W.€Pruitt,€in€a€shared€officeÏwith€a€sign€in€the€window€that€said€Pruitt€and€Waters,€Attorneys.€€Waters€and€PruittÏdid€not€have€a€written€partnership€agreement€but€agreed€to€share€the€office.€€PruittÏprovided€the€office€and€the€secretary,€and€Waters€gave€half€of€his€income€to€Pruitt.€ÏPruitt€and€Waters€advertised€in€the€Yellow€Pages€of€the€telephone€directory€togetherÐ °2.. Ðunder€the€name€of€ð ðPruitt€&€Waters.ðð€€They€shared€a€joint€checking€account,€withÏð ðPruitt€and€Waters,€Attorneys€at€Lawðð€printed€on€the€checks.€€In€addition,€they€hadÏletterhead€legal€stationary€listing€both€names,€but€listing€Waters€as€ð ðAssociate,€LarryÏWaters.ðð€€Waters€admitted€at€trial€that€he€was€an€associate€of€Pruitt,€however,€theyÏnever€filed€a€partnership€tax€return.€€Pruitt€never€filed€a€W„2€federal€tax€form€onÏWaters.€€Waters€did€not€discuss€the€underlying€case€with€Pruitt€except€to€tell€himÏgenerally€that€he€had€a€personal€injury€case.Ìà ` àThe€Metcalfes€filed€a€legal€malpractice€suit€against€Waters€and€Pruitt,Ïindividually,€and€against€the€Law€Office€of€Pruitt€and€Waters.€€The€complaint€allegedÏthat€Waters€deviated€from€the€standard€of€care€required€of€attorneys€practicing€inÏTennessee€and,€as€a€result€of€his€negligence,€Billie€Metcalfeððs€cause€of€action€wasÏdismissed€and€forever€barred.€€The€complaint€avers€that€Watersððs€actions€wereÏegregious€enough€to€warrant€punitive€damages.€€The€complaint€also€alleged€thatÏPruitt€was€liable€for€œWatersððs›€actions€under€the€laws€of€partnership,€agency€andÏrespondeat€superior.€€The€complaint€avers€that€Billie€Metcalfe€was€injured€in€anÏautomobile€accident€and€suffered€permanent€injuries€and€disfigurement,€physical€andÏemotional€pain€and€suffering,€lost€wages,€loss€of€earning€capacity€and€loss€ofÏenjoyment€of€life.€€Finally,€the€complaint€avers€that€Julia€and€Johnny€Metcalfe€wereÏinjured€as€a€result€of€Watersððs€negligence€because€they€were€unable€to€recover€in€theÏoriginal€tort€action.Ìà ` àIn€his€initial€Answer,€filed€February€3,€1994,€Waters€neither€admitted€norÏdenied€that€the€underlying€case€had€been€dismissed€and€denied€that€he€was€liable.€ÏHowever,€in€an€Amended€Answer€filed€June€19,€1994,€Waters€admitted€that€the€caseÏhad€been€dismissed€and€admitted€that€he€was€negligent€and€was€directly€liable.€ÏHowever,€he€denied€that€any€of€his€actions€justified€punitive€damages.€€Waters€filedÐ °400 Ðthe€Amended€Answer€after€the€Metcalfesðð€attorney€threatened€to€fileÐ °844 Ðsanctions€against€ññœññhim.ññ›ññ€€At€trial,€Waters€admitted€that€he€lied€in€his€initial€Answer.€ÏFinally,€in€another€Amended€Answer€filed€March€22,€1995,€Waters€asserted€anÏaffirmative€defense€claiming€that€ññœññas€to€the€underlying€case€Billie€Metcalfeññ›ññ€was€alsoÏnegligent.Ìà ` àIn€his€Answer,€Pruitt€denied€the€existence€of€a€partnership,€denied€anyÏknowledge€of€the€ññœññunderlying€case,ññ›ññ€and€denied€that€he€was€liable€in€any€way.Ìññœññà ` àIn€an€action€for€malpractice€against€an€attorney€for€negligently€handling€orÏfailure€to€timely€file€a€suit,€plaintiff€is€required€to€prove€that€recovery€could€haveÏbeen€made€in€the€original€action€which€the€attorney€was€employed€to€handle.€Ïò òòòCommercial€Truck€and€Trailer€Sales,€Inc.€v.€McCampbelló óóó,€580€S.W.2d€765Ð ° Ð(Tenn.€1979);€ò òòòWoodruff€v.€Tomlinó óóó,€616€F.2d€924€(6th€Cir.€1980)€òòcert.€deniedóó€449Ð ´ ÐU.S.€888,€101€S.Ct.€246,€66€L.Ed.2d€114€(1980).€€In€essence,€the€trial€isÏconducted€as€a€case€within€a€case.€€Ìà ` àA€jury€trial€was€held€on€March€27€„€29,€1995,€and€the€only€witness€toÏtestify€concerning€the€facts€of€the€underlying€case€was€plaintiff,€Billie€Metcalfe.€ÏShe€testified€that€she€was€riding€as€a€passenger€in€a€truck€driven€by€Keith€CullumÏand€owned€by€his€fatherððs€construction€company.€€At€the€time€of€the€accident,ÏCullum€was€fifteen€years€old€and€only€possessed€a€learnerððs€permit€to€drive€aÏmotor€vehicle.€€In€addition,€Cullum€had€been€ð ðgroundedðð€by€his€father€and€wasÏnot€supposed€to€be€driving€the€truck.€€Just€prior€to€the€accident,€Keith€CullumÏand€Billie€visited€a€friendððs€house€trailer€where€both€had€one€drink€of€whiskey€andÏcoke.€€They€left€going€to€meet€some€other€friends€at€the€river,€and€she€and€aÏgirlfriend€were€passengers€in€the€vehicle.€€As€they€were€proceeding€along€theÏhighway,€Cullum€pulled€out€to€pass€another€vehicle€in€an€area€with€speed€limit€ofÏ45€m.p.h.€€As€he€was€passing,€he€reached€a€speed€in€Billieððs€estimation€ofÏapproximately€50€m.p.h.,€and€she€noticed€that€it€did€seem€to€take€a€long€time€toÏpass,€but€she€was€looking€at€the€car€they€were€passing.€€As€they€were€driving€onÐ ¸844 Ðthe€left€side€of€the€highway,€they€were€involved€in€a€head„on€collision.Ìà ` àThe€proof€concerning€Billie€Metcalfeððs€injuries€and€damages€was€providedÏby€Billie;€her€mother,€plaintiff€Julia€Metcalfe;€and€her€father,€plaintiff€JohnnieÏMetcalfe.€€The€cumulative€testimony€concerning€the€injuries€and€damages€is€asÏfollows:Ìà ` àBillie€was€taken€initially€to€the€emergency€room€at€the€Naval€Hospital€inÏMillington€and€then€moved€to€Methodist€Central€in€Memphis.€€She€had€someÏsuperficial€lacerations€on€her€face€and€a€cut€on€her€chin€that€required€plasticÏsurgery.€€She€had€a€concussion,€and€she€also€had€a€broken€leg,€but€there€is€noÏtestimony€concerning€the€specific€bone€that€was€broken.€€She€was€initially€placedÏin€traction€and€then€had€surgery€for€insertion€of€a€pin€somewhere€in€the€area€ofÏher€hip.€€She€stayed€in€the€hospital€thirteen€days€and€apparently€was€ambulatoryÏon€crutches€when€she€was€discharged.€€The€record€does€not€indicate€that€she€had€aÏcast€placed€on€her€leg€as€the€testimony€reveals€she€was€able€to€take€showers€whileÏrecuperating€at€home.€€She€also€had€two€broken€teeth,€which€she€later€hadÏcrowned,€but€the€exact€teeth€were€not€specified.€€She€was€quite€upset€andÏhysterical€during€the€time€that€she€was€in€the€hospital€shortly€after€the€accident.€ÏShe€also€had€nightmares€concerning€the€accident€for€some€time.€€Because€she€wasÏunable€to€immediately€return€for€her€senior€year€in€high€school,€she€had€aÏhomebound€teacher€for€the€first€few€months€and€was€unable€to€participate€in€herÏmajor€activity€of€cheerleading€and€was€unable€to€play€recreational€softball.€€SheÏcompleted€her€senior€year€apparently€without€difficulty,€but€she€did€not€enroll€inÏcollege€in€the€fall€as€previously€planned€because€she€needed€to€remain€at€home€forÏthe€surgery€to€remove€the€pin.€€She€testified€that€she€has€made€a€good€recoveryÏand€did€not€exhibit€any€permanent€effects€from€her€injury€except€what€sheÏdescribed€as€a€scar€on€her€hip€where€the€pin€had€been€removed.€€The€medical€billsÏwere€stipulated€by€counsel€to€be€a€total€of€$14,803.01.€€There€was€no€medicalÐ °844 Ðproof€introduced€in€the€case,€nor€was€there€any€itemization€of€the€various€medicalÏbills.€€Ìà ` àAt€the€conclusion€of€all€the€proof,€the€trial€court€determined€that€there€wasÏno€material€dispute€as€to€the€facts€concerning€the€automobile€accident€involved€inÏthe€underlying€case,€and€on€motion€of€the€Metcalfes,€determined€as€a€matter€ofÏlaw€that€the€defendants€in€the€underlying€case€were€guilty€of€negligence€thatÏdirectly€and€proximately€caused€the€collision€and€any€resulting€losses€and€damagesÏto€the€Metcalfes.€€The€trial€court€also€determined€that€the€plaintiff,€BillieÏMetcalfe,€was€guilty€of€no€negligence€which€was€a€proximate€cause€of€the€accidentÏand€any€resulting€injuries.€€In€essence,€the€trial€court€directed€a€verdict€for€theÏplaintiff€as€to€liability€in€the€underlying€case.€€The€trial€court€also€directed€aÏverdict€in€favor€of€defendant€Pruitt€on€the€issue€of€punitive€damages.€€The€jury,€inÏresponse€to€interrogatories,€found€that€the€defendants,€Waters€and€Pruitt,€wereÏpartners,€and€that€they€were€jointly€and€severally€liable€for€compensatory€damagesÏin€the€amount€of€$450,000.00.€€The€jury€also€found€that€defendant€Waters€wasÏliable€for€$100,000.00€punitive€damages.Ìà ` àAlthough€the€jury€returned€a€joint€verdict€for€the€Metcalfes,€contrary€to€theÏprovisions€of€T.C.A.€ðð€25„1„104€(1980),€the€parties€acquiesced€in€this€procedureÏand€have€not€and,€in€fact,€cannot€now€complain.€€ò òòòHenry€County€Bd.€of€Educ.€v.Ð °($$ ÐBurtonó óóó,€538€S.W.2d€394€(Tenn.€1976);€ò òòòPridemark€Custom€Plating€v.€Upjohn€Co.ó óóó,Ð ´*&& Ð702€S.W.2d€566€(Tenn.€App.€1985).€€Ìà ` àBoth€Waters€and€Pruitt€filed€notices€of€appeal.€€Waters€presents€theÏfollowing€issues€for€review:€€(1)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€theÏMetcalfesððññ›ññññññ€Motion€for€Directed€Verdict€in€the€underlying€tort€case;€(2)€whetherÏthe€trial€court€erred€in€approving€the€amount€of€compensatory€damages€awardedÏand€in€denying€ññœññWatersððs€Motion€for€New€Trial,€Remittitur€and€Protective€Order;ññ›ññññññÏand€(3)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€dismiss€the€ññœññMetcalfesððññ›ññññññ€claim€forÐ ¸844 Ðpunitive€damages.€€ññœññÌà ` àPruitt€presents€the€same€three€issues€as€Waters€and€also€the€followingÏissues:€€(1)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€refusing€to€charge€the€definition€ofÏð ðassociateðð€as€requested;€and€(2)€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€not€directing€aÏverdict€for€Pruitt€upon€the€Metcalfesðð€failure€to€allege€reliance€upon€Pruitt€or€toÏfile€a€motion€to€make€the€pleadings€conform€to€the€proof.Ô#‡ X~XXXf3X#ÔÔ‡Xf3XXX~ÔÐ °  Ðà ` àWe€will€first€deal€with€Pruittððs€appeal.€€T.R.A.P.€3(e)€provides€in€pertinentÏpart:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!à[T]hat€in€all€cases€tried€by€a€jury,€no€issue€presented€forÏreview€shall€be€predicated€upon€error€in€the€admissionÏor€exclusion€of€evidence,€jury€instructions€granted€orÏrefused,€misconduct€of€jurors,€parties€or€counsel,€orÏother€action€committed€or€ññcoccurringññññoccurringññ€during€the€trial€ofÏthe€case,€or€other€ground€upon€which€a€new€trial€isÏsought,€unless€the€same€was€specifically€stated€in€aÏmotion€for€a€new€trial;€otherwise€such€issues€will€beÏtreated€as€waived.€Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌÓÓà ` àThe€record€on€appeal€contains€no€motion€for€new€trial€filed€by€Pruitt,€andÏaccordingly€Pruittððs€issues€presented€for€review€are€waived.Ìà ` àWe€will€now€consider€Watersððs€issues.€€Waters€first€argues€that€the€trialÏcourt€erred€in€directing€a€verdict€in€favor€of€the€Metcalfes.€€Waters€asserted€theÏaffirmative€defense€of€comparative€fault€in€his€second€Amended€Answer.€€HeÏmaintains€that€the€jury€should€have€decided€if€Billie€Metcalfeððs€actions€wereÏnegligent.€€Waters€asserts€that€Billie€Metcalfe€knew€that€Cullum€was€only€15€yearsÏold€and€only€had€a€learnerððs€permit;€that€she€knew€he€was€not€supposed€to€beÏdriving€the€truck€because€he€was€grounded;€that€she€knew€Cullum€had€beenÏdrinking,€that€she€knew€he€was€speeding€but€did€not€protest;€and€that€she€did€notÏexercise€ordinary€care€for€her€own€safety.€€However,€Billie€Metcalfe€testified€thatÏshe€did€not€observe€anything€wrong€with€Cullumððs€driving;ññ›ññ€that€she€did€not€knowÏhe€had€been€ññœññgrounded;ññ›ññññññ€and€that€she€thought€that€Cullum€was€not€intoxicated.€€Ìà ` àThe€trial€court€determined€that€Billie€Metcalfe€did€not€contribute€to€theÐ °844 Ðaccident€and€was€not€at€fault,€and€directed€a€verdict€in€her€favor.׃×Ý ƒ %ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€trial€courtÐ ° Ðstated,€ð ðI€just€donððt€see€her€(Billie€Metcalfeððs)€actions€in€any€way€being€theÏproximate€cause€of€the€accident.ðð€€When€deciding€a€motion€for€a€directed€verdict,Ïboth€the€trial€court€and€the€reviewing€court€on€appeal€must€look€to€all€theÏevidence,€take€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€in€favor€of€theÏopponent€of€the€motion,€and€allow€all€reasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€that€party.€ÏThe€court€must€discard€all€countervailing€evidence,€and€if€there€is€then€anyÏdispute€as€to€any€material€fact,€or€any€doubt€as€to€the€conclusions€to€be€drawnÏfrom€the€whole€evidence,€the€motion€must€be€denied.€€ò òòòHurley€v.€TennesseeÐ ° ÐFarmers€Mut.€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€922€S.W.2d€887,€891€(Tenn.€App.€1995).€€A€directedÐ ´ Ðverdict€cannot€be€sustained€if€there€is€material€evidence€in€the€record€which€wouldÏsupport€a€verdict€for€the€defendant€under€any€of€the€theories€the€defendant€hadÏadvanced.€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€€€€Ð ¸ Ðà ` àWaters€ññœññasserts€thatññ›ññññññ€the€trial€court€applied€ññœñña€wrongññ›ññññññ€standard€concerningÏnegligence.€€Waters€ññœññargues€thatññ›ññññññ€ò òòòMcIntyre€v.€Balentineóóó ó,€833€S.W.2d€52€(Tenn.Ð ¼  Ð1992)€requires€that€the€court€find€that€ññœññBillie€Metcalfeññ›ññññññ€did€not€ð ðcontribute€to€herÏinjuries€or€damages,ðð€not€that€she€did€not€ð ðcause€or€contribute€to€the€accident.ðð€ÏWe€do€not€see€that€ò òòòMcIntyreóóó ó€requires€the€use€of€such€magic€language.€€However,Ð À&"" Ðwe€must€still€determine€if€the€directed€verdict€should€have€been€granted.Ìà ` àPassengers€in€motor€vehicles€have€a€duty€to€exercise€reasonable€care€for€Ïtheir€own€safety.€€They€are€expected€to€warn€the€driver€of€unseen€dangers,€toÏprotest€excessive€speeds,€and€to€refrain€from€riding€in€an€automobile€operated€byÏan€intoxicated€or€reckless€driver.€€ò òòòMansfield€v.€Colonial€Freight€ññœññSys.ó óóó,ññ›ññññññ€862€S.W.2dÐ Ä0,, Ð527,€531€(Tenn.€App.€1993).€€Ìà ` àIn€the€case€òòsub€judiceóó,€there€is€evidence€in€the€record€that€Billie€Metcalfe€didÐ È400 Ðnot€believe€that€Cullum€was€intoxicated,€and€that€she€thought€there€was€nothingÏwrong€with€his€driving.€€The€record€is€devoid€of€any€proof€that€Cullum€wasÏintoxicated.€€When€passing,€Cullum€reached€speeds€of€fifty€miles€an€hour€in€aÏforty„five€miles€an€hour€speed€zone.€€While€we€do€not€condone€exceeding€theÏspeed€limit,€a€reasonable€person€ññœññwouldññ›ññññññ€not€realize€that€this€is€excessive€speed€norÏwould€she€protest€it.€€Billie€Metcalfe€testified€that€she€did€not€know€that€CullumÏwas€grounded.€€While€she€realized€Cullum€was€only€15€years€old,€she€testified€thatÏshe€had€ridden€with€him€before€and€considered€him€to€be€a€good€driver.€€Finally,Ïwhile€Cullum€was€passing€the€other€car,€Billie€Metcalfe€stated€that€she€thought€itÏwas€taking€a€long€time€to€pass€the€car.€€However,€she€testified€that€she€did€notÏprotest€because€she€didnððt€see€anything€wrong€with€his€driving.€€€€Ìà ` àWe€believe€that€the€trial€court€properly€analyzed€Billie€Metcalfeððs€actionsÏto€determine€if€she€was€negligent.€€We€hold€that€the€trial€court€properly€directed€aÏverdict€on€the€issue€of€Billie€Metcalfeððs€negligence.Ìà ` àWaters€next€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€approving€the€amount€ofÏthe€compensatory€damages€award€and€by€denying€his€Motion€for€Remittitur.€€TheÏjury€returned€a€verdict€against€Waters€and€Pruitt,€jointly€and€severally,€in€theÏamount€of€$450,000.00,€and€the€trial€judge€approved€the€verdict.€€Waters€arguesÏthat€ññœññthere€isññ›ññññññ€no€material€evidence€to€support€the€verdict,€and€that€it€is€excessiveÏbecause€of€passion€or€prejudice€of€the€jury.€€ññœññÌà ` àWaters€presented€no€proof€of€jury€misconduct€other€than€the€amount€ofÏthe€award.€€ò òòòSee€Pitts€v.€Exxon€Corp.ó óóó,€596€S.W.2d€830€(Tenn.€1980).€€He€contendsÐ °.** Ðthat€the€jury€verdict€is€unsupported€by€the€evidence€and€beyond€the€range€ofÏreasonableness.€€In€the€case€before€us,€the€trial€judge€approved€the€jury€verdictÏand€denied€Watersððs€motion€for€ññ›ññññññremittiturññœññ.€€In€ò òòòEllis€v.€White€Freightliner€Corp.ó óóó,Ð ´400 Ð603€S.W.2d€125€(Tenn.€1980),€our€Supreme€Court€said:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àThe€trial€judgeððs€approval€of€a€jury€verdictÏinvokes€the€material€evidence€rule€with€respect€to€allÐ ¸955 Ðother€issues€of€fact€and€we€know€of€no€reason€why€thatÏrule€should€not€have€the€same€effect€when€thatÏapproval€includes€the€amount€of€the€award.€€ThatÏaction€by€the€trial€judge€means€that€he€has€accreditedÏthe€testimony€of€the€witnesses€on€the€issue€of€damagesÏand€has€evaluated€the€evidence€as€supporting€theÏamount€awarded.€€Nevertheless,€when€the€question€ofÏremittitur€is€raised,€the€Court€of€Appeals€has€the€dutyÏto€review€the€proof€of€damages€and€the€authority€toÏreduce€an€excessive€award.€€But€when€the€trial€judge€hasÏapproved€the€verdict,€the€review€in€the€Court€ofÏAppeals€is€subject€to€the€rule€that€if€there€is€anyÏmaterial€evidence€to€support€the€award,€it€should€notÏbe€disturbed.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌ603€S.W.2d€at€129.ÌÌÓÓà ` àTo€determine€whether€the€jury€verdict€is€excessive,€we€are€required€toÏdetermine€whether€the€jury€verdict€is€within€the€range€of€reasonableness€asÏestablished€by€the€credible€proof.€€ò òòòSmith€v.€Sheltonó óóó,€569€S.W.2d€421€(Tenn.Ð ° Ð1978).€€Since€the€issue€involves€ññremittiurññññremittiturññ,€we€need€only€determine€the€upper€levelÏof€the€range€of€reasonableness.€€ò òòòSee€Ellis,€ó óóó603€S.W.2d€at€129.€€ò òòòGuess€v.€Mauryó óóó,Ð ´ Ð726€S.W.2d€906,€912€(Tenn.€App.€1986).Ìà ` àIn€the€record€before€us,€there€is€absolutely€no€medical€proof€to€establish€theÏnature€and€extent€of€the€injury€sustained.€€The€proof€that€is€in€the€record€is€thatÏthere€was€a€thirteen„day€hospital€stay€and€recuperative€time€at€home,€all€of€whichÏnecessitated€some€pain,€suffering,€and€inconvenience.€€However,€from€the€proof,Ïthe€pain,€suffering€and€inconvenience€was€somewhat€minimal€when€considered€inÏlight€of€the€jury€award.€€Considering€the€medical€expenses€involved,€the€lack€ofÏlost€wages,€the€meager€proof€concerning€the€nature€and€extent€of€the€injuriesÏsustained,€and€the€absence€of€any€permanent€disability,€we€are€constrained€to€findÏthat€the€upper€range€of€reasonableness€in€this€case€should€not€exceedÏ$100,000.00.€€While€we€recognize€that€the€court€should€strive€to€use€the€remedyÏof€remittitur€and€avoid€the€necessity€of€a€new€trial,€ò òòòThrailkill€v.€Pattersonó óóó,€879Ð ¸511 ÐS.W.2d€836,€840€(Tenn.€1994),€we€are€also€aware€that€a€remittitur€cannot€be€ofÏsuch€magnitude€that€it€would€totally€destroy€a€juryððs€verdict.€€ò òòòFoster€v.€AmconÐ ¼9 55 ÐIntððl,ó óóó€621€S.W.2d€142€(Tenn.€1981);€ò òòòGuess€v.€Mauryó óóó,€726€S.W.2d€906€(Tenn.Ð ° Ð1986).€€If€we€were€to€suggest€a€remittitur€on€a€$450,000.00€verdict€toÏ$100,000.00,€we€would,€in€effect,€destroy€the€jury€verdict.€€Under€theseÏcircumstances,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€on€the€jury€verdict€forÏcompensatory€damages€should€be€vacated€and€the€case€remanded€for€a€new€trialÏon€the€issue€of€damages.€Ìà ` àFinally,€Waters€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€dismiss€theÏMetcalfesððññ›ññññññ€claim€for€punitive€damages.€€The€jury€awarded€the€MetcalfesÏ$100,000.00€in€punitive€damages€against€Waters€individually.€€Waters€claims€thatÏthere€was€no€proof€at€trial€that€he€acted€intentionally,€fraudulently,€maliciously,Ïor€recklessly.€€In€Tennessee,€ññœññpunitiveññ›ññññññ€damages€ññœññmay€be€awarded€onlyññ›ññññññ€if€the€plaintiffÏproves€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€defendant€has€actedÏintentionally,€fraudulently,€maliciously,€or€recklessly.€€ò òòòHodges€v.€S.C.€Toof€&€Co.ó óóó,Ð ´ Ð833€S.W.2d€896,€901€(Tenn.€1992).€€Waters€admitted€professional€malpractice.€ÏWhile€his€failure€to€ññœññprosecuteññ›ññññññ€ññœññthe€underlying€case€cannot€be€condoned€and€mustÏbe€soundly€renounced,€hisññ›ññññññ€actions€ññœññconstituteññ›ññññññ€ññœññsimple€negligenceññ›ññññññ€and€ññœññdo€not€rise€toÏthe€level€of€intentional,€fraudulent,€malicious€and€reckless€conduct.ññ›ññññññÌññœññà ` àThe€Metcalfes€assert€that€Watersððs€failure€to€disclose€that€the€case€wasÏdismissed€and€his€representation€that€an€appeal€was€not€warranted€was€anÏaffirmative€and€intentional€act€which€merits€an€award€of€punitive€damages.€€ByÏorder€entered€June€8,€1995,€the€court€specifically€found€that€Watersððs€lying€aboutÏthe€dismissal€of€the€Metcalfe€suit€constituted€ð ðthe€ññgravamanññññgravamenññ€of€the€punitiveÏdamage€award.ðð€€Certainly,€Watersððs€attempt€to€cover€up€his€negligent€conductÏwas€an€ññ›ññegregiousññœññ€act€for€which€he€was€duly€punished€by€the€Supreme€CourtððsÏBoard€of€Professional€Responsibility.€€However,€we€do€not€believe€that€an€awardÏof€punitive€damages€is€proper€under€our€law.Ìà ` àThe€general€rule€in€Tennessee€is€that€to€sustain€an€award€of€punitiveÐ ¸844 Ðdamages,€actual€damages€must€have€been€awarded.€ò òòòLazenby€v.€UniversalÐ ° ÐUnderwriters€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€214€Tenn.€639,€383€S.W.2d€1€(1964);€€ò òòòLiberty€Mut.€Ins.Ð ´ ÐCo.€v.€Stevensonó óóó,€212€Tenn.€178,€368€S.W.2d€760€(1963);€ò òòòEmerson€v.€Garneró óóó,Ð ¸ Ð732€S.W.2d€613€(Tenn.€App.€1987)Ô#‡ X~XXXf30#ÔÔ‡Xf3XXX~Ô.€€Implicit€in€this€rule€is€that€an€award€ofÐ ¼  Ðpunitive€damages€must€be€made€on€the€basis€of€the€same€conduct€that€warrantsÏan€award€of€compensatory€damages.€€In€the€case€before€us,€compensatory€damagesÏwere€awarded€for€the€negligent€conduct€of€Waters€in€allowing€the€dismissal€of€theÏunderlying€case.€€Subsequent€to€this€negligent€conduct,€Waters€committed€theÏegregious€act€of€lying€to€the€Metcalfes€about€the€dismissal€of€the€case.€€Certainly,Ïhis€conduct€after€the€dismissal€of€the€case€cannot€be€condoned,€but€at€the€sameÏtime€it€is€conduct€that€was€not€included€in€the€negligent€act€or€acts€that€resultedÏin€the€award€of€compensatory€damages.€€We€believe€our€conclusion€is€fortified€byÏthe€opinion€in€òòò òHodges€v.€S.€C.€Toof€&€Coó óóó.,€833€S.W.2d€896€(Tenn.€1992),Ð ¼  Ðwherein€the€Supreme€Court€listed€the€factors€to€consider€in€determining€theÏamount€of€damages.€€It€is€significant€that€the€Court€listed€attempted€concealmentÏof€the€conduct€as€a€factor€for€consideration€only€after€the€liability€for€punitiveÏdamages€had€been€established.€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€at€901.€€Under€the€proof€in€the€record€beforeÐ À$  Ðus,€the€trial€court€should€have€granted€a€directed€verdict€on€the€issue€of€punitiveÏdamages€in€favor€of€Waters.Ìà ` àIn€summary,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€on€the€jury€verdictÏfinding€that€Waters€was€guilty€of€legal€malpractice€and€that€Waters€and€Pruitt€areÏjointly€and€severally€liable€to€the€plaintiffs.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€on€theÏjury€verdict€for€punitive€damages€is€vacated,€and€judgment€is€entered€in€favor€ofÏdefendant,€Waters,€on€the€issue€of€punitive€damages.€€The€judgment€of€the€trialÏcourt€awarding€compensatory€damages€is€vacated,€and€the€case€is€remanded€to€theÏtrial€court€for€retrial€on€the€issue€of€compensatory€damages€only.€€Costs€of€the€œññÌÐ Ä844 Ðññappeal›€are€assessed€one„half€to€defendants„appellants€and€one„half€to€plaintiffs„¼appellees.ññÌññññÌññññÓÓññññÔ#‡ X~XXXf3¬^#ÔÔ‡Xf3XXX~Ôà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_________________________________Ð ° Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ð °  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÔ#‡ X~XXXf3çf#ÔÔ‡Xf3XXX~ÔÐ ²  ÐÌò òññññCONCUR:Ð ´  ÐÌó óññññÔ#‡ X~XXXf3h#ÔÔ‡Xf3XXX~Ô_________________________________Ð ¸  Ðò òALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÔ#‡ X~XXXf3,i#ÔÔ‡Xf3XXX~ÔÐ ¸  ÐÌññññññaññññññÔ#‡ X~XXXf3Ài#ÔÔ‡Xf3XXX~Ô_________________________________Ð º  Ðò òHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÐ º  ÐÔ#‡ X~XXXf37j#ÔÔ‡Xf3XXX~Ôññññññó óññññÔ#‡ X~XXXf3äj#ÔññññÓÓññññññññwfc.soigññññœÔ†ÿÿÔÔ†ÿÿÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ôñ-ñ