ÿWPC ʈ%¥ØÎVœ¾œ·Ÿ>Bãa#8Æhb\왘ŠÞƒ5ShVå;U¸ÕînÑ SrÕ¿5rFÅÏÔX£¼º ªø¬~8.‹u‹9µ¸Ö!h0…4H‘b1Vÿì2EbDÓs¬ÇÞw™êS]ù‹HVvJ7† GÓ•æB¦¹ÞªvÞ¹Ie—…/üÉ;Þµx+M–„v23y.a·nQÖ•x^ïüΩHhohÐ+I¹5WDïRäxY凱€ïƒs¸“ýÄWTÅ_¶:N’qî6bIzá § 'é¢ñ˜4î;îC֡⤪±D‹ ñ{:È@¦œ÷Å^ÅÛKÒv,1ä8j(¿Où>ö¯³÷Bí×\÷aj)Þ—ºƒÌJB$HÃ9V’‡²z,øO®r"3UFt•h]ú)Bkv§—Û²¯¤ZÉï¾PF÷`ZÌD.û¬°Ù°&‰±È’}…œ½ð•ë~TŸÞŒ1T¬n.ÅÁ.&t@RHf}¦š„v \OƒÈDkBkGé?z°×áaÇvbêdÄ­‚z"(‹&Sšy9¡Ù„|sjNxÕÖ`øù$è[:Z[¨š³Âu ÷§-žILœMI¯Î$"ŸŠ©*# LU :W %‘ 0(—b ¿w@Ë4 X. 0l† 0Dò@6µv + A D Z U:b b b b b b b b b b b b b Bœ AQ¹ Æ 0DÐ 0D 0DXX D/œœ BË D3è˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡- ù - ¹Eº»E¼½D¾¿DÀÁDÂÓ€Õcl&ô3|xË NÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€ôv¯ôXXÔÝ ƒ üÝÿÝà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€petition€also€sought€a€transfer€to€Mr.€March€of€the€custodial€rights€to€two€accounts€held€byÐ Ü ÐMs.€March€for€her€children€under€the€Tennessee€Uniform€Transfers€to€Minors€Act.((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó 6Ò€°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€ôv¯ôXXÔÝ ƒ üÝÿÝà Ø àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝIn€fact,€the€Levines€had€only€begun€the€deposition€of€Mr.€March€that€morning,€and€he€hadÐ Ü Ðrefused€to€answer€any€questions€about€the€basis€for€his€claims. «Ò€°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€ôv¯ôXXÔÓ  ÓÝ ƒ üÝÿÝà Ø àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝTheir€opposition€was€based,€in€part,€on€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€31„1„106,€which€prevents€anyÐ Ü Ðperson€from€taking€the€property€of€a€decedent,€ð ðby€will,€deed€or€otherwise,ðð€when€such€person€has€killedÏthe€decedent€(unless€the€killing€was€accidental€or€in€self„defense). Ñ „ Ñ ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X¯ƒXXXÔÔ€ÚHXX¯ƒÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X¯ƒXÚHÔÐ  ÐÌMarch€17,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó Ñ ° Ñ,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular d!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÑܰÑÑX°ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ€ÑÑ7€¯ƒXXdædÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò òÔ€¼F+¼XXÔÓ  ÓÑ€OaÑÑ€¿[ ÑñÂñ›ñÂññÂñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@EôÝ` 8ttxP,Üð  rß›ñÂñà@  êàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ Ü Ðà@¦¦(êàAT€NASHVILLEó óÔ€X¯ƒX¼¼F+ԈРð ÐÌÌÌÌœIN€RE€ESTATE€OF€JANET€GAILà 8 àà  à)Ð œ À ÐLEVINE€MARCH,€Absentee,à 8 àà  à)›Ð ‚ ¦ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)ÌœJeffrey€Mobley,€in€his€capacity€asà 8 àà  à)›à è àœÐ Nr  ÐConservator€and€Receiver€forà 8 àà  à)Ð 4X  ÐJanet€Gail€Levine€March,à à àà 8 àà  à)à è àAppeal€No.›Ð >  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àœ)à è à01„A„01„9708„PB„00437Ð $  Ðà Ø àPlaintiff/Appellee,à à àà 8 àà  à)›à è àœÐ æ  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àDavidson€Probate›Ð Ìð  ÐVS.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àœ)à è àNo.€96P„1702›Ð ²Ö  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àœÐ ˜¼ ÐLAWRENCE€E.€LEVINE,à à àà 8 àà  à)Ð ~¢ ÐCAROLYN€R.€LEVINE,€for€themselvesà  à)Ð dˆ Ðand€in€their€capacity€as€next€friends€of€à  à)Ð Jn Ðtheir€daughter€Janet€Gail€Levine€March,à  à)Ð 0T ÐAbsentee,€and€their€grandchildren,à  à)Ð : ÐSamson€Leo€March€and€Tziporaà 8 àà  à)Ð ü  ÐJosette€March€(Children€of€Absentee),à  à)Ð â Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àDefendants/Appellants,à 8 àà  à)›Ð ®Ò ÐÌÌà@¥ ¥ êàAPPEALED€FROM€THE€œPROBATE€COURT›€OF€œDAVIDSON€COUNTY›ˆÌà@#êàAT€œNASHVILLE,€TENNESSEE›ˆÌÌà@  êàTHE€HONORABLE€œFRANK€C.€CLEMENT,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌMARK€H.€LEVINEÌ350€South€Grand€Avenue,€Ste.€3600ÌLos€Angeles,€CA€90071„3442ÌÌJON€E.€JONESÌ345€S.€Jefferson€Avenue,€4th€FloorÌCookeville,€TN€38503„0699Ìà Ø àAttorneys€for€AppellantÌÌJOEL€M.€LEEMANÌ3rd€Floor,€230€Fourth€Avenue€NorthÌNashville,€TN€37219„8888Ìà Ø àAttorney€for€AppelleeÌÌÌÌà@||$êàREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDà@@êê.êà›ˆÌÌÌÌœà Ø à›à 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àBEN€H.€œCANTRELL,€Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.›ÌÌœCONCUR:›ÌœKOCH,€J.ÌTODD,€J.Ì›ÓÓò òÔ€„|1„XX¯ƒÔòòà@tt(êàO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÔ€X¯ƒX„„|1ԈР >*êàò òStandingó óˆÐ  @ Ðà Ø àà 0 àThe€probate€court€held€that€Mr.€and€œMs.›€Levineððs€interest€in€theÏproceeding€was€confined€to€the€amount€of€their€claim€under€the€deed€of€trust;€and€thatÏthey€did€not€have€standing€to€object€to€the€settlement€between€the€conservator€andÏMr.€March.€€The€conservator€continues€to€press€that€argument€on€appeal.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àWe€disagree.€€The€Levines€joined€this€fight€as€the€next€friend€of€theirÏdaughter.€€It€is€not€clear€from€their€intervening€petition€whether€they€stood€as€nextÏfriend€to€the€children€or€simply€as€their€grandparents,€but€it€is€clear€that€they€assertedÏdefenses€to€Mr.€Marchððs€claim€of€an€interest€in€Ms.€Marchððs€estate.€€œSpecifically,›€theyÏraised€as€a€defense€the€provision€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€31„1„106€that€prohibits€aÏperson€who€kills€another€from€inheriting€the€deceasedððs€property€or€taking€suchÏproperty€ð ðby€will,€deed,€or€otherwise.ðð€€œÐ œ6À04 Їà Ø àà 0 à›A€ð ðnext€friendðð€is,€in€a€sense,€a€volunteer€who€asserts€a€claim€on€behalfÏof€a€person€under€a€legal€disability.€€òòSee€Williams€v.€œGaither›óó,€139€Tenn.€587,€202€œS.W.›Ð ¼à Ð917,€918€œ(191ñ¾ñ8ñ¾ññ¿ñ7ñ¿ñ).›€€A€next€friend€is€someone€who€is€capable€of€protecting€the€interestsÏof€the€person€under€the€legal€disability,€who€will€be€liable€for€the€costs,€and€againstÏwhom€the€court€can€make€and€enforce€its€orders.€€òòSee€œRaskin€v.€Warneróó,€70€Tenn.Ð \ € Л302,€304„05€(1879).€€While€a€next€friend€is€not€a€party€to€the€action,€òòsee€Queen€v.Ð <`  МJolley›óó,€219€Tenn.€427,€431,€410€S.W.2d€416,€418€(1966),€the€role€a€next€friend€playsÐ @  Ðresembles€that€of€a€guardian.€€òòSee€Williams€v.€œGaither›óó,€139€Tenn.€at€589,€202€œS.W.›Ð ü  Ðat€918;€òòCummings€v.€Pattersonóó,€54€Tenn.€App.€75,€94,€388€œS.W.2d›€157,€166€(1964).Ð Ü ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àA€next€friend€may€be€replaced€if€the€court€appoints€a€personalÏrepresentative€for€the€person€under€disability.€€The€general€rule€is€that€a€dulyÏappointed€representative€becomes€the€successor€to€the€next€friend€with€regard€to€anyÏclaim€the€next€friend€has€asserted€on€behalf€of€a€person€under€a€legal€disability.€€òòSeeÐ <` ÐWilliams€v.€œGaither›óó,€139€Tenn.€at€590,€202€œS.W.€at›€918€(Tenn.€1918).€€This€transferÐ  @ Ðof€power€includes€the€power€to€control€the€claim.€€òòId.óóÐ ü!  ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àBut€the€transfer€is€not€automatic.€€In€òòWilliams€v.€œGaither›óó€a€husband€hadÐ ¼%à" Ðbeen€injured€in€an€accident,€and€the€injuries€he€sustained€rendered€him€mentallyÏincompetent.€€His€wife,€as€next€friend,€sued€the€defendant€on€her€husbandððs€behalf.€ÏœThe›€husbandððs€mother€was€later€appointed€guardian€of€the€injured€man€and€she€suedÏthe€defendant€in€a€separate€action€for€the€same€injuries.€€The€guardian€then€filed€aÏpetition€in€the€cause€brought€by€the€next€friend€asking€that€the€action€be€dismissed€atÏthe€cost€of€the€next€friend.€€The€court€analyzed€the€problem€in€this€way:œÌÓÓà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà ˆ à›The€first€suit€having€been€properly€brought,€whatÏright€had€the€guardian€by€motion€or€petition€therein€toÏhave€it€dismissed?€€If,€and€so€long€as,€the€guardianÏproceeds€on€the€basis€of€the€first€suit€being€wrongfullyÏbrought€or€prosecuted€by€the€next€friend,€she€is€to€beÏdeemed€to€be€a€stranger€to€that€action,€and€as€such€sheÏcould€not€successfully€so€move€to€dismiss€it.€(CitationÏomitted).Ðl9370 ¤0 ¤ Їà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà ˆ àThe€true€conception€seems€to€us€to€be€that€theÏregularly€appointed€guardian€became€the€successor€of€theÏnext€friend€in€respect€of€the€right€to€control€the€suit.€€UponÏthe€due€appointment€of€the€guardian,€the€power€to€controlÏthe€òònon€composóó€and€his€affairs,€including€the€suit,Ð œ À Ðdevolved€upon€her.€€The€power€formerly€exercisable€byÏthe€next€friend€was€superseded€by€that€belonging€to€theÏregularly€appointed€guardian.€€The€greater€powerÏoverlapped€and,€so€to€speak,€absorbed€the€lesser€at€theÏguardianððs€election.€€It€is€not€to€be€tolerated€that€propertyÏrights€of€a€òònon€compos€mentisóó€should€be€controlled€by€aÐ <`  Ðnext€friend€after€the€appointment€of€a€regular€guardian,Ïagainst€the€will€of€the€latter.€€Neither€is€it€to€be€recognizedÏthat€the€guardian€may€at€will€thus€set€at€naught€what€theÏnext€friend€has€precedently€done,€under€the€lawððsÏsanction,€in€bringing€suit.€€If€she€wishes,€as€a€part€of€herÏright€of€control,€to€dismiss€such€suit,€she€must€do€so€byÏasserting€her€right€of€succession€to€the€next€friend.€€TheÏproper€course,€therefore,€was€for€the€guardian€to€move€toÏbe€substituted€as€plaintiff€in€the€first€suit;€then,€if€sheÏdesired€for€any€reason,€she€might€have€dismissed€thatÏsuit€and€brought€another,€or€assumed€continued€controlÏof€that€action.€€But€she€would€in€either€event€do€so€byÏadopting€the€action,€and€taking€the€reins€from€the€handsÏof€the€next€friend,€and€not€as€one€claiming€as€anÏantagonist,€or€rival€plaintiff.œÐ 0 ¤0 ¤ ÐÌ139€Tenn.€at€590„91.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà Ø àà 0 àIn€òòHunt€v.€Huntóó,€412€S.W.2d€7€(Tenn.€App.€1965),€the€husband,€alreadyÐ ì" Ðunder€a€guardian,€brought€suit€by€next€friend€to€have€his€marriage€annulled.€€The€trialÏcourt€held€that€the€next€friend€had€no€standing€to€bring€suit€where€a€guardian€hadÏalready€been€appointed€for€the€person€under€disability.€€This€court€reversed€the€lowerÏcourt€because€the€regular€guardian€had€refused€to€take€a€stand€either€for€or€againstÏthe€claim.›ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àœThe€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€seem€to€have€adopted€the€view€that€someÏclaims€may€be€asserted€by€next€friend€even€where€a€personal€representative€has€beenÏappointed.›€œ€Rule›€17.03€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€œprovides:ÌÓÓà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àWhenever€an€infant€or€incompetent€person€has€aÏrepresentative,€such€as€a€general€guardian,€conservator,Ïor€other€like€fiduciary,€the€representative€may€sue€orÏdefend€on€behalf€of€the€infant€or€incompetent€person.€€IfÏan€infant€or€incompetent€person€does€not€have€a€dulyÐ l937 Ðappointed€representative,€òòor€if€justice€requiresóó,€he€or€sheÐ Ü Ðmay€sue€by€next€friend.€€(Emphasis€added.)Ð 0 ¤0 ¤ ÐÌÓÓWhile›€we€do€not€find€any€Tennessee€cases€on€point,€the€weight€of€authorityÏinterpreting€Rule€17(c),€Fed.€R.€Civ.€Proc.€(almost€identical€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€Proc.Ï17.03)€is€in€favor€of€allowing€suit€by€next€friend€in€certain€circumstances.€€In€œ3A›€J.ÏMoore€&€J.€Lucas,€òòMooreððs€Federal€Practice€and€Procedureóó,€ðð€17.26€(œ2d›.€ed.€1985),Ð Lp  Ðthe€authors€œstate:ÌÒ0 €ÒÒ„ÒÓÓà ˆ àUnder€the€second€sentence€of€subdivision€(c)€an€infantÏor€incompetent€person€who€does€not€have€a€duly€appointedÏrepresentative,€may€sue€by€his€next€friend€or€by€a€guardianÏòòad€litemóó.€€Even€though€the€infant€or€incompetent€has€aÐ Ü Ðgeneral€representative,€if€the€representative€is€unable€orÏrefuses€to€act€or€his€interests€confict€with€the€personÏrepresented,€the€infant€or€incompetent€may€sue€in€federalÏcourt€by€his€next€friend€or€by€a€guardian€òòad€litemóó.€€CourtsÐ œÀ Ðhave€always€had€the€power€to€appoint€special€representativesÏunder€such€circumstances,€and€this€power€should€beÏconsidered€retained€by€the€federal€court€in€Rule€17(c).€€TheÏfact€that€the€first€sentence€is€permissive€is€an€implicitÏrecognition€of€that€power;€and,€in€any€event,€a€guardian€òòadÐ Lp Ðlitemóó€probably€can€be€appointed€in€such€cases€under€the€thirdÐ <` Ðsentence€of€subdivision€(c).ÌÌÌÌÒ€0 ÒÒ„ÒÓÓà Ø àà 0 àState€courts€have€taken€the€same€view€when€a€personal€representativeÏhas€a€conflict€of€interest€or€ð ðfor€other€cause.ðð€€òòSee€In€Re€Becan›óó,€26€œA.D.2d›€44,€270Ð Ì$ð! МN.Y.S.2d›€923€(App.€œDiv›.€1966).€€We€note€that€our€rule€allows€suit€by€next€friend€whenÏthe€incompetent€person€does€not€have€a€personal€representative€or€œð ðif›€justice€Ïrequires.ðð€€The€fact€that€the€rule€œis€in›€the€alternative€suggests€that€a€next€friend€mayÏassert€the€interests€of€an€absentee€even€though€a€personal€representative€has€beenÏœappointed.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àWhere€the€Levines€originally€opposed€Mr.€Marchððs€claims€as€next€friendsÏof€the€absentee,€the€appointment€of€a€conservator€did€not€automatically€terminate€theirÏstanding€to€oppose€the€conservator/March€settlement.€€In€fact,€their€status€as€nextÏfriend€of€the€absentee€has€not€been€challenged€in€this€record.€€Therefore,€they€hadÏstanding€to€oppose€the€settlement.›Ð l937 Їà Ø àà 0 àà@¦¦ êàœò òIII.€€›à@@NN#êàThe€Settlement€Approvaló óˆÐ Ü Ðà@þþ'êàò òa.€€Due€Processó óˆÐ ¼à Ðà Ø àà 0 àSince€we€have€found€that€Mr.€and€œMs.›€Levine€had€standing€to€object€toÏthe€settlement,€we€believe€the€emergency€hearing€on€May€21,€1997€deprived€them€ofÏa€meaningful€opportunity€to€object€to€the€terms€of€the€settlement.€€They€were€in€fact,Ïin€the€middle€of€a€deposition€with€Mr.€œMarch,›€seeking€to€discover€the€basis€for€anyÏclaim€he€had€against€his€wifeððs€property.€€œSo›€far€as€this€record€shows,€he€neverÏanswered€any€of€the€questions.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àArticle€I€ðð€8€of€our€Constitution€prohibits€the€taking€of€property€except€byÏthe€ð ðlaw€of€the€land.ðð€€œThis›€phrase€is€synonymous€with€ð ðdue€process€of€lawðð€used€inÏthe€€Fifth€and€Fourteenth€Amendments€of€the€United€States€Constitution.€€òòState€v.Ð |  ÐHaleóó,€840€S.W.2d€œ307›€(Tenn.€1992).€€A€fundamental€requirement€of€due€process€isÐ \€ Ðnotice€and€an€opportunity€to€be€heard,€òòPhillips€v.€State€œBd›.€of€Regentsóó,€863€S.W.2dÐ <` Ð45€(Tenn.€œ1993),›€€or,€as€our€Supreme€Court€said€in€òòState€ex€rel.€œAnglin›€v.€Mitchell,óó€596Ð  @ ÐS.W.2d€779€at€786€(Tenn.€1980),€ð ðthe€right€to€a€fair€trial€in€a€fair€tribunal.ðð€€TheÏpurpose€of€notice€under€the€due€process€clause€is€to€apprise€a€party€of,€and€permitÏadequate€preparation€for,€an€impending€hearing.€€òòMemphis€Light,€Gas€and€WaterÐ ¼%à" ÐDivision€v.€Craftóó,€436€U.S.€1€(1978).Ð œ'À!$ ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€hearing€conducted€on€May€21,€1997€failed€to€satisfy€theÏrequirements€of€due€process.€€The€œLevines›€did€not€have€an€adequate€opportunity€toÏœrebut€Mr.€Marchððs€claims.›ÌÌà@#êàò òb.€€A€œFailure›€of€Proofó óˆÐ Ü2-0 Ðà Ø àà 0 àThe€settlement€of€a€claim€by€or€against€an€infant€or€incompetent€personÏmust€be€based€on€proof€showing€that€the€settlement€is€in€the€minor€or€incompetentÏpersonððs€best€interests.€€òòThomas€v.€R.€W.€Harmon,€Inc.óó,€760€S.W.2d€212€(Tenn.€App.Ð |8 26 ÐÑ¿[ ÑÑ„°ÑÑ  Ññ¿ñÑ¿[ ÑÑ„°ÑÑ  Ññ¿ñœ1988).›€€In€òòThomas€v.€Harmonóó€the€court€set€aside€a€settlement€of€a€minorððs€personalÐ Ü Ðinjury€claim€where€the€only€proof€offered€was€proof€that€the€childððs€parents€wished€toÏenter€into€the€settlement.€€The€court€said,€ð ðThe€minorððs€rights€were€impaired€by€aÏpurported€hearing,€when€in€fact€there€was€no€evidence€introduced€upon€which€a€courtÏcould€base€an€opinion€requiring€consideration€of€the€best€interests€of€the€minor.ðð€€760ÏœS.W.2d›€at€217.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àIt€is€fair€to€point€out€that€the€court€in€òòThomas€v.€Harmonóó€did€not€appointÐ ü  Ða€guardian€ad€litem€to€protect€the€minorððs€interests,€while€the€court€here€appointed€aÏconservator€for€the€absenteeððs€estate.€€But€it€seems€to€us€that€the€situation€is€exactlyÏthe€same€regardless€of€who€purports€to€represent€the€person€under€disability.€€InÏòòThomasóó€it€was€the€parents;€here€it€was€the€conservator,€but€the€problem€of€proof€œ(or›Ð |  Ðlack€thereof)€is€the€same.€€There€is€nothing€in€the€record€on€which€the€court€couldÏbase€a€determination€that€it€was€in€the€best€œinterests›€of€the€absentee€to€pay€aÏminimum€of€$73,000€from€her€estate€to€settle€what€appears€to€be€œdoubtful›€claims.ÌœÌà Ø àà 0 àIt€is€not€clear€from€this€record€what€claims€Mr.€March€might€have€againstÏthe€absentee€estate.€€He€asserts€an€interest€in€the€equity€in€the€house,€and€theÏsettlement€provides€that€he€would€credit€the€amount€he€received€to€any€claim€he€mightÏhave€in€a€subsequent€divorce.€€But€the€facts€simply€do€not€show€that€he€would€receiveÏa€substantial€portion€of€the€equity€in€the€house€as€a€part€of€a€divorce€proceeding.€ÏWhile€the€equity€in€the€house€would€be€marital€property,€we€cannot€speculate€on€howÏit€would€be€divided€in€light€of€the€other€marital€assets€he€received€in€the€settlementÏand€the€lack€of€proof€of€the€contributions€he€made€to€the€acquisition€and€constructionÏof€the€house.›ÌœÌ›à Ø àà 0 àAt€the€hearing€the€conservator€œalso›€expressed€a€fear€that,€absent€theÏsettlement,€the€litigation€expenses€would€continue€to€escalate€as€Mr.€March€pursuedÏœan›€appeal€of€the€March€19€order€and€tried€to€hold€up€the€sale€of€the€house.Ð \:€48 Їà Ø àà 0 àWe€have€no€doubt€that€Mr.€March€œhas›€the€ability€to€make€trouble€for€theÏœestate,›€€but€we€do€not€think€he€could€œhave€held›€up€the€sale.€€In€its€March€19€œorder,›€theÏcourt€had€already€ordered€that€the€house€be€sold€and€that€Mr.€œMarchððs›€claims€andÏthose€of€his€relatives€be€transferred€to€the€proceeds€of€the€sale.€€The€appeal€of€thatÏorder€could€not€be€made€instantaneously,€because€it€was€not€a€final€order€under€RuleÏ3(a),€Tenn.€R.€App.€Proc.,€and€we€think€the€probate€court€had€the€power€to€deal€withÏany€frivolous€claims€or€obstructionist€tactics€that€threatened€to€deplete€the€absenteeððsÏestate.€€In€short,€the€courts€should€not€be€held€hostage€by€in€terrorem€tactics€of€oneÏof€the€œlitigants.ÌÌà@oo-êàò òIV.ó óˆÐ œÀ Ðà Ø àà 0 àAlthough€not€raised€by€the€parties,€there€are€two€additional€matters€thatÏwe€feel€compelled€to€address.ÌÌà@nnêàò òa.€€The€Levinesðð€Conflict€of€Interestó óˆÐ  @ Ðà Ø àà 0 àWe€think€the€Levines€have€a€potential€conflict€of€interest€ñ¶ñas€next€friendsÏofñ¶ññ·ñin€representingñ·ñ€the€absentee.€€They€are€actually€creditors€of€the€estate€by€virtue€of€the€mortgageÏthey€held€on€the€Blackberry€Road€property.€€They€had€started€foreclosure€proceedingsÏbefore€the€conservator€obtained€a€preliminary€injunction€in€January€of€1997.ñ¸ñ€€While€weÏare€satisfied€to€recognize€that€tñ¸ññ¹ññ¸ñ€ñ¸ññ¹ññºñhey€have€standing€and€that€tñºññ»ññºñ€ñºññ»ññ¼ñhey€were€acting€in€a€goodÏfaith€attempt€to€protect€their€absent€daughterððs€estate,€they€should€not€wear€two€hatsÏin€this€litigation.ñ¼ñÌÌà Ø àà 0 àOur€jurisdiction€is€appellate€only.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€16„4„108.€€SinceÏthe€issue€was€not€raised€in€the€court€below€we€cannot€address€it€here,€and€with€theÏsale€of€the€house€now€presumably€complete€we€do€not€know€if€a€conflict€still€exists.€ÏWe€merely€point€out€the€potential€conflict€for€consideration€in€subsequentÏproceedings.ÌÐ \:€48 Ðà@NN"êàò òb.€€The€Childrenððs€Rightsó óˆÐ ° Ðà Ø àà 0 àThe€absenteeððs€children€obviously€have€rights€that€deserve€specificÏprotection.€€Their€rights€conflict€with€their€fatherððs€rights,€and€we€have€noted€theÏconflict€between€their€grandparents€and€their€motherððs€estate.€€That€leaves€theÏconservator€as€the€only€party€in€this€litigation€without€an€obvious€conflict.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àWe€do€not€wish€to€increase€the€expenses€involved€in€settling€this€estate.€ÏBut€if€the€probate€court€determines€that€the€conservator€cannot€adequately€representÏthe€childrenððs€interests,€the€appointment€of€a€guardian€ad€litem€would€be€appropriate.Ì›Ìà Ø àà 0 àThe€judgment€approving€the€conservatorððs€settlement€with€Mr.€March€isÏreversed€and€the€cause€is€remanded€to€the€Probate€œCourt›€of€Davidson€County€forÏœfurther›€proceedings€in€conformity€with€this€opinion.€œ€Tax€the€costs€on€appeal€to€Mr.ÏMarch.›ÌÓÓœÌÌà Ø à›à 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # à¼à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à_________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€œÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.›ÌÌœÌÌCONCUR:›ÌÌÌœÌÌ_______________________________›ÌœWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE›ÌÌœÌÌÌ_______________________________›ÌœHENRY€F.€TODD,€JUDGE›ÌœÌÌÌÌÌÌÌñÁñÐ L;p59 ÐÐ L;p59 ÐñÁññ½ñÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌñ½ñѰÜÑÑX„ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼Ç¼XXVÔò òñ½ñÐ  °8 Ðñ½ñ›à@êê.êàœñÀñIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@™™(êàAT€NASHVILLEñÀñó óñÀñÔ€XVX¼¼ÇÔˆÐ Æ ÐÌœÌIN€RE€ESTATE€OF€JANET€GAILà 8 àà  à)Ð ¼  ÐLEVINE€MARCH,€Absentee,à 8 àà  à)Ð ¬ ü Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)ÌJeffrey€Mobley,€in€his€capacity€asà 8 àà  à)à è àÐ Œ Ü ÐConservator€and€Receiver€forà 8 àà  à)Ð | Ì ÐJanet€Gail€Levine€March,à à àà 8 àà  à)à è àAppeal€No.Ð l ¼  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è à01„A„01„9708„PB„00437Ð \¬  Ðà Ø àPlaintiff/Appellee,à à àà 8 àà  à)à è àÐ Lœ  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àDavidson€ProbateÐ <Œ  ÐVS.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àNo.€96P„1702Ð ,|  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àÐ l  ÐLAWRENCE€E.€LEVINE,à à àà 8 àà  à)à è àÐ  \ ÐCAROLYN€R.€LEVINE,€for€themselvesà  à)à è àReversedÐ üL Ðand€in€their€capacity€as€next€friends€of€à  à)à è àandÐ ì< Ðtheir€daughter€Janet€Gail€Levine€March,à  à)à è àRemandedÐ Ü, ÐAbsentee,€and€their€grandchildren,à  à)Ð Ì ÐSamson€Leo€March€and€Tziporaà 8 àà  à)Ð ¼  ÐJosette€March€(Children€of€Absentee),à  à)Ð ¬ü Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àDefendants/Appellants,à 8 àà  à)Ð ŒÜ ЛÌÔ€¼Ç¼XXVÔò òòòà@uu'êàJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€Tóóó óˆÐ l¼ ÐÌÓÓÔ€XVX¼¼ÇÔà Ø àà 0 àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€theÐ ˜è МProbate€Court›€of€œDavidson€County,›€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel;€uponÏconsideration€whereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€that€œthe›€œjudgment€of€the€trial€courtÏshould€be›€œreversed.›Ìà Ø àà 0 àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€of€the€Court€filed€herein,€it€is,€therefore,Ïordered€and€œadjudged€by›€this€Court€that€the€œorder€of€the€lower€court€is€reversed.›€€TheÏcause€is€remanded€to€the€œProbate€Court›€of€œDavidson€County›€for€œany€furtherÏproceedings€necessary›€and€for€the€collection€of€the€costs€accrued€below.Ìà Ø àà 0 àCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€œPerry€March,€for›€which€executionÏmay€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ_____________________________________›Ìœà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.›ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ_____________________________________›Ìœà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE›ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ_____________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àHENRY€F.€TODD,€JUDGEÌñÀñ›