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AO«!Æú! 0DÀ" D/# B3#˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0nLHÎ,†r‰AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡ 2D3a4d56D789D:Ó€DDÒ x€T$3|xD- ù -«<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d""""7Border 1dd€-#Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ðÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€!ÔÝ  ÝÔ€!ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€!XÔÌÌAugust€27,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€!ÔÝ  ÝÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÓ  ÓÔ€!ôÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóOn€at€least€two€prior€occasions,€we€have€held€that€we€should€look€to€federal€authorities€toÏflesh€out€the€meaning€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„21„102(9)(Supp.€1996)€and€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„50„103€(1993).€€òòHallums€v.€Coca„Cola€Bottling€Co.€Consol.óó,€874€S.W.2d€30,€31„32€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ï1993);€òòCecil€v.€Gibsonóó,€820€S.W.2d€361,€364„65€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€In€its€interpretativeÏguidelines€for€the€Americans€with€Disabilities€Act,€the€EEOC€has€made€it€clear€that€temporary€injuriesÏare€generally€not€handicaps.€€The€guidelines€state€specifically:ÌÌà8 àOn€the€other€hand,€temporary,€non„chronic€impairments€of€short€duration,€with€littleÏor€no€long€term€or€permanent€impact,€are€usually€not€disabilities.€€Such€impairmentsÏmay€include,€but€are€not€limited€to,€broken€limbs,€sprained€joints,€concussions,Ïappendicitis,€and€influenza.€Similarly,€except€in€rare€circumstances,€obesity€is€notÏconsidered€a€disabling€impairment.ÌÌ29€C.F.R.€ðð€1630.2(j)(Appendix)(1997).€€Accordingly,€in€contexts€similar€to€the€one€involved€in€thisÏcase,€the€federal€courts€have€held€that€impairments€must€be€continuing€in€order€to€be€consideredÏeither€a€handicap€or€a€disability.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.góó.,€òòEvans€v.€City€of€Dallasóó,€861€F.2d€846,€852„53€(5th€Cir.Ï1988);€òòKramer€v.€K€&€S€Assocs.óó,€942€F.€Supp.€444,€446€(E.D.€Mo.€1996).€€The€federal€courts€haveÏalso€held€that€various€types€of€non„permanent€back€injuries€are€neither€handicaps€nor€disabilities.€ÏòòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòRakestraw€v.€Carpenter€Co.óó,€898€F.€Supp.€386,€390€(N.D.€Miss.€1995)(holding€that€backÏinjuries€of€limited€duration€do€not€constitute€a€handicap);€òòPaegle€v.€Department€of€Interioróó,€813€F.ÏSupp.€61,€64€(D.D.C.€1993)(holding€that€a€back€injury€and€degenerative€disc€syndrome€is€not€aÏhandicap);€òòFuqua€v.€Unisys€Corp.óó,€716€F.€Supp.€1201,€1205„07€(D.€Minn.€1989)(holding€that€aÏstrained€back€accompanied€by€a€chronic€back€problem€was€not€a€handicap);€òòVisarraga€v.€Garrettóó,€No.ÏC„88„2828,€1993€WL€209997,€at€*5€(N.D.€Cal.€July€2,€1992)(finding€that€lower€back€sprain„strain€andÏa€possible€herniated€disc€was€not€a€handicap).à àÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€!ÔÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÒ € ÒÒ ° ÒÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€RÄXXdêdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÞ ÞÌROY€DEAN€OGBURN,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellee,à àà àà àà à)à àAppeal€No.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à01„A„01„9702„CH„00056ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àMontgomery€ChanceryÌTHE€GAS€AND€WATER€DEPARTMENT,€à à)à àNo.€90„66„204ÌÙ€€ÙßR€$%#A1-j|‘c` ç `€€@ÿRßCITY€OF€CLARKSVILLE,€AN€AGENCY€OFà à)ÌTHE€CITY€OF€CLARKSVILLE,€AND€THEà à)ÌCITY€OF€CLARKSVILLE,€A€MUNICIPALà à)ÌCORPORATION€OF€THE€STATE€OFà àà à)ÌTENNESSEE,à àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendants/Appellants.à àà àà à)ÌÌÌà@ àCOURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌAPPEALED€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€MONTGOMERY€COUNTYÌAT€CLARKSVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌTHE€HONORABLE€ROBERT€W.€WEDEMEYER,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLEE:óóà àà àà àòòFOR€THE€APPELLANT:óóÌÌCHARLES€R.€RAYà àà àà àà àJ.€RUSSELL€FARRARÌ211€Third€Avenue€Northà àà àà àWILLIAM€N.€BATESÌP.€O.€Box€198288à àà àà àà à211€Seventh€Avenue€NorthÌNashville,€TN€37219„8288à àà àà àNashville,€TN€37219„1823ÌÌJOHN€L.€MITCHELLà àà àà àJOHN€L.€SOBIESKI,€JR.ÌP.€O.€Box€367à àà àà àà àUniversity€of€Tennessee€College€of€LawÌClarksville,€TN€37041„0367à àà à2224€Dunford€HallÌà àà àà àà àà àà àKnoxville,€TN€37996„4070ÌÌÌÌÌà@ àAFFIRMED€IN€PART;€REVERSED€IN€PART;Ìà@ àAND€REMANDEDÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌKOCH,€J.ÌCAIN,€S.J.ÌÌÇÓÓÓ  Óà@ àò òòòÔ€!„ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óóóÔ€!XÔÌÌà àà àA€meter€reader€brought€suit€against€the€city€of€Clarksville€and€its€GasÏand€Water€Department€after€he€was€fired€from€his€job.€€A€Montgomery€County€juryÏfound€the€defendants€liable€for€handicap€discrimination€and€for€depriving€theÏplaintiff€of€his€due€process€right€to€a€pre„termination€hearing,€and€awarded€himÏ$450,000€in€compensatory€damages.€€We€reverse€the€jury€verdict€on€the€dueÏprocess€claim,€but€affirm€the€verdict€on€handicap€discrimination,€and€we€remandÏthis€case€to€the€trial€court€for€a€new€trial€on€damages€alone.€ÌÌà@ àò òI.€€The€Factsó óÌÌà àà àRoy€Ogburn€read€water€meters€for€three€years€as€an€employee€ofÏClarksvilleððs€Gas€&€Water€Department.€€He€had€an€excellent€work€record.€€WhileÏreading€meters€on€June€14,€1989€he€was€attacked€by€a€dog.€€He€jumped€over€aÏfence€to€escape,€and€hurt€his€back.€€When€his€symptoms€did€not€resolve,€he€wentÏto€an€orthopedist,€W.€Cooper€Beazley,€M.D.€€Dr.€Beazley€diagnosed€a€lumbarÏstrain,€started€Mr.€Ogburn€on€a€course€of€conservative€treatment€and€gave€him€aÏsuccession€of€disability€certificates€so€that€his€injury€would€have€time€to€heal.ÌÌà àà àMr.€Ogburn€underwent€an€MRI€on€October€9,€1989,€which€showed€aÏvery€large€rupture€of€a€lumbar€disc.€€After€the€patient€consulted€with€anotherÏorthopedist€and€underwent€another€course€of€conservative€treatment,€Dr.€BeazleyÏperformed€a€lumbar€laminectomy€on€January€19,€1990,€and€restricted€Mr.€OgburnÏfrom€performing€any€work€until€April€9,€1990.€€Prior€to€that€date,€Mr.€OgburnÏunderwent€a€work„hardening€program€at€the€Clarksville€Work€EnhancementÏCenter.ÌÌà àà àOn€April€9€he€reported€to€Andy€Stewart,€his€immediate€supervisor,Ïwith€the€intention€of€returning€to€work.€€Mr.€Ogburn€showed€Mr.€Stewart€lettersÏfrom€Dr.€Beazley€and€from€Larry€R.€Snyder€of€the€Work€Enhancement€Center.€€TheÏletters€stated€that€Mr.€Ogburn€was€ð ðready€to€return€to€work€on€a€graduated€basisðð;Ïthat€he€would€initially€be€able€to€read€about€100€water€meters€a€day;€and€that€heÏwould€gradually€be€able€to€work€his€way€back€up€to€a€full€schedule€of€reading€400Ïmeters€a€day.€€The€supervisor€sent€Mr.€Ogburn€home,€saying€ð ðif€you€canððt€do€theÏwhole€job€it€ainððt€no€job.ðð€€About€thirty€days€later,€Mr.€Ogburn€was€fired€by€the€cityÏof€Clarksville.€€Ìà àà àThough€city€employees€are€normally€entitled€to€appeal€a€terminationÏto€the€City€Council,€Mr.€Ogburn€was€not€notified€of€this€right,€and€he€did€notÏreceive€any€hearing.€€Apparently€the€Mayor€was€erroneously€informed€that€Mr.ÏOgburn€had€quit€his€job,€and€he€therefore€did€not€send€him€a€letter€to€notify€him€ofÏhis€appeal€rights.€€€Ìà àà àOn€November€9,€1990,€Mr.€Ogburn€filed€a€complaint€against€the€GasÏand€Water€Department€of€the€city€of€Clarksville,€and€against€the€city€itself.€€HeÏclaimed€that€his€due€process€rights€under€U.S.C.€42€ðð€1983€had€been€violated,Ïand€that€his€termination€was€based€on€racial€discrimination,€as€well€as€onÏhandicap€discrimination€in€violation€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„50„103(a).€€Mr.ÏOgburn€further€claimed€that€he€was€a€victim€of€retaliatory€discharge€because€heÏhad€filed€a€workersðð€compensation€claim.€€He€asked€for€reinstatement€in€his€job,Ïback€pay,€and€compensatory€and€punitive€damages.€€The€complaint€was€laterÏamended€to€eliminate€the€retaliatory€discharge€claim.ÌÌà àà àAfter€a€one„week€trial,€a€jury€of€twelve€concluded€that€Mr.€OgburnÏhad€not€in€fact€been€a€victim€of€racial€discrimination,€but€that€he€had€beenÏwrongfully€terminated€from€his€job€because€of€a€handicap,€and€wrongfully€deniedÏhis€due€process€rights€to€a€hearing.€€Damages€were€set€at€$450,000€plus€costsÏand€attorney€fees.€€This€appeal€followed.ÌÌà@ àò òII.€€Handicap€Discriminationó óÌÌà àà àThe€city€argues€on€appeal€that€it€was€entitled€to€a€directed€verdict€onÏthe€handicap€discrimination€and€due€process€claims,€and€that€the€trial€court€erredÏin€sending€those€claims€to€the€jury.€€The€appellant€also€argues€that€the€trial€courtÏerred€in€not€suggesting€a€remittitur.€€We€will€deal€with€the€issue€of€handicapÍdiscrimination€first.€€The€relevant€portion€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„50„103€reads€asÏfollows:ÌÒ 0 ÒÒ „ ÒÒ 0 ÒÒ  Òò òÓÓEmployment€of€the€handicapped€„„€DiscriminationÏprohibited„„Penalty„„Complaint.„„€ó ó(a)€There€shall€beÏno€discrimination€in€the€hiring,€firing€and€other€terms€andÏconditions€of€employment€of€the€state€of€Tennessee€or€anyÏdepartment,€agency,€institution€or€political€subdivision€ofÏthe€state,€or€of€any€private€employer,€against€any€applicantÏfor€employment€based€solely€upon€any€physical,€mental€orÏvisual€handicap€of€the€applicant,€unless€such€handicap€toÏsome€degree€prevents€the€applicant€from€performing€theÏduties€required€by€the€employment€sought€or€impairs€theÏperformance€of€the€work€involved.€.€.€.€€ÌÒ € ÒÒ  ÒÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÌÓÓÌà àà àAn€essential€definition€may€be€found€in€our€human€rights€statute,ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„21„102(9)(A):ÌÒ 0 ÒÒ „ ÒÒ 0 ÒÒ  ÒÓÓ(9)(A)€€ð ðHandicapðð€means,€with€respect€to€a€person:€Ìà àÌà à(i)€€A€physical€or€mental€impairment€whichÏà àà àsubstantially€limits€one€(1)€or€more€of€suchÏpersonððs€à àmajor€life€activitiesÌà àÌà à(ii)€A€record€of€having€such€an€impairment;€orÌÌà à(iii)€Being€regarded€as€having€such€an€impairment.ÌÌÌÒ € ÒÒ  ÒÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àà àIn€the€present€case,€Mr.€Ogburn€presented€sufficient€proof€to€meetÏthe€definition€of€a€handicap.€€His€testimony€and€that€of€his€wife€showed€that€heÏwas€a€physically€active€person€who€had€worked€on€his€familyððs€farm€from€an€earlyÏage.€€Even€while€working€for€the€city,€he€continued€to€work€on€the€farm€inÍpartnership€with€his€brothers.€€But€after€he€was€injured,€lower€back€pain€preventedÏhim€from€sitting€on€a€tractor€or€a€mower€for€more€than€a€short€period,€or€from€ridingÏhorseback,€playing€softball,€basketball,€football€or€golf,€or€romping€in€the€yard€withÏhis€children.€ÌÌà àà àAlthough€the€appellant€does€not€raise€the€point,€it€could€be€arguedÏthat€Mr.€Ogburn€is€not€handicapped€within€the€meaning€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„50„103€€because€his€injury€is€temporary€and€will€have€no€permanent€impact.× ƒ& ××  ×€ÏSince€the€issue€has€not€been€raised,€we€will€not€address€it€here.€€But€the€questionÏremains€open,€and€this€opinion€should€not€be€construed€to€stand€for€theÍproposition€that€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„50„103€covers€persons€with€temporary,Ïwork„related€injuries.ÌÌà à€€à àThe€thrust€of€appellantððs€argument€is€rather€that€the€statute€does€notÏapply€because€Mr.€Ogburnððs€condition€prevented€him€from€ð ðperforming€the€dutiesÏrequired€by€the€employment€sought€or€impairs€the€performance€of€the€workÏinvolved.ðð€€The€appellant€contends€that€the€city€was€under€no€obligation€toÏaccomodate€€Mr.€Ogburn€by€allowing€him€to€work€his€way€back€to€reading€400Ïmeters€a€day,€or€by€assigning€him€to€any€sort€of€light€duty€pending€furtherÏimprovement€of€his€condition.€ÌÌà àà àMr.€Ogburn€concedes€that€even€though€both€the€FederalÏRehabilitation€Act€and€the€Americans€with€Disabilities€Act€require€employers€toÏfurnish€reasonable€accomodations€to€disabled€employees,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„50„103€contains€no€such€complementary€provision.€€The€record€shows€that€theÏjury€was€instructed€that€the€defendant€was€not€obligated€to€accommodate€theÏplaintiff€by€assigning€him€to€another€task.ÌÌà àà àMr.€Ogburnððs€handicap€discrimination€claim€thus€rests€on€theÏcontention€that€he€was€capable€of€doing€ð ðthe€whole€jobðð€nothwithstanding€theÏletters€from€Dr.€Beazley€and€Mr.€Snyder€indicating€that€it€was€advisable€for€him€toÏgradually€work€his€way€back€into€it.€€We€have€found€evidence€in€the€record€fromÍwhich€the€jury€could€reasonably€infer€that€Mr.€Ogburn€was€willing€and€capable€ofÏdoing€whatever€was€required€of€him.ÌÌà àà àThe€testimony€of€Mr.€Stewart,€for€example,€indicates€that€on€aÏprevious€occasion€when€Mr.€Ogburn€suffered€an€ankle€injury€off„the„job,€Mr.ÏStewart€allowed€him€to€return€to€work,€and€Mr.€Ogburn€made€his€ownÏaccomodation.€€The€Departmentððs€practice€is€to€send€out€its€meter€readers€inÏteams€of€two,€with€one€worker€reading€the€gas€meter€and€the€other€the€waterÏmeter.€€Reading€water€meters€requires€more€bending€and€lifting€than€doesÏreading€gas€meters,€and€on€the€earlier€occasion€Mr.€Ogburn€and€his€partnerÏagreed€between€themselves€to€switch€jobs€until€Mr.€Ogburnððs€injury€healed.ÌÌà àà àThe€proof€also€shows€that€after€being€sent€home€by€Mr.€Stewart€(butÏbefore€he€was€terminated)€Mr.€Ogburn€contacted€the€cityððs€insurance€coordinator,ÏMs.€Betty€Peay,€several€times,€and€told€her€that€he€was€prepared€to€do€the€wholeÏjob,€or€any€job€that€the€city€was€willing€to€assign€to€him.€€Even€after€he€wasÏterminated,€Mr.€Ogburn€contacted€several€city€officials,€including€the€Mayor,Ïasking€to€be€reinstated,€but€to€no€avail.€€Some€idea€of€the€strength€of€hisÏdetermination€to€work€may€be€gathered€from€the€following€bits€of€trial€testimony:€€ÌÒ 0 ÒÒ „ ÒÒ 0 ÒÒ ° ÒÓÓQ.à àDo€you€have€pain?ÌÌA.à àYes€sir.ÌÌQ.à àCan€you€work€with€pain?ÌÌA.à àYes€sir.ÌÌQ.à àWill€you€work€with€pain?ÌÌA.à àI€will.ÌÌ.€.€.ÌÌQ.à à.€.€.€youððre€asking€them,€are€you€not,€for€your€job€back?ÌÌA.à àYes,€sir.ÌÌQ.à àWill€you€do€the€job?ÌÌA.à àI€will€do€the€job,€any€job€that€they€have€available€€€€Ì.€.€.ÌÌQà à.€.€.€do€you€think€you€could€have€done€the€work,€either€inÏthat€position€or€another€position€„„ÌÌA.à àYes,€sir.ÌÌQ.à à„„€if€you€had€been€given€the€chance?ÌÌA.à àIf€I€would€have€been€given€the€chance,€I€could€haveÏperformed.ÌÌÒ € ÒÒ ° ÒÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌÌà àà àWhile€the€facts€cited€here€may€not€have€been€sufficient€inÏthemselves€to€prove€that€Mr.€Ogburnððs€handicap€would€not€have€impaired€hisÏperformance,€they€were€sufficient€to€enable€the€trial€court€to€allow€the€question€toÏbe€presented€to€the€jury.€€We€therefore€find€that€the€trial€court€did€not€err€inÍdeclining€to€grant€the€cityððs€motion€for€directed€verdict€on€Mr.€Ogburnððs€claim€ofÏhandicap€discrimination,€and€we€affirm€the€juryððs€verdict€because€we€find€that€theÏrecord€contains€material€evidence€to€support€it.€€See€Rule€13(d)€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€ÌÌà@ àò òIII.€€Due€Processó óÌÌà àà àThe€Fourteenth€Amendment€to€the€U.S.€Constitution€prohibits€theÏstates€from€depriving€ð ðany€person€of€life,€liberty€or€property€without€due€process€ofÏlaw.ðð€€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983€provides€a€private€remedy€for€individuals€who€have€beenÏdenied€their€due€process€rights.€A€protected€property€interest€in€employmentÏdoes€not€arise€under€the€Constitution€itself,€but€stems€from€an€independentÏsource,€such€as€state€law€or€contract.€Seeòò€Board€of€Regents€v.€Rothóó,€408€U.S.Ï564,€577,€92€S.Ct.€2701,€2709,€33€L.Ed.€2d€548,€561€(1972).ÌÌà àà àMr.€Ogburn€relies€on€Article€IV,€Section€8€of€the€charter€of€the€city€ofÏClarksville€as€the€source€of€the€interest€he€is€claiming.€€That€provision€reads:ÌÒ 0 ÒÒ „ ÒÒ 0 ÒÒ  ÒÓÓð ðThe€mayor€or€any€alderman€or€any€city€official€orÏemployee€may€be€removed€from€office€by€the€City€CouncilÏfor€any€crime,€misconduct,€unfitness€or€disability€by€vote€ofÏthe€City€Council.€€The€proceedings€for€such€removal€shallÏbe€upon€specific€charges€in€writing,€which,€with€a€noticeÏstating€the€time€and€place€of€the€hearing,€shall€be€servedÏupon€the€person€so€charged€or€left€at€his€or€her€usualÏplace€of€residence.€€The€hearing€may€be€public€and€theÏaccused€shall€have€the€right€to€appear€and€defend€.€.€.€.ðð€ÌÒ € ÒÒ  ÒÒ € ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌÌà àà àThe€city€admits€that€Mr.€Ogburn€did€not€receive€a€hearing€before€theÏCity€Council€and€was€thus€deprived€of€the€benefit€of€a€procedure€that€other€cityÏemployees€enjoyed€as€a€matter€of€course.€€The€city€claims€however,€that€its€failureÏto€grant€Mr.€Ogburn€a€hearing€was€the€result€of€a€simple€mistake,€and€not€of€anyÏintentional€scheme€directed€towards€him€personally.ÌÌà àà àMore€significantly€for€its€due€process€argument,€the€city€argues€thatÏMr.€Ogburn€had€no€reasonable€expectation€of€continued€employment,€andÏtherefore€no€constitutionally„protected€property€interest€in€his€job€that€required€it€toÏafford€him€constitutional€due€process.ÌÌà àà àThe€city€points€out€that€Mr.€Ogburn€was€not€a€tenured€municipalÏemployee€and€was€not€protected€by€civil€service.€€Since€no€written€contract€orÏstatute€granted€him€the€right€to€be€dismissed€only€for€cause,€his€employer€couldÏdischarge€him€under€the€long„recognized€doctrine€of€employment€at€will,€whetherÏfor€good€cause,€bad€cause,€or€for€no€cause€at€all,€without€being€guilty€of€a€legalÏwrong.€€See€òòHarney€v.€Meadowbrook€Nursing€Centeróó,€784€S.W.2d€921,€922Ï(Tenn.€1990);€òòChism€v.€Mid„South€Milling€Coóó.,€762€S.W.2d€552€(Tenn.€1988);ÏòòClanton€v.€Cain„Sloanóó,€677€S.W.2d€441€(Tenn.€1992).€€ÌÌà àà àThe€appellee€has€conceded€that€he€was€an€employee€at€will.€€HeÏnonetheless€argues€that€the€creation€of€the€appeals€procedure€outlined€in€theÏcityððs€charter€endowed€him€with€due€process€rights€that€the€appellant€could€notÏwithhold€without€being€subject€to€suit€under€the€federal€statute.€€We€respectfullyÏdisagree.€ÌÌà àà àExisting€rules€or€understandings€as€to€continued€employment,€whichÏare€evidenced€by€written€policies€containing€mandatory€termination€hearingÏprocedures€may€give€rise€to€€a€protected€property€right€in€that€employment,€whichÏcannot€be€taken€away€without€due€process.€€See€òòPerry€v.€Sindermannóó,€408€U.S.Ï593,€92€S.Ct.€2694,€33€L.Ed.€2d€570€(1972).€€However€the€appellant€has€directedÏour€attention€to€several€cases€which€indicate€that€the€placement€of€permissiveÏlanguage€like€ð ðmayðð€or€ð ðcanðð€in€such€policies€prevents€a€constitutionally„protectedÏproperty€interest€from€arising.€See€òòBishop€v.€Woodóó,€426€U.S.€341,€96€S.Ct.€2074,Ï48€L.Ed€2d€684€(1976);òò€Hohmeier€v.€Leyden€Community€High€School€Districtóó€212,Ï954€F.2d€461€(7th€Cir.€1992);€òòPiroglu€v.€Colemanóó,€25€F.3d€1098€(D.C.€Cir.€1994).€ÏSee€also€òòKentucky€Department€of€Corrections€v.€Thompson,óó€490€U.S.€454,€109ÏS.Ct.€1904,€104€L.Ed.€2d€506€(1989).ÌÌà àà àThe€Clarksville€City€Charter€states€that€the€City€Council€ð ðmayððÏdischarge€an€employee€for€cause€by€following€a€certain€procedure.€€It€does€notÏstate€that€this€is€the€only€method€that€the€city€may€use€to€discharge€a€cityÍemployee,€or€that€the€causes€mentioned€in€the€charter€provision€are€the€onlyÏlegitimate€reasons€for€which€an€employee€may€be€terminated.€We€are€thusÏpersuaded€that€the€cityððs€failure€to€grant€Mr.€Ogburn€a€hearing€did€not€rise€to€theÏlevel€of€a€constitutional€violation.€€We€accordingly€find€that€the€trial€court€erred€inÏfailing€to€grant€the€city€a€directed€verdict€on€Mr.€Ogburnððs€42€U.S.€ðð€1983€claim,Ïand€we€reverse€the€jury€verdict€as€to€that€claim.ÌÌà@ àò òIV.€€Damagesó óÌÌà àà àThe€trial€court€instructed€the€jury€that€if€it€found€the€city€guilty€of€racialÏor€handicap€discrimination,€Mr.€Ogburn€should€be€awarded€his€actual€damages,Ïincluding€damages€for€mental€anguish,€humiliation€and€embarrassment,€as€wellÏas€the€costs€of€the€lawsuit,€including€a€reasonable€attorneyððs€fee.€€The€courtÏfurther€instructed€the€jury€that€a€successful€litigant€might€also€be€entitled€to€backÏpay,€but€not€to€front€pay€or€to€punitive€damages.ÌÌà àà àThe€proof€at€trial€showed€that€as€a€result€of€his€injury€Mr.€OgburnÏmissed€five€years€of€work€and€$93,195€in€back€pay.€€The€proof€further€showed€thatÏthe€loss€of€his€job€had€a€devastating€psychological€impact€upon€him,€perhaps€theÏmore€so€in€that€his€repeated€attempts€to€find€another€job€were€unsuccessful.ÌÌà àà àBecause€he€could€no€longer€adequately€provide€for€his€family,€Mr.ÏOgburn€became€depressed,€withdrawn€and€prone€to€become€angry€and€yell€at€hisÏchildren.€€He€stopped€going€to€church,€and€reduced€his€involvement€in€the€familyÏfarm.€After€several€years,€however,€his€attitude€improved€and€he€started€to€go€toÏchurch€again€and€to€take€a€greater€interest€in€life.€€After€hearing€all€the€proof,€theÏjury€awarded€Mr.€Ogburn€$450,000€in€compensatory€damages.€ÌÌà àà àThe€city€argues€on€appeal€that€the€award€was€excessive,€and€thatÏthe€trial€court€erred€in€not€suggesting€a€remittitur.€€€We€pretermit€this€questionÏbecause€we€feel€that€our€reversal€of€the€jury€verdict€on€the€due€process€claimÏrequires€us€to€order€a€new€trial€on€the€question€of€damages€alone.ÌÌà àà àWe€realize€that€it€is€difficult€to€distinguish€between€the€psychologicalÏinjuries€Mr.€Ogburn€suffered€from€the€loss€of€his€job€and€those€he€may€haveÏsuffered€because€a€legitimate€avenue€of€appeal€from€that€loss€was€closed€to€him.€ÏBut€since€the€jury€did€not€separate€the€damages€Mr.€Ogburn€suffered€from€each€ofÏthese€claims,€we€believe€it€is€necessary€that€the€whole€question€of€damages€beÏrevisited€in€the€context€of€our€finding€of€the€cityððs€narrowed€liability.ÌÌ€ò òà@ àV.€€Costs€and€Attorney€Feesó óÌÌà àà àThe€Handicap€Discrimination€Act,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„50„103(b)(2)Ïdecrees€that€the€injured€party€shall€have€all€the€rights€to€which€he€is€entitled€underÏthe€Tennessee€Human€Rights€Act,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„21„101€et€seq,€including,Ïif€he€is€the€prevailing€party,€costs€and€reasonable€attorney€fees,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð€4„21„306(a)(8).€€At€the€conclusion€of€this€case,€the€trial€court€awarded€theÏplaintiff€attorney€fees€and€discretionary€costs,€in€a€total€amount€of€almost€$79,000.ÌÌà àà àOn€appeal,€the€city€argues€that€since€Mr.€Ogburn€did€not€prevail€onÏall€his€claims,€he€should€have€at€best€been€awarded€only€a€part€of€his€attorneyÏfees€and€costs.€€In€particular,€the€appellant€alleges€that€Mr.€Ogburnððs€attorneyÏexpended€most€of€his€effort€on€the€racial€discrimination€claim€that€was€rejected€byÏthe€jury,€so€the€award€of€attorney€fees€should€have€been€reduced€by€50%€of€more.ÌÌà àà àWe€note€that€an€award€of€attorney€fees€is€normally€within€theÏdiscretion€of€the€trial€court,€and€will€not€be€reversed€on€appeal€absent€an€abuse€ofÏthat€discretion.òò€€Threadgill€v.€Threadgillóó,€740€S.W.2d€419,€426€(Tenn.€App.€1987).€ÏHowever€since€we€have€reversed€the€jury€verdict€on€Mr.€Ogburnððs€due€processÏclaim,€we€remand€the€question€of€attorney€fees€to€the€trial€court,€to€beÏreconsidered€in€light€of€the€alteration€of€the€positions€of€the€parties€resulting€fromÏthis€opinion.€€€€ÌÌà@ àò òVI.ó óÌÌà àà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€in€part€and€reversed€inÏpart.€Remand€this€cause€to€the€Chancery€Court€of€€Montgomery€County€for€a€newÏtrial€on€the€question€of€damages,€and€for€other€proceedings€consistent€with€thisÏopinion.€€Tax€the€costs€on€appeal€equally€between€the€appellant€and€theÏappellee.€ÌÌÓÓÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÌ