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ÔÔ€ÔĶ&€X„d&ĶŅ#€Xd#ŅÔ€ ÔŨ  Ũ›Ņ  ŅŌ  ŌŌ ° ŌŌ  ŌŌ „ ŌŅ\R AØ'\ŅŅ\R AØ'\ŅŅ€ŅŅ7€fCXXdėdČ7ŅŅ  ŅŅ  ŅJUDY€PARRISH,ā āā āā āā āā ā)Ėā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā)Ėā āPlaintiff/Appellant,ā āā āā āā ā)ā āFirst€Circuit€forĖā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā)ā āDavidson€CountyĖā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā)ā āNo.€€93C„1343ĖVS.ā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā)Ėā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā)ā āAppeal€No.Ėā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā)ā āœ01A01„9601„CV„00010›ĖHOSPITAL€CORPORATION€OF€AMERICA,ā ā)Ėd/b/a€CENTENNIAL€MEDICALĪCENTERđđSā ā)ā āā āā āā āā āPARTHENON€PAVILION,ā āā āā āā ā)Ėā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā)Ėā āDefendant/Appellee.ā āā āā āā ā)ĖĖĖā@ āIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEĖĖā@ āMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEĖĖĖā@ āAPPEAL€FROM€THE€FIRST€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€DAVIDSON€COUNTYĖĖā@ āAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEĖĖĖā@ āHONORABLE€HAMILTON€V.€GAYDEN,€JR.,€JUDGEĖĖĖĖC.€J.€Gideon,€Jr.ĖGIDEON€&€WISEMANĖ414€Union€Street€ĖSuite€1900,€NationsBank€PlazaĖNashville,€TN€37219ĖATTORNEY€FOR€PLAINTIFF/APPELLEEĖĖSonya€W.€HendersonĖ218€W.€Main€StreetĖSuite€OneĖMurfreesboro,€Tennessee€37130ĖATTORNEY€FOR€DEFENDANT/APPELLANTĖĖĖAFFIRMEDĖĖĖā āā āā āā āā āā āHENRY€F.€TODDĖā āā āā āā āā āā āPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONĖĖĖCONCUR:ĖSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGEĖBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEĮœJUDY€PARRISHā āā āā āā āā ā)›Ėā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā)Ėā āœPlaintiff/Appellant,›ā āā āā  ā ā)ā āFirst€Circuit€forĖā āā āā āā āā āā  ā ā)ā āDavidson€CountyĖā āā āā āā āā āā  ā ā)ā āNo.€€93C„1343ĖVS.ā āā āā āā āā āā  ā ā)Ėā āā āā āā āā āā  ā ā)ā āAppeal€No.˜›ā āā āā āā āā āā  ā ā)ā āœ01A01„9601„CV„00010›ĖœŲ€€ŲŲ€€ŲßL€#&";+'h|` Å `€€LßHOSPITAL€CORPORATION€OF€AMERICA,ā ā)Ėd/b/a/€CENTENNIAL€MEDICAL€CENTERđđSā ā)ĖPARTHENON€PAVILION,ā āā āā āā ā)›Ėā āā āā āā āā āā  ā ā)Ėā āDefendant/Appellant.ā āā āā  ā ā)ĖĖĖā@ āōōO€P€I€N€I€O€NķķĖĖĶĶā āThe€captioned€Plaintiff€has€appealed€œfrom›€a€summary€judgment€dismissing€her€suitĪagainst€the€captioned€Defendant€for€the€wrongful€death€of€Whitney€Parrish€by€suicide€while€aĪpatient€in€Defendantđđs€hospital.ĖĖā āThe€factual€background€of€this€controversy€is:ĖĶĶā āā  €€Whitney€Parrish€was€œa€twenty„four›€year€old,€œĖā āā āoverweight,›€œdyslexic,€suffered›€from€elevated€œĖā āā ācholesterol›€and€œtriglycerides›€and€hyperlipoproteinemia€œĖā āā āpheno›€type€IV,€œand›€was€voluntarily€admitted€to€œĖā āā āParthenon›€Pavilion€on€œApril›€20,€1992€by€his€psychiatrist,€œĖā āā āJames›€R.€McFerrin,€œM.D.›€œbecause€of€a€self„administered€Ėā āā āoverdose›€on€œhis›€motherđđs€pain€œmedication.›€€œMr.›€Parrish,€œĖā āā āwho›€had€a€family€history€of€emotional€œdisorders›€and€œĖā āā āsexual›€abuse€by€an€older€brother,€had€œbeen›€experiencing€œĖā āā ācrying›€spells,€sleep€changes,€suicidal€œideations›€and€an€œĖā āā āincrease›€in€his€auditory€hallucinations.€€Ėā āā āĖā āā  €€Mr.€Parrish€presented€with€symptoms€of€agitation,€Ėā āā ādelusions,€dependency,€hallucinations,€paranoia,€Ėā āā ādepression,€and€poor€œself„esteem.€€The›€goals€established€œĖā āā āby›€Dr.€McFerrin€œfollowing›€the€admission€of€April€20,€œĖā āā ā1992,›€were€to€œstabilize›€suicidality,€treat€Mr.€Parrishđđs€œĖā āā āpsychosis›€and€œdepression,›€and€ultimately€discharge€Mr.€œĖā āā āParrish›€to€œout„patient›€treatment.€€€A€treatment€plan€Ėā āā āof€milieu€therapy,€group€therapy,€activities€therapy,€Ėā āā āfamily€therapy,€and€medications€was€ordered€and€Ėā āā āœfollowed.›ĖĖā āā  €€Mr.€Parrish€was€initially€placed€in€the€Intensive€Ėā āā āTreatment€Program.€œ€On›€April€27,€1992,€œon€orders€Ėā āā āof€Dr.€McFerrin,€Mr.›€œParrish›€œwas›€taken€off€of€suicide€œĖā āā āprecautions;›€œand,›€on€May€1,€1992,€he€was€transferred€Ėā āā āto€the€General€Treatment€Program,€which€is€an€đ đunlocked€Ėā āā āœunit,đđ›Ėā āā āĖā āā  €€On€May€7,€1992,€Mr.€Parrish€approached€the€staff€at€Ėā āā āParthenon€Pavilion€and€expressed€feelings€of€frustration€Ėā āā āover€multiple€hospitalizations,€his€fear€of€returning€to€his€Ėā āā ājob,€and€his€fatherđđs€death.€œAlthough›€Mr.€Parrish€was€able€œĖā āā āto›€communicate€some€œpositive›€feelings€and€goals€and€œĖā āā āalthough›€he€stated€to€the€œstaff›€after€approximately€thirty€œĖā āā ā(30)›€minutes€that€he€was€œfeeling›€better,€he€was€placed€œĖā āā āback›€on€suicide€precautions€œby›€the€nursing€œstaff.›ĖĖā āā  €€On€May€8,€1992,€Dr.€McFerrin€discontinued€the€suicide€Ėā āā āand€elopement€precautions,€and€permitted€Mr€Parrish€to€Ėā āā āgo€on€a€three€œ(3)›€hour€pass€with€his€œmother.€Mr.›€Parrish€œĖā āā āreturned›€from€this€visit€in€a€œbright›€mood€and€in€good€œĖā āā āspirits,›€stating€to€the€staff€at€œParthenon›€Pavilion€that€the€œĖā āā āpass›€had€gone€œwell.›ĖĖā āā  €€€On€May€9,€1992,€Mr.€Parrish€appeared€somewhat€Ėā āā āanxious,€but€processed€his€thoughts€and€feelings€Ėā āā āappropriately.€€œHe›€spoke€to€the€œstaff›€at€Parthenon€œĖā āā āPavilion›€about€his€plans€to€return€to€œhis›€job,€stating€œĖā āā āthat›€his€employer€had€been€thoughtful€by€œsending›€him€œĖā āā āflowers.›€€œFrom›€3:00€œp.m.›€until€11:00€p.m.,€Mr.€Parrish€œĖā āā āspent›€most€of€his€time€œout›€of€€his€room€on€the€œunit.€He›€Ėā āā ādid€his€laundry,€bathed€himself,€spoke€to€the€staff€again€Ėā āā āabout€his€hope€of€returning€to€his€job,€appeared€much€œĖā āā āless›€œanxious,›€and€provided€no€indications€of€a€likely€œĖā āā āelopement›€œor›€suicide€attempt.€ĖĖā āā  €€When€Mr.€Parrish€was€checked€at€11:00€p.m.€and€at€Ėā āā ā11:12€p.m.€on€May€9,€1992,€he€was€in€bed€in€his€room.€€Ėā āā āœWhen›€checked€œjust›€after€11:15€p.m.,€Mr.€Parrish€could€œĖā āā ānot›€be€found.€€œThe›€supervisor,€œDr.›€McFerrin,€Mr.€œĖā āā āParrishđđs›€œmother,›€and€all€personnel€œon›€duty€were€notified€œĖā āā āand›€a€œsearch›€was€conducted.€€œAt›€approximately€6:30€a.m.€œĖā āā āon›€œMay›€10,€1992,€Mr.€Parrishđđs€body€was€found€in€a€œĖā āā āditch›€œin›€the€construction€area€beside€Parthenon€Pavilionđđs€Ėā āā āseparate€parking€œgarage.€€Mr.›€œParrish›€had€committed€œĖā āā āsuicide›€by€jumping€from€the€sixth€œfloor›€of€the€parking€œĖā āā āgarage.›Ėā āā āœĖā āā ⛀€€€Judy€Parrish,€the€mother€of€the€deceased,€filed€this€œĖā āā ālawsuit›€and€œalleged›€that€Parthenon€Pavilion€failed€to€œĖā āā āuse›€reasonable€care€to€œprevent›€Mr.€Parrishđđs€suicide,€œĖā āā āfailed›€to€provide€a€secure€œfacility€to›€Mr.€Parrish,€and€œĖā āā āfailed›€to€provide€Mr.€Parrish€with€proper€œcare›€and€œĖā āā ātreatment›€during€his€admission€at€Parthenon€œPavilion.›€€œĖā ā`ā āĖĶĶĖā āThe€complaint€alleges€that€Defendant€had€a€duty€to€prevent€the€suicide€of€decreased,€thatĪit€failed€to€perform€that€duty,€and€that€the€death€of€deceased€was€the€proximate€result€of€suchĪfailure.ĖĶĶĶĶĖā āDefendantđđs€motion€for€summary€judgment€states:ĖĶĶā āā  €€Comes€now€the€Defendant,€HCA€Health€Services€of€Ėā āā āTennessee€d/b/a€Centennial€Medical€Center/Parthenon€Ėā āā āPavilion€and€moves€this€Court€for€an€Order€granting€Ėā āā āsummary€judgment€in€its€favor€on€the€grounds€that€there€Ėā āā āis€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€the€Plaintiffđđs€Ėā āā āclaims€against€it€should€be€dismissed€as€a€matter€of€law.ĖĖā āā  €€In€support€of€this€Motion,€the€Defendant€simultaneously€Ėā āā āfiles€herewith€and€relies€upon€the€following:ĖĖā āā  €€1)ā āMemorandum€of€Law;€andĖĶĶā āā  €€2)ā āAffidavit€of€James€R.€McFerrin,€M.D.Ėā āThe€memorandum€mentioned€in€the€motion€does€not€appear€in€the€record€on€appeal.€€ĖĶĶĖā āThe€affidavit€supporting€defendantđđs€motion€states:ĖĖā āā  €€I€was€Whitney€Parrishđđs€psychiatrist€from€1985€throughĖā āā ā€his€admission€at€Parthenon€Pavilion€of€April€20,€1992.€€Ėā āā āAs€his€treating€physician,€I€am€familiar€with€his€psychiatric€Ėā āā āhistory,€hospital€course€and€medical€record€from€his€Ėā āā āParthenon€Pavilion€admission€of€April€20,€1992.ĖĖā āā  €€I€admitted€Whitney€Parrish€to€Parthenon€Pavilion€on€Ėā āā āApril€20,€1992€after€Mr.€Parrish€telephoned€me€to€say€that€Ėā āā āhe€had€taken€an€overdose€of€his€motherđđs€Tylenol€#3.€€Mr.€Ėā āā āParrish€had€a€history€of€severe€recurrent€depression€and€Ėā āā āmultiple€suicide€attempts€by€cutting€his€wrists€and€by€Ėā āā ātaking€overdoses€of€drugs.€€The€goal€during€his€admission€Ėā āā āwas€to€stabilize€suicidality,€treat€his€psychosis€and€Ėā āā ādepression,€and€ultimately€discharge€him€for€continuation€Ėā āā āof€his€outpatient€treatment.€€Mr.€Parrish€made€progress€Ėā āā āduring€his€stay€at€Parthenon€Pavilion.€€He€was€transferred€Ėā āā āto€a€unit€which€did€not€remain€locked€at€all€times€and€Ėā āā āpreparations€for€discharge€were€being€made€which€included€Ėā āā āa€therapeutic€pass€with€his€mother€and€aunt€and€a€scheduled€Ėā āā āmeeting€with€his€job€counselor.ĖĖā āā  €€Based€on€my€many€years€of€treating€Whitney€Parrish,€Ėā āā āit›€is€œmy›€opinion€to€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty€œĖā āā āthat›€œit›€was€only€a€matter€of€time€before€Mr.€Parrish€was€œĖā āā āsuccessful›€œin›€his€endeavor€to€end€his€life.€€With€each€œĖā āā āhospitalization›€in€œthe›€past,€all€resulting€from€failed€suicide€œĖā āā āattempts,›€Mr.€Parrish€œwould›€meticulously€plan€his€œĖā āā āelopement›€or€overdose€for€several€œdays›€in€advance.€€œĖā āā āThroughout›€the€course€of€his€treatment,€œMr.€Parrish›€œĖā āā ārepeatedly›€discussed€methods€of€self€demise.ĖĖĖā āPlaintiff€filed€an€affidavit€stating:ĖĖā āā  €€I,€the€undersigned,€Ben€Bursten,€M.D.,€first€being€duly€Ėā āā āsworn,€make€oath€as€follows:ĖĖā āā  €€1.ā āI€am€a€psychiatrist€and€have€been€licensed€to€practice€Ėā āā āmedicine€in€the€State€of€Tennessee€since€1977.ĖĖā āā  €€3.ā āI€have€reviewed€the€medical€records€of€Whitney€œĖā āā āParrishđđs€1992›€hospitalization€at€the€Centennial€Medical€œĖā āā āCenterđđs›€œParthenon€Pavilion›€in€Nashville,€Tennessee.€€œĖā āā āIn›€addition,€I€have€œreviewed€the›€Defendantđđs€Responses€to€œĖā āā āthe›€First€and€Second€Set€of€œInterrogatories,›€the€hospitalđđs€œĖā āā āPolicies›€and€Procedures€œregarding€suicide›€and€elopement€œĖā āā āprecautions,›€the€Defendantđđs€Motion€for€œSummary›€œĖā āā āJudgment,›€and€the€Affidavit€of€Dr.€James€McFerrin.€€I€Ėā āā āhave€also€talked€with€Mrs.€Judy€Parrish.ĖĖā āā  €€4.€€€ōōIn€my€opinion,€Whitney€Parrishđđs€ability€to€exercise€evenĖā āā ā€a€moderately€intelligent€power€of€choice€regarding€his€suicide€Ėā āā āwas€severely€compromised€by€his€mental€illness.ķķĖĖā āā  €€5.ā āOn€May€8,€1992,€Dr.€McFerrin€discontinued€Ėā āā āMr.€Parrishđđs€elopement€precautions€in€order€that€he€Ėā āā āmight€go€out€on€a€three€hour€pass€with€his€mother.Ėā āā āOn€his€return€to€the€hospital,€the€doctor€felt€he€was€Ėā āā āsufficiently€an€elopement€risk€that€he€again€ordered€Ėā āā āelopement€precautions.€€Mr.€Parrish€was€housed€on€Ėā āā āa€non„secure€unit€and€was€allowed€to€be€out€of€the€Ėā āā āsight€of€staff€sufficiently€long€enough€for€him€to€Ėā āā āelope.€€This€is€a€deviation€from€the€standard€of€Ėā āā āpractice.€€This€deviation€led€to€this€death.ĖĖā āā  €€6.ā āIt€is€my€opinion,€based€upon€a€reasonable€Ėā āā ādegree€of€medical€certainty,€that€the€recognized€Ėā āā āstandard€of€acceptable€professional€practice€in€theĖā āā āmedical€profession,€and€in€particular,€the€standards€Ėā āā āapplicable€to€a€psychiatric€unit€and€hospital€such€as€Ėā āā āHospital€Corporation€of€America€d/b/a€Centennial€Ėā āā āMedical€Centerđđs€Parthenon€Pavilion,€both€forĖā āā ā€Nashville,€Tennessee,€and€for€similar€communities€Ėā āā āat€the€time€of€Mr.€Parrishđđs€death€required€theĖā āā ā€hospital€to€place€Mr.€Parrish€in€a€secure€unit,€or€Ėā āā āat€the€very€least,€under€continual€eye€contact€by€Ėā āā āthe€staff.€€Instead,€Mr.€Parrish€was€housed€(ratherĖā āā āthan€a€locked€door€unit)€in€a€non„secure€unit€and€Ėā āā āwas€allowed€to€be€out€of€sight€of€staff€sufficiently€Ėā āā ālong€enough€permitting€him€to€elope.€€He€had€a€Ėā āā āhistory€of€elopement.€€He€had€a€history€of€suicidalĖā ā€ā āideation.€€This€was€known€to€Dr.€McFerrin€and€the€Ėā āā āhospital€staff.€€Dr.€McFerrin€ordered€elopement€Ėā āā āprecautions.€€This€was€known€to€the€hospital,€it€was€Ėā āā āknown€to€the€nurses,€it€was€generally€known€to€the€Ėā āā āstaff.ĖĖā āā  €€7.ā āBased€upon€my€review€of€his€history,€his€Ėā āā āchart,€and€otherwise€my€review€of€the€entire€case€Ėā āā āas€set€forth€in€this€Affidavit,€it€is€my€opinion€that€Ėā āā āfailure€to€house€Mr.€Parrish€in€a€locked,€secure€Ėā āā āunit€and€allowing€him€to€be€housed€without€1:1€Ėā āā āstaff€eye€contact€on€an€open€door€unit€is€the€Ėā āā ādirect€and€proximate€cause€of€his€death.€€The€Ėā āā āissue€of€Mr.€Parrish€recovering€from€his€current€Ėā āā āmental€difficulties€and€doing€well€for€some€length€Ėā āā āof€time,€or€having€to€be€hospitalized€again€and€Ėā āā āultimately€recover€or€not,€it€something€which€is€Ėā āā āsubject€to€œdebate.€€(Emphasis€supplied)›ĖĖā āThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€states:ĖĖā āā  €€Having€viewed€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€Ėā āā ānonmoving€party€and€having€allowed€all€reasonable€Ėā āā āinferences€in€her€favor,€the€Court€deems€as€a€matter€Ėā āā āof€law€that€Mr.€Parrishđđs€act€of€suicide€was€a€new€Ėā āā āand€independent,€efficient€cause€of€his€death€which€Ėā āā āimmediately€ensured€and€allocated€at€least€fifty€Ėā āā āpercent€of€fault€to€Mr.€Parrishđđs€intentional€act€of€Ėā āā āsuicide.€€Accordingly,€the€defendantđđs€motion€for€Ėā āā āsummary€judgment€is€granted.ĖĖā āIt€appears€from€the€foregoing€that€two€issues€were€presented€by€the€motion€forĪsummary€judgment€and€the€evidence€submitted€in€support€of€and€in€opposition€to€the€motion:ĖĖā āœ(1)€€Whether›€the€Defendant€exercised€due€care€in€supervising€its€patient;€œandĖ›€Ėā āœ(2)€€If›€not,€was€the€effect€of€the€negligence€interrupted€œor€liability€therefore€extinguishedĪby›€the€independent€responsible€act€of€the€patient.ĖĖā āAs€to€the€first€issue,€the€affidavit€submitted€by€the€Defendant€states€that€the€DefendantĪexercised€due€care,€and€the€affidavit€submitted€by€Plaintiff€states€the€opposite.€€This€creates€aĪdisputed€fact€as€to€the€first€issue.ĖĖā āAs€to€the€second€issue,€the€affidavit€submitted€by€Defendant€supports€the€finding€of€theĪTrial€Judge€that€the€suicide€was€a€conscientious,€competent,€knowing€act€of€the€deceased€whichĪsufficiently€contributed€to€his€death€to€defeat€a€recovery€by€his€survivors.€€The€affidavitĪsubmitted€by€Plaintiff€contains€the€statement,ĖĖā āā āWhitney€Parrishđđs€ability€to€exercise€even€a€moderatelyĖā āā āintelligent€power€of€choice€regarding€his€suicide€wasĖā āā āseverely€compromised€by€his€mental€illness.ĖĖā āThe€foregoing€quotation€is€the€basis€for€a€finding€of€a€real€dispute€as€to€the€mentalĪcompetence€of€the€deceased€to€commit€an€act€which€would€bar€an€action€for€his€wrongfulĪdeath.ĖĖā āIt€is€the€burden€of€a€party€seeking€a€summary€judgment€to€show€to€the€Court€that,€underĪuncontradicted€facts,€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law€by€presentingΜcompetent›€evidence€or€admissions€of€the€responding€party€that€such€conclusive€fact€or€fact€isĪundisputed.€€T.R.C.P.€Rule€56.03;ōō€Read€v.€Thomasķķ,€Tenn.€App.€1984,€679€S.W.2d€467;ĪōōTucker€v.€Metropolitan€Governmentķķ,€Tenn.€App.€1984,€686€S.W.2d€87.ĖĖā āThe€general€rule€is€that,€on€Defendantđđs€motion€for€summary€judgment,€the€Plaintiff€hasĪno€burden€to€produce€evidence€to€support€any€allegation€of€the€complaint€unless€and€until€theĪDefendant€produces€evidence€to€negate€or€avoid€the€effect€of€such€allegation.ĖĖā āIn€ōōMoman€v.€Waldenķķ,€Tenn.€App.€1986,€719€S.W.2d€531,€Plaintiffs€œsued›€to€avoidĪtheir€liability€upon€a€suretyship€agreement€for€duress.€€The€written€agreement€was€prima€facieĪevidence€of€an€enforceable€contract€which€shifted€the€burden€to€the€Plaintiffs€to€produceĪevidence€of€the€duress.€€In€ōōCelotex€Corp.€V.€Catrettķ퀄€US€„€106€S.€Ct.€2548,€91€L.Ed.2d€285Ī(1986),€cited€in€Moman,€the€Defendant€relied€upon€the€sworn€testimony€of€Plaintiff€that€sheĪhad€no€evidence€to€connect€her€injury€to€the€acts€or€omissions€of€Defendant.€€Both€of€theseĪauthorities€are€exceptions€to€the€above€stated€rule.ĖĖā āIn€ōōBryd€v.€Hallķķ,€Tenn€1993,€847€S.W.2d€206,€the€Supreme€Court€reversed€a€summaryĪjudgment,€but€reviewed€the€law€as€to€burdens€and€standards€relating€to€summary€judgments.€ĪThe€Court€said:ĖĖā āā  €€ōōCelotexķķ€was€an€asbestos€products€liability€case€in€which€Ėā āā āthe€defendant,€after€an€appropriate€period€for€discovery,€Ėā āā āmoved€for€summary€judgment€on€the€basis€that€no€evidence€Ėā āā āhad€been€produced€by€the€plaintiff,€the€nonmoving€party,€Ėā āā āthat€her€decedent€had€been€exposed€to€the€defendantđđs€Ėā āā āasbestos€products.€€At€319,€106€S.Ct.€At€2551.€€The€CourtĖā āā āagain€upheld€the€grant€of€summary€judgment€for€the€Ėā āā ādefendant,€as€the€moving€party,€because€the€defendant€Ėā āā āestablished€the€lack€of€a€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€Ėā āā āon€a€crucial€element€of€the€plaintiffđđs€case€(exposure€Ėā āā āto€the€product).€€The€plaintiff€was€unable€to€meet€her€Ėā āā āburden€imposed€by€Rule€56.05€with€regard€to€that€Ėā āā ādispositive€element,€an€element€on€which€she€would€Ėā āā āhave€the€burden€of€proof€at€trial.€€ōōId.ķķ€At€323,€106€S.Ct.€Ėā āā āat€2553.€€ōōCelotexķķ€thus€stands€for€the€proposition€that,€Ėā āā āafter€the€moving€party€has€established€the€absence€of€a€Ėā āā āgenuine€issue€of€material€fact,€then€summary€judgment€Ėā āā āis€appropriate€when,€after€being€given€a€reasonable€Ėā āā āopportunity€to€substantiate€its€claims,€the€nonmovingĖā āā āparty€is€unable€to€establish€any€essential€element€of€its€Ėā āā ācase€on€which€it€will€have€the€burden€of€proof€at€trial.€€Ėā āā āōōId.ķķ€at€321„325,€106€S.Ct.€At€2552„53.ĖĖā āā  €€At€321„325,€106€S.Ct.€at€2552„53.€€Justice€Whiteđđs€Ėā āā āconcurring€opinion€correctly€places€a€finer€point€on€the€Ėā āā āCourtđđs€holding€by€observing€that€đ đ[i]t€is€not€enough€to€Ėā āā āmove€for€summary€judgment€without€supporting€the€Ėā āā āmotion€in€any€way€or€with€a€conclusory€assertion€that€Ėā āā āthe€plaintiff€has€no€evidence€to€prove€his€case.đđ€€ōōIdķķ.€at€Ėā āā ā328,€106€S.Ct.€at€2555.ĖĖā āā  €ōō€Celotexķķ€may€thus€be€cited€for€the€principle€that€a€party€Ėā āā āmay€move€for€summary€judgment€demonstrating€that€the€Ėā āā āopposing€party€will€not€be€able€to€produce€sufficient€Ėā āā āevidence€at€trial€to€withstand€a€motion€for€directed€verdict.€€Ėā āā āIf,€after€a€sufficient€time€for€discovery€has€elapsed,€the€Ėā āā ānonmoving€party€is€unable€to€demonstrate€that€he€or€she€Ėā āā ācan€indeed€do€so,€summary€judgment€is€appropriate.€€The€Ėā āā āSixth€Circuit€has€read€ōōCelotexķķ€to€mean€that€đ đthe€movant€Ėā āā ā[can]€challenge€the€opposing€party€to€đđput€up€or€shut€upđđ€Ėā āā āon€a€critical€issue.€€After€being€afforded€sufficient€time€Ėā āā āfor€discovery€...€if€the€[nonmoving€party€does]€not€đđput€Ėā āā āup,đđ€summary€judgment€[is]€proper.đđ€€ōōStreet€v.€J.C.€Ėā āā āBradford€&€Coķķ.,€886€F.2d€1472,€1478€(6th€Cir.€1989).€€ĖĖā āā  €€In€ōōMatsushita€Elec.€Indus.€Co.,€Ltd.€V.€Zenith€Radio€Ėā āā āCorpķķ.,€475€U.S.€574,€106€S.Ct.€1348,€89€L.Ed.2d€538€Ėā āā ā(1986),€an€antitrust€suit,€the€Court€again€affirmed€Ėā āā āsummary€judgment€for€the€defendants.€€The€Court€Ėā āā āpointed€out€that€summary€judgment€will€be€improper€Ėā āā āwhere€the€factual€dispute€is€genuine€ōōandķķ€material€ōōandķķĖā āā āthe€nonmoving€party€comes€forward€with€ōōspecificķķ€facts€Ėā āā āestablishing€an€issue€for€trial.€€At€584„588,€106€S.Ct.€at€Ėā āā ā1355„56.€€đ đWhen€the€moving€party€has€carried€its€burden€Ėā āā āunder€Rule€56(c),€its€opponent€must€do€more€than€simply€Ėā āā āshow€that€there€is€some€metaphysical€doubt€as€to€the€Ėā āā āmaterial€facts.đđ€€ōōIdķķ.€at€586,€106€S.Ct.€at€1356.€ĖĖā āā  €€Today,€we€reaffirm€the€summary€judgment€principles€Ėā āā āfound€in€the€Tennessee€cases€discussed€above.€€We€also€Ėā āā āembrace€the€construction€of€Rule€56€in€ōōAnderson,€Celotexķķ,€Ėā āā āand€ōōMatsushitaķķ€to€the€extent€discussed€in€the€prior€section€Ėā āā āof€this€opinion€relating€to€those€cases.€ĖĖā āā  €€[10,€11]€€€Fourth,€the€party€seeking€summary€judgment€Ėā āā āhas€the€burden€of€demonstrating€to€the€court€that€there€Ėā āā āare€no€disputed,€material€facts€creating€a€genuine€issue€Ėā āā āfor€trial,€as€we€have€defined€those€terms,€and€that€he€is€Ėā āā āentitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€A€conclusory€Ėā āā āassertion€that€the€nonmoving€party€has€no€evidence€is€Ėā āā āclearly€insufficient.€ĖĖā āā  €€The€trial€court€granted€the€Defendantsđđ€motion€for€Ėā āā āsummary€judgment€because€đ đthere€was€no€material€issue€Ėā āā āof€fact.đđ€€The€Court€of€Appeals€affirmed,€explaining€that€Ėā āā āthe€Defendants€đ đsustained€their€burden€by€interrogatories€Ėā āā ādirected€to€the€Plaintiff€who€chose€not€to€respond€thereto,€Ėā āā ārequiring€the€ultimate€conclusion€that€there€was€no€evidence€Ėā āā āto€support€his€complaint.đđ€€For€the€reasons€discussed€below,€Ėā āā āwe€reverse.ĖĖā āā  €€[14]€€€€The€grant€of€summary€judgment€to€the€DefendantsĖā āā āwas€improper.ĖĶ͜Ėā āā āIn€ōōWeathers€v.€Pilkingtonķķ,€Tenn.€App.€1988,€754€S.W.2d€75,€this€CourtĪaffirmed€a€directed€verdict€judgment€for€a€physician€whose€patient€committed€suicide€whereÍđ đthere€was€no€evidence€that€his€reason€and€memory€were,€at€the€time,€so€far€obscured€that€heĪdid€not€know€and€understand€what€he€was€doing€and€was€therefore€not€a€responsible€humanĪagency.đđ€€In€the€present€case,€there€is€contradictory€evidence€as€to€the€mental€capacity€ofĪdeceased.ĖĖā āIn€ōōCochrum€v.€Stateķķ,€Tenn.€App.€1992,€843€S.W.2d€438,€there€was€no€evidence€thatĪthe€prison€staff€breached€any€duty€to€the€inmate,€or€that€the€breach€of€any€duty€was€theĪproximate€cause€of€death.€€In€the€present€case,€there€is€disputed€evidence€on€both€issues.Ė›Ėā āThe€present€case€is€clearly€distinguishable€œfrom€the€authorities€discussed€above›€in€thatĪthere€is€contradictory€evidence€as€to€the€two€determinative€issues.ĖĖā āDoubtful€issues€as€to€due€care€and€mental€capacity€are€not€matters€of€law€to€beĪdetermined€upon€disputed€evidence€by€summary€judgment.€ĖĖā āThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€reversed€and€vacated.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxedĪagainst€the€Defendant€„€Appellee.€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€furtherĪproceedings.ĖĖREVERSED€AND€REMANDED.ā āĖĖĶĶā āā āā āā āā ā_______________________________________Ėā āā āā āā āā āHENRY€F.€TODDĖā āā āā āā āā āPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONĖĶĶĖĶĶĖCONCUR:ĖĶĶĖĶĶ_____________________________________ĖSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGEĖĖĖ_____________________________________ĖBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€œJUDGEĖĖĖĖĖĖĖĖĖĖĖNote€to€Judges,ĖĖā āWe€initially€agreed€to€affirm€because€the€hospital€obeyed€the€orders€of€the€treatingĪphysician.€€Upon€study€of€the€record,€I€reached€a€different€conclusion.€€If€you€disagree,€letsĪmeet€and€discuss.ĖĖā āā āā āā āā āĖā āā āā āā āā āā āā ā_____________________________Ėā āā āā āā āā āā āā āHenry€F.€ToddĖā āā āā āā āā āā āā āPresiding€Judge,€Middle€SectionĖ›ĖĖĖĖ