WPC_ ,HLgQќ)(*dU %hg`ў'XE"|#cFr)`ţ>!r.,XofIm]m==CŬm^wQmV K&Х$Min_xv=K$bZ]q[aԘH jnW ).z 7˫ "-Iqs׬$ߋ){.>У ^urks.F:Hn-iV E¥fx*s= vޘV< ȍ%2ԉJsɕ*TA%B%ǦZ_H`zpu($I8b)H%],NiHv;ҎvY2;8` 7:'X(A14!*ӡ!*# LUNW % 0U<^w@4U< 090 0D" f U:i  U: B AQ N 0D 0DX 0D D/ B D3,HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh(hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(7$  7XXdXXd7  Xd|XXX-Bu Z$Arrus BT Roman -.U/0U12Ӏ3Ӏ4Ӏ>A~-&3|xA)L  Z $Arrus BT Roman((3Mi$ 7!  7XXdd7  X?XXX   `   0     a`$ Xd}XXX   `   1    Thedayoftrial,Princefiledamotiontoamendthecomplainttoreducethe  amountrequestedasdamagesfrom$97,000to$77,000.Thereisnorecordastothetrialcourtsactionregardingthismotion,butthedamagesawardedseemtomirrorthoseintheproposedamendedcomplaint.(3$ !   ""  XXXXxXX   Ad FILEDXXx  February8,1999CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAh ,cAZ"Arial Regular ""  XXXXxXX   Ad FILEDXXx  February5,1999CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAh ,cAZ"Arial Regular d!" $&C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  (#$  0  ($$   1  ((' dxdP Pd'dxd 7!  7XXdd7  X?XXX  TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T7XXdXXd7>4r )<,(j 8` `@E` 8ttxP,  r4>>>@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEEA>t )>.*jx` `@EM` 8ttxP/ t>AAt )>.*jx` `@EM` 8ttxP tA@(ATNASHVILLE `  ______________________________________________ JAMESPRINCE,d/b/a  BIGJIM,INC.,     ` PlaintiffAppellee, h      p MarshallCircuitNo.12638   Vs. `     h      p C.A.No.01A019806CV00276     CHARLESCAMPBELL,Individual/ly/   andd/b/aLIMOUSINESBYKC ,    ` DefendantAppellant.____________________________________________________________________________@ FROMTHEMARSHALLCOUNTYCIRCUITCOURT@ THEHONORABLELEERUSSELL,JUDGE@!L.BrucePedenofColumbia@rr(ForAppellee@))"KeithJordanofNashville@>>(ForAppellant@$ VACATEDANDREMANDED  '## @'Opinionfiled:...... `     h      p   W.FRANKCRAWFORD, 2..  `     h      p   PRESI-DINGJUDGE,W.S.CONCUR:ALANE.HIGHERS,JUDGEDAVIDR.FARMER,JUDGE-  :66 0 ;779 Ї011221 ` Thisappealinvolvesamotiontosetasideajudgment.Defendant/crossplaintiff,CharlesCampbell(Campbell),appealsthejudgmentofthetrialcourtawardingmoneydamagestoplaintiff/crossdefendant,JamesPrince(Prince). ` ThiscasearosefromacontractenteredintobetweenthepartiesinApril1995inwhichCampbellagreedtotransferalimousinefromhisbusinesstoPrinceinexchangefortheopportunitytorunPrinces WorldFamousStagecoachLounge.πPrincefiledsuitagainstCampbellforbreachofcontractandfraudinAugust1995allegingthatCampbellfailedtomakeleasepaymentsonthepropertyandrefusedtotransferthelimousineagreeduponinthecontract.Campbellsanswerdeniedthematerialallegationsandassertedacounterclaimforconversion,fraud,andbreachofcontract. ` Aftermorethanayear,Princefiledamotiontosetthecasefortrial,andthecasewassetforanonjurytrialonJanuary23,1998.OnJanuary9,1998,Campbellsattorney,JamesLewis(Lewis),filedamotiontowithdraw.Inpertinentpartthemotionstates:13318 ` 8 ` !` !  ComesnowJamesBryanLewis,attorneyforDefendantCharlesCampbellandmovesthishonorableCourttobeallowedtowithdrawfromtheabovestyledmatter.InsupportofthisMotion,counselwouldstatethatDefendantfailedtocommunicateandcooperatewithcounsel.AtrialissetinthismatterforJanuary23,1998.AsofJanuary8,1998,Defendanthadnotcontactedcounselconcerningeitherthetrialorfordepositionpreparation.CounselalsorepresentsDefendantinanothercaseandDefendanthasfailedtorespondtocounselsrequeststoproducediscoveryandhasfailedtoaddressaMotiontoCompelandforSanctions.BasedonDefendantsconductinthiscaseandtheothercase,counselisunabletocontinuehisrepresentationofDefendant.     ` LewiscertifiedthatacopyofthismotionwasmailedtoCampbellonJanuary8,1998.OnJanuary16,thetrialcourtheldahearingonthemotiontowithdraw.ThejudgeruledfromthebenchthatCampbellscounselcouldwithdraw,butthetrialwasscheduledforJanuary23,1998.OnJanuary16,LewissentCampbellthe 844 proposedordertowithdrawwhichclearlystatedthatthetrialwassetforJanuary23.However,atoralargumentbeforethisCourt,Campbellscounsel,whileadmittingCampbellreceivedthisletter,statedthathisclientfailedtoopenit. ` TheordergrantingthemotiontowithdrawwasenteredJanuary23,1998.Thissameday,thecasewastriedwithoutthepresenceofCampbell,andthecourt,afterconsideringthesworntestimonyofPrinceandtherecordasawhole,renderedajudgmentforPrinceandawarded$77,000  ##  1      ׀asdamages.    ` Afterbeingservedwiththejudgmentinthiscase,CampbellobtainednewcounselandonFebruary10,1998,hefiledamotiontosetasidetheJanuary23judgment.Alongwiththemotion,Campbellfiledhisownaffidavitwhichinpertinentpartstates:8 ` 8 ` !` !3.InFebruary1997,Mr.JamesBryanLewiswassubstitutedforMr.Marchasmyattorney.Mr.Lewisalsorepresentedmeinothermattersunrelatedtothedisputewhichisinvolvedinthislitigation.    8 ` 8 ` !` !4.Inpartbecauseofperceivedproblemswithhisrepresentationintheseothermatters,Mr.LewisinformedmethathewasrequestingthisCourttowithdrawasmyattorneyinthiscase,aswell.    8 ` 8 ` !` !5.IwasleftwiththeimpressionthatIwouldhaveareasonablyshorttimeafterMr.Lewiswithdrawaltofindnewcounsel,andinitiatedstepstosecurerepresentation.    8 ` 8 ` !` !6.BeforeIcouldlocateandretainanattorney,IwassentacopyoftheJudgment,whichwasenteredoneweekaftermypriorlawyerwithdrewfromthecase.     ` AfterahearingonMarch13,1998,thetrialcourtdeniedthemotiontosetasidethejudgment,andCampbellappealsthisorder.TheonlyissuepresentedforreviewiswhetherthetrialcourterredinoverrulingtheRule60.02motiontosetasidethejudgment.Wenotethatthemotionwasfiledandservedwithin30days 2.. oftheentryofthejudgmentandshouldbedeemedaTenn.R.Civ.P.59motion 2.. whichcanaffordrelieffromajudgmentbecauseofmistake,inadvertence,surprise,orexcusableneglect. Hensonv.Diehl ,674S.W.2d307(Tenn.App.1984)(citing   Campbellv.Archer ,555Tenn.110(Tenn.1979)).   ` Amotiontosetasideajudgmentisaddressedtothesounddiscretionofthetrialcourt. Henson ,674S.W.2dat310.Thereviewingcourt'sscopeofreviewofthe   trialcourt'sactionindenyingtheextraordinaryreliefsoughtislimitedtowhetherthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretion. SeeTravisv.CityofMurfreesboro ,686S.W.2d   68(Tenn.1985). ` TodeterminewhetherCampbellshouldbeaffordedreliefbecauseofmistake,inadvertence,surpriseorexcusableneglect,wemustlooktothecircumstancesofhiscounselswithdrawal. ` WefirstexaminetheCodeofProfessionalResponsibility,regulatingthepracticeoflawasadoptedbyourSupremeCourt.Rule8,RulesoftheSupremeCourt.DR2110providesinpartpertinenttothiscase:8 ` 8 ` !` ! DR2110.WithdrawalfromEmployment .(A)In   general.    8 ` 8 ` !` !(1)Ifpermissionforwithdrawalfromemploymentisrequiredbytherulesofatribunal,alawyershallnotwithdrawfromemploymentinaproceedingbeforethattribunalwithoutitspermission.    8 ` 8 ` !` !(2)Inanyevent,alawyershallnotwithdrawfromemploymentuntilthelawyerhastakenreasonablestepstoavoidforeseeableprejudicetotherightsoftheclient,includinggivingduenoticetotheclient,allowingtimeforemploymentofothercounsel,deliveringtotheclientallpapersandpropertytowhichtheclientisentitled,andcomplyingwithapplicablelawsandrules.     `     h *    * p   * .** 8 ` 8 ` !` !(C)Permissivewithdrawal.    8 ` 8 ` !` !IfDR2110(B)isnotapplicable,alawyermaynotrequestpermissiontowithdrawalinmatterspendingbeforeatribunal,andmaynotwithdrawinothermatters,unlesssuchrequestrosuchwithdrawalisbecause:    8 ` 8 ` !` !(1)Theclient:     `     h *    * p   * 622 8 ` 8 ` !` !(d)Byotherconductrendersitunreasonablydifficultforthelawyertocarryouttheemploymenteffectively.     `     h *    * p   *   955 Forguidancetolawyers,Rule8alsoprovidesobjectivestandardsintheformofethicalconsiderations.PertinenttoourinquiryisEC232,whichstates:8 ` 8 ` !` !Alawyershouldnotwithdrawwithoutconsideringcarefullyandendeavoringtominimizethepossibleadverseeffectontherightsoftheclientandthepossibilityofprejudicetotheclientasaresultofthelawyerswithdrawal.Evenwhenthelawyerjustifiablywithdraws,alawyershouldprotectthewelfareoftheclientbygivingduenoticeofthewithdrawal,suggestingemploymentofothercounsel,deliveringtotheclientallpapersandpropertytowhichtheclientisentitled,cooperatingwithcounselsubsequentlyemployed,andotherwiseendeavoringtominimizethepossibilityofharm.    EC232. ` ThereisnoassertionthatLewisswithdrawalasCampbellsattorneywasnotjustified.However,inviewofthecloseproximityofthetrialdateandLewissdutymandatedbyDR2110(A)(2),LewisshouldhavebeencertainthatCampbellwasinformedthathewasexpectedtobeatthetrialonJanuary23,1998.Campbellsaffidavitstates, IwasleftwiththeimpressionthatIwouldhaveareasonablyshorttimeafterMr.Lewisswithdrawaltofindnewcounsel,andinitiatedstepstosecurerepresentation.Wehavenotranscriptorstatementoftheevidenceforthehearingonthemotiontosetasaidethejudgment,butthetrialcourtsorderdenyingthemotiondoesnotrefertoanyintroducedevidence.TheonlyinformationintherecordconcerningnoticetoCampbellisLewisscertificationonthemotiontowithdrawthathemailedacopytoCampbellonJanuary8,1998,andLewisscertificationonthejudgmentsubsequentlyenteredonJanuary23,1998thathemailedacopyofthejudgmenttoCampbellonJanuary16,1998.WhilebothofthesewritingsstatedthatthetrialwassetforJanuary23,1998,itisatleastquestionablewhetheralaypersoncanunderstandthatinviewofthedevelopmentsthetrialwouldstilltakeplaceatthattime. ` SincethereisnoexpressinstructionfromtheattorneythatCampbellshouldpreparefortrialonJanuary23,1998,thewithdrawaloftheattorneywithinaweek 955 oftrialwithoutsubstitutionofanotherattorneycouldbeconsideredtowarrantCampbellsmistakenimpressionthathehadareasonabletimewithinwhichtoobtainanattorneyandproceedwiththecase.Underthestateoftherecordbeforeus,wefeelthatjusticerequiresthatthejudgmentinthiscasebesetaside. ` Accordingly,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisvacated,andthecaseisremandedtothetrialcourtforsuchfurtherproceedingsasarenecessary.Costsoftheappealareassessedonehalftoappellantandonehalftoappellee.XZXXXZ `     h      p _________________________________   `     h      p W.FRANKCRAWFORD,   `     h      p PRESIDINGJUDGE,W.S. # XZXXXZF-#  bCONCUR CONCUR:    XZXXXZ____________________________________   ALANE.HIGHERS,JUDGE # XZXXXZ/#   XZXXXZ____________________________________   DAVIDR.FARMER,JUDGE # XZXXXZ;0#     1