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UÓ€e !"#Ó€(4(3DX$¤¤Ý ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóPBÿÿ0HeadingChapter HeadingÇà@ì.. àòòò òÔ2ÔI.Ô3  Ô€Ô  ÔÔ  ÔˆÌÌóóó ótO ÿÿ4Right ParRight-Aligned Paragraph NumbersàÐ.. àÔ2ÔI.Ô3  Ô€ˆÔ úÿ Ôà0..àÌÌR& ÿÿ8BibliogrphyBibliographyà0.. àà°..àÌÌL=ÿÿ6SubheadingSubheadingò òÔ2ÔA.Ô3  Ôà.. àÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÌÌó ó«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXXxþ6X@É“8Ç;X@«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXXxþ6X@É“8Ç;X@2 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< Œ 9p`(Courier New....'ÿÿdxd% Line 7 d++++7Border 1dd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò d€-,Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial %Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€0ÔÔ€0ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€0XÔÌÌò òAugust€28,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€0ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó 4Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòInsofar€as€we€know,€the€real€estate€is€still€owned€by€the€threeÏbrothers€and€a€partition€suit€to€divide€the€property€is€still€pending.óóÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$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€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ 4 ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€üXXdÖXXdÖ7ÑÙ€€ÙßR€/1,A1-j| ` Å `€€@ÿRß›Þ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌJACK€WILFORD€SPEARS,€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àBLOUNT€CHANCERYÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9705„CH„00157Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€CHESTER€S.€RAINWATERÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àCHANCELLORÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌOLIVER€K.€SPEARS,€JR.,€BARBARA€€)à àœAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDED›ÌSPEARS,€AND€JOHN€ARTHUR€SPEARS,€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌÌÌÌBRIAN€T.€MANSFIELD,€Sevierville,€for€Appellant.ÌÌÌROBERT€N.€GODDARD,€Goddard€&€Gamble,€Maryville€for€Appellees.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓà@ àòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌà€ àMcMurray,€JudgeÌÌà àThis€appeal€is€from€the€action€of€the€trial€court€sustainingÏa€motion€for€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€the€defendants.€€ForÏreasons€hereinafter€stated,€we€œaffirm€the€trial€court's€judgmentÏin€all€respects.›ÌÌà àJack€œWilford›€Spears€(plaintiff),€Oliver€K.€Spears,€Jr.,€andÏJohn€Arthur€Spears€are€brothers,€apparently€being€the€only€chil…dren€of€the€late€O.€K.€Spears,€Sr.,€and€wife,€Marjorie€BlazerÏSpears.€€(Oliver€K.€Spears,€Jr.€and€wife€Barbara€Spears,€and€JohnÏArthur€Spears€will€be€referred€to€collectively€as€defendants)ÌÌà àThe€plaintiff€filed€an€original€complaint,€alleging,€òòinterÏaliaóó,€that€during€his€lifetime,€his€father,€O.€K.€Spears,€Sr.,Ïbegan€and€operated€a€business€in€Blount€County,€Tennessee,€knownÏas€Spears€Furniture€Company.€€In€1957,€O.€K.€Spears,€Sr.,€executedÏand€delivered€a€deed€to€the€real€estate€upon€which€the€businessÏwas€located€to€his€three€sons€as€tenants€in€common.× ƒ2 ××  ×ÌÌà àTo€the€complaint€all€defendants€filed€an€answer.€€Oliver€K.ÏSpears,€Jr.,€and€Barbara€Spears,€in€addition€to€their€answer,Ïfiled€a€counterclaim€wherein€they€sought€a€judgment€for€unpaidÏrents€that€were€allegedly€owed€to€them€by€the€plaintiff.€€In€theirÏcounterclaim,€the€counter„plaintiffs€alleged€that€the€plaintiffÏoccupied€a€dwelling€owned€by€them€from€1989€until€1994.€€They€averÏthat€the€plaintiff€paid€$450.00€per€month€until€the€beginning€ofÏ1993€but€failed€to€pay€rent€for€the€entire€year€of€1993€and€eightÏmonths€of€1994.ÌÌà àAll€defendants€œjoined€in›€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€basedÏon€various€statutes€of€limitations€and€the€doctrine€of€laches.€ÏThe€motion€for€summary€judgment€was€heard€by€the€court€on€JanuaryÏ14,€1997.€€At€the€conclusion€of€the€arguments€on€behalf€of€theÏrespective€parties,€the€court€announced€his€finding€and€conclu…sions€of€law€which€were€transcribed€and€incorporated€by€referenceÏinto€an€order€sustaining€the€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€TheÏcourt€found€that€the€statute€of€limitations€had€run€(no€specificÏstatute€was€referred€to),€that€the€doctrine€of€laches€was€applica…ble,€and€that€the€plaintiff's€action€was€time€barred.€€The€orderÏsustaining€the€motion€for€summary€judgment€was€filed€on€FebruaryÏ10,€1997.€€The€plaintiff€then€appealed€to€this€court.ÌÌà àInsofar€as€we€are€able€to€ascertain€from€the€record€beforeÏus,€there€was€never€an€answer€filed€in€response€to€the€counter…claim.€€Further,€there€is€nothing€in€the€record€to€suggest€thatÏthe€counterclaim€has€been€addressed€by€the€court€but,€to€the€conƒtrary,€remains€pending€before€the€trial€court.€€An€interlocutoryÏor€extraordinary€appeal€was€not€sought€in€the€trial€court€nor€inÏthis€court€pursuant€to€Rules€9€or€10,€Tennessee€Rules€of€AppellateÏœProcedure.›€(T.R.A.P.).ÌÌà àRule€54.02€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€providesÏas€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à54.02€Multiple€Claims€for€Relief.€When€more€thanÏone€claim€for€relief€is€present€in€an€action,€whether€asÏa€claim,€counterclaim,€cross„claim,€or€third€partyÏclaim,€or€when€multiple€parties€are€involved,€the€court,Ïwhether€at€law€or€in€equity,€may€direct€the€entry€of€aÏfinal€judgment€as€to€one€or€more€but€fewer€than€all€ofÏthe€claims€or€parties€only€upon€an€express€determinationÏthat€there€is€no€just€reason€for€delay€and€upon€anÏexpress€direction€for€the€entry€of€judgment.€In€theÏabsence€of€such€determination€and€direction,€any€orderÏor€other€form€of€decision,€however€designated,€thatÏadjudicates€fewer€than€all€the€claims€or€the€rights€andÏliabilities€of€fewer€than€all€the€parties€shall€notÏterminate€the€action€as€to€any€of€the€claims€or€parties,Ïand€the€order€or€other€form€of€decision€is€subject€toÏrevision€at€any€time€before€the€entry€of€the€judgmentÏadjudicating€all€the€claims€and€the€rights€and€liabili…ties€of€all€the€parties.€The€court€may€tax€discretionaryÏcosts€at€the€time€of€voluntary€dismissal.€[Added€July€1,Ï1979.]ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€trial€court€did€not€make€the€judgment€sustaining€theÏmotion€for€summary€judgment€final€as€provided€in€the€above€quotedÏrule.ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àT.R.A.P.€3(a)€provides€that€"every€final€judgment"Ïis€appealable€as€of€right,€but€that€"any€order€thatÏadjudicates€fewer€than€all€the€claims€or€the€rights€andÏliabilities€of€fewer€than€all€the€parties€ò òòòis€not€en…forceable€or€appealableóóó ó€and€is€subject€to€revision€atÏany€time€before€entry€of€a€final€judgment€adjudicatingÏall€the€claims,€rights,€and€liabilities€of€all€parties."Ï(Emphasis€supplied).€€òòSeeóó€òòœStidham›€v.€Fickle€Heirsóó,€643ÏS.W.2d€324€(Tenn.€1982).€€òòBush€Constr.€Co.€v.€Townsendóó,Ïan€unreported€opinion€of€this€court€filed€at€KnoxvilleÏApril€26,€1985.Ìœ›ÌÓӜ̛à àRule€2,€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure€grants€to€usÏthe€authority€to€suspend€the€rules€for€good€cause,€including€theÏexpediting€of€a€decision.€€While€we€are€reluctant€to€suspend€theÏrules€and€consider€an€order€or€judgment€from€which€no€appeal€as€ofÏright€can€be€taken,€we€are€of€the€opinion€that,€in€the€interest€ofÏjudicial€economy€and€the€need€for€an€expeditious€resolution,€thisÏis€a€proper€case€to€invoke€our€authority€and€suspend€the€formalÍrequirements€of€the€rules€and€consider€this€appeal€as€an€interƒlocutory€appeal.ÌÌà àAs€hereinbefore€noted,€the€defendants'€motion€for€summaryÏjudgment€was€based€upon€the€expiration€of€all€applicable€statutesÏof€limitations€and€laches.€€The€acts€about€which€the€plaintiffÏcomplains€occurred€more€than€twenty„five€years€before€the€instiƒtution€of€this€action.€€The€plaintiff€in€response€to€the€defen…dants'€motion€for€summary€judgment€relies€upon€the€"discoveryÏrule"€to€prevent€the€statute€from€œrunning.ÌÌà àOur›€standard€of€review€of€a€trial€court's€action€in€sustain…ing€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€is€set€out€in€detail€in€òòœCarvell›Ïv.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€23€(Tenn.€1995),€which€provides€in€perti…nent€part€as€follows:ÌÌò òÓÓà8 àà àó óThe€standards€governing€an€appellate€court's€reviewÏof€a€trial€court's€action€on€a€motion€for€summary€judg…ment€are€well€settled.€Since€our€inquiry€involves€purelyÏa€question€of€law,€no€presumption€of€correctness€atta…ches€to€the€trial€court's€judgment,€and€our€task€isÏconfined€to€reviewing€the€record€to€determine€whetherÏthe€requirements€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56€have€been€met.ÏòòœCowden›€v.€œSovran›€Bank/Central€Southóó,€816€S.W.2d€741,€744Ï(Tenn.€1991).€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.03€provides€thatÏsummary€judgment€is€only€appropriate€where:€(1)€there€isÏno€genuine€issue€with€regard€to€the€material€factsÍrelevant€to€the€claim€or€defense€contained€in€the€mo…tion,€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.€1993);Ïand€(2)€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€asÏmatter€of€law€on€the€undisputed€facts.€òòAnderson€v.ÏStandard€Register€Coóó.,€857€S.W.2d€555,€559€(Tenn.€1993).ÏThe€moving€party€has€the€burden€of€proving€that€itsÏmotion€satisfies€these€requirements.€òòœDownen›€v.€AllstateÏIns.€Coóó.,€811€S.W.2d€523,€524€(Tenn.€1991).ÌÌà8 àà àThe€standards€governing€the€assessment€of€evidenceÏin€the€summary€judgment€context€are€also€well€estab…lished.€Courts€must€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€mostÏfavorable€to€the€nonmoving€party€and€must€also€draw€allÏreasonable€inferences€in€the€nonmoving€party's€favor.ÏòòByrdóó,€847€S.W.2d€at€210„11.€Courts€should€grant€a€summa…ry€judgment€only€when€both€the€facts€and€the€conclusionsÏto€be€drawn€from€the€facts€permit€a€reasonable€person€toÏreach€only€one€conclusion.€Id.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÓÓÌà àMore€œconcisely›€stated€when€a€party€files€a€motion€for€summaryÏjudgment€which€is€supported€to€such€an€extent€that€it€satisfiesÏthe€requirements€of€Rule€56.03,€and€that€the€evidence€filed€inÏsupport€of€the€motion,€if€unrefuted,€entitles€that€party€to€aÏjudgment€as€a€matter€of€law,€the€burden€shifts€to€the€nonmovingÏparty€to€come€forth€with€countervailing€evidence€which€eitherÏdirectly€or€from€the€reasonable€inferences€to€be€drawn€therefromÏœshows›€that€there€is€a€genuine€issue€of€a€material€fact.€€If€theÏnonmoving€party€meets€this€burden,€summary€judgment€is€inappropri…ate.€€Conversely,€if€the€nonmoving€party€fails€to€meet€this€bur…den,€summary€judgment€is€appropriate.ÌÌà àThe€defendants'€motion€for€summary€judgment€in€this€case€isÏbased€on€the€equitable€doctrine€of€laches€and€various€statutes€ofÏlimitation,€specifically€T.C.A.€ðððð€28„3„102€(Actions€against€aÏpersonal€representative€„€seven€years),€28„3„105€(Property€tortÏactions€„€three€years),€28„3„109€(Rent€„„€Official€misconduct€„„ÏContracts€not€otherwise€covered€„„€Title€insurance€„„€Demand€notesÏ„€six€years),€and€28„3„110€(Actions€on€public€officers'€and€fidu…ciary€bonds€„„€Actions€not€otherwise€covered€„€ten€years).€€ÌÌà àThe€defendants'€motion€for€summary€judgment€is€supported€byÏan€affidavit€of€Roy€D.€Crawford,€Jr.,€County€Court€Clerk€forÏBlount€County.€€The€affidavit€states€among€other€things€that€theÏrecords€of€his€office€reflect€that€the€will€of€O.€K.€Spears€wasÏadmitted€to€probate€during€the€January€term€of€court€in€1958.€Mr.ÏCrawford€further€testified€that€letters€testamentary€were€issuedÏto€Oliver€Kelly€Spears,€Jr.,€John€Arthur€Spears€and€Jack€WilfordÏSpears€(the€plaintiff€here).€€He€stated€that€a€copy€of€the€LastÏWill€and€testament€of€O.€K.€Spears€was€placed€in€a€bound€WillÏBook,€Volume€6,€page€205.€€ÌÌà àWith€regard€to€the€will€of€Marjorie€Blazer€Spears,€he€deposedÏthat€her€will€was€admitted€to€probate€during€the€July€term€ofÏcourt€in€1968;€that€Oliver€K.€Spears,€Jr.,€qualified€as€executorÏof€the€estate;€and€that€a€copy€of€the€will€was€placed€in€Will€BookÏ9,€page€375.€€He€further€stated€that€the€original€wills€had€beenÏplaced€on€microfilm€and€then€transferred€to€a€temperature€andÏclimate€controlled€facility€in€Knoxville€for€safekeeping.€€TheÏoriginals€of€both€wills€have€now€been€returned€to€his€office.€€HeÏconcluded€his€affidavit€with€a€statement€that€all€of€the€recordsÏin€his€office€relative€to€wills€and€the€probate€of€estates€areÏpublic€records€and€are€open€to€public€inspection€during€normalÏbusiness€hours.ÌÌà àAs€exhibits€to€his€affidavit,€Mr.€Crawford€attached€theÏfollowing:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà0 àà à1.à àA€copy€of€the€minutes€of€the€County€Court€showingÏthat€the€Will€of€O.€K.€Spears€was€admitted€toÏprobate€as€stated€in€the€affidavit€and€that€OliverÏKelly€Spears,€Jr.,€John€Arthur€Spears€and€JackÏWilford€Spears€qualified€as€executors.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à2.à àA€copy€of€the€letters€testamentary€issued€to€OliverÏSpears,€Jr.,€John€Arthur€Spears€and€Jack€WilfordÏSpears.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à3.à àA€copy€of€the€Last€Will€and€Testament€of€O.€K.ÏSpears.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à4.à àA€copy€of€the€minutes€of€the€County€Court€reflect…ing€that€the€Will€of€Marjorie€Blazer€Spears€wasÏadmitted€to€probate€as€stated€in€the€affidavit€andÏthat€Oliver€K.€Spears,€Jr.,€was€named€as€executor.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à5.à àA€copy€of€the€minutes€of€the€September€1968€term€ofÏthe€County€Court€reflecting€that€Oliver€K.€Spears,ÏJr.,€qualified€as€executor€of€the€estate.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à6.à àA€copy€of€the€Last€Will€and€Testament€of€MarjorieÏBlazer€Spears.ÌÌÓÓÌà àThe€plaintiff€responded€to€the€motion€for€summary€judgmentÏwith€a€legal€argument€that€the€statutes€of€limitation€were€inap…plicable;€œthat€if›€the€statutes€or€either€of€them€were€applicable,Ïthey€did€not€commence€to€run€until€the€cause€of€action€accrued€inÏ1994€when€the€plaintiff€became€aware€of€the€facts,€arguing€thatÏthe€defendants€had€concealed€the€true€facts€and€made€misstatementsÏto€him€which€"lulled€any€œsuspicions"›€he€may€have€had€with€respectÏto€his€interest€in€Spears€Furniture€Company.€€He€further€arguedÏthat€a€continuing€trust€relationship€existed€between€the€parties.€ÏHe€further€asserted€as€a€matter€of€law€that€the€equitable€doctrineÏof€Laches€was€inapplicable€for€the€same€reasons.ÌÌà àIn€his€response,€the€plaintiff€also€filed€his€affidavit€inÏwhich€he€stated€that€following€his€father's€death€in€1958€and€hisÏmother's€death€in€1968,€he€was€unaware€that€he€had€a€"continuingÏownership€interest€in€Spears€Furniture€Company";€that€he€was€leadÏto€believe€by€the€defendants€that€he€had€no€interest€in€the€compa…ny€and€had€no€reason€to€question€that€belief.€€He€further€deposedÏthat€he€did€not€participate€in€the€probate€of€his€father's€willÏeven€though€the€record€reflects€that€he€qualified€as€a€co„execu…tor.€€He€likewise€states€that€he€was€unaware€of€the€contents€ofÏthe€wills€even€though€both€were€on€file€"at€the€courthouse."€€HeÏœmade›€the€conclusory€statement€that€"I€was€not€alerted€to€any€misƒrepresentations€or€breach€of€duties€on€the€part€of€the€defendantsÏand€therefore€was€not€compelled€to€independently€research€theÏwills."ÌÌà àœThus›€was€the€state€of€the€record€when€the€chancellor€heardÏarguments€on€the€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€As€hereinbeforeÏnoted,€the€chancellor€sustained€the€motion€on€both€statutoryÏgrounds€and€on€the€doctrine€of€laches.ÌÌà àWe€will€begin€our€examination€by€first€looking€to€the€ques…tion€of€when€a€statute€of€limitations€begins€to€run.€€The€well…spring€of€our€present€day€rules€of€law€relating€to€when€a€cause€ofÏaction€accrues€and€a€statute€of€limitations€begins€to€run€isÏòòTeeters€v.€œCurreyóó,›€518€S.W.2d€512€(Tenn.€1974).€€òòTeetersóó€was€aÏmedical€malpractice€case,€however,€the€principle€enunciated€thereÏhas€grown€to€the€extent€that€it€is€almost€universally€applied€inÏall€types€of€cases.€€In€òòTeetersóó,€our€Supreme€Court€adopted€theÏfollowing€basic€principle:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àWe€adopt€as€the€rule€of€this€jurisdiction€theÏprinciple€that€in€those€classes€of€cases€where€medicalÏmalpractice€is€asserted€to€have€occurred€through€theÏnegligent€performance€of€surgical€procedures,€the€causeÏof€action€accrues€and€the€statute€of€limitations€com…mences€to€run€when€the€patient€discovers,€or€in€theÏexercise€of€reasonable€care€and€diligence€for€his€ownÏhealth€and€welfare,€should€have€discovered€the€resultingÏinjury.€All€cases€contra€are€overruled.€ÌÌòòTeetersóó,€supra,€at€page€517.ÌÌÓÓÌà àThe€Supreme€Court€extended€the€principle€to€tort€actions€inÏòòœMcCroskey›€v.€Bryant€Air€Conditioning€Coóó.,€524€S.W.2d€487€(Tenn.Ï1975).€€In€òòœMcCroskey›óó,€the€court€made€the€following€observation:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àWe€hold€that€in€tort€actions,€including€but€notÏrestricted€to€products€liability€actions€('conceived€inÏan€illicit€intercourse€of€tort€and€contract')€predicatedÏon€negligence,€strict€liability€or€misrepresentation€theÏcause€of€action€accrues€and€the€statute€of€limitationsÍcommences€to€run€when€the€injury€occurs€or€is€discov…ered,€or€when€in€the€exercise€of€reasonable€care€andÏdiligence,€it€should€have€been€discovered.€All€casesÏcontra€are€overruled.€€(Footnotes€omitted).ÌÌòòœMcCroskey›óó,€page€491.ÌÌÓÓÌà àFurther,€in€òòBurks€v.€Steinóó,€1996€Tenn.€App.€Lexis€690,€thisÏcourt€in€addressing€the€issue€pointed€out€the€following:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à...€[œO]nce›€a€cause€of€action€accrues€the€statute€ofÏlimitations€begins€to€run€when€the€injury€occurs,€orÏwhen€in€the€exercise€of€reasonable€care€and€diligenceÏthe€injury€should€have€been€discovered.€As€for€theÏapplication€of€the€discovery€rule,€our€supreme€court€inÏòòœPotts›€v.€œCelotex›€Corpóó.,€796€S.W.2d€678,€680€(Tenn.€1990)Ïstated€as€follows:€ÌÌà8 àà0 à€€€The€discovery€rule€applies€only€in€cases€whereÏthe€Plaintiff€does€not€discover€and€reasonablyÏcould€not€be€expected€to€discover€he€had€a€right€ofÏaction.€Furthermore,€the€statute€is€tolled€onlyÏduring€the€period€when€the€plaintiff€had€no€knowl…edge€at€all€the€wrong€had€occurred€and,€as€a€rea…sonable€person,€was€not€put€on€inquiry.€Id.,€atÏ680„681.ÌÌÓÓÌ€€€€€€€The€law€in€Tennessee,€with€respect€to€fraudulent€conceal…ment€of€a€cause€of€action€was€set€forth€by€the€Supreme€Court€inÏòòœSoldano›€v.€Owens€Corning€Fiberglass€Corpóó.,€696€S.W.2d€887€(Tenn.Ï1985).€ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à€Mere€ignorance€and€failure€of€the€plaintiff€toÏdiscover€the€existence€of€a€cause€of€action€is€notÏsufficient€to€toll€the€running€of€the€statute€of€limita…tions.€There€is€an€exception€to€this€rule.€FraudulentÏconcealment€of€the€cause€of€action€by€the€defendantÏtolls€the€statute€of€limitations.€It€begins€to€run€as€ofÏthe€time€of€the€discovery€of€the€fraud€by€the€plaintiff.ÏTo€come€within€this€exception,€the€plaintiff€must€proveÏthat€the€defendant€took€affirmative€action€to€concealÏhis€cause€of€action€and€that€he,€the€plaintiff,€couldÏnot€have€discovered€his€cause€of€action€despite€exercis…ing€reasonable€diligence€...ÌÌÓÓœà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*›Ìà àMoving€one€step€further:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à[œI]f›€the€suit€seeks€to€recover€damages€for€injuriesÏto€the€plaintiff's€property,€the€applicable€limitationsÏperiod€is€three€years€as€found€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ28„3„105.€òòAlexander€v.€Third€National€Bankóó,€1994€Tenn.ÏApp.€LEXIS€440,€*2,€1994€W.L.€424287,€*3€(Tenn.€App.Ï1994).€An€"injury€to€property"€need€not€be€physicalÏhowever,€just€as€an€injury€to€the€person€is€not€limitedÏto€bodily€injury.€òòIdóó.€...ÌÌòòœKeller›€v.€œColgems›€„€œEMI›€Music,€Incóó.,€924€S.W.2d€357€(Tenn.€App.Ï1996).ÌÌÓÓÌà àThe€review€of€these€authorities€brings€us€one€conclusion.€ÏThe€plaintiff€in€this€case,€in€order€to€rely€upon€fraudulentÏconcealment,€misrepresentation,€positive€or€otherwise,€or€failureÏto€account€by€the€co„executors€or€executor,€to€toll€the€statute€ofÏlimitations€must€demonstrate€that€he€did€not€know€of€the€trueÍfacts€and€that€under€the€circumstances,€using€due€diligence€couldÏnot€have€discovered€the€true€facts.€€Stated€otherwise,€the€plain…tiff€is€chargeable€with€knowledge€of€his€cause€of€action€or€knowl…edge€that€would€have€been€acquired€in€the€exercise€of€reasonableÏcare€or€due€diligence€after€having€been€put€upon€reasonable€inqui…ry.ÌÌà àEveryone€is€presumed€to€know€the€law.€€òòDavis€v.€MetropolitanÏGovernment€€of€Nashvilleóó,€620€S.W.2d€532€(Tenn.€App.€1981).€€Thus,Ïthe€plaintiff€is€charged€with€knowledge€that€upon€the€death€of€hisÏfather€or€mother,€as€natural€issue,€he€was€entitled€to€a€portionÏof€either€or€both€estates€unless€he€had€been€disinherited€by€will.€ÏAs€a€reasonable€and€prudent€person,€he€is,€therefore,€chargeableÏwith€the€knowledge€that€a€reasonable€inquiry€would€have€revealed.€ÏHe€failed€to€make€even€the€most€perfunctory€inquiry€and,€under€theÏlaw,€must€suffer€the€consequences€of€his€œown€action€or€inaction.›ÌÌà àGiving€the€plaintiff€the€benefit€of€any€doubt,€we€hold€thatÏby€limiting€our€consideration€to€the€statute€of€limitations€thatÏgrants€the€longest€period€of€time€to€bring€his€action€(T.C.A.€ððÏ28„3„110€(10€years)),€the€plaintiff's€claim€is€time€barred.ÌÌà àœOur›€opinion€that€the€plaintiff€is€time€barred€by€the€statuteÏof€œlimitations,€pretermits›€the€question€of€œlaches.€›€Nevertheless,Ïwe€feel€compelled€to€briefly€address€the€issue.€Gibson's€Suits€inÏChancery€(Inman,€œ7th›€ed.€1988)€defines€the€equitable€defense€ofÏlaches€as€follows:Ì€ÌÓÓà8 à€€€The€neglect€of€a€person€to€make€complaint,€or€bringÏaction€in€due€season,€he€being€œòòsui›€jurisóó€and€knowing€theÏfacts,€or€having€the€means€of€knowledge,€is€calledÏlaches.€Where€there€had€been€gross€laches€in€prosecutingÏrights,€or€long€and€unreasonable€acquiescence€in€adverseÏrights,€Courts€of€Equity€refuse€to€interfere€...€€TheÏCourt€never€lends€its€aid€to€one€who,€with€knowledge€ofÏhis€rights€and€with€opportunity€to€assert€them,€delaysÏunreasonably€so€to€do.€Equity€aids€those€who€are€vigi…lant,€not€those€who€sleep€upon€their€rights,€and€alwaysÏdiscourages€stale€demands.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌÓÓÌà àIn€òòœGalyon›€v.€First€Tenn.€Bank€œNat'l›€Associationóó,€803€S.W.2dÏ218€(Tenn.€1991),€our€Supreme€Court€stated:€€œ"[w]e›€observe€thatÏhad€the€doctrine€of€laches€been€a€matter€for€consideration,€itÏcould€have€been€resolved€under€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€56.04."€€In€thisÏcase,€the€doctrine€of€laches€was€under€consideration€and€wasÏproperly€applied.ÌÌà àWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€in€all€respects.€ÏCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant€and€the€case€isÏremanded€to€the€trial€court€for€final€disposition€of€any€remainingÏissues€under€the€counterclaim.ÌÌÌÓÓà€ à______________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Don€T.€McMurray,€Judge.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€JudgeÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÇÑ  ÑÑ7€›2XXd×XXd×7Ñà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌJACK€WILFORD€SPEARS,€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àBLOUNT€CHANCERYÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9705„CH„00157Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€CHESTER€S.€RAINWATERÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àCHANCELLORÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌOLIVER€K.€SPEARS,€JR.,€BARBARA€€)à àœAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDED›ÌSPEARS,€AND€JOHN€ARTHUR€SPEARS,€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòJUDGMENTóóó óÌÌÌÓÓà àThis€appeal€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€from€theÏChancery€Court€of€œBlount›€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel.€ÏUpon€consideration€thereof,€this€Court€is€of€opinion€that€thereÏwas€no€reversible€error€in€the€trial€court.Ìà àWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€in€all€respects.€ÏCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant€and€the€case€isÍremanded€to€the€trial€court€for€final€disposition€of€any€remainingÏissues€under€the€counterclaim.ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€PER€CURIAMÌ