ÿWPC  7# UN %k 0(qw@™4Ùíü 0l 0Dp 0J´ 0Tþ 0^R 0h° 0r 0|Š 0† 0Œ 1u 0d‘ 0@õ D35 Bh U>… B)à DCì AQ/ Æ€ 0DF 0DŠ D/Î Bý AM U*g ‘ ]”äñzÕv~OvÓ͘HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ÿ  D D D  D  Ó€  §aö"3|x ((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò""""'ÿÿdxd d< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d''''7Border 1dd*+ ,-Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó..'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd* (Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ùÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ+"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€0ÔÔ€0ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€0XÔÌÌò òJuly€21,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€0ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó SÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝIn€1996,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€67„5„2502€was€amended.€€Subsection€(c)€wasÏcompletely€rewritten€and€now€provides€the€following:ÌÌà8 àà à(c)€€The€delinquent€tax€attorney€shall€make€a€reasonable€search€of€the€publicÏrecords€and€give€notice€to€persons€identified€by€the€search€as€having€an€interest€inÏthe€property€to€be€sold.€€The€court€shall€set€a€reasonable€fee€for€this€service.ÌÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„2502(c)€(Supp.€1996).€Ì ÚÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983€provides€the€following:ÌÌà8 àEvery€person€who,€under€color€of€any€statute,€ordinance,€regulation,€custom,€orÏusage,€or€any€State€or€Territory€or€the€District€of€Columbia,€subjects,€or€causes€toÏbe€subjected,€any€citizen€of€the€United€States€or€other€person€within€the€jurisdictionÏthereof€to€the€deprivation€of€any€rights,€privileges,€or€immunities€secured€by€theÏConstitution€and€laws,€shall€be€liable€to€the€party€injured€in€an€action€at€law,€suit€inÏequity,€or€other€proper€proceeding€for€redress€.€.€.€.ÌÌÓÓ42€U.S.C.A.€ðð€1983€(Supp.€1997).Ì pÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝIn€the€County€Defendantsðð€discussion€of€this€issue,€they€assert€that,€in€order€for€an€actionÏto€exist€for€a€violation€of€ðð€1983,€a€plaintiff€must€plead€and€prove€the€inadequacy€of€all€stateÏremedies.€€This€issue€was€not€included€in€the€recitation€of€issues€in€their€Brief.€€As€such,€it€is€notÏproperly€before€this€Court.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(b).€€Moreover,€the€County€Defendants€fail€to€citeÏany€state€remedies€which€could€have€been€pursued€by€the€plaintiffs€in€this€case.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$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 ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  Ýò òÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÞ ÞÌà0 à›à@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEó óÌà@ àò òWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSON€€Ìà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóSUNBURST€BANK,€CARLTON€€€€à à)à àÌBARNES,€and€ALMA€JO€BARNES,à à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àó óPlaintiffs/Appellees,ò òà àà àà à)à àó óShelby€Equity€No.€104528€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àò ò)Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à à€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌROBERT€PATTERSON,€SR.,€SHELBY€€à à)à àó óAppeal€No.€02A01„9509„CH„00195Ìò òœÙ€*ÙßR€/1(A1-j|¸ùT` Å `€€@ÿRß›COUNTY€TRUSTEE;€HAROLD€€à àà à)ÌSTERLING,€SHELBY€COUNTY€€€€€€€€à à)ÌASSESSOR€OF€PROPERTY;€JOHN€€€€€€€à à)ÌROBERTSON,€CLERK€&€MASTER€OF€€)ÌTHE€CHANCERY€COURT€FOR€THE€€€€à à)ÌTHIRTIETH€JUDICIAL€DISTRICT€and€)ÌSHELBY€COUNTY,€TENNESSEE,€€à à)Ìó óà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendants/Appellants.ò òà àà à)à àÌòòó óÌò òóóà@ àó óAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€SHELBY€COUNTY€€€Ìà@ àAT€MEMPHIS,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€C.€NEAL€SMALL,€CHANCELLORòòÌÌFor€the€Plaintiff/Appellee,€Sunburstà àà àFor€the€Plaintiffs/Appellees,€Carlton€BarnesÌBank:à àà àà àà àà àà àand€Alma€Jo€Barnes:ÌÌóóS.€Russell€Headrickà àà àà àà àRichard€L.€WinchesterÌJohn€S.€Golwenà àà àà àà àMemphis,€TennesseeÌMemphis,€Tennesseeòòà àà àà àà àà àÌà àà àà àÌFor€the€Defendants/Appellants,€Robert€à àFor€the€Defendants/Appellants,€W.€J.€WallaceÌPatterson,€Jr.,€Shelby€County€Trustee,à àand€Norma€Wallace:ÌHarold€Sterling,€Shelby€County€Assessorà àÌof€Property,€John€Robertson,€Clerk€&€à àóóRoger€A.€StoneòòÌMaster€of€The€Chancery€Court€for€the€à àóóMemphis,€TennesseeòòÌThirtieth€Judicial€District€and€Shelby€ÌCounty,€Tennessee:ÌóóÌLynn€Cobb€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌDanny€Presley€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌMemphis,€Tennessee€€ÌÌò òÌà àà àà àà àà àà àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àó óHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌòòÌóóW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.ÌÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€J.ÇØØÙ  ÙÑ7€¼ÜXXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÓÓò òÓ  ÓœÌOPINIONó ó›ÌÓ  Óà àIn€this€case,€the€trial€court€set€aside€the€tax€sale€of€a€tract€of€realty€because€the€lack€ofÏsufficient€notice€to€the€property€owners€and€the€mortgagor€violated€their€constitutional€right€to€dueÏprocess.€€Relying€on€òòò òMennonite€œBoard›€of€Missions€v.€Adamsó óóó,€462€U.S.€791,€103€S.€Ct.Ï2706,€77€L.€Ed.€2d€180€(1983),€we€affirm.Ìà àAppellees€Carlton€and€Alma€Jo€Barnes€(ð ðthe€Barnesesðð),€residents€of€Olive€Branch,ÏMississippi,€purchased€a€house€in€Shelby€County,€at€4935€Forest€Hill„Irene€Road.€€They€took€outÏa€mortgage€on€the€property€with€Appellee€Sunburst€Bank€(ð ðSunburstðð),€a€bank€in€Southaven,ÏMississippi.€€Both€the€Trust€Deed€and€the€Warranty€Deed€directed€that€tax€bills€be€sent€to€Sunburst,Ïwhose€address€was€provided€on€both€deeds.€€However,€neither€the€Barneses€nor€Sunburst€filed€aÏDeclaration€of€Interest€by€One€Not€in€Possession,€a€form€that€specifically€requests€that€notices€suchÏas€tax€notices€be€sent€to€another€address.€€The€Barneses€leased€the€residence€to€George€Holley,€theÏperson€from€whom€they€had€purchased€it.Ìà àWhen€property€taxes€became€due,€the€Trusteeððs€office€sent€the€notices€to€the€Shelby€CountyÏresidence,€not€to€Sunburst,€as€directed€on€the€deeds,€or€to€the€Barneses.€€When€the€taxes€becameÏdelinquent,€other€notices€regarding€the€delinquent€taxes€were€sent€to€the€property€address.€TheÏproperty€address€was€eventually€flagged€as€an€incorrect€mailing€address€for€notice€purposes.€ÏHowever,€notices€were€not€sent€to€Sunburst€or€the€Barneses.€€Rather,€notice€of€the€lawsuit€forÏcollection€of€the€delinquent€taxes€and€the€resulting€tax€sale€œwas›€given€by€publication.€€Pursuant€toÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€67„5„2501€et€seq.,€the€property€was€sold€for€taxes€to€Appellants€W.ÏJ.€and€Norma€Wallace€(ð ðthe€Wallacesðð)€on€approximately€July€8,€1993.€€The€Barneses€learned€ofÏthe€sale€only€after€the€one„year€redemption€period€had€run.Ìà àSunburst€and€the€Barneses€subsequently€sued€Robert€Patterson,€Jr.€(Shelby€CountyÏTrustee),€€Harold€Sterling€(Shelby€County€Assessor€of€Property),€œand€John›€Robertson€(Clerk€andÏMaster€of€the€Chancery€Court€for€the€Thirtieth€Judicial€œDistrict),€and›€Shelby€County€(collectivelyÏð ðthe€County€Defendantsðð),€œas€well€as›€the€Wallaces,€seeking€injunctive€relief€and€invalidation€of€theÍtax€sale.€€They€alleged€that€their€constitutional€rights€had€been€violated€and€sought€relief€under€42ÏU.S.C.€ðð€1983.€€The€trial€court€granted€Sunburst€and€the€Barneses€a€temporary€restraining€order.ÌœÇÌ›à àThe€trial€court€extended€the€temporary€injunctive€relief€to€permit€the€parties€to€conductÏexpedited€discovery.€€The€County€Defendants€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss.€€The€trial€court€then€set€aÏhearing€on€the€request€for€a€temporary€injunction.Ìà àAt€the€hearing€on€the€temporary€injunction,€the€trial€court€decided€to€consolidate€the€hearingÏwith€a€bench€trial€on€the€merits.€€At€the€conclusion€of€the€proceeding,€the€trial€court€found€that€theÏfailure€to€give€notice€of€the€impending€tax€sale€violated€the€plaintiffsðð€due€process€rights€under€theÏFourteenth€Amendment€to€the€United€States€Constitution,€and€consequently€set€aside€the€sale€of€theÏrealty€to€the€Wallaces.€The€court€set€a€separate€hearing€for€the€plaintiffsðð€request€for€attorneyððs€feesÏand€the€Wallacesðð€request€for€reimbursement€of€expenses€relating€to€upkeep€of€the€property.Ìà àAfter€the€second€hearing,€the€trial€court€awarded€Sunburst€attorneyððs€fees€and€expensesÏtotaling€$33,080€and€awarded€the€Barneses€attorneyððs€fees€and€expenses€in€the€amount€ofÏ$3,787.50.€€The€trial€court€also€ordered€that€the€Wallaces€be€reimbursed€the€$25,000€they€paid€forÏthe€property€at€the€tax€sale,€$3,596€in€œinterest,›€and€the€monies€they€paid€for€property€taxes,€fireÏinsurance,€maintenance,€and€repairs.€€The€trial€court€denied€the€Wallacesðð€request€for€attorneyððsÏfees.€€The€County€Defendants€and€the€Wallaces€now€appeal€the€trial€courtððs€decision,€and€SunburstÏraises€an€issue€on€appeal€as€well.€Ìà àOn€appeal,€the€County€Defendants€contend€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€the€saleÏof€the€property€should€be€set€aside€because€the€failure€to€provide€notice€of€the€tax€sale€violated€theÏplaintiffsðð€due€process€rights.€€Secondary€issues€are€whether€the€trial€court€erred€by€ruling€on€theÏmerits€without€first€considering€Shelby€Countyððs€Motion€to€œDismiss€and€whether€the€trial€courtÏerred€by€combining€a€hearing€on€the€continuation€of€the€injunction€with€a€hearing€on€the€merits.›€ÏThe€County€Defendants€œmaintain€further›€that€the€plaintiffs€fail€to€state€a€claim€under€Section€1983Ïagainst€Shelby€County,€because€of€the€absence€of€a€municipal€policy,€procedure,€or€custom€whichÏcaused€the€damages.€€The€County€Defendants€also€contend€on€appeal€that€the€plaintiffs€failed€toÏstate€a€cause€of€action€under€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983€as€to€the€individual€officials,€the€Shelby€CountyÍTrustee,€the€Shelby€County€Assessor,€and€the€Clerk€and€Master€of€the€Chancery€Court,€becauseÏthere€were€no€allegations€of€personal€involvement.̜Ǜà àThe€Wallaces€appeal€the€setting€aside€of€the€tax€sale,€and€also€appeal€the€trial€courtððs€denialÏof€their€request€for€attorneyððs€fees.€€Sunburst€appeals€the€amount€of€its€award€of€attorneyððs€feesÏand€expenses,€alleging€that,€under€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1988,€it€should€have€been€awarded€the€full€amountÏit€requested.Ìà àOur€review€of€this€case€is€ò òòòde€novoó óóó€upon€the€record€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€ofÏthe€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court.€€Absent€error€of€law,€the€trial€courtððs€decision€will€beÏaffirmed,€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€factual€findings.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€ÏNo€presumption€of€correctness€attaches€to€the€trial€courtððs€conclusions€of€law.€€€òòò òSee€Carvell€v.ÏBottomsó óóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.€1995).€€€Ìà àTo€consider€the€primary€issue€on€appeal,€whether€the€failure€to€give€notice€of€the€impendingÏtax€sale€violated€the€plaintiffsðð€due€process€rights,€we€must€review€the€statutes€regarding€the€sale€ofÏproperty€in€order€to€collect€delinquent€taxes.€€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€67„5„2501€providesÏthat,€in€order€to€collect€delinquent€taxes€on€realty,€ð ð[t]he€court€shall€order€a€sale€of€the€land€forÏcash,€subject€to€the€equity€of€redemption.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„2501(a)(1)€(Supp.€1996).€ÏWhen€a€tax€sale€is€to€be€held,€ð ð[n]otice€to€parties€or€others€in€delinquent€tax€suits€and€sales€shall€beÏgoverned€by€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure,€and€may€be€forwarded€to€the€address€of€anÏowner€of€the€property€which€is€on€record€in€the€office€of€the€assessor€of€property.ðð€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€67„5„2502(a)(3)€(Supp.€1996).€€In€addition,€the€statutes€provide€for€notice€to€the€public€inÏsuch€sales.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„2502(a)€(Supp.€1996).€€Prior€to€1996,€in€order€for€anyoneÏwith€an€interest€in€property€to€assure€himself€of€notice,€certain€procedures€had€to€be€followed:ÌÓÓà8 àà à(b)€€It€is€the€responsibility€of€the€property€owner€to€register€the€propertyÏownerððs€name€and€address€with€the€assessor€of€property€of€the€county€in€which€theÏland€lies.ÌÌà8 àà à(c)(1)€€Any€person€claiming€an€interest€in€taxable€real€property€who€is€not€inÏpossession€of€that€property€shall€be€deemed€to€have€waived€any€right€to€noticeÏprovided€by€œðð›€67„5„2415€or€this€section€unless€such€person€shall€file€a€statementÏdeclaring€such€interest€with€the€assessor€of€property.ÌÌà8 àà à(2)€€Such€statement€shall€be€on€a€form€prescribed€by€the€assessor€ofÏproperty€and€shall€include:ÌÌà8 àà à(A)€€A€description€of€the€interest€claimed;ÌÌà8 àà à(B)€€The€name€of€the€person€in€possession€of€the€property;€andÌÌà8 àà à(C)€€The€address€to€which€any€such€notice€is€to€be€sent.ÌÌà8 àà à(3)€€Any€person€claiming€an€interest€and€not€waiving€right€to€noticeÏprovided€by€œðð›€67„5„2415€or€this€section€shall€file€the€statement€required€by€thisÏsubsection€annually€between€December€1€and€December€31.ÌÌà8 àà à(4)€€At€least€once€each€year€prior€to€December€1,€the€county€trustee€shallÏcause€to€be€published€in€a€newspaper€of€general€circulation,€a€notice€that€any€personÏclaiming€an€interest€in€taxable€real€property€as€described€above€must€file€a€statementÏas€described€above,€or€such€person€shall€be€deemed€to€have€waived€any€right€toÏnotice€as€provided€by€œðð›€67„5„2415€or€this€section.ÌÌÓÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„2502(b)„(c)€(1994).× ƒ2 ××  ×€€In€the€event€of€a€tax€sale,€anyone€entitled€to€redeemÏthe€property€must€file€for€redemption€ð ðwithin€one€(1)€year€after€entry€of€an€order€of€confirmation€ofÏthe€tax€sale€by€the€courtðð€or€else€lose€all€interest€in€the€property.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€67„5„2702(a)Ï(1994).Ìà àTherefore,€the€statute€in€effect€during€the€events€in€this€case€required€a€mortgage€holderÏsuch€as€Sunburst,€claiming€a€non„possessory€interest€in€real€property,€to€file€a€declaration€ofÏinterest€in€order€to€avoid€waiving€its€right€to€notice.€€Neither€Sunburst€nor€the€Barneses€filed€theÏappropriate€form,€a€Declaration€of€Interest€by€One€Not€in€Possession.€€Consequently,€all€taxÏnotices,€including€the€notice€of€the€tax€sale,€were€sent€to€the€property€address€only,€despite€theÏrequest€on€both€deeds€that€all€tax€notices€be€sent€to€Sunburst.€€Notice€of€the€tax€sale€was€publishedÏin€a€Shelby€County€newspaper,€but€neither€the€Barneses€nor€Sunburst€ever€saw€the€publications.€ÏIn€addition,€neither€Sunburst€nor€the€Barneses€were€sent€a€notice€regarding€redemption€rights€afterÍthe€sale.€€Ìà àOn€appeal,€the€County€Defendants€rely€on€a€Tennessee€case€in€which€publication€wasÏdeemed€adequate€notice€of€a€tax€sale€of€realty.€€In€òòò òMarlowe€v.€Kingdom€Hall€of€JehovahððsÏWitnessesó óóó,€541€S.W.2d€121€(Tenn.€1976),€a€summons€for€a€delinquent€tax€sale€lawsuit€wasÏreturned€by€the€sheriff€as€œð ðnot›€to€be€found€in€œcounty.ðð›€Consequently,€notice€of€the€tax€sale€wasÏserved€by€publication.€€òòò òId.€€ó óóóThe€plaintiff€argued€that€the€tax€sale€was€invalid€because€notice€wasÏby€publication€rather€than€personal€service€of€process.€€€€The€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€held€thatÏpublication€was€sufficient€notice,€reasoning€that€ð ð[e]very€landowner€knows€that€his€property€isÏsubject€to€taxes€and€that€they€are€paid€to€the€county€trustee€on€an€annual€basis,ðð€and€that€eachÏlandowner€ð ðis€charged€with€the€knowledge€that€taxes€become€a€first€lien€upon€his€property€.€.€.€andÏthat€they€are€due€and€payable€on€the€first€Monday€in€October€in€each€year.ðð€€òòò òId.ó óóó€at€124.€€The€CourtÏfound€that€constructive€notice€in€a€tax€sale€violated€neither€the€Constitution€of€the€United€States€norÏthe€Constitution€of€Tennessee.€òòò òId.ó óóó€at€œ124„25;›€œòòò òsee›€also€4945€Florida€Corp.€v.€Caldwelló óóó,ÏNo.€01A„01„9405„CH„00217,€1994€WL€594923€(Tenn.€App.€Nov.€2,€1994).Ìà àHowever,€the€result€in€the€case€at€bar€must€be€controlled€by€the€decision€of€the€UnitedÏStates€Supreme€Court€in€òòò òMennonite€œBoard›€of€Missions€v.€Adamsó óóó,€462€U.S.€791,€103€S.ÏCt.€2706,€77€L.€Ed.€2d€180€(1983).€€In€òòò òMennoniteó óóó,€decided€several€years€after€òòò òMarloweó óóó,€theÏCourt€considered€ð ðthe€question€whether€notice€by€publication€and€posting€provides€a€mortgagee€ofÏreal€property€with€adequate€notice€of€a€proceeding€to€sell€the€mortgaged€property€for€nonpaymentÏof€taxes.ðð€€òòò òId.ó óóó€at€792,€103€S.€Ct.€at€2708.€€Citing€ò òòòMullane€v.€Central€Hanover€Bank€&ÏTrust€Co.ó óóó,€339€U.S.€306,€70€œS.€Ct.›€652,€94€L.€Ed.€865€(1950),€the€Court€first€noted€that€ð ðaÏmortgagee€possesses€a€substantial€property€interest€that€is€significantly€affected€by€a€tax€sale.ðð€Ïœò òòòMennoniteó óóó,€462€U.S.€›€at€798,€103€S.€Ct.€at€2711.€€Given€this€interest,€the€Court€reasoned€that€aÏmortgagee€is€entitled€to€receive€notice€that€is€reasonably€calculated€to€inform€him€of€an€impendingÏtax€sale.€€òòò òId.ó óóó€€The€Court€stated:ÌÓÓà8 àWhen€the€mortgagee€is€identified€in€a€mortgage€that€is€publicly€recorded,Íconstructive€notice€by€publication€must€be€supplemented€by€notice€mailed€to€theÏmortgageeððs€last€known€available€address,€or€by€personal€service.€€But€unless€theÏmortgagee€is€not€reasonably€identifiable,€constructive€notice€alone€does€not€satisfyÏthe€mandate€of€òòMullaneóó.ÌÌÓÓòòò òId.€€ó óóóThe€Court€found€that€personal€service€or€mailed€notice€is€required€even€though€sophisticatedÏcreditors€have€the€ability€to€discover€for€themselves€whether€or€not€taxes€have€been€paid€on€theÏproperty.€€€òòò òId.ó óóó€at€799,€103€S.€Ct.€at€2712.€€The€Court€noted€œthat€ð ða›€partyððs€ability€to€take€steps€toÏsafeguard€its€interests€does€not€relieve€the€State€of€its€constitutional€obligation.ðð€€òòò òId.ó óóó€€Finding€that€aÏstate€cannot€forgo€ð ðthe€relatively€modest€administrative€burden€of€providing€notice€by€mail,ðð€theÏCourt€concluded:ÌÓÓà8 àNotice€by€mail€or€other€means€as€certain€to€ensure€actual€notice€is€a€minimumÏconstitutional€precondition€to€a€proceeding€which€will€adversely€affect€the€liberty€orÏproperty€interests€of€òòò òanyó óóó€party,€whether€unlettered€or€well€versed€in€commercialÏpractice,€if€its€name€and€address€are€reasonably€ascertainable.€€Furthermore,€aÏmortgageeððs€knowledge€of€delinquency€in€the€payment€of€taxes€is€not€equivalent€toÏnotice€that€a€tax€sale€is€pending.ÌÌÓÓòòò òId.ó óóó€at€799„800,€103€S.€Ct.€at€2712.€€This€Court€has€applied€òòò òMennoniteó óóó€to€cases€involving€the€taxÏsale€of€realty.€€€òòò òSee€Freeman€v.€City€of€Kingsportó óóó,€926€S.W.2d€247,€249„50€(Tenn.€App.Ï1996)€(ð ðactual€notice€is€required€if€the€interested€partyððs€name€and€address€are€reasonablyÏascertainableðð);€òòò òMorrow€v.€Bobbittó óóó,€œ943€S.W.2d€384›€œ(Tenn.€App.1996).›Ìà àIn€the€instant€case,€the€trial€court€made€a€finding€ð ðthat€the€governmental€defendants€hadÏactual€knowledge€of€plaintiff€Sunburstððs€property€interest€in€said€propertyðð€œand›€ð ðthat€the€Barnesðð€Ïcorrect€address€was€reasonably€ascertainable€by€the€governmental€defendants.ðð€€The€evidence€inÏthe€record€supports€this€finding€of€fact.€€It€is€undisputed€that€both€the€Warranty€Deed€and€the€TrustÏDeed,€both€on€file€with€the€Shelby€County€Register€of€Deeds,€directed€the€Shelby€County€AssessorÏof€Property€and€Shelby€County€Trustee€to€mail€tax€bills€to€Sunburst,€whose€address€was€on€theÏdeeds.€€A€representative€of€the€Shelby€County€Trusteeððs€Office€gave€deposition€testimony€that€theÏtwo€deeds€were€included€in€a€collection€of€documents€called€a€title€reference,€and€that€the€titleÏreference€would€normally€be€in€the€possession€of€the€Tax€Sale€Department€prior€to€the€filing€of€theÏlawsuit€for€delinquent€taxes.€€Likewise,€the€Barnesesðð€names€were€on€both€deeds,€and€the€recordÍindicates€that€the€office€address€of€Carlton€Barnes€was€listed€in€the€Memphis€phone€directory.€ÏTherefore,€the€plaintiffsðð€names€and€addresses€were€€reasonably€œascertainable,›€and€notice€byÏpublication€was€insufficient€and€violated€Sunburstððs€due€process€rights.Ìà àThe€County€Defendants€assert€on€appeal€that€the€trial€court€failed€to€consider€their€motion€toÏdismiss€prior€to€ruling€on€the€merits€of€the€case.€€In€light€of€our€determination€that€notice€byÏpublication€violated€the€plaintiffsðð€due€process€rights,€we€find€any€error€in€failing€to€consider€theÏmotion€to€dismiss€first€to€be€harmless.Ìà àThe€County€Defendants€also€contend€on€appeal€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€combining€theÏhearing€on€a€continuation€of€the€injunction€with€a€trial€on€the€merits.€€Rule€65.04(7)€of€theÏTennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€permits€a€trial€court€to€consolidate€the€trial€with€a€hearing€onÏinjunctive€relief:ÌÓÓà8 àò ò(7)€€Consolidation€of€Hearing€With€Trial€on€Merits.ó ó€€Before€or€after€theÏcommencement€of€the€hearing€of€an€application€for€a€preliminary€injunction,€theÏCourt€may€order€the€trial€of€the€action€on€the€merits€to€be€advanced€and€consolidatedÏwith€the€hearing€of€the€application.€€Even€when€this€consolidation€is€not€ordered,Ïany€evidence€received€upon€an€application€for€a€preliminary€injunction€which€wouldÏbe€admissible€upon€the€trial€on€the€merits€becomes€part€of€the€record€on€the€trial€andÏneed€not€be€repeated€upon€the€trial.€€This€subdivision€[65.04(7)€]€shall€be€so€œÇà8 àconstrued›€and€applied€as€to€save€to€the€parties€any€rights€they€may€have€to€trial€by€aÏjury.ÌÌÓÓTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€65.04(7).€€In€this€case,€the€record€indicates€that€the€County€Defendants€were€onÏnotice€that€the€plaintiffs€would€ask€the€trial€court€to€consolidate€the€proceedings.€€The€CountyÏDefendants€objected€to€consolidation,€but€stated€only€that€they€were€not€prepared€to€argue€theÏissues€regarding€attorneyððs€fees€and€certain€expenses€claimed€by€the€Wallaces.€€The€trial€court€set€aÏlater€hearing€to€consider€these€issues.€€We€find€no€error€in€the€trial€courtððs€decision€to€consolidateÏthe€proceedings.Ìà àThe€County€Defendants€argue€that€the€plaintiffs€failed€to€state€a€cause€of€action€under€42ÏU.S.C.€ðð€1983œ× ƒ3 ××  ×›€as€to€Shelby€County€because€of€the€absence€of€a€policy,€procedure,€or€customÏwhich€caused€the€damages.€€A€municipality€can€be€liable€for€a€Section€1983€violation€only€when€aÏplaintiffððs€constitutional€rights€are€deprived€as€the€result€of€a€governmental€policy,€procedure,€orÏcustom.€€ò òòòSee€Monell€v.€Department€of€Soc.€Servs.óóó ó,€436€U.S.€658,€690„91,€98€S.€Ct.Ï2018,€2035„36,€56€L.€Ed.€2d€611€(1978).€€There€must€be€a€direct€causal€connection€between€theÏpolicy€and€the€alleged€violation.€€òòò òSee€Strauss€v.€City€of€Chicagoóóó ó,€760€F.2d€765,€767€(7thÏCir.€1985).€€In€this€case,€the€deposition€testimony€of€Michael€Denegri,€Deputy€Administrator€of€theÏAbstract€Department€of€the€Assessorððs€Office,€established€the€existence€of€the€policy€whichÏresulted€in€the€plaintiffsðð€not€receiving€actual€notice€of€the€tax€sale:ÌÓÓà8 àQ:€€Now,€tell€me€that€again.€€Which€information€do€you€transmit,€about€where€toÏsend€tax€bills?ÌÓ  Ó*€*€*ÌÓ  Óà8 àA:€€Itððs€a€policy€of€our€office€not€to€mail€any€tax€bills€to€any€mortgage€companies€orÏbanks€if€it€is€so€noted€on€the€deed.€€Our€policy€is€to€send€it€in€lieu€of€that€to€theÏproperty€location.€€And€this€is€to€insure€[sic]€that€the€property€owner€gets€all€noticesÏof€assessment€and€any€other€letters€or€things,€any€rulings€from€the€County€Board€ofÏEqualization.€€Otherwise,€if€we€donððt€do€that,€then€the€property€owner€in€most€casesÏdoes€not€get€that€from€the€mortgage€company.ÌÌÓÓThis€testimony€establishes€that€a€governmental€policy€existed€which€resulted€in€Shelby€CountyÏdisregarding€the€request€on€the€Warranty€Deed€and€the€Trust€Deed€to€send€tax€notices€to€œSunburst.›ÏœThus,€the€policy›€was€a€proximate€cause€of€the€plaintiffsðð€damages.€€œConsequently,›€the€plaintiffsÏstate€a€claim€against€Shelby€County€under€Section€œ1983.›× ƒ4 ××  ×Ìà àThe€County€defendants€assert€on€appeal€that€the€plaintiffs€fail€to€state€a€claim€against€theÏindividual€officials€in€their€individual€capacities.€€Since€€damages€and€attorneyððs€fees€were€assessedÏagainst€Shelby€County€alone,€this€argument€need€not€be€considered.Ìà àThe€Wallaces€argue€on€appeal€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€not€awarding€them€attorneyððs€fees.€ÏThey€argue€that€several€statutes,€when€read€together,€make€it€clear€that€they€should€have€beenÏawarded€attorneyððs€fees€after€invalidation€of€the€tax€sale,€citing€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðððð€67„5„2504(a)(1),€67„5„2501(a)(3),€and€67„5„2506(a)(3).€€The€statutes€cited€simply€do€not€support€thisÏcontention.€€The€trial€court€did€not€err€in€its€denial€of€attorneyððs€fees€to€the€œWallaces›.Ìà àFinally,€Sunburst€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€refusing€to€award€the€full€amount€ofÏattorneyððs€fees€and€expenses€they€requested.€€Sunburst€was€awarded€attorneyððs€fees€pursuant€to€42ÏU.S.C.€ðð€1988,€which€provides€that€ð ðthe€court,€in€its€discretion,€may€allow€the€prevailing€party,Ïother€than€the€United€States,€a€reasonable€attorneyððs€fee€as€part€of€the€costs.ðð€€42€œU.S.C.A.›€ððÏ1988(b)€œ(1994€&€Supp.€1997).›€€œIn›€general,€an€award€of€attorneyððs€fees€under€Section€1988€will€beÏreversed€or€altered€only€if€the€trial€court€has€abused€its€discretion.€€òòò òSee€œid.€€Wasielewski€v.€KÏMart€Corp.ó óóó,€891€S.W.2d€916,€919€(Tenn.€App.€1994).€€Sunburst€originally€requested€an€awardÍof€$34,190.43.€€The€trial€court€reduced€that€amount€to€$30,000.€€The€record€indicates€that€the€trialÏcourt€reduced€Sunburstððs€fees€for€equitable€reasons,€because€Sunburst€and€the€Barneses€bore€someÏresponsibility€for€creating€the€situation€giving€rise€to€the€suit,€by€failing€to€make€certain€taxes€wereÏpaid€for€several€years.€€Later,€Sunburst€requested€an€additional€$7,547.44€in€fees€and€expensesÏincurred€in€subsequent€proceedings.€€The€trial€court€awarded€only€$3,080€in€additional€fees,Ïpresumably€for€the€same€reason.€€We€find€no€abuse€of€discretion€in€the€trial€courtððs€decisions€toÏaward€Sunburst€less€than€the€full€amount€of€fees€requested.Ìà àSunburst€and€the€Barneses€argue€that€they€should€be€awarded€reasonable€attorneyððs€feesÏincurred€in€defending€this€appeal.€€òòò òSee€Northcross€v.€Board€of€Educ.€of€Memphis€CityÏSch.ó óóó,€611€F.2d€624,€637€(6th€Cir.€1979).€€We€agree€that€attorneyððs€fees€should€be€awarded€forÏthis€appeal.€€Consequently,€we€remand€to€the€trial€court€to€determine€the€amount€of€attorneyððs€feesÏto€be€awarded€for€this€appeal.Ìà àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€We€remand€this€cause€to€the€trial€court€forÏdetermination€€of€the€attorneyððs€fees€to€be€awarded€to€Appellee€for€this€appeal.€€Costs€are€assessedÏagainst€Appellants,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àò òóóHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.Ìó óà àò òÌCONCUR:ÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€P.€J.,€W.S.ÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€J.ó óÌ