ÿWPC5 ‹†$‰:%‘"¡~3h;ZÆ#ñþnÑ ½øÍÇ|Ô&b•NZ&Ã" †à¼«Ü®½OŠB„øú,¾g àꧭ警Ͽ âœZ?p›n.à|8zwuAÄpÒ‚fM§î®€0C-4x…ÇðÒ=$Wÿ²˜xðÓV‘§C»È(°×ºfè½y¢î¾—Á¶OO>¥ÄÀÕ˜½šwPÅN}Gȸ|÷6ÅPƒ'iõ*z v¯lGƒ…ÂØkm8'L·`ªáæÒ¬•M†båN7Àå¿´m/ãû$È2eÙ*\~Û0SàemöñÑb”&?ÔDÈš¾k—,®é*m‰²;Ÿ_U(øU@ÿZvj®+æ ¡É6ö¦ o#~¼Ñë=df&«%uåÏ),3qq#u#½67TÜÑ¢,iNzuÃפäbÔ‹-˜&‡óJ•µŽ”Ra“QO¹Ÿ‹ ¸vaŒªÀJÁ/%b9] ˆá´3¯rGº†@WņbUb³èNKepõ·Ù¨ãöNr)ŸJB­ \H‰šÜÃǰ‹M5* ±¾Ó-³›g0(]D²­‹øù+}~3¡á×"!­£uè&$ø˜7‰éuV2„FÇÞ±Îö7½.²œG*öIÂl´£‡a b %\UNb 0ˆ°UN8N†ˆצ z} Ò÷ ^ É ôÕ wÉ 0DÍÆÆ×ÆÆc4)N=?NEP mR#Áiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiib************************************ 0ë2222 B 0¤: D3Þ D- 0K>> AS‰ÆÜ 0¤¢ 0DF A«Š»(@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular Ý ƒRÝî$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô° ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€There€is€some€discrepancy€as€to€whether€Mrs.€Ô_ÔAbernethyÔ_Ô€received€BIB€funds€over€the€$545.00€monthlyÐ ° Ðpayments.€€The€Defendants€alleged€in€the€òòBrandt€v.€BIBóó€case€that€she€was€paid€ð ðseveral€thousand€dollars€after€DecemberÐ tÄ Ð31,€1987,€that€came€out€of€the€partnership€funds€that€[neither]€she€[nor€Greg€Smith]€were€entitled€to.ðð ÍÝ ƒRÝî$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô° ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€The€amended€complaint€also€added€Mrs.€Brandt€and€Mrs.€Wiltshire€as€plaintiffs. ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt猋-s  êÝ ƒRÝî$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô° ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Defendants€allege€that,€pursuant€to€the€original€Contract,€payment€of€the€$545.00€per€month€to€Mr.€SmithÐ ° Ðshould€have€ceased€December€31,€1987.€€Consequently,€the€monthly€amount€paid€to€Mrs.€Ô_ÔAbernethyÔ_Ô€from€January€1988Ð tÄ Ðthrough€1990€was€money€that€was€not€due€to€Mr.€Smith€from€BIBððs€funds.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5š‚,-ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0- ù-(|G2Ýî$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Õ»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô° ò»»Ô d(|3ÁN$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Õ»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÁN$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Õ»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Õ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼Õ»»»ÔÑ8€P1XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îÌÕÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼Õ»îîÌ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓOctober€14,€2002€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XP1X»¼ÕÔÌò òÔ#†¼Õ»XXP1õ#ÔVIRGINIA€Ô_ÔABERNETHYÔ_Ôòòóó€v.€ROBERT€S.€BRANDT,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XP1X»¼ÕÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òA€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Lawrence€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€CC€66899€€€€€€The€Honorable€Stella€L.€Ô_ÔHargroveÔ_Ô,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2002„00274„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€11,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡XP1XXXP1Ôà  àThis€is€a€malicious€prosecution€case.€€In€the€underlying€case,€plaintiff€was€sued€by€theÐ xÈ  Ðdefendants€herein€seeking€recovery€of€damages€for€plaintiffððs€alleged€fraud€and€embezzlement.€€InÐ d´ Ða€bench€trial,€judgment€was€entered€for€plaintiff.€€Plaintiff€filed€the€instant€case€alleging€maliciousÐ P  Ðprosecution.€€Defendants€raise€the€defense€of€advice€of€counsel€and€their€motion€for€summaryÐ <Œ Ðjudgment€was€granted.€€Plaintiff€has€appealed.€€We€affirm.Ô#†XP1XXXP1#ÔÔ#†¼Õ»XXP1•#ÔÔ‡XP1X»¼ÕÔÐ (x ÐÓÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed€andÐ P ÐRemandedó óÐ ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Õ»àXP1›#ÔÔ‡XP1X.¼ÕÔW.€Frank€Crawford,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,€Ô_ÔW.S.Ô_Ôóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAlan€E.€Ô_ÔHighersÔ_Ô,Ð Ä ÐJ.óó€and€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌDouglas€Thompson€Bates,€III,€Ô_ÔCentervilleÔ_Ô,€For€Appellant,€Virginia€Ô_ÔAbernethyÔ_ÔÐ ˆØ ÐJohn€W.€Rodgers,€Murfreesboro,€For€Appellees,€Ô_ÔMyrinÔ_Ô€I.€Ô_ÔLunkinÔ_Ô€and€Naomi€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_ÔÐ tÄ ÐBarbara€J.€Ô_ÔPerutelliÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€For€Appellee,€Keith€M.€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_ÔÐ `° ÐPaul€B.€Plant,€Ô_ÔLawrenceburgÔ_Ô,€For€Appellees,€Ashley€Wiltshire,€Jr.€and€Susan€WiltshireÐ L œ ÐElaine€M.€Ô_ÔYoungbloodÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€For€Appellees,€Robert€S.€Brandt€and€Anne€M.€BrandtÐ 8!ˆ  ÐÓnÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼Õ»XXP1#ÔÔ‡XP1X»¼ÕÔÐ #`" ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼Õ»XXP1 #ÔÔ‡XP1X»¼ÕÔÓ  ÓÑ8€P1XXdìXXdì8Ñà  àThis€is€a€malicious€prosecution€case,€which€arises€from€a€prior€action€entitled€ò òòòÔ_ÔR.B.Ô_Ô€Brandt,Ð è$8 $ Ðet€al€v.€BIB€Enterprises,€Ltd.,€et€aló óóó,€Lawrence€County€Circuit€docket€number€5965„92€(the€ð ðòòBrandtÐ Ô%$!% Ðv.€BIBðð€óócase).€€In€1982,€a€limited€partnership,€BIB€Enterprises,€Ltd.€(ð ðBIBðð)€was€formed.€€BIBÐ À&"& Ðpurchased€a€building€and€land€leased€to€a€Bonanza€Restaurant€in€Ô_ÔLawrenceburgÔ_Ô.€The€limited€partnersÐ ¬'ü"' Ðwere€Robert€S.€Brandt€(ð ðMr.€Brandtðð),€his€wife€Anne€Brandt€(ð ðMrs.€Brandtðð),€Ashley€Wiltshire,€Jr.Ð ˜(è#( Ð(ð ðMr.€Wiltshireðð),€his€wife€Susan€Wiltshire€(ð ðMrs.€Wiltshireðð),€Ô_ÔMyrinÔ_Ô€I.€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_Ô€(ð ðMr.€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_Ôðð),€hisÐ „)Ô$) Ðwife€Naomi€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_Ô€(ð ðMrs.€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_Ôðð),€and€Keith€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_Ô€(ð ðK.€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_Ô,ðð€and€together€with€Mr.€Brandt,Ð p*À%* ÐMrs.€Brandt,€Mr.€Wiltshire,€Mrs.€Wiltshire,€Mr.€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_Ô,€and€Mrs.€Ô_ÔLundinÔ_Ô€ð ðDefendantsðð€orÐ \+¬&+ Ðð ðAppelleesðð).€€Virginia€Ô_ÔAbernethyÔ_Ô€(€ð ðMrs.€Ô_ÔAbernethyÔ_Ô,ðð€ð ðPlaintiffðð€or€ð ðAppellantðð)€was€also€a€limitedÐ H,˜', Ðpartner€of€BIB.€€Mrs.€Ô_ÔAbernethyÔ_Ô€is€the€wife€of€BIBððs€sole€general€partner,€Greg€Smith€(ð ðMr.€Smithðð).€Ð 4-„(-ýE ÐÔ_ÔThe€òòBrandt€v.€BIBóó€case€arose€from€a€dispute€between€the€Defendants€and€Mr.€Smith€concerningÐ ° Ðmanagement€fees€paid€pursuant€to€a€Management€Contract€(the€ð ðContractðð)€entered€on€DecemberÐ œì Ð31,€1982.€€Under€the€Contract,€Mr.€Smith€was€to€receive€approximately€$545.00€per€month€inÐ ˆØ Ðmanagement€fees.€€After€five€years,€he€was€to€receive€a€percentage€of€BIBððs€income€in€lieu€of€theÐ tÄ Ð$545.00€payments.€€On€March€14,€1983€and€unbeknownst€to€the€Defendants,€Mrs.€Abernethy€enteredÐ `° Ðinto€an€agreement€with€Mr.€Smith,€whereby€he€agreed€to€pay€her€the€$545.00€per€month€managementÐ L œ Ðfee.€€This€amount€was€paid€to€Mrs.€Abernethy€through€the€end€of€1990.׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€Defendants€confrontedÐ 8 ˆ ÐMr.€Smith€about€his€continuing€to€receive€monthly€payments€from€BIB€beyond€the€five€year€periodÐ $ t Ðoutlined€in€the€Contract.€The€dispute€escalated€and€reached€a€head€in€August€of€1992€when€Mr.Ð  ` ÐSmith€put€the€Bonanza€Restaurant€up€for€sale€over€the€objections€of€the€Defendants€and€purchasedÐ ü L  Ðit€himself€at€auction.à ¸ àà  àÐ è 8  ÐÌà  àOn€December€3,€1992,€the€Defendants€filed€the€òòBrandt€v.€BIBóó€case€against€Mr.€Smith.€Ð À  ÐDuring€the€course€of€discovery,€William€S.€Fleming€(ð ðMr.€Flemingðð),€attorney€for€the€Defendants,Ð ¬ü  Ðdiscovered€that€Mrs.€Abernethy€had€received€the€above€mentioned€$545.00€monthly€payments€fromÐ ˜è  ÐBIB.׃Ü×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Because€these€payments€exceeded€her€appropriate€partnership€distribution,€Mr.€FlemingÐ „Ô  Ðdetermined€that€it€was€necessary€to€add€Mrs.€Abernethy€as€a€defendant€in€the€òòBrandt€v.€BIBóó€case.€Ð pÀ ÐOn€September€9,€1993,€an€Order€amending€the€complaint€was€filed€and€Mrs.€Abernethy€was€added.׃ð×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р\¬ ÐThe€amended€complaint€also€contained€additional€allegations,€including€conspiracy,€fraud€andÐ H˜ Ðembezzlement.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àAfter€a€bench€trial,€judgment€was€entered€against€Mr.€Smith€for€$53,516.77€and€theÐ  \ Ðallegations€against€Mrs.€Abernethy€were€dismissed.€€On€appeal,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€wasÐ øH Ðaffirmed€except€that€the€amount€of€the€judgment€was€reduced€to€$26,416.12,€which€reflected€anÐ ä4 Ðoffset€of€the€purchase€price€paid€by€Mr.€Smith.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àOn€May€12,€1999,€Mrs.€Abernethy€filed€a€complaint€for€malicious€prosecution€against€theÐ ¨ø ÐDefendants.€€Each€Defendant€answered€the€complaint€and€raised€the€affirmative€defenses€of€probableÐ ”ä Ðcause€and€advice€of€counsel.€€Each€Defendant,€except€Mr.€Lundin€and€Mrs.€Lundin,€filed€motionsÐ €Ð Ðfor€summary€judgment.€€After€a€hearing€on€November€29,€2001,€the€trial€court€granted€theÐ l¼ ÐDefendantsðð€motions€for€summary€judgment€by€Order€filed€January€4,€2002.€€Subsequently,€byÐ X ¨ ÐAgreed€Order€filed€January€29,€2002,€the€trial€court€granted€summary€judgment€to€Mr.€Lundin€andÐ D!” ÐMrs.€Lundin.€€Ð 0"€  ÐÐ #l! Ðà  àMrs.€Abernethy€appeals€and€raises€two€issues€for€review€as€stated€in€her€brief:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI.€€Whether€the€trial€court,€without€being€asked€by€theÐ ˆØ ÐDefendants/Appellees€to€so€rule,€erred€in€ruling€that€theÐ tÄ ÐDefendants/Appellees€had€probable€cause€to€bring€their€amendedÐ `° Ðcomplaint€against€the€Plaintiff/Appellant.ÐL œ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àII.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€the€Defendants/AppelleesÐ $ t Ðmotions€for€summary€judgment€sustaining€their€position€that€there€areÐ  ` Ðno€material€disputes€on€facts€related€to€the€defense€of€advice€ofÐ ü L  Ðcounsel.Ðè 8 ` x` x ÐÌò òÓ  ÓWhether€the€trial€court,€without€being€asked€by€the€Ð À  ÐDefendants/Appellees€to€so€rule,€erred€in€ruling€that€Ð ¬ü  Ðthe€Defendants/Appellees€had€probable€cause€to€bring€Ð ˜è  Ðtheir€amended€complaint€against€the€Plaintiff/Appellant.ó óÐ „Ô  ÐÓ%Óà  àÌà  àIn€order€to€prevail€on€a€malicious€prosecution€claim,€a€plaintiff€must€prove€that€(1)€a€priorÐ \¬ Ðsuit€or€judicial€proceeding€was€instituted€without€probable€cause,€(2)€a€defendant€brought€such€priorÐ H˜ Ðaction€with€malice,€and€(3)€the€prior€action€was€finally€terminated€in€plaintiffððs€favor.€€€€ò òòòRoberts€v.Ð 4„ ÐFederal€Exp.€Corp.ó óóó,€842€S.W.2d€246,€247„48€(Tenn.€1992).€€In€her€Order€granting€DefendantsððÐ  p ÐMotion€for€Summary€Judgment,€Judge€Stella€L.€Hargrove€stated€that€ð ða€prior€action€was€institutedÐ  \ Ðupon€advice€of€counsel€with€probable€cause.€€Pursuant€to€discovery€and€deposition,€reasonable€mindsÐ øH Ðwould€not€differ€that€there€was€a€reasonable€chance€of€recovery€on€the€claim€against€Ms.€Abernethy.ðð€Ð ä4 ÐBased€upon€Appellantððs€argument€that€€òòò òSullivan€v.€Youngóóó ó,€678€S.W.2d€906€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984)òòóóÐ Ð  Ðwas€overruled€by€our€Supreme€Court€in€òòò òRoberts€v.€Federal€Exp.€Corp.ó óóó,€842€S.W.2d€246€(Tenn.Ð ¼  Ð1992),€Appellant€would€have€us€address€the€question€of€€probable€cause€as€an€issue€separate€fromÐ ¨ø Ðwhether€summary€judgment€was€proper€on€the€defense€of€advice€of€counsel.€€Because€we€do€notÐ ”ä Ðagree€that€òòSullivanóó€was€overruled€by€òòRobertsóó,€we€must€decline€to€treat€Appellantððs€issues€asÐ €Ð Ðindependent€of€one€another.€€In€òòRobertsóó,€the€defense€of€advice€of€counsel€was€not€raised.€€In€òòSullivan,Ð l¼ Ðóóthe€court€addressed€probable€cause€in€light€of€an€advice€of€counsel€defense€and€concluded€thatÐ X ¨ Ðð ðadvice€of€counsel€to€the€effect€that€there€is€a€reasonable€chance€of€recovery€on€a€claim€can€establishÐ D!” Ðprobable€cause.ðð€€ò òòòSullivan€v.€Youngó óóó,€678€S.W.2d€906€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984);€ò òòòSee€also€Cooper€v.Ð 0"€  ÐFlemingóóó ó,€84€S.W.€801,€802€(Tenn.€1904)€(stating€that€the€purpose€of€the€advice€of€counsel€defenseÐ #l! Ðis€to€ð ðestablish€the€existence€of€probable€cause.ðð).€€Where,€as€in€this€case,€advice€of€counsel€is€raisedÐ $X" Ðas€a€defense,€the€issue€of€whether€probable€cause€exists€rests€on€the€question€of€whether€the€adviceÐ ô$D # Ðof€counsel€elements€were€satisfied€or,€in€cases€involving€summary€judgment,€whether€there€were€anyÐ à%0!$ Ðissues€of€material€fact€concerning€advice€of€counsel.€€In€short,€probable€cause€is€established€whenÐ Ì&"% Ða€suit€was€instituted€with€advice€of€counsel.€€As€stated€in€òòò òCooper€v.€Fleming,€óóó ó84€S.W.€801€(Tenn.Ð ¸'#& Ð1904):Ð ¤(ô#' Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à...[W]e€think€the€weight€of€authority€is€that€[advice€of€counselððs]Ð )à$( Ðfundamental€purpose€is€to€establish€the€existence€of€probable€cause,Ð |*Ì%) Ðand€when€said€advice€had€been€honestly€sought,€and€all€material€factsÐ h+¸&* Ðrelating€to€the€case,€ascertained€or€ascertainable€by€the€existence€ofÐ ° Ðdue€diligence,€had€been€presented€to€counsel,€and€the€prosecution€isÐ œì Ðcommenced€in€pursuance€of€such€advice,€then€it€is€the€province€of€theÐ ˆØ Ðcourt€to€charge€the€jury,€as€a€matter€of€law,€that€such€advice€ofÐ tÄ Ðcounsel€entitles€the€party€sued€to€complete€immunity€from€damages.Ð`°` x` x ÐÌò òòòId.ó óóó€at€802.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌòòò ò€óóó ó€€€€à  àHowever,€the€advice€of€counsel€must€be€based€upon€ð ðample€evidence€at€the€time€[of€filingÐ  ` Ðsuit]€for€the€[attorney]€to€conclude€that€[the€client]€had€a€reasonable€chance€of€recovery€in€the€priorÐ ü L  Ðaction.ðð€€€ò òòòSee€Morat€et€al.€v.€State€Farm€Mut.€Auto.€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€949€S.W.2d€692,€696€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð è 8  Ð1997).€€In€his€affidavit,€which€is€part€of€the€record€in€this€case,€Mr.€Fleming,€attorney€for€Appellees,Ð Ô$  Ðmakes€the€following€statements€concerning€Appelleesðð€chance€of€recovery€against€Mrs.€Abernethy:Ð À  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€[Mr.€Fleming],€along€with€another€attorney€in€my€firm,€DanielÐ ˜è  ÐMurphy,€decided€that€Virginia€Abernethy€should€be€added€as€aÐ „Ô  Ðdefendant€in€the€case€because€it€was€evident€from€the€records€that€sheÐ pÀ Ðhad€received€money€she€was€not€entitled€to.Ð\¬` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à*€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€*Ð4„` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€prosecution€of€the€case€against€Ms.€Abernethy€continued€after€herÐ  \ Ðdeposition€because€it€was€my€opinion€that€she€had€not€given€aÐ øH Ðcredible€explanation€for€receiving€BIB€money.€€I€thought€thatÐ ä4 Ðcontinuing€the€prosecution€against€Ms.€Abernethy€was€in€orderÐ Ð  Ðbecause€it€was€my€opinion€that,€after€going€through€completeÐ ¼  Ðdiscovery€including€her€deposition,€there€was€a€high€likelihood€thatÐ ¨ø Ðthe€court€would€award€my€clients€a€judgment€against€Ms.€AbernethyÐ ”ä Ðfor€the€money€she€wrongfully€received€from€BIB.ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà  àAlthough€we€find€that€Mrs.€Abernethy€was€added€as€a€defendant€based€upon€belief€that€thereÐ X ¨ Ðwas€a€reasonable€chance€that€Appellees€would€recover€from€her,€this€holding€does€not€provide€aÐ D!” Ðsufficient€conclusion€to€the€issue€of€probable€cause.€€As€discussed€above,€probable€cause€€isÐ 0"€  Ðinexorably€tied€to€the€issue€of€whether€there€are€sufficient€and€undisputed€facts€to€support€the€adviceÐ #l! Ðof€counsel€defense.€€This€issue€cannot€exist€independent€of€our€finding€on€Appellantððs€second€issue.€Ð $X" ÐWe,€therefore,€turn€our€attention€to€address€whether€the€advice€of€counsel€defense€can€surviveÐ ô$D # Ðsummary€judgment€under€the€facts€of€this€case.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌÓ  Óò òWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€the€Defendants/Appellees€Ð ¸'#& Ðmotions€for€summary€judgment€sustaining€their€position€that€there€Ð ¤(ô#' Ðare€no€material€disputes€on€facts€related€to€the€defense€of€advice€of€counsel.ó óÐ )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) ÐÓ7?Óà  àA€motion€for€summary€judgment€should€be€granted€when€the€movant€demonstrates€that€thereÐ ° Ðâ âare€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€that€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matterÐ œì Ðof€law.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.04.€€The€party€moving€for€summary€judgment€bears€the€burden€ofÐ ˆØ Ðdemonstrating€that€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€exists.€€ò òòòSee€Bain€v.€Wellsó óóó,€936€S.W.2d€618,€622Ð tÄ Ð(Tenn.€1997).€€On€a€motion€for€summary€judgment,€the€court€must€take€the€strongest€legitimate€viewÐ `° Ðof€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€nonmoving€party,€allow€all€reasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€thatÐ L œ Ðparty,€and€discard€all€countervailing€evidence.€€ò òòòSee€id.ó óóó€€In€ò òòòByrd€v.€Halló óóó,€847€S.W.2d€208€(Tenn.Ð 8 ˆ Ð1993),€our€Supreme€Court€stated:Ð $ t ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àOnce€it€is€shown€by€the€moving€party€that€there€is€no€genuine€issueÐ ü L  Ðof€material€fact,€the€nonmoving€party€must€then€demonstrate,€byÐ è 8  Ðaffidavits€or€discovery€materials,€that€there€is€a€genuine,€material€factÐ Ô$  Ðdispute€to€warrant€a€trial.€€In€this€regard,€Rule€56.05€provides€that€theÐ À  Ðnonmoving€party€cannot€simply€rely€upon€his€pleadings€but€must€setÐ ¬ü  Ðforth€òòspecific€factsóó€showing€that€there€is€a€genuine€issue€of€materialÐ ˜è  Ðfact€for€trial.Ð„Ô ` x` x ÐÌò òòòId.ó óóó€at€210„11€(citations€omitted)(emphasis€in€original).Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àSummary€judgment€is€only€appropriate€when€the€facts€and€the€legal€conclusions€drawn€fromÐ 4„ Ðthe€facts€reasonably€permit€only€one€conclusion.€€òòò òSee€Carvell€v.€Bottomsó óóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.Ð  p Ð1995).€€Since€only€questions€of€law€are€involved,€there€is€no€presumption€of€correctness€regardingÐ  \ Ða€trial€courtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment.€€ò òòòSee€Bainó óóó,€936€S.W.2d€at€622.€€Therefore,€our€review€ofÐ øH Ðthe€trial€courtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment€is€ò òòòde€novoó óóó€on€the€record€before€this€Court.€€ò òòòSee€WarrenÐ ä4 Ðv.€Estate€of€Kirkó óóó,€954€S.W.€2d€722,€723€(Tenn.€1997).Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€order€to€prevail€on€an€advice€of€counsel€defense,€a€defendant€must€prove€three€elements:Ð ¨ø Ð(1)€that€the€attorneyððs€advice€was€sought€in€good€faith,€(2)€that€the€defendant€divulged€all€materialÐ ”ä Ðfacts€relating€to€the€case,€ascertained€or€ascertainable€by€the€exercise€of€due€diligence,€and€(3)€thatÐ €Ð Ðthe€case€was€commenced€pursuant€to€the€attorneyððs€advice.€ò òòòSee€Cooper€v.€Flemingóóó ó,€84€S.W.€801,Ð l¼ Ð802€(Tenn.€1904);€ò òòòSee€alsoó óóó€òòTennessee€Pattern€Jury€Instructions€Civilóó€ðð€8.26.à x àà Ð àÐ X ¨ ÐÌà  àThere€is€no€dispute€in€the€record€or€on€appeal€related€to€the€second€element€of€advice€ofÐ 0"€  Ðcounsel.€€We€find€that€the€Defendants€divulged€all€material€facts€to€Mr.€Fleming.€€The€gravamen€ofÐ #l! Ðthis€issue€is€whether€elements€one€and€two€were€met.€€As€stated€in€her€brief,€Appellant€asserts€thatÐ $X" Ðsummary€judgment€was€not€warranted€in€this€case€because:Ð ô$D # ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThere€is€no€proof€that€any€of€the€Defendants/Appellees€òòaskedóó€B.Ð Ì&"% ÐFleming€[William€Fleming,€counsel€for€the€Defendants/Appellees]Ð ¸'#& Ðanything,€much€less€in€good€faith.€€And€the€proof€before€this€Court€isÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthat€it€was€B.€Fleming€who€acted€upon€the€direction€of€theÐ )à$( ÐDefendants/Appellees,€not€the€other€way€around.€€The€defense€isÐ |*Ì%) Ðcalled€Advice€of€Counsel,€not€Ratification€of€Counsel.€€That€is€all€weÐ h+¸&* Ðhave€here:€€ratification.€€There€is€no€good€faith€asking,€there€is€noÐ ° Ðadvice€by€counsel€(unless€the€mere€drafting€into€a€pleading€what€theÐ œì Ðclient€submits€can€be€called€advice),€and€there€is€no€reliance€.€€But€toÐ ˆØ Ðovercome€the€Motion€for€Summary€Judgement€[sic]€it€is€onlyÐ tÄ Ðnecessary€to€show€there€are€disputes.€Ð`°` x` x ÐÌà  àIn€our€review€of€the€record,€particularly€those€exhibits€containing€letters€that€passed€fromÐ 8 ˆ ÐRobert€Brandt€and€Keith€Lundin€to€Mr.€Fleming,€we€concede€that€Mr.€Brandt€and€Mr.€K.€LundinÐ $ t Ðwere€very€active€in€their€suit€against€Mr.€Smith€and€Mrs.€Abernethy.€€There€is€no€dispute€that€theseÐ  ` Ðclients€were€well€versed€in€legalese€and€well€trained€in€legal€matters.€€However,€we€cannot€apply€aÐ ü L  Ðhigher€standard€to€these€Defendants€than€we€would€apply€to€lay€litigants€in€seeking€the€advice€ofÐ è 8  Ðcounsel.€What€these€exhibits€give€us€is€only€one€side€of€the€correspondence,€that€going€òòtoóó€Mr.Ð Ô$  ÐFleming€from€his€clients€and,€taken€alone,€these€letters€do€not€negate€an€advice€of€counsel€defense.€Ð À  ЀÌà  àTurning€to€the€deposition€of€William€Fleming,€the€facts€indicate€that€there€were€numerousÐ ˜è  Ðconversations€and€meetings€between€Mr.€Fleming€and€Messrs.€Brandt€and€Lundin€leading€up€to€andÐ „Ô  Ðfollowing€the€filing€of€the€òòBrandt€v.€BIBóó€case.€€As€in€any€legal€matter,€ideas,€theories,€approaches,Ð pÀ Ðand€strategies€passed€freely€between€the€attorney€and€the€client€and€Mr.€Fleming€could€not€alwaysÐ \¬ Ðremember€which€participant€should€be€credited€with€the€original€idea:Ð H˜ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ€[By€Mr.€Bates,€counsel€for€Virginia€Abernethy]:€...Whose€idea€wasÐ  p Ðit€to€charge€Virginia€Abernethy€with€embezzlement?Ð \` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA€[By€Mr.€William€Fleming]:€I€donððt€remember€who€talked€about€itÐ ä4 Ðfirst.€€I€donððt€have€any€memory€about€that.€€We€talked€about€it.ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Was€it€your€idea?Шø` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€You€know,€I€donððt€honestly€remember.ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€So€we€could€just€name€people€and€your€answer€would€be€the€same;Ð X ¨ Ðyou€just€donððt€remember?ÐD!”` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€No,€I€donððt€remember€who€first€talked€about€it.€€I€remember€whenÐ #l! Ðwe€were€discussing€it,€[Mr.€Fleming€and€Messrs.€Brandt€and€K.Ð $X" ÐLundin],€the€money€she€[Ms.€Abernethy]€was€receiving,€we€had€noÐ ô$D # Ðreasonð!ðwe€didnððt€know€why€he€[Mr.€Smith]€was€paying€her€all€thatÐ à%0!$ Ðmoney,€and€we€got€into€embezzlement€because€it€fit€the€definition€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€word.и'#&` x` x Ðà  àà ` àÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à*€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€*Ð)à$(` x` x Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Do€you€[Mr.€Fleming]€have€a€memory€of€rejecting€any€of€theirÐ ° Ðâ â[Messrs.€Brandt€and€K.€Lundin]€suggestions€concerning€theÐ œì Ðpleadings?ЈØ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Oh,€man.€€What€are€you€talking€about?€€Do€you€know€how€manyÐ `° Ðexhibits€we€had?ÐL œ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Pleadings?Ð$ t` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Pleadings?€€Oh,€well,€we€did€two€or€three€drafts,€if€theseð!ðare€youÐ ü L  Ðtalking€about€the€amended€complaint€or€are€you€talking€about€theÐ è 8  Ðpleadingsð!ðÐÔ$ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Why€donððt€I€say€this€and€make€it€easy:€Insofar€as€the€pleadings,Ð ¬ü  Ðyou€certainly€involved€them€more€than€you€would€involve€lay€clients;Ð ˜è  Ðfair€statement?Ð„Ô ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Let€me€say€this,€Mr.€Bates.€€And€this€is€the€truth....€€Unless€I€haveÐ \¬ Ðgot€a€pleading€that€is€real€mundane,€something€just€simple,€and€unlessÐ H˜ ÐIððm€in€a€real€time€bind€to€get€something€filed€by€three€oððclock€thisÐ 4„ Ðafternoon,€then€I€routinely€send€all€my€complaints,€any€petition€forÐ  p Ðcontempt,€to€my€clients€and€say:€You€look€this€over.Ð \` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ:€Prior€to€you€filing?Ðä4` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA:€Yes,€sir.€€Or€what€I€do€sometimes,€I€say,€ð ðItððs€ready.€€You€come€toÐ ¼  Ðthe€office€and€read€it.ðð€€Thousands€of€times€in€the€last€thirty€years€IÐ ¨ø Ðhave€had€clients€that€found€mistakes,€a€misnomer,€or€a€date€wasÐ ”ä Ðwrong€or€something;€so€that€is€part€of€my€routine€procedure€with€anyÐ €Ð Ðclient,€and€I€did€it€in€this€case.Ðl¼` x` x ÐÌà  àFrom€our€reading€of€the€record,€the€inclusion€of€Mrs.€Abernethy€as€a€defendant€in€the€òòBrandtÐ D!” Ðv.€BIBóó€case€and€the€allegations€of€embezzlement€and€fraud€were€the€products€of€a€collaborative€effortÐ 0"€  Ðbetween€Mr.€Fleming€and€his€clients.€€Taking€the€record€as€a€whole€and€giving€Mrs.€Abernethy€everyÐ #l! Ðinference€in€her€favor,€we€see€no€dispute€of€facts€to€suggest€that€the€Appellees€sought€advice€ofÐ $X" Ðcounsel€on€any€other€basis€than€good€faith€nor€can€we€conclude€that€Mr.€Flemingððs€advice€formedÐ ô$D # Ðno€basis€for€the€decision€to€join€Mrs.€Abernethy€to€this€suit.€€There€is€nothing€in€the€advice€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðcounsel€elements€to€suggest€that€attorneys€and€clients€cannot€collaborate€or€that€the€advising€mustÐ Ì&"% Ðbe€a€one„sided€endeavor€on€the€part€of€the€attorney.€€In€fact,€our€legal€system€encourages€lawyers€andÐ ¸'#& Ðclients€to€share€information€and€to€aid€one€another€in€preparing€the€best€case€they€can.€€To€hold€thatÐ ¤(ô#' Ðadvice€of€counsel€is€only€a€proper€defense€when€the€attorney€dictates€his€or€her€ideas€to€a€client€whoÐ )à$( Ðmust€then€accept€that€advice€without€adding€suggestions€or€clarifications,€or€even€for€this€Court€toÐ |*Ì%) Ðassign€a€proper€percentage€of€advising€that€would€secure€this€defense,€€is€to€stymie€the€system.Ð h+¸&* Їà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€affirm€the€Order€of€the€trial€court€granting€summary€judgmentÐ ° Ðto€all€defendants.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€assessed€to€the€Appellant,€Virginia€Abernethy€and€herÐ œì Ðsurety.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àò òó óÔ#†¼Õ»XXP1| #ÔÔ€XP1X»¼ÕÔÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à__________________________________________Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.