ÿWPC¥# u…u÷‹ˆ›I*®áÐ0¿”6‘I(®Ä8@›–í½tV—Ò’N~TÖlÈ1}ÞòLFP˜¼ÅµŠØ—»ÔBÅzÂv¿Ö\¬¾i)‘¥«ÉT>8ZÀ£7IV@}ž}Á×jEÝIZ¬gQÜLúØÜlBµŽø5/ê“ÞöšKZ;Þ³¢<ÃËw§HfÙ¶^sß.ÝŸîB6‰Ý%9—Ó––®£Gd°ñ£‰äÐë¾3’ÎèõFZ¼ýpñqW°£=q“·¤ŸŠÁxZ°$ûèQ£Ï!¯_1³/Œ?* !ü„žp‚oÉË“¯6=@ì8Ë%ñ;¾Xž7þÔ½H'Á¾œ‰Ì/¨5@kð­p€ð¯™ÓÉF^ZBþ ½ŠãLÒ¸¨t+ª;‡g3n>Ú{ê×@îó‘ù7ölߦ=ƒšˆ-ä•©ù›ò=VŨnçcG‡*ý8]>œPHê*‹qoO( Â+fvJPYþl‘»‚Î×® ƒJñ°®äÃ{}*üa|ªûµ"䟫ø'meaëW|ó炱K²ZQKGúwKPE {k" mímÕðñS™$ În~º™È´oþJP-Q}?H*^r´œ69Äpó-žb#É\^ % %1 0ˆ7 w¿ 4à UN× z% ÒŸ q € m‚ ‚ Æ™ Æ_ Æ%Æë 0’±NC 0’E 0Š×Ea{c 0¨Þ 0C†zÉÅC¹FÁÁÁÁŒbšššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššš 0뢢¢¢ B 0¤ª D3N D- 0K® ® ASù ÆL! 0¤" 0D¶" A«ú"˜\\IB01S01\CLERK1NASÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0|T/Ï »(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Óo=/ingL‰¥(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular ˜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.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5P! ÿÿ8Body Text 2Body Text 2Ó  ÓÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  Ó`ÿÿ:footnote reffootnote referenceÔ  ÔÔ  ÔòòóóÔ  ÔÔ  ÔH! ÿÿ4Body TextBody TextÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  Ó qÝ ƒRu $ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôx©ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMr.€Blankenship€received€one€to€five€years€for€one€count€of€petit€larceny€and€two€counts€of€attempting€toÐ À Ðcommit€a€felony.€€In€addition,€he€received€two€three€to€five„year€sentences€for€two€counts€of€third„degree€burglary.€H0% ÿÿ4heading 2heading 2Ô&  ÔÓ  ÓÔ  ÔÔ  Ôò òó óÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ'  ÔÓ  Ó(ÿÿ$òòÚ  ÚÚ  Úóó pÝ ƒRu $ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôx©ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIt€is€common€knowledge€among€Tennessee€trial€attorneys€that€a€party€faced€with€a€properly€supported€summaryÐ À Ðjudgment€motion€cannot€rest€on€the€mere€allegations€or€denials€in€its€pleadings.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.06;€òòStaples€v.€CBLÐ „Ä Ð&€Assocs.,€Inc.óó,€15€S.W.3d€83,€89€(Tenn.€2000);€òòFowler€v.€The€Happy€Goodman€Familyóó,€575€S.W.2d€496,€498€(Tenn.Ð Hˆ Ð1978);€òòButler€v.€Madison€County€Jailóó,€109€S.W.3d€360,€365€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2002). »Ý ƒRu $ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôx©ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòBlankenship€v.€Stateóó,€858€S.W.2d€897,€900€(Tenn.€1993). ¯Ý ƒRu $ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôx©ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Local€Rules€of€Practice€and€the€Departmentððs€summary€judgment€both€warned€that€if€no€response€was€filedÐ À Ðby€the€scheduled€hearing€date,€the€motion€would€be€decided€without€any€further€hearings€on€the€matter.€€òòSeeóó€DavidsonÐ „Ä ÐCounty€Local€R.€26.04€(c),€(f). <Ý ƒRu $ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôx©ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòJohn€P.€Saad€&€Sons,€Inc.€v.€Nashville€Thermal€Transfer€Corp.óó,€715€S.W.2d€41,€46€(Tenn.€1986);€òòBarnes€v.Ð À ÐFortóó,€181€Tenn.€522,€533,€181€S.W.2d€881,€885€(1944). ýÝ ƒRu $ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôx©ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Department€supported€its€motion€with€an€affidavit€by€a€legal€assistant€in€its€Office€of€General€CounselÐ À Ðstating€that€a€search€of€the€Departmentððs€records€failed€to€find€any€petition€for€declaratory€order€filed€by€Mr.Ð „Ä ÐBlankenship.€€In€his€response,€Mr.€Blankenship€asserted€that€he€had,€in€fact,€filed€a€petition€for€a€declaratory€order,€andÐ Hˆ Ðhe€attached€a€notarized€copy€of€his€petition€as€proof.€€The€trial€court€did€not€resolve€this€dispute,€and€we€need€not€addressÐ  L Ðit€here,€because€the€Department€apparently€abandoned€this€defense€in€the€trial€court. DONALLenowSundquistWalla Walla CBLAssocscolorable S.W.NunleyRagsdaleHannewaldCmtys HCAServs HousStreeterdispositiveTomlinson COABlankenship- ù-(|G2u $¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ÏA»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôx©ò»»Ô d(|3Y}$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ÏA»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Y}$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ÏA»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ÏA»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÑTRXì3Ø'Avery 3259 Embossed NoteXà3Ø' Letter3Ø'Avery 5160 Address Note ñññÑTRXì3Ø'ÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÑÀ°ÑÑH°ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼ÏA»»»ÔÑ8€–XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îÕðÏAÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ À Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼ÏA»îîÕðŒ#ԈРæ& ÐÓ  ÓAssigned€on€Briefs€February€22,€2002Ð  L ÐÔ‡X–X»¼ÏAÔÌò òÔ#†¼ÏA»XX–#ÔJACK€CHARLES€BLANKENSHIP€v.€DONAL€CAMPBELL,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X–X»¼ÏAÔó óÐ  J ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ  J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€00„2347„II€€€€€€Carol€L.€McCoy,€ChancellorÐ ö 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<¹ ` AßÐ º ú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2001„01014„COA„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€20,€2003ó óÔ#†¼ÏA»XX–ÿ#ÔÔ‡X–X»¼ÏAÔò òÐ µõ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Œ` AßÐ Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€appeal€involves€a€dispute€between€a€prisoner€and€the€Tennessee€Department€of€CorrectionÐ ˆÈ  Ðregarding€the€prisonerððs€sentence€credits€and€eligibility€for€parole.€€The€prisoner€filed€a€petition€forÐ t´ Ðdeclaratory€judgment€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€County€requesting€the€correction€of€hisÐ `  Ðsentence€and€an€immediate€parole€hearing.€€The€Department€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgmentÐ LŒ Ðbased€on€laches.€€When€the€prisoner€failed€to€respond€to€the€motion,€the€trial€court€granted€theÐ 8x Ðsummary€judgment€in€accordance€with€Davidson€County€Local€R.€26.04Ô_Ô(cÔ_Ô),€(f).€€Thereafter,€the€trialÐ $d Ðcourt€denied€the€prisonerððs€motion€to€set€aside€the€summary€judgment,€and€the€prisoner€has€appealed.€Ð P ÐWe€have€determined€that€the€summary€judgment€must€be€vacated€because€the€Departmentððs€motionÐ ü< Ðand€supporting€affidavit€do€not€demonstrate€that€it€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€on€its€laches€defense€asÐ è( Ða€matter€of€law.€€Ð Ô ÐÌÔ#†¼ÏA»XX–¾#ÔÔ‡X–X»¼ÏAÔÓPÓò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Vacatedó óÐ ¬ì ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼ÏA»àX–ö #ÔÔ‡X–X.¼ÏAÔWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòWilliam€B.€Cainóó€andÐ „Ä ÐòòPatricia€J.€Cottrell,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð p° ÐÌEdwin€C.€Lenow,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Jack€Charles€Blankenship.Ð H ˆ  ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter;€Michael€E.€Moore,€Solicitor€General;€and€DawnÐ  "`" ÐJordan,€Assistant€Attorney€General,€for€the€appellees,€Donal€Campbell€and€Don€Sundquist.Ð  #L# ÐÓ‘ ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼ÏA»XX–À #ÔÔ‡X–X»¼ÏAÔÐ ä$$!% ÐÌÔ#†¼ÏA»XX–#ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X–X»¼ÏAÔà@¬¬)ìàò òI.ó óˆÐ ¼&ü"' ÐÌà  àJack€Charles€Blankenship€is€a€career€criminal€who€has€spent€most€of€his€life€in€the€custodyÐ ”(Ô$) Ðof€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Correction.€€His€first€run„in€with€the€law€was€in€1962€when€a€federalÐ €)À%* Ðcourt€in€Arkansas€found€him€guilty€of€violating€the€Dyer€Act€for€stealing€an€automobile.€€He€wasÐ l*¬&+ Ðsentenced€to€probation€for€the€remainder€of€his€minority.€€Once€he€became€an€adult,€Mr.€Blankenship€Ð X+˜', Ðheaded€full€speed€down€the€path€of€crime.Ð D,„(- ÐÌà  àIn€August€1963,€Mr.€Blankenship€pleaded€guilty€to€petit€larceny€for€stealing€anotherÐ .\*/ Ðautomobile€and€was€sentenced€to€three€years€at€the€Shelby€County€Penal€Farm.€€He€escaped€fourÐ /H+0ý ÐÔ_Ômonths€later€and€was€recaptured€in€Mississippi.€€He€pleaded€guilty€to€escape,€and€in€March€1964,Ð À Ðhe€received€a€one„year€sentence€to€be€served€consecutively€to€the€remainder€of€his€petit€larcenyÐ ¬ì Ðsentence.€€Mr.€Blankenship€was€paroled€in€December€1965,€but€his€freedom€was€short„lived.€€AfterÐ ˜Ø Ðhe€stole€a€television,€a€phonograph,€and€another€automobile,€he€pleaded€guilty€to€two€counts€of€petitÐ „Ä Ðlarceny€and€received€a€one€to€three„year€sentence.€€His€parole€was€revoked,€and€he€was€required€toÐ p° Ðserve€his€new€sentences€concurrently€with€his€prior€sentences.€€Mr.€Blankenship€was€again€paroledÐ \œ Ðin€December€1968,€and€his€sentences€expired€in€September€1969.Ð H ˆ ÐÌà  àIn€April€1970,€Mr.€Blankenship€was€again€convicted€of€petit€larceny€for€stealing€twoÐ  ` Ðautomobiles€and€a€purse.€€After€receiving€an€early€release,€Mr.€Blankenship€went€on€a€crime€spreeÐ  L  Ðthat€resulted€in€five€new€convictions€in€June€1972.׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€five€sentences€were€ordered€to€be€servedÐ ø 8  Ðconcurrently.€€Mr.€Blankenship€was€paroled€for€the€third€time€in€October€1974.Ð ä $  ÐÌà  àIn€early€1975,€Mr.€Blankenship€pleaded€guilty€to€voluntary€manslaughter€and€received€a€twoÐ ¼ü  Ðto€five„year€sentence.€€In€April€1977,€he€was€transferred€to€the€Memphis€Community€Release€Center.€Ð ¨è  ÐMr.€Blankenship€escaped€from€the€center€two€weeks€after€his€arrival.€€Thereafter,€he€committed€anÐ ”Ô  Ðarmed€robbery€and€a€murder.€€These€offenses€led€to€convictions€for€armed€robbery,€first€degreeÐ €À Ðmurder,€and€being€a€habitual€criminal.€€Mr.€Blankenship€pleaded€guilty€to€avoid€a€possible€deathÐ l¬ Ðsentence€and€received€two€concurrent€life€sentences.׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€These€sentences€were€ordered€to€be€servedÐ X˜ Ðconsecutively€to€the€remainder€of€his€sentence€for€voluntary€manslaughter.Ð D„ ÐÌà  àThe€State€of€Tennessee€arranged€for€Mr.€Blankenship€to€serve€a€portion€of€his€state€sentenceÐ \ Ðat€the€Washington€State€Penitentiary€in€Walla€Walla,€Washington.€€He€escaped€from€the€WashingtonÐ H ÐState€Penitentiary€in€August€1980€and,€upon€his€capture,€was€returned€to€Tennessee.€€He€againÐ ô4 Ðescaped€from€the€Departmentððs€custody€in€May€1981€this€time€by€sawing€through€the€bathroomÐ à  Ðwindow€on€a€bus€that€was€transferring€him€to€the€Tennessee€State€Prison.€€He€was€apprehended€sixÐ Ì  Ðdays€later€in€Arkansas€after€leaving€the€scene€of€a€traffic€accident€caused€by€his€intoxication.Ð ¸ø ÐÌà  àMr.€Blankenship€has€been€continuously€in€the€Stateððs€custody€since€1981;€however,€hisÐ Ð Ðcriminal€conduct€has€not€abated.€€In€January€1984,€a€jury€in€Morgan€County€convicted€him€of€a€seriesÐ |¼ Ðof€crimes€committed€while€he€was€incarcerated€at€the€Brushy€Mountain€Correctional€Complex.€€HeÐ h¨ Ðreceived€two€four€to€ten„year€sentences€for€two€counts€of€voluntary€manslaughter,€three€two€to€five„Ð T ” Ðyear€sentences€for€felonious€assault,€a€twenty„year€sentence€for€aggravated€kidnaping,€and€a€fifty„yearÐ @!€  Ðsentence€for€second„degree€murder.€€The€sentencing€court€ordered€that€these€sentences€be€servedÐ ,"l! Ðconcurrently€with€each€other€and€with€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€prior€sentences.€€In€July€1984,€Mr.Ð #X" ÐBlankenship€pleaded€guilty€to€assault€with€intent€to€commit€murder,€and€the€Criminal€Court€forÐ $D # ÐDavidson€County€imposed€a€five„year€sentence€to€be€served€consecutively€to€his€other€sentences.Ð ð$0!$ ÐÌà  àIn€the€early€1990s,€Mr.€Blankenship€initiated€an€unsuccessful€post„conviction€attack€on€hisÐ È&#& Ðguilty€pleas€throughout€the€years.€€In€July€2000,€he€filed€a€petition€for€a€declaratory€judgment€in€theÐ ´'ô#' ÐChancery€Court€for€Davidson€County,€alleging€(1)€that€the€Department€had€wrongfully€taken€awayÐ  (à$( Ð1,256€days€of€accrued€good€and€honor€time€from€his€1972€convictions,€(2)€that€the€Department€hadÐ À Ðerroneously€listed€his€life€sentence€for€murder€as€running€consecutively€to€his€other€life€sentences,Ð ¬ì Ðand€(3)€that€his€1984€conviction€for€assault€with€intent€to€commit€murder€remained€ð ðunprocessedððÐ ˜Ø Ðeven€though€he€had€ð ðexecuted€a€waiver€stating€that€this€sentence€could€be€processed€at€the€properÐ „Ä Ðtime.ðð€€He€requested€that€the€trial€court€order€the€Department€to€correct€its€calculations€of€hisÐ p° Ðsentence€and€grant€him€an€immediate€parole€hearing.Ð \œ ÐÌà  àThe€Department€chose€not€to€address€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€claims€on€the€merits.€€Instead,€theÐ 4 t ÐDepartment€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€asserting€that€Mr.€Blankenship€was€not€entitledÐ  ` Ðto€a€declaratory€order€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„225€(1998)€because€he€had€not€yet€sought€aÐ  L  Ðdeclaratory€order€from€the€Department€and€been€turned€down,€as€required€by€subsection€(b)€of€theÐ ø 8  Ðstatute.׃#×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Three€months€later,€the€Department€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss€or€for€summary€judgmentÐ ä $  Ðseeking€dismissal€of€the€Commissioner€of€Correction€and€the€Governor€as€parties,€and€requestingÐ Ð  Ðdismissal€of€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€entire€claim€based€on€laches.€€Mr.€Blankenship€did€not€respond€toÐ ¼ü  Ðthe€Departmentððs€motion,€and€on€April€5,€2001,€the€trial€court€granted€the€Departmentððs€motion€andÐ ¨è  Ðdismissed€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€petition.€€Mr.€Blankenship€simultaneously€filed€a€notice€of€appeal€andÐ ”Ô  Ða€motion€to€set€aside€the€summary€judgment.€€The€trial€court€denied€the€motion€to€set€aside€theÐ €À Ðjudgment,€and€Mr.€Blankenship€has€appealed€this€ruling€as€well.Ð l¬ ÐÌà@……)ìàà@@††)ìàò òII.ó óˆÐ D„ Ðà@- - ìàòòò òMr.€Blankenshipððs€Procedural€Grounds€for€Setting€AsideˆÐ 0p Ðà@ ìàthe€Summary€Judgmentó óóóˆÐ \ ÐÌà  àWe€turn€first€to€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€claim€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€declining€to€set€asideÐ ô4 Ðthe€summary€judgment€entered€on€April€5,€2001.€€He€asserts€that€the€trial€court€could€not€haveÐ à  Ðgranted€the€summary€judgment€because€his€discovery€requests€had€not€been€answered,€and€becauseÐ Ì  Ðhis€lawyer€was€ð ðunaware€that€the€Chancery€Court€of€Davidson€County€required€a€written€motion€toÐ ¸ø Ðcontinue€the€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment.ðð€€We€find€both€arguments€unpersuasive.Ð ¤ä ÐÌà  àMr.€Blankenshipððs€lawyer€filed€an€affidavit€in€support€of€the€motion€to€set€aside€the€summaryÐ |¼ Ðjudgment.€€In€the€affidavit,€he€said€he€sent€interrogatories€and€a€request€for€production€of€documentsÐ h¨ Ðto€the€Department€on€January€16,€2001,€and€the€requests€had€not€been€complied€with€by€the€MarchÐ T ” Ð23,€2001€hearing€date,€and€he€needed€this€discovery€to€enable€him€to€respond€to€the€DepartmentððsÐ @!€  Ðmotion.€€In€addition,€he€asserted,€in€vague€and€non„specific€terms,€that€statements€by€theÐ ,"l! ÐDepartmentððs€lawyer€had€left€him€with€the€ð ðimpressionðð€that€the€summary€judgment€motion€ð ðwasÐ #X" Ðnot€going€to€be€heard€on€March€23,€2001,€pending€my€discovery€requests.ððÐ $D # ÐÌà  àIn€its€opposition,€the€Department€disputed€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€attorneyððs€claim€that€theÐ Ü%"% ÐDepartment€had€not€responded€to€the€discovery€requests€prior€to€the€hearing.€€The€DepartmentÐ È&#& Ðattached€a€copy€of€the€discovery€responses,€dated€February€14,€2001,€to€its€opposition.€€TheÐ ´'ô#' ÐDepartment€also€attached€an€affidavit€from€a€staff€member€who€asserted€that€she€had€delivered€theÐ À Ðdiscovery€responses€to€Federal€Express€in€a€properly€addressed€envelope€on€February€14,€2001.€€TheÐ ¬ì ÐDepartment€also€attached€a€letter€from€Federal€Express€confirming€that€it€had€delivered€theÐ ˜Ø Ðdocuments€to€the€office€of€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€attorney€the€following€day,€February€15,€2001.€€Thus,Ð „Ä ÐMr.€Blankenshipððs€attorney€had€the€Departmentððs€discovery€responses€in€hand€more€than€a€monthÐ p° Ðbefore€the€date€on€which€the€hearing€was€set.€€In€light€of€this€fact,€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€argument€thatÐ \œ Ðhe€was€unable€to€respond€to€the€Departmentððs€motion€effectively€because€the€Department€had€notÐ H ˆ Ðyet€responded€to€his€discovery€requests€borders€on€the€frivolous.Ð 4 t ÐÌà  àMr.€Blankenshipððs€lawyer€also€complains€that€he€was€ð ðunawareðð€that€the€trial€court€wouldÐ  L  Ðnot€continue€the€hearing€on€the€motion€for€summary€judgment€without€a€written€motion.€€ThisÐ ø 8  Ðargument€is€somewhat€puzzling€for€two€reasons.€€First,€a€written€motion€is€the€only€conceivable€wayÐ ä $  Ðthat€the€trial€court€would€have€known€that€Mr.€Blankenship€desired€to€continue€the€March€23,€2001Ð Ð  Ðhearing.€€Second,€Ôg ÔMr.€Blankenshipððs€lawyer€has€no€one€to€blame€but€himself€for€his€failure€to€appearÐ ¼ü  Ðat€the€March€23,€2001€hearing.€Ôf  ÔMr.€Blankenshipððs€lawyer€Ôg ÔÔg ÔÔf  ÔÔg Ôhad€a€responsibility,€before€skipping€theÐ ¨è  Ðscheduled€hearing,€to€verify€for€himself€that€the€hearing€had€actually€been€continued€and€that€anyÐ ”Ô  Ðnecessary€procedures€to€obtain€a€continuance€had€been€followed.€€Furthermore,€in€spite€of€the€factÐ €À Ðthat€his€client€was€facing€a€well€supported,€case„dispositive€summary€judgment€motion,׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€Mr.Ð l¬ ÐBlankenshipððs€lawyer€failed€to€file€anyÔf  ÔÔg Ô€response€to€the€motion€whatsoever€prior€to€the€scheduledÐ X˜ Ðhearing€date.€€Having€done€soÔf  Ô,€Ôg ÔMr.€Blankenshipððs€lawyer€knew€full€well€that€he€and€his€client€hadÐ D„ Ðno€right€to€expect€the€trial€court€to€hold€further€hearings€on€the€matter€before€ruling€on€the€motion.׃ ×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð 0p ÐÌà@^^(ìàò òIII.ó óˆÐ H Ðà@” ” ìàòòò òThe€Departmentððs€Laches€Defenseó óóóˆÐ ô4 ÐÌà  àWe€turn€now€to€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€claim€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€the€DepartmentÐ Ì  Ða€summary€judgment€because€the€Department€failed€to€meet€the€requirements€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.Ð ¸ø Ð56.04.€€Mr.€Blankenship€is€correct€that€his€attorneyððs€failure€to€respond€to€the€summary€judgmentÐ ¤ä Ðmotion€and€to€show€up€at€the€hearing€on€it€did€not€give€the€trial€court€carte€blanche€to€grant€theÐ Ð Ðsummary€judgment€motion€without€first€determining€that€the€Department€had€met€all€theÐ |¼ Ðrequirements€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.€€Mr.€Blankenship€argues€that€the€Department€failed€to€establishÐ h¨ Ðits€affirmative€defense€of€laches€because€it€did€not€demonstrate€prejudice€to€the€Department€resultingÐ T ” Ðfrom€a€delay€on€the€part€of€Mr.€Blankenship€in€filing€his€petition€for€a€declaratory€judgment.€€WeÐ @!€  Ðagree€that€the€Department€has€not€established€the€element€of€prejudice€and€was€therefore€not€entitledÐ ,"l! Ðto€summary€judgment.Ð #X" Ðâ âÐ $D # Ðà  àWhile€the€affirmative€defense€of€laches€is€addressed€to€the€trial€courtððs€discretion,׃×Ý ƒÿÿÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€the€trialÐ À Ðâ âcourtððs€exercise€of€this€discretion€must€conform€to€several€fundamental€principles.€€The€firstÐ ¬ì Ðprinciple€is€that€delay€in€asserting€a€claim,€without€more,€cannot€trigger€application€of€the€lachesÐ ˜Ø Ðdoctrine.òò€€Parker€v.€Bethel€Hotel€Co.óó,€96€Tenn.€252,€286,€34€S.W.€209,€217€(1896);€òòNunley€v.€Nunleyóó,Ð „Ä Ð925€S.W.2d€538,€542€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).€€The€second€principle€is€that€laches€can€only€be€invokedÐ p° Ðagainst€a€party€whose€undue€delay€in€pursuing€its€claim€is€negligent€and€without€excuse.€€òòSamuel€v.Ð \œ ÐKingóó,€158€Tenn.€546,€548,€14€S.W.2d€963,€964€(1929);€òòWilson€v.€Wilsonóó,€58€S.W.3d€718,€729€(Tenn.Ð H ˆ ÐCt.€App.€2001).€€The€third€principle€is€that€the€party€invoking€the€doctrine€must€demonstrate€that€itÐ 4 t Ðhas€actually€been€prejudiced€by€the€claimantððs€delay€in€asserting€its€claim.€€òòBrown€v.€Ogleóó,€46Ð  ` ÐS.W.3d€721,€726€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000);€òòShell€v.€Lawóó,€935€S.W.2d€402,€410€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).€Ð  L  ÐStated€another€way,€the€party€invoking€the€doctrine€must€demonstrate€some€causal€connectionÐ ø 8  Ðbetween€its€prejudice€and€the€claimantððs€delay.€€òòSee€Bernard€v.€Walkeróó,€186€Tenn.€617,€629,€212Ð ä $  ÐS.W.2d€600,€605€(1948)€(noting€injury€must€have€been€ð ðon€account€ofðð€plaintiffððs€delay€in€assertingÐ Ð  Ðhis€rights).€€€€€Ð ¼ü  ÐÌà  àMoreover,€delay€alone€will€not€supply€the€prejudice€needed€to€invoke€the€doctrine€of€laches.€Ð ”Ô  ÐThe€party€invoking€the€doctrine€must€show€either€that€its€ability€to€defend€itself€has€been€impairedÐ €À Ðby€the€delay,€òòEvans€v.€Steeleóó,€125€Tenn.€483,€494„95,€145€S.W.€162,€165€(1912);€òòBrown€v.€Ogleóó,€46Ð l¬ ÐS.W.3d€at€726„27;€òòBaker€v.€Bakeróó,€24€Tenn.€App.€220,€235„36,€142€S.W.2d€737,€747€(1940),€thatÐ X˜ Ðthere€has€been€a€material€change€in€disputed€property,€òòMcDonald€v.€Baldwinóó,€24€Tenn.€App.€670,Ð D„ Ð675„76,€148€S.W.2d€385,€388€(1941),€or€that€intervening€changes€in€the€circumstances€impair€theÐ 0p Ðcourtððs€ability€to€adjudicate€the€case€fairly.€€òòNeedham€v.€Caldwellóó,€25€Tenn.€App.€189,€194„95,€154Ð \ ÐS.W.2d€535,€538€(1941)€(delay€resulting€in€courtððs€inability€to€return€parties€to€status€quo).€€Ð H ÐÌà  àThe€courts€sustain€laches€defenses€only€in€rare€cases.€€òòS.€M.€Williamson€&€Co.€v.€Ragsdaleóó,Ð à  Ð170€Tenn.€439,€449,€95€S.W.2d€922,€926€(1936);€òòFrye€v.€Postal€Employees€Credit€Unionóó,€713Ð Ì  ÐS.W.2d€324,€326€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1986).€€The€doctrine€has€little€application€when€the€plaintiffððs€suitÐ ¸ø Ðseeks€to€protect€a€vested€legal€right.€€òòChurch€of€God€v.€Tomlinson€Church€of€Godóó,€193€Tenn.€583,Ð ¤ä Ð595,€247€S.W.2d€63,€68€(1952).€Determining€whether€the€doctrine€applies€requires€a€particularlyÐ Ð Ðfact„intensive€inquiry.€€òòState€ex€rel.€Wilson€v.€Maysóó,€190€Tenn.€156,€162,€228€S.W.2d€97,€100€(1950);Ð |¼ ÐòòHannewald€v.€Fairfield€Cmtys.,€Inc.óó,€651€S.W.2d€222,€228€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983).€Ð h¨ ÐÌà  àBecause€the€Department€used€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€to€assert€its€laches€defense,Ð @!€  Ðon€appeal€we€must€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€Mr.€Blankenship,€and€resolveÐ ,"l! Ðall€reasonable€inferences€in€his€favor.€€òòDoe€v.€HCA€Health€Servs.€of€Tenn.,€Inc.óó,€46€S.W.3d€191,€196Ð #X" Ð(Tenn.€2001);€òòMemphis€Hous.€Auth.€v.€Thompsonóó,€38€S.W.3d€504,€507€(Tenn.€2001).€€Examined€inÐ $D # Ðthis€light,€the€Departmentððs€evidence€does€not€demonstrate€either€that€Mr.€Blankenship€delayedÐ ð$0!$ Ðunduly€in€filing€his€€petition€for€declaratory€judgment€or€that€the€Department€was€prejudiced€by€hisÐ Ü%"% Ðdelay.Ð È&#& ÐÌà  àAs€we€understand€the€Departmentððs€laches€defense,€Mr.€Blankenship€should€be€denied€accessÐ  (à$( Ðto€the€courts€because€he€is€now€questioning€his€ð ðsentence€structure,ðð€which€includes€convictions€thatÐ Œ)Ì%) Ðwere€imposed€in€1972€and€because€the€Department€converted€from€a€manual€to€a€computerizedÐ x*¸&* Ðrecord„keeping€system€between€1972€and€2000.€€While€both€of€these€facts€are€undeniably€true,€theyÐ À Ðfall€far€short€of€demonstrating€that€the€Departmentððs€ability€to€respond€to€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€claimsÐ ¬ì Ðhas€been€materially€prejudiced.Ð ˜Ø ÐÌà  àMr.€Blankenship€is€making€three€claims€in€this€case.€€First,€he€asserts€that€the€DepartmentÐ p° Ðhas€deprived€him€of€1,256€days€of€good€and€honor€time€without€a€hearing.€€Second,€he€insists€theÐ \œ ÐDepartment€is€requiring€him€to€serve€one€or€more€sentences€consecutively€that€were€ordered€by€theÐ H ˆ Ðsentencing€court€to€be€served€concurrently.€€Third,€he€claims€that€the€Department€has€failed€toÐ 4 t Ðð ðprocessðð€his€ð ðsentence€under€84W267"€despite€the€fact€that€he€executed€a€waiver€on€February€12,Ð  ` Ð1997.€€Nothing€in€the€affidavit€attached€to€the€Departmentððs€motion€explains€how€theÐ  L  Ðcomputerization€of€the€Departmentððs€sentence€records€undermines€its€ability€to€respond€to€theseÐ ø 8  Ðclaims.Ð ä $  ÐÌà  àThe€Department€has€not€specifically€asserted€that€the€records€needed€to€respond€to€Mr.Ð ¼ü  ÐBlankenshipððs€claims€have€been€destroyed€or€are€otherwise€unavailable.€€At€worst,€the€DepartmentÐ ¨è  Ðwill€be€required€to€take€more€time€to€review€the€microfilmed€and€microfiched€records€that€pertainÐ ”Ô  Ðto€the€issues€Mr.€Blankenship€has€raised.€€Administrative€inconvenience€does€not€rise€to€the€sort€ofÐ €À Ðprejudice€required€to€support€a€laches€defense.€€We€declined€in€an€earlier€appeal€to€address€theÐ l¬ ÐDepartmentððs€laches€defense€because€we€determined€that€the€Department€had€produced€sufficientÐ X˜ Ðevidence€to€rebut€the€prisonerððs€claim€that€the€Department€had€wrongfully€withheld€sentenceÐ D„ Ðreduction€credits.€€òòStreeter€v.€Tennessee€Depððt€of€Corr.óó,€No.€M1999„02267„COA„R3„CV,€2000€WLÐ 0p Ð1231382,€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Aug.€31,€2000)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed).€€In€thisÐ \ Ðcase,€the€Department€has€not€demonstrated€that€it€will€be€unable€to€produce€the€same€sort€of€evidenceÐ H Ðit€produced€to€good€effect€in€the€òòStreeteróó€case.Ð ô4 ÐÌà@dd)ìàò òIV.ó óˆÐ Ì  ÐÌà  àWe€take€no€delight€in€siding€with€an€individual€who€has€done€so€much€to€menace€the€citizensÐ ¤ä Ðof€this€State,€his€fellow€prisoners,€and€the€corrections€officers.€€However,€without€evidence€ofÐ Ð Ðprejudice,€the€Department€has€failed€to€establish€an€essential€element€of€its€laches€defense,€and€thusÐ |¼ Ðthe€trial€court€erred€by€invoking€the€doctrine€of€laches€to€dismiss€Mr.€Blankenshipððs€petitionÐ h¨ Ðsummarily.€€Accordingly,€we€vacate€the€summary€judgment€and€remand€the€case€to€the€trial€courtÐ T ” Ðfor€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€We€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€the€TennesseeÐ @!€  ÐDepartment€of€Correction.Ð ,"l! ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_____________________________€Ð $D # Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€J.