ÿWPCÔ ¦Pp¶º6‰çš¾&’Ó:cõ‚ÅŠx¶8q‰‚°þhšçŸ¾Ó ´Ç•áM•Ý|cºþXªP‘uÕ4ë#qòØ®¯§v‡‰Eà ‹†¼#Ø` ”“´éÖÞU锦¶‹;áXdHöí˯Թ7æ@ÑZòœ£›Ï»òUâݶ-îÒ'ýÖ$íqç2ñÞà$ÐÀd GÒšQE&;´PƒÞv+øm9`Púy9’ÑŠëŒwëÅ9ßYu‡¼žI`_â*vo±.0´è¡„ª™Å¡QºÜ LÃO­ç‚°Y\½Uâx4tšmÙF®í8‘×K›7©¢¼²ãW†íõ¹’ ÿgH{Œ«ë©ƒß%Xk÷­CZIß>à f“ÁÞsŠãw¢+Êäi+ÛA²ê¥V’©#lC*ÜôÄUêmšzB1'DŽŽ¸Sƒ¨L8‹§ÆÇ=_ñOtSpÝ{È1îÓœæa½‰õe´šÎðˆ©t¤Ã@[|Ènþ™³<7þ¿ÚáWÍŒ £F\†Ùk-’‘Í0M ÖPå N<.I$ï»0Øì‹¡ ò ¾ÐŒV[^|4Vky#»± `áÜ#5õâL%û¡ŠçÊëÅÊ^H^ˆhBN‰¶ë …`fúQ+f#É”U N] %« 0:± UNë ^ 9 wE 4I ] l mn b… 0D hÑ N999{;;;;E¶¶¶¶¶X¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸¸ 0 B­­­­­­­­­­­­­íÊÊ·˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularxo1Ï 6hö0B013C13|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó DICHTEL ROOPGetwellMcLEMOREROXIEMABLEGAITHERNELLUMS BUIEALISSANDRATOSEDMONDSLEFFLERMcCORMICKRICKEYPEETESAMMONSSONNENBURGVANDERSCHAFFJOHNICAN COA P.J.AshleeOsagiePeakloadServsGoinsarguendoBERICESCHAAFBallardHerzke qÝ ƒRË~$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÕ òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔOn€November€14,€1995,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€dismissing€the€case€for€lack€of€prosecution.€Ð ° ÐApparently,€however,€that€order€was€inadvertently€entered,€and€two€weeks€later€the€trial€court€set€that€order€aside. NÝ ƒRË~$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÕ òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Plaintiffs€claim€that€they€later€filed€a€First€Amended€Statement€of€Proceedings,€which€was€omittedÐ ° Ðfrom€the€record€on€appeal.€€The€Plaintiffs€stated€that€the€amended€Statement€changes€only€typographical€errorsÐ qÁ Ðinvolving€misidentification€of€the€parties€(e.g.,€ð ðplaintiffðð€and€ð ðdefendantðð),€with€no€substantive€changes.€€TheÐ 2‚ Ðamended€Statement€was€never€added€to€the€appellate€record.(.G2Ë~$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô…òXXÔ d ãÝ ƒRË~$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÕ òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€caption€of€the€case€lists€17€Plaintiffs.€€However,€the€first€two€named€Plaintiffs,€Dwayne€and€Julie€ByrdÐ ° Ð(ð ðthe€Ô_ÔByrdsÔ_Ôðð),€are€now€counsel€to€the€Plaintiffs€and€are€not€real€parties€in€interest.€€The€suit€was€originally€filed€whenÐ qÁ Ðthe€Ô_ÔByrdsÔ_Ô€were€law€students€and€residents€of€Getwell€West.€€Subsequently,€the€Ô_ÔByrdsÔ_Ô€€moved€out€of€Getwell€West,Ð 2‚ Ðbut€entered€appearances€on€behalf€of€the€other€Plaintiffs€after€they€became€licensed€to€practice€law. Ý ƒRË~$ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÕ òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€case€of€òòò òÔ_ÔGaddÔ_Ô€v.€Stateó óóó,€No.€E1998„00016„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV,€2000€WL€310262€(Tenn.€Sp.€Workersðð€Comp.Ð ° ÐMar.€4,€2000),€cited€by€the€Plaintiffs,€is€inapposite,€because€that€case€was€analyzed€under€the€special€rules€of€theÐ r ÐTennessee€Claims€Commission,€which€have€no€application€in€this€case.€Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡XÑoXXXÔÔ‡¼Žé»XXÑoÔÑ€ ÑÑ8€nÆXXdédÈ8ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñà@ò ò ìàÔ#†XÑoX»¼Žé\#ÔÔ‡îb†îXXÑoÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†XÑoXîîb†#ÔÔ‡¼Žé»XXÑoԈРÓ# ÐÓ  ÓJuly€20,€2004€SessionÐ öF ÐÌÔ#†XÑoX»¼Žé¨#Ôò òÔ‡¼Žé»XXÑoÔDWAYNE€S.€BYRD,€JULIE€DICHTEL€BYRD,€J.€WILSON€ROOP,€JR.,Ð  f ÐIndividually€and€as€Representatives€of€Getwell€West€Residents€Association;Ð ' w ÐGETWELL€WEST€RESIDENTS€ASSOCIATION,€as€Representatives€ofÐ 8 ˆ ÐProperty€Owners€within€the€Annexed€Area;€GERALD€D.€McLEMORE,Ð I ™ ÐWYNN€PATTON,€ROXIE€BOYCE,€WILLIAM€C.€PORTER,€HARRYÐ Z ª ÐGILLESPIE,€WENDELL€B.€WILLIAMS,€MATTIE€BOOKER,€MABLEÐ k»  ÐDURHAM,€GENE€CUMMINGS,€JIM€GAITHER,€BERICE€JOHNSON,Ð |Ì  ÐCAROLE€H.€NELLUMS,€and€ROBERT€E.€BUIE,€Individually€and€asÐ Ý  ÐRepresentatives€of€their€Respective€Subdivisionsòòóó€Ð žî  Ðv.Ð ¯ÿ  ЀCITY€OF€MEMPHIS;€RICHARD€C.€HACKETT,€Mayor€of€Memphis;Ð À ÐMEMPHIS€CITY€COUNCIL,€Composed€of€Present€Members:€€A.€D.Ð Ñ! ÐALISSANDRATOS,€BILL€DAVIS,€OSCAR€H.€EDMONDS,€JR.,€DR.€JAMESÐ â2 ÐFORD,€MICHAEL€A.€HOODS,€FLORENCE€LEFFLER,€TOM€MARSHALL,Ð óC ÐMARY€ROSE€McCORMICK,€JIMMY€MOORE,€RICKEY€PEETE,€JACKÐ T ÐSAMMONS,€BARBARA€SONNENBURG,€PAT€VANDER€SCHAAF,€andÐ e ÐRetiring€Members€BILLY€HYMAN,€ROBERT€B.€JAMES,€MINERVAÐ &v ÐJOHNICAN,€J.€O.€PATTERSON,€JR.,€and€WILLIAM€GIBBONSó óÔ#†XÑoX»¼Žé:#ÔÔ#†XnÆXXXÑo=#ÔÔ‡XÑoXXXnÆÔÐ 7‡ Ðò òó óÌà@@½½ìàò òAn€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ 1 Ðà@@øøìàNo.€95392„1€€€€€€Walter€Evans,€ChancellorÐ k ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<î` AßÐ ï? ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2003„01943„COA„R3„CV€„€Filed€November€15,€2004Ð è 8 ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<»"` AßÐ ¼"  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€case€involves€a€dismissal€for€failure€to€prosecute.€€In€January€1988,€the€plaintiff€residents€filedÐ ´#  Ðthis€lawsuit€against€the€defendant€municipal€officials€for€allegedly€enacting€an€unconstitutional€andÐ $í! Ðunreasonable€annexation€ordinance.€€In€2003,€after€the€case€had€been€on€the€trial€courtððs€docket€forÐ †%Ö " Ðfifteen€years€with€little€activity,€the€trial€court€clerk€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss€for€lack€of€prosecution.€Ð o&¿!# ÐIn€June€2003,€the€trial€court€granted€the€clerkððs€motion€and€dismissed€the€case.€€The€plaintiffÐ X'¨"$ Ðresidents€now€appeal.€€We€affirm,€finding€that€the€trial€court€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€inÐ A(‘#% Ðdismissing€the€case.Ð *)z$& ЀÌÓà Óò òÐ  ü*L&( ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€is€Affirmedó óÐ ° ÐÌòòÓ  ÓHolly€M.€Kirby,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€Court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,óó€andÐ ƒÓ ÐòòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€joined.Ð l¼ ÐÌDwayne€S.€Byrd€and€Julie€D.€Byrd,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellants.Ð > Ž ÐÌJonathan€C.€Hancock,€Ashlee€B.€Ellis,€and€Sara€Hall,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€CityÐ  ` Ðof€Memphis.Ð ù I ÐÓr ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÐ Ë   ÐÌòòóóÓ  Óà  àÔ#†XnÆXXXÑo¼#ÔIn€December€1987,€Defendant/Appellee€Memphis€City€Council€passed€upon€final€readingÐ žî  ÐOrdinance€3712,€which€purported€to€annex€an€area€of€southwest€Memphis,€Tennessee,€commonlyÐ ‡×  Ðknown€as€ð ðGetwell€West.ðð€€On€January€19,€1988,€the€above„named€Plaintiffs/AppellantsÐ pÀ  Ð(collectively,€ð ðPlaintiffsðð),€€individuals€and€representatives€of€individuals€living€in€the€annexed€area,׃c×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð Y©  Ðfiled€a€lawsuit€against€Ô‡XÑoXXXnÆÔDefendants/Appellees€the€City€of€Memphis,€its€Mayor€at€the€time,€RichardÐ B’ ÐC.€Hackett,€the€Memphis€City€Council€and€the€individually€named€members€of€the€City€Council€atÐ +{ Ðthe€time€(collectively€ð ðCityðð).€€The€lawsuit€soughtÔ#†XnÆXXXÑoÎ#Ô€a€declaratory€judgment€that€the€annexation€wasÐ d Ðunconstitutional.€€The€Plaintiffs€also€sought€relief€under€the€òòquo€warrantoóó€provisions€of€TennesseeÐ ýM ÐCode€Annotated€ðð€6„51„103,€which€allow€citizens€to€contest€an€annexation€that€ð ðreasonably€may€notÐ æ6 Ðbe€deemed€necessary€for€the€welfare€of€the€residents€and€property€owners€of€the€affected€territoryÐ Ï Ðand€the€municipality€as€a€whole.€.€.€.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€6„51„103(a)(1)(A)€(1998).€€On€July€26,Ð ¸ Ð1988,€the€trial€court€granted€the€Attorney€Generalððs€motion€to€intervene€to€defend€theÐ ¡ñ Ðconstitutionality€of€the€annexation€statutes€at€issue.€€Since€that€date€in€1988,€the€record€showsÐ ŠÚ Ðvirtually€no€activity€in€the€case.Ð sà ÐÌà  àOn€at€least€two€occasions,€the€clerk€of€the€trial€court€moved€to€dismiss€the€case€for€lack€ofÐ E• Ðprosecution.€€On€December€28,€1993,€after€the€case€had€been€on€the€courtððs€docket€nearly€six€yearsÐ .~ Ðwith€little€activity,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€denying€the€clerkððs€first€motion€to€dismiss€ð ðuponÐ g Ðgood€cause€shown€that€the€Clerkððs€motion€to€dismiss€should€be€denied.ðð€€After€the€trial€court€clerkÐ  P Ðfiled€a€second€motion€to€dismiss€for€lack€of€prosecution€almost€two€years€later,€on€October€30,€1995,Ð é 9 Ðthe€trial€court€denied€this€second€motion,€again€on€the€basis€that€ð ðgood€cause€[was]€shown€that€theÐ Ò!"  Ðmotion€should€be€denied.ðð׃”×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð »" ! Ðâ âÐ ¤#ô" Ðà  àSometime€in€2003,€after€the€case€had€lain€fallow€on€the€trial€courtððs€docket€for€some€fifteenÐ ° Ðâ âyears,€€the€trial€court€clerk€filed€a€third€motion€to€dismiss€for€lack€of€prosecution.€€On€June€27,€2003,Ð ™é Ðthe€trial€court€held€a€hearing€on€the€matter.€€No€transcript€of€the€hearing€was€made.€€However,€theÐ ‚Ò Ðappellate€record€includes€a€ð ðStatement€of€Proceedings€held€June€27,€2003ðð€(ð ðStatementðð).׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Рk» ÐAccording€to€the€Statement,€the€Plaintiffs€advised€the€trial€court€that,€in€the€previous€two€instancesÐ T¤ Ðin€which€motions€were€filed€by€the€clerk€to€dismiss€for€lack€of€prosecution,€the€Defendants€hadÐ =  Ðdeclined€to€agree€to€a€trial€setting,€saying€that€they€were€not€ready€for€trial.€€The€Plaintiffs€claimedÐ & v Ðthat€this€was€the€basis€for€the€trial€courtððs€earlier€denial€of€the€clerkððs€motions€to€dismiss.€€TheÐ  _ ÐStatement€also€shows€that€the€Plaintiffs€argued€to€the€trial€court€that,€in€an€annexation€suit€of€thisÐ ø H Ðnature,€the€burden€of€going€forward€and€the€burden€of€proof€is€on€the€Defendants.€€Despite€theseÐ á 1  Ðarguments,€the€trial€court€dismissed€the€case€in€an€oral€ruling€from€the€bench,€and€later€entered€anÐ Ê   Ðorder€consistent€with€this€oral€ruling.€€From€that€order,€the€Plaintiffs€now€appeal.Ð ³  ÐÌà  àOn€appeal,€the€Plaintiffs€argue€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€dismissing€their€case€for€lack€ofÐ …Õ  Ðprosecution€because€the€case€involves€issues€of€great€public€importance.€€In€addition,€the€PlaintiffsÐ n¾  Ðargue€that€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretion€because€any€delay€in€the€prosecution€of€this€case€wasÐ W§  Ðnot€the€fault€of€the€Plaintiffs.€€Rather,€they€argue,€the€failure€of€the€case€to€move€forward€wasÐ @ Ðactually€the€fault€of€the€Defendants.€€The€Plaintiffs€argue€that€it€was€ð ðDefendants€and€not€PlaintiffsÐ )y Ð[who]€have€failed€to€prosecute€this€case€.€.€.€.ððÐ b ÐÌà  àA€trial€courtððs€decision€to€dismiss€an€action€for€lack€of€prosecution€is€within€the€trial€courtððsÐ ä4 Ðsound€discretion,€and€the€decision€will€be€affirmed€on€appeal€absent€an€abuse€of€that€discretion.€Ð Í Ðò òòòOsagie€v.€Peakload€Temp.€Servs.ó óóó,€91€S.W.3d€326,€329€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2002).€€An€abuse€ofÐ ¶ Ðdiscretion€has€occurred€when€the€trial€court€has€ð ðapplied€an€incorrect€legal€standard,€or€reached€aÐ  ð Ðdecision€which€is€against€logic€or€reasoning€that€caused€an€injustice€to€the€party€complaining.ðð€€ò òòòStateÐ ‰Ù Ðv.€Shuckóóó ó,€953€S.W.2d€662,€669€(Tenn.€1997)€(citing€ò òòòBallard€v.€Herzkeó óóó,€924€S.W.2d€652,€661€(Tenn.Ð sà Ð1996)).€€Thus,€the€trial€courtððs€decision€to€dismiss€for€failure€to€prosecute€will€not€be€reversed€unlessÐ ]­ Ðthe€trial€court€has€ð ðacted€unreasonably,€arbitrarily,€or€unconscionably.ðð€€òòò òHodges€v.€AttorneyÐ F– ÐGeneraló óóó,€43€S.W.3d€918,€921€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€The€appellate€court€is€not€permitted€ð ðto€merelyÐ 0€ Ðsubstitute€its€judgment€for€that€of€the€trial€court.ðð€€òòò òHenry€v.€Goinsó óóó,€104€S.W.3d€475,€479€(Tenn.Ð j Ð2003).€€We€are€mindful,€however,€that€the€power€to€dismiss€a€case€for€lack€of€prosecution€ð ðshouldÐ  T Ðbe€exercised€sparingly€and€with€great€care.ðð€€òòò òHodgesó óóó,€43€S.W.3d€at€921.Ð í = Ѐ€Ð ×!'  Ðà  àPursuant€to€Rule€41.02€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure,€the€trial€court€may,€on€itsÐ À"! Ðown€motion,€dismiss€a€case€for€failure€to€prosecute.€€ò òòòId.€€óóó óð ðThis€rule€is€necessary€to€enable€the€courtÐ ©#ù" Ðto€manage€its€own€docket,€and€to€protect€defendants€against€plaintiffs€who€are€unwilling€to€put€theirÐ “$ã# Ðclaims€to€the€test,€but€determined€to€subject€them€to€the€continuing€threat€of€an€eventual€judgment.ðð€Ð |%Ì $ Ðâ âò òòòOsagieó óóó,€91€S.W.3d€at€329ò òó ó.Ð e&µ!% Ðà  àThe€Plaintiffs€first€argue€that€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretion€in€dismissing€the€caseÐ ° Ðâ âbecause€of€the€ð ðgreat€public€importanceðð€of€this€case.€€Assuming€òòarguendoóó€that€the€case€is€one€ofÐ ™é Ðgreat€public€importance,€the€Plaintiffs€have€cited€to€no€authority€indicating€that€such€cases€areÐ ‚Ò Ðconsidered€differently€from€other€cases€on€trial€courtððs€dockets.€€Indeed,€it€could€be€argued€that€itÐ k» Ðis€òòmoreóó€imperative€that€a€case€of€great€public€importance€be€resolved€in€a€timely€manner.€€The€recordÐ T¤ Ðin€this€case€shows€that€the€case€languished€on€the€trial€courtððs€docket€for€over€fifteen€years€with€littleÐ =  Ðor€no€activity.€€In€an€effort€to€manage€the€courtððs€docket,€the€trial€court€clerk€twice€filed€motions€toÐ & v Ðdismiss€the€case,€once€after€six€years€and€again€after€seven€and€a€half€years.€€At€oral€argument,Ð  _ Ðcounsel€for€the€Plaintiffs€sought€to€explain€that€the€case€was€not€dismissed€at€the€earlier€stagesÐ ø H Ðbecause€the€Plaintiffs€Ô‡XÑoXXXnÆÔdeferred€their€right€to€a€trial€at€the€request€of€the€City.€€Ô#†XnÆXXXÑo/#ÔThis€assertion€has€noÐ á 1  Ðsupport€in€the€record,€and€therefore€cannot€be€considered€in€this€appeal.€€Regardless,€the€trial€courtÐ Ê   Ðtwice€resuscitated€a€case€that€was€on€life€support,€and€the€Plaintiffs€were€certainly€aware€thatÐ ³  Ðcontinued€inaction€would€result€in€dismissal.€€Despite€this,€the€record€shows€no€further€efforts€byÐ œì  Ðthe€Plaintiffs€to€prosecute€their€case€during€the€ensuing€eight€years.€€Whether€or€not€the€burden€ofÐ …Õ  Ðproof€at€trial€would€have€been€on€the€Defendants€is€irrelevant.׃e×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€It€was€the€Plaintiffsðð€burden€toÐ n¾  Ðprosecute€their€case.€€òòò òSee€ó óóóTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€41.02(1)€(addressing€the€ð ðfailure€of€the€plaintiff€toÐ W§  Ðprosecuteðð€his€case).€€They€failed€to€do€so.€€Under€these€circumstances,€we€find€no€abuse€ofÐ A‘ Ðdiscretion€in€the€trial€courtððs€decision€to€finally,€òòfinallyóó,€dismiss€the€case.€Ð *z ÐÌà  àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€to€be€taxed€to€Appellants€Ô‡XÑoXXXnÆÔJ.Ð üL ÐWilson€Roop,€Jr.,€Individually€and€as€a€Representative€of€Getwell€Residents€Association;€GetwellÐ å5 ÐWest€Residents€Association,€as€Representatives€of€Property€Owners€within€the€Annexed€Area;Ð Î ÐGerald€D.€McLemore,€Wynn€Patton,€Roxie€Boyce,€William€C.€Porter,€Harry€Gillespie,€Wendell€B.Ð · ÐWilliams,€Mattie€Booker,€Mable€Durham,€Gene€Cummings,€Jim€Gaither,€Berice€Johnson,€CaroleÐ  ð ÐH.€Nellums,€and€Robert€E.€Buie,€Individually€and€as€Representatives€of€their€RespectiveÐ ‰Ù ÐSubdivisions;€and€their€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.òòóó€Ô#†XnÆXXXÑo¥4#Ô€€Ð r ÐÔ‡XÑoXXXnÆÔÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð f Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àHOLLY€M.€KIRBY,€JUDGEÔ#†XnÆXXXÑo—7#Ô