ÿWPCñ ÷l±„ešøcošúcJÿ6ÿ$‰Ý̽/#dÎëÍêj?=úç¸7±ØÚÎÉÈmËoÀhåÄ!E^n€ß’|·Ä›t¯ x´¿[bëC)ÕÉí¢¹tWo3CÁÁ°ºýMô¤»Ccñ5܈µOÍÉî¹B!3JvGÛˆ'r|»Èh·µ~<ùÇy°N({x;ÄÀ°qšd{Ã’-bnx8¢‡lšÊѬ¸?[NCvƒû¾¢µl° Ô Tîs¬rC@ÜUˆNní 4‰†(B.”±)]M£r_ÙõÒHÒ™FœÞæÓ~ºYŽ€Ÿ«én:I®šý‚Œ¦$>ÆëÉžBëÏ–Ç7ö@þpâDD+èÂÆÁÊ'å7ãÙ Ãqó‘ô¥àôbü»ˆd!n¿âúZµ~;þB²¦¤»Çpôœò_õ¡;ø$ûÚŒIOŒÝ/m}¢pw“Hœ”b,$u4ö-vÛч.àN ¦§ÐU#ɦUNo %½ 0:à Ný ^ ÿ w 4 # 2 m4 bK 0~S 0DÑ  é¢ ¢ ‹:ššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššššš BÔ˜\\IB01S01\CLERK1NASÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô|…‘/Ï qdj/ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-(.(3Ä($¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ƒÝ ƒ Ä($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ô ¸òXXÔThe€date€of€October€22,€2001,€as€stated€in€Mr.€Hartððs€affidavit,€appears€to€be€incorrect€for€two€reasons.€Ð ° ÐOne,€it€was€clearly€2002,€not€2001.€€Further,€other€documents€reveal€that€he€learned€of€the€mistake€on€October€31,Ð tÄ Ð2002,€nine€days€after€the€filing€period€expired.€€The€secretaryððs€affidavit€states€that€this€occurred€on€October€31,Ð 8ˆ Ð2002,€and€the€filing€of€the€alias€summons€occurred€on€October€31,€2002.Ô#†XñXòô ¸e#Ô ßÝ ƒ Ä($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ô ¸òXXÔIn€òòBurns€v.€Duncanóó,€133€S.W.2d€1000,1006€(Tenn.€App.€1939),€the€Court€held,€ð ð[Ô_ÔI]tÔ_Ô€will€be€presumed€thatÐ ° Ðdefendant€Frank€P.€Burns€executed€an€official€bond€as€Sheriff€of€Hamilton€County,€and€that€said€bond€wasÐ tÄ Ðacknowledged€before€the€County€Court€of€that€County,€in€open€court,€approved€by€that€Court,€recorded€upon€itsÐ 8ˆ Ðminutes,€and€filed€among€its€records,€and€a€certified€copy€thereof€sent€to€the€Comptroller€of€the€Stateð!ðall€as€requiredÐ üL Ðby€Sections€690€and€691€of€the€Code.ðð Ý ƒ Ä($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ô ¸òXXÔThe€alleged€error€by€the€Clerk€occurred€on€October€17,€2002€yet€Plaintiffs€had€until€October€22,€2002,€fiveÐ ° Ðadditional€days,€to€file€the€alias€summons.€€Plaintiffs€have€failed€to€address€why€they€failed€to€file€the€summonsÐ tÄ Ðduring€this€five€day€period€and€the€fact€that€the€attorney€did€not€review€his€file€during€this€time€frame€is€insufficient. 0Ñ#€ñXÿÿd#ÑÑ € Ñ dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡î»ñîXXÔÓ  ÓÑ€ÖzÑIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐAT€NASHVILLEÐ Ö& ÐÔ#†XñXîî»ñ=#ÔÔ‡¼³ð»XXñÔNovember€4,€2003€SessionÔ#†XñX»¼³ðö#ÔÐ üL ÐÌò òÔ‡¼³ð»XXñÔKATHY€CLARK€,òò€et€al.€óóv.€RANDALL€Ô_ÔMcCLUNGÔ_ÔÔ#†XñX»¼³ði#ÔÐ úJ Ðó óÌò òAppeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ú J ÐNo.€01C-3223€€€€€Hamilton€Ô_ÔGaydenÔ_Ô,€Judgeó óÐ æ 6 ÐÌò ò___________________________Ð ¾   Ðó óÌò òNo.€M2003-00552-Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô-R3-CV€„€Filed€December€17,€Ô_Ô2003Ô_ÔÐ –æ  Ð___________________________Ð ‚Ò  Ðó óÓ\ÓÌÌÓ  ÓDue€to€Plaintiffsðð€failure€to€file€an€alias€summons€within€one€year€of€the€date€the€original€complaintÐ F– Ðand€summons€were€filed,€the€Circuit€Court€granted€Defendantððs€Motion€to€Dismiss€for€PlaintiffsððÐ 2‚ Ðfailure€to€Comply€with€Rule€3,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€€Plaintiffs€appealed€asserting€the€error€was€due€toÐ n Ðthe€Circuit€Court€Clerkððs€refusal€to€file€the€alias€summons€and€that€the€trial€court€abused€itsÐ  Z Ðdiscretion€in€dismissing€the€case.€€€We€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€Ð öF ÐÓÁÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€CourtÐ Î ÐAffirmed€and€Remandedó óÐ º  ÐÓ-ÓÌÌFrank€G.€Clement,€Jr.,€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€€the€court,€in€which€William€C.€Koch,€Jr.,€€P.J.,Ð ~Î ÐM.S.,€and€William€B.€Cain,€J.,€joined.Ð jº Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÌLawrence€H.€Hart,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Kathy€Clark€and€Jerry€W.€Clark.Ð B’ ÐÌAmy€Adams€Ô_ÔGowanÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Randall€S.€Ô_ÔMcClungÔ_Ô.Ð !j ÐÌÓ  Óò òOPINIONó óÐ ò"B  ÐÓáÓÌÓ  Óà  àThis€matter€arose€out€of€a€June€5,€1999€motor€vehicle€accident€in€which€Kathy€Clark€wasÐ Ê$ " Ðallegedly€rear-ended€by€Randall€Ô_ÔMcClungÔ_Ô.€€Clark€initially€filed€suit€against€Ô_ÔMcClungÔ_Ô€in€the€DavidsonÐ ¶%!# ÐCounty€General€Sessions€Court€on€May€22,€2000.€€Prior€to€trial€Clark€took€a€voluntary€dismissal€onÐ ¢&ò!$ ÐOctober€3,€2001.€€Ð Ž'Þ"% ÐÌà  àOn€October€22,€2001,€Clark,€along€with€her€husband€Jerry€Clark,€filed€a€complaint€in€theÐ f)¶$' ÐDavidson€County€Circuit€Court.€€Plaintiffs€properly€filed€the€original€summons€along€with€theÐ R*¢%( Ðcomplaint.€€The€summons€was€punctually€issued€by€the€Clerk€and€delivered€to€the€Sheriffððs€OfficeÐ >+Ž&) Ðfor€service€on€Ô_ÔMcClungÔ_Ô.€€The€Sheriff€attempted€service€on€Defendant€but€the€summons€was€returnedÐ *,z'* Ðunserved.€Ð -f(+ ÐÑÖzÑâ âÑ8€ñXXdìdÈ8ÑÑ€ Ñâ âÑ  ÑÔ_ԀР° Ðà  àPlaintiffs€did€not€attempt€to€file€an€alias€summons€until€October€17,€2002,€five€days€beforeÐ œì Ðthe€expiration€of€the€one€year€savings€period,€when€Plaintiffsðð€attorney€instructed€his€secretary€toÐ ˆØ Ðprepare€and€deliver€an€alias€summons€to€the€Circuit€Court€Clerk.€€The€secretary€prepared€andÐ tÄ Ðdelivered€the€alias€summons€to€the€Circuit€Court€Clerk,€however,€she€states€that€the€Clerk€refusedÐ `° Ðto€accept€it€and€that€she€returned€to€her€office€with€the€unfiled€alias€summons€and€placed€it€in€theÐ L œ Ðattorneyððs€file€with€a€note€to€that€effect.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àPlaintiffsðð€attorney€was€out€of€the€office€when€his€secretary€returned€from€the€Clerkððs€officeÐ  ` Ðand€states€that€he€was€not€aware€of€the€above€events€until€October€31,€2002,€nine€days€after€theÐ ü L  Ðexpiration€of€the€one€year€savings€period.€€€He€further€states€that€he€acted€immediately€to€correct€theÐ è 8  Ðsituation€by€causing€his€secretary€to€file€the€alias€summons€that€day.€€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àOn€November€14,€2002,€Defendant€filed€a€Motion€to€Dismiss€based€upon€Plaintiffsðð€failureÐ ¬ü  Ðto€comply€with€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€3.€€€The€trial€court€granted€the€Motion€to€Dismiss€and€entered€a€FinalÐ ˜è  ÐOrder€on€February€4,€2003,€which€reads:€Ð „Ô  ÐÌà8  àAs€grounds€for€dismissal,€the€Court€finds€the€Plaintiff€originally€filed€the€ComplaintÐ \¬ Ðand€summons€on€October€22,€2001.€€No€service€was€effected€upon€the€Defendant.€Ð H˜ ÐThe€alias€summons€was€not€filed€until€October€31,€2002.€€As€the€alias€summons€wasÐ 4„ Ðfiled€more€than€one€year€after€the€original€Complaint€and€summons,€the€Plaintiff€hasÐ  p Ðfailed€to€comply€with€Rule€3€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€€Therefore,Ð  \ Ðthis€case€is€dismissed€with€prejudice.ÐøHÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àOn€appeal,€Plaintiffs€assert€that€given€the€circumstances€surrounding€the€filing€of€the€aliasÐ Ð  Ðsummons,€specifically€the€Circuit€Court€Clerkððs€refusal€to€file€the€alias€summons,€the€trial€courtÐ ¼  Ðabused€its€discretion€when€it€granted€Defendantððs€Motion€to€Dismiss.Ð ¨ø Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àThe€standard€of€review€for€a€non-jury€case€is€òòde€novo€óóupon€the€record.€òòSee€Cross€v.€City€ofÐ €Ð ÐMemphisóó,€20€S.W.3d€642,€643€(Tenn.2000).€There€is€a€presumption€of€correctness€as€to€the€trialÐ l¼ Ðcourt's€factual€findings,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ð X ¨ Ð13(d).€€For€issues€of€law,€the€standard€of€review€is€òòde€novoóó,€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€òòSeeÐ D!” ÐRidings€v.€Ralph€M.€Parsons€Co.óó,€914€S.W.2d€79,€80€(Tenn.1996).Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àThe€crux€of€Plaintiffsðð€appeal€is€that€their€attempt€to€file€an€alias€summons€was€thwarted€byÐ $X" Ðthe€actions€of€the€Circuit€Court€Clerkððs€office€and€that€any€subsequent€delay€in€issuing€process€didÐ ô$D # Ðnot€prejudice€Defendant.€€Specifically,€Plaintiffs€argue€that€the€failure€to€file€an€alias€summonsÐ à%0!$ Ðwithin€the€one€year€statute€of€limitations€outlined€in€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€3,€was€due€to€the€mistake€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€Circuit€Court€Clerk€in€refusing€to€allow€them€to€file€an€alias€summons.€€Plaintiffs€also€assert€thatÐ ¸'#& ÐDefendant€was€not€prejudiced€by€any€delay€in€issuing€process.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÐ  )à$( ÐÌà  àRule€3,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.,€as€amended€in€July€1998,€provides:Ð œì ÐÌà8  àà ` àAll€civil€actions€are€commenced€by€filing€a€complaint€with€the€clerk€of€theÐ tÄ Ðcourt.€An€action€is€commenced€within€the€meaning€of€any€statute€of€limitations€uponÐ `° Ðsuch€filing€of€a€complaint,€whether€process€be€issued€or€not€issued€and€whetherÐ L œ Ðprocess€be€returned€served€or€unserved.€If€process€remains€unissued€for€30€days€orÐ 8 ˆ Ðis€not€served€within€30€days€from€issuance,€regardless€of€the€reason,€the€plaintiffÐ $ t Ðcannot€rely€upon€the€original€commencement€to€toll€the€running€of€a€statute€ofÐ  ` Ðlimitations€unless€the€plaintiff€continues€the€action€by€obtaining€issuance€of€newÐ ü L  Ðprocess€within€one€year€from€issuance€of€the€previous€process€or,€if€no€process€isÐ è 8  Ðissued,€within€one€year€of€the€filing€of€the€complaint.€ÐÔ$ Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àPlaintiffs€rely€on€the€affidavits€of€their€attorney€and€his€secretary€to€justify€the€late€filing€andÐ ¬ü  Ðissuance€of€the€alias€summons.€The€secretaryððs€affidavit€provides€in€pertinent€part:€Ð ˜è  ÐÌà8  àOn€October€17,€2002,€I€went€to€the€Circuit€Court€Clerkððs€office€to€file€the€aliasÐ pÀ Ðsummons.€When€I€presented€the€alias€summons€to€a€representative€from€the€clerkððsÐ \¬ Ðoffice€for€filing,€the€representative€looked€up€the€case,€and€then€informed€me€that€IÐ H˜ Ðcould€not€file€the€alias€summons€because€the€Defendant,€Randall€S.€McClung,€hadÐ 4„ Ðalready€been€served.€Ð pÐ Ð  Ðà  àà ` à.€.€.€.€Ð  \ ÐÌà8  àà ` àOn€October€31,€2002,€Mr.€Hart€asked€me€about€what€happened€when€I€wentÐ ä4 Ðto€circuit€court€to€file€the€alias€summons€for€Mr.€McClung.€€When€I€told€him€whatÐ Ð  Ðhad€occurred,€he€called€the€Circuit€Court€Clerkððs€office€and€found€out€that€I€had€beenÐ ¼  Ðmistakenly€told€that€the€original€summons€had€been€served€on€the€Defendant.€€Mr.Ð ¨ø ÐHart€then€told€me€to€immediately€take€the€alias€summons€and€file€it€with€the€CircuitÐ ”ä ÐCourt€Clerk,€which€I€did.à h àЀÐÐ Ð  ÐÌAttorney€Hartððs€affidavit€provides€in€pertinent€part:Ð X ¨ ÐÌà8  àà ` àOn€October€22,€2001,€×ƒ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×[sic]€I€was€reviewing€the€Plaintiffsðð€file€in€anticipationÐ 0"€  Ðof€a€conference€with€Mrs.€Clark€regarding€the€status€of€her€medical€treatment,€whenÐ #l! ÐI€discovered€that€the€alias€summons€with€the€note€from€my€secretary€stating€that€theÐ $X" ÐDefendant€had€already€been€served.€€I€was€surprised€that€the€Defendant€had€beenÐ ô$D # Ðserved€as€it€was€my€understanding€the€Defendant€had€not€been€served.€€I€spoke€withÐ à%0!$ Ðmy€secretary€about€what€had€occurred€and€she€related€that€when€she€tried€to€file€theÐ Ì&"% Ðalias€summons,€she€was€told€by€the€clerkððs€office€that€it€could€not€be€filed€becauseÐ ° Ðthe€Defendant€had€already€been€served.€€Therefore,€I€called€the€Circuit€Court€ClerkððsÐ œì Ðoffice€and€inquired€when€service€was€had€on€the€Defendant.€€I€was€informed€that€theÐ ˆØ ÐDefendant€had€not€been€served.€€I€told€the€representative€from€the€clerkððs€office€thatÐ tÄ Ðwhen€my€office€had€attempted€to€file€the€alias€summons€on€10-17-02,€the€aliasÐ `° Ðsummons€was€not€accepted€for€filing€because€the€Defendant€had€already€been€served.€Ð L œ ÐI€was€told€by€the€representative€from€the€clerkððs€office€that€this€was€a€mistake,€sinceÐ 8 ˆ Ðthe€Defendant€had€not€been€served.€€I€then€immediately€had€the€alias€summons€takenÐ $ t Ðto€the€Circuit€Court€and€filed.€Ð `Ð Ð  ÐÌÒe°Òà  àPlaintiffs€argue€that€their€appeal€is€supported€by€two€opinionsòò,€Hine€v.€Commercial€Carriers,Ð è 8  ÐInc.óó,€802€S.W.2d€218€(Tenn.€1990)€and€òòAbbott€v.€Gatewayóó,€No.€M1999-00653-COA-R3-CV,€2000Ð Ô$  ÐWL€1038113€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.).€€In€òòHineóó,€our€Supreme€Court€addressed€the€relationship€between€RulesÐ À  Ð3€and€4.01,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.,€and€held€it€is€not€necessary€to€file€a€complaint€and€summonsÐ ¬ü  Ðsimultaneously€in€order€to€toll€the€underlying€statute€of€limitations€as€long€as€it€is€issued€within€aÐ ˜è  Ðreasonable€time€after€the€complaint€is€filed,€considering€the€facts€of€the€particular€situation.€€òòId.óó€atÐ „Ô  Ð220.€€In€òòHine€óóthe€summons€was€issued€roughly€60€days€after€the€initial€complaint€was€filed€while€hereÐ pÀ Ðthe€alias€summons€was€issued€374€days€after€the€complaint€and€original€were€filed.€€òòóóMoreover,€theÐ \¬ Ðplaintiff€in€òòHine€óófiled€his€complaint€within€one€year€of€€the€date€of€the€last€workersðð€compensationÐ H˜ Ðpayment€and€the€summons€was€issued€within€one€year€of€filing€of€the€complaint.€€òòId.óó€at€218„219.€Ð 4„ ÐFurther,€Rule€3€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€has€been€amended€since€òòHineóó.€The€ruleÐ  p Ðapplicable€to€òòHine€óódid€not€anticipate€a€lack€of€issuance€of€process€whereas€the€rule€applicable€hereÐ  \ Ðspecifically€allows€plaintiffs€one€year€from€the€filing€of€the€complaint€in€which€to€issue€process€if€noÐ øH Ðprocess€is€issued€within€30€days€of€the€filing€of€the€complaint.€€òòSee€Stempa€v.€Walgreen€Co.óó,€70Ð ä4 ÐS.W.3d€39,€44€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).€€Accordingly,€we€believe€Plaintiffsðð€reliance€on€òòHine€óóisÐ Ð  Ðmisplaced.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àPlaintiffs€correctly€note€that€òòAbbott€óóexpresses€the€general€view€in€Tennessee€which€disfavorsÐ ”ä Ðdismissals€without€a€trial€on€the€merits.€€òòId.óó€at€*2.€€òòAbbottóó,€however,€reversed€the€dismissal€of€a€civilÐ €Ð Ðaction€where€the€plaintiffs€failed€to€comply€with€a€local€rule€of€practice.€€Specifically,€that€plaintiffÐ l¼ Ðfailed€to€set€her€General€Sessions€appeal€for€trial€as€required€by€Davidson€County€Local€Rule€ofÐ X ¨ ÐPractice€20(b).€€òòId.óó€at€*1.€€Here,€we€have€a€Tennessee€Rule€of€Civil€Procedure€rather€than€a€local€rule.€Ð D!” ÐDavidson€County€Local€Rule€of€Practice€1.03€instructs€that€a€trial€judge€may€deviate€from€the€localÐ 0"€  Ðrules€in€ð ðexceptional€cases€where€justice€so€requiresðð;€however,€trial€judges€ð ðhave€no€authority€toÐ #l! Ðdisregard€the€plain€and€express€terms€of€a€statute€or€rule€unless€the€particular€provision€has€beenÐ $X" Ðdeclared€unconstitutional.ðð€€òòTillman€v.€Haffeyóó,€63€S.W.3d€367,€371€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).Ð ô$D # ÐAccordingly,€we€believe€Plaintiffsðð€reliance€on€òòAbbott€óóis€also€misplaced.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àOur€courts€place€great€emphasis€on€the€clear€and€unambiguous€language€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.Ð ¸'#& Ð3.€€In€òòStempa€v.€Walgreen€Co.óó,€70€S.W.3d€39,€41€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001),€the€plaintiff€filed€an€actionÐ ¤(ô#' Ðagainst€defendants€but€did€not€file€summonses€for€the€Clerk€to€issue€until€eleven€months€andÐ )à$( Ðtwenty-nine€days€after€the€date€the€complaint€was€filed.€€The€trial€court€dismissed€the€complaint€asÐ |*Ì%) Ðuntimely€pursuant€to€Rules€3€and€4,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€€òòId.óó€€Plaintiffs€appealed,€asserting€that€theirÐ h+¸&* Ðcomplaint€was€timely€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€3,€because€summonses€were€issued€within€one€yearÐ ° Ðof€filing€the€complaint.€òòId.€óóat€40-41.€This€court€reversed€the€trial€court,€stating:Ð œì Ðà  àÌà8  àRule€3€provides€that€an€action€is€commenced€with€the€filing€of€a€complaint,€whetherÐ tÄ Ðor€not€process€is€issued.€€It€is€undisputed€in€the€present€case€that€a€complaint€was€filedÐ `° Ðand,€therefore,€the€case€was€ð ðcommenced.ðð€€In€order€for€a€plaintiff€to€be€able€to€relyÐ L œ Ðon€the€original€commencement€to€toll€the€running€of€the€statute€of€limitations€whereÐ 8 ˆ Ðð ðprocess€remains€unissued€for€30€days€.€.€.€.€òòregardless€of€the€reasonóó,ðð€Rule€3€requiresÐ $ t Ðplaintiff€to€have€process€issued€ð ðwithin€one€year€of€the€filing€of€the€complaint.ðð€.€.€.€Ð  ` ÐWhile€it€may€be€ill-advised€to€wait€to€have€process€issued,€and€certainly€the€betterÐ ü L  Ðpractice€is€to€ensure€the€court€clerk€issues€process€when€a€complaint€is€filed,€Rule€3Ð è 8  Ðsays€what€it€says.ÐÔ$ !! Ѐ€€€€€€€€€Ð À  Ðà8  à€€€€€€€€€.€.€.€.€[T]he€phrase€ð ðregardless€of€the€reasonðð€in€Rule€3€leaves€no€doubt€that€theÐ ¬ü  Ðð ðreasonðð€for€process€not€being€issued€is€not€a€consideration.€€Applying€the€plain€andÐ ˜è  Ðunambiguous€language€of€Rule€3,€we€conclude€that€because€Plaintiffs€had€processÐ „Ô  Ðissued€within€one€year€of€the€filing€of€the€Complaint,€they€are€entitled€to€rely€on€theÐ pÀ Ðoriginal€filing€date€to€toll€the€running€of€the€statute€of€limitations.€€Ð\¬!! ÐÌòòId.óó€at€42-43.€€Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àThis€Court€further€emphasized€the€plain€meaning€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€3€in€òòTillman€v.€Haffeyóó,Ð  \ Ð63€S.W.3d€367€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).€€The€Haffeys,€who€had€filed€a€cause€of€action€against€Tillman,Ð øH Ðvoluntarily€dismissed€it€on€September€14,€1998.€òòóó€On€August€30,€1999,€Tillman€filed€a€maliciousÐ ä4 Ðprosecution€and€abuse€of€process€action€against€the€Haffeys.€€òòIdóó.€at€367.€€Strategically,€TillmanððsÐ Ð  Ðattorney€filed€a€summons€with€the€complaint,€which€was€properly€issued€by€the€Clerk,€however,€heÐ ¼  Ðinstructed€the€Clerk€to€return€the€issued€summons€to€him€instead€of€forwarding€it€to€the€Sheriff€forÐ ¨ø Ðservice.€òò€Id.€óóat€368.€€As€instructed,€the€Clerk€delivered€the€issued€summons€to€Tillmanððs€attorney.Ð ”ä ÐTillmanððs€attorney€intentionally€placed€the€original€summons€in€his€file€to€assure€that€the€summonsÐ €Ð Ðwould€not€be€served,€admitting€this€was€done€to€assure€that€summons€would€not€be€served€on€theÐ l¼ ÐHaffeys€until€after€September€15,€1999,€so€the€Haffeys€would€not€have€an€incentive€to€re-file€their€lawÐ X ¨ Ðsuit.€òòóó€€Tillmanððs€attorney€did€not€obtain€issuance€of€the€alias€summons€until€November€1,€1999,€andÐ D!” Ðthe€Haffeys€were€not€served€until€November€5,€1999.€€òòóóThereafter,€the€Haffeys€filed€a€motion€toÐ 0"€  Ðdismiss,€claiming€Tillmanððs€action€was€barred€by€the€statute€of€limitations€due€to€her€attorneyððsÐ #l! Ðintentional€obstruction€of€service€of€process.€òòóó€The€trial€court€granted€the€motion€dismissing€the€action.€Ð $X" ÐòòId.€óó€This€Court€reversed€reasoning€that,€ð ðTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€3€clearly€and€unambiguously€states€that€theÐ ô$D # Ðfiling€of€a€complaint€is€the€commencement€of€the€action.€€The€courts€have€no€authority€to€disregardÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€plain€and€express€terms€of€a€statute€or€rule€unless€the€particular€provision€has€been€declaredÐ Ì&"% Ðunconstitutional.ðð€€òòId.€óóat€371.€€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àPlaintiffs€seek€relief€from€the€strict€application€of€Rule€3€by€relying€on€the€alleged€error€of€theÐ )à$( ÐClerk.€€The€affidavit€of€their€attorneyððs€secretary€states€that€an€unidentified€representative€of€theÐ |*Ì%) ÐClerkððs€office€refused€to€file€the€alias€summons.€€While€there€is€no€other€affidavit€to€contradict€theÐ h+¸&* Ðsecretaryððs€affidavit,€there€is€an€evidentiary€presumption€that€court€officials€have€performed€theirÐ ° Ðduties€properly.€€òòCox€v.€City€of€Bristolóó,€191€S.W.2d€160,€162„163€(Tenn.€1946);€sòòee€General€TruckÐ œì ÐSales,€Inc.€v.€Simmonsóó,€343€S.W.2d€884,€886€(Tenn.1961)€(in€the€absence€of€a€showing€to€the€contraryÐ ˆØ Ðit€must€be€presumed€that€this€officer€(clerk)€did€his€duty€as€was€required€by€statute).€€In€the€absenceÐ tÄ Ðof€proof€to€the€contrary,€it€will€be€presumed€that€official€acts€or€duties€have€been€properly€performed,Ð `° Ðand€that€everything€done€by€an€officer€in€connection€with€the€performance€of€an€official€act€in€the€lineÐ L œ Ðof€his€duty€was€legally€done.€òòBurns€v.€Duncanóó,€133€S.W.2d€1000,€1006€(Tenn.€App.€1939).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Here,Ð 8 ˆ Ðthere€is€proof€which€is€contrary€to€the€presumption,€and€while€we€do€not€question€the€veracity€of€theÐ $ t Ðaffidavits€from€the€secretary€for€Plaintiffsðð€attorney,€we€find€her€affidavit€most€vague€on€the€importantÐ  ` Ðdetails€of€what€did€or€did€not€transpire€on€October€17,€2002€at€the€Circuit€Court€Clerkððs€office,Ð ü L  Ðspecifically€who€refused€to€file€the€alias€summons.€€Further,€the€record€contains€no€affidavits€fromÐ è 8  Ðthe€Clerkððs€office€regarding€what€did€or€did€not€occur.€€Thus,€we€find€the€affidavits€factuallyÐ Ô$  Ðinadequate€to€overcome€the€presumption€that€the€Clerk€properly€performed€his/her€duties.Ð À  Ѐ€€Ð ¬ü  Ðà  àAs€òòStempa€óóand€òòTillman€óóconfirm,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€3€imposes€a€strict€one€year€time€frame€inÐ ˜è  Ðwhich€process€must€be€issued€or€re-issued€to€toll€the€statute€of€limitations.€€The€fact€that€PlaintiffsððÐ „Ô  Ðattorney€acted€quickly€once€he€realized€the€summons€had€not€been€filed€and€took€appropriate€stepsÐ pÀ Ðto€file€the€summons€just€nine€days€after€the€one€year€deadline€ran€is€not€a€consideration.€€ApplyingÐ \¬ Ðthe€plain€and€unambiguous€language€of€Rule€3€and€case€law€interpreting€it,€we€conclude€that€the€trialÐ H˜ Ðcourt€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€in€granting€Defendantððs€motion€to€dismiss.€Furthermore,€had€weÐ 4„ Ðfound€that€the€Clerk€erroneously€refused€to€file€the€alias€summons€on€October€17,€2002,€Plaintiffs€hadÐ  p Ðfive€additional€days€to€remedy€the€situation.׃d×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Therefore,€the€Clerkððs€mistake,€if€any,€does€not€excuseÐ  \ ÐPlaintiffsðð€failure€to€discover€and€remedy€the€error€prior€to€October€22,€2002.Ð øH Ðà  àÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€find€that€the€trial€court€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€in€grantingÐ Ð  ÐDefendantððs€motion€to€dismiss.€€Thus,€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€this€appealÐ ¼  Ðare€taxed€to€Appellants,€Kathy€and€Jerry€Clark.€Ð ¨ø ÐÓ ÓÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€€€€€€€______________________________€€Ð X ¨ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€€€€€€€FRANK€G.€CLEMENT,€JR.,€JUDGE€€€Ð D!” Ѐ€€€Ð 0"€  ÐÐ #l! 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