WPC xE  ?ȞZ+@%WMV5gjF!>?)hAc1ioX?UBNkMTǍd\iPmܑLNeS[?٤^3J?4\P..!"~i>(ï9j nl}8L u:l/7`np{rXPjzq}/dMeVmFs7]I'L1Q~)CzdNG?zXB^eӕDN _Œ_PY䇉I`.uHv}}4}*>6I>[>ƽ4}vUEEjp ֢XWuwM@o2ɽYO[g02<9!k3I{E=sfd|֎{9qMH b$0QoػUBF %  n 04K 4 t w@ U>G  #  N  m U: U:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! B[[[[[ D3xxx 0D AO>> 0D D/H Bw<6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiX3|x<6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXx6X@JQX@( T$  h&  ShelbyMcMURRAYBeierGodbeeKerneyAetna EDDDӀ<( 9Z &Courier Regular Xx XXXXXx    Ad FILED0   June25,1999  CecilCrowson,Jr.h0AppellateCourt  Clerk HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLU,cAZ"Arial Regular Xx XXXXXx    Ad FILED0   June24,1999  CecilCrowson,Jr.h0AppellateCourt  Clerk ,cAZ"Arial Regular d%%%%'dxd(3$ !  -C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd T!   _`   7XXdXXd7TR[A'Legal3'A' Legal3'T  r *<,(j 8 `@Ef  tt0"H` rr*<,(j 8 `@Ef  tt0"H` r@LLINTHECOURTOFAPPEALS@@$ `  @$ATKNOXVILLEROBERTDALECOBB@*@@*)  HAMBLENCOUNTY   x    `     h   )  03A019812CV00399 @   PlaintiffAppellant@*) h    @*)@*)  v.@*)  HON.JOHNK.WILSON, `  @*)  JUDGE (  @*)DOUGLASBEIER@*)   Ѐ@*)       DefendantAppellee@*)  VACATEDANDREMANDED H  J.RANDALLSHELTONOFMORRISTOWNFORAPPELLANTJAMESM.DAVISOFMORRISTOWNFORAPPELLEE@*@* XXXX@$OPINION  p    `     h      p   #XXX X#Goddard,P.J. $X#    ` ThisisasuitformaliciousprosecutionbroughtbyRobertDaleCobbagainstDouglasR.Beier,attorneyatlaw,whorepresentedMr.Cobbswifeinadivorceaction.TheTrialCourtgrantedMr.Beiersummaryjudgmentuponsustaininghisdefenseofadviceofcounsel.   ` UponappealthisCourtdismissedtheappealbecauseanoticeofappealwasnotfiledwiththeClerkofthisCourt.Thereafter,theSupremeCourtacceptedtheapplicationforappeal,reversedthisCourtandremandedthecasefordispositionoftheappealonitsmerits.Whereupon,anopinionwasenteredvacatingtheawardofsummaryjudgmentandremandingthecasetotheTrialCourt forfurtherproceedingsconsistentwiththisopinion. (<2Ag Ї   ` Afterremand,Mr.BeierfiledathirdaffidavitsignedbyAssistantAttorneyGeneralGodbeewhichcausedpromptedtheTrialCourttoagainsustainthedefenseofadviceofcounselandagaingrantasummaryjudgment.   ` Mr.Cobbappeals,contendingthatdisputedfactsexist,whichprecludedentryofasummaryjudgment.   ` Beforeaddressingthefactspertinenttothisappeal,wenotethatthedefenseofadviceofcounselrequiresafullandhonestdisclosureofallmaterialfacts.Sullivanv.Young,678  S.W.2d906(Tenn.App.1984).Kerneyv.AetnaCasualty&Surety 0 Co.,648S.W.2d247(Tenn.App.1982).      ` IntheearlieropinionofthisCourt,westatedthefollowing:TherecorddisclosesthatLisaCobb,plaintiffswife,employeddefendantasherattorneytorepresentherinadivorceaction,andgavethedefendantacheckforattorneysfeesandcostsintheamountof$600.00.ThecheckwasdrawnonajointaccountinthenamesofplaintifforLisaCobb.Plaintiffstoppedpaymentonthecheckandwithdrewthefunds,whichresultedinthecheckbeingdishonored. ` DefendantconsultedanattorneyandfiledanAffidavitofComplaintintheGeneralSessionsCourtagainstplaintiffherein.Defendantreliesonthedefenseofadviceofprivatecounsel,andalsotheDistrictAttorney.DefendantconsultedwithAssistantDistrictAttorneyGodbee,whoadvisedinhisopiniontherewasprobablecauseforanAffidavitofComplainttoissue. ` Shortlybeforethepreliminaryhearing,theAssistantDistrictAttorneycalleddefendanttoadvisethatDistrictAttorneyBerkeleyBelldisagreedwithAssistantAttorneyGeneralGodbeeandrequestedthatdefendantpermitanorderofnolleprosequetobeentered.Defendantagreed.Insupportofthemotionforsummaryjudgment,AttorneyGeneralGodbeesaffidavitwasfiled,whereinhestatedthathehadadvisedtherewasprobablecauseforanAffidavitofϜComplainttoissue.Subsequently,plaintifffiledGodbeessecondaffidavitwhereinhestatedinsomecontradictiontohispreviousstatementthatdefendant :81? didnottellhimthatplaintiffwasthepartyopposedtohisclient,Mrs.Cobb,orthatplaintiffwasrepresentedbyalawyer,andotherinformationfromwhichheconcludedthattheinformationfurnishedbythedefendantwas aninadequatepresentationoftheactualfactsofthecaseinahurriedminuteortwoinacourthousecornerbyanattorney....   ` Uponremand,asalreadynoted,athirdaffidavitofAttorneyGeneralGodbeewasfiled,whichstatedthefollowing(Seeappendixforfulltextoftheothertwoaffidavits):=&XXdd= ` 1. IamanassistantDistrictAttorneyGeneral 0`'* fortheThirdJudicialDistrict. ` 2. Ihavepreviouslyfiled2affidavitsinthis 30*- cause,thefirstsignedonNovember9,1992attherequestofDouglasR.Beier,andthesecondsignedonMarch31,1994attherequestofRandallShelton. ` 3. Thesecondaffidavitsignedattherequestof @8.2 Mr.Sheltonwas19monthsafterMr.BeierhadfirstspokenwithmetoseekmyadviceonSeptember8,1992.  :04 TheaffidavitIsignedforMr.Beierwas2monthsafterheconsultedme. ` 4. WhenMr.SheltonspokewithmeinMarch, 0  1994,hedidnotbringthecheckoracopyofthecheckformyreview.MyrecollectionofthefactshadbeendiminishedbythelengthoftimesinceIhadseenit. ` 5. Mr.Beieragainshowedmethecheckshortly  afterMr.SheltonfiledmyMarch31,1994affidavit.Ihaveagainrevieweditjustpriortogivingthisaffidavit. ` 6. ItisnowobviousthatImadeinaccurate 0  statementsandrepresentationsintheMarch31,1994affidavitMr.Sheltonprepared.Withouthavingthecheckbeforemetoreviewsome19monthslater,IshouldnothavemadethestatementsthatIdidinthataffidavit.TheyaremisleadingandwerenotbasedonanaccuraterecollectionoftheeventssurroundingMr.BeiersandmyconversationonSeptember8,1992. ` 7. OnSeptember8,1992Mr.Beierdidshowme  thecheckonwhichpaymenthadbeenstopped.ThecheckissignedbyLisaC.Cobb.Mr.BeierdidadvisemethatpaymentwasstoppedbyRobertD.Cobb,andthatthecheckwaswrittenanddeliveredbyMrs.Cobbaspaymentforlegalservicesandcourtcostsadvancedintheirdivorcecase.Iwasawarethatthiswasajointaccountandthatthepersonwhohadstoppedpaymentwastheaccountholder(RobertDaleCobb)otherthantheonewhohadwrittenthecheck(LisaCobb). ` 8. TostatethatMr.Beieraskedmeifhecould P(! prosecuteMr.Cobbonabadcheckismisleading.Mr.Beieraskedmeifthisfactualscenariowherethejointholderswerebeingdivorcedfellunderthebadcheckstatute,i.e.itisunlawfulforthesecondaccountholdertostoppaymentonacheckwrittenbythefirstaccountholderinajointaccount. ` 9. Ireviewedthestatute,reviewedallthe /p&) pertinentandmaterialfactsandconcludedthatstoppingpaymentinthesecircumstancesisanactionproscribedbyT.C.A. X&XXX&#X&XX X&$!#3914121andthatIbelieved 2@), therewasprobablecausetoprosecute. ` 10. Contrarytomypreviousaffidavitandupon p5,/ moreaccuratereflection,Mr.BeierdidtellmethathisclientwasLisaCobb;hedidtellmethatRobertDaleCobbwastheopposingpartyinadivorceandhe probablyalsotoldmehislawyersname,althoughIdid 09/3 notknowhimandthatwouldnothavebeenmaterialinmyopinionanyway.  ` 11. Mr.Beierdidadvisemethathehadrequested 0  ofbothMr.CobbandhisattorneythatMr.Cobbredeemthecheck,buthewasrefusingtodoso.WhethertherewasanissueofattorneysfeesinthedivorceactionwasnotmaterialorrelevantformyreviewandwouldnothavemadeanydifferenceinmyadvicetoMr.Beier. ` 12. Mr.Beierdidshowmethecheckanditisnow `  obviousthathedidtellmethecheckwaswrittenonajointaccountbyMr.Cobbswife,thatisapparentfromthecheckitself. ` 13. IrecantmystatementsmadeinParagraphs5 p and6oftheMarch31,1994affidavit.Mr.BeierneverdidaskmeifhecouldprosecuteMr.Cobbcriminally;hisonlyinquirywaswhetherMr.CobbsactionswereprohibitedunderT.C.A. X&XXX&#X&XX X&&#3914121.IbelievethatI 0 wasadequatelyandaccuratelypresentedwithallmaterialfactsandhadasufficientopportunitytoformmyownlegaljudgmentaboutwhetherMr.Cobbsactionswereaviolationofthelaw.IconcludedthenthattheywereandadvisedMr.Beierofsame.IbelievethatIwaspresentedallmaterialandrelevantfactsonSeptember8,1992,thatIknewtheentirefactualsituationtotheextentnecessarytoformaprofessionallegalopinion.IstillbelievethatmyopinionwhichIofferedMr.Beierisaccurate. ` 14. Withouthavingmyrecollectionandmemoryof p& thesemattersrefreshedandpresentedtomebyRandallShelton,IsignedanaffidavitpreparedbyhimonMarch31,1994.HadIbeenrepresentedallthefactsforreviewagainatthetime19monthslater,IwouldnothavesignedMr.Sheltonsaffidavit.Thataffidavitisinaccurate,thereforethisaffidavitisneededtocorrecttherecord.   ` WhileiItmightbearguedthatifonlyMr.Godbeesfirstaffidavitwasapartoftherecord,summaryjudgmentwouldbeappropriate,orifhisthirdaffidavitisacceptedatfacevalue,summaryjudgmentwouldalsobeappropriate.However,the interveningaffidavit,whichcontradictsboththefirstandthird @8.2 affidavits,inourview,raisesadisputeaofmaterialfact relativetofullandhonestdisclosure,whichrequiresresolutionbyajuryinaccordancewithourearlieropiniononthemerits,whereinwestatedthefollowing: ` TheSupremeCourtinRobertsv.FederalExpress `  Corp.,842S.W.2d246(Tenn.1992),heldthe P  reasonablenessofthedefendantsconductinbringinganaction shouldbemadebyajuryandtheCourtfurtherruledthatprobablecauseistobedetermined solelyfromanobjectiveexaminationofthesurroundingfactsandcircumstances.Thesurroundingfactsandcircumstancesinthiscasearedisputedontherecord,especiallyasrelatedtotheaffirmancedefenseofadviceofcounsel,andsummaryjudgmentwasinappropriate.   ` FortheforegoingreasonsthejudgmentoftheTrialCourtisvacatedandthecauseremandedforfurtherproceedingsnotinconsistentwiththisopinion.CostsofappealareadjudgedagainstMr.Beier.   `     h   _______________________________   `     h   HoustonM.Goddard,P.J.CONCUR:________________________________HerschelP.Franks,J.________________________________CharlesD.Susano,Jr.,J.