ÿWPCH RPÏc9 vS7î*ô9È9Œ# ¹(Œ¹æCìŒÜ³ž¶n¹¾®HüÚª1þ`cO*HÛ/p O {E”å•ÒÌÑy1^š¢ÝNÌbUÊðÞs°K¢ÔÊù@ÇÁó.G2ÞìDêê¿"è6wlÉaLd»eâúê<@~«¡ðipÚÓ$¯¶£ÌëÜ ˆ²í?…ÝŽ‘ÑwO2ˆ9A¾ß} Ù®ÿh¡q!?p)º'Æ*C¢6âÓðt7¾}W½rq·½Uò!£ª .[ñê–?+Y_ª³Þj•LqŸ‘¦2·î} ¡Ìëï`é#~ÅëÃg\îCxŠ€†MXéüzŸCjæ~oªÙ´ï™@Ì(ÿ¼F©ñVfÅF4 Û ¢ó.®åF§¡h2]+F¦Z¤³L¡¸· æÜÅvÎ=nå`ãÝ.4\Š{£0µúì^ÆáfÓ»aeÆ—ÃÀÏY0gIر9%Œ¢î©š|!¹¬9ß…û+ )£øuÜ0—ÊSüVöÕŸœÄj׬.ÛÃ'¥ÛbÉ•Ù:ÌËX“·| 5L›U£i{'¸ðeë —TŒ‰%Nc—×Bq‚XŒh`J½8¶/ÞÌ æVʼ*‚¢Vc¯b %\U@b 0ˆ¢¢UN**^ x z„ÒþwÐ 4Ô Nè ê Æù Æ¿ Æ… ÆK  N m #Á, EíUNïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïïb==================================== 0ëEEEE B00 0¤M D3ñ D-$ 0KQQ ASœÆï 0¤µ 0DY A«»(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman (`Û$¡¡Ñ€..ÑÑ8€Re»»d»»d8ÑÑ ýý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularmuX+â  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptòK+˜C œ3|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0(ÆúI Z‹6Times New Roman Regular- ù-(|G2‰û$¤¤Ý ƒÛ!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C4»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô8ðò»»Ô d(|3æ$££Ý ƒÛ!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C4»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3æ$¢¢Ý ƒÛ!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€C4»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒÛ!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€E»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€»‘q»»»ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼‘q»»»‘qÔÑ8€+ÔXXdê»»d 8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î„0‘qÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼‘q»îî„0#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓOn„Briefs€August€6,€2001Ð üL ÐÔ‡XÆmX»¼‘qÔÌò òÔ#†¼‘q»XXÆm#ÔED€DAVISòòóó€v.€CITY€OF€MILAN,€TENNESSEEòòóóÔ‡XÆmX»¼‘qÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òA€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Gibson€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€7635€€€€€€The€Honorable€Clayburn€Peeples,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2001„00801„COA„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€18,€2001Ð ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  Óà  àFarmer€sued€city€for€damages€resulting€from€a€fire€that€destroyed€his€barn€alleging€that€theÐ xÈ  Ðcityððs€utility€division€was€negligent€in€installing€a€pole€and€wire€on€his€property€and€was€alsoÐ d´ Ðnegligent€in€failing€to€prevent€an€electrical€surge€that€caused€the€failure€in€the€wiring.€€The€trial€courtÐ P  Ðgranted€summary€judgment€to€city,€and€plaintiff€appeals.€€We€reverse.Ð <Œ ÐÔ#†¼‘q»XXÆmx#ÔÔ‡XÆmX»¼‘qÔÌÓ‹ÓÌò òTenn.R.App.P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Reversed€andÐ P ÐRemandedó óÐ ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼‘q»àXÆm‰#ÔÔ‡XÆmX.¼‘qÔW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAlan€E.Highers,€J.óóÐ Ä Ðand€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌC.€Mark€Donahoe,€Jackson,€For€Appellant,€Ed€DavisÐ ˆØ ÐÌC.€Timothy€Crocker;€Michael€A.€Carter,€Milan,€For€Appellee,€City€of€MilanÐ `° ÐÓEÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼‘q»XXÆmt#ÔÔ‡XÆmX»¼‘qÔÐ 8!ˆ  ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼‘q»XXÆm1 #ÔÔ‡XÆmX»¼‘qÔÓ  Óà  àÔ#†¼‘q»XXÆm #ÔÔ€XÆmX»¼‘qÔPlaintiff,€Ed€Davis€(Davis),€filed€an€amended€complaint€against€defendant,€City€of€MilanÐ #`" Ð(City),€alleging€that€he€is€a€resident€and€property€owner€on€Salem€Road,€that€the€City€operates€aÐ ü#L# Ðutility€division€which€placed€a€pole€on€his€property€and€lines€from€the€pole€to€the€weatherhead€onÐ è$8 $ Ðhis€barn,€and€that€the€City€was€negligent€in€installing€the€pole€and€the€line.€€The€complaint€allegesÐ Ô%$!% Ðthat€City€was€negligent€in€failing€to€prevent€an€electrical€surge€which€caused€a€failure€in€the€wiringÐ À&"& Ðresulting€in€the€fire.€€The€complaint€further€alleges€in€pertinent€part:€€€Ð ¬'ü"' ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à6.€€On€February€11,€1999€the€connection€and/or€insulation€of€theÐ „)Ô$) ÐCityððs€line€failed€causing€an€arc€and€resulted€in€fire€which€destroyedÐ p*À%* Ðthe€Plaintiffððs€building€and€its€contents.€€Said€negligence€by€the€CityððsÐ \+¬&+ Ðemployees€was€the€proximate€cause€of€the€failure€and€fire.ÐH,˜',` x` x ÐÐ 4-„(-ý  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à7.€€Electric€drops€do€not€normally€fail€and€burn€buildings€down€in€theÐ ° Ðabsence€of€negligence.Мì` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à8.€€The€negligent€installation€of€the€utility€pole€and/or€the€electricalÐ tÄ Ðutility€wiring€to€the€utility€pole€and€Plaintiffððs€barn€along€with€theÐ `° Ðnegligent€failure€to€prevent€an€electrical€surge€of€the€size€and€natureÐ L œ Ðto€cause€a€wiring€failure€is€actual€and€constructive€notice€to€the€CityÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€Milan€that€the€defective€condition€exists€as€the€City€of€MilanÐ $ t Ðthrough€its€Utility€Division€employees€is€the€direct€and€proximateÐ  ` Ðcause€of€the€defective€condition.Ðü L ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à9.€€The€City€of€Milan€Utility€Division€was€negligent€in€failing€toÐ Ô$  Ðproperly€provide€or€maintain€safety€devices€to€adequately€safeguardÐ À  Ðagainst€surges€or€shorts€on€Ed€Davisððs€electrical€lines.Ьü ` x` x ÐÌà  àPlaintiff€seeks€recovery€for€the€maximum€amount€allowable€under€the€TennesseeÐ „Ô  ÐGovernmental€Tort€Liability€Act.€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àCity€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€supported€by€affidavits€of€David€Scarbrough,Ð H˜ ÐSuperintendent€of€the€Department€of€Public€Utilities€for€the€City€of€Milan;€George€Killebrew,€MayorÐ 4„ Ðof€the€City€of€Milan;€and€C.€Ronald€Dodd,€Superintendent€of€Electrical€Operations€for€theÐ  p ÐDepartment€of€Public€Utilities€for€the€City€of€Milan.€€The€pertinent€statement€in€all€of€the€affidavitsÐ  \ Ðis€as€follows:€Ð øH ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àPrior€to€the€fire€that€destroyed€Ed€Davisððs€barn,€I€received€noÐ Ð  Ðnotice,€of€any€kind,€that€there€was€any€defective€condition€with€regardÐ ¼  Ðto€the€utility€pole€and€electrical€wiring€installed€by€the€City€of€MilanÐ ¨ø Ðon€the€Salem€Road€property€owned€by€Ed€Davis.Дä` x` x ÐÌà  àIn€opposition€to€the€motion€for€summary€judgment,€Davis€filed€an€affidavit€which€states€inÐ l¼ Ðpertinent€part:€Ð X ¨ Ѐ€Ð D!” Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à3.€€Representatives€of€City€of€Milan€Utility€Division€came€out€andÐ 0"€  Ðinvestigated€the€fire.€€Ron€Dodd,€who€is€with€the€City€of€Milan€UtilityÐ #l! ÐDivision,€stated€to€me€that€after€his€review,€the€cause€of€the€fire€wasÐ $X" Ðthe€responsibility€of€the€City€of€Milan€Utility€Division.€€Ron€DoddÐ ô$D # Ðstated€to€me€after€his€investigation,€ð ðI€am€one€hundred€percentÐ à%0!$ Ð(100%)€sure€that€this€is€our€fire.ðð€€Charles€Hayes€of€the€City€of€MilanÐ Ì&"% ÐUtility€Division€also€made€statements€that€the€responsibility€of€theÐ ¸'#& Ðfire€was€with€the€City€of€Milan€Utility€Division.Ф(ô#'` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à4.€€Prior€to€the€fire€starting,€the€condition€of€the€pole,€wiring,€andÐ |*Ì%) Ðbuilding€were€in€good€repair€and€there€were€no€signs€or€indicationsÐ h+¸&* Ðthat€the€wiring€at€the€pole€was€loose,€defective,€or€dangerous.€TheÐ ° Ðpole€and€wiring€which,€according€to€the€City€of€Milan€Utility€divisionÐ œì Ðrepresentatives,€was€the€cause€of€the€fire€contained€the€meter€uponÐ ˆØ Ðwhich€every€month€a€City€of€Milan€utility€Division€employee€read€inÐ tÄ Ðorder€that€I€would€be€billed€appropriately€for€electrical€usage.Ð`°` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à5.€€The€surge€blew€the€meter€off€the€pole€approximately€12€to€15€feet.Ð8 ˆ` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€granted€the€motion€for€summary€judgment,€and€plaintiff€has€appealed.€€TheÐ  ` Ðonly€issue€for€review€is€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€summary€judgment.Ð ü L  ÐÌò òòòó óóóà  àA€motion€for€summary€judgment€should€be€granted€when€the€movant€demonstrates€that€thereÐ Ô$  Ðare€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€that€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matterÐ À  Ðof€law.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.04.€€A€constructive€analysis€of€summary€judgment€is€provided€by€ourÐ ¬ü  ÐSupreme€Court€in€ò òòòMcCarley€v.€West€Quality€Food€Serviceó óóó,€960€S.W.2d€585€(Tenn.€1998).€€TheÐ ˜è  ÐCourt€said:€€Ð „Ô  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àA€party€seeking€summary€judgment€must€demonstrate€theÐ \¬ Ðabsence€of€any€genuine€and€material€factual€issues.€€ò òòòByrd€v.€Hallóóó ó,€847Ð H˜ ÐS.W.2d€209,€214€(Tenn.€1993).€€Mere€"conclusory€assertion[s]€thatÐ 4„ Ðthe€non„moving€party€has€no€evidence€is€clearly€insufficient."€€òòIdóó.€atÐ  p Ð215.€€The€movant€must€either€affirmatively€negate€an€essentialÐ  \ Ðelement€of€the€non„movant's€claim€or€conclusively€establish€anÐ øH Ðaffirmative€defense.€€òòIdóó.€215€n.€5.€€If€the€movant€does€not€negate€aÐ ä4 Ðclaimed€basis€for€the€suit,€the€non„movant's€burden€to€produce€eitherÐ Ð  Ðsupporting€affidavits€or€discovery€materials€is€not€triggered€and€theÐ ¼  Ðmotion€for€summary€judgment€fails.€€òòIdóó.Шø` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àIf,€however,€the€movant€does€successfully€negate€a€claimedÐ €Ð Ðbasis€for€the€suit,€the€non„movant€may€no€longer€simply€rely€upon€theÐ l¼ Ðpleadings.€€òòIdóó.€€The€non„moving€party€must€then€establish€theÐ X ¨ Ðexistence€of€the€essential€elements€of€the€claim.€€òòIdóó.€€The€non„Ð D!” Ðmovant's€burden€may€be€met€by:Ð0"€ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xà(1)€€pointing€to€evidence€establishing€material€factualÐ $X" Ðdisputes€that€were€over„looked€or€ignored€by€theÐ ô$D # Ðmoving€party;Ðà%0!$¸ ¸  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xà(2)€€rehabilitating€the€evidence€attacked€by€the€movingÐ Ì&"% Ðparty;и'#&¸ ¸  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xà(3)€€producing€additional€evidence€establishing€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðâ âexistence€of€a€genuine€issue€for€trial;€orÐ)à$(¸ ¸  Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xà(4)€€submitting€an€affidavit€explaining€the€necessityÐ ° Ðfor€further€discovery€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.,Ð œì ÐRule€56.06.Јظ ¸  Ðâ âòòÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIdóó.€at€215€n.€6.€€The€non„moving€party's€evidence€shall€be€taken€asÐ `° Ðtrue.€€òòIdóó.€€Moreover,€summary€judgment€shall€be€denied€if€"any€doubtÐ L œ Ðwhether€or€not€a€genuine€issue€exists."€€òòIdóó.€at€211.Ð8 ˆ` x` x ÐÌ960€S.W.2d€at€588.Ð  ` ÐÌà  àIn€the€instant€case,€plaintiffððs€amended€complaint€sues€the€City€of€Milan,€a€governmentalÐ è 8  Ðentity,€pursuant€to€under€the€Tennessee€Governmental€Tort€Liability€Act.€€As€previously€noted,€theÐ Ô$  Ðcomplaint€alleges€negligence€on€the€part€of€City€in€failing€to€prevent€an€electrical€surge€resulting€inÐ À  Ðdamages€to€plaintiff.€€For€such€an€act,€Cityððs€immunity€is€removed€pursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€29„20„205Ð ¬ü  Ð(2000)€which€provides€in€pertinent€part:€€Ð ˜è  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àò òRemoval€of€immunity€for€injury€caused€by€negligent€act€orÐ pÀ Ðomission€of€employees€„€Exceptions€„€Immunity€for€year€2000Ð \¬ Ðcomputer€calculation€errors.€„ó ó€Immunity€from€suit€of€allÐ H˜ Ðgovernmental€entities€is€removed€for€injury€proximately€caused€by€aÐ 8ˆ Ðnegligent€act€or€omission€of€any€employee€within€the€scope€of€hisÐ $t Ðemployment€except€if€the€injury€arises€out€of:Ð`` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[No€applicable€exceptions€disclosed.]Ðè8` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€complaint€also€alleges€negligent€installation€and€maintenance€of€a€utility€pole€andÐ À Ðelectrical€wiring€which€caused€the€fire.€€For€this€allegation,€immunity€is€removed€under€theÐ ¬ü Ðprovisions€of€T.C.A.€ðð€29„20„204,€which€provides€as€follows:Ð ˜è ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àò òRemoval€of€immunity€for€injury€from€dangerous€structures€„Ð pÀ ÐException€„€Notice€required.€ó ó„€(a)€Immunity€from€suit€of€aÐ \ ¬ Ðgovernmental€entity€is€removed€for€any€injury€caused€by€theÐ L!œ Ðdangerous€or€defective€condition€of€any€public€building,€structure,Ð 8"ˆ  Ðdam,€reservoir€or€other€public€improvement€owned€and€controlled€byÐ $#t! Ðsuch€governmental€entity.Ð$`"` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(B)€Immunity€is€not€removed€for€latent€defective€conditions,€nor€shallÐ è%8!$ Ðthis€section€apply€unless€constructive€and/or€actual€notice€to€theÐ Ô&$"% Ðgovernmental€entity€of€such€condition€be€alleged€and€proved€inÐ À'#& Ðaddition€to€the€procedural€notice€required€by€ðð€29„20„302.Ь(ü#'` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€complaint€minimally€states€a€claim€upon€which€relief€can€be€granted.€€City€filed€aÐ „*Ô%) Ðsummary€judgment€motion€supported€by€affidavits€which€merely€state€that€none€of€the€employeesÐ p+À&* Ðreceived€notice€of€any€kind€that€there€was€a€defective€condition€with€regard€to€the€pole€and€electricalÐ ° Ðwiring.€€City€does€not€deny€that€it€constructed€the€pole€and€line,€nor€does€it€offer€any€denial€that€thereÐ œì Ðwas€a€defective€installation,€nor€is€there€any€proof€concerning€the€allegation€that€the€City€wasÐ ˆØ Ðnegligent€in€failing€to€properly€safeguard€against€surges€in€the€Davis€electrical€line.€€Since€the€CityÐ tÄ Ðof€Milan€constructed€the€pole€and€installed€the€wiring,€the€City€must€be€charged€with€notice€of€theÐ `° Ðcondition€as€constructed.€€ò òòòSee€Burton€v.€Carroll€County,€Tennessee,€ó óóóNo.€W2000„00549„COA„R3„Ð L œ ÐCV,€2001€WL€204206€(Tenn.€Ct€App.€Feb.€27,€2001)€òòperm.€app.€deniedóó€(Tenn.€Sept.€10,€2001).€€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àIn€the€instant€case,€City€did€not€negate€a€claimed€basis€for€the€suit;€thus,€Davisððs€ð ðburden€toÐ  ` Ðproduce€either€supporting€affidavits€or€discovery€materials€is€not€triggered,€and€the€motion€forÐ ü L  Ðsummary€judgment€fails.ðð€€ò òòòMcCarleyó óóó,€960€S.W.2d€at€588.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àAccordingly,€the€order€of€the€trial€court€granting€summary€judgment€to€the€City€of€Milan€isÐ À  Ðreversed,€and€the€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€such€further€proceedings€as€necessary.€€CostsÐ ¬ü  Ðof€the€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€appellee,€City€of€Milan.Ð ˜è  Ðò òòòó óóóÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à__________________________________________Ð 4„ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.Ô_Ô