WPC _ץUBoZгg0Hg{=M委 d JY>jN\(DHِ=ȓE|HAeC{㈺dVb9E0"d7 _sʖ#!'6RNr<0"Ni!]rz_PzY;Rae%+u ]Wq0qepѥ?W\0F[8I^>ZXώyI[z<cJA R#Q]]sEU hoD9;n}46GFLהE%Y>_%NgSnT@l[oOe©8;;r.d;ӈ+7x`;C-,U{3.җWGttjS%I{3SOQN@X6 VݎH҆"0{J{?{zlzGn6Db#\ % UN# 0q UN AG ^ z  w  4 0D PhNwy m{Eb 0 B 0 D3H D-{ 0K ASF 0  0D AHP LaserJet 4,,,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular 7 Rj$      2     _Infact,Mr.Farnsworthfiledapostdismissalmotioninthetrialcourtseekingtowithdrawhisinforma  _pauperis_application.t),L  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.wpt  Rj$      1     _Mr.FarnsworthidentifiesMr.Kenyonas Mr.Kenya.Accordingtohisaffidavit,hiscorrectnameisMr.  Kenyon.L,+֟c(#$  0  Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 53|xU- -(|G2j$ !.8dd8         0  ɼ d(|3A'$ !.8dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3A'$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8\dd8     _  \8XXdd8  @ \INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON#\ #Ԉ ,   ASSIGNEDONBRIEFSOCTOBER19,2001 X XX\ #\XX#PAULFARNSWORTHa/k/aRONNIE_BRADFIELD_v.RICHARDKENYAXX\   ` @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtforLakeCounty  h @@No.977590;TheHonorableR.LeeMoore,Jr.,Circuit  X @@*AV) ` dE<` A (  @@TTNo.W200100961_COA_ԄR3CVFiledJanuary9,_2002_ '  AV) ` dE<` A      XXXXThisappealarisesfromtheAppelleesdenialoftheAppellantsrequesttomarryduringthe  Appellantsincarceration.TheAppellantfiledacomplaintintheCircuitCourtofLakeCounty  againsttheAppelleesforbreachofcontractandretaliation.TheAppelleesfiledamotiontodismiss  claimingthattheAppellantfailedtoexhausthisadministrativeremediesandfailedtostateaclaim z forwhichreliefcanbegranted.TheAppelleesfiledamotiontostaydiscovery.TheAppellantfiled f amotionforleavetoamendhiscomplaint.TheAppellantsoughttoaddnewdefendantsand R additionalclaimsthatwereunrelatedtohisoriginalclaim.ThetrialcourtgrantedtheAppellees > motiontodismiss.Onappeal,thisCourtfoundthatthetrialcourtfailedtoruleonthemotionto *z amendtheoriginalcomplaint.ThisCourtdismissedtheappealonthebasisthattheorderappealed f fromwasnotafinaljudgment. R   Thetrialcourtenteredanordergrantingthemotiontostaydiscovery,denyingthemotionto * amendtheoriginalcomplaint,anddismissingthecase.TheAppellantappealsthedecisionofthe  CircuitCourtofLakeCountygrantingthemotiontostaydiscovery,denyingthemotiontoamend  theoriginalcomplaint,anddismissingthecase.Forthereasonsstatedherein,weaffirmthetrial  courtsdecision.#XXXX##\XXۧ#XX\    Tenn.R.App.P.3;AppealasRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourtAffirmed  f"!   #\X #XX.\AlanE.Highers,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichDavidR.Farmer,J.,andHolly F$# KirbyLillard,J.,joined. 6% $ PaulFarnsworth,_Henning_,TN,prose 'f"& PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneral&Reporter,MichaelMoore,SolicitorGeneral,PamelaS. (F$( _Lorch_,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,Nashville,TN,forAppellees )6%) z   -(- OPINION #\XX۩ #XX\  #\XX#XX\     ` XXXX@I.FactsandProceduralHistory     TheAppellant,PaulFarnsworth_aka_ԀRonnie_Bradfield_Ԁ( Mr.Farnsworth),isaninmatein h theLakeCountyRegionalCorrectionalFacilityinLakeCounty,Tennessee.Sincehewas T  incarcerated,Mr.FarnsworthhadbeenvisitedbyWanda_Stinson_Ԁ( Ms._Stinson_),whoidentified @  herselfonMr.Farnsworthsvisitationrecordsashishalfsister.Mr.Farnsworthsinstitutionalfile , | identifiedTammyWilliams( Ms.Williams)ashiswife.  h   InoraroundAugust,1995,Mr.FarnsworthadvisedtheAppellee,prisonchaplainRichard  @  Kenyon   #  1      ׀( Mr.Kenyon),ofhisintentiontomarryMs._Stinson_.Mr.Kenyonprovidedtherequired ,  formstoMr.Farnsworth.Mr.FarnsworthreturnedthecompletedformstoMr.Kenyon.Mr.   KenyonconfirmedthatMr.FarnsworthwaspermittedtomarryMs._Stinson_.OnFebruary15,1996,   theAppellee,associatewardenStephen_Dotson_Ԁ( Mr._Dotson_),sentMr.Farnsworthaletter   informinghimthatthemarriagescheduledforFebruary17,1996wasnotapproved.Mr._Dotson_   informedMr.FarnsworththatthemarriagewasnotapprovedbecauseMs._Stinson_Ԁwaslistedinthe x visitationrecordsashishalfsisterandhisinstitutionalfileidentifiedMs.Williamsashiswife.Mr. d _Dotson_ԀinsistedthatMr.FarnsworthprovidedocumentationtoMr.Kenyonthathewasnotalready P marriedtoMs.WilliamsandwasnotrelatedtoMs._Stinson_.Mr.Farnsworthfailedtoprovidethe < requestedinformationandfailedtofileagrievancewiththegrievancecommittee. (x   OnJanuary31,1997,Mr.FarnsworthfiledacomplaintintheCircuitCourtofLakeCounty P againsttheAppellees,twoJohnDoedefendants,Mr.Kenyon,andMr._Dotson_Ԁ( thedefendants). < ThecomplaintallegedthatthepermissiontomarrygivenbyMr.Kenyoncreatedarighttomarry ( andabindingcontractwhichwasbreached.ThecomplaintfurtherallegedthatMr.Kenyon  cancelledtheweddinginretaliationforMr.FarnsworthspendinglawsuitagainstMr._Dotson_.The  complaintsoughtcompensatoryandpunitivedamages.OnMarch3,1997,thedefendantsfileda  motiontodismissinaccordancewithsection4126806oftheTennesseeCodebecauseMr.  Farnsworthfailedtofileanaffidavitstatingthathefiledagrievanceaswellasacopyofthefinal t decisionofthegrievancecommittee.ThedefendantsalsoassertedthatMr.Farnsworthfailedto `  stateaclaimuponwhichreliefcanbegrantedbecauseTennesseelawprohibitsmarriagebetween L! siblingsandprohibitsbigamy. 8"    OnMarch7,1997,Mr.Farnsworthfiledamotionforextensionoftimetorespondtothe $`" motiontodismissclaimingthathehadtherighttoconductdiscovery.OnMarch10,1997,thetrial $L # courtorderedMr.FarnsworthtorespondtothemotiontodismissonorbeforeMarch31,1997.On %8!$ March11,1997,thedefendantsfiledtheaffidavitofMr.Kenyoninsupportofthemotiontodismiss. &$"% OnMarch24,1997,thedefendantsfiledamotiontostaydiscoveryuntilthetrialcourtruledonthe '#& motiontodismiss.OnApril1,1997,Mr.Farnsworthfiledanoppositioninresponsetothemotion (#' todismiss.Mr.Farnsworthsubmittedanunswornaffidavitinsupportofhisoppositiontothe  motiontodismiss.OnMay13,1997,Mr.Farnsworthfiledanamendmenttohisoriginalcomplaint  inwhichheattemptedtoaddnewdefendantsandallegenewcausesofactionundertheFirst  AmendmentandtheEighthAmendmentwhichwereunrelatedtohisoriginalclaim.OnMay19, t 1997,thedefendantsfiledanoppositiontotheamendmenttooriginalcomplaint.OnMay22,1997, ` Mr.Farnsworthfiledamotionforleaveofcourttoamendhiscomplaint. L    OnMay27,1997,thetrialcourtgrantedthemotiontodismiss.OnJune6,1997,Mr. $ t Farnsworthfiledanoticeofappeal.ThisCourtfoundthatthetrialcourtfailedtoruleonthemotion  ` toamendtheoriginalcomplaint.ThisCourtdismissedtheappealonthebasisthattheorder  L  appealedfromwasnotafinaljudgment.OnFebruary21,2001,thetrialcourtenteredanorder  8  grantingthemotiontostaydiscovery,denyingthemotiontoamendtheoriginalcomplaint,and $  dismissingthecasepursuanttotheMay27,1997orderofdismissal.OnMarch7,2001,Mr.   Farnsworthfiledamotionclaimingthatthetrialcourtcouldnotgrantamotiontodismissuntilhe   wasalloweddiscoveryandseekingtowithdrawhisinforma_pauperis_applicationinanattemptto   maketheadministrativerequirementspursuanttosection4121806oftheTennesseeCode   inapplicabletothiscase.OnMarch20,2001,thedefendantsfiledamotioninoppositiontothe p postdismissalmotion.OnMarch22,2001,thetrialcourtdeniedthepostdismissalmotion.This \ appealfollowed. H @ II.StandardofReview   p   Thestandardofreviewforanon-jurycaseisdenovoupontherecord.SeeWrightv.City H ofKnoxville,898S.W.2d177,181(Tenn.1995).Thereisapresumptionofcorrectnessastothe 4 trialcourtsfactualfindings,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.SeeTenn.R.   App.P.13(d).Forissuesoflaw,thestandardofreviewisdenovo,withnopresumptionof   correctness.See_Ridings_Ԁv.RalphM.ParsonsCo.,914S.W.2d79,80(Tenn.1996).  @00 III.LawandAnalysis     Thefollowingissues,asweperceivethem,arepresentedforourreview: X  1.WhetherMr.Farnsworthwasboundbysection4121806oftheTennesseeCode; 0"  2.WhetherMr.Farnsworthshouldhavebeenalloweddiscoverybeforehiscomplaintwas #l! dismissed;and $X" 3.WhetherthetrialcourterredbydenyingMr.Farnsworthsmotiontoamendhisoriginal $D # complaint. %0!$ Wewillexamineeachissueinturn. '#&   ThefirstissuepresentedforourreviewiswhetherMr.Farnsworthwasboundbysection41 )$( 21806oftheTennesseeCode.In1996,theTennesseeLegislatureenactedsection4121801et |*%) seq.oftheTennesseeCodewhichestablishesrequirementsforlawsuitsbyinmates.Section4121 h+&* 802statesthatsection4121801etseq.appliesonlytoaclaimbroughtbyaninmateinwhichan  affidavitofinabilitytopaycostsisfiledwiththeclaim.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.4121802(1996).  Section4121806(a)provides,inpertinentpart:     ` (a)Aninmatewhofilesaclaimthatissubjecttoreviewbythe `    ` grievancecommitteeestablishedbythedepartmentshallfile L     ` withthecourtanaffidavitstatingthedatethatthegrievance 8     ` wasfiledandthedatethefinaldecisionwasreceivedbythe $ t    ` inmatewithacopyofthefinaldecisionfromthegrievance  `    ` committee.  L  Tenn.CodeAnn.4121806(a)(1996). $  Inthecaseatbar,thetrialcourtdismissedMr.Farnsworthscomplaintonthebasisthathefailedto   complywithsection4121806(a).     Mr.Farnsworthnowclaimsforthefirsttimeonappealthattherequirementsofsection41 p 21801etseq.areinapplicabletothiscasebecausehedidnotfilehiscomplaintinforma_pauperis_. \ Fromourreviewoftherecord,wefindthatMr.Farnsworthfailedtoraisethisissueinthetrial H court.  #  2      ׀Anappellantmaynotraiseanissueforthefirsttimeonappeal.SeeState_Dept_ԀofHuman 4 Servicesv._Defriece_,937S.W.2d954,960(Tenn.Ct.App.1996)(citingSimpsonv.Frontier  p CommunityCreditUnion,810S.W.2d147,153(Tenn.1991);Lawrencev.Stanford,655S.W.2d  \ 927,929(Tenn.1983)).BecauseMr.Farnsworthfailedtoraisethisissuepriortotheappeal,we H findthisissueiswithoutmerit. 4   ThesecondissuepresentedforourreviewiswhetherMr.Farnsworthshouldhavebeen   alloweddiscoverybeforehiscomplaintwasdismissed.Incasesinvolvinglawsuitsbyinmatesas  inthecaseatbar,section4121804(d)oftheTennesseeCoderequiresthetrialcourttosuspendall  discoveryuponthefilingofamotiontodismissassertingthataclaimisfrivolousormalicious.See  Tenn.CodeAnn.4121804(d)(1996).Section4121804(b)setsforthseveralfactorsforcourts l toconsiderindeterminingwhetheraclaimisfrivolousormalicious,including [_t]he_Ԁclaimhasno X  basisinlawandinfact.Tenn.CodeAnn.4121804(b)(1996).Becausethedefendantsmotion D! todismisswasbased,inpart,upontheassertionthatMr.Farnsworthsclaimhadnobasisinlawand 0"  infact(i.e.,thatMr.Farnsworthfailedtostateaclaimuponwhichreliefcanbegranted),themotion #l! todismissamountedtoonethatassertedMr.Farnsworthsclaimtobefrivolousormalicious.Thus, $X" section4121804requiredthetrialcourtinthiscasetosuspendalldiscovery.SeeFarnsworthv. $D # Compton,No.02A019809CV00257,1999WL360567,at*3(Tenn.Ct.App.June7,1999); %0!$ _Sweatt_Ԁv.Compton,No.02A019808CV00227,1999WL95978,at*2(Tenn.Ct.App.Feb.25, &"% 1999).Accordingly,wefindthisissueiswithoutmerit. '#&  (#'   ThethirdissuepresentedforourreviewiswhetherthetrialcourterredbydenyingMr.  Farnsworthsmotiontoamendhisoriginalcomplaint.Rule15.01oftheTennesseeRulesofCivil  Procedureprovides: Apartymayamendhispleadingsonceasamatterofcourseatanytimebefore  aresponsivepleadingisserved...[_o]therwise_Ԁapartymayamendhispleadingsonlybywritten t consentoftheadversepartyorbyleaveofcourt.Althoughtheruleprovidesthatpermissionto ` amendmaybeliberallygranted,thedecisiontoamendlieswithinthesounddiscretionofthetrial L  court,andwillnotbereversedabsentashowingofabuseofdiscretion.SeeWelchv._Thuan_,882 8  S.W.2d792,793(Tenn.Ct.App.1994);Wilsonv._Ricciardi_,778S.W.2d450,453(Tenn.Ct.App. $ t 1989);_Merriman_Ԁv.Smith,599S.W.2d548,559(Tenn.Ct.App.1979).  `   Inthecaseatbar,Mr.Farnsworthsoughttoamendhiscomplainttoaddnewdefendantsand  8  newcausesofactionthatwerewhollyunrelatedtohisoriginalcomplaint.Wedonotfindany $  indicationintherecordthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretionindenyingthemotiontoamend.   Accordingly,weaffirmthetrialcourtsdecisiondenyingMr.Farnsworthsmotiontoamendhis   originalcomplaint.   Ѐ   @SS# IV.Conclusion  p   Fortheforegoingreasons,thedecisionofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsofthisappealare H taxedagainsttheAppellant,PaulFarnsworth_aka_ԀRonnie_Bradfield_,andhissurety,forwhich 4 executionmayissueifnecessary.#XXXX##\XXx#XX\  p    `     h     ___________________________________ ,    `     h     ALANE.HIGHERS,JUDGE