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AS 0 0DG AHP LaserJet 8000 Series PS0(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#$  0      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.wpt9)   Ry$      1  X=\X  _ԀTheappelleepointsoutthattherecordcontainsnoindicationthatFreemaneverfiledan  amendedcomplaint.Thetrialcourt,however,apparentlytreatedFreemansmotionforleaveto  amend,inwhichhesetoutgroundsforamendment,asanamendedcomplaint.r')bk1^Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 53|xU    - -(|G2y$ !.8Rd d 8         0  X%X d(|3$ !.8Rd d 8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8Rd d 8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8^d d8     _^@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @''%ATJACKSON   @ January2000Session  X=\X^ #^XX=\d#  RONALDFREEMAN,JR.v.BOBBYSHANNON,SHERIFFOFBENTON  COUNTY,TENNESSEEX=\X^    @s s  Rule3AppealfromtheCircuitCourtforHenryCounty   @  No.1025JulianP._Guinn_,Judge   _   `     h      p      x  _@*AV) ` dE<k` A߈ l  @ No.W199901597C0AR3CVDecidedSeptember7,2000 e  AV) ` dE<8` A XXXX=\ 9      ThisisanegligencesuitundertheTennesseeGovernmentalTortLiabilityAct.Theplaintiff 4 isaprisonerwhowasinjuredwhenanothercarstruckthepatrolcarinwhichhewasbeing  p transported.TheplaintiffsuedthecountysheriffundertheTennesseeGovernmentalTortLiability  \ Act,assertingthathisinjurieswerecausedbythenegligenceofthesheriffsdeputy.Theplaintiff H lateramendedhiscomplainttoaddthecountyasadefendant.Thetrialcourtgrantedmotionsto 4 dismissfiledbyboththesheriffandthecounty.Theplaintiffappealsthetrialcourtsdismissalof   hissuitagainstthecounty.Weaffirm,findingthattheamendedcomplaintagainstthecountydoes   notrelatebacktothedatetheplaintifffiledsuitagainstthesheriffandthereforeisbarredbythe  statuteoflimitations.#X=\XXX##^XX=\#X=\X^   @ Tenn.R.App.3;Judgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed  j HollyKirbyLillard,J.#^X=\Z #X=\X.^,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichW.FrankCrawford,_P.J._, > WS,andAlanE._Highers_,J.,joined. (x KathleenL.Caldwell,Memphis,Tennessee,fortheappellant,RonaldFreeman,Jr.  L  GregoryH._Oakley_,Nashville,Tennesseefortheappellee,BobbyShannon,SheriffofBenton " " County,Tennessee # # @55' OPINION #^XX=\5 #X=\X^Ԉ % % #^XX=\ #X=\X^XXXX=\   OnJuly29,1997,Plaintiff/AppellantRonaldFreeman,Jr.( Freeman),astateprisoner,was b'"' beingtransportedfromcourttoprisonbyBentonCountySheriffsDeputyDennisWheatley N(#( ( Wheatley)inaBentonCountySheriffsDeputyscar.WheatleyhadplacedFreeman,handcuffed, :)$) intherearofthepatrolcarwithoutfasteninghisseatbelt.OnJanuary28,1998,Freemanfiledapro &*v%* secomplaintagainstBobbyShannon( Shannon),theBentonCountySheriff.Freemanallegedthat +b&+ hisinjurieswereduetothenegligenceofShannon,orofhisagentWheatley,infailingtofasten +N', Freemansseatbeltwhenhewasplacedintherearofthepatrolcar.  ,:(- ?cOa  OnAugust5,1998,Shannonfiledamotiontodismissforfailuretostateaclaim,underRule  12.02(6)oftheTennesseeRuleofCivilProcedure.Shannonarguedthat,asacountyemployee,he  wasimmunefromsuitunderSection2920310(b)oftheTennesseeGovernmentalTortLiability  Act,TennesseeCodeAnnotatedSection2920101etseq.#X=\XXX #XXXX=\# XX #XX Ԁ( _TGTLA_),uponwhichFreemans t negligencesuitwouldnecessarilybebased.Section2920310(b)ofthe_TGTLA_Ԁprovidesthat no ` claimmaybebroughtagainstanemployeeorjudgmententeredagainstanemployeefordamages L  forwhichtheimmunityofthegovernmentalentityisremovedbythischapterunlesstheclaimisone 8  formedicalmalpracticebroughtagainstahealthcarepractitioner.Tenn.CodeAnn.2920310(b) $ t (Supp.1998).Inaddition,ShannonarguedthatFreemanscomplaintfailedtostateacauseofaction  ` againsthimbecauseitcontainednofactualallegationregardingShannonsactionsuponwhicha  L  claimofnegligencecouldbebased.  8    OnNovember9,1998,afterobtainingcounsel,Freemanfiledamotionforleavetoamend   hiscomplainttoaddBentonCounty( theCounty)asadefendant.OnNovember13,1998,thetrial   courtgrantedFreemanpermissiontoamendhiscomplainttoaddBentonCountyasadefendant,and   gavehimfourteendaystofilehisamendedcomplaint.  #  1      ׀ p      OnDecember2,1998,theCountyfiledamotiontodismisstheamendedcomplaintfor \ failuretostateaclaimuponwhichreliefcanbegranted,pursuanttoRule12.02(6)oftheTennessee H RulesofCivilProcedure.TheCountynotedthattheamendedcomplaintwasfiledmorethanone 4 yearafterFreemansinjury.ItarguedthatFreemansclaimagainsttheCounty# XX#XX #X=\XXXy#XXXX=\wasbarredbythe  p oneyearstatuteoflimitationsinSection2920305(b)ofthe_TGTLA_.TheCountymaintainedthat  \ FreemansamendedcomplaintagainsttheCountycouldnotrelatebacktothedatehefiledhis H originalcomplaintagainstShannonunderRule15.03oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure 4 because# XXU#XX #X=\XXX#XXXX=\therequirementsofRule15.03hadnotbeenmet.Rule15.03states:   8  Whenevertheclaimordefenseassertedintheamendedpleadingsaroseoutofthe  conduct,transactionoroccurrencesetforthorattemptedtobesetforthintheoriginal  pleading,theamendmentrelatesbacktothedateoftheoriginalpleading.An  amendmentchangingthepartyorthenamingofthepartybyoragainstwhomaclaim l isassertedrelatesbackiftheforegoingprovisionissatisfiedandif,withintheperiod X  providedbylawforcommencinganactionorwithin120daysaftercommencement D! oftheaction,thepartytobebroughtinbyamendment(1)hasreceivedsuchnotice 0"  oftheinstitutionoftheactionthatthepartywillnotbeprejudicedinmaintaininga #l! defenseonthemerits,and(2)kneworshouldhaveknownthat,butforamistake $X" concerningtheidentityoftheproperparty,theactionwouldhavebeenbrought $D # againsttheparty.%0!$    '#& Tenn.R.Civ.P.15.03.#X=\XXX#XXXX=\# XX#XX ԀTheCountycontendedthatithadnotreceivednoticeoftheoriginallawsuit  againstShannon.Italsoassertedthattherewasnomistakeabouttheidentityofthepartytobesued;  FreemanmadeadeliberatedecisiontosuetheSheriffratherthantheCounty.    OnJanuary25,1999,thetrialcourtdismissedFreemansclaimagainsttheCounty.Thetrial ` courtfoundthatFreemansdecisiontonameSheriffShannoninsteadoftheCountyinhisoriginal L  complainthadbeena mistakeconcerningtheidentityoftheproperpartytobesuedas 8  contemplatedbyRule15.03,butthatFreemanhad failedtocarryhisburdenofprovingthat $ t BentonCountyhadnoticeofthelawsuitasrequiredbyTenn.R.Civ.P.15.03.Theclaimagainst  ` ShannonwasdismissedbyanorderofthetrialcourtfiledonFebruary1,1999.  L    FreemannowappealsthetrialcourtsdismissalofhisclaimagainsttheCounty.Freeman $  arguesthatthetrialcourterredinfindingthathefailedtoshowthattheCountyhadnoticeofthe   originallawsuitagainstShannon,asrequiredbyRule15.03inorderforhisclaimagainsttheCounty   torelatebacktothedatehefiledhisoriginalcomplaint,thusfallingwithintheoneyearstatuteof   limitations.Freemanassertsthat itisan_uncontroverted_ԀfactthatBentonCountyreceivednotice   ofthelawsuit.Insupport,hepointsoutthatservicewasmadeon SheriffBobbyShannonathis p placeofemployment.Freemanalsocontendsthatacomplaintthatnamesalocalgovernmental \ officialinhisofficialcapacityisinrealityaclaimagainstthelocalgovernmentalentityitself. H Freemanarguesthatinhisoriginalprosecomplaint,inwhichhesuedShannoninhisofficial 4 capacityasBentonCountySheriff,itwasclearthattheintendeddefendantwastheCounty,andthat  p consequently,theCountyhadnoticeofthelawsuitagainstit.  \   TheCountydeniesthatFreemansoriginalsuitnamedShannoninhisofficialcapacityorthat 4 suingtheBentonCountySheriffwastheequivalentofsuingBentonCounty.Inaddition,t#X=\XXX!#XXXX=\# XX"#XX heCounty   maintainthatitneverreceivednoticeoftheoriginallawsuit.# XX,#XX #X=\XXX,#XXXX=\ԀCitingRule4.04(7)oftheTennessee   RulesofCivilProcedure,theCountyarguesthatserviceontheSheriffoftheCountydoesnot  constituteserviceontheCounty.Rule4.04(7)statesthatserviceofprocessonacountyshallbe  madeby:  8  deliveringacopyofthesummonsandofthecomplainttothechiefexecutiveofficer X  ofthecounty,orifabsentfromthecounty,tothecountyattorneyifthereisone D! designated;ifnot,bydeliveringthecopiestothecourtclerk.0"    Tenn.R.Civ.P.4.04(7).SinceFreemandidnotservetheproperpartiesundertheRule,andthere $X" wasnoproofthatanyCountyofficial,otherthantheSheriff,hadnoticeofthelawsuit,theCounty $D # contendsthatFreemanfailedinhisburdenofestablishingthattheCountyhadnoticeoftheoriginal %0!$ suit.Inaddition,theCountycontendsthatFreemandeliberatelychosetosuetheSheriffratherthan &"% theCounty,andthatRule15.03wasnotdesignedforsituations,suchasthisone,inwhichthe '#& plaintiffinitiallychoosesoneparty,andthenlaterseekstochangethepartybeingsued. (#'   InreviewingthetrialcourtsgrantoftheCountysmotiontodismiss,allfactualallegations |*%) inFreemanscomplaintaretakenastrue,andthetrialcourtsconclusionsoflawarereviewedde h+&* ?c    novoontherecordbeforethisCourt,withnopresumptionofcorrectness.#X=\XXX-#XXXX=\# XXj-#XX  See Tenn.R.App.P.13  (d); Doev._Sundquist_ ,2S.W.3d,919,922(Tenn.1999).#X=\XXX4#XXXX=\# XX5#XX Amotiontodismissforfailuretostatea  claimteststhelegalsufficiencyoftheplaintiffscomplaint. Riggsv._Burson_ ,941S.W.2d44,47  (Tenn.1997).Thegrantofthedefendantsmotiontodismissmaybeaffirmedonlyiftheallegations t intheplaintiffscomplaint,eveniftakenastrue,failtostateaclaimuponwhichtheplaintiffwould ` beentitledtorelief. SeeSteinv.DavidsonHotelCo. ,945S.W.2d714,716(Tenn.1997).  L    TheTennesseeGovernmentalTortLiabilityAct( _TGTLA_),TennesseeCodeAnnotated $ t Section2920101etseq,uponwhichFreemansclaimagainsttheCountyisbased,containsa  ` statuteoflimitationsforallactionsbroughtincircuitcourt:  L  8  (a)Iftheclaimisdenied,aclaimantmayinstituteanactioninthecircuitcourt $  againstthegovernmentalentityinthosecircumstanceswhereimmunityfromsuithas   beenremovedasprovidedforinthischapter;...    Ѐ0  (b)Theactionmustbecommencedwithintwelve(12)monthsafterthecauseofaction   arises.p(#(# Tenn.CodeAnn.2920305.(Supp.1998) SinceFreemanfiledhisamendedcomplaint,adding H theCountyasadefendant,morethanoneyearaftertheaccidentoccurred,hisclaimagainstthe 4 Countyisbarredbythetwelvemonthstatuteoflimitationsprovidedbythe_TGTLA_,unlessservice  p ontheSheriffisthelegalequivalentofserviceontheCounty,orunlessFreemansamended  \ complaintrelatesbacktothedateonwhichtheoriginalcomplaintwasfiled,underRule15.03of H theTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure. 4   FreemanfirstarguesthathisoriginalcomplaintnamedShannoninhisofficialcapacityas   SheriffofBentonCounty,andthataclaimagainstanofficersuchasShannonis inrealityaclaim  againstthegovernmentalentity.Insupport,Freemancites_caselaw_Ԁunder42U.S.C.1983. See  Monellv.NewYorkCityDept.ofSoc.Serv. ,436U.S.658,690n.55,98S.Ct.2018,2035n.55  (1978); Kentuckyv.Graham ,473U.S.159,167n.14,105S.Ct.3099,3106n.14(1985);and l  MemphisPoliceDept.v.Garner ,471U.S.1,105S.Ct.1694(1985). However,theTennessee X  RulesofCivilProceduresetforthclearlythemethodbywhichserviceofprocessmustbemadeon D! acounty,whichdoesnotincludeservicetothesheriffofthecounty. See Rule4.04(7)ofthe 0"  TennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure.WefindFreemansargumentonthisissuetobewithoutmerit. #l! Ѐ #X=\XXX5#XXXX=\# XX76#XX   Freemanalsoarguesonappealthatthetrialcourterredindismissinghisclaimagainstthe $D # County,basedonitsfindingthathehadfailedtocarryhisburdenofprovingthattheCountyhad %0!$ noticeofthelawsuit,asrequiredbyRule15.03.However,theissueofwhethertheamended &"% complaintrelatesbackunderRule15.03isgovernedbythisCourtsrecentdecisionin Doylev. '#& Frost ,No.02A019812CV00338,1999WL787432,at*1(Tenn.Ct.App.Sept.24,1999),cert. (#' grantedApr.10,2000.#X=\XXXFC##^XX=\C#   ^XX  )$( # XXF##^ oF# ^XX     In Doyle ,theplaintifffiledalawsuitallegingmedicalmalpracticeagainstaphysician. Doyle  h+&* at*1.ThelawsuitwasalsofiledagainstWestTennesseeHealthcare,whichtheplaintiffbelieved T,'+ Oa    wasthephysiciansemployer. Id. Morethanoneyearaftertheplaintiffscauseofactionaccrued,  theplaintifflearnedthatthephysiciansemployerwasJacksonMadisonCountyHospital,a  governmentalentity,ratherthanWestTennesseeHealthcare. Id. Theplaintiffsoughttoamendto  addtheHospitalasadefendant.Thetrialcourtdeniedthemotion,andthisCourtaffirmed. Id. at t *7. `   In Doyle ,we#X=\XXXG##^XX=\'G# ^XX notedthatthe_TGTLA_Ԁ #X=\XXX3K##^XX=\RK#  ^XX statesthatclaimsundertheActmustbebroughtinstrict 8  compliancewithitsprovisions. Id. at*3.The_TGTLA_Ԁprovidesthatactionsagainstgovernmental $ t entities mustbecommencedwithintwelve(12)monthsafterthecauseofactionaccrues. Id. at  ` *3(quotingTenn.CodeAnn.2920305(b)(Supp.1998)).ThisCourtemphasizedthatthis  L  provisionmeansthatbringinganactionwithinthetwelvemonthsofthedatethecauseofaction  8  accruedisa conditionprecedenttothebringingofaclaimunderthe_TGTLA_. Id. at*4(citing $   _Lockaby_Ԁv.CityofKnoxville ,No.03A019609CV00297,1997WL129115,at*2(Tenn.Ct.App.   March21,1997); _Nance_Ԁv.CityofKnoxville ,883S.W.2d629,632(Tenn.Ct.App.1994); Williams   v.MemphisLight,GasandWaterDiv. ,773S.W.2d522,523(Tenn.Ct.App.1988); Danielv.   _Hardin_ԀCountyGen.Hosp. ,971S.W.2d21,25(Tenn.Ct.App.1997)).   #X=\XXXK##^XX=\L# ^XX   The Doyle Courtalsonoted Danielv._Hardin_ԀCountyGeneralHospital ,971S.W.2d21,25 \ (Tenn.Ct.App.1997)),and Goodmanv._Suh_ ,No.03A019501CV00005,1995WL507778 H (Tenn.Ct.App.Aug.29,1995),which# XXQ#XX #X=\XXXQ#XXXX=\  heldthatthe twelvemonthstatueoflimitationsofthe 4 _TGTLA_ԀcannotbeextendedbyuseofTennesseeCodeAnnotatedSection201119,whichprovides  p fortherelationbackofclaimsassertedbyaplaintiffagainstanewdefendant,identifiedinthe  \ originaldefendantsanswertothecomplaintasapartyresponsibleforsomeoralloftheplaintiffs H injuries.Tenn.CodeAnn.201119(1994).The Doyle Courtstated: 4 8  Itwouldbeinconsistenttoholdthatsection201119isapplicabletoclaimsbrought   underthe_TGTLA_ԀandalsoholdthatRule15.03isapplicabletosuchclaims.Inlight  oftheinconsistencythatwouldbecreatedbysuchaholding,wearecompelledto  findthatRule15.03maynotbeusedtoextendthetwelvemonthlimitationsperiod  ofsection2920305(b).l   Id.at*7.Therefore,inviewofitsholdingthatRule15.03cannotbeutilizedtoextendtheoneyear D! limitationsperiodinthe_TGTLA_,theappellatecourtin Doyle affirmedthetrialcourtsdenialofthe 0"  plaintiffsmotiontoamendthecomplainttoaddtheHospitalasadefendant. Id.  #l! #X=\XXXS##^XX=\S#X=\X^XXXX=\  Asin Doyle ,FreemanaddedtheCountyasadefendantmorethanoneyearafterhiscause $D # ofactionaccrued.Thus,Freemandidnotsatisfytheconditionprecedenttohisrighttobringaclaim %0!$ againsttheCounty.Consequently,FreemansclaimagainsttheCountyisbarredbytheexpiration &"% ofthetwelvemonthstatuteoflimitationsperiodprovidedbythe_TGTLA_.   '#&   Insum,FreemansserviceoftheoriginallawsuitonSheriffShannonisnotdeemedservice )$( ontheCountyunderthefactsofthislawsuit.Inaddition,Rule15.03cannotbeutilizedtoextend |*%) theoneyearlimitationsperiodcontainedinthe_TGTLA_.Freemanfailedtobringhisactionagainst h+&* theCountywithinoneyearafteraccrualofhisclaim;therefore,hisclaimagainsttheCountyis  barredbythetwelvemonthstatuteoflimitations.Accordingly,thetrialcourtsgrantofthe  Countysmotiontodismissmustbeaffirmed.  Ѐ  Thedecisionofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellant,Ronald ` Freeman,Jr.,andhissurety,forwhichexecutionmayissue,ifnecessary.#X=\XXXRZ##^XX=\3Z# L      `     h   򀀀 <      `     h   HOLLYKIRBYLILLARD,J.