ÿWPCð ‘a<@ë#)îÂ}LZ·TVo“£¸ÒÃ>”t·ª63"îÓ} ¶òâÞ!KëEú”žAr9|µ ÿ‚U˜^ü;Œ‘RtøÊ“mJÝWÅùšpl10'U¿À&ëÊùÃ,Í 5¿D¯ç¹o4³Ø«Cýæ„) ÓH"õ¿ñ½ÁõCî|ðLà­„%šïê7q݆\û€#xg%+ ås ô4hçq×c¯;µÚǵë.¶<&ôM°Å`ciŠäøÚ„Z÷KâªJîëµÖ Chãw¬Å‹Ñ¸W di·é&‚hÍj•ìÆóŸpšKXšá!Þ¼m ÌZUð‡Ñ2tÕª¡ðX´‹b!L{‹2NÙñ{‡«žõÿ[k¡«ÍaçFÆ + ¼]½ã¤¾¢õñz|/H¦EN*òF[ÄkLj–¢¯Wä]Ç1¨Åv•£¡u)ÉO2Á©š$‹*þÒJT|³éaˆŸLœäŒm´A¨?&CaÊW“º¹Ñr2Ó7a¯nr¢g'ñ®v}t·,ÇΦºQ‡þËÉïÀ“å&LÈ_-ÔÃ˽ÖIݧâ¹BøLOǯõLñ$‘öz qÝ´8dX– GÃ\˜áxõ²£ùáçK˜uÉ*,.§›ÒŸ£7CùNUb#É\ %% ^ + 0ˆ7 UN¿ w 4 z+ Ò¥ w † mˆ UNŸ Æí Ƴ ÆyÆ?ÜNáááEããããããããããããããããããããããããbåååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååååå 0ëíííí BØØ 0¤õ D3™ D-Ì 0Kùù ASDÆ— 0¤] 0D A«E˜\\IB01S04\CLERKKNOXÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»Ú™Þ.Ï (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular=ƒ.ê:i¢×+00 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 CRUSSELL COASwainsonSwineyGoddard P.J.AdkinsCowdenSovranDownenMcCarley OmerCarvell CBLAssocs t]heA]bsentEymanunderinsuredChernNatlp]iecemealT.C.A.owner[soperator[s- ù-(|G2Á$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€GU»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôùÁò»»Ô d(|3‡|$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€GU»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3‡|$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€GU»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€GU»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼GU»»»ÔÑ8€•XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î[GUÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼GU»îî[ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓMay€8,€2003€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X•X»¼GUÔÌÌÌò òÔ#†¼GU»XX•ð#ÔJOHN€HANNAH,€JR.òòóó€v.€LINDSAY€CRUSSELL,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X•X»¼GUÔó óÐ Ò " ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Knox€CountyÐ Ò " Ðà@@øøìàNo.€1„134„02€€€€€€Dale€Workman,€JudgeÐ ¾   ÐÌññFILED€JUNE€30,€Ô_Ô2003ññÔ_ÔÐ –æ  Ðà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<` AßÐ ‚Ò  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2002„02475„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CVÐ }Í  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<T` AßÐ U¥ Ðó óÌÌÌÓ  ÓJohn€Hannah,€Jr.€(ð ðPlaintiffðð)€and€Lindsay€Crussell€were€involved€in€an€automobile€accident.€€At€theÐ (x Ðtime€of€the€accident,€Lindsay€Crussell€was€driving€a€vehicle€owned€by€Gina€Swainson€and€CharlesÐ d ÐSwainson.€€Plaintiff€sued€Lindsay€Crussell,€Gina€Swainson,€and€Charles€Swainson€(ð ðDefendantsðð).€Ð P ÐIn€compliance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56„7„1206,€Plaintiff€served€State€Farm€Mutual€AutomobileÐ ì< ÐInsurance€Company€(ð ðState€Farmðð),€Plaintiffððs€uninsured€motorist€carrier,€with€a€copy€of€theÐ Ø( Ðcomplaint.€€State€Farm€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€The€Trial€Court€granted€State€FarmÐ Ä Ðsummary€judgment€because€Defendants€were€not€uninsured.€€Plaintiff€appeals.€€We€affirm,€in€part,Ð ° Ðand€vacate,€in€part.€€€Ô#†¼GU»XX•p#ÔÔ‡X•X»¼GUÔ€€Ð œì ÐÓ²ÓÌÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Ð `° ÐAffirmed,€in€part,€and€Vacated,€in€part;€Case€Remanded.ó óÐ L œ ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼GU»àX•>#ÔÔ‡X•X.¼GUÔD.€Michael€Swiney,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.,€óóÐ #`" Ðjoined.€€òòCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.óó,€filed€a€concurring€in€part€and€dissenting€in€part€opinion.Ð ü#L# ÐÌÌGary€L.€Adkins,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€John€Hannah,€Jr.Ð À&"& ÐÌJames€C.€Cone,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€State€Farm€Mutual€Automobile€InsuranceÐ ˜(è#( ÐCompany.Ð „)Ô$) ÐÓ7 ÓÌÌÌÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ô‡ò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼GU»XX•f #ÔÔ‡X•X»¼GUÔÐ ° ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼Cí»XX ¡y #ÔÔ€X ¡X»¼CíÔÓÓò òòòBackgroundóóó óÐ ˆØ ÐÓ  ÓÓÓÌà  àà ` àIn€March€of€2001,€Plaintiff€and€Lindsay€Crussell€were€involved€in€an€automobileÐ L œ Ðaccident.€€The€vehicle€that€Lindsay€Crussell€was€driving€was€owned€by€Gina€Swainson€and€CharlesÐ 8 ˆ ÐSwainson.Ð $ t Ѐ€Ð  ` Ðà  àà ` àPlaintiff€sued€Defendants€and€in€compliance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56„7„1206,Ð ü L  Ðserved€State€Farm,€Plaintiffððs€uninsured€motorist€carrier,€with€a€copy€of€the€complaint.€€State€FarmÐ è 8  Ðfiled€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€and€served€requests€for€admissions€upon€Defendants.€Ð Ô$  ÐDefendants€admitted€that€at€the€time€of€the€accident€Defendants€were€insured€under€a€policy€ofÐ À  Ðautomobile€insurance€and€that€the€liability€coverage€limits€of€that€insurance€policy€at€that€time€wereÐ ¬ü  Ðgreater€than€or€equal€to€the€$100,000€per€person€and€$300,000€per€accident€bodily€injury€limits€andÐ ˜è  Ðthe€$50,000€property€damage€limits€contained€in€Plaintiffððs€uninsured€motorist€insurance.€Ð „Ô  ÐDefendants€also€admitted€they€were€not€aware€of€any€coverage€questions,€issues,€or€any€reservationÐ pÀ Ðof€rights€as€to€their€liability€insurance€coverage€that€would€cause€their€automobile€liability€insuranceÐ \¬ Ðto€become€unavailable.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Trial€Court€granted€State€Farm€summary€judgment€holding€that€no€genuine€issueÐ  p Ðof€material€fact€existed€because€there€ð ðis€no€uninsured€or€underinsured€motorist€in€this€case€at€thisÐ  \ Ðtime,€and€the€plaintiff€cannot€sustain€his€burden€of€proving€that€any€defendant€is€uninsured€orÐ øH Ðunderinsured€as€defined€in€T.C.A.€ðð€56„7„1202(a).ðð€€The€Trial€Court€also€included€language€in€itsÐ ä4 Ðorder€stating€ð ðit€is€the€express€determination€of€the€Court€that€there€is€no€just€reason€for€delay€.€.€.ððÐ Ð  Ðmaking€the€judgment€a€final€one€pursuant€to€Rule€54.02€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€Ð ¼  ÐPlaintiff€appeals.€€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌÓ  Óò òòòDiscussionóóó óÐ €Ð ÐÓ  ÓÌà  àà ` àAlthough€not€stated€exactly€as€such,€Plaintiff€raises€one€issue€on€appeal:€whether€StateÐ X ¨ ÐFarm€is€entitled€to€summary€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àAs€our€Supreme€Court€has€instructed:Ð #l! ÐÌà8  àà ` àThe€standards€governing€an€appellate€courtððs€review€of€a€motion€for€summaryÐ ô$D # Ðjudgment€are€well€settled.€€Since€our€inquiry€involves€purely€a€question€of€law,€noÐ à%0!$ Ðpresumption€of€correctness€attaches€to€the€lower€courtððs€judgment,€and€our€task€isÐ Ì&"% Ðconfined€to€reviewing€the€record€to€determine€whether€the€requirements€of€Tenn.€R.Ð ¸'#& ÐCiv.€P.€56€have€been€met.€€òòSee€Hunter€v.€Brown,€óó955€S.W.2d€49,€50„51€(Tenn.€1997);Ð ¤(ô#' ÐòòCowden€v.€Sovran€Bank/Central€South,€óó816€S.W.2d€741,€744€(Tenn.€1991).€Ð )à$( ÐTennessee€Rule€of€Civil€Procedure€56.04€provides€that€summary€judgment€isÐ |*Ì%) Ðappropriate€where:€(1)€there€is€no€genuine€issue€with€regard€to€the€material€factsÐ h+¸&* Ðrelevant€to€the€claim€or€defense€contained€in€the€motion,€òòsee€Byrd€v.€Hall,€óó847Ð ° ÐS.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.€1993);€and€(2)€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€asÐ œì Ða€matter€of€law€on€the€undisputed€facts.€€òòSee€Anderson€v.€Standard€Register€Co.,€óó857Ð ˆØ ÐS.W.2d€555,€559€(Tenn.€1993).€€The€moving€party€has€the€burden€of€proving€that€itsÐ tÄ Ðmotion€satisfies€these€requirements.€€òòSee€Downen€v.€Allstate€Ins.€Co.,€óó811€S.W.2dÐ `° Ð523,€524€(Tenn.€1991).€€When€the€party€seeking€summary€judgment€makes€a€properlyÐ L œ Ðsupported€motion,€the€burden€shifts€to€the€nonmoving€party€to€set€forth€specific€factsÐ 8 ˆ Ðestablishing€the€existence€of€disputed,€material€facts€which€must€be€resolved€by€theÐ $ t Ðtrier€of€fact.€€òòSee€Byrd€v.€Hall,€óó847€S.W.2d€at€215.Ð `Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àTo€properly€support€its€motion,€the€moving€party€must€either€affirmativelyÐ è 8  Ðnegate€an€essential€element€of€the€non„moving€partyððs€claim€or€conclusively€establishÐ Ô$  Ðan€affirmative€defense.€€òòSee€McCarley€v.€West€Quality€Food€Serv.,€óó960€S.W.2d€585,Ð À  Ð588€(Tenn.€1998);€òòRobinson€v.€Omer,€óó952€S.W.2d€423,€426€(Tenn.€1997).€€If€theÐ ¬ü  Ðmoving€party€fails€to€negate€a€claimed€basis€for€the€suit,€the€non„moving€partyððsÐ ˜è  Ðburden€to€produce€evidence€establishing€the€existence€of€a€genuine€issue€for€trial€isÐ „Ô  Ðnot€triggered€and€the€motion€for€summary€judgment€must€fail.€€òòSee€McCarley€v.€WestÐ pÀ ÐQuality€Food€Serv.,€óó960€S.W.2d€at€588;€òòRobinson€v.€Omer,€óó952€S.W.2d€at€426.€€If€theÐ \¬ Ðmoving€party€successfully€negates€a€claimed€basis€for€the€action,€the€non„movingÐ H˜ Ðparty€may€not€simply€rest€upon€the€pleadings,€but€must€offer€proof€to€establish€theÐ 4„ Ðexistence€of€the€essential€elements€of€the€claim.Ð pÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àThe€standards€governing€the€assessment€of€evidence€in€the€summaryÐ øH Ðjudgment€context€are€also€well€established.€€Courts€must€view€the€evidence€in€theÐ ä4 Ðlight€most€favorable€to€the€nonmoving€party€and€must€also€draw€all€reasonableÐ Ð  Ðinferences€in€the€nonmoving€partyððs€favor.€€òòSee€Robinson€v.€Omer,€óó952€S.W.2d€atÐ ¼  Ð426;€òòByrd€v.€Hall,€óó847€S.W.2d€at€210„11.€€Courts€should€grant€a€summary€judgmentÐ ¨ø Ðonly€when€both€the€facts€and€the€inferences€to€be€drawn€from€the€facts€permit€aÐ ”ä Ðreasonable€person€to€reach€only€one€conclusion.€òòSee€McCall€v.€Wilder,€óó913€S.W.2dÐ €Ð Ð150,€153€(Tenn.€1995);€òòCarvell€v.€Bottoms,€óó900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.€1995).Ðl¼Ð Ð  ÐòòÌStaples€v.€CBL€&€Assocs.,€Inc.,€óó15€S.W.3d€83,€88„89€(Tenn.€2000)€(footnote€omitted).Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56„7„1206€provides€that:Ð #l! ÐÌà8  àAny€insured€intending€to€rely€on€the€coverage€required€by€this€part€shall,€if€any€actionÐ ô$D # Ðis€instituted€against€the€owner€and€operator€of€an€uninsured€motor€vehicle,€serve€aÐ à%0!$ Ðcopy€of€the€process€upon€the€insurance€company€issuing€the€policy€in€the€mannerÐ Ì&"% Ðprescribed€by€law,€as€though€such€insurance€company€were€a€party€defendant.€.€.€.и'#&Ð Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56„7„1206€(a)€(2002).€€The€statute€then€gives€the€insurance€company€ð ðthe€rightÐ )à$( Ðto€file€pleadings€and€take€other€action€allowable€by€law€in€the€name€of€the€owner€and€operator€of€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðuninsured€motor€vehicle€or€in€its€own€name€.€.€.€.ðð€€òòIdóó.€€Ð h+¸&* Їà  àà ` àOur€Supreme€Court€has€stated€that€ð ð[t]he€intention€of€the€General€Assembly€inÐ ° Ðenacting€[Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56„7„1206]€was€to€provide€an€efficient€procedure€to€allow€persons€toÐ œì Ðobtain€complete€relief€from€their€uninsured€motorist€policy€when€injured€by€an€uninsured€motoristÐ ˆØ Ðwho€is€financially€unable€to€respond€in€damages.ðð€€òòGriffin€v.€Shelter€Mutual€Ins.€Co.óó,€18€S.W.3d€195,Ð tÄ Ð198€(Tenn.€2000).€€ð ð[A]bsent€a€specific€policy€provision€authorizing€a€direct€action,€the€uninsuredÐ `° Ðmotorist€statute€does€not€permit€a€plaintiff€to€bring€suit€directly€against€an€uninsured€motoristÐ L œ Ðcarrier.ðð€€òòIdóó.€€A€plaintiff€must€strictly€comply€with€the€notice€requirements€of€the€statute.€€òòSee€EymanÐ 8 ˆ Ðv.€Kentucky€Central€Ins.€Co.óó,€870€S.W.2d€530€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€is€a€basic€rule€of€statutory€interpretation€that€where€the€language€of€a€statute€is€clearÐ ü L  Ðand€unambiguous,€the€court€must€enforce€the€statute€as€it€is€written.€€òòSee,€e.g.,€Eymanóó,€870€S.W.2dÐ è 8  Ðat€531.€€The€language€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56„7„1206€clearly€and€unambiguously€states€specificÐ Ô$  Ðsteps€must€be€taken€when€an€ð ðaction€is€instituted€against€the€owner€and€operator€of€an€òòuninsuredóóÐ À  Ðmotor€vehicle€.€.€.€.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56„7„1206€(a)€(2002)€(emphasis€added).€€€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àDefendants€admitted€in€their€answers€to€State€Farmððs€requests€for€admissions€thatÐ „Ô  Ðthey€are€insured€and€that€their€coverage€meets€or€exceeds€Plaintiffððs€coverage€limits.€€DefendantsÐ pÀ Ðalso€admitted€they€know€of€nothing€that€might€cause€them€to€become€uninsured.€€Plaintiff€admits€inÐ \¬ Ðhis€brief€that€ð ðit€is€undisputed€that€sufficient€liability€coverage€exists€at€the€present€time€.€.€.€.ðð€Ð H˜ ÐPlaintiff€then€argues€that€ð ðthis€does€not€guarantee€that€coverage€could€not€become€an€issue€later€inÐ 4„ Ðthe€litigation€or€even€after€a€judgment€has€been€rendered.ðð€€Therefore,€it€is€undisputed€that€both€atÐ  p Ðthe€time€Plaintiff€filed€his€lawsuit€and€when€the€motion€for€summary€judgment€was€heard,Ð  \ ÐDefendants€were€not€the€ð ðowner[s]€and€operator[s]€of€an€uninsured€motor€vehicle.ðð€€òòIdóó.€€As€such,€theÐ øH Ðsuit€filed€by€Plaintiff€against€Defendants€is€not€an€action€ð ðinstituted€against€the€owner€and€operatorÐ ä4 Ðof€an€uninsured€motor€vehicle€.€.€.€.ðð€€òòIdóó.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àAdoption€of€Plaintiffððs€position€would€mean€that€a€plaintiffððs€uninsured€carrier€wouldÐ ¨ø Ðhave€the€right,€if€it€wished€to€do€so,€to€participate€at€trial€even€over€the€objections€of€a€fully€insuredÐ ”ä Ðdefendant.€€While€this€may€not€trouble€Plaintiff,€it€does€trouble€this€Court€as€it€clearly€was€not€theÐ €Ð Ðintention€of€the€Legislature€in€enacting€this€statute€to€force€a€fully€insured€defendant€to€accept€theÐ l¼ Ðunwanted€participation€of€the€plaintiffððs€insurance€company€in€his€defense€of€the€plaintiffððs€claimÐ X ¨ Ðagainst€him.€€The€language€of€the€statute€is€clear€and€unambiguous€as€it€requires€that€the€action€mustÐ D!” Ðbe€one€ð ðagainst€the€owner€and€operator€of€an€òòuninsuredóó€motor€vehicle.ðð€€òòIdóó.€(emphasis€added).Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àà ` àThere€is€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€as€to€whether€Defendants€are€uninsuredÐ $X" Ðunder€the€statute.€€They€are€not.€€State€Farm€successfully€negated€this€essential€element€of€PlaintiffððsÐ ô$D # Ðclaim€against€it.€€Enforcing€the€statute€as€written,€as€we€must,€we€hold€that€the€Trial€Court€did€notÐ à%0!$ Ðerr€in€granting€summary€judgment€to€State€Farm.€€State€Farm€is€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðlaw€as€the€plain€language€of€the€statute€requires€Plaintiffððs€suit€be€against€an€uninsured€owner€orÐ ¸'#& Ðoperator,€and€Defendants€are€not€uninsured.€€€€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€order€to€prevent€needless€litigation€and€possible€injury€to€the€interest€of€the€public,Ð |*Ì%) Ðand€to€give€effect€to€the€Legislatureððs€clear€intent€in€enacting€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€56„7„1206,€weÐ h+¸&* Ðbelieve€it€necessary€to€address€whether€this€summary€judgment€should€have€been€made€finalÐ ° Ðpursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€54.02€as€the€Trial€Court€did.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(b).€€We€affirmÐ œì Ðthe€grant€of€summary€judgment,€but€hold€that€there€is€a€just€reason€for€delay€in€making€the€orderÐ ˆØ Ðgranting€summary€judgment€a€final€order€under€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€54.02.€€As€our€Supreme€Court€hasÐ tÄ Ðstated:€ð ðOrders€certifying€interlocutory€judgments€as€final€ððshould€not€be€entered€routinelyðð€andÐ `° Ðððcannot€be€routinely€entered€as€a€courtesy€to€counsel.ðð€€Such€orders€must€be€supported€by€a€recordÐ L œ Ðindicating€why€there€is€ððno€just€reason€for€delay,ðð€and€will€preferably€include€specific€findings€of€factÐ 8 ˆ Ðto€that€effect.ðð€€òòHarris€v.€Chernóó,€33€S.W.3d€741,€745„46€n.3€(Tenn.€2000)€(quoting€òòHuntington€NatððlÐ $ t ÐBank€v.€Hookeróó,€840€S.W.2d€916,€921€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991)).€€Litigants€should€not€be€required€toÐ  ` Ðfile€an€interlocutory€appeal€while€the€remainder€of€the€litigation€is€ongoing€as€ð ð[p]iecemeal€appellateÐ ü L  Ðreview€is€not€favored.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€745€n.3.€€€€€€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àà ` àPrior€to€discovery,€a€plaintiff€has€no€sure€way€to€know€if€a€defendant€is€uninsuredÐ À  Ðunder€the€statute.€€A€prudent€plaintiff€will,€therefore,€strictly€follow€the€requirements€of€Tenn.€CodeÐ ¬ü  ÐAnn.€ðð€56„7„1206.€€Then€if€the€defendant€is€uninsured€when€the€suit€is€instituted,€plaintiffððs€rightsÐ ˜è  Ðare€preserved€under€the€statute.€Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àà ` àPlaintiff€argues€in€his€brief€that€a€defendant€who€is€insured€at€the€commencement€ofÐ \¬ Ðsuit€could€become€uninsured€prior€to€entry€of€final€judgment€if,€for€example,€the€defendant€refusesÐ H˜ Ðto€cooperate€with€its€insurer€during€the€suit,€or€if€defendantððs€insurer€goes€bankrupt.€€We€agree€thereÐ 4„ Ðexists€the€possibility,€however€remote,€that€any€defendant,€including€these€Defendants,€who€is€notÐ  p Ðuninsured€at€the€commencement€of€suit€could€become€uninsured€prior€to€entry€of€a€final€judgmentÐ  \ Ðagainst€that€defendant.€€We,€therefore,€hold€that€a€just€reason€for€delay€exists€such€that€the€orderÐ øH Ðgranting€summary€judgment€to€State€Farm,€Plaintiffððs€uninsured€motorist€carrier,€should€not€be€madeÐ ä4 Ðfinal€under€Rule€54.02,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€€We,€therefore,€vacate€only€the€portion€of€the€Trial€CourtððsÐ Ð  Ðorder€making€it€a€final€judgment€as€to€State€Farm€under€Rule€54.02€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€CivilÐ ¼  ÐProcedure.€€€€€€€€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌÓ  Óò òòòConclusionóóó óÐ €Ð ÐÓ  ÓÔ‡ X ¡XXX ¡ÔÌà  àÔ#†X ¡XX X ¡rF#Ôà ` àThe€Trial€Courtððs€order€granting€summary€judgment€to€State€Farm€is€affirmed.€€TheÐ X ¨ Ðportion€of€the€Trial€Courtððs€order€making€the€summary€judgment€a€final€judgment€pursuant€to€RuleÐ D!” Ð54.02€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€is€vacated.€€This€cause€is€remanded€to€the€TrialÐ 0"€  ÐCourt€for€further€proceedings€as€necessary,€if€any,€consistent€with€this€Opinion€and€for€collection€ofÐ #l! Ðthe€costs€below.€€The€costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€Appellant,€John€Hannah,€Jr.,€and€hisÐ $X" Ðsurety.€€Ð ô$D # ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ¤(ô#' Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àD.€MICHAEL€SWINEY,€JUDGE