ÿWPCó Jßé®A’­,/^ÙŽ[S1e²>?5Ÿh“•¢¤z2n¤O‰ËTv7zž¹*¡CÛu»EO[¹N÷Ÿ?1ÒÉ´` üçz ?n }ÈhðÈßi™$*úâ˜?±Æ×Îtž>Ä}?ò6Ž•Zƒ¸R’hŒ·R‰ÚP É:FáG·ì†ÁköüÛpײD²[.-Uwó!á£gî(”o»53Ö'<_²ßpêtJºzº5¡¢øË»6O 71þ¼ôXÌKœÁR” ¾û~³ÐHe˜cÁg©Î—q (öyœuŠ'ìH?׳mÐ2ê¡Ýª@¡AÿzåÝD‹­.ë¨ÂâoùÉqS/ƒÎ!7Í¥ÖÝ Àüú+Ä xÞ›?'ÃCþÿðŸ,ò+–L^Ùn¸‡¦§ž‹¨µ™ª©mIý¬s܉/¢u b}´ÙF& ØVŽí®AÂS̤«‹ü|’¡îò;!fˆj!mÔcš#hfÔ_¨L2+ñ½…ÝÂCÛÚ”ÀÞ‹–Åã9ÚŸ¬9gdqJNåµ]¯l·•5>–púé÷Ë¢¤çòvîàÒFy—‹pb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz ‘ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë UN±NÿUNU>OEb 0Y———————————————————————————— 0ëðððð BÛÛ 0¤ø D3œ D-Ï 0Küü ASGÆš 0¤` 0D A«H˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0»PuŠ+s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular‰Q‡+Lê¤ ˜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 Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regularô\  `‹&Times New Roman- ù-6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô(|G2gv$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Td»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô?øò»»Ô d(|3Ž$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Td»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Ž$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Td»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TL»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼&»»»ÔÑ8€"|XXdê»»d 8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î+1&ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼&»îî+1 #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAssigned€On€Brief€August€24,€2001€Ð üL ÐÔ‡XsŒX»¼&ÔÌò òÔ#†¼&»XXsŒý#ÔELIZABETH€ELAINE€HICKMAN,€òòet€al.óó€v.€CELIA€VERNELL€JORDAN,Ð úJ Ðòòet€alóó.Ô‡XsŒX»¼&Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Madison€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€C99„353€€€€€€Roger€A.€Page,€JudgeÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2000„03070„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€November€28,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€dispute€stems€from€an€accident€in€a€restaurant€parking€lot€in€which€a€pedestrian,€the€plaintiff,Ð ŒÜ Ðwas€struck€by€a€vehicle€driven€by€the€defendant,€who€was€backing„up€through€the€parking€lot.€€TheÐ xÈ Ðjury€in€this€case€found€the€defendant€driver€not€at€fault.€€We€affirm.òòò òÐ d´ ÐÓâÓóóó óÔ#†¼&»XXsŒ£#ÔÔ‡XsŒX»¼&ÔÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed;€andÐ <Œ ÐRemandedó óÐ (x ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼&»àXsŒx#ÔÔ‡XsŒX.¼&ÔDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.,óóÐ P Ðand€òòHolly€K.€Lillard,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ì< ÐÌDwayne€D.€Maddox,€III,€Huntingdon,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellants,€Elizabeth€Elaine€Hickman€andÐ Ä ÐJohn€Robert€Hickman.Ð ° ÐÌWesley€A.€Clayton€and€Greg€A.€Petrinjak,€Jackson,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Celia€VernellÐ ˆØ ÐJordan€and€Dr.€F.€E.€Jordan.Ð t Ä ÐÓ&ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼&»XXsŒU#ÔÔ‡XsŒX»¼&ÔÐ L"œ! ÐÌÔ#†¼&»XXsŒ° #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XsŒX»¼&Ôòòò òÓ  Óó óóóà @ àÓ9 Óà  àThe€determinative€facts€in€this€case€are€undisputed.òòò òó óóóÔ‡XsŒXXXsŒÔ€€The€accident€in€which€the€plaintiff,Ð $$t# ÐElizabeth€Elaine€Hickman,€was€injured€occurred€at€lunch€hour€in€the€parking€lot€of€DumplinððsÐ %` $ Ðrestaurant€in€Jackson,€Tennessee.€€Witnesses€testified€that€Dumplinððs€was€busy€at€the€time,€and€thatÐ ü%L!% Ðthe€parking€lot€was€full.€€The€defendant,€Celia€Vernell€Jordan,€arrived€at€Dumplinððs€shortly€beforeÐ è&8"& Ð1:00€p.m.,€driving€a€Toyota€Land€Cruiser.€€Ms.€Hickman€and€her€mother„in„law€had€exited€theÐ Ô'$#' Ðrestaurant€and€were€between€two€parked€cars€at€the€edge€of€the€parking€lot,€waiting€to€cross€to€theirÐ À($( Ðcar,€when€Ms.€Hickman€saw€Ms.€Jordan€drive€through€the€parking€lot€in€search€of€a€parking€space.€Ð ¬)ü$) ÐWhen€Ms.€Jordan€had€gone€some€distance€down€the€lot,€Ms.€Hickman€again€looked€in€bothÐ ˜*è%* Ðdirections€and,€seeing€no€cars€heading€toward€her,€proceeded€to€cross€the€parking€lot.€€Meanwhile,Ð „+Ô&+ ÐMs.€Jordan€had€reached€the€end€of€the€lot€and,€since€there€is€no€room€to€turn€a€vehicle€around,€beganÐ p,À', Ðto€back„up€through€the€parking€lot,€still€looking€for€a€vacant€parking€space.€€Ms.€Jordan€stated€thatÐ \-¬(-ý÷ Ðshe€checked€her€two€outside€mirrors€and€the€inside€rear€view€mirror€before€she€began€backing„up.€Ð ° ÐShe€also€testified€that€she€checked€over€her€right€shoulder,€and€continued€to€look€over€her€rightÐ œì Ðshoulder€as€she€backed€down€through€the€middle€of€the€parking€lot.€€Ms.€Jordan€further€stated€thatÐ ˆØ Ðshe€did€not€check€over€her€left€shoulder.€€She€testified€that€she€had€not€seen€any€pedestrians€as€sheÐ tÄ Ðfirst€drove€forward€through€the€parking€lot€or€as€she€backed„up.€€Ms.€Hickman€was€struck€on€her€leftÐ `° Ðside€and€knocked€to€the€ground€when€she€and€the€back€end€of€the€driverððs€side€of€Ms.€JordanððsÐ L œ Ðvehicle€collided.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àMs.€Jordan€testified€that€she€first€realized€she€had€hit€something€when€she€heard€a€thud.€€SheÐ  ` Ðthen€stopped€and€could€see€Ms.€Hickman€sitting€in€the€roadway€through€her€driverððs€side€rearviewÐ ü L  Ðmirror.€€Ms.€Jordan€agreed€that€her€vehicle,€a€Toyota€Land€Cruiser,€sits€ð ðfairly€highðð€off€the€ground;Ð è 8  ÐMs.€Hickman€is€under€five€feet€tall.€€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àMs.€Hickman€testified€that€she€had€looked€both€ways€down€the€parking€lot€before€proceedingÐ ¬ü  Ðacross€it,€that€she€had€seen€Ms.€Jordanððs€vehicle€pass,€and€that€the€vehicle€was€about€eight€car€widthsÐ ˜è  Ðdown€the€parking€lot€when€she€and€her€mother„in„law€began€across€the€lot.€€Ms.€Hickman€did€notÐ „Ô  Ðsee€Ms.€Jordanððs€vehicle€again€from€the€point€she€saw€it€some€eight€car€widths€down€the€parking€lot.€Ð pÀ ÐShe€further€testified€that€she€had€turned€to€her€right€to€speak€to€her€mother„in„law,€who€was€aboutÐ \¬ Ðtwo€steps€behind€her,€when€she€was€hit€and€knocked€to€the€ground.€€She€did€not€see€the€vehicleÐ H˜ Ðcoming€toward€her€before€being€hit.€€Ð 4„ Ðà  àÌÓ  Óà @ àòòò òIssueÐ  \ ÐÓuÓà X àó óóóà0 ° àÐ °(#°(# Ðà  àThe€issue€of€this€appeal€is€whether€there€is€any€material€evidence€to€support€the€finding€byÐ à0 Ðthe€jury€that€the€defendantòòò ò,€ó óóóCelia€Vernell€Jordan,€was€not€at€fault€in€this€case.òòò òÐ Ì ÐÌÓ  ÓStandard€of€Reviewó óóóÐ  ð ÐÓèÓÌà  àThis€case€was€a€jury€trial.€€Findings€of€fact€by€a€jury€shall€be€set€aside€only€if€there€is€noÐ tÄ Ðmaterial€evidence€to€support€the€verdict.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).Ô#†XsŒXXXsŒ± #Ô€€This€Court€will€not€reweigh€theÐ `° Ðevidence,€but€will€take€the€strongest€view€possible€of€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€prevailing€partyÐ L œ Ðand€discard€evidence€to€the€contrary.€€òòò òSmith€County€v.€Eatherlyó óóó,€820€S.W.2d€366,€369€(Tenn€Ct.Ð 8!ˆ ÐApp.€1991).€€We€will€allow€all€reasonable€inferences€to€uphold€the€juryððs€verdict,€setting€it€aside€onlyÐ $"t  Ðif€there€is€no€material€evidence€to€support€it.€€òòò òId.ó óóó€€This€standard€of€review€safeguards€theÐ #`! Ðconstitutional€right€to€a€trial€by€jury.€€òòò òMiller€v.€Berryó óóó,€457€S.W.2d€859,€862€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1970).Ð ü#L" Ðòòò òÓ  Óó óóóÌÓÍÓà  àIn€an€action€for€negligence,€the€plaintiff€must€prove€five€elements:€(1)€a€duty€of€care€owedÐ Ô%$!$ Ðto€the€plaintiff€by€the€defendant;€(2)€conduct€by€the€defendant€constituting€breach€of€that€duty;€(3)Ð À&"% Ðinjury€or€loss€to€the€plaintiff;€(4)€that€the€defendantððs€conduct€was€the€cause€in€fact€of€the€plaintiffððsÐ ¬'ü"& Ðinjury;€(5)€that€the€defendantððs€conduct€was€the€proximate€or€legal€cause€of€the€injury.€€òòò òWasteÐ ˜(è#' ÐManagement,€Inc.€of€Tennessee€v.€South€Central€Bell€Tel.€Co.ó óóó,€15€S.W.3d€425,€430€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð „)Ô$( ÐApp.€1997).€€If€there€is€any€material€evidence€to€support€the€juryððs€finding€that€Ms.€Jordan€was€notÐ p*À%) Ðat€fault,€we€must€affirm.Ð \+¬&* Їà  àThe€duty€of€care€is€a€legal€obligation€to€act€as€a€reasonably€prudent€person€to€protect€againstÐ ° Ðan€unreasonable€risk€of€harm€to€others.€€òòò òMcCall€v.€Wilderó óóó,€913€S.W.2d€150,€153€(Tenn.€1995).€€OnceÐ œì Ðit€has€been€determined€that€a€defendant€owed€the€plaintiff€a€duty€of€reasonable€care,€the€issueÐ ˆØ Ðbecomes€whether€the€defendant€has€exercised€reasonable€care€under€the€circumstances.€€òòò òId.ó óóó€€In€otherÐ tÄ Ðwords,€the€question€becomes€whether€the€defendant€acted€as€a€reasonably€prudent€person€would€actÐ `° Ðunder€the€circumstances.€€òòò òSeeóó€òòid.€€ó óóóIf€the€defendant€has€not€exercised€reasonable€care,€then€he€hasÐ L œ Ðbreached€his€duty€to€the€plaintiff€and€is€liable€for€his€negligence.€€òòò òSee€id.ó óóó€at€153„54.Ð < Œ ÐÌà  àBoth€common€sense€and€the€Tennessee€Code€create€an€obligation€on€the€part€of€drivers€ofÐ  d Ðautomobiles€to€exercise€due€care.€€Section€55„8„136€of€the€Tennessee€Code€provides,€ð ðevery€driverÐ  P  Ðof€a€vehicle€shall€exercise€due€care€to€avoid€colliding€with€any€pedestrian€upon€any€roadway€.€.€.€.ðð€Ð ì <  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€55„8„136€(1998).€€The€Code€further€provides:€€ð ðThe€driver€of€a€vehicle€shall€notÐ Ø(  Ðback€such€vehicle€unless€such€movements€can€be€made€with€reasonable€safety€and€withoutÐ Ä  Ðinterfering€with€other€traffic.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€55„8„163€(1998).€€Since€this€accident€occurredÐ °  Ðon€private€property,€neither€the€statutory€rules€of€the€road€nor€the€common€law€rules€pertaining€toÐ œì  Ðpublic€roadways€are€applicable.€€However,€the€duties€and€liabilities€of€drivers€are€governed€by€theÐ ˆØ  Ðbasic€principles€of€common€law€negligence€requiring€each€person€to€exercise€ordinary€andÐ tÄ Ðreasonable€care€under€the€circumstances.€€The€statutory€requirements€help€to€determine€the€minimumÐ `° Ðstandard€of€care.€€òòò òMilleróóó ó,€457€S.W.2d€at€862Ô_Ô„63.Ô_Ô€€Conditions€such€as€those€found€in€a€crowdedÐ Lœ Ðparking€lot€may€require€a€driver€to€use€an€even€greater€degree€of€care.€€òòò òId.ó óóó€€The€duty€of€a€driver€hasÐ 8ˆ Ðbeen€summarized€as€ð ða€duty€to€keep€a€reasonably€careful€lookout€commensurate€with€the€dangerousÐ $t Ðcharacter€of€the€vehicle€and€the€nature€of€the€locality€.€.€.€.ðð€òòò ò€Hale€v.€Rayburnóóó ó,€264€S.W.2d€230,€233Ð ` Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1953).Ô‡XsŒXXXsŒÔ€€However,€negligence€is€not€presumed€from€the€mere€fact€of€an€accident€orÐ üL Ðinjury.€€òòò òArmes€v.€Hulettó óóó,€843€S.W.2d€427,€432€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992).òòòŽòòŽòòŽòòŽòòŽòòŽòÓÓÔ#†XsŒXXXsŒa*#ÔóŽóóŽóóŽóóŽóóŽóóŽóóó€€When€there€is€conflictingÐ è8 Ðevidence€or€if€different€conclusions€may€reasonably€be€reached,€the€question€of€fault€is€for€the€jury.€Ð Ô$ Ðòòò òSeeóó€òòHaleóóó ó,€264€S.W.2d€at€233.€Ð À ÐÌà  àAs€noted€above,€Ms.€Hickman€testified€that€she€was€emerging€from€between€parked€cars€toÐ œì Ðcross€a€full€parking€lot€when€she€collided€with€Ms.€Jordanððs€vehicle.€€She€did€not€see€Ms.€JordanððsÐ ˆØ Ðvehicle€backing„up€through€the€parking€lot,€and€was€not€aware€that€it€was€coming€toward€her€untilÐ tÄ Ðshe€was€hit€on€her€left€side€and€knocked€to€the€ground.€€At€the€time€of€the€collision,€she€was€turnedÐ ` ° Ðtoward€her€right€to€speak€to€her€mother„in„law,€who€was€following€a€few€steps€behind.€€Ms.€JordanÐ L!œ Ðtestified€that€she€did€not€see€the€pedestrians,€despite€checking€all€of€her€rearview€and€side€mirrorsÐ 8"ˆ  Ðand€looking€over€her€shoulder€as€she€backed„up.€€Moreover,€the€configuration€of€Dumplinððs€parkingÐ $#t! Ðlot€is€such€that€when€the€lot€is€full,€a€driver€who€has€reached€the€end€of€the€lot€has€no€option€otherÐ $`" Ðthan€to€back„up,€since€there€is€no€room€to€turn€a€vehicle€around.€€Neither€Ms.€Hickman€nor€Ms.Ð ü$L # ÐJordan€saw€the€other€until€Ms.€Hickman€had€actually€been€struck.€€There€was€no€evidence€that€Ms.Ð è%8!$ ÐJordan€was€traveling€at€an€unreasonable€speed.Ð Ô&$"% ÐÌà  àReasonable€minds€may€differ€as€to€whether€Ms.€Jordan€exercised€the€heightened€degree€ofÐ ¬(ü#' Ðcare€necessary€under€the€circumstances€here.€€Where€reasonable€minds€may€differ,€the€question€ofÐ ˜)è$( Ðfault€is€for€the€jury€to€decide.€€The€facts€of€this€case€as€outlined€above€provide€material€evidence€toÐ „*Ô%) Ðsupport€the€juryððs€finding€that€Ms.€Jordan€was€not€at€fault.€€We€therefore€affirm.€€Costs€of€this€appealÐ p+À&* Ðare€taxed€to€the€Appellants,€Elizabeth€Elaine€Hickman€and€John€Robert€Hickman,€and€their€surety,Ð ° Ðfor€which€execution€may€levy€if€necessary.Ð œì Ðà  àÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð `° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGE