ÿWPCÕ; 9ÄRbÜ£Z¹,¡ ¸h ¶bj±ÆL2dZ×1P†$¼iQÏ´É´I÷uKýÈÒ'Ó¦c¶•w(1L·è0>õÔ$¶Fê ʘÅèËþõn!ŠgìG54©;Ó&©ìH©‹há\Fß« äF•)ÆB”¯–¤FºuPOu&ZV% …”ïPw»ü6ŒÒm£sÚWþ½µD¼&5Õð¢·Oõ^t †Ãv—h2²°p SaßUÓYûõ å¿ ¾v:+ÀÖ‡Žóu÷SÌ*de#¡‡ª„øn#ÈO9ÀbÄþ Î-‡Ë.ðÉÕÙWª.«]ÞM²­»˜œ<Šz5¥(¸‚Bhõø´¸“ây8Þ ©mÙûåÕ3¼æ]8‰ãqQ `Je&‘Ÿ¡°ß°~¹4:žh`ÅæßÖý1Ù{¶ b¾†¸cÕÿSv'NЬó³·D*0DéÒMåT¶/µü¼éqw‰W rÂ,Ef6{°QX ÐQAµ€PJ,iÿÅY ÷l Õ±`‡·2‰Ü8WþãSußØ\à<þ£s'ã;Réô$UŸ,ÙC<öuÂ÷ŒÆUb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ w· U%N» 4 z Ò— i x mz O‘ Æà Ʀ ÆlÆ2 0DøN<E>—ƒEqéªå“¼xª4ÛÞ!Þ¹"ß—&v'v'v'ä~*Íb.¶/0Ýå3å3å3å3å3å3å3å3bÂ5Â5Â5Â5Â5Â5Â5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5Ê5 0ëÒ6Ò6Ò6Ò6 B½7½7 0¤Ú7 D3~8 D-±8 0KÞ8Þ8 AS)9Æ|9 0¤B: 0Dæ: A«*;˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»ýš|+s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular8n_+p}.bk1 ˜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|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ EÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Commissionððs€minutes€reflect€that€the€commissioner€who€had€originally€moved€to€grant€MethodistÐ H ÐHealthcareððs€application€had€been€confused€and€had€made€a€ð ðmistake.ððLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ;Ý ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„108(e)€provides,€in€part:€ð ðThe€commissionððs€decision€to€approve€or€deny€anÐ H Ðapplication€shall€be€final€and€shall€not€be€reconsidered.ðð Ý ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAt€another€point,€the€general€counsel€stated:Ð H ÐÌà8  àà ` àI€can€assure€you,€boards€and€commissions€that€donððt€follow€attorney€generalððs€opinions€donððtРЈ Ðjust€go€home€at€night€and€come€back€and€do€business€as€usual€the€next€month.€€There€are€actions€ð!ðÐ ”L Ðthere€will€be€ð!ð€would€be€an€action€filed€in€court€before€the€sun€set€tomorrow,€because€there€isÐ X Ðaccountability€for€failing€to€follow€an€Attorney€Generalððs€opinion.ðð gÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€8„6„109(b)(6)€(1993)€requires€the€Attorney€General€and€Reporter€to€furnish€written€legalÐ H Ðopinions€to€state€officials€on€all€matters€submitted€by€them€in€the€discharge€of€their€official€duties. Ý ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThese€claims€are,€of€course,€the€same€claims€Jackson„Madison€County€made€in€its€failed€petition€for€certiorariÐ H Ðand€supersedeas.€€ ßÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThis€commissioner€was€the€executive€vice€president€and€part€owner€of€a€corporation€that€sold€medicalÐ H Ðequipment€and€supplies€to€both€Methodist€Healthcare€and€Jackson„Madison€County.€€According€to€an€affidavitÐ  Ä Ðaccompanying€the€petition,€this€commissioner€had€personally€solicited€orders€from€Jackson„Madison€County. ÛÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€significance€of€the€trial€courtððs€refusal€to€issue€a€writ€of€supersedeas€was€not€lost€on€Jackson„MadisonÐ H ÐCounty.€€After€the€Commission€decided€to€ð ðconcurðð€with€the€Attorney€Generalððs€opinion,€Jackson„Madison€County€againÐ  Ä Ðmoved€for€a€writ€of€supersedeas€requesting€the€trial€court€to€preserve€the€status€quo€by€directing€the€Commission€not€toРЈ Ðissue€the€certificate€of€need€to€Methodist€Healthcare.€€As€far€as€this€record€shows,€the€trial€court€never€acted€on€thisÐ ”L Ðmotion€and€never€issued€a€writ€of€supersedeas. ²Ý ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Court€had€even€recognized€that€ð ðan€appellant€may€dismiss€his€appeal€at€any€time€before€judgment€isÐ H Ðrecorded,€even€after€the€opinion€of€the€court€is€delivered.òòðð€€C.B.€Ô_ÔDonaghyÔ_Ô€&€Co.€v.€Ô_ÔMcCorkleÔ_Ôóó,€118€Tenn.€73,€76„77,€98Ð  Ä ÐÔ_ÔS.W.Ô_Ô€1050,€1050€(1907).€€Of€course,€simultaneously€filing€the€opinion€and€the€judgment€will€prevent€an€appellant€fromРЈ Ðwithdrawing€its€appeal€after€the€opinion€has€been€filed.  Ý ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€In€light€of€the€undisputed€evidence€that€the€commissionerððs€corporation€averaged€approximately€$216,800Ð H Ðin€annual€sales€to€Methodist€Healthcare€and€approximately€$34,000€in€annual€sales€to€Jackson„Madison€County,€theÐ  Ä Ðadministrative€law€judge€found€that€the€commissioner€had€a€direct€business€relationship€with€both€Methodist€HealthcareРЈ Ðand€Jackson„Madison€County€that€required€his€disqualification€under€Tenn.€Comp.€R.€&€Ô_ÔRegsÔ_Ô.€r.€0720„1„.02(1)€(1999)Ð ”L Ðand€Tenn.€S.€Ct.€R.€10,€Canon€3(E)(1)€which€applies€to€members€of€state€boards€and€commissions€by€virtue€of€Tenn.Ð X ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€4„5„302(a)€(1998).€òò€Jones€v.€Greeneóó,€946€S.W.2d€817,€825€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996). ÑÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔOp.€Tenn.€Ô_ÔAttððyÔ_Ô€Gen.,€No.€98„187€(Oct.€1,€1998). ÔÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€appellate€courts€may€even€require€the€appellant€to€pay€the€appellee€damages€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð H Ððð€27„1„122€(2000)€if€the€appeal€is€frivolous€or€brought€for€the€purpose€of€delay.€€John€L.€Ô_ÔSobieskiÔ_Ô,€òòThe€ProceduralÐ  Ä ÐDetails€of€the€Proposed€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedureóó,€46€Tenn.€L.€Rev.€1,€103€(1978).€€However,€theРЈ Ðappellate€courts€are€inclined€to€grant€this€sort€of€relief€only€in€exceptional€circumstances€because€they€do€not€desire€toÐ ”L Ðdiscourage€voluntary€dismissals.€€òòÔ_ÔOrmsbyÔ_Ô€Motors,€Inc.€v.€General€Motors€Corp.óó,€32€F.3d€240,€241„42€(7th€Cir.€1994);Ð X Ð16A€Charles€A.€Wright,€et€al.,€òòFederal€Practice€and€Procedure€óóðð€3988,€at€748€(3d€ed.€1999).€ ÕÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€1986€and€1996€amendments€to€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)€have€no€bearing€on€this€appeal. þÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€remedy€to€which€both€the€Commission€and€Methodist€Healthcare€referred€arose€from€the€CommissionððsÐ H Ðunique€two„stage€process€for€considering€applications€for€a€certificate€of€need.€€On€the€first€stage€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð  Ä Ððð€68„11„108,€the€Commission€conducts€an€informal€hearing€and€then€decides€either€to€grant€or€deny€the€application.€€OnРЈ Ðthe€second€stage€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„109€(Supp.€2000),€any€party€to€the€first€stage€proceeding€who€isÐ ”L Ðdissatisfied€with€the€Commissionððs€decision€may€request€a€full„blown€contested€case€hearing. ÚÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThis€language€is€similar€to€Fed.€R.€App.€P.€42(b)€which€provides€that€ð ð[a]n€appeal€may€be€dismissed€on€theÐ H Ðappellantððs€motion€on€terms€agreed€to€by€the€parties€or€fixed€by€the€court.ðð€€Many€jurisdictions€have€incorporated€thisÐ  Ä Ðlanguage€into€their€appellate€rules.€€As€interpreted€by€the€federal€courts,€this€language€indicates€that€appellate€courts€haveРЈ Ðdiscretion€to€grant€or€deny€motions€for€voluntary€dismissal€and€to€set€the€terms€thereof.€€òòHCA€Health€Servs.€of€Va.€Ô_Ôv.Ô_ÔÐ ”L ÐMetropolitan€Life€Ins.€Co.óó,€957€F.2d€120,€123€(4th€Cir.€1992);€òòBrookhaven€Landscape€&€Grading€Co.€v.€F.€BartonÐ X ÐContracting€Co.óó,€681€F.2d€734,€736€(11th€Cir.€1982);€òòIn€re€Penn€Cent.€Transp.€Co.óó,€630€F.2d€183,€190€(3d€Cir.€1980). ÃÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThus,€for€example,€we€do€not€construe€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)€to€empower€an€intermediate€appellate€courtÐ H Ðto€deny€an€appellantððs€motion€to€dismiss€its€appeal€simply€because€the€briefs€have€already€been€filed€or€the€case€hasÐ  Ä Ðalready€been€argued€or€the€opinion€is€about€to€be€released. ¬Ý ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔWe€note,€however,€that€the€trial€court€eventually€dismissed€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€petition€for€writ€ofÐ H Ðcertiorari€and€never€issued€a€writ€of€supersedeas.€€Its€decisions€were€correct€on€both€counts€because€Jackson„MadisonÐ  Ä ÐCounty€had€a€specific,€statutorily„defined€appellate€remedy€at€its€disposal€when€it€filed€its€petition.€€By€dismissing€theРЈ Ðimprovidently€granted€writ€of€certiorari,€the€trial€court€divested€itself€of€its€jurisdiction.€€Neither€party€requested€a€stayÐ ”L Ðwhile€this€appeal€has€been€pending.€€Thus,€the€question€of€the€administrative€law€judgeððs€authority€to€consider€and€decideÐ X ÐJackson„Madison€Countyððs€motion€for€summary€judgment€is€not€as€one„sided€as€Methodist€Healthcare€may€think. ÓÝ ƒR“$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú17Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔNothing€in€this€opinion€should€be€construed€as€our€concurring€in€either€the€reasoning€or€the€result€of€Op.Ð H ÐTenn.€Ô_ÔAttððyÔ_Ô€Gen.€98„187€nor€the€propriety€of€the€Commissionððs€general€counselððs€advice€and€warnings€during€theÐ  Ä ÐCommissionððs€October€28,€1998€meeting.- ù- KilcreaseCantrell P.J.Brantleysupersedeasrecused S.W.RoaneMaskallSneed a]n HCAServsplace[d(|G2“$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€…»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô6Íò»»Ô d(|3˜$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€…»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3˜$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€…»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€…»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑH°ÑÑH°ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼…»»»ÔÑ8€ÒIXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î„T…ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ H Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼…»îî„T(#ԈРn& ÐÓ  ÓJuly€2,€1999€SessionÐ ”L ÐÔ‡XÒIX»¼…ÔÌò òÔ#†¼…»XXÒI #ÔJACKSON„MADISON€COUNTY€GENERAL€HOSPITAL€DISTRICTòòóó€v.Ð ’J ÐTENNESSEE€HEALTH€FACILITIES€COMMISSION,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XÒIX»¼…Ôó óÐ ¦^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ¦ ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„3210„I€€€€€€Irvin€H.€Kilcrease,€Jr.,€ChancellorÐ ’ J ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<i ` AßÐ j "  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„02804„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€November€28,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ e  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<<` AßÐ =õ  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€appeal€involves€a€dispute€between€two€hospitals€regarding€one€hospitalððs€desire€to€expand€itsÐ 8ð  Ðintensive€care€and€open„heart€surgery€services.€€After€Methodist€Healthcare„Jackson€Hospital€appliedÐ $Ü Ðto€the€Tennessee€Health€Facilities€Commission€for€a€certificate€of€need,€Jackson„Madison€CountyÐ È ÐGeneral€Hospital€District€objected€on€the€ground€that€the€proposed€services€would€unnecessarilyÐ ü´ Ðduplicate€services€it€was€already€providing.€€Even€though€the€Commission€denied€the€application,Ð è  Ðthe€Commissionððs€staff€issued€the€certificate€of€need€after€the€Attorney€General€and€Reporter€opinedÐ ÔŒ Ðthat€the€Commissionððs€vote€on€reconsideration€was€inconsistent€with€the€Commissionððs€enablingÐ Àx Ðstatute.€Rather€than€pursuing€a€contested€case€hearing€before€the€Commission,€Jackson„MadisonÐ ¬d ÐCounty€filed€a€petition€for€common„law€writ€of€certiorari€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ˜P Ðasserting€that€the€Commissionððs€vote€to€deny€the€certificate€of€need€was€proper€and€that€oneÐ „< ÐCommission€member€who€voted€to€approve€the€certificate€should€have€been€disqualified€becauseÐ p( Ðof€a€financial€conflict€of€interest.€€The€trial€court€granted€the€writ€of€certiorari€but,€following€aÐ \ Ðhearing,€dismissed€the€writ€because€Jackson„Madison€County€had€not€exhausted€its€administrativeÐ H Ðremedies.€€Jackson„Madison€County€appealed€to€this€court.€€While€this€appeal€was€pending,€Jackson„Ð 4ì ÐMadison€County€requested€and€received€a€contested€case€hearing€before€an€administrative€law€judgeÐ  Ø Ðsitting€in€place€of€the€Commission.€€After€the€administrative€law€judge€determined€that€theÐ  Ä ÐCommissionððs€vote€to€deny€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€for€a€certificate€of€need€was€properÐ ø°  Ðand€that€one€of€the€Commission€members€who€voted€to€grant€the€certificate€of€need€should€have€beenÐ ä œ! Ðdisqualified,€Jackson„Madison€County€moved€to€dismiss€its€appeal.€€Methodist€Healthcare€opposedÐ Ð!ˆ" Ðdismissing€the€appeal.€€We€have€determined€that€the€trial€court€properly€dismissed€Jackson„MadisonÐ ¼"t# ÐCountyððs€petition€for€writ€of€certiorari€and€that€this€appeal€should€be€dismissed.Ð ¨#` $ ÐÌÓ%Óò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmed;Ð €%8"& ÐAppeal€Dismissedó óÐ l&$#' ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼…»àXÒIÕ#ÔÔ‡XÒIX.¼…ÔWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòBen€H.€Cantrellóó,€P.J.,€M.S.,Ð D(ü$) Ðand€òòWilliam€B.€Cainóó,€J.,€joinedòòóó.Ð 0)è%* ÐÌWilliam€M.€Barrick€and€William€R.€Willis,€Jr.,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Jackson„Ð +À', ÐMadison€County€General€Hospital€District.Ð ô+¬(- ÐÌJ.€Richard€Lodge,€Jr.,€Robert€E.€Cooper,€and€W.€Brantley€Phillips,€Jr.,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€theÐ Ì-„*/ Ðappellee,€Methodist€Healthcare„Jackson€Hospital.Ð ¸.p+0ý ЇPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€and€Michelle€Hohnke€Joss,€Assistant€AttorneyÐ H ÐGeneral,€for€the€appellee,€Tennessee€Health€Facilities€Commission.Ð 4ì ÐÓ{ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼…»XXÒIª#ÔÔ‡XÒIX»¼…ÔÐ  Ä ÐÌò òI.ó óÐ äœ ÐÌÓ  Óà  àSometime€in€1998,€Methodist€Healthcare„Jackson€Hospital€(ð ðMethodist€Healthcareðð)€appliedÐ ¼ t Ðto€the€Tennessee€Health€Facilities€Commission€for€a€certificate€of€need€to€undertake€a€$20,355,810Ð ¨ ` Ðexpansion€of€its€facility€for€the€purpose€of€initiating€neonatal€intensive€care€and€open€heart€surgeryÐ ” L  Ðservices.€€On€September€11,€1998,€Jackson„Madison€County€General€Hospital€District€(ð ðJackson„Ð € 8  ÐMadison€Countyðð)€filed€written€objections€to€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€asserting€that€theÐ l $  Ðexpanded€services€were€not€needed€and€would€duplicate€services€it€was€already€providing.Ð X  ÐÌà  àThe€Commission€took€up€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€at€its€September€23,€1998Ð 0è  Ðmeeting.€€After€presentations€from€both€sides,€the€Commission€initially€decided€by€a€six€to€five€vote€Ð Ô  Ðto€grant€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application.€€Following€a€recess,€the€commission€member€who€hadÐ À Ðmade€the€motion€to€grant€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€moved€to€reconsider€the€vote.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€TheÐ ô¬ ÐCommission€adopted€the€motion€by€a€vote€of€six€to€five.€€Thereafter,€the€Commission,€by€a€six€toÐ à˜ Ðfive€vote,€denied€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€for€a€certificate€of€need,€finding€that€theÐ Ì„ Ðproposed€expansion€was€neither€needed€nor€economically€feasible€and€that€it€would€not€contributeÐ ¸p Ðto€the€development€of€adequate€and€effective€healthcare€in€the€area.Ð ¤\ ÐÌà  àMethodist€Healthcareððs€narrow€defeat€raised€questions€about€the€propriety€of€theÐ |4 ÐCommissionððs€reconsideration€of€its€initial€decision.€€Even€though€the€Commission€had€followed€aÐ h  Ðsimilar€procedure€in€earlier€hearings,€some€questioned€whether€its€second€vote€was€inconsistent€withÐ T  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„108(e)€(Supp.€2000).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Accordingly,€both€the€Commission€and€a€stateÐ @ø Ðsenator€requested€the€Attorney€General€and€Reporter€to€render€a€formal€opinion׃h×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€regarding€whetherÐ ,ä Ðthe€Commissionððs€reconsideration€of€its€decision€regarding€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€wasÐ Ð Ðinconsistent€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„108(e).€€On€October€1,€1998,€the€Attorney€General€issuedÐ ¼ Ðan€opinion€that€the€Commission€did€not€have€the€authority€to€reconsider€its€initial€decision€and€thatÐ ð¨ Ðall€the€Commissionððs€actions€after€the€initial€vote€were€of€no€effect.׃¸×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð Ü” ÐÌà  àOn€October€23,€1998,€Jackson„Madison€County€filed€a€petition€for€writ€of€certiorari€and€writÐ ´!l! Ðof€supersedeas€in€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€County€seeking€judicial€review€of€theÐ  "X" ÐCommissionððs€proceedings€on€two€grounds.€€First,€Jackson„Madison€County€asserted€that€one€of€theÐ Œ#D # ÐCommission€members€who€had€voted€in€favor€of€granting€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€forÐ H Ða€certificate€of€need€should€have€recused€himself€because€his€company€had€a€ð ðdirect€financialÐ 4ì Ðrelationshipðð€with€both€Jackson„Madison€County€and€Methodist€Healthcare.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Second,€it€asserted€thatÐ  Ø Ðthe€announced€intention€of€the€Commissionððs€staff€to€issue€the€certificate€of€need€notwithstandingÐ  Ä Ðthe€Commissionððs€decision€to€deny€it€was€arbitrary,€capricious,€and€unlawful.Ð ø° ÐÌà  àOn€October€28,€1998,€the€circuit€court€transferred€the€petition€to€the€Chancery€Court€forРЈ ÐDavidson€County,€and€one€of€the€chancellors€signed€a€fiat€directing€the€clerk€and€master€to€issue€theÐ ¼ t Ðwrit€of€certiorari€directing€the€Commission€to€forward€the€record€of€its€proceedings€involvingÐ ¨ ` ÐMethodist€Healthcareððs€application€for€a€certificate€of€need€to€the€court.€€However,€the€trial€court€didÐ ” L  Ðnot€issue€a€writ€of€supersedeas€that€would€have€prevented€the€Commission€from€issuing€theÐ € 8  Ðcertificate€of€need€to€Methodist€Healthcare.׃Ü×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð l $  ÐÌà  àThe€Commission€met€later€in€the€day€on€October€28,€1998.€€During€this€meeting,€theÐ Dü  ÐCommissionððs€general€counsel€informed€the€Commission€of€the€actions€taken€by€the€trial€courtÐ 0è  Ðearlier€in€the€day€and€explained€her€understanding€of€the€significance€of€the€Attorney€GeneralððsÐ Ô  ÐOctober€1,€1998€opinion.€€She€stated€that€the€Attorney€General€had€ð ðeffectively€reversedðð€theÐ À ÐCommissionððs€September€23,€1998€decision€to€deny€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€for€aÐ ô¬ Ðcertificate€of€need.€€She€also€admonished€the€Commission€to€ð ðconform€your€conduct€with€the€adviceÐ à˜ Ðof€the€Attorney€Generalðð€and€warned€that€the€ð ðCommission€will€have€to€face€some€sort€of€legalÐ Ì„ Ðaction€if€we€choose€.€.€.€to€ignore€[the€Attorney€Generalððs€opinion].ðð׃x×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€general€counsel€alsoÐ ¸p Ðadvised€the€Commission€that€neither€she€nor€the€Attorney€General€would€represent€the€CommissionÐ ¤\ Ðor€the€individual€commissioners€if€they€disregarded€the€Attorney€Generalððs€opinion€and€that€theyÐ H Ðwould€be€required€to€retain€their€own€lawyers€when€Methodist€Healthcare€filed€suit.€€With€thisÐ |4 Ðð ðadviceðð€ringing€in€their€ears,€the€commissioners€decided€to€ð ðconcurðð€with€the€Attorney€GeneralððsÐ h  Ðopinion.€€Thereupon,€the€general€counsel€informed€the€Commission€that€Methodist€HealthcareððsÐ T  Ðcertificate€of€need€would€be€signed€and€issued€forthwith.Ð @ø ÐÌà  àBoth€the€Commission€and€Methodist€Healthcare€later€filed€motions€to€dismiss€Jackson„Ð Ð Ðâ âMadison€Countyððs€petition€on€the€ground€that€Jackson„Madison€County€had€adequate€remedies€underÐ ¼ Ðthe€Uniform€Administrative€Procedures€Act€that€it€had€failed€to€exhaust.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€December€16,€1998,Ð H Ðâ âthe€trial€court€entered€an€order€dismissing€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€petition€for€writ€of€certiorariÐ 4ì Ðwith€prejudice€on€the€ground€that€Jackson„Madison€County€had€failed€to€exhaust€its€administrativeÐ  Ø Ðremedies€under€the€Uniform€Administrative€Procedures€Act.€€Jackson„Madison€County€filed€a€timelyÐ  Ä Ðappeal€with€this€court.Ð ø° ÐÌà  àBecause€the€trial€court€had€not€issued€a€writ€of€supersedeas,€the€proceedings€before€theРЈ ÐCommission€did€not€abate€while€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€appeal€was€pending.€€Both€parties€hadÐ ¼ t Ðrequested€a€contested€case€hearing€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„109(a)(1).€Ð ¨ ` ÐAccordingly,€on€January€7,€2001,€Jackson„Madison€County€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgmentÐ ” L  Ðwith€the€administrative€law€judge€assigned€to€conduct€the€contested€case€hearing.€€In€its€motion,Ð € 8  ÐJackson„Madison€County€asserted€that€Methodist€Healthcareððs€certificate€of€need€was€invalid€(1)Ð l $  Ðbecause€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„108(e)€did€not€prevent€the€Commission€from€reconsidering€andÐ X  Ðdenying€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€for€a€certificate€of€need€and€(2)€because€one€of€theÐ Dü  Ðcommissioners€who€voted€to€grant€Methodist€Healthcareððs€application€should€have€recused€himselfÐ 0è  Ðbecause€of€his€direct€financial€relationship€with€both€parties.׃d×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð Ô  ÐÌà  àBoth€Methodist€Healthcare€and€the€Commission€objected€to€the€administrative€law€judgeððsÐ ô¬ Ðconsideration€of€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€They€argued€that€theÐ à˜ Ðadministrative€law€judge€lacked€jurisdiction€to€address€the€motion€because€it€was€based€on€the€sameÐ Ì„ Ðgrounds€as€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€petition€for€writ€of€certiorari.€€The€administrative€law€judgeÐ ¸p Ðdecided€to€proceed€with€the€motion.€€On€September€24,€2001,€the€administrative€law€judge€filed€anÐ ¤\ Ðorder€concluding€that€Jackson„Madison€County€was,€as€a€matter€of€law,€entitled€to€a€judgmentÐ H Ðvacating€the€certificate€of€need€issued€to€Methodist€Healthcare.€€Based€on€the€undisputed€evidence,Ð |4 Ðthe€administrative€law€judge€found€that€one€of€the€commissioners€who€voted€to€grant€the€certificateÐ h  Ðof€need€ð ðhad€a€pecuniary€interest€in€the€proceedings€sufficient€to€necessitate€his€disqualification.ðð׃´×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀РT  ÐThe€administrative€law€judge€also€found€that€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„108(e)€did€not€prohibit€theÐ @ø ÐCommission€from€reconsidering€its€initial€vote€to€approve€Methodist€Healthcareððs€applicationÐ ,ä Ðbecause,€at€the€time,€the€Commission€had€not€yet€finally€ð ðdecidedðð€whether€to€approve€or€deny€theÐ Ð Ðapplication.Ð ¼ Ðâ âÐ ð¨ Ðà  àWith€the€favorable€order€by€the€administrative€law€judge€in€hand,€Jackson„Madison€CountyÐ H Ðâ âhas€now€filed€a€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)€motion€to€dismiss€its€appeal€from€the€trial€courtððs€DecemberÐ 4ì Ð16,€1998€order.€€Methodist€Healthcare€opposes€the€motion,€asserting€that€the€administrative€lawÐ  Ø Ðjudgeððs€September€24,€2001€order€is€ð ðripe€for€appeal€and€reversalðð€and€that€ð ðfairness€and€equityððÐ  Ä Ðshould€prevent€Jackson„Madison€County€from€being€allowed€ð ðto€ððwhipsawðð€Methodist€.€.€.€throughÐ ø° Ðthe€simultaneous€use€of€competing€forums.ðð€€The€Commission€has€filed€no€response€to€Jackson„Ð äœ ÐMadison€Countyððs€motion€to€dismiss€this€appeal.РЈ ÐÌà@……)ìàò òII.ó óˆÐ ¨ ` ÐÌà  àThe€sole€issue€presently€before€us€is€whether€Jackson„Madison€County€may€voluntarilyÐ € 8  Ðwithdraw€its€appeal€€over€Methodist€Healthcareððs€objections.€€Resolving€this€issue€does€not€requireÐ l $  Ðus€to€address€the€correctness€of€the€trial€courtððs€December€16,€1998€decision€to€dismiss€Jackson„Ð X  ÐMadison€Countyððs€petition€for€writ€of€certiorari€or€to€address€the€substantive€issues€raised€in€thatÐ Dü  Ðpetition.€€Our€only€task€is€to€determine€whether€Jackson„Madison€County€satisfies€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ð 0è  Ð15(a)ððs€requirements€for€dismissing€a€pending€appeal.Ð Ô  ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàò òA.ó óˆÐ ô¬ ÐÌà  àLong€before€it€adopted€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure,€the€Tennessee€SupremeÐ Ì„ ÐCourt€recognized€that€an€appellant€had€a€right€to€withdraw€or€dismiss€its€appeal,€with€or€without€theÐ ¸p Ðappelleeððs€consent,€as€long€as€the€case€remained€in€the€appellate€courtððs€jurisdiction.€€òòFort€v.€Fortóó,Ð ¤\ Ð118€Tenn.€103,€108„09,€101€S.W.€433,€435€(1907).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€This€right,€however,€is€not€unconditional.€€TheÐ H Ðappellate€courts€may€require€the€appellant€to€pay€the€costs,€òòFort€v.€Fortóó,€118€Tenn.€at€112,€101€S.W.Ð |4 Ðat€436,€and€may€also€impose€any€other€conditions€necessary€to€prevent€impairing€the€rights€of€anyÐ h  Ðof€the€parties.€€òòFederal€Firefighters€of€Oak€Ridge€v.€Roane„Anderson€Co.óó,€185€Tenn.€320,€323„24,Ð T  Ð206€S.W.2d€369,€370€(1947);€òòFort€v.€Fortóó,€118€Tenn.€at€114,€101€S.W.€at€436.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€exceptionalÐ @ø Ðcircumstances,€the€appellate€courts€may€even€decline€to€dismiss€an€appeal€when€prejudice€cannot€beÐ ,ä Ðavoided€and€issues€of€great€public€importance€are€involved.€€òòFederal€Firefighters€of€Oak€Ridge€v.Ð Ð ÐRoane„Anderson€Co.óó,€185€Tenn.€at€325„26,€206€S.W.2d€at€371€(holding€that€an€appellate€court€couldÐ ¼ Ðdecline€to€dismiss€an€appeal€in€a€case€where€the€lower€courtððs€invalidation€of€a€statute€would€impairÐ ð¨ Ðthe€ability€of€public€officials€to€perform€their€duties).€Ð Ü” ÐÌà  àA€voluntary€dismissal€of€an€appeal€does€not€result€in€the€dismissal€of€the€underlying€case.€Ð ´!l! ÐAccordingly,€an€appellant€seeking€to€voluntarily€dismiss€its€appeal€is€not€entitled€to€a€dismissalÐ  "X" Ðwithout€prejudice.€€òòBanks€v.€Kentucky€Live€Stock€Ins.€Co.óó,€7€Tenn.€Civ.€App.€(Higgins)€419,€429Ð Œ#D # Ð(1916).€€When€an€appellant€voluntarily€dismisses€its€appeal,€the€appellate€court,€at€its€option,€mayÐ H Ðeither€affirm€the€lower€courtððs€judgment€or€simply€dismiss€the€appeal,€thereby€leaving€the€lowerÐ 4ì Ðcourtððs€judgment€in€place€and€returning€the€parties€to€where€they€were€before€the€appeal€was€filed.€Ð  Ø ÐòòFort€v.€Fortóó,€118€Tenn.€at€114,€101€S.W.€at€436;€òòMaskall€v.€Maskallóó,€35€Tenn.€(3€Sneed)€207,€208„09Ð  Ä Ð(1855);€òòBanks€v.€Kentucky€Live€Stock€Ins.€Co.óó,€7€Tenn.€Civ.€App.€at€429.€Ð ø° ÐÌà@)ìàò òB.ó óˆÐ Ј ÐÌà  àMore€than€fifty€years€ago,€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€recognized€that€the€right€toÐ ¨ ` Ðvoluntarily€dismiss€an€appeal€could€be€defined€and€controlled€by€statute€and,€presumably,€by€rule.€Ð ” L  ÐòòFederal€Firefighters€of€Oak€Ridge€v.€Roane„Anderson€Co.óó,€185€Tenn.€at€324,€206€S.W.2d€at€370.€Ð € 8  ÐHowever,€it€was€not€until€the€advent€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure€in€1979€that€theÐ l $  ÐCourt€exercised€its€rule„making€power€to€enact€a€rule€addressing€the€contours€of€the€right€andÐ X  Ðprescribing€the€procedure€for€exercising€it.€€As€originally€adopted,€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(b)€provided:Ð Dü  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAfter€the€record€has€been€filed€with€the€clerk€of€the€appellateÐ Ô  Ðcourt,€if€the€parties€to€an€appeal€or€other€proceeding€shall€sign€and€fileÐ À Ðwith€the€clerk€of€the€appellate€court€an€agreement€that€the€appeal€orÐ ô¬ Ðproceeding€may€be€dismissed,€specifying€the€terms€as€to€the€paymentÐ à˜ Ðof€costs€and€fees,€if€any,€due€in€connection€with€the€appeal€orÐ Ì„ Ðproceeding,€the€clerk€shall€enter€the€dismissal.€€An€appeal€or€otherÐ ¸p Ðproceeding€may€be€dismissed€on€motion€of€the€appellant€or€movingÐ ¤\ Ðparty€upon€such€terms€as€may€be€agreed€upon€by€the€parties€or€fixedÐ H Ðby€the€court.€€A€copy€of€the€dismissal€shall€be€filed€by€the€clerk€of€theÐ |4 Ðappellate€court€with€the€clerk€of€the€trial€court.Ðh ` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€amended€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15€four€times€during€the€ensuingÐ @ø Ðtwenty„two€years.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€1997,€after€the€litigants€in€a€pending€case€agreed€to€dismiss€an€appeal€shortlyÐ ,ä Ðbefore€the€Court€planned€to€file€its€opinion,€the€Court€amended€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15€by€adding€Tenn.Ð Ð ÐR.€App.€P.€15(c),€which€states:Ð ¼ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àIf€an€application€for€permission€to€appeal€has€been€grantedÐ Ü” Ðunder€Rule€11€and€all€parties€thereafter€wish€to€have€the€appealÐ È €  Ðdismissed,€the€appellant€shall€file€a€motion€and€proposed€order€withÐ ´!l! Ðthe€clerk€of€the€Supreme€Court.Р"X"` x` x ÐÌOne€year€later,€in€1998,€the€Court€amended€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15€by€deleting€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a),Ð x$0!$ Ðrenumbering€the€remaining€sections,€and€rewriting€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(b)€(now€designated€as€Tenn.Ð d%"% ÐR.€App.€P.€15(a)).€€In€its€amended€form€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)€now€provides:Ð P&#& ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAn€appeal€may€be€dismissed€by€filing€in€the€appellate€court€aÐ ((à$( Ðstipulation€of€dismissal€signed€by€all€parties€or€on€notice€and€motionÐ )Ì%) Ðby€appellant.€€A€copy€of€the€dismissal€shall€be€filed€by€the€clerk€of€theÐ *¸&* Ðappellate€court€with€the€clerk€of€the€trial€court.€€If€the€record€has€notÐ ì*¤'+ Ðbeen€filed€with€the€clerk€of€the€appellate€court,€the€clerk€of€the€trialÐ H Ðcourt€shall€file€a€copy€of€the€appeal€bond€with€the€clerk€of€theÐ 4ì Ðappellate€court.Ð Ø` x` x ÐÌà  àNoticeably€absent€from€the€current€version€of€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)€is€its€predecessorððsÐ ø° Ðlanguage€explicitly€conditioning€the€dismissal€of€an€appeal€ð ðupon€such€terms€as€may€be€.€.€.€fixed€byÐ äœ Ðthe€court.ðð׃#×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€We€have€concluded€that€the€change€in€the€language€of€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)€wroughtРЈ Ðby€the€1998€amendment€does€not€divest€intermediate€appellate€courts€of€their€discretionary€authorityÐ ¼ t Ðto€place€conditions€on€voluntary€dismissals€of€appeals€to€prevent€prejudice€to€the€parties€or,€in€properÐ ¨ ` Ðcircumstances,€to€decline€to€dismiss€an€appeal.€€We€have€also€concluded€that€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)Ð ” L  Ðdoes€not€expand€the€grounds€for€denying€an€appellantððs€motion€to€dismiss€its€appeal€voluntarilyÐ € 8  Ðbeyond€those€heretofore€recognized€by€the€courts.׃$(×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð l $  ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàò òC.ó óˆÐ Dü  ÐÌà  àBecause€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)€provides€no€substantive€guidance€regarding€the€permissibleÐ Ô  Ðgrounds€for€denying€a€motion€to€voluntarily€dismiss€an€appeal,€we€turn€back€to€the€precedentsÐ À Ðinvolving€voluntary€dismissals.€€Determining€whether€the€appellee€will€be€prejudiced€by€permittingÐ ô¬ Ðthe€appellant€to€voluntarily€dismiss€its€appeal€requires€the€court€to€focus€on€the€posture€of€the€partiesÐ à˜ Ðif€the€appeal€was€dismissed.€€òòFederal€Firefighters€of€Oak€Ridge€v.€Roane„Anderson€Co.óó,€185€Tenn.Ð Ì„ Ðat€324,€206€S.W.2d€at€370.€€Were€we€to€grant€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€motion,€we€would€eitherÐ ¸p Ðaffirm€the€trial€courtððs€December€16,€1998€order€dismissing€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€petition€forÐ ¤\ Ðwrit€of€certiorari,€or€we€would€simply€dismiss€the€appeal,€thereby€leaving€the€trial€courtððs€DecemberÐ H Ð16,€1998€order€intact.€€This€order€was€favorable€to€Methodist€Healthcare€when€it€was€originallyÐ |4 Ðentered,€and€it€will€remain€so€even€if€this€appeal€is€dismissed.€€Thus,€permitting€Jackson„MadisonÐ h  ÐCounty€to€withdraw€its€appeal€will€not€impair€any€rights€that€Methodist€Healthcare€possessedÐ T  Ðfollowing€the€trial€courtððs€dismissal€of€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€petition€for€certiorari.Ð @ø ÐÌà  àMethodist€Healthcare€does€not€insist€that€permitting€Jackson„Madison€County€to€voluntarilyÐ Ð Ðdismiss€its€appeal€will€adversely€affect€any€of€its€rights€under€the€trial€courtððs€December€16,€1998Ð ¼ Ðorder€dismissing€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€petition€for€certiorari.€€It€opposes€dismissing€this€appealÐ ð¨ Ðon€two€other€grounds.€€First,€Methodist€Healthcare€takes€issue€with€the€correctness€of€the€legalÐ Ü” Ðconclusions€that€prompted€Jackson„Madison€County€to€move€to€dismiss€its€appeal.€€Second,€it€arguesÐ È €  Ðthat€ð ðfairness€and€equityðð€should€require€Jackson„Madison€County€ð ðto€see€.€.€.€[this€appeal]€to€itsÐ ´!l! Ðnatural€conclusion.ðð€€In€Methodist€Healthcareððs€opinion,€permitting€Jackson„Madison€County€toÐ  "X" Ðvoluntarily€withdraw€its€appeal€is€tantamount€to€an€endorsement€of€(1)€simultaneously€using€twoÐ Œ#D # Ðcompeting€forums€to€ð ðwhipsawðð€an€opponent€and€(2)€the€significant€waste€of€judicial€resources.€€WeÐ H Ðthink€that€Methodist€Healthcare€doth€protest€too€much.Ð 4ì ÐÌà  àWe€turn€first€to€Methodist€Healthcareððs€disagreement€with€the€basis€for€Jackson„MadisonÐ  Ä ÐCountyððs€decision€to€dismiss€its€appeal.€€In€the€motion€to€dismiss€its€appeal,€Jackson„MadisonÐ ø° ÐCounty€asserts€that€this€appeal€has€been€rendered€ð ðmootðð€by€the€administrative€law€judgeððsÐ äœ ÐSeptember€24,€2001€order.€€Methodist€Healthcare€disagrees€with€Jackson„Madison€CountyððsРЈ Ðappraisal€of€the€legal€significance€of€the€administrative€law€judgeððs€order€and,€in€fact,€asserts€that€theÐ ¼ t Ðorder€is€ð ðripe€for€reversalðð€because€the€administrative€law€judge€lacked€jurisdiction€to€decide€the€twoÐ ¨ ` Ðissues€addressed€in€its€order.Ð ” L  ÐÌà  àJackson„Madison€County€has€decided€to€withdraw€this€appeal€and€has€exercised€its€rightÐ l $  Ðunder€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)€to€request€that€this€appeal€be€dismissed.€€The€responsibility€for€thisÐ X  Ðdecision€rests€squarely€on€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€shoulders.€€It€is€not€our€role€at€this€junctureÐ Dü  Ðto€delve€into€the€soundness€of€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€reasoning€or€to€protect€Jackson„MadisonÐ 0è  ÐCounty€from€possible€errors€in€its€legal€analysis.€€Our€only€inquiry€concerns€the€prejudice€to€theÐ Ô  Ðparties€that€could€stem€from€the€dismissal€of€this€appeal.€€We€can€determine€whether€the€parties€willÐ À Ðbe€prejudiced€without€addressing€the€validity€of€the€administrative€law€judgeððs€September€24,€2001Ð ô¬ Ðorder.€€In€fact,€it€would€be€inappropriate€for€us€to€take€up€the€administrative€law€judgeððs€order€at€thisÐ à˜ Ðtime€because€judicial€review€will€be€available€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„322€(1998).׃%×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð Ì„ ÐÌà  àAffirming€the€trial€courtððs€December€16,€1998€order€and€dismissing€this€appeal€will€leaveÐ ¤\ Ðundisturbed€the€trial€courtððs€decision€that€it€had€improvidently€granted€the€writ€of€certiorari€becauseÐ H ÐJackson„Madison€County€had€another€adequate€appellate€remedy.€€It€goes€no€further€because€the€trialÐ |4 Ðcourt€never€reached€the€substantive€issues€regarding€the€disqualification€of€one€of€the€CommissionÐ h  Ðmembers€or€the€Commissionððs€ability€to€reconsider€its€decision.€Accordingly,€dismissing€this€appealÐ T  Ðwill€not€impair€Methodist€Healthcareððs€right€to€challenge€the€jurisdiction€of€the€administrative€lawÐ @ø Ðjudge€or€the€substantive€merits€of€the€decisions€in€the€administrative€law€judgeððs€September€24,€2001Ð ,ä Ðorder.Ð Ð ÐÌà  àWe€now€turn€to€Methodist€Healthcareððs€second€claim€of€prejudice.€€It€complains€thatÐ ð¨ ÐJackson„Madison€County€should€have€dismissed€this€appeal€before€it€sought€a€summary€judgmentÐ Ü” Ðfrom€the€administrative€law€judge.€€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€failure€to€dismiss€this€appeal,€at€leastÐ È €  Ðin€Methodist€Healthcareððs€estimation,€ð ðplace[d]€this€case€on€a€judicial€merry„go„roundðð€and€enabledÐ ´!l! ÐJackson„Madison€County€to€ð ðwhipsawðð€Methodist€Healthcare€by€simultaneously€litigating€the€sameÐ  "X" Ðissues€in€competing€fora.€€While€we€may€agree€that€Jackson„Madison€complicated€this€proceedingÐ Œ#D # Ðby€pursuing€a€common„law€writ€of€certiorari€rather€than€the€other€appellate€remedies€available€underÐ x$0!$ ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„109,€we€fail€to€understand€how€permitting€Jackson„Madison€County€toÐ d%"% Ðabandon€a€proceeding€that€should€never€have€been€commenced€in€the€first€place€prejudicesÐ P&#& ÐMethodist€Healthcare.Ð <'ô#' Їà  àDismissing€this€appeal€leaves€the€parties€in€essentially€the€same€posture€they€would€haveÐ H Ðbeen€in€had€Jackson„Madison€County€never€pursued€the€writ€of€certiorari.€€Despite€thisÐ 4ì Ðmisadventure,€the€parties€were€fated€to€have€a€contested€case€hearing€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„Ð  Ø Ð11„109€because€both€of€them€had€requested€one€following€the€Commissionððs€October€28,€1998Ð  Ä Ðmeeting.€€Thus,€whether€the€contested€case€hearing€commenced€in€1998€or€2001,€the€parties€haveÐ ø° Ðnot€been€forced€to€participate€in€administrative€proceedings€that€they€would€not€have€been€requiredÐ äœ Ðto€participate€in€had€Jackson„Madison€County€not€petitioned€for€a€writ€of€certiorari.€€In€light€of€theРЈ Ðcurrent€status€of€these€proceedings,€the€fact€that€the€administrative€law€judge€reversed€and€vacatedÐ ¼ t Ðthe€Commissionððs€decision€to€grant€the€certificate€of€need€to€Methodist€Healthcare€in€2001€ratherÐ ¨ ` Ðthan€in€1998€or€1999€does€not€prejudice€Methodist€Healthcare.€€Ð ” L  ÐÌà  àAfter€carefully€analyzing€the€procedural€posture€of€this€case,€we€have€no€basis€for€concludingÐ l $  Ðthat€Methodist€Healthcare€will€be€prejudiced€in€any€substantive€way€if€we€allow€Jackson„MadisonÐ X  ÐCounty€to€dismiss€its€appeal.€€The€only€conceivable€prejudice€to€Methodist€Healthcare€would€ariseÐ Dü  Ðfrom€a€conclusion€that€the€trial€courtððs€December€16,€1998€order€somehow€precludes€MethodistÐ 0è  ÐHealthcare€from€challenging€the€validity€of€the€administrative€law€judgeððs€September€24,€2001€order.€Ð Ô  ÐHowever,€as€we€have€already€pointed€out,€the€trial€courtððs€December€16,€1998€order,€limited€as€it€isÐ À Ðto€the€dismissal€of€the€writ€of€certiorari€it€had€improvidently€granted,€has€no€such€preclusive€effect.€Ð ô¬ ÐShould€Methodist€Healthcare€decide€to€continue€its€efforts€to€keep€its€certificate€of€need€afloat,€theÐ à˜ Ðtrial€courtððs€December€16,€1998€order€will€not€prevent€it€from€challenging€the€administrative€lawÐ Ì„ Ðjudgeððs€jurisdiction€to€issue€the€September€24,€2001€order.€€Likewise,€the€trial€courtððs€order€will€notÐ ¸p Ðprevent€Methodist€Healthcare€from€challenging€the€administrative€law€judgeððs€conclusion€that€theÐ ¤\ ÐCommissionððs€initial€vote€to€grant€the€certificate€of€need€is€tainted€by€the€financial€conflict„of„Ð H Ðinterest€of€one€of€the€Commission€members€who€voted€on€the€prevailing€side€and€that€the€AttorneyÐ |4 ÐGeneralððs€interpretation€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€68„11„108(e)€is€incorrect.׃&×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú17Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð h  ÐÌà  àPermitting€Jackson„Madison€County€to€dismiss€this€appeal€will€not€impair€MethodistÐ @ø ÐHealthcareððs€right€to€obtain€judicial€review€of€the€administrative€law€judgeððs€September€24,€2001Ð ,ä Ðorder€and€will€not€force€it€to€participate€in€more€administrative€proceedings€than€it€would€haveÐ Ð Ðotherwise.€€Accordingly,€Methodist€Healthcare€has€failed€to€demonstrate€that€it€will€be€prejudicedÐ ¼ Ðby€the€dismissal€of€this€appeal.Ð ð¨ ÐÌà@^^(ìàò òIII.ó óˆÐ È €  ÐÌà  àWe€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€December€16,€1998€order€dismissing€Jackson„Madison€CountyððsÐ  "X" Ðpetition€for€writ€of€certiorari,€and€we€grant€Jackson„Madison€Countyððs€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€15(a)Ð Œ#D # Ðmotion€to€dismiss€its€appeal.€€We€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€Jackson„Madison€County€GeneralÐ x$0!$ ÐHospital€District€and€its€surety€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.Ð d%"% ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼…»XXÒI #ÔÔ€XÒIX»¼…ÔÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________€Ð ((à$( Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE