WPCZ2 |o|ggF'C!L 8v!އ]vdu&ɐՇM>_潴x%Z p`|o%2@/€+ B;꧂&gkYXhnX7sܯJ5|x)'dm4vLac6R`m*jb#\ %% ^ + 07 w UN 4 z%  q  m 0U   z@ 0DNJ 0L 0/E 0=['R6 07 0 0 0P 0 0 0] 0.! 0! 0" 05# 0# 0q$ 0% 0%bU& 0]& 0+' 0' 0( 0)) 0) 0_* 0***{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+{+ 0W-W-W-W- BB.B. 0_. D3/ D-6/ 0Kc/c/ AS/0 00 0Dk1 A1\\IB01S01\CLERK1NAS,,,,0ےy/ (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regularqdj/B011C2 C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU*+ (_2623  ..Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#$  0  *G+G (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ../%` ` hp x /   *8+8 (_24  ," hp x ,23  ..," hp x ,   HardemanWhiteville"reincarcerationHobbsTomlinsonShadrickCoker BainChrismanTullahomaSeatonNiblack OmerTrusantMeighan NeasAssnMcCanlessShelbyvilleAyersRaybinTOMIS PERB COAScholzIntlCommrresultinglyWitcherBilbreyTusant SysMcWherterLedbetter*5+5 (_23 ` ) hp x )23  ..) hp x ) `  3 R$      1  ?  _Thisconvictionwaslateraffirmed.Statev.Johnson,No.61,1989WL86573(Tenn.Crim.App.Aug.2,  1989),perm.app.denied(Tenn.Dec.4,1989).  R$      3  ?  _TOMISreferstotheDepartmentscomputerizedrecordkeepingsystemcalledthe TennesseeOffender  ManagementInformationSystem. R$      4  ?  _Tenn.CodeAnn.46140(1998)andTenn.CodeAnn.4121104,107(a)(3)(2003). R$      5  ?  _Tenn.CodeAnn.4028109(2003). R$      6  ?  _E.g.,Bonnerv.TennesseeDeptofCorr.,84S.W.3d576,583(Tenn.Ct.App.2001).  R$      7  ?  _ThereissomeindicationintherecordthattheDepartmentspracticemayconfusetheBoardofParoles.The  boardmemberwhodeclinedtoparoleMr.JohnsoninMarch2002recommendedthattherecordshouldbereferredback  totheDepartment toclarify[Mr.Johnsons]sentence;docketstateslife;inmatestatesfiveyears.*2+2 (_22  &hhp x &23  ..&hhp x &  */+/ (_21  #p x #23  ..#p x #  *,+, (_20 h  p x 23  .. p x h *)+) (_19  pp x 23  ..pp x   *&+& (_18   x 23  .. x   *AA (_17  5+ ` hp x 523  Ԁ5+ ` hp x 5  *GG (_16   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ/%` ` hp x /   *88 (_15  ," hp x ,23  Ԁ," hp x ,  *55 (_14 ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ) hp x ) ` *22 (_13  &hhp x &23  Ԁ&hhp x &  *// (_12  #p x #23  Ԁ#p x #  *,, (_11 h  p x 23  Ԁ p x h *)) (_10  pp x 23  Ԁpp x   (&& &_9   x 23  Ԁ x   (AA &_8  5+ ` hp x 523  5+ ` hp x 5  - -(GG &_7   /%` ` hp x /23  /%` ` hp x /   (88 &_6  ," hp x ,23  ," hp x ,  (55 &_5 ` ) hp x )23  ) hp x ) ` (22 &_4  &hhp x &23  &hhp x &  (// &_3  #p x #23  #p x #  (,, &_2 h  p x 23   p x h ()) &_1  pp x 23  pp x   &&& $_   x 23   x     R$      2  ?  _Whenthisdisputearose,Mr.Johnsonwouldhavebecomeeligibletobeconsideredforparolefromhis1988  sentencesometimeineither2014or2015dependingonthenumberofsentencecreditsheearned.Hisrecordscontained  thisdateaswellastheparoleeligibilitydatelatersetbytheBoard.(|G2$ !.8dXXd8         0  ? d(|3{$ !.8dXXd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3{$ !.8dXXd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _TRX3'Avery 3259 Embossed NoteX3' Letter3'Avery 5160 Address NoteTRX3'3'LetterTH  8ۭXXdd8  @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#|#Ԉ &   AssignedonBriefsMay31,2002  L XۭX #XXۭl#DANBILLJOHNSONv.TENNESSEEDEPARTMENTOFCORRECTIONXۭX   J @@ AppealfromtheChanceryCourtforDavidsonCounty  J @@No.003114IIIEllenHobbsLyle,Chancellor  6 @@*AV) ` dE< ` A    @@TTNo.M200102424_COA_ԄR3CVFiledNovember25,_2003_   AV) ` dE<` A      ThisappealinvolvesadisputebetweenaprisonerandtheTennesseeDepartmentofCorrection   regardinghistoricalsentencinginformationcontainedinhisrecords.Theprisonerfiledapetition   forwritofmandamusintheChanceryCourtforDavidsonCountyseekinganorderdirectingthe t Departmenttoremoveanoutmodedreleaseeligibilitydatefromhisrecordsandtocertifyhimas ` eligibleforparole.ThetrialcourtgrantedtheDepartmentsmotionforsummaryjudgment,andthe L prisonerhasappealed.WeaffirmthejudgmentbecausethemannerinwhichtheDepartment 8x maintainsitsrecordsisnotaministerialfunctionandbecausetheprisonerdoesnothavealegalright $d torequiretheDepartmenttomaintainhisrecordsinanyparticularway. P 4 Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtAffirmed  (   #Xۭ#XۭX.WilliamC.Koch,Jr.,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichWilliamB.Cainand  PatriciaJ.Cottrell,JJ.,joined.  DanBillJohnson,MountainCity,Tennessee,ProSe.  #XXۭ #XۭXPaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneralandReporter;MichaelE.Moore,SolicitorGeneral;andDawn \ Jordan,AssistantAttorneyGeneral,fortheappellee,TennesseeDepartmentofCorrection. H   R  OPINION #XXۭ #XۭX  "`"  I.  #8 $ #XXۭ #  XۭX  InJune1988,DanBillJohnsonreceivedalifesentenceasahabitualcriminalafteraShelby %"& CountyjuryconvictedhimofburglarizingarestaurantinMemphis. #  1      ׀Atthattime,personsreceiving &"' alifesentencebecameeligibleforparoleafterservingthirtyyears.However,thenewlycreated '#( ParoleEligibilityReviewBoarddeclaredMr.Johnsonparoleeligiblein1992,andhewasparoled ($) inAugust1994.Subsequently,hewasarrestedforaggravatedrobberyinHamiltonCountyin )%* December1997andreceivedafiveyearsentencetobeservedconsecutivelytohis1988life l*&+ sentence. X+',  D,(- _  Asaresultoftherobberyconviction,theTennesseeBoardofParolesrevokedMr.Johnsons  earlierparole,andheresumedservinghis1988lifesentence.Eventually,theBoarddeterminedthat  Mr.JohnsonwouldbeparoledfromhislifesentenceinJuly2000andthathewouldbeginserving  hisfiveyeararmedrobberysentenceatthattime.TheBoardalsodeterminedthatMr.Johnson  wouldagainbecomeeligibleforreleaseonparoleonSeptember14,2000. p   TheBoarddidnotconsiderMr.JohnsonforparoleinSeptember2000.Mr.Johnson H  becameconvincedthatthisoversightwascausedbythefactthathisrecordsstillcontainedthedate 4 t thathewouldhavebeeneligibleforparolefromhis1988convictionhadtheParoleEligibility  ` ReviewBoardnotdeclaredhimparoleeligiblein1992.9 #  2      ׀Accordingly,onOctober6,2000,Mr.  L  JohnsonfiledapetitionforwritofmandamusintheChanceryCourtforDavidsonCountyseeking  8  anorderdirectingtheDepartmentofCorrectionto correcthisreleaseeligibilitydateandtocertify  $  himasbeingeligibleforparole.Inresponse,theDepartmentconcededthatithad incorrectly   calculatedMr.Johnsonsreleaseeligibilitydateandstatedthathewouldbeplacedonthe first   availableparoledocket.TheBoardprovidedMr.JohnsonabelatedparolehearinginFebruary   2001andturnedhimdownforparole.TheBoardalsodecidedtoconsiderMr.Johnsonforparole   againinFebruary2002.    TheDepartmentandMr.Johnsonfiledmotionsforsummaryjudgment.Initsresponseto X Mr.Johnsonsmotion,theDepartmentassertedthat D 8  8`   thereasonforthedisparityinthereleaseeligibilitydatesisthatthe \ ParoleEligibilityReviewBoardsetaparoleeligibilitydatewhichis H differentfromtheonesetbythetrialcourt.TOMIS #  3      ׀showsboth 4 datesforpurposesofproperrecordingandmaintenanceoffiles.   RespondentsubmitsthatthisdoesnotviolatePetitionersrightsin   anyway.Hehasreceivedtheparoleeligibilityhearingwhichwas  duehim.` x` x OnSeptember6,2001,thetrialcourtenteredanordergrantingtheDepartmentsmotionfor | summaryjudgmentonthegroundthat theTennesseeDepartmentofCorrectionisnotviolatingthe h petitionerslegalrightsinthemannerinwhichitmaintainsitsrecords.Mr.Johnsonhasappealed. T  @) II.  ,"l!   ThesolequestionbeforeusiswhethertheDepartmentwasentitledtothedismissalofMr. $D # Johnsonspetitionforwritofmandamusasamatteroflaw.Wearenotbeingcalleduponto $0!$ considerthecorrectnessoftheDepartmentscalculationofMr.Johnsonssentencinginformation %"% ortheclarityofthemannerinwhichtheDepartmenthaschosentorecordandcommunicatethis &#& information.Wehavedeterminedthatthetrialcourtreachedthecorrectresultinthiscase!solely  becauseofthelimitedpurposeofawritofmandamus.  @) A.     Awritofmandamusisan extraordinaryremedy.Meighanv.U.S.SprintCommunications \ Co.,942S.W.2d476,479(Tenn.1997).Whileitisnormallyusedtocompelpublicofficialsto H  performtheirministerialduties,StateexrelLedbetterv.Duncan,702S.W.2d163,165(Tenn. 4 t 1985),itmaybeusedtopreventpublicofficialsfrom palpablyabusingtheirdiscretionby  ` performingdiscretionaryactsinanarbitraryoroppressivemanner.Meighanv.U.S.Sprint  L  CommunicationsCo.,942S.W.2dat479.Mandamusistheproperremedytoenforcespecificlegal  8  rightswhenthepersonseekingthewrithasnootherspecificoradequateremedy.Stateexrel.  $  Weaverv.Ayers,756S.W.2d217,221(Tenn.1988);Stateexrel.Witcherv.Bilbrey,878S.W.2d   567,57071(Tenn.Ct.App.1994).     Courtswillnotissueawritofmandamusagainstapublicofficialunlesstheproofshowsthat   theofficialisclearlyrefusingtoperformsomenondiscretionary,ministerialact.Stateexrel.Cole  v.Francisco,643S.W.2d105,106(Tenn.1982).Conversely,wherethepartyseekingmandamus l hasaclear,vestedlegalright,heorsheisnormallyentitledtothewrit.Stateexrel.NashvillePure X MilkCo.v.TownofShelbyville,192Tenn.194,207,240S.W.2d239,244(1951).Sucharight D mustbeclearlyestablished;mandamuswillnotliewheretherightisdoubtful.Stateexrel.Weaver 0p v.Ayers,756S.W.2dat221;Tusantv.CityofMemphis,56S.W.3d10,18(Tenn.Ct.App.2001). \   Anactisconsidered ministerialwhenthelawprescribesanddefinesthedutiestobe 4 performed withsuchprecisionandcertaintyastoleavenothingtotheexerciseof[theofficials]   judgment.Lambv.State,207Tenn.159,163,338S.W.2d584,586(1960).Conversely,a    discretionaryactisoneperformedbyanofficialwhohastheauthoritytodecidenotonlyhowthe  actwillbeperformedbutalsowhetherornottheactwillbeperformedatall.Bradleyv.Stateexrel.  Haggard,222Tenn.535,540,438S.W.2d738,740(1969);Lambv.State,207Tenn.at163,338  S.W.2dat586;Tusantv.CityofMemphis,56S.W.3dat18. | @) B.  T    TheDepartmenthasastatutorydutytomaintainprisonerrecords #  4      ׀andtocalculateeach ,"l! prisonersearliestreleasedate.T #  5      ׀However,thestatutesdonotprescribehowtheserecordsshould #X" bekeptorhowtheDepartmentshouldcalculateaprisonersearliestreleasedate.TheDepartment $D # hasdiscretionregardinghowandinwhatformitwillmaintainitsrecordsandhowitwillcalculate $0!$ andcommunicateaprisonersreleaseeligibilitydate.Accordingly,aprisonerintheDepartments %"% custodydoesnothaveaclearlyestablishedlegalrighttohavehisorherrecordskeptordisplayed &#& inanyparticularwayortorequiretheDepartmenttocalculatehisorherreleaseeligibilitydatein '#' anyparticularmanner.PrisonerswhobelievethattheDepartmenthasincorrectlycalculatedtheir ($( releaseeligibilitydatesmay,afterexhaustingtheiradministrativeremedies,fileapetitionfor )%) declaratoryorderpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.45225(1998)toobtainjudicialreviewofthese  calculations. #  6      ׀    WhytheDepartmentneedstocontinueincludingoutmodedreleaseeligibilitydatesinits  prisonerrecordsisfarfromclear.T #  7      ׀Itisclear,however,thattheDepartmenthasthediscretiontodo p soifitchooses,andtherefore,prisonersdonothaveavestedlegalrighttohavetheirrecords \ maintainedinanyparticularform.Accordingly,Mr.Johnsonhasnotestablishedthathehasaclear H  legalrighttorequiretheDepartmenttoremovefromhisrecordstheentryshowingwhattherelease 4 t eligibilitydateforhis1988lifesentencewouldhavebeenhadtheParoleEligibilityReviewBoard  ` notdesignatedhimasparoleeligiblein1992.Becausehehasfailedtoestablishaclearlegalright  L  andbecausehehasotheradequatelegalremediesshouldtheDepartmentfailtocalculatehisrelease  8  eligibilitydateproperly,thetrialcourtcorrectlydeniedhispetitionforwritofmandamus.  $  @^^( III.      Mr.Johnsonalsoassertsthatthetrialcourterredbydecliningtoawardhimdiscretionary   costspursuanttoTenn.R.Civ.P.54.04(2)becauseheistheprevailingpartyinthislitigation.This  argumentfailsfortwofundamentalreasons.First,Mr.Johnsonisnotaprevailingparty.Second, l Tenn.R.Civ.P.54.04(2)doesnotpermittheawardofdiscretionarycostsagainsttheStateorany X ofitsdepartmentsoragencies.Phillipsv.TennesseeTech.Univ.,984S.W.2d217,218(Tenn. D 1998);TennesseeSmallSch.Sys.v.McWherter,No.01A019211CH00447,1993WL295006,at 0p *23(Tenn.Ct.App.Aug.4,1993)perm.app.denied(Tenn.Mar.7,1994);Stateexrel.Commr, \ DeptofTransp.v.Parsons,No.01A019206CV00238,1992WL389166,at*3(Tenn.Ct.App. H Dec.31,1992)(NoTenn.R.App.P.11applicationfiled). 4 @dd) IV.      Weaffirmthedismissalofthepetitionforwritofmandamusandremandthecasetothetrial  courtforwhateverfurtherproceedingsmayberequired.WetaxthecostsofthisappealtoDanBill  Johnsonforwhichexecution,ifnecessary,mayissue.WealsofindthatMr.Johnsonspetitionfor | writofmandamusandsubsequentappealarefrivolousinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.41 h 21807(c),816(a)(1)(2003). T     `     h   ______________________________ #X"    `     h   WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,J.