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Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼^µ»îîGl #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAugust€18,€2003€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X ùX»¼^µÔÌò òÔ#†¼^µ»XX ùô#ÔDONALD€R.€LACY€v.€WESLEY€B.€COX,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X ùX»¼^µÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌÔ#†¼^µ»XX ùg#ÔÔ€X ùX»¼^µÔà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Ô_ÔSevierÔ_Ô€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€2001„386„II€€€€€€Richard€R.€Vance,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐFiled€October€31,€2003Ð Ò " Ðà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½ ` AßÐ ¾   ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2003„00709„COA„R3„CVÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` Aßó óÓ  ÓÐ ‘á  ÐÌDonald€R.€Lacy€(ð ðPlaintiffðð)€sued€Jennifer€Brandon€for€damages€arising€from€an€automobileÐ ŒÜ  Ðaccident.€€After€deliberating€for€approximately€two€hours,€the€jury€asked€the€Trial€Court€if€they€wereÐ xÈ  Ðrequired€to€award€Plaintiff€any€monetary€damages€if€they€found€fault€on€the€part€of€Brandon.€€BasedÐ d´ Ðon€the€question,€Plaintiff€surmised€the€juryððs€deliberations€were€not€going€his€way.€€As€a€result,Ð P  ÐPlaintiff€moved€for€a€voluntary€dismissal€without€prejudice,€believing€he€was€entitled€to€do€so€as€aÐ <Œ Ðmatter€of€right.€€The€Trial€Court,€also€believing€Plaintiff€was€entitled€to€dismiss€his€lawsuit€withoutÐ (x Ðprejudice€as€a€matter€of€right€even€though€the€jury€was€deliberating,€granted€the€motion.€€WeÐ d Ðconclude€Plaintiff€was€not€entitled€to€voluntarily€dismiss€his€lawsuit€without€prejudice€as€a€matterÐ P Ðof€right€at€that€stage€in€the€proceedings,€and€as€a€consequence€the€dismissal€is€with€prejudice.€€Ð ì< ÐÌÌò òà@µ µ ìàTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€theˆÐ ° Ðà@ü ü ìàCircuit€Court€Reversed;€Case€Remanded.ó óˆÐ œì ÐÌòòÌD.€Michael€Ô_ÔSwineyÔ_Ô,€J.,€óódelivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.,óóÐ `° Ðand€òòWilliam€H.€Inman,€Sr.€J.,€óójoined.Ð L œ ÐÌDana€C.€Holloway,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant€Jennifer€L.€Brandon.Ð $"t! ÐÌGeorge€R.€Garrison,€Ô_ÔSeviervilleÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee€Donald€R.€Lacy.Ð ü#L# ÐÌÌà@66'ìàò òOPINIONˆÐ À&"& ÐÌà@ÛÛ%ìàòòBackgroundó óóóˆÐ ˜(è#( ÐÌà  àà ` àThis€lawsuit€arises€out€of€an€automobile€accident€which€occurred€in€Ô_ÔSevierÔ_Ô€County.€Ð p*À%* ÐPlaintiff€claims€his€vehicle€was€struck€from€behind€by€a€vehicle€driven€by€Wesley€Cox.€€Plaintiff€alsoÐ \+¬&+ Ðclaims€that,€at€the€same€time,€the€Cox€vehicle€was€struck€from€behind€by€a€vehicle€driven€by€JenniferÐ H,˜', ÐBrandon.€€Plaintiff€sued€both€Cox€and€Brandon.€€In€her€answer,€Brandon€admits€the€accidentÐ 4-„(-ýV ÐÔ_Ôoccurred,€but€denies€she€was€at€fault.€€Brandon€claims€both€Plaintiff€and€Cox€were€negligent€underÐ ° Ðcomparative€fault€principles.Ð œì ÐÌà  àà ` àA€two„day€trial€took€place€in€July€of€2002.€€By€that€time,€the€only€remainingÐ tÄ Ðdefendant€was€Brandon€(ð ðDefendantðð).€€After€all€of€the€proof€was€presented€and€the€jury€wasÐ `° Ðinstructed,€the€jury€retired€and€began€deliberating€toward€a€verdict.€€The€jury€asked€the€Trial€CourtÐ L œ Ðtwo€questions€during€deliberations.€€First,€the€jury€asked€whether€they€could€view€certainÐ 8 ˆ Ðphotographs€of€Defendantððs€vehicle€which€had€been€shown€to€them€during€the€trial.€€This€requestÐ $ t Ðwas€denied€because€the€photographs€had€not€been€entered€into€evidence.€€After€deliberating€forÐ  ` Ðapproximately€two€hours,€the€jury€submitted€a€second€question€to€the€Trial€Court.€€Specifically,€theÐ ü L  Ðjury€wanted€to€know€if€they€were€required€to€award€Plaintiff€any€monetary€damages€if€theyÐ è 8  Ðconcluded€Defendant€was€at€fault.€€Based€on€this€question,€Plaintiff€obviously€sensed€a€less€thanÐ Ô$  Ðfavorable€verdict€was€looming.€€In€an€attempt€to€circumvent€this€expected€outcome,€Plaintiff,€priorÐ À  Ðto€the€jury€rendering€its€verdict,€made€an€oral€motion€to€voluntarily€dismiss€his€lawsuit€withoutÐ ¬ü  Ðprejudice.€€Despite€Defendantððs€objection,€the€Trial€Court€allowed€Plaintiff€to€voluntarily€dismissÐ ˜è  Ðhis€lawsuit€without€prejudice.€€The€Trial€Court€then€informed€the€jury€that€Plaintiffððs€claim€had€beenÐ „Ô  Ðvoluntarily€dismissed€and€released€the€jury€from€service.€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àà ` àApproximately€one€week€later,€Defendant€filed€a€motion€requesting€the€Trial€CourtÐ H˜ Ðto€deem€Plaintiffððs€voluntary€dismissal€as€a€dismissal€ð ðwith€prejudice.ðð€€In€this€motion,€DefendantÐ 4„ Ðclaimed€that€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€41.01(1)€prohibited€Plaintiff€from€taking€a€voluntary€dismissal€withoutÐ  p Ðprejudice€after€the€jury€retired€and€began€to€deliberate€toward€a€verdict.€€Defendant€argued€thatÐ  \ Ðbecause€the€nonsuit€was€requested€after€the€jury€had€retired,€the€dismissal€should€be€considered€withÐ øH Ðprejudice€thereby€barring€Plaintiff€from€refiling€his€lawsuit€in€the€future.€€Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àà ` àPlaintiff€then€filed€a€Motion€for€New€Trial.€€In€this€motion,€Plaintiff€unabashedlyÐ ¼  Ðasserted€that€the€Trial€Court€had€improperly€granted€his€request€for€a€voluntary€dismissal€becauseÐ ¨ø Ðthe€jury€had€already€retired€and€began€deliberations.€€According€to€Plaintiff,€ð ðthe€Court€may€not€enterÐ ”ä Ðan€Order€of€Voluntary€Dismissal€under€T.R.C.P.€41€at€this€stage€of€the€trial.ðð€€Plaintiff€requested€theÐ €Ð ÐTrial€Court€set€aside€the€Order€of€Voluntary€Dismissal€and€grant€him€a€new€trial.€€Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àà ` àA€hearing€was€conducted€on€the€pending€motions.€€At€this€hearing,€DefendantððsÐ D!” Ðcounsel€argued:Ð 0"€  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€basis€of€my€motion€is€essentially€that€there€is€only€one€way€underÐ $X" Ðthe€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€to€get€a€voluntary€dismissal€withoutÐ ô$D # Ðprejudice€and€that€only€way€is€contained€in€Rule€41.01€that€says€thatÐ à%0!$ Ðyou€can€take€a€voluntary€nonsuit€at€any€time€in€a€jury€trial€before€theÐ Ì&"% Ðjury€retires€to€consider€ð8ð€[its]€verdict.ð8ð€[Plaintiff]€cannot€take€aÐ ¸'#& Ðvoluntary€nonsuit€without€prejudice€after€the€jury€retires€to€considerÐ ¤(ô#' Ðð8ð€[its]€verdict.€€Thatððs€in€direct€contravention€to€that€rule.ð8ð€MyÐ )à$( Ðclient€had€gone€through€trial,€they€went€through€two€days€of€trial,€theyÐ |*Ì%) Ðput€on€the€proof,€they€tried€their€case€and€when€that€case€goes€to€theÐ h+¸&* Ðjury,€itððs€over.ð8ð€€We€acquired€a€vested€right€in€having€that€caseÐ ° Ðdecided€by€that€jury.ð8ð€€And€then€the€jury€comes€back€with€anÐ œì Ðunfavorable€question€and€[Plaintiffððs€counsel]€wants€a€Mulligan.€€HeÐ ˆØ Ðwants€a€do„over.€€ÐtÄ` x` x ÐÌAfter€hearing€oral€arguments€on€the€motions,€the€Trial€Court€acknowledged€that€it€should€not€haveÐ L œ Ðgranted€Plaintiffððs€motion€for€voluntary€dismissal€without€prejudice€as€a€matter€of€right€inasmuchÐ 8 ˆ Ðas€the€request€for€dismissal€came€too€late€in€the€proceedings.€€The€Trial€Court€stated€that€it€was€notÐ $ t Ðuntil€the€jury€already€had€been€dismissed€before€it€was€able€to€obtain€a€copy€of€Rule€41.01,€at€whichÐ  ` Ðtime€the€Trial€Court€realized€its€mistake.€€Although€not€exactly€stated€as€such,€the€Trial€Court€clearlyÐ ü L  Ðoriginally€believed€Plaintiff€was€entitled€to€voluntarily€dismiss€his€lawsuit€without€prejudice€as€aÐ è 8  Ðmatter€of€right.€€Specifically,€the€Trial€Court€stated:€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€did€it€because€at€the€time€I€knew€of€no€reason€why€you€couldnððtÐ ¬ü  Ðbecause€if€we€all€go€through€cases€we€have€tried,€weððve€seen€it€overÐ ˜è  Ðand€over€and€over€at€almost€any€time€a€nonsuit€is€taken€and€thereððsÐ „Ô  Ðnothing€the€other€side€can€do€about€it.ÐpÀ` x` x ÐÌAfter€discussing€possible€ways€to€remedy€the€situation,€the€Trial€Court€eventually€concluded€the€bestÐ H˜ Ðway€to€proceed€was€to€leave€intact€its€previous,€albeit€erroneous,€ruling€allowing€Plaintiff€toÐ 4„ Ðvoluntary€dismiss€his€lawsuit€without€prejudice.€€Accordingly,€the€Trial€Court€denied€DefendantððsÐ  p Ðmotion€to€have€the€dismissal€deemed€with€prejudice,€as€well€as€Plaintiffððs€motion€for€a€new€trial.Ð  \ ÐÌà  àà ` àDefendant€appeals,€claiming€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€allowing€Plaintiff€to€voluntaryÐ ä4 Ðdismiss€his€lawsuit€after€the€jury€had€been€deliberating€for€two€hours.€€Defendant€further€claims€theÐ Ð  Ðonly€adequate€remedy€is€to€deem€Plaintiffððs€voluntary€dismissal€as€a€voluntary€dismissal€ð ðwithÐ ¼  Ðprejudice.ðð€€Plaintiff€now€claims€on€appeal€that€the€Trial€Court€had€discretion€to€allow€him€toÐ ¨ø Ðvoluntarily€dismiss€his€lawsuit€even€after€the€jury€had€retired€to€consider€its€verdict.€€Plaintiff€furtherÐ ”ä Ðcontends€the€Trial€Court€did€not€abuse€this€discretion€and,€therefore,€the€judgment€should€beÐ €Ð Ðaffirmed.€Ð l¼ ÐÌà@))%ìàò òòòDiscussionó óóóˆÐ D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€factual€findings€of€a€trial€court€are€accorded€a€presumption€of€correctness,€andÐ #l! Ðwe€will€not€overturn€those€factual€findings€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€them.€€òòSeeóóÐ $X" ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d);€òòBogan€v.€Boganóó,€60€S.W.3d€721,€727€(Tenn.€2001).€€With€respect€to€legalÐ ô$D # Ðissues,€our€review€is€conducted€ð ðunder€a€pure€òòde€novoóó€standard€of€review,€according€no€deferenceÐ à%0!$ Ðto€the€conclusions€of€law€made€by€the€lower€courts.ðð€€òòSouthern€Constructors,€Inc.€v.€Loudon€CountyÐ Ì&"% ÐBd.€Of€Educ.óó,€58€S.W.3d€706,€710€(Tenn.€2001).€€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àà ` àAs€relevant€to€this€appeal,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€41.01€provides€as€follows:Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àò òRule€41.01€Voluntary€Dismissal€ð!ð€Effect€Thereof.€ð!ð€ó ó€à @ à(1)Ð ° Ðâ âSubject€to€the€provisions€of€Rule€23.05,€Rule€23.06,€or€Rule€66€or€anyÐ  ð Ðstatute,€and€except€when€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€made€by€anÐ ŒÜ Ðadverse€party€is€pending,€the€plaintiff€shall€have€the€right€to€take€aÐ xÈ Ðvoluntary€nonsuit€to€dismiss€an€action€without€prejudice€by€filing€aÐ d´ Ðwritten€notice€of€dismissal€at€any€time€before€the€trial€of€a€cause€andÐ P   Ðserving€a€copy€of€the€notice€upon€all€parties€ð8ð€or€by€an€oral€notice€ofÐ < Œ Ðdismissal€made€in€open€court€during€the€trial€of€a€cause;€òòor€in€juryÐ ( x Ðtrials€at€any€time€before€the€jury€retires€to€consider€its€verdict€andÐ  d Ðprior€to€the€ruling€of€the€court€sustaining€a€motion€for€a€directedÐ  P  Ðverdictóó.ð8ð€€(emphasis€added).Ðì < ` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€first€issue€raised€on€appeal€is€whether€the€Trial€Court€had€discretion€to€grant€aÐ Ä  Ðvoluntary€dismissal€without€prejudice€after€the€jury€had€retired€to€consider€its€verdict.€€In€Tennessee,Ð °  Ða€plaintiff€has€the€option€to€voluntarily€dismiss€without€prejudice€his€lawsuit€as€a€matter€of€right€atÐ œì  Ðvarious€stages€in€the€litigation.€€We€also€know€that€at€certain€other€times,€the€granting€of€such€aÐ ˆØ  Ðvoluntary€dismissal€is€a€matter€of€discretion€with€the€trial€court.€€For€example,€in€òòStewart€v.Ð tÄ ÐUniversity€of€Tennesseeóó,€519€S.W.2d€591€(Tenn.€1974),€the€plaintiff€requested€and€was€granted€aÐ `° Ðnonsuit€after€the€defendant€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€An€order€of€dismissal€was€enteredÐ Lœ Ðlater€with€the€approval€of€all€counsel.€€òòIdóó.€at€592.€€When€the€plaintiff€refiled€the€lawsuit,€theÐ 8ˆ Ðdefendant€moved€for€summary€judgment€arguing€the€first€dismissal€was€with€prejudice€because€itÐ $t Ðhad€been€entered€while€the€original€motion€for€summary€judgment€was€still€pending.€€The€trial€courtÐ ` Ðagreed€and€dismissed€the€second€lawsuit.€€òòIdóó.€€In€reversing€the€trial€court,€our€Supreme€Court€statedÐ üL Ðthat,€with€certain€specified€exceptions,€Rule€41.01(1)€ð ðprovides€for€the€free€and€unrestricted€right€ofÐ è8 Ðthe€plaintiff€(at€various€stages€of€the€proceedings)€to€take€a€voluntary€nonsuit€or€to€dismiss€his€actionÐ Ô$ Ðwithout€prejudice€ð8ð.ðð€€òòIdóó.€€The€Court€concluded€that€while€Rule€41.01€barred€the€plaintiff€fromÐ À Ðtaking€a€voluntary€dismissal€òòas€a€matter€of€rightóó€when€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€was€pending,Ð ¬ü Ðthe€Trial€Court€nevertheless€had€discretion€to€grant€or€deny€such€a€motion€at€that€particular€stage€inÐ ˜è Ðthe€proceedings.€€Specifically,€the€Court€stated€that€ð ð[a]side€from€the€assent€of€counsel€to€theÐ „Ô Ðvoluntary€dismissal€order,€the€trial€judge,€in€the€exercise€of€his€sound€judicial€discretion,€had€theÐ pÀ Ðauthority€to€grant€plaintiffððs€motion€[for€voluntary€dismissal],€upon€a€proper€showing.€€From€theÐ \ ¬ Ðrecord€before€us,€we€cannot€say,€nor€is€it€inferred,€that€the€trial€judge€abused€his€discretion.ðð€€òòIdóó.€atÐ H!˜ Ð593.€€Ð 4"„  ÐÌà  àà ` àOther€limitations€to€a€plaintiffððs€free€and€unrestricted€right€to€take€a€voluntaryÐ  $\" Ðdismissal€as€a€matter€of€right€occur€when€the€granting€of€a€voluntary€dismissal€would€deprive€theÐ ø$H # Ðdefendant€of€a€vested€right€or€result€in€plain€legal€prejudice€to€the€defendant.€€òòSeeóó€òòAnderson€v.€Smithóó,Ð ä%4!$ Ð521€S.W.2d€787,€790€(Tenn.€1975)€(ð ðThough€not€stated€in€the€rule,€the€right€of€plaintiff€to€a€nonsuitÐ Ð& "% Ðis€subject€to€the€further€restriction€that€the€granting€of€the€nonsuit€will€not€deprive€the€defendant€ofÐ ¼' #& Ðsome€right€that€became€vested€during€the€pendency€of€the€case.ðð);€òòOliver€v.€Hydro„Vac€Servs.,€Inc.óó,Ð ¨(ø#' Ð873€S.W.2d€694,€696€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993)€(ð ðThe€general€rule€is€that€where€the€right€to€take€aÐ ”)ä$( Ðvoluntary€dismissal€is€in€the€discretion€of€the€trial€court,€it€should€be€granted€absent€some€showingÐ €*Ð%) Ðof€plain€legal€prejudice€to€the€defendant.ð8ð€€The€possibility€of€one€being€subjected€to€a€secondÐ l+¼&* Ðlawsuit€is€insufficient€legal€prejudice.ðð)(quoting€òòPrice€v.€Boyle€Inv.€Co.óó,€No.€1,€1990€Tenn.€App.Ð ° ÐLEXIS€337,€at€*7€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€May€11,€1990),€òòperm.€app.€deniedóó€June€11,€1990).€Ð œì ÐÌà  àà ` àDefendant€argues€that€once€the€case€was€submitted€the€jury,€Plaintiff€was€prohibitedÐ tÄ Ðfrom€voluntarily€dismissing€his€lawsuit€and€the€Trial€Court€had€no€discretion€to€grant€such€a€request.€Ð `° ÐDefendant€relies€on€cases€such€as€òòWeedman€v.€Searcyóó,€781€S.W.2d€855€(Tenn.€1989)€wherein€ourÐ L œ ÐSupreme€Court€stated€that€ð ð[i]n€a€non-jury€case,€until€the€case€has€finally€been€submitted€to€the€trialÐ 8 ˆ Ðcourt€for€a€decision,€the€plaintiff€has€a€right€to€a€voluntary€dismissal.€€The€right€does€not€continueÐ $ t Ðin€a€jury€case€after€the€jury€retires.ðð€€òòId.óó€at€857.€€In€our€opinion,€the€Court€in€òòWeedmanóó€was€statingÐ  ` Ðnothing€more€than€a€plaintiffððs€option€to€voluntarily€dismiss€his€lawsuit€òòas€a€matter€of€rightóó€no€longerÐ ü L  Ðexists€once€the€jury€retires.€€This€language€cannot€fairly€be€read€to€mean€either€that€a€trial€court€doesÐ è 8  Ðor€that€it€does€not€have€discretion€to€grant€a€motion€for€voluntary€dismissal€after€the€jury€retires.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àà ` àDefendant€also€relies€on€the€not„so„recent€case€of€òòNashville,€Chattanooga,€&€St.€LouisÐ ¬ü  ÐRy.€v.€Sansomóó,€113€Tenn.€683,€84€S.W.€615€(1904),€wherein€the€Supreme€Court€was€interpretingÐ ˜è  Ðvarious€statutory€provisions,€including€Shannonððs€Code€ðð€4689,€which€permitted€a€plaintiff€to€takeÐ „Ô  Ða€nonsuit€ð ðat€any€time€before€the€jury€retires€ð8ð.ðð€€In€so€doing,€the€Supreme€Court€stated:Ð pÀ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWe€are€of€[the]€opinion€the€legislature€intended€that€the€right€to€takeÐ H˜ Ða€nonsuit€in€a€jury€case€should€finally€cease€when€the€jury€shouldÐ 4„ Ðproperly€begin€"to€consider€of€their€verdict,"€under€the€law€as€aboveÐ  p Ðstated,€whether€there€should€be€an€actual€withdrawal€from€the€juryÐ  \ Ðbox€or€not.€€The€substance€of€the€matter€is€that€there€shall€be€noÐ øH Ðnonsuit€allowed€after€a€case€has€been€fully€committed€to€theÐ ä4 Ðconsideration€of€the€jury.ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌòòSansomóó,€113€Tenn€at€687,€84€S.W.€at€616.€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€òòLiggins€v.€Padaweróó,€14€Tenn.€App.€201€(1931),€the€plaintiff€attempted€toÐ €Ð Ðvoluntarily€dismiss€the€lawsuit€after€the€jury€had€been€deliberating€for€several€hours.€€DuringÐ l¼ Ðdeliberations,€the€jury€asked€the€trial€court€ð ðwho€would€win€if€neither€party€was€found€guilty€of€anyÐ X ¨ Ðnegligence.ðð€€The€trial€court€informed€the€jury€in€that€event,€the€defendant€would€win.€€òòLigginsóó,€14Ð D!” ÐTenn.€App.€at€201.€€This€question€prompted€the€plaintiff€to€move€for€a€voluntary€dismissal,€whichÐ 0"€  Ðthe€trial€court€denied.€€Relying€in€large€part€on€òòSansomóó,€this€Court€affirmed€the€trial€court€afterÐ #l! Ðholding€that€the€plaintiffððs€motion€for€a€voluntary€dismissal€simply€came€too€late.€€òòIdóó.€at€204.€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àà ` àAlthough€many€cases€cited€by€the€parties€are€helpful,€we€believe€the€issue€of€whetherÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€Trial€Court€had€discretion€to€allow€Plaintiff€to€voluntarily€dismiss€his€case,€without€prejudice,Ð Ì&"% Ðafter€the€jury€retired€to€consider€its€verdict€is€controlled€by€our€Supreme€Courtððs€opinion€in€òòPanzerÐ ¸'#& Ðv.€Kingóó,€743€S.W.2d€612€(Tenn.€1988),€a€decision€which€neither€party€cites€in€their€brief.€€In€òòPanzeróó,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðthe€jury€awarded€the€plaintiff€a€verdict€in€the€amount€of€$15,200.09,€which€the€plaintiff€consideredÐ )à$( Ðto€be€inadequate.€€The€plaintiff€moved€for€a€new€trial€on€the€basis€of€jury€misconduct€including,€butÐ |*Ì%) Ðnot€limited€to,€several€jurors€making€an€unauthorized€visit€to€the€accident€scene€and€conductingÐ h+¸&* Ðð ðtheir€own€testsðð€regarding€the€incline€of€the€road,€etc.€€òòIdóó.€at€613.€€The€trial€court€granted€theÐ ° Ðplaintiffððs€motion€for€a€new€trial.€€After€being€granted€a€new€trial,€the€plaintiff€filed€a€motion€forÐ œì Ðvoluntary€dismissal,€which€the€trial€court€also€granted.€€The€issue€on€appeal€was€whether€the€trialÐ ˆØ Ðcourt€erred€in€permitting€the€plaintiff€to€take€a€voluntary€dismissal,€thereby€depriving€the€defendantÐ tÄ Ðof€the€ability€to€seek€appellate€review€of€the€trial€courtððs€granting€of€a€new€trial€to€the€plaintiff.€€òòIdóó.Ð `° Ðat€614.€€In€addressing€this€issue,€the€Supreme€Court€stated:Ð L œ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àIn€this€state,€our€rules€and€our€case€law€are€silent€with€respectÐ $ t Ðto€a€plaintiff's€right€to€take€a€non-suit€after€the€grant€of€a€new€trial.€Ð  ` ÐThe€majority€of€our€sister€states€terminate€the€absolute€right€of€aÐ ü L  Ðplaintiff€to€take€a€voluntary€non-suit€without€prejudice€at€some€pointÐ è 8  Ðin€the€first€trial,€òòand€thereafter,€the€granting€of€such€a€dismissal€isÐ Ô$  Ðwithin€the€sound€discretion€of€the€trial€judgeóó.€€The€trial€judge€shouldÐ À  Ðbear€in€mind€the€position€of€the€defendant€at€the€time€of€plaintiff'sÐ ¬ü  Ðmotion€and€may€impose€such€conditions€on€the€plaintiff€as€may€beÐ ˜è  Ðappropriate€to€prevent€defendant€from€being€unfairly€affected€by€suchÐ „Ô  Ðdismissal.€òòSeeóó€Annotation,€òòConstruction,€as€to€Terms€and€Conditions,Ð pÀ Ðof€State€Statute€or€Rule€Providing€for€Voluntary€Dismissal€WithoutÐ \¬ ÐPrejudice€Upon€Such€Terms€and€Conditions€as€State€Court€DeemsÐ H˜ ÐProperóó,€34€A.L.R.4th€778€(1984).ð8ð€€The€trial€court€should€imposeÐ 4„ Ðonly€those€conditions€such€as€costs,€attorneys€fees,€reasonableÐ  p Ðexpenses€of€preparing€for€trial,€etc.,€that€are€necessary€to€alleviateÐ  \ Ðharm€to€defendant,€and€the€court's€discretion€is€reviewable€only€forÐ øH Ðabuse€of€discretion.€In€conformity€with€the€majority€of€jurisdictionsÐ ä4 Ðwe€adopt€the€rule€as€stated€herein,òò€applicable€at€all€times€subsequentÐ Ð  Ðto€the€retirement€of€the€jury€to€consider€its€verdict€at€the€first€trial.óóÐ ¼  Ð(emphasis€added).Шø` x` x ÐÌòòPanzeróó,€743€S.W.2d€at€615„16.€€The€Supreme€Court€then€remanded€the€case€for€a€determination€onÐ €Ð Ðwhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€a€new€trial,€the€resolution€of€which€could€certainly€impactÐ l¼ Ðwhether€the€granting€of€a€voluntary€dismissal€was€proper.€€Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Court€in€òòPanzeróó€was€addressing€a€plaintiffððs€ability€to€voluntarily€dismiss€aÐ 0"€  Ðlawsuit€after€a€motion€for€a€new€trial€was€granted,€a€situation€which€is€factually€dissimilar€to€theÐ #l! Ðpresent€case.€€However,€the€Court€discussed€the€majority€rule€in€other€jurisdictions€to€the€effect€thatÐ $X" Ðonce€the€ability€of€a€plaintiff€to€voluntarily€dismiss€an€action€as€a€matter€of€right€ends,€thereafter€ð ðtheÐ ô$D # Ðgranting€of€such€a€dismissal€is€within€the€sound€discretion€of€the€trial€judge.ðð€€òòPanzeróó,€743€S.W.2dÐ à%0!$ Ðat€615.€€After€adopting€this€rule,€the€Court€then€unequivocally€stated€that€the€rule€applies€ð ðat€all€timesÐ Ì&"% Ðsubsequent€to€the€retirement€of€the€jury€to€consider€its€verdict€at€the€first€trial.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€616.€Ð ¸'#& ÐAdmittedly,€the€issues€in€òòPanzeróó€were€altogether€different€from€the€issues€in€the€present€case.€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐHowever,€this€Court€cannot€overlook€òòPanzeróó€on€that€basis€when€one€of€the€issues€herein€fallsÐ )à$( Ðsquarely€within€the€rule€as€adopted€in€that€case.€€If€the€Court€in€òòPanzeróó€did€not€intend€to€give€a€trialÐ |*Ì%) Ðcourt€discretion€to€grant€a€motion€for€voluntary€dismissal€while€the€jury€is€deliberating,€then€it€is€forÐ h+¸&* Ðthat€Court€to€so€hold.€€This€Court€is€not€at€liberty€to€limit€a€rule€adopted€by€the€Supreme€Court.€€InÐ ° Ðlight€of€the€foregoing,€we€hold€that€the€Trial€Court€had€discretion€to€grant€a€motion€for€voluntaryÐ œì Ðdismissal€without€prejudice€even€after€the€jury€retired€to€consider€its€verdict.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àà ` àUnfortunately,€this€does€not€end€our€review€of€this€case€given€its€procedural€history.€Ð `° ÐPlaintiff€moved€for€a€voluntary€dismissal€clearly€because€of€the€juryððs€second€question€to€the€TrialÐ L œ ÐCourt,€a€question€which€led€Plaintiff€to€believe€the€jury€was€not€going€to€award€him€any€monetaryÐ 8 ˆ Ðdamages.€€Plaintiff€erroneously€believed€he€was€entitled€to€a€voluntary€dismissal€without€prejudiceÐ $ t Ðas€a€matter€of€right€at€that€time,€even€though€the€jury€was€deliberating€toward€a€verdict.€€Based€onÐ  ` Ðthe€language€used€by€the€Trial€Court€while€discussing€how€the€motion€came€to€be€granted,€PlaintiffÐ ü L  Ðapparently€presented€to€the€Trial€Court€that€he€was€so€entitled.€€The€Trial€Court€incorrectly€agreedÐ è 8  Ðwith€Plaintiff€and€permitted€the€lawsuit€to€be€voluntarily€dismissed€without€prejudice,€thinking€thereÐ Ô$  Ðwas€ð ðnothing€the€other€side€[could]€do€about€it.ðð€€Because€both€Plaintiff€and€the€Trial€CourtÐ À  Ðincorrectly€believed€Plaintiff€could€voluntarily€dismiss€his€lawsuit€without€prejudice€as€a€matter€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðright,€the€Trial€Court€never€exercised€its€discretion€in€granting€Plaintiffððs€motion.€€It€is,€therefore,Ð ˜è  Ðimpossible€for€this€Court€to€determine€whether€the€Trial€Court€abused€its€discretion€when€thatÐ „Ô  Ðdiscretion€never€was€used.€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€seems€quite€clear€to€us€that€the€fact€that€the€juryððs€deliberations€likely€were€goingÐ H˜ Ðagainst€Plaintiff€forms€no€basis€whatsoever€to€allow€Plaintiff€to€voluntarily€dismiss€his€lawsuit.€€IfÐ 4„ Ðwe€were€to€allow€plaintiffs€in€general€to€have€a€ð ðMulliganðð€or€ð ðdo„overðð€under€these€circumstances,Ð  p Ðthe€end€result€would€be€a€legal€nightmare€often€resulting€in€multiple€complete€jury€trials,€except€forÐ  \ Ðthe€verdict,€before€a€trial€court€could€obtain€a€jury€verdict.€€Ð øH ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€have€located€no€Tennessee€authority€guiding€us€on€how€to€properly€remedy€theÐ Ð  Ðerror€made€in€this€case.€€There€is€authority€from€other€jurisdictions€which€is€helpful.€€A€case€quiteÐ ¼  Ðsimilar€to€the€present€case€is€òòDade€County€v.€Peacheyóó,€181€So.€2d€353€(Fla.€App.€1965),€òòcert€den.óóÐ ¨ø Ð193€So.€2d€166€(Fla.€1966).€€In€òòPeacheyóó,€due€to€an€overcrowded€courtroom,€counsel€for€plaintiff€wasÐ ”ä Ðable€to€overhear€some€of€the€juryððs€deliberations.€€Apparently,€the€jury€was€discussing€the€wrongÐ €Ð Ðstandard€of€proof,€believing€the€plaintiff€was€required€to€prove€his€civil€case€for€damages€beyond€aÐ l¼ Ðreasonable€doubt.€€Obviously,€this€heightened€standard€worked€to€the€detriment€of€the€plaintiff.€€InÐ X ¨ Ðany€event,€the€plaintiff€moved€for€and€was€granted€a€nonsuit.€€The€issue€on€appeal€was€whether€theÐ D!” Ðdismissal€should€be€considered€a€dismissal€with€prejudice.€€òòPeacheyóó,€181€So.€2d€at€354„55.€OnÐ 0"€  Ðappeal,€the€plaintiff€argued€that€if€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€the€nonsuit,€the€case€shouldÐ #l! Ðnevertheless€be€returned€to€the€trial€court€because:€ð ð(1)€the€plaintiff€and€the€trial€judge€acted€underÐ $X" Ða€misapprehension€of€the€law,€and€(2)€if€the€plaintiff€or€the€trial€judge€had€known€that€the€plaintiffÐ ô$D # Ðdid€not€have€the€procedural€right€he€claimed,€the€court€would€have€denied€the€motion,€and€theÐ à%0!$ Ðplaintiff€would€then€have€elected€to€proceed€with€the€trial.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€355.€€In€rejecting€this€argument,Ð Ì&"% Ðthe€majority€of€the€Florida€Court€of€Appeals€stated€as€follows:Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àWe€find€that€we€are€not€at€liberty€to€adopt€the€courseÐ )à$( Ðsuggested€by€the€appellee€ð8ð€because€in€the€instant€case€the€jury€hadÐ |*Ì%) Ðretired€from€the€bar€and€no€possible€ground€for€a€dismissal€withoutÐ h+¸&* Ðprejudice€was€given€by€the€plaintiff€at€the€time€he€moved€for€aÐ ° Ðnonsuit.€€The€trial€court€could€not€have€granted€a€dismissal€withoutÐ œì Ðprejudice€upon€the€ground€that€the€plaintiff€knew€that€the€jury'sÐ ˆØ Ðdeliberations€were€going€against€him.€€In€effect,€the€plaintiff€simplyÐ tÄ Ðrefused€to€proceed€with€the€case.€€It€may€well€be€true€that€the€plaintiffÐ `° Ðwould€have€taken€a€different€position€if€the€trial€judge€had€informedÐ L œ Ðhim€of€the€true€state€of€the€law,€but€we€find€no€authority€for€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðproposition€that€the€trial€judge€must€correctly€advise€a€party€upon€theÐ $ t Ðlaw.€€Of€course,€the€duty€is€upon€counsel€to€correctly€advise€the€court.Ð `` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€plaintiff-appellee's€insistence€upon€his€right€to€a€nonsuit,Ð è 8  Ðwhich€must€now€be€considered€a€motion€for€dismissal€withoutÐ Ô$  Ðprejudice,€when€there€was€no€recognizable€ground€for€the€granting€ofÐ À  Ða€dismissal€without€prejudice,€must€be€considered€as€a€failure€toÐ ¬ü  Ðprosecute€and€dismissal€with€prejudice€must€follow.Иè ` x` x ÐÌòòPeacheyóó,€181€So.€2d€at€356.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€òòPardue€v.€Darnellóó,€557€S.E.2d€172€(N.C.€Ct.€App.€2001),€the€North€Carolina€CourtÐ H˜ Ðof€Appeals€was€called€upon€to€interpret€N.C.€R.€Civ.€P.€41(a)(1)€which€allows€a€plaintiff€toÐ 4„ Ðvoluntarily€dismiss€a€claim€as€a€matter€of€right€at€any€time€ð ðbefore€the€plaintiff€rests€his€case,ðð€andÐ  p ÐRule€41(a)(2)€which€further€allows€for€voluntary€dismissals€by€order€of€the€court€after€a€finding€thatÐ  \ Ðjustice€so€requires.€€òòPardueóó,€557€S.E.2d€at€174.€€The€plaintiff€in€òòPardueóó€entered€a€Notice€ofÐ øH ÐVoluntary€Dismissal€Without€Prejudice€after€resting€his€case.€€The€plaintiff€did€not€obtain€leave€ofÐ ä4 Ðcourt€and,€consequently,€there€was€no€finding€that€justice€so€required€the€entry€of€a€voluntaryÐ Ð  Ðdismissal.€€When€the€plaintiff€refiled€his€lawsuit,€the€defendant€moved€for€and€was€granted€summaryÐ ¼  Ðjudgment.€€The€North€Carolina€Court€of€Appeals€affirmed,€concluding€the€plaintiff€lacked€authorityÐ ¨ø Ðto€file€a€voluntary€dismissal€under€Rule€41(a)(1)€because€he€had€rested€his€case.€€Furthermore,€theÐ ”ä Ðplaintiff€did€not€comply€with€Rule€41(a)(2)€and€obtain€leave€of€court.€€Accordingly,€ð ðthe€dismissalÐ €Ð Ðtaken€by€plaintiffs€was€a€voluntary€dismissal€with€prejudice,€barring€them€from€refiling€suit€againstÐ l¼ Ðdefendant.ðð€€òòPardueóó,€557€S.E.2d€at€176.€Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€pertinent€part,€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(a)€provides:€€ð ðNothing€in€this€rule€shall€beÐ 0"€  Ðconstrued€as€requiring€relief€be€granted€to€a€party€responsible€for€an€error€or€who€failed€to€takeÐ #l! Ðwhatever€action€was€reasonably€available€to€prevent€or€nullify€the€harmful€effect€of€an€error."€€òòSee,Ð $X" Ðe.g.,óó€òòIn€re:€Adoption€of€D.P.M.óó,€90€S.W.3d€263,€266€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2002).€€As€stated€above,Ð ô$D # ÐPlaintiff€was€responsible€for€the€error€when€he€believed,€and€so€convinced€the€Trial€Court,€that€heÐ à%0!$ Ðwas€entitled€to€voluntarily€dismiss€his€lawsuit€without€prejudice€at€that€stage€in€the€proceedings€asÐ Ì&"% Ða€matter€of€right.€€This€conclusion€is€even€more€apparent€when€considering€the€altogether€insufficientÐ ¸'#& Ðbasis€for€which€he€sought€the€voluntary€dismissal.€€Because€Plaintiff€was€responsible€for€the€error,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðhe€is€not€entitled€to€a€Mulligan.€€Accordingly,€we€reverse€that€portion€of€the€Trial€Courtððs€judgmentÐ )à$( Ðgranting€Plaintiff€a€voluntary€dismissal€insofar€as€it€deems€that€dismissal€to€be€without€prejudice.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐWe€hold€that€Plaintiffððs€voluntary€dismissal€is€ð ðwith€prejudice.ððÐ h+¸&* Їà  àà ` àIn€our€opinion€and€as€is€evident€from€our€struggle€to€devise€a€remedy€to€correct€theÐ ° ÐTrial€Courtððs€error€in€this€case,€there€are€inherent€difficulties€in€allowing€a€trial€court€discretion€toÐ œì Ðgrant€a€voluntary€dismissal€without€prejudice€after€the€jury€retires€to€consider€its€verdict.€€ForÐ ˆØ Ðexample,€letððs€assume€a€trial€court€exercises€its€discretion€and€grants€a€plaintiffððs€motion€forÐ tÄ Ðvoluntary€dismissal€without€prejudice€simply€because€it€is€apparent€from€the€juryððs€questions€to€theÐ `° Ðtrial€court€that€the€jury€is€about€to€rule€against€the€plaintiff.€€In€such€a€situation,€we€likely€wouldÐ L œ Ðquickly€and€easily€conclude€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretion.€€The€difficult€part€would€be€tryingÐ 8 ˆ Ðto€fashion€an€appropriate€remedy.€€An€appellate€court€would€be€unable€to€give€the€defendant€that€toÐ $ t Ðwhich€she€would€be€entitled,€i.e.€a€verdict€by€the€particular€jury€which,€in€all€likelihood,€was€on€theÐ  ` Ðverge€of€ruling€in€her€favor.€€At€the€same€time,€if€we€allowed€the€voluntary€dismissal€withoutÐ ü L  Ðprejudice€to€stand,€the€plaintiff€would€be€getting€exactly€what€he€is€not€entitled€to,€i.e.,€a€new€trialÐ è 8  Ðby€a€different€jury,€or€a€ð ðdo„over.ðð€€The€third€option€is€to€deem€the€plaintiffððs€dismissal€as€a€dismissalÐ Ô$  Ðwith€prejudice,€which€certainly€is€a€harsh€result€in€those€situations€where,€unlike€the€present€case,Ð À  Ðthe€error€was€occasioned€not€by€the€plaintiff€but€instead€by€a€trial€courtððs€abuse€of€discretion.€€InÐ ¬ü  Ðshort,€there€is€no€adequate€way€to€remedy€a€trial€courtððs€abuse€of€discretion€when€granting€a€motionÐ ˜è  Ðfor€voluntary€dismissal€without€prejudice€after€a€jury€retires€to€consider€its€verdict.€€We€respectfullyÐ „Ô  Ðsuggest€our€Supreme€Court,€perhaps€by€amendment€to€Rule€41.01,€consider€revisiting€the€ruleÐ pÀ Ðannounced€in€òòPanzeróó€insofar€as€that€rule€gives€trial€courts€discretionary€authority€to€grant€a€plaintiffððsÐ \¬ Ðmotion€for€voluntary€dismissal€without€prejudice€after€a€jury€retires€to€consider€its€verdict.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà@  %ìàò òòòConclusionó óóóˆÐ  p ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€reversed€insofar€as€it€deems€Plaintiffððs€voluntaryÐ øH Ðdismissal€to€be€without€prejudice,€and,€therefore,€the€dismissal€is€with€prejudice.€€This€cause€isÐ ä4 Ðremanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€further€proceedings€as€necessary,€if€any,€consistent€with€thisÐ Ð  ÐOpinion,€and€for€collection€of€the€costs€below.€€The€costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€against€theÐ ¼  ÐAppellee,€Donald€R.€Lacy.Ð ¨ø ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð #l! Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àD.€MICHAEL€SWINEY,€JUDGEÐ $X" Ð