WPC mS'S%z?c{BF$, H;1JF'kcO1yF :ɱy{ Cci$4 !tUg^~#p4,ސ2?&C'$)8\pL>>m_5Ǣ50apX\2yt6l )А*[ʎUvm 5Wo~jK9ΎvR& O~ql6T9RJZ֍V++A|u99Y8;k$ZLHRh0FbLcO;n!N-"|} ꧐ۜݗ Z#`nd`/NO7~S{53'όvl-a}Y"?w^'u+~ Xx\[QkeMT=SVSMc(>cO&"#7z 3vFVɣjף! L6-T? t# F UNQ % 0( UF w@ 4S g UPv U F  0l 0D3 UFw   ! U: U:LUF Bccc D3 0D AObb 0D( D/l BHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nL(hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($<4 9Z .Courier New Regular  Ӏ  U! D" P# $ % P& P' w#%3|x' &@FZ 8CaslonOpnface BT Regular<: 9Z .Courier New Regular  $    5    XXXX XXThedraftoftheagreementisnotintherecord.((3$ !      0  (#$  0  <Q 9Z .Courier New Regular XW XXXlT  XXW   Ad FILEDXW X lT   November9,1998  CecilCrowson,Jr. XXWAppellateCourtClerk    $    3    XXXX XXTherecorddoesnotindicatewhythesettledclaimsagainstLaingwere P  dismissedwithoutprejudice,ratherthanwithprejudice.  P     $    2    XXXX XXThesettlementdocumentsarenotintherecord.,cAZ"Arial Regular XW XXXlT  XXW   Ad FILEDXW X lT   November9,1998  CecilCrowson,Jr. XXWAppellateCourtClerk ,cAZ"Arial Regular  $    4    XXXX XXWeexpressnoopinionregardingthemeritsofLaingscounterclaim.<Q 9Z .Courier New Regular d   $    1    XXXX XXSincethePracticeAgreementwassignedin1987,thebuyout P  requirementwouldhaveexpiredin1992ifthechangesarevalid.'dxd(3$ !  -C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd !  XXXXTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T7XXdd72    r*<,(j 8` `@E ` ttx$ r      @INTHECOURTOFAPPEALS@$ATKNOXVILLE  BRENDAJ.CROWDER,M.D., h   )C/ANO.03A019801CH00083 6 .  t*>.*jx` `@EJ ` ttx$ a tߛ    `     h   )  PlaintiffAppellee, h   )      `     h   )v.   `     h   )      `     h   )   `     h   )   `     h   )  !   !   "   "   "  ` "   "  "   "   "   "  h "   "   "   " " # 񀀀# $ )$ # # "  p "   %   % &  ` & &  & &   & &  h & &   & & & ' 񀀀)' &   & BRENTD.LAING,M.D., h   )      `     h   )INTERLOCUTORYAPPEALFROMTHE  DefendantAppellant,  )CARTERCOUNTYCHANCERYCOURT >6    `     h   )PURSUANTTORULE9,T.R.A.P.and   `     h   )     `     h   )   `     h   )   `     h   )JOHND.GREEN,M.D.,DAVID  ) B: DOBYNS,FIRSTMEDICALGROUP,  )  alsoknownasFMG,INC.,and  )  HEALTHCARECONSULTANTS,INC.,)doingbusinessasHCI,INC.,  )     `     h   )HONORABLELEWISW.MAY,JR.,  Defendants.   h   )JUDGE F>    `     h      `     h      `     h      `     h   BRENTD.LAING,M.D., h   )C/ANO.03A019801CH00013 t#l"    `     h   )  PlaintiffAppellant,  )  %$    `     h   )v.   `     h   )APPEALASOFRIGHTFROMTHE &&    `     h   )CARTERCOUNTYCHANCERYCOURT   `     h   )   `     h   )BRENDAJ.CROWDER,M.D., h   ) $*#*    `     h   )HONORABLELEWISW.MAY,JR.,  DefendantAppellee. h   )JUDGE +$, ForAppellant    h     ForAppellee R.J'/ MARKS.DESSAUER   h     LOISB.SHULTS /(1 Hunter,Smith&Davis h     Shults&Shults 0)2 Kingsport,Tennessee h     Erwin,Tennessee 1*3 ̛̜@$ X9XXX  b? X X9OPINION     b? XX  Ԉ 5.8 М! 2P     !  92< 2P     REVERSEDASTORULE9APPEAL2P     APPEALASOFRIGHTDISMISSEDASMOOT2P     REMANDED `     h      p      x Susano,J. P     ` WegrantedtheRule9,T.R.A.P.,applicationoftheappellant,BrentD.Laing,M.D.( Laing),inordertoreviewtheproprietyofthetrialcourtsdenialofLaingsmotiontoamendhisanswerfiledinlitigationinstitutedagainsthimandothersbytheappellee,BrendaJ.Crowder,M.D.( Crowder).Inthesameorder,weconsolidatedthatinterlocutoryappealwiththeappealofLaingsseparatesuitagainstCrowder,whichlatterappealisbeforeusasofright.SeeRule3(a),T.R.A.P.The   claimsassertedbyLainginthesecondsuitareidenticaltothoseinthecounterclaimwhichLaingattemptedtopursue,albeitunsuccessfully,intheearlierlitigation.WereversethetrialcourtsdenialofLaingsmotiontoamendinthefirstsuit.WeϜdismiss,asmoot,theappealofLaingssubsequentsuitagainstϜCrowder.@&I.Facts F$    ` InJuly,1987,CrowderandLaingeachopenedamedicalpracticeinElizabethton,Tennessee.Theysharedspaceunderasigned PracticeAgreementthataddressedtheirrespectiverightsandobligationsintheircombinedpractices.Inlate1994orearly1995,thepartiesmergedtheirpracticesintoaprofessionalcorporationknownasFirstMedicalGroup,Inc.( FMG).FMGalsoincludedothermedicalpracticegroupsinthesamebuilding.Followingthismergerofthevariousmedicalpractices,CrowderandLaingbecameemployeesofFMGsOB/GYNdivision.  b8.7    ` Crowderlaterbecamedissatisfiedwiththenewwork environmentandotheraspectsofFMGsbusiness.InJanuary,1996,CrowderdiscussedwithLaingandanotherphysicianherintentiontoleaveFMG.InMayofthatyear,shewrotealettergivingnoticeofherintentiontodisassociateherselffromFMG.ProblemsarosebetweenCrowderandLaingshortlythereafter.Specifically,thepartieshaddisagreementsregardingthedateofCrowdersdeparture,thehandlingofheraccountsreceivableandpatientfiles,thedispositionofherinterestintheofficesuiteandequipment,andothermattersattendanttoherdeparture.   ` InSeptember,1996,CrowdernotifiedLaingofherintentiontorelocateherpracticetoJohnsonCity,Tennessee.ThepartiesPracticeAgreementcontainsthefollowing buyoutprovision:  8 ` Thevalueofthepracticegoodwillisrecognizedbybothphysicians.Whilethisgoodwillvalueisnotconsideredaspartofthehardassets,shouldDr.CrowderwishtoterminatethisagreementandcontinuetopracticeinCarterorsurroundingcounties,thecompensationforthisgoodwillvaluemustbemadetoDr.Laing.Byagreementofthephysiciansthevalueofthegoodwillcompensationissetat[$]120,000.... ` `  OnOctober2,1996,CrowderpresentedLaingwithacopyofthePracticeAgreementthatcontainedhandwrittenchangestotheabovequotedprovision.Thechangespurporttolimitthebuyoutprovisiontothefirstfiveyearsoftheagreement.Theinitials BLand BJCareaffixednexttothehandwrittenϜinterlineations.ThesechangeswerepurportedlymadeonDecember  9.8 27,1987,asevidencedbytheinsertionof 12/27/87nexttotheϜchanges.XXX X"  #  1      # XXXX#ԛ   @II.ProceduralHistory T    ` OnOctober28,1996,CrowderfiledsuitagainstLaing,Dr.JohnD.Green,DavidDobyns,FMGandHealthCareConsultants,Inc.,allegingthatthedefendantshadinterferedinvariouswayswithhermedicalpractice.Laingsubsequentlyfiledananswer.Atthattime,hedidnotassertacounterclaim.Thereafter,ontwoseparateoccasions,Crowderwasallowedtoamendhercomplaint.   ` OnMay6,1997,anagreedorderwasentereddismissingthecountofCrowderscomplaintpertainingtothepartiesinterestsinthemedicalofficesuite.Stilllater,Crowdertookavoluntarynonsuitastoherclaimsofinterferencewithherbusinessand/orcontractualrelationshipwithothers.   ` Inthemeantime,thepartieswereinvolvedindiscussionsregardingsettlementofCrowdersremainingclaims.OnJune27,1997,LaingsattorneysentCrowdersattorneyaletter,inwhichtheformerstatedthathewastransmittinga draftofanagreementregardingthedivisionofpersonalpropertybetweentheparties.Threedayslater,onJune30,Laingfiledamotiontoamendhisanswer,seekingtoassertacounterclaimagainstCrowder.Inhisproposedcounterclaim, 5+4 Laingalleged,amongotherthings,thatCrowderhadforgedhisinitialstothehandwrittenchangestothePracticeAgreement.Laingassertedthathedidnotagreetothechanges,whichCrowderinherdepositionhadacknowledgedmaking.LaingalsoallegedthatCrowderhadengagedin aschemetodefraudLaingandFMGoftheirpatientbase;theirassets;andtheirfutureearningcapacities.ThecounterclaimsoughtdamagesforCrowdersallegedbreachofthePracticeAgreement,fraud,andintentionalornegligentmisrepresentation.Withrespecttoaportionofhisproposedcounterclaim,LaingrelieduponthebuyoutprovisioninthePracticeAgreementasoriginallysigned.HeclaimedthatthefactssupportinghiscounterclaimweredevelopedindiscoveryconductedwithrespecttoCrowdersclaims.   ` Followingahearingonthemotiontoamend,thetrialcourtdeniedLaingsrequesttoamendhisanswertoassertacounterclaim.Inasubsequentorder,thetrialcourtstatedthatLaingsmotionhadbeen withhelduntillatelyfiledtoinducecompromiseofplaintiffsclaimswhilewithholding...Laingsproposedcounterclaim.Thetrialcourtalsofound thattheproposedcounterclaimwasaknowncompulsorycounterclaimpursuanttoR[ule]13oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedureandshouldhavebeenfiledwithdefendantsanswerinJanuaryof1997.   ` Followingthedenialofhismotiontoamend,Laing,onJuly31,1997,filedaseparatecomplaintagainstCrowdersettingforththeidenticalcausesofactionthathehadsoughttoassertinthecounterclaim.Atsomeunidentifiedtimethereafter,Laing  9.8 andCrowderapparentlyreachedafinalsettlementofthelattersclaims,XXX X  #  2      # XXXX,#ԀandonAugust25,1997,thetrialcourtenteredan    OrderofDismissalonVoluntaryNonsuit,dismissing,withoutprejudice,CrowdersclaimsagainstLaing,XXX X@  #  3      # XXXX.#ԛGreenandFMG. T PursuanttoCrowdersmotion,thetrialcourtsubsequentlydismissedLaingscomplaintinthesecondlawsuit.AstoLaingsproposedcounterclaimintheoriginalcase,thetrialcourtultimatelydeniedLaingsmotiontoreconsideritsrefusaltoallowtheamendment,butgrantedLaingsmotionforadiscretionaryappeal.SeeRule9,T.R.A.P. \  @<< III.ApplicableLaw p    ` Rule15.01,Tenn.R.Civ.P.,provides,inpertinentpart,that leave[toamendapleading]shallbefreelygivenwhenjusticesorequires.TheSupremeCourthasemphasizedtheliberalityofthisrule:  8 ` ...Rule15.01providesthatleave(toamend)shallbefreelygivenwhenjusticesorequires.Thisprovisointherulessubstantiallylessenstheexerciseofpretrialdiscretiononthepartofatrialjudge....Thatruleneedsnoconstruction;itmeanspreciselywhatitsays,that leaveshallbefreelygiven. ` `   Branchv.Warren ,527S.W.2d89,9192(Tenn.1975);seealso 0&.  Gardinerv.Word ,731S.W.2d889,891(Tenn.1987)and HMFTrust 2X(0 v.BankersTrustCo. ,827S.W.2d296,301(Tenn.App.1991).The t4$*2 denialofamotiontoamendlieswithinthesounddiscretionofthetrialcourt,andwillnotbereversedabsentashowingofanabuseofthatdiscretion. Hallv.ShelbyCountyRetirementBd. ,  X 922S.W.2d543,546(Tenn.App.1995).Nevertheless,asthiscourthasstated, [a]lthoughamendmentstothepleadingsliewithinthediscretionofthetrialcourt,therulemandatestheallowanceofamendmentsifjusticerequires. HMFTrust ,827 x(  S.W.2dat301; Garthrightv.FirstTennesseeBankofMemphis ,728 D  S.W.2d7,9(Tenn.App.1986).   ` Thereareseveralfactorsthatatrialcourtshouldconsiderindeterminingwhethertograntamotiontoamend.Thesefactorsinclude:unduedelayinfilingtheamendment;lackofnoticetotheopposingparty;badfaithonthepartofthemovingparty;repeatedfailuretocuredeficienciesbypreviousamendments;undueprejudicetothenonmovingparty;andthefutilityofamendment. Gardiner ,731S.W.2dat89192; Hall ,922 p%   S.W.2dat546.@$IV.Analysis *D &    ` OurreviewoftherecordinthiscasepersuadesusthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretionindenyingLaingsmotiontoamendhisanswer.Wefind(1)thatCrowderwouldnothavebeenprejudicedbytheallowanceoftheamendment;(2)thatLainghadnotpreviouslyamendedhisanswer;(3)thatCrowderhad noticeoftheproposedamendment;and(4)thattheamendmentof T6,4 Laingsanswerwasfaciallyinpursuitofavalidclaim.  #  4      ׀See P   XXX XGardiner ,731S.W.2dat89192; Hall ,922S.W.2dat546.    # XXXXY;#   ` Asindicatedearlier,thetrialcourtfoundthatLaing 0 hadwithheldhisclaim toinducecompromiseof[Crowders]claims,andthattheproposedcounterclaimwascompulsoryandshouldhavebeenassertedinLaingsanswer.Astothefirstrationalegivenbythetrialcourt,wedonotfindanyindicationintherecordtosupportsuchaconclusion.AlthoughthepartieswereengagedinsettlementnegotiationswhenLaingfiledhismotiontoamend,itdoesnotappearthattheyhadreachedafinalsettlement.Thisisevidencedbyanumberofthings:thefactthattheletterfromLaingsattorneytoCrowdersattorneydatedJune27,1997onlythreedaysbeforethemotiontoamendwasfiledmakesreferencetoanenclosed draftofanagreement @  #  5      ; ! Crowdersassertion,inherresponsetoLaingsmotiontoamend,thatLaingsmotionwasfiledcontemporaneouslywithhismailingofthe lastproposedsettlementtoCrowder;and,most &" significantly,thefollowinglanguageinadiscoveryrelatedmotionthatwassubsequentlyfiledbyCrowderonJuly25,1997:  8 ` Onoraboutthe10thdayofJuly,1997,thepartiesappearedtohavereachedtentative z.*$+ agreementconcerningcertainclaimsofplaintiffandplaintiffelectedtofileanonsuitastootherclaimssothatitseemedatthattimethattheexpenseoffurtherdiscoverywouldnotbeϜnecessary. ` `  Л A Z4 *2 (Emphasisadded).Furthermore,theorderdismissingCrowders remainingclaimsagainstLaingwasnotentereduntilAugust25,1997,almosttwomonthsafterthemotiontoamendwasfiled.ThepreponderanceoftheevidenceintherecordbeforeusisthatCrowdersclaimshadnotbeenfinally settled compromised whenLaingfiled ,7,6 hismotiontoamend.ThisseemsclearfromCrowdersdiscoveryrelatedmotioninwhichsheaffirmativelyindicatedthatherclaimshadnotbeensettledasofapointintimesometendaysafterthemotiontoamendwasfiled. H    ` EvenifLaingstrategicallydelayedthefilingofhismotiontoamenduntilafterCrowderhadenteredintosettlementdiscussionswithhimregardingherclaims,thisdidnotprejudiceϜCrowder,who   ,aspreviouslynoted, apparently hadnotsettledherlawsuitagainstLaing when  asofthedateoffilingof themotiontoamend wasfiled .ThereisnothingintherecordtoindicatethatLaingengagedinsomeimproprietythattrickedCrowderintodoingsomethingthatshedidnotwanttodo.   ` Astothetrialcourtssecondrationalefordenyingthemotiontoamendthatthemotionsoughttoassertacompulsorycounterclaimwedonotfindthatthisisaproperbasisforthetrialcourtsaction.Assuming,withoutdeciding,thattheclaimswhichthemotiontoamendsoughttoassertamounttoacompulsorycounterclaim,thisismoreofareasontoallowtheamendmentthantodenyit.Thisistruebecause,asacompulsorycounterclaim,ithadtobeassertedinthefirstsuitorbelostforever.SeeRule13.01,Tenn.R.Civ.P. .$,    ` OurconclusioninthiscaseisconsistentwiththemandateofRule15.01,Tenn.R.Civ.P.,thatleavetoamend shallbefreelygivenwhenjusticesorequires.See XUXX XUBranch ,527 5@+4 МS.W.2dat9192; Gardiner ,731S.W.2dat891;and HMFTrust ,827 X7-6 МS.W.2dat301# XUXXXUVQ#.Withrespecttothefactorssetforthinthe  9.8 cases,wefindnoindicationintherecordthattheproposedamendmenttoLaingsanswerwasinappropriate.See XUXX XUԜGardiner ,731   МS.W.2dat89192; Hall ,922S.W.2dat546.# XUXXXUR#ԀAtrialcourtis  p responsibleforadjudicatingclaims,anditshouldnotdenyapartytherighttoassertafaciallyvalidclaimexceptunderextremecircumstances.Inthiscase,therecorddoesnotsupportthetrialcourtsreasonsforrefusingtoallowLaingtopursuehiscounterclaim.@#V.Conclusion x(    ` XUXX XUInlightoftheforegoing,weholdthatthetrialcourt  abuseditsdiscretionindenyingLaingsmotiontoamend.Giventhisconclusion,itisnotnecessaryforustoaddresstheadditionalissuesraisedbyLaing.WeremandthiscasetothetrialcourtfortheentryofanorderallowingtheamendmenttoLaingsanswer.ThisdispositionrendersLaingsappeal# XUXXXU4U#Ԁofthe (%  dismissalofhiscomplaintinthesecondcasemoot,andthatappealisthereforedismissed.Exercisingourdiscretion,wetaxthecostsoftheseappealsonehalftoeachoftheparties.Thismatterisremandedtothetrialcourtforsuchfurtherproceedingsasmaybenecessary,consistentwiththisopinion.   `     h     __________________________   `     h     CharlesD.Susano,Jr.,J.̜ ̛   <3(1  CONCUR:_________________________HoustonM.Goddard,P.J._________________________DonT.McMurray,J.