ÿWPCa …# VUFa %§ 0@­4í  w@ 0„P 0DÔ 0J 0Tb ¶ 0^¼ 0h 0r‚ 0|ô 0†p 0ö 1u† 0dû U6_B)•DC¾ AMU*N0x3¨ BÛv~ø D3vvÓ© 0@| AO¼Æ  0DÑ D/ BD˜HP LaserJet 4 PlusHPPCL5MS,ð,,,,,ð0nLdÒ<¾½Q 9Z ‹.Courier New RegularX(ù$¡¡Ó  ÓÓ  ÓÚƒç"¡Ó 3|xÀ ¬D­®¯D°U±Ó€²[³P´µÓ€(4(3DX$¤¤Ý ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔH2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d""""7Border 1dd€-#Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial &Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€!ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€%ÔÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€%XÔÌÌò òOctober€29,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€%ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó )Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€!ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòPlaintiffs€also€sued€Barbara€Chalfont›€but€they€have€not€appealed€theÏtrial€court's€grant€of€summary€judgment€in€her€favor.óóÌ dPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`(((('ÿÿdxdStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva Ò("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€!ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ ¸ ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€¹¯XXdÖXXdÖ7ÑÙ€€ÙßR€$&#A1-j|` Å `€€@ÿRßÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ` è` ˜XÓMARK€LEEDOM€and€wife,€€€€€€€€€)à àKnox€CircuitÌSUSAN€LEEDOM,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9704„CV„00136ÌÓ ` °œXÓ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€Plaintiffs„Appellants€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€DALE€C.€WORKMANÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌCORRINE€BELL,€SUZANNE€MARLEY,€)Ìand€BARBARA€CHALFONT,€€€€€€€€€)à àAFFIRMED€IN€PART,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àREVERSED€IN€PART€andÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€à àREMANDEDÌ€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌÌÌÌALAN€EVERETT,€Knoxville,€for€Appellants.ÌÌEDWARD€G.€WHITE,€II€and€WAYNE€A.€KLINE,€Hodges,€Doughty€&€Carson,ÏKnoxville,€for€Appellee€Corrine€Bell.ÌÌJOHN€KNOX€WALKUP,€Attorney€General€and€Reporter,€and€DIANNE€STAMEYÏDYCUS€for€Intervenor€State€of€Tennessee,€Attorney€General's€Of…fice.€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓà@ àòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌà€ àMcMurray,€J.ÌÌà àPlaintiffs€Mark€and€Susan€Leedom€brought€this€action€againstÏDr.€Corinne€Bell,€a€psychologist,€and€Suzanne€Marley,€Mr.€Leedom'sÏex„wife,€for€defamation,€intentional€infliction€of€emotionalÏdistress,€outrageous€conduct,€and€an€alleged€violation€of,€orÏinterference€with,€plaintiff's€constitutionally€protected€right€toÏhis€familial€relationship€with€his€daughter.× ƒ' ××  ×€€Plaintiffs€also€suedÏDr.€Bell€for€malpractice.€€The€essence€of€the€complaint€is€anÏallegation€that€the€defendants€issued€false€accusations€that€Mr.ÏLeedom€had€sexually€abused€his€daughter.€The€defendants€filedÏmotions€for€summary€judgment€which€were€granted€by€the€trialÏcourt.€€We€affirm€the€court's€ruling€on€all€issues€except€theÏlibel€claim€against€defendant€Bell.Ì€€€Ìà@ àIÌÌà àThe€acts€which€precipitated€this€lawsuit€began€on€October€16,Ï1992,€when€Marley,€then€divorced€from€Leedom,€asked€Dr.€Bell€forÏassistance€regarding€the€behavior€of€her€then€seven€year€oldÏdaughter,€Molly€Leedom,€and€to€conduct€a€psychological€evaluationÏof€her.€€Dr.€Bell€states€in€her€affidavit€that€she€interviewedÏMolly€several€times€and€expressed€concern€that€she€might€have€beenÏsexually€abused.€€On€November€13,€1992,€Marley€filed€a€"petitionÏfor€immediate€suspension€of€visitation"€in€the€Fourth€CircuitÏCourt€for€Knox€County.€€Along€with€the€petition,€Marley€filed€aÏhandwritten€letter€from€Dr.€Bell,€which€stated€in€its€entirety:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àà àà àà àà à11„12„92ÌÌà8 àTo€Whom€it€May€Concern:Ìà8 àRe:€Molly€Leedom,€DOB€11„25„86ÌÌà8 àIn€an€appointment€for€a€psychological€evaluation€on€11„9„92,€information€surfaced€raising€concern€that€MollyÏmay€be€in€danger€of€sexual€abuse€while€in€the€care€ofÏher€father.ÌÌà8 àIt€is€recommended€that€all€contact€between€Molly€and€herÏfather€be€temporarily€suspended€until€a€full€evaluationÏand€investigation€can€occur.ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Sincerely,€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Corinne€Bell,€Ph.D.ÌÓÓÌà àThe€same€day€the€petition€was€filed,€the€trial€court€issued€aÏtemporary€restraining€order€suspending€Leedom's€visitation€and€allÏcontact€with€Molly.€€The€court€set€a€hearing€date€of€November€20,Ï1992.€€There€is€no€transcript€of€the€hearing.€€Leedom's€affidavitÏstates€that€Dr.€Bell€"did€not€testify€at€the€November€20,€1992Ïhearing€on€the€temporary€restraining€order€and€this€restrainingÏorder€was€dismissed."€€Marley€filed€a€"Motion€For€a€New€Trial,€or,Ïin€the€Alternative,€Motion€to€Alter€or€Amend€Judgment"€on€DecemberÏ3,€1992,€which€made€reference€to€the€court's€"Order€of€DismissalÏon€November€24,€1992."€This€order€is€not€in€the€record.€€Apparent…ly€the€court€set€the€date€of€December€11,€1992€to€hear€Marley'sÏmotion.€€That€hearing€did€not€take€place.€€Instead,€the€partiesÏapparently€agreed€to€hear,€and€perhaps€implement,€Dr.€Bell'sÏrecommendations.€€Her€affidavit€states:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àThe€parties'€attorneys€and€the€three€parents€thenÏrequested€that€instead€of€proceeding€with€the€formalÏhearing,€I€provided€them€with€my€recommendations.ÌÌà8 àà àBased€upon€my€professional€evaluation€of€MollyÏJenkins€Leedom,€I€recommended:€ÌÌà8 àà àA.€€That€Molly€Leedom€engage€in€psychotherapy;ÌÌà8 àà àB.€€That€a€custody€style€evaluation,€sometimesÏreferred€to€as€an€extended€family€evaluation,€of€theÏentire€Leedom€family€occur€by€another€psychologist;ÌÌà8 àà àC.€€Visitation€between€Molly€Leedom€and€her€father,ÏMark€Leedom,€resume€at€the€father's€home,€but€be€changedÏfrom€full€weekend€visitation€to€8„hour€visitation€onÏSaturdays€and€Sundays,€with€the€step„mother€present€atÏall€times,€and€no€bath€to€be€provided€during€visitationÏat€the€father's€home.ÌÌÓÓÌà àAs€far€as€the€record€reveals,€no€further€legal€action€wasÏtaken€until€February€17,€1993,€when€Marley€filed€a€petition€toÏsuspend€visitation€in€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Knox€County.€€At…tached€as€an€exhibit€was€a€four„page€letter€from€Dr.€Bell€to€MartiÏKelly,€a€social€counselor€for€the€Knox€County€Department€of€HumanÏServices,€dated€February€12,€1993.€€In€it,€Dr.€Bell€stated€thatÏthe€letter's€purpose€was€"to€inform€you€of€my€psychological€find…ings"€regarding€Molly.€€After€describing€her€interactions€with€andÏobservations€of€Molly,€and€relating€several€statements€aboutÏLeedom€which€she€had€heard€from€Marley€and€her€family€members,€sheÍconcluded€that€"my€interactions€with€Molly€and€test€results€raiseÏconcerns€that€she€has€been€sexually€victimized."ÌÌà àOn€February€18,€1993€the€Juvenile€Court€issued€a€TemporaryÏOrder€Suspending€Visitation.€€The€court€set€a€preliminary€hearingÏdate€of€February€22,€1993.€€Neither€a€transcript€nor€the€outcomeÏof€that€hearing€are€included€in€the€record.€€Leedom's€affidavitÏstates€that€Referee,€Kay€Kasserman,€heard€the€case€and€orderedÏthat€Leedom€should€have€no€unsupervised€visitation.€€From€thisÏpoint€in€time,€it€appears€that€Leedom's€visitation€with€his€daugh…ter€was€quite€limited€and€curtailed.ÌÌà àPlaintiffs'€brief€states€that€there€was€another€hearing€onÏthe€visitation€issue€after€the€Juvenile€Court€hearing:ÌÌà8 àÓÓà àAfter€a€De€Novo€trial€in€front€of€Judge€GarrettÏwhen€the€only€proof€came€from€Nan€Butruff,€LCSW€the€caseÏwas€dismissed.€.€.The€Circuit€Judge€refused€to€restrictÏthe€father's€visitation[.]ÓÓÌÌà àThere€is€nothing€in€the€record€regarding€such€a€hearingÏbefore€Judge€Garrett,€or€the€date€on€which€it€may€have€occurred.ÌÌà àPlaintiffs€filed€their€initial€complaint€on€February€15,Ï1994.€€They€took€a€voluntary€nonsuit€on€February€22,€1994,€andÏfiled€a€second€complaint€on€February€21,€1995.€€The€plaintiffsÏstate€that€throughout€the€course€of€numerous€investigations€andÏevaluations,€Molly€Leedom€has€consistently€denied€being€sexuallyÏabused€by€anyone.€€Also,€they€assert€that€the€Tennessee€DepartmentÏof€Human€Services,€having€found€the€allegations€unsupported,€hasÏrefused€to€open€a€file€on€the€Leedoms€or€take€other€action€in€thisÏregard.€€The€defendants€have€not€contradicted€these€assertions.ÌÌà àThe€plaintiffs€argue€that€the€real€source€of€stress€inÏMolly's€life€during€the€time€at€issue€in€this€case€was€theÏstrained€relations€between€Molly's€maternal€grandparents.€Leedom'sÏaffidavits€contain€allegations€that€Marley's€mother€was€guilty€ofÏnumerous€misdeeds,€including€taking€a€convicted€felon€into€theirÏhouse€and€having€a€sexual€affair€with€him,€and€plotting€to€killÏher€husband€by€lacing€his€orange€juice€with€methadone.€€Some€ofÏthese€actions,€Leedom€contends,€were€done€in€Molly's€presence,Ïsince€she€would€stay€with€her€grandparents€from€time€to€time.€ÍLeedom€cited€one€occasion€where€Molly€seemed€upset€and€he€askedÏher€why,€and€she€said€that€"they€were€being€mean"€to€her€grandfa…ther.€€The€plaintiffs€complain€that€Dr.€Bell€apparently€did€notÏinvestigate€any€other€possible€source€of€Molly's€stress,€that€sheÏdid€not€compile€family€histories€as€the€standard€of€psychologicalÏcare€would€require,€and€that€she€rushed€to€the€judgment€thatÏLeedom€had€abused€his€daughter.ÌÌà@ àIIÌÌà àReports€of€known€or€suspected€child€sexual€abuse€are€governedÏby€T.C.A.€ðð€37„1„604€òòet€seqóó.€€T.C.A.€ðð€37„1„605€states€in€perti…nent€part:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà à(a)€Any€person,€including,€but€not€limited€to,€any:ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà8 à(2)€Health€or€mental€health€professional.€.€.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 à(8).€.€.who€knows€or€has€reasonable€cause€to€sus…pect€that€a€child€has€been€sexually€abused;€shallÏreport€such€knowledge€or€suspicion€to€the€depart…ment€in€the€manner€prescribed€in€subsection€(b).Ì€Ìà8 àà0 à(b)(1)€Each€report€of€known€or€suspected€childÏsexual€abuse€pursuant€to€this€section€shall€be€madeÏimmediately€to€the€local€office€of€the€departmentÏresponsible€for€the€investigation€of€reports€madeÏpursuant€to€this€section€or€to€the€judge€havingÏjuvenile€jurisdiction€or€to€the€office€of€theÏsheriff€or€the€chief€law€enforcement€official€ofÏthe€municipality€where€the€child€resides.ÌÌÓÓÌà àThis€section€thus€required€Dr.€Bell€to€report€her€suspicionsÏof€child€abuse€to€the€Knox€County€Department€of€Human€Services.€ÏThe€General€Assembly€has€made€it€a€Class€A€misdemeanor€for€aÏperson€required€to€report€sexual€abuse€under€the€above€section€toÏ"knowingly€and€willfully"€fail€to€make€such€a€report.€€T.C.A.€ððÏ37„1„615(a).ÌÌà àDr.€Bell€contends,€among€other€things,€that€she€is€immuneÏfrom€a€lawsuit€based€on€the€allegations€of€her€report€of€suspectedÏsexual€abuse€by€operation€of€T.C.A.€ðð€37„1„613,€which€provides:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àò òImmunity€from€civil€or€criminal€liability.€Ïó óAny€person€making€a€report€of€child€sexual€abuse€shallÏbe€afforded€the€same€immunity€and€shall€have€the€sameÏremedies€as€provided€by€ðð€37„1„410€for€other€personsÏreporting€harm€to€a€child.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌò òà8 àà à37„1„410.€€Immunity€from€civil€or€criminalÏliability€for€reporting€abuse.€.€.ó ó(a)€A€personÏreporting€harm€shall€be€presumed€to€be€acting€in€goodÏfaith€and€shall€thereby€be€immune€from€any€liability,Ïcivil€or€criminal,€that€might€otherwise€be€incurred€orÏimposed€for€such€action.ÌÌÌÓÓà àBy€enacting€the€above€sections€and€granting€broad€immunityÏ"from€any€liability,€civil€or€criminal,"€the€General€Assembly€hasÏevinced€a€strong€public€policy€in€favor€of€reporting€suspectedÏchild€abuse.ÌÌà àThe€statutory€scheme€does€not€provide€any€guidance€for€wheth…er,€and€by€what€standard€of€proof,€the€presumption€of€good€faithÏin€ðð€37„1„410€could€be€rebutted.€€We€are€unwilling,€however,€toÏhold€that€more€than€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€required€toÏrebut€the€presumption.ÌÌà àThe€plaintiffs€have€alleged€that€Dr.€Bell€was€motivated€byÏbad€faith€and€malicious€intent.€€In€support€of€this€allegation,Ïthey€filed€an€eleven„page€affidavit€of€psychologist€Dr.€EricÏEngum,€in€which€he€sets€forth€in€substantial€detail€how€Dr.€BellÏdid€not€comply€with€the€recognized€standards€of€acceptable€prac…tice€of€psychology.€€Although€the€record,€and€particularly€Dr.ÏEngum's€affidavit,€presents€evidence€that€Dr.€Bell€acted€in€anÏirresponsible€and€unprofessional€way€during€the€course€of€herÏinvestigation,€we€do€not€think€that€the€evidence€in€the€recordÏsupports€a€finding€that€the€presumption€has€been€rebutted.ÌÌà àConsequently,€the€trial€court€was€correct€in€granting€summaryÏjudgment€to€Dr.€Bell€on€the€plaintiffs'€claims€of€malpractice,Ïoutrageous€conduct,€intentional€infliction€of€emotional€distress,Ïand€interference€with€their€constitutionally€protected€right€to€aÏfamilial€relationship€with€Molly,€based€on€the€immunity€granted€byÏðð€37„1„410.ÌÌà àRegarding€the€defendant€Marley,€we€have€meticulously€searchedÏthe€record€for€any€evidence€supporting€the€claims€of€outrageousÏconduct€and€intentional€infliction€of€emotional€distress€and€foundÏnone.€€The€primary€allegation€against€Marley€in€the€record€is€theÏfollowing€paragraph€from€the€complaint:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àThe€defendant,€Suzanne€Marley,€made€up€numerousÏallegations€about€the€plaintiff,€Mark€Leedom,€and€exag…gerated€and€made€up€signs€and€symptoms€purportedlyÍexhibited€by€Molly€Leedom€and€told€these€to€numerousÏpeople,€including€the€other€two€defendants.€€Additional…ly,€the€defendant,€Suzanne€Marley,€actively€covered€upÏthe€background€of,€and€the€illicit€relationship€main…tained€by€Clarence€Madison€and€her€mother,€PatriciaÏMarley.ÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€plaintiffs€repeat€their€allegation€that€Marley€refused€toÏreveal€what€was€going€on€between€her€mother€and€Madison€(theÏalleged€convict€and€lover)€numerous€times€in€their€affidavits.€ÏAccepting€these€allegations€as€true,€they€do€not€establish€any…thing€more€than€irresponsible€conduct€on€Marley's€part,€and€cer…tainly€do€not€rise€to€the€level€of€intentional€infliction€ofÏemotional€distress€nor€outrageous€conduct.ÌÌà àThere€is€one€specific€allegation€of€slander€by€Marley€in€theÏamended€complaint,€which€states:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àExcerpts€from€the€testimony,€under€oath,€in€Juve…nile€Court€by€the€Defendant€Marley,€indicate€that€theÏDefendant€Marley€discussed€the€abuse€allegations€withÏRoy€and€Sara€Kersey€in€August€of€1992.€€These€occurredÏoutside€of€Court€and€prior€to€any€legal€proceedings.ÌÌÌÓÓà àIt€is€apparent€on€the€face€of€the€amended€complaint€thatÏthese€alleged€acts€of€slander€occurred€after€the€six„month€limita…tions€period€for€slander€set€out€in€T.C.A.€ðð€28„3„103,€and€areÏtime„barred.€Therefore,€the€trial€court's€grant€of€summary€judg…ment€in€favor€of€Marley€is€affirmed.ÌÌà àOn€appeal,€the€plaintiffs€challenge€the€constitutionality€ofÏthe€entire€statutory€scheme€governing€the€reporting€of€childÏabuse.€€The€Attorney€General€has€filed€a€brief€in€which€he€pointsÏout€that€plaintiffs€did€not€raise€such€a€challenge€in€the€trialÏcourt,€nor€did€they€provide€notice€to€his€office€as€required€byÏT.R.Civ.P.€24.04.€€The€record€reveals€that€plaintiffs€did€notÏchallenge€the€constitutionality€of€any€statute€at€the€trial€level.€ÏIn€òòLawrence€v.€Stanfordóó,€655€S.W.2d€927,€929€(Tenn.€1983),€theÏSupreme€Court€stated:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àIt€has€long€been€the€general€rule€that€questionsÏnot€raised€in€the€trial€court€will€not€be€entertained€onÏappeal€and€this€rule€applies€to€an€attempt€to€make€aÏconstitutional€attack€upon€the€validity€of€a€statute€forÏthe€first€time€unless€the€statute€involved€is€so€obvi…ously€unconstitutional€on€its€face€as€to€obviate€theÏnecessity€for€any€discussion.€ÌÌÌÓÓà àWe€find€plaintiffs'€constitutional€arguments€dubious€at€best,Ïhowever,€we€decline€to€address€them€under€the€authority€of€òòLaw…renceóó.ÌÌà àThe€plaintiffs€have€also€sued€Dr.€Bell€for€both€libel€andÏslander.€€In€her€brief,€Dr.€Bell€contends€that€"[a]ppellantsÏstipulated€[in€the€trial€court]€that€their€entire€cause€of€actionÏagainst€Dr.€Bell€is€for€medical€malpractice€only."€€We€do€not€haveÏa€transcript€of€any€hearing€before€the€trial€court,€and€the€recordÏcontains€nothing€which€bears€out€this€assertion.€€Appellants€denyÏthat€they€made€such€a€stipulation€and€insist€they€have€continuous…ly€pursued€their€defamation€claims.ÌÌà àRegarding€the€slander€allegations,€it€is€apparent€from€theÏrecord€that€all€of€the€statements€complained€of€were€uttered€moreÏthan€six€months€before€the€complaint€was€filed,€and€the€slanderÏclaims€are€time„barred.ÌÌà àThe€libel€claim€is€based€upon€the€letter€sent€to€the€KnoxÏCounty€Department€of€Human€Services.€€Pursuant€to€the€statutoryÍanalysis€above,€Dr.€Bell€is€immune€from€suit€for€the€copy€of€theÏletter€she€sent€to€the€KCDHS€official.€€However,€there€is€anÏannotation€at€the€bottom€of€the€letter,€indicating€that€Dr.€BellÏsent€a€"carbon€copy"€or€duplicate€of€the€letter€to€two€otherÏparties:ÌÓÓÒ ° ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ` ÒÌcc:€Thomas€F.€Mabry,€Atty.ÌÌ€€€€€€Sexual€Assault€Crisis€CenterÌ€€€€€€Attn:€Becky€GarlandÌÓÓÌÒ ° ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ° ÒÒ ° Òà àThomas€F.€Mabry€is€Marley's€attorney.€€The€plaintiffs€argueÏthat€there€is€no€statutory€immunity€for€copies€of€the€confidentialÏletter€which€were€sent€to€parties€other€than€the€"local€office€ofÏthe€department€responsible€for€the€investigation€of€[child€sexualÏabuse]€reports."€€We€agree.ÌÌà àT.C.A.€ðð€37„1„612€states€the€following€in€pertinent€part:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà à(a)€In€order€to€protect€the€rights€of€the€child€òòandÏthe€child's€parentsóó€or€other€persons€responsible€for€theÏchild's€welfare,€òòall€recordsóó€òòconcerning€reports€of€childÏsexual€abuseóó,€including€reports€made€to€the€abuse€regis…try€and€to€local€offices€of€the€department€and€allÏrecords€generated€as€a€result€of€such€reports,€òòshall€beóóÏòòconfidential€and€exempt€from€other€provisions€of€law,Ïand€shall€not€be€disclosedóó€except€as€specifically€autho…rized€by€the€provisions€of€this€part€and€part€4€of€thisÏchapter.ÌÌà8 à€€€€€(b)€Except€as€otherwise€provided€in€this€part€orÏpart€4€of€this€chapter,€òòit€is€unlawful€for€any€personóó,Ïexcept€for€purposes€directly€connected€with€the€adminis…tration€of€this€part,€òòto€disclose,€receive,€make€use€of,Ïauthorize€or€knowingly€permit,€participate€in,€or€acqui…esce€in€the€use€of€any€list€or€name,€or€any€informationÏconcerning€a€report€or€investigation€of€a€report€of€harmÏunder€this€part,€directly€or€indirectly€derived€from€theÏrecords,€papers,€files,€or€communications€of€the€depart…ment€or€divisions€thereof€acquired€in€the€course€of€theÏperformance€of€official€duties.óó€[emphasis€added].ÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€above€statutory€language€making€records€concerning€re…ports€of€child€sexual€abuse€"confidential"€and€proscribing€themÏfrom€disclosure€strongly€supports€the€conclusion€that€the€actionsÏof€Dr.€BellÔ% € Ô€in€sending€copies€of€a€letter€reporting€suspectedÏsexual€abuse€to€individuals€other€than€governmental€officialsÏauthorized€to€investigate€such€matters€are€not€protected€by€theÏimmunity€granted€by€T.C.A.€ðð€37„1„613,€and€we€so€hold.€€Therefore,Ïwe€must€consider€whether€the€court€was€correct€in€dismissing€theÏlibel€claim€against€Dr.€Bell.€ÌÌà àThe€letter€primarily€concerns€Mr.€Leedom,€there€is€nothing€inÏit€which€is€defamatory€regarding€Mrs.€Leedom,€and€the€trialÍcourt's€summary€judgment€against€her€is€affirmed.€€However,€theÏletter€contains€statements€which€could€fairly€be€considered€libel…ous€regarding€Mr.€Leedom.€€It€contains€descriptions€or€allegationsÏof€several€unsavory€aspects€of€his€character.ÌÌà àDr.€Bell€argues€that€since€the€letter€was€sent€on€FebruaryÏ12,€1993€and€plaintiffs€filed€suit€on€February€15,€1994,€theirÏlibel€action€is€barred€by€the€one„year€statute€of€limitationsÏfound€at€T.C.A.€ðð€28„3„104.€€Leedom€counters€by€arguing€that€dueÏto€the€confidential€nature€of€the€letter,€there€was€no€way€heÏcould€have€discovered€its€existence€or€contents€before€FebruaryÏ22,€1993,€the€date€of€the€juvenile€court€hearing.€€He€alleges€thatÏthis€date,€in€fact,€was€the€first€time€he€became€aware€of€theÏletter,€and€that€it€would€be€unfair€to€bar€his€action€before€heÏhad€grounds€to€know€or€suspect€he€had€a€cause€of€action.€€LeedomÏin€effect€argues€for€the€application€of€the€"discovery€rule"€firstÏadopted€by€our€Supreme€Court€in€òòTeeters€v.€Curreyóó,€518€S.W.2d€512Ï(Tenn.€1974)€for€malpractice€actions,€and€later€extended€to€allÏactions€predicated€on€negligence,€strict€liability€or€misrepresen…tation.€€òòSeeóó€òòMcCroskey€v.€Bryant€Air€Cond.€Co.óó,€524€S.W.2d€487Ï(Tenn.€1975).Ì€€Ìà àThe€precise€issue€of€whether€the€discovery€rule€should€beÏadopted€in€matters€involving€libelous€documents€which,€unlikeÏbooks€or€magazine€articles,€are€not€accessible€to€the€generalÏpublic,€has€not€been€addressed€in€Tennessee.€€In€òòQuality€AutoÏParts€Co.,€Inc.€v.€Bluff€City€Buick€Co.,€Inc.óó,€876€S.W.2d€818Ï(Tenn.€1994),€the€Supreme€Court€declined€to€apply€the€discoveryÏrule€in€slander€cases.€€The€òòQuality€Auto€Partsóó€court€carefullyÏlimited€its€holding€to€slander€actions,€noting€that€"historically,Ï...€a€distinction€has€been€drawn€between€the€two€types€of€defama…tion."€€òòId.óó€at€820.€€Additionally,€the€language€of€the€libelÏlimitations€statute,€which€provides€that€an€action€must€be€broughtÏ"within€one€(1)€year€after€[the]€cause€of€action€accrued,"€[T.C.A.Ïðð28„3„104],€is€significantly€different€from€the€more€specificÏslander€limitations€statute,€which€mandates€the€bringing€of€anÏaction€"within€six€(6)€months€after€the€words€are€uttered."€ÏT.C.A.€ðð€28„3„103.ÌÌà àThe€Supreme€Court€has€stated€that€"the€public€policy€of€ourÏstate€is€opposed€to€requiring€that€suit€be€filed€when€circumstanc…es€totally€beyond€the€control€of€the€injured€party€make€it€impos…sible€for€him€to€bring€suit."€€òòTeetersóó,€518€S.W.2d€at€517.€€ThisÏpolicy€is€grounded€upon€a€recognition€of€the€unfairness€of€"re…quiring€that€[a€plaintiff]€sue€to€vindicate€a€non„existent€wrong,Ïat€a€time€when€the€injury€is€unknown€and€unknowable."€€òòId.óó€at€515.€ÏIn€deciding€whether€to€apply€the€discovery€rule€to€cases€such€asÏthe€one€at€bar,€we€must€weigh€these€considerations€against€theÏpolicy€reasons€underlying€the€development€of€statutes€of€limita…tions,€described€by€the€òòQuality€Auto€Partsóó€court€as:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àTo€ensure€fairness€to€the€defendant€by€preventingÏundue€delay€in€bringing€suits€on€claims,€and€by€preserv…ing€evidence€so€that€facts€are€not€obscured€by€the€lapseÏof€time€or€the€defective€memory€or€death€of€a€witness.€ÌÌÌÓÓòòQuality€Auto€Partsóó,€876€S.W.2d€at€820.€€ÌÌà àThere€is€a€decided€modern€trend€in€American€jurisprudence€toÏapply€the€discovery€rule€in€those€limited€situations€where€theÏallegedly€libelous€statement€occurred€in€private€or€confidentialÏpublications€which€are€not€readily€available€to€the€plaintiff€orÍthe€general€public.€€Those€state€courts€which€have€directly€ad…dressed€this€issue€have€generally€adopted€the€discovery€rule€inÏsuch€cases.€€òòSeeóó€òòTom€Olesker's€Exciting€World€of€Fashion,€Inc.,€v.ÏDun€&€Bradstreet,€Inc.óó,€334€N.E.2d€160€(Ill.€1975);€òòKelley€v.ÏRinkleóó,€532€S.W.2d€947€(Tex.€1976);€òòKittinger€v.€Boeing€Co.óó,€585ÏP.2d€812€(Wash.App.€1978);€òòManguso€v.€Oceanside€Unified€Sch.ÏDist.óó,€88€Cal.App.3d€725,€152€Cal.Rptr.€27€(4th€Dist.€1979);ÏòòSears,€Roebuck€&€Co.€v.€Ulmanóó,€412€A.2d€1240€(Md.App.€1980);€ÏòòWhite€v.€Gurnseyóó,€618€P.2d€975€(Or.App.€1980);€òòHoke€v.€Paulóó,€653ÏP.2d€1155€(Haw.€1982)(adopting€discovery€rule€in€all€defamationÏcases);€€òòClark€v.€AiResearch€Mfg.€Co.€of€Arizonaóó,€673€P.2d€984Ï(Ariz.App.€1983);€òòJones€v.€Pinkerton's,€Inc.óó,€700€S.W.2d€456Ï(Mo.App.€1985);€òòBurks€v.€Rushmoreóó,€534€N.E.2d€1101€(Ind.€1989);ÏòòStaheli€v.€Smithóó,€548€So.2d€1299€(Miss.€1989).€€ÌÌà àAfter€careful€consideration€of€the€facts€and€equities€of€theÏpresent€case,€and€the€various€policies€underlying€statutes€ofÏlimitations€and€the€discovery€rule,€we€find€ourselves€in€agreementÏwith€the€following€statement€by€the€Mississippi€Supreme€Court€onÏthis€issue:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àWe€are€convinced€that€the€general€policies€underly…ing€this€statute€of€limitations€will€not€be€thwarted€byÏadoption€of€the€discovery€rule€in€that€limited€class€ofÏlibel€cases€which,€because€of€the€secretive€or€inherent…ly€undiscoverable€nature€of€the€publication€the€plain…tiff€did€not€know,€or€with€reasonable€diligence€couldÏnot€have€discovered,€that€he€had€been€defamed.€€In€suchÏrare€instances,€we€do€not€believe€that€a€plaintiff€canÏbe€accused€of€sleeping€on€his€rights.ÌÌÌÓÓòòStahelióó,€548€So.2d€at€1303.ÌÌà àIn€the€present€case,€Leedom€could€not€have€discovered€theÏexistence€of€the€allegedly€libelous€letter€until€the€juvenileÏcourt€hearing€on€February€22,€1993.€€By€the€operation€of€theÏdiscovery€rule,€his€cause€of€action€for€libel€accrued€on€thatÏdate.€Since€Leedom€filed€his€complaint€less€than€one€year€afterÏaccrual,€his€claim€is€not€time„barred.Ìà àÌà àWe€reverse€the€trial€court's€grant€of€summary€judgment€forÏplaintiff,€Mark€Leedom's€libel€claim€resulting€from€Dr.€Bell'sÏpublication€of€the€letter€sent€to€the€parties€other€than€the€KnoxÏCounty€Department€of€Human€Services.€€The€trial€court's€judgmentÏis€in€all€other€respects€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€assessedÍone„half€each€to€appellants€and€one„half€to€the€appellee,€Dr.ÏBell.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àDon€T.€McMurray,€JudgeÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€JudgeÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÇÑ  ÑÑ7€Ë%XXd×XXd×7Ñà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ` è` ˜XÓMARK€LEEDOM€and€wife,€€€€€€€€€)à àKnox€CircuitÌSUSAN€LEEDOM,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9704„CV„00136ÌÓ ` °œXÓ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€Plaintiffs„Appellants€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€DALE€C.€WORKMANÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌCORRINE€BELL,€SUZANNE€MARLEY,€)Ìand€BARBARA€CHALFONT,€€€€€€€€€)à àAFFIRMED€IN€PART,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àREVERSED€IN€PART€andÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€à àREMANDEDÌ€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓJUDGMENTóóó óÌÓ  ÓÌÌÓÓà àThis€appeal€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€from€theÏCircuit€Court€of€Knox€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel.€ÏUpon€consideration€thereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€thatÏthere€was€some€reversible€error€in€the€trial€court.Ìà àWe€reverse€the€trial€court's€grant€of€summary€judgment€forÏthe€plaintiff,€Mark€Leedom's€libel€claim€resulting€from€Dr.€Bell'sÏpublication€of€the€letter€sent€to€the€parties€other€than€the€KnoxÏCounty€Department€of€Human€Services.€€The€trial€court's€judgmentÏis€in€all€other€respects€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€assessedÏone„half€each€to€appellants€and€one„half€to€the€appellee,€Dr.ÏBell.ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€PER€CURIAMÌ