ÿWPC‡$ X®ÿ >ñÕöË{ ³ ¼oæWvÙXÒÏ·N/ïJ(Êñ×öH¤8OË`c2~Ɔ˜€=ž™Š‰ÕaÛBº#Dã8ËõF ޳ª2ç}‹1>âæÆKhá:¯‡üp“I$,A,iÛ@q½o 9¬ÃÈʟ¦ãC“Ö‘®Ïü>ê·wä6aË%Ö±VÞ„^¸Æ~Ñ¡½:w›¢<‰IH)[Nœ”åOU”ÍÐVt–n²î3p/Tµï¯fö/­œIwz­Tñ;‡ªÑ cy*—©î¬™¥{F:´|ty+Öû5íð+J“¹•ܬÙm‰ÿº7z çüø» EtŽù5¼îB·ÞÓ‘A¬üQ²J¤îèm¥‹‹*ÿrõR#«Ê a›¾¨b#É\ %% + 0ˆ3 UN» » 0D zM ÒÇ w™ 4 ± À ÆÂ ƈ ÆNÆ^ ÚNæ mè·ÿE¶ 1‡¸ 72? 1uq 72æ 0c 1‡{ 72>4¡rÌßßßßßßßßßßßßßb|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| 0ë„„„„ Bo o 0¤Œ D30! D-c! 0K!! ASÛ!Æ." 0¤ô" 0D˜# A«Ü#˜\\IB01S01\CLERK1NASÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0» (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpto=/B011C83|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Œ\/Ï ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ ­Ý ƒR¥$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôãÅò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àThis€petition€also€sought€the€transfer€to€Perry€March€of€custodial€rights€in€two€other€accounts€at€UnionÐ ° ÐPlanters€National€Bank€held€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Uniform€Transfer€to€Minors€statutes.€€These€accounts€are€not€materialÐ tÄ Ðto€the€issues€in€the€case.(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à(EhCEKQW]cioAutoList21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. 4Ý ƒR¥$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôãÅò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Prior€to€Chapter€121€of€the€Public€Acts€of€2001,€effective€April€26,€2001,€section€30„3„102€specificallyÐ ° Ðprovided€that€there€was€no€presumption€of€death€to€be€drawn€by€seven€years€of€unexplained€absence.€€By€section€1(a)Ð tÄ Ðof€this€Act,€the€common€law€presumption€of€death€from€seven€years€unexplained€absence€was€reinstated.€€TheÐ 8ˆ Ðpresumption€is€Ô_ÔrebuttableÔ_Ô,€but€Ô_ÔunrebuttedÔ_Ô,€will€support€a€final€decree€dissolving€the€conservatorship€estate€per€sectionÐ üL Ð30„3„108(c),€as€that€Code€section€was€amended€by€section€3(c)€of€the€2001€Act.€€By€the€terms€of€section€6€thereof,Ð À Ðchapter€121€of€the€Public€Acts€of€2001€is€applicable€to€any€person€whose€death€has€not€previously€been€adjudicated€underÐ „Ô ÐTitle€30€Chapter€3€part€1€regardless€of€the€date€of€disappearance€or€absence.€€ —Ý ƒR¥$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôãÅò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àThe€specific€language€that€the€issue€of€death€ð ðshall€go€to€the€court€or€jury€as€one€of€fact€to€beÐ ° Ðdetermined€upon€evidenceðð€contained€in€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€30„3„102€(1984)€was€deleted€by€ChapterÐ tÄ Ð121€of€the€Public€Acts€of€2001effective€April€26,€2001.€€The€overall€effect,€however,€of€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÐ 8ˆ Ðsection€30„3„102,€as€amended€by€Chapter€121€of€the€Public€Acts€of€2001,€and€the€provisions€of€Tennessee€CodeÐ üL ÐAnnotated€section€30„3„108€(2001),€as€amended€by€the€same€Act,€still€require€a€factual€hearing€on€the€question€of€deathÐ À  Ðwhich€hearing€must€take€into€consideration€the€presumption€of€death€resulting€from€unexplained€absence€for€seven€years. ÂÝ ƒR¥$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôãÅò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àSeparate€from€the€personal€property,€the€real€estate€owned€by€Janet€March€was€also€the€subject€of€theÐ ° Ðlitigation,€but€such€is€not€material€to€the€case€at€bar,€it€having€been€disposed€of€in€conformity€with€the€opinion€of€thisÐ tÄ ÐCourt€in€òòMarch€v.€Levineóó,€1999€WL€140760. “Ý ƒR¥$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôãÅò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àThese€are€the€same€factors€established€by€the€United€States€Supreme€Court€in€òòÔ_ÔFomanÔ_Ô€v.€Davisóó,€371Ð ° ÐU.S.€178,€83€Ô_ÔS.CtÔ_Ô.€229,€9€Ô_ÔL.EdÔ_Ô.2d€222€(1962).€- ù-(|G2¥$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J…»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôãÅò»»Ô d(|3‰\$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J…»»dXXdì8ÑÑ 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€J…»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€J…»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼J…»»»ÔÑ8€XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îBJ…ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼J…»îîB #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓFebruary€15,€2002€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XX»¼J…ÔÌò òÔ#†¼J…»XXö#ÔPERRY€MARCHòòóó€v.€LAWRENCE€LEVINE,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XX»¼J…Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€99P„1676€€€€€€Frank€G.€Clement,€Jr.,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐòòóóÌÌÒe°Òà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2000„01955„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€March€17,€Ô_Ô2003Ô_ԀР¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€matter€is€a€dispute€between€Absentee€Janet€Marchððs€parents,€Lawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine,€andÐ xÈ  Ðher€husband,€Perry€March.€€The€case€began€as€an€in€rem€battle€over€the€Absenteeððs€property€afterÐ d´ ÐPerry€March€opened€an€absentee€estate€following€Janetððs€disappearance.€€However,€the€Ô_ÔLevinesÔ_Ô,Ð P  Ðthirty„one€months€after€the€absentee€estate€was€opened,€asked€to€amend€the€proceedings€and€add€aÐ <Œ Ðclaim€for€wrongful€death€against€Perry€March.€€The€court€allowed€the€amendment.€€Perry€MarchÐ (x Ðincurred€citations€for€civil€contempt€of€court,€and€the€Ô_ÔLevinesÔ_Ô€were€eventually€granted€a€defaultÐ d Ðjudgment€as€a€result€of€his€contempt.€€A€judgment€for€$113,500,000.00€in€damages€was€enteredÐ P Ðagainst€him.€€Perry€March€appealed.€€We€find€that€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretion€in€allowing€theÐ ì< Ðwrongful€death€action,€and€we€reverse€the€trial€court.€€The€default€judgment€for€wrongful€death€andÐ Ø( Ðthe€award€for€damages€against€Perry€March€are€reversed.Ð Ä ÐÓÉÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Reversed€ó óÐ œì ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼J…»àXn#ÔÔ‡XX.¼J…ÔWilliam€B.€Cain,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòóóBòòENóó€H.€CòòANTRELLóó,€P.J.,€òòóójoined.€Ð tÄ ÐJòòEFFREYóó€F.€SòòTEWARTóó,€SòòPóó.€J.,€filed€a€dissenting€opinion.Ð `° ÐÌJohn€E.€Ô_ÔHerbisonÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Perry€March.Ð 8!ˆ  ÐÌC.J.€Gideon,€Jr.€and€Margaret€J.€Moore,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Lawrence€Levine€andÐ #`" ÐCarolyn€Levine,€as€Next€Friends€of€Janet€Levine€March,€as€Next€Friends€of€Samson€March€andÐ ü#L# ÐÔ_ÔTziporaÔ_Ô€March;€Children€Janet€Levine€March,€and€in€their€Individual€Capacities.Ð è$8 $ ÐÓ ÓÌÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼J…»XX5 #ÔÔ‡XX»¼J…ÔÐ ¬'ü"' ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼J…»XXo #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€XX»¼J…Ôà ½ àMuch€of€the€history€of€this€protracted€litigation€can€be€gleaned€from€the€opinion€of€this€CourtÐ „)Ô$) Ðin€òòMarch€v.€Levineóó,€No.€01„A„01„9708„PB„00437,€1999€WL€140760€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€March€17,Ð p*À%* Ð1999),€the€opinion€of€the€United€States€District€for€the€Middle€District€of€Tennessee€in€òòMarch€v.Ð \+¬&+ ÐLevineóó,€136€F.€Supp.€2d€831€(M.D.€Tenn.€2000),€and€the€opinion€of€the€United€States€Sixth€CircuitÐ H,˜', ÐCourt€of€Appeals€in€òòMarch€v.€Levineóó,€249€F.3d€462€(6òòthóó€Cir.€2001).Ð 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ô‡à ½ àPerry€March€and€Wife,€Janet€Levine€March,€are€parents€of€two€minor€children,€Samson€andÐ ° ÐTzipora€March.€€Lawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€are€the€parents€of€Janet€Levine€March€and€theÐ œì Ðmaternal€grandparents€of€the€two€minor€children.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà ½ àJanet€Levine€March€disappeared€on€August€15,€1996.€€Perry€March,€a€Nashville€lawyer,€soonÐ `° Ðbecame€the€subject€of€an€intense€investigation€into€his€wifeððs€disappearance.€€The€body€of€JanetÐ L œ ÐLevine€March€(assuming€her€to€be€deceased)€has€never€been€found.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà ½ àThe€seed€of€this€litigation,€which€was€destined€to€mushroom€into€a€figurative€giant€sequoia,Ð  ` Ðwas€planted€by€Perry€March€on€October€30,€1996€when€he€filed,€in€the€Probate€Court€for€DavidsonÐ ü L  ÐCounty,€Tennessee,€a€Petition€for€Summary€Relief€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€30„Ð è 8  Ð3„203€seeking€the€transfer€to€him€of€two€bank€accounts€totaling€$4,770.19,€held€by€Union€PlantersÐ Ô$  ÐNational€Bank€in€the€name€of€Janet€Levine€March.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð À  ÐÌà ½ àTitle€30€Chapter€3€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€entitled€Absenteeððs€Estates€is€codified€in€twoÐ ˜è  Ðsections,€the€first€section€being€the€Uniform€Absence€as€Evidence€of€Death€and€Absenteesðð€PropertyÐ „Ô  ÐLaw€originally€enacted€as€Chapter€102€of€the€Public€Acts€of€1941.€€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€30„3„101€toÐ pÀ Ð114.€€Part€two,€entitled€Conservators,€is€derived€from€Chapter€785€of€the€Public€Acts€of€1972€(adj.Ð \¬ ÐS.).€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€30„3„201€to€210.Ð H˜ ÐÌà ½ àTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€30„3„203€provides€for€the€transfer€of€property€withoutÐ  p Ðconservatorship€to€the€spouse€or€next€of€kin€of€any€ð ðabsenteeðð€as€defined€in€section€30„3„201€of€theÐ  \ ÐCode,€where€the€property€has€a€gross€value€of€less€than€$5,000.€€An€ð ðabsentee,ðð€as€applicable€in€thisÐ øH Ðcase,€is€defined€as€ð ð[a]ny€resident€of€this€state,€or€any€person€owning€property€herein,€who€disappearsÐ ä4 Ðunder€circumstances€indicating€that€he€may€have€died,€either€naturally,€accidentally€or€at€the€hand€ofÐ Ð  Ðanother,€or€may€have€disappeared€as€the€result€of€mental€derangement,€amnesia€or€other€mentalÐ ¼  Ðcause.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€30„3„201(2)(1984).€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà ½ àAlthough€Code€section€30„3„203€authorized€the€court€to€make€the€transfer€of€these€accountsÐ €Ð Ðwithout€notice€or€a€hearing€because€the€accounts€contain€less€than€$5,000,€the€court,€nonetheless,€setÐ l¼ Ða€hearing€and€notified€the€Levines.€€On€November€6,€1996,€Lawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€filed€anÐ X ¨ Ðintervening€petition€in€the€probate€court€as€next€friends€and€parents€of€Janet€Levine€March€andÐ D!” Ðgrandparents€of€Samson€and€Tzipora€March€in€which€they€denied€that€Perry€March€was€entitled€toÐ 0"€  Ðsummary€relief€under€section€30„3„203€of€the€Code€and€asserted:Ð #l! ÐÌà8 ½ à4.à  àThe€Absentee€has€been€missing€since€August€15,€1996.€€Despite€an€intenseÐ ô$D # Ðsearch,€the€governmental€authorities€have€been€unable€to€locate€her.€€According€toÐ à%0!$ Ðpublic€statements€of€the€Metropolitan€Police€Department,€the€Petitioner€is€the€onlyÐ Ì&"% Ðknown€suspect€in€her€probable€death.€€Contrary€to€the€signed€pleadings€of€PetitionerÐ ¸'#& Ðthat€Petitioner€has€searched€for€his€wife,€he€has€in€fact€made€no€public€efforts€to€searchÐ ° Ðfor€her€and€he€has€impeded€the€police€investigation€by€refusing€to€have€anyÐ œì Ðcommunication€or€discussion€with€the€Metro€Police;€he€has€refused€to€answer€anyÐ ˆØ Ðfurther€questions€or€meet€with€them€after€their€initial€investigation€or€help€search€forÐ tÄ Ðher.Ð`°½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àIn€sworn€testimony€taken€in€the€cause€of€No.€9619„29147,€òòLawrence€LevineÐ L œ Ðand€Carolyn€Levine€v.€Perry€Marchóó,€Juvenile€Court€of€Davidson€County,€Tennessee,Ð 8 ˆ Ðhe€has€refused€to€answer€any€questions€regarding€the€disappearance€of€his€wife€on€theÐ $ t Ðgrounds€that€it€would€tend€to€incriminate€him€under€the€5òòthóó€Amendment€of€theÐ  ` ÐConstitution€of€the€United€States;€he€has€refused€to€answer€any€questions€regardingÐ ü L  Ðher€disappearance€or€her€probable€death,€and€he€has€not€cooperated€with€anyone€in€theÐ è 8  Ðsearch€for€her.ÐÔ$ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à5.à m àThe€two€accounts€described€are€accounts€belonging€to€Janet€GailÐ À  ÐLevine€March,€his€spouse,€and€if€he€is€the€person€who€has€committed€a€homicide€withÐ ¬ü  Ðregard€to€her,€he€cannot€receive€or€inherit€any€property€by€virtue€of€T.C.A.€ðð€31„1„106.€Ð ˜è  ÐPursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€31„1„106,€if€Perry€A.€March€shall€have€been€the€person€whoÐ „Ô  Ðkilled€or€conspired€to€kill€or€procured€to€be€killed€Janet€Gail€Levine€March,€in€thatÐ pÀ Ðevent€he€could€not€receive€any€part€of€the€money€owned€by€Janet€Gail€Levine€March.€Ð \¬ ÐThe€money€that€belongs€to€her€should€be€held€by€the€Public€Guardian€Ronald€Nevin,Ð H˜ Ðan€independent€neutral€party,€or€some€other€neutral€party,€as€conservator€under€T.C.A.Ð 4„ Ððð€30„3„202€or€T.C.A.€ðð€30„3„204€for€her€benefit€until€further€facts€and€circumstancesÐ  p Ðbe€established€as€to€her€disappearance€or€death.Ð \½Ð ½Ð  Ðà ½ àà  à.€.€.€.Ð øH Ðà8 ½ àà  à1.à m àThe€Petitioner€has€unclean€hands,€for€he€refuses€to€divulge€to€anyÐ ä4 Ðappropriate€governmental€body€or€the€courts€of€this€state€the€facts€and€circumstancesÐ Ð  Ðregarding€the€disappearance€of€his€wife,€Janet€Gail€Levine€March.€Ð¼ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à2.à m àPursuant€to€T.C.A.€ðð€31„1„106,€Petitioner€could€not€inherit€or€holdÐ ¨ø Ðfunds€belonging€to€her€or€be€an€appropriate€fiduciary€for€his€two€minor€children,€if€heÐ ”ä Ðbe€guilty€under€said€statute.ЀнР½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à3.à m àThe€Petitioner€is€not€residing€at€the€home€at€3€Blackberry€Road,Ð l¼ ÐNashville,€Tennessee,€37215,€the€phones€have€been€disconnected,€the€door€locks€haveÐ X ¨ Ðbeen€changed,€and€he€apparently€is€spending€a€great€deal€of€his€time€in€Illinois€andÐ D!” Ðmay€not€be€subject€to€process€under€the€State€of€Tennessee.Ð0"€ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à4.à m àAs€a€matter€of€equity,€the€Court€should€freeze€the€funds€of€Janet€GailÐ #l! ÐLevine€March€and€the€two€minor€children€until€such€time€as€all€facts€andÐ $X" Ðcircumstances€regarding€her€disappearance,€her€possible€death,€and€the€relationshipsÐ ô$D # Ðof€Janet€Gail€Levine€March,€Perry€A.€March€and€the€two€minor€children€be€fullyÐ à%0!$ Ðestablished.ÐÌ&"%½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àAt€this€point,€we€interrupt€the€chronological€narrative€in€order€that€the€reader€may€understandÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€context€in€which€subsequent€events€have€occurred€and€recognize€the€enormity€of€the€taskÐ )à$( Ðconfronting€the€trial€court.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* ÐTHE€ACRIMONIOUS€RELATIONSHIP€BETWEEN€THE€PARTIESÐ ° ÐÌà ½ àLawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€are€convinced€beyond€any€reasonable€doubt€that€on€August€15,Ð ˆØ Ð1996€Perry€March€murdered€his€wife,€Janet€Levine€March,€and€disposed€of€her€body€therebyÐ tÄ Ðdepriving€them€of€a€daughter€and€depriving€their€grandchildren€of€a€mother.€€With€equal€fervor,€PerryÐ `° ÐMarch€denies€any€involvement€in€the€disappearance€of€Janet€March€and€denies€that€she€is€deceased.€Ð L œ ÐThe€resulting€antagonism€between€the€parties€permeates€every€phase€of€this€litigation€and€shows€noÐ 8 ˆ Ðsign€of€ever€abating.Ð $ t ÐÌà ½ àThe€trial€court,€more€than€five€years€ago€in€its€order€of€September€10,€1997,€clearly€recognizedÐ ü L  Ðwhat€was€happening€and€warned€of€the€dire€consequences€that€would€result€to€the€absentee€Estate€ofÐ è 8  ÐJanet€March€if€the€litigious€behavior€of€the€parties€continued.€€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà8 ½ àà  àThe€funds€available€at€the€time€of€the€hearing,€August€15,€1997,€after€paymentÐ ¬ü  Ðof€the€mortgage€but€prior€to€payment€of€any€of€the€fee€requests€is€approximatelyÐ ˜è  Ð$320,000,€will€be€quickly€depleted€unless€substantial€changes€occur€in€the€litigiousÐ „Ô  Ðprotocol€established€by€Mr.€March€and€the€Levines.ÐpÀ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€Court€agrees€with€all€parties€that€the€fees€at€issue€are€more€than€substantialÐ \¬ Ðand€is€most€concerned€that€the€intensely€contested€proceedings,€being€the€obvious€andÐ H˜ Ðdirect€result€of€the€animosity€between€Mr.€March€and€the€Levines€and€with€almostÐ 4„ Ðevery€issue€being€vigorously€contested,€will€deplete€the€resources€of€the€AbsenteeððsÐ  p Ðestate€within€a€few€months€unless€Mr.€March€and€the€Levines€cease,€or€at€leastÐ  \ Ðsubstantially€minimize,€the€intense€litigation€that€has€become€the€norm€in€this€mostÐ øH Ðtragic€case.Ðä4½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€Uniform€Absence€as€Evidence€of€Death€and€Absenteesðð€Property€Act€(theÐ Ð  Ðð ðAbsentee€Actðð)€was€enacted€to€provide€for€an€orderly€management€of€the€affairs€ofÐ ¼  Ðpersons€who€have€disappeared,€leaving€families€and€property.€€As€long€as€it€isÐ ¨ø Ðunknown€whether€the€absentee€be€living€or€dead,€rights€must€remain€uncertain€yetÐ ”ä Ðproperty€must€be€managed.€€As€stated€by€the€National€Conference€of€CommissionersÐ €Ð Ðon€Uniform€State€Laws€in€its€prefatory€note€at€the€time€the€Absentee€Act€wasÐ l¼ Ðapproved:ÐX ¨½Ð ½Ð  Ðà ½ àà8  àIt€is€unthinkable€„€the€situation€intolerable€„€where€in€case€of€anÐ D!” Ðabsentee,€with€absence€unexplained,€continuous,€unheard€of,€leavingÐ 0"€  Ða€family€to€be€supported,€debts€to€be€paid€and€collected,€life€insuranceÐ #l! Ðto€be€paid,€business€to€be€carried€on,€etc.,€that€there€be€no€law€for€theÐ $X" Ðascertainment€of€rights€and€the€distribution€of€property.€€The€situationÐ ô$D # Ðcalls€for€a€remedy€and€this€Act€provides€it.Ðà%0!$ x x Ðà8 ½ àUniform€Absence€as€Evidence€of€Death€and€Absenteesðð€Property€Act,€8A€U.L.A.€1Ð Ì&"% Ð(Master€ed.€1993).и'#&½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThough€the€Conservator€is€admirably€performing€his€duties,€his€efforts€toÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpreserve€the€estate€and€his€willingness€to€evaluate€the€need€for€and€to€provide€financialÐ )à$( Ðsupport€for€the€Absenteeððs€dependents€(if€and€when€it€is€pursued€in€the€proper€fashionÐ |*Ì%) Ðand€with€the€requisite€proof€of€need€for€support)€are€clearly€being€complicated€by€theÐ h+¸&* Ðdifferences€between€the€Levines€and€Mr.€March.€€One€of€the€more€important€purposesÐ ° Ðof€the€Absentee€Act,€to€provide€financial€support€for€dependents,€is€particularly€beingÐ œì Ðfrustrated€by€the€acts€and€omissions€of€Mr.€March.€€Mr.€March€has€twice€filed€a€claimÐ ˆØ Ðfor€dependent€support€yet€he€has€twice€voluntarily€dismissed€the€claims€prior€to€theÐ tÄ Ðhearing.€€His€acts,€i.e.€being€litigious€about€most€everything€in€these€proceedingsÐ `° Ð(though€he€is€not€alone€in€this€area),€and€his€election€to€repeatedly€file€and€dismissÐ L œ Ðclaims€for€support€for€himself€or€his€children,€present€a€troubling€scenario€that€mayÐ 8 ˆ Ðresult€in€the€children€receiving€no€financial€support€from€their€motherððs€AbsenteeÐ $ t Ðestate.Ð `½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àOne€can€foresee€a€disturbing€result€if€there€is€no€change.€€In€the€not€too€distantÐ ü L  Ðfuture,€the€[estate€in€this€case]€will€be€depleted€without€the€dependents€receiving€anyÐ è 8  Ðsupport€as€contemplated€in€the€Absentee€Act.€€Thereafter,€the€Court€will€likely€beÐ Ô$  Ðfaced€with€a€petition€to€sell€the€personal€property€of€the€Absentee,€many€of€which€areÐ À  Ðcherished€personal€possessions.€€If€such€should€occur,€the€strong€feelings€andÐ ¬ü  Ðdifficulties€presented€with€the€sale€of€the€real€estate€will€pale€in€comparison€to€theÐ ˜è  Ðfeelings€likely€to€erupt€with€the€sale€of€personal€property€of€Janet€Levine€March.Ð„Ô ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àSuch€consequences€must€be€avoided€if€at€all€possible€and€this€Court€intendsÐ pÀ Ðto€be€proactive€in€anticipation€of€and€to€endeavor€to€prevent€such€a€regrettable€andÐ \¬ Ðavoidable€event.ÐH˜½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€acts€and€omissions€of€Mr.€March,€along€with€other€factors,€may€cause€allÐ 4„ Ðwho€participate€in€these€important€proceedings€to€be€viewed€with€disdain€by€thoseÐ  p Ðwho€wonder€who€was€looking€after€the€childrenððs€interest€while€the€money€was€beingÐ  \ Ðspent.€€There€is€no€doubt€whatsoever€that€Mr.€March€loves€his€children.€€There€is€noÐ øH Ðdoubt€whatsoever€that€Lawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€love€their€grandchildren.€€ThereÐ ä4 Ðis€no€doubt€that€the€Conservator€is€admirably€performing€his€duties.€€Nevertheless,€theÐ Ð  Ðincessant€legal€battles€between€Mr.€March€and€the€Levines€will€exhaust€the€estate€ofÐ ¼  Ðthe€Absentee€in€short€order€unless€a€substantial€change€occurs.Шø½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àHowever€unfavorably€this€record€reflects€upon€Perry€March,€one€vital€fact€remainsÐ €Ð Ðunchallenged.€€He€has€never€been€convicted€of€anything.€€In€the€eyes€of€the€law,€through€which€eyesÐ l¼ Ðalone€this€Court,€and€all€other€courts,€must€view€the€unfolding€scene,€Perry€March€is€innocent€of€theÐ X ¨ Ðcharges€leveled€against€him€by€the€Levines€and€will€remain€so€unless€and€until€he€is€indicted,€triedÐ D!” Ðand€convicted€of€such€charges.€€Being€overbearing€and€obnoxious,€as€well€as€in€repeated€civilÐ 0"€  Ðcontempt€of€court,€does€not€equate€to€criminal€conviction.€€The€decision€of€this€Court€is€made€afterÐ #l! Ðcareful€consideration€of€the€issues€and€not€because€of€Perry€March,€but€in€spite€of€him.Ð $X" ÐÌà ½ àReturning€to€the€narrative,€Judge€Clement€heard€the€original€Petition€of€Perry€March€and€theÐ à%0!$ ÐIntervening€Petition€of€Lawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€on€November€6,€1996,€and€immediatelyÐ Ì&"% Ðrecognizing€the€hostility€between€the€parties,€declared€Janet€Levine€March€to€be€an€ð ðabsenteeðð€withinÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€provisions€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Title€30.€€He€also€appointed€Honorable€Jeff€Mobley€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€Nashville€Bar€as€conservator€of€the€absenteeððs€estate€of€Janet€Levine€March.Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà ½ àThis€Order,€entered€November€12,€1996,€began€thirty„one€months€of€what€can€only€beÐ ° Ðâ âdescribed€as€trench€warfare,€with€the€Levines€and€Perry€March€fighting€each€other€at€everyÐ œì Ðopportunity€while€the€conservator€made€valiant€efforts€to€preserve€the€ever€diminishing€estate€of€theÐ ˆØ Ðabsentee€and€the€trial€court€sought€in€vain€to€control€the€proceedings.€€Respite€for€the€absentee€estateÐ tÄ Ðcame€on€July€16,€1999,€when€the€Levines€changed€course€through€an€Amended€Intervening€PetitionÐ `° Ðand€Cross„Claim€asserting,€for€the€first€time,€a€claim€against€Perry€March€for€the€wrongful€death€ofÐ L œ ÐJanet€Levine€March.€€It€is€this€Amended€Intervening€Petition€and€Cross„Claim€that€forms€the€basisÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€the€present€appeal.Ð $ t ÐÌà ½ àIn€order€for€the€ruling€of€this€Court€to€be€clearly€understood,€it€is€necessary€to€recount,€asÐ ü L  Ðconcisely€as€possible,€the€events€that€occurred€between€the€appointment€of€the€conservator€onÐ è 8  ÐNovember€12,€1996,€and€the€filing€of€the€Amended€Intervening€Petition€and€Cross„Claim€on€July€16,Ð Ô$  Ð1999.Ð À  ÐÌà ½ àThe€original€transcript,€filed€in€this€Court€pursuant€to€designations€of€counsel€for€Perry€March,Ð ˜è  Ðdiscloses€that€Mr.€March€was€allowed€to€dismiss€his€claims€filed€under€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÐ „Ô  Ðsection€30„3„203€by€order€of€December€9,€1996.€€On€January€16,€1997,€Perry€March€filed,€pro€se,€aÐ pÀ Ðclaim€for€ð ðan€undivided,€absolute€and€uncontested€marital€interest€in€all€of€the€Property€of€his€wife,Ð \¬ ÐAbsentee€Janet€Gail€Levine€March,€including,€but€not€by€way€of€limitation,€all€real€property,€personalÐ H˜ Ðproperty,€tangible€property,€intangible€property,€contingent€or€actual€in€nature€and€extent.ðð€€On€AugustÐ 4„ Ð13,€1997,€the€Levines€filed€a€Petition€seeking€to€hold€March€in€contempt€of€court€for€failure€to€deliverÐ  p Ðpersonal€property€of€the€Levines€to€them€at€his€home€in€Chicago,€Illinois€as€required€by€previous€orderÐ  \ Ðof€the€court,€and€on€September€8,€1997,€the€Levines€filed€a€Supplemental€Motion€for€Sanctions€forÐ øH Ðhis€willful€refusal€to€continue€with€his€discovery€deposition€as€well€as€a€Supplemental€Petition€toÐ ä4 ÐHold€March€in€Contempt€of€Court€for€failure€to€deliver€to€the€Levines€personal€property€pursuant€toÐ Ð  Ðorders€of€the€court.Ð ¼  ÐÌà ½ àBy€order€entered€September€10,€1997,€the€court€approved€fees€for€the€conservator,€including€Ð ”ä Ðwithin€the€order€his€prophetic€admonition€to€the€Levines€and€March€about€litigious€dissipation€of€theÐ €Ð Ðabsentee€estate.Ð l¼ ÐÌà ½ àOn€September€17,€1997,€March€filed€his€Answer€to€Charges€of€Contempt€and€for€Sanctions.€Ð D!” ÐOn€September€23,€1997,€the€Levines€filed€their€Answer€to€the€Response€of€March.Ð 0"€  ÐÌà ½ àAll€pending€matters€were€heard€by€the€trial€court€on€September€24,€1997,€where€upon€the€courtÐ $X" Ðcontinued€contested€matters€until€October€28,€1997€because€of€a€conflict€affecting€Mr.€March.€€TheÐ ô$D # ÐOrder€entered€subsequent€to€the€September€24,€1997€hearing€provided€in€part:Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà8 ½ àà  àCounsel€for€the€respective€parties€in€interest€also€announced€in€open€CourtÐ ¸'#& Ðcertain€agreements€regarding€custody€and€ownership€of€items€of€personal€propertyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcurrently€or€formerly€belonging€to€the€Absentee,€Janet€Gail€Levine€March.€€TheseÐ )à$( Ðannouncements€and€the€Courtððs€action€based€upon€such€announcements€are€asÐ |*Ì%) Ðfollows:Ðh+¸&*½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àA.à m àCounsel€for€Perry€March€stated€in€open€Court€that€Perry€March€isÐ ° Ðwithdrawing€his€objection€to€the€claim€of€Lawrence€Levine€that€he€is€the€owner€of€theÐ œì Ðð ðTwo€Lawyersðð€painting€which€was€painted€by€the€Absentee,€Janet€Gail€LevineÐ ˆØ ÐMarch.€€Based€upon€such€announcement€and€the€agreement€of€the€parties€in€interestÐ tÄ Ðas€announced€by€their€counsel,€the€Court€hereby€declares€that€all€right,€title€andÐ `° Ðinterest€in€that€painting€created€by€Janet€Gail€Levine€March€and€titled€ð ðTwo€LawyersððÐ L œ Ðbe€and€hereby€is€vested€in€Lawrence€E.€Levine.Ð8 ˆ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àB.à m àCounsel€for€Perry€March€announced€in€open€Court€that€Mr.€March€isÐ $ t Ðmoving€to€dismiss,€voluntarily€and€with€prejudice,€his€appeal€from€the€Courtððs€OrderÐ  ` Ðof€July€21,€1997.€€In€view€of€that€announcement,€and€there€having€been€no€objectionÐ ü L  Ðstated€to€the€dismissal€of€this€appeal€it€is,€ORDERED€that€said€appeal€be€and€herebyÐ è 8  Ðis€dismissed€with€prejudice€with€the€costs€of€that€appeal€being€divided€equallyÐ Ô$  Ðbetween€Perry€March€and€the€Estate€of€the€Absentee,€Janet€Gail€Levine€March.ÐÀ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àC.à m àThe€Conservator€announced€in€open€Court€an€agreement€among€allÐ ¬ü  Ðparties€in€interest€that,€subject€to€the€applicability€to€such€property€of€that€BailmentÐ ˜è  ÐAgreement€referred€to€in€prior€Orders€of€this€Court€and€the€execution€by€Mr.€MarchÐ „Ô  Ðof€an€appropriate€UCC„1€reflecting€the€fact€that€these€articles€remain€the€property€ofÐ pÀ Ðthe€estate,€Mr.€March€may€have€custody€of€the€following€items€of€personal€propertyÐ \¬ Ðof€the€Absentee:ÐH˜½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àà m à1.à Å àThe€bag€of€lace€tablecloths€and€doilies€as€referred€to€in€Item€7Ð 4„ Ðof€Exhibit€A€to€Marchððs€ð ðMotion€to€Tender€Certain€Items€of€Personal€Property,ðð€etc.Ð p½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àà m à2.à Å àThe€ð ðlinensðð€as€referred€to€in€Item€8€of€Exhibit€A€to€Mr.Ð  \ ÐMarchððs€Motion.€€(It€was€expressly€agreed€that€Mr.€March€would€not€receive€the€quiltÐ øH Ðreferred€to€in€Item€8€but€only€the€ð ðlinens.ðð)€Ðä4½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àà m à3.à Å àTwo€Mezzuzahs€which€were€formerly€located€at€the€home€onÐ Ð  ÐBlackberry€Road€where€Perry€March€and€the€Absentee€formerly€resided,€as€referredÐ ¼  Ðto€in€Item€12€on€Exhibit€A€to€Mr.€Marchððs€Motion.Шø½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àà m à4.à Å àTwo€light€fixtures€which€were€formerly€located€at€the€home€onÐ ”ä ÐBlackberry€Road€where€Mr.€March€and€the€Absentee€formerly€resided€as€referred€toÐ €Ð Ðin€Item€12€of€Exhibit€A€to€Mr.€Marchððs€Motion.Ðl¼½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àà m à5.à Å àA€drawing€of€a€man€at€a€dessert€cart.ÐX ¨½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àà m à6.à Å àA€framed€article€from€a€magazine€showing€the€drawing€of€theÐ D!” Ðman€at€the€dessert€cart.Ð0"€ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àà m à7.à Å àThose€pictures€from€the€wedding€of€Janet€March€and€PerryÐ #l! ÐMarch€which€depict€Perry€March€and/or€members€of€his€immediate€family€but€noÐ $X" Ðother€pictures€from€that€wedding.Ðô$D #½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àWith€the€exception€of€these€enumerated€items€of€personal€property€as€to€whichÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€parties€have€agreed€that€Perry€March€may€have€custody,€the€relief€sought€by€PerryÐ Ì&"% ÐMarch€in€his€ð ðMotion€to€Tender€Certain€Items€of€Property,ðð€etc.€referred€to€above€isÐ ¸'#& Ðfound€by€the€Court€not€to€be€well„founded€and€is€hereby€denied.Ф(ô#'½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àBased€upon€the€Conservatorððs€request€in€open€Court,€the€Court€instructs€theÐ )à$( ÐConservator€that,€with€the€exception€of€the€Absenteeððs€business€records,€theÐ |*Ì%) ÐConservator€may€deliver€all€items€of€the€Absenteeððs€personal€property€which€theÐ h+¸&* ÐConservator€still€possesses€and€which€are€not€otherwise€dealt€with€in€this€Order,€toÐ ° ÐLawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€to€be€held€by€them€pursuant€to€the€terms€of€theÐ œì Ðpertinent€Bailment€Agreement.ЈؽР½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àBased€upon€the€Conservatorððs€request€in€open€Court,€and€without€objectionÐ tÄ Ðhaving€been€made€by€any€party,€the€Court€instructs€the€Conservator€€that,€with€respectÐ `° Ðto€those€items€of€personal€property€set€forth€in€Exhibit€B€to€the€Conservatorððs€ReportÐ L œ Ðand€Recommendation,€filed€June€26,€1997€and€addressed€in€Paragraph€3€of€the€courtððsÐ 8 ˆ ÐJuly€21,€1997€Order€the€Conservator€may€dispose€of€those€items€as€he€sees€fit,Ð $ t Ðincluding€but€not€necessarily€limited€to€donating€those€items€to€charitableÐ  ` Ðorganizations€or€needy€persons.€€In€that€regard€the€Court€finds€that€Perry€March€hasÐ ü L  Ðfailed€to€take€possession€of€those€items€and€remove€them€from€storage€at€his€expenseÐ è 8  Ðwithin€the€time€allowed€for€those€purposes€in€this€Courtððs€July€21,€1997€Order.ÐÔ$ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àExcept€as€expressly€set€forth€herein€the€disposition€of€the€Absenteeððs€personalÐ À  Ðproperty€provided€for€in€the€Courtððs€Final€Order€of€July€21,€1997€shall€not€be€affected.Ьü ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àCounsel€for€the€parties€in€interest€stated€in€open€Court€that,€with€the€exceptionÐ ˜è  Ðof€certain€items€of€childrenððs€cutlery€discussed€below,€all€of€those€items€of€personalÐ „Ô  Ðproperty€listed€on€Exhibit€A€to€the€Conservatorððs€Report€and€Recommendation€underÐ pÀ Ðthe€headings€ð ðCarolynððs/Larryððsðð€or€ð ðMarkððsðð€will€be€delivered€by€Perry€March€to€theÐ \¬ Ðresidence€of€Lawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€in€Deerfield,€Illinois€on€October€6,€1997Ð H˜ Ðat€10:00€a.m.€local€time€in€Deerfield,€Illinois.€€Based€upon€the€agreement€of€all€parties,Ð 4„ Ðit€is€ORDERED€that€Perry€March€will€bring€such€items€of€the€childrenððs€cutleryÐ  p Ðshown€on€Exhibit€A€in€the€Conservatorððs€Report€and€Recommendation€with€respectÐ  \ Ðto€which€he€believes€he€should€retain€possession€with€him€to€the€hearing€which€hasÐ øH Ðbeen€scheduled€before€this€Court€at€l0:00€a.m.€on€October€28,€1997.€€At€that€hearing,Ð ä4 Ðthe€Court€will€hear€evidence€and€determine€what€party€is€entitled€to€ownership€andÐ Ð  Ðpossession€of€these€items€of€personal€property.м ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àCounsel€for€Perry€March€further€stated€in€open€Court€that€Mr.€March€does€notÐ ¨ø Ðhave€the€Encyclopedia€Britannica€owned€by€Dr.€Howard€Rosenblum€which€is€listedÐ ”ä Ðon€Exhibit€A€to€the€Conservatorððs€Report€and€Recommendation.ЀнР½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àBased€upon€the€statements€of€counsel€in€open€Court,€the€Court€finds€thatÐ l¼ ÐLawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€have€exercised€their€right€as€provided€for€in€the€CourtððsÐ X ¨ ÐJuly€21,€1997€Order€to€request€that€documents,€scrapbooks€or€memorabilia€belongingÐ D!” Ðto€the€Absentee€and€in€the€custody€of€Perry€March€in€Illinois€be€made€available€toÐ 0"€  Ðthem€for€copying€at€their€expense.€€The€Court€therefore€ORDERS€that€Perry€MarchÐ #l! Ðmake€such€property€available€to€the€Levines€for€such€purpose€not€later€than€OctoberÐ $X" Ð15,€1997.€€Such€property€includes€but€is€not€necessarily€limited€to€those€itemsÐ ô$D # Ðcontained€in€boxes€marked€ð ðKit€Desk€#1,ðð€ð ðKit€Desk€#2,ðð€and€ð ðBox€#3"€on€page€2€ofÐ à%0!$ ÐExhibit€A€of€the€Conservatorððs€Report€and€Recommendations.€€To€such€extent€as€theÐ Ì&"% ÐLevines€wish€to€request€access€to€other€items€in€Mr.€Marchððs€custody€they€willÐ ¸'#& Ðprovide€Mr.€Marchððs€attorney€with€a€list€of€such€items€in€a€timely€manner.Ф(ô#'½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€Conservator€stated€in€open€Court€that,€with€respect€to€those€items€set€forthÐ )à$( Ðon€page€2€of€Exhibit€A€to€the€Conservatorððs€Report€and€Recommendations€(other€thanÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€1996€Volvo€850)€Perry€March€has€complied€with€the€requirements€set€forth€inÐ h+¸&* ÐParagraph€2€of€the€Courtððs€July€21,€1997€Order€that€he€list€specifically€which€of€thoseÐ ° Ðitems€he€is€retaining€and€how€they€are€being€used€or€displayed.€€The€Court€accordinglyÐ œì Ðinstructs€the€Conservator€to€permit€Perry€March€to€retain€custody€of€those€itemsÐ ˆØ Ðpursuant€to€the€terms€of€the€Bailment€Agreement€which€he€has€executed.ÐtĽР½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àOn€October€22,€1997,€an€Amended€and€Supplemental€Petition€by€the€Levines€was€filedÐ L œ Ðseeking€to€hold€Perry€March€in€contempt€of€court€relative€to€the€delivery€of€certain€personal€propertyÐ 8 ˆ Ðand€asserting:Ð $ t ÐÌà8 ½ àà  à1.à m àThe€quilt€delivered€was€not€the€cross„stitched€baby€quilt€described.€Ð ü L  ÐAnother€quilt€was€delivered€which€was€the€wrong€one€and€will€be€returned€to€Mr.Ð è 8  ÐMarch.ÐÔ$ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à2.à m àThe€bag€delivered€was€not€the€black„beaded€evening€bag€described.€Ð À  ÐAnother€bag€was€delivered€which€was€the€wrong€one€and€will€be€returned€to€Mr.Ð ¬ü  ÐMarch.Ð˜è ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à3.à m àThe€Mind€over€Platter€Cookbook€was€not€delivered.Ð„Ô ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à4.à m àThe€two€photo€albums€had€many€pictures€taken€out€and€left€blank.ÐpÀ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à5.à m àWith€respect€to€the€furniture€belonging€to€Mark€Levine,€a€drawer€fromÐ \¬ Ðthe€antique€secretary€was€shattered€and€broken€in€places.ÐH˜½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à6.à m àThe€matching€vanity€dresser€had€a€piece€of€wood€broken€off.Ð4„½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à7.à m àThe€wooden€footstool€was€not€delivered.Ð p½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à8.à m àThe€encyclopedias€were€not€delivered.Ð \½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àThe€Levines€filed€a€Memo€Brief€regarding€sanctions€and€contempt€of€court€of€Perry€MarchÐ ä4 Ðon€December€8,€1997,€after€asserting€the€failure€of€Mr.€March€to€complete€his€deposition.€€The€MemoÐ Ð  Ðcontains€the€following:Ð ¼  ÐÌà8 ½ àHe€was€required€by€the€Court€to€produce€the€Levinesðð€furniture€in€Chicago,€Illinois,Ð ”ä Ðon€August€5,€by€agreement€as€set€out€in€a€court€order.€€He€did€not€do€so.€€He€hadÐ €Ð Ðpreviously€shipped€the€Levinesðð€furniture€down€to€Hammond,€Indiana€several€weeksÐ l¼ Ðprior€thereto.€€He€obviously€knew€where€it€was€and€failed€to€reveal€such.€€Instead,€heÐ X ¨ Ðhad€his€brother€send€them€a€fax€the€day€before€the€pick€up€date€telling€them€to€go€toÐ D!” ÐHammond,€Indiana€to€a€strange€place€to€pick€up€their€furniture.€€The€Levines€shouldÐ 0"€  Ðnot€be€forced€to€go€to€a€strange€place€in€another€state,€when€Mr.€March€had€control€ofÐ #l! Ðthe€items€in€his€own€household,€and€for€his€own€unknown€reasons€had€shipped€themÐ $X" Ðdown€to€a€commercial€establishment€in€Hammond,€Indiana.Ðô$D #½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€contempt€was€clearly€a€failure€to€follow€the€court€order,€and€secondly,€heÐ à%0!$ Ðwas€trying€to€force€them€into€picking€up€the€furniture€with€a€truck€at€another€place.€Ð Ì&"% ÐSubsequently,€after€he€was€required€by€the€court€order€of€September€24€to€have€theÐ ¸'#& Ðfurniture€delivered€to€the€Levines€at€their€condo€in€Deerfield,€Illinois€he€did€notÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdeliver€certain€items€in€good€condition€and€he€delivered€several€items€that€were€notÐ )à$( Ðcorrect.€€Even€though€a€supplemental€petition€was€filed€setting€forth€what€happened,Ð |*Ì%) Ðhe€has€never€tried€to€produce€the€correct€items,€nor€has€he€offered€to€pay€for€theÐ h+¸&* Ðdamage€that€was€(apparently)€created€by€the€shipment€down€to€Indiana€and€theÐ ° Ðshipment€back€from€Indiana.€€He€tries€to€excuse€his€conduct€on€the€basis€that€he€sawÐ œì Ðor€may€have€seen€the€shipment€after€it€came€back€from€Indiana,€but€his€testimony€wasÐ ˆØ Ðso€confusing€on€this€point€that€it€is€not€worthy€of€belief.€€He€had€the€items€picked€upÐ tÄ Ðand€moved€to€another€state€and€re„returned€at€his€own€risk€and€yet€he€never€did€try€toÐ `° Ðinspect€to€see€if€they€were€in€good€condition€when€brought€back€to€Deerfield,€Illinois.€Ð L œ ÐHe€has€to€bear€the€responsibility.€€Secondly,€he€has€to€bear€the€responsibility€of€notÐ 8 ˆ Ðfurnishing€the€correct€items€after€being€warned€in€a€supplemental€petition€that€he€stillÐ $ t Ðfailed€to€comply.€€We€believe€these€actions€are€all€a€part€of€a€continuing€pattern€ofÐ  ` Ðwillful€contempt.€€His€testimony€is€attached.€Ðü L ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àFinally,€he€has€yet€to€this€date,€turned€over€the€kitchen€boxes€(kit€boxes),€withÐ è 8  Ðthe€items€of€great€sentiment€and€memory,€which€he€was€ordered€to€produce€for€theÐ Ô$  ÐLevinesðð€inspection€and€copying€on€September€24.€€His€attorney,€Ron€March,€wasÐ À  Ðgiven€two€alternatives€by€letter€of€Harris€A.€Gilbert€dated€October€15.€€On€DecemberÐ ¬ü  Ð3,€we€received€a€fax€indicating€the€items€would€be€shipped€soon,€but€they€have€notÐ ˜è  Ðarrived.Ð„Ô ½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àOn€January€26,€1998,€March€filed€his€Reply€Memorandum€Regarding€Sanctions€and€ContemptÐ \¬ Ðof€Court.€€In€this€memorandum,€Mr.€March€observes:Ð H˜ ÐÌà8 ½ àà  àThere€is€also€testimony€that€certain€items€that€were€finally€delivered€in€a€timelyÐ  p Ðfashion€were€not€in€good€condition,€and€Mr.€March€delivered€several€items€that€wereÐ  \ Ðnot€correct.€€The€testimony€of€Mr.€March€under€oath€at€the€most€recent€hearingÐ øH Ðindicates€that€he€delivered€the€items€in€the€condition€that€they€were€given€to€him€andÐ ä4 Ðthat,€again,€he€did€not€engage€in€any€contemptuous€conduct.ÐÐ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€Petitioners€base€a€substantial€part€of€their€argument€that€Mr.€March€hasÐ ¼  Ðengaged€in€a€continuing€pattern€of€willful€contempt.€€It€is€now€acknowledged€by€allÐ ¨ø Ðparties€that€the€kit„boxes€were€timely€delivered€to€the€Petitioners,€along€with€at€leastÐ ”ä Ðone€or€two€items€that€did€not€appear€by€means€of€a€good€faith€mistake€in€the€earlierÐ €Ð Ðdelivery€of€the€property€to€Deerfield,€Illinois.€€Any€further€hearings€on€this€matterÐ l¼ Ðwould€also€indicate€that€the€kit„boxes€remained€in€Mr.€Marchððs€attorneyððs€office€forÐ X ¨ Ðsome€time€awaiting€representatives€of€the€Petitionersðð€to€give€instructions€as€to€whereÐ D!” Ðthey€should€be€delivered€or€to€be€picked€up€by€the€Petitioners.€€Ð0"€ ½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àThe€Levines€filed€an€Addendum€response€on€February€11,€1998€to€the€Perry€March€briefÐ $X" Ðasserting,€in€part:Ð ô$D # ÐÌà8 ½ àà  àIn€our€original€Brief,€we€pointed€out€the€damage€that€had€occurred€with€regardÐ Ì&"% Ðto€the€antique€secretary€and€antique€vanity€desk€belonging€to€the€Levines.€€WeÐ ¸'#& Ðoverlooked€the€fact€that€these€items€were€videotaped€by€the€Levines€in€Chicago€manyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmonths€ago,€long€before€Mr.€March€shipped€them€to€Hammond,€Indiana,€and€that€heÐ )à$( Ðhas€the€responsibility€for€delivering€same€back€in€good€condition.€€He€has€not€to€thisÐ |*Ì%) Ðdate€offered€to€repair€the€damage€or€fix€the€items.Ðh+¸&*½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àAlthough€the€ð ðkit€boxesðð€have€been€sent€to€Jeff€Mobley,€the€following€itemsÐ ° Ðare€still€in€Mr.€Marchððs€possession€òòafteróó€he€was€at€the€last€court€hearing€and€warnedÐ œì Ðto€return€same€to€the€Levines:ЈؽР½Ð  Ðà ½ àà  àA.à8 m àBlack„beaded€evening€bag€with€multi„colored€flowersÐ tÄ Ðbelonging€to€Mrs.€Levine.Ð`°m m  Ðà ½ àà  àB.à8 m àThe€cross„stitched€baby€quilt€with€nursery€rhymesÐ L œ Ðhand„sewn€by€Janetððs€grandmother.Ð8 ˆm m  Ðà ½ àà  àC.à8 m àA€wooden€footstool€with€woven€twine€top.Ð$ tm m  Ðà ½ àà  àD.à8 m àIt€is€still€unexplained€as€to€what€happened€to€theÐ  ` ÐòòEncyclopediaóó€òòBritannicaóó.Ðü L m m  ÐÌà ½ àOn€July€15,€1998,€the€trial€court€entered€an€extensive€Memorandum€Opinion€and€Order€Ð Ô$  Ðfinding€Perry€March€in€civil€contempt€of€court€relative€to€the€delivery€of€personal€property,€observing:€Ð À  ÐÌà8 ½ àà  àThis€Court€finds€the€specific€instances€referenced€above€to€be€but€a€fewÐ ˜è  Ðexamples€of€Mr.€Marchððs€consistent€noncompliance€with€court€orders€in€this€case.€Ð „Ô  ÐFurthermore,€this€Court€finds€that€Mr.€Marchððs€attempts€to€explain€his€failure€toÐ pÀ Ðcomply€with€the€July€21€Order€unsatisfactory€and€unconvincing.€€The€Court€furtherÐ \¬ Ðfinds€these€events€to€constitute€a€troubling€and€consistent€pattern€of€contemptuousÐ H˜ Ðconduct,€of€which€there€is€clear€and€convincing€evidence€to€conclude€that€Mr.€MarchÐ 4„ Ðis€in€contempt€of€Court.€€Sadly,€in€a€case€where€the€Court€has€already€commented€onÐ  p Ðthe€detrimental€effect€of€high€litigation€costs€on€the€Absenteeððs€estate,€Mr.€MarchððsÐ  \ Ðconduct€has€had€the€effect€of€turning€a€relatively€simple€matter,€(e.g.,€the€return€ofÐ øH Ðspecifically€described€personal€property,€on€a€specific€date,€at€a€specific€time,€at€aÐ ä4 Ðspecific€location)€into€a€very€protracted€and€intensely€litigated€affair.ÐÐ ½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àIn€the€same€Order,€the€court€imposed€T.R.C.P.€Rule€37€sanctions€against€Mr.€March€becauseÐ ¨ø Ðof€his€behavior€during€the€course€of€his€deposition€and€his€action€in€terminating€the€deposition€byÐ ”ä Ðwalking€out.€€Considering€the€entirety€of€this€order€of€July€15,€1998,€it€is€an€understatement€to€observeÐ €Ð Ðthat€the€trial€court€found€Perry€March€not€to€be€a€credible€witness.€€On€January€20,€1999€the€courtÐ l¼ Ðentered€an€Order€finding€Mr.€March€to€be€in€civil€contempt€of€court€and€fined€him€$50€per€day€untilÐ X ¨ Ðð ðPerry€A.€March€returns€to€the€Levines€the€beaded€bag,€and€the€hand„stitched€quilt€belonging€to€theÐ D!” ÐLevines.€€Said€judgment€shall€also€continue€until€Perry€A.€March€pays€the€appropriate€sum€to€theÐ 0"€  ÐLevines€for€the€repair€and€refinishing€of€the€Levinesðð€furniture,€which€Perry€A.€March€damaged.ððÐ #l! ÐÌà ½ àSuch€is€a€condensed€synopsis€of€the€original€transcript€filed€under€designation€of€AppellantÐ ô$D # Ðcovering€the€thirty„one€month€period€between€the€appointment€of€the€conservator€and€the€filing€of€theÐ à%0!$ ÐAmended€Intervening€Petition€and€Cross„Claim€asserting€a€wrongful€death€action€against€Mr.€March.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà ½ àUnder€designation€of€the€Levines,€a€Supplemental€Record€was€filed€on€appeal€addingÐ ¤(ô#' Ðadditional€documents€to€the€record,€which€are€described€in€the€supplemental€transcript€as€follows:Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ѐà8 ½ àà  à1.à m à11/15/96€Affidavit€of€Harris€Gilbert€setting€forth€Defendant€MarchððsÐ ° Ðâ ârefusal€to€appear€for€his€deposition€while€in€Nashville;Мì½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à2.à m àLevinesðð€11/15/96€Motion€for€Sanctions€against€Defendant€March,Ð ˆØ Ðincluding€letter€dated€11/6/96€and€deposition€pages,€regarding€Defendant€MarchððsÐ tÄ Ðrefusal€to€appear€for€his€deposition€while€in€Nashville;Ð`°½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à3.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€11/22/96€Motion€to€Terminate€Deposition,Ð L œ Ðincluding€Affidavit,€and€11/27/96€Order€requiring€Defendant€Marchððs€attendance€atÐ 8 ˆ Ðdeposition;Ð$ t½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à4.à m à12/23/96€Order€awarding€sanctions€against€Defendant€March€for€failureÐ  ` Ðto€attend€deposition;Ðü L ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à5.à m àExhibit€8€to€Court€hearing€of€2/14/97€filed€on€3/17/97€regarding€aÐ è 8  Ðlisting€of€Levinesðð€personal€property€taken€by€Defendant€March€to€Chicago€to€beÐ Ô$  Ðreturned€to€Levines;ÐÀ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à6.à m àLevinesðð€3/18/97€Supplemental€Response€regarding€sanctions€forÐ ¬ü  ÐDefendant€Marchððs€failure€to€deliver€Levinesðð€property€as€ordered€by€the€Court;Ð˜è ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à7.à m à3/19/97€Order€granting€permission€to€take€Defendant€MarchððsÐ „Ô  Ðdeposition€but€not€allowing€questions€about€the€death€of€Janet€Levine€March;ÐpÀ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à8.à m à3/31/97€Order,€stating€that€Defendant€March€failed€to€comply€withÐ \¬ Ðprior€Court€Order€concerning€return€of€Levinesðð€personal€property€and€allowingÐ H˜ ÐLevines€to€videotape€personal€property€at€Defendant€Marchððs€Chicago€residence.Ð4„½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à9.à m àLevinesðð€4/17/97€Petition,€including€Exhibits€1,€2,€and€3,€regardingÐ  p Ðrequest€to€videotape€the€Levinesðð€personal€property€held€by€Defendant€March€at€hisÐ  \ ÐChicago€residence;€€ÐøH½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à10.à m àLevinesðð€6/19/97€Motion€for€Sanctions€regarding€the€deposition€ofÐ ä4 ÐDefendant€March;ÐÐ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à11.à m à7/21/97€Order€regarding€delivery€to€Levines€of€Levinesðð€personalÐ ¼  Ðproperty€taken€by€Defendant€March€to€Chicago;Шø½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à12.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€8/20/97€Notice€of€Appeal€regarding€delivery€ofÐ ”ä Ðpersonal€property€to€the€Levines;ЀнР½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à13.à m àLevinesðð€9/23/97€response€brief,€including€exhibits,€regardingÐ l¼ ÐDefendant€Marchððs€refusal€to€comply€with€Court€Order€regarding€return€of€personalÐ X ¨ Ðproperty€to€the€Levines;ÐD!”½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à14.à m àLevinesðð€12/8/97€Memorandum€Brief€filed€in€support€of€Motion€forÐ 0"€  ÐSanctions€and€Contempt€including€Exhibits€1€through€16,€regarding€DefendantÐ #l! ÐMarchððs€refusal€to€return€Levinesðð€personal€property€and€comply€with€Court€Order;Ð$X"½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à15.à m àLevinesðð€1/27/98€reply€brief€regarding€sanctions€and€contempt€of€CourtÐ ô$D # Ðby€Defendant€March,€specifically€Defendantððs€misconduct€during€a€deposition;Ðà%0!$½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à16.à m àLevinesðð€11/17/98€Petition€for€Contempt€regarding€Defendant€MarchððsÐ Ì&"% Ðfailure€to€comply€with€Courtððs€order€and€return€Levinesðð€personal€property;и'#&½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à17.à m àLevinesðð€11/17/98€Request€for€Fees€and€Expenses,€including€ExhibitÐ ¤(ô#' Ð4,€for€Defendant€Marchððs€failure€to€comply€with€the€Courtððs€Order€dated€July€15,Ð )à$( Ðâ â1998;Ð|*Ì%)½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à18.à m à1/20/99€Order€regarding€Defendant€Marchððs€contempt€for€refusal€toÐ ° Ðâ âobey€Court€Orders;Мì½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à19.à m à1/20/99€Order€concerning€dismissal€of€Defendant€Marchððs€appeal;ЈؽР½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à20.à m àLevinesðð€2/3/99€Motion€to€Dismiss€Defendant€Marchððs€Appeal;ÐtĽР½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à21.à m à3/24/99€Order€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€regarding€dismissal€ofÐ `° ÐDefendant€Marchððs€Notice€of€Appeal€regarding€contempt€orders;ÐL œ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à22.à m àLevinesðð€7/2/99€Petition,€including€exhibits€and€supportingÐ 8 ˆ Ðmemorandum€brief,€for€Defendant€Marchððs€willful€and€deliberate€refusal€to€complyÐ $ t Ðwith€Court€Orders;Ð `½Ð ½Ð  Ðà ½ àà  à.€.€.€.Ð ü L  Ðà8 ½ àà  à30.à m àPages€22„36€of€the€transcript€from€the€January€5,€1999€hearingÐ è 8  Ðregarding€Defendant€Marchððs€failure€to€return€to€a€handbag€and€a€quilt€and€repairÐ Ô$  Ðfurniture€as€ordered€by€the€Court;ÐÀ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à31.à m àPages€35„39€and€pages€42„48€from€transcript€from€the€August€15,€1997Ð ¬ü  Ðhearing€regarding€Defendant€Marchððs€failure€to€comply€with€Court€Order€on€threeÐ ˜è  Ðseparate€occasions;Ð„Ô ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à32.à m àCover€page€and€pages€27„38€of€transcript€from€September€24,€1997Ð pÀ Ðhearing€regarding€Defendant€Marchððs€failure€to€obey€Courtððs€Orders;Ð\¬½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à33.à m àStatement€dated€October€7,€1999€regarding€Perry€Marchððs€failure€toÐ H˜ Ðappear€for€a€noticed€deposition;Ð4„½Ð ½Ð  Ðà ½ àà  à.€.€.€.Ð  p Ðà8 ½ àà  à1.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€11/25/96€Complaint€for€Appointment€of€Receiver;Ð \½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à2.à m à12/18/96€Order€of€Transfer€to€Probate€Court€by€Chancellor€Lyle;ÐøH½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à3.à m à11/25/96€Summons€of€Defendant€March;Ðä4½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à4.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€11/26/96€Motion€to€Transfer;ÐÐ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à5.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€1/21/97€Motion€to€Dismiss,€which€includesÐ ¼  Ðstatement€by€Defendant€March€that€he€is€a€party;Шø½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à6.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€7/16/97€Objection€to€Fees;Дä½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à7.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€8/20/97€Notice€of€Appeal;ЀнР½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à8.à m à9/10/97€docketing€statement€for€Court€of€Appeals,€listing€DefendantÐ l¼ ÐMarch€as€a€party€and€appellant€at€Court€of€Appeals;à % àÐX ¨½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à9.à m à9/16/97€Letter€of€Lionel€Barrett€designating€record€for€DefendantÐ D!” ÐMarchððs€appeal;Ð0"€ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à10.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€10/7/97€Notice€of€Appeal;Ð#l!½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à11.à m àDefendant€Marchððs€8/14/98€Notice€of€Appeal;Ð$X"½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à12.à m à10/4/99€Order€of€Magistrate€Griffin€regarding€Defendant€MarchððsÐ ô$D # Ðrequest€to€remove€case€to€Federal€Court;€andÐà%0!$½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à13.à m àOrder€filed€March€20,€1997€from€Chancery€Court€97„904II.à - àÐÌ&"%½Ð ½Ð  Ðâ âÐ ¸'#& Ðà ½ àFrom€everything€disclosed€by€the€record€up€until€July€16,€1999,€the€Levines€and€Perry€MarchÐ ° Ðwere€litigating€an€in€rem€proceeding€concerning€only€the€personal€property€of€the€Absentee,€JanetÐ œì ÐLevine€March,€and€the€personal€conduct€of€Perry€March€in€the€litigation.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ˆØ Ðâ âÌTHE€WRONGFUL€DEATH€ACTIONÐ `° ÐÌà ½ àOn€July€16,€1999,€the€Levines€sought€to€amend€their€original€Intervening€Petition€ofÐ 8 ˆ ÐNovember€6,€1996€in€order€to€assert€a€wrongful€death€action€against€Perry€March,€acting€in€ð ðtheirÐ $ t Ðindividual€capacities€as€next€friends€of€Janet€March€and€as€next€friends€of€Samson€and€TziporaÐ  ` ÐMarch.ðð€€In€this€Amended€Intervening€Petition€and€Cross„Claim€they€asserted:Ð ü L  ÐÌà8 ½ àà  à5.à m àOn€August€15,€1996,€Perry€March€intentionally€inflicted€severe,Ð Ô$  Ðphysical€harm€on€Janet€March€and€thereby€proximately€caused€her€death.€€The€Cross„Ð À  ÐClaimants€bring€this€action€against€Perry€March€for€the€wrongful€death€of€JanetÐ ¬ü  ÐMarch.Ð˜è ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à6.à m àJanet€March€and€Perry€March€were€married€in€June€1987€in€Nashville,Ð „Ô  ÐTennessee.€€Samson€March,€their€first€child,€was€born€August€27,€1990.€€Their€secondÐ pÀ Ðchild,€Tzipora€March,€was€born€May€17,€1994.€€At€the€time€of€the€acts€relevant€to€thisÐ \¬ Ðaction,€Janet€March€and€Perry€March€lived€with€their€children€at€3€Blackberry€RoadÐ H˜ Ðin€Nashville,€Tennessee.Ð4„½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à7.à m àThe€first€few€years€of€the€marriage€of€Janet€March€and€Perry€MarchÐ  p Ðwere€without€marital€problems.€€However,€beginning€in€1990,€Janet€March€and€PerryÐ  \ ÐMarch€began€having€problems€with€their€relationship.€€Over€time,€Perry€MarchÐ øH Ðbecame€physically,€verbally,€and€emotionally€abusive€toward€Janet€March.€€At€JanetÐ ä4 ÐMarchððs€insistence,€Perry€March€underwent€several€years€of€psychiatric€treatment.€Ð Ð  ÐThe€relationship€continued€to€deteriorate,€and€by€1996,€Janet€March€and€Perry€MarchÐ ¼  Ðargued€frequently€and€Janet€March€was€contemplating€divorce.€€In€early€August€1996,Ð ¨ø Ðthe€relationship€had€deteriorated€so€sharply€that€Perry€March€stayed€in€hotel€rooms,Ð ”ä Ðrather€than€at€his€wifeððs€house,€from€August€7€until€August€13,€1996.ЀнР½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à8.à m àPerry€March€returned€to€the€house€occupied€by€Janet€March€and€hisÐ l¼ Ðchildren€on€August€13,€1996.€€Despite€his€return€home,€the€marital€problems€betweenÐ X ¨ ÐJanet€March€and€Perry€March€continued.€€On€the€night€of€August€15,€1996,€JanetÐ D!” ÐMarch€and€Perry€March€had€a€heated€argument.€€Perry€March€inflicted€serious€bodilyÐ 0"€  Ðinjury€on€Janet€March€during€that€argument.€€As€a€proximate€result€of€Perry€MarchððsÐ #l! Ðviolent€and€wrongful€act,€Janet€March€died€on€August€15,€1996€or€very€shortlyÐ $X" Ðthereafter.Ðô$D #½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à9.à m àAfter€he€killed€Janet€March,€Perry€March€began€taking€steps€to€hide€herÐ à%0!$ Ðbody€and€destroy€evidence€of€his€wrongful€act.€€At€about€midnight€on€August€15,Ð Ì&"% Ð1996,€Perry€March€telephoned€the€Cross„Claimants€and€told€them€that€he€and€JanetÐ ¸'#& ÐMarch€had€had€an€argument€and€that€she€had€left€the€house.€€During€a€series€ofÐ ° Ðtelephone€calls€between€the€Cross„Claimants€and€Perry€March€over€the€next€twenty„Ð œì Ðfour€hours,€Perry€March€fabricated€other€details€of€his€story.€€He€eventually€told€theÐ ˆØ ÐCross„Claimants€that€Janet€March€had€said€she€was€taking€a€twelve„day€vacation€andÐ tÄ Ðhad€given€him€a€typed€list€of€things€to€accomplish€while€she€was€gone.€€Still€later,Ð `° ÐPerry€March€told€the€Cross„Claimants€that€Janet€March€had€taken€her€passport,Ð L œ Ð$1,500.00€cash,€and€three€bags€filled€with€clothes€and€personal€items€with€her€whenÐ 8 ˆ Ðshe€left.Ð$ t½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à10.à m àOn€August€15,€1996,€several€hours€before€he€called€the€Cross„Ð  ` ÐClaimants€to€claim€that€Janet€March€had€left,€Perry€March€called€his€brother,€RonÐ ü L  ÐMarch,€in€Illinois€and€his€sister,€Kathy€March,€in€Michigan.€€Within€days€of€AugustÐ è 8  Ð15,€1996,€and€at€different€times,€Ron€March,€Kathy€March,€and€Perry€Marchððs€father,Ð Ô$  ÐArthur€March,€who€resided€in€Mexico,€came€to€Nashville.ÐÀ ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à11.à m àOn€or€about€August€23,€1996,€Perry€March€began€searching€for€aÐ ¬ü  Ðcriminal€defense€attorney.€€On€August€29,€1996,€at€the€insistence€of€the€Cross„Ð ˜è  ÐClaimants,€the€Metro€Police€were€notified€that€Janet€March€was€missing.€€OnÐ „Ô  ÐSeptember€7,€1996,€Janet€Marchððs€car€was€found€at€an€apartment€complex€inÐ pÀ ÐNashville.€€Inside€the€car€were€personal€items€belonging€to€Janet€March.€€JanetÐ \¬ ÐMarchððs€body€has€never€been€found.ÐH˜½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à12.à m àOn€or€about€September€16,€1996,€Metro€Police€asked€Perry€March€toÐ 4„ Ðconsent€to€a€search€of€the€personal€computer€on€which€Janet€March€had€supposedlyÐ  p Ðtyped€the€list€of€things€for€Perry€March€to€do€while€she€was€on€vacation.€€Perry€MarchÐ  \ Ðrefused€to€allow€the€search.€€Metro€Police€obtained€a€search€warrant€for€the€residenceÐ øH Ðand€notified€Perry€Marchððs€criminal€defense€attorney€that€they€would€execute€theÐ ä4 Ðwarrant€the€following€day,€September€17,€1996.€€When€they€searched€the€house,€MetroÐ Ð  ÐPolice€found€that€the€computerððs€hard€drive€had€been€forcefully€removed€from€theÐ ¼  Ðcomputer.€€It€has€never€been€recovered,€and€Perry€March€has€not€offered€anÐ ¨ø Ðexplanation€for€its€disappearance.Дä½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à13.à m àOn€September€17,€1996,€Metro€Police€publicly€declared€Perry€MarchÐ €Ð Ðas€the€prime€and€only€suspect€in€the€homicide€investigation€of€Janet€March.Ðl¼½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à14.à m àSince€that€date,€Perry€March€has€consistently€refused€to€cooperate€withÐ X ¨ Ðthe€investigation€into€the€death€of€Janet€March.€€He€has€refused€to€answer€questionsÐ D!” Ðabout€her€death;€he€has€refused€to€cooperate€with€the€Metro€Police€in€their€Ð 0"€  Ðinvestigation€into€the€death;€and€he€has€hindered€the€investigation€by,€among€otherÐ #l! Ðacts,€hiding€the€body€of€Janet€March,€destroying€or€hiding€evidence€of€her€death,€andÐ $X" Ðby€destroying€or€hiding€the€hard€drive€of€the€personal€computer€used€by€Janet€March.Ðô$D #½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à15.à m àBecause€Perry€March€killed€Janet€March,€Samson€March€and€TziporaÐ à%0!$ ÐMarch€will€be€deprived€for€their€lives€of€the€love,€affection,€attention,€devotion,€andÐ Ì&"% Ðguidance€of€their€mother.€€Because€Perry€March€killed€Janet€March,€the€Cross„Ð ¸'#& ÐClaimants€will€be€deprived€for€their€lives€of€the€love,€affection,€attention,€devotion,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðand€guidance€of€their€daughter.Ð)à$(½Ð ½Ð  Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà ½ àOn€July€26,€1999,€Perry€March€filed€his€Special€Appearance€and€Response€to€Motion€FiledÐ ° Ðâ âon€Intervening€Wrongful€Death€Action.€€In€this€pleading,€he€challenges€the€introduction€of€an€entirelyÐ œì Ðnew€cause€of€action€into€an€existing€in€rem€action€by€use€of€Rule€15.01€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€ofÐ ˆØ ÐCivil€Procedure.€€Also,€on€July€26,€1999,€the€conservator€for€the€absentee€of€Janet€Levine€March€filedÐ tÄ Ða€petition,€essentially,€to€be€relieved€from€participation€in€the€wrongful€death€action,€asserting€in€part:Ð `° ÐÌà8 ½ àà  à4.à m àOn€November€6,€1996,€Lawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€filed€with€thisÐ 8 ˆ ÐCourt€an€ð ðIntervening€Petitionðð€setting€forth€that€they€were€acting€as€ð ðnext€friends€andÐ $ t Ðparents€of€Janet€Gail€Levine€March€and€grandparents€of€Samson€March€and€TziporaÐ  ` ÐMarch.ððÐü L ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à5.à m àSince€that€date,€the€Levines€have€participated€fully€in€this€action,Ð è 8  Ðincluding€pursuing€an€appeal€from€this€Courtððs€Order€of€May€1997€approving€aÐ Ô$  Ðsettlement€agreement€with€Perry€March.€€However,€the€Levines€have€never€filed€aÐ À  ÐMotion€for€leave€to€intervene€in€this€matter€or€obtained€leave€of€Court€to€intervene,Ð ¬ü  Ðas€is€required€by€the€express€provisions€of€Rule€24,€Tennessee€Rules€of€CivilÐ ˜è  ÐProcedure.Ð„Ô ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  à6.à m àThe€Levines€have€now€sought€leave€to€amend€their€Intervening€PetitionÐ pÀ Ðto€assert€a€tort€claim€of€wrongful€death€against€Perry€March.€€Allowance€of€thisÐ \¬ Ðamendment€will€not€only€radically€alter€the€nature€of€this€proceeding€but€will€furtherÐ H˜ Ðdeplete€the€assets€of€this€estate€if€the€Conservator€and€his€counsel€are€required€toÐ 4„ Ðparticipate€in€this€additional€litigation.€€It€is€respectfully€submitted€that€the€potentiallyÐ  p Ðsignificant€financial€burden€to€this€estate€of€permitting€the€Levines€to€commence€whatÐ  \ Ðis€effectively€a€new€cause€of€action€is€a€relevant€consideration€for€the€Court€inÐ øH Ðdetermining€whether€ð ðjustice€requiresðð€that€this€amendment€be€allowed€in€accordanceÐ ä4 Ðwith€the€requirements€of€Rule€15,€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.ÐÐ ½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àThe€proposed€Amended€Intervening€Petition€and€the€objections€thereto€came€on€to€be€heardÐ ¨ø Ðby€the€trial€court€on€July€30,€1999.€€At€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing,€the€trial€court€observed:Ð ”ä ÐÌà8 ½ àà  àI€think€Mr.€Gideon€also€had€the€right€to€file€a€Rule€15€motion€to€amend€theÐ l¼ Ðprevious€matter,€and€so€I€believe€it€is€properly€before€the€Court€to€file€it€on€that€matter.€Ð X ¨ ÐRule€15€clearly€says€that€leave€shall€be€freely€given,€and€thereððs€an€appellant€opinionÐ D!” Ðthat€says€we€donððt€have€to€construe€it.€€It€means€what€is€says.€€Thatððs€one€of€the€veryÐ 0"€  Ðfew€times€Iððve€read€a€Court€of€Appeals€opinion€that€says,€ð ðWe€donððt€have€to€explainÐ #l! Ðit.€€Just€read€it.ðð€€And€so€it€says€that.Ð$X"½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àTherefore€„€„€and€„€„€and€any€deficiencies€in€the€amended€petition€are€not€to€beÐ ô$D # Ðchallenged€at€the€Rule€15€hearing.€€They€are€to€be€challenged€after€the€Rule€15€isÐ à%0!$ Ðgranted.€€About€the€only€time€I€would€have€the€right€to€say€no€on€a€Rule€15€is€if€itððsÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€day€of€the€trial€and€thereððs€prejudice€or€if€the€party€just€clearly€had€no€standing€andÐ ¸'#& Ðthereððs€just€absolutely€no€way€to€do€it.Ф(ô#'½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àBut€I€feel€Iððm€compelled€to€grant€that.€€I€feel€that€I€should€grant€it,€so€IððmÐ )à$( Ðgranting€the€motion€and€petition€of€Lawrence€and€Carolyn€Levine€to€amend€theirÐ |*Ì%) Ðpetition€to€intervene€and€to€bring€what€we€refer€to€as€a€wrongful€death€action.Ðh+¸&*½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àNow,€having€granted€that,€then€Mr.€Barrett,€on€behalf€of€Mr.€March€or€anyÐ ° Ðother€party,€would€have€the€right€to€file€a€motion€to€dismiss,€a€motion€for€a€moreÐ œì Ðspecific€statement,€a€motion€to€remove€Lawrence€or€Carolyn€Levine€as€next€kinÐ ˆØ Ðbecause€someone€else€has€a€superior€right€or€they€have€a€conflict€of€interest€or€whatÐ tÄ Ðhave€you.€€But€those€matters€actually€occur€on€the€second€phase,€the€second€hearing.€Ð `° ÐThatððs€the€way€that€Rule€is€written,€and€thatððs€the€way€I€have€followed€it€for€almostÐ L œ Ð20€years€in€this€business.Ð8 ˆ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àSo,€Mr.€Gideon,€your€motion€to€intervene€and€to€proceed€with€a€wrongfulÐ $ t Ðdeath€action€is€granted.Ð `½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àOn€August€10,€1999,€the€trial€court€entered€an€Order€allowing€the€Amended€InterveningÐ è 8  ÐPetition€and€Cross„Claim€holding:Ð Ô$  ÐÌà8 ½ àà  àThe€Motion€for€Leave€to€Amend€the€Intervening€Petition€heretofore€filed€isÐ ¬ü  Ðwell€taken€and€is€granted.€€Pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15.01,€the€Petitioner€shall€haveÐ ˜è  Ðfifteen€days€from€July€30,€1999,€the€date€of€the€hearing€of€this€matter,€in€which€toÐ „Ô  Ðanswer€the€cross„claim.€€The€Court€finds€that€the€Intervening€Petitioners,€LawrenceÐ pÀ ÐLevine€and€Carolyn€Levine,€are€appropriate€intervening€parties€and€are€properly€beforeÐ \¬ Ðthis€Court.ÐH˜½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€Court€also€finds€that€the€Intervening€Petitioners,€Lawrence€Levine€andÐ 4„ ÐCarolyn€Levine,€have€standing€to€bring€the€wrongful€death€action€as€next€friends€ofÐ  p ÐJanet€Levine€March€and€as€next€friends€of€Samson€March€and€Tzipora€March.€€TheÐ  \ ÐCourt€also€finds€that€it€has€jurisdiction€to€preside€over€all€issues€that€have€heretoforeÐ øH Ðbeen€properly€brought€before€it€in€this€matter,€including€the€allegations€in€the€cross„Ð ä4 Ðclaim€for€wrongful€death€brought€by€the€Intervening€Petitioners,€Lawrence€Levine€andÐ Ð  ÐCarolyn€Levine.м ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€motion€of€the€Conservator€to€be€excluded€from€participation€in€discoveryÐ ¨ø Ðand€other€matters€related€to€the€wrongful€death€action€is€granted.Дä½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌWe€hold€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowing€the€amendment.Ð l¼ ÐÌà ½ àIt€is€apparent€that€the€trial€court€took€literally€the€observation€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€òòBranchÐ D!” Ðv.€Warrenóó,€527€S.W.2d€89,€92€(Tenn.€1975)€wherein€it€is€stated:€ð ðIndeed,€the€statute€(section€20„1505,Ð 0"€  ÐT.C.A.)€which€conferred€a€measure€of€discretion€on€trial€judges€was€repealed€and€Rule€15€stands€inÐ #l! Ðits€place€and€stead.€€That€rule€needs€no€construction;€it€means€precisely€what€it€says,€that€ððleave€shallÐ $X" Ðbe€freely€given.ðð€ððÐ ô$D # ÐÌà ½ àTaken€literally€and€in€isolation,€this€general€statement€would€destroy€any€discretion€in€the€trialÐ Ì&"% Ðcourt€about€allowing€or€disallowing€amendments€under€Rule€15.01.€€Since€Federal€Rule€of€CivilÐ ¸'#& ÐProcedure€15(a)€and€Tennessee€Rule€of€Civil€Procedure€15.01€are€identical,€decisions€under€FederalÐ ¤(ô#' ÐRule€15(a)€may€be€considered€in€construing€Tennessee€Rule€15.01.€€òòGamble€v.€Hospital€Corp.€of€Am.óó,Ð )à$( Ð676€S.W.2d€340€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà ½ àThe€granting€or€denying€of€a€motion€to€amend€is€within€the€sound€discretion€of€the€trial€courtÐ ° Ðand€will€be€reversed€only€for€an€abuse€of€discretion.€€òòZenith€Radio€Corp.€v.€Hazeltine€Research,€Inc.óó,Ð œì Ð401€U.S.€321,€91€S.Ct.€795,€28€L.Ed.2d€77€(1971);€òòMerriman€v.€Smithóó,€599€S.W.2d€548€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð ˆØ ÐApp.€1979).Ð tÄ ÐÌà ½ àIn€òòMerriman€v.€Smithóó,€this€Court€observed:Ð L œ ÐÌà8 ½ àòòà  àHageman€v.€Signal€L.P.€Gas,€Inc.óó,€486€F.2d€479€(6òòthóó€Cir.€1973),€although€itÐ $ t Ðdiscusses€the€Federal€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure,€Rule€15,€sets€out€some€of€the€broadÐ  ` Ðand€legitimate€factors€a€trial€judge€should€weigh€in€considering€a€Motion€to€Amend:Ð ü L  ÐUndue€delay€in€filing;€lack€of€notice€to€the€opposing€party;€bad€faith€by€the€movingÐ è 8  Ðparty,€repeated€failure€to€cure€deficiencies€by€previous€amendments,€undue€prejudiceÐ Ô$  Ðto€the€opposing€party,€and€futility€of€amendment.€€€ÐÀ ½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌòòMerrimanóó,€599€S.W.2d€at€559.׃!×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ˜è  ÐÌà ½ àIn€this€case:Ð pÀ ÐÌà ½ à1.à  àThe€entire€proceeding€in€the€probate€court€from€October€30,€1996€to€July€16,€1999€wasÐ H˜ Ða€purely€in€rem€proceeding€under€the€absentee€estates€statutes€that€dealt€solely€with€the€personal€andÐ 4„ Ðreal€property€of€Janet€Levine€March.Ð  p Ðà ½ à2.à  àThe€thirty„one€month€delay€between€the€filing€of€the€original€Intervening€Petition€byÐ  \ Ðthe€Levines€on€November€6,€1996€and€the€filing€of€the€Amended€Intervening€Petition€and€CrossÐ øH ÐComplaint€for€Wrongful€Death€on€July€16,€1999€is€unexplained€in€the€record.Ð ä4 Ðà ½ à3.à  àThere€is€no€assertion€by€the€Levines€of€any€newly€discovered€evidence€of€wrongfulÐ Ð  Ðdeath€discovered€subsequent€to€the€November€6,€1996€Intervening€Petition.€€Ð ¼  Ðà ½ à4.à  àAll€of€the€facts€alleged€in€the€July€16,€1999€Amended€Intervening€Petition€and€Cross„Ð ¨ø ÐClaim€for€wrongful€death€were€known€to€the€Levines€at€the€time€of€the€filing€of€the€November€6,€1996Ð ”ä ÐIntervening€Petition.Ð €Ð ÐÌUNDUE€DELAYà m àÐ X ¨ ÐÌà ½ àWhile€delay€alone€is€an€insufficient€basis€for€denying€leave€to€amend,€òòMoore€v.€City€ofÐ 0"€  ÐPaducahóó,€790€F.2d€557,€562€(6òòthóó€Cir.€1986),€unexplained€delay€coupled€with€other€factors€mayÐ #l! Ðconstitute€ð ðundue€delayðð€within€the€meaning€of€the€Rule€as€construed€in€òòFoman€v.€Davis,€MerrimanÐ $X" Ðv.€Smithóó€and€other€cases.€€One€such€factor€is€where€the€party€seeking€to€amend€has€known€all€of€theÐ ô$D # Ðfacts€underlying€the€amendment€since€the€beginning€of€the€litigation.€€ð ð[L]ate€amendments€to€assertÐ à%0!$ Ðnew€theories€are€not€reviewed€favorably€when€the€facts€and€the€theory€have€been€known€to€the€partyÐ Ì&"% Ðseeking€amendment€since€the€inception€of€the€cause€of€action.ðð€€òòAcri€v.€International€Assððn.€ofÐ ¸'#& ÐMachinist€and€Aerospace€Workersóó,€781€F.2d€1393,€1398€(9òòthóó€Cir.€1986).€€òòSee€also€Royal€Ins.€Co.€ofÐ ¤(ô#' ÐAm.€v.€Southwest€Marineóó,€194€F.3d€1009,€1016„17€(9òòthóó€Cir.€1999);€€òòDuggins€v.€Steak€ððn€Shake,€Inc.óóÐ ° Ð195€F.3d€828,€834€(6òòthóó€Cir.€1999).€Ð œì ÐÌà ½ àIn€upholding€the€denial€by€the€trial€court€of€leave€to€amend,€the€Tenth€Circuit€Court€ofÐ tÄ ÐAppeals€observed€in€òòMcKnight€v.€Kimberly€Clark€Corp.óó,€149€F.3d€1125€(10òòthóó€Cir.€1998):Ð `° ÐÌà8 ½ àThe€motion€was€filed€a€full€year€after€the€date€of€the€initial€pleading.€€Many€keyÐ 8 ˆ Ðindividuals€would€have€had€to€be€deposed€again€if€the€complaint€was€amended.€Ð $ t ÐFurther,€it€appears€that€plaintiff€was€aware€of€all€the€information€on€which€hisÐ  ` Ðproposed€amended€complaint€was€based€prior€to€filing€the€original€complaint.€Ð ü L  ÐPlaintiff€offered€no€explanation€for€the€undue€delay.Ðè 8 ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àWe€will€not€disturb€a€district€courtððs€decision€to€deny€a€motion€to€amend€if€theÐ Ô$  Ðopposing€party€will€be€unduly€prejudiced€by€the€amendment.€€òòFederal€Insurance€Co.Ð À  Ðv.€Gates€Learjet€Corpóó.,€823€F.2d€383,€387€(10òòthóó€Cir.€1987).€€In€this€case,€prejudiceÐ ¬ü  Ðwould€clearly€result.€€While€we€recognize€that€Fed.R.Civ.P.€15(a)€requires€that€ð ðleaveÐ ˜è  Ðshall€be€freely€given,ðð€we€have€previously€held€that€undue€delay€is€sufficient€to€denyÐ „Ô  Ðsuch€leave.òò€óó€See€òòFirst€City€Bank€v.€Air€Capitol€Aircraft€Sales,€Inc.óó,€820€F.2d€1127,Ð pÀ Ð1133€(10òòthóó€Cir.€1987).Ð\¬½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌòòMcKnightóó,€149€F.3d€at€1130.Ð 4„ ÐÌà ½ àAnother€factor€relating€to€undue€delay€is€prejudice€to€the€opposing€party.€€Reopening€ofÐ  \ Ðdiscovery€alone€creates€significant€prejudice.€òò€City€of€Paducahóó,€790€F.2d€557òòóó.€€This€factor€is,€ofÐ øH Ðcourse,€significantly€discounted€in€this€case€because€of€repeated€discovery€evasion€by€Perry€March,Ð ä4 Ðbut€it€must€be€noted€that€no€reason,€justifiable€or€otherwise,€appears€from€this€record€to€explain€whyÐ Ð  Ðthe€Levines€did€not€allege€their€wrongful€death€claim€in€their€original€Intervening€Petition€and€therebyÐ ¼  Ðalleviate€the€necessity€for€reopening€discovery€thirty„one€months€later.Ð ¨ø ÐÌNEW€CAUSE€OF€ACTION€PROBLEM€Ð €Ð ÐÌà ½ àA€related€and€equally€persuasive€reason€exists€for€denying€leave€to€amend€in€this€case.€€TheÐ X ¨ Ðð ðabsenteeðð€estate€proceedings€had€been€at€issue€for€thirty„one€months€before€the€wrongful€deathÐ D!” Ðamendment€was€sought.€€Much€discovery€and€near„endless€proceedings€had€already€occurred€in€theÐ 0"€  Ðtrial€court,€all€relating€to€the€property€of€Janet€March.€€The€belated€Amendment€to€the€InterveningÐ #l! ÐPetition€and€Cross„Claim€against€Perry€March€alleging€wrongful€death€introduced€an€entirely€separateÐ $X" Ðproceeding€into€a€statutory€in€rem€case.€€In€òòKing€v.€Kingóó,€922€F.Supp.€700,€704€(D.N.H.€1996),€theÐ ô$D # Ðcourt€addressed€just€such€a€problem€holding,€ð ðthe€court€finds€that€the€addition€of€the€proposed€newÐ à%0!$ Ðclaim€would€require€discovery€into€matters€that€were€not€previously€part€of€this€action,€and€wouldÐ Ì&"% Ðlikely€further€delay€these€already€much€delayed€proceedings.€€The€First€Circuit€has€left€no€doubt€thatÐ ¸'#& Ðððthe€further€along€a€case€is€toward€trial,€the€greater€the€threat€of€prejudice€and€delay€when€new€claimsÐ ¤(ô#' Ðare€belatedly€added.ðð€€òòExecutive€Leasing€Corporation€v.€Banco€Popular€de€Porta€Ricoóó,€48€F.3d€66,Ð )à$( Ðâ â71€(1òòstóó€Cir.)ðð€€òòSee€also€Groth€v.€Orkin€Exterminating€Co.,€Inc.óó,€909€F.Supp.€1143€(C.D.€Ill.€1995);Ð |*Ì%) ÐòòBurger€v.€Edgewater€Steel€Co.óó,€911€F.2d€911€(3òòrdóó€Cir.€1990);€òòGrant€v.€News€Group€Boston,€Inc.óó,€55Ð ° ÐF.3d€1€(1òòstóó€Cir.€1995).Ð œì Ðâ âÌà ½ àThe€difficulty€in€another€context€is€well€stated€by€Appellees€in€their€response€in€this€Court€toÐ tÄ ÐAppellantððs€Motion€for€Voluntary€Dismissal€of€this€appeal.€€Said€Appellees€on€February€10,€2001:Ð `° ÐÌà8 ½ àI.à  àTHE€COURT€AND€ALL€PARTIES€INVOLVED€RECOGNIZED€FROM€THEÐ 8 ˆ ÐBEGINNING€OF€THE€WRONGFUL€DEATH€CLAIM€THAT€IT€WAS€AÐ $ t ÐSEPARATE€AND€DISTINCT€CASE€PROSECUTED€APART€FROM€THEÐ  ` ÐPROBATE€CASEÐü L ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àOn€the€same€day€the€Trial€Court€granted€the€Appelleesðð€request€to€amend€theirÐ è 8  ÐProbate€Court€petition€and€assert€wrongful€death€claims,€the€Trial€Court€also€ruled€theÐ Ô$  Ðwrongful€death€claims€would€constitute€a€separate€cause€of€action.€€In€doing€so,€theÐ À  ÐTrial€Court€separated€the€parties€and€the€causes€of€action.€€In€the€probate€case,€theÐ ¬ü  Ðparties€were:€the€Levines,€the€Conservator,€and€Perry€March.€€In€the€wrongful€deathÐ ˜è  Ðaction,€the€parties€were:€the€Levines€and€Samson€and€Tzipora€March€as€Plaintiffs€andÐ „Ô  ÐPerry€March€as€the€Defendant.€€The€children€were€not€a€party€to€the€absentee€estateÐ pÀ Ðcase,€and€the€Conservator€was€not€a€party€to€the€wrongful€death€case.€€In€the€July€30,Ð \¬ Ð1999€proceeding,€the€Court€ruled:ÐH˜½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà8 ½ àMR.€LEEMAN:à Å àYou€do€need€to€address€our€request€that€you€instruct€us€not€to€Ð  p Ðà  àà m àà Å àbe€involved€in€the€wrongful€death€matter.Ð \½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà8 ½ àTHE€COURT:à Å àCorrect.€€Thank€you,€Mr.€Leeman.€€I€did€need€to€address€that,€Ð ä4 Ðà  àà m àà Å àand€I€was€about€to€overlook€it.ÐÐ ½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà0 ½ àà e àà0½½(#½(#àà e àà ½ àà0 ½(#½(#àà ½ àà  àà0m  (# (#àà  àà m àà8Å m (#m (#àA€wrongful€death€action€is€brought€on€the€behalf€of€theÐ ¨ø Ðsurviving€spouse€or€minor€children.€€Even€if€thereððs€aÐ ”ä Ðdecedentððs€estate€open,€even€if€thereððs€an€executor€orÐ €Ð Ðadministrator€of€the€estate,€the€executor€and€administratorÐ l¼ Ðdonððt€have€to€be€the€plaintiff.ÐX ¨Å Ð Å Ð  ÐÌà0 ½ àà e àà ½ àà0 ½(#½(#àà ½ àà  àà0m  (# (#àà  àà m àà8Å m (#m (#àYou€donððt€have€to€open€a€decedentððs€estate€to€bring€that€action.€Ð 0"€  ÐIt,€under€statute,€is€the€right€of€the€surviving€spouse€and/orÐ #l! Ðminor€children.€€The€point€being€here€that€even€though€weÐ $X" Ðhave€a€Conservator,€even€if€we€had€an€executor,€they€wouldÐ ô$D # Ðnot€have€to€be€a€party€to€that€action.€€They€would€have€a€rightÐ à%0!$ Ðto€say€we€want€to€be€the€party,€but€they€would€not€have€to€be.ÐÌ&"%Å Ð Å Ð  ÐÌà0 ½ àà e àà ½ àà0 ½(#½(#àà ½ àà  àà0m  (# (#àà  àà m àà8Å m (#m (#àSo€for€that€reason,€Mr.€Leeman€is€correct€that€the€ConservatorÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdoes€not€have€to€be€a€party€to€the€wrongful€death€action.€€AndÐ )à$( Ðbased€upon€their€express€desires€that,€to€save€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðconservatorship€money,€they€would€like€to€be€excluded€fromÐ h+¸&* Ðthat,€so€they€donððt€have€an€affirmative€duty€to€participate€orÐ ° Ðmonitor,€I€agree.МìÅ Ð Å Ð  ÐÌà0 ½ àà e àà ½ àà0 ½(#½(#àà ½ àà  àà0m  (# (#àà  àà m àà8Å m (#m (#àAnd€so€the€Conservator€shall€not€be€obligated€and€shall€haveÐ tÄ Ðno€duty€to€participate€in€a€wrongful€death€action,€whether€it€beÐ `° Ðbrought€by€the€Levines€against€Perry€March,€whether€it€beÐ L œ Ðbrought€by€Arthur€March€against€Lawrence€Levine€or€anybodyÐ 8 ˆ Ðelse.€.€.€.Ð$ tÅ Ð Å Ð  ÐÌà8 ½ àà  àClearly,€the€Trial€Court€ruled€that,€with€the€addition€and€subtraction€of€partiesÐ ü L  Ðin€the€two,€different€lawsuits,€the€wrongful€death€action€became€a€distinct€cause€ofÐ è 8  Ðaction.€€The€wrongful€death€action€was€prosecuted€entirely€separately€from€the€probateÐ Ô$  Ðproceedings,€and€the€Conservator€did€not€participate€in€any€way€in€the€wrongful€deathÐ À  Ðcase.Ьü ½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àAccordingly,€there€was€never€more€than€one€claim€for€relief€present€in€anyÐ ˜è  Ðaction€pending€before€the€Trial€Court.€€There€was,€and€remains,€a€probate€proceedingÐ „Ô  Ðinvolving€the€conservatorship€of€Janet€Levineððs€estate.€€There€was€also,€as€aÐ pÀ Ðcompletely€separate€cause€of€action,€a€wrongful€death€action€unrelated€to€theÐ \¬ Ðconservatorship,€except€that€the€cases€shared€the€same€decedent.ÐH˜½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àMoreover,€the€Trial€Court€assigned€a€separate€docket€number€to€the€wrongfulÐ 4„ Ðdeath€action€and€directed€the€clerk€to€maintain€the€file€as€a€separate€case.€€The€TrialÐ  p ÐCourtððs€Order€of€October€20,€2000€clearly€addresses€the€wrongful€death€action€asÐ  \ Ðbeing€ð ðdistinguished€from€the€Absentee€Conservatorship€and€Receivership.ððÐøH½Ð ½Ð  Ðà8 ½ àà  àThe€wrongful€death€claims€were€prosecuted€from€the€beginning€as€separateÐ ä4 Ðfrom€and€unrelated€to€the€probate€case€involving€the€conservatorship€of€Janet€LevineððsÐ Ð  Ðestate.€€They€were€not€the€same€action€as€contemplated€by€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€54.02.€Ð ¼  ÐAccordingly,€the€continuing€pendency€of€the€conservatorship€does€not€affect€theÐ ¨ø Ðfinality€of€the€wrongful€death€judgment.Дä½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌCOMPULSORY€JOINDER€OF€THE€CONSERVATOR€PROBLEM€€Ð l¼ ÐÌà ½ àFar€from€relieving€the€practical€problems€in€this€case€and€conserving€judicial€resources,€theÐ D!” Ðcourse€of€action€taken€has€had€the€opposite€effect.€€With€apologies€to€Senator€Carmack,€the€pewterÐ 0"€  Ðhandle€has€been€welded€to€the€wooden€spoon.€€Without€the€conservator€being€a€party€to€the€wrongfulÐ #l! Ðdeath€action,€he€is€not€bound€by€the€finding€of€death,€wrongful€or€otherwise.€€Under€Tennessee€CodeÐ $X" ÐAnnotated€section€30„3„102(1984)€the€issue€of€death€ð ðshall€go€to€the€court€or€jury€as€one€of€fact€toÐ ô$D # Ðbe€determined€upon€evidence.ðð׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð à%0!$ Їà ½ àTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€30„3„108(2001),€relative€to€the€final€hearing€on€theÐ ° Ðabsentee€estate€provides,€in€part:€Ð œì ÐÌà8 ½ àà  à(a)à m àAt€any€time€during€the€proceedings,€upon€application€to€the€court€andÐ tÄ Ðpresentation€of€satisfactory€evidence€of€the€absenteeððs€death,€the€court€may€make€aÐ `° Ðfinal€finding€and€decree€that€the€absentee€is€dead,€in€which€event€the€decree€and€aÐ L œ Ðtranscript€of€all€the€receivership€proceedings€shall€be€certified€to€the€probate€court€forÐ 8 ˆ Ðany€administration€required€by€law€upon€the€estate€of€a€decedent,€and€the€receivershipÐ $ t Ðcourt€shall€proceed€no€further€except€for€the€purposes€hereinafter€set€forth€in€ðð€30„3„Ð  ` Ð110,€subdivisions€(1)€and€(3).Ðü L ½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àThe€finding€of€death€by€the€trial€court€in€the€wrongful€death€action€cannot€be€òòres€judicataóó€asÐ Ô$  Ðto€the€absentee€estate€or€its€conservator,€as€the€conservator€is€not€a€party€to€the€action.€€It€isÐ À  Ðinconceivable€that€a€default€judgment€against€Perry€March,€based€on€no€evidence,€would€workÐ ¬ü  Ðcollateral€estoppel€on€the€conservator,€or€any€third€party€dealing€with€the€conservator,€and€therebyÐ ˜è  Ðprovide€a€substitute€for€evidence€of€death€required€by€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€sections€30„3„102Ð „Ô  Ðand€30„3„108.€€òòSee€State€ex€rel.€Cihlar€v.€Crawfordóó,€39€S.W.3d€172€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).òò€óóÐ pÀ ÐÌà ½ àWe€are€left€with€the€strange€paradox€that€Janet€March€is€alive€(or€at€least€not€established€byÐ H˜ Ðevidence€to€be€otherwise)€for€the€purpose€of€the€absentee€estate€but€deceased€for€the€purpose€of€theÐ 4„ Ðwrongful€death€action€against€Perry€March.Ð  p ÐÌà ½ àAppellant€March€asserts€on€appeal€that€the€conservator€of€the€absentee€estate€is€anÐ øH Ðindispensable€party€to€the€wrongful€death€action.€€Appellant€points€out€that€a€party€who€will€beÐ ä4 Ðdirectly€affected€by€a€decree€and€whose€interest€is€not€represented€by€any€other€party€to€the€litigationÐ Ð  Ðis€an€indispensable€or€necessary€party.€€It€is€difficult,€however,€to€say€that€the€conservator€will€beÐ ¼  Ðdirectly€affected€by€the€wrongful€death€decree.€€The€conservator€simply€continues€as€before€until€heÐ ¨ø Ðis€relieved€by€a€finding€of€death€under€the€absentee€estate€statute,€by€evidence€of€death,€or€byÐ ”ä Ðunexplained€absence€for€seven€years€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€30„3„102(a)(2001).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р€Ð ÐBy€Chapter€121€of€the€Public€Acts€of€2001,€the€legislature€may€have€resolved€the€problem€òòin€futuroóóÐ l¼ Ðbut€not€now.Ð X ¨ ÐÌÐ 0"€  ÐTHE€DEFAULT€JUDGMENTÐ ° ÐÌà ½ àThe€Amendment€to€the€Intervening€Petition€and€Cross„Claim€alleging€wrongful€death€wasÐ ˆØ Ðallowed€by€the€trial€court€after€a€hearing€on€July€30,€1999.€€On€February€8,€2000,€the€trial€courtÐ tÄ Ðgranted€judgment€by€default€against€Perry€March€for€the€wrongful€death€of€Janet€Levine€MarchÐ `° Ðholding:€ð ðThis€court€has€held€on€two€occasions€that€Perry€March€is€a€willfully€disobedient€party€and€Ð L œ Ðhas€willfully€disobeyed€unambiguous,€specific€orders€of€this€Court.€€The€Court€finds€that€Perry€MarchÐ 8 ˆ Ðcontinues€to€be€a€willfully€disobedient€party.ðð€€The€Order€then,€as€a€sanction€under€Tennessee€RuleÐ $ t Ðof€Civil€Procedure€37.02(c),€struck€the€Answer€of€Perry€March€to€the€Amended€Intervening€PetitionÐ  ` Ðand€Cross„Claim€and€granted€a€judgment€against€Perry€March€as€to€liability€for€the€wrongful€deathÐ ü L  Ðof€Janet€Levine€March€in€the€same€language€as€was€contained€in€the€Amended€Intervening€PetitionÐ è 8  Ðand€Cross„Claim.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà ½ àIn€this€action,€we€hold€that€the€trial€court€was€in€error.€€Judgment€by€default€for€failure€to€obeyÐ ¬ü  Ðan€order€to€provide€discovery€is€an€extreme€sanction.€€òòShahrdar€v.€Global€Hous.,€Inc.óó,€983€S.W.2dÐ ˜è  Ð230,€236€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998).€€The€Levines€sought,€in€vain,€after€the€trial€court€allowed€theÐ „Ô  Ðwrongful€death€amendment,€to€compel€Perry€March€to€return€to€Nashville€to€give€his€discoveryÐ pÀ Ðdeposition.€€The€trial€court€ordered€him€to€return€to€Nashville.€€He€countered€with€a€proposal€for€aÐ \¬ Ðtelephonic€deposition€or€to€submit€to€a€deposition€in€the€community€of€his€residence€in€Mexico.€€HeÐ H˜ Ðalso€asserted€an€unconvincing€argument€that€he€lacked€the€financial€resources€to€return€to€Nashville.Ð 4„ ÐÌà ½ àWhen€one€reviews€the€behavior€of€Perry€March€from€November€of€1996€up€to€the€date€of€theÐ  \ Ðfiling€of€the€wrongful€death€claim€in€July€of€1999,€almost€any€sanction€would€have€been€justified.€Ð øH ÐHowever,€it€is€the€conduct€of€March€following€the€conversion€of€this€case€to€a€wrongful€death€actionÐ ä4 Ðthat€must€be€judged,€rather€than€his€previous€conduct.€€Default€judgments€in€general€should€be€setÐ Ð  Ðaside€if€reasonable€doubt€exists€as€to€the€conduct€of€the€defaulting€party.€€òòTennessee€State€Bank€v.Ð ¼  ÐLayóó,€609€S.W.2d€525€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1980);€òòNelson€v.€Simpsonóó,€826€S.W.2d€483€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð ¨ø Ð1991).€€This€rule€must€be€balanced€against€the€rule€that€the€trial€judge€may€be€reversed€on€theÐ ”ä Ðimposition€of€sanctions€only€by€an€affirmative€showing€of€an€abuse€of€discretion.€€òòBrooks€v.€UnitedÐ €Ð ÐUnif.€Co.óó,€682€S.W.2d€913€(Tenn.€1984).Ð l¼ ÐÌà ½ àFollowing€the€default€judgment,€the€trial€court,€on€April€4,€2000,€denied€AppellantððsÐ D!” Ðapplication€to€set€the€judgment€aside.€€The€court€impaneled€a€jury€to€determine€damages€and€approvedÐ 0"€  Ðthe€juryððs€verdict€of€$113,500,000.00€in€damages€against€Perry€March€for€the€wrongful€death€of€JanetÐ #l! ÐLevine€March.Ð $X" ÐÌà ½ àConsidering€the€conduct€of€Mr.€March€subsequent€to€the€filing€of€the€wrongful€death€action,Ð à%0!$ Ðthe€imposition€of€a€default€judgment€is€simply€too€drastic€a€sanction€for€his€behavior.€€ThroughoutÐ Ì&"% Ðthis€entire€proceeding,€Perry€March€has€not€been€the€only€transgressor.€€The€Levines,€in€their€zeal€toÐ ¸'#& Ðsustain€their€position€and€to€punish€Perry€March€for€what€they€sincerely€believe€to€be€the€murder€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðtheir€daughter,€have€contributed€greatly€to€the€problems€in€this€case.€€This€Court€recognizes€theÐ )à$( Ðâ âpatience€and€fortitude€of€the€learned€trial€judge€in€trying€his€best€to€control€this€litigation,€preserveÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€absentee€estate,€and€maintain€the€integrity€of€his€court€in€the€face€of€nearly€insurmountableÐ ° Ðchallenges.Ð œì Ðâ âÌCONCLUSIONÐ tÄ ÐÌà ½ àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€allowing€the€amendment€under€Rule€15.01€of€Tennessee€RulesÐ L œ Ðof€Civil€Procedure€to€assert€a€wrongful€death€action€is€reversed.€€The€default€judgment€for€wrongfulÐ 8 ˆ Ðdeath€and€the€ensuing€award€of€damages€against€Perry€March€is€reversed.Ð $ t ÐÌà ½ àAppellant€seeks€a€reversal€and€dismissal€as€an€adjudication€upon€the€merits€of€the€wrongfulÐ ü L  Ðdeath€action.€€He€cannot€have€both€a€holding€that€the€amendment€was€erroneously€allowed€and€theÐ è 8  Ðdefault€judgment€erroneously€entered€and,€at€the€same€time,€claim€the€benefit€of€an€adjudication€uponÐ Ô$  Ðthe€merits.€€If€the€amendment€under€Rule€15.01€was€erroneous,€there€has€been€no€adjudication€uponÐ À  Ðthe€merits.€€Whether€the€purported€wrongful€death€action€is€premature,€timely,€or€barred€by€the€StatuteÐ ¬ü  Ðof€Limitations€must€await€adjudication€on€another€date.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà ½ àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed,€and€the€case€is€remanded€with€directions€to€dismissÐ pÀ Ðthe€wrongful€death€action€and€proceed€with€the€absentee€estate€in€rem€action.€€Costs€of€the€cause€areÐ \¬ Ðassessed€to€Appellees.€€€à Å àÐ H˜ ÐÌÌ€Ìà ½ àÌÌà8 ½ àà  àÐ ½Ð ½Ð  ÐÌà ½ àà  àà m àà Å àà  àà u àà Í à___________________________________€Ð ¨ø Ðà ½ àà  àà m àà Å àà  àà u àà Í àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE