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(Ú½CEKQW]cioAutoList6A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.(ê½CEKQW]cioAutoList7A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô(ú½CEKQW]cioAutoList8A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô( ¾CEKQW]cioAutoList9A.A.A.A.A.A.A.A.2, 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!#$%&'( ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ- ù-< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Times!#$%&'( ÿÿ?AIQYaiqyIndent1(A)(A)(A)(A)(A)(A)(A)(A)!#$%&'( ÿÿ?AIQW_gowIndent2(a)(1)A.(a)(a)(a)(a)(a)!#$%&'( ÿÿ?AGMSY_ekIndent31.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.!#$%&'( ÿÿ?AIQW_gowIndent4(a)(1)A.(a)(a)(a)(a)(a)PtPtHHØ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  Serv Geneva ÒÒ  Serv Geneva Ò(|G2¡+$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Su»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô÷Eò»»Ô d(0"ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒÒ  ÒÒ  ÒVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3É\$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Su»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€2ÔÔ€2¼ÔÑ#€33¼d#ÑÑ#€33¼d#ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÔ_ÔÑ8€aXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ àÔ€2îÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÔ€2¼ÔÌÓ  ÓSeptember€5,€2001€SessionÌÔ€2XÔÌò òÔ€2¼ÔNORA€DIANE€MEADOWS€v.€TENNESSEE€BOARD€OF€ÌEMERGENCY€MEDICAL€SERVICESÔ€2XÔó óÌÌà@ àò ò€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÌà@ àNo.€00„83„I€€€€€€Irvin€H.€Kilcrease,€Jr.,€ChancellorÌà@ àßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÌÌà@ àNo.€M2001„00478„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€2,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÌó óÌÓ  ÓThe€Tennessee€Department€of€Health€Board€of€Emergency€Medical€Services€found€Nora€DianeÏMeadows,€Petitioner,€guilty€of€violating€rules€and€regulations€of€the€Tennessee€Emergency€MedicalÏServices€Act,€and€recommended€revocation€of€the€petitionerððs€Emergency€Medical€TechnicianððsÏlicense.€€Petitioner€was€convicted€of€theft€under€$500.00.€€From€the€Boardððs€decision€to€revoke€herÏlicense,€she€appealed€to€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€County€and€that€court€reversed€theÏBoardððs€decision€finding€that€there€was€no€proof€that€the€petitionerððs€offense€involved€moralÏturpitude.€€We€reverse€the€Chancellor€and€reinstate€the€judgment€of€the€Board.ÌÌÓ  Óò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Reversedó óÌÌÓ  ÓòòWilliam€B.€Cain,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòBen€H.€Cantrell,€P.J.,€M.S.óó€andÏòòPatricia€J.€Cottrell,€J.óó,€joined.ÌÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter;€and€John€W.€Dalton,€Assistant€Attorney€General,ÏNashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Tennessee€Board€of€Emergency€Medical€Services.ÌÌRichard€M.€Brooks,€Carthage,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Nora€Diane€Meadows.ÌÌÌÓ  Óò òOPINIONó óÌÌÓ  Óà àNora€Diane€Meadows,€the€petitioner,€was€an€Emergency€Medical€Technician€(ð ðEMTðð).€ÏThe€petitioner€passed€an€altered€$100.00€bill€to€the€clerk€at€the€Front€Runner€Texaco€in€Gainesboro,ÏTennessee.€€On€December€18,€1998,€via€nolo€contendere,€the€petitioner€was€convicted€of€theft€underÏfive€hundred€dollars,€a€Class€A€misdemeanor€pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€39„14„105.€€ÌÌà àThe€petitioner€received€a€Notice€of€Charges€filed€by€the€Tennessee€Board€of€EmergencyÏMedical€Services€seeking€suspension€or€revocation€of€her€EMT€license.€€The€notice€alleged€that€theÏpetitioner€passed€an€altered€$100.00€bill€in€violation€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€68„140„511€and€Tenn.€Comp.€R.€&€Regs.€Ch.€1200„12„1„.04(5)(a).€€ÌÌà àTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€68„140„511€provides:€€ÌÌà8 àà àAny€person€subject€to€regulation€pursuant€to€this€part€may€be€subject€toÏdiscipline€or€may€be€denied€authorization€for€the€following€prohibited€acts:ÌÌà8 à(1)à àViolation€or€attempted€violation€or€assisting€in€or€abetting€the€violation€of€orÏconspiring€to€violate€any€of€the€following:ÌÌÓ(€ 4!#$%&'(  (Óà8 àà àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà0 àAny€provision€of€this€part;Ìà8 àà à(B)à0 àAny€rule€or€regulation€of€the€board;Ìà8 àà à.€.€.€.Ìà8 àà à(E)à8 àòòAny€criminal€statute€of€this€state€or€the€United€StatesÏwhich€involves€moral€turpitudeóó€or€reflects€upon€theÏpersonððs€ability€to€fulfill€such€personððsÏresponsibilities€under€this€part;ÌÌà8 àTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð68„140„511€(1996)€(emphasis€added).Ìà àÌà àTenn.€Comp.€R.€&€Regs.€Ch.€1200„12„1„.04(5)(a)€provides:ÌÌà8 àà à(5)€PROSCRIBED€ACTS€OF€THE€EMT€AND€EMT„PARAMEDIC.€€TheÏfollowing€acts€shall€be€cause€for€revocation,€suspension,€or€denial€of€certificationÏrenewal:ÌÌÓ(€ 5!#$%&'(  (Óà8 àà àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà0 àViolation€or€attempted€violation,€or€assisting€in€or€abetting€theÏviolation€of,€or€conspiring€to€violate,€any€provision€of€this€chapter,€orÏconviction€of€any€felony,€or€any€offense€involving€moral€turpitude,€ofÏthe€laws€of€the€State€of€Tennessee,€any€other€state€or€the€UnitedÏStates.€€ÌÌà àAn€administrative€hearing€was€held€on€October€18,€1999€before€the€Tennessee€Board€ofÏEmergency€Medical€Services€and€an€Administrative€Law€Judge€regarding€the€disciplinary€action€ofÏthe€petitioner.€€An€Order€was€entered€stating€in€part:ÌÌÓ  Óà8 àFINDINGS€OF€FACTÌÌÓ  Óà8 àà à1.à àNora€Diane€Meadows,€ð ðRespondent,ðð€at€all€times€material€heretoÏhas€possessed€a€license€as€an€Emergency€Medical€Technician€(EMT)€in€the€State€ofÏTennessee.Ìà8 àà à2.à àOn€August€28,€1998€the€Respondent€passed€an€altered€One€HundredÏDollar€($100.00)€bill.Ìà8 àà à3.à àOn€December€18,€1998€via€nolo€contendere/no€contest€theÏRespondent€(petitioner)€was€convicted€of€Theft€under€$500.00.ÌÌÓ  Óà8 àCONCLUSIONS€OF€LAWÌÌÓ  Óà8 àà à1.à àThe€facts€as€alleged€herein€are€sufficient€to€establish€violation€byÏRespondent,€of€the€following€provisions€of€the€Tennessee€Emergency€MedicalÏServices€Act,€(T.C.A.€Section€68„140„501,€et€seq.)€for€which€disciplinary€actionÏbefore€and€by€the€Board€of€Emergency€Medical€Services€is€authorized:Ìà8 à.€.€.€.ÌÓ  Óà8 àREASONS€FOR€DECISIONÌÌÓ(€ 6!#$%&'( (ÓÓ  Óà8 àà à1.à àIt€is€our€responsibility€to€uphold€the€rules€and€regulations€as€definedÏand€this€violates€our€prescribed€act€under€Rule€1200„12„1„.04(5)(a).€€Therefore,€weÏrevoke€this€license€to€maintain€the€ethical€standards€of€our€professional.ÌÌà àThe€petitioner€filed€a€Petition€for€Review€of€the€administrative€order€pursuant€to€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€section€4„5„322(b)(1)€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€County€on€January€7,Ï2000.€€Oral€argument€was€heard€on€August€18,€2000.€€The€Chancellor€reversed€the€BoardððsÏdecision€to€revoke€the€petitionerððs€EMT€license€holding€that€the€record€did€not€reflect€that€theÏpetitionerððs€offense€involved€moral€turpitude.€€The€Chancellor€filed€a€memorandum€opinion€stating:ÌÌà8 àà àThe€issue€before€the€court€is€whether€the€Boardððs€November€12,€1999Ïdecision€was€unconstitutional,€arbitrary€and€capricious€and/or€unsupported€byÏsubstantial€and€material€evidence.Ìà8 à.€.€.€.Ìà8 àà àThis€Court€adopts€the€Findings€of€Fact€set€forth€by€the€Administrative€LawÏJudge€in€the€November€22,€1999€order.€Ìà à.€.€.€.Ìà8 àà àThis€matter€is€before€the€court€on€petitionerððs€petition€for€judicial€review€ofÏan€adverse€decision€made€by€the€Board€revoking€her€EMT€license.€€The€BoardÏconcluded€that€petitioner€violated€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð68„140„511€which€authorizedÏthe€Board€to€take€disciplinary€action€when€an€employee€violated€ð ðany€criminalÏstatute€of€this€state€or€the€United€States€which€involves€moral€turpitude€or€reflectsÏupon€the€personððs€ability€to€fulfill€such€personððs€responsibilities€under€this€part.ðð€ÏMoreover,€the€Board€determined€that€petitioner€violated€Tenn.€Comp.€R.€&€Regs.ÏCh.€1200„12„1„.04(5)(a)€which€specifically€states:ÌÌà8 àà à(5)€PROSCRIBED€ACTS€OF€THE€EMT€AND€EMT„PARAMEDIC.€€TheÏfollowing€acts€shall€be€cause€for€revocation,€suspension,€or€denial€of€certificationÏrenewal:ÌÌÓ(€ 7!#$%&'(  (Óà8 àà àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà0 àViolation€or€attempted€violation,€or€assisting€in€or€abetting€theÏviolation€of,€or€conspiring€to€violate,€any€provision€of€this€chapter,€orÏconviction€of€any€felony,€or€any€offense€involving€moral€turpitude,€ofÏthe€laws€of€the€State€of€Tennessee,€any€other€state€or€the€UnitedÏStates.€€ÌÌà8 àà àIt€is€clear€from€the€record€that€petitioner€was€not€convicted€of€a€felonyÏpursuant€to€the€language€of€the€Board€Rules€and€Regulations.€€In€fact,€the€crime€sheÏpled€guilty€to,€theft€of€property€under€five€hundred€dollars€($500.00),€is€aÏmisdemeanor€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð39„14„105.€€In€addition,€there€is€noÏproof€that€petitionerððs€offense€involved€moral€turpitude.€€ÌÌà8 àà àTherefore,€this€court€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€Boardððs€decision€should€beÏreversed.€€Accordingly,€this€case€is€remanded€to€the€Board€for€any€furtherÏproceedings€not€inconsistent€with€this€memorandum€opinion.ÌÌà àOn€November€17,€2000,€the€Board€filed€a€Motion€to€Alter€or€Amend€the€Judgment€and€theÏChancellor€denied€the€motion.€€The€respondent€now€appeals€to€this€Court.€€ÌÌà àOn€appeal,€the€petitioner€presents€the€following€issue:€Did€the€chancery€court€err€in€findingÏthat€petitionerððs€actions€in€passing€an€altered€$100.00€bill€did€not€involve€moral€turpitude,€and€thusÏerr€in€reversing€the€Boardððs€revocation€of€her€EMT€license.€€We€find€that€the€Chancellor€erredÏbecause€the€crime€of€theft€is€a€crime€involving€moral€turpitude.ÌÌà àOur€statutory€standard€of€review€of€this€matter€is€the€same€as€that€of€the€trial€courtsððs,€òòCFÏIndus.€v.€Tennessee€Pub.€Serv.€Commððnóó,€599€S.W.2d€536,€540€(Tenn.€1980),€and€is€governed€byÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€section€4„5„322€which€provides:ÌÌà8 à(h)€à0 àThe€court€may€affirm€the€decision€of€the€agency€or€remand€the€case€forÏfurther€proceedings.€€The€court€may€reverse€or€modify€the€decision€if€theÏrights€of€the€petitioner€have€been€prejudiced€because€the€administrativeÏfindings,€inferences,€conclusions€or€decisions€are:ÌÌà8 àà à(1)€à0 àIn€violation€of€constitutional€or€statutory€provisions;Ìà8 àà à(2)€à0 àIn€excess€of€the€statutory€authority€of€the€agency;Ìà8 àà à(3)€à0 àMade€upon€unlawful€procedure;Ìà8 àà à(4)€à0 àArbitrary€or€capricious€or€characterized€by€abuse€of€discretion€orÏclearly€unwarranted€exercise€of€discretion;€orÌà8 àà à(5)€à0 àUnsupported€by€evidence€which€is€both€substantial€and€material€inÏthe€light€of€the€entire€record.€€In€determining€the€substantiality€ofÏevidence,€the€court€shall€take€into€account€whatever€in€the€recordÏfairly€detracts€from€its€weight,€but€the€court€shall€not€substitute€itsÏjudgment€for€that€of€the€agency€as€to€the€weight€of€the€evidence€onÏquestions€of€fact.ÌÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð4„5„322€(1998).ÌÌà àIn€òòBrooks€v.€Stateóó,€187€Tenn.€67,€213€S.W.2d€7€(Tenn.€1948),€the€Supreme€Court€statedÏwhat€has€become€the€accepted€definition€of€moral€turpitude:ÌÌà8 àà àð ðMoral€Turpitudeðð€has€no€satisfactory€definition.€€Vol.€2€Bouvierððs€LawÏDictionary,€Rawleððs€3rd€Rev.,€gives€the€accepted€legal€definition€of€the€term€as:€ð ðAnÏact€of€baseness,€vileness,€or€depravity€in€the€private€and€social€duties€which€a€manÏowes€to€his€fellowmen€or€to€society€in€general,€contrary€to€the€accepted€rule€or€rightÏand€duty€between€man€and€man.ðð€€ÌÌòòBrooks€v.€Stateóó,€187€Tenn.€67,€76,€213€S.W.2d€7,€11(Tenn.€1948).ÌÌà àBoth€the€statute,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€68„140„511,€and€the€Rule,€Tenn.€Comp.ÏR.€&€Regs.€Chapt.€1200„12„1.04(5)(a),€provide€that€any€violation€of€a€criminal€statute€involvingÏmoral€turpitude€provides€cause€for€the€Tennessee€Board€of€Emergency€Medical€Services€to€revokeÏthe€license€of€an€emergency€medical€technician.€€The€Board€is€not€compelled€to€revoke€such€licenseÏbut€the€decision€of€whether€or€not€to€do€so€is€vested€entirely€in€the€Board€subject€only€to€the€limitedÏcourt€review€provided€by€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€4„5„322(b)(1).ÌÌà àThe€Chancellor€adopted€the€findings€of€fact€of€the€Administrative€Law€Judge€but€reversedÏthe€revocation€of€the€E.M.T.€license€of€Nora€Meadows€because€ð ðthere€is€no€proof€that€petitionerððsÏoffense€involved€moral€turpitude.ððÌÌà àIn€this€determination,€the€Chancellor€is€in€error.€€Nora€Meadows€was€convicted€ofÏmisdemeanor€theft€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€39„14„105.ÌÌà àTheft,€whether€such€is€a€felony€or€a€misdemeanor,€is€an€act€involving€moral€turpitude.€€òòSeeÏÔ_ÔYousefiÔ_Ô€v.€U.S.€Ô_ÔI.N.S.Ô_Ôóó,€260€F.3d€318€(4th€Cir.€(Va.)€Aug.€8,€2001);€òòsee€also€Jenkins€v.€Stateóó,€509ÏS.W.2d€240,€246€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.€1974);€òòPique€v.€Stateóó,€499€S.W.2d€4,€6€(Tenn.€Ô_ÔCrimÔ_Ô.€App.Í1973);€òòLee€v.€Personnel€Merit€Board€of€the€City€of€Dyersburgóó,€1986€WL€3368€at€*5€(Tenn.€Ct.ÏApp.€1986).ÌÌà àHistorically,€ÌÌà8 àà à[Ô_ÔI]tÔ_Ô€appears€that€theft€or€larceny€was€a€crime€at€common€law€involving€an€actÏintrinsically€and€morally€wrong€and€malum€in€se,€and€does€not€become€any€more€orÏany€less€so€by€reason€of€the€fact€that€the€Legislature€may€see€fit€to€call€it€a€felony,€ifÏthe€thing€stolen€is€of€a€value€exceeding€a€given€amount,€or€to€call€it€a€misdemeanor,€ifÏthe€thing€stolen€is€of€less€value.€€In€either€case€the€offense€is€one€involving€moralÏturpitude.ÌÌòòTillinghast€v.€Edmeadóó,€31€F.2d€81,€83€(1st€Cir.€1929).ÌÌà àThe€fact€that€the€conviction€of€Meadows€for€misdemeanor€theft€was€based€upon€a€plea€ofÏnolo€contendere€is€of€no€significance.Ìà àÌà8 àà àA€plea€of€nolo€contendere€admits€every€essential€element€of€the€offense,Ïwhich€is€properly€alleged€in€the€charging€instrument;€and€it€is€tantamount€to€anÏadmission€of€guilt€for€purposes€of€the€case€in€which€the€plea€is€entered.€€Once€theÏplea€has€been€entered,€and€the€trial€court€has€determined€that€it€has€been€madeÏvoluntarily,€nothing€is€left€but€to€render€judgment€since€there€is€no€issue€of€fact.€ÏòòLott€v.€United€Statesóó,€367€U.S.€421,€426,€81€S.Ct.€1563,€1567,€6€L.Ed.2d€940,€944Ï(1961).€€Moreover,€a€conviction€following€a€plea€of€nolo€contendere€ð ðhas€all€theÏeffects€of€a€plea€of€guilty€insofar€as€the€purposes€of€the€case€are€concerned.ðð€€òòBell€v.ÏCommissioneróó,€320€F.2d€953,€956€(8th€Cir.1963).€See€òòJacobsen€v.€United€Statesóó,Ï260€F.2d€122,€123€(8th€Cir.1958).€€The€only€difference€of€substance€is€that€aÏconviction€following€the€entry€of€a€plea€of€nolo€contendere€cannot€be€used€againstÏthe€accused€as€an€admission€in€any€civil€suit€for€the€same€act.€Tenn.R.Crim.P.€11(d).€ÏId.ÌÌòòTeague€v.€Stateóó,€772€S.W.2d€932,€943€(Tenn.€Ct.€Crim.€App.€1998).ÌÌà àThe€record€before€the€Board€indicates€proceedings€involving€counsel€for€both€parties€andÏthe€Administrative€Law€Judge€concerning€the€admissibility€of€the€conviction€of€Meadows€for€theftÏunder€five€hundred€dollars.€€The€Administrative€Law€Judge€determined€to€admit€the€evidence€underÏTennessee€Rules€of€Evidence€803(22).€€When€the€Administrative€Law€Judge€determined€to€allowÏthe€admissibility€of€the€conviction€without€allowing€introduction€of€the€plea€of€nolo€contendere,Ïcounsel€for€the€petitioner€made€the€tactical€decision€to€contest€ð ðmoral€turpitudeðð€and€appeal€to€theÏdiscretion€of€the€Board.€€In€his€opening€statement€he€said:ÌÌà8 àà àMs.€Meadows€is€an€EMT€and€wishes€to€keep€her€license.€€Thatððs€a€prettyÏgood€statement.€€What€the€proof€is€I€want€you€to€look€at€it€as€follows:€What€theÏproof€is€going€to€show€is€that€it€occurred€at€the€Frontrunner€Market€in€Gainesboro,ÏTennessee.€€That€Ms.€Meadows€was€charged€with€that.ÌÌà8 àà àAnd€the€proof€is€going€to€further€show€that€she€did€something€in€her€bestÏinterest€and€sheððll€explain€that€later.€€Thatððs€why€I€want€you€to€bear€in€mind€that€theÏlaw€that€weððll€argue€to€you€later€proves€and€will€show€you€this€is€something€that€canÏhappen€and€did€happen€and€it€is€not€in€the€context€of€criminal.€€€And€also,€not€onlyÏdoes€it€have€to€be€criminal€but€moral€turpitude.€€Youððre€going€to€have€fun€with€thatÍone.€€Weððve€already€had€fun€with€it.€€But€I€want€you€to€bear€in€mind€those€twoÏelements€have€to€come€together.ÌÌà8 àà àSo,€the€best€thing€to€do€is,€please,€I€know€you€will€listen€to€the€evidence€thatÏis€going€to€be€elicited€here€and€see€if€it€fits€a€disciplinary€action.€€Thank€you.ÌÌà àThis€being€a€civil€case,€the€Assistant€Attorney€General€called€Nora€Diane€Meadows€as€aÏwitness.€€She€testified:ÌÌà8 àà àQ.à àState€your€full€name,€please?Ìà8 àà àA.à àNora€Diane€Meadows.Ìà8 àà àQ.à àMs.€Meadows,€are€you€licensed€as€an€EMT€in€the€State€ofÏTennessee?Ìà8 àà àA.à àYes,€maððam.Ìà8 àà àQ.à àAnd€were€you€so€licensed€in€August€of€1998?Ìà àà àA.à àYes,€maððam.Ìà8 àà àQ.à àOn€December€18,€1998,€were€you€convicted€of€a€crime€of€theft€underÏfive€hundred€dollars?Ìà8 àà àA.à àConvicted,€Iððm€not€sure.€€I€pled€nolo€contendere€in€my€best€interestÏbecause€I€was€promised€„€„€I€was€suspended€in€December€of€my€job€and€promised€ifÏI€did€not€plead€guilty€that€I€could€get€my€job€back.€€And€I€couldnððt€afford€not€toÏhave€my€job.Ìà8 àà àQ.à àIn€pleading€nolo€contendere,€in€fact,€you€did€not€contest€the€charge€ofÏtheft€under€five€hundred€dollars,€is€that€correct?Ìà àà àA.à àYes,€maððam.Ìà8 àà àQ.à àAnd€as€a€result€of€your€not€contesting€the€charge€of€theft€under€fiveÏhundred€dollars,€you€received€a€form€of€punishment€from€the€court,€did€you€not?Ìà àà àA.à àYes,€maððam.Ìà8 àà àQ.à àAs€a€matter€of€fact,€you€received€a€sentence€of€11€months€and€29Ïdays€and€apparently,€it€was€spent€on€probation?à àà àÌà àà àA.à àYes,€maððam.Ìà8 àà àQ.à àAnd€did€you,€in€fact,€have€to€pay€restitution€to€the€Frontrunner€for€theÏmoney€that€you€received€in€change€from€that€transaction?Ìà àà àA.à àYes.ÌÌà àMs.€Meadows€made€an€appealing€plea€to€the€Board€in€mitigation€of€her€conduct€but€even€ifÏwe€were€so€inclined,€our€standard€of€review€does€not€allow€us€to€substitute€our€judgment€for€that€ofÏthe€Board.€€There€is€substantial€and€material€evidence€in€the€record€to€support€both€the€conviction€ofÏMs.€Meadows€for€theft€of€less€than€five€hundred€dollars€value€and€that€the€acts€forming€the€basisÏfor€the€conviction€were€sufficient€to€warrant€the€revocation€of€her€EMT€license.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ4„5„322(h)(5).ÌÌà àIn€parallel€to€the€rule€stated€in€òòWhitmore€v.€Civil€Service€Board€of€Shelbyóó,€673€S.W.2d€535Ï(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984):ÌÌà8 àà à[Ô_ÔW]eÔ_Ô€do€hold€that€wherever€there€is€presented€material€evidence€to€the€CivilÏService€Merit€Board€of€the€misconduct€charged,€the€mere€knowledge€alone€of€theÏadditional€fact€that€the€employee€had€entered€a€nolo€contendere€plea€in€the€criminalÏcourts€cannot€be€used€as€a€shield€against€appropriate€action€by€administrativeÏagencies€and€civil€service€merit€boards.€€These€boards€do€not€exist€in€a€vacuum.ÌÌ673€S.W.2d€535,€540€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).ÌÌà àThe€decision€of€the€Board€is€supported€by€substantial€and€material€evidence€that€NoraÏMeadows€committed€a€crime€involving€moral€turpitude.ÌÌà àThe€judgment€of€the€Chancellor€is€reversed€and€the€judgment€of€the€Tennessee€Board€ofÏEmergency€Medical€Services€is€reinstated.ÌÌà àCosts€are€assessed€against€Nora€Meadows.Ìà8 àà àÌÌà àÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE