ÿWPC] gjN(ÿ˜?]þˆû÷Ü-KþÈ¿o>$œʆ.ËÅwi/–a™ŠÎ='z$¢D<ÿ4AæÎ*–MäQ63¡«ò_ðúª^:Þy£YÅ‘N[xÁ7p?•ÆÉüâVY€6èOòPÄ<ÂVã½ÄcYžØ ºQ¢•¤ Pì¸ÕÞè=ÂðËÉÐðûÜèrY_ˆT… ¸kfßäÁèC³²yd,âH¿¡ ÖÐÎeäÿcûkÄ„7iy@ß­}ñäoOnþiXI¬ly¬‰ñ1c‹QN€ièñÚJ6Zó­ù=PEÈŸù|"ôôÀÔi|=wÑ åÿp3~/læmÒVÄÙzðV£¯9I¾…{fse}Ág,µÎšàõ×Èu ï§8Ф–¾¡T‹ê’»† ’ŸDA±#Ãæ–>£ÖÔdꢤÑIÕHÍÒl™XoíY@\ ÀþYÝoKZ?±û¹8脭㊀ôäJ­ñ§}ô«QÏLVÅ`¦\p!åñÈÖFiš>Ããeî 5IéBÙ-_ƤJ$‘êTæÆrË|عõ° jzõ‚NàºÂ³šn1†ðQÒH/~©Õ/Ä“9Hþ€Áeu¡ª¿%¸‡!+/±à¥é»øªX'ÌNàb %\UNb 0ˆ°UN8N†®ˆÏ6 z Ò ^ Q ”] wñ 0DõÆ9ÆÿÆÅÆ‹4QNegvEx mz#Á‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘‘bRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 0ëZZZZ BEE 0¤b D3 D-9 0Kff AS±Æ 0¤Ê 0Dn A«²»(@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular ¤Ý ƒR[ƒ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôª½ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€The€corpus€of€the€Trust€was€$518,416.65€(as€of€October€29,€1998),€which€constitutes€the€proceeds€of€a€lifeÐ ° Ðinsurance€policy€plus€interest€and€premium€refund.€€These€funds€are€in€form€of€a€certificate€of€deposit€at€First€CommunityÐ tÄ ÐBank€of€Bedford€County. ÅÝ ƒR[ƒ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôª½ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Gladys€Smith€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€is€the€widow€of€Grantor€and€the€stepmother€of€her€co„Trustee,€Gerald€M.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô,€andÐ ° Ðthe€other€Beneficiaries€of€the€Trust,€Gordon€C.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€and€Greg€S.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô. ˜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.wpt‹-s  ŠÝ ƒR[ƒ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôª½ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€In€addition€to€being€a€Trustee,€Gerald€M.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€is€also€a€named€Beneficiary€of€the€Trust,€along€with€hisÐ ° Ðbrothers€Gordon€C.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€and€Greg€S.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5š‚,-01s033|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0- ù-(|G2[ƒ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¥»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôª½ò»»Ô d(|3ÁK$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¥»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÁK$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¥»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¥»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼¥»»»ÔÑ8€FXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î$¥ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼¥»îî$ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓNovember€4,€2002€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XFX»¼¥ÔÌò òÔ#†¼¥»XXFõ#ÔGREG€Ô_ÔMELTONÔ_Ô,€òòet€al.óó€v.€GERALD€M.€Ô_ÔMELTONÔ_Ô,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XFX»¼¥Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òA€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Bedford€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€23,866€€€€€€The€Honorable€J.€B.€Cox,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2002„00532„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€11,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡XFXXXFÔà  àBeneficiaries€of€irrevocable€insurance€Trust€filed€a€Complaint€against€the€Trustees,€seekingÐ xÈ  Ðto€have€the€corpus€of€the€trust€distributed€and€the€Trust€terminated€by€its€own€terms.€One€Trustee,Ð d´ Ðacting€òòpro€seóó,€answered€the€Complaint.€€Beneficiaries€filed€a€Motion€for€Summary€JudgmentÐ P  Ðsupported€by€their€joint€affidavits.€€No€response€or€countervailing€affidavit€was€filed,€and€an€OrderÐ <Œ Ðwas€entered€granting€the€Motion.€€Trustee€appeals.€€We€affirmÔ#†XFXXXF#ÔÔ#†¼¥»XXF¶#ÔÔ‡XFX»¼¥ÔÐ (x ÐÓÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óÐ P ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼¥»àXF˜#ÔÔ‡XFX.¼¥ÔW.€Frank€Crawford,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,€Ô_ÔW.S.Ô_Ôóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAlan€E.€Ô_ÔHighersÔ_Ô,Ð Ø( ÐJ.óó€and€òòHolly€Kirby€Ô_ÔLillardÔ_Ô,€J.óó,€joined.Ð Ä ÐÌRichard€L.€Ô_ÔDuggerÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔShelbyvilleÔ_Ô,€For€Appellant,€Gladys€S.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_ÔÐ œì ÐÌAndrew€C.€Rambo,€Ô_ÔShelbyvilleÔ_Ô,€For€Appellees,€Greg€S.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€and€Gordon€C.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_ÔÐ tÄ ÐÓKÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼¥»XXFz#ÔÔ‡XFX»¼¥ÔÐ L œ ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼¥»XXF‘ #ÔÔ‡XFX»¼¥ÔÓ  ÓÑ8€FXXdìXXdì8Ñòòóóà  àOn€December€30,€1996,€David€C.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€(ð ðDecedentðð€or€ð ðGrantorðð)€set€up€an€irrevocableÐ $"t! Ðlife€insurance€trust€(the€ð ðTrustðð)׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×,€naming€Gerald€M.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€and€Gladys€Smith€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_ÔÔ_Ô׃Ü×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_Ô€(Ð #`" Ðð ðAppellant,ðð€ð ðDefendant,ðð€or€ð ðTrusteeðð)€as€Trustees,€and€his€sons,€Gordon€C.€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€and€Greg€S.Ð ü#L# Ðâ âÔ_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô€(together€with€Gerald€M..€Ô_ÔMeltonÔ_Ô,€ð ðAppellees,ðð€ð ðPlaintiffs,ðð€or€ð ðBeneficiariesðð)Ð è$8 $ý ÐÔ_ÔBeneficiaries.׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€dispositive€provisions€of€the€Irrevocable€Trust€Agreement€provide,€òòinter€aliaóó,Ð ° Ðâ âthat:Ð œì ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIf€the€Grantor€shall€die€within€three€(3)€years€from€the€date€anyÐ tÄ Ðinsurance€policy€transferred€to€the€Trustees,€or€the€insurance€policyÐ `° Ðproceeds€are€otherwise€includable€in€the€gross€estate€for€federal€taxÐ L œ Ðpurposes€of€the€Grantor,€the€trust€shall€terminate€as€to€such€insuranceÐ 8 ˆ Ðpolicy€and€its€proceeds€to€the€estate€of€Grantor.Ð$ t` x` x ÐÌà  àGrantor€died€on€October€29,€1998,€which€was€within€three€years€of€setting€up€the€Trust.òòóó€€AÐ ü L  Ðdispute€arose€between€the€Trustee€and€the€Beneficiaries€as€to€whether€death€and€other€taxes€wereÐ è 8  Ðpayable€from€the€Trust€monies€prior€to€distribution.€€On€September€27,€2001,€Greg€S.€Melton€andÐ Ô$  ÐGordon€C.€Melton€filed€a€Complaint€against€Gerald€M.€Melton€and€Gladys€S.€Melton,€claiming€thatÐ À  Ðð ð[a]n€actual€controversy€of€a€justiciable€nature€exists€between€the€plaintiffs€and€defendants,€involvingÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€rights€and€liabilities€under€the€David€C.€Melton€Trust.ðð€€According€to€the€Complaint,€PlaintiffsÐ ˜è  Ðsought€a€ð ðDeclaratory€Judgment€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„14„101€et€seq.€to€determine€the€rightsÐ „Ô  Ðof€all€the€interested€parties€with€respect€to€the€[Trust]....ðð€€By€this€Complaint,€the€Plaintiffs€soughtÐ pÀ Ðto€have€the€corpus€of€the€Trust€distributed€to€the€Beneficiaries.€€Acting€òòpro€seóó,€Gladys€S.€Melton€filedÐ \¬ Ðan€Answer€on€October€31,€2001.€€On€November€16,€2001,€Appellees€filed€a€Motion€for€SummaryÐ H˜ ÐJudgment€along€with€an€affidavit€stating€that€the€ð ðclear€language€of€the€Trust€provides€that€shouldÐ 4„ Ðthe€Grantor€David€C.€Melton€die€within€three€years€of€making€the€trust€the€trust€shall€terminate.ðð€Ð  p ÐHearing€on€the€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment€was€set€for€December€21,€2001€and€Notice€was€filedÐ  \ Ðon€November€16,€2001;€however,€Appellant€Gladys€S.€Melton,€still€acting€òòpro€seóó,€filed€no€responseÐ øH Ðto€the€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment.€€Before€the€hearing,€Gladys€S.€Melton€retained€an€attorneyÐ ä4 Ðand,€on€December€20,€2001,€filed€a€Motion€for€Continuance.€A€hearing€on€all€motions€was€held€onÐ Ð  ÐDecember€21,€2001€and€an€Order€was€entered€on€December€28,€2001,€which€denied€Gladys€S.Ð ¼  ÐMeltonððs€Motion€for€Continuance€and€granted€the€Appelleesðð€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment.€€InÐ ¨ø Ðpertinent€part,€the€Order€reads€as€follows:Ð ”ä ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à1.€€The€defendant€trustee,€Gerald€M.€Melton,€has€not€made€anÐ l¼ Ðappearance€in€this€cause.ÐX ¨` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à2.€€The€defendant€Gladys€S.€Melton,€has€filed€an€answer€pro€se€andÐ 0"€  Ðadmitted€in€open€court€the€receipt€of€the€notice€of€hearing€and€MotionÐ #l! Ðfor€Summary€Judgment€as€certified€by€counsel€for€plaintiffs€as€beingÐ $X" Ðmailed€November€15,€2001.Ðô$D #` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à3.€€The€court€acknowledges€the€notice€of€appearance€by€theÐ Ì&"% ÐHonorable€Richard€L.€Dugger€as€counsel€for€the€defendant€trustee,Ð ¸'#& ÐGladys€S.€Melton,€filed€December€20,€2001,€and€finds€that€the€MotionÐ ¤(ô#' Ðfor€Continuance€filed€together€therewith€is€not€timely€or€well€takenÐ ° Ðand€therefore€should€be€overruled.Мì` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à*€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€*€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€*ÐtÄ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à6.€The€Clerk€and€Master€should€deduct€from€the€funds€deposited€allÐ L œ Ðthe€cost€and€fees€in€this€cause€and€then€distribute€in€equal€shares€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðremaining€proceeds€of€the€trust€to€the€beneficiaries,€Gerald€M.Ð $ t ÐMelton,€Greg€S.€Melton,€and€Gordon€C.€Melton.Ð `` x` x ÐÌà  àOn€January€12,€2002,€Gladys€S.€Melton€filed€a€Motion€to€Reconsider.€€In€support€of€herÐ è 8  ÐMotion,€Mrs.€Melton€also€filed€the€Affidavit€of€Joe€M.€Lambert,€Jr.,€Attorney€for€the€Estate€of€DavidÐ Ô$  ÐC.€Melton.€€The€Motion€to€Reconsider€was€heard€on€January€25,€2002€and€an€Order€denying€theÐ À  ÐMotion€was€entered€on€February€1,€2002.€€In€pertinent€part,€the€Order€reads:Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à...the€court€finds€that€the€affidavit€[of€Mr.€Lambert]€does€not€containÐ „Ô  Ðany€facts€that€were€not€within€the€knowledge€or€should€have€beenÐ pÀ Ðwithin€the€knowledge€of€the€defendant€trustee,€Gladys€S.€Melton,€ifÐ \¬ Ðshe€was€exercising€due€diligence.€€Further,€the€court€finds€that€evenÐ H˜ Ðconsidering€the€substance€of€the€affidavit,€same€does€not€present€anyÐ 4„ Ðmaterial€facts€relating€to€the€trust€that€would€be€in€dispute.€€TheÐ  p Ðmatters€concerning€payment€of€taxes€in€the€trustorððs€estate€raised€inÐ  \ Ðthe€affidavit€are€unrelated€to€the€matters€in€controversy€and€as€theÐ øH Ðestate€is€not€closed€it€would€require€the€court€to€speculate€in€makingÐ ä4 Ða€ruling.ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌà  àAppellant€Gladys€S.€Melton€filed€a€timely€Notice€of€Appeal€and€raises€one€issue€for€ourÐ ¨ø Ðreview€as€stated€in€her€brief:€Whether€contradictory€affidavit€submitted€by€the€attorney€for€an€estateÐ ”ä Ðwithin€30€days€after€the€entry€of€a€Summary€Judgment€Order€is€sufficient€to€set€aside€a€SummaryÐ €Ð ÐJudgment,€if€said€affidavit€presents€a€material€dispute€of€fact.Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àA€motion€for€summary€judgment€should€be€granted€when€the€movant€demonstrates€that€thereÐ D!” Ðare€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€that€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matterÐ 0"€  Ðof€law.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.04.€€The€party€moving€for€summary€judgment€bears€the€burden€ofÐ #l! Ðdemonstrating€that€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€exists.€€ò òòòSee€Bain€v.€Wellsó óóó,€936€S.W.2d€618,€622Ð $X" Ð(Tenn.€1997).€€On€a€motion€for€summary€judgment,€the€court€must€take€the€strongest€legitimate€viewÐ ô$D # Ðof€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€nonmoving€party,€allow€all€reasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€thatÐ à%0!$ Ðparty,€and€discard€all€countervailing€evidence.€€ò òòòSee€id.ó óóó€€In€ò òòòByrd€v.€Halló óóó,€847€S.W.2d€208€(Tenn.Ð Ì&"% Ð1993),€our€Supreme€Court€stated:Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àOnce€it€is€shown€by€the€moving€party€that€there€is€no€genuine€issueÐ )à$( Ðof€material€fact,€the€nonmoving€party€must€then€demonstrate,€byÐ |*Ì%) Ðaffidavits€or€discovery€materials,€that€there€is€a€genuine,€material€factÐ h+¸&* Ðdispute€to€warrant€a€trial.€€In€this€regard,€Rule€56.05€provides€that€theÐ ° Ðnonmoving€party€cannot€simply€rely€upon€his€pleadings€but€must€setÐ œì Ðforth€òòspecific€factsóó€showing€that€there€is€a€genuine€issue€of€materialÐ ˆØ Ðfact€for€trial.ÐtÄ` x` x ÐÌò òòòId.ó óóó€at€210„11€(citations€omitted)(emphasis€in€original).Ð L œ ÐÌà  àSummary€judgment€is€only€appropriate€when€the€facts€and€the€legal€conclusions€drawn€fromÐ $ t Ðthe€facts€reasonably€permit€only€one€conclusion.€€òòò òSee€Carvell€v.€Bottomsó óóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.Ð  ` Ð1995).€€Since€only€questions€of€law€are€involved,€there€is€no€presumption€of€correctness€regardingÐ ü L  Ða€trial€courtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment.€€ò òòòSee€Bainó óóó,€936€S.W.2d€at€622.€€Therefore,€our€review€ofÐ è 8  Ðthe€trial€courtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment€is€ò òòòde€novoó óóó€on€the€record€before€this€Court.€€ò òòòSee€WarrenÐ Ô$  Ðv.€Estate€of€Kirkó óóó,€954€S.W.€2d€722,€723€(Tenn.€1997).Ð À  ÐÌà  àMrs.€Melton€first€argues€that€ð ðbased€on€the€pleadings€where€the€Appellee€and€the€AppellantÐ ˜è  Ðstate€there€is€a€dispute€of€rights€and€liabilities€in€and€to€the€trust,€creates€a€material€dispute€of€factÐ „Ô  Ðin€and€of€themselves,€whereby€the€facts€must€be€heard€by€the€Court€for€a€determination€as€to€whoÐ pÀ Ðis€entitled€to€said€trust€insurance€proceeds.ðð€€We€do€not€agree.€€Under€the€plain€language€of€òòò òByrd€v.Ð \¬ ÐHall€ó óóóand€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.,€the€nonmoving€party€cannot€rely€upon€their€pleadings€to€prove€that€aÐ H˜ Ðmaterial€dispute€of€fact€exists.€€The€pleadings€in€this€matter€are,€therefore,€not€dispositive€on€thisÐ 4„ Ðissue.Ð  p ÐÌà  àMrs.€Melton€did€not€respond€to€Appelleesðð€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment.€€Rather,€after€theÐ øH ÐOrder€granting€summary€judgment€was€entered,€she€filed€a€Motion€to€Reconsider€and,€with€thatÐ ä4 Ðfiling,€proffered€the€Affidavit€of€the€attorney€for€the€estate.€€In€making€her€argument€that€there€is€aÐ Ð  Ðdispute€of€material€facts€related€to€the€trust,€Mrs.€Abernethy€wishes€to€rely€upon€Mr.€LambertððsÐ ¼  ÐAffidavit.€€In€pertinent€part,€Mr.€Lambertððs€Affidavit€reads€as€follows:Ð ¨ø ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à2)€On€or€about€August€16,€1999,€a€meeting€was€held€at€my€[Mr.Ð €Ð ÐLambertððs]€office.€€Present€at€that€meeting€were€Gladys€Melton€andÐ l¼ Ðher€attorney,€Robert€L.€Dugger,€Greg€Melton,€Gerald€Melton,€GordonÐ X ¨ ÐMelton€and€their€attorney,€Andrew€C.€Rambo.€All€those€present€atÐ D!” Ðsaid€meeting€constituted€all€of€the€heirs€of€David€C.€Melton.Ð0"€ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à3)€It€is€my€recollection€that€one€of€the€matters€discussed€at€thatÐ #l! Ðmeeting€was€the€payment€of€Federal€and€Estate€Inheritance€Tax€andÐ $X" Ðany€additional€estate€tax€that€might€arise€due€to€adjustments€to€theÐ ô$D # ÐFederal€and/or€TN€Estate€and€Inheritance€Tax.€€The€concern,Ð à%0!$ Ðhowever,€was€to€retain€in€the€estate€sufficient€funds€in€the€estate€toÐ Ì&"% Ðpay€additional€assessments€if€any.и'#&` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à4)€...It€was€agreed€to€my€recollection€,€that€all€taxes€would€be€paid€byÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€estate€and€the€remainder€distributed€to€the€beneficiaries€shortlyÐ )à$( Ðafter€the€above€referenced€meeting,€and€any€additional€assessmentsÐ |*Ì%) Ðwould€be€paid€from€the€monies€held€by€the€irrevocable€life€insuranceÐ h+¸&* Ðtrust€since€there€were€no€longer€be€[sic]€any€funds€available€in€theÐ ° Ðestate.€€It€is€further€my€recollection€that€to€the€extent€that€the€residuaryÐ œì Ðestate€was€reduced€by€Federal€and€Estate€Inheritance€Tax€that€GladysÐ ˆØ ÐS.€Melton€would€be€entitled€to€repayment€of€one„fourth€(1/4)€of€theÐ tÄ Ðtotal€taxes,€said€payment€to€be€made€from€the€irrevocable€lifeÐ `° Ðinsurance€trust€if€sufficient€monies€were€available€after€the€paymentÐ L œ Ðof€any€additional€taxes.Ð8 ˆ` x` x ÐÌà  àAs€noted€above,€this€Affidavit€was€filed€after€the€hearing€on€Appelleesðð€Motion€for€SummaryÐ  ` ÐJudgment€and,€indeed,€after€the€Order€had€been€entered€granting€that€Motion.€€We€appreciate€the€factÐ ü L  Ðthat€Mrs.€Melton€was€action€òòpro€seóó€when€she€failed€to€respond€to€the€Appelleesðð€Motion€forÐ è 8  ÐSummary€Judgment€and€we€note€that€òòpro€seóó€litigants€are€entitled€to€fair€and€equal€treatment.€€òòò òSeeÐ Ô$  ÐChilds€v.€Duckworthó óóó,€705€F.2d€915,€922€(7th€Cir.Ind.1983).€€However,€òòpro€seóó€litigants€are€notÐ À  Ðexcused€from€complying€with€the€same€substantive€and€procedural€requirements€that€otherÐ ¬ü  Ðrepresented€parties€must€adhere€to.€€òòò òSee€Irvin€v.€City€of€Clarksvilleó óóó,€767€S.W.2d€649,€652€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð ˜è  ÐApp.1988).€€The€plain€language€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.03€states€that:Ð „Ô  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAny€party€opposing€the€motion€for€summary€judgment€must,€òònot€laterÐ \¬ Ðthan€five€days€before€the€hearing,óó€serve€and€file€a€response€to€eachÐ H˜ Ðfact€set€forth€by€the€movant€either€(i)€agreeing€that€the€fact€isÐ 4„ Ðundisputed,€(ii)€agreeing€that€the€fact€is€undisputed€for€the€purposesÐ  p Ðof€ruling€on€the€motion€for€summary€judgment€only,€or€(iii)Ð  \ Ðdemonstrating€that€the€fact€is€disputed.€€Each€disputed€fact€must€beÐ øH Ðsupported€by€specific€citation€to€the€record.€€Such€response€shall€beÐ ä4 Ðfiled€with€the€papers€in€opposition€to€the€motion€for€summaryÐ Ð  Ðjudgment.м ` x` x ÐÌò òòòId.ó óóó€(emphasis€added)Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àAs€Chancellor€Cox€noted€in€his€December€28,€2001€Order€granting€Appelleesðð€Motion€forÐ l¼ ÐSummary€Judgment,€Mrs.€Melton€ð ðadmitted€in€open€court€that€she€had€received€notice€of€[the]Ð X ¨ Ðhearing.ðð€This€notice€was€mailed€on€November€15,€2001,€which€was€thirty„six€(36)€days€before€theÐ D!” Ðhearing€on€December€21,€2001.€€Under€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.03,€Mrs.€Melton€had€until€December€16,Ð 0"€  Ð2001€to€file€a€response€to€Appelleesðð€Motion.€€We€find€that€this€was€ample€time€for€Mrs.€Melton€toÐ #l! Ðfile€a€response€òòpro€seóó€or€to€contact€an€attorney€to€proceed€on€her€behalf.€€We€note€that€Mrs.€MeltonÐ $X" Ðdid,€in€fact,€obtain€an€attorney,€Richard€L.€Dugger.€€Mr.€Dugger€filed€a€Motion€for€Continuance€andÐ ô$D # ÐNotice€of€Appearance€on€December€20,€2001.€€The€Motion€for€Continuance€states€that€ð ð[Mrs.Ð à%0!$ ÐMelton]€was€unable€to€reach€counsel€until€7:00€a.m.€on€the€morning€of€December€20,€2001€to€discussÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€matter,ðð€but€does€not€assert€that€Mrs.€Melton€attempted€to€contact€counsel€prior€to€that€time.€€TheÐ ¸'#& ÐDecember€20,€2001€filing€was€not€timely€since€the€December€16,€2001€deadline€for€filing€a€responseÐ ¤(ô#' Ðto€the€Appelleesðð€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment€had€expired.€€Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àTurning€to€the€Affidavit€of€Mr.€Lambert,€which€was€filed€in€conjunction€with€Mrs.€MeltonððsÐ ° Ðâ âMotion€to€Reconsider,€we€find€that€any€facts€asserted€by€Mr.€Lambert€were€known€to€Mrs.€MeltonÐ œì Ðas€of€August€16,€1999,€the€date€of€the€meeting€in€Mr.€Lambertððs€office€with€all€heirs€of€David€C.Ð ˆØ ÐMelton€present.€€Consequently,€these€facts€could€have€been€alleged€by€Mrs.€Melton€at€any€time€onÐ tÄ Ðor€prior€to€December€16,€2001.€€But€even€if€we€look€beyond€this€failure€to€exercise€due€diligence,Ð `° Ðwe€nonetheless€find€that€Mr.€Lambertððs€Affidavit€does€not€present€disputed€facts€directly€related€toÐ L œ Ðthe€Trust.à ` àÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€affirm€the€Order€of€the€trial€court€granting€summary€judgmentÐ  ` Ðto€Appellees.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€assessed€to€the€trust€to€be€paid€by€the€trial€court€clerk€andÐ ü L  Ðmaster€from€the€funds€on€deposit.€€Ô#†¼¥»XXFï #ÔÔ€XFX»¼¥ÔÐ è 8  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________Ð À  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€PRESIDINGÐ ¬ü  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJUDGE,€W.S.