WPC /# UN % 0(b)w@14q 0J 0T 0^: 0h 0r 0|r 0 0t 1u 0dyU >B) AQD  0D[ 0@ 0D DC# D/f B B D3 AM U*O +y v~ v"HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh(9 Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($- - ?@EABCUDEEFGӀQ_#3|xQ2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23   ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d!"#$&C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  ("$    ($$   1  7Border 1dd((' dxd dP Pd'''''dxd!#%C << G<  9p`(Arial ! !  #d#  ""  ++   YYY FILED+XNovember14,1997CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk  PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'`Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   ion-F Geneva  ion-F Geneva ! .          \RA'\\RA'\7FRXXdd7    PAULKEVINNELSON,   )      ) Plaintiff/CounterDefendant/ ) Appellee,    )      ) DavidsonCircuit̜!R*,%A1-j|.?` n `@RߛVS.      ) No.96C1861      ) THEAPPLICATIONGROUP,INC., )      ) AppealNo. Defendant/CounterPlaintiff/ ) 01A019703CV00137 Appellant.    ) @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@ MIDDLESECTIONATNASHVILLE@ APPEALFROMTHEDAVIDSONFIFTHCIRCUITCOURT@ ATNASHVILLE,TENNESSEE@ HONORABLEWALTERC.KURTZ,JUDGE PhilipD.Irwin,#12128NEAL&HARWELL,PLC̜2000FirstUnionTower150FourthAvenueNorthNashville,TN372192498ATTORNEYFORPLAINTIFF/COUNTERDEFENDANT/APPELLEEW.ReeceWillis,III,#15085WILLIS&KNIGHT215SecondAvenue,NorthNashville,TN37201ATTORNEYFORDEFENDANT/COUNTERPLAINTIFF/APPELLANT   ԜREVERSED,VACATEDANDREMANDED. X        HENRYF.TODD      PRESIDINGJUDGE,MIDDLESECTION̜CONCURINSEPARATEOPINIONS:WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGEWALTERW.BUSSART,JUDGE PAULKEVINNELSON,   )      ) Plaintiff/CounterDefendant/ ) Appellee,    )      ) DavidsonCircuitVS.      ) No.96C1861      ) THEAPPLICATIONGROUP,INC., )      ) AppealNo. Defendant/CounterPlaintiff/ ) 01A019703CV00137 Appellant.    ) @ OPINIONX    ThisappealinvolvestheactionoftheCircuitCourtinrespecttoappealsfromtwojudgmentsoftheGeneralSessionsCourtwhichwerehandledunderasinglecaptionanddocketnumberintheCircuitCourtandhavebeencertifiedtothisCourtasasingleappeal. Thedefendantcounterplaintiff,TheApplicationGroup,Inc.(hereafter TAG)hasappealedfromthedismissalofitscountercomplaint.Theplaintiff,PaulKevinNelson,hasnotappealed,buthasfiledhisbriefinthisCourt. OnJanuary10,1996,plaintifffiledinGeneralSessionsCourtacivilwarrantchargingTAGwith:   `   `  conversion,breachofcontract,andbreachofquasicontractformoneypaidonbehalfofdefendant.   `     Thewarrantwasnumbered96GC546andwasserveduponTAG,anonresidentcorporationthroughtheSecretaryofState.OnMay1,1996,theGeneralSessionsCourtrenderedjudgmentinfavoroftheplaintiff,PaulKevinNelson,andagainstthedefendant,TAG,for$1,693.54.OnMay9,1996,TAGsappealwasgrantedtotheCircuitCourtonbond;and,onMay16,1996,thewarrantwasreceivedbytheCircuitCourtClerk. OnMarch11,1996,thedefendant,TAG,filedinGeneralSessionsCourtacivilwarrantagainstPaulKevinNelsonfor:   `   ` amountsdueandowingonaswornaccountintheamountof$3,600.00forbreachoftheattachedcontract,quasicontractandquantummeruit.              Thewarrantwasnumbered96GC546CC.Noswornaccountwasattachedtothewarrant.                        OnMay1,1996,theGeneralSessionsCourtenteredajudgmentinfavorofTAGandagainstPaulKevinNelsonfor$0andcosts.      e      OnMay9,1996,theGeneralSessionsJudgegrantedTAGsappealtotheCircuitCourtuponCostBond. OnMay16,1996,thewarrantwasfiledinCircuitCourt. OnJune24,1996,underthecaptionofTAGv.Nelson(thecountersuitofTAG),TAGfiledinCircuitCourtamotionforanordersetting thiscasefortrial.Thecaptionofthemotionincludedthenumber96C1861andthefollowingnotice:       ThismotionwillbepresentedtotheCourtforarulingat9:00A.M.onthe5thdayofJuly,1996.Youareadvisedthatthefailuretofileandserveatimelywrittenresponsetothemotionmayresultinthemotionbeinggrantedwithoutfurtherhearing.        OnDecember26,1996,theCircuitCourtenteredthefollowingorder:       NELSON,PAULKEVIN, Plaintiff,  No.96C1861v.APPLICATIONGROUP,INC.,THE, Defendant.̛̜  ORDEROFDISMISSAL   ItappearstotheCourtthatthiscausehasnotbeensetfortrialwithinfortyfive(45)days. Therefore,inaccordancewithRule19(b)ofLocalRulesofPracticeoftheCourtsofRecordofDavidsonCountyandRule41.02TennesseeRulesofCivilProcedurethisappealshouldbedismissed. Itistherefore,ORDEREDthatthejudgmentoftheGeneralSessionsCourtisherebymadeajudgmentoftheCircuitCourt. Further,thecostsofthiscauseareassessedtotheAppellant,and/oritssuretyforwhichexecutionmayissue,ifnecessary.(Emphasissupplied)     LocalRule19oftheTrialCourtreadsasfollows:         `          (a) Itshallbethedutyofthepartiesand/ortheirattorneystodeterminewhenacaseappealedfromtheGeneralSessionsCourtisfiledwiththeCircuitCourtClerk.(b) Thecaseshallbesetfortrialwithinfortyfive(45)days.Ifthecaseisnotsetwithinfortyfive(45)days,anorderwillbeenteredmakingthejudgmentoftheGeneralSessionsCourtthejudgmentoftheCircuitCourtwithcoststaxedtotheappellant.AtthetimetheappealisperfectedintheClerksOffice,theclerkshallgivetheappellantorhisorherattorneywrittennoticeofthisrule.(c) ThesignatureofanattorneyorpartytoanappealfromGeneralSessionsCourtshallconstituteacertificateunderT.R.C.P.11.[AsamendedbyorderenteredNovember21,1994,effectiveJanuary1,1995.] S   S   S       OnJanuary2,1997,TAGmovedtheCircuitCourttosetasideitsDecember26,1996,orderpursuanttoTRCPRules60.02and59.04,supportedbyaffidavitthatmotiontosetwasfiledonJune24,1996,withnoticeofhearingthereonJuly5,1996.Theaffidavitstatedfurther: S  `   `  Comesthedefendant/counterplaintiff,TheApplicationGroup,Inc.,pursuanttoTennesseeRuleofCivilProcedure60.02and/or59.04,andmovesthisCourttosetasideitsOrderofDismissalenteredDecember20,1996.PursuanttoTennesseeRuleofCivilProcedure60.02,theCourt,undersuchtermsthatarejust,mayrelieveapartyfromafinaljudgmentuponashowingofmistake,inadvertenceorexcusableneglect.AsdemonstratedbytheattachedAffidavitofdefendant/counterplaintiffscounsel,W.ReeseWillis,III,thosegroundsexisthere.     Wherefore,defendant/counterplaintiffpraystheCourtgrantthismotionandsetasidetheOrderofDismissal.   `       PaulKevinNelsonfiledamemoranduminoppositiontothemotion. OnJanuary21,1997,TAGfiledthefollowingnoticeofappeal:   `   `    PursuanttoRule4oftheTennesseeRulesofAppellateProcedure,noticeisherebygiventhattheDefendant/CounterPlaintiff,TheApplicationGroup,Inc.,appealstotheTennesseeCourtofAppeals,fromthetrialcourtsOrderofDismissalenteredinthisactiononthe20thdayofDecember,1996,aswellasthetrialcourtsdenialofDefendant/CounterPlaintiffsMotiontoSetAsidepursuanttoTenn.R.Civ.P.60.02and/or59.04.   `       OnJanuary24,1997,theCircuitCourtoverruledthemotionofTAGtosetasidethedismissalunderRules60.02and59.04. OnJanuary29,1997,theCircuitCourtenteredthefollowingorder:       THEAPPLICATIONGROUP,INC., Defendant/CounterPlaintiff,    No.96C1861v.    PAULKEVINNELSON Plaintiff/CounterDefendant  ORDER     Thiscausecameontobeheardonthe17thdayofJanuary,1997,upontheDefendant/AppellantsMotiontoSetAsidethisCourtsOrderofDismissal,pursuanttoTenn.R.Civ.P.59.04and60.02,datedDecember20,1996.UponsaidMotion,argumentofcounselheardfortherespectivepartiesinCourtonthatdate,andtheentirerecordinthiscause,itishereby, ORDERED,ADJUDGEDANDDECREEDthat: 1. Thismatter,appealedfromtheDavidsonCountyGeneralSessionsCourtonoraboutMay16,1996,wasnotsetfortrialwithinfortyfive(45)daysasrequiredbyRule19(b)oftheDavidsonCountyLocalRulesofPractice; 2. InaccordancewithLocalRule19(b),thisCourtenteredanOrderonDecember20,1996,dismissingtheDefendantsappealandmakingthejudgmentoftheGeneralSessionsCourtthejudgmentofthisCourt; 3. TheDefendantsMotiontoSetAsidethisCourtsOrderofDecember20,1996isnotwelltakenandisherebydenied;and 4. ThisCourtsOrderofDecember20,1996,shallremaininfullforceandeffect.        OnFebruary3,1997,TAGfilednoticepursuanttoTRAPRule24(d)thatnotranscriptorstatementoftheevidencewouldbefiled. ThetechnicalrecordwasreceivedbytheClerkofthisCourtonMarch20,1997,andfiledonMarch31,1997;andthepartieswerenotifiedthatoralargument,ifrequested,wouldbeheardonSeptember29,1997. OnJune26,1997,theClerkofthisCourtreceivedandfileda supplementalrecordcontainingthefollowing:  1. AgreedorderenteredbytheTrialCourtonJune25,1997,andreadingasfollows:   `   `  ItappearingtotheCourtthatthepartiesareinagreementthattheattacheddocumentsshouldhavebeenincludedintherecordonappealinthiscaseasattachmentstotheGeneralSessionsCivilWarrantfiledbyTheApplicationGroup,Inc.andthattheClerkshouldbedirectedtoprepareandtransmittotheClerkoftheCourtofAppealsasupplementalrecordtoincludesaiddocuments.   `       2. AnaffidavitofKarenBeamanfiledwiththeTrialClerkonJune25,1997,stating:   `   `    3. IamthoroughlyfamiliarwithandknowledgeableoftheamountowedtoTheApplicationGroup,Inc.byKevinNelson,aformeremployeeofthecompany. 4. Tothebestofmyknowledge,informationandbelief,Mr.NelsonproperlyowesTheApplicationGroup,Inc.ThreeThousandSixHundredDollars($3,600.00).ThisAffidavitisbeinggiveninsupportofthecountercomplaintfiledbyTheApplicationGroup,Inc.againstKevinNelson,styledTheApplicationGroup,Inc.v.PaulKevinNelson,GeneralSessionscourtforDavidsonCounty,Tennessee,CaseNo.96CG54CC.   `       3. AletterfromTAGtoPaulK.NelsondatedFebruary1,1995. 4. AletterfromTAGtoPaulK.NelsondatedDecember14,1995. TAG,thecounterplaintiff/appellanthaspresentedthefollowingissuesforreviewonappeal:         1. Whetherissuanceofanorderofdismissalbaseduponaneventoverwhichlitiganthasnocontrolisarbitrary,capriciousandaviolationofproceduraldueprocess?2. WhetherRule60.02oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedureprovidesreliefforafinaljudgmentuponashowingofmistake,inadvertenceorexcusableneglect?3. WhethertheTrialCourtabuseditsdiscretioninfailingtograntappellantsmotiontosetasidetheorderofdismissalpursuanttoRules60.02and/or59.04whenappellantmadeapropershowingofmistake,inadvertenceand/orexcusableneglect.          PaulKevinNelson,theplaintiff/counterdefendant/appelleepresentsthefollowingissues:   `   `   A. WhetherRule19oftheDavidsonCountyLocalRulesofPracticeconflictswiththesubstantivelawoftheStateofTennessee.B. WhethertheTrialCourtabuseditsdiscretioninfailingtogranttheAppellantsMotiontoSetAsideitsOrderofDismissalintheunderlyingaction.   `       AppellantfirstarguesthattheTrialJudgeerredinoverrulingitsmotionforreliefunderTRCPRule60.02whichreadsasfollows:   `   `    OnMotionanduponwhichtermsasarejust,thecourtmayrelieveapartyorthepartyslegalrepresentativefromafinaljudgment,orderorproceedingforthefollowingreasons:(1)mistake,inadvertence,surpriseorexcusableneglect...or(5)anyotherreasonjustifyingrelieffromtheoperationofthejudgment.Themotionshallbemadewithinareasonabletime,andforreasons(1)and(2)notmorethanoneyearafterthejudgment,orderorproceedingwasenteredortaken.(Emphasissupplied)   `     ThisCourthasdeterminedthatTheApplicationGroupdidnotcauseitslawyersfailuretocomplywithRule19;thatthelawyercompliedwithRule19bytimelyfilingamotiontoset;that,undertherule,thecasewasduetobeset;thatPaulKevinNelsondidnotobjecttothemotiontosetandnevercomplainedofanydelayinsettingthecase;thatPaulKevinNelsonwillnotbeprejudicedbyadelayedtrial;andthat,underthecircumstancesofthiscase,TheApplicationGroupshouldnotbepenalizedforitslawyersfailuretopromptlyfileanorderconfirmingthathismotiontosethadbeengranted. Dismissalisadrasticremedywhenthepartyitselfisnotatfault,andRule60.02(1)reliefshouldbegrantedwhenthelawyerrealizeshisoversightandtakesstepstocorrectit. ThejudgmentoftheTrialCourtoverrulingtheRule60.02(1)motionisreversedandvacated,andthecauseisremandedtotheTrialCourtforfurtherproceedingsinconformitywiththisopinion.Costsofthisappealaretaxedequally,thatis,eachpartyshallpayonehalfofsame.   REVERSED,VACATEDANDREMANDED. XԀ         _______________________________________      HENRYF.TODD      PRESIDINGJUDGE,MIDDLESECTION̜CONCURINSEPARATEOPINIONS:̜WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE̜WALTERW.BUSSART,JUDGE