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($$   1  ((' dxd("$    P PdLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 d)'BG&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK<  9p`(&Times New Roman<  9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d11117Border 1dd!'B2C << G<  9p`(Arial  !#d#/  ""  44   YYY FILED4XAugust24,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk   C !#d#/   $       00SeeT.C.A.506102(a)(3)(A)and506102(a)(4).Seealso Garnerv.Reed ,856S.W.2d698,699(Tenn.1993).PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'hStyl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   h HD: Geneva  h HD: Geneva ( $ Figure  1  'dxd ! . /  P 07&FXXdd7\RA'\  ћ @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALS@ ATNASHVILLE̜WAVELYNE.NORRIS,   )C/ANO.01A019709CV00506      )  PlaintiffAppellant,)      )      )      )      )APPEALASOFRIGHTFROMTHEv.      )MONTGOMERYCOUNTYCIRCUITCOURT      )!ٜR352A1-j|q` T `@Rߛ      )      )      )DORAPRUITTE,    )      )HONORABLEJAMESE.WALTON,  DefendantAppellee. )JUDGEForAppellant     ForAppelleeHERBERTE.PATRICK    DANL.NOLAN̜Clarksville,Tennessee   DAVIDJ.SILVUS       Batson,Nolan,Brice,̜GREGORYD.SMITH    Harvey&Williamson,PLLC̜Clarksville,Tennessee   Clarksville,Tennessee̜HAROLDM.JOHNS̜Elkton,Kentucky@  OPINION00XAFFIRMEDANDREMANDED       Susano,J.  Theplaintiff,WavelynE.Norris,suedheremployer,DoraPruitte,seekingdamagesforpersonalinjuriessustainedduringthecourseofheremployment.TheplaintiffbroughtsuitonatheoryofcommonlawnegligencesinceheremploymentisnotcoveredbytheWorkersCompensationLaw. 6   כThetrialcourtgrantedMs.Pruittesmotionforsummaryjudgment,andtheplaintiffappealed.Shearguesthatgenuineissuesofmaterialfactexistthatmakesummaryjudgmentinappropriate.  TheplaintiffwashiredinJuly,1994,asacaregiverforMs.Pruitte,whohadundergonesurgeryforabrainaneurismthepreviousJuly.Theplaintiffstayedwith,andattendedtotheneedsof,Ms.Pruittefrom4p.m.Sundayto4p.m.Friday.Anotherpersonwasemployedtocareforherneedsontheweekends.  OnMarch7,1995,Ms.Pruittedirectedtheplaintifftogooutsidetogethermail.Itwasrainingatthetime.Aftertheplaintiffretrievedthemailfromthemailbox,shewasreturningtothehousewhenshewascaughtbyagustofwindthatcausedherumbrellatocollapsearoundherhead,forcinghertoloseherbalanceandfalltotheconcrete.Asaresultofthefall,theplaintiffsufferedseriousinjuries.  Ms.Pruittesmotionissupportedbythedepositionoftheplaintiff,aswellasthoseofMs.Pruitteschildren,R.H.Pruitte,Jr.,age58,andLindaSuchman.Apparently,Ms.Pruittewasnotdeposed;inanyevent,hertestimonywasnotpresentedtothetrialcourt.ThetestimonyoftheplaintiffistheonlyproofintherecordregardingtheeventsofMarch7,1995.  WebeginouranalysisbyreferringtoRule56.04,ϜTenn.R.Civ.P.,theproceduralrulethatsetsforththegeneralstandardbywhichamotionforsummaryjudgmentistobeevaluated.Summaryjudgmentisappropriate ifthepleadings,depositions,answerstointerrogatories,andadmissionsonfile,togetherwiththeaffidavits,ifany,showthatthereisnogenuineissueastoanymaterialfactandthatthemovingpartyisentitledtoajudgmentasamatteroflaw. Id .Acourtfacedwithamotionforsummaryjudgmentisrequiredtoconsiderthemotioninthesamelightasamotionfordirectedverdictmadeatthecloseoftheplaintiffsproof,i.e., thetrialcourtmusttakethestrongestlegitimateviewoftheevidenceinfavorofthenonmovingparty,allowallreasonableinferencesinfavorofthatparty,anddiscardallcountervailingevidence. Byrdv.Hall ,847S.W.2d208,21011(Tenn.1993).Sinceourreviewinvolvesonlyaquestionoflaw,nopresumptionofcorrectnessattachestothetrialcourtsjudgment. Gonzalesv.AlmanConstr.Co .,857S.W.2d42,44(Tenn.App.1993).  Attheoutset,weacknowledgethatthereisarguablyadisputeintherecordregardingMs.PruittesmentalcompetenceonMarch7,1995,andtheextentofherauthoritytodirecttheactionsoftheplaintiff;however,thesedisputesdonotprecludeasummarydispositioninfavorofMs.PruitteifthematerialfactsmostfavorabletothenonmovanttheplaintiffconclusivelyshowthatMs.Pruitteis entitledtoajudgmentasamatteroflaw.SeeRule56.04,Tenn.R.Civ.P.ForthepurposeofϜourreview,weaccreditthetestimonyoftheplaintiff.Hence,wefindthatMs.Pruittewastheplaintiffsemployer;thatshehadtheunbridledauthoritytodirecttheplaintiffsactivitieswhilethelatterwasonthejob;andthatshewasincontrolofhermentalfaculties.Construingtheevidenceasstronglyaspossibleinfavoroftheplaintiff,andgivingherthebenefitofallreasonableinferences,thesethreestatedfactsareacceptedbyusastrue.Wehave discard[ed]allcountervailingevidence. Byrd at21011.Againstthisbackdrop,wenowexaminetheoperativefactspertainingtotheplaintiffsfallonMarch7,1995.  Apparently,theplaintiffwouldusuallyretrievethemailforMs.Pruitte.Onthedayinquestion,itwasraining.Itwasalsowindy, butnotthathardaccordingtotheplaintiff.WhenMs.Pruittefirstaskedtheplaintifftogotothemailbox,themailhadnotyetbeendelivered.Ms.Pruitteaskedherasecondtimewhenshesawthemailmanatornearhermailbox.TheplaintiffsuggestedtoMs.Pruittethatshewaituntilitstoppedraining.Ms.Pruittepersistedathirdtime,pointingouttotheplaintiffthat thatswhatyouregettingpaidfor,towaitonme.TheplaintifftestifiedthatshethoughtMs.Pruittesrequestwasanunreasonableone,butthatshewentoutsidebecauseshedidnotwanttoupsether.  Aftertheplaintiffpickedupthemail,agustofwindcameupunexpectedly,causinghertofall.ThefollowingtestimonyoftheplaintiffisparticularlyrelevanttotheeventsofMarch7,1995: 8 Q.Now,whatwastheweatherlikewhenyou  A.Atthattime?  Q.Yes,maam. 8 A.Itwasraining.ThatswhyIgotmyraincoatandmyumbrella. 8 Q.Soitwasrainingwhileyouwereinthehouse. 8 A.Yeah.ButthewindcameinafterIgotouttotheboxandstartedback,justagushofwind. 8 Q.Soareyousayingthattheweathergotworseafteryougotoutside?  A.Right. 8 Q.Anditgotworsebecausethewindcameup?  A.Yes.  Q.Andbegantogust?  A.Uhhuh(indicatingyes).@ *** 8 Q.Sowhenyouwereinthehouseandwhenyougotyourraincoat,itwasjustraining.  A.Yeah,justadrizzlerain....@ *** 8 Q.Butwhenyouleftthedoortogooutside,youdidntknowitwasdangerous,didyou? 8 A.Notatthattime.Thewindwascominginbutnotthathard. 8 Q.Youdidntinyourmindsay,ifIgooutthisdoor,Imightgethurt.  A.No,Ididntsaythat.0 @ *** 8 Q.Thatsmypoint.Youhadlookedoutsideandyouknewitwasraining,hadntyou?  A.Yes. 8 Q.Andyoucouldseetheweatheroutside,couldntyou?  A.Yeah. 8 Q.Isthereanythingwrongwithyourmentalfaculties?  A.No.  Q.Youthinkfine? 8 A.Idbeenoutinstormsbefore.AndIthoughtIcouldputmycoatonandrainmyumbrellaandgoonlikeIhadbefore.BecauseIdbeenworkingwithhomehealthbefore. 8 Q.Soyoufeltitwassafeforyoutogooutandgetthemail.  A.Yeah.@ *** 8 Q.Soyoufellbecauseofthegustofwind 8 A.Ittooktheumbrellaovermyfaceandblindfoldedme.  Q.Andthenwhathappenedthen?  A.Iwaslayingontheconcrete. 8 Q.Whatabouttheumbrellabeingoveryourfacecausedyoutofall? 8 A.Itcomedownlikethat(indicating)overmewhenIwentdown.Ifyouwaswalkingalongwithanumbrella,andthewind(indicating)downoveryourface.@ *** 8 Q.Ifthatgustofwindhadntcomeup,wouldyouhavefallendown? 8 A.Idontthinkso,becausetheumbrellawouldnthavecomeovermyface. 8 Q.Isthatwhatcausedyoutofall,theumbrellacomingoveryourface? 8 A.(Nodsheadaffirmatively).IcouldntseewhereIwasgoing.  Q.Andthenyoufell.  A.Right. 8 Q.Didyouknowthatgustofwindwasgoingtocomeup? 8 A.Notreally.Iwastryingtomakeitbacktothehouseonaccountofthatstorm.@ *** 8 Q.Didsheeverdoanythingtoyouthatwouldindicateherjudgmentmightnotbegood? 8 A.No,nottillshetoldmetogogetthemail.IdidntIknewIshouldntgoout,butIstillwantedtotrytobenicetoher. 8 Q.Whydidntyouwaituntiltherainwasover? 8 A.Well,shesaid,thatswhatyouregettingpaidfor,andIthoughtIhadtogo. 8 Q.Well,hadyoueveronotheroccasionsnotdonewhatshetoldyoutodo? 8 A.Yeah,afewofthem.Whenshewouldntputtheseatbelton,Idstoptillsheputiton.Shedidntliketowearherseatbelt. 8 Q.Whydidntyoujustwaitandgoaftertherainwasover? 8 A.Idontknow.Itjusthitmeoneofthosetimes.@ ***  Theplaintiffcontendsthattheevidencecanbeconstruedasindicatingthatthedefendantbreachedherdutytoprovidetheplaintiffasafeplacetowork.See Suddathv.Parks ,914S.W.2d910,913(Tenn.App.1995).Shefindsthisbreachinthefactthatthedefendantdirectedhertogooutintheraintogetthemailunderanimpliedthreatoflossofherjob.Accordingtotheplaintiffsbrief,thedefendant demand[ed]that[theplaintiff]undertakeunsafeworkconditions.  Takingtheplaintiffstestimonyatfacevalue,wedonotfindabreachofMs.Pruittesdutytoprovidetheplaintiffwitha safeworkingenvironment. Id .Theplaintiffstestimonybelieshertheorythatitwas dangeroustogooutsidetogetthemail.Sheherselftestifiedthatshedidnotconsideritdangeroustoundertakesuchachore.Thefactsbeforeusreflect,withoutdispute,thatMs.Pruittedidnotdirectheremployeetoundertakeaknowndangeroustask.Hence,thefactsfailtoshowabreachbyMs.Pruitteofherdutytoprovidetheplaintiffareasonablysafeplacetowork.Thefactsclearlynegateabreachofduty,anessentialelementofthisnegligenceaction.See Haynesv.HamiltonCounty ,883S.W.2d606,611(Tenn.1994).Seealso Byrd ,847S.W.2dat215,n.5.  EvenifwecouldconstrueMs.PruittesdemandtobeoneinvolvingtheundertakingofadangerousemploymenttaskwhichwecannotwebelievethattheplaintiffstestimonyclearlyshowsthatsheunderstoodasmuchaboutthehazardofgoingoutduringtherainasdidMs.Pruitte.Inourjudgment,reasonablemindscouldonlyconclude,basedentirelyontheplaintiffstestimony,thatshewasatleast50%atfaultinproceedingtothemailboxintheraintopickupthemail.Whilecomparativefaultistypicallyaquestionforthetrieroffact,summaryjudgmentisappropriateinthosesituationswherereasonablemindscouldonlyconcludethattheplaintiffwasatfault,andthattheplaintiffsfaultwasequaltoorgreaterthanthefaultofthedefendant.SeeJohnA.Day&DonaldCapparella,TennesseeLawofComparativeFault,p.1218(1997).̛̛  Inthefinalanalysis,thereisnothingforajurytodecideinthiscase.Thefactsoftheincidentastakenentirelyfromtheplaintiffstestimonyarenotindispute.ThosefactssupportMs.Pruittesmotion.Theysimplydonotsubstantiatetheplaintiffsclaimthatsheisentitledtocompensatorydamagesinthiscase.̛  Thetrialcourtsjudgmentisaffirmed.Costsonappealaretaxedtotheappellant.Thiscaseisremandedtothetrialcourtforcollectionofcostsassessedthere,pursuanttoapplicablelaw.       __________________________       CharlesD.Susano,Jr.,J.CONCUR:________________________HoustonM.Goddard,P.J.________________________DonT.McMurray,J.