ÿWPC& ›Wß*š{µï3 ¿ÌÁ2xBµ£í” eaÏ‹Ž?³ƒb!ìW#ÆìÑêsÛÊ}aM‡¹"B…ïûþ`EÉe¼Dkt·gQ$úE¬FcX¥Ÿ¹ÄÛúŸ™6B#L¨ÏH¥yeÿ¬£±®jTÆ`ÔÎ.ƒP´ÈËÈ–Ö“UáÌ´ jvìÎßÈç{p$·b ,-$Ç pne•OhgË0퇛p^©¹°W# ÂU NÍ % 04! 0ÏUb$ b, ^ Ž w@š 4Ú î ý mÿ ^ 0Dt ¸ "ÔöU:ùùùùù:3:mmmmmmm AQ§Æø 0D¾ 0D 0DFF D/ŠŠ B¹ D3ÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖÖ B ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular»( ¤U$¡¡Ó  Ó((2Nk$¤¤Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XïX»»ÔÑ  ÑÑÑà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-  foreseeabilityFulmerEstillCrownoverfloodwatersfloodwater FaggGovtCreswellHaverlahOwensbyTullahomaWalkup€SWAFFORDBeelerSwafford!™O%ä ab“a”b—E˜E™EœÓ€§Ö…#% q‚ 3|x§ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ TÝ ƒLÅ$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X/X»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€Act€of€May€24,€1984,€ch.€972,€1984€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts€1026,€codified€at€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð ° Ððððð€9„8„301,€„405€(1992€&€Supp.€1998).(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó Ý ƒLÅ$ÝÓ  ÓÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€X/X»»ÔÑ @ ÑÑ@Ñà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔBecause€we€have€concluded€that€the€claims€commission€properly€dismissed€this€claimÐ ° Ðbecause€proper€state€officials€did€not€have€timely€notice€of€the€dangerous€condition€of€the€bridge,Ïwe€need€not€address€the€Stateððs€alternative€argument€that€Mr.€Poolððs€negligence€was€fifty€percentÏ(50%)€or€more€of€the€cause€of€this€death. Ñ  ÑÑ  Ñ ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€»­ú»»»ÔԀ؋ »»­úÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€Xh X Ø‹ÔÐ  ÐÌOctober€16,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,@ÓÐAZ‹"Arial Regular 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ Ð ÑÑ ì Ñ 0Ñ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ° ÑÑ Ü Ñ!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdVVVV'ÿÿdxd dÝ ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ„°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ  ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€‡"»»ddÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€„ü~„»»Ôò òñ§ñññßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@E ±` 8ttxPX°ð  rßñññ§ññ§ññ§ñ€ÌÌñ§ññ§ñà@¡ ¡ DàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌñ§ñßt€ )>.*jx§ÿ` `€€@EÇè ` 8ttxPÿ ð È tßñ§ñà@ÜÜ)DàAT€NASHVILLEó óÔ€¼!¼„„ü~ԈРè8 ÐÌÌÌRONNIE€POOL€and€LINDA€PARKS,à p à)Ð ’ â ÐCo„Administrators€for€the€Estate€ofà  àà p à)Ð ¨ø  ÐNATHAN€POOL,€and€as€next€of€kinà  àà p à)Ð ¾  Ðof€Nathan€Pool,à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ð Ô$  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àPlaintiffs/Appellants,à À àà  àà p à)à È àTennessee€Claims€CommissionÐ P  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àNo.€103859Ð f  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)ÌVS.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ð B’ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àAppeal€No.Ð n¾ ÐSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à À àà  àà p à)à È à01A01„9802„BC„00104Ð „Ô Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appellee.à À àà  àà p à)Ð ° ÐÌÌÌà@ž ž DàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€TENNESSEE€CLAIMS€COMMISSIONˆÌÌà@æ æ DàTHE€HONORABLE€W.€R.€BAKER,€COMMISSIONERˆÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Plaintiffs/Appellantsóó:à0 À àà0À€%À€%àà0p€%€%àà0Èp€%p€%àòòFor€the€Defendant/Appelleeóó:ÐŒ&Ü!È€%È€% ÐÌRobert€S.€Petersà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àJohn€Knox€WalkupÐ ¸($  ÐSWAFFORD,€PETERS€&€PRIESTà  àà p àà È àAttorney€General€and€ReporterÐ Î)%! ÐWinchester,€TennesseeÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àMichael€MooreÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àSolicitor€GeneralÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àKimberly€J.€DeanÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àDeputy€Attorney€GeneralÌÌÌÌÌà@%DàÔ‡„ü~„¼¼!Ôò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óÔ#†¼!¼„„ü~< #ԈРÀ51, ÐÌÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÐ  €;Ð61 ÐññÑX„Ññññññ‡ñÑ °Ññ‡ññññ“ñññÑ(°Ññññ“ññ”ñññÑ„Ññññ”ññ”ñÑX„Ññ”ñÓ€Óñ˜ñÑ€*Ññ˜ñÑ  ÑÔ_Ôñ—ñÑ€:Ññ—ññ™ñÑ€ Ññ™ñÔ_Ôà@ÎÎ)Dàò òÔ‡„ü~„¼¼!ÔòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÔ#†¼!¼„„ü~í#Ôó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà ` àThis€appeal€involves€the€death€of€a€motorist€whose€vehicle€was€swept€off€aÏflooded€highway€bridge€during€a€torrential€rainfall.€€The€administrators€of€theÏmotoristððs€estate€filed€a€claim€with€the€Tennessee€Claims€Commission€asserting€thatÏstate€highway€officials€knew€or€should€have€known€about€the€flooded€condition€onÏthe€bridge€and€negligently€failed€either€to€avert€the€flooding€on€the€bridge€or€to€warnÏmotorists€of€the€bridgeððs€unsafe€condition.€€Following€an€evidentiary€hearing,€theÏclaims€commissioner€entered€judgment€for€the€State€because€the€claimants€had€failedÏto€prove€that€the€state€employees€had€sufficient€notice€of€the€bridgeððs€dangerousÏcondition€to€enable€them€to€close€the€bridge€to€the€public.€€The€administrators€of€theÏmotoristððs€estate€assert€on€this€appeal€that€the€evidence€does€not€support€the€claimsÏcommissionerððs€decision.€€We€affirm€the€claims€commissionerððs€dismissal€of€theÏclaim.ÌÌà@ùù.Dàò òI.ó óˆÐ šê ÐÌà ` àIn€late€December€1990,€Franklin€County€received€an€unseasonable€recordÏrainfall€that€led€to€extensive€and€widespread€flooding€throughout€the€county.€€OnÏDecember€22,€1990,€the€water€in€the€Woods€Reservoir€had€reached€such€high€levelsÏthat€Arnold€Engineering€Development€Center€found€it€necessary€to€open€its€dam€andÏrelease€large€quantities€of€water€into€the€Elk€River.€€The€Center€notified€the€EstillÏSprings€chief€of€police€of€its€decision€but€did€not€notify€the€Tennessee€DepartmentÏof€Transportation.€€The€release€of€the€water€from€the€Woods€Reservoir€coupled€withÏthe€continuing€heavy€rain€caused€the€Elk€River€to€begin€to€flood€at€approximatelyÏ10:00€p.m.€on€December€22,€1990.€€ÌÌà ` àBy€the€morning€of€December€23,€1990,€the€Elk€River€had€risen€above€its€banksÏand€had€flooded€a€bridge€on€State€Highway€279,€approximately€five€miles€east€ofÏSpring€Creek€Road.€€When€Gary€Leech,€a€local€resident,€discovered€the€condition€ofÏthe€bridge,€he€placed€four€orange€soccer€cones€across€the€highway€to€warnÏapproaching€drivers€that€the€bridge€was€impassible€due€to€high€water.€€Mr.€Leech€didÏnot€contact€the€Department€of€Transportation€to€alert€them€to€the€flooding€on€theÏbridge.Ð ì:<6B Ðà ` àDuring€the€early€afternoon€of€December€23,€1990,€Glenn€Fulmer,€aÏmaintenance€employee€with€the€Department€of€Transportation€who€was€working€inÏanother€part€of€the€county,€left€Estill€Springs€to€obtain€additional€road€materials.€€HeÏnoticed€the€orange€cones€on€the€highway€as€he€approached€the€bridge€on€HighwayÏ279,€and,€when€he€arrived€at€the€bridge,€he€saw€€water€rushing€over€the€bridge.€€Mr.ÏFulmer€decided€that€crossing€the€flooded€bridge€would€be€too€dangerous€and€turnedÏback€to€Estill€Springs€to€report€what€he€had€observed€to€Carl€Crownover,€hisÏsupervisor.€€As€soon€as€Mr.€Fulmer€reported€the€condition€of€the€bridge,€Mr.ÏCrownover€dispatched€workers€to€erect€warning€signs€and€barricades€at€the€bridge.ÌÌà ` àBefore€the€highway€workers€could€return€to€the€bridge,€Nathan€Pool,€a€67„year„¼old€resident€of€Coffee€County,€arrived€at€the€bridge€and€decided€to€cross€it€evenÏthough€it€was€flooded.€€The€floodwater€swept€Mr.€Poolððs€truck€off€the€bridge,€and€Mr.ÏPool€drowned€in€the€Elk€River.ÌÌà ` àFifteen€months€later,€in€March€1992,€the€administrators€of€Mr.€Poolððs€estateÏfiled€a€wrongful€death€claim€with€the€Tennessee€Claims€Commission.€€They€allegedÏthat€Department€of€Transportation€employees€knew€or€should€have€known€that€theÏbridge€was€flooded€and€that€they€failed€to€protect€the€public€from€the€dangerousÏcondition.€€The€case€was€tried€before€a€single€claims€commissioner€on€October€30€andÏ31,€1997.€€The€claims€commissioner€determined€that€the€Department€ofÏTransportation€employees€did€not€receive€notice€of€the€bridgeððs€condition€inÏsufficient€time€to€enable€them€to€close€the€bridge€to€traffic.€€The€administrators€of€Mr.ÏPoolððs€estate€have€appealed.€€ÌÌà@ËË.Dàò òII.ó óˆÐ ´-)2 ÐÌà ` àThe€State€cannot€be€sued€without€its€consent.€€òòSee€Shell€v.€Stateóó,€893€S.W.2dÐ ·0,6 Ð416,€420€(Tenn.€1995).€€However,€Tenn.€Const.€art.€I,€ðð€17€empowers€the€GeneralÏAssembly€to€authorize€claims€against€the€State,€and€the€General€Assembly€exercisedÏits€power€in€1984€when€it€established€the€Tennessee€Claims€Commission.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€TheÐ £5ó0< Ðprovisions€of€this€Act€must€be€strictly€construed€because€the€Act€departs€from€theÐ G7—2> Ðcommon€law.€€òòSee€Hill€v.€Beeleróó,€199€Tenn.€325,€329,€286€S.W.2d€868,€869€(1956);Ð ° ÐòòDaley€v.€Stateóó,€869€S.W.2d€338,€340€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€Ð T¤ ÐÌà ` àTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€9„8„307(a)(1)(J)€(Supp.€1998)€provides€that€the€TennesseeÏClaims€Commission€has€jurisdiction€to€adjudicate€monetary€claims€against€the€StateÏof€Tennessee€arising€out€of€dangerous€conditions€on€state„owned€highways.€€In€orderÏto€prevail€under€that€section,€a€claimant€must€establish€(1)€that€the€risk€wasÏforeseeable€and€(2)€that€the€proper€state€official€received€notice€of€the€conditionÏsufficiently€prior€to€the€injury€to€have€enabled€them€to€take€appropriate€measures.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòSweeney€v.€Stateóó,€768€S.W.2d€253,€254„59€(Tenn.€1989).€€Ð tÄ ÐÌà ` àThe€claims€commissioner€found€that€the€State€could€reasonably€have€foreseenÏthe€risk€to€life€and€property€as€a€result€of€the€record€rainfall€and€resulting€flooding€inÏthe€area.€€Thus,€the€pivotal€issue€is€whether€the€proper€state€officials€had€notice€of€theÏdangerous€condition€of€the€flooded€bridge€in€enough€time€to€take€protective€measuresÏthat€would€have€prevented€Mr.€Poolððs€death.€€This€is€a€factual€issue.€òòSee€James€v.Ð Lœ ÐMetropolitan€Govððtóó,€55€Tenn.€App.€622,€628„29,€404€S.W.2d€249,€252€(1966);€òòseeÐ ð@  Ðalsoóó€òòFagg€v.€Franklin€Countyóó,€No.€01A01„9710„CV„00589,€1998€WL€313390,€at€*2Ð ” ä" Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€16,€1998)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed).€ÏAccordingly,€we€will€review€the€claims€commissionerððs€finding€that€òòóóthe€State€did€notÐ Ü#,& Ðhave€sufficient€notice€to€act€using€the€standard€of€review€in€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d)Ïand€will€presume€that€the€finding€is€correct€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€againstÏit.€€òòSeeóó€òòSanders€v.€Stateóó,€783€S.W.2d€948,€951€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989).Ð È($, ÐÌà@-Dàò òIII.ó óˆÐ ,`'0 ÐÌà ` àThe€outcome€of€the€pivotal€notice€question€turns€on€the€credibility€of€theÏwitnesses.€€As€a€general€matter,€when€we€review€factual€findings€under€Tenn.€R.€App.ÏP.€13(d),€we€will€not€reverse€findings€that€hinge€on€the€witnessesðð€credibility€unlessÏthe€record€contains€clear,€concrete,€and€convincing€evidence€necessarily€negatingÏwitness€credibility.€€òòSee€Thompson€v.€Creswell€Indus.€Supply,€Inc.óó,€936€S.W.2d€955,Ð £5ó0< Ð957€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996);€òòHaverlah€v.€Memphis€Aviation,€Inc.óó,€674€S.W.2d€297,€302Ð G7—2> Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).Ìâ âÐ :ß5B ÐñŒñÌñŒñà ` àThe€administrators€of€Mr.€Poolððs€estate€base€their€assertion€that€proper€stateÏâ âofficials€had€adequate€notice€that€the€bridge€had€flooded€on€the€testimony€of€JoeÏOwensby,€a€dispatcher€employed€by€the€Franklin€County€Sheriff,€and€Dennis€Young,Ïthe€Chief€of€Police€of€Estill€Springs.€€Mr.€Owensby€testified€that€he€telephoned€DonÏPenney€and€Mr.€Crownover€during€the€early€evening€of€December€22,€1990,€to€reportÏthe€flooding€on€the€bridge.€€Chief€Young€testified€that€he€telephoned€Mr.€CrownoverÏaround€noon€on€December€23,€1990€to€request€that€barricades€be€placed€at€the€bridgeÏbecause€Arnold€Engineering€Development€Center€was€going€to€release€water€fromÏthe€Woods€Reservoir.ÌÌà ` àMessrs.€Penney€and€Crownover€contradicted€this€testimony.€€Mr.€PenneyÏtestified€that€he€did€not€recall€receiving€a€telephone€call€from€Mr.€Owensby€onÏDecember€22,€1990.€€For€his€part,€Mr.€Crownover€testified€that€neither€Mr.€OwensbyÏnor€Chief€Young€spoke€with€him€about€the€Elk€River€bridge€on€either€December€22Ïor€December€23,€1990.€€He€explained€that€he€could€not€have€been€reached€byÏtelephone€at€the€time€because€he€had€been€in€the€field€and€because€his€only€means€ofÏcommunication€was€his€truck€radio.ÌÌà ` àThe€claims€commissioner€who€heard€this€conflicting€testimony€was€requiredÏto€decide€where€the€weight€of€the€evidence€lay.€€He€concluded€that€Mr.€OwensbyððsÏtestimony,€while€given€in€good€faith,€was€confused€and€was€undermined€by€theÏabsence€of€a€written€entry€in€his€official€log€of€the€calls€he€remembered€making€toÏMessrs.€Penney€and€Crownover.€€Similarly,€he€found€that€Chief€Youngððs€testimonyÏabout€contacting€Mr.€Crownover€by€telephone€on€December€23,€1990€was€mistakenÏbecause€Mr.€Crownover€was€not€available€by€telephone€during€the€times€that€ChiefÏYoung€testified€that€they€discussed€the€Elk€River€bridge€by€telephone.€€HavingÏreviewed€the€record,€we€fail€to€find€clear€and€convincing€evidence€underminingÏMessrs.€Penneyððs€and€Crownoverððs€testimony.€€We€also€decline€to€conclude€that€theÏevidence€preponderates€against€the€claims€commissionerððs€conclusions€that€the€StateÏdid€not€have€notice€of€the€Elk€River€bridge€flooding€until€Mr.€Fulmerððs€meeting€withÏMr.€Crownover€on€the€afternoon€of€December€23,€1990.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð è581< Їà@¥¥.Dàò òIV.ó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà ` àWe€affirm€the€decision€of€the€Tennessee€Claims€Commission€and€remand€theÏcase€for€whatever€further€proceedings€may€be€required.€€We€also€tax€the€costs€of€thisÏappeal€to€the€Administrators€of€the€Estate€of€Nathan€Pool€and€their€surety€for€whichÏexecution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.€€ÌÌÌÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌ___________________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,ÌPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.€ÌÌ___________________________________ÌWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEñœñ€Ð  7‡ ÐÔ€ ‡ª !»¼» ÔÑ8€» »»d»»d8Ñà@  Dàò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@ZZ)DàAT€NASHVILLEó óˆÐ ¼  ÐÌÔ‡¼» »»¼» ÔÌRONNIE€POOL€and€LINDA€PARKS,à p à)Ð " r ÐCo„Administrators€for€the€Estate€ofà  àà p à)Ð : Š ÐNATHAN€POOL,€and€as€next€of€kinà  àà p à)Ð R ¢ Ðof€Nathan€Pool,à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ð j º Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àPlaintiffs/Appellants,à À àà  àà p à)à È àTennessee€Claims€CommissionÐ šê  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àNo.€103859Ð ²  ÐVS.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ð Ê  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)à È àAppeal€No.Ð â2  ÐSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à À àà  àà p à)à È à01A01„9802„BC„00104Ð úJ  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appellee.à À àà  àà p à)Ð *z ÐÌÌÔ#† ‡ª !»¼» Û7#Ôò òà@cc(DàòòJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€Tóóó óˆÐ r ÐÌÔ€Šð— ‹ ! ‡ªÔÓ€Óà ` àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€the€Tennessee€ClaimsÐ À ÐCommission,€the€briefs€of€the€parties,€and€arguments€of€counsel.€€Upon€consideration€of€theÏentire€record,€this€court€finds€and€concludes€that€the€trial€judgeððs€judgment€should€beÏaffirmed.ÌÌà ` àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€filed€contemporaneously€with€this€judgment,€it€is,Ïtherefore,€ordered,€adjudged,€and€decreed€that€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€be€and€is€herebyÏaffirmed,€and€that€the€cause€be€remanded€for€whatever€further€proceedings€may€be€required.ÌÌà ` àIt€is€further€ordered€that€the€costs€of€this€appeal€be€taxed€to€Ronnie€Pool€and€LindaÏParks,€principals,€and€Swafford,€Peters€&€Priest,€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€ifÏnecessary.ÌÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE€ñœñ