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S.W.Kingsport AppseHerschel ÿEDDDUÓ€(4(3DX$¤¤Ý ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóH2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, 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< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d%%%%7Border 1dd€-&Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial %Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€(ÔÔ€(ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€(XÔÌÌò òJanuary€6,€1998ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€(ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó....'ÿÿdxd ñÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€$ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòWe€should€note€that€no€testimony€by€the€plaintiff€is€in€the€record.óóÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò dStyl{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  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€$ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ¸ ÑÑ T ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€ɨXXdÖXXdÖ7ÑÙ€€ÙßR€')&A1-j|` Å `€€@ÿRß›Þ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ` è` ˜XÓWILLIAM€T.€RAWLS,€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àKNOX€CIRCUIT€€€€€ÌÓ ` °œXÓ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9707„CV„00293Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€WHEELER€A.€ROSENBALMÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌN.V.€HODGE,€NORFOLK€SOUTHERN€€)à àAFFIRMED€IN€PART€€€€€ÌRAILWAY€COMPANY,€DYCHO€€€€€€€€)€€€€REVERSED€IN€PARTÌCOMPANY,€INC.,€AND€JAMESà àà à)€€€€REMANDEDÌMOYER€MASSEY,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellants€€)ÌÌÌÌÌROBERT€E.€PRYOR,€Pryor,€Flynn,€Priest€&€Harber,€Knoxville,€forÏAppellant.ÌÌÌJOHN€W.€BAKER,€JR.,€Baker,€McReynolds,€Byrne,€O'Kane,€Shea€&ÏTownsend,€Knoxville,€for€Appellees€N.V.€Hodge€and€Norfolk€SouthernÏRailway€Company.ÌÌÌHOWARD€H.€VOGEL€&€ANDREW€CRAIG€TROUTMAN,€O'Neil,€Parker€&€William…son,€Knoxville,€for€Appellee€Dycho€Company,€Inc.ÌÌÌÌÌÇÓÓà@ àòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌà€ àMcMurray,€J.ÌÌà àWilliam€T.€Rawls€(plaintiff)€brought€this€action€to€recoverÏdamages€resulting€from€a€collision€between€a€truck€in€which€he€wasÏa€passenger€and€a€train€owned€by€Norfolk€Southern€Railway€Company.€ÏThe€truck€was€being€driven€by€the€defendant,€James€Massey.€€TheÏtrain€engineer€was€the€defendant,€N.€V.€Hodge.€€Rawls€alleged€thatÏNorfolk€Southern's€locomotive€was€at€the€time€of€the€collisionÏbeing€operated€in€a€negligent€manner€under€the€circumstancesÏexisting€at€the€crossing€where€the€accident€took€place.€€He€al…leged€that€Hodge€failed€to€give€warning€by€blowing€the€train'sÏwhistle€or€horn,€and€that€the€crossing€was€not€sufficiently€markedÏby€adequate€warning€devices.€€Rawls€also€sued€Dycho€Company,€theÏowner€of€the€land€adjacent€to€the€railway,€alleging€that€a€fenceÏwhich€Dycho€had€placed€on€its€land,€together€with€various€struc…tures€and€objects€inside€the€fence,€constituted€a€dangerous€ob…struction€which€blocked€the€view€of€the€oncoming€train.ÌÌà àDefendants,€Norfolk€Southern,€Hodge,€and€Dycho€moved€forÏsummary€judgment.€€Summary€judgment€was€granted€by€the€trial€courtÏon€the€grounds€that€there€was€no€negligence€on€the€part€of€theÏœmovants›€which€proximately€caused€Rawls'€injury.€€A€non„suit€wasÏtaken€as€to€the€defendant,€Massey.€€Additionally,€the€court€madeÏthe€order€final€pursuant€to€Rule€54.02.€€Therefore,€the€trialÏcourt's€order€œis›€final€and€appealable.ÌÌà àThe€issue€on€this€appeal€is€whether€the€trial€court€wasÏcorrect€in€granting€summary€judgment€to€the€moving€defendants.€€WeÏaffirm€the€trial€court's€judgment€as€to€Dycho,€but€find€there€areÏgenuine€issues€of€material€fact€precluding€summary€judgmentÏagainst€the€defendants,€Norfolk€Southern€and€N.€V.€Hodge.ÌÌà àThe€standards€governing€a€review€of€a€trial€court's€grant€ofÏsummary€judgment€are€well„settled:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àTenn.R.Civ.P.€56.03€provides€that€summary€judgmentÏis€only€appropriate€where:€(1)€there€is€no€genuine€issueÏwith€regard€to€the€material€facts€relevant€to€the€claimÏor€defense€contained€in€the€motion,€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€847ÏS.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.€1993);€and€(2)€the€moving€partyÏis€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law€on€theÏundisputed€facts.€€òòAnderson€v.€Standard€Register€œCo.óó,Í857›€S.W.2d€555,€559€(Tenn.€1993).€€The€moving€party€hasÏthe€burden€of€proving€that€its€motion€satisfies€theseÏrequirements.€€òòœDownen›€v.€Allstate€œIns›.€Co.óó,€811€S.W.2dÏ523,€524€(Tenn.€1991).ÌÌà8 àà àThe€standards€governing€the€assessment€of€evidenceÏin€the€summary€judgment€context€are€also€well€estab…lished.€€Courts€must€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€mostÏfavorable€to€the€nonmoving€party€and€must€also€draw€allÏreasonable€inferences€in€the€nonmoving€party's€favor.ÏòòByrdóó,€847€S.W.2d€at€210„11.€€Courts€should€grant€aÏsummary€judgment€only€when€both€the€facts€and€the€con…clusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€facts€permit€a€reasonableÏperson€to€reach€only€one€conclusion.€€òòId.óóÌÌÓÓòòœCarvell›€v.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.€1995).Ìà àOn€October€10,€1992,€at€about€9:00€AM,€Massey€and€Rawls€wereÏin€the€process€of€delivering€some€furniture€for€their€employer.€ÏThey€were€proceeding€generally€south€on€Mederian€Street€in€NiotaÏwhen€they€were€struck€by€the€eastbound€train.€€The€crossing€had€aÏ"œcrossbuck›"€sign€indicating€the€presence€of€railroad€tracks,€butÏno€other€warning€devices.ÌÌà àDycho€owns€the€land€in€the€northwest€quadrant€adjacent€to€theÏrailroad€and€to€Mederian€Street.€Dycho€had€constructed,€on€itsÏproperty,€a€chain€link€fence€approximately€nineteen€feet€from€theÏcenter€of€the€railroad€tracks,€running€parallel€to€the€railroad.€ÍInside€the€fence€were€various€structures€and€objects€owned€andÏmaintained€by€Dycho.ÌÌà àWe€first€address€the€propriety€of€summary€judgment€in€favorÏof€Dycho.€€The€plaintiff€contends€that€Dycho€was€negligent€inÏerecting€and€maintaining€the€structures€and€objects€on€its€landÏbecause€they€constituted€a€dangerous€obstruction€to€the€view€ofÏany€oncoming€eastbound€train.€€Dycho€responds€that€it€is€"a€pri…vate€land€owner€with€no€duty€to€maintain€the€public€road,€itsÏproperty,€the€railroad€right€of€way€or€the€œsignage›€or€signaling€inÏconnection€œtherewith";›€that€it€has€the€right€to€improve€and€uti…lize€its€property€as€it€wishes,€and€that€there€is€no€duty€on€itsÏpart€not€to€obstruct€the€view€of€the€railway.Ìà àPlaintiff€counters€by€arguing€that€T.C.A.€ðð€39„17„307€estab…lishes€such€a€duty€on€the€part€of€Dycho.€€T.C.A.€ðð€39„17„307Ïprovides€in€pertinent€part€as€follows:ÌÓÓÌà8 à(a)€A€person€commits€an€offense€who,€without€legalÏprivilege,€intentionally,€knowingly€or€recklessly:ÌÌà8 àà à(1)€Obstructs€a€highway,€street,€sidewalk,€railway,Ïwaterway,€elevator,€aisle,€or€hallway€to€which€theÏpublic,€or€a€substantial€portion€of€the€public,€hasÏaccess...€.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà à(b)€For€purposes€of€this€section,€"obstruct"€meansÏto€render€passage€impassable€or€to€render€passage€unrea…sonably€inconvenient€or€potentially€injurious€to€personsÏor€property.Ì€ÌÌÌÓÓà àT.C.A.€ðð€39„17„307€is€a€criminal€or€penal€statute.€€We€are€ofÏthe€opinion€that€the€statute€has€no€application€to€the€case€atÏhand.€€It€is€a€fundamental€rule€that€penal€statutes€and€ordinancesÏare€strictly€construed.€òòKitts€v.€Kittsóó,€136€Tenn.€314,€œ189›€S.W.Ïœ375€Ì(1916).›€€œ"A›€penal€statute€or€ordinance€will€not€be€enlarged€byÏimplication€or€intendment€beyond€the€fair€meaning€of€the€languageÏused€...€œ."›€€òòRichmond€v.€Stateóó,€171€Tenn.€1,€œ100›€S.W.2d€œ1€(1937).›€ÏòòCity€of€Kingsport€v.€Jonesóó,€268€S.W.2d€576€(Tenn.€1954).€€We€doÏnot€believe€that€the€use€of€one's€property€for€lawful€purposesÏwithout€encroachment€upon€the€right„of„way€of€a€roadway€consti…tutes€an€offense€using€the€"fair€meaning€of€the€language€test."€ÏIt,€therefore,€follows€that€there€was€no€violation€of€the€statuteÏunder€the€circumstances€of€this€case.ÌÌà àConsidering€all€the€undisputed€evidence€and€all€legitimateÏinferences€that€may€be€drawn€therefrom,€reasonable€minds€cannotÏdiffer€regarding€the€defendant€Massey's€failure€to€look€to€hisÏright€earlier€than€immediately€before€impact.€€When€Massey€lookedÏto€his€right,€the€truck€was€already€on€the€tracks.€Therefore,Ïplaintiff's€injury€could€not€have€been€proximately€caused€by€aÏbreach€of€a€duty€on€the€part€of€Dycho€even€if€a€duty€existed.ÌÌà àMr.€Massey€testified€by€deposition€as€follows:ÌÓÓÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAnd€those€[crossings]€that€do€not€have,€in€yourÏjudgment,€pretty€good€visibility,€what€would€youÏdo?€€What€was€your€habit€and€your€custom?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àThis€is€the€first€one€I've€ever€come€to€that€didn'tÏhave€good€visibility.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAnd€as€a€result€of€it€not€having,€in€your€mind,Ïpretty€good€visibility,€what€precautions€did€youÏtake€as€a€result?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àListening€for€a€whistle.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAnything€else?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àNo,€sir.ÌÌÓ  Ó*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÓ  ÓÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAs€you€approached,€did€you€look€to€your€left?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àIt€seems€like€I€looked€to€my€left.€€I€didn't€stop.€ÏI€kept€ð"ð€continued€going.€€And€just€out€of€theÏcorner€of€my€right€eye,€I€remember€seeing€a€lightÏand€it€seemed€like€I€might€have€heard€a€whistleÏjust€prior€to€impact.€€And€then€when€I€came€to,€theÏtruck€was€sitting€in€a€field.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAnd€I€take€it€that€when€you€heard€that€whistle€andÏsaw€that€light€out€of€the€corner€of€your€eye,€yourÏvehicle€had€already€entered€upon€the€tracks?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àYes,€sir.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àDo€you€normally€look€for€trains€coming€at€theÏmoment€you're€driving€up€and€across€the€bumps,€orÏare€you€watching€the€road€at€that€point€normally?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àNormally€I'm€watching€the€road.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àDo€you€believe€that€based€upon€your€past€drivingÏhabits€and€experiences,€that€on€the€day€of€thisÏwreck,€October€the€œ10th›,€1992,€that€before€you€gotÏto€the€railroad€tracks,€you€looked€for€a€train€andÏlistened€for€a€train?€€Do€you€believe€you€did€that?ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*Ìà àÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àI€know€I€was€listening,€but€as€far€as€looking,€IÏdon't€really€think€I€paid€close€attention€looking„wise.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àDid€I€understand€you€to€say€that€the€first€aware…ness€you€had€of€the€train's€presence€was€you€got€aÏglimpse€of€the€light?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àYes,€sir.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àCan€we€assume€then€you€feel,€reflecting€back€on€it,Ïthat€you€were€reasonably€aware€of€what€was€going€onÏas€you€drove€down€through€there?ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQà àDo€you€believe€that€you€were€being€reasonablyÏaware?ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àAs€far€as€using€my€hearing,€yes,€sir.ÌÌÌÓÓà àTwo€depositions€of€Mr.€Massey€are€in€the€record.€€In€neitherÏdoes€he€state€that€he€looked€to€his€right€before€entering€theÏrailroad€crossing.ÌÌÓÓà8 àà0 àà àQà àFrom€all€you€know€about€this€wreck,€having€beenÏinvolved€in€it€òòand€going€back€to€the€sceneòòóó,óó€do€youÏbelieve€there€was€an€obstruction€to€your€viewÏbetween€you€and€the€train€in€that€Dycho€area€there?ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àThat€blocked€the€view€of€the€train?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àI€personally€believe€there€was€some€type€of€ob…struction.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àYes.€ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àOr€else€I€would€have€seen€the€light€sooner.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAnd€between€you€and€the€train,€the€way€you€wereÏapproaching€the€track€with€the€train€coming€fromÏyour€right,€there's€a€yard€there€with€a€œchain€›linkÏfence€around€it.ÌÌà àA.à àUh„huh.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAnd€you€know€òòtoday€and€after€this€wreckóó€that€thereÏwas€stuff€in€that€œchain€›link€fence,€inside€there;Ïtanks€and€all€kinds€of€machinery,€mechanical€stuff.ÌÌà àA.à àUh„huh,€yes,€sir.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àAnd€òòafter€the€wreck,€in€the€days€and€weeks€thatÏfollowed,€when€you€went€out€there€and€looked€at€itòòóó,óóÏwhenever€it€was,€you€found€out€œthat€that›€did€blockÏyour€view€or€didn't€block€your€view€of€the€trainÏand€the€train's€view€of€you?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àIt€did.ÌÌà à(Emphasis€added€to€the€above€testimony.)ÌÌÌÓÓà àThe€testimony€clearly€reflects€that€Mr.€Massey€did€not€becomeÏaware€of€the€obstruction€alleged€to€have€been€created€by€DychoÏuntil€after€the€accident€occurred.€€The€evidence€taken€as€a€wholeÍexcludes€the€obstruction,€if€any,€caused€by€Dycho€as€a€proximateÏor€legal€cause€of€the€accident.× ƒ+ ××  ×ÌÌà àStated€differently,€we€find€from€the€undisputed€evidence€thatÏthere€is€no€genuine€issue€of€a€material€fact€as€to€whether€MasseyÏlooked€to€his€right,€the€direction€from€which€the€train€struck€hisÏvehicle,€before€entering€the€crossing.€€From€the€undisputed€evi…dence,€the€trier€of€fact€could€not€reasonably€conclude€that€heÏdid.€€Thus,€even€if€there€was€a€dangerous€obstruction€negligentlyÏplaced€by€Dycho€on€its€property,€it€could€not€have€been€either€aÏcause€in€fact€or€a€proximate€or€legal€cause€of€this€accident.€Ï"Proof€of€negligence€without€proof€of€causation€is€nothing."€ÏòòKilpatrick€v.€Bryantóó,€868€S.W.2d€594,€599€(Tenn.€1993),€quotingÏòòDoe€v.€Linder€Const.€Co.,€Inc.óó,€845€S.W.2d€173€(Tenn.€1992).ÌÌà àWe€recognize€that€there€is€authority€that€a€landowner€orÏoccupier€has€a€duty€to€exercise€reasonable€care€in€the€use€of€hisÏproperty€so€as€not€to€injure€possessors€on€adjoining€properties.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòLouisville€&€Nashville€Railroad€v.€Fortóó,€112€Tenn.€432,€80ÍS.W.€429€(1904);€òòNashville€Chattanooga€&€St.€Louis€Railway€v.ÏWadeóó,€127€Tenn.€154,€153€S.W.€1120€(1912).€We€express€no€opinionÏas€to€whether€Dycho€was€negligent.€€We€simply€note€that€if€DychoÏwas€negligent,€such€negligence€was€not€a€proximate€or€legal€causeÏof€the€plaintiff's€injury,€under€circumstances€shown€by€the€undis…puted€evidence€before€the€court.€€The€trial€court€was€correct€inÏgranting€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€Dycho.ÌÌà àWe€now€turn€to€the€propriety€of€granting€summary€judgment€toÏthe€railroad€defendants.€The€plaintiff,€while€acknowledging€sub…stantial€negligence€on€Massey's€part,€argues€that€Norfolk€SouthernÏand€its€engineer€Hodge€were€also€guilty€of€negligence€which€proxi…mately€caused€his€injury.€€Plaintiff's€theory€is€that€Hodge€didÏnot€blow€the€train's€whistle€or€sound€the€horn€until€immediatelyÏbefore€impact,€and€had€he€kept€a€good€lookout€and€sounded€a€warn…ing€earlier,€Mr.€Massey€and€the€plaintiff€would€have€been€alertedÏto€the€train's€presence€and€would€have€stopped€before€entering€theÏcrossing.ÌÌà àAlthough€the€railroad€defendants'€answer€to€the€complaintÏavers€that€the€plaintiff€should€be€barred€from€recovery€because€ofÏhis€own€negligence,€they€do€not€assert€or€argue€this€on€appeal,Ïcontending€instead€that€the€sole€and€proximate€cause€of€the€acci…dent€was€Massey's€negligence.€€The€plaintiff€argues€that€underÏthese€circumstances,€if€the€trier€of€fact€could€reasonably€findÏthe€railroad€defendants€guilty€of€any€negligence,€however€slight,Ïwhich€proximately€caused€his€injury,€they€should€not€be€grantedÏsummary€judgment.€€ÌÌà àWe€agree€with€this€argument.€€Under€our€system€of€comparativeÏfault,€"so€long€as€a€plaintiff's€negligence€remains€less€than€theÏdefendant's€negligence€the€plaintiff€may€recover."€òòMcIntyre€v.ÏBallentineóó,€833€S.W.2d€52,€57€(Tenn.€1992).€€Also,€"in€cases€ofÏmultiple€tortfeasors,€plaintiff€will€be€entitled€to€recover€soÏlong€as€plaintiff's€fault€is€less€than€the€combined€fault€of€allÏtortfeasors."€€òòId.óó€at€58.ÌÌà àNorfolk€Southern€relies€upon€the€case€of€òòEaton€v.€McClainóó,Ï891€S.W.2d€587€(Tenn.€1994),€and€the€analytical€factors€regardingÍcomparative€negligence€contained€therein,€in€support€of€its€argu…ment€that€the€trial€court's€summary€judgment€was€correct.€€InÏòòEatonóó,€however,€the€Supreme€Court€"clarif[ied]€the€circumstancesÏunder€which€a€trial€or€appellate€court€may€hold,€as€a€matter€ofÏlaw,€that€the€plaintiff's€degree€of€fault€is€equal€to€or€greaterÏthan€the€defendant's."€€òòId.óó€at€590.€€Here,€it€has€not€been€shownÏthat€plaintiff€has€any€degree€of€fault€at€all.ÌÌà àIt€is€a€well„settled€rule€in€Tennessee€that€an€injury€may€be€Ïproximately€caused€by€several€concurrent€negligent€acts€or€œomis…sions:Ì›ÌÓÓà8 àIn€order€to€be€a€proximate€cause€of€an€injury,€a€negli…gent€act€or€omission€must€have€been€a€substantial€factorÏin€bringing€about€the€injury.€€òòBoling€v.€Tennessee€StateÏBankóó,€890€S.W.2d€32,€36€(Tenn.€1994);€òòMcClenahan€v.ÏCooleyóó,€806€S.W.2d€767,€775€(Tenn.€1991).€€An€injury€mayÏbe€proximately€caused€by€more€than€one€negligent€act€orÏomission.€€òòKelley€v.€Johnsonóó,€796€S.W.2d€155,€159€(Tenn.ÏApp.€1990);€òòStokes€v.€Leungóó,€651€S.W.2d€704,€708€(Tenn.ÏApp.€1982).€€Thus,€a€negligent€act€or€omission€need€notÏbe€the€sole€cause€of€an€injury€to€be€a€proximate€cause.€ÏòòMcClenahan€v.€Cooleyóó,€806€S.W.2d€at€775;€òòLancaster€v.ÏMontesióó,€216€Tenn.€50,€57,€390€S.W.2d€217,€221€(1965).€ÏEach€person€whose€negligence€is€a€proximate€cause€of€anÏinjury€may€be€independently€liable€for€the€injury.€ÏòòMcClenahan€v.€Cooleyóó,€806€S.W.2d€at€775.ÌÌÌÓÓòòBurgess€v.€Harleyóó,€934€S.W.2d€58,€68€(Tenn.€App.€1996).ÌÌà àCausation€questions,€which€are€fact„sensitive,€are€for€theÏtrier€of€fact€to€decide€unless€the€undisputed€facts,€and€theÏinferences€drawn€therefrom,€permit€only€one€reasonable€conclusion.€ÏòòHaynes€v.€Hamilton€Countyóó,€883€S.W.2d€606,€612€(Tenn.€1994).ÌÌà à€T.C.A.€ðð€65„12„108€provides€the€following:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àò ò65„12„108.€Precautions€required€for€preven…tion€of€accidentsó ó.ð"ð€In€order€to€prevent€accidents€uponÏrailroads,€the€following€precautions€shall€be€observed:Ì€Ìà8 àà à(1)€The€officials€having€jurisdiction€over€everyÏpublic€road€crossed€by€a€railroad€shall€place€at€eachÏcrossing€a€sign,€marked€as€provided€by€ðð€65„11„105.€TheÏcounty€legislative€body€shall€appropriate€money€toÏdefray€the€expenses€of€the€signs.€The€failure€of€anyÏengine€driver€to€blow€the€whistle€or€ring€the€bell€atÏany€public€crossing€so€designated€by€either€the€railroadÏcompany€or€the€public€official€shall€constitute€negli…gence€with€the€effect€and€all€as€set€forth€in€ððÏ65„12„109;Ì€Ìà8 àà à(2)€On€approaching€every€crossing€so€distinguished,Ïthe€whistle€or€bell€of€the€locomotive€shall€be€soundedÏat€the€distance€of€one€fourth€(1/4)€of€a€mile€from€theÏcrossing,€and€at€short€intervals€until€the€train€hasÏpassed€the€crossing;Ì€Ìà8 àà à(3)€Every€railroad€company€shall€keep€the€engineer,Ïfireman,€or€some€other€person€upon€the€locomotive,Ïalways€upon€the€lookout€ahead;€and€when€any€person,Ïanimal,€or€other€obstruction€appears€upon€the€road,€theÏalarm€whistle€shall€be€sounded,€the€brakes€put€down,€andÏevery€possible€means€employed€to€stop€the€train€andÏprevent€an€accident;ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌÓÓà àÌà àT.C.A.€ðð€œ65„12„109›€provides€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓò òà8 àà à65„12„109.€Violation€of€ðð€65„12„108€is€negli…gence€per€se.ó ó€ð"ð€A€violation€of€any€of€the€provisionsÏof€ðð€65„12„108€by€any€railroad€company€constitutesÏnegligence€per€se€and€in€the€trial€of€any€causes€involv…ing€ðð€65„12„108,€the€burden€of€proof,€the€issue€ofÏproximate€cause,€and€the€issue€of€contributory€negli…gence€shall€be€tried€and€be€applied€in€the€same€mannerÏand€with€the€same€effect€as€in€the€trial€of€other€negli…gence€actions€under€the€common€law€in€Tennessee.€Ìà8 àÌÌÌÓÓà àMassey€testified€several€times€that€he€did€not€hear€a€whistleÏor€horn€until€immediately€before€the€collision.€€He€deposed€asÏfollows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àThen€you€must€not€have€known€there€was€a€trainÏcoming.ÌÌà0 àA.à àNo,€I€didn't.ÌÌà àQ.à àYou€didn't€hear€it.ÌÌà àA.à àNo.€If€I'd€heard€a€whistle€I'd€have€stopped.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àThen€you€went€through€something€there;€you€wentÏthrough€the€trauma€of€the€wreck€and€your€head€wasÏhit€and€so€forth.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àUh„huh.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àI€want€to€know€what€your€answer€would€be€to€this:ÏDo€you€believe€œthat€that›€train€didn't€blow€or€doÏyou€believe€that€you€just€didn't€hear€it?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àA.à àI€believe€the€train€didn't€blow,€because€when€theyÏblow€in€Niota€you€can€hear€them€from€a€good€waysÏaway.ÌÌà àQ.à àHave€you€got€good€hearing?ÌÌà àA.à àYes,€sir.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà àQ.à àIf€that€train€would€have€blown€coming€down€on€thatÏcrossing€to€warn€motorists,€do€you€think€you€wouldÏhave€heard€it?ÌÌà àA.à àYes,€sir.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àN.€V.€Hodge€testified€that€as€he€approached€the€crossing,€heÏstarted€blowing€the€crossing€whistle€signal€and€when€he€saw€theÏtruck€he€blew€a€warning€signal.€€Mr.€Hodge€could€not,€however,Ïprovide€a€rough€estimate€of€how€close€he€was€to€the€truck€when€heÏfirst€saw€it,€except€that€it€was€"sudden."ÌÌà àMassey's€testimony€creates€a€genuine€issue€of€material€factÏas€to€whether€Hodge€blew€the€whistle€or€sounded€the€horn€withinÏthe€distance€required€by€T.C.A.€ððÔ% € Ô€65„12„108.€€The€transcript€ofÏthe€hearing€on€this€issue€reveals€that€the€trial€court€recognizedÏthat€there€may€be€a€genuine€issue€of€a€material€fact€or€facts€withÏregard€to€the€negligence€of€Mr.€Hodge.€€He€œstated:›ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àAnd€I€am€concerned,€I€think€that€there€may€be€someÏevidence€here€of€negligence€on€ð"ð€arguably€on€the€part€ofÏthe€railroad.€€There€is€probably€some€suggestion€here,Ïmaybe€an€inference,€that€the€engineer€didn't€blow€hisÏhorn.ÌÌÌÓÓà àTaking€Hodge's€testimony€in€a€light€most€favorable€to€theÏplaintiff,€a€reasonable€jury€could€conclude€that,€since€he€did€notÏsee€the€truck€until€"suddenly"€before€impact,€Hodge€was€not€keep…ing€a€good€and€adequate€lookout.€€If€the€jury€were€to€find€thatÏHodge€did€not€keep€a€sufficient€lookout€or€failed€to€blow€theÏwhistle€or€sound€the€horn,€it€could€reasonably€determine€that€suchÏa€failure€to€warn€Massey€and€the€plaintiff€of€the€train's€pres…ence,€was€a€proximate€cause€of€the€accident.ÌÌà àThus,€summary€judgment€should€not€have€been€granted€to€theÏrailroad€defendants.€€The€trial€court's€order€granting€summaryÏjudgment€to€Mr.€Hodge€and€Norfolk€Southern€is€reversed.€€The€trialÏcourt's€judgment€in€all€other€respects€is€affirmed.€This€caseÏremanded€to€the€trial€court€for€such€other€and€further€action€thatÏmay€be€required€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€on€appeal€areÏassessed€equally€between€the€appellant€and€appellee€Norfolk€South…ern.€€ÌÌÓÓ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€________________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Don€T.€McMurray,€JudgeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌœHerschel›€P.€Franks,€JudgeÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€JudgeÌÌÇÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ7€YLXXdðXXdð7Ñà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ` è` ˜XÓWILLIAM€T.€RAWLS,€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àKNOX€CIRCUIT€€€€€ÌÓ ` °œXÓ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9707„CV„00293Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€WHEELER€A.€ROSENBALMÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌN.V.€HODGE,€NORFOLK€SOUTHERN€€)à àAFFIRMED€IN€PART€€€€€ÌRAILWAY€COMPANY,€DYCHO€€€€€€€€)€€€€REVERSED€IN€PARTÌCOMPANY,€INC.,€AND€JAMESà àà à)€€€€REMANDEDÌMOYER€MASSEY,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellants€€)ÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòJUDGMENTóóó óÌÌÌÓÓà àThis€appeal€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€from€theÏCircuit€Court€of€Knox€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel.€ÍUpon€consideration€thereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€thatÏthere€was€some€reversible€error€in€the€trial€court.Ìà àThe€trial€court's€order€granting€summary€judgment€to€theÏdefendants,€Mr.€Hodge€and€Norfolk€Southern,€is€reversed.€€TheÏtrial€court's€judgment€in€all€other€respects€is€affirmed.€€ThisÏcase€is€Ñ  Ñremanded€to€the€trial€court€for€such€other€and€furtherÏaction€as€may€be€required€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€onÏappeal€are€assessed€equally€between€the€appellant€and€appelleeÏNorfolk€Southern.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌ