ÿWPC XTÖzÍ;-_¸dÕNŽ™×ëpƒÃl,6¶ÖúÍ+W·Ýê.œÏ·X^ ³§Âü¡Åá6åš ®*H·âA[ ÕO S-SYØJ>úgwæ˜m†å6ÅiôAžuœöÖY/å!{ŸÝ!” A´,µ9‡ ·™Ó+Ê‚ºëdÓÒ-ÕJý)`­k±™×Ç%¨üÉ}·V r¡FHã’º©¡õ9Ôz¼[:¦ ì ‚Dc¶wGÁÝøÆ°‹¸i84e”ÎÍíb›-¿(ʲÚzU÷µïJªÅ„ÎÁëÎ&°>Q‰R.ŽÄ|ÊS·´7š‡´üÿÈÝÐ7⿎ KO]?žQ¯©æÏ7oùº\-èà #øßÏÚA¥ªðò²ÔZ /ÎÙ9TÔB™Y??Vâ´²SìkMÝÓ+–§$&¡bðAà›üÄfå]\.:yýb†‡¦B“;QÌ¢L±^ Í‚¤´²’­q|núÇ<>Ñep{ Mð"wà_ÂÄöÄ¢ù¢ÐòßCGcsÌï9Ç0í ZO¶N;-Bƒ,£çæÚIk%xGr6o$t…å‚ãÓÔ2šw3Z0Fk£­™žð?X>fvO`°ª¤Ëb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz z Æ‘ ÆW Æ Æã 0D©NíïïE÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷bùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùùù 0ë Bìì 0¤  D3­ D-à 0K   ASXÆ« 0¤q 0D A«Y˜HP LaserJet 4Si,ü,,,,,ü0»´h)â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular9?Æ(ê:i¢Ø+00 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó - ù-(|G2ç$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¯Œ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X¢ÛX»»Ô d(|3$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¯Œ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¯Œ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¯Œ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼¯Œ»»»ÔÑ8€¢ÛXXdð»»d8Ñà@¦ ¦ ìàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@””$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEˆÐ È Ðà@††"ìàJune€2000€SessionˆÐ à0 ÐÔ‡X¢ÛX»¼¯ŒÔÌò òÔ#†¼¯Œ»XX¢Û›#ÔÓ  ÓVICTORIA€ROBBINS€v.€BILL€WOLFENBARGER,€D/B/A€WOLFððSÐ è8 ÐMOTORS€and€SAM€HORNEòòóóÔ‡X¢ÛX»¼¯ŒÔó óÐ  P ÐÓáÓÌà@„ „ ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Blount€CountyˆÐ  X Ðà@Y Y ìàNo.€L„11942€€€€€€Hon.€W.€Dale€Young,€Circuit€JudgeˆÐ ø H ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àFILED€AUGUST€2,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ Ø(  Ðà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ç` A߈Ð È  ÐÌà@¶¶ìàNo.€E1999„02012„COA„R3„CV€ˆÐ Ç  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¦` AßÐ §÷  Ðó óÌÌA€default€judgment€was€entered€against€Horne€and€the€Trial€Court€subsequently€overruled€HorneððsÐ –æ ÐMotion€to€Set€Aside€the€Default.€€Horne€has€appealed.€€We€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court.Ð †Ö ÐÔ#†¼¯Œ»XX¢ÛR#ÔÔ‡X¢ÛX»¼¯ŒÔÌÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed.ó óÐ V¦ ÐÌòòHerschel€Pickens€FranksÔ#†¼¯Œ»àX¢Ûó#ÔÔ‡X¢ÛX.¼¯ŒÔ,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€whichòò€Houston€M.€Goddard,Ô#†¼¯Œ»àX¢Ûº#ÔÔ‡X¢ÛX.¼¯ŒÔÐ 6† ÐP.J.,óó€andòò€D.€Michael€Swiney,Ô#†¼¯Œ»àX¢ÛH#ÔÔ‡X¢ÛX.¼¯ŒÔ€J.óó,€joined.Ð &v ÐÌÌHubert€D.€Patty,€Maryville,€Tennessee,€for€appellant€Sam€Horne.Ð öF ÐÌLinda€G.€Shown,€Alcoa,€Tennessee,€for€appellee€Victoria€Robbins.Ð Ö& ÐÌÌÌÌà@55'ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼¯Œ»XX¢ÛÁ#ÔÔ‡X¢ÛX»¼¯ŒÔˆÐ †$Ö# ÐòòÌóóÔ#†¼¯Œ»XX¢Ûö#ÔÔ‡X¢ÛX»¼¯ŒÔà0  àà0` (#(#àÐ ` (#` (# Ðà  àà ` àOn€may€7òòthóó,€1999,€plaintiff€Robbins€filed€a€complaint€for€damages€againstÐ V'¦"& ÐWolfenbarger€and€Horne,€alleging€breach€of€contract,€intentional€misrepresentation€and€negligence,Ð F(–#' Ðòòper€se.óó€€On€August€26,€1999,€an€Order€of€Compromise€and€Dismissal€was€entered€as€toÐ 6)†$( ÐÔ_ÔWolfenbargerÔ_Ô€individually€and€d/b/a€Wolf€Motors.Ð &*v%) ÐÌà  àà ` àHorne€did€not€file€an€answer€during€the€time€allowed€by€the€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure,Ð ,V'+ Ðand€Robbins€filed€a€motion€for€default€judgment€on€July€9,€1999.€€Horne€wrote€a€letter€to€theÐ ö,F(, Ðplaintiffððs€attorney€in€response€to€the€complaint€and€summons,€postmarked€July€16,€1999.€€The€letterÐ æ-6)-ý  Ðwas€forwarded€to€the€Clerk€of€the€Court€for€filing€by€plaintiffððs€counselððs€letter€dated€July€30,€1999.€Ð ° ÐÌÌà  àà ` àOn€August€27,€Robbinsðð€Motion€for€Default€Judgment€was€heard,€but€Horne€who€hadÐ €Ð Ðnotice€did€not€attend.€€Default€judgment€was€entered€on€September€1,€1999.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àà ` àHorne€then€retained€counsel€and€filed€a€Motion€to€Set€Aside€the€Default€on€SeptemberÐ P   Ð10,€1999,€which€Motion€was€heard€on€October€4,€1999.€€The€Trial€Court€denied€the€Motion€and€setÐ @  Ða€date€for€hearing€damages.€€Thereafter,€a€full€evidentiary€hearing€on€damages€was€held€and€aÐ 0 € ÐJudgment€for€damages€in€the€amount€of€$1,881.84€plus€interest,€was€entered.Ð  p  ÐÌà  àà ` àHorne€then€filed€this€appeal.Ð P  ÐÌà  àà ` àRule€55.02€of€the€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€provides€that€ð ð[f]or€good€cause€shown€theÐ à0  Ðcourt€may€set€aside€a€default€judgment€by€default€in€accordance€with€Rule€60.02.ðð€€Rule€60.02Ð Ð  Ðprovides,€in€pertinent€part:Ð À ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#àOn€motion€and€upon€such€terms€as€are€just,€the€court€may€relieve€a€party€or€thatÐ  ð Ðpartyððs€legal€representative€from€a€final€judgment,€order€or€proceeding€for€theÐ à Ðfollowing€reasons:€(1)€mistake,€inadvertence,€surprise€or€excusable€neglect;€(2)€fraudÐ €Ð Ð(whether€heretofore€denominated€intrinsic€or€extrinsic),€misrepresentation,€or€otherÐ pÀ Ðmisconduct€of€an€adverse€party;€(3)€the€judgment€is€void;€(4)€the€judgment€has€beenÐ `° Ðsatisfied,€released€or€discharged,€or€a€prior€judgment€upon€which€it€is€based€has€beenÐ P  Ðreversed€or€otherwise€vacated,€or€it€is€no€longer€equitable€that€a€judgment€shouldÐ @ Ðhave€prospective€application;€or€(5)€any€other€reason€justifying€relief€from€theÐ 0€ Ðoperation€of€the€judgment.€€A€motion€shall€be€made€within€a€reasonable€time,€and€forÐ  p Ðreasons€(1)€and€(2)€not€more€than€one€year€after€the€judgment,€order€or€proceedingÐ ` Ðwas€entered€or€taken.ÐP` (#` (# ÐÌà  àà ` àA€party€seeking€to€set€aside€a€default€judgment€has€the€burden€of€demonstrating€thatÐ à0 Ðit€is€entitled€to€relief.€€òòNelson€v.€Simpsonóó,€826€S.W.2d€483,€485€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991);€òòWalker€v.Ð Ð  ÐBakeróó,€738€S.W.2d€194,€196€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1987);€òòTennessee€State€Bank€v.€Layóó,€609€S.W.2d€525,Ð À! Ð527€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1980).€€In€order€to€obtain€relief,€the€party€must€satisfy€the€court€that€it€is€entitledÐ °"  Ðto€relief€based€on€one€of€the€grounds€in€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€60.02€and€that€it€has€a€meritorious€defenseÐ  #ð! Ðto€the€plaintiffððs€suit.€òòPatterson€v.€Rockwell€Intððlóó.,€665€S.W.2d€96,€100€(Tenn.€1984);€òòTurner€v.Ð $à" ÐTurneróó,€739€S.W.2d€779,€780€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1986).Ð €%Ð # ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€setting€aside€of€a€default€judgment€lies€within€the€sound€discretion€of€the€trialÐ `'°"% Ðcourt.€€òòTennessee€Department€of€Human€Services€v.€Barbeeóó,€689€S.W.2d€863,€866€(Tenn.€1985).€Ð P( #& ÐHowever,€courts€should€liberally€construe€60.02's€requirements€when€a€party€is€seeking€relief€fromÐ @)$' Ða€default€judgment.€€òòBarbeeóó€at€866.€€The€court€should€also€consider€whether€the€movantððs€defaultÐ 0*€%( Ðwas€willful€or€culpable,€and€examine€the€extent€to€which€the€movantððs€conduct€has€prejudiced€theÐ  +p&) Ðnon„defaulting€party.€€òòId.óó€€Courtððs€should€grant€relief€whenever€any€reasonable€doubt€existsÐ ,`'* Ðconcerning€whether€the€default€judgment€should€be€set€aside.€€òòNelson€v.€Simpsonóó,€826€S.W.2d€486Ð ° Ð(òòciting€Keck€v.€Nationwide€Sys.,€Inc.óó,€499€S.W.2d€266,€267€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1973)).Ð  ð ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€this€case,€the€Trial€Court€granted€plaintiffððs€Motion€for€Default€based€on€the€factÐ €Ð Ðthat€Horne€ð ðfailed€to€answer€within€the€time€prescribed€by€law.ðð€€Horne€received€plaintiffððsÐ pÀ Ðsummons€on€May€27,€1999,€but€as€of€July€9€Horne€had€failed€to€answer€or€otherwise€defend€theÐ ` ° Ðcomplaint,€and€the€Motion€for€Default€was€filed€at€that€time.€€Whether€the€letter€from€HorneÐ P   Ðconstituted€an€answer€or€an€appearance,€the€earliest€it€could€have€been€deemed€served€was€July€16,Ð @  Ð1999,€about€50€days€after€Horne€had€been€served€with€the€complaint.Ð 0 € ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€language€of€rule€55.01€makes€it€clear€that€a€judge,€in€the€exercise€of€soundÐ `  Ðjudicial€discretion,€may€enter€a€default€against€a€party€who€has€failed€to€plead€or€otherwise€defendÐ P  Ðin€accordance€with€the€rules,€as€long€as€proper€notice€of€hearing€on€the€motion€is€given.€€òòSeeÐ ð@  ÐóóTenn.R.Civ.P.€Rule€55.01;€òòPatterson€óóat€100.€€Ð à0  ÐÌà  àà ` àA€recent€case€out€of€the€Middle€Section€of€this€Court,€considered€whether€the€TrialÐ À ÐCourt€had€abused€its€discretion€in€granting€a€motion€for€default€judgment,€where€the€defendant€hadÐ ° Ðfiled€his€answer€minutes€before€the€courtððs€consideration€of€the€motion.€€òòState€v.€Looperóó,€2000€WLÐ  ð Ð354404€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€April€7,€2000).€€The€defendant€argued€that€even€an€untimely€answerÐ à Ðprecludes€entry€of€a€default€judgment,€basing€his€argument€on€òòTolbert€v.€Tolbertóó,€1994€WL€705230Ð €Ð Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Dec.€15,€1994)€and€òòBellSouth€Advert.€&€Publððg€Corp.€v.€Bonillaóó,€1995€WL€611283Ð pÀ Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Oct.€19,€1995).€€The€Court€in€òòLooperóó€distinguished€those€cases€and€found€that€theÐ `° Ðcourt€had€discretion€to€enter€a€default€judgment€where€defendant€had€failed€to€timely€plead€or€defendÐ P  Ðin€accordance€with€the€rules.Ð @ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Court€in€òòWright€v.€Lindsayóó,€140€S.W.2d€793€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1940),€set€forth€theÐ  p Ðprocedure€to€have€a€default€judgment€vacated.€€A€motion€to€set€aside€the€default€should€be€filed,Ð ` Ðsupported€by€a€sufficient€affidavit€excusing€the€failure€to€plead,€and€accompanied€by€a€tender€of€aÐ P Ðsufficient€defense€to€the€action.€€òòId.óó€at€795.€€Horne€completely€failed€to€meet€this€burden,€as€heÐ ð@ Ðoffered€no€explanation,€pursuant€to€Rule€60.02€as€to€the€lateness€of€his€letter€in€response€to€theÐ à0 Ðcomplaint.€€His€entire€argument€rests€on€the€fact€that€he€did€not€know€that€he€was€to€also€serve€anÐ Ð  Ðanswer€on€the€Court,€in€addition€to€the€plaintiffððs€attorney.€€He€contends€his€response€complied€withÐ À! Ðthe€language€of€the€summons,€but€because€the€summons€was€defective,€he€failed€to€serve€his€answerÐ °"  Ðon€the€Court.€€The€summons€did€not€state€that€Horne€was€to€serve€his€answer€upon€the€Court.€€WhileÐ  #ð! Ðthis€deficit€in€the€summons€may€explain,€or€even€excuse,€Horneððs€failure€to€serve€his€answer€uponÐ $à" Ðthe€Court,€it€is€not€responsive,€nor€does€it€explain€why€his€service€upon€the€plaintiffððs€attorney€wasÐ €%Ð # Ðalmost€a€month€after€the€time€for€filing€an€answer€expired.€€Moreover,€a€default€judgment€will€notÐ p&À!$ Ðbe€set€aside€unless€the€defendant€makes€a€showing€of€a€meritorious€defense.€€òòPatterson€v.€RockwellÐ `'°"% ÐIntððl.,€óó665€S.W.2d€(Tenn.€1984).€€Ð P( #& ÐÌà  àà ` àHorne€failed€to€demonstrate€to€the€Court€such€a€defense,€as€his€Motion€simply€statesÐ 0*€%( Ðthat€ð ðthe€defendant€believes€that€he€is€not€liable€to€plaintiff€to€any€extent€based€upon€the€complaintÐ  +p&) Ðfiled€against€him.ðð€€In€òòPattersonóó,€the€Court€held€that€such€conclusory€statements€do€not€constituteÐ ,`'* Ðan€assertion€of€a€meritorious€defense€required€to€set€aside€a€default€judgment.Ð ° ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#àThe€defendant€merely€asserts:€ð ðThe€respondent,€Rockwell€International,€believesÐ à Ðitself€to€have€a€good€and€valid€defense€to€this€action.ðð€€This€is€merely€a€conclusoryÐ €Ð Ðstatement€and€does€not€constitute€the€assertion€of€a€meritorious€defense€to€theÐ pÀ Ðplaintiffððs€claim.€€Having€failed€to€assert€a€meritorious€defense€as€a€condition€toÐ ` ° Ðseeking€relief,€the€defendantððs€effort€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment€against€it€mustÐ P   Ðfail.Ð@ ` (#` (# ÐÌòòPattersonóó,€665€S.W.2d€at€101.Ð  p  ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€hold€that€because€of€the€failure€of€the€defendant€to€meet€his€burden€as€to€why€heÐ P  Ðwas€entitled€to€relief,€the€Trial€Court€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€in€denying€the€Motion€to€Set€AsideÐ ð@  Ðthe€Default€Judgment.€Ð à0  ÐÌà  àà ` àAdditionally,€Horne€raises€several€issues€as€to€the€propriety€of€damages€awardedÐ À Ðagainst€him.Ð ° ÐÌà  àà ` àBy€suffering€a€default€judgment,€a€defendant€impliedly€confesses€all€of€the€materialÐ à Ðallegations€of€facts€contained€in€the€complaint,€except€the€amount€of€the€plaintiffððs€unliquidatedÐ €Ð Ðdamages.€€òòPatterson.óó€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€issues€involving€the€alleged€ð ðdouble€awardðð€are€addressed€only€superficially€inÐ P  ÐHorneððs€argument€section€of€his€brief.€€Horne€argues€that€the€release€of€Wolfenbarger€acknowledgingÐ @ Ðfull€satisfaction€entitled€him€to€a€reduction€in€any€claim€against€him€to€the€extent€paid€byÐ 0€ ÐWolfenbarger.€€However,€the€release€of€Wolfenbarger€does€not€state€that€the€judgment€had€beenÐ  p Ðsatisfied.€€In€fact,€there€is€no€evidence€cited€in€the€record€indicating€how€much€plaintiff€received€inÐ ` Ðthe€settlement€with€Wolfenbarger.Ð P ÐÌà  àà ` àCourts€routinely€hold€that€failure€to€make€an€appropriate€reference€to€the€record€andÐ à0 Ðcite€relevant€authority€to€the€argument€section€of€their€brief,€as€required€by€Rule€27(a)(7)€constitutesÐ Ð  Ða€waiver€of€the€issue.€€òòSee€State€v.€Schalleróó,€975€S.W.2d€313,€318€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1997);€òòRampyÐ À! Ðv.€ICI€Acrylics,€Inc.óó,€898€S.W.2d€196,€210€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994).€€Moreover,€an€issue€is€waivedÐ °"  Ðwhere€it€is€simply€raised€without€argument€regarding€the€merits.€€òòSee€Blair€v.€Badenhopeóó,€940Ð  #ð! ÐS.W.2d€575,€576„577€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996);€òòBank€of€Crocket€v.€Cullipheróó,€752€S.W.2d€84,€86Ð $à" Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988).€€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌà  àà ` àHorne€also€relies€on€T.C.A.€ðð29„11„105,€which€states,€in€pertinent€part:Ð `'°"% ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#àWhen€a€release€or€covenant€not€to€sue€or€not€to€enforce€judgment€is€given€in€goodÐ @)$' Ðfaith€to€one€(1)€of€two€(2)€or€more€persons€.€.€.€it€does€not€discharge€any€of€the€otherÐ 0*€%( Ðtort„feasors€from€liability€.€.€.€but€it€reduces€the€claim€against€the€others€to€the€extentÐ  +p&) Ðof€any€amount€stipulated€by€the€release€.€.€.€.Ð,`'*` (#` (# ЇHowever,€this€section€also€provides€for€procedural€requirements,€as€well:Ð ° ÐÌà0  àà0` (#(#àNo€evidence€of€a€release€or€covenant€not€to€sue€received€by€another€tort„feasor€orÐ à Ðpayment€therefor€may€be€introduced€by€a€defendant€at€the€trial€of€an€action€by€aÐ €Ð Ðclaimant€for€in€jury€or€wrongful€death,€but€may€be€introduced€upon€motion€afterÐ pÀ Ðjudgment€to€reduce€a€judgment€by€the€amount€stipulated€by€the€release.€.€.€.Ð` °` (#` (# ÐÌThere€is€no€indication€that€Horne€filed€a€motion€in€the€Trial€Court€for€reduction€in€judgment€afterÐ @  Ðthe€Trial€Judge€entered€a€judgment€for€damages€for€plaintiff.€€The€issue€was€not€raised€below,€andÐ 0 € Ðwe€Ô_ÔwillÔ_Ô€not€consider€it€on€appeal.Ð  p  ÐÌà  àà ` àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€and€assess€theÐ P  Ðcost€of€the€appeal€to€Sam€Horne.Ð ð@  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_________________________Ð à Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àòòHerschel€Pickens€Franks,€J.Ð €Ð Ðóó