WPCk  f$ idOlYndj/uG F]k1v&2h1(ee&7Ob{ǫ&B&剑t@Z5Cc/ȼbӔXa94ڹ}U[Q,R5) `n)jvٝ}^[r#_Q'_@ &I@ /V_ǟxU SnFyDd#;ķ>T6ҍG-MeE.1zJFֆ/z~e56j-ب!Wt^"pNW ?R; ԓPx7lPEP we)ݡUNV})A|.6H bDĒ,a0,]lciEBKF}>Bo54^M}M#\RmvEPSHoC5Mx'`o*# LU NW % 04 0bw@4N ^  m  U: AQ = 0D 0DG 0D D/ B B D38 HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh'"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular( U$  (c(2g$ U!   XXX `   0  - - DDeӀ_#-Nv3|xrobertson v. tennessee walking horse - opinion #9 ' IB011C20IB011C2 .   H$ U ""  Ϲ:Ϲ   Ad FILEDXn X:  July10,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAh ,@AZ"Arial Regular!"#$&C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  (3$ !  ($$   1  ((' dxd dP Pd'''''dxd U!   _XTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T7dd7    ќ  r )<,(j 8` `@E ` 8ttxPX  rt )>.*jx` `@E/` 8ttxPg tߛ@ DINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@)DATNASHVILLE  h  JOHNROBERTSON, h     )    `     h     ) ` Plaintiff/Appellant,    )  >  `     h     ) p MarshallCircuit T  VS. `     h     ) p No.12591 j   `     h     )TENNESSEEWALKINGHORSE  ) p AppealNo. F  BREEDERSANDEXHIBITORS  ) p 01A019610CV00456 \  ASSOCIATION,   h     ) r   `     h     ) ` Defendant/Appellee.    )  @!DAPPEALFROMTHECIRCUITCOURT@&DFORMARSHALLCOUNTY@$DAT_LEWISBURG_,TENNESSEE@ DTHEHONORABLELEERUSSELL,JUDGEForPlaintiff/Appellant: h      p   ForDefendant/Appellee: #  DonaldE.Parish   h      p   MarcO._Dedman_ %8! _Ivey_,Parish&Johns h      p   JulieKarel_Elkin_ &N" Huntingdon,Tennessee h      p   _Spicer_,Flynn&_Rudstrom_ (d#   `     h      p   Nashville,Tennessee `     h      p   Diane_Segroves_ `     h      p   Bobo,Hunt&Bobo `     h      p   _Shelbyville_,Tennessee  @%DAFFIRMEDANDREMANDED  4V/+   `     h      p WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE  ;B72  @)D OPINION# #    ` ThisappealarisesfromabreedersexpulsionfromtheTennesseeWalkingHorseBreedersandExhibitorsAssociation.TheAssociationrevokedthebreedersmembershipandpermanentlysuspendedhishorseregistrationprivilegesforregisteringafalsepedigreefortwohorses.ThebreedersuedtheAssociationintheCircuitCourtforMarshallCountyallegingwrongfulexpulsionanddefamationandseekingreinstatement.Afterconsideringthepartiescrossmotionsforsummaryjudgment,thetrialcourtgrantedtheAssociationsmotionanddismissedthecase.Onthisappeal,thebreederassertsthattheAssociationfailedtofollowitsownbylawsandtherebydeprivedhimofavaluablepropertyrightwithoutadequatenotice.WehavedeterminedthattheAssociationsubstantiallycompliedwithitsbylawsandrulesandprovidedthebreederwithfairnoticeandanopportunitytobeheard.Accordingly,weaffirmthetrialcourtsdecisiontogranttheAssociationssummaryjudgmentmotion.@.D I. ;    ` JohnRobertsonbreedsandexhibitsSpotted_Tobiano_Ԁwalkinghorses.HehasbredwalkinghorsesonhisfarmnearCamden,Tennesseesince1957.Beforehisexpulsion,hewasamemberoftheTennesseeWalkingHorseBreedersandExhibitorsAssociation,anonprofitcorporationwhosepurposeistoprotecttheindustrybymaintainingaregistryofthepedigreesofTennesseewalkinghorses.AsamemberoftheAssociation,Mr.Robertsonhadtheprivilegeofregisteringhiswalkinghorsespedigreeswhichsubstantiallyincreasedtheirsalepricesandstudfees. ` In1985,theAssociationbegananewprogramrequiringbloodtypingforeachstallionfoalandstallionusedforproductionbeforeanownercouldregistertheiroffspring.Fiveyearslater,theAssociationbeganrequiringthatstallionfoalsbecheckedorqualifiedtotheirsire,whichmeansthateachcoltsbloodtypewouldbecheckedagainstitssiresbloodtype.TheAssociationbroadenedtherulein1993torequireverificationofthesireanddameofeachfoalbeforeitcouldberegistered. :<6B  ` TheAssociationfirstbecameconcernedaboutMr.Robertsonsregistrationpracticeswhenthepurchaserofoneofhishorses,ahorsenamedRockNRollParader,attemptedtoregisteroneofRockNRollParadersfoals.WhenbloodtestsrevealedthatRockNRollParadercouldnotbethefoalssire,theAssociationcomparedaphotographofRockNRollParadersubmittedwithhisoriginalregistrationdocumentswithaphotographofthefoalssireanddeterminedthatthephotographswereoftwodifferenthorses. ` Inordertoruleoutthepossibilityofamistake,theAssociationtestedMr.Robertsonsonlyotherspottedstallion,ahorsenamedPaintMeDelight.TheresultsofthesebloodtestswereidenticaltothetestsofanotherhorsenamedRomeosJet.EventhoughtheregistrationofRomeosJetlistedDelightsRomeoasthesire,thebloodtestingruledoutthepossibilitythatDelightsRomeocouldbethesireofRomeosJet.TheAssociationalsodiscoveredthatthephotographsattachedtotheregistrationpapersforbothRockNRollParaderandPaintMeDelightdepictedthesamehorse,althoughoneofthephotographshadbeenalteredslightly. ` ThisinformationpromptedtheAssociationtosuspectthatMr.Robertsonhadprovidedfalsebloodsamples,falseinformation,andfalsephotographstotheAssociationwhenregisteringRockNRollParaderandPaintMeDelight.SincethisfalseregistrationaffectednotonlyRockNRollParaderandPaintMeDelightbutalsotheiroffspringandotherbreeders,theAssociationinformedMr.RobertsonbyletterdatedMay12,1994,thatdisciplinaryproceedingshadbeencommencedandthathehadbeenchargedwithpossiblefraudulentregistrationofRockNRollParaderandPaintMeDelight.ThisletteralsoinformedMr.Robertsonthattherewouldbeahearingandthathehadarighttoberepresentedbycounselandtocallwitnesses.ItexplainedtohimthepossiblepenaltiesthatcouldbeimposedifhewasfoundtohaveviolatedtheAssociationsregistrationrules.  TheAssociationwroteMr.RobertsonanotherletteronJune1,1994informinghimofthedate,time,andlocationofthehearingandagainadvisinghimofhisproceduralrights.TheAssociationsexecutivedirectorwroteathirdlettertoMr.RobertsononJune17,1994,remindinghimoftheallegationsagainsthimandenclosingacopyoftheAssociationsrulesandbylaws.AttheJune27,1994hearing, q:5B Mr.RobertsonchosetoappearwithoutcounselanddeclinedtheAssociationsoffertocontinuetheproceedings.OnJune28,1994,theAssociationinformedMr.RobertsonthathismembershiphadbeenrevokedforviolationoftheAssociationsregistrationrulesandthathecouldnolongerregisterhorseswiththeAssociation.  OnMay8,1995,Mr.RobertsonsuedtheAssociationintheCircuitCourtforMarshallCountyseekingreinstatementanddamagesfordefamation.Mr.Robertsonmovedforapartialsummaryjudgmentonhisreinstatementclaim,andtheAssociationrespondedwithitsownsummaryjudgmentmotionseekingdismissalofallclaims.ThetrialcourtgrantedtheAssociationssummaryjudgmentmotion,andMr.Robertsonhasappealed.Whilehedoesnotcontestthedismissalofhisdefamationclaim,hetakesissuewiththedismissalofhisclaimforreinstatementasamemberoftheAssociation.@. II.  ~   Anordergrantingamotionforsummaryjudgmentenjoysnopresumptionofcorrectnessonappeal.SeeCityof_Tullahoma_Ԁv.BedfordCounty,938S.W.2d408,412 a " (Tenn.1997);_McClung_Ԁv.DeltaSquareLtd.Partnership,937S.W.2d891,894(Tenn. "R$ 1996).Accordingly,reviewingcourtsmustmakeafreshdeterminationconcerningwhethertherequirementsofTenn.R.Civ.P.56havebeensatisfied.SeeHunterv. D% ( Brown,955S.W.2d49,5051(Tenn.1997);Masonv._Seaton_,942S.W.2d470,472 &5"* (Tenn.1997).Summaryjudgmentsareappropriateonlywhentherearenogenuinefactualdisputeswithregardtotheclaimordefenseembodiedinthemotionandwhenthemovingpartyisentitledtoajudgmentasamatteroflaw.SeeTenn.R.Civ.P. +'0 56.04;_Bain_Ԁv.Wells,936S.W.2d618,622(Tenn.1997);_Carvell_Ԁv.Bottoms,900 i-(2 S.W.2d23,26(Tenn.1995).  Whenreviewinganordergrantingasummaryjudgmentmotion,anappellatecourtmustviewtheevidenceinthelightmostfavorabletothenonmovingpartyandmustalsodrawallreasonableinferencesinthenonmovingpartysfavor.See 50< Robinsonv._Omer_,952S.W.2d423,426(Tenn.1997);Mikev.PoGroup,Inc.,937 /72> S.W.2d790,792(Tenn.1996).Thus,asummaryjudgmentshouldbegrantedonlywhentheundisputedfactsreasonablysupportonlyoneconclusion!thatthemoving q:5B partyisentitledtoajudgmentasamatteroflaw.SeeMcCallv.Wilder,913S.W.2d  150,153(Tenn.1995);_Carvell_Ԁv.Bottoms,900S.W.2dat26.Apartymayobtaina Q summaryjudgmentbydemonstratingthatthenonmovingpartywillbeunabletoproveanessentialelementofitscase,seeByrdv.Hall,847S.W.2d208,21213(Tenn.   1993),becausethisdefectnecessarilyrendersallotherfactsimmaterial.See 4  Alexanderv.MemphisIndividualPractice_Assn_,870S.W.2d278,280(Tenn.1993);  %  Straussv.Wyatt,Tarrant,Combs,Gilbert&_Milom_,911S.W.2d727,729(Tenn.Ct. v  App.1995).@ww- III.  Y   Thecourtsaregenerallyreluctanttointerfereintheinternalaffairsofprivateorganizationsandclubs.SeeOriginalLawrenceCountyFarmOrg.,Inc.v.Tennessee < FarmBureauFedn,907S.W.2d419,421(Tenn.Ct.App.1995);Moranv.Vincent, - 588S.W.2d867,870(Tenn.Ct.App.1979).Itisonlywhenacaseinvolvesfraud,lackofjurisdiction,oraninvasionofpropertyrightsthatthecourtswillinterveneinadisputebetweenanassociationandoneofitsmembers.SeeTennesseeSecondary   SchoolAthletic_Assn_Ԁv.Cox,221Tenn.164,174,425S.W.2d597,601(1968).When a " amemberhasbeenexpelled,suspended,orexcludedfrommembershipforcause,acourtshouldlooknofurtherthannecessarytoestablishthattheprocedureinvolvedwasfairandreasonable.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.4856302(1995);Original D% ( LawrenceCountyFarmOrg.,Inc.v.TennesseeFarmBureauFedn,907S.W.2dat &5"* 422.  Mr.RobertsonarguesthattheAssociationfailedtofollowitsownRule19whichprovides,inpart:8  8m  (# (#19.030 m m Acomplaintmaybefiledbyanymemberofthe  /Z*4 AssociationwiththeExecutiveSecretaryasfollows:   8  8m  (# (#A.0 m m Inwriting.61,6  8  8m  (# (#B.0 m m Containareasonablycleardescriptionoftheoffense L2-7 andcitetheRule(s)allegedlyviolated.   8  8m  (# (#C.0 m m Besignedbythemember.x4/9  8  8m  (# (#D.0 m m Statethefullnameandaddressoftherespondent.50:  8  8m  (# (#E.0 m m Beaccompaniedbyadepositof$25whichwillbe 61; refundedonlyifthecomplaintissustained.     8 4= 8  8m  (# (#19.040 m m TheExecutiveSecretaryshallimmediatelynotifythe  respondentofthecomplaintandsendacopy,setahearingdate,notifythepartiesofthedate.    8  8m  (# (#19.050 m m Thehearingshallbeconductedwithin40daysofthe B receiptofthecomplaint.   48  8m  (# (#19.060 m m Thehearingshallalloweachpartytofairlyand  n adequatelypresenttheircase.   8  8m  (# (#19.070 m m Thedecisionshallbemadeonthedateofthe J  conclusionofthehearing.Thedeliberationsshallbeinprivateandthepartiesnotifiedbymail.   :HeassertsthattheAssociationsfailuretoprovidehimwithawrittencomplaintsignedbyanAssociationmemberandtheAssociationsfailuretoidentifythepersonwholodgedthecomplaintunderminedthefairnessoftheproceeding.HealsoassertsthattheAssociationsfailuretoinformhimoftheidentityofthepersonwholodgedthecomplaintortostatepreciselyhowthetworegistrationswerefraudulentmisledhimintobelievingthattheproceedingwasnotgovernedbythedisciplinaryrulesandconfusedhimabouttheneedtoretaincounsel.  TheAssociationsinvestigationwasnotcommencedbecauseofamemberscomplaintbutratherbecauseofregistrationdiscrepanciestheAssociationitselfdiscoveredwhileprocessingtheregistrationofahorsethoughttobethefoalofRockNRollParader.WedonotreadRule19astheexclusivemethodbywhichtheAssociationmaydisciplineitsmembers.Rather,itprovidesaprocedureforprocessingcomplaintsmadebyoneAssociationmemberagainstanother.TheruledoesnotprecludetheAssociationitselffrominvestigatingandfilingchargesagainstoneofitsmembersbasedoninformationithasdiscoveredonitsown.  Mr.Robertsonhadadequatenoticeofthechargesagainsthim,thehearingdate,thepossiblepenalties,andtheprocedureprovidedbytherules.TheAssociationsenthimthreelettersinforminghimthathehadbeenchargedwithpossiblefraudulentregistrationofRockNRollParaderandPaintMeDelight,andthathehadtherighttoberepresentedbycounselandtoquestionwitnessesatthehearing.Hewasalsoprovidedwithnoticeofthedate,time,andlocationofthehearing,anexplanationofthepossiblepenaltiesthatcouldbeimposed,andacopyoftheAssociationsrulesandbylaws.  [94=   Mr.Robertsonattendedthehearingwithoutcounselandspecificallydeclined anofferofpostponement.Atthathearing,itwasestablishedthatMr.RobertsonhadsoldPaintMeDelighttoanotherAssociationmemberandthathehadlateragreedtotakethehorsebackwhenitdidnotqualifytoitsnamedsire.Mr.RobertsonreplacedPaintMeDelightwithRockNRollParader.AfterRockNRollParaderproducedfourfoals,retestingrevealedthathewasnotthesamehorsethathadbeenoriginallyregisteredasRockNRollParader.Atthispoint,Mr,.RobertsonpermittedPaintMeDelighttobebloodtyped,andthistestrevealedthattheanimalwasactuallyRomeosJet.Thesefacts,togetherwiththestatementintheAssociationscorrespondencethatthe EnforcementCommittee...haslodgedacomplaintconcerningthepossiblefraudulentregistrationofPaintMeDelightandRockNRollParaderputMr.Robertsononfairnoticeofthechargesagainsthim.Accordingly,likethetrialcourt,wehavedeterminedthattheAssociationsubstantiallycompliedwithitsdisciplinaryrulesandthatMr.RobertsonwasgivenfairnoticeofthechargesagainsthimandafairopportunitytobeheardbeforetheAssociationrevokedhismembership.@. IV.      WeaffirmthesummaryjudgmentdismissingMr.RobertsonsclaimsagainsttheAssociationandremandthecaseforwhateverfurtherproceedingsmayberequired.WetaxthecostsofthisappealtoJohnRobertsonandhissuretyforwhichexecution,ifnecessary,mayissue.   m     u    % ______________________________   m     u    % WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGECONCUR:_______________________________SAMUELL.LEWIS,JUDGE_______________________________BENH._CANTRELL_,JUDGE  8 4;   L @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @44)ATNASHVILLE #  L[K#=Ԉ @ #= L#JOHNROBERTSON,   u   ) \     m     u   )  Plaintiff/Appellant, u   )      m     u   ) % MarshallCircuit   VS.   m     u   ) % No.12591       m     u   )TENNESSEEWALKINGHORSE  ) % AppealNo. 0  BREEDERSANDEXHIBITORS  ) % 01A019610CV00456 F  ASSOCIATION,    u   )  \     m     u   )  Defendant/Appellee. u   ) 8 = L 7dd7 @==(JUDGMENT #=  L8P#Ԉ z =   ThiscausecameontobeheardupontherecordonappealfromtheMarshallCounty [ CircuitCourt,thebriefsoftheparties,andargumentsofcounsel.Uponconsiderationoftheentirerecord,thiscourtfindsandconcludesthatthetrialcourtsjudgmentshouldbeaffirmed___.  Inaccordancewiththeopinionfiledcontemporaneouslywiththisjudgment,itis,therefore,ordered,adjudged,anddecreedthatthetrialcourtsjudgmentbeandisherebyaffirmed___,thatthecauseberemandedtothetrialcourtforfurtherproceedingsconsistentwiththiscourtsopinion,andthatthecostsbetaxedinthemannerprovidedinthisjudgment.  ItisfurtherorderedthatthecostsofthisappealbetaxedtoJohnRobertson,principal,andDonaldE.Parish,surety,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.___.  ENTER_____________________.# +Q#   m     u   ______________________________ -/}*/    m     u   SAMUELL.LEWIS,JUDGE   m     u   ______________________________   m     u   BENH._CANTRELL_,JUDGE   m     u   ______________________________   m     u   WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE