WPC Z&(2_/G{p954Br>4w [5V#FT!\6" p!WM<8m6@1E [Sgp70 ݝ(R|w/x{E l6pgQa[vMs곧9,njFֆ'tDHM:pyjtUwν`TNUPƪs8" YۣZsZR1mJЀ퓂ؤ IN8E AϪƧC]KR狘А Yg7}'y7x|99 a@++D[f eR7Z^YbS<5U~YoeMQ*~IWKW^oi&Ѻ^pnfYlUiE9qYXqHn& \JOKq#p <?۠Z(NȮ$)UB> % 0t4 0 0\m 0 0rV 1m 05 D+  0 0=@ 0} AQ  0[ 0D 0cUn 0rU:=U:ww@4LQ-YrU:22 B:::: D3W\  `*Times New RomanTT'  The Plaintiffs appeal the trial courts final judgment which up (Authorized User(0Authorized User .   h:Default ParaDefault Paragraph FontXXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW<5T.footerfooter   !        >4X` hp x (#>P8page numberpage numberXXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTWV!:footnote texfootnote text          `:footnote reffootnote referenceXXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW#3e37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(e2$ !222   'dxd Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(e2$ !222   ($    (e2$ !222      C<< c(f(3L$ !222       0  (#$  0  (;3$23e  0  .3  0  3|x2\  `*Times New RomanTTC\  P6QP\  `*Times New RomanTTXXP\  P6QXP%2A`ArialTTomanTTXXX2PQXP(J$~4~4~4  ,K AZ"Arial Regular+K AZ"Arial Regular g D!U"#g$% &Ӏ2 n~<$VC:\OFFICE\WPWIN\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPT ##iXd# h "888   X8X   Ad FILEDXv4X   October28,1998  CecilCrowson,Jr.XXXv4AppellateCourtClerk ,kAZ"Arial Regular d$$$$'dxd !888   7rdd7ћTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T  ! ,XXX!q8X>Xqԛ78dXXd7ќ##&&&&2&r(<,(j 8` `@E` ttx$ r&2222&&2222222222222@g g  INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@bb%ATJACKSON22222t(>.*jxUs` `@EL` ttx$( G tߛ2BECKYSANDERS,   h   ) p    `     h   )   ` Plaintiff/Appellee, h   )TiptonCircuitNo.3954 P     `     h   )VS.   `     h   )AppealNo.02A019710CV00268 0     `     h   )GEORGEMOTTGRAYand h   ) `  JOHNCURTIS,    h   ) P     `     h   )   ` Defendants/Appellants.  )  0  @  APPEALFROMTHECIRCUITCOURTOFTIPTONCOUNTY@[[ATCOVINGTON,TENNESSEE@ THEHONORABLEJOSEPHH.WALKER,III,JUDGE DONG.OWENS,III  0 Memphis,Tennessee WALKERTIPTON `  Covington,Tennessee P AttorneysforAppellants LARRYS.BANKS "  BANKSLAWFIRM,P.A. Brownsville,Tennessee $" AttorneyforAppellee AFFIRMED -P(+ ̜      `     h      p   ALANE.HIGHERS,J. 3.2 CONCUR:W.FRANKCRAWFORD,P.J.,W.S. HOLLYKIRBYLILLARD,J.  h ! ;`6: 7>XXdd7  !2!7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  !2&!7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  7>XXdd7  !&""!  !DefendantsGeorgeMottGrayandJohnCurtisappealthetrialcourtsorderdenying   theirrespectivemotionsfordiscretionarycostsagainstPlaintiff/AppelleeBeckySanders.DefendantGrayadditionallyappealsthetrialcourtsordertotheextentthatitassesseshimwithSanderscosts.Forthereasonshereinafterstated,weaffirmthetrialcourtsjudgment.@&  I.FactualandProceduralHistory @    SanderssuedGrayandCurtisforinjuriesshereceivedinaMay1992automobile'^accident.SanderscomplaintallegedthatshewasapassengerinanautomobiledrivenbyDefendantCurtiswhenitcollidedwithatruckdrivenbyDefendantGrayattheintersectionofHighway14andMt.CarmelRoadinTiptonCounty.Inhercomplaint,Sanderssought$200,000forherinjuries,andatnotimeduringtheseproceedingsdidsheseeklessthan$100,000.Priortotrial,GrayofferedSanders$25,000tosettleherlawsuit,butSandersrejectedtheofferandproceededtotrial.  Attrial,CurtistestifiedthathewasdrivingdownthehighwaytowardtheintersectionwhenGraysgreentruckturnedinfrontofCurtissautomobileandcausedthetwovehiclestocollide.Grayacknowledgedthathewasintheleftturnlanepreparingtomakealeftturnattheintersection,buthetestifiedthatheneversawCurtissautomobileandthathistruckwascompletelystoppedjustpriortotheimpact.  ThejuryapparentlybelievedCurtissversionofeventsbecause,atthetrialsconclusion,thejuryreturnedaverdictfindingthatGraywasonehundredpercent(100%)atfaultandthatCurtisborenoresponsibilityfortheaccident.ThejuryfoundSandersdamagestobe$25,000,thesameamountGrayhadofferedtosettlethelawsuitpriortotrial.  P726   Afterthetrialcourtenteredajudgmentonthejuryverdict,eachofthepartiesfiled motionsfordiscretionarycostspursuanttorule54.04(2)oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure.ThetrialcourtenteredanordergrantingPlaintiffSandersmotionandassessing$3,501.15indiscretionarycostsagainstDefendantGray.ThetrialcourtdeniedGraysandCurtissrespectivemotionsfordiscretionarycostsagainstSanders.  Onappeal,GraycontendsthatthetrialcourterredingrantingSandersmotionfordiscretionarycostsandassessingthesecostsagainsthim.Additionally,GrayandCurtiscontendthatthetrialcourterredindenyingtheirrespectivemotionsfordiscretionarycostsagainstSanders.@&  II.DiscussionoftheLaw P   Aspertinent,rule54.04oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedureprovidesthat:'P̜$$8  8`    (1)  Costsincludedinthebillofcostspreparedbythe @ clerkshallbeallowedtotheprevailingpartyunlessthecourtotherwisedirects,.... ` x` x 8  8`    (2)  Costsnotincludedinthebillofcostspreparedby "  &  theclerkareallowableonlyinthecourtsdiscretion.... ` x` x ̜##T.R.C.P.54.04.'#;%%  Pursuanttorule54.04,trialcourtsarevestedwithwidediscretioninawardingdiscretionarycosts,andthiscourtwillnotinterferewithsuchanawardexceptuponanaffirmativeshowingthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretion.Perduev.GreenBranch ,`'* MiningCo.,837S.W.2d56,60(Tenn.1992);InreMcCoy,No.03A01-9604-CH-00143, -@), 1996WL599703,at*7(Tenn.App.Oct.21,1996),perm.app.denied(Tenn.Apr.7, / +. 1997);Ashfordv.Benjamin,No.02A01-9311-CV-00243,1994WL677607,at*2(Tenn. 1-0 App.Dec.6,1994);Fauxv.Spears,No.03A01-9312-CV-00433,1994WL147830,at*2 3.2 (Tenn.App.Apr.26,1994).Generally,trialcourtsawardsuchcoststowhicheverpartyultimatelyprevailsinthelawsuit,providedtheprevailingpartyhasfiledatimely,properlysupportedmotion.Turnerv.Turner,No.01A01-9506-CV-00255,1997WL136448,at*17 0948 (Tenn.App.Mar.27,1997);AustinPowderCo.v.Thompson,No.03A01-9607-CV-00229,  1996WL718291,at*2(Tenn.App.Dec.16,1996);Dentv.Holt,No.  01A01-9302-CV-00072,1994WL440916,at*3(Tenn.App.Aug.17,1994),modifiedon p othergrounds,1994WL503891(Tenn.App.Sept.16,1994);Harmonv.Shell,No. P  01A01-9211-CH-00451,1994WL148663,at*7(Tenn.App.Apr.27,1994).Thesuccessfulpartyisnot,however,automaticallyentitledtoanawardofcosts.See `  Bensonv.TennesseeValleyElec.Coop.,868S.W.2d630,644(Tenn.App.1993);Fauxv. @  Spears,1994WL147830,at*2;Webberv.Bolling,1989WL151496,at*4(Tenn.App.   Dec.13,1989).Instead,trialcourtsarefreetoapportioncostsbetweenthelitigantsastheequitiesofeachcasedemand.Perduev.GreenBranchMiningCo.,837S.W.2dat60;In  reMcCoy,1996WL599703,at*7;Christianv.Harding,1993WL156164,at*1(Tenn. p App.May14,1993).Accordingly,ifanyequitablebasisappearsintherecordwhichwillsupportthetrialcourtsapportionmentofcosts,thiscourtmustaffirm.See,e.g.,Bensonv. 0 TennesseeValleyElec.Coop.,868S.W.2dat644(holdingthattrialcourtdidnotabuse ` itsdiscretioninfailingtoawardcoststosuccessfulplaintiffs,inlightoflargeamountofjuryverdictsinplaintiffsfavor).Moreover,onappeal,theappellantbearstheburdenofshowingthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretioninitsassessmentofcosts.Fauxv. "  Spears,1994WL147830,at*2. $"   Applyingtheforegoingstandard,weconcludethatthetrialcourtdidnotabuseitsdiscretioningrantingSandersmotionfordiscretionarycostsagainstGrayand,conversely,indenyingGraysmotionagainstSanders.Atthetrialsconclusion,SanderswasawardedasignificantjudgmentagainstGrayintheamountof$25,000.%%InasmuchasSanderswastheprevailingpartyinherlawsuitagainstGray,thetrialcourtactedwithinitsdiscretioninawardingSandershercostsincurredinthislitigation.SeeTurnerv.Turner,1997WL 1-0 136448,at*17;AustinPowderCo.v.Thompson,1996WL718291,at*2. 3.2   Onappeal,GrayinsiststhatheactuallywastheprevailingpartybecausetheamountofthejudgmentobtainedbySanderswasmuchlessthanthe$100,000in 0948 damagesshesoughtduringtheseproceedingsand,further,becausethejudgmentwasthesameasthesettlementamountofferedbyGraypriortotrial.Wedisagree.Inmanycases,plaintiffsultimatelyareawardedjudgmentsinanamountsignificantlylessthantheamountofdamagestheyseekintheircomplaintsorattrial.Byitself,however,suchanoutcomedoesnotnegatetheplaintiffsstatusasaprevailingparty.Moreover,wenoteinthiscasethatGrayssettlementofferwasnotaformalofferofjudgment,whichwouldhaveentitledhimtoanawardofcostsunderrule68oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure.ϜSeeT.R.C.P.68(requiringplaintifftopayallcostsaccruingafterdefendantsofferof   judgmentifjudgmentfinallyobtainedbyplaintiffisnotmorefavorablethanoffer).WhileweagreethatGraysargumentsraiseequitableconsiderationswhichmayberelevanttoatrialcourtsassessmentofcostsinagivencase,wedonotthinkthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretioninrejectingtheseargumentsinthiscase.  WealsoaffirmthetrialcourtsdecisiontodenyCurtissmotionfordiscretionarycostsagainstSanders.Weagreethat,asbetweenSandersandCurtis,CurtiswastheprevailingpartybecausethejuryfoundnoliabilityonthepartofCurtisforthesubjectaccidentand,thus,SanderswasawardednojudgmentagainstCurtis.Nevertheless,wedonotnecessarilyagreethatCurtisscostsshouldhavebeenassessedagainstSanders.Wereiteratethatthetrialcourtisgivenwidediscretiontoapportioncostsastheequitiesofeachcasedemand.Underthecircumstancesofthiscase,wethinkthattheequitiesfavoredanawardofcostsagainstDefendantGray,butnotnecessarilyagainstPlaintiffSanders,andweknowofnoproceduralimpedimentwhichwouldhavepreventedthetrialcourtfromassessingCurtisscostsagainsthiscodefendant.Asallofthepartiesconcededbelowandonappeal,asapracticalmatter,SanderswasrequiredtosuebothGrayandCurtisforherinjuries,giventhisstatesthenrecentadoptionofcomparativenegligenceprinciples.SeeMcIntyrev.Balentine,833S.W.2d52(Tenn.1992).Moreover,for 3.2 purposesofawardingcostsinthislawsuit,Grayclearlywasthe losingparty.See p504 Turnerv.Turner,No.01A01-9506-CV-00255,1997WL136448,at*17(Tenn.App. P726 Mar.27,1997)(notingthattrialcourtsmaytaxcertainlitigationcostsagainst losing 0948 party);Bullav.Bulla,No.01A01-9004-CV-00133,1990WL160291,at*5(Tenn.App.  Oct.24,1990)(notingthat,normally, losingpartyincasepayscosts).DefendantCurtis,however,chosetolimithismotionfordiscretionarycostsbyseekingsuchcostsagainstSandersonly,andnotagainstGray.%%Giventheproceduralpostureofthiscaseand,specifically,Curtissfailuretoseekcostsagainstthelosingparty,wecannotsaythatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretionindenyingCurtissmotionfordiscretionarycostsagainstSanders.  Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisherebyaffirmed.CostsofthisappealaretaxedtotheAppellants,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.QXX.9rQ  %%%%  %% ` %% %%  %% h %%  %%  %%%%   `     h      p 򀀀     `     h      p QrX.9XQHIGHERS,J. X CONCUR:򀀀 "(! CRAWFORD,P.J.,W.S.򀀀 '"& LILLARD,J.