’WPC! &ŒÓgŲÖüxŻTś`2ŲžÉ|WŅb`µ"©šqp]\µ¾ŃŽ£¬±•H&›'”©IšT€*X2¹½<)Ļq,9šÄ4x˜ˆ' ¶K³ćÆ7Ē¢Nä^’*©åGcu{;ńš<N“)7[ßū£ŪI€z.Šd›Tkl6ņp¼O¬WįŠy{ż÷[,„ˆ ‘H$Ź(–ˆZ#…u(nŠ 0@dÜĖĢ‘-[ó5D2suČh8rĢJ<œ[ŁßøO±ģčˆr³ /Ü(ܒ4“ŲÕĮ1¾åV%M֊šO߉±k~{‡~1Żl 7®t¦1ŤĘĮa²nĮÜ0KĶåDy÷6•“ž*$Ą2‰ųå?Č@"æxS»ō ū°'k³†ŠžŒO"ĀŌ(¾ōšY7żn×ö?¼*Ę/qņĄ8 0öź¬œ6˜rŽ&“¹ ŌE*&=K,²Õę ljŚi<øQ,D†µ"uģ)Œä źóUéx‰Ŗ0 ¼ž„­…”Y ߢ¶fńöR{­•n9],w’§HyČč/ŹÄ"ģL¾[]°ĆµmŸ‹ō<®Ö7ū_„U&y^(ȱrPīō'×9¼ķ¦ZKżQŽ“i¾“¼a#ĮNUF %U 0([ wƒ 4‡ U:› Õ 72ä N ^  $ m& = = 1uE E 0cŗ o U:Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ Œ ASĘ Ę 0Vß 0V5 0D‹‹ D5Ļ B˜HP LaserJet 4Si,ü,,,,,ü0<¾½Q 9Z ‹.Courier New RegularX($””»U0'.Ō3  Ōą<Ō6X9`+"Courier 10cpi3|xi)™…N'L ’U‹’ĄĄĄ 3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(;3£$““Ō2#ŌŚ  Ś0Ś  Ś.Ō3  Ōą0  ą eŻ ƒ[½Ö"ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€X|XXXŌŌ€čćŃēXX|ŌÓ  Óņ ņŌ Ad ŌFILEDŌ€É؏ēčćŃŌŠ  ŠĢOctober€13,€1999Š && ŠĢCecil€Ō_ŌCrowsonŌ_Ō,€Jr.Š ff ŠAppellate€Court€ClerkŌdAŠŌó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularZ[\]_Ež’<<C’’ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(.3½Ö$¢¢Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Ż(.3½Ö$££Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  Ż($$””ņ ņŚ  Ś1Ś  Śó ó````)’’!dxdx dŻ ƒ!ŻŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŃTR[ģ AŲ'’ LegalXą3Ų' Letter  AŲ'’ Legal’3Ų'TŃŃ` °ŃŌ‡XAEXXXŌŃ8€›2XXdÖdČ8ŃŃ  ŃŃ  Ńßv€Y_@0,j: `€€@’E˜f ŽttئŠ` \vßą@ˆˆģąIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSˆŠ `  ŠÓ  ÓAT€KNOXVILLEŠ ( Č ŠÓ²ÓĢĢĢĢĢĢÓ'°8X°` ˜X°œX'ÓRONALD€STEPHEN€SATTERFIELD,€€€)ą  ąKNOX€CIRCUIT€€€€€Š  @ ŠÓ+ °œX°8X°` ˜Xõ+Ӏ€€€€SR.,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ą  ąC.A.€NO.€03A01„9805„CV„00162Š h  Š€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Š 0Š  Š€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,€€€)ą  ąŠ ų˜  Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ą)Š Ą`  Š€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Š ˆ(  Švs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Š Pš  Š€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ą  ąHON.€DALE€WORKMAN€€€€€€Š ø  Š€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€JUDGE€€€€€Š ą€  Š€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ą  ąŠ ØH  ŠGARY€LONG€and€RICHARD€M.€€€€€€)Š p Šą  ąSMITH,ą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ą)Š 8Ų Š€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ą  ąŠ   Š€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellants.€)ą  ąAFFIRMED€IN€PARTŠ Čh Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ą)€€€€REVERSED€IN€PART€€€€€€€€Š 0 Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ą)€€€€REMANDED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Š Xų ŠĢĢ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Š °P ŠĢDAVID€S.€WIGLER,€Knoxville,€for€Appellee.Š @ą ŠĢĢJOHN€KNOX€WALKUP,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter,€WILLIAM€J.€MARETT,Š ˜!8 ŠJR.,€MARY€M.€COLLIER,€Assistant€Attorneys€General,€Nashville,€forŠ `"  ŠAppellants.Š (#Č! ŠĢĢĢĢĢņņÓ  ÓO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóŠ Ų'x' ŠÓ  ÓĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąą p ąĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąą p ąĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąą p ą€€€Goddard,€P.€J.€Š ų*˜!+ ŠĢĢÓÓÓ  Óą  ąą ` ąThis€is€an€action€seeking€damages€for€the€tort€ofŠ P-š#. Šoutrageous€conduct.€€Plaintiff€Ronald€Satterfield,€a€formerŠ ą.€%0 Šofficer€of€the€Tennessee€Public€Service€Commission€(PSC)€suedŠ p0'2 ŠLieutenant€Richard€Smith€and€Captain€Gary€Long,€his€formerŠ 2 (4 Šsupervisors€at€the€PSC,€alleging€that€they€wrongfully€caused€himŠ 30*6 Što€be€discharged€by€purposely€manufacturing€and€reporting€falseŠ  5Ą+8 Šcharges€against€him.€€Plaintiff€also€alleged€that€the€DefendantsŠ °6P-: Šviolated€his€constitutional€rights€of€due€process€and€freeŠ @8ą.< Šspeech.€€The€Trial€Court€dismissed€Satterfield's€constitutionalŠ Š9p0> Šclaims€and€his€claims€against€the€Defendants€in€their€officialŠ `;2@ Šcapacities,€leaving€only€his€outrageous€conduct€claims€againstŠ `  Šthe€Defendants€personally.€€Š š  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThese€claims€were€tried€before€a€jury,€which€returned€aŠ ° Šverdict€against€Mr.€Long€in€the€amount€of€$64,000€in€compensatoryŠ  @ Šand€$40,000€in€punitive€damages;€and€against€Mr.€Smith€in€theŠ 0Š  Šamount€of€$16,000€compensatory€and€$10,000€punitive€damages.€Š Ą`  ŠDefendants€appeal€the€judgment€entered€and€Plaintiff€cross„Š Pš  Šappeals€the€Trial€Court's€dismissal€of€his€constitutional€claims.€Š ą€  ŠĢĢą  ąą ` ąWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€relative€toŠ 0 ŠPlaintiff's€constitutional€claims,€affirm€the€judgment€forŠ  Ą Šcompensatory€and€punitive€damages€against€Defendant€Long,€andŠ °P Šreverse€the€judgment€against€Defendant€Smith.€€Š @ą ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€relevant€facts€taken€in€a€light€most€favorable€toŠ `"  Šthe€Plaintiff€are€as€follows.€€Plaintiff€began€his€employment€asŠ š#" Ša€PSC€officer€on€October€1,€1990.€€He€worked€at€the€InterstateŠ €% $ Š40„Interstate€75€Scales€in€Knox€County,€inspecting€commercialŠ '°& Štractor„trailers€to€insure€compliance€with€applicable€safetyŠ  (@( Šregulations.€€Š 0*Š * ŠĢą  ąą ` ąOn€June€18,€1995,€he€was€off€duty€and€watching€hisŠ P-š#. Šdaughter€play€softball,€an€umpire€approached€him€and€asked€himŠ ą.€%0 Šfor€assistance€in€determining€the€birth€date€of€a€girl€playingŠ p0'2 Šsoftball€in€the€league.€€The€umpire,€who€knew€Plaintiff€was€aŠ 2 (4 Šstate€officer,€had€suspicions€that€the€girl's€parents€and€coachŠ 30*6 Šhad€falsified€a€copy€of€her€birth€certificate€in€order€to€allowŠ  5Ą+8 Šher€to€play€in€a€league€for€which€she€was€too€old.€€Š °6P-: Šā āą  ąŠ @8ą.< Šą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€agreed€to€help€the€umpire,€called€theŠ `  Šā āTennessee€Highway€Patrol€office,€and€requested€driver's€licenseŠ š  Šinformation€regarding€the€girl.€€Plaintiff€obtained€from€theŠ €  ŠHighway€Patrol€a€printout€of€the€driver's€license€information,Š ° Šwhich€showed€that€the€girl€was€in€fact€over€the€age€limit€for€theŠ  @ Šsoftball€league€in€which€she€was€playing.Š 0Š  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€next€day,€June€19,€1995,€the€girl's€father€filed€aŠ Pš  Šcitizen's€complaint€against€Plaintiff€alleging€that€he€hadŠ ą€  Šmisused€his€authority€to€obtain€the€information€about€hisŠ p Šdaughter.€€The€complaint€was€received€by€Shelton€Hunt,€who€wasŠ   Šthen€manager€of€transportation€services€for€the€PSC.€€In€fillingŠ 0 Šout€the€complaint€form,€Mr.€Hunt€wrote€that€Plaintiff€had€beenŠ  Ą Šaccused€of€obtaining€"a€certified€copy€of€an€NCIC€[National€CrimeŠ °P ŠInformation€Center]€report"€used€to€verify€the€girl's€age.€€Mr.Š @ą ŠHunt€testified€as€follows€in€this€regard:Š Š p ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€When€you€were€talking€to€Mr.€Smith,€youŠ (#Č! Šfilled€out€that€form,€or€filled€it€outŠ š#" Šshortly€thereafter;€is€that€correct?Šø$X#ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€Yes,€sir.€€I€think€I€filled€it€out.€Yes,Š H&č% Šsir,€I€had€it.Š'°&ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€Now,€on€that€form,€the€language€appearsŠ  (@( ŠNCIC,€or€certified€copy€of€an€NCICŠ h) ) Šreport;€correct?Š0*Š *ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€Yes,€sir.ŠĄ+`",ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€Where€did€that€language€come€from?ŠP-š#.ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€In€talking€to€Mr.€Larry€Smith.Šą.€%0ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€Did€Mr.€Larry€Smith€tell€you€that€an€NCICŠ p0'2 Šreport€had€been€used€to€get€his€daughterŠ 81Ų'3 Šdisqualified€from€the€softball€game?Š2 (4ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€It€may€or€may€not€have€been€in€thoseŠ 30*6 Šwords.€€I€think€the€words€that€heŠ X4ų*7 Šactually€used€was€[sic]€a€certified€copyŠ  5Ą+8 Šof€an€official€document,€and€I€in€turnŠ č5ˆ,9 Šthought€it€would€be€an€NCIC€report€fromŠ °6P-: ŠTHP.Šx7.;ø xø x ŠĢā āŠ 9Ø/= ŠÓÓą  ąą ` ąAt€this€point,€a€brief€discussion€is€necessaryŠ `  Šā āregarding€the€difference€between€the€NCIC€computer€system€and€theŠ š  Šcomputer€system€that€actually€was€used,€the€state€driver'sŠ €  Šlicense€system.€€The€National€Crime€Information€Center€(NCIC)Š ° Šsystem€is€a€federal€computer€database€containing€the€criminalŠ  @ Šhistories€of€individuals€who€have€been€arrested,€as€well€asŠ 0Š  Šoutstanding€arrest€warrants.€€It€is€a€confidential€system.€Š Ą`  ŠMisuse€of€the€NCIC€system,€such€as€was€alleged€here,€is€a€federalŠ Pš  Šfelony€carrying€a€penalty€of€up€to€three€years€in€prison.€€Š ą€  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąOn€the€other€hand,€the€state€driver's€license€computerŠ   Šsystem€contains€basic€information€about€individuals€licensed€toŠ 0 Šdrive€a€vehicle€in€Tennessee.€€The€information€in€the€stateŠ  Ą Šsystem€is€a€matter€of€public€record,€and€the€undisputed€evidenceŠ °P Šin€the€record€shows€that€it€is€readily€accessible€to€anyone€whoŠ @ą Šrequests€it€and€pays€a€five€dollar€fee.€€Š Š p ŠĢą  ąą ` ąWhen€Plaintiff€called€the€highway€patrol,€he€spoke€withŠ š#" ŠLieutenant€Brian€Farmer,€telling€him€that€he€needed€the€birthŠ €% $ Šdate€of€a€young€lady.€€When€asked€at€trial€whether€he€requestedŠ '°& Šthat€Mr.€Farmer€use€the€NCIC€computer,€Plaintiff€responded,€"No,Š  (@( Šsir,€I€did€not.€€I€stipulated€specifically€not€to€use€the€NCIC,Š 0*Š * Šthat€all€I€needed€was€a€date€of€birth,€no€history€even€on€that."€Š Ą+`", ŠMr.€Farmer€testified€by€affidavit€that€"Officer€Satterfield€askedŠ P-š#. Šfor€a€driver's€license€check.€€Officer€Satterfield€did€not€askŠ ą.€%0 Šfor€an€NCIC€check."€€Š p0'2 ŠĢŅe°Ņą ½ ąą  ąThus,€Mr.€Hunt's€assumption€that€Plaintiff€hadŠ 30*6 Šrequested€use€of€the€NCIC€computer€was€erroneous.€€Mr.€HuntŠ  5Ą+8 Šdirected€Defendant€Long€to€investigate€the€allegations€againstŠ °6P-: ŠPlaintiff.€€On€June€26,€1995,€Mr.€Long€interviewed€Plaintiff€inŠ @8ą.< Šhis€office,€in€the€presence€of€Defendant€Smith.€€PlaintiffŠ Š9p0> Štestified€that€he€unequivocally€told€Mr.€Long€that€he€did€not€useŠ `  Šthe€NCIC€computer.€€Mr.€Long€testified€as€follows€regarding€theŠ š  Šinterview:Š €  ŠŅ°eĢ)ŅÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąQ:€But€you€didn't€care€about€the€difference€ą @ ąą @ ąą @ ąą @ ąŠ Ųx Šbetween€NCIC€and€state€computer€system?€Š @` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€Sir,€I€wasn't€asked€to€make€thatŠ 0Š  Šdetermination.€€I€was€asked€to€take€aŠ ų˜  Šstatement€from€Officer€Satterfield€andŠ Ą`  Štake€a€statement€from€Lieutenant€Farmer,Š ˆ(  ŠI€wrote€them€down€exactly€like€those€twoŠ Pš  Šindividuals€told€me,€I€typed€it€up€in€myŠ ø  Šreport€and€I€sent€it€in,€and€that€is€theŠ ą€  Šlast€thing€I€had€to€do€with€anything€inŠ ØH  Šthat€investigation.€€I€made€noŠ p Šrecommendations€about€anything.Š8Ųø xø x ŠĢĢÓÓMr.€Long's€memorandum€of€the€interview,€which€was€sent€to€Mr.Š 0 ŠHunt€and€up€through€the€PSC€chain€of€command,€states€in€relevantŠ  Ą Špart:Š °P ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąSUBJECT:€Officer€Ron€Satterfield€NCICŠ  Ø ŠInvestigation€Report€of€Interview€andŠ Š p ŠOfficer's€StatementŠ˜!8ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąThis€interview€was€conducted€fromŠ (#Č! Šapproximately€11:30€AM€until€12:05€PM€at€myŠ š#" Šoffice€at€the€Knoxville€Scales.Šø$X#` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąIn€attendance€at€this€meeting€was€Lt.€RichardŠ H&č% ŠSmith,€Officer€Ron€Satterfield€and€myself.Š'°&` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąI€advised€Officer€Satterfield€of€theŠ  (@( Šallegations€that€he€used€the€NCIC€ComputerŠ h) ) ŠSystem€by€requesting€and€obtainingŠ 0*Š * Šinformation€from€the€Tennessee€Highway€PatrolŠ ų*˜!+ Šcomputer.ŠĄ+`",` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąOfficer€Satterfield€said€he€did€call€Lt.Š P-š#. ŠBrian€Farmer€of€the€THP€and€requested€a€birthŠ .ø$/ Šdate€on€a€girl€who€was€playing€in€aŠ ą.€%0 Šrecreational€softball€league.ŠØ/H&1` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąOfficer€Satterfield€said€he€didn't€thinkŠ 81Ų'3 Štheir€[sic]€was€anything€wrong€withŠ 2 (4 Šrequesting€the€information.€€He€said€he€knowsŠ Č2h)5 Šof€other€agencies€and€he€knows€some€of€ourŠ 30*6 Šofficers€run€information€on€the€PSC€computersŠ X4ų*7 Šat€the€scales€for€companies€requestingŠ  5Ą+8 Šinformation€on€their€drivers€and€for€otherŠ č5ˆ,9 Šreasons€he€did€not€specify.Š°6P-:` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąOfficer€Satterfield€said€he€never€meant€toŠ @8ą.< Šcause€anyone€any€trouble€and€he€did€not€do€itŠ 9Ø/= Šwith€the€intent€to€hurt€anyone.ŠŠ9p0>` x` x Š‡ą8  ąą8` Š Š ąHe€said€he€certainly€would€not€have€done€itŠ `  Šif€he€thought€it€would€jeopardize€his€job€inŠ ( Č Šany€way.Šš ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąHe€said€he€is€sorry€if€his€actions€haveŠ €  Šcaused€a€problem€for€anyone€involvedŠ H č Šincluding€Lt.€Farmer,€the€THP€or€the€PSC.Š°` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąLt.€Smith€and€I€both€believed€OfficerŠ  @ ŠSatterfield€to€be€sincere€during€thisŠ h  Šinterview.Š0Š ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąI€advised€Officer€Satterfield€he€would€be€onŠ Ą`  ŠAdministrative€Leave€with€Pay€pending€theŠ ˆ(  Šoutcome€of€this€investigation.ŠPš ` x` x ŠĢĢÓÓą  ąą ` ąMr.€Hunt€received€Mr.€Long's€memorandum,€along€with€aŠ ØH  Šfile€containing€several€other€recent€memoranda€from€Mr.€Long€toŠ 8Ų ŠPlaintiff,€and€determined€that€Plaintiff's€employment€with€theŠ Čh ŠPSC€should€be€terminated.€€Mr.€Hunt€testified€by€affidavit€inŠ Xų Šthis€regard€as€follows:Š čˆ ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąOn€June€28,€1995,€I€submitted€a€Memorandum€onŠ @ą Šthe€incident€to€Gordon€Smith,€Director€of€theŠ  Ø ŠTransportation€Services€Division.€€TheŠ Š p Šmemorandum€recommended€Mr.€Satterfield'sŠ ˜!8 Štermination.€.€.Š`" ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąI€received€no€information€from€Gary€Long€orŠ š#" ŠRichard€Smith,€except€what€was€included€inŠ ø$X# Šthe€documents€appended€to€Gordon€Smith'sŠ €% $ ŠMemorandum.€ŠH&č%` x` x ŠĢÓÓSeveral€memos€drafted€by€Mr.€Long€regarding€Plaintiff's€jobŠ Ų'x' Šperformance€are€attached€to€Mr.€Hunt's€memorandum€to€GordonŠ h) ) ŠSmith.€€One€of€them,€dated€July€18,€1995,€begins€with€theŠ ų*˜!+ Šallegation€that€"Officer€Satterfield€has€lost€or€destroyed€theŠ ˆ,(#- Šonly€copies€of€his€former€officers€[sic]€weekly€reports."€€Š .ø$/ ŠĢą  ąą ` ąMr.€Long€testified€at€trial€that€several€of€hisŠ 81Ų'3 Šofficers€had€come€to€him€with€complaints€that€Plaintiff€had€lostŠ Č2h)5 Šor€falsified€his€weekly€reports.€€He€testified€that€the€officers'Š X4ų*7 Šcomplaints€first€came€to€his€attention€"around€July€18th,"€afterŠ č5ˆ,9 ŠPlaintiff€had€been€placed€on€administrative€leave.€€There€was€noŠ x7.; Šother€evidence€presented€at€trial€tending€to€support€thisŠ 9Ø/= Šallegation.€€In€fact,€Defendant€Smith€testified€that€PlaintiffŠ `  Šhad€always€turned€in€his€weekly€reports€to€him€on€time.€€Š š  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€file€on€Plaintiff's€disciplinary€history€which€Mr.Š ° ŠLong€sent€to€Mr.€Hunt€also€contained€a€memorandum€from€Mr.€LongŠ  @ Što€Plaintiff,€dated€June€26,€1995,€which€states€as€follows:Š 0Š  ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąOn€May€26,€1995€you€were€scheduled€to€be€inŠ ˆ(  Šcourt€in€Knox€County€to€prosecute€the€casesŠ Pš  Šyou€had€set€for€that€date.Šø ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąYou€arrived€to€[sic]€the€courthouse€atŠ ØH  Šapproximately€8:30€AM€with€other€PSCŠ p ŠOfficers.Š8Ų` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąWhen€court€convened€at€9:00€AM€you€wereŠ Čh Šnowhere€to€be€found.€Š0` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąCitation€#950096101€(Ray€Skinner,€RadarŠ  Ą ŠDetector)€was€called€by€the€judge€on€thisŠ čˆ Šdate€and€you€failed€to€appear€to€prosecuteŠ °P Šthe€case.€€The€case€was€dismissed.Šx` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąWhen€the€judge€called€your€case€the€otherŠ  Ø Šofficers€in€court€searched€the€courthouse€forŠ Š p Šyou€and€determined€after€failing€to€find€youŠ ˜!8 Šthat€you€were€not€in€the€courthouse.Š`" ` x` x ŠĢĢÓÓą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€testified€that€he€was€in€court€on€May€26,Š ø$X# Š1995,€and€that€he€appeared€for€all€of€his€cases€which€were€on€theŠ H&č% Šcourt's€docket€that€day.€€After€he€was€finished€with€the€casesŠ Ų'x' Šfor€which€he€was€to€testify,€Plaintiff€left€the€courtroom€andŠ h) ) Šwent€to€speak€with€an€Assistant€District€Attorney€about€anotherŠ ų*˜!+ Šcase.€€At€trial,€Plaintiff€presented€the€testimony€of€theŠ ˆ,(#- ŠAssistant€District€Attorney€and€another€employee€who€worked€atŠ .ø$/ Šthe€courthouse.€€The€testimony€of€both€witnesses€supportedŠ Ø/H&1 ŠPlaintiff's€assertion€that€he€was€in€the€courthouse€on€May€26.€€Š 81Ų'3 ŠĢą  ąą ` ąRegarding€the€Ray€Skinner€case€referred€to€in€the€aboveŠ X4ų*7 Šmemorandum,€the€proof€shows€that€Skinner€showed€up€in€court€onŠ č5ˆ,9 ŠMay€26€to€contest€his€citation,€without€his€case€being€scheduledŠ x7.; Šon€the€court's€docket.€€After€the€cases€on€the€docket€had€beenŠ 9Ø/= Šheard,€Skinner€requested€to€be€heard€as€a€"walk„in"€unscheduledŠ `  Šcase.€€Since€the€Skinner€case€was€not€on€the€docket,€PlaintiffŠ š  Šcould€not€have€known€that€Skinner€was€going€to€appear€in€courtŠ €  Šthat€day.€€After€the€court€determined€that€the€Plaintiff€wasŠ ° Šunavailable€to€testify€on€behalf€of€the€state,€the€Skinner€caseŠ  @ Šwas€rescheduled€for€a€later€date.€€It€was€not€dismissed€on€May€26Š 0Š  Šas€the€memo€from€Mr.€Long€to€Plaintiff€asserts.€€€Š Ą`  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąAnother€memorandum€in€the€file€sent€to€Mr.€Hunt,Š ą€  Šdrafted€by€Mr.€Long,€alleges€that€Plaintiff€claimed€5.5€hoursŠ p Šmore€than€he€actually€worked€during€the€week€of€May€24,€1995,€andŠ   Šstates€that€"I€am€placing€you€on€probation€for€a€period€of€threeŠ 0 Š(3)€months."€€This€memorandum€is€dated€June€21,€1995,€but€alsoŠ  Ą Šstates,€"revised€June€26,€1995,"€the€date€on€which€Mr.€LongŠ °P Šinterviewed€Plaintiff€regarding€the€computer€misuse€allegations.€Š @ą Šą  ąą ` ąĢą  ą€ą ` ąAt€trial,€Plaintiff€admitted€that€he€had€made€mistakesŠ `"  Šin€reporting€his€time€worked€for€May€24€and€May€26.€€He€statedŠ š#" Šthat€he€was€confronted€by€Defendant€Long€about€these€errorsŠ €% $ Šbefore€the€computer€incident,€and€that€he€"admitted€to€CaptainŠ '°& ŠLong€that€it€was€an€error€on€my€part€because€I€had€plenty€ofŠ  (@( Šannual€time€to€cover€it."€€Mr.€Long€gave€Plaintiff€an€oralŠ 0*Š * Šwarning,€and€Plaintiff€was€under€the€impression€that€the€matterŠ Ą+`", Šwas€concluded€at€that€point.€€Plaintiff€testified€that€it€"didn'tŠ P-š#. Šmake€sense"€that€he€would€be€retroactively€placed€on€probationŠ ą.€%0 Šfor€three€months€after€he€had€been€suspended€with€pay€pending€theŠ p0'2 Šoutcome€of€the€computer€investigation.€€Š 2 (4 ŠĢą  ąą ` ąAfter€reading€Mr.€Long's€report€and€the€memorandaŠ  5Ą+8 Šcontained€therein,€Mr.€Hunt€recommended€that€Plaintiff€beŠ °6P-: Šterminated.€€Mr.€Long's€report€and€Mr.€Hunt's€recommendation€madeŠ @8ą.< Štheir€way€up€the€PSC€chain€of€command€to€Paul€Allen,€thenŠ Š9p0> ŠExecutive€Director€of€the€PSC.€€Allen€concurred€with€Mr.€Hunt,Š `  Šand€his€recommendation€for€termination€was€followed€by€theŠ š  ŠCommission.€€Plaintiff€received€his€termination€letter€on€AugustŠ €  Š11,€1995.€€The€termination€letter€states€in€relevant€part:Š ° ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąOn€June€18,€1995,€you€obtained€personalŠ h  Šinformation€about€another€person€through€theŠ 0Š  ŠNational€Crime€Computer.€€You€then€used€thisŠ ų˜  Šinformation€for€personal€reasons.ŠĄ` ` x` x ŠĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ą*ą  ąą h ą*ą Ą ąą  ą*ą p ąą Č ą*Š Pš  ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąIn€making€this€decision€we€also€took€intoŠ ą€  Šaccount€your€falsification€of€your€28€dayŠ ØH  Šactivity€report€for€May€24,€1995,€whichŠ p Šresulted€in€your€pay€being€docked€for€5.5Š 8Ų Šhours€and€your€being€placed€on€probation€forŠ   Šthree€(3)€months.€€You€were€also€assigned€toŠ Čh Šbe€in€court€on€May€26,€1995.€€When€you€failedŠ 0 Što€appear€to€prosecute€the€case,€it€wasŠ Xų Šdismissed.€€This€was€negligence€in€theŠ  Ą Šperformance€of€your€assigned€duties.€Š čˆ ŠAdditional€recent€instances€include€yourŠ °P Šlosing€the€only€copies€of€your€former€Šx` x` x ŠĢą0  ąą0` (#(#ąofficers'€weekly€reports,€and€your€being€late€for€aŠ  Ø Štraining€session.ŠŠ p` (#` (# Šą  ąĢĢÓÓą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€appealed€this€decision€to€the€Assistant€toŠ (#Č! Šthe€Finance€and€Administration€Commissioner,€who€decided€thatŠ ø$X# ŠPlaintiff€should€be€reinstated€and€his€discipline€reduced€to€aŠ H&č% Šnine„day€suspension€without€pay.€€Plaintiff€then€appealed€thisŠ Ų'x' Šdecision€to€the€Civil€Service€Commission.€€While€this€appeal€wasŠ h) ) Špending,€Plaintiff€and€the€PSC€settled€his€grievance€by€reducingŠ ų*˜!+ Šhis€discipline€to€a€written€reprimand€which€was€placed€in€hisŠ ˆ,(#- Šrecord.Š .ø$/ ŠĢą  ąą ` ąAfter€his€reinstatement,€Plaintiff€was€reassigned€toŠ 81Ų'3 Šthe€Greeneville€Scales€facility€because€the€Knoxville€Scales€hadŠ Č2h)5 Šbeen€closed€for€renovations.€€He€was€unhappy€with€hisŠ X4ų*7 Šreassignment€because€it€required€him€to€drive€a€much€longerŠ č5ˆ,9 Šdistance€to€work.€€He€testified€at€trial€that€he€felt€there€wereŠ x7.; Šcloser€areas€to€which€he€could€have€been€assigned,€and€that€heŠ 9Ø/= Šwas€being€punished€by€being€sent€to€Greeneville.€€Mr.€LongŠ `  Štestified€in€his€affidavit€that€"Plaintiff's€reassignment€to€theŠ š  ŠGreeneville€Scales€was€not€designed€to€'punish€and€get€back€atŠ €  ŠPlaintiff€for€challenging€their€termination€of€him'"€and€thatŠ ° Š"the€Greeneville€Scales€were€chosen€for€Satterfield€since€it€wasŠ  @ Šthe€only€location€with€an€available€space."€€€Š 0Š  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€testified€that€after€his€reinstatement,€Mr.Š Pš  ŠLong's€general€attitude€was€"very€cold.€I€sensed€venom€andŠ ą€  Šviciousness€in€that€man."€€Plaintiff€was€not€reissued€his€gunŠ p Šbelt,€which€contained€his€weapon€and€handcuffs.€€A€memorandumŠ   Šfrom€Mr.€Long€to€Plaintiff,€dated€December€28,€1995,€states€thatŠ 0 Š"your€weapon€cannot€be€reissued€until€our€firearms€instructor€canŠ  Ą Šschedule€a€time€and€place€to€requalify€you.€€This€could€take€someŠ °P Šweeks€and€I€believe€an€officer€working€without€a€weapon€is€saferŠ @ą Šat€a€lighted€scale€complex."€€Š Š p ŠĢą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€testified€that€"once€I€arrived€there€[inŠ š#" ŠGreeneville],€there€was€no€equipment,€no€paperwork,€anything€toŠ €% $ Šshow€me€that€anyone€had€even€worked€in€that€section€of€theŠ '°& Šbuilding€with€the€Public€Service€Commission.€.€."€€His€immediateŠ  (@( Šsupervisor€met€with€him€shortly€thereafter€and€gave€him€someŠ 0*Š * Špaperwork,€but€did€not€provide€him€with€the€wheel€blocksŠ Ą+`", Šnecessary€to€properly€immobilize€the€trucks.€€Š P-š#. ŠĢą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€testified€that€he€was€extremely€concerned€forŠ p0'2 Šhis€safety€without€a€weapon€and€handcuffs,€and€thus€with€no€wayŠ 2 (4 Što€safely€arrest€anyone€should€the€need€arise.€€PlaintiffŠ 30*6 Šdescribed€an€incident€which€occurred€in€Greeneville€where€he€wasŠ  5Ą+8 Šinspecting€a€truck€and€the€driver€showed€him€an€automatic€weapon,Š °6P-: Šand€made€a€joke€about€Plaintiff€being€unarmed.€€Plaintiff€enteredŠ @8ą.< Šinto€evidence€a€memorandum€from€the€PSC€Drug€&€AlcoholŠ Š9p0> ŠEnforcement€Specialist,€dated€November€15,€1994,€which€warned€ofŠ `  Šthe€necessity€of€always€remaining€cautious€and€alert€duringŠ š  Šinspections,€stating,€"[w]e€have€had€a€number€of€officersŠ €  Šassaulted€this€year.€€It€is€important€to€note€that€not€all€the€Š ° Šassaults€have€been€by€drinking€or€drug€using€drivers.€€It€is€moreŠ  @ Šimportant€to€note,€IT€CAN€HAPPEN€TO€YOU."€€Š 0Š  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€testified€that€after€working€"about€a€week€toŠ Pš  Šten€days"€in€Greeneville€without€his€weapon,€the€stress€andŠ ą€  Špressure€became€unbearable€and€his€doctor€suggested€that€he€takeŠ p Šsick€leave.€€Plaintiff€took€an€extended€period€of€sick€leave,Š   Šduring€which€time€he€attempted€suicide€and€was€hospitalized€forŠ 0 Štwo€to€three€weeks.€€It€is€undisputed€and€clear€from€the€recordŠ  Ą Šthat€Plaintiff€suffered€quite€serious€emotional€and€mentalŠ °P Šinjuries.€Š @ą ŠĢą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€filed€suit€against€Mr.€Long€and€Mr.€Smith€onŠ `"  ŠJune€25,€1996.€€As€noted€above,€the€Trial€Court€dismissed€hisŠ š#" Šclaims€against€the€Defendants€in€their€official€capacities,€andŠ €% $ Štherefore€this€appeal€involves€only€the€Plaintiff's€outrageousŠ '°& Šconduct€claims€against€them€individually.€€After€the€jury€trial,Š  (@( Šthe€judge€approved€the€jury€verdicts,€which€totaled€$104,000Š 0*Š * Šagainst€Mr.€Long€and€$26,000€against€Mr.€Smith.Š Ą+`", ŠĢą  ąą ` ąDefendants€appeal,€raising€the€following€issues:Š ą.€%0 ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ą1.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€holdingŠ 81Ų'3 Šthat€plaintiff's€lawsuit€based€upon€hisŠ 2 (4 Štermination€and€allegations€ofŠ Č2h)5 Šretaliation€upon€reinstatement€was€notŠ 30*6 Šbarred€by€the€exclusive€remedy€of€theŠ X4ų*7 ŠTennessee€Civil€Service€System?Š 5Ą+8ø xø x ŠĢĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ą2.€€Whether€the€defendants€are€immune€fromŠ x7.; Šthis€lawsuit€under€the€protectionŠ @8ą.< Šafforded€state€employees€under€T.C.A.€Š9Ø/=ø xø x Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąšš€9„8„307?Š Š9p0> Š‡ą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ą3.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowingŠ `  Šthe€jury€to€determine€an€issue€of€law,Š ( Č Što€wit:€whether€the€conduct€attributedŠ š  Što€defendants€was€so€beyond€the€boundsŠ ø X Šof€a€civilized€society€that€a€reasonableŠ €  Šperson€could,€upon€hearing€the€facts,Š H č Šexclaim€"outrageous"?Š°ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ą4.€€Whether€the€evidence€of€defendants'Š  @ Šalleged€misconduct€was€sufficient€toŠ h  Šsupport€the€jury's€finding€ofŠ 0Š  Šwillfulness,€maliciousness,€and€an€awardŠ ų˜  Šof€punitive€damages?ŠĄ` ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ą5.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€holdingŠ Pš  Šthat€it,€and€not€the€Tennessee€ClaimsŠ ø  ŠCommission€under€a€claim€for€Workers'Š ą€  ŠCompensation€benefits,€had€jurisdictionŠ ØH  Šover€plaintiff's€cause€of€action?Špø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ą6.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€inŠ   Šexcluding€the€testimony€of€theŠ Čh Šdefendants'€psychological€expert€becauseŠ 0 Šshe€could€not€point€to€a€sole€cause€ofŠ Xų Šplaintiff's€alleged€injury€"to€a€medicalŠ  Ą Šcertainty?"Ščˆø xø x ŠĢÓÓĢPlaintiff€in€his€cross„appeal€raises€the€issue€of€whether€theŠ  Ø ŠTrial€Court€was€correct€in€dismissing€his€constitutional€claims.€€Š ˜!8 ŠĢą  ąą ` ąDefendants'€first€argument,€that€Plaintiff's€exclusiveŠ ø$X# Šremedy€for€his€injuries€lies€with€the€Tennessee€Civil€ServiceŠ H&č% ŠSystem,€rests€on€their€proposition€that€"[t]he€creation€of€theŠ Ų'x' ŠCSC€and€its€remedies,€preempts€suits€by€State€employees€againstŠ h) ) Štheir€individual€supervisors,€or€against€the€State."€€DefendantsŠ ų*˜!+ Šcite€T.C.A.€šš€8„30„328(k)(4)€as€support€for€this€preemptionŠ ˆ,(#- Šargument.€€T.C.A.€šš€8„30„328€ņņet€seq.óó€establishes€certainŠ .ø$/ Šprocedural€guidelines€€for€regular€state€employees€who€wish€toŠ ų/˜&1 Šfile€a€grievance.€€Subsection€(k)€of€this€statute€provides:Š ˆ1((3 ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(k)(1)€Any€regular€or€permanent€stateŠ ą3€*6 Šemployee€may€file€a€grievance€within€fifteenŠ Ø4H+7 Š(15)€work€days€after€the€receipt€of€any€finalŠ p5,8 Šperformance€evaluation€on€procedural€groundsŠ 86Ų,9 Šunder€the€provisions€of€this€section.Š7 -:` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(2)€Grievances€filed€under€this€subsectionŠ 80/< Šā āare€limited€to€the€provisions€of€the€informalŠ X9ų/= Šprocedure€with€the€final€step€being€theŠ `  Šappointing€authority.Š( Č` x` x Šā āĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(3)€Employees€who€are€dissatisfied€with€theŠ ø X Šappointing€authority's€decision€may€submitŠ €  Šsuch€decision,€with€all€documentation,€to€theŠ H č Šcommissioner€for€review.Š°` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą(4)€Notwithstanding€any€law€or€regulation€toŠ  @ Šthe€contrary,€the€decision€of€theŠ h  Šcommissioner€shall€be€final€and€not€subjectŠ 0Š  Što€review.Šų˜ ` x` x ŠĢĢÓÓNothing€in€T.C.A.€šš€8„30„328€ņņet€seq.óó€mandates€or€supports€theŠ Pš  Šconclusion€that€a€state€employee€is€preempted€from€filing€a€causeŠ 0Š  Šof€action€against€his€or€her€supervisor,€in€an€individualŠ Ą` Šcapacity,€for€an€intentional€tort.€€It€is€apparent€that€thisŠ Pš Šstatute€addresses€a€situation€quite€distinct€from€the€presentŠ ą€ Šsituation.€Defendants'€first€argument€is€without€merit.€Š p ŠĢą  ąą ` ąLikewise,€the€Tennessee€Workers'€Compensation€law€doesŠ 0 Šnot€preclude€Plaintiff€from€filing€an€claim€for€an€intentionalŠ  !Ą Štort€against€a€co„employee€or€a€supervisor.€€The€Middle€SectionŠ °"P  Šof€this€court€so€held€in€the€case€of€ņņBlair€v.€Allied€MaintenanceŠ @$ą" ŠCorp.óó,€756€S.W.2d€267,€270„71€(Tenn.App.€1988),€wherein€itŠ Š%p$ Šstated:Š `'& ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąEven€though€the€Workers'€Compensation€LawŠ ø)X ) Šlimits€an€injured€employee's€claims€againstŠ €* !* Šthe€employer,€it€does€not€place€the€sameŠ H+č!+ Šlimitations€on€claims€against€a€fellowŠ ,°", Šemployee.€€The€Tennessee€Supreme€Court,Š Ų,x#- Šrelying€on€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€50„6„112(a)Š  -@$. Š(Supp.1987),€has€held€that€an€employee€mayŠ h.%/ Šmaintain€a€common€law€or€statutory€tortŠ 0/Š%0 Šaction€against€a€Ō_ŌcoemployeeŌ_Ō€who€intentionallyŠ ų/˜&1 Šinjures€that€employee.€€ņņTaylor€v.€Linvilleóó,Š Ą0`'2 Š656€S.W.2d€368,€370€(Tenn.1983);€ņņWilliams€v.Š ˆ1((3 ŠSmithóó,€222€Tenn.€284,€435€S.W.2d€808,€811Š P2š(4 Š(1968).Š3ø)5` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąMr.€Blair€alleges€that€Mr.€Oakley€committedŠ Ø4H+7 Šthe€torts€of€assault€and€outrageous€conduct.€Š p5,8 ŠThese€actions,€if€proven,€are€intentionalŠ 86Ų,9 Štorts.€.€.After€reviewing€the€record€in€theŠ 7 -: Šlight€most€favorable€to€Mr.€Blair,€we€haveŠ Č7h.; Šdetermined€that€he€has€alleged€two€common€lawŠ 80/< Šcauses€of€action€against€Mr.€Oakley€that€areŠ X9ų/= Šnot€barred€by€the€Workers'€Compensation€Law.Š :Ą0>` x` x Š‡ĢÓÓņņBlairóó,€756€S.W.2d€at€270„71.Š ( Č ŠĢą  ąą ` ąDefendants'€second,€third€and€fourth€issues€are€similarŠ H č Šin€nature€and€we€will€address€them€together.€€The€essence€ofŠ Ųx Šthese€issues€presents€the€question€of€whether€the€evidenceŠ h  Špresented,€taken€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€Plaintiff,€isŠ ų˜  Šsufficiently€egregious€that€a€reasonable€person€could€findŠ ˆ(  ŠDefendants€guilty€of€outrageous€conduct.€€Our€review€of€aŠ ø  Šproperly„approved€jury€verdict€is€well„established:Š ØH  ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąOf€course,€in€testing€the€validity€of€aŠ   Šplaintiff's€jury€award€we€must€view€theŠ Čh Ševidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€toŠ 0 Šplaintiff.€€This€court€has€no€right€to€weighŠ Xų Šthe€evidence€in€a€jury€case,€but€must€indulgeŠ  Ą Ševery€reasonable€inference€in€support€of€theŠ čˆ Šverdict.€€ņņHouser€v.€Persingeróó,€57€Tenn.€App.Š °P Š401,€405,€419€S.W.2d€179,€181€(1967).€€WeŠ x Šmust€look€at€all€the€evidence,€take€theŠ @ą Šstrongest€legitimate€view€of€it€in€favor€ofŠ  Ø Šthe€plaintiff€and€allow€all€reasonableŠ Š p Šinferences€in€plaintiff's€favor.€€ņņNorman€v.Š ˜!8 ŠLiberty€Life€Assurance€Co.óó,€556€S.W.2d€772,Š `"  Š773€(Tenn.App.€1977);€ņņTruan€v.€Smithóó,€578Š (#Č! ŠS.W.2d€73,€74€(Tenn.€1979).€€Our€duty€uponŠ š#" Šreview€of€conflicting€evidence€in€a€juryŠ ø$X# Štrial€is€not€to€determine€where€the€truthŠ €% $ Šlies,€but€only€to€determine€if€there€was€anyŠ H&č% Šmaterial€evidence€to€support€the€verdictŠ '°& Šbelow.€€ņņDavis€v.€Wilsonóó,€522€S.W.2d€872,€875Š Ų'x' Š(Tenn.App.€1974);€ņņChattanooga€Gas€Co.€v.Š  (@( ŠUnderwoodóó,€38€Tenn.€App.€142,€149,€270€S.W.2dŠ h) ) Š652,€655€(1954).€€Even€if€we€would€haveŠ 0*Š * Šreached€conclusions€different€from€thoseŠ ų*˜!+ Šreached€by€the€jury,€if€there€is€someŠ Ą+`", Šmaterial€evidence€to€support€the€verdict,€itŠ ˆ,(#- Šmust€be€affirmed.€ņņDavis€v.€Wilsonóó,€ņņsupraóó;Š P-š#. ŠņņChattanooga€Gas€Co.€v.€Underwoodóó,€ņņsupraóó€atŠ .ø$/ Š149„50,€270€S.W.2d€at€655„56.Šą.€%0` x` x ŠĢĢÓÓņņBryan€v.€Campbellóó,€720€S.W.2d€62,€63€(Tenn.€App.€1986);€ņņMason€v.Š 81Ų'3 ŠTennessee€Farmers€Mut.€Ins.€Co.óó,€640€S.W.2d€561,€564€(Tenn.€App.Š Č2h)5 Š1982).Š X4ų*7 ŠĢą  ąą ` ąThe€standard€for€determining€whether€a€person's€conductŠ x7.; Šis€sufficiently€egregious€to€give€rise€to€liability€for€the€tortŠ 9Ø/= Šof€outrageous€conduct€was€set€forth€in€the€seminal€case€of€ņņMedlinŠ `  Šv.€Allied€Investment€Co.óó,€398€S.W.2d€270€(Tenn.€1966),€whereinŠ š  Šthe€Supreme€Court€first€recognized€a€cause€of€action€forŠ €  Šoutrageous€conduct:Š ° ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąIt€is€the€opinion€of€this€Court€that€certainŠ h  Šfactors€present€in€these€cases€which€haveŠ 0Š  Šallowed€an€action€for€mental€injury€aloneŠ ų˜  Šoutweighed€the€valid€policy€considerationŠ Ą`  Šagainst€allowing€such€actions.Šˆ( ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąThese€factors€are€set€out€in€the€RestatementŠ ø  Šof€Torts€(2d).€Sec.€46,€"Outrageous€ConductŠ ą€  ŠCausing€Severe€Emotional€Distress."€ŠØH ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą"(1)€One€who€by€extreme€and€outrageousŠ 8Ų Šconduct€intentionally€or€recklessly€causesŠ   Šsevere€emotional€distress€to€another€isŠ Čh Šsubject€to€liability€for€such€emotionalŠ 0 Šdistress,€and€if€bodily€harm€results€from€it,Š Xų Šfor€such€bodily€harm."Š Ą` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąClarification€of€this€statement€is€found€inŠ °P Šthe€following€comment:Šx` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą"d.€ņņExtreme€and€Outrageous€Conduct.óó€€TheŠ  Ø Šcases€thus€far€decided€have€found€liabilityŠ Š p Šonly€where€the€defendant's€conduct€has€beenŠ ˜!8 Šextreme€and€outrageous.€€It€has€not€beenŠ `"  Šenough€that€the€defendant€has€acted€with€anŠ (#Č! Šintent€which€is€Ō#†X›2XXXAE#ŌtorturousŌ‡XAEXXX›2Ō€or€even€criminal,Š š#" Šor€that€he€has€intended€to€inflict€emotionalŠ Ę$f# Šdistress,€or€even€that€his€conduct€isŠ Ž%.$ Šcharacterized€by€'malice,'€or€a€degree€ofŠ V&ö% Šaggravation€which€would€entitle€the€plaintiffŠ '¾& Što€punitive€damages€for€another€tort.€Š ę'†' ŠLiability€has€been€found€only€where€theŠ ®(N( Šconduct€has€been€so€outrageous€in€character,Š v) ) Šand€so€extreme€in€degree,€as€to€go€beyond€allŠ >*Ž * Šbounds€of€decency,€and€to€be€regarded€asŠ +¦!+ Šatrocious,€and€utterly€intolerable€in€aŠ Ī+n", Šcivilized€community.€€Generally,€the€case€isŠ –,6#- Šone€in€which€the€recitation€of€the€facts€toŠ ^-ž#. Šan€average€member€of€the€community€wouldŠ &.Ę$/ Šarouse€his€resentment€against€the€actor,€andŠ ī.Ž%0 Šlead€him€to€exclaim,€"Outrageous."€€Š¶/V&1` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą"The€liability€clearly€does€not€extend€toŠ F1ę'3 Šmere€insults,€indignities,€threats,Š 2®(4 Šannoyances,€petty€oppression,€or€otherŠ Ö2v)5 Štrivialities."Šž3>*6` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąFrom€the€foregoing€portion€of€theŠ .5Ī+8 ŠRestatement,€we€find€the€two€factors€whichŠ ö5–,9 Šmust€concur€in€order€to€outweigh€the€policyŠ ¾6^-: Šagainst€allowing€an€action€for€the€inflictionŠ †7&.; Šof€mental€disturbance:€(a)€the€conductŠ N8ī.< Šcomplained€of€must€have€been€outrageous,€notŠ 9¶/= Štolerated€in€a€civilized€society,€and€(b)€asŠ Ž9~0> Ša€result€of€the€outrageous€conduct,€thereŠ `  Šmust€be€serious€mental€injury.Š( Č` x` x ŠĢĢÓÓņņMedlinóó,€398€S.W.2d€at€274.€€Š €  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąDefendants€are€correct€in€pointing€out€that€the€initialŠ  @ Šinquiry€as€to€whether€a€party's€conduct€could€rationally€beŠ 0Š  Šconsidered€as€"outrageous"€lies€with€the€court:Š Ą`  ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ą.€.€.the€court€has€the€burden€of€determining,Š ø  Šin€the€first€instance,€whether€appellees'Š ą€  Šconduct€may€reasonably€be€regarded€as€soŠ ØH  Šextreme€and€outrageous€as€to€permit€recoveryŠ p Šor€whether€the€conduct€is€such€as€to€beŠ 8Ų Šclassed€as€"mere€insults,€indignities,Š   Šthreats,€annoyances,€petty€oppression,€orŠ Čh Šother€trivialities,"€for€which€appelleesŠ 0 Šwould€not€be€liable.€€ŠXų` x` x ŠĢĢÓÓņņSwallows€v.€Western€Elec.€Co.,€Inc.óó,€543€S.W.2d€581,€583€(Tenn.Š °P Š1976).€€However,€in€making€this€inquiry,€we€must€keep€in€mindŠ @ą Šthat€the€Supreme€Court€has€noted€thatŠ Š p ŠÓÓą8  ąą8` Š Š ąŠ ` x` x Šą8  ąą8` Š Š ą[t]he€standards€here€applicable,€i.e.,Š (#Č! Š"extreme€and€outrageous"€and€"not€toleratedŠ š#" Šin€civilized€society,"€are,€like€"negligence"Š ø$X# Šand€other€variable€standards€which€are€basedŠ €% $ Šupon€the€common€sense€of€the€community,Š H&č% Šprimarily€for€application€by€the€jury.Š'°&` x` x ŠĢĢÓÓņņMoorhead€v.€J.C.€Penney€Co.,€Inc.óó,€555€S.W.2d€713,€718€(Tenn.Š h) ) Š1977);€ņņDunbar€v.€Strimasóó,€632€S.W.2d€558,€561€(Tenn.€App.€1981);Š ų*˜!+ ŠņņDunn€v.€Moto€Photo,€Inc.óó,€828€S.W.2d€747,€753€(Tenn.€App.€1991).Š ˆ,(#- ŠĢą  ąą ` ąDefendants€cite€T.C.A.€šš€9„8„307(h)€in€support€of€theirŠ Ø/H&1 Šargument€that€they€are€entitled€to€absolute€immunity€for€theirŠ 81Ų'3 Šactions€in€this€case.€€T.C.A.€šš€9„8„307(h)€provides€thatŠ Č2h)5 ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąState€officers€and€employees€are€absolutelyŠ  5Ą+8 Šimmune€from€liability€for€acts€or€omissionsŠ č5ˆ,9 Šwithin€the€scope€of€the€officer's€orŠ °6P-: Šemployee's€office€or€employment,€ņņexcept€forŠ x7.; Šwillful,€malicious,€or€criminal€acts€orŠ h8/< Šomissionsóó€or€for€acts€or€omissions€done€forŠ X9ų/= Špersonal€gain.€ŠH:č0>` x` x Š‡ĢÓÓ[emphasis€provided].€€Although€Defendants€were€acting€within€theŠ ( Č Šscope€of€their€employment€during€all€times€relevant€to€thisŠ ø X Šaction,€the€statute€does€not€provide€immunity€for€"willful"€orŠ H č Š"malicious"€acts.Š Ųx ŠĢą  ąą ` ąOur€courts€have€recognized€that€in€order€to€beŠ ų˜  Šconsidered€"outrageous"€an€actor's€conduct€must€at€least€beŠ ˆ(  Šcharacterized€as€reckless.€€ņņSeeóó€ņņJohnson€v.€Woman's€Hospitalóó,€527Š ø  ŠS.W.2d€133,€138€(Tenn.€App.€1975)€("A€negligent€or€inadvertentŠ ØH  Šact€will€not€give€rise€to€a€claim€of€outrageous€conduct.€.€.OneŠ 8Ų Šis€subject€to€tort€liability€for€severe€emotional€distress€whenŠ Čh Šhe€engages€in€outrageous€conduct,€which€conduct€intentionally€orŠ Xų Šrecklessly€causes€such€severe€emotional€distress.")€€Since€T.C.A.Š čˆ Ššš€9„8„307(h)€removes€immunity€only€for€"willful"€or€"malicious"Š x Šacts,€our€inquiry€is€whether€a€reasonable€jury€could€find€thatŠ  Ø ŠDefendants'€acts€were€willful€or€malicious,€and€sufficientlyŠ ˜!8 Šegregious€to€be€beyond€the€pale€of€common€decency€and€notŠ (#Č! Štolerated€in€civilized€society.Š ø$X# ŠĢą  ąą ` ąHaving€carefully€reviewed€the€evidence€and€the€entireŠ Ų'x' Šrecord€in€this€case,€we€are€of€the€opinion€that,€construing€theŠ h) ) Ševidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€Plaintiff,€the€jury€couldŠ ų*˜!+ Šreasonably€have€found€that€Defendant€Long's€conduct€wasŠ ˆ,(#- Š"outrageous."€€There€is€an€abundance€of€evidence€from€which€theŠ .ø$/ Šjury€could€conclude€that€Mr.€Long's€intent€was€to€causeŠ Ø/H&1 ŠPlaintiff's€termination,€and€that€he€deliberately€filed€false€andŠ 81Ų'3 Šmisleading€reports€to€this€end.€€There€is€also€material€evidenceŠ Č2h)5 Šfrom€which€the€jury€could€conclude€that€Mr.€Long€sent€PlaintiffŠ X4ų*7 Što€the€Greeneville€Scales„„into€a€position€where€Plaintiff€wouldŠ č5ˆ,9 Šregularly€face€potential€danger€without€any€means€to€safely€makeŠ x7.; Šan€arrest„„Ō#†X›2XXXAE² #ŌŌ‡XAEXXX›2Ōas€a€retaliatory€measure€after€his€reinstatement,Š 9Ø/= Š‡ą  ąą ` ąAs€noted€above,€both€Plaintiff€and€Lieutenant€FarmerŠ `  Štestified€that€Plaintiff€specifically€told€Farmer€not€to€use€theŠ š  ŠNCIC€computer.€€Plaintiff€testified€that€after€he€was€informed€ofŠ €  Šthe€allegation€that€he€had€used€the€NCIC€computer,€heŠ ° Šemphatically€told€Mr.€Long€on€several€occasions€that€he€did€notŠ  @ Šuse€that€system.€€Yet€Mr.€Long€sent€a€memorandum€up€the€chain€ofŠ 0Š  Šcommand€that€clearly€implied€that€Plaintiff€had€admitted€usingŠ Ą`  Šthe€NCIC€system,€which€was€the€offense€which€caused€Plaintiff€toŠ Pš  Šbe€terminated.€Š ą€  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąWhen€asked€on€cross„examination€whether€he€"didn't€careŠ   Šabout€the€difference€between€NCIC€and€state€computer€system,"€Š 0 ŠMr.€Long€answered,€"Sir,€I€wasn't€asked€to€make€thatŠ  Ą Šdetermination."€€Mr.€Long€further€testified€on€this€point€asŠ °P Šfollows:Š @ą ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€Do€you€recall€testifying€at€page€152€ofŠ ˜!8 Šyour€deposition€that€you€weren'tŠ `"  Šconcerned€about€any€distinction€betweenŠ (#Č! ŠNCIC€and€the€state€computer€system?Šš#"ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€Well,€what€I€didn't„„I€don't€rememberŠ €% $ Šsaying€that€I€wasn't€concerned€about€it.€ŠH&č%ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€[reading€from€deposition]€QUESTION:€Š Ų'x' ŠThat's€right.€€But€now€there€is€anŠ  (@( Šimportant€distinction,€is€there€not,Š h) ) Šbetween€obtaining€a€confidentialŠ 0*Š * Šcriminal€record€from€NCIC,€the€NationalŠ ų*˜!+ ŠCrime€Information€computer€system,€andŠ Ą+`", Šobtaining€information€that€is€of€publicŠ ˆ,(#- Šrecord,€a€date€of€birth€record€thatŠ P-š#. Šcould€be€obtained€by€paying€the€fiveŠ .ø$/ Šdollar€fee,€and€an€application€with€theŠ ą.€%0 ŠDepartment€of€Safety.€You€would€agreeŠ Ø/H&1 Šthere€is€a€difference,€wouldn't€you?€Š p0'2 ŠANSWER:€I€would€say,€I€would€agree€thereŠ 81Ų'3 Šare€some€differences€there,€yes,€but€IŠ 2 (4 Šwasn't€concerned€about€that.ŠČ2h)5ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€I€must€have€said€it€if€it's€in€theŠ X4ų*7 Šrecord,€I€guess.Š 5Ą+8ø xø x ŠĢĢÓÓMr.€Long€admitted€on€cross„examination€that€he€had€testified€inŠ x7.; Šhis€deposition€on€three€separate€occasions€that€he€was€"positive"Š 9Ø/= Šthat€Farmer€had€told€him€that€he€had€used€the€NCIC€computer.€€AtŠ `  Štrial€he€testified€that€"I€don't€recall€[Farmer]€saying€NCICŠ š  Šinformation."€Š €  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąShelton€Hunt€testified€that€"it€was€Gary€Long's€job€toŠ  @ Šinvestigate€whether€the€NCIC€computer€was€used."€€He€furtherŠ 0Š  Štestified€that€Mr.€Long€informed€him€that€the€NCIC€computer€hadŠ Ą`  Šbeen€used€by€Plaintiff:Š Pš  ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€€You€didn't€do€any€other€investigationŠ ØH  Šbesides€Gary€Long?Špø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€No,€sir.€I€used€the€documentation.Š ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€€So€somehow,€he€communicated€back€to€youŠ 0 Šthe€results€of€his€investigation€are,Š Xų ŠNCIC€was€used?Š Ąø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąA:€€Yes,€sir.Š°P` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€€And€that€was€false?Š@ąø xø x ŠĢĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€Well,€I€found€that€out€at€the€Level€IVŠ ˜!8 Šhearing;€yes€sir.Š`" ø xø x ŠĢą  ąą ` ąą ø ą*ą  ąą h ą*ą Ą ąą  ą*ą p ąą Č ą*Š š#" ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€I€may€have€talked€to€him€on€theŠ €% $ Štelephone,€yes,€sir,€to€verify€that€thisŠ H&č% Šis€what€you€have€got.Š'°&ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€€Based€on€those€conversation€[sic]€youŠ  (@( Šcame€to€believe€that€NCIC€had€been€used?Šh) )ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€That's€correct.Šų*˜!+ø xø x ŠĢĢÓÓą  ąą ` ąWhen€Plaintiff's€testimony€that€he€told€Mr.€Long€onŠ P-š#. Šnumerous€occasions€that€he€specifically€requested€Farmer€not€useŠ ą.€%0 Šthe€NCIC€system,€and€Farmer's€independent€testimony,€is€credited,Š p0'2 Šthe€conclusion€is€both€rational€and€inevitable€that€Mr.€LongŠ 2 (4 Špurposefully€reported€a€serious€allegation€against€PlaintiffŠ 30*6 Šwhich€he€knew€to€be€erroneous,€and€which,€as€a€federal€felony,Š  5Ą+8 Šwas€likely€to€lead€to€Plaintiff's€termination.Š °6P-: Šā āą8  ąą0` Š Š ąą  ąŠ@8ą.<` Š ` Š  Šą  ąą ` ąBoth€the€content€and€the€timing€of€Mr.€Long's€otherŠ `  Šā āmemoranda€in€the€file€sent€to€Mr.€Hunt€would€support€a€rationalŠ š  Šinference€that€Mr.€Long€harbored€malicious€intent€towardŠ €  ŠPlaintiff.€€As€noted€above,€Mr.€Long€sent€a€memo€to€the€DirectorŠ ° Šof€the€PSC€Transportation€Division,€ņņafteróó€the€computerŠ  @ Šinvestigation€was€complete€and€Plaintiff€had€been€placed€onŠ 0Š  Šadministrative€leave,€which€began€by€flatly€stating€that€"OfficerŠ Ą`  ŠSatterfield€has€lost€or€destroyed€the€only€copies€of€his€formerŠ Pš  Šofficers[']€weekly€reports."€€On€cross„examination,€Mr.€LongŠ ą€  Šagreed€that€he€had€told€the€hearing€officers€at€Plaintiff'sŠ p Šhearing€that€Plaintiff€"had€lost,€misplaced,€stolen,€orŠ   Šsomething,€every€report€that€he€was€responsible€for€for€weeks€onŠ 0 Šend€from€the€time€he€had€become€supervisor€during€that€time."€Š  Ą ŠAlthough€Mr.€Long€alleged€that€this€problem€had€continued€forŠ °P Š"weeks€on€end,"€there€was€no€written€memorandum€or€documentationŠ @ą Šof€such€a€problem€until€nearly€a€month€after€Plaintiff€had€beenŠ Š p Šsuspended.Š `"  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąRegarding€Plaintiff's€weekly€officer's€reports,€thereŠ €% $ Šis€no€evidence€in€the€record€other€than€Mr.€Long's€testimony€thatŠ '°& ŠPlaintiff€ever€failed€to€turn€in€a€weekly€report.€€DefendantŠ  (@( ŠSmith,€to€whom€Plaintiff€was€responsible€for€weekly€reports,Š 0*Š * Štestified€that€Plaintiff€always€turned€in€his€weekly€reports€toŠ Ą+`", Šhim€on€time€and€in€satisfactory€form.€€Š P-š#. ŠĢą  ąą ` ąMr.€Long's€memorandum€regarding€Plaintiff's€allegedŠ p0'2 Šmissed€court€appearance€also€contained€inaccuracies.€€The€memoŠ 2 (4 Šalleges€that€Plaintiff€missed€a€scheduled€court€appearance,Š 30*6 Šresulting€in€a€case€being€dismissed.€€Plaintiff's€evidence€atŠ  5Ą+8 Štrial€demonstrated€that€neither€of€these€allegations€wasŠ °6P-: Šaccurate.€Š @8ą.< ŠŠ Š9p0> Šą  ąą ` ąAfter€Plaintiff€was€reinstated,€he€made€it€clear€thatŠ `  Šhe€did€not€want€to€be€sent€to€Greene€County,€and€that€he€wishedŠ š  Što€be€assigned€somewhere€closer€to€his€home.€€Mr.€Long€testifiedŠ €  Šin€his€sworn€affidavit€that€"the€Greeneville€Scales€were€chosenŠ ° Šfor€Satterfield€since€it€was€the€only€location€with€an€availableŠ  @ Šspace."€€At€trial,€Mr.€Long€testified€as€follows:Š 0Š  ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąQ:€Greeneville€scales€was€the€only€place€thatŠ ˆ(  Šą ø ąhad€an€opening€for€Officer€Satterfield€ą @ ąą @ ąą @ ąą @ ąą @ ąŠ Pš  Šwhen€he€was€reinstated?Šø ` x` x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€No,€I€could€have€put€him€in€Crossville€andŠ ØH  ŠI€could€have€put€him€in€Cleveland€or€IŠ p Šcould€have€put€him€in€Greeneville.Š8Ųø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€Claiborne€County?ŠČhø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€Claiborne€County?€€I€think€we€just€had€aŠ Xų Šroad€crew€working€in€Claiborne€County,Š  Ą Šthere€wasn't€anybody€working€in€a€setŠ čˆ Šrest€area€or€facility.Š°Pø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€You€couldn't€put€him€on€a€road€crew?Š@ąø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€Yes,€sir,€I€could€have€put€him€on€the€roadŠ Š p Šcrew.€€I€talked€to€department€ofŠ ˜!8 ŠPersonnel€and€told€them€the€situation,Š `"  Šand€they€told€me€I€could€put€himŠ (#Č! Šbasically€anywhere€I€wanted.€.€.Šš#"ø xø x ŠĢĢÓÓMr.€Long€testified€that€"I€can't€say€I€was€real€happy€about"Š H&č% ŠPlaintiff's€reinstatement€with€the€PSC.Š Ų'x' ŠĢą  ąą ` ąRegarding€Mr.€Long's€possible€motives,€PlaintiffŠ ų*˜!+ Šoffered€several€potential€explanations€for€ill€will€toward€him.€Š ˆ,(#- ŠMr.€Long€admitted€that€he€had€testified€in€his€deposition€that€heŠ .ø$/ Š"always€felt€[Plaintiff]€was€trying€to€get€him€in€trouble."€€Š Ø/H&1 ŠPlaintiff€also€testified€about€an€incident€which€had€occurredŠ 81Ų'3 Šshortly€before€all€of€the€allegations€against€him€arose,€whereinŠ Č2h)5 Šhe€had€witnessed€a€fellow€PSC€officer,€who€was€married,€"engagedŠ X4ų*7 Šin€an€illicit€romantic€embrace"€with€a€Department€of€SafetyŠ č5ˆ,9 Šemployee.€€He€reported€the€incident€to€the€Department€of€Safety.€Š x7.; ŠPlaintiff€testified€that€the€fellow€officer€was€"politicallyŠ 9Ø/= Šconnected"€and€well„liked€in€the€PSC,€and€that€after€theŠ `  Šincident,€he€felt€that€Mr.€Long's€attitude€toward€him€wasŠ š  Š"totally€different;€a€coldness,€I€felt€intimidation.€.€.I€wasŠ €  Švery€concerned€about€my€career€with€the€department."€€Š ° ŠĢą  ąą ` ąIn€summary,€when€the€evidence€is€viewed€in€the€lightŠ 0Š  Šmost€favorable€to€the€jury€verdict,€we€are€of€the€opinion€thatŠ Ą`  ŠMr.€Long's€conduct€could€reasonably€be€viewed€as€outrageous.€€TheŠ Pš  Šjury€could€have€concluded€that€Mr.€Long€deliberately€filed€aŠ ą€  Šreport€which€contained€numerous€false€or€inaccurate€allegationsŠ p Šagainst€Plaintiff,€which€predictably€resulted€in€him€losing€hisŠ   Šemployment.€€Such€an€action€could€reasonably€be€characterized€byŠ 0 Šthe€trier€of€fact€as€intolerable€in€a€civilized€society.€€Š  Ą ŠĢą  ąą ` ąRegarding€Defendant€Smith,€we€have€carefully€reviewedŠ @ą Šthe€record€for€material€evidence€supporting€the€verdict€and€foundŠ Š p Šnone.€€Mr.€Smith€was€not€involved€in€investigating€the€allegationŠ `"  Šof€computer€misuse.€€He€did€not€participate€in€the€drafting€ofŠ š#" ŠMr.€Long's€memoranda€which€contained€the€other€allegationsŠ €% $ Šagainst€Plaintiff.€€Viewing€the€whole€record€in€Plaintiff'sŠ '°& Šfavor,€perhaps€the€worst€that€can€be€said€of€Mr.€Smith's€conductŠ  (@( Šis€that€he€stood€idly€by€while€a€higher€member€of€the€chain€ofŠ 0*Š * Šcommand,€his€supervisor,€drafted€and€sent€the€inaccurateŠ Ą+`", Šmemoranda.€€This€cannot€reasonably€be€construed€as€outrageousŠ P-š#. Šconduct.€€We€reverse€the€judgment€against€Mr.€Smith.€Š ą.€%0 ŠĢą  ąą ` ąDefendants€raise€the€issue€of€whether€the€Trial€CourtŠ 2 (4 Šerred€in€refusing€to€allow€them€to€present€the€testimony€of€Dr.Š 30*6 ŠSusan€Justice,€a€psychologist€who€was€offered€to€rebutŠ  5Ą+8 ŠPlaintiff's€assertion€that€Defendants'€actions€caused€hisŠ °6P-: Šinjuries.€€It€is€well„settled€that€speculative€medical€testimonyŠ @8ą.< Šis€not€admissible€in€personal€injury€actions,€and€that€expertŠ Š9p0> Šopinions€must€be€based€upon€a€reasonable€degree€of€certainty.€Š `  ŠņņSeeóó,€ņņe.g.óó,€ņņKilpatrick€v.€Bryantóó,€868€S.W.2d€594,€602€(Tenn.Š š  Š1993);€ņņWhite€v.€Methodist€Hosp.€Southóó,€844€S.W.2d€642,€648„49Š €  Š(Tenn.€App.€1992).€€Š ° ŠĢą  ąą ` ąDr.€Justice's€testimony€was€presented€in€an€offer€ofŠ 0Š  Šproof€to€the€Trial€Court.€€The€only€instance€where€Dr.€JusticeŠ Ą`  Šwas€asked€to€provide€an€opinion€to€a€reasonable€degree€of€medicalŠ Pš  Šcertainty€regarding€causation€of€Plaintiff's€injuries€is€asŠ ą€  Šfollows:Š p ŠÓÓĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€€Were€you€able€to€determine€to€a€degree€ofŠ Čh Šreasonable€certainty€within€yourŠ 0 Šprofession€with€a€Ph.D.€in€psychology,Š Xų Šthat„„is€that€correct?Š Ąø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€Yes.Š°Pø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąQ:€„„thank€you„„that€Mr.€Satterfield'sŠ @ą Šemotional€injury€that€occurred€inŠ  Ø ŠJanuary€of€'96€was€proximately€caused€byŠ Š p Ševents€that€took€place€at€his€workplace?Š˜!8ø xø x ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€Was€I€able€to€determine€that?Š(#Č!ø xø x ŠĢą  ąą ` ąQ:€€(nods€head.)Š ø$X# ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€Not€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.ŠH&č%ø xø x ŠĢą  ąą ` ąQ:€€Why€not?Š Ų'x' ŠĢą8  ąą8` Š Š ąą0ø ` x` xąą ` ąA:€€Well,€I€think€that€is€because€a€lot€ofŠ h) ) Šwhat€happened€with€him„„and€I€don't€knowŠ 0*Š * Šthe€truth€or€falsity€of€it€all,€I€knowŠ ų*˜!+ Šwhat€he€is€claiming€happened.€€It€sortŠ Ą+`", Šof€depends€on,€not€just€the€situationŠ ˆ,(#- Šitself€but€how€he€perceived€thatŠ P-š#. Šsituation.€€And€he€may€have€distorted€inŠ .ø$/ Šhis€perception„„he€may€have€a€distortedŠ ą.€%0 Šperception€of€the€events€that€occurred,Š Ø/H&1 Šso€I€don't€know€that,€so€it's€reallyŠ p0'2 Šhard€to€know€whether€what€happened€was€aŠ 81Ų'3 Šresult€of„„you€know,€he€could€have€been,Š 2 (4 Ševen€if€he€distorted€his€perception€ofŠ Č2h)5 Šwhat€happened,€he€still€could€have€beenŠ 30*6 Šdepressed,€but€then€there€is€more€to€theŠ X4ų*7 Šstory;€why€would€he€distort.€Š 5Ą+8ø xø x ŠĢĢÓÓThe€Trial€Court€disallowed€this€testimony€on€the€basis€that€itŠ x7.; Šwas€speculative€and€did€not€establish€a€cause€of€Plaintiff'sŠ 9Ø/= Šinjuries€within€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty.€€WeŠ `  Šagree€with€the€Trial€Court.€€Dr.€Justice's€testimony€establishesŠ š  Šonly€that€she€could€not€conclude€"beyond€a€reasonable€doubt"€thatŠ €  ŠPlaintiff's€injuries€were€caused€by€his€employment.€€She€did€notŠ ° Štestify€to€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty€that€hisŠ  @ Šinjuries€could€be€attributed€to€another€cause.€€It€was€wellŠ 0Š  Šwithin€the€Trial€Court's€discretion€to€disallow€her€speculativeŠ Ą`  Štestimony.Š Pš  ŠĢą  ąą ` ąPlaintiff€has€cross„appealed€the€Trial€Court's€decisionŠ p Šdismissing€his€constitutional€claims€that€the€Defendants€violatedŠ   Šhis€due€process€rights.€€We€find€that€the€Trial€Court€was€correctŠ 0 Šin€this€regard.€€Even€assuming,€without€deciding,€that€PlaintiffŠ  Ą Šwas€not€afforded€due€process€during€the€hearing€and€terminationŠ °P Šproceedings,€it€is€undisputed€that€neither€Mr.€Long€nor€Mr.€SmithŠ @ą Šhad€any€control€over€these€proceedings.€€The€extent€of€Mr.€Long'sŠ Š p Šinvolvement€was€to€investigate€the€allegations€against€PlaintiffŠ `"  Šand€report€his€findings.€€The€administrative€hearings€wereŠ š#" Šscheduled€and€operated€by€individuals€further€up€the€chain€ofŠ €% $ Šcommand€at€the€PSC.€€Mr.€Long's€role€in€these€proceedings€was€asŠ '°& Ša€witness€only.€€Further,€we€note€that€Plaintiff's€constitutionalŠ  (@( Šclaims€are€against€Mr.€Long€and€Mr.€Smith€personally€andŠ 0*Š * Šindividually.€€There€is€no€evidence€that€Defendants,€in€theirŠ Ą+`", Špersonal€and€individual€capacity,€acted€under€color€of€state€lawŠ P-š#. Što€violate€Plaintiff's€due€process€rights,€or€his€right€to€freeŠ ą.€%0 Šspeech.€€We€affirm€the€Trial€Court's€dismissal€of€Plaintiff'sŠ p0'2 Šconstitutional€claims.€€Š 2 (4 ŠĢą  ąą ` ąWe€are€of€the€opinion€that€under€the€circumstances€ofŠ  5Ą+8 Šthis€case,€the€award€of€punitive€damages€was€justified.€€ThisŠ °6P-: ŠCourt€has€held€that€"punitive€damages€may€be€awarded€against€aŠ @8ą.< Šparty€who€maliciously€induces€an€employer€to€discharge€anŠ Š9p0> Šemployee,"€ņņSchwab€v.€Int'l.€Ass'n.€of€Bridge,€Structural€andŠ `  ŠOrnamental€Iron€Workersóó,€482€S.W.2d€143,€149€(Tenn.€App.€1972).€Š š  ŠĢŌ#†X›2XXXAE¶»#Ōą  ąą ` ąWhile€such€an€award,€which€lies€within€the€discretionŠ ° Šof€the€trier€of€fact,€ņņB.€F.€Myers€&€Son€of€Goodlettsville€v.Š ¼\ ŠEvansóó,€612€S.W.2d€912€(Tenn.App.1980),€is€only€appropriate€underŠ h  Šthe€most€egregious€circumstances,€we€conclude€that€this€test€hasŠ “  Šbeen€met€in€this€case€and€the€jury€properly€exercised€itsŠ Ą`  Šdiscretion€in€making€the€award.€€Indeed,€it€would€be€difficult€toŠ l  Šconceive€of€a€case€where€a€jury€has€found€a€party€liable€forŠ ø Šoutrageous€conduct€to€find€error€because€in€the€exercise€of€itsŠ Äd Šdiscretion€it€found€the€party€also€liable€for€punitive€damages.Š p ŠĢą  ąą ` ąIn€conclusion,€for€the€aforementioned€reasons,€weŠ Čh Šaffirm€the€judgment€awarding€compensatory€and€punitive€damagesŠ t  Šagainst€Mr.€Long.€€Having€found€no€material€evidence€supportingŠ  "Ą Šit,€we€reverse€the€verdict€against€Mr.€Smith.€€We€affirm€theŠ Ģ#l  ŠTrial€Courtššs€dismissal€of€Plaintiff's€constitutional€claimsŠ x%" Šagainst€the€Defendants€in€their€individual€capacities.€€Costs€ofŠ $'Ä$ Šappeal€are€adjudged€one„half€to€the€Plaintiff€and€one„half€to€Mr.Š Š(p& ŠLong.€€The€case€is€remanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€collection€ofŠ |*!( Šthe€judgment€and€costs€below€which€are€also€adjudged€one„halfŠ (,Č"* Šagainst€the€Plaintiff€and€one„half€against€Mr.€Long.Š Ō-t$, Š€ĢÓÓą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ą_______________________________Š ,1Ģ'0 Šą  ąą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.€J.€Š 2¢(1 ŠĢĢCONCUR:Š „4$+4 ŠĢĢĢņņóó___________________________Š Ü7|.8 ŠCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.€J.Š ²8R/9 ŠĢŠ ^:ž0; Š‡___________________________Š `  ŠWilliam€H.€Inman,€Sr.J.Š 6 Ö ŠÓÓ