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À‚ÍÉw/?¡À´‹þbq›‚okzJ—.·Ã®™ÌÉêT­0ÁŽQ\œY© ‹bÄÌùø‰›yûŸu[Ñ 1xqÎË:åÜœ…µB/À…Oš ºÜ}:&7PnoÓÂÕ‡ì£y[ùؾ±s'ÄÓKÕú…|%í¹~ÅX |êðŸŽ}‚bôÃxœ„Ü@ÀAÝ5U_w‚T Ú*XÞ@ñ@[Ë= ÔPE{Ý`±üg—ÌÔPSótêÛ |§?-%:'%Éõ1 Â*÷½EùGnþ©~Né|¢ üÀÎ}¶(þyãî½gbø¬Ùé3§¢å³Ô–ÁÇ‚¶èÓ|ˆ‚>Á1*ñÖ»Ž3¨O/Z צåD£Œg6`;%[çA/`,˜Ú“2ËÐâXT_tˆÏ @ùõü‹ÛO¼¼ú¯2ú¥$ø,Wß±†£ÃÁ1I0Ù–J]ÏÉ•á„ÆáQ>7¬˜*ÑD¬—hyð• ,>´ÿ hµ`4@T 0(c‹w“—UN™ 0lç 0DS m—#!®NÏ ^ Ñ Ý UN\ ª U@² ² ² 5ò U:' ' ' ' UBa %£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ B© © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © © AQÆ Æ 0DÝ 0D! 0Dee D3©tpO'ÔøÔô3|x($¡¡(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular((3úÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 8000 DN PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0P…S'L  uÝ ƒúÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÐ  ÐÒܰÒÔ€XíIXXXÔÔ€&'%XXíIÔà0 4 àJuly€7,€1996€was€on€Sunday,€and€under€the€Rules€the€action€was€properly€filed.€€òòSeeÐ Š‚ ÐóóTennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€6.01.ÐbZ4(#4(# Ð(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular (ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman  +Ý ƒ[¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€X_šXXXÔÔ€èt5çXX_šÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€,®çèt5ÔÐ  ÐÌOctober€13,€1999ÌÌCecil€Ô_ÔCrowsonÔ_Ô,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAxÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiX dZ[\]_Cþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó&&&&'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔѰÑÒܰÒÑ ý ÑÑTR[° AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ8€™æXXdêdÈ8ÑÔ€X°pXXXÔÔ€Š„ ‹XX°pÔÔ_Ô€€€€à@M M ‚àò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ  ÐÌßv€Y_@0,j: `€€@ÿE˜ Žtt¨¦Ð Wvßà@44%‚àAT€KNOXVILLEˆà œ àà ô àÐ   Ðó óÌÌÌÌÌDORA€(DORIS)€L.€SELVY,€Widow€à0 ì à)€C/A€NO.€03A01„9903„CV„00081Ð ì(#ì(# Ðof€CARROLL€W.€SELVY,€Deceased,à0 ì à)Ð  ì(#ì(# Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)€KNOX€CIRCUITÌà 4 àPlaintiff„Appellant,à0 < àà0”<(#<(#àà0ì”(#”(#à)Ð  ì(#ì(# Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)€HON.€€HAROLD€WIMBERLY,Ìvs.à0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà0ä Œ (#Œ (#àà0<ä (#ä (#àà0”<(#<(#àà0ì”(#”(#à)€JUDGEÐ  ì(#ì(# Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)ÌCHRISTOPHER€L.€VINSANT,€M.D.,à0 ì à)Ð ì(#ì(# Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)Ìà 4 àDefendant„Appellee,à0 ” àà0ì”(#”(#à)Ð ì(#ì(# Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)ÌST.€MARYððS€HEALTH€SYSTEMS,à0 ì à)Ð ì(#ì(# ÐINC.,€and€RONALD€K.€SANDBERG,à0 ì à)Ð ì(#ì(# ÐM.D.,à0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà0ä Œ (#Œ (#àà0<ä (#ä (#àà0”<(#<(#àà0ì”(#”(#à)€VACATEDÐ ì(#ì(# Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à)€ANDÌà 4 àDefendants.à0 ä àà0<ä (#ä (#àà0”<(#<(#àà0ì”(#”(#à)€REMANDEDÐ ì(#ì(# Ðà 4 àÌÌÌÌJOHN€O.€THREADGILL€and€SUSAN€P.€HERNDON,€THREADGILL€&ÏASSOCIATES,€P.C.,€Knoxville,€for€Plaintiff„Appellant.ÌÌJON€G.€ROACH€and€NATHAN€D..€ROWELL,€WATSON,€HOLLOW€&€REEVES,ÏP.L.C.,€Knoxville,€for€Defendant„Appellee.ÌÌÌÌÌà@%‚àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óˆÐ  ,%% ÐÌÌà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àFranks,€J.ÌÌÌÓÓà 4 àà Œ àIn€this€action,€the€Trial€Judge€granted€defendant€summary€judgment,Ïand€plaintiff€has€appealed.Ìà 4 àà Œ àPlaintiffððs€husband€died€on€July€7,€1995,€and€on€this€record€for€purposesÏof€bringing€a€medical€malpractice€claim,€the€statute€of€limitations€began€to€run€on€theÏdate€of€the€husbandððs€death.€€Plaintiff€filed€an€action€in€the€Circuit€Court€of€KnoxÐ  :33ý ÐCounty€on€July€8,€1996.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àDefendant€did€not€receive€a€summons€until€an€alias€summons€was€issuedÐ   Ðon€or€about€August€28,€1996,€and€on€September€20,€1996,€the€action€was€dismissedÐ   Ðwithout€prejudice.€€Ð   Ðà 4 àà Œ àThis€action€was€filed€on€September€4,€1997,€within€one„year€of€theÐ  Ðvoluntary€non„suit,€and€defendant€was€served€with€Summons€and€Complaint€onÐ   ÐSeptember€8,€1997.€€Defendant€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss€and€for€summary€judgment,Ð   Ðinsisting€that€the€complaint€was€filed€more€than€a€year€after€the€cause€of€action€arose,Ð  Ðand€was€barred€by€the€applicable€statute€of€limitations.€€As€stated,€the€motion€forÐ  Ðsummary€judgment€was€granted.Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àOn€appeal,€plaintiff€argues€that€the€motion€for€summary€judgmentÐ  Ðshould€have€been€denied,€because€the€defendant€failed€to€comply€with€theÐ  Ðrequirements€of€Rule€56.03.€€Rule€56.03€provides€in€pertinent€part€that:Ð  ÐÓÓà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àany€motion€for€summary€judgment€made€pursuant€to€Rule€56€of€theÐ ! ÐTennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€shall€be€accompanied€by€a€separateÐ " Ðconcise€statement€of€the€material€facts€as€to€which€the€moving€partyÐ # Ðcontends€there€is€no€genuine€issue€for€trial.€€Each€fact€shall€be€set€forthÐ $ Ðin€a€separate,€numbered€paragraph.€€Each€fact€shall€be€supported€by€aÐ % Ðspecific€citation€to€the€record.Ð&Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌÓÓPlaintiff€contends€that€because€this€language€is€mandatory€in€nature,€the€absence€ofÐ (!! Ðfull€compliance€requires€denial€of€the€underlying€motion.Ð *## Ðà 4 àà Œ àDefendantððs€motion€was€filed€on€October€14,€1997,€and€this€issue€wasÐ ,%% Ðraised€in€plaintiffððs€response.€€Defendants€then€filed€a€Statement€of€Undisputed€FactsÐ .'' Ðon€November€21,€1997.Ð 0)) Ðà 4 àà Œ àIn€òòButler€v.€Diversified€Energy,€Inc.,óó€1999€WL€76102€(Tenn.€App.Ð 2++ Ð1999),€this€Court€discussed€the€issue€of€a€defendantððs€failure€to€comply€with€T.R.C.P.Ð 4-- Ð56.03:Ð  ÐÓÓà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#à[W]e€agree€with€counsel€for€the€Defendants€that€the€provision€of€RuleÐ   Ð56.03€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure,€directing€a€simpleÐ   Ðconcise€statement€of€the€material€facts€to€accompany€any€motion€forÐ   Ðsummary€judgment,€is€for€the€benefit€of€the€trial€court,€and€could€be,€asÐ   Ðit€was€in€this€case,€waived.€€Moreover,€even€if€we€were€to€find€that€thisÐ   Ðissue€has€merit,€it€would€require€remand€to€the€Trial€Court€whereÐ  Ðanother€motion€for€summary€judgment€could€be€made,€meeting€theÐ  Ðomitted€requirement€of€Rule€56.03.Ð Œ (#Œ (# ÐÌòòButleróó€at€3.Ð   ÐÌÓÓà 4 àà Œ àThe€requirements€of€Rule€56.03€are€designed€to€assist€the€Trial€Court€inÐ   Ðdeciding€motions€for€summary€judgment.€€òòSeeóóthe€Advisory€Commission€Comment€toÐ  Ðthe€Rule.€€The€record€in€this€case€shows€that€there€was€not€technical€compliance€withÐ  Ðthe€Rule.€€However,€the€Trial€Court€had€before€it€the€statement€of€undisputed€factsÐ  Ðlong€before€it€ruled€on€the€Motion,€and€the€plaintiff€€had,€and€took€the€opportunity€toÐ  Ðchallenge€the€defendantsðð€Statement€of€Undisputed€Material€Facts.€€There€is€noÐ  Ðevidence€that€plaintiff€was€prejudiced.€€Accordingly,€we€find€that€any€error€the€CourtÐ   Ðmay€have€committed€with€respect€to€defendantsðð€motion€is€harmless€error.€€òòSee€óóRuleÐ " Ð36(b)€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure.Ð $ Ðà 4 àà Œ àNext,€plaintiff€insists€there€are€disputed€issues€of€material€fact€to€beÐ & Ðresolved€on€the€statute€of€limitations€issue.Ð (!! Ðà 4 àà Œ àNo€presumption€of€correctness€attaches€to€decisions€granting€summaryÐ *## Ðjudgments.€€òòHembree€v.€Stateóó,€925€S.W.2d€513€(Tenn.€1996);€T.R.A.P.€13(d),€and€weÐ ,%% Ðare€required€to€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€opponent€of€theÐ .'' Ðmotion€and€all€legitimate€inferences€of€fact€must€be€drawn€in€favor€of€the€opponent.€Ð 0)) ÐòòGray€v.€Amosóó,€869€S.W.2d€925€(Tenn.€App.€1993).Ð 2++ Ðà 4 àà Œ àAt€the€time€the€initial€suit€was€filed,€Rule€3€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€ofÐ 4-- ÐCivil€Procedure€provided€as€follows:Ð 6// ÐÓÓà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àà ä àAll€civil€actions€are€commenced€by€filing€a€complaint€andÐ 811 Ðsummons€with€the€clerk€of€the€court.€€An€action€is€commenced€with€theÐ 922 Ðmeaning€of€any€statute€of€limitations€upon€such€filing€of€a€complaint€andÐ :33 Ðsummons,€whether€process€be€issued€or€not€issued€and€whether€processÐ  Ðbe€returned€served€or€unserved.€€If€process€remains€unissued€for€30€daysÐ  Ðor€is€not€returned€within€30€days€from€issuance,€regardless€of€the€reason,Ð   Ðthe€plaintiff€cannot€rely€upon€the€original€commencement€to€toll€theÐ   Ðrunning€of€a€statute€of€limitations€unless€the€plaintiff€continues€theÐ   Ðaction€by€obtaining€issuance€of€new€process€within€one€year€fromÐ   Ðissuance€of€the€previous€process€or,€if€no€process€was€issued,€within€oneÐ   Ðyear€of€the€filing€of€the€complaint€and€summons.ÐŒ (#Œ (# ÐÌÓÓIt€is€the€defendantsðð€position€that€it€is€an€undisputed€fact€that€ð ðat€the€time€of€filing€theÐ   Ðcomplaint,€no€summons€was€filed€as€to€Christopher€L.€Vinsantðð,€and€that€as€of€AugustÐ   Ð9,€1996,€30€days€after€the€filing€of€the€Complaint,€no€Summons€was€filed.€Ð   ÐAccordingly,€defendant€argues€as€a€matter€of€law€that€the€original€action€was€barredÐ  Ðby€the€statute€of€limitations,€and€as€such,€could€not€be€re„filed€under€the€savingsÐ  Ðstatute.Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àJames€Evans€was€plaintiffððs€attorney€of€record€in€the€original€case.€€InÐ  Ðhis€affidavit€filed€in€this€case,€he€states€that€he€ð ðprepared€and€filed€with€the€Court€onÐ  Ðor€about€July€8,€1996,€a€Summons€naming€Christopher€L.€Vinsant€a€defendant€in€theÐ   Ðoriginal€action€.€.€.€Service€was€not€obtained€on€the€original€summons€within€30€daysÐ " Ðon€issuance€and€so€plaintiff€sought€issuance€of€a€new€alias€summons.ððÐ $ Ðà 4 àà Œ àThe€record€establishes€that€an€alias€summons€was€issued€to€defendantÐ & Ðand€was€served€on€defendant€on€August€29,€1996,€and€returned€to€the€Clerkððs€office,Ð (!! Ðwhere€it€was€filed€on€August€30,€1996.€Ð *## Ðà 4 àà Œ àAlso€in€the€record€is€the€affidavit€of€Mary€Jane€Brown,€the€supervisor€ofÐ ,%% ÐKnox€County€Circuit€Court€Clerkððs€Office.€€She€states€that€included€in€her€duties€areÐ .'' Ðbeing€custodian€of€the€filing€of€suits€with€the€Clerkððs€office€and€also€the€issuing€ofÐ 0)) Ðsummonses€and€alias€summonses.€€She€further€states€that€ð ðit€is€the€policy€and€standardÐ 2++ Ðprocedure€of€the€Knox€County€Circuit€Court€Clerkððs€office€to€issue€alias€summonsesÐ 4-- Ðprovided€to€our€office€only€after€the€summonses€originally€issued€to€a€defendant€haveÐ 6// Ðbeen€either€unserved€or€not€returned€as€served€within€the€30€days€allowed€for€serviceÐ 811 Ðof€the€original€summons€after€good€faith€attempts€to€do€so.ððÐ :33 Ðà 4 àà Œ àDefendant€filed€three€additional€affidavits€of€Brown,€wherein€BrownÐ  Ðaffirmed€that€she€reviewed€the€file€in€question€and€that€ð ðthe€file€reflects€that€noÐ   Ðsummons€was€filed€with€the€Complaint€for€Christopher€L.€Vinsant,€M.D.ðð€€She€statesÐ   Ðthat€the€only€Summons€in€the€file€is€ð ða€Summons€denominated€ððaliasðð€[that]€was€filedÐ   Ðfor€Christopher€L.€Vinsant,€M.D.,€on€August€21,€1996.ðð€€She€further€corroborated€thatÐ  Ðthe€Complaint€named€32€defendants,€yet€only€27€summonses€were€filed€with€thatÐ   ÐComplaint.€€She€says€that€ð ð[a]lthough€the€summons€filed€by€the€plaintiff€forÐ   ÐChristopher€L.€Vinsant€was€denominated€ððAliasðð€it€should€have€not€been€soÐ  Ðdenominated€due€to€the€fact€that€no€previous€Summons€had€been€filed€with€theÐ  ÐComplaint.ðð€€In€granting€summary€judgment,€the€Trial€Court€necessarily€found€that€theÐ  Ðsuit€against€defendant€was€not€filed€within€the€time€prescribed€by€the€statute€ofÐ  Ðlimitations.€€Ð  Ðà 4 àà Œ àThe€determinative€issue€is€whether€a€summons€was€filed€with€theÐ  ÐComplaint€in€the€original€law€suit.€€We€conclude€there€is€a€factual€dispute€that€shouldÐ ! Ðnot€have€been€decided€on€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€The€attorney€for€theÐ # Ðplaintiff€stated€that€he€ð ðfiledðð€a€summons€with€the€original€complaint.€€The€ClerkððsÐ % Ðoffice€has€no€record€of€a€summons,€and€concludes€that€none€was€filed.€€On€motion€forÐ '  Ðsummary€judgment,€all€facts€are€construed€in€favor€of€the€opponent€of€the€motion,€andÐ )"" Ðfor€purposes€of€the€motion,€the€affidavit€of€plaintiffððs€attorney€must€be€taken€as€true.Ð +$$ Ðà 4 àà Œ àDefendant€argues€that€the€attorney€in€his€affidavit€is€not€competent€toÐ -&& Ðtestify€that€he€ð ðfiledðð€the€summons.€€Clearly€he€cannot€testify€to€what€was€contained€inÐ /(( Ðthe€record€at€the€Clerkððs€office.€€However,€he€can€testify€to€delivering€the€summons€toÐ 1** Ðthe€Clerkððs€office€to€be€entered€into€the€record.€€While€it€is€unclear€exactly€what€heÐ 3,, Ðmeant€in€his€affidavit,€upon€construing€the€inferences€favorable€to€the€plaintiff,€he€isÐ 5.. Ðstating€that€he€took€the€summons€with€the€complaint€to€the€Clerkððs€office€to€be€filedÐ 700 Ðand€that€what€became€of€the€summons€after€he€delivered€it€was€beyond€his€control.Ð 922 Ðà 4 àà Œ àThe€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€has€held€that€ð ða€pleading€is€deemed€filedÐ  Ðwhen€handed€to€a€person€in€the€Clerkððs€office€to€receive€it,€and€the€failure€of€the€clerkÐ   Ðor€deputy€to€properly€mark€it€filed€should€in€no€way€prejudice€the€party€filing€it.ðð€Ð   ÐòòRush€v.€Rushóó,€37€S.W.2d€13€(Tenn.€1896)€(òòquoting€Montgomery€v.€Buckóó,€6€Humph.Ð   Ð416€(Tenn.€1846)).€€In€the€unreported€decision€of€òòDunlap€v.€Ayersóó,€1999€WL€236514Ð  Ð(Tenn.Crim.App.€April€23,€1999),€the€Court€said:Ð   ÐÓÓà0 4 àà0Œ 4(#4(#àA€pleading€or€other€paper€ð ðis€deemed€filed€when€[it€is]€handed€to€aÐ   Ðperson€in€the€clerkððs€office€to€receive€it,€and€the€failure€of€the€clerk€orÐ   Ðdeputy€to€properly€mark€it€filed€should€in€no€way€prejudice€the€partyÐ  Ðfiling€it.ðð€€(Citations€omitted).€€Stated€another€way,€if€a€litigant€timelyÐ  Ðplaces€a€pleading€or€paper€in€the€possession€of€a€court€clerk€employee,Ð  Ðthe€employeeððs€failure€to€mark€it€filed€is€not€fatal€to€the€litigantððsÐ  Ðsubsequent€argument€that€the€paper€was€timely€filed.€€(CitationsÐ  Ðomitted).ÐŒ (#Œ (# ÐÌòòDunlapóó€at€7.Ð  ÐÌÓÓà 4 àà Œ àThe€defendant€cites€to€the€Advisory€Commissionððs€comments€to€theÐ  Ð1992€amendment€to€Rule€3€that€places€a€higher€burden€on€the€attorney.€€ð ðThe€burdenÐ   Ðof€preparing€the€summons€is€placed€on€the€lawyer,€who€should€take€steps€to€ensureÐ " Ðthat€it€is€issued€and€placed€in€the€hands€of€a€deputy€sheriff€or€private€process€serverÐ $ Ðimmediately€after€filing.ðð€€T.C.R.P.€3,€Advisory€Commission€Comment€to€the€1992Ð & ÐAmendment.€€However,€this€deals€with€the€issuance€and€process€of€the€summons€onÐ (!! Ðthe€defendant,€and€does€not€address€the€circumstances€where€the€Clerk€has€notÐ *## Ðproperly€filed€a€summons.Ð ,%% Ðà 4 àà Œ àBased€on€the€foregoing€authorities,€we€conclude€that€as€long€as€theÐ .'' Ðattorney€physically€delivered€the€summons€to€the€proper€official€at€the€Clerkððs€office,Ð 0)) Ðthe€courts€will€deem€it€filed,€regardless€of€whether€it€was€recorded€or€placed€in€theÐ 2++ Ðrecord.€€A€party€should€not€be€responsible€for€the€Clerkððs€actions,€where€a€pleading€orÐ 4-- Ðsummons€is€lost€or€destroyed,€so€long€as€the€party€took€the€necessary€steps€to€get€theÐ 6// Ðdocuments€into€the€custody€of€the€Clerk.€€It€is€a€disputed€issue€of€fact€as€to€whetherÐ 811 Ðthat€occurred€in€this€case,€and€the€summary€judgment€is€vacated€and€the€causeÐ :33 Ðremanded€for€determination€of€this€factual€issue.€€We€find€the€other€issues€withoutÐ  Ðmerit,€and€remand€with€the€cost€of€the€appeal€assessed€to€appellee.Ð   ÐÓÓÌÌÌÌÌà@‚‚+‚àòòˆà D àÌóóà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à__________________________Ð   Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.Ð   ÐÌÌCONCUR:Ð  ÐÌÌÌÌÌ___________________________Ð  ÐÔ‡ŠÅ戈ŠÅæÔCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.Ð  ÐÔ#†ŠÅ戈ŠÅæH#ÔÌÌÌÌ___________________________Ð ! ÐÔ‡ŠÅ戈ŠÅæÔD.€Michael€Swiney,€J.Ô#†ŠÅ戈ŠÅæÁH#ÔÐ " ÐÌ