WPC dK|kq@Za7U3u6oIV.W{Po5olC0jiM/?r @&F^D먭CyP]B!%]H:Yfpӄ4/&wnu~9)MDXVl) 8tP:@dOhA*TQ?A}c-X b4Jk%sZK9IQS'wYK& KY%%΍אXRw?8KyQ=G$FP[VAJ[3쩒ODomJKl]l}FZyTgrזơ! &3b#\ % ^ # 0/ U N w 4 z  i x mz 1    j 0D0Ntv 0c~E 1U@j 1u 72 72Q 0w 0b 0 Bww 0 D38 D-k 0K AS6 0 0D AHP LaserJet 8000 Series PCL 60fw( (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman RegulargI(:i+00 C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU05hCEKQW]cioAutoList1a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#$  0   (;3$2#  0  .3  0  (EhCEKQW]cioAutoList21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(I Z(Times New Roman 3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i) (O;$0  2#  a  .3  0` (#(#(b$0  0` (#(#2#   .3  0 ` (#` (#- -(|G2w]$ !.8Qd d 8         0  X=$X d(|3$ !.8Qd d 8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8Qd d 8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Jd d8     _ʊ_ʊʊ8*XXdd 8@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @$ATKNOXVILLE  @"June2000Session $ XXʊ #ʊXX#  THESHELBYINSURANCECOMPANYandTHEANTHEMCASUALTY " INSURANCEGROUP,v.HENRY_MATHES_,_JOANN_Ԁ_MATHES_Ԁand  6 JERRYSTEWARTXXʊ   J @0 0  DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforWashingtonCounty  J @ No.32350Hon.JeanA.Stanley,Judge  6     `     h FILEDJULY27,2000   @*AV) ` dE<` A߈   @No.E200000186_COA_ԄR3CV   AV) ` dE<|` A }  Inthisdeclaratoryjudgmentactiontheinsurancecompanysoughtadeclarationthatanincident d givingrisetoasuitbyStewartagainsttheinsurancecompanysinsured_Mathes_,wasnotcovereddue P toanexclusioninthepolicy.TheTrialJudgeruledtheexclusiondidnotapply,andtheinsurance < companyappealed.Weaffirm. (x #ʊXX#XXʊ Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtAffirmed.  < HerschelPickensFranks#ʊX֊#XX.ʊ,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichHoustonM._Goddard_,#ʊXR#XX.ʊ  _P.J._,andD.Michael_Swiney_,#ʊX #XX.ʊԀJ.,joined.  ThomasC._McKee_,JohnsonCity,Tennessee,fortheappellant,theShelbyInsuranceCompany.  JerryW.Laughlin,_Greeneville_,Tennesseefortheappellees,Henry_Mathes_Ԁand_Joann_Ԁ_Mathes_. `!  @66' OPINION #ʊXXֹ #XXʊԈ $$t#    ` Inthisdeclaratoryjudgmentaction,theinsurancecompanyreliedonthefollowing %L!% provisioninitspolicywithitsinsured,Henry_Mathes_,toexcludecoverageonasuitbroughtbyJerry &8"& Stewartagainst_Mathes_Ԁforinjuriessustainedinanaltercation.Thepolicyprovisionprovidesan '$#' exclusionfor: ($( 0  8` (#(#anyclaimarisingoutofanintentionalactcommittedbyoratyourdirection. *%* Thisdoesnotapplytobodilyinjuryorpersonalinjuryif:+&+` `   (5h83""  ,0  0` (#(#25h  a  .3  0 ` (#` (#  suchinsuredactedwithreasonableforceand,Y݌#\-(- (# (# #Ќ  _"3"  8  0`   3]25h  b  .3  0 ` `   suchactionswerenotcriminal,maliciousorcommittedinviolation  ofapenallaworordinancebyyouorwithyourpriorknowledgeor  consent.3]݌  Ќ  ThegenesisofthisactionisthesuitfordamagesforpersonalinjuriesbyStewartoveranincident ` whichoccurredata cabinwhichMatheshelpedbuild,alongwithStewartsfather,andwhere L  Mathesandseveralfriendswouldgathertosocialize.Bywayofbackground,Stewartsfatherhad 8  workedforMathes,untilStewartsfatherdevelopedaterminalillness.Stewartsfatherthenasked $ t Mathestobringhis$10,000.00lifeinsurancepolicyfromworktothehospitalsothathecould  ` changethebeneficiaryfromStewarttohisbrotherandsister.Mathescomplied,andStewartthen  L  beganmakingthreatstowardMathes.  8       ` Matheswasawareofthesethreats,andknewStewarthadbeenarrestedonoccasions   fordomesticviolenceagainsthiswifeandsiblings,andthatStewartoftencarriedaknifeinhis   pocket.StewarthadalsocursedMathesonapreviousoccasionatthecabin.Matheswas51years   oldatthetimeandnotathletic,andStewartwasapproximately25or26yearsoldandverystrong,   asheoftenworkedoutwithweights.Fromthisbackground,Mathestestifiedthathewasafraidof p Stewartandtriedtoavoidrunningintohim. \      ` Onthedayoftheincident,Matheswasatthecabinwithtwootherindividuals,one 4 ofwhomwasStewartsuncle.StewartcametothecabinandstartedtoverballyabuseMathes.  p Stewartwasaskedtoleavebyallthreemen,whichhebelligerentlyrefusedtodo.Stewartthen  \ shovedMathestwice,stuckhishandinhispocket,andthreatenedtokillhim.Atthatpoint,Mathes H retreatedtotheothersideoftheroom,pickedupanaluminumballbat,andbackedupagainstthe 4 wall.MathesdescribedStewartasdrunkandviolent,butstillagileonhisfeet.Stewartlunged   towardMatheswithhishandinhispocket,andMathesswungthebattowardStewartsoutstretched   arm/fist.ThebatthenglancedoffofStewartsshoulderandstruckhishead.Heagainlungedat  MathesandknockedMathesbackagainstthewall.Mathesswungthebatdownwardacoupleof  timesheexplainedtogetStewart offofhim,andStewartfinallyfelltothefloor.Mathesdidnot  strikeStewartoncehefell,buthedidputhisfootonhimandholdhimdownuntiltheunclehelped l escortStewartoutofthecabin. X       ` Stewartfoughtwiththeemergencymedicalpersonnelwhentheyarrived,andapolice 0"  officerputaziptiecuffonStewart,whichhebroke,andhewasthenrestrainedwithsteelhandcuffs. #l! Stewartsbloodtestatthehospitalrevealedabloodalcohollevelof.292,andapositiveresultfor $X" marijuana.Stewartsufferedextensiveinjuries. $D #      ` Matheswaschargedwithaggravatedassault,towhichhetestifiedhewasgranteda &"% pretrialdiversionwithnoadmissionofguilt,maintainingthathehadcommittednocrime. '#&    ` Inrulinginfavoroftheinsured,theTrialJudgesaid: )$(  0  8` (#(# TheCourtcannotsayasamatteroflawthatMr.Mathesusedunreasonable h+&* forceorthathisactionsweremaliciousorcriminal.Inexercisinghindsight,  weoftenhaveclearervisionthanwehavewhenconfrontinganemotionally  chargedincidentsuchasthatwhichtookplaceonSeptember27,1997.The  CourtbelievesthatMr.Mathessincerelybelievedonthatdatethathewas t actinginselfdefenseintheonlyreasonablewayheknewtoactatthetime. ` Therefore,ShelbyInsuranceCompanyisnotrelievedofitsresponsibilityto L  defendMr.MathesagainstthecomplaintfiledagainsthimbyJerryStewart. 8 ` `   Ourreviewofthefactualdeterminationsisdenovowithapresumptionofcorrectnessofthetrial  ` courtsfactualfindings,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.R.App.P.  L  13(d);McCartyv.McCarty,863S.W.2d716(Tenn.Ct.App.1992).Questionsoflawarereviewed  8  denovowithnopresumptionofcorrectness.UnionCarbideCorp.v.Huddleston,854S.W.2d87 $  (Tenn.1993).        ` TheinsurancecompanyarguesthatMathesactedcriminallyindealingwithStewart,   becausehewaschargedwithaggravatedassaultandhisactionsinfactviolateTennesseestatutes   dealingwithassaults,viz.,Tenn.CodeAnn.3913101and102.Matheswasnotconvictedand p didnotpleadguiltytothecharge.Moreover,Mathesactionsdonotestablishasamatteroflawthat \ hewasguiltyofviolatingthecitedstatutes,becausethestatutesalsoprovidethatadefensetothe H crimeisselfdefense.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.3911611. 4    ` Regardingtheissueofselfdefense,theTrialCourtfoundthatMatheswasactingin  \ selfdefenseatthetimeofhisaltercationwithStewart,afactualdetermination.SeeArterburnv. H State,391S.W.2d648(Tenn.1965).Onthisissue,theCourtmustgivetheTrialCourtsfinding 4 greatweightonappeal,becausetheTrialJudgeobservedthewitnessestestifyandjudgedtheir   credibility.Adelspergerv.Adelsperger,970S.W.2d482(Tenn.Ct.App.1997).        ` Selfdefenserequiresthedefendantreasonablybelievethattheforceusedisnecessary  toprotectagainsttheforceofanotherandtoreasonablybeliefthatthereisimminentdangerofdeath  orseriousbodilyinjury,andsuchdangermustberealorhonestlybelievedtobereal.SeeTenn. l CodeAnn.3911611.Thesearefactualdeterminations.Statev.Renner,912S.W.2d701(Tenn. X  1995). D!      ` ApreponderanceoftheevidencesupportstheTrialJudgesfindingsthatmakeit #l! reasonableforMathestobelievethathewasinimminentdangerandthatheactedwithreasonable $X" forcetoprotecthimself.Tenn.R.App.P.13(d). $D #    ` TheinsurancecompanyalsoarguesthatMathescontinuedtouseforcebeyondthe &"% pointintimethatforcewasnecessary,butMathestestifiedthathedidnothitStewartoruseany '#& furtherforceagainsthimonceStewartstoppedattackinghim,andtheTrialCourtobviouslybelieved (#' Mathestestimonyconcerningallaspectsoftheselfdefenseassertion. )$(    ` Finally,ShelbyarguesgivenallofthecircumstancesthatMathesdidnotactwith h+&* reasonableforceregardingtheincident.TheTrialCourtexpresslystatedinitsOrderthatitcould  notfindthatunreasonableforcewasused.Giventheevidence,wecannotdisagreewiththeTrial  Courtsfindingonthisissue.Accordingly,weaffirmthejudgmentoftheTrialCourtandremand,  withcostoftheappealassessedtoShelbyInsuranceCompany. t   #ʊXX #XXʊ   `     h     _________________________ $ t    `     h     HerschelPickensFranks,J.  ` #X*XXX֋#