ÿWPC O_Ú@öêQ ˜a­LqŒTá®ûÆ+  Àï?5y(õZ…¦\¨ÊäÃ<:(÷3Õ-_Ð:Ô ´¬…ãéž\´àYßî]1kÕt΋“!ni›ã0]´$jåàd•H‰Ó'Üщy-í*kß” `œçÍ!χ}~­hÛ=rŽi_ö”T']ñ­¼ý|OÆ×çâ ›Äô(I+‡Â¥w+‰==¯7Pæ£å ,ÄéTùn1yËðA"Áè f–µóóÇx¶h’‘àé«È2LsÀy µÙŽ€#úÊdÈX- ¼Æ*M×ûÓ`Dr…²+=0j‡[ÁwµðaÓ(aبu5&©Û¥µŽ sKT.¿Á×"ðE 9ÀîîåÁµºVü{\'ü «RÂZî¾H¼_B#8j}¨|råYÚ ±˜&×l³Ãn&'iñЧ]¨¨ 5Á–rÄäßÒâæPQâ æLK•ˆ]›tTó| ¶÷å÷ê”Ã#Ì'¿±nijꛞ1&,+ º¯0› ·ƒßþ‘6µÝó5ÈØ:·g3Àne2&í)ELІ^ðìtòIfÉmUøzRHÅý8d7›Ë¦ë¨ƒ/~Õfqá<ùníå1þ¹äb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz ‘ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë U#N±NÿÿÿEb 0ë     Böö 0¤ D3· D-ê 0K ASbƵ 0¤{ 0D A«c˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0»‹…œ)â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularOo”) ëŸê:i¢Ø ˜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|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÆúI Z‹6Times New Roman Regular- 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ÓThis€is€a€slip€and€fall€case.€€The€plaintiff€was€injured€while€bowling€at€the€defendantððs€bowling€alley.€Ð xÈ  ÐWhile€he€was€bowling,€his€beeper€fell€from€his€belt€onto€the€bowling€lane.€€The€plaintiff€crossed€theÐ d´ Ðfoul€line€to€retrieve€his€beeper,€and€slipped€on€the€oiled€surface.€€He€sued€the€bowling€alley€for€hisÐ P  Ðinjuries,€asserting€that€the€bowling€alley€failed€to€òòóóadequately€warn€him€of€the€danger€of€crossing€theÐ <Œ Ðfoul€line.€€The€trial€court€granted€a€directed€verdict€in€favor€of€the€defendant,€finding€that€the€bowlingÐ (x Ðalley€had€no€duty€to€warn€the€plaintiff,€and€that€the€plaintiff€was€more€than€50%€at€fault€for€theÐ d Ðaccident.€€The€plaintiff€appeals.€€We€affirm,€finding€that,€under€the€undisputed€facts,€the€plaintiff€wasÐ P Ðmore€than€50%€at€fault€for€the€accident.Ð ì< ÐÓÈÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmedó óÐ Ä ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼J» àXŒ¼œ#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X.¼JÔHolly€Kirby€Lillard,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€whichòò€W.€Frank€Crawford,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,Ð œì ÐÔ#†¼J» àXŒ¼ #ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X.¼JÔÔ_ÔW.S.Ô_Ôóó€and€òòAlan€E.€Ô_ÔHighersÔ_Ô,€J.óó€joined.Ð ˆØ ÐÌJohn€R.€Candy,€Cordova,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€Charles€W.€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô.Ð `° ÐÌJames€F.€Ô_ÔEgglestonÔ_Ô,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€Billy€Hardwick€Enterprises,€Inc.€Ð 8!ˆ  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àò òÌà@66'ìàOPINIONó óˆÐ #`" ÐÌÓÓÓÓà  àOn€August€25,€1994,€Plaintiff/Appellant€Charles€W.€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€(ð ðÔ_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ôðð)€was€injured€whileÐ è$8 $ Ðbowling€at€Billy€Hardwickððs€All€Star€Lanes,€a€bowling€alley€owned€by€Defendant/Appellee€BillyÐ Ô%$!% ÐHardwick€Enterprises,€Inc.€(ð ðBowling€Alleyðð).€€€Shoffner€was€a€member€of€a€bowling€teamÐ À&"& Ðsponsored€by€his€employer,€Mid„South€Restoration€Company€(ð ðMid„South€Restorationðð),€which€hadÐ ¬'ü"' Ðentered€into€a€league€competition€at€the€Bowling€Alley.Ð ˜(è#( ЀÌà  àWhile€bowling€in€the€competition,€Shoffner€inadvertently€knocked€his€beeper€from€his€beltÐ p*À%* Ðonto€the€bowling€lane,€several€feet€beyond€the€foul€line.€€Shoffner€then€moved€quickly€beyond€€theÐ \+¬&+ Ðfoul€line€onto€the€surface€of€the€bowling€lane€to€retrieve€his€beeper.€€As€he€did€so,€he€slipped€on€theÐ H,˜', Ðoiled€surface€of€the€bowling€lane,€lost€his€footing,€and€fell,€sustaining€injuries.Ð 4-„(-ý Їà  àSubsequently,€Shoffner€filed€a€negligence€action€against€the€Bowling€Alley€and€BillyÐ ° ÐHardwick,€president€of€the€corporation.€€Shoffner€alleged€that€his€injuries€had€been€caused€by€theÐ œì Ðdefendantsðð€negligence€in,€òòinter€aliaóó,€preparing€the€bowling€lane€so€that€it€constituted€an€unsafe€andÐ ˆØ Ðhazardous€condition,€and€failing€to€provide€adequate€warning€of€the€danger€of€crossing€the€foul€line.€Ð tÄ ÐÔ_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€later€voluntarily€dismissed€his€suit€against€Billy€Hardwick,€leaving€only€his€cause€of€actionÐ `° Ðagainst€the€Bowling€Alley.Ð L œ ЀÌà  àA€jury€trial€was€held.€€At€the€trial,€Shoffner€testified€that€he€arrived€at€the€bowling€alleyÔ#†¼J» XXŒ¼ð #ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔÐ $ t Ðbetween€6:30€and€7:00€on€the€evening€of€the€accident.€€When€he€arrived,€he€saw€that€the€twentyÐ  ` Ðteams€scheduled€to€participate€in€the€league€competition€were€already€in€place€at€their€respective€Ð ü L  Ðbowling€lanes.€€€He€was€directed€to€€Lane€19,€where€he€found€the€other€four€members€of€his€teamÐ è 8  Ðwaiting€for€him.€€The€teams€€began€bowling€almost€immediately€after€he€arrived.€€When€it€wasÐ Ô$  ÐShoffnerððs€turn€to€bowl,€he€accidentally€knocked€his€beeper€from€his€belt€as€he€swung€his€arm€pastÐ À  Ðhis€hip€to€release€the€ball.€€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€testified€that€the€beeper€was€flung€several€feet€down€the€lane,Ð ¬ü  Ðand€he€heard€several€observers€snicker.€€Embarrassed€and€conscious€of€holding€up€the€game,€Ð ˜è  ÐShoffner€quickly€walked€out€onto€the€lane,€past€the€foul€line,€in€order€to€retrieve€his€beeper.€€He€tookÐ „Ô  Ðone€step€onto€the€surface€of€the€lane€and€began€to€take€a€second€step€when€his€feet€suddenly€slid€outÐ pÀ Ðfrom€under€him€on€the€slick,€oiled€surface€of€the€lane.€€Shoffner€fell€on€his€head€and€neck,€rupturingÐ \¬ Ða€disc€in€his€neck.Ð H˜ ЀÌà  àShoffner€testified€that€he€was€a€novice€bowler,€but€was€aware€that€bowlers€were€prohibitedÐ  p Ðfrom€crossing€the€foul€line.€€However,€he€insisted€that€he€thought€it€was€a€rule€of€the€game,€and€didÐ  \ Ðnot€know€of€any€danger€in€walking€beyond€the€foul€line.€€He€testified€that€he€was€not€aware€that€theÐ øH Ðbowling€lane€was€oiled,€or€that€its€surface€would€be€slick.€€There€were€no€signs€Ô#†¼J» XXŒ¼¸#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔposted€to€instructÐ ä4 Ðbowlers€not€to€cross€the€foul€line,€or€warning€of€the€danger€in€doing€so.Ð Ð  ÐÔ#†¼J» XXŒ¼¿#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔÌà  àShoffner€admitted€that€the€wooden€surface€of€the€bowling€lane,€just€beyond€the€foul€line,€wasÐ ¨ø Ðshinier€than€the€wooden€surface€of€the€approach€area.€€Ô#†¼J» XXŒ¼†#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔHe€testified€that€he€had€assumed€that€theÐ ”ä Ðbowling€lane€had€a€polyurethane€finish€on€it,€to€protect€the€wood€surface,€but€in€his€experienceÐ €Ð Ðpolyurethane€coatings€were€not€slick€or€dangerous€to€walk€on.€€Ô#†¼J» XXŒ¼~#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔHe€had€not€known€that€there€was€oilÐ l¼ Ðon€the€lane,€and€it€did€not€appear€oily€to€him.€€He€stated€that€had€he€known€that€the€surface€wasÐ X ¨ Ðslippery€with€oil,€€he€would€not€have€crossed€the€foul€line.€€He€also€said€that€had€he€seen€any€kindÐ D!” Ðof€sign€warning€against€crossing€the€foul€line,€he€would€not€have€done€so.Ð 0"€  ЀÌà  àPrior€to€the€beginning€of€the€game,€there€was€an€instructional€pre„league€meeting€that€allÐ $X" Ðbowlers€were€supposed€to€attend.€€Shoffner€testified€that€he€had€not€known€of€the€meeting;€he€arrivedÐ ô$D # Ðlate€and€missed€it.€€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€said€that€he€had€to€attend€a€Parent„Teacher€Association€meeting€for€his€Ð à%0!$ Ðson,€and€he€arrived€at€the€Bowling€Alley€just€in€time€to€begin€bowling.Ð Ì&"% Ѐ€€€à  àà ` àà ¸ àÐ ¸'#& Ðà  àOn€cross„examination,€Shoffner€acknowledged€that€during€an€earlier€deposition€he€stated€thatÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhe€thought€the€lanes€were€waxed,€and€that€he€presumed€that€wax€can€be€slippery.€He€also€admittedÐ )à$( Ðâ âthat€he€should€have€called€an€employee€of€the€bowling€alley€to€retrieve€the€beeper€for€him.Ð |*Ì%) Ѐ€à  àA€member€of€a€team€that€bowled€against€Shoffnerððs€team,€Jeff€Floyd€(ð ðFloydðð),€testified€thatÐ ° Ðâ âShoffner€came€late,€after€the€pre„league€meeting€had€already€been€held,€and€the€first€frames€ofÐ œì Ðpractice€balls€had€been€bowled.€€Floyd€described€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ôððs€fall:Ð ˆØ ÐÌà8  àà ` àHe€was€on€the€approach,€went€to€throw€his€ball€down€the€lane.€€As€he€did,€hisÐ `° Ðhand€with€the€ball€hit€the€pager€that€was€on€his€belt€or€pocket€on€his€side.€€The€pagerÐ L œ Ðflew€down€the€lane€landing€in€the€gutter.€€When€it€did€that,€he€turned€around€and€kindÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€laughed€and€just€took€off€down€the€lane€after€it.Ð$ tÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àHe€probably€took,€oh,€I€am€not€sure€how€many€pretty€quick€steps,€two€or€threeÐ  ` Ðor€four€or€five,€six€steps€maybe€10€or€12€feet€down€the€lane.€€And€when€he€went€toÐ ü L  Ðstop,€his€feet€flew€up€in€the€air,€and€he€landed€it€looked€like€on€his€upper€body€andÐ è 8  Ðhis€head€hit€the€ground.ÐÔ$ Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àA€member€of€Shoffnerððs€bowling€team,€Billy€Joe€Stewart€(ð ðStewartðð),Ô#†¼J» XXŒ¼²#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔ€testified€that€ShoffnerÐ ¬ü  Ðhurried€out€onto€the€bowling€lane€to€retrieve€his€beeper,€flung€approximately€ten€feet€onto€the€lane.€Ð ˜è  ÐStewart€said€that€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€didnððt€break€into€a€ð ðfull€run,ðð€but€that€he€ð ðstepped€out€there€quickly.ððÐ „Ô  ÐÌ€€à  àAt€the€close€of€the€Shoffnerððs€case€in€chief,€the€Bowling€Alley€moved€for€a€directed€verdict,Ð \¬ Ðarguing€that€Shoffner€had€failed€to€demonstrate€that€the€Bowling€Alley€had€any€duty€to€warnÐ H˜ ÐShoffner€of€the€condition€of€the€lane,€or€that€the€Bowling€Alley€had€breached€the€standard€of€careÐ 4„ Ðby€failing€to€provide€signs€warning€of€the€oiled€condition€of€the€bowling€lanes.€€The€trial€courtÐ  p Ðreserved€its€ruling€on€the€motion€until€after€the€Bowling€Alleyððs€proof.Ð  \ ЀÌà  àThe€Bowling€Alley€presented€proof€of€two€meetings€prior€to€the€bowling€game€in€which€thoseÐ ä4 Ðattending€were€told€that€participants€were€not€to€cross€the€foul€line.€€John€Scott€(ð ðScottðð),€PresidentÐ Ð  Ðof€the€Bowling€League,€testified€that€the€first€meeting,€held€approximately€one€week€before€theÐ ¼  Ðgames€started,€was€attended€by€the€captains€of€the€participating€twenty€teams.€€The€second€meetingÐ ¨ø Ðwas€held€on€the€evening€that€the€games€started,€and€all€bowlers€were€expected€to€attend.€€Scott€saidÐ ”ä Ðthat€the€foul€line€rule€was€covered€at€both€meetings,€and€bowlers€were€instructed€not€to€cross€the€foulÐ €Ð Ðline.€€Scott€testified€that€the€bowling€lanes€were€visibly€slick,€and€in€twenty€years€experience€withÐ l¼ Ðbowling,€he€had€seen€people€cross€the€foul€line€only€four€or€five€times.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àThe€owner€of€the€Bowling€Alley,€Billy€Hardwick€(ð ðHardwickðð),€also€testified.€€Hardwick€Ð 0"€  Ðwas€a€former€professional€bowler,€having€spent€seventeen€years€on€the€professional€bowling€tour€inÐ #l! Ðthe€1960's€and€1970's.€€€He€had€operated€the€Bowling€Alley€for€approximately€seventeen€years.€Ð $X" ÐÔ_ÔHardwickÔ_Ô€explained€that€the€bowling€lanes€in€a€bowling€alley€are€oiled€at€least€once€a€day€to€protectÐ ô$D # Ðthe€wood€and€to€enable€the€bowlers€to€achieve€optimum€bowling€scores.€€He€said€that,€after€the€lanesÐ à%0!$ Ðare€oiled,€they€appear€ð ðvery€shiny.ðð€€Hardwick€testified€that,€in€forty€years€of€bowling,€he€had€seenÐ Ì&"% Ðonly€a€few€people€cross€the€foul€line,€and€fewer€than€five€people€fall.Ô#†¼J» XXŒ¼(#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔÐ ¸'#& ÐÌà  àHardwick€acknowledged€that€in€August€1994,€there€were€no€signs€warning€bowlers€not€toÐ )à$( Ðcross€the€foul€line.€€He€said€that€he€thought€such€signs€were€not€necessary.€€He€testified€that€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðbowlers€were€verbally€instructed€not€to€cross€the€foul€line€in€the€pre„league€meetings,€held€one€weekÐ h+¸&* Ðprior€to€competition,€attended€by€the€team€captains,€as€well€as€the€pre„league€meeting€on€the€firstÐ ° Ðnight€of€competition.€€In€addition,€a€packet€of€typed€rules€and€instructions,€admonishing€bowlers€notÐ œì Ðto€cross€the€foul€line,€was€handed€out€to€each€team€captain€with€the€understanding€that€it€would€beÐ ˆØ Ðshared€with€team€members.€€Ô_ÔHardwickÔ_Ô€testified€that,€in€his€experience,€some€bowling€alleys€hadÐ tÄ Ðsigns€warning€against€crossing€the€foul€line,€while€others€did€not.Ð `° ЀÌÔ#†¼J» XXŒ¼Û2#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔà  àAt€the€close€of€its€proof,€the€Bowling€Alley€renewed€its€motion€for€a€directed€verdict.€€TheÐ 8 ˆ Ðtrial€court€granted€the€Bowling€Alleyððs€motion,€finding€that€the€Bowling€Alley,€as€a€matter€of€law,Ð $ t Ðdid€not€owe€Shoffner€any€duty€to€warn€him€of€the€condition€of€the€bowling€lane,€due€to€the€open€andÐ  ` Ðobvious€nature€of€the€risk,€and€the€lack€of€foreseeability€of€the€accident.€€The€Court€further€foundÐ ü L  Ðthat,€even€had€the€Bowling€Alley€owed€such€a€duty€to€Shoffner,€reasonable€minds€could€not€differÐ è 8  Ðthat€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ôððs€negligence€exceeded€that€of€the€Bowling€Alley.€€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€now€appeals€the€trialÐ Ô$  Ðcourtððs€order€directing€a€verdict€in€favor€of€the€Bowling€Alley.Ð À  ЀÌà  àOn€appeal,€Shoffner€first€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€finding€that€the€Bowling€AlleyÐ ˜è  Ðhad€no€duty€to€warn€him€of€the€danger€of€crossing€the€foul€line.€€€Shoffner€contends€that€a€duty€toÐ „Ô  Ðwarn€existed€since€the€likelihood€and€gravity€of€harm€caused€by€the€Bowling€Alleyððs€failure€to€postÐ pÀ Ðwarning€signs€far€exceeds€the€burden€on€the€Bowling€Alley€to€post€warning€signs.Ð \¬ ÐÔ#†¼J» XXŒ¼ò6#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔÌà  à€Shoffner€also€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€his€negligence€was€greater€than€Ð 4„ Ðthe€Bowling€Alleyððs€negligence.€€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€contends€that€reasonable€minds€could€differ€as€to€whetherÐ  p Ðhe€was€more€than€50%€at€fault€for€the€accident,€and€therefore,€the€trial€court€should€have€submittedÐ  \ Ðthe€case€to€the€jury.Ð øH ЀÌÔ#†¼J» XXŒ¼x<#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔà  àIn€deciding€a€motion€for€directed€verdict,€the€court€must€look€to€all€the€evidence,€take€theÐ Ð  Ðstrongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€non„Ô_ÔmovantÔ_Ô,€and€allow€all€reasonableÐ ¼  Ðinferences€in€favor€of€that€party.€€All€countervailing€evidence€must€be€discarded,€and€if€there€is€thenÐ ¨ø Ðany€dispute€as€to€any€material€fact,€or€any€doubt€as€to€the€conclusions€to€be€drawn€from€the€wholeÐ ”ä Ðevidence,€the€motion€must€be€denied.€€ò òòòConatser€v.€Clarksville€Coca„Cola€Bottling€Co.ó óóó,€920€S.W.2dÐ €Ð Ð646,€647€(Tenn.€1995);òòò ò€Hurley€v.€Tennessee€Farmers€Mut.€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€922€S.W.2d€887,€891€(Tenn.Ð l¼ ÐApp.€1995).Ð X ¨ Ѐ€Ô#†¼J» XXŒ¼}>#ÔÔ‡XŒ¼ X»¼JÔÐ D!” ÐÔ#†¼J» XXŒ¼âA#Ôà  àÔ€XŒ¼ X»¼JÔWe€consider€first€the€trial€courtððs€holding€that,€even€assuming€the€Bowling€Alley€had€a€dutyÐ 0"€  Ðto€post€warning€signs€of€the€danger€of€crossing€the€foul€line,€Shoffnerððs€negligence€was€greater€thanÐ #l! Ð50%,€thereby€precluding€him€from€recovering€from€the€Bowling€Alley.€€ò òòòSee€McIntyre€v.€Ô_ÔBalentineÔ_Ôó óóó,Ð $X" Ð833€S.W.2d€52,€57€(Tenn.€1992).€€ò òó óIn€this€case,€Shoffner€testified€that€he€was€aware€of€the€rule€againstÐ ô$D # Ðcrossing€the€foul€line.€€He€acknowledged€that€the€lane€appeared€shiny€to€him,€and€that€he€believedÐ à%0!$ Ðthat€bowling€lanes€were€waxed.€€He€admitted€that€he€had€presumed€that€wax€could€be€slippery.€€ByÐ Ì&"% Ðhis€own€account,€Shoffner€was€embarrassed€and€anxious€to€get€the€beeper€off€the€lane€as€quickly€asÐ ¸'#& Ðpossible,€so€that€the€interruption€of€play€would€be€minimal.€€Two€of€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ôððs€witnesses€testifiedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthat€Ô_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€took€rapid€steps€out€onto€the€bowling€lane€in€an€effort€to€retrieve€the€beeper€quickly.€Ð )à$( ÐÔ_ÔShoffnerÔ_Ô€admitted€that€he€should€have€called€an€employee€of€the€Bowling€Alley€to€retrieve€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðbeeper.€€Under€these€undisputed€facts,€reasonable€minds€could€only€conclude€that€Shoffner€wasÐ h+¸&* Ðnegligent,€and€that€he€was€more€than€50%€at€fault€for€the€accident.€€The€trial€courtððs€decision€isÐ ° Ðaffirmed€on€this€basis.€€The€remaining€issues€raised€by€Shoffner€are€pretermitted.Ð œì Ѐ€Ð ˆØ Ðà  àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€are€assessed€against€the€Appellant,€CharlesÐ tÄ ÐW.€Shoffner,€and€his€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.Ð `° ÐÓ ÓÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ $ t Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHOLLY€KIRBY€Ô_ÔLILLARDÔ_Ô,€J.Ð ü L  Ð