WPC |^[t4he'?h8d)PF08" `IyW&WD^c-Fm<,&cJL'afܽvNW'G\kB27R!_õhڼUls׺WRQJ}ġ\7jKbAykTbs3۝S^f#>${#`i#겋ƌwFǴGOcАVgR˯{ME+8k78 ҎwԱѕ Clj,$lsu$EJ{{G*F6i2Ofߋ=+8ξ}Rf[hl+\]lfT8mɌJ63pf|=gK>V`6pfY}עQ?:Ͱyn.q oM5aX>/NH@Ro|?_DzEa%}zpOKUr$b#\ %% ^ + 07 UN w 4 z%  q  m UN   s9UNNMfOOEb 0 B 0 D3k D- 0K ASi 0/ 0D A\\IB01S02\CLERKJAC,,,,0z/ (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regularlk.: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|xU(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(9 Z 6Times New Roman Regular \\R3'User Defined 2\- -(|G2/ $ !.8ydd8         0   d(|3$ !.8ydd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8ydd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8ydd8     _  y87XXdd8  N@ j^yINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON#yj^#Ԉ #   SubmittedOnBriefsOctober14,2003 F X7Xy #yXX7#RUSSELLA.SIEGFRIEDv.THEGRAND_KREWE_ԀOFSPHINX,etal.X7Xy  ? @@ DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforShelbyCounty  9 @@No.CH0003073D.J._Alissandratos_,Chancellor  # @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.W200202246_COA_ԄR3CVFiledDecember2,_2003_   AV) ` dE<]` A ^      XuXXX7Thiscaseinvolvesanappealfromthetrialcourtsgrantofdefendantsmotionforsummary V  judgment.Thetrialcourtdismissedtheplaintiffscomplaintforfailingtomeetthepublication ? elementrequiredforaprimafacieclaimofdefamation/libel.Weaffirm. (x #X7XX Xu<##yXX7#X7Xy0 Tenn.R.App.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtAffirmed;and J Remanded  4   #yX7#X7X.yDavidR.Farmer,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichAlanE._Highers_,J.andHolly  M.Kirby,J.,joined.  LouisR.Lucas,Memphis,Tennessee,fortheappellant,RussellA.Siegfried. r B.J.WadeandC.MichaelBecker,Memphis,Tennessee,fortheappellees,TheGrand_Krewe_Ԁof D Sphinx,DonaldM.Keith,Gary_Bilderback_,Nancy_Bilderback_,Eric_Bogenschneider_,Lois -} _Bogenschneider_,Tom_Broderich_,Travis_Burlison_,Dianne_Burlison_,VirginiaByrd,Barney_Byrum_, f JimCrow,ShirleyCrow,MarthaCruz,LarryDagan,_Leanna_ԀDagan,TimothyDecent,Kathleen O Decent,Bobby_Deshields_,Mary_Deshields_,JudyFinley,Mack_Fulwood_,Richard_Gallaher_,Teresa  8  _Gallaher_,RonStorm_Hendren_,BarbaraKeith,HenryLittleton,Jr.,JeanneLittleton,Bob_Lowry_, !!! Paul_Mattila_,Margaret_Mattila_,_Jere_ԀOrman,RonaldRay,DianneRay,Robert_Richey_,Linda " " _Richey_,_Annelle_Ԁ_Roachell_,AllenRoberts,_Darleen_ԀM.Russ,BobSmith,BarbaraSmith,Tammy ## TurnerandBeth_Vaughn_. $$  OPINION #yXX7#X7Xy ^&!& #yXX7O#X7Xy XuXXX7    #X7XX Xu#XuXXX7Plaintiff/Appellant,RussellA.Siegfried(Siegfried),wasamemberofanotforprofit 1(#( socialorganization,theGrand_Krewe_ԀofSphinx(_Krewe_).The_Krewe_Ԁisincorporatedandhasits )j$) ownbylawstogoverntheconductandactivitiesoftheorganization.Siegfriedhasbeena *S%* memberofthe_Krewe_Ԁforfifteenyearsandhasheldvariousofficesincludingchairmanand *<&+ treasureroftheorganization. +%',   ,(-   Atoneparticulargeneralmembership#X7XXXu&#XuXXX7Ԁmeetingofthe_Krewe_#X7XXXu,#XuXXX7,Siegfriedbeganchallenging   actionsofthe_Krewe_Ԁandcriticizedacertain_Krewe_#X7XXXu#XuXXX7Ԁmember.Inresponse,DonaldKeith(Keith),  the_Krewe_schairman,chargedSiegfriedwithviolationsofthe_Krewe_sbylaws.Asrequired  underthebylaws,KeithsentalettertoSiegfriedandallthe_Krewe_svotingmembersnotifying k themofaspecialhearingandthechargesallegedagainstSiegfried.ThisletteraccusedSiegfried T ofcausingfalsereportstobefiledwithTennesseesSecretaryofState,actingasanunauthorized =  executiveofficer,conductunbecomingagentleman,andapatternofdeliberatelymisleadingthe & v _Krewe_sgeneralmembershipandofficers.Followingthelettersdistribution,the_Krewe_  _ convenedandvotedtoterminateSiegfriedsmembership.  H   Siegfriedfiledacomplaintagainstthedefendants/appellees,the_Krewe_,itsofficers,and    certainmembers,requestingapreliminaryandpermanentinjunctionagainstthedefendants.The   complaintallegedthatthe_Krewe_ԀwasliablefordefamationandlibeltoSiegfriedspersonaland   professionalreputationentitlingSiegfriedtoanawardofpunitiveandcompensatorydamages.   Followingthe_Krewe_sansweranddiscovery,the_Krewe_Ԁfiledamotionforsummaryjudgment. n  Thebasisofthe_Krewe_smotionwasthattheundisputedfactscontainedinplaintiffscomplaint W  couldnotestablishtheessentialelementofpublicationrequiredtomakeoutadefamation/libel @ case.The_Krewe_Ԁreliedupon#X7XXXu# XuXXX7Tennesseecaselawholdingthatnopublicationoccurswhenthe )y complainedcommunicationisbetweenemployeesoragentswithinabusiness.Thetrialcourt b grantedthe_Krewe_smotionforsummaryjudgment. K   IssuePresented       SiegfriedappealsandpresentsthisCourtwiththeissueofwhetherthetrialcourterredby  applyingtheexceptionstandardusedforinternalcorporatecommunicationcasestoavoluntary  socialorganizationindeterminingtheissueoflibelandslanderpublication. r   0 @  StandardofReview D     ThisCourtmustdecidewhetheritwaserrorforthetrialcourttoawardsummary g judgmenttothe_Krewe_.Summaryjudgmentshouldbeawardedwhenthemovingpartycan  P demonstratethattherearenogenuineissuesregardingmaterialfactsandthatitisentitledto  9 judgmentasamatteroflaw.Tenn.R.Civ.P.56.04;Byrdv.Hall,847S.W.2d208,214(Tenn. !"  1993);_McCarley_Ԁv.W.QualityFoodServ.,960S.W.2d585,588(Tenn.1998).Mereassertions " ! thatthenonmovingpartyhasnoevidencedoesnotsufficetoentitlethemovingpartyto #" summaryjudgment._McCarley_,960S.W.2dat588.Themovingpartymusteitherconclusively $# demonstrateanaffirmativedefenseoraffirmativelynegateanelementwhichisessentialtothe v% $ nonmovingpartysclaim.Id.Ifthemovingpartycandemonstratethatthenonmovingparty _&!% willnotbeabletocarryitsburdenofproofattrialonanessentialelement,summaryjudgmentis H'"& appropriate.Id. 1(#'   ThisCourtreviewsanawardofsummaryjudgmentdenovo,withnopresumptionof *S%) correctnessaffordedtothetrialcourt.Guyv.Mut.ofOmahaIns.Co.,79S.W.3d528,534 *<&* (Tenn.2002).Indeterminingwhethertoawardsummaryjudgment,wemustviewtheevidence +%'+ inthelightmostfavorabletothenonmovingparty,drawingallreasonableinferencesinfavorof  thenonmovingparty.Staplesv._CBL_Ԁ&_Assocs_.,15S.W.3d83,89(Tenn.2000).Summary  judgmentshouldbeawardedonlywhenareasonablepersoncouldreachonlyoneconclusion  basedonthefactsandinferencesdrawnfromthosefacts.Id.Ifthereisanydoubtaboutwhether k agenuineissueofmaterialfactexists,summaryjudgmentshouldnotbeawarded._McCarley_, T 960S.W.2dat588. =    Defamation/Libel  _      Tosuccessfullyprosecuteadefamationcase,aTennesseeplaintiffmustprovethat: (1)a  2  partypublishedastatement;(2)withknowledgethatthestatementisfalseanddefamingtothe    other;or(3)withrecklessdisregardforthetruthofthestatementorwithnegligenceinfailingto   ascertainthetruthofthestatement.Sullivanv.Baptist_Meml_ԀHosp.,995S.W.2d569,571   (Tenn.1999)(citingPress,Inc.v._Verran_,569S.W.2d435,442(Tenn.1978);Restatement   (Second)ofTorts580B(1997))(emphasisadded).Assuch, publicationisanessential o  elementofalibelactionwithoutwhichacomplaintmustbedismissed.Woodsv._Helmi_, X  _M.D.A._,758S.W.2d219,22223(Tenn.Ct.App.1988)(citing_Applewhite_Ԁv.MemphisState A Univ.,495S.W.2d190(Tenn.1973);Freemanv.DaytonScaleCo.,19S.W.2d255(Tenn. *z 1929)).Withoutpublication,thecourtwillnotaddresstheissuesofmalice,privilege,falsity,or c otherrelatedquestions.Id.at223. L   Inthiscase,thetrialjudgegrantedthe_Krewe_smotionforsummaryjudgmentafter  consideringboththeundisputedfactsthatthe_Krewe_ԀattachedwithitsmotionandSiegfrieds  responsetothe_Krewe_sstatementofundisputedfacts.Therecordestablishesthatthealleged  libelousletterwasdistributedonlytothevotingmembersoftheincorporatedbutnotforprofit  _Krewe_ԀorganizationandSiegfried.Therecordpresentsnocontroversyastothematerialfactsof r thiscase.TheonlyissuetoberesolvedbythisCourtiswhetherTennesseesdefamationlaw [ concerningpublicationinforprofitcorporationsappliestonotforprofitincorporated D organizations. -}   Itiswellsettledthatnopublicationoccurswhenonlyintracorporatecommunications O existasevidencedbytheTennesseeSupremeCourtstating itisannouncedthatcommunication  8 betweenofficersandagentsofacorporation...isnotpublicationoflibelousmatter.Freeman !!  v.DaytonScaleCo.,19S.W.2d255,257(Tenn.1929)(citing36C.J.Libel174(1924)).The " ! rationalebehindsucharuleisthatpublicationrequires thecommunicationofadefamatory #" mattertoathirdpersonand communicationamongagentsofthesamecorporation...arenot $# tobeconsideredasstatementscommunicatedorpublicizedtothirdpersons.Sullivanv.Baptist u% $ _Meml_ԀHosp.,995S.W.2d569,572(Tenn.1999)(citingQualityAutoPartsCo.v.BluffCity ^&!% BuickCo.,876S.W.2d818,821(Tenn.1994));Woodsv._Helmi_,_M.D.A._,758S.W.2d219,223 G'"& (Tenn.Ct.App.1988). 0(#'   Siegfriedcontendsthattheintracorporatecommunicationruledoesnotapplytonotfor *R%) profitorganizations.Asaresult,Siegfriedarguesthatthe_Krewe_sstatusassuchexcusesthe *;&* rulesapplicationinthiscase.Siegfriedfailstociteanycaselawdrawingthisdistinction. +$'+ N TRX3'User Defined 2X3' Letter3'Letter  _  3'LetterT   Similarly,thisCourthasfoundnoTennesseecaselawonpointbuthasdiscoveredanother  jurisdictionsapplicationoftheintracorporatecommunicationruletoanotforprofit  association.InCarterv._Willowrun_ԀCondo._Assn_,Inc.,345S.E.2d924(Ga.Ct.App.1986),the  GeorgiaCourtofAppealsstatedthatnopublicationoccursin situationsinvolving k communicationsbetweenmembersofcorporations,unincorporatedgroups,andassociations. T Carter,345S.E.2dat925(citationsomitted).InCarter,thecommunicationatissuewasaletter =  sentfromarepresentativeofacondominiumassociationtotheplaintiffslandlord.Id.The & v courtdeterminedthattheletterneverleftthecorporatestructureofthecondominiumassociation  _ becausetheonlypersonsinreceiptoftheletterhadaresponsibilitytotheassociationtodoso.  H Id.at92526.Asaresult,thecourtheldthattherewasnopublication.Id.at926.  1    Inthiscase,thereasoningunderlyingbothCarterandTennesseesintracorporationrule   militateagainstmakingtheforprofitcorporationandnotforprofitincorporatedorganization   distinctionurgeduponthisCourtbySiegfried.First,theletteroutliningthechargesagainst   Siegfriedwasonlysenttothevotingmembersofthe_Krewe_,asitwastheirresponsibilityto n  receiveandreviewthechargespursuanttothebylawsoftheorganization.Second,theletter W  neverleftthecorporatestructureofthe_Krewe_,and,therefore,nocommunicationeveroccurred @ toathirdparty.Accordingly,Siegfriedfailedtodemonstratepublicationoftheallegedlibelous )y statementsandnoactionablelibelcanresult.The_Krewe_Ԁraisestheadditionalissueofwhether b Siegfriedwaivedissueforareviewbasedonlackofcitationtotherecord.Inviewofthis K Courtsdecision,thisissueis_pretermitted_.    4    Conclusion       Inlightoftheforegoing,weaffirmthetrialcourtsgrantofthe_Krewe_smotionfor  summaryjudgment.Costsofthisappealaretaxedtotheappellant,RussellA.Siegfried,andhis r surety,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.#X7XX Xu# [    `     h     ___________________________________ O    `     h     DAVIDR.FARMER,JUDGE