ÿWPC‡* Ô@ G"©Úû:JRÌeª1¢Úà:Å"~›a—:`G$,]‰Dv°W&"·a7ïrJÇZYœ´y»$P(8žRÐÀ«KÛ RÒ1Ž›“ï;нghø•ÄuFU¡ã þóÎrñ¸'ÌýÌÍ)b-`‡Ž¢ç´ðưr_©x >*õJÜœ»#Œ¼»ˆyÁ²í÷þ ‹PÕ8ü á4i›ñ†¾AQ©Ñ´Iì` ­jÜ(Rõ˜¦Ã ïK»é¨ÐÛh‰~º ®æH¡pÃÅŽ3ü=毯Cúîy"eoñ—s~*ß/p뮟í¹`ƒ² ЭM™Lä‹ âbDyc£¤úGýQù€5o’¶%Ÿ© #õ+Mï[ËD’ÔxâIä›Ç©–¸†ðyû5ͧc •…1x¼1¾Å7/.<ù¬I÷¨Ãläfmç#ÿ·NsџчŒúÜ‘pï/§?Õ³èþî†2Tk¤0ŸSó¨rÊ·YèUùÑ8Ï¥é\òÆ€Q›‡%ëll†¹]k}hã” €°Ó}›÷!CÀ.ù%±Y&ø—R³ óW³e€ùJ•†ý›ÃžI‚ïuHއº¹¯w”M»ÔÀÖj}ýE8Ñ×Ë-Xè<—¼ÙŠ7Hb %\^ b 0ˆnU?NöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÉÐ ^™ Æ÷ ƽƃÆI 0 DNSUmEƒƒUN…U@Ó„Ä——p[[ÊË• ß#######‡ó#ó#ó#ó#ó#ó#bz%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z%z% 0 ë‚%‚%‚%‚% Bm&m& 0¤Š& D5.' D-c' 0K'' ASÛ'Æ.( 0¤ô( 0D˜) A«Ü)»¼•F0Ï (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÂJ00ê:i¢×+003|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0 TÝ ƒR;à$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMother€filed€a€timely€notice€of€appeal€from€that€order,€but€the€appeal€was€later€dismissed€for€failure€to€file€aÐ ° Ðtranscript,€statement€of€the€evidence,€or€notice€of€no€transcript€or€statement.€€Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó dischargeableDraulicsSiegalsAlissandratos COAfacias P.J. W.S.HighersValorieTereseDebooTherese$nondischargeableFerrenLevandowskiGanzevoortCommrg]arnishmentStonecipher SavsNatlAssn B.R.Bankr i]ffail[s i]t T]hew]hereamount[edGleaves ECIChanlhereinaboveGarnishorKruteSiegal SavDraulic Ñ e Ñ(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(ÈhH  Z(Times New Roman  zÝ ƒR;à$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThat€statute€provides:Ð ° ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€If€it€appears€that€the€garnishee€is€indebted€to€the€defendant,€or€has€property€and€effects€of€theÐ 2‚ Ðdefendant€subject€to€the€attachment,€the€court€may,€in€case€recovery€is€had€by€the€plaintiff€against€theÐ óC Ðdefendant,€give€judgment€against€the€garnishee€for€the€amount€of€the€recovery€or€of€the€indebtednessÐ ´ Ðand€property.ÐuÅÐ Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„7„112€(2000). ºÝ ƒR;à$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThat€statute€provides:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àThe€employer€garnishee€shall€remit€to€the€court€all€moneys€[sic]ò ò€ó ówithheld€as€provided€under€ðð€26„2„Ð 2‚ Ð214€not€less€than€one€(1)€time€each€calendar€thirty€(30)€days.Ð÷GÐ Ð  ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€26„2„215€(2000). fÝ ƒR;à$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€bankruptcy€court€also€exercised€its€right€of€permissive€abstention,€declaring€that€any€further€disputesÐ ° Ðbetween€the€parties€should€be€resolved€by€the€trial€court.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€28€U.S.C.€ðð€1334(c)(1).€€ ÀÝ ƒR;à$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔFather€and€the€Guardian€cite€ò òòòÔ_ÔAncroÔ_Ô€Fin.€Co.€v.€Johnsonóóó ó,€No.€W2000„02709„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV,€2001€WL€1298913Ð ° Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Oct.€23,€2001),€to€support€their€argument€that€a€conditional€judgment€may€be€entered€if€the€garnisheeððsÐ r Ðanswer€is€insufficient.€€The€trial€court€in€that€case€did€indeed€enter€a€final€judgment€against€the€garnishee,€even€thoughÐ 3ƒ Ða€purported€answer€had€been€filed€by€the€garnishee€several€weeks€earlier.€€However,€the€garnishee€in€that€case€did€notÐ ôD Ðattend€the€subsequent€òòscire€faciasóó€hearing,€resulting€in€a€judgment€against€it.€€The€garnishee€did€not€appeal€the€judgment,Ð µ Ðbut€instead€challenged€the€decision€by€filing€a€writ€of€certiorari€and€Ô_ÔsupersedeasÔ_Ô€in€the€circuit€court.€€The€circuit€courtÐ vÆ Ðdenied€the€writ.€€On€appeal,€this€Courtððs€review€was€limited€to€determining€whether€the€trial€court€had€properly€deniedÐ 7 ‡ Ðthe€writ.€€Therefore,€the€propriety€of€the€trial€courtððs€decision€to€enter€a€conditional€judgment€was€not€at€issue€in€theÐ ø H Ðappeal,€and€ò òòòÔ_ÔAncroÔ_Ôó óóó€is€therefore€not€applicable€to€this€case.€€€€€€€€€ uÝ ƒR;à$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔApparently€at€the€outset€of€the€hearing,€an€issue€arose€as€to€whether€counsel€for€Air€Draulics€had€violated€ð ðtheÐ ° ÐRuleðð€by€informing€the€Siegals€outside€the€courtroom€that€counsel€for€Father€had€indicated€in€his€opening€statement€thatÐ qÁ Ðhe€planned€to€assert€that€Motherððs€friendship€with€the€Siegals€motivated€the€Siegals€to€attempt€to€defeat€or€circumventÐ 2‚ Ðthe€garnishment.€€The€trial€judge€questioned€the€witnesses€at€length€about€this. ÕÝ ƒR;à$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAir€Draulics€is€now€a€wholly„owned€subsidiary€of€Applied€Industrial€Technologies,€Inc.€ }Ý ƒR;à$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAir€Draulics€argues€that€no€issue€regarding€the€sufficiency€of€its€answer€was€raised€to€the€trial€court,€and€thatÐ ° Ðconsequently,€it€cannot€be€raised€in€this€appeal.€€Our€holding€makes€it€unnecessary€to€address€this€issue€in€this€appeal.- ù-(|G2;à$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ô»»dXXdé8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôëDò»»Ô d(|3xª$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ô»»dXXdé8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3xª$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ô»»dXXdé8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Ô»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼Ô»»»ÔÑ8€œïXXdé»»d8ÑÑ  ÑÑ€ïOÑà@ò ò ìàÔ‡î"Žî»¼ÔÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@òò%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼Ô»îî"Ž#ԈРÓ# ÐÓ  ÓOctober€16,€2003€SessionÐ öF ÐÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔÌò òÔ#†¼Ô»XXœï#ÔJAMES€ROY€SMITH,€JR.€Ð ï? Ðv.Ð  P ЀMARY€ELIZABETH€SMITH€òòandóó€AIR€DRAULICS€Ð  a ÐENGINEERING€COMPANY,€INC.Ô‡XœïX»¼ÔÔó ó,€ò òòòGarnisheeóóó óÐ " r ÐÌò òAn€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ l  Ðà@@øøìàNo.€D„27205„3€€€€€€€D.€J.€Alissandratos,€ChancellorÐ V  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ã` AßÐ Ä  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W2002„02534„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€February€5,€Ô_Ô2004Ô_ÔÐ ½  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€is€a€garnishment€case.€€In€the€underlying€child€custody€proceedings,€the€father€obtained€primaryÐ ‰Ù Ðcustody€of€the€partiesðð€minor€child,€and€the€mother€was€ordered€to€pay€child€support.€€The€father€andÐ r Ðthe€childððs€guardian€ad€litem€subsequently€obtained€judgments€against€the€mother€for€child€support,Ð [« Ðattorneyððs€fees,€and€guardian€ad€litem€fees.€€To€collect€on€the€judgments,€the€father€and€the€guardianÐ D” Ðad€litem€filed€four€garnishments€against€the€motherððs€wages.€€After€the€fourth€garnishment€was€filed,Ð -} Ðthe€garnishee€failed€to€answer.€€A€hearing€was€set€to€determine€whether€a€conditional€judgmentÐ f Ðshould€be€against€the€garnishee€for€the€entire€debt.€€On€the€eve€of€the€hearing,€the€garnishee€filed€anÐ ÿO Ðanswer€to€the€garnishment,€admitting€liability.€€Nevertheless,€the€trial€court€entered€a€conditionalÐ è8 Ðjudgment€against€the€garnishee€for€the€entire€amount€of€the€motherððs€debt.€€After€a€subsequent€òòscireÐ Ñ! Ðfaciasóó€hearing,€the€trial€court€made€the€conditional€judgment€a€final€judgment€for€the€entire€amountÐ º  Ðof€the€debt.€€The€garnishee€now€appeals.€€We€reverse,€concluding€that,€because€the€garnishee€filedÐ £ó Ðan€answer,€albeit€untimely,€the€trial€court€was€without€authority€to€enter€a€conditional€judgmentÐ ŒÜ Ðagainst€the€garnishee.€€Ð u Å ÐÓ9ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€is€Ð G"—! ÐReversed€and€Remandedó óÐ 1#" ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Ô»àXœïæ#ÔÔ‡XœïX.¼ÔÔHolly€M.€Kirby,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.,óóÐ %T $ Ðand€òòAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€joined.Ð í%=!% ÐÌHoward€B.€Hayden,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€theò ò€ó óappellant,€Air€Draulics€Engineering€Company,Ð ¿'#' ÐInc.Ð «(û#( ÐÌValorie€Corder,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€ò òó óappellee,€James€Roy€Smith,€Jr.Ð }*Í%* ÐÌTerese€B.€Deboo,€Guardian€Ad€Litem,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€ò òó óappellee,€òòpro€seóó.Ð O,Ÿ', ÐÓÒ ÓÐ 8-ˆ(-ý Ðò òÌOPINIONó óÔ#†¼Ô»XXœï #ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔÐ šê ÐÌÔ#†¼Ô»XXœï’#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔÓ  ÓÓ Óà  àOn€February€24,€1999,€Ô_ÔGarnishorÔ_Ô/Appellee€James€Roy€Smith,€Jr.€(ð ðFatherðð),€and€MaryÐ m½ ÐElizabeth€Smith€(ð ðMotherðð)€were€divorced€by€final€decree.€€The€trial€court€awarded€the€parties€jointÐ V¦ Ðcustody€of€their€minor€son,€with€Mother€designated€as€the€primary€custodial€parent.€€During€theÐ ?  Ðdivorce€proceedings,€Ô_ÔGarnishorÔ_Ô/Appellee€Therese€B.€Deboo€(ð ðGuardianðð)€was€appointed€as€Ð ( x Ðguardian€ad€litem€to€represent€the€child.€€Ð  a Ðà  àSubsequently,€a€petition€for€contempt€was€filed€against€Mother€for€her€willful€failure€toÐ ã 3  Ðadhere€to€the€custody€arrangement€as€ordered€by€the€trial€court.€€On€July€28,€1999,€Mother€was€heldÐ Ì   Ðto€be€in€contempt€of€court.€€On€December€10,€1999,€upon€the€joint€petition€of€Father€and€theÐ µ  ÐGuardian,€the€trial€court€ordered€a€change€of€custody,€awarding€full€custody€of€the€partiesðð€son€toÐ žî  ÐFather.€€In€that€order,€the€trial€court€also€found€that€Mother€was€in€civil€contempt€of€unspecifiedÐ ‡×  Ðcourt€orders.€€The€trial€court€ordered€Mother€to€pay€child€support€and€attorneyððs€fees€to€Father,€andÐ pÀ  Ðalso€ordered€her€to€pay€all€of€the€Guardianððs€fees.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€March€2,€2000,€Mother€was€again€held€inÐ Y©  Ðcivil€contempt€for,€among€other€things,€failure€to€pay€child€support,€failure€to€obey€injunctive€orders,Ð B’ Ðand€failure€to€comply€with€orders€relating€to€Motherððs€contact€with€the€partiesðð€son.€€€€€€€Ð +{ Ðà  àThe€proceedings€in€the€trial€court€resulted€in€several€money€judgments€against€Mother€inÐ ýM Ðfavor€of€Father€and€the€Guardian.€€During€this€time,€Mother€was€employed€by€Garnishee/AppellantÐ æ6 ÐAir€Draulics€Engineering€Company,€Inc.€(ð ðAir€Draulicsðð).׃!×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€order€to€collect€on€the€judgments,Ð Ï ÐFather€and€the€Guardian€began€what€turned€out€to€be€repeated,€frustrating€attempts€to€garnishÐ ¸ ÐMotherððs€wages€from€Air€Draulics.€€On€August€31,€1999,€Fatherððs€first€garnishment€issued.€€OnÐ ¡ñ ÐSeptember€20,€1999,€Air€Draulics€answered€the€garnishment€and€paid€$231.85€into€the€court€clerkððsÐ ŠÚ Ðoffice.€€On€November€3,€1999,€Mother€filed€a€motion€and€affidavit€for€a€stay€of€the€garnishment,€andÐ sà Ðon€November€12,€1999,€the€garnishment€was€stayed.€€Ð \¬ Ðà  àA€second€garnishment€was€issued€in€April€2000.€€Mother€then€filed€a€Chapter€7€petition€inÐ .~ Ðbankruptcy.€€On€June€5,€2000,€the€bankruptcy€court€issued€an€automatic€stay€in€the€bankruptcy€case,Ð g Ðresulting€in€a€stay€of€the€second€garnishment.€€Father€and€the€Guardian€initiated€adversaryÐ  P Ðproceedings€in€the€bankruptcy€court,€seeking€to€collect€on€the€judgments€against€Mother.€€InÐ é 9 ÐFebruary€2001,€the€bankruptcy€court€entered€two€orders,€granting€summary€judgment€to€both€FatherÐ Ò!"  Ðand€the€Guardian,€respectively.€€The€bankruptcy€court€held€that,€because€Motherððs€debts€to€FatherÐ »" ! Ðand€to€the€Guardian€were€for€child€support,€they€were€nondischargeable€debts.׃›×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòò òSeeóóó ó€11€U.S.C.€ððÐ ¤#ô" Ð523(a)(5).€€Ô#†¼Ô»XXœïê#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔÐ Ž$Þ# Ðà  àOn€March€7,€2001,€Father€and€the€Guardian€filed€their€affidavits€of€garnishment,€and€a€thirdÐ ° Ðgarnishment€was€issued€against€Motherððs€wages€at€Air€Draulics.€€Mother€thereafter€filed€a€ChapterÐ ™é Ð13€petition€in€bankruptcy,€and€sought€to€stay€the€garnishment€proceedings.€€However,€herÐ ‚Ò Ðbankruptcy€petition€was€dismissed€on€August€3,€2001,€for€failure€to€abide€by€the€bankruptcy€courtððsÐ k» Ðorders.€€€€Ð T¤ Ðà  àOn€August€28,€2001,€Father€and€the€Guardian€made€another€attempt€to€garnish€MotherððsÐ & v Ðwages.€€This€€was€the€fourth€garnishment.€€On€October€10,€2001,€this€fourth€garnishment€was€servedÐ  _ Ðon€Air€Draulics.€€Air€Draulics€did€not€answer€the€garnishment€at€that€time,€and€paid€no€money€intoÐ ø H Ðcourt.Ð á 1  Ðà  àEight€months€later,€on€June€29,€2002,€Father€and€the€Guardian€filed€a€joint€motion€for€aÐ ³  Ðconditional€judgment,€a€joint€petition€for€a€òòscire€faciasóó€hearing,€and€a€petition€for€final€judgmentÐ œì  Ðagainst€Air€Draulics,€based€on€its€failure€to€honor€the€garnishment.€€The€motion€asserted€that€AirÐ …Õ  ÐDraulics€had€not€answered€the€garnishment€or€paid€any€money€into€court,€and€that€Father€and€theÐ n¾  ÐGuardian€were€therefore€entitled€to€a€conditional€judgment€and€a€òòscire€facias€óóÔ#†¼Ô»XXœï»#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔhearing€pursuant€toÐ W§  ÐTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€26„2„209.€€That€statute€provides:Ð @ Ðà8  àò ò26„2„209.€€Failure€to€appear€or€answer.€ð!ð€ó óThe€date€garnisheeððs€answer€is€receivedÐ b Ðby€the€court€clerk€shall€be€noted€on€the€docket€book€in€the€proper€manner,€whetherÐ þN Ðor€not€the€answer€discloses€any€property€subject€to€garnishment.€€If€the€garnisheeÐ ç7 Ðfails€to€appear€or€answer,€a€conditional€judgment€may€be€entered€against€theÐ Ð  Ðgarnishee€for€the€plaintiffððs€debt,€upon€which€a€notice€shall€issue€to€the€garnisheeÐ ¹  Ðreturnable€at€such€time€as€the€court€may€require,€to€show€cause€why€judgment€finalÐ ¢ò Ðshould€not€be€rendered€against€the€garnishee.€€On€failure€of€the€garnishee€to€appearÐ ‹Û Ðand€show€cause,€the€conditional€judgment€shall€be€made€final,€and€executionÐ tÄ Ðawarded€for€the€plaintiffððs€entire€debt€and€costs.€Ð]­Ð Ð  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€26„2„209€(2000).€€The€hearing€on€the€joint€motion€for€a€conditional€judgmentÐ / Ðwas€noticed€for€July€19,€2002.€Ð h Ðà  àOn€July€18,€2002,€the€day€before€the€conditional€judgment€hearing,€Air€Draulics€filed€theÐ ê : Ðaffidavit€of€Julie€Krute€(ð ðKruteðð),€the€corporate€representative€who€was€responsible€for€Air€DraulicsððÐ Ó!#  Ðpayroll.€€The€document€was€titled€ð ðAffidavit€of€Julie€Krute/Answer€to€Garnishment€of€Air€DraulicsÐ ¼" ! ÐEngineering€Co.,€Inc.ðð€€In€the€affidavit,€Krute€acknowledged€that€Air€Draulics€was€served€with€theÐ ¥#õ" Ðgarnishment€in€October€2001,€and€that€Air€Draulics€failed€to€answer€the€garnishment.€€Krute€saidÐ Ž$Þ# Ðthat€the€failure€to€answer€the€garnishment€was€due€to€her€ð ðoversight.ðð€€The€affidavit€also€stated€thatÐ w%Ç $ ÐMotherððs€bi„weekly€earnings€were€$1,333.60,€and€that€$290.77€was€being€taken€out€of€eachÐ `&°!% Ðpaycheck€pursuant€to€a€court„ordered€income€assignment€and€paid€to€the€Tennessee€Child€SupportÐ I'™"& ÐReceipting€Unit.€€Ð 2(‚#' Ðà  àOn€the€following€day,€July€19,€2002,€the€trial€court€held€a€hearing€and€granted€the€motionÐ *T%) Ðfor€a€conditional€judgment€against€Air€Draulics€for€the€entire€amount€of€Motherððs€debt€to€Father€andÐ í*=&* Ðthe€Guardian,€which€totaled€$82,817.40.€€The€trial€court€set€the€òòscire€facias€óóhearing€for€August€21,Ð Ö+&'+ Ð2002,€ð ðrequiring€[Air€Draulics]€to€appear€and€show€cause,€if€any€it€has,€why€the€conditionalÐ ° Ðjudgment€should€not€be€made€final.ðð€€At€the€hearing,€the€trial€court€indicated€that€Air€DraulicsððÐ ™é Ðanswer€would€not€prevent€the€grant€of€a€conditional€judgment€because€it€was€untimely€filed.€€In€itsÐ ‚Ò Ðorder,€the€trial€court€simply€stated€that€the€garnisheeððs€motion€was€ð ðwell„taken€and€should€beÐ k» Ðgranted.ððÐ T¤ Ðà  àOn€August€20,€2002,€the€day€before€the€òòscire€facias€óóhearing,€Air€Draulics€filed€aÐ & v Ðsupplemental€affidavit€of€Julie€Krute€with€attached€exhibits.€€Krute€again€stated€that€she€ð ðfailed€toÐ  _ Ðanswer€the€subject€garnishment€through€simple€negligence€or€inadvertence€on€[her]€part.ðð€€TheÐ ø H Ðsupplemental€affidavit€noted€that€Motherððs€bi„weekly€earnings€had€increased€in€February€2002€fromÐ á 1  Ð$1,333.60€to€$1,387.20,€because€Mother€had€received€a€raise.€€The€exhibits€provided€more€detailedÐ Ê   Ðinformation€about€Motherððs€net€income,€and€concluded€that,€had€Air€Draulics€properly€respondedÐ ³  Ðto€the€garnishment,€$2,797.66€would€have€been€withheld€from€Motherððs€net€earnings€and€remittedÐ œì  Ðto€the€court€clerk.€€Later,€counsel€for€Air€Draulics€stated€in€open€court€that€the€amount€in€theÐ …Õ  Ðsupplemental€affidavit€was€wrong,€and€that€$3,308.76€would€have€been€the€proper€amount€due€underÐ n¾  Ðthe€garnishment.€€Ð W§  Ðà  àOn€August€21,€2002,€the€trial€court€conducted€the€òòscire€facias€óóhearing€on€the€conditionalÐ )y Ðjudgment.€€Several€witnesses€testified,€including€Julie€Krute€and€Bruce€and€Sheila€Siegal.€€TheÐ b ÐSiegals€had€been€co„owners€of€Air€Draulics;€Mr.€Siegal€was€the€president€and€Mrs.€Siegal€was€theÐ ûK Ðsecretary/treasurer.€€At€the€time€of€the€hearing,€Mr.€Siegal€was€the€vice„president€and€generalÐ ä4 Ðmanager€of€Air€Draulics,€employed€by€the€parent€company.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð Í Ðà  àKrute€testified€that€she€worked€out€of€an€office€in€Cleveland,€Ohio,€and€was€responsible€forÐ Ÿï Ðthe€payroll€system€at€Air€Draulics€in€Tennessee.€€She€said€that€$290.77€was€being€deducted€fromÐ ˆØ ÐMotherððs€salary€on€a€bi„weekly€basis€pursuant€to€an€income€assignment€for€child€support,€and€thatÐ qÁ Ðthe€money€was€being€paid€into€the€central€child€support€collections€unit€in€Tennessee.€€KruteÐ Zª Ðacknowledged€that€she€had€received€the€garnishment€on€Motherððs€wages€in€October€2001.€€However,Ð C“ ÐKrute€testified€that€she€thought€it€had€been€answered,€so€she€simply€filed€it€in€Motherððs€file.€€SheÐ ,| Ðsaid€that€she€did€not€discover€that€it€had€not€been€answered€until€this€lawsuit€was€filed,€sometimeÐ e Ðin€July€2002.€€She€claimed€that€she€was€never€instructed€by€either€Mr.€or€Mrs.€Siegal€to€disregardÐ þN Ðthe€garnishment€notice.Ð ç 7 Ðà  àMother€also€testified,€and€portions€of€Motherððs€deposition€were€read€into€evidence.€€MotherÐ ¹" ! Ðstated€that€she€had€worked€for€Air€Draulics€since€February€1995.ò òó ó€€Mother€was€questioned€at€lengthÐ ¢#ò" Ðabout€her€relationship€with€the€Siegals€outside€of€their€working€relationship.€€Mother€said€that€sheÐ ‹$Û# Ðhad€a€friendship€with€the€Siegals,€but€that€they€did€not€socialize€together.€€Mother€explained€that€sheÐ t%Ä $ Ðat€times€stayed€with€the€Siegalsðð€daughter,€who€has€Down€Syndrome,€while€the€Siegals€went€out€ofÐ ]&­!% Ðtown.€€Mother€explained€that€she€knew€the€Siegalsðð€daughter€because€she€was€in€Motherððs€SundayÐ F'–"& Ðschool€class.€€Mother€was€asked€about€the€car€she€was€driving,€and€she€acknowledged€that€itÐ ° Ðbelonged€to€Mr.€Siegal.€€In€her€deposition,€Mother€said€that€Mr.€Siegal€purchased€the€car€for€$9,700Ð ™é Ðfor€her€as€a€gift€because€she€did€not€have€transportation€to€work.€€However,€documents€filed€inÐ ‚Ò ÐMotherððs€bankruptcy€proceedings€were€entered€into€evidence,€indicating€that€Mother€representedÐ k» Ðto€the€bankruptcy€court€that€she€purchased€the€car€and€that€the€money€paid€by€Mr.€Siegal€was€a€loanÐ T¤ Ðto€her.€€At€the€òòscire€faciasóó€hearing,€Mother€said€that€her€deposition€testimony€was€in€error,€andÐ =  Ðmaintained€that€the€car€was€not€a€gift€to€her,€but€rather€that€it€was€paid€for€through€a€loan€from€Mr.Ð & v ÐSiegal.€€Mother€testified€that€Mr.€Siegal€had€loaned€her€money€on€other€occasions€in€the€past,€andÐ  _ Ðthat€the€previous€loans€were€repaid€by€deductions€from€her€payroll€check.€Ð ø H Ðà  àMother€was€also€asked€about€the€October€2001€garnishment.€€Mother€testified€that€sheÐ Ê   Ðremembered€receiving€a€copy€of€the€garnishment,€but€does€not€remember€how€she€got€it.€€She€saidÐ ³  Ðthat€she€made€sure€that€the€Siegals€received€a€copy€of€it€so€that€it€could€be€forwarded€to€the€properÐ œì  Ðoffice.€€She€noticed€that€no€money€was€being€taken€from€her€paycheck,€but€did€not€inquire€about€itÐ …Õ  Ðor€voluntarily€pay€the€garnishment.Ð n¾  Ðà  àMrs.€Siegal€testified€at€the€hearing.€€She€said€that€Mother€had€watched€her€house€and€babysatÐ @ Ðfor€her€children,€but€that€she€never€paid€Mother€for€those€services.€€She€claimed€that€she€did€notÐ )y Ðdiscuss€the€details€of€the€garnishment€proceedings€with€Mother,€but€acknowledged€that€she€wasÐ b Ðaware€of€them.€€The€only€personal€loan€to€Mother€that€Mrs.€Siegal€could€remember€was€the€loan€forÐ ûK Ðthe€car.€€Any€other€loans€made€to€Mother€were€discussed€between€Mother€and€Mr.€Siegal.€€Mrs.Ð ä4 ÐSiegal€stated€that€she€was€familiar€with€the€proper€management€of€a€garnishment,€and€that€she€hadÐ Í Ðnever€obtained€legal€advice€to€determine€whether€she€was€handling€the€garnishments€correctly.€€Mrs.Ð ¶ ÐSiegal€thought€that€she€had€properly€handled€the€October€2001€garnishment.€€She€acknowledgedÐ Ÿï Ðhaving€received€an€October€1999€letter€from€Fatherððs€counsel€to€Air€Draulics,€advising€Air€DraulicsÐ ˆØ Ðthat€the€first€garnishment€was€not€being€paid€in€full.€€The€letter€asked€Air€Draulics€to€correct€itsÐ qÁ Ðmisconduct€and€urged€it€to€consult€with€counsel€regarding€the€proper€treatment€of€the€garnishment.€Ð Zª ÐMrs.€Siegal,€however,€took€no€action€in€response€to€the€letter.€€Mrs.€Siegal€testified€that€she€sent€theÐ C“ ÐOctober€1991€garnishment€to€Krute€in€Ohio€for€Krute€to€handle€in€her€office.€€Mrs.€Siegal€indicatedÐ ,| Ðthat€Mother€never€asked€her€to€try€to€keep€her€wages€from€being€garnished.€€Ð e Ðà  àMr.€Siegal€also€testified€at€the€hearing.€Mr.€Siegal€admitted€that€he€had€made€several€loansÐ ç 7 Ðto€Mother€and€that€he€never€charged€her€interest€on€those€loans.€€He€said€that€he€had€purchased€theÐ Ð!   Ðcar€Mother€was€using€and€loaned€it€to€her,€and€claimed€that€he€told€Mother€to€pay€him€back€ð ðwhenÐ ¹" ! Ðshe€could.ðð€€Mr.€Siegal€asserted€that€he€had€made€loans€to€other€employees,€because€ð ðit€was€the€rightÐ ¢#ò" Ðthing€to€do.ðð€€Mr.€Siegal€conceded€that€he€had€read€the€letter€from€Fatherððs€counsel€to€Air€DraulicsÐ ‹$Û# Ðindicating€that€the€October€1999ò òó ó€garnishment€was€being€mishandled.€€He€said€that€it€caused€himÐ t%Ä $ Ðsome€concern,€but€he€took€no€action€because€he€assumed€that€Mrs.€Siegal€would€deal€with€theÐ ]&­!% Ðproblem€properly.€€A€portion€of€Mr.€Ô_ÔSiegalÔ_Ôððs€deposition€was€then€read€in€to€evidence,€in€which€Mr.Ð F'–"& ÐSiegal€was€asked€whether€he€believed€that€the€letter€from€Fatherððs€attorney€presented€a€seriousÐ /(#' Ðquestion.€€In€his€deposition,€Mr.€Siegal€said€that,€had€he€thought€that€the€letter€presented€a€seriousÐ )h$( Ðâ âquestion,€he€would€have€dealt€with€the€garnishment€himself.€Ð *Q%) Ѐ€à  àAt€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing,€the€trial€court€held€that€the€conditional€judgment€should€beÐ ° Ðâ âmade€final.€€On€October€4,€2002,€the€trial€court€entered€a€final€order€consistent€with€its€oral€ruling.€Ð ™é ÐThe€trial€court€determined€that€Mother€and€the€Siegals€were€ð ðnot€credible€at€all.ðð€€In€light€of€thatÐ ‚Ò Ðcredibility€determination,€the€trial€court€made€the€following€findings€of€fact:Ð k» ÐÓ Óà8  à.€.€.€€That€the€Court€concludes€that€beginning€some€years€ago,€both€Mr.€and€Mrs.Ð =  ÐSiegal€were€completely€indifferent€to€handling€the€garnishments€correctly.Ð& vÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€Mr.€Ô_ÔSiegalÔ_Ôððs€own€testimony€today€is€one€the€Court€can€best€characterize€asÐ ø H Ðreckless€indifference.€€He€is€so€cavalier€with€regard€to€even€the€importance€of€doingÐ á 1  Ðthese€garnishments€correctly.€€He€does€not€act€as€a€reasonably€prudent€person€in€aÐ Ê   Ðmanagement€position€should€under€the€circumstances€in€responding€to€this€court[ððs]Ð ³  Ðorder€to€garnish€wages.Мì Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€despite€receiving€the€letter€from€[Fatherððs€counsel],€.€.€.€to€get€his€attentionÐ n¾  Ðand€try€to€make€him€care€about€something€that€he€seems€to€be€indifferent€to,€Mr.Ð W§  ÐÔ_ÔSiegalÔ_Ôððs€response€was€that€he€did€not€see€this€as€alarming;€it€did€not€cause€Mr.€SiegalÐ @ Ðmuch€concern;€he€asked€his€wife,€the€same€person€that€he€is€being€told€is€not€takingÐ )y Ðcare€of€the€garnishment€properly,€to€take€care€of€it.€.€.€.ÐbÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€the€cavalier€approach€by€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Siegal€can€best€be€categorized€as€aÐ ä4 Ðhistorical€pattern€of€gross€negligence€and€willful,€reckless€indifference€in€dealingÐ Í Ðwith€these€garnishments.жРР ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€the€reason€for€the€reckless€conduct€of€the€Siegals€is€their€friendship€withÐ ˆØ ÐMary€Smith,€which€they€do€not€want€to€characterize€as€a€friendship.€ÐqÁÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€the€Siegals€got€caught€up€in€this€friendship,€got€a€mind„set€that€they€wereÐ C“ Ðgoing€to€protect€[Mother],€they€were€going€to€resist€this;€they€were€going€to€playÐ ,| Ðgames€with€this€because€it€isnððt€right,€she€shouldnððt€have€to€pay€all€of€this.ÐeÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€this€process€of€obstruction€occurred€prior€to€the€last€garnishment€andÐ ç 7 Ðcontinued€thereafter.ÐÐ!  Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€€That€Julie€Krute€has,€as€a€supervisor€at€Applied€Industrial€Technologies,Ð ¢#ò" Ðpursued€an€ongoing€pattern€of€gross€negligence€that€existed€before€this€event,Ð ‹$Û# Ðcontinued€through€this€event,€and€continues€today.€€Ðt%Ä $Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€this€conduct€of€Julie€Krute€constitutes€gross€negligence;€it€is€not€a€mistake;Ð F'–"& Ðit€is€not€a€single€act€of€simple€negligence€as€in€the€cases€cited€by€[Air€Draulics];€it€isÐ /(#' Ðgross€negligence.Ð)h$(Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€the€fourth€garnishment€was€not€timely€received€by€Ms.€Krute.Ðê*:&*Ð Ð  ÐÐ Ó+#'+ Ðà8  à.€.€.€€That€Exhibit€2€shows€how€Mrs.€Siegal€continued€in€her€misplaced€efforts€to€helpÐ ° Ðher€friend€by€obstructing€the€processes€of€the€Court€wherein€Mrs.€Siegal€writes€ð ðifÐ ™é Ðthis€garnishment€can€be€held€up€on€this€check,€that€would€be€great!ððЂÒÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€Mrs.€Siegal€[and€Ms.€Krute€have]€been€doing€these€for€years€and€[are]Ð T¤ Ðimputed€to€know€that€payments€on€garnishments€are€supposed€to€go€to€theÐ =  Ðbankruptcy€trustee.€.€.€.Ð& vÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  à.€.€.€€That€on€top€of€everything,€.€.€.€that€despite€knowing€on€July€2nd€of€this€year€withÐ ø H Ðabsolute€certainty€that€no€answer€had€been€filed,€no€answer€still€has€been€filed.ÓÚ$ÓÐá 1 Ð Ð  ÐÓ}`ÓÓ ÓIn€accordance€with€these€findings,€the€trial€court€held€that€the€conditional€judgment€against€AirÐ ³  ÐDraulics€in€the€amount€of€$82,817.40€should€be€made€final.€€From€this€order,€Air€Draulics€nowÐ œì  Ðappeals.Ð …Õ  Ðà  àOn€appeal,€Air€Draulics€first€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€entering€a€conditionalÐ W§  Ðjudgment€against€it€for€the€entire€debt,€because€it€filed€an€answer€to€the€garnishment€prior€to€the€JulyÐ @ Ð19,€2002€hearing.€€Air€Draulics€asserts€that,€under€the€garnishment€statutes,€once€an€answer€is€filed,Ð )y Ða€conditional€judgment€is€not€warranted.€€In€the€alternative,€even€if€the€trial€court€was€justified€inÐ b Ðentering€a€conditional€judgment€against€it,€Air€Draulics€argues,€the€trial€court€erred€in€entering€aÐ ûK Ðfinal€judgment€against€Air€Draulics€in€the€amount€of€Motherððs€entire€debt.€€Air€Draulics€asserts€thatÐ ä4 Ðthis€was€error€because€its€failure€to€pay€under€the€garnishment€was€the€result€of€ordinary€negligenceÐ Í Ðand,€therefore,€sufficient€cause€was€shown€for€relief€from€the€conditional€judgment.€€Air€DraulicsÐ ¶ Ðalso€argues€that€this€Court€should€exercise€its€discretion€to€reduce€the€amount€of€the€final€judgment,Ð Ÿï Ðbecause€it€is€grossly€excessive€under€the€circumstances.€€Ô#†¼Ô»XXœïÈ##ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔà p àÐ ˆØ Ðà  àBecause€this€case€was€decided€by€the€trial€court€sitting€without€a€jury,€we€review€it€òòde€novoóóÐ Zª Ðon€the€record,€with€a€presumption€that€the€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€are€correct,€unless€theÐ C“ Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€ò òòòSee€Ball€Bros.€Furniture€Co.€v.€Ferrenó óóó,€1987€WLÐ ,| Ð12388,€at€*2€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€18,€1987);€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€€The€trial€courtððs€conclusionsÐ f Ðof€law€are€reviewedòò€de€novoóó,€with€no€such€presumption€of€correctness.€Ô‡Xå XXXœïÔ€òòò òSee€State€v.€Levandowskió óóó,Ð ÿO Ð955€S.W.2d€603,€604€(Tenn.€1997).€€Ô#†XœïXXXå i#ÔÔ‡XœïXXXœïÔIssues€of€statutory€interpretation€and€the€application€of€a€statuteÐ é 9 Ðto€particular€facts€involve€questions€of€law,€subject€to€òòde€novo€óóreview.€€òòò òGanzevoort€v.€Russelló óóó,€949Ð Ò!"  ÐS.W.2d€293,€296€(Tenn.€1997);€ò òòòState€ex€rel.€Ô_ÔCommððrÔ_Ô€of€Transp.€v.€Medicine€Bird€Black€BearÐ ¼" ! ÐWhite€Eagleó óóó,€63€S.W.3d€734,€754€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).€Ô#†XœïXXXœï®i#ÔÔ#†¼Ô»XXœïf#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔÐ ¦#ö" Ðà  àThis€appeal€involves€interpretation€and€application€of€the€garnishment€statutes.€€AsÐ z%Ê $ Ðbackground,€a€ð ð[g]arnishment€is€in€the€nature€of€an€attachment€of€a€debt€due€the€judgment€debtorÐ c&³!% Ðfrom€the€garnishee;€and,€service€of€the€garnishment€upon€the€garnishee€is€a€warning€to€the€garnisheeÐ L'œ"& Ðnot€to€pay€the€debt€but€to€answer€the€garnishment€and€hold€the€fund€subject€to€the€orders€of€theÐ 5(…#' ÐCourt.ðð€€òòò òMeadows€v.€Meadowsóóó ó,€1988€WL€116382,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Nov.€2,€1988)€(quotingÐ )n$( Ðò òòòStonecipher€v.€Knoxville€Sav.€&€Loanó óóó,€298€S.W.2d€785€(Tenn.€1957)).€€IÔ#†¼Ô»XXœïÊk#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔf€a€garnishee€answers€theÐ *X%) Ðâ âgarnishment€and€admits€a€certain€indebtedness€to€the€judgment€debtor,€then€a€judgment€against€theÐ ò*B&* Ðgarnishee€in€the€amount€of€the€admitted€debt€may€be€entered.€€ò òòòSee€ó óóóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„7„112;׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ° Ðâ âòòò òMeadowsóóó ó,€1988€WL€116382,€at€*3Ô#†¼Ô»XXœïËn#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔ.€€However,€evidence€may€be€offered€to€show€that€a€differentÐ šê Ðamount€of€indebtedness€is€due.€€After€the€trial€court€ascertains€the€proper€amount€of€the€garnisheeððsÐ „Ô Ðindebtedness€to€the€judgment€debtor,€it€may€enter€a€judgment€on€the€garnishment€against€theÐ m½ Ðgarnishee.€€ò òòòMeadowsóóó ó,€1988€WL€116382,€at€*3.€€Ð V¦ Ðà  àÔ#†¼Ô»XXœïÃp#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔ€A€conditional€judgment€for€the€entire€amount€of€the€judgment€debtorððs€debt€is€a€statutoryÐ * z Ðremedy€available€against€a€garnishee€if€the€garnishee€fails€to€appear€or€answer€the€garnishment.€€ò òòòSee€óóó óÐ  c Ðòòò òIn€re€Warner€(First€Tenn.€Bank€Ô_ÔNatððlÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAssððnÔ_Ô€v.€Warner)ó óóó,€191€B.R.€705,€710€(Bankr.€W.D.€Tenn.Ð ý M Ð1996).€Ô#†¼Ô»XXœïr#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔ€Such€a€conditional€judgment€is€authorized€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€26„2„209,Ð ç 7  Ðquoted€above,€which€states€that€a€conditional€judgment€may€be€entered€ð ð[i]f€the€garnishee€fails€toÐ Ð  Ðappear€or€answer.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€26„2„209€(2000).€€The€award€of€a€conditional€judgment€isÐ ¹  Ðalso€addressed€in€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€29„7„114:Ð ¢ò  Ðà0  àà ° àà8(#(#àà8` (#(#àò òðð€29„7„114.€€Default€by€garnishee€ð!ð€Conditional€judgment.€ð!ð€ó óIf,€when€dulyÐ tÄ  Ðsummoned,€the€garnishee€fail[s]€to€appear€and€answer€the€garnishment,€theÐ `°  Ðgarnishee€shall€be€presumed€to€be€indebted€to€the€defendant€to€the€fullÐ I™ Ðamount€of€the€plaintiffððs€demand,€and€a€conditional€judgment€shall€be€enteredÐ 2‚ Ðup€against€the€garnishee€accordingly.Ðk` Ð ` Ð  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„7„114€(2000).€€Therefore,€both€statutes€use€language€indicating€that€theÐ í= Ðconditional€judgment€is€predicated€on€the€garnisheeððs€failure€to€appear€and€answer€the€garnishment.€Ð Ö& ÐA€conditional€judgment€is€similar€to€a€default€judgment,€in€that€both€remedies€recognize€a€failureÐ ¿ Ðto€respond€to€process.€€ò òòòMeadowsó óóó,€1988€WL€116382,Ô#†¼Ô»XXœï¡t#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔ€at€*4.€€Unlike€a€default€judgment,€however,€aÐ ¨ø Ðconditional€judgment€does€not€admit€facts€alleged,€but,€rather,€ð ð[i]t€is€a€threat€of€final€judgment€ifÐ ’â Ð[a]€response€should€not€be€forthcoming.€€It€is€a€means€of€inducing€a€response€and€a€threat€of€penaltyÐ {Ë Ðfor€failure,€but€it€is€not€a€judgment€establishing€any€rights.ðð€€ò òòòId.ó óóó;€ò òòòsee€Ball€Bros.ó óóó,€1987€WL€12388,Ð d´ Ðat€*2€(ð ðThe€conditional€judgment€is€an€enforcement€tool.ðð).€€The€conditional€judgment€is€notÐ Nž Ðintended€to€be€punitive,€but€is€intended€as€an€enforcement€tool,€a€ð ðwake€up€callðð€to€the€garnishee,Ð 7‡ Ða€warning€that€a€proper€defense€must€be€asserted€to€prevent€the€entry€of€a€final€judgment.€€òòò òIn€reÐ  p ÐWarneró óóó,€191€B.R.€at€710„11.€€ð ð[T]he€conditional€judgment€gives€ððanother€opportunityðð€to€theÐ  Z Ðgarnishee€ððto€answer€the€garnishment.ðð€ðð€òòò òId.ó óóó€Ð ô D Ðà  àAir€Draulics€argues€on€appeal€that€a€conditional€judgment€is€warranted€under€the€statutesÐ È"! Ðonly€ð ð[w]here€no€answer€is€made€by€the€garnishee.ðð€€ò òòòMeadowsóóó ó,€1988€WL€116382,€at€*3.€€Ô#†¼Ô»XXœïEz#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔBecauseÐ ±#" Ðit€had€filed€an€answer€to€the€garnishment€at€issue,€Air€Draulics€argues,€the€trial€court€erred€inÐ ›$ë# Ðentering€the€conditional€judgment€against€it.€€Air€Draulics€acknowledges€that€its€answer€wasÐ ° Ðuntimely,€filed€on€the€eve€of€the€hearing€on€the€conditional€judgment.€€It€argues,€however,€that€theÐ ™é Ðfiling€of€an€answer,€even€though€untimely,€vitiates€the€basis€for€a€conditional€judgment.Ð ‚Ò Ðà  àFather€and€the€Guardian€argue€that€Air€Draulicsðð€filing€of€its€answer€was€untimely€andÐ T¤ Ðsubstantively€deficient€and,€therefore,€did€not€prevent€the€trial€court€from€entering€a€conditionalÐ =  Ðjudgment.€€First,€they€argue,€the€purported€answer€was€filed€almost€nine€months€after€the€originalÐ & v Ðgarnishment€was€served€and,€therefore,€cannot€be€considered€to€suffice€as€an€ð ðanswerðð€under€theÐ  _ Ðpertinent€statutes.€€In€addition,€though€the€document€filed€by€Air€Draulics€was€titled€an€ð ðanswer,ððÐ ø H Ðit€failed€to€meet€many€of€the€requirements€of€an€ð ðanswerðð€under€the€pertinent€garnishment€statutes.Ð á 1  ÐFor€example,€Air€Draulicsðð€answer€did€not€include€a€statement€of€Motherððs€dependent€children€underÐ Ê   Ðthe€age€of€sixteen,€ò òòòóóó órequired€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€26„2„214(a)(2),€nor€did€it€creditÐ ³  ÐMother€with€$2.50€per€child,€as€is€required€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€26„2„107(a),€allÐ œì  Ðinformation€necessary€to€calculate€the€exempt€portions€of€Motherððs€salary.€€Father€and€the€GuardianÐ …Õ  Ðargue€that€other€Ô#†¼Ô»XXœï~#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔinformation€required€by€statute€was€either€insufficient€or€omitted€altogether.€Ð n¾  ÐTherefore,€because€the€answer€did€not€contain€the€proper€aspects€of€an€answer€under€the€statutes,Ð W§  Ðit€would€not€prevent€the€trial€court€from€entering€a€conditional€judgment.€€Father€and€the€GuardianÐ @ Ðalso€note€that€no€funds€were€paid€into€court,€as€is€required€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€26„2„Ð )y Ð215.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Thus,€they€argue,€the€document€filed€by€Air€Draulics€on€July€18,€2001€was€so€deficient€thatÐ b Ðit€ð ðamount[ed]€to€no€answer€at€all,ðð€and€the€trial€court€had€ample€justification€for€entering€aÐ ûK Ðconditional€judgment€against€Air€Draulics€for€the€entire€amount€of€Motherððs€debt.Ð ä4 Ðà  àIn€interpreting€a€statute,€the€court€is€to€give€effect€to€the€legislative€intent.€€ò òòòKyle€v.€Williamsóóó ó,Ð ¶ Ð98€S.W.3d€661,€664€(Tenn.€2003).€€ð ðLegislative€intent€is€to€be€ascertained€primarily€from€the€naturalÐ  ð Ðand€ordinary€meaning€of€the€language€used.ðð€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€€Where€the€language€of€the€statute€is€clear,€theÐ ‰Ù Ðstatute€must€be€applied€as€written,€with€the€presumption€that€the€legislature€ð ðsays€in€a€statute€whatÐ sà Ðit€means€and€means€in€a€statute€what€it€says.ðð€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€(citing€ò òòòGleaves€v.€Checker€Cab€Transit€Corp.ó óóó,€15Ð \¬ ÐS.W.3d€799,€803€(Tenn.€2000));ò òòò€see€also€Schering„Plough€Healthcare€Prods.,€Inc.€v.€State€Bd.€ofÐ F– ÐEqualizationó óóó,€999€S.W.2d€773,€775„76€(Tenn.€1999).€€€€Ð 0€ Ðà  àThe€statutes€at€issue€in€the€instant€case€are€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðððð€26„2„209€and€29„7„Ð  T Ð114.€€Section€26„2„209€states€that€a€conditional€judgment€ð ðmay€be€enteredðð€against€the€garnisheeÐ í = Ðð ð[òòióó]òòfóó€the€garnishee€fail[s]€to€appear€or€answerðð€the€garnishment.€€Likewise,€section€29„7„114€statesÐ Ö!&  Ðthat€a€conditional€judgment€ð ðshall€be€enteredðð€against€the€garnishee€ð ð[òòióó]òòfóó€.€.€.€the€garnishee€fail[s]€toÐ ¿"! Ðappear€and€answer€the€garnishment.€.€.€.ðð€€Thus,€both€statutes€authorize€the€imposition€of€aÐ ¨#ø" Ðconditional€judgment€òòifóó€the€garnishee€fails€to€answer.€€In€this€case,€Air€Draulics€in€fact€filed€anÐ ‘$á# Ðanswer€prior€to€the€imposition€of€a€conditional€judgment,€though€clearly€the€answer€was€untimely.€Ð z%Ê $ ÐThe€trial€court€made€no€determination€as€to€whether€the€answer€was€ð ðsufficient,ðð€i.e.€contained€allÐ ° Ðthe€necessary€information€required€in€an€answer,€under€the€garnishment€statutes.׃(×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р™é Ðà  àThe€parties€do€not€cite,€nor€have€we€found,€a€case€determining€whether€a€conditionalÐ k» Ðjudgment€is€an€available€remedy€when€the€garnishee€has€filed€an€answer,€albeit€untimely€orÐ T¤ Ðotherwise€defective.Ô_Ô׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô_ÔÔ#†¼Ô»XXœïІ#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔ€€€Cases€discussing€the€function€and€purpose€of€a€conditional€judgment€indicateÐ =  Ðthat€such€a€remedy€is€appropriate€òòonlyóó€if€the€garnishee€fails€to€file€an€answer.€€ò òòòSee€ECI€Bldg.Ð & v ÐComponents,€Inc.€v.€Chanl„Loc€Docks,€Inc.,ó óóó€No.€03A01„9509„CH„00301,€1996€WL€93769,€at€*2Ð  ` Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Mar.€5,€1996)€(stating€that€a€conditional€judgment€ð ðis€available€only€when€aÐ ú J Ðgarnishee€fails€to€appear€or€answerðð);€òòò òMeadowsó óóó,€1988€WL€116382,€at€*3€(ð ðWhere€no€answer€is€madeÐ ã 3  Ðby€the€garnishee,€the€statutory€remedy€is€by€ððconditional€judgmentðð.ðð);€ò òòòsee€also€In€re€Warneróóó ó,€191Ð Í   ÐB.R.€at€709€(ð ðThe€garnishee€is,€however,€required€to€respond€or€risk€total€liability.ðð).€€Moreover,€theÐ ·  Ðplain€language€of€the€statutes€authorizes€the€imposition€of€a€conditional€judgment€òòifóó€€the€garnisheeÐ  ð  Ðfails€to€answer€the€garnishment.€€There€is€no€language€in€the€statutes€indicating€that€if€the€answerÐ ‰Ù  Ðis€not€timely€or€sufficient,€a€conditional€judgment€may€be€entered.€€TÔ#†¼Ô»XXœïÛ“#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔhe€conditional€judgmentÐ r  Ðremedy€is€clearly€intended€to€be€a€ð ðwake„up€callðð€to€the€garnishee,€warning€the€garnishee€that€it€mustÐ [«  Ðpresent€a€defense€to€the€statutorily€imposed€presumption€that€it€is€indebted€to€the€plaintiff€ð ðto€the€fullÐ D” Ðamount€of€the€plaintiffððs€demand.ðð€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„7„114€(2000).€€If€the€garnishee€filesÐ -} Ðan€answer€before€the€conditional€judgment€is€imposed,€this€obviates€the€need€for€such€a€ð ðwake„upÐ g Ðcall.ðð€€Ð P Ðà  àIn€this€case,€the€answer€filed€by€Air€Draulics€Ô#†¼Ô»XXœïº˜#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔadmitted€that€Mother€was€employed€during€theÐ Ò" Ðpertinent€period,€provided€information€about€her€salary,€and€asserted€that€the€reason€for€its€failureÐ »  Ðto€answer€the€garnishment€in€a€timely€manner€was€due€to€simple€negligence.€€The€answer€stated€inÐ ¤ô Ðpart:Ð Ý ÐÓ Óà8  àà ` à9.€€At€the€time€Air€Draulics€was€served€with€the€October€2001€garnishment,Ð _¯ ÐMs.€Smith€was€an€employee€of€Air€Draulics€and€her€bi„weekly€gross€earnings€wereÐ H˜ Ð$1,333.60€and€her€net€bi„weekly€earnings€were€$1,041.15.€€As€set€forth€hereinabove,Ð 1 Ðthe€sum€of€$290.77€was€withdrawn€from€Ms.€Smithððs€net€earnings€on€a€bi„weeklyÐ j Ðbasis€pursuant€to€the€court„ordered€income€assignment€for€child€support.€€TheÐ  S Ðamount€withheld€pursuant€to€the€income€assignment€represented€27.9%€of€Ms.Ð ì < ÐSmithððs€net€bi„weekly€earnings€at€the€time€the€garnishment€at€issue€was€served€onÐ ° ÐAir€Draulics.ЙéÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` à10.€€Ms.€Smith€continues€to€be€an€employee€of€Air€Draulics€as€of€the€presentÐ k» Ðdate.€€Her€current€gross€bi„weekly€earnings€are€$1,387.20€per€month.€€Her€averageÐ T¤ Ðbi„weekly€net€earnings€are€$1,092.63€from€which€the€amount€of€$290.77€continuesÐ =  Ðto€be€withheld€pursuant€to€the€court€ordered€income€assignment.€€Ms.€Smith€is€singleÐ & v Ðand€is€claiming€no€dependents.Ð _Ð Ð  ÐÌÓ ÓThis€is€sufficient€to€constitute€an€answer€and€rebut€the€statutory€presumption€that€Air€Draulics€wasÐ á 1  Ðindebted€to€Father€and€the€Guardian€for€the€entire€amount€of€Motherððs€debt.€€Under€all€of€theseÐ Ê   Ðcircumstances,€we€must€conclude€that€the€garnishment€statutes€do€not€authorize€the€trial€courtððsÐ ³  Ðentry€of€a€conditional€judgment€against€Air€Draulics.€€Ô#†¼Ô»XXœïŠ›#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔÐ œì  Ðà  àWe€are€mindful€of€the€trial€courtððs€explicit€findings€that€the€agents€of€Air€Draulics€acted€inÐ n¾  Ðbad€faith,€that€they€persistently€worked€in€concert€with€Mother€to€defeat€the€garnishments€againstÐ W§  Ðher,€and€that€Krute€was€grossly€negligent€in€her€handling€of€the€garnishment€at€issue.€€We€do€notÐ @ Ðaddress€what€remedies,€penalties€or€sanctions,€if€any,€may€be€available€to€Father€and€the€GuardianÐ )y Ðfor€Air€Ô_ÔDraulicÔ_Ôððs€misconduct.€€We€hold€only€that,€under€the€plain€language€of€the€garnishmentÐ b Ðstatutes€at€issue,€a€conditional€judgment€was€not€among€the€available€options.€€€Ð ûK Ðà  àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed€and€the€cause€is€remanded€for€further€proceedingsÐ Í Ðconsistent€with€this€Opinion.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€to€be€taxed€to€Appellees€James€Roy€Smith,€Jr.,€andÐ ¶ ÐTerese€B.€Deboo,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.Ð Ÿï ÐÌÔ#†¼Ô»XXœïÆ£#ÔÔ‡XœïX»¼ÔÔÌÓ Óà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð e Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àHOLLY€M.€KIRBY,€JUDGEÔ#†¼Ô»XXœïI¨#Ô