ÿWPCÇ ³PÓÿ}b±.K¨3æ¦Gèâä%ã–6êõžäFÃ(¹œ&Mc?TV•Óº‚æSºµÄ{]ï03eòge¢Íx¢ƒ²´q¼r ™”Ap¡ÇÓ­}·_†jêøô‡2@pÔϹ›©/B•ÿèþ6À—ßJSnv¹V°N.VX#nÅ ð™5íÊžó±ëò¥‹"‹ñã‚Ì.’Ñ=¹sÓ·5]k-ö=Ê›÷Çà$‹ŠéÄìM%¾P.ÚxyººWÆú;ÅQÏLå0æÍÐÕqøão¾18«xJüZçŒúÒŒ+$•Øyk-Ž*Z&F”.iåïIJ.Ð\íÁsƒQ§s áôÿ=( 4¦eKLèÑ«ÃÚ®Í@“x"c©PÙI¨NóP–¦CÙÂ`×sXåc¸)oZåT±Q.Ÿ)Ä–î{IVÜ}CÇul@NäLüêEßZY4]v=QNø—P*/&[~Y«N[nB¦á+W?óHÃpƒïÖZ•ÏÈ1yìÇýÓ'¼;^$=4>é× “Ø`¨f ƒÓ°dîlúìÑI­"‚; ±‹+¸j>2¶Qî´_"%AiŸ6½ÚQÛ;Z=•ÿnR[Q=R™»Ì ¸hÀ9}ýb#Á\ % UN# 0ˆq UNù 0DG Ç‹ zRÒÌž^ ¦¬²w^ÆbÆ(ÆîÆ´4zNŽŸE¡ m£££££££££££££££££££££££bºººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººººº 0ë B­­ 0¤Ê D5n D-£ 0KÐÐ ASÆn 0¤4 0DØ A«˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ½Ý ƒR!f$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÎ<ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔSpecifically,€Mr.€Stamps€refers€in€his€brief€to€Disciplinary€Rules€1„102,€6„101,€and€7„101.€€Mr.€Stamps€alsoÐ ° Ðmakes€reference€to€Canon€6€and€Ethical€Considerations€6„1€and€6„5.Ð xÈ Ðà  à€Mr.€Stamps€also€argues€in€his€brief€that€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€filed€a€false€and€misleading€affidavit€with€thisÐ @ ÐCourt.€€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€stated€in€her€Affidavit€that€Mr.€Stampsðð€Uniform€Civil€Affidavit€of€Indigency€was€filed€atÐ X Ðthe€same€time€as€the€Notice€of€Appeal.€€Per€the€record,€however,€Mr.€Stampsðð€Affidavit€was€filed€at€the€same€time€asÐ Ð  Ðhis€Complaint€for€Legal€Malpractice.€€We€find€the€mistake€in€Mrs.€DiBonaventuraððs€affidavit€to€be€a€simple€oversight,Ð ˜è Ðand€Mr.€Stampsðð€argument€to€be€wholly€meritless. ˜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 RsL)L  ¢Ý ƒR!f$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÎ<ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€12.02(6).Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5˜L-(y€meritlô£¡3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-(|G2!f$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¦\»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÒ„ò»»Ô d(|3A$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¦\»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3A$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¦\»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¾ä»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼¾ä»»»ÔÑ8€´XXdð»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î÷g¾äÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼¾ä»îî÷g #ԈРÜ, ÐÓ  ÓASSIGNED€ON€BRIEFS€JUNE€7,€2000Ð X ÐÔ‡X´X»¼¾äÔÌò òÔ#†¼¾ä»XX´ú#ÔSTEPHEN€R.€STAMPSòòóó€v.€VICTORIA€L.€DIBONAVENTURAòòóóÔ‡X´X»¼¾äÔó óÐ  ` ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Henry€CountyÐ  h Ðà@@øøìàNo.€1360;€The€Honorable€Julian€P.€Guinn,€JudgeÐ  X ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<×` AßÐ Ø(  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W1999„00534„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€11,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ ×'  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¶` AßÐ ·  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡X´XXX´ÔThis€case€arises€from€the€Appelleeððs€legal€representation€of€the€Appellant€in€a€Petition€for€PostÐ ¶ ÐConviction€Relief.€€The€Appellantððs€Petition€was€denied€by€the€Criminal€Court€of€Henry€County€andÐ ¢ò Ðthe€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals.€€After€denial€of€his€Application€for€Permission€to€Appeal€by€theÐ ŽÞ ÐTennessee€Supreme€Court,€the€Appellant€filed€a€Complaint€of€Legal€Malpractice€with€the€CircuitÐ zÊ ÐCourt€of€Henry€County.€€The€trial€court€dismissed€the€Appellantððs€Complaint€following€a€MotionÐ f¶ Ðto€Dismiss€filed€by€the€Appellee.€€The€Appellant€appeals€from€the€dismissal€of€his€Complaint€filedÐ R¢ Ðin€the€Circuit€Court€of€Henry€County.€€For€the€reasons€stated€herein,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððsÐ >Ž Ðdecision.Ô#†X´XXX´Ñ#ÔÔ#†¼¾ä»XX´z#ÔÔ‡X´X»¼¾äÔÐ *z ÐÓÅÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmedó óÐ V ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼¾ä»àX´~#ÔÔ‡X´X.¼¾äÔAlan€E.€Highers,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.,óó€and€òòHollyÐ æ6 ÐKirby€Lillard,€J.óó,€joined.Ð Ö& ÐÌStephen€R.€Stamps,€òòpro€seóóÐ ¶ ÐÌVictoria€L.€Dibonaventura,òò€pro€seóóÐ –!æ  ÐÓ0 ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼¾ä»XX´_ #ÔÔ‡X´X»¼¾äÔÐ v#Æ" ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼¾ä»XX´ä #ÔÔ‡X´X»¼¾äÔÓ  Óò òÔ‡X´XXX´Ôà@ìì*ìàˆÌà@ìàI.€€Facts€and€Procedural€Historyó óˆÐ B&’!% ÐÌà  àThe€Appellant,€Stephen€R.€Stamps,€is€an€inmate€in€the€lawful€custody€of€the€TennesseeÐ (j#' ÐDepartment€of€Correction.€€€At€all€times€relevant€to€this€appeal,€Mr.€Stamps€has€been€incarceratedÐ )V$( Ðat€the€Minimum€Security€Complex€of€West€Tennessee€State€Penitentiary€in€Henning,€Tennessee.€€Ð ò)B%) ÐÌà  àOn€May€1,€1995,€Mr.€Stamps€filed€a€Petition€for€Post€Conviction€Relief€with€the€CriminalÐ Ê+'+ ÐCourt€of€Henry€County.€€€The€Appellee,€Victoria€L.€DiBonaventura,€was€appointed€on€May€18,€1995Ð ¶,(, Ðto€represent€Mr.€Stamps.€€€On€January€4,€1996,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€denying€Mr.€StampsððÐ ¢-ò(-ý ÐPetition.€€€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€filed€a€Notice€of€Appeal€to€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€in€Jackson,Ð ° ÐTennessee€on€January€31,€1996.€€Ð œì ÐòòóóÌà  àOn€April€20,€1998,€Mr.€Stamps€requested€by€letter€from€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€the€status€ofÐ tÄ Ðhis€appeal,€a€copy€of€the€Stateððs€brief,€and€a€copy€of€the€Stateððs€answer€to€the€Petition€for€PostÐ `° ÐConviction€Relief.€€€Mr.€Stampsðð€sister,€Tina€Enoch,€contacted€Mrs.€DiBonaventuraððs€receptionistÐ L œ Ðon€or€about€May€15,€1998€and€informed€her€that€Mr.€Stamps€needed€an€answer€to€his€letter.€€On€orÐ 8 ˆ Ðabout€May€27,€1998,€Mr.€Stamps€received€a€letter€from€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€dated€May€22,€1998,Ð $ t Ða€copy€of€the€Stateððs€brief,€and€a€copy€of€the€Stateððs€answer€to€the€Petition€for€Post€ConvictionÐ  ` ÐRelief.€€€In€her€letter,€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€stated€that€she€periodically€checked€with€the€Court€ofÐ ü L  ÐCriminal€Appeals€as€to€the€status€of€Mr.€Stampsðð€case.€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àOn€June€29,€1998,€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€mailed€Mr.€Stamps€a€notice,€mandate,€judgment,€andÐ À  Ðdecision€handed€down€by€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€on€March€27,€1998€which€affirmed€the€trialÐ ¬ü  Ðcourtððs€decision.€€€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€stated€that€she€had€not€mailed€this€sooner€because€she€hadÐ ˜è  Ðbeen€on€vacation€the€first€two€weeks€of€June.€€Confusing€the€date€of€decision,€Mrs.€DiBonaventuraÐ „Ô  Ðinformed€Mr.€Stamps€that€he€had€sixty€days€from€òòò òMay€ó óóó27,€1998€instead€of€March€27,€1998€to€fileÐ pÀ Ðan€Application€to€Appeal€to€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court.€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àMrs.€DiBonaventura€filed€a€motion€with€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€for€an€order€allowingÐ 4„ Ðthe€time€from€which€the€Appellant€may€file€an€Application€for€Permission€to€Appeal€to€theÐ  p ÐTennessee€Supreme€Court€to€begin€on€June€1,€1998€rather€than€March€27,€1998.€€Mrs.Ð  \ ÐDiBonaventura€asserted€that€she€was€not€aware€of€the€courtððs€March€27,€1998€€judgment€and€opinionÐ øH Ðuntil€June€1,€1998€when€the€mandate€issued€to€the€trial€court.€€€The€court€noted€in€its€Order€that€Mrs.Ð ä4 ÐDiBonaventura€failed€to€apprise€the€court€clerkððs€office€of€her€change€of€business€address.€€The€courtÐ Ð  Ðfurther€stated,€however,€that€the€clerkððs€office€notified€Mr.€Stamps€that€he€would€receive€a€copy€ofÐ ¼  Ðthe€opinion€when€it€was€filed,€yet€the€record€reflected€that€a€copy€was€never€sent€to€him.€€€BecauseÐ ¨ø Ðthe€failure€to€seek€timely€supreme€court€review€was€due€to€no€fault€of€Mr.€Stamps,€the€Court€ofÐ ”ä ÐCriminal€Appeals€ordered€that€the€March€27,€1998€judgment€be€vacated€and€reinstated€as€of€the€dateÐ €Ð Ðof€the€filing€of€its€order,€August,€10,€1998.Ð l¼ Ðà  àÌà  àMrs.€DiBonaventura€filed,€on€behalf€of€Mr.€Stamps,€an€Application€for€Permission€to€AppealÐ D!” Ðto€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€on€August€10,€1998.€€€On€January€4,€1999,€the€Tennessee€SupremeÐ 0"€  ÐCourt€denied€the€Application.€€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€informed€Mr.€Stamps€on€January€8,€1999€as€toÐ #l! Ðthe€courtððs€denial,€and€she€notified€Mr.€Stamps€that€she€would€be€closing€her€file€accordingly.€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àOn€June€1,€1999,€Mr.€Stamps€filed€a€Complaint€of€Legal€Malpractice€in€the€Circuit€Court€ofÐ à%0!$ ÐHenry€County.€€Mr.€Stamps€asserted€that€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€was€negligent€while€representing€Mr.Ð Ì&"% ÐStamps€in€violation€of€his€rights€under€the€Tennessee€Constitution,€the€United€States€Constitution,Ð ¸'#& Ðand€the€Code€of€Ethics€of€the€State€of€Tennessee€Bar€for€Attorneys.€€€On€June€25,€1999,€Mrs.Ð ¤(ô#' Ðâ âDiBonaventura€filed€a€Motion€to€Dismiss€for€Failure€to€State€a€Claim€upon€which€Relief€can€beÐ )à$( ÐGranted.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€August€12,€1999,€the€trial€court€dismissed€Mr.€Stampsðð€Complaint.€€The€court€foundÐ ° Ðâ âthat€though€Mr.€Stamps€alleged€that€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€failed€to€timely€petition€the€TennesseeÐ œì ÐSupreme€Court,€she€took€the€appropriate€steps€to€obtain€an€extension€of€time,€proper€pleadings€wereÐ ˆØ Ðfiled,€and€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€denied€review.€€òòóó€This€appeal€followed.Ð tÄ ÐÌò òòòà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àÌà@ìàóóII.€€Standard€of€Reviewó óˆÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àThis€case€is€on€appeal€from€the€trial€courtððs€dismissal€of€Mr.€Stampsðð€suit€for€failure€to€stateÐ  ` Ða€claim€upon€which€relief€can€be€granted.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€12.02(6).€€A€Rule€12.02(6)€motionÐ ü L  Ðto€dismiss€for€failure€to€state€a€claim€upon€which€relief€can€be€granted€tests€only€the€sufficiency€ofÐ è 8  Ðthe€complaint,€not€the€strength€of€the€plaintiffððs€evidence.€€òòSee€Doe€v.€Sundquistóó,€2€S.W.3d€919,€922Ð Ô$  Ð(Tenn.€1999)òòóó.€€òòóóThe€motion€admits€the€truth€of€all€relevant€and€material€averments€in€the€complaintÐ À  Ðbut€asserts€that€such€facts€are€insufficient€to€state€a€claim€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòSee€Winchester€v.Ð ¬ü  ÐLittleóó,€996€S.W.2d€818,€821€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998)òòóó.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àIn€scrutinizing€the€complaint€in€the€face€of€a€Rule€12.02(6)€motion€to€dismiss,€courts€shouldÐ pÀ Ðconstrue€the€complaint€liberally€in€favor€of€the€plaintiff,€taking€all€the€allegations€of€fact€therein€asÐ \¬ Ðtrue.€€òòSee€Stein€v.€Davidson€Hotelóó,€945€S.W.2d€714,€716€(Tenn.€1997);€òòRiggs€v.€Bursonóó,€941€S.W.2dÐ H˜ Ð44,€47€(Tenn.€1997).€€The€motion€should€be€denied€ð ðunless€it€appears€that€the€plaintiff€can€prove€noÐ 4„ Ðset€of€facts€in€support€of€[his]€claim€that€would€entitle€[him]€to€relief.ðð€€òòSteinóó,€945€S.W.2d€at€716òòóó.€Ð  p ÐAs€the€allegations€of€fact€are€taken€as€true,€the€issues€raised€on€motion€to€dismiss€are€questions€ofÐ  \ Ðlaw€and€the€scope€of€review€is€òòde€novoóó€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ð øH Ð13(d).Ð ä4 ÐÌÌà@00ìàò òIII.€€Law€and€Analysisó óˆÐ ¨ø ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiff€bears€the€burden€of€proving€all€the€essential€elements€of€a€legal€malpracticeÐ €Ð Ðclaim.€€In€order€to€make€out€a€prima€facie€claim€of€legal€malpractice,€the€plaintiff€must€presentÐ l¼ Ðevidence€showing€that€(1)€the€defendant€attorney€owed€a€duty€to€the€plaintiff;€(2)€the€attorneyÐ X ¨ Ðbreached€that€duty;€(3)€the€plaintiff€suffered€damages;€and€(4)€the€breach€proximately€caused€theÐ D!” Ðplaintiffððs€damage.€€òòSee€Horton€v.€Hughesóó,€971€S.W.2d€957,€959€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998).€€€€€€€Ð 0"€  Ðà  àÌà  àIn€the€case€at€bar,€the€only€issue€we€find€dispositive€is€whether€Mr.€Stamps€suffered€damages.€Ð $X" ÐA€plaintiff€cannot€recover€for€a€defendantððs€negligence€when€the€plaintiff€suffered€no€injury€as€aÐ ô$D # Ðresult.€€òòSee€Wood€v.€Parkeróó,€901€S.W.2d€374,€381€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995);€òòBowling€v.€HamblenÐ à%0!$ ÐCounty€Motoróó,€66€S.W.2d€229,€232€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1932).€€Mr.€Stamps€points€to€Mrs.Ð Ì&"% ÐDiBonaventuraððs€failure€to€notify€the€appellate€court€clerk€of€her€change€of€business€address€andÐ ¸'#& Ðâ âfailure€to€file€a€timely€application€for€permission€to€appeal€with€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€asÐ ¤(ô#' Ðviolations€of€the€Code€of€Professional€Responsibility.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Mrs.€DiBonaventuraððs€failure€to€notify€theÐ ° Ðâ âappellate€court€clerk€of€her€change€of€business€address€was€a€factor€in€her€failure€to€file€a€timelyÐ œì Ðapplication€to€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court.€€Nevertheless,€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€grantedÐ ˆØ Ðan€extension€of€time€to€perfect€the€appeal.€€At€that€point,€Mrs.€DiBonaventura€properly€filed€anÐ tÄ ÐApplication€for€Permission€to€Appeal€with€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court.€€The€Tennessee€SupremeÐ `° ÐCourtððs€denial€of€the€Application€was€unrelated€to€Mrs.€DiBonaventuraððs€failure€to€file€a€timelyÐ L œ Ðappeal.€€€Mr.€Stamps€fails€to€establish€that€he€suffered€damages€due€to€such€conduct.€€òòóóÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àIt€appears€to€this€court€that€Mr.€Stamps€has€attempted€to€base€a€legal€malpractice€claim€onÐ  ` Ðfacts€which,€if€true,€may€constitute€a€violation€of€the€Code€of€Professional€Responsibility.€€€EvenÐ ü L  Ðassuming€a€violation,€however,€Mr.€Stamps€cannot€base€his€claim€solely€upon€a€violation€of€theÐ è 8  ÐCode.€€òòSee€Lazy€Seven€Coal€Sales€v.€Stone€&€Hindsóó,€813€S.W.2d€400,€404„05€(Tenn.€1991).€Ô#†X´XXX´p #ÔÔ‡X´XXX´ÔÔ#†¼î¤»XX´B #ÔÔ‡X´X»¼î¤ÔWithoutÐ Ô$  Ðestablishing€the€element€of€damages,€Mr.€Stamps€cannot€state€a€prima€facie€claim€of€legalÐ À  Ðmalpractice.€€Ð ¬ü  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àÌ€€ò òòòÐ „Ô  ÐÓ  ÓóóIV.€€Conclusionó óÐ pÀ ÐÌÓ!5Óà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€areÐ H˜ Ðtaxed€against€the€Appellant,€Stephen€R.€Stamps,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð 4„ ÐÌÌÔ#†X´XXX´Å3#ÔÔ#†¼¾ä»XX´4#ÔÔ€X´X»¼¾äÔà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ¸ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGE