ÿWPCV ÿA38Ç-Gâ,òÃ0®³d~´:ìVÞ=´(ãt|¹þ"¢Ðë®Ý'fP*-›ëªð Œ6¾,îðRNÛ#=Åã‰Íq %Í~ä+¼Ú¶É)ê‰Ø¼L¤~­|I˜lD W¾Æ‹ Fô±[bÊ&Ü]œ‘‚¨\ü\£l“;ÏxôuÖ7ÏGóLžÅöþà¬}Šþ„CS=.P¡/t’ÍYh§9/`Pù„ÀeâtAÿ´Fp‡JÞ\¤>Ùñ}reÒ]ñ©/ `ü™KŠACBÝot¯Nðð냰k%»ë`zK ´fTîÜq!ñ‡ƒˆ¼žÎRæ?’žÔNýbƒEZ€É9Ç“=g£Á•ç¢Â Æî œhàQ`‘`–$ã `Ÿ'O¨N‘¤jH§]K „H¼Î¥¡¶3ÒÃ"óSB„³¥Ô+ðZê' ¥Ò)Óò( šùÞ•’CYšÒAP£F ÛÙþV«¥9›êàA†pw x•òÌè{¡AÿjšN‘ ÝûŽ £ïäØjélpM[áŠïïîuù¹‚Gº‰ƒ V®5'=þp¸¨´ÂÖ¶oxVýš^52çžIÓWÚпOø‚ÿGqHŸC'þb %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ UNÐ UN Æl Æ2 Æø ƾ „ NŒ #ÁŽ hOE· 0D¹UNýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýbKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK 0ëSSSS B>> 0¤[ D3ÿ D-2 0K__ ASªÆý 0¤Ã 0Dg A«« »J›()â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularûr')ø°¡ðí¦3|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.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0 ^Ý ƒR~$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ ô" ò» »ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ô" ò ò ô"ÔÔ‡XnLX òô"ÔRule€10€(Rules€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€of€Tennessee).€„„€(b)ò ò€Memorandum€Opinion.ó ó€€TheÐ ° ÐCourt,€with€the€concurrence€of€all€judges€participating€in€the€case,€may€affirm,€reverse€or€modify€theÐ œì Ðactions€of€the€trial€court€by€memorandum€opinion€when€a€formal€opinion€would€have€no€precedentialÐ †Ö Ðvalue.€€When€a€case€is€decided€by€memorandum€opinion€it€shall€be€designated€ð ðMEMORANDUMÐ pÀ ÐOPINION,ðð€shall€not€be€published,€and€shall€not€be€cited€or€relied€on€for€any€reason€in€a€subsequentÐ Zª Ðunrelated€case.€Ô#† XnLXXXnL~#ÔÔ#† ô" òX XnL#Ô(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular- ù-(|G2~$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ ¬»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôlò»»Ô d(|3ò$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ ¬»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ò$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ ¬»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€j>»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€ ¼j>»» »ÔÑ8€nLXXdê»»d 8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡ î2Qî» ¼j>ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#† ¼j>»î î2Q #ÔˆÐ Ì ÐÓ  ÓFebruary€2000€SessionÐ è8 ÐÔ‡ XnLX» ¼j>ÔÌò òÔ#† ¼j>»X XnLð#ÔTENNESSEE€FARMERS€MUTUAL€INSURANCE€COMPANYòòóó€v.€JUDYÐ Þ. ÐCOBB,€DANNY€COBB,€and€DAN€COBBòòóóÔ‡ XnLX» ¼j>Ôó óÐ ì < ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Dyer€CountyÐ ä 4 Ðà@@øøìàNo.€97„C„401€€€€J.€Steven€Stafford,€ChancellorÐ Î  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<‹` AßÐ ŒÜ  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W1999„01729„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€August€31,€2000Ð …Õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<X` AßÐ Y©  Ðó óÌÓ  Óà  àThis€appeal€involves€a€motion€to€set€aside€a€default€judgment.€€The€trial€court€entered€aÐ R¢ Ðdefault€judgment€against€the€defendants€based€on€their€failure€to€respond€to€the€lawsuit.€€SevenÐ <Œ Ðmonths€later,€the€defendants€filed€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment.€€The€trial€court€deniedÐ &v Ðthe€motion,€and€the€defendants€appealed.€€We€affirm,€finding€no€abuse€of€discretion€in€the€denial€ofÐ ` Ðthe€motion€to€set€aside€the€default.Ð úJ ÐÓÊÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€is€Affirmedó óÐ Î ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#† ¼j>»à XnL§#ÔÔ‡ XnLX. ¼j>ÔHolly€K.€Lillard,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòW.€Frank€Crawford,€Ô_ÔP.J.Ô_Ô,€Ô_ÔW.S.Ô_ÔóóÐ ¢ò Ðand€òòAlan€E.€Ô_ÔHighersÔ_Ô,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ŒÜ ÐÌCharles€M.€Agee,€Jr.,€Ô_ÔDyersburgÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellants,€Judy€Cobb,€Danny€Cobb€and€DanÐ `° ÐCobbÐ Jš ÐÌJeffrey€L.€Lay€and€Gary€H.€Ô_ÔNicholsÔ_Ô,€Ô_ÔDyersburgÔ_Ô,€Tennessee€for€the€Appellee,€Tennessee€FarmersÐ  n ÐMutual€Insurance€CompanyÐ !X  ÐÓsÓÌò òÐ  Ü","ý ÐMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#† ¼j>»X XnL¢#ÔÔ‡ XnLX» ¼j>Ô׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ° ÐòòóóÔ#† ¼j>»X XnLÊ #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XnLX» ¼j>ÔÌÔ‡ XnLXX XnLÔÓ Óà  àDefendant€Dan€Cobb€is€the€son€of€Defendants€Danny€and€Judy€Cobb.€€Dan€Cobb€filed€aÐ „Ô Ðpersonal€injury€lawsuit€against€his€parents€after€he€was€injured€at€his€parentsðð€home.€€Dan€Cobb€wasÐ n¾ Ðrepresented€in€this€lawsuit€by€Charles€M.€Agee,€Jr.€("Agee").€€Danny€and€Judy€Cobb€then€filed€aÐ X¨ Ðclaim€against€their€insurance€company,€Plaintiff/Appellee€Tennessee€Farmers€Mutual€InsuranceÐ B ’ ÐCompany€(ð ðTennessee€Farmersðð).€€Tennessee€Farmers€denied€the€claim.€€On€€July€23,€1997,Ð , | ÐTennessee€Farmers€filed€a€complaint€for€declaratory€judgment€against€Dan€Cobb€and€Danny€andÐ  f ÐJudy€Cobb,€seeking€a€declaratory€judgment€that€it€owed€no€benefits€to€Danny€and€Judy€Cobb€as€aÐ  P Ðresult€of€the€lawsuit€filed€against€them€by€their€son.€€Tennessee€Farmers€was€represented€in€thisÐ ê :  Ðlawsuit€by€Jeffrey€Lay€("Lay").€€Ð Ô $  Ðà  àOn€September€10,€1997,€Tennessee€Farmers€filed€a€motion€for€default€judgment€against€allÐ ¨ø  Ðof€the€Defendants,€based€on€the€Defendantsðð€failure€to€respond€to€the€lawsuit.€€On€September€19,Ð ’â  Ð1997,€the€trial€court€entered€a€default€judgment€and€final€judgment€order€against€the€Defendants.Ð |Ì  ÐCopies€of€the€default€judgment€and€final€judgment€order€were€served€on€the€Defendants.€Ð f¶  Ðà  àAfter€learning€of€the€default€judgment,€Agee€contacted€Lay.€€Agee€told€Lay€that€he€did€notÐ :Š Ðrepresent€Dan€Cobb€in€the€declaratory€judgment€action,€but€was€assisting€him€in€the€matter.€LayÐ $t Ðagreed€to€a€November€7,€1997€hearing€on€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment.€€The€motionÐ ^ Ðhad€not€yet€been€filed.Ð øH Ðà  àOn€October€31,€1997,€Dan€Cobb€sent€a€letter€to€the€trial€judge,€asking€that€the€defaultÐ Ì Ðjudgment€be€set€aside.€€A€copy€was€also€sent€to€Lay.€€Dan€Cobb€did€not€file€a€motion€to€set€aside€theÐ ¶ Ðdefault€judgment.€Aòòóót€the€November€7,€1997,€hearing€Dan€Cobb€appeared€òòpro€seóó€and€asked€the€trialÐ  ð Ðcourt€for€a€continuance€until€he€could€retain€counsel.€€The€trial€court€granted€the€continuance€andÐ ŠÚ Ðinstructed€him€to€have€his€new€counsel€file€the€appropriate€motion€and€reschedule€the€matter€for€aÐ tÄ Ðhearing.€Ð ^® Ðà  àOn€April€1,€1998,€Dan€Cobb€filed€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment.€€His€parentsÐ 2‚ Ðfiled€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment€on€April€23,€1998.€€On€July€2,€1998,€the€trial€courtÐ  l Ðissued€an€order€denying€the€Defendantsðð€motions,€finding€that€the€Defendants€had€been€properlyÐ !V Ðserved€with€notice€of€the€suit,€and€concluding€that€the€Defendantsðð€seven„month€delay€in€filing€aÐ ð!@  Ðâ âmotion€to€set€aside€the€judgment€was€inexcusable€neglect.Ô#† XnLXX XnL¦ #ÔÐ Ú"*! Ðà  àOn€appeal,€the€Defendants€argue€first€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€the€DefendantsÐ ° Ðâ âwaited€seven€months€to€file€motions€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment.€€They€point€to€Dan€Cobb'sÐ šê ÐOctober€31,€1997€letter€to€the€trial€court€asking€that€the€default€judgment€be€set€aside€and€argue€thatÐ „Ô Ðthe€letter€should€be€considered€a€motion,€noting€that€Dan€Cobb€was€representing€himself€in€thisÐ n¾ Ðaction.€€Regardless,€Dan€Cobb€understood€at€the€court€appearance€on€November€7,€1997€that€he€wasÐ X¨ Ðrequired€to€file€a€motion,€and€failed€to€do€so€until€April,€1998.€€We€find€no€error€in€the€trial€court'sÐ B ’ Ðfinding€that€the€Defendants€waited€seven€months€to€file€motions€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment.Ð , | Ðà  àThe€Defendants€also€contend€that€the€default€judgment€should€have€been€set€aside€under€RuleÐ  P Ð60.02€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€€Rule€60.02€provides:Ð ê :  Ðà8  àà ` àOn€motion€and€upon€such€terms€as€are€just,€the€court€may€relieve€a€party€orÐ ¾  Ðthe€party's€legal€representative€from€a€final€judgment,€order€or€proceeding€for€theÐ ¨ø  Ðfollowing€reasons:€€(1)€mistake,€inadvertence,€surprise€or€excusable€neglect;€€(2)Ð ’â  Ðfraud€(whether€heretofore€denominated€intrinsic€or€extrinsic),€misrepresentation,€orÐ |Ì  Ðother€misconduct€of€an€adverse€party;€€(3)€the€judgment€is€void;€€(4)€the€judgment€hasÐ f¶  Ðbeen€satisfied,€released€or€discharged,€or€a€prior€judgment€upon€which€it€is€based€hasÐ P  Ðbeen€reversed€or€otherwise€vacated,€or€it€is€no€longer€equitable€that€a€judgmentÐ :Š Ðshould€have€prospective€application;€€or€(5)€any€other€reason€justifying€relief€fromÐ $t Ðthe€operation€of€the€judgment.€€The€motion€shall€be€made€within€a€reasonable€time,Ð ^ Ðand€for€reasons€(1)€and€(2)€not€more€than€one€year€after€the€judgment,€order€orÐ øH Ðproceeding€was€entered€or€taken.€Ðâ2Ð Ð  Ðò òó óTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€60.02.€€ò òó óThe€Defendants€argue€that€they€failed€to€respond€to€the€complaint€forÐ ¶ Ðdeclaratory€judgment€because€Dan€Cobb€thought€that€the€pleadings€related€to€the€tort€action€andÐ  ð Ðbelieved€that€his€parents€would€handle€it,€and€the€Defendants€thought€that€the€attorney€for€TennesseeÐ ŠÚ ÐFarmers€hired€to€represent€them€in€the€tort€action€would€represent€them€in€the€declaratory€judgmentÐ tÄ Ðaction.€€The€Defendants€contend€that€this€amounts€to€"excusable€neglect,€mistake€or€inadvertence"Ð ^® Ðunder€Rule€60.02€and€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€refusing€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment.€€TheÐ H˜ ÐDefendants€also€assert€that€they€had€a€meritorious€defense€to€the€declaratory€judgment€action,€andÐ 2‚ Ðthat€the€default€judgment€should€have€been€set€aside€for€this€reason.Ð  l Ðà  àOn€appeal€of€a€denial€of€a€motion€for€relief€under€Rule€60.02€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€CivilÐ ð!@  ÐProcedure,€the€appellate€court€may€reverse€the€denial€of€the€motion€for€relief€only€if€the€denialÐ Ú"*! Ðamounts€to€an€abuse€of€discretion.€€ò òòòUnderwood€v.€Zurich€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€854€S.W.2d€94,€97€(Tenn.€1993);Ð Ä#" Ðò òòòHart€v.€Ô_ÔTourteÔ_Ôó óóó,€10€S.W.3d€263,€269€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999).€€ò òó óIn€this€case,€after€a€review€of€the€recordÐ ®$þ# Ðas€a€whole,€we€cannot€conclude€that€the€trial€court's€denial€of€the€Defendantsðð€motions€to€set€asideÐ ˜%è $ Ðthe€default€judgment€amounted€to€an€abuse€of€discretion.€€Therefore,€the€trial€court's€denial€of€theÐ ‚&Ò!% Ðmotion€to€set€aside€the€default€is€affirmed.Ð l'¼"& ÐÐ  @)$( Ðà  àThe€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€are€assessed€against€theÐ ° ÐDefendant/Appellants,€Judy€Cobb,€Danny€Cobb€and€Dan€Cobb,€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÐ šê Ðnecessary.Ð „Ô ÐÓ ÓÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð B ’ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àHOLLY€K.€LILLARD,€JUDGEÐ , | Ð