WPC T)tjX" e,$$6n͋g %YDxܰoJZmN*;8ߕةʛZMGp#mMl^b mXy=Wxs~OU˞vܺqs؋Stxe-xa0ZIYww6^XCJP:O2Vh }4~=/>h)gF+Վ0&^O#e8\z  I`ܡ%И6XeP϶qNT>3)dY K-e>)be ش0ucRKqB[w=`\0bYwhQX !Ti.tޡvXtC\&p0khQ7B!tągA8 Ղ䥅MXi<flM flڵP9b#\ % UN# 0q UN ^ G wS zW  4 r ) 0D8 | BN mEb 0 B 0 D3e D- 0K ASc 0) 0D AHP LaserJet 8000 Series PS0(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular+  C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptHE*+00 h R $      1  O  _ԀThesupremecourtoverruled_Whisnant_Ԁv.Byrd,525S.W.2d152(Tenn.1975)totheextentthatitmaybe  readtostandforthatproposition.SeeLogan,23S.W.3dat301.3|x(#$  0  Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5U- -(|G2 $ !.8Qtd d 8         0  4 d(|3$ !.8Qtd d 8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8Qtd d 8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8@d d8     _  8&|XXdd 8  @ =INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON#= #Ԉ &   MAY2,2001Session L XpX #XXp#STATEOFTENNESSEEEXRELDEBORAHD.WARRENv.JAMESR. J FERGUSONXpX   ^ @@ DirectAppealfromtheJuvenileCourtfor_Weakley_ԀCounty  ^ @@No.0285;TheHonorableJamesH._Bradberry_,Judge  J @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.W200002027_COA_ԄR3CVFiledAugust20,_2001_   AV) ` dE<` A      Thisappealinvolvesacomplainttoestablishparentageandsetchildsupport.Thecourtbelow  orderedgenetictesting,whichprovedthatJamesR.Fergusonisthenaturalfatherofthechildrenat x issue.Thecourtalsoenteredajudgmentof$8,623.00forretroactivechildsupport,$280.00forthe d costofgenetictesting,andthecourtreservedtheissueofcurrentsupportuntilMr.Fergusonis P releasedfromprison.Wevacatethetrialcourtsfinalorderbasedonourconclusionthatthetrial < courterredinfailingtoruleonMr.FergusonsMotionfortheAppointmentofCounsel,or (x alternatively,hisrequestthatthematterbeheldinabeyanceuntilheisreleasedfromincarceration. d #XXp#XpX* Tenn.R.App.P.3;AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheJuvenileCourtVacatedand ( Remanded     #Xp#XpX.AlanE.Highers,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichW.FrankCrawford,P.J.,W.S.,  and_Alen_ԀE.Glenn,Sp.J.,joined.  JamesR.Ferguson,_Tiptonville_,prose `!  PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneralandReporter,Kim_Beals_,AssistantAttorneyGeneral, 8#" Nashville,forAppellee $$t# b  OPINION #XXp #XpX %L!% #XXp #XpX  @FactsandProceduralHistory '$#'  XX   TheAppellantinthiscase,JamesR.Ferguson(Mr.Ferguson),hasbeeninthecustodyofthe )$) TennesseeDepartmentofCorrectionandhasbeenhousedattheNorthwestCorrectionalComplex *%* in_Tiptonville_,Tennessee,atalltimesrelevanttothisappeal.Thechildrenatissueinthiscase, +&+ JessicaandEricFerguson,werebornonNovember15,1986,andAugust10,1988,respectively. p,', DeborahWarren(Ms.Warren)isthemotherofthechildrenatissue. \-(- Ї  AComplainttoestablishpaternitywasfiledin_Weakley_ԀCountyJuvenileCourtonJanuary  12,2000,bytheStateofTennesseeonbehalfofMs.Warren.TheComplaintsoughttoestablishMr.  Fergusonasthenaturalfatherofthechildren.TheComplaintalsorequestedthatcurrentand  retrospectivesupportbesetinaccordancewiththeTennesseeChildSupportGuidelines. t   InNovemberof1999,Mr.FergusonwasrequiredtosubmittoaDNAtestdespitehis L  admissionsthathewasthenaturalfatherofthechildren.OnApril17,2000,thetrialcourtissued 8  anorderrequiringMs.Warrenandthechildrentosubmittogenetictesting.Mr.Fergusons $ t paternitywasconclusivelyestablishedbytheDNAtests.  `   Mr.FergusonfiledaMotiontoDismissand/orDeferCostonMay9,2000.OnMay12,  8  2000,Mr.FergusonfiledaMotionfortheAppointmentofCounselandaPetitionforWritofHabeas $  CorpusAdTestificandum.Alternatively,Mr.Fergusonrequestedthatthecasebeheldinabeyance   untilhisreleasefromprisonifthecourtdeniedhisMotiontoAppointCounsel.OnMay22,2000,   Mr.FergusonfiledforAppointmentofPersonforWrittenDepositionandaPetitionfor   Continuance.OnJune5,2000,Mr.FergusonfiledaMotionforSummaryJudgmentandabriefin   supportoftheMotionforSummaryJudgment.OnMay17,2000,Mr.TroyJones,aYouthServices p Officerofthe_Weakley_ԀCountyJuvenileCourt,informedMr.Fergusonthathispresenceincourtwas \ notrequired,ascurrentchildsupportwouldbebasedonearningsatminimumwageand_arrearages_ H wouldaccumulateduringhisincarceration.TheStateofTennesseefiledananswertoMr. 4 FergusonsMotionforSummaryJudgmentinJuneof2000,withtheDNAresultsestablishing  p paternityattachedasexhibits.Mr.Fergusonrespondedandarguedthatheshouldbegranted  \ summaryjudgmentsincepaternitywasnotdisputedbytheparties. H   ThecasewasheardonJuly11,2000.AdefaultjudgmentwasissuedagainstMr.Ferguson   onJuly17,2000,becausehefailedtoappear.ThecourtfoundMr.Fergusontobethelegaland   naturalfatherofthechildren.Asaresult,thecourtorderedretrospectivechildsupportinthe  amountof$8,623.00,whichwasthetotalamountofAFDCbenefitsreceivedbyMs.Warrensince  Novemberof1986.ThecourtreservedtheissueofcurrentchildsupportuntilMr.Fergusonis  releasedfromprison,butmadetheorderappealedfromafinalorderpursuantto_T.R.Civ.P._Ԁ54.02. l ThecourtalsoorderedMr.FergusontoreimbursetheStateofTennesseeintheamountof$280.00 X  forthecostofgenetictesting.Mr.Fergusonappeals,andraisesthefollowingissues,asweperceive D! them,forourreview: 0"  1)WhetherthetrialcourterredinfailingtograntAppellantsMotionforSummaryJudgment. $X" 2)WhetherthetrialcourterredinfailingtoallowAppellanttodefendtheaction. $D # 3)WhetherthetrialcourterredinallowingtheDepartmentofChildrensServicestoabuseits %0!$ power. &"% 4)WhetherthetrialcourterredingrantingadefaultjudgmentagainsttheAppellant. '#& 5)WhetherthetrialcourterredinorderingtheAppellanttoreimbursethestateforthecostofgenetic (#' testing. )$(     h+&* StandardofReview       Whenacivilactionisheardbyatrialjudgesittingwithoutajury,ourreviewofthematter  isdenovoontherecord,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsbelow.See t Fosterv._Bue_,749S.W.2d736,741(Tenn.1988);Tenn.R.App.P.13(d).Wemaynotreversethe ` findingsoffactmadebythetrialjudgeunlesstheyarecontrarytothepreponderanceoftheevidence. L  See_Jahn_Ԁv._Jahn_,932S.W.2d939,941(Tenn.Ct.App.1996).Thispresumptionofcorrectness, 8  however,doesnotattachtothetrialjudgeslegaldeterminationsorthetrialcourtsconclusionsthat $ t arebasedonundisputedfacts.See_NCNB_Ԁ_Natl_ԀBankv._Thrailkill_,856S.W.2d150,153(Tenn.Ct.  ` App.1993).  L     LawandAnalysis  $      First,weaddressMr.Fergusonsissuesthatallegethatthetrialcourterredinnotallowing   himtodefendtheactionandthatthetrialcourterredingrantingadefaultjudgmentagainsthim.   Specifically,wenotethatMr.FergusonfiledaMotionfortheAppointmentofCounsel.Itisclear   thatthereisnoabsoluterighttocounselinaciviltrial.SeeKnightv.Knight,11S.W.3d898,900 p (Tenn.Ct.App.1999)(citingLyonv.Lyon,765S.W.2d759,763(Tenn.Ct.App.1988);Inre \ Rockwell,673S.W.2d512,515(Tenn.Ct.App.1983).However,inMr.FergusonsMotionfor H AppointmentofCounsel,healternativelyrequestedthatthematterbeheldinabeyanceuntilheis 4 releasedfromincarceration.Mr.FergusonalsofiledaPetitionforWritofHabeasCorpusAd  p _Testficandum_,inwhichherequestedthathebeallowedtotestifyatthehearing.Additionally,Mr.  \ FergusonfiledaMotionforAppointmentofPersonforWrittenDeposition.Thetrialcourtfailed H toconsiderorruleonthesemotions. 4   InLoganv._Winstead_,23S.W.3d297(Tenn.2000),Mr.Logan,aninmatewhowasacting   prose,broughtalegalmalpracticeclaimagainsthiscriminaldefenseattorney,Mr._Winstead_.See  id.at299.Mr._Winstead_ԀfiledaMotionforSummaryJudgmentsupportedbyhisownexpert  affidavit.Seeid.at300.Mr.Loganfiledamotiontoholdtheproceedingsinabeyanceuntilhewas  releasedfromprison.Seeid.ThetrialcourtfailedtoruleonMr.Logansmotionforabeyanceand l enteredsummaryjudgmentinfavorofMr._Winstead_.Seeid.Thecourtofappealsupheldthetrial X  courtsdecision.Seeid. D!   TheSupremeCourtgrantedMr.Loganspetitiontoappealtoaddresstheabeyanceissue. #l! Seeid.Thecourtfoundthatanincarceratedpersonhasnoabsoluterighttohavecivilproceedings $X" stayedorbepresentduringcivillitigation.Seeid.at30001.   #  1      ׀Thecourtthensetforththefollowing $D # guidelinesfordeterminingwhenanabeyanceshouldbegranted: %0!$   anabeyanceshouldbegrantedbythetrialcourtonlywhenreasonable '#& underthecircumstances,inlightofseveralcountervailing (#' considerations,suchasthelengthoftheprisonerlitigantssentence,  thedifficultyoftheprisonerinpresentingproof,theburdenonthe  courtinmaintainingadocketonwhichsuchclaimswillindefinitely  remain,theimpracticabilityoflitigatingasuitmanyyearsafterits t filingbecausememoriesfadeandwitnessesbecomedifficultto ` locate,andadefendantsrightstohaveclaimsagainsthimorher L  timelyadjudicated. 8    Id.at301.ConcludingthatthetrialcourterredbyfailingtoruleonMr.Logansmotionfor  ` abeyance,thecourtstated, [_a]ppellate_Ԁreviewbecomesmoredifficultwithoutanorderspecifying  L  reasonsforatrialcourtsgrantordenialofamotion....[_S]uch_Ԁplaintiffsareentitledtohave  8  requestsforabeyancesconsideredanddeterminedundertheappropriatelegalstandards.Id.at303. $  SincethetrialcourterredbyfailingtoconsiderandruleonMr.Logansmotionforabeyance,the   courtreversedthejudgmentsofthetrialcourtandthecourtofappealsandremandedthecasefor   furtherproceedings.Seeid.     Likewise,intheinstantcase,thetrialcourtfailedtoruleonMr.Fergusonsrequestsfor p abeyance,continuance,orappointmentofpersonforwrittendeposition.Inasmuchasthetrialcourt \ failedtorenderaspecificrulingonMr.Fergusonspretrialmotions,wevacatethecourtsfinal H order,andweremandthiscauseforthetrialcourttoconsiderMr.Fergusonsrequestforan 4 abeyancepursuanttotheguidelinessetforthinLogan.If,initsdiscretion,thetrialcourtdetermines  p thatanabeyanceisnotappropriate,thetrialcourtmaydenyMr.Fergusonsrequestforanabeyance  \ andruleuponthecase. H   Wealsonotethat,onremand,thetrialcourtshouldconsidertheotheralternativesavailable   toit,including,butnotlimitedto,offeringMr.Fergusontheopportunitytotestifybyvideotaped   deposition,allowingMr.Fergusontoparticipateinthehearingviatelephone,conductingthehearing  ataDOCfacility,orprovidingMr.Fergusontheopportunitytoparticipatethroughtheuseofvideo  communicationstechnology.SeeKnightv.Knight,11S.W.3d898,906(Tenn.Ct.App.1999).    Inlightofourresolutionoftheabeyanceissue,wedeclinetoaddressMr.Fergusons X  remainingissues. D!    Conclusion #l!      Fortheforegoingreasons,wevacatethedecisionofthetrialcourtandremandforfurther $D # proceedingsconsistentwiththisopinion.CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellee.#XXpD #XpX %0!$    `     h     ___________________________________ )$(    `     h     ALANE.HIGHERS,JUDGE