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SL\  `&Times New RomanS7Z(X75+ ` hp x 5  &  d d?)1dxd<:zTop of For7B(X7    5+ ` hp x 5?M%2A`Arial?  SL\  `&Times New RomanS7Z(X75+ ` hp x 5  ?)2dxd0KS.SampleKK<6X9`(Courier NewKSL\  `&Times New RomanS0.Strong 8dl6TypewriterKK<6X9`(Courier NewKSL\  `&Times New RomanS42Variable: 8HTML MarkupB      2 0CommentB   35;AGMSY_11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)<6X9`(Courier New\  `&Times New Roman%2A`Arial    R$      1    _ԀThetrialcourtsOrderdismisses_Willingham_scaseastoallpartiesandtheTennesseeDivisionofElections  didnot_enter_Ԁanappearance,norisitapartytothisappeal.  R$      3    _Ԁ_T.C.A._217112reads,inrelevantpart,asfollows:  8  8`    Judgment .(a)Afterhearingthecase,thecourtshallgivejudgmenteither:2` x` x 8  8`   (1)Confirmingtheelection;G` x` x 8  8`   (2)Declaringtheelectionvoid;(|G2$ !.8dd8         0  Ji)1  d6h001s03(|37&$ !.8dd8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  3|x^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|37&$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKKU\\IB01S02\CLERKJAC,,,,0 R$      2    _ԀAlthoughPlaintiffdidnotrespondtodiscovery,theCommissiontooknostepstocompeldiscovery. !.8dd8     _  8WXXdd8  @ $INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON#$ #Ԉ #   September23,2004Session F XWX #XXW#JOHNWILLINGHAMv.SHELBYCOUNTYELECTIONCOMMISSION, ? etal.XWX   P @@ ADirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforShelbyCounty  J @@No.0320201TheHonorableWalterL.Evans,Chancellor  4 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.W200400230COAR3CVFiledDecember7,2004   AV) ` dE<n` A o     X;DXXXW  Plaintiff/Appellant,anunsuccessfulcandidateformayorofTheCityofMemphis,brought g  ComplaintforElectionContestagainstDefendant/Appellee,ShelbyCountyElectionCommission P andTennesseeDivisionofElections.Plaintiff/AppellantfiledMotiontoCompelDiscoveryandfor 9 Continuance,assertingthatDefendant/Appelleehadwithheldinformationcrucialto "r Plaintiff/Appellantscase.ThetrialcourtdeniedPlaintiff/AppellantsMotionanddismissed  [ PlaintiffsactionpursuanttoTenn.R.Civ.P.41.02(2).Weaffirm. D #XWXXX;D##XXW#XWX Tenn.R.App.P.3;AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtAffirmed     #XW#XWX.W.FrankCrawford,P.J.,W.S.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichAlanE.Highers,  J.andHollyM.Kirby,J.,joined. k KevinA.SniderofGermantownForAppellant,JohnWillingham = RobertJ.Spence,Jr.andPattiC.BowlanofMemphisForAppellee,ShelbyCountyElection !_  Commission !H! j OPINION #XXW#XWX ## #XXW #XWX  NOY8;DXdXXd8  JohnWillingham( Willingham, Plaintiff,or Appellant)wasacandidateformayorof % % TheCityofMemphisintheOctober9,2003election(the Election).Willinghamlostthatelection &!& bymorethan46,000votestotheincumbentcandidate.OnOctober20,2003,Willinghamfileda o'"'  ComplaintforElectionContest(the Complaint)againsttheShelbyCountyElection X(#(  Commission(the Commission,or Appellee)andtheTennesseeDivisionofElections(together A)$)Y NOY N N  withtheCommission, Defendants).O  #  1      ׀InhisComplaint,WillinghamsoughttohavetheElection   declarednullandvoid,ortohaveafullrecountordered,basedonnumerousgrounds,which  Willinghamasserted affectedasubstantialnumberofvoteswhichcouldbesufficienttochangethe  resultoftheelection.Thesegroundsinclude: k 8  8`   A....indicationsoffraudandotherirregularities;and/or= ` x` x 8  8`   B....indicationsofmalfunctionsinthevotingmachines;and/or& v` x` x 8  8`   C....indicationsofmalfunctionsinthevotecountingmechanisms;  _ and/or H` x` x 8  8`   D....indicationsofmalfunctionsinthecomputeroperatingsystem(s);  1  and/or  ` x` x 8  8`   E....indicationsofotherirregularitiesinthevotingprocessforthis   election. ` x` x OnNovember13,2003,theCommissionfileditsAnswer,whichincluded,asaffirmativedefenses, n  (1)failuretostateaclaimonwhichreliefcanbegranted,and(2)failuretopleadwithspecificity @ theelementsforanelectioncontestnecessaryunderT.C.A.217101etseq.TheAnsweralso b soughtamoredefinitestatementofthefactssupportingtheComplaint.Atrialdatewassetfor 4 December9,2003,withinthelimitationsperiodforthecommencementoftrialsofelectioncontests  underT.C.A.217106.    OnNovember13,2003,theCommissionfiledits NoticetoTakeDepositionofJohn Z Willingham,whichnoticewasamended(astothedateofthedeposition)andrefiledonNovember C 18,2003.OnNovember18,2003,theCommissionpromulgateddiscoveryrequeststoWillingham ,| intheformofwritteninterrogatoriesandrequestfordocuments.e  #  2      ׀AccordingtotheCommissions e brief,onNovember17,2003,Willinghamsubmittedexpediteddiscoveryrequeststothe N Commission.ThesewereapparentlynotfiledwiththeCourtandhavenotbeenmadeapartofthe  7 recordonappeal.TheCommissionsbriefindicatesthattheCommissionfiledaresponseto !   WillinghamsexpediteddiscoveryrequestonoraboutDecember1,2003. " !   OnDecember9,2003,thedateofthetrial,Willinghamfiledandpresented Plaintiffs $# MotionforContinuanceandMotiontoCompel,whichreads,inrelevantpart,asfollows t% $   ]&!% 8  8`    AsgroundsforsaidMotion,thePlaintiffwouldstatethatthe   Defendant,ShelbyCountyElectionCommission,hasrefusedand/or  otherwisefailedtoproperlyrespondtothePlaintiffsExpedited  DiscoveryRequests.k` x` x 8  8`    Inparticular,thePlaintiffrequestedinRequestNumber2the =  writtenplanand/orproceduresusedbytheShelbyCountyElection & v Commissionpostelection.SaidDefendantproducedthepoliciesand  _ proceduresbutPage24ofthepoliciesandproceduresis missing.  H Coincidentally,Page24apparentlyistheplacewhere contract  1  employeesaredetailedandanycontactinformationto    Global/Dieboldismentioned. ` x` x 8  8`    Inaddition,thePlaintiffrequestedinRequestNumber3,a   printedtallyofthevoteateachprecinct,doneattheprecinctonthe n  nightoftheelection.SaidDefendanthasnotproducedthis W  informationanditiscriticaltoverifyingthefinalvotingresultsin @ thattheprintedtallysheetsfromeachprecinctaretheonlywayto )y verifythefinalelectiondata.Inshort,thisistherawdata.b` x` x   AttheDecember9,2003hearing,allpendingmotionswereargued.OnDecember10,2003, 4 thetrialcourtenteredits OrderofInvoluntaryDismissalastoPlaintiffsCauseofActionandOrder  DenyingPlaintiffsMotionforaContinuanceandMotiontoCompel(the Order).TheOrder  reads,inrelevantpart,asfollows:  8  8`    ItappearstotheCourt,basedupontheargumentsofthe q PlaintiffsattorneyandtheattorneyfortheShelbyCountyElection Z Commission( Commission),andatthecloseofthePlaintiffs C proof,whichincludedtestimonyfromthePlaintiffandthePlaintiffs ,| witnesses,heardDecember9,2003,thatCommissionisentitled[to] e anorderofinvoluntarydismissalasPlaintiffhasshownnorightto N reliefuponthefactsorthelaw. 7` x` x 8  8`    ItfurtherappearstotheCourt,thatbaseduponthearguments " ! ofthecounselheardDecember9,2003,thatthePlaintiffsMotionfor #" AContinuanceandMotionToCompelarenotwelltakenandshould $# bedenied.t% $` x` x 8  8`    ITIS,THEREFORE,ORDERED,ADJUDGEDAND F'"& DECREED,thatPlaintiffscauseofactionisherebyinvoluntarily /(#' dismissedwithprejudiceastoallparties....)h$(` x` x   Willinghamappealsandraisesthreeissuesforreviewasstatedinhisbrief: *:&*  +#'+ 8  8`   I.TrialCourterredindenyingAppellantsMotiontoCompel.` x` x 8  8`    A.Appellantsoutstandingdiscoveryrequestsdirectlyrelated  todisputedclaimoffraudorirregularitiesintheShelbyCounty k VotingsystemasspecifiedintheComplaint.T` x` x 8  8`    B.Appelleefailedtorespondaccuratelytodiscoveryinstead & v offeringincompleteandevasiveanswers. _` x` x 8  8`   0 ` x` x0 x x1.ShelbyCountyElectionCommissionTraining8@` x` x8@  8@8@8@  1  ManualforElectionOfficialsis incomplete.  xx 8  8`   8 ` x` x8  2.The rawdatarequestedfrom   eachprecinctonthenightofthe   electionwasneverprovided.  8  8`    C.MotiontoCompelshouldbegrantedpursuanttoTenn.R. W  Civ.P.37.01.@` x` x 8  8`   II.TrialCourterredindenyingtheMotionforContinuanceand b insteadorderinginvoluntarydismissal.K` x` x 8  8`    A.AContinuanceisappropriatewhenDefendants  withholdingofvitaldiscoverydocumentsprohibitedPlaintiffthe  opportunitytofullydevelopcase.` x` x 8  8`    B.OrderforInvoluntaryDismissalisinappropriatewhen q Plaintiffwasnotgivenopportunitytopresenthiscaseinchiefwhile Z attrial.C` x` x 8  8`   III.TrialCourterredinfailingtomakeappropriateelectioncontest e judgmentfindingspursuanttoT.C.A.217112.N` x` x   OnJune2,2004,theCommissionfileda MotionPursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.271122 !   forDamagesforFrivolousAppeal. " !   Wefirstnotethat,sincethiscasewastriedbythecourtsittingwithoutajury,wereviewthe $# case denovo upontherecordwithapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffactbythetrial t% $ court.Unlesstheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindings,wemustaffirm,absenterroroflaw. ^&!%  See Tenn.R.App.P.13(d). G'"& MotiontoCompelandDenialofContinuance )j$(   Itiswellsettledthatdecisionsregardingpre-trialdiscoverymattersrestwithinthesound *<&* discretionofthetrialcourt.Thedecisionofthetrialcourtindiscoverymatterswillnotbereversed +%'+ onappealunlessaclearabuseofdiscretionisdemonstrated. Bentonv.Snyder ,825S.W.2d409  (Tenn.1992); Painev.Ramsey ,591S.W.2d434,436(Tenn.1979).Whilethe abuseofdiscretion  standardlimitsthescopeofourreviewofdiscretionarydecisions,itdoesnotimmunizethese  decisionscompletelyfromappellatereview. Duncanv.Duncan ,789S.W.2d557,561(Tenn.Ct. m App.1990).Eventhoughitpreventsusfromsecond-guessingthetrialcourt, Whitev.Vanderbilt W Univ. ,21S.W.3d215,223(Tenn.Ct.App.1999),orfromsubstitutingourdiscretionforthetrial A  courtsdiscretion, Myintv.AllstateIns.Co. ,970S.W.2d920,927(Tenn.1998); Stateexrel. + { Vaughnv.Kaatrude ,21S.W.3d244,248(Tenn.Ct.App.2000),itdoesnotpreventusfrom  e examiningthetrialcourtsdecisiontodeterminewhetherithastakentheapplicablelawandthe  O relevantfactsintoaccount. Ballardv.Herzke ,924S.W.2d652,661(Tenn.1996).Wewillnot  8  hesitatetoconcludethatatrialcourt abuseditsdiscretionwhenthecourthasappliedanincorrect  "  legalstandard,hasreachedadecisionthatisillogical,hasbaseditsdecisiononaclearlyerroneous   assessmentoftheevidence,orhasemployedreasoningthatcausesaninjusticetothecomplaining   party. Clinardv.Blackwood ,46S.W.3d177,182(Tenn.2001); Bucknerv.Hassell ,44S.W.3d78,   83(Tenn.Ct.App.2000);  Overstreetv.Shoney's,Inc .,4S.W.3d694,709(Tenn.Ct.App.1999). w    Inthiscase,WillinghamassertsthattheCommissionfailedtoproduceallofthedocuments J requestedduringthecourseofdiscovery.Inparticular,WillinghamstatesthattheCommission 3 providedan incompleteTrainingManualforElectionOfficials,thattheCommissionwithheld l  rawdatafromeachprecinct,andthattheCommissionfailedtofullyandcompletelyrespondto U interrogatories.TheCommission,ontheotherhand,contendsthatitprovidedalloftheanswersand > documentsthatWillinghamrequested.TherecordbeforethisCourtcontainsneitherthediscovery ' documentspropoundedbyWillinghamtotheCommissionnorthedocumentsoranswersthatthe  Commissionprovided.ItistheresponsibilityoftheAppellanttopresenttothisCourtafulland  completerecordonappeal.Intheabsenceoftheaforementioneddocuments,thisCourthasnothing  uponwhichtodeterminewhethertheCommissionwasforthcoming.Therefore,wecannotsaythat { thetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretionindenyingWillinghamsMotiontoCompelDiscovery. d SincewecannotdeterminewhetherortowhatextenttheCommissionwithhelddocumentsand/or M answersfromWillingham,wealsocannotsaythatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretionindenying 6 Willinghamsrequestforacontinuance.WefurthernotethatsinceWillinghamiscomplaining o primarilyabouttheresultsemanatingfromthevotingmachines,noeffortwasmadeforthe  X machinestobebroughtinandexaminedpursuanttoT.C.A.217110.Consequently,Appellants  A firsttwoissuesarewithoutmerit. !*  FormoftheTrialCourtsOrder #"   TheDecember9,2003hearingwasscheduledtobeahearingonthemeritsofthiscase. ~% $ However,asapreliminarymatter,thetrialcourtheardargumentonWillinghamsMotiontoCompel g&!% DiscoveryandforContinuance.ThetrialcourtfirstfoundthatWillinghamsMotionwasdenied P'"& andwehaveaddressedtheissuesarisingfromthatfindingsupra.Thetrialcourtthenheardthe 9(#' proofthatWillinghamwaspreparedtooffer,includingWillinghamsowntestimony.Fromthis ")r$( evidence,thetrialcourtfoundthatWillinghamhadshownnorighttoreliefand,therefore,dismissed  *[%)  theactionpursuanttoTenn.R.Civ.P.41.02(2). *D&*   Willinghamalsoassertsthathe wasnotgivenanopportunitytopresenthiscaseinchief   whileattrialandfurtherassertsthatthetrialcourterredinfailingtomakeappropriateelection  contestjudgmentfindingspursuanttoT.C.A.217112.P  #  3          Astotheassertionconcerningthetrialofthecase,therecorddoesnotindicatethatthetrial T courtrefusedtohearanyproofadvancedbyPlaintiff,norcutthePlaintiffofffrompresentingany =  proofthathewantedtopresent.ThereisnothinginthisrecordtoindicatethatPlaintiffwasnot & v allowedtopresenteverythinghewantedtopresentinhiscaseinchief.Thisissueiswithoutmerit.  _   Astotheformofajudgmententeredinthiscase,thePlaintiff,throughhisattorney,  1  approvedthejudgmentastoformandraisednoquestionconcerningtheformofthejudgmentinthe    trialcourt.Thisissuewasraisedforthefirsttimeonappeal,andithaslongbeenthelawinthis   statethatissuesnotraisedorcomplainedofinthetrialcourtwillnotbeconsideredonappeal. See   Butlerv.MadisonCountyJail ,109S.W.3d360(Tenn.Ct.App.2002).Moreover,thedismissal   ofPlaintiffscontestcomplaintconfirmstheelection. p  FrivolousAppeal B 0  Asnotedsupra,theCommissionfiledaMotionforDamagesforFrivolousAppealonJuned(#(# 2,2004andWillinghamrespondedtothatMotiononJuly29,2004.WedenytheMotion. M   TheOrderofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.CostsofthisappealareassessedtotheAppellant,  JohnWillingham,andhissurety.    #XXW #XWX   `     h   __________________________________________ g    `     h   W.FRANKCRAWFORD,PRESIDINGJUDGE,W.S.  P