ÿWPCê  ÄE¯°!]Hð¼Ò‚TÏð—¦þQ-€!LN2¤¡ ‰ó²mŠ,¨Às‚þOö?Í Ýd‚.’¿ÞÖ‘Æš`«1דÉW¸ ïúÑ×Pºmþ‹™KÜ¥…îvÊJê—fmBü€Ë£!™ó rÇÁAúØ3/íÍ•ZÚ+ë¿dÆä`9K/r@.DzóÏN)ødeØñØzX ¹Â¿õGcœ¶ ÇÈ0¶´Ää,Þž¸`|¡ÚÀ—î¬)a¥uED±í¶F²YÈþ¥Tø ¿êŽÃÈYW#ÉÂUN‹ %Ù 0:ß UN ^ g ws 4w ‹ š mœ b³ N» $½ (á 0~ 0D‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ EË Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë BÍ ˜\\IB01S08\KNOXCLERK4ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularMšH1Þ ÖƒF1ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-  AdministratrixEDDLEMONBarcusParnateCiv.P. BainCarvell CBLSouthwindsAslandisTreadwayCoombeW.D.N.Y.Joffe Ý ƒÄ($ÝÔUSUS.,Ôà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔPlaintiff€filed€no€affidavits€or€depositions,€but€relied€on€defendantððs€employment€and€hisÐ ° Ðlegal€representation€as€reasons€to€impute€knowledge€of€the€suit€to€him.(.(3Ä($¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡X]©XXXÔÔ‡¼M»XX]©ÔÑ€ ÑÑ8€çØXXdìdÈ8Ñà@¦ ¦ ìàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@””$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEˆÐ  Ðà@••ìàAugust€9,€2004€SessionˆÐ Ô$ ÐÔ#†X]©X»¼M\#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼M»XX]©ÔÓ  ÓMARY€RUTH€WILLIS,€as€Surviving€Mother€of€and€Administratrix€for€theÐ Ò" ÐEstate€of€JENNIE€LEE€EDDLEMON,€deceased€v.€UNIVERSITY€HEALTHÐ æ 6 ÐSYSTEM,€INC.,€d/b/a€THE€UNIVERSITY€OF€TENNESSEE€MEDICALÐ ú J ÐCENTER,€TEAM€HEALTH,€INC.,€SOUTHEASTERN€EMERGENCYÐ  ^ ÐPHYSICIANS,€INC.,€and€RALF€JOFFE,€D.O.òòóóÔ#†X]©X»¼M§#Ôó óÐ " r ÐÓÆÓÌà@¼ ¼ ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Knox€CountyˆÐ "r  Ðà@ ìàNo.€2„73„01€€€€€€Hon.€Harold€Wimberly,€Circuit€JudgeˆÐ ^  ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ñ` A߈Ð Ò" ÐÌà@ß ß ìàNo.€E2004„00259„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€FILED€OCTOBER€8,€Ô_Ô2004Ô_Ô€ˆÐ Í ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¤` AßÐ ¥õ Ðó óÌÌPlaintiff€added€defendant€to€suit€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€Rule€15€after€statute€of€limitationsÐ ŒÜ Ðexpired.€€The€Trial€Court€granted€defendant€summary€judgment.€€On€appeal,€we€affirm.Ð xÈ ÐÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed.ó óÐ P  ÐÌòòHerschel€Pickens€Franks,€P.Jóó.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€whichòò€Charles€D.Ð (x ÐSusano,€Jr.,€J.óó,€andòò€William€H.€Inman,€Sr.,€Jóó.,€joined.Ð d ÐÌÌLinda€G.€Welch,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€Appellant.Ð Ø( ÐÌHeidi€A.€Barcus€and€Hillary€B.€Jones,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€Appellee,€Ralf€Joffe,€D.O.Ð °!  ÐÌÌÌà@66'ìàò òOPINIONó óˆÐ `%° $ ÐÌòòóóà  àà0 ` àÔ#†XçØXXX]©=#ÔÐ ` (#` (# Ðà  àà ` àThis€action€originated€with€the€filing€of€a€Complaint€by€Jennie€Lee€Eddlemon,Ð $(t#' Ðagainst€University€Health€System,€Inc.,€Team€Health,€Inc.,€Southeastern€Emergency€Physicians,Ð )`$( ÐInc.,€and€J.€Doe,€M.D.,€defendants.€€Plaintiff€alleged€that€on€March€13,€2000,€she€went€to€theÐ ü)L%) Ðemergency€room€of€UT€Hospital€and€was€examined€by€an€unknown€doctor€whom€she€referred€toÐ è*8&* Ðas€J.€Doe,€M.D.€€She€further€alleged€that€she€informed€the€doctor€that€she€was€taking€aÐ Ô+$'+ Ðmedication€called€Parnate,€which€is€an€MAO€inhibitor,€and€that€he€prescribed€Demerol,€which€isÐ ° Ðcontraindicated€for€a€patient€taking€an€MAO€inhibitor.€She€charged€she€suffered€a€severe€adverseÐ œì Ðreaction€to€the€medication,€went€into€a€coma,€and€required€extensive€hospitalization€and€careÐ ˆØ Ðafterward.€€Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àà ` àPlaintiff€alleged€malpractice€by€defendants€and€sought€damages.€€The€ComplaintÐ L œ Ðwas€filed€on€February€2,€2001.€€Ð 8 ˆ Ѐ€Ð $ t Ðà  àà ` àUniversity€Health€System,€Inc.€(ð ðUniversityðð),€Answered,€denying€all€allegationsÐ  ` Ðof€negligence€and€liability.€Team€Health,€Inc.€(ð ðTeam€Health),€and€Southeastern€EmergencyÐ ü L  ÐPhysicians,€Inc.€(ð ðSoutheasternðð),€also€Answered€denying€liability,€and€denying€they€employedÐ è 8  Ðthe€unidentified€doctor.€Ð Ô$  Ѐ€Ð À  Ðà  àà ` àOn€August€16,€2001,€plaintiff€moved€to€amend€the€Complaint,€alleging€she€hadÐ ¬ü  Ðrecently€learned€the€identity€of€J.€Doe,€M.D.€to€be€Ralf€Joffe,€D.O.€€She€asserted€she€learned€thisÐ ˜è  Ðinformation€when€defendant€University€filed€its€interrogatory€answers,€which€were€served€onÐ „Ô  Ðplaintiffððs€counsel€on€or€about€July€24,€2001.€€Plaintiff€asserted€that€she€had€exercised€dueÐ pÀ Ðdiligence€in€attempting€to€ascertain€the€name€of€the€doctor,€but€his€signature€on€her€medicalÐ \¬ Ðrecords€was€illegible,€and€the€medical€records€department€at€the€hospital€could€not€match€it€withÐ H˜ Ðany€signature€on€file.€Ð 4„ Ðà  àÌà  àà ` àUpon€a€hearing,€the€Trial€Court€granted€the€Motion€directing€plaintiffððs€ComplaintÐ  \ Ðto€be€amended€to€substitute€J.€Doe,€M.D.,€with€Ralf€Joffe,€D.O.,€ð ðpreserving€to€Ralf€Joffe,€D.O.Ð øH Ðany€and€all€defenses€available€to€him.ðð€€The€Court€ordered€that€plaintiff€have€process€issuedÐ ä4 Ðthrough€the€clerk€to€be€served€on€Dr.€Joffe,€along€with€a€copy€of€the€Amended€Complaint.€€AÐ Ð  ÐSummons€issued€to€Dr.€Joffe,€which€was€accepted€by€Dr.€Ô_ÔJoffeÔ_Ôððs€counsel,€who€is€also€theÐ ¼  Ðattorney€for€Southeastern.€€Ð ¨ø Ðà  àà ` à€After€the€Complaint€was€again€amended,€Joffe€filed€a€Motion€to€Dismiss,Ð ”ä Ðasserting€that€the€claims€against€him€were€barred€by€the€applicable€statute€of€limitations,€found€atÐ €Ð ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð29„26„116.€€In€support€of€his€Motion€to€Dismiss,€the€doctor€filed€a€copy€of€hisÐ l¼ Ðdeposition,€wherein€he€states€that€he€never€talked€to€anyone€about€the€situation€with€Ms.Ð X ¨ ÐEddlemon€other€than€his€attorney,€and€specifically€he€never€talked€to€anyone€at€Team€Health€orÐ D!” ÐSoutheastern€about€it.€€Joffe€testified€that€he€first€learned€of€the€lawsuit€when€he€was€notified€byÐ 0"€  Ðcounsel€that€he€had€been€ð ðadded€to€these€proceedings.ðð€€Joffe€testified€that€neither€Team€HealthÐ #l! Ðnor€Southeastern€ever€contacted€him€about€the€lawsuit€prior€to€that€time.€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àà ` àPlaintiff€then€filed€€a€Suggestion€of€Death€upon€the€Record€under€Rule€25.01(1),Ð à%0!$ Ðstating€that€Ms.€Eddlemon€had€died€and€her€mother€was€substituted€as€plaintiff,€survivor€andÐ Ì&"% Ðadministratrix€of€the€estate.€€€€Ð ¸'#& Ðà  àÌà  àà ` àNext,€the€Court€conducted€a€hearing€on€August€15,€2003,€and€ordered€the€caseÐ )à$( Ðagainst€Joffe€dismissed€based€on€the€statute€of€limitations.€€€The€Court€certified€the€Order€as€aÐ |*Ì%) Ðfinal€judgment€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€54.02.€€Ð h+¸&* Їà  àà ` àThe€issues€on€appeal€are€whether€the€amendment€substituting€Joffe€should€relateÐ ° Ðback€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15,€and€whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€dismissing€JoffeÐ œì Ðpursuant€to€the€statute€of€limitations?ò òÐ ˆØ ÐÌà  àà ` àó óTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15€deals€with€amendments€to€pleadings,€and€plaintiff€relies€uponÐ `° ÐTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15.03€for€her€position€that€the€Amended€Complaint€should€relate€back€to€theÐ L œ Ðdate€of€the€filing€of€the€original€Complaint.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15.03€provides€as€follows:Ð 8 ˆ Ðà8  àÐ Ð Ð  Ðà0  àà0` (#(#àWhenever€the€claim€or€defense€asserted€in€amended€pleadings€arose€out€of€theÐ  ` Ðconduct,€transaction,€or€occurrence€set€forth€or€attempted€to€be€set€forth€in€theÐ ü L  Ðoriginal€pleading,€the€amendment€relates€back€to€the€date€of€the€original€pleading.€Ð è 8  ÐAn€amendment€changing€the€party€or€the€naming€of€the€party€by€or€against€whomÐ Ô$  Ða€claim€is€asserted€relates€back€if€the€foregoing€provision€is€satisfied€and€if,€withinÐ À  Ðthe€period€provided€by€law€for€commencing€an€action€or€within€120€days€afterÐ ¬ü  Ðcommencement€of€the€action,€the€party€to€be€brought€in€by€amendment€(1)€hasÐ ˜è  Ðreceived€such€notice€of€the€institution€of€the€action€that€the€party€will€not€beÐ „Ô  Ðprejudiced€in€maintaining€a€defense€on€the€merits,€and€(2)€knew€or€should€haveÐ pÀ Ðknown€that,€but€for€a€mistake€concerning€the€identity€of€the€proper€party,€theÐ \¬ Ðaction€would€have€been€brought€against€the€party.ÐH˜` (#` (# ÐÌà  àà ` àThere€is€no€dispute€that€the€claim€against€Dr.€Joffe€arose€out€of€the€sameÐ  p Ðoccurrence€as€the€original€pleading.€€The€issue€is€whether€Dr.€Joffe€had€proper€notice€of€theÐ  \ Ðinstitution€of€the€action€within€the€time€frame€provided€by€the€rule,€and€whether€he€knew€orÐ øH Ðshould€have€known€that€but€for€a€mistake€concerning€identity€of€the€proper€party,€the€actionÐ ä4 Ðshould€have€been€brought€against€him.€€Dr.€Joffe€denies€having€any€notice€of€the€lawsuit€prior€toÐ Ð  Ðhis€addition€as€a€defendant,€which€was€past€the€time€limitation€set€forth€in€the€rule.€€PlaintiffÐ ¼  Ðargues,€however,€that€notice€should€be€imputed€to€Dr.€Joffe€by€virtue€of€the€fact€that€he€works€forÐ ¨ø ÐSoutheastern€either€as€an€employee€or€as€an€independent€contractor,€and€because€Dr.€Joffe€andÐ ”ä ÐSoutheastern€are€represented€by€the€same€attorney.Ð €Ð Ðà  àÌà  àà ` àSummary€judgments€are€appropriate€only€when€the€moving€party€hasÐ X ¨ Ðdemonstrated€there€is€no€genuine€issue€as€to€any€material€fact€and€the€moving€party€is€entitled€toÐ D!” Ða€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.P.€56.04.€€òòBain€v.€Wells,€óó936€S.W.2d€618,€622Ð 0"€  Ð(Tenn.€1997);€òòCarvell€v.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.€1995).€€No€presumption€ofÐ #l! Ðcorrectness€attaches€to€the€lower€Courtððs€Judgment,€and€we€are€required€to€review€the€evidenceÐ $X" Ðin€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€non-moving€party.€€òòStaples€v.€CBL€&€Assoc.,óó€15€S.W.3d€83,€89Ð ô$D # Ð(Tenn.€2000).€€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àà ` àTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15.03€has€been€construed€in€a€number€of€Tennessee€cases€whichÐ ¸'#& Ðare€instructive,€although€not€in€the€context€of€substituting€a€real€defendant€for€a€fictitious€ð ðJohnÐ ¤(ô#' ÐDoeðð€defendant.€€However,€we€find€òòSmith€v.€Southeastern€Properties,€Ltd.óó,€776€S.W.2d€106Ð )à$( Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989),€persuasive.€€In€that€case,€the€plaintiff€sued€Southeastern€Properties,€whoÐ |*Ì%) Ðhe€thought€was€the€owner€of€an€apartment€complex€where€his€son€drowned,€but€later€(after€theÐ h+¸&* Ðstatute€had€run)€found€out€the€true€owner€was€Southwinds€Associates,€Ltd.€€Plaintiff€sought€toÐ ° Ðadd€Southwinds€and€its€partners€as€defendants,€but€this€Court€found€that€such€an€amendmentÐ œì Ðcould€not€relate€back€to€the€date€of€the€original€complaint,€because€there€was€no€proof€that€theseÐ ˆØ Ðdefendants€had€timely€notice€of€the€lawsuit.€òò€Id.óó€€Ð tÄ Ðà  àÌà  àà ` àIn€so€ruling,€this€Court€explained€that€ð ðnoticeðð€in€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15.03€meantÐ L œ Ðnotice€that€a€lawsuit€had€been€filed,€and€not€simply€notice€of€the€incident€out€of€which€the€claimÐ 8 ˆ Ðarose.€òò€Id.€€óóThis€Court€refused€to€find€that€notice€could€be€imputed€because€the€defendantsððÐ $ t Ðinsurance€company€knew€about€the€incident,€or€because€Southeastern€and€Southwinds€had€theÐ  ` Ðsame€attorney.€òò€Id.óóÐ ü L  Ðà  àÌà  àà ` àPlaintiff€has€cited€cases€from€the€federal€system,€which€we€have€considered,€andÐ Ô$  Ðfind€they€are€neither€authority€nor€persuasive€on€the€issue€before€us.Ð À  ÐÌà  àà ` àFederal€cases€hold€that€the€use€of€ð ðJohn€Doeðð€pleadings€cannot€circumventÐ ˜è  Ðstatutes€of€limitations,€and€replacing€John€Doe€with€a€named€party€and€having€said€change€relateÐ „Ô  Ðback€can€only€be€accomplished€when€all€the€specifications€of€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€15(c)€are€met.€Ð pÀ ÐòòAslandis€v.€United€States€Lines,€Inc.óó,€7€F.3d€1067€(2òòndóó€Cir.€1993).€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€this€regard,€òòCox€v.€Treadwayóó,€75€F.3d€230€(6òòthóó€Cir.€1996),€suggests€that€theÐ 4„ Ðnaming€of€€ð ðJohn€Doeðð€defendants€and€then€attempting€to€substitute€named€defendants€thereforeÐ  p Ðcannot€relate€back€under€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€15(c)€because€such€does€not€constitute€a€ð ðmistakenÐ  \ Ðidentityðð€as€contemplated€by€Fed.€R.€Civ.€P.€15(c),€a€position€which€has€been€accepted€in€otherÐ øH Ðcircuits.€€òòSeeóó€òòDoyle€v.€Coombeóó,€976€F.€Supp.€183€(W.D.N.Y.€1997);€òòFoster€v.€Unknown€CookÐ ä4 ÐCounty€Deputy€Sheriffóó,€914€F.€Supp.€221€(N.D.€Ill.€1995).€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àSince€Dr.€Ô_ÔJoffeÔ_Ôððs€testimony€is€not€disputed€in€the€record,׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€we€hold€that€theÐ ¨ø Ðrequisite€notice€requirement€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15.03€was€not€met,€and€the€Trial€Court€correctlyÐ ”ä Ðdismissed€the€Complaint€as€to€this€defendant.Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àà ` àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€affirm€the€Judgment€of€the€Trial€Court,€and€remand,Ð X ¨ Ðwith€the€cost€of€the€appeal€assessed€to€the€plaintiff.Ð D!” ÐÌÌÔ‡X]©XXXçØÔÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à______________________________Ð Ì&"% Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àòòHerschel€Pickens€Franks,€P.J.óóÔ#†XçØXXX]©—6#Ô