WPC O=>?.Igătj1@daޚ C53  sUbbxָD"4J>)5sVr2 ;rU<;s3]Zc'810a6yЯŠ!<ȱ h^&<"3+624$+Jt1Ф[6/AAQ&OnY*RPJ=JPsF&4NjBfعS!ej:d#!xUN % 0(U* w? 4C W f U:h 0l 0D R mH U:_ 0D U:   --p5U:U: B 6666<NU:U: 0D< D5 AQ 0D^ HP LaserJet 8000 DN PS0(9 Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($%2A`ArialtpO'U:3|x,rAZ"Arial Regular((3$ !      0  (#$  0   XXX2XXXTXX2XXXX2     2    ݀#XX2XXTXX2;# XXX2ԀThetotalamountlistedinthedistresswarrantincluded(1)thelitigationtaxof$23.75;(2)a  penaltyintheamountof$5.94;(3)interestamountingto$3.31;and(4)acollectionfeeforthesheriffin  theamountof$12.00.U,rAZ"Arial Regular($$   1  ,rAZ"Arial Regular  b"  _X XXXlXX    Ad FILEDX Xl  December20,1999CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAx  fT XXXXx@X TNXX2XXXx@     3    ݀#Xx@XXNXX2Z#XX2XXXx@# XXX2;#TennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection2012127(a)(Supp.1999)statesthat [a]nycivilaction  maybecommencedbyaresidentofthisstatewithoutgivingsecurityasrequiredbylawforcostsand  withoutthepaymentoflitigationtaxes....#T  #,rAZ"Arial Regular,rAZ"Arial Regular dH XXX2XXX     1    ݀ XXX2ԀAlthoughnotrelevanttodecidetheissuespresentedinthisappeal,therecordgivesno  indicationofthenature,claim,orfinaldispositionofthechancerycourtcase.#T  #+zAZ"Arial Regular,rAZ"Arial Regular(3$ !  !!!!)!dxdxabZ[C<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  O'L !  _X XXXXTR[A'3'A' Legal3'T    % 9 _INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE      ATJACKSON    x`[B2.jzX`  `@EP ` 8ttxP ( x  0     0      8     LAMARFLETCHER,   8   )  FORPUBLICATION  l d   0      8   ) Claimant/Appellant, 8   )  FILED:___________________  >6   0      8   )v.  0      8   )  TENNESSEECLAIMS#XvXXX +#X XXXv H!      0      8   )  COMMISSION#XvXXX و#X XXXv   H!    STATEOFTENNESSEE,#XvXXX J#X XXXv   8   )       0      8   )  #XvXXX # X XXXvNo.W199800120SCR11RL#XvXX X ٩#X XXXv    Defendant/Appellee. 8   )     #XvXXX # X XXXvFortheAppellant:     8     FortheAppellee: @8 LamarFletcher,prose   8     JohnKnoxWalkup & Henning,Tennessee   8     AttorneyGeneral&Reporter    0      8     MichaelE.Moore  0      8     SolicitorGeneral  0      8     ElenaJ.Xoinis  0      8     AssistantAttorneyGeneral  0      8     Nashville,Tennessee H!  # #XvXX X ٹ#X XXXv XP   0      8      U!XX OPINION #X X! U # ,%)   COURTOFAPPEALS AFFIRMED 0      8      @     BARKER,J. .7&04 8 XXdXXd8 Inthisappealweaddresstwoprimaryissues:(1)whetheranindigentpartyis  liableforpaymentofoutstandinglitigationtaxesleviedunderTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection674602(1998),and(2)whethertheTennesseeDepartmentof   Correctionhadauthoritytowithdrawmoneyfromaninmatestrustaccounttopaya l d distresswarrant.Forthereasonsstatedherein,weholdthatindigentpartiesbecome 80 liableforlitigationtaxeswhentaxedbythecourtandthattheTennesseeDepartment   ofCorrectionhastheauthoritytodeductmoneyfromaninmatetrustfundtosatisfya   distresswarrant.WeaffirmthejudgmentoftheCourtofAppeals.      BACKGROUND  4,  Theappellant,LamarFletcher,isaninmateintheColdCreekCorrectional  FacilityinHenning,Tennessee.InOctoberof1996,theappellantfiledalawsuitinthe  DavidsonCountyChanceryCourt,andalitigationtaxintheamountof$23.75was ph assessedagainsthim.Duetotheindigenceoftheappellant,thechancellorallowed < 4 theappellanttoproceedinformapauperis,andtheappellantneverpaidthelitigation " tax.=  #  1      #Xx@XXXX2g #XX2XXXx@Ԁ #   Upontheappellantsfailuretopaythelitigationtax,theClerkandMasterofthe l'd $ DavidsonCountyChanceryCourtissuedadistresswarrantpursuanttoTennessee 8)0"& CodeAnnotatedsection674215forcollectionofthetax.OnJuly15,1997,thelocal +#( sheriffpresentedtheaccountantclerkattheColdCreekCorrectionalFacilitywiththe ,%* distresswarrant,andtheclerkdeducted$44.90fromtheappellantsinmatetrustfund .', accounttosatisfythewarrant. 4  #  2       h0`).   TheappellantthenfiledaclaimagainsttheStateofTennesseewiththe  TennesseeClaimsCommissionallegingthatofficersoftheDepartmentofCorrection   (TDOC)abusedtheirauthorityandmisappliedstatelawbyremovingthelitigationtax l d andothermoniesfromhistrustaccount.TheStatefiledamotionforsummary 80 judgmentwiththeClaimsCommissionallegingthatnogenuineissueofmaterialfact   existedandthatitwasentitledtojudgmentasamatteroflaw.TheClaims   CommissiongrantedtheStatesmotionfindingthattheappellantwasliableforthe   litigationtaxesandthatthewithdrawalofthemoneyfromtheaccountwasauthorized h` bystatute. 4,  TheappellantthensoughtreviewintheCourtofAppeals,whichaffirmedthe  grantofsummaryjudgmentinfavoroftheState.Theappellantnowappealstothis  CourtarguingthatindigentlitigantsarenotliableforlitigationtaxesunderTennessee d\ SupremeCourtRule29andthattheofficersfromtheDepartmentofCorrectionlacked 0 ( authoritytoremovethemoneyfromhisinmatetrustaccount.Wedisagreeandaffirm ! thejudgmentoftheCourtofAppeals. #    ANALYSIS  `'X $ ? TheappellantarguesthatSupremeCourtRule29relievesindigentlitigants +#( fromtheresponsibilityofpayinglitigationtaxes.Rule29statesinrelevantpartthat ,%*   X PursuanttoT.C.A.20-12-127(a),anycivilactionmaybecommencedby /z(- aresidentofthisstatewithoutgivingsecurityasrequiredbylawforcosts h0`). andwithoutthepaymentoflitigationtaxesduebyfilingtheoathofpoverty N1F*/ setoutinthestatuteandbyfilinganaffidavitofindigencyasprescribedby 42,+0 courtrule. 3,1   4,2  X  WenotethatneithertheplainlanguageofthisRule,northeplainlanguageof  TennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection2012127(a)(Supp.1999),  #  3      ׀contemplatesthat   indigentlitigantsarepermanentlyrelievedfromtheirresponsibilitytopaylitigation   taxes.Rather,Rule29andsection2012127(a)onlycontemplatethatanindigent l d litigantwillnotbedeniedaccesstothecourtstocommenceacivilactionsolely 80 becauseofaninabilitytopaylitigationtaxes.    TheappellanthasoverlookedTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection2012   127(b),whichstripsawayanymerittohisargumentonthispoint.Thissectionstates h` that [t]hefilingofacivilactionwithoutpayingthecostsortaxesorgivingsecurityfor 4, thecostsortaxesdoesnotrelievethepersonfilingtheactionfromresponsibilityfor  thecostsortaxesbutsuspendstheircollectionuntiltaxedbythecourt.Tenn.Code  Ann.2012127(b)(Supp.1999).Wherethelanguageofastatuteisplainand  unambiguous,thisCourtisnotatlibertytoapplyaconstructionapartfromthewords d\ ofthestatute.SeeHawksv.CityofWestmoreland,960S.W.2d10,16(Tenn.1997). 0 ( Wecannotconceiveofanystatutethatcouldbemoreclearorunambiguous,and ! accordingtotheplainlanguageofthestatute,anindigentlitigantisneverpermanently #  relievedfromthedutyofpayinglitigationtaxes,althoughsuchpaymentmaybe %" deferred.Consequently,theappellantsargumentiswithoutmerit. `'X $  Theappellantalsocontendsthatbecauseofhisindigence,theTDOCwas *#( withoutauthoritytowithdrawfundsfromhisinmatetrustaccounttopaythedistress ,%* warrant.Wedisagree.TennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection2012144(a)(1994) .', statesthattheclerkofthecourttowhomalitigationtaxisowed mayretainanagent \0T). tocollectorinstituteproceedingstocollectsuchcostortaxes,orboth.#Xx@XXXX2#XX2XXXx@Onemethod (2 +0 bywhichaclerkmaycollectoutstandinglitigationtaxesisthroughissuanceofa  distresswarrantthatisaddressedanddeliveredtothesherifforconstableofthe  countyinwhich propertyofsuchtaxpayermaybefound.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.   6711201(b)(1998).Oncethesherifforconstablereceivesthedistresswarrant,that l d officermay executeitbydistraintandsaleofpersonalpropertybelongingtothe 80 taxpayer.Seeid.6711202(a)(1998).    Noexceptionismadeineitherofthesestatutesthatwouldexemptindigent   personsfromexecutionofadistresswarrant.Indeed,toimplysuchanexceptionin h` thestatutewouldhavetheeffectofrelievingindigentpersonsfromresponsibilityfor 4, paymentoflitigationtaxes,andtheGeneralAssemblyhasclearlyindicatedthatno  personispermanentlyrelievedfrompaymentofcourtcostsorlitigationtaxes.See  id.2012127(b).#Xx@XXXX2O+# XX2XXXx@Althoughadifferentcasemaybepresentedifthedistresswarrant  werefaciallyinvalidorotherwiseillegal,theappellantsargumentthathisindigence d\ aloneaffectsthevalidityofthewarranthasnomerit.Becausetheappellantisnot 0 ( relievedfromtheresponsibilityofpayingthelitigationtaxes,wesimplyfailtoseeany ! reasonwhytheTDOCwouldlackauthorityinthiscasetodeductlitigationtaxesfrom #  theappellantsinmatetrustfunduponreceiptofthedistresswarrant.#Xx@XX XX2R0#XX2XXXx@ %"  #Xx@XXXX22# XX2XXXx@TheCourtofAppealsreliedonTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection674 ,)$"& 603(b)(1)toholdthattheTDOChadtheauthoritytosatisfythedistresswarrantfrom *#( thefundsoftheinmatetrustaccount.Theplainlanguageofthisstatute,however, ,%* seemstorestrictitsapplicabilitytocollectionoflitigationtaxesfroma defendantina .', criminalaction.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.674603(b)(1)(1998).Becausethe \0T). appellantisnotchallenginglitigationtaxesassessedagainsthimoriginatingfromhis (2 +0 originalcriminalconviction,section674603(b)(1)hasnobearingontheresolutionof 3,2 thisissue.#Xx@XX XX2K3#XX2XXXx@Ԁ 5.4   CONCLUSION   6 Weholdthatneitheroftheappellantsclaimshasanymerit.TennesseeCode   Annotatedsection2012127(b)clearlystatesthatindigencedoesnotrelievealitigant x p fromtheresponsibilityofpayingallapplicablelitigationtaxes.Wefurtherholdthatthe D< TDOCactedwithinitsauthorityindeductingthetaxesfromtheinmatestrustfund   uponreceivingthedistresswarrant.ThejudgmentoftheCourtofAppealsisaffirmed.    Costsofthisappealaretaxedtotheappellant,LamarFletcher,forwhich tl executionshallissueifnecessary. @8   0      8      @      H!  #   0      8   ________________________________    0      8   WILLIAMM.BARKER,JUSTICE  CONCUR: VN ANDERSON,C.J., "! DROWOTA,BIRCH,HOLDER,JJ.#Xx@XXXX26#