ÿWPC› …# VU:a %› 04¡4Õé 0xø 0Dp ´ w@¼ 0Jü 0TF 0^š 0hø 0r` 0|Ò 0†N 0Ô 1ud U,Ù 0dU,iU*• B¿B)ÜDC AMH#•z¸ D32v~evÓã 0@¶ AOöÆE 0D  D/O B~˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 ,†r‰AZ‹"Arial RegularX( ¤U$¡¡Ó  ÓA‚k tÔôÔô3|xÜ (((3ÝÙ$¤¤Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó È PÉ PÊ DË Ì Í DÎ eÏ bÐ Ó€Ü 2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Arial d% Line 7 d%%%%7Border 1dd€-&Cþÿ << Gÿÿ Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€#XÔÌÌò òMarch€25,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€#ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó pÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝBecause€jurors€only€rarely€become€involved€in€such€crimes€or€accidents€òòafteróóÏthey€à àhave€been€empaneled,€nearly€all€of€the€cases€concerning€the€duty€to€examineÏfor€à àimpartiality€„„€including€those€cited€herein€„„€concern€òòprospectiveóó€jurors.€€TheseÏà àcases€are€cited€only€for€the€proposition€that€jurors€must€be€examined€as€to€theirÏà àimpartiality€if€they€are€involved€in€a€similar€crime€or€accident.€€Ì$$$$'ÿÿdxdPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA: T Monaco ÒÒ  BA: T Monaco Ò("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€""X„d&ÓÑ#€""Xd#ÑÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÑ , ÑÑ ` ÑÑ7€7ÏXXdædÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\Ñ›à@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€JACKSON€ÌÙ€€ÙœßL€'(&;+'h|\ûÀ` Å `€€Lß›ÌÌÌÌTHELMA€J.ÏRICKETTS,à àà àà à)à àà àòòFOR€PUBLICATIONóóÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àà àà àà àà àà àà àPlaintiff„Appellee,à àà àà à)à à€€€€€€€€ÏFiled:€€€March€25,€1996Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àà àà àà àÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àà àSHELBY€CIRCUITà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌJUNE€CARTER,à àà àà àà à)à àHon.€George€H.€Brown,€Jr.,€JudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant„Appellant.à àà à)à àNo.€02S01„9505„CV„00036Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌòòFor€Plaintiff„Appelleeóó:à àà àà àòòFor€Defendant„Appellantóó:ÌÌTimothy€A.€Ryan,€IIIà àà àà àReid€PhillipsÌMemphis,€Tennesseeà àà àà àMemphis,€TennesseeÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àMichael€L.€RobbÌà àà àà àà àà àà àJohn€H.€DotsonÌà àà àà àà àà àà àThomason,€Hendrix,€Harvey,€JohnsonÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€&€MitchellÌà àà àà àà àà àà àMemphis,€TennesseeÌà@ àÔ€#„ÔÌÌà@ àO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ€#XÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àÌÓÓ€€COURT€OF€APPEALS€REVERSED.à àà àà àà àà àDROWOTA,€J.ÌÌà àIn€this€personal€injury€case€stemming€from€an€automobile€accident,€theÏdefendant,€June€Carter,€appeals€from€the€Court€of€Appeals'€affirmance€of€the€trialÏcourt's€denial€of€her€motion€for€new€trial.€€This€case€presents€the€following€issueÏfor€our€determination:€whether€the€trial€court€erred€by€refusing€to€inquire€into€aÏsworn€jurorððs€impartiality€after€that€juror€had€been€involved€in€automobileÏaccident€on€her€way€to€court,€and€had€received€injuries€similar€to€those€incurredÏby€the€plaintiff.€€€We€conclude€that€the€trial€court€did€err€in€refusing€to€so€inquire,Íand€we€therefore€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€and€remand€thisÏcase€for€a€new€trial.Ìà àÌÓ  Óòòò òFACTS€AND€PROCEDURAL€HISTORYó óóóÌÓ  ÓÌà àOn€January€8,€1989,€Thelma€Ricketts,€the€plaintiff,€was€a€passenger€in€aÏcar€being€driven€by€her€husband,€Jimmie€Ricketts.€€As€the€Ricketts€wereÏproceeding€across€a€bridge,€a€car€approaching€from€the€opposite€direction,Ïdriven€by€the€defendant,€June€Carter,€hit€a€patch€of€ice€and€spun€out€of€control.€ÏCarter€crashed€into€the€Ricketts,€destroying€both€vehicles.€€Thelma€RickettsÏreceived€injuries€to€her€throat,€back,€arm€and€neck€from€the€collision.ÌÌà à€The€Ricketts€subsequently€brought€a€lawsuit€against€Carter,€alleging€thatÏshe€was€negligent€in€the€operation€of€her€car.€€The€trial€in€this€case€began€onÏSeptember€27,€1993,€and€by€the€end€of€the€following€day,€both€sides€had€rested.€ÏThe€parties€agreed€to€return€the€next€day,€September€29,€to€present€closingÏarguments.ÌÌà àOn€the€morning€of€September€29,€one€of€the€jurors,€Amanda€Smith,€wasÏinvolved€in€a€car€accident€while€enroute€to€the€courthouse.€€Because€thisÏaccident€prevented€Smith€from€reaching€the€courthouse€at€the€scheduled€time,Ïthe€trial€court€asked€the€plaintiff's€counsel€if€he€would€like€to€continue€with€elevenÏjurors.€€The€plaintiff's€counsel€declined€this€invitation,€preferring€instead€to€wait€forÏSmith's€arrival.€€Upon€Smith's€arrival,€defense€counsel€asked€that€the€trial€courtÏinquire€as€to€the€circumstances€of€the€accident,€or€alternatively,€that€defenseÏcounsel€be€allowed€to€do€so.€€The€following€colloquy€between€the€trial€court€andÏthe€defense€counsel€took€place€concerning€this€request:€€ÌÌÓÓà8 àDefense€counsel:€I€need€to€voir€dire€her€and€get€the€circumstances,Ïsince€we're€trying€the€case.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€What€are€you€going€to€voir€dire?ÌÌà8 àDefense€counsel:€One€of€the€questions€of€the€voir€dire€was€„„€wasÏshe€in€an€accident?ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€At€the€time€that€you€asked€it,€she€wasn't.ÌÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€Well,€now€she€has€been€in€one€before€we€get€toÍdecide€this€case.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€You€have€got€a€choice.€€You€go€with€12€or€you€go€withÏ11.€à8 àÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€I€don't€have€any€choice.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€I'm€not€going€to€let€you€voir€dire.€€You€don't€have€a€rightÏto€voir€dire€anymore.€ÌÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€I€am€just€saying€I€don't€have€a€choice.€€HeÏdecides€to€go€for€12.€€I€might€go€for€11.Ìà8 àÌà8 àThe€Court:€What€I€am€saying€is,€she€has€been€in€an€accident.€€If€sheÏcan€walk€in€here€on€crutches,€or€whatever,€and€discharge€her€duty,€IÏam€not€going€to€let€you€voir€dire€her€on€what€happened€thisÏmorning.€ÌÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€I€wouldn't€think€that€would€do€any€harm,€becauseÏwe€don't€know€what€the€circumstances€were,€and€that's€somethingÏthat€we€voir€dired€very€carefully,€about€the€circumstances€of€theÏaccident.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€What€if€the€circumstances€are€such€that€you€regrettedÏasking€her,€what€are€you€going€to€do€then?€€Are€you€going€toÏchallenge€her€now?€€What€power€„„€what€can€you€do?ÌÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€€I€don't€know€what€the€circumstances€are,€but€IÏthink€that€it's€„„€I€would€just€submit€to€the€Court€that€we€at€least€beÏable€to€just€ask€about€it€to€see€what€the€circumstances€were.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€Your€asking€has€to€have€some€effect,€Mr.€Robb.€€YouÏcannot€now€strike€the€juror,€so€what€good€does€it€do€to€ask?ÌÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€I€don't€know€that€we€can't€strike€her.€€I've€neverÏbeen€in€this€situation€before,€to€tell€you€the€truth.ÌÌà8 à...ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€let's€bring€the€juror€out,€just€the€one€that€was€late€coming.ÌÌà8 à...ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€Good€morning.€Ms.€Smith.€€I€understand€that€you€were€inÏan€accident€this€morning.ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€€Yes€sir.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€Were€you€injured?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€€No.€€It's€just€that€my€neck€was€hurting€or€is€hurting.€€ItÏstill€is.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€Your€leg€is€hurting?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€No,€neck.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€Your€neck€is€hurting.€€This€trial€is€expected€to€go€on€forÏthe€remainder€of€the€day€and€maybe€until€tomorrow.€€Is€thereÏanything€about€your€physical€condition€that€would€prevent€you€fromÏconcentrating€on€the€case?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€No.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€Are€you€sure?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€€Uh„huh.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€I'm€going€to€ask€you€the€same€question€again,€becauseÏwe€asked€all€the€jurors€in€the€beginning,€that€we€find€no€„„€is€thereÏanything€about€the€accident€that€might€prevent€you€fromÏconcentrating€on€this€case?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€No€sir.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€Is€there€anything€about€anything€that€has€occurred€in€theÏlast€„„€since€we€met€yesterday,€that€would€divert€you€time€andÏattention€from€this€case?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€No€sir.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€You€went€to€the€minor€emergency€room?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€€I€went€to€Methodist€South€off€Elvis€Presley.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€All€right.€€Did€they€find€anything€wrong?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€They€just€said€that€I€just€have€some€swelling€andÏtomorrow€I€would€be€pretty€sore.€€They€gave€me€some€kind€ofÏprescription€to€get€filled.€€They€said€that€I€was€okay.ÌÌà8 àThe€court:€All€right.€€Do€you€feel€that€you€are€okay?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€Uh„huh.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€€You€do?ÌÌà8 àJuror€Smith:€€Yes.ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€Okay.ÌÌà8 à(Whereupon,€the€juror€left€the€courtroom.)ÌÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€Could€your€Honor€ask€how€the€accidentÏhappened?ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€No,€I€am€not€interested€in€how€the€accident€happened.€€IÏam€not€interested€in€that.€€I'm€only€interested€in€whether€or€not€sheÏcan€discharge€her€duties€as€a€juror€to€the€two€parties.€€And€I€haveÏasked€enough€questions€to€satisfy€myself€that€she€is€under€noÏphysical€disabilities,€no€mental€disability.€€Her€mind€is€not€on€that.€ÏIt's€not€my€business€about€what€happened.€€I'm€not€going€to€ask€her,Ïand€I'm€not€going€to€allow€you€to€ask€her.ÌÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€The€problem€that€I€have€is€that€obviously€weÏhave€a€case€here€that€involves€neck€injuries.€€ÌÌà8 à...ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€You€picked€her€as€a€juror;€you€got€her.ÌÌà8 àDefense€Counsel:€I€know€I€picked€her,€but€I€didn't€pick€her€underÏthese€circumstances.ÌÌà8 à...ÌÌà8 àThe€Court:€I€am€through€with€this€issue;€that's€all.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àAfter€this€exchange€the€case€was€submitted€to€the€jury,€and€it€returned€aÏverdict€in€favor€of€the€plaintiff.€€The€defendant€then€moved€for€a€new€trial,€arguingÏthat€the€trial€court€had€erred€in€refusing€to€question€Juror€Smith€about€theÏaccident€in€order€to€determine€her€ability€to€decide€the€case€in€an€unbiasedÏmanner.€€The€trial€court€denied€this€motion,€and€the€defendant€appealed€to€theÏCourt€of€Appeals,€which€affirmed€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€We€granted€theÏdefendant's€application€for€permission€to€appeal€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11.ÌÌÓ  Óòòò òANALYSISó óóóÌÓ  ÓÌà àWe€begin€our€analysis€in€this€case€by€noting€several€undisputed,€germaneÏpropositions€of€law.€€First,€the€Tennessee€constitution€provides€that€the€right€ofÏtrial€by€jury,€as€that€right€existed€at€common€law,€shall€remain€inviolate.€€Tenn.ÏConst.€Art.€I,€ðð€6.€€One€of€the€primary€aspects€of€this€right€is€that€all€contestedÏfactual€issues€be€determined€by€an€unbiased,€impartial€jury.€€Indeed,€as€weÏstated€in€òòDurham€v.€Stateóó,€182€Tenn.€577,€188€S.W.2d€555,€558€(1945):€"at€theÏbasis€of€our€trial€system€stands€a€disinterested,€unprejudiced€jury€as€triers€of€fact,Ía€body€every€member€of€which€should€be€free€from€bias€and€prejudice€..."Ï(quoting€òòInternational€Agriculture€Corp.€v.€Willetteóó,€115€A.€170€(Me.€1921)).€ÏMoreover,€while€the€right€to€jury€trial€has€a€special€resonance€in€criminal€matters,Ïòòseeóó€òòState€v.€Boboóó,€814€S.W.2d€353,€356„58€(Tenn.€1991),€it€is€well„settled€that€aÏparty€in€a€civil€case€also€has€the€right€to€have€the€factual€issues€in€the€caseÏdetermined€by€a€fair€and€unbiased€jury.€€òòSeeóó€òòFinks€v.€Gillumóó,€38€Tenn.€App.€304,Ï273€S.W.2d€722,€726€(1954)(plaintiff€in€personal€injury€action€resulting€from€anÏautomobile€accident€has€constitutional€right€to€have€contested€factual€issuesÏdecided€by€an€impartial€jury);€òòSanti€v.€Duffeyóó,€40€Tenn.€App.€237,€290€S.W.2dÏ884,€887€(1956)(plaintiff€in€a€wrongful€death€action€resulting€from€an€automobileÏaccident€has€constitutional€right€to€have€contested€factual€issues€determined€byÏimpartial€jury).€€Finally,€it€is€well„settled€that€Tennessee€law€requires€the€trial€courtÏto€insure€the€impartiality€of€the€jury€by€discharging€jurors€who€are€unqualified.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€22„1„106€provides€that:ÌÌÓÓà8 àThe€court€may€discharge€from€service€a€grand€or€petit€juror€whoÏdoes€not€possess€the€requisite€qualifications,€or€who€is€exempt€orÏdisqualified€from€such€service,€or€for€any€other€reasonable€cause,€toÍbe€judged€by€the€court.€€òòThat€a€state€of€mind€exists€on€a€jurorððs€partóóÏtoward€law€enforcement€or€òòwhich€will€prevent€the€juror€from€actingÏimpartially€shall€constitute€such€causeóó.ÌÌ(Emphasis€added.)€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àWith€these€considerations€in€mind,€we€turn€to€the€question€presented€here:Ïshould€the€trial€court€have€examined€Juror€Smith€about€the€circumstances€of€herÏaccident€in€order€to€ascertain€whether€she€could€decide€the€case€in€a€fair€andÏunbiased€manner?€€Initially,€we€have€little€doubt€that€such€an€inquiry€is€highlyÏrelevant,€even€crucial,€to€the€goal€of€ferreting€out€bias€and€prejudice.€€ManyÏcourts,€in€both€the€criminal€and€civil€context,€have€concluded€that€when€a€jurorÏhas€been€involved€in€a€crime€or€accident€similar€to€the€one€at€issue€in€theÏlitigation,€the€trial€court€must€question€the€juror€to€determine€if€the€involvementÏwould€preclude€him€or€her€from€deciding€the€case€in€a€fair€and€unbiased€manner.€ÏFor€example,× ƒ) ××  ×€in€òòState€v.€Brooksóó,€868€P.2d€818€(Utah€App.€1994),€a€defendant€onÍtrial€for€burglary€argued€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€not€removing€for€cause€certainÏjurors€who€indicated€that€they€had€been€burglary€victims.€€In€its€analysis,€the€UtahÏCourt€of€Appeals€stated€that:ÌÌÓÓà8 àA€question€of€potential€bias€arises€when€a€prospective€juror€hasÏbeen€the€victim€of€a€similar€crime.€€When€such€a€question€arises,€theÏtrial€court€must€probe€to€determine€whether€the€prospective€juror€is,Ïin€fact,€impartial€despite€the€past€experience.€€This€is€generallyÏaccomplished€by€the€trial€court€simply€asking€if€the€juror€can€beÏimpartial.€€If,€after€probing€the€prospective€juror's€state€of€mind,€theÏtrial€court€is€satisfied€that€the€juror€can€view€and€weigh€the€evidenceÏimpartially,€the€inquiry€is€at€an€end.ÌÌòòBrooksóó,€868€P.2d€at€823€(citations€omitted.)€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àIn€applying€this€rule€to€the€facts€of€the€case€before€it,€the€òòBrooksóó€courtÏnoted€that€because€three€prospective€jurors€"indicated€that€they€all€had€beenÏvictims€of€similar€crimes,€...€a€question€of€bias€was€raised€with€respect€to€all€threeÏjurors."€òòIdóó.€The€court€concluded,€however,€that€the€trial€court€had€discharged€itsÏduty€of€determining€the€jurors'€impartiality€by€asking€the€following€four€questions:ÌÌÓÓà8 à[1]€If€you€or€a€member€of€your€family€were€involved€in€a€case€suchÏas€the€one€before€you,€would€you€be€willing€to€have€your€case€orÏtheirs€tried€by€eight€people€in€the€same€frame€of€mind€as€you€areÏnow€in?ÌÌà8 à[2]€Possessing€the€state€of€mind€that€you€have,€is€there€anything€thatÏwould€prevent€any€of€you€from€acting€fairly€and€impartially€withoutÏprejudice€to€the€substantial€rights€of€either€party€in€this€case?ÌÌà8 à[3]€Is€there€any€reason€known€to€any€of€you€why€you€could€not€tryÏthe€case€fairly€and€impartially€upon€any€evidence€and€without€anyÏbias€for€or€against€either€party€to€the€action?ÌÌà8 à[4]€From€your€answers,€I€understand€that€each€of€you€individuallyÏnow€declares€to€me€that€you€can€listen€attentively€to€the€evidence,Ïcan€apply€the€law€to€the€facts€which€you€may€find€to€exist€and€canÏreach€a€verdict€which€is€fair€and€impartial€as€to€each€party€in€thisÏcontroversy.€€are€there€any€of€you€who€for€any€reason€feel€that€youÏcannot?ÌÌòòIdóó.€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àSimilarly,€in€òòCommonwealth€v.€Fultonóó,€413€A.2d€742€(Pa.€Super.€Ct.€1979),Ïthe€Pennsylvania€Superior€Court€considered€the€trial€court's€refusal€to€permit€theÏdefendant,€on€trial€for€rape,€to€ask€prospective€jurors€whether€they€had€beenÏinvolved€with€a€rape€or€other€sexual€crime.€€In€concluding€that€the€trial€court'sÏrefusal€to€permit€such€questioning€constituted€reversible€error,€the€òòFultonóó€courtÍstated:ÌÌÓÓà8 àWe€think€it€clear€that€a€natural€adjunct€to€the€accused's€right€toÏprobe€for€prejudice€is€the€right€to€inquire€into€past€victimizationÏamong€the€jurors€of€crimes€similar€to€those€with€which€the€defendantÏis€accused.€€Thus,€a€defendant€charged€with€robbery€has€the€right€toÏask€the€veniremen€whether€they€or€any€member€of€their€familiesÏhave€ever€been€the€victim€of€robbery.€€Similarly,€the€accused,€onÏtrial€for€aggravated€assault,€may€ask€the€potential€jurors€if€they€haveÏbeen€the€victim€of€a€crime€in€the€nature€of€an€assault.€€ÌÌÓÓòòÌFultonóó,€413€A.2d€at€743€(citations€omitted.)€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòDavis€v.€Stateóó,€633€A.2dÏ867,€877€(Md.€1993)("where€parties€identify€an€area€of€potential€bias€andÏproperly€request€òòvoir€direóó€questions€designed€to€ascertain€jurors€whose€biasÏcould€interfere€with€their€ability€€to€fairly€and€impartially€decide€the€issues,€thenÏthe€trial€court€has€an€obligation€to€ask€those€questions€of€the€venire€panel.");ÏòòUnited€States€v.€Ramseyóó,€726€F.2d€601,€604€(10th€Cir.€1984)("[w]hen€a€party'sÏsuggestion€that€a€jury€is€biased€is€not€frivolous,€the€district€court€ordinarily€shouldÏundertake€an€adequate€inquiry€into€the€questions€of€whether€the€bias€actuallyÏexisted€and€whether€it€was€prejudicial.");€òòUnited€States€v.€Casselóó,€668€F.2d€969Í(8th€Cir.€1982)(trial€court's€refusal€to€ask€venirepersons€whether€they€had€been€aÏvictim€of€a€crime€unjustified).€ÌÌà àWe€agree€with€the€reasoning€of€the€above„cited€cases:€the€trial€court€inÏeither€a€civil€or€criminal€case€should€examine€jurors€regarding€their€involvementÏin€occurrences€similar€to€those€at€issue€in€order€to€ferret€out€potential€juror€bias.€ÏMoreover,€it€is€clear€that€the€trial€court€here€ran€afoul€of€this€generally„acceptedÏrule.€€The€questions€it€asked€Juror€Smith€did€not€address€the€subject€of€bias,€butÏwere€limited€to€ascertaining€whether€she€was€physically€and€mentally€able€toÏdischarge€her€duties€as€a€juror.€€Thus,€it€appears€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€soÏlimiting€the€questioning.€€ÌÌà àThe€plaintiff,€while€not€disputing€the€validity€of€the€general€rule,Ïnevertheless€contends€that€it€is€not€applicable€to€this€case.€€She€argues€that€sinceÏthe€jury€was€already€empaneled€when€the€accident€occurred,€the€trial€court€wasÏjustified€in€not€questioning€Juror€Smith€about€the€circumstances€of€the€accident.ÌÌà àThis€position€finds€no€support€in€Tennessee€law.€€€For€example,€in€òòGreen€v.ÏStateóó,€147€Tenn.€299,€247€S.W.€84€(1923),€a€criminal€case,€the€jury€had€beenÏduly€sworn€when€one€of€the€jurors€arose€from€his€place€in€the€jury€box€andÏinformed€the€trial€court€that€his€religious€faith€forbade€him€from€sitting€in€judgmentÏof€another€human€being.€€The€trial€court€then€asked€the€juror€"Do€you€mean€to€sayÏthat€if€the€proof€showed€the€man€guilty€as€provided€by€law,€that€you€would€notÏconvict€him?"€€The€juror€replied€"That's€right;€let€God€punish€him,€and€let€theÏwicked€punish€the€wicked."€€òòGreenóó,€247€S.W.€at€85.€€The€trial€court€thenÏdischarged€the€juror€and€appointed€an€alternate€in€his€place.€€The€defendantÏexcepted€to€this€action,€arguing€that€such€action€placed€him€in€double€jeopardy.€ÏThis€Court€approved€the€action€of€the€trial€court,€and€in€so€doing€quoted€theÏfollowing€language€from€the€Kansas€Supreme€Court:ÌÌÓÓà8 àIf€during€the€trial€the€court€should€learn€of€a€corrupt€influence€with€aÏjuror€or€that€through€some€outside€...€influence€one€of€the€jury€hadÏagreed€to€vote€for€conviction€regardless€of€the€testimony€it€would€beÏconceded€that€a€pressing€necessity€for€the€discharge€of€the€jury€hadÏoccurred.ÌÌà8 àWhen€a€juror,€as€in€this€case,€confesses€to€an€incurable€prejudiceÍwhich€disqualifies€him€from€exercising€the€functions€of€a€juror€orÏacting€impartially€as€between€the€parties,€a€continuance€of€the€trialÏwould€be€a€farce,€as€the€object€of€a€trial€„„€a€fair€and€impartial€verdictÏ„„€becomes€an€impossibility.€€After€learning€of€this€situation€by€aÏjudicial€inquiry€nothing€was€left€for€the€court€except€to€discharge€thatÏjury€and€empanel€another.ÌÌòòGreenóó,€247€S.W.€at€87„88(quoting€òòState€v.€Hansfordóó,€92€P.€551€(Kan.€1907)).ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àAs€òòGreenóó€and€other€recent€cases€illustrate,€see€òòOwen€v.€ArcataÏGraphics/Kingsport€Pressóó,€813€S.W.2d€442,€447„48€(Tenn.€App.€1990),€a€partyÏhas€the€right€to€challenge€a€juror€for€cause,€on€the€basis€of€a€lack€of€impartiality,Ïòòafter€the€jury€has€been€empaneled€or€even€after€the€verdict€has€been€renderedóó.€ÏTherefore,€the€plaintiffððs€argument€has€no€merit.€€€ÌÌÑ ° Ñœ›à àThe€plaintiff€alternatively€argues€that€since€the€evidence€supporting€theÏjury's€verdict€was€overwhelming,€the€error€committed€by€the€trial€court€wasÏharmless.€€We€have,€however,€recently€rejected€this€argument€in€the€criminalÏcontext.€€In€òòState€v.€Boboóó,€814€S.W.2d€353€(Tenn.€1991)(Drowota,€J.€dissenting),Ïwe€declined€to€subject€errors€affecting€the€constitutional€right€to€trial€by€jury€to€aÏharmless€error€analysis,€concluding€that€"such€violations€are€defects€in€theÏstructure€of€the€trial€mechanism€and€defy€analysis€by€harmless€error€standards."€ÏòòBoboóó,€814€S.W.2d€at€358.€€While€we€do€not€necessarily€conclude€that€all€errorsÍimpacting€the€right€to€trial€by€jury€have€the€same€effect€in€civil€as€in€criminalÏcases,€we€decline€to€speculate€as€to€what€effect,€if€any,€Juror€Smith's€involvementÏin€the€automobile€accident€had€on€the€jury's€deliberative€process.€€Thus,€weÏreject€the€plaintiff's€request€that€we€apply€harmless€error€analysis€here.€ÌÌà àIn€summation,€we€hold€that€after€a€jury€has€been€empaneled€and€a€jurorÏhas€been€involved€in€an€accident€similar€to€that€suffered€by€the€plaintiff,€the€trialÏcourt€should€inquire€into€the€jurorððs€impartiality.€€Such€an€inquiry€should€beÏlimited€to€issues€or€events€that€have€occurred€since€the€jury€was€empaneled.€€€ÏTherefore,€because€the€trial€court€here€failed€to€determine€whether€Juror€SmithÏcould€weigh€the€evidence€impartially,€the€judgment€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€isÏreversed€and€the€case€remanded€for€further€proceedings€in€accordance€with€thisÏopinion.€€€€ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà à______________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àFRANK€F.€DROWOTA€IIIÌà àà àà àà àà àJUSTICEÌÌÌConcur:ÌÌAnderson,€C.€J.ÌReid,€Birch,€White,€JJ.