WPC$ _pWxH9ngQQ#jl9bRjoIVXm¥;v7jp S)D}u[Ƶ}B O]M ?*&Y צּr}p.Iv )݂L&lԐڪjf Eg. xMS@Re~(M~u\|AUQF*c=Թ3#|/} $v=TwZD{- -rK)35N>c Fn`oX_)Q&?E UFU \ 1 (UF+\qUF]UFpUFNUF1*]2UF' AQmi 0D 0D1! 0Du! B!! D/" B!#># D3B$U:u$HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh X _  7Q$X  X>XX X `   1    Theplaintiffisservinganeffectivesentenceoflife   imprisonmentplustwentyfiveyearsforfirstdegreemurder,attemptedfirstdegreemurder,andconspiracytocommitfirstdegreemurder.(!$ X      8XXdXXd8XXX Xu[%P 3|x < 9Z .Courier New Regular<4 9Z .Courier New Regular((3$$ !! X      7>uXXdd7X>uXX X   `   0  (#$  0  (   [ D [       D [  [ E  D b U U E  {    D D  D D [ [  D - D Ӏ <4 9Z .Courier New Regular<4 9Z .Courier New RegulardM%< ,9Z 0Courier (W1) RegularU<4 9Z+.Courier New Regular R  $$X  X>uXX X `   3    Tenn.CodeAnn.4030201etseq.(Supp.1996).Thetrial   courtdeniedthepetition;ithasbeenarguedandisnowunderconsiderationbytheCourtofCriminalAppeals. '  7Q$X  X>XX X `   2    Morganisnotapartytothisappeal.Hisapplicationfor   permissiontoappealwasdismissedbyorderofthisCourtonDecember8,1997.   7Q$X  XNeXX X `   6    _Thestatuteoflimitationsquestionaddressedbytheseother   jurisdictionsiswhetherthelimitationsperiodbeginstorunupontheoccurrenceoftheprofessionalconductgivingrisetothemalpracticecaseorwhetherthestatuteistolleduntilthecriminaldefendantspostconvictionmatterhasbeensuccessfullylitigated.<4 9Z .Courier New Regular R  7Q$X  X>XX X `   3    Tenn.CodeAnn.4030201etseq.(Supp.1996).Thetrial   courtdeniedthepetition;ithasbeenarguedandisnowunderconsiderationbytheCourtofCriminalAppeals.<4 9Z .Courier New Regular S  7Q$X  X>XX X `   4    Asgrounds,theplaintiffsuggestedthe inherentconflict   andpossibleprejudiceinproceedinginthemalpracticecasepriortotheconclusionofthepostconvictionmatter.<4 9Z .Courier New Regular   7Q$X  X>XX X `   5    Whisnantwasacivilactionfiledbyaninmateforthereturn   ofsomepersonalproperty.AlthoughweknowthatWhisnantwasconvictedofarmedrobberyandconcealingstolenproperty,weareunabletodeterminehiseffectivesentence.<4 9Z .Courier New Regular   7Q$X   X>XX X `   6    _Thestatuteoflimitationsquestionaddressedbytheseother   jurisdictionsiswhetherthelimitationsperiodbeginstorunupontheoccurrenceoftheprofessionalconductgivingrisetothemalpracticecaseorwhetherthestatuteistolleduntilthecriminaldefendantspostconvictionmatterhasbeensuccessfullylitigated.<4 9Z .Courier New Regular '  $$X  X>uXX X `   2    Morganisnotapartytothisappeal.Hisapplicationfor   permissiontoappealwasdismissedbyorderofthisCourtonDecember8,1997.   7Q$X  &X>XX X `   7    TotheextentthatWhisnantcanbeinterpretedasmandating   anautomaticstayinthesecases,itisoverruled. S  $$X  X>uXX X `   4    Asgrounds,theplaintiffsuggestedthe inherentconflict   andpossibleprejudiceinproceedinginthemalpracticecasepriortotheconclusionofthepostconvictionmatter.   7Q$X  XNeXX X `   5    Whisnantwasacivilactionfiledbyaninmateforthereturn   ofsomepersonalproperty.AlthoughweknowthatWhisnantwasconvictedofarmedrobberyandconcealingstolenproperty,weareunabletodeterminehiseffectivesentence.<4 9Z .Courier New Regular(*+,/C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 _  $$X  X>uXX X `   1    Theplaintiffisservinganeffectivesentenceoflife   imprisonmentplustwentyfiveyearsforfirstdegreemurder,attemptedfirstdegreemurder,andconspiracytocommitfirstdegreemurder.(3$ !  (3$ !  ($$   1   d   7Q$X  XNeXX X `   7    TotheextentthatWhisnantcanbeinterpretedasmandating   anautomaticstayinthesecases,itisoverruled.00' dxdP Pd *"  3X$eXX X3;"X3X$e   Ad FILED3X$eX3;"  December21,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAh ----'dxd,cAZ"Arial Regular !! X      7>uXXdd7X>uXX X   _ =NeXXdd= X>uXXX>u  TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T7>uXXdXXd7   X>uXXX>u XXX  r'12<,(j 8` `@E  ` 8ttxPX  r         t'12>.*jx ` `@EX ` 8ttxP@8 tߛ @DINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE@tt)DATKNOXVILLEJORGEARIELSANJINES)FORPUBLICATION `     h     ) ` PlaintiffAppellee    )FILED:  DECEMBER   DECEMBER    21  1  4  _________ _ ,1998#X>uXX X>u# X>uXXX>uԀ 2   `     h     )v. `     h     )HAMILTONCOUNTY j   `     h     )ORTWEINANDASSOCIATES,P.C.,  )HON.DOUGLASA.MEYER,   WILLIAMH.ORTWEIN,and    ) p JUDGE,sittingbyinterchange `  J.CRISHELTON   h     ) 6 #X>uXX X>uP# X>uXXX>u `     h     )NO.03S019712CV00139#X>uXX X>u# X>uXXX>u   ЀDefendantsAppellants)ForAppellee:   h      p ForAppellants: H  J.ARIELSANJINES,M.D.     p SAMUELR.ANDERSON !h Prose    h      p SHANEUSARY ">  `     h      p Chattanooga,TN `     h      p @,DOPINION ,F") REVERSED    h      p      x  BIRCH,J. .5*3 #X>uXX X>uw #2  6x+4p     $XX XXX$  X>uXXX>uJorgeArielSanjines,M.D.,theplaintiff,iscurrently   inthecustodyoftheDepartmentofCorrection.#X>uXX X>u # X>uXXX>u )   #  1      #X>uXX X>ut #ԀOnFebruary12, 8  1996,theplaintifffiledaprosecomplaintalleginglegal  X malpracticeagainstOrtwein&Associates,WilliamOrtwein,J.CrisHelton,andJohnMorgan, !   #  2      כtheattorneyswhohadpreviously H representedhiminacriminalproceeding.Theessentialallegationofthiscivilactionwasthattheattorneyshadbeenillpreparedandhadfailedtorepresenttheplaintiffadequately.These shortcomings,healleged,forcedhimtoenterguiltypleastofirstdegreemurder,attemptedfirstdegreemurder,andconspiracytocommitfirstdegreemurder.Thetrialcourtgrantedsummaryjudgmenttotheattorneysbecausetheplaintifffailedtofileanyresponsetotheirmotionsforsummaryjudgment.Onthesamedaythattheplaintifffiledthemalpracticecase,healsofiledapro T  sepetitionunderthePostConvictionProcedureAct. 2 2  #  3      ׀Init,the  " plaintiffallegedthathedidnotreceivetheeffectiveassistanceofcounselintheabovedescribedcriminalproceeding.̜     ̛@/DI Atissuehereiswhetherthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretioninrefusingtogranttheplaintiffsmotiontostay -@#* proceedingsinthemalpracticecaseuntiltheconclusionofthepostconvictionmatter. X>uXXX>u $   #  4      #X>uXX X>u#ԀTheCourtofAppealsconcludedthatthe 8  refusalconstitutedanabuseofdiscretion.Forthereasonsstatedherein,wefindnoabuseofdiscretionandconcludethatthetrialcourtproperlyrefusedtostaytheproceedingsinthemalpracticecase. Thematterbeforeusisasimpleinquiryintothetrialcourtsdiscretioninrefusingtostaythecivilaction.    Althoughframedinthecontextofsummaryjudgment,t hisisnotasummaryjudgmentissue.     T  heplaintiffdoesnotcontestthetrialcourtsgrantofsummaryjudgment ; , however,hechallengesthedenialofhismotiontostay.  Thus,ourreviewisnotunderthedenovostandardprescribedforapplicationin  summaryjudgmentcases.SeeCarvellv.Bottoms,900S.W.2d23,26 T  (Tenn.1995).Instead,questionsofstayorcontinuancearemattersentrustedtothesounddiscretionofthetrialjudge.    See    #  Blakev.PlusMark,Inc.,952S.W.2d413,415(Tenn.1997).An X%  appellatecourtcannotinterferewiththetrialcourtsdecisionunlesssuchdecisionconstitutesanabuseofdiscretionandcausesprejudicetothepartyseekingthestayorcontinuance.Id.;see \*& alsoRachelsv.Steele,633S.W.2d473,475(Tenn.App.1981). ,|!(  Thoughtheissueseemssimple,itiscomplicatedbytheproceduraltensionoccasionedbythemalpracticeandpost convictionclaimsmovingthroughthelegalsystematthesametime 2,(0 ondifferenttracksandbythefactthatthesameevidenceisrelevanttobothcases. X$XXXNe Theplaintiffcontendsthatheisconstitutionally  entitledtoanautomaticstayofthemalpracticecaseuntilthe   postconvictionmatterhasbeenconcluded.Incontrast,thedefendantsinsistthattheplaintiffsrighttoatrialdoesnotincludetherighttoavoidallpretrialmatters,suchassummaryjudgmentordismissalmotions,andthatthetrialcourtsrulinginthiscasewasappropriatebecausetheplaintiffhadanopportunitytorespondtothesummaryjudgmentmotionsbutfailedtodoso.Ϝ    II  #XNeXXX$?#XNeXXXNe Wefirstaddressthequestionoftheplaintiffsrightto  4 prosecuteacivilaction.InWhisnantv.Byrd,525S.W.2d152,153 l" (Tenn.1975), %   #  5      כweheldthataninmate hasaconstitutionalright $  toinstituteandprosecuteacivilactionseekingredressfor...thevindicationofany...legalright.Wenoted,however,thatsuchrightofactionis qualifiedandrestricted.Id.The )& qualificationaddressedbyWhisnantisthelimitedrightofinmates *< ( topresenttheircasesincourt.Whisnantheldthatabsentunusual t,!* circumstances,inmateswhofilecivilactionsunrelatedtothelegalityoftheirconvictions willnotbeaffordedtheopportunitytoappearincourttopresenttheircasesduringtheirprisonterms.Id.at154.Trialcourtsweredirectedtoholdsuch $3(2 mattersinabeyanceuntiltheinmateisreleasedfromprison,unlessan appropriatedirectiveisissuedrequiringtheattendanceoftheinmate.Id.  X  TheCourtofAppealssdecisioninthiscase,whilenotcitingWhisnant,followeditsrationaleinholdingthatthetrial \  courtabuseditsdiscretioninrefusingtostaythemalpracticecase.TheCourtofAppealsreasonedthatafailuretostaytheactionuntiltheconclusionofthepostconvictionproceedingwouldresultinprejudicetothejudicialprocess.Wecannotagree. WhiletheCourtinWhisnantwasconcernedwiththerights d ofinmatestofilecivilcomplaints,theCourtdidnotholdthatastayisnecessaryinallcivilactionsfiledbyincarceratedpersonsinordertopreventprejudicetothejudicialprocess.NeitherdidtheCourtholdthatsuchpersonshaveaconstitutionalrighttoastayoftheircivilactions.TheCourtwasconcernedonlywiththerightsandqualificationsofaninmatetoappearincourtfortrial.Whisnantdoesnotdiscusshowatrialcourt ($ shouldhandlepretrialmatterssuchasstaysofproceedingsininmatecivilactions.Thatisthequestionthrustuponustodaybythecaseundersubmission.#XNeXXXNe# XNeXXXNe X XNe -#* # (##XNeX(#  III   Beforediscussinghowatrialcourtshouldhandleaninmatesclaimforlegalmalpractice,wemustexaminethedifferencesbetweenacivilactionallegingmalpracticeontheonehandandapostconvictionactionallegingineffectiveassistance \9.8 ofcounselontheother.Whiletheconductunderlyingbothmaybeidentical,thecausesofactionaredistinctive.Amalpracticecaseisapurecivilclaimfordamages.Anineffectiveassistanceofcounselclaim,however,arisesinthecontextofacriminalproceedingandsuggeststhatbecauseofthedeprivationofthepetitionersconstitutionalrighttocounselX$XXXNe,thepetitioneris,in \  theusualcase,entitledtoanewtrial.  Theelementsthatmustbeprovedarealsodifferent.  񛀀Theplaintiff#XNeXXX$+#Ԁinamalpracticecasemustprovethattheattorneys D conductfellbelowthatdegreeofcare,skill,anddiligencewhichiscommonlypossessedandexercisedbyattorneyspracticinginthe_samejurisdiction.Spaldingv.Davis,674S.W.2d710,714(Tenn. H 1984),    overruledonothergroundsby   Meadowsv.State,849S.W.2d h 748,752(Tenn.1993).Inaddition,theplaintiffmustdemonstrateanexusbetweenthenegligenceandtheinjury.LazySevenCoal L# Sales,Inc.v.Stone&_Hines_,P.C.,813S.W.2d400,406(Tenn. $l  1991). Incontrast,thepetitionerinanineffectiveassistanceofcounselclaimmustprovethatcounselsperformancewasdeficientandthatthedeficiencycausedprejudice.Henleyv. T-"* State,960S.W.2d572,579(Tenn.1997);Stricklandv.Washington, /t$, 466U.S.668,687,104S.Ct.2052,2064,80L.Ed.2d674,693(1984).Toproveadeficiency,thepetitionermustshowthatcounselsactsoromissionsweresoseriousastofallbelowanobjectivestandardofreasonablenessunderprevailingprofessionalϜnorms.  Henley,960S.W.2dat579;Goadv.State,938S.W.2d363, \7,6 369(Tenn.1996);seealsoBaxterv.Rose,523S.W.2d930,936 9|.8 (Tenn.1975).Moreover,toproveprejudice, apetitionermustshowthatthereisareasonableprobabilitythat,butforcounsels 8  unprofessionalerrors,theresultoftheproceedingwouldhavebeendifferent.Goad,938S.W.2dat370(emphasisadded)(quoting  Strickland,466U.S.at694,104S.Ct.at2068,80L.Ed.2dat < 698). Becausethe  elements  forlegalmalpracticeandineffectiveassistanceofcounselaredifferent,wecannotagreewith_theplaintiffthatthemeresimultaneousprosecutionoftheseclaimsresultsinaninherentconflictmandatingastayofpretrialproceedings.Thus,theCourtofAppealserredinfindingthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretionbyrefusingtogrant_theplaintiff_Ԁastayofthemalpracticecase.  IV   Ourdecisiontodayshouldnotbeconstruedasprohibitingthetrialcourt,inanappropriatecase,fromstayingalegalmalpracticeactionduringthependencyofapostconvictionmatterallegingineffectiveassistanceofcounsel.Forguidanceastowhichcasesshouldbestayedandwhichcasesshouldbeallowedtoproceed,weturntootherjurisdictions. Manyofoursisterstateshaveconsideredthisveryquestion.See,e.g.,Shawv.State_Dept_ԀofAdmin.,816P.2d1358, X4)2 1360(Alaska1991);_Gebhart_Ԁv._ORourke_,510N.W.2d900,905(Mich. 6x+4 1994).Thesecasesdifferfromthecaseundersubmission,however,becausetheyweredecidedinthecontextofastatuteof \9.8 limitationsquestion.    #  6      ׀Althoughwearenotfacedwithsucha   questionhere,wefindthattheconcernsraisedbythesecourtsprovideameasureofguidance.Thoseconcernsinclude:8 8 (1) h whetherastaywouldpromote f judicialeconomyandtheconservationofjudicialresourcesbyreducingtheduplicationoflegalissuestobelitigated;  an      and    񀀀 xx 8 8     (2) h    whetheracriminaldefendant H withalikelihoodofsuccessonthemeritsofapostconvictionreliefclaimwillbedistractedbythesimultaneousprosecutionofalegalmalpracticeclaim;and xx 8 8 (3) h  whethertheattorneydefending j  alegalmalpracticeclaimislikelytorevealprivilegedorotherevidencethatmighthurtthecriminaldefendantschancesforpostconvictionrelief. xx b;Courtsshouldconsiderthesefactorsonacasebycasebasis,whileatthesametimeweighingthecompetinginterestsoftheinmatepetitionerandtheattorneydefendant. Inweighingthesecompetinginterests,thetrialcourtshouldalsoconsiderwhethertherearealternativestoastaythatwillstillprotectthepartiesinterests.Forexample,thetrialcourtshouldexaminethefollowingtypesoftrialmanagementtechniques:  8 8 (1)0hxxthefeasibilityofproceeding &+ ' by     affidavitor    deposition; hxhx 8 8 (2)0hxxthepossibilityofaccelerating -#* onecase;      and     hxhx 8 8 (3)0hxxthecreativeuseof *0%- stipulations ;and hxhx 8 8 (4)0hxxtheuseofvideotaped <  testimony . hxhx @ 1J'/ CTheuseofsuchtrialmanagementtechniquesisalsowithinthetrialcourtsdiscretion.  V   Accordingly,weholdthataninmatewhoistheplaintiffinalegalmalpracticecaseandwhocontemporaneouslyisthepetitionerinapostconvictionmatterinvolvingthesamefactsisnotentitledtoanautomaticstayofthemalpracticecaseuntiltheoutcomeofthepostconvictionmatter. . "  #  7      ׀Itiswithinthetrial   courtsdiscretiontodetermine,onacasebycasebasis,howtoeffectivelymovebothcasesthroughthesystematthesametime.Thus,inthecaseundersubmission,wereversetheCourtofAppealssholdingthatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretioninrefusingtograntastayofthemalpracticecase.        Accordingly,were     instatethesummaryjudgment.       ̜   CostsofthisappealaretaxedagainstSanjines,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.̜  ̜  4 *2      h      p ______________________________    h      p ADOLPHOA.BIRCH,JR.,Justice̜ Panel:  CONCUR: Anderson,C.J.Drowota,Holder,JJ.   <6+4