ÿWPCR Z` ²ÅRßu÷ Ê ®h‚šyjž¬Ðƒ¸èÀðbJJS³…<æHȸ¶#­Ì­{/OA`"5í¯@Ô… Œ§h‡í:®Û·ï³o.Wî#XÇ“ µ$ä«vë¸ ?LÄñò„ ~bª®c:˜÷d‡dp™/ϼm²êTáêt|÷%™QÎÔ«Ú™7¡ïÍã‚dè7®‚‘P¶][±=zF€ä5Æ..Ä5wÂsž-…o¶++²TÝSÊP]ñ2Yn9õ³Ò­éëð˜árœÙ §¼½•îH®Må䦌mÏ‡ñÇdø^–ÖüÓŠôœ<Æ% œwGÈ-½]u«ö¡EÔÕlÌ€ž¼{ý’Çœ8Ôx)ô#‡€Þ¦[뻣0µÝ§º‰TaÃXA&Ïx -È–ú×õ×Fúê)¤/=Cª¸Lœ?Ƕ&üSüI¸Gú•ˆ|ø4 róM)07bŠ|a8ºØ"ò€8K±‰¦Ž©˜–‚"•Wj(Ž„”ŸD—ËuƒŽNÏ$Á÷mX°ð»Ô#©rO ÌvTglלŸ¿ÓàØb„‡½Ën4Z’Á‡ït Tx',á­±’f»KìèGåÑ rï.äÉ”Ãn^2DW#Á»ƒ %> 0:D UN~ UNÌ ^  w& 4* > M NO Q mÐÐÐWççç 0D>>E‚‚„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ 0©ŒŒŒŒ B5˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0 ±Ý ƒR–*$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€same€Georgia€Court€of€Appeals€that€authored€òòSmith€v.€Doeóó€would€apparently€agree.€€Inòòóó€òòKannady€v.€StateÐ ° ÐFarm€Mut.€Auto.€Ins.€Co.óó,€448€S.E.2d€374€(Ga.€Ct.€App.€1994),€the€court€was€faced€with€factsòòóó€remarkably€similar€to€thoseÐ tÄ Ðunder€consideration€here.€€The€plaintiff€was€aware€of€the€name€of€the€putative€driver,€Pannell,€and€attended€a€hearingÐ 8ˆ Ðin€which€Pannell€was€found€guilty€of€failing€to€render€assistance.€€The€record€contained€no€evidence€that€Pannell€deniedÐ üL Ðbeing€the€driver.€€The€court€concluded€on€these€facts€that€ð ðJohn€Doeðð€pleading€was€improper€despite€the€plaintiffððs€statedÐ À Ðinability€to€identify€the€driver€who€struck€her.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€at€376.€X(üœ$¡¡ÔUSUS.,Ô(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regularôz~) õ}|)L ªk3(Žª3|x uÝ ƒR–*$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡ô½òòô½ÔI€do€not€disagree€with€the€Georgia€Court€of€Appealsððs€decision€in€Ô#†ô½òòô½#ÔòòSmith€v.€Doeóó,€375€S.E.2d€477€(Ga.€Ct.€App.Ð ° Ð1988),€relied€upon€by€the€majority.€€In€that€case,€the€plaintiff€properly€named€as€a€defendantòòóó€a€person€reasonablyÐ tÄ Ðsuspected€of€being€the€driver€who€struck€his€car.€€In€addition,€the€plaintiff€named€ð ðJohn€Doe.ððòòóó€€òòóóSuch€alternative€pleadingÐ 8ˆ Ðmay€be€an€appropriate€way€both€to€protect€a€plaintiffððs€suit€and€to€comply€with€the€rules€of€pleading.€€AlternativeÐ üL Ðpleading€is€not€present€in€this€case,€however.€€Lipscomb€named€no€defendant€other€than€John€Doe.ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ MÝ ƒR–*$ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔDysonððs€claim€may€be€viewed€with€some€skepticism€as€it€is€arguably€self„serving.€Whomever€was€driving€theÐ ° Ðvehicle€was€the€least€likely€person€to€have€shot€Lipscomb.€€(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó (:G2–*$¤¤Ý ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô½òXXÔ dÝ ƒüœ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ‡Xá™XXXÔÑ  ÑÑ8€á™XdìdÈ8ÑÑ  Ñà@™ ™ ìàÔ‡îS”îXXá™ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†Xá™XîîS”¿#Ôˆà p àà È àà  àÐ Ö& ÐÓ  ÓÔ‡¼ME»XXá™ÔApril€11,€2000€SessionÐ üL ÐÌò òCASSANDRA€LYNN€Ô_ÔLIPSCOMBÔ_Ô€òòóóv.€JOHN€DOEó óÔ#†Xá™X»¼MEš#ÔÐ  p ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€by€Permission€from€the€Court€of€Appeals,€Western€SectionÐ  p ÐCircuit€Court€for€Shelby€CountyÐ  \ Ðà@@øøìàNos.€81763„8€T.D.€and€85203„8€T.D.€€€€€€Ô_ÔDððArmyÔ_Ô€Bailey,€JudgeÐ ø H ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<»` AßÐ ¼  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W1997„00132„SC„R11„CV€„€Filed€November€30,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ ·  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Ž` AßÐ ß  Ðó óÌÌÓ  ÓòòJanice€M.€Holder,óó€J.,€concurring€and€dissenting.Ô#†Xá™XXXá™=#ÔÔ‡Xá™XXXá™ÔÐ vÆ ÐÌÌà  àÔ_ÔLipscombÔ_Ô€has€failed€to€show,€as€required€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð56-7-1206(b),€that€the€driverÐ :Š Ðwho€struck€her€vehicle€was€unknown.€€I€would€therefore€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€Court€of€AppealsÐ &v Ðthat€Ô_ÔLipscombÔ_Ô€is€precluded€from€using€the€John€Doe€statute.€€I€would,€however,€hold€that€Ô_ÔLipscombÔ_ÔÐ b Ðis€not€required€to€show€that€the€driver€was€ð ðunknownðð€to€invoke€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð20-1-119.€€IÐ þN Ðwould€therefore€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€on€this€issue€and€remand€to€the€trialÐ ê: Ðcourt.€Ð Ö& ÐÌÔ  Ôà@99ìàòòThe€ð ðUnknownðð€RequirementóóˆÐ ®þ ÐÌà  àThe€majority€correctly€states€that€ð ð[Ô_Ôb]eforeÔ_Ô€a€plaintiff€may€recover€in€a€ððJohn€Doeðð€action€...Ð †Ö Ðthe€owner€or€operator€of€the€other€vehicle€must€be€ððunknown,ððò òó óòòóó€òòand€óóthe€plaintiff€must€satisfy€the€threeÐ r  Ðrequirements€listed€in€section€56-7-1201(e)€(1994).ðð€€(emphasis€added).€€Thus,€the€majority€initiallyÐ ^!®  Ðconcedes€that€anò ò€ó óð ðunknownðð€driverò ò€ó óis€a€separate€and€distinct€requirementò ò€ó óthat€must€be€metò ò€ó óbeforeÐ J"š! ÐJohn€Doe€filing€is€permitted.Ð :#Š" ÐÌà  àNevertheless,€the€majority€effectively€dispenses€with€the€threshold€ð ðunknownðð€requirementÐ %b $ Ðon€grounds€that€there€is€no€question€under€these€facts€that€the€other€statutory€requirements€areÐ þ%N!% Ðsatisfied:€Ð ê&:"& ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à[Ô_ÔB]ecauseÔ_Ô€the€plaintiff€took€reasonable€steps€to€discover€the€identityÐ Â($( Ðand€addresses€of€the€possible€drivers,€and€because€the€plaintiffÐ ®)þ$) Ðcommunicated€this€information€to€her€insurer€a€full€nine€monthsÐ š*ê%* Ðbefore€she€filed€suit,€we€conclude€that€the€plaintiff€properlyÐ †+Ö&+ Ðcommenced€suit€under€the€ð ðJohn€Doeðð€procedures€of€the€uninsuredÐ r,Â', Ðmotorist€statutes.Ð#^-®(-` x` x: #ÐÔ_Ô‡à  àAccordingly,€the€majority€treats€the€ð ðunknownðð€and€due€diligence€requirements€of€the€JohnÐ ° ÐDoe€statute€as€a€unitary€concept.€€The€statute,€however,€makes€no€provision€for€due€diligence€to€actÐ œì Ðas€a€substitute€for€the€requirement€that€the€driver€be€ð ðunknown.ðð€€The€statute€plainly€requires€thatÐ ˆØ Ðthe€driver€first€be€found€to€be€ð ðunknownðð€before€due€diligence€becomes€an€inquiry.€€òòóóThe€majorityððsÐ tÄ Ðview€converts€what€is€clearly€a€multi„prong€statute€into€a€balancing€test.Ð `° ÐÌà  àThis€case€implicates€construction€of€the€word€ð ðunknownðð€and€no€more.€€In€its€briefÐ 8 ˆ Ðdiscussion€of€the€meaning€of€the€word€ð ðunknown,ðð€the€majority€states,€ð ðAlthough€both€parties€in€thisÐ $ t Ðcase€have€apparently€narrowed€the€universe€of€possible€drivers€of€the€other€vehicle,€the€driver€stillÐ  ` Ðhas€not€been€positively€identified€and€he€remains€the€subject€of€some€dispute.ðð€€I€find€ð ðnot€positivelyÐ ü L  Ðidentifiedðð€and€ð ðsubject€to€some€disputeðð€to€be€exceedingly€generous€definitions€for€ð ðunknownððÐ è 8  Ðunder€the€uninsured€motorist€statutes.€€Under€these€definitions,òòóó€òòany€óódegree€of€ambiguity€as€to€theÐ Ô$  Ðother€driverððs€identity€would€necessarily€convert€a€garden„variety€automobile€accident€into€a€JohnÐ À  ÐDoe€case.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àLipscomb€stated€in€her€response€to€Amerisureððs€request€for€admissions,€ð ðI€honestly€belie[ve]Ð „Ô  Ðthat€Antonio€Chaney€was€driving€but€I€believe€in€Court€Cory€Dyson€said€he€was€driving.ðð€€TheÐ pÀ Ðmajority€apparently€finds€Dysonððs€claim€legally€sufficient€to€undermine€Lipscombððs€honest€beliefÐ \¬ Ðas€to€the€driverððs€identity.€€I€cannot€agree.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àThe€majority€also€points€to€the€ð ðunique€factsðð€of€this€case€as€somehow€justifying€itsÐ  p Ðconclusion.€€Lipscomb€professed€an€honest€belief€that€Chaney€was€the€driver.€€Chaney€has€not€deniedÐ  \ Ðthat€he€was€driving€the€vehicle.€€The€only€fact€that€undermines€Lipscombððs€belief€is€Dysonððs€claimÐ øH Ðthat€he€was€the€driver.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô#†Xá™XXXá™6#ÔÔ‡Xá™XXXá™Ô€€I€do€not€find€that€fact€so€unique€as€to€justify€the€majorityððs€holding.Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àI€would€hold€that€a€plaintiff€cannot€claim€a€driver€is€unknown€when€that€plaintiff€can€narrowÐ ¼  Ðthe€universe€of€potential€defendants€to€a€reasonable€number.€€In€such€cases,€the€course€most€closelyÐ ¨ø Ðaligned€with€the€spirit,€if€not€the€letter,€of€our€rules€of€procedure€would€be€for€a€plaintiff€to€name€inÐ ”ä Ðthe€complaint€all€reasonably€suspected€wrongdoers.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€Ô#†Xá™XXXá™#ÔÔ‡Xá™XXXá™ÔÐ €Ð ÐÌà  àThe€filing€of€a€John€Doe€complaint€is€essentially€an€assertion€to€the€court€that€the€identity€ofÐ X ¨ Ðthe€defendant€or€defendants€could€not€be€reasonably€ascertained.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€11.02€(ð ðByÐ D!” Ðpresenting€to€the€court€...€a€pleading€...,€an€attorney€or€unrepresented€party€is€certifying€that€to€theÐ 0"€  Ðbest€of€the€personððs€knowledge,€information,€and€belief,€...€(3)€the€allegations€and€other€factualÐ #l! Ðcontentions€have€evidentiary€support€...€and€(4)€the€denial€of€factual€contentions€...€are€reasonablyÐ $X" Ðbased€on€a€lack€of€information€or€belief.Ô#†Xá™XXXᙹ#ÔÔ‡Xá™XXXá™Ôðð).Ô#†Xá™XXXᙵ#ÔÔ‡Xá™XXXá™Ô€€Attorneys€and€parties€who€file€such€actions€without€aÐ ° Ðreasonable€basis€not€only€risk€dismissal,€but€may€be€sanctioned€in€an€appropriate€case.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.Ð œì ÐR.€Civ.€P.€11.03.€Ô#†Xá™XXXá™ý#ÔÔ‡Xá™XXXá™Ô€Accordingly,€John€Doe€pleading€alone€should€be€employed€only€when€no€personÐ ˆØ Ðor€persons€can€be€reasonably€suspected€of€being€the€driver€who€allegedly€caused€the€accident.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€Ô#†Xá™XXXá™#ÔÐ tÄ ÐÌà  àI€find€no€justification€for€abandoning€the€traditional€rules€of€pleading€in€this€case.€€I€cannotÐ L œ Ðagree€that€a€choice€between€two€persons€is€a€sufficient€basis€upon€which€to€invoke€the€ð ðJohn€DoeððÐ 8 ˆ Ðstatute.€€A€choice€between€two€known€persons€does€not€make€the€driver€ð ðunknown.ðð€€One€of€thoseÐ $ t Ðpersons€was€undoubtedly€the€driver.€€Lipscomb€admitted€that€she€honestly€believed€that€she€knewÐ  ` Ðwhich€of€those€persons€met€that€description.€€Lipscomb€should€simply€have€named€both€Dyson€andÐ ü L  ÐChaney€as€defendants.€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àFor€the€above€stated€reasons,€I€would€hold€that€the€John€Doe€statute€was€unavailable€toÐ À  ÐLipscomb€because€the€driver€was€not€ð ðunknown.ððÐ ¬ü  ÐÔ‡Xá™XXXá™ÔÌÔ  Ôà@½ ½ ìàòòAmendment€Under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð20-1-119óóˆÐ „Ô  ÐÌà  àAs€I€would€hold€that€the€driver€of€the€other€vehicle€was€not€unknown€to€Lipscomb,€thereÐ \¬ Ðremains€the€issue€of€whether€Lipscomb€could€properly€amend€her€complaint€pursuant€to€Tenn.€CodeÐ H˜ ÐAnn.€ðð20-1-119.€€That€statute€states,€in€pertinent€part:Ð 4„ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(a)€€In€civil€actions€where€comparative€fault€is€or€becomes€an€issue,Ð  \ Ðif€a€defendant€named€in€an€original€complaint€initiating€a€suit€filedÐ øH Ðwithin€the€applicable€statute€of€limitations,€or€named€in€an€amendedÐ ä4 Ðcomplaint€filed€within€the€applicable€statute€of€limitations,€òòalleges€inÐ Ð  Ðan€answer€or€amended€answer€to€the€original€or€amended€complaintÐ ¼  Ðthat€a€person€not€a€party€to€the€suit€caused€or€contributed€to€theÐ ¨ø Ðinjury€or€damage€for€which€the€plaintiff€seeks€recoveryóó,€and€if€theÐ ”ä Ðplaintiffððs€cause€or€causes€of€action€against€such€person€would€beÐ €Ð Ðbarred€by€any€applicable€statute€of€limitations€but€for€the€operation€ofÐ l¼ Ðthis€section,€the€plaintiff€may,€within€ninety€(90)€days€of€the€filing€ofÐ X ¨ Ðthe€first€answer€or€first€amended€answer€alleging€such€personððs€fault,Ð D!” Ðeither:Ð0"€ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(1)€Amend€the€complaint€to€add€such€person€as€a€defendant€pursuantÐ $X" Ðto€Rule€15€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€....€Ðô$D #` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐà%0!$` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(2)€Institute€a€separate€action€against€that€person€by€filing€a€summonsÐ ° Ðand€complaint....Ðœì` x` x ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð20-1-119€(emphasis€added.).€Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àThe€Court€of€Appeals€ruled€that€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð20-1-119€was€not€applicable€toÐ L œ ÐLipscombððs€case,€citing€with€approval€the€following€language€inò ò€ó óòòWhittlesey€v.€Coleóó,€142€F.3d€340Ð 8 ˆ Ð(6th€Cir.€1998):Ð ( x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àEven€without€legislative€history€to€guide€us,€we€may€assume€that€oneÐ  P  Ðof€the€concerns€was€to€prevent€a€defendant€from€naming€andÐ ì <  Ðattributing€fault€to€a€òòpreviously€unknown€responsible€partyóó€in€itsÐ Ø(  Ðanswer€when€the€time€for€the€plaintiff€to€bring€the€newly€named€partyÐ Ä  Ðinto€the€suit€was€insufficient€or€had€passed.€€This€concern,€of€course,Ð °  Ðarises€only€where€the€plaintiff€has€been€unaware,€until€the€defendantððsÐ œì  Ðanswer,€of€the€fault€of€another€individual.€Indeed,€a€review€ofÐ ˆØ  ÐTennessee€case€law€suggests€that€ðð20-1-119€is€implicated€only€whereÐ tÄ Ðthe€defendantððs€answer€apprises€the€plaintiff€for€the€first€time€of€aÐ `° Ðresponsible€party.€€It€is,€thus,€plain€that€ðð20-1-119€was€not€intendedÐ Lœ Ðto€apply€to€a€plaintiff€like€Whittlesey€who,€long€before€theÐ 8ˆ Ðdefendantððs€answer€to€the€complaint,€had€knowledge€that€a€third€partyÐ $t Ðmay€be€at€fault€for€the€complained€of€injuries.Ð`` x` x ÐÌòòWhittleseyóó,€142€F.3d€at€345€(emphasis€added)€(citing€òòò òó óOwens€v.€Truckstops€of€Am.óó,€915€S.W.2d€420,Ð è8 Ð427€(Tenn.€1996)ò òó ó;€òòSoper€v.€Wal-Mart€Stores,€Inc.óó,€923€F.€Supp.€1032,€1038€(M.D.€Tenn.€1996)).€Ð Ô$ ÐRelying€upon€òòWhittleseyóó€and€the€cases€it€cited,€the€Court€of€Appeals€held€that€ðð20-1-119€isÐ À Ðapplicable€only€when€the€plaintiff€is€unaware€of€the€fault€of€the€third€party€when€the€complaint€isÐ ¬ü Ðfiled.€€In€this€case,€Lipscomb€clearly€knew€that€Logan,€Chaney,€and€Dyson€were€potentiallyÐ ˜è Ðresponsible€parties.€€Section€20-1-119€was€therefore€unavailable€to€Lipscomb.Ð „Ô ÐÌà  àThe€Court€of€Appealsðð€reliance€upon€òòWhittleseyóó€is€misplaced.€€If€a€statuteððs€language€isÐ \ ¬ Ðexpressed€in€a€manner€devoid€of€ambiguity,€courts€are€not€at€liberty€to€depart€from€the€statuteððsÐ H!˜ Ðwords.€€òòSeeóó€òòCarson€€Creek€Vacation€Resorts,€Inc.€v.€Department€of€Revenueóó,€865€S.W.2d€1,€2€(Tenn.Ð 4"„  Ð1993).€€Accordingly,€courts€are€restricted€to€the€ð ðnatural€and€ordinaryðð€meaning€of€a€statute€unlessÐ  #p! Ðan€ambiguity€necessitates€resorting€elsewhere€to€ascertain€legislative€intent.€€òòAustin€v.€MemphisÐ  $\" ÐPublððg€Co.óó,€655€S.W.2d€146,€149€(Tenn.€1983).€Ð ø$H # ÐÌà  àNothing€in€the€statute€requires€that€the€party€sought€to€be€added€be€unknown€at€the€time€ofÐ Ð& "% Ðthe€filing€of€the€complaint.€€The€language€simply€requires€that€the€person€ð ðnot€[be]€a€party€to€theÐ ¼' #& Ðsuit.ððÔ#†Xá™XXXá™Î##ÔÔ‡Xá™XXXá™Ô€Ô#†Xá™XXXá™C8#Ô€A€plaintiff€may€know€the€identity€of€a€suspected€tortfeasor€but€may,€for€any€number€ofÐ ¨(ø#' Ðreasons,€justifiably€refrain€from€naming€that€person€as€a€defendant.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€11.02.€Ð ”)ä$( ÐA€defendant,€however,€may€name€a€person€in€its€answer€or€amended€answer€whom€it€believes€isÐ €*Ð%) Ðliable€for€the€plaintiffððs€injury€or€damages.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð20-1-119.€€If€the€defendant€soÐ l+¼&* Ðanswers,€the€plaintiff€is€given€the€opportunity€to€amend€the€complaint,€despite€the€decision€to€omitÐ ° Ðthat€person€from€the€original€complaint.€€òòSeeóó€òòid.óó€€Lipscomb€should€not€be€precluded€from€amendingÐ œì Ðher€complaint€pursuant€to€ðð20-1-119€merely€because€Ô‡Xá™XXXá™Ô€Logan,€Dyson,€and€Chaney€were€ð ðknownðð€toÐ ˆØ Ðher€€at€the€time€the€complaint€was€filed.€Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àOur€decision€in€òòOwensóó€does€not€compel€a€contrary€result.€€In€òòOwensóó,€we€stated€that€theÐ L œ Ðplaintiff€could€not€avail€himself€of€ðð20-1-119€because€ðð20-1-119€was€enacted€in€1993òòóó€òòafter€óótheÐ 8 ˆ Ðplaintiffððs€claims€had€already€been€barred€by€the€statute€of€limitations.€€òòSeeóóòòOwensóó,€915€S.W.2d€atÐ $ t Ð427.€€We€stated€that€the€statute€ð ðnow€allows€a€plaintiff€a€limited€time€within€which€to€amend€aÐ  ` Ðcomplaint€to€add€as€a€defendant€òòanyóó€person€alleged€by€another€defendant€to€have€caused€orÐ ü L  Ðcontributed€to€the€injury,€even€if€the€statute€of€limitations€applicable€to€a€plaintiffððs€cause€of€actionÐ è 8  Ðagainst€the€added€defendant€has€expired.ðð€€òòId.óó€(emphasis€added).€€This€Court€made€no€commentÐ Ô$  Ðregarding€whether€the€party€to€be€added€was€required€to€be€known€at€the€time€the€complaint€wasÐ À  Ðfiled.€€We€simply€tracked€the€plain€language€of€the€statute.€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àThe€Court€of€Appeals€also€cites€with€approval€òòSoper€v.€Wal-Mart€Stores,€Inc.óó,€923€F.€Supp.Ð „Ô  Ð1032,€1038€(M.D.€Tenn.€1996).€€In€matters€of€interpretation€of€Tennessee€law,€the€decisions€ofÐ pÀ Ðfederal€courts€are€not€binding€upon€the€courts€of€this€state.€€òòSee,€e.g.óó,€òòDriver€v.€Tennessee€FarmersÐ \¬ ÐMut.€Ins.€Co.óó,€505€S.W.2d€476,€478€(Tenn.€1974).òòóó€€Further,€òòSoperóó€did€not€require€that€the€third€partyÐ H˜ Ðbe€unknown€at€the€time€of€the€filing€of€the€complaint.€€The€issue€in€that€case€concerned€the€adequacyÐ 4„ Ðof€the€defendantððs€pleading€and€the€timing€of€the€plaintiffððs€amendment€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð  p Ððð20-1-119.Ð  \ ÐÌà  àI€would€conclude€that,€despite€Lipscombððs€improper€use€of€the€John€Doe€statute,€LipscombÐ ä4 Ðis€not€ò òó óbarred€from€amending€her€complaint€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð20-1-119€solely€becauseÐ Ð  Ðthe€driver€was€ð ðknownðð€at€the€time€the€complaint€was€filed.€€Accordingly,€I€would€affirm€in€part€andÐ ¼  Ðreverse€in€part€the€judgment€of€the€Court€of€Appeals.Ô#†Xá™XXXá™›;#ÔÐ ¨ø ÐÔ‡Xá™XXXá™ÔÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð D!” Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€JUSTICEÔ#†Xá™XXXá™|E#Ô