Title: A.W., a minor child, by and through her next friend Kelli Hogeland, and W.B., a minor child, by and through his next friend Shara Fortenberry v. J. Walter Wood, Jr., in his capacity as executive director of the Department of Youth Services, et al.

State: alabama

Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court

Document:

REL:06/25/2010 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r 
Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e 
o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1081428 
A.W., a minor c h i l d , by and through her next f r i e n d K e l l i 
Hogeland, and 
W.B., a minor c h i l d , by and through h i s 
next 
f r i e n d Shara F o r t e n b e r r y 
v. 
J . Walter Wood, J r . , i n 
h i s 
c a p a c i t y as e x e c u t i v e 
d i r e c t o r 
of the 
Department o f Youth S e r v i c e s , e t a l . 
Appeal from Montgomery C i r c u i t Court 
(CV-08-900530) 
BOLIN, 
J u s t i c e . 
A.W., a m i n o r c h i l d , b y 
a n d 
t h r o u g h h e r n e x t f r i e n d 
K e l l i 
H o g e l a n d , a n d 
W.B., a m i n o r 
c h i l d , b y a n d t h r o u g h h i s n e x t 
f r i e n d S h a r a F o r t e n b e r r y , a p p e a l f r o m t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s 
o r d e r 
1081428 
d e n y i n g 
t h e i r m o t i o n t o a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e ( 1 ) a summary 
j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f J . W a l t e r Wood, J r . , e x e c u t i v e 
d i r e c t o r 
o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f 
Y o u t h S e r v i c e s ("DYS"); (2) 
t h e d i s m i s s a l 
o f A.W.'s a n d 
W.B.'s c l a i m s a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t s Randy 
F u l l e r , 
s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f t h e S h e l b y 
C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , a n d 
James 
C a r r , 
s u p e r i n t e n d e n t 
o f t h e B l o u n t 
C o u n t y 
B o a r d o f 
E d u c a t i o n ; a n d (3) 
a j u d g m e n t i n 
f a v o r o f 
A l a b a m a Y o u t h Homes, 
I n c . 
("AYH"), b a s e d on p a r t i a l 
f i n d i n g s . 
U n d e r l y i n g 
F a c t s a n d P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y 
DYS 
o p e r a t e s 
f a c i l i t i e s 
f o r , a n d p r o v i d e s 
s o c i a l a n d 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
s e r v i c e s t o , d e l i n q u e n t 
y o u t h 
c o m m i t t e d t o i t s 
c u s t o d y i n 
a c c o r d a n c e w i t h s t a t e l a w . 
DYS h a s i t s own s p e c i a l 
s c h o o l d i s t r i c t c o n s i s t i n g o f f i v e s e p a r a t e 
s c h o o l s . 
The 
DYS 
s c h o o l 
d i s t r i c t 
h a s i t s 
own 
b o a r d 
o f e d u c a t i o n , 
w h i c h 
f o r m u l a t e s a n d i m p l e m e n t s e d u c a t i o n a l 
p o l i c y a n d p r o c e d u r e s 
t h a t c o m p l y w i t h s t a t e l a w a n d 
A l a b a m a D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a t i o n 
g u i d e l i n e s . 
Wood, as e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f 
DYS, i s u l t i m a t e l y 
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r 
e n s u r i n g 
t h a t t h e e d u c a t i o n 
p r o g r a m a t DYS 
f a c i l i t i e s 
f u l l y c o m p l i e s 
w i t h s t a t e l a w 
a n d w i t h D e p a r t m e n t 
o f E d u c a t i o n 
g u i d e l i n e s a n d / o r r e g u l a t i o n s . 
B e c a u s e o f t h e g r e a t number o f j u v e n i l e s p l a c e d i n 
i t s 
c u s t o d y , DYS c o n t r a c t s w i t h i n d e p e n d e n t 
e n t i t i e s 
t h r o u g h o u t 
2 
1081428 
A l a b a m a t o p r o v i d e some h o u s i n g f o r j u v e n i l e s c o m m i t t e d t o t h e 
c u s t o d y 
o f DYS. 
P u r s u a n t 
t o 
t h o s e 
c o n t r a c t s , 
t h e s e 
i n d e p e n d e n t 
e n t i t i e s a r e r e q u i r e d e i t h e r t o p r o v i d e o r t o 
a r r a n g e 
f o r e d u c a t i o n 
t h a t 
c o m p l i e s 
w i t h 
s t a t e 
l a w a n d 
D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a t i o n 
r e g u l a t i o n s . 
I n t h i s 
c a s e , 
DYS 
c o n t r a c t e d w i t h AYH t o o p e r a t e 
f a c i l i t i e s i n 
B l o u n t C o u n t y a n d 
i n S h e l b y C o u n t y a t w h i c h A.W. a n d W.B. w o u l d be h o u s e d a n d 
e d u c a t e d . 
A.W. was a s s i g n e d t o 
AYH's O n e o n t a G r o u p Home f o r 
G i r l s 
i n B l o u n t 
C o u n t y , 
a n d W.B. 
was 
a s s i g n e d 
t o AYH's 
W e s t o v e r 
G r o u p Home i n S h e l b y 
C o u n t y . 
P u r s u a n t 
t o t h e 
c o n t r a c t b e t w e e n DYS a n d AYH, AYH a g r e e d 
t h a t A.W. a n d W.B. 
w o u l d be e d u c a t e d 
t h r o u g h t h e l o c a l s c h o o l a u t h o r i t i e s , i . e . , 
t h e 
B l o u n t C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n a n d t h e S h e l b y 
C o u n t y 
B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 
r e s p e c t i v e l y , a n d t h a t 
t h e i r 
e d u c a t i o n 
w o u l d 
c o m p l y 
w i t h 
s t a t e 
l a w a n d D e p a r t m e n t o f 
E d u c a t i o n 
r e g u l a t i o n s . 
On May 2 1 , 2008, A.W., 
on b e h a l f o f h e r s e l f a n d a l l 
o t h e r s 
s i m i l a r l y 
s i t u a t e d , 
s u e d 
Wood 
a n d AYH. 
A.W.'s 
c o m p l a i n t s o u g h t i n j u n c t i v e r e l i e f as w e l l as c o m p e n s a t o r y a n d 
p u n i t i v e damages f o r n e g l i g e n c e a n d w a n t o n n e s s b a s e d on Wood 
and 
AYH's 
a l l e g e d 
f a i l u r e 
t o p r o v i d e A.W. 
w i t h 
a d e q u a t e 
e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
A.W. 
3 
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a l l e g e d t h a t Wood a n d 
AYH d e n i e d h e r 
t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o a t t e n d 
p u b l i c 
s c h o o l i n t h e d i s t r i c t 
i n w h i c h she l i v e d -- 
B l o u n t 
C o u n t y -- a n d t h a t she was i n s t e a d r e q u i r e d t o a t t e n d t h e 
B l o u n t 
C o u n t y 
A l t e r n a t i v e 
S c h o o l , 
where she r e c e i v e d 
o n l y 
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 
f o u r h o u r s o f e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t r u c t i o n p e r d a y 
and was n o t g i v e n a c c e s s t o t h e c o u r s e o f s t u d y r e q u i r e d 
f o r 
g r a d u a t i o n f r o m h i g h s c h o o l . 
I n S e p t e m b e r 2008, A.W. 
f i l e d a f i r s t amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
t o a d d W.B. as a named p l a i n t i f f . 
W.B. 
a l l e g e d t h a t 
a l t h o u g h 
t h e W e s t o v e r Group Home i s 
z o n e d f o r 
C h e l s e a H i g h S c h o o l , Wood 
and AYH 
f a i l e d t o e n r o l l 
h i m t h e r e a n d t h a t 
t h e y 
i n s t e a d 
r e q u i r e d h i m t o a t t e n d t h e S h e l b y C o u n t y A l t e r n a t i v e 
S c h o o l , 
where he d i d 
n o t r e c e i v e t h e c o r e 
c u r r i c u l u m a n d c o u r s e o f 
s t u d y 
m a n d a t e d 
b y 
s t a t e 
l a w a n d by t h e D e p a r t m e n t 
o f 
E d u c a t i o n . 
A.W. a n d W.B. a r e h e r e i n a f t e r s o m e t i m e s 
r e f e r r e d 
t o 
c o l l e c t i v e l y as " t h e p l a i n t i f f s . " 
On 
S e p t e m b e r 
10, 2008, W.B. 
moved f o r a p r e l i m i n a r y 
i n j u n c t i o n , s e e k i n g an o r d e r r e q u i r i n g Wood a n d AYH t o e n r o l l 
h i m i n C h e l s e a 
H i g h 
S c h o o l . 
On O c t o b e r 28, 2 0 0 8 , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
h e l d a h e a r i n g on t h e r e q u e s t f o r an i n j u n c t i o n a n d 
u l t i m a t e l y d e n i e d t h e r e q u e s t . On M a r c h 19, 2009, AYH moved 
f o r 
a summary 
j u d g m e n t . 
T h a t same d a y , Wood moved f o r a 
4 
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summary j u d g m e n t . 
Wood a r g u e d , among o t h e r t h i n g s , 
t h a t he 
was immune f r o m l i a b i l i t y . 
On M a r c h 20, 2009, AYH a d o p t e d a l l 
t h e 
a r g u m e n t s Wood made i n 
h i s 
m o t i o n . 
On M a r c h 24, 2009, t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s 
f i l e d a m o t i o n 
t o c o m p e l 
and f o r s a n c t i o n s as 
deemed a p p r o p r i a t e b e c a u s e 
c o u n s e l f o r 
Wood h a d n o t p r o d u c e d 
r e q u e s t e d d o c u m e n t s r e g a r d i n g DYS's p o l i c i e s and p r o c e d u r e s i n 
r e l a t i o n t o t h e p l a i n t i f f s ' 
c l a i m s and b e c a u s e Wood's c o u n s e l 
h a d 
c a n c e l e d Wood's 
s c h e d u l e d 
d e p o s i t i o n . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e r e q u e s t e d 
d o c u m e n t s 
and 
d e p o s i t i o n 
were 
n e c e s s a r y f o r 
them t o be a b l e t o r e s p o n d t o Wood's and AYH's 
summary-judgment m o t i o n s . 
I m m e d i a t e l y b e f o r e a p r o c e e d i n g a t 
w h i c h o r e t e n u s e v i d e n c e was t o be p r e s e n t e d , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e n i e d 
b o t h Wood's and AYH's summary-judgment 
m o t i o n s 
as 
u n t i m e l y . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t h e l d a p r o c e e d i n g a t w h i c h e v i d e n c e was 
p r e s e n t e d o r e t e n u s on M a r c h 30, 2009, and M a r c h 31, 2009, 
d u r i n g w h i c h t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
s o u g h t t o show t h a t Wood and AYH 
h a d v i o l a t e d 1) A l a . Code 1975, § 1 6 - 1 - 1 , w h i c h p r o v i d e s t h a t 
t h e 
s c h o l a s t i c d a y s h a l l n o t be l e s s t h a n s i x h o u r s o f a c t u a l 
t e a c h i n g p e r d a y u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e o r d e r e d b y t h e c o u n t y o r 
c i t y 
b o a r d 
o f 
e d u c a t i o n ; 
2) 
R u l e 
2 9 0 - 3 - 1 . 0 2 , 
A l a b a m a 
A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Code ( S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a t i o n ) , w h i c h , i n 
5 
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p a r t , 
r e q u i r e s 
t h a t t h e l e n g t h o f a s c h o o l d a y s h a l l be 
s i x 
h o u r s , e x c l u s i v e o f l u n c h a n d r e c e s s ; a n d 3) A l a . Code 1975, 
§ 16-6B-2, w h i c h , i n 
p a r t , e s t a b l i s h e s t h e c o r e c u r r i c u l u m a n d 
minimum e l e c t i v e s t o 
be o f f e r e d . 
D u r i n g t h e f i r s t d a y o f 
t h e 
t r i a l , 
Randy 
H a l e , t h e p r o g r a m 
d i r e c t o r f o r 
AYH, a n d M a t t 
F o s t e r , 
a f o r m e r AYH 
c l i n i c a l 
d i r e c t o r , 
t e s t i f i e d . 
T h e i r 
t e s t i m o n y 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t 
o n l y 
t h e 
l o c a l 
e d u c a t i o n 
a u t h o r i t i e s , 
i . e . , t h e B l o u n t C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n a n d 
t h e 
S h e l b y C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , 
h a d t h e a u t h o r i t y t o 
d e c i d e 
where a 
c h i l d 
i n i t s 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
went t o 
s c h o o l , 
r e g a r d l e s s 
o f t h e zone i n w h i c h t h e c h i l d 
l i v e d , 
a n d t h a t 
n e i t h e r Wood n o r AYH h a d t h a t 
a u t h o r i t y . 
H a l e , 
h o w e v e r , 
t e s t i f i e d t h a t he was aware t h a t A.W. a n d 
W.B. a t t e n d e d 
s c h o o l 
o n l y 3 h o u r s a n d 15 m i n u t e s p e r d a y . He s t a t e d 
t h a t he h a d 
i n q u i r e d o f t h e B l o u n t C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n a b o u t w h e t h e r 
t h e h o u r s were 
s u f f i c i e n t 
a n d was t o l d 
t h a t 
" e v e r y t h i n g was 
f i n e . " 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
t h e n 
c a l l e d Wood t o t e s t i f y . 
A t 
t h a t 
t i m e , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i n d i c a t e d t h a t Wood h a d b e e n 
s c h e d u l e d 
f o r a d e p o s i t i o n p u r s u a n t t o t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
o r d e r a n d t h a t 
he h a d n o t a p p e a r e d . 
The c o u r t 
o r d e r e d 
t h a t t h e h e a r i n g be 
p o s t p o n e d u n t i l M a r c h 31, 2009, a n d t h a t Wood i m m e d i a t e l y s i t 
6 
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f o r 
a 
d e p o s i t i o n 
b y t h e p l a i n t i f f s , 
w h i c h 
Wood d i d t h e 
a f t e r n o o n 
o f M a r c h 
30, 2009. 
The o r e t e n u s 
p r o c e e d i n g s 
r e s u m e d on M a r c h 31, 2009, a n d Wood t e s t i f i e d t h e s e c o n d d a y 
o f t h e h e a r i n g . 
A f t e r h e a r i n g t h e e v i d e n c e , 
t h e t r i a l 
j u d g e 
r e p e a t e d l y 
s t a t e d 
t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
h a d s u e d t h e w r o n g 
p a r t i e s 
a n d t h a t 
b o t h AYH a n d Wood h a d 
f u l f i l l e d 
t h e i r 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s ' 
e d u c a t i o n . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s t a t e d t h a t once A.W. a n d W.B. 
a r r i v e d a t t h e O n e o n t a a n d W e s t o v e r Group Homes i n B l o u n t 
C o u n t y 
a n d 
S h e l b y 
C o u n t y , 
r e s p e c t i v e l y , 
AYH's 
o n l y 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
was t o e n r o l l 
them i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e 
s c h o o l 
d i s t r i c t s ; 
t h e r e a f t e r , 
a l l d e c i s i o n s 
r e l a t i n g 
t o 
t h e i r 
e d u c a t i o n , 
i n c l u d i n g p l a c e m e n t , h o u r s , a n d c u r r i c u l u m , 
were 
s t r i c t l y 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
p u r v i e w 
o f 
t h e 
l o c a l 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
a u t h o r i t i e s . 
The t r i a l 
c o u r t c o n t i n u e d t h e t r i a l 
u n t i l 
J u n e 
15, 
2009, t o a l l o w t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
an o p p o r t u n i t y t o amend 
t h e i r 
c o m p l a i n t , 
s u g g e s t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e y 
a d d t h e r e s p e c t i v e 
b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n 
as d e f e n d a n t s . 
On A p r i l 2, 2009, t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s 
f i l e d 
a 
s e c o n d 
amended 
c o m p l a i n t 
t o a d d as 
d e f e n d a n t s 
F u l l e r , t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t 
o f t h e S h e l b y 
C o u n t y 
B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , i n 
h i s i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t y , a n d C a r r , t h e 
s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f t h e B l o u n t C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , i n h i s 
7 
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i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t y . 
T h e r e a f t e r , 
F u l l e r 
and C a r r 
f i l e d a 
j o i n t 
m o t i o n 
t o d i s m i s s . 
On 
A p r i l 
20, 2009, Wood 
f i l e d a 
s e c o n d m o t i o n f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t , now a t t a c h i n g 
a f f i d a v i t s 
and o t h e r d o c u m e n t s i n s u p p o r t o f h i s i m m u n i t y d e f e n s e . 
AYH 
f i l e d a m o t i o n f o r a j u d g m e n t b a s e d on p a r t i a l 
f i n d i n g s . On 
May 5, 2009, t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
f i l e d a r e s p o n s e t o F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r ' s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s . On May 8, 2009, t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
f i l e d 
a c o n s o l i d a t e d r e s p o n s e t o Wood's summary-judgment m o t i o n and 
t o AYH's m o t i o n f o r a j u d g m e n t on p a r t i a l 
f i n d i n g s . 
W i t h 
r e g a r d 
t o Wood, 
t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
t h e summary-
j u d g m e n t m o t i o n was u n t i m e l y and n o t c o m p l i a n t w i t h R u l e 56, 
A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P. 
I n r e s p o n s e t o AYH's m o t i o n , t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
a r g u e d t h a t F u l l e r ' s and C a r r ' s a f f i d a v i t s 
d i r e c t l y 
c o n f l i c t e d 
w i t h t h e d e p o s i t i o n and t r i a l 
t e s t i m o n y o f H a l e , F o s t e r , and 
Wood, 
b e c a u s e 
t h e 
t r i a l 
t e s t i m o n y 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
o p p o r t u n i t i e s , 
h o u r s , and c u r r i c u l u m 
o f f e r e d t o 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s were d e c i d e d by AYH p u r s u a n t t o AYH's a g r e e m e n t 
t o p r o v i d e f o r 
t h e e d u c a t i o n o f s t u d e n t s p l a c e d by DYS a t 
i t s 
f a c i l i t i e s . 
On May 12, 2009, t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
g r a n t e d 
F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r ' s 
m o t i o n 
t o d i s m i s s ; 
i t g r a n t e d Wood's 
m o t i o n 
f o r a 
summary j u d g m e n t , and i t 
g r a n t e d AYH's m o t i o n f o r 
a j u d g m e n t 
8 
1081428 
on 
p a r t i a l 
f i n d i n g s . 
On 
J u n e 
11, 
2009, 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s , 
p u r s u a n t 
t o R u l e 
5 9 ( e ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P., 
f i l e d 
a m o t i o n 
t o 
a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t , w h i c h 
was 
d e n i e d . 
F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r ' s M o t i o n t o 
D i s m i s s 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s ' amended c o m p l a i n t a d d i n g F u l l e r and 
C a r r 
as d e f e n d a n t s 
a l l e g e s : 
"16. 
T h a t 
[ F u l l e r and 
C a r r ] 
i n d i v i d u a l l y 
o r 
a c t i n g 
i n c o n c e r t 
f a i l e d 
t o 
p r o v i d e 
t o 
P l a i n t i f f s 
t h e 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
o p p o r t u n i t i e s , 
p r o g r a m s , 
c o u r s e s 
g u a r a n t e e d and m a n d a t e d by t h e A l a b a m a 
C o n s t i t u t i o n , 
s t a t e 
l a w 
and 
a g e n c y 
r e g u l a t i o n s . 
"17. 
T h a t 
[ F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r ] 
w i l l f u l l y , 
f r a u d u l e n t l y , 
i n 
bad 
f a i t h , 
w i t h o u t 
a u t h o r i t y 
o r 
u n d e r 
a m i s t a k e n 
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
l a w 
and 
i n 
v i o l a t i o n 
o f 
s t a t e 
l a w 
and 
r e g u l a t i o n 
d e n i e d 
P l a i n t i f f s 
t h e 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
p r o g r a m s 
and 
o p p o r t u n i t i e s 
t o 
w h i c h 
t h e y 
were 
e n t i t l e d 
w h i l e 
c o m m i t t e d t o t h e 
l e g a l c u s t o d y o f 
[ D Y S ] . " 
On 
A p r i l 
17, 
2009, 
F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r 
f i l e d 
a m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
t h e 
c l a i m s 
a g a i n s t 
them 
i n 
t h e i r 
i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t i e s , 
a s s e r t i n g , 
i n p a r t , 
t h e d e f e n s e o f 
" g o v e r n m e n t a l 
i m m u n i t y . " 
T h e i r m o t i o n does n o t 
s t a t e o r s p e c i f y t h a t 
S t a t e -
a g e n t i m m u n i t y 
i s b e i n g 
a s s e r t e d ; 
r a t h e r , 
i t m e r e l y 
s t a t e s 
t h a t 
s u i n g 
them 
i n 
t h e i r 
i n d i v i d u a l 
c a p a c i t i e s 
i s 
i n a p p r o p r i a t e 
-- 
a 
p r o p o s i t i o n 
f o r 
w h i c h 
t h e y 
c i t e d 
no 
a u t h o r i t y . 
F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r 
s u b m i t t e d 
t h e i r 
i n d i v i d u a l 
9 
1081428 
a f f i d a v i t s w i t h t h e i r m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
f i l e d 
a r e s p o n s e 
i n o p p o s i t i o n , 
a s s e r t i n g t h a t 
t h e y 
had 
s t a t e d 
a 
v i a b l e 
c l a i m t h a t 
F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r had 
v i o l a t e d c e r t a i n s t a t e 
l a w s and D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a t i o n 
r e g u l a t i o n s . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
g r a n t e d 
F u l l e r and C a r r ' s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s w i t h o u t 
s p e c i f y i n g 
t h e b a s i s 
f o r t h e d i s m i s s a l . 
On a p p e a l , b o t h s i d e s a s s e r t t h a t t h e a p p l i c a b l e 
s t a n d a r d 
o f r e v i e w 
i n t h i s c a s e i s t h e 
s t a n d a r d 
a p p l i c a b l e t o a R u l e 
1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) , 
A l a . R. 
C i v . 
P., 
d i s m i s s a l f o r 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
s t a t e 
a 
c l a i m , 
n a m e l y , 
t h a t 
t h e 
r e v i e w i n g 
c o u r t 
does 
n o t 
c o n s i d e r 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
w i l l 
u l t i m a t e l y 
p r e v a i l , 
b u t 
o n l y 
w h e t h e r t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
may 
p o s s i b l y p r e v a i l , 
c i t i n g Nance 
v. 
M a t t h e w s , 622 
So. 
2d 297 
( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) . 
However, "where m a t t e r s 
o u t s i d e 
t h e p l e a d i n g s 
a r e 
c o n s i d e r e d 
on 
a m o t i o n t o 
d i s m i s s , 
t h e m o t i o n i s c o n v e r t e d 
i n t o a m o t i o n f o r summary j u d g m e n t 
as 
p r o v i d e d 
i n R u l e 1 2 ( c ) , 
[ A l a . R. 
C i v . P . ] , 
r e g a r d l e s s 
o f i t s 
d e n o m i n a t i o n 
and 
t r e a t m e n t 
by 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t . " 
B o l e s 
v. 
B l a c k s t o c k , 
484 
So. 
2d 
1077, 
1079 
( A l a . 1 9 8 6 ) . 
"When t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t i s c a l l e d upon t o 
c o n s i d e r 
a 
R u l e 
1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) 
m o t i o n , 
i t 
must 
e x a m i n e 
t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
i n t h e 
c o m p l a i n t , 
o r , as i n t h e 
i n s t a n t 
c a s e , 
t h e 
c o u n t e r c l a i m , 
and 
c o n s t r u e 
i t so 
as 
t o 
' r e s o l v e a l l d o u b t s c o n c e r n i n g 
[ i t s ] s u f f i c i e n c y i n 
f a v o r 
o f 
t h e 
[ c l a i m a n t ] . ' 
I n 
so 
d o i n g , 
t h e 
c o u r t 
d o e s 
n o t 
c o n s i d e r 
w h e t h e r 
t h e 
c l a i m a n t 
w i l l 
10 
1081428 
u l t i m a t e l y 
p r e v a i l , 
o n l y 
w h e t h e r 
he 
has 
s t a t e d 
a 
c l a i m u n d e r w h i c h he may 
p o s s i b l y p r e v a i l . 
F o n t e n o t  
v. B r a m l e t t , 470 So. 2d 669, 671 
( A l a . 1 9 8 5 ) , 
c i t i n g 
F i r s t 
N a t i o n a l Bank v. 
G i l b e r t 
I m p o r t e d 
H a r d w o o d s ,  
I n c . , 
398 
So. 
2d 
258 
( A l a . 1 9 8 1 ) , 
and 
K a r a g a n 
v. 
 
C i t y o f M o b i l e , 
420 So. 2d 57 
( A l a . 1 9 8 2 ) . 
" I f 
t h e m o t i o n , h o w e v e r , i s c o n v e r t e d 
t o a R u l e 
5 6 [ ( c ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P.,] 
m o t i o n 
f o r 
summary 
j u d g m e n t , 
t h e 'moving p a r t y ' s b u r d e n c h a n g e s 
and 
he 
i s 
o b l i g e d 
t o 
d e m o n s t r a t e 
t h a t 
t h e r e 
e x i s t s 
no 
g e n u i n e i s s u e as t o any m a t e r i a l f a c t and t h a t he i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a 
j u d g m e n t 
as 
a 
m a t t e r 
o f 
l a w . ' 
P a p a s t e f a n v. B&L 
C o n s t . Co., 
356 
So. 2d 158 ( A l a . 
1 9 7 8 ) , 
c i t i n g 
C. 
W r i g h t 
and 
A. 
M i l l e r , 
F e d e r a l 
 
P r a c t i c e and P r o c e d u r e : 
C i v i l § 1366 
(19 
6 
9 ) . " 
H i g h t o w e r & Co. v. U n i t e d S t a t e s 
F i d e l t y & G u a r . Co., 
527 
So. 
2d 698, 702-03 ( A l a . 1 9 8 8 ) . 
I n 
t h e 
i n s t a n t c a s e , 
n o t h i n g 
i n t h e 
r e c o r d 
e x p r e s s l y 
i n d i c a t e s w h i c h m a t e r i a l t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t c o n s i d e r e d i n r u l i n g 
on 
F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r ' s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s . The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d i d 
n o t d r a f t an o r d e r 
g r a n t i n g t h e m o t i o n . 
I n s t e a d , 
i t m e r e l y 
made 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
n o t a t i o n s 
on 
t h e 
f a c e 
o f 
t h e 
m o t i o n : 
" g r a n t e d " 
and 
" d i s m i s s e d . " 
Thus, i t w o u l d 
a p p e a r 
t h a t , i n 
r u l i n g on t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t n e c e s s a r i l y 
c o n s i d e r e d 
F u l l e r ' s and C a r r ' s a f f i d a v i t s . 
M o r e o v e r , t h e r e i s 
no e v i d e n c e i n t h e r e c o r d 
t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
gave t h e p a r t i e s n o t i c e o f i t s i n t e n t t o c o n v e r t t h e m o t i o n t o 
d i s m i s s 
i n t o a m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t . 
See H a l e s v. 
11 
1081428 
F i r s t N a t ' l Bank o f M o b i l e , 
380 So. 2d 797 ( A l a . 1 9 8 0 ) ( n o t i n g 
t h a t t h e r e c o r d must d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t 
a l l p a r t i e s were aware 
o f t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
i n t e n t i o n t o t r e a t t h e m o t i o n as one 
c o n v e r t e d t o a summary-judgment m o t i o n ) . 
I n Graveman v . W i n d 
D r i f t Owners' A s s ' n , I n c . , 607 So. 2d 199, 202 
( A l a . 1 9 9 2 ) , 
t h i s C o u r t 
s t a t e d : 
"The 
r e q u i r e m e n t s 
o f 
R u l e 
56 
a p p l y 
t o 
a 
c o n v e r t e d R u l e 1 2 ( b ) ( 6 ) m o t i o n . H a l e s v . F i r s t 
N a t ' l  
Bank o f M o b i l e , 
380 So. 2d 797, 7 
99 
( A l a . 1 
98 
0 
) . 
T o g e t h e r , R u l e s 12 and 56 r e q u i r e t h a t t h e nonmovant 
r e c e i v e 
(1) a d e q u a t e 
n o t i c e 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i n t e n d s 
t o 
t r e a t 
t h e m o t i o n 
as 
one 
f o r 
summary 
j u d g m e n t and (2) a r e a s o n a b l e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p r e s e n t 
m a t e r i a l 
i n o p p o s i t i o n . 
D a v i s v. Howard, 561 F.2d 
565, 
571-72 
( 5 t h C i r . 1 
9 7 7 ) ; 
H a l e s , 
a t 799. 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
has 
h e l d 
t h a t 
t h e 
same 
10 
d a y s ' 
n o t i c e 
r e q u i r e d when a p a r t y moves f o r summary j u d g m e n t i s 
a l s o 
r e q u i r e d 
f o r a c o n v e r t e d 
m o t i o n 
f o r summary 
j u d g m e n t . H a l e s , a t 799. T h i s C o u r t has f u r t h e r 
h e l d 
t h a t 
' t h e r e c o r d 
must 
a d e q u a t e l y 
d e m o n s t r a t e 
t h a t 
a l l 
c o u n s e l 
were 
aware o f t h e 
i n t e n t i o n s 
o f t h e 
[ t r i a l ] 
j u d g e 
t o t r e a t t h e m o t i o n 
as 
c o n v e r t e d . ' 
H a l e s , 
a t 799-800 
( q u o t i n g 
D a v i s , 
a t 5 7 1 - 7 2 ) . " 
See a l s o D r e e s v. T u r n e r , 10 So. 3d 601, 603 ( A l a . 
C i v . App. 
2 0 0 8 ) ( " [ A ] l t h o u g h 
n e i t h e r t h e p a r t i e s n o r t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t h a d 
a p p a r e n t l y b e e n aware t h a t t h e m a t t e r h a d b e e n c o n v e r t e d i n t o 
a m o t i o n f o r a summary 
j u d g m e n t , t h e f a i l u r e 
t o n o t i f y t h e 
p a r t i e s t h a t t h e m o t i o n h a d b e e n c o n v e r t e d was p r e j u d i c i a l t o 
b o t h 
p a r t i e s 
and, 
t h e r e f o r e , 
t h e 
c a u s e 
was 
due 
t o 
be 
r e m a n d e d . " ) ; J a c o b s v . W h a l e y , 987 So. 2d 1143, 1147 ( A l a . 
12 
1081428 
C i v . 
App. 2 0 0 7 ) ( r e m a n d i n g 
c a s e when 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
f a i l e d t o 
c o m m u n i c a t e t o t h e p a r t i e s i t s i n t e n t i o n t o t r e a t a m o t i o n t o 
d i s m i s s as one f o r a summary j u d g m e n t , 
t h e r e b y 
f a i l i n g t o 
o b s e r v e t h e p r o c e d u r a l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f R u l e 
5 6 ( c ) , A l a . R. 
C i v . 
P . ) . 
C o n s e q u e n t l y , 
b e c a u s e i t i s n o t c l e a r 
f r o m t h e r e c o r d 
w h e t h e r t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t i n t h i s 
c a s e c o m m u n i c a t e d t o e i t h e r 
s i d e i t s i n t e n t i o n t o t r e a t t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s as one f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t , we remand t h e c a u s e t o a s s u r e 
t h a t t h e 
p r o c e d u r a l s a f e g u a r d s o f R u l e s 1 2 ( b ) and 5 6 ( c ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., a r e a f f o r d e d b o t h s i d e s . 
Upon remand, " t h e t r i a l c o u r t i s 
d i r e c t e d t o c o n d u c t a p r o p e r h e a r i n g , a f f o r d i n g b o t h 
p a r t i e s 
p r o p e r 
n o t i c e p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 56, t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r any 
g e n u i n e 
i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t i s p r e s e n t . " 
H i g h t o w e r , 
527 
So. 2d a t 703. 
Wood's M o t i o n f o r a Summary Judgment 
On 
M a r c h 
19, 
2009, 
Wood 
f i r s t 
moved 
f o r a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t , 
a r g u i n g , 
among 
o t h e r 
t h i n g s , 
i m m u n i t y . 
No 
s u p p o r t i n g 
m a t e r i a l s 
were 
a t t a c h e d t o t h e M a r c h 19, 2009, 
summary-judgment m o t i o n . 
The t r i a l c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n as 
u n t i m e l y . 
D u r i n g a c o n t i n u a n c e o f t h e t r i a l , Wood 
f i l e d a 
s e c o n d m o t i o n f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t , now a t t a c h i n g 
a f f i d a v i t s 
13 
1081428 
and 
o t h e r 
s u p p o r t i n f a v o r o f h i s i m m u n i t y 
a r g u m e n t . 
I n 
r e s p o n s e t o Wood's m o t i o n , t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
a r g u e d 
t h a t t h e 
summary-judgment m o t i o n was n o t p r o p e r b e c a u s e i t 
was u n t i m e l y 
and b e c a u s e Wood f a i l e d t o f i l e a n a r r a t i v e summary i n s u p p o r t 
o f 
t h e m o t i o n 
as 
r e q u i r e d 
by 
R u l e 
56, A l a . R. C i v . P. 
F o l l o w i n g t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s e n t r y o f a summary j u d g m e n t i n 
Wood's f a v o r , t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
f i l e d a R u l e 59, A l a . R. C i v . P., 
m o t i o n , a g a i n a r g u i n g t h a t Wood's summary-judgment m o t i o n was 
u n t i m e l y and n o t i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h R u l e 56. 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
a r g u e d 
t h a t a t t h e t i m e t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t g r a n t e d t h e m o t i o n , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
p r o c e e d i n g s 
were 
i n r e c e s s 
d u r i n g t h e 
d i r e c t 
e x a m i n a t i o n o f Wood and t h a t t h i s e x a m i n a t i o n h a d a l r e a d y b e e n 
d e l a y e d by t h e a c t i o n s o f Wood's c o u n s e l i n n o t h a v i n g Wood 
a p p e a r a t t h e s c h e d u l e d d e p o s i t i o n . 
They a l s o 
a r g u e d 
t h a t 
Wood 
w o u l d 
have h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y a t t h e c l o s e 
o f t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s ' 
c a s e t o s e e k 
r e l i e f . 
" O r d i n a r i l y , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
r e v i e w s a summary j u d g m e n t de  
n o v o . " 
V e r n e u i l l e v . B u c h a n a n Lumber o f M o b i l e , I n c . , 914 So. 
2d 822, 824 ( A l a . 2 0 0 5 ) . 
However, t h a t s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w i s 
n o t 
a p p r o p r i a t e h e r e 
b e c a u s e 
t h e p l a i n t i f f s , 
i n b o t h 
t h e i r 
r e s p o n s e t o t h e 
summary-judgment m o t i o n a n d t h e i r 
p o s t j u d g m e n t 
m o t i o n , 
a r g u e d 
o n l y t h a t Wood's summary-judgment m o t i o n was 
14 
1081428 
p r o c e d u r a l l y 
d e f e c t i v e . 
See 
V e r n e u i l l e , 
914 So. 2d a t 
824 
( n o t i n g 
t h a t 
de novo 
r e v i e w 
o f a summary j u d g m e n t 
i s n o t 
a p p r o p r i a t e where t h e c a s e "does n o t i n v o l v e t h e i s s u e w h e t h e r 
t h e 
r e c o r d shows t h e a b s e n c e o f a ' g e n u i n e i s s u e as t o any 
m a t e r i a l f a c t and t h a t t h e [movant] i s e n t i t l e d t o a j u d g m e n t 
as 
a m a t t e r o f l a w . ' 
R u l e 5 6 ( c ) ( 3 ) , A l a . R. C i v . P . " ) . 
Thus, 
t h i s C o u r t w i l l a p p l y t h e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e 
d e n i a l o f a R u l e 5 9 ( e ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n 
t o 
a l t e r , 
amend, o r v a c a t e 
a j u d g m e n t . 
"Whether 
t o 
g r a n t 
r e l i e f 
u n d e r 
R u l e 
5 9 ( e ) 
... 
i s w i t h i n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
d i s c r e t i o n . " 
B r a d l e y v. Town o f A r g o , 2 So. 3d 819, 
823 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 8 ) . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
f i r s t 
a r g u e t h a t Wood's summary-judgment 
m o t i o n was u n t i m e l y . 
The f a c t s i n d i c a t e t h a t Wood f i r s t moved 
f o r 
a summary j u d g m e n t 
on M a r c h 19, 2009. The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d e n i e d 
t h i s m o t i o n as b e i n g 
u n t i m e l y . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
a l s o 
deemed t h e m o t i o n i n c o m p l e t e b e c a u s e d i s c o v e r y i n t h e c a s e h a d 
not 
been c o m p l e t e d . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t h e r e a f t e r c o n d u c t e d a 
b e n c h 
t r i a l 
on M a r c h 30, 2009, and M a r c h 31, 2009. 
On t h e 
s e c o n d day -- M a r c h 31, 2009 -- t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t i n d i c a t e d i t s 
i n t e n t i o n t o c o n t i n u e t h e t r i a l , w h i c h was 
u l t i m a t e l y s e t t o 
resume on J u n e 15, 2009. 
On 
A p r i l 
2, 2009, t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s 
15 
1081428 
f i l e d a s e c o n d amended c o m p l a i n t t o a d d F u l l e r a n d C a r r as 
d e f e n d a n t s . 
On A p r i l 20, 2009, Wood 
f i l e d a r e n e w e d 
m o t i o n 
f o r 
a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
on 
a l l c l a i m s 
a l l e g e d 
i n t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s ' 
c o m p l a i n t a n d f i r s t amended c o m p l a i n t - - b a s e d on 
t h e 
f a c t 
t h a t 
a l l d i s c o v e r y h a d b e e n c o m p l e t e d . 
Wood 
a l s o 
s u b m i t t e d t h e summary-judgment m o t i o n as a new m o t i o n b a s e d on 
a l l 
c l a i m s 
a s s e r t e d 
i n t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s ' 
s e c o n d 
amended 
c o m p l a i n t . 
The m o t i o n was a c c o m p a n i e d by a 35-page b r i e f 
t h a t 
r e f e r e n c e d 17 a t t a c h m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g d e p o s i t i o n 
t r a n s c r i p t s , 
d i s c o v e r y 
r e s p o n s e s , 
a n d 
t h e 
p r e l i m i n a r y - i n j u n c t i o n 
t r a n s c r i p t . 
We p r e s u m e u n d e r t h e s e f a c t s t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
deemed Wood's m o t i o n t i m e l y b e c a u s e i t 
g r a n t e d t h e m o t i o n on 
t h e 
m e r i t s . 
"'The t r i a l 
c o u r t i s a f f o r d e d a w i d e 
r a n g e o f 
d i s c r e t i o n i n a p p l y i n g t h e t i m e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f R u l e 5 6 . ' " 
V e r n e u i l l e , 914 So. 2d a t 824 ( q u o t i n g H a l e v . U n i o n 
F o u n d r y 
 
Co., 673 So. 2d 762, 764 ( A l a . C i v . App. 19 9 5 ) ( C r a w l e y , J . , 
d i s s e n t i n g ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d i n V e r n e u i l l e ) ) . 
M o r e o v e r , 
R u l e 
45, 
A l a . R. App. P., 
s t a t e s 
t h a t 
" [ n ] o j u d g m e n t may be 
r e v e r s e d o r s e t a s i d e 
... f o r e r r o r 
as t o a n y m a t t e r o f 
p l e a d i n g o r p r o c e d u r e , u n l e s s ... t h e e r r o r c o m p l a i n e d o f 
h a s 
p r o b a b l y 
i n j u r i o u s l y 
a f f e c t e d 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
r i g h t s 
o f t h e 
p a r t i e s . " 
U n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
r i g h t s were 
16 
1081428 
n o t s u b s t a n t i a l l y p r e j u d i c e d . 
Wood f i l e d h i s summary-judgment 
m o t i o n on A p r i l 20, 2 0 0 9 - - w e l l b e f o r e t h e J u n e 15, 2009, 
t r i a l 
d a t e . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s ' 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t Wood's 
summary-judgment 
m o t i o n 
f a i l e d t o i n c l u d e a n a r r a t i v e summary i n s u p p o r t o f i t s 
m o t i o n 
i s w i t h o u t 
m e r i t . 
R u l e 
5 6 ( c ) , 
A l a . R. C i v . P., 
p r o v i d e s : 
" ( 1 ) Form o f M o t i o n and S t a t e m e n t i n O p p o s i t i o n 
T h e r e t o . 
The 
m o t i o n 
s h a l l 
be 
s u p p o r t e d 
by 
a 
n a r r a t i v e summary o f what t h e movant c o n t e n d s t o be 
t h e 
u n d i s p u t e d 
m a t e r i a l 
f a c t s ; 
t h a t 
n a r r a t i v e 
 
summary may be s e t f o r t h i n t h e m o t i o n o r may be  
a t t a c h e d as an e x h i b i t . The n a r r a t i v e summary 
s h a l l 
be s u p p o r t e d by s p e c i f i c 
r e f e r e n c e s 
t o 
p l e a d i n g s , 
p o r t i o n s o f d i s c o v e r y 
m a t e r i a l s , o r a f f i d a v i t s and 
may 
i n c l u d e 
c i t a t i o n s t o 
l e g a l 
a u t h o r i t y . 
Any 
s u p p o r t i n g 
d o c u m e n t s t h a t a r e n o t on f i l e 
s h a l l be 
a t t a c h e d as e x h i b i t s . I f 
t h e o p p o s i n g p a r t y 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t m a t e r i a l f a c t s a r e i n d i s p u t e , 
t h a t p a r t y 
s h a l l 
f i l e and s e r v e a s t a t e m e n t i n o p p o s i t i o n 
s u p p o r t e d 
i n 
t h e same manner 
as i s p r o v i d e d 
h e r e i n 
f o r a 
summary o f u n d i s p u t e d m a t e r i a l f a c t s . " 
( E m p h a s i s 
added.) 
As 
p r e v i o u s l y 
n o t e d , 
Wood's 
summary-judgment 
m o t i o n 
i n c l u d e d 
a 35-page 
b r i e f i n w h i c h he a r g u e d 
t h e i s s u e o f 
i m m u n i t y ; 
t h e 
b r i e f 
r e f e r e n c e d 
numerous 
e x h i b i t s 
and 
a t t a c h m e n t s . 
I n I n t e r n a t i o n a l 
F i d e l i t y 
I n s u r a n c e 
Co. v . 
G i l l i a m , 
659 So. 2d 24 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 5 ) , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
a d d r e s s e d 
c l a i m s 
t h a t a movant h a d f a i l e d t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e n a r r a t i v e -
17 
1081428 
summary r e q u i r e m e n t o f R u l e 
5 6 ( c ) ( 1 ) . 
T h i s C o u r t c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t t h e m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t 
" i n c l u d e d 
e x h i b i t s 
s u f f i c i e n t t o meet t h e n a r r a t i v e summary r e q u i r e m e n t o f R u l e 
56." 
659 So. 2d a t 27. L i k e w i s e , Wood's s u b m i s s i o n o f t h e 
f a c t s , 
w h i c h a r e c o n t a i n e d i n t h e a r g u m e n t 
s e c t i o n o f 
h i s 
a c c o m p a n y i n g 
b r i e f , 
w i t h 
r e f e r e n c e s 
t o 
s p e c i f i c 
a t t a c h m e n t s / e x h i b i t s , i s s u f f i c i e n t t o meet t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s 
o f 
R u l e 56. 
On a p p e a l , t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
a r g u e 
a l t e r n a t i v e l y 
t h a t t h e summary j u d g m e n t was n o t p r o p e r b e c a u s e , t h e y a r g u e , 
Wood was n o t e n t i t l e d t o i m m u n i t y . 
However, t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
f a i l e d t o r a i s e t h i s a r g u m e n t b e f o r e t h e t r i a l c o u r t i n e i t h e r 
t h e i r r e s p o n s e t o Wood's summary-judgment m o t i o n o r i n t h e i r 
p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n f o r 
r e l i e f f r o m t h e j u d g m e n t . 
T h i s C o u r t 
w i l l n o t p l a c e a t r i a l 
c o u r t 
" ' " i n 
e r r o r on m a t t e r s w h i c h t h e 
r e c o r d 
r e v e a l s i t n e i t h e r 
r u l e d upon n o r was p r e s e n t e d t h e  
o p p o r t u n i t y t o r u l e u p o n . " ' " 
V e r n e u i l l e , 914 So. 2d a t 824 
( q u o t i n g J.K. v. L e e C o u n t y Dep't o f Human R e s . , 668 So. 2d 
813, 
817 
( A l a . C i v . 
App 
1 9 9 5 ) , 
q u o t i n g i n t u r n W i l s o n v .  
S t a t e Dep't o f Human R e s . , 527 So. 2d 1322, 1324 ( A l a . C i v . 
App. 
19 8 
8 ) ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d i n V e r n e u i l l e ) ) . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d i d n o t e x c e e d 
i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n 
i n d e n y i n g t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s ' 
p o s t j u d g m e n t 
m o t i o n 
b a s e d 
on t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s ' 
18 
1081428 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t t h e m o t i o n was 
p r o c e d u r a l l y 
d e f e c t i v e . 
The 
summary j u d g m e n t i s , t h e r e f o r e , 
a f f i r m e d . 
AYH's M o t i o n f o r 
a Judgment B a s e d on P a r t i a l 
F i n d i n g s 
 
P u r s u a n t t o R u l e 5 2 ( c ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P. 
^As p r e v i o u s l y n o t e d , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
d u r i n g t h e s e c o n d 
day o f t h e o r e t e n u s h e a r i n g on M a r c h 31, 2009, c o n t i n u e d t h e 
t r i a l 
i n o r d e r 
t o 
a l l o w 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s 
t o amend 
t h e i r 
c o m p l a i n t 
t o a d d 
d e f e n d a n t s . 
The 
t r i a l 
was 
u l t i m a t e l y 
c o n t i n u e d t o J u n e 15, 2009. 
The p l a i n t i f f s t h e r e a f t e r amended 
t h e i r c o m p l a i n t 
t o a d d F u l l e r and C a r r as d e f e n d a n t s . 
F u l l e r 
and 
C a r r 
f i l e d 
a 
j o i n t 
m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s , 
w h i c h 
was 
a c c o m p a n i e d by 
t h e i r 
i n d i v i d u a l 
a f f i d a v i t s . 
A t t h e same 
t i m e , AYH 
f i l e d a R u l e 5 2 ( c ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., m o t i o n f o r a 
j u d g m e n t 
b a s e d on 
p a r t i a l 
f i n d i n g s , w h i c h t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
g r a n t e d . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
a p p e a l 
t h e 
d e n i a l 
o f 
t h e i r 
p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n t o a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e t h e j u d g m e n t i n 
f a v o r o f AYH. 
R u l e 5 2 ( c ) , A l a . 
R. C i v . 
P., 
p r o v i d e s : 
" ( c ) Judgment on P a r t i a l 
F i n d i n g s . I f d u r i n g a 
t r i a l w i t h o u t a j u r y a p a r t y h a s been f u l l y h e a r d on 
an 
i s s u e and t h e c o u r t 
f i n d s a g a i n s t t h e p a r t y on 
t h a t 
i s s u e , t h e c o u r t may 
e n t e r 
j u d g m e n t 
a g a i n s t 
t h a t p a r t y w i t h 
r e s p e c t t o a c l a i m o r d e f e n s e 
t h a t 
c a n n o t u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l l i n g l a w be m a i n t a i n e d 
o r 
d e f e a t e d 
w i t h o u t a f a v o r a b l e 
f i n d i n g on t h a t 
i s s u e , 
o r 
t h e c o u r t 
may 
d e c l i n e 
t o r e n d e r 
any j u d g m e n t 
19 
1081428 
u n t i l 
t h e c l o s e o f a l l 
t h e e v i d e n c e . S u c h a j u d g m e n t 
may 
be s u p p o r t e d by f i n d i n g s o f f a c t and c o n c l u s i o n s 
o f 
l a w . " 
On a p p e a l , t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
a r g u e 
p r i m a r i l y t h a t t h e y were 
n o t 
f u l l y 
h e a r d 
on AYH's 
l i a b i l i t y 
b e c a u s e , 
t h e y 
s a y , 
t h e y 
were d e n i e d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o o f f e r a d d i t i o n a l t e s t i m o n y 
f r o m 
F u l l e r and C a r r r e g a r d i n g t h e a c t u a l a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n 
AYH, 
on t h e one h a n d , and t h e B l o u n t C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n 
and 
t h e S h e l b y C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n , on t h e o t h e r h a n d . 
More 
s p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e y a r g u e t h a t " t h e y had y e t t o o f f e r 
t e s t i m o n y 
and e v i d e n c e r e g a r d i n g t h e a c t u a l a g r e e m e n t s and p r a c t i c e s 
o f 
[AYH], 
as 
e v i d e n c e d 
i n p a r t 
f r o m 
t h e 
a f f i d a v i t s 
o f 
Randy 
F u l l e r and James C a r r . " 
D u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t h e t w o - d a y o r e 
t e n u s p r o c e e d i n g , t h e t e s t i m o n y f r o m AYH 
o f f i c i a l s 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
t h a t 
o n l y 
t h e 
l o c a l 
s c h o o l 
a u t h o r i t i e s , 
i n 
t h i s 
c a s e 
t h e 
B l o u n t C o u n t y B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n and t h e S h e l b y C o u n t y 
B o a r d 
o f 
E d u c a t i o n , had 
t h e 
a u t h o r i t y 
t o d e t e r m i n e 
where a 
c h i l d 
r e s i d i n g 
i n 
i t s 
d i s t r i c t 
a t t e n d e d 
s c h o o l , 
r e g a r d l e s s 
o f 
z o n i n g . 
T h e r e was 
a l s o 
l i m i t e d t e s t i m o n y f r o m AYH 
o f f i c i a l s 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e number o f h o u r s 
and 
t h e 
c o u r s e 
o f c u r r i c u l u m 
A.W. 
and 
W.B. 
r e c e i v e d w h i l e 
a t t e n d i n g 
s c h o o l 
w i t h i n 
t h e 
B l o u n t and S h e l b y C o u n t y s c h o o l s y s t e m s , 
r e s p e c t i v e l y . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f s 
p o i n t o u t t h a t AYH, 
p u r s u a n t 
t o i t s c o n t r a c t w i t h 
20 
1081428 
DYS, 
h a d a d u t y t o p r o v i d e A.W. 
a n d W.B. 
w i t h an 
e d u c a t i o n 
t h a t 
c o m p l i e d 
w i t h 
s t a t e l a w a n d D e p a r t m e n t o f 
E d u c a t i o n 
r e g u l a t i o n s . 
They a l s o c o n t e n d t h a t t h e r e was some s o r t o f 
a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n AYH a n d t h e r e s p e c t i v e b o a r d s o f e d u c a t i o n 
r e g a r d i n g 
A.W. 
a n d 
W.B.'s 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
a r r a n g e m e n t s . 
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e o n l y p e o p l e who t e s t i f i e d 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e s e 
i s s u e s 
were AYH 
o f f i c i a l s . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
i n t h i s 
c a s e 
d i s m i s s e d t h e c l a i m s a g a i n s t F u l l e r a n d C a r r a p p a r e n t l y 
b e f o r e 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f s h a d a c h a n c e t o d e p o s e them. 
F u l l e r ' s a n d 
C a r r ' s 
a f f i d a v i t s a p p e a r t o o f f e r a n o t h e r s i d e o f t h e s t o r y . 
C a r r , i n 
h i s a f f i d a v i t , 
s t a t e s , i n p a r t : 
"[AYH] 
o f f i c i a l s 
c o n t a c t e d 
t h e B l o u n t 
C o u n t y 
B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n 
s o m e t i m e i n o r a r o u n d A u g u s t o f 
2006. 
The 
c o n t a c t 
was made 
t o t h e B o a r d 
o f 
E d u c a t i o n . 
The s u b j e c t o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n s r e l a t e d 
t o 
e d u c a t i o n a l 
s e r v i c e s t h a t 
c o u l d be p r o v i d e d t o 
s t u d e n t s who w o u l d be p l a c e d i n a new A l a b a m a Y o u t h 
Homes f a c i l i t y 
l o c a t e d i n B l o u n t C o u n t y , A l a b a m a . 
" D i s c u s s i o n s 
w i t h o u r B l o u n t 
C o u n t y 
s t a f f a n d  
AYH 
r e l a t e d t o what 
e d u c a t i o n 
s e r v i c e s 
w o u l d be  
b e n e f i c i a l a n d a p p r o p r i a t e w i t h i n t h e s t r u c t u r e s o f 
t h e 
AYH 
p r o g r a m : 
what 
c o u n s e l i n g ; 
what 
i n d i v i d u a l i z e d 
s e r v i c e s ; what t r a n s p o r t a t i o n w o u l d 
be n e e d e d a n d p r o v i d e d . " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
F u l l e r , i n 
h i s a f f i d a v i t , 
s t a t e s , i n p a r t : 
21 
1081428 
" S t a t e d o t h e r w i s e , t h e [ S h e l b y C o u n t y ] B o a r d h a s 
i m p l e m e n t e d a c o o p e r a t i v e a g r e e m e n t w i t h [AYH] s i n c e 
a t l e a s t 1998. ... 
" S t u d e n t s who a r e p l a c e d i n t h e p r o g r a m o f t h e 
B o a r d b y [AYH] r e c e i v e a f u l l d a y o f i n s t r u c t i o n b y 
h i g h l y 
q u a l i f i e d 
t e a c h e r s 
p u r s u a n t 
t o t h e 
S t a t e 
a p p r o v e d 
c u r r i c u l u m . 
I t i s a 
f u l l d a y o f s c h o o l . 
I t i s my u n d e r s t a n d i n g 
t h a t Donna D i c k s o n 
m o n i t o r s 
t h e p r o g r a m w i t h 
[ A Y H ] . " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
As p r e v i o u s l y n o t e d , Randy H a l e , t h e p r o g r a m d i r e c t o r f o r 
AYH, 
t e s t i f i e d 
t h a t t h e p l a i n t i f f s 
a t t e n d e d 
s c h o o l 
o n l y 
3 
h o u r s and 15 m i n u t e s p e r d a y . 
He 
a l s o 
s t a t e d 
t h a t , 
upon 
i n q u i r y as t o t h e a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s 
o f t h o s e h o u r s , he h a d b e e n 
i n f o r m e d 
by someone a t t h e B l o u n t 
C o u n t y B o a r d o f 
E d u c a t i o n 
t h a t " e v e r y t h i n g was f i n e . " 
I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e r e a p p e a r s t o 
be 
o u t s t a n d i n g 
i s s u e s 
t h a t c a n be r e s o l v e d 
o n l y by f u r t h e r 
d i s c o v e r y and a d d i t i o n a l c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n 
o f AYH 
o f f i c i a l s . 
C o n s e q u e n t l y , we c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t i n 
f a v o r o f AYH, u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , 
was p r e m a t u r e and t h a t 
i t 
s h o u l d h a v e d e f e r r e d r e n d e r i n g a j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f AYH 
p e n d i n g f u r t h e r d i s c o v e r y . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e j u d g m e n t o f t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t i n f a v o r o f AYH i s r e v e r s e d . 
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART; AND REMANDED. 
L y o n s , S t u a r t , P a r k e r , and Shaw, J J . , c o n c u r . 
22 
1081428 
Cobb, C . J . , and W o o d a l l and M u r d o c k , J J . , 
c o n c u r i n t h e 
r e s u l t . 
23