# FILED December 6, 1995 Cecil Crowson, Jr. App ellate C ou rt Clerk 1 I N THECOUR

TOFAPPEALS

FRA N CESG REG G BRI CK ELLa n d) BLO U N TCI RCU

I T ED W I N A ELLI SCO

FFEY , ) C. A . N O . 03A 01- 9505- C

V - 001159 ) Pl a i ntif f - A pp e lle e s ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. W . DALEYOUNG ) J UDGE ) ) ) ) ) C I TY OFFR

I ENDSVI LLE, ) AFFI R M ED AND R

EM ANDED ) D

e f e nda nt - A

ppe l l a nt )

M I C H A ELH . M EA R ES , M a r y v ille , for a pp e lla nt . D A V I D T. BLA

CK , M a r y v ille , for a pp e lle e .

O PI N I O N Mc Mur r a y , J . Thi s i s a n e xt r a or di na r y a ppe a l i n t he m os t l i t e r a l s e ns e of t h e w or d. The a ppe l l a nt pr e va i l e d i n t he t r i a l c our t , but ne ve r t he -2

l e ss, h a s app eal e dcl a i m i n gt h a t t h e t r i a l cour t er r e di nr e f u s i n g t oc o n s o lid a t e thi s a c tio nw itha n o t he r a c tio nr e l a tin gtothe s a m e s ubj e c t m

a t t e r pe ndi ng i n t he s a m e c our t . Th e p l a i ntif f s f ile dthe i r c o m p l a i nt s e e ki n ga de c l a r a t or y j udgm e nt a s t o t he ow

ne r s hi p of a n a ba ndone d r a i l r oa dri g ht - o f-w a y . The r a i l r oa d r i ght - of - w a y ha s be e n f or m a l l y a ba ndone d byCSX Tr a ns por t a t i on, I nc . , or i t s pr e de c e s s or i n t i t l e a nd no i s s ue i s ma de r e ga r di ng t he a ba ndonm e nt . The pl a i nt i f f s s ought t he c our t ’ s j udgm e nt t ha t t he C

i t y of Fr i e nds vi l l e ha d no ow ne r s hi p r i ght t o t h e a ba ndone d r i ght - of - w a y. The pl a i nt i f f s f ur t he r s ought a de t e r m i n a tio na s t o w

he t he r t he a c t i vi t i e s of t he C i t y upon t he pr ope r t yc ons t i t ut e d a t a ki ng by i nve r s e c onde m na t i on. The p l a i ntif f s f i l e d a m ot i on f or pa r t i a l s um m a r y j udgm

e nt on t he i s s ue of ow ne r s hi p of t he a ba ndone d r i ght - of - w a y. The C

i t y r e s ponde d t o t h e m ot i on f or s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt a nd i n i t s r e s pons e a gr e e d t ha t t h e r e w

a s n oi s s u e o f m

a t e r i a l f act r e l a t i n gt o ow ne r s hi p of t he pr ope r t ya nd a gr e e d t ha t t he pr ope r t y r e ve r t e d t o t he a dj oi ni n g l a ndow ne r s a s a lle g e dinthe c o m p l a i nt. Th e C

itya s s e r t e d , how e ve r , t h a t t h e r e w a s a g e nu i n e i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l f act as t o w he t he r t he C

i t y ha d i nv e r s e l y c onde m ne d pl a i nt i f f s ’ pr ope r t y by its act i o nas al l e g e di nt h e c o m p l a i nt. Th e C

ityf ur t he r a s s e r t e d t h a t if th e r e ha dbe e n a t a ki ng by i nve r s e c onde m na t i on, t he C

i t y’ s act i o nw

a s b a r r e db ythe s t a t ut e o f li m i t a t i o n s c o nt a i ne dinT. C. A . § 2 9 - 1 6 - 1 2 4 . A

lte r n a tiv e l y , th e C ityin s i s t e dth a t if the r e wa s n o3

i nve r s e c onde m

na t i on, t he n t he i s s ue s w e r e l i m

i t e d t o a n a c t i on f or t r e s p a ss. Fur t he r , th e C ityin s i s t e dini t s r e s pons e t o t he m ot i on f or s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt t ha t t he c a s e s houl d be c ons ol i da t e d w i t h M c C o llum , e t a l v . Cityo f Fr i e n d s v ille , a s i m i l a r cas e t h e n pe ndi ngi nt h e s a m e cour t , f or f ear t h a t a “f a i l ur e t o c ons ol i da t e t h e s e a c t i ons s ubj e c t s t he de f e nda n t to t he r i s k of i nc ons i s t e nt de t e r m i n a tio non t he i s s ue of i nve r s e c onde m na t i on a nd w

oul d r un c ont r a r y t o j udi c i a l e c onom y. ” Subs e que nt t o t he r e s pons e t o t he m ot i on f or s um

m a r yj udgm

e nt , t h e C ityf ile dits a n s w e r . Inthe a n s w

e r , th e C

itya dm

itte dth a t i t ha d “ gr a de d, l a nds c a pe d a nd s ow e d” t h e for m

e r ra i l r o a dr i ght - of - wa ya nd a ve r r e d t ha t i t ha d done s o s i nc e 1988. The C i t y a ga i n a s s e r t e dth e s t a t ut e o f lim ita tio n s . A he a r i ng w

a s he l dont he m

ot i on f or s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt a nd upon t h e i s s ue of c ons ol i da t i on. The c our t s us t a i ne dth e p l a i ntif f s ’ m o tio nf or pa r t i a l s um m a r y j udgm

e nt r ul i ng t ha t t he a ba ndone d r i g ht - o f-w

a yr e ve r t e d t o t he a dj oi ni ng l a ndow ne r s . The c our t de ni e d t he m

ot i on t o c ons ol i da t e . Subs e que nt t o t he s us t a i ni ng of t he pl a i nt i f f s ’ m ot i on f or p a r tia l s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt , t he de f e nda nt f i l e da m ot i on f or pa r t i a l s u mma r yj udgm

e nt a ve r r i ng t ha t t he r e w a s no ge nui ne i s s ue of m a t e r i a l f a c t on t he i s s ue of i nve r s e c onde m na t i on a nd t ha t t he4

C ityw a s e ntitle dtoju d g m e nt a s a m

a tte r o f la w

. Th e C

ity a s s e r t e dinits m o tio nth a t “ t he de f e n d a nt [ C ity ] is e ntitle dto pa r t i a l s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt a s a m

a t t e r of l a w

hol di ng t ha t t he C i t y of Fr i e nds vi l l e ha d not i nve r s e l y c onde m ne dt he pr ope r t y a t i ssu e . ” Af t e r a he a r i ng on J a nua r y 31, 1995, t he c our t e nt e r e d i t s j udgm e nt . I n t he j udgm e nt t he c our t r e c i t e d t ha t t he pl a i nt i f f s t hr oughc ouns e l a dvi s e d t he c our t t ha t t he y di d not r e s i s t t he C ity ’ s m

ot i on f or pa r t i a l s um m a r y j udgm

e nt a nd t ha t t he y w oul d a gr e e toth e gr a nt i ng of pa r t i a l s um m a r y j udgm

e nt i nor de r t o ha ve t h e m a tte r f i n a llyr e s o l v e d . Th e p l a i ntif f s a l s oa nnounc e d t ha t t h e yw o u l dv o l unt a r ilydi s m i s s the i r c l a i m

f or da m

a ge s f or t r e s p a s s s ot ha t a f i na l or de r c oul d be e nt e r e d. The a ppe l l a nt pr e va i l e d on a l l i ssu e s r e l a tin gtothe m e r its o f the c a s e . It is f r o m thi s j udgm e nt t ha t t he C

i t y a ppe a l s . Fi r s tlyt h e r e i s n or e qu i r e m e nt t h a t s e p a r a t e cases h a v e c ons i s t e nt j udgm

e nt s . Ea c h c a s e mu s t s t a n dor f a ll o nits o w n m e r its . Th e C

itya s s u m

e s the p o s itio nth a t thi s c a s e w a s de c i de d ont he s a m

e f act s as M

c C o llum , s upr a . Suc h, how e ve r , i s not t he cas e . I n t hi s c a s e , a s oppos e d t o M c C o llum , th e p l a i ntif f s c o n cede dt h a t t h e r e w a s n og e nu i n e i s s u e o f a m a t e r i a l f act r e l a tin gt o i nve r s e c onde m n a tio n , a n d , th e r e f or e , th e C ityw a s e ntitle dt o a j udgm e nt as a m

a t t e r o f l a w

t h a t t h e r e h a db eenn o t a ki n g . Fur t he r , th e yw ithdr e w

the i r c l a i m

s f or tr e s p a s s tothe i r1McCollumwas also appealed to this court. The transcript of the proceedings

filed in McCollumand in this case are identical. 5 pr ope r t y. The C

i t y c onc e de d t ha t i t ha d no ow ne r s hi p i nt e r e s t i n t h e pr ope r t y i n que s t i on. I n t hi s c a s e t he r e w a s no j us t i c i a b l e i ssu e l e f t for t h e cour t t odeci de ex cep t t h e as s e s s m e nt of c os t s . N o i s s ue i s m

a de r e ga r di ng t he a s s e s s m e nt of c os t s . For a co nt r o v e r s yt ob e r e g a r de das "j u s t i c i a b l e" t h e r e m u s t e xi s t a r eal i s s u e or qu e s t i o nr a t h e r t h a na t h e or e t i cal or s p e c u l a tiv e one . I n a ddi t i on, t he f a c t s m us t be r i pe f o r a j u di c i a l a dj u s t m

e nt. H e s t e r v . M

u s i c V i l l a g e U

. S . A ., I n c ., 6 9 2 S . W . 2 d426 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1985) , c i t i ng Pa r ks v. A l e xa nde r , 608 S . W . 2d 881 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1980) . O

bvi ous l y t hi s c a s e doe s not m e e t t he t e s t . Ont he ot he r ha nd, i n M c C o llum , th e p l a i ntif f s s till s o u g ht a de t e r m i n a tio nt ha t t he r e ha d be e n a n i nve r s e t a ki ng a nd t ha t t he pl a i nt i f f s w

e r e e nt i t l e d t o a t t or ne y’ s f e e s , not onl y f or i nve r s e c o n de m na t i onbut a l s o f or a ba ndonm e nt of a c onde m

na t i on a c t i o n pur s ua nt t o T. C. A . § 29- 17- 812. O bvi ous l y a j us t i c i a bl e i s s ue r e m a i n e di n M

c C o llum . 1
Fi n a lly , th e m

a tte r o f c o n s o lid a tio na d dr e s s e s its e l f tothe s ounddi s c r e t i on of t he t r i a l c our t . R ul e 42. 01, Te nne s s e e R ul e s of C i vi l Pr oc e dur e pr ovi de s a s f ol l ow s :6 42. 01 C

ons ol i dat i on. — W h e nact i ons i nvol vi ng a c o mmo nqu e s tio n of l a w or f a c t a r e pe ndi ng be f or e a c our t , t he c our t m a y or de r a l l t he a c t i ons c ons ol i da t e d or he a r d j oi nt l y, a nd m a y m a ke s uc h or de r s c onc e r ni ng pr oc e e di ngs t he r e i n a s m a y t e nd t o a voi d unne c e s s a r y c os t s or de l a y. W he n t he a c t i ons a r e t o be t r i e d be f or e a jur y , th e jo i nt he a r i n gor tr i a l s h a ll b e o na ll o f the m a tte r s inis s u e inthe a c tio n s , e x c e p t a s tois s u e s o n whi c hj ur y t r i a l ha s be e n w a i ve d by a l l pa r t i e s . W he n t he act i o n s a r e not t o be t r i e d be f or e a j ur y, t he j oi nt he a r i ng or t r i a l m a y be on a l l or a ny of t he m a t t e r s i n i s s u e inth e a c tio n s . I n V a n Za ndt v. D

a nc e , 827 S . W

. 2d 785 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1991) , t he c our t s pe a ki ng of R ul e 42. 01 s t a t e d: Th e us e of t he t e r m " m a y" i n t he i ni t i a l por t i on of t hi s R u l e c l e a r l yg i v e s the tr i a l c our t di s c r e t i on a s to w h e t h e r t h e f act s o f a p a r t i c u l a r cas e m e r i t co n s o l i d a - tio nof c a s e s of t ha t t ype . 1 A m . J ur . 2d, A

c t i on s i n c h a p t e r V

I I I e nt i t l e d " C

ons ol i da t i on of A

c t i ons " ha s thi s t o s a y: § 157. C

ons ol i da t i on a s m a t t e r of r i ght or di s c r e t i on. I nt he ab s e n ce of s t a t ut e , t he c ons ol i da t i on of act i o n s i s not a m a tte r o f r i g ht, b ut r e s t s i n t he s ound di s c r e t i on of t he c our t , a nd i t s di s c r e t i on i n or de r i ng or r e f us i ng c ons ol i da t i on w i l l not be i nt e r f e r e dw ith unl e s s a bus e d. V a n Za ndt , a t pa ge 787.

We a gr e e w

i t h our c ol l e a gue s t ha t t he que s t i on i s a m a t t e r whi c ha d dr e s s e s its e l f tothe di s c r e tiono f the tr i a l c o ur t an dthe c our t ’ s ju d gm

e nt t he r e on w

i l l not be di s t ur be d a bs e nt a c l e a r s how i ng of a bus e of di s c r e t i on.7

We f i nd no a bus e of di s c r e t i on on t he pa r t of t he t r i a l c our t . Fur t he r , w

e f i nd no m

e r i t i n t he i s s ue pr e s e nt e d f or r e vi e w by t he a pp e l l a nt . W

e af f i r m t he j udgm e nt of t he t r i a l c our t i n a l l r e s p ect s . C

os t s of t hi s a ppe a l a r e t a xe d t o t he a ppe l l a nt a nd t hi s cas e i s r e m

a n de dt ot h e t r i a l cour t f or t h e co l l ect i o nt h e r e o f .

__________________________________ D on T. M

c M ur r a y, J . CONC UR:

___________________________________ H e r s c he l P. Fr a nk s , J .

___________________________________ C h a r l e s D

. Su s a n o , J r ., J .I N THECOUR TOFAPPEALS

FRA N CESG REG G BRI CK ELLa n d) BLO U N TCI RCU

I T ED W I N A ELLI SCO

FFEY , ) C. A . N O . 03A 01- 9505- C

V - 001159 ) Pl a i ntif f - A pp e lle e s ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. W . DALEYOUNG ) J UDGE ) ) ) ) ) C I TY OFFR

I ENDSVI LLE, ) AFFI R M ED AND R

EM ANDED ) D

e f e nda nt - A

ppe l l a nt )

O RDE R Thi s a p p eal ca m

e on t o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d f r om t he C i r c u i t C

our t of Bl ount C

ount y, br i e f s a nd a r gum e nt o f c ouns e l . U ponc ons i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s C our t i s of t he opi ni on t ha t t he r e w a s no r e ve r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c our t . We a f f i r m

th e ju d g m

e nt o f the tr i a l c o ur t ina ll r e s p e c t s . Co s t s o f t hi s app eal ar e t a x e dt ot h e app e l l a nt an dt hi s cas e i s r e m a nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t f or t he c ol l e c t i on t he r e of . PER CU RI A M