I N TH E S UPR EM E C O U R T O F M I S S I S S I PPI N O. 2 0 0 5 - I A- 0 2 0 3 3 - S CT T H EP A R K ON L

A K E L A ND DR I V

E , I NC . A ND S H A NE DO UG LAS

v. NAN CY J

. S PENCE
D AT E O F JU D G M E N T : 10/ 07/ 2005 T RIAL J UDGE : HO N
. W I N S T O N L
. K I DD C O URT F RO M W HI C H AP P E

ALE D: HI

N DS C O UN T

Y C I RC UI T

C O URT ATT O RN E

YS F O R A

P P E L L AN T S : L

E AN N W
. N E

AL E Y RO BE RT A. M I L L E R L E M M O N T G O ME

R Y , III ATT O RN E

YS F O R A

P P E L L E E : M I C HAE

L HAR T UN G S
. M A L C OL MO. H A R R I S ON N ATU RE O F THE C A S E: C I VI L - O THER D I SPO SI T

I O N : R E V E R SE DA N DR E M A N D E D- 10/ 19/

2006 M O T I O N F O R R

E HE AR I N G F I L E D: M AN DAT

E I S S UE D:

B E F O R EW

A L L E R , P .J., E A SL E Y

A N D C A R L SO N , JJ. CAR LS O N , J US TI CE, F O R TH E CO UR T: ¶1. T h i s case com

es to u s v i a an i n t erl o cu to r y ap p eal a f

t e r t h e C ir c u i

t C o u r t f o r t h e F i r st J u d i c i a l D i s tri c t o f H i n d s C o u n ty e n te re d a n o rd e r d e n

y i n g th e mo t io n to tra n s f e r v e n u e to Ra n k i n C o u n t y a n d t o d i s m i

s s S h a n e D o u g l a s , f i l e d b y Th e P a r k o n Lak e l a n d D ri v e , I n c . Th e pa r ti e s pr e s e n t a qu e s ti on of w h e t h e r Sh a n e D ou g l a s w a s f r a u du l e n tl y j oi ne d f or t h e s ol e p u rp o s e o f e s ta b l i s h i n g v e n u e i n H i n d s C o u n t y , M iss i

s s i p p i
. T h e re f o re , at i s s u e i s w h e th e r th e p l ai n ti f f , N an cy J. S p en ce, asse r t e d a r easo n

ab l e cl ai m o f l i ab i l i t y ag ai n st S h an e D o u g l as.2

F i n d i n g t h at t h e t ri al j u d g e er

r ed i n r ef u si n g to t r an sf er v en u e t o R an k i n C o u n t y an d d i sm i ss S h a n e D o u g l a s, w e rev

e rse th e c i rcu i t co u rt ’s o rd e r an

d rem a n d t h is c a se to th

e C i rcu i t C o u rt fo r t h e F i rs t Ju d i c i a l D i s tri c t o f H i n d s C o u n ty wi th i n s tru c ti o n s to tra n s f e r v e n u e to th e C ir c u it C o u rt o f R a n k i n C o u n ty . F A C T S A ND P RO C E E DI NG S I N T H ET RI A L C O U RT ¶2. T h i s pe r s on a l i n j u r y s u i t a ri s e s f rom a c ol l i s i on be t w e e n t w o i c e s k a t e r s at T h e Par k on L a k e la n d D ri

v e , In c . (T h e P a rk ) du ri n g a p u b l i c s e s s i o n. T h e P a rk i s a n am u s e m e n t p a rk in Ra n k i n C o u n ty . O n o r a b o u t J a n u a r y 2 , 2 0 0 2 , t h e p la in t i

f f , N a n c y J
. S p e n c e , to o k h e r two
c h i l dr en i ce s kati n g at T h e Par k. B eca u s e h er ch i l dr en w ere i n ex peri en ced s kat e r s , S p e nc e proc e e de d t o t e a c h

t h e m h ow t o s kat e by

s kati n g ba c kw a rds a nd ho l d in

g t h e i r h a n ds f or g u i da n c e . W h i l e s kati n g ba c kw a rds , Spen c e a n d M a g g i e H a r p e r , a t e n

- y e a r - ol d g i rl , c ol l i de d. M ag g i e was an am ateu r com peti ti on s kat er w h o w as al s o a st u den t at T h e Par k. M ag g i e h ad at t en ded p ri v ate on e- on - on e l es s o n s an d g rou p l es s on s . H ow ev

er , w h en t h i s par ti cu l ar i n ci den t to o k p l a c e , M a g g i e w a s s k a

ti n g f o r h e r o w n re c re a ti o n a l p u r p o s e s . A

t th e ti m e o f th i s i n c i d e n t, M a g g i e w a s at T

h e P a rk d u ri n g a p a i d p u b l i c s e s s io n , a l th o u g h s h e p re v i o u s l y h a d a s k ati n g l e sso n e a rl i e r t h at s a m e m o r n i n g . T h e f a c t s a r e d i s p u t e d a s to h o w t h e c o l l i s i o n o c c u rred
. S p e nc e c l ai

m s M ag g i e was pr act

i ci n g m an eu v er s i n t h e ce n t er i ce w h en M ag g i e f el l i n t o S pen ce’ s pat h an d S pen ce t r i pp ed ov er M ag g i e, h i t ti n g S pen ce’ s h ead on t h e i ce.I n t h e record, J ef

f r ey Wi l b ur n i s s om et i m es r ef er r ed t o as J ef

f r ey Wel bo r n . S i n ce h i s 1 s i g n e d a f f i dav i t r e v e a l s J e f f r e y ’ s s u r n am e a s “ W e l bor n ,” w e wi l l m a i n t a i n c on s i s t e n c y by r ef er ri n g to Jef f r ey as “ Wel bo r n ,” ex cept w h en r ef er r i n g to q u ot ed t ex t us ing t

h e n am e “W i l b ur n. ” I n h e r c om pl a i n t , Spen c e a s s e r t e d t ha t t h

e i n di v i du a l de f e n da n t s w e r e a l

l r e s i de n t s of 2 H i n ds C ou n t y ; ho w e v

er , i n i t s m ot i on to t r an s f er v en u e an d d i s m i s s D ou g l as , w i t h t h e at t ach ed a f f i d av i ts o f M a rth a W h i te a n d J e f

f re y W e l b o rn , T h e P a rk a l l e g e d , i n te r a l i a , th at b o th Wh i te a n d W e l b o rn w e re R a n k i n C o u n ty re s i d e n ts, a n d th a t o n l y D o u g l a s w a s a

H i n d s C o u n ty r e s i de n t . S h an e D ou g l as w as n ot s e r v ed wi t h pr oces s u

n ti l N ov em ber 18 , 2 00 4, appr ox

i m atel y 3 1 4 2 d a y s a f te r c o m m e n c e m e n t o f th e c a s e . T

h e re f o re , h e w a s n

o t se rv e d wi th i n th e re qu i s i te ti m e p e ri o d a s p ro v i d e d i n Mi ss . R
. C i v . P
. 4 (h ). Th e a f f i d av i t a l l e g e d v a ri o u s f a c t s , s u c h a s : “ S h a n e D o u g l a s , a l t h o u g h e m p l o y e d b y Th e 4 P a rk , w a s n o t wo rk i n g , w a s n o t sc h e d u l e d to w o r k , a

n d w a s n o t p re s e n t at T h e P a rk w h e n th e s u bj ect i n ci den t occu r r e d o n J a nu a r

y 2, 20 02 .”

D ou g l as w as a s kat e i

n s t r u ctor at T h e Par k, an d h i s j ob w a s t o s c h

e du l e a n d a dm i n i s t e r pri v at e s kati n g l e s s on s u pon r e qu e s t ; D ou g l a s di d n ot m an ag e T he P a r k, di

d n ot h i r e s kat e at

t en dan t s or par ti ci pat e i n an y s t af f i n g or em pl oy m en t d eci si o n s, an d d i d n o t d eci d e t h e r u l es of t h e ri n k t h at ap p l i ed d u ri n g p u b l i c s k a t in

g sess i o n s; wh i l e Do u

g l a s , a s a s k at e i n s t r u c to r , e n f o rc e d t h e r u l e s a n d s u p e r v i s e d h i s s k at e r s w

h i l e h e wa s on t h e i c e g i v i n g l e s s on s , D ou g l a s w a s n ot s c h e d ul e d t o t e a c h

a s kati n g l e s s on a n d w a s n ot on t h e pr em i s es at t h e t i m e of S pen ce’ s al l eg ed i n j u r y an d, t h u s , D o ug l as cou l d n ot h av e per s on al l y com m i t t ed an y act or om i s s i on t h at cau s ed S pen ce t o f al l
. 3 ¶3
. T h e re a f te r, o n J u n e 2 9 , 2 0 0 4 , S p e n

c e file d t h e p r e s e n

t l a w s u i t a g a i n s t T h e P a rk a n d i ts
m a n a g e rs , M a rth a W h i te , J e f f re y W i l b u rn , a n d S h a n e D o u g l a s . A f te r b e i n g s e r v e d wi

th 1 2 proc e s s on

A u g u s t 31, 2004, T

h e Par k f i l e d a m oti on f or a t r a n s f e r of v e n u e a n d di s m i s s a l of S h an e D ou g l as as a f r au du l en tl y j oi n ed def en dan t . T h e P a r k’ s m

oti on w as h ear d o n N ov em ber 3 2 2 , 20 04 , b ef

or e C i r cu i t J u dg e Wi n s ton L . K i dd . I n s u pp or t of i t s m oti on , T h e Par k app en ded th e s w o rn a f f i d av i t o f M a rth a W h i te , i ts g e n e ra l m a n a g e r, d e t a i l i n g th e i n c i d e n t a n d th e
r espo n si b i l i ti es of S h an e D o u g l as. 4Sh a n e D ou g l a s j oi n e d i n T h e Par k’ s m oti on i n a ddi t i o n t o f i l i n g a s e pa r at e m oti on f or 5 h i s d i s m i s s a l f ro m th e l a w s u i t. 4 ¶ 4. Spen

c e t h e n f i l e d a m oti on t o s t a y u n ti l d i s c o ve r y

h a d be e n c om pl e t e d on t h e i s s u e of

w h e t h e r v e n u e w a s prope r

i n H i n ds C ou n t y . Si n c e t h e c i rc u i t c o ur t d i

d n ot r u l e on t h e m oti on , d i s c o v e ry e n s u e d
. A f te r d is c o v e r y w a s c o m p l e te d , T h e P a rk a g a i n ra i s e d i ts o b je c ti o n to
v e n u e . O n O c to b e r 1 0 , 2 0 0 5 , t

h e C i rc u i t C o u r t o f H in d s C o u n t y e n

t e re d a n o rd e r d e n y i n g Th e 5 P a r k ’ s m o ti o n t o t r a n s f e r v e n u e a n d D o u g l a s ’ s m o ti o n to d i s m i s s . I t i s f ro m t h i s o r d e r t h at Th e P a rk a n d D o u g l a s f i l e d a p e ti ti o n f o r an i n te rl o c u to ry a p p e a l , w h i c h w a s g ran te d b y th i s C o u rt. See M .R .A .P. 5. D I S C U S S I ON I . W HE T HE R T HEC I R C UI T C OU R T E R R E D I N D E N Y I N G T HE P AR K ’ S M O T I O N F O R A C H A NGEO F V E NU EF RO M H I NDS CO UN TY

TO R AN K

I N CO UN TY

. ¶5. W h i l e t h e p r i

m ar y i ssu e i s t h at o f t h e t ri al j u d g e’ s f ai l u r e t o t r an sf er v en u e, w e m u st
a l so rev i e w th e tr ia l j u d g e ’s re f u sa l to d i sm i ss S h a n e D o u g l a s a s a d e f e n d a n t. Wh e n w e a re cal l ed u p o n t o co n si d er a t r i a l co u

r t ’ s g r an t o r d en i al o f a m o ti o n to d i sm i ss, t h i s C o u r t m u st
a ppl y a de n ov o s t a nd a rd of r e v i e w . Scagg

sv. G P C H - G P , Inc. , 9 3 1 S o . 2 d

1 2 7 4 , 1 2 7 5 ( Mi

ss. 20 06 ) . L i

kewi s e, i n r ev i ew i n g a t ri al cou r t ’ s r u l i n g on a m oti on to d i s m i s s , w e w i l l con s i der t h e a l l e g ati on s of t h e c om pl a i n t t o be t ake n

a s t r u e , a n d t he m oti

on to di s m i s s “ s h ou l d n ot be g ran te d u n l e s s i t a p p e a rs b e y o n d d o u b t th at th e p l a i n ti f f wi l l b e u n a b le to p ro v

e a n y s e t o f f a c ts i n s up p o r t o f hi s c l a i m . ” I d. ( c i ti ng L a ng v . B a y S t . L o u i s / W a v e l a n d Sch . D i st . , 764 So.2d 1234, 1236 ( M i

s s . 1999) )
. S

ee a l so T . M . v . No b lit t , 6 5 0 S o . 2 d

1 3 4 0 , 1 3 4 2 (Mi

ss . 1 9 9 5 ).5

¶ 6. O n

t h e ot h er h an d, w h en r ev i ew i n g a t ri a l c o ur t ’ s r

u l i n g on a m oti on to ch an g e v en u e, t h i s C o u r t a p p l i e s a n a b u s e o f d i s c r e ti o n s t a n d a rd o f r e v i e w. A u s tin v

. W e lls , 919 So. 2d 961, 9 6 3 (M i s s . 2 0 0 6 ) (c i

ti n g W ayn e G e n . H

o s p. v. H ayes , 8 6 8 S o . 2 d

9 9 7 , 1 0 0 2 (Mi

ss . 2 0 0 4 ));

s e eal s o C h r is tia n v . M c Do n a ld , 9 0 7 S o . 2 d

2 8 6 , 2 8 7
- 8 8 (M is s . 2 0 0 5 ). A tr i a l ju d g e ’s ru l i n g
on s uc h m o t i o n

“ wi l l n ot be di s t u r bed o n appeal u n l es s i t cl ear l y appear s t

h at t h ere h as been
an abu s e of di s cret i on or t h at t h e di s c r e t i o n ha s n

ot been j u s tl y an d p rop er l y ex erci s ed u n der t h e c i rc u m s t a nc e s of

t h e c a s e .” A u s tin , 9 1 9 S o . 2 d at 9 6 4 (qu

o ti n g W ay ne G e n. H

os p. , 868 S o . 2 d at 1 0 0 2 ) (c i

ti n g St ubbs v

. M i ss . F a r m B ur

e au C as . I ns . C o. , 8 2 5 S o . 2 d

8 , 1 2 ( Mi

ss. 2 0 0 2 ); M c Ca i n B l d r s , I

n c . v . Re s c u e Ro o t e r , LLC , 7 9 7 S o . 2 d

9 5 2 , 9 5 4 (M i

s s . 2 0 0 1 ); B eech

v . L e ak R i v e r

F or e s t P r ods ., I nc., 6 9 1 S o . 2 d

4 4 6 , 4 4 8 (Mi

ss . 1 9 9 7 )). ¶ 7. T h e Par k ass er t s t h at D ou g l as i s n o t a p r o p e r p a r t y t o t h i s l aw s u i t an d t h at S pen ce
n am e d D o u g l a s a s a d e f e n d a n t so l e ly f o r th e p u rp o s e o f e s ta b l i s h i n g v e n u e i n H i n d s C o u n ty . B e c a u se T h e P a rk b e l i e v e s th at D o u g l a s w a s f rau d u l e n tl y jo in e d , T h

e P a rk req u e sts th i s C o u rt to tra n s f e r v e nu e t o R a n k i

n C o u n ty , w h i c h , a c c o rd i n g to T h e P a rk , i s th e o n l y p ro p e r c o u

n ty f o r v en u e p u r p o ses. ¶ 8. “ V e n u e i s a f u n c ti on of s t at u t e .” F l i gh t L i n e, Inc. v. T

an ksl ey , 608 So. 2d 1149, 1155 (M i s s . 1 9 9 2 ). T

h i s l a w s u i t w a s c o m

m e n c e d o n J u n e 2 9 , 2 0 0 4 ; h o w e v

e r, i n 2 0 0 4 , th

e L e g i s l atu re am e n d e d M i s s . C o d e A

n n . S e c ti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 3
. D e s p i

te th e 2 0 0 4 l

e g i s l ati v e
am en dm en t t o t h e stat u t e, t h e p r e - a m en

dm en t v er si o n w as app l

i cab l e t o t h e f act s of t h i s case b e c a u s e o f th e J u n e 2 0 0 4 f i l i n g d ate . Wh

e n th i s l a w s u i t wa s c o m

m e n c e d , th e re l e v a n t p a rtsT

h e 2 0 0 4 l

eg i s l at i v e am en dm en t to s ect i on 11
- 11
- 3, w

h i ch w as ef f ect i v e “ f rom an d 6 a f t e r S e p t . 1, 2004, a

n d a ppl i c a bl e to a l l c a u s e s of a c ti on f i l e d on or a f t e r Sept . 1, 2004,”

i s no t appl i cabl e to t h i s cas e. 6 o f M i s s i s s i p p i ’s g e n e r a l v e n u e s tatu te , s e c ti o n 1 1
- 1 1
- 3 s tate d , “ [c ]i

v i l a c ti o n s o f w h i c h th e ci rcu i t cou r t h as or i g i n al j u ri s di ct i on s h al l be com m en ced in t he c o un t y

i n w h i ch t h e def en dan t
r es i des or in t he c o u

n t y w h ere t h e al l eg ed act or om i s s i on occu r r ed or w h ere t h e ev en t t h at
c a u s e d t h e i n j u r y oc c u r r e d. . .” Id . We h

av e pr ev i ou s l y a d d r e s s ed v

en u e i s s u es i n cas es 6 i n v o l v i n g m o re th a n o n e d e f e n d a n t. [ W ] h e r e v

e n u e i s g o o d a s t o o n e d e f e n d a n t , i t i s g o o d a s to a l l d e f e n d a n t s . Th i s i s t r u e w he r e t h

e def en dan t u po n w h om v en u e i s base d i s s u bsequ en tl y di s m i s s ed f rom t h e s u i t . I n s u ch s i t u at i on s , v en u e as to t h e rem ai n i n g def en dan t s con ti n u es despi t e t h e f act t h at v en u e wou l d h ave b e en i m pr op er , i f t h e ori g i n al act i on h ad nam e d t he m o nl y. Es t at e of Jo ne sv . Q ui nn , 7 1 6 S o . 2 d

6 2 4 , 6 2 7 (M i

s s . 1 9 9 8 ); B l ackl e dge

v . S c o t t , 530 S o . 2 d 1 3 6 3 , 1 3 6 5 (M i

s s . 1 9 8 8 ) (c i

ti n g Jef f er s on v. M ag ee , 2 0 5 S o . 2 d

2 8 1 (Mi ss . 1 9 6 7 )). ¶9
. In N

ew B i l ox i H

ospi t al , Inc. v. F r a z i er , 245 M i s s . 185, 192, 146 So. 2d 882, 884- 85 ( 19 6 2 ) , w e o ut l

i n ed a t h r ee- pr on g t es t i n w h i ch an act i on m ay r em ai n i n a cou n t y w h ere i t w as b ro u g h t. Wh e re a n a c ti o n i s p ro p e rl y b ro u g h t i n a c o u n ty i n w h i c h o n e o f th e d e f e n d a n ts r es i d e s , i t m

ay be r etai n ed n ot wi t h s t an di n g t h ere i s a di s m i s s al of t h e res i den t d e fe n d a n t, p ro v i d e d th e f o l l o wi n g e x i s ts - - [1 ] th

e a c ti o n w a s b e g u n i n g o o d f a i th i n t h e bon a f i de bel i ef t h at pl ai nt i f f had a cau

s e of act i on ag ai n s t t h e res i den t d ef en d an t ; [ 2 ] t h e j o i n d er o f t h e l o cal d ef e n d an t w as n o t f r au d u l en t o r f ri v o l o u s, wi t h t h e i n t en ti on of depr i v i n g t h e n on - r es i den t def en dan t of hi s ri g h t to b e s u

ed i n h i s ow n cou n t y ; an d [ 3] t h ere was a reas on

abl e cl ai m o f l i abi l i t y as s er t ed a g a i n s t th e re s i d e n t d e f e n d a n t.7

F r azi er , 2 4 5 M i

s s . at 1 9 2 , 1 4 6 S o . 2 d at 8 8 4
- 8 5 (c i

tati o n s o m i tte d ). F u

rth e rm o re , to d e te rm i n e w h e th e r th e jo i n d e r o f a d e f e n d a n t i s a re s u l t o f f ra u d , t h e a p p r o p ri

ate qu e s ti o n to
a s k i s “ w h e t h e r t h e f a c t s s u ppor t i n c l u s i on of t h e de f e n da n t u pon w h om v e n u e i s ba s e d.” W

ayne G en . H o sp . , 8 6 8 S o . 2 d

at 1 0 0 2 ; Es t at e of

Jo n es , 716 So. 2d at

628 ( c i ting J ef f er s on v. M ag ee , 20 5 S o. 2dat

28 3) . T

h e C ou r t i s n ot con cer n ed wi t h w h et h er t h e pl ai n ti f f ’ s at tor n ey h a d t h e i n t e n t t o f r a u du l e n tl y or f riv ol ou s l y e s t a bl i s h v e n u e . Id . In f a c t, th e i n te n t o f th e pl ai n ti f f ’ s a t t or n ey i s i r r el ev an t . T h eref or e, i n tod ay ’ s cas e, w e m

u s t det er m i n e w h et h er S pen ce h ad a reas on

abl e cl ai m of l i abi l i t y ag ai n s t D ou g l as , o r w h et h er D ou g l as w as i n f act f r a u du l e n tl y j oi n e d. ¶ 10
. I t i s n ece s s ar y t o b eg i n wi t h t h e “ w el l

- pl eaded al l e ga t i o ns o f t he com

pl ai n t [ ,] ” an d an y

“ o t h e r e v i d e n c e i n c o g n i z a b l e f o r m [ , ] ” i n c l u d i n g a f f i d av i t s. F l i g h t

L i n e, Inc. , 6 08 S o. 2dat 1 1 5 5
. In

a d d i ti o n , i t is w e l l s e ttl e d i n M i s s i s s i p p i th at “ th e p l a i n ti f f s e l e c ts a m o n g th e pe r m i s s i bl e v e n u e s , a n d h i s c h oi c e m u s t be s u s t a i n e d u n l e s s i n t he e nd t he r e i

s n o c r e di bl e
ev i den ce s u pp or ti n g t h e f act u al basi s f or t h e cl ai m of v en u e.” Id . H ow e v e r , v e n u e i s a v a l u a bl e
ri g h t to t h e de f e n da n t a s w e l l a n d ti m e l y obj e c t i o ns t o i

m prope r v e n u e m u s t be h on or e d. Id . ¶11
. I n t h e i n stan t case, S p en

ce f ai l ed to asser

t a r eason

ab l e cl ai m o f l i a b i l i t y ag ai n st D ou g l as . T h eref or e, t h e t h i rd p r on g of t h e F r azi er t e s t h a s n ot be e n s ati s f i e d. T h at be i n g s a i d,

w e a r e c on s t r a i n e d to f i n d t h at v e n u e w a s n e v e r prop e r i n H i n ds C ou n t y a n d t h at t h e t ri a l j u dg e abu s ed h i s di s cret i on i n al l ow i n g S pen ce t o con du ct di s cov er y . D ou gl a s s h

ou l d h av e been di s m i s s e d f ol l owi n g T h e Par k’ s s u bm i s s i o n o f a f

f i dav i t s de t a i l i n g t h e i n c i de n t a n d t h e rol e , or8

n o n - ro l e , th at D o u g l a s m a i n ta i n e d i n th i s i n c i d e n t. S p e n c e n e v e r o f f e re d a n y e v i d e n c e to
s u p p o rt th e i n c l u s i o n o f D o u g l a s a s a d e f e n d a n t. ¶ 12
. S pen

ce’ s com pl ai n t al l eg es t h at t h e “ D ef e nd a nt s , M a r

t h a Wh i t e, Je f f r ey Wi l bu r n , an d S h an e D ou g l as w ere m

an ag er s at t h e I ce Par

k, an d i n ch ar g e of s u p e r vi s i on an d saf et y an d b rea c h e d t

h e i r d u ti e s o f c a r e c a u s i n g o r p ro x i m at e l y c o n t ri b u ti n g to t h e c a u s e o f P l a i n ti f f ’s i n j u ri es an d d am ag es .” T h e c o m p l a i n t , n or an y t h i n g el s e i n t h e record, s et s f

or t h ex act l y w h at
a f f i rm ati v e a c t o r o m

i s s i o n b y D o u g l a s c re ate d l i a b i l i ty o n h i s p a rt. ¶ 13
. A f t er bei n g s er v ed wi t h S pen ce’ s com pl ai n t , T h e Par k f i l ed a m ot i o n t o t r a ns f

er v en u e
a n d t o d i

s m i s s D o u g l a s a s a d e f e n d a n t i n t h e l a w s u i t . I n s u p p o r t o f i t s m o ti o n , T h e P a rk appen ded an af

f i dav i t f r om i t s g en eral m an ag er , Mar t h a Wh i t e. I n h er af f i dav i t , Wh i t e s t ates t h at D ou g l as w as n ot pr es en t at t he s k a t ing ri

n k w h en t h e ac ci den t too k p l ace ; t h at D ou g l as w as
n o t res p o n

s i b l e f o r s u p e r v i s i n g p u b l i c s e s s i o n s ; t h at D o u g l a s ’ s o n l y c o n n e c ti o n wi t h T h e P a rk

r el ated t o p ri

v ate s kati n g l es s on s ; an d, t h at D ou g l as h ad no d u

t y to d i s cou r ag e h i g h s peed
s kati n g , or t o h i r e f l oor g u a rds or ri n k at t e nd a nt s , nor

di d D ou g l a s de c i de t h e r u l e s of t h e ri n k. ¶ 14
. S pen

ce was u na b l e to su

f f i ci en tl y r es po n d t o T h e Par k’ s m oti on an d sh ow t h at D ou g l as
w as i n an y w ay ev en r em ot el y r es po n s i bl e f or S pen ce’ s acc i den t . I n i ti al l y, S p e nc e r es po n

ded to T h e Par k’ s m o t i o n by

s e e ki n g di s c ov e r y to c om pi l e f a c t u a l s u ppor t f or Spen c e ’ s a l l e g ati on . T h e tr i a l ju d g e n e v e r ru l e d o n T h e P a rk ’s m o ti o n ; an d th e ref o r e , d i sc o v e ry e n su e d
. H o w e v

e r,
w e f in d t h a t e v e n u p o n c o m p l e ti o n o f d i s c o v e r y , t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g o f f e r e d b y S p e n c e to a s s e rt
a rea so n a b l e c l a i m o f l i a b i l i ty a g a i n st D o u g l a s. S p e n

c e ’s m a i n th e o r y rel i e s o n D o u g l a s’s
e x p e rti s e i n s k ati n g . D o u g l a s c a n n o t b e re s p o n

s i b l e b a s e d s o l e l y o n h is kn

o wl e d g e o f s k ati n g .9

I n or der to p r ev ai l ag ai n s t D o ug l a s , S p e n

ce m u s t s h ow s om e du t y on t h e par t of D ou g l as , an d t h at D ou g l as br eac h ed t h at du t y . S t ated di

f f eren tl y , i n o r d e r t o r e c ov

er ag ai n s t D ou g l as , S pen ce i s r e qu i r e d t o pr ov

e t h e c o nve nt i

on a l tor t e l e m e n t s of ( 1) du t y , ( 2) br e a c h

of du t y , ( 3) prox i m at e c a u s ati on , a n d ( 4) dam a g e s . C i t y of G r e e n vi l l e v. Jon es , 9 2 5 S o . 2 d 1 0 6 , 1 0 9 ( Mi

ss. 2 0 0 6 ); M ont go m e r y v . W oo lbr i ght , 90 4 S o. 2d10 27 , 1 02 9 ( M i s s . 2 00 4) . T

h i s , S pen ce h as
w h o l l y f a i l e d to d o . A d d i

ti o n a l l y , t o imp o s e l

i a b i l i ty o n D o u g l a s a n y ti m e a “ s k ati n g s tu d e n t” g e t s i n to a n a c c i de n t w ou l d be n on s e n s i c a l , e s pe c i a l l y w h e n t h e s t u de n t i s i n v ol v e d i n
r ecreat i on al s kati n g du ri n g a p ub l i c s es s i

on . T h at bei n g s ai d, t h e m oti on to d i s m i s s D ou g l as
a n d tra n s f e r v e n u e to R a n k i n C o u n ty , M i s s i s s i p p i w a s i m p ro p e rl y d e n i e d
. W e th

u s f in d t h is i s s u e to h av e m e ri t . I I . W HE T HE R T HEC I R C U I T C O U R T E R R E D I N D E N Y I N G T HE M O T I O N T O D I SM I SS SH A N ED O U GLA S. ¶ 15. Al t e r n ati v e l y , T h e Par k a rg u e s t h at D ou g l a s wa s n ot s e r v e d wi t h p r o c e s s wi

t h i n t h e 120- day pr ov i s i on as s et ou t i n M i s s . R . C i v . P . 4 (h) , a nd t

h at D ou g l as m u s t t h eref or e be di s m i s s ed f ro m th i s a c ti o n . H o w e v

e r, b a s e d o n o u r d is p o s iti

o n o f Is s u e I, w e f

i n d i t u n n e c e s s a ry to addr es s t h i s i s s u e. C ON C L U S I ON ¶16
. F o r t h e r e a s o n

s st at ed , w e f

i n d v en u e i n t h i s case i s i m p ro p er i n H i n d s C o u n t y , b ecau se S h a n e Do u g l a s wa s f r a u d u l e n tl y jo i n e d a n d m u s t b e d i s m i s s e d f ro m th e c a s e . Ac c o rd i

n g l y , we
a re c o n s tra i n e d a s a m atte r o f w e l l

- e s ta b l i s h e d l a w to re v e rs e th e c i rc u i t c o u rt’s o rd e r d e n y in

g th e m o ti o n to d i s m i s s S h a n e D o u g

l a s a n d tra n s f e r v e n u e to R a n k i n C o u n ty , a n d re m a n d th i s10

c a s e to th

e C i rc u i t C o u r t fo r t h e F i

rs t Ju d i c i a l D i s tri c t o f H i n d s C o u n ty wi th i n s tru c ti o n s to (1 ) d i s m i s s , wi th o u t p re ju d i c e , S h a n e D o u g l a s a s a d e f e n d a n t a n d (2 ) tran s f e r th e v e n u e o f th i s
c a s e to th

e C i rc u i t C o u rt o f R a n k i

n C o u n ty f o r f u rth e r p ro c e e d i

n gs c o n s i s te n t w i th th i s
o p i ni o n. ¶ 17. RE V

E RS E D A

ND RE M A

NDE D. SM I T H , C .J., W

A L L E R , P .J., E A SL E Y , D I C K I N SO N A

N D R A N D O L PH , JJ., C O NC U R. DI A Z , J . , DI S S E NT S W

I T H O U T S E P A RA T EW RI T T E N O P

I NI O N. C O BB, P . J . , A N D GR A V E S , J . , N OT

P A R T I C I P A T I N G.