### IN THE CO URT OF APPEALS OF TE NNE SS EE
AT JACKSON
Feb ru ary 20 , 20 13 Ses si on

HARDEMAN COUNTY v. J UDY I. MCINTYRE, E T A L



### .

D i r e c t A p p e a l f

r o m t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t f o r H a r d e m a n C o u n t y
N o

. 0 8

- 0 2

- 0 3 3 1 / 0 8

- 0 2

- 0 3 5 1 J

. W e b e r M c C r a w , J u d g e

N o

. W 2 0 1 2

- 0 1 6 9 0

- C O A

- R 3

- C V

- F i l e d M a r c h 2 7
, 2 0 1 3

T h is case co n cern s th e liab ility f o r a co llisio n i n v o lv in g a v eh icle o p erated b y o n e o f th e

ap p ellees an d an am

b u lan ce o p erated b y th e ap p ellan t co u n ty . A f ter a b en ch trial, th e trial

co u rt aw ard ed d am ag es to ap p ellee d riv er ag ain st th e ap p ellan t. A f ter a th o ro u g h rev iew o f
th e reco rd , w e rev erse an d rem an d

.

T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 3

. A p p e a l a s o f R i g h t ; J u d g m e n t o f t h e C i r c u i t C o u r t R e v e r s e d a n d

R e m a n d e d

J

. S T E V E N S T A F F O R D
, J

. , d e l i v e r e d t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t

, i n w h i c h A LA N E

. H I G H E R S

, P

. J

. , W

. S

. , a n d H O LLY M

. K IR B Y
, J

. , j o i n e d

.

J a m e s I

. P e n t e c o s t a n d M e l i s s a K

. V a n P e l t

, J a c k s o n , T e n n e s s e e , f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t s , H a r d e m a n C o u n t y , T e n n e s s e e a n d H ard em an C o u n ty E m erg en cy

M ed ical S erv ices.

D a v i d A

. S t o w e r s a n d S t e p h e n L

. H a l e , B o l i v a r , T e n n e s s e e , f o r t h e a p p e l l e e s , J u d y M c I n t y r e

a n d B i l l y M c I n t y r e

.

J a y G

. B u s h

, J a c k s o n , T e n n e s s e e , f o r t h e a p p e l l e e , J u d y I

. M c I n t y r e

.

O P I N I O N

I. B a ckg ro u n d

O n A u g u st 1 4

, 2 0 0 7

, A p p ellan t H ard em an C o u n ty E m erg en cy M ed ical S erv ices (“A m b u lan ce S erv ice”) em

p lo y ees D errick L o v e an d Jen n if er F o rtu n e w ere in v o lv ed in an

au to m o b ile accid en t w h ile resp o n d in g to an em erg en cy call in Wh itev ille, T en n essee. T h e A m b u lan ce S erv ice is o p erated b y A p p ellan t H ard em an C o u n t y , T en n essee (“H ard em an C o u n ty ,” an d to g eth er w ith A m b u lan ce S erv ice, “A p p ellan ts”).A t th e tim e o f th e accid en t, th e am b u lan ce w as trav elin g w estb o u n d o n tw o -lan e T ate
R o ad

, th ro u g h sev eral cu rv es, ap p ro ach in g th e tu rn o f f to Jo n es R o ad

. T h ere is n o sto p lig h t

o r sto p sig n o n T ate R o ad at th e t u r n o f f to Jo n es R o ad

. T h e am

b u lan ce d ecelerated u p o n seein g at least tw o cars sto p p ed o n T ate R o ad p rep arin g to tu rn lef t o n to Jo n es R o ad

. A f

ter th e f irst car, a p ick u p tru ck

, tu rn ed lef t, th e am b u lan ce p ro ceed ed to cro ss th e d o u b le y ello w lin e o n T ate T o ad an d m erg ed in to th e lef t lan e , in an attem

p t to g o aro u n d th e car th at

rem ain ed sto p p ed o n T ate R o ad

. A s th e am b u lan ce w as p assin g th e sto p p ed car, a T o w n C ar, th e car’s d riv er, A p p ellee Ju d y I. M cIn ty re, attem p ted to tu rn lef

t o n to Jo n es S treet, co llid in g

w ith th e am

b u lan ce. B o th th e am

b u lan ce p erso n n el an d M s. M cIn ty re su stain ed in

j u ries in
th e co llisio n

.

O n Ju n e 5

, 2 0 0 8

, H ard em an C o u n ty f iled a co m

p lain t ag ain st M s. M cIn ty re f o r d am ag es arisin g f

ro m th e co llisio n , in clu d in g p ro p erty d am ag e an d m ed ical ex p en ses f o r th e

am b u lan ce p erso n n el th at w ere in cu rred b y H ard em an C o u n ty

. O n A u g u st 6

, 2 0 0 8

, M s. M cIn ty re an d h er h u sb an d f

iled a sep arate co m

p lain t f o r da m a g es ag ain st H ard em an C o u n ty

,

am b u lan c e d r i v er D errick L o v e, an d th e A m b u lan ce S erv ice. T h e tw o cases w ere

co n so lid ated b y

ag reem en t o f

th e p arties o n S ep tem

b er 2 9 , 2 0 1 1

.

A b en ch trial w as h eld o n M ay 1 5

, 2 0 1 2

. T h e p a r ties stip u lated to th e m ed ical

ex p en ses o f b o th p arties an d th e p ro p erty d am ag e to H ard em an C o u n ty . T h e f irst w itn ess
to testif y w as A n n ette A n d erso n

. M s. A n d erso n w as d riv in g th e p ick u p tru ck in f

ro n t o f M s. M cIn ty re’s car th at tu rn ed lef

t o n to Jo n es R o ad p rio r to th e co llisio n

. M s. A n d erso n testif ied
th at th e accid en t o ccu rred d u rin g d ay lig h t an d th ere w ere n o ad v erse co n d itio n s o n th e ro ad

,
su ch as rain o r sn o w

. S h e f u rth er testif

ied th at th e am

b u la n c e h a d e n g ag ed b o th its

em erg en cy

lig h ts an d siren th ro u g h o u t th e ev en ts at issu e in th is case, an d th at sh e clearly
h eard an d saw th e am

b u lan ce p rio r to th e co llisio n

. A cco rd in g to M s. A n d erso n , sh e

p ro ceed ed to tu rn o n to Jo n es R o ad b ecau se th e am b u lan ce w as f

ar en o u g h aw ay at th at tim e th at sh e co u ld s a f

e l y m ak e th e tu rn

. M s. A n d erso n testif ied th at, w h en sh e o b serv ed th e

am b u lan ce, it w as g o in g “f

ast”an d “q u ick ” d o w n T ate R o ad w estb o u n d to w ard th e tu rn o f f

at J o n e s R o a d

. H o w e v e r , M s

. A n d e r s o n f u r t h e r t e s t i f

i e d t h a t

, a f

t e r s h e t u r n e d o n t o J o n e s
R o a d

, s h e d i d n o t o b s e r v e t h e a m b u l a n c e a g a i n a n d a d m i t t e d t h a t s h e h a d n o “ k n o w l e d g e o f

h o w f a s t t h e a m b u l a n c e w a s g o i n g

. ” I n s t e a d

, s h e t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h o r t l y a f

t e r t u r n i n g o n J o n e s
R o a d

, s h e h e a r d t h e s o u n d o f a c o l l i s i o n , p u l l e d h e r c a r t o t h e s i d e o f t h e r o a d

, ex ited th e car

an d saw th at th e T o w n C ar an d th e am b u lan ce h ad co llid ed

.

Jen n if er F o rtu n e, an em erg en cy m ed ical tech n ician w ith th e A m b u lan ce S erv ice also
testif ied as to th e circu m stan ces su rro u n d in g th e co lli s i o n

. P rio r to th e co llisio n , th e

am b u lan ce w as trav elin g d o w n Jo n es R o a d in resp o n se to an em erg en cy call reg ard in g a

p o ssi b l e d ru g o v erd o se in Wh itev ille, T en n essee. M s. F o rtu n e testif ied th at T ate R o ad

-2-co n tain s sev eral cu rv es, b u t th at th e p o rtio n o f th e ro ad im m ed iately p ro ceed in g th e tu rn o f f

to Jo n es R o ad is a “straig h t aw ay .” A cco rd in g to M r. F o rtu n e, w h o w as a p assen g er in th e

am b u lan ce, t h e am

b u lan ce d ecelerated u p o n ap p ro ach in g th e tu rn o f f to Jo n es R o ad u n til
th e p ick u p tru ck tu rn ed

, th en p ro c e e d e d to clear th e in tersectio n

. A s th e am b u lan ce w as

g o in g th ro u g h th e in tersectio n , h o w e v e r , th e T o w n C ar tu rn ed lef t, co llid in g w ith th e

am b u lan c e a n d p u sh in g it in to a f ire h y d ran t. M s. F o rtu n e testif ied th at th e am

b u lan ce’s lig h ts an d siren w ere en g ag ed th e en tire tim e an d th at th e T o w n C ar d id n o t h av e a b lin k er

o n in d icatin g its in ten t to tu rn lef t. M s. F o rtu n e d escrib ed th e am b u lan ce’s m o v em en t at th e
tu r n o f f

, statin g th at it “ap p ro ach ed [ th e tu rn o f f ] still u sin g lig h ts, an d siren s are still

ru n n in g , w e y ield ed

, [ an d ] p ro ceed ed aro u n d [ M s. M cIn ty re’s T o w n C ar] w ith cau tio n .”

A cco rd in g to M s. F o rtu n e , w h en th e d riv er o f th e am b u lan ce b ecam e aw are th at M s. M cIn ty re w as p ro ceed in g to tu rn lef t, h e attem

p ted to accelerate to p re v e n t a c o llisio n

. H o w ev er, h is attem

p t w as u n su ccessf

u l. M s. F o rtu n e f

u rth er testif

ied th at sh e w as u n su re

o f th e ex a c t r a t e o f sp eed th e am b u lan ce w as trav elin g d o w n T ate R o ad

, b u t th at sh e w as

su re th at th e am

b u lan ce w as n o t ex ceed in g f if teen m iles p er h o u r o v er th e p o sted sp eed lim it,

w h ich is th e A m

b u lan ce S erv ice’s in tern al p o licy lim it f o r sp eed in an em erg en cy situ atio n

. M s. F o rtu n e w as also u n su re o f th e ex act sp eed lim it o n T ate R o ad w h ere th e a c cid en t

o ccu rred

, b u t testif

ied th at sh e b eliev ed th e sp eed lim it to b e th irty -f iv e m iles p er h o u r. M s. F o rtu n e f u rth er testif

ied th at th e am

b u lan ce w as n o t req u ired b y in tern al p o licy to sto p at th e
tu rn o f f to Jo n es R o ad b ecau se th e tu rn o f f w as n o t a tru e in tersectio n

.

M s. M cIn ty

re testif ied

, in co n trast, th at sh e is u su ally in th e h ab it o f u si n g h e r t u rn sig n al at th e tu rn o f

f t o J o n es R o ad an d th at sh e trav els th is sam e p ath ev ery d ay th at sh e

g o e s i n t o w o rk

. M s. M cIn ty re b eliev ed th at sh e h ad u sed h er b lin k er o n th e d ay o f t h e

co llisio n as w as h er u su al h ab it. M s. M cIn ty re testif ied th at p rio r to th e co llisio n , sh e h eard
th e am b u lan ce siren

, b u t af

ter lo o k in g in all d irectio n s, w as u n ab le to lo cate th e am b u lan ce. A cco rd in g to M s. M cIn ty re, sh e co u ld also n o lo n g er h ear th e siren an d sh e b eliev ed th at th e

am b u lan ce p erso n n el h ad “tu rn ed [ th e siren ] o f f .” M s. M cIn ty

re ad m itted

, h o w ev er, th at sh e

w as listen in g to th e rad io a t th e tim e an d d id n o t tu rn th e rad io d o w n d esp ite h earin g th e

s i r e n

. B ecau se sh e co u ld n eith er h ear n o r see th e am b u lan ce ap p ro ach in g , M s. M cIn ty re

p ro ceed ed to ex ecu te a lef t-h an d tu rn o n to Jo n es R o ad

, resu ltin g in th e co llisio n

. A cco rd in g
to M s. M cIn ty

re, sh e n ev er saw th e am

b u lan ce an d w as, th eref

o re, u n ab le to sp ecu late as to th e am b u lan ce’s sp eed

. M s. M cIn ty re w as tak e n b y a n o t h er am b u lan ce to a h o sp ital. S h e testif ied

, o v er o b

j ecti o n , t h a t w h ile sh e w as in th e em erg en cy ro o m , sh e o v erh eard th e

am b u lan ce d riv er ad m it to a p o lice o f f icer th at h e w as d riv in g ap p ro x im ately eig h ty m iles

p er h o u r p rio r to th e co llisio n

. M s. M cIn ty re also alleg ed th at th e am b u lan ce d riv er stated
th at b o th h is lig h ts an d siren w ere o n an d th at h e b eliev ed th at M s. M cIn ty re h ad y ield ed to th e am b u lan ce p rio r to attem

p tin g to p ass h er T o w n C ar. T h e p o lice o f f icer a l l eg ed ly

resp o n d ed th at h e w o u ld f alsif y th e p o lice rep o rt to state th a t t h e am b u lan ce w as o n ly

trav elin g f

o rty mi l e s p e r h o u r. M s. M cIn ty re ad m itted

, h o w ev er, th at sh e n ev er saw th e

-3-alleg ed sp eak ers at th e h o sp i t a l

, th at sh e h ad n ev er m et eith er th e am b u lan ce d riv er o r th e

p o lice o f f icer, th at sh e w as n o t f

am iliar w ith eith er sp eak er’s v o ice, an d th at th e p o lice rep o rt

at issu e d id n o t co n tain a sp eed at w h ich th e am b u lan ce w as trav elin g

. A lth o u g h th e

am b u lan ce d riv er w as n am ed as a d ef en d an t in th e co m

p lain t, it ap p ears f

ro m th e reco rd th at
h e w as n ev er serv ed w ith p ro cess, n o r d id h e p articip ate in an y w ay in th e p r o c e e d i n g s. N eith er th e am

b u lan ce d riv er n o r th e p o lice o f f icer w as called to testif

y

.

S ev eral p h o to g rap h s d ep ictin g th e d am ag e to M s. M cIn ty re’s car w ere also ad m itted
in to e v i d e n c e w ith o u t o b j ectio n

. T h e p h o to g rap h s sh o w ex ten siv e d am ag e to th e d riv er’s
sid e an d f ro n t o f M s. M cIn ty

re’s car. M s. M cIn ty

re f u rth er testif

ied th at sh e su f

f ered v ario u s in j u ries, in clu d in g a b ro k en co llar b o n e, f o u r b ro k en rib s, in tern al b ru isin g , an d an an k le
in j u ry as a resu lt o f th e crash

. A cco rd in g to M s. M cIn ty re, alth o u g h sh e h e a led f ro m th e

m aj o rity o f h er in

j u ries in ap p ro x im ately f

o u r m o n th s, sh e h ad lin g erin g p ain f o r a y ear af

ter th e accid en t.

F in ally

, L ela A sh w o rth

, M s. M cIn ty re’s sister, testif

ied ab o u t a co n v ersatio n sh e h ad

w ith M s. F o rtu n e at th e h o sp ital af ter th e ac c i d e n t. A cco rd in g to M s. A sh w o rth

, sh e w as called to th e h o sp ital d u e to h er sister’s accid en t. A t th e h o sp ital, M s. A sh w o rth sp o k e w ith

M s. F o rtu n e, w h o alleg ed ly in f o rm ed M s. A sh w o rth th at th e am b u lan ce h ad b een trav elin g
at eig h ty m iles p er h o u r p rio r to th e c o l l i s i o n , b u t “slo w ed d o w n ” b ef o re th e accid en t

o c cu rred

. M s. A sh w o rth testif ied

, h o w ev er, th at M s. F o rtu n e d id n o t state w h at s p e e d t h e

am b u lan ce w as g o in g at th e tim e o f th e co llisio n

. In h er p rev io u s testim o n y , h o w ev er, M s. F o rtu n e d en ied th at sh e to ld an y o n e th at th e am b u lan ce w as trav elin g eig h ty m iles p er h o u r. In ad d itio n , M s. F o rtu n e testif ied th at sh e n ev er h eard M r. L o v e o r an y o n e else state th at th e

am b u lan ce w as g o in g eig h ty m iles p er h o u r.

A t th e co n clu s i o n o f th e ev id en ce, th e trial co u rt m ad e o ral f in d in g s o f f

act an d

co n clu sio n s o f

law . In p ertin en t p art, th e trial co u rt f o u n d :

F irst o f all, th ere’s a lo t o f

arg u m en t ab o u t th e sp eed o f
th e am b u lan ce. T h e C o u rt d o es n o t f in d th at th e am

b u lan ce w as
trav elin g at 8 0 m iles p er h o u r. A lth o u g h th e C o u rt d o es f in d
th at b ased o n th e p h o to g rap h s th at th e am b u lan ce w as trav elin g
at a p r e t t y g o o d rate o f sp eed

, b ecau se th ere is su b stan tial
im p act acco rd in g to th e p h o to g rap h s. T h e C o u rt also f

in d s th at M s. M cIn ty

re testif ied th at sh e h eard th e am

b u lan ce a n d t h en it w as cu t o f f

, an d sh e lo o k ed

aro u n d an d d id n ’t k n o w w h ere it w as. A n d t h e n th ere w as testim o n y later th at sh e h ad a rad io o n listen in g to g o sp el m u sic.

Y o u k n o w , th e co u rt k in d o f w o n d ers if y o u h ad h eard a

-4-siren an d d id n ’t k n o w w h ere it w as, w h y y o u w o u l d h av e th e rad io o n , w h y y o u w o u ld n o t j u st p u ll to a sto p o r to th e sid e o f
th e ro ad u n til y o u co u ld lo cate th e so u rce o f th e siren

, to lo cate th e am b u lan ce, so I’m

a little tro u b led b y

th at.
T h e C o u rt is g o in g to u ltim ately f in d th at th e am

b u lan ce d riv er w as 6 0 p ercen t at f au lt b ase d o n h is d isreg ard f o r

p o ssib le resu lts an d th e saf ety o f all p erso n s. E v en th o u g h h e d o es h av e th e ab ility to p ass cars, cro ss d o u b le y ello w lin es, to

m ak e em erg en cy m an eu v ers, h e still n eed s to d o so w ith reg ard s
to saf ety f o r all p erso n s. A n d

, ag ain

, b ased o n im

p act, it ap p ears th at h e sh o u ld
h av e lo w ered h is sp eed as h e ma y b e p assed w h ich is an

ap p ro p riate p ass. H e m

u st d o so w ith d u e cau tio n

. A g ain

, th e C o u rt f

in d s th at M s. M cIn ty

re is 4 0 p ercen t at
f au lt b ecau se sh e h eard th e am b u lan ce y et sh e d id n o t tak e d u e

care to lo cate w h ere it w as. S h e d id n o t tak e th e d u e care to tu rn h er rad io o f

f o r ev en lo w er th e w in d o w s to lo cate th e so u rce o f
th is.
S o th e C o u rt f

in d s th at s h e’s p artially at f au lt as w ell

w ith reg ard s to th e d am ag es to th e au to m o b ile. . . .

T h e trial co u rt w en t o n to aw ard M s. M cIn ty re d am ag es f

o r lo st w a g e s , m ed ical

ex p en ses, an d p ain a n d su f f erin g

. T h e j u d g m en t to taled $ 8 6 ,4 8 8 .1 3

, w h ich w as to b e red u ced b y M s. M c I n ty

re’s o w n p ercen tag e o f f au lt. T h e trial co u rt en tered an o rd er

m em o rializin g its ru lin g f ro m th e b en ch o n Ju n e 2 9

, 2 0 1 2

. T h e trial co u rt’s o ral ru lin g w as in co rp o rated b y ref

eren ce in to th e o rd er. A p p e l l a n t s f iled a tim ely n o tice o f ap p eal. A f ter receiv in g th e reco rd

, h o w ev er, th is C o u rt c o n clu d ed th at th e o rd er en tered w as n o t a f in al

o rd er b ecau se it d id n o t ad j u d icate M s. M cIn ty

re’s claim ag ain st am

b u lan ce d riv er D errick

L o v e. A cco rd in g ly

, th is C o u rt en tered an o rd er o n O cto b er 2 9

, 2 0 1 2 d irectin g th e trial co u rt

to en ter a f

in al o rd er ad

j u d icatin g th is claim

. O n N o v em b er 1 4

, 2 0 1 2

, th e trial co u rt en tered

an o rd er d ism issin g M s. M cIn ty re’s claim ag ain st M r. L o v e, n o tin g th at M r. L o v e w as n ev er

serv ed

, an d th eref

o re w as n ev er p ro p erly b ef o re th e C o u rt. T h e trial co u rt also sp ecif ically

n o ted th at it h ad d en ied an y claim s f o r p ro p erty

d am ag e asserted b y

M s. M cIn ty

re.

II. A n a ly sis

A p p ellan ts raise a n u m

b er o f issu es in th eir ap p ellate b rief ; h o w ev er, f

ro m o u r rev iew

o f th e re c o rd an d th e p arties’ b rief s, w e d iscern th e d isp o sitiv e issu e in th is case to b e

w h eth er M s. M cIn ty

re p ro v ed a b reach o f th e stan d ard o f care o n th e p art o f th e A m b u lan ce S erv ice. B ecau se th is case w as tried b y th e trial co u rt, w e r e v i e w t h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s f i n d i n g s

-5-o f f

a c t d e n o v o w i t h a p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s , u n l e s s t h e e v i d e n c e p r e p o n d e r a t e s

o t h e r w i s e

. T e n n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 1 3 ( d )

. N o p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s , h o w e v e r , a t t a c h e s t o t h e

t r i a l c o u r t ’ s c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w a n d o u r r e v i e w i s d e n o v o

. B l a i r v

. B r o w n s o n , 1 9 7 S

. W

. 3 d

6 8 1

, 6 8 4 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 6 ) ( c i t i n g B o w d e n v

. W a r d

, 2 7 S

. W

. 3 d 9 1 3

, 9 1 6 ( T e n n

. 2 0 0 0 ) )

.

B o th M s. M cIn ty

re’s an d H ard em an C o u n ty ’s claim s ag ain st each o th er are b ased o n th eo ries o f

n eg lig en ce. T h e p rim a fa cie elem en ts o f n eg lig en ce are as f

o llo w s:

In o rd er to estab lish a p rim a f acie claim o f n eg lig en ce, b asically
d ef in ed as th e f

ailu re to ex erc i se reaso n ab le care, a p lain tif f

m u st estab lish th e f

o llo w in g esse n t i a l elem en ts: “(1 ) a d u ty o f

care o w ed b y d ef

en d an t to p lain tif

f ; (2 ) co n d u ct b elo w th e

ap p licab le stan d ard o f care th at am o u n ts to a b reach o f th at d u ty ; (3 ) an in

j u ry o r lo ss; (4 ) cau se in f act; an d (5 ) p ro x im ate,

o r leg al cau se.

G ig g ers v. M em p h is H o u s. A u th

. , 2 7 7 S .W.3 d 3 5 9

, 3 6 4 (T en n

. 2 0 0 9 ) (q u o tin g M cC a ll v. W ild er , 9 1 3 S .W.2 d 1 5 0

, 1 5 3 (T en n

. 1 9 9 5 )). A p p ellan ts essen tially arg u e th at M s. M cIn ty re f ailed to p ro v e th at th ey b reach ed th e d u ty o f care in o p eratin g th e am b u lan ce at th e tim e o f
th e co llisio n

. With resp ect to th e b reach o f d u ty elem en t o f a claim f o r n eg lig en ce, o u r S u p rem e C o u rt h as h eld :

A ssu m in g a d u ty i s o w ed

, it m u st b e d eterm in ed w h eth er d e f e n d a n t h a s e x e r c i s e d r e a s o n a b l e c a re u n d er t h e circu m stan ces. If d ef

en d an t h as n o t, th e d u ty h as b een b reach ed

. In th i s r e g ard

, w e h av e o b serv ed th at “[ t] h e term reaso n ab le

care m u st b e g iv en m ean in g in relatio n to th e circu m stan ces. O rd in ary , o r reaso n ab l e , care is to b e estim ated b y th e risk

en tailed th ro u g h p ro b ab le d an g ers att e n d in g th e p articu lar
situ atio n an d is to b e co m m en su rate w ith th e risk o f in j u ry .”

M c C lu n g v. D elta S

q u a re L td

. P 'sh ip

, 9 3 7 S .W.2 d 8 9 1

, 8 9 5 (T en n

. 1 9 9 6 ) (cit a t i o n s

o m itted ). Wh eth er th e d ef en d an ts b reach ed th e d u ty is a q u estio n o f f act. W in k ler v. P in n a cle P ro p erties I

, L L C

, M 2 0 1 1 -0 2 6 1 6 -C O A -R 3 -C V

, 2 0 1 2 WL 2 9 8 9 1 3 5

, * 4 (T en n

. C t. A p p . Ju ly

2 0 , 2 0 1 2 ). In a n o n -j u ry case su ch as th is o n e, w e rev iew th e reco rd d e n o vo

w ith a p resu m

p tio n o f co rrectn ess as to th e trial co u rt's d eterm in atio n o f f acts, an d w e m

u st
h o n o r th o se f

in d in g s u n less th e ev id en ce p rep o n d erates to th e co n trary

. T en n

. R

. A p p

. P

. 1 3 (d ); U n io n C a rb id e v. H u d d lesto n , 8 5 4 S .W.2 d 8 7 , 9 1 (T en n . 1 9 9 3 ).

A p p ellan ts arg u e th at n o th in g in th e reco rd su p p o rts th e trial co u rt’s im p licit f in d in g

-6-th at th e A m b u lan ce S erv ice b reach ed th e d u ty to ex ercise reaso n ab le care. To su p p o rt th is

arg u m en t, A p p ellan ts cite to T en n essee C o d e A n n o tated S ectio n 5 5 -8 -1 0 8

, w h ich ex em p ts

em erg en cy r e s p o n d ers f

ro m so m e traf

f ic law s. T en n essee C o d e A n n o tated S ectio n 5 5 -8 -1 0 8

p ro v id es, in p ertin en t p art:

(a) T h e d riv er o f a n a u th o rized em erg en cy v eh icle, w h en

resp o n d in g to an em erg en cy call, o r w h en in th e p u r s u i t o f an
actu al o r su sp ected v io lato r o f th e law

, o r w h en resp o n d in g to b u t n o t u p o n retu rn in g f ro m a f i r e alarm

, m ay ex ercise th e

p riv ileg es set f

o rth in th is sectio n , b u t su b j ect to th e co n d itio n s stated in th is sectio n

. (b )(1 ) A d r i v e r o f an au th o rized em erg en cy v eh icle o p eratin g th e v eh icle in acco rd an ce w ith su b sectio n (a) m ay :

(A ) P ark o r stan d

, n o tw ith s tan d in g o th er p ro v isio n s o f th is
ch ap ter th at reg u late p ark in g o r stan d in g ; (B ) P ro ceed p ast a red o r sto p sig n al o r sto p sig n , b u t o n ly af ter slo w in g d o w n as m ay

b e n ecessary

f o r saf e o p eratio n ; (C ) E x ceed t h e sp eed lim its so lo n g as lif e o r p ro p erty is n o t th ereb y en d an g ered ; an d (D ) D isreg ard reg u latio n s g o v ern in g d irectio n o f m o v em en t o r
tu rn in g in sp ecif

ied d irectio n s. 1

M s. M cIn ty

re arg u es, h o w ev er, th at T en n essee C o d e A n n o tated S ectio n 5 5 -8 -1 0 8 d o es n o t

o p erate to ex cu se am

b u lan ce d riv ers f

ro m o p eratin g w ith d u e care, citin g su b sectio n (b )(2 ),

w h ich states th at:

S u b d iv isio n (b )(1 ) sh all n o t reliev e th e d riv er o f an au th o rized

em erg en cy v eh icle f

ro m th e d u ty to d riv e w ith d u e reg ard f o r th e saf ety o f all p erso n s, n o r sh all su b d iv isio n (b )(1 ) p ro tect th e d riv er f ro m th e co n seq u en ces o f th e d riv er's o w n reck less
d isreg ard f

o r th e saf ety o f o th ers.

T en n

. C o d e A n n . § 5 5 -8 -1 0 8 (b )(2 ). A cco rd in g ly , T en n essee law p ro v id es th at am b u lan ce d riv ers are n o t req u ired to strictly ad h ere t o a l l t raf f ic law s w h en resp o n d in g to an

em erg en cy call, b u t m

u st ex ercise th ese sp ecial p riv ileg es w ith “d u e reg ard f o r th e saf ety o f

Alt hough the st at ute con cer ns the dut y of the dri ver of the ambulan ce ra the r t han th e a m bul anc e 1

ser vice, nei the r Har deman Count y nor the Am bul anc e Ser vice has app eal ed the rul ing tha t the y m ay be li abl e for Mr . Love’s negli gence, re gardl ess of Ms . M cI ntyre ’s fa il ure to m ake hi m a p rop er par ty to thi s s uit

.

-7-all p erso n s.” T en n . C o d e A n n . § 5 5 -8 -1 0 8 (b )(1 )– (2 ).

T h ere is n o d isp u te i n t h i s case th at M r. L o v e an d M s. F o rtu n e w ere resp o n d in g to

an em erg en cy w h en th e accid en t o ccu rred

. A s su ch

, th ey w ere en titled to ex ceed sp eed lim its

an d d isreg ard reg u latio n s g o v ern in g th e d irectio n o f m o v em en t. H o w ev er, as ex p lain ed b y th e statu te, th is ex em

p tio n is tem

p ered b y th e f

act th at th e am

b u lan ce d riv er m ay n o t p lace
l i f e o r p r o p e r ty in d an g er an d m u st ex ercise d u e reg ard f o r all d riv ers. T h e o b lig atio n to

ex ercise d u e ca r e is, th u s, n o t ex cu sed b y th e f act th at th e am

b u lan ce d riv er is resp o n d in g
to an em erg en cy

call. A s ex p lain ed in A m erican Ju risp ru d en ce:

[ T ] h e f a c t th at an em erg en cy v eh icle o n an em erg en cy call is

ex em p t f ro m traf f i c r e g u latio n s an d is g iv en th e rig h t o f w ay

o v er o th er trav elers d o es n o t reliev e th e d riv er o f su ch v eh icle
f ro m th e d u ty to d riv e w ith d u e reg ard f o r th e saf ety o f o th ers

u sin g th e h ig h w ay

. T h e d riv ers o f em erg en cy v eh icles d o n o t
h av e th e rig h t to en ter an in tersectio n in b lin d relian ce o n th eir

sp ecial rig h t o f w ay , b u t su ch d riv ers h av e to b e alert an d o n th e lo o k o u t f o r o th er t rav elers w h o m ig h t attem p t to cro ss th e in tersectio n an d w h o are lu lled in to a sen se o f s ecu rity b y th e th o u g h t th at th ey

h av e th e rig h t o f

w ay

.

8 A m . Ju r. 2 d A u to m o b iles § 8 1 2 (f o o tn o tes o m itted ). A s f

u rth er ex p lain ed :

T h e f act th at an am

b u lan ce is ex em

p t f ro m th e o p eratio n

o f certain traf

f ic reg u latio n s o r en

j o y s certain p rio r rig h ts o v er

o th er v eh icles d o es n o t p erm it th e o p erato rs o f su ch v eh icles to d riv e in reck less d isreg ard o f th e saf ety o f o t h ers, n o r d o es it
reli e v e t h em o f th e g en eral d u ty o f ex ercisin g d u e care f o r th e saf ety o f o th ers an d th eir o w n saf

ety

. G en erally sp eak in g , an am b u lan ce d riv er is u n d er a d u ty

t o ex ercise d u e care f

o r th e saf

ety o f all p erso n s, an d an

am b u lan ce d riv er m

u st ex ercise reaso n ab le p recau tio n s ag ain st

ex trao rd in ary d an g ers o f th e situ atio n w h ich d u ty co m p els th e d riv er to create. T h e f

act th at am

b u lan ces are ex em

p ted f ro m th e o p eratio n o f certain traf f ic reg u latio n s o r en

j o y certain p rio r rig h ts o v er o th er v eh icles d o es n o t p erm it th e o p erato rs o f su ch

v eh icles to d riv e in reck less d isreg ard o f th e saf ety o f o th ers,

n o r d o es it reliev e th em f

ro m th e g en eral d u ty o f ex ercisin g d u e

care f o r th e saf ety o f o th e r s a n d th eir o w n saf ety

, o r f ro m th e

co n seq u en ces o f

an arb itrary

ex ercise o f th e rig h t o f

w ay . A n y

-8-careless, ar b i trary

, o r u n reaso n ab le ex ercise o f th e d riv er's

p riv ileg es is n eg lig en ce. U n d er so m e statu tes, th e th resh o ld f o r

reco v ery f

o r v io latio n o f th e d u ty to ex ercise d u e care f o r th e saf ety o f all p erso n s is reck lessn ess, n o t n eg lig en ce.

6 0 A C .J.S . M o to r V eh icles § 8 8 0 (f o o tn o tes o m itted ).

F ro m o u r rev iew o f

th e reco rd an d th e arg u m en ts o f co u n sel in th is case, it ap p ears th at M s. M cIn ty

re’s th eo ry o f liab ility is th at th e am b u lan ce d riv er b reach ed h is d u ty o f care in d riv in g d o w n T at e R o ad at an ex cessiv e rate o f sp eed

. In d eed

, th e trial co u rt’s o ral
f in d in g s su p p o rt o u r co n clu sio n , a s t h e trial co u rt rem ark ed th at th e p h o to g rap h s o f th e im p act th e am

b u lan ce h ad o n M s. M cIn ty re’s car sh o w th at th e am

b u lan ce w as trav elin g “at

a p retty g o o d rate o f sp eed .” T h e trial co u rt m ad e n o o th er f in d in g s as to an y f

au lt o n th e p art

o f th e am b u lan ce d riv er o r th e A m b u lan ce S erv ice. In stead

, th e t r ial co u rt ev en rem ark ed
th at th e am

b u lan ce’s d riv er’s m an eu v er in to th e o p p o site lan e o f traf f ic w as “ap p ro p riate.”

A cco rd in g ly

, th is C o u rt m u st co n sid er w h e t h e r t h e ev id en ce in th e reco rd

p rep o n d erates ag ain st th e trial co u rt’s f in d in g th at th e A m

b u lan ce S erv ice, th ro u g h th e actio n s o f th e am

b u lan ce d riv er, b reach ed th e d u ty o f care b y trav elin g at an ex cessiv e rate

o f s p e e d

. F o r t h e ev id en ce to p rep o n d erate ag ain st a trial co u rt's f in d in g o f f

act, it m u st

su p p o rt an o th er f

in d in g o f f

act w ith g r e ater co n v in cin g ef f ect. W a tso n v. W

a tso n , 1 9 6
S .W.3 d 6 9 5

, 7 0 1 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 2 0 0 5 ). We f irst tu rn to co n sid er th e ev id en ce in th e reco rd
th at su p p o rts th e trial co u rt’s f in d in g th at th e am

b u lan ce d riv er b reach ed th e d u ty o f care b y
trav elin g at an ex cessiv e rate o f sp eed

.

F irst, th e trial co u rt h eard testim o n y f ro m M s. A n d erso n , w h o w itn essed th e ev en ts lead in g u p to th e co llisio n

. M s. A n d erso n t e s t i f i e d t h at at th e tim e sh e o b serv ed th e

am b u lan ce, it w as trav elin g “f ast” an d “q u ick .” M s. A n d erso n ad m itted

, h o w ev er th at sh e d id n o t o b serv e th e am

b u lan ce im m ed iately p rio r to th e co llisio n an d w as, th eref o re, u n ab le

to testif y to th e am

b u lan ce’s sp eed at th e tim e o f th e accid en t. B ecau se M s. M cIn ty re d id n o t

see th e am

b u lan ce at an y tim e p rio r to th e accid en t, sh e w as also u n ab le to testif y as to th e

sp eed o f th e am

b u lan ce at th e tim e o f th e accid en t. H er testim o n y , th eref o re, is n o t p ro b ativ e

o f w h eth er th e am

b u lan ce w as trav elin g at an ex cessiv e rate o f sp eed

.

T h e trial co u rt also h eard testim o n y f ro m M s. M cIn ty

re an d M s. A sh w o rth reg ard in g h earsay statem en ts m ad e af ter th e co llisio n su g g estin g th at th e am b u lan ce w as trav elin g

ap p ro x im ately

eig h ty m iles p er h o u r at th e tim e o f th e crash . T h e trial co u rt, h o w ev er, d id

n o t cred it th is testim o n y an d sp ecif ically f o u n d th at th e a mb u l a n ce w as n o t g o in g eig h ty

m iles p er h o u r. M s. M cIn ty re d o es n o t ch allen g e th is ru lin g o n ap p eal. A cco rd in g ly

, w e w ill
lik ew ise d isreg ard th e alleg ed h earsay statem en ts su g g estin g th at th e am b u lan ce w as

-9-trav elin g at a sp eed o f eig h ty m iles p er h o u r.

N ex t, M s. M cIn ty

re su b m itted in to ev id en ce p h o to g rap h s d ep i c t in g th e im p act d am ag e to M s. M cIn ty

re’s car. A cco rd in g to M s. M cIn ty re, th ese p h o to g rap h s allo w ed th e trial co u rt to m ak e a reaso n ab le in f eren ce th at th e am

b u lan ce w as trav elin g at an ex cessiv e
rate o f sp eed u n d er th e circu m stan ces. It ap p ears th at th e trial co u rt cred ited th is arg u m en t

w h en it f o u n d th at th e “im

p act” to M s. M cIn ty

re’s car sh o w ed th at th e car w as trav elin g at

a “p retty g o o d rate o f sp eed .” M s. M cIn ty re arg u es th at th e trial co u rt’s f in d in g w as p ro p er b ecau se th e trial co u rt w as ab le to in f e r t h e am b u lan ce’s sp eed f

ro m th e p h o to g rap h s an d
testim o n y

. M s. M cIn ty

re relies o n th is C o u rt’s o p in io n in W a rd v. G

illess

, N o

. W1 9 9 9 -0 1 3 2 4 -C O A -R 3 -C V , 2 0 0 0 WL 3 4 4 1 1 1 4 8 (T en n . C t. A p p . A u g . 2 1 , 2 0 0 0 ).

W a rd in v o lv ed an au to m o b ile accid en t th at resu lted in th e d eath o f d riv er ( “ t h e d eced en t”). Id

. at * 1

. In W

a rd

, t h e d e ced en t’s f

ath er (“p lain tif

f ”) f iled a co m

p lain t f o r d am ag es ag ain st th e S h elb y C o u n ty S h erif f ’s O f f ice an d th e S h elb y C o u n ty D iv isio n o f

P u b lic Wo rk s (to g eth er, “d ef en d an ts”), alleg in g th at th e d ef en da nt s w ere n eg lig en t in f

ailin g
to clo se th e ro ad o n w h ich th e accid en t o ccu rred d u e to f lo o d in g

. Id

. at * 3

. A t th e co n clu sio n

o f th e trial, th e trial co u rt f o u n d th at th e n eg lig en ce o f th e d eced en t w as g r e a ter th an th e

n eg lig en ce o f th e d ef

en d an ts an d d ism issed th e case. Id

. O n ap p eal, th e p lain tif

f arg u ed th at th e ev id en ce w as in su f

f icien t to sh o w an y n eg lig en ce o n th e p art o f th e d eced en t. T h e C o u rt

o f A p p eals d isag reed an d af f irm ed th e trial co u rt. E x p lain in g th e ru les o f n eg lig en ce w ith

reg ard to th e sp eed o f

an au to m o b ile, th e C o u rt stated :

U n d er T en n essee law

, th e stan d ard th at m u st b e ap p lied
in n eg lig en ce cases is th at o f a reaso n ab le an d p ru d en t p erso n in th e sam e o r sim il a r c i rcu m stan ces. S ee M en u sk in v. W illia m s , 9 4 0 F .Supp. 1199, 1211 (E .D

. T en n .1 9 9 6 ); M cC lu n g

v. D elta S q u a re L td

. P a rtn ersh ip

, 9 3 7 S .W.2 d 8 9 1

, 8 9 5 (T en n

. 1 9 9 6 ); M cC a ll v. W ild er , 9 1 3 S .W.2 d 1 5 0

, 1 5 3 (T en n

. 1 9 9 5 );

D o o ley v. E verett

, 8 0 5 S .W.2 d 3 8 0

, 3 8 4 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 9 0 );

K elley v. J o h n so n , 7 9 6 S .W.2 d 1 5 5

, 1 5 8 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 9 0 ). Wh en d eterm in in g w h eth er an in d iv id u al h as co n f o rm ed

to th is stan d ard

, th e trier o f f act m u st co n sid er th e ev i d e n c e

p r e s e n ted reg ard in g th e f acts o f th e case an d m ay also rely o n th e co n sid eratio n s o f lo g ic, co m m o n sen se, p u b lic p o licy

, an d

p reced en t. S

ee K elley

, 7 9 6 S .W.2 d at 1 5 8

. Wh en an in d iv id u al
is o p eratin g a m o to r v eh icle, h e o r sh e is req u ired to o p erate th e

v eh icle in su ch a m an n er an d at su ch a sp eed th at is co n sisten t

w ith w h at a reaso n ab le an d p ru d en t p erso n w o u ld d o u n d er th e

sam e o r sim ilar circu m stan ces. S ee C a w th o n v. M

a yo , 3 2 5

-10-S .W.2 d 6 2 9

, 6 3 7 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 5 8 ); C o lem a n v. B

yrn es , 2 4 2 S .W.2 d 8 5

, 8 9 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 5 0 ). C o n sisten t w ith th is

g en eral ru le, a m o to rist mu st p ro ceed at a sp eed su f f icien tly
slo w to en ab le h im o r h e r to sto p in tim e to av o id an y

o b stru ctio n o r co n d itio n in th e ro ad w ay th at h e o r sh e h ad a

reaso n to ex p ect. S

ee C lin e v. U n ited S ta tes

, 2 1 4 F .S u p p

. 6 6

, 7 2 (E .D

. T en n

. 1 9 6 2 ). A n accep tab le sp eed o f trav el is o n e th at is

co m m en su rate w ith th e th en ex istin g co n d itio n s o f th e ro ad w ay

an d atm o sp h ere. S

ee H o p p er v. U n ited S ta tes

, 1 2 2 F .S u p p

. 1 8 1

, 1 8 8 (E .D

. T en n

. 1 9 5 3 ). T h e m ere f a ct th at a m o to rist is

o p eratin g h is o r h er v eh icle at a sp eed th at is w i t h i n t h e lim it

p ro scrib ed b y law d o es n o t p reclu d e th e co n clu sio n th at th e

sp eed is ex cessiv e u n d e r th e circu m stan ces. S ee C lin e , 2 1 4

F .S u p p

. at 7 3 ; H o p p er, 1 2 2 F .S u p p

. at 1 8 8

. Wh en d eterm in in g

w h eth er an in d iv id u al w as o p eratin g h is o r h er v eh icle at an

ex cessiv e sp eed u n d er th e circu m stan ces, it is n o t essen tial th at th e trier o f f

act h av e b ef

o re it d irect ev id en ce r e g a r d i n g th is

m atter; rath er, a f

in d in g w ith resp ect to th e sp eed o f a v e h i cle

m a y b e in ferred fro m th e fa cts o

f th e ca se

. S

ee N a sh v. L o ve , 4 4 0 S .W.2 d 5 9 3

, 5 9 8 (T en n

. C t

. A p p

. 1 9 6 8 ); T em p leto n v. Q u a rles , 3 7 4 S .W.2 d 6 5 4 , 6 5 8 (T en n . C t. A p p . 1 9 6 3 ).

W a rd , 2 0 0 0 WL 3 4 4 1 1 1 4 8 , at * 3 (em p h asis ad d ed ).

A p p ly in g th e ab o v e ru les to th e f acts o f th e case, th e C o u rt o f A p p eals co n clu d ed th at th e trial co u r t d i d n o t e r r in f in d in g th e d eced en t at f

au lt f o r h is o w n in

j u ries w h en th e

ev id en ce w as u n d isp u ted th at it h ad b een rain in g h eav ily

, th e d eced en t w as f am iliar w ith th e

ro ad

, an d th e ro ad h ad p o sted sig n s w arn in g h ig h w a t e r w as p resen t. In ad d itio n , th e so le

w itn ess to th e accid en t testif ied th at th e d eced en t w as d riv in g at ap p ro x im ately th irty -sev en

m iles p er h o u r in a f

o rty -f iv e m ile p er h o u r zo n e, d esp ite th e h eav y rain an d w arn in g s, w h ich
th e trial co u rt co n clu d ed w as ex cessiv e g iv en th e circu m stan ces.

B ased o n th e ru le ex p ressed in W a rd

, M s. M cIn ty

re arg u es th at th e trial co u rt co u ld
in f er ex cessiv e sp eed o n th e p art o f th e am b u lan ce b ased u p o n th e p h o to g rap h s sh o w in g th e im p act to h er T o w n C ar. In co n trast, A p p ellan ts arg u e th at th e p h o to g rap h s alo n e are in su f f icien t to su p p o rt a f

in d in g o f ex cessiv e sp eed

. A u th o rity ex ists t h a t e v id en ce o f 2

We not e that Ms . McI ntyre obj ect s t o t his ar gum ent on a ppe al due to th e fact tha t the Appel la nts 2

did not obj ect to the admissi b i l i t y of the phot ograph s in the tr ia l cou rt

. I t is wel l- set tl ed tha t is sue s ar e (continued...)

-11-v io len ce an d f o rce o f im

p act is a circu m stan ce w h ich m ay b e co n sid ered b y th e f act f in d er in co n sid erin g th e q u estio n o f w h eth er a v eh icle w as trav elin g at an ex cessiv e o r n eg lig en t

rate o f sp eed

. 9 B lash f

ield 's C y clo p ed ia o f A u to m o b ile L aw an d P ractice, § 6 2 3 4 ; see a lso

2 9 A .L .R .3 d 2 4 8 (n o tin g th at n o n -ex p ert w itn ess testim o n y is n o t ad m issib le to estim ate th e

sp eed o f a v eh icle, as th e f act f in d er “is as q u alif

ied to estim ate th e sp eed o f a m o to r v eh icle
f ro m th e p h y sical f

acts as is th e lay o r n o n ex p ert w itn ess.”). T h is p rin cip le h as lik ew ise b een

ap p lied in T en n essee:

D irect testim o n y is n o t essen tial to w arran t a f i n d i n g o f

ex cessiv e sp eed

. E v i d e n c e as to th e f o rce o f th e im

p act o f th e

co llisio n , o r as to th e d istan ce w h ich an au to m o b ile cau sin g an in j u ry o v ersh o t th e p o in t o f t h e accid en t b ef o re b ein g b ro u g h t

to a stan d still, is o f sig n if ican ce, an d m ay b e b y i tself

, o r in

co n n ectio n w ith o th er circu m stan ces, o f su f f icien t f o rce to

w arran t a j u ry in f

in d in g n eg lig en ce as to sp eed

, an d in d raw in g

an in f eren ce th at th e m ach in e w as trav eli n g at a rate o f sp eed

su ch as to en d an g er th e lif e o r l i mb o f p erso n s u p o n th e h ig h w ay

.

T em p leto n v

. Q u a rles

, 3 7 4 S .W.2 d 6 5 4

, 6 5 8 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 6 4 ) (citin g E lm o re v. T h o m p so n , 1 4 T en n

. A p p

. 7 8

, 1 9 3 1 WL 1 5 7 9 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 3 2 ); P h illip s-B u tto rf

M fg

. C o

. v. M cA lex a n d er , 1 5 T en n

. A p p

. 6 1 8

, 1 9 3 2 WL 1 3 5 8 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 3 2 )). A ll
in f eren ces m

u st b e b ased o n th e ev id en ce an d “can n o t b e b ased o n su rm ise, sp ecu l a tio n ,

co n j ectu re, o r g u ess[ .] ” B en to n v. S n yd er , 8 2 5 S .W.2 d 4 0 9 (T en n . 1 9 9 2 ) (q u o tin g P a tto n

v. L .O

. B ra

y t o n & C o

. , 2 0 1 S .W.2 d 9 8 1

, 9 8 4 (T en n

. 1 9 4 7 )). We n o te, h o w ev er, th at th e

cases in w h ich sp eed h ad b een in f erred b y a n o n -ex p ert f

ro m th e circu m stan ces su rro u n d in g th e co ll i s io n all in v o lv e ev id en ce o th er th an o r in ad d itio n to p h o to g rap h s d ep ictin g th e d am ag e to th e v eh icles as a resu lt o f th e co llisio n

. In f act, in m o st cases, th e ev id en ce relied

o n b y th e trial co u rt co n cern ed th e sk id m ark s o n th e ro ad at th e co llisio n site. S ee J o h n so n v. A ttk in so n , 7 2 2 S .W.2 d 3 9 0

, 3 9 2 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 8 6 ) (in v o lv in g sk id m ark s); C o m b s

v. R o g ers , 4 5 0 S .W.2 d 6 0 5

, 6 0 8 (T en n . C t. A p p . 1 9 6 9 ) (co n clu d in g th at th e ev id en ce w as in su f f icien t to su p p o rt a f

in d in g o f ex cessiv e sp eed w h en th e reco rd co n tain ed n o ev id en ce

(...continued)

con si der ed wai ved on app eal by the fa il ure to pre sen t the m at tr ia l. See ABN AMRO Mo rt g. Group
, Inc

. v. Sout her n Sec

. Fede ral Cred

it Unio n , No. W2 011-00693- COA- R3CV

, 2011 WL 5590 320, at *4 (T enn

. Ct. App. Nov. 17, 2011 ) (c it ing Wa te rs v. Farr

, 291 S.W .3d 873, 918 (T enn

. 2009 ))

. As we per cei ve Appel la nts ’

ar gum ent

, however

, the y ar e not que st ion ing the admissi bil it y of the eviden ce, but ra the r fi nd er ror in the tr ia l

c o u r t ’s re li anc e on the eviden ce to inf er exc ess ive spe ed. T hus

, the ir ar gum ent is not wai ved a n d M s

. Mc I ntyre ’s obj ect ion is wit hout m er it

.

-12-o f sk id m ark s); M o n d a y v. M ilsa p s , 2 6 4 S .W.2 d 6

, 1 7 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 5 3 ) (“T h e law is

w ell set t l e d t h a t a n ex p ert w itn ess m ay g iv e h is o p in io n as to th e sp eed o f an au to m o b ile
f ro m th e len g th o f its sk id m ar k s

. ” ) ( c itin g 3 2 C .J.S

., E v id en ce, § 5 3 3 ). F o r ex am p le, th e C o u rt in T

e m p leto n co n sid ered ev id en ce o f sk id m ark s an d th e d istan ce th e p ed estrian

p lain tif f w as th ro w n b y th e co llisio n as p ro b ativ e ev i d e n ce o f “im p act,” rath er th an

p h o to g rap h ic ev id en ce o f th e v eh icle’s d am ag es. T em p leto n , 3 7 4 S .W.2 d at 6 5 8

. In an o th er

case rely in g o n T

em p leto n , N a sh v. L o ve , 4 4 0 S .W.2 d 5 9 3 (T e n n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 6 8 ), th is
C o u rt h eld th at th e p ro o f w as lik ew ise in su f f icien t to allo w th e f

act-f in d er to in f

er ex cessiv e

sp eed w h en th e reco rd co n tain ed n o ev id en ce o f sk id m ark s o n th e ro ad d u e to th e co llisio n , th e d istan ce th e v eh icle “o v ersh o t th e p o in t o f im p act,” o r h o w f

ar th e p lain tif

f p ed estrian

w as th ro w n b y

th e im p act. Id

. at 5 9 8 . T h u s, th e term

“im p act,” as it is u sed in T

em p leto n

an d its p ro g en y , ref

ers to so m eth in g m o re th an m ere p h o to g rap h s o f th e d am ag e to a v eh icle

cau sed b y a co llisio n

. S

ee a lso W a rd

, 2 0 0 0 W L 3 4 4 1 1 1 4 8

, at * 3 (rely in g o n T em p leto n ).

T h e req u i r e men t th at ev id en ce o th er th an m ere p h o to g rap h s o f v eh icle d am ag e b e

co n sid ered in d eterm in in g sp eed is n o t n o v el: “A ccu rate co m p u tatio n o f sp eed f

ro m d am ag e
to v eh icles alo n e is n o t p o ssib le; it is d if f icu lt to m easu re th e f

o r c e req u ired to d isto rt a

p articu lar au to m o b ile p art.” 1 8 A m . Ju r. T rials 4 4 3

.

In th is case, h o w ev er, th ere is n o ev id en ce in th e reco rd reg ard in g sk id m ark s o n th e

ro ad f ro m th e accid en t. F u rth er, th ere is n o th in g in th e reco rd to in d icate th e w eig h t o f eith er

v eh ic l e , t h e t i r e air p ressu re, o r ty p e an d co n d itio n o f th e ro ad su rf ace at th e tim e o f th e accid en t. A ll th ese f

acto rs h av e b een h eld “n ecessary to estim ate th e sp eed o f th e v eh icle.”

J o h n so n , 7 2 2 S .W.2 d 3 9 2

. T h u s, w h ile th e reco rd d o es co n tain p h o to g rap h s d ep ictin g a

su b stan tial im

p act to M s. M cIn ty

re’s car, th e reco rd is d ev o id o f o th er ev id en ce n ecessary
to allo w th e f

in d er o f f act to in f er ex cessiv e sp eed f

ro m th e circu m stan ces.

F in ally

, th e reco rd co n tain s testim o n y f ro m M s. F o rtu n e th at th e am b u lan ce w as
trav elin g at n o g reater th an f if teen m iles p er h o u r o v er th e sp eed lim it. T ak in g M s. F o rtu n e’s
b e lief th at th e sp eed lim it o n T ate R o ad w as th irty -f iv e m iles p er h o u r as tru e, as it i s

u n co n tro v erted in th e reco rd

, M s. F o rtu n e’s testim o n y su g g ests th at th e sp eed th e am b u lan ce

w as trav elin g at ap p ro x im ately f if ty m iles p er h o u r. N o th in g in th e reco rd su g g ests th at th e trial co u rt f

o u n d M s. F o rtu n e’s cred ib ility lack in g

. T h u s, th e ev id en ce in th e reco rd su p p o rts

a f in d in g th at th e am

b u lan ce w as trav elin g u p to f if teen m iles ab o v e th e p o sted sp eed lim it.

A f in d in g th at th e am

b u lan ce w as trav elin g ab o v e th e p o sted sp eed lim it d o e s n o t

, ip so fa cto

, lead to th e co n clu sio n th at th e am b u lan ce d riv er b reach ed h is d u ty to d riv e w ith
d u e care to all p erso n s. In d eed

, th e T en n essee S u p reme C o u r t h a s h eld th at “[ u ] n u su al
circu m stan ces m ay m ak e it reaso n ab le to ad o p t a co u rse o f co n d u ct w h ich cau ses a h ig h risk

o f h arm to th e p u b l i c.” H a yn es v. H

a m ilto n C

o u n ty

, 8 8 3 S .W.2 d 6 0 6

, (T en n

. 1 9 9 4 ).

“H o w ev er, su ch co n d u ct is n o t j u stif ied u n less th e en d itself is o f su f f icien t so cial v alu e. T h e

-13-g en eral p u b lic h as a sig n if ican t in terest in n o t b ein g su b j ected to u n reaso n ab le risk s o f in j u ry

as th e p o lice carry o u t th eir d u ties. ” Id

. (f o o tn o te o m itted ). T h e q u estio n , th en , is w h eth er
trav elin g at a rate o f sp eed f if teen m iles p er h o u r a b o v e th e p o sted sp eed lim it w as

reaso n ab le g iv en th e circu m stan ces. T h u s, w e tu rn to co n sid er th e circu m stan ces

su rro u n d in g th e co llisio n an d w h eth er th o se circu m stan ce s j u stif y th e am b u lan ce d riv er’s
actio n in ex ceed in g th e p o sted sp eed lim it.

F irst, it is u n d isp u ted th at th e am b u lan ce w as resp o n d in g to an em erg en cy d ru g

o v erd o se call at th e tim e o f th e co llisio n

. In ad d itio n , b o th M s. A n d erso n an d M s. F o rtu n e testif ied th at th e am

b u lan ce h ad en g ag ed b o th its em erg en cy lig h ts an d siren th ro u g h o u t th e

ev e n t s a t issu e in th is case. M s. M cIn ty re, h o w ev er, testif

ied th at sh e b eliev ed th at th e

am b u lan ce d riv er at so m e p o in t “tu rn ed [ th e siren ] o f f .” Wh ile th e trial co u rt d id n o t m ak e

a sp ecif ic f in d in g th at th e am

b u lan ce d riv er h ad en g ag ed h is em erg en cy lig h ts an d siren

, th e trial co u rt d id f

in d M s. M cIn ty

re at f au lt f o r f ailin g to search f

o r th e am b u lan ce af

ter h earin g its siren

. A cco rd in g ly

, th e t r i al co u rt, at least in f eren tially

, f

o u n d th at th e am

b u lan ce h ad

en g ag ed its siren p rio r to th e accid en t. W h e r e t h e t r i a l c o u r t d o e s n o t m a k e s p e c i f i c f i n d i n g s

o f f a c t

, t h e r e i s n o p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s a n d w e “ m u s t c o n d u c t o u r o w n i n d e p e n d e n t

r e v i e w o f t h e r e c o r d t o d e t e r m i n e w h e r e t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e e v i d e n c e l i e s

. ” B r o o k s v

. B r o o k s , 9 9 2 S

. W

. 2 d 4 0 3

, 4 0 5 ( T e n n

. 1 9 9 9 )

. B a s e d o n t h e t e s t i m o n y o f b o t h M s

. A n d e r s o n

a n d M s

. F o r t u n e , w e c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e w e i g h t o f t h e e v i d e n c e s u p p o r t s a f i n d i n g t h a t t h e

a m b u l a n c e d r i v e r e n g a g e d t h e a m b u l a n c e ’ s l i g h t s a n d s i r e n s t h r o u g h o u t t h e e v e n t s a t i s s u e

. B ecau se th e am

b u lan ce d riv er w as resp o n d in g t o a n em erg en cy an d h ad en g ag ed th e

am b u lan ce’s em erg en cy sig n als, th e am b u lan ce d riv er w as en titled to ex ceed p o sted sp eed
lim its, so lo n g as lif

e o r p ro p erty w as n o t en d an g ered an d h e d id so w ith d u e cau tio n g iv en th e circu m stan ces. S

ee T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 5 5 -8 -1 0 8

. A d d itio n ally

, th e o n ly d irect ev id en ce

o f sp eed su g g ests th at th e am b u lan ce w as trav elin g less th an f if teen m iles p er h o u r o v er th e

p o sted sp eed lim it, w h ich is w ith in th e A m b u lan ce S erv ice’s in tern al p o licy f o r sp eed in an

em erg en cy situ atio n

. F in ally

, u n co n trad icted ev id en ce f ro m M s. F o rtu n e also sh o w s th at th e

am b u lan ce d ecelerated w h en ap p ro ach in g th e tu rn o f f to Jo n es R o ad

, p ro ceed ed aro u n d M s. M cIn ty re’s car “w ith cau tio n ,” a n d o n l y a c celerated in an attem p t to av o id th e co llisio n

. T h ese f acts ten d to su p p o rt a f

in d in g th at th e am

b u lan ce w as n o t n eg lig en t in trav elin g at a

sp eed o f f if teen m iles p er h o u r o v er th e p o sted sp eed lim it.

T h e ro ad co n d itio n s o n th e d ay o f th e accid en t also ten d to sh o w th at th e am b u lan ce’s

sp eed w as n o t e x c e s s iv e g iv en th e circu m stan ces. S ee H a yn es v. H

a m ilto n C

o u n ty

, 8 8 3
S .W.2 d 6 0 6

, 6 1 1 (T en n

. 1 9 9 4 ) (n o tin g th at in a case in v o lv in g a p o lice ch ase, th e “w eath er

an d ro ad co n d itio n s” are f acto rs relev an t to th e d eterm in atio n o f w h eth er th e em erg e n cy

v eh icle w as o p erated in a n eg lig en t m an n er). F irst, th e co llisio n o ccu rred in b ro ad d ay lig h t

o n a clear d ay

. N o w itn ess o r p arty testif ied th at th ere w ere ad v erse ro ad co n d itio n s th e d ay

o f th e accid en t, su ch as rain o r sn o w

. In ad d itio n , M s. A n d erso n testif ied th at ev en th o u g h

-14-at least o n e car w as b eh in d h er o n T ate R o ad

, sh e co u ld clearly h ear an d see th e am b u lan ce

ap p ro ach in g

. In d eed

, M s. A n d erso n saw th e am b u lan ce w h en it w as f

ar en o u g h aw ay

th at sh e w as saf

ely ab le to tu rn o n to Jo n es R o ad

. F in ally

, th e tu rn o f f to Jo n es R o ad o ccu rs at a

p art o f T ate R o ad th at is a straig h t p ath an d is n o t co n cealed f ro m o th er d riv ers b y cu rv es.

T h e s i t u atio n in th is case is an alo g o u s to th e situ atio n p resen ted in K o w a lsk i v. E ld rid g e , 7 6 5 S .W.2 d 7 4 6 (T en n

. C t. A p p

. 1 9 8 8 ). In K o w a lk si

, a f ire tru c k w a s t r av elin g d o w n a ro ad w h en th e d riv er ah ead o f th e f ire tru ck sw erv ed to th e rig h t, th en im m ed iately

tu rn ed lef t in to th e f

ire tru ck

, resu ltin g in a co llisio n in w h ich th e car d riv er d ied

. Id

. at 7 4 7

. T h e d riv er’s w if

e b ro u g h t a w ro n g f

u l d eath actio n ag ain st th e o p erato rs o f th e f ire tru ck

. It

w as u n d isp u ted th at th e f

ire tru ck h ad en g ag ed all its em erg en cy sig n als, th at th e car d riv er d id n o t en g ag e h is tu rn sig n al in d icatin g h is in ten t to tu rn lef t, an d th at th e f

i r e t r u c k w a s
trav elin g ap p ro x im ately ten -to -tw en ty m iles p er h o u r f aster th an th e car. T h e trial co u rt
f o u n d th at th e f

ire tru ck d riv er w as n eg lig en t “in ap p ro ach in g f ro m th e rear th e [ o th er]

v eh icle an d attem

p tin g to p ass o n th e lef

t w ith o u t f

irst ascertain in g in h is o w n m in d th at h e

co u ld d o so w ith reaso n ab le saf ety .” T h e trial co u rt f

u rth er co n clu d ed th at th e car d riv er’s

n eg lig en ce w as ex cu sed b y th e su d d en em erg en cy d o ctrin e, b ased o n ex p ert testim o n y th at
th e car d riv er m o st lik el y p e r c eiv ed th e ap p ro ach o f th e f ire tru ck as an em erg en cy

. Id

. at
7 4 8

.

T h e C o u rt o f A p p e a l s, h o w ev er, rev ersed

, co n clu d in g th at th e su d d en em erg en cy d o ctrin e d id n o t ap p ly b ecau se th e d riv er, in su d d en ly tu rn in g lef t, created th e em erg en cy at issu e. Id

. at 7 4 7

– 4 8 . In ad d itio n , th e C o u rt o f A p p eals co n clu d ed th at th e f ire tru ck d riv er acted reaso n ab ly u n d er t h e c i rcu m stan ces in p assin g to th e lef t o f th e car, see T en n

. C o d e A n n

. § 5 5 -8 -1 1 7 (d etailin g th e p ro ced u re f o r p assin g o n th e lef

t), d esp ite th e ev id en ce th at
th e f ire tru ck w as trav elin g at a m u ch g reater rate o f sp eed th an th e car d riv er. K o w a lsk i

, 7 6 5
S .W.2 d at 7 4 9

.

S im ilarly , in th is case, th e am b u lan ce d riv er w as trav elin g at a g reater rate o f sp eed
th an th e p o sted sp eed lim it w h en h e attem p ted to o v ertak e M s. M cIn ty re’s car o n th e lef

t sid e. M s. M cIn ty

re, lik e th e d riv er in K

o w a lsk i

, tu rn ed lef

t o n to Jo n es R o ad cau sin g th e

co llisio n w ith th e am

b u lan ce. A s p rev io u sly d iscu ssed

, w e h av e co n clu d ed th at th e w eig h t

o f th e ev id en ce sh o w s th at th e am b u lan ce d riv er h ad en g ag ed h is em erg en cy lig h ts an d siren
th ro u g h o u t th e ev e n t s a t i s s u e. U n lik e in K o w a lsk i

, h o w ev er, th e f

acts are d isp u ted as to

w h eth er M s. M cIn ty

re h ad en g ag ed h er tu rn sig n al in d icatin g h er in ten t to tu rn lef t. T h e trial

co u rt also d id n o t m ak e a sp ecif ic f in d in g o f f act as to w h eth er M s. M cIn ty re en g ag ed h er
tu rn sig n al. R eg ard less o f w h eth er th e tu rn sig n al w as en g ag ed

, th e ev id en ce sh o w s th at th e

am b u lan ce ap p ro ach ed th e tu rn o f f to Jo n es R o ad

, d ecelerated an d th en p ro ceed ed aro u n d

M s. M cIn ty

re’s car “w ith cau tio n .” In ad d itio n , it is u n d isp u ted th at M s. A n d erso n w as ab le

to see an d h ear th e am

b u lan ce p rio r to it reach in g th e tu rn o f f to Jo n es R o ad . F in ally , M s.

-15-M cIn ty

re p erceiv ed th e siren o f an am b u lan ce p rio r to th e co llisio n , b u t, as f o u n d b y th e trial

co u rt, d id n o t p ro p erly in v estig ate th e so u rce o f th e so u n d

, an d co n seq u en tly

, d id n o t y ield

to th e am b u lan ce as it p assed o n th e lef t sid e o f h er v eh icle. T en n essee C o d e A n n o tated 5 5

- 8 -1 3 2 o u tlin es th e resp o n sib ility o f a d riv er w h en an em erg en cy v eh icle ap p ro ach es, statin g th at th e d riv er m

u st “y ield th e rig h t-o f

-w ay

. . . a n d s h a l l sto p an d rem ain in th at p o sitio n

u n til th e au th o rized em erg en cy v eh icle h as p assed .” T h u s, M s

. M cIn ty re w as u n d er a
statu to ry d u ty to y ield to th e am b u lan ce as it ap p ro ach ed

. “[ I] t is a g en eral ru le o f law th at,
in th e ab sen ce o f circu m stan ces in d icatin g o th erw ise, th e o p erato r o f a m o to r v eh icle h as th e rig h t to assu m e, an d to act o n th e assu m p tio n , th at o th er u sers o f th e h ig h w ay w ill o b ey th e law an d ex ercise d u e care.” H a m p to n v. P a d g ett

, 4 1 4 S .W.2 d 1 2

, 1 5 (T en n

. A p p

. C t. 1 9 6 7 ).

T h e am b u lan ce d riv er in th is case, th u s, “h ad th e rig h t to assu m e th at [ M s. M cIn ty re] w o u ld
law f u lly resp o n d n o t o n ly to th e em erg en cy s i g n als o n th e f ire tru ck

, b u t also to y ield to a

v eh icle p assin g o n th e lef t.” K o w a lsk i , 7 6 5 S .W.2 d at 7 4 9

.

In ad d itio n , th e circu m stan ces o f th is case f ail to r i se to th e lev el o f o th er cases in

w h ich a n a mb u l an ce d riv er o r serv ice h as b een f o u n d to b e n eg lig en t f

o r trav elin g at an

ex cessiv e rate o f sp eed

. S

ee e.g
., S h ea rn v O rla n d

o F u n era l H o m e, In c. , 8 2 S o .2 d 8 6 6 (F la.

1 9 5 5 ) (af f irm in g f in d in g o f n eg lig en ce w h en am b u lan ce d riv er w as trav elin g u p to n in ety

m iles p er h o u r d esp ite o rd in an ce th at o n ly allo w ed em erg en cy v eh icles to trav el th irty -f iv e

m iles p er h o u r); C

a rter v. A ca d

ia n A m b u la n ce S ervice, In c. , 3 4 2 S o .2 d 1 1 4 5 (L a. C t. A p p

. 1 9 7 7 ) (f in d in g o f n eg lig en ce af

f irm ed w h en th e ev id en ce sh o w ed th at th e d riv er p u lled in to rig h t lan e o f traf

f ic w ith o u t w arn i n g , a c c e l e r ated at h ig h rate o f sp eed

, d id n o t activ ate

em erg en cy lig h ts o r siren u n til j u st b ef o re co llisio n an d to o k n o actio n to av o id strik in g o th er

v eh icle); G ra m m ie r-D ism u k es C o

. v P a yto n , 2 2 S .W.2 d 5 4 4 (T ex

. C iv

. A p p

. 1 9 2 9 ) (af f irm in g a j u d g m en t f

o r th e p lain tif

f w h en th e d riv er w as trav elin g tw en ty to tw en ty -f iv e

m iles o v er th e sp eed lim it o n a f o g g y d ay w ith o u t an y

au d ib le sig n al to w arn o th er d riv ers

o f its ap p ro ach ). U n d er th e p articu lar circu m stan ces at issu e in th is case, w e co n clu d e th at th e g reater co n v in cin g w eig h t o f th e ev id en ce in th e reco rd is th at th e am b u lan ce d riv er acted reaso n ab ly in trav elin g d o w n T ate R o ad at a sp e e d o f a p p ro x im ately f if ty m iles p er h o u r an d d eceleratin g w h en ap p ro ach in g th e t u r n o f f

. S ee W a tso n , 1 9 6 S .W.3 d at 7 0 1

. A cco rd in g ly

, th e ev id en ce p rep o n d erates ag ain st th e trial co u rt’s f in d in g th at th e am

b u lan ce

w as trav elin g at an ex cessiv e rate o f sp eed u n d er th e circu m stan ces.

N o th in g in th e trial co u rt’s o ral ru lin g o r w ritten o r d e r su g g ests th at th e trial co u rt attrib u ted an y o th er f

au lt to th e am

b u lan ce d riv er o th e r t h a n th e u se o f ex cessiv e sp eed

. F ro m o u r rev iew o f th e reco rd

, w e lik ew ise co n clu d e th at n o o th er f au lt is attrib u tab le to th e

am b u lan ce d riv er o r A m

b u lan ce S erv ice. A cco rd in g ly

, th e ev id en ce lik ew ise p rep o n d erates

ag ain st th e trial co u rt’s f

in d in g th at th e am

b u lan ce d riv er b reach ed h is d u ty o f care in th is

case. A s p rev io u sly d iscu ssed

, a b reach o f th e d u ty o f c a r e i s a n essen tial elem en t to an y

n eg lig en ce claim

. G ig

g ers , 2 7 7 S .W.3 d at 3 6 4

. With o u t a b reach o n t h e p art o f th e

-16-A p p ellan ts o r th eir em p lo y ee s , th ere can b e n o liab ility

. A cco rd in g ly

, w e rev erse th e j u d g m en t ag ain st A p p ellan ts.

B ased o n its lack o f liab ility

, H ard em an C o u n ty req u ests th at th is C o u rt aw ard its to tal

req u ested d am ag es. T h e p arties stip u lated th at H ard em an C o u n ty in cu rred $ 2 4 ,2 5 5 .1 6 in
d am ag es f

o r m ed ical ex p en ses an d p ro p erty d am ag e. F ro m o u r rev iew o f th e trial co u rt’s

o rd er, th e trial co u rt f

o u n d th at M s. M cIn ty

re b reach ed h er d u ty o f care in f ailin g to lo o k f

o r th e am b u lan ce af

ter sh e h eard th e siren an d co n seq u en tly f ailin g to y ield to th e am

b u lan ce
at th e tu rn o f

f t o J o n e s R o ad

. In ad d itio n , th e trial co u rt im p licitly co n clu d ed th at M s. M cIn ty re’s n eg lig en ce w as a cau se in f act an d a p ro x im ate cau se o f th e accid en t, attrib u tin g f o rty p ercen t o f th e f

au lt f o r th e co llisio n to h er. M s. M cIn ty re d o es n o t ap p eal th e trial

co u rt’s f in d in g t h a t s h e b reach ed th e d u ty o f care o r th at sh e w as p artially at f au lt f o r th e accid en t. H av in g co n clu d ed th at A p p ellan ts d id n o t b reach th e d u ty o f care an d th u s are n o t

n eg lig en t, as w ell as th at M s. M cIn ty re d id n o t ap p eal th e trial co u rt’s f in d in g th at sh e w as

n eg lig en t, w e aw ard H ard em an C o u n ty its stip u lated d am ag es o f $ 2 4 ,2 5 5 .1 6

.

T h e j u d g m en t o f th e H ard em an C o u n ty C irc u it C o u rt is rev ersed an d th e case is

rem an d ed f

o r en try o f j u d g m en t in f

av o r o f A p p ellan t H ard em an C o u n ty in th e am o u n t o f $ 2 4 ,2 5 5 .1 6

. C o sts o f th is ap p eal are tax ed to A p p ellee, Ju d y M cIn ty re, f o r w h ich ex ecu tio n

m ay issu e if n ecessary

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ J

. S T E V E N S T A F F O R D

, J U D G E

-17-