Opinion ID: 1060312
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Personal Jurisdiction Over a Layperson Complainant

Text: In the federal declaratory judgment action, the State argues that Roe, the plaintiff therein, lacks standing to maintain that suit. The State maintains that although Roe has filed a complaint alleging attorney misconduct with the Board of Professional Responsibility, he does not become a participant in a proceeding, and thus subject to the jurisdiction of the Board, until such time as a formal proceeding may commence. Thus, despite the fact that a complaint has been filed, the Board contends that there is no proceeding until an investigation regarding the merits of the complaint has been completed and formal disciplinary proceedings commence. Conversely, Roe argues that by filing a complaint alleging attorney misconduct in accordance with the procedural guidelines of Rule 9, he voluntarily subjected himself to the jurisdiction of the Board and this Court. Roe makes no distinction between the filing of a complaint with the Board and the filing of a complaint with a court of law in this State. We agree with Roe. When an individual seeks affirmative relief from a tribunal, or acts in a manner inconsistent with the claim of absence of jurisdiction, he is said to consent to the jurisdiction of that tribunal. See Tenn. Dep't. of Human Servs. v. Daniel, 659 S.W.2d 625, 626 (Tenn.Ct.App.1983). Accordingly, we hold that the Board obtained personal jurisdiction over Roe when he filed his complaint alleging attorney misconduct. At that point the Board obtained authority to require Roe, the layperson, to comply with all requirements of Rule 9 of the Rules of the Tennessee Supreme Court.