Opinion ID: 1058249
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Principle of Stare Decisis

Text: Further supporting retention of the common-law Ford rule is the principle that whenever a judicial decision, such as Ford , has been submitted to and for some time, acted under, and is not manifestly repugnant to some rule of law of vital importance in the system, it should not lightly be departed from, nor for purposes which are not of the highest value to the community. Hall v. Skidmore, 180 Tenn. 23, 171 S.W.2d 274, 276 (1943) (internal quotations omitted) overruled on other grounds by Graves v. Sawyer, 588 S.W.2d 542 (Tenn.1979). In urging us to abandon the Ford rule, the appellants cite a general trend toward adoption of the more modern UPC rule, and also argue that the testatrix probably intended for her estate to be divided among the named residuary beneficiaries, to the exclusion of her heirs. Neither argument is sufficiently persuasive or compelling to support overriding a rule of law that has been in effect in this state for far more than a century. The doctrine of stare decisis is one of commanding importance, giving, as it does, firmness and stability to principles of law. J.T. Fargason Co. v. Ball, 128 Tenn. 137, 159 S.W. 221, 222 (1913). Stability in the law allows individuals to plan their affairs and to safely judge of their legal rights. Id. Generally, well-settled rules of law will be overturned only when there is obvious error or unreasonableness in the precedent, changes in conditions which render the precedent obsolete, the likelihood that adherence to precedence would cause greater harm to the community than would disregarding stare decisis, or an inconsistency between precedent and a constitutional provision. None of these reasons are evident in the present case. The power of this Court to overrule former decisions is very sparingly exercised and only when the reason is compelling. Edingbourgh v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 206 Tenn. 660, 337 S.W.2d 13, 14 (1960). Radical changes in the law are best made by the legislature. J.T. Fargason Co., 159 S.W. at 222. In our view, if our General Assembly determines that the UPC or modern rule would better serve the public interest, then it is within its power to adopt it into law, as have many other states. For the time being, we see no compelling reason in the case now before us to overrule the long-standing precedent established in Ford . Therefore, we agree with the probate court and the Court of Appeals that the Ford rule governs this case, and the lapsed residuary gifts in Ms. McFarland's will pass to her heirs under the laws of intestate succession.