Opinion ID: 1771096
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Fairley

Text: ¶ 21. In the case sub judice, Board president/chairman Christian testified at his deposition taken on November 10, 1997, that Eubanks's letter regarding Fairley's accident was handed to him, and he read the letter. Board member Orville H. Cochran (Cochran) also testified in his deposition taken on November 10, 1997, that Christian made him aware of Fairley's claims regarding her accident that occurred in May 1996. Cochran also stated that the normal procedure for handling the mail was for the purchasing agent to open all correspondence addressed to the Board and give it to the Board President unless specially addressed to one of the other Board members. He also then testified that the County had recently sanded the road at River Road around May 30, 1996. ¶ 22. The Board's comptroller, Ricky E. Churchwell (Churchwell), in his deposition stated that he was the initial point of contact with the Board's insurance company once he was made aware of Fairley's accident. At his deposition, Churchwell produced Eubanks's letter that he had received from the Board. Churchwell verified that he had sent a facsimile transmission to Jerald Delany at the Board's insurance company, Titan Indemnity Insurance Company, dated July 3, 1996, on the Board's letterhead informing them of Fairley's potential claim and Eubanks's representation. Churchwell testified that Board member Cochran informed him of Fairley's accident and that a claim probably needed to by filed. Churchwell also testified that he dealt with Kristie Henderson (Henderson). ¶ 23. In Henderson's deposition, she testified that in her capacity as an insurance adjuster for associated adjusters that she had conversations with Churchwell and Cochran as to Fairley's pending case. She also discussed the details of Eubanks's letter with Churchwell and Cochran. ¶ 24. In Eubanks's affidavit, she stated that she had numerous telephone conversations with the County's adjuster, Henderson. According to Eubanks's affidavit, Henderson took a taped statement from Fairley on August 19, 1996, concerning the accident on May 30, 1996. ¶ 25. This Court only requires substantial compliance with the notice provisions of the MTCA having abolished the requirement of strict compliance. This Court in City of Pascagoula v. Tomlinson, 741 So.2d 224, 225 (Miss.1999), stated: In Reaves v. Randall, 729 So.2d 1237 (Miss.1998), this Court adopted a substantial compliance scheme, holding that (w)hen the simple requirements of the Act have been substantially complied with, jurisdiction will attach for the purposes of the Act. In Carr v. Town of Shubuta, 733 So.2d 261 (Miss.1999), this Court approvingly cited the Indiana case of Collier v. Prater, 544 N.E.2d 497, 498 (Ind.1989) for the proposition that: [N]otice is sufficient if it substantially complies with the content requirements of the statute. What constitutes substantial compliance, while not a question of fact but one of law, is a fact-sensitive determination. In general, a notice that is filed within the [requisite] period, informs the municipality of the claimant's intent to make a claim and contains sufficient information which reasonable affords the municipality an opportunity to promptly investigate the claim satisfies the purpose of the statute and will be held to substantially comply with it. Shubuta, at 263.