Opinion ID: 1058880
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The trial judge acted properly in dismissing the matter due to petitioner's failure to file the transcript.

Text: Henderson filed his petition for certiorari with the chancery court on May 11, 2001. On August 24, 2001, he filed a Notice of Filing, giving notice that he had filed the transcript of his testimony in the hearing on his motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, and the findings of the hearing panel regarding that motion, taken February 21, 2001. At the same time, Henderson filed a motion to vacate the order of the Hearing Panel. The Board filed a motion to dismiss appeal on October 22, 2001, on the grounds that Henderson failed to file a transcript with the court as required by Rule 9 of the Rules of the Supreme Court. On January 8, 2002, Henderson filed a motion to continue, alleging that he did not have adequate time to obtain a full hearing transcript. The matter was heard on February 1, 2002, at which time the Board renewed its motion to dismiss because a copy of the transcript had yet to be filed with the court. Henderson represented to the court that no transcript had been filed because he did not have the financial resources to pay for the transcript. The court granted the Board's motion to dismiss. After oral argument on Henderson's motion to alter or amend judgment, the trial court found that Henderson failed to file a transcript and had given the court numerous and different reasons for not filing it. Therefore, the court denied Henderson's motion to alter or amend judgment, affirming the dismissal of his appeal. The court further found that procedural errors raised by the Petitioner had been adequately addressed by the Hearing Panel, and then noted that it was unable to make any further written findings due to Henderson's failure to file the transcript. Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, section 1.3 (2001) states that [t]he Respondent or the Board may have a review of the judgment of a hearing committee in the manner provided by T.C.A. 27-9-101 et seq., except as otherwise provided herein. With respect to the filing of a writ of certiorari, Tennessee Code Annotated section 27-9-109(a) (2000) provides that [i]mmediately upon the grant of a writ, the board or commission shall cause to be made certified and forwarded to such court a complete transcript of the proceedings in the cause, containing also all the proof submitted before the board or commission. However, Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, section 23.1 (2001) otherwise provides that the Respondent and not the Board shall file the transcript. Thus, it was the responsibility of Henderson to file the transcript in the trial court.