Opinion ID: 2342242
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Chancellor's Review of the Administrative Record

Text: The TBR also argues that the Chancellor did not review or consider the record of the hearing before the ALJ in making its factual determinations. As evidence of this assertion, the TBR points out that in his Memorandum and Final Order, the Chancellor made no reference to the ALJ hearing or to a few witnesses who testified only at that hearing and whose testimony would significantly affect the Chancellor's findings. These omissions include the testimony of Dr. Mallette, whose testimony at the ALJ hearing, according to the TBR, directly undermines the credibility of Tok Sun Choe, a witness that the Chancellor found bolstered Dr. Wells' testimony. Also overlooked by the Chancellor, according to the TBR, is the testimony of Vanessa Smith, who testified before the ALJ that Dr. Wells had sexually harassed her both physically and verbally on three occasions in 1985. The record of the hearing before the ALJ was clearly admitted into evidence at the Chancery trial. In his Memorandum and Final Order, the Chancellor refers to all of the evidence, stating that his decision was [b]ased upon review of the entire record, the additional evidence introduced at trial and consideration of the argument of counsel for both parties . . . While the Final Order makes no reference to the testimony of specific witnesses who testified before the ALJ, we have no reason to believe that the Chancellor ignored or otherwise overlooked the transcript of that hearing in weighing the evidence. Furthermore, the TBR could have filed a motion pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 59 in order to call the Chancellor's attention to the matters it felt he had disregarded in reviewing the evidence. However the TBR failed to do so. The TBR also challenges the Chancellor's determinations of the credibility of some of its key witnesses, insisting that the court minimizes and dismisses testimony from the faculty committee tenure hearing. Although the TBR did submit compelling proof at that hearing, the record also contains reliable evidence that controverts that proof and substantiates Dr. Wells' position. We recognize that we are not required to give strict deference to the Chancellor's assessment of the testimony contained in a cold record. See Orman v. Williams Sonoma, Inc., 803 S.W.2d at 676. Yet our own evaluation of the faculty committee tenure hearing testimony, coupled with the deference we must afford the Chancellor's finding that Dr. Wells was a credible witness, leads us to agree with the Chancellor that the charges against Dr. Wells were not proven by clear and convincing evidence.