Court Opinion

ID: 1068029
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:28:25.769843+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:24:27.937885
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                             AT NASHVILLE
                                 November 7, 2002 Session

                JOHN JAY HOOKER v. DON SUNDQUIST, ET AL.

                 Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Davidson County
                        No. 01C-3804    Thomas W. Brothers, Judge

                  No. M2002-01207-COA-R3-CV - Filed December 19, 2002

This case involves an appeal from an order denying a motion for Rule 11 sanctions. We reverse and
remand.

   Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Reversed; and
                                       Remanded

DAVID R. FARMER , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which W. FRANK CRAWFORD , P.J., W.S.,
and ROBERT W. WEDEMEYER , SP . J., joined.

Paul G. Summers, Attorney General and Reporter, Michael E. Moore Solicitor General, and Janet
M. Kleinfelter, Senior Counsel, for the Appellants, Governor Don Sundquist, Paul Summers, Lt.
Governor John Wilder and Jimmy Naifeh.

John Jay Hooker, Pro se.

                                            OPINION

        Plaintiff (Appellee) John Jay Hooker (Mr. Hooker) filed a complaint on December 13,
2001, against Governor Don Sundquist, individually and in his official capacity, and Lieutenant
Governor John Wilder, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, and Attorney General Paul Summers, in their
official capacities. The complaint alleged that Governor Sundquist had violated Art. X, § 3 of
the Tennessee Constitution during his 1998 re-election campaign by holding fundraisers where
“he served ‘meat and drink’ in the process of party-giving to voters, lobbyists and friends ‘to be
elected’. . . .”1 Mr. Hooker filed an amended complaint on December 17, 2001 that was virtually
identical to the original complaint.

        On January 18, 2002, the Defendants (Appellants) filed a motion to dismiss the amended
complaint on the grounds that it failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
Defendants asserted that the amended complaint contained no factual support for any allegations
contained therein and was contrary to existing law. Defendants relied on State ex rel. Anderson
v. Fulton, 712 S.W.2d 90 (Tenn. 1986), and a decision of the Davidson County Chancery Court
in Hooker v. McWherter, Case No. 98-2246-III (July 31, 1998), both cases involved similar
allegations2 and were dismissed for failing to state a claim for which relief could be granted.

         1
           The com plaint also stated that it was the “fo urth in a series o f cases filed in the Circuit Co urt to ‘reform the
election process in Tennessee’ to make the election process lawful under both the Federal and State Constitutions.” At
least one o f these cases, Hooker v. Bredesen, Davidson Co unty Eighth Circuit Court No. 01-C-1199, involved the same
issue as that presented in this case. While we tangen tially add ress the m erits of M r. Ho oker’s unde rlying case in this
opinion, on ly insofar as necessary to decide the propriety of awarding sanctions, such merits were squarely addressed
by this court on appeal in Hooker v. Bredesen, No . M200 2-01 025 -CO A-R3-CV , 200 2 T enn. C t. App. LEXIS 766, at
*1 (Tenn. Ct. App. October 30, 2002), where this Court stated:

                  The Complaint in this case does not factually assert that Bredesen “had given anything of
         value in excha nge for a pro mise to vote for him” in the G overnor's election.

                    Article X, § 3 of this State’s Constitution, as the Fulton Court held, proscribes a cand idate’s
         giving any gift or reward in meat, drink, money or otherwise in exchange for the elector’s vote. As we
         understand appellant’s argument, he concedes as much, but sincerely contends that Fulton did not
         address the second sentence of Article 10, § 3, which according to appellant “requires no quid pro quo
         or i.e., giving food and drink in exchange for a vote,” and he further argues that the second sentence
         simply requires that food and drink be given to prospective voters without their promise to vote for
         the candidate. W e cannot agree.

                   The first sentence of § 3 establishes that an elector who receives any gift or rewa rd for his
         vote from the candidate is guilty of a crime, as established by law. The second sentence of the section
         sets forth the disqualification for the candidate who gives “such reward” to the voter. As we noted, the
         prohibition established in this section is the giving by the candidate any of the items mentioned to the
         voter in exchange for the voter’s vote. Absent the giving and receiving of “such reward” for the vote,
         there can be no vio lation of § 3.

                    Plaintiff argues the second sentence of the section is self-executed and relies on Crutchfield
         v. Collins, 607 S.W .2d 4 78 (Tenn. Ct. App. 198 0). The Crutchfield Court merely explained that the
         second sentence is self-executing in the sense that a candidate who gives “such reward” for the voter’s
         vote is autom atically disqualified, while the voter can only be punished by a prosecution under a “law”
         enacted by the Legislature. Since the Complaint fails to allege a factual violation of Article X, § 3, it
         fails to state a cause of action.

Id. at *5-6.

         2
         Mr. Ho oker correctly notes that the facts of Anderson do not invo lve a political fundra iser. McW herter,
however, alleged violations of Art. X § 3 stemming from fundraisers for the reelection of two Tennessee State Supreme
                                                                                                         (continued...)

                                                             -2-
        Defendants also served Mr. Hooker with a motion for sanctions pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ.
P. 11, asserting that the amended complaint was both legally and factually frivolous and thus
violative of Tenn. R. Civ. P. 11.02(2) and (3). The motion and supporting memorandum of law
were served on Mr. Hooker January 18, 2002. Rather than withdraw or dismiss his amended
complaint, Mr. Hooker filed a response in opposition to Defendants’ motion to dismiss. The
court granted Defendants’ motion to dismiss by an order dated February 26, 2002. On February
8, 2002 the Defendants filed their motion for sanctions with the court. After a hearing on
February 22, 2002 the court denied Defendants’ motion for sanctions finding, inter alia, “the
chilling affect [sic] on the average citizens of this state so greatly outweighs the inconvenience
that’s associated with this lawsuit that I cannot see that sanctions are appropriate.” The order
incorporating this ruling was entered by the court April 1, 2002.

        On May 17, 2002, the Defendants filed a notice of appeal of the trial court’s order
denying the motion for sanctions. On May 24, 2002, Mr. Hooker filed a motion to strike
Defendants’ notice of appeal on the grounds that it was premature. Mr. Hooker then filed an
amended motion to strike on May 31, 2002, asserting that the Defendants’ notice of appeal was
untimely filed. A hearing on the motion to strike was held on June 21, 2002, at which time the
trial court found that it was without jurisdiction and denied Mr. Hooker’s motion by an order
dated June 28, 2002.

       Appellant presents a single issue for review: Did the trial court abuse its discretion in
denying Defendant’s motion for sanctions?

                                                Standard of Review

         Our review of the trial court's ruling on a Rule 11 motion is under an abuse of discretion
standard. Krug v. Krug, 838 S.W.2d 197, 205 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). An abuse of discretion
occurs when the decision of the lower court has no basis in law or fact and is therefore arbitrary,
illogical, or unconscionable. State v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 18 S.W.3d 186, 191
(Tenn. 2000). Our review of Rule 11 decisions is governed under this deferential standard since
the question of whether a Rule 11 violation has occurred requires the trial court to make highly
fact- intensive determinations regarding the reasonableness of the attorney's conduct. Krug, 838
S.W.2d at 205. We review the trial court's findings of fact with a presumption of correctness.
Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d).

         2
          (...continued)
Court Justice s. Excepting the defendants in each case, McW herter is nearly factually identical to the case at issue.

                                                          -3-
                                                      Discussion

        When an attorney3 signs a motion, document, or other paper submitted to the court, he
certifies to the court that he has read it, that he has reasonably inquired into the facts and law it
asserts, that he believes it is well-grounded in both fact and law, and that he is acting without
improper motive. Andrews v. Bible, 812 S.W.2d 284, 287 (Tenn. 1991). Rule 11 sanctions
emphasize to the attorney that his signature is not meaningless, but conveys a message to the
court for which he alone is responsible. Id. at 288. Rule 11 establishes that an attorney who
signs such a paper without the required belief is subject to appropriate sanction by the court. Id.
This State's Supreme Court has characterized such sanctions as a “potent weapon that can and
should be used to curb litigation abuses.” Id. at 292. Our Supreme Court has, however,
tempered this mandate by advising trial courts that, while they should impose sanctions when a
Rule 11 violation is found, they should do so only with the utmost care. Id. In appropriate cases,
sanctions may include payment of the opposing party’s legal expenses. Id. at 288.

        The Tennessee Supreme Court has established the standard for determining whether an
attorney's conduct is sanctionable under Rule 11 as one of objective reasonableness under the
circumstances as they existed when the document was signed. Id. “Sanctions are appropriate
when an attorney submits a motion or other paper on grounds which he knows or should know
are without merit, and a showing of subjective bad faith is not required.” Boyd v. Prime Focus,
Inc., 83 S.W.3d 761, 765 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). In determining whether a Rule 11 violation has
occurred, the trial court should consider all circumstances bearing on the reasonableness of the
attorney's conduct. Andrews, 812 S.W.2d at 293, fn4. Such circumstances may include the
attorney’s experience and past performance, the general standards of conduct of the bar, and
whether the attorney’s actions were the result of neglect, incompetence, willfulness, or deliberate
choice. Id.

        In the present case, Appellants contend, inter alia, that sanctions are appropriate in this
instance because the issue raised by Mr. Hooker had previously been decided in the Anderson
case. Appellants also stress that Mr. Hooker himself had been unsuccessful in McWherter, a
case also alleging a violation of Article X § 3 of the Tennessee Constitution by a candidate for
office. In McWherter, Mr. Hooker alleged in count nine of his amended complaint the
following:

       9. On information and belief, it is averred that these campaign contributions . . . are
       solicited where the judges and lawyers were and/or will be present, at which time the
       hosts of the receptions provided or will provide meat and drink and the guests have
       or will provide money, all in violation of Article X, Section 3 of the Tennessee
       Constitution, outlawing the use of meat, drink and money in the election process for
       the procurement of votes.

       3
           While Mr. Hooker acted pro se in these p roceedings, it should be no ted that he is a licensed attorney.

                                                           -4-
         In the present case Mr. Hooker alleges, also in count nine of his complaint, the following:

         9. On “various and divers” occasions Gov. Sundquist “directly or indirectly” held
         “fund-raisers”where participants contributed money to his campaign for reelection
         and he served “meat and drink” in the process of party-giving to voters, lobbyists and
         friends “to be elected,” violating Article X§3[sic]. Such conduct included campaign
         fund-raisers, given for the purpose of being elected, at the Governor’s residence, at
         Opryland Hotel, and many other places all across Tennessee known to Gov.
         Sundquist and subject to stipulation, discovery and/or proof.

         Mr. Hooker goes on to state, in count seventeen, that

         the essence of this lawsuit is not about the voters who voted for Gov. Sundquist,
         because the second sentence of Article X§3 [sic] addresses the conduct of the
         candidate and the violation by the candidate occurs independently of the first
         sentence and the conduct of the voters. The second sentence mandates that any
         candidate who gives “meat, drink, money or otherwise” “to be elected” violates the
         plain language of the sentence. . . .

         Mr. Hooker then proceeds, in count eighteen, to assert that

         the . . . Chancellor [], in [McWherter] said that the provision requires a quid pro quo
         and agreement by the voter with the candidate that the “meat, drink, money or
         otherwise” given “to be elected” as a reward is for the vote of the voter “for his vote.”
         This, it is averred, is in error as [the] Chancellor . . . ignored the fact that the word
         “reward” and the word “gift” are used interchangeably. . . .

       This statement, that the Chancellor erred in the McWherter decision, is essentially an
acknowledgment by Mr. Hooker that the facts of this case are no different than those in
McWherter. If Mr. Hooker took issue with the trial courts ruling in McWherter, his proper
recourse was to appeal the decision to this Court. Mr. Hooker failed to follow this course4 and,
the doctrine of res judicata barring his ability to bring the same claim against the same
defendants, chose to urge another trial court to look at the same facts, albeit with different
defendants, and reach some other conclusion. This he cannot do.

       Applying the Tennessee Supreme Court’s standard of “objective reasonableness under the
circumstances” to the facts presented in this case results in the inescapable conclusion that Mr.
Hooker, as “an attorney[, filed the complaint] on grounds which he kn[ew] or should [have]
know[n] [were] without merit. . . .” Boyd, 83 S.W.3d at 765. The reasonableness of Mr.
Hooker’s belief must be evaluated in light of the circumstances as they existed when the

         4
          W e find it noteworthy that at the time of the McW herter decision, Mr. Hoo ker stated that “my main interest
is to appeal. I’m going to be true to the quest.”

                                                         -5-
document was signed. Andrews, 812 S.W.2d at 288. In this case, the complaint at issue was
signed subsequent to the dismissal of the McWherter case, making Mr. Hooker’s belief that his
complaint was “well-grounded in both fact and law” an unreasonable one. “An attorney who
signs a paper without the required substantiated belief ‘shall’ be penalized by ‘an appropriate
sanction.’” Andrews, 812 S.W.2d at 288. “This sanction may, but need not, include the payment
of the other party’s expenses.” Id.

         The trial court, in reciting its reasons for denying sanctions, stated “I realize there’s [sic]
been other actions and I’m not a party to those.” The court makes no mention of reviewing these
prior actions to ascertain if the complaint in those actions mirrored the facts presented in this
case. A review of these other actions was required as the question of whether a Rule 11 violation
has occurred requires the trial court to make highly fact- intensive determinations regarding the
reasonableness of the attorney's conduct. See Krug, 838 S.W.2d at 205. The trial court’s failure
to directly address the similarity or differences between these other actions, actions which were
brought to the attention of the court by the party seeking the imposition of sanctions, does not
rise to the level of a “highly fact-intensive determination” of whether the attorney’s conduct
warrants sanctions. See id. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s dismissal of the motion for
sanctions against Mr. Hooker and remand the cause so that an appropriate sanction may be
issued.

       The judgment of the trial court is, therefore, reversed. Cost of this appeal is taxed to the
Appellee, John Jay Hooker, for which execution, if necessary, may issue.

                                                        ___________________________________
                                                        DAVID R. FARMER, JUDGE

                                                  -6-