Court Opinion

ID: 2674887
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-05-19 18:02:17.937141+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:37:45.374413
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                                 AT JACKSON

                               JERRY WYNN v. DANA WYNN

                 Direct Appeal from the Chancery Court for Gibson County
                          No. 17234        George R. Ellis, Judge

                     No. W2014-00079-COA-R3-CV - Filed May 19, 2014

       The order appealed is not a final judgment and therefore, we dismiss this appeal for
lack of jurisdiction.

                   Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Appeal Dismissed

A LAN E. H IGHERS, P.J.W.S., D AVID R. F ARMER, J., AND H OLLY M. K IRBY, J.

Harold Ross Gunn, Humboldt, Tennessee, for the appellant, Jerry Wynn.

Mary Jo Middlebrooks, Jackson, Tennessee for the appellee, Dana Wynn.

                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION 1

        Pursuant to the mandates of Rule 13(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate
Procedure, we reviewed the appellate record to determine if the Court has subject matter
jurisdiction to hear this matter. After this review, it appeared to the Court that it does not
have jurisdiction. Specifically, we could find nothing in the record reflecting that the trial
court adjudicated the request for an award of attorney fees as set forth in “Motion to Dismiss
Motion for Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law” filed by Appellee/Defendant Dana
Wynn in the trial court on August 23, 2013.

       1
           Rule 10 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals of Tennessee provides:

       This Court, with the concurrence of all judges participating in the case, may affirm, reverse
       or modify the actions of the trial court by memorandum opinion when a formal opinion
       would have no precedential value. When a case is decided by memorandum opinion it shall
       be designated “MEMORANDUM OPINION”, shall not be published, and shall not be cited
       or relied on for any reason in any unrelated case.
        By Order entered on March 17, 2014, the Court directed Appellant Jerry Wynn to
obtain entry of a final judgment in the trial court within ten (10) days of the entry of that
Order or else show cause why this appeal should not be dismissed for failure to appeal an
appealable order or judgment within fifteen (15) days of the entry of that Order. Appellant
submitted a response to our Order on March 19, 2014, wherein Appellant assured the Court
that the order appealed was in fact a final judgment. Appellant, however, did not address the
Court’s concern that there was no adjudication of Appellee’s request for an award of attorney
fees.

        Rule 3 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure provides that if multiple parties
or multiple claims are involved in an action, any order that adjudicates fewer than all the
claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties is not final or appealable.
Except where otherwise provided, this Court only has subject matter jurisdiction over final
orders. See Bayberry Assoc. v. Jones, 783 S.W.2d 553 (Tenn. 1990). Because the trial court
did not adjudicate Appellee’s request for an award of attorney fees, the order appealed is not
a final judgment. Therefore, the Court does not have jurisdiction and this appeal must be
dismissed.

                                        Conclusion

       The appeal is dismissed without prejudice and the case remanded to the trial court for
further proceedings consistent with this Opinion. Should a new appeal be filed, the Clerk of
this Court shall, upon request of either party, consolidate the record in this appeal with the
record filed in the new appeal. Costs of this appeal are taxed to the appellant, Jerry Wynn,
and his surety for which execution may issue if necessary.

                                           PER CURIAM