Court Opinion

ID: 1054108
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-08 20:46:54.10495+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:59.425886
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                              AT JACKSON
                    ASSIGNED ON BRIEFS FEBRUARY 28, 2005

                MARK SMITH v. SMITH IMPORTS, INC., ET AL.

                  Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Shelby County
                        No. CT-001350-03     D’Army Bailey, Judge

                     No. W2004-02022-COA-R3-CV - Filed July 25, 2005

This appeal arises from an order granting summary judgment. The trial court granted summary
judgment for one of the defendants and the plaintiff appealed to this Court. After reviewing the
record, we dismiss this appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

   Tenn. R. App. P. 3; Appeal as of Right; Appeal Dismissed for Lack of Subject Matter
                                       Jurisdiction

ALAN E. HIGHERS, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which DAVID R. FARMER , J., and HOLLY
M. KIRBY , J., joined.

Kim G. Sims, Memphis, TN, for Appellant

Eric J. Plumley, Memphis, TN, for Appellee Barnett Motor Works, Inc.

                                           OPINION

                                 Facts and Procedural History

        On March 11, 2003, Mark Smith (“Smith” or “Appellant”) filed a complaint for injuries he
allegedly sustained in an automobile accident on or about September 23, 1998, against four
defendants, Paul Zanone (“Zanone”) and phantom driver, Coady L. Davis (“Davis”), individually,
and Barnett Motor Works, Inc. (“Barnett Motor” or “Appellee”), and Smith Imports, Inc. (“Smith
Imports” or, collectively with Zanone, Davis, and Barnett Motor, the “Defendants”), under a theory
of respondeat superior. On July 2, 2003, Smith filed motions for default judgment against Barnett
Motor and Smith Imports. The trial court granted the motion for default judgment as to Smith
Imports only.1

        On July 21, 2003, Barnett Motor filed its answer, asserting numerous defenses including the
statute of limitations and noncompliance with Rule 3 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure.
Additionally, on the same day, Barnett Motor filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings or for
summary judgment, again citing the statute of limitations. After a hearing and upon the record, on
January 21, 2004, the trial court granted Barnett Motor’s motion for summary judgment and stated
that the assessment of costs shall “await final judgment or order.” Subsequently, Smith filed a
motion to alter or amend the judgment2 which the trial court denied by order filed on July 9, 2004,
again stating that costs shall “await final judgment or order.” Smith now appeals to this Court,
presenting the following issue, as we perceive it, for our review: whether the trial court erred when
it granted summary judgment in favor of Barnett Motor. For the following reasons, we dismiss this
appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

                                         Subject Matter Jurisdiction

        Though neither of the parties raise the issue of whether this Court may hear this appeal, “[t]he
appellate court shall also consider whether the trial and appellate court have jurisdiction over the
subject matter, whether or not presented for review . . . .” Tenn. R. App. P. 13(b) (2005). Pursuant
to Rule 3(a) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure,

         In civil actions every final judgment entered by a trial court from which an appeal lies
         to the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals is appealable as of right. Except as
         otherwise permitted in Rule 9 and in Rule 54.02 Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure,
         if multiple parties or multiple claims for relief 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 enforceable or appealable and is subject to revision at any time
         before entry of a final judgment adjudicating all the claims, rights, and liabilities of
         all parties.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3(a) (2005) (emphasis added). In this case, Appellant did not seek permission
from the trial court for an interlocutory appeal pursuant to Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of
Appellate Procedure, even though the order granting summary judgment concerned only one of
the Defendants. Tenn. R. App. P. 9 (2005). Additionally, Rule 54.02 of the Tennessee Rules of
Civil Procedure provides as follows:

         1
                   Although a default judgment was granted as to Smith Imports, we note that Smith Imports subsequently
filed an answer to Smith’s complaint.

         2
                  Additionally, Smith filed a motion for leave to amend his complaint. The record contains no written
order disposing of this motion.

                                                         -2-
       When more than one claim for relief is present in an action, whether as a claim,
       counterclaim, cross-claim, or third party claim, or when multiple parties are involved,
       the court, whether at law or in equity, may direct the entry of a final judgment as to
       one or more but fewer than all of the claims or parties only upon an express
       determination that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express direction for
       the entry of judgment. In the absence of such determination and direction, any order
       or other form of decision, however designated, that adjudicates fewer than all the
       claims or the rights and liabilities of fewer than all the parties shall not terminate the
       action as to any of the claims or parties, and the order or other form of decision is
       subject to revision at any time before the entry of the judgment adjudicating all the
       claims and the rights and liabilities of all the parties.

Tenn. R. Civ. P. 54.02 (2005) (emphasis added). In this case, the order granting Appellee summary
judgment does not make an express determination that there is no just reason for delay and it does
not give an express direction for the entry of judgment. Instead, it grants Appellee summary
judgment and states that “the assessment of court costs await final judgment or order.” (emphasis
added). The trial court’s order denying Appellant’s motion also does not make any such
determination as stated in Rule 54.02 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and states that “the
assessment of court costs await final judgment or order.” (emphasis added). Because the order
appealed from disposes of only one of the four Defendants in this case, the final order does not make
a determination in accordance with Rule 54.02 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, and
Appellant has not sought an interlocutory appeal in accordance with Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules
of Appellate Procedure, this Court dismisses this appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

                                             Conclusion

         For the reasons stated above, we dismiss this appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Costs of this appeal are taxed to Appellant, Mark Smith, and his surety for which execution may
issue if necessary.

                                                        ___________________________________
                                                        ALAN E. HIGHERS, JUDGE

                                                  -3-