In re Cameron H. ( 2017 )


Menu:
  •                                                                                            01/13/2017
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
    AT KNOXVILLE
    January 10, 2017 Session
    IN RE CAMERON H.
    Appeal from the Circuit Court for Polk County
    No. CV-09-004      J. Michael Sharp, Judge
    No. E2016-01002-COA-R3-PT
    The Final Order of Parentage and Adoption in this case reserved the issue of attorney’s fees
    for further hearing. As such, it is clear that the order appealed from does not resolve all of
    the issues raised in the proceedings below. As a result, we lack jurisdiction to consider this
    appeal.
    Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Appeal Dismissed
    CHARLES D. SUSANO, JR., J., D. MICHAEL SWINEY, C.J., AND JOHN W. MCCLARTY, J.
    J. Allen Murphy, Jr., Cleveland, Tennessee, for the appellant, Chad P.
    Joshua H. Jenne, Cleveland, Tennessee, for the appellee, William H.
    Matthew C. Rogers, Athens, Tennessee, for the appellee, Jessica L. R.
    Brenda L. Perry, Cleveland, Tennessee, Guardian Ad Litem.
    MEMORANDUM OPINION1
    1
    Rule 10 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals provides as follows:
    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    shall be designated “MEMORANDUM OPINION,” shall not be
    published, and shall not be cited or relied on for any reason in any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.
    Pursuant to Rule 13(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, this Court
    reviewed the record for this appeal upon transmission to determine whether the Court had
    subject matter jurisdiction to hear this matter. After determining that the reserved issue of
    attorney’s fees remained unresolved in the Trial Court, this Court directed the appellant to
    show cause why this appeal should not be dismissed as premature. The appellant has filed
    no response to the show cause order.
    “A final judgment is one that resolves all the issues in the case, ‘leaving nothing else
    for the trial court to do.’ ” In re Estate of Henderson, 
    121 S.W.3d 643
    , 645 (Tenn. 2003)
    (quoting State ex rel. McAllister v. Goode, 
    968 S.W.2d 834
    , 840 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997)).
    “[A]ny 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). Because there is an unresolved issue in the proceedings
    below, this Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate this appeal. See
    Bayberry Assocs. v. Jones, 
    783 S.W.2d 553
    , 559 (Tenn. 1990) (“Unless an appeal from an
    interlocutory order is provided by the rules or by statute, appellate courts have jurisdiction
    over final judgments only.”); Spencer v. The Golden Rule, Inc., No. 03A01-9406-CV-
    00207, 
    1994 WL 589564
    , * 1 (Tenn. Ct. App., filed Oct. 21, 1994) (dismissing appeal in
    which there was no order in the record disposing of a party’s claim for attorney’s fees at the
    trial level). While the Supreme Court in Bayberry remarked that there is “no bar” to the
    suspension of the finality requirements of Rule 3(a) pursuant to Rule 2 of the Tennessee
    Rules of Appellate Procedure, there has been no argument made in this case that would
    support suspension of the requirements of the rule. See 
    id. (noting that
    “there must be a
    good reason for suspension”). Moreover, the question exists whether such a suspension
    would be proper given developments in the law subsequent to Bayberry. See Ingram v.
    Wasson, 
    379 S.W.3d 227
    , 237 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011) (“Lack of appellate jurisdiction
    cannot be waived.”) (citing Meighan v. U.S. Sprint Communications Co., 
    924 S.W.2d 632
    ,
    639 (Tenn. 1996)).
    Because this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal, the case is dismissed
    without prejudice to the filing of a new appeal once a final judgment has been entered.
    Costs on appeal are taxed to the appellant, Chad P., and his surety, for which execution
    may issue if necessary.
    PER CURIAM
    

Document Info

Docket Number: E2016-01002-COA-R3-PT

Judges: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.

Filed Date: 1/13/2017

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 1/13/2017