Ann C. Short v. Charles E. Ferrell in his official capacity as the Administrative Director of the Courts ( 1998 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
FOR PUBLICATION
Filed: September 8, 1998
ANN C. SHORT, )
)
PETITIONER, )
)
v. ) NO. 01S01-9704-OT-00078
)
CHARLES E. FERRELL, )
in his official capacity as the
Administrative Director of the Courts,
)
)
)
FILED
RESPONDENT. )
September 8, 1998
Cecil W. Crowson
Appellate Court Clerk
FOR PETITIONER: FOR RESPONDENT:
ANN C. SHORT JOHN A. DAY
KNOXVILLE NASHVILLE
OPINION
REMANDED HOLDER, J.
OPINION
This cause comes to us on a common law writ of certiorari to review a fee
dispute in a post-conviction proceeding involving an indigent defendant, David
McNish. The issue is whether an attorney appointed to review the records in a
post-conviction proceeding may exceed the maximum allowable rates for
attorneys representing indigent defendants. W e hold that: (1) Tenn. Sup. Ct. R.
13 (1996) required an attorney performing services as an "expert" to obtain prior
approval for an hourly rate in excess of the hourly rate provided for attorneys in
Rule 13; and (2) the trial court should have explicitly set forth the approved
"expert" hourly rate in its order if such rate was intended to exceed the normal
hourly rate provided for attorneys in Rule 13.
The petitioner, Ann C. Short, was appointed to serve as an "expert" to
review trial counsel's performance in a case where a defendant sought post-
conviction relief. The order approved $ 2,500.00 for petitioner's services. The
trial court's order, however, did not set forth an hourly rate for which the
petitioner could bill the State. The petitioner also did not seek prior approval
from the Administrative Office of the Courts ("AOC") for an hourly rate exceeding
the hourly rate permitted by Rule 13 for attorneys. At the time of the petitioner's
services, Rule 13 provided for a rate of $ 40.00 an hour for an attorney's out-of-
court services and $ 50.00 an hour for in-court services.
The petitioner submitted two separate bills to the AOC for her services.
The petitioner initially billed the State, in December of 1996, for 34.50 hours at a
rate of $ 150.00 an hour for a total of $ 5,175.00. The AOC paid the petitioner
$ 1,380.00, which equated to 34.50 hours at the out-of-court hourly rate of
$ 40.00. In March of 1997, the petitioner billed the State an additional
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$ 6,832.50. The March bill was comprised of 20.25 hours billed at an hourly rate
of $ 150.00 for a total of $ 3,037.50 and $ 3,795.00 for the unpaid portion of the
December bill. The petitioner has not received any compensation for the March
bill.
Upon review of Rule 13(2)(B)1 in conjunction with the entire Rule, we hold
that Rule 13 required prior authorization before an attorney's services designated
as "expert" may be billed at an hourly rate in excess of the Rule 13 designated
amount. Such authorization must set forth in an order by the trial court the
hourly rate to be billed. The petitioner did not procure prior explicit approval for
an hourly rate exceeding $ 40.00 an hour and is, therefore, limited to the rate of
$ 40.00 an hour. The AOC neither abused its discretion nor acted arbitrarily in
reducing the petitioner's hourly rate from $ 150.00 to $ 40.00 an hour. See
McCallen v. City of Memphis, 786 S.W.2d 633, 638 (Tenn. 1990) (setting forth
standard of review for common law writ of certiorari as whether trial court
exceeded jurisdiction or acted illegally, arbitrarily or fraudulently).
1
Tenn. Sup. R. 13 § 2(B) provides:
A two step procedure must be followed in obtaining authorization for
compensation in a capital case. First, the appropriate court, trial or appellate,
shall determine reasonable compensation to be allowed the attorney based upon
the services rendered in the court. Second, the claim will be submitted to the
Administrative Director of the Courts for final approval by the Administrative
Director of the Courts and the Chief Justice.
In capital cases, the court may determ ine that investigative or expert
services, or other similar services are necessary to ensure the protection of the
constitutional rights of a defendant. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-14-207). The
defense counsel must seek prior approval for such services by submitting a
written motion to the Court setting forth:
(a) the name of the proposed expert or service;
(b) how, w hen an d where the exam ination is to
be conducted or the services are to be
performed;
(c) the cost of the evaluation and report thereof;
(d) the cost of any other necessary services,
such as court appearances.
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The cause is remanded to Charles Ferrell, Director of the Administrative
Office of the Courts, for consideration of the March 11, 1997, bill which shall be
paid in accordance with the mandates of Rule 13 and this opinion. Payment to
the petitioner, however, shall not exceed the $ 2,500.00 cap set by the trial court.
Costs shall be taxed against the petitioner, Ann C. Short, for which execution
may issue if necessary.
JANICE M. HOLDER, JUSTICE
Concurring:
Anderson, C.J.
Drowota and Birch, J.J.
Reid, Sp.J.
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