Erica Slaughter v. Rosetta Rowe ( 2002 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
Submitted on Briefs February 25, 2002 Session
ERICA R. SLAUGHTER v. ROSETTA ROWE
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Hamilton County
No. 99C1839 Samuel H. Payne, Judge
FILED MARCH 18, 2002
No. E2001-00840-COA-R3-CV
Erica R. Slaughter (“Slaughter”) sued Rosetta Rowe (“Rowe”) for slander and harassment after an
alleged physical altercation precipitated by Slaughter’s affair with Rowe’s husband. After the
physical altercation, Slaughter filed assault charges against Rowe leading to her arrest. The assault
charge was eventually dismissed. Rowe filed a counter-claim for malicious prosecution. Each party
testified at trial to her version of the events. The Trial Court concluded neither party carried her
burden of proof on her claim and dismissed the entire lawsuit. Rowe appeals, and we affirm.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the
Circuit Court Affirmed; Case Remanded.
D. MICHAEL SWINEY , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which HOUSTON M. GODDARD, P.J.,
and HERSCHEL P. FRANKS, J., joined.
Lloyd A. Levitt, Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the Appellant Rosetta Rowe.
Erica R. Slaughter, Appellee, pro se.
OPINION
Background
Slaughter filed a pro se complaint against Rowe for slander and harassment.
Slaughter alleged Rowe went to her home and accused Slaughter of having a sexual relationship with
Rowe’s husband. Slaughter claimed she was physically assaulted by Rowe and her life was
threatened. Slaughter also claimed Rowe later went to Slaughter’s place of business and used
profanity and once again threatened her life.
Rowe secured counsel and filed an answer, denying the pertinent allegations
contained within the complaint. Not to be outdone, Rowe filed a counter-claim against Slaughter,
claiming Slaughter swore out a false complaint against Rowe, thereby resulting in Rowe being
falsely arrested for assault. Rowe claimed Slaughter acted maliciously and without probable cause,
resulting in Rowe’s false arrest.
After obtaining counsel, Slaughter filed an answer to the counter-claim denying the
pertinent allegations. The case was set for trial on October 18, 2000, but was continued after
Slaughter’s counsel withdrew from her representation. After Slaughter was unable to secure new
counsel, she proceeded pro se at the trial on February 28, 2001.
Slaughter testified she saw Tony Jason Phillips (“Phillips) for over a year. When the
affair began, she did not know Phillips was married to Rowe. Slaughter learned Phillips was married
when she started receiving telephone calls from Rowe who told Slaughter she was having an affair
with Rowe’s husband. With regard to the incident on July 4, 1999, Slaughter stated she was talking
to Phillips and told him to get off of her front porch. According to Slaughter, Rowe came onto the
porch and took two swings at Slaughter. Rowe scratched Slaughter’s arm and tried to grab her hair.
Slaughter then called 911 and told the police officer she wanted to press charges. Eight days later,
she filed the necessary paperwork to have Rowe arrested for assault.
Rowe testified she married Phillips in 1995, but they were separated at the time of
trial. Rowe claimed Phillips continuously had affairs since the start of the marriage. One of the
people with whom Phillips had an affair was Slaughter. Rowe owns and works at Hair Language
Styling Salon and Day Spa. She has operated this business for 10 years and has many faithful
clients. Rowe stated on July 4, 1999, she received a telephone call on her husband’s cell phone. The
caller was Slaughter, who asked to speak with Phillips. Rowe told her not to call anymore, to which
Slaughter allegedly responded that as long as she was sleeping with Phillips, she would call
whenever she wanted. About an hour later, Rowe and Phillips went over to Slaughter’s home in
order to “straighten” things out. Rowe testified she (i.e. Rowe) never got out of the car. In August
of 1999, a police officer came to Rowe’s business and arrested her for assault. This happened in
front of Rowe’s customers. The assault charge later was dismissed.
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After hearing the two witnesses, the Trial Court addressed both the complaint and
counter-complaint by stating: “[I]n order to prove slander or assault or malicious prosecution or false
arrest … you have to do it by the preponderance of the evidence or the greater weight of the
evidence, and I don’t think either one of you has carried the proof.” Accordingly, the Trial Court
dismissed both claims. Rowe appeals, claiming the Trial Court erred when it concluded she failed
to prove her malicious prosecution claim by a preponderance of the evidence.
Discussion
A review of findings of fact by a trial court is de novo upon the record of the trial
court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness, unless the preponderance of the evidence is
otherwise. Tenn. Rule App. P. 13(d); Brooks v. Brooks, 992 S.W.2d 403, 404 (Tenn. 1999). Review
of questions of law is de novo, without a presumption of correctness. See Nelson v. Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc., 8 S.W.3d 625, 628 (Tenn. 1999).
The Trial Court found Rowe failed to prove her malicious prosecution claim by a
preponderance of the evidence. In making this determination, the Trial Court considered the live
testimony of Rowe and Slaughter. The Trial Court made a determination with regard to whether the
assault actually occurred and Slaughter’s motivation in having Rowe arrested. “Unlike this Court,
the trial court observed the manner and demeanor of the witnesses and was in the best position to
evaluate their credibility.” Union Planters Nat’l Bank v. Island Mgmt. Auth., Inc., 43 S.W.3d 498,
502 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). The trial court’s determinations regarding credibility are accorded
considerable deference by this Court. Id.; Davis v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 38 S.W.3d 560, 563
(Tenn. 2001). “‘[A]ppellate courts will not re-evaluate a trial judge’s assessment of witness
credibility absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.’” Wells v. Tennessee Bd. of Regents,
9 S.W.3d 779, 783 (Tenn. 1999).
Based on our review of the record, including the facts detailed above, we do not
believe the Trial Court committed any reversible error with its purely factual based determination
that Rowe failed to prove her malicious prosecution claim by a preponderance of the evidence.
Conclusion
The judgment of the Trial Court is affirmed, and this cause is remanded to the Trial
Court for such further proceedings as may be required, if any, consistent with this Opinion, and for
collection of the costs below. The costs on appeal are assessed against the Appellant, Rosetta Rowe,
and her surety.
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D. MICHAEL SWINEY, JUDGE
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