Mark W. Givler v. State of Tennessee ( 2018 )


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  •                                                                                            03/29/2018
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
    AT KNOXVILLE
    Assigned on Briefs December 4, 2017
    MARK W. GIVLER v. STATE OF TENNESSEE
    Appeal from the Tennessee Claims Commission
    No. T20170894    William O. Shults, Commissioner
    No. E2017-01517-COA-R3-CV
    This case originated when the plaintiff, who was incarcerated in the Tennessee
    Department of Correction facility at Mountain City, Tennessee, filed a claim against the
    State of Tennessee (“the State”), alleging that medical professionals at the correctional
    facility had provided him with untimely and inadequate medical care for a serious heart
    condition. Finding that the plaintiff’s allegations concerned individuals who were not
    employed by the State, the Claims Commission (“Commission”) initially dismissed the
    claim for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The plaintiff subsequently attempted to file
    a proposed amendment naming State employees as defendants and then a second claim,
    resulting in the instant action. The State filed a motion to dismiss, asserting the defense
    of res judicata. Finding that the plaintiff had misnumbered his proposed amendment to
    the original claim, the Commission treated the proposed amendment and second claim
    together as an amended claim. Ultimately determining that the plaintiff had alleged a
    health care liability action but failed to comply with the statutory prerequisites for such a
    suit and that he had failed to establish the Commission’s jurisdiction over intentional or
    criminal acts allegedly committed by State employees, the Commission entered a final
    order dismissing the action. The plaintiff has appealed. Determining that the plaintiff
    has failed to comply with Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 27 and Tennessee
    Court of Appeals Rule 6, we dismiss this appeal.
    Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Appeal Dismissed
    THOMAS R. FRIERSON, II, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which RICHARD H.
    DINKINS, J., and J. STEVEN STAFFORD, P.J., W.S., joined.
    Mark W. Givler, Mountain City, Tennessee, Pro Se.
    Herbert H. Slatery, III, Attorney General and Reporter; Andrée Blumstein, Solicitor
    General; and Pamela S. Lorch, Senior Counsel, for the appellee, State of Tennessee.
    MEMORANDUM OPINION1
    The plaintiff, Mark W. Givler, initially filed a complaint in January 2015 with
    what was then the Tennessee Division of Claims Administration (“DCA”), which
    subsequently transferred the complaint to the Commission, pursuant to Tennessee Code
    Annotated § 9-8-402(c) (2012).2 Mr. Givler alleged that while incarcerated, he had
    received inadequate and untimely medical care for months leading up to his eventual
    hospitalization and surgical procedure for a serious heart condition in September 2015.
    Upon the State’s motion to dismiss, the Commission entered an order dismissing the
    initial claim on July 7, 2016, finding that the Commission did not have subject matter
    jurisdiction over the claim because Mr. Givler had alleged claims of professional
    negligence against medical personnel who were employees of a contractor and not
    employees of the State. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 9-8-307(a)(1)(D) (2012 & Supp. 2017)
    (setting forth the jurisdiction of the Commission in claims of professional malpractice
    over the acts or omissions of state employees); Younger v. State, 
    205 S.W.3d 494
    , 499
    (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006), perm. app. denied (Tenn. July 3, 2006) (“[T]he proper defendant
    for negligence claims arising from the action of private contractors, or their employees, in
    operating correctional facilities is the contractor, and not the State.”).
    Mr. Givler filed the instant complaint on December 7, 2016, with the DCA, and it
    was transferred to the Commission on March 7, 2017. The Commission subsequently
    received Mr. Givler’s proposed amendment to the complaint on March 31, 2017. In
    ultimately granting Mr. Givler’s motion to amend the complaint, the Commission
    summarized Mr. Givler’s allegations and the relevant and somewhat convoluted
    procedural history as follows:
    The claim primarily involves Mr. Givler’s allegations that because
    of negligent actions or inactions on the part of State employees, he did not
    receive timely and adequate treatment for a serious heart disorder. [Mr.
    Givler] alleged that because of the State’s negligence, he underwent a
    complicated heart procedure[] carried out at the Johnson City Medical
    1
    Tennessee Court of Appeals Rule 10 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.
    2
    Effective May 4, 2017, the Division of Claims Administration has been renamed the Division of Claims
    and Risk Management. See 2017 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Ch. 271 § 1 (S.B. 623).
    2
    Center on September 25, 2015. Mr. Givler alleges that the whole
    experience has caused him both physical and mental injuries.
    The allegations dealt with here have been complicated by [Mr.
    Givler] himself by the misnumbering of an amendment he attempted to
    make in Claim No. T20150969 which the Commission dismissed per an
    Order signed by us on July 1, 2016. The basis of that dismissal was that
    allegations of healthcare liability which [Mr. Givler] made in that case were
    not jurisdictionally proper before the Commission since the medical
    professionals [Mr. Givler] named in that action were not State employees.
    However, [Mr. Givler] candidly admits that a proposed amendment
    he attempted to make in claim No. T20150969, i.e. No. T20160969, was
    misnumbered, and in fact there never was and never has been a Claim No.
    T20160969. In fact, Mr. Givler characterizes that numeration as creating a
    -
    “ghost claim.” Rather he explains, his proposed amendment in Claim No.
    T20160969 should have been filed in Claim No. T20150969 and
    consequently, the Commission has never ruled on the allegations he
    proposed to make against the following State employees at NECX
    [Northeast Correctional Complex] at the time of the State’s alleged
    negligence: 1) Warden Gerald McAllister; 2) Assistant Warden Todd
    Wiggins; 3) Ms. Georgia Crowell, Administrator, Medical Department at
    NECX; and 4) Sergeant Douthitt, Grievance Chairperson at the time. A
    fourth category is denominated “et al.” but no individuals are named in that
    category.
    The Commission notes that our Order Dismissing Claim of July,
    2016, was filed in Claim No. T20150969. However, Mr. Givler’s
    misnumbering of the amendments he proposed to make in that case
    confused him and even the Office of the Attorney General.
    In an attempt to bring before us the allegations against the
    individuals named above, Mr. Givler, on December 7, 2016, filed the
    matter now before the Commission. That claim has been given the number
    T20170894. The claim is directed at alleged negligent actions or inactions
    committed by the State employees named above.
    In response to [Mr. Givler’s] most recent filing, the State has lodged
    with us a Motion to Dismiss along with a supporting Memorandum of Law.
    In its Motion, the State relies primarily on the doctrine of res judicata and
    contends that Mr. Givler’s most recent claim fails to allege a matter upon
    3
    which relief can be granted, and therefore it must be dismissed under Tenn.
    R. Civ. P. 12.02(6). The State argues that the facts set out in this most
    recent claim mirror almost exactly the allegations made in Claim No.
    T20160969 (sic). Of course, in light of the facts recited above, there never
    has been a Claim No. T20160969, and what Mr. Givler was attempting to
    do was amend his claim in No. T20150969.
    At the same time it filed its Motion to Dismiss, the State also filed a
    Response in Opposition to Motion to Amend, again based on a res judicata
    argument.
    Because there has been so much confusion in this case, primarily
    because of an error made by [Mr. Givler] himself, the Commission will
    DENY the State’s opposition to amending this claim in order that a final
    resolution can be made regarding the allegations made against McAllister,
    Wiggins, Crowell, and Douthitt. However, the Commission reiterates here
    our holding in Claim No. T20150969 that the allegations made against
    certain medical professionals who were not State employees at the time of
    the underlying events still stands since we certainly do not have jurisdiction
    over allegations based on the actions or inactions of those individuals under
    Tenn. Code Ann. § 9-8-307(a)(1).
    Upon consideration of the pleadings, including Mr. Givler’s “Motion in Response
    to the State’s Motion to Dismiss” and accompanying memorandum, the Commission
    dismissed Mr. Givler’s complaint in an order entered July 3, 2017. The Commission
    found that, inter alia, (1) Mr. Givler had failed to fulfill the requirements for initiating a
    health care liability action necessary to his allegations against Ms. Crowell’s
    administration of the prison medical department, see Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 29-26-121, 29-
    26-122 (2017), and (2) the Commission did not have subject matter jurisdiction over
    intentional acts allegedly committed against Mr. Givler by employees of the State, see
    Tenn. Code Ann. § 9-8-307(d) (“The state will not be liable for willful, malicious, or
    criminal acts by state employees, or for acts on the part of state employees done for
    personal gain.”); Shell v. State, 
    893 S.W.2d 416
    , 421 (Tenn. 1995) (explaining that the
    Commission “does not have jurisdiction over any intentional torts”). Mr. Givler timely
    appealed to this Court.
    On appeal, Mr. Givler has filed a principal brief and, in response to the State’s
    responsive brief, a reply brief. Each of Mr. Givler’s briefs consists of one narrative
    section, divided solely by such headings as “REALITY CHECK (SUMMARY),” “HEED
    THIS,” and “SO BE IT.” Mr. Givler’s only citations to the record are in his principal
    brief and consist of one quote each from the Commission’s two orders of dismissal. Mr.
    4
    Givler’s arguments are conclusory and unsupported by legal authority. In addition to
    repeating the allegations of his complaints, Mr. Givler asserts his belief that the entire
    judicial system is “corrupt.”
    We recognize that Mr. Givler is a pro se litigant and respect his decision to
    proceed self-represented. With regard to self-represented litigants, this Court has
    explained that “[p]ro se litigants who invoke the complex and sometimes technical
    procedures of the courts assume a very heavy burden.” Irvin v. City of Clarksville, 
    767 S.W.2d 649
    , 652 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1988), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Jan. 3, 1989). Parties
    proceeding without benefit of counsel are “entitled to fair and equal treatment by the
    courts,” but we “must not excuse pro se litigants from complying with the same
    substantive and procedural rules that represented parties are expected to observe.”
    Hessmer v. Hessmer, 
    138 S.W.3d 901
    , 903 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003). This Court must “be
    mindful of the boundary between fairness to a pro se litigant and unfairness to the pro se
    litigant’s adversary.” Young v. Barrow, 
    130 S.W.3d 59
    , 63 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003), perm.
    app. denied (Tenn. Jan. 26, 2004).
    Mr. Givler’s appellate briefs filed with this Court fail to comply with Tennessee
    Rule of Appellate Procedure 27 or Tennessee Court of Appeals Rule 6. Tennessee Rule
    of Appellate Procedure 27 states in pertinent part:
    (a)    Brief of the Appellant. The brief of the appellant shall contain under
    appropriate headings and in the order here indicated:
    (1)    A table of contents, with references to the pages in the brief;
    (2)    A table of authorities, including cases (alphabetically
    arranged), statutes and other authorities cited, with references
    to the pages in the brief where they are cited;
    ***
    (4)    A statement of the issues presented for review;
    (5)    A statement of the case, indicating briefly the nature of the
    case, the course of proceedings, and its disposition in the
    court below;
    (6)    A statement of facts, setting forth the facts relevant to the
    issues presented for review with appropriate references to the
    record;
    5
    (7)    An argument, which may be preceded by a summary of
    argument, setting forth:
    (A)    the contentions of the appellant with respect to the
    issues presented, and the reasons therefor, including
    the reasons why the contentions require appellate
    relief, with citations to the authorities and appropriate
    references to the record (which may be quoted
    verbatim) relied on; and
    (B)    for each issue, a concise statement of the applicable
    standard of review (which may appear in the
    discussion of the issue or under a separate heading
    placed before the discussion of the issues);
    (8)    A short conclusion, stating the precise relief sought.
    Similarly, Tennessee Court of Appeals Rule 6 provides in pertinent part:
    (a)    Written argument in regard to each issue on appeal shall contain:
    (1)    A statement by the appellant of the alleged erroneous action
    of the trial court which raises the issue and a statement by the
    appellee of any action of the trial court which is relied upon
    to correct the alleged error, with citation to the record where
    the erroneous or corrective action is recorded.
    (2)    A statement showing how such alleged error was seasonably
    called to the attention of the trial judge with citation to that
    part of the record where appellant’s challenge of the alleged
    error is recorded.
    (3)    A statement reciting wherein appellant was prejudiced by
    such alleged error, with citations to the record showing where
    the resultant prejudice is recorded.
    (4)    A statement of each determinative fact relied upon with
    citation to the record where evidence of each such fact may
    be found.
    6
    (b)    No complaint of or reliance upon action by the trial court will be
    considered on appeal unless the argument contains a specific
    reference to the page or pages of the record where such action is
    recorded. No assertion of fact will be considered on appeal unless
    the argument contains a reference to the page or pages of the record
    where evidence of such fact is recorded.
    Taking into account and respecting Mr. Givler’s pro se status, we still must
    conclude that his appellate briefs contain numerous significant deficiencies with regard to
    the above-listed requirements. Mr. Givler’s briefs lack a table of contents, table of
    authorities, statement of the issues, and statement of the case as required by Tennessee
    Rule of Appellate Procedure 27(a). Importantly, other than the two quotations from the
    Commission’s orders, Mr. Givler’s appellate briefs contain no citations or references to
    the record on appeal and no citations to any legal authority to support his factual
    allegations and arguments. See Tenn. R. App. P. 27; Tenn. Ct. App. R. 6. “Courts have
    routinely held that the failure to make appropriate references to the record and to cite
    relevant authority in the argument section of the brief as required by Rule 27(a)(7)
    constitutes a waiver of the issue.” Bean v. Bean, 
    40 S.W.3d 52
    , 55 (Tenn. Ct. App.
    2000), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Feb. 26, 2001). Moreover, Mr. Givler’s appellate briefs
    are replete with unsubstantiated allegations against individuals, the State Attorney
    General’s Office, the State as an entity, the Commission, and the entire judicial system.
    As this Court has explained:
    For good cause, we may suspend the requirements or provisions of
    these rules in a given case. However, the Supreme Court has held that it
    will not find this Court in error for not considering a case on its merits
    where the plaintiff did not comply with the rules of this Court. Crowe v.
    Birmingham & N.W. Ry. Co., 
    156 Tenn. 349
    , 
    1 S.W.2d 781
    (1928).
    Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Rules of Appellate Procedure and the
    rules of this Court waives the issues for review. See Duchow v. Whalen,
    
    872 S.W.2d 692
    (Tenn. Ct. App. 1993); see also Lucas v. Lucas, 
    1998 WL 136553
    (Tenn. Ct. App. March 27, 1998).
    
    Bean, 40 S.W.3d at 54-55
    .
    In the instant case, the deficiencies within Mr. Givler’s appellate briefs are so
    substantial that it is difficult for us to determine his legal argument and separate the
    relevant facts from his conclusory assertions. As this Court determined in Murray v.
    Miracle, 
    457 S.W.3d 399
    , 402 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Feb. 19,
    2015):
    7
    We are not unmindful of Plaintiffs’ pro se status and have attempted
    to give them the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. Nevertheless, we
    cannot write Plaintiffs’ brief for them, and we are not able to create
    arguments or issues where none otherwise are set forth. Likewise, we will
    not dig through the record in an attempt to discover arguments or issues
    that Plaintiffs may have made had they been represented by counsel. To do
    so would place Defendants in a distinct and likely insurmountable and
    unfair disadvantage as this Court would be acting as Plaintiffs’ attorney.
    Similarly, we cannot unfairly disadvantage the defendant in this matter by serving as Mr.
    Givler’s attorney. See id.; 
    Young, 130 S.W.3d at 63
    . Therefore, Mr. Givler’s issues,
    insofar as they are presented on appeal, are deemed waived. See 
    Bean, 40 S.W.3d at 54
    -
    55.
    Conclusion
    For the reasons stated above, the appeal of this matter is dismissed. The case is
    remanded to the Commission for collection of costs assessed below. Costs on appeal are
    assessed to the appellant, Mark W. Givler.
    _________________________________
    THOMAS R. FRIERSON, II, JUDGE
    8
    

Document Info

Docket Number: E2017-01517-COA-R3-CV

Judges: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II

Filed Date: 3/29/2018

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 3/29/2018