I N THE COURT OF APPEALS FILED July 2, 1997 Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate C ourt Clerk SAMUEL R. ADAMS, e t a l . , ) KNOX CHANCERY ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9701- CH- 00017 Pe t i t i one r s - Appe l l a nt s , ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. SHARON BELL ) CHANCELLOR ) ) ) ) ) MARGARET C. CULPEPPER, ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED Co mmi s s i one r of Te nne s s e e ) De p a r t me nt of Empl oyme nt ) Se c u r i t y, a nd TENNESSEE VALLEY ) AUTHORI TY, ) ) Re s ponde nt s - Appe l l e e s ) SAM G. SM TH, J R. , M I oor e & Smi t h, P. C. , Knoxvi l l e f or Appe l l a nt s . EDW ARD S. CHRI STENBURY, Ge ne r a l Couns e l , ROBERT C. GLI NSKI , As s i s t a nt Ge ne r a l Couns e l , BRENT R. M ARQUAND a nd RI CHARD E. RI GGS, Kn o x v i l l e , f or De f e nda nt , Te nne s s e e Va l l e y Aut hor i t y. J OHN KNOX W ALKUP, At t or ne y Ge n e r a l a nd Re por t e r , a nd KI MBERLY M . FRAYN, As s i s t a nt At t or ne y Ge ne r a l , Na s hvi l l e , f or Te nne s s e e De p a r t me nt of Empl oyme nt Se c ur i t y. O P I N I O N1 M M r a y, J . c ur Thi s i s a n a ppe a l f r om a j udgme nt of t he Cha nc e r y Cou r t of Kn o x Count y, a f f i r mi ng t he de c i s i on of The De pa r t me nt of Emp l o y me nt Se c ur i t y Boa r d of Re vi e w i n de nyi ng a l l t he a ppe l l a n t s u n e mp l o yme nt c ompe ns a t i on be ne f i t s . W a f f i r m t he j udgme nt of t h e e t r i a l c our t . Si mpl y s t a t e d, t he a ppe l l a nt s he r e vol unt a r i l y a c c e pt e d a n i nc e n t i ve p a c ka ge t o t e r mi na t e t h e i r e mpl oyme nt by t he Te nne s s e e Va l l e y Aut hor i t y ( TVA) . The pa c ka ge ba s i c a l l y c ons i s t e d o f a c h o i c e b y t he i ndi vi dua l e mpl oye e of e i t he r $1, 000. 00 pe r ye a r f o r e a c h y e a r of e mpl oyme nt , wi t h a mi ni mum of $15, 000. 00, or a l u mp s u m p a y me nt of s i x mont hs s a l a r y or t hr e e ye a r s a dde d t o t he i r ye a r s of s e r vi c e f or t he pur pos e of c a l c ul a t i on r e t i r e me n t be ne f i t s . The a ppe l l a nt s we r e a dvi s e d t ha t i f t he y a c c e pt e d e i t h e r o f t h e " e a r l y out " i nc e nt i ve pa c ka ge s , t ha t TVA woul d c ont e s t a n y c l a i m ma de f or une mpl oy me nt c ompe ns a t i on. Not wi t hs t a ndi ng, t he a pp e l l a nt s f i l e d a ppl i c a t i ons f or une mpl oyme nt be ne f i t s . Be ne f i t s we r e d e ni e d by t he Te nne s s e e De pa r t me nt of Empl oyme nt Se c ur i t y a t t he a d mi ni s t r a t i ve l e ve l . An a ppe a l wa s t i me l y ma de to t he 1 Th e r e a r e e i g h t y - n i n e a p p e l l a n t s i n t h i s c a s e . A c o mp l e t e l i s t i s a t t a c he d t o t h i s o p i n i o n a s Ap p e n d i x A. 2 Ch a nc e r y Cour t f or Knox Co unt y. The c ha nc e r y c our t a f f i r me d t h e d e n i a l of be ne f i t s a nd t hi s a ppe a l r e s ul t e d. Th e s ol e i s s ue pr e s e nt e d f or r e vi e w i s " whe t he r t he de c i s i o n o f t h e De pa r t me nt of Empl oyme nt Se c ur i t y Boa r d of Re vi e w, a f f i r me d b y t he c ha nc e r y c our t , wa s i n e r r or by f i ndi ng t ha t T. C. A. Se c t i on 5 0 - 7 - 3 0 3( c ) ( 1) wa s i na ppl i c a bl e t o t he f a c t s of t hi s c a s e . . . . " Fi r s t , we s houl d not e our s t a nda r d of r e vi e w. Our s t a nda r d o f r e vi e w i s gove r ne d by T. C. A. § 50- 7- 304( I ) , whi c h a l l ows c our t s t o r e ve r s e , r e ma nd, or modi f y t he de c i s i on of t he Boa r d of Re vi e w o n l y i f t h e d e c i s i on i s uns uppor t e d by s ubs t a nt i a l a nd ma t e r i a l e vi de n c e i n l i g h t of t he e nt i r e r e c or d. On a ppe a l , t hi s c our t mus t a l s o de t e r mi ne whe t he r t he r e i s s ubs t a nt i a l a nd ma t e r i a l e vi de nc e t o s uppor t t he f i ndi ngs of f a c t ma de by t he l owe r t r i buna l . J ohns on v. Bi bl e , 707 S. W 2d 510, 512 ( Te nn. App. 1985) . Subs t a nt i a l . a nd ma t e r i a l e vi de nc e ha s b e e n d e f i ne d a s " ' s uc h r e l e va nt e v i de nc e a s a r e a s ona bl e mi nd mi ght a c c e pt t o s uppor t a r a t i ona l c onc l us i on a nd s uc h a s t o f ur ni s h a r e a s ona bl y s o und ba s i s f or t he a c t i ons unde r c ons i de r a t i on. ' " So ut he r n Ry. Co. v. St a t e Bd. Of Equa l i z a t i on , 682 S. W 2d . 1 9 6, 199 ( Te nn. 1984) ( quot i ng Pa c e v. Ga r ba ge Di s t . , 5 4 Te nn. App. 263, 390 S. W 2d 461, 463 ( Te nn. App. 1965) ) . . I f t he r e c or d c ont a i ns s uc h e vi de nc e , r e vi e w by t hi s c o ur t i s c onf i ne d t o whe t he r t he l owe r t r i buna l e r r e d whe n i t a ppl i e d t he l a w t o t he f a c t s f ound, t h a t i s , r e vi e w i s c onf i ne d t o a de novo r e vi e w a s t o que s t i ons of l a w. Pe r r yma n v. Bi bl e , 653 S. W 2d 424, 429 ( Te nn. App. . 1 9 83) ; I r vi n v. Bi nkl e y, 577 S. W 2d 677, 678 ( Te nn. App. . 1 9 78) . Pa y n e v . Cul pe ppe r , 1997 Te nn. App. , LEXI S 25. 3 The di s pos i t i ve que s t i on he r e is whe t he r T. C. A. § 50- 7- 3 0 3 ( c ) ( 1) i s a ppl i c a bl e t o t he f a c t s of t hi s c a s e . T. C. A. § 50 - 7 - 3 0 3 ( c ) ( 1) (in ef f ect at t he t i me s unde r c ons i de r a t i on he r e ) p r o v i d e d a s f ol l ows : ( c ) Qua l i f i c a t i ons . Not wi t hs t a ndi ng a ny ot he r pr ovi s i on o f l a w t o t he c ont r a r y: ( 1) Be ne f i t s s ha l l not be de ni e d unde r t hi s c ha pt e r t o a ny ot he r wi s e e l i gi bl e c l a i ma nt f or s e pa r a t i on f r om e mpl oyme nt pur s ua nt t o a l a bor - ma na ge me nt c ont r a c t or a g r e e me nt , or pur s ua nt t o a n e s t a b- l i s he d e mpl oye r pl a n, pr ogr a m, pol i c y, l a yof f or r ecal l whi c h pe r mi t s t he c l a i ma nt ( e mpl oye e ) , be c aus e of l ac k of wor k, t o a c c e pt a s e pa r a t i on f r om e mpl oyme nt . Howe ve r , be ne f i t s s ha l l be de ni e d a c l a i ma nt f or s e pa r a t i on f r om e mpl oyme nt r e s ul t i ng f r om t he c l a i ma nt ' s a c c e pt a nc e of a n e mpl oye r ' s pr ogr a m whi c h pr ovi de s mone t a r y i nc e nt i ve s t o e mpl oye e s f or vol unt a r i l y t e r mi na t i ng t he i r e mpl oy- me nt . ( Empha s i s a dde d) . I n t he f i na l a na l ys i s , t he que s t i on be c ome s a que s t i on o f f act . , i . e. , whe t he r t he c l a i ma nt s we r e of f e r e d t he i nc e nt i v e p a c ka ge b e c a us e of " l a c k o f wor k. " I f t h e i nc e nt i ve pa c ka ge wa s o f f e r e d be c a us e of " l a c k of wor k" t he c l a i ma nt s a r e e nt i t l e d t o u n e mp l o yme nt be ne f i t s . Ot he r wi s e , t he y a r e not . The t r i al c our t d e t e r mi ne d, a nd we a gr e e , t ha t t he r e wa s s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e in t he r e c or d to de mons t r a t e t ha t t he c l a i ma n t s l e f t t he i r e mpl oyme nt vol unt a r i l y t o r e c e i ve t he " e a r l y o u t " i n c e nt i ve s . The t r i a l c our t f ur t he r f ound t ha t t he r e wa s n o l a c k of wor k a t t he t i me t he c l a i ma nt s r e s i gne d. The r e c or d 4 c l e a r l y r e f l e c t s t ha t a t t he t i me t he c l a i ma nt s a c c e pt e d t he e a r l y - o u t i n c e nt i ve pa c ka ge , t he y ha d t he opt i on of wor ki ng. The y we r e g u a r a n t e e d wor k t hr ough t he f i s c a l ye a r 1995, e ve n t hough s ome o f t h e c l a i ma nt s ' j obs we r e de t e r mi ne d t o b e " a t r i s k" a n d f a c e d a l i ke l i hood of a r e duc t i on i n f or c e a t s ome l a t e r t i me . W a gr e e e wi t h t he c onc l us i on of t he c ha nc e l l or t ha t " c onc e r n a bout a p o t e n t i a l l a c k of wor k i n t he f ut ur e doe s not c ons t i t ut e a pr e s e nt l a c k o f wor k. " I n c onc l us i on, we f i nd t ha t t he c l a i ma nt s do not qua l i f y f o r b e n e f i t s unde r t he pr ovi s i ons of T. C. A. § 50- 7- 303( c ) ( 1) . The r e i s s ubs t a nt i a l a nd ma t e r i a l e vi de nc e i n t he r e c or d t o s uppor t t he f i ndi ngs of t he Boa r d of Re vi e w a nd t he j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t . Ac c or di ngl y, t he j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c o u r t i s a f f i r me d i n a l l r e s pe c t s . Cos t s a r e a s s e s s e d t o t he a ppe l l a nt s a nd t hi s c a s e i s r e ma nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t . ___________________________ _ _ _ Don T. M M r a y, J udge c ur CONCUR: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________________________ Ch a r l e s D. Sus a no, J r . , J udge 5 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___________________________ W l l i a m H. I nma n, Se ni or J udge i 6 I N THE COURT OF APPEALS SAMUEL R. ADAMS, e t a l . , ) KNOX CHANCERY ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9701- CH- 00017 Pe t i t i one r s - Appe l l a nt s , ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. SHARON BELL ) CHANCELLOR ) ) ) ) ) MARGARET C. CULPEPPER, ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED Co mmi s s i one r of Te nne s s e e ) De p a r t me nt of Empl oyme nt ) Se c u r i t y, a nd TENNESSEE VALLEY ) AUTHORI TY, ) ) Re s ponde nt s - Appe l l e e s ) JUDGMENT Thi s a ppe a l c a me on t o b e h e a r d upon t he r e c or d f r om t h e Ch a nc e r y Cour t of Knox Co unt y, br i e f s a nd a r gume nt of c ouns e l . Up o n c o n s i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s Cour t i s of opi ni on t ha t t he r e wa s n o r e v e r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c our t . Th e j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t i s a f f i r me d i n a l l r e s pe c t s . Co s t s a r e a s s e s s e d t o t he a ppe l l a nt s a nd t hi s c a s e i s r e ma nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t . PER CURI AM 8 APPENDIX A ADAMS, SAMUEL R. DOWNS, SALLY C. ALLEN, PATRI CI A FORRESTER, LI NDA H. ARNOLD, PATRI CI A M. GAYLON, MARGI E P. AYRE, FRANK M J R. . GLI I I AM BARBARA ANN BENNETT, NORMA GOULD, CHARLI E MAE BRABSON, W LM J . I A CUM I NS, CHARLES P. M BREEDEN, J ERRY L. DANI EL, J ACK RI CHARD CAMPBELL, SHI RLEY D. DAVI S, J OYCE R. CHURCHWELL, BI LLI E J . DEFORD, J AMES E. J R. COWAN, MYRNA J . DOSSETT, J OSEPH L. ALLEN, KENNETH C. ENGLE, RUSSELL D. ANDERSON, DAVI D J . FOX, ROBERT K. J R. ATCHLEY, J OYCE F. GI BSON, BRENDA N. BALL, BETTY J . GOI NS, J OHN C. J R. BOW AN, ROSE K. M GREEN, PATRI CI A R. BRADLEY, PAULA K. GRI GGS, J AMES R. BROW NEM P. N, A HAM ONS, PERCY J . J R. M CARVER, GLENN T. HAYES, MELVI N E. CLI NE, J AMES NORRI S HOWARD, J I M Y LEE M COX, F. YVONNE KALEY, KARY W. CRAWFORD, CORI NE E. LASLEY, SHI RLEY A. DANI EL, HOWARD L. LEDFORD, WANDA SUE DAVI S, ANNI S D. MORGAN, VERA SUE DEBUSK, MADOLYN L. NAPI ER, LARRY G. DI SNEY, RONALD W. NATI ONS, LI NDA T. HALL, J AMES EDWARD SOUTH, J ESSI E T. HARRI S, CHARLES S. STRONG, STANLEY A. HI XSON, BOBBY F. TAYLOR, SHI RLEY A. HUDSON, BI LLI E C. TURNER, BARBARA J . LAMBERT, MELVI N TURNER, SARAH J . LAW PAT O. S, VARNER, DOUGLAS R. LEE, THOMAS J . WEBBER, J AMES Q. MORRI SON, WANDA J . W LSON, ELI SA G. I NAPI ER, LI NDA M. W SLEY, J ERRY ALAN ORM NELSON, CURTI SDENE J . UNDERWOOD, LOI S S. OFFI CER, WALTER WALKER, EDNA LEE OWENS, SUSI E Y. W LLI FORD, LI NDA B. I PI TTS, THURMAN L. WOOTEN, GLADYS, S. ROBI NSON, GW C. EN SHERROD, RUTH G. SKI PPER, FRANCES E. SM TH, J I M I E M I M . STERN, DORI S M. TAYLOR, MONA S. THOMPSON, SALLI E ANN OGLESBY, J ANE R. PACK, J AMES RAY QUARLES, SI LAS W. SCARBROUGH, SARAH L. SHI RLEY, FAYE C. SM TH, BETTY L. I APPENDIX A 11