IN T H E C O U R T O F A P P E A L S O F T E N N E S S E E A T N A S H V IL L E
M A R K S . T ID M A N a n d ) E V E L Y N J . T ID M A N , ) ) P l a i n t i f f s /A p p e l l a n t s , ) ) A p p e a l N o . ) 0 1 -A -0 1 -9 7 0 8 -C V -0 0 3 8 0 V S . ) ) D a v id s o n C i r c u it
F L E I D ) N o . 9 7 C -1 7 6 T H E S A L V A T IO N A R M Y , )
J A M E S R . W O R T H Y , B E R T H A ) W O R T H Y , K E N N E T H E . B R E W E R , ) J u ly 1 5 , 1 9 9 8 F R E D R U T H , ) ) C e c il W . C r o w s o n D e f e n d a n t s /A p p e l l e e s . ) A p p e lla t e C o u r t C le r k
A P P E A L E D F R O M T H E C IR C U IT C O U R T O F D A V ID S O N C O U N T Y A T N A S H V I L L E , T E N N E S S E E
T H E H O N O R A B L E W A L T E R C . K U R T Z , J U D G E
L A R R Y L . C R A IN 1 0 1 W e s tp a rk D r iv e , S u it e 2 5 0 B re n tw o o d , T e n n e s s e e 3 7 0 2 7 A tt o rn e y f o r P l a i n t i f f s /A p p e l l a n t s
L . G IN O M A R C H E T T I, J R . W IL L IA M G . M C C A S K IL L , J R . T A Y L O R , P H IL B IN , P IG U E , M A R C H E T T I & B E N N E T T , P L L C O n e U n io n S t r e e t P . O . B o x 1 9 8 1 6 9 N a s h v ille , T e n n e s s e e 3 7 2 1 9 -8 1 6 9 A t t o r n e y s f o r D e f e n d a n t s /A p p e l l e e s A F F IR M E D A N D R E M A N D E D
B E N H . C A N T R E L L , J U D G E C O N C U R : T O D D , P .J ., M .S . C A IN , J .
O P I N I O N
T w o fo r m e r S a lv a tio n A r m y o ffic e r s , a h u s b a n d a n d w ife
w h o h a d b e e n d e m o t e d a n d d is c h a rg e d , s u e d th e ir s u p e rio r o ffic e r s
a n d T h e S a lv a tio n A rm y it s e lf f o r in v a s io n o f p r iv a c y , in t e n t io n a l
in flic t io n o f e m o t io n a l d is tr e s s , n e g lig e n t in flic t io n o f e m o t io n a l
d is tre s s , a n d o u tra g e o u s c o n d u c t. T h e C ir c u it C o u r t o f D a v id s o n
C o u n ty d is m is s e d th e c o m p la in t fo r fa ilu r e to s ta te a c la im u p o n
w h ic h r e lie f c a n b e g r a n t e d . W e a ffir m , a n d h o ld , in a d d it io n , t h a t t h e
d e fe n d a n ts ’ a c t io n s w e r e p r o t e c t e d b y th e F ir s t A m e n d m e n t t o t h e
U n it e d S t a t e s C o n s tit u t io n .
I.
T h e p la in t iffs , M a rk a n d E v e ly n T id m a n , w e re
c o m m is s io n e d a s lie u t e n a n t s in T h e S a lv a tio n A r m y ’s S o u th e rn
T e r r it o r y . A f t e r s e r v in g a t c o m m u n it y c e n te rs in B ir m in g h a m a n d
- 2 - S e lm a , A la b a m a , t h e T id m a n s w e r e t r a n s fe r r e d t o N a s h v ille u n d e r t h e
c o m m a n d o f M a j o r J a m e s W o r t h y a n d h is w if e , M a j o r B e r t h a W o r t h y .
T h e fo llo w in g fa c ts a re a lle g e d in th e c o m p la in t . W e
r e c it e t h e m a s if t h e y w e r e t r u e , a s w e a r e c o m p e lle d t o d o in r u lin g
o n t h e m o t io n t o d is m is s . C o r n p r o p s t v . S lo a n , 5 2 8 S .W .2 d 1 8 8 (T e n n .
1 9 7 5 ) . W e h a s t e n t o a d d , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e y a r e o n ly a lle g a t io n s .
P r io r t o c o m in g t o N a s h v ille , M r . T id m a n h a d s o u g h t a n d
r e c e iv e d p e r m is s io n to a tte n d o u t s id e c o u n s e li n g fo r a p e rs o n a l
p r o b l e m , u n d e r T h e S a l v a t i o n A r m y ’s m e d i c a l c o v e r a g e . S h o r t l y a f t e r
a r r iv in g in N a s h v ille , M r s . T id m a n w a s a p p r o a c h e d b y B e r t h a W o r t h y
r e g a r d in g a ru m o r a b o u t M r. T id m a n . M rs . W o rth y a s s u re d M rs .
T id m a n th a t s h e w a s a c tin g a s M r s . T id m a n ’s p a s to r a n d th a t th e
d e t a ils d is c u s s e d “ w o u ld n o t le a v e th e r o o m .” R e ly in g o n th e s e
a s s u r a n c e s , M r s . T id m a n c o n fid e d t o M r s . W o r t h y th a t h e r h u s b a n d
h a d c o n fe s s e d o n c e to h a v in g a n e x tr a m a r it a l a ff a ir . M rs . W o rth y
t h e n r e c o m m e n d e d th a t t h e T id m a n s m e e t w it h h e r a n d h e r h u s b a n d
t h e n e x t d a y . D u r in g t h is m e e t in g , M a jo r J a m e s W o r t h y a s s u r e d t h e
T id m a n s th a t t h e y w e re s p e a k in g c o n fid e n t ia lly a n d th a t h e w a s
a c t in g in a p a s to r a l c a p a c it y . H o w e v e r, M r. W o rth y b e ra t e d a n d
in t e r r o g a t e d M a r k T id m a n in a n a c c u s a to r y m a n n e r ; h e d e m a n d e d a
c o n fe s s io n a b o u t t h e a ffa ir fr o m M a r k T id m a n ; a n d h e s ta t e d t h e o n ly
w a y f o r M r . T i d m a n t o s a v e f a c e w a s t o r e s ig n . M r . T i d m a n r e f u s e d
- 3 - t o c o n fe s s , a n s w e r in g o n ly t h a t h e h a d t o ld h is w ife e v e ry th in g s h e
n e e d e d to k n o w a n d th a t th e y w e re c o m m it t e d to m a r r ia g e
c o u n s e lin g .
A t a b o u t th e s a m e t im e , E d w a r d L a it y , T h e S a lv a tio n
A r m y ’s T e r r it o r ia l C o u n s e lo r in A t la n t a , c o n t a c t e d M r . T i d m a n ’s
o u t s id e c o u n s e lo r , s e e k in g t o d is c o v e r t h e d e t a il s o f t h e c o u n s e li n g
s e s s io n s .
In N o v e m b e r o f 1 9 9 5 , K e n n e th B re w e r, T h e S a lv a tio n
A r m y ’s D iv is io n a l C o m m a n d e r , t o ld M r s . T i d m a n ’s fa t h e r o f t h e r u m o r
t h a t M a r k T i d m a n w a s e n g a g e d in a n o n g o in g a f f a i r . M r s . T i d m a n ’s
fa th e r c o n fro n te d M rs . T id m a n a b o u t th e a lle g a t io n . M r . B r e w e r ’s
m o t iv a tio n w a s a lle g e d ly to c a u s e a rift in th e T id m a n fa m ily , t o
i n f l i c t s e v e r e e m o t i o n a l i n j u r y o n M a r k T i d m a n , a n d t o c a u s e h im to
r e s ig n .
In J a n u a ry o f 1 9 9 6 , F r e d R u t h , t h e D ir e c t o r o f P e r s o n n e l
fo r T h e S a lv a tio n A rm y , s u m m o n e d th e p la in t iffs to a m e e t in g in
N a s h v ille , b y fa ls e ly re p r e s e n tin g to th e m th a t th e p u rp o s e o f th e
m e e t in g w a s a p e r s o n n e l in t e r v ie w . In s te a d , th e T id m a n s w e re
c o n fr o n t e d b y M r . R u t h , M a jo r B r e w e r , a n d M a jo r J a m e s W o r t h y , w h o ,
a g a in , t r ie d t o c o e r c e M r . T i d m a n in t o c o n f e s s in g h is in f id e lit y . I n t h e
- 4 - m e e t in g , M r . R u t h r e v e a le d t h a t h e h a d le a r n e d o f M r . T i d m a n ’s p a s t
h is t o r y o f p a s t o r a l c o u n s e li n g f r o m M r . L a it y .
M r. a n d M rs . T id m a n w e re la t e r d is m is s e d fro m t h e ir
p o s it io n s in T h e S a l v a t io n A r m y a n d w e r e t o ld t o v a c a t e t h e ir liv in g
q u a r t e r s in t w o d a y s . M r . R u t h d is c lo s e d t o M r s . T i d m a n ’s fa t h e r t h e
d e t a ils o f t h e J a n u a ry m e e t in g .
II.
T h e T id m a n s s u e d J a m e s a n d B e r th a W o rt h y , K e n n e th
B re w e r, a n d F re d R u th fo r in v a s io n o f p r iv a c y , in t e n t io n a l a n d
n e g lig e n t in flic t io n o f e m o t io n a l d is tr e s s a n d o u tra g e o u s c o n d u c t.
T h e y n a m e d T h e S a l v a t io n A r m y it s e lf o n t h e t h e o r y o f r e s p o n d e a t
s u p e rio r .
T h e d e fe n d a n t s file d a m o t io n u n d e r T e n n . R . C iv . P . 1 2 t o
d is m is s th e a c tio n b e c a u s e (1 ) th e d e fe n d a n t s ’ a c t io n s w e re
p ro te c te d b y th e F ir s t a n d F o u rte e n th A m e n d m e n t s to th e U n it e d
S t a t e s C o n s tit u t io n a n d (2 ) t h e c o m p la in t fa ile d t o s ta t e a c la im u p o n
w h ic h r e lie f c o u ld b e g r a n t e d . T h e t r ia l ju d g e , in a w r it t e n o p in io n ,
h e ld t h a t t h e f a c t u a l r e c o r d w o u ld n o t s u p p o r t a c o n c lu s io n t h a t t h e
r e lig io u s fr e e d o m c la u s e s o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s C o n s tit u t io n p r o t e c t e d
- 5 - t h e d e fe n d a n t s . B u t t h e t r ia l ju d g e d id h o ld t h a t t h e c o m p la in t fa ile d
t o s ta t e a c la im u n d e r a n y o f t h e t h e o r ie s a d v a n c e d b y th e p la in t iffs .
III.
In v a s io n o f P r iv a c y
A lt h o u g h t h e T e n n e s s e e c o u r t s e a rlie r r e c o g n iz e d t h e t o r t
o f in v a s io n o f p r iv a c y , M a r t in v . S e n a t o r s , In c ., 4 1 8 S .W .2 d 6 6 0 (T e n n .
1 9 6 7 ), t h is c o u rt m o re re c e n t ly a d o p te d S e c . 6 5 2 A o f th e
R e s t a t e m e n t ( S e c o n d ) o f T o r t s a s t h e b a s is fo r t h e a c t io n . M a jo r v .
C h a r t e r L a k e s id e H o s p ., S h e l b y L a w N o . 4 2 , file d a t J a c k s o n , A u g . 3 1 ,
1 9 9 0 . T h e T i d m a n s a s s e rt o n a p p e a l t h a t t h e ir c a s e fa lls w it h in t w o
o f t h e R e s t a t e m e n t ’s c a t e g o r ie s : ( 1 ) t h e p u b lic d is c lo s u r e o f p r iv a t e
in f o r m a t io n ( S e c . 6 5 2 D ) , a n d ( 2 ) a n u n r e a s o n a b le in t r u s io n u p o n t h e
s e c lu s io n o f a n o t h e r ( S e c . 6 5 2 B ) .
T h e k e y to th e fir s t c a t e g o r y is th e w o rd “ p u b lic .” In
M a jo r , w e s a id th a t th e R e s ta t e m e n t r e q u ir e d a d is c lo s u r e to th e
p u b lic a t la r g e o r to s o m a n y p e r s o n s t h a t th e m a tte r m u s t b e
r e g a r d e d a s s u b s ta n t ia lly c e rt a in t o b e c o m e o n e o f p u b lic k n o w le d g e .
M a jo r , s lip o p . a t * 9 . S e e a l s o B e a r d v . A k z o n a , 5 1 7 F . S u p p . 1 2 8 (E .D .
T e n n . 1 9 8 1 ).
- 6 - T h e c o m p la in t d o e s n o t a lle g e t h a t a n y p riv a te in fo r m a t io n
w a s d is c lo s e d to a n y o n e o u t s id e T h e S a lv a tio n A rm y c o m m a n d
e x c e p t M r s . T i d m a n ’s f a t h e r ( w h o w a s h im s e lf a f o r m e r o f f ic e r in T h e
S a lv a tio n A r m y ). T h e r e fo r e , t h e c o m p la in t d o e s n o t s ta t e a c a u s e o f
a c t io n u n d e r S e c t io n 6 5 2 (D ).
A s to th e u n r e a s o n a b le in t r u s io n c a te g o ry d e s c rib e d in
S e c t io n 6 5 2 (B ), th e T id m a n s a rg u e o n a p p e a l th a t th e d e fe n d a n ts
“ in t r u d e d in t o t h e ir p e r s o n a l a n d fa m ily s o lit u d e u n d e r t h e g u is e o f
p a s t o r a l c o u n s e li n g w h e n t h e ir t r u e m o t i v e w a s t o in f l i c t e m o t i o n a l
s u ffe r in g .” W e h a v e re a d t h e c o m p la in t a n d c a n n o t fin d t h e fa c t s o n
w h ic h t h is c o n c lu s io n c o u ld b e b a s e d . T h e c o m p la in t d o e s s t a t e t h a t
M r . L a it y a d v is e d M r s . T id m a n t h a t s h e w o u ld b e a s s ig n e d t o a n e w
l o c a t i o n i f s h e d e c id e d t o l e a v e h e r h u s b a n d . B u t , t h e c o m p l a i n t d o e s
n o t a lle g e t h a t t h e d e fe n d a n t s t r ie d t o s e p a ra t e t h e T id m a n s , o r t h a t
t h e d e fe n d a n t s s e t o u t o n a d e lib e r a t e q u e s t t o d is c o v e r t h e in t im a t e
d e t a ils o f th e T id m a n s ’ m a r r ia g e fo r n o o ffic ia l p u r p o s e . T h e
in fo r m a t io n s o u g h t b y th e d e fe n d a n t s r e la t e d t o a fa c t t h a t a ffe c t e d
M r . T i d m a n ’s a b ilit y t o s e r v e e ff e c t iv e ly a s a n o f f ic e r in T h e S a l v a t io n
A rm y , a n d a ll t h e a lle g e d in q u ir ie s to o k p la c e a t w o r k , w it h in th e
o ffic ia l c ir c le t h a t h a d t o m a k e t h a t d e t e r m in a t io n .
T h i s c a s e is d if f e r e n t f r o m H e s te r v . B a r n e t t , 7 2 3 S .W .2 d
5 4 4 ( M o . A p p . 1 9 8 7 ) w h e r e t h e c o m p la in t a lle g e d t h a t t h e H e s t e r ’s
- 7 - p a s to r “ g a in e d a c c e s s t o t h e H e s te r h o m e t h r o u g h t h e p r e t e n s e a s
c o u n s e lo r t o a s s is t in t h e c o r r e c t io n o f t h e c h ild r e n ’s b e h a v io r , w h e n
th e tru e m o t iv e w a s to h a rm th e H e s te rs b y th e d is c lo s u r e o f th e
in fo r m a t io n o b t a in e d th ro u g h g u ile .” 7 2 3 S .W .2 d a t 5 6 3 . T h a t
a lle g a t io n , t a k e n a s tr u e , w a s c o n s id e r e d b y th e c o u rt a s s u ffic ie n t
t o s a tis fy th e t h r e e e le m e n t s o f a t o r t o f in v a s io n o f p r iv a c y : (1 ) t h e
e x is te n c e o f a s e c re t a n d p riv a te s u b je c t m a t t e r ; ( 2 ) a r ig h t in th e
p la in t if f s t o k e e p t h a t s u b je c t m a t t e r p r iv a t e ; a n d ( 3 ) t h e o b t a in m e n t
b y t h e d e fe n d a n t o f in fo r m a t io n a b o u t th e s u b je c t m a t t e r t h r o u g h
u n r e a s o n a b le m e a n s . 7 2 3 S . W .2 d a t 5 6 2 .
F o r th e re a s o n s s ta te d a b o v e , w e d o n o t t h in k th e
a lle g a t io n s in th e c o m p la in t s a tis fy a n y o f th e s e e le m e n t s . A
S a l v a t io n A r m y o ff ic e r ’s c la im t h a t h e h a s a rig h t t o k e e p h is c o n d u c t
s e c r e t m u s t h a v e a v e r y lim it e d s c o p e w h e n t h a t c o n d u c t a f f e c t s h is
a b ility t o s e rv e h is re lig io u s e m p lo y e r. W e w ill a d d r e s s in a n o th e r
p a r t o f t h is o p in io n t h e c la im t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t u s e d u n r e a s o n a b le
m e t h o d s t o o b t a in t h is a lle g e d p r iv a t e in f o r m a t io n .
IV .
I n f lic t io n o f E m o t io n a l D is t r e s s /O u t r a g e o u s C o n d u c t
A lt h o u g h t h e c o m p la in t c o n t a in s a c la im fo r n e g lig e n t
in flic t io n o f e m o t io n a l d is t r e s s , a ll o f t h e m a t e r ia l a lle g a t io n s in v o lv e
- 8 - th e in t e n t io n a l, d e lib e r a t e a c ts o f th e d e fe n d a n ts . T h e re fo r e , w e
c o n c lu d e , a s th e t r ia l c o u r t d id , t h a t t h e c o m p la in t d o e s n o t s ta t e a
c la im fo r n e g lig e n c e .
T h e in t e n t io n a l in flic t io n o f e m o t io n a l d is tr e s s a n d
o u tra g e o u s c o n d u c t d e s c rib e th e s a m e to rt. B a in v . W e lls , 9 3 6
S .W .2 d 6 1 8 n . 3 (T e n n . 1 9 9 7 ). T h e e le m e n ts o f th e to rt a re : (1 ) th e
c o n d u c t c o m p la in e d o f m u s t b e in t e n t io n a l o r r e c k le s s ; (2 ) t h e
c o n d u c t m u s t b e s o o u tra g e o u s th a t it is n o t t o le r a t e d b y c iv il i z e d
s o c ie t y ; a n d (3 ) th e c o n d u c t c o m p la in e d o f m u s t r e s u lt in s e rio u s
m e n t a l in ju r y . Id . a t 6 2 2 . T h e d e f e n d a n t ’s c o n d u c t m u s t b e s o
e x t r e m e i n d e g r e e a s t o g o b e y o n d a ll b o u n d s o f d e c e n c y . M e d l i n v .
A llie d I n v e s t m e n t C o ., 3 9 8 S . W .2 d 2 7 0 ( T e n n . 1 9 6 6 ) . T h e c o u r t ’s d u t y
in th e fir s t in s ta n c e is to a p p ly th e s e s ta n d a rd s a n d to d e t e r m in e
“ w h e t h e r t h e d e f e n d a n t ’s c o n d u c t m a y r e a s o n a b ly b e r e g a r d e d a s s o
e x t r e m e a n d o u tr a g e o u s a s t o p e r m it r e c o v e ry . . . .” Id . a t 2 7 5 .
F o r t h e r e a s o n s w e h a v e a lr e a d y d is c u s s e d , w e a r e o f t h e
o p in io n th a t th e t r ia l ju d g e w a s c o rre c t in c o n c lu d in g t h a t th e
d e f e n d a n t s ’ c o n d u c t d id n o t r is e t o t h e a c t io n a b le le v e l.
V .
T h e I n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h t h e C o u n s e lo r - P a t i e n t R e l a t i o n s h ip
- 9 - W e t r e a t t h is s u b je c t s e p a ra t e ly b e c a u s e it is p e rh a p s th e
m o s t s e r io u s a n d b e c a u s e it r e la t e s t o a ll o f t h e w r o n g s a lle g e d b y
th e T id m a n s .
In A lb e r t s v . D e v in e , 4 7 9 N .E .2 d 1 1 3 (M a s s . 1 9 8 5 ), th e
c o u r t f o u n d a s u s t a in a b le c a u s e o f a c t io n a g a in s t a m in is t e r ’s c h u r c h
s u p e r io rs fo r in d u c in g th e m in is t e r ’s p s y c h ia t r is t to re v e a l
c o n fid e n t ia l in fo rm a tio n to th e m . In P a rt V I o f t h is o p in io n w e
d is tin g u is h th a t c a s e fr o m t h is o n e . A fu rth e r a n d p e rh a p s m o re
fu n d a m e n ta l d iffe r e n c e r e s u lt s fr o m a c lo s e in s p e c t io n o f th e
T id m a n s ’ a lle g a t io n s . T h e c o m p la in t o n ly a lle g e s th a t M r . L a it y
s o u g h t c o n fid e n t ia l in fo r m a t io n fr o m M r . T i d m a n ’s t h e r a p is t . I t d o e s
n o t a lle g e t h a t h e d is c o v e r e d a n y th in g . In a d d it io n , M r . L a it y ’s le t t e r
t o M r . T i d m a n ’s c o u n s e lo r is m a d e a n e x h ib it a n d it r e a d s in p a r t a s
fo llo w s :
I d o a p p r e c ia t e a n d re s p e c t th e c o n fid e n t ia l r e la t io n s h ip t h a t m u s t e x is t b e tw e e n c o u n s e lo r a n d c o u n s e le e , a n d a t n o t im e w o u ld I w a n t to in t r u d e o n th a t re la t io n s h ip . T h a t s a m e re s p e c t a p p lie s to y o u r w o rk w it h C a p ta in M a rk T id m a n .
M y re a s o n th e re fo re fo r th e t e le p h o n e c a ll s e v e r a l w e e k s a g o a n d th is le tte r is th a t s o m e r e p o r t is r e q u ir e d b y T h e S a lv a t io n A r m y w h ic h w ill h e lp u s t o a s c e rt a in t h e a c t iv e p a rt ic ip a t io n a n d th e b e n e fit s re c e iv e d fr o m th e c o u n s e li n g p r o c e s s .
T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l fa c t o r s w h ic h w e b e lie v e w o u ld g iv e r e a s o n fo r r e q u e s tin g s o m e r e s p o n s e f r o m y o u :
- 1 0 - 1 . T h e in d iv id u a l r e c e iv in g c o u n s e lin g is p a y in g n o p e rs o n a l fu n d s to re c e iv e th is b e n e fit . T h e S a lv a tio n A rm y , in it s c a r e a n d c o n c e rn fo r t h is o ff ic e r is w illin g t o c o v e r a ll e x p e n s e s c o n n e c te d w it h th e s e s s io n s .
2 . A n y o ffic e r re c e iv in g s u c h b e n e fit s u n d e rs ta n d s th a t s o m e b a s ic in f o r m a t io n w ill b e s h a re d w it h m y o ffic e . N o c o n fid e n t ia l in fo r m a t io n is re q u e s te d in t h is re p o r t .
3 . In t h e c a s e o f C a p t a in T id m a n , h e h a s b e e n in c o u n s e li n g s e s s io n s w it h y o u s in c e J a n u a ry o f 1 9 9 3 o n a re g u la r b a s is . H o p e fu lly , s o m e p o s it iv e c h a n g e s s h o u ld h a v e t a k e n p la c e d u r in g th a t t im e .
N o w , h a v in g s h a re d w it h m e s o m e a s p e c ts o f h is o w n life a n d th e t r a u m a s w h ic h h a v e s e v e re ly a ffe c t e d h im , I c a n w e ll u n d e r s ta n d th a t th e p ro c e s s o f w o r k in g t h r o u g h a ll o f t h a t m u s t ta k e t im e a n d g r e a t p a t ie n c e . C h a n g e s m u s t o c c u r in t e r n a lly a n d t o e x p e c t r a d ic a l c h a n g e e x t e r n a lly m u s t b e a n t ic ip a t e d w it h fo r b e a r a n c e a n d w it h s o m e c a u t io n le s t t h e y e x a c e rb a t e t h e e m o t io n a l s c a rs w it h w h ic h h e is d e a lin g .
F ro m a n a d m in is tr a t iv e p o s it io n , T h e S a lv a tio n A r m y is c o n c e rn e d th a t a f t e r t h is le n g th o f t im e , t h e r e s e e m s to b e lit t le o r n o c h a n g e s in h is u n d e rs t a n d in g o f p e o p le a n d th e ir n e e d s , o f w o r k in g r e la t io n s h ip s , o r h is o w n in t e rp e rs o n a l r e s p o n s e s .
In y o u r t e le p h o n e m e s s a g e t o m e , y o u im p lie d t h a t T h e S a l v a t io n A r m y le a d e r s h ip n e e d e d t o t a k e w h a t e v e r a c t io n s t h e y d e e m e d n e c e s s a r y in d e a lin g w it h C a p t a in T id m a n . T h a t s ta n c e o n y o u r p a r t r a t h e r c o n c e r n s m e . E v id e n t ly M a r k h a s s h a re d m u c h in fo r m a t io n w it h y o u re g a r d in g h is fe e lin g s t o w a r d a d m in is tr a t io n a n d h is a p p o in t m e n t s . T h a t is a s it s h o u ld b e , h o w e v e r, h e c a n n o t b e t o t a lly o b je c t iv e a n d n o n e o f u s w o u ld b e in lik e c ir c u m s ta n c e s .
I t is n o t m y d e s ir e t o s h a r e w it h y o u in f o r m a t i o n t h a t w o u ld b ia s y o u r w o r k w it h h im , h o w e v e r
- 1 1 - s o m e in fo r m a t io n fro m y o u w o u ld h e lp t h e le a d e r s h ip t o k n o w h o w t o r e s p o n d to h im in t h e c o m in g d a y s .
I w o u ld a p p r e c ia t e y o u r g iv in g m e a t le a s t t h e b a s ic in f o r m a t io n o n t h e a t t a c h e d r e p o r t . In a d d it io n , s o m e in d ic a t io n a s to a fu tu re a f f i r m a t i v e c o n c lu s io n o f t h e c o u n s e li n g p r o c e s s w o u ld b e h e lp fu l. T h is w ill b e h e ld a s c o n fid e n t ia l. If y o u d e s ir e t o t a lk w it h M a r k a s t o t h e c o n t e n t s o f y o u r r e p o r t , w e w ill b e p le a s e d to c o v e r a n y e x p e n s e s in v o lv e d w it h t h a t s h a r in g .
Y o u r t im e ly re s p o n s e to t h is re q u e s t is m o s t a p p r e c ia t e d .
W e c a n n o t fin d in th e le t t e r a re q u e s t th a t th e c o u n s e lo r r e v e a l
c o n fid e n t ia l in fo r m a t io n . In fa c t, th e le t t e r r e c o g n iz e s th a t th e
c o u n s e lo r c a n n o t r e v e a l in fo r m a t io n g iv e n in c o n fid e n c e , a n d it
c o n c lu d e s b y u r g i n g t h e c o u n s e lo r t o d is c u s s t h e in f o r m a t i o n s o u g h t
w it h M r . T id m a n . A n d , a s w e h a v e p o in t e d o u t , t h e c o m p l a i n t d o e s
n o t a lle g e t h a t a n y b re a c h o f c o n fid e n c e o c c u rr e d .
V I.
R e lig io u s F re e d o m
T h e S a lv a tio n A rm y is a c h u rc h fo r F ir s t A m e n d m e n t
p u r p o s e s . M c C lu r e v . T h e S a lv a tio n A rm y , 4 6 0 F .2 d 5 5 3 (5 th C ir .
1 9 7 2 ). B y p re v e n tin g t h e g o v e rn m e n t fr o m in t e r fe r in g w it h t h e f r e e
e x e r c is e o f r e lig io n , t h e F ir s t A m e n d m e n t lim it s th e r o le o f c iv il
c o u rts in r e s o lv in g c o n t r o v e r s ie s th a t a ffe c t th e c h u rc h a n d it s
- 1 2 - m e m b e r s . S e r b ia n E a s t e r n O r t h o d o x D io c e s e v . M iliv o je v ic h , 4 2 6 U .S .
6 9 6 (1 9 7 6 ). In m a tte r s in v o lv in g “ d is c ip lin e , fa it h , in t e r n a l
o r g a n iz a t io n , o r e c c le s ia s t ic a l r u le , c u s t o m o r la w ” t h e c iv il c o u r t s
a r e b o u n d t o a c c e p t t h e d e c is io n s o f a r e lig io u s o r g a n iz a t io n . I d . a t
7 1 3 .
H o w e v e r, n o t a ll a c t io n s o f c h u r c h o ffic ia ls a re fr e e fr o m
s ta t e in t e r f e r e n c e . P r e s b y t e r ia n C h u rc h v . H u ll M e m o r ia l
P re s b y t e r ia n C h u rc h , 3 9 3 U .S . 4 4 0 (1 9 6 9 ); A lb e r t s v . D e v in e , 4 7 9
N .E .2 d 1 1 3 (M a s s . 1 9 8 5 ); B e a r v . R e fo r m e d M e n n o n it e C h u rc h , 3 4 1
A .2 d 1 0 5 (P a . 1 9 7 5 ); G u in n v . C h u r c h o f C h r is t o f C o llin s v ille , 7 7 5 P .2 d
7 6 6 (O k la . 1 9 8 9 ). S o m e c o u rts d e c id e d is p u te s in v o lv in g r e lig io u s
o r g a n iz a t io n s if t h e y c a n b e r e s o lv e d b y t h e a p p lic a t io n o f “ n e u t r a l
p r in c ip le s ” o f la w . M o s e s v . D io c e s e o f C o lo r a d o , 8 6 3 P .2 d 3 1 0 (C o lo .
1 9 9 3 ).
M o s t c o u r t s m a k e a d is t in c t io n b e t w e e n c a s e s in v o lv in g
th e r e lig io u s o rd e r a n d it s c le r g y a n d to rt c a s e s in v o lv in g la y
m e m b e r s . W it h r e s p e c t t o t h e e m p lo y m e n t o f c le r g y , t h e c o u r t s a re
n e a r ly u n a n im o u s in h o ld in g th a t th e c iv il c o u r t s c a n n o t “ in v o lv e
t h e m s e lv e s in r e v ie w in g t h e t e r m in a t io n o f c le r g y fo r t h e o lo g ic a l o r
d is c ip lin a r y r e a s o n s .” H ig g in s v . M a h e r , 2 1 0 C a l. A p p . 3 d 1 1 6 8 a t
1 1 7 0 ( C a l. A p p . 1 9 8 9 ) . A s t h e c o u r t s a id in M c C lu r e v . T h e S a l v a t io n
A rm y ,
- 1 3 - T h e r e la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n a n o rg a n iz e d c h u rc h a n d it s m in is t e r s is it s l i f e b lo o d . T h e m in is t e r is th e c h ie f in s tr u m e n t b y w h ic h t h e c h u rc h s e e k s t o fu lfill it s p u r p o s e . M a tte rs t o u c h in g t h is r e la t io n s h ip m u s t n e c e s s a r ily b e r e c o g n iz e d a s o f p r im e e c c le s ia s t ic a l c o n c e rn .
4 6 0 F .2 d a t 5 5 8 -9 . I t is fo r t h is re a s o n th a t t h e T id m a n s v o lu n t a r ily
d is m is s e d t h e ir c la im s b a s e d o n th e t e r m in a t io n o f e m p lo y m e n t .
T h e y r e c o g n iz e d th a t T h e S a lv a tio n A r m y ’s d e t e r m in a t io n o f a
s u ff ic ie n t r e a s o n fo r d is c h a r g e is b e y o n d t h e r e v ie w in g p o w e r o f t h e
c o u rts . “ [T ]h e s u p e r v is o r y p o w e r o f th e c iv il t r ib u n a ls m a y n o t b e
in v o k e d w h e n t h e o n ly p r o p e r t y in v o lv e d is t h e lo s s o f c le r ic a l o f f i c e
a n d t h e s a la r y in c id e n t t h e r e t o . W a t s o n v . J o n e s , 8 0 U .S . 6 7 9 ( 1 8 7 1 ) .
T o r t c la im s , h o w e v e r , d o n o t e n jo y th e s a m e d e g re e o f
p r o t e c t io n fr o m s ta t e p o w e r . S e e A lb e r t s v . D e v in e , 4 7 9 N .E .2 d 1 1 3
(M a s s . 1 9 8 5 ); G u in n v . C h u r c h o f C h r is t o f C o llin s v ille , 7 7 5 P .2 d 7 6 6
(O k la . 1 9 8 9 ). In S h e r b e r t v . V e r n e r , 3 7 4 U .S . 3 9 8 (1 9 6 3 ), t h e S u p r e m e
C o u r t h e ld t h a t a c t io n s p o s in g “ s o m e s u b s t a n t ia l t h r e a t o f p u b lic
s a fe t y , p e a c e , o r o r d e r ” m a y b e s u b je c t t o g o v e r n m e n t a l r e g u la t io n
e v e n t h o u g h p r o m p t e d b y r e lig io u s b e lie f s o r p r in c ip le s . 3 7 4 U .S . a t
4 0 3 . T h e in t e n t io n a l a n d m a lic io u s a lie n a t io n o f a ffe c t io n o f o n e
s p o u s e fro m th e o th e r t h r e a t e n s p u b li c w e lf a r e a n d o r d e r a n d d o e s
n o t c o m e w it h in t h e p r o t e c t io n o f th e F ir s t A m e n d m e n t . H e s te r v .
B a r n e t t , 7 2 3 S .W .2 d 5 4 4 (M o . A p p . 1 9 8 7 ). “ A p p lic a t io n o f a s e c u la r
s t a n d a r d t o s e c u la r c o n d u c t t h a t is t o r t io u s is n o t p r o h ib it e d b y t h e
- 1 4 - C o n s tit u t io n .” M o s e s v . D io c e s e o f C o lo r a d o , 8 6 3 P .2 d 3 1 0 a t 3 2 0
(C o lo . 1 9 9 3 ).
T h e r e a r e c a s e s h o w e v e r, in w h ic h t h e a lle g e d t o r t s o c c u r
in th e c o u rs e o f th e p r o c e e d in g in v o lv in g d is c ip lin e o f p r ie s t o r
p a s t o r . I n o n e c a s e t h e c o u r t h e ld t h a t t h e t o r t s a lle g e d w e r e “ s im p ly
t o o c lo s e to t h e p e c u lia r ly re lig io u s a s p e c t s o f t h e t r a n s a c tio n t o b e
s e g r e g a t e d a n d t r e a t e d s e p a r a t e ly -- a s s im p le c iv il w r o n g s .” H ig g in s
v . M a h e r , 2 1 0 C a l. A p p . 3 d 1 1 6 8 a t 1 1 7 6 (C a l. A p p . 1 9 8 9 ). In a n o t h e r ,
th e c o u r t h e ld t h a t in d u c in g a p h y s ic ia n to b re a c h h is p a t ie n t ’s
c o n f id e n c e a n d d iv u lg e in f o r m a t io n t o t h a t p a t ie n t ’s c h u r c h s u p e r io r s
d id n o t e n jo y F ir s t A m e n d m e n t p r o t e c t io n . A lb e r t s v . D e v in e , 4 7 9
N .E .2 d 1 1 3 (M a s s . 1 9 8 5 ).
W e a re p e rs u a d e d th a t t h is c a s e is m o r e lik e H ig g in s .
F u lle r q u o t e s fr o m t h a t c a s e fo llo w :
H ig g in s h a s p le a d e d t h e e s s e n t ia l e le m e n t s o f t h e t o r t s o f in v a s io n o f p r iv a c y , d e fa m a t io n , a n d t h e in t e n t io n a l a n d n e g lig e n t in flic t io n o f e m o t io n a l d is t r e s s . H is p le a d in g is p la in a n d d ir e c t i n t e r m s o f a c c u s in g t h e B is h o p a n d o t h e r c h u r c h h ie r a r c h y o f u n w a r r a n t e d a n d m a l i c i o u s c o n d u c t w h i c h c a u s e d h im s e v e r e d a m a g e . H a d t h e s e a lle g a t io n s b e e n s e t f o r t h w it h o u t t h e p r e a m b le s h o w in g t h e ir g e n e s is in t h e p r ie s t -b is h o p r e la t io n s h ip , it is d o u b t f u l t h e y c o u ld h a v e b e e n d is m i s s e d o n d e m u r r e r .
2 1 0 C a l. A p p . 3 d a t 1 1 7 5 .
- 1 5 - R e g a r d le s s o f th e c h u r c h ’s m o t iv e s o r o b je c t i v e s , o r t h e c ir c u m s t a n c e s g iv in g r i s e , w e w o u ld p r o b a b ly a g re e t h a t t o r t s s u c h a s b a t t e r y , f a ls e im p r is o n m e n t o r c o n v e r s io n c a n n o t b e p e r p e t r a t e d u p o n it s m e m b e r s w it h c iv il im p u n it y . W e fin d , h o w e v e r, t h a t a t le a s t i n t h e c o n t e x t o f H i g g i n s ’s a v e r m e n t s , t h e t o r t s r e c it e d a r e s im p ly t o o c lo s e t o t h e p e c u lia r ly r e lig io u s a s p e c ts o f t h e t r a n s a c tio n t o b e s e g r e g a t e d a n d t r e a t e d s e p a r a t e ly -- a s s im p le c iv il w r o n g s . T h e m a k in g o f a c c u s a tio n s o f m is c o n d u c t ; t h e d is c u s s io n o f s a m e w it h in t h e o r d e r ; t h e r e c o m m e n d a t io n o f p s y c h o lo g ic a l o r m e d ic a l t r e a t m e n t ; t h e in flic t io n , w h e t h e r in t e n t io n a lly o r n e g lig e n t ly , o f e m o t io n a l d is t r e s s -- t h e s e a r e a ll a c t iv it ie s a n d r e s u lt s w h ic h w ill o f t e n , if n o t u s u a ll y , a t t e n d t h e d iffic u lt p r o c e s s b y w h ic h p r ie s tly fa c u lt ie s a re t e r m in a t e d . I f o u r c iv il c o u r t s e n t e r u p o n d is p u te s b e t w e e n b is h o p s a n d p rie s ts b e c a u s e o f a lle g a t io n s o f d e fa m a t io n , m e n t a l d is tr e s s a n d in v a s io n o f p r iv a c y , it is d if fic u lt t o c o n c e iv e t h e t e r m in a t io n c a s e w h ic h c o u ld n o t r e s u lt in a s u s t a in a b le la w s u it .
2 1 0 C a l. A p p . 3 d a t 1 1 7 6 .
In t h is c a s e , a ll t h e a lle g a t io n s o f w r o n g d o in g in v o lv e d
c o n d u c t t h a t o c c u r r e d in t h e c o u r s e o f a n in v e s t ig a t io n c o n c e r n in g
M r . T i d m a n ’s f i t n e s s t o f i ll a n o f f ic e in T h e S a l v a t io n A r m y . T h i s is a
p e c u lia r ly e c c le s ia s t ic a l u n d e r t a k in g , a n d it in v o lv e s T h e S a l v a t io n
A r m y ’s b e li e f s a n d c o r e v a lu e s .
W e h o l d t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t s h o u ld h a v e b e e n d is m i s s e d o n
t h is g ro u n d a s w e ll.
- 1 6 - T h e ju d g m e n t o f t h e t r ia l c o u r t is a ffir m e d a n d t h e c a u s e
is r e m a n d e d t o t h e C ir c u it C o u r t o f D a v id s o n C o u n t y fo r a n y fu r t h e r
p r o c e e d in g n e c e s s a r y . T a x t h e c o s ts o n a p p e a l t o t h e a p p e lla n t s .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B E N H . C A N T R E L L , J U D G E C O N C U R :
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ H E N R Y F . T O D D , P R E S ID IN G J U D G E M ID D L E S E C T IO N
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W IL L IA M B . C A IN , J U D G E IN T H E C O U R T O F A P P E A L S O F T E N N E S S E E A T N A S H V IL L E
M A R K S . T ID M A N a n d ) E V E L Y N J . T ID M A N , ) ) P l a i n t i f f s /A p p e l l a n t s , ) ) A p p e a l N o . V S . ) 0 1 -A -0 1 -9 7 0 8 -C V -0 0 3 8 0 ) T H E S A L V A T IO N A R M Y , ) D a v id s o n C i r c u it
J A M E S R . W O R T H Y , B E R T H A ) N o . 9 7 C -1 7 6 W O R T H Y , K E N N E T H E . B R E W E R , ) F R E D R U T H , ) A ffir m e d a n d ) R e m a n d e d D e f e n d a n t s /A p p e l l e e s . )
J U D G M E N T
T h is c a u s e c a m e o n to b e h e a rd u p o n th e re c o rd o n a p p e a l
fro m th e C ir c u it C o u r t o f D a v id s o n C o u n t y , b r ie fs a n d a rg u m e n t o f c o u n s e l; u p o n c o n s id e r a t i o n w h e r e o f , t h i s C o u r t i s o f t h e o p in i o n t h a t
in t h e ju d g m e n t o f t h e t r ia l c o u r t t h e r e is n o r e v e r s ib le e r r o r .
In a c c o r d a n c e w it h t h e o p in io n o f t h e C o u r t file d h e r e in ,
it is , t h e r e fo r e , o r d e r e d a n d a d ju d g e d b y th is C o u r t t h a t t h e ju d g m e n t
o f t h e t r ia l c o u r t is a ffir m e d . T h e c a u s e is re m a n d e d t o t h e C ir c u it
C o u r t o f D a v id s o n C o u n t y fo r t h e e x e c u t io n o f t h e ju d g m e n t a n d f o r
t h e c o lle c t io n o f t h e c o s ts a c c ru e d b e lo w .
C o s t s o f t h is a p p e a l a r e t a x e d a g a in s t M a r k S . T id m a n a n d
E v e ly n T id m a n , P r in c ip a ls , a n d L a rry L . C r a in , S u r e t y , fo r w h ic h
e x e c u t io n m a y is s u e if n e c e s s a r y .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ H E N R Y F . T O D D , P R E S ID IN G J U D G E M ID D L E S E C T IO N
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B E N H . C A N T R E L L , J U D G E
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W IL L IA M B . C A IN , J U D G E
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