Ferguson v. Paycheck

OPINION

FONES, Chief Justice.

This was a media event lawsuit in which the chancellor appointed John P. Branham, a member of the Nashville bar, during the discovery stage and assigned him duties which he performed and sought compensation therefor. After the parties’ out-of-court settlement, the chancellor awarded Branham a fee and taxed it as part of the costs against Ferguson and Paycheck, jointly and severally.

The Court of Appeals held that the chancellor appointed Branham to represent witnesses and was without authority to make such appointment or to compensate for that purpose. We agree that…