This is the third occasion which this Court has had to address the merits of this case. By prior opinions and judgments entered on September 6, 1996, and February 17, 1998, respectively, the Court addressed previous issues on appeal. In the interests of judicial efficiency, the Court adopts and incorporates herein the following recitation of facts contained in our opinion entered in this cause on February 17, 1998: In this case, an inmate at a state correctional institution filed
a defamation [lawsuit] in circuit court against two state employees. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, holding that the Tennessee Claims Commission had exclusive jurisdiction over the matter. The trial court also denied the plaintiff's requests for default judgment. . . .