# FILED March 4, 1996 Cecil Crowson, Jr. App ellate C ou rt Clerk I N THECOUR

TOFAPPEALS

J EFFR EY K EI TH PH I LLI PSa n d) W ASHI NGTON C

I R C UI T J EN N I FER PH I LLI PS , ) C. A . N O . 03A 01- 9509- C

V - 00298 ) ) Pl a i ntif f s - A pp e lle e s ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. G. R I C HAR D J OHNSON ) J UDGE BY I NTER

C HANGE ) ) ) ) ) EU G EN E R U S SELL, ) AFFI R M ED AND R

EM ANDED ) D

e f e nda nt - A

ppe l l a nt )

TI M O TH Y S. BELI SLE, A

nde r s on, Fuga t e , G i ve ns , C

ount s , &

Be l i s l e , J ohns on C

i t y, f or A

ppe l l a nt . R O BER TJ . J ES SEE, J ohns on C i t y, f or A

ppe l l e e s .

O PI N I O N

Mc Mur r a y , J .1 Forsimplicity, the parties will be referred to in the capacity in whichthey

appeared in the trial court. 2 The pa r t i e s t o t hi s a ppe a l e nt e r e d i nt o a c ont r a c t w he r e by t he a pp e l l a nt w

a s t o c ons t r uc t a hom e f or t he a ppe l l e e s . Pr obl e m s de ve l ope dbe t w

e e n t he pa r t i e s w hi c h r e s ul t e d i n a n a c t i on by t he p l a i ntif f s - a pp e lle e s t o r e c ove r da m a ge s f r om

t he de f e nda nt - a pp e l l a nt f or de f e c t i ve w or km a ns hi p i n t he c ons t r uc t i o n a n d t o r e m ove a c l ou df r o m

the i r title r e s u ltingf r o m a lie nf ile db ythe de f e nda nt . The de f e nda nt f i l e d a c ount e r c l a i m a g a i n s t the p l a i ntif f s a nd a c r o s s - c l a i m a g a i n s t Shi r l e yG . H u ghe s . S hi r l e y H ughe s wa s t r us t e e unde r a de e d of t r us t e xe c ut e d by t he pl a i nt i f f s t os ecur e p a ym

e nt o f a pr om

i s s or y not e i n t he a m ount of $80, 000. 00. pa ya bl e t o El i z a be t ht on S a vi ngs a nd Loa n A s s oc i a t i on. 1

I nhi s c ount e r c l a i m , t he de f e nda nt s ought t o r e c ove r t he unpa i db a l a nce o f t he cont r act pr i ce p l u s addi t i ona l s um s he c l a i m s t o ha ve e xpe nde d i n t he c ons t r uc t i on of t he hous e . H e a lle g e s th a t he is e ntitle dtor e c o v e r f r o m the p l a i ntif f s o nthe t he or yof qua nt um

me r ui t . N

o r e c ove r y i s s ought a ga i ns t t he c r os s - de f e nda nt . Af t e r a be nc h t r i a l t he c our t r e s ol ve dt he i s s ue s i n f a vor of t he pl a i nt i f f s a nd a w a r de d j udgm

e nt a ga i ns t t he de f e nda nt i n t he a m ount of $3, 412. 69. Fr om t hi s j udgm

e nt t he de f e nda nt ha s a ppe a l e d a nd pr e s e nt s t he f ol l ow i ng i s s ue s f or our c ons i de r a t i on:2T.C.A. § 62-6-103 was amended in 1994. The text setout here is thetext as

it existed before the 1994 amendment. 3 1. W he t he r t he c onduc t of t he pl a i nt i f f s , i n pe r - m ittingt he de f e nda nt t o c ont i nue w o r k on pl a i nt i f f s ’ hous e de s pi t e pe r c e i ve d de vi a t i ons f r om t he c o nt r act a nd i n not a l l ow i ng t he de f e nda nt s uf f i

- c i e nt oppor t uni t y t o c or r e c t t he de f e c t s a f t e r not i c e th a t the p l a i ntif f s ’ int e n de dtow ithh o l d pa ym e nt unt i l t he de f ect s w e r e cor r ect e d , s h ou l d pr e c l ude t he m

f r om pr e va i l i ng a ga i ns t t he de f e nda nt . 2. W he t he r t he t r i a l c our t e r r e d i n a w a r di ng j udgm

e nt t op l a i ntif f s w

he r e t he evi de nce f a i l e dt oes t a b

lis hp l a i ntif f ’ s ’ e ntitle m e nt toju dg m

e nt . 3. W he t he r de f e nda nt i s e nt i t l e d t o j udgm e nt a ga i ns t t he p l a i ntif f s . We w ill f i r s t c o n s i de r the thi r dis s u e . It is un di s put e dth a t t he de f e nda nt - c ount e r - pl a i nt i f f w a s not a l i cen s e dco nt r act or . T. C. A . § 62- 6- 103 pr ovi de s i n pe r t i ne nt pa r t a s f ol l ow s : 2

62- 6- 103. L

i cens e requi rem

e nt - R ecoveryof expe ns e s byunl i cens e dco nt r ac t o r . (a )(1 ) A nyp e r s o n, f i r m

or c or por a t i one nga ge d i n c ont r a c t i ng i n t hi s s t a t e s ha l l be r e qui r e dt o s ubm

i t e vi de nc e t ha t s uc h pe r s on, f i r m or c or por a t i oni s qua l i f i e d t o e nga ge i n c ont r a c t i ng, a nd s h a l l be l i c e ns e d a s he r e i na f t e r pr ovi de d. I t i s unl a w f ul f or a ny pe r s on, f i r m or c or por a t i on t o e nga ge i n or of f e r t oe nga ge i n c ont r a c tin ginthe s t a t e , u nl e s s s u c h pe r s on, fi r m

or c or por a t i on ha s be e ndul y l i c e ns e d unde r t he pr ovi s i ons of t hi s c ha pt e r , a s he r e i na f t e r pr ovi de d. A ny pe r s on, f i r m

or c or por a t i on e nga ge d i n c ont r a c t i ng, i nc l udi ng s uc h pe r s on, f i r m or c or por a t i on t ha t e nga ge s i nt he c ons t r u c t i on of r e s i de nc e s or dw e l l i ngs c ons t r uc t e d on pr i va t e pr ope r t y f or t he pur pos e of r e s a l e , l eas e , r e nt or a ny ot he r s i m i l a r pur pos e , s h a ll b e r e qui r e dt o s ubm

i t e vi de nc e t ha t s uc h pe r s on, f i r m or c or por a t i onis qua l i f i e d t o e nga ge i nc ont r a c t i ng a nd/ or bui l di ng, a nd s ha l l be l i c e ns e d. I t i s unl a w f ul f or a ny4

pe r s on, f i r m

, or c or por a t i on t o e nga ge i n, or of f e r t o e nga ge i n, c ont r a c t i ng or bui l di ng a s he r e i na bove de s c r i b e d , unl e ss s uc h pe r s on, f i r m or c or por a t i on ha s b eendul yl i c e ns e d unde r t he pr ovi s i ons of t hi s c ha pt e r . * * * * ( c ) A ny unl i c e ns e d c ont r a c t or c ove r e d by t he pr ovi s i ons of t hi s ch a pt e r s h a l l b e pe r m i t t e d i n a c our t of e qui t y t o r e c ove r a c t ua l doc um e nt e d e xpe ns e s onl y upon a s how i ng of c l e a r a nd c onvi nc i ng pr oof . Toa voi d t he c ons e que nc e s of t hi s s t a t ut e , t he de f e nda nt t he or i zes t ha t t he pl a i nt i f f s a r e e s t oppe d f r om a s s e r t i ng t he unl i c e ns e ds t a t us of t he de f e nda nt . D e f e n d a nt in s i s t s th a t the pl a i nt i f f s ' a c t i ons i n a l l ow i ng hi m

t o go f or w

a r d know

i ng t ha t he wa s unl i c e ns e d c r e a t e d a n e s t oppe l . N o a ut hor i t y i s c ite d t o us a ndw e ha ve f ound none w he r e by e s t oppe l c a n be s uc c e s s f ul l y i nvoke d t ode f e a t t he pur pos e s of t he a bove s t a t ut e . Eve r yone i s pr e s um e d t oknow

t he l a w

. D a vi s v. M

e t r opol i t a n G

ove r nm e nt of N

a s hvi l l e , 620S . W

. 2d 532 ( Te nn. A pp. 1981) . The r e f or e , t he de f e nda nt i s c h a r g eab l e w

i t h t he know

l e dge t ha t he c oul d r e c ove r no m or e t ha n t he s t a t ut e a llo w s , i.e . , a c t ua l doc um e nt e d e xpe ns e s a nd t he n, and onl y t he n, upon a s how i ng, by c l e a r a nd c onvi nc i ng pr oof , t ha t he i nc ur r e dt he e xpe ns e s . To hol d ot he r w i s e w ou l db e t ocr eat e a j u di c i a l e xc e pt i on t o t he s t a t ut e w hi c h w e a r e unw

i l l i ng t o do. W

e hol d t ha t e s t oppe l doe s not a ppl y unde r t he c i r c um s t a nc e s of t hi s cas e .5

As doc um

e nt e d pr oof , t he de f e nda nt of f e r e d i nt o e vi de nc e c hecks i n t he t ot a l a m ount of $88, 774. 32, w hi c h he c l a i m

s r e - pr e s e nt e dm

oni e s e xpe nde d on t he pl a i nt i f f s ’ hous e . I n Br a ndon v. W r i ght , 838 S . W

. 2d 532 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1992) , i t w

a s e s t a bl i s he d t ha t cancel e dchecks andi nvoi c e s c oul d c ons t i t ut e " a de qua t e doc um e nt e d e xpe ns e s ... up o na s how i ng of c l e a r a nd c onvi nc i ng e vi de nc e . " The c our t in Br a ndon , c iting W ilc he r v . Br a dl e y , 708 S . W . 2d 407 ( Te nn. A pp. 1985) , s t a t e d: " ' C l e a r a nd c onvi nc i ng e vi de nc e ' a s r e qui r e d by T. C. A

. § 62- 6- 103( c ) i s ' t ha t m e a s ur e or de gr e e of pr oof w hi c h w ill pr oduc e i n t he m i nd of t he t r i e r of f a c t a fi r m b e l i e f or c onvi c t i ona s t o t he t r ut h of t he a l l e ga t i ons t o be e s t a bl i s he d. ' "

I nt hi s c a s e , w e a r e of t he opi ni on t ha t t he e vi de nc e pr e s e nt e dby t he de f e nda nt doe s not m e e t t he t e s t . O

nm a ny of t he c hecks the " m

e m o " o r " f or " bl a nk ha s , e ve n t o a n unt r a i ne d e ye , b eenf i l l e d by a di f f e r e nt h a nd a nd a di f f e r e nt c ol or e d i nk t hus c a s t i ng s us pi c i on upon t he i r a ut he nt i c i t y. Fur t he r t he r e w e r e no m a t c hi n gi nvoi c e s c or r e l a t i ng t o t he c he c ks . The c ount e r - pl a i nt i f f ha s f a ile dtom

e e t hi s bur de nof pr oof . W e f i nd t ha t t he de f e nda nt i s not e nt i t l e d t o a m one t a r y j udgm

e nt a ga i ns t t he pl a i nt i f f s . H a vi ngde c i de d t he i s s ue w hi c h r e qui r e s t he a ppl i c a t i on of t he "cl ear a nd c onvi nc i ng e vi de nc e " r ul e , w e w i l l c ons i de r t he r e m a i ni n gi s s ue s t oge t he r . I n de c i di ng t he s e i s s ue s , w e a r e bound6

byt he pr ovi s i ons of R ul e 13( d) , T. R. A

. P. i.e . , "[u ] nl e ss ot he r w i s e r e qui r e dby s t a t ut e , r e vi e w of f i ndi ngs of f a c t by t he t r i a l c our t i nc i vil a c tio n s s h a ll b e de novoupon t he r e c or d of t he t r i a l c our t , a c c om

pa ni e d by a pr e s um pt i on of t he c or r e c t ne s s of t h e f i ndi ng, unl e s s t h e pr e ponde r a nc e of t he e vi de nc e i s ot he r w i s e . " I na de novor e vi e w , t he p a r t i e s ar e ent i t l e dt oa r eex a m i n a t i o no f t he w hol e m a t t e r of l a w

a nd f a c t a nd t hi s c our t s houl d r e nde r t he j udgm e nt w a r r a nt e d by t he l a w a nd e vi de nc e . Thor nbur g v. C ha s e , 606S . W

. 2 d672 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1980) ; A

m e r i c a n Bui l di ngs C o. v. W hi t e , 640S . W

. 2d 569 ( Te nn. A pp. 1982) ; Te nne s s e e R ul e s of A

ppe l l a t e Pr oc e dur e , R

ul e 36.

The tr i a l c our t f ound t ha t t he de f e nda nt c ons t r uc t e d t he hous e i n a n unw

or km a nl i ke m

a nne r be l ow

t he s t a nda r d of t he c ons t r uc t i on a r t a nd br e a c he d hi s c ont r a c t a nd w a r r a nt i e s t o t he pl a i nt i f f . A ccept i n gthe tr i a l c our t ' s f i ndi ngs a s t r ue , t hos e f i ndi ngs a l one donot e nt i t l e t he pl a i nt i f f s ' t o a j udgm e nt a ga i ns t t he de f e nda nt . I t i s e s t a bl i s he d l a w t ha t a pa r t y t o a c ons t r uc t i on c ont r a c t i s unde r a n obl i ga t i on t o gi ve not i c e of pe r c e i ve d de f e c t s or de vi a t i ons f r o m

t he cont r act s p eci f i cat i o n s . Se e M c C l a i nv . K i m br ough C

ons t . C

o. , I nc . , 806 S . W . 2d 194 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1990) . I t i s f ur t he r e s t a bl i s he d t ha t a pa r t y i s unde r a dut y t o pr ovi de a r eas o n a b l e oppor t uni t y t o c or r e c t t he de f e c t i ve w or k b e f o r e7

t e r m i n a tingt he cont r act . I d ., a t 1 9 9 . S ee al s o Ca r t e r v . K r ue ge r , a n unpub lis h e d opi ni on ( t o be publ i s he d) of t hi s c our t , pe r m i s s i on t o a ppe a l de ni e d Fe br ua r y 5, 1996.

I n Ca r t e r , t hi s c our t de ni e d r e l i e f t o a pr ope r t y ow ne r w ho f a ile dt o gi ve not i c e a nd a n oppor t uni t y t o c or r e c t de f ect s i nt he c ons t r uc t i onof a c om m e r c i a l bui l di ng. Q uot i ng f r om M

c C l a i n , s upr a , t hi s c our t s a i d:

R

e qui r i ng not i c e i s a s ound r ul e de s i gne d t o a l l ow t he de f a ul t i ng pa r t y t o r e pa i r t he de f e c t i ve w or k, t o r e duc e t he da m

a ge s , t o a voi d a ddi t i ona l de f e c t i ve p e r f or m

a nce, a nd t o pr o mo t e the inf or m a l s e ttle m

e nt o f di s put e s . Pol l a r d v. S a xe & Y ol ke s D

e v. C o ., 1 2Ca l. 3 d 374, 525 P. 2d 88, 92, 115 Ca l . R pt r . 648, 652 ( 1974) ; St ur dyC

onc r e t e C

or p. v. N

a b C ons t r . C

or p ., 6 5 A

. D . 2 d 262, 411 N

. Y . S . 2d 637, 644 ( 1978) . Thus , e ve n w he n t he p a r t i e s h a v e n o t i nc l u de da "t a ke o v e r " cl a u s e i nt he i r c ont r a c t , c our t s ha ve i m pos e d upon c ont r a c t or s t he dut y t ogi ve s ubc ont r a c t or s not i c e a nd a n oppor t uni t yt o c ur e be f or e t e r m

i na t i ng t he c ont r a c t f or f a ul t y pe r f or m a nc e . U nite dSt a t e s exr e l. Cor t o l a n o& Ba r one , I nc . v. M or a no C ons t r . C

or p . , 724 F. Supp. 88, 98 ( S . D . N . Y . 1989) ; s e e a l s o C yc l o Fl o or M

a c hi ne C

or p. v. N

a t i ona l H

ous e w a r e s , I nc . , 296 F. Supp. 665, 682 ( D . U t a h 1968) ( i m

pos i ng a not i c e r e qui r e m

e nt i n a nonc ons t r uc t i on c ont e xt ) . M c C l a i na t pa ge 198.

We not e t ha t t he t r i a l c our t di d not m a ke a ny f i ndi ngs of f a c t w ithr e g a r dt o not i c e or oppor t uni t y t o c or r e c t t he de f ect s . Thu s t he r e a r e no f i ndi ngs t o w hi c h w e c a n a ppl y t he pr e s u m pt i on of c or r ect ne s s pr ovi de d i n R ul e 13( d) , T. R. A

. P. R u l e 3 6 , T. R. A

. P.8

r e qui r e s u s t oex a m i ne t he r ecor d , m a ke f act u a l de t e r m i n a t i o n s , a ppl yt he l a w

a nd r e nde r t he j udgm e nt w a r r a nt e d by t he l a w a nd t he e vi de nce.

I nt hi s c a s e , i t ha s be e n e s t a bl i s he d by a pr e ponde r a nc e of t he evi de nce t h a t as ear l yas D ecem b e r , 1 9 9 3 , t he p l a i nt i f f s put t he de f e nda nt on not i c e t ha t t he ba s e m e nt w a s l e a ki ng a nd t ha t t he b a s e m e nt wa l l s w

e r e not be i ng c ons t r uc t e d i n a c c or da nc e w i t h t he s p eci f i cat i o n s . A t t h a t t i m

e , t he ar ea ar oun dt he b a s e m e nt w a l l s ha dnot be e n ba c kf i l l e d. The de f e nda nt, w i t hout c or r e c t i ng t he de f ect s , b ackf i l l e dt he ar ea ar ound t he b a s e m e nt w a l l s t he r e b y r e nde r i ngit di f f i c ult toc or r e c t a ny w a t e r pr obl e m

. The w

a l l s of t he ba s e m

e nt l e a ke d a nd c ont i nue d t o l e a k up t o t he t i m e of t he t r i a l . The pl a i ntif f , J e f f r e yK e ithPhillip s , te s tif i e dth a t he t a l ke dw

i t h t he de f e nda nt on A pr i l 8, 1994, a nd t ha t he w a s t ol d t h a t t he r e w

a s not hi ng t ha t c oul d be done a bout i t , i t w a s t oo l a t e . Th e pl a i nt i f f s a l s o f ur ni s he d t he de f e nda nt w i t h a l i s t of ot he r de f e c t s t he y f ound i n t he hous e . The y f ur t h e r re f u s e dt o a ut hor i z e a f i na l dr a w on t he c ont r a c t pr i c e of t he hous e unt i l t he d e f ect s w

e r e c om

pl e t e d. W

e a r e of t he opi ni on t ha t t he y w e r e j u s tif i e dins odoi ng. W e a r e f ur t he r of t he opi ni on a nd f i nd t ha t t he de f e nda nt i s c ha r ge a bl e w i t h not i c e a s of D e c e m be r , 1993, a nd3Mr. Bacon described a french drain as follows: "You dig a ditch ou t away

fromthe house and put the rock in it andthe tile, straw it and putthe dirt back. Youdig from one end to the other and bring the tile back to the top of the ground for the water to drain into." 9 t h a t f r om

D e c e m be r , 1993, unt i l A pr i l , 1994, w

a s a m pl e t i m

e w i t hi n w hi c h t o c or r e c t t he pr obl e m s . R a ym ondK i dd , a lic e n s e d bu ildi ngc o nt r a c t or , c a lle da s a w itne s s b ythe p l a i ntif f te s tif i e dth a t he w a s f a m ilia r w

iththe s t a nda r ds of t he c ons t r uc t i on i ndus t r y i n W a s hi ngt on C

ount y i nthe y ear s 1993 a nd 1994. H e fur t he r te s tif i e dth a t the c o n s t r u c tiono f t he dw e l l i ng w

a s not up t o s t a nda r d.

Mr . D o nBacon , a l i cen s e dg e ne r a l co nt r act or , t e s t i f i e do n b e h a l f o f t he de f e nd a nt . H e t e s t i f i e dt h a t t he r e w e r e de f ect s i n t he hous e but t ha t t he y c oul d be r e pa i r e d a t a m i ni m a l c o s t. A

s to t he w a t e r i n t he ba s e m e nt , he c onc e de d t ha t t he hous e s houl d ha ve dr i e dby t he ti m

e o f the tr i a l. H e s ugge s t e d t ha t t he gr a de of t he l o t s houl d be c ha nge d a s a f i r s t e f f or t t ocor r ect t he w a t e r pr obl e m

a nd i f t ha t w

a s i ns uf f i c i e nt , a " f r e nc h dr a i n" s houl d be i ns t a l l e d a r ound t he hous e . 3

I t is im

p lic it inthe tr i a l c our t ' s f i ndi ngth a t the c o n s t r u c - tio nf e ll b e l o w

the s t a n d a r d s pr e v a ilinginthe a r e a , th a t the t r i a l cour t accr e di t e d t he t e s t i m ony of t he pl a i nt i f f s ' e xpe r t w itne s s , M

r . R a ym ond K i dd. . . . [ O

] n a n i s s ue w

hi c h hi nge s on10

w itne s s c r e di b ility , th e tr i a l c our t w ill n o t be r e ve r s e d unl e s s t he r e i s f ound i n t he r e c or d c l e a r , c onc r e t e , a nd c onvi nc i n g e vi de nc e ot he r t ha n t he or a l t e s t i m ony of w

i t ne s s e s w

hi c h c ont r a - di c t the tr i a l c our t ' s f i ndi ng s . Se e Te nne s s ee V a l l e yK

a o l i n C or p. v. Pe r r y , 526 S . W . 2d 488 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1974) . W

e c onc ur w

i t h t he f i ndi ngs of t he t r i a l c our t t ha t t he c ons t r uc t i on of t he dw e l l i n gf e l l b e l o w accept a b l e s t a nd a r d s . Fur t he r w

e a r e of t he opi ni on t ha t t he e vi de nc e s uppor t s a f i ndi ngt ha t t he de f e nda nt w a s gi ve n a m

pl e t i m

e a nd oppor t uni t y t o c or r ect the pr ob l e m s or a t le a s t toa tte m p t toc or r e c t the pr obl e m

s . "[ I ] ncas e s w

he r e bot h pa r t i e s ha ve not f ul l yp e rfor m e d , i t i s ne c e s s a r y f or t he c our t s t o de t e r m i ne w hi c h pa r t y i s c h a r g eab l e w

i t ht he fi r s t unc ur e dm a t eri a l br e a c h . " M c C l a i n , s upr a , 199. W

e f i nd t ha t t he de f e nda nt br e a c he d t he c ont r a c t a nd t h a t hi s br eachw a s t he f i r s t m

a t e r i a l br each . A ccor di n g l y , w

e f i nd t ha t t he pl a i nt i f f s a r e e nt i t l e d t o r e c ove r da m a ge s f r om

t he de f e nda nt w

hi c h r e s ul t e d f r om t he de f e nda nt ' s br e a c h of c ont r a c t . We fur t h e r f i nd t ha t t he da m a ge s a w

a r de d by t he t r i a l c our t a r e r eas o n a b l e un de r t he ci r c um s t a nces o f t hi s cas e .

Al l i s s u e s ar e r e s o l v e dag a i n s t t he app e l l a nt . The t r i a l c our t is a f f i r m

e dina ll r e s p e c t s . Co s t s a r e ta x e dtothe11

a pp e l l a nt a nd t hi s c a us e i s r e m a nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t f or t he c o lle c tio nthe r e o f .

________________________________ D on T. M

c M ur r a y, J . CONC UR:

_______________________________ H e r s c he l P. Fr a nk s , J .

_______________________________ C ha r l e s D

. Sus a no, J .I N THECOUR TOFAPPEALS

J EFFR EY K EI TH PH I LLI PSa n d) W ASHI NGTON C

I R C UI T J EN N I FER PH I LLI PS , ) C. A . N O . 03A 01- 9509- C

V - 00298 ) ) Pl a i ntif f s - A pp e lle e s ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. G. R I C HAR D J OHNSON ) J UDGE BY I NTER

C HANGE ) ) ) ) ) EU G EN E R U S SELL, ) AFFI R M ED AND R

EM ANDED ) D

e f e nda nt - A

ppe l l a nt )

O RDE R Thi s a ppe a l c a m

e on t o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d fro m t h e C i r c ui t C

our t of W

a s hi ngt on C

ount y, br i e f s a nd a r gum e nt of c ouns e l . U ponc ons i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s C our t i s of t he opi ni on t ha t t he r e w a s no r e ve r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c our t . The tr i a l cour t i s af f i r m e di nal l r e s p ect s . C o s t s ar e t a x e d t ot he a ppe l l a nt a nd t hi s c a us e i s r e m a nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t f or t he c o lle c tio nthe r e o f .13

PER CU RI A M