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

TOFAPPEALS

BR I A N W EI FO R D d/ b/ a ELI TE C

A BLE ) CA

M PBELLCI RCU

I T TELEVI SI ON C

OM PANY, ) C. A . N O . 03A 01- 9510- C

V

- 00367 ) Pl a i ntif f

- A p p e lla nt ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. CONR AD TR OUTM AN ) J UDGE ) ) ) ) ) FI ELD SD EV ELO PM EN T CO . , I N C. , ) AFFI R

M ED AND R

EM ANDED d/ b/ a D

EER FI ELD R ES O R T, ) ) D

e f e n d a nt - A

p p e l l ee )

ANDR EW N. HALL, W

a r t b ur g , f o r Ap p e l l a nt . J O SEPH C. CO K ER , J a c ks bor o, f or A ppe l l e e .

O PI N I O N

Mc Mur r a y , J .2

Thi s i s a n a ppe a l f r om t he j udgm

e nt of t he t r i a l c our t gr a nt i ng t he a ppe l l e e ' s m ot i on f or s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt . W e a f f i r m

t he j udgm e nt of t he t r i a l c our t . The a p p e lla nt f ile dits c o m p l a i nt a lle g i n g th a t th e p a r tie s e nt e r e di nt o a c a bl e t e l e vi s i on c ont r a c t on D e c e m be r 17, 1991. U nde r t h e t e r m

s o f t h e agr eem e nt , t h e app e l l a nt w a s g r a nt e d a ut hor i t ytoin s t a ll, o p e r a t e a n dm a i nt a i nc a b l e te l e v i s i on s e r v i ces i nD

eer f i e l dR

e s o r t w

hi c hw a s be i ng de ve l ope d by t he a p p e l l ee. Th e agr eem e nt w a s f o r ani n i t i a l p e r i o do f f i f t een ye a r s . The a gr e e m e nt , how

e ve r , di d not c ont a i n a pr ovi s i on a s t o wh e nt he i ns t a l l a t i on of t he c a bl e s e r vi c e w oul d be gi n. Be gi nni ng i n J ul y 1992, t he a ppe l l e e be ga n t o c or r e s pond w i t h t he a ppe l l a nt byl e t t e r i nqui r i ng a bout t he be gi nni ng of t he c ons t r uc t i on or pr ovi di ng o f s e r v i ces . N o r e s p o n s e s w

e r e r ecei v e dt o t h e l e t t e r s . Si x t e e nm

o nt h s af t e r ent e r i n g i nt o t h e agr eem e nt t h e r e w

e r e n o vi s i bl e s i gns of t he be gi nni ng of c ons t r uc t i on on t he pr oj e c t . OnM a y 4, 1993, J os e ph G . C oke r , a t t or ne y f or t he a ppe l l e e , s e nt a le tte r toth e a p p e lla nt a s ki n g th e a p p e lla nt to g i v e a w r itte ns t a t e m

e nt o f int e nt top e r f o r m th e c o nt r a c t. H e f ur t h e r s t a t e d t ha t i f s uc h a s t a t e m e nt w a s not f or t hc om

i ng, t he a ppe l l e e w oul dco n s i d e r t h e co nt r act t e r m i n a t e d . Th e r e w

a s n o r e s p o n s e an d t h e ap p e l l ee t e r m i n a t e d t he c o nt r act an dent e r e di nt o a co nt r act w itha n o t h e r e ntity . A p p e lla nt d e n i e s r e c e i v i n g th e le tte r f r o m3

Mr . C oke r . Thi s a ppe a r s t o be t he onl ydi s put e of f a c t i nvol ve d i n t h e case i n s o f a r as w e ar e ab l e t o d e t e r m i n e f r o m

t h e r ecor d . W

e d o n o t d eem

t h i s t o b e a m

a t e r i a l f act u n d e r t h e ci r c u m s t a n ces o f t hi s cas e .

Mr . W e i f o r d , th e a p p e lla nt, fil e dhi s a f f i d a v it inw h i c hh e s t a t e d :

5. Th a t I h a v e m a d e s ub s t a nt i a l ef f or t s , ina r eas o n a b l e a n dtim e l ym a nne r , t o c om

pl y w i t h t he t e r m

s of myco nt r act w

i t hFi e l d s D

e v e l o p m

e nt w h i c hf act s w

e r e m a d e know n t o t he de f e nda nt [ Fi e l ds D e ve l opm

e nt ] i n r e s pons e t oi nt e r r oga t or i e s num be r 11, 12, a nd ( s i c ) 14 a nd 17 a s a t t ach e dh e r e t o an dw h i c har e i n c o r p o r a t e dh e r e i n . Th e a ppe l l a nt ' s a ns w e r s t o t he i nt e r r oga t or i e s m e nt i one d i n t h e a bove a f f i da vi t do not de m ons t r a t e t h a t a ny s ubs t a nt i a l w or k wa s ev e r d o n e t o co n s t r u c t t h e cab l e s e r v i ce. Fr o m t h e s t a t e o f t h e r e c or d, w

hi c h w e f i nd t o be s om

e w ha t be w

i l de r i ng, w

e a r e una bl e t odi s c o v e r a nyv a l i d , le g i t i m a t e , o r le g a l r e a s on a s t o w hy t he a ppe l l a nt ha d f a i l e d t o pe r f or m . I n M c C l a i n v. K

i m br ough C

ons t . C

o . , 806 S . W

. 2d 194 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1990) thi s c o ur t s t a t e d : " . . . w e h a v e r e qu i r e dc o nt r a c tin g p a r tie s t ode a l w

i t h e a c h ot he r f a i r l y a nd i n good f a i t h, e ve n t hough t he s e dut i e s w

e r e n o t e xpl i c i t l y e m bodi e d i nthe i r c o nt r a c t. W illia m s v . M a r e m o nt Co r p . , 776 S . W . 2d 78, 81 ( Te nn. C t . A pp. 1988) ; TS C I ndus . , I n c . v . To m lin , 743 S . W

. 2d169, 173 ( Te nn. C t . A pp. 1987) ;4

C ovi ngt on v. R

obi ns on , 723 S . W

. 2d 643, 645 ( Te nn. C t . A pp. 1986) . W e ha ve a l s o he l d t he e xt e nt of c ont r a c t ua l obl i ga t i ons s houl d be t e m p e r e dby a ' r e a s ona bl e ne s s ' s t a nda r d. " M oor e v. M

oor e , 603 S . W . 2d 736, 739 ( Te nn. C t . A pp. 1980) . The r ul e i s w

e l l e s t a bl i s he d t ha t w he n no de f i ni t e tim e f o r p e r f o r m

a n ce o f a co nt r act i s s p eci f i e d , as i t w a s n o t inthi s c a s e b ye ith e r p a r t yth e la w w ill im p l y a r eas o n a b l e t i m

e u n d e r t h e ci r c u m s t a n ces i nco nt e m p l a - tio nby bot h pa r t i e s a t t he t i m e of f or m

a t i on of t he c o nt r act . U

n i f o r m S a l e s A

c t , S e c t i on 43( 2) , C ode 1932, § 7236( 2) ; Thom

ps on v. W

oodr uf f , 47 Te nn. 401; W i l dbe r g Box Co . v. D

a r by , 143 Te nn. 73, 223 S . W . 855; 46 A

m . J ur . 341, S ect i o n s 164 a nd 165; M e m phi s Fur ni t ur e M f g. C o. v. We m y s s , 6 C

i r . , 2 F. 2d 428, 431. Ca l cas i e uPa pe r C o. I nc . , v. M

e m phi s Pa pe r C

o . , 222 S . W

. 2d 617 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1949) . We a r e pe r s ua de d by a ppl yi ng t he " good f a i t h" a nd"r eas o n a b l e - n e ss" st a n d a r d t o t he unc ont r ove r t e d f a c t s i n t hi s c a s e , t he a p p e l l a nt m

a t e r i a l l yb r eache dt h e co nt r act b yf a i l i ng t o be gi n t he p e rfor m

a n c e o f the c o nt r a c t w i t h i na r e a s o n a b l e ti m e . Fur t he r , w

e f i n dt ha t t he f a i l ur e t o r e s pond t o t he a ppe l l e e ' s i nqui r i e s or c or r e s pondw

i t ht h e app e l l ee g i v e s r i s e t o ani n f e r e n ce t h a t t h e a p p e l l a nt w

a s not de a l i ng i n good f a i t h. W e a r e of t he opi ni on t h a t t he a ppe l l a nt br e a c he d t he c ove na nt of good f a i t h a nd f a i r d eal i n g i m

pl i c i t i n e ve r y c ont r a c t a nd t he r e by br e a c he d t he c o nt r act i n que s t i on . H e , be i ng t he br e a c hi ng pa r t y, c a nnot m a i nt a i nt hi s a c t i on a nd t he a ppe l l e e i s e nt i t l e d t o j udgm e nt a s a m a tte r o f la w

.5

I nr e a c hi ng our c onc l us i on, w e ha ve be e n gui de d by Ca r v e l l v . Bo tto m s , 900 S . W

. 2d 23 ( Te nn. 1995) w he r e i n i t i s s a i d:

Th e s t a nda r ds gove r ni ng a n a ppe l l a t e c our t ' s r e vi e w of a t r i a l c our t ' s a c t i on on a m ot i on f or s um

m a r y j udgm e nt a r e w

e ll s e ttle d . S i n c e o ur i nqui r y i nvol ve s pur e l y a que s t i on of l a w , no pr e s um

pt i on of c or r e c t ne s s a t t a c he s t o t he t r i a l c our t ' s j udgm e nt , a nd our t a s k i s c onf i ne dt o r e vi e w i ng t he r e c or d t o de t e r m i ne w he t he r t he r e qu i r e m

e nt s of Te nn. R. C i v. P. 56 ha ve be e n m e t . C ow de n v. S ovr a nBa nk/ C

e nt r a l S out h , 816 S . W . 2d741, 744 ( Te nn. 1991) . Te nn. R. C i v. P. 56. 03 pr ovi de s t ha t s um m a r y j udgm e nt i s onl y a ppr opr i a t e w he r e : ( 1) t he r e i s no ge nui ne i s s ue w

i t h r e ga r d t o t h e m a t e r i a l f act s r e l e v a nt t ot he c l a i m

or de f e ns e c ont a i ne d i n t he m ot i on, Byr d v. Ha l l , 84 7 S . W

. 2d 208, 210 ( Te nn. 1993) ; a nd ( 2) t he m ovi ng pa r t y i s e nt i t l e d t o a j udgm e nt a s m

a t t e r of l a w ont he undi s put e d f a c t s . A nde r s on v. St a nda r d R e gi s t e r Co . , 857 S . W

. 2d 555, 559 ( Te nn. 1993) . The m ovi ng pa r t y ha s t he bur de nof pr ovi ng t ha t i t s m ot i on s a t i s f i e s th e s e r e qu i r e m

e nt s . D

o w n e nv . A

l l s t a t e I n s . C

o . , 811 S . W

. 2d 523, 524 ( Te nn. 1991) . The s t a nda r ds gove r ni ng t he a s s e s s m e nt of e vi de nc e i nt he s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt c ont e xt a r e al s o w e ll e s t a b

l i s he d. C

our t s m

us t vi e w

t he e vi de nc e i n t he l i ght m os t f a vor a bl e t o t he nonm ovi ng pa r t y a nd m us t a l s o dr a w

a l l r eas o n a b l e i nf e r e nc e s i n t he nonm ovi ng pa r t y' s f a vor . Byr d , 847 S . W

. 2da t 210- 11. C

our t s s houl d gr a nt a s u mma r y j udgm e nt onl y w

he n bot h t he f a c t s a nd t he c onc l us i ons to be dr a w

nf r o m t h e f act s p e r m

i t a r eas o n a b l e p e r s o n t o r e a c h onl y one c onc l us i on.

A ppl yi ng t hi s s t a nda r d of r e vi e w , w e a r e of t he opi ni on t ha t t he s um

m a r y j udgm

e nt w a s pr ope r l y gr a nt e d. The r e w e r e no ge nui ne i ssu e s o f m

a t e r i a l f act an dt h e app e l l ee w a s an di s e n title dto j u d g m e nt as a m

a t t e r o f l a w

.6

We a f f i r m

th e ju d g m

e nt o f th e tr i a l c o ur t ina ll r e s p e c t s . Co s t s o f t h i s app eal ar e t a x e dt o t h e app e l l a nt an dt h i s cas e i s r e m a nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t .

______________________________ D on T. M

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

___________________________________ H ous t on M

. G odda r d, Pr e s i di ng J udge

___________________________________ C h a r l e s D

. Su s a n o , J r ., J .I N THECOUR TOFAPPEALS

BR I A N W EI FO R D d/ b/ a ELI TE C

A BLE ) CA

M PBELLCI RCU

I T TELEVI SI ON C

OM PANY, ) C. A . N O . 03A 01- 9510- C

V

- 00367 ) Pl a i ntif f

- A p p e lla nt ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. CONR AD TR OUTM AN ) J UDGE ) ) ) ) ) FI ELD SD EV ELO PM EN T CO . , I N C. , ) AFFI R

M ED AND R

EM ANDED d/ b/ a D

EER FI ELD R ES O R T, ) ) D

e f e n d a nt - A

p p e l l ee )

O RDE R Thi s a ppe a l cam

e o nt o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d f r om t he C i r c u i t C

our t of Ca m

pbe l l C

ount y a nd br i e f s f i l e don be ha l f of t he r e s pe c t i ve pa r t i e s . U pon c ons i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s C our t i s of t h e opi ni on t ha t t h e r e w a s n o r e v e r s i b l e er r o r i nth e tr i a l c o ur t . We a f f i r m

th e ju d g m

e nt o f th e tr i a l c o ur t ina ll r e s p e c t s . Co s t s o f t h i s app eal ar e t a x e dt o t h e app e l l a nt an dt h i s cas e i s r e m a nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t . PER CU RI A M8