Court Opinion

ID: 4262743
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-10 21:48:00.315757+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:06.752735
License: Public Domain

04/10/2018
               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                           AT NASHVILLE
                               March 28, 2018 Session

     LASCASSAS LAND COMPANY, LLC v. JIMMY E. ALLEN, ET AL.

              Appeal from the Chancery Court for Rutherford County
                No. 15CV-1008     Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr., Judge

                           No. M2017-01400-COA-R3-CV

This appeal involves a dispute between two limited liability companies (and an individual
with an interest in both companies) over four lots in a residential subdivision. After a
two-day bench trial, the trial court awarded the plaintiff-company $116,151.87 in
proceeds from the sale of lots that were originally owned by the plaintiff. However, the
trial court ruled that the defendant-company was entitled to recover $512,795.07 for the
amount it expended constructing homes on those lots. The plaintiff-company has
appealed, challenging numerous rulings made by the trial court. For the following
reasons, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.

 Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court Affirmed
                     in part, Reversed in part and Remanded

BRANDON O. GIBSON, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which ARNOLD B.
GOLDIN, and KENNY ARMSTRONG, JJ., joined.

Matthew Robert Zenner and Malcolm Leonard McCune, Brentwood, Tennessee, for the
appellant, Lascassas Land Company, LLC.

Terry A. Fann, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the appellee, A & R. Land Investments,
LLC.

Gilbert Wayne McCarter, II, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the appellee, Jimmy E. Allen.

                                       OPINION

                          I. FACTS & PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        Lascassas Land Company, LLC, was formed in 2000 to own and develop real
estate lots in Farmington Subdivision in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The subdivision was
originally platted for 183 lots. By 2015, Lascassas had only four of those subdivision lots
remaining for sale, and Lascassas also owned one 14-acre parcel of property. Lascassas
had only one debt – a promissory note to a local bank with a remaining balance of
approximately $23,600. The three members of the LLC, at this time, were Percy
Dempsey, Joseph Boone, and Jimmy Allen. The relationship among the three members
had deteriorated to the point that they were involved in several lawsuits regarding other
matters and business entities.

        Percy Dempsey served as the chief manager or managing member of Lascassas,
and he was the only member with general authorization to execute deeds and other
instruments pertaining to the business of the LLC. Dempsey and his administrative
assistant handled the accounting work for Lascassas. In June 2014, the aforementioned
promissory note matured, and Lascassas stopped receiving monthly statements from the
local bank regarding the promissory note. Dempsey contacted the bank to inquire about
the status of the note and learned that Jimmy Allen had purchased the note from the bank
for roughly $23,800.1 However, Allen never contacted Dempsey or Boone to inform
them that he had purchased the note or to discuss payment terms.

       In mid-May 2015, Dempsey arranged for someone to mow the grass on the four
vacant subdivision lots owned by Lascassas. Shortly thereafter, the individual contacted
Dempsey and informed him that houses were being constructed on two of the four lots.
Dempsey contacted the attorney who Lascassas used for real estate closings, and upon
investigation, he discovered that the four lots had recently been conveyed by quitclaim
deed, on April 16, 2015. The quitclaim deed purportedly conveyed the four lots from
Lascassas to A&R Land Investments, LLC. Allen had signed the quitclaim deed on
behalf of the grantor, Lascassas. Allen was also one-half owner of the grantee, A&R
Land Investments, LLC.

        Lascassas instituted the present litigation on July 10, 2015, with the filing of a
complaint against Allen and A&R. The complaint alleged that Allen had conveyed the
four lots to A&R without the knowledge or authorization of Lascassas. The complaint
alleged that Allen breached his fiduciary duties to Lascassas and converted the lots to the
detriment of Lascassas. It asked the trial court to declare the quitclaim deed null and
void, or in the alternative, to grant Lascassas a judgment for the value of the lots.
Lascassas also sought an award of punitive damages. In addition, Lascassas filed notice
of a lien lis pendens claiming rightful ownership of the four lots.2

1
  During his deposition, Allen testified that he had to satisfy the promissory note in order to remain a
board member at the bank due to an impending merger. He said, “One of the criteria was that had to be
satisfied before I could be approved.”
2
  “An abstract of lien lis pendens (‘suit pending’) is a notice filed in the register’s office in the county of
suit to warn all persons that the title to the property is at issue in the litigation.” Neal v. Barone, No.
                                                       2
        When the complaint was filed on July 10, 2015, the two homes being constructed
by A&R were nearly sixty percent complete. A&R proceeded with construction despite
the filing of the complaint and the lien lis pendens. A&R filed a motion to release the
lien lis pendens in order to enable it to place the homes on the market for sale
unencumbered. Lascassas opposed the motion and also filed an amended complaint
seeking the imposition of a constructive trust over the properties and any profits derived
from them.

       While the litigation was pending, the parties agreed to obtain an appraisal of the
four lots. Lots 99 and 100, which remained vacant and needed significant site work, were
valued at $25,000 each. Lots 109 and 110 were valued at $48,000 each.

       The parties attended mediation and reached a partial settlement agreement. An
agreed order was entered on May 13, 2016. It provided that A&R would convey the two
vacant lots, Lots 99 and 100, back to Lascassas. The agreed order further provided:

              Lots 109 and 110 have been improved by the construction of homes.
       There are contracts for the sale of these homes, which are to close at the
       end of May 2016 if [Lascassas] will release their Lien Lis Pendens.
       Therefore, [Lascassas] agree[s] to release the Lien Lis Pendens upon being
       presented with a Good Faith Estimate of Closing Cost, which they approve,
       on the condition that all proceeds that exceed the approved Good Faith
       Estimate are paid by the closing agent into this court.
              ....
       []     The parties will then have the right to litigate all issues that are a
       subject to [sic] this lawsuit and these proceeds at a later time.

After the filing of this agreed order, A&R tendered the proceeds from the sales of the
homes to the clerk of the court. Lot 109 sold for $331,000, and Lot 110 sold for
$357,900. The net proceeds from the sale of Lot 109 totaled $312,949.56, and the net
proceeds from the sale of Lot 110 totaled $339,667.95. Thus, a total of $652,617.51 was
deposited with the clerk.

      A&R then filed a motion for payment of its construction expenses. According to
A&R, the only amounts deducted from the sale proceeds prior to the tender to the clerk
were for real estate commissions and closing costs. A&R asserted that it spent
$242,816.52 constructing the house on Lot 109 and $269,978.55 constructing the house
on Lot 110. Accordingly, A&R sought an order directing the clerk to pay A&R a total of
$512,795.07 for its construction costs from the sale proceeds.

E2009-02598-COA-R9-CV, 2010 WL 4024973, at *1 n.2 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 13, 2010).
                                            3
       Lascassas filed a response to the motion for payment of construction costs
asserting that it was the rightful owner of the lots on which the homes were constructed
and the sale proceeds. Lascassas noted that A&R had not asserted any type of legal claim
as the basis for its motion for reimbursement of its construction costs. Lascassas argued
that A&R’s only conceivable claim would be one for an equitable remedy such as unjust
enrichment, and Lascassas argued that A&R would be barred from such an equitable
remedy in light of its unclean hands.

       A&R then filed a motion to amend its answer and to assert a counterclaim for
unjust enrichment. The motion was granted, and A&R filed a counterclaim asserting that
Lascassas would be unjustly enriched if it was permitted to retain all of the proceeds from
the sales of the homes without paying A&R for the costs of construction. A&R sought a
judgment against Lascassas for the costs of construction. Lascassas filed an answer to
the counterclaim, maintaining that the unauthorized quitclaim deed to A&R was void and
that A&R constructed the homes at its own peril, with full knowledge that it was not the
rightful owner of the lots and in the position of a trespasser. Lascassas asserted that A&R
was barred from the equitable remedy of unjust enrichment under the doctrine of unclean
hands.

       The trial court held a two-day bench trial in February 2017. The only three
witnesses to testify at trial were Percy Dempsey and Joseph Boone, as members of
Lascassas, and Ryan Church, the other one-half owner of A&R. The deposition of
Jimmy Allen was entered as an exhibit. During his deposition, Allen testified that when
he purchased the promissory note for the debt Lascassas owed to the local bank, “in [his]
mind,” that entitled him to “ownership” of the four lots owned by Lascassas.3 Allen’s
attorney had prepared the quitclaim deed conveying the lots to A&R in accordance with
Allen’s representation to his attorney that he had authority to convey the lots for or on
behalf of Lascassas. Allen acknowledged that no money changed hands when he
executed the quitclaim deed conveying the four lots from Lascassas to A&R. However,
Allen and the other owner of A&R, Ryan Church, had discussed a price for the four lots
and agreed that A&R would pay $105,000 to Allen. Allen testified that this sum was
“owed to me” by A&R because he was the one who contributed the lots. Allen testified
that the intent was for A&R to “keep the profits.” When asked what Lascassas got out of
the deal, Allen responded, “They didn’t take anything because I bought the note, and
that’s what - - that’s what produced the quitclaim.” Allen later suggested that Lascassas
did benefit from the transaction in the sense that it was no longer obligated to the bank
for the amount of the promissory note. Counsel for Lascassas asked Allen to clarify
whether he took ownership of lots that he himself valued at $105,000 in exchange for
3
 The original promissory note owed to the bank was entered as an exhibit at trial, and it described the
collateral as “real property known as Lots 92, 110, 112 and 119 Farmington.” The four lots at issue in
this litigation were Lots 99, 100, 109, and 110.
                                                   4
purchasing a promissory note valued at much less, to which Allen responded, “if they
would have asked me, I would have been glad to pay them the difference between the
value and the note.”

        Ryan Church, the other member of A&R, similarly testified at trial that there were
“no payments made whatsoever” as a result of the quitclaim deed transferring the four
lots from Lascassas to A&R. Church testified that after the execution of the quitclaim
deed, he made a notation “on the books” of A&R that $105,000 was due to Allen.
Church testified that A&R had been involved with constructing homes on three other lots
in Farmington subdivision, and in each of the three previous instances, A&R paid Allen
for the value of the lots after the homes were constructed and sold.4 Church testified that
when Allen approached him about developing the lots at issue in this litigation, he
followed the same process, at least from his perspective. Allen told him that he “had lots
available” for development, and they agreed to begin construction on two of them.
Church entered on the books a payable to Allen for each of the lots. He testified that he
and Allen agreed on a price of $35,000 for each of the two lots they decided to develop
and $17,500 for each of the lots that remained vacant. Church confirmed that once the
two houses were sold, “$70,000 would go in the pocket of Jimmy Allen to repay him for
the lots[.]” In other words, Church said that A&R intended to pay for the lots, but the
person it intended to pay was Allen. Any profit remaining after the sale would be split
between Church and Allen.

       Church testified that he did not look at the deeds or attend the closings. When he
learned about the lawsuit filed by Lascassas, he discussed the situation with Allen, and
Allen told him that he was entitled to do what he did with the lots because he “bought a
note” from the local bank and was owed money. Church accepted Allen’s explanation
and did not attempt to verify whether he was authorized to convey the lots on behalf of
Lascassas. Church said he had no communication with Lascassas and did not obtain
permission to continue building the houses after receiving notice of the lawsuit.

      Dempsey and Boone testified about their roles with Lascassas and their dealings
with Allen. They acknowledged the litigation and financial problems surrounding other
business entities of which the three men were members. However, Dempsey, the
managing member of Lascassas, testified that Lascassas was well capitalized and had
more than sufficient assets to satisfy its only remaining debt of approximately $23,600.
Dempsey discussed various provisions of the operating agreement of Lascassas to
demonstrate that Allen was not authorized to convey the lots owned by Lascassas.
Dempsey conceded that Lascassas suffered no damages as a result of the conveyance of
Lots 99 and 100 because those lots were reconveyed to Lascassas. As for Lots 109 and
4
 Only one of the three lots previously developed by A&R was conveyed by a deed directly from
Lascassas to A&R. That deed was signed by Dempsey on behalf of Lascassas as its managing member.
                                                5
110, however, Dempsey said, “We believe that we’re entitled to the proceeds from the
sale of our property, period.”

       The trial court entered its final order on June 23, 2017. The court made numerous
factual findings at the outset. The trial court found that Allen quitclaimed the four
Farmington subdivision lots from Lascassas to A&R, signing the deed purportedly as a
representative of the grantor, Lascassas. The trial court found that no vote was conducted
by the members of Lascassas and that “Allen had no authority to sign the Quitclaim deed
on behalf of Lascassas.” The trial court further found that Allen understood, at the time
he executed the quitclaim deed, that only the chief manager, Dempsey, had authority to
execute deeds on behalf of Lascassas. The court found that Allen did not give Dempsey
or Boone notice that he intended to transfer the lots and that the deed purporting to
convey the four lots “was made without the knowledge of Lascassas or its other
members.” At the same time, however, the trial court found that “[d]ue to pre[viou]s
dealings be[t]ween the entities, it was understood [b]etween Lascassas and A&R that
paym[e]nt for the lots would be made [wh]en construc[tion] was completed and [the]
homes sold.” The trial court found that the transaction “was recorded as a $105,000
payable to Allen on A&R’s books.” (Emphasis added.) The court found that “[t]he intent
of the transaction was that A&R would build on the lots and Church and Allen, as the
members of A&R, would split the profits.”

       In the section of the order entitled “Conclusions of Law,” the trial court first found
that the quitclaim deed executed by Allen “was a valid transfer of title to A&R.”5 As
such, the court concluded that the titles to Lots 109 and 110 were validly transferred to
the new owners of the properties, and Lots 99 and 100 were transferred back to
Lascassas.

       Next, the trial court found that “Allen breached no fiduciary duty because no
meaningful fiduciary relationship existed between the members of Lascassas at the time
of the transfer.” The trial court quoted Tennessee Code Annotated section 48-240-
102(a)-(b), which states:

        (a) Fiduciary Duty of Members of Member-Managed LLC. Except as
        provided in the articles or operating agreement, every member of a
        member-managed LLC must account to the LLC for any benefit, and hold
        as trustee for it any profits derived by the member without the consent of
        the other members from any transaction connected with the formation,

5
 The trial court also found that the last four lots owned by Lascassas “secured the one remaining debt of
Lascassas, the note payable to Jimmy Allen.” This finding is not consistent with the description of the
collateral on the promissory note itself. But in any event, the trial court concluded that “[t]itle was
foreclosed outside of the deed of trust and did not pass by way of foreclosure.”
                                                      6
       conduct, or liquidation of the LLC or from any use by the member of its
       property including, but not limited to, confidential or proprietary
       information of the LLC or other matters entrusted to the member as a result
       of such person’s status as a member.

       (b) Standard of Conduct. A member of a member-managed LLC shall
       discharge such member’s duties as a member, including all duties as a
       member of a committee:

       (1) In good faith;

       (2) With the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would
       exercise under similar circumstances; and

       (3) In a manner the member reasonably believes to be in the best interest of
       the LLC.

With regard to this statute, the trial court found that “Allen’s actions were in good faith,
were done with the care of an ordinarily prudent person in similar circumstances, and
were in the best interest of the LLC and in line with previous actions of the LLCs
involved.” As a result, the court concluded that Allen breached no fiduciary duty to
Lascassas. Again, however, the court added that “the members’ fiduciary duty to one
another – if there was one at some time – had been effectively destroyed by their failure
to act in the best interest of the LLC.”

        The trial court also considered but rejected the request by Lascassas for a
constructive trust. The trial court found no basis for imposing a constructive trust
because “Allen’s actions were not done with the intent to defraud, but were rather in the
best interest of Lascassas,” and did not breach any fiduciary duty owed to Lascassas. The
trial court dismissed the claim for punitive damages, concluding that the actions of Allen
and A&R did not rise to the level necessary for the imposition of punitive damages or
“shock the conscience.”

        In summary, the trial court explained its ultimate decision and award of damages
as follows:

       16. Upon consideration of the proof, the Court finds that this is a de jure
       derivative action brought by Percy Dempsey on behalf of Lascassas Land
       Company, LLC.

       17. The Court finds that the Plaintiff's request for a total amount of
                                             7
       $652,617.51 is untenable and inequitable in this case. However, Lascassas
       is entitled to damages based upon the efforts of Percy Dempsey as
       Managing Director of Lascassas in filing this action.

       18. The Court finds the following damages to be proper and equitable
       considering the proof:

       > A&R will be awarded its constructions costs of the single-family homes
       built upon Lots 109 and 110 in the amount of $512,795.07, payable to A&R
       ....

       > Lascassas has suffered no damages to the transfer of Lots 99 and 100 to
       A&R and the subsequent transfer back to L[a]scassas f[ol]lowing
       mediation.

       > Jimmy Allen is awarded $23,670.57, which represents the amount he paid
       for the promissory note held by [the] Bank.

       > Lascassas is awarded the balance held by the Clerk of $116,151.87.

Lascassas timely filed a notice of appeal to this Court.

                                  II. ISSUES PRESENTED

        On appeal, Lascassas presents the following issues, which we have restated
slightly, for review on appeal:

       1.     Did the trial court err in ruling that the quitclaim deed executed by
              Allen was a valid transfer of title to A&R rather than a voidable
              transaction;

       2.     Did the trial court err in finding that Allen did not breach his
              fiduciary duty to Lascassas by engaging in an undisclosed self-
              dealing transaction;

       3.     Did the trial court err in failing impose a constructive trust in favor
              of Lascassas on the proceeds from the sale of Lots 109 and 110;

       4.     Did the trial court err in dismissing the claim for punitive damages
              against Allen;

                                             8
        5.      Did the trial court err in awarding $512,795.07 to A&R for its
                construction costs;

        6.      Did the trial court err in awarding $23,670.57 to Allen, representing
                the amount he paid for the promissory note, when Allen never
                asserted a counterclaim.

For the following reasons, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further
proceedings.

                                    III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

        “When reviewing a trial court’s findings following a bench trial, this Court
reviews the record de novo and presumes that the trial court’s findings of fact are correct
unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise.” M & M Elec. Contractor, Inc. v.
Cumberland Elec. Membership Corp., 529 S.W.3d 413, 422 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016)
(citing Nashville Ford Tractor, Inc. v. Great Am. Ins. Co., 194 S.W.3d 415, 424 (Tenn.
Ct. App. 2005)). However, we review a trial court’s legal conclusions without a
presumption of correctness. Id.

                                           IV. DISCUSSION

          A.    Breach of Fiduciary Duty and the Limited Liability Company Act

       We find it appropriate to begin with the issue of whether Allen breached his
fiduciary duty to Lascassas by conveying the four lots to A&R. This issue requires us to
examine the Tennessee Limited Liability Company Act, Tennessee Code Annotated
section 48-201-101, et seq.6

       It is important to note, at the outset, that a member of an LLC “has no interest in
specific LLC property.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-215-101(a). Rather, “[a]ll property
transferred to or acquired by an LLC is property of the LLC itself.” Id. The LLC has an
existence separate from its members and managers. Collier v. Greenbrier Developers,
6
 We note that the Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-249-101, et
seq., “made extensive revisions to the operation of LLCs in Tennessee and became effective on January 1,
2006.” Bridgeforth v. Jones, No. M2013-01500-COA-R3-CV, 2015 WL 336376, at *24 n.18 (Tenn. Ct.
App. Jan. 26, 2015). The revised Act applies to all LLCs formed after January 1, 2006, and to LLCs
formed prior to that date if they expressly choose to be governed by the revised Act. Id. (citing Tenn.
Code Ann. § 48-249-1002(b)). Lascassas Land Company, LLC, was formed in 2000, and there is nothing
in the record to indicate that it has expressly elected to be governed by the revised Act. The parties rely
on provisions of the original LLC Act in their briefs on appeal. Accordingly, we have applied the original
LLC Act in this opinion.
                                                       9
LLC, 358 S.W.3d 195, 200 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2009). Tennessee Code Annotated section
48-238-103 addresses the issue of agency for members in a member-managed LLC:

       (a) Unless the articles otherwise provide, if an LLC is member-managed,
       every member is an agent of the LLC for the purpose of its business, and
       the act of every member, including the execution in the LLC name of any
       instrument, for apparently carrying on in the usual way the business of the
       LLC of which such member is a member, binds the LLC, unless the
       member so acting has in fact no authority to act for the LLC in the
       particular matter, and the person with whom the member is dealing has
       knowledge of the fact that the member has no such authority.

(Emphasis added.) Although the trial court in this case did not mention this statute, the
court made several findings that aid us in applying it. After discussing the Lascassas
operating agreement in depth, the trial court concluded that “Allen had no authority to
sign the Quitclaim deed on behalf of Lascassas.” The trial court further found, “At the
time he executed the Quitclaim Deed from Lascassas to A&R, Allen understood that only
the Chief Manager (Dempsey) had authority to execute deeds on behalf of Lascassas[.]”
These findings are amply supported by the record. Pursuant to the aforementioned
statute, the action of a member is not binding on the LLC if “the member so acting has in
fact no authority to act for the LLC in the particular matter, and the person with whom
the member is dealing has knowledge of the fact that the member has no such authority.”
Id. Allen did not in fact have authority to act for the LLC in the particular matter at issue,
and because Allen was simultaneously acting as the agent for A&R in the transaction,
A&R necessarily had knowledge of the fact that the transacting member of Lascassas had
no authority. As a result, Allen’s unauthorized actions did not bind the LLC under the
circumstances of this case.

       The LLC Act also addresses the fiduciary duty owed by members of an LLC and
the standard of conduct that applies to the discharge of the members’ duties:

       (a) Fiduciary Duty of Members of Member-Managed LLC. Except as
       provided in the articles or operating agreement, every member of a
       member-managed LLC must account to the LLC for any benefit, and hold
       as trustee for it any profits derived by the member without the consent of
       the other members from any transaction connected with the formation,
       conduct, or liquidation of the LLC or from any use by the member of its
       property including, but not limited to, confidential or proprietary
       information of the LLC or other matters entrusted to the member as a result
       of such person’s status as a member.

                                             10
        (b) Standard of Conduct. A member of a member-managed LLC shall
        discharge such member’s duties as a member, including all duties as a
        member of a committee:

        (1) In good faith;

        (2) With the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would
        exercise under similar circumstances; and

        (3) In a manner the member reasonably believes to be in the best interest of
        the LLC.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-240-102. Quoting this statute in its final order, the trial court
found that “Allen breached no fiduciary duty because no meaningful fiduciary
relationship existed between the members of Lascassas at the time of the transfer.”
Noting that the three men were involved in a myriad of lawsuits, the trial court concluded
that they “lacked any semblance of a fiduciary, trusting relationship.” It concluded that
“the members’ fiduciary duty to one another -- if there was one at some time -- had been
effectively destroyed by their failure to act in the best interest of the LLC.” In sum, the
trial court found that “no fiduciary relationship existed at the time of the transfer due to
the history and nature of the parties’ interactions prior to the transfer.”

       The trial court cited no authority for its conclusion that the fiduciary duty the LLC
members owed to the LLC could be extinguished by the members’ conduct or
disagreements, and we have found none. Tennessee Code Annotated section 48-240-
102(a) provides for a “statutory fiduciary duty.” Raleigh Commons, Inc. v. SWH, LLC,
No. W2011-01298-COA-R3-CV, 2013 WL 3329016, at *20 n.6 (Tenn. Ct. App. June 28,
2013). “The statute in question defines the fiduciary duty of members of a member-
managed LLC as one owing to the LLC, not to individual members.”7 McGee v. Best,
106 S.W.3d 48, 64 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). Specifically, Tennessee Code Annotated
section 48-240-102(a) provides that a member of a member-managed LLC has a
fiduciary duty to “‘account to the LLC for any benefit, and hold as trustee for it any
profits derived by the member without the consent of the other members from any
transaction connected with the . . . conduct . . . of the LLC.” Commissioners of Powell-
Clinch Util. Dist. v. Util. Mgmt. Review Bd., 427 S.W.3d 375, 388 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013)

7
 We note that under the revised LLC Act, mentioned above, “members of a member-managed LLC do
owe fiduciary duties to each other, specifically the duties of loyalty and care.” Bridgeforth, 2015 WL
336376, at *26 (citing Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-249-403(a)-(c)). This Court has also recognized that “a
majority shareholder of an LLC stands in a fiduciary relationship to the minority[.]” Anderson v. Wilder,
No. E2003-00460-COA-R3-CV, 2003 WL 22768666, at *6 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 21, 2003). However,
the revised Act does not apply to Lascassas, and this case does not involve a majority shareholder.
                                                    11
(quoting Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-240-102(a)). Allen breached this fiduciary duty by
conveying the four lots owned by Lascassas to another LLC, of which he owned one-half,
for no consideration, without notice to the other members of Lascassas, and with full
knowledge of the fact that he lacked authority to execute the deed on behalf of Lascassas.

        We simply cannot agree with the trial court’s conclusion that “Allen’s actions
were in good faith, were done with the care of an ordinarily prudent person in similar
circumstances, and were in the best interest of the LLC and in line with previous actions
of the LLCs involved.” The trial court made specific factual findings that do not support
these conclusions. The court found that Allen had attempted to purchase the same four
lots from Lascassas less than a year earlier, through another LLC, without informing the
other members of Lascassas that he was a member of the LLC proposing to buy the lots.
Allen admitted that he did not inform Dempsey or Boone of his one-half interest in that
LLC because he thought they would not agree to the sale if they knew of his
involvement.

        The trial court found that Allen later executed the quitclaim deed conveying the
lots to A&R, signing the deed as a representative of Lascassas, even though he knew that
only the chief manager, Dempsey, had authority to execute deeds on behalf of Lascassas.
The trial court found that “Allen had no authority to sign the Quitclaim deed on behalf of
Lascassas.” It found that the “intent of the transaction was that A&R would build on the
lots and Church and Allen, as the members of A&R, would split the profits.” The court
found that Allen did not give Dempsey or Boone notice that he intended to transfer the
lots and that the deed purporting to convey the four lots “was made without the
knowledge of Lascassas or its other members.” However, the trial court found that
“[d]ue to pre[viou]s dealings be[t]ween the entities, it was understood [b]etween
Lascassas and A&R that paym[e]nt for the lots would be made [wh]en construc[tion] was
completed and [the] homes sold.” We simply cannot determine how “it was understood
[b]etween Lascassas and A&R” that payment for the lots would be made upon
completion of construction when the conveyance was made “without the knowledge of
Lascassas or its other members.” More importantly, the trial testimony established that
A&R intended to pay Allen upon completion of construction, not Lascassas. Church
confirmed this at the conclusion of his testimony:

      Q. To be clear, A&R intended to pay for these lots, but the person they
      intended to pay was Jimmy Allen?

      A. Correct.

As the trial court correctly noted, the transaction was recorded on the books of A&R “as
a $105,000 payable to Allen.” (Emphasis added.) Allen never testified that he intended to
                                           12
pay that $105,000 to Lascassas. To the contrary, Allen testified that, in his mind, he was
entitled to “ownership” of the four lots because he had purchased the promissory note.
He testified that he and Church agreed to a purchase price of $105,000, and that this
amount was “owed to me.” The following exchange occurred during his deposition:

      Q. And at that point, because you were the one that contributed it, in your
      mind A&R owed you $105,000, correct?

      A. Yes.

      Q. What did Lascassas take out of this?

      A. They didn't take anything because I bought the note, and that’s what –
      that’s what produced the quitclaim.

(Emphasis added.) Allen later testified that Lascassas benefitted in the sense that it no
longer owed any money to the bank. He also suggested, when pressed, that he “would
have been glad to pay [Lascassas] the difference” between the value of the four lots and
the promissory note “if they would have asked me.” (Emphasis added.) However, this
testimony confirms that Allen had no intention of unilaterally paying Lascassas for the
value of the lots or accounting to the LLC for the benefit he received. Having concluded
that Allen breached his fiduciary duty to Lascassas and that the unauthorized transaction
was not binding on Lascassas, we turn now to the appropriate remedy.

                                B.   Available Remedies

      The LLC Act specifically addresses ultra vires acts and how the validity of an
LLC’s action may be challenged on the ground that the LLC lacked the power to act:

      (a) Limit on Power to Challenge. Except as provided in subsection (b), the
      validity of an LLC’s action may not be challenged on the ground that the
      LLC lacks or lacked the power to act.

      (b) Challenge of Power. An LLC’s power to act may be challenged in a
      proceeding by:

      (1) A member against the LLC to enjoin the act;

      (2) The LLC, directly, derivatively, or through a receiver, trustee, or other
      legal representative, against an incumbent or former governor (if board-
      managed), manager, employee, or agent of the LLC; or
                                           13
       (3) The attorney general and reporter under § 48-245-902.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-213-101 (emphasis added). Here, Lascassas filed this lawsuit
seeking to have the quitclaim deed executed by Allen, purportedly on behalf of
Lascassas, declared null and void, or in the alternative, seeking a judgment against Allen
and A&R for the value of the lots. Through amended complaints, Lascassas also
requested the imposition of a constructive trust over the wrongfully transferred property
and all profits derived from the property. Lascassas also filed a notice of lien lis pendens.

       During the litigation, however, the parties attended mediation and reached a partial
settlement agreement. Pursuant to an agreed order, A&R conveyed the two vacant lots
back to Lascassas, and Lascassas agreed to release its lien lis pendens to allow the other
two lots, containing homes constructed by A&R, to be sold to homeowners, on the
condition that the proceeds would be deposited with the court. The agreed order
provided that the parties would have the right to litigate “all issues” at a later date.
Despite these conveyances, on appeal, Lascassas maintains that the quitclaim deed from
Lascassas to A&R should be found void or voidable.

        At oral argument before this Court, counsel for Lascassas was questioned as to
why it continues to seek a ruling from this Court finding the quitclaim deed void when
two of the lots have already been conveyed from A&R back to Lascassas, and the other
two lots were conveyed from A&R to third party homebuyers. Lascassas conceded that it
was not damaged by the conveyance and return of the two vacant lots. Lascassas also
conceded that the homeowners were bona fide purchasers of the properties and that it had
no desire to impact the valid transfers of title to those homeowners. Instead, Lascassas
asked this Court to find the quitclaim deed void “as between us,” meaning, the parties to
this litigation. Lascassas suggested that the parties to this litigation could continue to
dispute the propriety of the transaction in spite of the agreed order. According to
Lascassas, declaring the quitclaim deed void would mean that Lascassas owned the lots at
the time of transfer and was entitled to the proceeds from the sale of the two lots.

       While we agree that the parties can continue to litigate the propriety of the
conveyance in this appeal, we disagree with the suggestion that it would be necessary or
appropriate to declare the quitclaim deed void under the circumstances of this case. In
our view, Lascassas waived any right to have the quitclaim deed declared null and void
by entering into the agreed order removing its lien lis pendens and allowing A&R to
convey two of the lots back to Lascassas and two of the lots to homeowners on the
condition that the proceeds would be tendered to the clerk. However, this does not mean
that Lascassas is left without a remedy. It also sought the imposition of a constructive
trust on the wrongfully transferred properties and/or the proceeds from the sales of those
                                             14
properties. We now examine that issue.

       A constructive trust is an equitable remedy implied by law from the acts and
conduct of the parties and the facts and circumstances surrounding the transaction out of
which it arises. Bank of Nashville v. Chipman, No. M2010-01581-COA-R3-CV, 2011
WL 3433012, at *7 (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 5, 2011) (citing Story v. Lanier, 166 S.W.3d
167, 184 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004)). Constructive trusts are so called because they are
constructed in order to satisfy the demands of justice. Tanner v. Tanner, 698 S.W.2d
342, 345 (Tenn. 1985).

       “A constructive trust is one that arises contrary to intention . . . against one
       who by fraud, actual or constructive, by duress or abuse of confidence, by
       commission of wrong, or by any form of unconscionable conduct, artifice,
       concealment, or questionable means, or who in any way against equity and
       good conscience, either has obtained or holds the legal title to property
       which he ought not, in equity and good conscience hold and enjoy.”

Logan v. Estate of Cannon, No. E2015-02254-COA-R3-CV, 2016 WL 5344526, at *15
(Tenn. Ct. App. Sept. 23, 2016) (quoting Livesay v. Keaton, 611 S.W.2d 581, 584 (Tenn.
Ct. App. 1980)). “Under the doctrine of constructive trusts, it is not necessary to prove
actual fraud[.]” Tanner, 698 S.W.2d at 346. “‘When property has been acquired in such
circumstances that the holder of the legal title may not in good conscience retain the
beneficial interest[,] equity converts him into a trustee.’” Holt v. Holt, 995 S.W.2d 68, 71
(Tenn. 1999) (quoting Beatty v. Guggenheim Exploration Co., 225 N.Y. 380, 122 N.E.
378, 380-81 (1919)).

       [A] constructive trust may be imposed where, for example, a person (1)
       obtains legal title to property in violation of some duty owed the owner of
       the property; (2) obtains title to property by fraud, duress, or other
       inequitable means; (3) makes use of a confidential relationship or undue
       influence to obtain title to property upon more advantageous terms than
       would otherwise have been obtained; or (4) obtains property with notice
       that someone else is entitled to the property’s benefits.

Stewart v. Sewell, 215 S.W.3d 815, 826 (Tenn. 2007). The plaintiff bears the burden of
establishing the existence of a constructive trust by clear and convincing evidence. Bank
of Nashville, 2011 WL 3433012, at *7.

        The case before us implicates two of the examples listed above. A&R obtained
legal title to property as a result of its agent’s violation of his fiduciary duty to Lascassas
and through inequitable means, paying no compensation to Lascassas for the lots.
                                              15
Thereafter, A&R held legal title to the properties, but it “ought not, in equity and good
conscience” retain the beneficial interest. Logan, 2016 WL 5344526, at *15. The trial
court considered the request by Lascasssas for imposition of a constructive trust but
rejected its request with the following explanation:

       The Court finds that because Jimmy Allen’s actions were not done with the
       intent to defraud, but were rather in the best interest of Lascassas,
       imposition of a constructive trust is improper. As already noted, Jimmy
       Allen breached no fiduciary duty to Lascassas, and no meaningful fiduciary
       duty existed between its members, therefore, there is no basis in this case
       for the imposition of a constructive trust.

Contrary to the trial court’s findings, Allen did breach the fiduciary duty he owed to
Lascassas. We conclude that his actions were sufficiently wrongful to support the
imposition of a constructive trust over some if not all of the proceeds from the sale of the
two lots deposited with the clerk.

        The reach of the constructive trust is another matter. “A court of equity in
decreeing a constructive trust is bound by no unyielding formula. The equity of the
transaction must shape the measure of relief.” Holt, 995 S.W.2d at 71 (quotation
omitted). On appeal, Lascassas argues that the trial court erred in awarding A&R
$512,795.07 from the sale proceeds, which totaled $652,617.51, to reimburse A&R for its
construction costs. Lascassas maintains that it should have received all proceeds from
the sales of the wrongfully transferred properties. In response, A&R argues that
“[e]nacting a constructive trust to the benefit of [Lascassas] over the entire proceeds of
the sales without reimbursing Appellee A&R its construction costs would unjustly enrich
[Lascassas] to the detriment of Appellee A&R, and it would be most inequitable.”
Analyzing the elements of an unjust enrichment claim, A&R argues that it conferred a
benefit on Lascassas, that Lascassas appreciated the benefit, and that Lascassas accepted
the benefit under such circumstances that equity does not allow it to maintain the benefit
without payment to A&R. See Bennett v. Visa U.S.A., Inc., 198 S.W.3d 747, 755 (Tenn.
Ct. App. 2006). In response to that argument, Lascassas insists that A&R is barred from
recovering under the equitable remedy of unjust enrichment because it had unclean hands
in the transaction at issue. See Hogue v. Kroger Co., 373 S.W.2d 714, 716 (Tenn. 1963)
(“[A] complainant, who has been guilty of unconscientious conduct or bad faith, or has
committed any wrong, in reference to a particular transaction, cannot have the aid of a
Court of Equity in enforcing any alleged rights growing out of such transaction.”)
(quotation omitted); SKS Commc’ns, Inc. v. Globe Commc’ns, Inc., No. 03A01-9405-
CH-00176, 1994 WL 589576, at *5 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 21, 1994) (“Because unjust
enrichment is an equitable remedy, [] a party seeking it must come with clean hands.”)
(quotation omitted).
                                            16
        These were the same arguments raised in the proceedings before the trial court.
A&R asserted a counterclaim for its construction costs on the basis of unjust enrichment,
and Lascassas in its answer asserted the defense of unclean hands. Unfortunately, the
trial court did not discuss or analyze the elements of an unjust enrichment claim or the
defense of unclean hands in its order. Although the trial court made extensive findings
regarding the issues of fiduciary duty, constructive trust, and other matters, the final order
is silent as to the issues of unjust enrichment or unclean hands. The term “unjust
enrichment” is mentioned once in the procedural history, and the term “unclean hands” is
never mentioned in the order. The order simply states that the trial court found the
request by Lascassas for a total award of $652,617.51 “untenable and inequitable” and an
award to A&R for its construction costs “proper and equitable considering the proof.”

        “In bench trials, trial courts must make findings of fact and conclusions of law to
support their rulings.” Hardin v. Hardin, No. W2012-00273-COA-R3-CV, 2012 WL
6727533, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 27, 2012). Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 52.01
states, in pertinent part, “In all actions tried upon the facts without a jury, the court shall
find the facts specially and shall state separately its conclusions of law and direct the
entry of the appropriate judgment.” “Simply stating the trial court’s decision, without
more, does not fulfill this mandate.” Barnes v. Barnes, No. M2011-01824-COA-R3-CV,
2012 WL 5266382, at *8 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 24, 2012). “[T]he General Assembly’s
decision to require findings of fact and conclusions of law is ‘not a mere technicality.’”
Hardin, 2012 WL 6727533, at *3 (quoting In re K.H., No. W2008-01144-COA-R3-PT,
2009 WL 1362314, at *8 (Tenn. Ct. App. May 15, 2009)). Such “findings and
conclusions facilitate appellate review by affording a reviewing court a clear
understanding of the basis of a trial court’s decision.” Lovlace v. Copley, 418 S.W.3d 1,
34 (Tenn. 2013). In the absence of sufficient findings and conclusions, “‘this court is left
to wonder on what basis the court reached its ultimate decision.’” In re K.H., 2009 WL
1362314, at *8 (quoting In re M.E.W., No. M2003-01739-COA-R3-PT, 2004 WL
865840, at *19 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 21, 2004)). There is no bright-line test by which to
assess the sufficiency of the trial court’s findings, but “the findings of fact must include
as much of the subsidiary facts as is necessary to disclose to the reviewing court the steps
by which the trial court reached its ultimate conclusion on each factual issue.” Lovlace,
418 S.W.3d at 35 (quoting 9C Federal Practice & Procedure § 2579, at 328).

        Without a single finding regarding unjust enrichment or unclean hands in the final
order, we are “left to wonder on what basis the court reached its ultimate decision.” See
In re K.H., 2009 WL 1362314, at *8. “One remedy appellate courts typically apply when
a trial court’s factual findings fail to satisfy the Rule 52.01 requirement is to remand the
case to the trial court with directions to issue sufficient findings and conclusions.”
Lovlace, 418 S.W.3d at 36. We deem it appropriate to remand this matter for the trial
court to consider and make appropriate findings regarding the issues of unjust enrichment
                                              17
and unclean hands. The trial court should also consider our conclusions set forth in this
opinion regarding breach of fiduciary duty and the propriety of a constructive trust.

            C.    The Award to Allen for the Balance of the Promissory Note

        The next issue raised by Lascassas is whether the trial court erred in awarding
$23,670.57 to Allen, representing the amount he paid for the promissory note, when
Allen never asserted a counterclaim seeking such a recovery. The trial court noted in its
final order that Allen filed an answer to the complaint “but did not assert any claim for
relief.” Yet, later in its final order, the trial court found it “proper and equitable
considering the proof” to award Allen $23,670.57 from the proceeds held by the clerk,
representing the amount he paid to purchase the promissory note held by the bank. On
appeal, Allen concedes that he did not request such relief in his pleadings, but he claims
the issue was tried by consent.

       As support for his trial by consent argument, Allen first points to the fact that the
agreed order entered after mediation provided that the sale proceeds would be deposited
with the clerk and that the parties reserved the right to litigate “all issues” in this lawsuit
regarding the proceeds. Next, Allen notes that the promissory note was “one of the
central subjects of questions asked” of him during his deposition and that other witnesses
were also asked about the promissory note at trial. Allen claims that the parties thereby
impliedly consented to “payment of the Note” being an issue to be resolved at trial. We
respectfully disagree.

       Throughout the proceedings below and the two-day bench trial, the promissory
note was discussed in the sense that Allen’s purchase of the promissory note led him to
believe that he owned the four lots at issue. The parties also testified that after the note
was purchased by Allen, he never contacted Boone or Dempsey to inform them about his
purchase of the note or arrange payment terms, and Lascassas did not pay Allen anything
toward satisfaction of the note before Allen executed the quitclaim deed. However, Allen
never asked the trial court to award him a judgment for the balance of the promissory
note, from the sale proceeds or otherwise. During opening statements at trial, Allen’s
counsel suggested that this was “a pretty simple case” and asked the court to divide the
amount of the sale proceeds representing profits from the home sales “equitably and let’s
go on about our day.” During the trial testimony of Boone (the third member of
Lascassas in addition to Allen and Dempsey), he was asked whether he intended to begin
making payments to Allen for the promissory note after this litigation concluded. Boone
responded that he, personally, had never been asked to pay anything toward the note, but
that he believed Lascassas would have sufficient funds available to pay the note through
the LLC.

                                              18
        “When issues not raised by the pleadings are tried by express or implied consent
of the parties, they shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the
pleadings.” Tenn. R. Civ. P. 15.02. When considering the existence of implied consent,
we consider “whether the parties recognized that an issue not presented by the pleadings
entered the case at trial” or knowingly acquiesced in the introduction of evidence relating
to issues beyond the pleadings. Hiller v. Hailey, 915 S.W.2d 800, 804 (Tenn. Ct. App.
1995) (quoting Zack Cheek Builders, Inc. v. McLeod, 597 S.W.2d 888, 891 (Tenn.
1980)). “Trial of an issue by consent is not shown by presentation of evidence which is
relevant to an established issue and also would be relevant to an unexpressed issue.” Id.
at 805 (quoting Ray v. The Kroger Co., No. 83-323-II (Tenn. Ct. App. June 26, 1984)).
In other words, trial by implied consent “cannot occur when evidence claimed to be
supporting an issue not raised in the pleadings is also relevant to an issue that is actually
raised in the pleadings.” In re S.J.M., No. M2009-01080-COA-R3-PT, 2009 WL
4039430, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 20, 2009). For example, in In re S.J.M., the trial
court concluded that the only ground for termination of parental rights asserted in the
petition was not proven but that another ground for termination, a prison sentence of
fifteen years, was established by the evidence. Id. This Court reversed, finding the issue
was not tried by implied consent. We found that the evidence of incarceration was
presented because it was relevant to the issue of abandonment, and no party argued the
other ground to the trial court or recognized that it had entered the case at trial. Id. See
also George v. Bldg. Materials Corp. of Am., 44 S.W.3d 481, 486 (Tenn. 2001)
(explaining that mere introduction of evidence regarding dates did not amount to trial of a
statute of limitations defense by implied consent when the evidence was used to establish
another issue at trial); Long v. Long, No. M2015-00592-COA-R3-CV, 2015 WL
9584393, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 29, 2015) (vacating an order regarding military
retirement pay where the issues before the court were modification of alimony and child
support, and although retirement pay was a factor to be considered with respect to those
issues, no one asked the court to enter the order on retirement pay and the court “created
a claim where none existed”).

        We conclude that the issue of whether Allen should be awarded a judgment for
the amount of the promissory note was not pled or tried by implied consent. The mere
introduction of evidence regarding the existence of the note and its nonpayment did not
amount to trial by implied consent of whether Allen was entitled to a judgment based on
the note. We therefore vacate the portion of the trial court’s order awarding Allen
$23,670.57 from the proceeds held by the clerk.

                                 D.    Punitive Damages

       Finally, we consider the issue raised by Lascassas regarding its entitlement to
punitive damages. The trial court dismissed the claim for punitive damages at the close
                                             19
of the plaintiff’s proof based on its conclusion that Allen’s conduct was not sufficiently
egregious and did not “shock the conscience.”

        Because punitive damages are intended to punish a defendant, deter the defendant
from committing acts of a similar nature, and make a public example of him or her, they
are only available in cases involving the most egregious of wrongs. Sanford v. Waugh &
Co., 328 S.W.3d 836, 849 (Tenn. 2010). We agree with the trial court’s conclusion that
Allen’s conduct was not intentional, fraudulent, malicious, or reckless “to such an extent
as to justify punitive damages,” nor did it involve “the most egregious of wrongs.” See
id. The trial court’s dismissal of the claim for punitive damages is affirmed.

                                    V. CONCLUSION

       For the aforementioned reasons, the decision of the chancery court is hereby
affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings. Costs of this
appeal are one-half to the appellees, A&R Land Investments, LLC, and Jimmy Allen, and
one-half to the appellant, Lascassas Land Company, LLC, and its surety, for which
execution may issue if necessary.

                                                _________________________________
                                                BRANDON O. GIBSON, JUDGE

                                           20