I N THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
EASTERN SECTI ON FILED January 3, 1996 EXPLOSI VE SPECI ALI STS, I NC. , ) C/ A NO. 03A01- 9509- CH- 00305 Cecil Crowson, Jr. ) Appellate C ourt Clerk Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l e e , ) KNOX CHANCERY ) v. ) HON. H. DAVI D CATE, ) CHANCELLOR WHALEY CONSTRUCTI ON CO. , I NC. , ) ) AFFI RMED AND De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt . ) REMANDED
HOW ARD G. HOGAN, GRESHAM & HOGAN, Knoxvi l l e , f or Pl a i nt i f f - Ap p e l l e e .
RON CUNNI NGHAM FI NKELSTEI N, KERN, STEI NBERG & CUNNI NGHAM , , Kn o x v i l l e , f or De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt .
O P I N I O N
Fr a nks . J .
I n t hi s a c t i on , pl a i nt i f f wa s a wa r de d j udgme nt f o r
wo r k p e r f or me d unde r a c ont r a c t , a nd de f e nda nt ha s a ppe a l e d ,
i n s i s t i ng t ha t pl a i nt i f f di d not pe r f or m i n a c c or da nc e wi t h
t h e a gr e e me nt b e t we e n t he pa r t i e s .
The de f e nda nt hi r e d pl a i nt i f f t o bl a s t t he r oc k o n
t h e Go ody' s Fa mi l y Cl ot hi ng Pr oj e c t , ne a r I nt e r s t a t e 40- 75 i n
Kn o x v i l l e , f or $3. 50 pe r c ubi c ya r d, wi t h pl a i nt i f f s uppl yi n g
t h e p o wde r a nd i ns ur a nc e a nd t he de f e nda nt s uppl yi ng t he f u e l f o r t he d r i l l s . The r e wa s no wr i t t e n c ont r a c t , a nd pl a i nt i f f
b e g a n bl a s t i ng i n mi d- Nove mbe r 1988 a nd bl a s t e d unt i l t he e n d
o f De c e mbe r whe n pl a i nt i f f wa s t e r mi na t e d by de f e nda nt .
Es s e nt i a l l y, t h e de t e r mi na t i ve i s s ue on a ppe a l wa s
f r a me d by t he Tr i a l J udge i n hi s f i ndi ngs of f a c t :
The di s put e pe r t a i ns t o whe t he r or not t he pl a i nt i f f wa s r e qui r e d t o f ur ni s h a n e nd pr oduc t , a f t e r bl a s t i ng, of t he r oc k t he s i z e of t wo f e e t i n di a me t e r o r l e s s . The pl a i nt i f f e mpha t i c a l l y de ni e s t ha t t hi s wa s t he a gr e e me nt , a nd s a ys t he r oc k, a f t e r b l a s t i ng, wa s t o be t he s i z e s o i t c oul d be move d, a nd t he de f e nda nt e mpha t i c a l l y a s s e r t s t ha t i t wa s t he a gr e e me nt .
Th e Tr i a l Cour t , a f t e r he a r i ng t he e vi de nc e , c onc l ude d:
To d e t e r mi ne wha t t he c ont r a c t wa s i n t hi s c a s e t h e c r e di bi l i t y of t he wi t ne s s be c ome s c r uc i a l .
W n t he pl a i nt i f f ' s t e s t i mony e vi de nc e i s he c ons i de r e d i n t he l i ght of t he l og book a nd ot he r wr i t t e n e vi de nc e of t he de f e nda nt , a nd t he f a c t t h a t t he c ount e r - c l a i m a ppe a r s t o ha ve a r i s e n a f t e r t h e f a c t , t h e Cou r t c onc l ude s t ha t t he pl a i nt i f f ' s ve r s i on of t he c ont r a c t a ppe a r s t o be t he c or r e c t ve r s i on.
The pl a i nt i f f ' s e vi de nc e wa s t o t he e f f e c t t ha t t h e
c o n t r a c t di d not r e qui r e t ha t t he bl a s t e d r oc k ha d t o be t wo
f e e t o r l e s s a nd pa na bl e , whi l e de f e nda nt ' s pr oof wa s t ha t
s u c h wa s t he a gr e e me nt . The Tr i a l J udge , i n ma ki ng hi s
f a c t u a l de t e r mi na t i on, r e l i e d he a vi l y on t he t e s t i mony of
p l a i nt i f f ' s wi t ne s s e s t o t ha t e f f e c t , a nd t ha t de f e nda nt di d
n o t c ompl a i n or pr ot e s t t he wa y a nd ma nne r i n whi c h pl a i nt i f f
wa s b l a s t i ng t he r oc k, whi c h t he Tr i a l Cour t f ound wa s
c o r r o b or a t e d by t he l og book a nd ot he r wr i t t e n e vi de nc e of t h e
d e f e n d a nt , i . e . , no not a t i on of a ny c ompl a i nt a bout
p l a i n t i f f ' s p e r f or ma nc e .
The f a mi l i a r r ul e r e qui r i ng no c i t a t i on i s t ha t
a pp e l l a t e c our t s g e ne r a l l y de f e r t o t he Tr i a l Cour t ' s
2 d e t e r mi na t i on o f t he c r e di bi l i t y of t he wi t ne s s e s . W f i nd e
n o t h i ng i n t hi s r e c or d t ha t woul d r e qui r e a ny de vi a t i on f r o m
t h e r u l e i n t hi s c a s e . The Tr i a l Cour t obs e r ve d t he de me a n o r
o f t h e wi t ne s s e s a nd he a r d t he t e s t i mony, a nd wa s i n a be t t e r
p o s i t i on t ha n t hi s Cour t t o e va l ua t e t he r e s pe c t i ve wi t ne s s e s '
c r e d i bi l i t y.
De f e nda nt ' s pr i nc i pa l a r gume nt on a ppe a l , a s s t a t e d
i n i t s br i e f i s :
I t i s t he pos i t i on of de f e nda nt t ha t r e a s ona bl y pr ude nt bus i ne s s me n i n t he bl a s t i ng a nd s i t e pr e pa r a t i on a nd c ons t r uc t i on i ndus t r y woul d ne ve r e nt e r i nt o a n a gr e e me nt t o dr i l l , s hoot , a nd t r a ns por t r oc k t o a c ont r ol l e d f i l l a r e a wi t hout r e qui r i ng t ha t t he r oc k f r a gme nt s c ompl y wi t h t he c us t om of t he i ndus t r y f or a c ont r ol l e d f i l l a r e a , i . e . , t o b e t wo f e e t or l e s s i n di a me t e r .
Th e d e f e nda nt di d of f e r e vi de nc e t ha t t hi s wa s t he c us t om i n
t h e i n dus t r y, a nd i ns i s t s t ha t t he c ont r a c t s houl d be
d e t e r mi ne d, t a ki ng i nt o a c c ount t he c us t om a nd us a ge of t he
t r a d e , c i t i ng Be at y Che v r ol e t , I nc . v . Compl e t e Aut o Tr ans i t ,
I nc . , 586 S. W 2d 122 ( Te nn. App. 1979) ; . J . Av e r y Br y an, I n c .
v . Hu b bar d, 225 S. W 2d 282 ( Te nn. App. 1949) . . The l e ga l
p o s i t i on a dva nc e d i s s ound, howe ve r , t hi s e vi de nc e wa s
d i s p u t e d by pl a i nt i f f ' s e xpe r t wi t ne s s .
Pl a i nt i f f of f e r e d t he t e s t i mony of a n e xpe r t
e x p e r i e nc e d i n bl a s t i ng , who t e s t i f i e d i n pe r t i ne nt pa r t :
Q. As s umi ng t ha t you ha ve a c ont r a c t t o bl a s t t h e r oc k t ha t we f ound out he r e , a nd we ' r e t a l ki n g a bout a t t he Goody' s s i t e t o t wo- f oot or l e s s , woul d yo u ha ve us e d t he pa t t e r n, a nd t he a mo u n t of dyna mi t e , a nd t he s t e mmi ng t ha t Expl os i ve Spe c i a l i s t s us e d?
A. W l l , i f I kne w t ha t my r e qui r e me nt wa s t wo- e f oot or l e s s , t he n I pr oba bl y woul d of ha d t o a dj us t my - - ma ybe I ' d ha d t o - - I woul d of pr oba bl y s t a r t e d wi t h t ha t pa t t e r n. And I ma y of ha d t o a dj us t t he s t e mmi ng, a nd a dj us t i t i n
3 t e r ms o f : Ca n I ge t by wi t h a l i t t l e l es s s t e mmi ng, a nd a l i t t l e mor e powde r , a nd not t hr ow r oc k. And i t ' s goi ng t o be a ba l a nc e . J us t l i ke - - j us t l i ke M . Cl a r k s a i r d. It's a c r i t i c a l a r e a out t he r e .
Q. But woul d you ha ve be e n c a pa bl e of doi ng i t , bl a s t i ng t ha t r oc k?
A. Sur e . Ab s ol ut e l y. One of t he r e qui r e me nt s o n one of our r e c e nt j obs , l i ke I wa s t e l l i ng y o u , a t t he a i r por t . The y ha d a r e qui r e me nt not t wo- f oot , but down t o t we l ve - i nc he s f or f i l l r oc k.
Q. For f i l l r oc k?
A. I don' t t hi nk t hi s t wo- f oot i s ne c e s s a r i l y a uni ve r s a l s t a nda r d t hi ng a nybody c a n s hoot . It j us t de pe nds on t he j ob. And s ome j obs I ' ve s e e n we r e a c c e pt a bl e f or a f our - f oot e r , or e ve n l a r ge r r oc k, i s a c c e pt a bl e .
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I N THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
EASTERN SECTI ON FILED January 3, 1996 EXPLOSI VE SPECI ALI STS, I NC. , ) C/ A NO. 03A01- 9509- CH- 00305 Cecil Crowson, Jr. ) Appellate C ourt Clerk Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l e e , ) KNOX CHANCERY ) v. ) HON. H. DAVI D CATE, ) CHANCELLOR WHALEY CONSTRUCTI ON CO. , I NC. , ) ) AFFI RMED AND De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt . ) REMANDED
HOW ARD G. HOGAN, GRESHAM & HOGAN, Knoxvi l l e , f or Pl a i nt i f f - Ap p e l l e e .
RON CUNNI NGHAM FI NKELSTEI N, KERN, STEI NBERG & CUNNI NGHAM , , Kn o x v i l l e , f or De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt .
O P I N I O N
Fr a nks . J .
I n t hi s a c t i on , pl a i nt i f f wa s a wa r de d j udgme nt f o r
wo r k p e r f or me d unde r a c ont r a c t , a nd de f e nda nt ha s a ppe a l e d ,
i n s i s t i ng t ha t pl a i nt i f f di d not pe r f or m i n a c c or da nc e wi t h
t h e a gr e e me nt b e t we e n t he pa r t i e s .
The de f e nda nt hi r e d pl a i nt i f f t o bl a s t t he r oc k o n
t h e Go ody' s Fa mi l y Cl ot hi ng Pr oj e c t , ne a r I nt e r s t a t e 40- 75 i n
Kn o x v i l l e , f or $3. 50 pe r c ubi c ya r d, wi t h pl a i nt i f f s uppl yi n g
t h e p o wde r a nd i ns ur a nc e a nd t he de f e nda nt s uppl yi ng t he f u e l f o r t he d r i l l s . The r e wa s no wr i t t e n c ont r a c t , a nd pl a i nt i f f
b e g a n bl a s t i ng i n mi d- Nove mbe r 1988 a nd bl a s t e d unt i l t he e n d
o f De c e mbe r whe n pl a i nt i f f wa s t e r mi na t e d by de f e nda nt .
Es s e nt i a l l y, t h e de t e r mi na t i ve i s s ue on a ppe a l wa s
f r a me d by t he Tr i a l J udge i n hi s f i ndi ngs of f a c t :
The di s put e pe r t a i ns t o whe t he r or not t he pl a i nt i f f wa s r e qui r e d t o f ur ni s h a n e nd pr oduc t , a f t e r bl a s t i ng, of t he r oc k t he s i z e of t wo f e e t i n di a me t e r o r l e s s . The pl a i nt i f f e mpha t i c a l l y de ni e s t ha t t hi s wa s t he a gr e e me nt , a nd s a ys t he r oc k, a f t e r b l a s t i ng, wa s t o be t he s i z e s o i t c oul d be move d, a nd t he de f e nda nt e mpha t i c a l l y a s s e r t s t ha t i t wa s t he a gr e e me nt .
Th e Tr i a l Cour t , a f t e r he a r i ng t he e vi de nc e , c onc l ude d:
To d e t e r mi ne wha t t he c ont r a c t wa s i n t hi s c a s e t h e c r e di bi l i t y of t he wi t ne s s be c ome s c r uc i a l .
W n t he pl a i nt i f f ' s t e s t i mony e vi de nc e i s he c ons i de r e d i n t he l i ght of t he l og book a nd ot he r wr i t t e n e vi de nc e of t he de f e nda nt , a nd t he f a c t t h a t t he c ount e r - c l a i m a ppe a r s t o ha ve a r i s e n a f t e r t h e f a c t , t h e Cou r t c onc l ude s t ha t t he pl a i nt i f f ' s ve r s i on of t he c ont r a c t a ppe a r s t o be t he c or r e c t ve r s i on.
The pl a i nt i f f ' s e vi de nc e wa s t o t he e f f e c t t ha t t h e
c o n t r a c t di d not r e qui r e t ha t t he bl a s t e d r oc k ha d t o be t wo
f e e t o r l e s s a nd pa na bl e , whi l e de f e nda nt ' s pr oof wa s t ha t
s u c h wa s t he a gr e e me nt . The Tr i a l J udge , i n ma ki ng hi s
f a c t u a l de t e r mi na t i on, r e l i e d he a vi l y on t he t e s t i mony of
p l a i nt i f f ' s wi t ne s s e s t o t ha t e f f e c t , a nd t ha t de f e nda nt di d
n o t c ompl a i n or pr ot e s t t he wa y a nd ma nne r i n whi c h pl a i nt i f f
wa s b l a s t i ng t he r oc k, whi c h t he Tr i a l Cour t f ound wa s
c o r r o b or a t e d by t he l og book a nd ot he r wr i t t e n e vi de nc e of t h e
d e f e n d a nt , i . e . , no not a t i on of a ny c ompl a i nt a bout
p l a i n t i f f ' s p e r f or ma nc e .
The f a mi l i a r r ul e r e qui r i ng no c i t a t i on i s t ha t
a pp e l l a t e c our t s g e ne r a l l y de f e r t o t he Tr i a l Cour t ' s
2 d e t e r mi na t i on o f t he c r e di bi l i t y of t he wi t ne s s e s . W f i nd e
n o t h i ng i n t hi s r e c or d t ha t woul d r e qui r e a ny de vi a t i on f r o m
t h e r u l e i n t hi s c a s e . The Tr i a l Cour t obs e r ve d t he de me a n o r
o f t h e wi t ne s s e s a nd he a r d t he t e s t i mony, a nd wa s i n a be t t e r
p o s i t i on t ha n t hi s Cour t t o e va l ua t e t he r e s pe c t i ve wi t ne s s e s '
c r e d i bi l i t y.
De f e nda nt ' s pr i nc i pa l a r gume nt on a ppe a l , a s s t a t e d
i n i t s br i e f i s :
I t i s t he pos i t i on of de f e nda nt t ha t r e a s ona bl y pr ude nt bus i ne s s me n i n t he bl a s t i ng a nd s i t e pr e pa r a t i on a nd c ons t r uc t i on i ndus t r y woul d ne ve r e nt e r i nt o a n a gr e e me nt t o dr i l l , s hoot , a nd t r a ns por t r oc k t o a c ont r ol l e d f i l l a r e a wi t hout r e qui r i ng t ha t t he r oc k f r a gme nt s c ompl y wi t h t he c us t om of t he i ndus t r y f or a c ont r ol l e d f i l l a r e a , i . e . , t o b e t wo f e e t or l e s s i n di a me t e r .
Th e d e f e nda nt di d of f e r e vi de nc e t ha t t hi s wa s t he c us t om i n
t h e i n dus t r y, a nd i ns i s t s t ha t t he c ont r a c t s houl d be
d e t e r mi ne d, t a ki ng i nt o a c c ount t he c us t om a nd us a ge of t he
t r a d e , c i t i ng Be at y Che v r ol e t , I nc . v . Compl e t e Aut o Tr ans i t ,
I nc . , 586 S. W 2d 122 ( Te nn. App. 1979) ; . J . Av e r y Br y an, I n c .
v . Hu b bar d, 225 S. W 2d 282 ( Te nn. App. 1949) . . The l e ga l
p o s i t i on a dva nc e d i s s ound, howe ve r , t hi s e vi de nc e wa s
d i s p u t e d by pl a i nt i f f ' s e xpe r t wi t ne s s .
Pl a i nt i f f of f e r e d t he t e s t i mony of a n e xpe r t
e x p e r i e nc e d i n bl a s t i ng , who t e s t i f i e d i n pe r t i ne nt pa r t :
Q. As s umi ng t ha t you ha ve a c ont r a c t t o bl a s t t h e r oc k t ha t we f ound out he r e , a nd we ' r e t a l ki n g a bout a t t he Goody' s s i t e t o t wo- f oot or l e s s , woul d yo u ha ve us e d t he pa t t e r n, a nd t he a mo u n t of dyna mi t e , a nd t he s t e mmi ng t ha t Expl os i ve Spe c i a l i s t s us e d?
A. W l l , i f I kne w t ha t my r e qui r e me nt wa s t wo- e f oot or l e s s , t he n I pr oba bl y woul d of ha d t o a dj us t my - - ma ybe I ' d ha d t o - - I woul d of pr oba bl y s t a r t e d wi t h t ha t pa t t e r n. And I ma y of ha d t o a dj us t t he s t e mmi ng, a nd a dj us t i t i n
3 t e r ms o f : Ca n I ge t by wi t h a l i t t l e l es s s t e mmi ng, a nd a l i t t l e mor e powde r , a nd not t hr ow r oc k. And i t ' s goi ng t o be a ba l a nc e . J us t l i ke - - j us t l i ke M . Cl a r k s a i r d. It's a c r i t i c a l a r e a out t he r e .
Q. But woul d you ha ve be e n c a pa bl e of doi ng i t , bl a s t i ng t ha t r oc k?
A. Sur e . Ab s ol ut e l y. One of t he r e qui r e me nt s o n one of our r e c e nt j obs , l i ke I wa s t e l l i ng y o u , a t t he a i r por t . The y ha d a r e qui r e me nt not t wo- f oot , but down t o t we l ve - i nc he s f or f i l l r oc k.
Q. For f i l l r oc k?
A. I don' t t hi nk t hi s t wo- f oot i s ne c e s s a r i l y a uni ve r s a l s t a nda r d t hi ng a nybody c a n s hoot . It j us t de pe nds on t he j ob. And s ome j obs I ' ve s e e n we r e a c c e pt a bl e f or a f our - f oot e r , or e ve n l a r ge r r oc k, i s a c c e pt a bl e .
W c onc l ude t he Tr i a l J udge pr ope r l y e va l ua t e d t h e e
e v i d e n c e be f or e hi m. He pa s s e d on t he c r e di bi l i t y of t he
wi t n e s s e s a nd f ound f r om de f e nda nt ' s wr i t t e n doc ume nt a t i on
t h a t d e f e nda nt , dur i ng pl a i nt i f f ' s pe r f or ma nc e , di d not obj e c t
t o p l a i nt i f f ' s pe r f or ma nc e . I nt e r pr e t a t i on of a c ont r a c t by
t h e p a r t i e s a s s hown by t he i r a c t s ma y be a dopt e d by t he Cou r t
i n e s t a bl i s hi ng t he t e r ms of t he c ont r a c t . Hambl e n Count y v .
Ci t y o f M r i s t own, 656 S. W 2d 331 ( Te nn. 1983) . or . The Cour t ' s
d e t e r mi na t i on o f t he c ont r a c t be t we e n t he pa r t i e s c ome s t o us
wi t h a pr e s umpt i on of c or r e c t ne s s , unl e s s t he e vi de nc e
p r e p o n de r a t e s o t he r wi s e . T. R. A. P. Rul e 13( d) . W a f f i r m t he e
j u d g me nt .
De f e nda nt ' s c ount e r - c l a i m f or a ddi t i ona l e xpe ns e s
i n c u r r e d wa s c ont i nge nt upon a f i ndi ng t ha t pl a i nt i f f ha d
b r e a c h e d t he c ont r a c t , a nd we f i nd de f e nda nt ' s a ppe a l on t h i s
i s s u e t o b e wi t hout me r i t .
Pl a i nt i f f s e e ks t o r e c ove r c os t s , i n t e r e s t a nd
4 e x p e n s e s on t he a ut hor i t y of Te nne s s e e Code Annot a t e d §27- 1 -
1 2 2 o n t he gr ound t ha t t he a ppe a l wa s f r i vol ous . W c a nnot e
a gr e e .
The j udgme nt of t he Tr i a l Cour t i s a f f i r me d, wi t h
c os t s a s s e s s e d t o a ppe l l a nt , a nd t he c a us e r e ma nde d.
________________________ He r s c he l P. Fr a nks , J .
CONCUR:
_ _ _ _ _ ______________________ Do n T. M M r a y, J . c ur
_ _ _ _ _ _ _____________________ Cl i f f or d E. Sa nde r s , Sr . J .