Hawkins v. Reynolds

467 S.W.2d 791, 62 Tenn. App. 686, 1971 Tenn. App. LEXIS 204
CourtCourt of Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedFebruary 26, 1971
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 467 S.W.2d 791 (Hawkins v. Reynolds) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hawkins v. Reynolds, 467 S.W.2d 791, 62 Tenn. App. 686, 1971 Tenn. App. LEXIS 204 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinion

OPINION

TODD, Judge.

The complainant, Paul Hawkins, has appealed from the chancellor’s decree which dismissed complainant’s bill against defend[792]*792ant, Edward R. Reynolds, III. Said bill sought recovery of damages or profits allegedly due complainant under a sharecrop lease of a farm.

There is no appreciable dispute as to the evidentiary facts. The only issue relates to the factual inferences or legal conclusions to be drawn from the evidentiary facts.

The grandmother of defendant, Mrs. Josie Reynolds, was formerly the owner of a valuable and productive farm adjoining the Cumberland River. About 1948, Mrs. Josie Reynolds and the complainant entered into an oral agreement whereby complainant moved to said farm and “worked it on shares.” Said agreement provided for the sharing of certain expenses and income from crops which are immaterial to this suit. The parties agreed that the grain produced on the farm would be fed to cattle and hogs on the farm and that all expenses and profits on cattle and hogs should be shared equally.

The agreement was of only one year’s duration. Either party was privileged to withdraw at the end of any year. However, the arrangement was satisfactory and profitable to both parties and was continued by consent, or at least acquiescence, of the parties until the death of Mrs. Josie Reynolds in 1964.

By the will of Mrs. Josie Reynolds, the farm became the property of defendant, Edward R. Reynolds, III, his sister, Jean Reynolds Penland, and his mother, Mrs. Erma Reynolds, as equal tenants in common. After the death of Mrs. Josie Reynolds, complainant remained on the farm and continued to manage it with the consent or acquiescence of the owners.

On February 15, 1965, a “Cropland Conversion Agreement” was executed between the United States Department of Agriculture and “Josie Reynolds Estate” for the rental of 41.6 acres of pastureland for the years 1964-1965. The agreement was signed, “Josie Reynolds Estate by Erma A. Reynolds” as “operator” and by complainant, Paul Hawkins, as “other producer.” Complainant, Paul Hawkins, received one half of the rental of $1,567.80 provided by said agreement. A renewal of this “Cropland Conversion Agreement” was in effect at the time of the happenings material to this suit.

On said farm, there was a low, marshy area known as “Myers Swamp.” At some time not specified in the record, complainant and the owner or owners agreed with the Federal Government to excavate a pond or lake within said marsh. Complainant operated the bulldozer used to construct said pond and received one half of the contribution of the Federal Government to the construction cost.

At various times, minor parts of the farm were sold by the owners, but complainant did not participate in the proceeds except to the extent that a crop or “crop quota” was involved. On one occasion he received one half of a payment for “tobacco base” on a tract that was sold.

During the year 1966, in connection with the construction of Cordell Hull Dam nearby, the U.S. Corps of Engineers contracted with Dunbar and Sullivan to perform extensive dredging of the Cumberland River adjacent to the Reynolds farm. A representative of Dunbar and Sullivan approached complainant about depositing sand and gravel dredged from the river bed upon adjacent farms. Complainant undertook to assist Dunbar and Sullivan in getting agreements from various farm owners to allow sand and gravel to be deposited on their farms. Complainant was successful in negotiating one such arrangement with a Mr. Wright, the owner of a nearby farm, and complainant realized a substantial profit as a result.

Complainant first approached Mrs. Erma Reynolds about dealing with Dunbar and Sullivan. Later, defendant, Edward Reynolds, III, discussed the matter with complainant. Dunbar and Sullivan offered at first to rent an eight acre tract in Myers Swamp for two years at $100.00 per acre, [793]*793per year. Complainant thought that he would get one-half of this rental, but no one told him he would get any part of it.

Negotiations continued with Dunbar and Sullivan from September 1966 until June 13, 1967, at which time, defendant, Edward R. Reynolds, III, signed a written agreement leasing to Dunbar and Sullivan for a period of two years, an eight acre tract in Myers Swamp with two 25 foot rights of way from said tract to the Cumberland River. The consideration stated in said lease agreement was ten dollars “and other good and valuable considerations.” The agreement provided that a valuable drainage pipe would he installed and left on the premises. Although not mentioned in the written agreement, a part of the consideration was that defendant, Edward R. Reynolds, III, would receive title to all sand and gravel stored on the premises. Said agreement provided that “lessor” would clear the leased premises, but Dunbar and Sullivan subsequently paid complainant $1,900.00 to clear vegetation from the eight acre tract with a bulldozer.

Complainant was present when said written agreement was negotiated and signed. Before it was signed, complainant and defendant went apart privately to discuss the matter, at which time complainant stated that he was willing to risk his half of the rental and that “we can sell the sand and gravel at a profit.” Defendant responded that complainant had no part in the rental; that “there is no ‘we’ to it,” and that he, defendant, had nothing further to discuss with complainant. Thereafter, the agreement was signed by defendant and Dunbar and Sullivan, only. Defendant testified that he “had an understanding” with his mother whereby he assumed full control of the dealings with Dunbar and Sullivan.

Subsequently, Dunbar and Sullivan began to dredge and discharge sand and gravel upon the leased premises. Defendant erected a fence around the area. There is some evidence that the fence included more than eight acres, that certain growing corn and hay were damaged by the operations of Dunbar and Sullivan, that the hogs and cattle were deprived of access to certain pastureland and the pond which was destroyed and filled by the dredging.

As a result of the dredging operation, complainant and defendant were required to make certain refunds to the Federal Government in respect to the cost of said pond and prepaid rental on pastureland. Defendant refunded $71.88 on the pond and $33.00 on the pastureland.

Approximately 127,000 cubic yards of sand and gravel were deposited on the farm by Dunbar and Sullivan. Defendant sold 100,000 cubic yards of said sand and gravel for $18,000.00 cash and bulldozing work worth about $2,000.00, or a total consideration of $20,000.00.

Thereafter, complainant remained as tenant on the farm until the end of 1968, when he departed after being requested to do so by defendant.

The basis of complainant’s claim is summarized by the following excerpt from his cross examination:

“Q. If I understand you correctly then, sir, at the time this lease was made, Sonny was in complete charge and was the only one who signed the lease, at the time you were holding the land on a year to year basis, with the exception of those things with ASC, and that after this developed and you wanted half of the gravel you all sort of had a falling out and he never promised you half, or any other percentage, of the gravel. You completed the crop that year and the following year were given notice and were asked to move, is that correct ?
A.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
467 S.W.2d 791, 62 Tenn. App. 686, 1971 Tenn. App. LEXIS 204, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hawkins-v-reynolds-tennctapp-1971.