WPC i0Q >0O"buu=8 ߽\K.F[u^2@U@:ڥ(Bj_ !iCRX *! y[5>.SLӟIᾑ@=HiX'j}x,@POV7'hv[ʹSٓK~´ƣs(Ȧ|r\N[:eh@c@Q9N1 DD:J*J7>a9.4Wx1ύѧP:iAE؎?>>> 0D D3 B A 0K D+ AOTT 0D D/^ BHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nL(9 Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($<Q 9Z .Courier New Regular&@FZ 8CaslonOpnface BT Regular<(M 9Z .Courier New Regular ^_D`aDbcDdVeijӀRC&3|xu   $    1    XXXX2XXT.C.A.4750109providesasfollows: P    8 ` 22Itisunlawfulforanyperson,byinducement,persuasion,  ` misrepresentation,orothermeans,toinduceorprocurethebreachorviolation,refusalorfailuretoperformanylawfulcontractbyanypartythereto;and,ineverycasewhereabreachorviolationofsuchcontractissoprocured,thepersonsoprocuringorinducingthesameshallbeliableintrebletheamountofdamagesresultingfromorincidenttothebreachofthecontract.Thepartyinjuredbysuchbreachmaybringsuitforthebreachandforsuchdamages.((3$ !      0  (#$  0  <Q 9Z .Courier New Regular   $    4    XXXX<XXStricklanddidnotstateasanissueinhisbriefthefactthatthe P  trialcourtproceededinhisabsence,cf.Rule27(a)(4),T.R.A.P.;buthe   alludedtothisaserrorintheargumentsectionofthatdocumentandatoralargument.WefindnoabuseofdiscretioninthetrialcourtsdecisiontoproceedinStricklandsabsence.<Q 9Z .Courier New Regular<Q 9Z .Courier New Regular c  $    2    XXXX2XXTherecordindicatesanearlierdisputeregardingtherightofway. P  SufficeittosaythatapriorjudgmentofthetrialcourtconfirmedtheEstatesrightofwayaccessacrossStricklandsproperty.<Q 9Z .Courier New Regular   $    5    XXXX<XXThecourtin NewLifeCorp .borrowedtheabovequotationfromits P  unreporteddecisionin KanConst.&CleaningCorp.v.Tatum ,No.01A019304   CV00150,1993WL434741(Tenn.App.,W.S.,filedOct.27,1993).<Q 9Z .Courier New Regular   $    4    XXXX<XXStricklanddidnotstateasanissueinhisbriefthefactthatthe P  trialcourtproceededinhisabsence,buthealludedtothisaserrorintheargumentsectionofthatdocumentandatoralargument.WefindnoabuseofdiscretioninthetrialcourtsdecisiontoproceedinStricklandsabsence.<Q 9Z .Courier New Regular X XXX  XX   Ad FILED     April16,1999  CecilCrowson,Jr.  AppellateCourt  Clerk ,cAZ"Arial Regular z  $    3    XXXX<XXStricklandfiledamotionwiththeClerkoftheCourtofAppealsasking P  ustoconsiderareportfromhisdoctorthatwasreceivedafterthehearingbelow.Wedonotfindthatthismotioniswelltaken;accordingly,itisdenied.<Q 9Z .Courier New Regular(3$ !  ݁Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5++++'dxd d)'BG&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK( $ Figure  1  'dxd'C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd !  jjP XXXXTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T7uXXdXXd7jr*<,(j 8 `@EQ  tt0"HP rߛj@| | INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE P  @$ATKNOXVILLERALPHLEE,Administratorof    )C/ANO.03A019806CH00195 * theEstateofRaymondP.Lee,    )  Deceased, `     h     )      `     h     )   ` PlaintiffAppellee,    ) 2     `     h     )   `     h     )   `     h     )APPEALASOFRIGHTFROMTHEv.   `     h     )MONROECOUNTYCHANCERYCOURT      `     h     )   `     h     )   `     h     )   `     h     )   `     h     )BEESTRICKLAND,   h     )     `     h     )HONORABLEEARLH.HENLEY,   ` DefendantAppellant.  )JUDGE : ForAppellant    h     ForAppellee "> J.REEDDIXON    h     EUGENEB.DIXON :$ Sweetwater,Tennessee h     Koella&Dixon,Attorneys %     `     h     Maryville,Tennessee@$X6XXX -\ XX6OPINION S   -\XX  SԈ 4)2 AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED h      p      x Susano,J.  ^:09      ` RalphLee( Lee),inhiscapacityasadministratoroftheEstateofRaymondP.Lee( theEstate),broughtsuitagainstthedefendant,BeeStrickland( Strickland),allegingthatStricklandhadinterferedwiththeharvestingoftimberontheEstatesproperty.Hesoughtinjunctivereliefandcompensatoryandpunitivedamages.Followingabenchtrial,thecourtbelowawardedtheEstatecompensatorydamagesof$15,000plusprejudgmentinterest.Stricklandappeals,claimingthatthejudgmentis contrarytotheevidenceinthiscase.Lee,asappellee,arguesthattheawardisinadequateandthatitshould,inanyevent,betripledpursuanttotheprovisionsofT.C.A.4750109.   #  1      ׀Weaffirm. d 0   @&(#(#I.Facts      ` OnDecember3,1993,Leehiredaloggingcompanytoharveststandingtimberon60acresofpropertyownedbytheEstateinMonroeCounty.TheEstatespropertyisadjacenttopropertyownedbyStricklandandisaccessibleviaarightofwayacrossthelattersproperty.   #  2      כ  *&   +|!(    ` Shortlyafteritstartedharvestingtimberonthe Estatesproperty,theloggingcompanyhiredbyLeeexperiencedproblemswithStrickland.Theloggingcompanysowner,MichaelBuckner( Buckner),testifiedthatStricklandapproachedhim atthebridgeonMr.Leespropertyand[Strickland]wasstandingtherewithaloadedshotguninareadiedposition.HestatedthatStricklandhad bothhandsonthegunandonehandonthetrigger.StricklandtoldBucknerthathe wouldbeallrightif[he]didntcrossthebridge.Severaldaysafterthisincident,BuckneragainfoundhimselffacingStrickland.Stricklandtoldhimthat itwasgoingtocost[him,beingBuckner]ifBucknerdidnotstopcuttingthetimberthatwasonLeesproperty.   ` Stricklandcontinuedtoharasstheloggingcompany.AfterStricklandtoldBucknerthathewasgoingto popitto[him]andsubsequentlythreatenedBucknerscrew,Bucknerpulledhiscrewandequipmentoffthejobbecause itwasbecomingalifethreateningsituation.HeinformedLeethathewouldnotcompletethecontractbecauseofStricklandsinterference.   ` InFebruary,1994,Leeobtainedacourtorderthat,ineffect,restrainedStricklandfrominterferingwiththeharvestingoftheEstatestimber.However,whenLeeaskedBucknertoresumeoperations,Bucknerdeclinedtodoso.Leeattemptedtohireotherloggers,buthewasunabletopersuadeanyonetotakeuptheloggingjobbecause,inthewordsofLeesbrotherinlaw, [nologgingcompany]wouldcomedowntherewiththehistoryandreputationof[Strickland].  8`.8    ` Atthetimeoftrial,therehadbeennoadditional harvestingofthesubjecttimber.Aconsultingforestertestifiedthat12trees,apparentlycutbyBucknerscrew,werestillontheground;thatseveraltreeshadblownoverduetotheloggingoftreesthathadpreviouslyprovidedashieldfromthewind;andthattheremainingtimberwouldbemoredifficulttoharvestbecauseofthe loggingslashanddebristhatwasleftfromtheearlierlogging.However,hetestifiedthatthebettertreesontheEstatespropertyremainedstandingandthataloggingcompanywouldnothavetobuildasmanyroadstofinishharvestingthetimber.Hefurthertestifiedthatthecurrentmarketpricefortimberapproximatedthemarketpriceatthetimeofthecontract.   ` Stricklanddidnotattendthetrial,buthewasrepresentedbycounsel.Atthetimeoftrial,hewas78yearsoldandhadrecentlyhadonelegamputated.  %  3      כThetrialcourt $  grantedseveralcontinuancesandattemptedtoaccommodateStricklandscomplaintsthathecouldnotnegotiatetherampleadingintothecourthouse.Forexample,thecourtatonetimegrantedacontinuancesothedefendantcouldfindsomeonetobringhimintothecourthouseinhiswheelchair.Thetrialcourtproceededwiththetrialafterdeterminingthat [Strickland]has hadeveryopportunityonnumerousoccasionstobeincourtandhe h0&. justhasnotcooperated.eeee  %  4      כAfterhearingtheplaintiffsproof, P  thetrialcourtawardedLee$15,000plusprejudgmentinterest. @II.StandardofReview H XXXX   ` Ourreviewofthisnonjurycaseisdenovouponthe `  recordoftheproceedingsbelow;however,thatrecordcomestouswithapresumptionthatthetrialcourtsfactualfindingsarecorrect.Rule13(d),T.R.A.P.Wemusthonorthispresumptionunlesswefindthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsfindings. Id .; UnionCarbideCorp.v.Huddleston ,854  S.W.2d87,91(Tenn.1993); MatterofGordon ,980S.W.2d372,  37677(Tenn.App.1998); Quarlesv.Shoemaker ,978S.W.2d551, P 552(Tenn.App.1998).Thetrialcourtsconclusionsoflawarenotaffordedthesamedeference,however,andwereviewthoselegalconclusions denovowithnopresumptionofcorrectness. #h  PremiumFinancev.CrumpIns.Services ,978S.W.2d91,93(Tenn. x%(  1998); Steinv.DavidsonHotelCo .,945S.W.2d714,716(Tenn. @'" 1997).   ` Itiswellsettledthatthetrialcourtisinthebestpositiontoassessthecredibilityofwitnesses;accordingly,suchdeterminationsareentitledtogreatweightonappeal. Quarles ,978S.W.2dat553; Massengalev.Massengale ,915S.W.2d P1'. 818,819(Tenn.App.1995); Bowmanv.Bowman ,836S.W.2d563,566 3(0 (Tenn.App.1991). 4*2 Ї@#III.Analysis  P     `  Afterreviewingtherecordinthiscase,wecannotsay   thattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsfindingthatStricklandsactionsamountedtoatortiousinterferencewithLeesbusinessrelationshipwiththeloggingcompany.   ` Thetortofinterferencewithbusinessrelationsisdefinedin NewLifeCorp.v.ThomasNelson,Inc. ,932S.W.2d921 x  (Tenn.App.1996):  8 ` Thebasicelementswhichestablishaprimafacietortiousinterferencewithabusinessrelationshiparetheexistenceofavalidbusinessrelation(notnecessarilyevidencedbyanenforceablecontract)orexpectancy;knowledgeoftherelationshiporexpectancyonthepartoftheinterferer;anintentionalinterferenceinducingorcausingabreachorterminationoftherelationshiporexpectancy;andresultantdamagetothepartywhoserelationshiporexpectancyhasbeendisrupted. ` `    0 `   `  0` (#` (# &"(#(#  Id .at927(quoting45Am.Jur.2dInterference50(1969)).  %  5      כIt x(($ isclearfromtherecordinthiscasethata validbusinessrelationexistedbetweenLeeandBuckner,andthatStricklandwasawarethatBucknerintendedtoharvestthetimberfromLeespropertypursuanttothatrelationship.ItisfurtherclearthatonnumerousoccasionsStricklandconfrontedBucknerandhisemployeesinanaggressive,threateningmanner.Bucknertestifiedthatheleftthejobwithoutharvestingthebesttimber,because 5+4 Ї  8 ` itwasbecomingalifethreateningsituation.Asituationgettingworse.Itwastimetoquit.[Strickland]wasgettingmoreboldandharassϜ[sic]withhisstatements...itwasanowinsituation.Eithergetshotorshootsomebody.... ` `  ^-ThisconductisindicativeoftheillwillormalicethatStricklandfelttowardstheharvestingofthetimberontheEstatesproperty.Maliceorillwillisanecessaryelementofatortiousinterferencewithbusinessrelations. Lannv.Third   Nat.BankinNashville, 277S.W.2d439,440(Tenn.1955);  `  Testermanv.  Tragesser, 789S.W.2d553,55657(Tenn.App.1989). x(    ` ThetrialcourtheardtestimonyfromBucknertouchingonthefirstthreeelementsofthesubjecttort.Fromthistestimony,itdeterminedthatStricklandsconduct definitelycreatedtheproblem.Aswehavepreviouslystated,thetrialcourtisinthebestpositiontoassessthecredibilityofawitness. Quarles ,978S.W.2dat553; Massengale ,915S.W.2dat 0%  819; Bowman ,836S.W.2dat566.Therefore,weacceptthetrial &" courtaccreditedtestimonyofBuckner.Thisbeingthecase,wecannotsaythattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsfindingthatStricklandsconductsatisfiesthefirstthreeelementsofthetortunderdiscussion.   ` Proofofdamagesisrequiredtomakeoutaprimafaciecaseofinterferencewithbusinessrelations. NewLifeCorp. , 2`(0 932S.W.2dat927.Intheinstantcase,thereisnoquestionbutthattheEstate\was\]incurred]񛀜damage^d^_s_whenBucknerrefusedtocompletethejobbecauseofStricklandsconduct.Thetrialcourtheardtestimonyfromaconsultingforestertotheeffectthat,although p9 /8 thebesttimberremain`ed`asastandingontheproperty,harvestingitϜwbouldbcillcbemoreexpensivebecauseofStricklandstortiousconduct:   ` Q:8 Asalogger,excuseme,asaforesternot H logger,but[asa]foresteryouhavetheknowledgeoflogging,inyouropinionwoulditcostmorenowtologthisparticularpieceofpropertyasopposedtofinishingbackin1993?      ` A:8 Itwouldexceptforthereisanadvantageof   theroadbeingintherenow.Sothepersonwhocomesinnowwouldnothavetobuildasmanyroads,butstillitwouldbedistractingforsomeonetogothroughtheloggingtogetwhatgoodtimberisleft.Buttheroadbuildingwouldbeoffsetthatsomewhat.   ̀***   ` Q:8 Doyouthinkthiswouldbehavedifficulty \  ingettingaloggertocomeandfixthisup?      `         ` A:8 Mostloggersdontwanttofollowup  somebody,theirmessthatsjustthebottomline.Anditwouldntattractforthepriceofthetimber.   Ѐ̀***     ` Q:8 Youdontthinkthatyoucouldgetalogger %T! togointhereforfiftypercentoftheprofit,Imean,fiftypercentofthesalepriceforthetreestodoit?Thatswhatthiswas.      ` A:8 No.Thatdefeatsyoumightcoulddoitfor *L ' twentyfivetothirtypercent[tothelandowner].   Q<̀   ` ThetrialcourtdeterminedthatLeeshouldbeawarded .p$, $15,000indamagesplusprejudgmentinterest.Basedonourde h0&. novo  reviewoftheevidenceintherecord,wecannotsaythat (2'0 thisawardisexcessive.Rule13(d),T.R.A.P.Thetrialcourthaswidediscretiontoaffixareasonableamountofdamagesinanonjurycaseaslongastheamountiswithinthecredibleproofestablishedattrialandwithintherangeofreasonablenessas 8.8 definedbytheSupremeCourt. Ellisv.WhiteFreightliner  Corp. , P  603S.W.2d125,12627(Tenn.1980).   ` AlthoughStricklandurgesustograntaremittituronappeal,wearedisinclinedtodoso.Itisclearfromtherecordthatthetrialcourtsawardofdamagesisconsistentwiththecredibleproofadducedattrialandthatitisreasonablebasedontherecordbeforeus. Ellis ,603S.W.2dat12627.   Ѐ   ` Leealsoraisesanissueinhisbriefregardingtheamountofdamages.#XXXX#XXXXԀHearguesthatthejudgmentisinsufficient   andthat,inanyevent,theEstateisentitledtotrebledamagesunderT.C.A.4750109.However,hedidnotalludetothisstatuteinhiscomplaint,noristhereanymentionofthiscontentionintherecordbeforeus.Itiswellsettledthat    8 ` [t]hisCourtcanonlyconsidersuchmattersaswerebroughttotheattentionofthetrialcourtandacteduponor[pretermitted]bythetrialcourt. ` `   StewartTitleGuarantyCo.v.FDIC ,936S.W.2d266,271(Tenn.App * ' 1996)(quoting Irvinv.Binkley ,577S.W.2d677,679(Tenn.App. ,T") 1978)).Thisissuewasnotraisedbelow;therefore,itwasandiswaivedasfarasthisappealisconcerned. CivilServices 0%- MeritBd.  ofTheCityofKnoxvillev.Burson, 816S.W.2d725,735 1'/ (Tenn.1991).̜d  6,5 d@hh#IV.Conclusion P     ` Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costson   appealaretaxedtotheappellant.Thiscaseisremandedtothe x( trialcourtforsuchfurtherproceedingsasmaybenecessaryandforthecollectionofcostsassessedbelow,allpursuanttoapplicablelaw. 8     `    `     h     __________________________ 0    `  CharlesD.Susano,Jr.,J.CONCUR:________________________HoustonM.Goddard,P.J.̜______________________i__iHerschelP.Franks,J.#XXXXA#