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ÑM8m^>ÒG[‘ü ãeî[ê úá^L–I=˳áêÍ Äݾ©‹ÙÊÊ ?Ç·0´øIX?<šÂ÷¼ƒ“Xä*ô Ët üÏÓ·*Å€<)qCT@„…Ã/4\ÏIzN¦÷1T¨Ÿ„É:¶õº€¼#ßÐAèÞý\©¿ú­ë„f$wfλœ’ôh°0~Vê;’4b®¢wˆ6 Tò¬v'µòYy<Â*7¯ö•ç)І±O5 ¥4åßíÓ‡Œ+æ÷VÂÜv!—Ñcõ@ÐH€Ìhmì¦Ç ß—Kõrå9áô°Ða¸{¹ýºÜvƒ:Ç%$“ç_iGØ ¬Kãm_ptfÔ•û…— ¹öE‹±-®­XIÈ ‚!l+îæ¤b¾Â¤4›×Vðúr5–ƒø “iõŒé/Ð`)bpvl ŒÂnÌiô©²ßÒþ€Ô¬×£ =è–5ìy0u øô`# @U NK %™ 0(Ÿw@Ç4  * D b L :T Ž 0P U:ß  U:                AQU Ʀ 0Dl l 0D° ° D/ô B# B@ D3]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] 0D AÔ D?S BG’˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡  e U D D D  D Ó€  ©yË&tttttt3|x waiver- ù- 0Ñ#€O@Xÿÿd#ÑÑ € Ñ ÷Ý ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X™DXXXÔÔ€YXX™DÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X™DXYÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€1,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó((3/Q$««Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ d Ô,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular øÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X™DXXXÔÔ€YXX™DÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X™DXYÔÐ  ÐÌJune€23,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular!"T$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝTyúÿ  <<= 8fæÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ____3 TripledxdCTriple 1+| d d dÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ݛҀ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ‡¼l ¼XXÔÓ'€Ð‡Xè“X°œX'ÓÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ  ÑÑ€ foÑœñ ññ ññ ññ ñœñ ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô±` 8ttxP,°ð  rßñ ññ ññ ññ ññ ñßt€ )>.*jx„¦` `€€@ELV` 8ttxP„°( ¦ tßñ ññ ññ ññ ññ ñ›ñ ñLORI€PARR,€SUE€MURRAY,à 8 àà  à)Ð ° Ðñ ññ ñOLLIE€STUART,€KEVINà 8 àà  à)Ð À Ðñ ñœßt€ )>.*jxY` `€€@ELé` 8ttxP„Ð(  tß›ñ ñSELLERS,€MARY€LOU€DAVY,à  à)Ð Ð  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)ÌÓ6€ü(‚X˜‘X€Ð‡Xè“X6Óà Ø àPlaintiffs/Appellantsà  à)à  àAppeal€No.Ð ð@ Ðà Ø àà  à)à  à01„A„01„9811„CV„00573Ð  P Ðv.à Ø àà  à)Ð  ` Ðà Ø àà  à)à  àRutherford€CircuitÐ  p ÐTOWER€MANAGEMENT€à  à)à  àNo.€36015Ð 0 € ÐCOMPANY,€CEDAR€PARKà  à)Ð @  ÐMOBILE€HOME€ESTATES,à  à)Ð P   ÐCATHY€BORN,€ANN€SNELL,à  à)Ð `°  Ðà Ø àà  à)Ìà Ø àDefendants/Appellees.à  à)à  àÐ €Ð  Ðà Ø àà  à)ÌÌÌÔ#†X†aX¼¼l 8#ÔÔ‡»ì »XX†aÔÓ  ÓCOURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÐ À ÐÌÌAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€FOR€ÌRUTHERFORD€COUNTYÌAT€MURFREESBORO,€TENNESSEEÌÌÌTHE€HONORABLE€ROBERT€E.€CORLEW,€JUDGEÌÓ9°,X‚Xì“X€ü(‚X˜‘X9ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓLORI€PARR,€Pro€SeÌ1784€West€Northfield€Blvd.,€Box€267ÌMurfreesboro,€Tennessee€€37129ÌÌSUE€MURRAY€STEWART,€Pro€SeÌ1263€Wenlon€DriveÌMurfreesboro,€Tennessee€€37130ÌÔ#†X†aX»»ì ¨#ÔÔ‡¼l ¼XX†aÔÌÌœñ ñBARBARA€J.€PERUTELLIÌSchulman,€LeRoy€&€BennettÌ501€Union€Street,€7th€FloorÌP.€O.€Box€190676ÌNashville,€Tennessee€€37219„0676ñ ñ›ÌÌÌÓ  ÓAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌñ ñÑ foÑÑ7€†aXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  ÑÑ foÑÑ#€O@Xÿÿd#ÑÑ € ÑÑ  Ññ ñÌœñ ñÐ à:063î Ðñ ñ›ñ ñÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ñÓ  Óœñ ñÐ à:063 ЛÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ññ ñÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ññ ñÐ à:063 ЛÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ññ ñÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ññ ñÐ à:063 Ðñ ñ›ñ ñÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ññ ñÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ñà @ àà @ì àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEÐ à:0639 ÐÑ foÑÑ7€†aXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ñÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ññ ñÑ foÑÑ7€ÆfXXdìXXdì7ÑÑ€ ÑÑ  Ññ ñÓÓÓ  ÓòòÔ#†X†aX¼¼l `#ÔÔ‡°1°XX†aÔOPINIONóóÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÔ#†X†aX°°1U#ÔÓ€ÓÓ9°,X°4ì“X°,X‚Xì“X9ÓÔ€¼l ¼XX†aÔà  àThis€case€started€with€a€five€page€complaint€in€the€Circuit€Court€ofÐ T¤ ÐRutherford€County,€Tennessee€and€expanded€to€occupy€the€known€universe.ÌÌà  àPlaintiffs,€Lori€Parr,€Sue€Murray,€Ollie€Stuart,€Kevin€Sellers€and€MaryÏLou€Davy,€employed€attorney,€Lawrence€H.€Hart,€to€file€suit€against€TowerÏManagement€Company,€Cedar€Park€Mobile€Home€Estates,€Cathy€Born,€and€AnnÏSnell,€collectively€and€individually.ÌÌà  àSuit€was€filed€December€27,€1995,€alleging€that€Plaintiffs€were€presentÏand€former€lessees€of€mobile€home€lots€in€Cedar€Park€Mobile€Home€Estates.€€TheÏcomplaint€charged€all€Defendants€with€being€".€.€.€deliberately€and€wilfullyÏengaged€in€a€course€of€unfair,€deceptive,€unlawful€and€outrageous€conduct€whichÏvictimized€and€caused€injury€to€the€plaintiffs€and€other€residents€of€the€mobileÏhome€park."€€Among€the€practices€alleged€were€unlawful€ouster€and€eviction€fromÏtheir€respective€lots,€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Consumer€Protection€Act,Ïintentional€infliction€of€emotional€harm,€and€unlawful€ouster€under€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€section€66„28„504.€€Plaintiffs€sought€treble€damages€under€theÏConsumer€Protection€Act,€punitive€damages€and€compensatory€damages.ÌÌà  àBy€amended€complaint€filed€December€28,€1995,€William€Steel,€LoginÏBoggs,€and€Mary€Jane€Boggs€were€added€as€individual€Defendants.ÌÌà  àExtensive€discovery€followed€and€Plaintiffs€ultimately€filed€a€motion€toÏadd€additional€Plaintiffs€while€Defendants€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment.ÌÌà  àOn€January€9,€1998,€the€following€order€was€entered:ÌÓ€ÓÓ<€ü(€ ä è“X°,X°4ì“X<Óà8  àà ä àThis€cause€came€on€further€to€be€considered€by€the€CourtÏon€three€separate€issues,€first€a€motion€to€add€additionalÏPlaintiffs,€opposed€by€the€Defendants;€second€a€motion€of€theÏDefendants€for€summary€judgment,€opposed€by€the€Plaintiffs;Ïand€third€a€joint€motion€of€the€parties€that€the€cause€set€forÏtrial€January€12,€1998€be€continued€in€order€to€allow€theÏmatter€to€be€presented€through€arbitration,€and€from€the€entireÏfile€in€this€cause,€the€Court€finds€that€the€first€two€motionsÐ 49„4= Ðshould€be€denied€and€that€the€joint€motion€should€be€granted.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àIT€IS€THEREFORE€ORDERED€that€the€motion€to€addÏadditional€Plaintiffs€is€denied.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àIT€IS€THEREFORE€ORDERED€that€the€Defendants'Ïmotion€for€summary€judgment€is€denied.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àFINALLY€IT€IS€ORDERED€that€the€joint€motion€of€theÏparties€to€continue€the€trial€from€the€setting€of€January€12,Ï1998€is€granted,€and€the€joint€motion€to€proceed€to€arbitrationÏpursuant€to€the€provisions€of€òòTennessee€Code€Annotated€óóðð29„Ð 0 € Ð5„101,€òòet€seq.óó€is€granted.€€Further€this€cause€shall€remain€onÐ @  Ðthe€active€docket€in€this€court€through€May€31,€1998,€notÏsubject€to€further€orders€of€dismissal€prior€to€that€time,€subjectÏto€further€proceedings€pursuant€to€the€provisions€of€òòTennesseeÐ pÀ  ÐCode€Annotated€óóðð29„5„118.ЀР Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àCosts€are€reserved€pending€the€entry€of€the€final€order€inÏthis€cause.Ð  Ð  Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓÌà  àOn€January€12,€1998,€the€trial€court€entered€the€following€order:ÌÓ€Óà8  àà ä àAs€evidenced€by€signature€of€counsel€for€the€respectiveÏparties€hereto,€it€is€agreed€that€the€parties€shall€resolve€allÏdisputes€by€submitting€them€to€arbitration.€€The€ArbitratorÏshall€determine€all€issues€in€this€cause€including€theÏassessment€of€discretionary€costs€and€court€costs.€€The€costsÏof€arbitration€shall€be€shared€equally€by€plaintiffs€andÏdefendants.Ð  Ð  Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓÌà  àWith€no€further€orders€of€the€court€the€case€was€heard€on€arbitration€byÏJudge€Joe€C.€Loser€on€March€5,€1998.€€Lawrence€H.€Hart€appeared€as€counsel€forÏthe€plaintiffs€and€Barbara€J.€Perutelli€appeared€as€counsel€for€the€defendants€€AllÏof€the€plaintiffs,€including€Lori€Parr€and€Sue€Murray,€fully€participated€in€theÏarbitration€hearing.€€The€arbitrator€took€the€case€under€advisement€and€on€MarchÏ31,€1998,€issued€a€twenty€page€"arbitration€award"€finding€in€favor€of€theÏplaintiffs€and€against€the€defendants.€€In€this€arbitration€award€Judge€Loser€held,Ïin€part:ÌÓ€Óà8  àà ä àThereafter,€in€1994,€the€rules€and€regulations€wereÏchanged€by€adding€rule€6a,€which€states:Ð  Ð  Ð  ÐÓ?€ü(€ ä ñ@’X€ü(€ ä è“X?Óà8  àà8ä  Ð  Ð àà ñ àAll€homes€moving€into€the€community€mustÏnot€be€older€than€eight€(8)€years€old,€and€approvedÏby€management.Ð ä ðä ð Ðà8  àà ä àThe€new€rule€was€interpreted€to€mean€that€any€buyer€ofÏthe€plaintiffs'€mobile€homes,€all€of€which€were€older€thanÏeight€years,€would€be€required€to€remove€the€mobile€homeÏfrom€the€park.€€The€interpretation€caused€the€plaintiffs'€mobileÐ H9˜47 Ðhomes€to€lose€value,€for€which€no€compensation€was€offeredÏor€paid.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àUnder€such€circumstances,€the€action€of€Cedar€Park€wasÏunfair€and€deceptive€in€violation€of€the€Tennessee€ConsumerÏProtection€Act,€and€Cedar€Park€is€thus€liable€to€the€plaintiffs,Ïand€each€of€them,€for€their€"actual€damages,"€which,€under€theÏcircumstances€of€these€cases,€is€either€the€difference€in€valueÏof€the€mobile€home€immediately€before€and€after€the€changedÏrule€for€selling€older€homes€or,€if€the€evidence€does€notÏestablish€the€before€and€after€values,€the€reasonable€cost€ofÏrelocating€the€home€to€a€similar€location.€€The€most€credibleÏevidence€of€the€reasonable€relocation€cost€was€the€$1,500.00Ïestimate€by€Mr.€Boggs.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àThe€arbitrator€finds€the€following€actual€damages€to€haveÏbeen€established€from€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence:Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà8ä  Ð  Ð àà ñ àMary€Lou€Davy,€$5,000.00,€representing€theÏdifference€between€the€before€and€after€value€of€herÏhome;Ð ä ðä ð Ðà8  àà8ä  Ð  Ð àà ñ àLori€Parr,€$1,500.00,€representing€theÏreasonable€cost€of€relocation;Ð ä ðä ð Ðà8  àà8ä  Ð  Ð àà ñ àSue€Murray,€$1,500.00,€representing€theÏreasonable€relocation€costòò7óó;€andÐPä ðä ð Ðà8  àà8ä  Ð  Ð àà ñ àKevin€Sellers,€$10,500.00,€representing€theÏdifference€between€[the€between]€the€before€andÏafter€value€of€his€home.Ð ä ðä ð Ðà8  àà ä àAdditionally,€and€as€the€Act€provides,€each€of€theÏplaintiffs€may€recover€a€reasonable€attorney's€fee€notÏexceeding€one„third€of€his€or€her€recovery.€€If€the€parties€areÏunable€to€agree€on€the€reasonable€value€of€the€servicesÏprovided€by€plaintiffs'€counsel,€an€additional€evidentialÏhearing€may€be€requested.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àThe€arbitrator€finds€that€the€defendants'€violation€of€theÏConsumer€Protection€Act€was€not€willful€or€wanton.€€Thus,Ïthis€is€not€an€appropriate€case€for€an€award€of€treble€damages.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà  à______________________Ìà  àòò7€óóOllie€Stewart€has€no€separate€claim.Ð à)0%# ÐÌÓ€ÓÌà  àOn€April€15,€1978,€the€defendants€paid€the€arbitration€award,€includingÏattorney€fees€and€one„half€of€the€arbitrator's€fee€into€the€Circuit€Court€ofÏRutherford€County.ÌÌà  àAt€this€point,€Plaintiff,€Lori€Parr,€allied€with€Plaintiff,€Sue€Murray,€firedÏtheir€attorney,€Lawrence€H.€Hart,€and€proceeded€thereafter€to€representÏthemselves.ÌÐ À845 Ðà  àThereafter,€hundreds€of€pages€of€documents€reflecting€little€regard€forÏRules€of€Procedure€or€Rules€of€Law,€are€set€forth€in€this€record,€bitterly€secondÏguessing€the€trial€tactics€of€Attorney€Hart€and€attacking,€with€near€equal€vigor,€theÏactions€of€Attorney€Perutelli.ÌÌà  àReturning€now€to€the€correct€procedural€and€substantive€track,€it€is€firstÏnoted€that,€although€Lori€Parr€and€Sue€Murray€participated€and€testified€in€a€fullÏhearing€before€the€arbitrator€on€March€8,€1998,€we€are€favored€with€no€evidentiaryÏtranscript€of€that€hearing.€€Keeping€in€mind€that€the€defendants€cast€before€theÏarbitratorñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€have€paid€the€judgment€in€full€into€the€registry€of€the€ñ ñœñ ñcourt;ñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€and€ñ ñœñ ñthatÏonlyñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€certain€of€the€prevailing€plaintiffs,€who€are€dissatisfied€with€their€respectiveÏawards€ñ ñœñ ñseekñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€to€disavow€the€ñ ñœñ ñarbitration;€we€proceed.ñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñÌÌà  àWeaving€our€way€through€the€seemingly€endless€objections€interposedÏby€Plaintiffs€Parr€and€Murray,€we€reach€the€review€by€the€trial€judge€of€the€actionsÏof€the€arbitrator.€€The€trial€judge€is€ñ ñœñ ñbound,ñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€as€are€we,€by€the€stringent€limitationsÏset€forth€in€òòArnold€v.€Morgan€Keegan€&€Co.,€Inc.óó,€914€S.W.2d€445€(Tenn.€1996).€Ð 0€  ÐTherein,€the€Supreme€Court,€in€construing€the€Tennessee€arbitration€statutes,€held:ÌÓ€Óà8  àà ä àWe€begin€with€a€discussion€of€the€standards€of€review€toÏbe€used€by€a€trial€court€when€reviewing€an€arbitration€awardÏand€by€the€Court€of€Appeals€when€reviewing€the€trial€court'sÏjudgment€in€an€arbitration€case.€€Tennessee€has€adopted€theÏUniform€ñ ñœñ ñArbitrationñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€Act,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€29„5„301Ïthrough€320€(Supp.€1995).€€This€Act€"governs€the€scope€ofÏjudicial€review€of€arbitration€awards."€€òòInternational€TalentÐ À'#* ÐGroup,€Inc.€v.€Copyright€ñ ñœñ ñManagement,ñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€Inc.óó,€769€S.W.2d€217,Ð Ð( $+ Ð218€(Tenn.€App.€1988).€€ñ ñœñ ñForñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€guidance,€we€can€look€to€otherÏjurisdictions€which€have€adopted€the€Uniform€Arbitration€Act.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„5„320€("This€part€shall€be€so€construedÏas€to€effectuate€its€general€purpose€to€make€uniform€the€lawÏof€those€states€which€enact€it.").Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àThe€standard€to€be€applied€by€the€trial€court€is€a€narrowÏone.€€It€is€well€established€that€courts€should€play€only€aÏlimited€role€in€reviewing€the€decisions€of€arbitrators.€€òòUnitedÐ P1 ,3 ÐPaperworkers€Int'l€Union,€AFL„CI0€v.€Misco,€Inc.,óó€484€U.S.Ð `2°-4 Ð29,€36,€108€S.Ct.€364,€369,€98€L.Ed.2d€286€(1987).€€Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà8ä  Ð  Ð à[W]here€the€party€has€agreed€to€arbitrate,€he€or€she,Ïin€effect€has€relinquished€much€of€[the€right€to€aÏcourt's€decision€on€the€merits.]€€The€party€still€canÏask€a€court€to€review€the€arbitrator's€decision,€òòbutÐ °739 Ðthe€court€will€set€that€decision€aside€only€in€veryÏunusual€circumstances.ÐÐ9 5;ä ðä ð Ðà8  àFirst€Options€of€Chicago,€Inc.€v.€Kaplan,€_____óó€U.S.€_____,Ð ° Ð_____,€115€S.Ct.€1920,€1923,€131€L.Ed.2d€985€(1995)Ï(emphasis€added)€(citations€omitted).òò2€€óóThe€trial€court€isÐ Ð  Ðlimited€by€the€provisions€of€the€statute€which€allow€a€vacationÏor€modification€of€an€award.€€òòSee€International€Talent€Groupóó,òòÐ ð@ Ðóó769€S.W.2d€at€218.Ð P Ð  Ð  Ðà  à__________________Ìà8  àòò2€óóWhile€òòFirst€Options€of€Chicagoóó€concerns€the€FederalÐ  p ÐArbitration€Act,€we€note€that€the€purpose€of€the€Federal€andÏUniform€Arbitration€Act€is€the€same:€€to€promote€privateÏsettlement€of€disputes,€thereby€bypassing€the€courts.€€As€such,Ïthe€scope€of€review€advanced€by€the€United€States€SupremeÏCourt€has€equal€application€in€a€case€under€the€UniformÏArbitration€Act€to€the€extent€that€such€review€furthers€theÏcommon€goal€of€the€acts.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€*€*€*Ìà8  àà ä àThe€limiting€language€of€the€statutes€governing€vacationÏand€modification€of€arbitration€awards€evidences€an€intent€toÏlimit€òòseverelyóó€the€trial€court's€authority€to€retry€the€issuesÐ Ð  Ðdecided€by€arbitration.€€As€the€New€Mexico€Supreme€CourtÏobserved€in€òòMelton€v.€Lyonóó:€€"It€is€not€the€function€of€theÐ ð@ ÐCourt€to€hear€cases€de€novo€and€consider€evidence€presentedÏto€the€arbitrators,€but€rather€to€conduct€an€evidentiary€hearingÏand€enter€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€upon€eachÏissue€raised€in€the€application€to€vacate€or€modify€the€award."€Ï108€N.M.€ñ ñœñ ñ420,ñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€773€P.2d€732,€733€(1989)€(citation€omitted).€ÏMoreover,€the€trial€court€must€accord€deference€to€theÏarbitrator's€award.Ð  Ð  Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓòòArnold€v.€Morgan€Keegan€Co.,€Inc.óó,€914€S.W.2d€445,€447„48€(Tenn.€1996).Ð €#Ð ÐÌà  àThoroughly€conscious€of€the€limitations€thus€placed€upon€his€authorityÏby€the€Uniform€Arbitration€Statutes€and€the€construction€thereof€by€the€TennesseeÏSupreme€Court,€the€learned€chancellor€held:ÌÓ€Óà8  àà ä àThe€court€has€considered€the€provisions€of€the€statutoryÏand€case€law,€and€has€determined€that€all€Plaintiffs€are€boundÏby€the€decision€of€their€attorney€to€submit€the€matter€toÏbinding€arbitration€combined€with€the€participation€by€theseÏparties€in€the€arbitration€process,€that€the€decision€of€theÏarbitrator€must€be€affirmed,€.€.€.Ð  Ð  Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓÌà  àThis€holding€by€the€chancellor€is€clearly€correct€when€the€actions€of€LoriÏParr€and€Sue€Murray€are€considered€in€the€context€of€the€arbitration€proceeding.€ÏWhile€it€is€true€that€Attorney€Hart€could€not€bind€his€clients€to€compulsoryÏarbitration€without€their€agreement,€and€the€record€does€not€disclose€an€affirmativeÐ H9˜46 Ðagreement€to€arbitrate€by€them,€it€is€equally€true€that€they€have€ratified€his€actionsÏand€cannot€now€be€heard€to€complain€about€the€arbitration.€€The€record€before€thisÏcourt€shows€no€complaint€at€all€by€Parr€or€Murray€until€after€ñ ñœñ ñtheñ ñ›ñ ññ ññ ñ€arbitratorÏdisappointed€them.€€ñ ñœñ ñThe€fully€participated€in€the€proceeding,€testified€before€theÏarbitrator,€consulted€with€their€attorney€ñþ ññý ñfoñý ññþ ññÿ ñbefore€the€arbitratorñÿ ññ ñ›ñ ññÿ ñ,€and€uttered€no€protestÏwhich€would€allow€the€trial€court€to€vacatñÿ ññ ñe€the€award€under€Tennessee€CodeÏAnnotated€section€29„5„313€or€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„5„313€(Supp.Ï1998).€€No€such€protest€is€preserved€for€appellate€review.ñ ññÿ ñ€ñÿ ññ ñ€ñ ñAsñ ñ›ñ ñ€the€chancellor€held,Ïthey€cannot€acquiesce€and€indeed€fully€participate€in€the€arbitration€and€then,Ïdisappointed€with€the€outcome,€disavow€the€action€of€their€attorney€and€agent.ÌÌÓ€Óà8  àIt€is€an€undisputed€principle€of€law€that€where€an€agent€in€theÏfirst€place€exceeds€his€authority,€or€acts€without€authority,Ïsuch€acts€may€become€the€acts€of€the€principal€by€ratification,Ïwhich€may€be€either€expressed€or€implied.€€See€1€Am.€&€Eng.ÏEnc.€Law€(2d€Ed.)€p.€1195,€and€authorities€cited;€McClure€v.ÏEvartson,€14€Lea,€495;€Oil€Works€v.€Jefferson,€2€Lea,€581;ÏWilliams€v.€Storm,€6€Cold.€207;€Evans€v.€Buckner,€1€Heisk,Ï294.€€It€is€further€well„settled€law€that,€if€a€party€does€notÏdisavow€the€acts€of€his€agent€as€soon€as€he€can€after€theyÏcome€to€his€knowledge,€he€makes€these€acts€his€own.€€SeeÏñ ñœñ ñPars.ñ ñ›ñ ñ€Cont.€49,€50,€and€authorities€above€cited.€€In€the€case€ofÏWilliams€v.€Storm€it€is€said:€€"Where€the€principal€has€theÏoption€to€repudiate€the€contract€or€to€ratify€it,€he€is€boundÏpromptly€to€do€either€the€one€or€the€other."€€6€Cold.€207.€€It€isÏstated€in€all€the€authorities€on€these€subjects,€however,€that,Ïbefore€a€ratification€can€be€implied€or€binding,€the€principalÏmust€have€knowledge€of€the€acts€which€he€is€supposed€toÏratify.€€In€some€of€the€cases€it€is€stated€that€he€must€have€fullÏknowledge,€and€in€others€that€he€must€have€knowledge€of€allÏthe€material€facts€and€circumstances.€€See€1€Am.€&€Eng.€Enc.ÏLaw€(2d€Ed.)€p.€1189.€€It€is€also€held€that€knowledge€of€factsÏby€another€agent,€where€the€matter€is€within€the€scope€of€hisÏagency,€is€sufficient.€€See€authority€last€cited,€p.€1192.€€It€isÏfurther€held€that,€if€the€facts€show€ñ ñœñ ña€ratification,ñ ñ›ñ ñ€the€intentionÏof€the€parties€is€immaterial;€so€that,€to€constitute€a€ratification,Ïit€is€not€material€whether€a€ratification€was€contemplated€orÏnot.€€See€Hazard€v.€Spears,€2€Abb.€Dec.€353.€€It€has€furtherÏbeen€held€that€the€conduct€of€the€principal€will€be€liberallyÏconstrued€in€favor€of€a€ratification€or€adoption€of€the€acts€ofÏthe€agent€(see€1€ñ ñœñ ñAm.ñ ñ›ñ ñ€&€Eng.€Enc.€Law.€p.€1195,€andÏauthorities€there€cited);€in€all€the€cases€it€being€held€that,€whenÏa€knowledge€of€the€transaction€comes€to€the€principal,€he€mustÏwith€reasonable€promptness€disaffirm€the€acts€of€the€agent,€orÏhe€will€be€held€bound€thereby.€ÐH9˜47 Ð  Ð  ЇÓ€ÓòòBement€&€Sons€v.€Armstrongóó,€39€S.W.€899,€903€(Tenn.€Chan.€App.€1896).Ð ° Ðñ ñœñ ñÌà  àAfter€affirming€the€decision€of€the€arbitrator,€the€trial€court€orderedÏdistribution€of€the€arbitration€award€as€follows:ÌÓ€Óà8  àà ä àIT€IS€THEREFORE€ORDERED€that€the€Court€approvesÏthe€award€determined€by€the€arbitrator.€€Further€it€is€orderedÏthat€the€Clerk€shall€pay€the€following€sums€to€the€followingÏindividuals:€€to€Plaintiff€Parr€the€sum€of€$1,220.07;€to€PlaintiffÏMurray€the€sum€of€$1,220.07;€to€Plaintiff€Davy€the€sum€ofÏ$4,067.02;€and€to€Plaintiff€Sellers€the€sum€of€$8,541.20;€toÏAttorney€Hart€the€sum€of€$6,166.66€for€attorney's€fees,€andÏthe€sum€of€$1,261.14€as€reimbursement€for€out„of„pocketÏexpenses€for€court€reporter€fees,€advanced€payment€to€theÏarbitrator,€and€long€distance€telephone€charges;€to€ArbitratorÏLoser€the€sum€of€$2,190.50,€representing€half€of€the€cost€ofÏarbitration,€which€must€be€paid€by€the€awards€to€the€Plaintiff.€ÏFurther€it€is€ordered€that€the€requests€for€payment€and€furtherÏreimbursements€for€assistance€in€trial€preparation€submittedÏby€Plaintiff€Parr€must€be€respectfully€denied.€€Further€it€isÏordered€that€Plaintiffs€Parr€and€Murray€shall€proceed€furtherÏin€this€cause€pro€se,€upon€their€request,€and€Attorney€Hart€isÏrelieved€from€further€responsibility€for€representation€of€theseÏPlaintiffs.Ð  Ð  Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓÌà  àThis€order€entered€June€25,€1998,€on€pages€293„295€in€Volume€II€of€theÏrecord,€would€appear€to€have€been€intended€by€the€trial€judge€as€a€final€judgment,Ïbut€294€pages€later,€in€Volume€IV€of€the€transcript€under€date€of€October€26,Ï1998,€the€following€order€appears:ÌÓ€Óà8  àà ä àThis€cause€came€on€to€further€be€considered€by€the€CourtÏon€this€the€26th€day€of€October,€1998,€upon€the€entire€file€inÏthis€cause,€from€all€of€which€the€Court€finds€that€the€pendingÏmotions€for€a€new€trial,€and€to€alter€or€amend€the€priorÏjudgment€must€be€respectfully€denied,€and€the€Order€of€JuneÏ25,€1998€shall€be€affirmed,€and€made€the€final€order€of€theÏCourt€in€this€cause,€and€that€all€other€pending€motions€must€beÏrespectfully€denied.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àIt€is€therefore€ordered€that€the€Court€approves€the€awardÏdetermined€by€the€arbitrator.€€It€is€further€ordered€that€theÏClerk€shall€pay€the€following€sums€to€the€followingÏindividuals:Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà  àà ä àTo€Plaintiff,€Parr,€the€sum€of€$€1220.07;Ìà  àà ä àTo€Plaintiff,€Murray(Stewart),€the€sum€of€$€1220.07;Ìà  àà ä àTo€Plaintiff,€Davy,€the€sum€of€$€4067.02;Ìà  àà ä àTo€Plaintiff,€Sellers,€the€sum€of€$€8541.20;Ìà8  àà ä àTo€Attorney,€Hart,€the€sum€of€$€6166.66€for€attorney'sÐ H9˜46 Ðfees,€and€the€sum€of€$€1261.14€as€reimbursement€for€out€ofÏpocket€expenses€for€Court€Reporter€fees,€advanced€paymentÏto€the€arbitrator,€and€long€distance€telephone€charges;Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àTo€Arbitrator,€Loser,€the€sum€of€$€2190.50,€representingÏone„half€of€the€cost€of€arbitration€(the€other€one„half€havingÏbeen€previously€paid€to€him€by€the€Defendants).Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àFurther€it€is€ordered€that€the€request€for€payments€andÏfurther€reimbursements€for€assistance€in€trial€preparationÏsubmitted€by€Plaintiff,€Parr€must€be€respectfully€denied.€€AllÏfurther€pending€motions€are€also€respectfully€denied.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àCosts€in€the€cause,€including€a€$€30.00€cost€of€service€ofÏprocess€are€taxed€against€the€Defendants€up€to,€through,€andÏincluding,€all€costs€of€the€entry€of€the€June€25,€1998€Order,Ïbut€the€costs€incurred€after€June€25,€1998€must€be€paid€by€Ms.ÏParr.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà  àà ä àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€AS€ABOVE.Ìà  àà ä àEnter€this€the€òòòò€€26th€€óóóó€day€of€òòòò€€October€€óóóó,€1998.Ð ° ÐÌÓ€ÓÌà  àFrom€this€October€26,€1998€order,€Lori€Parr€and€Sue€Murray€appealed.ÌÌà  àThe€voluminous€record€on€appeal€reveals€neither€verbatim€transcript€norÏRule€24(c)€statement,€preserving€any€evidence€heard€by€the€trial€judge€at€any€ofÏthe€hearings€in€this€case.ÌÌà  àThis€court€has€held:ÌÓ€Óà8  àOur€ability€to€deal€with€this€issue€is€hampered€by€the€absenceÏof€either€a€transcript€of€the€proceedings€in€the€trial€court€or€aÏstatement€of€the€evidence€prepared€in€accordance€with€Tenn.ÏR.€App.€P.€24(c).Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà8  àà ä àWhen€a€trial€court€decides€a€case€without€a€jury,€it'sÏfindings€of€fact€are€presumed€to€be€correct€unless€the€evidenceÏin€the€record€preponderates€against€them.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.Ï13(d).€€This€court€cannot€review€the€facts€de€novo€without€anÏappellate€record€containing€the€facts,€and€therefor,€we€mustÏassume€that€the€record,€had€it€been€preserved,€would€haveÏcontained€sufficient€evidence€to€support€the€trial€court'sÏfactual€findings.€€òòMcDonald€v.€Onohóó,€772€S.W.2d€913,€914Ð @0+- Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989);€òòIrvin€v.€City€of€Clarksvilleóó,€767Ð P1 ,. ÐS.W.2d€649,€653€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1987);€òòGotten€v.€Gottenóó,Ð `2°-/ Ð748€S.W.2d€430,€432€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988).Ð  Ð  Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓòòSherrod€v.€Wixóó,€849€S.W.2d€780,€783€(Tenn.€App.€1992).Ð 5à02 ÐÌœñ ñÐ À846 Ðñ ñ›à  àPro€se€Appellantsòò€óófiled,€with€the€trial€court,€what€purports€to€be€a€RuleÐ ° Ð24(c)€statement€of€the€proceedings€before€the€arbitrator€on€March€5,€1998.€€ThisÏdocument€is€not€approved€by€the€trial€judge€in€conformity€with€Rule€24(f),€and€isÏnot,€in€fact,€a€statement€of€evidence€but€simply€another€rambling€complaint€againstÏthe€lawyers€in€the€case.€€Typical€of€its€contents€is€the€following:ÌÓ€Óà8  àà ä àThe€plaintiffs€Sue€Murray€and€Lori€Parr€submit€theÏfollowing€statement€to€the€Court€of€what€occurred€at€theÏarbitration€hearing€of€March€5,€1998.€€No€transcript€of€theÏhearing€is€available€because€the€plaintiffs'€former€attorney,ÏLawrence€Hart,€refused€to€comply€with€the€plaintiffs'€requestÏfor€a€court€reporter€to€be€present€at€the€arbitration€hearing€byÏstating€to€the€plaintiffs€"Who's€going€to€pay€for€it,€are€you?€ÏI'm€certainly€not."€€Therefore,€the€plaintiffs'€will€present€to€theÏCourt€their€recollection€of€what€transpired€at€the€arbitrationÏhearing€with€respect€to€those€issues€that€are€the€bases€of€theÏplaintiffs'€appeal,€as€per€Rules€of€Appellate€procedure,€RuleÏ24€C.Ð  Ð  Ð  Ðà  àà ä àà ñ à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€*€*€*Ìà8  àà ä àIn€reference€to€the€defendants'€attorney€Perutelli'sÏResponse€to€the€plaintiffs'€Murray€and€Parr's€Motions€ToÏMake€Additional€Findings€Of€Fact,€Motions€To€Alter€OrÏAmend/Alter€Judgment,€and€Motion€For€A€New€Trial,€pageÏ3,€in€regards€to€plaintiff€Murray€and€Parr's€"displeasure",Ïplaintiffs€Murray€and€Parr€do€hereby€state€to€this€HonorableÏCourt€that€the€true€displeasure€of€plaintiffs€Parr€and€MurrayÏare€that€two€officers€of€the€Court€„€one€who€was€supposed€toÏbe€representing€and€protecting€their€best€interests€„€insteadÏchose€to€fabricate€a€false€story€to€the€arbitrator,€to€theÏplaintiffs,€and€to€the€trial€Court,€eventually€deceiving€thisÏHonorable€Court€into€confirming€an€arbitration€award€thatÏwas€not€based€upon€truth,€but€instead€was€based€upon€falseÏfacts,€and€deliberate€lies.Ð  Ð  Ð  ÐÌÓ€ÓÌà  àWithout€a€verbatim€transcript€of€the€arbitration€proceedings€or€someÏother€kind€of€transcript,€the€trial€court€was€hardly€in€a€position€to€review€the€awardÏof€the€arbitrator€under€the€narrow€standard€of€review€provided€by€the€UniformÏArbitration€Act.€€òòArnold€v.€Morgan€Keegan€&€Co.,€Inc.óó,€914€S.W.2d€445,€448Ð È0,. Ð(Tenn.€1996).ÌÌà  àAs€we€labor€under€the€same€handicaps,€along€with€the€additionalÏhandicap€of€having€no€transcript€of€any€of€the€proceedings€that€occurred€beforeÏthe€trial€judge,€we€have€no€basis€on€which€to€find€the€decision€of€the€trial€judge€toÐ À848 Ðbe€"clearly€erroneous"€under€the€standards€applicable€to€appellate€court€review.€ÏòòArnold€v.€Morgan€Keegan€&€Co,€Inc.óó,€914€S.W.2d€445,€449€(Tenn.€1996).Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àWe€have€no€choice€but€to€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€chancellor.ÌÌà  àThe€appellees€assert€that€the€trial€court€was€in€error€in€failing€to€grantÏsummary€judgment€to€the€appellees€rather€than€submitting€the€case€to€arbitration.ÌÌà  àWe€affirm€the€chancellor's€decision€that€material€issues€of€fact€existedÏand€summary€judgment€was€improper.ÌÌà  àDefendants€seek€damages€for€frivolous€appeal.ÌÌà  àWhile€it€is€true€that€these€pro€se€litigants€have€burdened€the€courts€andÏcounsel€with€a€deluge€of€unnecessary€and€improper€documentation,€mostly€as€toÏmatters€not€properly€drawn€in€issue€in€this€case,€it€must€be€observed€that€noÏagreement€executed€by€Parr€and€Murray€appears€in€this€record€for€submitting€theÏcase€to€arbitration€rather€than€to€trial.€€They€are€bound€by€the€arbitration€becauseÏtheir€voluntary€participation€therein€constituted€ratification€of€the€otherwiseÏunauthorized€(as€far€as€the€record€shows)€action€of€Mr.€Hart€in€agreeing€toÏarbitration.€€The€application€for€frivolous€appeal€damages€will€be€denied.ÌÌà  àAll€costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€against€Lori€Parr€and€Sue€Murray€andÏthe€judgment€of€the€chancellor€is€in€all€respects€affirmed.€€The€cause€is€remandedÏto€the€trial€court€for€the€purpose€of€collecting€costs.ÌÌÌÓ€ÓÓE€ ü(€ ä ñV@’X€ü(€ ä ñ@’XEÓà  àà ä àà ñ àà V à_____________________________________Ìà  àà ä àà ñ àà V àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEÌœñ ñÌñ ñ›ÌCONCUR:ÌÌœñ ñÌñ ñ______________________________________›ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€P.J.,€M.S.Ìœñ ñÌñ ñ›Ì______________________________________ÌPATRICIA€J.€COTTRELL,€JUDGEà @ àà ˜ àñ ñœñ ñ