’WPCź „·qė”ŲL•;,Œ%i3é³ĆE½.+ĖźŠ9$7xöV×.ōč­ĒrÕÕŻtGøäŚ5Y„ógyÖę”/cmXģb(9Ö¾OżčłįŖm±Āt¤#Ģhņ9Éa…f0‡X’ꁎ’)‘zģåĀ¤Ž_"Øiø,Čx\ōm†:ģ˜oN]ŽaįfkLélN£C “Ÿ¾ĀĮ čš£ Å Łģ›ŹCč„0óז<½ĆĖŽüA\¦(MĆx'ŲŖY™yłĘžĀ¦Ā7\1œ Īh9Č·«Õ4×ŌYņēVZ—$?*ėcdw:ģQŚ\„wƒiZ®·jN‚NJÅ ³•‰u»K‹=+×_ŗ‰Ė—¼óŻĢRŃ'uqßQ’fę L}#¦¹<£ūhńö£sa×ŖĆłÜāąA,•Čµć*遊XŚ„–;؃+æŽļ¶”—,ÕńŹW¼ixźHI/Œ6bųl“æßąšØM§ķšb$Aę‘åQ6æhJ†’ a¾·¶wz~—ƒœd&ŚĆčGŁ¬—Wėõ·L6ef-—UNzōNėGÓe8wkSBźw­ õŸ„‚U›m įĻŖŲ<ė=*,E’TI¦/ā¬.”'q0 /nŻeˆ…# F UNQ %Ÿ 0ū„ UN  wšī 4ˆ œ ś« B„ 0?Ā 0D)EnU:ŒŒŒŒĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘĘ D3ĪĪĪ 0D AOEʔ” 0DZ D/ž BĶ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLŠ(ČhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(ÓŒ $””Ń7€1dX»d»Xdš7ŃŃ  ŃŅ°ŅŅH°ŅŌ€¼±g¼»I»ŌŃTR[¤ AŲ'’ Legal[¤ AŲ'’ Legal AŲ'’ Legal AŲ'’ LegalTŃ(¶ĶY Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularėDģķDīļDšńDņóōõöD÷ųłDśUūüDżžU’UEӀżhµ&3|x šŻ ƒ ˆō$ŻŅ°ŅŅH°ŅŌ€¼»¼XXŌą ` ąņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ€XµX¼¼»ŌŌ‡X·BXXXµŌŌ‡¼ż6¼XX·BŌą ø ąŌ#†X·BX¼¼ż6¼#ŌThese€transactions€consisted€of€(1)€a€real€estate€endeavor€called€Movieland,€(2)Š ° Ša€shopping€center€complex€referred€to€as€Franklin€Plaza,€(3)€an€office€building€in€Bristol,ĻTennessee,€leased€to€the€State€of€Tennessee,€and€(4)€a€business€called€World€Tech€Fibers.Ģą ` ąThe€Movieland€property€was€titled€solely€to€Sherrod,€but€Mooneyhan€signed€the€bankĻnote€and€was€equally€responsible€for€the€debt€owed€against€this€property.€€There€was€noĻdocumentation€to€show€that€Mooneyhan€was€a€fifty„percent€owner€of€the€Movieland€Property.€ĻSherrodššs€accountant,€Joe€Wiseman,€was€not€even€aware€of€the€identity€of€Sherrodššs€partnerĻfor€a€number€of€years.Ģą ` ąThe€Franklin€Plaza€property€was€titled€to€Mooneyhan.€€The€oral€agreement€betweenĻSherrod€and€Mooneyhan€provided€that€Mooneyhan€would€pay€his€portion€of€the€investment€inĻfull€and€Sherrod€would€borrow€his€portion.€€The€real€estate€stood€as€collateral€for€SherrodššsĻinvestment.€€Also,€the€note€and€Deed€of€Trust€were€signed€solely€by€Mooneyhan.Ģą ` ąThe€Bristol€property€was€financed€in€the€same€manner.€€While€both€partnersšš€namesĻappeared€on€the€deed,€only€Sherrodššs€part€of€the€investment€was€financed€and€the€Deed€ofĻTrust€and€Note€securing€this€financing€were€signed€by€both€Mooneyhan€and€Sherrod.€€Also,Ļthe€property€and€Mooneyhanššs€equity€in€said€property€stood€as€collateral€for€Sherrodššs€loan.Ģą ` ąThe€business€known€as€World€Tech€Fibers,€a€manufacturing€concern,€was€purchased€inĻ1984€by€Sherrod€and€Mooneyhan.€€Their€indebtedness€with€reference€to€this€business€at€oneĻtime€reached€$275,000.00,€which€was€borrowed€solely€by€Mooneyhan.€€Sherrod€never€signedĻa€note€evidencing€this€indebtedness,€nor€was€there€any€other€documentation€that€he€wasĻresponsible€for€one„half€the€indebtedness.€€When€pressed€on€cross„examination€as€to€whyŠ  p  Šthere€was€no€documentation€prepared,€Sherrod€testified€none€was€needed€because€MooneyhanĻhad€his€word.ĢŌ#†XµXXX·B#Ō d(ļ(3‘$¤¤Ż ƒŒ !ŻŃ7€Œ§XXdšXXdš7ŃŃ  ŃŅ°ŅŅH°ŅŌ€¼ōö¼XXŌŃTR[¤ AŲ'’ Legal3Ų' AŲ'’ Legal’3Ų'TŃŻ  Żą ` ąņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó(#Ć$ņņŚ  Ś0Ś  Śóó Ż ƒ ˆō$ŻŅ°ŅŅH°ŅŌ€¼»¼XXŌą ` ąņņŚ  Ś2Ś  ŚóóŻ  ŻŌ€XµX¼¼»ŌSherrod€is€a€practicing€attorney.€€Mooneyhan€was€a€dentist,€and€a€client€of€Sherrod.€Š ° ŠHeath€was€also€a€client. Ō€XŲ'XXXŌŌ€ī.³īXXŲ'ŌÓ  ÓŌ Ad ŌFILEDŌ€Pį īī.³ŌŠ  ŠĢņ ņJuly€14,€1999Š ¶¶ ŠĢCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ĢŌ€ōȌ ō PįŌAppellate€CourtŠ –– ŠClerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular '’’dxd(3Æ$££Ż ƒ!ŻŻ  Ż€-‚ƒCž’<< C’’ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ņ ņŚ  Ś1Ś  Śó ó„„'÷’ dxdü’P PdŻ ƒŒ !ŻŃ7€Œ§XXdšXXdš7ŃŃ  ŃŅ°ŅŅH°ŅŌ€¼ōö¼XXŌŃTR[¤ AŲ'’ Legal3Ų' AŲ'’ Legal’3Ų'TŃŻ  Żńń›ńńŃ  ŃŌ€¼]o¼¼¼ōöŌŃ7€Œ§»XdšXXdš7Ńņ ņņņÓ  Óńńßr€*<,(j 8 `€€@Ex± tt0"°°ØÓrߛńńIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEŠ ° ŠAT€KNOXVILLEĢÓaÓĢĢĢĢó óóóœHOWELL›€H.€œSHERROD›,€JR.ą Ą ąą  ą)ą p ąWASHINGTON€CIRCUITŠ  T Šą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą)Ģą ` ąPlaintiff/Appellantą h ąą Ą ąą  ą)ą p ąNO.€03A01„9810„CV„00351Š $ t Šą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą)Ģv.ą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą)ą p ąHON.€RICHARD€E.€LADDŠ D”  Šą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą)ą p ąJUDGEŠ T¤  ŠANN€œMOONEYHAN›,€Executrixą  ą)Š d“  Šfor€the€Estate€of€ą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą)Š tÄ  ŠJERRY€A.€MOONEYHAN,€andą  ą)Š „Ō ŠANN€MOONEYHAN,€Individually,ą  ą)Š ”ä Šą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą)Ģą ` ąDefendant/Appelleeą Ą ąą  ą)ą p ąAFFIRMEDŠ “ ŠĢĢĢThomas€Jessee,€Johnson€City,€for€the€Appellant.ĢRobert€D.€Arnold,€Johnson€City,€for€the€Appellee.ĢĢą@!!(Ģąņ ņņņO€P€I€N€I€O€NˆŠ $t ŠĢą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąą p ąó óóóINMAN,€Senior€JudgeŠ @  ŠĢÓ  ÓÓÓą ` ąThis€is€an€action€tried€to€a€jury€for€damages€for€breach€of€contract€relating€toĻthe€ownership€and€sale€of€capital€stock€in€a€corporation€styled€Quality€DentalĻProducts.€€Alternatively,€the€plaintiff€alleged€that€the€defendant€negligently€orĻintentionally€induced€him€to€execute€an€assignment€of€the€plaintiffššs€interest€in€theĻcompany€for€the€purpose€of€facilitating€the€financing€of€the€business€of€the€parties.€ĻThe€defendant€filed€a€general€denial€of€the€material€allegations€of€the€complaint.€€HeĻdied€May€28,€1997€and€his€Executrix€was€substituted€as€the€defendant.Ģą ` ąFollowing€a€four„day€trial€the€jury€returned€a€verdict€for€the€defendant.€€HisĻmotion€for€a€new€trial€being€overruled,€the€plaintiff€appeals€and€propounds€eightĻissues€for€review€which€we€reproduce€verbatim:ĢÓÓą8 ` ą1.ą0ø ` 8"` 8"ąThe€Trial€Court€erred€in€requiring€the€Plaintiff€to€read€theŠ  7š20 Šdeposition€of€the€Defendant€prior€to€the€Plaintiff€testifyingĻwhich€in€essence€reversed€the€burden€of€proof.€€Š ø 8"ø 8" Šā āŠ Š: 63Ę Šą8 ` ą2.ą0ø ` 8"` 8"ąThe€Trial€Court€erred€as€a€matter€of€law€in€failing€to€interpretŠ ° Šā āthe€assignment€entered€into€by€the€parties.Š ø 8"ø 8" ŠĢą8 ` ą3.ą0ø ` 8"` 8"ąThe€Defendant€failed€to€meet€the€burden€of€proof€required€toŠ ą0 Šestablish€a€modification€of€the€original€terms€of€the€contractĻentered€into€by€the€parties;€there€being€no€material€evidence€toĻsupport€a€modification.Š ø 8"ø 8" ŠĢą8 ` ą4.ą0ø ` 8"` 8"ąThe€Jury€verdict€is€not€supported€by€the€evidence€relating€to€theŠ 0 € ŠPlaintiff€and€Defendantššs€course€of€dealing€in€the€involvementĻof€the€operation€and€ownership€of€Quality€Dental€Products€afterĻthe€Assignment€(Exhibit€86)€was€signed.Š ø 8"ø 8" ŠĢą8 ` ą5.ą0ø ` 8"` 8"ąThe€Trial€Court€erred€as€a€matter€of€law€by€granting€theŠ €Š  ŠDefendantššs€Motion€in€Limine€preventing€the€Plaintiff€fromĻinquiring€about€the€knowledge€of€Ann€Mooneyhan€concerningĻher€husbandššs€adoption€for€tax€purposes.Š ø 8"ø 8" ŠĢą8 ` ą6.ą0ø ` 8"` 8"ąThe€Trial€Court€erred€œńń[in]€ńńrefusing›€to€grant€a€new€trial€becauseŠ Š  Šof€the€inflammatory€statements€made€by€counsel€for€theĻDefendant€in€his€closing€argument.Š ø 8"ø 8" ŠĢą8 ` ą7.ą0ø ` 8"` 8"ąThe€Trial€Court€erred€as€a€matter€of€law€in€failing€to€modify€theŠ ` Šjudgment€in€this€matter€to€reflect€those€issues€reserved€byĻagreement€of€the€parties€during€the€trial€of€this€matter.Š ø 8"ø 8" ŠĢą8 ` ą8.ą0ø ` 8"` 8"ąThe€Trial€Court€erred€as€a€matter€of€law€in€œforce€(sic)›€theŠ P   ŠPlaintiff€to€make€an€election€of€remedies€between€fraudulentĻmisrepresentation€and€negligent€misrepresentation€before€theĻCourt€would€allow€Plaintiff€to€testify.Š ø 8"ø 8" ŠĢÓÓą ` ąIt€is€well€established€that€when€reviewing€a€judgment€based€on€a€jury€verdict,Ļappellate€courts€are€limited€to€determining€whether€there€is€material€evidence€toĻsupport€the€verdict.€€ņņœHodges›€v.€S.€C.€œToof›€&€Co.,€óó833€S.W.2d€896€(Tenn.€1992).Š ą)0%# Šą ` ąIn€reviewing€a€judgment€based€upon€a€jury€verdict,€we€are€not€at€liberty€toĻweigh€the€evidence€or€to€decide€where€the€preponderance€lies,€but€are€limited€toĻdetermining€whether€there€is€material€evidence€to€support€the€verdict;€and€inĻdetermining€whether€there€is€material€evidence€to€support€the€verdict,€the€appellateĻcourt€is€required€to€take€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€all€the€evidence€in€favor€ofĻthe€verdict,€to€assume€the€truth€of€all€that€tends€to€support€it,€allowing€all€reasonableĻinferences€to€sustain€the€verdict,€and€to€discard€all€to€the€contrary.€€Having€thusŠ Ą841 Šexamined€the€record,€if€there€be€any€material€evidence€to€support€the€verdict,€it€mustĻbe€affirmed;€if€it€were€otherwise,€the€parties€would€be€deprived€of€theirĻconstitutional€right€to€trial€by€jury.€€ņņœOverton›€v.€Davis,€óó739€S.W.2d€2€(Tenn.€App.Š š@ Š1987);€ņņState€v.€Matthews,€óó805€S.W.2d€776€(Tenn.€œCrim›.€App.€1990);€ņņSmith€CountyŠ  ` Šv.€œEatherly›,€óó820€S.W.2d€366€(Tenn.€App.€1991).Š 0 € Šą ` ąAppellate€courts€do€not€have€the€same€ability€to€reconcile€conflictingĻtestimony€or€to€evaluate€credibility€because€they€do€not€have€the€opportunity€toĻobserve€the€witnesses€while€they€are€testifying.€€Accordingly,€it€will€not€reweigh€theĻevidence€and€it€will€not€reevaluate€the€witnessšš€credibility€on€appeal€from€a€juryĻverdict.€€Instead,€it€will€give€the€jury€verdict€great€weight,€and€it€will€not€set€aĻverdict€aside€unless€there€is€no€material€evidence€to€support€it.€€ņņœGrissom›€v.Š š@ ŠMetropolitan€œGovššt›.óó€817€S.W.2d€679€(Tenn.€App.€1991).Š ` Š€ą ` ąBefore€the€transaction€occurred€out€of€which€this€litigation€arose,€Sherrod€andŠ 0€ ŠMooneyhan€were€partners€in€four€business€transactions.€€œTheyńżń€ńżń›€apparentlyĻfunctioned€on€a€handshake€basis;€they€had€no€formal€contracts€or€partnershipĻagreements.׃ ׯ ƒ %ĆŻņņŚ  Ś1Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀€Š $ą Šą ` ąIn€1989,€Derek€Heath€consulted€Sherrod€about€a€business€styled€QualityĻDental€Products,€Inc.,€×ƒ Xׯ ƒ %ĆŻņņŚ  Ś2Ś  ŚóóŻ  Ż×  ׀in€which€he€owned€a€20€percent€interest.€€Sherrod€becameŠ Š  Šinterested€in€QDP€upon€learning€that€it€might€be€for€sale€and€approachedĻMooneyhan€to€see€if€he€would€be€interested€in€joining€with€him€and€Heath€in€theĻpurchase€of€this€business.€€Mooneyhan€was€interested€and€after€prolongedĻnegotiations€an€agreement€was€reached€whereby€Sherrod,€Mooneyhan€and€HeathĻwould€purchase€80€percent€of€QDP.€€On€May€8,€1989,€a€Stock€Option€AgreementĻwas€entered€into€whereby€Sherrod€and€Mooneyhan€acquired€an€option€to€buy€eightyĻshares€of€QDP€stock€for€the€total€consideration€of€$4,270,000.00.€€Two€millionĻdollars€($2,000,000.00)€was€to€be€paid€upon€the€execution€of€the€agreement€and€theĻremaining€sum€was€to€be€paid€on€a€monthly€basis€and€the€option€was€to€be€exercisedĻon€or€before€December€31,€1993.€€The€$2,000,000.00€initial€payment€was€funded€byĻa€$1.6€million€loan€obtained€by€Mooneyhan€and€an€additional€$400,000.00Ļleveraged€from€the€QDP€bank€account.Ģą ` ąA€management€agreement€was€entered€into€whereby€Sherrod€and€MooneyhanĻwould€manage€QDP€and€receive€as€compensation€therefrom€all€profits€made€by€theĻcompany,€which€would€fund€the€indebtedness.€€They€consulted€with€œJoe›€Wiseman,Ļan€accountant,€who€recommended€that€a€partnership€styled€Mooneyhan€ManagementĻbe€created€through€which€the€profits€from€QDP€would€be€filtered€and€in€return€theĻdebt€service€would€be€paid.€€The€stock€option€was€transferred€to€MooneyhanĻManagement€and€was€carried€on€the€books€of€Mooneyhan€Management,€aĻpartnership,€as€an€asset.€€It€was€also€agreed€that€Mrs.€Mooneyhan€would€be€aŠ P1 ,* Špartner,€in€lieu€of€her€husband,€in€Mooneyhan€Management,€so€that€it€would€notĻimpact€a€disability€income€which€he€was€receiving.Ģą ` ąInitially,€the€business€flourished€and€was€quite€successful,€but€it€wasĻdestroyed€by€a€fire€in€November€1990.€€Efforts€were€made€to€keep€it€afloat;ĻMooneyhan€advanced€$128,000.00€of€his€personal€funds€to€service€the€debt.€€Ģą ` ąDuring€this€period€of€time,€QDP€lost€its€main€customer,€Tulsa€DentalĻProducts,€in€a€dispute€over€a€price€increase.€€Because€of€the€financial€crisis,€theĻpartners,€Heath,€Sherrod€and€œMooneyhan,›€began€to€disagree€about€managementĻdecisions.€€Fearful€that€the€company€was€about€to€fail,€Mooneyhan€approachedĻSherrod€and€proposed€that€he€(Sherrod)€buy€out€Mooneyhan€for€the€debt€that€wasĻpresently€owed€him€or,€in€the€alternative,€Mooneyhan€would€buy€out€Sherrod€andĻhe€could€start€streamlining€management.€Mooneyhan€testified€that€it€was€hisĻpreference€that€Sherrod€would€buy€him€out.€€Mooneyhan€further€testified€thatĻSherrod€refused€his€offer.€€Ģą ` ąEventually,€an€agreement€was€reached€and€according€to€the€testimony€ofĻMooneyhan,€Sherrod€assigned€to€Mooneyhan€all€of€his€right€and€interest€in€and€toĻthe€option€agreement,€for€which€Sherrod€received€Mooneyhanššs€interest€in€theĻMovieland€building€and€Mooneyhan€received€Sherrodššs€interest€in€the€FranklinĻPlaza.€€It€was€also€Mooneyhanššs€understanding€that€the€transaction€was€to€be€as€tax„¼neutral€as€possible.€€Heath€basically€corroborated€Mooneyhanššs€version€of€theĻagreement.€€Sherrod€disputed€Mooneyhanššs€version€of€the€agreement€and€likewiseĻdisputed€Heathššs€version€of€what€happened.Ģą ` ąShortly€thereafter,€Mooneyhan€informed€Joe€Wiseman,€the€accountant,€thatĻSherrod€was€out€of€the€business.€€Wiseman€immediately€called€Sherrod€to€informĻhim€of€his€instructions€from€Mooneyhan.€€Wiseman€testified€that€Sherrod€respondedĻš šdo€whatever€Moon€wants€to€do€and€weššll€work€it€out.ššŠ Š9 52 Šą ` ąWiseman€testified€that€in€handling€the€œbuyout›€from€an€accounting€standpoint,Ļhe€had€Jerry€Mooneyhan€assume€all€liabilities€and€that€Sherrod€was€released€fromĻany€further€liability€with€reference€to€the€stock€option€purchase.€€In€addition,ĻSherrod€received€$87,000.00€for€his€interest€in€the€partnership€and€a€capital€lossĻcarryover€of€$328,700.00€which€resulted€in€$100,000.00€tax€savings.€€Significantly,Ļaccording€to€Sherrodššs€1992€income€tax€return,€he€was€the€sole€owner€of€theĻMovieland€property,€and€he€did€not€claim€an€interest€in€Franklin€Plaza€on€his€1992Ļincome€tax€return.€€Wiseman€testified€that€Sherrodššs€personal€tax€return,€as€well€asĻthe€partnership€return€of€Mooneyhan€Management,€revealed€that€he€had€given€up€hisĻinterest€in€Mooneyhan€Management.€€Continuing€in€this€vein,€Sherrodššs€1992€taxĻreturn€contained€an€attached€Schedule€D€which€read€as€follows:ĢÓÓą8 ` ąš šMr.€Sherrod€was€a€fifty„percent€partner€in€Mooneyhan€Management,Ļ62„1430657.€€Effective€January€1,€1992,€his€interest€was€purchased€andĻMr.€Sherrod€relinquished€all€interest€in€assets€of€the€partnership.ššŠ ` 8"` 8" ŠĢÓÓą ` ąSherrodššs€1992€tax€return€was€sworn€to€by€Sherrod.€€It€contained€theĻfollowing€language:ĢÓÓą8 ` ąš šUnder€penalties€of€perjury,€I€declare€that€I€have€examined€this€returnĻand€the€accompanying€schedules€and€statements,€and€to€the€best€of€myĻknowledge€and€belief,€they€are€true,€correct,€and€complete.ššŠ ` 8"` 8" ŠĢÓÓą ` ąTaking€advantage€of€the€capital€loss€carryover€he€had€received€as€a€part€of€theĻconsideration€for€transferring€his€interest€in€the€stock€option€to€Mooneyhan,€SherrodĻoffset€a€capital€gain€in€1995€of€$68,000.00€from€the€sale€of€some€stock€against€theĻcapital€loss€carryover.€€Moreover,€in€1995€Sherrod€sold€his€interest€in€HMS€RealĻProperties€realizing€another€capital€gain€of€$50,586.00€that€was€likewise€offset€byĻthe€capital€loss€carryover.€€Furthermore,€he€sold€a€part€of€the€Movieland€property€inĻ1995€which€he€had€received€from€Mooneyhan€as€a€part€of€the€consideration€for€theĻtransfer€of€the€stock€option€agreement,€and€this€resulted€in€a€capital€gain€ofĻ$164,000.00€for€Sherrod.€€The€proceeds€from€the€sale€of€that€portion€of€MovielandŠ Š9 52 Šproperty€was€not€shared€in€any€way€with€the€œMooneyhans›€and€Sherrodššs€gain€wasĻoffset€again€by€the€capital€loss€carryover.€€According€to€Joe€Wiseman,€Sherrod€wasĻstill€receiving€benefits€in€1995€from€the€sale€of€his€interest€in€MooneyhanĻManagement€back€in€1992.Ģą ` ąIn€1996,€Sherrod€sold€the€remainder€of€the€Movieland€property€forĻ$447,000.00.€€In€connection€with€that€sale€Sherrod€had€a€capital€gain€ofĻ$231,000.00,€a€portion€of€which€was€offset€by€the€remaining€balance€left€in€theĻcapital€loss€carryover€from€1992.€€None€of€the€proceeds€from€this€sale€was€sharedĻwith€Mooneyhan.Ģą ` ąOn€November€2,€1992,€Sherrod€prepared€and€gave€to€Mooneyhan€a€legalĻdocument€titled€š šAssignmentšš:ĢÓÓą8 ` ąš šFOR€VALUE€RECEIVED,€I€hereby€assign€and€transfer€to€JERRY€A.ĻMOONEYHAN,€Johnson€City,€Tennessee,€all€of€my€interest€in€theĻš šStock€Option€Agreementšš€entered€into€on€May€8,€1990,€by€andĻamong€œBRASSELER›€U.S.A.,€INC.,€œHOWELL›€H.€SHERROD,€JR.,Ļand€JERRY€A.€MOONEYHAN€(œoptionees›),€QUALITY€DENTALĻPRODUCTS,€INC.€(corporation),€and€DEREK€HEATH€and€wife,ĻJACQUELINE€HEATH€(shareholders),€and€do€irrevocably€constituteĻand€appoint€JERRY€A.€MOONEYHAN€my€true€and€lawful€attorney„¼in„fact€for€me€and€in€my€name,€place,€and€stead€to€act€for€me€in€anyĻand€all€matters€relative€to€any€rights€I€have€or€could€acquire€in€theĻfuture€directly€and/or€indirectly€as€a€result€of€the€existence€of€theĻaforementioned€document,€as€fully€as€I€could€do€if€personally€present.€Š ` 8"` 8" ŠĢą8 ` ąIt€is€my€specific€intention€that€this€shall€be€a€durable€power€of€attorneyĻand€shall€survive€any€incapacity€on€my€part.Š ` 8"` 8" ŠĢą8 ` ąIN€WITNESS€WHEREOF,€I€have€hereunto€set€my€hand€this€2nd€dayĻof€November,€1992.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąą p ąą Č ą/S/Howell€H.€Sherrod,€Jr.ĢĢą8 ` ąSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEŠ ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąCOUNTY€OF€WASHINGTONŠ ` 8"` 8" ŠĢą8 ` ąą ø ąOn€this€2nd€day€of€November,€1992,€before€me€personallyĻappeared€Howell€H.€Sherrod,€Jr.,€to€me€known€to€be€the€personĻdescribed€in€(or€proved€to€be€on€the€basis€of€satisfactory€evidence)€andĻexecuted€in€the€foregoing€instrument€and€acknowledged€that€heĻexecuted€the€same€as€his€free€act€and€deed.Š ` 8"` 8" ŠŠ Š9 52 Šą8 ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąą p ą/S/Patsy€K.€EdmistonŠ ` 8"` 8" Šą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąą p ąNotary€PublicĢą ` ąMy€Commission€Expires:Ģą ` ąœ1„2„94"ńžńĢńžń›ĢÓÓą ` ąAlthough€Mooneyhan€believed€that€this€document€transferred€SherrodššsĻinterest€in€the€stock€option€to€him,€he€had€it€reviewed€by€another€attorney€in€JohnsonĻCity,€Sam€Miller.€€According€to€Mooneyhan,€Miller€advised€him€that€it€was€š šnot€aĻgood€document.ššĢą ` ąAttorney€Miller€testified€essentially€that€he€had€grave€reservations€about€theĻsufficiency€of€the€purported€assignment€and€consequently€drafted€anotherĻassignment€purporting€to€transfer€Sherrodššs€interest€œin›€the€stock€option€toĻMooneyhan.€€The€assignment€prepared€by€attorney€Miller€reads€as€follows:ĢÓÓą8 ` ąš šFOR€VALUE€RECEIVED,€the€undersigned,€HOWELL€H.ĻSHERROD,€JR.,€does€hereby€assign€and€transfer€to€JERRY€A.ĻMOONEYHAN,€Johnson€City,€Tennessee,€all€of€my€right,€title€andĻinterest€in€and€to€the€š šStock€Option€Agreementšš€and€all€the€benefitsĻand€emoluments€attached€thereto,€entered€into€on€May€8,€1990,€by€andĻamong€œBRASSELER›€U.S.A.,€HOWELL€SHERROD,€JR.,€and€JERRYĻA.€MOONEYHAN€(œOptionees›),€QUALITY€DENTAL€PRODUCTS,ĻINC.€(Corporation)€and€DEREK€HEATH€and€wife,€JACQUELINEĻHEATH€(Shareholders)€and€all€right,€title€and€interest€in€and€to€anyĻprofits,€issue,€and€income€that€may€arise€thereunder€at€any€time,Ļwhether€accrued€or€unaccrued,€and€I€direct€that€the€AssigneeĻmentioned€herein€above€shall€have€and€possess€any€and€all€rights€andĻobligations€heretofore€owned€by€me€in€and€to€said€š šStock€OptionĻAgreement.ššŠ ` 8"` 8" Šą ` ąĢą ` ąą ø ąDATED€this€the€2nd€day€of€November,€1992.ĢĢą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą/S/Howell€H.€Sherrod,€Jr.ĢĢą ` ąSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEĢą ` ąCOUNTY€OF€WASHINGTONĢĢą8 ` ąą ø ąOn€this€the€œ12th›€day€of€January,€1993,€before€me€personallyĻappeared€HOWELL€H.€SHERROD,€JR.,€to€me€known€to€be€the€personĻdescribed€in€(or€proved€to€me€on€the€basis€of€satisfactory€evidence)€andĻexecuted€the€foregoing€instrument€and€acknowledged€that€he€executedĻthe€same€as€his€free€act€and€deed.Š ` 8"` 8" ŠĢą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą/S/Patricia€M.€œMcQueen›Ģą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąNotary€PublicŠ Š9 52 Šą8 ` ąMy€Commission€expires:Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąApril€28,€1993"Š ` 8"` 8" ŠĢÓÓą ` ąą ø ąAfter€obtaining€the€redrafted€œassignment›€from€attorney€Miller,ĻMooneyhan€contracted€Sherrod€and€told€him€the€first€œassignment›€was€unsatisfactoryĻand€he€would€have€to€execute€another€one.€€Sherrod€executed€the€new€œassignment›Ļon€January€12,€1993.Ģą ` ąAfter€the€execution€of€the€second€œassignment,›€Sherrod€had€nothing€further€toĻdo€with€the€day„to„day€management€of€the€company.€€Heath€testified€that€after€theĻsecond€œassignment›€he€had€no€further€meetings€with€Sherrod.€€He€testified€also€thatĻSherrod€made€no€inquiries€about€the€business€itself€and€how€it€was€doing.€ĻAccording€to€Heath,€Sherrod€never€requested€any€œfinancials›€about€the€company.€€HeĻtestified€that€during€the€period€of€time€after€the€execution€of€the€second€œassignment›Ļhe€considered€his€primary€partner€to€be€Mooneyhan€and€that€each€owned€fiftyĻpercent€of€the€business.Ģą ` ąThe€1993€corporate€tax€return€of€QDP€represented€that€Derek€Heath€ownedĻ20€shares€of€stock€and€that€Jerry€and€Ann€Mooneyhan€jointly€owned€the€other€20Ļshares€of€stock.€€This€return€was€filed€by€accountant€Wiseman€on€behalf€of€QDP.ĻHe€was€also€Sherrodššs€personal€accountant€and€not€aware€at€that€time€that€SherrodĻwas€claiming€any€interest€in€QDP.Ģą ` ąAfter€an€agreement€was€reached€between€Sherrod€and€Mooneyhan€thatĻMooneyhan€would€purchase€Sherrodššs€interest€in€the€Stock€Option€Agreement,ĻMooneyhan€began€working€full€time€at€QDP.€€The€business€began€gradually€toĻrecover.€€Tulsa€Dental€again€became€a€customer.€œ€The›€company€had€a€profit€in€1993Ļof€$23,864.00.Ģą ` ąBusiness€improved€during€1994.€€In€1995€negotiations€began€for€a€mergerĻbetween€Tulsa€Dental€Supply€and€Quality€Dental€Products.€€Part€of€the€reason€forŠ Ą841 Šthe€comeback€of€QDP€was€the€development€of€endodontic€instruments€using€aĻsubstance€called€š šnickel€titanium.šš€€The€negotiations€for€the€merger€on€behalf€ofĻQDP€were€carried€on€by€Heath€and€Mooneyhan.€€Sherrod€was€never€consulted€atĻany€time€about€this€merger,€which€was€finally€effectuated€in€early€1995.Ģą ` ąIn€September€of€1995€negotiations€began€with€a€corporation€called€œDentsply›Ļconcerning€a€œbuyout›€of€the€new€company€created€by€the€merger€of€QDP€and€Tulsa.€ĻAn€agreement€was€finally€reached€and€a€closing€held€in€early€January,€1996.€ĻMooneyhan€and€Heath€each€received€$12,365,000.00€net€for€their€interest.Ģą ` ąSherrod€was€not€involved€in€the€negotiations€in€any€way€pertaining€to€thisĻsale,€nor€was€he€consulted.€€It€was€after€reading€about€the€sale€in€the€newspaper€thatĻhe€called€Mooneyhan€to€inquire€as€to€when€the€profits€could€be€split€up.€ĻMooneyhan€immediately€advised€Sherrod€that€he€was€not€entitled€to€any€of€theĻprofits.€€Ģą ` ąThis€litigation€followed,€with€Sherrod€alleging€that€he€entered€into€anĻagreement€with€Mooneyhan€assigning€his€interest€in€and€to€the€Stock€OptionĻAgreement€in€consideration€of€which€Mooneyhan€agreed€to€pay€him€an€amountĻbased€upon€the€ultimate€value€of€the€Quality€œDental€›Products,€Inc.,€stock€or€the€salesĻprice€of€the€same.€€During€the€course€of€the€proceedings€Sherrod€relied€on€hisĻalternative€theory€to€allege€that€he€executed€an€assignment€of€the€Stock€OptionĻAgreement€because€Mooneyhan€told€him€that€he€needed€it€to€effectuate€theĻfinancing€for€the€purchase€of€the€stock.Ģą@÷÷*ĢąņņISSUE€#1ˆŠ P1 ,* Šóóą ` ąThe€appellant€argues€that€the€trial€judge€erred€in€requiring€him€to€read€theŠ p3Ą., Šdeposition€of€Mooneyhan€before€the€plaintiff€testified,€š šwhich€in€essence€reversedĻthe€burden€of€proof.šš€€We€do€not€understand€the€courtššs€ruling€as€having€the€effectĻargued€by€the€appellant.Š Š9 52 Šą ` ąThe€issue€arose€owing€to€the€death€of€Mooneyhan,€whose€discoveryĻdeposition€was€on€file.€€See,€Rule€32.01(3).€€The€defendant€contended€that€T.C.A.Ļšš€24„1„203€[Dead€Manššs€Statute],€prevented€the€plaintiff€from€testifying€as€to€anyĻtransaction€or€statement€by€Mooneyhan.€€The€trial€court€ruled€that€the€taking€ofĻMooneyhanššs€discovery€deposition€constituted€a€waiver€of€the€statute€[ņņsee,€œIngram›Š 0 € Šv.€Phillips,€óó684€S.W.2d€954€(Tenn.€App.€1984)€holding€to€the€contrary]€and€that€ifŠ P   Šthe€plaintiff€desired€to€read€Mooneyhanššs€deposition€he€would€be€required€to€readĻany€portion€requested€by€the€defendant.€€Rule€32.01(4)€so€provides.€€We€see€no€errorĻhere.Ģą@ŚŚ*ĢąņņISSUE€#€2ˆŠ Š  Šóóą ` ąAppellant€argues€that€the€court€erred€in€failing€to€interpret€the€assignment.€Š š@ ŠWe€do€not€precisely€grasp€the€thrust€of€this€argument.€€A€thorough€examination€ofĻthe€record€does€not€reveal€that€Mooneyhan€contradicted€the€terms€of€the€assignment;Ļrather,€the€plaintiff€contradicted€it.€€He€testified€that€he€transferred€his€interest€in€theĻStock€Option€Agreement€to€Mooneyhan€so€that€Mooneyhan€could€effectuate€theĻnecessary€financing.€€This€issue€is€without€merit.Ģą@ŚŚ*ĢąņņISSUE€#€3ˆŠ °&"  Šóóą ` ąAppellant€argues€that€the€defendant€failed€to€š šmeet€the€burden€of€proofŠ Š( $" Šrequired€to€establish€a€modification€of€the€original€terms€of€the€contract,€there€beingĻno€material€evidence€to€support€a€modification.ššĢą ` ąNeither€the€complaint€nor€the€amended€complaint€alleges€a€modification€ofĻthe€assignment.€€The€defendant,€as€we€read€the€record,€never€alleged€a€modification.€ĻThis€theory€was€neither€presented€nor€pursued€at€trial,€and€under€familiar€appellateĻrules,€cannot€be€raised€for€the€first€time€on€appeal.€€ņņSmith€v.€City€of€Pigeon€Forge,Š 5ą0. Šóó600€S.W.2d€231€(Tenn.€1980).Š °730 Šœń’ńŠ Š9 52 Šń’ń›ą@ŚŚ*ĢąņņISSUE€#€4ˆŠ ° Šą ` ąóóThe€plaintiff€argues€that€the€verdict€š šis€not€supported€by€the€evidence€relatingŠ Š  Što€the€plaintiffššs€and€defendantššs€course€of€dealing€in€the€involvement€of€theĻoperation€and€ownership€of€QDP€after€the€assignment€was€signed.šš€€This€issue€hasĻreference€to€the€plaintiffššs€theory€that€the€assignment€was€solely€to€effectuateĻ[facilitate]€the€necessary€financing.€€This€is€a€fact„based€argument€which€the€juryĻdecided€adversely€to€the€plaintiff.€€Since€there€was€abundant€material€evidence€toĻsupport€the€verdict,€we€are€not€at€liberty€to€disturb€it.Ģą@ŚŚ*ĢąņņISSUE€#€5ˆŠ ° Šą ` ąóóAppellant€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€granting€the€defendantššs€MotionŠ Š  Šin€Limine€to€š šprevent€the€plaintiff€from€enquiring€about€the€knowledge€of€AnnĻMooneyhan,€Executrix,€concerning€her€husbandššs€adoption€for€tax€purposes.ššĢą ` ąMrs.€Mooneyhan€testified€about€her€husbandššs€business€affairs€at€someĻlength.€€As€significant€here,€she€testified€that€the€plaintiff€was€not€involved€withĻQDP€after€he€executed€the€assignment.€€To€test€her€credibility,€the€plaintiff€wantedĻto€ask€her€if€she€was€aware€that€her€Aunt€had€adopted€her€husband.€€By€brief,Ļappellant€tells€us€that€he€wanted€to€show€the€extremes€to€which€Mooneyhan€wouldĻgo€in€order€to€avoid€taxes,€and€that€he€did€not€reveal€all€of€his€schemes€to€his€wifeĻas€she€testified.€€Appellant€argues€that€Rule€607€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€EvidenceĻallows€him€to€attack€the€credibility€of€Mrs.€Mooneyhan.Ģą ` ąA€short€answer€to€this€argument€is€simply€that€the€record€does€not€reveal€thatĻMooneyhan€had€been€adopted€by€his€wifeššs€aunt.€€There€was€no€proof€offered€orĻproffered€on€the€point€which€clearly€delineated€it.€€The€plaintiff€offered,€as€anĻExhibit,€an€inter„office€memo€which€referred€to€a€Chancery€file€in€the€name€of€MaryĻC.€Hill.€€In€any€event,€we€think€any€error€in€excluding€enquiry€into€whetherĻMooneyhan€was€adopted€by€his€wifeššs€aunt€was€harmless.Š Š9 52 Šœ‡ńńńń...ńńĢńńńņń›ńņńńńĢńń›ą@ŚŚ*ĢąņņISSUE€#€6ˆŠ ° Šą ` ąóóAppellant€next€argues€that€a€new€trial€should€have€been€awarded€because€ofŠ Š  Šinflammatory€statements€of€counsel€in€his€closing€argument.€€We€reproduce€theĻallegedly€inflammatory€statements:ĢÓÓą8 ` ą(1)ą ø ąš šLook€at€the€Work€Tech€Fibers€deal.€€They€owed€two€hundred€„„Š 0 € Šborrowed€$250,000;€went€down€to€the€bank€and€borrowed€it.€€WhoseĻname€was€it€in?€€It€was€in€Dr.€Mooneyhanššs€name.€€Mr.€SherrodššsĻname€was€not€on€that€note,€was€never€placed€on€that€note€at€any€time.€ĻAnd€I€ask€you€now,€is€that€the€type€of€dealings€that€you€want€to€dealĻwith€somebody?Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąIf€youššre€going€to€go€into€a€business€deal€with€somebody€and€theĻtwo€of€you€are€going€to€go€out€and€buy€two€hundred€„„€borrowĻ$250,000.€do€you€want€your€partnerššs€name€on€that€note€with€you?€€OrĻdo€you€just€say,€Iššm€going€down€there€and€sign€that€myself.€€I€think€ifĻyouššll€think€about€that,€youššll€see€the€direction€Iššm€heading.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąThe€Bristol€Building.€€Now€itššs€no€„„€itššs€true€that€the€business€„„Ļthe€building€is€in€both€of€their€names;€itššs€true€that€they€both€signed€theĻmortgage,€but€the€unusual€situation€here€is€that€although€both€areĻsigned€on€the€mortgage,€Dr.€Mooneyhan€didnššt€owe€œany›€money.€€HeĻput€up€his€money€up€front.€€He€signed€the€mortgage€so€that€Mr.ĻSherrod€could€borrow€his€part.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąIs€that€fair?€€Is€that€how€you€want€to€do€it?€€Do€you€want€to€„„€doĻyou€want€to€go€into€business€with€me?€€You€put€up€your€half,€and€thenĻwe€go€down€to€the€bank€and€borrow€the€money€so€that€I€can€put€up€myĻhalf€and€weššre€both€responsible€on€it?€€Thatššs€exactly€what€„„€whatššsĻgoing€on€here.€€Now€is€that€fair?€€Is€that€the€way€you€want€to€doĻbusiness?€€Advantage€Sherrod.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąMovieland.€€The€deal€was€„„€the€property€was€purchased€and€putĻin€Sherrodššs€name€solely.€€Go€down€to€the€bank,€borrow€the€money;ĻMooneyhan€signs€the€„„€signs€the€note.€€His€nameššs€not€on€the€deed.€ĻHe€doesnššt€have€anything;€the€bank€doesnššt€have€anything€to€show€thatĻhe€owns€that€property.€€He€doesnššt€have€anything€to€show€that€he€ownsĻit€other€than€the€word€of€Mr.€Sherrod.€€Fair?Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąIs€that€the€way€you€want€to€do€business?€€Do€you€want€to€buy€aĻbuilding€with€me?€€Do€you€want€to€put€it€in€my€name,€go€down€to€theĻbank€and€borrow€the€money;€we€both€sign€it,€and€your€name€not€be€onĻthe€deed?€€Do€you€want€to€do€it€that€way?€€I€donššt€think€you€do.€€IĻconsider€the€advantage€for€Sherrod.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąNow€letššs€go€on€to€the€Franklin€Plaza€property.€€Here€weššve€gotĻa€situation€where€the€propertyššs€in€Dr.€Mooneyhanššs€name.€€Okay?€ĻJust€kind€of€the€opposite€of€Movieland.€€Itššs€a€little€bit€differentĻsituation€here.€€They€borrow€the€money.€€Mooneyhan€puts€up€his€shareĻof€the€money.€€They€go€borrow€Sherrodššs€share€of€the€money€and€putĻit€in.€€But€Sherrod€donššt€even€œsignńéńhńéń›€the€note€this€time.€€He€donššt€evenĻsign€the€note.€€Whose€advantage€is€this?Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąDo€you€want€to€do€business€with€me€like€that?€€You€want€youĻand€I€to€own€a€building€and€you€have€a€half€interest€and€it€be€in€myŠ Š9 52 Šname?€€Do€you€want€me€to€buy€it€for€you€and€it€be€in€your€name€andĻthen€put€the€note€in€your€name€also?Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąNow€ladies€and€gentlemen,€you€folks,€Iššm€sure,€over€the€yearsĻhave€had€certain€business€dealings,€and€you€have€a,€hopefully,€a€senseĻof€fairness,€of€whatššs€wrong€and€whatššs€right.€€Now€thereššs€red€flagsĻgo€up€on€every€one€of€these€situations.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąAnd€I€guess€the€thing€that€bothers€me€most€about€it€and€it€oughtĻto€bother€you€is€that€weššre€not€dealing€with€just€two€lay€people€here.€ĻWeššre€dealing€here€with€one€of€them€who€is€a€professional€and€aĻlawyer€who€knows€better,€whoššs€been€to€law€school,€who€knows€howĻto€write€contracts,€who€never€brought€to€you€or€showed€you€oneĻsemblance€of€any€type€of€contract€or€partnership€agreement.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąItššs€a€little€bit€different€situation.€€Itššs€not€quite€like€two€of€youĻpeople€out€there€doing€some€business,€and€one€of€them€is€a€lawyer.€ĻAnd€I€think€that€you€ought€to€expect€more€from€that€person€as€far€asĻdetail€work€is€concerned.Š ` 8"` 8" ŠĢą8 ` ą(2)ą ø ąš šIf€somebody€told€you€„„€if€you€were€a€businessman€andŠ Ą Šsomebody€came€to€you€and€said,€Iššm€going€to€raise€prices,€and€youĻasked,€Well,€why?€we€thought€prices€were€going€down.€€And€you€said,ĻBecause€you€can€afford€it.€€Weššre€selling€this€to€you€for€90€and€youššreĻselling€it€„„€90€cents€and€youššre€selling€it€for€six€dollars.€€They€didnšštĻoffer€any€proof€as€to€what€the€profit€margin€was€œinńźńnńźń›€connection€withĻthat.€€I€donššt€know.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą ` ą€ą ø ąBut€that€„„€is€that€the€type€of€person€that€you€would€deal€with?Š 0€ ŠĢą8 ` ą(3)ą ø ą€š šI€never€intended€to€sell€Mooneyhan€my€interest€in€Movieland.€Š P   ŠThe€man€of€his€word.€€Yet€his€tax€returns€donššt€say€that.€€And€if€you€„„Ļif€you€donššt€tell€the€truth€on€your€tax€returns,€youššre€defrauding€theĻfederal€government.€€And€when€you€defraud€the€federal€government,Ļyouššre€defrauding€me€and€youššre€defrauding€you,€as€citizens€of€thisĻcountry.Š ` 8"` 8" ŠĢą8 ` ą(4)ą ø ąš šThis€is€a€lawyer.€€And€I€„„€Iššm€really€concerned,€ladies€andŠ Ą'#! Šgentlemen,€and€you€ought€to€be€concerned€about€the€fact€and€it€oughtĻto€really€œweighńėńtńėń›€heavily€on€you€when€you€decide€whether€Iššm€going€toĻbelieve€that€story€or€not.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąWhy€would€a€lawyer€advise€his€client€and€his€business€partnerĻand€why€would€he€become€a€part€of€a,€quote,€conspiracy,€to€defraudĻthe€bank€if€the€œbanńģńkńģńńķńdńķńššs›€not€in€on€this?€€Weššre€doctoring€upĻMooneyhanššs€financial€report€so€that€he€can€get€this€money.€€Now€thatĻreally,€really,€really€bothers€me.€€And€heššs€saying,€I€was€defrauded.€€IĻhad€no€reason€to€know€that.€€Yet,€at€the€same€time,€I€was€doing€thingsĻto€help€doctor€up€his€financial€statement.Š ` 8"` 8" Šą8 ` ąą ø ąSomething€donššt€jive€here,€and€somebodyššs€not€beingĻcompletely€and€totally€honest.€€And€you€ought€to€have€difficulty;€youĻought€to€have€great,€great€difficulty€with€a€statement€thatššs€taken€by€aĻperson,€anybody,€but€especially€by€a€lawyer,€with€reference€toĻsomething€like€that.Š ` 8"` 8" Šā āŠ Ą841 Šą8 ` ą(5)ą ø ąš šAnn€Mooneyhan€didnššt€say€much.€€Bless€her€heart;€she€donšštŠ ° Šā āknow€much.€€No€disrespect€intended,€€Ms.€Mooneyhan.€€I€didnššt€meanĻit€quite€that€way.€€But€she€didnššt€know€much€that€she€could€testify€toĻin€this€lawsuit.€€She€did€tell€you€and€the€one€thing€that€I€put€her€on€forĻand€the€one€œthinńīńgńīńńļńkńļń›€I€wanted€her€to€tell€you€and€the€one€thing€I€wantedĻyou€to€hear€from€her€is€the€fact€that€she€did€know€what€business€herĻhusband€was€in.€€And€he€never,€at€any€time,€œgńšńańšńńńńińńńve›€her€any€indicationĻthat€he€had€an€ongoing€deal€with€Hal€Sherrod.€€His€own€wife€he€didnšštĻtell.ššŠ ` 8"` 8" ŠĢÓÓą ` ąAppellant€argues€that€the€verdict€was€the€result€of€passion€and€prejudice€sinceĻthe€jury€took€only€45€minutes€to€decide€a€case€involving€100€exhibits€and€four€daysĻof€testimony.€€œńņń€ńņńHe›€argues€that€counsel€for€the€defendant€inappropriately€exhorted€theĻjury€and€thus€deprived€the€plaintiff€of€a€fair€trial.Ģą ` ąThe€appellee€responds€that€Tennessee€law€is€clear€on€the€point:€that€objectionĻmust€be€made€to€the€argument€or€conduct€of€counsel€at€the€trial,€and€a€rulingĻpronounced,€or€the€matter€cannot€be€considered€on€appeal,€citing€ņņMorgan€v.€Duffy,Š ` Šœóó30ńóń€S.W.ńóńńōń€ńōńńóń5€S.W.2dńóń›€735,€94€Tenn.€686€(1895).€€In€more€recent€times,€this€Court€has€addressedŠ 0€ Šthe€issue€in€ņņLee€v.€Lee,óó€719€S.W.2d€295€(Tenn.€App.€1986):Š P   ŠÓÓą8 ` ąš šCounsel€for€Defendant€did€not€object€to€the€remarks€of€PlaintiffsššĻcounsel€at€the€time€of€trial.€€An€objection€to€the€remarks€or€conduct€ofĻcounsel€must€be€made€at€the€trial€and€a€ruling€had€thereon,€or€they€willĻnot€be€considered€on€appeal.€€ņņSee€Morgan€v.€Duffy,€óó94€Tenn.€686,€30Š  %š  ŠœS.W.›€735€(1895).€€Since€Appellantššs€counsel€made€no€objection€at€theĻtime€of€the€argument,€and€since€she€did€not€request€the€trial€judge€toĻask€the€jury€to€disregard€the€argument,€we€find€no€error.€€ņņSee€Miller€v.Š Š( $" ŠœAlman›€Construction€Co.,€óó666€S.W.2d€466,€469€(Tenn.€App.€1983).Šą)0%#` 8"` 8" ŠĢą ` ąThis€issue€is€without€merit.ĢĢą@ŚŚ*ĢąņņISSUE€#€7ˆŠ  .p)' ŠĢÓÓą ` ąą ø ąóóAppellant€claims€the€trial€court€erred€in€š šfailure€to€modify€the€judgmentŠ @0+) Što€reflect€the€issues€reserved€by€the€agreement€of€the€parties.šš€€These€issuesĻapparently€involved€attorney€fees.€€We€see€no€prejudice€resulting€to€the€plaintiff€asĻa€result€of€the€refusal€of€the€œńõńcńõńńöńCńöńourt›€to€declare,€by€way€of€the€judgment,€that€theĻentitlement€of€the€plaintiff€to€fees€for€services€to€Mooneyhan€or€to€the€corporationsŠ Ą841 Šinvolved€in€this€litigation€was€not€an€issue.€€Whether€or€not€Sherrod€was€entitled€toĻfees€was€never€an€issue€in€this€case,€and€the€fact€that€the€judgment€did€not€so€reciteĻis€of€no€legal€consequence.€€This€issue€is€without€merit.Ģņņą@ŚŚ*ĢąISSUE€#€8ˆŠ  ` Šą ` ąóóFinally,€the€appellant€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€requiring€him€to€makeŠ 0 € Šan€election€of€remedies€between€fraudulent€misrepresentation€and€negligentĻmisrepresentation€as€a€condition€to€testifying.Ģą ` ąBefore€the€plaintiff€testified,€a€protracted€colloquy€transpired€between€counselĻand€the€trial€judge,€who€was€concerned€about€the€potential€evidentiary€problemĻposed€by€the€parol€evidence€rule,€the€genesis€of€which€was€the€death€of€Mooneyhan.€ĻCounsel€for€the€plaintiff€stated€to€the€court€that€the€plaintiff€would€testify€thatĻMooneyhan€told€him€to€š šsign€the€documents€to€put€QDP€in€his€name€for€purposesĻof€effectuating€the€financing€to€close€that€option€out.šš€€The€court€then€enquiredĻš šwhereššs€the€negligence€involved?šš€€Counsel€replied,€š šI€donššt€know€whatĻMooneyhan€sincerely€thought,€so€negligent€misrepresentation.€€He€was€just€carelessĻin€what€he€believed€the€bank€needed.€.€.€.šš€€The€court€then€ruled€that€š šIf€you€allegeĻfraud€Iššm€going€to€let€it€in.€€If€youššre€not,€Iššm€not€.€.€.€.youššve€got€to€choose€one€orĻthe€other€.€.€.€.ššĢą ` ąOn€the€morning€of€the€day€following,€the€matter€was€rehashed,€with€the€trialĻjudge€stating€š šmy€understanding,€the€theory€of€negligent€misrepresentation€has€beenĻabandoned€by€the€plaintiff.€€Is€that€correct?šš€€Counsel€replied,€š šcorrect.ššĢą ` ąAs€we€read€the€record,€a€serious€evidentiary€problem€for€the€plaintiff€was€thusĻaverted.€€He€was€allowed€to€testify€fully.€€€The€jury€was€not€instructed€on€theĻquestion€of€negligent€misrepresentation,€and€there€is€no€issue€presented€for€theĻreview€of€this€omission.€€In€any€event€it€clearly€does€not€appear€that€the€refusal€ofĻthe€trial€judge€to€allow€the€plaintiff€to€proceed€on€the€theory€of€negligentŠ Š9 52 Šmisrepresentation€was€an€error€involving€a€substantial€right€or€that€it€more€probablyĻthan€not€affected€the€verdict.€€Rule€œńūń3ńūńńüń5ńüń6(b),›€T.R.A.P.Ģą ` ąThe€judgment€is€affirmed€at€the€cost€of€the€appellant.ĢĢÓӀ€ą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ą_______________________________Š 0 € Šą ` ąą ø ąą  ąą h ąą Ą ąą  ąWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeĢCONCUR:ĢĢĢĢ_______________________________ĢHouston€M.€Goddard,€Presiding€JudgeĢœńśńĢńśń›ĢœńųńĢńųńńłńńųńĢĢńųńńłńńųń_______________________________ĢCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€Judgeńųń›Ģœń÷ńĢ_______________________________ĢHerschel€P.€Franks,€Judgeń÷ń›