ÿWPCO b8S{³ R‘UNI %— 0³U <PŒw@”4Ôè 0÷÷U<î1* AQ[ 0D¬ 0Dð d4 þ˜ D/– )Å U:î Õ(((((((((( BýÆ 0Dà$ 0D,,DpK´ Bÿ D3˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(‹7ÿ$¡¡Ò°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€ü†XXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€Xd|XXXÔ-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman CDEEFeGHUIîJÓ€KÓ€Wn~<$>dddÔ3|xW(§(30‡$¤¤Ý ƒ7ÿ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€¼ÆXXdðdð7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€XnXXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó)LÀÄ  Z $Arrus BT Roman 'Ý ƒ 0‡$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€XT3XXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝOperating€expenses€in€a€lease€such€as€this€one€include€property€taxes,€utilities,Ð ° Ðinsurance,€garbage€collection,€janitorial€service,€etc. !Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó ZÝ ƒ Ÿ$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€XdsXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝA€second€more€detailed€written€proposal€was€sent€to€Bradford€on€FebruaryÐ ° Ð10,€1994€which€once€again€stated€that€$4.50€per€square€foot€was€the€best€estimateÏof€first€year€operating€expenses. ôÝ ƒ Ÿ$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€XdsXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€building€was€approximately€17,000€square€feet€in€area.€€(17,000€*€$2.70Ð ° Ð=€$45,000)'''÷ÿ dxd Ý ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X\ÆXXXÔÔ€ìcXX\ÆÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X\ÆXìcÔÐ  ÐÌò òDecember€10,€1998Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ôãÝôXX\ÆÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ËÝ ƒ Ÿ$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€XdsXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€No€issue€is€presented€concerning€this€action€of€the€trial€court. dƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó :Ý ƒ Ÿ$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€XdsXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Weston€agreed€to€lower€the€base€rent€and€reduce€its€management€fee€by€$.15Ð ° Ðper€square€foot€for€a€reduction€in€the€ð ðexpense€stopðð€from€$4.50€to€$4.35. AÝ ƒ Ÿ$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€XdsXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€actual€operating€expenses€exceeded€the€estimated€ð ðexpense€stopððÐ ° Ðprimarily€because€of€utilities€and€taxes.€€Taxes€made€up€approximately€70%€of€theÏexcess.üÿP Pd'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ7ÿ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€LŒXXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€X¤CXXXÔÝ  ÝñKññFñ›ñFññKñÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€LŒXXdðXXdð7ÑñWññKñßr€ (<,(j 8` `€€@Eô±` ttx$,°ð ÕrßñKññKñ›ñKñ›ñWññWñ›ñWñà@Ì Ì ®àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@éé!®àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONˆÌñWñœßt€ (>.*jx%9` `€€@Eé` ttx$Q°[ tß›ñWñà ` àà ¸ à€€€€______________________________________________ÌÌò òJ.€C.€BRADFORD€&€COMPANY,Ð ° Ða€Tennessee€Limited€LiabilityÌCompany,€ó óÐ ´  ÐÌà ` àPlaintiff„Appellant,€ò òÐ ¶  ÐÌó óVs.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àShelby€Chancery€No.€€107359„3Ð ¸  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àC.A.€No.€02A01„9801„CH„00006Ìò òSOUTHERN€REALTY€PARTNERS,Ð ¸  Ða€ñFñTenneseeñFññFñTennesseeñFñ€General€ñFñParntershipñFññFñPartnershipñFñ,€Ìand€WESTON€ñFñMANAGMENTñFññFñMANAGEMENTñFñ€ÌCOMPANY,€A€Delaware€Corporation,€ó óÐ ¾ ÐÌà ` àDefendants„Appellees.Ì____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@¶ ¶ ®àFROM€THE€SHELBY€COUNTY€CHANCERY€COURTˆÌà@g g ®àTHE€HONORABLE€D.€J.€ALISSANDRATOS,€CHANCELLORˆÌÌÌÌÌà@ü ü ®àCarl€H.€Langschmidt,€Jr.;€Bobby€M.€Leatherman;€à@@çç'®àParke€S.€Morris;ˆÌà@¸¸ ®àArmstrong€Allen€Prewitt€Gentry€Johnston€&€Holmes,€PLLC,€of€MemphisˆÌà@>>(®àFor€AppellantˆÌÌà@¿¿®àJ.€Alan€Hanover;€œJamñGñeñGñs›€R.€Newsom€III;ˆÌà@9 9 ®àHanover,€Walsh,€Jalenak€&€Blair,€PLLC,€of€MemphisˆÌà@½½®àFor€Appellee,€Southern€Realty€PartnersˆÌÌà@88!®àMartin€W.€Brown€of€MemphisˆÌà@Œ Œ ®àFor€Appellee,€Weston€Management€CompanyˆÌÌÌà@ÖÖ$®àò òòòVACATED€AND€REMANDEDó óóóˆÐ À*&& ÐÌà@'®àOpinion€filed:€ˆÌÌÌÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àò òñCñW.€FRANK€CRAWñCññDññCñOFRDñCññDññEñFORD,Ð À2.. Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€œJUDGEñEñó óñHñÐ Ò;"77 ÐñHññIñ›ñIññIññIññJñÓÓñJññIñ›à ` àThis€is€a€case€involving€allegations€of€fraudulent€and€negligentÏmisrepresentation€and€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Consumer€Protection€Act.€ÏPlaintiff,€J.C.€Bradford€&€Co.€(Bradford),€appeals€from€the€trial€courtððs€decreeÏdismissing€its€complaint€and€awarding€judgment€on€the€counterclaims€of€defendants,ÏSouthern€Realty€Partners€(Southern)€and€Weston€Management€Company€(Weston).Ìà ` àIn€late€1993,€Bradford€began€negotiations€with€Weston,€who€was€acting€asÏagent€for€Southern,€to€lease€a€building€in€Memphis.€€The€agreement€in€final€formÏrequired€Southern€to€build€an€office€building€to€fit€Bradfordððs€needs€in€exchange€forÏa€ten€(10)€year€lease.€€During€the€lease€negotiations,€Bradford€agreed€to€an€ð ðexpenseÏstopðð€of€$4.35€per€square€foot,€and€this€is€the€subject€of€the€dispute€between€theÏparties.Ìà ` àAn€ð ðexpense€stopðð€is€the€maximum€amount€of€the€operating€expenses€that€theÏlandlord€agrees€to€pay.׃ ×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€In€this€case,€the€initial€proposal€required€Southern€to€payÐ ° Ðall€operating€expenses€up€to€$4.50€per€square€foot.€€Bradford€also€wanted€to€cap€theÏð ðexpense€stopðð€at€a€five€(5%)€percent€increase€after€the€first€year.€€After€lengthyÏnegotiations,€Weston€would€not€agree€to€the€cap€on€taxes,€insurance,€and€utilitiesÏbecause€it€had€no€control€over€an€increase€in€these€costs.€€However,€Weston€did€agreeÏto€a€reduction€in€their€management€fee€and€base€rent€in€exchange€for€reducing€theÏð ðexpense€stopðð€to€$4.35.€€This€final€proposal€was€accepted€by€Bradford,€andÏaccording€to€the€lease,€if€the€operating€expenses€exceeded€the€ð ðexpense€stopððÏBradford€would€be€required€to€pay€the€excess.Ìà ` àThis€dispute€arises€out€of€the€negotiations€concerning€the€ð ðexpense€stop.ðð€ÏSouthern€purchased€the€land€upon€which€the€office€building€in€question€is€locatedÏto€use€as€a€speculative€investment.€€It€hired€Weston€as€its€agent€to€find€a€business€toÏlease€the€land.€€In€late€1993,€David€Peck€(Peck),€Weston€President€and€CEO,Ð °400 Ðcontacted€Bradfordððs€Memphis€area€manager€for€the€purpose€of€negotiating€a€build„¼to„suit€office€building€on€the€land€owned€by€Southern.€€After€Bradford€explained€toÏPeck€that€it€was€interested€in€a€one„story,€residential€style€office€building,€PeckÏattempted€to€determine€an€estimate€of€the€operating€expenses€for€the€completedÏproject.€€He€obtained€information€on€the€operating€expenses€of€twelve€other€EastÏMemphis€office€complexes,€and€attempted€to€adapt€those€numbers€to€the€type€ofÏbuilding€that€Bradford€had€requested.€€At€that€time,€neither€Bradford€nor€WestonÏknew€the€size€nor€specifications€of€the€yet€unplanned€building.Ìà ` àBased€upon€his€examination€of€operating€expenses€of€the€twelve€buildings,ÏPeck€sent€a€written€proposal€to€Bradfordððs€Memphis€area€manager€on€January€6,Ï1994.€€The€proposal€stated,€ð ð[m]y€best€estimate€for€the€operating€expenses€for€theÏfirst€twelve€(12)€months€of€occupancy€will€be€$4.50€per€square€foot.ðð׃×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Both€partiesÐ ° Ðnegotiated€the€terms€of€the€lease,€culminating€in€a€final€lease€signed€on€March€28,Ï1994€that€had€both€a€lower€base€rent€and€an€ð ðexpense€stopðð€of€$4.35.׃%×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€ConstructionÐ ° Ðof€the€office€building€began€on€May€16,€1994,€and€the€project€was€completed€andÏBradford€moved€in€by€December€1,€1994.€€Ìà ` àThe€first€year€operating€expenses€turned€out€to€be€$7.05€per€square€foot.€×ƒ&X×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð °$  ÐBecause€the€operating€expenses€exceeded€the€ð ðexpense€stopðð€by€$2.70,€Bradford€owedÏSouthern€an€extra€$45,900€on€the€first€year€lease,€and€an€estimated€$500,000€overÏthe€entire€term€of€the€lease.׃ ×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð °*&& Ðà ` àAfter€Weston€sent€it€an€invoice€for€the€operating€expenses€exceeding€theÐ °,(( Ðð ðexpense€stop,ðð€Bradford€refused€to€pay€and€filed€suit€against€Southern€alleging€fraudÏand€negligent€misrepresentation€on€the€part€of€Peck,€as€an€agent€of€Southern.€ÏBradford€claimed€that€Peck€knew€or€should€have€known€that€operating€expensesÏwould€be€much€higher€than€his€estimation€of€the€ð ðexpense€stop.ðð€€Initially,€BradfordÏsought€reformation€of€the€lease€by€modifying€the€ð ðexpense€stopðð€to€a€number€muchÏcloser€to€actual€expenses,€and€sought€damages,€and€injunctive€relief.€€The€complaintÏalso€requested€that€Bradford€be€allowed€to€deposit€the€additional€rent€that€wasÏallegedly€due€under€the€lease€into€the€court€until€the€resolution€of€all€disputes.€€TheÏChancellor€granted€Bradfordððs€request€that€it€be€allowed€to€continue€to€occupy€theÏbuilding€and€permitted€it€to€pay€the€additional€rent€into€the€court€clerkððs€office.€ÏHowever,€the€trial€court€granted€summary€judgment€on€Bradfordððs€prayer€forÏreformation.׃×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€€Bradford€was€allowed€to€amend€the€complaint€to€add€a€claim€underÐ ° Ðthe€Tennessee€Consumer€Protection€Act€(TCPA).€€Bradford€continued,€and€isÏpresently,€occupying€the€office€building€and€paying€the€base€rent€to€Southern.Ìà ` àSouthern€answered€Bradfordððs€amended€complaint€and€specifically€denied€thatÏits€agent,€Weston,€made€any€misrepresentations€concerning€the€ð ðexpense€stopðð€andÏfurther€claimed€that€Bradford€did€not€justifiably€rely€on€Peckððs€statements€concerningÏthe€estimate€of€operating€expenses.€€Southern€also€filed€a€counterclaim€againstÏBradford€alleging€that€it€had€defaulted€by€refusing€and/or€failing€to€pay€the€additionalÏrent€due€under€the€lease.€€The€counterclaim€requested€the€court€to€award€it€theÏadditional€rent,€interest,€late€fees,€and€attorneysðð€fees.€€Following€SouthernððsÏcounterclaim,€Bradford€joined€Weston€as€a€party€to€this€lawsuit€on€November€15,Ï1996.Ìà ` àThe€parties€appeared€for€trial€without€a€jury€on€September€22,€1997.€€At€theÏconclusion€of€rather€extensive€and€somewhat€convoluted€opening€statements,€theÏChancellor€ruled€from€the€bench€that€Bradfordððs€complaint€be€dismissed,€thatÐ °622 ÐWestonððs€counter„complaint€for€attorney€fees€in€its€own€right€be€dismissed,€and€thatÏjudgment€be€awarded€to€Southern€on€its€counter„complaint.€€Subsequently,€after€aÏhearing€to€determine€the€amount€of€Southernððs€attorney€fees,€the€Chancellor€enteredÏa€final€decree€in€accordance€with€his€prior€ruling.€€Bradford€has€appealed€and€presentsÏthe€following€issues€as€stated€in€its€brief:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!à1.€€Did€the€trial€court€err€in€failing€to€hold€a€trial?Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!à2.€€Whether€the€facts€as€stipulated€establish€a€claim€forÏfraudulent€misrepresentation,€negligentÏmisrepresentation,€and/or€a€violation€of€the€TennesseeÏConsumer€Protection€Act?Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!à3.€€Whether€the€trial€court€improperly€took€judicial€noticeÏof€a€fact€never€stipulated€to€by€the€parties?Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!à4.€€Whether€the€trial€court€improperly€granted€SouthernÏattorneysðð€fees?Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌÓÓà ` àWeston€also€presents€an€issue€for€review€of€whether€the€trial€court€erred€inÏdenying€an€award€of€reasonable€attorney€fees€and€costs€pursuant€to€TennesseeÏConsumer€Protection€Act,€T.C.A.€ðð€47„18„109€(e)(2)€(1996).Ìà ` àWe€will€now€consider€the€issues.Ìà@#®àòòFAILURE€TO€HOLD€A€TRIALòòˆÐ °# Ðà ` àóóóóBradford€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€failing€to€hold€a€trial.€€AlthoughÐ °%!! ÐBradford€relies€upon€a€federal€case€from€the€Eleventh€Circuit€in€support€of€itsÏassertion€that€the€trial€court€cannot€voluntarily€direct€a€judgment€for€a€partyÏfollowing€the€partyððs€opening€statement,€we€believe€it€more€appropriate€to€considerÏthat€proposition€in€light€of€the€decision€of€our€Supreme€Court€in€ò òòòHarris€v.€BaptistÐ °-)) ÐMem.€Hosp.ó óóó,€574€S.W.2d€730€(Tenn.€1978).€€In€ò òòòHarris,€ó óóóa€nurseððs€aide€sued€theÐ ´/++ Ðhospital€for€workerððs€compensation€benefits,€and€the€hospital€counterclaimed€seekingÏa€€setoff€for€the€amount€of€sick€benefits€paid€to€the€plaintiff.€€After€openingÏstatements€of€counsel,€the€trial€court,€ò òòòsua€sponte,€ó óóódismissed€the€action.€€On€appeal,Ð ¸511 Ðthe€Supreme€Court€reversed€stating:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àWe€are€of€the€opinion,€however,€that€the€trialÐ ¼9 55 Ðjudges€of€this€State€are€not€authorized€to€order€theÏinvoluntary€dismissal€of€an€action€at€trial€upon€the€soleÏbasis€of€the€opening€statements€of€counsel.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*Ð ° ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àOf€critical€importance€here€is€the€nature€of€openingÏstatements.€€They€are€intended€merely€to€inform€the€trialÏjudge€and€jury,€in€a€general€way,€of€the€nature€of€the€caseÏand€to€outline,€generally,€the€facts€each€party€intends€toÏprove.€€Such€statements€do€not€amount€to€stipulationsÏand€certainly€are€not€a€substitute€for€the€pleadings€or€forÏevidence.€€See€75€Am.Jur.2d€Trials€ðð€202€(1974).€€It€isÏeasy€to€see€that€an€involuntary€dismissal€upon€the€basisÏof€the€opening€statements€of€counsel€alone€mayÏeffectively€deny€litigants€the€opportunity€to€be€heard€orÏto€fully€present€the€facts€and€evidence€in€the€case.€€ForÏthis€reason,€we€are€unwilling€to€expand€the€provisions€ofÏRule€41.02€to€authorize€trial€judges€to€order€involuntaryÏdismissals€upon€opening€statements€only.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌ574€S.W.2d€at€731„32.ÌÌÓÓà ` àSouthern€and€Weston€assert€that€the€trial€court€did€not€direct€judgment€at€theÏconclusion€of€opening€statements,€but€considered€the€opening€statements€asÏstipulations€of€fact€and€rendered€judgment€based€upon€the€stipulations€of€the€parties.€ÏIt€is€somewhat€difficult€to€determine€exactly€what€happened€at€the€trial€setting€andÏillustrates€that€the€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€should€be€followed€and€cases€tried€in€theÏusual€and€proper€manner.€€As€our€Supreme€Court€said€in€ò òòòHarrisó óóó,€the€openingÐ °%!! Ðstatements€should€be€confined€to€outlining€in€a€general€way€the€nature€of€the€caseÏand€the€facts€each€party€intends€to€prove.€€The€case€should€then€proceed€as€anÏevidentiary€hearing€in€order€for€the€trial€court€to€make€determinations€including,€ofÏcourse,€the€credibility€of€witnesses.€€While€oral€stipulations€are€binding€upon€theÏparties€and€may€be€the€basis€of€a€ruling€by€the€court,€ò òòòDepartment€of€Highways€v.Ð ´/++ ÐUrban€Estates,€Inc.ó óóó,€465€S.W.2d€357,€360€(Tenn.€App.€1971),€there€must€be€a€clearÐ ¸1-- Ðunderstanding€of€what€the€stipulations€are.€€While€it€would€appear€from€some€of€theÏstatements€in€the€record€that€Bradfordððs€counsel€appeared€to€agree€with€theÏstatements€concerning€these€facts,€he€also€added:€€ð ðItððs€all€in€the€documents.ðð€AfterÏthe€Chancellor€stated€his€ruling,€the€following€exchange€took€place:Ð ¼9 55 ÐÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€LEATHERMAN:€Your€Honor,€under€these€factsÏhere,€I€just,€as€far€as€I€am€„„€I€am€thinking€on€appeal€here.€ÏAnd€maybe€we€can€work€this€out€later,€but€I€donððt€knowÏhow€this€will€shake€out.€€These€statements€that€we€haveÏbeen€making€have€come€from€various€records€and€letters.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àTHE€COURT:€òòò òYou€are€going€to€introduce€the€records€andÐ °  Ðletters€to€support€all€of€tható óóó,€because€I€knew€„„€there€is€notÐ ²  Ðgoing€to€be€a€problem€about€that.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€LEATHERMAN:€Okay.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àTHE€COURT:€You€gentlemen€are€men€of€honor€amongÏyourselves.€€And€on€top€of€that,€each€of€you€agreed€withÏother€most€of€the€time,€so€there€is€not€going€to€be€aÏdisagreement€about€where€you€œgoññtññ›€it€from.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€HANOVER:€I€donððt€think€there€are€any€questionsÏabout€any€of€the€letters€we€talked€about.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àTHE€COURT:€Or€any€of€the€points.€€You€got€some€of€thisÏfrom€someoneððs€statements€in€depositions€as€well.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€LEATHERMAN:€Right.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€HANOVER:€That€is€true.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àTHE€COURT:€So€yaððll€are€on€the€same€wavelength€as€theÏCourt,€which€is,€yððall€realize€you€may€have€differingÏopinions,€but€you€understand€that€you€canððt€have€aÏdifferent€set€of€facts.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€HANOVER:€I€want€to€say€this€on€behalf€of€Mr.ÏLeatherman,€and€I€am€sure€Mr.€Brown€will€echo€this:€InÏmy€dealing€with€Mr.€Leatherman€since€he€has€been€in€theÏcase€we€have€made€a€lot€of€agreements€and€I€have€neverÏworried€one€minute€about€anything€that€he€has€said€andÏI€am€sure€that€he€hasnððt€worried€about€anything€that€IÏhave€said.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€BROWN:€I€would€certainly€second€that.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€LEATHERMAN:€The€same€goes€for€me.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àTHE€COURT:€And€I€am€sure€that€will€continue.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àMR.€LEATHERMAN:€òòò òJust€for€the€record,€we€are€going€toÐ ´2.. Ðbe€submitting€deposition€testimony€and€documents.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðó óóóÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àTHE€COURT:€òòò òAbsolutely,€gentlemen.€€That€is€clearly€„„€IÐ ¶511 Ðunderstood€that€when€yððall€told€me€some€of€the€things€youÏtold€me€as€factsó óóó,€they€werenððt€because€both€of€yððall€hadÐ ¸733 Ðvisions€at€the€same€time€from€on€high.€I€know€that€itÏcame€from€either€demonstrative€pieces€of€evidence,€suchÐ º9 55 Ðas€letters€or€appraisals,€or€that€it€came,€which€most€of€itÏI€know€came,€from€what€you€have€told€me,€fromÏdepositions.€€So€that€is€no€problem€whatsoever.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌEmphasis€added.ÌÌÓÓà ` àIt€appears€from€this€exchange€that€the€Chancellor€recognized€that€further€proofÏwould€be€forthcoming€and€authorized€Bradfordððs€counsel€to€file€the€proof€for€theÏrecord.€€Subsequently,€when€Bradfordððs€counsel€filed€various€depositions€andÏdocuments,€Southernððs€counsel€moved€to€strike€the€depositions.€€The€trial€courtÏgranted€the€motion,€and€the€depositions€were€not€made€part€of€the€record.Ìà ` àThis€development€clearly€illustrates€the€precarious€nature€of€proceedings€thatÏdo€not€conform€to€the€rules€of€procedure.€€This€case€deals€with€allegations€of€fraud,Ïintentional€misrepresentation,€negligent€misrepresentation,€and€also€issues€concerningÏattorney€fees€pursuant€to€contract€and€pursuant€to€the€Tennessee€ConsumerÏProtection€Act.€€It€is€difficult€to€understand€how€the€case€could€be€tried€withoutÏsome€consideration€of€witness€credibility.€€Considering€the€nature€of€this€case,€thisÏCourt€is€of€the€opinion€that€complete€justice€cannot€be€had€because€of€the€defects€inÏthe€record.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€T.C.A.€ðð€27„3„128€(1980).Ð °" Ðà ` àAccordingly,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€vacated,€and€this€case€isÏremanded€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings€as€are€necessary.€€Costs€of€theÏappeal€are€assessed€one„half€to€œappellantññsññ›€and€one„half€to€œappellees.ññ€€The€remainingÏissues€arññññeññññ€ññññññeññññññpretermitted.ññ›ÌÓÓÔ‡Xz½XXXz½Ôà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_________________________________Ð ´,(( Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ð ´-)) Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÔ#‡ Xz½XX Xz½§C#ÔÐ ¶.** ÐÌò òCONCUR:Ð ¸0,, ÐÌññÌññññññaeh.sññññññññó óññññò òññññññÔ‡Xz½XXXz½Ô____________________________________Ð ¾3// ÐññññALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÔ#‡ Xz½XX Xz½áE#ÔÐ À400 ÐÌÔ‡Xz½XXXz½Ô____________________________________Ð Â622 Ðò òDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óÔ#‡ Xz½XX Xz½•F#Ôññññññó óññññœÔ†ÿÿÔÔ†ÿÿÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔñIñ›