ÿWPCƒ 8#  UN+ %y 0cU<âw@4^r‰ AQ‘ 0§â 0J‰ 0TÓ 0^' 0h… 0rí 0|_ 0†Û 0a 1uñ 0df 0@Ê D3 0D= U> B)¿ DCè B+ ÆH 0D 0DR D/– BÅ AMâ U*/]Y¶07•gU6üv~2vÓ°˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(;1˜$¡¡Ò°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XcXXXÔ-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman NOUPDQeRr‚SUTîUVÓ€bäzz!Inooppqqr3|xb*+ ,-Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ(W(3OÓ$¤¤Ý ƒ1˜!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XyXXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò))))'ÿÿdxd(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d''''7Border 1dd dƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó..'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd* (Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial SÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ+"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€0ÔÔ€0ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€0XÔÌÌò òMayÏ22,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€0ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó wÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Belz„Wilson€Properties€is€a€joint€venture€comprised€of€Belz€InvestmentÏCompany,€Spence€L.€Wilson,€Robert€A.€Wilson,€Kemmons€Wilson,€Jr.,€Carole€A.ÏWilson„West€and€Dorothy€E.W.€Moore.Ì &Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Belz€Investment€Company€is€a€partnership€comprised€of€Phillip€Belz,ÏJack€A.€Belz,€and€Kemmons€Wilson.Ì ‹Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Although€styled€as€a€motion€to€dismiss,€the€motion€itself€relies€on€theÏrelease€and€is€also€supported€by€other€extraneous€material.€€The€trial€courtÏtreated€the€motion€as€a€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€Ì< Œ 9p`(Courier NewPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€&ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€ÜXXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÓ  Ó›Þ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONÌà àà à€€€€______________________________________________ÌÌò òGORDON€BURKS,€ó óÌÌà àPlaintiff„Appellant,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àœShelby€Law€45888ÌVs.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àC.A.€No.€02A01„9607„CV„00154ÌÙ€*ÙßR€/1(A1-j|Wûï` à. `€€@ÿRßÌò òBELZ„WILSON€PROPERTIES,€Ì(a€join€venture,€comprised€ofÌBELZ€INVESTMENT€COMPANY,ÌSPENCE€L.€WILSON,€ROBERT€A.ÌWILSON,€KEMMONS€WILSON,€JR.,ÌCAROLE€A.€WILSON„WEST€andÌDOROTHY€E.€W.€MOORE),€BELZÌINVESTMENT€COMPANY,€INC.,€Ìa€corporation;€BELZ€INVESTMENTÌCOMPANY,€a€partnership€comprisedÌof€PHILLIP€BELZ,€JACK€A.€BELZÌand€KEMMONS€WILSON;€ÌWILBLETON€GYMNASTICS,ÌINC.,€a€corporation,€andÌPRIDE€CONSTRUCTION€COMPANY,ÌINC.,€ó óÌÌà àDefendants„Appellees.Ì____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@ àFROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€SHELBY€COUNTYÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€KAREN€R.€WILLIAMS,€JUDGEÌÌà@ àMark€Ledbetter€of€MemphisÌà@ àDan€T.€Bing€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€Plaintiff„AppellantÌÌà@ àRichard€Glassman€and€James€F.€HornerÌà@ àGlassman,€Jeter,€Edward€&€Wade,€P.C.,€of€MemphisÌà@ àFor€Appellees,€Belz„Wilson€PropertiesÌÌà@ àò òòòREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌà@ àó óóóOpinion€filed:€ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óÌ›Ñ , ÑÑ   ÑÑ  ÑÑ€' u` ÑÓÓà àThis€is€a€negligence€case€involving€the€interpretation€and€application€of€aÏrelease.€€Plaintiff,€Gordon€Burks,€appeals€from€the€order€of€the€trial€courtÏgranting€summary€judgment€to€defendants,€Belz„Wilson€Properties× ƒ2 ××  ×€€(a€jointÏventure),€Belz€Investment€Company× ƒ3 ××  ×€(a€partnership),€Spence€L.€Wilson,€RobertÏA.€Wilson,€Kemmons€Wilson,€Jr.,€Carole€A.Wilson„West,€and€Dorothy€E.€W.ÏMoore.Ìà àThis€case€was€before€the€œCourt›€previously€on€Burksððs€appeal€from€theÏorder€of€the€trial€court€granting€summary€judgment€to€defendant,€PrideÏConstruction€Company,€Inc.,€and€this€Court€affirmed€the€trial€court.€€ò òòòSee€BurksÏv.€Belz„Wilson€Properties,€ó óóóNo.€02A01„9411„CV„00254,€1996€WL€84859€(Tenn.ÏApp.€Jan.€2,€1996).Ìà àOn€May€4,€1991,€Burks€was€injured€when€he€attempted€a€back€flip€into€aÏgymnastics€pit€at€the€Wimbleton€Sportsplex€in€Memphis.€€He€suffered€cervicalÏspinal€injuries€that€left€him€paralyzed€and€disabled.€€Burks€was€attending€aÏfunction€that€Crye„Leike€Realty€held€for€its€employees€and€their€familyÏœmembers›€called€the€Crye„Leike€Olympics.€€The€employees€and€familiesÏparticipated€in€various€games€and€events€including€basketball,€volleyball,Ïrunning,€and€swimming.€€The€gymnastics€pit€was€used€for€an€event€calledÏð ðGetting€Out€of€the€Pits,ðð€where€agents€rolled€around€in€the€foam€rubber€in€theÏpit.€€Although€gymnastics€was€not€a€scheduled€event,€many€participants€jumpedÏand€flipped€into€the€gymnastics€pit€in€between€events.€€When€Burks€attemptedÏa€flip€from€a€pommel€horse€into€the€pit,€he€was€seriously€injured.€Ìà àOne€day€before€the€event,€Burks€signed€a€release€form€that€had€the€wordÏð ðRELEASEðð€in€bold€and€all€capital€letters€at€the€top.€€Burks€did€not€read€theÏform€before€he€signed€it.Ìà àOn€May€1,€1992,€Burks€filed€a€complaint€against€the€defendants€in€thisÏappeal€and€others€alleging€that€the€defendants€failed€to€warn€users€of€dangersÏincident€to€the€use€of€the€gymnastics€pit,€that€the€defendants€failed€to€properlyÏdesign,€construct,€and€maintain€safe€premises,€and€that€the€defendants€failed€toÏprovide€a€gymnastics€pit€with€adequate€shock€absorption€or€depth€to€preventÏthe€serious€injuries€sustained€by€Burks.€€The€complaint€prayed€for€damages€inÏthe€amount€of€$10,000,000.00.€€On€February€22,€1994,€Burks€filed€an€amendedÏcomplaint€that€alleged€that€the€defendants€were€also€grossly€negligent.Ìà àBelz„Wilson€Properties,€Belz€Investment€Company,€Spence€L.€Wilson,ÏRobert€A.€Wilson,€Kemmons€Wilson,€Jr.,€Carole€A.€Wilson„West,€and€DorothyÏE.W.€Moore€filed€a€motion€to€dismiss× ƒ4 ××  ×€on€the€grounds€that€ð ðthe€cause€of€actionÏ.€.€.€was€released€by€the€execution€by€the€Plaintiff€of€a€contract€containing€anÏexculpatory€clause€applicable€to€said€Defendants.ðð€€On€May€2,€1996,€the€trialÏcourt€entered€an€order€granting€the€motion,€which€stated€that€ð ðby€theÏexecution€of€said€Release,€that€the€Plaintiff€released€these€defendants€from€anyÏclaim€of€negligence€not€of€a€gross€or€wanton€nature.ðð€€Ìà àBurks€has€perfected€this€appeal,€and€the€issue€for€review€is€whether€theÍtrial€court€erred€in€granting€summary€judgment€to€the€appellees.€€A€trial€courtÏshould€grant€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€only€if€the€movant€demonstratesÏthat€there€are€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€that€the€moving€party€isÏentitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.03;€€ò òòòByrd€v.€Hallóóó ó,Ï847€S.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.€1993);€òòò òDunn€v.€Hackettó óóó,€833€S.W.2d€78,€80€(Tenn.ÏApp.€1992).€€The€party€moving€for€summary€judgment€bears€the€burden€ofÏdemonstrating€that€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact€exists.€òòò ò€Byrdó óóó,€847€S.W.2dÏat€210.€€On€a€motion€for€summary€judgment,€the€court€must€consider€theÏmotion€in€the€same€manner€as€a€motion€for€directed€verdict€made€at€the€closeÏof€the€plaintiffððs€proof;€that€is,€ð ðthe€court€must€take€the€strongest€legitimateÏview€of€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€nonmoving€party,€allow€all€reasonableÏinferences€in€favor€of€that€party,€and€discard€all€countervailing€evidence.ðð€òòò ò€Idó óóó.€atÏ210„11.€Ìà àIn€this€case,€the€trial€court€granted€the€summary€judgment€solely€on€theÏexistence€of€the€release€signed€by€Burks.€€Therefore,€the€dispositive€question€forÏthis€Court€is€whether€the€release€exonerates€the€appellees€from€Burksððs€claims€ofÏnegligence.€€This€is€a€question€of€law€for€the€Court.€€ò òòòRainey€v.€Stansell,ó óóó€836ÏS.W.2d€117,€118€(Tenn.€App.€1992).Ìà àThe€release€states€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àI,€Individually,€in€consideration€of€my€participation€inÏthe€CRYE„LEIKE€Olympics€and€for€other€good€andÏvaluable€consideration,€the€receipt€and€sufficiency€ofÏwhich€is€hereby€acknowledged,€I€the€undersigned,ÏIntending€to€be€legally€bound,€as€broadly€andÏinclusively€as€permitted€by€the€laws€of€the€State€ofÏTennessee,€for€myself,€my€heirs,€assigns,€executors€andÏadministrators€do€hereby€release,€remise,€waive,Ïsurrender,€and€forever€discharge€and€to€Indemnify€andÏsave€harmless€CRYE„LEIKE,€Inc.,€CRYE„LEIKEÏInsurance€Agency,€Inc.,€CRYE„LEIKE€of€Mississippi,ÏInc.,€CRYE„LEIKE€Mortgage€Company,€Inc.,€CRYE„LEIKE€Property€Management,€CRYE„LEIKEÏCommercial€Investment€and€Harold€Crye€and€DickÏLeike,€Individuals,€and€WIMBLETON€SPORTSPLEX,ÏWIMBLETON€GYMNASTICS,€and€all€otherÏsponsoring€groups€of€the€events€herein,€together€withÏall€of€their€officers,€agents,€officials,€directors€andÏemployees,€from€any€and€all€liability€claims,€demands,Ïactions€or€causes€of€action€whatsoever,€arising€out€ofÏor€any€injury,€illness€loss€or€damage€including€deathÏrelating€to€participation€in€these€events.€€I€furtherÏstate€and€represent€that€I€am€in€proper€physicalÏcondition€to€participate€in€this€event.ÌÌÓÓà àWe€first€note€that€releases€and€exculpatory€clauses€are€valid€in€TennesseeÏand€are€not€against€the€public€policy€of€this€state.€€ò òòòDixon€v.€Manieróóó ó,€545ÏS.W.2d€948,€950€(Tenn.€App.€1976).€€A€release€is€a€œcontract,›€and€rules€ofÏconstruction€applied€to€contracts€are€used€in€construing€a€release.€€ò òòòRichlandÏCountry€Club,€Inc.€v.€CRC€Equities,€Inc.ó óóó,€832€S.W.2d€554,€557€(Tenn.€App.Ï1991).€€The€cardinal€rule€is€to€ascertain€the€intention€of€the€parties.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€€AÏgeneral€release€covers€all€claims€between€the€parties€that€are€in€existence€andÍwithin€their€contemplation.€€òòò òId.óóó ó€€The€Court€quoted€ò òòòJackson€v.€Milleró óóó,€776ÏS.W.2d€115€(Tenn.€App.€1989),€for€additional€propositions€of€law:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àIn€interpreting€a€release€to€determine€whether€aÏparticular€claim€has€been€discharged,€the€primary€ruleÏof€construction€is€that€the€intention€of€the€partiesÏshall€govern,€and€this€intention€is€to€be€determinedÏwith€a€consideration€of€what€was€within€theÏcontemplation€of€the€parties€when€the€release€wasÏexecuted,€which€in€turn€is€to€be€resolved€in€the€lightÏof€all€of€the€surrounding€facts€and€circumstancesÏunder€which€the€parties€acted.€€(Citing€66€Am.Jur.2dÏòòReleaseóó€ðð€30€(1973)).Ìà8 àà8 àClaims€in€tort€which€have€not€matured€or€were€notÏknown€to€the€parties€when€they€executed€their€releaseÏand€which€they€did€not€intend€to€affect€when€theÏsettlement€was€made€are€not€discharged€by€a€release.€Ï(Citing€66€Am.Jur.2d€òòRelease€óóðð€33€(1973)).Ìà8 àà8 àA€release€ordinarily€covers€all€such€matters€as€mayÏfairly€be€said€to€have€been€within€the€contemplationÏof€the€parties€when€it€was€given€.€.€.€consequently€aÏdemand€of€which€a€party€was€ignorant€when€theÏrelease€was€given€is€not€as€a€rule€.€.€.€embraced€therein.Ï.€.€.€€(Citing€76€C.J.S.€òòReleaseóó€ðð€52€(1952)).€€€ÌÌÓÓò òòòRichland€Country€Clubóóó ó,€832€S.W.2d€at€557€(quoting€ò òòòJacksonó óóó,€776€S.W.2d€atÏ118).Ìà àBurks€first€argues€that€the€literal€wording€of€the€release€did€notÏencompass€the€appellees€because€they€were€not€specifically€named€in€the€release.€ÏThe€appellees€assert€that€they€are€covered€by€the€release€because€WimbletonÏSportsplex€was€named€in€the€release.€€Defendant,€Kemmons€Wilson,€Jr.,€statedÍin€his€affidavit€that€ð ðWimbleton€Sportsplex€is€a€trade€name€used€forÏWimbleton€Racquet€Club,€a€non„[in]corporated€business€entity€owned€by€theÏDefendants,€Belz„Wilson€Properties,€Belz€Investment€Company,€Spence€L.ÏWilson,€Robert€A.€Wilson,€Kemmons€Wilson,€Jr.,€Carole€A.€Wilson„West€andÏDorothy€E.W.€Moore.ðð€€The€appellees€claim€that€they€were€released€fromÏliability€because€their€trade€name€appeared€in€the€release.€€Ìà àOne€may€lawfully€adopt€any€trade€name€in€which€to€conduct€his€or€herÏbusiness.€€ò òòòSchultz,€Baujan€&€Co.€v.€Bellóóó ó,€130€S.W.2d€149,€151€(Tenn.€App.Ï1939).€€In€ò òòòInterstate€Fire€Ins.€Co.€v.€Kimbroughóóó ó,€852€S.W.2d€887€(Tenn.€App.Ï1992),€this€Court€construed€a€contract€between€two€parties€and€held€that€parolÏevidence€was€admissible€to€determine€the€true€identity€of€the€purchaser€underÏthe€contract.€€òòò òIdóóó ó.€at€891€(citing€ò òòòInternational€House€of€Talent€v.€Alabamaóóó ó,€712ÏS.W.2d€78€(Tenn.€1986)).€€One€of€the€parties€to€the€contract€was€Taylor„Kimbrough€Bildors,€the€trade€name€for€the€corporation€Taylor€and€KimbroughÏRealty€Company.€€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€at€892„93.€€The€Court€used€parol€evidence€to€determineÏthat€the€real€party€to€the€contract€was€the€corporation€even€though€theÏcontract€was€in€the€name€of€the€trade€name.€€òòò òIdóóó ó.€at€893.€€While€an€entity€doingÏbusiness€under€a€trade€name€does€not€have€a€legal€existence€and€is€not€capableÏof€being€sued,€we€believe€that€a€business€operating€as€a€trade€name€can€validlyÍexecute€a€contract.€€ò òòòSee€also€Carlton€v.€B€&€S€Used€Cars€#2óóó ó,€No.€01A01„9310„CH„00446,€1994€WL€68265,€at€*2€(Tenn.€App.€Mar.€9,€1994)€(quoting€65€C.J.S.Ïò òòòNamesó óóó€ðð€9(1)).€€à àÌà àBurks€argues€that€ò òòòHollingsworth€v.€Provident€Life€&€Accident€Ins.€Co.óóó ó,ÏNo.€85„306„II,€1986€WL€5321€(Tenn.€App.€May€7,€1986),€supports€his€positionÏthat€the€release€does€not€extend€to€the€appellees.€€In€ò òòòHollingsworthóóó ó,€HarwedaÏHollingsworth€won€a€workerððs€compensation€case€against€his€employer,ÏConsolidated€Aluminum€Corporation€(CAC),€and€then€signed€a€release€relievingÏCAC€from€any€further€liability€resulting€from€his€accident.€€òòò òIdóóó ó.€at€*1.€€At€theÏsame€time,€he€was€pursuing€a€claim€against€Provident€Life€&€AccidentÏInsurance€Company€for€long„term€disability€benefits.€€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€€When€HollingsworthÏsued€Provident€for€the€long„term€disability€benefits,€Provident€asserted€theÏrelease€as€an€affirmative€defense,€and€the€trial€court€held€that€the€release€was€aÏcomplete€defense€and€dismissed€the€complaint.€€òòò òIdóóó ó.€at€*2.€€However,€this€CourtÏreversed€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€held€that€Hollingsworth€did€notÏknow€of€any€special€relationship€between€CAC€and€Provident€and€did€notÏintend€to€release€Provident€in€the€workerððs€compensation€case€with€CAC.€€òòò òIdóóó ó.€atÏ*2„3.Ìà àIn€his€affidavit,€Burks€stated€that€the€defendants€were€unknown€to€himÍwhen€he€signed€the€release.€€In€ò òòòHollingsworthóóó ó,€the€unknown€special€relationshipÏwas€between€two€separate€parties,€and€the€Court€held€that€when€HollingsworthÏreleased€one,€he€did€not€intend€to€release€the€other.€€òòò òIdóóó ó.€at€*3.€€In€this€case,€theÏunknown€party€is€legally€the€same€party€as€the€one€named€in€the€release.€€BurksÏalso€stated€in€his€affidavit€that€he€did€not€intend€to€release€the€appellees.€ÏHowever,€the€court,€in€arriving€at€the€intention€of€the€parties€to€a€contract,Ïdoes€not€attempt€to€ascertain€the€partiesðð€state€of€mind€at€the€time€theÏcontract€was€executed,€but€rather€their€intentions€as€actually€embodied€andÏexpressed€in€the€contract€as€written.€€ò òòòRainey€v.€Stansellóóó ó,€836€S.W.2d€117,€119Ï(Tenn.€App.€1992).€€While€Burks€may€not€have€known€the€true€legalÏrelationship€between€the€appellees€and€Wimbleton€Sportsplex€when€he€signedÏthe€release,€we€believe€that,€by€releasing€Wimbleton€Sportsplex,€Burks€intendedÏto€release€the€true€owners€of€the€building,€the€appellees.Ìà àBecause€parol€evidence€is€admissible€to€determine€the€true€identity€of€theÏparties€to€the€contract,€the€trial€court€correctly€considered€Kemmons€Wilson,ÏJr.ððs€affidavit€and€in€the€absence€of€countervailing€proof,€the€trial€court€correctlyÏdetermined€that€the€appellees€were€the€true€parties€to€the€release.€€Ì€à àBurks€also€claims€that€the€release€does€not€apply€to€the€latent€defects€inÏthe€gymnastics€pit€because€the€injury€occurred€outside€of€a€scheduled€event.€ÍHe€argues€that€the€literal€language€of€the€release€relates€to€the€Crye„LeikeÏOlympic€events€and,€since€gymnastics€was€not€an€event,€his€injury€is€notÏcovered.€€The€appellees€argue€that€the€language€of€the€release€was€intended€toÏcover€all€activities€surrounding€the€Crye„Leike€Olympics.Ìà àThe€pertinent€language€of€the€release€states€that€the€appellees€are€releasedÏð ðfrom€any€and€all€liability€claims,€demands,€actions€or€causes€of€actionÏwhatsoever,€arising€out€of€or€any€injury,€illness€loss€or€damage€including€deathÏrelating€to€participation€in€these€events.ðð€€Burks€argues€that€the€contract€mustÏbe€construed€strongly€against€the€appellees.€€In€Tennessee,€ambiguous€languageÏin€a€contract€will€be€construed€most€strongly€against€the€author€of€the€language.€Ïò òòòFuller€v.€Orkin€Exterminating€Co.óóó ó,€545€S.W.2d€103,€107€(Tenn.€App.€1975).Ì€€à àWe€believe€that€the€language€ð ðrelating€to€participation€in€these€eventsððÏcan€be€considered€ambiguous€and€should€be€construed€against€the€appellees.€ÏBurks€was€not€participating€in€a€scheduled€event€when€he€was€injured,€nor€wasÏhe€preparing€for€an€event€by€stretching€or€practicing.€€He€was€injured€in€anÏactivity€unrelated€to€any€event€in€the€Crye„Leike€Olympics.€€We€interpret€theÏreleaseððs€intent€to€be€to€absolve€the€appellees€from€liability€for€any€defect€in€theÏpremises€that€occasions€injury€or€damages€during€a€personððs€participation€in€theÏscheduled€events.€€To€interpret€the€release€as€asserted€by€the€appellees€wouldÍextend€its€exculpation€to€unbounded€limits.Ìà àAccordingly,€the€order€of€the€trial€court€granting€summary€judgment€toÏthe€appellees€is€reversed,€and€this€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court.€€Costs€ofÏappeal€are€assessed€against€the€appellees.ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÌÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌ____________________________________ÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÌÌò ò____________________________________ÌHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€JUDGEó óœÔ€5ÔÔ€5Ô