ÿWPC é†s*]Œ‹qœÚ³f'dC¿ÇŸ×aª€×ëWŒ‰@Ç XmXÁtÒ%$U©|¼f 䧤q§³˜(v5•uA§ Sôx-%±ÏôÙL³døЪȶ”Ç A¥ÙA1$‚Ùþâ!X¶s( R\Q@º,[Ÿ¹ÜH}ÆX+[Ò<|T¼:UΆ”ˆ;ðúy¦¶Ì³S+ú¯ô¶òsIþ—€_©Š%rR‹('|1oÝmf¾8ÏR¤gF![`04«ËT­¢R}ôêÖõ¶.«|§)pu­'ícaÝÔ,0Ò±Ú0—)1ä'±ïäŠuàº9žjìµÝ»¾ýç1«Ä'“Èž›yZ£07qJ’xÏè>ÓâÄ pD9¶Ný@}¶cQÓØoçZH`û&Úw›P†9Ô¹tÙé,˜ñ)åI;0Nÿñþ1ƒÑ£Ò(мö<ö{Ò€Ó¬ìª8È|«ì53´ÑÈjÜš|< ³$Ò¾mÕ6ö¢ÏlÏ­“ÃîíÝ¡_mϱÃI»IT“/`(û9¶Ië:–«ê@¢6Ù¢~QFÀ„1‰0:¢š+J¯3;ÙÍ„ Vfà^.¦ØýGÍ'˜ø~}“»:;°1%b %\UNb 0ˆ°UN8N†^ ˆw” z˜Ò 4ä ø  m Æ Ææ Ƭ Ær #É8 NEb 0ë     Bøø 0¤ D5¹ D-î 0K ASfƹ 0¤ 0D# A«g»(@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularp{T1Ï  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptéJE1˜Cê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5˜\\IB01S01\CLERK1NASÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0- ù-(|G2ïC$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€•»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô´µò»»Ô d(|3¿q$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€•»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3¿q$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€•»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€•»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑϰÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼•»»»ÔÑ8€\ùXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î ¬î»¼•ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼•»îî ¬#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAugust€4,€2004€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X\ùX»¼•ÔÌò òÔ#†¼•»XX\ù#ÔANTHONY€AND€Ô_ÔMELINDAÔ_Ô€K.€Ô_ÔCOLSTONÔ_Ôòòóó€v.€CITIZENS€TRI„COUNTYÐ úJ ÐBANKòòóóÔ‡X\ùX»¼•Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òA€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Marion€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€13130€€€€€€The€Honorable€Buddy€D.€Perry,€JudgeÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2003„01379„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€October€20,€Ô_Ô2004Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡X\ùXXX\ùÔà  àFollowing€Appelleesðð€default€on€promissory€note€secured€by€a€deed€of€trust,€Appellant€BankÐ ŒÜ Ðplaced€a€hold€on€Appelleesðð€accounts€and€instigated€foreclosure€proceedings.€€Despite€the€fact€thatÐ xÈ ÐAppellees€cured€the€default,€Appellant€Bank€continued€its€hold€on€accounts€and€failed€to€stopÐ d´ Ðpublication€of€foreclosure€notice.€€Although€Appellees€failed€to€prove€damages,€trial€court€foundÐ P  ÐBank€negligent€and€awarded€nominal€damages€to€Appellees.€€We€reverse.Ð <Œ ÐÔ#†X\ùXXX\ù?#ÔÔ#†¼•»XX\ùá#ÔÔ‡X\ùX»¼•ÔÌÓ3ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Reversedó óÐ P ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼•»àX\ùß#ÔÔ‡X\ùX.¼•ÔW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,Ð Ø( ÐJ.óó€and€òòHolly€M.€Kirby,€J.óó,€joined.Ð Ä ÐÌM.€Keith€Davis€of€Ô_ÔDunlapÔ_Ô,€for€Appellant,€Citizens€Tri„County€BankÐ œì ÐÌPaul€S.€Ô_ÔWeidlichÔ_Ô€of€Chattanooga,€for€Appellees,€Anthony€and€Ô_ÔMelindaÔ_Ô€K.€Ô_ÔColstonÔ_ÔÐ t Ä ÐÓ}ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼•»XX\ù¬#ÔÔ‡X\ùX»¼•ÔÐ L"œ! ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼•»XX\ùþ #ÔÔ‡X\ùX»¼•ÔÓ  ÓÑ8€\ùXXdìXXdì8Ñà  àOn€January€20,€1994,€Anthony€Ô_ÔColstonÔ_Ô€and€his€wife,€Ô_ÔMelindaÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔColstonÔ_Ô€(together,€theÐ $$t# Ðð ðÔ_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô,ðð€ð ðPlaintiffs,ðð€or€ð ðAppelleesðð)€purchased€the€residential€real€property€at€465€Elm€StreetÐ %` $ Ðin€Ô_ÔWhitwellÔ_Ô,€Tennessee€€(the€ð ðPropertyðð).€€The€purchase€price€was€$75,000.00.€€The€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_ÔÐ ü%L!% Ðfinanced€the€purchase€of€the€Property€with€a€loan€of€$56,250.00€from€Citizenððs€Tri„County€Bank€(theÐ è&8"& Ðð ðBank,ðð€ð ðDefendant,ðð€or€ð ðAppellantðð)€secured€by€a€deed€of€trust.€€After€purchasing€the€Property,€theÐ Ô'$#' ÐÔ_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€made€extensive€improvements.€€An€appraisal€conducted€by€Ô_ÔThurstonÔ_Ô€Davis€Realty€inÐ À($( ÐFebruary€1995,€and€admitted€as€Exhibit€15,€values€the€Property€at€$192,721.80.€€An€appraisalÐ ¬)ü$) Ðconducted€by€Gene€West€in€April€1997,€and€admitted€as€Exhibit€16,€values€the€property€atÐ ˜*è%* Ð$195,000.00.Ð „+Ô&+ ÐÌÔ_Ôà  àOn€October€15,€1996,€the€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€renewed€a€1995€promissory€note€for€a€$150,000.00€lineÐ \-¬(- Ðof€credit€and€executed€the€promissory€note,€which€is€the€subject€of€this€litigation€(the€ð ðNoteðð),€inÐ H.˜).ý Ðfavor€of€the€Bank.€€The€Note€had€a€principal€value€of€$157,800.00€and€a€maturity€date€of€OctoberÐ ° Ð15,€1997.€€The€Note€provided€for€a€balloon€payment€due€on€the€maturity€date€but€included€a€30„dayÐ œì Ðgrace€period€before€any€interest€would€begin€to€accrue€on€the€principal.€The€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€pledged€theÐ ˆØ ÐProperty€and€two€other€tracts€of€real€estate€as€collateral€on€the€Note.€€The€Note€contains€a€ð ðRight€ofÐ tÄ ÐSetoffðð€clause,€which€reads€as€follows:Ð `° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€grant€to€Lender€a€contractual€Ô_ÔpossessoryÔ_Ô€security€interest€in,€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðhereby€assign,€convey,€deliver,€pledge,€and€transfer€to€Lender€all€myÐ $ t Ðright,€title€and€interest€in€and€to,€my€accounts€with€Lender€(whetherÐ  ` Ðchecking,€savings,€or€some€other€account),€including€withoutÐ ü L  Ðlimitation€all€accounts€I€may€open€in€the€future,€excluding€howeverÐ è 8  Ðall€IRA,€Keogh,€and€trust€accounts.€€I€authorize€Lender,€to€the€extentÐ Ô$  Ðpermitted€by€applicable€law,€to€charge€or€setoff€all€sums€owing€onÐ À  Ðthis€Note€against€any€and€all€such€accounts.Ьü ` x` x ÐÌà  àAccording€to€Mr.€Ô_ÔColstonÔ_Ôððs€testimony,€shortly€after€the€October€15,€1997€due€date,€he€metÐ „Ô  Ðwith€Cindy€Woods,€a€Vice„President€at€the€Bank.€€At€that€meeting,€Mr.€Ô_ÔColstonÔ_Ô€testified€that€he€toldÐ pÀ ÐMs.€Woods€that€he€might€have€a€buyer€for€the€Property.€€Although€he€allegedly€told€Ms.€Woods€thatÐ \¬ Ðhe€was€ready€to€make€the€balloon€payment€at€that€time,€Mr.€Ô_ÔColstonÔ_Ô€testified€that€Ms.€Woods€advisedÐ H˜ Ðhim€not€to€make€the€balloon€payment€and€not€to€renew€the€Note€because€he€was€about€to€close€onÐ 4„ Ðthe€sale€of€the€Property.€€Ms.€Woods€testified€that€she€did€not€advise€Mr.€Ô_ÔColstonÔ_Ô€to€wait€to€renewÐ  p Ðthe€Note€or€to€pay€the€Note€off€until€he€closed€on€the€sale€of€the€Property.€€Lisa€Ô_ÔLayneÔ_Ô,€an€employeeÐ  \ Ðof€the€Bank,€testified€that€she€began€trying€to€contact€the€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€on€October€19,€1997€and€was€toldÐ øH Ðby€the€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€that€they€would€renew€the€Note€on€November€13,€1997.€€When€the€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€failedÐ ä4 Ðto€renew,€the€Bank,€on€December€1,€1997,€placed€a€hold€on€two€of€the€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ôðð€checking€accountsÐ Ð  Ðand€one€of€their€savings€accounts,€the€cumulative€balance€of€which€was€approximately€$6,000€toÐ ¼  Ð$8,000.€€The€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€did€not€know€that€their€accounts€had€been€frozen€until€January€30,€1998.€€Ms.Ð ¨ø ÐWoods€testified€that€the€Bank€had€no€legal€obligation€to€notify€the€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€of€a€ð ðhard€holdðð€on€theÐ ”ä Ðaccounts.€€Despite€placing€a€hold€on€the€accounts,€the€Bank€continued€to€pay€the€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô€interestÐ €Ð Ðon€their€interest„bearing€accounts.Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àOn€December€11,€1997,€the€Bank€instructed€its€attorney,€L.€Thomas€Austin,€to€send€a€letterÐ D!” Ðto€the€Ô_ÔColstonsÔ_Ô.€€The€letter€reads,€in€relevant€part,€as€follows:Ð 0"€  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àI€have€been€contacted€by€Citizens€Tri„County€Bank€in€regardÐ $X" Ðto€a€note€you€signed€on€or€about€October€15,€1996.€€It€is€myÐ ô$D # Ðunderstanding€that€this€note€is€past€due.Ðà%0!$` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àI€would€suggest€that€you€contact€the€Bank€and€makeÐ ¸'#& Ðarrangements€to€get€your€payments€caught€up€to€date€immediately.€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐUpon€your€failure€to€have€this€matter€rectified€within€ten€(10)€daysÐ )à$( Ðfrom€the€date€of€this€letter,€I€will€have€no€choice€but€to€take€whateverÐ |*Ì%) Ðsteps€I€deem€necessary€to€protect€the€Bankððs€interest.Ðh+¸&*` x` x ÐÐ T,¤'+ ÐÔ_Ôà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àPlease€be€aware€that€if€the€Bank€is€forced€to€file€a€lawsuitÐ ° Ðagainst€you,€you€will€not€only€be€responsible€for€the€amount€due€onÐ œì Ðthe€note,€plus€accrued€interest;€but€you€will€also€be€responsible€forÐ ˆØ Ðattorney€fees€and€court€costs.€€Therefore,€it€would€be€to€yourÐ tÄ Ðadvantage€to€get€this€matter€taken€care€of€immediately€so€that€legalÐ `° Ðaction€will€not€be€necessary.ÐL œ` x` x ÐÌà  àAfter€receiving€this€letter,€Mr.€Colston€testified€that€he€again€spoke€with€Ms.€Woods€and€sheÐ $ t Ðallegedly€told€him€ð ðnot€to€worry€about€it.ðð€Ms.€Woods€testified€that€the€Bankððs€requesting€this€firstÐ  ` Ðletter€was€not€in€error€because€the€loan€was€in€default€at€that€time.€€On€December€29,€1997,€the€BankÐ ü L  Ðrequested€its€attorney€to€begin€foreclosure€proceedings.€€This€request€was€allegedly€made€as€a€resultÐ è 8  Ðof€the€Colstonsðð€failure€to€make€arrangements€with€the€Bank€to€either€pay€off€the€delinquent€NoteÐ Ô$  Ðor€to€renew€it.€€Ð À  ÐÌà  àOn€January€30,€1998,€the€Colstons€sold€one€of€the€two€tracts€of€land€that€served€as€collateralÐ ˜è  Ðfor€their€Note€and€used€the€proceeds€to€reduce€the€principal€and€interest€on€the€Note.€€The€ColstonsÐ „Ô  Ðthen€borrowed€$123,282.08€from€the€Bank€and€used€the€loan€proceeds€to€satisfy€the€remainingÐ pÀ Ðbalance€due€on€the€Note.€€Following€this€transaction,€the€Bank€did€not€release€the€hold€on€theÐ \¬ ÐColstonsðð€accounts.€€However,€Ms.€Woods€testified€that€she€contacted€Mr.€Austinððs€office€to€requestÐ H˜ Ðthat€foreclosure€proceedings€against€the€Colstons€be€stopped.€€Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àDespite€the€fact€that€the€Colstons€had€cured€their€default,€and€despite€Ms.€WoodsððÐ  \ Ðconversation€with€Mr.€Austinððs€office,€on€February€17,€1998,€Mr.€Austin€sent€a€second€letter€to€theÐ øH ÐColstons,€which€reads,€in€pertinent€part,€as€follows:Ð ä4 ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àI€represent€Citizens€Tri„County€Bank€in€regard€to€theÐ ¼  Ðforeclosure€of€your€property.€€I€am€enclosing€a€copy€of€the€foreclosureÐ ¨ø Ðnotice€to€be€published€in€the€Jasper€Journal€beginning€on€February€24,Ð ”ä Ð1998,€with€the€sale€of€the€property€to€be€conducted€on€March€25,Ð €Ð Ð1998,€you€may€govern€yourself€accordingly.Ðl¼` x` x ÐÌà  àMs.€Woods€testified€that€this€letter€was€sent€in€error.€€Mr.€Colston€testified€that€Ms.€WoodsÐ D!” Ðcalled€him€before€he€received€this€letter€and€told€him€ð ðnot€to€worry€about€itðð€because€the€letter€wasÐ 0"€  Ðan€ð ðerror.ðð€€Despite€Ms.€Woodsðð€assurances€,€the€foreclosure€notice€was€published€in€the€òòJasperÐ #l! ÐJournalóó€on€February€24,€1998.€€Ms.€Woods€testified€that€the€published€notice€was€an€error.€€GlennÐ $X" ÐBarker,€the€President€of€the€Bank,€also€admitted€that€the€published€foreclosure€notice€was€an€error.€Ð ô$D # ÐHowever,€the€Bank€never€instigated€a€retraction€of€this€foreclosure€notice,€even€after€the€ColstonsÐ à%0!$ Ðhad€requested€a€retraction.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  à€In€July€1998,€the€Colstons€sold€the€Property€for€$131,900.00.€€On€July€15,€1998,€the€BankÐ ¤(ô#' Ðreleased€the€hold€it€had€placed€on€the€Colstonsðð€accounts€after€the€Colstons€sold€the€Property€andÐ )à$( Ðused€the€proceeds€from€the€sale€to€satisfy€their€indebtedness€to€the€Bank.Ð |*Ì%) Ðâ âÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àAs€a€result€of€the€erroneous€publication€of€the€Notice€of€Foreclosure,€on€October€20,€1998,Ð ° Ðâ âthe€Colstons€filed€a€Complaint€in€the€Marion€County€Circuit€Court,€alleging€various€causes€of€action,Ð œì Ðincluding€negligent€misrepresentation,€breach€of€contract,€conversion,€and€negligence,€against€theÐ ˆØ ÐBank.€€The€Bank€answered€on€December€29,€1998.€€The€Bank€was€granted€leave€to€amend€theirÐ tÄ ÐAnswer€to€include€the€affirmative€defenses€of€comparative€fault€and€statute€of€frauds.€€The€AmendedÐ `° ÐAnswer€was€filed€on€March€20,€2000.Ð L œ ÐÌà  àThe€Bank€filed€a€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment€on€August€23,€2000.€€The€Motion€forÐ $ t ÐSummary€Judgment€was€denied€and€the€matter€proceeded€to€trial€on€March€6,€2003.€€On€April€15,Ð  ` Ð2003,€the€trial€court€entered€its€Judgment,€which€reads,€in€relevant€part,€as€follows:Ð ü L  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à...the€Court€hereby€finds€that€the€Plaintiffs€carried€their€burden€ofÐ Ô$  Ðproof€regarding€their€allegations€that€the€Defendant€erroneouslyÐ À  Ðcaused€the€publication€of€a€Notice€of€Foreclosure€and€that€theÐ ¬ü  ÐDefendant€was€negligent€when€it€failed€to€release€the€hold€on€theÐ ˜è  ÐPlaintiffððs€bank€accounts.€€However,€the€Court€finds€that€the€PlaintiffsÐ „Ô  Ðwere€not€able€to€prove€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€that€theyÐ pÀ Ðsustained€any€damages€as€a€result€of€the€erroneous€publication€of€theÐ \¬ ÐNotice€of€Foreclosure.€€The€Court€does€find€that€the€PlaintiffÐ H˜ Ðsustained€nominal€damages€in€the€amount€of€$2,000.00€as€a€result€ofÐ 4„ Ðthe€Defendantððs€failure€to€remove€the€hold€on€the€Plaintiffsðð€bankÐ  p Ðaccounts.€€It€is€therefore€ORDERED,€ADJUDGED€AND€DECREEDÐ  \ Ðthat€Plaintiffs€be€awarded€a€judgment€against€the€Defendant€in€theÐ øH Ðamount€of€two€thousand€dollars€($2,000.00)€as€a€result€of€DefendantððsÐ ä4 Ðfailure€to€remove€the€hold€on€Plaintiffsðð€bank€accounts.ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€Bank€appeals€from€this€Judgment€and€raises€the€following€issues€for€review€as€stated€inÐ ¨ø Ðits€brief:Ð ”ä ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à1.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€awarded€the€Plaintiffs€aÐ l¼ Ðjudgment€based€upon€its€holding€that€the€Defendant€was€merelyÐ X ¨ Ðnegligent€in€failing€to€remove€the€hold€which€it€placed€on€theÐ D!” ÐPlaintiffsðð€account€when€the€Plaintiffs€did€not€bring€a€cause€of€actionÐ 0"€  Ðfor€negligence€nor€did€they€seek€to€amend€their€pleadings€so€as€toÐ #l! Ðbring€a€cause€of€action€for€negligence€and€the€statute€of€limitations€forÐ $X" Ðbringing€said€action€expired€prior€to€trial?Ðô$D #` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à2.€€Whether€the€actions€of€the€Plaintiffs€(which€the€trial€courtÐ Ì&"% Ðconcluded€set€the€entire€sequence€of€events€into€motion)€were€at€leastÐ ¸'#& Ðfifty€percent€at€fault€for€the€injuries€which€they€claim€to€haveÐ ¤(ô#' Ðsustained€and,€if€so,€whether€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€awardedÐ )à$( Ðthem€a€judgment?Ð|*Ì%)` x` x Ðâ âÐ h+¸&* Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à3.€€Whether€the€actions€of€the€Defendant€in€placing€a€hold€upon€theÐ ° Ðâ âPlaintiffsðð€bank€accounts€upon€their€failure€to€timely€satisfy€a€loanÐ œì Ðconstitutes€the€intentional€tort€of€conversion€of€property?ЈØ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à4.€€Whether€the€Plaintiffs€satisfied€their€burden€of€proof€in€regards€toÐ `° Ðtheir€claim€for€the€intentional€tort€of€conversion€when€the€proofÐ L œ Ðpresented€at€trial€does€not€reflect€that€the€Plaintiffs€suffered€an€injury?Ð8 ˆ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à5.€€Whether€the€judgment€awarded€to€the€Plaintiffs€properly€reflectsÐ  ` Ðthe€evidence€presented€at€trial?Ðü L ` x` x ÐÌThe€Colstons€raise€the€following€additional€issue€in€their€brief:Ð Ô$  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€found€that€the€Colstons€had€notÐ ¬ü  Ðproven€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€that€they€sufferedÐ ˜è  Ðdamages€in€the€form€of€the€diminished€sale€price€of€their€real€propertyÐ „Ô  Ðas€a€direct€and€proximate€result€of€the€Bankððs€erroneous€publicationÐ pÀ Ðof€a€foreclosure€notice€for€the€real€property?Ð\¬` x` x ÐÌà  àSince€this€case€was€tried€by€the€court€sitting€without€a€jury,€we€review€the€case€ò òòòde€novoó óóó€uponÐ 4„ Ðthe€record€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court.€€Unless€theÐ  p Ðevidence€preponderates€against€the€findings,€we€must€affirm,€absent€error€of€law.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.€R.€App.Ð  \ ÐP.€13(d).Ð øH Ðò òòòÌIssue€1Ð Ð  Ðó óóóÌà0  àThe€Bank€first€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€found€the€Bank€to€be€simply€negligentШø(#(# Ðfor€its€failure€to€release€the€Colstonsðð€frozen€accounts.€€Specifically,€the€Bank€contends€that€theÐ ”ä ÐColstons€never€brought€a€cause€of€action€for€negligence€regarding€the€held€funds.€€Rather,€theÐ €Ð ÐColstonsðð€Complaint€alleges€only€the€tort€of€conversion€in€relation€to€these€held€funds€and,Ð l¼ Ðconsequently,€the€Bank€asserts€that€the€Judgment€is€contrary€to€the€pleadings€and€the€evidence.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àIt€is€true€that€the€Colstonsðð€Complaint€does€not€specifically€assert€that€the€Bank€was€negligentÐ 0"€  Ðin€continuing€to€retain€its€hold€on€the€Colstonsðð€accounts.€€It€is€also€true€that€the€Colstons€neverÐ #l! Ðmoved€to€amend€their€pleadings€to€conform€with€the€evidence€adduced€at€trial.€€However,€Tenn.€R.Ð $X" ÐCiv.€P.€15.02€states,€in€relevant€part,€that:Ð ô$D # ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àWhen€issues€not€raised€by€the€pleadings€are€tried€by€expressÐ Ì&"% Ðor€implied€consent€of€the€parties,€they€ò òòòshall€be€treated€in€all€respectsÐ ¸'#& Ðas€if€they€had€been€raised€in€the€pleadingsó óóó.€€Such€amendment€of€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðpleadings€as€may€be€necessary€to€cause€them€to€conform€to€theÐ )à$( Ðevidence€and€to€raise€these€issues€ò òòòmay€be€madeó óóó€upon€motion€of€anyÐ |*Ì%) Ðparty€at€any€time,€even€after€judgment;€ò òòòbut€failure€so€to€amend€doesÐ h+¸&* Ðnot€affect€the€result€of€the€trial€of€these€issuesó óóó....ÐT,¤'+` x` x Ї(emphasis€added).Ð ° ÐÌà  àUnder€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€15.02,€neither€the€fact€that€negligence€on€this€specific€basis€was€notÐ ˆØ Ðaverred€in€the€Complaint€nor€the€fact€that€the€Complaint€was€not€amended€to€comport€with€theÐ tÄ Ðevidence€adduced€at€trial€is€fatal€to€the€trial€courtððs€Judgment.€€Consequently,€this€issue€is€withoutÐ `° Ðmerit.Ð L œ Ðò òòòÌIssue€2ó óóóÐ $ t ÐÌà  àThe€Bank€next€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€find€that€the€Colstons€were€at€leastÐ ü L  Ðfifty€percent€(50%)€at€fault.€€The€trial€court€made€the€following€relevant€findings€of€fact€from€theÐ è 8  Ðbench:Ð Ô$  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à...although€Mr.€Colston€is€very€indignant€about€what€happened€toÐ ¬ü  Ðhim,€started€because€he€didnððt€pay€his€note€when€he€was€suppose€to,Ð ˜è  Ðand€I€mean,€thereððs€just€no€way€around€that.€€Not€only€did€he€not€payÐ „Ô  Ðit€when€he€was€suppose€to,€he€didnððt€pay€it€within€30€days€of€when€heÐ pÀ Ðwas€suppose€to,€or€60€days,€or€90€days.Ð\¬` x` x ÐÌWhile€it€is€true€that€Mr.€Colston€failed€to€pay€or€renew€the€Note€in€a€timely€fashion,€the€gravamenÐ 4„ Ðof€the€trial€courtððs€Judgment€against€the€Bank€stems€from€the€Bankððs€actions€after€January€30,€1998,Ð  p Ðthe€date€the€Colstons€cured€their€default.€€After€January€30,€1998,€whatever€negligent€role€theÐ  \ ÐColstons€had€in€this€matter€had€been€cured.€€According€to€the€record,€the€Bankððs€failure€to€releaseÐ øH Ðthe€hold€on€the€Colstonsðð€accounts,€and€its€alleged€error€in€going€ahead€with€publication€of€theÐ ä4 Ðforeclosure€notice,€was€not€offset€by€any€continuing€or€new€negligence€on€the€part€of€the€Colstons.€Ð Ð  ÐConsequently,€this€issue€is€without€merit.Ð ¼  Ðò òòòÌIssues€3€and€4Ð ”ä Ðó óóóÌà0  àAlthough€the€Colstons€raised€conversion€in€their€Complaint,€the€trial€courtððs€Judgment€isÐl¼(#(# Ðfor€simple€negligence€only.€€Since€the€trial€court€did€not€find€the€Bank€liable€for€conversion€of€theÐ X ¨ ÐColstonsðð€funds,€and€did€not€award€any€damages€for€conversion,€these€two€issues€are€without€merit.Ð D!” Ðò òòòÌIssue€5Ð #l! Ðó óóóÌà0  àThe€Bankððs€final€issue€concerns€whether€the€evidence€supports€the€trial€courtððs€Ðô$D #(#(# ÐJudgment.€€We€will€address€this€issue€in€conjunction€with€the€Colstonsðð€issue€concerning€whetherÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€there€were€no€damages€stemming€from€the€Bankððs€erroneousÐ Ì&"% Ðpublication€of€the€foreclosure€notice.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àAs€noted€above,€the€trial€court€found€the€Bank€liable€for€simple€negligence€on€two€grounds:Ð )à$( Ð(1)€in€causing€the€publication€of€the€Notice€of€Foreclosure€and€(2)€in€failing€to€release€the€hold€onÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€Colstonsðð€accounts.€"[I]n€order€for€there€to€be€a€cause€of€action€for€common€law€negligence,€theÐ h+¸&* Ðfollowing€elements€must€be€established:€(1)€a€duty€of€care€owed€by€the€defendant€to€the€plaintiff;€(2)Ð T,¤'+ Ðconduct€falling€below€the€applicable€standard€of€care€amounting€to€a€breach€of€that€duty;€(3)€anÐ ° Ðinjury€or€loss;€(4)€causation€in€fact;€and€(5)€proximate,€or€legal€cause."€òòò òMcClenahan€v.€Cooleyó óóó,€806Ð œì ÐS.W.2d€767,€774€(Tenn.1991).€€Injury€or€loss€(i.e.€damages)€is€a€prima€facie€element€of€negligence.€Ð ˆØ ÐIn€the€instant€case,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€Colstons€ð ðwere€not€able€to€prove€by€a€preponderanceÐ tÄ Ðof€the€evidence€that€they€sustained€any€damages€as€a€result€of€the€erroneous€publication€of€the€NoticeÐ `° Ðof€Foreclosure.ðð€€Ð L œ ÐÌà  àWe€have€reviewed€the€entire€record€in€this€case€and€we€agree€with€the€trial€court€that€theÐ $ t ÐColstons€have€failed€to€meet€their€burden€concerning€damages€stemming€from€the€Bankððs€allegedÐ  ` Ðnegligence.€€Mr.€Colston€testified€that€he€told€Ms.€Woods€that€he€would€not€try€to€withdraw€fromÐ ü L  Ðthe€accounts€on€which€the€holds€were€placed.€€The€record€indicates€that€the€Colstons€discovered€theÐ è 8  Ðholds€only€when€they€tried€to€combine€their€accounts€into€one€certificate€of€deposit.€€However,€theÐ Ô$  ÐColstons€did€not€actually€try€to€withdraw€funds€from€these€accounts€at€any€time.€€Also,€the€BankÐ À  Ðcontinued€to€pay€interest€on€the€interest„bearing€accounts€on€which€the€holds€were€placed.€Ð ¬ü  ÐConsequently,€the€Colstons€have€not€proven€that€they€suffered€any€adverse€effects€from€the€BankððsÐ ˜è  Ðprolonging€its€hold€on€their€accounts.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àConcerning€any€damages€stemming€from€the€Bankððs€failure€to€stop€publication€of€the€NoticeÐ \¬ Ðof€Foreclosure,€we€find€that€the€Colstons€also€failed€to€meet€their€burden.€€The€evidence€in€recordÐ H˜ Ðis€that€the€Property€is€a€unique€home,€in€that€it€is€a€converted€school€building.€€Although€the€PropertyÐ 4„ Ðhas€been€extensively€renovated€by€the€Colstons,€the€testimony€adduced€at€trial€is€that€the€PropertyÐ  p Ðis€unlike€other€homes€in€the€area,€that€it€is€larger€by€comparison€and,€consequently,€well€outside€theÐ  \ Ðusual€price€range€for€homes€in€the€neighborhood.€€The€record€indicates€that€the€Colstons€first€listedÐ øH Ðthe€Property€for€sale€in€1995€at€a€list€price€of€$215,000.00.€€Jan€Terry,€the€Colstonsðð€realtor,€testifiedÐ ä4 Ðthat€she€received€no€offers€at€that€price€and€that€the€sales€contract€expired.€€In€September€1996,€theÐ Ð  ÐColstons€listed€the€Property€again€with€Dobbins€Real€Estate€for€$225,000.00€and,€again,€receivedÐ ¼  Ðno€offers.€€In€September€1997,€the€Property€was€listed€with€Century€21€for€$171,500.00.€€When€theÐ ¨ø ÐProperty€did€not€sell,€the€asking€price€was€lowered€to€$159,000.00€but€the€Property€still€did€not€sell.€Ð ”ä ÐFinally,€in€March€1998,€the€Property€was€listed€at€$135,000.00€and€finally€sold€for€$131,900.00.€Ð €Ð ÐFrom€the€record,€it€is€clear€that€this€Property€was€not€an€easy€sale€and€that€the€Colstons€were€forcedÐ l¼ Ðto€compromise€on€price,€not€because€of€the€Notice€of€Foreclosure,€but€because€of€the€uniqueness€ofÐ X ¨ Ðthe€Property.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àMr.€Colston€testified€that€he€had€arranged€to€sell€the€Property€to€Gina€Bunch.€€Mr.€ColstonÐ #l! Ðasserts€that€their€agreement€fell€through€because€of€the€Notice€of€Foreclosure€(i.e.€Ms.€Bunch€saidÐ $X" Ðthat€she€would€wait€until€the€foreclosure€sale€and€get€a€better€deal).€€However,€Ms.€Bunch€testifiedÐ ô$D # Ðthat€her€decision€not€to€go€through€with€the€purchase€had€nothing€to€do€with€the€Notice€ofÐ à%0!$ ÐForeclosure.€€Rather,€she€testified€that€the€Property€was€simply€too€large.€€There€is€nothing€in€theÐ Ì&"% Ðrecord€to€support€the€Colstonsðð€contention€that€the€Notice€of€Foreclosure€precluded€them€fromÐ ¸'#& Ðselling€the€Property,€or€had€any€bearing€on€the€price€for€which€it€finally€did€sell.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€found€that€the€Bank€was€negligent€and€awarded€the€Colstons€$2,000.00€inÐ |*Ì%) Ðð ðnominal€damages.ðð€€€It€is€well€settled€that,€in€negligence€cases€wherein€damages€are€an€element€ofÐ h+¸&* Ðthe€right€to€recover,€nominal€damages€are€never€proper.€ò òòòSee€Skoretz€v.€Cowdenó óóó,€707€S.W.2d€529,Ð T,¤'+ Ð532€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.1985);€ò òòòMorris€v.€State,€ó óóó21€S.W.3d€196,€203€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999).€€Since€theÐ ° ÐColstons€did€not€prove€damages,€the€trial€court€should€have€awarded€them€nothing€on€the€ground€ofÐ œì Ðnegligence€and,€indeed,€should€not€have€found€the€Bank€negligent€at€all€absent€sufficient€proof€ofÐ ˆØ Ðeach€element€of€that€tort.€€€Negligence€without€injury€is€not€actionable.€€ò òòòWood€v.€Parkeró óóó,€901€S.W.2dÐ tÄ Ð374,€381€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.1995);€ò òòòsee€also€Security€Bank€&€Trust€Co.€v.€Fabricating,€Inc.ó óóó,€673Ð `° ÐS.W.2d€860€(Tenn.€1983).Ð L œ ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€reverse€the€Judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€Costs€of€this€appealÐ $ t Ðare€assessed€to€the€Appellees,€Anthony€and€Melinda€K.€Colston.€€Ð  ` ÐÔ#†¼•»XX\ù\ #ÔÔ€X\ùX»¼•ÔÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à__________________________________________Ð ¬ü  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.