ÿWPCÐ Ûß;¶Ï Ã-§ˆoá~>ð¤Kqþ˜ ›Šrf~àÔƒFš3ì!©ïËõKÌC¹ÌLq*ýýîšgsÆYWÃ6eÀbm¬sgLËÛ¼Ú['ÉÑ¢¼àíªlÆOãóUøD&%àyÈ p›XTÈ™ŒÚF‰÷ƒð(¬»`.7ò Y¿Hôjð;–œ^©m» ÷ ®{ð1˜Š&ÀñœÎñºO¹V{~Gc ’Ôæª 4Ô×ÄOjÈÒ¤Fœ„\¬«FBK-‚¦Òy]6¸?tKȲÿÅëø‡óǰÇÝz_¶ñbY½¼ŠS:ä-ÌßVýKæ"£K?ð_èH…_š§Ký›d$àN`Iž‹‘6þ÷+Ügkº PMý€µº[×M ¤9ÝÈü?Ê~eÍ¡m‰CV"µ˜GÜ¥àÔ‹AÚd9î)rï½é9ÝTC, ó™øËd¦äæÀxxˆVÊÙ –JG]mÁ¯\ü6-y*²„á¾Ã»DVAgr!1·eöÒ¸ˆª¯óU§d‚>¨A}GP_EÈJ0ÿë²w b&½Š­4ÑÚ ÇSÖé¶©\=@» m åzÆë^m:ìò8}°YCoHðáv˜ú§›ÚIcrb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ U2N· w 4 z Ò— i x mz .‘ Æ¿ Æ… ÆKÆ 0 D×NoôŒE€=‚Z¿¿¯))))))))ØØåàààààààààbÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅÅ 0 ëÍÍÍÍ B¸¸ 0¤Õ D3y D-¬ 0KÙÙ AS$Æw 0¤= 0Dá A«%˜HP LaserJet 4Si,ü,,,,,ü0»¢b)â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÑuV)èrŸœ!  ˜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.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ $Ý ƒRô+$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔSee€ò òòòEngel€Stadium€Corp.€v.€City€of€Chattanooga,ó óóó€C/A€No.€03A01„9208„CH„00279,€1993€WL€188234€(Tenn.Ð ° ÐCt.€App.€E.S.,€filed€June€2,€1993).Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó eÝ ƒRô+$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAfter€the€contract€was€made,€Holtzman€sold€his€shares€of€stock€in€the€Corporation.€€At€trial,€the€partiesÐ ° Ðstipulated€that€Holtzman€and€the€Corporation€would€be€jointly€and€severally€liable€for€any€judgment€rendered€in€theÐ xÈ Ðplaintiffððs€favor.€€It€was€further€stipulated€that,€pursuant€to€an€indemnification€agreement€executed€at€the€time€of€sale,Ð @ ÐHoltzman€was€obligated€to€indemnify€the€Corporation€for€any€resulting€judgment. êÝ ƒRô+$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€transaction€was€actually€a€stock€purchase€agreement€of€Holtzmanððs€shares€of€stock€in€the€Corporation. 3Ý ƒRô+$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIt€was€Davidsonððs€position€at€trial€that€the€$25,000€payment€he€received€in€May,€1995,€from€Holtzman€wasÐ ° Ðpart€of€the€proceeds€from€the€sale€of€the€franchise.€ PÝ ƒRô+$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔBoth€Holtzman€and€the€Corporation€were€represented€by€the€same€attorney€at€trial.€€Both€defendants€filed€aÐ ° Ðnotice€of€appeal;€however,€the€appellate€brief€lists€only€Holtzman€as€an€appellant. Ý ƒRô+$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAgain,€defendants€raise€this€argument€only€as€to€the€agreement€regarding€the€sale€of€the€franchise,€not€theÐ ° Ðlawsuit. ¥Ý ƒRô+$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔDavidson€and€his€wife€divorced€in€1996.  ÛÝ ƒRô+$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔDefendants€do€not€raise€the€Statute€of€Frauds€as€to€the€oral€agreement€regarding€the€lawsuit.- ù-(|G2ô+$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¸d»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôÅÌò»»Ô d(|3Á$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¸d»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Á$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¸d»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¸d»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼¸d»»»ÔÑ8€½ƒXXdð»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îïç¸dÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼¸d»îîïç #ԈРÜ, ÐÓ  ÓOctober€3,€2000€SessionÐ X ÐÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔÌò òÔ#†¼¸d»XX½ƒô#ÔWILLIAM€DAVIDSONòòóó€v.€RICHARD€HOLTZMAN,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔó óÐ  ` ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òAppeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Hamilton€CountyÐ  h Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„1041€€€€€€W.€Frank€Brown,€III,€ChancellorÐ  X ÐÌFILED€NOVEMBER€Ô_ÔÔ_Ô€2,€€2000Ð è 8  Ðà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<×` AßÐ Ø(  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2000„01091„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€Ð ×'  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¶` AßÐ ·  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€jury€awarded€the€plaintiff,€William€Davidson,€damages€for€breach€of€two€oral€contracts€betweenÐ ¶ ÐDavidson€and€his€former€employer,€the€defendant€Richard€Holtzman,€who,€at€the€time€the€contractsÐ ¦ö Ðwere€made,€was€the€sole€shareholder€of€the€defendant€Engel€Stadium€Corporation€(ð ðtheÐ –æ ÐCorporationðð).׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Defendants׃°×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€appeal,€arguing€(1)€that€one€of€the€agreements€is€barred€by€the€StatuteÐ †Ö Ðof€Frauds;€(2)€that€the€same€agreement€is€too€indefinite€to€be€enforced;€and€(3)€that€the€trial€courtÐ vÆ Ðerred€in€admitting€the€testimony€of€another€former€employee€of€Holtzman.€€We€affirm.Ð f¶ ÐÓÐÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ F– ÐAffirmed;€Case€Remandedó óÐ 6† ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼¸d»àX½ƒr#ÔÔ‡X½ƒX.¼¸dÔCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHerschel€P.€Franksóó€andÐ f ÐòòD.€Michael€Ô_ÔSwineyÔ_Ô,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð V ÐÌMichael€E.€Richardson,€Chattanooga,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellants,€Richard€Holtzman€and€EngelÐ æ6 ÐStadium€Corporation.Ð Ö& ÐÌWilliam€H.€Horton,€Chattanooga,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€William€Davidson.Ð ¶!  ÐÓØÓÌÓ  Óà  àà ` àà ¸ àÌò òÓ  ÓOPINIONó óÔ#†¼¸d»XX½ƒ #ÔÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔÐ †$Ö# ÐÓB ÓÌòòóóÔ#†¼¸d»XX½ƒ{ #ÔÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔÓ  ÓÐ  f&¶!%ýÿ Ðà@¢¢&ìàI.òòÔ#†¼¸d»XX½ƒé #ÔÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔóó€€òòFactsóóÔ#†¼¸d»XX½ƒg #ÔÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dԈР° ÐÌà  àIn€1984,€Davidson€was€hired€as€general€manager€of€the€Midland€Angels€baseball€team,€aÐ à Ðminor€league€baseball€franchise€in€Midland,€Texas.€€Holtzman€acquired€the€franchise€in€July,€1987.€Ð €Ð ÐIn€1988,€Davidson€and€Holtzman€discussed€Davidsonððs€future€with€the€franchise.€€DavidsonÐ pÀ Ðexpressed€his€goal€of€eventually€owning€and€operating€his€own€baseball€team.€€He€indicated€that€toÐ ` ° Ðaccomplish€this€goal,€he€needed€to€begin€acquiring€equity€in€the€Midland€franchise€in€order€to€ð ðbuildÐ P   Ðup€some€value.ðð€€In€a€letter€to€Holtzman€dated€September€23,€1988,€Davidson€indicated€that€forÐ @  Ð1989,€he€wanted€ð ðto€receive€an€ownership€percentage€of€whichever€club€I€may€be€affiliated€with.ðð€Ð 0 € ÐIn€December,€1988,€Davidson€and€Holtzman€had€a€conversation€regarding€Davidsonððs€futureÐ  p  Ðemployment€with€the€franchise.€€Davidson€testified€as€follows:€€Ð `  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.€€€€€€€During€that€conversation€[Holtzman]€said€things€to€me€like,Ð ð@  Ðyou€know,€youððre€a€valuable€employee,€I€feel€fortunate€to€haveÐ à0  Ðsomeone€of€your€caliber€working€for€me.€€He€indicated€to€me€that€IÐ Ð  Ðcould€accomplish€my€objectives€if€I€worked€with€him€and€that€was€hisÐ À Ðgoal,€was€to€help€me€accomplish€those€objectives€of€being€anÐ ° Ðowner/operator€of€a€minor€league€baseball€team,€and€in€thatÐ  ð Ðconversation€he€offered€me€5€percent€of€the€Midland€baseballÐ à Ðfranchise€at€the€price€that€he€paid€for€it.€€He€said€it€would€be€bookedÐ €Ð Ðat€that€value€and€that€if€he€sold€it€at€some€time€while€I€was€stillÐ pÀ Ðemployed€with€the€team€that€I€would€receive€5€percent€of€the€profitsÐ `° Ðfrom€that€sale.ÐP ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àHe€indicated€to€me€that€there€were€tax€advantages€for€me€if€it€wasÐ 0€ Ðdone€in€that€fashion,€and€thatððs€basically€the€summary€of€theÐ  p Ðconversation.Ð`` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ€à ¸ àAnd€what€did€you€understand€him€to€mean€when€he€said€thatÐ ð@ Ðif€it€was€done€in€that€fashion?Ðà0` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xàà8¸ ¸ àà8hÈÈà*à À à*à  à*ÐÀ!hphp ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àI€understood€that€it€would,€mean€that€basically€was€theÐ  #ð! Ðagreement,€that€it€was€better€for€me€if€„„€it€was€better€for€me€if€heÐ $à" Ðsimply€told€me€that€I€had€this€stock,€or€phantom€stock€or€agreementÐ €%Ð # Ðwith€him,€that€it€was€better€for€me€financially€if€I€took€him€at€hisÐ p&À!$ Ðword€and€that€he€would€pay€me€down€the€line€if€indeed€he€happenedÐ `'°"% Ðto€sell€the€team€while€I€was€employed€with€that€team.ÐP( #&` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àAnd€did€he€issue€you€any€stock€at€that€time€in€the€Midland€„„€Ð0*€%(` x` x Ðâ âÐ  +p&) Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àNo.€€He€did€not€issue€me€any€stock,€and€from€the€conversationÐ ° Ðâ âI€didnððt€expect€to€receive€any,€because,€you€know,€I€took€him€at€hisÐ  ð Ðword€that€there€would€be€tax€advantages€for€me€to€do€it€in€the€fashionÐ à Ðthat€he€outlined.ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àDid€he€make€any€offer€as€to€any€percentage€of€income€on€aÐ ` ° Ðyearly€basis?ÐP  ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àYes.€€He€also€indicated€that€going€forward€I€would€receive€5Ð 0 € Ðpercent€of€the€net€profits,€net€operating€profits€of€the€franchise.€Ð  p  ÐPrevious€to€that€I€was€under€a€different€compensation€arrangementÐ `  Ðand€he€changed€it€to€that.ÐP ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àDid€you€indicate€that€youððd€be€willing€to€stay€under€thoseÐ à0  Ðcircumstances?ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àYes,€I€did.а` x` x ÐÌà  àIn€August,€1989,€Holtzman€offered€Davidson€the€position€of€general€manager€of€theÐ à ÐChattanooga€Lookouts,€a€franchise€Holtzman€had€recently€acquired€for€$1.1€million.€€The€LookoutsÐ €Ð Ðfranchise€was€operated€by€Engel€Stadium€Corporation,€of€which€Holtzman€was€the€sole€shareholder.€Ð pÀ ÐHoltzman€promised€Davidson€that€the€partiesðð€understanding€regarding€his€share€of€the€net€proceedsÐ `° Ðfrom€a€sale€of€the€franchise€would€ð ðtransferðð€with€Davidson€to€Chattanooga,€meaning€that€ifÐ P  ÐHoltzman€ever€sold€the€Chattanooga€franchise,€Davidson€would€receive€five€percent€of€the€differenceÐ @ Ðbetween€the€purchase€price€and€the€sales€price€of€the€franchise.€€Davidson€agreed€and€moved€toÐ 0€ ÐChattanooga€in€October,€1989.€€He€was€employed€as€the€Lookoutsðð€general€manager€for€the€next€sixÐ  p Ðyears,€receiving€a€salary€plus€five€percent€of€any€annual€net€operating€profit€of€the€franchise.Ð ` ÐÌà  àIn€1992,€the€Corporation€sued€the€City€of€Chattanooga€and€Hamilton€County,€which€leasedÐ ð@ Ðthe€stadium€facilities€to€the€Corporation,€alleging€that€the€City€and€County€had€negligently€failed€toÐ à0 Ðmaintain€the€baseball€field€in€violation€of€the€lease.€€Holtzman€asked€Davidson€to€assist€theÐ Ð  ÐCorporationððs€attorney€in€the€litigation.€€When€Davidson€complained€that€the€time€spent€on€theÐ À! Ðlitigation€would€interfere€with€his€management€of€the€team,€Holtzman€promised€that€Davidson€wouldÐ °"  Ðreceive€five€percent€of€any€proceeds€resulting€from€the€lawsuit.€€Holtzman€told€Davidson€that€heÐ  #ð! Ðconsidered€any€proceeds€received€to€be€ð ðoperating€incomeðð€of€the€Corporation.€€Davidson€agreedÐ $à" Ðto€this€arrangement,€and€participated€extensively€in€the€litigation.€€The€lawsuit€proceeded€to€a€juryÐ €%Ð # Ðtrial,€in€which€the€Corporation€was€awarded€damages.€€On€appeal,€however,€this€Court€vacated€theÐ p&À!$ Ðjudgment€and€remanded€for€further€proceedings.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р`'°"% ÐÐ P( #& Ðà  àIn€January,€1995,€Holtzman€advised€Davidson€that€he€had€agreed€to€sell€the€franchise׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€forÐ ° Ð$3.75€million.€€Holtzman€stated€that€Davidson€ð ðwould€benefit€substantially€from€the€sale.ðð€€As€partÐ  ð Ðof€the€sale,€the€lawsuit€against€the€City€and€County€was€assigned€to€Holtzman,€and€he€wasÐ à Ðsubstituted€as€a€party€in€that€action.€€The€sale€was€completed€in€April,€1995.€€Davidson€continuedÐ €Ð Ðto€work€for€the€Corporation€in€his€capacity€as€general€manager.€€In€May,€1995,€he€met€withÐ pÀ ÐHoltzman€while€at€a€baseball€game€in€Davenport,€Iowa,€where€Holtzman€gave€him€a€check€forÐ ` ° Ð$25,000€and€ð ðindicated€that€there€would€be€substantially€more€from€where€that€came€from.ðð€€Ð P   ÐÌà  àAlthough€Holtzman€had€been€substituted€as€a€party€in€the€litigation€against€the€City€andÐ 0 € ÐCounty,€Davidson€continued€to€assist€with€the€litigation.€€The€parties€eventually€reached€a€settlementÐ  p  Ðagreement€in€November,€1995,€and€Holtzman€received€$375,000€as€a€result€of€that€litigation.€Ô#†¼¸d»XX½ƒ¹ #ÔÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔÐ `  ÐÔ#†¼¸d»XX½ƒC,#ÔÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔà  àÌà  àBy€January,€1996,€Davidson€had€not€received€any€additional€proceeds,€either€from€the€saleÐ ð@  Ðof€the€franchise€or€the€lawsuit.€€He€sent€a€letter€to€Holtzman€dated€January€3,€1996,€seeking€ð ðtoÐ à0  Ðfinalize€the€arrangements€regarding€monies€due€from€operations€in€Chattanooga.€€Specifically,€theÐ Ð  Ðsale€of€the€franchise€and€the€settlement€with€the€City€and€County.ðð€€On€January€8,€1996,€DavidsonÐ À Ðreceived€a€fax€from€Holtzman,€stating,€in€pertinent€part,€as€follows:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIððve€discussed€the€issue€of€the€ð ðbenefitsðð.€€Iððd€like€to€pass€on€to€youÐ à Ðwith€my€accountants€over€the€past€months€and€hope€to€have€someÐ €Ð Ðconcepts€for€your€[sic]€shortly.€€I€too,€have€some€financial€issues€IððmÐ pÀ Ðfocused€on€that€coincide€with€Chattanooga.Ð`°` x` x ÐÌOn€April€8,€1996,€Davidson€sent€another€letter€to€Holtzman,€regarding€the€partiesðð€agreement€andÐ @ Ðasked€for€the€balance׃X×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€of€the€monies€owed€him.€€Davidson€received€no€response€to€this€letter.€€HeÐ 0€ Ðcontinued€to€send€correspondence€to€Holtzman€over€the€next€four€months,€seeking€to€finalize€theÐ  p Ðpartiesðð€agreement.€€Finally,€in€a€fax€dated€August€29,€1996,€Holtzman€responded,€stating,€inÐ ` Ðpertinent€part,€as€follows:Ð P ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àI€have€not€ignored€the€main€issue€of€your€letter,€Bill.€€I€have€given€aÐ à0 Ðgreat€deal€of€thought€to€it€and€still€need€to€consult€with€some€folks.€Ð Ð  ÐIððve€always€tried€to€ð ðdo€the€right€thingðð€regarding€financial€issues.€Ð À! ÐPlease€be€patient.а" ` x` x ÐÌà  àDavidson€sent€Holtzman€a€letter€in€September,€1996,€acknowledging€Holtzmanððs€AugustÐ $à" Ðletter€and€thanking€him€for€his€ð ðwillingness€to€resolve€the€Midland€and€Chattanooga€issues.ðð€€SeveralÐ €%Ð # Ðmonths€passed,€however,€without€word€from€Holtzman.€€Davidson€sent€a€memorandum€to€him€datedÐ p&À!$ ÐFebruary€15,€1997,€asking€for€any€word€on€settling€the€partiesðð€ð ðmonetary€issues.ðð€€Five€days€later,Ð `'°"% ÐDavidson€received€a€handwritten€facsimile€from€Holtzman,€indicating€that€the€parties€needed€to€talkÐ ° Ðand€asking€Davidson€to€call€him.€€Davidson€called€and€left€messages€for€Holtzman€numerous€times,Ð  ð Ðbut€received€no€response.€€Davidson€sent€more€correspondence,€by€mail€and€facsimile,€over€the€nextÐ à Ðseveral€months€in€an€attempt€to€contact€Holtzman,€all€without€success.Ð €Ð ÐÌà@––%ìàII.€€òòTrialóóˆÐ ` ° ÐÌà  àDavidson€filed€this€suit€in€October,€1998.€€Before€trial,€the€defendants€filed€motions€òòin€Ô_ÔlimineÔ_Ôóó,Ð @  Ðseeking€to€exclude€or€limit€the€testimony€of€Michael€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô,€whom€Davidson€planned€to€call€as€aÐ 0 € Ðwitness.€€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€was€employed€by€Holtzman€as€general€manager€of€the€Tucson,€Arizona€Ô_ÔTorosÔ_Ô,Ð  p  Ðanother€minor€league€baseball€franchise€owned€by€Holtzman.€€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€had€also€filed€a€lawsuit€againstÐ `  ÐHoltzman,€claiming€that€Holtzman€had€promised€to€pay€him€five€percent€of€the€net€profit€derivedÐ P  Ðfrom€the€sale€of€the€Tucson€Ô_ÔTorosÔ_Ô.€€Defendants€expected€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€to€testify€that€Davidson€had€told€himÐ ð@  Ðthat€Davidson€ð ðfelt€he€was€owed€money€by...Holtzman.ðð€€They€argued€that€such€testimony€wouldÐ à0  Ðbe€inadmissible€hearsay.€€Defendants€also€expected€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€to€testify€that€Holtzman€had€made€an€offerÐ Ð  Ðto€him€that€was€similar€to€the€one€allegedly€made€to€Davidson.€€Defendants€argued€that€suchÐ À Ðtestimony€would€be€irrelevant,€hearsay,€and€otherwise€inadmissible€under€the€rules€of€evidence.Ð ° ÐÌà  àThe€case€proceeded€to€trial,€with€no€pre„trial€rulings€on€the€motions€òòin€Ô_ÔlimineÔ_Ôóó.€€PlaintiffððsÐ à Ðproof€consisted€primarily€of€the€testimony€of€Davidson€and€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€and€the€correspondence€DavidsonÐ €Ð Ðclaimed€to€have€sent€to€and€received€from€Holtzman.€€Davidson€was€the€first€witness€to€testify.€€OnÐ pÀ Ðdirect€examination,€he€was€asked,€without€objection,€as€follows:Ð `° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àOkay.€€Did€you€discuss€your€compensation€arrangement€withÐ @ ÐMr.€„„€a€guy€named€Michael€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô?Ð0€` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àYes.Ð`` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àWho€is€Michael€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô?Ðð@` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àHe€is€general€manager€of€the€Tucson€Ô_ÔTorosÔ_Ô€baseball€club.€€IÐ Ð  Ðthink€heððs€got€a€new€title€now,€but€he€has€functioned€as€generalÐ À! Ðmanager€of€that€team€for€almost€ten€years€now.а" ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xàà8¸ ¸ àà8hÈÈà*à À à*à  à*Ð$à"hphp ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àIs€Tucson€a€franchise€owned€by€Mr.€Holtzman€or€was€ownedÐ p&À!$ Ðby€Mr.€Holtzman?Ð`'°"%` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àIt€was€owned€by€Mr.€Holtzman.€€Iððm€not€exactly€sure€when€heÐ @)$' Ðpurchased€it.€€I€believe€it€was€in€1988,€and€he€sold€it€just€a€coupleÐ 0*€%( Ðyears€ago,€in€1997,€I€believe.Ð +p&)` x` x Ѐ€€Ð ,`'* ÐOn€cross€examination,€Davidson€was€asked€as€follows:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àAnd€I€take€it€when€„„€according€to€your€testimony,€HoltzmanððsÐ à Ðgoing€to€fulfill€this€interest€and€offer€you€some€equity,€I€assume€youÐ €Ð Ðwere€pretty€excited€about€it?ÐpÀ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àYes.€€Thatððs€a€reasonable€assumption.ÐP  ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àBut€you€never€went€home€and€told€your€wife€about€it,€didÐ 0 € Ðyou?Ð p ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àNo,€thatððs€not€true.€€What€I€testified€earlier€[in€deposition]€isÐ P  Ðthat€I€didnððt€recall€if€I€did€or€didnððt€tell€her.€€I€couldnððt€recallÐ ð@  Ðspecifically€about€that.€€I€assume€that€I€„„€I€would€assume€that€IÐ à0  Ðwould,€but€I€canððt€recall€a€specific€conversation€with€her€about€that.ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xàà8¸ ¸ àà8hÈÈà*à À à*à  à*аhphp ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àLet€me€refer€once€back€to€your€deposition,€and€again,€you€toldÐ à Ðthe€truth€in€your€deposition,€I€assume?ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àYes,€sir.Ð`°` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àPage€26,€line€11,€Question:€Okay.€€Other€than€Mike€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô,€didÐ @ Ðyou€ever€tell€anyone€else€about€Holtzman,€about€your€agreement€withÐ 0€ ÐHoltzman€regarding€the€percentage€of€the€net€profit?€€Your€answer?Ð p` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àMy€answer€was,€no.ÐP` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àNext€question:€Okay.€€Did€you€ever€tell€your€wife,€your€ex„Ð à0 Ðwife?׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àMy€answer€was€no.€€Thereððs€additional.€€Ð°" ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àWell,€the€next€question€ends,€and€why€didnððt€you€tell€her?€Ð $à" ÐAnd€thatððs€when€you€say?Ѐ%Ð #` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àI€donððt€recall€why€I€didnððt€tell€her.€€But€if€you€go€on€just€aÐ `'°"% Ðcouple€of€pages,€another€page€over,€my€answer€was,€I€was€thinkingÐ P( #& Ðin€terms€of€business€associates€when€you€raised€the€question.€€IððmÐ @)$' Ðsorry,€I€was€confused€at€that€time.€€You€were€asking€me,€as€you€wereÐ ° Ðtoday,€about€the€CPA€and€what€people€I€shared€that€information€with,Ð  ð Ðand€I€was€thinking€from€a€business€standpoint€and€not€a€personalÐ à Ðstandpoint.ЀÐ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àWell,€let€me€go€back€because€maybe€I€didnððt€read€this€well.€Ð ` ° ÐThe€question€was:€Other€than€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€did€you€ever€tell€anyone?€€TheÐ P   Ðanswer€was€no.Ð@ ` x` x ÐÌà  àà8 ` àà8¸ ` x` xàThe€next€question,€what€was€my€question?Ð p ¸ ¸  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àDid€you€ever€tell€your€wife,€your€ex„wife?ÐP ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àAnd€what€was€your€first€answer?Ðà0 ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àMy€first€answer€was€no.€ÐÀ` x` x ÐÌà  àAfter€Davidson€testified,€the€trial€court€advised€the€jury€that€due€to€scheduling€problems,Ð  ð ÐDavidsonððs€second€witness,€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô,€would€testify€after€the€defendants€had€presented€their€proof.€Ð à ÐÌà  àDefendants€presented€only€one€witness,€Holtzman.€€He€denied€the€existence€of€any€oralÐ pÀ Ðagreements€with€Davidson.€€As€for€the€$25,000€payment,€he€stated€that€it€was€merely€a€bonus.€€HeÐ `° Ðtestified€that€the€ð ðfinancial€issuesðð€referenced€in€his€correspondence€were€related€to€compensationÐ P  Ðfor€some€consulting€work€Davidson€had€performed€for€Holtzman.€€Additionally,€HoltzmanÐ @ Ðintroduced€three€memoranda,€which€he€claimed€he€had€sent€to€Davidson€regarding€DavidsonððsÐ 0€ Ðclaims.€€In€the€first€memorandum€dated€April€29,€1996,€Holtzman€denies€the€existence€of€an€oralÐ  p Ðagreement.€€In€the€second€memorandum€dated€March€12,€1997,€Holtzman€states€that€the€partiesÐ ` Ðð ðsimply€differ€on€[Davidsonððs]€compensationðð€and€that€Holtzman€ð ð[did]€not€have€an€understandingÐ P Ðwith€any€other€G.M.€[general€manager]€either.ðð€€In€the€third€memorandum,€dated€August€20,€1997,Ð ð@ ÐHoltzman€calls€Davidsonððs€claims€ð ðabsurd€fantasiesðð€and€refers€to€the€$25,000€payment€as€a€gift.€Ð à0 ÐThese€memoranda€were€not€produced€during€discovery,€and€Davidson€denied€receiving€any€of€them.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€Holtzman€was€asked,€without€objection,€as€follows:Ð °"  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQà ¸ àAnd€òòóódid€you€have€any€arrangements€with€any€other€managerÐ $à" Ðin€baseball€to€pay€them€a€percentage€of€the€difference€in€the€purchaseÐ €%Ð # Ðprice€of€a€franchise€and€the€sale€price€of€a€franchise?Ðp&À!$` x` x ÐòòÌóóà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAà ¸ àNo,€never.ÐP( #&` x` x ÐÌà  àAt€the€beginning€of€the€second€day€of€trial,€the€trial€court€addressed€for€the€first€timeÐ 0*€%( Ðdefendantððs€motions€òòin€Ô_ÔlimineÔ_Ôóó.€€The€trial€court€held€that€it€would€permit€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€to€testify€as€toÐ  +p&) ÐDavidsonððs€statements€to€him€regarding€Davidsonððs€arrangement€with€Holtzman,€reasoning€that€ð ðtheÐ ,`'* Ðdoor€has€been€opened€to€some€extent€by€[defendantsðð€counsel]€asking€questions€and€makingÐ ° Ðstatements€to€the€jury€in€opening€remarks.ðð€€The€trial€court€opined€that€ð ðit€would€be€prejudicial€underÐ  ð Ðthe€facts€not€to€allow€Mr.€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€to€corroborate€that.ðð€€The€court€further€held€that€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€would€beÐ à Ðallowed€to€testify€as€to€the€similar€deal€he€allegedly€had€with€Holtzman.€€After€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô€testified,€theÐ €Ð Ðtrial€court€instructed€the€jury€as€follows:Ð pÀ ÐÌØØà8  àà8` Ð Ð àNumber€one,€there€had€been€an€issue€made€with€regard€to€whether€orÐ P   Ðnot€Mr.€Davidson€had€told€anyone€of€his€alleged€agreement€with€Mr.Ð @  ÐHoltzman.€€Mr.€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ôððs€name€was€mentioned€and€I€thought€it€fair,Ð 0 € Ðrightly€or€wrongly,€to€allow€him€to€corroborate€that.Ð p ` x` x ЀÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àSecondly,€with€regard€to€Mr.€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ôððs€claims,€with€regard€to€a€contractÐ P  Ðwith€Mr.€Holtzman,€that€is€not€to€be€deemed€evidence€as€to€the€truthÐ ð@  Ðof€the€matter.€€Ô_ÔYððallÔ_Ô€are€not€trying€the€Arizona€lawsuit.Ðà0 ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAnd€further,€that€is€not€to€be€considered€as€evidence,€that€because€ofÐ À ÐMr.€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ôððs€allegations€that€therefore€that€makes€Mr.€DavidsonððsÐ ° Ðallegations€true.€€Youððre€going€to€have€a€lot€of€evidence€to€consider.€Ð  ð ÐYouððre€going€to€have€to€make€some€decisions,€in€part€on€credibility,Ð à Ðand€weððll€charge€you€on€that,€but€I€just€wanted€to€let€you€know€thatÐ €Ð ÐÔ_ÔthatÔ_Ô€testimony€was€for€the€purpose€of€corroboration€that€DavidsonÐ pÀ Ðmade€the€statement€to€Mr.€Ô_ÔFederÔ_Ô.€€Two,€it€was€an€attack€on€Mr.Ð `° ÐHoltzmanððs€credibility.€€Itððs€impeachment,€showing€inconsistentÐ P  Ðstatements.€€And€we€allow€testimony€for€that.€€But€it€canððt€beÐ @ Ðconsidered€as€proof€or€as€evidence€that€a€contract€existed€betweenÐ 0€ ÐDavidson€and€Holtzman,€as€alleged.Ô#†¼¸d»XX½ƒš,#ÔÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔ€Ô#†¼¸d»XX½ƒùg#ÔÔ‡X½ƒX»¼¸dÔÐ p` x` x ÐÌà  àAs€stated€earlier,€the€jury€returned€a€verdict€in€favor€of€Davidson.€€Specifically,€the€juryÐ P Ðfound€that€Holtzman€was€liable€under€a€breach€of€contract€theory€for€the€agreements€regarding€theÐ ð@ Ðsale€of€the€franchise€and€the€lawsuit.€€The€jury€awarded€Davidson€damages€of€$116,423.80€for€theÐ à0 Ðformer€agreement€and€$18,750€for€the€latter€agreement.€€The€jury€further€found€that€Davidson€shouldÐ Ð  Ðbe€awarded€prejudgment€interest€for€both€amounts,€which€interest€the€court€calculated€to€be€$61,089.€Ð À! ÐDavidson€was€awarded€a€total€judgment€of€$196,262.80.Ð °"  ÐÌà  àDefendants€filed€a€motion€for€a€judgment€notwithstanding€the€verdict,€or€in€the€alternative,Ð $à" Ða€new€trial,€which€motion€was€denied.€€Defendants€moved€for€Ô_ÔremittiturÔ_Ô,€which€also€was€denied.€Ð €%Ð # ÐThis€appeal€followed.Ð p&À!$ Ðà  àà ` àÌÓ  ÓIII.òòóó€€òòStatute€of€FraudsóóÐ P( #& Ðâ âÓtlÓÐ @)$' Ðà  àDefendants€first€argue€that€the€alleged€oral€agreement€regarding€the€sale€of€the€franchiseØØ×ƒ%×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€isÐ ° Ðâ âbarred€by€the€Statute€of€Frauds€because,€so€the€argument€goes,€the€contract€was€not€to€be€performedÐ  ð Ðwithin€one€year.€€Defendants€contend€that€the€parties€had€no€expectation€that€Holtzman€would€sellÐ à Ðthe€franchise€within€one€year.Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àThe€Statute€of€Frauds€provides,€in€pertinent€part,€as€follows:Ð ` ° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àNo€action€shall€be€brought:Ð@ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà8¸ ` x` xàà8¸ ¸ àà8hÈÈà*à À à*à  à*Ð p hphp ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àUpon€any€agreement€or€contract€which€is€not€to€be€performed€withinÐ P  Ðthe€space€of€one€(1)€year€from€the€making€of€the€agreement€orÐ ð@  Ðcontract;€unless€the€promise€or€agreement,€upon€which€such€actionÐ à0  Ðshall€be€brought,€or€some€memorandum€or€note€thereof,€shall€be€inÐ Ð  Ðwriting,€and€signed€by€the€party€to€be€charged€therewith,€or€someÐ À Ðother€person€lawfully€authorized€by€such€party.а` x` x ÐÌÔ_ÔT.C.A.Ô_Ô€ðð€29„2„101(a)(5)€(Supp.€1999).€€Because€courts€generally€try€to€uphold€contracts€rather€thanÐ à Ðdefeat€them,€Ô_ÔT.C.A.Ô_Ô€ðð€29„2„101(a)(5)Ô#†¼¸d»XX½ƒ