ÿWPC i³>û©ß–;ËØJÞÆ»ì&&¾ò,i¨Æð4#³u× Í5”¸A:Åž©^Xü¢mùÔTfÒìÙ•"`š0^‘Mâ˜Á9¸¥ ³†ƒ&:îþʼnÉÕÛ*âßüèîl]kY L+âŒA©å”^¨o@Eì'ZàïÕ.ÙNÁuÑçkã\vÑÛi‰'׆0¯ËŸ@b¾†b#Á\ % # 0ˆ3 UN» 0D ^ M zY ÒÓ w¥ 4© ½ Ì ÆÎ Æ” ÆZÆ  mæNýÐÿ˜ÏEgg¨iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiib 0ë B 0¤! D3Å D-ø 0K%% ASpÆÃ 0¤‰ 0D- A«q˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0» Ý ƒR#$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôíò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€lease€was€later€extended€through€November€30,€1998,€and€the€amount€of€space€was€increased€to€48,430Ð ° Ðsquare€feet.(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó÷“-s  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptš‚,-bk3À¦3|xLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ ÆÝ ƒR#$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôíò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€The€attorney€for€Cumberland€Partners€undertook€to€clarify€the€conditions€of€the€indemnification€by€letter€toÐ ° ÐFNBCððs€attorney,€stating€that€the€indemnification€ð ðwould€not€encompass€any€broker€claims€after€1996€or€the€potentialÐ tÄ Ðcompletion€of€the€existing€lease€of€the€GSA€.€.€..ðð Hobbs P.J.Rubenstein HCAServsArmoneitSeatonLeBonheur LuskVelsicolMiletta TRWEsstmanWaterslidesWinebargerKittrell AbextortiousRaskin FNBCRanskin žÝ ƒR#$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôíò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€FNBC€incurred€$40,000€in€fees€and€expenses€in€defending€the€Raskin€lawsuit,€while€Cumberland€BendÐ ° Ðincurred€only€$3,000€in€defending€the€action.€€FNBC€is€much€exercised€about€the€disparity€in€fees,€pointing€out€thatÐ tÄ ÐCumberland€Bend€ð ðpiggy€backedðð€it,€and€got€a€ð ðfree€ride.ðð€€Perhaps€so,€perhaps€not.€€FNBC€apparently€assumed€theÐ 8ˆ Ðleading€role€in€defending€the€litigation,€which€ended,€it€should€be€remembered,€when€both€motions€to€dismiss€wereÐ üL Ðgranted.- ù-(|G2#$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€N]»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôíò»»Ô d(|3‰X$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€N]»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3‰X$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€N]»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€N]»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑTRY,3Ø'Avery 5160 AddressXà3Ø' Letter 3Ø'$Avery 5160 Addressÿ3Ø'TÑÑH°ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼N]»»»ÔÑ8€‘XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îH N]ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼N]»îîH n#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓMay€2,€2000€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X‘X»¼N]ÔÌò òÔ#†¼N]»XX‘R#ÔFIRST€NATIONAL€BANK€OF€CHICAGO,€òòet€al.óó€v.€CUMBERLAND€BENDÐ úJ ÐINVESTORS,€L.P.,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X‘X»¼N]Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÌÔ#†¼N]»XX‘ #ÔÔ‡X‘X»¼N]Ôà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„789„III€€€€€€Ellen€Hobbs€Lyle,€ChancellorÐ ú J ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ñ` AßÐ Ò"  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2000„00001„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€19,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ Í  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¤` AßÐ ¥õ  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€appeal€involves€a€dispute€between€a€buyer€and€a€seller€of€commercial€property€in€Nashville€overÐ  ð  Ðthe€buyerððs€obligation€to€indemnify€the€seller€for€legal€expenses€incurred€in€a€successful€defense€ofÐ ŒÜ Ða€suit€for€commissions€filed€by€the€former€manager€of€the€property.€€The€seller€filed€suit€in€theÐ xÈ ÐChancery€Court€for€Davidson€County€seeking€to€recover€its€legal€expenses€from€the€buyer€under€theÐ d´ Ðtheories€of€indemnification€and€contribution.€€The€trial€court€granted€the€buyerððs€motion€for€summaryÐ P  Ðjudgment€and€dismissed€the€complaint€because€the€seller€failed€to€prove€that€it€had€an€express€orÐ <Œ Ðimplied€right€to€indemnification€and€because,€as€a€matter€of€law,€contribution€was€inappropriateÐ (x Ðunder€the€circumstances.€€We€concur€and,€therefore,€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€dismissal€of€theÐ d Ðcomplaint.€€€Ð P ÐÓ–ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óòòÐ Ø( ÐÓ  ÓóóÌòòWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.,€J.,€óódelivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòBen€H.€Ô_ÔCantrellÔ_Ô,€P.J.,€M.S.óó,Ð ° Ðand€òòWilliam€B.€Cain,€J.óó,€joined.Ð œì ÐÌSteven€C.€Douse,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€The€First€National€Bank€of€Chicago.Ð t Ä ÐÌGary€S.€Rubenstein,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Cumberland€Bend€Investors,€L.P.;€RiverÐ L"œ! ÐInvestors,€Inc.;€William€Moss€Wilson;€and€Debra€C.€Stanton.Ð 8#ˆ" ÐÓ ÓÌò òOPINIONÐ %` $ ÐÌI.ó óÐ è&8"& ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThe€First€National€Bank€of€Chicago€(ð ðFNBCðð)€is€the€trustee€of€a€group€trust€that€concentratesÐ À($( Ðon€pension€and€profit„sharing€plan€investments.€€One€of€the€funds€in€the€trust€group,€Fund€F,€investedÐ ¬)ü$) Ðin€real€estate.€€From€October€1982€through€November€1992,€Fund€Fððs€holdings€included€an€officeÐ ˜*è%* Ðbuilding€complex€located€at€215„259€Cumberland€Bend€Boulevard€in€Nashville.€€FNBC€contractedÐ „+Ô&+ Ðwith€the€Edwin€B.€Raskin€Company€(ð ðRaskinðð)€to€manage€the€office€buildings.€€The€contract€entitledÐ p,À', ÐRaskin€to€a€commission€on€all€consummated€leases€for€space€in€the€property.€€Ð \-¬(- Ðâ âÐ H.˜).ý ÐÔ_Ôà  àIn€March€1988,€the€General€Services€Administration€(ð ðGSAðð)€leased€37,600€square€feet€ofÐ ° Ðâ âproperty€in€the€complex€for€a€ten„year€period€expiring€April€30,€1998.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€lease€gave€GSA€the€rightÐ œì Ðto€terminate€the€lease€after€five€years€upon€ninety€days€notice.€€For€this€reason€Raskin€was€initiallyÐ ˆØ Ðpaid€commissions€for€only€the€first€five€years€of€the€lease.€€FNBCððs€contract€with€Raskin€terminatedÐ tÄ Ðon€June€30,€1991,€and€Centennial,€Inc.,€its€successor€leasing€agent€later€negotiated€anotherÐ `° Ðamendment€to€the€GSA€lease€increasing€the€leased€space€to€54,071€square€feet€and€extending€theÐ L œ Ðnon„cancellation€period€to€March€31,€1996.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àIn€October€1992,€FNBC€sold€the€property€to€Cumberland€Bend€Investors,€L.P.€(ð ðCumberlandÐ  ` ÐBendðð).€€One€of€Cumberland€Bendððs€partners€was€concerned€about€Raskinððs€claim€for€futureÐ ü L  Ðcommissions.€€To€allay€these€concerns,€FNBC€prepared€a€separate€written€agreement€datedÐ è 8  ÐNovember€18,€1992,€to€indemnify€Cumberland€Bend€for€any€liability€attributable€to€Raskinððs€claim.€Ð Ô$  ÐThis€agreement€provided:Ð À  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€Claim€indemnified€against€hereby€is€limited€to€leasingÐ ˜è  Ðcommissions€arising€out€of€the€extension€and€expansion€of€the€LeaseÐ „Ô  Ðwhich€was€exercised€on€March€26,€1992,€and€the€Claim€does€notÐ pÀ Ðinclude€commissions€arising€out€of€any€future€extension€or€expansionÐ \¬ Ðof€the€Lease€(all€such€commissions€being€payable€by€[the€parties]€orÐ H˜ Ðtheir€Assignee.)׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð4„` x` x ÐÌThe€parties€signed€the€letter€agreement€at€the€closing€on€November€30,€1992.€€At€the€same€time,Ð  \ ÐFNBCððs€lawyers€informed€Cumberland€Bendððs€principals€that€if€the€GSA€stayed€in€the€complex€pastÐ øH ÐMarch€31,€1996,€Cumberland€Bend,€rather€than€FNBC,€would€ð ðbe€responsible€for€any€commissionÐ ä4 Ðclaims€related€to€[the€extension€of€the€lease].ðð€€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àRaskin€later€claimed€a€right€to€commissions€for€the€period€from€April€30,€1993€to€March€31,Ð ¨ø Ð1996.€€FNBC€settled€this€claim.€€Thereafter,€Raskin€asserted€another€claim€for€commissions€for€theÐ ”ä Ðperiod€from€April€1,€1996€through€November€30,€1998€because€GSA€had€not€exercised€its€right€toÐ €Ð Ðcancel€the€lease.€€FNBC€called€upon€Cumberland€Bend€to€respond€to€the€latest€Raskin€claim€andÐ l¼ Ðindemnify€accordingly;€however,€Cumberland€Bend€declined.€€Thereafter€Raskin€filed€suit€againstÐ X ¨ Ðboth€FNBC€and€Cumberland€Bend€seeking€to€recover€additional€commissions.€€Raskinððs€suit€wasÐ D!” Ðlater€dismissed€for€failure€to€state€a€claim€upon€relief€can€be€granted,€and€the€judgment€of€dismissalÐ 0"€  Ðlater€became€final.Ð #l! ÐÌà  àOn€March€16,€1998,€FNBC€filed€suit€against€Cumberland€Bend€in€the€Chancery€Court€forÐ ô$D # ÐDavidson€County€seeking€to€recover€the€legal€expenses€it€had€incurred€defending€against€the€RaskinÐ à%0!$ Ðlawsuit.€€The€trial€court€granted€Cumberland€Bendððs€motion€for€summary€judgment€and€dismissedÐ Ì&"% ÐFNBCððs€indemnification€and€contribution€claims.€€On€this€appeal,€FNBC€asserts€that€CumberlandÐ ° ÐBend€was€not€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law€dismissing€its€contractual€and€common„lawÐ œì Ðindemnity€claims€or€its€contribution€claims.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà@……)ìàò òII.ó óˆÐ `° Ðà@hhìàòòò òThe€Standard€of€Reviewó óóóˆÐ L œ Ðòòò òó óóóÌà  àGranting€a€summary€judgment€is€warranted€in€virtually€any€civil€case€where€the€moving€partyÐ $ t Ðdemonstrates€that€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€exist€and€that€it€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€aÐ  ` Ðmatter€of€law.€€òòDoe€v.€HCA€Health€Servs.€of€Tenn.,€Inc.óó,€46€S.W.3d€191,€196€(Tenn.€2001);€òòArmoneitÐ ü L  Ðv.€Elliott€Crane€Serv.óó,€65€S.W.3d€623,€627€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).€€Because€a€summary€judgmentÐ è 8  Ðinvolves€an€issue€of€law€rather€than€an€issue€of€fact,€òòPlanters€Gin€Co.€v.€Federal€Compress€&Ð Ô$  ÐWarehouse€Co.óó,€78€S.W.3d€885,€889€(Tenn.€2002),€an€order€granting€a€summary€judgment€is€notÐ À  Ðentitled€to€a€presumption€of€correctness€on€appeal.€€òòGuy€v.€Mutual€of€Omaha€Ins.€Co.óó,€79€S.W.3dÐ ¬ü  Ð528,€534€(Tenn.€2002).€€Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àAppellate€courts€do€not€employ€the€standard€of€review€in€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d)€whenÐ pÀ Ðreviewing€an€order€granting€a€summary€judgment.€òò€Mason€v.€Seatonóó,€942€S.W.2d€470,€472€(Tenn.Ð \¬ Ð1997);€òòEstate€of€Kirk€v.€Loweóó,€70€S.W.3d€77,€79„80€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).€€Rather,€we€determineÐ H˜ Ðfor€ourselves€whether€the€moving€party€has€satisfied€the€requirements€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.€€òòHunterÐ 4„ Ðv.€Brownóó,€955€S.W.2d€49,€50„51€(Tenn.€1997);€òòCantrell€v.€DeKalb€Countyóó,€78€S.W.3d€902,€905Ð  p Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).€€In€this€process,€we€must€consider€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorableÐ  \ Ðto€the€nonmoving€party€and€resolve€all€inferences€in€the€nonmoving€party's€favor.€€òòJohnson€v.Ð øH ÐLeBonheur€Childrenððs€Med.€Ctr.óó,€74€S.W.3d€338,€342€(Tenn.€2002);€òòWebber€v.€State€Farm€Mut.Ð ä4 ÐAuto.€Ins.€Co.óó,€49€S.W.3d€265,€269€(Tenn.€2001).Ð Ð  ÐÌà@^^(ìàò òIII.ó óˆÐ ¨ø Ðà@66ìàò òòòFNBCððs€Indemnity€Claimsóóó óˆÐ ”ä ÐÌà  àFNBC€does€not€assert€that€the€facts€that€are€material€to€the€issues€in€this€case€are€disputed.€Ð l¼ ÐIt€concedes€that€the€November€18,€1992€letter€agreement€does€not€contain€specific€indemnificationÐ X ¨ Ðlanguage.€€Rather,€it€insists€that€its€right€to€indemnification€for€its€legal€expenses€should€be€impliedÐ D!” Ðfrom€the€totality€of€the€circumstances.€€FNBCððs€theory€appears€to€be€that€it€is€entitled€to€some€sortÐ 0"€  Ðof€reciprocal€right€to€indemnification€after€March€31,€1996€by€Cumberland€Bend€in€return€for€itsÐ #l! Ðagreement€to€indemnify€Cumberland€Bend€for€Raskinððs€pre„March€31,€1996€claims.Ð $X" ÐÔ#†¼N]»XX‘d#ÔÔ‡X‘X»¼N]ÔÌà  àThe€concept€of€indemnification€embodies€the€principles€of€restitution€and€unjust€enrichment.€Ð à%0!$ Ð2€George€Palmer,€òòThe€Law€of€Restitution€óóðð€10.6,€at€410„11€(1978).€€It€recognizes€that€each€personÐ Ì&"% Ðis€responsible€for€his€or€her€own€legal€wrongdoing€and,€therefore,€that€each€person€is€liable€to€anyÐ ¸'#& Ðother€person€who€is€required€to€pay€damages€that€he€or€she€should€have€paid.€€òòHouseboating€Corp.Ð ¤(ô#' Ðof€Am.€v.€Marshallóó,€553€S.W.2d€588,€589€(Tenn.€1977);òò€Southern€Coal€&€Coke€Co.€Inc.€v.€BeechÐ )à$( ÐGrove€Mining€Co.,€Incóó.,53€Tenn.€App.€108,€116,€381€S.W.2d€299,€302€(1963);€òòsee€also€óóRestatementÐ |*Ì%) Ð(Third)€of€Restitution€and€Unjust€Enrichment€ðð€26€(Tentative€Draft€No.€2,€2002).Ð h+¸&* Ðâ âÐ T,¤'+ ÐÔ#†¼N]»XX‘S+#ÔÔ‡X‘X»¼N]Ôà  àAn€indemnity€obligation€may€be€either€express€or€implied.€€An€express€indemnity€obligationÐ ° Ðâ âarises€from€a€contract;€while€an€implied€indemnity€obligation,€whether€equitable€or€contractual,€isÐ œì Ðimposed€by€law€without€the€consent€or€agreement€of€the€parties.€€Courts€will€impose€an€impliedÐ ˆØ Ðobligation€to€indemnify€when€the€obligation€is€a€necessary€element€of€the€partiesðð€relationship,€òòLuskÐ tÄ Ðv.€Jim€Walter€Homes,€Inc.óó,€648€S.W.2d€935,€939€(Tenn.€1983);€òòHouseboating€Corp.€v.€Marshall,€óó553Ð `° ÐS.W.2d€at€589,€òòóóor€when€justice€and€fairness€demand€that€the€burden€of€paying€for€the€loss€be€shiftedÐ L œ Ðto€the€party€whose€fault€or€responsibility€is€qualitatively€different€from€the€other€partyððs.òò€€VelsicolÐ 8 ˆ ÐChem.€Corp.€v.€Roweóó,€543€S.W.2d€337,€339€(Tenn.€1976);€òòsee€also€Hydro„Air€Equip.,€Inc.€v.€HyattÐ $ t ÐCorp.óó,€852€F.2d€403,€406€(9th€Cir.€1988);€òòFacilities€Dev.€Corp.€v.€Milettaóó,€584€N.Y.S.2d€491,€495Ð  ` Ð(App.€Div.€1992).Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àCumberland€Bend€did€not€expressly€agree€to€indemnify€FNBC€against€Raskinððs€claims.€€ToÐ Ô$  Ðthe€contrary,€the€pertinent€language€in€the€November€18,€1992€letter€agreement€requires€FNBC€toÐ À  Ðindemnify€Cumberland€Bend€against€any€claim€brought€by€Raskin€for€commissions€arising€from€theÐ ¬ü  Ðlease.€€The€agreement€contains€no€language€that€can€reasonably€be€construed€as€an€undertaking€byÐ ˜è  ÐCumberland€Bend€to€indemnify€FNBC€for€anything.€€Accordingly,€the€record€contains€no€evidenceÐ „Ô  Ðof€an€express,€contractual€agreement€by€Cumberland€Bend€to€indemnify€FNBC.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àThe€evidence€of€the€partiesðð€negotiations€surrounding€the€execution€of€the€November€18,Ð H˜ Ð1992€letter€agreement€is€consistent€with€our€interpretation€of€the€agreement.€€All€of€these€discussionsÐ 4„ Ðfocused€on€the€limits€and€duration€of€FNBCððs€indemnity€obligation€to€Cumberland€Bend.€€They€didÐ  p Ðnot€reflect€any€contemporaneous€intention€that€Cumberland€Bend€would€indemnify€FNBC€withÐ  \ Ðregard€to€claims€that€Raskin€might€make€for€commissions€accruing€after€April€1,€1996.€€Ð øH ÐÌà  àEven€though€there€is€no€evidence€that€Cumberland€Bend€ever€expressly€agreed€to€indemnifyÐ Ð  ÐFNBC€for€anything€relating€to€Raskinððs€claims,€the€principles€of€restitution€and€unjust€enrichmentÐ ¼  Ðcould€warrant€a€court€imposing€an€indemnity€obligation€on€Cumberland€Bend€in€appropriateÐ ¨ø Ðcircumstances.€€FNBC€has€not€demonstrated€that€any€of€these€circumstances€exist€in€this€case.€€TheÐ ”ä Ðpartiesðð€relationship€ð!ð€buyer€and€seller€ð!ð€does€not€implicitly€carry€with€it€an€indemnity€obligation.€Ð €Ð ÐThere€is€no€evidence€that€Cumberland€Bend€breached€any€contractual€undertaking€with€any€party€toÐ l¼ Ðthe€transaction€or€that€it€engaged€in€any€other€sort€of€tortious€or€wrongful€conduct.€€Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àFNBC€is€a€sophisticated€institution.€€It€drafted€the€November€18,€1992€letter€agreement€andÐ 0"€  Ðcould€easily€have€included€a€provision€expressly€requiring€Cumberland€Bend€to€indemnify€FNBCÐ #l! Ðfor€Raskinððs€claims€accruing€after€March€1,€1996.€€Had€FNBC€done€so,€Cumberland€Bend€may€veryÐ $X" Ðwell€have€insisted€on€more€favorable€financial€terms€in€return€for€accepting€the€indemnity€obligationÐ ô$D # Ðor€may€very€well€have€rejected€the€letter€agreement€and€refused€to€close€on€the€sale€of€the€property.€Ð à%0!$ ÐTo€now€impose€an€indemnity€obligation€on€Cumberland€Bend€would€effectively€deprive€it€of€itsÐ Ì&"% Ðopportunity€to€bargain€for€the€provision€and€would€reward€FNBC€for€its€oversight.€€Accordingly,€weÐ ¸'#& Ðhold€that€Cumberland€Bend€is€neither€expressly€nor€impliedly€obligated€to€indemnify€FNBC€for€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðlegal€expenses€FNBC€incurred€defending€Raskinððs€claim€and,€therefore,€that€the€trial€court€correctlyÐ )à$( Ðgranted€the€summary€judgment€dismissing€FNBCððs€indemnification€claim.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÌÌÐ @-(, Ðà@dd)ìàò òIV.ó óˆÐ ° Ðà@½½ìàòòò òFNBCððs€Contribution€Claimó óóóˆÐ œì ÐÌà  àFNBCððs€alternative€claim€is€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€granting€summary€judgment€as€toÐ tÄ ÐFNBCððs€contribution€claim.€€Specifically,€FNBC€asserts€that€because€Cumberland€Bend€and€FNBCÐ `° Ðshared€a€common€obligation,€Cumberland€Bend€should€pay€half€the€cost€of€defending€the€RaskinÐ L œ Ðlitigation.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€€We€need€not€tarry€long€with€this€argument.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  à€The€doctrine€of€contribution€is€founded€upon€principles€of€equity€and€natural€justice,€ratherÐ  ` Ðthan€of€contract€law.€€òòTRW„Title€Ins.€Co.€v.€Stewart€Title€Guar.€Co.óó,€832€S.W.2d€344,€346€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð ü L  ÐApp.€1991);€òòEsstman€v.€Boydóó,€605€S.W.2d€237,€241€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1979).€€It€applies€where€theÐ è 8  Ðparties€share€a€common€obligation€or€liability,€but€one€party€has€paid€more€than€its€proper€share€ofÐ Ô$  Ðthe€obligation.€€òòSquibb€v.€Smithóó,€948€S.W.2d€752,€754€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997);€òòUnderwood€v.Ð À  ÐWaterslides€of€Mid„America,€Inc.óó,€823€S.W.2d€171,€186€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991);€òòWinebarger€v.Ð ¬ü  ÐWinebargeróó,€653€S.W.2d€746,€748„49€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983).€€The€right€to€contribution€amongÐ ˜è  Ðcontract€debtors€does€not€arise€until€one€of€them€actually€pays€more€than€its€fair€share€of€the€jointÐ „Ô  Ðobligation.€€òòYoung€v.€Kittrellóó,€833€S.W.2d€505,€508€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992);€òòEsstman€v.€Boydóó,€605Ð pÀ ÐS.W.2d€at€241.€€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àThe€ingredient€for€contribution€that€is€missing€in€this€case€is€the€existence€of€a€commonÐ 4„ Ðobligation.€€FNBC€and€Cumberland€Bend€simply€do€not€have€a€common€obligation€with€regard€toÐ  p ÐRaskinððs€claims,€or€anyone€elseððs€claims€for€that€matter.€€Because€no€joint€obligation€existed,€FNBCÐ  \ Ðcould€not€have€paid€more€than€its€fair€share.€€Under€the€American€Rule,€litigants€are€responsible€forÐ øH Ðpaying€their€own€attorneyððs€fees€in€the€absence€of€a€statute€or€contractual€agreement.€€òòPullmanÐ ä4 ÐStandard€Inc.€v.€Abex€Corp.,€óó693€S.W.2d€336,€338€(Tenn.€1985).€€Ô#†¼N]»XX‘ÿ.#ÔÔ‡X‘X»¼N]ÔWe€know€of€no€legal€or€equitableÐ Ð  Ðrule€that€would€require€Cumberland€Bend€to€pay€one„half€of€the€legal€fees€incurred€by€FNBC€inÐ ¼  Ðaddition€to€its€own€legal€fees.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàò òV.ó óˆÐ €Ð ÐÌà  àWe€affirm€the€summary€judgment€dismissing€FNBCððs€complaint€and€remand€the€case€to€theÐ X ¨ Ðtrial€court€for€whatever€further€proceedings€may€be€required.€€We€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€theÐ D!” ÐFirst€National€Bank€of€Chicago€and€its€surety€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.Ð 0"€  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_____________________________Ð à%0!$ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÐ Ì&"% ÐÔ#†¼N]»XX‘3J#Ô