ÿWPCç ÒFز\È–²ë§Ð[Þz—e×ô¼š×Á³³)AïÜûêh/È^0*#7<ÞÀ²'TÉ}Ž\“£â…Íh\…HU ÓPnÒ²,“…¬I­’Þk§Œ' 2Ë`˜ÒÂK>½åÂ-°1ö§ ªW¢‰3p’pór|Ï’ÈgÐ×­Ô%Ñ»Ã3'Óß„Ò{÷œfê·Yä\‘ųÿVQÁ Ø2µŸØ²Bô–åyK¿'º!)×r»Q'³õg=…ò>½j€ôu )‹AC×S-鉌ÄHÇAÜ£Àð´¡¿¬çÉV±ö΢%2ŽA”OÇj:¢6¦«YwñðÎöwú†mó ] Kh䱊òßÕRˆÚ³îVv.‰MéØÅÁÁjyI@%ŒSЕ¬Èß –ê2B‹×/3¨Óø÷qƒg¼šaNßðÛ‡2ö˜’?l–UÞŒó<ÑŠ~ýiͳÔÙDŒ,гÔê þÿmÿ%Íf°¶Yœf‰FJoQnÉ$QÍÐgΙÑÑz9?¿”zñ:Þ`Ÿl†€gž$.Ø€úÜqWÄ“c$†P㤽˦¹²Ey\´„m˜°‰ŠÞõ!®w2£úÙP.ƒ’oæãSBªúk„£€obUN\ %ª 0ˆ°^ 8wD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÁÐ ‘ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë ã±N” 0D––EÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚÚbÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ 0ëääää BÏÏ 0¤ì D3 D-à 0Kðð AS;ÆŽ 0¤T 0Dø A«<(ÈhH  Z6Times New Roman Regular»(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Óø{-â yG*Q)á”Backup3|x ˜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.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4050ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0 Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ÙÝ ƒRJ $ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôŽ,ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àFlynt€Engineeringððs€proof€showed€that€it€decided€to€ð ðcut€its€lossesðð€by€withdrawing€without€makingÐ ° Ðclaim€for€the€value€of€services€already€rendered.€€Because€Mr.€Coxððs€proof€shows€otherwise,€under€our€standard€of€reviewÐ tÄ Ðwe,€of€course,€must€accept€his€assertion.Ð 8ˆ ÐÌ(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2J $¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€-t»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôŽ,ò»»Ô d(|3Çg$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€-t»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Çg$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€-t»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€-t»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼-t»»»ÔÑ8€j¸XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î(•-tÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼-t»îî(• #ԈРÖ& Ðà@_ _ ìàAssigned€on€Briefs€March€26,€2002ˆÐ üL ÐÌò òà@}}ìàÔ_ÔFLYNTÔ_Ô€ENGINEERING€COMPANY€v.€WILLIAM€COX€Ô‡Xj¸X»¼-tÔó óˆÐ  p ÐÌà@¤ ¤ ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Sevier€CountyˆÐ  p Ðà@™ ™ ìàNo.€2000„585„I€€€€€€Ben€W.€Hooper,€II,€JudgeˆÐ  \ ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àFILED€AUGUST€6,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ï` A߈Ð Ð  ÐÌà@ÏÏìàNo.€E2001„02457„COA„R3„CVˆÐ Ë  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¢` AßÐ £ó  Ðó óÌThis€is€a€suit€by€Flynt€Engineering€Company€against€William€Cox,€seeking€to€recover€the€value€ofÐ žî  Ðservices€rendered€to€Mr.€Cox€under€the€terms€of€a€written€contract.€€The€Trial€Judge€granted€aÐ ŠÚ Ðsummary€judgment€in€favor€of€Flynt€Engineering€in€the€amount€of€$115,753.15.€€We€affirm.Ð vÆ ÐÌò òà@ßßìàTenn.R.App.P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmedó ó;ˆÐ Nž Ðà@#ìàò òCause€Remandedó óˆÐ >Ž ÐÌòòÔ#†¼-t»àXj¸d#ÔÔ‡Xj¸X.¼-tÔHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòóóHerschel€P.€Franks€andÐ f ÐòòóóCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€JJ.,€joined.Ð R ÐÌJerry€H.€McCarter,€Gatlinburg,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€William€CoxÐ Ú* ÐÌAdrienne€L.€Anderson,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€Flynt€Engineering€CompanyÐ ² ÐÌò òÌà@66'ìàOPINIONó óÔ#†¼-t»XXj¸ö#ÔÔ‡Xj¸X»¼-tԈРv Æ ÐÌÌòòóóÔ#†¼-t»XXj¸Þ#ÔÔ€Xj¸X»¼-tÔà  àThe€origin€of€this€suit€was€an€oral€contract€between€two€long„time€friends,€Jackson€K.€Flynt,Ð :#Š" Ðowner€of€Flynt€Engineering€Company€and€William€Cox.€€Mr.€Cox,€who€wanted€to€develop€a€trailerÐ &$v# Ðpark,€contracted€with€Flynt€Engineering€to€prepare€certain€plans,€including€waste€water€disposal€€inÐ %b $ Ðconnection€therewith.Ð þ%N!% ÐÌà  àCompletion€of€the€project€was€delayed€because€the€State€authorities€would€not€approve€theÐ Ö'&#' Ðplans.€€Flynt€Engineering,€which€was€incorporated€after€the€death€of€Mr.€Flynt€in€1995,€becameÐ Â($( Ðdisenchanted€with€the€project€and€proposed€withdrawing.€€However,€at€Mr.€Coxððs€importunes,Ð ®)þ$) Ðincluding€soliciting€the€aid€of€Mr.€Flyntððs€widow,€Flynt€Engineering€agreed€to€continue€its€work€ifÐ š*ê%* Ðthe€parties€would€enter€into€a€written€contract.€€This€was€accomplished€by€an€instrument€styledÐ †+Ö&+ Ðð ðEngineering€Agreement,ðð€which€is€dated€September€29,€1998,€and€recites€certain€provisions€of€theÐ r,Â', Ðoral€agreement.€€The€new€contract€provides,€as€pertinent€to€this€appeal,€the€following:Ð ^-®(-ý ЇÒ€°ÒÒ€°Ò1.€€€€This€Agreement€is€in€addition€to€the€1994€oral€agreement€between€FLYNTÐ ° ÐENGINEERING€COMPANY€and€WILLIAM€COX.€€The€original€oral€agreementÐ œì Ðbetween€FLYNT€ENGINEERING€COMPANY€and€WILLIAM€COX€is€asÐ ˆØ Ðfollows:€FLYNT€ENGINEERING€COMPANY€would€design€a€mobile€home€parkÐ tÄ Ðfor€WILLIAM€COX,€including€a€sewer€treatment€plant.€€No€specific€amounts€ofÐ `° Ðmoney€were€discussed€in€this€original€oral€agreement.Ð L œ ÐÌ2.€€€€WILLIAM€COX€agrees€that€he€owes€FLYNT€ENGINEERING€COMPANYÐ $ t Ðthe€amount€of€ONE€HUNDRED€FIVE€THOUSAND€TWENTY„TWO€ANDÐ  ` Ð50/100€DOLLARS€($105,022.50)€for€engineering€services€provided€to€him€priorÐ ü L  Ðto€the€date€of€this€Agreement.€€WILLIAM€COX€may€pay€this€amount€from€theÐ è 8  Ðproceeds€of€a€loan€for€construction€of€the€Project.Ð Ô$  ÐÌ3.€€€€WILLIAM€COX€shall€make€all€reasonable€efforts€to€obtain€the€constructionÐ ¬ü  Ðloan€by€June€1,€1999.Ð ˜è  ÐÌ4.€€€€FLYNT€ENGINEERING€COMPANY€shall€provide€engineering€servicesÐ pÀ Ðnecessary€to€finalize€a€response€to€a€May€15,€1998€list€of€questions€from€theÐ \¬ ÐTennessee€Department€of€Environment€and€Conservation.€€FLYNTÐ H˜ ÐENGINEERING€COMPANY€shall€invoice€WILLIAM€COX€for€these€servicesÐ 4„ Ðbased€upon€FLYNT€ENGINEERING€COMPANYððs€current€hourly€rate€schedule.Ð  p ÐÌ5.€€€€FLYNT€ENGINEERING€COMPANY€will€provide€additional€engineeringÐ øH Ðservices€for€the€Project€as€requested€by€WILLIAM€COX,€and€shall€invoiceÐ ä4 ÐWILLIAM€COX€for€this€work€in€accordance€with€FLYNT€ENGINEERINGÐ Ð  ÐCOMPANYððs€hourly€fee€schedule€in€effect€at€the€time€FLYNT€ENGINEERINGÐ ¼  ÐCOMPANY€performs€such€services.€€WILLIAM€COX€shall€pay€these€invoicesÐ ¨ø Ðwithin€thirty€(30)€days€of€receipt€of€each€invoice.Ð ”ä ÐÌ6.€€€€This€Agreement€may€not€be€assigned€unless€both€FLYNT€ENGINEERINGÐ l¼ ÐCOMPANY€and€WILLIAM€COX€agree€in€writing€to€the€assignment.Ð X ¨ ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àThe€Trial€Judge,€as€already€noted,€granted€summary€judgment€in€favor€of€Flynt€Engineering,Ð 0"€  Ðresulting€in€this€appeal,€wherein€Mr.€Cox€asserts€that€the€Trial€Court€was€in€error€in€finding€that€thereÐ #l! Ðwas€no€genuine€issue€of€material€fact.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àOur€standard€of€reviewing€summary€judgment€is€succinctly€set€out€in€the€case€of€òòóó€òòStaples€v.Ð à%0!$ ÐCBL€&€Associates,€Inc.óó,€15€S.W.3d€€83,€89€(Tenn.€2000):Ð Ì&"% ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°ÒThe€standards€governing€the€assessment€of€evidence€in€the€summary€judgmentÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcontext€are€also€well€established.€€Courts€must€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€mostÐ )à$( Ðfavorable€to€the€nonmoving€party€and€must€also€draw€all€reasonable€inferences€inÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€nonmoving€partyððs€favor.€€òòSee€Robinson€v.€Omeróó,€952€S.W.2d€at€426;€òòByrd€v.Ð h+¸&* ÐHallóó,€847€S.W.2d€at€210„11.€€Courts€should€grant€a€summary€judgment€only€whenÐ ° Ðboth€the€facts€and€the€inferences€to€be€drawn€from€the€facts€permit€a€reasonableÐ œì Ðperson€to€reach€only€one€conclusion.€€òòSee€McCall€v.€Wilderóó,€913€S.W.2d€150,€153Ð ˆØ Ð(Tenn.1995);€òòCarvell€v.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.1995).Ð tÄ ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àThe€proof€shows€that€when€the€original€oral€agreement€was€made€between€Mr.€Flynt€and€Mr.Ð L œ ÐCox,€Mr.€Cox€was€told€that€the€cost€for€the€services€to€be€rendered€would€be€approximately€$25,000.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àThis,€of€course,€was€prior€to€the€consummation€of€the€written€agreement€which€specificallyÐ  ` Ðprovides€for€the€amount€then€owed,€plus€the€cost€of€additional€services€thereafter.Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àIn€an€attack€upon€the€written€agreement,€Mr.€Cox€contends€that€he€was€subjected€to€economicÐ Ô$  Ðduress€by€Flynt€Engineering,€which€threatened€to€stop€work€and€sue€for€the€balance€then€claimed€toÐ À  Ðbe€owed.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àWe€have€found€one€reported€Tennessee€case,€òòDockery€v.€Estate€of€Masseyóó,€958€S.W.2d€346,Ð „Ô  Ð348€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997),€which€addresses€economic€duress.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àIn€that€case€Judge€Cantrell,€speaking€for€the€Court,€stated€the€following:Ð H˜ ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Òà Ø àMrs.€Dockery€also€contends€that€her€signature€on€the€deeds€of€trust€wasÐ  p Ðprocured€by€economic€duress.€According€to€Mrs.€Dockery,€Ron€Beaver,€the€viceÐ  \ Ðpresident€of€Finance€at€AFC€subjected€her€to€"constant€pressure,"€"harassment,"Ð øH Ðand€"constant€demands"€to€get€her€to€sign€the€loan€participation€agreement€and€theÐ ä4 Ðdeeds€of€trust.€Mr.€Beaver€allegedly€told€Mrs.€Dockery€that€she€"had"€to€sign€theÐ Ð  Ðdocuments€and€that€she€was€"jeopardizing€the€company€and€[Dockery]€by€notÐ ¼  Ðsigning€them."€€Ð ¨ø ÐÌà Ø àAccepting€all€of€this€as€true,€the€facts€do€not€make€out€a€case€of€economicÐ €Ð Ðduress,€which€has€been€defined€as€so€coercive€and€severe€that€a€person€of€ordinaryÐ l¼ Ðfirmness€could€not€resist€it.€€òòHardy€v.€Harrisóó,€€No.€01-A-01-9001-CH-00005,€1990Ð X ¨ ÐWL€61429€(Ô_ÔTenn.AppÔ_Ô.€filed€at€Nashville€May€11,€1990).€Ð D!” ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àThe€bare€statement€of€Mr.€Cox€that€being€told€that€Flynt€Engineering€would€withdraw€itsÐ #l! Ðservices€and€sue€for€the€balance€then€owing€does€not,€in€our€view,€meet€the€test€set€out€in€òòDockeryóó.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àMoreover,€we€have€found€cases€from€other€jurisdictions€that€hold€the€assertion€of€an€intentionÐ à%0!$ Ðto€pursue€a€legal€remedy€is€not€ordinarily€economic€duress,€òòUnited€States€v.€Martinóó,€274€Ô_ÔF.SuppÔ_Ô.Ð Ì&"% Ð1002€(Ô_ÔE.D.MoÔ_Ô.1967),€and€to€do€what€one€has€a€legal€right€to€do€is€insufficient€to€create€duress.€Ð ° ÐòòÔ_ÔWindhamÔ_Ô€v.€Alexander,€Weston€&€Ô_ÔPoehnerÔ_Ôóó,€887€S.W.2d€182€(Tex€App.€1994).Ð œì ÐÌà  àWe€conclude€that€Flynt€Engineering,€which€had€not€been€paid€a€single€penny€in€connectionÐ tÄ Ðwith€the€project,€had€the€legal€right€to€stop€rendering€services€and€to€sue€for€the€amount€it€was€owed.€Ð `° ÐÌà  àWe€accordingly€concur€in€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€which€rendered€judgment€for€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðoriginal€amount€stated€in€the€written€contract,€plus€additional€services€provided€thereafter,€theÐ $ t Ðamount€of€which€does€not€appear€to€be€in€dispute.Ð  ` ÐÌà  àFinally,€we€make€two€further€observations.€€First,€it€seems€clear€from€the€record€that€theÐ è 8  Ðreason€the€project€became€economically€not€feasible,€was€that€Mr.€Cox,€having€been€diagnosed€withÐ Ô$  Ðcancer,€was€unable€to€supervise€the€construction€work€incident€to€the€mobile€home€park€which€heÐ À  Ðhad€planned€to€do.€€Secondly,€Mr.€Coxððs€deposition,€in€our€view,€gives€the€real€reason€the€amountÐ ¬ü  Ðowed€Flynt€Engineering€was€not€paid:Ð ˜è  ÐÌÒ€°ÒÒ€°Òà Ø àQ.€€€€Now,€Iððve€received€your€interrogatory€answers€and€the€answer€thatÐ pÀ Ðwas€filed€by€your€attorney€on€your€behalf€in€this€case,€but€I€need€to€just€ask€youÐ \¬ Ðin€your€own€words,€why€havenððt€you€paid€Flynt€Engineering€for€the€work€theyððveÐ H˜ Ðdone€on€this€project:Ð 4„ ÐÌà Ø àA.€€Very€simply€put,€I€donððt€have€the€money.Ð  \ ÐÌÒ°€ÒÒ°€Òà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€affirmed€and€the€cause€remandedÐ ä4 Ðfor€collection€of€the€judgment€and€costs€below.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€adjudged€against€William€CoxÐ Ð  Ðand€his€surety.Ð ¼  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_________________________________________Ð l¼ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHOUSTON€M.€GODDARD,€PRESIDING€JUDGEÐ X ¨ Ð