ÿWPC& XÁ™îåÍa¾¹³ ¤ÌÅ9<,áõx{’^`/dHNJâ%4Ðø|‚ŠmŸ›8‘©9«S•‘c†ûÁãÂCºO¼þïûŠú±U-Žê5Òü¥™uZ÷®K²!XK™¬.ʨèlû³÷ˆ±`Ð$Ê£û”vçÙ ”ˆœ !$£7ÁTqÆêÊÉ© |jéhB‹Æ÷ Àð´59]à{ÐVb;›ëL»yÚª^‡z;†k[Ù“²šœxQ ƒ)¶ð?rÑž:{epêü%a¿QJ(j3ž™„ž$êåóX»Ì¡ÞüOÅ»†"o´~{ðSé$z‘“še YÁeÛÐèïä#‡[¾Â,_'<¢ó—¸ÏÒüu<÷øªVÃÆ ˆ%‡Ê$·Ô¢¢éË£=Hé¾6~j4ÔÐ cÕX‰^ *ˤç5o<܃•gòÀè¡‹BÜ'Û´‡Å=š8ÉP„÷-dˆ¿£Zâ¯ÁRéhª×oÜ~ì~;RÒ‹¢.õ2#¯ª×Û‚f”+/èáÖVxG¤3‚²QC75[èDWÂû{Ás;Íuƶo)# >U NI %— 0(w@Å4å( 0l  0Dy½Ý¿dœ ’FšUNà 0D. mr‰(‘U:¹¹øóóóóóóó AQëÆ< 0D BF 0Dcc D/§§ BÖ D3ó˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ o0Dp0Vq0Vr0Us0Vt0Du0v0Dw0Ó€ƒ0n~<$3|xƒ0 ÛÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€Club€alleges€that€one€of€either€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€28„1„105(a)€(Supp.Ð ° Ð1997),€the€general€savings€statute,€or€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€28„1„115€(Supp.€1997),€theÏsavings€statute€which€allows€refiling€of€actions€dismissed€by€federal€courts€for€lack€ofÏjurisdiction,€applies€to€this€situation.€€According€to€the€Club,€the€outcome€should€be€the€sameÏunder€either€statute.((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ÓÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€Tennessee€Savings€Statute,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€28„1„115,€provides:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àNotwithstanding€any€applicable€statute€of€limitation€to€the€contrary,€any€partyÏfiling€an€action€in€a€federal€court€that€is€subsequently€dismissed€for€lack€ofÏjurisdiction€shall€have€one€(1)€year€from€the€date€of€such€dismissal€to€timely€fileÏsuch€action€in€an€appropriate€state€court. ZÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€The€Tennessee€Tip€Statute,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„2„107€(1991),€provides:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àà ` à(a)(1)€If€a€business,€including€private€clubs,€lounges,€bars€or€restaurants,Ïincludes€on€the€bill€presented€to€and€paid€by€a€customer,€member€or€patron€anÏautomatic€percentage€or€specific€dollar€amount€denominated€as€a€ð ðserviceÏcharge,ðð€ð ðtip,ðð€ð ðgratuity,ðð€or€otherwise,€which€amount€is€customarily€assumed€toÏbe€intended€for€the€employee€or€employees€who€have€served€the€customer,Ïmember€or€patron,€that€amount€shall€be€paid€over€to€or€distributed€among€theÏemployee€or€employees€who€have€rendered€that€service.€€Such€payment€shall€beÏmade€at€the€close€of€business€on€the€day€the€amount€is€received€or€at€the€time€theÏemployee€is€regularly€paid,€or,€in€the€case€of€a€bill€for€which€credit€is€extended€toÏa€customer,€member€or€patron,€payment€shall€be€made€at€the€close€of€business€onÏthe€day€the€amount€is€collected€or€on€the€first€day€the€employee€is€regularly€paidÏoccurring€after€the€amount€is€collected.€Ð Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à(2)€Such€payment€shall€not€be€reduced,€docked€or€otherwise€diminished€toÏpenalize€an€employee€for€any€actions€in€connection€with€the€employeeððsÏemployment,€if€it€is€derived€from€a€mandatory€service€charge€or€tip€collected€fromÏcustomers,€members€or€patrons.Ð Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` à(3)€This€section€shall€not€apply€to€bills€for€food€or€beverage€served€in€a€banquet,€¼à  àconvention€or€meeting€facility€segregated€from€the€public„at„large,€except€such€facilities€¼à  àwhich€are€on€the€premises€of€a€private€club.Ìà  àà ` à(b)€A€violation€of€this€section€is€a€Class€C€misdemeanor.€€Each€failure€to€pay€an€¼à  àemployee€constitutes€a€separate€offense.  ˆÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€Fair€Labor€Standards€Act€of€1938,€29€U.S.C.€ðððð€201„219€(1993). <Ý ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50-1-304€states:Ð ° ÐÌà8  à(a)€No€employee€shall€be€discharged€or€terminated€solely€for€refusing€toÏparticipate€in,€or€for€refusing€to€remain€silent€about,€illegal€activities.€€Ð Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(b)€As€used€in€this€section,€"illegal€activities"€means€activities€which€are€inÏviolation€of€the€criminal€or€civil€code€of€this€state€or€the€United€States€or€anyÏregulation€intended€to€protect€the€public€health,€safety€or€welfare.€€Ð Ð Ð  Ðà8  à(c)€Any€employee€terminated€in€violation€of€subsection€(a)€shall€have€a€cause€ofÏaction€against€the€employer€for€retaliatory€discharge€and€any€other€damages€toÏwhich€the€employee€may€be€entitled€.€.€.€.Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌ€(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ý ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X®ýXXXÔÔ€$XX®ýÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X®ýX$ÔÐ  ÐÌò òOctober€15,€1998Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ôQºôXX®ýÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular îÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ýà ` àThe€Clubððs€Business€Manager€testified€that€the€wage€for€a€waiter€or€waitressÐ ° Ðcould€be€as€high€as€nine€dollars€per€hour€including€tips.€€ !#%Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý d($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'''÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd""""'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýñw0ñ›ñw0ñÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€ÌXXdðdÈ7ÑÓ  Óñƒ0ññw0ñßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` ttx$°ð Õrßñw0ññƒ0ññw0ñ›ñw0ñà@õ õ ìàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@Ü Ü ìàWESTERN€SECTION€AT€JACKSONˆÌ_____________________________________________________________________________ÌRITTA€OWENS,€LESIA€G.€JOHNSON,à À à)Ð €Ð ÐCHERYL€L.€MITCHELL,€CLARA€M.à À à)Ð pÀ ÐSHARP,€WILLIAM€A.€SMITH€andà h àà À à)Ð ` ° ÐJOBE€L.€TAYLOR,à ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ð P   Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àPlaintiffs/Appellees,à  àà h àà À à)€à  àAppeal€No.€Ô‡Š@ŠXXÔ02A01„9705„CV„00103Ô#†XÌXŠŠ@Ú#ÔÐ 0 € Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìv.à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)€à  àShelby€Circuit€No.€77038Ð $t  Ðñƒ0ñœßt€(>.*jxú]` `€€@EÛq` ttx$ð 1 tß›ñƒ0ñà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)€€ÌTHE€UNIVERSITY€CLUB€OF€à h àà À à)Ð T  ÐMEMPHIS,€a€not„for„profità  àà h àà À à)Ð ôD  ÐTennessee€corporation,à  àà h àà À à)Ð ä4  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àDefendant/Appellant.à  àà h àà À à)Ð Ä Ð____________________________________)€à  àÐ ´ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)ÌANNE€R.€GALLOWAY,à  àà h àà À à)Ð ”ä Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àPlaintiff/Appellee,à  àà h àà À à)Ð tÄ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)à  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àÐ d´ Ðv.à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)€à  àShelby€Circuit€No.€56228Ð T¤ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)ÌTHE€UNIVERSITY€CLUB€OF€à h àà À à)Ð 4„ ÐMEMPHIS,€a€not„for„profità  àà h àà À à)Ð $t ÐTennessee€corporation,à  àà h àà À à)Ð d Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àDefendant/Appellant.à  àà h àà À à)Ð ôD ÐÌà@D D ìàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€SHELBY€COUNTY€ˆÌà@## ìàAT€MEMPHIS,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@  ìàTHE€HONORABLE€DððARMY€BAILEY,€JUDGEˆÌÌòòFor€the€Plaintiffs/Appelleesóó:à  àà h àà À àòòFor€the€Defendant/Appellantóó:Ð „&Ô!$ ÐÌBruce€S.€Kramerà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àGregory€G.€FletcherÐ d(´#& ÐMelissa€R.€Mageeà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àStephen€D.€GoodwinÐ T)¤$' ÐMemphis,€Tennesseeà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àElizabeth€E.€ChanceÐ D*”%( Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àMemphis,€TennesseeÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àò òAFFIRMED€IN€PART,€Ð .T), Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àREVERSED€IN€PARTÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAND€REMANDEDÌÌà  à€ó óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.Ð Ä1-0 ÐÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.ÌÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.ÌÐ $;t6: ÐÓÓÑ7€l³XXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  Ñà@55'ìàò òOPINIONó óˆÐ ° Ðà  àThis€case€involves€consolidated€actions€against€the€University€Club€of€Memphis€(ð ðtheÏClubðð).€€Both€lawsuits€allege€that€portions€of€tips€paid€to€the€Club€for€banquet€and€private€partiesÏwere€withheld€from€banquet€service€employees€and€were€appropriated€by€the€Club.€€€The€firstÏlawsuit,€filed€by€former€and€current€food€and€beverage€workers€at€the€Club,€sought€damages€forÏbreach€of€contract,€fraud,€misrepresentation,€and€conversion.€€The€second€suit,€filed€by€the€formerÏAssistant€Manager€of€the€Club,€alleged€wrongful€discharge€for€her€refusal€to€continue€withholdingÏtips,€as€well€as€whistleblower€claims.€€After€a€jury€trial,€each€of€the€plaintiffs€was€awardedÏcompensatory€damages,€and€the€jury€awarded€collective€punitive€damages.€€The€defendant€appeals,Ïarguing€ò òòòinter€aliaó óóó€that€the€plaintiffsðð€claims€are€barred€by€the€statute€of€limitations,€that€there€is€noÐ à Ðprivate€right€of€action€under€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute,€and€various€evidentiary€issues.€€AfterÏreviewing€the€record,€we€affirm€in€part,€reverse€in€part,€and€remand.Ìà  àThe€plaintiffs€in€the€first€lawsuit€are€all€current€or€former€food€and€beverage€employees€ofÏthe€Club€who€worked€banquets€and€private€parties€during€some€or€all€of€their€tenure.€€These€plaintiffsÏare€Ritta€Owens,€Lesia€G.€Johnson,€Cheryl€L.€Mitchell,€Clara€M.€Sharp,€William€A.€Smith,€and€JobeÏL.€Taylor€(hereinafter€collectively€the€ð ðOwens€plaintiffsðð).€€Some€were€employed€over€thirty€years,Ïothers€less€than€a€year.€€The€plaintiff€in€the€second€lawsuit,€Anne€Galloway€(ð ðGallowayðð),€workedÏas€the€Clubððs€Assistant€Manager€from€1991€until€her€termination€in€1992.€€Ìà  àThe€University€Club€offers€food€and€beverage€service€to€its€members,€including€food€andÏdrink€from€a€menu€(€la€carte€service),€buffet€service,€and€banquet€or€party€service.€€The€banquet€orÏparty€employees€were€hired€as€waiters€and€waitresses€and€were€paid€an€hourly€wage€plus€tips.€€WhenÏa€private€party€was€held€at€the€Club,€a€surcharge€of€15%€was€added€to€the€total€bill.€€The€plaintiffsÏallege€that€the€surcharge€was€a€tip,€and€that€the€entire€amount€of€the€surcharge€should€have€beenÏdistributed€to€the€service€employees€who€worked€the€party.€€€Ìà  àThrough€the€years,€after€some€private€functions,€the€Clubððs€General€Manager€withheld€fromÏthe€service€employees€a€portion€of€the€15%€surcharge.€€Part€of€the€retained€amount€was€recorded€asÏincome€on€the€Club€books,€part€was€paid€to€management€employees,€part€was€used€to€defrayÏexpenses€and€for€other€purposes.€€In€their€lawsuit,€the€Owens€plaintiffs€alleged€that€the€ClubððsÏpractice€of€withholding€portions€of€tips€violated€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute,€Tennessee€CodeÏAnnotated€ðð€50„2„107,€and€also€amounted€to€breach€of€contract,€misrepresentation,€fraud€andÐ ;`6: Ðconversion.€€The€Owens€plaintiffs€also€alleged€that€the€Club€was€guilty€of€making€false€andÏdeceptive€representations€in€their€hiring€and€payroll€practices,€contrary€to€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÏðð€50„1„102.€€Galloway,€the€plaintiff€in€the€second€lawsuit,€alleged€that€she€told€the€ClubððsÏmanagement€that€the€entire€amount€of€the€surcharge€should€be€distributed€to€the€banquet€serviceÏemployees,€and€refused€to€continue€withholding€a€portion€of€it.€€She€alleged€that€she€was€terminatedÏfor€her€refusal€to€continue€the€practice.€€Ìà  àOn€August€4,€1992,€the€Owens€plaintiffs€filed€the€original€complaint€in€this€action€in€UnitedÏStates€District€Court.€€The€complaint€alleged€racial€discrimination€in€hiring,€transfer,€andÏcompensation€in€violation€of€42€U.S.C.€ðð€1983;€it€did€not€include€claims€for€breach€of€contract,Ïfraud,€or€conversion.€€The€plaintiffsðð€attempt€to€amend€the€complaint€and€assert€such€claims€wasÏdenied€in€September€1994.€€The€Owens€plaintiffsðð€federal€complaint€was€dismissed€in€January€1996,Ïand€the€lawsuit€was€refiled€in€state€court€in€March€1996,€alleging€breach€of€contract,€fraud€andÏconversion.€€Ìà  àShortly€after€her€termination€in€April€1992,€Galloway€filed€a€charge€of€employmentÏdiscrimination€with€the€Tennessee€Human€Rights€Commission,€asserting€that€she€was€terminatedÏbecause€of€ð ðsex€discrimination.ðð€€She€did€not€mark€the€block€on€the€charge€styled€ð ðretaliation.ðð€ÏGalloway€began€working€for€Jim€Clayton€Homes,€Inc.€in€Knoxville,€Tennessee.€€Galloway€was€laterÏfired€after€Mr.€Clayton,€her€new€employer,€spoke€with€a€University€Club€Assistant€Manager€aboutÏGalloway.Ìà  àGalloway€initially€filed€suit€against€the€Club€in€United€States€District€Court,€alleging€a€claimÏunder€28€U.S.C.A.€ðð€1981€and€a€pendent€state€claim€under€Tennesseeððs€Whistleblower€Statute,ÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„1„304.€€This€suit€was€ultimately€dismissed€for€lack€of€jurisdiction.€ÏGalloway€then€refiled€her€complaint€in€state€court,€alleging€that€she€had€been€wrongfully€dischargedÏfrom€the€Club€for€refusing€to€participate€in€ð ðan€illegal€schemeðð€of€tip€distribution.€€She€sued€the€ClubÏfor€violating€the€Tennessee€Whistleblower€Statute€and€for€intimidating€her€exercise€of€civil€rights,Ïcontrary€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€39„17„309(b).€€Galloway€later€amended€her€complaint€toÏinclude€a€claim€that€the€Club€had€tortiously€interfered€with€her€subsequent€employment€by€informingÏMr.€Clayton€of€her€lawsuit€against€the€Club.€ÌÐ  09€48 Ðà  àBoth€lawsuits€were€later€consolidated€and€tried€to€a€jury€in€Shelby€County€Circuit€Court,Ïbefore€the€Honorable€DððArmy€Bailey.€€A€variety€of€witnesses€testified€about€the€Clubððs€practices.€Ï€à  àAt€trial,€Norbert€Barruel€testified€that€he€was€the€Clubððs€General€Manager€from€1959€untilÐ pÀ Ð1989.€€He€hired€the€plaintiffs€Clara€Sharp,€Lesia€Johnson,€Ritta€Owens,€Jobe€Taylor,€and€CherylÏMitchell.€€They€were€to€be€paid€ð ðwages,€plus€tips.ðð€€In€approximately€1964,€he€implemented€theÏsystem€of€distributing€the€surcharge€on€banquets€and€parties€that€continued€until€the€filing€of€thisÏsuit.€€Barruel€testified€that€he€determined€how€the€surcharge€on€banquets€would€be€distributed.€€HeÏadmitted€that€sometimes€a€portion€of€the€surcharge€on€a€party€was€not€distributed€to€the€employeesÏwho€worked€it:€ÌÓÓà8  àThe€money€was€kept€in€reserve€for€other€party€[sic]€where€they€didnððt€make€as€muchÏmoney.€€Sometime[s]€the€money€will€go€for€expenses€which€the€club€had€to€incur€likeÏparking,€breaking,€so€on.€€But€they€usually€got€a€fair€tip€all€the€time.€€I€never€had€anyÏcomplaint.[sic]Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓX)Óà  àBefore€leaving€his€employment€at€the€Club,€Barruel€trained€his€replacement,€Jason€Macauley,Ïto€use€a€similar€system€of€tip€distribution.€€Macauley€testified€that€he€divided€up€the€banquetÏsurcharge€among€such€employees€as€waiters€and€waitresses,€bussers,€porters,€captain,€the€maitre€dðð,Ïbanquet€manager,€dining€room€manager,€food€and€beverage€manager,€and€bartender.€€MacauleyÏtestified€that,€ð ð[o]n€a€medium€to€large€party,€usually€the€banquet€manager€received€a€small€portionÏof€[the€surcharge].ðð€€He€added€that€some€of€the€money€was€withheld€or€held€back€ð ðto€compensateÏfor€parties€when€very€little€or€no€money€was€taken€in€or€paid€out.ðð€€€Ìà  àScarlett€Pearsall€testified€that€she€had€been€the€Clubððs€Business€Manager€since€1981.€€SheÏtestified€about€what€became€of€the€surcharge€that€was€ð ðheld€backðð€by€the€General€Manager:€€ÌÓÓà8  àQ.à ` àDonððt€you€know€or€isnððt€it€a€fact€that€funds€that€were€accumulated€from€theÐ  +p&) Ðtip€pool€or€the€amount€of€the€surcharge€that€was€not€distributed€would€be€placed€intoÏthe€general€operating€funds€of€the€club?Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àA.à ` àThat€is€correct.Ðà.0*-Ð Ð  ÐÌÓ".ÓPearsall€testified€that€she€prepared€Trial€Exhibit€57,€a€chart€indicating€the€gross€banquet€sales,€theÏtotal€amount€of€the€surcharge€collected,€and€the€amount€paid€to€all€employees€from€the€first€payÏperiod€of€1991€through€August€1992.€€In€compiling€the€chart,€she€testified€that€she€spentÏapproximately€six€hundred€hours€reviewing€and€cross„checking€several€different€sources€and€typesÏof€documents,€including€the€tip€book,€sales€tickets,€tip€sheets,€payroll€journal,€and€monthly€salesÏsummaries.€€Nevertheless,€Pearsall€could€not€state€the€cumulative€amount€of€surcharge€retainedÐ  :p59 Ðduring€this€period.€€She€was€unable€to€estimate€as€to€the€years€prior€to€1991,€because€the€memberÏtickets€had€been€destroyed€by€the€Club.Ìà  àThe€Owens€plaintiffs€testified€about€what€they€were€told€when€they€were€hired,€the€amountÏof€time€they€spent€working€banquets€and€parties,€their€efforts€to€determine€whether€they€were€paidÏall€of€their€tips,€their€questions€to€the€Clubððs€management,€and€managementððs€response.€€€Ìà  àPlaintiff€Clara€Sharp€testified€that€she€began€working€at€the€Club€thirty€years€ago.€€When€sheÏwas€hired€by€Barruel,€he€informed€her€that€her€pay€would€consist€of€ð ðwages,€plus€tips.ðð€€SharpÏworked€in€the€dining€room€as€well€as€banquets.€€She€testified€that€she€asked€Barruel€and€others€aboutÏthe€amount€of€her€check,€but€was€always€put€off.€€She€stated€that,€during€Macauleyððs€tenure€asÏGeneral€Manager,€the€Club€stopped€posting€the€total€price€of€the€parties.€€In€addition,€the€tip€bookÏwas€no€longer€available€to€employees.€€The€tip€book€contained€lists€of€the€parties€and€the€totalÏchecks.€€Before€Barruel€retired,€it€had€been€open€and€available€to€all€employees;€after€MacauleyÏbecame€the€General€Manager,€the€book€was€stored€in€a€locked€office.€€Ìà  àPlaintiff€Cheryl€Mitchell€testified€that€she€began€working€as€a€waitress€at€the€Club€in€1977.€ÏShe€was€also€hired€by€Barruel,€and€believed€her€pay€would€consist€of€hourly€wages€plus€tips.ÏMitchell€began€working€banquets€at€the€Club€during€high€school,€and€eventually€worked€in€theÏmenððs€grill€as€well€as€banquets.€€Mitchell€testified€that€she€questioned€Barruel€about€her€check€whenÏit€was€less€than€the€amount€she€expected:ÌÓÓà8  àWhen€you€went€to€talk€to€Mr.€Barruel,€Mr.€Barruel€would€get€on€the€calculator,€heÏwould€do€this€mumbo€jumbo.€€You€didnððt€know€what€he€was€doing.€€When€you€comeÏ[sic]€out€there,€you€thought€you€owed€him€money.€€€Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓu8Óà  àPlaintiff€Lesia€Johnson€testified€that€she€had€worked€for€the€Club€since€1980.€€She€initiallyÏworked€banquets€part„time,€and€eventually€worked€full„time€in€the€dining€room.€€Johnson€testifiedÏthat€she€talked€to€Macauley€and€Pearsall€about€her€check,€but€that€she€never€quite€understood€howÏher€check€accounted€for€the€tips€she€received.€€Before€Macauley€became€General€Manager,€theÏparties€were€posted€for€the€employees,€with€money€amounts€on€the€sheets.€€From€this,€the€serversÏcould€approximate€the€tips€they€would€receive€from€each€party.€€After€Macauley€took€over€the€day„¼to„day€operations€of€the€Club,€this€information€was€no€longer€available.€€€Ìà  àPlaintiff€Jobe€Taylor€testified€that€he€began€working€for€the€Club€in€1984.€€He€worked€full„¼time€as€maitre€dðð,€as€a€waiter€in€the€dining€room,€and€also€worked€one€or€two€parties.€€Taylor€testifiedÐ 09€48 Ðthat€he€never€asked€a€Club€manager€about€his€check,€or€about€his€share€of€the€tips€from€a€party.€€HeÏstated€that€he€believed€the€tips€were€split€among€the€waiters€and€waitresses€who€worked€the€party.€Ïà  àPlaintiff€William€Arthur€Smith€testified€that€he€worked€at€the€Club€from€September€1991Ïuntil€1992.€€He€began€bussing€tables,€and€was€later€promoted€to€waiter.€€He€worked€in€the€menððs€grillÏand€at€parties€and€banquets.€€He€testified€that€he€kept€track€of€his€tips,€and€that€his€check€was€not€asÏmuch€as€he€calculated€it€should€be,€even€when€he€considered€tax€and€other€deductions.€€The€ClubÏlater€terminated€Smith.Ìà  àPlaintiff€Ritta€Owens€testified€that€she€worked€for€the€Club€from€1984€until€1991.€€BarruelÏhired€her€as€a€waitress€and€told€her€that€she€would€be€paid€wages€plus€tips.€€Owens€also€workedÏprivate€parties.€€She€testified€that€she€believed€the€tips€were€split€among€the€waiters€and€waitressesÏwho€worked€the€parties,€and€not€with€other€service€personnel.Ìà  àSandra€Terrell,€an€auditor€for€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Revenue,€testified€that€in€AprilÏ1991,€she€completed€a€routine€audit€of€the€University€Club€regarding€their€payment€of€sales€taxes.€ÏA€printout€of€Terrellððs€findings€established€the€amount€of€the€mandatory€surcharge€the€ClubÏcollected€from€October€1988€through€March€1991€as€$127,848.57.Ìà  àThe€plaintiff€in€the€second€lawsuit,€Anne€Galloway,€testified€that€she€began€working€at€theÏClub€as€Assistant€Manager€in€1991.€€She€stated€that€Macauley€taught€her€how€to€collect€theÏmandatory€surcharges,€divide€them€up,€post€the€tips,€and€hold€some€money€back,€usually€twenty€toÏthirty€percent€of€the€total€surcharge.€€Initially,€Macauley€told€her€that€the€money€that€was€held€backÏwas€used€to€supplement€the€serversðð€incomes€during€slower€periods.€€Later,€however,€she€learned€thatÏpart€of€this€money€was€paid€to€banquet€and€food€and€beverage€managers€and€part€was€deposited€intoÏthe€Clubððs€operating€fund.€€During€1992,€Macauley€was€out€on€vacation€and€Galloway€took€over€theÏtip€distribution€duties.€€She€did€not€withhold€tips€from€the€servers,€but€rather€paid€out€all€theÏsurcharge€to€the€employees€who€worked€each€party,€and€also€gave€the€servers€written€confirmationÏof€their€tips.€€Galloway€testified€that€she€told€Macauley€that€she€did€not€think€the€tip€distributionÏscheme€was€right,€and€that€she€would€no€longer€hold€back€any€tips.€€Galloway€asserted€that,€shortlyÏafter€this€conversation,€Macauley€talked€with€her€about€changing€her€position€at€the€Club,€a€changeÏwhich€would€result€in€Galloway€no€longer€being€responsible€for€distributing€tips.€€GallowayÏperceived€this€proposed€change€as€a€demotion.Ð 09€48 Ðà  àGalloway€continued€to€pay€out€all€of€the€tips€to€the€banquet€and€party€employees,€withoutÏholding€back€a€portion€as€she€had€been€instructed.€€Subsequently,€Macauley€told€Galloway€that€heÏplanned€to€change€her€jobò ò€ó ótitle€from€ð ðAssistant€Managerðð€to€ð ðAdministrative€Assistant.ðð€€GallowayððsÐ pÀ Ðduties€would€include€sales,€marketing,€and€special€events.€€The€record€is€not€clear€whether€she€wouldÏremain€responsible€for€tip€distribution.€€Galloway€accepted€the€new€position,€and€worked€thatÏweekend.€€A€few€days€later,€Macauley€terminated€her€employment.Ìà  àAt€trial,€the€Owens€plaintiffs€argued€that€the€Clubððs€practices€constituted€conversion,€fraud,Ïmisrepresentation,€and€breach€of€contract.€€The€Owens€plaintiffs€also€argued€that€the€Clubððs€practicesÏviolated€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute,€which€generally€provides€that€a€service€charge,€tip€or€gratuityÏadded€to€a€customerððs€bill€must€be€paid€to€the€employees€for€whom€it€is€intended.€€They€argued€thatÏthey€had€a€private€right€of€action€under€the€statute.€€Ìà  àGalloway€argued€at€trial€that€she€was€wrongfully€discharged€for€refusing€to€participate€in€an€Ïillegal€practice€(withholding€the€tips),€and€that€her€termination€violated€Tennesseeððs€WhistleblowerÏStatute.Ìà  àThe€jury€found€in€favor€of€all€of€the€plaintiffs€and€awarded€compensatory€damages€to€each:€ÏOwens€was€awarded€$30,000,€Johnson€was€awarded€$50,000,€Mitchell€was€awarded€$45,000,€SharpÏwas€awarded€$50,000,€Smith€was€awarded€$3,500€and€Taylor€was€awarded€$35,000.€€Galloway€wasÏawarded€compensatory€damages€of€$35,000.€€The€Owens€plaintiffs€were€awarded€collective€punitiveÏdamages€of€$500,000.€€Galloway€was€awarded€no€punitive€damages.€€Ìà  àThe€Club€now€appeals€the€jury€verdict,€citing€numerous€issues€on€appeal.€€The€Club€assertsÏthat€the€trial€judge€erred€in€declining€to€recuse€himself,€and€that€he€erred€in€admitting€three€lettersÏfrom€the€Clubððs€auditing€firm.€€The€Club€also€contends€that€the€Owens€plaintiffsðð€claims€were€barredÏby€the€statute€of€limitations.€€The€Club€argues€that€the€Owens€plaintiffs€had€no€private€cause€ofÏaction€under€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute.€€The€Club€alleges€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€toÏestablish€breach€of€contract,€conversion€or€fraud.€€The€Club€raises€several€issues€concerning€theÏsufficiency€of€the€jury€instructions.€€The€Club€also€argues€that€the€Owens€plaintiffs€failed€to€proveÏthe€amount€of€their€damages€with€a€reasonable€degree€of€certainty.€€Finally,€the€Club€contends€thatÏthe€proof€at€trial€was€insufficient€to€establish€conduct€which€warranted€an€award€of€punitiveÏdamages.€Ð 09€48 Ðà  àOn€the€Galloway€lawsuit,€the€Club€asserts€that€Galloway€failed€to€establish€that€the€ClubÏviolated€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute,€and€that,€consequently,€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€establishÏa€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Whistleblower€Statute.€€The€Club€also€argues€that€Galloway€wasÏjudicially€estopped€from€asserting€under€the€Whistleblower€Statute€that€she€was€terminated€ð ðsolelyððÏfor€refusing€to€participate€in€illegal€activities,€because€she€asserted€in€her€Charge€with€the€TennesseeÏHuman€Rights€Commission€that€she€was€terminated€because€of€sex€discrimination.€€Finally,€the€Club€Ïasserts€that€the€evidence€was€insufficient€to€establish€Gallowayððs€claim€for€tortious€interference€withÏher€employment€after€she€left€the€Club.Ìà0  àà ° àà@$$'ì(#(#àRECUSALˆÌà  àThe€Club€argues€that€the€trial€judge,€the€Honorable€DððArmy€Bailey,€erred€by€refusing€toÏdisqualify€himself€from€hearing€this€case.€€The€Club€cites€a€1993€article€from€òòò òMemphis€ó óóómagazineÐ pÀ Ðin€which€Judge€Bailey€criticizes€private€Memphis€clubs€in€general€and€the€University€Club€inÏparticular€for€racially€restrictive€membership€policies.€€The€Club€contends€that€the€quote€in€thisÏarticle€establishes€that€Judge€Bailey€held€a€personal€bias€against€the€Club€which€required€his€recusal.€ÏThe€plaintiffs€note€that€the€article€was€published€over€three€years€before€the€trial€in€this€action,€andÏargue€that€the€trial€judgeððs€comments€were€made€so€long€before€the€trial€that€they€could€not€beÏconsidered€related€to€the€Clubððs€policies€at€the€time€of€trial.€€The€plaintiffs€maintain€that€the€ClubÏfailed€to€carry€its€burden€of€showing€actual€bias.€Ìà  àIn€Tennessee,€the€decision€of€recusal€is€a€matter€within€the€judgeððs€discretion.€ò òòòSee€WisemanÐ p&À!$ Ðv.€Spauldingó óóó,€573€S.W.2d€490,€493€(Tenn.€App.€1978).€€The€Code€of€Judicial€Conduct€provides€thatÐ P( #& Ða€judge€should€recuse€himself€when€his€impartiality€may€be€questioned,€including€situations€whereÏð ðhe€has€a€personal€bias€or€prejudice€concerning€a€party.ðð€òòò òCode€of€Judicial€Conductóóó ó,€Canonò ò€ó ó3(C)(1)Ð ,`'* Ð(1996);€òòò òsee€State€v.€Cashó óóó,€867€S.W.2d€741€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1993)€(independent€fact„finding€tripÐ ð-@), Ðand€interrogation€of€the€defendant€from€the€bench€eliminated€courtððs€status€as€a€neutral€and€detachedÏarbiter);€òòò òLackey€v.€Stateó óóó,€578€S.W.2d€101,€104€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1978).€€Extra„judicial€commentsÐ °1-0 Ðwhich€indicate€ð ða€judgeððs€personal€moral€conviction€or€which€reflect€prevailing€societal€attitudesððÏdo€not€mandate€recusal.€€òòò òAlley€v.€Stateó óóó,€882€S.W.2d€810,€820€(Tenn.€Crim.€App.€1994).€€The€recordÐ p5À04 Ðdoes€not€establish€in€this€case€that€the€trial€judge€abused€his€discretion€by€declining€to€recuse€himself.€ÏThe€decision€of€the€trial€judge€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.€€Ð 09€48 Ðà@áá!ìàEVIDENTIARY€ISSUESˆÌà  àThe€Club€next€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€admitting€three€letters€that€contained€expertÏopinions€of€an€unidentified€out„of„court€declarant.€€These€letters,€dated€November€30,€1983,ÏNovember€30,€1984,€and€November€29,€1985,€were€prepared€by€Ernst€&€Whinney,€the€ClubððsÏauditing€firm,€and€were€not€signed€by€an€individual.€€In€the€letters,€the€firm€recommended€that€theÏClub€change€its€policies€and€practices€regarding€the€15%€service€fee€charged€for€special€events€suchÏas€banquets€and€private€parties.€€The€firm€recommended€that€ð ð[i]n€order€to€avoid€any€employeeÏmisunderstandings€as€to€the€fairness€of€such€distributions,ðð€the€Club€should€ð ðclearly€distinguish€theÏspecial€events€service€fee€from€normal€gratuities,ðð€and€ð ðdevelop€a€formal€policy€for€the€mannerðð€inÏwhich€the€service€fee€was€distributed,€rather€than€simply€relying€on€the€individual€judgment€of€theÏClub€manager.€€Ìà  àAt€trial,€the€Club€objected€to€the€introduction€of€these€letters,€arguing€that€they€wereÏinadmissible€hearsay€and€were€not€subject€to€the€business€records€exception€under€Tennessee€RuleÏof€Evidence€803(6).€€The€Club€argues€on€appeal€that€Tennessee€courts€have€generally€rejected€theÏadmission€of€writings€by€unknown€persons,€even€when€contained€in€what€might€otherwise€beÏregarded€as€a€ð ðbusiness€record.ðð€€It€€citesòòò ò€Butler€v.€Ballardóóó ó,€696€S.W.2d€533€(Tenn.€App.€1985),€asÐ Ð  Ðsupport€for€its€argument.€€òòò òBallardóóó ó€addressed€the€admissibility€of€statements€contained€in€hospitalÐ °"  Ðrecords:€ð ðHearsay€included€within€hearsay€is€not€excluded€under€the€hearsay€rule€if€each€part€of€theÏcombined€statements€conforms€with€an€exception€to€the€hearsay€rule€provided€in€these€rules.ðð€òòò òId.Ð p&À!$ Ðó óóóat€537.€€Ð P( #& Ðà  àThe€admissibility€of€evidence€is€within€the€sound€discretion€of€the€trial€court€and€will€beÏoverturned€on€appeal€only€when€there€is€a€clear€showing€of€abuse€of€discretion.€€ò òòòSee€Otis€v.Ð ,`'* ÐCambridge€Mut.€Fire€Ins.€Co.óóó ó,€850€S.W.2d€439€(Tenn.€1992);€òòò òSteele€v.€Ft.€Sanders€AnesthesiaÐ ð-@), ÐGroup,€P.C.ó óóó,€897€S.W.2d€270,€275€(Tenn.€App.€1994).€€€The€documents€are€admissible€under€theÐ Ð/ +. Ðbusiness€records€exception€if€they€wereÌÓÓà8  àmade€at€or€near€the€time€by€or€from€information€transmitted€by€a€person€withÏknowledge€and€a€business€duty€to€record€or€transmit€if€kept€in€the€course€of€aÏregularly€conducted€business€activity€and€if€it€was€the€regular€practice€of€thatÏbusiness€activity€to€make€the€memorandum,€report,€record,€or€data€compilation,€allÏas€shown€by€the€testimony€of€the€custodian€or€other€qualified€witness,€unless€theÏsource€of€information€or€the€method€or€circumstances€of€preparation€indicate€lack€ofÏtrustworthiness.Ð Ð Ð  ÐÐ  :p59 ÐÓ&gÓTenn.€R.€Evid.€803(6)€(1996).€€The€Clubððs€Business€Manager,€Scarlett€Pearsall,€testified€that€theÏClub€hired€Ernst€&€Whinney€to€perform€annual€audits€in€the€years€1983€to€1985.€€Pearsall€testifiedÏthat€she€provided€the€auditors€with€the€necessary€financial€records€to€perform€the€audits.€€Ô‡XVEXXX,×ÔThe€ClubððsÐ pÀ Ðformer€General€Manager,€Barruel,€also€testified€that€he€assisted€Ernst€&€Whinney€employees€inÏpreparing€the€audits€of€Club€finances€in€1983€and€1984.€€These€letters,€which€related€Ernst€&ÏWhinneyððs€findings€from€the€audits,€were€kept€under€Pearsallððs€control€and€custody€in€the€ClubððsÏfiles.Ô#†X,×XXXVE¡j#ԀРøH  Ðà  àInòòò ò€Alexander€v.€Inmanó óóó,€903€S.W.2d€686€(Tenn.€App.€1995),€time€records€from€a€law€firmÐ øH  Ðwere€admitted€based€on€one€attorneyððs€testimony€as€to€the€firmððs€method€for€recording€and€keepingÏsuch€records,€even€though€the€individual€attorneys€who€prepared€the€records€were€unknown.€€¼à  àÔ‡XVEXXX,×ÔIn€òòò òRayder€v.€Grunowó óóó,€€No.€91-3570-IÔ#†X,×XXXVE™m#ÔÔ‡XVEXXX,×Ô,€1993€WL€95561€Ô#†X,×XXXVE n#ÔÔ‡XVEXXX,×Ô(Tenn.€App.€April€2,€1993),€theÐ ˜è Ðappellant,€Rayder,€challenged€the€Department€of€Human€Servicesðð€denial€of€food€stamp€benefitsÏbecause€she€intentionally€failed€to€report€wages€earned€while€enrolled€in€the€program.€€Ô#†X,×XXXVE\n#ÔÔ‡XVEXXX,×ÔRayderÐ H˜ Ðasserted€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€admitting€into€evidence€a€wage€match€report€generated€by€theÏTennessee€Department€of€Employment€Security.€€Rayder€argued€that€the€wage€match€report€did€notÏqualify€under€the€business€records€exception€because€the€person€who€generated€the€record€did€notÏtestify€as€to€its€authenticity.€€This€Court€noted€that,€even€though€the€identity€of€each€person€whoÏprovided€information€for€the€record€was€not€known,€there€was€testimony€that€every€person€whoÏcontributed€to€the€creation€of€the€record€had€a€business€duty€to€do€so.€€Therefore,€the€decision€toÏadmit€the€document€into€evidence€was€affirmed:ÌÓÓà8  à[T]he€person€originally€reporting€the€information€about€Ms.€Rayder€to€theÏDepartment€of€Employment€Security,€had€firsthand€knowledge€of€Ms.€Rayder'sÏemployment€and€salary€information€because€he€was€her€employer.€€He€had€a€businessÏduty€to€keep€accurate€records€concerning€Ms.€Rayder's€earnings€and€to€report€thisÏinformation€to€the€Department€of€Employment€Security.€The€Department€ofÏEmployment€Security,€in€turn,€has€a€duty€to€use€Mr.€Webb's€salary€information€inÏadministering€the€unemployment€compensation€program.€€It€also€has€a€duty€toÏprovide€this€information€to€the€Department€of€Human€Services.€€The€Department€ofÏHuman€Services€has€a€corresponding€duty€to€receive€and€use€the€Department€ofÏEmployment€Security's€information€to€administer€the€food€stamp€program.€€Finally,Ïthe€investigator€who€introduced€the€wage€match€report€was€a€qualified€witnessÏbecause€she€could€identify€the€record€and€could€testify€concerning€its€preparation€andÏthat€it€was€made€in€the€regular€course€of€business€at€or€near€the€time€of€the€recordedÏevent.Ô#†X,×XXXVE‹o#ÔÔ‡XVEXXX,×Ô€€Ô#†X,×XXXVEŽv#ÔÔ‡XVEXXX,×ÔÐ6T15Ð Ð  ÐÌÓ=rÓò òòòRayderó óóó,€1993€WL€95561,€at€*4€(citations€omitted).€€In€this€case,€Pearsall€and€Barruel,€employees€ofÐ Ü7,37 Ðthe€Club,€had€a€business€duty€to€provide€Ernst€&€Whinney€with€the€necessary€audit€information.€Ð ´959 ÐErnst€&€Whinney€employees€had€a€duty€to€compile€and€analyze€that€information,€and€to€reportÏrelevant€findings€to€the€Club.€€These€findings€were€contained€in€the€letters,€dated€at€approximatelyÏthe€time€of€the€audits.€€Pearsall,€the€Business€Manager,€was€under€a€duty€to€maintain€the€letters€andÏall€other€records€concerning€the€audits,€and€could€authenticate€the€letters€as€records€of€the€Club.€€WeÏfind€that€the€trial€court€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€in€admitting€the€records,€and€its€decision€on€thisÏissue€is€affirmed.€€€€Ô#†X,×XXXVEÒv#ÔÐ è 8  Ðà@ûûìàSTATUTE€OF€LIMITATIONSˆÌà  àThe€Club€also€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€denying€the€Clubððs€motions€for€directedÏverdict€and€for€judgment€notwithstanding€the€verdict€against€the€Owens€plaintiffs,€based€on€theÏstatute€of€limitations.€€The€Club€contends€that€the€Owens€plaintiffsðð€claims€are€barred€by€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€ðð€28„3„105,€which€provides€a€three„year€limitation€on€actions€for€injuries€toÏpersonal€or€real€property€and€actions€for€the€detention€or€conversion€of€personal€property.€€The€ClubÏcontends€that€the€plaintiffs€should€have€been€aware€that€they€were€not€getting€all€of€their€tips€byÏ1989,€the€year€that€the€General€Manager€who€instituted€the€tip€distribution€system€retired.€€In€theÏalternative,€the€Club€maintains€that€the€contract€claims€are€barred€by€the€six„year€statute€ofÏlimitations€provided€by€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€28„3„105.€€Ìà  àAs€noted€above,€the€Owens€plaintiffs€filed€the€original€complaint€in€federal€court€on€AugustÏ4,€1992,€alleging€racial€discrimination.€€They€later€sought€to€amend€the€complaint€to€allege€breachÏof€contract,€fraud€and€conversion;€this€motion€was€denied.€€After€the€federal€complaint€wasÏdismissed€in€January€1996,€the€Owens€plaintiffs€refiled€in€state€court,€alleging€breach€of€contract,Ïfraud€and€conversion.€€The€Club€argues€that€the€state€law€claims€were€not€saved€by€the€filing€of€theÏfederal€action,€because€the€applicable€savings€statute׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€ð ðsavesðð€a€refiled€action€only€to€the€extent€thatÐ à+0'* Ðit€asserts€ð ðsubstantially€the€same€cause€of€action€as€set€out€in€the€original€suit.ðð€€ò òòòWorthams€v.€AtlantaÐ À-), ÐLife€Ins.€Co.óóó ó,€533€F.2d€994,€997€(6th€Cir.€1976).€€Because€the€state€law€claims€were€different€fromÐ  /ð*. Ðthe€federal€claims,€the€Club€argues€that€this€action€should€be€barred.€ÌÐ  `3°.2 Ðà  àThe€plaintiffs€agree€that€the€statute€of€limitations€for€conversion,€fraud,€and€violation€of€theÏtip€statute€is€three€years.€€Nevertheless,€they€respond€that€the€Club€erroneously€argues€that€theÏplaintiffs€discovered€their€cause€of€action€upon€the€General€Managerððs€retirement.€€The€plaintiffsÏargue€that,€under€Tennesseeððs€discovery€rule,€the€statute€of€limitations€did€not€begin€to€run€until€theÏplaintiffs€learned€of€their€injuries€and€also€learned€of€the€causal€connection€between€their€injuries€and€Ïthe€defendantððs€actions.€€ò òòòWansley€v.€Refined€Metals€Corp.óóó ó,€No.€02A01„9503„CV„00065,€1996€WLÐ `  Ð502497,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Sept.€6,€1996).€€The€employees€did€not€have€access€to€the€documentsÏnecessary€to€determine€the€amount€of€tips€charged,€collected,€and€paid.€€The€employees€also€testifiedÏthat€the€Club€employed€ð ðdeliberately€Byzantineò ò€ó órecord€keepingðð€and€refused€to€truthfully€orÐ ° Ðcompletely€disclose€to€the€plaintiffs€that€substantial€portions€of€their€tips€were€not€paid€to€them.€ÏConsequently,€the€plaintiffs€maintain€that€they€could€not€have€known€about€the€tip€practices€untilÏthey€were€informed€of€them€by€Anne€Galloway€in€April€of€1992.€€Therefore,€the€original€filing€ofÏthe€complaint€in€the€District€Court€was€timely.€€Although€the€District€Court€dismissed€the€state€lawÏactions€in€1996,€the€plaintiffs€refiled€in€state€court€soon€thereafter.€€They€assert€that,€under€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€ðð€28„1„115,׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€these€claims€were€timely€filed.Ð ð@ Ðà  àFinally,€the€Owens€plaintiffs€contend€that€the€doctrine€of€equitable€estoppel€applies€to€barÏthe€Club€from€asserting€that€the€plaintiffs€either€knew€or€should€have€known€of€their€potential€causeÏof€action€long€before€the€complaint€was€filed.€€The€Owens€plaintiffs€allege€that€the€Club€tookÏaffirmative€steps€to€mislead€them€and€to€prevent€the€discovery€of€their€injuries,€and€that€they€areÏtherefore€entitled€to€invoke€the€doctrine€of€equitable€estoppel.€€€ò òÐ P( #& Ðà  àó óThe€elements€of€equitable€estoppel€are€set€out€in€òòò òConsumer€Credit€Union€v.€Hiteó óóó,€801Ð 0*€%( ÐS.W.2d€822,€825€(Tenn.€App.€1990):ÌÓÓà8  àThe€essential€elements€of€an€equitable€estoppel€as€related€to€the€party€estopped€areÏsaid€to€be€(1)€Conduct€which€amounts€to€a€false€representation€or€concealment€ofÏmaterial€facts,€or,€at€least,€which€is€calculated€to€convey€the€impression€that€the€factsÏare€otherwise€than,€and€inconsistent€with,€those€which€the€party€subsequentlyÏattempts€to€assert;€€(2)€Intention,€or€at€least€expectation€that€such€conduct€shall€beÏacted€upon€by€the€other€party;€€(3)€Knowledge,€actual€or€constructive,€of€the€realÐ  2ð-1 Ðfacts.€€€As€related€to€the€party€claiming€the€estoppel€they€are€(1)€Lack€of€knowledgeÏand€of€the€means€of€knowledge€of€the€truth€as€to€the€facts€in€question;€€(2)€RelianceÏupon€the€conduct€of€the€party€estopped;€€and€(3)€Action€based€thereon€of€such€aÏcharacter€as€to€change€his€position€prejudicially€.€.€.€.Ó ‹Óà È àЀÐÐ Ð  Ðòòò òConsumer€Credit€Union€v.€Hiteó óóó,€801€S.W.2d€822,€825€(Tenn.€App.€1990)€(quoting€òòò òCallahan€v.Ð ` ° ÐTown€of€Middletonó óóó,€41€Tenn.€App.€21,€36,€292€S.W.2d€501,€508€(1954));€ò òòòsee€alsoó óóó€òòò òStewart€TitleÐ @  ÐGuar.€Co.€v.€FDICó óóó,€936€S.W.2d€266,€270€(Tenn.€App.€1996);€òòò òRobinson€v.€Tennessee€Farmers€Mut.Ð  p  ÐIns.€Co.ó óóó,€857€S.W.2d€559,€563€(Tenn.€App.€1993);€òòò òChattem,€Inc.€v.€Provident€Life€&€Acc.€Ins.€Coó óóó.,Ð P  Ð676€S.W.2d€953,€955€(Tenn.€1984).Ìà  àIn€this€case,€there€is€testimony€from€which€the€jury€could€conclude€that€Norbert€Barruel,€theÏformer€General€Manager,€and€Jason€Macauley,€the€General€Manager€at€the€time€this€suit€was€filed,Ïtook€deliberate€steps€to€conceal€the€nature€of€the€tip€distribution€practices€from€the€employees.€ÏAlthough€the€Owens€plaintiffs€testified€that€they€ð ðknewðð€that€the€tips€were€not€fairly€distributed€longÏbefore€1992,€they€also€testified€that€their€efforts€to€find€out€how€the€tips€were€apportioned€wereÏrebuffed€by€the€Club€management.€€Therefore,€the€record€contains€evidence€sufficient€for€the€juryÏto€find€that€the€Club€took€affirmative€steps€to€conceal€from€the€plaintiffs€their€potential€claims.€€€TheÏjury€could€infer€from€the€proof€that€this€was€done€with€the€intent€to€cause€the€Owens€plaintiffs€toÏrefrain€from€acting€on€any€suspicion€that€they€were€not€receiving€all€of€their€tips.€€The€jury€could€alsoÏconclude€that€the€Owens€plaintiffs€were€in€fact€prevented€from€learning€that€they€were€not€receivingÏall€their€tips€and€consequently€refrained€from€taking€further€action.€€Under€these€circumstances,€theÏdoctrine€of€equitable€estoppel€could€apply€to€toll€any€applicable€statutes€of€limitations€until€theÏalleged€fraud€and€conversion€were€revealed€to€the€plaintiffs€by€Anne€Galloway€in€1992.€€à Ð àÐ @)$' Ðà  àMoreover,€because€the€state€claims€were€based€on€the€same€set€of€facts€that€were€alleged€inÏthe€federal€lawsuit,€the€savings€statute€applies€to€this€cause€of€action.€€ò òòòSeeóóó ó€ò òòòEnergy€Sav.€Prod.,€Inc.Ð -P(+ Ðv.€Carneyó óóó,€737€S.W.2d€783€(Tenn.€App.€1987).€€An€amended€complaint€can€avoid€the€statute€ofÐ à.0*- Ðlimitation€where€the€allegations€arise€from€the€"conduct,€transaction€or€occurrence€set€forth€in€theÏoriginal€pleading."€ò òòòCarneyóóó ó,€737€S.W.2d€at€784€(citing€òòò òKarash€v.€Pigottó óóó,€530€S.W.2d€775€(Tenn.Ð  2ð-1 Ð1975);€ò òòòGamble€v.€Hospital€Corp.€of€Am.óóó ó,€676€S.W.2d€340€(Tenn.€App.€1984);€ò òòòOsborne€Enter.€v.Ð €4Ð/3 ÐCity€of€Chattanoogaóóó ó,€561€S.W.2d€160€(Tenn.€App.€1977));€ò òòòsee€also€Campbell€Co.€Bd.€of€Educ.€v.Ð `6°15 ÐBrownlee„Kesterson,€Inc.óóó ó,€677€S.W.2d€457,€464€(Tenn.€App.€1984).€€In€the€instant€case,€theÐ @837 Ðplaintiffsðð€original€cause€of€action€alleged€a€claim€based€on€the€Clubððs€wrongful€withholding€of€aÐ  :p59 Ðportion€of€the€plaintiffsðð€tips€in€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute.€€The€claims€brought€in€theÏsecond€suit€were€based€on€the€same€facts€alleged€in€the€first€suit.€€Accordingly,€the€savings€statuteÏapplies,€and€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€holding€on€this€issue.€€€€€€€Ìà@77 ìàTENNESSEE€TIP€STATUTEˆÌà  àThe€Club€next€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€the€Clubððs€motions€for€directedÏverdict€and€for€judgment€notwithstanding€the€verdict,€based€on€the€Owens€plaintiffsðð€failure€toÏestablish€a€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute,׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€breach€of€contract,€fraud€or€conversion.€€The€ClubÐ ð@  Ðnotes€that€the€Tip€Statute€is€a€criminal€statute€and€argues€that€the€plaintiffs€do€not€have€a€private€rightÏof€action€under€it.€€Ìà  àThis€Court€has€considered€the€implication€of€a€private€cause€of€action€from€the€violation€ofÏa€criminal€statute.€€ò òòòSee€Buckner€v.€Carltonóóó ó,€623€S.W.2d€102€(Tenn.€App.€1981).€€To€determineÐ pÀ Ðwhether€a€private€right€of€action€exists€in€this€case,€certain€factors€must€be€considered:€ÌÓÓà8  àFirst,€is€the€plaintiff€one€of€the€class€for€whose€especial€benefit€the€statute€wasÏenacted.€Second,€is€there€any€indication€of€legislative€intent,€explicit€or€implicit,Ïeither€to€create€or€deny€a€private€cause€of€action.€€Third,€is€the€private€cause€of€actionÏconsistent€with€the€underlying€purposes€of€the€legislation.€òòò òÐPÐ Ð  ÐÌÓŸÓBuckneróóó ó,€623€S.W.2d€at€105€(quotingò òòò€Cort€v.€Ashóóó ó,€422€U.S.€66,€78,€95€S.Ct.€2080,€2088,€45€L.€Ed.Ð à0 Ð2d€26€(1975))€(internal€citations€omitted).ò ò€€ó óThese€factors€are€pertinent€to€determine€whether€theÐ À! Ðlegislature€intended€for€there€to€be€a€private€right€of€action€under€the€statuteòò.€€ò òSee€Touche€Ross€&Ð ° ÐCo.€v.€Redingtonóóó ó,€442€U.S.€560,ò ò€ó ó99€S.Ct.€2479,€61€L.Ed.2d€82€(1979).€ò òòò€óóó óIn€òòò òBuckneróóó ó,€the€plaintiffÐ à Ðalleged€a€violation€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€39-3203,€which€prohibited€ð ðany€person,€by€colorÏof€his€office,ðð€from€ð ðwillfully€and€corruptly€oppress[ing]€any€person,€under€pretense€of€acting€in€hisÏofficial€capacity.ðð€ò òòòId.€óóó óat€105.€€A€violator€could€be€punished€by€fine€not€exceeding€one€thousandÐ 0 € Ðdollars€or€imprisonment€in€the€county€jail€for€up€to€one€year.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€€The€Court€discussed€the€statuteððsÐ `  Ðapplication€in€a€civil€suit:ÌÓÓà8  àà ` àThere€is€no€indication€of€a€legislative€intent€to€create€or€deny€a€private€rightÏof€action€for€oppression.€€A€private€right€of€action€would€probably€not€interfere€withÏthe€underlying€purpose€of€the€oppression€statute,€although€it€could€be€argued€theÏprivate€enforcement€of€the€statute€through€a€civil€cause€of€action€with€its€lesserÏstandard€of€proof€would€hamper€the€activities€of€government€officials€to€an€extent€notÏintended€by€the€Legislature.€€But€the€factor€weighing€most€heavily€against€an€impliedÏright€of€action€is€that€the€oppression€statute€as€well€as€the€criminal€statutesÏconcerning€conspiracy€and€solicitation€are€intended€for€the€protection€of€the€generalÏpublic.€€When€courts€have€implied€a€private€right€of€action€from€a€criminal€statute,Ïthe€statute€invariably€is€intended€to€protect€a€particular€class€of€people.€Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÔ¤Ó€ò òòòId.óóó ó€(citing€ò òòòTexas€&€Pacific€Ry.€Co.€v.€Rigsbyóóó ó,€241€U.S.€33,€36€S.Ct.€482,€60€L.Ed.2d€874€(1916)Ð  p Ð(Act€for€the€Protection€of€Railroad€Employees€and€Travelers);òòò ò€J.€I.€Case€Company€v.€Borakó óóó,€377€Ð P ÐU.S.€426,€84€S.Ct.€1555,€12€L.Ed.2d€423€(1964)€(Act€for€the€Protection€of€Investors)).€€Ìà  àUnlikeà ` àò òòòBuckneróóó ó,€the€statute€at€issue€in€this€case€is€intended€to€protect€the€rights€of€a€certainÐ À! Ðclass€of€people€„„€service€employees€who€receive€tips€as€part€of€their€compensation.€€The€OwensÏplaintiffs€are€persons€within€this€class.€€On€its€face,€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute€is€clearly€intended€toÏprotect€such€employees€by€forbidding€employers€from€keeping€their€tips.€€While€the€statute€containsÏno€express€indication€of€legislative€intent€to€create€or€deny€a€private€right€of€action,€a€private€actionÏis€consistent€with€the€purpose€of€the€legislation,€and€indeed€complements€the€remedy€in€the€statuteÏby€providing€a€mechanism€to€make€employees€whole.€€Consequently,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððsÏdetermination€that€the€plaintiffs€could€pursue€a€private€cause€of€action€under€the€Tennessee€TipÏStatute.€€€Ìà  àThe€Club€further€argues€that,€assuming€a€private€civil€cause€of€action€exists€under€theÏTennessee€Tip€Statute,€the€plaintiffs€did€not€produce€evidence€sufficient€to€submit€the€issue€of€aÏviolation€of€the€statute€to€the€jury.€€The€statute€provides€that€if€a€private€club€includes€on€a€memberððsÏbill€an€amount€ð ðcustomarily€assumed€to€be€intended€for€the€employee€or€employees€who€have€servedÏthe€customer,ðð€then€the€amount€ð ðshall€be€paid€over€to€or€distributed€among€the€employees€who€haveÐ  :p59 Ðrendered€that€service.ðð€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„2„107€(1991).€€The€Club€does€not€dispute€that€anÏautomatic€service€charge€was€added€to€the€membersðð€bills€for€private€parties.€€Rather,€the€ClubÏasserts€that€the€plaintiffs€did€not€prove€the€remaining€elements€of€the€statute.€€Pointing€to€testimonyÏby€several€club€members,€the€Club€argues€that€the€surcharge€was€not€ð ðcustomarily€assumedðð€to€beÏintended€entirely€for€the€employee€or€employees€who€served€as€waiters€or€waitresses.€€Some€ClubÏmembers€testified€that€they€assumed€that€the€banquet€surcharge€would€be€used€in€part€as€a€gratuity,Ïand€also€to€defray€the€costs€of€the€banquet.€€However,€another€Club€member,€Mrs.€Dudley€Deaton,Ïwhose€husband€has€been€a€member€of€the€University€Club€for€many€years,€testified€that€she€hadÏhosted€a€few€private€parties€at€the€Club,€and€that€she€believed€that€the€set€amount€added€to€her€billÏwas€a€tip€intended€to€go€to€the€waiters€and€waitresses€who€worked€the€party.€€This€evidence,€coupledÏwith€the€employeesðð€testimony,€was€sufficient€for€the€jury€to€weigh€the€credibility€of€the€witnessesððÏtestimony€and€conclude€that€the€service€charge€was€ð ðassumed€to€be€intendedðð€only€for€employeesÏsuch€as€the€Owens€plaintiffs.Ìà  àThe€Club€also€asserts€that€it€paid€all€of€the€surcharge€to€ð ðemployees€who€served,ðð€within€theÏmeaning€of€the€statute.€€It€argues€that€banquet€supervisors,€maitre€dððs,€and€porters€should€be€deemedÏð ðemployees€who€servedðð€and€that€consequently€the€Club€was€not€in€violation€of€the€statute.€€TheÏplaintiffs€respond€that€the€term€ð ðemployees€who€servedðð€does€not€include€employees€who€draw€aÏhigher€hourly€rate,€and€certainly€does€not€include€management.€€The€Plaintiffs€cite€to€the€FederalÏLabor€Standards€Act׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€(FLSA)€to€support€this€contention.€Under€the€FLSA,€an€employer€may€notÐ p&À!$ Ðdivert€or€withhold€tips€from€customarily€tipped€employees€to€create€a€tip€pool€unless€the€tips€areÏpooled€ð ðamong€employees€who€customarily€and€regularly€receive€tips.ðð€29€U.S.C.€ðð€203(m)(2)Ï(1993).Ìà  àIn€this€case,€the€Owens€plaintiffs€produced€enough€evidence€to€support€the€trial€courtððsÏdecision€to€deny€the€defendantððs€motion€for€directed€verdict.€€We€find€that€the€trial€court€did€not€errÏin€determining€that€the€term€ð ðemployees€who€servedðð€included€only€the€food€service€staff€whoÏactually€served€the€meals€to€the€members,€and€excluded€other€hourly€employees€such€as€porters€andÏkitchen€workers,€as€well€as€banquet€supervisors.€€The€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.€Ìœñl0ñÐ  P7 26 Ðñl0ñ›à@‰‰!ìàBREACH€OF€CONTRACTˆÌà  àThe€Club€also€claims€that€the€Owens€plaintiffs€failed€to€establish€a€cause€of€action€for€breachÏof€contract.€€The€Club€argues€that,€although€hired€for€an€hourly€wage€ð ðplus€tips,ðð€the€OwensÏplaintiffs€could€not€prove€that€there€was€an€enforceable€oral€contract€obligating€the€Club€to€payò ò€alló óÐ P   Ðtips.€€Ìà  àThe€Owens€plaintiffs€respond€that,€even€though€they€were€at„will€employees€and€had€noÏcontract€of€employment,€an€oral€contract€for€terms€such€as€wages€and€hours€of€employment€isÏenforceable.€€ò òòòSee€Williams€v.€Maremont€Corp.óóó ó,€776€S.W.2d€78€(Tenn.€App.€1988).€€They€point€toÐ Ð  Ðthe€testimony€of€Norbert€Barruel,€the€former€General€Manager€of€the€Club.€€He€stated€that€when€heÏhired€Clara€Sharp,€Ritta€Owens,€Lesia€Johnson,€Cheryl€Mitchell,€and€Jobe€Taylor,€he€told€each€ofÏthem€that€they€would€be€paid€an€hourly€wage,€ð ðplus€tips.ðð€€Although€all€of€the€tips€earned€in€the€Ïla€carte€service€were€given€to€the€service€employees,€a€portion€of€the€banquet€tips€was€ð ðheld€back.ðð€ÏThe€employees€were€not€told€that€there€was€a€difference€between€€la€carte€and€banquet€tips.€€ScarlettÏPearsall€testified€that,€until€at€least€1993,€there€was€no€written€policy€that€distinguished€betweenÏbanquet€and€dining€room€servers€and€their€tips.€€The€Owens€plaintiffs€stress€that€they€understoodÏð ðtipsðð€to€mean€all€tips,€not€a€portion€of€the€tips€at€some€times€and€all€of€the€tips€at€other€times.€€Ìà  àThe€evidence€presented€at€trial€was€sufficient€to€allow€the€trial€court€to€submit€the€issue€ofÏthe€existence€of€an€oral€contract€to€the€jury.€€The€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.€Ìà@u u ìàFRAUD€AND€MISREPRESENTATIONˆÌà  àThe€Club€also€asserts€that€the€Owens€plaintiffs€failed€to€establish€a€claim€for€fraud€orÏmisrepresentation.€€In€order€to€establish€a€cause€of€action€for€fraud€or€misrepresentation,€a€plaintiffÏmust€prove€that€the€representation€was€made€in€regard€to€an€existing€or€past€material€fact,€that€theÏrepresentation€was€false,€that€the€defendant€knew€it€was€false,€and€that€the€plaintiff€acted€upon€theÏrepresentation€and€suffered€damages€as€a€result.€€òòò òSee€Hiller€v.€Haileyó óóó,€915€S.W.2d€800,€803€(Tenn.Ð Ð/ +. ÐApp.€1995)€(citing€ò òòòWilliams€v.€Spinksóóó ó,€7€Tenn.App.€488€(1928);òòò ò€Bevins€v.€Livesayó óóó,€32€Tenn.App.Ð °1-0 Ð1,€221€S.W.2d€106€(1949),òòò ò€Long€v.€Rangeó óóó,€31€Tenn.App.€176,€213€S.W.2d€52,€(1948)).€€ð ðThe€partyÐ 3à.2 Ðalleging€fraud€takes€upon€himself€the€burden€of€proving€every€necessary€and€material€element€ofÏfraud€and€fraud€will€not€be€presumed€from€a€showing€merely€that€a€motive€or€intent€to€perpetrate€the€œñm0ñÐ  P7 26 Ðñm0ñsame›€existed.ðð€òòò ò€Hiller€v.€Haileyó óóó,€915€S.W.2d€800,€803€(Tenn.€App.€1995)€(quoting€ò òòòWilliams€v.Ð ° ÐSpinksóóó ó,€7€Tenn.App.€488,€494€(1928)).Ð à Ðà  àThe€basis€of€the€Owens€plaintiffsðð€fraud€claim€is€that€the€General€Manager€who€hired€them,ÏNorbert€Barruel,€made€a€knowing€misrepresentation€to€the€banquet€employees.€€He€knew€at€the€timeÏhe€hired€plaintiffs€Sharp,€Mitchell,€Owens,€Johnson,€and€Taylor€that€the€Club€differentiated€betweenÏ€la€carte€and€banquet€service€when€distributing€tips,€but€failed€to€inform€these€plaintiffs€of€theÏClubððs€practices.€€The€Owens€plaintiffs€asserted€that€they€were€injured€in€their€reliance€uponÏBarruelððs€statements€because€they€accepted€employment€and€continued€to€work€there.€€Had€€theÏplaintiffs€been€informed€of€the€tip€distribution€practice,€they€could€have€sought€work€elsewhere€orÏrefused€to€work€banquets€or€private€parties.€€The€evidence€was€sufficient€to€submit€this€claim€to€theÏjury,€and€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.Ìà@hh%ìàCONVERSIONˆÌà  àThe€Club€also€asserts€that€the€Owens€plaintiffs€failed€to€establish€a€cause€of€action€forÏconversion.€€In€an€action€for€conversion,€the€plaintiff€must€establish€that€the€defendant€appropriatedÏthe€plaintiffððs€earnings€in€defiance€of€the€plaintiffððs€rights€to€those€earnings.€€ò òòòMammoth€Cave€Prod.Ð ð@ ÐCredit€Assoc.€v.€Oldhamóóó ó,€569€S.W.2d€833€(Tenn.€App.€1977).€€The€Club€claims€that€the€OwensÐ Ð  Ðplaintiffs€failed€to€establish€that€they€had€a€property€right€toò ò€alló ó€of€the€banquet€surcharge,€so€that€theÐ °"  ÐClubððs€use€of€such€funds€constituted€conversion.€€The€Owens€plaintiffs€respond€that€they€producedÏsufficient€evidence€that€the€Club€failed€to€pay€them€all€of€the€tips€to€which€they€were€entitled€underÏboth€the€Tip€Statute€and€the€terms€of€their€oral€agreement.€€Barruel€testified€that€the€withheld€tipsÏwere€used€to€pay€for€equipment€repair,€rental€and€replacement,€breakage€and€damage€done€to€theÏClub,€expenses€related€to€other€private€parties€and€parking€expenses,€and€to€supplement€the€wagesÏof€dining€room€servers.€€Macauley€testified€that€the€tips€were€used€to€supplement€the€wages€ofÏbanquet€supervisors€and€other€non„service€employees.€€Scarlett€Pearsall€testified€that€some€of€the€tipsÏwithheld€were€deposited€in€the€Clubððs€general€operating€account€and€used€for€operating€expenses.€ÏThis€evidence,€when€combined€with€Barruelððs€admission€that€he€did€not€distinguish€between€banquetÏtips€and€€la€carte€tips€when€he€told€the€Owens€plaintiffs€that€they€would€be€paid€ð ðwages,€plus€tips,ððÏis€sufficient€to€establish€the€conversion€claim.€€The€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.Ìœñn0ñÐ  09€48 Ðñn0ñ›€€à@"ìàJURY€INSTRUCTIONSˆÐ ° Ðà  àThe€Club€raises€several€allegations€of€error€relating€to€the€jury€charge.€€First,€the€Club€arguesÏthat€the€trial€court€erred€in€failing€to€issue€the€Clubððs€requested€charge€regarding€the€Tennessee€TipÏStatute,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„2„107,€or€to€otherwise€specify€in€its€charge€to€the€jury€theÏlegal€elements€necessary€to€establish€a€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute.€€The€Club€complainsÏthat€the€trial€court€merely€read€the€text€of€the€Tip€Statute€to€the€jury,€and€did€not€clearly€indicate€theÏelements€of€proof€necessary€to€establish€a€civil€claim€under€that€statute.€€According€to€the€Club,€theÏtrial€courtððs€failure€to€provide€the€jury€with€guidance€on€the€elements€of€the€claim€constitutes€an€errorÏwhich€warrants€a€new€trial.Ìà  àThe€plaintiffs€respond€that€the€Tip€Statute€clearly€set€forth€the€elements€necessary€to€establish€Ïa€claim,€and€that€the€statute€is€written€in€plain€words€that€the€average€juror€will€understand.€€òòò òGrissomÐ pÀ Ðv.€Metropolitan€Govððt€of€Nashvilleó óóó,€817€S.W.2d€679€(Tenn.App.€1981).€€The€instruction€given€wasÐ P  Ðas€follows:ÌÓÓà8  àNow,€if€a€business,€including€private€clubs,€lounges,€bars€or€restaurants€includes€inÏthe€bill€presented€to€and€paid€by€a€customer,€member€or€patron€an€automaticÏpercentage€or€specific€dollar€amount€denominated€as€a€ð ðservice€charge,ðð€ð ðtip,ððÏgratuity€or€otherwise,€which€amount€is€customarily€assumed€to€be€intended€for€theÏemployee€or€employees€who€have€served€the€customer,€member€or€patron,€thatÏamount€shall€be€paid€over€to€or€distributed€among€the€employee€or€employees€whoÏhave€rendered€that€service.€€Such€payment€shall€be€made€at€the€close€of€business€onÏthe€day€the€amount€is€received€or€at€the€time€the€employee€is€regularly€paid.€€Or€inÏthe€case€of€a€bill€for€which€credit€is€extended€to€a€customer,€member€or€patron,Ïpayment€shall€be€made€at€the€close€of€business€on€the€day€the€amount€is€collected€orÏon€the€first€day€the€employee€is€regularly€paid€occurring€after€the€amount€is€collected.Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÓBecause€the€instructions€are€the€juryððs€sole€source€for€guidance€in€their€deliberations,€òòò òsee€State€exÐ P( #& Ðrel.€Myers€v.€Brownó óóó,€209€Tenn.€141,€148-49,€351€S.W.2d€385,€388€(1961),€the€trial€court€must€giveÐ 0*€%( Ðaccurate€instructions€with€respect€to€the€partiesðð€respective€theories.€òòò òGrissomó óóó,€817€S.W.2d€at€685Ð ,`'* Ð(citing€ò òòòStreet€v.€Calvertóóó ó,€541€S.W.2d€576,€584€(Tenn.€1976);€òòò òGross€v.€Nashville€Gas€Co.ó óóó,€608Ð ð-@), ÐS.W.2d€860,€872€(Tenn.€App.€1980);€òòò òMartin€v.€Castner€Knott€Dry€Goods€Co.ó óóó,€27€Tenn.App.€421,Ð Ð/ +. Ð431,€181€S.W.2d€638,€642€(1944)).€€On€appeal,€jury€instructions€are€not€required€to€be€perfect.€Ïò òòòGrissomóóó ó,€817€S.W.2d€at€685€(citing€òòò òDavis€v.€Wilsonó óóó,€522€S.W.2d€872,€884€(Tenn.€App.€1974)).€€AnÐ 3à.2 Ðappellate€court€will€not€invalidate€the€instruction€so€long€as€it€ð ðfairly€defines€the€legal€issues€involvedÏin€the€case€and€does€not€mislead€the€jury.ðð€òòò òId.ó óóó€(citingòòò ò€Smith€v.€Parkeró óóó,€213€Tenn.€147,€156,€373Ð P7 26 ÐS.W.2d€205,€209€(1963);òòò ò€€Railroad€Co.€v.€Spenceó óóó,€93€Tenn.€173,€187,€23€S.W.€211,€215€(1893)).€Ð 09€48 ÐWe€find€that€the€trial€courtððs€instruction€on€the€tip€statute€was€adequate€and€fairly€presented€the€issueÏto€the€jury.€€The€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.Ìœño0ñÐ  pÀ Ðño0ñ›à  àThe€Clubððs€remaining€challenges€to€the€jury€charge€involve€instructions€on€compensatoryÏdamages€and€the€statute€of€limitations.€€The€Club€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€not€includingÏan€instruction€on€the€relevant€statute€of€limitations,€which€explains€which€facts€may€be€consideredÏin€determining€when€the€Owens€plaintiffs€knew,€or€should€have€known,€of€the€existence€of€the€causeÏof€action.€€The€plaintiffs€respond€that€the€trial€court€properly€charged€the€jury€that€the€statute€ofÏlimitations€began€to€run€when€the€plaintiffs€ð ðknew€or€should€have€knownðð€about€the€ClubððsÏmisconduct.€€This€language€is€sufficiently€clear,€and€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.Ìà  àThe€Club€also€alleges€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€failing€to€give€a€limiting€charge€whichÏprevented€the€Owens€plaintiffs€from€recovering€damages,€under€the€Tip€Statute€or€for€fraud€orÏconversion,€for€conduct€that€occurred€more€than€three€years€prior€to€the€date€the€original€complaintÏwas€filed€in€federal€court.€€In€1996,€Tennessee€adopted€the€continuing€violation€doctrine.€€òòò òSpicer€v.Ð 0€ ÐBeaman€Bottling€Co.óóó ó,€937€S.W.2d€884,€889€(Tenn.€1996).€€Federal€courts€originally€developed€thisÐ ` Ðdoctrine€in€response€to€employment€discrimination€cases€arising€under€Title€VII€of€the€Civil€RightsÏAct.€€òòò òId.óóó ó€€€The€continuing€violation€doctrine€operates€as€an€exception€to€the€strict€requirements€of€aÐ Ð  Ðstatute€of€limitations.€€òòò òId.óóó ó€€When€discriminatory€acts€are€viewed€as€individual€violations,€a€cause€ofÐ °"  Ðaction€accrues€for€each€violation€and€the€cause€of€action€is€lost€under€the€statute€of€limitations€if€theÏparty€fails€to€sue€within€the€limitations€period.€€However,€if€the€violations€are€viewed€as€a€continuingÏwrong,€the€statute€of€limitations€is€tolled€and€will€not€begin€to€run€until€the€final€violation€occurs,Ïso€long€as€at€least€one€violation€occurs€within€the€limitations€period.€€òòò òId.óóó ó€€òòò òSpiceróóó ó€listed€severalÐ 0*€%( Ðreasons€for€a€more€lenient€interpretation€of€statutes€of€limitation€in€employment€discrimination€cases:ÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓFirst,€they€emphasize€that€Title€VII€is€a€remedial€statute€designed€to€eliminateÏdiscrimination€and€make€parties€whole.€€Second,€they€stress€that€employees€areÏgenerally€lay€people€and€are€unaware€that€they€must€act€quickly€or€risk€losing€theirÏcause€of€action.€€Often€employees€fear€reprisal€or€turn€to€others€for€help,€and€in€soÏdoing,€delay€action€on€their€cause€until€the€statute€has€expired.€€Finally,€and€perhapsÏmost€importantly,€those€courts€recognize€that€many€discriminatory€acts€cannot€beÏviewed€as€discrete€incidents,€and€often€unfold€rather€than€occur,€making€it€difficultÏto€precisely€pinpoint€the€time€when€they€take€place.€€ÌÌÒ°æÒÒ°æÒòòò òÓÓId.ó óóó€€Tennessee€has€not€applied€the€continuing€violation€doctrine€outside€discrimination€cases.€Ð `6°15 ÐHowever,€the€same€factors€are€applicable€to€an€employment€case€involving€a€continuous€policy€ofÏwrongfully€withholding€an€employeeððs€tips€in€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute.€€As€inÐ  :p59 Ðemployment€discrimination€cases,€the€employees€protected€by€the€œTennessee€Tip€Statute›€areÏcustomarily€lay€people€who€are€unaware€that€by€delaying€they€risk€losing€any€claim€against€theÏemployer.€€Likewise,€œthe›€employees€covered€by€the€Tip€Statute€may€fear€reprisal€if€they€ð ðmakeÏwavesðð€over€the€method€or€amount€of€payment.€€As€in€many€employment€discrimination€cases,€œtheÏacts›€complained€of€in€this€case€ð ðunfoldedðð€over€time;€as€various€employees€came€to€suspect€that€tipsÏwere€being€withheld,€their€inquiries€were€rebuffed€and€diverted.€€œIn€ò òòòFrazier€v.€Heritage€Fed.€BankÐ `  Ðfor€Sav.ó óóó,€955€S.W.2d€633,€637€(Tenn.€App.€1997),€the€Court€stressed€that€the€basis€for€findingÐ ð@  Ðcontinuing€violation€is€ð ðthat€it€would€have€been€unreasonable€to€require€the€plaintiff€to€sue€separatelyÏon€each€one.ðð€òòò ò€Id.ó óóó€€In€this€case,€the€acts€involved€the€same€conduct€by€the€employer€on€a€recurringÐ ° Ðbasis.€€Every€week€in€which€one€of€the€Owens€plaintiffs€worked€banquets,€the€Club€withheld€aÏpercentage€of€their€tips.€€Evidence€in€the€record€showed€that€the€Club€ñt0ñrebuffedñt0ññu0ñturned€awayñu0ñ€the€plaintiffsððÏquestions€about€the€tips,€and€may€have€deliberately€hidden€the€fact€that€the€plaintiffs€were€not€paidÏall€of€their€tips.€€Most€importantly,€it€would€not€be€reasonable€to€require€that€each€plaintiff€fileñv0ñdñv0ñ€suitÏafter€each€paycheck€in€which€the€Club€withheld€tips.€€This€would€have€required€a€lawsuit€every€payÏperiod.€€Surely€this€is€not€the€result€intended€by€the€legislature€in€enacting€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute.€ÏThus,€although€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute€states€that€ð ð[e]ach€failure€to€pay€an€employee€constitutesÏa€separate€offense,ðð€the€circumstances€of€this€case€warrant€application€of€the€continuing€violationÏdoctrine.€€€€€€€€€Ìà  àFor€the€continuing€violation€doctrine€to€apply€in€a€particular€case,€the€plaintiff€must€ð ðlink[]Ïa€series€of€related€acts,€one€or€more€of€which€falls€within€the€limitations€period.ðð€€òòò òFrazier€v.Ð P( #& ÐHeritage€Fed.€Bank€for€Sav.óóó ó,€955€S.W.2d€633,€637€(Tenn.€App.€1997).€€In€this€case,€instances€ofÐ 0*€%( Ðtip€withholding€occurring€outside€the€limitations€period€must€be€adequately€linked€to€tipÏwithholdings€occurring€within€the€limitations€period.€€To€determine€whether€the€acts€are€linked,Ïòòò òFrazieróóó ó€listed€several€factors:€(1)€whether€the€acts€involved€are€of€the€same€type,€(2)€whether€the€actsÐ Ð/ +. Ðare€recurring,€such€as€a€bi„weekly€paycheck,€or€are€isolated,€and€(3)€whether€the€act€has€the€ð ðdegreeÏof€permanenceðð€that€would€alert€an€employee€to€his€duty€to€assert€his€rights.€€òòò òSee€id.óó€ó óat€638.€€In€thisÐ 3à.2 Ðcase,€the€acts€involved€the€same€conduct€by€the€Club.€€These€acts€recurred€each€time€the€employeeÏworked€a€banquet€or€private€party.€€These€acts€did€not€have€a€degree€of€permanence,€such€as€aÏtermination€or€demotion.€€Under€these€circumstances,€there€is€adequate€evidence€in€this€case€to€linkÐ 09€48 Ðthe€series€of€acts€and€toll€the€statute€of€limitations.€€Consequently,€€the€Owens€plaintiffs€were€notÏlimited€to€damages€incurred€within€the€three€years€prior€to€the€filing€of€the€original€complaint.€€TheÏtrial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.Ìà  àThe€Club€also€argues€that€the€order€of€the€charges€led€the€jury€to€mistakenly€believe€thatÏmental€or€emotional€injury€was€a€proper€element€of€compensatory€damages€under€the€OwensÏplaintiffsðð€claims.€€Immediately€after€reading€the€instruction€on€Gallowayððs€claims€for€tortiousÏinterference€and€retaliatory€discharge,€the€trial€court€gave€the€following€instruction:ÌÓÓà8  àNow,€the€plaintiffs€might€also€be€entitled€depending€upon€your€finding€for€recoveryÏfor€mental€or€emotional€injury.€€Reasonable€compensation€for€mental€or€emotionalÏinjury€suffered€by€the€plaintiff€and€proximately€caused€by€the€defendantððs€conduct,Ïthese€injuries€may€include€suffering€such€as€anguish,€distress,€fear,€anxiety,Ïhumiliation,€grief,€shame€and€worry.€€No€definite€method€or€standard€of€calculationÏis€prescribed€by€law€by€which€to€fix€reasonable€compensation€for€mental€orÏemotional€suffering.€€Nor€is€the€opinion€of€any€witness€required€as€to€the€amount€ofÏsuch€reasonable€compensation.€€In€making€an€award€for€mental€or€emotionalÏsuffering,€you€shall€exercise€your€authority€with€calm€and€reasonable€judgment.€€AndÏthe€damages€you€fix€shall€be€just€and€reasonable€in€the€light€of€the€evidence.€€Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÓThe€trial€court€then€read€the€instruction€on€Gallowayððs€whistleblower€claim.€€The€Club€argues€thatÏthis€sequence€implies€that€mental€and€emotional€damages€were€available€for€the€Owens€plaintiffsððÏclaims,€and€was€therefore€confusing€and€misleading.€€The€plaintiffs€respond€that€a€fair€reading€of€theÏinstructions€ò òòòin€totoóóó ó€and€in€context€make€it€clear€that€the€trial€courtððs€instruction€as€to€mental€orÐ À! Ðemotional€injury€was€referring€only€to€Gallowayððs€claims.€€Ìà  àThe€Club€in€this€case€bears€the€burden€of€showing€that€an€alleged€error€in€the€instructionsÏlikely€resulted€in€prejudice€to€its€position.€€ò òòòDeRossett€v.€Maloneóóó ó,€239€S.W.2d€366€(Tenn.€App.Ð `'°"% Ð1951).€"A€final€judgment€from€which€relief€is€available€and€otherwise€appropriate€shall€not€be€setÏaside€unless,€considering€the€whole€record,€error€involving€a€substantial€right€more€probably€thanÏnot€affected€the€judgment€or€would€result€in€prejudice€to€the€judicial€process."€ò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€Ð -P(+ Ð36ó ó;òòò ò€€see€Otis€v.€Cambridge€Mut.€Fire€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€850€S.W.2d€439,€446€(Tenn.€1992);€òòò òCook€v.Ð à.0*- ÐBlytheville€Canning€Coó óóó.,€210€Tenn.€414,€359€S.W.2d€828€(1961).€€ð ðTherefore,€regardless€of€allegedÐ À0,/ Ðerror,€the€verdict€will€not€be€set€aside€if€ððample€convincing€evidence€exists€to€sustain€the€verdict€ofÏ[the]€jury.ðððð€ò òòòScott€v.€Jones€Bros.€Const.,€Inc.óóó ó,€960€S.W.2d€589,€593€(Tenn.€App.€1997)€(quotingÐ €4Ð/3 Ðòòò òBlackburn€v.€Murphyó óóó,€737€S.W.2d€529,€533-34€(Tenn.€1987)).€€From€our€review€of€the€instructionsÐ `6°15 Ðas€a€whole,€the€Club€has€not€borne€its€burden€of€proving€an€error€in€the€instructions€that€likelyÏresulted€in€prejudice€to€its€position.€€The€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.Ð  :p59 Ѐ€€à@þþ'ìàDAMAGESˆÐ ° Ðà  àMuch€of€the€Clubððs€argument€on€appeal€relates€to€the€damages€awarded€in€the€OwensÏlawsuit.€€At€the€close€of€the€plaintiffsðð€proof,€the€Club€moved€for€directed€verdict€on€the€ground€thatÏthe€Owensò òòò€óóó óplaintiffs€had€failed€to€establish€their€respective€compensatory€damages€with€any€degreeÐ P   Ðof€specificity.€€The€Club€reasserted€these€grounds€in€its€post„trial€motions€for€judgmentÏnotwithstanding€the€verdict€or€new€trial.€€On€appeal,€the€Club€argues€that€the€trial€courtððs€denial€ofÏthese€motions€was€error.€Ìà  àTennessee€law€requires€a€plaintiff€to€prove€damages€with€a€ð ðreasonable€degree€of€certainty.ððÐ Ð  Ðòòò òAirline€Constr.,€Inc.€v.€Barróóó ó,€807€S.W.2d€247,€274€(Tenn.€App.€1990).€€This€evidence€must€ð ðlay€aÐ ° Ðfoundation€enabling€the€trier€of€fact€to€make€a€fair€and€reasonable€assessment€of€damages.ðð€€ò òòòPinsonÐ à Ð&€Assoc.€Ins.€Agency,€Inc.€v.€Krealóóó ó,€800€S.W.2d€486€(Tenn.€App.€1990).€€When€the€plaintiff€€claimsÐ pÀ Ðloss€of€wages,€the€measure€of€damages€is€the€difference€between€what€the€employee€was€actuallyÏpaid€and€what€the€employee€should€have€been€paid.€€ò òòòFrye€v.€Memphis€State€Univ.óóó ó,€806€S.W.2d€170Ð 0€ Ð(Tenn.€1991)€(applying€loss€of€wages€formula€to€wrongful€termination€case).Ìà  àThe€Club€maintains€that€the€plaintiffs€offered€no€proof€of€what€they€should€have€been€paidÏunder€their€theory€of€the€case.€€Also,€the€Club€claims€that€the€plaintiffs€furnished€no€data€from€whichÏthe€jury€could€reasonably€infer€the€amount€of€each€plaintiffððs€respective€damages,€given€the€variablesÏin€their€respective€years€of€employment,€work€schedules,€and€in€the€number€of€private€parties€workedÏby€each.€€òòò ò€óóó óÐ p&À!$ ÐÒj°Òà  àIn€response,€the€plaintiffs€point€to€the€testimony€of€Sandra€Terrell,€which€established€the€totalÏamount€of€surcharge€the€Club€charged€from€1988€to€1991.€€Also,€Barruelððs€testimony€established€thatÏthe€servers€involved€in€the€current€lawsuit€were€part€of€a€staff€of€twenty„five€waiters€and€waitressesÏon€staff€at€any€given€time.€€Galloway€testified€that€the€practice€was€to€withhold€between€twenty€andÏthirty€percent€of€the€surcharge€for€every€banquet.€€The€plaintiffs€assert€that€each€plaintiff€testified€asÏto€the€period€of€time€he€or€she€worked€at€the€Club,€the€approximate€number€of€hours€worked,€and€Ïthat€each€performed€some€banquet€or€private€party€work.€€The€plaintiffs€also€introduced€a€wageÏanalysis€for€each€plaintiff€during€the€years€1989€to€1993.€€The€Owens€plaintiffs€contend€that€thisÏevidence€was€sufficient€to€allow€the€jury€to€calculate€the€amount€of€surcharge€collected€each€year,€theÏamount€of€surcharge€withheld€each€year,€each€plaintiffððs€share€of€the€surcharge,€and€which€years€eachÐ 09€48 Ðplaintiff€worked.€€Exact€computation€or€mathematical€certainty€as€to€the€amount€of€damages€is€notÏrequired;€a€reasonable€degree€of€certainty€is€all€that€is€needed.€òòò òPinson€&€Assoc.€Ins.€Agency,€Inc.,Ð à Ðó óóó800€S.W.2d€at€488„89;€ò òòòMoore€Constr.€Co.€v.€Clarksville€Depððt€of€Elec.óóó ó,€707€S.W.2d€1,€15€(Tenn.Ð pÀ ÐApp.€1985);€òòò òCummins€v.€Brodieó óóó,€667€S.W.2d€759€(Tenn.€App.€1983).Ð P   Ðà  àThe€Owens€plaintiffs€also€note€that€the€Clubððs€incomplete€and€confusing€system€of€keepingÏtrack€of€tip€distribution,€allegedly€designed€at€least€in€part€to€obscure€the€facts€and€keep€accurateÏinformation€from€the€plaintiffs,€should€not€be€a€basis€to€deny€them€relief.€€A€defendant€may€notÏcomplain€of€uncertainty€as€to€the€amount€of€damages€when€the€defendantððs€own€deliberate€andÏwrongful€conduct€made€it€difficult€to€prove€specific€amounts.€òòò òFuqua€v.€Madewelló óóó,€153€S.W.2d€133,Ð ° Ð135€(Tenn.€App.€1941)€(citing€òòò òEastman€Kodak€Co.€v.€Southern€Photo€Materials€Co.ó óóó,€273€U.S.€359Ð à Ð(1927));€òòò òsee€also€Cummins€v.€Brodieó óóó,€667€S.W.2d€759€(Tenn.€App.€1983).Ð pÀ Ðà  àIn€òòò òFuqua€v.€Madewelló óóó,€153€S.W.2d€133€(Tenn.€App.€1941),€the€parties€entered€into€a€writtenÐ P  Ðcontract€through€which€the€defendant,€Fuqua,€agreed€to€lease€a€farm€to€Madewell€for€a€year.€€FuquaÏbreached€the€contract€by€leasing€the€farm€to€another€man.€€Madewell€sued€for€damages,€and€receivedÏa€jury€verdict.€€Fuqua€appealed,€claiming€that€the€judgment€was€improper€because€the€plaintiffððsÏdamages€were€too€speculative.€òòò òFuquaó óóó,€153€S.W.2d€at€134.òòò ò€óóó ó€The€court€affirmed€the€jury€verdict,Ð Ð  Ðstating€that€Madewell€was€entitled€to€damages€equal€to€the€benefit€of€the€bargain€that€Fuqua€breached:Ïð ðThe€wrongdoer€€is€not€entitled€to€complain€that€they€cannot€be€measured€with€the€exactness€andÏprecision€that€would€be€possible€if€the€case,€which,€he€alone€is€responsible€for€making,€wereÏotherwise.ðð€òòò òId.€ó óóóat€135.€€òòò òSee€also€Sholodge€Franchise€Sys.,€Inc.€v.€McKibbon€Bros.,€Inc.óóó ó,€919€S.W.2dÐ P( #& Ð36,€42„43€(Tenn.€App.€1995);€ò òòòJennings€v.€Hayesó óóó,€787€S.W.2d€1,€3€(Tenn.€App.€1989);€ò òòòCummins€v.Ð 0*€%( ÐBrodieóóó ó,€667€S.W.2d€759€(Tenn.€App.€1983);ò òòò€Brandtjen€&€Kluge,€Inc.€v.€Popeó óóó,€28€Tenn.€App.€679,Ð ,`'* Ð692,€192€S.W.2d€496,€501€(1945).Ìà  àThe€Club€asserts€that€the€trial€judge€should€have€directed€a€verdict€in€its€favor€or€granted€itsÏmotion€for€judgment€notwithstanding€the€verdict€(J.N.O.V.),€or€granted€its€request€for€a€new€trialÏbecause€the€plaintiffsðð€evidence€of€damages€was€purely€speculative.€€Courts€do€not€re„weigh€theÏevidence€or€reevaluate€the€witness'€credibility€when€they€rule€on€a€motion€under€Rule€50€of€theÏTennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€€òòò òHolmes€v.€Wilsonó óóó,€551€S.W.2d€682,€685€(Tenn.€1977).€€€TheÐ P7 26 Ðcourt€views€the€evidence€in€a€light€most€favorable€to€the€motion's€opponent€and€grants€the€motionÐ 09€48 Ðonly€when€the€evidence€can€reasonably€support€but€one€conclusion.€€òòò òHolmesó óóó,€551€S.W.2d€at€685;Ð ° Ðòòò òGrissom€v.€Metropolitan€Govððt€of€Nashvilleó óóó,€817€S.W.2d€679,€683€n.2€(Tenn.€App.€1991).€€ViewingÐ à Ðthe€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€plaintiffs,€we€find€that€the€trial€court€did€not€err€inÏrefusing€to€direct€a€verdict€or€grant€a€new€trial€on€the€basis€that€the€overall€evidence€of€damages€inÏthe€Owens€case€was€unduly€speculative.€Ìà  àThe€Club€argues€that€the€amounts€of€compensatory€damages€awarded€to€each€of€the€OwensÏplaintiffs€were€based€on€pure€speculation€and€cannot€be€affirmed€on€appeal.€€òòò òSee€Pinson€&€Assoc.Ð ð@  ÐIns.€Agency,€Inc.€v.€Krealó óóó,€€800€S.W.2d€486,€488€(Tenn.€App.€1990).€€Speculative€damages€cannotÐ Ð  Ðbe€recovered€when€ð ðthe€fact€of€damage€is€uncertain,€contingent€or€speculative.ðð€òòò òId.ó óóó€(citing€òòò òMapleÐ ° ÐManor€Hotel,€Inc.€v.€Metropolitan€Govððtóóó ó,€543€S.W.2d€593€(Tenn.€App.€1976)).€€ð ðCourts€will€allowÐ à Ðdamages€for€breach€of€contract€even€where€it€is€impossible€to€prove€the€exact€amount€of€damages.ððÐ pÀ Ðòòò òId.ó óóó€(citingòòò ò€Provident€Life€&€Accident€Ins.€Co.€v.€Globe€Indem.€Co.ó óóó,€156€Tenn.€571,€576,€3€S.W.2dÐ P  Ð1057,€1058€(1928)).€€ð ðAll€that€is€required€is€proof€with€a€reasonable€degree€of€certainty.ððòòò ò€Id.ó óóóÐ 0€ Ðà  àThe€evidence€in€this€case€is€clearly€sufficient€to€establish€the€fact€of€damages.€€Witnesses€forÏthe€Club€acknowledged€that€the€Owens€plaintiffs€were€not€paid€all€of€the€banquet€surcharge€collectedÏfrom€private€parties.€€Under€these€circumstances,€the€jury€could€conclude€that€the€Club€owed€theÏOwens€plaintiffs€damages€resulting€from€its€inequitable€distribution€of€tips.€€Ìà  àWe€now€must€determine€whether€the€evidence€in€this€case€ð ðis€sufficient€to€enable€the€trier€ofÏfact€to€make€a€ððfair€and€reasonable€assessment€of€damages.ðððð€ò òòòPinsonóóó ó,€800€S.W.2d€at€488.ò òòò€€óóó óTheÐ p&À!$ Ðcompensatory€damages€awards€for€each€of€the€Owens€plaintiffs€must€be€examined,€in€order€toÏdetermine€whether€the€judgment€for€each€plaintiff€is€reasonably€related€to€the€evidence€presented.€ÏWhere€the€Clubððs€confusing€system€of€keeping€track€of€tip€distribution€makes€calculation€of€theÏdamages€difficult,€this€cannot€be€a€basis€for€denying€relief€to€a€given€plaintiff.€€ò òòòSee€Fuquaó óóó,€153Ð ð-@), ÐS.W.2d€at€135.€€However,€each€plaintiff€must€provide€the€jury€with€òòsomeóó€basis,€however€approximate,Ð Ð/ +. Ðfor€calculating€damages.Ìà  àThe€jury€awarded€plaintiff€Clara€Sharp€$50,000€in€damages.€€Clara€Sharp€testified€that€she€hadÏworked€for€the€Club€since€1966.€€From€1966€until€1992,€Sharp€testified€that€she€worked€in€the€diningÏroom€most€of€the€time,€but€also€worked€banquets€and€private€parties€from€her€start€date.€€From€1992Ïuntil€1996,€Sharp€worked€part„time,€working€banquets€only.€€Plaintiffsðð€calculation€of€damages€forÐ 09€48 ÐSharp€was€based€on€the€assumption€that€she€spent€one€third€of€her€time€during€her€tenure€workingÏbanquets.€€Testimony€indicates€that€the€full„time€food€and€beverage€workers€at€the€Club€normallyÏworked€a€split€shift€in€which€they€would€work€from€approximately€10:30€A.M.€to€2:00€P.M.€for€lunchÏand€then€return€at€approximately€5:00€P.M.€to€work€dinner€or€banquets.€€Although€Sharp€testified€thatÏshe€worked€mostly€in€the€dining€room,€on€those€days€on€which€she€did€work€banquets€she€wouldÏnecessarily€have€been€able€to€work€only€approximately€three€and€a€half€hours€in€the€dining€room.€ÏThis€testimony,€in€combination€with€Sharpððs€testimony€that€after€1992€she€worked€solely€in€banquets,Ïis€sufficient€support€for€the€plaintiffsðð€contention€that€Sharp€spent€one€third€of€her€time€workingÏbanquets.€€Plaintiffsðð€show€that€in€the€sample€year€1989,€Sharp€worked€a€total€of€2117€hours,€one€thirdÏof€which,€or€705€hours,€was€banquet€work.€€Sharpððs€average€hourly€wage€was€calculated€by€theÏplaintiffs€as€$7.25€for€1989.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€There€is€some€support€in€the€record€for€the€assumption€that€theÐ pÀ Ðemployer€contributed€approximately€$2.00€an€hour€with€the€remainder€coming€from€tips.€€With€$5.25Ïan€hour€in€tips,€the€amount€of€tips€Sharp€received€in€1989€for€banquet€work€equaled€$3701.€€If€thisÏamount€reflected€approximately€seventy€percent€of€the€total€€banquet€tips€to€which€Sharp€was€entitled,Ïaccording€to€Gallowayððs€testimony,€then€the€withheld€tips€for€that€year€totaled€$1586.€€This€amount,Ïmultiplied€by€the€thirty€years€Sharp€worked€for€the€Club€equals€$47,580.€€This€estimate€does€not€takeÏinto€account€fluctuations€in€the€number€of€parties€Sharp€worked€and€the€amount€withheld.€€However,Ïconsidering€the€undisputed€testimony€that€she€worked€banquets€from€the€start€of€her€employment€andÏworked€on€banquets€only€after€becoming€part„time€in€1992,€it€is€sufficiently€related€to€the€amount€ofÏcompensatory€damages€awarded€to€Sharp.€€This€judgment€is€affirmed.€€€€€€Ìà  àThe€jury€awarded€plaintiff€Jobe€Taylor€$35,000€in€compensatory€damages.€€Taylor€workedÏfor€the€Club€from€1984€until€the€time€of€trial€as€a€waiter€and€a€maitre€dðð€in€the€dining€room.€€TaylorÏtestified€that€he€rarely€worked€banquets€during€his€employment:€ð ðI€have€worked€on€parties,€on€oneÏor€two€banquets,€not€all€the€time.ðð€€Taylor€was€paid€a€salary€during€the€time€he€worked€as€a€maitreÏdðð„„€he€did€not€receive€tips.€€Taylor€received€tips€only€when€he€worked€in€the€dining€room€and€at€aÏfew€private€parties.€€Plaintiffsðð€estimate€of€Taylorððs€damages€assumed€that€one„half€of€hisÏcompensation€came€from€serving€at€private€parties€and€banquets.€€This€is€not€consistent€with€hisÐ p5À04 Ðtestimony€at€trial.€€The€record€does€not€support€an€award€of€$35,000€in€Taylorððs€case.€When€theÏverdict€has€been€approved€by€the€trial€judge,€the€Court€of€Appeals€must€affirm€the€award€ð ðif€there€isÏany€material€evidence€to€support€the€award€.€.€.€.ðð€€ò òòòFoster€v.€Amcon€Intððl,€Inc.ó óóó,€621€S.W.2d€142,€146Ð pÀ Ð(Tenn.€1981)€(quoting€ò òòòEllis€v.€White€Freightliner€Corp.ó óóó,€603€S.W.2d€125,€129€(Tenn.€1980);€ò òòò€seeÐ P   Ðalso€Porter€v.€Greenó óóó,€745€S.W.2d€874,€879€(Tenn.€App.€1987).€€Based€on€the€record€as€a€whole,€thereÐ 0 € Ðis€not€material€evidence€to€support€the€amount€awarded€to€Taylor.€€The€award€of€$35,000€inÏcompensatory€damages€to€Taylor€must€be€reversed.Ìà  àThe€jury€awarded€plaintiff€Cheryl€Mitchell€$45,000.€€Mitchell€began€working€full„time€forÏthe€Club€in€1977.€€Prior€to€that,€Mitchell€worked€part„time€at€the€Club€during€high€school€as€a€serverÏat€banquets€and€parties.€€Mitchell€testified€that€after€she€began€working€full€time€for€the€Club€in€1977,Ïshe€served€lunch€in€the€menððs€grill€and€worked€banquets€at€night.€€The€plaintiffsðð€calculation€ofÏdamages€for€Mitchell€was€based€on€the€assumption€that€half€her€time€was€spent€working€banquets.€ÏAs€noted€above,€testimony€indicates€that€the€full€time€food€and€beverage€workers€at€the€ClubÏnormally€worked€a€split€shift€in€which€they€would€work€from€approximately€10:30€A.M.€to€2:00€P.M.Ïfor€lunch€and€then€return€at€approximately€5:00€P.M.€to€work€dinner€or€banquets.€€Therefore,€a€fullÏtime€server€working€lunches€in€the€dining€room€and€evenings€in€banquets,€would€necessarily€spendÏhalf€of€his€or€her€time€working€banquets.€€Therefore,€Mitchellððs€testimony€that€as€a€full„time€serverÏshe€worked€lunches€in€the€menððs€grill€and€evenings€in€banquets€supports€the€plaintiffsðð€contention€thatÏMitchell€spent€half€her€time€working€banquets.€€Basing€their€figures€on€the€sample€year€of€1989,Ïplaintiffs€show€that€Mitchell€worked€a€total€of€2162€hours,€1081€of€which€were€in€banquets.€ÏMitchellððs€average€hourly€wage€was€computed€to€be€$5.60€during€1989€but€testimony€indicated€thatÏfor€a€waiter€or€waitress€the€hourly€wage€could€be€as€high€as€nine€dollars€per€hour.€€Because€the€juryÏcould€have€concluded,€based€on€this€testimony,€that€Mitchell€earned€up€to€nine€dollars€per€hour,€theÏfollowing€calculations€were€done€assuming€a€nine€dollar€an€hour€wage.€€The€Club€contributedÏapproximately€$2€of€this€amount€and€the€remainder€came€from€tips.€€Earning€seven€dollars€an€hourÏin€tips,€the€amount€of€tips€Mitchell€received€in€1989€for€the€1081€hours€she€worked€in€banquets€wasÏ$7567.€€If,€as€Galloway€testified,€30%€of€the€tips€were€withheld,€the€amount€of€withheld€tips€forÏMitchell€in€1989€was€$3243.€€When€this€amount€is€multiplied€by€the€nineteen€years€that€MitchellÏworked€full„time,€$61,617€was€withheld€from€her€over€those€nineteen€years.€€In€addition,€theÐ 09€48 Ðassumption€that€the€same€amount€of€tips€was€withheld€during€the€estimated€two€years€that€MitchellÏworked€while€in€high€school,€adds€another€$6486€of€withheld€tips.€€Therefore,€the€evidence€isÏsufficient€to€affirm€the€$45,000€jury€award€to€Mitchell.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà  àPlaintiff€William€Arthur€Smith€was€awarded€$3,500€in€damages.€€In€1991,€Smith€beganÏworking€for€the€Club€as€a€busser.€€He€later€became€a€waiter€and€worked€until€1992,€when€he€was€firedÏfor€reasons€unrelated€to€this€lawsuit.€€At€trial,€Smith€could€not€remember€when€he€stopped€bussingÏtables€and€began€working€as€a€waiter,€although€one€exhibit€indicates€he€was€promoted€ð ðmid€year.ðð€ÏSmith€testified€that,€as€a€waiter,€he€ð ðworked€in€the€menððs€grill€mostly€and€the€dining€room€and€inÏbanquets€.€.€.€.ðð€€Smith€gave€no€estimate€of€how€often€he€worked€banquets€and€private€parties€as€aÏwaiter.€€Smithððs€vague€testimony€is€insufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€award€of€$3,500€in€damages.€ÏThe€award€of€compensatory€damages€to€Smith€is€reversed.Ìà  àPlaintiff€Lesia€Johnson€was€awarded€damages€of€$50,000.€€Johnson€was€hired€in€1980€in€aÏpart„time€position€working€banquets€only.€€At€some€point€she€began€working€full„time,€and€workedÏin€both€the€dining€room€and€banquets.€€At€the€time€of€trial,€she€was€still€employed€in€this€position.€ÏJohnson€could€not€remember€the€approximate€date€on€which€she€went€from€part„time€to€full„time,€andÏgave€no€estimate€of€the€percentage€of€her€time€working€banquets€after€she€began€working€full„time.€ÏFrom€Trial€Exhibit€58,€it€appears€that€Johnsonððs€total€wages€in€1989€were€$9,172.48,€while€her€totalÏwages€in€subsequent€years€ranged€from€$12,000€to€$17,000.€€From€this€it€could€be€inferred€that€sheÏworked€part„time€in€banquets€only€until€sometime€in€1989,€and€thereafter€worked€full„time,€with€anÏundetermined€percentage€of€her€time€worked€in€banquets.€€The€plaintiffs€calculate€that€Johnsonððs€tipsÏwithheld€by€the€Club€for€the€years€1980„1988€totaled€$22,947.€€The€amount€of€her€tips€withheldÏthereafter€cannot€be€determined€without€an€estimate,€however€rough,€of€the€percentage€of€time€sheÏspent€working€banquets.€€The€record€contains€no€such€information.€€Under€the€circumstances,€theÏjuryððs€award€of€$50,000€is€not€supported€by€the€record.€€Material€evidence€in€the€record€supports€anÏaward€of€compensatory€damages€to€Johnson€of€no€more€than€$25,000.€€Consequently,€a€remittitur€ofÏ$25,000€is€suggested,€for€a€total€award€to€Johnson€of€$25,000.€€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€20„10„¼103(a)€and€(b)€implicitly€recognizes€that€an€appellate€court€has€the€authority€to€suggest€a€remittiturÏfor€the€first€time€when€the€case€was€tried€by€a€jury€with€no€remittitur€by€the€trial€judge.€€T.C.A.€ðð€20„¼10„103(a)€and€(b)€(1994);€ò òòòCoffey€v.€Fayette€Tubular€Prod.ó óóó,€929€S.W.2d€326,€331€(Tenn.€1996);€ò òòòGRWÐ 09€48 ÐEnter.,€Inc.€v.€Davisó óóó,€797€S.W.2d€606,€615€(Tenn.€App.€1990).€€ð ðBut€when€the€trial€judge€hasÐ ° Ðapproved€the€verdict,€the€review€in€the€Court€of€Appeals€is€subject€to€the€rule€that€if€there€is€anyÏmaterial€evidence€to€support€the€award,€it€should€not€be€disturbed.ðð€€ò òòòEllis€v.€White€FreightlinerÐ pÀ ÐCorp.óóó ó,€603€S.W.2d€125,€129€(Tenn.€1980).€€As€stated€above,€however,€there€is€no€material€evidenceÐ P   Ðsupporting€an€award€as€high€as€$50,000.Ìà  àThe€jury€awarded€plaintiff€Ritta€Owens€damages€in€the€amount€of€$30,000.€€Owens€workedÏas€a€waitress€at€the€Club€from€1984€until€1991.€€She€was€originally€hired€to€work€banquets€only;€laterÏshe€began€working€in€the€dining€room€as€well€as€private€parties;€after€Macaulay€began€in€1989,€sheÏworked€more€in€the€dining€room€than€private€parties.€€The€record€does€not€reflect€the€length€of€timeÏOwens€worked€at€banquets€only.€€Owensðð€damages€are€supported€by€a€compilation€of€tip€and€payrollÏrecords€prepared€by€Scarlet€Pearsall,€the€Clubððs€Business€Manager.€€Based€on€the€sample€year€1989,ÏOwensðð€average€hourly€wage,€including€tips,€amounted€to€$7.29.€€Deducting€the€employerððs€portionÏof€the€wage€leaves€$5.29€in€tips€per€hour.€€This€amount€multiplied€by€the€total€hours€worked€amountsÏto€$12,485.72.€€Plaintiffs€estimated€that€half€of€Owensðð€tips€came€from€banquets,€or€$6,243.€€From€Ìthis€number,€plaintiffs€estimated€that€the€tips€withheld€from€Owens€amount€to€approximately€$2,675Ïper€year€during€the€time€in€which€Owens€worked€in€the€dining€room€and€at€banquets.€€à Ð àÐ Ð  Ðà  àPlaintiffsðð€calculation€of€Owensðð€damages€is€based€on€the€assumption€that€she€workedÏbanquets€only€from€1984€to€1987,€and€thereafter€worked€banquets€half€the€time.€€There€is€no€basisÏin€the€record€for€either€of€these€assumptions.€€The€record€does€contain€Owensðð€testimony€that€sheÏoriginally€worked€banquets€only,€but€does€not€indicate€the€length€of€this€time€period.€€Furthermore,ÏOwens€testified€that€after€Macaulay€started,€in€1989,€she€worked€mostly€in€the€dining€room.€Ìà  àIf€Owens€had€spent€her€entire€seven€and€a€half€years€at€the€Club€working€half€the€time€in€theÏdining€room€and€half€the€time€working€banquets,€her€compensatory€damages€would€totalÏapproximately€$20,000.€€It€is€undisputed€that€a€significant€portion€of€her€tenure€was€spent€workingÏbanquets€only,€and€that€starting€in€1989€she€came€to€work€more€in€the€dining€room€than€in€banquets.€ÏWe€find€that€Owensðð€vague€testimony€is€insufficient€to€support€an€award€of€more€than€$20,000€inÏcompensatory€damages.€€Consequently,€a€remittitur€of€$10,000€is€suggested,€for€a€total€award€toÏOwens€of€$20,000.€Ìò òñp0ñÐ  09€48 Ðñp0ñà  àó óFor€plaintiffs€Taylor€and€Smith,€the€record€contained€sufficient€evidence€to€establish€the€factÐ ° Ðof€damages€but€was€insufficient€to€establish€the€amount€of€compensatory€damages€without€resort€toÏspeculation€and€conjecture.€€Under€these€circumstances,€these€plaintiffs€are€entitled€to€compensatoryÏdamages€in€at€least€a€nominal€amount.€€ò òòòSee€Womack€v.€Wardó óóó,€186€S.W.2d€619€(Tenn.€App.€1944);òòò òÐ P   ÐCumberland€Tel.€&€Tel.€Co.€v.€Stonekingó óóó,€1€Tenn.€Civ.€App.€(Higgins)€241€(1910).€€This€Court€hasÐ 0 € Ðpreviously€held€that:ÌÓÓà8  à[w]here€plaintiff€establishes€a€wrong€and€actual€loss€therefrom€he€is€entitled€toÏnominal€damages€at€least,€although€the€actual€damages€are€not€susceptible€of€beingÏexactly€ascertained,€as€where€the€evidence€fails€to€show€the€extent€of€the€resultingÏdamages,€or€fails€to€furnish€the€facts€as€a€basis€for€computing€the€damages€under€theÏrule€applicable€thereto.€Ð !! ÐÌÓÓò òòòWilliams€v.€Southern€Ry.€Co.ó óóó,€396€S.W.2d€98,€101€(Tenn.€App.€1965)€(quoting€25€C.J.S.€òòò òDamagesó óóóÐ à Ððð€12€(1966).€€In€Tennessee,€those€plaintiffs€who€receive€compensatory€damages,€even€of€a€nominalÏamount,€have€proven€a€legal€injury€and€are€entitled€to€receive€punitive€damages.€€ò òòòSee€Pinckney€v.Ð P  ÐMcCormickó óóó,€No.€24,€323,€1992€WL€14132€(Tenn.€App.€Jan.€31,€1992);€ò òòòOakley€v.€Simmonsó óóó,€799Ð 0€ ÐS.W.2d€669€(Tenn.€App.€1990).€€Both€Taylor€and€Smith,€therefore,€are€entitled€to€share€in€the€awardÏof€punitive€damages€received€by€the€Owens€plaintiffs.€€Although€the€jury€could€have€been€requiredÏto€assess€punitive€damages€against€each€of€the€Owensðð€plaintiffs€individually€under€T.C.A.€ðð€25„1„¼104,€the€parties€stipulated€to€have€the€jury€assess€a€lump€sum€amount,€therefore,€the€parties€waivedÏtheir€rights€under€this€Statute.€€See€ò òòòPridemark€Custom€Plating,€Inc.€v.€Upjohn€Co.ó óóó,€702€S.W.2d€566,Ð $à" Ð574€(Tenn.€App.€1985).€€Ìà  àà@<<"àPUNITIVE€DAMAGESˆÌà  àThe€Club€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€failing€to€direct€a€verdict€or€enter€a€judgmentÏnotwithstanding€the€verdict€on€the€issue€of€punitive€damages.€€Tennessee€law€requires€clear€andÏconvincing€proof€of€egregious€misconduct€for€an€award€of€punitive€damages€to€be€justified.€òòò ò€ó óóóTheÐ ð-@), ÐTennessee€Supreme€Court€set€out€factors€to€be€considered€with€regard€to€punitive€damages€in€òòò òHodgesÐ Ð/ +. Ðv.€S.€C.€Toof€&€Co.ó óóó,€833€S.W.2d€896€(Tenn.€1992):Ð °1-0 ÐÓÓà8  àIn€Tennessee,€.€.€.€a€court€may€henceforth€award€punitive€damages€only€if€it€finds€aÏdefendant€has€acted€either€(1)€intentionally,€(2)€fraudulently,€(3)€maliciously,€or€(4)Ïrecklessly.Ð !! Ðà8  àà ` àA€person€acts€intentionally€when€it€is€the€person's€conscious€objective€or€desireÏto€engage€in€the€conduct€or€cause€the€result.€€A€person€acts€fraudulently€when€(1)€theÏperson€intentionally€misrepresents€an€existing,€material€fact€or€produces€a€falseÏimpression,€in€order€to€mislead€another€or€to€obtain€an€undue€advantage,€and€(2)Ïanother€is€injured€because€of€reasonable€reliance€upon€that€representation.€A€personÐ  :p59 Ðacts€maliciously€when€the€person€is€motivated€by€ill€will,€hatred,€or€personal€spite.€ÏA€person€acts€recklessly€when€the€person€is€aware€of,€but€consciously€disregards,€aÏsubstantial€and€unjustifiable€risk€of€such€a€nature€that€its€disregard€constitutes€a€grossÏdeviation€from€the€standard€of€care€that€an€ordinary€person€would€exercise€under€allÏthe€circumstances.Ð !! ÐÌò òòòÓÓHodgesóóó ó,€833€S.W.2d€at€901€(citations€omitted).Ð P   Ðà  àThe€Club€contends€that€there€is€no€ð ðclear€and€convincing€evidenceðð€of€reprehensibleÏmisconduct€in€its€treatment€of€its€employees.€€However,€€the€record€in€this€case€contains€evidenceÏclearly€sufficient€for€the€jury€to€find€conduct€warranting€punitive€damages.€€Sandra€Pearsall,€theÏClubððs€Business€Manager,€testified€that€part€of€the€money€held€back€by€the€manager€ended€up€in€theÏClubððs€general€operating€account,€and€other€portions€were€used€to€supplement€the€incomes€of€salariedÏemployees.€€The€letters€from€Ernst€&€Whinney,€the€Clubððs€auditors,€informed€the€Club€that€its€tipÏdistribution€system€caused€confusion€and€should€be€clarified.€€The€Club€did€nothing€to€change€thisÏsystem€until€after€the€lawsuit€was€filed.€€The€individual€plaintiffs€testified€about€their€attempts€to€findÏout€how€the€tips€were€distributed,€and€the€Clubððs€confusing€and€unresponsive€reply.€€From€thisÏevidence,€the€jury€could€find€that€the€employer€intentionally€withheld€a€portion€of€its€employeesððÏcompensation€over€a€period€of€decades,€and€took€affirmative€steps€to€prevent€the€employees€fromÏrealizing€the€practice.€€This€conduct€warrants€an€award€of€punitive€damages.€€€Ìà  àThe€amount€of€the€punitive€damages,€however,€presents€another€question.€€The€trial€court€inÏthis€case€did€not€suggest€remittitur.€€However,€as€discussed€above,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€20„¼10„103(a)€and€(b)€implicitly€authorizes€an€appellate€court€to€suggest€remittitur€for€the€first€time€onÏappeal,€even€where€the€trial€judge€did€not€do€so.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€20„10„103(a)€and€(b)€(1994).€ÏIn€addition,€the€Club€argues€that€punitive€damages€are€not€warranted€by€the€evidence,€but€does€notÏspecifically€request€remittitur.€€Nevertheless,€this€does€not€preclude€a€suggestion€of€remittitur€by€theÏappellate€court.€€In€ò òòòCaccamisi€v.€Thurmondóóó ó,€282€S.W.2d€633,€645€(Tenn.€App.€1954),€the€defendantÐ ð-@), Ðobjected€that€there€was€no€evidence€supporting€the€$5000€punitive€damages€award.€€The€defendantÏdid€not€argue€for€remittitur.€€In€reducing€that€award€to€$2500,€the€Court€explained,€ð ðIn€spite€of€theÏfact,€however,€that€the€trial€judge€as€thirteenth€juror,€approved€the€verdict€in€this€cause€.€.€.€we€thinkÏthe€amount€is€excessive.ðð€€òòò òId.€€óóó ó(citing€Tenn.€Code€ðð€8988€(Supp.€1950),€the€provisions€of€which€areÐ p5À04 Ðnow€found€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€20„10„103(1994)).€€There€is€ample€authority€to€suggest€ñg0ña€ñg0ñremittiturÏas€to€the€punitive€damages€award€in€this€case.€€Because€the€trial€court€approved€the€verdict,€we€mustÐ 09€48 Ðaffirm€the€award€if€there€is€any€material€evidence€to€support€it.€€òòò òEllis€v.€White€Freightliner€Corp.óóó ó,Ð ° Ð603€S.W.2d€125,€129€(Tenn.€1980).Ìà  àThe€amount€of€punitive€damages€in€this€case€equals€approximately€thirteen€percent€of€theÏClubððs€net€worth€of€3.9€million€dollars.€€The€$500,000€punitive€damages€award€is€approximately€threeÏand€one„half€times€the€amount€of€compensatory€damages€affirmed€on€appeal.€€For€the€last€two€yearsÏthat€the€Club€provided€figures,€1995€and€1994,€the€Clubððs€net€revenues€averaged€out€to€$304,000.€ÏThe€$500,000€award€is€higher€than€the€Clubððs€average€net€revenues.€This€ñh0ñfigure€seemsñh0ññi0ñamount€isñi0ñ€excessive.€€AÏpunitive€damages€award€of€$250,000ñj0ñ,€however,ñj0ñ€would€constitute€slightly€more€than€six€percent€of€the€ClubððsÏnet€worth€and€approximately€1.8€times€the€amount€of€compensatory€damages.€€Under€theÏcircumstances,€given€the€nature€of€the€misconduct€involved€and€the€relevant€financial€evidence,€thisÏamount€of€punitive€damages€is€appropriate.€€Therefore,€we€suggest€a€remittitur€of€$250,000,€to€makeÏa€total€remaining€punitive€damages€award€of€$250,000.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà@ÏÏ&àGALLOWAYˆÌà  àIn€its€appeal€of€the€Galloway€lawsuit,€the€Club€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€denyingÏthe€Clubððs€motions€for€directed€verdict€and€judgment€notwithstanding€the€verdict€based€onÏGallowayððs€failure€to€establish€a€violation€of€the€Whistleblower€Statute.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€Club€argues€thatÐ Ð  ÐGalloway€failed€to€prove€a€violation€of€the€Whistleblower€Statute€because€she€failed€to€prove€anÏunderlying€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„2„107€(1991).€ÏThe€Clubððs€violation€of€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute€is€discussed€above;€the€decision€of€the€trial€courtÏis€affirmed€on€this€issue.€Ìà  àNext,€the€Club€alleges€that€its€motion€for€directed€verdict€should€have€been€granted€as€to€theÏWhistleblower€claim€because€Galloway€was€judicially€estopped€from€asserting€that€she€wasÐ ,`'* Ðterminated€by€the€Club€ð ðsolelyðð€for€refusing€to€participate€in€or€remain€silent€about€the€Clubððs€illegalÏactivities.€€Gallowayððs€sworn€complaint€with€the€Tennessee€Human€Rights€CommissionÏ(ð ðCommissionðð)€stated€that€she€had€been€terminated€because€of€sex€discrimination.€€Galloway€statedÏthe€following€details€in€her€complaint:ÌÓÓà8  àIII.à ` àI€believe€that€I€have€been€discriminated€against€because€of€my€sex€(female)€forÐ 0 € Ðthe€following€reasons:Ð !! Ðà8  àa.€€à ` àI€feel€I€was€terminated€to€make€room€for€Mark€Cagle€(W/M)€who€has€lessÐ `  Ðresponsibilities€than€I.Ð !! Ðà8  àb.à ` àI€have€been€treated€differently€than€Stan€Gibson€(W/M),€the€Executive€Chef,Ð ð@  Ðwho€has€been€repeatedly€reprimanded€for€numerous€violations€of€company€policy.€ÏHe€is€still€employed.€Ð !! ÐÌÓÓThe€Club€claims€that€this€statement€should€judicially€estop€Galloway€from€claiming€her€dismissal€wasÏattributable€to€something€other€than€sex€discrimination,€therefore€barring€her€claim€under€theÏWhistleblower€statute.Ìà  àUnder€the€doctrine€of€judicial€estoppel,€where€one€states€on€oath€in€former€litigation,€eitherÏin€a€pleading€or€in€a€deposition€or€on€oral€testimony,€that€a€given€fact€is€true,€he€will€not€be€permittedÏto€deny€that€fact€in€subsequent€litigation,€although€the€parties€may€not€be€the€same.€€òòò òMelton€v.Ð ` ÐAndersonó óóó,€32€Tenn.€App.€335,€342,€222€S.W.2d€666,€669€(1948).€€Judicial€estoppel€does€not€applyÐ ð@ Ðwhere€there€is€an€explanation€showing€that€the€statement€was€inadvertent,€inconsiderate,€mistaken€orÏanything€short€of€a€willfully€false€statement€of€fact.òòò ò€€Monroe€County€Motor€Co.€v.€Tennessee€OdinÐ °"  ÐIns.€Co.ó óóó,€33€Tenn.App.€223,€236,€231€S.W.2d€386€(1950)€(citing€cases).€€Anything€short€of€a€willfullyÐ $à" Ðfalse€statement€of€fact,€in€the€sense€of€conscious€and€deliberate€perjury,€is€insufficient€to€give€rise€toÏan€estoppel€and€the€party€is€entitled€to€explain€that€the€statement€was€inadvertent€or€inconsiderate€orÏrepresents€a€mistake€of€law.€€òòò òState€ex€rel.€Scott€v.€Brownó óóó,€937€S.W.2d€934€(Tenn.€App.€1996)€(citingÐ 0*€%( Ðcases).à  à€Ð ,`'* Ðà  àGalloway€first€argues€that€judicial€estoppel€applies€only€in€judicial€proceedings,€and€has€noÏapplication€with€respect€to€administrative€proceedings.€€In€addition,€Galloway€argues€that€judicialÏestoppel€does€not€apply€to€statements€such€as€those€at€issue€in€this€case.€€Galloway€maintains€thatÏjudicial€estoppel€applies€only€to€statements€of€fact,€and€that€the€opinions€Galloway€stated€in€herÏadministrative€charges€filed€with€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Employment€Security€and€theÏTennessee€Human€Rights€Commission€as€the€cause€of€her€termination€are€not€statements€of€fact.€€AtÏthe€time€she€filed€her€charge€of€sex€discrimination,€Galloway€apparently€believed€she€had€been€firedÐ 09€48 Ðdue€to€sex€discrimination.€€Galloway€argues€that€her€failure€to€discern€the€actual€reason€for€herÏtermination€at€the€time€in€no€way€limits€her€right€to€assert€it€at€trial.€€Statements€of€opinion€cannotÏestop€a€party€from€subsequently€asserting€a€different€position.€€ò òòòSchultz,€Baujan€&€Co.€v.€Bellóóó ó,€23Ð pÀ ÐTenn.€App.€258,€130€S.W.2d€149,€151€(1939).Ìà  àIn€this€case,€the€doctrine€of€judicial€estoppel€does€not€apply€because€the€statement€inÏGallowayððs€Charge€of€Discrimination€filed€with€the€Tennessee€Human€Rights€Commission,€that€sheÏbelieved€she€was€discharged€because€of€her€gender,€is€a€statement€of€her€opinion€about€the€reason€Ïfor€her€discharge,€not€a€statement€of€fact.€€Gallowayððs€statement€of€her€opinion€does€not€estop€herÏfrom€later€asserting€a€different€position.€€ò òòòSee€Schultz,€Baujan›€&€Co.ó óóó,€130€S.W.2d€at€151.€Ð ° Ðà  àLikewise,€Gallowayððs€assertions€in€her€Charge€with€the€Tennessee€Human€RightsÏCommission€does€not€preclude€her€from€asserting€a€claim€under€the€Whistleblower€Statute,€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€ðð€50„1„304€(1991).€€Under€this€statute,€the€employee€must€prove€that€the€òòsoleóó€causeÐ P  Ðof€her€termination€was€her€whistleblowing€activities.€€Gallowayððs€statement€in€her€Charge€regardingÏher€opinion€about€the€reason€for€her€termination€is€relevant€and€could€be€taken€into€account€by€theÏjury€in€assessing€her€credibility.€€However,€the€statement€in€the€Charge€does€not€prevent€the€jury€formÏconcluding€that€the€òòsoleóó€reason€for€Gallowayððs€termination€was€her€refusal€to€continue€the€practiceÐ Ð  Ðof€withholding€tips.€€The€decision€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.Ìà  àThe€Club€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowing€Gallowayððs€claim€for€tortiousÏinterference€with€at„will€employment€to€go€to€the€jury.€€At€trial,€the€evidence€established€thatÏMacauley€spoke€with€Gallowayððs€employer,€Jim€Clayton€of€Clayton€Homes,€before€Galloway€wasÏterminated€from€that€job.€€Galloway€testified€that€there€had€been€no€problems€at€her€work€before€thisÏconversation,€and€that€Clayton€questioned€Galloway€extensively€about€her€pending€lawsuit€beforeÏhe€terminated€her.€€This€evidence€was€sufficient€to€support€a€finding€of€tortious€interference€withÏGallowayððs€at„will€employment.€€The€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.Ìà  àLastly,€the€Club€alleges€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€denying€the€Clubððs€motions€for€directedÏverdict€and€judgment€notwithstanding€the€verdict€based€on€Gallowayððs€failure€to€prove€damages€forÏwrongful€termination.€€The€Club€claims€that,€even€assuming€Galloway€established€a€tortiousÏinterference€claim,€she€failed€to€prove€any€damages€resulting€from€her€termination€from€ClaytonÏHomes,€except€ð ðdepression.ðð€€Indeed,€Galloway€admitted€that€her€salary€increased€by€nearly€$3,500Ð 09€48 Ðannually€following€her€termination€at€Clayton€Homes,€although€her€new€benefits€package€was€ð ðnotÏas€goodðð€at€her€subsequent€job.€€Since€it€is€undisputed€that€Gallowayððs€compensation€did€not€decreaseÏfollowing€her€termination€at€Clayton€Homes,€the€Club€claims€that€the€trial€court€should€have€directedÏa€verdict€finding€no€proof€of€damages€to€Galloway.€€Ìà  àIn€this€case,€the€jury€returned€a€general€verdict€in€favor€of€Galloway€in€the€amount€of€$35,000.€ÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„1„304(c)€provides€that€an€employee€discharged€under€theÏWhistleblower€Statute€ð ðshall€have€a€cause€of€action€against€the€employer€for€retaliatory€discharge€òòandÐ ð@  Ðany€other€damages€to€which€the€employee€may€be€entitledóó.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„1„304(c)€(1991)Ð Ð  Ð(emphasis€added).€€This€language€thus€allows€a€plaintiff€to€recover€for€the€emotional€distress€orÏmental€anguish€associated€with€being€fired€under€the€Whistleblower€Statute.€€The€jury€could€haveÏconcluded€from€Gallowayððs€testimony€at€trial€that€she€suffered€emotional€distress€upon€her€dismissalÏfrom€the€Club.€€Moreover,€the€evidence€indicated€Galloway€suffered€emotional€distress€as€a€result€ofÏthe€Clubððs€alleged€tortious€interference€with€Gallowayððs€employment€with€Clayton€Homes.€€The€trialÏcourt€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.€ò òÐ ` Ðó óà  àIn€sum,€we€find€that€the€trial€judge€did€not€abuse€his€discretion€in€refusing€to€recuse€himself,Ð ð@ Ðor€by€admitting€into€evidence€the€three€auditorððs€letters.€€The€plaintiffsðð€claims€are€not€barred€by€theÏstatute€of€limitations€because€there€was€evidence€from€which€the€jury€could€conclude€that€theÏplaintiffs€did€not€know€of€the€practice€of€withholding€tips€until€1992,€and€that€the€Club€took€deliberateÏsteps€to€rebuff€the€plaintiffsðð€inquiries€and€prevent€them€from€knowing€they€had€not€received€all€ofÏtheir€tips.€€Furthermore,€the€continuing€violation€doctrine€applies€to€link€the€many€instances€of€tipÏwithholding€and€toll€the€statute€of€limitations.€€The€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€its€determination€thatÏa€private€cause€of€action€exists€under€the€Tennessee€Tip€Statute.€€The€evidence€submitted€wasÏsufficient€for€the€jury€to€find€a€violation€of€the€Tip€Statute,€breach€of€oral€contract,€fraud€andÏmisrepresentation,€and€conversion.€€The€jury€instructions€given€by€the€trial€court€were€sufficient€andÏthe€trial€courtððs€denial€of€a€new€trial€on€this€basis€is€affirmed.€€The€evidence€supporting€the€juryððsÏaward€of€$50,000€in€compensatory€damages€to€Clara€Sharp€is€sufficient,€and€this€award€is€affirmed.€ÏThe€evidence€supporting€the€award€of€$35,000€in€compensatory€damages€to€Jobe€Taylor€isÏinsufficient,€and€this€judgment€is€reversed.€€The€evidence€supporting€the€award€of€$45,000€to€Cheryl€œñs0ñÐ  P7 26 ÐÌñs0ñMitchell›€is€sufficient,€and€this€judgment€is€affirmed.€€The€evidence€supporting€the€award€of€$3,500€œñr0ñÌñr0ñto›€William€Arthur€Smith€is€insufficient,€and€this€judgment€is€reversed.€€The€evidence€regardingÏcompensatory€damages€suffered€by€plaintiff€Ritta€Owens€supports€an€award€of€no€more€than€$20,000.€ÏConsequently,€as€to€her€award€of€$30,000€in€compensatory€damages,€a€remittitur€of€$10,000€isÏsuggested€leaving€the€remaining€award€to€Owens€in€the€amount€of€$20,000.€€The€evidence€regardingÏcompensatory€damages€suffered€by€plaintiff€Lesia€Johnson€supports€an€award€of€no€more€thanÏ$25,000.€€Consequently,€as€to€her€award€of€$50,000€in€compensatory€damages,€a€remittitur€of€$25,000Ïis€suggested,€leaving€a€remaining€award€to€Johnson€in€the€amount€of€$25,000.€€Since€the€fact€ofÏdamage€was€established€by€the€evidence€for€all€of€the€Owens€plaintiffs,€but€the€evidence€wasÏinsufficient€to€support€an€award€of€compensatory€damages€to€plaintiffs€Taylor€and€Smith€withoutÏresort€to€speculation€and€conjecture,€these€plaintiffs€are€entitled€to€an€award€of€nominal€damages.€€TheÏevidence€was€insufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€award€of€punitive€damages€against€the€Club.€€AÏremittitur€of€$250,000€is€œsuggestedñk0ñ,ñk0ñ›€leaving€the€remaining€punitive€damages€in€the€amount€ofÏ$250,000.€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€on€the€above€issues€of€remittitur€of€theÏcompensatory€damages€for€plaintiffs€Owens€and€Johnson,€and€remittitur€of€the€award€of€punitiveÏdamages.€€Ìà  àOn€Gallowayððs€lawsuit,€the€statements€made€in€her€Charge€of€Discrimination€do€not€judiciallyÏestop€her€from€asserting€that€she€was€discharged€solely€because€of€her€whistleblowing€activities,Ïbecause€the€statements€were€assertions€of€her€opinion,€not€statements€of€fact.€€The€evidence€wasÏsufficient€to€permit€Gallowayððs€claim€of€tortious€interference€with€employment€to€go€to€the€jury,€andÏthe€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue.€€The€evidence€was€also€sufficient€to€support€the€juryððs€awardÏof€compensatory€damages€to€Galloway,€to€compensate€for€her€emotional€distress,€despite€the€fact€thatÏshe€suffered€no€loss€of€income€from€her€termination,€and€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€on€this€issue€asÏwell.€€Ìœñq0ñÐ  3à.2 Ðñq0ñ›à  àAffirmed€in€part,€reversed€in€part,€and€remanded.€€Costs€are€assessed€against€the€Appellant,Ïfor€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓÓÔ‡X&XXXüÔà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð P   Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àò òóóHOLLY€KIRBY€LILLARD,€J.Ð < Œ Ðó óà  àò òÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð Ø(  ÐóóW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€P.€J.,€W.S.Ð Ä  ÐÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ ˆØ ÐALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€J.ó óÔ#†XüXXX&s¢#Ô