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<=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€_]»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼_]»»»ÔÑ8€!XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îR¬î»¼_]ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼_]»îîR¬ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓJuly€10,€2002€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X!X»¼_]ÔÌò òÔ#†¼_]»XX!ò#ÔMITCH€Ô_ÔGRISSIMÔ_Ô€&€ASSOCIATESòòóó€v.€BLUE€CROSS€&€BLUE€SHIELD€OFÐ úJ ÐTENNESSEEòòóóÔ‡X!X»¼_]Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òA€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„2687„II€€€€€€The€Honorable€Carol€L.€McCoy,€ChancellorÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2001„02170„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€September€17,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡X!XXX!Ôà  àThis€appeal€involves€a€suit€by€an€attorney€against€a€former€client€for€attorney€fees€allegedlyÐ ŒÜ Ðdue€when€the€client€terminated€contingency€fee€contracts.€€The€trial€court€denied€plaintiff„attorneyððsÐ xÈ Ðmotion€for€partial€summary€judgment€and€granted€defendant„clientððs€motion€for€summary€judgment,Ð d´ Ðholding€that€the€attorney€was€not€entitled€to€recover€fees€for€services€provided€to€the€client€prior€toÐ P  Ðdischarge.€€Plaintiff€has€appealed.€€We€reverse€and€remand.Ð <Œ ÐÔ#†X!XXX!(#ÔÔ#†¼_]»XX!»#ÔÔ‡X!X»¼_]ÔÌÓÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Reversed€andÐ P ÐRemandedó óÐ ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼_]»àX!Í#ÔÔ‡X!X.¼_]ÔW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAlan€Ô_ÔE.HighersÔ_Ô,€J.óóÐ Ä Ðand€òòHolly€Kirby€Ô_ÔLillardÔ_Ô,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌRichard€J.€Braun€and€Patricia€E.€Ô_ÔCrotwellÔ_Ô€of€Nashville€For€Appellant,€Mitch€Ô_ÔGrissimÔ_Ô€&€AssociatesÐ ˆØ ÐÌPatricia€Head€Ô_ÔMoskalÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€For€Appellee,€Blue€Cross€&€Blue€Shield€of€TennesseeÐ `!°  ÐÓÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼_]»XX!¼#ÔÔ‡X!X»¼_]ÔÐ 8#ˆ" ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼_]»XX!W #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X!X»¼_]ÔÌÑ8€!XXdìXXdì8Ñà  àIn€1996,€Defendant€Blue€Cross€Blue€Shield€of€Tennessee€(ð ðBCBSTðð),€a€hospital€and€medicalÐ ü%L!% Ðservices€corporation€engaged€in€the€marketing€and€administration€of€medical€benefits€plans,Ð è&8"& Ðincluding€insurance,€retained€Plaintiff€Mitch€Grissim€&€Associates€(ð ðGrissimðð),€a€sole€proprietorshipÐ Ô'$#' Ðengaged€in€the€practice€of€law€in€Nashville,€Tennessee,€to€represent€BCBST€in€assigned€Ô_ÔsubrogationÔ_ÔÐ À($( Ðmatters.Ð ¬)ü$) ÐÌà  àIn€the€fall€of€1996,€shortly€after€retaining€Grissim,€BCBST€decided€to€reduce€the€number€ofÐ „+Ô&+ Ðattorneys€it€retained€for€the€handling€of€subrogation€matters€in€the€four€major€metropolitan€areas€ofÐ p,À', ÐTennessee,€including€Nashville.€€Under€the€new€subrogation€management€strategy,€BCBST€plannedÐ \-¬(-ý Ðto€retain€a€minimum€of€two,€and€no€more€than€three,€attorneys€in€each€of€the€metropolitan€areas.€Ð ° ÐThrough€a€written€letter€dated€November€5,€1996,€BCBSTððs€senior€legal€counsel,€Tena€Roberson,Ð œì Ðnotified€Grissim€of€the€change€and€that€it€was€a€potential€candidate€for€one€of€the€subrogationÐ ˆØ Ðcounsel€positions€in€the€Middle€Tennessee€region.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àShortly€after€receipt€of€the€November€5€letter,€Grissim€submitted€a€fee€proposal€to€BCBST.€Ð L œ ÐOn€March€7,€1997,€after€reviewing€the€fee€proposal€submitted€by€Grissim,€BCBST€sent€Grissim€aÐ 8 ˆ Ðletter€containing€a€proposed€attorney€fee€schedule.€€Under€this€proposal,€any€party€assigned€to€aÐ $ t Ðsubrogation€file€would€be€entitled€to€a€percentage€of€the€total€fee€received.€€Recovery€was€dividedÐ  ` Ðinto€four€dollar€amount€stages,€with€the€attorney€entitled€to€varying€percentages€of€recovery€for€theÐ ü L  Ðrespective€stages.€€The€sliding€scale€proposal€awarded€a€higher€percentage€of€recovery€for€cases€thatÐ è 8  Ðwent€to€trial€and€a€lower€percentage€for€cases€settled€or€mediated.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àOn€March€18,€1997,€Grissim€submitted€a€written€counter€proposal€to€BCBST.€€GrissimððsÐ ¬ü  Ðcounter€proposal€would€amend€the€March€7€proposal€to€provide€the€assigned€attorney€an€increasedÐ ˜è  Ðpercentage€of€the€total€fee€on€cases€where€litigation€intervention€was€required,€but€where€the€caseÐ „Ô  Ðnever€reached€trial.€€In€a€letter€dated€April€30,€1997,€BCBST€rejected€Grissimððs€proposal€andÐ pÀ Ðinquired€as€to€whether€Grissim€would€be€willing€to€accept€the€terms€of€the€March€7€fee€schedule€ifÐ \¬ Ðselected€as€counsel,€and€asked€for€a€timely€response.€€By€letter€of€May€7,€1997,€Grissim€agreed€toÐ H˜ Ðthe€fee€proposal,€and€by€letter€dated€May€20,€1997,€BCBST€informed€Grissim€that€it€had€beenÐ 4„ Ðselected€to€fill€one€of€the€subrogation€counsel€positions€for€the€Middle€Tennessee€region.Ð  p ÐÌà  àFrom€May1997€until€mid„1998,€Grissim€represented€BCBST€in€subrogation€cases€pursuantÐ øH Ðto€the€fee€schedule€set€out€in€the€March€7€letter.€€During€this€period,€Grissim€received€payment€fromÐ ä4 ÐBCBST€in€accordance€with€this€fee€schedule€for€all€files€in€which€it€netted€a€recovery€or€settlementÐ Ð  Ðoffer€for€BCBST.€€In€May€of€1998,€BCBST€telephoned€Grissim€to€discuss€concerns€BCBST€had€withÐ ¼  Ðregard€to€the€services€Grissim€was€providing.€€Specifically,€BCBST€expressed€concern€regarding€theÐ ¨ø Ðconduct€and€performance€of€one€of€the€associate€attorneys€Grissim€assigned€to€BCBST€cases.€Ð ”ä ÐBCBST€also€voiced€dissatisfaction€with€Mitch€Grissimððs€personal€mishandling€of€a€file,€andÐ €Ð ÐGrissimððs€alleged€failure€to€confirm€BCBSTððs€subrogation€interest€in€a€case€which€resulted€in€aÐ l¼ Ðsubstantial€loss€of€recovery.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àFinally,€by€letter€dated€June€19,€1998,€BCBST€immediately€terminated€GrissimððsÐ 0"€  Ðrepresentation€on€all€BCBST€files.€€The€letter€detailed€the€reasons€for€terminating€the€relationship,Ð #l! Ðwhich€we€need€not€relate,€as€Grissim€concedes€the€termination€was€for€cause.€Grissim€returned€anÐ $X" Ðestimated€152€files€to€BCBST.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Although€Grissim€contends€that€it€provided€various€legal€servicesÐ ô$D # Ðon€these€files,€it€had€yet€to€secure€recovery€or€a€settlement€offer€on€any€of€them.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àOn€September€3,€1998,€Grissim€brought€an€action€against€BCBST€for€breach€of€contract€andÐ ¸'#& Ðalternatively€for€recovery€on€quantum€meruit.€€In€February€of€2001,€Grissim€and€BCBST€filed€crossÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmotions€for€summary€judgment€on€the€issue€of€BCBSTððs€liability€for€additional€attorneysðð€fees€forÐ ° Ðservices€provided€by€Grissim€on€the€unresolved€cases.€€Finding€that€BCBST€was€not€liable€forÐ œì Ðadditional€attorneysðð€fees€for€the€cases€where€Grissim€was€unable€to€achieve€a€final€resolution,€theÐ ˆØ Ðtrial€court€granted€BCBSTððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€Subsequently,€the€court€deniedÐ tÄ ÐGrissimððs€motion€for€partial€summary€judgment€and€dismissed€Grissimððs€claims€for€breach€ofÐ `° Ðcontract€and€consequential€damages.€€Recognizing€that€Grissim€was€entitled€to€reimbursement€forÐ L œ Ðexpenses€incurred€on€the€unresolved€files,€the€trial€court€granted€Grissim€30€days€to€submit€anÐ 8 ˆ Ðexpense€report€to€BCBST.€€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àOn€June€11,€2001,€Grissim€filed€a€motion€to€alter€or€amend€the€prior€order€of€the€trial€courtÐ ü L  Ðgranting€BCBSTððs€motion€for€summary€judgment.€€In€support€of€this€motion,€Grissim€submittedÐ è 8  Ðaffidavits€from€attorneys€Mitch€Grissim€and€Davis€Adkisson,€and€BCBSTððs€Answers€to€GrissimððsÐ Ô$  Ðinterrogatories€regarding€the€status€of€several€subrogation€files.€€Grissim€also€submitted€an€exhibitÐ À  Ðdetailing€the€number€of€hours€dedicated€by€Grissim€attorneys€and€staff€to€various€BCBST€files.€€OnÐ ¬ü  ÐJuly€6,€2001,€BCBST€filed€a€motion€to€strike€these€affidavits.€€At€a€hearing€held€on€August€15,€2001,Ð ˜è  Ðthe€trial€court€determined€that€its€earlier€order€granting€BCBSTððs€motion€for€summary€judgment€wasÐ „Ô  Ðnot€a€final€order.€€The€trial€court€proceeded€to€enter€a€final€judgment,€denying€Grissimððs€motion€toÐ pÀ Ðalter€or€amend€and€BCBSTððs€motion€to€strike,€and€dismissed€the€action.€€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àGrissim€has€appealed€and€presents€the€following€issue€for€review€as€stated€in€its€brief:Ð 4„ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€holding€that€Grissim€was€not€entitledÐ  \ Ðto€recover€for€the€legal€services€it€had€provided€to€Blue€Cross€andÐ øH ÐBlue€Shield€of€Tennessee?Ðä4` x` x ÐÌà  àA€motion€for€summary€judgment€should€be€granted€when€the€movant€demonstrates€that€thereÐ ¼  Ðare€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€that€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matterÐ ¨ø Ðof€law.€€Tenn.R.Civ.P.€56.04.€€The€party€moving€for€summary€judgment€bears€the€burden€of€provingÐ ”ä Ðthat€its€motion€satisfied€these€requirements.€€ò òòòSee€Downen€v.€Allstate€Ins.€Co.ó óóó,€811€S.W.2d€523,€524Ð €Ð Ð(Tenn.€1991).€€On€a€motion€for€summary€judgment,€the€court€must€take€the€strongest€legitimate€viewÐ l¼ Ðof€the€evidence€in€favor€of€the€nonmoving€party,€allow€all€reasonable€inferences€in€favor€of€thatÐ X ¨ Ðparty,€and€discard€all€countervailing€evidence.€€ò òòòSee€Bain€v.€Wellsó óóó,€936€S.W.2d€618€(Tenn.€1997).€Ð D!” ÐSummary€judgment€is€only€appropriate€when€the€facts€and€the€legal€conclusions€drawn€from€the€factsÐ 0"€  Ðreasonably€permit€only€one€conclusion.€€ò òòòSee€Carvell€v.€Bottomsó óóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.€1995).€Ð #l! ÐSince€only€questions€of€law€are€involved,€there€is€no€presumption€of€correctness€regarding€a€trialÐ $X" Ðcourtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment.€€ò òòòSee€Bain,ó óóó€936€S.W.2d€at€622.€€Therefore,€our€review€of€the€trialÐ ô$D # Ðcourtððs€grant€of€summary€judgment€is€òòde€novoóó€on€the€record€before€this€Court.€€ò òòòSee€Warren€v.€EstateÐ à%0!$ Ðof€Kirkó óóó,€954€S.W.2d€722,€723€(Tenn.€1997).Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àInsofar€as€the€relationship€between€the€plaintiff€and€defendant,€there€is€no€material€disputeÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€fact.€€Grissimððs€complaint€alleges€that€its€acceptance€of€BCBSTððs€proposal€in€the€March€7,€1997Ð )à$( Ðâ âletter€constitutes€a€contract€between€the€parties,€and€that€he€is€entitled€to€recover€pursuant€to€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðterms€thereof.€€Alternatively,€the€complaint€seeks€recovery€on€the€basis€of€quantum€meruit.€Ð ° ÐBCBSTððs€answer€is€replete€with€denials€that€the€March€7€letter€constituted€a€contract,€but€it€states:Ð œì Ðâ âÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à31.€€The€only€agreements€for€representation€between€the€parties€wereÐ tÄ Ðthe€individual€agreements€for€representation€on€each€claim€forwardedÐ `° Ðto€Grissim€by€BCBST.ÐL œ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à32.€€Grissim€was€an€independent€contractor€of€BCBST€as€to€eachÐ $ t Ðsubrogation€case€for€which€he€was€retained€to€provide€legalÐ  ` Ðrepresentation€and€his€representation€could€be€terminated€at€any€timeÐ ü L  Ðby€BCBST.€Ðè 8 ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à33.€€The€terms€of€Grissimððs€representation€of€BCBST€only€provideÐ À  Ðfor€payment€on€claims€resolved€during€Grissimððs€representation;Ð ¬ü  Ðtherefore,€Grissim€is€not€entitled€to€recover€any€portion€of€paymentsÐ ˜è  Ðreceived€on€any€claims€for€which€he€may€have€been€retained€butÐ „Ô  Ðwhich€were€not€resolved€during€his€representation.ÐpÀ` x` x ÐÌÓ€    (àÈx3Óà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  à*à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#à*à0À(#À(#àà0p(#(#à*ÐH˜p(#p(# ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à36.€€Grissim€is€not€entitled€to€recover€on€his€claim€for€quantumÐ  p Ðmeruit.€€The€terms€of€Grissimððs€representation€of€each€claim€onÐ  \ Ðwhich€he€was€retained€as€an€independent€contractor€specificallyÐ øH Ðprovided€that€Grissim€would€be€paid€only€on€those€claims€which€heÐ ä4 Ðmediated€or€tried€and€on€which€an€ultimate€recovery€was€made.ÐÐ ` x` x ÐÌà  àAlthough€the€parties€disagree€on€the€technicalities€of€their€relationship,€it€is€clear€that€theÐ ¨ø Ðlegal€services€rendered€by€Grissim€to€BCBST€were€rendered€on€each€individual€file€referred€Grissim,Ð ”ä Ðwhich,€according€to€the€affidavit€of€BCBSTððs€witness,€Tena€Roberson,€were€sent€to€Grissim€to€beÐ €Ð Ðhandled€on€a€case„by„case€basis.€€Thus,€actual€contracts€between€the€parties€would€be€the€individualÐ l¼ Ðattorney„client€relationship€established€when€each€individual€case€was€assigned,€referring€to€theÐ X ¨ ÐMarch€7€agreement€to€establish€the€terms€of€compensation.€€On€the€other€hand,€if€it€is€considered€thatÐ D!” Ðthe€March€7€letter€accepted€by€Grissim€constitutes€a€contract,€then,€of€necessity,€the€contract€mustÐ 0"€  Ðinclude€the€individual€cases€assigned€on€a€ð ðcase„by„caseðð€basis.€€Thus,€the€contract,€as€to€eachÐ #l! Ðindividual€case,€€is€severable.€€ð ðA€contract€is€severable€where€each€part€is€so€independent€of€eachÐ $X" Ðother€as€to€form€a€separate€contract.ðð€€ò òòòJames€Cable€Partners,€L.P.€v.€City€of€Jamestownó óóó,€818Ð ô$D # ÐS.W.2d€338,€344€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€Unlike€ð ðentireðð€contracts,€a€severable€contract€can€beÐ à%0!$ Ðpartially€rescinded€or€terminated,€such€partial€termination€not€resulting€in€an€òòin€totoóó€rescission€of€allÐ Ì&"% Ðparts€of€the€contract.€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€€As€for€the€decision€in€this€case,€it€is€not€necessary€to€particularly€decideÐ ¸'#& Ðbetween€the€two€theories.€€The€record€reflects€that€each€assigned€file€involved€€a€distinct€subrogationÐ ¤(ô#' Ðissue€regarding€a€specific€client,€and€each€file,€of€course,€had€certain€required€performances€to€beÐ )à$( Ðdone€on€the€part€of€the€attorney,€which€could€be€different€depending€on€the€nature€of€the€particularÐ |*Ì%) Ðcase.€€Grissim€was€compensated€separately€for€each€file€and€the€assignments€were€made€for€theÐ h+¸&* Ðparticular€cases.€€The€assignment€letter€referred€to€the€fee€arrangement€set€out€in€the€March€7€letter.€Ð ° ÐTherefore,€considering€all€of€the€factors€we€have€before€us,€we€have€a€claim€by€the€attorney€forÐ œì Ðcompensation€due€by€virtue€of,€according€to€his€count,€152€separate€assignments,€under€a€contingentÐ ˆØ Ðfee€contract.€€Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àIn€its€March€7€letter,€BCBST€defined€the€essential€terms€of€the€agreement€with€sufficientÐ L œ Ðspecificity.€€The€letter€defined€the€recovery€amounts€and€the€accompanying€compensationÐ 8 ˆ Ðpercentages€for€each€of€the€four€stages€of€recovery€on€the€scale,€and€even€provided€an€explanationÐ $ t Ðas€to€how€the€sliding€scale€would€be€applied€in€large€cases.€€The€letter€further€specified€that€GrissimÐ  ` Ðwould€be€responsible€for€all€reasonable€costs€of€postage,€local€mileage,€and€telephone€calls,€whileÐ ü L  ÐBCBST€would€reimburse€for€extraordinary€expenses€incurred.€€€Grissimððs€letter€of€May€7€constitutedÐ è 8  Ðan€acceptance€of€the€terms€of€the€March€7€letter,€thereby€establishing€a€meeting€of€the€minds€withÐ Ô$  Ðregards€to€the€essential€contract€terms.€€On€this€basis,€we€find€that€the€trial€court€correctly€concludedÐ À  Ðthat€the€contingency€fee€agreement€set€forth€in€BCBSTððs€March€7€letter€to€Grissim€provided€for€allÐ ¬ü  Ðof€the€essential€terms€of€the€agreement€and€was€therefore€a€binding€and€enforceable€contract.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àThe€contingency€fee€contract€between€Grissim€and€BCBST€does€not€explicitly€state€whether,Ð pÀ Ðand€to€what€amount,€Grissim€is€entitled€to€compensation€for€services€rendered€on€files€where€it€failedÐ \¬ Ðto€obtain€a€recovery€or€secure€a€settlement€offer€in€favor€of€BCBST.€€BCBST€contends€that€the€trialÐ H˜ Ðcourt€correctly€denied€Grissim€recovery€on€unresolved€cases€because€the€contract€clearlyÐ 4„ Ðcontemplated€that€Grissim€would€only€be€paid€a€contingency€fee€for€services€in€cases€where€it€madeÐ  p Ða€monetary€recovery€on€behalf€of€BCBST.€Under€this€theory,€where€Grissim€made€no€recovery,€noÐ  \ Ðfee€was€due,€regardless€of€the€time€and€energies€expended€on€the€respective€case.Ð øH ÐÌà  àð ðIt€is€well€settled€in€Tennessee€that€a€client€has€a€right€to€discharge€his€attorney€with€orÐ Ð  Ðwithout€cause,€but€upon€discharge€the€attorney€is€entitled€to€just€and€adequate€compensation€forÐ ¼  Ðservices€rendered.ðð€€ò òòòAdams€v.€Mellenóóó ó,€618€S.W.2d€485,€488€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1981)€(internal€citationsÐ ¨ø Ðomitted).€€Where€the€attorney€is€discharged€without€cause,€he€or€she€is€entitled€to€collect€on€the€basisÐ ”ä Ðof€quantum€meruit€or€the€contract€price,€whichever€is€greater.€€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€€In€contrast,€if€the€client€had€causeÐ €Ð Ðto€terminate,€recovery€for€the€attorney€is€governed€by€the€lesser€of€quantum€meruit€or€the€contractÐ l¼ Ðprice.€€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€at€488.€€ò òòòSee€also€McGee€v.€Maynardóóó ó,€No.€01„A„01„9810„CV„00539,€1999€WL€824298,Ð X ¨ Ðat€*1€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Aug.€12,€1999).Ð D!” ÐÌà  àIn€this€case,€it€is€undisputed€that€Grissim€was€discharged€for€cause,€and€therefore€it€is€notÐ #l! Ðnecessary€to€examine€the€validity€of€BCBSTððs€decision€to€terminate€Grissimððs€representation.€€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àIn€finding€that€Grissim€was€not€entitled€to€recover€attorneysðð€fees€on€files€where€it€did€notÐ à%0!$ Ðsecure€a€monetary€recovery€or€settlement€offer,€the€court€determined€that€there€was€a€bindingÐ Ì&"% Ðcontract€between€Grissim€and€BCBST€that€precluded€consideration€of€quantum€meruit.€€We€disagree.€Ð ¸'#& Ðð ðA€party€who€had€a€contract€at€one€time€may€pursue€a€quantum€meruit€recovery€if€the€contract€is€noÐ ¤(ô#' Ðlonger€enforceable.ðð€€ò òòòCastelli€v.€Lienóóó ó,€910€S.W.2d€420,€428€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995)€(citationsÐ )à$( Ðâ âomitted).€€Although€a€valid€contract€or€contracts€existed€between€the€parties€for€nearly€thirteenÐ |*Ì%) Ðmonths,€BCBST€validly€terminated€the€contracts€on€June€19,€1998.€€BCBSTððs€termination€preventedÐ ° ÐGrissim€from€fully€performing€under€the€contracts€and€thereby€rendered€the€contracts€unenforceable.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àIn€ò òòòChambliss,€Bahner€&€Crawford€v.€Lutheróóó ó,€531€S.W.2d€108€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1975),€a€lawÐ tÄ Ðfirm€brought€an€action€against€a€former€client€to€collect€a€fee€for€legal€services€rendered.€€The€clientÐ `° Ðretained€the€law€firm€on€a€contingency€fee€basis,€but€discharged€counsel€prior€to€obtaining€a€bindingÐ L œ Ðsettlement€agreement.€€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€at€109.€€Soon€after,€the€suit€was€settled€and€the€firm€immediately€institutedÐ 8 ˆ Ðan€action€to€recover€in€quantum€meruit€for€legal€services€provided.€€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€€The€court€denied€the€firmÐ $ t Ðrecovery€under€a€quantum€meruit€theory,€instead€awarding€it€recovery€in€the€amount€of€the€contractÐ  ` Ðprice.€€The€courtððs€decision€was€based€on€the€fact€that€this€was€a€unique€case€where€the€firmÐ ü L  Ðcompleted€a€portion€of€the€work€for€which€it€was€hired€and€the€reasonable€value€of€the€servicesÐ è 8  Ðprovided€was€greater€than€the€contract€fee.€€ò òòòIdóóó ó.€at€110.€€However,€in€assessing€the€traditional€rightÐ Ô$  Ðof€a€discharged€attorney€to€recover€for€performed€services,€the€court€noted:Ð À  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àOne€who€has€been€wrongfully€denied€or€otherwise€prevented€fromÐ ˜è  Ðfully€performing,€i.e.,€earning€the€agreed€compensation,€may€regardÐ „Ô  Ðthe€contract€as€terminated€and€seek€judgment€for€the€reasonable€valueÐ pÀ Ðof€all€the€defendant€received€in€the€performance€of€the€contract.€€InÐ \¬ Ðthe€case€of€goods€sold€and€delivered,€the€theory€is€Quantum€valebatÐ H˜ Ð(as€much€as€they€were€worth),€and€in€that€of€work€and€servicesÐ 4„ Ðperformed,€Quantum€meruit€(as€much€as€he€deserved).Ð p` x` x ÐÌò òòòIdóóó ó.Ð øH Ðà  àÌà  àò òòòóóó óBCBSTððs€termination€of€the€contingency€fee€contract€prevented€Grissim€from€earning€fullÐ Ð  Ðcompensation€under€the€contract€and€caused€the€contract€to€become€unenforceable.€€On€this€basis,Ð ¼  ÐGrissim€is€entitled€to€seek€quantum€meruit€recovery€for€its€services.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àRecovery€under€a€theory€of€quantum€meruit€is€ð ðbased€on€a€legally€implied€promise€to€pay€aÐ €Ð Ðreasonable€amount€for€goods€or€services€received,ðð€and€is€therefore€limited€€to€the€actual€value€ofÐ l¼ Ðthe€goods€or€services€received.€€ò òòòCastelli€v.€Lienóóó ó,€910€S.W.2d€420,€427€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995)€(citingòòò òÐ X ¨ ÐJohn€J.€Heirigs€Constr.€Co.€v.€Exideó óóó,€709€S.W.2d€604,€601€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1986);€ò òòòTennesseeÐ D!” ÐFarmers€Mut.€Ins.€Co.€v.€Pritchettóóó ó,€54€Tenn.€App.€410,€417,€391€S.W.2d€671,€675€(1964)).€€In€orderÐ 0"€  Ðto€recover€under€a€theory€of€quantum€meruit,€existence€of€the€following€circumstances€must€beÐ #l! Ðproven:Ð $X" ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(1)€there€must€be€no€existing,€enforceable€contract€between€the€partiesÐ à%0!$ Ðcovering€the€same€subject€matter;ÐÌ&"%` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(2)€the€party€seeking€recovery€must€prove€that€it€provided€valuableÐ ¸'#& Ðgoods€and€services;Ф(ô#'` x` x Ðâ âà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(3)€the€party€to€be€charged€must€have€received€the€goods€and€services;Ð)à$(` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(4)€the€circumstances€must€indicate€that€the€parties€involved€in€theÐ ° Ðtransaction€should€have€reasonably€understood€that€the€personÐ œì Ðproviding€the€goods€or€services€expected€to€be€compensated;€ÐˆØ` x` x Ðâ âà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(5)€the€circumstances€must€also€demonstrate€that€it€would€be€unjustÐ tÄ Ðfor€the€party€benefitting€from€the€goods€or€services€to€retain€themÐ `° Ðwithout€paying€for€them.ÐL œ` x` x ÐÌ910€S.W.2d€at€427€ò òòòóóó ó(internal€citations€omitted).Ð $ t Ðà  àÌà  àUnder€the€facts€of€this€case,€we€find€that€all€five€circumstances€could€be€present.€€AlthoughÐ ü L  Ðthe€case€assignments€to€Grissim€created€valid,€enforceable€contracts,€BCBST€legally€terminated€theÐ è 8  Ðcontracts€when€it€discharged€Grissim€on€June€19,€1998.€€Therefore,€there€is€no€existing,€enforceableÐ Ô$  Ðcontract€between€the€parties.€€Grissim€has€produced€evidence,€in€the€form€of€affidavits€and€time€logs,Ð À  Ðthat€it€provided€valuable€services€with€regard€to€the€files€to€which€it€was€assigned€at€the€time€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðdischarge.€€Immediately€upon€discharge,€Grissim€returned€the€files€to€BCBST€and€providedÐ ˜è  Ðrequested€updates€on€the€status€of€pending€files€to€BCBST.€€As€discussed,€the€circumstancesÐ „Ô  Ðsurrounding€the€formation€of€the€contingency€fee€agreement€indicate€that€both€parties€should€haveÐ pÀ Ðreasonably€understood€that€Grissim€expected€to€be€compensated€for€the€services€it€provided€on€theÐ \¬ Ðunresolved€files.€€Finally,€it€would€be€unjust€to€allow€BCBST€to€benefit€from€services€GrissimÐ H˜ Ðprovided€on€approximately€152€files€without€paying€for€them.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àRecovery€under€quantum€meruit€is€not€measured€by€the€detriment€to€the€plaintiff€but€by€theÐ  \ Ðbenefit€conferred€on€the€defendant.€€ò òòòMcGee€v.€Maynardó óóó,€No.€01„A„01„9810„CV„00539,€1999€WLÐ øH Ð824298,€at€*2€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Aug.€12,€1999)€(citingòòò ò€Castelli€v.€Lienó óóó,€910€S.W.2d€420€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð ä4 ÐApp.€1995)).€€DR€2„106€lists€the€factors€on€which€a€reasonable€fee€can€be€based:Ð Ð  ÐÌÔ‡X!XXX!Ôà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(1)à ¸ àThe€time€and€labor€required,€the€novelty€and€difficulty€of€theÐ ¨ø Ðquestions€involved,€and€the€skill€requisite€to€perform€the€legal€serviceÐ ”ä Ðproperly.ЀÐ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(2)à ¸ àThe€likelihood,€if€apparent€to€the€client,€that€the€acceptance€ofÐ l¼ Ðthe€particular€employment€will€preclude€other€employment€by€theÐ X ¨ Ðlawyer.ÐD!”` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(3)€€The€fee€customarily€charged€in€the€locality€for€similar€legalÐ 0"€  Ðservices.Ð#l!` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(4)à ¸ àThe€amount€involved€and€the€results€obtained.Ð$X"` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(5)à ¸ àThe€time€limitations€imposed€by€the€client€or€by€theÐ ô$D # Ðcircumstances.Ðà%0!$` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(6)à ¸ àThe€nature€and€length€of€the€professional€relationship€with€theÐ Ì&"% Ðclient.и'#&` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(7)à ¸ àThe€experience,€reputation,€and€ability€of€the€lawyer€orÐ ¤(ô#' Ðlawyers€performing€the€services.Ð)à$(` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à(8)à ¸ àWhether€the€fee€is€fixed€or€contingent.Ð|*Ì%)` x` x ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðò òòòJohnson€v.€Hunteró óóó,€1999€WL€1072562€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1999)€(citing€Sup.€Ct.€Rule,€Code€of€Prof.Ð ° ÐResp.€DR€2„106;ò òó ó€òòò òsee€also€Connors€v.€Connorsóóó ó,€594€S.W.2d€672,€676„77€(Tenn.€1980)€(citing€DRÐ œì Ð2„106)).Ô#†X!XXX!‘i#ÔÔ‡X!XXX!ÔÐ ˆØ ÐÌà  àFor€the€reasons€stated,€we€reverse€the€order€of€the€trial€court€and€remand€the€case€for€furtherÐ `° Ðproceedings€to€determine€the€precise€determination€of€the€number€of€cases€assigned€to€plaintiff€byÐ L œ Ðdefendant€at€the€time€of€discharge,€and€the€quantum€meruit€value€of€the€services€provided€by€plaintiffÐ 8 ˆ Ðon€said€cases.€Costs€of€the€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€appellee,€Blue€Cross€and€Blue€Shield€ofÐ $ t ÐTennessee.Ð  ` ÐÔ#†X!XXX!Žp#ÔÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à__________________________________________Ð À  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.