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ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levnl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levnl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó- ù-  COAsuretyshipHardscuffleChadaTrappobligor cmtLiggettBrandeis L.J.VassyS.D.N.Y.ProssercoadventurercoadventurersLobbanHuddlestonMesserGriesheimCryotech HarvColum Sams S.W.AssnGarstPship B.R.BankrStauduharNatlBoginaEngrsInmanNewsonShacklefordWinebarger Jobe TRWw]henChernoffShemperGredigTowneNationsBankKeltonGillentineTilleraasobligors éÝ ƒRK¿$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôöíò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòLouis€K.€Liggett€Co.€v.€Leeóó,€288€U.S.€517,€565,€53€S.€Ct.€481,€496€(1933)€(Brandeis,€J.,€dissenting).(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó IÝ ƒRK¿$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôöíò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Tennessee€Supreme€Court,€quoting€Dean€William€L.€Prosser,€has€characterized€a€joint€venture€asÐ À Ðð ðsomething€like€a€partnership,€for€a€more€limited€period€of€time€and€a€more€limited€purpose.ðð€€òòFain€v.€OððConnellóó,€909Ð „Ä ÐS.W.2d€790,€792€(Tenn.€1995).€€As€the€Court€views€it,€a€joint€venture€is€ð ðan€association€of€persons€with€intent€.€.€.€toÐ Hˆ Ðengage€in€and€carry€out€a€single€business€adventure€for€joint€profit,€for€which€purpose€they€combine€their€efforts,Ð  L Ðproperty,€money,€skill,€and€knowledge,€.€.€.€and€they€agree€that€there€shall€be€a€community€of€interest€among€them€as€toÐ Ð Ðthe€purpose€of€the€undertaking,€and€that€each€coadventurer€shall€stand€in€the€relation€of€principal,€as€well€as€agent,€asÐ ”Ô Ðto€each€of€the€other€coadventurers,€with€an€equal€right€of€control€of€the€means€employed€to€carry€out€the€common€purposeÐ X˜ Ðof€the€adventure.ðð€€òòSpencer€Kellogg€&€Sons,€Inc.€v.€Lobbanóó,€204€Tenn.€79,€92„93,€315€S.W.2d€514,€520€(1958).€€EvenÐ  \ Ðthough€joint€ventures€are€not€technically€partnerships,€they€are€governed€by€the€same€rules€of€law€that€governÐ à  Ðpartnerships.€òòFederated€Stores€Realty,€Inc.€v.€Huddlestonóó,€852€S.W.2d€206,€212€(Tenn.€1992);€òòMesser€Griesheim€Indus.,Ð ¤ ä  ÐInc.€v.€Cryotech€of€Kingsport,€Inc.óó,€45€S.W.3d€588,€605„06€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001).€ ¯Ý ƒRK¿$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôöíò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔA€person€is€not€entitled€to€contribution€until€he€or€she€has€paid€more€than€his€or€her€fair€share€of€a€jointÐ À Ðobligation.€€òòFrazier€v.€Frazieróó,€221€Tenn.€705,€716,€430€S.W.2d€655,€660€(1968);€òòYoung€v.€Kittrellóó,€833€S.W.2d€505,Ð „Ä Ð508€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992).€€ —Ý ƒRK¿$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôöíò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€suretyship€agreements€benefitted€the€members€of€Hardscuffle€Associates€because€they€capped€theirÐ À Ðindividual€liability€at€$280,000.€€Without€these€agreements€each€member€would€have€been€individually€liable€for€the€fullÐ „Ä Ðamount€of€the€debt.(|G2K¿$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€DÅ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôöíò»»Ô d(|3lj$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€DÅ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3lj$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€DÅ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€DÅ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑÀ°ÑÑÀ°ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼DÅ»»»ÔÑ8€iXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î@”DÅÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ À Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼DÅ»îî@”(#ԈРæ& ÐÓ  ÓMarch€4,€1999€SessionÐ  L ÐÔ‡XiX»¼DÅÔÌò òÔ#†¼DÅ»XXi#ÔCHARLES€HARDY,€òòet€al.óó€v.€ROBERT€BOND€MILLER,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XiX»¼DÅÔó óÐ  J ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ  J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€96„1409„II€€€€€€Carol€L.€McCoy,€ChancellorÐ ö 6 ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Í ` AßÐ Î   ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1998„00940„COA„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€10,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ É  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE< ` AßÐ ¡á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€appeal€involves€a€dispute€among€members€of€a€joint€venture€regarding€their€rights€underÐ œÜ  Ðsuretyship€agreements€each€member€signed€to€guarantee€a€loan€to€the€joint€venture.€€After€the€jointÐ ˆÈ  Ðventure€defaulted,€the€bank€looked€to€the€members€of€the€joint€venture€for€payment€of€the€debt.€Ð t´ ÐAfter€three€members€of€the€joint€venture€paid€the€bank€more€than€their€prorated€share€of€the€debt,Ð `  Ðthey€filed€suit€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€County€against€a€former€member,€seekingÐ LŒ Ðcontribution€for€the€amount€they€had€paid€in€excess€of€their€prorated€share.€€The€former€memberÐ 8x Ðcounterclaimed,€seeking€to€recover€the€payments€he€had€made€to€the€bank€on€the€joint€ventureððs€debt.€Ð $d ÐFollowing€a€bench€trial,€the€trial€court€concluded€that€the€members€were€co„sureties,€awarded€theÐ P Ðthree€members€a€$150,145.10€judgment€against€the€former€member,€and€denied€the€former€memberððsÐ ü< Ðcounterclaim.€€The€former€member€appealed,€arguing€that€his€former€co„venturers€lost€their€right€toÐ è( Ðcontribution€when€they€expelled€him€from€the€joint€venture€and€that€he€is€entitled€to€be€reimbursedÐ Ô Ðfor€the€payments€he€made€to€the€bank€on€the€joint€ventureððs€debt.€€We€have€determined€that€eachÐ À Ðmember€of€the€joint€venture€agreed€to€be€severally€liable€to€the€bank€for€the€joint€ventureððs€debt€and,Ð ¬ì Ðtherefore,€that€the€members€were€not€entitled€to€contribution€from€the€former€member.€€We€have€alsoÐ ˜Ø Ðconcluded€that€the€trial€court€correctly€dismissed€the€former€memberððs€counterclaim.€€€Ð „Ä ÐÓ¼ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmed€in€PartÐ \œ Ðand€Reversed€in€Partó óÐ H ˆ  ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼DÅ»àXi“#ÔÔ‡XiX.¼DÅÔWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòWilliam€B.€Cainóó€andÐ  "`" ÐòòPatricia€J.€Cottrellóó,€JJ.,€joined.Ð  #L# ÐÌH.€Naill€Falls,€Jr.,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Robert€B.€Miller.Ð ä$$!% ÐÌGrant€C.€Glassford€and€Christine€J.€Laird,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Charles€Hardy,Ð ¼&ü"' ÐRoy€Flowers,€and€Marvin€Hopper.Ð ¨'è#( ÐÓe ÓÌò òOPINIONÐ €)À%* ÐÔ#†¼DÅ»XXi” #ÔÔ‡XiX»¼DÅÔÌI.ó óÐ X+˜', ÐÌÔ#†¼DÅ»XXiÌ#ÔÔ‡XiX»¼DÅÔÓ  Óà  àIn€July€1987€ten€individuals,€including€Charles€Hardy,€Roy€Flowers,€Marvin€Hopper,€andÐ 0-p). ÐRobert€Miller,€formed€a€joint€venture€known€as€Hardscuffle€Associates€to€acquire€and€develop€aÐ .\*/ý Ðfourteen€and€one„half€acre€tract€in€Davidson€County.€€To€fund€the€development,€the€joint€ventureÐ À Ðborrowed€$1,400,000€from€Commerce€Union€Bank.€€All€ten€members€of€the€joint€venture€signed€theÐ ¬ì Ðloan€agreement.€€At€the€bankððs€insistence,€each€member€also€signed€a€suretyship€agreementÐ ˜Ø Ðguaranteeing€to€repay€not€more€than€$280,000€of€the€joint€ventureððs€debt.Ð „Ä ÐÌà  àRobert€Miller€and€George€Gianikas€were€initially€the€co„managers€of€the€joint€venture.€Ð \œ ÐHowever,€in€mid„1991,€the€joint€venture€expelled€Mr.€Miller€because€of€his€failure€to€make€hisÐ H ˆ Ðrequired€ongoing€capital€contributions.€Mr.€Gianikas,€who€then€became€the€sole€manager€ofÐ 4 t ÐHardscuffle€Associates,€instructed€the€joint€ventureððs€accountant€to€redistribute€Mr.€Millerððs€interestÐ  ` Ðto€the€remaining€members€of€the€joint€venture.€€Ð  L  ÐÌà  àIn€July€1991,€Hardscuffle€Associates€executed€a€renewal€and€modification€deed€of€trust€noteÐ ä $  Ðfor€$1,273,€715,€which€was€to€mature€on€September€15,€1992.€€On€October€30,€1992,€HardscuffleÐ Ð  ÐAssociates€signed€a€ð ðforbearance€agreementðð€acknowledging€that€this€note€had€not€been€paid,€thatÐ ¼ü  ÐHardscuffle€Associates€was€in€default,€and€that€Hardscuffle€Associates€was€indebted€for€the€fullÐ ¨è  Ðamount€of€the€note€plus€interest.€€NationsBank,€who€had€acquired€Commerce€Union€Bank,€proceededÐ ”Ô  Ðagainst€the€individual€members€of€the€joint€venture€to€collect€the€debt.€€Between€late€1992€and€earlyÐ €À Ð1993,€Messrs.€Hardy,€Flowers,€and€Hopper,€paid€NationsBank€$280,000€under€the€personalÐ l¬ Ðguarantee€they€had€signed€in€1987.€€NationsBank€also€looked€to€Mr.€Miller€for€payment,€and€he€paidÐ X˜ Ðthe€bank€$22,884.73€during€1994€and€1995.Ð D„ ÐÌà  àIn€May€1996€Messrs.€Hardy,€Flowers,€and€Hopper€filed€suit€against€Mr.€Miller€in€theÐ \ ÐChancery€Court€for€Davidson€County.€€They€alleged€that€Hardscuffle€Associatesðð€debt€had€beenÐ H Ðcompletely€satisfied€and€that€they€had€been€required€to€pay€more€than€their€share€of€its€outstandingÐ ô4 Ðdebt.€€Accordingly,€they€sought€contribution€from€Mr.€Miller€up€to€his€prorated€share€of€the€debt.€Ð à  ÐMr.€Miller€responded€that€his€former€joint€venturers€has€waived€their€right€to€seek€contribution€fromÐ Ì  Ðhim€when€they€expelled€him€from€the€joint€venture€in€1991€without€returning€his€capitalÐ ¸ø Ðcontributions.€€He€also€sought€to€recover€the€$22,884.73€he€had€paid€to€NationsBank.Ð ¤ä ÐÌà  àFollowing€a€bench€trial€in€May€1998,€the€trial€court€filed€a€judgment€on€June€11,€1998.€Ð |¼ ÐBased€on€the€essentially€undisputed€facts,€the€trial€court€found€the€members€of€the€joint€venture€wereÐ h¨ Ðð ðco„suretiesðð€and€were,€therefore,€ð ðbound€to€answer€for€the€same€duty€of€the€principal.ðð€€The€trialÐ T ” Ðcourt€also€found€that€Messrs.€Hardy,€Flowers,€and€Hopper€had€each€paid€the€bank€$280,000,€evenÐ @!€  Ðthough€their€prorated€share€of€the€joint€ventureððs€debt€was€only€$105,000.€€Accordingly,€afterÐ ,"l! Ðallowing€Mr.€Miller€credit€for€the€$22,884.73€he€had€already€paid€NationsBank,€the€trial€courtÐ #X" Ðordered€Mr.€Miller€to€pay€Messrs.€Hardy,€Flowers,€and€Hopper€$96,418.23€plus€pre„judgmentÐ $D # Ðinterest€in€the€amount€of€$53,726.87.€€The€court€also€dismissed€Mr.€Millerððs€counterclaim€seekingÐ ð$0!$ Ðto€recover€the€payments€he€had€already€made€to€the€bank.€€Mr.€Miller€has€appealed€from€thisÐ Ü%"% Ðjudgment.Ð È&#& ÐÌà@……)ìàò òII.ó óˆÐ  (à$( Ðà@'' ìàòòò òThe€Status€of€the€Members€of€the€Joint€Venture€as€Co„suretiesó óóóˆÐ Œ)Ì%) ÐÌà  àWe€turn€first€to€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€Mr.€Miller€and€the€other€members€of€the€jointÐ d+¤'+ Ðventure€became€ð ðco„suretiesðð€when€they€signed€the€suretyship€agreements€required€by€NationsBank.Ð P,(, ÐMr.€Miller€asserts€on€this€appeal€that€the€trial€court€erred€as€a€matter€of€law€by€basing€his€liabilityÐ À Ðon€the€rules€governing€contribution€among€co„sureties.€€We€agree.Ð ¬ì ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàò òA.ó óˆÐ „Ä ÐÌà  àA€suretyship€agreement€necessarily€involves€three€parties€ð!ð€the€debtor€who€is€primarily€liableÐ \œ Ðfor€the€debt,€the€creditor€to€whom€the€debt€is€owed,€and€the€surety€who€agrees€to€pay€the€debt€if€theÐ H ˆ Ðdebtor€does€not.€€òòA.J.€Kellos€Constr.€Co.,€Inc.€v.€Balboa€Ins.€Co.óó,€495€F.€Supp.€408,€412€(S.D.€Ga.Ð 4 t Ð1980);€òòFirst€Va.€Bank„Colonial€v.€Bakeróó,€301€S.E.2d€8,€11€(Va.€1983);€Restatement€of€Security€ðð€82Ð  ` Ð(1941);€Peter€A.€Alces,€òòLaw€of€Suretyship€and€Guarantyóó€ðððð€1.01,€2.02[1]€(1997)€(ð ðòòLaw€of€SuretyshipÐ  L  Ðand€Guarantyóóðð).€€A€surety,€by€agreeing€to€be€responsible€for€anotherððs€debt,€òòKnox€County€v.€FourthÐ ø 8  Ð&€First€Natððl€Bankóó,€181€Tenn.€569,€589,€182€S.W.2d€980,€987€(1944),€becomes€secondarily€liableÐ ä $  Ðto€the€creditor.€€As€Professor€Neil€Cohen€explains,€the€ð ðcoreðð€of€suretyship€is€that€the€obligee€isÐ Ð  Ðentitled€to€performance€not€only€from€the€principal€obligor€but€also€from€a€third€party€ð!ð€theÐ ¼ü  Ðsecondary€obligor.ðð€€Neil€B.€Cohen,€òòStriking€the€Balance:€The€Evolving€Nature€of€SuretyshipÐ ¨è  ÐDefensesóó,€34€Wm.€&€Mary€L.€Rev.€1025,€1027€(1993).Ð ”Ô  ÐÌà  àA€debtor€cannot€be€its€own€surety.€€òòState€Bd.€of€Equalization€v.€Nayloróó,€161€Cal.€Rptr.€280,Ð l¬ Ð283€(Ct.€App.€1980);€òòHamilton€v.€Haridaóó,€421€A.2d€396,€399€(Pa.€Super.€Ct.€1980).€€Accordingly,Ð X˜ Ða€true€suretyship€requires€that€the€debtor€and€the€surety€be€two€distinct€legal€entities.€€òòUniversal€Auto.Ð D„ ÐIns.€Co.€v.€Culbersonóó,€51€S.W.2d€1071,€1073€(Tex.€Civ.€App.€1932).€€A€suretyship€agreement€cannotÐ 0p Ðexist€when€one€of€the€three€distinct€parties€is€missingòò.€€Stabs€v.€City€of€Toweróó,€40€N.W.2d€362,€370Ð \ Ð(Minn.€1949).€Ð H ÐÌà@)ìàò òB.ó óˆÐ à  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€courtððs€invocation€of€suretyship€principles€was€appropriate€only€if€a€suretyshipÐ ¸ø Ðagreement€existed€between€these€parties.€€Accordingly,€our€task€is€to€examine€the€transactionÐ ¤ä Ðbetween€Hardscuffle€Associates,€NationsBank,€and€the€individual€members€of€the€joint€venture€toÐ Ð Ðdetermine€whether€it€qualifies€as€a€suretyship.€€This€examination€essentially€calls€upon€us€to€identifyÐ |¼ Ðthe€debtor,€the€creditor,€and€the€surety€or€sureties.€€òòChada€v.€Trappóó,€558€P.2d€1225,€1226€(Or.€1977)Ð h¨ Ð(determining€the€existence€of€a€suretyship€by€identifying€the€three€required€parties).Ð T ” ÐÌà  àIn€this€case,€identifying€the€first€two€necessary€parties€ð!ð€the€debtor€and€the€creditor€ð!ð€isÐ ,"l! Ðstraightforward€and€easy.€€The€debtor€or€principal€obligor€is€the€person€who€is€liable€in€the€firstÐ #X" Ðinstance€to€the€creditor.€€Restatement€of€Security€ðð€82€cmts.€c€&€e;€òòLaw€of€Suretyship€and€GuarantyÐ $D # Ðóóðð€2.02[1].€€In€cases€involving€the€loan€of€money,€the€debtor€will€ordinarily€be€the€entity€that€receivedÐ ð$0!$ Ðthe€loan€proceeds.€€Here,€Hardscuffle€Associates,€as€the€signatory€ð ðborrowerðð€in€the€loan€agreementÐ Ü%"% Ðis€unquestionably€the€debtor€or€principal€obligor.€€By€the€same€token,€the€creditor€is€the€person€toÐ È&#& Ðwhom€the€debt€is€owed.€€Restatement€of€Security€ðð€82€cmt.€d.€€Without€question,€NationsBank€is€aÐ ´'ô#' Ðcreditor€of€Hardscuffle€Associates.€€The€1987€loan€agreement€and€deed€of€trust€notes€make€plain€thatÐ  (à$( ÐNationsBank€lent€Hardscuffle€Associates€$1,400,000€and€that€Hardscuffle€Associates€agreed€to€repayÐ Œ)Ì%) Ðthe€loan€in€accordance€with€the€terms€of€the€note€and€agreement.Ð x*¸&* Ðâ âÐ d+¤'+ Ðà  àThe€controlling€question€in€this€case€is€whether€any€party€or€parties€other€than€HardscuffleÐ À Ðâ âAssociates€stepped€into€the€role€of€surety.€€The€answer€to€this€question€turns€on€the€differences€inÐ ¬ì Ðthe€legal€status€of€the€various€ð ðtool[s]€employed€by€individuals€in€the€conduct€of€private€business.ðð׃0×Ý ƒ1#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р˜Ø ÐThe€most€common€of€these€tools€are€sole€proprietorships,€partnerships,€limited€partnerships,€limitedÐ „Ä Ðliability€companies€and€partnerships,€and€corporations.€€Each€of€these€has€significantly€different€legalÐ p° Ðattributes.€€Some€are€legal€entities€in€their€own€right;€while€others,€in€the€eyes€of€the€law,€are€nothingÐ \œ Ðbut€extensions€of€their€principals.Ð H ˆ ÐÌà  àBusiness€organizations€with€a€separate€legal€identity€and€their€owners€or€shareholders€mayÐ  ` Ðbe€sureties.€€It€is€well„settled€that€a€corporation€may€serve€as€surety€for€the€debts€of€anotherÐ  L  Ðcorporation.€€òòóóDavid€S.€Walls,€òòPromises€to€Keep:€Intercorporate€Guarantees€and€FraudulentÐ ø 8  ÐTransfers€in€Bankruptcyóó,€19€UCC€L.J.€219,€220„28€(1987).€€Shareholders€in€closely„heldÐ ä $  Ðcorporations€can€stand€as€sureties€or€guarantors€of€the€corporationððs€debts.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòSquibb€v.€Smithóó,Ð Ð  Ð948€S.W.2d€752,€754€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997);€òòFrank€Lerner€&€Assoc.€v.€Vassyóó,€599€N.E.2d€734,€736,Ð ¼ü  Ð740€(Ohio€Ct.€App.€1991).€€Similarly,€promissory€notes€executed€by€the€partners€in€a€limitedÐ ¨è  Ðpartnership€can€be€guaranteed€by€an€entity€separate€from€the€partnership.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòIndemnity€Ins.Ð ”Ô  ÐCo.€v.€American€Deseret€Ltd.óó,€887€F.€Supp.€521,€522„24€(S.D.N.Y.€1993).Ð €À ÐÌà  àHowever,€the€rules€that€apply€to€corporations€do€not€apply€with€the€same€force€to€partnershipsÐ X˜ Ðor€joint€ventures׃2T×Ý ƒ1#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€because€they€do€not€have€a€separate€legal€identity€independent€of€their€partners€orÐ D„ Ðmembers.€€William€D.€Lewis,€òòThe€Uniform€Partnership€Act€ð"ð€A€Reply€to€Mr.€Craneððs€Criticismóó,Ð 0p Ð29€Harv.€L.€Rev.€158,€158„74€(1915);€Note,€òòThe€Interest€of€a€Partner€in€Partnership€Propertyóó,€19Ð \ ÐColum.€L.€Rev.€404,€405€(1919).€€Because€partnerships€lack€a€separate€legal€identity,€all€partners€areÐ H Ðindividually€liable,€jointly€and€severally,€for€the€partnership€debts.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€61„1„114Ð ô4 Ð(Supp.€2001);€òòMahoney„Jones€Co.€v.€Sams€Bros.óó,€128€Tenn.€207,€210,€159€S.W.€1094,€1094€(1913);Ð à  ÐòòProduction€Credit€Assððn€v.€Wardóó,€No.€1,€1990€WL€39350,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Apr.€9,€1990),€òòperm.Ð Ì  Ðapp.€deniedóó,€(Tenn.€July€23.€1990).€€Thus,€when€money€is€lent€to€a€partnership,€each€partner€becomesÐ ¸ø Ða€primary€obligor,€even€when€one€or€more€of€the€partners€have€guaranteed€the€debt€individually.€Ð ¤ä ÐòòDominion€Bank€v.€Craneóó,€843€S.W.2d€14,€19€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992).Ð Ð ÐÌà  àBecause€a€partner€is€already€a€primary€obligor€on€a€partnership€debt,€the€general€rule€is€thatÐ h¨ Ða€partner€cannot€also€be€a€surety€or€guarantor€of€a€partnership€debt.€€òòCooperative€Fin.€Assoc.,€Inc.Ð T ” Ðv.€Garstóó,€917€F.€Supp.€1356,€1384€(N.D.€Iowa€1996);€òòResolution€Trust€Corp.€v.€Teem€Pððshipóó,€835Ð @!€  ÐF.€Supp.€563,€569€(D.€Colo.€1993);€òòIn€re€Prestige€Ltd.€Pððship€„€Concordóó,€205€B.R.€427,€433„34Ð À Ð(Bankr.€N.D.€Cal.€1997);€òòRock€Island€Bank€&€Trust€Co.€v.€Stauduharóó,€375€N.E.2d€1383,€1389„90Ð ¬ì Ð(Ill.€App.€Ct.€1978);€òòBoatmenððs€First€Natððl€Bank€v.€Bogina€Petroleum€Engððrsóó,€794€S.W.2d€703,€705Ð ˜Ø Ðn.2€(Mo.€Ct.€App.€1990).€€The€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€has€compared€a€partner€acting€as€surety€ofÐ „Ä Ða€partnership€debt€to€a€ð ðman€who€tried€to€lift€himself€by€his€own€boot€straps.ðð€€òòKnox€County€v.Ð p° ÐFourth€&€First€Natððl€Bankóó,€181€Tenn.€at€589,€182€S.W.2d€at€987.€Ð \œ ÐÌà  àThe€general€rule€that€a€partner€cannot€be€a€surety€of€partnership€debts€controls€the€outcomeÐ 4 t Ðof€the€suretyship€issues€in€this€case.€€The€parties„in„interest,€Hardscuffle€Associates,€its€members,Ð  ` Ðand€the€bank€did€not€establish€a€suretyship€in€the€July€1987€transaction.€€In€reality,€the€so„calledÐ  L  Ðsuretyship€agreements€executed€by€Hardscuffle€Associatesðð€members€had€the€legal€effect€of€alteringÐ ø 8  Ðwhat€otherwise€would€have€been€each€memberððs€unlimited€joint€and€several€liability€for€the€jointÐ ä $  Ðventureððs€debts.€€As€a€result€of€these€agreements,€each€memberððs€individual€liability€was€madeÐ Ð  Ðseveral€only€and€was€capped€at€$280,000.€€Accordingly,€these€agreements€actually€served€asÐ ¼ü  Ðð ðlimitation€of€liabilityðð€agreements€benefitting€the€individual€members€of€the€joint€venture.׃4×Ý ƒ1#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€BecauseÐ ¨è  Ðno€suretyship€was€ever€created,€the€trial€court€erred€by€classifying€the€members€of€HardscuffleÐ ”Ô  ÐAssociates€as€ð ðco„suretiesðð€and€by€basing€its€decision€on€suretyship€principles.Ð €À ÐÌà@^^(ìàò òIII.ó óˆÐ X˜ Ðà@ðð ìàò òòòMessrs.€Hardyððs,€Flowersððs,€and€Hopperððs€Right€to€Contributionóóó óˆÐ D„ ÐÌà  àOur€conclusion€that€the€trial€court€erroneously€relied€on€principles€of€suretyship€law€to€decideÐ \ Ðthis€case€does€not€end€our€task.€€The€trial€court€also€based€its€decision€on€the€principle€of€partnershipÐ H Ðlaw€that€permits€partners€to€obtain€contribution€from€other€partners.€€Mr.€Miller€asserts€that€the€trialÐ ô4 Ðcourt€erred€on€this€point€as€well€because€the€members€of€Hardscuffle€Associates€were€not€jointly€andÐ à  Ðseverally€liable€to€NationsBank€for€Hardscuffle€Associatesððs€debt.Ð Ì  ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàò òA.ó óˆÐ ¤ä ÐÌà  àContribution€is€an€equitable€principle€that€requires€persons€under€common€obligation€to€shareÐ |¼ Ðthat€obligation€equally.€€William€H.€Inman,€òòGibsonððs€Suits€in€Chancery€óóðð€419€(7th€ed.€1988).€€AÐ h¨ Ðclaim€for€contribution€arises€when€one€of€several€parties€jointly€liable€for€a€common€debt€pays€moreÐ T ” Ðthan€his€or€her€share€to€discharge€the€debt€for€the€benefit€of€all.€€Once€a€person€has€paid€more€thanÐ @!€  Ðhis€or€her€fair€share€of€a€common€debt,׃3Ü×Ý ƒ1#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€he€or€she€may€use€an€action€for€contribution€as€a€vehicle€forÐ ,"l! Ðobtaining€restitution€from€the€other€persons€who€are€equally€liable€on€the€debt.€€òòNewson€v.Ð #X" ÐShacklefordóó,€163€Tenn.€358,€361,€43€S.W.2d€384,€385€(1931);€òòRhea€v.€Whiteóó,€40€Tenn.€(3€Head)€121,Ð $D # Ð122€(1859);€òòWinebarger€v.€Winebargeróó,€653€S.W.2d€746,€748€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983).Ð ð$0!$ ÐÐ Ü%"% Ðà  àA€right€of€contribution€presupposes€common€or€joint€liability€among€the€parties.€€When€anÐ À Ðobligation€is€not€joint,€its€discharge€does€not€give€rise€to€a€claim€for€contribution€against€others.€€òòJobeÐ ¬ì Ðv.€OððBrienóó,€21€Tenn.€(2€Hum.)€34,€36€(1840);€òòSquibb€v.€Smithóó,€948€S.W.2d€at€754;€òòTRW„Title€Ins.Ð ˜Ø ÐCo.€v.€Stewart€Title€Guar.€Co.óó,€832€S.W.2d€344,€346€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€Accordingly,Ð „Ä Ðcontribution,€whose€purpose€is€to€equalize€a€common€burden,€is€inconsistent€with€several€orÐ p° Ðindividual€liability.€€As€the€Illinois€Court€of€Appeals€has€explained:€€€€Ð \œ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àwhen€individuals€are€severally€obligated,€the€relationship€betweenÐ 4 t Ðthem€is€distinctly€divided.€€Whether€one€individual€fulfills€a€severalÐ  ` Ðobligation€or€not€has€no€effect€upon€the€duty€of€any€other€obligor.€€HisÐ  L  Ðobligation€is€strictly€individual.€€On€the€other€hand,€an€action€forÐ ø 8  Ðcontribution€is€dependent€upon€a€common€obligation€andÐ ä $  Ðperformance€by€one€or€more€than€his€aliquot€share€of€the€burden.€Ð Ð  ÐSince€this€is€impossible€where€the€obligation€is€several,€[where€thatÐ ¼ü  Ðis€the€case,]€there€can€be€no€action€for€contribution.Шè ` x` x ÐÌòòShapiro€v.€Chernoffóó,€279€N.E.2d€454,€461€(Ill.€App.€Ct.€1972).Ð €À ÐÌà  àThese€contribution€principles€have€been€repeatedly€invoked€in€the€context€of€partnerships.€Ð X˜ ÐBecause€partners€are€jointly€and€severally€liable€for€partnership€debts,€a€partner€who€pays€aÐ D„ Ðpartnership€debt€out€of€his€or€her€own€funds€is€entitled€to€contribution€from€the€other€partners€whenÐ 0p Ðthe€partnership€assets€are€insufficient€to€reimburse€the€partner.€€òòEquitable€Trust€Co.€v.€Central€TrustÐ \ ÐCo.óó,€145€Tenn.€148,€184,€239€S.W.€171,€181€(1922);€òòsee€also€Shemper€v.€Hancock€Bankóó,€40€So.€2dÐ H Ð742,€744€(Miss.€1949);€òòState€ex€rel.€Angle€v.€Hullóó,€930€S.W.2d€25,€29€(Mo.€Ct.€App.€1996).Ð ô4 ÐÌà@)ìàò òB.ó óˆÐ Ì  ÐÌà  àDetermining€whether€the€members€of€Hardscuffle€Associates€are€jointly€and€severally€liableÐ ¤ä Ðfor€the€joint€ventureððs€debts€requires€us€to€examine€the€documents€embodying€the€July€1987€loanÐ Ð Ðtransaction.€€Our€goal€is€to€give€the€fullest€possible€effect€to€the€partiesðð€agreement€consistent€withÐ |¼ Ðthe€applicable€legal€principles.€€òòBob€Pearsall€Motors,€Inc.€v.€Regal€Chrysler„Plymouth,€Inc.óó,€521Ð h¨ ÐS.W.2d€578,€580€(Tenn.€1975);€òòGredig€v.€Tennessee€Farmers€Mut.€Ins.€Co.óó,€891€S.W.2d€909,€912Ð T ” Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1994).€€When€several€documents€are€integral€parts€of€the€same€transaction,€we€willÐ @!€  Ðconstrue€each€of€the€documents€and€the€terms€in€the€documents€in€light€of€the€other€documentsÐ ,"l! Ðmemorializing€the€transaction.€€òòMcCall€v.€Towne€Square,€Inc.óó,€503€S.W.2d€180,€182„83€(Tenn.Ð #X" Ð1973);€òòOman€Constr.€Co.€v.€Tennessee€Cent.€Ry.óó,€212€Tenn.€556,€573„74,€370€S.W.2d€563,€570„71Ð $D # Ð(1963);€òòRealty€Shop,€Inc.€v.€RR€Westminster€Holding,€Inc.óó,€7€S.W.3d€581,€599€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð ð$0!$ Ð1999).Ð Ü%"% ÐÌà  àHad€the€parties€not€executed€the€suretyship€agreements€as€part€of€the€July€1987€financingÐ ´'ô#' Ðtransaction,€the€original€ten€members€of€the€Hardscuffle€Associates€joint€venture€would€have€beenÐ  (à$( Ðjointly€and€severally€liable€for€the€bankððs€$1,400,000€loan€to€Hardscuffle€Associates.€€However,€forÐ Œ)Ì%) Ðreasons€not€entirely€evident€in€the€record,€the€bank€and€the€members€of€Hardscuffle€AssociatesÐ x*¸&* Ðmodified€this€liability€when€they€signed€the€suretyship€agreements.€€These€agreements€changed€eachÐ d+¤'+ Ðmemberððs€otherwise€joint€and€several€liability€to€several€liability€capped€at€$280,000.€€The€effect€ofÐ P,(, Ðthese€agreements€was€spelled€out€in€an€August€24,€1988€letter€to€the€members€in€which€one€of€theÐ À Ðbankððs€vice€presidents€wrote:Ð ¬ì ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àPlease€accept€this€letter€as€[NationsBankððs]€acknowledgment€that€theÐ „Ä Ðpersonal€guarantees€of€the€individual€joint€venture€partners€whoÐ p° Ðexecuted€the€.€.€.€note€are€not€on€a€joint€and€several€basis.€€The€extentÐ \œ Ðto€which€each€joint€venture€partner€is€liable€was€established€in€theÐ H ˆ Ðsuretyship€agreements€.€.€.€[executed]€at€the€initial€closing€in€JulyÐ 4 t Ð1987.€€Per€the€terms€of€the€suretyship€agreements,€the€right€ofÐ  ` Ðrecovery€against€the€individual€partners€is€limited€to€$280,000€each,Ð  L  Ðplus€interest€and€[collection€costs].Ðø 8 ` x` x ÐÌà  àThe€actions€of€the€parties€following€Hardscuffle€Associatesðð€default€are€consistent€with€theÐ Ð  Ðinterpretation€that€the€suretyship€agreements€changed€each€memberððs€liability€from€joint€and€severalÐ ¼ü  Ðto€several.€€Following€the€default,€the€bank€dealt€with€each€of€its€members,€not€as€if€they€were€jointlyÐ ¨è  Ðliable,€but€as€if€each€one€of€them€was€individually€liable€up€to€$280,000.€€The€bank€never€pursuedÐ ”Ô  Ðany€of€the€members€of€Hardscuffle€Associates€as€if€any€one€of€them€was€jointly€and€severally€liableÐ €À Ðfor€the€whole€debt.€€Instead,€it€went€after€each€member€separately€for€the€$280,000€maximumÐ l¬ Ðliability€under€the€suretyship€agreement.€€For€example,€according€to€the€complaint,€the€bankÐ X˜ Ðcancelled€and€returned€Mr.€Flowersððs€suretyship€agreement€after€he€paid€the€bank€$280,000.€Ð D„ ÐSimilarly,€after€Mr.€Hopper€paid€the€bank€$100,000€in€October€1992,€the€bank€modified€hisÐ 0p Ðsuretyship€agreement€by€reducing€his€liability€to€$180,000.Ð \ ÐÌà  àBased€on€the€essentially€undisputed€facts,€Messrs.€Hardy,€Flowers,€and€Hopper€did€not€payÐ ô4 Ðan€obligation€that€was€common€to€all€members€of€the€joint€venture.€€Rather,€each€of€them€paid€theÐ à  Ðbank€in€accordance€with€the€separate€contractual€obligation€in€their€suretyship€agreements.€€BecauseÐ Ì  Ðthese€obligations€were€individual€rather€than€common,€Messrs.€Hardy,€Flowers,€and€Hopper€neverÐ ¸ø Ðpaid€more€than€their€share€of€a€common€obligation.€€Therefore,€the€trial€court€erred€by€concludingÐ ¤ä Ðthat€they€had€a€right€to€seek€contribution€from€Mr.€Miller.Ð Ð ÐÌà@dd)ìàò òIV.ó óˆÐ h¨ Ðà@¾¾ìàòòò òMr.€Millerððs€Counterclaimó óóóˆÐ T ” ÐÌà  àFinally,€Mr.€Miller€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€denying€his€claim€for€reimbursementÐ ,"l! Ðof€the€$22,884.73€he€paid€to€NationsBank€under€his€July€1987€suretyship€agreement.€€He€insists€thatÐ #X" Ðhe€was€no€longer€personally€liable€for€the€joint€ventureððs€debts€after€his€fellow€members€expelledÐ $D # Ðhim€in€mid„1991€and,€therefore,€that€he€was€entitled€to€reimbursement€for€the€payments€he€made€onÐ ð$0!$ Ðthe€joint€ventureððs€behalf.€€Mr.€Millerððs€argument€is€not€well„taken€because€he€became€directly€andÐ Ü%"% Ðprimarily€liable€to€the€bank€when€he€signed€the€suretyship€agreement€in€July€1986.Ð È&#& ÐÌà  àThe€law€implies€a€contract€between€debtors€and€their€sureties€that€if€the€surety€is€compelledÐ  (à$( Ðto€pay€part€or€all€of€the€debtorððs€debt€to€a€creditor,€the€surety€is€entitled€to€reimbursement€from€theÐ Œ)Ì%) Ðdebtor.€€òòSeeóó€òòSparkle€Laundry€&€Cleaners,€Inc.€v.€Keltonóó,€595€S.W.2d€88,€95€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1979);Ð x*¸&* ÐòòAkers€v.€Gillentineóó,€33€Tenn.€App.€212,€214„17,€231€S.W.2d€372,€373„74€(1950);€RestatementÐ d+¤'+ Ð(Third)€of€Suretyship€and€Guaranty€ðð€22€(1996);€òòLaw€of€Suretyship€and€Guarantyóó€ðð€6.03.€€The€lawÐ P,(, Ðdeems€the€duty€to€reimburse€as€fastening€on€the€principal€at€the€time€the€suretyship€is€made.€€òòSeeóóÐ À ÐòòUnited€States€v.€Tilleraasóó,€709€F.2d€1088,€1091€(6th€Cir.€1983);€òòIn€re€Dealððs€Estateóó,€46€N.E.2d€643,Ð ¬ì Ð647€(Ohio€Ct.€App.€1942).Ð ˜Ø ÐÌà  àSection€II€of€our€opinion€dictates€the€disposition€of€this€issue.€€None€of€the€members€ofÐ p° ÐHardscuffle€Associates€became€sureties€for€the€partnershipððs€debt€because,€as€a€matter€of€law,€theyÐ \œ Ðcould€not€stand€as€sureties€on€the€same€debt€they€simultaneously€owed€as€principal€obligors.€Ð H ˆ ÐBecause€Mr.€Miller€was€not€a€surety,€we€conclude€that€the€$22,884.73€he€paid€was€in€partialÐ 4 t Ðsatisfaction€of€his€own€several€liability€to€NationsBank€under€his€July€1987€suretyship€agreement.€Ð  ` ÐHe€has€no€right€of€reimbursement€for€paying€his€own€debt.€€Therefore,€we€affirm€the€dismissal€of€hisÐ  L  Ðreimbursement€counterclaim.Ð ø 8  ÐÌà@‹‹)ìàò òV.ó óˆÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àFor€the€reasons€stated€herein,€we€reverse€the€judgment€against€Robert€Bond€Miller€forÐ ¨è  Ð$150,145.10€and€affirm€the€dismissal€of€Mr.€Millerððs€counterclaim€for€reimbursement.€€We€remandÐ ”Ô  Ðthe€case€to€the€trial€court€for€whatever€further€proceedings€are€required,€and€we€tax€one„half€of€theÐ €À Ðcosts€of€this€appeal€to€Robert€B.€Miller€and€his€surety€and€one„half,€jointly€and€severally,€to€CharlesÐ l¬ ÐHardy,€Roy€C.€Flowers,€and€Marvin€Hopper€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.Ð X˜ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_____________________________€Ð H Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÔ#†¼DÅ»XXi*#Ô