ÿWPCO jbÿ ÇuX÷ z˜u%,—jñ.šìK±ñUöT®"síâß`R÷ z@Y’û÷jš6Õ Tg€Mjdð$g"-N[N’8ü¼K§‹ç§#ÚOš&±¥9lÉ0:§ ¬7–€·­=®YÍ`é³îòÒX™z79å÷Ó·çþZ}`‰`)K7æGRÒsŠ0Øqã!SÎ@M¶ÖI0GBÎÙQÒ.ßi…£Þ@Æ¢À\ýn|*:'Z‚ é¼ÈÉRS;-#¹YC–kxÁÖño]aó¾ýǦç;+gJÅ )j®×*o‡*Ž ÒBŒK#§š`ë±]°õC…ˆn`³"?v â'èŒD›êO‘ar%¶`†6(ê”)ã•{‹KùÕ²ih~õ£Á% ”G›OÝ« b:dFöÁª«€•H3gæBû'»tùN!rÄØ$íï<*d÷¯¸DQ êWñY´N#ð÷_‡²o[ìíèìÛ”;þ…ðä†|ݬNþ^'²­ÅµÀ·Ä6Côï£5 ß͵:ÙÒÀó9»å«=¤™‚üà ¡k²Œ(r÷®€èâVŽgVUðÕ,ŸŽµ“h8KFqŠÉêKl-À²x¡>Ô)PeÓÇLBÕe¦F”û­b#É\ %% UN+ 0ˆy UN 0cO l² zÒ˜ 1uj 1‡ß 72f^ ˜ƤÆjÆ0Æö 0D¼Nw4E+ m---------------------bDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD 0ëLLLL B77 0¤T D3ø D-+ 0KXX AS£Æö 0¤¼ 0D` A«¤˜\\IB01S01\CLERK1NASÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à bÝ ƒR·$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôñ­ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôà ` àAppellee€suggests,€and€this€Court€agrees,€this€issue€should€be€reworded€to€ask€whether€the€trial€courtÐ ° Ðerred€in€holding€that€the€terms€of€the€letter€contract€do€not€govern€the€matters€in€question.€€In€the€trial€court'sÐ tÄ Ðmemorandum€of€findings,€it€fails€to€state€that€there€was€no€binding€contract€between€the€parties€but€rather€"the€terms€ofÐ 8ˆ Ðthis€letter€[contract]€do€not€govern€the€matters€in€question€however."€ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList1I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. i)V™–/Ï Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóóqdj/ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-(|G2·$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€S »»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôñ­ò»»Ô d(|3ÉO$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€S »»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÉO$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€S »»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€S »»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼S »»»ÔÑ8€QXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îHŒî»¼S ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼S »îîHŒ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓJULY€9,€2003€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XQX»¼S ÔÌò òÔ#†¼S »XXQñ#ÔTHOMAS€G.€HYDE,€d/b/a€MANAGEMENT€RECRUITERS€OFÐ úJ ÐMURFREESBORO„NASHVILLEòòóó€v.€Ô_ÔISHIKAWAÔ_Ô€GASKET€AMERICA,Ð  ^ ÐINC.òòóóÔ‡XQX»¼S Ôó óÐ " r ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Rutherford€CountyÐ " r Ðà@@øøìàNo.€00CV„712€€€€€€Robert€E.€Ô_ÔCorlewÔ_Ô,€III,€ChancellorÐ ^  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ñ` AßÐ Ò"  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2002„02653„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€22,€Ô_Ô2003Ô_ÔÐ Í  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¤` AßÐ ¥õ Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡XQXXXQÔThis€case€involves€the€breach€of€a€contract€when€Defendant€refused€to€pay€fees€to€which€PlaintiffÐ  ð Ðclaims€an€entitlement.€€The€trial€court€below€found€that,€under€the€facts€of€the€case,€the€contract€didÐ ŒÜ Ðnot€apply€and,€therefore,€refused€to€award€Plaintiff€its€fees.€€Instead,€the€trial€court€awarded€PlaintiffÐ xÈ Ða€lesser€amount€under€the€theory€of€òòquantum€Ô_ÔmeruitÔ_Ôóó.€€Plaintiff€timely€appealed€that€decision€and,€forÐ d´ Ðthe€reasons€stated€below,€this€Court€reverses€the€ruling€of€the€lower€court.Ð P  ÐÔ#†XQXXXQt#ÔÔ#†¼S »XXQñ#ÔÔ‡XQX»¼S ÔÌÓhÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Reversed€andÐ d ÐRemandedó óÐ P ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼S »àXQK#ÔÔ‡XQX.¼S ÔAlan€E.€Ô_ÔHighersÔ_Ô,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.,€óó€and€òòHollyÐ Ø( ÐM.€Kirby,€J.óó,€joined.Ð Ä ÐÌGary€D.€Ô_ÔBeasleyÔ_Ô,€Murfreesboro,€TN,€for€AppellantÐ œ ì ÐÌRichard€W.€Ô_ÔRuckerÔ_Ô,€Murfreesboro,€TN,€for€AppelleeÐ t"Ä! ÐÓ ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼S »XXQ: #ÔÔ‡XQX»¼S ÔÐ L$œ# ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼S »XXQ6 #ÔÔ‡XQX»¼S ÔÓ  Óò òÔ‡XQXXXQÔà@ÿÿìàFacts€and€Procedural€Historyó óˆÐ $&t!% ÐÌà  àIn€late€October€or€early€November€of€1999,€Ô_ÔShihoÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔFukuiÔ_Ô€("Ô_ÔFukuiÔ_Ô")€met€and€became€friendsÐ ü'L#' Ðwith€Ô_ÔNobueÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔShibusawaÔ_Ô€("Ô_ÔShibusawaÔ_Ô"),€who€held€a€position€at€Ô_ÔIshikawaÔ_Ô€Gasket€America,€Inc.Ð è(8$( Ð("Ô_ÔIshikawaÔ_Ô"),€the€defendant.€€During€their€conversations,€Ô_ÔShibusawaÔ_Ô€discussed€a€position€at€Ô_ÔIshikawaÔ_ÔÐ Ô)$%) Ðas€a€translator€with€Ô_ÔFukuiÔ_Ô.€€No€interviews€were€held,€and€Ô_ÔFukuiÔ_Ô€was€not€offered€and€did€not€take€theÐ À*&* Ðjob€because€she€was€uncomfortable€working€for€Ô_ÔShibusawaÔ_Ô,€her€friend.€Ð ¬+ü&+ Ðâ âÐ ˜,è',ý½ ÐÔ_Ôà  àIn€December€1999,€Ishikawa€decided€to€employ€the€services€of€Management€Recruiters€ofÐ ° Ðâ âMurfreesboro„Nashville€("Recruiters"),€an€employment€agency,€to€fill€a€position€at€its€offices€inÐ œì ÐOhio,€and,€in€that€month,€Yukari€Ishii€("Ishii"),€an€employee€of€Recruiters,€sent€Ishikawa€a€letterÐ ˆØ Ðstating€the€terms€of€their€contract.€€Ishikawa€stated€no€objections€to€the€terms€set€out€in€the€letter€andÐ tÄ ÐRecruiters€began€searching€for€and€offering€candidates€to€fill€the€position€at€Ishikawa.€€IshikawaÐ `° Ðfilled€the€Ohio€position€through€another€recruiter€but€needed€to€fill€another€opening€at€its€office€inÐ L œ ÐFarmington€Hills,€Michigan.€€Ishikawa€decided€to€use€Recruiters€to€find€candidates€for€this€positionÐ 8 ˆ Ðand€agreed€to€the€same€terms€as€they€were€set€out€in€the€Ohio€position€agreement.€€Ishikawa€placedÐ $ t Ðthe€order€to€fill€the€position€in€Michigan€on€January€26,€2000.€€That€same€day,€Ishii€sent€IshikawaÐ  ` Ðresumes€for€two€candidates.€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àFukui,€while€searching€for€a€new€job,€decided€to€employ€the€services€of€Recruiters€and€sentÐ Ô$  Ðher€resume€to€their€offices.€€An€employee€of€Recruiters€spoke€with€Fukui€about€the€job€opening€withÐ À  ÐIshikawa€without€mentioning€the€companyððs€name,€however,€Fukui,€from€the€job€description€and€theÐ ¬ü  Ðlocation,€correctly€guessed€the€companyððs€identity.€€Fukui€stated€she€was€uncomfortable€withÐ ˜è  Ðworking€for€a€friend€of€hers.€€The€Recruiters€employee€ended€the€conversation€and€had€herÐ „Ô  Ðsupervisor,€Ishii,€speak€with€Fukui.€€On€January€27,€Ishii€spoke€with€Fukui€about€sending€her€resumeÐ pÀ Ðto€Ishikawa€for€the€position€in€Michigan€and€persuaded€Fukui€to€apply€for€the€job.€€In€a€conversationÐ \¬ Ðbetween€Ishii€and€Shibusawa€in€early€February,€Shibusawa€rejected€Fukui's€application€stating€sheÐ H˜ Ðdid€not€want€to€hire€a€friend€to€be€her€assistant.€€Recruiters€sent€additional€candidate€referrals€toÐ 4„ ÐIshikawa.€€However,€on€February€22,€2000,€Shibusawa€notified€Recruiters€that€the€position€had€beenÐ  p Ðfilled€terminating€the€job€order.€€Ishii€and€Recruiters€later€learned€that€Shibusawa€and€Ishikawa€did,Ð  \ Ðin€fact,€hire€Fukui€to€fill€the€position.€€Fukui€had€resubmitted€an€updated€resume€to€Ishikawa€andÐ øH Ðbegan€working€on€February€28,€2000.€Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àIn€the€contract,€Recruiters'€fee€for€referring€a€candidate€that€Ishikawa€ultimately€hired€wasÐ ¼  Ðthirty€percent€of€the€candidateððs€first€year€compensation€including€overtime€and€pay€bonuses.€ThoughÐ ¨ø ÐFukui€did€not€work€a€full€year,€the€base€salary€for€her€position€was€$35,000€and€her€bonus€would€beÐ ”ä Ða€percentage€of€a€week's€salary.€€The€contract€also€states€that,€if€necessary,€Recruiters€may€recoverÐ €Ð Ðcollection€fees,€including€attorney's€fees,€from€Ishikawa€to€enforce€the€agreement.€Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àRecruiters,€after€learning€that€Fukui€filled€the€position,€sent€invoices€to€Ishikawa€for€a€serviceÐ D!” Ðfee€of€$12,000€calculated€as€thirty€percent€of€Fukui's€expected€first€year€compensation€of€$40,000.€Ð 0"€  ÐWhen€Ishikawa€refused€to€pay€the€invoices,€Recruiters€filed€a€complaint€on€May€19,€2000,€to€obtainÐ #l! Ðpayment€of€the€service€fee.€€Ishikawa€specially€appeared€on€August€15,€2000,€challenging€whetherÐ $X" Ðthe€trial€court€had€subject€matter€jurisdiction€and€whether€venue€was€proper€but€waived€this€objectionÐ ô$D # Ðby€filing€an€answer€on€April€9,€2001.€€A€hearing€on€this€matter€was€held€before€the€Honorable€RobertÐ à%0!$ ÐE.€Corlew,€III€on€April€17,€2002,€and€the€court€held€that€the€contract€did€not€govern€the€terms€of€theÐ Ì&"% Ðissue€surrounding€Fukui.€€While€the€court€below€held€that€Recruiters€was€not€entitled€to€a€service€feeÐ ¸'#& Ðunder€the€contract,€it€awarded€Recruiters€a€lesser€amount€under€a€theory€of€òòquantum€meruitóó.€€A€finalÐ ¤(ô#' Ðorder€was€entered€for€this€cause€on€June€17,€2002,€and€Recruiters€timely€appealed€presenting€theÐ )à$( Ðâ âfollowing€issues€for€our€review:Ð |*Ì%) ÐÓ€ (5h83 ÓÝ"‚3£"ÝÝ  Ýà  àÝ‚3£V"ÝÔ25hÔÚ  ÚIÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0 ` àÝ  ÝWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€holding€that€no€contract€existed€between€appellantÐ ° Ðâ âand€appellee€which€would€entitle€appellant€to€receive€the€service€fee€under€theÐ œì Ðcontract€based€on€appellee's€hiring€of€a€candidate€referred€by€appellant;׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and݃3£V""݌ЈØ` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÝ"‚3£"ÝÝ  Ýà  àÝ‚3£¡$ÝÔ25hÔÚ  ÚIIÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0 ` àÝ  ÝWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€holding€that€appellant€was€not€entitled€to€attorney'sÐ tÄ Ðfees€and€other€collection€costs€expended€to€collect€the€service€fee€under€the€contract.݃3£¡$Ú$ÝŒÐ`°` (#` (# ÐŒÝ  ÝAppellee€raises€the€following€additional€issue:Ð L œ Ðà  àIII.€€€€€€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€applying€òòquantum€meruitóó€to€the€facts€of€this€case.Ð 8 ˆ ÐFor€the€following€reasons,€we€reverse€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€and€remand€for€furtherÐ $ t Ðproceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.Ð  ` ÐÌÓ  Óò òStandard€of€Reviewó óÐ è 8  ÐÌÓ  Óà  àFor€a€trial€court's€findings€of€fact,€this€Court€reviews€such€findings€òòde€novoóó€on€the€record€withÐ À  Ða€presumption€of€correctness.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d).€€However,€the€interpretation€of€a€writtenÐ ¬ü  Ðagreement€is€considered€a€matter€of€law€and€not€fact.€€òòAPAC„Tenn.,€Inc.€v.€J.M.€Humphries€Constr.Ð ˜è  ÐCo.óó,€732€S.W.2d€601,€604€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1986).€€Therefore,€our€review€is€òòde€novoóó€on€the€recordÐ „Ô  Ðwith€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòIdóó.Ð pÀ ÐÌÓ  Óò òContract€Interpretationó óÐ H˜ ÐÌÓ  Óà  àIn€this€instance,€the€argument€between€the€parties€centers€around€the€interpretation€of€theÐ  p Ðcontract€terms€found€in€a€letter€from€Recruiters€to€Ishikawa€dated€December€1,€1999.€€Specifically,Ð  \ Ðthe€contract€between€the€parties€provides€that€a€fee€is€"payable€only€if€a€candidate€enters€into€aÐ øH Ðservice€relationship€with€[Ishikawa]€or€[Ishikawa's]€affiliate€within€one€year€after€[Recruiters']€mostÐ ä4 Ðrecent€communication€relating€to€the€candidate."€€The€contract€further€states€that€the€service€fee€isÐ Ð  Ðequal€to€thirty€percent€of€the€candidate's€first€year€compensation.€€Finally,€the€contract€provides€thatÐ ¼  Ð"[t]he€following€definitions€are€applicable€to€the€Agreement:€'Candidate'€means€a€person€referred€toÐ ¨ø Ð[Ishikawa]€by€[Recruiters],€directly€or€indirectly.€€'Refer'€means€the€disclosure€by€[Recruiters]€of€theÐ ”ä Ðidentity€of€a€candidate€by€any€means,€orally€or€in€writing."€€In€addition,€"first€year€compensation"Ð €Ð Ðincludes€not€only€salary€and€wages€but€also€"draw,€fees,€commissions,€bonuses,€and€incentives."€Ð l¼ ЀÌà  àIn€general,€when€this€Court€is€presented€with€an€issue€of€contract€interpretation,€we€mustÐ D!” Ðreview€the€contract€and€make€our€own€independent€determination€of€the€contract's€meaning.€€òòCagleÐ 0"€  Ðv.€Cagleóó,€No.€02A01„9710„CH„00265,€1998€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS€776,€at€*7€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Nov.€18,Ð #l! Ð1993).€€The€rights€and€obligations€of€parties€to€a€contract€are€governed€by€their€written€agreement.€Ð $X" ÐòòHillsboro€Plaza€Enters€v.€Moonóó,€860€S.W.2d€45,€47€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€This€Court€may€notÐ ô$D # Ðmake€a€new€contract€for€parties€who€have€spoken€for€themselves€nor€may€we€later€relieve€parties€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðtheir€contractual€obligations€because€they€have€become€burdensome€or€unwise.€€òòIdóó.€€In€addition,€weÐ Ì&"% Ðare€mindful€that,€when€interpreting€language€in€a€contract,€we€should€attribute€the€usual,€natural,€andÐ ° Ðordinary€meaning€to€such€language€enforcing€the€contract€according€to€its€plain€terms.€€òòBob€PearsallÐ œì ÐMotors,€Inc.€v.€Regal€Chrysler„Plymouth,€Inc.óó,€521€S.W.2d€578,€580€(Tenn.€1975);€òòHillsboro€PlazaÐ ˆØ ÐEnterprisesóó,€860€S.W.2d€at€47.€€"[A€contract's]€ordinary€meaning€is€that€meaning€which€would€haveÐ tÄ Ðbeen€derived€from€its€words€by€reasonable€persons€dealing€in€the€same€situation€as€that€of€theÐ `° Ðcontracting€parties."€€òòMoore€v.€Mooreóó,€603€S.W.2d€736,€739€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1980)€(citing€òòHardwickÐ L œ Ðv.€Am.€Can€Co.óó,€88€S.W.€797€(Tenn.€1905)).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€below€found€important€that€Ishikawa€knew€of€Fukui€and€that€Fukui€knew€ofÐ  ` Ðthe€position€at€Ishikawa€before€Recruiters€transmitted€her€resume€to€Ishikawa.€€For€this€reason,€theÐ ü L  Ðtrial€court€found,€and€Ishikawa€argues,€that€Fukui€was€not€a€"candidate"€that€was€"referred"€byÐ è 8  ÐRecruiters€as€defined€in€the€contract.€€This€finding,€however,€is€inconsistent€with€the€terms€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðcontract€and€the€evidence€at€the€hearing.€€In€defining€"candidate,"€the€contract€fails€to€specify€thatÐ À  Ðthis€excludes€persons€with€whom€Ishikawa€had€already€had€informal€discussions.€€"Candidate"€isÐ ¬ü  Ðdefined€as€a€person€that€is€referred€to€Ishikawa€and€"refer"€means€the€"disclosure€by€[Recruiters]€ofÐ ˜è  Ðthe€identity€of€a€candidate€by€any€means,€orally€or€in€writing."€€While€Shibusawa€was€anÐ „Ô  Ðacquaintance€of€Fukui€and€Fukui€knew€of€the€position€at€Ishikawa,€the€evidence€supports€theÐ pÀ Ðconclusion€that,€before€Recruiters€transmitted€her€resume,€Fukui€did€not€apply€for€the€job,€she€hadÐ \¬ Ðno€interview€with€Ishikawa,€and€the€job€was€not€offered€to€Fukui.€€Both€Fukui€and€ShibusawaÐ H˜ Ðtestified€that€they€were€uncomfortable€with€the€arrangement€of€Fukui€working€for€Shibusawa€as€herÐ 4„ Ðassistant€because€they€were€friends.€€It€was€only€after€Ishii€persuaded€Fukui€to€apply€for€the€job€thatÐ  p ÐFukui€authorized€the€transmittal€of€her€resume€to€Ishikawa.€€Though€Ishikawa€knew€of€Fukui'sÐ  \ Ðexistence€and€her€bilingual€background€which€qualified€her€for€the€position,€Fukui's€candidacy€forÐ øH Ðthe€position€was€not€disclosed€until€Recruiters€referred€Fukui€to€Ishikawa,€and,€therefore,€RecruitersÐ ä4 Ðis€entitled€to€its€service€fee.€€Because€we€hold€that€the€contract€between€the€parties€applies€to€thisÐ Ð  Ðcase€and€Recruiters€is€entitled€to€its€service€fee,€we€reverse€the€decision€of€the€trial€court.€€InÐ ¼  Ðaddition,€since€the€trial€court€found€the€contract€did€not€apply€and€awarded€Recruiters€a€sum€underÐ ¨ø Ðthe€theory€of€òòquantum€meruitóó,€that€award€by€the€trial€court€is€improper€and€reversed.€€Ð ”ä ÐÌÓ  Óò òAttorney's€Feesó óÐ l¼ ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThe€contract€between€the€parties€provides€that€"[i]f€collection€activities€should€becomeÐ D!” Ðnecessary,€the€fee€would€be€adjusted€to€include€any€related€expenses,€such€as€reasonable€attorneyððsÐ 0"€  Ðfee."€€"[W]here€an€attorney's€fee€is€based€upon€a€contractual€agreement€expressly€providing€for€aÐ #l! Ðreasonable€fee,€the€award€must€be€based€upon€the€guidelines€by€which€a€reasonable€fee€isÐ $X" Ðdetermined."€€òòWilson€Mgmt.€Co.€v.€Star€Distribs.€Co.óó,€745€S.W.2d€870,€873€(Tenn.€1988)€(citationsÐ ô$D # Ðomitted).€€Where€the€parties€to€a€contract€specify€that€one€party€shall€be€liable€for€"reasonableÐ à%0!$ Ðattorney's€fees"€rather€than€an€agreed€upon€amount€or€percentage€of€the€recovery,€the€expectation€ofÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€parties€is€that€a€court€will€adjudicate€the€issue€of€a€reasonable€fee,€unless€they€agree€upon€anÐ ¸'#& Ðamount€after€the€controversy€matures.€€òòIdóó.€€Because€the€trial€court€found€the€terms€of€the€contractÐ ¤(ô#' Ðinapplicable,€it€decreed€that€plaintiff€was€not€entitled€to€attorney's€fees.€€Therefore,€because€we€find€Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðthat€the€provisions€of€the€contract€apply€to€the€circumstances€of€this€case,€Recruiters€has€met€theÐ ° Ðâ âburden€of€showing€an€entitlement€to€collection€costs,€including€reasonable€attorney's€fees.€€òòSeeÐ œì ÐTaylor€v.€T€&€N€Office€Equip.óó,€No.€01A01„9609„CV„00411,€1997€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS€352,€at€*11Ð ˆØ Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€May€23,€1997).€€For€this€reason,€we€remand€this€case€to€the€trial€court€for€a€properÐ tÄ Ðdetermination€of€Recruiters'€reasonable€attorney's€fees.Ð `° ÐÌÓ  Óò òConclusionó óÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌÓ  Óà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€reverse€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€and€remand€this€caseÐ  ` Ðfor€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€are€judged€against€Appellee,€IshikawaÐ ü L  ÐGasket€America,€Inc.,€for€which€execution€may€issue,€if€necessary.Ô#†XQXXXQ #ÔÔ#†¼S »XXQ” #ÔÔ€XQX»¼S ÔÐ è 8  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ˜è  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGE