WPCE # VUNa % 0(bw@4% 9 H 0JP 0T 0^ 0hL 0r 0|& 0 0( 1u 0d- U> B) DC AM;U* v~ B=vZ D3- 0@` AO 0D D/ B(HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh(9 Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($- - AAA[A[ADAAUAUAUAӀH$3|xB2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23   ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d7Border 1dd- C << G<  9p`(Arial  !  #d#  ""   YYY FILED"XJuly29,1998CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk  PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'h dStyl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   h HD: Geneva  h HD: Geneva %%%%'dxd("$    -C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd ! .       \RA'\ћ7XXdd7    ќ R!# A1-j|`  `@R INFINITYENTERTAINMENTCORP,, )formerlyOLYMPUSENTERTAINMENT,)INC.,andRICCIMARENO,Individually,)      ) DavidsonChancery Plaintiffs/Appellants,  ) No.952932III      ) VS.      )      ) DAVIDSUTTON,Individuallyand ) AppealNo.d/b/aDAVIDSUTTONMUSIC,  ) 01A019712CH00722TIMHADLERa/k/aTIMOTHY  )MICHAELHADLER,ANGELASAVAGE)HADALLER,andMARKBERNARD )a/k/a)ZYLERBEA,    )      ) Defendants/Appellees.  )@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@ ATNASHVILLE@ APPEALFROMTHECHANCERYCOURTOFDAVIDSONCOUNTY@ ATNASHVILLE,TENNESSEE0   HONORABLEELLENHOBBSLYLE,CHANCELLOR  FranklinD.Brabson,Esq.,#38902806NatchezTraceNashville,Tennessee37212ATTORNEYFORPLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTSJamesH.Harris,III,#273149MusicSquareWest,Suite600Nashville,Tennessee37203ATTORNEYFORJIMHADLER/DEFENDANTS/APPELLEESJoeT.Childress,#9929300JamesRobertsonParkway,SecondFloorNashville,Tennessee37201ATTORNEYFORDAVIDSUTTON/DEFENDANT/APPELLEE  AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED.         HENRYF.TODD      PRESIDINGJUDGE,MIDDLESECTIONCONCURS:̜WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGEWILLIAMB.CAIN,JUDGE INFINITYENTERTAINMENTCORP,, )formerlyOLYMPUSENTERTAINMENT,)INC.,andRICCIMARENO,Individually,)      ) DavidsonChancery Plaintiffs/Appellants,  ) No.952932III      ) VS.      )      ) DAVIDSUTTON,Individuallyand ) AppealNo.D/b/aDAVIDSUTTONMUSIC,  ) 01A019712CH00722TIMHADLERa/k/aTIMOTHY  )MICHAELHADLER,ANGELASAVAGE)HADALLER,andMARKBERNARD )a/k/a)ZYLERBEA,    )      ) Defendants/Appellees.  ) @  OPINIONX    Thecaptionedplaintiffshavefiledsuccessivenoticesofappealfromsuccessivesummaryjudgmentdismissingalldefendants. OnSeptember21,1995,plaintiffsfiledtheircomplaintalleginginsubstancethefollowing:   `  1. Thisisacomplaintforinjunctivereliefandfordamages.CountIstatesaclaimforbreachofcontract.CountIIforstatutoryinducementforbreachofcontract,CountIIIforcommonlawinducementforbreachofcontract,CountIVforcivilconspiracyandCountVforinjunctiverelief. 5. InfinityEntertainmentCorporationformerlyknownasOlympusEntertainment,inc.isinthemusicandentertainmentbusiness,including,butnotlimitedto,songwriting,publishingandthepromotionofartistsandoftheartistsactivitiesandassistingitsartistsinallwaysinconnectionwiththeircareers. 8. FromSeptemberof1993TimHadlera/k/aTimothyMichaelHadallersignedanExclusiveManagementAgreementforoneyearwiththreeponeyearoptionswithOlympusasperExhibit Aattachedhereto.Hadlerwasanewcomerandunknownartist.InOctoberof1993,HadlersignedanExclusiveWritersAgreement(Exhibit B)andaProductionAgreement(Exhibit C). 10. DuringJulyandAugustof1995,HadlerinitiatedaschemewherebyhewouldnegotiateareleaseunderthepretenseofleavingthemusicbusinesstoreturntohishomeinthestateofWashington.Onaprioroccasionin1994HadlerattemptedtoraisepersonalpromotionfundsforhimselfbyplottingwithapotentialMississippiinvestortosendfundstohisfatherwhowouldthenrelaythemoneytoHadler.13. Uponinformationandbelief,Hadlerreceived$25,000.00fromSuttononAugust29,1995whichhedepositedinhispersonalaccountatFirstUnionBankandobtaineda$25,000.00cashierschecktopayforhisconditionalrelease.DavidSuttonprovidedthesefundstoHadlertoprocurethebreach.15. SongwriterMarkBernardhasbreachedhisExclusiveWritersAgreementdatedFebruary6,1995(Exhibit E)byobtainingfundingfromDavidSuttontocutseveraldemosatJavelinaStudios.Suttonpaidtheexpensesbychecktothestudioandpaidthemusiciansonthesessionbycash.     OnOctober23,1995,MarkBernardfiledthefollowinganswer:   `  IwasanexclusivewriterwiththeInfinityEntertainmentCorporation.InfinityandIhadsomedifferencesforseveralmonthsandwhenDavidSuttonofferedtofinancesomedemosandhelpmefinancially,Iaccepted. ItoldMr.SuttonthatIwasntreallysurewhetherornotIwasstillundercontractwithInfinitybuthedidntseemtobeconcernedaboutit.Hewasgoingtopayforthedemos,hepmesomefinancially,andgetonehalfofthepublishingrightsonthesongsdemoed. IdidntthinkInfinitywouldcarebutobviouslytheydo.     OnDecember5,1995,TimandAngelaHadallerfiledtheiranswerstating:   `  8. Withrespecttotheallegationscontainedinparagraph8ofthecomplaint,DefendantTimHadleradmitsthathesignedtheagreementsidentifiedasExhibitsA,B,andCtothecomplaint.          ` eXAFFIRMATIVEDEFENSES  1. Thecomplaintfailstostateaclaimuponwhichreliefcanbegranted.2. PlaintiffsareestoppedfromassertingtheirclaimsagainsttheseDefendantsbecausetheyreleasedDefendantTimHadlerfromallcontractualobligationstoPlaintiffsandacceptedasconsiderationfortheirreleasepaymentfromtheseDefendantsintheamountof$25,000.00.3. Plaintiffshavereceivedaccordandsatisfactioninthattheyacceptedthesumof$25,000.00asconsiderationfortheirreleaseofTimHadlerfromallcontractualobligationstoPlaintiffs.     ` XOtherwise,saiddefendantsdeniedtheallegationsofthecomplaint. OnDecember13,1995,DavidSuttonfiledhisanswerstating:   `  15. DefendantadmitsthathepaidthestudioandmusicianexpensesandmetwithMarkBernardandThomasE.Stewart,AttorneyatLaw,asstatedinParagraph15. 17. DefendantadmitsthathewasawardthatTimHadlerandMarkBernardhadcontractualrelationshipswithoneormoreofthePlaintiffs.    Otherwise,saiddefendantsdeniedallallegationsofthecomplaintandpledthesameaffirmativedefenseastheHadallers. OnApril10,1997,theHadallersfiledamotionforsummaryjudgment. OnJuly7,1997,plaintiffsfiledaresponsetothesummaryjudgmentstating:     PlaintiffshaveagreedtotakeavoluntarynonsuitastoAngelaSavageHadaller,DefendantTimothyMichaelHadallerswife. Plaintiffsbelievethecomplaintspeaksforitselfandissimple,conciseanddirect.̀     OnJuly10,1997,theHadallersfiledanexcerptfromtheirdepositionincludingthefollowing:   `  Q. Mr.Hadler,withrespecttoyourobligationspertainingtotheleukemiaproject,didyouremainavailableafteryousignedthisreleasetoperformthoseobligations? A. Yes,Idid. Q. Okay.Wereyoueveraskedbyanybodytodoanythingwithrespecttotheleukemiaprojectafteryousignedtherelease? A. No.     OnJuly18,1997,theTrialCourtenteredanorderstating:   `  ThecourtfindsthattherearenoallegationsoffactbeforethiscourtagainstDefendantAngelaHadallerwhichtendtoestablishanyclaimforreliefagainsther.̜ ThecourtconstruestheReleaseAgreementtorequireMr.HadallertopayPlaintiffthesumofTwentyFiveThousandDollars($25,000.00).ThisistheonlyconditiontotheeffectivenessofthereleaseandMr.Hadallerhasclearlysatisfiedthatcondition.Therecordbeforethecourtdoesnotcontainstatementsfromaffidavits,fromdiscoveryorotherwisewhichtendtoestablishabreachofcontractbyeitheroftheDefendantsHadaller. Withrespecttotheclaimsforreliefbasedonstatutoryandcommonlawinducementtobreach,anduponacivilconspiracy,therecordbeforethecourtisequallydevoidofthespecificfactsfromeitheraffidavitsordiscoverymaterialsthatarerequiredbyByrdv.Hall,847S.W.2d208(1993).Likewise,the injunctivereliefthatPlaintiffreferstointhiscomplaintisaremedyonlyandisnotagroundforrelief. ItisthereforeOrderedthatthemotionforpartialsummaryjudgmentisgrantedandthatthedefendantsTimothyMichaelHadallerandAngelaSavageHadalleraredismissedaspartiestothisaction.     OnAugust25,1997,theTrialCourtoverruledamotiontoalteroramendtheorderenteredonJuly18,1997. OnAugust27,1997,DonSuttonfiledhismotionforsummaryjudgment. OnSeptember23,1997,plaintiffsappealedfromtheJuly18andAugust25,1997,orders. OnNovember5,1997,theTrialCourtentered partialsummaryjudgmentinfavorofDavidSuttonstating:   `  ThiscausecameontobeheardbeforethisHonorableCourtonthe9thdayofOctober,1997upontheMotionforPartialSummaryJudgmentfiledonbehalfoftheDefendant,DavidSutton,statementsbycounsel,supportingaffidavits,evidence,memorandaandtherecordasawhole; ThisCourtfindsthatnogenuineissueofmaterialfactexistsregardingMr.SuttonsknowledgeoftheexistenceofanexclusiveagreementbetweenInfinityEntertainmentCorporationandDefendant,MarkBernard,thatsameisanessentialelementtoprovingtheexistenceofabreachofcontractbetweenInfinityEntertainmentCorporationandMarkBernardandthatthereisnoevidencetosupportPlaintiffstheoryofaconspiracybetweenDefendantsDavidSuttonandMarkBernardregardingabreachofMr.BernardscontractualobligationswithPlaintiff. Inmakingitsfindings,theCourthasconsideredthepastdealingsbetweentheparties,thetestimonyofMarkBernard,RicciMarenoandDavidSutton,aswellasthepleadingfiledinthiscase;specifically,Paragraph21oftheAnswerfiledonbehalfoftheDefendant,DavidSutton.    OnDecember8,1997,(aMonday),theplaintiffsfiledanoticeofappealstating:   `  ComesthePlaintiffsandfilethisNoticeofAppealfromasecondpartialsummaryjudgmentfromtheChanceryCourtofDavidsonCounty,Tennessee,PartIII.     Theappellantspresentthefollowingissues:   ` 1. DidcourterringrantingsummaryjudgmenttoDefendant,TimHadler?2. DidCourterringrantingsummaryjudgmenttoDefendant,DavidSutton?3. DoesTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedureabrogatethePlaintiffsrighttotrialbyjury?4. Doesbenchtrialbydepositionandsummaryjudgmentdeprivepartiesoftheirdayincourt?      FIRSTISSUE DismissalofTimHadaller   TheuncontrovertedevidenceshowsthatwhatevercontractualrelationsexistedbetweenplaintiffsandTimHadallerwerereleasedanddischargedbyawrittenagreement.Plaintiffsappeartoseekrescissionofthereleaseforfraud.Defendantsofferevidencedenyingfraud,andplaintiffsoffernoevidencetoestablishfraudwhichisnotpresumed.Hillerv.Hailey,Tenn.App.1995,915S.W.2d800;Fowlerv.HappyGoodmanFamily,Tenn.1978,575S.W.2d496. Nomeritisfoundinplaintiffsfirstissue.   SECONDISSUE DismissalofDavidSutton  Ӝ PlaintiffssuitagainstDavidSuttonwasapparentlybaseduponthetheorythathefurnishedthe$25,000.00considerationforthereleaseofTomHadallerandtherebyjoinedinaconspiracytodefraudplaintiffs.AnecessaryprerequisitetorecoveryofdamagesfromDavidSuttonisarescissionoftheinstrumentexecutedbyplaintiffsreleasingTimHadaller.Asheretoforediscussed,plaintiffshavenotofferedevidencetosupportsuchrescissionandthereleasedischargedTimHadaller.WithoutrightsagainstTimHadaller,plaintiffshavenorightsagainstanyallegedconspiratorinconnectionwiththerelease. Nomeritisfoundinplaintiffssecondissue.  THIRDISSUE RighttoTrialbyJury   Decisionsgrantingsummaryjudgmentinvolveonlyquestionsoflawandthereforedonotinvadetheprovinceofthejury.Robertsv.Roberts,Tenn.App.1992,845S.W.2d225. Nomeritisfoundinplaintiffsthirdissue.  FOURTHISSUE DayinCourt   Plaintiffshavehadtheirdayincourtandhavebeendefeatedbyarulingoflawsimilartoadirectedverdict.Grayv.Amos,Tenn.App.1993,869S.W.2d925.̛̜ ThejudgmentsoftheTrialCourtareaffirmed.Costsofthisappealareassessedagainsttheappellants.ThecauseisremandedtotheTrialCourtfornecessaryfurtherproceedings.  AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED.                  _________________________________       HENRYF.TODD        PRESIDINGJUDGE,MIDDLESECTION  CONCUR:____________________________WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE____________________________WILLIAMB.CAIN,JUDGE