ÿWPC× ~s‚TÆnt9¸ÞU}û;SbŒXa¾êãÇ‚+ËWu6‘UÆŸûø‘œu]Cü-,¬Íÿh:l°Øñ0e_yôRÍBRÅí"4Q“† Ã<åt¦ôÌ]§^f6}22 6@ÌHf¥µ ç/mÀx Ìéõ‹-õ Ð5•—rÙ&­ª› 9Ëz2 §œ’9,übBL³ËÉ h†ZÜ2r(Í ÒÜÔ!ªÙˆÿ¬·Ð˜i•ž¦º– òípQrU­T³Šöm…– ÛCÇ…19õLñr‰äCÅŽ‡ï zéôéÁFu¢ÈŠý]€}ÜÙZ(ù µ®FçãÇÈüÔ~4r¥É Áß4%Ìd²gó gÑè¸Ñ„Âø©uÎ G=à9Q€öl¹yéŸú±ØˆBÓ+Ùv†MçgŠúô^Ðy+Rš™þ¨^öæS%  5ôæà×g ƒÜ[ŽÄ½âC† üá›M(6ˆ“ƒ©Kj¯[_å ¹û¶ø”¶88'¿·|UqW*"*þÿ߇9h%Wj±é /ù§—öÏMM„ÁcÄèmãÉ"œ]l쎛"ã:<¢®qbÆ ûÝöQu¢ĉÃШT¶DÀY…ŽN.;ŸœTb’b#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz ‘ Æ‘ ÆW ÆÆãÛ©N„ 0D††EÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊbÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ 0ëÔÔÔÔ B¿¿ 0¤Ü D3€ D-³ 0Kàà AS+Æ~ 0¤D 0Dè A«,˜HP LaserJet 4050ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0»e“^-s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular¬|&-  1¬à£ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ TELLICOPuckettGoddard P.J.SwineySweetwaterWmBiddle S.Y.Tenn.Ct.AppGitterestoppedFahrnerLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ÑÝ ƒRÇ)$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôíuò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMorganððs€claim€actually€was€for€10%€overhead€and€5%€profit,€as€previously€noted.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2Ç)$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€D»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôíuò»»Ô d(|3Ç„$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€D»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Ç„$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€D»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€D»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼D»»»ÔÑ8€áXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îB\DÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼D»îîB\ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓJune€26,€2002€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XáX»¼DÔÌò òÔ#†¼D»XXáò#ÔLARRY€MORGAN€d/b/a€MORGAN€CONTRACTING,€INC.òòóó€v.€TOWN€OFÐ úJ ÐTELLICO€PLAINS,€TENNESSEE,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XáX»¼DÔó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Monroe€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€V99274P€€€€€€Lawrence€H.€Puckett,€JudgeÐ ú J ÐÌFILED€OCTOBER€30,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ Ò"  Ðà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2001„02733„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CVÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÌÓ  ÓIn€this€contract€dispute,€the€Plaintiff,€Morgan€Contracting,€Inc.€(ð ðMorganðð)€sued€the€Town€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_ÔÐ xÈ ÐPlains,€alleging€that€it€was€due€$68,464.86€under€the€terms€of€the€contract.€€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€answeredÐ d´ Ðwith€the€defense€that€Morganððs€claim€was€time„barred€under€the€sixty„day€limitations€period€set€forthÐ P  Ðin€the€contract.€After€a€non„jury€trial,€the€Court€ruled€that€Morgan€had€not€filed€suit€within€theÐ <Œ Ðcontractual€limitations€period€and€consequently€dismissed€Morganððs€cause€of€action.€On€appeal,Ð (x ÐMorgan€argues€that€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€not€finding€that€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€waived€its€right€to€relyÐ d Ðupon€the€contractual€limitations€period€provision.€€We€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court.Ð P ÐÌÓÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed;€CauseÐ Ä ÐRemandedó óÐ ° ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼D»àXá°#ÔÔ‡XáX.¼DÔHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,óóÐ ˆØ Ðand€òòD.€Michael€Swineyóó,€JJ.,€joined.Ð t Ä ÐÌJohn€W.€Cleveland,€Sweetwater,€for€the€Appellant,€Morgan€Contracting,€Inc.Ð L"œ! ÐÌWm.€P.€Biddle,€III,€Athens,€for€the€Appellee,€Town€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains,€TennesseeÐ $$t# ÐÌÓc ÓÔ#†¼D»XXá’ #Ôò òÌOPINIONó óÐ '`"& ÐÌÓ  Óà  àÔ€XáX»¼DÔThe€contract€at€issue€provided€that€Morgan€was€to€install€a€system€of€€water€pipes€for€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_ÔÐ 6)†$( ÐPlainsðð€water€system,€replacing€a€system€of€pipes€that€was,€in€the€words€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plainsðð€CityÐ "*r%) ÐEngineer,€ð ða€patchwork€quilt€of€small€diameter€lines€of€substandard€grade€materials,€galvanized€pipe,Ð +^&* Ðold€plastic€pipe,€old€duct€line€and€some€cast€iron€pipes,€most€of€which€had€been€installed,€some€asÐ ú+J'+ Ðearly€as€the€early€1900's,€at€various€times€and€by€various€people.ðð€€Morgan€began€work€on€the€projectÐ æ,6(, Ðin€October€of€1998.€€Ð Ò-")-ýÿ Ðà  àIt€soon€became€apparent€that€replacing€the€system€of€water€pipes€would€be€a€ratherÐ ° Ðcomplicated€matter,€as€it€was€discovered€that€there€were€no€records€or€drawings€showing€the€locationÐ œì Ðof€the€underground€structures.€€Each€of€the€parties€took€the€position€that€the€other€was€contractuallyÐ ˆØ Ðresponsible€for€locating€and€marking€the€existing€underground€pipes.€€On€October€13,€1998,€MorganÐ tÄ Ðsent€a€letter€to€Joel€Bruce€Spaulding,€Jr.,€the€City€Engineer,€which€states€that€ð ðit€is€our€position€thatÐ `° Ðany€additional€costs€incurred,€due€to€unmarked€waterlines,€will€need€to€be€compensated.ðð€Ð L œ ÐResponding€to€a€short€note€sent€by€Mr.€Spaulding€which€stated€that€the€contract€made€it€MorganððsÐ 8 ˆ Ðresponsibility€to€locate€and€mark€the€lines,€Morgan€sent€a€letter€dated€October€15,€1998€which€statesÐ $ t Ðas€follows:Ð  ` ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIn€short,€we€will€not€be€held€responsible€for€any€water€main,€waterÐ è 8  Ðservice,€sewer€main,€or€sewer€service€damage€if€the€lines€are€notÐ Ô$  Ðmarked.€€We€will€expect€full€compensation€for€the€repair€of€suchÐ À  Ðlines.€€We€will€also€expect€full€compensation€for€any€downtime€orÐ ¬ü  Ðlost€production€due€to€the€unmarked€lines.€Ð˜è ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWe€feel€a€meeting€about€this€conflict€(A.S.A.P.)€would€beÐ pÀ Ðadvantageous€to€all€parties.€€Please€advise.€Ð\¬` x` x ÐÌà  àOn€October€16,€1998,€Mr.€Spaulding€sent€Morgan€a€letter€which€states€as€follows€in€relevantÐ 4„ Ðpart:Ð  p ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àMy€formal€decision€under€Section€9.11€of€the€General€Conditions€toÐ øH Ðyour€October€13,€1998€and€October€15,€1998€notices€is€that€theÐ ä4 ÐContract€Drawings€clearly€indicate€that€the€Contractor€is€responsibleÐ Ð  Ðfor€locating€the€existing€underground€utilities.€Ð¼ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€location€of€the€existing€utilities€and€other€obstacles€as€well€as€anyÐ ”ä Ðincidental€repairs€to€same€are€an€essential€work€element€of€theÐ €Ð ÐContract.€€Ðl¼` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àà  à*à0h` x` xàà0Àhxhxà*à0ÀxÀxàà0pxxà*ÐX ¨pxpx Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAs€this€is€an€essential€element€of€the€Contract,€there€is€no€basis€forÐ D!” Ðadditional€compensation€nor€will€the€Town€relieve€you€of€your€dutiesÐ 0"€  Ðand€responsibilities€under€the€Contract.€Ð#l!` x` x ÐÌMorgan€continued€to€work€on€the€project,€locating€and€marking€the€water€lines€as€best€it€could,€afterÐ ô$D # Ðreceipt€of€this€letter.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àOn€March€9,€1999,€Mr.€Spaulding€sent€a€letter€advising€Morgan€as€follows:Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€Town€has€requested€that€we€delete€the€paving€work€from€yourÐ )à$( Ðâ âcontract€with€the€exception€of€the€work€performed€to€date.€€They€haveÐ |*Ì%) Ðelected€to€perform€the€work€with€their€own€forces€and€requested€thatÐ ° ÐI€notify€you€of€same.€€Ðœì` x` x Ðâ âÌThe€contract€anticipated€that€Morgan€would€pave€10,000€square€yards€for€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains.€€At€the€timeÐ tÄ ÐMorgan€received€this€letter,€it€had€completed€paving€only€424.78€yards.€€Subsequently,€Morgan€filedÐ `° Ðwith€the€Town€a€claim€for€10%€overhead€and€5%€profit€on€the€9,575.22€square€yards€of€paving€workÐ L œ Ðwhich€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€deleted€from€the€contract.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àOn€March€15,€1999,€Morganððs€attorney€sent€a€letter€to€Mr.€Spaulding€and€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€PlainsððÐ  ` Ðattorney,€which€states€as€follows€in€relevant€part:Ð ü L  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à€I€am€advising€my€clients,€Morgan€Contracting,€Inc.,€that€they€mayÐ Ô$  Ðcomplete€the€job€in€the€Town€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€and€keep€a€record€ofÐ À  Ðall€costs€associated€with€the€slow€downs,€stops,€repairs,€and€downÐ ¬ü  Ðtime€that€are€caused€by€the€City€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plainsðð€inability€to€markÐ ˜è  Ðthe€underground€utilities€in€their€city.Ð„Ô ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àIt€is€in€my€best€legal€opinion€that€Morgan€Contracting,€Inc.€is€entitledÐ \¬ Ðto€compensation€for€the€loss€of€time€and€down„time€as€a€result€of€theÐ H˜ ÐCity€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plainsðð€inability€to€mark€utilities.€.€.Therefore,€I€haveÐ 4„ Ðadvised€my€clients€to€serve€upon€the€Town€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€a€bill€forÐ  p Ðall€additional€costs€which€currently€is€running€over€Forty€ThousandÐ  \ Ð($40,000)€Dollars€and€additional€costs€are€being€accrued€daily.ÐøH` x` x ÐÌà  àÔ_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plainsðð€attorney€responded€to€this€letter€by€sending€the€following€letter,€dated€MarchÐ Ð  Ð17,€1999,€which€forms€the€basis€for€Morganððs€waiver€argument:Ð ¼  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThis€will€acknowledge€receipt€of€your€letter€of€March€15,€1999.€€WeÐ ”ä Ðdo€not€agree€with€the€legal€observations€and€conclusions€madeÐ €Ð Ðtherein.€Morgan€can€make€whatever€claim€Morgan€desires€in€regardÐ l¼ Ðto€additional€compensation€and€that€will€be€addressed€in€accordanceÐ X ¨ Ðwith€the€contract€documents€by€the€Town€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€at€suchÐ D!” Ðtime€as€the€contract€by€Morgan€is€completed€based€upon€theÐ 0"€  Ðobligations€of€the€parties€under€the€contract.€€Ð#l!` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€Town€of€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€is€not€accepting€any€liability€for€costÐ ô$D # Ðincurred€by€Morgan€Contracting,€Inc.€resulting€from€the€contractorððsÐ à%0!$ Ðdamage€to€existing€water€lines,€but€recognize€the€right€that€MorganÐ Ì&"% Ðhas€to€claim€additional€compensation.€Ð¸'#&` x` x ÐÌà  àOn€May€10,€1999,€Mr.€Spaulding€sent€a€letter€to€Morgan€which€states€in€relevant€part€asÐ )à$( Ðfollows:Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* ÐÔ_Ôà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€following€represents€my€formal€decision€as€ENGINEER€asÐ ° Ðprovided€in€the€General€Conditions€Article€9.11€in€response€to€theÐ œì Ðð ðSummary€of€Chargesðð,€i.e.,€your€requests€for€additionalÐ ˆØ Ðcompensation€under€the€above€referenced€contract€as€presented€in€ourÐ tÄ ÐApril€28,€1999€meeting.€€Ð`°` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àÐ ` x` x Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  à*à0 h àà0Àh(#h(#à*à0À(#À(#àà0p(#(#à*Ð8 ˆp(#p(# Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAs€regards€your€claims€totaling€$39,901.93€for€marking€unmarkedÐ $ t Ðwater€lines€and€repairing€unmarked€water€lines,€my€decision€remainsÐ  ` Ðthe€same€as€my€previous€decision€to€the€contrary€stated€in€detail€in€myÐ ü L  ÐOctober€16,€1998€letter.€€Based€on€the€same€reasons€outlined€in€myÐ è 8  ÐOctober€16,€1998€letter,€I€can€not€approve€your€request€for€additionalÐ Ô$  Ðreimbursement€for€marking€and/or€repairing€unmarked€water€lines.ÐÀ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAs€regards€your€claim€for€5%€overhead€and€10%€profit׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€for€theÐ ˜è  Ðdeletion€of€9,575.22€square€yards€of€pavement€repair€at€$10.00€perÐ „Ô  ÐS.Y.€(which€I€calculate€as€a€claim€of€$14,362.83),€I€can€find€no€basisÐ pÀ Ðin€the€CONTRACT€DOCUMENTS€to€support€this€claim.€Ð\¬` x` x ÐÌà  àMorgan€filed€the€instant€action€on€October€5,€1999,€alleging€that€it€was€due€the€lost€overheadÐ 4„ Ðand€profits€from€the€deleted€paving€work,€and€also€reimbursement€for€the€expenses€it€incurred€dueÐ  p Ðto€the€inability€to€locate€and€mark€the€water€lines.€€Tellico€Plains€responded,€alleging,€òòinter€aliaóó,€€thatÐ  \ Ðthe€contract€did€not€support€Morganððs€claims€and€that€Morgan€had€failed€to€comply€with€theÐ øH Ðfollowing€provision€of€the€contract:Ð ä4 ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àò òDecisions€on€Disputes:ó óм ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à9.11.€€ENGINEER€will€be€the€initial€interpreter€of€the€requirementsÐ ”ä Ðof€the€Contract€Documents€and€judge€of€the€acceptability€of€the€workÐ €Ð Ðthereunder.€€Claims,€disputes€and€other€matters€relating€to€theÐ l¼ Ðacceptability€of€the€Work€or€the€interpretation€of€the€requirements€ofÐ X ¨ Ðthe€Contract€Documents€pertaining€to€the€performance€and€furnishingÐ D!” Ðof€the€Work€and€Claims€under€Articles€11€and€12€in€respect€ofÐ 0"€  Ðchanges€in€the€Contract€Price€or€Contract€Times€will€be€referredÐ #l! Ðinitially€to€ENGINEER€in€writing€with€a€request€for€a€formal€decisionÐ $X" Ðin€accordance€with€this€paragraph.€.€.ENGINEERððs€written€decisionÐ ô$D # Ðon€such€claim,€dispute€or€other€matter€will€be€final€and€binding€uponÐ à%0!$ ÐOWNER€€and€CONTRACTOR€unless:.€.€.a€written€notice€of€intentionÐ Ì&"% Ðto€appeal€from€ENGINEERððs€written€decision€is€delivered€byÐ ¸'#& ÐOWNER€or€CONTRACTOR€to€the€other€and€to€ENGINEER€withinÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthirty€days€after€the€date€of€such€decision€and€a€formal€proceeding€isÐ )à$( Ðinstituted€by€the€appealing€party€in€a€forum€of€competent€jurisdictionÐ ° Ðto€exercise€such€rights€and€remedies€as€the€appealing€party€may€haveÐ œì Ðwith€respect€to€such€claim,€dispute€or€other€matter€in€accordance€withÐ ˆØ Ðapplicable€Laws€and€Regulations€within€sixty€days€of€the€date€of€suchÐ tÄ Ðdecision,€unless€otherwise€agreed€in€writing€by€OWNER€andÐ `° ÐCONTRACTOR.€ÐL œ` x` x ÐÌà  àTellico€Plains€asserted€that€Morgan€did€not€send€it€a€written€notice€of€intention€to€appeal€Mr.Ð $ t ÐSpauldingððs€decision€within€thirty€days,€nor€did€Morgan€file€suit€within€the€sixty€days€required€byÐ  ` Ðthe€above„cited€Article€9.11€of€the€contract.€€Morgan€argued€at€trial€that€Tellico€Plainsðð€letter€ofÐ ü L  ÐMarch€17,€1999,€which€states€that€ð ðMorgan€can€make€whatever€claim€Morgan€desires€in€regard€toÐ è 8  Ðadditional€compensation€and€that€will€be€addressed€in€accordance€with€the€contract€documents€byÐ Ô$  Ðthe€Town€of€Tellico€Plains€at€such€time€as€the€contract€by€Morgan€is€completed€based€upon€theÐ À  Ðobligations€of€the€parties€under€the€contract,ðð€constituted€a€waiver€by€Tellico€Plains€of€Article€9.11Ð ¬ü  Ðof€the€contract.à ¸ àà  àÐ ˜è  ÐÌà  àThe€Trial€Court€held€that€Tellico€Plainsðð€March€17,€1999€€letter€was€not€ð ða€complete€waiver.ððÐ pÀ ÐThe€Court€stated€that€ð ðI€do€think€it€was€a€waiver€of€the€original.€.€.October€16€[1998]€letter€andÐ \¬ Ðdecision.€€Because€it€extended€the€time€for€claims€to€be€made€to€the€time€of€completion.ðð€The€CourtÐ H˜ Ðmade€additional€findings€as€follows:Ð 4„ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àThe€way€the€Court€understands€the€proof,€the€work€had€beenÐ  \ Ðcompleted€when€on€May€the€10th,€1999,€the€final€decision€of€theÐ øH Ðengineer€was€made€about€the€additional€compensation€claims.€€At€thatÐ ä4 Ðpoint€it€was€incumbent€under€the€contract€for€Morgan€to€file€a€noticeÐ Ð  Ðof€disagreement€within€thirty€days€and€file€suit€within€sixty€days.м ` x` x ÐÌ€The€Court€consequently€dismissed€Morganððs€action€as€time„barred€under€the€sixty„day€contractualÐ ”ä Ðlimitations€period.Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àOn€appeal,€Morgan€raises€the€issue,€which€we€restate,€of€whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€inÐ X ¨ Ðfailing€to€hold€that€Tellico€Plains€had€waived€its€right€to€rely€on€the€contractual€limitations€periodÐ D!” Ðcontained€in€Article€9.11.Ð 0"€  ÐÓ  ÓÓ  Ӏ̀€€€€€€€€€€This€is€a€non-jury€case€and,€accordingly,€our€review€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€theÐ $X" Ðproceedings€below.€€A€trial€court's€conclusions€of€law€carry€no€presumption€of€correctness.€òòÐ ô$D # ÐCampbell€v.€Florida€Steel€Corp.óó,€919€S.W.2d€26€(Tenn.1996).€€There€is,€however,€a€presumption€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðcorrectness€as€to€a€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€and€that€presumption€must€be€honored€absentÐ Ì&"% Ðevidence€which€preponderates€to€the€contrary.€€Tenn.R.App.P.€13(d)€and€òòUnion€Carbide€Corp.€v.Ð ¸'#& ÐHuddlestonóó,€854€S.W.2d€87€(Tenn.1993).Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àWe€initially€note€that€ð ðit€is€a€well€established€general€rule€that€in€the€absence€of€a€prohibitoryÐ |*Ì%) Ðstatute,€a€contract€provision€is€valid€which€limits€the€time€for€bringing€suit,€if€a€reasonable€periodÐ h+¸&* Ðof€time€is€provided,€and€that€the€general€statutes€of€limitations€are€not€prohibitory€of€such€contractualÐ ° Ðprovisions€as€between€private€individuals€or€corporations.ðð€òòState€v.€Evansóó,€334€S.W.2d€337Ð œì Ð(Tenn.Ct.App.€1959).Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àWe€agree€with€the€Trial€Court€that€the€March€17,€1999€letter€from€Tellico€Plainsðð€attorneyÐ `° Ðwas€not€an€express€waiver.€€As€we€have€recently€noted€in€òòCollins€v.€Summers€Hardware€and€SupplyÐ L œ ÐCo.óó,€an€unreported€opinion€of€this€Court€filed€in€Knoxville€on€March€27,€2002,Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA€waiver€is€an€intentional€relinquishment€of€a€known€right€and€is€aÐ ü L  Ðdoctrine€of€very€broad€and€general€application.€€It€concedes€a€right,Ð è 8  Ðbut€assumes€a€voluntary€relinquishment€of€it.€€Our€courts€have€heldÐ Ô$  Ðthat€there€must€be€clear,€unequivocal€and€decisive€acts€of€the€party€ofÐ À  Ðan€act€which€shows€determination€not€to€have€the€benefit€intended€inÐ ¬ü  Ðorder€to€constitute€a€waiver.€Ð˜è ` x` x ÐÌ(Quoting€òòGitter€v.€Tennessee€Farmers€Mut.€Ins.€Co.óó,€450€S.W.2d€780,€784€(Tenn.Ct.App.1969)).€Ð pÀ ÐAs€the€Trial€Court€noted,€the€letter€twice€affirms€the€obligations€of€the€contract,€stating€that€ð ðMorganÐ \¬ Ðcan€make€whatever€claim€Morgan€desires.€.€.and€that€will€be€addressedòò€in€accordance€with€theÐ H˜ Ðcontract€documentsóó€by€the€Town€of€Tellico€Plains€at€such€time€as€the€contract€is€completed€òòbasedÐ 4„ Ðupon€the€obligations€of€the€parties€under€the€contract.óóðð€(Emphasis€added).€€We€are€not€of€the€opinionÐ  p Ðthat€the€language€of€the€March€17,€1999€letter€could€reasonably€be€construed€as€a€clear,€unequivocalÐ  \ Ðand€decisive€relinquishment€of€Tellico€Plainsðð€right€to€rely€on€the€contractual€limitations€provision.Ð øH ÐÌà  àAlthough€the€Trial€Court€spoke€in€terms€of€ð ðwaiver,ðð€its€holding€in€effect€was€that€TellicoÐ Ð  ÐPlains€was€equitably€estopped€from€asserting€the€contractual€limitation€period€until,€in€the€words€ofÐ ¼  Ðthe€letter,€ð ðsuch€time€as€the€contract€is€completed.ðð€Our€Supreme€Court€has€recently€discussed€theÐ ¨ø Ðconcept€of€equitable€estoppel,€ð ðwhich€tolls€the€running€of€the€statute€of€limitations€where€theÐ ”ä Ðdefendant€has€ððmisled€the€plaintiff€into€failing€to€file€[his]€action€within€the€statutory€period€ofÐ €Ð Ðlimitations.ðððð€òòFahrner€v.€SW€Manufacturing,€Inc.óó,€48€S.W.3d€141€(Tenn.€2001)(bracketed€materialÐ l¼ Ðin€original).€Although€the€òòFahrner€óócourt€dealt€with€a€statutory€limitations€period,€we€believe€theÐ X ¨ Ðequitable€principles€discussed€in€that€case€are€equally€applicable€in€a€situation€where€the€parties€haveÐ D!” Ðcontractually€agreed€upon€a€limitations€period.€Ð 0"€  Ðà  àÌà  àThe€òòFahrneróó€court€held€as€follows:Ð $X" ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àHaving€held€that€the€discovery€rule€and€equitable€estoppel€areÐ à%0!$ Ðdifferent,€we€must€now€decide€how€long€the€statute€of€limitations€isÐ Ì&"% Ðtolled€when€a€plaintiff€successfully€invokes€the€latter.€€The€answer€isÐ ¸'#& Ðclear:€the€tolling€period€equals€the€amount€of€time€the€defendantÐ ¤(ô#' Ðmisled€the€plaintiff.Ð)à$(` x` x Ðâ âÔ_ÔÐ |*Ì%) ÐòòFahrneróó,€48€S.W.3d€at€146.€€In€the€present€case,€we€agree€with€the€Trial€Courtððs€finding€thatÐ ° Ðâ âalthough€the€March€17,€1999€letter€was€not€an€express€waiver,€it€could€fairly€be€construed€asÐ œì Ðmisleading€Morgan€into€believing€that€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€would€not€assert€the€limitations€defense€untilÐ ˆØ Ðð ðsuch€time€as€the€contract€was€completed.ððÐ tÄ ÐÌà  àThe€Trial€Court€found€that€the€contract€was€completed€on€May€10,€1999,€the€date€on€whichÐ L œ ÐMr.€Spaulding€mailed€the€final€adjusting€change€order,€and€his€formal€decision€denying€additionalÐ 8 ˆ Ðcompensation€under€the€contract,€to€Morgan.€€The€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€thisÐ $ t Ðfinding.€€It€is€undisputed€that€Morgan€did€not€deliver€to€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_Ô€Plains€or€Mr.€Spaulding€a€writtenÐ  ` Ðnotice€of€intention€to€appeal€Mr.€Spauldingððs€May€10€formal€decision,€as€required€by€Article€9.11Ð ü L  Ðof€the€contract.€€Morgan€filed€suit€on€October€5,€1999,€well€beyond€the€sixty€days€allowed€by€theÐ è 8  Ðcontract.€€We€do€note€that€Mr.€Spauldingððs€May€10€letter€is€clearly€designated€as€ð ðmy€formalÐ Ô$  Ðdecision€as€ENGINEERðð€and€that€it€makes€specific€reference€to€Article€9.11€of€the€contract.€€BasedÐ À  Ðon€our€review€of€the€record€and€applicable€law,€we€agree€with€the€Trial€Courtððs€conclusion€thatÐ ¬ü  ÐMorganððs€claim€is€time„barred€under€the€limitations€period€provision€of€its€contract€with€Ô_ÔTellicoÔ_ÔÐ ˜è  ÐPlains.Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€affirmed€and€the€cause€remandedÐ \¬ Ðfor€collection€of€costs€below.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€adjudged€against€Morgan€Contracting,€Inc.€andÐ H˜ Ðits€surety.Ð 4„ Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àÌÌà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#à_________________________________________Ðä4À(#À(# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àHOUSTON€M.€GODDARD,€PRESIDING€JUDGEÐ Ð  ÐÌÌÓ@BÓ