ÿWPCß …æ¡HV™sÏëäHëi¥ÛòÆÿ Ì&¹ö Rä™þt;Öýé_^$õß‚¿¬3´_¡€ Ïo-Y£m«Î{q$/˜œãÛ„ ٸܔ1±® ØHãmÅÚ+•Cà™wPgB˜ÈÁàrô8âkDüˆ<‘ðD‘± ‹¥ÚØ&®’FµgáS°ß±Fö-§Ýr|´Õ'Z¦¸÷R)cí1'«6óòŽåüK™å-ÃisgRý¬3'r!t\J¨q2UÏ_I#'_5‘j—Þ‡a غáÆ <R€ ORHÓÀºM’°6Å;©óJ^5Õ‡‡’Œµæ]N7Y5ïÀ³ÓúϺj”tÞ{à¡Í’ÿÿUT =ðed£ŸÂëS)²%“¿ó,çãdx#!ˆUN© %÷ 0FýNC ^ E wQ 4U i mk UN‚ fÐ UNÒ U@ a` 0t @z 0Dºþ‚UˆU:ÝÝG ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 0bn D5Ð B AQ"Æs 0b9 0D›#|x˜HP LaserJet 8000 DN PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0(ÆúI Z‹6Times New Roman Regular»(iñ$¡¡Ó  ÓÔUSUS.,Ô…E'L {Z='L©œÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman Regular(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman TABLE A(¶(2(²$¤¤Ý ƒiñ!ÝÓ  ÓÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÑTR[° AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  Óà Ø àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó 6Ý ƒ(²$ÝÓ  ÓÔUSUS.,ÔÑT@R[° AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  Óà Ø àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼½€»»»ÔÔ€Xy,X»¼½€ÔAny€rooms€that€were€out€of€order€on€a€particular€night€because€of€plumbing€defects€orÐ ° Ðother€problems€rendering€them€unsuitable€for€occupancy€and€rooms€designated€asÏcomplimentary€are€not€included€in€any€of€the€calculations€of€room€night€vacancies.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó  xÝ ƒ(²$ÝÓ  ÓÔUSUS.,ÔÑT@R[° AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  Óà Ø àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€Xy,X»»ÔThe€figures€in€Appellantððs€Ô_ÔtableÔ_Ô€were€corrected€to€reflect€accurate€math. KÝ ƒbñÿ"ÝÓ  ÓÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€»˜‚»»»ÔÔ€­»»˜‚ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X1bX­ÔÐ  ÐÌSeptember€29,€1999ÌÌCecil€Ô_ÔCrowsonÔ_Ô,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdA–Ôó ó,O²ÀAZ‹"Arial Regular =Ý ƒiñ!ÝÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô1one(:3ñÿ$££Ý ƒiñ!ÝÓ  ÓÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý\\\\)ÿÿ!dxdx dabZc[Cþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(:3ñÿ$¢¢Ý ƒiñ!ÝÓ  ÓÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óÝ ƒiñ!ÝÓ  ÓÔUSUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑTR[° AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ‡¼½€»»»ÔÑ8€ y, XXdìdÈ8ÑÔ‡¼½€»»¼½€ÔÑ  Ñßx€`[B2.jzÀ`  `€€@ÿEžp` 8ttxPÖ°( À xßÔ_ÔOPRYLANDÔ_Ô€HOTEL,€L.P.,à0 8 àà08T$8T$à)аT$T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)ÌÓ-°,X‚XÀ‚„ X°œX-Óà Ø àPlaintiff/Appellant,à  à)à  àAppeal€No.Ð Ô$ Ðà Ø àà  à)à  à01„A„01„9810„CH„00551Ð æ6 Ðv.à Ø àà  à)Ð øH Ðà Ø àà  à)à  àDavidson€ChanceryÐ  Z ÐMILLBROOK€DISTRIBUTION€à0  à)à0T$T$àNo.€97„1502„IIÐ lT$T$ ÐSERVICES,€INC.,à0  à)Ð. ~T$T$ Ðà Ø àà  à)Ìà Ø àDefendant/Appellee.à  à)Ð R¢  Ðà Ø àà  àÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ€ÓCOURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌAPPEAL€FROM€THE€DAVIDSON€COUNTY€CHANCERY€COURTÌAT€€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌTHE€HONORABLE€CAROL€L.€Ô_ÔMcCOYÔ_Ô,€CHANCELLORÌÌÌÌÓ€ÓÓÙÓÓ  ÓÌÌCYRUS€L.€BOOKERÌURSULA€Y.€HOLMESÌBooker,€Ô_ÔBaughÔ_Ô€&€GrantÌ315€Ô_ÔDeaderickÔ_Ô€Street,€#1280ÌNashville,€Tennessee€37238„1280Ìà Ø àATTORNEYS€FOR€PLAINTIFF/APPELLANTÌÌÌDOUGLAS€FISHERÌHowell€&€FisherÌCourt€Square€BuildingÌ300€James€Robertson€ParkwayÌNashville,€Tennessee€37201Ìà Ø àATTORNEY€FOR€DEFENDANT/APPELLEEÌÌÌÌÌÓÍÓÓ  ÓREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÓjÓÓ  ÓÌÌWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEÔ#†¼½€»»¼½€#ÔÔ‡¼½€»»¼½€ÔÔ#†»½€»»¼½€¹#ÔÔ‡¼½€»»»½€ÔÐ Ï;78¾ ÐÔ_ÔÔ € ÔÓÓÓ  ÓÓ€ÓÌÔ#†»½€»»¼½€¦#ÔÔ‡„ÔÓ„»»½€ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÐ K› ÐÓ Óà Ø àÔ#†»½€»„„ÔÓ\ #ÔÔ#†»½€»»»½€d#ÔThis€is€an€appeal€by€Opryland€Hotel€from€judgment€of€the€€Chancery€CourtÐ [« Ðof€Davidson€County€relative€to€the€cancellation€by€Millbrook€DistributionÏServices,€Inc.,€of€a€hotel€reservation€agreement.€Constructed€in€the€1970's,ÏOpryland€Hotel€had€expanded€in€the€€ensuing€years€so€that€in€the€year€1993€itÏwas€one€of€the€major€€convention€centers€in€the€country.€€Millbrook€DistributionÏServices,€€Inc.€was€a€foreign€corporation,€with€corporate€offices€in€Arkansas,€Ïseeking€to€hold€its€first€convention€of€vendors,€employees€and€€customers€in€theÏmiddle€of€the€year€1995.€ÌÌI.à Ø àThe€Agreement€ProcessÐ Î Ðà Ø àIn€August€1994€Steve€Tanner,€Learning€Facilitator€for€€Millbrook,€met€atÏlength€with€David€J.€Furnish,€Corporate€Sales€€Manager€for€Opryland.€€FollowingÏthis€meeting,€Furnish€wrote€a€six€€page€letter€to€Tanner.€€The€understanding€ofÏthis€letter€is€vital€to€disposition€of€this€case.€€The€letter€states€in€part:€ÌÓ€Óà8 Ø àÔ€Xy,X»»½€ÔDear€Steve:€ÐÕ% Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà8 Ø àIt€certainly€was€a€pleasure€meeting€with€you€and€Jim€this€week.€€Thank€you€forÏgiving€me€a€better€understanding€of€Millbrook's€convention€needs€and€howÏOpryland€Hotel€can€help€facilitate€in€the€success€of€your€program.€€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà8 Ø àAs€we€discussed,€we€do€have€available€on€a€second-option€basis€the€followingÏdates:€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÓ  ÓòòROOM€BLOCKóó€Ð 5&…!( ÐÌÓ  ÓÓB€ ü(‚XV˜âH!X°,X‚XÀ‚„ XBÓà Ø àFriday€à V àAugust€18,€1995€à  àà ˜ à€€à â à€€30€RoomsÐ  (]#* Ðà Ø àSaturday€à V àAugust€19,€1995€€à ˜ àà â à250€RoomsÐ ù(I$+ Ðà Ø àSunday€à V àAugust€20,€1995€à  à€à ˜ àà â à550€RoomsÐ å)5%, Ðà Ø àMonday€à V àAugust€21,€1995€€à ˜ àà â à550€RoomsÐ Ñ*!&- Ðà Ø àTuesday€à V àAugust€22,€1995€€à ˜ àà â à950€Rooms€Ð ½+ '. Ðà Ø àWednesday€à V àAugust€23,€1995à  àà ˜ àà â à750€Rooms€Ð ©,ù'/ Ðà Ø àThursday€à V àAugust€24,€1995€€à ˜ àà â à150€Rooms€Ð •-å(0 Ðà Ø àFriday€à V àAugust€25,€1995€€à ˜ àà â à€€Check„outÐ .Ñ)1 ÐÌà8 Ø àThe€sleeping€room€rate€for€this€set€of€dates€would€be€$125.00,€single€or€doubleÏoccupancy.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà8 Ø àAlso€available€on€a€second-option€basis€is€68,000€square€feet€of€our€RymanÏExhibit€Hall.€€It€would€be€available€from€August€21,€1995,€at€12:01€a.m.€withÏcomplete€teardown€on€August€25,€1995,€at€5:00€a.m.€€The€rental€for€the€ExhibitÏHall€would€be€a€onetime€charge€of€$2,000.00.€€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÓ  Ó€€.€.€.€ÌÓEÓà8 Ø àSelect€from€among€1,891€deluxe€rooms,€including€160€suites,€most€overlookingÏthe€spectacular€Cascades,€a€two-and-a-half-acre€water€garden,€or€the€beautifulÏ19th-century€Victorian-style€Conservatory.€€Both€are€glass-covered€and€provideÐ ‘9á4= Ðyour€attendees€with€acres€of€breathtaking€waterfalls,€sculpted€rock€gardens,€andÏthousands€of€tropical€plants€and€flowers.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà8 Ø àMoreover,€our€convention€facilities€are€truly€one€of€a€kind€and€designed€toÏcontribute€to€the€success€of€your€meeting.€€Our€74€meeting€rooms€encompassÏ300,000€square€feet,€more€than€any€other€Hotel€in€the€nation.€€Designed€forÏversatility€and€flexibility,€each€meeting€room€is€located€in€close€proximity€toÏmajor€guest€areas.€€Additionally,€Opryland€Hotel€offers€you€42,000€square€feetÏof€prefunction€areas€that€vary€in€size€and€shape€to€accommodate€every€need.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€.€.€.Ìà8 Ø àOpryland€Hotel€sincerely€wants€Millbrook's€business.€€As€we€have€discussed,ÏI€will€be€in€constant€contact€with€you€as€we€try€to€resolve€the€second-optionÏdilemma.€€During€the€interim,€if€I€can€be€of€any€other€€service€or€can€provideÏMillbrook€with€any€other€information€regarding€1995,€1996,€or€1997€dates,Ïplease€do€not€hesitate€to€contact€me€directly.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà Ø àSincerely,€ÌÌà Ø àDavid€J.€Furnish€Ìà Ø àCorporate€Sales€Manager€ÌÓ€ÓÌÔ€¼½€»XXy,Ôà Ø àThus€does€this€August€12,€1994€letter€lay€out€a€plan€for€a€€MillbrookÐ ‚Ò ÐConvention€from€August€18,€1995€through€August€25,€1995,€€reserving€3,230Ïroom€nights€at€$125.00€per€room€night€with€choice€from€€1,891€deluxe€rooms,Ïincluding€160€suites.€ÌÌà Ø àThis€letter€also€contains€the€following:€ÌÔ‡Xy,X»¼½€ÔÓ€Óà8 Ø àAlso,€we€have€broken€ground€for€our€next€expansion€due€to€be€completed€byÐ $"t" ÐJune€1996.€€The€new€wing,€to€be€named€the€"Delta,"€will€include€979€new€guestÏrooms€for€a€total€of€2,870,€in€addition€to€new€meeting€and€exhibit€space.€€AlsoÏfeatured€will€be€an€indoor€river,€a€40,000-square-foot€antebellum€mansion,Ïadditional€dining€and€shopping€outlets.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌÌÔ#†¼½€»XXy,¥#ÔÓE€ü(‚X‚„xH!X€ ü(‚XV˜âH!XEÓÓ€Óà Ø àArrangements€for€the€1995€Millbrook€convention€did€not€materialize€andÐ ˜(è#) ÐMillbrook€held€its€first€convention€in€Orlando,€€Florida.€€Negotiations€continuedÏbetween€the€parties€for€the€1996€€convention€and€resulted€in€a€September€8,€1994Ïagreement,€providing€in€€material€part€as€follows:€ÌÓE€ ü(‚XVŠxH!X€ü(‚X‚„xH!XEÓÓ€Óà8 Ø àÔ€Xy,X»¼½€ÔWe€are€pleased€to€confirm€our€discussions€regarding€your€meeting€and€toÐ /T*1 Ðpresent€the€Hotel's€policies€and€procedures€enabling€us€to€serve€as€your€host.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà Ø àThe€following€guest€rooms€have€been€reserved:ÌÌÓE€ü(‚XVâH!X€ ü(‚XVŠxH!XEÓà Ø àThursdayà V àJuly€11,€1996€à  à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à â à€€15€Rooms€Ð  3ð.6 Ðà Ø àFriday€à V àJuly€12,1996€à  à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à â à€€30€Rooms€Ð Œ4Ü/7 Ðà Ø àSaturdayà V àJuly€13,€1996€à  à€€€€€€€€à â à350€Rooms€Ð x5È08 Ðà Ø àSunday€à V àJuly€14,€1996€à  à€€€€€€€€à â à700€Rooms€Ð d6´19 Ðà Ø àMonday€à V àJuly€15,€1996€à  à€€€€€€€à â à700€Rooms€Ð P7 2: Ðà Ø àTuesdayà V àJuly€16,€1996€€€€€€€€€€€€à â à700€Rooms€Ð <8Œ3; Ðà Ø àWednesday€à V àJuly€17,€1996€à  à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à â à€€30€Rooms€Ð (9x4< ÐÐ :d5= Ðà8 Ø àThe€above€block€includes€4€suites.€€The€styles€of€suites€include€1€two-bedroomÏPresidential€suite,€and€3€one-bedroom€fifth-floor€suites.€€The€Presidential€suiteÏwill€be€complimentary,€and€the€3€one-bedroom€fifth-floor€suites€will€have€aÏcomplimentary€parlour€with€the€sleeping€room€at€the€group€rate.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà8 Ø àWe€will€reserve€the€above€room€block€until€September€28,€1994,€at€which€timeÏwe€will€need€a€signed€copy€of€the€agreement€verifying€confirmation.€€IfÏconfirmation€has€not€been€received€by€this€time,€Opryland€Hotel€reserves€theÏright€to€release€these€dates€for€sale.€€In€the€event€we€have€a€definite€request€forÏyour€dates€prior€to€your€option€date,€we€will€contact€you€for€a€decision€andÏwritten€confirmation€which€must€be€made€within€three€(3)€business€days.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà8 Ø àNaturally,€this€room€block€should€be€evaluated€periodically,€particularlyÏfollowing€your€July€1995€convention€to€cover€any€changes€in€yourÏarrival/departure€pattern€or€room€usage.€€At€that€time,€we€will€review€theÏcontracted€room€block€with€you€and€adjust€it€accordingly€based€on€availability.€ÏAdditional€charges€could€be€incurred€if€your€final€pickup€falls€below€80€percentÏof€the€original€block€on€a€nightly€basis.€€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌÓ  ÓòòGROUP€RATESóó€Ð 4„ ÐÌÓ*Óà8 Ø àFirm€and€guaranteed€room€rates€will€be€quoted€within€one€year€prior€to€yourÏfunction.€€For€comparison,€had€you€elected€to€meet€with€us€in€1995,€your€net,Ïnon-commissionable€room€rates€would€have€been€$125.00,€single€and€$125.00,Ïdouble€occupancy.€€Opryland€Hotel€will€guarantee€a€maximum€6€percent€cap€onÏthis€rate€for€your€1996€convention€dates.€€On€an€optional€basis,€our€gardenÏterrace€rooms€are€an€additional€$40.00.€€Rates€are€subject€to€the€existing€8€l/4Ïpercent€sales€tax€and€4€percent€room€tax.€€Group€rates€will€be€available€threeÏdays€prior€to€arrival€and€three€days€after€departure,€on€space-available€basis.€ÏEach€additional€person€to€a€room€is€$15.00.€€Children€12€years€and€under€areÏfree€when€occupying€the€same€room€as€their€parents.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌÓ  ÓòòRESERVATIONSóó€Ð 0"€  ÐÓZ-ÓÌà8 Ø àTo€allow€us€to€resell€the€few€rooms€you€may€not€use€within€your€block€and€toÏreduce€your€ultimate€liability€for€unused€rooms,€we€require€that€all€individualÐ ô$D # Ðòòreservations€be€received€by€June€11,€1996óó.€€Room€reservations€received€by€thisÐ à%0!$ Ðdate€will€be€confirmed€at€your€group€rate;€after€this€date€they€will€be€confirmedÏon€a€space-available€basis.€€All€reservations€must€be€accompanied€by€one€night'sÏdeposit€or€guaranteed€by€a€major€credit€card.€€Deposits€are€only€refundable€forÏcancellations€occurring€three€days€prior€to€arrival.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÓ  Ó.€.€.€ÌÌòòCANCELLATION€POLICY€óóÐ T,¤'+ ÐÌÓ  Óà8 Ø àShould€it€become€necessary€for€you€to€cancel€your€conference€with€us,€weÏwould€be€in€a€difficult€position€to€try€to€resell€your€room€nights,€which€wouldÏresult€in€lost€revenue€for€our€Hotel.€€We€will,€however,€attempt€to€resell€theÏroom€nights€that€were€reserved€for€you€and€would€only€assess€a€cancellation€feeÏfor€those€room€nights€not€resold€over€the€initially€agreed-upon€dates.€€This€feeÏwould€be€based€upon€the€unsold€room€nights€multiplied€by€your€establishedÏgroup€rate€for€that€period.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÓ€ÓÌÔ€¼½€»XXy,Ôà Ø àThe€above€contract€for€the€1996€convention€was€executed€by€€Mr.€FurnishÐ 6R16 Ðfor€Opryland€Hotel€on€September€9,€1994,€and€executed€by€€Mr.€Robert€A.€SigelÏfor€Millbrook€on€October€11,€1994.€€A€contemporaneous€addendum€to€thisÐ 89ˆ4: Ðcontract€was€agreed€to€by€the€€parties,€providing€in€pertinent€part:€ÌÓ€ÓÔ‡Xy,X»¼½€Ôà8 Ø àThe€cancellation€policy€found€on€Page€6€of€the€original€contract€will€be€replacedÐ K› Ðby€the€following€paragraphs,€and€will€become€legally€binding.€Ô#†¼½€»XXy,4#ÔÐ7‡Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà8 Ø àÔ€Xy,X»¼½€ÔShould€Millbrook€find€it€necessary€to€cancel€its€1996€Convention€contracted€toÐ 5 … Ðbe€held€at€Opryland€Hotel€the€following€cancellation€charge€would€apply:€€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌÓE€ ü(‚X¸ ˜xH!X€ü(‚XVâH!XEÓà8 Ø à*à8¸ Ø ü!Ø ü!àIf€the€Millbrook€convention€is€€cancelled€between€October€10,Ð ù I Ð1994,€€and€January€11,€1995,€no€€cancellation€charge€will€beÏaccessed.€[sic]€Ð ¸  ¸   ÐÌà8 Ø à*à8¸ Ø ü!Ø ü!àIf€the€Millbrook€convention€is€€cancelled€between€January€12,Ð ©ù  Ð1995,€€and€July€11,€1995,€Millbrook€agrees€€to€pay€Opryland€HotelÏ$75,000.00€in€€damages.€€This€charge€will€be€€payable€at€the€timeÏof€cancellation€€and€will€release€Millbrook€from€any€€furtherÏfinancial€obligations€in€€reference€to€the€cancelled€€convention.€€WeÏwill€attempt€to€resell€you[r]€room€nights€over€the€€initially€agreedÏupon€dates€and€will€refund€the€appropriate€dollar€€figure,€if€any€toÏMillbrook€for€any€€room€nights€we€were€able€to€resell€€up€toÏ$75,000.00.€€Ð ¸  ¸   ÐÌà Ø à*à8 ¸ àIf€the€convention€is€canceled€€between€July€12,€1995,€and€the€Ð á1 Ðconvention€date€of€July€11,€1996,€€Opryland€Hotel€would€assess€a€Ïcancellation€fee€for€those€room€€nights€not€resold€over€the€initially€Ïagreed€upon€dates.€€This€fee€would€€be€based€upon€the€unsold€roomÏnights€€multiplied€by€your€established€group€€rate€for€that€timeÏperiod,€and€will€€not€exceed€a€$300,000.00€charge.€€We€€willÏattempt€to€resell€your€room€€nights€and€documentation€for€unsold€Ïroom€nights€would€be€provided€to€Millbrook.€Ð ¸  ¸   ÐÓ€ÓÌÔ€¼½€»XXy,Ôà Ø àThe€1995€Millbrook€convention€in€Orlando€was€quite€€successful€and€onÐ £!ó  ÐAugust€8,€1995,€Millbrook€sought€additional€€room€nights€from€Opryland€for€theÏ1996€convention,€which€were€€granted€with€a€$130.00€per€night€room€rate.€ÌÌà Ø àOn€September€19,€1995,€Millbrook€requested€a€Saturday€night€July€13,Ï1996€increase€from€350€to€850€rooms;€and€a€Friday€night€July€12,€1996€increase€Ïfrom€130€room€to€750€rooms.€€Opryland€could€not€supply€these€increases.€€ThisÏinability€resulted€in€cancellation€of€the€1996€€convention€at€Opryland€by€letterÏdated€October€2,€1995,€providing€in€pertinent€part€as€follows:€ÌÓ€Óà8 Ø àÔ€Xy,X»¼½€ÔThis€will€serve€to€notify€Opryland€Hotel€that€it€has€become€necessary€to€cancelÐ 0f+2 Ðour€1996€conference€at€Opryland€Hotel.€Our€purpose€in€doing€so€is€not€to€holdÏthe€meeting€at€another€facility€or€city.€€The€Opryland€Hotel€is€where€we€wantÏto€be;€however,€you€are€unable€to€provide€us€the€necessary€space€on€Saturday,ÏJuly€13,€1996.€€We€need€500€rooms€and€you€do€not€have€them€available.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÌà8 Ø àOur€October€4,€1994€agreement€and€addendum€require€you€to€attempt€to€resellÏour€room€nights,€and€we€will€expect€to€receive,€after€July€17,€1996,Ïdocumentation€for€any€unsold€room€nights.€Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÓ€ÓÌÐ Ä95= ЇÌÔ€¼½€»XXy,ÔII.à Ø àThe€DisputeÐ b Ðà Ø àIt€is€the€position€of€Millbrook€that€€it€is€only€obligated€to€pay€for€any€roomÏnights€that€Opryland€was€€unable€to€sell,€based€upon€the€1,891€rooms€asserted€inÏthe€August€12,€1994€letter€from€Opryland€to€Millbrook.€€It€is€the€€position€ofÏOpryland€that€the€1,891€room€cap€was€applicable€only€€to€the€1995€convention,Ïsince€the€same€letter€clearly€pointed€out€€to€Millbrook€that€the€"Delta"€wingÏwould€be€completed€and€ready€€for€occupancy€by€the€time€of€the€MillbrookÏconvention€in€July€€1996.€€This€"Delta"€wing€increased€Opryland's€maximumÏcapacity€€from€1,891€rooms€to€2,870€rooms.€ÌÌà Ø àThe€position€of€Millbrook€can€be€more€clearly€understood€€by€theÏcross-examination€of€Mr.€Furnish,€keeping€in€mind€that€Millbrook€is€assertingÏthat€the€1,891€room€capacity€for€1995,€as€€set€forth€in€the€August€12,€1994€letter,Ïis€in€fact€a€cap€on€the€€number€of€rooms€to€be€used€in€calculating€the€MillbrookÏdeficit€€resulting€from€the€cancellation€of€the€July€1996€convention.ÌÓ€ÓÓB€ü(ƒX”˜‘X€ ü(‚X¸ ˜xH!XBÓÔ€Xy,X»¼½€Ôà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àNow,€would€you€please€look€with€me€at€the€first€sheetÐ 'w  Ðof€the€daily€occupancy€reports,€the€sheet€dated€July€the€11th€of€1996.€€That€wasÏthe€first€day€on€which€Millbrook€was€to€have€its€meeting;€is€that€right?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àThat's€correct.€Ðë ;#”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àOn€that€day,€can€you€tell€from€looking€at€the€reportÐ ×!'$ Ðhow€many€rooms€were€sold?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à ” àWell,€you'll€have€to€give€me€a€second.€€I€haven't€lookedÐ ¯#ÿ& Ðat€this€in€a€couple€of€years.Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à0 ” àHow€many€rooms€were€occupied?€Ð‡%× (”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à ” àOccupied?€€This€says€2,753€rooms;€is€that€correct?€Ðs&Ã!)Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à0 ” àThat's€what€it€says€to€me.Ð_'¯"*”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.€à0 ” àOkay.ÐK(›#+”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à0 ” àThat's€what€it€says€to€you?Ð7)‡$,”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àThat's€what€it€says.Ð#*s%-”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àNow,€how€many€rooms€were€there€in€the€part€ofÐ +_&. ÐOpryland€Hotel€which€existed€at€the€time€the€contract€was€made?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” à€Roughly€1891.Ðç,7(0”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àPrecisely€1891,€is€that€not€right?€Ð Ó-#)1 Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àYes,€sir.п.*2”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àSo€on€July€the€11th,€the€first€day€Millbrook€was€toÐ «/û*3 Ðhave€its€meeting,€you€had€sold€more€than€1891€rooms?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àCorrect.Ѓ1Ó,5”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àLook€at€the€second€day,€which€was€to€be€the€secondÐ o2¿-6 Ðday€of€Millbrook's€meeting,€July€the€12th,€1996.€€How€many€rooms€wereÏoccupied€on€that€day?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” à2,786.Ð35ƒ09”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àSo€on€that€day€there€were€certainly€more€rooms€soldÐ 6o1: Ðthan€were€in€the€part€of€the€Opryland€Hotel€which€existed€at€the€time€theÏcontract€was€made?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àCorrect.Ðã834=”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àLook€on€the€third€day,€July€the€12th.€€How€many€roomsÐ Ï95> Ðon€July€the€12th€were€sold?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à ” à2,605?€€My€copy's€not€very€good.€€It's€a€6€or€might€beÐ œì Ðan€8.€€Has€to€be€a€6.Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àSo€on€that€date€more€rooms€were€sold€than€the€1891Ð tÄ Ðrooms€which€existed€when€the€contract€was€made?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àCorrect.ÐL œ”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àLook€on€July€the€14th,€which€is€the€next€day,€is€it€not,Ð 8 ˆ Ðthat€the€Millbrook€meeting€would€have€been€held.€€How€many€rooms€were€soldÏthat€day?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” à1,938.Ðü L ”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àAgain,€more€than€the€total€rooms€in€existence€when€theÐ è 8  Ðcontract€was€made?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àCorrect.ÐÀ ”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àLook€at€July€the€15th.€€How€many€rooms€were€sold€thatÐ ¬ü  Ðday?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à ” à2,095.Ð „Ô  Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àAgain,€more€than€were€in€existence€when€the€contractÐ pÀ Ðwas€made.€€Look€at€July€the€16th.€€How€many€rooms€were€sold€that€day?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” à2,033.ÐH˜”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àAnd€on€July€the€17th,€how€many€rooms€were€sold?Ð4„Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” à1,839.Ð p”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à0 ” àThat's€the€number€occupied;€is€that€right?Ð \”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” à1,839€is€what€I'm€reading€on€the€occupied€line.ÐøH”T$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àNow€in€addition,€does€that€figure€include€theÐ ä4 Ðcomplimentary€rooms?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àIt's€my€understanding€it€does.м ”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à0 ” àDo€you€know?Шø”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à0 ” àNot€as€a€fact.Дä”T$”T$ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à0 ” àTotal€guests.€€What€is€that€number€on€July€the€17òòóóth?ЀДT$”T$ Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à ” àThat's€the€total€number€of€guests€that€you€can€trace.€Ð l¼ ÐSometimes€that€number€varies.€€But€if€you€know€you€are€booking€a€doubleÏoccupancy€room,€that€might€be€two€people€per€room,€four€people€per€room,Ïthree€people€per€room.€€It's€not€a€very€concrete€number.€€But€it's€just€a€numberÏof€people.Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! Ðà8 Ø àà 0 àà  àQ.à ” àNow,€on€July€the€17th,€that€was€to€be€the€last€day€of€theÐ $X" ÐMillbrook€meeting,€right?Ð Ø ü!Ø ü! ÐÓ€Óà Ø àà 0 àà  àA.à ” à(Nodding€yes.)Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà Ø à€Ô€¼½€»XXy,ÔThe€chancellor€accepted€the€position€of€Millbrook€and€held€that€the€1,891Ð ¤(ô#( Ðrooms€set€forth€in€the€August€12,€1994€letter€constituted€a€cap€on€roomsÏchargeable€to€Millbrook€and€since€it€appeared€that€more€than€1,891€rooms€wereÏbooked€on€every€night€of€the€cancelled€1996€convention,€except€the€night€of€JulyÏ17,€1996,€when€only€1,839€rooms€had€been€booked,€Millbrook€was€liable€for€aÏtotal€judgment€in€the€amount€of€$6,760.00,€representing€52€unsold€rooms.€ÌÌà Ø àIf€the€chancellor€is€correct€that€the€August€12,€1994€letter€envisions€anÏ1,891€room€cap€on€the€potential€liability€of€Millbrook€for€cancelling€the€1996Ïcontract,€the€$6,760.00€in€damages€representing€$125.00€per€room€on€the€52Ïunsold€rooms€is€correct,€and€the€chancellor€must€be€affirmed€in€this€respect.€€Ð ²84< Їà Ø àIf,€however,€Opryland€is€correct€in€its€position€that€the€1,891€roomÏmaximum€represented€only€the€1995€convention,€and€that€the€same€August€12,Ï1994€letter€clearly€informed€Millbrook€that€the€979€additional€rooms€in€the€DeltaÏwing€would€be€ready€for€occupancy€at€the€time€of€the€Millbrook€convention€inÏJuly€1996,€two€separate€scenarios€are€possible.€€The€October€4,€1994€contract€forÏthe€1996€convention€and€the€contemporaneous€addendum€thereto€requireÏOpryland€in€the€event€of€cancellation€to€mitigate€its€damages€by€attempting€to€re„¼sell€the€Millbrook€room€nights€after€cancellation.€€Graphically,€Opryland€setsÏforth€its€two€alternative€theories€of€Millbrook€liability€based€on€2,870€rooms,Ïincluding€the€979€room€Delta€wing,€which€was€open€and€subject€to€occupancyÏat€the€time€of€the€Millbrook€convention€in€July€1996.ÌÌÓ€ÓÔ*~ƒ \ddd Xdd Xdd X€T$€T$~ÔÔ,Îdd ÔÔ,Îdd ÔÔ,Îdd ÔÔ,Îdd ÔÔ,Îdd ÔÔ,Îdd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ  ôD ÐÔ€&ÈÕ %»¼½€ÔÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓòòDateóóÐ ¸ ÐòòóóÐ à  ÐÓ  ÓÌRoomsÌReservedÌByÌòòMillbrookóóÐ ¸#  ÐÓ  ÓÌRoomsÌUnsoldÌWhenÌòòCanceledóóÐ ¸(  ÐÓ  ÓÌRoomsÌSoldÌAfterÌòòCanceledóóÐ ¸-  ÐÓ  ÓUnsoldÌRoomsÌas€ofÌEventÌòòDateóóÐ ¸2  ÐÓ  ÓMillbrookððsÌòòLiabilityóóÐ 0€4 ÐÌÌòòMin.óó€€€€òòMax.óóÐ '¸7  „„'ÐThursdayÌJuly€11Ð G=Ô$9"  9@25„„‰9@‰GÐ25Ð h^2üL:"  9@25 9@ È‚@601„„‰È‚@‰hÐ601Ð i_3üL;" È‚@601 È‚@ ¸@567„„‰¸@‰iÐ567Ð h^3üL<" ¸@567 ¸@  A@34„„‰A@‰hÐ34Ð G=2üL="  A@34 A@ „„GÐÓ  ÓÓ?êf’êš$z&~15‘X€ü(ƒX”˜‘X?Ó€€€0€€€€€€€25Ð 'üL> „„'ÐFridayÌJuly€12Ð H>!h@" @`@130„„‰@`@‰HÐ130Ð i_3@ A" @`@130 @`@ ¸‹@887„„‰¸‹@‰iÐ887Ð i_3@ B" ¸‹@887 ¸‹@ ˆ‹@881„„‰ˆ‹@‰iÐ881Ð g]3@ C" ˆ‹@881 ˆ‹@  @6„„‰@‰gÐ6Ð F<1@ D"  @6 @ „„FЀ€€0€€€€€€€€€6Ð '@ E „„'ÐSaturdayÌJuly€13Ð H>\#¬G" àu@350„„‰àu@‰HÐ350Ð i_3„"ÔH" àu@350 àu@  ‚@596„„‰ ‚@‰iÐ596Ð i_3„"ÔI"  ‚@596  ‚@ @497„„‰@‰iÐ497Ð h^3„"ÔJ" @497 @  ÀX@99„„‰ÀX@‰hÐ99Ð G=2„"ÔK"  ÀX@99 ÀX@ „„GÐÓ  Ó€€€0€€€€€€€99Ð '„"ÔL „„'ÐSundayÌJuly€14Ð H> %ð N" X‹@875„„‰X‹@‰HÐ875Ð j`3È$ O" X‹@875 X‹@ ˜‘@1126„„‰˜‘@‰jÐ1126Ð j`4È$ P" ˜‘@1126 ˜‘@ q@281„„‰q@‰jÐ281Ð i_3È$ Q" q@281 q@ hŠ@845„„‰hŠ@‰iÐ845Ð H>3È$ R" hŠ@845 hŠ@ „„HЀ594€€€€845Ð 'È$ S „„'ÐMondayÌJuly€15Ð H>ä'4#U" X‹@875„„‰X‹@‰HÐ875Ð j`3 '\"V" X‹@875 X‹@ ´‘@1133„„‰´‘@‰jÐ1133Ð j`4 '\"W" ´‘@1133 ´‘@ @{@436„„‰@{@‰jÐ436Ð i_3 '\"X" @{@436 @{@ È…@697„„‰È…@‰iÐ697Ð H>3 '\"Y" È…@697 È…@ „„HЀ439€€€€697Ð ' '\"Z „„'ÐTuesdayÌJuly€16Ð H>(*x%\" p‡@750„„‰p‡@‰HÐ750Ð j`3P) $]" p‡@750 p‡@ “@1223„„‰“@‰jÐ1223Ð j`4P) $^" “@1223 “@ `}@470„„‰`}@‰jÐ470Ð i_3P) $_" `}@470 `}@ ˆ‡@753„„‰ˆ‡@‰iÐ753Ð H>3P) $`" ˆ‡@753 ˆ‡@ „„HЀ280€€€€753Ð 'P) $a „„'ÐWednesdayÌJuly€17Ð G=l,¼'c"  >@30„„‰>@‰GÐ30Ð i_2”+ä&d"  >@30 >@  “@1224„„‰ “@‰iÐ1224Ð j`4”+ä&e"  “@1224  “@ @q@276„„‰@q@‰jÐ276Ð i_3”+ä&f" @q@276 @q@  @948„„‰ @‰iÐ948Ð H>3”+ä&g"  @948  @ „„HЀ€€0€€€€€€€30Ð '”+ä&h „„'ÐÌTOTALÐ '°.*j" „„'ÐÐ 'Ø-()k" „„'ÐÐ 'Ø-()l" „„'ÐÐ 'Ø-()m" „„'ÐÐ 'Ø-()n" „„'Ð1,313/2,455Ð 'Ø-()o „„'ÐTOTALÌDAMAGESÌÌÐ '¤2ô-s" „„'ÐÐ '0l+t" „„'ÐÐ '0l+u" „„'ÐÐ '0l+v" „„'ÐÐ '0l+w" „„'ÐòòMin.Ð 0l+x Ðóó$170,690.00Ð ô0D,y ÐòòMax.óóÐ Ì1-z Ð$319,150.00׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð"¤2ô-{ "Ѐ€ÌÓ€ÓÌÓB€ü(€ö ˜‘Xêf’êš$z&~15‘XBÓà ö àÔ€¼½€» %&ÈÕÔIn€explanation€of€this€table€it€must€first€be€remembered€that€whileÐ È51~ ÐOpryland€was€obligated€to€mitigate€its€damages€by€reselling€the€MillbrookÐ c7³2€ Ðrooms,€the€contract€between€the€parties€nowhere€provides€that€Opryland€isÏrequired€to€first€sell€the€Millbrook€rooms€before€offering€any€of€the€939€DeltaÏwing€rooms€for€sale.ÌÌà ö àThe€first€column€in€the€table€shows€the€3,035€room€nights€between€JulyÏ11,€1996€and€July€17,€1996€that€were€reserved€by€Millbrook.€€The€second€columnÏdisplays€the€6,790€room€nights€vacant€in€the€hotel€following€the€October€2,€1995Ïcancellation€of€the€1996€convention€by€Millbrook.€€This€number€of€unsold€roomÏnights€is€based€upon€2,870€rooms€maximum,€including€the€979€rooms€in€theÏDelta€wing€and€is€inclusive€of€the€cancelled€Millbrook€room€nights.€€The€thirdÏcolumn€indicates€that€after€the€October€2,€1995€cancellation€of€the€MillbrookÏconvention,€Opryland€sold€a€total€of€3,408€room€nights€before€the€date€July€11,Ï1996,€when€the€cancelled€Millbrook€convention€was€to€have€started.€€TheseÏ3,408€room€nights€were€sold€in€both€the€original€1,891€room€hotel€and€the€979Ïroom€Delta€wing,€with€no€break„down€as€to€which€sections€of€the€hotel€wereÏactually€occupied.€€The€fourth€column€shows€the€number€of€room€nights€unsoldÏon€the€cancelled€Millbrook€convention€dates,€based€upon€the€entire€2,870€roomÏcapacity€of€the€hotel,€without€break„down€as€between€the€original€1,891€roomÏhotel€and€the€979€room€Delta€addition.€€By€this€calculation€there€were€3,382Ïroom€nights€vacant€in€the€entire€2,870€room€hotel€from€the€period€July€11Ïthrough€July€17,€1996,€these€being€the€dates€of€the€cancelled€Millbrook€1996Ïconvention.€ÌÌà ö àThe€final€column€of€the€table€represents€a€break€down€concerningÏOprylandððs€mitigation€of€damages€under€the€contract.€€If€Opryland€is€required€byÏthe€contract€to€sell€the€cancelled€Millbrook€rooms€first,€then€Millbrook€has€noÏfinancial€obligation€for€the€nights€of€July€11,€12,€13€and€17,€1996,€because€allÏroom€nights€were€sold€on€those€nights.€€For€July€14,€15€and€16,€a€total€of€1,313Ïroom€nights€remained€unsold€and€based€on€the€$130.00€per€night€obligation€ofÏMillbrook,€would€result€in€total€damages€of€$170,690.00.ÌÌà ö àThe€last€portion€of€the€column€is€based€upon€the€assumption€that€OprylandÏhas€no€obligation€to€sell€the€Millbrook€rooms€first€but,€under€industry€standards,Ïcan€place€those€cancelled€room€nights€at€the€bottom€of€the€inventory.€€This€wouldÐ «9û4B Ðresult€in€a€total€of€2,455€unsold€room€nights€which,€when€multiplied€by€theÏ$130.00€per€night€room€rate,€would€result€in€damages€of€$319,150.00€owing€byÏMillbrook€to€Opryland€which€would€be€reduced€to€$300,000.00€by€the€cap€onÏliability€contained€in€the€addendum€to€the€October€4,€1994€contract.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð  Ñ ÐÌà ö àSince€neither€the€all€important€August€12,€1994€letter,€the€October€4,€1994Ïcontract,€nor€the€contemporaneous€addendum€thereto€make€clear€the€decisiveÏelement€of€whether€room€night€vacancies€are€to€be€calculated€under€an€1,891€cap,Ïor€the€2,870€rooms€inclusive€of€the€Delta€wing,€this€dispute€cannot€be€resolvedÏunder€òòPetty€v.€Sloanóó,€197€Tenn.€630,€277€S.W.2d€355,€360€(Tenn.€1955)€and€itsÐ #s Ðprogeny.€€Intent€of€the€parties€is€not€plain€and€unambiguous€as€to€be€susceptibleÏto€determination€under€òòCookeville€P.C.€v.€Southeastern€Data€Systems,€óó884Ð Y© ÐS.W.2d€458€(Tenn.€App.€1994).€€Rather€we€are€faced€with€a€situation€akin€toÏòòPettyjohn€v.€Brown€Boveri€Corp.óó,€476€S.W.2d€268€(Tenn.€App.€1971).Ð ß ÐÌà ö àTherein€the€court€said:ÌÓ€Óà8 ö àà  àÔ€Xy,X»¼½€ÔIn€òòPetty€v.€Sloanóó,€197€Tenn.€630,€277€S.W.2d€355€(1954),€theÐ `°  ÐCourt€stated€that€when€the€language€of€a€contract€is€plain,€simple€andÏunambiguous,€the€following€rule€found€in€òòSmithart€v.€John€Hancock€MutualÐ 8 ˆ" ÐLife€Ins.€Co.,óó€167€Tenn.€513,€525,€71€S.W.2d€1059,€1063€shall€apply:Ð$!t#ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà8  àð ðIt€is€the€function€of€a€court€to€interpret€and€enforceÏcontracts€as€they€are€written,€notwithstanding€theyÏmay€contain€terms€which€may€be€thought€harsh€andÏunjust.€€A€court€is€not€at€liberty€to€make€a€newÏcontract€for€parties€who€have€spoken€forÏthemselves.ððÐ ÄÄ Ðà8 ö àTherefore,€if€the€contract€is€plain,€simple,€unambiguous,€and€susceptible€toÏonly€one€possible€interpretation,€these€Assignments€of€Error€should€beÏsustained.€€On€the€other€hand,€if€it€does€not€meet€these€requisites,€theÏChancellor€would€not€be€confined€to€the€instrument€alone€in€reaching€a€properÏinterpretation€of€the€instrument.€€We€hold€the€Trackman€letter€is€neither€plain,Ïsimple,€nor€unambiguous,€and€the€Chancellor€was€correct€in€admittingÏevidence€tending€to€show€the€circumstances€of€the€agreement.€€Furthermore,Ïthe€test€as€to€the€application€of€the€parol€evidence€rule€is€whether€the€testimonyÏas€to€oral€agreements€or€negotiations€varies€or€contradicts€the€instrument€inÏquestion€or€merely€explains€same.€€If€the€testimony€merely€explains€same,€itÏdoes€not€violate€the€rule.€€òòMarron€v.€Scarbroughóó,€44€Tenn.€App.€414,€314Ð Ð0 ,4 ÐS.W.2d€165€(1958).Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! ÐÓ€ÓÓ  Ó.€.€.ÌÓ  ÓÓ€Óà8 ö àÐ ö Þ!ö Þ! ÐÌÐ â521: Ðà8 ö àà  àThe€Chancellor€found,€and€we€agree,€that€an€examination€of€theÏTrackman€letter€alone€reveals€that€it€is€unclear€and€is€possibly€susceptible€toÏmore€than€one€meaning.€€This€being€true,€it€was€the€Courtððs€duty€to€ascertainÏthe€intention€of€the€parties€by€considering€evidence€of€the€circumstancesÏsurrounding€the€making€of€the€agreement€and€to€the€best€of€its€ability€placeÏitself€in€the€situation€of€the€parties€at€the€time€of€the€agreement€in€order€toÏproperly€judge€the€meaning€of€the€words€used,€and€to€correctly€apply€them.€ÏòòCommerce€Street€Co.€v.€Goodyear€Tire€&€Rubber€Co.óó,€31€Tenn.€App.€314,€215Ð $ t ÐS.W.2d€4€(1948).Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! ÐÌÓ€ÓòòÔ€¼½€»XXy,ÔPettyjohn€v.€Brown€Boveri€Corp.,óó€476€S.W.2d€268,€271„272€(Tenn.€App.€1971).€Ð è 8  ÐÌà ö àIn€looking€to€the€circumstances€surrounding€the€contractual€relationsÏbetween€the€parties,€Millbrook€suffers€from€the€handicap€of€having€to€establishÏthat€the€1,891€rooms€at€Opryland,€available€in€the€August€12,€1994€letter€in€theÏcontext€of€an€August€1995€convention,€was€a€perpetual€cap,€not€just€for€1995€butÏfor€1996€and€1997€as€well.€€This€is€no€small€burden€since€the€August€12,€1994Ïletter€also€makes€it€quite€obvious€that€the€979€room€Delta€wing€would€be€in€theÏOpryland€room€available€inventory,€prior€to€the€1996€convention.ÌÌà ö àThe€October€4,€1994€addendum€to€the€1996€convention€contract€alteredÏthe€original€contract€so€as€to€break€down€the€cancellation€provision€into€threeÏseparate€categories.€€First,€if€Millbrook€cancelled€between€October€10,€1994€andÏJanuary€11,€1995,€no€cancellation€charge€would€be€assessed.€€Then€if€MillbrookÏcancelled€between€January€12,€1995€and€July€11,€1995,€Millbrook€would€pay€aÏflat€$75,000.00€in€damages,€subject€to€a€credit€for€such€room€nights€as€OprylandÏmight€be€able€to€sell.€€Thirdly,€if€the€convention€were€cancelled€between€July€12,Ï1995€and€the€beginning€convention€date€of€July€11,€1996,€Millbrook€would€beÏliable€for€unsold€room€nights€multiplied€by€the€$130.00€per€night€room€rate,Ïsubject€to€a€$300,000.00€cap€on€liability.€€Here€again,€Opryland€would€attemptÏto€resell€these€room€nights€upon€cancellation.ÌÌà ö àAs€early€as€February€14,€1995,€David€J.€Furnish€notified€Steve€Tanner:ÌÓ€Óà8 ö àÔ€Xy,X»¼½€ÔDear€Steve:ÐÕ2%.8ö Þ!ö Þ! ÐÌà8 ö àHere€are€the€brochures,€and€the€continuous€play€video€that€you€requested.€€IÏhope€you€find€it€helpful€in€promoting€your€convention€scheduled€to€be€held€atÏOpryland€Hotel€in€the€Summer€1996.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! ÐÌà8 ö àSteve,€please€do€not€hesitate€to€contact€me€if€you€need€anything€else.€€I€haveÏalso€enclosed€our€new€meeting€room€specifications€that€will€show€you€theÏð ðDeltaðð€expansion.€€We€are€moving€very€quickly€on€this€expansion,€and€areÐ 5:…5@ Ðahead€of€schedule.€€1996€is€going€to€be€a€fantastic€year€at€Opryland€Hotel.€ÏWhen€you€have€finished€using€the€continuous€play€video,€please€return€it€to€theÏHotel€to€my€attention.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! ÐÌà8 ö àI€look€forward€to€speaking€with€you€again€soon.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! ÐÓ€ÓÌà ö àÔ€¼½€»XXy,ÔIt€was€Millbrook€that€insisted€upon€the€changes€in€number€of€availableÐ ® þ Ðrooms€that€led€to€the€cancellation€of€October€2,€1995,€which€was€a€time€wellÏwithin€the€third€cancellation€option€contained€in€the€addendum€to€the€October€4,Ï1994€contract.ÌÌÓB€ü(€ö ”ðX€ü(€ö ˜‘XBÓà ö àOn€cross„examination,€Mr.€Steve€Tanner€testified:ÌÓ€Óà8 ö àÔ€Xy,X»¼½€Ôà  àQ.à ” àI€believe€you€still€have€in€front€of€you,€Mr.€Tanner,€aÐ P  Ðletter€from€Mr.€Furnish€dated€August€12,€1994;€is€that€correct?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àThatððs€correct.Ð (x Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àAnd€you€were€referred€to€page€two€of€that€letter,€whichÐ d Ðmakes€reference€to€1,891€rooms;€is€that€correct?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àThatððs€correct.Ð ì< Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àAt€the€time€this€letter€was€sent,€and€at€the€time€youÐ Ø( Ðwere€initially€having€to€contact€Opryland€Hotel,€you€were€considering€meetingÏat€Opryland€in€either€ðð95,€ðð96€or€ðð97,€isnððt€that€correct?€€€Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àA.à ” àI€think€when€this€was€under€consideration,€we€prettyÐ œì Ðmuch€narrowed€it€down€to€I€guess€it€would€be€ðð95.€€I€donððt€recall.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àLook€at€the€last€paragraph€in€the€letter.€€It€makesÐ tÄ Ðreference€to€information€regarding€ðð95,€ðð96€or€ðð97€dates.€€Do€you€see€that?€€LastÏsentence€of€the€letter.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àYes,€sir.Ð 8!ˆ! Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àAnd€so€you€were€still€considering€ðð95,€ðð96€and€ðð97€atÐ $"t" Ðthat€point,€isnððt€that€correct?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àA.à ” àWe€had€ð!ð€we€wanted€to€go€to€Opryland,€and€weÐ ü#L$ Ðwanted€to€go€there€whenever€we€could.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àOn€page€three€of€the€letter,€there€is€a€discussion€in€theÐ Ô%$!& Ðfirst€paragraph€regarding€the€Delta€addition;€is€that€correct?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àYes,€sir.Ð ¬'ü"( Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àSo€when€you€got€this€letter,€you€knew€that€the€DeltaÐ ˜(è#) Ðexpansion€would€be€completed€by€June€1996,€because€thatððs€what€the€letterÏsays,€doesnððt€it?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àYes,€sir.Ð \+¬&, Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àAnd€you€knew€that€once€the€Delta€expansion€wasÐ H,˜'- Ðcompleted,€that€would€add€979€rooms;€is€that€correct?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àYes,€sir.Ð  .p)/ Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àSo€you€knew€as€of€June€ðð96€there€would€be€a€total€ofÐ  /\*0 Ð2,870€rooms€at€that€time;€isnððt€that€correct?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àAccording€to€this€letter.Ð ä04,2 Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àAnd€you€got€the€letter€before€you€signed€the€contract,Ð Ð1 -3 Ðdidnððt€you?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àYes,€sir.Ð ¨3ø.5 Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àSo€you€knew€before€you€signed€the€contract€that€if€youÐ ”4ä/6 Ðcame€in€ðð95,€or,€excuse€me,€that€if€you€came€in€ðð96,€there€would€be€2,870Ïrooms,€you€knew€that€before€you€signed€the€contract,€didnððt€you?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àA.à ” àNo,€sir,€I€believe€that€ð!ð€our€understanding€was€thatÐ X7¨29 Ðthey€hoped,€but€they€could€not€guarantee€completion.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àBut€you€knew€that€they€expected€in€June€of€1996€thatÐ 09€4; Ðthere€would€be€2,870€rooms?Ð:l5<ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àA.à ” àBut€that€never€entered€into€our€conversation€that€weÐ ° Ðhad€with€Mr.€Furnish€that€this€was€a€possibility,€other€than€in€this€letter.€€AllÏof€our€planning€centered€around€the€eighteen€hundred€rooms.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àBut€the€2,870€rooms€is€in€the€letter?ÐtÄö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àYes,€sir,€it€is€in€the€letter.Ð `° Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àAnd€my€question€is,€you€knew€as€of€June,€1996,€theÐ L œ Ðhotel€was€expecting€to€have€2,870€rooms;€is€that€correct?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àA.à ” àThatððs€correct.Ð $ t ÐÓ€ÓÌà ö àÔ€¼½€»XXy,ÔMr.€Robert€A.€Sigel,€President€and€CEO€of€Millbrook,€prior€to€making€hisÐ r   Ðdecision€to€cancel€the€1996€convention€at€Opryland,€conversed€withÏrepresentatives€of€Opryland.€€The€transcript€of€evidence€reveals:ÌÓ€Óà8 ö àà  àÔ€Xy,X»¼½€ÔQ.à ” àDuring€the€time€that€the€choice€was€being€made€andÐ C“  Ðthe€options€were€being€considered,€did€you€ever€contemplate€using€any€part€ofÏthe€hotel€other€than€the€part€which€was€in€existence€at€the€time€the€contract€wasÏmade?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àA.à ” àAbsolutely€not.€€I€was€not€aware€of€any€constructionÐ óC Ðtaking€place,€and€only€on€the€number€of€rooms€that€we€were€looking€at€andÏreviewing€at€the€time€we€signed€the€contract.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àWhen€it€appeared€that€cancellation€was€an€option€onÐ · Ðthe€table,€did€you€have€a€conversation€with€Mr.€Furnish?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àA.à ” àYes,€I€did.€€I€called€Mr.€Furnish€to€talk€to€him€aboutÐ ß Ðthe€situation,€told€him€that€we€had€expanded€our€requirements,€and€confirmedÏwith€him€my€conversation€with€Steve€and€Jim,€insofar€as€there€were€not€aÏnumber€of€rooms€that€were€available.€€Told€Mr.€Furnish€that€using€anotherÏfacility€would€not€be€possible,€and€tried€to€ascertain€from€him€what€he€thoughtÏour€liability€might€be€in€the€event€we€opted€to€cancel€formally.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà ö àà  àQ.à ” àAnd€what€did€he€say?Ð  g Ðà8 ö àà  àA.à ” àHe€said€that€the€Opryland€Hotel€had€a€history€of€near„Ð !S  Ðfull€capacity,€especially€over€the€summertime,€that€we€would€not,€in€hisÏopinion,€incur€any€significant€liability.€€I€asked€him€to€put€a€number€on€that.€ÏHe€said€five€to€ten€thousand€dollars.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àà ” àMR.€BOOKER:€€Your€Honor,€I€want€to€object€to€thisÏline€of€testimony.€€It€sounds€like€it€might€be€for€some€type€of€estoppel€defense,Ïa€defense€that€hasnððt€been€pled.€€So€I€would€suggest€that€itððs€not€relevant€to€anÏissue€in€this€case.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àà ” àMR.€FISHER:€I€say€it€is€relevant€because€when€theÏtestimony€is€finished,€I€believe€it€will€shed€some€light€on€what€part€of€the€hotelÏthey€were€talking€about.€€Iððm€not€claiming€any€sort€of€estoppel.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àà ” àTHE€COURT:€€If€heððs€not€claiming€estoppel,€then€itÏis€permissible.€€And€I€donððt€believe€theyððve€raised€estoppel.€€But€I€do€believeÏthat€they€raised€the€language€of€the€contract.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àà ” àMR.€BOOKER:€€I€guess€what€Iððm€trying€to€avoid€isÏwhere€testimony€comes€in,€and€after€trial€he€says€itððs€come€in,€and€we€want€toÏhave€a€verdict€based€on€the€proof€presented.€€I€just€want€to€make€sure€thereððsÏnot€any€estoppel€defense€being€raised€now.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àà ” àMR.€FISHER:€€Iððm€not€raising€estoppel€on€that.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àà ” àTHE€COURT:€€I€believe€if€he€was€raising€estoppel,€heÏwould€have€done€that.€€But€weððll€let€it€go€forward€on€the€basis€that€he€says.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àQ.à ” àDuring€the€conversation€with€Mr.€Furnish€aboutÐ _4¯/5 Ðcancellation€and€what€if€you€canceled,€was€there€ever€any€mention€that€theÏrooms€in€the€Delta€addition€would€be€figured€into€the€unsold€rooms?Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! Ðà8 ö àà  àA.à ” àAbsolutely€not.€€No€admonition,€no€voice€concern,€noÐ #7s28 Ðexpression€that€we€would€have€any€significant€liability€whatsoever.€€It€was€veryÏclear€to€me€that€there€would€be€some€small€amount,€and€that€was€it.€€And€I€wasÏmaking€that€decision€based€on€discussions€we€had€as€a€group€with€Mr.€Ettman,Ð ç975; ÐMr.€Tanner.€€And€I€reviewed€the€contract,€the€number€of€room€nights,€and€theÏthought€in€my€mind€as€to€the€probability€that€those€room€nights€could€be€resoldÏby€Opryland€Hotel€at€that€time.Ð ö Þ!ö Þ! ÐÓ€ÓÌÔ€¼½€»XXy,Ôà ö àIt€is€difficult€to€see€how€Mr.€Sigel€could€fail€to€have€known€about€theÐ Ö& ÐDelta€wing€after€the€letter€of€August€12,€1994,€but€this€matters€little€since€heÏacknowledges€that€Steve€Tanner€was€in€charge€of€the€convention€for€Millbrook.ÌÌà ö àThe€most€troubling€part€of€the€two€transcript€excerpts€quoted€above€ð!ð€andÏthe€entire€discussion€of€the€partiesðð€contemplation€ð!ð€is€Millbrookððs€ultimate€useÏof€ð ðDeltaðð€rooms€to€lessen€its€liability.€€The€hotel€had€2,753€rooms€occupied€onÏJuly€11,€1996;€2,786€rooms€occupied€on€July€12,€1996;€2,605€on€July€13;€1,938Ïon€July€14;€2,095€on€July€15;€2,033€on€July€16,€and€1,839€on€July€17.€€None€ofÏthese€numbers,€save€the€July€17€occupancy,€could€have€been€possible€withoutÏconsidering€the€Delta€wing.€€Thus,€Millbrook€seeks€a€construction€of€the€contractÏthat€caps€their€room€maximum€at€1,891€but€then€uses€the€Delta€wing,€whichÏMillbrook€never€considered€for€any€purposes,€as€a€means€of€reducing€orÏeliminating€their€unsold€room€night€obligation€following€cancellation.€ÌÌà ö àWhen€all€of€the€documents€are€considered€in€the€light€of€the€actions€of€theÏparties€throughout€this€controversy,€it€is€apparent€that€the€1996€MillbrookÏconvention€contemplated€the€entire€2,870€rooms€of€the€Opryland€Hotel,€existingÏand€useable€as€of€July€11,€1996.ÌÌà ö àSuch€decision€is€mandated€by€the€rule€that€the€ð ðCourt,€placing€itself€in€theÏposition€of€the€contracting€parties,€considers€all€the€facts€and€circumstances€soÏas€to€ascertain€what€the€parties€intended,€the€primary€purpose€being€to€ascertainÏjust€what€was€within€the€contemplation€of€the€parties.ðð€€òòFidelity„Phenix€Fire€Ins.Ð Ã-)3 ÐCo.€of€New€York€v.€Jacksonóó,€181€Tenn.€453,€468,€181€S.W.2d€625,€631€(Tenn.Ð ^/®*5 Ð1944).ÌÌà ö àWhile€generally€in€cases€involving€breach€of€contract€the€burden€restsÏupon€the€defendant€to€establish€matters€in€mitigation€of€damages,€òòJeffers€v.Ð Ê51= ÐStanleyóó,€486€S.W.2d€737€(Tenn.€1972),€we€are€not€dealing€in€this€case€with€aÐ e7µ2? Ðbreach€of€contract.€€This€contract€contained€detailed€cancellation€provisions€andÐ 9P4A Ðan€affirmative€duty€upon€Opryland€to€resell€the€Millbrook€rooms€afterÏcancellation.€€The€record€does€not€establish€any€basis€by€which€the€court€canÏdetermine€which€room€nights€were€sold€after€cancellation€in€the€Delta€wing€andÏin€the€pre„Delta€hotel.€€All€rooms€sold€subsequent€to€cancellation€will€thereforeÏbe€credited€to€Millbrook€with€a€resulting€total€damages€to€Opryland€ofÏ$170,690.00.ÌÌà ö àThe€action€of€the€chancellor€in€determining€that€the€contract€precluded€anyÏrecovery€for€advertising€expense€is€eminently€correct€and€is€affirmed.ÌÌà ö àEstoppel€is€specifically€disavowed€by€Millbrook€and€the€finding€of€theÏchancellor€that€the€Delta€wing€of€the€hotel€was€not€contemplated€for€the€JulyÏ1996€Millbrook€convention€is€against€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€andÏtherefore€reversed.ÌÌà ö àThe€action€of€the€chancellor€is€thus€reversed€in€part,€affirmed€in€part,€andÏthe€cause€is€remanded€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion,Ïincluding€the€proper€entry€of€judgment€awarding€the€cancellation€fee€ofÏ$170,690.00.ÌÌà ö àCosts€are€assessed€against€the€appellee€for€which€execution€may€issue.ÌÌÌÓB€ü(€ö ìðX€ü(€ö ”ðXBÓÓ€Óà ö àà  àà ì à___________________________________Ìà ö àà  àà ì àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€P.J.,€M.S.ÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌ̀Р«9û4= Ðà ö à€Ì