WPCoL  0~V 0x 0kL 0k 0" 0~ 0: 0 0 0 0  0 01 0C 0V( 0~ 0M 0 0 0X 0 0 0 0KUB %0 0z6 0 1 0 r 0= 0F 0P 1V 0 0O$#Es# 0}u# 0x# 0j$ 0j$ 0ea% 0W% 0W& 0t& 0j& 0b' 0( 0( 0w) 0X* 0L+ 0S, 0-m- 0@. 0/ 00 0#1 01 0^2 03 03 0l4 04 15?6nO6 046 B074M7 0a7^7 0J\88 0J9 0@: 0TH: 0^:w@: 0h:; D3; 0r; 0|G< 0< 0I= 1u= 0dN>U6>B)>DC? AMT?U*??@Av~yCvD AOJK 0DK D/#L BRLV& 8Document[8]Document Style0..8` ..` V8Document[4]Document Style.. . V 8Document[6]Document Style8..V 8Document[5]Document Style0..V/8Document[2]Document Style 2A.3  Ԁ   V& 8Document[7]Document Style0..0` ..` zU :Right Par[1]Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..2I.3  Ԁ..0..zh :Right Par[2]Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..2A.3  Ԁ..0` ..` V?8Document[3]Document Style.. 21.3  Ԁ   z{ :Right Par[3]Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  ..P 21.3  Ԁ` ..` 0 .. z :Right Par[4]Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. .. 2a.3  Ԁ .. 0..z :Right Par[5]Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..h..2(1)3  Ԁ..0h..hz :Right Par[6]Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..h..h..2(a)3  Ԁh..h0..z :Right Par[7]Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..h..h....2i)3  Ԁ..0..z :Right Par[8]Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..h..h....p..2a)3  Ԁ..0p..pVX8Document[1]Document Style  @..8  2I.3  Ԁ     Ԉ l2:Technical[5]Technical Document Style.. 2(1)3  Ԁ. l2:Technical[6]Technical Document Style.. 2(a)3  Ԁ. l/%:Technical[2]Technical Document Style 2A.3  Ԁ   .. l,!:Technical[3]Technical Document Style 21.3  Ԁ   .. l(!:Technical[4]Technical Document Style 2a.3  Ԁ   .. l:0:Technical[1]Technical Document Style  2I.3  Ԁ     .. l1:Technical[7]Technical Document Style.. 2i)3  Ԁ. l1:Technical[8]Technical Document Style.. 2a)3  Ԁ. <6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXR& 8BibliogrphyBibliography0....jo4Tech InitInitialize Technical StyleS   1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 S CuyTechnicalTechnical Document Style11.11.1.11.1.1.11.1.1.1.11.1.1.1.1.11.1.1.1.1.1.11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1fp2Doc InitInitialize Document StyleS #    I. 1. A. a.(1)(a) i) a)S !"($0 ($0 0 (($0 0 0   A_ekqwDocumentDocument StyleI.1.A.a.(1)(a)i)a)x?t2PleadingHeader for Numbered Pleading Paper % z &(  &XXXXX6G''*d66G''*d6HH1HH2HH3HH4HH5HH6HH7HH8HH910111213141516171819202122232425262728  .+('2$ FT!   p4Heading 2Underlined Heading Flush LeftV4Heading 1Centered Heading@..  b* 8Bullet ListIndented Bullet List0..0` ..` B& $1Document Style0..8` ..` B $2Document Style.. . B $3Document Style8..B $4Document Style0..B-$5Document Style 23  Ԁ   B& $6Document Style0..0` ..` dS $7Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..23  Ԁ..0..df $8Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..` 23  Ԁ..0` ..` B=$9Document Style.. 23  Ԁ   fy &10Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. 23  Ԁ` ..` 0 .. f &11Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..23  Ԁ .. 0..f &12Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..h..h23  Ԁ..0h..hf &13Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..h..h..23  Ԁh..h0..f &14Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..h..h....23  Ԁ..0..f &15Right-Aligned Paragraph Numbers..` ..`  .. ..h..h....p..p23  Ԁ..0p..pDV!&16Document Style  @..  23  Ԁ     Ԉ X/&17Technical Document Style.. 23  Ԁ. X/&18Technical Document Style.. 23  Ԁ. X-(&19Technical Document Style 23  Ԁ   .. X*$&20Technical Document Style 23  Ԁ   .. X)$&21Technical Document Style 23  Ԁ   .. X83&22Technical Document Style  23  Ԁ     .. X/&23Technical Document Style.. 23  Ԁ. X/&24Technical Document Style.. 23  Ԁ.   CRight ParRight-Aligned Paragraph NumbersI.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)3|x<6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXx6X@JQX@( T$   dڃ"$(G.2$ FT!   uXX     0  MARVINBERKELESLIEMcWILLIAMS($   0  ERSKINEMABEESlymanCargillBroyles NKCABaird InsStovallBearden3d 6thTrotlingerTn.V.Gr.CoBokor2 0Indent123  ("$    2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  DDUD"eUӀ26 0Indent40 0 0 23  GGGG'dxd2@ 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  ORSVYZ[\ ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(Courier New% Line 7 dffff7Border 1ddPgC << G<  9p`(Arial  F!  #d#e  ii   YYY FILEDiX October1,1997CecilCrowson,Jr.iAppellateCourtClerk  F!#d#e  I$e         Mr.Cargillwasexoneratedbythejury.  F!#d#e  I$e         209503.Scopeofgeneralverdict. Ageneralverdict,althoughitmaynotintermsanswereveryissuejoined,isneverthelessheldtoembraceeveryissue,unlessexceptionistakenatthetermatwhichtheverdictisrendered.PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'hStyl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   h HD: Geneva  h HD: Geneva PC<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd F! . e  ݛ  76XXdd7\RA'\ `    , 5  f u` ќRhjgA1-j|`  `@R ̛@ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@ EASTERNSECTIONJAMESSLYMAN@ @ ) HAMILTONCOUNTY @ ) 03A019703CV00094 PlaintiffAppellee    @ )@ )@ ) v.  @ ) HON. SAMUELH.PAYNE, @ ) JUDGE@ ) @ NATIONALKNIFECOLLECTORS@ )ASSOCIATION @ )@ ) DefendantAppellant@ ) AFFIRMEDANDREMANDEDWILLIAMR.HANNAHOFCHATTANOOGAFORAPPELLANTERSKINEP.MABEEOFCHATTANOOGAFORAPPELLEE    OPINION         Goddard,P.J.  Inthisjurycase,NationalKnifeCollectorsAssociationappealsa$5000judgmentrenderedagainstitinfavorofJamesSlyman,raisingthefollowingtwoissuesonappeal,neitherofwhichquestionstheamountoftheaward:        1. WhethertheTrialCourterredinfailingtoholdasamatteroflawthatplaintiffcouldnotrecoveragainstdefendantfordefamation. 2. WhethertheTrialCourterredinfailingtoholdasamatteroflawthatthe90/10rulewasnotselectivelyenforced.         ThecomplaintsoughtdamagesagainsttheAssociationanditsPresident,BobCargill, k   ׀upontwotheories.Thefirstwaslibel,andthesecondbreachofcontract.ThelibeltheorystemsfromanaltercationbetweenMr.CargillandMr.Slyman,occurringonSeptember25,1994,whenMr.CargillaccostedMr.SlymanwithregardtoMr.Slyman'sconversationthedaybeforewithLisaBroyles,whowasemployedbytheAssociationasaneditorofitsmagazineandmanagerofitsmuseum.TheconversationwithMs.BroylesconcernedMr.Slyman'sbeliefthattheadvertisingforashowbeingheldinLouisville,Kentucky,wasinsufficient.  Asalreadynoted,Mr.CargillconfrontedMr.SlymanregardinghistreatmentofMs.Broyles.Thisresulted,accordingtoMr.Cargill,inhisbeingphysicallyassaultedbyMr.Slyman,anaccusationwhichMr.Slymansteadfastlydenied.  Subsequenttotheconfrontation,whichoccurredonSeptember24,1994,Mr.Cargill,onbehalfoftheAssociation,sentalettertoMr.SlymandatedOctober11,1994,whichstatedthefollowing:       DuetoyourcontinualrefusaltocomplywiththeNKCAshowrulethat90%ofyourmerchandisemustbeknives,andyourphysicalattackonmeattherecentLouisvilleNKCAKnifeShow,youwillnotbeallowedtosetupatanyNKCAShowsuntilfurthernotice.         ThepredicateforthelibelsuitisthestatementintheletteraccusingMr.Slymanofaphysicalattack.CopiesoftheletterweresenttothechairmanofshowstobeheldinCincinnati,Ohio,Springfield,Illinois,andChattanooga.  Althoughalmostalloftheparties'briefsaredirectedtotheissueoflibel,webelieve,forthereasonshereinaftersetout,thesecondissueisdispositiveofthisappeal.  Withregardtothesecondissue,theAssociationhaswhatisknownasa9010Rule,whichissetoutinitsPoliciesandProcedures:       III5.2 Dealershallagreethat90%ofthedisplayed  merchandiseshallbecutleryorcutlery relatedmaterials.Anyexceptionstothis  agreementmusthavepriorapprovalofthe  showchairman/manager.         TheevidenceisindisputeastowhetherotherexhibitorswereallowedtoviolatethisRulewithimpunity,aswasMr.SlymanuntiltheconfrontationbetweenhimandMr.CargillregardingMr.Slyman'streatmentofMs.Broyles.  Although,asalreadynoted,thecomplaintsoughtdamagesforbreachofcontract,thecasewastriedonthetheorythattheAssociationselectivelyenforcedtherulebypenalizinghimfornoncompliance,butnototherexhibitors,andalsoonthetheorythatbecausetheAssociationhadallowedhimtoviolatetheruleintimespasthewasentitledtoreasonablenoticethatinthefuturetherulewouldbeenforced.  Asaresult,Mr.SlymanwasnotabletoparticipateintheirfutureexhibitsheldinCincinnati,Springfield,andChattanooga,forwhichhehadalreadypaidafee.AlthoughultimatelythefeewasreturnedbyMr.Cargill'sletterofOctober11,Mr.Slymanneverthelesscontendshesuffereddamagesasaresultofbeingbarredfromdisplayinghiswares,forwhichhesues.  WefirstnotethatundersimilarcircumstancestheSupremeCourtheldinLivelyv.Drake,629S.W.2d900(Tenn.1982),thatadebtor,whoseinstallmentloanwassecuredbyadeedoftrust,wasentitledtoareasonablenoticefromthelenderthattheirregularpaymentsheretoforeacceptedmustbemadeinaccordancewiththenoteevidencingtheindebtednessbeforeforeclosureofthepropertycouldbeaccomplished.InreachingthisconclusiontheSupremeCourtsaidthefollowing(atpage903):        Itisalsosettled,however,thatasaresultofacourseofdealingbetweenparties,theholderofanindebtednessmaybedeemedtohavewaivedtherighttoacceleratewithoutgivingpriornoticetothedebtorofhisintentiontodoso.AsstatedbytheCourtofAppeals:        "ThereisanothertheoryuponwhichtheChancellor'sdeterminationmightbesustained,viz.:theconductofthepartieshasbeensuchthatanimpliedmodificationofthetermsoftheagreementexisted,bywhichthedebtorwasallowedtomisspaymentsfromtimetotime,anduntilthecreditorgaveactualnoticeofhisintenttorelyontheoldtermsnodefaultandforeclosurecouldbeaccomplished."         ThetheoryofselectiveenforcementandlackofnoticeisdemonstratedbythefollowingchargetothejurybytheTrialCourt,whichwasnotobjectedtobytheAssociation:        Theyalsotakethepositionthatheistheonlyonethatthey'veeverappliedthis9010ruleto.Now,you'veheardtheevidencefrombothsides.Now,ladiesandgentlemenofthejury,bothareresponsibletoreadthebylaws,thereisnodefenseoflawthatsaysyouhaven'treadthebylawsorhaven'treadtherules.Ifyoudid,youunderstand,we'dhavelawsuitseveryday,say,"Here'sthecontract,Ididn'treadit." That'snoexcuse,youbetterreaditifyoujoinsomeorganizationbecauseyou'reheldresponsibleforitunderthelaw,butbothsidesareresponsible,he'sresponsibletoreadthatandsoisthecorporation. Now,thecorporationhasarighttoenforcethatrule,theycan'tenforceitselectively,that'sagainstoneindividualandnoothers.Ifthey'veappliedthisruletoeverybodyconsistently,thenthey'reentitledtotellhimhecanpackhistentandgo,hehasn'tcomplied.Iftheyhaven't,youbuytheirtheoryhe'stheonlyonethey'veapplieditto,that'sselective.Andifyouletthatrulebeviolatedoveraseriesoftimes,that'sconsideredawaiverandtheonlywayyoucanreinstitutetheruleistonotifyall,"Look,wehaven'tenforcedthisrule,ithasn'tbeenineffect,we'regoingtogiveeverybodyonemonthtogetyourselfbackinshape,afterthatwe'llenforcethisrule."Iftheydothat,theycanenforceit. Theymaynothavewaivedtheruleatall,it'ssomethingyouhavetodecide,I'mgivingyouwhatyouhavetodo.          Additionally,thejuryhadsomequestionsregardingthistheory,asshownbythecolloquyoccurringafterthejuryhaddeliberatedforaperiodoftime:        AJURYMEMBER:Alsoyouhadinyourinstructionsomethingabouttheselectiveenforcementofarulewhichalmostislikeanotherissue. THECOURT:Itis,therearetwotheoriesofrecovery,you'reright.Youcan AJURYMEMBER:Inotherwords,ifit'snotlibel THECOURT:Ifyoufinditifyoufounditwasselectiveenforcement,therecouldberecoveryonthat. AJURYMEMBER:DoesanybodywanttoaskquestionsaboutthatbecauseIguesswejustthoughtthatfirstwehadtodecideiftherewasalibel. THECOURT:That'sagoodapproach,youcantakeitthatway AJURYMEMBER:Buttherearetwoseparateissues? THECOURT:Remember,onselectiveenforcementtheyhavebylawsandthat'swherethe9010rulewasentered.WhatI'mtellingyou,bothsidesarechargedwiththereadingofthat,beingaware.Whethertheydiditornot,that'snoexcusetosay,"Ididn'tknowaboutit."Andiftheyhavebeensystematicallywarningotherpeopleallthistimeandtellingthem,"Getinline,getinline,"iftheydon't'theycanputhimout,hehastogo. Wheretheproblemisiftheyhaven'tbeendoingthat,iftheyhadn'tbeentellingotherpeople,"Getinline,"andsuddenlyjustpickedonhim,thenthat'sselectiveenforcementandtheninthatsensetheywouldbewaivingthe9010rule,andtheonlywaytheycouldenforceit,thentheywouldhavetosendoutsomethingtellingeverybody,"Look,the9010ruleisinthere,we'vebeenignoringitlothesemanyyears.Asofsuchandsuchadateyouallareoutofhere."Youallhavetodecideifthey'vebeendoingittoeverybodyelse.Iftheydo,theyhavearight. AJURYMEMBER:Letmepointoutwhatonejurorhassaid,the9010ruledoesn'thaveinitthepunishmentofbanishinghimfromtheshows,thatthe9010rulesaysthepersonmaybeaskedtoremovetheoffendingmerchandise,butitsays AJURYMEMBER:CanIaskaquestion? THECOURT:Iftheyaskedyoutimeandtimeagain,theyhavearighttoputyouout,theydon'thavetokeeptakingyouout. AJURYMEMBER:Theselectiveenforcementhastodowithjustwarnings,iftheyaremakingsimplewarningbutneveractually THECOURT:Ifeverybodyelsegotinline,whatelsewouldyoudo?Theirtheoryiseverybodyelsehastogetinline,thisguydidn'tgetinline,wecan'tpunishthemforthatifyoubelievethat.Now,that'saquestionoffactagainwhetherornotthatwasdone.Hesaysitwasn't,theirsidesaidnoyes,itwas. You'veheardbothsides,youhavetodecidewhetherthey'vebeendon'titallalong.LikeIwassaying,youcan'tspeed,youonlyarrestspeeders,noteverybodyelse.Iftheytellthesepeopleslowdown,theyallslowdown,thenyoudon'tarrestthem,youonlygettheguywhodoesn't.Thatmakeanysense? AJURYMEMBER:Thethingwe'vebeenwrestlingwith,ashesaidearlier,thepunishmentwasthattheywouldhavetoparedowntothe9010rule,it'snotyoucan'tshow,futureshows. THECOURT:Theyhavearight,iftheyhavea9010ruleyouhavetohave90percentcutlery,hedoesn't,theyhavearighttosay,"Youcannotshow,period,youcanpackyourtentandgo."Therulewouldn'tbeanygoodifitdidn't.̀ MR.MABEE:theycan'tselectively THECOURT:Theycan'tselectively.IthoughtImadethatpoint,theycan'tjustpickhim.That'sthebigargumentinthecase,theysaid,"Sure,we'vedoneit,we'vedoneitwitheverybodyelse."Youremember,Ithink,someofthetestimony,Ican'trecallitall,youhavetorecall,"Whydidn'tyoukickeverybodyelseout?" "Theotherguyseithergotinlineorquitorsomething."Youallhavetorememberwhattheysaid.         WeconcludethatthereismaterialevidencetosupportthealternatetheoriesofMr.Slyman,andbecausetheyweretriedbyimpliedconsent,whichisappropriateunderRule15.02oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure,andbecausethejuryreturnedageneralverdict,T.C.A.209503, l   ׀theeffectofwhichwastodecideeachissueinfavorofthePlaintiffifsupportedbymaterialevidence,GeneralMotorsCorporationv.Dodson,47Tenn.App.438,338S.W.2d655(1960);RuralEducationalAssociationv.Bush,42Tenn.App.34,298S.W.2d761(1957),theverdictofthejuryandthejudgmententeredthereonmustbesustained.  Inconclusion,wepointoutthatwehavenotoverlookedthecontentionintheAssociation'sbriefthatnowaiveroccurredbecausetheelementsnecessaryforsuchhavenotbeenestablished:        Awaiveristhevoluntaryrelinquishmentofaknownright.Bairdv.FidelityPhoenixFireIns.Co.,178Tenn.653,162S.W.2d384,389(1942);StovallofChattanoogav.Cunningham,890S.W.2d442,444(Tenn.App.1994).Thewaiverofacontractualrightmustbeclearandunequivocal.Pattenv.Bearden,8F.3d343,346(6thCir.1993)[copyattached].Therecanbenowaiverunlessitwasanintentional,expressactoronepartysoactedastomisleadtheother.Trotlingerv.EastTn.V.&Gr.Co.,79Tenn.(11Lea)533,538(1883).Inordertoconstituteawaiverofaconditionofacontract,theremustbeconsiderationorestoppel.Bokorv.Holder,722S.W.2d676,680(Tenn.App.1986);Moorev.NashvilleUnionStockyards,69Tenn.638,90S.W.2d524,527(Tenn.1936).         These,ofcourse,areallelementsofclassiclegalwaiver.However,webelievetheword"waiver"inLivelyisnotusedinthissense,butratherinthesenseofacquiescence,whichisalsooccurredinthecaseatbar.  FortheforegoingreasonsthejudgmentoftheTrialCourtisaffirmedandthecauseremandedforcollectionofthejudgmentandcostsbelow.CostsofappealareadjudgedagainsttheAssociationanditssurety.      _______________________________      HoustonM.Goddard,P.J.CONCUR:________________________________DonT.McMurray,J.򀀀(NotParticipating)CharlesD.Susano,Jr.,J.