ÿWPCL …# VUNa %¯ 0(µw@Ý4 1 UP@ 0l 0Dü 0J@ 0TŠ 0^Þ 0h< 0r¤ 0| 0†’ 0 1u¨ 0d BU>žU6ÜB)DC; AM~U*Ëõíö D3ãv~vÓ” 0@g AO§Æö 0D¼ D/ B/˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ö ÷ šø šù šú šû Vü Dý šþ Ó€ DÒ 3|x &@FÐZ ‹8CaslonOpnface BT Regular((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d$$$$7Border 1dd€-%Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ÷Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÔ€'ÔÔ€'ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€'XÔÌÌMay€23,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ãÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€#ÔÔ€#ôÔWhile€it€is€not€entirely€clear€in€the€record,€the€judgment€does€notÏappear€to€be€against€T&N€Office€Equipment,€Inc.€€This€may€be€explained€by€Mr.ÏNicholsðð€testimony€that€ð ð[i]n€January,€1995,€T&N€filed€for€Chapter€7Ïbankruptcy.ðð€€The€complaint€in€this€case€was€filed€on€October€28,€1994.Ì'ÿÿdxdPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÑ P ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€#ÔÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€·#XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌÌÌWINDON€H.€TAYLOR€andà àà à€€€)€C/A€NO.€01A01„9609„CV„00411ÌSARAH€A.€TAYLOR,à àà àà à€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)Ìà àPlaintiffs„Appellees,à à€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)€APPEAL€AS€OF€RIGHT€FROM€THEÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)€SUMNER€COUNTY€CIRCUIT€COURTÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)€No.€13574„CÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)ÌT&N€OFFICE€EQUIPMENT,€INC.,€€€€€€)ÌJERALD€W.€NICHOLS€and€à àà à€€€)ÌGAYLE€J.€NICHOLS,à àà àà à€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)€HONORABLE€THOMAS€GOODALL,Ìà àDefendants„Appellants.à à€€€)€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌFor€Appellantsà àà àà àà àà àFor€AppelleesÌÌLARRY€L.€CRAINà àà àà àà àà àLOUIS€W.€OLIVER,€IIIÌBrentwood,€Tennesseeà àà àà àHendersonville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÙ€€ÙßR€&(%A1-j|‡õ'` ç `€€@ÿRßÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€ ÔÔ€  ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ€#ÔÔ€#XÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED€IN€PARTÌVACATED€IN€PARTÌREMANDEDà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àSusano,€J.ÌÓÓà àà àWindon€H.€Taylor€and€his€wife,€Sarah€A.€TaylorÏ(collectively€ð ðthe€Taylorsðð),€sued€T&N€Office€Equipment,€Inc.Ï(T&N)€and€Jerald€W.€Nichols€and€his€wife,€Gayle€J.€NicholsÏ(collectively€ð ðthe€Nicholsðð),€alleging€that€the€defendants€hadÏdefaulted€on€a€promissory€note.€€The€trial€court€found€that€aÏdefault€had€occurred.€€It€then€held€that€the€Nichols× ƒ) ××  ×€wereÏobligated€under€the€note€to€pay€$11,960.13€in€attorneyððs€fees.€ÏThe€Nichols€appealed,€raising€the€following€questions€for€ourÏreview:ÌÌÓÓà àà8 à1.€Did€the€trial€court€err€in€finding€that€theÏNichols€had€defaulted€on€the€promissory€note?ÌÌà àà8 à2.€Did€the€trial€court€err€in€awarding€asÏreasonable€attorneyððs€fees€the€amount€ofÏ$11,960.13,€being€one„sixth€of€the€principalÏrecovered€on€the€promissory€note?ÌÌÓÓÌà@ àI.€òòFactsóóÌÌà àà àBetween€1978€and€1991,€Mr.€Taylor€and€Mr.€Nichols€eachÏowned€fifty€percent€of€the€stock€of€T&N.€€In€January,€1991,€T&NÏpurchased€Mr.€Taylorððs€interest€in€the€corporation,€leaving€Mr.ÏNichols€as€its€sole€owner.€€At€that€time,€T&N,€acting€through€Mr.ÏNichols,€executed€a€promissory€note€obligating€T&N€to€pay€theÏNichols€$135,000,€with€interest,€in€monthly€installments€ofÏ$2,087.36.€€At€the€bottom€of€the€note,€the€NicholsÏð ðunconditionallyðð€guaranteed€payment€of€the€note.€€The€NicholsÏalso€signed€a€hypothecation€agreement€pledging€two€$50,000Ïcertificates€of€deposit€as€collateral€for€the€debt.€€The€partiesÏalso€executed€a€security€agreement€that€granted€the€Taylors€aÏsecurity€interest€in,€among€other€things,€T&Nððs€accountsÏreceivable.ÌÌà àà àThe€promissory€note€defines€ð ðdefaultðð€as€occurring€underÏvarious€circumstances,€including€each€of€the€following:ÌÌÓÓà àà8 à[T&N]€becoming€insolvent€or€generally€failingÏto€pay€its€debts€as€they€become€due;ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌà àà8 àòòFailure€of€[T&N]óó€to€abide€by€the€terms€of€theÏsecurity€agreement€which€partially€securesÏthis€note€or€òòto€provide€the€collateral€asÏprovided€hereinóó;...ÌÌÓÓÌ(Emphasis€added).€€The€note€also€provides€thatÌÌÓÓà àà8 à[a]s€the€unpaid€balance€on€this€note€shallÏdecline,€[T&N]€shall€not€be€required€toÏmaintain€cash€collateral€in€excess€of€theÏunpaid€balance€due€hereon.€€When€the€unpaidÏbalance€due€hereunder€shall€be€One€HundredÏThousand€($100,000.00)€Dollars€or€less,€theÏSecurity€Agreement€shall€be€released.ÌÌà àà8 àIn€the€event€this€note€is€placed€in€the€handsÏof€an€attorney€for€collection€or€forÏprotection€of€any€interest€[the€Taylors]€mightÏhave€in€collateral€securing€payment€of€thisÏnote,€[T&N]€and€all€sureties,€guarantors,Ïendorsers€and€other€parties€hereto€agree€toÏpay€reasonable€attorneysðð€fees€and€court€andÏother€costs€incident€to€such€efforts.ÌÌÓÓÌà àà àIn€1993,€without€the€plaintiffsðð€knowledge,€Mr.€NicholsÏcashed€one€of€the€certificates€and€left€town€after€falselyÏrepresenting€to€the€issuing€bank€that€the€certificate€had€beenÏlost€or€destroyed.€€Upon€Mr.€Nicholsðð€return,€the€Taylors€met€withÍthe€Nichols,€who€agreed€to€deposit€approximately€$45,000€into€aÏjoint€account€with€the€Taylors€as€collateral€for€the€note€in€placeÏof€the€certificate€of€deposit.€€One€thousand€dollars€was€to€beÏtransferred€from€that€account€each€month€into€Mr.€TaylorððsÏaccount,€as€a€part€of€the€monthly€payment€due€under€the€note.€€TheÏparties€had€a€mutual€understanding€that€all€four€of€theirÏsignatures€would€be€required€before€any€funds€could€be€withdrawnÏfrom€the€joint€account;€however,€the€bankððs€policy€required€onlyÏone€signature€to€authorize€a€withdrawal,€and€the€account€wasÏapparently€set€up€with€this€proviso.ÌÌà àà àIn€October,€1994,€Mr.€Taylor€learned€that€one€of€T&NððsÏcreditors,€Panasonic,€was€attempting€to€recover€a€debt€ofÏ$5,295.36€by€enforcing€a€personal€guaranty€signed€by€Taylor€inÏ1985.€€The€Panasonic€obligation€had€been€incurred€by€T&N€after€Mr.ÏTaylor€sold€his€interest€in€the€business.ÌÌà àà àMr.€Taylor€also€discovered€that€Mr.€Nichols€had€againÏleft€the€area.€€He€was€told€by€Mrs.€Nichols€that€she€did€not€knowÏwhere€her€husband€was;€that€the€Panasonic€debt€was€not€going€to€beÏpaid;€that€she€was€not€obligated€for€T&Nððs€debts;€that€Mr.€NicholsÏhad€spent€all€of€their€money;€and€that€she€was€uncertain€as€toÍwhat€she€would€do€with€the€remaining€funds€in€the€joint€account.€ÏOn€October€27,€1994,€Mrs.€Nichols€withdrew€the€sum€of€$34,737€„„Ïall€but€about€$1,000€„„€from€the€joint€account.€€The€followingÏday,€the€Taylors€declared€the€note€in€default€and€filed€thisÏaction.ÌÌà àà àThe€Taylors€and€their€attorney€agreed€to€a€fee€of€one„third€of€any€amount€recovered,€but€they€subsequently€reduced€theÏpercentage€to€one„sixth.ÌÌà àà àOn€November€1,€1994,€after€having€been€served€with€aÏcopy€of€the€Taylorsðð€complaint,€Mrs.€Nichols€attempted€to€pay€offÏthe€balance€on€the€note,€but€payment€was€refused€by€the€TaylorsÏand€their€attorney.€€On€November€7,€1994,€the€trial€court€enteredÏan€order€allowing€the€payment€of€$71,760€by€the€Nichols€in€fullÏpayment€of€the€note.ÌÌà àà àThe€remaining€issues,€pertaining€to€default,€attorneyÏfees€and€the€Panasonic€obligation,€were€argued€before€the€trialÏcourt€on€April€23,€1996.€€The€trial€court€found€that€T&N€and€theÏNichols€had€defaulted€on€the€note€by€failing€to€pay€the€obligationÏto€Panasonic€and€by€removing€the€cash€collateral€from€the€bank.€ÍThe€court€found€that€the€Taylors€were€justified€in€declaring€aÏdefault€under€the€terms€of€the€note.€€The€court€also€found€thatÏthey€were€justified€in€fearing€that€the€Nichols€were€attempting€toÏevade€payment€of€the€note€and€the€Panasonic€obligation.€€It€basedÏthis€conclusion€on€the€following€circumstances:€€Mrs.€NicholsððÏstatement€that€T&N€was€without€funds;€Mr.€Nicholsðð€fraudulentÏprocurement€of€the€first€certificate€of€deposit;€Mr.€NicholsððÏdisappearance€on€two€occasions;€and€Mrs.€Nicholsðð€withdrawal€ofÏthe€collateral€from€the€joint€bank€account€without€the€TaylorsððÏknowledge€or€consent.€€The€court€held€that€the€default€entitledÏthe€Taylors€to€recover€their€reasonable€attorneyððs€fees,€which€itÏfixed€at€$11,960.13,€being€one„sixth€of€the€principal€recovered€onÏthe€note.ÌÌà@ àII.€òòStandard€of€ReviewóóÌÌà àà àIn€this€non„jury€case,€our€review€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€theÏrecord€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€as€to€the€trial€courtððsÏfindings,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€ÏRule€13(d),€T.R.A.P.;€ò òòòHackett€v.€Smith€Countyó óóó,€807€S.W.2d€695,Ï699€(Tenn.App.€1990);€ò òòòSmith€v.€Jarnaginóóó ó,€436€S.W.2d€310,€313Ï(Tenn.App.€1968).€€Conclusions€of€law€come€to€us€free€of€any€suchÍpresumption.€€òòò òAdams€v.€Dean€Roofing€Co.ó óóó,€715€S.W.2d€341,€343Ï(Tenn.App.€1986).ÌÌà@ àIII.€òòFinding€of€DefaultóóÌÌà àà àThe€trial€court€found€a€number€of€defaults€under€theÏterms€of€the€promissory€note.€€We€agree€that€there€was€a€default.€ÏAs€indicated€earlier,€the€note€defines€default€as,€among€otherÏthings,€any€failure€by€T&N€ð ðto€abide€by€the€terms€of€the€securityÏagreement...€or€to€provide€the€collateral€as€provided€herein.ðð€ÏWhen€Mrs.€Nichols€withdrew€all€but€$1,000€from€the€joint€account,Ïshe€removed€the€collateral€that€secured€the€debt;€thus,€from€thatÏmoment€forward,€the€defendants€were€in€default€due€to€theirÏfailure€ð ðto€provide€the€collateral€as€provided€[in€the€note].ðð€ÏMrs.€Nichols€took€this€action€without€the€consent€or€knowledge€ofÏthe€Taylors.ÌÌà àà àThe€Nichols€contend€that€the€trial€court€mistakenlyÏassumed€that€the€promissory€note€required€them€to€maintain€cashÏcollateral€at€all€times€in€an€amount€equal€to€the€unpaid€balanceÏof€the€note.€€Pointing€to€the€provision€in€the€note€that€statesÏthat€the€security€agreement€was€to€be€released€once€the€balanceÍfell€below€$100,000,€the€Nichols€argue€that,€since€the€balance€atÏthe€time€of€the€alleged€default€was€approximately€$71,000,€theyÏwere€relieved€of€their€obligations€under€the€security€agreement.€ÌÌà àà àWhile€we€agree€that€the€security€agreement€was€releasedÏonce€the€unpaid€balance€fell€below€$100,000,€we€do€not€agree€thatÏthis€contingency€relieved€the€Nichols€of€their€òòseparateóó€obligationÏto€provide€cash€collateral€as€specified€in€the€note.€€The€securityÏagreement,€which€was€released,€is€distinct€from€the€collateralÏrequirement.€€Thus,€although€T&N€and€the€Nichols€were€no€longerÏbound€by€the€security€agreement,€they€were€still€subject€to€theÏrequirements€of€the€promissory€note;€specifically,€they€wereÏobligated€to€ð ðprovide€the€collateralðð€that€was€required€by€theÏnote.€€As€far€as€the€note€was€concerned,€the€only€significantÏeffect€of€the€diminution€in€the€debt€was€that€the€Nichols€were€notÏrequired,€as€the€balance€declined,€to€ð ðmaintain€cash€collateral€inÏexcess€of€the€unpaid€balance.ðð€€Thus,€the€note€implicitly€stillÏrequired€them€to€provide€cash€collateral€in€an€amount€equal€to€itsÏoutstanding€balance,€which,€at€the€time€of€the€withdrawal,€was€inÏexcess€of€$71,000.€€This€they€failed€to€do.ÌÌà àà àThe€Nichols€also€argue€that€the€withdrawal€of€funds€fromÏthe€joint€account€cannot€constitute€a€default,€since€those€fundsÏwere€not€subject€to€the€provision€in€the€note€requiring€theÏNichols€to€ð ðprovide€the€collateral.ðð€€They€maintain€that€theirÏagreement€with€the€Taylors€to€deposit€approximately€$45,000€in€theÏjoint€account€was€a€separate€transaction,€wholly€independent€ofÏthe€promissory€note,€and€that€their€withdrawal€of€those€fundsÏtherefore€could€not€constitute€a€default€under€the€note.€€We€doÏnot€agree.€€The€funds€in€the€joint€account€were€clearly€intendedÏto€be€substituted€as€collateral€in€place€of€the€original€$50,000Ïcertificate€of€deposit€that€was€referred€to€in€the€note.€€It€isÏwell„settled€that€ð ðthe€interpretation€placed€upon€a€contract€byÏthe€parties€thereto,€as€shown€by€their€acts,€will€be€adoptedðð€by€aÏcourt€that€is€asked€to€construe€that€contract.€€ò òòòHamblen€CountyÏv.€City€of€Morristownó óóó,€656€S.W.2d€331,€335€(Tenn.€1983);€òòò òOgleÏand€Shelton€v.€Realty€World„Barnes€Real€Estate€Co.€andÏWoodóóó ó,€C/A€No.€03A01„9610„CH„00336€(Tenn.App.,€E.S.,€filed€AprilÏ28,€1997,€Franks,€J.).€€In€this€instance,€the€parties€treated€theÏfunds€in€the€joint€account€as€a€substitute€for€a€portion€of€theÏoriginal€collateral€required€by€the€note.€€Therefore,€according€toÏthe€noteððs€terms,€Mrs.€Nicholsðð€withdrawal€of€those€fundsÍconstituted€a€default€in€the€form€of€a€ð ð[f]ailure€to...€provideÏthe€collateral€as€provided€[in€the€note].ððÌÌà àà àFinally,€the€Nichols€argue€that€no€default€occurred,Ïsince,€according€to€their€theory,€Mrs.€Nichols€withdrew€theÏcollateral€in€order€to€pay€the€note€in€full.€€It€is€true€that€theÏnote€authorizes€prepayment€in€full€without€penalty;€however,€Mrs.ÏNicholsðð€attempted€payment€came€only€òòafteróó€she€had€been€servedÏwith€process€in€this€lawsuit.€€Whether€her€intent€was€as€stated€byÏher€at€trial€„„€and€the€timing€of€her€payment€certainly€bringsÏthis€into€question€„„€is€not€the€real€issue.€€What€she€did€was€aÏdefault,€as€defined€by€the€Nichols€when€they€signed€the€note.€€IfÏshe€had€wanted€to€avoid€the€consequences€of€a€default,€she€couldÏhave€easily€secured€the€Taylorsðð€consent.€€That€consent€could€notÏhave€been€reasonably€withheld€under€the€circumstances€of€thisÏcase.ÌÌà àà àIn€view€of€the€foregoing,€we€cannot€say€that€theÏevidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€aÏdefault€occurred.€€The€parties€were€free€to€define€default€in€anyÏway€they€chose,€and€the€withdrawal€of€funds€from€the€joint€bankÏaccount€falls€squarely€within€the€noteððs€sixth€category€ofÍdefault:€ð ðfailure...€to€provide€the€collateral€as€providedÏherein.ðð€€Given€our€conclusion€that€the€trial€court€correctlyÏfound€that€this€act€constituted€a€default,€it€is€not€necessary€forÏus€to€consider€the€courtððs€other€basis€for€finding€a€default€„„ÏT&Nððs€failure€ð ðto€pay€its€debts€as€they€become€due.ððÌÌà@ àIV.€òòAward€of€Attorneyððs€FeesóóÌÌà àà àThe€burden€of€proof€as€to€what€constitutes€a€reasonableÏattorneyððs€fee€rests€on€the€party€seeking€fees.€€ò òòòWilsonÏManagement€v.€Star€Distributorsóóó ó,€745€S.W.2d€870,€873€(Tenn.Ï1988).€€As€stated€by€the€Supreme€Court,ÌÌÓÓà àà8 àwhere€an€attorneyððs€fee€is€based€upon€aÏcontractual€agreement€expressly€providing€forÏa€reasonable€fee,€the€award€must€be€based€uponÏthe€guidelines€by€which€a€reasonable€fee€isÏdetermined.€[citations€omitted]€€The€partiesÏare€entitled€to€have€their€contract€enforcedÏaccording€to€its€express€terms.€€Where€theyÏspecify€a€reasonable€fee€rather€than€aÏpercentage€of€recovery,€it€is€clear€that€theyÏexpect€a€court€to€adjudicate€the€issue€of€aÏreasonable€fee...ÌÌÓÓÌòòò òId.ó óóóÌÌà àà àIn€the€instant€case,€the€promissory€note€clearlyÏprovides€for€the€payment€of€the€Taylorsðð€ð ðreasonable€attorneysððÏfeesðð€in€the€event€they€retained€an€attorney€for€the€purpose€of€Ïcollecting€the€unpaid€balance€on€the€note€or€protecting€theirÏinterest€in€the€collateral.€€Thus,€by€demonstrating€that€a€defaultÏoccurred,€the€Taylors€carried€their€burden€of€proving€theirÏentitlement€to€attorney€fees€under€the€note.€€It€then€became€theÏduty€of€the€trial€court€to€adjudicate€the€issue€of€a€òòreasonableóóÏattorneyððs€fee,€and€the€duty€of€the€Taylors€to€present€sufficientÏproof€to€enable€the€court€to€make€that€determination.€€ò òòòId.óóó óÌÌà àà àThe€Taylors€had€the€additional€responsibility€ofÏpresenting€evidence€relative€to€the€various€ð ðguidelines€by€which€aÏreasonable€fee€is€determined.ðð€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€€The€factors€relevant€to€theÏcalculation€of€a€reasonable€attorneyððs€fee€are€essentially€thoseÏfound€in€Disciplinary€Rule€2„106(B):ÌÌÓÓà àà8 à(1)€The€time€and€labor€required,€the€noveltyÏand€difficulty€of€the€questions€involved,€andÏthe€skill€requisite€to€perform€the€legalÏservice€properly.ÌÌà àà8 à(2)€The€likelihood,€if€apparent€to€the€client,Ïthat€the€acceptance€of€the€particularÏemployment€will€preclude€other€employment€byÏthe€lawyer.ÌÌà àà8 à(3)€The€fee€customarily€charged€in€theÏlocality€for€similar€legal€services.ÌÌà àà8 à(4)€The€amount€involved€and€the€resultsÏobtained.ÌÌà àà8 à(5)€The€time€limitations€imposed€by€the€clientÏor€by€the€circumstances.ÌÌà àà8 à(6)€The€nature€and€length€of€the€professionalÏrelationship€with€the€client.ÌÌà àà8 à(7)€The€experience,€reputation,€and€ability€ofÏthe€lawyer€or€lawyers€performing€the€services.ÌÌà àà8 à(8)€Whether€the€fee€is€fixed€or€contingent.ÌÌÓÓÌò òòòAlexander€v.€Inmanóóó ó,€903€S.W.2d€686,€695€(Tenn.App.€1995).€€TheÏreasonableness€of€a€fee€depends€on€the€facts€of€each€case;€thus,Ïthe€trial€court€must€consider€all€of€the€surrounding€circumstancesÏas€they€pertain€to€the€eight€criteria€listed€above.€€ò òòòId.óóó óÌÌà àà àThe€Taylors€cite€ò òòòWilson€Managementó óóó€for€the€propositionÏthat€the€trial€court€may€set€attorneyððs€fees€even€in€the€absenceÏof€both€expert€testimony€and€a€prima€facie€showing€of€whatÏconstitutes€a€reasonable€fee.€€ò òòòWilson€Managementóóó ó,€745€S.W.2d€atÏ873.€€Again€relying€on€that€case,€they€contend€that€the€NicholsÏfailed€to€meet€their€obligation€to€insist€upon€a€hearing€on€theÏissue€of€reasonable€fees.€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€€We€find€this€reliance€to€beÏmisplaced.€€The€relied„upon€language€in€ò òòòWilson€Managementóóó óÍaddresses€those€situations€where€a€trial€court€awards€attorneyððsÏfees€without€conducting€òòanyóó€hearing€on€the€issue.€€In€the€instantÏcase,€there€was€a€hearing€at€which€the€question€of€attorneyððs€feesÏwas€addressed.€€In€fact,€the€trial€courtððs€order€of€December€5,Ï1994,€specifically€reserved€the€issue€for€a€subsequent€hearing,Ïwhich€hearing€ultimately€took€place€on€April€23,€1996.€€On€thatÏoccasion,€the€court€heard€some,€albeit€minimal,€testimonyÏregarding€the€issue€of€reasonable€attorneyððs€fees€for€the€Taylors.ÌÌà àà àIn€setting€attorneyððs€fees€in€this€case,€the€trial€courtÏshould€have€evaluated€all€of€the€surrounding€circumstances€againstÏthe€background€of€the€eight€factors€set€forth€in€DR€2„106(B).€ÏFrom€all€appearances,€it€did€not€do€so.€€On€the€contrary,€theÏcourt€apparently€awarded€the€Taylors€a€flat€percentage€of€theirÏrecovery€simply€because€that€was€the€stipulation€in€the€agreementÏwith€their€attorney.€€The€Taylorsðð€fee€agreement€with€theirÏattorney€is€only€one€factor€in€the€analysis.€€That€agreement€inÏand€of€itself€does€not€automatically€render€that€fee€reasonable.ÌÌà àà àWe€conclude€that€in€the€interest€of€justice,€this€caseÏshould€be€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€a€proper€determinationÍof€the€reasonable€attorneyððs€fees€to€which€the€plaintiffs€areÏentitled.€€T.C.A.€ðð€27„3„128€provides:ÌÌÓÓà àà8 àThe€[appellate]€court€shall€also,€in€allÏcases,€where,€in€its€opinion,€complete€justiceÏcannot€be€had€by€reason€of€some€defect€in€theÏrecord,€want€of€proper€parties,€or€oversightÏwithout€culpable€negligence,€remand€the€causeÏto€the€court€below€for€further€proceedings,Ïwith€proper€directions€to€effectuate€theÏobjects€of€the€order,€and€upon€such€terms€asÏmay€be€deemed€right.ÌÌÓÓÌBy€this€decision,€we€do€not€mean€to€imply€that€a€remand€will€beÏappropriate€in€all€cases€where€there€has€been€insufficient€proofÏregarding€the€reasonableness€of€attorneyððs€fees.€€We€merely€holdÏthat,€under€the€facts€of€this€case,€a€remand€for€a€more€thoroughÏdetermination€is€warranted.ÌÌà àà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed,€except€forÏthat€portion€awarding€attorneyððs€fees€of€$11,960.13€to€theÏplaintiffs,€which€is€hereby€vacated.€€This€case€is€remanded€to€theÏtrial€court€for€such€further€proceedings€as€are€appropriate,Ïconsistent€with€this€opinion.€€Exercising€our€discretion,€we€taxÇÒ ° ÒÒ X Òthe€costs€on€appeal€half€to€the€appellants€and€half€to€the€appellees.ÌÌÓÓÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à__________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.ÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.ÌÌÌÌ_________________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.