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D-a 0KŽŽ ASÙÆ, 0¤ò 0D– A«Ú»(ÈhH  Z(Times New Roman (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular ˜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.wpt“)â 1, 2, 3,Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 #Ñ#€Cÿÿd#ÑLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5¡B )˜C¤ œ\]¤3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ - ù-(|G2v$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¼»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôz ò»»Ô d(|3Åõ$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¼»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Åõ$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¼»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ ,»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼âm»»»ÔÑ8€oÜXXdê»»d 8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îã\âmÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼âm»îîã\ #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓJune€2000€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X¿ÙX»¼âmÔÌò òÔ#†¼âm»XX¿Ùì#ÔTENNESSEE€PINE€COMPANYòòóó€v.€DAVID€AND€PATTY€VIAòòóóÔ‡X¿ÙX»¼âmÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òA€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Madison€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€54937€€€€€€The€Honorable€Joe€C.€Morris,€ChancellorÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€W1999„00558„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€August€25,€2000Ð ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  Óà  àA€timber€company€filed€a€declaratory€judgment€suit€to€determine€its€rights€and€to€declare€itsÐ xÈ  Ðcontract€with€a€landowner€valid€and€enforceable.€€The€trial€court€modified€the€contract€and€declaredÐ d´ Ðthe€contract€as€modified€valid€and€enforceable.€€The€landowner€has€appealed€and€presents€the€soleÐ P  Ðissue€for€review€as€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€not€holding€the€contract€unenforceable€becauseÐ <Œ Ðof€laches.Ô#†¼âm»XX¿Ùk#ÔÔ‡X¿ÙX»¼âmÔÐ (x ÐÓ¢ÓÌò òTenn.R.App.P.€3;€Appeals€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmed€andÐ P ÐRemandedó óÐ ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼âm»àX¿ÙÀ#ÔÔ‡X¿ÙX.¼âmÔW.€Frank€Crawford,€P.J.,€W.S.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAlan€E.€Highers,Ð Ä ÐJ.óó€and€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌCharles€M.€Agee,€Jr.,€Dyersburg,€For€Appellants,€David€and€Patty€ViaÐ ˆØ ÐÌTerry€Abernathy,€Selmer,€For€Appellee,€Tennessee€Pine€CompanyÐ `° ÐÓ’ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼âm»XX¿ÙÁ#ÔÔ‡X¿ÙX»¼âmÔÐ 8!ˆ  ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼âm»XX¿Ù† #ÔÔ‡X¿ÙX»¼âmÔÓ  ÓÑ€ êÝÑà  àDefendants,€David€Via€and€wife€Patty€Via€(herein€ð ðthe€Viasðð),€appeal€the€judgment€of€theÐ #`" Ðtrial€court€declaring€the€rights,€status€or€other€legal€relations€under€a€contract€made€betweenÐ ü#L# Ðthemselves€and€plaintiff,€Tennessee€Pine€Company,€Inc.€(herein€ð ðTennessee€Pineðð).€€Ð è$8 $ ÐÌà  àOn€July€6,€1998,€Tennessee€Pine€filed€a€ð ðComplaint€seeking€Declaratory€Judgmentðð€against€Ð À&"& Ðthe€Vias.€€The€complaint€alleges€that€the€parties€€entered€into€a€contract€on€February€26,€1987,Ð ¬'ü"' Ðwhereby€Tennessee€Pine€would€plant€pine€seedlings€on€approximately€400€acres€of€land€belongingÐ ˜(è#( Ðto€the€Vias.€€€According€to€the€terms€of€the€contract,€Tennessee€Pine€€was€to€execute€the€paper€workÐ „)Ô$) Ðand€administrative€duties€necessary€to€enroll€the€Vias€in€a€conservation€reserve€€program€to€receiveÐ p*À%* Ðfunding€from€the€United€States€Department€of€Agriculture.€€€It€was€further€agreed€that€upon€theÐ \+¬&+ Ðexpiration€of€the€period€that€the€Viasðð€land€was€enrolled€in€the€program,€the€Vias€would€assign€orÐ H,˜', Ðlease€the€land€to€Tennessee€Pine€€for€an€additional€fifteen€year€period,€with€the€annual€compensationÐ 4-„(-ýÑ ÐÑ êÝÑâ  âÑ8€¿ÙXdìXXdê8Ñâ  âÑ  Ñof€approximately€$53.00€per€acre.€€€The€Vias€were€to€pay€Tennessee€Pine€one„half€of€the€cost€ofÐ ° Ðplanting€the€pine€seedlings,€which€they€would€receive€from€the€U.S.€Department€of€Agriculture€asÐ œì Ðpart€of€the€subsidy€for€the€cost€of€planting€the€pine€seedlings.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àThe€complaint€avers€that€certain€controversies,€disputes€and€disagreements€have€arisenÐ `° Ðbetween€these€parties€concerning€the€construction,€validity€and/or€application€of€the€contract,€andÐ L œ Ðthat€a€declaratory€judgment€was€needed€to€resolve€such€controversies.€€The€complaint€further€aversÐ 8 ˆ Ðthat€the€contract€between€the€parties€is€valid€and€enforceable€according€to€its€terms€and€provisions,Ð $ t Ðand€that€the€contract€grants€and€establishes€certain€proprietary€rights€belonging€to€Tennessee€Pine.€Ð  ` ÐThe€complaint€claims€that€the€Vias€now€deny€the€validity€of€such€contract,€and€have€refused€toÐ ü L  Ðaccept€and€perform€the€terms,€provisions€and€obligations€of€said€contract.€€Plaintiff€seeks€aÐ è 8  Ðdeclaratory€judgment€with€respect€to€the€rights,€status,€and€other€legal€relations€of€the€parties€underÐ Ô$  Ðthe€contract.€€The€complaint€further€seeks€that€the€court€declare€that€the€contract€is€valid,€binding€andÐ À  Ðobligatory€in€all€respects€and€should€be€enforced€according€to€its€terms.€€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àThe€Viasðð€answer€and€counter€complaint€was€filed€on€August€6,€1998.€€They€admit€that€aÐ „Ô  Ðcontract€was€made€between€the€parties,€and€that€a€dispute€has€arisen€between€the€parties.€The€ViasÐ pÀ Ðdeny€that€the€contract€is€a€valid€and€enforceable€contract,€and€aver€that€Tennessee€Pine€has€neverÐ \¬ Ðperformed€to€its€obligations€under€the€contract.€€They€aver€that€immediately€after€the€execution€ofÐ H˜ Ðthe€contract,€Tennessee€Pine€materially€breached€its€obligations€under€the€contract,€thereby€relievingÐ 4„ Ðthe€Vias€of€any€duties€or€responsibilities.€The€Vias€aver€that€Tennessee€Pine€materially€breached€itsÐ  p Ðobligation€under€the€contract€by€failing€to€plant€pine€trees€on€their€400€acres€of€land.€The€Vias€furtherÐ  \ Ðallege€that€they€have€performed€each€and€every€obligation€required€under€the€contract,€unless€theyÐ øH Ðwere€relieved€of€that€requirement€to€perform€by€the€material€breach€of€Tennessee€Pine.€€The€counter„Ð ä4 Ðcomplaint€seeks€a€declaratory€judgment€that€the€contract€is€void,€and€for€damages.€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€the€non„jury€trial€held€on€April€23,€1999,€Mr.€Robert€Smith,€president€of€Tennessee€Pine,Ð ¨ø Ðtestified€on€its€behalf.€€Smith€stated€that€he€had€been€contacted€by€David€Via€sometime€in€late€1986Ð ”ä Ðor€early€1987.€€Via€told€Smith€that€he€had€been€approved€to€enroll€in€a€ten€year€conservatory€resourceÐ €Ð Ðprogram€(herein€ð ðCRPðð)€for€grass,€but€that€he€wanted€to€extend€his€enrollment€to€a€twenty„five€orÐ l¼ Ðthirty€year€period,€and€convert€€to€the€program€for€the€conservation€of€pine€trees.€€Smith€testified€thatÐ X ¨ Ðon€February€26,€1987,€Tennessee€Pine€Company€Inc.,€entered€into€a€contract€with€David€and€PattyÐ D!” ÐVia.€€Tennessee€Pine€began€planting€pine€saplings€on€the€Viasðð€property€in€March€of€1987,€andÐ 0"€  Ðcontinued€planting€through€April€of€that€year.€€They€discontinued€planting€on€the€Viaððs€propertyÐ #l! Ðbecause€the€planting€season,€Ô_ÔasÔ_Ô€designated€by€the€Ô_ÔState,Ô_Ô€was€terminated€for€Ô_Ô1987.Ô_Ô€€When€plantingÐ $X" Ðended,€Tennessee€Pine€€had€completed€only€one€hundred€fifty€acres€of€the€four€hundred€acresÐ ô$D # Ðcontracted€to€be€planted.€Smith€stated€that€both€parties€knew€that€because€they€entered€the€contractÐ à%0!$ Ðin€February,€they€might€not€get€all€of€the€planting€done€in€that€planting€season,€which€usually€runsÐ Ì&"% Ðfrom€December€thru€March.Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àAfter€planting€one€hundred€fifty€acres,€Smith€took€steps€to€get€paid,€following€his€regularÐ )à$( Ðbilling€procedure€with€the€Vias.€€He€sent€them€an€invoice€dated€April€28,€1987,€Ô_ÔreflectingÔ_Ô€the€fullÐ |*Ì%) Ðamount€for€planting€approximately€one€hundred€and€fifty€acres€with€700€seedlings€totalingÐ h+¸&* ÐÔ_Ô$10,480.60.Ô_Ô€€€Smith€testified€that€he€provided€the€Vias€with€an€invoice€marked€ð ðpaid€in€fullðð€toÐ ° Ðfacilitate€payment€from€the€ASCAS€office€of€one„half€of€the€cost€for€planting.€€€Ô_ÔTheÔ_Ô€Vias€were€toÐ œì Ðshow€the€invoice€to€the€ASCAS€office€and€would€receive€reimbursement€for€one„half€of€the€cost,Ð ˆØ Ðwhich€they€were€to€pay€to€Tennessee€Pine.€€Via€told€him€that€he€had€received€payment€from€theÐ tÄ Ðgovernment.€€Ô_ÔHowever,Ô_Ô€Smith€never€received€payment€from€the€Vias.€Consequently,€Tennessee€PineÐ `° Ðdid€not€return€the€following€planting€season€to€plant€the€remaining€acreage.€€Smith€testified€that€heÐ L œ Ðtried€to€reach€Via€by€telephone€several€times,€but€that€Via€never€responded.à x àÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àSmith€testified€that€sometime€in€1987,€€Via€made€it€clear€to€him€in€a€telephone€conversation,Ð  ` Ðthat€he€was€not€willing€to€pay€Tennessee€Pine€for€the€planting€that€they€had€done,€but€denies€that€theÐ ü L  Ðconversation€was€heated,€and€stated€that€there€was€never€any€discussion€of€the€contract€being€over.€Ð è 8  ÐSmith€denies€that€he€ever€threatened€Via€with€a€law€suit,€and€states€that€he€did€not€tell€Via€that€heÐ Ô$  Ðwould€take€his€farm€away.€€Ô_ÔOnÔ_Ô€February€1,€1988,€he€wrote€to€Via,€again€requesting€payment.€Ð À  ÐÌà  àSmith€states€that€he€has€more€than€$10,000.00€€invested€in€the€planting€and€maintenance€€ofÐ ˜è  Ðthe€trees.€€Smith€has€made€at€least€two€Ô_ÔtripsÔ_Ô€a€year€to€the€site€for€the€past€ten€years,€which€involvesÐ „Ô  Ðtraveling€fifty€miles.€€Smith€testified€that€the€Viasðð€advantages€under€the€contract€included€€no€initialÐ pÀ Ðcosts,€the€extension€the€conservation€program,€and€no€management€expenses€over€the€course€of€Ð \¬ Ðtwenty„five€to€thirty€years.€€Ô_ÔOnÔ_Ô€the€other€hand,€Tennessee€Pine€bears€the€risk€of€loss€associated€withÐ H˜ Ðowning€the€pines,€and€will€get€no€money€out€of€the€contract€until€the€trees€are€harvested.€€Ô_ÔSmithÔ_ÔÐ 4„ Ðindicated€that€the€contract€would€cease€when€he€cut€the€timber.Ð  p ÐÌà  àMr.€Via€testified€that€he€did€receive€a€check€from€the€ASCS€office€in€the€amount€ofÐ øH Ð$4,500.00,€for€one„half€of€what€they€approved€for€the€planting.€€Via€does€not€contest€the€fact€thatÐ ä4 Ðunder€the€contract,€he€was€to€give€that€money€to€Tennessee€Pine,€but€explained€that€he€did€not€payÐ Ð  ÐTennessee€Pine€because€he€had€doubts€about€them.€€Via€stated€that€he€owns€another€piece€of€landÐ ¼  Ðin€Carroll€County,€where€Tennessee€Pine€was€supposed€to€plant€pine€trees.€€The€Tennessee€Pine€crewÐ ¨ø Ðwas€pulled€off€that€land€before€the€planting€season€was€over,€and€sent€to€plant€someone€elseððs€land.€Ð ”ä ÐVia€states€that€Tennessee€Pine€had€more€work€than€it€could€do.€€€As€to€the€telephone€conversationÐ €Ð Ðwith€Smith,€Via€testified€that€he€voiced€his€displeasure€with€the€way€the€planting€was€handled.€€HeÐ l¼ Ðcomplained€that€no€trees€were€planted€on€his€land€in€Carroll€County,€and€that€only€a€little€over€one„Ð X ¨ Ðthird€of€the€trees€were€planted€per€the€contract€at€issue.€€Via€testified€that€Smith€then€ð ðgive€me€aÐ D!” Ðcussing€and€told€me€he€didnððt€want€nothing€else€to€do€with€me.ðð€€Via€claimed€that€Smith€threatenedÐ 0"€  Ðto€sue€him€and€sell€his€farm.€Via€states€that€he€did€not€speak€to€Smith€after€that€heated€conversation,Ð #l! Ðand€does€not€remember€receiving€a€letter€from€him€after€the€telephone€conversation,€but€states€thatÐ $X" Ðif€he€had€received€a€letter,€he€would€have€ignored€it.€€Via€testified€that€he€did€receive,€but€returnedÐ ô$D # Ða€check€from€Tennessee€Pine€for€$3,000.00€for€a€bonus€payment,€which€seemed€suspicious€to€him.€Ð à%0!$ ÐWith€regard€to€damages,€Via€testified€that€€from€1987€through€Ô_Ô1997,Ô_Ô€he€received€only€$18,462.00,Ð Ì&"% Ðin€an€annual€CRP€Ô_Ôpayment,Ô_Ô€instead€of€the€$21,400.00€€as€stated€in€the€contract€Ô_ÔasÔ_Ô€a€result€ofÐ ¸'#& ÐTennessee€Pineððs€planting€only€one€hundred€fifty€acres€of€€trees.€€Ô_ÔViaÔ_Ô€claims€a€loss€of€$3,000.00€perÐ ¤(ô#' Ðyear€due€to€the€unplanted€acreage.€€In€1997,€Via€renewed€his€enrollment€with€the€CRP€and€isÐ )à$( Ðâ âcurrently€receiving€$40.00€per€acre€for€the€planted€Ô_Ôacreage.Ô_ԀР|*Ì%) Ðà  àOn€cross„examination€Via€admitted€to€having€filed€bankruptcy€in€1988€(around€the€same€timeÐ ° Ðâ âthe€Tennessee€Pineððs€counsel€sent€him€the€letter€which€he€does€not€€remember€receiving).€Ð œì ÐConcerning€the€400€acres€at€issue,€Via€stated€that€he€enrolled€in€€the€CRP€grass€program€as€early€asÐ ˆØ ÐMarch€of€1986,€before€he€met€Smith.€€Via€stated€that€he€had€no€contact€with€Tennessee€Pine€fromÐ tÄ Ðabout€1988€until€the€expiration€of€the€CRP€program€in€1997.Ð `° ÐÌà  àAt€the€close€of€proof,€counsel€for€Tennessee€Pine€explained€that€his€client€did€not€make€anyÐ 8 ˆ Ðclaim€to€the€$4,500.00€received€by€the€Vias€€because€he€did€not€want€to€run€afoul€of€bankruptcyÐ $ t Ðproceedings.€€€Ð  ` ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€made€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€we€quote:Ð è 8  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThat€the€Plaintiff,€Tennessee€Pine€Company,€Inc.,€and€theÐ À  ÐDefendants,€David€Via€and€wife,€Patty€Via,€freely,€knowingly€andÐ ¬ü  Ðvoluntarily€entered€into€a€certain€CONTRACT,€dated€February€26,Ð ˜è  Ð1987,€(Exhibit€No.€1),€and€the€Court€finds€that€the€CONTRACT€isÐ „Ô  Ðplain,€unambiguous€and€speaks€for€itself.ÐpÀ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€Court€further€finds€that,€pursuant€to€the€CONTRACT,€theÐ \¬ ÐPlaintiff€planted€one€hundred€fifty€(150)€acres€of€pine€in€the€springÐ H˜ Ðmonths€of€1987€and€that,€in€accordance€with€the€required€procedure,Ð 4„ Ðthe€Tennessee€Department€of€Conservation,€Division€of€Forestry,Ð  p Ðchecked€the€planting€and€found€that€ð ðthe€results€are€excellent.ðð€(TrialÐ  \ ÐExhibit€No.€2A).ÐøH` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€Court€further€finds€that€the€remainder€of€the€acreage€wasÐ ä4 Ðto€be€planted€during€the€planting€season€of€the€following€year€(SeeÐ Ð  Ðagain€Trial€Exhibit€No.€2A),€but€because€the€Defendants€refused€toÐ ¼  Ðpay€over€to€the€Plaintiff€the€funds€that€the€Defendants€received€fromÐ ¨ø Ðthe€ASCS€Office€for€the€planting€of€the€one€hundred€fifty€(150)€acres,Ð ”ä Ðthe€Plaintiff€did€not€plant€the€remaining€acreage€the€following€year,Ð €Ð Ðand€the€Court€finds€that€the€Plaintiffððs€decision€not€to€plant€anyÐ l¼ Ðadditional€acreage€was€justified€in€light€of€the€Defendantsðð€refusal€toÐ X ¨ Ðpay,€and€the€Court€further€finds€that€there€is€no€creditable€proof€in€thisÐ D!” Ðrecord€that€the€failure€to€plant€any€additional€acreage€resulted€in€anyÐ 0"€  Ðcost,€expense€or€damage€whatsoever€to€the€Defendants.€€à  àà @  à€Ð#l!` x` x Ѐà  àà8 ` àà ¸ àThe€Court€makes€no€specific€findings€and€declaration€of€theÐ $X" Ðrights€for€the€Plaintiff€concerning€the€approximate€Four€ThousandÐ ô$D # ÐFive€Hundred€($4,500.00)€Dollars€that€the€Defendants€should€haveÐ à%0!$ Ðpaid€over€to€the€Plaintiff€for€the€planting€of€the€one€hundred€fiftyÐ Ì&"% Ð(150)€acres,€because€of€the€Plaintiffððs€statements€in€Court€concerningÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€uncertainty€of€whether€or€not€this€debt€was€discharged€by€theÐ ¤(ô#' ÐDefendantsðð€bankruptcy.€€Ð)à$(` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€Court€further€finds€that,€according€to€the€CONTRACTÐ |*Ì%) Ðbetween€the€parties,€the€involved€land€was€required€to€ð ðlay€outðð€forÐ h+¸&* Ðten€(10)€yeas,€as€prescribed€by€the€CRP€Program,€and€that€during€thisÐ ° Ðten€(10)€year€period,€the€Defendants€received€payments€on€their€landÐ œì Ðfrom€the€ASCS/CRP€Program.ЈØ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThe€Court€further€finds€that,€upon€the€expiration€of€the€initialÐ tÄ Ðten€(10)€year€term€of€the€CRP€Program,€the€Plaintiffððs€fifteen€(15)Ð `° Ðyear€lease€on€the€one€hundred€fifty€(150)€acres€of€growing€pine€timberÐ L œ Ðwould€have€commenced,€and€that€the€Plaintiff€would€have€beenÐ 8 ˆ Ðrequired€to€make€the€annual€payment€to€the€Defendants€in€the€amountÐ $ t Ðof€Eight€Thousand€Five€Hundred€(8,500.00)€Dollars,€(150€acres€xÐ  ` Ðcontract€price€of€$53.70€per€acre).€€However,€it€is€undisputed€thatÐ ü L  Ðupon€the€expiration€of€the€initial€CRP€Program,€the€Defendant€electedÐ è 8  Ðto€extend€his€land€in€the€program,€and€it€is€undisputed€that€theÐ Ô$  ÐDefendants€have€continued€to€receive€a€CRP€Program€payment€onÐ À  Ðthis€entire€farm,€containing€approximately€four€hundred€(400)€acres,Ð ¬ü  Ðwhich€includes€the€one€hundred€fifty€(150)€acres€of€growing€pineÐ ˜è  Ðtimber.€€The€Court€further€finds€that€the€per€acre€price€now€beingÐ „Ô  Ðreceived€by€the€Defendants€is€Forty€Dollars€and€80/100€($40.80).ÐpÀ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àTHEREFORE,€the€Court€finds€and€ORDERS€that€theÐ \¬ ÐCONTRACT€between€these€parties€is€valid€and€applicable€and€isÐ H˜ Ðreformed€to€the€extent€that€the€Plaintiffððs€leasehold€interest€isÐ 4„ Ðrestricted€to€the€one€hundred€fifty€(150)€acres€of€growing€pine€timber,Ð  p Ðand€further€finds€and€ORDERS€that€the€Plaintiffððs€initial€fifteen€(15)Ð  \ Ðyear€lease€on€this€one€hundred€fifty€(150)€acres€will€commenceÐ øH Ðimmediately€upon€the€expiration/termination€of€the€current€CRPÐ ä4 ÐProgram.ÐÐ ` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThat,€as€acknowledged€and€as€agreed€in€open€Court,€duringÐ ¼  Ðthe€extended€term€of€the€CRP€Program,€the€Plaintiff€shall€pay€to€theÐ ¨ø ÐDefendants€the€difference€in€the€per€acre€CRP€payment€of€FortyÐ ”ä ÐDollars€and€80/100€($40.80),€and€the€Contract€price€of€Fifty€ThreeÐ €Ð ÐDollars€and€70/100€($53.70),€on€the€one€hundred€fifty€(150)€acres.Ðl¼` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThat,€so€long€as€the€Plaintiff€pays€to€the€Defendants€theÐ X ¨ Ðordered€amount€on€an€annual€basis,€the€Plaintiff€retains€a€proprietaryÐ D!” Ðand€lease€hold€interest€in€the€one€hundred€fifty€(150)€acres€of€growingÐ 0"€  Ðpine€timber,€and€has€all€of€the€rights€and€obligations€imposed€upon€itÐ #l! Ðby€the€involved€CONTRACT.Ð$X"` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð à€€€€€That€the€Court€does€hereby,€in€accordance€with€Tennessee€CodeÐ ô$D # ÐAnnotated€ðð€29„14„101,€find,€declare€and€ORDER€that€the€partiesððÐ à%0!$ Ðrights,€status€or€other€legal€relations€under€the€involved€Contract€areÐ Ì&"% Ðas€herein€specified.и'#&` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThat€the€Counterclaim€filed€by€the€Defendants€against€theÐ ¤(ô#' ÐPlaintiff€is€dismissed,€and€the€parties€shall€equally€share€the€statutoryÐ )à$( ÐCourt€costs.Ð|*Ì%)` x` x ÐÒe°ÒÐ h+¸&* ÐÒeÒà r àA€Final€Decree€incorporating€the€above€was€entered€June€24,€1999.€€The€Vias€have€appealed,Ð ° Ðand€raise€one€issue,€as€stated€in€the€brief:€€Ð œì ÐÌà8 r àà8ÊrÐ rÐ à1.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€not€declaring€the€contractÐ tÄ Ðunenforceable€due€to€the€fact€that€plaintiff€took€no€action€for€over€anÐ `° Ðeleven€(11)€year€period€and€was€thereby€guilty€of€òòlachesóó.ÐL œÊxÊx ÐÌWe€will€confine€our€discussion€to€the€one€issue€presented.€€ò òòòSeeó óóó€Tenn.R.App.P.€13(b).€€Ð $ t ÐÌ€€€à r àÔ_ÔÔ‡XoÜXXX¿ÙÔSinceÔ_Ô€this€case€was€tried€by€the€trial€court€sitting€without€a€jury,€we€review€the€case€òòde€novoóóÐ ü L  Ðupon€the€record€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court.€€Unless€theÐ ê :  Ðevidence€preponderates€against€the€findings,€we€must€affirm,€absent€error€of€law.€€Ô_ÔTenn.R.App.P.Ô_ÔÐ Ô$  Ð13(d).Ð ¾  ÐÔ_ÔÔ#†X¿ÙXXXoܳU#ÔÔ_ÔÌà r àUnreasonable€delay€in€pursuing€rights€calls€the€equitable€doctrine€of€òòlachesóó€into€play€to€preventÐ ”ä  Ðassertion€of€stale€claims.€€ò òòòNunley€v.€Nunleyó óóó,€925€S.W.2d€538€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).€€In€ò òòòNunleyó óóó,€theÐ €Ð  ÐCourt€said:Ð l¼ ÐÌà8 r àà8ÊrÐ rÐ àà " àWe€note,€however,€that€delay€by€itself€is€not€sufficient€to€invokeÐ D” Ðthe€doctrine€of€laches.€€As€this€court€said€in€the€case€of€ò òòòBrister€v.Ð 0€ ÐBrubakerððs€Estate,€ó óóó336€S.W.2d€326,€332,€47€Tenn.€App.€150,€162Ð l Ð(1960),€€ð ð[T]he€determinative€test€as€to€laches,€which€may€be€availableÐ X Ðas€a€successful€defense,€is€not€the€length€of€time€that€has€elapsed,€butÐ ôD Ðwhether,€because€of€such€lapse€of€time,€the€party€relying€on€laches€asÐ à0 Ða€defense€has€been€prejudiced€by€the€delay.ðð€€See€also€ò òòòParker€v.€BethelÐ Ì ÐHoteló óóó,€34€S.W.€at€217,€96€Tenn.€at€285.иÊxÊx ÐÌò òòòId.€ó óóóat€542.Ð à ÐÌà r àIn€ò òòòJohn€P.€Saad€&€Sons,€Inc.€v.€Nashville€Thermal€Transfer€Ô_ÔCorporationÔ‡XoÜXXX¿ÙÔ,Ô_Ô€ó óóó715€S.W.2d€41Ð h¸ Ð(Tenn.€1986),€our€Supreme€Court€said:Ð V ¦ ÐÌà8 r àà8ÊrÐ rÐ àà " àAs€the€Court€of€Appeals€noted€in€ò òòòAmerican€NationalÐ *"z  ÐInsurance€Co.€v.€McPhetridgeó óóó,€28€Tenn.€App.€145,€187€S.W.2d€640,Ð #d! Ðò òòòcert.€denied€ó óóó(Tenn.€1945),€ð ð[t]he€doctrine€of€laches€was€very€aptlyÐ þ#N" Ðstated€.€.€.€in€ò òòòEvans€v.€Steeleó óóó,€125€Tenn.€483,€494,€495,€145€S.W.€162,Ð è$8 # Ð165,€as€follows:ÐÒ%"!$ÊxÊx ÐÌà8 r àà8ÊrÐ rÐ àà8" ÊxÊxàððRelief€is€generally€refused€by€courts€of€equity,€becauseÐ ¦'ö"& Ðof€lapse€of€time,€only€in€such€cases€where€the€loss€ofÐ (à#' Ðevidence,€death€of€witnesses€or€parties,€and€ò òòòfailure€ofÐ z)Ê$( Ðmemoryó óóó€resulting€in€the€obscuration€of€facts€to€theÐ d*´%) Ðprejudice€of€the€defendant,€render€uncertain€theÐ N+ž&* Ðascertainment€of€truth,€and€make€it€impossible€for€theÐ 8,ˆ'+ Ðcourt€to€pronounce€a€decree€with€confidence€.€.€.€TheÐ ° ÐDoctrine€of€laches€.€.€.€is€not€an€arbitrary€or€technicalÐ šê Ðdoctrine.€€No€hard€and€fast€rule€for€its€applicable€can€beÐ „Ô Ðformulated.ððððÐn¾" "  ÐÌà8 r àà8ÊrÐ rÐ à187€S.W.2d€at€643€(emphasis€added).€€The€application€of€the€doctrineÐ B ’ Ðin€the€first€instance€lies€within€the€discretion€of€the€trial€court€and€it€willÐ , | Ðnot€be€reversed€except€upon€a€showing€of€an€abuse€of€discretion.€Ð  f Ðò òòòHannewald€v.€Fairfield€Communities,€Inc.ó óóó,€651€S.W.2d€222,€228Ð  P Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.),€ò òòòpermission€to€appeal€deniedó óóó€(Tenn.€1983).€€Ðê : ÊxÊx ÐÌò òòòId.€ó óóóat€46.Ð ¾  ÐÌà r àThe€record€does€not€indicate€that€the€Vias€pled€the€doctrine€of€laches€in€defense€of€theÐ ’â  Ðcomplaint.€€However,€appelleeððs€counsel€has€stipulated€in€its€brief€that€the€day€before€trial,€the€ViasÐ |Ì  Ðamended€their€answer€to€add€the€defense€of€laches.€€Although€we€accept€the€stipulation€that€there€wasÐ f¶  Ða€pleading€of€laches,€our€examination€of€the€record€reveals€no€evidence€to€support€this€defense.€TheÐ P  Ðapplicability€of€the€doctrine€of€laches€is€dependent€upon€the€facts€of€each€case€and€lies€within€theÐ :Š Ðdiscretion€of€the€trial€court.€€Absent€a€showing€of€abuse,€the€trial€courtððs€decision€as€to€the€applicationÐ $t Ðof€the€doctrine€of€laches€will€not€be€reversed€on€appeal.€€ò òòòHardeman€County€Bank€v.€Stallings,€ó óóó917Ð ^ ÐS.W.2d€695€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995).Ð øH ÐÌà r àWe€find€no€abuse€of€discretion€by€the€trial€court.€€Accordingly,€the€decree€of€the€trial€court€isÐ Ì Ðaffirmed,€and€this€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€such€further€proceedings€as€may€be€necessary.€Ð ¶ ÐCosts€of€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€appellants,€David€and€Patty€Via€and€their€surety.Ð  ð Ðòòò òó óóóÔ#†X¿ÙXXXoܤ\#ÔÔ#†¼âm»XX¿Ùä #ÔÔ€X¿ÙX»¼âmÔÌà r àà Ê àà " àà z àà Ò àà * à__________________________________________Ð vÆ Ðà r àà Ê àà " àà z àà Ò àà * àW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.