ÿWPC  aiƒ§G\¯!/¸îéjÐp®³AÃT|Orq‘gü/ÂG›ôæ­?ÌÍåYQ9ýæmjEc¹Æ‰=å™ê\î(hY±„Íô°ê©Ãû^û.Ø©³³õâñB˜Ør£€2{4K‚ "^åxGµ¦œ6CS½«ÕëE‚¤7hYÜŽo†¿CÆ•_üå•‘œ°0f2 ot›å©£Ù·ûMH„ðºgZD!P[³:‡Úŵ.ß.B‹’’u¨±+B÷¹™Ÿ@®¢ä'Ç+ Wh*ßš„*47û°·I‹®Üù/D“Öݲ"(³6DÑ¿¶¹ï%aÍ,®Ôáïoü¬7üÔ§i• ÓF_ ®&ç'P/Uï&pc«Ä*4Ýõz³ÔõyÒa&ý )Þ““)8¬¥Qz¦úç;°y¥Èg…PpI3UOÊ]ý1]‹¢-øêïö!%Ƨ@©T…›üb %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÉÐ ™ ƲÆxÆ>Æ 0DÊNìEüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüüübþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ 0ë Bññ 0¤ D5² D-ç 0K AS_Ʋ 0¤x 0D A«`»-™S1Þ (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÖƒF1b014c13|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S08\KNOXCLERK4ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0 Ý ƒRFÙ$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôýÍò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔParticiaÔ_Ô€Tweed€was€not€a€plaintiff€when€this€lawsuit€originally€was€filed.€€She€became€a€party€to€this€litigationÐ ° Ðwhen€Defendants€filed€a€third„party€complaint€against€her€at€the€same€time€they€filed€their€answer€and€counterclaim.€€ForÐ tÄ Ðease€of€reference,€we€collectively€refer€to€Ricky€and€Patricia€Tweed€as€ð ðPlaintiffs.ðð€Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó RICKYKISERSeeley P.J. Culp McDJonesboroughhereinabovemeruitLoudon S.W.establishe[d- ù-(|G2FÙ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€@µ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôýÍò»»Ô d(|3¿€$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€@µ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3¿€$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€@µ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€@µ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼@µ»»»ÔÑ8€XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îG@µÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼@µ»îîG #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAugust€11,€2004€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XX»¼@µÔÌò òÔ#†¼@µ»XXô#Ôà @ àRICKY€DALE€TWEED,€òòet€al.óó€v.€JOHN€A.€KISER,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XX»¼@µÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òÔ#†¼@µ»XX#ÔÔ€XX»¼@µÔAppeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Washington€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€8356€€€€€€Thomas€J.€Seeley,€Jr.,€Judge€Ð æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2003„02923„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€FILED€OCTOBER€19,€Ô_Ô2004Ô_ԀР¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` Aßó óÐ }Í  ÐÓ  ÓÌÌRicky€and€Patricia€Tweed€(ð ðPlaintiffsðð)€agreed€to€purchase€a€house€owned€by€John€and€Betty€KiserÐ d´ Ð(ð ðDefendantsðð)€for€$145,000.€€Defendants€owned€another€house€in€which€they€lived€and,€in€aÐ P  Ðseparate€agreement,€Plaintiff€Ricky€Tweed€(ð ðTweedðð)€agreed€to€build€a€sunroom€and€garage€ontoÐ <Œ Ðthat€house.€€Tweed€and€Defendants€agreed€that€the€cost€of€Tweedððs€labor€would€be€equivalent€to€theÐ (x Ðcost€of€the€materials€which€were€estimated€to€be€$21,000,€and€that€Tweed€would€be€paid€for€his€laborÐ d Ðby€deducting€the€total€labor€cost€from€the€purchase€price€of€the€house€that€he€and€his€wife€wereÐ P Ðbuying.€€After€various€disputes€arose,€Plaintiffs€sued€seeking€specific€performance€of€the€contracts.€Ð ì< ÐOne€of€the€issues€at€trial€was€whether€Tweedððs€claim€for€compensation€was€limited€by€theÐ Ø( ÐContractors€Licensing€Act€of€1994€because€he€was€an€unlicensed€contractor.€€The€Trial€CourtÐ Ä Ðconcluded€Tweedððs€compensation€should€be€determined€based€on€quantum€meruit,€and€in€so€doingÐ ° Ðconcluded€Plaintiffs€were€entitled€to€a€credit€against€the€purchase€price€of€the€house€in€the€amountÐ œì Ðof€$21,806.62.€€In€accordance€with€the€Contractors€Licensing€Act€of€1994,€we€conclude€TweedððsÐ ˆØ Ðclaim€for€compensation€is€limited€to€his€actual€documented€expenses€proven€by€clear€and€convincingÐ tÄ Ðevidence.€€Therefore,€the€Trial€Court€erred€when€it€concluded€Tweedððs€compensation€for€buildingÐ `° Ðthe€sunroom€and€garage€should€be€determined€by€quantum€meruit.€€Ð L œ ÐÌÌò òà@k k ìàTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€CircuitˆÐ #`" Ðà@« « ìàà@@« « ìàCourt€Affirmed€in€Part€and€Vacated€in€Part;€Case€RemandedˆÐ ü#L# Ðòòó óÌÌD.€Michael€Ô_ÔSwineyÔ_Ô,€J.,€óódelivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHerschel€P.€Franks,€P.J.,€óóandÐ À&"& ÐòòSharon€G.€Lee,€J.,€óójoined.Ð ¬'ü"' ÐÌJames€D.€Culp,€Johnson€City,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellants€John€A.€Kiser€and€Betty€Downs€Kiser.Ð „)Ô$) ÐÌBob€McD.€Green,€Johnson€City,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellees€Ricky€Dale€Tweed€and€Patricia€AnnÐ \+¬&+ ÐTweed.Ð  H,˜',ý° ÐÔ_Ôà@66'ìàò òOPINIONˆÐ ° ÐÌà@ÛÛ%ìàòòBackgroundó óóóˆÐ ˆØ ÐÌà  àà ` à€Defendants€own€a€house€located€on€Old€Stage€Coach€Road€in€Jonesborough,Ð `° ÐTennessee.€€Plaintiffs€entered€into€a€ð ðLand€Contractðð€with€Defendants€and€agreed€to€purchase€thisÐ L œ Ðhouse€for€$145,000.€€Plaintiffs,€however,€had€not€sold€their€then€current€house€and€apparentlyÐ 8 ˆ Ðintended€to€use€some€or€all€of€their€equity€from€that€sale€toward€the€purchase€of€Defendantsðð€house.€Ð $ t ÐPlaintiffs€nevertheless€moved€into€Defendantsðð€house€and€the€parties€agreed€that€until€Plaintiffs€soldÐ  ` Ðtheir€house,€they€would€pay€monthly€rent€of€$1,100€for€February€and€March€of€2001.€€Beginning€inÐ ü L  ÐApril€of€2001,€the€rent€would€continue€at€$1,100€per€month,€but€75%€of€the€rent€would€be€appliedÐ è 8  Ðtoward€the€purchase€price.€€Plaintiffs€also€agreed€to€pay€the€property€taxes€and€to€maintain€insuranceÐ Ô$  Ðon€the€house.Ð À  ÐÌà  àà ` àDefendants€lived€in€a€different€house€located€on€John€West€Road€and€wanted€to€addÐ ˜è  Ða€sunroom€and€garage€to€that€house.€€Plaintiff€Ricky€Tweed€and€Defendants€entered€into€a€secondÐ „Ô  Ðwritten€agreement€wherein€Tweed€agreed€to€build€the€sunroom€and€garage.€€Defendants€agreed€toÐ pÀ Ðsupply€all€of€the€materials€for€the€construction€at€an€estimated€cost€of€approximately€$21,000.€€It€wasÐ \¬ Ðfurther€agreed€that€the€cost€of€the€labor€on€this€project€would€match€the€cost€of€the€materials,€and€theÐ H˜ Ðcost€of€Tweedððs€labor€would€ð ðgo€towards€the€principle€(sic)€on€purchase€of€[the]€houseðð€located€onÐ 4„ ÐOld€Stage€Coach€Road.Ð  p ÐÌà  àà ` àTweed€filed€this€lawsuit€claiming€that€he€had€substantially€completed€the€sunroomÐ øH Ðand€garage,€but€that€his€completion€of€the€project€was€impeded€when€Defendants€began€writingÐ ä4 Ðchecks€which€were€returned€for€insufficient€funds,€thereby€forcing€Tweed€to€purchase€some€of€theÐ Ð  Ðmaterials€using€his€own€funds.€€Tweed€also€claimed€to€have€performed€additional€work€forÐ ¼  ÐDefendants€over€and€above€that€called€for€in€the€agreement€and€for€which€he€had€not€beenÐ ¨ø Ðcompensated.€€Tweed€further€claimed€to€have€made€approximately€$15,000€in€improvements€to€theÐ ”ä Ðhouse€since€moving€into€it.€€Tweed€requested€the€Trial€Court€to€order€Defendants€to€specificallyÐ €Ð Ðperform€the€contracts€as€agreed.€€Tweed€further€claimed€that€the€cost€of€the€materials€for€the€sunroomÐ l¼ Ðand€garage€totaled€$20,522.61€to€date,€and€that€he€was€entitled€to€an€off„set€against€the€purchaseÐ X ¨ Ðprice€of€the€house€in€that€same€amount€as€compensation€for€his€labor.€€Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àDefendants€filed€an€answer€and€a€counterclaim.׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Defendants€claimed€they€had€givenÐ #l! ÐTweed€blank€checks€to€buy€materials€along€with€specific€instructions€on€the€maximum€amount€thatÐ $X" Ðcould€be€used.€€Because€Tweed€wrote€checks€exceeding€this€ð ðmaximum€amount,ðð€they€were€returnedÐ ô$D # Ðfor€insufficient€funds.€€Defendants€further€claimed€that€the€work€performed€by€Tweed€on€theÐ à%0!$ Ðsunroom€and€garage€was€not€performed€in€a€workmanlike€manner,€ð ðor€even€performed€to€minimallyÐ Ì&"% Ðacceptable€standards.ðð€€Defendants€claimed€Tweedððs€poor€work€resulted€in€the€roof€having€severalÐ ¸'#& Ðsignificant€leaks€which€required€the€roof€to€be€replaced.€€Defendants€also€alleged€they€had€to€replaceÐ ° Ðthe€electrical€work€performed€by€Tweed€at€a€cost€of€$1,400.€€Finally,€Defendants€claimed€thatÐ œì ÐPlaintiffs,€after€moving€into€the€house,€engaged€in€various€activities€which€resulted€in€the€value€ofÐ ˆØ Ðthe€house€being€diminished€in€an€amount€which€could€exceed€$50,000.€€Defendants€requested€theÐ tÄ ÐTrial€Court€order€Plaintiffs€to€vacate€the€premises€and€that€Defendants€be€awarded€monetaryÐ `° Ðdamages.Ð L œ ÐÌà  àà ` àOne€of€the€main€issues€at€trial€was€whether€Tweedððs€claim€for€compensation€forÐ $ t Ðbuilding€the€sunroom€and€garage€was€limited€by€statute€because€he€was€an€unlicensed€contractorÐ  ` Ðpursuant€to€the€Contractors€Licensing€Act€of€1994,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð62„6„101€òòet€seq.óó€€That€ActÐ ü L  Ðdefines€a€ð ðcontractorðð€as€follows:€€Ð è 8  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð à"Contractor"€means€any€person€or€entity€who€undertakes€to,€attemptsÐ À  Ðto,€or€submits€a€price€or€bid€or€offers€to€construct,€supervise,Ð ¬ü  Ðsuperintend,€oversee,€schedule,€direct,€or€in€any€manner€assumeÐ ˜è  Ðcharge€of€the€construction,€alteration,€repair,€improvement,Ð „Ô  Ðmovement,€demolition,€putting€up,€tearing€down,€or€furnishing€laborÐ pÀ Ðto€install€material€or€equipment€for€any€building,€highway,€road,Ð \¬ Ðrailroad,€sewer,€grading,€excavation,€pipeline,€public€utility€structure,Ð H˜ Ðproject€development,€housing,€housing€development,€improvement,Ð 4„ Ðor€any€other€construction€undertaking€for€which€the€total€cost€of€theÐ  p Ðsame€is€twenty-five€thousand€dollars€($25,000)€or€more.€€"Contractor"Ð  \ Ðincludes,€but€is€not€limited€to,€a€prime€contractor,€electricalÐ øH Ðcontractor,€electrical€subcontractor,€mechanical€contractor,Ð ä4 Ðmechanical€subcontractor,€plumbing€contractor,€and€plumbingÐ Ð  Ðsubcontractor.€€€€If€the€cost€of€a€project€exceeds€twenty-five€thousandÐ ¼  Ðdollars€($25,000),€"contractor"€also€includes€a€construction€managerÐ ¨ø Ðof€any€kind,€including,€but€not€limited€to,€a€residential€constructionÐ ”ä Ðmanager,€construction€consultant,€architect,€and/or€engineer€whoÐ €Ð Ðconducts€or€provides€any€activity€or€service€described€herein€otherÐ l¼ Ðthan€normal€architectural€or€engineering€services€ð8ð.ÐX ¨` x` x ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð62„6„102(3)(A).Ð 0"€  ÐÌ€à  àà ` àIf€Tweed€was€a€ð ðcontractorðð€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€62„6„102(3)(A),€but€wasÐ $X" Ðunlicensed,€then€his€claim€for€damages€would€be€limited€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€62„6„103.€€WithÐ ô$D # Ðcertain€exceptions€not€applicable€here€and€as€relevant€to€this€appeal,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€62„6„103Ð à%0!$ Ðprovides€as€follows:Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ à(a)(1)€€Any€person,€firm€or€corporation€engaged€in€contractingÐ ¤(ô#' Ðin€this€state€shall€be€required€to€submit€evidence€of€qualification€toÐ )à$( Ðengage€in€contracting,€and€shall€be€licensed€as€hereinafter€provided.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐIt€is€unlawful€for€any€person,€firm€or€corporation€to€engage€in€or€offerÐ h+¸&* Ðto€engage€in€contracting€in€the€state,€unless€such€person,€firm€orÐ ° Ðcorporation€has€been€duly€licensed€under€the€provisions€of€thisÐ œì Ðchapter,€as€hereinafter€provided.€€Any€person,€firm€or€corporationÐ ˆØ Ðengaged€in€contracting,€including€such€person,€firm€or€corporationÐ tÄ Ðthat€engages€in€the€construction€of€residences€or€dwellingsÐ `° Ðconstructed€on€private€property€for€the€purpose€of€resale,€lease,€rentÐ L œ Ðor€any€other€similar€purpose,€shall€be€required€to€submit€evidence€ofÐ 8 ˆ Ðqualification€to€engage€in€contracting,€and€shall€be€licensed.€€It€isÐ $ t Ðunlawful€for€any€person,€firm,€or€corporation€to€engage€in,€or€offer€toÐ  ` Ðengage€in,€contracting€as€hereinabove€described,€unless€such€person,Ð ü L  Ðfirm€or€corporation€has€been€duly€licensed€under€the€provisions€ofÐ è 8  Ðthis€chapter.ÐÔ$ ` x` x ÐÌà@ÙÙ'ìà*€*€*€*ˆÐ ¬ü  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ à(b)€€Any€unlicensed€contractor€covered€by€the€provisions€ofÐ „Ô  Ðthis€chapter€shall€be€permitted€in€a€court€of€equity€to€recover€actualÐ pÀ Ðdocumented€expenses€only€upon€a€showing€of€clear€and€convincingÐ \¬ Ðproof.ÐH˜` x` x ЀÌà  àà ` àWhen€the€trial€was€completed,€the€Trial€Court€concluded€that€Plaintiffs€had€madeÐ  p Ðtwenty„nine€(29)€payments€of€$1,100€since€April€of€2001.€€Pursuant€to€the€terms€of€the€LandÐ  \ ÐContract,€Plaintiffs€were€entitled€to€a€credit€against€the€purchase€price€of€the€house€in€an€amountÐ øH Ðequal€to€75%€of€these€payments,€or€a€total€of€$23,925.€€The€Trial€Court€also€concluded€that€the€costÐ ä4 Ðof€the€materials€for€the€sunroom€and€garage€totaled€$21,806.62,€and€that€Plaintiffs€were€entitled€toÐ Ð  Ðan€off„set€against€the€purchase€price€in€that€same€amount.€€According€to€the€Trial€Court:Ð ¼  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àMy€understanding€of€the€law€is€when€someone€who€is€not€a€licensedÐ ”ä Ðcontractor€constructs€something€in€excess€of€$25,000.00€or€more,€heððsÐ €Ð Ðentitled€to€recover€under€the€theory€of€quantum€meruit,€not€just€for€hisÐ l¼ Ðdocumented€expenses.€€And€in€this€contract,€it€seems€to€me€the€partiesÐ X ¨ Ðhave€basically€said€the€quantum€meruit€is€equal€to€the€cost€of€theÐ D!” Ðmaterials.€€Ð0"€ ` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Trial€Court€then€subtracted€the€two€off„sets€of€$23,925.00€and€$21,806.62€fromÐ $X" Ðthe€total€purchase€price€of€$145,000€for€the€house,€leaving€a€balance€of€$99,268.38.€€The€Trial€CourtÐ ô$D # Ðthen€determined€that€Defendants€were€entitled€to€recover€a€total€of€$13,496€for€expenses€theyÐ à%0!$ Ðincurred€in€repairing€the€sunroom€and€garage.€€The€Trial€Court€added€the€$13,496€to€the€balance€ofÐ Ì&"% Ð$99,268.38,€resulting€in€Plaintiffs€owing€a€total€of€$112,764.38€on€the€purchase€of€the€house.€€TheÐ ¸'#& ÐTrial€Court€entered€a€judgment€ordering€Plaintiffs€to€pay€a€total€of€$112,764.38€within€sixty€days€ifÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthey€still€desired€to€purchase€the€house.€€Otherwise,€Plaintiffs€were€to€vacate€the€property€withinÐ )à$( Ðsixty€days.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àà ` àDefendants€appeal€claiming€the€Trial€Court€erred€when€it€applied€quantum€meruit€andÐ ° Ðconcluded€Plaintiffs€were€entitled€to€the€off„set€of€$21,806.82€against€the€purchase€price€of€theÐ œì Ðhouse.€€According€to€Defendants,€because€Tweed€was€an€unlicensed€contractor,€pursuant€to€Tenn.Ð ˆØ ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€62„6„103(b),€the€most€he€could€recover€would€be€his€actual€documented€expensesÐ tÄ Ðproven€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€Ð `° ÐÌà@))%ìàò òòòDiscussionó óóóˆÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€factual€findings€of€the€Trial€Court€are€accorded€a€presumption€of€correctness,€andÐ  ` Ðwe€will€not€overturn€those€factual€findings€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€them.€€òòSeeóóÐ ü L  ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d);€òòBogan€v.€Boganóó,€60€S.W.3d€721,€727€(Tenn.€2001).€€With€respect€to€legalÐ è 8  Ðissues,€our€review€is€conducted€ð ðunder€a€pure€òòde€novoóó€standard€of€review,€according€no€deferenceÐ Ô$  Ðto€the€conclusions€of€law€made€by€the€lower€courts.ðð€€òòSouthern€Constructors,€Inc.€v.€Loudon€CountyÐ À  ÐBd.€Of€Educ.óó,€58€S.W.3d€706,€710€(Tenn.€2001).€€Ð ¬ü  Ðò òòòó óóóÌà  àà ` àIn€their€briefs€on€appeal,€the€parties€concede€the€following:€€(1)€the€contract€price€forÐ „Ô  Ðthe€sunroom€and€garage€had€an€estimated€cost€of€$21,000€for€materials€and€an€equivalent€amountÐ pÀ Ðfor€labor,€the€total€of€which€exceeded€$25,000;€and€(2)€Tweed€was€ð ðnot€a€licensed€contractor.ðð€Ð \¬ ÐFurthermore,€at€oral€argument€Tweedððs€counsel€conceded€that€because€the€contract€price€exceededÐ H˜ Ð$25,000€and€because€Tweed€was€ð ðnot€a€licensed€contractor,ðð€the€Trial€Court€erred€when€it€appliedÐ 4„ Ðquantum€meruit€to€determine€Tweedððs€compensation€for€constructing€the€sunroom€and€garage.€€ThisÐ  p Ðconcession€is€in€accord€with€our€decision€in€òòRoberts€v.€Houstonóó,€970€S.W.2d€488€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð  \ Ð1997)€where€we€held€that€the€plaintiffððs€evidence€established€ð ða€contract€which€was€illegal€under€theÐ øH Ðprovisions€of€the€ððContractor's€Licensing€Act€of€1994'.€€Moreover,€as€a€general€rule,€where€a€causeÐ ä4 Ðof€action€is€based€upon€an€illegal€contract,€recovery€cannot€be€had€on€a€quantum€merit.ðð€€òòIdóó.€at€490Ð Ð  Ð(citing€òòHotel€v.€Ewingóó,€124€Tenn.€536,€138€S.W.€954€(Tenn.€1911));€òòCf.óó€òòKyle€v.€Williamsóó,€98€S.W.3dÐ ¼  Ð661,€665€(Tenn.€2003).€€More€importantly,€the€language€of€the€statute€as€written€by€our€LegislatureÐ ¨ø Ðis€clear€in€providing€that€an€unlicensed€contractor€covered€by€this€statute€may€recover€only€hisÐ ”ä Ðð ðactual€documented€expenses€only€upon€a€showing€of€clear€and€convincing€proof.ððÐ €Ð ÐÌà  àà ` àSince€the€parties€agree€that€the€Trial€Court€erred€when€it€applied€quantum€meruit€toÐ X ¨ Ðdetermine€the€amount€of€Tweedððs€claimed€damages,€we€vacate€the€portion€of€the€Trial€CourtððsÐ D!” Ðjudgment€which€awarded€Tweed€a€credit€against€the€purchase€price€of€the€house€in€an€amount€ofÐ 0"€  Ð$21,806.62.€€Because€the€credit€to€Tweed€of€$21,806.62€formed€an€integral€part€of€the€Trial€CourtððsÐ #l! Ðultimate€conclusion€that€Plaintiffs€could€purchase€the€house€for€a€total€of€$112,764.38,€we€also€mustÐ $X" Ðvacate€that€final€holding€as€well.€€We€note€that€the€parties€disagree€as€to€what€constitutes€ð ðactualÐ ô$D # Ðdocumented€expensesðð€for€purposes€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€62„6„103(b).€€Plaintiffs€ask€this€Court€toÐ à%0!$ Ðdetermine€whether€some€of€the€specific€expenses€claimed€by€Tweed€should€be€considered€actualÐ Ì&"% Ðdocumented€expenses€on€remand€to€the€Trial€Court.€€Plaintiffs€further€request€this€Court€to€adviseÐ ¸'#& Ðwhether€any€actual€documented€expenses€proven€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€should€be€off„setÐ ¤(ô#' Ðagainst€the€$13,496€in€damages€incurred€by€Defendants€in€repairing€the€work€on€the€sunroom€andÐ )à$( Ðâ âgarage,€or€whether€it€should€be€off„set€against€the€purchase€price€of€the€house.€€We€believe€all€theseÐ |*Ì%) Ðissues€should€be€decided€initially€by€the€Trial€Court,€and€we€decline€Plaintiffsðð€invitation€to€renderÐ ° Ðan€advisory€opinion€on€these€matters.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àà ` àThe€portion€of€the€Trial€Courtððs€judgment€awarding€Plaintiffs€a€credit€in€the€amountÐ tÄ Ðof€$21,806.62€against€the€purchase€price€of€the€house€is€vacated,€as€is€the€Trial€Courtððs€holding€thatÐ `° ÐPlaintiffs€can€purchase€the€house€for€a€grand€total€of€$112,764.38.€€We€remand€this€case€for€furtherÐ L œ Ðproceedings€as€required,€if€any,€in€order€for€the€Trial€Court€to€determine€the€amount€of€TweedððsÐ 8 ˆ Ðactual€documented€expenses€proven€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence.€€In€all€other€respects,€theÐ $ t Ðjudgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€affirmed.€Ð  ` ÐÌà@  %ìàò òòòConclusionóóó óˆÐ è 8  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€affirmed€in€part€and€vacated€in€part,€and€this€causeÐ À  Ðis€remanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€further€proceedings€as€may€be€required,€if€any,€consistent€with€thisÐ ¬ü  ÐOpinion€and€for€collection€of€the€costs€below.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€against€the€AppelleesÐ ˜è  ÐRicky€Dale€Tweed€and€Patricia€Ann€Tweed.Ð „Ô  ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________________Ð ä4 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àD.€MICHAEL€SWINEY,€JUDGE