ÿWPCæ sRŸZ_×ÂqÝ‹Àó°ã€±øæl7‚‘ –¹ñ»[‰G‡Ä7DŽ¥/Ak>·Œõ¤¶¤w‹1:9ìEMë–݈õ̉‡#‹kõp´°hª}ûEoÍBÌtC$KŒí–®]ap¢|„j‚Déhb®DWÿË O!†²ag«¼€³XèæÜ0\C8]:r;I µUC¡™”¡“~›ìlÈQXÌ™…Ñ Ú}ÙÜääÂòï‡.£ð$öèqhº9õÕzW+eãX^&)¿-€dIÁ%³ÃÊŽE»=d€CIbEúœäjwìE–ßø„»ÁUžÊR†mþ‚—1xÚÓB·– O`¤&ù•ÔJ“µj;ã}[“§Ý ™8šœ%¤¯–Pȼ°jkØ®çü°e½ÚL…# F UFQ %— 0@ 4Ý ñ U: : w@B U:‚ 0„¼ 0D@ ï„ U:s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s B­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ D3Ê Ê Ê 0Dý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý ý AOAÆ 0DV D/š BɘHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLÑ<¾½Q 9Z ‹.Courier New RegularX(ù$¡¡Ó  ÓÓ  Ów€#%¡Ó 3|x<Ô6X9`+"Courier 10cpi ÿEEDDÓ€<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpi(4(3DX$¤¤Ý ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó åÔ€Xé#XXXÔÔ€è¼FèXXé#ÔÔ Ad ÔÓ  ÓFILEDÔ€áˆèè¼FÔÐ  ÐÌò òNovember€23,€1998Ð  ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€CourtÏClerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular d'ÿÿdxd(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝññÌññ›Ñä °ÑÑ°ÑÝ ƒùÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ7€‰¸XXdÖdÈ7ÑÔ€X÷ëXXXÔà@ˆˆìàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSˆÐ ä  ÐÓ  Óññœßl€ *6&"h 8 `€€E­ tt06H¬ ¨çlߛ⠰H°H°(#°(#âññAT€KNOXVILLEÌÓÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ'°8X°` ˜X°œX'ÓWESTWOOD€GROUP€PARTNERSHIP,à À à)à  àROANE€CIRCUIT€€€Ð $@ ÐÌâ °(#°(#°H°HâÓ+ °œX°8X°` ˜XR+Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à  àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9805„CV„00155Ð ´Ð  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee€€€€)à  àÐ D`  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à  àHON.€RUSSELL€E.€SIMMONS,€JR.Ð œ¸  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€JUDGE€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à  àÐ ,H  ÐDAVID€L.€MOORE,€M.D.,€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à  àÐ ¼Ø Ѐ€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant€€)à  àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÐ „  ÐÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌBARBARA€W.€CLARK,€Moore€&€Clark,€P.C.,€Knoxville,€for€Appellant.ÌÌÌœDAIL›€R.€CANTRELL,€Cantrell,€œPratt›€&€œVarsalona›,€Clinton,€forÏAppellee.ÌÌÌÌòòÓ  ÓO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÐ ¬&È! ÐÓ  ÓÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àMcMurray,€J.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà  àThis€appeal€involves€a€commercial€lease€dispute€between€theÏWestwood€Group€Partnership€(the€landlord)€and€Dr.€David€L.€MooreÏ(the€tenant).€€Each€party€sued€the€other€for€breach€of€the€leaseÏagreement.€€After€a€bench€trial,€the€trial€court€ruled€that€theÏtenant€breached€the€lease€by€not€paying€the€rent,€and€awarded€theÏlandlord€rent€payments,€late€fees€and€attorney's€fees€in€the€totalÏamount€of€$5,390.00.€€The€tenant€appeals€this€ruling.€€We€affirmÏthe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€and€agree€with€the€appellee€thatÏthis€is€a€frivolous€appeal.ÌÐ l9ˆ,9 Ðà  àIn€November€of€1994,€the€parties€entered€into€a€leaseÏagreement€whereby€the€tenant€agreed€to€lease€certain€property€inÏRoane€County.€€The€term€of€the€lease€was€from€January€1,€1995Ïthrough€January€1,€1998,€"unless€terminated€sooner€or€extended€asÏprovided€herein."€€The€lease€provided€for€rent€in€the€amount€ofÏ$800€per€month€for€the€year€1995,€and€further€provided€that€"forÏeach€calendar€year€thereafter€for€the€duration€of€this€LeaseÏAgreement,€the€rent€shall€increase€by€an€amount€not€to€exceed€sixÏpercent€(6%)€per€year."€€The€lease€provided€a€late€fee€of€fortyÏdollars€"in€the€event€any€installment€of€rent€is€paid€more€thanÏTwenty„five€(25)€days€late."€€The€lease€also€provided€that€in€theÏevent€of€litigation,€"the€prevailing€party€shall€be€entitled€to€allÏcosts€incurred€in€connection€with€such€action,€including€aÏreasonable€attorney's€fee."€ÌÌà  àIn€1996€the€rent€increased€to€$848€per€month,€which€the€tenant€Ïapparently€paid€without€incident.€€In€1997€the€rent€increased€toÏ$898€per€month.€€The€landlord€presented€the€testimony€of€Ms.€JanieÏAlcorn,€its€co„owner€and€manager.€€Alcorn€testified€that€the€tenantÏpaid€$848€in€January€and€February€of€1997.€€The€tenant€paid€theÏadditional€$100€due€for€those€two€months€after€the€landlord'sÏattorney€sent€him€a€letter€requesting€payment.€€Alcorn€testifiedÏthat€the€tenant€sent€$848€for€rent€in€March,€April€and€May€of€1997.€ÏHe€stopped€paying€rent€altogether€in€June.ÌÌà  àOn€June€10,€1997,€the€tenant€sent€a€letter€which€stated,€"WeÏhave€contacted€you€many€time€[sic]€regarding€the€air€conditionerÏnot€working€and€you€have€refused€to€repair€it.€€You€leave€us€noÐ 70*6 Ðchoice€but€to€stop€paying€rent€until€it€is€repaired."€€On€June€30,Ï1997,€the€landlord€sent€the€tenant€a€termination€letter,€citing€theÏtenant's€"constant€failure€to€pay€the€proper€rent€and€late€fees."€ÏThe€letter€provided€the€tenant€with€sixty€days€to€vacate€theÏproperty.€€The€tenant€vacated€the€property€on€September€1,€1997.ÌÌà  àThe€tenant€argued€at€trial€that€the€landlord€refused€to€repairÏthe€air€conditioning€unit,€leaving€it€unbearably€hot€in€theÏbuilding,€which€he€used€for€a€medical€clinic.€€The€lease€providesÏthe€following€regarding€air€conditioning:€"Lessor€agrees€to€provideÏfor€purchase€and€installation€of€suitable€œhvac›€and€appropriateÏducting,€thermostat(s),€and€registers€required€to€keep€said€officeÏspace€comfortable€according€to€Federal€heating€and€coolingÏguidelines."€€The€tenant€testified€as€follows€regarding€the€airÏconditioning€unit:ÌÓÓÌà8  àIt€has€never€been€able€to€cool€that€office€to€any€degreeÏthat€on€the€hot€days€it€would€not€be€detrimental€to€someÏof€our€patients'€health.€€And€I€have€sent€a€letter.€€IÏhave€had€Sharon€call€them€on€multiple€occasions.€€TheyÏhave€been€in€there.€€They€have€agreed€that€it's€hot.€€AndÏthey€have€refused€to€repair€it.Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÓÓà  àThe€tenant€testified€that€since€the€landlord€would€not€repairÏthe€unit,€he€called€Craze€Brothers€Heating€and€Air€himself€to€haveÏit€repaired.€€The€tenant€stated€that€he€paid€Craze€Brothers'€billÏfor€fixing€the€air€conditioning.ÌÌà  àThe€tenant€presented€the€testimony€of€his€employee,€Ms.€SharonÏPrice,€who€testified€that€the€air€conditioning€would€go€down€on€hotÏdays,€that€it€was€very€hot€in€the€office,€and€that€they€calledÏCraze€Brothers€on€several€occasions.€€Price€testified€that€sheÐ 70*6 Ðcalled€the€landlord's€beeper€number€on€several€occasions,€and€oneÏof€the€owners€would€call€back€within€two€hours.€€She€stated€that€onÏone€occasion€an€owner€came€to€the€office,€looked€at€the€unit€andÏsuggested€that€they€change€the€filter.€€Price€did€not€testify€thatÏany€of€the€owners€ever€refused€to€have€the€air€conditioning€fixed.ÌÌà  àAlcorn€testified€that€the€tenant€called€on€several€occasionsÏcomplaining€about€the€air€conditioning.€€She€further€testified€asÏfollows:ÌÌÓÓÓ*°,XŽX5%Ø'‹X°œX*Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àQ:à ¸ àOkay.€€And€what€did€youð"ðwhat€did€you€doÐ „  Ðafter€they€called€you€about€the€airÏconditioning?Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àA:€à ¸ àWe€always€went€over€there.€€Either€myÐ ¤À Ðhusband€or€my€sister€or€somebody€elseÏwould€go€over€there.€€And€we€alwaysÏcalled€air€conditioning€people,€and€theyÏwould€come€immediately.€Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àQ:à ¸ àWho€are€the€air€conditioning€people?ÐT$p¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àA:à ¸ àCraze€Brothers€in€Oliver€Springs.Ðä% ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àQ:à ¸ àWhen€you€went€over€to€examine€the€airÐ t'" Ðconditioning€system,€what€did€you€see?Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àA:€à ¸ àMost€of€the€time,€my€husband€would€checkÐ Ì)è% Ðit.€€And€they€would€have€a€filter€thatÏhad€been€in€there€for€months,€and€itÏwould€be€clogged€up.€€And€so€that€leftÏthe€air€conditioning€not€being€efficient,Ïnot€cooling€efficiently.€€So€once€youÏchanged€the€filter,€then€everythingÏworks.Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌÌÓÓà  àThe€landlord€presented€the€testimony€of€Terry€Craze,€owner€ofÏCraze€Brothers.€€Craze€testified€that€they€were€called€approxi…¼mately€three€times€to€work€on€the€air€conditioning€system.€€HeÏstated€that€the€first€time€was€in€June€of€1996.€€On€that€occasion,Ïthe€only€problem€with€the€system€was€a€dirty€filter.€€CrazeÐ Ü7ø*7 Ðtestified€the€second€time€they€were€called,€there€was€no€power€toÏthe€system€because€of€"a€blown€fuse€in€the€relay,€transformer."€ÏAfter€they€"spliced€the€fuse€link€and€turned€the€air€back€on,"Ïthere€were€no€further€problems.€€On€the€third€occasion,€they€foundÏa€burned„out€transformer.€€Craze€further€testified€as€follows:ÌÓÓÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àQ:à ¸ àOkay.€€Tell€me€a€little€bit€about€theÐ |˜  Ðsystem€installed€in€the€leased€premises.€ÏCan€the€system€that's€installed€thereÏhandle€the€square€footage€for€thatÏbuilding?Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àA:à ¸ àYes,€sir,€it€can.€€That€is€a€two€and€aÐ ,H  Ðhalf€ton€air€conditioning€system.€ÏApproximate€square€footage€of€thatÏbuilding€is€around€1200€square€feet.€ÏThat€two€and€a€half€ton€system€shouldÏhandle€up€to€1500€square€feet.Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àQ:à ¸ àMr.€Craze,€are€you€at€all€familiar€withÐ ¤À Ðthe€Federal€Heating€and€Cooling€Guide…¼lines?Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àA:€à ¸ àSomewhat.ÐÄ"ภx¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àQ:à ¸ àDo€you€know€whether€your€professionalÐ T$p Ðexpertise€in€that€building€meets€theÏFederal€Heating€and€Cooling€Guidelines?Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àA:à ¸ àYes,€it€does.Ðt'"¸ x¸ x ÐÌÌà@xx!ìà*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ˆÌÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àQ:à ¸ àDid€the€defendant€and€his€agents€or€em…Ð \+x' Ðployees€ever€tell€you€anything€that€theyÏdid€with€that€air€conditioning€systemÏthat€in€your€professional€opinion€couldÏhave€hurt€it?Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àA:à ¸ àThe€girls€instructed€me€that€they€wereÐ  0(#- Ðturning€the€air€conditioning€completelyÏoff€at€night€and€then€bringing€itð"ðturningÏit€back€on€during€the€daytime€sometimes.Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àQ:à ¸ àHow€would€that€affect€œa[n›]€airÐ ô3'2 Ðconditioning€systemð"ðthis€air€conditioningÏsystem?Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàà ` àA:€à ¸ àIt€would€cause€a€load€on€the€buildingÐ 70*6 Ðdepending€on€what€time€they€turned€theÐ Ü7ø*7 Ðair€conditioning€system€back€on.€€If€theyÏturned€it€on€when€it€got€to€a€warm€pointÏof€the€day,€it€would€cause€it€to€overworkÏthe€system.Ð ¸ x¸ x ÐÌÌÓÓà  àFinally,€Craze€testified€that€the€landlord€paid€all€of€theÏCraze€Brothers'€bills€for€repairing€the€air€conditioning,€and€thatÏto€his€knowledge,€the€tenant€had€not€paid€any€of€the€repair€bills.€ÌÌà  àThe€landlord€also€presented€the€testimony€of€Ms.€ReneeÏœRuffner›,€who€leased€a€portion€of€the€same€building€leased€by€theÏtenant€and€was€his€next„door€neighbor.€€She€testified€that€she€wasÏin€the€clinic€frequently,€and€that€her€son€went€to€the€clinicÏweekly€for€allergy€shots€from€May€through€July€of€1997.€€SheÏtestified€that€there€was€never€a€time€that€she€went€into€theÏtenant's€leased€premises€when€it€was€uncomfortably€warm.€€SheÏtestified€that€she€never€heard€anyone€complain€about€the€heat,€andÏthat€she€did€not€have€problems€with€her€heating€system.ÌÌà  àFrom€our€review€of€the€record,€and€the€conflicting€testimonyÏoutlined€above,€it€is€clear€that€the€resolution€of€this€case€turnsÏalmost€entirely€upon€determinations€of€the€credibility€of€wit…¼nesses.€€"Where€the€issue€for€decision€depends€upon€the€determina…¼tion€of€credibility€of€witnesses,€the€trial€court€is€the€best€judgeÏof€credibility,€and€its€findings€will€be€given€great€weight."€ÏòòœGotwald›€v.€œGotwald›óó,€768€S.W.2d€689,€697€(Tenn.€App.€1988).€€"On€anÐ Ô0ð#. Ðissue€which€hinges€on€witness€credibility,€[the€trial€court]€willÏnot€be€reversed€unless,€other€than€the€oral€testimony€of€theÏâ âwitnesses,€there€is€found€in€the€record€clear,€concrete€andÐ „5 (4 Ðconvincing€evidence€to€the€contrary."€òòTennessee€Valley€Kaolin€v.Ð ä  ÐPerryóó,€526€S.W.2d€488,€490€(Tenn.€App.€1974).Ð t Ðâ âÌà  àObviously,€the€trial€court€found€the€landlord's€witnesses€moreÏcredible€than€those€presented€by€the€tenant.€€We€defer€to€the€trialÏcourt's€assessment€of€credibility.€€Even€without€an€assessment€ofÏcredibility€on€our€part,€we€find€that€the€evidence€clearlyÏpreponderates€in€favor€of€the€trial€court's€conclusion€that€theÏlandlord€promptly€had€the€air€conditioning€repaired€each€time€itÏwas€notified€of€a€problem,€and€that€the€tenant€breached€the€leaseÏby€not€paying€the€proper€amount€of€rent€in€timely€fashion.€€ÌÌà  àThe€appellee„landlord€argues€that€this€appeal€should€be€judgedÏfrivolous€and€it€should€be€awarded€the€costs€of€defending€thisÏappeal.€€In€òòLiberty€Mutual€œIns›.€Co.€v.€Tayloróó,€590€S.W.2d€920,€922„Ð Ä"à Ð23€(Tenn.€1977),€the€Supreme€Court€responded€to€an€appellee'sÏrequest€for€a€finding€of€a€frivolous€appeal€as€follows:ÌÓÓÌÌà8  àà ` àWe€agree€with€appellee€that€the€appeal€had€noÏreasonable€chance€of€success.€€The€material€issues€raisedÏby€the€appeal€were€issues€of€fact€and€there€clearly€wasÏmaterial€evidence€to€support€the€trial€judge's€findingsÏon€those€issues.€€€Ð Ð Ð  ÐÌÌÓÓà  àThe€òòTayloróó€court's€description€of€that€appeal€could€fairly€beÐ |.˜!+ Ðapplied€to€the€present€appeal€with€equal€accuracy.€€ÌÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€in€its€entirety.€ÏThe€case€is€remanded€with€instructions€to€ascertain€and€award€theÏappellee€its€reasonable€costs€associated€with€defending€thisÏappeal.€Ð Ü7ø*7 ЇÓÓà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à___________________________Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDon€T.€McMurray,€JudgeÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ____________________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€Presiding€Judge€ÌÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€Judge̜Р  (  ÐññÔ‡X‰¸XXX÷ëÔññÝ ƒùÿÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÑ7€‰¸XXdÖXXdÖ7ÑññÔ#†XCŒXXXÉÕ9#Ôññà@ˆˆìàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSˆÐ ä  ÐÓ  ÓAT€KNOXVILLEÌÓ{;ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ3°8X°` ˜X°,XŽX5%Ø'‹X3ÓWESTWOOD€GROUP€PARTNERSHIP,à À à)à  àROANE€CIRCUIT€€€€Ð $@ ÐÓ7°,XŽX5%Ø'‹X°8X°` ˜Xª;7Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à  àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9805„CV„00155Ð ì  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee€€€€)à  àÐ |˜  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à  àHON.€RUSSELL€E.€SIMMONS,€JR.Ð Ôð  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€JUDGE€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à  àÐ d€  ÐDAVID€L.€MOORE,€M.D.,€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à  àÐ ô Ѐ€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant€€)à  àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÐ ¼Ø ÐÌññ›ññÔ‡ X÷ëXXX÷ëÔà@  &ìàò òòòJUDGMENTóóó óˆÐ Lh ÐÌÌÓÓà  àThis€appeal€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€from€theÏCircuit€Court€of€ñññÿñà  àñÿñññññññrññññññRoaneñññÿññþñ___ñþññÿñ€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel.€ÏUpon€consideration€thereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€that€thereÏwas€no€reversible€error€in€the€trial€court.ÌññÔ#†X÷ëXX X÷ëú>#Ôà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€in€its€entirety.€Ð  &(  ÐThe€case€is€remanded€with€instructions€to€ascertain€and€award€theÏappellee€its€reasonable€costs€associated€with€defending€thisÏappeal.€ññññCosts€of€the€appeal€are€assessed€to€the€Appellant.ññññÌÔ‡ X÷ëXXX÷ëÔñññññþñÌñþñññÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€PER€CURIAMÌÔ#†X÷ëXX X÷ëB#Ô›