concluding that rebuttal evidence offered by the plaintiff that contradicted testimony during plaintiff’s case-in-chief was properly excluded
How later courts described this case
- concluding that rebuttal evidence offered by the plaintiff that contradicted testimony during plaintiff’s case-in-chief was properly excluded
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
July 8, 2010 Session
EAST TENNESSEE GRADING, INC., v. BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., et al.
Appeal from the Chancery Court for Hamilton County
No. 07-0611 Hon. W. Frank Brown, III., Chancellor
No. E2009-02250-COA-R3-CV - FILED SEPTEMBER 27, 2010
Plaintiff brought this action to enforce a lien for excavation and road work done in a
residential development, because the owner had not paid for the construction work
performed. An agreed judgment was entered as to plaintiff's claims against defendant, Seven
Lakes Development, awarding judgment against that defendant for materials and labor
performed on the property. One parcel of property, however, totaling 6.36 acres was owned
by defendants Coughlins, which was subject to a deed of trust in favor of Bank of America.
The Trial Court held that Bank of America had priority over plaintiff as to 1.9 acres because
plaintiff had not filed its Notice of Lien timely to maintain priority over the subsequent
owners pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-112. The Trial Court also held that plaintiff
had priority over Bank of America as to 4.46 acres because plaintiff's Notice of Lien was
filed before the Amended Deed of Trust in favor of Bank of America was filed. On appeal,
we affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court.
Tenn. R. App. P.3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court Affirmed.
H ERSCHEL P ICKENS F RANKS, P.J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which C HARLES D.
S USANO, J R., J., and. D. M ICHAEL S WINEY, J., joined.
Steven M. Jacoway, Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the appellant, East Tennessee Grading, Inc.
Brett A. Oeser, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellees, Bank of America, N.A., William B.
Coughlin, and Janet L. Coughlin.
OPINION
Background
This is a lien case that arose when defendant Seven Lakes Development, L.L.C.
(Seven Lakes), a developer of residential real estate, failed to pay plaintiff/appellant East
Tennessee Grading Company, Inc. (ETG), an excavation company, $2,036,483.27 that it
allegedly owed ETG for excavation and road work ETG had performed at a subdivision
project under development by Seven Lakes. On April 9, 2007 ETG filed a Notice of Claim
of Lien on the project to recover the $2,036,483.27 Seven Lakes owed it. On July 16, 2007
ETG filed a Complaint to Enforce Lien in the Chancery Court against Seven Lakes, William
and Janet Coughlin (the Coughlins), Bank of American, N.A. (BOA), and others.
The lien was on approximately 150 acres in, Hamilton County, Tennessee, and most
of the property was owned by Seven Lakes and subject to a deed of trust held by Northwest
Georgia Bank. One parcel of the property, totaling 6.36 acres, however, was owned by the
Coughlins. The Coughlin property was subject to a deed of trust in favor of BOA, which was
recorded on February 5, 2007, and an amended deed of trust, which was recorded on October
24, 2007. On November 24, 2008, an Agreed Judgment was entered as to ETG’s claims
against Seven Lakes awarding ETG $2,364,565.27 for labor and materials that had been
expended on the property. On February 2, 2009 another Agreed Order was entered declaring
that ETG no longer claimed priority of its lien over the property owned by Seven Lakes that
had been subject to a deed of trust held by Northwest Georgia Bank. The order explained
that Northwest Georgia Bank had foreclosed on the property on June 25, 2008 without
objection of any party to this litigation. Accordingly, the Trial Court held that the lien of
Northwest Georgia Bank established by the deed of trust was a first priority lien against the
property and that all claims asserted by ETG against the property owned by Seven Lakes
were dismissed. ETG’s claims against the Coughlin property remained viable and are the
subject of this appeal.
The case was tried on July 8, 2009, and ETG offered testimony from its vice-president
in charge of field operations, Tony Boles, and defendant William B. Coughlin testified on
behalf of himself, his wife and BOA.
Pertinent to this appeal, Boles testified that the December 26, 2006 invoice was the
last invoice submitted to Seven Lakes and it reflected work performed by ETG only through
December 26, 2006. He stated that ETG stayed on the project site through February 13, 2007
to perform soil erosion maintenance work that it was required to complete pursuant to
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erosion control permits issued to Seven Lakes by TDEC.1 Boles denied that any “real
production work” was performed by ETG between December 26, 2006 and February 13,
2007. He testified as follows on cross examination:
Q. Did y’all demobilize in December?
A. No, sir. We didn’t start pulling equipment off until February.
Q. Okay. But no work was done between December and February?
A. There was some maintenance work that was done to stay in compliance with
our erosion control permits, but not any real production work.
Q. That was - - why was that work done?
A. At the time we were still on the permit with TDEC and being listed on the
permit we still had responsibility for erosion control management for the site.
Q. Did TDEC actually physically come to the site and direct you to take some
action?
A. There were inspections on the site and plus our routine inspections that we are
required to do throughout the project. We maintained that until we
contractually got off the project.
Q. Okay. So what you were doing in that regard then was maintenance of erosion
control?
A. Correct.
Q. That didn’t - - that wasn’t meant to be any sort of permanent improvement to
the property?
A. That’s correct.
Q. And the only reason - - I would imagine at this point you were dissatisfied with
Seven Lakes Development since they owed you $2 million?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Is it fair to say the only reason you went out there is because you were named
on the permit and had a obligation to the State?
A. That’s correct, yes sir.
Boles stated that the driving purpose of the soil erosion work ETG did on the property
between late December 2006 and February 13, 2007 was to stay in compliance with the State
permit and that their purpose in doing so was not to provide any permanent improvement to
the project.
Following the trial, the Trial Court entered a Memorandum Opinion, and held that
ETG had a valid and enforceable lien against the Coughlin property, but the lien was
subordinate to BOA’s deed of trust recorded on February 5, 2007. However, ETG’s lien
1
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
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took priority over an amendment to the deed of trust in favor of BOA recorded on October
24, 2007. Subsequently, ETG filed its notice of appeal.
The issues presented for review are:
A. Whether the Trial Court erred in holding that pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §
66-11-112 ETC, a potential lienor, “abandoned” the Seven Lakes project on
or about the day it allegedly ceased its operations on the project instead of
holding that “abandonment” occurred after the “cessation of operations for a
period of sixty days”?
B. Whether the Trial Court erred in holding that ETG ceased its operations on the
Seven Lakes project on December 26, 2006 instead of February 13, 2007?
1. Whether the Trial Court erred in holding that erosion control work was
not lienable work, and thus did not serve to extend the time ETG had
to file its lien?
2. Whether the Trial Court erred in excluding testimony and business
records that showed that ETG completed other lienable work up until
February 13, 2007?
C. Whether the Trial Court erred in holding that ETG’s lien did not apply to all
of the Coughlin property because ETG did not make any “improvements”
directly to the property immediately appurtenant to the Coughlin house?
D. Whether the Trial Court erred in not holding that plaintiff’s lien was
extinguished by the Coughlins’ acquisition of the property as subsequent
purchasers for valuable consideration without notice?
In a non-jury trial, our standard of review is de novo. Wright v. City of Knoxville, 898
S.W.2d 177, 181 (Tenn.1995). There is a presumption of correctness as to the trial court's
findings of fact, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. R. App. P.
13(d). With respect to the trial court's legal conclusions, however, there is no presumption
of correctness. Bowden v. Ward, 27 S.W.3d 913, 916 (Tenn. 2000); Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d).
The determinative issue on this appeal is when does a materialman ‘abandon” a
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project under Tenn. Code Ann. §66-11-112(b)? 2 Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-101 et seq.
provides Tennessee’s statutory vehicle for establishment and enforcement of mechanics’ and
materialmen’s liens. The statute seeks to balance the competing interests of a landowner’s
right to encumbrance free property versus a lienor’s right to compensation for labor and
material provided to improve the landowner’s property. Arthur M. Fowler, The Art of
Perfecting Mechanics’ and Materialmen’s Liens in Tennessee, 40-Tenn. B.J. 17, (Mar.
2004)(citing Gen. Elec. Supply Co. v. Arlen Realty & Dev. Corp, 546 S.W.2d 210, 213
(Tenn. 1977). A materialman has no right to a lien except as provided by statute and the
statute must be strictly construed. Owen Lumber & Millwork, Inc. v. National Equity Corp.
940 S.W.2d 66, 67 (Tenn.App.,1996)(citing Nanz v. Cumberland Gap Park Co., 103 Tenn.
299, 52 S.W. 999 (1899)).
Further, it is well established that Tennessee courts generally require strict compliance with
the requirements of the lien statutes. Williamson County Ready Mix, Inc. v. Pulte Homes
Tennessee Ltd. Partnership, No. M2007-01710-COA-R3-CV, 2008 WL 5234730 at * 2
(Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 15, 2008)(citing Eatherly Constr. Co. v. DeBoer Constr. Co., 543
S.W.2d 333, 334 (Tenn.1976); D.T. McCall & Sons v. Seagraves, 796 S.W.2d 457, 460
(Tenn. Ct. App.1990)). However, the court’s interpretation of the statute must not be so strict
as to defeat the purpose of the statutes. McCall at 460; Gen. Elec. Supply at 213.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-102(a) establishes ETG’s lien on the property based on the
contract between ETG and Seven Lakes and the work performed pursuant to that contract.
The statute states:
(a) There shall be a lien upon any lot of ground or tract of land upon which a house
or structure has been erected, demolished, altered, or repaired, or for fixtures or
machinery furnished or erected, or improvements made, by special contract with the
owner or the owner's agent, in favor of the contractor, mechanic, laborer, founder or
machinist, who does the work or any part of the work, or furnishes the materials or
any part of the materials, or puts thereon any fixtures, machinery, or material, and in
favor of all persons who do any portion of the work or furnish any portion of the
materials for such building; provided, that the subcontractor, laborer or materialman
satisfies all of the requirements set forth in § 66-11-145, if applicable.
2
The Mechanic’s and Materialmen’s Lien Statutes, Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-101 et seq. were
substantially revised by 2007 Pub. Acts, c. 189 effective May 18, 2007. As all transactions and events
pertinent to this case occurred prior to May 18, 2007, the lien statutes in effect prior to that date are
applicable. The parties so stipulated and the trial court agreed. Accordingly, all references to the lien
statutes, Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-101 et seq., in this opinion are to the statutes precdating the 2007
revisions.
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It is undisputed that the lien took effect on September 22, 2006 when ETG had pug
material for development of the road beds delivered to the property, although ETG had done
considerable work on the property prior to that date. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-104 (a)
provides that a lien takes effect from the time of “visible commencement of operations.”
The statute specifically excludes from “visible commencement of operations” the type of
activities ETG had performed between July 2006 and September 22, 2006, such as
demolition, excavating, clearing filling or grading, placement of sewers. Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 66-11-104(a). Tenn. Code Ann. 66-11-101(17) provides the statutory definition for
“visible commencement of operations” as “ the first actual work of improving upon the land
or the first delivery to the site of the improvement of materials which remain thereon until
actually incorporated in the improvement, of such manifest and substantial character as to
notify interested persons that an improvement is being made or is about to be made on the
land.” Thus, the lien on the property was effective prior to the Coughlin’s acquisition of part
of the property in January 2007. The lien statutes provide protection to a lien holder should
the property be sold in whole or in part after attachment of a lien, as happened here. Tenn.
Code Ann. 66-11-112 provides such protection as follows:
(a) In order to preserve the virtue of the lien, as concerns subsequent purchasers or
encumbrancers for a valuable consideration without notice thereof, though not as
concerns the owner, such lienor, who has not so registered such lienor's contract, is
required to file for record in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the
premises, or any part affected lies, a sworn statement similar to that described in § 66-
11-117, and pay the fees. The register shall file, note and record same, as provided in
§ 66-11-117. Such filing for record is required to be done within ninety (90) days after
the building or structure or improvement is demolished, altered and/or completed, as
the case may be, or is abandoned and the work not completed, or the contract of the
lienor expires or is terminated or the lienor is discharged, prior to which time the lien
shall be effective as against such purchasers or encumbrancers without such
registration; provided, that the owner shall give thirty (30) days' notice to contractors
and to all of those lienors who have filed notice in accordance with § 66-11-145 prior
to the owner's transfer of any interest to a subsequent purchaser or encumbrancer for
a valuable consideration.
(b) A building, structure or improvement shall be deemed to have been abandoned for
purposes of this chapter when there is a cessation of operation for a period of sixty
(60) days and an intent on the part of the owner or contractor to cease operations
permanently, or at least for an indefinite period.
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Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-112(a) and (b)(emphasis added).3
The parties do not dispute that Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-112, prior to the 2007
revisions, is the controlling statute here. Also, the parties do not dispute that the Coughlins
are “subsequent purchasers or encumbrancers” as contemplated by section 66-11-112.
According to Tennessee cases, the courts have consistently construed “subsequent purchasers
or encumbrancers” to mean those persons who have purchased or encumbranced property
subsequent to the attachment of the material supplier's lien. Vulcan Materials Co. v.
Kitsmiller and Co., No. E2001-02044-COA-R3-CV, 2002 WL 1033143 at * 8 (Tenn. Ct.
App. May 22, 2002). Thus, the Coughlin’s qualify as “subsequent purchasers or
encumbrancers”. Nor is there a dispute as to whether ETG properly recorded its notice of
lien and put the Coughlins and BOA on notice of the recordation. What is disputed, is
whether the Trial Court properly interpreted the statute as to when the project became
“abandoned” and when the ninety day period for filing notice of the line commenced to run.
Appellant argues that the Chancery Court incorrectly calculated the deadlines set forth
in Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-112. Under that section, a lien has priority over a subsequent
purchaser or encumbrancer, such as the Coughlins, without the filing of the contract if notice
of the lien is recorded within ninety days after completion of the improvement, termination,
discharge or expiration of the contract or “abandonment” of the work. There is no question
that ETG had intentionally abandoned the Seven Lakes project based on the developer’s
failure to make payments. The issue is when the project was “deemed abandoned” and when
the ninety-day period in which ETG had to file its lien commenced. ETG maintains that the
statute provides for two separate and distinct relevant time periods: (1) a sixty-day period that
established the abandonment status of the project provided in subsection (b); and (2) a
ninety-day period that follows the date when the project is “deemed” abandoned in which
ETG had to file notice of the lien as provided in subsection (a). Under the interpretation of
3
Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-117 referenced in Section 66-11-112 provides as follows: A mechanic's
lien shall have precedence over all other subsequent liens or conveyances during such time; provided, that
a sworn statement of the amount due and/or approximating that to accrue for such work, labor, or materials,
and a reasonably certain description of the premises, shall be filed, within the ninety-day period referred to
in § 66-11-115(b), or in the case of liens acquired by contract executed on or after April 17, 1972, by virtue
of § 66-11-141, within ninety (90) days after completion of the structure which is or is intended to be
furnished water by virtue of drilling a well, or abandonment of work on the structure, as the case may be,
with the county register, who shall note the same for registration, and put it on record in the lien book in the
office of the register, for which the register shall be entitled to the sums specified in § 8-21-1001, which sums
shall be paid by the party filing the same; but such fees shall be receipted for on the statement of account,
and shall be part of the indebtedness or charge secured by the lien, and this registration shall be notice to all
persons of the existence of such lien.
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the statute urged by ETG, the lienor would have had one hundred and fifty days from the last
day of work in which to file its notice of lien rather than the ninety days it would have had
to file the notice if the project had been completed, the contract had expired or ETG had been
discharged. In other words, ETG maintains that if it had stopped work on the project on
December 26, 2006, as appellees claim, the project would not have been deemed
“abandoned” until sixty days later, on February 26, 2007. If, as ETG claims, its last day of
work was February 13, 2007, the project would have been deemed “abandoned” sixty days
later, on April 27, 2007. Under either scenario, ETG contends that the ninety-day time frame
in which it had to file its notice of lien did not start to run until the last day of the sixty day
period.
The Trial Court determined that the “60 days is within the 90 days”, and reasoned that
this was so because of the fact that “‘90' is a number that the general assembly has prescribed
in Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-115 and other lien statutes for filing a notice of lien and/or a
lawsuit to enforce the lien etc.” The Trial Court further addressed this issue in its October
2, 2009 order denying ETG’s motion to alter or amend and stated that there was no appellate
decision regarding the interpretation of subsection (b) of Tenn. Code Ann. 66-11-112. The
Court reiterated its finding in its earlier order and stated that the statutory definition of
abandonment does not “mean that the lienor has 90 days after the 60 days within which to
file a notice of lien’. The Court supplied a rationale for its interpretations:
Any interpretation which gave a lienor 150 days to file a notice of lien would
not be consistent with the other lien notices. The 150 day period would actually result
in persons “abandoning” their work having a longer time to file a notice of lien than
a lienor who finishes a job. Such would be contrary to public policy. Statutes should
be construed together.
The Trial Court concluded that based on the evidence presented by Mr. Boles, that
ETG did not work on the project after December 26, 2006 that could count as a permanent
improvement to the property, thus that day was the date of “abandonment”. As ETG did not
file its notice of lien within ninety days of December 26, 2006, the Court said that ETG lost
is claim of priority over the Coughlins as subsequent purchasers.
The appellant argues that the Trial Court erred when it determined that Tenn. Code
Ann. § 66-11-112 means that the sixty day period referenced in subsection (b) is to be
included as part of the ninety day period referenced in subsection (a). The Tennessee
Supreme Court, in Hayes v. Gibson County, 288 S.W.3d 334, 337 (Tenn. 2009), recently
restated the well established rules of statutory construction followed by the courts of
Tennessee as follows:
The primary rule governing our construction of any statute is to ascertain and give
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effect to the legislature's intent. Walker v. Sunrise Pontiac-GMC Truck, Inc., 249
S.W.3d 301, 309 (Tenn.2008). To that end, we begin by examining the language of
the statute. Curtis v. G.E. Capital Modular Space, 155 S.W.3d 877, 881 (Tenn.2005).
In our examination of statutory language, we must presume that the legislature
intended that each word be given full effect. Lanier v. Rains, 229 S.W.3d 656, 661
(Tenn. 2007). When the language of a statute is ambiguous in that it is subject to
varied interpretations producing contrary results, Walker, 249 S.W.3d at 309, we
construe the statute's meaning by examining “the broader statutory scheme, the history
of the legislation, or other sources.” State v. Sherman, 266 S.W.3d 395, 401
(Tenn.2008). However, when the import of a statute is unambiguous, we discern
legislative intent “from the natural and ordinary meaning of the statutory language
within the context of the entire statute without any forced or subtle construction that
would extend or limit the statute's meaning.” State v. Flemming, 19 S.W.3d 195, 197
(Tenn.2000); see also In re Adoption of A.M.H., 215 S.W.3d 793, 808 (Tenn.2007)
(holding that “where the statutory language is not ambiguous ... the plain and ordinary
meaning of the statute must be given effect”). We presume that the General Assembly
is aware of its prior enactments and of decisions of the courts when enacting
legislation. Carter, 279 S.W.3d at 564.
The meaning of Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-112 as to when the ninety day period for
filing the notice of lien following abandonment of the project by the lienor starts to run is not
a model of clarity. In considering subsection (a) of the statute, it is clear that the triggering
event for the ninety day period is tied to the lienor’s last work, whether the lienor has
completed the project, the contract has terminated or the lienor has abandoned the project.
Subsection (a) provides: “ Such filing for record is required to be done within ninety (90)
days after the building or structure or improvement is demolished, altered and/or completed,
as the case may be, or is abandoned and the work not completed, or the contract of the lienor
expires or is terminated or the lienor is discharged . . . .” Thus, the first triggering event set
forth is “when the building, structure or improvement is demolished altered or complete."
This event clearly contemplates that the lienor has finished the work. The third triggering
event is in the event the contract has expired or the lienor is discharged. This provision
contemplates that the lienor can no longer perform the work as of the date of the discharge
or expiration of the contract. The second triggering event, set out within the same sentence
as the first and third triggering event, is that the project has been abandoned by the lienor.
When the project has been abandoned by the lienor, the lienor can no longer complete the
work as of the date of abandonment.
It is well established that courts are to construe a statute as a whole and read them in
conjunction with their surrounding parts, and view them consistently with the legislative
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purpose. Kradel v. Piper Indsu., Inc., 60 S. W. 3d 744, 750 (Tenn. 2001)(citing State v.
Turner, 913 S.W.2d 158, 160 (Tenn.1995)). When subsection (a) is considered as a whole,
the second triggering event, abandonment with the work not completed, must be calculated
from the date that the lienor ceases to work. To find otherwise would create an inconsistency
in the treatment of the lienor based on the reason that the work had ceased. To interpret
subsection (a) as ETG urges, would give a lienor who abandons its work, fairly or unfairly,
an additional sixty days beyond the time afforded to a lienor who completes the work or who
is discharged before completing the work. Such an interpretation would lead to inconsistent
results and disparate treatment of otherwise similar lienors. Moreover, if the legislature had
intended that a lienor who abandoned the work be treated differently than a lienor who
completed the work or who is discharged prior to completion, the circumstance of
abandonment would not have been placed in the middle of subsection (a), between
completion and discharge. Based on the inclusion of the triggering event of abandonment
in the same sentence as the triggering events of completion and termination it is a fair
interpretation of the statute that the ninety day period for filing the notice of lien begins to
run on the date the lienor stopped work on the project. In other words, the passing of sixty
days without further work on the project causes the project to be “deemed” abandoned as of
the last day of work. As appellees point out in their brief, this interpretation of the statute
is bolstered by the following definition of the word “deem” in Black’s Law Dictionary:
deem, vb. 1. To treat (something) as if (1) it were really something else, or (2) it had
qualities that it does not have <although the document was not in fact signed until
April 21, it explicitly states that it must be deemed to have been signed on April 14>.
2. To consider, think, or judge <she deemed it necessary>.
“ ‘Deem’ has been traditionally considered to be a useful word when it is necessary
to establish a legal fiction either positively by ‘deeming’ something to be what it is
not or negatively by ‘deeming’ something not to be what it is.... All other uses of the
word should be avoided .... Phrases like ‘if he deems fit’ or ‘as he deems necessary’
or ‘nothing in this Act shall be deemed to ... ’ are objectionable as unnecessary
deviations from common language. ‘Thinks' or ‘considers' are preferable in the first
two examples and ‘construed’ or ‘interpreted’ in the third.... ‘Deeming’ creates an
artificiality and artificiality should not be resorted to if it can be avoided.” G. C.
Thornton, Legislative Drafting 99 (4th ed. 1996).
Black's Law Dictionary (8th ed. 2004).
Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-112(b) provides that “[a] building, structure or improvement
shall be deemed to have been abandoned . . . when there is a cessation of operation for a
period of sixty (60) days . . . .” We conclude that the legislature’s use of the word “deem”
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was used to create the legal fiction that an improvement is to be considered abandoned as of
the last day of work if the work was not resumed for a period of sixty days following that
date.
Further, if the legislature had intended that a project not be considered abandoned
until the passing of sixty days after the last day of work, the legislature would have used the
word “after” in the statute as in “an improvement will be considered abandoned sixty days
after there is cessation of operation”. The legislature, however, did not use the word “after”
in § 66-11-112(b), although other sections of the lien statutes consistently calculate time
periods as happening “after” a specific event. See, Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-106; Tenn.
Code Ann. § 66-11-112(a); and Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-115(a); and at least seven other
sections of the lien statutes employ the word “after” in connection with the calculation of
time periods. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-108; Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-112; Tenn.
Code Ann. § 66-11-1174 ; Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-130; Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-134
(b)(1); Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-135.
We conclude the Trial Court did not err when it held that ETG was obligated to file
its notice of lien with ninety days of the last day of lienable work on the project.
Next, appellant argues that the Trial Court erred when it refused to hold that appellant
did lienable work up to February 13, 2007.
The Trial Court, in its first Opinion, found that although ETG did erosion control
work on the property until February 13, 2006 and did not remove its equipment until
February 13, 2006, there was no permanent improvement to the property as a result of ETG’s
efforts after December 26, 2006. The Court further noted that ETG had not invoiced Seven
Lakes for any work it performed after December 26, 2006.
At trial, ETG relied on Mr. Boles’ testimony and ETG’s timesheets from February
7 through February 13, 2007 to show that it had conducted lienable work during that time
period. This testimony and the time sheets were presented by plaintiff in rebuttal. When Mr.
Boles testified as a rebuttal witness, he stated the soil erosion work done between February
7 and February 13 was work pursuant to the original contract between the parties and to his
knowledge not directed by TDEC. He characterized the soil erosion work as “new work”
and not repairs. He admitted that none of the work performed in February was invoiced to
Seven Lakes.
4
Repealed by 2007 Pub. Acts, c. 189, § 16, eff. May 18, 2007.
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Although the Trial Court permitted Boles to testify as a rebuttal witness, the Court
held in the August 12, 2009 Opinion that Boles rebuttal testimony would be excluded as
“[t]echnically, the attempt to include such testimony and the exhibit was not rebuttal
testimony. It was an effort ‘to build’ ETG’s claim regarding the last day worked on the
project.” The Court also found that the rebuttal testimony contradicted Boles’ testimony
made during the case in chief, and that his testimony regarding when ETG “last worked” was
cancelled by the contradicted testimony.
The Trial Court determined that as the erosion control work Mr. Boles testified that
ETG did after December 26, 2006 was not the type of work that would qualify as “visible
commencement of operations” under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-101 (17)5 , it could not qualify
as lienable work and could not be used to extend the time when the abandonment of the
project actually occurred. The evidence does not preponderate against this finding. Tenn.
R. App. P. 13(d).
The Trial Court was correct when it held in its August 2009 opinion that Boles’
“rebuttal testimony” and Exhibit 20 should by excluded because “[t]echnically, the attempt
to include such testimony and the exhibit was not rebuttal testimony. This Court, in Jessee
v. American General Life and Acc. Ins. Co., No. E2002-00182-COA-R3-CV, 2003 WL
165777 at * 10 (Tenn. Ct. App. Jan. 24, 2003) provided a definition for rebuttal evidence as
follows:
The phrase “rebuttal evidence” may be defined as evidence “which tends to explain
or controvert evidence produced by an adverse party.”... This phrase encompasses
“[a]ny competent evidence which explains or is a direct reply to, or a contradiction
of, material evidence introduced by an adverse party.... Rebuttal evidence is properly
admitted for the purpose of impeaching a witness through the use of a prior
inconsistent statement. Questions concerning the admission or rejection of rebuttal
evidence rest within the sound discretion of the trial court; and an appellate court will
not interfere with the exercise of this discretion unless it is clear on the face of the
record that the trial court has abused its discretion.
5
Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-101(17) defines “visible commencement of operations” as “the first
actual work of improving upon the land or the first delivery to the site of the improvement of materials which
remain thereon until actually incorporated in the improvement, of such manifest and substantial character
as to notify interested persons that an improvement is being made or is about to be made on the land.”
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Jessee at * 10 (citing State v. Braden, 867 S.W.2d 750, 760 (Tenn. Cr. App.1993)).
The erosion control was not for the benefit of the Seven Lakes development but for
the benefit of ETG. Mr. Boles agreed that the maintenance work done was not a permanent
improvement. Mr Coughlin offered absolutely no testimony regarding work he observed
being done on the property by ETG after he moved into the house located on 6.36 acres of
the 150 acre subdivision on February 5, 2007. Mr. Coughlin’s sole testimony on the
condition of the property was limited to what he observed. The following colloquy was part
of his direct examination:
Q. What did your tract of property look like when you bought it?
A. Surrounding acreage it was kind of a mess. By the time I got there it was
pretty much an abandoned subdivision. I mean, there was no actual
construction work done on the surrounding acreage, the four acres that
surround the house.
Nothing in his testimony contradicts or confirms Mr. Boles’ testimony regarding the
limited maintenance work ETG performed on the property during the week of February 6 th
to February 13th of 2007. Accordingly, the “rebuttal” evidence offered by ETG through Mr.
Boles’ additional, and contradictory testimony was correctly excluded by the Trial Court.
See, Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-11-102(a).
Appellant also appeals the Trial Court’s finding that ETG’s lien did not apply to the
Coughlin home because ETG did not make any “improvements’ to the property immediately
appurtenant to the Coughlin home. This issue is pretermitted because this matter was not a
basis for the Trial Court's final judgment.
Appellee’s raise the issue of whether the Trial Court erred in not ruling that ETG’s
lien was extinguished by the Coughlin’s acquisition of part of the Jolley tract as subsequent
purchasers for valuable consideration. This issue was not raised at trial, as this Court will
not consider it on appeal. Correll v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 207 S.W.3d 751, 757
(Tenn. 2006)(citing Simpson v. Frontier Cmty. Credit Union, 810 S.W.2d 147, 153
(Tenn.1991).
We affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court. BOA has priority over ETG as to the 1.9
acres described in Exhibit B to the Trial Court’s August 12, 2009 Memorandum Opinion and
Order. ETG has priority over BOA as to the 4.46 acres described in Attachment A, less the
real estate described in Attachment B to the Trial Court's Order.
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The cost of the appeal is assessed one-half to East Tennessee Grading, Inc., and one-
half to the Coughlins and Bank of America, N.A.
_________________________________
HERSCHEL PICKENS FRANKS, P.J.
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