Showing posts with label road construction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label road construction. Show all posts

August 20, 2012

Court addresses whether a property developer or a county owns a road on which a motorcycle accident occurred

TIMOTHY KLEIN and ANGELA KLEIN v. HARDIN COUNTY, TENNESSEE, ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. August 16, 2012)

This is an appeal from the grant of summary judgment in favor of Appellee, a property developer. The underlying case is for personal injuries sustained by Plaintiffs in a motorcycle accident, which was allegedly caused by a pothole in the road. The question presented for determination is, as between Appellee and Appellant Hardin County, who owns the portion of the road where the accident occurred. After completing its development, Appellee dedicated portions of the roadway to Hardin County for public use. However, in cross-motions for summary judgment the Appellee and Appellant each claimed that the other owned the disputed portion of the road where the accident occurred.

Although the disputed portion of the road was specifically excluded from the dedication, and Appellee maintained the road, the trial court determined that Appellee had implicitly dedicated the disputed portion to Appellant and granted summary judgment in favor of Appellee developer. Based upon the evidence in record, we conclude that reasonable minds could reach different conclusions concerning ownership of the road and accordingly, reverse the grant of summary judgment.

Opinion available at:
https://www.tba.org/sites/default/files/kleint_081612.pdf

February 25, 2011

Court Reviews the Allocation of Responsibility Between Developers in a Case Involving Construction of a Road

THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY v. BARRY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. February 25, 2011)

This matter is before the court for a second time. The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County initiated suit to compel two developers to complete an unfinished portion of a road in a planned unit development or to recover damages equal to the cost of completing the road if it completed the road itself.

The trial court dismissed the action, finding that the amended complaint did not provide a legal basis for requiring either developer to complete the road. On appeal this Court vacated the trial court's order and remanded the case for the court to consider the appropriate allocation of responsibility for construction of the road between the two developers.

While the appeal was pending, the Metropolitan Government acquired the land and subsequently completed the unfinished portion of the road. On remand, the trial court assessed costs of constructing the road to the developers equally, but assessed the land-acquisition costs entirely to one developer. The Metropolitan Government appeals. Finding no error in the trial court's allocation of responsibility, we affirm.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2011/barryconstruction_022511.pdf

April 15, 2010

Court reviews summary judgment ruling and award of attorney's fees in a case about road construction

BOBBY R. HOPKINS v. DOYLE K. RIGGS, ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. April 15, 2010)

Bobby R. Hopkins (Hopkins) sued Doyle K. Riggs and Ruth Riggs (the Riggs) alleging, in part, that the Riggs had contracted to construct a road on the Riggs' property for Hopkins' use and had failed to construct an adequate road. The Riggs filed a motion for summary judgment and the Trial Court granted them summary judgment. The Riggs then sought attorney's fees pursuant to the parties' contract. The parties then reached an agreement with regard to attorney's fees, an agreement which the Riggs subsequently alleged was breached by Hopkins. The Riggs then filed a motion and the Trial Court entered an order granting the Riggs additional attorney's fees. Hopkins appeals to this Court raising issues regarding the grant of summary judgment and the award of attorney's fees.

We affirm the grant of summary judgment, hold that the Riggs were entitled to an award of attorney's fees pursuant to the parties' contract, vacate the Trial Court's November 25, 2008 Order granting additional attorney's fees, and remand this case to the Trial Court for entry of an order that complies with the parties' August 6, 2008 agreement.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2010/hopkinsb_041510.pdf

September 23, 2008

Owner who failed to notify State that land purchased for road construction was subject to a lease interest must indemnify State against suit by lessee

STATE OF TENNESSEE, ET AL. v. GOOD TIMES, LTD., ET AL. (Tenn.Ct.App. September 23, 2008).

The State of Tennessee ("State") sued Good Times, Ltd. ("Good Times") and others with regard to real property deeded to the State by Good Times after the State was sued for inverse condemnation by Good Times' lessee, Pun Wun Chan d/b/a #1 China Buffet ("China Buffet"). The State claimed that it was entitled to indemnity from Good Times in the inverse condemnation action under its warranty deed. The Trial Court consolidated the State's case against Good Times with the inverse condemnation action and then bifurcated the trial. The inverse condemnation case was tried before a jury and China Buffet was awarded a judgment against the State. The Trial Court then granted summary judgment to Good Times in the State's case against Good Times and dismissed the State's case. The State appeals to this Court. We vacate the grant of summary judgment to Good Times, grant the State summary judgment against Good Times, and remand this case to the Trial Court for a determination of the amount of damages, and for further proceedings as necessary with regard to all other parties and claims.

Opinion may be found at the TBA website:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2008/goodtimes_092308.pdf

"China Buffet had a leasehold interest in the entire property including the portion deeded to the State. China Buffet claimed, and was awarded, incidental damages to its interest in the entire property because the fair market value of the property has been affected by a significant and permanent loss of parking space, which has resulted in the loss of access to and utility of the restaurant." Id. (quotations omitted)

"Plus, the Agreement of Sale executed by Cazana on behalf of Good Times provided a space for Good Times to disclose the names of lessees or any other party who had any interest in the property being conveyed and that space was left blank. Cazana could have filled in this blank and taken this opportunity to inform the State that China Buffet had not been compensated by Good Times for its interest in the Property. He did not." Id.