KENNETH BARRETT v. FRANK VANN dba FRANK VANN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, ET AL (Tenn.Ct.App. August 29, 2007)
The plaintiff, Kenneth Barrett, entered into a written contract with Frank Vann, doing business as Frank Vann Construction Company ("Vann"), for Vann to construct a parking area on the plaintiff's property and to re-pave the plaintiff's driveway. It was later discovered that a retaining wall would be necessary to support the parking area due to the steep slope of the plaintiff's property. Vann suggested to the plaintiff that he use Matt Johnson, doing business as ProGreen Landscaping & Lawn Maintenance ("Johnson"), to build the wall. Johnson agreed to build it. After the wall was completed, it began to collapse. This prompted the plaintiff to file suit. A jury returned a money verdict against Vann and Johnson for violating the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, T.C.A. section 47-18-101 (Supp. 2006) ("the TCPA"). The jury also found Vann guilty of breach of contract. When, as to Vann, the jury returned separate monetary verdicts for the TCPA violation and the breach of contract, the trial court required the plaintiff to elect between the two monetary awards. Under compulsion, the plaintiff chose the damage award under the TCPA. The trial court then trebled the TCPA damages and awarded the plaintiff a part of his request for attorney's fees. The plaintiff and Vann both raise issues on appeal. We modify the trial court's judgment. As modified, it is affirmed. This case is remanded to the trial court with instructions.
Opinion may be found at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2007/Barrettk_082907.pdf
