April 08, 2010

Court reviews trial court's interpretation of a settlement agreement between a contractor and a hotel owner

THOMAS GAZLAY, d/b/a PERSONALIZED PLANTING, INC., v. TULSI ASSOCIATES, et al., and THE ESTATE OF HOWARD SEXTON, for decedent HOWARD SEXTON, et al., d/b/a PRECISION CONSTRUCTION COMPANY (Tenn. Ct. App. April 8, 2010)

Plaintiff subcontractor, sued contractor, who constructed a hotel for co-defendant owner of hotel for breach of contract. Construction company cross-filed against defendant hotel owner. The Trial Court, after hearing proof, entered a joint settlement judgment against both defendants on behalf of the plaintiff and based the judgment on the terms of the settlement agreement which had been entered in a prior action in a suit between the defendants. The owner of the hotel appealed.

We hold the Trial Court erred in its interpretation of the settlement agreement between the defendants, and set aside the judgment against appellant and direct that the contractor is liable for all the damages awarded, based on appellants' cross-action against the contractor.

Opinion Available At:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2010/gazlayt_040810.pdf