What are the differences between litigating a breach of contract case, personal injury case, or any other type of case in a Tennessee federal district court as opposed to a Tennessee state trial court? Which court is better for your case? When can your case be filed in federal court…
The Court of Appeals of Tennessee, in the case of Rocky Top Realty, Inc. v. Young, issued an opinion that is a good reminder that, under Tennessee law, you don’t necessarily have to prove a breach of a contract to recover money you are owed for services (or goods). The…
Many real estate contracts, and other contracts, which are entered into in Tennessee and governed by Tennessee law, contain “time is of the essence” clauses. What difference do such clauses make in Tennessee contracts? A recent decision of the Tennessee Court of Appeals demonstrates how such a clause can make…
Landowners in Tennessee sometimes become defendants in eminent domain cases (also called condemnation actions) filed by the state, or a city or county government. These cases often become “battles of appraisers.” When the government files a condemnation case, it must pay just compensation to the landowner. Tennessee courts have defined…
A recent opinion of the Tennessee Court of Appeals in a construction defect case between a homeowner and a contractor is worth the read for any lawyer or homeowner contemplating a breach of contract case against a contractor. The opinion touches on two areas of the law that might be…
To say that Tennessee law which governs the rights of contractors and subcontractors to place liens on property is complex and full of potential pitfalls is an understatement. If you are owed money for work or materials, you should consult with a qualified, experienced construction lien attorney as soon as…
In a recent opinion in a real estate litigation case which originated in Murfreesboro, the Supreme Court of Tennessee examined the Tennessee statute of frauds and made two significant rulings about its application. The case involved a settlement agreement which was made after a breach of contract suit had been…
In situations in which a tenant under a commercial lease is in default, landlords tempted to lock the tenant out or to repossess the property should proceed with due respect for a Tennessee statute that has been around since 1821. That statute is known as the “forcible entry and detainer”…
Commercial lease cases sometimes involve disputes about lease renewal provisions and/or the lessee’s (tenant’s) right to renew the lease for an additional period of time. There are some general rules which Tennessee courts follow in resolving lease cases where there are disputes about renewal. First, if someone leases property and…
A recent Tennessee case involving the breach of a real estate contract provides some straightforward and pragmatic analysis and discussion of two issues that arose from that contract. Those issues might easily arise in other real estate cases, construction cases, or breach of contract cases. Those two issues were: (1)…