McCormic v. Smith

OPINION

HARBISON, Justice.

This case involves a dispute between tenants, appellees here, and their landlords, who are the appellants. The tenants initiated the action which was brought both at common law and under the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, T.C.A. §§ 66-28-101 to -516. The landlords counterclaimed. Each side sought counsel fees pursuant to the terms of the statute, and a jury trial was demanded.

After a lengthy trial the jury awarded accrued rentals to the landlords but rendered a slightly larger judgment to the tenants for damages, both compensatory and punitive. The jury…