The following section from Day on Torts Leading Cases in Tennessee Tort Law​​​ is out of date and should not be used. It remains a part of this site for historical purposes only. An updated version of the book is available by subscription at www.birddoglaw.com. (Additional information below.)

§55.1 Duty to Disclose

The Case: Homestead Group, LLC v. Bank of Tennessee ,2009 WL 482714 (Tenn. Ct. App. Feb. 26, 2009).

The Basic Facts: Plaintiff hotel purchaser sued bank that sold hotel fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, alleging that it misrepresented and concealed facts.

The Bottom Line:

  • "As a general rule, a party may be found to be liable for damages caused by his failure to disclose material facts to the same extent that a party may be liable for damages caused by fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation. Gray v. Boyle Inv. Co., 803 S.W.2d 678, 683 (Tenn. Ct. App.1990). A person who fails to disclose to another a fact that he knows may justifiably induce the other to act or refrain from acting in a business transaction is subject to the same liability to the other as though he had represented the nonexistence of the matter that he has failed to disclose. However to find such liability, there must also be a showing that the person accused of the concealment had a duty to the other to disclose the matter in question. Macon County Livestock v. Kentucky State Board, 724 S.W.2d 349 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1986). One party to a transaction usually has no duty to disclose material facts to the other. Wright v. C & S Family Credit, Inc., No. 01A019-709-CH-00470, 1998 WL 195954 at *2 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 24, 1998). However, Tennessee courts have identified three exceptions to this general rule and have held that a duty to disclose exists: where there is a previous definite fiduciary relationship between the parties; where it appears one or each of the parties to the contract expressly reposes a trust and confidence in the other; or where the contract or transaction is intrinsically fiduciary and calls for perfect good faith such as a contract of insurance which is an example of this last class. Macon at 349. Moreover, the courts have extended the duty of disclosure of material facts to real estate transactions under certain circumstances." 2009 WL 482714 at *4.

Other Sources of Note: Goodall v. Akers, 2009 WL 528784 (Tenn. Ct. App. March 3, 2009) (Macon County and Justice cited with approval); Justice v. Anderson County, 955 S.W.2d 613, 617 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997) (seller of real estate has duty to disclose "material facts affecting the property's value known to the seller but no reasonably known to or discoverable by the buyer").

Recent Cases: Stanfill v. Mountain , S.W.3d____ , No. M2006-01072-SC-R11-CV, 2009 WL 4406059 (Tenn. Dec. 3, 2009) (reversing summary judgment on certain intentional and negligent misrepresentation claims); Stafford v. Emberton, No. M2008-02250-COA-R3-CV, 2009 WL 2960391(Tenn. Ct. App. Sept. 15, 2009) (affirming summary judgment on misrepresentation claims in sale of real property cases finding seller negated an essential element of the buyers' claims in affidavit denying knowledge of the alleged defects, and based on an "as is" provision agreed upon by the parties (except with regard to the fraudulent misrepresentation claim which the court found was not properly alleged in the complaint)).

After an accident, many injury victims and their families want more information on the accident and their legal rights. Consequently, many of them have found their way to these pages. While we are happy you are here, please understand Day on Torts: Leading Cases in Tennessee Tort Law was written to be a quick, invaluable reference for Tennessee tort lawyers. While the book provides the leading case for more than 300 tort law subjects and thousands of related case citations, it is not a substitute for personalized legal advice from a qualified lawyer.

Rather than researching these legal issues alone, we urge you to contact one of our award-winning lawyers who can sit down with you, review your case, answer your questions and clearly explain your rights and your options in a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. Our experienced attorneys handle all personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency basis, so we only get paid if we win. If for any reason you are unable to come to our office, we will gladly come to you.

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The foregoing is an excerpt from Day on Torts: Leading Cases in Tennessee Tort Law, published by John A. Day, Civil Trial Specialist, Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, recipient of Best Lawyers in America recognition, Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rated attorney, and Top 100 Tennessee Mid-South Super Lawyers designee. Read John’s full bio here.

The book is now available electronically by subscription at www.birddoglaw.com. The new format allows us to keep the book current as new opinions are released. BirdDog Law also has John's Tennessee Law of Civil Trial and Compendium of Tennessee Tort Reform Statutes available by subscription, as well as multiple free resources to help Tennessee lawyers serve their clients

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