Under Tennessee law, a plaintiff cannot recover for breach of contract unless they themselves were able to perform.Margrave v. Channabassappa , No. 87-159-II, 1987 WL 19444, at *5 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 6, 1987) (citing Ching-Ming Chen v. Advantage Co. , 713 S.W.2d 79, 81 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1986) ); see also 10 Corbin on Contracts ยง 54.20 (2017). Ritzen asserts that this rule only applies to plaintiffs seeking monetary damages.
Once the Debtor effectuated his anticipatory repudiation, Mrs. Kennedy was no longer under a duty to perform; however, "in order to maintain an action for damages, [she] must at least show a readiness to perform." Chen v. Advantage Co., Inc., 713 S.W.2d 79, 81 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1986). It appears that the Debtor breached the Contracts in February 2003, when he called Ms.Bradshaw withElite Realty and requested cancellation of the Contracts.
It is within the sound discretion and duty of a judge to clear up any confusion in the testimony or facts of a case. See Ching-Ming Chen v. Advantage Co., Inc., 713 S.W.2d 79, 82 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1986). The record reflects that Judge Ash did question some of Father's witnesses. For instance, he questioned Dr. Brown regarding the nature of her individual therapy sessions with Father and the recommendations she made to him during these sessions.
Bond Brothers v. Spence, 279 S.W.2d 509, 513 (Tenn.); Ching-Ming Chen v. Advantage Co., Inc., 713 S.W.2d 79, 82 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1986); Loeffler v. Kjellgren, 884 S.W.2d 463, 474 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1994). While a judge may have a duty to ask clarifying questions, the Court must exercise prudence, and remarks made before a jury should be cautious and circumspect.