Shashi Airi v. Gurdeep "Sunny" Nagra, 169 A.3d 1317

Airi sued Nagra; bench trial held June 21, 2016, and judgment entered June 21, 2016 awarding damages to Airi.
Dispute centers on whether Nagra contracted with Airi personally (making him personally liable) or whether contracts were with business entities that employed Airi.
Two discrete service periods at issue: Nov 5–Dec 14, 2007 (court awarded $7,215) and June 13–Sept 1, 2008 (court awarded $19,093).
Facts: Nagra had been involved in hotel-owning entities; after federal raids and receivership in 2007, Nagra allegedly engaged Airi individually to assist with receivership and hotel tasks.
At trial Nagra did not appear or present evidence on his own behalf and did not order or provide trial transcripts on appeal.
On appeal Nagra asserted he never contracted personally and should not be personally liable; the Supreme Court found he waived appellate review by failing to provide the trial transcript.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether Nagra personally contracted with Airi (personal liability)	Airi argued the trial court found he contracted with Nagra (or at least that facts supported award)	Nagra argued he never personally contracted and only entities employed Airi	Court affirmed award; because transcript was not provided, appellate review waived and trial court findings are assumed supported
Whether appellate review can proceed without trial transcript	Airi relied on trial court judgment and record as entered	Nagra argued transcript unnecessary for appeal	Court held under V.R.A.P. 10(b)(1) failure to provide transcript waives issues that require transcript for meaningful review
Whether factual findings supporting contract/quasi-contract were reviewable	Airi relied on written judgment noting findings made on the record	Nagra asserted insufficiency of record to support personal liability	Court declined review of facts and legal conclusions because transcript absent, thus affirmed
Whether legal theory (contract/quasi-contract) could be reviewed without transcript	Airi maintained judgment supported by contractual/quasi-contractual theory	Nagra disputed legal basis tied to factual findings	Court ruled legal conclusion depends on facts in transcript; without it review is precluded and issue waived

Evans v. Cote, 197 Vt. 523 (2014) (where transcript is absent, appellate court assumes trial court findings are supported by the evidence)
Bixler v. Bullard, 172 Vt. 53 (2001) (intent to be bound is a question of fact for the trier of fact)
Cliche v. Fair, 145 Vt. 258 (1984) (trial court’s finding that parties formed an oral employment contract was upheld where supported by credible evidence)