Debra Jewell Young Ford v. Dennis Clifford Ford

• Court: Court of Appeals of Tennessee
• Decided: October 1, 1996
• Docket: 03A01-9606-CH-00197
• Status: Published

Opinion

I N THE COURT OF APPEALS

FILED October 1, 1996

Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate C ourt Clerk DEBRA J EWELL YOUNG FORD, ) BRADLEY CHANCERY ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9606- CH- 00197 ) Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l e e ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. EARL H. HENLEY ) CHANCELLOR ) ) ) ) ) DENNI S CLI FFORD FORD, ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED ) De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt )

STEPHEN DAVI S CRUMP, Cha n c e y, Ka na vos & Cr ump, Cl e ve l a nd, f or Ap p e l l a nt .

ROGER E. J ENNE, J e nne , Sc o t t & Br ya nt , Cl e ve l a nd, f or a ppe l l e e .

O P I N I O N

M M r a y, J . c ur

Thi s a ppe a l a r i s e s f r o m t he j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t whi c h ,

a mo n g o t he r t hi ngs , a wa r de d a di v o r c e t o t he de f e nda nt , pr ovi d e d f o r c u s t ody of t he pa r t i e s ' mi nor c hi l dr e n a nd ma de a di vi s i on o f

t he ma r i t a l e s t a t e . W a f f i r m t he j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t . e

The a ppe l l a nt ha s pr e s e nt e d t wo i s s ue s f or our c ons i de r a t i o n :

1. Di d t he c ha nc e l l or e r r i n a wa r di ng M s . For d t hr e e r a nnua l pa yme nt s of f i f t e e n t hous a nd dol l a r s a s a por t i on of ma r i t a l pr ope r t y whe n t he pa yme nt s woul d ha ve t o be pa i d f r om Dr . For d' s f ut ur e i nc ome ?

2. Di d t he c ha nc e l l or e r r i n a wa r d i ng c us t ody of t he pa r t i e s ' t hr e e mi nor c hi l dr e n t o M s . For d whe r e r t he e vi de nc e e s t a bl i s he d t ha t s he wa s s uf f e r i ng f r om a me nt a l c ondi t i on t ha t , a c c or di ng t o t he pr oof , r e qui r e d e xt e nde d i n- pa t i e nt t r e a t me nt , a nd t ha t s he ha d l e f t t he c hi l dr e n wi t h va r i ous ba by s i t t e r s o n s e ve r a l oc c a s i ons i n or de r t o c a r r y on t wo e xt r a ma r i t a l a f f a i r s ?

Our r e vi e w o f t he c a s e i s de novo upon t he r e c or d, a c c ompa ni e d

b y a p r e s umpt i on of t he c o r r e c t ne s s of t he f i ndi ngs of f a c t by t h e

t r i a l c o ur t , unl e s s t he pr e ponde r a nc e of t he e vi de nc e i s ot he r wi s e .

Rul e 1 3 ( d) , T. R. A. P. No pr e s umpt i on a t t a c he s t o c onc l us i ons o f

l a w. Se e Ada ms v. De a n Roo f i ng Co . , 7 15 S. W 2d 341, 343 ( Te nn. Ct . .

Ap p . 1 9 86) .

As t o t he f i r s t i s s ue , t he c our t i n i t s me mor a ndum opi n i o n

ma ke s t he f ol l owi ng s t a t e me n t : " Thi s c our t al s o a wa r ds cas h

i ns t a l l me nt s f or a pe r i od of t hr e e ye a r s a t $15, 000. 00 pe r ye a r .

Thi s p a yme nt i s d e e me d a por t i on of t he a s s e t s a nd i s not t o be

c o n s t r u e d a s a l i mony i n f ut ur o or i n s ol i do. " The a ppe l l a nt c l a i ms

2 t ha t t h i s a wa r d i s a n i mpr ope r di vi s i on of pr ope r t y i n t h a t t he 1 i n s t a l l me nt a wa r ds mus t be pa i d out of f ut ur e i nc ome .

W a gr e e t ha t e a n a wa r d f r om f ut ur e i nc ome i s a n i mpr op e r

me t h o d o f d i vi di ng ma r i t a l a s s e t s i n a di vor c e c a s e . T. C. A. § 3 6 -

4 - 1 2 1 ( b ) ( 1) ( A) de f i ne s ma r i t a l pr ope r t y a s " a l l r e a l a nd pe r s on a l

p r o p e r t y, bot h t a ngi bl e a n d i nt a ngi bl e , a c qui r e d by e i t he r or b o t h

s p o u s e s dur i ng t he c our s e of t he ma r r i a ge up t o t he da t e of t h e

f i n a l d i vor c e he a r i ng a nd owne d by e i t he r or bot h s pous e s a s of t h e

d a t e of f i l i ng o f a c o mp l a i nt f or d i vor c e . . . " Cl e a r l y, f ut ur e

i n c o me doe s not f a l l wi t hi n t he de f i ni t i on of ma r i t a l pr ope r t y .

I n our di s pos i t i on of t hi s i s s ue , howe ve r , we mus t not e t h a t

t he i s s u e i s f r a me d i na c c ur a t e l y. The i s s ue a s s t a t e d i s b a s e d

u p o n t h e a s s umpt i on t ha t t he i ns t a l l me nt s mus t be pa i d f r om f ut u r e

i n c o me . Thi s i s a n i nc or r e c t a s s umpt i on. It a ppe a r s f r om t h e

r e c or d t ha t t he t ot a l a wa r d t o t he a ppe l l a nt i s va l ue d i n e xc e s s o f

$ 3 6 0 , 0 0 0. 00, i nc l udi ng hi s r e t i r e me nt pl a n va l ue d a t a ppr oxi ma t e l y

$ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0. 00 a nd c a s h of a ppr oxi ma t e l y $15, 816. 00. I t i s c l e a r t ha t

t he a pp e l l a nt ha s i n hi s por t i on of ma r i t a l as s et s , s uf f i c i e n t

l i qu i d as s et s to pa y $45, 000. 00 to t he a ppe l l e e i mme di a t e l y .

Th e r e f or e , we do not c ons i de r t he a wa r d a s a n a wa r d t ha t mus t b e

pa i d out of f ut ur e e a r ni ngs but s i mpl y a de l a ye d t r a ns f e r of

as s et s . W a r e not pr i vy t o t he c our t ' s r e a s oni ng i n or de r i ng t h a t e

1 No i s s u e is ma d e as t o t he a mo u n t of t he a wa r d b u t onl y t he me t h o d o f p a y me n t .

3 t he a wa r d be pa i d i n a nnua l i ns t a l l me nt s . It ma y or ma y not be

a d v a n t a ge ous f r om a t ax vi e wpoi nt to pa y t he a wa r d in a nn u a l

i ns t a l l me nt s . In a ny e ve nt t he $45, 000. 00 a wa r d i s, wi t ho u t

q u e s t i o n, i nt e nde d by t he t r i a l j udge a s a pa r t of t he di vi s i on o f

p r e s e n t ma r i t a l a s s e t s . The a ppe l l a nt i s not r e qui r e d t o di s t r i -

b u t e t ha t pa r t of t he ma r i t a l a s s e t s t o t he a ppe l l e e i n l ump s u m.

He ma y ma ke t he di s t r i but i on i n i ns t a l l me nt s or he ma y pa y t h e

d i s t r i but i on i mme di a t e l y. W f i nd no me r i t i n t hi s i s s ue . e

W wi l l ne xt t ur n our a t t e nt i on t o t he i s s ue r e ga r di ng c us t o d y e

o f t h e p a r t i e s ' mi nor c hi l dr e n. As not e d, c us t ody wa s gi ve n t o t h e

mo t h e r . The a ppe l l a nt i ns i s t s t ha t t he f a t he r i s t he mo r e f i t

p a r e nt t o ha ve c us t ody of t he c hi l dr e n. I n c ons i de r i ng t hi s i s s u e ,

we mu s t be a r i n mi nd t ha t i n nonj ur y c a s e s whe r e t he t r i a l j u d g e

s a w a n d he a r d t he wi t ne s s e s a nd obs e r ve d t he i r ma nne r a nd de me a n o r

o n t h e s t a nd, he wa s i n a muc h be t t e r pos i t i on t o j udge t he we i g h t

a nd v a l u e of t he i r t e s t i mon y t ha n we . De c i s i ons by t he t r i a l j u d g e

r e g a r d i ng t he c r e di bi l i t y of wi t ne s s e s a r e e nt i t l e d t o gr e a t we i g h t

on a ppe a l . W l de r i v. W l de r , i 863 S. W 2d 707, . 713 ( Te nn. Ap p.

1992) . W r e t he e vi de nc e i s c onf l i c t i ng, he t he we i ght a nd c r e d i -

b i l i t y o f t he t e s t i mony i s f or t he f i nde r of f a c t , a nd t he f i nd i n g

o f t he Tr i a l J udge i n t hi s r e s pe c t , a nonj ur y ma t t e r , wi l l not be

di s t ur be d on a ppe a l u nl e s s r eal e vi de nc e c ompe l s a c ont r a r y

c o n c l u s i on. Se e Sc hl a t e r v . Ha yni e , 833 S. W 2d 919 . ( Te nn. Ap p .

4 1991) . Thi s pr i nc i pl e ha s l ong be e n a ppl i e d t o c hi l d c us t o d y

cases.

I n c hi l d c us t ody c a s e s , t he we l f a r e a nd be s t i nt e r e s t of t h e

c hi l d is t he p a r a mount c onc e r n, a nd t he de t e r mi na t i on of t he

c h i l d' s be s t i nt e r e s t mus t t ur n on t he pa r t i c ul a r f a c t s of e a c h

c a s e . Hol l owa y v. Br a dl e y, 190 Te nn. 565, 230 S. W 2d 1003 ( 195 0 ) . .

I t i s not ne c e s s a r y t o f i nd t ha t one pa r e nt i s unf i t i n or d e r

t o a wa r d c us t ody t o t he ot he r pa r e nt . W r e bot h pa r e nt s a r e f o u n d he

t o b e f i t t h i s Cour t ha s r e s or t e d t o a c ompa r a t i ve f i t ne s s t e s t ,

Ba h v . Ba h , 668 S. W 2d 663 ( Te nn. App. 1983) , i n whi c h, c ons i de r i n g .

al l t h e r e l e va nt c i r c ums t a nc e s , t he Cour t p l a c e s t he pr i n c i pa l

r e s p o n s i bi l i t y f or r e a r i ng t he mi nor c hi l d wi t h t he pe r s on mos t f i t

t o b e a r t ha t r e s pons i bi l i t y. I d. a t 666. I t c a n be i nf e r r e d f r o m

t he t r i a l c our t ' s me mor a ndum t ha t t he c our t a ppl i e d t he c ompa r a t i v e

f i t ne s s t e s t a s s e t out i n Ba h, s upr a . Ne i t he r pa r e nt wa s f ound t o

b e u n f i t a nd t he c our t de t e r mi ne d t ha t t he be s t i n t e r e s t s of t h e

c h i l d r e qui r e d c us t ody t o be gi ve n t o t he mot he r .

The r e i s e vi de nc e i n t he r e c or d t ha t bot h pa r t i e s s uf f e r f r o m

s ome p r o bl e ms . A t he r a pi s t , M . Rona l d As hl e y t e s t i f i e d t ha t he r

h a d c o u n s e l e d wi t h t he a ppe l l a nt , t he a ppe l l e e a nd t he t wo ol d e r

c h i l dr e n. He t e s t i f i e d t ha t i n hi s opi ni on t he a ppe l l e e s uf f e r e d

f r om d e pr e s s i on a nd ha d a n e a t i ng di s or de r , bul i mi a ne r vos a . In

a d d i t i on , h e t e s t i f i e d t ha t t he a ppe l l e e wa s a " l ove a ddi c t . " He

5 de s c r i be d " l ove a ddi c t " as " s ome one who, whe n t he y' r e in a

r e l a t i o ns hi p, t r i e s t o ge t unc ondi t i ona l pos i t i ve r e ga r d f r om t h e

p e r s o n who t he y' r e i n t he r e l a t i ons hi p wi t h t o t he e xc l us i on o f

t a k i ng c a r e o f t he ms e l ve s wi t hi n a r e l a t i ons hi p . . . . " He f ur t he r

t e s t i f i e d t ha t t he a ppe l l a nt s uf f e r e d f r om " ma j or de pr e s s i on. "

Dr . J a ne t Snoddy, a phys i c i a n, t e s t i f i e d t ha t s he wa s we l l

a c qu a i n t e d wi t h t he a ppe l l e e on a s oc i a l r a t he r t ha n a pr of e s s i on a l

b a s i s a n d ha d be e n a ne i ghbor . Sh e d e s c r i be d, f r om he r pe r s o n a l

o b s e r v a t i on s , t h e wa y a nd ma nne r i n whi c h t he a ppe l l e e f ul f i l l e d

h e r r o l e a s a pa r e nt . She wa s ve r y c ompl i me nt a r y a nd s t a t e d t h a t

t he a pp e l l e e ha d a ve r y c l os e r e l a t i ons hi p wi t h he r c hi l dr e n. Sh e

f u r t h e r r e l a t e d t ha t t he a ppe l l e e wa s a f i t a nd pr ope r pe r s on, i n

he r o p i n i on, t o be a c us t od i a l pa r e nt . She ma de no de r oga t o r y

s t a t e me nt s c onc e r ni ng t he a ppe l l a nt a s a c us t odi a l p a r e nt . Sh e

s t a t e d t ha t t he a ppe l l a nt s pe nt l e s s t i me wi t h t he c hi l dr e n be c a u s e

h e wo r k e d.

The a ppe l l a nt i ns i s t s t ha t t he a ppe l l e e wa s de f i c i e nt as a

c u s t o d i a l p a r e nt b e c a us e s he l e f t t he c hi l dr e n wi t h ba bys i t t e r s .

M . Lo c kha r t , a n i nve s t i ga t or f or t he a ppe l l a nt t e s t i f i e d t ha t he r

ha d ke pt t he a ppe l l e e und e r s ur ve i l l a nc e f or s ome f our hund r e d

hour s . He t es t i f i ed t ha t t he a pp e l l e e di d us e ba bys i t t e r s

f r e q u e n t l y, ho we v e r , t he r e i s not hi ng i n t he r e c or d t o i ndi c a t e

6 t ha t t he ba bys i t t e r s we r e i na ppr opr i a t e l y us e d. He f ur t h e r

t e s t i f i e d on c r os s e xa mi na t i on a s f ol l ows :

Q. And i s n' t i t t r u e a n d d i d you not t e l l me i n t he de pos i t i on, M . Loc kha r t , t ha t dur i ng a l l of r t he s e hour s of obs e r va t i on a nd s ur ve i l l a nc e , you ne ve r s a w a ny i na ppr opr i a t e c ondu c t out of t hi s l a dy i ns of a r a s — or a ny i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t a t al l ?

A. No e xt r a - ma r i t a l a f f a i r s wha t s oe ve r .

Q. No i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t wa s wha t I a s ke d you i n de pos i t i on a nd t ha t ' s wha t you t ol d me . I s t ha t not t r ue , s i r ?

A. W l l , I t hi nk a t t ha t t i me y o u we r e r e f e r r i ng t o e e xt r a - ma r i t a l a f f a i r s , a nd t ha t ' s t r ue .

Q. W l l , di d you s e e a ny i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t out of e t hi s l a dy dur i ng t hi s t hr e e o r f our hundr e d hour s of s ur ve i l l a nc e ?

A. Tha t ' s a ma t t e r of opi ni on. I pe r s ona l l y c ons i de r , you know, l e a vi ng t he c hi l dr e n a l o n e f or l ong pe r i ods of t i me wi t h ba bys i t t e r s .

Q. Tha t ' s wha t you s a w a nd t ha t ' s wha t you' r e he r e t o t e s t i f y t o.

A. Ri ght . You kno w, t ha t woul d j us t b e my opi ni on, M . J e nne . r

Q. Now i s n' t i t t r ue , M . Loc kha r t , t h a t y o u don' t r know i f t he pe r s on i n t he hous e wa s a ba bys i t t e r or hous e ke e pe r ?

A. Cor r e c t .

The r e i s no e vi de nc e i n t he r e c or d t ha t t he ba bys i t t e r s o r

h o u s e k e e pe r s we r e i na ppr opr i a t e pe r s ons t o s upe r vi s e t he a c t i vi t i e s

o f t h e c hi l dr e n. The i nve s t i ga t or t e s t i f i e d t ha t ove r a s i x- mo n t h

p e r i o d hi s onl y obs e r va t i on of i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t wa s t ha t t h e

7 a pp e l l e e wa s a wa y f r om he r c hi l dr e n mor e t ha n he t hought wa s

a ppr opr i a t e .

The r e wa s f ur t he r t e s t i mony e l i c i t e d t ha t t he a ppe l l a nt h a d a

v e r y c l o s e r e l a t i ons hi p wi t h hi s c hi l dr e n. The r e i s no s ugge s t i o n

t ha t t h e a ppe l l a nt woul d n ot ha ve be e n a n a ppr opr i a t e c us t od i a l

p a r e nt .

Co mpa r i ng t he f i t ne s s of t he t wo pa r e nt s i s a f unc t i on t ha t i s

p e c ul i a r l y wi t hi n t he pr ovi nc e of t he t r i a l j udge . He wa s pr e s e nt

d u r i n g a l l t he p r oc e e di ngs , h e a r d a l l t he t e s t i mony, s a w a l l t he

wi t ne s s e s a nd j udge d t he i r c r e di bi l i t y. He t he r e a f t e r de t e r mi ne d

t ha t t h e mot he r , t he a ppe l l e e he r e , s houl d be t he c us t odi a l pa r e n t .

The pr e s umpt i on of c or r e c t ne s s whi c h or di n a r i l y a t t a c he s t o

t he t r i a l j udge ' s f i ndi ngs i n a be nc h t r i a l a ppl i e s t o i s s ue s o f

c h i l d c us t ody. Ba h v. Ba h , s upr a ; Sc a r br ough v. Sc a r br ough , 752

S. W 2 d 9 4 ( Te nn. App. 1988) . . Addi t i ona l l y, t r i a l c our t s a r e ve s t e d

wi t h wi de di s c r e t i on i n ma t t e r s of c hi l d c us t ody a nd r e vi e wi n g

c o u r t s wi l l not i nt e r f e r e e xc e pt upon a s howi ng of a n a bus e o f

d i s c r e t i on. Gr a nt v. Gr a nt , 39 Te nn. App. 539, 286 S. W 2d 3 4 9 .

( 1954) . We s houl d not e pa r e nt h e t i c a l l y, t ha t an " a b us e of

d i s c r e t i on" s t a nda r d i s not i nc l ude d i n t he s t a nda r d of r e vi e w a s

f o u n d i n Rul e 13( d) of t he Te nne s s e e Rul e s of Appe l l a t e Pr oc e dur e .

Howe v e r , whe n t he r e i s s uf f i c i e nt e vi de nc e t o do s o, t he c our t ma y

8 d e t e r mi n e t ha t , ba s e d upon t he ma t e r i a l e vi de nc e , a bus e or a bs e nc e

o f a bu s e of di s c r e t i on ma y be de t e r mi ne d a s a ma t t e r of l a w. In

t hi s c a s e we f i nd no a bus e of di s c r e t i on. W f i nd no r e ve r s i b l e e

e r r o r i n gr a nt i ng c us t ody of t he c hi l dr e n t o t he a ppe l l e e .

I n t hi s c a s e t he a ppe l l e e ha s f i l e d a mot i on t o di s mi s s t hi s

a ppe a l ba s e d upon our de c i s i on in Cobb v. Be i e r , an as ye t

u n r e p o r t e d opi ni on of t hi s c our t by J udge Fr a nks , o p i ni on f i l e d

J u l y 3 , 1996, whe r e i n i t wa s he l d t ha t a f a i l ur e t o f i l e a not i c e

o f a pp e a l wi t h t he a ppe l l a t e c our t c l e r k wa s a f a t a l de f e c t . In

vi e w of our di s pos i t i on of t hi s cas e, t he i s s ue i s moot . W, e

t h e r e f o r e , de c l i ne t o r ul e on t he mot i on.

Thi s c a s e i s a f f i r me d i n a l l r e s pe c t s . Cos t s a r e t a xe d t o t h e

a pp e l l a nt a nd t h i s c a s e i s r e ma nde d t o t he t r i a l c our t f or t he

c o l l e c t i on t he r e of .

___________________________ _ _ _ Don T. M M r a y, J . c ur

CONCUR:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________________________ Ho u s t o n M Godda r d, Pr e s i d i ng J udge .

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________________________ Ch a r l e s D. Sus a no, J r . , J u dge

9 I N THE COURT OF APPEALS

DEBRA J EWELL YOUNG FORD, ) BRADLEY CHANCERY ) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9606- CH- 00197 ) Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l e e ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. EARL H. HENLEY ) CHANCELLOR ) ) ) ) ) DENNI S CLI FFORD FORD, ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED ) De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt )

ORDER

Thi s a ppe a l c a me on t o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d f r om t h e

Ch a n c e r y Cour t of Br a dl e y Count y, br i e f s a nd a r gume nt of c ouns e l .

Up o n c o n s i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s Cour t i s of opi ni on t ha t t he r e wa s

n o r e v e r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c our t .

Thi s c a s e i s a f f i r me d i n a l l r e s pe c t s . Cos t s a r e t a xe d t o t h e

a pp e l l a nt a nd t hi s c a s e i s r e ma n d e d t o t he t r i a l c our t f or t he

PER CURI AM