Mount v. Mount

326 S.W.2d 493, 46 Tenn. App. 30, 1959 Tenn. App. LEXIS 86
CourtTennessee Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 25, 1959
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 326 S.W.2d 493 (Mount v. Mount) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mount v. Mount, 326 S.W.2d 493, 46 Tenn. App. 30, 1959 Tenn. App. LEXIS 86 (Tenn. 1959).

Opinion

BEJACH, J.

For convenience, the parties hereto will be designated in this opinion, as in the lower court, as complainant and defendant, Mrs. Mount having been the [32]*32complainant and Mr. Mount the defendant, or they will be called by their respective names.

This canse is before ns on its third appeal from the Chancery Conrt of Shelby County. The first appeal was from a decree of Hon. Hamilton E. Little, Chancellor, who has since died. The second and third appeals were from decrees of Chancellor Rives A. Manlier. The cause originated by a bill for separate maintenance, later amended to pray for an absolute divorce. There was an answer and cross bill which prayed for an absolute divorce. On the hearing prior to the first appeal, Chancellor Little dismissed both the original bill and the cross bill, and made no provision for the support or maintenance of the complainant. On the first appeal, this Court reversed the Chancellor, granted to Mrs. Mount a decree of divorce on the ground of two years desertion, and also on the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment, and awarded alimony to Mrs. Mount, consisting of the defendant’s interest in the home place owned by the parties as tenants by the entireties, together with all of the furniture therein, plus the monthly sum of $400 to be paid by defendant. Certiorari was granted by the Supreme Court, where the decree of this Court was reversed, as was also the decree of the Chancellor. From the decree entered in the Supreme Court, we quote, as follows :

.“It is therefore ordered and decreed by the Court that the decrees of the Chancellor and the Court of Appeals be reversed; and that this cause be remanded to the Chancery Court of Shelby County for further proceedings in accordance with the Court’s opinion, a certified copy of which will accompany the procedendo on remand; and for the collection of the [33]*33cost of the court below, for all of which let proce-dendo issue.”

From the opinion of the Supreme Court, written by Mr. Chief Justice Neil, we quote as follows:

“We think the Chancellor erred in dismissing the original bill as amended. When he examined the parties in open court at the conclusion of the testimony and learned from them that there was no possibility of a reconciliation, he should have entered a decree from bed and board on behalf of Mrs. Mount and made a proper allowance for her support, retaining the cause in court for such other and further orders and decrees as future developments might require.
“The Court of Appeals is reversed and the cause is remanded for the entry of a decree in accordance with this opinion. Pending the entry of any decree, based upon any future hearing by the Chancellor, the temporary allowance of $200.00 per month to Mrs. Mount will remain in full force and effect. However, this may be increased or reduced as the Chancellor may see fit.
“As to any further determination of the marital and property rights of the parties, including an allowance of additional counsel fees for Mrs. Mount’s solicitor, we leave to the sound judgment and discretion of the Chancellor.”

Divorce being exclusively a statutory right in Tennessee, no divorce, either absolute or from bed and hoard, should have been granted to either complianant or defendant, unless on proof of one or more of the grounds [34]*34set. out in Sections 36-801 and 36-802 T. C. A. Lack of possibility of a reconciliation is not there enumerated. As has been said by Mr. Chief Justice Neil, speaking for the Supreme Court in Perrin v. Perrin, 201 Tenn. 354, 299 S. W. (2d) 19, at page 24: “ * * * it must also be understood that the court cannot by judicial fiat add an additional ground for divorce that is unknown to the statute, 36-801 T. C. A.” We can not question the validity of the divorce granted in the instant case, because the opinion of the Supreme Court herein and the decrees entered pursuant thereto have become the law of this case. Stargel v. Stargel, 21 Tenn. App. 193, 107 S. W. (2d) 520; Going v. Going, 148 Tenn. 522, 256 S. W. 890, 31 A. L. R. 633; Douglas v. Douglas, 156 Tenn. 655, 4 S. W. (2d) 358; Perrin v. Perrin, 201 Tenn. 354, 299 S. W. (2d) 19; and 3 Am. Jur.—Appeal and Error—Sections 1009 and 1158, pages 353 and 669.

After the remand by .the Supreme Court, at a hearing before Chancellor Rives A. Manker, who had succeeded Hon. Hamilton E. Little, complainant was awarded a decree, of divorce from bed and board, together with an award .of $350.00 per month as alimony, and the additional sum of $500.00 as fee for services of her attorney. This decree provided, also, that after one year either party might apply to have the divorce made absolute. From the opinion of Chancellor Manker, we quote, as follows:

“Prom all of which it appears, and the Court finds, that the grounds alleged in complainant’s original and amended and supplemental bills are true; that defendant is guilty of such cruel and inhuman treatment or conduct towards her as renders cohabitation [35]*35unsafe and improper and for her to be under bis dominion and control, and that complainant is entitled to a decree from bed and board, as ordered and decreed by the Supreme Court.
“The Court further finds from its interpretation of the opinion of the Supreme Court and from the applicable law, that the property rights of these parties are not affected by this decree, but that defendant should contribute to complainant a reasonable amount for her support; that said sum is $300.00 per month; that as long, however, as defendant continues to occupy the furnished residence owned by these parties as tenants by the entireties, he should contribute the additional sum of $50.00 per month for complainant’s support, and continue to maintain the monthly mortgage payments upon said property, in.the approximate sum of $50.00,. and the taxes and insurance thereon; further that the Court "was not directed by the Supreme Court to fix in solido alimony for complainant, as prayed by her, during the time the bed and board divorce is in effect. . . :
“The Court further finds that.a reasonable fee for services to date for complainant’s solicitor is the.’.' sum of $500.00, in addition to .a like sum heretofore' : allowed.
“It is therefore,- ordered, adjudged and decreed:
“1. That Floy Humphrey Mount, complainant, herein, be and she.is awarded a bed and board divorce from defendant, William Wilson Mount. • ..
“2. That after the expiration of one year from the , entry of this decree, either.party may.apply to make.: this divorce absolute. ... .
[36]*36“3. That defendant pay to complainant, beginning April 1, 1957, the snm of $350.00 per month as alimony, pending farther orders of this Court, the cause being retained for all purposes.
“4. That defendant pay complainant’s solicitor, Thomas F. Turley, Jr., the additional sum of $500.00 as fee for services rendered to complainant to date.
“5. The costs of this cause are adjudged against defendant, for all of which execution may issue.
“6. Defendant will maintain the mortgage payments, taxes, insurance and repairs upon the residence of these parties.

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Bluebook (online)
326 S.W.2d 493, 46 Tenn. App. 30, 1959 Tenn. App. LEXIS 86, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mount-v-mount-tenn-1959.