# FILED October 1, 1996 Cecil Crowson, Jr. App ellate C ou rt Clerk I N THECOUR

TOFAPPEALS

DEBR A J EW ELLYOUNG FOR

D, ) BR

ADLEY C

HANC ER Y ) C. A . N O . 03A 01- 9606- C

H - 00197 ) Pl a i ntif f

- A pp e lle e ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. EAR LH. HENLEY ) C HANC ELLOR ) ) ) ) ) DENNI SC

LI FFOR D FOR D, ) AFFI R M ED AND R

EM ANDED ) D

e f e nda nt - A

ppe l l a nt )

STEPH EN D A V I SC R U M P, C ha nc e y, K

a na vos &

C r um p, C l e ve l a nd, f or A ppe l l a nt . R O G ER E. J EN

N E, J e nn e , S c o tt & Br y a nt, Cl e v e l a n d , for a pp e lle e .

O PI N I O N

Mc Mur r a y , J . Thi s a ppe a l a r i s e s f r om t he j udgm

e nt of t he t r i a l c our t w hi c h, a m ongot he r t hi ngs , a w a r de d a di vor c e t o t he de f e nda nt , pr ovi de d2

f or c us t ody of t he pa r t i e s ' m i nor c hi l dr e n a nd m a de a di vi s i on of t he m a r ita l e s t a t e . W e a f f i r m

the ju d g m

e nt o f the tr i a l c o ur t . Th e a ppe l l a nt ha s pr e s e nt e d t w o i s s ue s f or our c ons i de r a t i on: 1. D i d t he c ha nc e l l or e r r i n a w a r di ng M

r s . For d t hr e e a nnua l pa ym

e 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 onof m

a r i t a l pr ope r t yw he n t he pa ym

e nt s w oul d ha ve t o be pa i d f r om D r . For d' s f ut ur e i nc om e ? 2. Di dt h e ch a n cel l or er r i na wa r di ng c us t ody of t he p a r tie s ' t hr e e m

i nor c hi l dr e n t o M r s . For d w

he r e t he evi de n ce est a b l i s h e dt h a t s h e w a s s u f f e r i n g fro m a m e nt a l c o n ditio n 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 m e nt , a nd t h a t s he ha d l e f t t he c hi l dr e n w i t h va r i ous ba by s itte r s ons 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 w oext r a m

a r i t a l af f a i r s ?

Our r e vi e w

o f t h e case i s de novouponthe r ecor d , accom p a ni e d bya pr e s um

pt i on of t he c or r e c t ne s s of t he f i ndi ngs of f a c t by t he t r i a l c our t , unl e s s t he pr e ponde r a nc e of t h e evi de n ce i s ot he r w i s e . Ru l e 13( d) , T. R. A . P. N o pr e s um

pt i on a t t a c he s t o c onc l us i ons of l a w . Se e A

da m s v. D e a n R oof i ng C

o ., 7 1 5 S . W

. 2d 341, 343 ( Te nn. C t . A pp. 1986) . As t o t he f i r s t i s s ue , t he c our t i n i t s m e m or a ndum

opi ni on m a ke s the f o llo w

i n gs t a t e m

e nt : "T

hi s c o ur t a l s oa w a r d s c a s h i n s t a llm

e 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 pa ym

e nt i s d e e m

e d a por t i on of t he a s s e t s a nd i s not t o be c ons t r ue da s a l i m

ony i n f ut ur o or i n s ol i do. " Th e app e l l a nt cl a i m s1 No is sue i s m a d e a s t o t h e am ount of t h e awa r d but onl y t h e m e t hod of p a y m e n t . 3 t h a t t hi s a w

a r d i s a n i m

pr ope r di vi s i on of pr ope r t y i n t ha t t he i ns t a l l m

e nt a w a r ds m us t be pa i d out of f ut ur e i nc om e . 1

We a gr e e t ha t a n a w a r d f r om

f ut ur e i nc om

e i s a n i m

pr ope r m e t hodo f di vi di ngm a r i t a l a s s e t s ina di vor c e c a s e . T. C. A . § 3 6 - 4- 121( b) ( 1) ( A

) de f i ne s m

a r i t a l pr ope r t y a s " a l l r e a l a nd pe r s ona l pr ope r t y, bot h t a ngi bl e a nd i nt a ngi bl e , a c qui r e dby e i t he r or bot h s pous e s dur i ng t he c our s e of t he m a r r i a ge up t o t he da t e of t he f i n a l di vor c e he a r i ng a nd ow ne d by e i t he r or bot h s pous e s a s of t he da t e o f f ilingo f a co m p l a i nt f or di v or c e .. . " C l e a r l y , fut ur e i nc om e doe s not f a l l w i t hi n t he de f i ni t i on of m a 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 , how e ve r , w

e m us t not e t ha t t he i ssu e i s f r a m e di n accur a t e l y . Th e i s s u e as s t a t e di s b a s e d upont he a s s um

pt i on t ha t t he i ns t a l l m e nt s m us t be pa i d f r om

f ut ur e i n c om e . Thi s i s a n i nc or r e c t a s s um pt i on. I t a ppe a r s f r om t h e r ecor dt ha t t he t ot a l a w a 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 of $360, 000. 00, i nc l udi ng hi s r e t i r e m e nt pl a n va l ue d a t a ppr oxi m a t e l y $300, 000. 00a nd c a s h of a ppr oxi m a t e l y $15, 816. 00. I t i s c l e a r t ha t t he a pp e lla nt h a s inhi s p or tio no f m a r ita l a s s e t s , s u f f i c i e nt liqu i da s s e t s t o pa y $45, 000. 00 t ot h e app e l l ee i m m e di a t e l y . Th e r e f or e , w

e do not c ons i de r t he a w a r d a s a n a w

a r d t ha t m

us t be pa i dout of f ut ur e e a r ni ngs but s i m pl y a de l a ye d t r a ns f e r of a sse t s . W

e 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 ha t4

t he a w a r d be pa i d i n a nnua l i ns t a l l m e nt s . I t m

a y or m

a y not be a dva nt a ge ous f r om a t a x vi e w

poi nt t o pa y t he a w a r d i n a nnua l i n s t a llm

e nt s . I n a ny e ve nt t he $45, 000. 00 a w a r d i s , w

i t hout que s t i on, 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 of pr e s e nt m

a r ita l a s s e t s . Th e a pp e lla nt is n o t r e qu i r e dtodi s t r i - b ut e th a t p a r t o f th e m a r ita l a s s e t s tothe a pp e lle e inlum ps u m . He m a y m a ke t he di s t r i but i on i n i ns t a l l m e nt s or he m

a y pa y t he di s t r i b utio nim

m e di a t e l y . W

e f i n dn om

e r it inthi s is s u e . We w i 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 ody of t he pa r t i e s ' m

i nor c hi l dr e n. A

s not e d, c us t ody w a s gi ve n t o t he m ot he r . Th e a pp e lla nt in s i s t s th a t the f a t he r is the mo r e fi 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 ue , we m us t be a r i n m

i nd t ha t i n nonj ur y c a s e s w he r e t he t r i a l j udge s a w a nd he a r d t he w

i t ne s s e s a nd obs e r ve d t he i r m a nne r a nd de m

e a nor ont he s t a nd, he w a s i na m

u c hb e t t e r pos i t i on t o j udge t he w e i ght a n dva l ue of t he i r t e s t i m ony t ha n w

e . D e c i s i ons by t he t r i a l j udge r e ga r di ngth e c r e di b ilityo f w itne s s e s a r e e ntitle dtogr e a t w e i ght ona ppe a l. W

ilde r v . W

ilde r , 863 S . W

. 2d 707, 713 ( Te nn. A pp . 1992) . W

he r e t he e vi de nc e i s c onf l i c t i ng, t he w e i ght a nd c r e di

- b ilityof t he t e s t i m ony i s f or t he f i nde r of f a c t , a nd t he f i ndi ng o f the Tr i a l J u d g e inthi s r e s p e c t, a n o nj ur ym a tte r , w

ill no t b e di s t ur be do napp eal u nl e s s r eal evi de n ce com p e l s a co nt r a r y c onc l us i on. Se e Sc hl a t e r v . H a yni e , 833 S . W

. 2d 919 ( Te nn. A pp.5

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 ody cas e s . I n c hi l d c us t ody c a s e s , t he w e l f a r e a nd be s t i nt e r e s t of t he c hildis the p a r a m ount c onc e r n, a nd t he de t e r m i na t i on of t he c hild ' s b e s t i nt e r e s t m u s t t ur no nt h e p a r t i c u l a r f act s o f each cas e . H

ol l ow a y v. Br a dl e y , 190 Te nn. 565, 230 S . W . 2d 1003 ( 1950) . 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 de r t oa w a r d c us t ody t o t he ot he r pa r e nt . W he r e bot h pa r e nt s a r e f ound t ob e f it t h i s C

our t ha s r e s or t e d t o a c om pa r a t i ve f i t ne s s t e s t , Ba hv. Ba h , 668 S . W . 2d 663 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1983) , i n w

hi c h, c ons i de r i ng a l l t h e r e l e v a nt ci r c um s t a n ces , t h e C

our t p l aces t h e pr i n c i p a l r e s p o n s i b ilityf or r e a r i ng t he m i nor c hi l d w

i t h t he pe r s on m

os t f i t t ob e a r tha t r e s p o n s 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 om t he t r i a l c our t ' s m e m or a ndum

t ha t t he c our t a ppl i e d t he co m p a r a t i v e f itne s s te s t a s s e t o ut in Ba h , s upr a . N e i t h e r p a r e nt w

a s f ound t o be unf i t a nd t he c our t de t e r m i ne d t ha t t he be s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c hi l d r e qui r e d c us t ody t o be gi ve n t o t he m ot he r . Th e 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 om s o m e pr ob l e m

s . A the r a p i s t, M

r . R o n a l dA

s hl e yte s tif i e dth a t he ha dc ouns e l e d w

i t h t he a ppe l l a nt , t he a ppe l l e e a nd t he t w o ol de r c hildr e n . H

e te s tif i e dth a t inhi s op i ni o nthe a pp e lle e s u f f e r e d fro m de pr e s s i on a nd ha d a n e a t i ng di s or de r , bul i m i a ne r vos a . I n a d di t i on , h e te s t i f i e dtha t t h e a pp e l l e e w a s a " l ov e a d di c t." H e6

de s c r i b e d"l o v e addi c t " as "s o m e o n e w

h o , w h e n t he y' r e i na r e l a t i ons 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 he pe r s onw

ho t he y' r e i n t he r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h t o t he e xc l us i on of t a ki n gcar e o f th e m s e l v e s w

ithi na r e l a tio n s hi p.. . . " H e 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 " m aj 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 w a s w e l l acqu a i nt e dw

i 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 ona l ba s i s a nd 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 ona l obs e r va t i o ns , th e w a y a nd m

a nne r i n w

hi 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 as a p a r e nt . Sh e w a s v e r yco m

p l i m e nt a r yan ds t a t e dt h a t t he app e l l ee h a da ve r y c l os e r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h he r c hi l dr e n. She f ur t h e r r e l a t e dt h a t t h e app e l l ee w a s a f i t an dpr op e r p e r s o n , i n he r opi ni on, t o be a c us t o di a l pa r e nt . She m a de no de r oga t or y s t a t e m e 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 pa r e nt. Sh e s t a t e dth a t the a pp e lla nt s p e nt le s s tim e w iththe c hildr e nb e c a u s e he w or ke d.

Th e a pp e lla nt in s i s t s th a t t h e app e l l ee w a s de f i c i e nt as a c us t odi a l p a r e nt b ecau s e s h e l e f t t h e chi l dr e nwi t h ba bys i t t e r s . M r . Lo c kh a r t, a ninv e s tig a t or f or the a pp e lla nt te s tif i e dth a t he ha dke pt t he a ppe l l e e unde r s ur ve i l l a nc e f or s om e f our hundr e d hour s . H

e te s tif i e dth a t the a pp e lle e di d us e ba bys i t t e r s f r e que nt 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 e7

t h a t t he ba bys i t t e r s w e r e i na ppr opr i a t e l y us e d. H e f ur t he r t e s t i f i e d on c r os s e xa m i na t i on a s f ol l ow s : Q. An dis n ' t it t r ue a nd di d you not t e l l m e i n t he de pos i t i on, M

r . Loc kha r t , t ha t dur i ng a l l of 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 a l l ? A. N oext r a - m

a r i t a l af f a i r s w

h a t s o e v e r . Q. Noi na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t w a s w ha t I a s ke d you i n de pos i t i ona nd t ha t ' s w ha t you t ol dme . Is th a t n o t tr u e , s i r ? A. W e ll, I thi nka t th a t tim e yo uw

e r e re f e rri n gt o e xt r a - m

a r ita l a f f a i r s , a n dth a t ' s tr u e . Q. W e l l , di d you s e e a ny i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t out of t hi s l a dy dur i ng t hi s t hr ee o r f our hundr e d hour s of s ur ve i l l a nc e ? A. Th a t ' s a m

a t t e r of opi ni on. I pe r s ona l l y c ons i de r , youknow

, l e a vi ng t he c hi l dr e n a l on e f or l ong pe r i ods of t i m

e w i t h ba bys i t t e r s . Q. Tha t ' s w

ha t you s a w

a nd t ha t ' s w

ha t you' r e he r e t o t e s tif yto . A. R i ght . Y

ou know

, t ha t w

oul d j us t b e m

y opi ni on, M r . J e nne . Q. No w

is n ' t it tr u e , M r . Lo c kh a r t, th a t y o u don' t know i f t he pe r s on i n t he hous e w a s a ba bys i t t e r or hous e ke e pe r ? A. C orre c t . Th e 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 or hous e ke e pe r s w

e r e i na ppr opr i a t e pe r s ons tos up e r v i s e the a c tivitie s of t he 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- m ont h pe r i od hi s onl y obs e r va t i on of i na ppr opr i a t e c onduc t w a s t ha t t he8

a pp e l l e e w

a s a w a y f r om

he r c hi l dr e n m

or e t ha n he t hought w a s a ppr opr i a t e . Th e r e w

a s fur t h e r te s tim o nye lic ite dth a t t he a ppe l l a nt ha d a ve r yc l os e r e l a t i ons hi p w i t h hi s c hi l dr e n. The r e i s no s ugge s t i on t h a t t he a ppe l l a nt w oul d n ot ha ve be e n a n a ppr opr i a t e c us t odi a l p a r e nt . C om pa r i ngthe f itne s s o f the tw opa r e nt s i s a f unc t i on t ha t i s p ecul i a r l yw

ithi nth e pr ovi nc e of t he t r i a l j udge . H e w a s pr e s e nt dur i nga ll the pr o c e e di n g s , h e a r da ll the te s tim o ny , s a w

a ll the w itne s s e s a n dju d g e dth e i r c r e di b ility . H e the r e a f t e r de t e r m i n e d t h a t t he m

ot 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 nt . Th e pr e s um

pt i on of c or r e c t ne s s w hi c h or di n a r ilya tta c h e s to t he tr 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 of c hildc 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 d94 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1988) . A

ddi t i ona l l y, t r i a l c our t s a r e ve s t e d w ithw i de di s c r e t i on i n m a t t e r s of c hi l d c us t ody a nd r e vi e w i ng c our t s w

i l l not i nt e r f e r e e xc e pt upon a s how i ng of a n a bus e of di s c r e tio n . G

r a nt v. G

r a nt , 39 Te nn. A pp. 539, 286 S . W . 2d 349 ( 1954) . W

e s houl d not e pa r e nt h e tic a l l y , t h a t an"abu s e o f di 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 oundi n R

ul e 13( d) of t he Te nne s s e e R ul e s of A

ppe l l a t e Pr oc e dur e . Ho we v e r , w

he 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 m a y9

de t e r m i n e tha t, b a s e dupon t he m a t e r i a l evi de n ce, ab u s e or ab s e n c e of a b u s e o f di s c r e t i o nm a yb e de t e r m

i n e das a m

a t t e r o f l a w. I n t hi s c a s e w

e f i nd no a bus e of di s c r e t i on. W e f i nd no r e ve r s i bl e e r r or 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 nthi s c a s e th e a pp e lle e h a s f ile da m o tio ntodi s m

i s s thi s a p p eal ba s e d upon our de c i s i on i n C obb v. Be i e r , anas y e t unr e por t e dopi ni on of t hi s c our t by J udge Fr a nks , opi ni on f i l e d J ul y 3, 1996, w

he r e i n i t w

a 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 of app eal w

i t ht h e app e l l a t e cour t cl e r kw a s a f a t a l de f ect . I n vi e w of our di s pos i t i on of t hi s c a s e , t he i s s ue i s m oot . W

e , t he r e f or e , de c l i ne t o r ul e on t he m ot i on. Thi s cas e i s af f i r m e di nal l r e s p ect s . C o s t s ar e t a x e dt ot h e a pp e l l a nt an d t h i s cas e i s r e m a n de dt ot h e t r i a l cour t f or t h e c o lle c tio nth e r e o f .

______________________________ D on T. M

c M ur r a y, J . CONC UR:

___________________________________ H ous t on M

. G odda r d, Pr e s i di ng J udge

___________________________________ C ha r l e s D

. Sus a no, J r . , J udgeI N THECOUR TOFAPPEALS

DEBR A J EW ELLYOUNG FOR

D, ) BR

ADLEY C

HANC ER Y ) C. A . N O . 03A 01- 9606- C

H - 00197 ) Pl a i ntif f

- A pp e lle e ) ) ) ) ) ) vs . ) HON. EAR LH. HENLEY ) C HANC ELLOR ) ) ) ) ) DENNI SC

LI FFOR D FOR D, ) AFFI R M ED AND R

EM ANDED ) D

e f e nda nt - A

ppe l l a nt )

O RDE R Thi s a p p eal ca m

e on t o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d f r om t he C ha nc e r y C

our t of Br a dl e y C ount y, br i e f s a nd a r gum e nt of c ouns e l . U ponc ons i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s C our t i s of opi ni on t ha t t he r e w a s no r e ve r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c our t . Thi s cas e i s af f i r m e di nal l r e s p ect s . C o s t s ar e t a x e dt ot h e a pp e l l a nt an dt hi s cas e i s r e m a nde dtothe tr i a l c o ur t f or the c o lle c tio nth e r e o f .

PER CU RI A M