# FILED October 3, 1995 Cecil Crowson, Jr. App ellate C ou rt Clerk I N THECOUR

TOFAPPEALSOFTENNES SEE EA STER N SEC TI O N

C H A R LESW I LLI A M CO U LTER a nd ) HAM

I LTON C

OUNTY wi f e DONNA LEECOULTER ) 03A 01- 9505- C

H

- 00150 ) Pl a i ntif f s - A

pp e lla nt s )

) ) v. ) HON. HOW ELLN. PEOPLES , ) C HANC ELLOR ) R I C HAR D ANTHONY HENDR

I CKS )

) D e f e nda nt - A

ppe l l e e ) AFFI R M ED AND R

EM ANDED

W . GER ALD TI DW

ELL, J R. , OFC

HATTANOOGA FOR

APPELLANTS W ADE K. C ANNON a ndTER

R Y ATKI N C

AVETTOFC

HATTANOOGA FOR

APPELLEE

O PI N I O N

G odda r d, P. J .

Thi s i s a s ui t by C ha r l e s W

i l l i a m C oul t e r a nd D

onna Le e C oul t e r , br ot he r a nd s i s t e r of Li nda D i a ne R os e H e ndr i c ks , w

ho di e d i n a n a ut om

obi l e a c c i de nt on A pr i l 24, 1994, s e e ki ng t o ha ve he r m a r r i a ge on A

pr i l 1, 1994, t o R i c ha r d A

nt hony H

e ndr i c ks , a nnul l e d. The C

ha nc e l l or gr a nt e d M r . H e ndr i c ks ' m

ot i on unde r R ul e 12. 02( 6) of t he Te nne s s e e R ul e s of C

i vi l Pr oc e dur e , w hi c h2

c ont e nde d t he c om pl a i nt f a i l e d " t o s t a t e a c l a i m upon w

hi c h r e l i e f canb e gr a nt e d . "

The br ot he r a nd s i s t e r a ppe a l c ont e ndi ng t he C our t w a s i ne rror .

The C

om pl a i n a nt s al l e g e t h a t t he yar e t he s ol e he i r s a nd ne xt of ki n of t he de c e a s e d, w ho w a s m a r r i e d t o M

r . H e ndr i c ks on A pr i l 1, 1994, a nd t ha t t he i r s i s t e r , a s a l r e a dy not e d, di e d on A pr i l 24, 1994. The y c ont e nd t ha t t he m a r r i a ge w

a s voi d a b i nitiobe c a us e i t w a s e nt e r e d i nt o i n j e s t w i t h no i nt e nt i on on t he p a r t of the i r s i s t e r toc on s um m a t e it, a ndtha t the i r s i s t e r , be c a us e of he r m

e nt a l di s a bi l i t y, di d not ha ve t he c a pa c i t y t o e nt e r i nt oa m

a r r i a g e cer e m

ony . M r . H e ndr i c ks ' br i e f accur a t e l ys t a t e s our s t a nda r do f r e vi e w a s t o R

ul e 12. 02( 6) m

ot i ons :

I n c ons i de r i ng t he a ppe a l of a R ul e 12. 02( 6) m ot i on t o di s m

i s s , t he C

our t of A

ppe a l s i s r e qui r e d t o t a ke t he a l l e ga t i ons of t he c om pl a i nt a s t r ue a nd t o c ons t r ue t he a l l e ga t i ons l i be r a l l y i n f a vor of t he pl ai nt i f f . Pe m

b e r t onv . A

m e r i c a nD

i s tille dSpi r its Co . , 664 S . W

. 2d 690, 691 ( Te nn. 1984) . Si nc e t hi s a ppe a l i s be f or e t he C our t of A

ppe a l s on a que s t i on of l a w , t he s c op e of t he r e vi e w i s de novow

ithno pr e s um pt i on of c or r e c t ne s s f or t he t r i a l c our t ' s c onc l us i on. M

ont gom e r y v. M

a yor of t he C

i t y of C ovi ngt on , 778 S . W . 2d 444, 445 ( Te nn. C t . A pp. 1988) , pe r m . a pp . de n . ( Te nn. 1989) . A m ot i on t o di s m

i s s pur s ua nt t o R ul e 12. 02( 6) f or f a i l ur e t os t a t e a cl a i m up onw

hi c hr e l i e f canb e gr a nt e d i s t he e qui va l e nt of a de m ur r e r unde r our f or m e r c om m on l a w pr oc e dur e a nd, t hus , i s a t e s t of t he1 Em pha s i s s uppl i e d . 3 s uf f i c i e nc y of t he l e a di ng pl e a di ng. H um phr i e s v. W

e s t EndTe r r ace, I nc . , 795 S . W . 2d 128, 130 ( Te nn. C t . A pp. 1990) , pe r m

. a pp . de n . Suc h a m ot i on a dm

i t s t he t r ut h o f al l r e l e v a nt andm a t e r i a l ave r m

e nt s cont a i ne di nt he c om pl a i nt but a s s e r t s t ha t s uc h f a c t s do not c ons t i t ut e a cau s e of act i on . i d . H ow e ve r , a dm

i s s i ons of t hi s na t ur e , m

a de s ol e l y i n c onne c t i on w i t h t he m

ot i on t o di s m i s s , do not c ons t i t ut e a dm i s s i ons c ha r ge a bl e t o t he pr opone nt of t he m ot i on f or pur pos e s of t he l i t i ga t i on a s a w hol e . A

nt hony v. Ti dw

e l l , 560 S . W

. 2d 908, 910 ( Te nn. 1977) . A

c om pl a i nt s houl d be di s m i s s e d f or f a i l ur e t o s t a t e a c l a i m i f i t a ppe a r s be yond doubt t ha t pl a i nt i f f c a n pr ove no s e t of f a c t s i n s uppor t of i t s c l ai m

tha t w

oul de nt i t l e hi m

tor e l i e f . Pe m

b e r t on , 664 S . W

. 2d a t 691.

The pr i nc i pa l que s t i on t o be de t e r m i ne d i n t hi s a ppe a l i s w he t he r t he m

a r r i a ge w

a s voi d or voi da bl e . The pa r t i e s c onc e de t ha t i f voi da bl e t he r i ght t o ha ve i t s e t a s i de a ba t e d upon t he de a t h of e i t he r pa r t y.

I n r e s ol vi ng t he i s s ue r a i s e d, t hi s C our t , i n W

oods v. W oods , 638 S . W

. 2d 403 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1983) , a n opi ni on by J udge Le w i s , quot e s w

i t h a ppr ova l f r om G i bs on' s Sui t s i n C ha nc e r y ( 5t h e d. ) , a s f ol l ow

s ( a t pa ge 405) :

A m a r r i a ge i s voi d f r om t he be gi nni ng ( 1) w he n e i t he r p a r t yw

a s a l r e a dyla w

f ul l ym

a r r i e d ; or ( 2 ) ...; or ( 3) w

he n t he pa r t i e s a r e w i t hi n pr ohi bi t e d de gr e e s of ki ns hi p; or ( 4) w he n, f or a ny ot he r r e a s on, t he m a r r i a ge w

a s pr ohi bi t e d by l a w , a nd i t s c ont i nua nc e i s i nvi ol at i ono f la w . [ C i t a t i on s om

i t t e d . ] A m a r r i a ge i s voi da bl e f r om t he be gi nni ng ( 1) whe n e i t he r p a r t yw

a s i n s a ne ; 1or ( 2) t he c om pl a i na nt w

a s unde r dur e s s ; or ( 3) w a s unde r t he a ge of c ons e nt ; or ( 4) w he n t he c ons e nt w a s obt a i ne d by f or c e , or f r a ud, a nd w a s gi ve n by m

i s t a ke ; or ( 5) w

he n t he de f e nda nt w a s2 Em pha s i s i n or i g i n a l opi n i on. 4 i m pot e nt ; 2or ( 6) w

he n t he w

om a n w a s pr e gna nt by a not he r m

a n w i t hout t he know

l e dge of t he c om

pl a i na nt ; or ( 7) w

he n, f or a ny ot he r r e a s on, t he m a r r i a ge w

a s not bi ndi ng on t he c om pl a i na nt . [ Em

pha s i s s uppl i e d. ] 2 G i bs on' s Sui t s i n C ha nc e r y§ 1147 not e 10 ( 5t h e d. 1956) . A s t o t he i ns a ni t y t he or y, w e be l i e ve t he Supr e m e C our t cas e of Br ya nt v. Tow ns e nd , 188 Te nn. 630, 221 S . W . 2d 949 ( 1949) , i s di s p o s itive . Intha t c a s e a non c om pos m e ntis m

a r r i e da w

om a n s om e s i x w

e e ks be f or e he r de a t h. H i s he i r s br ought s ui t t o ha ve t he m a r r i a ge a nnul l e d s o t he w i dow c oul d not i nhe r i t f r om hi s e s t a t e . The gr ound f or a nnul m e nt w a s t ha t he l a c ke d m e nt a l cap aci t yt oent e r i nt ot he m a r r i a g e . I nt h a t cas e t he Supr e m e C our t he l d t he m

a r r i a ge w

a s voi da bl e , a nd i n doi ng s o s t a t e d t he f ol l ow i ng ( 188 Te nn. a t 634; 221 S . W . 2d a t 951) :

Sp eci f i cal l y , i nt he case of C ol e v. C

ol e , 3 7 Te nn. 57, 70 A

m . D e c . 275, i t w

a s he l d t ha t w

he r e a m a r r i a ge w

a s a t t a c ke d on t he gr ound of t he i ns a ni t y of t he w om a n w ho ha d not be e n a dj udge d non c om pos m e nt i s , t ha t t he m

a r r i a ge w

a s voi da bl e a nd not voi d, a nd t ha t t he m a r r i a ge c oul d be r a t i f i e d by he r i n a s ubs e que nt l uc i d i nt e r va l . H a d t he m

a r r i a ge be e n voi d a b i ni t i o, obvi ous l y i t c oul d not ha ve be e n l a t e r r a t i f i e d, s i nc e i n l e ga l c ont e m

pl a t i on, i t ha d ne ve r oc c ur r e d. W e ha ve no s t a t ut e t ha t pr ohi bi t s or a nnul s t he m a r r i a ge of a n i ns a ne pe r s on. The onl y a ppl i c a bl e pr ovi s i on of our s t a t ut or y l a w i s t ha t of t he pr e s e nt m a r r i a ge l i c e ns i ng l a w , w hi c h f or bi ds t he C l e r k t o i s s ue a l i c e ns e w he n one of t he pa r t i e s i s a know n l un a tic or im

b e c ile , S e c tion3 , Ch a p . 8 1 , Pub lic A c t s of 1937, but di s r e ga r d of t hi s pr ovi s i on doe s not r e nde r t he m

a r r i a ge voi d but m e r e l y voi da bl e a f t e r a n a ppr opr i a t e pr oc e e di ng. K e i t hv . Pa c k, 182 Te nn. 420, 423, 187 S . W

. 2d 618, 159 A

. L. R. 101.5 I t c a n be s e e n f r om t he f or e goi ng t ha t w he n t he gr ounds f or a nnul m

e nt a r e not pr ohi bi t e d by s t a t ut e or by s t r ong publ i c pol i c y a nd a r e s uc h t ha t t he pa r t i e s m a y s ubs e que nt l y r a t i f y t he m a r r i a g e , it is v oi da b l e , rat he r tha nv oi d .

The Pl a i nt i f f s c ont e nd t ha t Br ya nt is not c ont r olling b e c a u s e , a s the yin s i s t inthe i r br i e f , th e de c i s i onw a s b ottom

e d upon t he f a c t t ha t " s i nc e M r . Br ya nt l i ve d s om e s i x ( 6) w

e e ks a f t e r hi s m

a r r i a ge , a nd hi s he i r s kne w of hi s m

e nt a l de f e c t pr i or t o t he m

a r r i a ge a nd t ook no a c t i on t o pr ot e c t hi m ( i . e . a ppoi nt m

e nt of a gua r di a n) , t he y ha d no gr ounds t o br i ng t he s ui t . "

W

e , how e ve r , a gr e e w

i t h t he a r gum

e nt of M

r . H e ndr i c ks t ha t t hi s w

a s a n a l t e r na t e r e a s on f or t he C our t ' s de c i s i on.

A s t ot he m

a r r i a g e i nj e s t f eat ur e of t he app eal , w e not e t ha t t he c a s e s c i t e d by t he A ppe l l a nt s a ppl y t he t r a di t i ona l c om m on l a w c ont r a c t r ul e t o m a r r i a ge ; vi z , m

ut ua l c ons e nt by pa r t i e s i nt e ndi ng t o be bound. D a vi s v. D

a vi s , 175 A

. 174 ( C onn. 1934) ; C

r ouc h v. W

a r t e nbe r g , 112 S . E. 234 ( W . V a . 1922) ; C r ouc h v. W

a r t e nbe r g , 104 S . E. 117 ( W . V a . 1920) . Te nne s s e e , how

e ve r , doe s not f ol l ow t he c om

m on- l a w r ul e a s t o m

a r r i a ge c ont r a c t s , a s s how n by Br ya nt v. Tow ns e nd , s upr a , w he r e i n t he C

our t s t a t e d t he f ol l ow i ng ( 188 Te nn. a t 633; 221 S . W . 2d a t 950) :6 The l a w

of m a r r i a ge i n Te nne s s e e i s not c ont r ol l e d by r ul e s of t he c om m on l a w , but i s a m

a t t e r of s t a t ut e . Si nc e 1829, t hi s C our t ha s f r e que nt l y s o he l d.

" The m or e i m por t a nt pr ovi s i ons of t he s e a c t s of A s s e m b l ya r e a l m

o s t e ntir e l ythe s a m e , e xhi bitinga s e t t l e d pur pos e t o f i x a nd r e gul a t e t he c ont r a c t of m a r r i a ge s o a s t o r e s t or be de pe nde nt on m uni c i pa l l a w a l one ; e s t a bl i s hi ng a s ys t e m i nt e nde d t o be c om pl e t e i n i t s e l f , e vi de nc e by t he a t t e nt i on pa i d t o e ve r y p a r tic ul a r , inf or m a s w e ll a s s ub s t a nc e , w hi c hthe i m por t a nc e of s uc h a r e l a t i on, bot h i n a pr i va t e a nd a pub l i c vi e w

, s ode s e r ve dl ym e r i t e d . H

e nce, t he s e act s of A s s e m bl y, a s w

a s i nt e nde d by t he m , ope r a t e a nd e f f e c t a c ha nge i n t he f or m a nd s ubs t a nc e of t he m a r r i a g e c ont r a c t, a ndits s ol e m ni z a tion , fr om

w h a t it w a s a t t he c om

m on l a w . * * * w

e s a y, t ha t t he s e r e qui r e m

e nt s , unde r t he s e ci r c um s t a nces , con s t i t ut e s uc h a body of pr oof , a s t o r e nde r i r r e s t i bl e , i n our opi ni ons , t he c or r e c t ne s s of t he pos i t i on, t ha t a m a r r i a ge , t o be va l i d, m us t be a c c or di ng t o t he s e a c t s , a nd t ha t t he c om

m on l a w i s w hol l y s upe r s e de d on t he s a m e s ubj e c t by t he m . " Ba s h a w

v . St a t e , 9 Te nn. 177, 183- 184.

" A c c or di ngl y, s i nc e t he ye a r 1741, a t t he l e a s t , t he c om

m on l a w m ode of c ons t i t ut i ng a l e ga l m a r r i a ge i s of no va l i di t y he r e . Thi s poi nt w a s e xa m

i ne d a t s om

e l e ngt h i n t he c a s e of t he St a t e v . Ba s h a w , 1 Y e r g. R e p. 177, a nd t hi s c onc l us i on a r r i ve d a t a nd s us t a i ne d by t he c our t . " G

r i s h a m v . St a t e , 10 Te nn. 589, 592.

" W e a r e , th e r e f or e , s a tis f i e d , a ndhol d , th a t it w a s t he i nt e nt i on of t he ge ne r a l a s s e m bl y, i n e na c t i ng t he pr ovi s i ons of t he C ode of 1858 upon t he s ubj e c t unde r c ons i de r a t i on, t o a br oga t e t he c om m on l a w i n r e l a t i on t o m

a r r i a ge s , a nd pr ovi de a ne w a nd e xc l us i ve m a nne r i n w

hi c h s uc h c ont r a c t s s houl d be m a de . " Sm

ith v. N or t h M e m phi s Sa v. Ba nk , 115 Te nn. 12, 31, 89 S . W . 392, 396.

For t he f or e goi ng r e a s ons t he j udgm e nt of t he Tr i a l C our t i s a f f i r m

e d a nd t he c a us e r e m a nde d f or c ol l e c t i on of c os t s be l ow . C os t s of a ppe a l a r e a dj udge d a ga i ns t t he A ppe l l a nt s a nd t he i r s ur e t y .

_______________________________7 H ous t on M

. G odda r d, P. J . CONC UR:

________________________________ D on T. M

c M ur r a y, J .

________________________________ C h a r l e s D

. Su s a no , J r ., J .