FILED

November 9, 1998

Cecil W. Crowson

Appellate Court Clerk

CATHY P. McMANAMAY, )

) Montgomery Chancery

Plaintiff/Appellee, ) No. 97-01-0151

)

VS. )

)

CHARLES T. McMANAMAY, ) Appeal No.

) 01A01-9802-CH-00081

Defendant/Appellant. )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE

AT NASHVILLE

APPEAL FROM THE CHANCERY COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

AT CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE

HONORABLE CAROL A. CATALANO, CHANCELLOR

Gregory D. Smith

One Public Square, Suite 321

Clarksville, Tennessee 37040

ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE

Mark A. Rassas

Julia P. North

RASSAS & RASSAS

P.O. Box 361

Suite 104, Glenn Building

Clarksville, Tennessee 37040

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT

AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED IN PART;

AND REMANDED.

HENRY F. TODD

PRESIDING JUDGE, MIDDLE SECTION

CONCUR IN SEPARATE OPINION:

WILLIAM C. KOCH, JR., JUDGE

WILLIAM B. CAIN, JUDGE
-2-

CATHY P. McMANAMAY, )

) Montgomery Chancery

Plaintiff/Appellee, ) No. 97-01-0151

)

VS. )

)

CHARLES T. McMANAMAY, ) Appeal No.

) 01A01-9802-CH-00081

Defendant/Appellant. )

O P I N I O N

In this divorce case, the defendant husband has appealed from a decree awarding the

plaintiff a divorce on grounds of irreconcilable differences and dividing the marital estate. The

husband has presented the issues in the following form:

1. The Trial Court rushed the trial, making it

difficult for the defendant/appellant to fully present his case.

2. The Trial Court erred by awarding the

plaintiff/appellee an interest in the defendant/appellant’s

separate property.

3. The Trial Court erred in refusing to make any

division in marital property that was held solely in the

plaintiff/appellee’s name.

4. The Trial Court erred in awarding the divorce

to the plaintiff/appellee despite overwhelming grounds in

favor of the defendant/appellant.

First Issue: Rushed Trial

The trial began at 2:30 p.m., December 10, 1997. It was concluded at 6:15 p.m. During

the direct examination of the wife, the Trial Judge stated:

Now we need to move along. I have an engagement

at 5:30.

At the conclusion of the direct testimony of the wife, the Trial Judge stated:

It’s a quarter to 5:00.
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Later, during the testimony of the husband, his attorney stated:

Her honor did say she needed to leave at 5:30.

The Trial Judge responded:

I said I had an engagement, which I do, but I can’t

leave because we are in this lawsuit.

Shortly thereafter, the Trial Judge stated:

All right, you don’t have to put this in the record. I do

have another engagement at 6:30, a difference --- this one I

intend to make, because that’s supper.

Thereafter counsel presented their arguments, the Trial Judge announced her decision

and the trial was concluded without any request for further opportunity to present evidence on

the same day or a subsequent day.

On January 13, 1998, the Trial Court entered a Final Decree of Divorce.

On February 12, 1998, the husband filed a “Memorandum in Support of Defendant’s

Motion for Specific Findings and to Alter or Amend.” Neither the motion nor the memorandum

contained any reference to a hurried trial or request for additional opportunity to present

evidence.

The Trial Judge has broad discretion in the conduct of trial proceedings. Justice v.

Sovran Bank, Tenn. App. 1995, 918 S.W.2d 428. If there was any indication that the parties had

not been fully heard, at the time of adjournment, the trial should have been recessed to a later

date. Where there is nothing to show that a party made application to the trial court for

additional time to adduce evidence, error in not extending the time cannot be urged on appeal.

Sewell v. Draughhon, Tenn. Ch. App. 1897, 44 S.W. 210.
-4-

No merit is found in appellant’s first issue.

Second and Third Issues: Division of Property

Prior to the trial, on April 14, 1997, the wife’s attorney wrote the following letter to the

husband:

RE: PROPOSED SETTLEMENT, Case # 97-01-0151

Dear Mr. McManamay:

After speaking with your wife, we are in the position

to make the following offer of settlement. If you are willing

to give Ms. McManamay the following items, we can settle

this case without the time, expense and ill-feelings of a fullblown trial. Said items are:

1. Half (1⁄2) the equity of property owned on Gallant

Road, Eddyville, KY.

2. Half (1⁄2) the equity of property owned on Stratford

Way, Clarksville, TN.

3. Yamaha Jet Ski with Trailer

4. Payment for patio furniture

5. Payment for or return of Vacuum Sweeper

6. Payment for or return of camera

7. Moving expenses of $1,376.70 for moving four times

at your request (to and from).

8. Legal fees and court costs

At the trial, counsel for both parties presented opening statementsinwhich they presented

the position of their clients regarding the division of the marital estate. The husband presented

a Proposal Pursuant to Rule 18.02 which included the following:

 A. Defendant entered the marriage with the following:
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1. Home in Virginia - $142,000.00 equity

2. Wingate property in Clarksville, Tennessee -

$56,000.00 equity

3. Barkley Lake property - $48,270.00 equity

4. Bank accounts, including IRA - $31,150.01

5. Loan owed by Cathy to purchase her car -

$8,345.00

Total assets immediately prior to marriage - $285,765.01.

All of the properties were held singly in the Defendant’s name

alone.

B. Defendant’s assets as of current date:

1. Bank accounts, including IRA and money

market account - $75,0000 (up date this prior

to trial).

2. Barkley Lake property - $170,000.00 (by

current appraisal $155,000.00 by county

assessment).

Current assets at this time - $245,000.00.

(Does not include furnishings, vehicles, etc.)

C. Plaintiff entered the marriage with the following:

1. Apartment six-plex in Elizabeth town,

Kentucky - $21,550.00 equity.

2. House in Hudson, Kentucky - $25,000.00

3. Thrift Savings Plan - $2,601.00

4. Civil Service Retirement annuity - $31,318.32

per year.

5. Savings and other cash - $5,000.00 

approximately.

6. Putnum Securities - $3,331.55

Total Assets immediately prior to marriage - $88,800.87

D. Plaintiff’s assets as of current date:

1. House in Hudson, Kentucky - $35,000.00

county assessment.

2. Thrift Savings Plan - $22,933.62 as of 9/30/97
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3. House in Sharpsburg, Georgia - $121,000.00

($6,500.00 equity).

4. Civil Service Retirement annuity - $44,578.18

per year.

5. Savings and other cash, including certificates

of deposit - $32,000.00 (Note: There is a

deposit and withdrawal of $10,000.00 and

$10,344,08, shown on Plaintiff’s statement

from Federal Employees Credit Union on July

2, 1997, which is not included.)

6. Putnam Securities - $12,783.00 as of 6/30/97

Current assets at this time - $153,795.00

The Defendant submits that he has had a net decrease

in the items in his name from the marriage of $33,988.00,

while the plaintiff has had a net increase of $60,199.00. An

equitable division would be fifty percent (50%) of the

appreciation in the assets, meaning that the Plaintiff should

pay to the defendant the sum of $30,100.00.

III. Other Items

A. Items in possession of Defendant:

Date of

Item Purchase Cost Value 

1989 Pontoon Boat 02/97 $3,000.00 $3,090.00 Assessed

1995 Suzuki ATV 08/95 $4,875.00 $3,550.00 Avg retail

1995 Jet Ski w/Tri 06/95 $6,650.00 $3,200.00 Avg retail

Patio Furniture 09/93 $1,100.00 $ 500.00

1975 Aluminum Boat 09/94 $ 500.00 $0-non re pairable

Total valu e ............................................................ $10,340.00

B. Items in possession of Plaintiff:

Date of

Item Purchase Cost Value

1995 Pontoon M tr, Tri 06/96 $8,000.00 $9,500.00

Living Room Furniture 03/94 $3,622.00 $3,622.00

Living Room Lamps 03/94 $1,200.00 $1,200.00

Living Room Tables 03/94 $1,150.00 $1,150.00

Porch Rockers 12/94 $ 150.00 $ 200.00

Boos R adio 05/96 $ 400.00 $ 400.00

Vacuum Sweeper 10/95 $ 380.00 $ 300.00

King Mattress & Springs 03/94 $1,100.00 $1,100.00

Treadmill 07/96 $1,000.00 $1,000.00

Small Kitchen Appliances 03/94 $ 300.00 $ 300.00

Dishes --/95 $ 300.00 $ 300.00

Bed & Bath Linens 03/94 $1,000.00 $ 500.00

Total Value ....................................................... $19,572.00 

The defendant prays that he be given an amount of

cash by the Plaintiff to equal the discrepancy in the value of
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the items that he has received, that being an additional

$4,616.00.

The testimony of the wife includes the following:

A. We had -- actually, we have a long history

together, about eight or nine years. But we actually moved

in together in -- August of 1991. I moved out then in July of

1992. We began dating against in the last of October of

1992. And, probably, from January 1993 until the time we

married, while we kept separate households, we essentially

stayed together and then in 1993, married.

We separated the first time in September of 1995,

moved back and forth a number of times, but no real -- we

were trying to work things out with the marriage, and finally

separated permanently November of 1996.

- - - -

I moved out of the house on Landon Road into 551

Stratford Way.

Q. And that was his residence?

A. Yes, it was.

- - - -

Q. Was your name on the deed on that house?

A. No, it was not.

Q. Now, when did you put your name on the

mortgage for the Stratford Way house?

A. Just shortly after we married in 1993. Tom

wanted to refinance the home, and he asked me to go sign

the mortgage to have it refinanced.

- - - -

Q. After you were married and you started

actively taking part in the upkeep of this house, when did

you file to refinance the house and put it in your name or put

the mortgage partially in your name?

A. It was sometime before 15 of September,

1993.

- - - -

Q. And you continued to upkeep and maintain

that -- the house was sold in, you said, February of ‘97?

A. Yes.

Q. How much equity came from the sale of this

house?
-8-

A. I believe that there was about $60,000 after

the Realtor fees.

Q. Did you have to sign paperwork for that sale

to be made possible?

A. Yes.

Q. How much of the $60,000 equity did you get

from the sale of the Stratford Way house?

A. None.

Q. Now, there was the house in Virginia. Did

you make any sort of -- Did you go in on any sort of loans on

that after you got married?

- - - -

A. I assumed a somewhat larger portion of the

bills during the time that that was on the market to assist

with that, and then also went up for a week or so and helped

Tom prepare the house for sale.

Q. And about how long was the house in

Virginia up for sale that you were having to pay extra bills

just so that that didn’t go into a foreclosure?

A. I believe it was about September, October of

1994. And it sold, I think, in May or June of 1995. It was on

the market for an extended period.

Q. Approximately how much equity came out of

the sale of that house?

A. None.

- - - -

Q. Now, the one I want to focus on is the house

in Eddyville, Kentucky. You were referring to it as Lake

Barkley.

- - - -

A. In April of 1993, we met, I gave them a down

payment of $2,500 on the property, and we bought the lot,

and then proceeded to make arrangements to have a home

built there.

Q. Now, was the deed put in your name, Colonel

McManamay’s name or both?

A. In Mr. McManamey’s name.

- - - -

And then we actually borrowed themoney and signed

the final note for the loan on the house, I believe, in January

of 1994.

Q. How much was the note for?

A. $125,000.
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- - - -

Q. And your name is on the mortgage?

A. Yes, it was.

Q. Did you ever put your name on the deed to the

land itself?

A. No.

- - - -

Q. And when was it paid off in full; do you

remember?

A. It was paid off in full in April of 1997.

- - - -

The Lake Barkley property, in additional to the down

payment on the lot, I made the house payments on that for

the time period that I live there -- until September of 1995.

And I paid the utilities, the -- bought appliances, vertical

blinds, linens, decorating, landscaping.

- - - -

I think the house in Eddyville is worth $200,000.

Q. How much are you asking the Court for of

that $200,000 in equity?

A. I’m asking the Court for half of the equity in

that home at the time that it was paid off.

Q. And, as I say, the house is paid off

completely?

A. Yes, it is.

- - - -

Q. Can you tell us about the total amount of

savings that you have is today?

A. I can tell you that the two -- the $20,000 CDS

that we’ve talked about were given to me by my mother for

holding.

- - - -

Q. Based on the assessment value you’ve gotten,

your house in Hudson, Kentucky has gone up too, hasn’t it?

It’s gone up $10,000 during the marriage?

Ms. McManamay, that was real estate that you held

in your name, correct?

A. Yes.

That is my mother’s property, and she takes care of

the maintenance and so forth.

Q. Now, you sold that six-plex inElizabethtown,

Kentucky?
-10-

A. Yes.

Q. How much did you get for that?

A. I gave you a closing statement on that. I think

my -- I think my amount with the -- from the proceeds came

out to about $21,000. 

- - - -

Q. Now, the Hudson, Kentucky house, is that

your mama’s?

A. That’s my mother’s.

Q. The six-plex in Elizabethtown, when did you

sell that?

A. I sold that right at the time we married within

days of the time we married in August of 1993.

Q. And your husband never put any money

towards that?

A. No, he did not.

Q. He never put any money towards Hudson,

Kentucky?

A. No.

The testimony of the husband includes the following:

Q. Now, during the time of the marriage, did she

ever make any mortgage payments on the Wingate property

at all?

A. No, she did not.

Q. Did she make any of the payments on the lake

house property?

A. She made some payments on that. I believe

she indicated 18, and I think that’s about right, from March of

‘94 through September of ‘95.

- - - -

Q. How did you have $48,270 in equity when you

bought the lake property before you married?

A. The land was paid for clear and free. And the

house was bought under construction. And that’s the costs

that I had paid out at that point in time on the construction of

the house.

- - - -
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Q. So you walked into this marriage, by your

figures, with $285,000-plus in total assets, not counting your

furnishings,personal belongings, sporting goods and so forth?

A. That is correct, sir.

Q. And if I flip down to Sub B of that, as of the

current date, you have -- and I said, update this prior to trial,

but your total bank accounts, IRAs, and other information

now is approximately $75,000?

A. That’s correct, Mr. Rassas.

Q. Now, your opinion of the value of the Barkley

lake property is how much?

- - - -

A. I believe it’s closer to $170,000, Mr. Rassas.

Q. So, if we take your value of your assets now,

it’s $245,000?

A. That’s correct.

The Rule 15 Schedule of the wife is as follows:

 Marital Cathy’s Appellan t’s Court’s Awarded

Prope rty Value Value Value To 

 

Lake Barkley $200,000 $170,000 $170,000 Equity Split

 ($50,000 equity) or $0 eq uity ($28,000 equity) 50/50

 [R. 18:18.02] [R.21:18.02] [R. 46:Jud gment] H ouse to Appellant

 [and Tr. 31-33] 

Hudson, KY Not a marital asset $10,000 Not a marital asset Not a marital

 [Tr. 112, lines 5-9] [R. 21:18.02] [R.47:Ju dgment] asset

[off-sets a loan]

Virginia $125,000 $142,000 $142,000 Appellant

 House [R. 18:18.02] [R. 21:18.02] [R. 46:Ju dgment]

Sharpsburg, $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 Cathy

 GA Ho use (Dow n Paymen t) (Down P ayment) (Down P ayment)

 [Tr.39, lines 17-24] [R.21:18.02] [R.47:Ju dgment]

Elizabeth- $8,000 $21,550 $8,000 Cathy

 town, KY [Tr.122, lines 15-20] [R.21:18.02] [R.47:Ju dgment]

 Six-plex

The Rule 15 Schedule of the husband is as follows:

 Marital Plaintiff/ Defenda nt/ Value Found Property Awarded

Prope rty Appellee’s Value Appellant’s Value by Trial Court by Court to 

Appreciation $200,0 00 Purcha sed with $45,000 Defendant

in value of pre-marital assetsDefendant’s No Appreciation

lake house
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 Marital Plaintiff/ Defenda nt/ Value Found Property Awarded

Prope rty Appellee’s Value Appellant’s Value by Trial Court by Court to 

Appreciation $60,000 $56,000 $31,000 Defendant

in value of

Defenda nt’s

Stratford Way

house

Appreciation $10,000 $10,000 Not Considered Plaintiff

in value of ($25,000 at time

Plaintiff’s of marriage-$35,000

Hudson, KY currently)

- - - -

Appreciation $6,500 $6,500 Not Considered Plaintiff

in value in 

Plaintiff’s

Sharpsburg,

GA house

Equity in $21,000 $21,550 Not Considered

Plaintiff’s

Elizabethtown, KY

Prope rty

- - - -

Increase $20,332.62 $20,332.62 Not Considered Plaintiff

in value in

Plaintiff’s Thrift

Savings Plan

Increase Unknown $13,259-83 Not Considered Plaintiff

in value of Per year increase

Plaintiff’s 

Civil Service

Retirement

Increase $6,000 $26,000 Not Considered Plaintiff

in value of (Disputed whether

Plaintiff’s Misc. $20,000 in CD’s was

Savings Accts. Plaintiff’s or her mother’s)

- - - -

Increase $9,451.45 $9,451.45 Not Considered Plaintiff

in value of

Plaintiff’s 

Putnum Securities

Court awarded $22,500 additional cash to Plaintiff for equity in Lake House and

$15,000 cash for equity in Stratford Way house.

- - - -

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

1995 J et Ski 

 w/Trailer $5,000 $3,200 Defendant

1995 Suzuki

 ATV $3,500 $3,550 Defendant

1975 Aluminum

 Boat $700 $-0- (cannot be repaired - Defendant

 scrap value on ly)

Patio Furniture $1,000 $500 Defendant

1989 Pontoon

 Boat Not Given $3,090 Defendant
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 Marital Plaintiff/ Defenda nt/ Value Found Property Awarded

Prope rty Appellee’s Value Appellant’s Value by Trial Court by Court to 

1994 Truck $15,000 $8,500 (traded in truck Defendant

owned prior to marriage for

$6,500)

TOTALS $25,200 $18,840

(Defendant’s Property)

Plaintiff’s/

Appellant’s Car No Value $6,400 Plaintiff

1995 Claims So ld $9,500 Plaintiff 

 Pontoon for $6,500

 Boat, Motor, to Brother

 Trailer

Living room

 furniture $1,200 $3,622 Plaintiff

Living room 

 lamps $375 $1,200 Plaintiff

Living room

 tables $400 $1,150 Plaintiff

Porch rockers $100 $200 Plaintiff

Bose ra dio $ -0- $400 Plaintiff

Vacuum sweeper $170 $300 Plaintiff

King mattress $300 $1100 Plaintff

 and springs

Treadmill $200 $1000 Plaintiff

Small kitchen

 appliances $10-$15 $300 Plaintiff

Dishes $ -0- $300 Plaintiff

Bed & bath

 linens $300 $500 Plaintiff

TOTALS $9,560 $25,972

(Plaintiff’s Property)

Court awarded $7,500 additional cash to Plaintiff to equalize value of truck.

The husband is a retired colonel of the U.S. Army. The amount of his retirement pay is

not stated. The wife is 18 years younger than the husband and earns $60,000 per year. They

were married four years. T.C.A. § 36-4-121(c ) states factors for consideration in division of

marital estates. Fisher v. Fisher, Tenn. 1983, 648 S.W.2d 244.

In 1991, the husband purchased a home on Stratford Way in his own name for $135,000.

The wife made no contribution to the purchase price but she was obligated on the loan and
-14-

shared expenses of maintenance. The wife valued the equity in the house at $60,000. The

husband valued it at $56,000. The court valued it at $31,000 and assigned the property to the

husband.

Also, prior to the marriage, the husband purchased unimproved land at Eddyville, Ky.

The wife furnished the earnest money for the purchase, which husband repaid. A house was

erected thereon during the marriage. The wife paid $7,900 on the construction loan and

performed landscaping. The wife valued the equity in the house at $200,000. The husband

insisted that the property did not appreciate during the marriage. The Court valued appreciation

at $28,000 and awarded the house to the husband.

The husband owned property in Virginia of unstated value in which the wife claimed no

interest.

Prior to the marriage, the wife owned three rental properties, designated as Hudson,

Sharpsburg and Elizabethtown. The parties agreed that the appreciation of these properties

during the marriage was $10,0000, $6,500 and $21,000, respectively, a total of $37,500, but there

is no evidence that the husband contributed to the preservation or enhancement of these

properties. The husband is not entitled to any part of the appreciation of these properties.

The Trial Court found that the appreciation in value of the husband’s Stratford and

Eddyville homes, totaling $59,000 was part of the marital estate, one-half of which would be

$29,500. He awarded the wife the $7,900 paid by the wife on the Eddyville mortgage. $29,500

plus $7,900 is $37,400 which is $7600 less than the $45,000 awarded to the wife. Thus, the wife

received approximately 60% of the appreciation.

Exact equality of division of the marital estate is not required. Bookout v. Bookout, Tenn.

App. 1997, 954 S.W.1997. See also, T.C.A. § 36-4-121(c). Considering all relevant factors, this
-15-

Court is unable to ascertain from the evidence in this record what an equitable division of the

martial estate should be. Pursuant to TCA §§ 27-3-128, 129, the cause is remanded to the Trial

Court to hear further evidence and to adjudge an equitable division of the marital estate.

On remand, judgment will be entered accordingly.

Fourth Issue: Award of Divorce to Wife 

The divorce decree contains the following:

7. Plaintiff should be granted a divorce on grounds of inappropriate marital conduct

due to Defendant physically striking Plaintiff in the summer of 1996 leaving heavy bruising on

Plaintiff’s body. The Court also considered the fact that both parties committed adultery during

marriage. Since both parties were guilty of adultery, the Court did not consider these acts against

either party and awarded the wife a divorce on grounds of inappropriate marital conduct

consisting of physical battery by the husband.

The husband insists that he is entitled to a divorce because of the wife’s admitted

adultery, citing T.C.A. § 36-4-101(3). The husband admits adultery after the separation and

before the divorce. T.C.A. § 36-4-112 provides:

36-4-112 - Defense when ground is adultery. 

If the cause assigned for divorce is adultery, it is a

good defense and perpetual bar to the same if the defendant

alleges and proves that: (1) The complainant has been guilty

of like act or crime.

The clear intent of the statute is that either spouse, plaintiff or defendant, may

successfully resist a charge of adultery by proving like conduct on the part of the accusing

spouse.
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Therefore, it was not error for the Trial Judge to disregard the adultery of both parties and

to grant the divorce to the wife on proven grounds of extreme cruelty of the husband in

committing a battery upon the body of the wife.

No merit is found in the fourth issue presented by the husband.

The judgment of the Trial Court as to division of marital property is vacated, and the

cause is remanded to the Trial Court for further proceedings in conformity with the opinion of

this Court. Costs of this appeal are taxed equally. That is, each party shall pay one-half.

AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED IN PART; AND REMANDED.

_________________________________

HENRY F. TODD

PRESIDINGJUDGE,MIDDLE SECTION

CONCUR IN SEPARATE OPINION:

WILLIAM C. KOCH, JR., JUDGE

WILLIAM B. CAIN, JUDGE