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2, 1996 C e c i l C r o w s o n , J r . A p p e l l a t e C o u r t C l e r k I N TH E CO U R T O FAPPEALS O

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W N, ) J UD GE ) J O H N NNA M D I A NENE ) ) D e f e nda n t - Appel l a n t ) A F F I R M E D AN D R E M A N D E D

J OHN R . M E L DOR F , I I I , OFHI X

S ON F OR A PPE L LA N T P H I L L I P C. LA W

R E N CE O FCH ATTAN O O G A F O R APPELL E E

O P I N I O N

G

oddar d , P. J .

The D e f e nda n t , J ohn N

n a m d i Anene a ppe a l s a j udg m e n t of t h e Ci r c u i t Cour t of H a m i l t on Count yg r a n t i n gVi c t o r i a N g o z i Ane n e ' s pe t i t i on f o r di v o r c e a nd aw a r d i n ghe r c u s t odyof t h e i r t h r e e m

i nor c h i l d r e n . M r . Anene r a i s e s f i v e i s s u e s on appe a l , t w o of w h i c h a r e j u r i s d i c t i ona l . ( S e e a ppe ndi x . ) As t o t h e j ur i s di c tio na l is s ue s , w e find tha t the C

i r c uit C

o ur t o f H

a m ilto n w a s c o r r e c t i n a s s u m i n gj u r i s d i c t i on t o hea r bot h t h e di v o r c e a n d2

c u s t odyi s s u e s . W e f i nd t h e r e m

a i n i n gi s s u e s t o be w i t hout m e r it.

J ohn and Vi c t o r i a Anene a r e c i t i z e n s of N i g e r i a . t h e y w e r e m a r r i e d i n a t r a di t i o na l cer e m o n yi n N i ger i a and

l a t e r m a r r i e d i n ac hur c h c e r e m onyi n Ar i z onaon M ay29, 1982. At t h a t t i m e M r . Anene w

a s pur s u i n ga Ph. D . a t Ar i z onaS t a t e a nd M s . Ane n e w

a s pur s u i n gm

e d i c a l s t udi e s i n N i g e r i a . Af t e r c o m p l e t i n g he r s t udi e s , M

s . A ne ne m ov e d tothe U

nite d S t a t e s , a t w

hi c h tim e s he b o r e the fir s t o f the p a r tie s ' thr e e c hildr e n, V i c t o r i a . M

s . A ne ne l a t e r r e t ur ne d t oN i ger i a t ob eco m

e l i cen

s e d t opr act i c e m e di c i ne t he r e .

U pon r e c e i v i n ghe r l i c e n s e , M s . Anene r e t u r n e d t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o j o i n her hus b a nd i n Ar i z ona . M r . Anene ha d r e c e n t l yr e c e i v e d hi s Ph. D . but w

a s unabl e t o f i nd em p l o y m e n t . The pa r t i e s l i v e d on publ i c a s s i s t a n c e f o r one y e a r . D u r i n gt h i s t i m e , t h e pa r t i e s s e c ond chi l d , M a r i l y n , w

a s bor n . Al s o dur i n g t hi s t i m

e , M s . A ne ne en

t e r e d a s he l t e r and

r e m a i ne d t he r e f o r a bout a m

ont h i n or d e r t o a v o i d her hus b a nd’ s a bus i v e c onduct . I n 1989, M

r . Anene obt a i n e d aone- y e a r c ont r a c t t o w o r k f o r Col g a t e U

n i v e r s i t yi n H

a m i l t on, N

e w Yor k . M

s . Anene be g a n a p e d i a t r i c r e s i d e n c ypr o g r a m i n N e w Yor k Ci t y . The pa r t i e s l i v e d a p a r t a nd t h e c h i l d r e n l i v e d w i t h M r . Anene . Ther e a f t e r , M s . Ane n e g a v e bi r t h t o t h e pa r t i e s t h i r d c h i l d , D o m i n i c . M

r . Ane n e ’ s c ont r a c t f o r e m p l o y m e n t w i t h Col g a t e U

n i v e r s i t yw

a s not3

r e n e w e d . Ther e a f t e r , M s . Anene a b a ndoned he r r e s i d e n c ya nd t h e p a r t i e s r e t u r n e d t o Ar i z ona .

I n 1991, M

r . Anene s e c u r e d e m p l o y m e n t i n t h e pol i t i c a l s c i e nc e d e p a r t m

e nt a t M

i s s i s s i ppi S t a t e U ni v e r s ityin

S t a r kv ille , M i s s i s s i ppi . I n J une 1992, M s . Anene be g a n ape d i a t r i c s r e s i d e n c ypr o g r a m i n Chat t a nooga . M s . Anene i n t e nde d t o t a k e he r c h i l d r e n w

i t h her t o Chat t a nooga t o l i v e w i t h her w

h i l e pur s u i n g h e r r e s i d e n c ybut M r . Anene w

oul d not a l l o w

i t . W

h i l e l i v i n gi n C ha t t a no o ga, M

s . A ne ne t r a v e l e d

t oSt a r kv i l l e s e v e r a l t i m e s t o v i s it he r c hildr e n.

I n 1993, M

s . Anene f i l e d f o r di v o r c e a nd cus t odyof t h e c h i l d r e n i n M

i s s i s s i ppi . M

r . Anene ha d l o s t hi s j ob w i t h M i s s i s s i ppi S t a t e U ni v e r s ity . T

he M i s s i s s i ppi C

o ur t di s m

i s s e d t h e c a s e a f t e r M

r . Anene ha d m

o v e d t o Chat t a nooga w i t h t h e c h i l d r e n a nd w

a s r e uni t e d w

i t h M s . Anene i n J u l yof 1993. U pon h i s a r r i v a l i n Chat t a nooga , M s . Anene l e a s e d adupl e x f o r he r s e l f a nd he r fa m

ily . W

hile the yw

e r e liv i ngto g e t he r M r . A ne ne c ont i nue d hi s pa t t e r n of i n c e s s a n t t a l k i n ga nd f o r c i b l yr e qui r e d M s . Anene t o hav e s e x u a l i n t e r c our s e w i t h hi m

. O n D e c e m b e r 30, 1993, M

s . Anene s oug h t a n or d e r of pr o t e c t i on and f i l e d t h e a c tio n fr o m w hi c h thi s a pp e a l a r i s e s . T he r e w a s te s tim

o n ya t tr i a l tha t e s t a b lis he s a lo ng p a t t e r n of a bus e byM r . Anene a g a i n s t M s . Anene . Ther e w a s t e s t i m onyt h a t M

r . Anene f o r c e d hi m s e l f upon her s e x u a l l y , a n d4

ph y s i cal l yabus e d

he r dur i ng t he l a t e r s t ages of he r pr egna nc y . H e w oul d a l s o t a l k t o her i n c e s s a n t l y , c a u s i n ghe r t o l o s e s l e e p . The t e s t i m

onys u g g e s t s t h a t t h i s pa t t e r n of c onduct byM r . Anene l a s t e d fr o m the tim

e the p a r tie s fir s t liv e d to g e t he r in

A r i z o na until M

s . A ne ne file d

fo r a pr o t e c tiv e o r d e r in the H a m ilto n Count yCi r c u i t Cour t .

The Tr i a l J udg e g r a n t e d t h e di v o r c e a nd aw a r d e d s o l e c u s t odyt o M

s . Anene . R

e g a r d i n gt h e c u s t odyi s s u e , t h e Tr i a l J udg e s p e c ific a llyfo und tha t M

r . A ne ne ' s e ffo r t s toc r e a t e the i m p r e s s i on t h a t M

s . Anene a b a ndoned he r c h i l d r e n w e r e i n c r e d i b l e . R a t h e r , t h e Tr i a l J udg e f ound t h a t M r . Anene ha d c r e a t e d a n i n t o l e r a b l e ho m

e life fo r M

s . A ne ne tothe e x t e nt tha t s he w a s f o r c e d t o l e a v e . The Tr i a l J udg e f ound t h a t M s . Anene w

a s a w ay f r o m he r c h i l d r e n dur i n gs o m e t i m e pe r i ods i n or d e r t o pur s u e he r e duc a t i ona l e nde a v o r s , but s h e a l w ay s m a i n t a i n e d c ont a c t w i t h t h e c h i l d r e n . F u r t h e r , t h e Tr i a l J udg e f ound t h a t a n ye f f o r t s t o s e e o r r e g a i n pos s e s s i on of t h e c h i l d r e n w e r e t h w

a r t e d byM

r . Anene . A l s o , ba s e d on pr o s p e c t i v e e m p l o y m e n t oppor t uni t i e s a nd M r . Ane n e ’ s pa s t j ob hi s t o r y , M s . Anene a ppe a r e d t o be t h e pa r e n t m o r e c a p a b l e of pr o v i d i n gf o r t h e c h i l d r e n .

M r . Anene a s s e r t s t h a t t h e Tr i a l Cour t e r r e d i n f i ndi n g t ha t it ha d

s ub j e c t - m a tte r jur i s di c tio n ov e r thi s c a s e . J u r i s d i c t i on of t h e Tr i a l Cour t i n di v o r c e c a s e s i s w hol l y g ov e r ne d

bys t a t ut e a nd

is lim

ite d totha t w

hi c h is e x pr e s s l y c onf e r r e d bys t a t u t e . Tur n e r v . Be l l , 198 Tenn. 232, 279 S. W . 2 d5

71 (1955) , cer t . d e ni e d 350 U . S . 842, 76 S. C t . 83; Page v. Tur c o t t , 179 Tenn. 491, 167 S. W . 2d 350 (1943) . Te nne s s e e c our t s m a ygr a n

t a di v o r ce w

he r e t he p e r s o n

s eek i ng t he di v o r ce i s a bona f i d e r e s i d e n t of Te nne s s e e w h e n t h e a c t s c o m

p l a i n e d of w

e r e c o m m itte d o r , if the a c t s c o m pl a i ne d

o f w e r e c o m

m itte d o ut s i d e T e nne s s e e , i f t h e pl a i n t i f f ha s r e s i d e d i n Tenne s s e e f o r s i x m ont h s pr i o r t o f i l i n gt h e c o m p l a i n t f o r di v o r c e . T. C . A . 36- 4 - 104.

M

r . Anene a s s e r t s t h a t t h e Tr i a l Cour t di d not ha v e j u r i s d i c t i on t o hea r M s . Anene ’ s c o m

p l a i n t f o r di v o r c e be c a u s e M s . Anene ne v e r e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t s h e w a s a bona f i d e r e s i d e n t of T e nne s s ee w

he n t he act s co m

pl a i ne d

o f w e r e co m

m i t t e d , no r w

a s s he a r e s i d e n t of Te nne s s e e f o r s i x m ont h s pr i o r t o f i l i n ghe r c o m pl a i nt . M

s . A ne ne as s e r t s t ha t s he ha s b een a r e s i d e n

t o f H a m i l t on Count y , f o r a pe r i od l ong e r t h a n s i x m ont h s pr i o r t o t h e f i l i n gof t h e di v o r c e c o m p l a i n t a nd t h a t t h e a c t s c o m p l a i n e d of o c c u r r e d i n Tenne s s e e . Thus , t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i on of t h e t e r m

" r e s i d e nce" i s o f cr i t i cal i m p o r t a nce i n

d e t e r m

i ni ng w

he t he r t he T r i a l C o ur t ha d

jur i s di c tio n

tohe a r thi s m

a tte r . M r . Anene a r g u e s t h a t a l t hough s h e r e s i d e d i n H a m i l t o n Count y , M

s . Anene w

a s ne v e r dom

i c i l e d t h e r e . As us e d i n T . C . A . 36- 4 - 104, Te nne s s e e c our t s ha v e i n t e r p r e t e d t h e t e r m

" r e s i d e " t om

ean d o m i c i l e . Wi s e ma n

v . Wi s e ma n, 216 Tenn. 702, 393 S. W

. 2d 892 (1965) ; S nodgr a s s v . S nodgr a s s , 49 Tenn. App. 607, 357 S. W

. 2d 829 (1962) . The t e r m dom i c i l e m

e a n s t h e pl a c e w

h e r e6

o ne i s , as w

e l l as t he pl ace w he r e o ne i nt e nds t or e m a i n . R e s i d e nce r e f e r s t ot he pl ace w he r e o ne i s . O

ne m a yha v e m

a n y r e s i d e n c e s but onl yone dom i c i l e . M

e r e i n t e n t t o m

a k e a p a r tic ul a r pl a c e o ne ’ s r e s i d e nc e is ins uffic i e nt toe s t a b lis h dom i c i l e . An appr opr i a t e a c t i on har m oni z i n gw

i t h i n t e n t i s necess a r y . Br o w

n v . H o w s , 163 Tenn. 178, 42 S. W . 2d 210 (1931) . M s . A ne ne i s a ci t i z e n o f N i ger i a . She r e f e r s t o N i g e r i a a s " hom

e . " H o w e v e r , M

s . Anene ha s of f e r e d no pr oof t h a t s h e i n t e nds t o r e t u r n t o N i g e r i a pe r m

a n e n t l yi n t h e f u t u r e . I n h e r t e s t i m

ony , M s . Anene s t a t e d t h a t s h e ha s opt i ons ot h e r t h a n r e t ur ni ngtoN

i g e r i a a fte r the e x pi r a tio n o f he r v i s a . F ur t he r , M s . Anene t ook s t e p s w h i c h m a n i f e s t e d her i n t e n t t o r e m a i n i n H a m i l t on Count y . S h e e n r o l l e d a nd par t i c i p a t e d i n ape d i a t r i c r e s i d e n c ypr o g r a m a nd m o v e d i n t o adupl e x w i t h her f a m

i l y . Coupl e d w

i t h her pr e s e n c e i n H a m i l t on Count y , w

e f i nd t h a t t h e s e a c t s a r e s uffic i e nt toe x hi b it the in t e nt r e qui r e d

toe s t a b lis h dom i c i l e . Thus , w

e hol d t h a t t h e Tr i a l J udg e w a s c o r r e c t i n f i ndi n gj u r i s d i c t i on under t h e s t a t u t e .

N ext , M r . A ne ne ar g ue s t ha t t he T r i a l C o ur t er r e d

i n a s s um i ngjur i s di c tio n

ov e r the p a r tie s ’ m i no r c hildr e n . R e l y i ng on T. C . A . 36- 6 - 203(a ) ( 1 ) , he a s s e r t s t h a t t h e Tr i a l Cour t di d not h a v e j u r i s d i c t i on t o dec i d e t h e c u s t odym a t t e r s i n v o l v e d i n t h i s cas e b ecaus e T

e nne s s ee w

a s no t t he " ho m

e s t a t e " o f t he ch i l dr e n f o r a t l e a s t s i x m ont h s pr i o r t o t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of t h e p r o c e e d i n g .7 H ow e v e r , t he s t a t ut e al l ow s a T e nne s s ee cour t t oha v e j u r i s d i c t i on ov e r c u s t odym a t t e r s e v e n w

h e n Tenne s s e e w

a s not t h e hom e s t a t e of t h e c h i l d f o r a pe r i od of s i x m ont h s pr e c e d i n gt h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of t h e pr o c e e d i n g s . T. C . A . 36- 6 - 203(a ) ( 2 ) g r a n t s j u r i s d i c t i on t o aTe nne s s e e c our t t o hea r c h i l d c u s t odym a t t e r s w h e r e no s t a t e ha s j u r i s d i c t i on or w h e r e t h e c h i l d ’ s hom e s t a t e h a s de c l i n e d t o e x e r c i s e j u r i s d i c t i on on t h e g r ound t h a t T e nne s s ee i s t he m o r e appr o pr i a t e pl ace t od e t e r m i ne cus t o d

y i s s ue s and

at l eas t o ne o f t he co nt e s t a n t s ha s a s i g ni f i can t c onnec t i on t o Tenne s s e e . W e f i nd t h a t t h e r e i s s ubs t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e i n Tenne s s e e t o det e r m i n e t h e c u s t odyi s s u e s a nd i t i s a ppr opr i a t e f o r a Te nne s s e e c our t t o a s s u m e j u r i s d i c t i on. P r i o r t o m

o v i n gt o Chat t a nooga , t h e pa r t i e s l i v e d i n M i s s i s s i ppi. M

s . A ne ne file d

fo r di v o r c e in

M i s s i s s i ppi. T

he M i s s i s s i ppi c o ur t di s m i s s e d the c a us e a fte r findi ngtha t " t he p a r t i e s ar e l i v i ng i n t he s a m

e r e s i d e nce i n

t he St a t e o f T e nne s s ee, t ha t t he pa r t i e s r e s um e d a f a m i l yr e l a t i o ns hi p

i n T e nne s s e e i n J u l y , 1993, a nd t h a t t h e pa r t i e s now ha v e no s i g nific a nt c o nt a c t s w ith the S t a t e o f M

i s s i s s i ppi." M

r . A ne ne doe s not a s s e r t t h a t a n ys t a t e ot h e r t h a n M i s s i s s i ppi ha s j u r i s d i c t i on. Thus , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e e x p r e s s l a n g u a g e of t he s t a t ut e the T r i a l C o ur t w a s c o r r e c t in

findi ngtha t it ha d j u r i s d i c t i on t o t r yt h e ques t i on of c u s t ody .

N ext , M r . A ne ne as s e r t s t ha t t he T r i a l C o ur t er r e d

i n a w a r d i n gc u s t odyt o M s . Anene . The f i ndi n g s of t h e t r i a l c our t8

s ha ll b e d e nov oupon t h e r e c o r d of t h e t r i a l c our t a nd ar e a c c o m p a n i e d bya pr e s u m p t i on of c o r r e c t n e s s , unl e s s t h e p r e ponder a n c e of t h e e v i d e n c e i s ot h e r w i s e . R

u l e 13(d) , T e nne s s e e R

u l e s of Appel l a t e Pr o c e dur e . Abs e n t a n e r r o r of l a w , w e m us t af f i r m

unl e s s t he ev i d e nce pr e p o nd e r a t e s agai ns t t he findi ng s o f the tr i a l c o ur t. G r iffin v . S t o ne , 834 S. W . 2d 300 ( T e nn. App. 1992). F u r t h e r , t h e a w a r d of c u s t odyi s i n t h e di s c r e tio n

o f the tr i a l c o ur t a nd , o n a pp e a l, g r e a t w

e i g h t w ill b e g r a nt e d

tothe findi ng s o f fa c t a nd c r e di b ility . Edw a r d s v . Edw a r d s , 501 S. W

. 2d 283 (Te nn. App. 1973).

M r . A ne ne as s e r t s t he f act t ha t he w a s t he pr i m

a r y car egi v e r o f t he ch i l dr e n dur i ng t he m

a r r i age as hi s b a s i s f o r o v e r t u r n i n gt h e f i ndi n gof t h e Tr i a l J udg e on t h i s i s s u e . W h i l e i t i s t r ue t ha t M s . A ne ne w a s no t al w

a y s t he pr i m

a r ycar egi v e r o f t h e c h i l d r e n , t h e e v i d e n c e s uppor t s M s . Anene ’ s a s s e r t i on t h a t s h e w a s f o r c e d a w

ayf r o m

he r c h i l d r e n byM r . Anene ’ s a bus i v e n e s s a nd w a s ke p t a w

ayf r o m

t h e m byM r . Anene ’ s obs t r u c t i oni s t t act i c s . W

e f i nd t ha t M

s . A ne ne ’ s as s e r t i o ns ar e cl ear l y s uppor t e d i n t h e r e c o r d . The f a c t s do not pr e ponder a t e a g a i n s t t h e f i ndi n g s of t h e Tr i a l J udg e a nd t h i s i s s u e i s f ound i n f a v o r o f M s . Anene . M r . Anene ’ s f our t h i s s u e c o m p l a i n s t h a t t h e Tr i a l J udg e e r r e d i n e x c l udi n ge v i d e n c e w h i c h hi s c ouns e l c ont e nds ha d bee n s t i pul a t e d t o pr i o r t o t r i a l byM s . Anene ' s pr e v i ous c ouns e l .9

D u r i n gt r i a l , M

s . Anene ’ s ne w

c ouns e l obj e c t e d t o t h e a d m i s s i o n o f t h e s t i pul a t e d e v i d e n c e a nd w a s s u s t a i n e d . The e v i d e n c e i n ques t i on i s Ex h i b i t 13, i n t r oduce d f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i on onl y , w h i c h i s a n unaut h e n t i c a t e d N e w Yor k c our t o r d e r di s m

i s s i n ga pe t i t i on f o r c h i l d a bus e a s t o one of t h e i r d a u g h t e r s w

h i c h M s . Anene ha d i n s t i t u t e d a g a i n s t M r . Anene . W e f i r s t no t e t ha t abs e n t ext r a o r di na r yci r c um s t a nces , s t i pul a t i ons m

a d e byt h e pa r t i e s , w h e t h e r be f o r e or dur i n gt r i a l , o r bya pr e v i ous or c u r r e n t c ouns e l , w oul d be a d m

i s s i b l e i n e v i d e nce. W

e o b s e r v e i n

t he pr e s e n

t cas e , how

e v e r , t he r e i s not h i n gi n t h e r e c o r d w h i c h w e ha v e f ound t o s how s u c h a s t i pul a t i on w

a s m a d e . I n s t e a d , t h e r e i s t h e a c know l e d g m e n t by M s . Anene t h a t dur i n ghe r di s c o v e r yde pos i t i on s h e ha d t h e p e titio n

di s m i s s e d . S he fr e e l ya dm itte d thi s fa c t in

he r t e s t i m onya t t r i a l . Thus , e v e n i f t h e r e ha d bee n s u c h a s t i pul a t i on, w

e c a n f i nd no pr e j udi c i a l e r r o r byr e f u s i n gt o a d m i t t h e c our t or d e r , w h i c h w oul d be onl yc u m

u l a t i v e e v i d e n c e . M r . A ne ne ’ s fina l is s u e a s s e r t s tha t the T r i a l J u dg e e r r e d i n deny i n ghi s r e que s t f o r a t t o r n e yf e e s a nd cos t s . The d e c i s i o n

toa w a r d a tto r ne yfe e s is w ithi n the di s c r e tio n

o f the t r i a l c o ur t. T

he d e c i s i o n

o f the tr i a l c o ur t a s toa tto r ne yfe e s w i l l not nor m

a l l ybe di s t u r b e d on appe a l a b s e n t a c l e a r s how i n g o f a bus e . A a r on v . Aa r o n, 909 S. W . 2d 408 (Te nn. 1995). M r . Anene h a s m a d e no s u c h s how

i n g .1 0 F o r t h e f o r e g o i n gr e a s ons t h e j udg m e n t of t h e Tr i a l Cour t i s a f f i r m

e d a nd t h e c a u s e r e m a nde d f o r s u c h f u r t h e r pr o ceedi ng s , i f an y , as m

a yb e necess a r yand co l l ect i o n

o f co s t s b e l o w . Cos t s of a ppe a l a r e a d j udg e d a g a i n s t M r . Anene .

_______________________________ H ous t on M

. G oddar d , P. J .1 1

C O NC UR:

________________________________ H e r s c he l P. Fr a nk s , J .

________________________________ D on T. M

c M u r r ay , J .