F ILED

O c tobe r 2, 1996

C e c il C ro w s o n , J r.

A p p e lla t e C o u rt C le rk

I N THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNE S S E E

EAS TERN S ECTI ON

V I CTORI A NGOZ I ANE NE ) HA MI L T ON COUNT Y

) 03A01- 9511- CV- 00387

P l a i n tiff- A p p e lle e )

)

)

v . ) HON. WI L L I AM L . BROWN,

 ) J UDGE

 )

J OHN NNAMDI A NE NE )

)

De f e nda n t - Appel l a n t ) A F F I RME D AND RE MA NDE D

J OHN R. ME L DORF , I I I , OF HI X S ON F OR A P P E L L A NT

P HI L L I P C. L A WRE NCE OF CHATTANOOGA F OR APPELL E E

O P I N I O N

 Goddar d , P. J .

The De f e nda n t , J ohn Nn a md i Anene a ppe a l s a j udg me n t of

t h e Ci r c u i t Cour t of Ha mi l t on Count y g r a n t i n g Vi c t o r i a Ng o z i

Ane n e ' s pe t i t i on f o r di v o r c e a nd awa r d i n g he r c u s t ody of t h e i r

t h r e e mi nor c h i l d r e n . Mr . Anene r a i s e s f i v e i s s u e s on appe a l ,

t wo of wh 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 u r i s d i c tio n a l is s u e s , we fin d th a t th e C i r c u it C o u r t o f Ha milto n

wa s c o r r e c t i n a s s u mi n g j 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 d
2

c u s t ody i s s u e s . We f i nd t h e r e ma i n i n g i s s u e s t o be wi t hout

me 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 Ni g e r i a . t h e y

we r e ma r r i e d i n a t r a d i t i o n a l cer e mo n y i n Ni ger i a an d l a t e r

ma r r i e d i n a c hur c h c e r e mony i n Ar i z ona on Ma y 29, 1982. At t h a t

t i me Mr . Anene wa s pur s u i n g a Ph. D. a t Ar i z ona S t a t e a nd Ms .

Ane n e wa s pur s u i n g me d i c a l s t udi e s i n Ni g e r i a . Af t e r c o mp l e t i n g

h e r s t u d i e s , Ms . A n e n e mo v e d to th e Un ite d S t a t e s , a t wh i c h time

s h e b o r e th e fir s t o f th e p a r tie s ' th r e e c h ild r e n , V i c t o r i a . Ms .

A n e n e l a t e r r e t u r n e d t o Ni ger i a t o b ecome l i cen s e d t o p r act i c e

me d i c i n e t h e r e . 

Upon r e c e i v i n g he r l i c e n s e , Ms . Anene r e t u r n e d t o t h e

Un 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 . Mr . Anene ha d

r e c e n t l y r e c e i v e d hi s Ph. D. but wa s unabl e t o f i nd emp l o y me 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 . Du r i n g t h i s

t i me , t h e pa r t i e s s e c ond chi l d , Ma r i l y n , wa s bor n . Al s o dur i n g

t h i s t i me , Ms . A n e n e en t e r e d a s h e l t e r an d r e ma i n e d t h e r e f o r

a bout a mont 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, Mr . Anene obt a i n e d a one- y e a r c ont r a c t t o wo r k

f o r Col g a t e Un i v e r s i t y i n Ha mi l t on, Ne w Yor k . Ms . Anene be g a n a

p e d i a t r i c r e s i d e n c y pr o g r a m i n Ne 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 wi t h Mr . Anene . Ther e a f t e r , Ms .

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 , Do mi n i c . Mr .

Ane n e ’ s c ont r a c t f o r e mp l o y me n t wi t h Col g a t e Un i v e r s i t y wa s not
3

r e n e we d . Ther e a f t e r , Ms . Anene a b a ndoned he r r e s i d e n c y a 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, Mr . Anene s e c u r e d e mp l o y me n t i n t h e pol i t i c a l

s c i e n c e d e p a r t me n t a t Mi s s i s s i p p i S t a t e Un i v e r s ity in S t a r k v ille ,

Mi s s i s s i ppi . I n J une 1992, Ms . Anene be g a n a pe d i a t r i c s

r e s i d e n c y pr o g r a m i n Chat t a nooga . Ms . Anene i n t e nde d t o t a k e he r

c h i l d r e n wi t h her t o Chat t a nooga t o l i v e wi t h her wh i l e pur s u i n g

h e r r e s i d e n c y but Mr . Anene woul d not a l l o w i t . Wh i l e l i v i n g i n

C h a t t a n o o ga, Ms . A n e n e t r a v e l e d t o St a r k v i l l e s e v e r a l t i me s t o

v i s it h e r c h ild r e n .

I n 1993, Ms . Anene f i l e d f o r di v o r c e a nd cus t ody of t h e

c h i l d r e n i n Mi s s i s s i ppi . Mr . Anene ha d l o s t hi s j ob wi t h

Mi s s i s s i p p i S t a t e Un i v e r s ity . T h e Mi s s i s s i p p i C o u r t d i s mi s s e d

t h e c a s e a f t e r Mr . Anene ha d mo v e d t o Chat t a nooga wi t h t h e

c h i l d r e n a nd wa s r e uni t e d wi t h Ms . Anene i n J u l y of 1993. Upon

h i s a r r i v a l i n Chat t a nooga , Ms . Anene l e a s e d a dupl e x f o r he r s e l f

a n d h e r fa mily . Wh ile th e y we r e liv i n g to g e t h e r Mr . A n e n e

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 g a nd f o r c i b l y r e qui r e d

Ms . Anene t o hav e s e x u a l i n t e r c our s e wi t h hi m. On De c e mb e r 30,

1993, Ms . 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 om wh i c h th i s a p p e a l a r i s e s . 

T h e r e wa s te s timo n y a t tr i a l th a t e s t a b lis h e s a lo n g

p a t t e r n of a bus e by Mr . Anene a g a i n s t Ms . Anene . Ther e wa s

t e s t i mony t h a t Mr . Anene f o r c e d hi ms e l f upon her s e x u a l l y , a n d
4

p h y s i cal l y ab u s e d h e r d u r i n g t h e l a t e r s t ages of h e r p r egn a n c y .

He woul 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 g he r t o l o s e s l e e p .

The t e s t i mony s u g g e s t s t h a t t h i s pa t t e r n of c onduct by Mr . Anene

l a s t e d fr om th e time th e p a r tie s fir s t liv e d to g e t h e r in A r i z o n a

u n til Ms . A n e n e file d fo r a p r o t e c tiv e o r d e r in th e Ha milto n

Count y Ci 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 awa r d e d s o l e

c u s t ody t o Ms . Anene . Re g a r d i n g t h e c u s t ody i s s u e , t h e Tr i a l

J u d g e s p e c ific a lly fo u n d th a t Mr . A n e n e ' s e ffo r t s to c r e a t e th e

i mp r e s s i on t h a t Ms . Anene a b a ndoned he r c h i l d r e n we r e i n c r e d i b l e .

Ra t h e r , t h e Tr i a l J udg e f ound t h a t Mr . Anene ha d c r e a t e d a n

i n t o l e r a b l e h ome life fo r Ms . A n e n e to th e e x t e n t th a t s h e wa 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 Ms . Anene wa s a wa y

f r o m he r c h i l d r e n dur i n g s o me t i me 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 wa y s ma i n t a i n e d c ont a c t wi 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 y e 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 we r e t h wa r t e d by Mr . Anene .

A l s o , ba s e d on pr o s p e c t i v e e mp l o y me n t oppor t uni t i e s a nd Mr .

Ane n e ’ s pa s t j ob hi s t o r y , Ms . Anene a ppe a r e d t o be t h e pa r e n t

mo r e c a p a b l e of pr o v i d i n g f o r t h e c h i l d r e n .

 

Mr . 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 h a t it h a d s u b j e c t - ma tte r ju r i s d i c tio n o v e r th i 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 whol l y

g o v e r n e d b y s t a t u t e a n d is limite d to th a t wh i c h is e x p r e s s l y

c onf e r r e d by s t a t u t e . Tur n e r v . Be l l , 198 Tenn. 232, 279 S. W. 2 d
5

71 (1955) , cer t . d e ni e d 350 U. S . 842, 76 S. C t . 83; P age 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

ma y gr a n t a d i v o r ce wh e r e t h e p e r s o n s eek i n g t h e d i 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 wh e n t h e a c t s c o mp l a i n e d of we r e

c ommitte d o r , if th e a c t s c omp l a i n e d o f we r e c ommitte d o u t 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

mont h s pr i o r t o f i l i n g t h e c o mp l a i n t f o r di v o r c e . T. C . A . 36- 4 -

104.

Mr . 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 Ms . Anene ’ s c o mp l a i n t f o r di v o r c e be c a u s e

Ms . Anene ne v e r e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t s h e wa s a bona f i d e r e s i d e n t of

T e n n e s s ee wh e n t h e act s comp l a i n e d o f we r e commi t t e d , n o r wa s s h e

a r e s i d e n t of Te nne s s e e f o r s i x mont h s pr i o r t o f i l i n g he r

c omp l a i n t . Ms . A n e n e as s e r t s t h a t s h e h a s b een a r e s i d e n t o f

Ha mi l t on Count y , f o r a pe r i od l ong e r t h a n s i x mont h s pr i o r t o t h e

f i l i n g of t h e di v o r c e c o mp l a i n t a nd t h a t t h e a c t s c o mp 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 n ce" i s o f cr i t i cal i mp o r t a n ce i n d e t e r mi n i n g wh e t h e r t h e

T r i a l C o u r t h a d ju r i s d i c tio n to h e a r th i s ma tte r . 

Mr . 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 Ha mi l t o n

Count y , Ms . Anene wa s ne v e r domi 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 o mean d omi 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 domi c i l e me a n s t h e pl a c e wh e r e
6

o n e i s , as we l l as t h e p l ace wh e r e o n e i n t e n d s t o r e ma i n .

Re s i d e n ce r e f e r s t o t h e p l ace wh e r e o n e i s . On e ma y h a v e ma n y

r e s i d e n c e s but onl y one domi c i l e . Me r e i n t e n t t o ma k e a

p a r tic u l a r p l a c e o n e ’ s r e s i d e n c e is in s u ffic i e n t to e s t a b lis h

domi c i l e . An appr opr i a t e a c t i on har moni z i n g wi t h i n t e n t i s

n ecess a r y . Br o wn v . Ho ws , 163 Tenn. 178, 42 S. W. 2d 210 (1931) .

Ms . A n e n e i s a ci t i z e n o f Ni ger i a . Sh e r e f e r s t o

Ni g e r i a a s " home . " Ho we v e r , Ms . 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 Ni g e r i a pe r ma n e n t l y i n t h e f u t u r e . I n

h e r t e s t i mony , Ms . 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 u r n i n g to Ni g e r i a a fte r th e e x p i r a tio n o f h e r v i s a . F u r t h e r ,

Ms . Anene t ook s t e p s wh i c h ma n i f e s t e d her i n t e n t t o r e ma i n i n

Ha mi 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 a pe d i a t r i c

r e s i d e n c y pr o g r a m a nd mo v e d i n t o a dupl e x wi t h her f a mi l y .

Coupl e d wi t h her pr e s e n c e i n Ha mi l t on Count y , we f i nd t h a t t h e s e

a c t s a r e s u ffic i e n t to e x h i b it th e in t e n t r e q u i r e d to e s t a b lis h

domi c i l e . Thus , we hol d t h a t t h e Tr i a l J udg e wa s c o r r e c t i n

f i ndi n g j u r i s d i c t i on under t h e s t a t u t e .

Next , Mr . A n e n e ar g u e s t h a t t h e T r i a l C o u r t er r e d i n

a s s umi n g ju r i s d i c tio n o v e r th e p a r tie s ’ mi n o r c h ild r e n . Re l y i n g

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 ody ma t t e r s i n v o l v e d i n t h i s

cas e b ecau s e T e n n e s s ee wa s n o t t h e " h ome s t a t e " o f t h e ch i l d r e n

f o r a t l e a s t s i x mont h s pr i o r t o t h e c o mme n c e me n t of t h e

p r o c e e d i n g . 
7

Ho we v e r , t h e s t a t u t e al l o ws a T e n n e s s ee co u r t t o h a v e

j u r i s d i c t i on ov e r c u s t ody ma t t e r s e v e n wh e n Tenne s s e e wa s not t h e

home 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 mont h s pr e c e d i n g t h e

c o mme n c e me 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 a Te nne s s e e c our t t o hea r c h i l d c u s t ody ma t t e r s

wh e r e no s t a t e ha s j u r i s d i c t i on or wh e r e t h e c h i l d ’ s home 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 n n e s s ee i s t h e mo r e ap p r o p r i a t e p l ace t o d e t e r mi n e cu s t o d y

i s s u e s an d at l eas t o n e o f t h e co n t e s t a n t s h a s a s i g n i f i can t

c onnec t i on t o Tenne s s e e . We 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 mi n e t h e c u s t ody i 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 me j u r i s d i c t i on.

P r i o r t o mo v i n g t o Chat t a nooga , t h e pa r t i e s l i v e d i n

Mi s s i s s i p p i. Ms . A n e n e file d fo r d i v o r c e in Mi s s i s s i p p i. T h e

Mi s s i s s i p p i c o u r t d i s mi s s e d th e c a u s e a fte r fin d i n g th a t " t h e

p a r t i e s ar e l i v i n g i n t h e s a me r e s i d e n ce i n t h e St a t e o f

T e n n e s s ee, t h a t t h e p a r t i e s r e s ume d a f a mi l y r e l a t i o n s h i 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 n ific a n t c o n t a c t s with th e S t a t e o f Mi s s i s s i p p i." Mr . A n e n e

doe s not a s s e r t t h a t a n y s t a t e ot h e r t h a n Mi 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 wi t h t h e e x p r e s s l a n g u a g e of

t h e s t a t u t e th e T r i a l C o u r t wa s c o r r e c t in fin d i n g th a t it h a d

j u r i s d i c t i on t o t r y t h e ques t i on of c u s t ody . 

Next , Mr . A n e n e as s e r t s t h a t t h e T r i a l C o u r t er r e d i n

a wa r d i n g c u s t ody t o Ms . Anene . The f i ndi n g s of t h e t r i a l c our t
8

s h a ll b e d e nov o upon 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 mp a n i e d by a pr e s u mp 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 wi s e . Ru l e 13(d) ,

T e nne s s e e Ru 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,

we mu s t af f i r m u n l e s s t h e ev i d e n ce p r e p o n d e r a t e s agai n s t t h e

fin d i n g s o f th e tr i a l c o u r t. Gr iffin v . S t o n e , 834 S. W. 2d 300

( T e nn. App. 1992). F u r t h e r , t h e a wa r d of c u s t ody i s i n t h e

d i s c r e tio n o f th e tr i a l c o u r t a n d , o n a p p e a l, g r e a t we i g h t will

b e g r a n t e d to th e fin d i n g s o f fa c t a n d c r e d i b ility . Edwa r d s v .

Edwa r d s , 501 S. W. 2d 283 (Te nn. App. 1973).

Mr . A n e n e as s e r t s t h e f act t h a t h e wa s t h e p r i ma r y

car egi v e r o f t h e ch i l d r e n d u r i n g t h e ma 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 g t h e f i ndi n g of t h e Tr i a l J udg e on t h i s i s s u e . Wh i l e

i t i s t r u e t h a t Ms . A n e n e wa s n o t al wa y s t h e p r i ma r y car 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 Ms . Anene ’ s a s s e r t i on t h a t

s h e wa s f o r c e d a wa y f r o m he r c h i l d r e n by Mr . Anene ’ s a bus i v e n e s s

a nd wa s ke p t a wa y f r o m t h e m by Mr . Anene ’ s obs t r u c t i oni s t

t act i c s . We f i n d t h a t Ms . A n e n e ’ s as s e r t i o n s 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 Ms . Anene .

Mr . Anene ’ s f our t h i s s u e c o mp 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 g e v i d e n c e wh 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 by Ms . Anene ' s pr e v i ous c ouns e l .
9

Du r i n g t r i a l , Ms . Anene ’ s ne w c ouns e l obj e c t e d t o t h e a d mi 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 wa 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 , wh i c h i s a n unaut h e n t i c a t e d Ne w Yor k c our t

o r d e r di s mi s s i n g a 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 wh i c h Ms . Anene ha d i n s t i t u t e d a g a i n s t Mr . Anene .

We f i r s t n o t e t h a t ab s e n t ext r a o r d i n a r y ci r c ums t a n ces ,

s t i pul a t i ons ma d e by t h e pa r t i e s , wh e t h e r be f o r e or dur i n g t r i a l ,

o r by a pr e v i ous or c u r r e n t c ouns e l , woul d be a d mi s s i b l e i n

e v i d e n ce. We o b s e r v e i n t h e p r e s e n t cas e , h o we v e r , t h e r e i s

not h i n g i n t h e r e c o r d wh i c h we ha v e f ound t o s how s u c h a

s t i pul a t i on wa s ma d e . I n s t e a d , t h e r e i s t h e a c knowl e d g me n t by

Ms . Anene t h a t dur i n g he r di s c o v e r y de pos i t i on s h e ha d t h e

p e titio n d i s mi s s e d . S h e fr e e l y a dmitte d th i s fa c t in h e r

t e s t i mony a 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, we c a n f i nd no pr e j udi c i a l e r r o r by r e f u s i n g t o

a d mi t t h e c our t or d e r , wh i c h woul d be onl y c u mu l a t i v e e v i d e n c e .

Mr . A n e n e ’ s fin a l is s u e a s s e r t s th a t th e T r i a l J u d g e

e r r e d i n deny i n g hi s r e que s t f o r a t t o r n e y f e e s a nd cos t s . The

d e c i s i o n to a wa r d a tto r n e y fe e s is with i n th e d i s c r e tio n o f th e

t r i a l c o u r t. T h e d e c i s i o n o f th e tr i a l c o u r t a s to a tto r n e y fe e s

wi l l not nor ma l l y be 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 howi n g

o f a bus e . A a r on v . Aa r o n , 909 S. W. 2d 408 (Te nn. 1995). Mr . Anene

h a s ma d e no s u c h s howi n g . 
1 0

F o r t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s ons t h e j udg me n t of t h e Tr i a l

Cour t i s a f f i r me d a nd t h e c a u s e r e ma nde d f o r s u c h f u r t h e r

p r o ceed i n g s , i f an y , as ma y b e n ecess a r y an d 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 Mr . Anene .

_______________________________

Hous t on M. Goddar d , P. J .
1 1

C ONC UR:

________________________________

He r s c h e l P . Fr a n k s , J .

________________________________

Don T. Mc Mu r r a y , J .