Opinion ID: 1846577
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the trial court erred in awarding the michelle a divorce on the ground of habitual, cruel and inhuman treatment.

Text: ¶ 12. Denton argues that the chancellor abused his discretion by granting Michelle a divorce on the ground of habitual, cruel and inhuman treatment because he relied on the self serving testimony of Michelle and her witnesses, including her mother. Denton also argues that Michelle did not meet the burden of proof to establish the ground of habitual, cruel and inhuman treatment, citing Smith v. Smith, 614 So.2d 394, 396 (Miss.1993)(holding that something more than unkindness or rudeness or mere incompatibility or want of affections must be proved by the preponderance of the evidence). ¶ 13. Under our standard of review, we view the facts of a divorce decree in a light most favorable to the appellee and may not disturb the chancellor's decision unless we find that decision to be manifestly wrong or unsupported by substantial evidence. Mullins v. Ratcliff, 515 So.2d 1183, 1189 (Miss.1987). Therefore, we employ this standard in looking at the evidence in this case. ¶ 14. Evidence of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment is sufficient if it shows conduct that endangers life, limb or health or creates a reasonable apprehension of such danger, rendering the relationship unsafe for the party seeking relief, or in the alternative, if the conduct is so unnatural and infamous as to make the marriage revolting to the offended spouse and render it impossible for that spouse to discharge the duties of the marriage, thus destroying the basis for its continuance. This Court has consistently held that the chancellor as the trier of fact evaluates the sufficiency of the proof based on the credibility of the witnesses and the weight of their testimony. Richard v. Richard, 711 So.2d 884, 888(¶ 13) (Miss.1998). The burden of proof in a habitual cruel and inhuman treatment case is a preponderance of evidence, not clear and convincing. Daigle v. Daigle, 626 So.2d 140, 144 (Miss.1993). As a general rule, the habitual cruel and inhuman treatment must be shown to be routine and continuous; however, a single occurrence may be grounds for a divorce on this ground. Robinson v. Robinson, 554 So.2d 300, 303 (Miss.1989); McKee v. Flynt, 630 So.2d 44, 48 (Miss.1993); Ellzey v. Ellzey, 253 So.2d 249, 250 (Miss.1971). ¶ 15. Based on a review of the evidence adduced at trial, we find that the chancellor did not commit manifest error in awarding Michelle a divorce on the ground of habitual, cruel and inhuman treatment. As the chancellor found in his opinion, Denton appears to have a prescription drug problem. Witnesses at trial also testified as to different instances Denton has appeared to have a drug or alcohol abuse problem such as an incident of road rage, an arrest at a casino, taking medication in his in-laws' home, and frequent yelling at and humiliating Michelle in front of family, friends and students. Michelle also testified that she found a bag of approximately ninety xanax pills and when she asked Denton about it, he told her he was going to have a friend sell them. When Michelle broached the subject of divorce with Denton, he became so enraged that he tore up the deck and retaining wall at their house. Denton also accused Michelle of having an affair before their separation and told friends and students that she was a whore. Denton also continued to use marijuana and repeatedly threatened to divorce Michelle. ¶ 16. Again, it is the chancellor who hears the testimony and sees the demeanor of the witnesses. Here, the chancellor found Michelle to be more believable, Denton's demeanor, attitude and responsiveness during examination did not make him believable. As such, we affirm the chancellor as to this issue.