Opinion ID: 1058021
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Enforceability of the Marital Dissolution Agreement

Text: In enforcing the agreement as a contract, the trial court found that Husband did not have a valid defense to the agreement. In his complaint, Husband failed to plead any specific grounds for finding the agreement unenforceable. However, in his deposition, Husband testified that there were two reasons why the agreement should be set aside. First, he alleged that he was under duress at the time he signed the agreement because Wife threatened to remove the children from this state. Second, he alleged that because Wife committed adultery after the agreement was signed, the agreement was no longer valid. The trial court ruled that Husband's allegations did not amount to the legal definition of duress. Duress is defined as `a condition of mind produced by the improper external pressure or influence that practically destroys the free agency of a party, and causes him to do and act or make a contract not of his own volition, but under such wrongful external pressure.' Rainey v. Rainey, 795 S.W.2d 139, 147 (Tenn.Ct.App.1990) (quoting Simpson v. Harper, 21 Tenn.App. 431, 111 S.W.2d 882, 886 (1937)). When such pressure exists is a question to be determined by the age, sex, intelligence, experience and force of will of the party, the nature of the act, and all the attendant facts and circumstances. Id. (quoting 10 Tenn. Jur. Duress and Undue Influence § 3 at 112 (1983)). Examining these factors, the trial court noted that neither party had a superior bargaining position. Specifically, Husband was forty-one years of age with a college education and employed as a certified public accountant. He was in good physical and emotional health. He was presented with the agreement several weeks prior to his signing the agreement and was capable of having the agreement reviewed by an attorney if he had so desired. The trial court also found that Wife's threat of removing the child was not credible given Wife's job and extended family close to where the parties were living. With respect to Wife's conduct subsequent to the signing of the contract, the trial court determined that it was irrelevant to the contract itself, and Husband conceded the same at trial. Husband has not raised either defense on appeal. Instead, Husband's primary argument on appeal is that because he repudiated the agreement prior to judicial action, the agreement should be set aside. However, as addressed above, the agreement is an enforceable contract despite Husband's attempt to repudiate the same.