Opinion ID: 1855355
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: adequacy of proof of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment

Text: ¶ 8. Although not raised by Mr. Talbert as an assignment of error in his petition, we agree with the position taken in the Court of Appeals's dissent that Mrs. Talbert's proof of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment was inadequate to support the chancellor's judgment. In Potts v. Potts, 700 So.2d 321 (Miss.1997), we said: We have previously held that: Cruel and inhuman treatment, unaccompanied by personal violence is such conduct only as endangers life, limb, or health, or creates reasonable apprehension of danger thereto, thereby rendering the continuance of the marital relation unsafe for the unoffending spouse or such unnatural or infamous conduct as would make the marital relation revolting to the unoffending spouse and render it impossible to discharge duties thereof. Sandifer v. Sandifer, 215 Miss. 414, 61 So.2d 144 (1952). We reiterated this standard in Wilson v. Wilson, 547 So.2d 803 (Miss.1989): In years gone by, this Court has consistently held that habitual cruel and inhuman treatment could be established only by a continuing course of conduct on the part of the offending spouse which was so unkind, unfeeling or brutal as to endanger or put one in reasonable apprehension of danger to life, limb or health, and further, that such course of conduct must be habitual, that is, done so often, or continued so long that it may be reasonably said a permanent condition. Id. at 805 (Miss.1989) (denying divorce on the ground of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment although husband and wife were found to genuinely despise each other), cited in Brooks v. Brooks, 652 So.2d 1113, 1124 (Miss.1995) (affirming chancery court's failure to find the ground of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment where husband's complaint boiled down to the fact that wife was not congenial). This Court has required more than mere unkindness or rudeness, or incompatibility or want of affection to support a finding of cruel and inhuman treatment. Churchill v. Churchill, 467 So.2d 948 (Miss.1985) (holding that party had not shown cruel and inhuman treatment even though they had irreconcilable differences and probably would never be able to live together in harmony). See also Steen v. Steen, 641 So.2d 1167 (Miss.1994) (affirming denial of divorce on ground that husband was habitually cruel and inhumane where parties fought constantly over money, husband bullied and intimidated wife, and husband had pinched her on one occasion and dragged her against a door facing on another occasion over the course of a nine year marriage; chancery court had concluded that wife was merely dissatisfied with marriage); Wires v. Wires, 297 So.2d 900, 902 (Miss.1974). We have repeatedly counseled against finding the ground based on petty indignities, frivolous quarrels, general incompatibility or petulant tempers. Howard v. Howard, 243 Miss. 301, 303-04, 138 So.2d 292 (1962); see also Wilson v. Wilson, 547 So.2d 803 (reversing divorce where sole ground pled, that spouse had been habitually cruel and inhumane, was not proven). And we have further noted that [w]e recognize that courts have become liberal in the application of proof on the habitual cruel and inhuman treatment ground. However, by no means have they made a farce and mockery of the requirement to prove the ground. Gallaspy v. Gallaspy, 459 So.2d 283 (Miss. 1984). Potts, 700 So.2d at 323. ¶ 9. We agree with the Court of Appeals's dissent that the facts in this case do not meet the standard for habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. The chancellor relied upon Mr. Talbert's raising his voice to Mrs. Talbert, belittling her, and a few acts of violence very early in the twenty-seven-year marriage. The record indicates that Mr. Talbert exhibited insensitive and somewhat boorish, obnoxious, and selfish behavior throughout the period of the marriage, but again, the fact that one spouse eventually grows weary of the other's established behavior pattern does not give rise to the requisite standard for habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. Furthermore, Mr. Talbert put on proof of Mrs. Talbert's mental instability, recurring unsubstantiated accusations of infidelity, ridicule of his lack of sexual prowess, blame of the separation on his lay off and the subsequent lack of income, and Mrs. Talbert's own temper and aggressive behavior. Mrs. Talbert reciprocated Mr. Talbert's conduct, as evidenced by the psychologist's testimony that both spouses exhibited violent outbursts and screamed at each other equally. The psychologist also stated that Mrs. Talbert was sometimes more aggressive than Mr. Talbert. ¶ 10. These facts do not show endangerment to life, limb or health or reasonable fear thereof, or such unnatural and infamous conduct as to make the marriage revolting. The fact that Mr. Talbert may be insensitive does not amount to proof of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. Nor could the conduct complained of be reasonably labeled systematic and continuous. The Talberts' unpleasant marriage may be beyond repair, but the trial court erred in granting Mrs. Talbert a divorce on grounds of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment without sufficient proof to support her claim. We reverse the trial court's judgment and the Court of Appeals's affirmance of this issue, and we render judgment in favor of Mr. Talbert on Mrs. Talbert's claim of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment.