Court Opinion

ID: 1073380
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:58:12.432946+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:30:33.343019
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                              AT NASHVILLE
                                            July 2000 Session

       BRENDA FAYE LAWSON v. DONNIE CLIFTON LAWSON, JR.

                Appeal from the General Sessions Court for Van Buren County
                           No. 3390    Sam Benningfield, Judge

                     No. M2000-00729-COA-R3-CV - Filed August 22, 2000

The General Sessions Court of Van Buren County awarded the wife a divorce, divided the marital
property, and awarded the wife rehabilitative alimony. On appeal the husband attacks the property
division and the amount of the alimony. Because the record does not provide a basis for properly
assessing the issues raised by the appellant, we affirm with a memorandum opinion.

      Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the General Sessions Court
                                 Affirmed and Remanded

BEN H. CANTRELL , P.J., M.S., delivered the opinion of the court, in which WILLIAM B. CAIN and
PATRICIA J. COTTRELL , JJ., joined.

Steven W. Kreltzer, Rossville, Georgia, for the appellant, Donnie Clifton Lawson, Jr.

William D. Mitchell, Sparta, Tennessee, for the appellee, Brenda Faye Lawson.

                                      MEMORANDUM OPINION1

         The final decree awarded Mrs. Lawson a divorce on the ground of adultery and awarded her
the marital home. After specifically awarding Mr. Lawson one of the parties’ two televisions, all
the rifles, shotguns and accessories thereto, the 1993 Toyota truck, the lawn mower, the weedeater,
his tools, clothes and personal items, the decree awarded Mrs. Lawson “all other personal property
not heretofore described, including all household goods and belongings.” The decree also required

       1
                Rule 10 of the Rules of the Co urt of Appea ls reads as follows:

                The Court, with the concurrence of all judges participating in the case, may affirm, reverse
       or modify the actions of the trial court by memorandum opinion when a formal opinion would have
       no precedential value . When a case is decided by memorandum op inion it shall be designated
       “MEMORANDUM OPINIO N,” shall not be published, and shall not be cited or relied on for any
       reason in any unrelated case.
Mr. Lawson to pay alimony in the amount of $785 per month for a year and then $625 per month for
the next seven years.

         Mr. Lawson argues that the property awarded to Mrs. Lawson amounted to 93% of the
marital estate. But we cannot find in the record the proof that supports that claim. The exhibits filed
in the trial court are not in the record, and the parties did not testify about the values of the personal
property. The only proof about the equity in the marital home was (1) from Mrs. Lawson, who said
the home was worth about the amount of the mortgage on it, (2) from Mr. Lawson who said the
home had an equity value of approximately $30,000, and (3) an appraisal made when the parties
refinanced the home, which if accurate would show an equity of approximately $21,000. Assuming
that the equity in the home amounted to $30,000, we do not have anything to compare that to, since
the record is devoid of any proof about the value of the rest of the property.

        Mr. Lawson relies on his affidavit filed in support of a motion for a new trial in which he,
for the first time, offers some evidence about the value of the property. The trial judge cannot be
faulted for refusing to consider the affidavit. It does not qualify as newly discovered evidence. Seay
v. City of Knoxville, 654 S.W.2d 397 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1983).

        Therefore, there is no basis on which to conclude that the division of the marital property was
inequitable.

        Mr. Lawson also argues that the alimony awarded amounts to approximately 50% of his take-
home pay. But the record does not contain any proof showing that Mr. Lawson is unable to pay the
amount awarded. When he left the marital home, he moved in with his girlfriend and her children
leaving his permanently disabled wife with the home and a social security payment of approximately
$650 per month. He did not testify about his living expenses, nor did he say he was contributing
anything to the household where he lived. So far as the record shows he does not have any expenses
of his own. We conclude that there is no basis on which to reverse or modify the trial judge’s award
of alimony.

       The judgment of the trial court is affirmed and the cause is remanded for any further
proceedings necessary. Tax the costs on appeal to the appellant, Donnie Clifton Lawson, Jr.

                                                _________________________________________
                                                BEN H. CANTRELL, PRESIDING JUDGE, M.S.

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