ÿWPCO  ôiwùå~%Žžw¢¨ac åU§Þ:¯áªN¬›æ¤ÇŠŠÊ¨r@ˆuH€Ý0c˜hñ©X% RäÏPµU½‹PYË0 :'>;â:í«ÇÆ2b»fÌóÒf¬Cð¶:Q|%^ïcQ~Ï ê¯„0%l*Õ/"¼“%{Ã3?†¾ <¿mä0šèÙ“¹¨]ò`©1¤œlSgM…ŽS(…m:݆?àþÐêodýr SÃ¥Ú&ŠY1¸$<;"Šôû—¨±}òj5ÉO}HRüÿ¦30ƒ·nþ/B¨xOÒužJ± GÛ –äî«/q2vgO…¯øCÀfªˆŸm¨µHÅKìÛg ’ÇO;VMgÀcÀpðo<Ýåý¿rDæ›(ÕÚ¹Û‡3šá@¼ã=‹ž¶B {(ßó£î+¨Ô’OtËÓÏï°^¨©ðÕÊ¿9x+HÜ®p΋|‘CR…`=•“ЩäÜl¼Ò¸MòIr „QÌÉ4H!Xöº;<Þ8Âve*PÖuž¬È¯ö™t[¸omžÈ ‰¦”nÏ:oo8(ÝØõÚ/ZÛ©»¼¤/ù‰r¦ 1¹JçG²–Ø¿,ìtý\5*»Œß‹ðç8”*# LUNW %¥ 0³«U<^w@š4ÚîRý 0÷O 0DF Š U:Ž È È È È È È È È È È È È È È È È È BÐ AQí Æ> 0D 0DH 0DŒ Œ D/Ð Ð Bÿ D3 ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(‹7ÿ$¡¡Ò°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€ü†XXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€Xd|XXXÔ-šBu Z‹$Arrus BT Roman [[[ E!"U#î$Ó€.©yË&3|x. HÝ ƒ ”‚$ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÔ€XtXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€The€trial€court€also€dismissed€Wifeððs€contempt€petition€after€it€wasÐ ° Ðdetermined€that€Husband€had€paid€all€alimony€arrearages€and€was€current€on€allÏalimony€payments.(§(3”‚$¤¤Ý ƒ7ÿ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€<ŽXXdðdð7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€XtXXXÔÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý úÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ Xj*XXXÔÔ€ 5yX Xj*ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ Xj*X 5yÔÐ  ÐÌAugust€27,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular d!" $&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ7ÿ!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÓ  ÓÑ7€<ŽXXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€XtXXXÔÝ  ÝÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ7€<ŽXXdðXXdð7Ññ.ññ$ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô±` 8ttxP,°ð  rßñ$ññ.ññ.ññ.ñà@Ì Ì ®àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@¢¢(®àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌà ` àà ¸ à€€€€______________________________________________Ìñ.ññ.ñÌò òñ.ñßt€ )>.*jxµÿ©` `€€@E©Y ` 8ttxPá°ð © tßñ.ñGARY€CURTIS,€ó óÐ ° ÐÌà ` àPlaintiff„Appellant,Ìà ° àà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àDavidson€Circuit€No.€93D„2870ÌVs.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àC.A.€No.€01A01„9810„CV„00566Ð ²  ÐÌò òJANE€WELTHA€CURTIS,€ó óÐ ²  ÐÌà ` àDefendant„Appellee.Ì____________________________________________________________________________ÌÌà@— — ®àFROM€THE€DAVIDSON€COUNTY€CIRCUIT€COURTˆÌà@ì ì ®àTHE€HONORABLE€MURIEL€J.€ROBINSON,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌÌÌà@®àR.€Eddie€Davidson€of€NashvilleˆÌà@>>(®àFor€AppellantˆÌÌà@xx ®àJack€Norman,€Jr.€of€NashvilleˆÌà@rr(®àFor€AppelleeˆÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@««$®àò òòòAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óóóˆÐ ´%!! ÐÌà@33'®àOpinion€filed:ˆÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà ` àÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORññññó óññññññññòòóóñññññ ñññdñññ ññ!ñD,Ð ´0,, Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEÌÌDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEñ!ñññó óñññ"ñÐ Æ955 ÐÌÐ È;779 Ðñ"ññ#ñ›ÓÓÑTR[¤ AØ' legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ7€<ŽXdðXXdð7ÑÑ  Ñà ` àThis€is€an€alimony€modification€case.€€Plaintiff/Appellant,€Gary€CurtisÐ ° Ð(Husband),€appeals€the€order€of€the€trial€court€denying€his€petition€to€reduce€theÏamount€of€alimony€paid€to€Defendant/Appellee,€Jane€Weltha€Curtis€(Wife).Ìà ` àThe€parties€were€divorced€by€final€decree€on€April€19,€1995.€€Husband€wasÏordered€to€pay€Wife€$1,176.64€per€month€alimony€ò òòòin€futuroó óóó€until€Wifeððs€remarriageÐ °  Ðor€death.€€Husband€appealed€to€this€Court€asserting,€òòò òinter€aliaó óóó,€that€the€trial€courtÐ ´  Ðerred€in€the€amount€of€alimony€òòò òin€futuroó óóó€awarded.€€This€Courtððs€Opinion€filed€JulyÐ ¸  Ð16,€1997€affirmed€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€alimony€òòò òin€futuroó óóó.€€On€July€21,€1997,Ð ¼  ÐHusband€filed€a€ð ðPetition€to€Modify€Final€Decree€for€Reduction€of€AlimonyððÏasserting€that€a€reduction€is€warranted€because€œhis›€deteriorating€health€has€affectedÏhis€ability€to€earn€income.€€Wife€filed€an€ð ðAnswer€and€Counter„Petition€for€CivilÏContemptðð€denying€that€Husband€has€experienced€health€problems€that€prevent€himÏfrom€paying€the€alimony.€€She€also€alleges€that€Husband€is€in€willful€disobedience€ofÏthe€trial€courtððs€order€by€failing€to€make€alimony€payments€for€two€months.Ìà ` àAfter€a€hearing,€the€trial€court€entered€an€order€on€June€16,€1998,€denyingÏHusbandððs€petition.׃ ×Ý ƒ##ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€trial€court€found€in€pertinent€part:Ð À" ÐÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àThe€Court€specifically€finds€that€Mr.€Curtis€has€failed€toÏcarry€the€burden€of€proof€or€to€satisfactorily€prove€to€theÏCourt€that€there€has€been€a€material€change€inÏcircumstances€justifying€a€reduction€and/orÏdiscontinuance€of€alimony€payments€as€provided€for€inÏthe€final€decree.€€The€Court€specifically€finds€that€theÏfinancial€information€provided€by€Mr.€Curtis€isÏincomplete€and€insufficient€to€enable€the€Court€to€reachÏthe€conclusion€that€a€reduction€in€alimony€or€aÏdiscontinuance€of€alimony€payments€is€justified.€€InÏaddition,€the€conflicting€proof€offered€by€Mr.€Curtis€as€toÏincome€earned€and€property€values€is€of€such€varianceÏthat€the€credibility€of€Mr.€Curtis€is€questioned€by€theÏCourt.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌÓÓà ` àHusband€has€appealed,€and€the€only€issue€for€review€is€whether€the€trial€courtÏerred€in€denying€his€petition€for€modification€of€alimony.Ð À511  Ðà ` àSince€this€case€was€tried€by€the€trial€court€sitting€without€a€jury,€we€review€theÐ À733  Ðcase€òòò òde€novoó óóó€upon€the€record€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€factÐ ° Ðby€the€trial€court.€€Unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings,€we€mustÏaffirm,€absent€error€of€law.€€T.R.A.P.€13(d).Ìà ` àT.C.A.€ðð€36„5„101€provides€in€pertinent€part,€that€ð ðon€application€of€eitherÏparty€for€spousal€support,€the€court€may€decree€an€increase€or€decrease€of€suchÏallowance€only€upon€a€showing€of€a€òòò òsubstantial€and€material€change€ofÐ ´  Ðcircumstancesó óóó.ðð€€T.C.A.€ðð€36„5„101(a)(1)€(1996€&€Supp.€1998)€(emphasis€added).€Ð ¸ ÐWhether€there€has€been€a€sufficient€showing€of€a€substantial€and€material€change€ofÏcircumstances€is€in€the€sound€discretion€of€the€trial€court.€€ò òòòWilkinson€v.€Wilkinsonóóó ó,Ð ¼  Ð1990€WL€95571,€at€*4€(Tenn.€App.€July€12,€1990)€(citing€ò òòòJones€v.€Jonesóóó ó,€784€S.W.2dÐ À Ð349,€352€(Tenn.€App.€1989)).Ìà ` àThe€party€seeking€relief€on€the€grounds€of€a€substantial€and€material€changeÏin€circumstances€has€the€burden€of€proving€such€changed€circumstances€warrantingÏan€increase€or€decrease€in€the€amount€of€the€alimony€obligation.€€ò òòòSeal€v.€Sealó óóó,€802Ð Ä  ÐS.W.2d€617,€620€(Tenn.€App.€1990).€€The€change€in€circumstances€must€haveÏoccurred€since€the€entry€of€the€divorce€decree€ordering€the€payment€of€alimony.€Ïò òòòElliot€v.€Elliotóóó ó,€825€S.W.2d€87,€90€(Tenn.€App.€1991).€The€change€in€circumstancesÐ È&"" Ðmust€not€have€been€foreseeable€at€the€time€the€parties€entered€into€the€divorceÏdecree.€€òòò òId.ó óóó€€If€the€change€in€circumstances€was€anticipated€or€in€the€contemplationÐ Ì*&& Ðof€the€parties€at€the€time€they€entered€into€the€property€settlement€agreement,€suchÏchanges€are€not€material€to€warrant€a€modification€of€the€alimony€award.€€ò òòòJones€v.Ð Ð. ** ÐJonesóóó ó,€784€S.W.2d€349,€353€(Tenn.€App.€1989).Ð Ô0$,, Ðà ` àThe€decision€to€modify€the€alimony€obligation€is€factually€driven€and€requiresÏa€careful€balancing€of€several€factors.€€ò òòòCranford€v.€Cranfordóóó ó,€772€S.W.2d€48,€50Ð Ø4(00 Ð(Tenn.€App.€1989).€€The€factors€set€forth€in€T.C.A.€ðð€36„5„101(d),€applicable€to€theÏinitial€grant€of€spousal€support€and€maintenance,€where€relevant,€must€be€taken€intoÐ Ü8,44 Ðconsideration€in€determining€whether€there€has€been€a€change€in€circumstances€toÏwarrant€a€modification€of€the€alimony€obligation.€€ò òòòThreadgill€v.€Threadgillóóó ó,€740Ð ° ÐS.W.2d€419,€422„23€(Tenn.€App.€1987).Ìà ` àWhile€T.C.A.€ðð€36„5„101(d)€enumerates€several€factors€for€the€court€toÏconsider,€the€need€of€the€spouse€receiving€the€support€is€the€single€most€importantÏfactor.€€ò òòòCranfordóóó ó,€772€S.W.2d€at€50.€€In€addition€to€the€need€of€the€spouse€receivingÐ ´  Ðsupport,€the€courts€most€often€take€into€consideration€the€ability€of€the€obligorÏspouse€to€provide€support.€€ò òòòId.ó óóóÐ ¸ Ðà ` àHusband€is€in€his€late€fifties€and€owns€Star€Electric€Company.€€He€has€onlyÏa€7th€grade€education,€has€been€an€electrician€for€the€majority€of€his€life,€and€knowsÏno€trade€other€than€that€of€an€electrician.€€At€the€hearing€held€June€4,€1998,ÏHusband€testified€that€the€basis€of€his€request€to€reduce€his€alimony€obligation€wasÏbecause€of€health€problems€that€have€occurred€since€the€final€decree€which€preventÏhim€from€working€at€the€same€capacity€as€before.€€He€stated€that€he€cannot€earn€asÏmuch€income€as€before€and€is€required€to€borrow€money€and€liquidate€assets€in€orderÏto€pay€his€alimony€obligation.€€He€testified€that€since€the€divorce€he€has€beenÏhospitalized€approximately€seven€times€due€to€pneumonia€and€other€complicationsÏresulting€from€chronic€obstructive€pulmonary€disease.€€He€also€testified€that€hisÏmedical€condition€causes€him€to€have€shortness€of€breath,€lack€of€energy,€andÏmemory€loss€thereby€preventing€him€from€doing€the€work€required€of€an€electrician.€ÏHe€testified€that€now€he€just€bids€the€œjobsññ,ññ›€and€obtains€material€for€the€jobs,€and€hisÏemployee€does€the€work.€€Ìà ` àHusband€also€testified€that€in€1996,€he€made€approximately€$44,000.00€in€hisÏbusiness,€and€that€in€1997,€he€lost€$22,000.00.€€He€stated€that€this€is€in€starkÏcontrast€to€his€income€eight€to€ten€years€before€where€he€had€income€of€$200,000.00Ïa€year€as€a€result€of€a€big€customer€which€he€no€longer€has€and€has€not€had€for€years.€ÏHe€testified€that€he€has€had€to€borrow€from€his€in„laws€and€from€his€brother€and€hasÐ ¼8 44 Ðhad€to€sell€most€of€his€land€to€pay€his€alimony€obligation€and€other€court„orderedÏobligations.€€He€œññstated€ññññtestified›€ññthat›€he€had€borrowed€approximately€ññ$27,000.00andññññ$27,000.00€œññññññ€ññññññandññ›€that€heÏis€being€sued€by€a€doctor€and€a€hospital€for€a€hospital€stay.€€Husband€further€testifiedÏthat€prior€to€the€divorce€he€was€not€on€any€medication€and€that€now€he€is€on€sixteenÏdifferent€medications.€€Ìà ` àOn€cross„examination,€Husband€testified€that€he€had€a€pulmonary€problem€forÏa€number€of€years€but€that€it€had€not€bothered€him€before.€€He€further€testified€thatÏhis€doctors€and€everyone€else€have€tried€to€get€him€to€quit€smoking€cigarettes€butÏthat€he€œññis›€ññstill›€smokes€eight€to€twelve€cigarettes€per€day,€down€from€two€and€a€halfÏpacks€per€day€in€1995.€€As€for€his€income€in€1997,€Husband€testified€that€he€madeÏ$16,000.00.€€Husband€also€testified€that€he€had€owned€a€golf€course€œññ€ññbut›€that€he€gaveÏit€to€his€current€wife€in€1997€to€operate€since€he€was€unable€to€do€the€work.€€WhenÏasked€about€the€property€he€was€awarded€in€the€divorce,€Husband€acknowledged€theÏreceipt€of€the€property€but€testified€that€he€had€sold€one€piece€of€property€to€payÏWifeððs€attorneyððs€fees€from€the€divorce€and€that€he€recently€conveyed€another€pieceÏof€property€to€his€current€father„in„law€for€a€consideration€of€$5,000.00€as€collateralÏfor€a€debt.€€He€further€testified€that€the€property€he€conveyed€to€his€father„in„law€hadÏa€for€sale€sign€posted€on€it,€that€the€telephone€number€on€the€sign€was€his€phoneÏnumber,€and€that€the€sale€price€being€asked€for€the€property€was€$40,000.00.€€InÏaddition,€Husband€testified€that€he€had€borrowed€up€to€$35,000.00€from€his€currentÏfather„in„law€but€that€the€debt€was€down€to€$7,200.00.€€Ìà ` àHusband€was€admonished€several€times€during€cross„examination€for€failingÏto€provide€proof€to€corroborate€his€testimony€and€for€not€œgivingññ,ññ›€straight€answers€toÏquestions€asked.€€For€example,€when€asked€on€cross„examination€about€his€incomeÏand€proof€of€loans€and€debts,€Husband€testified€that€his€wife€has€the€records€atÏhome.Ìà ` àHusbandððs€answers€to€interrogatories€indicated€his€gross€monthly€income€fromÐ °844 ÐJanuary€through€the€date€of€the€hearing€was€$4,240.67.€€As€for€his€net€income€for€theÏsame€period,€Husbandððs€answer€was€that€it€could€not€be€figured€until€after€1998€taxesÏare€completed.€€Also€an€exhibit€at€the€hearing€is€Husbandððs€1997€income€tax€returnÏfor€his€company€wherein€net€income€was€reported€as€$16,389.00€for€the€tax€year.Ìà ` àHusbandððs€father„in„law,€Cecil€Evans,€testified€that€he€had€loaned€HusbandÏapproximately€$20,000.00€over€the€years€in€order€for€Husband€to€pay€bills.€€Mr.ÏEvans€testified€that€the€property€conveyed€to€him€was€to€pay€him€back€for€moneyÏpreviously€loaned€and€that€he€gave€Husband€an€additional€$5,000.00.€€He€testifiedÏthat€Husband€probably€owed€him€more€money€at€the€time€the€property€wasÏconveyed€than€the€propertyððs€worth.€€Mr.€Evans€also€testified,€on€cross„examination,Ïthat€Husband€still€owes€him€approximately€$7,500.00.€€When€asked€if€he€had€anyÏnotes€or€anything€to€evidence€these€loans€to€Husband,€Mr.€Evans€testified€that€heÏhas€some€notes€but€that€they€were€at€home.€€Ìà ` àAnthony€Ledbetter,€an€employee€of€Husbandððs€company,€testified€that€he€hasÏworked€for€Star€Electric€Company€for€approximately€ten€years.€€Mr.€LedbetterÏtestified€that€Husbandððs€physical€and€mental€abilities€are€less€than€they€were€at€theÏtime€of€the€divorce€in€that€Husband€cannot€climb€a€flight€of€stairs€and€that€HusbandÏcannot€remember€his€home€phone€number.€€He€stated€that€he€has€not€seen€HusbandÏdo€anything€that€an€electrician€needs€to€do€such€as€lifting,€stooping,€bending€andÏclimbing.€€He€also€testified€that€Husband€is€currently€taking€medication€and€that€heÏwas€unaware€of€any€medication€use€prior€to€the€partiesðð€divorce.€€Mr.€Ledbetter€alsoÏtestified€that€he€has€observed€the€companyððs€income€go€down€over€the€last€three€orÏfour€years€due€œññto€ññHusbandððs›€decrease€in€his€amount€of€activity€with€the€company€andÏthe€loss€of€a€major€client.€€On€cross„examination,€Mr.€Ledbetter€testified€that€hisÏgross€income€for€1997€was€$20,000.00.Ìà ` àHusbandððs€current€wife,€Debra€Curtis,€testified€that€she€is€the€bookkeeper€forÏHusbandððs€company€and€has€been€since€at€least€1995.€€Mrs.€Curtis€testified€that€sheÐ °844 Ðand€Husband€file€joint€tax€returns€and€that€their€income€in€1995€was€$48,000.00,Ïin€1996€there€was€a€loss€of€$22,000.00,€and€in€1997€there€was€income€ofÏ$16,000.00.€€She€testified€that€the€companyððs€gross€income€to€date€for€1998€wasÏapproximately€$20,000.00€and€that€she€did€not€have€any€idea€what€the€income€forÏthe€company€would€be€for€the€remainder€of€the€year.€€She€also€testified€that€since€theÏpartiesðð€divorce€Husband€stays€short„winded€all€the€time,€that€he€is€depressed,€andÏthat€he€is€unable€to€do€heavy€physical€work.€€On€cross„examination,€Mrs.€CurtisÏtestified€that€Husband€does€not€receive€a€payroll€check€from€the€company€and€thatÏHusbandððs€average€monthly€earnings€from€the€company€for€1998€are€approximatelyÏ$4,000.00€before€deductions€or€taxes.€€She€also€testified€that€the€golf€course€is€hersÏand€that€she€is€now€operating€it.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à p àœññÐ ° Ðà ` àññThe›€testimony€of€Dr.€James€Reginald€Anderson€was€presented€by€depositionÏtaken€on€February€25,€1998.€€Dr.€Anderson€testified€that€he€has€been€a€boardÏcertified€family€practice€physician€since€1986€and€that€he€had€been€treating€HusbandÏsince€1991.€€He€testified€that€Husband€suffers€from€chronic€obstructive€pulmonaryÏdisease€which€is€a€condition€of€the€lungs€where€the€bronchial€tubes€and€the€smallÏalveoli€are€chronically€destroyed.€€Husbandððs€condition€initially€started€showing€someÏsigns€in€1995€but€that€the€actual€diagnosis€was€not€clear€until€1996€or€1997.€€HeÏstated€that€Husbandððs€condition€has€continued€to€worsen€since€1995.€€Dr.€AndersonÏfurther€testified€that€Husbandððs€lung€capacity€is€about€half€of€what€it€should€be€andÏthat€Husbandððs€condition€decreases€his€capacity€to€œworkññ,€ññññ€and€ññhis›€ability€to€walk€orÏcarry€on€any€kind€of€strenuous€activities.€€The€inactivity€reduces€the€amount€ofÏoxygen€his€brain€receives€thereby€effecting€his€mental€capacity€and€ability€toÏremember.€€He€also€testified€that€Husbandððs€condition€is€in€the€moderate€to€severeÏstatus,€and€his€condition€has€resulted€in€several€hospitalizations€for€pneumonia€orÏbronchitis.€€Concerning€Husbandððs€prognosis,€Dr.€Anderson€testified€that€people€withÏthis€condition€generally€have€a€continual€decrease€in€their€lung€capacity€over€timeÐ °844 Ðand€that€this€appears€to€be€the€case€for€Husband.€€Dr.€Anderson€also€testified€thatÏHusband€has€a€diabetic€condition€which€was€recently€discovered.€€On€cross„¼examination,€Dr.€Anderson€acknowledged€that€Husbandððs€medical€records€since€1986Ïcontained€numerous€references€to€pulmonary€problems.€€He€also€acknowledged€thatÏthe€records€also€reflect€that€Husband€has€been€a€chronic€smoker,€that€he€is€still€tryingÏto€get€Husband€to€quit€smoking,€and€that€the€use€of€cigarettes€is€not€helpingÏHusbandððs€pulmonary€condition.€€Ìà ` àAt€the€end€of€the€hearing,€the€trial€judge€stated€from€the€bench:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àThe€Court€is€very€well€aware€of€this€Curtis€case.€€IÏremember€when€I€tried€it.€€I€remember€the€demeanor€andÏthe€responses€of€Mr.€Curtis€then,€and€his€testimony€hasÏbeen€just€as€evasive€this€time€as€it€was€back€then.€€I€reallyÏhave€a€difficult€time€weeding€things€out.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àThe€petition€to€reduce€this€alimony€is€not€wellÏtaken.€€Thereððs€no€sufficient€proof€to€reduce€the€same.€ÏHeððs€failed€to€carry€the€burden€of€proof.€€More€so,€theÏdiscrepancies€in€his€testimony€are€to€the€extent€that€hisÏcredibility€is€questionable.€€He€completely€controls€hisÏown€income.€€He€owns€his€own€business.€€Heððs€evenÏdivested€himself€of€assets€voluntarily.€€Heððs€given€his€golfÏcourse€to€the€wife.€€Sheððs€going€to€run€that.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àHe€has€borrowing€capacity.€€Heððs€given€awayÏproperty€thatððs€more€valuable€than€what€the€debt€was,Ïthat€caused€him€to€transfer€to€his€father„in„law.€€TheÏtransfers€are€all€questionable€in€this€Courtððs€eyes.€€HisÏalleged€impairments€are€self„induced.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àReally,€his€status€hasnððt€changed€hardly€any€sinceÏthe€trial€of€this€case.€€So€the€petition€is€most€respectfullyÏdenied.€€Costs€to€Mr.€Curtis,€and€Iððll€entertain€theÏattorneysðð€fees.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à*à À àà  à*à p àà È à*а*&&¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àI€find€that€thereððs€really€no€material€change€to€hisÏhealth,€and€Iððve€read€this€doctorððs€deposition.€€And€heððsÏgot€the€things€that€are€characteristic€of€a€smoker.€€But€inÏspite€of€that,€if€I€believe€„„€and€the€doctorððs€probably€rightÏon€some€things.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` ü!` ü!àà  àHe€can€control€his€health€if€he€would€quit€smoking.€ÏBut€taking€into€consideration€that€doctorððs€deposition€thisÏman€can€still€earn€income.€€He€did€not€want€to€pay€theÏalimony€from€the€day€one.€€He€doesnððt€want€to€now.€€AndÏthereððs€just€no€change.Ð ¸ ¤¸ ¤ ÐÌÓÓ€€à ` àHusband€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€refusing€to€reduce€or€terminateÐ °622 Ðhis€alimony€obligation.€€He€submits€that€the€evidence€substantiates€a€material€changeÐ °844 Ðin€circumstances€since€he€simply€cannot€work€the€way€he€did€prior€to€the€divorce.Ìà ` àWife,€on€the€other€hand,€asserts€that€Husband€completely€and€utterly€failedÏto€present€any€evidence€of€a€substantial€and€material€change€of€circumstanceÏsufficient€to€convince€the€trial€court€that€he€was€entitled€to€relief.€€She€submits€thatÏthe€testimony€of€Dr.€Anderson€and€Husbandððs€medical€records€reveal€that€HusbandÏhad€experienced€health€problems€and€pulmonary€problems€since€œ1983ññ.€ññññ,€and€thatññ›€Dr.ÏAnderson€never€testified€that€Husband€could€not€work€but€only€stated€that€he€wouldÏnot€expect€Husband€to€perform€the€task€of€bending,€stooping€and€walking€greatÏdistances.€€Wife€asserts€that€Husband€voluntarily€contributes€to€his€own€healthÏproblems.€€Wife€argues€that€Husband€failed€to€carry€the€burden€of€proving€that€hisÏhealth€problems€have€resulted€in€a€diminished€income€since€the€divorce€in€1995,€andÏthere€is€no€proof€as€to€his€personal€earnings€since€1995.€€She€argues€that€the€proofÏrevealed€that€Husbandððs€1998€income€was€compatible€to,€or€more€than,€his€incomeÏat€the€time€of€the€divorce€in€1995.Ìà ` àFrom€a€review€of€the€record,€we€find€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderateÏagainst€the€findings€of€the€trial€court.€€While€Husbandððs€health€may€haveÏdeteriorated€over€the€years€since€the€partiesðð€divorce,€Husband€failed€to€provide€proofÏthat€this€has€diminished€his€income€and€his€ability€to€pay€the€alimony€obligation.€ÏThe€only€documented€proof€as€to€income€was€for€Husbandððs€company.€€The€onlyÏproof€submitted€as€to€Husbandððs€income€was€testimony€from€his€wife€and€fromÏHusband,€and€the€trial€court€indicated€a€problem€with€their€credibility.€€When€theÏresolution€of€the€issues€in€a€case€depends€upon€the€truthfulness€of€witnesses,€the€trialÏjudge€who€has€the€opportunity€to€observe€the€witnesses€in€their€manner€andÏdemeanor€while€testifying€is€in€a€far€better€position€than€this€Court€to€decide€thoseÏissues.€€ò òòòMcCaleb€v.€Saturn€Corp.ó óóó,€910€S.W.2d€412,€415€(Tenn.€1995);òòò ò€Whitaker€v.Ð °400 ÐWhitakeróóó ó,€957€S.W.2d€834,€837€(Tenn.€App.€1997).€€The€weight,€faith,€and€creditÐ ´622 Ðto€be€given€to€any€witnessððs€testimony€lies€in€the€first€instance€with€the€trier€of€fact,Ð ¸844 Ðand€the€credibility€accorded€will€be€given€great€weight€by€the€appellate€court.€€òòò òIdó óóó.;€ò òòòInÐ ° Ðre€Estate€of€Walton€v.€Youngó óóó,€950€S.W.2d€956,€959€(Tenn.€1997).€€Moreover,€whileÐ ´ ÐHusband€submits€that€he€has€had€to€resort€to€borrowing€money€and€selling€propertyÏin€order€to€pay€his€alimony€obligation,€these€transactions€are,€as€the€trial€court€found,Ïsuspect€and€undocumented.€€Ìà ` àAccordingly,€the€order€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed,€and€the€case€is€remandedÏfor€such€further€proceedings€as€necessary.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€assessed€against€theÏappellant.€€€€€€€€œññÌññ›ññÓÓœññññà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àò òW.€FRANK€CRAWFORD,€Ð ¸ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€W.S.ó óÐ º  ÐÌò òññññCONCUR:Ð ¼  ÐÌÌó óññññò ò____________________________________Ð Â ÐALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGEó óÐ Ä ÐÌ____________________________________Ìò òDAVID€R.€FARMER,€JUDGEó óññññññó óññññ›œÔ†ÿÿÔÔ†ÿÿÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ôñ#ñ