WPC # VUNa % 0(UPw@- 4m  0l 0D @ 0JH 0T 0^ 0hD 0r 0| 0 0 1u 0d%U>U 6 D3 B0B)M 0@vDC AMU*F p|pv~ v AO\ 0Dq D/ BHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLd(hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($&@FZ 8CaslonOpnface BT Regular klEmUnoEpqDrsӀ "3|x((3$ !      0  (#$  0  2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23   ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X<  9p`(&Times New Roman<  9p`(Courier New++++'dxd d% Line 7 d("$    ,,,,7Border 1dd-.C << G<  9p`(Arial  !#d#(  00   YYY FILED0X June30,1997CecilCrowson,Jr.0AppellateCourtClerk  !#d#(   $       ))Husbandownedthehousepriortothemarriage.  !#d#(   $       ))Husbandsbriefseemstosuggestthatinappropriatemaritalconductmaybedifferentfromcruelandinhumantreatment.Theyaredifferentnamesforthesamething.SeeT.C.A.364102(a)(1). !#d#(   $       ))Husbandtestified, Idontthinksheshouldcomeback.PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'hStyl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   h HD: Geneva  h HD: Geneva -C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd ! . (   \RA'\)\RA'\7\XXdd7R/1.A1-j|`  `@Rߛ @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEEDIANAAYCOCKEFLANAGAN,  )C/ANO.03A019612GS00404      )  PlaintiffAppellee, )      )      )   X       )APPEALASOFRIGHTFROMTHEBLOUNTv.      )COUNTYGENERALSESSIONSCOURT      )      )      )          )JAMESWILLIAMFLANAGAN,  )      )HONORABLEWILLIAMR.BREWER,JR.,  DefendantAppellant.)JUDGEForAppellant     ForAppelleeKEVINW.SHEPHERD    PERRYP.PAINE,JR.Maryville,Tennessee   Paine,Garrett&Bray       Maryville,Tennessee@  OPINION))X̜VACATEDINPART̜MODIFIEDINPART̜AFFIRMEDINPART̜REMANDED          Susano,J.  Thisisadivorcecase.ThetrialcourtgrantedtheplaintiffDianaAycockeFlanagan(Wife)anabsolutedivorcefromthedefendantJamesWilliamFlanagan(Husband).Husbandappealed,arguing(1)thatWifedidnotproveshewasentitledtoadivorceonthegroundofinappropriatemaritalconduct;and(2)thatthetrialcourtsdivisionofpropertywasinequitableorotherwisecontrarytolaw.  WhenthepartiesmarriedonJuly24,1992,Wifewas38andHusbandwas43.TheyseparatedinApril,1996.Atthetimeoftrial,Wifewas42andHusbandwas47.Neitherofthepartieshadbeenpreviouslymarried.Theirunionproducednochildren.Wifehadtwochildrenatthetimeofthepartiesmarriage.Thesechildrenlivedwiththepartiesduringtheirmarriage.  Wifesoughtadivorceonthefaultgroundofinappropriatemaritalconduct.Inhisanswer,HusbanddeniedthatWifewasentitledtoadivorce.Hedidnotfileacounterclaim.  T.C.A.364102(a)(1)setsforthasagroundfordivorcethefollowing treatmentorconduct: 8 Thehusbandorwifeisguiltyofsuchcruelandinhumantreatmentorconducttowardsthespouseasrenderscohabitationunsafeandimproperwhichmayalsobereferredtoinpleadingsasinappropriatemaritalconduct;...Thisgroundhasbeendefinedas 8 thewillful,persistentcausingofunnecessarysuffering,whetherinrealizationorapprehension,whetherofbodyormind,insuchawayastorendercohabitationdangerousandunendurable. Gardnerv.Gardner ,104Tenn.410,412,58S.W.342,343(1900).Seealso Stonev.Stone ,56Tenn.App.607,611,409S.W.2d388,391(1966); Schwalbv.Schwalb ,39Tenn.App.306,328,282S.W.2d661,672(1955).  Itisclearthatrelativelysubtleconductcanamountto cruelandinhumantreatmentorconduct: 8 Cruelandinhumantreatmentisoftentimesnotevidencedbypublicassaultsandbeatings,butisaccomplishedinmoresubtleandinsidiousways.Thewhisperedinvective,accusationbyinsinuation,stingingsarcasmandheartlessintimidationaretheimplementsfrequentlyusedbywhichlove,thevitalprinciplewhichanimatesamarriage,istorturedtodeath;withtheresultthattheoncehappyjoinderbecomesnothinglessthana bridgeofgroansacrossastreamoftears. Newberryv.Newberry ,493S.W.2d99,101(Tenn.App.1973).Thequotefrom Newberry isfollowedbylanguagestressingtheimportanceofatrialcourtsassessmentofcredibilitywhenapartyseeksadivorceontheT.C.A.364102(a)(1)ground: 8 Theexistenceofsuchcontinuousrefinedcrueltycanbestbedeterminedbythetrierofthefactswhohasseenthepartiesfacetofaceandwhohasobservedtheirmanneranddemeanoraswellasthatoftheirrespectivewitnesses.Insuchmatters,theTrialJudgesjudgmentastocredibilityofwitnessesshouldnotbeoverturnedunlesstheclearpreponderanceoftheevidenceistothecontrary.Id.  Whileacourt cannotbyjudicialfiataddanadditionalgroundfordivorcethatisunknowntothestatute, Perrinv.͜Perrin ,299S.W.2d19,24(Tenn.1957),itislikewisetruethat 8 ...societyisillservedbyalegallycommandedcontinuanceofamarriagewhichexistsinnameonly....Societyisnotinterestedinperpetuatingastatusoutofwhichnogoodcancomeandfromwhichharmmayresult. Farrarv.Farrar ,553S.W.2d741,745(Tenn.1977)(quotingfrom Lingnerv.Lingner ,56S.W.2d749,752(Tenn.1933)(emphasisin Farrar ).  Wifepresentedthefollowingtestimonyasherbasisforseekingadivorce: 8 A.Well,theresreallyjustnomarriage.Imeanthereisnonothingisours,everythingisjusthis.Hedoesntincludemeinanything.Hedoesnttalktomeaboutanything.Anythingthathesgoingtodoorwantstodoorregardingthehouseoranything.Youknow,Imcompletelyleftinthedarkaboutanything.Iknownothing.Imnotsupposetoknowanything. 8 Q.Haveyoutriedtoinquireofhimduringthismarriage? 8 A.Yeah,everythingisrealsecretive.Tome,Imean@ *** 8 Q.Butyousay,hewouldntdiscussthingswithyouaboutthehouse? 8 A.No,Imeanifhewasgoingtodoanythingtothehouse,hewasjustgoingtodoit.Imeanbasicallythatwashishouse. 2   כ 8 Q.Doyouhaveanysaysoaboutit? 8 A.No,Ihadnosayso.None. 8 Q.Asfarashisfinancialaffairs,howhashehandledhisfinancialaffairssincethetimeyougotmarriedtohim? 8 A.Itsjustitssecretivetoo.Iwasnttoknowanything.@ *** 8 Q.Wouldheeverdiscusshisbusinessaffairswithyou? 8 A.No. 8 Q.Didhetellyouwhy? 8 A.Neverdid.IthinkeverythingisjustIthinkitsjustalotofthewayheis,Iguess.Everythingisjusthisorhisbusiness.Nooneelses.@ *** 8 A.Theresjustnomarriagethere.Nocommunication.Thereisjustnomarriage.IfitwasdifferentIwouldnthaveleft.Therewasnotestimonyofphysicaloremotionalabuse;norwasϜthereanytestimonythatWifewasadverselyaffected,mentally,emotionally,orphysically,asaresultofHusbands secretiveconduct.TherewasnotestimonythatHusbandcursedormistreatedWife.TherewasnotestimonythatHusband caus[ed]...unnecessarysuffering.See Gardner ,58S.W.at343.  TheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsdeterminationthatWifeisentitledtoanabsolutedivorceonthegroundofinappropriatemaritalconduct/cruelandinhumanϜtreatmentorconduct. 3   ׀Inevaluatingtheevidence,wehaveaccreditedthetestimonyofWifewhereitconflictswiththatofHusband,whogenerallydeniedthathewasotherthanacaringandlovinghusband.Wedothisbecausethelawisclearthatinacaselikethis,thequestionofcredibilityisforthetrialjudge. Newberry ,493S.W.2dat101; TennesseeValleyKaolinCorp.v.Perry ,526S.W.2d488,490(Tenn.App.1974).Takinghertestimonyatfacevalue,itsimplydoesnotmakeoutthegroundsetforthatT.C.A.364102(a)(1).AstheSupremeCourtsaidinthe Perrin case,we cannotbyjudicialfiataddanadditionalgroundfordivorce.299S.W.2dat24.Toapproveanabsolutedivorcebasedonthistestimonywouldamounttojudiciallegislation.Thatisnotourrole.Ifthisstateistorecognizethetypeofconductshowninthiscaseasagroundfordivorceinacontestedsetting,itmustbeaccomplishedbylegislativeenactment.  Wevacatethetrialcourtsgrantofanabsolutedivorce.WerecognizethatHusbandhastestifiedthathedoesnotwantWifetoreturntohim. 4   כItislikewiseclearthatWifehasnointentionofresumingamaritalrelationshipwithHusband.PursuanttoourauthorityunderRule36.T.R.A.P.,wemodifythetrialcourtsjudgmenttoprovidethatthepartieswillresideseparateandapart,i.e.,separatemaintenance.Atrialcourt hastheinherentpower,independentofstatute,togranttherelief[ofseparatemaintenance]inpropercases,whereadivorceisnotsoughtorinwhichthecomplainantisnotentitledtoadivorce. Stephensonv.Stephenson ,298S.W.2d717,71920(Tenn.1957).Atanappropriatetime,Wifeisatlibertytoseekanabsolutedivorcepursuanttoapplicablestatutoryauthority.  Turningourattentiontothedivisionofproperty,wenotethattheapplicablestatutepermitsacourttodividemaritalpropertyinacaseofseparatemaintenance:̜ 8 Inallactionsfordivorceorseparatesupportandmaintenance,thecourthavingjurisdictionthereofmay,uponrequestofeitherparty,andpriortoanydeterminationastowhetheritisappropriatetoorderthesupportandmaintenanceofone(1)partybytheother,equitablydivide,distributeorassignthemaritalpropertybetweenthepartieswithoutregardtomaritalfaultinproportionsasthecourtdeemsjust.̛T.C.A.364121(a)(1).  Wefindthatthetrialcourtsdivisionofpropertyinthiscasewasequitableandotherwiseappropriate.Thatdivisionwasasfollows:̛̜@ ToWife    1992Chrysler    $7,000   CashpaymentfromHusband 7,500   Debts     <3,650>         $10,850         =======@ ToHusband    Furnitureandother   personalproperty   $8,530   Savingsaccount   18,719   Debts     <2,600>   PaymenttoWife   <7,500>         $17,149         =======̛̜Thetrialcourtfoundthatthemaritalpropertyinthiscasewasproperlyvaluedatapproximately$28,000.Husbandarguesthatthe1992Chryslerandthesavingsaccountshouldbeconsideredashisseparateproperty.Werecognizethatthe1992ChryslerwaspurchasedshortlybeforethemarriageandthatasubstantialdownpaymentwasmadeoutofHusbandsseparatefunds;buttotheextentthatanyportionofthevalueremainingatthetimeofdivorceisproperlyconsideredasseparateproperty,webelievetheawardofthatportiontoWifecanbejustifiedasalimonyinsolido.SeeT.C.A.365101(a)(1).Insoholding,wearenotgoingbeyondthepleadingsbecausethecomplaintcontainsaprayerforalimony,andtheproofjustifiessuchanawardinviewofthegreatdisparityinthepartiesincomesandtheotherfactorssetforthatT.C.A.365101(d)(1)(A)(L).Wefindnoerrorintheawardofthe1992ChryslertoWife.Wearepermittedtoaffirmthetrialcourtsawardifwefindtheresultcorrect,evenifwedonttotallyagreewiththetrialcourtsreasoning. Kellyv.Kelly ,679S.W.2d458,460(Tenn.App.1984).  Webelievethesavingsaccountisproperlyviewedasamaritalasset.Itseemscleartousthatthefundsinthataccountrepresentmoniesearnedduringthemarriage.Assuch,theyaremaritalproperty,eventhoughtheaccountisinHusbandsindividualname.Titleisnotthecriticalfactorintheseparateproperty/maritalpropertydichotomy. Langfordv.Langford ,421S.W.2d632,634(Tenn.1967).  Atrialcourtisvestedwithbroaddiscretionindividingthepartiesmaritalpropertyandindecreeingalimony. Batsonv.Batson ,769S.W.2d849,859(Tenn.App.1988) ;Aaronv.Aaron ,909S.W.2d408,41011(Tenn.1995).Wedonotfindthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsdivisionanddistributionofproperty.  ThetrialcourtsgrantofanabsolutedivorcetoWifeisherebyvacated.ThetrialcourtsjudgmentismodifiedtoprovidethatWifewillliveseparateandapartfromHusbandpursuanttoadecreeofseparatemaintenance.Inallotherrespects,thetrialcourtsjudgmentisaffirmed.Costsonappealaretaxedagainsttheappellantandhissurety.Thiscaseisremandedtothetrialcourtforsuchfurtherproceedingsasmaybenecessary,consistentwiththisopinion,andforcollectionofcostsassessedbelow,allpursuanttoapplicablelaw.       __________________________       CharlesD.Susano,Jr.,J.̜CONCUR:________________________HoustonM.Goddard,P.J.________________________WilliamH.Inman,Sr.J.