ÿWPC¯ …# VUNa %¯ 0(µw@Ý4 1 @ 0lH 0D´ ø 0J 0TJ 0^ž 0hü 0rd 0|Ö 0†R 0Ø 1uh U,Ý 0d U,mU>™B)×DC AMCU*þºq¸v~) D3§ BÚvÓ÷ 0@Ê AO ÆY 0D D/c B’˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ‰gŠ‹DŒ PŽDD ‘P’Ó€à~| 3|x((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d####7Border 1dd€-$Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ôÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÔ€&ÔÔ€&ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€&XÔÌÌò òApril€4,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€&ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó gÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝHusbandððs€award€of€one„half€equity€in€the€marital€home€included€interest€thereon.€€TheÏcourt€delayed€payment€by€Wife€for€36€months,€treating€such€as€an€incident€of€rehabilitativeÏalimony.€€ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@++++'ÿÿdxd dStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA:Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA:Op Monaco Ò("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€!!X„d&ÓÑ#€!!Xd#ÑÔ€"ÔÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€†XXdìdÈ7ÑÓ` Ü` p”XÓÙ€€ÙßL€%'$;+'h|` Å `€€Lß›à@ àò òIN€THE€COURT€OFÏAPPEALS€OF€TENNESSEE,€WESTERN€SECTIONÌà@ àAT€KNOXVILLEÌà@ à_______________________________________________________ÌÌó óà à)ò òÌ€CAROL€LOUISE€KEPLER,ó óà à)à àKnox€CountyÏFourth€Circuit€CourtÌà à)à àNo.€64111Ì€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee.à à)Ìà à)ÌVS.à à)à àC.€A.€No.03A01„9508„CV„00248Ìà à)Ìò òSCOTT€JAMES€KEPLER,ó óà à)Ìà à)Ì€€€€€Defendant/Appellant.à à)Ìà à)Ì______________________________________________________________________________ÌÌFrom€the€Circuit€Court€of€Knox€County€at€Knoxville.Ìò òHonorable€Bill€Swann,€Judge€ó óÌÌÌÌò òSarah€Swanson€Higginsó ó,ÌESHBAUGH,€SIMPSON€AND€VARNER,€Knoxville,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Defendant/Appellant.ÌÌÌÌò òJerrold€L.€Beckeró ó,Ìò òSamuel€W.€Brownó ó,ÌLOCKRIDGE,€BECKER€&€VALONE,€P.C.,€Knoxville,€TennesseeÌAttorney€for€Plaintiff/Appellee.ÌÌÌÌOPINION€FILED:ÌÌò òAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌà àFARMER,€J.ÌÌÌÌCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.€ó ó:€(Concurs)Ìò òHIGHERS,€J.€ó ó:€(Concurs)à àœÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÑ7€†XXdìXXdì7ÑÓ ` Ü` È“X ÓÓÓà àThis›€divorce€litigation€involves€the€dissolution€of€the€twenty„one€year€marriageÏbetween€Appellant,€Scott€James€Kepler€(Husband)€and€Appellee,€Carol€Louise€Kepler€(Wife).€ÏTheir€union€produced€two€children,€ages€17€and€14€at€the€time€of€trial.€€The€final€divorce€decreeÏgranted€an€absolute€divorce€and€custody€of€the€children€to€Wife.€€Husband€now€appeals€from€theÏdecree,€challenging€the€trial€courtððs€valuation€of€the€marital€residence,€award€of€rehabilitativeÏalimony€and€attorneyððs€fees€to€Wife€and€failure€to€establish€an€ð ðascertainable€standardðð€by€which€toÏmeasure€Wifeððs€progress€towards€completion€of€her€educational€goals.€€For€reasons€to€beÏdiscussed,€we€affirm€the€trial€court.ÌÌà àHusband€states€the€issues€on€appeal€as€follows:ÌÌÓ ` Ü` ‚°È“X ÓÓÓà8 àœà àI.›€€Did€the€trial€court€err€in€[its]€valuation€of€theÏmarital€residence€and€the€amount€of€equity€contained€therein?ÌÌà8 àà àII.€€Did€the€trial€court€err€in€the€amount€and€durationÏof€alimony€required€to€be€paid€by€the€Appellant€to€the€Appellee€givenÏthe€disproportionally€large€amount€of€marital€debt€awarded€to€theÏAppellant,€his€substantial€child€support€obligation,€the€significantÏamount€of€marital€assets€awarded€to€the€Appellee€and€the€AppelleeððsÏvoluntary€unemployment?ÌÌà8 àà àIII.€€Did€the€trial€court€err€in€order[ing]€the€AppellantÏto€pay€ninety€percent€(90%)€of€the€Appelleeððs€$4,815.25€attorneyÏfees€given€the€extent€of€the€marital€debt€and€alimony€the€AppellantÏwas€ordered€to€pay€for€the€benefit€of€the€Appellee€and€the€substantialÏmonetary€assets€awarded€to€the€Appellee?ÌÌà8 àà àIV.€€Did€the€trial€court€err€in€failing€to€set€anÏascertainable€standard€by€which€the€Appelleeððs€progress€towardsÏcompletion€of€her€educational€goals€can€be€measured?ÌÓÓœ›Ìœ›à àHusbandððs€first€issue€concerns€the€trial€courtððs€valuation€of€the€marital€residenceÏand€the€amount€of€equity€therein.€€The€court€valued€the€residence€at€$180,000€with€an€equity€ofÏ$68,000,€which€was€divided€equally€between€the€parties.€€The€trial€court€heard€from€both€partiesÏregarding€the€homeððs€value.€€Wife€testified€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àQ.à à.€.€.€.€€Your€house€at€ChevyÏLane€.€.€.€you€have€been€living€there€for€six€years;€is€that€correct?ÌÌà8 àà àA.à àYes.ÌÌà8 àà àQ.à àYou€have€an€opportunity€„„Ïthis€is€the€Lovell€Hills€area?ÌÌà8 àà àA.à àYes,€it€is.ÌÌÓ#` Ü` ‚°ù ’X#Óà8 àà àœQ.à àI›€want€you€to€assume€a€willing€buyer€andÏa€willing€seller,€neither€under€the€compulsion€to€buy€or€sell,€basedÏupon€your€knowledge€of€the€house€and€knowledge€of€theÏneighborhood,€do€you€have€an€opinion€as€to€what€the€fair„marketÏvalue€of€that€house€is?ÌÌà8 àà àA.à àAs€far€as€I€know,€I€know€our€neighborsÏsold€their€house€a€few€years€back,€maybe€two€years€ago€forÏ$176,000,€I€think,€and€our€house€has€a€little€more€square€footage,Ïso€I€am€assuming€it€would€be€$180,000,€$182,000€maybe.ÌÌà8 àà à.€.€.€.ÌÌà8 àà àQ.à àAnd€so€as€of€the€time€of€the€Rule€10,€yourÏstatement€is€that€the€equity€in€the€house€was€$68,000;€is€that€correct?ÌÌà8 àà àA.à àYes,€it€is.€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓHusband€testified:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àQ.à àHave€you€looked€into€the€value€of€theÏhomes€in€the€Lovell€Hills€area€in€which€the€marital€residence€is?ÌÌà8 àà àA.à àYes,€I€have.ÌÌà8 àà àQ.à àAnd€given€a€fair„market€value,€again,€asÏMr.€Becker€said€to€your€wife,€a€willing€buyer,€a€willing€sellerÍneither€under€any€compulsion€to€buy€or€sell,€what€would€be€yourÏestimation€of€fair„market€value€of€the€house?ÌÌà8 àà àA.à àWell,€based€on€the€transactions€that€I€haveÏseen€have€€happened€in€the€area€„„€in€fact,€there€is€one€listing€that€isÏin€the€paper€yesterday€„„€the€houses€in€that€development€areÏessentially€the€same,€and€that€house€sold€for€$227,000.€€You€know,ÏIððve€estimated€this€at€$200,000,€and€I€think€that€is€very€reasonable.€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓNo€other€testimony€on€the€issue€was€presented.ÌÌà àIt€is€Husbandððs€position€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€choosing€Wifeððs€valuation,€whoÏð ðmerely€guessed,ðð€over€Husbandððs€valuation€which€was€based€on€his€examination€of€the€sellingÏprices€of€comparable€homes€in€the€neighborhood€and€calculated€in€a€ð ðbusiness„like€method.ðð€ÏHusband€asserts€that€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€reveals€the€homeððs€proper€valuation€atÏ$200,000€and€that€the€trial€courtððs€finding€otherwise€effectively€awards€Wife€an€additionalÏ$20,000.ÌÌà àThe€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€come€to€this€Court€with€a€presumption€ofÏcorrectness€and€we€are€to€affirm,€absent€an€error€of€law,€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€againstÏthose€findings.€€Rule€13(d)€T.R.A.P.;€òòò òSee€e.g.óóó ó,€òòò òHoward€G.€Lewis€Constr.€Co.€v.€Leeóóó ó,Ï830€S.W.2d€60,€69€(Tenn.€App.€1991).€€The€trial€court,€when€presented€with€these€conflictingÏtestimonies,€chose€to€resolve€such€in€favor€of€the€wife.€€Clearly€there€was€evidence€before€the€trialÏcourt€on€which€to€base€such€a€finding.€Furthermore,€the€record€does€not€support€HusbandððsÏassertion€that€Wifeððs€valuation€was€mere€guess€work.€€According€to€her€testimony,€which€the€trialÏcourt€accredited,€it€was€based€on€her€knowledge€of€the€sales€price€of€her€neighborððs€home,€with€aÏlittle€less€square€footage.€€In€this€respect,€Husbandððs€opinion€is€no€different€as€his€valuation€wasÏbased€on€the€sale€of€a€comparable€home€in€the€area.€€We€cannot€say€that€the€evidence€preponderatesÏagainst€the€trial€courtððs€findings€in€this€regard.€€Husbandððs€first€issue€is€without€merit.ÌÌà àHusbandððs€next€issue€concerns€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€rehabilitative€alimony€toÏWife.€€He€does€not€dispute€Wifeððs€need€for€support,€but€only€questions€the€amount€and€duration€ofÏthe€award.€€At€the€time€of€trial,€Wife€was€43€years€old€and€Husband,€44.€€Wifeððs€testimony€revealsÏthat€during€the€marriage,€she€was€the€primary€caretaker€of€the€children€and€household;€she€did€notÏwork€outside€the€home€except€for€a€brief€period€when€she€did€some€clerical€work€part„time.€€WifeÏbegan€attending€college€in€September€1993€prior€to€the€coupleððs€separation.€€She€is€currentlyÏworking€towards€an€associate€degree€in€nursing€and€would€like€to€continue€her€studies€to€become€aÏregistered€nurse.€€She€estimated€a€total€of€four€years€to€obtain€her€nursing€degree;€however,€sheÏmust€first€complete€some€developmental€courses€that€she€began€taking€her€first€year.€€She€currentlyÏtakes€two€courses€per€semester€but€would€like€to€increase€to€three.€€She€listed€her€monthlyÏexpenses€at€approximately€$4,000.€€ÌÌà àWife€stated€a€need€for€rehabilitative€alimony€ð ðfor€[her]€education€and€also€to€supportÏher€eldest€daughter,€soon€graduating€from€high€school€and€desiring€to€attend€college.ðð€€Wife€statedÏthat€she€could€work€for€minimum€wage,€but€did€not€think€ð ðit€would€be€worth€it.ðð€€Moreover,€sheÏstated€that€she€did€not€have€the€time€to€work,€especially€when€increasing€her€class€load.€€SheÏbelieves€she€can€obtain€her€associates€degree€in€another€year€and€a€half.€€ÌÌà àHusband€currently€works,€as€he€did€throughout€the€marriage,€as€a€nuclear€engineer.ÏHe€earns€$90,000€annually,€with€a€net€monthly€income€of€approximately€$5,600.€€He€listed€hisÏmonthly€expenses€at€approximately€$6,600.€€He€testified€that€he€has€been€financially€assisted€byÏhis€parents€to€account€for€the€difference.€€Husband€plans€to€assist€both€children€with€their€collegeÏeducations.€€Husband€admitted€Wife€was€the€primary€care€giver€of€the€children€during€theÏmarriage.€€Ìà àThe€trial€court€awarded€rehabilitative€alimony€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à(a)€For€so€long€as€[Wife]€continues€her€collegeÏeducation€in€a€continuous€orderly€manner,€and€for€a€total€period€ofÏfive€(5)€years,€[Wife]€shall€receive€the€amount€of€Two€ThousandÏFive€Hundred€($2,500)€Dollars€per€month€for€a€period€of€thirty„sixÏ(36)€months€on€or€before€the€first€day€of€each€month.€€Thereafter,Ï[Wife]€shall€receive€support€during€the€fourth€year€in€the€sum€ofÏTwo€Thousand€($2,000)€Dollars€per€month€for€12€months;€andÏduring€the€fifth€year,€[Wife]€shall€receive€the€sum€of€One€ThousandÏFive€Hundred€($1,500)€Dollars€per€month€for€12€months.ÌÌà8 àà à(b)€In€the€event€that€[Wife]€no€longer€pursues€herÏcollege€education€in€a€continuous,€orderly€manner€at€any€time€duringÏthe€first€thirty„six€(36)€months€of€her€receiving€rehabilitativeÏalimony,€then€the€amount€of€[Husbandððs]€obligation€will€be€reducedÏto€the€sum€of€Two€Thousand€($2,000)€Dollars€per€month€for€theÏnext€twelve€(12)€months;€and€thereafter€reduced€to€the€sum€of€OneÏThousand€Five€Hundred€($1,500)€Dollars€per€month€for€the€nextÏtwelve€(12)€months€until€the€[Husbandððs]€two€(2)€year€supportÏobligation€has€expired.€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àHusband€contends€that€in€making€the€award,€the€trial€court€failed€to€appropriatelyÏconsider€the€two€most€important€factors€in€granting€an€award€of€alimony:€need€and€the€ability€toÏpay.€€He€states€that€the€trial€judge€failed€to€consider€Wifeððs€ability€to€support€herself€andÏHusbandððs€inability€in€light€of€the€marital€debt€and€assets€awarded€him.€€ÌÌà àIn€making€the€award,€the€trial€court€expressly€found€Wifeððs€plan€for€her€educationÏð ðsound,ðð€while€acknowledging€that€such€a€ð ðheavyðð€request€would€ð ðplace€quite€a€crimp€on€theÏhusband€for€three€years,€of€$2,500€per€year€spousal€support€for€36€months.ðð€€The€court€continued:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àThe€spousal€support€is€rehabilitative.€€It€will€come€toÏan€end.€It€does€not€last€forever.€€It€will€be€a€heavy€burden€for€theÏhusband€in€the€short„term.€€Twelve€factors€are€given€judges€toÏconsider.€€The€Court€has€considered€all€12€but€in€particular€factorsÏone,€two,€three,€six,€seven,€eight,€nine,€and€11,€.€.€.€.€€The€relativeÏearning€capacity€far€disparate€favoring€the€husband;€the€needs€of€theÏparties€far€disparate€the€wife€has€more.€She€has€the€children€after€all.€ÏShe€has€the€need€for€the€education.€€The€relative€education€is€farÏdisparate.€€It€is€a€long€marriage.€€It€is€undesirable€for€the€wife€toÍseek€minimum„wage€employment€outside€the€home€while€studyingÏand€while€providing€the€hands„on€care€for€her€two€daughters.ÌÌà8 àà àThe€separate€assets€are€not€significant.€€We€consider,Ïof€course,€what€was€done€.€.€.€under€equitable€distribution.€€WeÏconsider€the€fact€the€parties€had€a€comfortable€standard€of€living€inÏthe€same€„„€to€the€extent€possible€should€be€continued.€€We€considerÏto€some€extent€relative€fault€in€this€stipulated€divorce.€€ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àAs€to€the€marital€property€division,€the€trial€court€divided€equally€between€theÏparties€certain€pension€and€retirement€accounts,€totaling€approximately€$148,000.× ƒ( ××  ×€€The€coupleððsÏsavings€account€of€approximately€$1,500€and€certain€shares€of€stock,€valued€by€the€partiesÏbetween€$4,000€and€$13,000,€were€also€divided€equally.€€As€to€marital€debt,€Husband€wasÏordered€to€pay€certain€credit€card€accounts€totaling€approximately€$5,000.€€The€parties€were€equallyÏresponsible€for€another€Visa€account€totaling€approximately€$6,000,€according€to€Husband.€€WifeÏwas€held€solely€responsible€for€the€mortgage€on€the€marital€home,€a€$300€Service€MerchandiseÏdebt€and€a€$450€veterinarian€bill.€€Wife€was€also€responsible€for€the€$10,000€note€on€the€vehicleÏshe€was€awarded€as€her€separate€property.ÌÌà àHusband€is€correct€that€need€and€ability€to€pay€are€the€cornerstones€for€making€anÏaward€of€alimony.€€òòò òSee€e.g.,€Loyd€v.€Loydóóó ó,€860€S.W.2d€409,€412€(Tenn.€App.€1993).€€TheÏrecord€certainly€establishes€Wifeððs€need,€which€as€heretofore€noted,€is€not€denied€by€Husband.€ÏThe€duration€of€the€award€as€determined€by€the€trial€court€necessarily€takes€into€account€the€timeÏframe€for€Wife€to€obtain€her€educational€degree.€€We€do€not€find€the€length€of€the€awardÏinappropriate€or€an€abuse€of€the€trial€courtððs€discretion.€€As€to€the€amount,€we€agree€with€the€trialÏcourt€that€for€a€while€Husband€will€be€heavily€burdened.€€However,€considering€Husbandððs€annualÏsalary€and€present€earning€capacity,€plus€the€amount€of€marital€assets€(and€debt)€awarded€him,€asÍwell€as€all€other€relevant€factors,€we€cannot€say€it€is€too€heavy€a€load€to€bear€for€the€short€term.€ÏWe€also€note€that€the€coupleððs€eldest€child€reached€the€age€of€majority€in€December€1994€and€thus,ÏHusbandððs€child€support€obligation€should€be€reduced€accordingly.€€We€find€no€error€in€the€trialÏcourtððs€award€of€rehabilitative€alimony,€neither€as€to€amount€or€duration.ÌÌà àHusband€next€questions€the€trial€courtððs€award€to€Wife€of€ninety€percent€(90%)€ofÏher€attorneyððs€fees,€or€$4,333.73.€€The€trial€courtððs€judgment€allows€Husband€to€pay€such€amountÏin€monthly€increments€of€no€less€than€$100.€€The€awarding€of€attorneyððs€fees€is€within€the€soundÏdiscretion€of€the€trial€court.€€òòò òLoydóóó ó,€860€S.W.2d€at€413.€€In€making€its€decision,€the€trial€courtÏconsidered,€òòò òinter€aliaóóó ó,€the€partiesðð€statements€of€liquid€assets.€€These€reveal€that€Husband€hasÏapproximately€$3,200€more€in€liquid€assets.€€This€coupled€with€the€foregoing€facts€outlined€above,Ïleads€us€to€conclude€that€the€trial€court€did€not€abuse€its€discretion€in€awarding€ninety€percentÏ(90%)€of€Wifeððs€attorneyððs€fees€as€additional€alimony.ÌÌà àHusbandððs€final€issue€concerns€the€trial€courtððs€alleged€error€in€failing€to€establishÏan€ð ðascertainable€standardðð€by€which€Wifeððs€progression€toward€her€educational€degree€can€beÏmeasured.€€Husband€argues€that€the€trial€court€failed€to€define€the€phrase€ð ðorderly€mannerðð€andÏcontends€that€it€can€be€argued€that€Wifeððs€current€class€load€of€one€or€two€courses€per€semesterÏdoes€not€constitute€an€orderly€progression€towards€graduation.€€The€record€does€not€indicate€thatÏHusband€moved€the€court€to€amend€the€judgment.€€Rule€59.04€T.R.C.P.€€We,€therefore,€considerÏthis€issue€waived.€€Further,€counsel€advised€this€Court€at€oral€argument€that€there€is€pending€in€theÏtrial€court€a€petition€filed€by€Husband€to€modify€alimony.ÌÌà àIt€accordingly€results€that€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€and€this€causeÏremanded€for€any€further€proceedings€necessary€and€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€are€taxedÏto€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌScott€James€Kepler,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓ` Ü` È“XÓÓÓà à__________________________________Ìà àFARMER,€J.ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌCRAWFORD,€P.J.,€W.S.€(Concurs)ÌÌÌÌ______________________________ÌHIGHERS,€J.€(Concurs)_