ÿWPCu …#†VUFÜ %" 07(_O~4Íá 0Jð 0T: 0^Ž 0hì 0rT 0|Æ 0†B 0È 1uX U,Í 0dù U,] U6‰ B)¿ DCè AM+U*x¢‡¾ BE 0Ubv~·vÓ5 D3 0@; AO{ÆÊ 0U 0Då D/) BX˜IBM Laser Printer 4019IBM4019ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0ÙP ß-—1·^#·ˆ# <¾½Q 9Z ‹.Courier New RegularX&âõ$¡Ñ€²Ñ Ö€ÿÿÖ EÝ ƒ&¦)ÝÝ  Ýà@°°*ìàÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚU_A 3|xT2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d7Border 1dd€- Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€"ÔÔ€"ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€"XÔÌÌò òFebruary€16,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€"ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó }Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ&)ÝÝ  Ýà@ àÚ  ÚÚ  Ú d(-3¦$©©Ý ƒâõ!ÝÑ€²ÑÝ  ÝPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA: T Monaco ÒÒ  BA: T Monaco Ò%%%%'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(-3¦$¢¢Ý ƒâõ!ÝÑ€²ÑÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€X„d&ÓÑ#€Xd#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÒ Ü ÒÒ ° ÒÙ€€ÙÑ  ÑÑ € ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑßL€!# ;+'h|` Å `€€LßÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OFÏTENNESSEEÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌKIMBERLY€LYNN€MUSICK€KYKER€€€:€€€€SEVIER€CIRCUIT€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€CA€No.€03A01„9509„CV„00324€Ì€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€€€:€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€HON.€REX€HENRY€OGLE€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:€€€€JUDGE€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:ÌTONY€JAMES€KYKER€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€:Ì€€€€€Defendant„Appellee€€€€€€:€€€€REVERSED€AND€REMANDEDÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌGARY€L.€ADKINS,€WITH€BILL€HOTZ€&€ASSOCIATES,€OF€KNOXVILLE,ÏTENNESSEE,€FOR€APPELLANT€ÌÌJERRY€K.€GALYON,€WITH€GALYON€&€STOKES,€OF€SEVIERVILLE,ÏTENNESSEE,€FOR€APPELLEEÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Sanders,€Sr.J.€ÌÌÌÓÓà àà àThe€€sole€issue€on€this€appeal€from€a€judgment€in€aÏdivorce€proceeding€is:€€Was€it€in€the€best€interest€of€theÏparties'€infant€daughter€for€her€custody€to€be€awarded€to€herÏfather€instead€of€her€mother?€€We€hold€it€was€not,€and€reverseÏfor€the€reasons€hereinafter€stated.ÌÌÖ€$Öà àà àThe€Plaintiff„Appellant,€Kimberly€Musick€Kyker,€andÏDefendant„Appellee€Tony€James€Kyker€were€married€in€1985.€€ItÏwas€the€first€marriage€for€the€wife€and€the€second€marriage€forÏthe€husband.€€The€wife€was€18€years€of€age€and€the€husband€wasÏ34€years€of€age.€€One€child,€Jadriane€Kyker,€was€born€to€theÏmarriage€in€March,€1988.€€The€parties€were€separated€and€theÏwife€filed€for€a€divorce€in€1991,€alleging€the€husband€wasÏguilty€of€inappropriate€marital€conduct.€€She€asked€for€aÏdivorce€and€custody€of€their€infant€child€with€reasonableÏvisitation€rights€by€the€husband,€child€support,€a€division€ofÏmarital€property,€alimony,€and€attorney's€fees.ÌÌà àà àThe€husband,€for€answer,€denied€he€had€been€guilty€ofÏinappropriate€marital€conduct€and,€by€way€of€counterclaim,Ïalleged€the€wife€had€been€guilty€of€inappropriate€maritalÏconduct.€€He€asked€for€a€divorce€and€for€joint€custody€of€theirÏminor€child.€€He€also€asked€for€an€equitable€division€of€maritalÏproperty.ÌÌà àà àAlthough€the€petitions€for€divorce€were€filed€in€1991,Ïa€final€judgment€was€not€entered€in€the€case€until€October,Ï1994.€€In€the€interim,€the€custody€of€the€daughter€was€with€theÏwife€and€the€father€had€regular€visitation€with€the€child.€ÏNumerous€motions€and€counter€motions,€which€are€not€at€issue€onÏthis€appeal,€were€filed€by€the€parties.€€Also,€both€the€husbandÏand€wife€developed€romantic€relationships€with€otherÏindividuals.ÌÌà àà àAs€pertinent,€in€September,€1992,€the€wife€filed€aÏpetition€asking€that€the€husband€be€required€to€pay€childÏsupport€òòpendenteóó€òòliteóó.€€The€husband,€in€turn,€filed€a€motion€toÏamend€his€counter€complaint.€€He€alleged€the€wife€had€enteredÏinto€an€adulterous€relationship€with€Kevin€Scott€Klein€and€theyÏwere€living€together€in€the€same€house€with€the€minor€child.€€HeÏasked€the€court€to€grant€him€temporary€and€permanent€custody€ofÏthe€minor€child.ÌÌà àà àUpon€the€hearing€of€the€wife's€petition€and€theÏhusband's€motion€for€custody,€held€November€9,€1992,€the€courtÏentered€an€order€denying€a€change€in€custody€but€ordering€theÏhusband€to€pay€child€support€and€fixing€husband's€visitationÏrights€"under€the€following€conditions:€That€the€mother€of€theÍsubject€minor€child€shall€not€cohabit€with€Kevin€Scott€Klein€orÏanyone€else€without€the€benefit€of€marriage,€pending€furtherÏorders€of€the€court."€€The€court€also€appointed€a€guardian€adÏlitem€to€represent€the€interests€of€the€minor€child.ÌÌà àà àThe€divorce€case€came€on€for€trial€in€May,€1993.€€UponÏthe€trial€of€the€case,€it€was€stipulated€the€parties€wereÏentitled€to€a€divorce.€€Although€such€issues€as€division€ofÏmarital€property,€etc.,€were€litigated,€as€far€as€this€appeal€isÏconcerned€the€only€litigated€issue€at€trial€involved€the€custodyÏof€the€minor€child,€and€the€controlling€issue€on€that€questionÏwas€whether€or€not€the€wife€had€cohabited€with€Kevin€Klein€afterÏthe€order€of€the€court€which€was€entered€on€November€9,€1992,Ïdirecting€her€not€to€do€so.ÌÌà àà àUpon€the€trial€of€the€case,€the€court€found€that,Ïbased€upon€the€testimony€of€a€private€investigator€who€had€beenÏemployed€by€the€husband€as€a€surveillant€of€his€wife'sÏactivities,€"cohabitation€did,€at€least,€on€that€one€instanceÏcontinue"€and,€based€upon€that€finding,€the€court€awarded€theÏcustody€of€the€child€to€the€husband.ÌÌà àà àThe€wife€has€appealed,€saying€the€court€was€in€errorÏin€removing€the€custody€of€the€child€from€her€and€awarding€it€toÍthe€husband.€€In€support€of€her€issue,€she€insists€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€the€finding€of€the€court€that€she€didÏcohabit€with€Kevin€Klein€after€November€9,€1992,€but€even€if€theÏevidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€court's€findings,€heÏwas€in€error€in€changing€the€custody€as€a€punishment€to€herÏsince€the€proof€fails€to€show€it€was€in€the€best€interest€of€theÏchild€for€her€custody€to€be€changed.ÌÌà àà àWe€must€agree€with€the€wife's€insistence.€€At€no€timeÏin€the€proceedings€did€the€husband€contend€the€wife€was€not€aÏfit€and€proper€person€to€have€the€custody€of€their€minor€child.€ÏIt€was€approximately€18€months€after€the€divorce€had€been€filedÏwhen€the€wife€filed€an€amended€petition€asking€for€childÏsupport,€alimony,€and€attorney's€fees€òòpendenteóó€òòliteóó€that€theÏhusband€filed€an€amended€answer€and€cross„complaint€asking€forÏcustody€of€the€child.€€His€sole€request€up€to€that€point€was€forÏjoint€custody€of€the€child.€€The€record€is€replete€withÏtestimony€that€the€wife€was€a€devoted,€loving,€caring€mother€toÏher€child.€€Her€training€and€discipline€of€the€child€wereÏexcellent€and€the€child€was€happy€and€well€adjusted€in€theÏcustody€of€her€mother.€€The€maternal€grandparents€were€alsoÏdevoted€to€the€child.€€After€the€separation€of€the€parties,€theÏgrandparents€took€care€of€the€child,€except€when€she€was€in€dayÏcare,€while€the€mother€was€working.ÌÌà àà àIt€is€clear€from€a€review€of€the€court's€memorandumÏopinion,€filed€after€the€trial€of€the€divorce€case,€that€heÏchanged€the€custody€of€the€child€from€the€mother€to€the€fatherÏbased€on€his€finding€the€mother€had€violated€his€order€ofÏNovember€9,€1992,€not€to€cohabit€with€Kevin€Klein.€€It€is€alsoÏclear€the€court€based€his€finding€solely€upon€the€testimony€ofÏGary€Litton,€a€private€investigator€the€husband€had€employed€asÏa€surveillant€of€the€wife€for€the€purpose€of€proving€the€wifeÏwas€violating€the€court's€order.ÌÌà àà àFrom€a€review€of€Mr.€Litton's€testimony€and€the€videoÏpictures€he€relied€upon€in€his€testimony€which,€considered€inÏconnection€with€the€time€of€both€daylight€and€darkness€whenÏcertain€activities€were€supposed€to€have€transpired,€one€canÏonly€conclude€Mr.€Litton€was€mistaken€in€his€identity€ofÏindividuals€or€he€reached€certain€conclusions€from€what€he€sawÏthat€were€not€supported€by€proof€or€were€shown€to€be€wrong€byÏother€factual€proof.ÌÌà àà àThe€time€span€covered€by€Mr.€Litton's€testimony,€asÏpertinent,€is€from€6:30€p.m.€on€Wednesday,€March€31,€1993,€toÏbetween€8:40€and€9:00€a.m.€on€Thursday€morning,€April€1,€1993.€ÏAt€that€time€the€wife,€Kim€Kyker,€and€her€daughter€were€livingÍin€a€mobile€home€located€on€her€parents'€property€and€only€490Ïfeet€from€the€residence€of€her€parents,€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Musick.€€AtÏthat€same€time€Kevin€Scott€Klein€was€living€in€the€residenceÏwith€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Musick€and€had€been€living€there€for€severalÏmonths.€€All€parties€were€consciously€aware€of€the€court's€orderÏthat€Kim€and€Scott€were€not€to€cohabit€together,€but€there€wereÏno€restrictions€against€their€being€together.€€On€occasionsÏScott€would€go€to€Kim's€trailer€in€the€morning€and€awaken€herÏand€then€he€and€Mrs.€Musick€would€ride€to€work€together.€€AllÏparties€were€also€aware€of€the€fact€that€the€husband€and€otherÏpeople€secured€by€him€had€been€keeping€a€close€watch€in€Kim'sÏactivities€as€to€her€relationship€with€Scott.ÌÌà àà àAs€pertinent,€Mr.€Litton€testified€he€was€employed€byÏMr.€Kyker€in€March,€1993,€"to€make€some€observance€of€theÏconduct€of€his€wife."€€"The€case€where€the€boyfriend€was€stayingÏall€night."€€He€testified€Mr.€Kyker€told€him€where€the€wifeÏlived€and€that€the€vantage€point€for€watching€her€home€was€HillÏTop€Road.€"Mr.€Kyker€had€told€me€that€they€watched€everybody€onÏHill€Top€Road.€€Hill€Top€Road€is€right€above€the€house."€€HeÏsaid,€"Well,€the€main€thing€is€Mr.€Kyker€advised€in€theÏbeginning€that€this€is€the€only€vantage€point€that€we€had€andÏthat€he€had€used€it€before€and€some€of€his€people€had€used€itÏbefore€to€look€in€on€her.€€And€they€was€aware€of€this€being€aÍgood€place€and€that€they€could€look€up€there€and€see€anybody.€ÏSo€you€couldn't€stay€there€too€long€without€any€problem...."€€HeÏtestified€he€started€his€surveillance€of€the€wife's€house€atÏ6:30€p.m.€€Her€car€was€already€parked€at€the€trailer.€€At€7:45Ïthe€lights€came€on€outside€the€trailer.€€At€8:45€p.m.€ScottÏKlein€pulled€into€the€driveway€at€Mr.€and€Mrs.€Musicks'€houseÏand€parked€his€car.€€He€then€walked€up€the€driveway€to€Kim'sÏtrainer€and€entered€through€the€rear€door.€€At€11:15€the€lightsÏwent€out€in€Kim's€trailer€but€he€continued€his€surveillanceÏuntil€the€next€morning,€which€was€April€1.€€He€testified€thereÏwas€no€further€activity€observed€until€the€next€morning.€€HeÏstated,€"{A]t€8:40,€Mr.€Klein€left€the€trailer€and€he€proceededÏhalfway€down€the€driveway.€€This€is€what€the€video€consisted€ofÏbasically,€is€that€[sic]€Mr.€Klein€exiting€the€trailer."€ÌÌà àà à€Mr.€Litton€testified€he€had€a€video€camera€with€aÌ600€mm€lens€which€he€used€to€make€a€very€short€video€filmÏlasting€less€than€one„half€minute.€€The€film€showed€a€large,Ïblurred,€illegible€white€object€in€an€open€field,€obviouslyÏbeyond€the€range€of€the€600€mm€camera€lens,€which€Mr.€LittonÏinsisted€was€Scott€Klein.€€Also,€beyond€the€location€of€theÏwhite€object€(Scott€Klein)€was€an€automobile€which€Mr.€LittonÏtestified€was€Mr.€Klein's€automobile€which€he€had€parked€in€Mr.Ïand€Mrs.€Musicks'€driveway€the€night€before.€€The€only€otherÍanimated€object€which€appeared€in€the€picture€was€a€blurredÏpicture€of€a€light€colored€automobile€which€drove€down€a€roadwayÏand€stopped€momentarily€opposite€the€white€object€(Scott€Klein)Ïand€then€moved€on.€€Mr.€Litton€testified€the€automobile€wasÏKim's€automobile€and€she€and€her€daughter€were€in€theÏautomobile.€€From€the€picture,€however,€no€people€were€visibleÏin€the€automobile.ÌÌà àà àThe€following€exchange€then€occurred€between€the€courtÏand€the€witness:Ì"The€Court:€€Did€you€see€the€child€leave€there?Ì"Witness:€€Could€see€the€child€in€the€front€of€the€car.Ì"The€Court:€€You€said€you€could€see€her€leave€with€her?Ì"Witness:€€Yes,€sir."€ÌThere€are,€however,€no€pictures€or€other€evidence€to€supportÏthis€testimony€of€the€witness.ÌÌà àà àThe€witness€also€made€the€statement€that€when€theÏautomobile€stopped€on€the€road€opposite€(Scott€Klein)€aÏconversation€took€place€between€Kim€and€Scott€Klein.€€He€did€notÏattempt€to€relate€what€that€conversation€was.€€We€conclude,Ïhowever,€considering€the€fact€that€the€objects€in€the€film€wereÏbeyond€the€focal€range€of€a€600€mm€telephoto€lens,€they€wereÍlikewise€beyond€the€audible€range€of€a€conversation,€and€thisÏwas€a€figment€of€the€witness's€imagination.ÌÌà àà àOn€cross„examination,€the€witness€admitted€that€atÏ8:40€p.m.,€the€time€he€testified€Mr.€Klein€parked€his€car€in€theÏMusicks'€driveway€and€walked€up€to€and€entered€Kim's€trailer,€itÏwas€"black€dark."€€He€testified€he€had€night€vision€equipmentÏwith€him€but€there€is€no€showing€as€to€the€distance€the€nightÏvision€equipment€is€effective.€€He€also€testified€it€could€beÏattached€to€his€camera€but€he€did€not€do€so€on€this€occasion.€ÏAs€pertinent,€the€questions€on€cross„examination€were€asÏfollows:Ì"Q.à àà àOkay.€€So€you€don't€have€any€picture€of€him€enteringÏthis€trailer?Ì"A.à àà àJust€my€word.Ì"Q.à àà àJust€your€word€that€he€entered€the€trailer.€€Did€youÏknow€him?Ì"A.à àà àDid€I€know€him?€Ì"Qà à€€.à àà àYes.€Ì"A.à àà àYes,€sir,€I€know€him.€Ì"Q.à àà àAnd€are€you€certain€that€what€you€saw€through€youÏequipment€was€Kevin€Scott€Klein€at€600€feet?€Ì"A.à àà àYes,€sir,€I€am€absolutely€positive.Ì"à à€Q.à àà àIn€black€dark?€Ì"A.à àà àYes,€sir,€I€know€Scott.€Ì"à à€Q.à àà àWith€infrared€equipment?€Ì"A.à àà àRight.€€He€is€[sic]€a€lot€heavier€then€than€he€is€now,Ïbut,€I€mean,€he€is€probably€ten€times€lighter€today€than€he€wasÏwhen€I€saw€him€but€I€knew€him.€€I€knew€him€when€he€was€anÏofficer.Ì"à à€Q.à àà àAnd€his€car€was€parked€down€at€the€lower€trailer?€Ì"A.à àà àRight."ÌÌà àà àWe€find€this€testimony€to€be€incredulous€for€twoÏreasons.€€First,€in€order€for€Mr.€Litton€to€see€and€recognizeÏthe€person€here€involved,€who€parked€the€car€at€the€lowerÏtrailer€and€walked€up€the€driveway,€through€his€night€visionÏequipment,€the€equipment€would€have€to€have€a€much€greaterÏcapacity€than€the€video€camera€with€a€600€mm€lens€had€in€brightÏdaylight.€€This€is€demonstrated€by€the€illegibility€of€the€whiteÏobject€photographed€by€Mr.€Litton€which€was€much€closer€to€hisÏvantage€point€than€the€lower€trailer€was.€€Second,€Mr.€Litton'sÏtestimony€that€Scott€Klein€was€ten€times€lighter€at€the€time€ofÏtrial€than€when€he€was€photographed€in€the€field€is€beyondÏreason.€€The€photographs€were€made€on€April€1,€1993,€and€theÏtrial€was€held€approximately€a€month€and€a€half€later,€on€MayÏ19.€€The€record€does€not€show€Mr.€Klein's€weight€at€the€time€ofÏtrial.€€It€does€show€he€was€formerly€a€law€enforcement€officer,Ífrom€which€a€reasonable€conclusion€could€be€drawn€that€he€was€atÏleast€average€weight.€€If€he€weighed€150€pounds€at€the€time€ofÏtrial,€that€would€mean€his€weight€on€April€1€would€have€beenÏ1500€pounds€at€the€time€the€photograph€was€made€and€he€wouldÏhave€lost€1,350€pounds€in€49€days.€€The€extremes€become€greaterÏor€less€depending€on€the€weight€used,€but€the€principle€remainsÏthe€same.€€Also,€although€Mr.€Litton€had€a€camera€in€his€handsÏor€immediately€available€at€the€time€he€said€he€saw€Scott€KleinÏenter€and€exit€the€trailer,€he€showed€no€pictures€toÏsubstantiate€his€claim.€€He€showed€no€legible€picture€of€ScottÏKlein€even€in€the€proximity€of€the€trailer,€nor€did€he€showÏpictures€of€either€Kim€or€her€daughter€in€the€vicinity€of€theÏtrailer.€€He€only€showed€the€blurred€picture€of€an€automobileÏwhich€he€insisted€was€occupied€by€Kim€and€her€daughter,€butÏneither€is€visible€in€the€automobile.€ÌÌà àà àBoth€Kim€Kyker€and€Scott€Klein€testified€they€had€notÏcohabited€together€since€November€9,€1992,€and,€more€important,Ïthe€uncontradicted€testimony€of€Mrs.€Theresa€Sudlow€showed€thatÏon€the€night€of€March€31,€1993,€she€was€in€the€home€of€Kim€KykerÏuntil€about€1:00€a.m.€€Her€testimony,€as€pertinent,€was€asÏfollows:Ì"Q.à àà àDo€you€visit€in€her€home€on€a€regular€basis?€Ì"A.à àà àYes,€sir,€I€sure€do.€Ì"à à€Q.à àà àDo€you€know€Mr.€Klein€spent€the€night€up€there€onÏMarch€the€31st,€this€last€March€31st?€€Did€you€know€about€that?€Ì"A.à àà àI€don't€think€he€did,€no.€Ì"Q.à àà àHow€do€you€know?€Ì"A.à àà àWell,€because€I€came€up€there€on€Wednesday€night€afterÏI€got€off€from€work€and€me€and€Kim€watched€TV€until€one€o'clockÏin€the€morning.Ì"à à€Q.à àà àWas€that€March€the€31st?€Ì"A.à àà àIt€was€a€Wednesday€night,€the€last€Wednesday€in€March.€ÏI'm€not€sure€what€date€that€was.€Ì"à à€Q.à àà àHave€you€looked€at€the€calendar€to€see€whether€or€notÏit€was€March€the€31st?€Ì"A.à àà àNo,€sir,€I€didn't€look€at€the€calendar€and€see.Ì€€€€€€€€€€[The€calendar€shows€the€date€was€March€31,€1993.]Ì"à à€Q.à àà àHave€you€been€up€there€since€that€time?€Ì"A.à àà àYes,€sir."ÌÌà àà àAfter€the€entry€of€judgment,€the€wife€filed€a€timelyÏmotion€to€alter€or€amend€the€judgment€as€it€related€to€theÏchange€of€custody€of€the€child.€€As€pertinent,€the€motionÏstated:€€"The€Plaintiff€would€aver€that€the€testimony€ofÏinvestigator€Gary€Litton€concerning€the€co„habitation€of€theÏparties€on€or€about€March€31,€1993€was€inaccurate€and/orÏuntruthful.€€The€Plaintiff€was€unaware€until€the€day€of€theÍtrial€of€this€cause€that€Mr.€Litton€would€testify€and€of€theÏcontent€of€his€testimony.€€She€was,€therefore,€unprepared€toÏrefute€this€testimony.€€Since€the€trial€of€this€cause€theÏPlaintiff€and€Kenneth€(Scott)€Klein€have€checked€into€theirÏemployment€records€and€other€material€and€have€ascertained€thatÏthey€can€prove€that€neither€of€them€were€[sic]€in€the€places€atÏthe€time€that€Mr.€Litton€claimed€to€have€observed€them€on€orÏabout€March€31,€1993.€€The€Plaintiff€can€and€will€present€bothÏlive€testimony€and€documentary€evidence€to€support€herÏcontention€in€this€regard€at€the€hearing€of€this€Motion."ÌÌà àà àAfter€the€wife€filed€her€motion€to€alter€or€amend€theÏjudgment,€the€court€entered€an€order€allowing€her€to€fileÏaffidavits€of€the€testimony€of€the€witnesses,€which€the€wifeÏdid.€€She€filed€four€affidavits€in€support€of€her€motion.ÌÌà àà àThe€affidavit€of€Mr.€Sam€Choy€stated€he€was€theÏgeneral€manager€of€Ponderosa€Steakhouse€on€March€31,€1993.€ÏKimberly€Kyker€was€an€employee€of€the€steakhouse€on€that€date.€ÏIt€was€part€of€Mr.€Choy's€duties€to€insure€proper€records€andÏdocumentation€of€all€the€hours€worked€by€all€employees€of€theÏsteakhouse.€€Hours€worked€by€employees€were€recorded€by€anÏelectronic€time€clock€and€time€cards.€Attached€to€the€affidavitÏwas€a€document€in€which€Mr.€Choy€said,€"I€can€positivelyÍidentify€as€the€time€card€for€employee€Kimberly€Kyker€for€theÏweek€including€March€31,€1993."€€The€affidavit€further€stated:€Ï"The€electronic€time€clock€measures€portions€of€hours€byÏhundredths€rather€than€by€the€minute.€€The€clock€also€uses€a€24Ïhour€military€style€timekeeping€procedure.€€For€example,€theÏentry€of€Mrs.€Kyker's€time€card€indicating€19:81€is€a€actualÏtime€of€7:48€p.m.€€The€19€represents€nineteen€hundred€hours€orÏ7:00€p.m.€€The€81€represents€eighty„one€hundredths€of€sixtyÏminutes€which€is€approximately€48.6€minutes.Ìà àà à"Mrs.€Kyker's€time€card€indicates€that€on€March€31,Ï1993,€she€reported€to€work€at€10:17€a.m.€and€went€off€duty€atÏ4:10€p.m.€€She€went€back€on€duty€at€5:03€p.m.€and€completed€herÏwork€shift€and€clocked€out€at€7:48€p.m.Ìà àà à"Because€of€our€procedures€at€Ponderosa€Steakhouse€andÏthe€complex€electronic€nature€of€our€time€clock,€I€believe€thatÏour€timekeeping€system€and€record€keeping€are€extremelyÏaccurate.€€Tampering€with€or€changing€the€electronic€time€clockÏwould€be€virtually€impossible.€€I€am€100%€certain€that€theÏattached€time€card€accurately€reflects€the€times€at€whichÏKimberly€Kyker€clocked€in€and€out€on€March€31,€1993."€ÌÌà àà àThe€affidavit€of€Kimberly€Kyker€(Klein)€was€filed,€inÏwhich€she€said:€€"I€cannot€state€with€certainty€my€whereaboutsÏon€the€evening€of€March€31,€1993.€€I€can€state€and€swear€withÍcertainty€that€if€my€time€records€indicate€that€I€was€'on€theÏtime€clock'€at€Ponderosa€Steakhouse€between€approximately€5:00Ïp.m.€and€7:48€p.m.€on€March€31,€1993€then€I€was€at€theÏrestaurant€on€duty€and€working€at€that€time.€€I€am€never€'on€theÏclock'€at€Ponderosa€Steakhouse€unless€I€am€actually€there.€€IÏmust€enter€the€time€card€into€the€electronic€clock€myself€when€IÏbegin€and€finish€my€shift."ÌÌà àà àThe€affidavit€of€Mr.€Roy€Von€Campbell,€the€employer€ofÏScott€Klein€on€March€31,€1993,€was€filed.€€He€stated€in€hisÏaffidavit€he€is€the€owner€of€Campbell's€Private€Investiga„Ïtions.€€Scott€Klein€was€an€employee€on€March€31,€1993.€€HisÏcompany€was€employed€at€that€time€to€furnish€security€to€the€RedÏRoof€Mall.€€A€Mrs.€Velma€Huskey€fell€and€injured€herself€on€theÏmall€premises€and€Scott€Klein€took€her€to€the€office€of€Dr.ÏLarry€Davenport.€€The€affidavit€stated:€€"Enclosed€herewith€isÏan€Offense€Report,€the€preparation€of€which€I€supervised€andÏapproved.€€I€removed€this€record€from€our€files.€€I€recognizeÏthis€document€as€the€report€which€I€signed€reflecting€theÏincident€involving€Mrs.€Huskey's€fall€on€March€31,€1993.€€MyÏcompany€was€providing€Security€on€that€date€for€Red€Roof€Mall.€ÏThis€report€indicates€that€this€incident€occurred€on€March€31,Ï1993€which€corresponds€with€my€recollection€of€the€date.€€ThisÏreport€also€indicates€that€I€arrived€at€the€Mall€near€Full€SizeÍFashions€at€21:17€(9:17€p.m.)€and€assisted€and€supervised€Mr.ÏScott€Klein€in€the€preparation€of€this€report.€€This€alsoÏcorresponds€with€my€personal€recollection€of€times."€€TheÏaffidavit€further€stated:€€"I€left€Mr.€Klein€at€the€parkingÏlot...between€9:30€and€10:00€p.m.€on€the€night€of€March€31,Ï1993."€€The€business€record€referred€to€by€Mr.€Campbell€in€hisÏaffidavit€is€not€in€the€record€before€us€but€the€facts€statedÏtherein€are€unrefuted.ÌÌà àà àThe€affidavit€of€Scott€Klein€was€also€filed€and€was€toÏthe€same€effect€as€the€affidavit€of€Mr.€Campbell.ÌÌà àà àUpon€the€hearing,€this€court€denied€the€motion€toÏalter€or€amend€the€judgment€but€failed€to€show€the€courtÏconsidered€the€affidavit€testimony€offered€in€support€of€theÏmotion.€€The€order€denying€the€motion,€as€pertinent,€stated:€Ï"This€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€on€the€22nd€day€of€August...uponÏall€remaining€issuòòsóóes,€including€the€plaintiff's€Motion€to€AlterÏor€Amend€Final€Judgment,€the€Court€having€heard€argument€ofÏcounsel€finds€that€the€motion€is€not€well€taken€and€the€same€isÏoverruled€and€disallowed."ÌÌà àà àIn€cases€of€this€nature,€our€review€shall€be€òòdeóó€òònovoóóÏupon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumptionÍof€the€correctness€of€the€trial€court,€unless€the€preponderanceÏof€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€TRAP€13(d).€€From€our€review€ofÏall€the€evidence€in€the€record€and€the€facts€and€circumstancesÏof€the€case,€we€find€the€evidence€preponderates€against€theÏfindings€of€the€trial€court€that€Kim€Kyker€and€Scott€KleinÏcohabited€together€on€March€31,€1993,€and€it€was€in€the€bestÏinterest€of€the€minor€child€that€her€custody€be€taken€from€theÏmother€and€granted€to€the€father.ÌÌà àà àWhether€we€be€right€or€wrong€in€our€holding€that€theÏevidence€preponderates€against€the€court's€holding€that€theÏparties€cohabited€together€on€March€31,€that€does€not€resolveÏthe€most€important€and€controlling€issue€in€this€case.€€ThatÏissue€is:€What€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€minor€child?ÌÌà àà àCertainly,€the€indiscretion€of€the€wife€in€cohabitingÏwith€Scott€Klein€in€the€household€where€she€and€her€minor€childÏlived€is€not€to€be€condoned€and€the€trial€court€was€correct€inÏordering€a€termination€of€that€relationship.€€As€stated,Ïhowever,€in€ò òMimms€v.€Mimmsó ó,€780€S.W.2d€739,€745Ï(Tenn.App.1989):€€"[S]exual€infidelity€or€indiscretion€does€notÏipso€facto€disqualify€a€parent€from€receiving€custody€ofÏchildren.€€However,€when€the€activities€of€a€parent€involveÍneglect€of€the€children,€such€neglect€may€be€considered€inÏrelation€to€the€best€interests€of€the€children."ÌÌà àà àIn€reading€the€court's€memorandum€opinion€as€itÏrelates€to€the€custody€of€the€child,€it€appears€the€court€wasÏincensed€by€the€thought€the€wife€had€violated€his€order€ofÏNovember€9.€€In€his€opening€statement€relating€to€custody,€heÏsaid,€"I€stated€at€the€hearing€in€November€that€I€would€notÏtolerate€any€cohabitation€by€either€party€in€the€presence€ofÏthis€child."€€He€made€further€reference€to€his€November€orderÏfive€or€more€times€in€his€memorandum€opinion.€€He€also€said,Ï"And€the€fact€that€parties€change€their€behavior€only€upon€orderÏof€the€Court€or€only€upon€fear€of€what€is€going€to€happen€inÏcourt€doesn't€really€impress€me€in€the€sense€that€I€hear€enoughÏcriminal€cases€to€know€that€most€people€you€cannotÏrehabilitate."€€Although€the€court€did€mention€the€welfare€ofÏthe€child,€that€was€not€the€thrust€of€his€opinion.€€The€court'sÏopinion€expressed€hostility€toward€the€wife.€€ÌÌà àà àIn€the€case€of€ò òLong€v.€Long,ó ó€488€S.W.2d€729Ï(Tenn.App.1972)€this€court€said,€at€733:ÌÒ 4 ÒÒ  ÒÓÓà àIn€custody€cases€the€Court€shall€not€use€theÏcustody€of€the€child€as€a€reward€or€punishment€to€theÏparent,€but€shall€be€governed€by€the€welfare€of€theÏchild.€€ò òCarrere€v.€Pruntyó ó,€257€Iowa€525,€133€N.W.2dÏ692.ÌÌÌÓÓÌÒ Ü ÒÒ ° Òà àà àApproximately€one€month€prior€to€the€trial€of€theÏcase,€the€guardian€ad€litem€for€the€child€filed€a€veryÏcomprehensive€report€of€his€investigation€and€conclusions€as€toÏwhat€would€be€in€the€child's€best€interest€for€custody.€€In€hisÏreport€he€referred€to€the€relationship€of€the€mother€and€Mr.ÏKlein€and€then,€as€pertinent,€said:€€"With€the€exception€of€theÏabove,€the€Guardian€can€find€no€problems€with€the€manner€inÏwhich€the€mother€is€presently€rearing€the€child.€€In€fact,€allÏevidence€gathered€by€the€Guardian,€including€interviews€with€theÏday€care€center€owners,€and€the€Guardian's€interview€with€theÏhusband,€indicates€that€Mrs.€Kyker€is€a€good€mother€to€the€childÏand€is€genuinely€concerned€with€the€child's€upbringing.Ìà àà à"Likewise,€the€husband€appears€to€be€dedicated€to€theÏchild's€proper€upbringing€and€is€genuinely€concerned€for€hisÏdaughter's€wellbeing.€€The€Guardian€can€find€no€criticism€of€theÏhusband's€living€conditions,€or€reputation....Ìà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€"ConclusionÌà àà à"In€conclusion,€the€Guardian€finds€that€the€mother€isÏthe€appropriate€parent€to€have€permanent€physical€custody€of€theÏchild€subject€to€liberal€visitation€rights€in€the€husband.€€TheÏopinion€of€the€Guardian,€in€this€reference,€is€based€primarily,Ïand€overwhelmingly,€on€the€fact€that€the€child€is€of€tenderÏyears€(age€4)€and€has€lived€with€the€mother€continuously€sinceÍthe€parties€separation€in€May€of€1991.€€It€is€the€Guardian'sÏopinion,€that€although€both€parents€exhibit€true€concern€for€theÏchild€and€good€parenting€skills,€it€would€be€unduly€disruptiveÏto€the€child's€development€and€emotional€status€to€placeÏphysical€custody€of€the€child€with€the€husband€at€this€time."ÌÌà àà àAnother€factor€which€is€material€to€the€custody€issueÏis€the€fact€that€soon€after€the€divorce€was€granted,€the€wifeÏand€Mr.€Klein€were€married€and€the€husband€and€his€girlfriendÏwere€also€married.€€This€makes€the€following€finding€by€theÏguardian€ad€litem€pertinent:€€"She€[the€daughter]€was€friendlyÏand€open,€and€spoke€fondly€of€both€parents.€€She€indicated€thatÏshe€enjoys€being€in€both€homes€although€her€father'sÏgirlfriend's€son,€David,€fights€with€her€and€she€'doesn't€likeÏDavid'."€€It€follows€that€if€the€daughter's€custody€is€with€theÏfather€she€will€be€required€to€live€in€a€household€with€aÏyoungster€who€fights€with€her€and€whom€she€"doesn't€like."ÌÌà àà àAt€the€time€of€trial€the€daughter€was€either€four€orÏfive€years€of€age.€€The€mother€was€26€years€of€age€and€theÏfather€was€41.€TCA€ðð36„6„101(d)€provides:ÌÒ  ÒÒ  ÒÓÓIt€is€the€legislative€intent€that€the€gender€of€theÏparties€seeking€custody€shall€not€give€rise€to€aÏpresumption€of€parental€fitness€or€cause€aÏpresumption€in€favor€or€against€the€award€of€custodyÏto€such€parties;€provided,€that€in€the€case€of€aÏchild€of€tender€years,€the€gender€of€the€parent€mayÍbe€considered€by€the€Court€as€a€factor€in€determiningÏcustody€after€an€examination€of€the€fitness€of€eachÏparty€seeking€custody.ÌÌÒ ' ÒÒ û ÒÓÓContrary€to€the€holding€of€the€trial€court,€considering€theÏdisparity€in€the€age€of€the€child€and€the€father,€we€think€thisÏstatute€is€applicable€to€the€case€at€bar.ÌÌà àà àWe€hold€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€bestÏinterests€of€the€child€being€served€by€the€award€of€her€custodyÏto€her€father.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed.€ÏThe€custody€of€the€child€is€awarded€to€her€mother.€€The€case€isÏremanded€to€the€trial€court€for€fixing€visitation€rights€of€theÏfather,€awarding€child€support,€and€entering€a€judgment€inÏkeeping€with€this€opinion.€€The€cost€of€this€appeal€is€taxed€toÏthe€Appellee.ÌÓÓÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€_____________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Clifford€E.€Sanders,€Sr.J.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:€ÌÌÌ_______________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.€ÌÌÌ_______________________ÌDon€T.€McMurray,€J.ÌÌÌà àà à€€ÌÌÌà àà àÌÌÌÌà àà àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ