ÿWPCx  `ùIƒ°É éÛ\«Dç6ëÅpÕbŒP Q_>œe7Ð*@Îh‡±Uä Žú룚W ÂÜŠÏÆùPÉ¿W—§m_º×–ªÛÙƒÛx¸º³tË2yUt¹Ç?¹ùÛtfWÎ?¾1M9Ò˜”º®³µ/jå;B¢>£†'˜ì“ÿñaz|Ç@¦ŠhÿÔ³ÿÍh Ùé5¥æòœŠúÉé:³z^Qì($…V+6MÍ”‡ÓGgñ‡ª¦rCañvn׃ÕO—ͬl;6•Û_ÒÞ–\_å}ŒÅ[å¹)_‘2%‚Ô-*±«aÖ+¹ÏdôÕYBYÀ}-ڇÍÞ¹¿O¥©æÎ½† ¸·K›oêD¬DG5¨4]I0RUFç]—» Ø ŒŒ¦/FŒ "RKoé­uÜCÖÉ᫲5oe¬Tìª/ â¸ÿæ«PVóV`òa@`ë ±þº¯_…P¹M¹ª¬ƪ þò' G¯<ˆrŠ«Ž(òðÐwô©Ì¡¡9'ù@fW$g‚ívvbæ_ÈóEѪìëã3ÜØŒ™T`ä¡8ëê¹z(b0ÜZ{qgW3ßxM–2O,™ KòBºïÙ™Kˆñ8Ì`Ï dGñY©¢“xôw5ZôvŽÉì<¬>*# LUNW %¥ 0(« 0ÁÓw@”4Ôèb÷ÿ†N ^ › m ´ ¼ U:¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ AQù ÆJ 0D 0DT 0D˜ ˜ D/Ü B B( D3E ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular¼($¡¡(q(2¸$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝѰ°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€XîX¼¼ÔÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ¢D£¤¥¦§e¨©ªÓ€´Ö~-&23|x´- ù-Sannella v. Sannella - opinion Î ' IB011T10IB011T1 .   u—:&cÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ  ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€¼¬Þ¼¼¼ÔÔ€Y…¼¼¬ÞÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÉV XY…ÔÐ  ÐÌJanuary€27,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,@ÓÐAZ‹"Arial Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑܰÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€„ýŠ„¼¼ÔÑ7€æè¼¼dXXdð7ÑÑ  Ññ´ññªñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@E Ý` 8ttxPXÜð  rßñªññ´ññ´ñßt€ )>.*jxÿN` `€€@E­*` 8ttxPåbð È tßñ´ñà@¡ ¡ Dàò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@ÜÜ)DàAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÔ€¼æè¼„„ýŠÔó óÌÌÌEDITH€CARMER€SANNELLA,à  à)Ð î  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àPlaintiff/Appellee,à À àà  à)Ð > Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àDavidson€CircuitÐ 0T  ÐVS.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àNo.€78390Ð Fj  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌJOSEPH€JOHN€SANNELLA,à À àà  à)à p àAppeal€No.Ð r–  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p à01A01„9701„CV„00004Ð ˆ¬  Ðà ` àDefendant/Appellant.à À àà  à)Ð žÂ  ÐÌÌÌà@!DàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURTˆÌà@ââ&DàFOR€DAVIDSON€COUNTYˆÌà@88$DàAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌÌà@  DàTHE€HONORABLE€MURIEL€ROBINSON,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Plaintiff/Appelleeóó:à À àà  àà p àà È àòòFor€the€Defendant/Appellantóó:Ð ¼"à ÐÌJohn€J.€Hollins,€Jr.à h àà À àà  àà p àà È àStephen€W.€PateÐ è$  ÐHollins€Wagster€&€Yarbroughà À àà  àà p àà È àMurfreesboro,€TennesseeÐ þ%"  ÐNashville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@%Dàò òÔ€„ýŠ„¼¼æèÔAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDó óˆÐ Ä/è)& ÐÌÔ€¼æè¼„„ýŠÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÐ  .:R4/ ÐѰÜÑÑ„°Ñò òòòÑ€ ÑÑ7€æè¼¼d¼¼d7ÑÓ€ÓÓ  Óà@ÎÎ)DàÔ‡„ýŠ„¼¼æèÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ#†¼æè¼„„ýŠ@ #Ôó óóóˆÐ ° ÐÌà ` àThis€appeal€concerns€a€husbandððs€efforts€to€terminate€his€spousal€supportÏobligation€following€a€twenty„year€marriage.€€Shortly€after€his€retirement,€theÏhusband€filed€a€petition€in€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€County€seeking€toÏterminate€his€spousal€support€obligation€because€of€the€decrease€in€his€income€andÏthe€post„divorce€increase€in€his€former€wifeððs€income.€€The€trial€court€denied€theÏhusbandððs€petition€after€concluding€that€his€retirement€did€not€affect€his€ability€to€payÏspousal€support€and€that€his€former€wife€continued€to€need€support.€€The€husband€hasÏappealed.€€We€agree€with€the€trial€court€that€the€husband€has€not€shown€a€substantial,Ïmaterial€change€in€circumstances€sufficient€to€justify€terminating€his€spousal€supportÏobligation.€€Therefore,€we€affirm€the€denial€of€the€husbandððs€motion€to€terminate€hisÏspousal€support€obligation.€€€€ÌÌÓ  Óò òI.ó óÐ ùI ÐÓ%ÓÌà ` àJoseph€John€Sannella€and€Edith€Carmer€Sannella,€now€both€in€their€late€60s,Ïwere€divorced€in€1976€after€over€twenty€years€of€marriage.€€The€Circuit€Court€forÏDavidson€County€awarded€Ms.€Sannella€a€divorce€based€on€cruel€and€inhumanÏtreatment.€€The€parties€had€four€children,€and€trial€court€awarded€custody€of€the€twoÏyoungest€children€to€Ms.€Sannella€and€permitted€the€two€oldest€children€to€chooseÏwith€which€parent€they€desired€to€live.€€These€children€chose€to€live€with€Ms.ÏSannella.ÌÌà ` àDr.€Sannella€established€a€successful€practice€as€a€pathologist€in€NashvilleÏfrom€which€he€earned€in€excess€of€$80,000€per€year.€€Ms.€Sannella€did€not€workÏoutside€the€home€during€the€marriage€even€though€she€had€a€master€of€science€degreeÏin€bacteriology€and€immunology.€€Rather,€she€stayed€at€home€attending€to€her€tasksÏas€a€wife€and€mother.€€After€considering€the€factors€relevant€to€an€award€of€spousalÏsupport,€the€trial€court€directed€Dr.€Sannella€to€pay€Ms.€Sannella€$1,250€per€monthÏin€long„term€spousal€support€until€her€death€or€remarriage.ÌÌà ` àMs.€Sannella€remained€in€Nashville€following€the€divorce€and€obtained€a€jobÏthat€paid€$6€per€hour€as€a€microbiologist€with€the€State€of€Tennessee.€€Thereafter,€sheÐ ì:<6B Ðobtained€her€present€employment€at€the€Vanderbilt€University€School€of€MedicineÏwhere€she€earns€approximately€$38,000€per€year.€€Ms.€Sannella€has€lived€frugallyÏsince€the€divorce.€€She€has€used€most€of€her€discretionary€income€to€build€up€herÏretirement€fund.€€She€also€cares€for€one€of€the€partiesðð€adult€children€who€suffers€fromÏpsychological€problems€and€who€has€moved€in€with€her.€€Her€house€has€fallen€intoÏsuch€a€state€of€disrepair€that€the€house,€appraised€at€$65,000,€is€worth€less€than€theÏlot€which€would€be€worth€$75,000€to€$90,000€if€the€house€were€removed.€€ÌÌà ` àDr.€Sannella€remarried€following€the€divorce€and€moved€to€Utah.€€HeÏestablished€a€successful€solo€practice€and€also€co„founded€Med„Arrow,€Inc.,€an€airÏambulance€service.€€His€combined€annual€income€during€this€time€was€betweenÏ$115,000€and€$144,000.€€In€July€1985,€Dr.€Sannella€tried€unsuccessfully€to€convinceÏthe€court€to€lower€his€spousal€support.€€When€his€second€marriage€ended€in€divorceÏin€1989,€he€considered€moving€to€Florida€to€be€near€his€mother€and€even€purchasedÏa€condominium€there.€€However,€when€he€failed€to€find€suitable€employment€inÏFlorida,€he€decided€to€remain€in€Utah.€ÌÌà ` àDr.€Sannella€scaled€back€his€practice€and€began€to€work€part„time€in€late€1994Ïand€the€early€part€of€1995.€He€officially€retired€in€August€1994€because€he€wasÏð ðtired,ðð€because€the€work€had€become€difficult,€and€because€he€did€not€believe€he€wasÏas€sharp€as€he€once€had€been.€€Dr.€Sannella€married€for€the€third€time€and€moved€toÏApollo€Beach,€Florida€where€his€new€wife€was€employed€as€the€nursing€director€atÏa€nearby€hospital€earning€approximately€$65,000€annually.€€One€of€his€sons,€who€isÏmildly€retarded,€lives€with€him.€€Even€though€Dr.€Sannella€no€longer€activelyÏpractices€as€a€pathologist,€he€and€his€present€wife€live€a€comfortable€life€in€Florida.€ÏThey€own€a€$185,000€home€with€a€pool€and€a€$60,000€sailboat€docked€nearby,€asÏwell€as€a€condominium.€€Their€joint€income€tax€return€for€1995€stated€that€their€grossÏincome€was€$222,349.ÌÌà ` àOn€April€19,1995,€Dr.€Sannella€filed€a€petition€to€terminate€his€spousal€supportÏobligation.€€He€alleged€that€a€permanent€and€material€change€in€financialÏcircumstances€rendered€him€unable€to€meet€his€alimony€obligation€and€that€Ms.Ð Ô:$6B ÐSannella€no€longer€needed€spousal€support.€€Following€a€bench€trial,€the€judge€foundÏDr.€Sannellaððs€arguments€unpersuasive€and€denied€the€petition.€€Dr.€Sannella€hasÏappealed.ÌÓ  Óò òII.ó óÐ œ ì ÐÓ¤ÓÌà ` àDr.€Sannella€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€determining€that€his€decreasedÏincome,€coupled€with€Ms.€Sannellaððs€improved€financial€condition€following€theÏdivorce,€did€not€warrant€terminating€his€support€obligation.€€He€specifically€pointsÏto€his€recent€retirement€and€Ms.€Sannellaððs€increased€net€worth€and€record€of€steadyÏemployment.ÌÌà@ÓÓ.Dàò òA.ó óˆÐ ¼  ÐÌà ` àCourts€cannot€modify€or€terminate€a€spousal€support€award€unless€there€hasÏbeen€a€substantial,€material€change€in€circumstances€since€the€entry€of€the€previousÏsupport€decree.€€òòSee€óóTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„101(a)(1)€(Supp.€1997);€òòBrewer€v.Ð Lœ ÐBreweróó,€869€S.W.2d€928,€935€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993);€òòCranford€v.€Cranfordóó,€772Ð ð@  ÐS.W.2d€48,€50€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989).€€In€order€to€be€material,€a€change€inÏcircumstances€must€have€been€unforeseeable€at€the€time€of€the€decree.€€òòSee€McCartyÐ 8"ˆ$ Ðv.€McCartyóó,€863€S.W.2d€716,€719€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992);€òòElliot€v.€Elliotóó,€825€S.W.2dÐ Ü#,& Ð87,€90€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€It€must€also€affect€the€obligor€spouseððs€ability€to€payÏor€the€obligee€spouseððs€need€for€alimony.€€òòSee€Bowman€v.€Bowmanóó,€863€S.W.2d€563,Ð $'t"* Ð568€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€ÌÌà ` àThe€party€seeking€modification€of€a€support€obligation€bears€the€burden€ofÏproving€there€has€been€a€substantial,€material€change€in€circumstances€and€that€theÏmodification€is€warranted.€€òòSee€Elliot€v.€Elliotóó,€825€S.W.2d€at€90;€òòSeal€v.€Sealóó,€802Ð X/¨*4 ÐS.W.2d€617,€620€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1990).€€If€the€petitioner€meets€this€burden,€the€courtÏthen€utilizes€the€same€factors€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„101(d)(1)€(Supp.€1998)€thatÏwere€considered€in€making€the€initial€award€to€determine€the€appropriateÏmodification.€€òòSee€Brewer€v.€Breweróó,€869€S.W.2d€at€936;€òòNorvell€v.€Norvellóó,€805Ð è581< ÐS.W.2d€772,€774€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1990).€€Ìâ âÐ 09€4@ Ðà ` àWhile€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„5„101(d)(1)€permits€the€consideration€of€manyÏâ âfactors,€the€recipient€spouse's€demonstrated€need€for€spousal€support€is€the€singleÏmost€important€factor.€€òòSee€Cranford€v.€Cranfordóó,€772€S.W.2d€at€50;€òòLancaster€v.Ð øH ÐLancasteróó,€671€S.W.2d€501,€503€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).€€The€obligor€spouseððs€abilityÐ œ ì Ðto€pay€is€another€important€factor.€€òòSee€Smith€v.€Smithóó,€912€S.W.2d€155,€159€(Tenn.Ð @  ÐCt.€App.€1995).€€An€alimony€recipientððs€increased€income€alone€is€not€sufficient€toÏwarrant€reducing€or€terminating€€support,€òòsee€McCarty€v.€McCartyóó,€863€S.W.2d€716,Ð ˆØ  Ð720€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992);òò€Norvell€v.€Norvellóó,€805€S.W.2d€772,€775€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð ,|  Ð1990),€nor€may€an€obligor€spouse€avoid€paying€support€by€voluntarily€assuming€newÏfinancial€obligations.€€òòSee€Ð tÄ ÐElliot€v.€Elliotóó,€825€S.W.2d€at€91;€òòJones€v.€Jonesóó,€784€S.W.2d€349,€353€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð h ÐApp.€1989).ÌÌà ` àBecause€support€decisions€are€factually€driven€and€involve€considering€andÏbalancing€numerous€factors,€we€give€wide€latitude€to€the€trial€courtððs€discretion.€€òòSeeÐ ¨ø ÐCranford€v.€Cranfordóó,€772€S.W.2d€at€50.€€We€review€a€trial€courtððs€decisionÐ Lœ Ðaccording€to€the€familiar€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d)€standard,€and€we€will€uphold€the€trialÏcourtððs€decision€unless€it€is€based€on€an€improper€application€of€the€law€or€is€againstÏthe€preponderance€of€the€evidence.€€òòSee€Cranford€v.€Cranfordóó,€772€S.W.2d€at€50;Ð 8"ˆ$ ÐòòLuna€v.€Lunaóó,€718€S.W.2d€673,€675€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1986).Ð Ü#,& ÐÌà@ÙÙ.Dàò òB.ó óˆÐ $'t"* ÐÌà ` àThe€record€in€this€case€provides€no€basis€to€second„guess€the€trial€courtððsÏdenial€of€Dr.€Sannellaððs€request€to€terminate€his€spousal€support.€€When€the€partiesÏdivorced,€Dr.€Sannellaððs€eventual€retirement€and€Ms.€Sannellaððs€re„entry€into€theÏworkforce€were€certainly€foreseeable.€€After€becoming€a€single€parent€with€fourÏchildren,€Ms.€Sannella€had€little€choice€other€than€to€enter€the€workforce€to€provideÏimmediate€support€for€herself€and€her€children€and€long„term€support€for€herself.€€Ms.ÏSannella€needed€to€increase€her€net€worth€because€she€did€not€receive€any€portion€ofÏDr.€Sannellaððs€retirement€benefits€in€the€divorce€proceeding.€€Thus,€the€partiesððÏcurrent€circumstances€are€not€the€result€of€significant,€unanticipated€changes€inÏcircumstances.ÌÐ Ô:$6B Ðà ` àWe€have€also€determined€that€neither€Dr.€Sannellaððs€voluntary€retirement€norÏMs.€Sannellaððs€frugality€affects€Dr.€Sannellaððs€ability€to€pay€spousal€support€or€Ms.ÏSannellaððs€need€for€support.€€At€the€time€of€divorce,€Dr.€Sannella€was€earningÏapproximately€$80,000€per€year€and€had€a€net€worth€of€approximately€$59,000.€€HisÏearnings€steadily€rose€during€his€career€to€a€regular€income€of€between€$115,000€andÏ$144,000€in€the€1990s.€€At€the€time€of€trial,€his€net€worth€had€increased€to€$750,000,Ïincluding€$265,000€in€a€401„K€account,€$100,000€of€stock€in€Med„Arrow,€Inc.,Ï$85,000€of€equity€in€his€marital€residence,€a€$60,000€condominium,€a€$60,000Ïsailboat,€$54,000€in€his€professional€corporation,€and€other€assets.€€ÌÌà ` àAlthough€Dr.€Sannella€is€now€retired,€he€still€earns€$2,500€a€month€from€hisÏposition€with€Med„Arrow,€Inc.€and€his€social€security€benefits.€€During€the€firstÏquarter€of€1996,€he€paid€himself€only€$3,500€from€his€professional€corporation,€evenÏthough€the€corporationððs€gross€income€for€1995€was€$78,245,€and€its€revenues€as€ofÏMarch€31,€1996,€were€$13,884.€€His€joint€checking€account€with€his€current€wifeÏcarried€a€$40,000€to€$50,000€balance€every€month.€€Dr.€Sannella€could€not€explainÏseveral€large€deposits€made€during€early€1996,€including€two€for€approximatelyÏ$5,000€and€$8,500,€which€could€not€be€attributed€to€either€his€or€his€current€wifeððsÏregular€sources€of€income.€ÌÌà ` àCounting€the€support€received€from€Dr.€Sannella,€Ms.€Sannella€receives€$3,400Ïeach€month€and€has€expenses€of€$3,543,€creating€a€$134€monthly€shortfall.€Dr.ÏSannellaððs€support€payments€constitute€36%€of€Ms.€Sannellaððs€income.€€She€hasÏmanaged€to€accumulate€$296,000€in€assets,€including€$50,000€inherited€from€herÏmother,€an€insurance€policy€on€Dr.€Sannellaððs€life€with€an€$87,000€cash€surrenderÏvalue€to€provide€for€one€of€the€partiesðð€children,€a€$43,000€individual€retirementÏaccount,€and€her€Vanderbilt€pension€valued€at€$88,000.€€Ms.€Sannella€has€incurredÏa€$28,000€debt€to€level€the€foundation€of€her€house€and€plans€to€sell€the€house€toÏavoid€€incurring€additional€repair€expenses.€€Ms.€Sannella€plans€to€work€as€long€asÏshe€can,€but€she€will€only€be€able€to€work€until€her€seventieth€birthday€because€ofÏVanderbiltððs€mandatory€retirement€policy.€€She€also€pointed€out€that€her€long€absenceÏfrom€the€workforce€has€significantly€decreased€her€social€security€benefits€and€thatÏshe€will€be€unable€to€support€herself€in€retirement€on€her€social€security€benefitsÏalone.€€Ð Ô:$6B Їà ` àAccordingly,€we€conclude€that€Dr.€Sannella€has€failed€to€prove€that€the€changeÏin€circumstances€is€material€enough€to€justify€terminating€his€spousal€supportÏobligation.€€His€retirement€from€a€lucrative€medical€practice,€his€purchase€of€a€newÏhome,€and€his€remarriage€were€voluntary€decisions€that€have€not€rendered€him€unableÏto€continue€to€meet€his€support€obligation.€€Under€the€facts€of€this€case,€Dr.€SannellaÏhas€failed€to€provide€justification€for€terminating€Ms.€Sannellaððs€support.ÌÌÓ  Óòòò òIII.ó óóóÐ ,|  ÐÓ ;ÓÌà ` àDr.€Sannella€also€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€by€assessing€$7,500€of€Ms.ÏSannellaððs€$9,670€in€attorneyððs€fees€against€him.€€Ms.€Sannella€argues€that€the€trialÏcourtððs€award€was€correct€and€furthermore€that€we€should€award€her€the€attorneyððsÏfees€she€has€incurred€as€a€result€of€this€appeal.ÌÌà ` àIn€a€divorce€action,€an€award€of€attorneyððs€fees€is€treated€as€alimony.€€òòSeeÐ ¨ø ÐSmith€v.€Smithóó,€912€S.W.2d€at€161;€òòGilliam€v.€Gilliamóó,€776€S.W.2d€81,€86€(Tenn.€Ct.Ð Lœ ÐApp.€1988).€€The€decision€to€award€attorneyððs€fees€lies€within€the€sound€discretionÏof€the€trial€judge,€sòòee€Aaron€v.€Aaronóó,€909€S.W.2d€408,€411€(Tenn.€1995);€òòBrown€v.Ð ” ä" ÐBrownóó,€913€S.W.2d€163,€170€(Tenn.€ñŸññžñt.€ñžññŸññ ñCt.€App.€1994)ñ ññŸññžñAñžññŸñ,€and€this€court€will€not€interfereÐ 8"ˆ$ Ðwith€the€trial€judgeððs€decision€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€it.€€òòSeeÐ Ü#,& ÐBatson€v.€Batsonóó,€769€S.W.2d€849,€862€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988).òò€óó€€A€party€is€entitledÐ €%Ð ( Ðto€attorneyððs€fees€when€he€or€she€lacks€sufficient€funds€to€pay€his€or€her€legalÏexpenses€or€would€find€it€necessary€to€deplete€other€assets€to€do€so.€€òòSee€Brown€v.Ð È($, ÐBrownóó,€913€S.W.2d€at€170;€òòKincaid€v.€Kincaidóó,€912€S.W.2d€140,€144€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð l*¼%. Ð1995).ÌÌà ` àMs.€Sannella,€who€already€suffers€from€a€$134€monthly€shortfall,€does€not€haveÏsufficient€funds€to€pay€her€attorneyððs€fees€and€could€only€do€so€by€depleting€otherÏassets.€€This€is€the€fourth€time€that€she€has€incurred€legal€expenses€due€to€Dr.ÏSannellaððs€unwillingness€to€pay€his€alimony€obligation.€€We€ñ¡ñfñ¡ñind€no€abuse€ofÏdiscretion€on€the€part€of€the€trial€judge€in€awarding€Ms.€Sannella€her€attorneyððs€fees.€ÏFor€the€same€reasons,€we€also€award€Ms.€Sannella€her€attorneyððs€fees€associated€withÏthis€appeal.€€On€remand,€the€trial€court€should€hear€proof€and€set€a€reasonable€fee€forÏMs.€Sannellaððs€attorneyððs€services€on€appeal.Ð Ô:$6B Їñ¢ñÌÌÌñ¢ñà@¥¥.Dàò òIV.ó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà ` àWe€affirm€the€order€denying€Dr.€Sannellaððs€petition€to€terminate€his€spousalÏsupport€and€remand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings€consistent€withÏthis€opinion.€€We€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€Joseph€John€Sannella€and€his€suretyÏfor€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.€ÌÌÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à_____________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGEÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEñ©ñ€Ð  ð@ ÐÑX„ÑÔ‡„ì„»¼šùÔÑ8€šù»»d¼»d8Ñà@¡ ¡ Dàò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@ÜÜ)DàAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÔ#†¼šù»„„ì´F#Ôó óÌÌÌEDITH€CARMER€SANNELLA,à  à)Ð È  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àPlaintiff/Appellee,à À àà  à)Ð ø H Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àDavidson€CircuitÐ `  ÐVS.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àNo.€78390Ð (x  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌJOSEPH€JOHN€SANNELLA,à À àà  à)à p àAppeal€No.Ð X¨  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p à01A01„9701„CV„00004Ð pÀ  Ðà ` àDefendant/Appellant.à À àà  à)Ð ˆØ  ÐÌÌÔ€ F !»¼šùÔò òòòà@cc(DàJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€Tóóó óˆÐ Ð  ÐÌÔ€¼šù»! F ÔÓ€Óà ` àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€the€DavidsonÐ T¤ ÐCounty€Circuit€Court,€the€briefs€of€the€parties,€and€the€arguments€of€counsel.€€UponÏconsideration€of€the€entire€record,€this€court€finds€and€concludes€that€the€trial€courtððsÏjudgment€should€be€ñ£ñaffirmedñ£ñ.ÌÌà ` àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€filed€contemporaneously€with€this€judgment,Ïit€is,€therefore,€ordered,€adjudged,€and€decreed€that€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€be€andÏis€hereby€ñ¤ñaffirmedñ¤ñ,€and€that€the€cause€be€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€furtherÏproceedings€consistent€with€this€courtððs€opinion.ÌÌà ` àIt€is€further€ordered€that€the€costs€of€this€appeal€be€taxed€ñ¥ñto€Joseph€JohnÏñ¥ññ©ññ§ññ¥ñSanellañ¥ññ§ññ©ññ§ñSannellañ§ñ,€principal,€and€ñ¦ñStephen€W.€Pateñ¦ñ,ñ¨ñ€ñ¨ñsurety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÏnecessary.ÌÌÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGEÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGE€ÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à______________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEñ©ñ