ÿWPC øRcm¶;‚¥Ã¥š9 D”€ËŸ 7)XˆlƒÕCÉÕ¦'”ßÀ„HÄ@ÒÌ·qëÎE¬‘œMÍ"w Q;ÀP^d.w= ª>b¸äÞHVÏOÍÞÙqÉ:Mïr¬É÷ìÍЧCµv¶ašbKLAa»¾ûM”Pñ´äÅ*žàFž‰Ÿât‡;èW‹ãþÆ©vèf}‡q*f“,'ãÄ­[ŽPä¼3t‘ÖþìÈEô 5°Ö0s ‚DRÙ)f•À¬®AfCÀÿí~œJy ¬¤ÝËi$D´ö:§BXЋ‘_“ƒÖ4ð]#ö´ ZÄÛ-Èzõ(B$Œ » Ž0XÚG^÷Y¸áÊʆÍ+ø¹ý Ò)ÝZ%5¶”qg'9pãmYp`3éRèY¡IÚí$¼éöèìVCGÈŠr³‘ºÁ³€Q+,×bë3²ù¹¹¥àÊÓ¯EÈè-Ñ ?'PÒAI&›gÌHtå·qiÑFÿ±¢í“¹ª>@¿ªcM‡3 ë_¸—’Ó'z¦ŽøØÒ1þNpâ¹[}òc›Ûââ7¿²ÃÕDZP¯Çu¾P ô`…Ì4ÿûÍH÷ãe©/)|O|=Ÿ¨z3uöÓ¥güj£=ðq#Á %Ï Õ 0ˆÝ UNe ^ ³ w¿ zà Ò= 4 # 2 m4 ÆK ÆÆ×ÆNc 0DeeE©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©b«««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««« 0ë³³³³ Bžž 0¤» D3_ D-’ 0K¿¿ AS Æ] 0¤# 0DÇ A«                               D5¶ Bë˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0» (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÔ)L  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptö~ì(˜C8ÑŸ3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2y1$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€\­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôþmò»»Ô d(|3ÇŒ$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€\­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÇŒ$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€\­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKK€€€€)ûÿ!dxdxüÿP PdÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€\­»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼\­»»»ÔÑ8€ÙXXdì»»d8ÑÔ‡îJ´î»¼\­ÔÓ  ÓIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° Ðà@@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼\­»îîJ´î#ÔÐ Ö& ÐJuly€2000€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XÙX»¼\­ÔÌò òÔ#†¼\­»XXÙÎ#ÔBILL€D.€WRIGHTòòóó€v.€BONNIE€S.€HULLÔ‡XÙX»¼\­Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Fentress€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„37€€€€€€Billy€Joe€White,€ChancellorÐ æ 6 ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½ ` AßÐ ¾   ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1999„02307„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€€„€August€16,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓPlaintiff/Appellee,€Bill€D.€Wright,€sued€to€set€aside€a€1986€deed€whereby€he€conveyed€a€certain€tractÐ ŒÜ  Ðof€land€to€Defendant/Appellant,€Bonnie€S.€Hull.€€He€charged€failure€of€consideration€and€fraud.€Ð xÈ  ÐDefendant,€Ms.€Hull,€asserted€that€she€and€Mr.€Wright€cohabited€without€marriage€for€twelve€yearsÐ d´ Ðuntil€their€separation€in€1998.€€She€asserted€that€the€property€conveyance€was€a€gift€and€was€alsoÐ P  Ðconveyed€to€her€by€Mr.€Wright€to€put€the€property€out€of€the€reach€of€his€creditors.€€The€trial€courtÐ <Œ Ðheld€the€parties€to€be€equal€tenants€in€common€and€ordered€the€property€sold.€€We€reverse€the€trialÐ (x Ðcourt€and€dismiss€the€case.Ð d ÐÓxÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Reversed.ó óÐ ì< ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼\­»àXÙ:#ÔÔ‡XÙX.¼\­ÔWilliam€B.€Cain,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòBòòENóó€H.€CòòANTRELLóó,€P.J.,€M.S.,€óó€andÐ Ä ÐòòPòòATRICIAóó€J.€CòòOTTRELÔ#†¼\­»€XÙ-#ÔÔ‡XÙX¼¼\­ÔLóó,€J.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌS.€N.€Garrett,€Jamestown,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Bonnie€S.€Hull.Ð ˆØ ÐÌÓþÓò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼\­»XXÙ #ÔÔ‡XÙX»¼\­ÔÐ `° ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼\­»XXÙ #ÔÔ‡XÙX»¼\­ÔÓ  Óà  àBill€D.€Wright€(ð ðPlaintiffðð)€filed€suit€against€Bonnie€S.€Hull€(ð ðDefendantðð)€on€April€24,€1998Ð 8!ˆ  Ðalleging€that€he€and€Defendant,€although€never€married,€began€living€with€each€other€in€1982€andÐ $"t! Ðconducting€themselves€as€husband€and€wife€until€their€separation€in€late€1997.€€Plaintiff€had€beenÐ #`" Ðpreviously€married€and€had€received€a€certain€tract€of€land€in€Ô_ÔFentressÔ_Ô€County,€Tennessee€byÐ ü#L# Ðquitclaim€deed€in€settlement€with€his€former€wife.€€The€property€was€encumbered€by€a€mortgageÐ è$8 $ Ðthrough€Farmerððs€Home€Administration€in€the€name€of€Plaintiff€only.€€He€asserts€that€the€partiesÐ Ô%$!% Ðsought€advice€of€counsel€and€reached€an€agreement€whereby€Plaintiff€would€convey€the€property€toÐ À&"& ÐDefendant€and€that€simultaneously€Defendant€would€convey€the€property€back€to€him€with€neitherÐ ¬'ü"' Ðdeed€being€recorded.€€The€deed€from€Plaintiff€to€Defendant,€however,€was€recorded€on€October€15,Ð ˜(è#( Ð1986.€€The€alleged€deed€back€from€Defendant€to€Plaintiff€appears€no€where€in€the€record.€€PlaintiffÐ „)Ô$) Ðtherefore€claims€a€breach€by€Defendant€of€this€rather€nebulous€agreement€to€reconvey.Ð p*À%* ÐÌâ âÐ H,˜',ýÿ ÐÔ_Ôà  àIn€answer,€Defendant€admits€the€relationship€of€the€parties€but€denies€the€agreement€eitherÐ ° Ðâ âto€reconvey€or€not€to€record€the€conveyance€from€Plaintiff€to€Defendant.€€She€admits€that€PlaintiffÐ œì Ðcontinued€to€make€the€Farmerððs€Home€payments€while€they€cohabited.€€She€further€asserts€thatÐ ˆØ ÐPlaintiff€is€barred€from€equity€by€unclean€hands€in€that€ð ðhe€told€the€defendant€that€she€had€earnedÐ tÄ Ðthis€home€.€.€.€by€being€a€good€housewife€and€housekeeper€for€the€plaintiff€for€many€years€and€thatÐ `° Ðhe€had€creditors€that€he€was€afraid€might€take€the€home€if€he€left€the€home€in€his€name€so€he€wasÐ L œ Ðgiving€it€to€the€defendant.ððÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àThe€testimony€in€the€case€is€almost€entirely€limited€to€that€of€Plaintiff€and€Defendant.€Ð  ` ÐPlaintiff€had€sought€the€advice€of€Thomas€Coleman,€an€attorney,€and€Plaintiff€testified€regarding€thisÐ ü L  Ðadvice€as€follows:Ð è 8  ÐÌà0  àà ` àQ.à ¸ àAll€right.€€It€„€„€do€you€remember€going€to€Tom€Colemanððs€office€and€doingÐ À  Ðthis€deal€to€try€to€hide€this€property€from€your€creditors?Ьü (#(# ÐÌà  àà ` àA.à0 ¸ àI€wasnððt€trying€to€hide€it,€he€just€said€this€would€work.Ð„Ô ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà8  àà ` àQ.à0¸ Ð Ð àAll€right.€€This€would€work€to€keep€„€„Ð\¬¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àA.à0¸ Ð Ð à„€„€keep€them€from€trying€to€take€it€away,€you€know€„€„Ð4„¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àQ.€€€€€€€€€„€„€it€would€work€to€keep€the€creditors€from€taking€the€property€awayÐ  \ Ðfrom€you?ÐøHÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àA.à ¸ àDebt.€€The€debt€was€a€debt€with€Jane€Gooseman,€my€first€wife.€€WhenÐ Ð  Ðwe€built€the€house,€it€tell€right€in€here€what€„€„€Jane,€we€built€the€house.м Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àQ.à0¸ Ð Ð à„€„€yes,€sir.Ð”ä¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àA.à ¸ à„€„€so€she€went€in€debt€with€another€man€and€bought€a€lot€of€stuff€fromÐ l¼ ÐBaylouððs€„€„ÐX ¨Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àQ.à0¸ Ð Ð à„€„€I€understand.Ð0"€ ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àA.à0 ¸ à„€„€and€thatððs€the€debt.Ð$X"¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà  àà ` àQ.à ¸ àI€understand€that.€€In€the€final€divorce€decree,€thereððs€listed€out€a€bunch€of€debtÐ à%0!$ Ðà8  àthat€for€some€reason€you€took€over€and€they€were€trying€to€collect€from€you,€is€thatÐ Ì&"% Ðright?и'#&Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àA.à ¸ àWell,€the€debt€took€over€„€„€they€didnððt€read€that€it€was€and€my€debtÐ )à$( Ðâ âwas€supposed€to€not€have€been€stuck€with€hers€but€they€still€tried€to€stick€me€with€herÐ |*Ì%) Ðdebt€even€after€we€got€divorced.€€They€tried€to€claim€they€didnððt€get€the€paper€in€timeÐ ° Ðor€didnððt€get€notified€in€time.МìÐ Ð  Ðâ âÌà8  àà ` àQ.€€€€€€€€€€€Okay.€€So€the€people€that€you€and€Jane€owed€together,€or€that€maybeÐ tÄ Ðjust€Jane€owed€„€„Ð`°Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àA.à0 ¸ à„€„€yeah.Ð8 ˆ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà8  àà ` àQ.€€€€€€€€„€„€during€your€divorce€„€„€during€your€marriage€to€Jane,€were€tryingÐ  ` Ðto€collect€that€the€money€Jane€owed€them,€from€you,€is€that€right?Ðü L Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àA.à0 ¸ àUh„huh.ÐÔ$ ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà8  àà ` àQ.€€€€€€€So€Tom€was€trying€to€put€this€property€in€Bonnieððs€[(Defendantððs)]Ð ¬ü  Ðname€to€keep€Janeððs€debtors€from€trying€to€collect€it€from€you?Иè Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àà ` àA.à0 ¸ àYeah,€something€like€that.ÐpÀ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà  àThis€testimony€of€Plaintiff€is€buttressed€by€the€equally€strong€testimony€of€Defendant€andÐ H˜ Ðforms€the€basis€for€the€trial€courtððs€final€conclusion€wherein€the€record€reflects:Ð 4„ ÐÌà8  àà ` àà ¸ àTHE€COURT:€The€facts€of€this€case€are€that€Mr.€Wright€conveyed€thisÐ  \ Ðproperty€to€Ms.€Hull€in€1986€to€defeat€creditors€and€perhaps€to€take€care€of€Ms.€HullÐ øH Ðif€he€died€whereupon€she€would€not€have€inherited€the€house.€€Ordinarily,€in€a€caseÐ ä4 Ðlike€this€the€Courts€leave€the€parties€where€they€are€because€itððs€probably€a€fraudulentÐ Ð  Ðconveyance.м Ð Ð  ÐÌThe€difficulty€with€the€action€of€the€trial€court€is€that€after€making€a€clear€finding€of€fact€supportedÐ ”ä Ðby€the€record€that€the€conveyance€was€intended€to€defeat€creditors,€the€trial€court€goes€on€to€say:Ð €Ð ÐÌà8  àBut€this€case€is€a€little€different€from€the€usual€in€that€since€that€conveyance€in€1986Ð X ¨ ÐMr.€Wright€has€continued€to€make€the€payments€and€does€so€up€till€this€date.€€So€IÐ D!” Ðthink€the€equitable€thing€to€do€in€this€property€is€to€declare€that€these€parties€areÐ 0"€  Ðtenants€in€common€in€this€property€each€owning€50€percent€subject€to€the€mortgage.€Ð#l!Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIt€is€in€this€respect€that€the€trial€court€is€in€error.€€Except€for€the€value€of€the€property,€thereÐ ô$D # Ðis€little€difference€between€this€case€and€òòMcCallie€v.€McCallieóó,€719€S.W.2d€150€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð à%0!$ Ð1986).€€In€òòMcCallieóó,€a€father€had€an€automobile€accident€in€which€a€passenger€in€his€vehicle€wasÐ Ì&"% Ðhurt.€€Fearing€that€he€would€be€sued,€he€conveyed€his€$120,000.00€farm€to€his€son€withoutÐ ¸'#& Ðconsideration€and€then,€when€the€suit€did€not€materialize,€demanded€of€the€son€that€he€reconvey€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðproperty.€€Upon€the€sonððs€refusal,€the€father€brought€suit€against€him.€€This€court€held:Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà8  àà ` àThe€case€at€bar€does€not€fall€within€the€ambit€of€the€usual€case€where€a€parentÐ ° Ðâ âmakes€a€conveyance€to€a€child€and€on€trial€the€issue€is€that€of€overreaching€and€undueÐ œì Ðinfluence.€€The€issues€here€are€(a)€did€[the€father]€sell€the€farm€to€[the€son]€forÐ ˆØ Ð$120,000€or€(b)€did€he€convey€it€to€[the€son]€for€the€purpose€of€placing€it€beyond€theÐ tÄ Ðreach€of€possible€judgment€creditors.€€The€chancellor€found€it€was€the€latter,€and€weÐ `° Ðagree.ÐL œÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àA€court€of€equity€will€leave€the€parties€where€they€have€placed€themselves,Ð $ t Ðand€will€refuse€all€affirmative€aid€to€either€of€the€fraudulent€parties.€€òòSee€ContinentalÐ  ` ÐBankers€Life€Insurance€Co.€v.€Simmonsóó,€561€S.W.2d€460€(Tenn.€App.€1977).€€ð ðOneÐ ü L  Ðcannot€take€advantage€of€his€own€wrong.ðð€€òòWinter€v.€Allenóó,€166€Tenn.€281,€284,€62Ð è 8  ÐS.W.2d€51€(1933).ÐÔ$ Ð Ð  ÐÌòòÔ_ÔMcCallieÔ_Ôóó,€719€S.W.2d€at€153.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà8  àà ` àIn€òòThomas€v.€Hedgesóó,€27€Tenn.€App.€585,€183€S.W.2d€14€(1944),€a€case€quiteÐ „Ô  Ðanalogous€to€the€case€at€bar,€the€father€conveyed€his€farm€to€his€two€sons€at€a€timeÐ pÀ Ðwhen€a€divorce€was€contemplated€by€the€father.€€He€subsequently€requested€the€sonsÐ \¬ Ðto€deed€the€property€back€to€him€after€the€marital€discontentment€was€resolved.€€TheÐ H˜ Ðsons€refused.€€The€father€died€and€the€other€surviving€children€brought€suit€againstÐ 4„ Ðthe€brothers€to€have€the€land€placed€back€into€the€estate.€€The€chancellor€held€for€theÐ  p Ðplaintiffs.€€The€Court€of€Appeals€reversed€and€remanded€for€dismissal.€€The€courtÐ  \ Ðsaid:ÐøHÐ Ð  ÐÌà  àà8 ` à[Ô_ÔT]hereÔ_Ô€being€no€intervening€rights€of€creditors,€the€deed€was€good€asÐ Ð  Ðbetween€the€parties€and€their€privies.€.€.€.€.м ` x` x ÐÌà  àà8 ` àà ¸ àAnd€it€is€settled€in€this€state€by€an€unbroken€line€of€decisionsÐ ”ä Ðthat€a€party€guilty€of€fraud€is€not€entitled€to€be€relieved€from€itsÐ €Ð Ðconsequences.€€òòWilliams€v.€Loweóó,€23€Tenn.€62;€òòMoody€v.€Fryóó,€22Ð l¼ ÐTenn.€567;€òòColeman€v.€Pinkardóó,€21€Tenn.€185;€òòÔ_ÔMulloyÔ_Ô€v.€Youngóó,€29Ð X ¨ ÐTenn.€298;€òòSharp€v.€Caldwellóó,€26€Tenn.€415,€416;€òòParks€v.€McCamyóó,Ð D!” Ð40€Tenn.€297;€òòHubbs€v.€Brockwellóó,€35€Tenn.€574.€.€.€.Ð0"€ ` x` x ÐÌà  àà8 ` àà ¸ àThe€rationale€of€the€rule€is€to€be€found€in€the€two€maxims:Ð $X" Ðð ðHe€who€comes€into€equity€must€come€with€clean€handsðð;€and€ð ðNoÐ ô$D # Ðone€can€take€advantage€of€his€own€wrongs.ðð€€Gibsonððs€Ô_ÔSuit[sÔ_Ô]€inÐ à%0!$ ÐChancery,€42€and€51.ÐÌ&"%` x` x ÐÌà  àà8 ` àà ¸ àThe€fact€that€the€bill€.€.€.€charges€that€the€defendantsÐ ¤(ô#' Ðparticipated€in€the€fraud€avails€the€complainants€nothing.€€TheÐ )à$( Ðapplicable€maxim€is€that€ð ðWhere€parties€are€equally€in€the€wrong,€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðcondition€of€the€defendants€is€the€stronger.ðð€€In€such€a€case,€a€courtÐ h+¸&* Ðof€equity€declines€to€intervene,€not€by€way€of€favoring€the€defendant,Ð ° Ðbut€because€public€policy€requires€that€the€court€be€not€used€to€enableÐ œì Ða€party€to€reap€the€benefit€of€his€own€fraud.€€ÐˆØ` x` x ÐÌòòThomasóó,€183€S.W.2d€at€16„17€(citations€omitted);€€òòÔ_ÔMcCallieÔ_Ôóó,€719€S.W.2d€at€153„54.Ð `° ÐÌà  àIn€the€case€at€bar,€the€chancellor€found€that€the€conveyance€by€Plaintiff€to€Defendant€wasÐ 8 ˆ Ðmade€at€least,€in€part,€to€defeat€creditors.€€In€keeping€with€settled€Tennessee€law,€we€leave€theseÐ $ t Ðparties€where€we€found€them.€€òòContinental€Bankers€Life€Ins.€Co.€v.€Simmonsóó,€561€S.W.2d€460€(Tenn.Ð  ` ÐCt.€App.€1977).Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àIt€is€also€appropriate€to€note€that€the€Plaintiff€apparently€has€abandoned€his€appeal€as€he€filedÐ Ô$  Ðno€brief€in€the€case€and€the€record€shows€only€a€late„filed€letter€from€his€former€counsel€that€he€didÐ À  Ðnot€ð ðwish€to€defend€this€appeal.ððÐ ¬ü  ÐÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed,€and€the€case€is€dismissed€at€the€cost€of€Plaintiff,Ð „Ô  ÐBill€Wright.€€The€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€the€collection€of€costs.€à0 x àÐpÀx(#x(# ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à__________________________________________Ð  \ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEà8 @ à