WPC4 i6*9<!Vʰ8da4~?DWC"yXŪhy*(.r?dNмA̩'~frwR UbYqJDkQjΜ \ʓWq'|'c$ y35桐ρ w [헅,dC\7ܯUԣԤcE2c voȥ8!-ݤycjii ?7:t@"ߢo8ӂ݇x٦NʯDddװU<-ë(b %\^ b 0nUNwD4H\ zk m #    d * 0DNUNuJE7A9AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAb)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) 01111 B 09 D3 D- 0K== AS 0 0DE AwkI+ (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman RegularuV):i+00 3|x C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptUHP LaserJet 4050 Seri0  R$      4     _ԀTheTrialCourtalsoheldHusbandincontemptofcourtforanoutburstduringthetrialandfinedhim$50.00.  ЁLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#$  0  (9 Z6Times New Roman Regular k R$      5     _ԀTherecordshowsthatHusbanddidnotfalselyaccuseWifeofadulterybutratherthatWifeaccusedHusband  ofthisandevenwentsofarastoaccuseHusbandoffatheringanillegitimatechild,allwithoutanyproof. - R$      2     _ԀWifetestified,however,thatherrealpurposefortheDNAtestwastodeterminewhetherHusbandwason  drugs.Thetestresultwasnegativefordrugs. 7 R$      3     _ԀWifetestifiedattrialthatHusbandsoffertoundergoapolygraphtestdidnotquellhersuspicionsbecause  sheknewthatHusbandcould beatthetest.   R$      1     _ԀTheproofintherecordshowsthatoneofthepeopleWifehiredtoinvestigateHusbandsactivitieswas  George_Hines_,amanshemetovertheinternet,whoisdiscussedlaterinthisopinion.Wifeadmitted_Hines_Ԁwasnota t privateinvestigator.- -(|G2$ !.8udd8         0    d(|3j$ !.8udd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3j$ !.8udd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8udd8     _  u8KiXXdd8  @  uINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE#u #Ԉ &   August27,2001Session L _XKiXu_____ #uXXKi#HEIDIJEANBROOKSv.WILLIAMWALLBROOKSXKiXu    @@ AppealfromtheChanceryCourtforAndersonCounty    @@No.__00CH0410__ԀWilliamE._Lantrip_,Chancellor   ___FILEDOCTOBER9,_2001__ n  @@*AV) ` dE<Y` A Z  @@TTNo.E200100590_COA_ԄR3CV U AV) ` dE<,` A -} _ ___  ___After_Ԁtwentyfouryearsofmarriage,HeidiJeanBrooks( Wife)soughtadivorcefromherhusband, P WilliamWallBrooks( Husband),on_the_Ԁ_groundsof_Ԁinappropriatemaritalconductandindignities. < SeeTenn.CodeAnn.364101(11)(12).Afterhearing_____testimony_Ԁattrial_and_ԀuponHusbands ( motion,theTrialCourtdismissedWifesComplaintforAbsoluteDivorce,holdingthatWifedidnot  sustainherburdenofprooftowarrantanawardof_divorce__._ԀWifeappeals.Weaffirm.  __ Tenn.R.App.P.3;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourt_Affirmed; t CaseRemanded. _ ` __  _#uXKi#XKiX.uD._Ԁ_Michael_Ԁ__Swiney__,_J.,_Ԁdeliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich_Houston_Ԁ_M._Ԁ__Goddard__,__P.J.__, $"t! and_Charles_Ԁ_D._Ԁ_Susano_,_Jr.,_Ԁ_J.,_Ԁjoined. #`" _Vivian_ԀL.Crandall,OakRidge,Tennessee,fortheAppellant,HeidiJeanBrooks. %$!% RobertW.Wilkinson,OakRidge,Tennessee,fortheAppellee,WilliamWall_Brooks. '"' _Q___________ 4-(- __ԇ___ _ OPINION   #uXXKi #XKiXu_#uXXKi#  XKiXu@% Background      ` Thepartieshavebeenmarriedsince1976andhavetwo_children,_Ԁ_____________both18yearsold ` orolder._ԀAtthetimeoftrialinJanuary2001,Wifewas45yearsoldandHusbandwas53yearsold. L  Priortotheirseparationin2000,thepartiesresidedinOakRidge,Tennessee.Atthetimeoftrial, 8  Husbandwastheownerandsoleemployeeofafranchisebusinesswhichcleansandrefurbishes $ t waste_dumpsters_.HusbandsbusinessislocatedinLebanon,Tennessee.Previously,Husbandwas  ` employedasabivocationalministerand_also_Ԁhad_various_Ԁsecularjobs.Theproofintherecord  L  showsthat_overthecourseofthepartiesmarriage,Husbands_Ԁjobsfrequentlyrequiredhimtotravel  8  _____away_Ԁfromthefamilyforweeksandmonthsata_time.______ԀOne_ԀofHusbandsjobscausedhimtobegone $  forapproximatelyoneyear.In___1999,_ԀHusbandbegantoliveinLebanonduringhisworkweek,   returninghometoOakRidgeontheweekends.Atthetimeof_trial______,_ԀWifewasenrolledasafulltime   studentinamassagetherapy_program,___Ԁwasemployedparttimeasaprivate_nurse,_Ԁand_occasionally   worked__Ԁas_Ԁahousekeeper.      ` InMay2000,WifefiledaComplaintforAbsoluteDivorce( Complaint)alleging \ ___the_Ԁ___groundsof_Ԁ___adultery__,irreconcilable_Ԁdifferences,inappropriatemarital_conduct,_Ԁandindignities. H SeeTenn.CodeAnn.364101(3),(11),(12)&(14)._Ԁ____Prior_ԀtofilingherComplaint,Wife__ 4 obtainedaRestrainingOrderandanOrderofProtectionregardingHusbandscontactwithWifeand  p histreatmentofthepartiesassetsanddebts.HusbandfiledanAnswerdenyingWifesalleged  \ groundsfordivorce. H    ` ___________________Wife_Ԁtestified_____theparties_Ԁmarriagebegantobreakdownduringthefallof1999.Wife   _also_ԀtestifiedthatHusbandsmoodstoward_her_ԀbegantovacillatewhenhewashomeinOakRidge   ontheweekends.InDecember1999,WifeaskedHusbandifhewouldbethereforher_______if_Ԁshewas  diagnosedwithcancer.Husbandrespondedthathedidnotknow.Thereafter,Husbandandthe  partiestwochildrentookatriptoArizonaforaUniversityofTennessee_football_Ԁ_game.____ԀHusband_  didnotaskWifeifshewantedtogowiththerestofthefamily_tothisgame._ԀInaddition,Wife l testified___she_ԀwasunsettledbyHusbandsincreasedinterestinsexwithWife.Wifetestifiedthat X  previously,Husbandhadtoldherthatshewasfatandsexuallyunattractive. D!    ` InearlyJanuary2000,without_____firsttelling_ԀHusband,Wifewithdrewapproximately #l! $65,000fromthepartiessavingsaccounts._Wife___Ԁpurchaseda newvehiclefor$26,000,deposited $X" over$30,000intoherpersonalmoneymarketandcheckingaccounts,andhiredherdivorceattorney. $D # Theproofintherecordshowsthatthepartieshadpreviouslysetasidethissumofmoneyfortheir %0!$ _taxes,avehicle__,andtheir_Ԁdaughterscollege_expenses._ԀTheproofshowsthatlaterthatyear,Wife &"% purchasedaharpforapproximately$1,000,aninstrumentwhichshedoesnotknowhowtoplay. '#& BythetimeoftrialinJanuary2001,Wife___had_Ԁ_only$700_Ԁleftfromthe $65,000shehadwithdrawn (#' ayearearlier. )$(   |*%)    ` Afewdayslater,Wifetraveledoutofstatetovisithersisterandwhilethere,called   Husbandtotellhim_she_Ԁwantedadivorce.Husbandtestified___this_ԀwasthefirsttimeWife_____brought_  upthetopicofdivorcewithhim.Nevertheless,_____________after_ԀWifereturnedtoOakRidge,theparties_saw_  amarriagecounselorinanattempttoworktowardreconciling. t    ` Twomonthslater,inMarch2000,whilethemarriagecounselorwasintheparties L  home,Husbandstated___he_Ԁdidnotwanttoliveanylongerandgotagunandbulletsoutoftheparties 8  bedroom.WifetestifiedshebecameveryscaredbecauseshewasnotsureonwhomHusbandwould $ t usethegun.WifewasabletosecurethegunfromHusband,andnoonewasphysically_injured____._Ԁ  `    ` Duringthatsamemonth,theparties,apparentlywithouttheassistanceofcounsel,  8  ___executedahandwritten____post_nuptial_agreement________.Inthepostnuptialagreement,thepartiesagreed $  uponthedivisionofmaritalassetsandalimony.HusbandagreedtotakeapolygraphtestwhileWife   agreedto limitedcounselingofherchoice.Bothpartiesagreetheyenteredintothisagreement   toworktowardsavingtheirmarriage.Wifetestifiedtheagreementalsowasaprecautionary   measure,toavoidcostlylitigation,justincaseofadivorce.      ` Thefollowingmonth,April2000,WifeandHusbandweretogetherintheparties \ OakRidgehomewhenWifefoundanotebookofHusbandsthatcontainedphotocopiesofWifes H notesregardingherwithdrawalsandpurchasesinJanuary2000.Husbandkeptfinancialdocuments 4 inthisnotebookanduseditregularlyinhisbusiness.WifetookthenotebookoverHusbands  p protests.InHusbandsefforttoobtainthenotebookfromWife,thepartiesphysicallystruggled.  \ WifetestifiedthatHusbandpushedherdowntothefloor,whileHusbandtestifiedthatWifesat H downonthefloorwhileholdingthenotebookclosetoherchest.Wifetestifiedthathernightgown 4 wasrippedinthisincidentandthatshefledinfeartoaneighborshome.Thisincidentprecipitated   WifesrequestforanOrderofProtectionandaRestrainingOrder.Itappearsfromtherecordthat   HusbandandWifeceasedlivingtogetheraftertheOrderofProtectionandRestrainingOrderwere  obtained.     ` WifetestifiedshebecamesuspiciousHusbandwasengagedinadulterous l relationshipsaftershehadadreamaboutitandafterHusbandbeganshowingincreasedinterestin X  sex.Wifealsoconsultedpsychicsregardinghersuspicions.ThesepsychicsconfirmedWifes D! suspicions.WifehiredtwopeopletoinvestigateHusbandsactivitieswhilehewasinLebanon. 0"  Theseinvestigationsturnedupnoevidenceofanyadulterousrelationship. #  1      ׀Moreover,Wifetestified #l! shesmelledperfumeinHusbandsworktruck,butHusbandtestifiedthatWifeonlysmelledtheodor $X"  ofpaintthatheusedinhisbusiness.WifeeventookalockofHusbandshairandreportedtohim $D # thatshewastakingthehairforaDNAtesttodeterminewhetherHusbandhadfatheredan  illegitimatechild. #  2      ׀Husbanddeniedeverhavinganadulterousaffairandattemptedseveraltimesto   provetoWifethathersuspicionswereunfoundedby,amongotherthings,agreeingtotheDNAtest  andtoapolygraphtestinthepartiespostnuptialagreement. #  3      ׀ t    ` WifealsotestifiedHusbandwasverydemeaningtoherthroughouttheirmarriage. L  InadditiontotheremarkshemadetoWifeaboutherweightandsexualunattractiveness,Husband 8  wasverycontrollingregardingthepartiesfinancesandtoldWifethatshewasincapableofhandling $ t theirfinancialmatters.WifeessentiallyhandedoverherpaychecktoHusbandandclaimedthat  ` Husbandplacedbothofthemonanallowanceoffivedollarsperweekwhichlaterwasincreasedto  L  tendollarsperweek.WifealsotestifiedthatHusbandtightlycontrolledthethermostatforheating  8  andcoolingandwouldlimitthewaterconsumptionbylimitingthenumberoftimesthatthetoilet $  couldbeflushed.Inaddition,Wifetestifiedthatthefamilyhadtobuyalloftheirclothesatthrift   storesandyardsalesandthatthefamilywaslimitedtoeatingouttoonetimepermonth.Husband   deniedthathewastheonlypartyintherelationshipwhowantedtoliveonabudgetandthatWife   carriedthepartiescheckbookinherpurseandhadacreditcard.      ` TheproofintherecordalsoshowsthatWifemetanotherman,George_Hines_,a \ residentofanotherstate,overtheinternetsometimeneartheendof1999.Whileonatripwiththe H partiesdaughtertotheChicagoarea,Wifeand_Hines_Ԁstayedinthesamehotelinseparaterooms 4 reservedin_Hines_name.Inaddition,theproofintherecordshowsthat,in2000,Wifeplaceda  p downpaymentontwoweddingbandsfromanOakRidgejeweler.Wifetestifiedshehadsecured  \ theweddingbandsfor_Hines_sonasafavorto_Hines_Ԁsincetheweddingbandswereonsale.Attrial, H Wifedeniedhavingaromanticrelationshipwith_Hines_Ԁoranyfutureplansforone. 4    ` AfterhearingthetestimonyattrialanduponHusbandsmotion,theTrialCourt   dismissedWifesComplaint.InitsOrderDismissingComplaint( Order),theTrialCourtheldthat  Wife failedtosustainherburdentoprovethat[Husband]isguiltyofeitheradulteryor  inappropriatemaritalconduct.TheOrderdoesnotcontainanyspecificfindingsoffact.The  transcriptofthetrialshowsthattheTrialCourt,ingrantingHusbandsmotiontodismiss,stated l  Iveheardthetestimony.Iveseenthewitnesses.Iobservedtheircredibility.AndIdontbelieve X  that[Wife]hascarriedtheburdenofprooftoshowthatthereexistsgroundsfordivorceunderthe D! statuteoftheStateofTennessee. h #  4       0"   $X" @))% Discussion      ` Onappealandalthoughnotstatedexactlyassuch,WifecontendsthattheTrialCourt  erredindismissingherComplaintbecauseiterroneouslyheldWifefailedtoproveherstated t groundsfordivorce,inappropriatemartialconductandindignities.AlthoughWifeallegesfour ` groundsfordivorceinherComplaint,Wifestatesinherbriefonappealthattheirreconcilable L  differencesgroundwasmootandthatsheconcededattrialshewasnotpursuingthegroundof 8  adultery.Wife,therefore,claimsonappealthatonlythetworemainingallegedgroundsfordivorce $ t werebeforetheTrialCourt:(1)inappropriatemaritalconduct;and(2)indignities.TheTrialCourt,  ` however,apparentlybelievedthatthegroundofadulterywasatissuesince,asdiscussed,itheldin  L  itsOrderthatWifefailedtoestablishthisground.Husbandraisesnootherissuesonappeal.  8  XKiXXXKi   ` Ourreviewisdenovoupontherecord,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectness   ofthefindingsoffactoftheTrialCourt,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.   Tenn.RuleApp.P.13(d);Alexanderv._Inman_,974S.W.2d689,692(Tenn.1998).#XKiXXXKiP#Inthismatter,   however,theTrialCourtmadenospecificfindingsoffactindismissingWifesComplainteitherin   itsOrderorfromthebenchattrial.Consequently, there[is]nothingfoundasafactwhichwemay p presumecorrect[,]...and wemustconductourownindependentreviewoftherecordto \ determinewherethepreponderanceoftheevidencelies.Brooksv.Brooks,992S.W.2d403,405 H (Tenn.1999).XKiXXXKiԀWithrespecttotheTrialCourtsconclusionsoflaw,thereviewisdenovowithno 4 presumptionofcorrectness._Ganzevoort_Ԁv.Russell,949S.W.2d293,296(Tenn.1997).#XKiXXXKiT#  p    ` Inthisstate,groundsfordivorceanddefensestheretoarestatutory._Chastain_Ԁv. H _Chastain_,559S.W.2d933,934(Tenn.1977).Tenn.CodeAnn.364101(1)(15)setsforththe 4 groundsfordivorce,andprovides,pertinenttothismatter,asfollows:   8  8`    Thefollowingarecausesofdivorcefromthebondsof  matrimony:` x` x 8  8`    (11)Thehusbandorwifeisguiltyofsuchcruelandinhuman l treatmentorconducttowardsthespouseasrenderscohabitation X  unsafeandimproperwhichmayalsobereferredtoinpleadingsas D! inappropriatemaritalconduct;0" ` x` x 8  8`    (12)Husbandorwifehasofferedsuchindignitiestothe $X" spousespersonastorenderthespousespositionintolerable,and $D # therebyforcedthespousetowithdraw....%0!$` x` x    ` ThisCourtdiscussedthedivorcegroundofinappropriatemaritalconductprovided '#& byTenn.CodeAnn.364101(11),in_Flanagan_Ԁv._Flanagan_,No.03A019612GS00404,1997 (#' WL360566(Tenn.Ct.App.June30,1997)noappl.perm.app.filed,holdingasfollows: )$(   |*%) 8  8`    Cruelandinhumantreatmentisoftentimesnotevidencedby   publicassaultsandbeatings,butisaccomplishedinmoresubtleand  insidiousways.Thewhisperedinvective,accusationbyinsinuation,  stingingsarcasmandheartlessintimidationaretheimplements t frequentlyusedbywhichlove,thevitalprinciplewhichanimatesa ` marriage,istorturedtodeath;withtheresultthattheoncehappy L  joinderbecomesnothinglessthana bridgeofgroansacrossastream 8  oftears.$ t` x` x Id.,at*1(quoting_Newberry_Ԁv._Newberry_,493S.W.2d99,101(Tenn.Ct.App.1973)).  L     ` ThisCourtwentontorecognizetheimportanceofcredibilityofwitnessesin $  determiningwhetheranawardofdivorceiswarrantedonthisground:   8  8`   Theexistenceofsuchcontinuousrefinedcrueltycanbestbe   determinedbythetrierofthefactswhohasseenthepartiesfaceto   faceandwhohasobservedtheirmanneranddemeanoraswellasthat p oftheirrespectivewitnesses.Insuchmatters,theTrialJudges \ judgmentastocredibilityofwitnessesshouldnotbeoverturned H unlesstheclearpreponderanceoftheevidenceistothecontrary.4` x` x Id.(quoting_Newberry_Ԁv._Newberry_,493S.W.2dat101).  \    ` TheTrialCourtheld,initsOrder,thatWife failedtosustainherburdentoprovethat 4 Husbandisguiltyof...inappropriatemaritalconduct.ItisapparentfromtheTrialCourts   dismissalofWifesComplaintanditsremarksinthetrialtranscriptthatbetweentheparties,the   TrialCourtfoundHusbandtobethemorecrediblewitness.TheTrialCourt,asthetrieroffactand  asthecourtwhichobservedthepartiesmanneranddemeanor,isinthebestpositiontodetermine  whethertheconductofadefendantinadivorceactionamountstoinappropriatemaritalconduct.  Id.Moreover,theTrialCourtsassessmentofthepartiescredibilityisaccordeddeferencebythis l Court,andthisCourt willnotreevaluateatrialjudgesassessmentofwitnesscredibilityabsent X  clearandconvincingevidencetothecontrary.Wellsv.TennesseeBd.ofRegents,_9_Ԁ_S.W.__3d_Ԁ779, D! 783(Tenn.1999). 0"     ` Onappeal,Wife,insupportofherargumentthatsheestablishedHusbandsconduct $X" amountedtoinappropriatemaritalconduct,citesEarlsv.Earls,42S.W.2d877(Tenn.Ct.App. $D # 2000).WifesrelianceonEarlsv.Earls,however,ismisplacedbecausethefactsofEarlsare %0!$ readilydistinguishablefromthismatter.ThisCourtfoundinEarlsv.Earlsthattheparties had &"% beenseparatedfortenmonthswithnoeffortorintentiontorekindletheirrelationship.Earlsv. '#& Earls,42S.W.2dat884.Bycontrast,theproofintherecordonappealshowsthatthepartieswere (#' attemptingreconciliationaslateasMarch2000.Moreover,HusbanddisputesWifesgroundsfor )$( divorceandtestifiedabouthiseffortstosavetheirmarriage.Accordingly,weholdthatWifedidnot |*%) meetherburdenofproving evidenceofcontinuedmisconductbyoneorbothspousesthatmakes h+&* continuedcohabitationunacceptable.Id.at883.Therefore,baseduponourindependentreview  oftherecordbeforeusandthedeferencewhichwemustgivetheTrialCourtsdeterminationsof  credibility,wefindnoerrorintheTrialCourtsdecisionthatWifefailedtoprovethatHusbands  conductamountedtoinappropriatemaritalconduct. t    ` WenextreviewtheTrialCourtsdeterminationthatWifefailedtoestablishher L  secondallegedgroundsfordivorcefoundatTenn.CodeAnn.364101(12),the indignities 8  ground.Onappeal,Wifecitedveryfewcaseswhichinterpretthisparticularstatutorygroundfor $ t divorce,andwehavebeenunabletolocatemanymore.Mostrecently,thisCourtin_Burkhart_Ԁv.  ` _Burkhart_,M199902332_COA_ԄR3CV,2000WL1231371(Tenn.Ct.App.Aug.31,2000),noperm.  L  appl.app.filed,heldthatfalseallegationsofadulteryconstituted indignities.Id.,at*4(citing  8  _Cadle_Ԁv._Cadle_,191S.W.2d561,562(Tenn.Ct.App.1945));seealsoLylev.Lyle,6S.W.878,879 $  880(Tenn.1888)(findingthatanawardofdivorceonthisgroundwaswarrantedwherethe   defendantfalselyaccusedwifeofadultery,calledwifealiarandwasphysicallyviolenttowardwife).      ` Accordingtothefactsandcircumstancespresentedtousbytherecordonappeal,we   holdthattheTrialCourtdidnoterrindeterminingthatWifefailedtoestablishthe indignities p groundfordivorce. #  5      ׀Weacknowledgethatthe indignitiesstatutorygroundfordivorcehasbeen \ interpretedtoincludephysicalviolenceandthattheproofcontainedintherecordonappealshows H thatthepartiesengagedinaphysicalstruggleoverHusbandsnotebook.See_id._ԀWealsoareaware, 4 however,thatthepartiestestimonyregardinghowWifeendeduponthefloorisconflicting.The  p TrialCourtobviouslyfoundHusbandstestimonymorecrediblethanWifesrenditionoftheir  \ physicalstruggle,andasdiscussed,wemustgivedeferencetotheTrialCourtsdeterminationsof H credibility._Wells_Ԁv.TennesseeBd.ofRegents,9S.W.3dat783.Accordingly,weaffirmtheTrial 4 CourtsdismissalofWifesComplaintasWifefailedtoestablisheitherofhertwostatedgrounds   fordivorceasoutlinedinTenn.CodeAnn.364101(11)(12).   XKiXXXKi@  % Conclusion      ` ThejudgmentoftheTrialCourtisaffirmedandthiscauseisremandedtotheTrial l Courtforsuchfurtherproceedingsasmayberequired,ifany,consistentwiththisOpinion,andfor X  collectionofthecostsbelow.ThecostsonappealareassessedagainsttheAppellant,HeidiJean D! Brooks,andhersurety. 0"    #XKiXXXKiy#   `     h     ___________________________________ &"%    `     h     D.MICHAEL_SWINEY_,JUDGE