WPCl rik/!i<^ϳ7{,xeRCV Hq-e==ŲNeTj+sIlwNa`84#.#FAvH;~?"dJ4BH1V~Xw+ōBWja#;ƽ{ =eٯ K:HoۛER6a>bٚ,i-eZ(`;įB;-Dl kacx2K_Gn$Xrl~EqlKf4tl# 3)lV;zFjM>!K/GGp3^<0Zzg\mBoStBiGqŵ %[~j J+iVR 2@54+FbUJ`:_){/1dw LL z%8^b#\ % ^ # 0/ UN w 4 z  i x mz   _ %  1N8 0D:UN~EvKo 1u 72/////////////////baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa 0iiii BTT 0q D3 D-H 0Kuu AS 0 0D} AHP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5e,,,,0s+s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular-C +bk1ha 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.wpt3|xU Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList1I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.(#$  0  (9 Z6Times New Roman Regular Rr$      1  ]  _Ms._Caudill_snewhusbandworkedinFlorida. Rr$      2  ]  _TheHonorableRuss_Heldman_Ԁwaspresidingjudgeinthiscase. Rr$      3  ]  _AllofthesecasesweretriedbeforeJudgeHeldmanselectiontothe21stJudicialDistrict.  Rr$      4  ]  _Ms.CaudillclaimedthatJudgeHeldmansbiasarosefromhispreviousexperienceswithMr.Kitch.  Specifically,Ms.Caudillarguedthatononeoccasion,JudgeHeldman,whilestillapracticingattorney,filedamotion t forsanctionsagainstMr.Kitchstatingthathehadfileddocumentswiththecourtforanimproperpurpose. A Rr$      5  ]  _WestressthatthiscourthasnotdecidedthatthetrialcourthadtheproperauthorityunderanyTennessee  statutetoawardattorneysfeesforthefirsttrialandappeal.3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)- -(|G2r$ !.8IedXXd8         0  ] d(|3IX$ !.8IedXXd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3IX$ !.8IedXXd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Iedd8     _  Ie8XXdd8  @ XIeINTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#IeX #Ԉ &   July9,2001Session L XXIe #IeXX#KIMBERLYLYNNFOLEYCAUDILLv.WILLIAMHOWARDFOLEYXXIe  J @@ DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforWilliamsonCounty  J @@No.23856RussHeldman,Chancellor  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.M200001512_COA_ԄR3CVFiledAugust21,_2001_   AV) ` dE<|` A }     XXXXThisappealarisesfromanactionseekingattorneysfeesfromapreviouschildcustodyaction.After x  divorce,MotherwasawardedcustodyofChild.Uponremarrying,MothersoughttomovetoFlorida d withChild.FatherprotestedandsoughtprimarycustodyofChild.Judge,findingthechild P relocationstatutesunconstitutional,awardedFathercustody.MotherhiredLawyerforanappealof < thisruling.Whilethisappealwaspending,Fatherbroughtsuitforchildsupport.Lawyersought (x recusalofJudgeduetopreviouscontactbetweenthemwhenJudgewasanattorney.Judgerefused d torecusehimselfanddisqualifiedLawyer.Thisactionwasappealed.Whilethisappealwas P pending,thechildcustodyappealwasdecidedbythiscourtandChildwasreturnedtoMothers < custody.Motherbroughtactioninthetrialcourtseekingfeesfromthisfirsttrialandappealwhich ( Judgedenied.Motherappealedthisdenial,withtheresultthatthefailureofJudgetorecuse,the  disqualificationofLawyerandtheattorneysfeesappealswereconsolidatedbeforethiscourt.We  affirminpartandreverseinpart.   #XXXX##IeXXv#XXIe Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtAffirmedinpart; ` Reversedinpart;andRemanded  L    #IeX #XX.IeDavidR.Farmer,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichAlanE.HighersandHollyK. $"t! _Lillard_,_J.J._,joined. #`" JohnD._Kitch_,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellant,KimberlyLynnFoley_Caudill_. $8 $ EdwardP.Silva,Franklin,Tennessee,fortheappellee,WilliamHowardFoley. &"& m  OPINION #IeXX #XXIe (#( #IeXX #XXIeXXXX     In1996,KimberlyLynnFoley_Caudill_ԀwasdivorcedfromWilliamFoleyandgranted p*%*  custodyofthepartiesminorchild.In1998,Ms._Caudill_Ԁremarriedandfiledamotionwiththe \+&+9 trialcourtseekingtorelocatetoFloridawiththechildinordertolivewithhernewhusband._ #  1      _Ԁ   Mr.Foleyaskedthecourttodenythemotion,or,inthealternative,granthimprimarycustodyof  theminorchild.Thetrialcourtsubsequentlyfoundthestatutegrantingpartiespermissionto  moveundercertainconditionsunconstitutional._T #  2      _ԀAsaresult,thecourtremovedthechildfrom t Ms._Caudill_scustodyandgrantedMr.Foleyprimarycustody.Ms._Caudill_Ԁappealedthisruling. ` Formatterspertainingtoherappeal,shehiredJohn_Kitch_.Mr._Kitch_Ԁhadpreviouslytriedseveral L  casesinwhichJudge_Heldman_Ԁwasopposingcounsel. #  3       8    Whileanappealdealingwithchildcustodymatterswasbeforethiscourt,severalchild  ` supportobligationissueswerebroughtbyMr.FoleybeforeJudge_Heldman_.Ms._Caudill_  L  immediatelyfiledamotionseekingrecusalofJudge_Heldman_Ԁonthebasisthathewasbiased  8  towardsherappellatecounsel,Mr._Kitch_.l #  4      ׀Judge_Heldman_Ԁdeniedtherecusalrequestand $  disqualifiedMr._Kitch_ԀfromactingasMs._Caudill_sattorney.Ms._Caudill_Ԁfiledanappealonthis   matter.     Whilethisappealwaspending,thiscourtdecidedthechildcustodymattersandremanded   thatcasetothetrialcourt.Ms._Caudill_Ԁthenfiledamotionrequestingattorneysfees,expenses p anddiscretionarycostsforthetrialandappealonthechildcustodyissues. Thetrialcourtdenied \ themotionandMs._Caudill_Ԁappealedthisdecision.Therecusalappealandtheattorneysfees L appealwereconsolidatedbeforethiscourt. 8   Theissues,aspresentedbytheAppellant,areasfollows: ` 8  I.0`   DidJudge_Heldman_Ԁcommitreversibleerrorinrefusingtorecusehimself 8 fromthecasebaseduponhispriorrelationshipwithcounselforMs. $ _Caudill_?` `   (5h83! !8  II.0`   DidJudge_Heldman_Ԁcommitreversibleerrorindisqualifyingcounselfor  Ms._Caudill_?` `  8  III.0`   DidJudge_Heldman_Ԁcommitreversibleerrorinrefusingtoaward \  attorneysfeesfortheinitialtrialandappeal?H!` `     `   #p! Ї  Totheextentthattheseissuesinvolvequestionsoffact,ourreviewofthetrialcourts  rulingis denovo withapresumptionofcorrectness. See Tenn.R.App.P.13(d).Accordingly,  wemaynotreversethecourtsfactualfindingsunlesstheyarecontrarytothepreponderanceof  theevidence. See,e.g.,Randolphv.Randolph ,937S.W.2d815,819(Tenn.1996);Tenn.R. t App.P.13(d).Withrespecttothecourtslegalconclusions,however,ourreviewis denovo `  withnopresumptionofcorrectness. See,e.g.,Bellexrel.Snyderv._Icard_,Merrill,Cullis, L  _Timm_,_Furen_Ԁand_Ginsburg_,P.A. ,986S.W.2d550,554(Tenn.1999);Tenn.R.App.P.13(d). 8    RecusalofJudge_Heldman_  `   8   ` Giventheimportanceofimpartiality,bothinfactandappearance,  8  decisionsconcerningwhetherrecusaliswarrantedareaddressedtothejudge's $  discretion,whichwillnotbereversedonappealunlessaclearabuseappearson   thefaceoftherecord. SeeStatev._Hines_ ,919S.W.2d573,578(Tenn.1995).A   motiontorecuseshouldbegrantedifthejudgehasanydoubtastohisorher   abilitytopresideimpartiallyinthecase. Seeid. at578.However,because   perceptionisimportant,recusalisalsoappropriate"whenapersonofordinary p prudenceinthejudge'sposition,knowingallofthefactsknowntothejudge, \ wouldfindareasonablebasisforquestioningthejudge'simpartiality." Alleyv. H State ,882S.W.2d810,820(Tenn._Crim_.App.1994).Thus,evenwhenajudge 4 believesthatheorshecanhearacasefairlyandimpartially,thejudgeshould  p grantthemotiontorecuseif"thejudge'simpartialitymightreasonablybe  \ questioned."Tenn.Sup.Ct.R.10,Canon3(E)(1).Hence,thetestisultimatelyan H objectiveonesincetheappearanceofbiasisasinjurioustotheintegrityofthe 4 judicialsystemasactualbias. SeeAlley ,882S.W.2dat820.0         Davisv.LibertyMut.Ins.Co. ,38S.W.3d560,56465(Tenn.2001).    Ms._Caudill_ԀclaimsthatJudge_Heldman_Ԁboreherattorney,Mr._Kitch_, personalillwill  andquestionedhis personalcredibilityandveracityinseveralcasesinwhichthetwomen l servedasopposingcounselinthelate1980'sandearly1990's.Asaresult,Ms._Caudill_Ԁrequested X  Judge_Heldman_srecusal.WhileJudge_Heldman_Ԁstatedseveraltimesincourtthathedidnot D! haveapersonalbiasorprejudiceagainstMr._Kitch_,thetestofajudgesimpartialityisultimately 0"  anobjectivetestandrequiresthiscourttoexaminetheappearanceofbias. #l!   Uponourreview,wefindthatJudge_Heldman_srefusaltorecusehimselfisnotaclear $D # abuseofdiscretion.Itisthiscourtsjudgmentthatnoobjectivepersoncouldreasonably %0!$ questionJudge_Heldman_sbiastowardsMr._Kitch_Ԁforactionswhichtookplaceseveralyears &"% beforewhilebothmenwereservingasopposingcounsel.WhileitisclearthatMr._Kitch_Ԁfeels '#& thatJudge_Heldman_Ԁisbiasedtowardshim,hispersonalfeelingshavenobearingonwhether (#' Judge_Heldman_Ԁshouldrecusehimself.Indeed,ifthiscourtweretoacceptMr._Kitch_s )$( argumentsinthismatter,Judge_Heldman_Ԁwouldalwaysberequiredtorecusehimselffromany |*%) caseinwhichMr._Kitch_Ԁservedascounselduetohisperceived illwill.Sucharesult,ineffect, h+&* wouldallowpartiestosimplyhireMr._Kitch_Ԁandthusalwaysavoidhavingamatterpresided  overbyJudge_Heldman_.WeaffirmJudge_Heldman_sdecisionnottorecusehimselffromthis  case.    DisqualificationofMr._Kitch_ `   8  Atrialcourthasabroadrangeofoptionsavailabletoinsurethatitsproceedings 8  arefairbothinappearanceandinfact.Disqualifyinganattorneyisthemost $ t drastic. _Schiessle_Ԁv.Stephens ,717F.2d417,420(7thCir.1983); _Burnette_Ԁv.  ` Morgan ,303Ark.150,794S.W.2d145,14748(1990).Itinvariablycauses  L  delay,increasescosts,anddeprivespartiesofcounseloftheirchoice.Courts  8  should,therefore,disqualifycounselwithconsiderablereluctanceandonlywhen $  nootherpracticalalternativeexists. BoardofEduc.v._Nyquist_ ,590F.2d1241,   1246(2dCir.1979).     _Lemm_Ԁv.Adams ,955S.W.2d70,74(Tenn.Ct.App.1997)( quoting  InreEllis ,822S.W.2d   602,605(Tenn.Ct.App.1991); accord_Whalley_ԀDev.Corp.v.FirstCitizens_Bancshares_,Inc. , p 834S.W.2d328,332(Tenn.Ct.App.1992)(notingthattrialcourts shouldbereluctantto \ disqualifyalitigantscounselofchoiceandshouldgrantdisqualificationmotionssparingly).  H    Inthecasecurrentlybeforeus,thetrialcourtdisqualifiedMr._Kitch_Ԁonthebasisofhis  p  testifyingasawitnessbothbyaffidavitandorallyataMay18,1999,hearingonPlaintiffs[,  \ Ms._Caudill_s,]motionforrecusalandthefactthatheknew,believedorwasawarethathewould H becalledasawitnessinthePlaintiffsbehalf.Afteranexaminationoftherecord,wecanfind 4 noinstancewhenMr._Kitch_ԀtestifiedasawitnessattheMay18,1999,hearing.Atthathearing,   Mr._Kitch_Ԁwasactingmerelyasanadvocateforhisclientandtheonlyquestionsthatheanswered   wereinquiresofthecourtinthatcapacity.Mr._Kitch_ԀdidsubmitanaffidavitinsupportofMs.  _Caudill_smotionforrecusal,butthetestimonycontainedthereinwasnotdisputedissueswhich  relatedtoMs._Caudill_saction.Asaresult,wefindthatthetrialcourthadnoobjectivebasisto  disqualifyMr._Kitch_ԀfromactingasMs._Caudill_sattorneyinthismatter.Thetrialcourtsorder l disqualifyingMr._Kitch_Ԁisherebyreversed. X    AttorneysFees  0"        Section365103(c)oftheTennesseeCodestates: $X" 8  Theplaintiffspousemayrecoverfromthedefendantspouse,andthespouseor %0!$ otherpersontowhomthecustodyofthechild,orchildren,isawardedmay &"% recoverfromtheotherspousereasonableattorneyfeesincurredinenforcingany '#& decreeforalimonyand/orchildsupport,orinregardtoanysuitoraction (#' concerningtheadjudicationofthecustodyorthechangeofcustodyofanychild, )$(  orchildren,oftheparties,bothupontheoriginaldivorcehearingandatany |*%) subsequenthearing,whichfeesmaybefixedandallowedbythecourt,before  whomsuchactionorproceedingispending,inthediscretionofsuchcourt.    Tenn.CodeAnn.365103(c)(Supp.2000). t   Ms._Caudill_Ԁarguesthatthetrialcourthastheauthority,undersection365103(c)ofthe L  TennesseeCode,toawardattorneysfeesforbothherinitialtrialandappeal.Evenassuming, 8   _arguendo_ ,thatMs._Caudill_Ԁiscorrect,itisclearthissectionprovidesthetrialcourtwith $ t discretioninawardingthesefees.Accordingly,a trialcourthaswidediscretion,andthe  ` appellatecourtwillnotinterfereunlesstherehasclearlybeenanabuseofthatdiscretion.  L   _Garfinkel_Ԁv._Garfinkel_ ,945S.W.2d744,748(Tenn.Ct.App.1996)(citationsomitted).Upon  8  ourreviewofthiscase,wecannotsaythatthetrialcourtabuseditsdiscretioninfailingtoaward $  attorneysfees. #  5      ׀Assuch,weherebyaffirmitsrulingdenyingMs._Caudill_srequestfor   attorneysfees.     Conclusion        Basedontheforegoingconclusions,weherebyreversethetrialcourtsdisqualificationof \ Mr._Kitch_ԀfromservingasMs._Caudill_sattorney.Judge_Heldman_srefusaltorecusehimself H andthecourtsrefusaltoawardMs._Caudill_sattorneysfeesareherebyaffirmed.Costson 4 appealaretaxedequallytoAppellant,KimberlyLynnFoley_Caudill_,andAppellee,William  p HowardFoley,andtheirsureties,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. x #XXXXl#  \    `     h     ___________________________________      `     h     DAVIDR.FARMER,JUDGE