ÿWPCš ³SqÎ| 5ÀÅ‹#ãàp›¹-嘃Jnt…Å9]4󘼦*°'ø] Œ7Ó4Å´MÃü_ÿg„»û¯éE"¤^v)^Vâr~‰êq '´dï¯â÷o#+…×o›[ QóÖ²¡Àw-¯6‚úž?à›ïo†dï¬9­É‡ÁJys»]ÝÃNr¾=—ZH§ÿzŸIÖ'á(b“ Ó³^vmá·ã+/hÙ£™¯lhÎ,G®{ ¼›'„]¹#µzë¿›Õq_ céʪÿèïÍK^m–zß»k•ĿňôF]•UÆí»zLæöAjµZ 6Av8‰[Ò@ºÞX8 YËítÁãN&:æç\G£ÓoÃS&£­¯vw°ÑØJذˆT¡TWXçHRù=ïE¸ñðŠ4è£Æ&`® Ÿâù­ §žŽ›Ã.ñwû“‹”Ã#û°™ZÇÞ@ý©ÑBÝåØ ]ÉCŸhnŽ ¨BýLëývDA\–SÁû¤Ñ'ºaùe-î!ÚÀ*01Å‚<¨9³nxîflú†î»ТpËòv´;-fÒE{Ùßxð*ÛnL¸kIÁ«n³ ÒqbcŸ9dâÞ„É ë #˜UÛªwþb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz 1‡‘ Æ ÆÞ Ƥ Æj 0D0Ntv 0 c~Eá 1‡ãUNj 1‡¸ 1u? 72´ 72æææææææææææææ 0wb 0ë———— B‚‚ 0¤Ÿ D3C D-v 0K££ ASîÆA 0¤ 0D« A«ï˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0»öš4+â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularòK+ê:i¢Ø+00 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(5hCEKQW]cioAutoList11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó (;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à(EhCEKQW]cioAutoList2I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(UhCEKQW]cioAutoList31.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)1.(Oé;$µµà0  àÔ2#ÔÚ  ÚaÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0` (#(#à- ù-(|G2µ0$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€W¤»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X:ÄX»»Ô d(|3N $££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€W¤»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3N $¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€W¤»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€D »»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼=»»»ÔÑ8€"ÌXXdê»»d 8Ñà@¦ ¦ ìàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@””$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEˆÐ  Ðà@ëë ìàJuly€11,€2001€SessionˆÐ Ô$ ÐÔ‡XiÞX»¼=ÔÌò òÔ#†¼=»XXiÞŸ#ÔÓ  ÓSTATE€EX€REL€ALICE€ELIZABETH€DURRANT€v.€EDWIN€BRITTAINÐ Ò" ÐHOWARD,€IIòòóóÔ‡XiÞX»¼=Ôó óÐ æ 6 ÐÓåÓÌà@‰ ‰ ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Juvenile€Court€for€Knox€CountyˆÐ æ 6 Ðà@¬ ¬ ìàNo.€E0458€€€€€€Hon.€Carey€E.€Garrett,€JudgeˆÐ Ò " ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àFILED€SEPTEMBER€20,€2001Ð ªú  Ðà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<•` A߈Ð –æ  ÐÌà@¶¶ìàNo.€E2000„02072„COA„R3„CV€ˆÐ ‘á  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<h` AßÐ i¹  Ðó óÌÌÌIn€this€custody€dispute,€the€Trial€Court€gave€custody€to€the€father.€€The€mother€appealed.€€We€affirm.Ð <Œ ÐÌÔ#†¼=»XXiÞL#ÔÔ‡XiÞX»¼=ÔÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Juvenile€Court€Affirmed.ó óÐ P ÐÌòòÌHerschel€Pickens€FranksÔ#†¼=»àXiÞM#ÔÔ‡XiÞX.¼=Ô,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€whichòò€Houston€M.€Goddard,Ô#†¼=»àXiÞ#ÔÔ‡XiÞX.¼=ÔÐ Ä ÐP.J.,óó€andòò€D.€Michael€Swiney,Ô#†¼=»àXiÞ£#ÔÔ‡XiÞX.¼=Ô€J.óó,€joined.Ð ° ÐÌJonathan€A.€Moffatt,€Knoxville,€Tennessee€for€Appellant,€Alice€Elizabeth€Durrant.Ð ˆØ ÐÌWanda€G.€Sobieski,€Diane€M.€Messer,€and€Nanette€J.€Landen,€Knoxville,€Tennessee€for€Appellee,Ð `° ÐEdwin€Brittain€Howard,€II.Ð L œ ÐÌÌÌà@66'ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼=»XXiÞ#ÔÔ‡XiÞX»¼=ԈРü#L# ÐÌòòÌóóÌà  àà ` àIn€this€custody€dispute€over€twins€born€to€the€parties€on€September€10,€1997,€the€TrialÐ ¬'ü"' ÐCourt€awarded€father€custody€and€the€mother€has€appealed.Ð ˜(è#( ÐÌà  àà ` àThis€action€originated€when€the€mother€filed€a€complaint€to€establish€parentage€andÐ p*À%* Ðset€support.€€The€father€responded€that€he€had€already€filed€an€action€to€legitimate€the€twins€and€thatÐ \+¬&+ Ðhe€wished€to€legitimate€the€twins€and€was€seeking€custody€of€the€twins.€€Ð H,˜', ÐÐ 4-„(-ý Ðà  àà ` àSubsequently,€a€Parentage€Order€legitimating€the€twins€was€entered,€temporaryÐ ° Ðcustody€was€awarded€to€the€mother,€child€support€set€in€accordance€with€the€guidelines,€and€theÐ œì Ðfather€was€ordered€to€provide€insurance.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àà ` à€Evidence€on€the€issue€of€custody€was€offered€in€a€prolonged€trial,€and€the€Court,€afterÐ `° Ðtaking€the€case€under€advisement,€entered€an€Order€finding€that€an€initial€custody€determination€wasÐ L œ Ðrequired,€and€that€the€comparative€fitness€test€applied.€The€Court€found€that€mother€had€limitedÐ 8 ˆ Ðfatherððs€access€to€the€twins€ð ðas€much€as€possibleðð€and€that€her€behavior€had€created€a€ð ðsubstantialÐ $ t Ðobstacleðð€in€fatherððs€relationship€with€the€twins.€€The€Court€found€the€mother€often€had€other€peopleÐ  ` Ðwatch€the€twins€when€the€father€was€available€and€ð ðbeggingðð€for€more€time€with€them.€€The€CourtÐ ü L  Ðfound€the€mother€had€been€hospitalized€for€mental€illness€issues,€including€depression,€and€theÐ è 8  Ðmother€had€ð ðrepeatedly€refused€to€enter€and€complete€treatmentðð€even€though€it€had€been€prescribed.€Ð Ô$  ÐThe€court€also€found€the€mother€had€denied€a€need€for€treatment.€€The€court€concluded€that€theÐ À  Ðfatherððs€testimony€was€credible,€and€that€he€was€a€dedicated€and€stable€father,€with€an€ð ðexemplaryððÐ ¬ü  Ðparenting€record,€and€that€it€would€be€in€the€twinsðð€best€interests€to€be€in€their€fatherððs€custody.€€Ð ˜è  Ѐ€Ð „Ô  Ðà  àThe€Court€ordered€that€the€father€would€have€custody,€and€the€mother€a€ð ðreasonable€visitationÐ pÀ Ðscheduleðð€as€agreed€by€the€parties€ð ðallowing€as€much€time€with€the€mother€as€her€work€scheduleÐ \¬ Ðpermits.ðð€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€mother€raises€these€issues€on€appeal:Ð  p ÐÌÓ€ (Uh83ÓÝ"‚3£"ÝÝ  Ýò òó óà0  àà0` (#(#àÝ‚3£ÃÝÔ2UhÔÚ  Ú1Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#àÝ  ÝWhether€the€referee€erred€in€admitting€medical/psychiatric€records€related€toÐ øH Ðmother,€permitting€questioning€of€the€guardian€ad€litem€regarding€suchÐ ä4 Ðrecords,€and€considering€statements€from€the€records€in€rendering€theÐ Ð  Ðjudgment?€€Ýƒ3£Ã݌м ¸ (#¸ (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ"‚3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àà0` (#(#àÝ‚3£ÝÝÔ2UhÔÚ  Ú2Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#àÝ  ÝWhether€the€referee€erred€in€applying€a€comparative€fitness€analysis€in€thisÐ ”ä Ðcase?€€Ýƒ3£Ý*݌Ѐи (#¸ (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌÝ"‚3£"ÝÝ  Ýà0  àà0` (#(#àÝ‚3£7ÝÔ2UhÔÚ  Ú3Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#àÝ  ÝWhether€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€refereeððs€award€of€custodyÐ X ¨ Ðto€father?݃3£7„ÝŒÐD!”¸ (#¸ (# ÐŒÝ  ÝÌà  àà ` àThe€mother€argues€that€the€Court€erred€in€admitting€her€medical/psychiatric€recordsÐ #l! Ðin€evidence,€and€in€permitting€the€guardian€ad€litem€to€testify€about€them.€€Mother€alleges€that€theÐ $X" Ðrecords€were€irrelevant,€were€hearsay,€and€were€not€properly€authenticated.€Ð ô$D # ÐÌà  àà ` àAs€to€the€relevance€of€the€records,€it€is€clear€that€both€the€legislature€and€the€courtsÐ Ì&"% Ðhave€recognized€that€the€mental€health€of€a€parent€is€a€factor€to€be€considered€in€making€a€custodyÐ ¸'#& Ðdetermination.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð36„6„106;€òòBah€v.€Bahóó,€668€S.W.2d€663€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1983.)€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐAs€to€the€motherððs€argument€that€the€records€were€not€properly€authenticated,€it€does€not€appear€thatÐ )à$( Ðmotherððs€counsel€actually€raised€this€objection€at€trial.€€Counsel€objected€on€the€basis€of€relevanceÐ |*Ì%) Ðand€objected€on€the€basis€of€hearsay.€€Because€this€objection€was€not€raised€at€trial,€it€cannot€beÐ h+¸&* Ðraised€for€the€first€time€on€appeal.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€Rule€36.Ð ° Ðà  àÌà  àà ` àHowever,€we€conclude€that€the€records€constitute€inadmissible€hearsay.€€TheÐ ˆØ Ðstatements€contained€in€the€records€are€clearly€out€of€court€statements,€and€the€persons€who€madeÐ tÄ Ðthe€statements€did€not€testify€at€trial.€€The€statements€appear€to€have€been€offered€for€the€truth€of€theÐ `° Ðmatters€asserted€(and€not€just€to€impeach€the€motherððs€testimony.)€€Moreover,€the€records€and€theÐ L œ Ðstatements€contained€therein€do€not€fit€within€any€of€the€defined€hearsay€exceptions.€€It€was€thereforeÐ 8 ˆ Ðerror€to€admit€these€statements.€€Tenn.€R.€Evid.€801„803.Ð $ t Ðà  àÌà  àà ` àWe€conclude,€however,€that€the€admission€of€the€records€was€harmless€error,€givenÐ ü L  Ðthe€abundance€of€other€proof€regarding€the€motherððs€emotional€instability.€The€mother€testified€sheÐ è 8  Ðhad€problems€with€depression€in€the€past€and€had€been€prescribed€medication€and€ongoing€therapy,Ð Ô$  Ðbut€that€she€had€not€followed€through€with€either€treatment.€€There€was€testimony€from€Dr.€VeyÐ À  ÐNordquist€,€a€clinical€psychologist,€who€had€performed€custody€evaluations€in€the€case.€€He€hadÐ ¬ü  Ðadministered€psychological€tests,€but€he€felt€that€observation€of€and€interviews€with€the€parents€wereÐ ˜è  Ðbetter€indicators.€€He€testified€regarding€the€motherððs€previous€mental€health€history€at€great€length.Ð „Ô  ÐNumerous€other€witnesses€testified€regarding€the€motherððs€mood€swings,€anger,€violent€outbursts,Ð pÀ Ðand€temper€problems.€ð ðThe€admission€of€improper€evidence€of€a€fact€in€issue€is€harmless€where€theÐ \¬ Ðverdict€or€judgment€is€supported€by€sufficient€competent€evidence."€€òòBerke€v.€Chattanooga€BarÐ H˜ ÐAss'nóó,€436€S.W.2d€296,€304€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1968).€€Ð 4„ ÐÓ€ (Eh88ÓØ! !Øò òó óÌà  àà ` àThe€mother€argues€that€the€proper€standard€which€the€Court€should€have€applied€inÐ  \ Ðmaking€its€custody€determination€was€whether€there€had€been€a€change€in€circumstances,€since€Tenn.Ð øH ÐCode€Ann.€ðð36„2„303€states€that€the€custody€of€a€child€born€out€of€wedlock€is€automatically€with€theÐ ä4 Ðmother.€€The€Trial€Court€found€that€it€was€required€to€make€an€initial€custody€determination,€andÐ Ð  Ðthus€applied€the€comparative€fitness€test.€€€This€was€proper,€because€there€was€no€previous€decreeÐ ¼  Ðas€to€custody.€€We€have€previously€ruled€that€the€changed€circumstances€standard€cannot€be€invokedÐ ¨ø Ðabsent€a€prior€judicial€determination€regarding€custody.€€òòGillenwaters€v.€Gillenwatersóó,€1999€WLÐ ”ä Ð893889€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Oct.€13,€1999);€òòSmith€v.€Smithóó,€1989€WL€139726€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Nov.€16,Ð €Ð Ð1989.)€€òò€Also€see,€e.g.óó,€òòIn€re€Priceóó,€1997€WL€338588€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€20,€1997).€€We€concludeÐ l¼ Ðit€was€proper€to€apply€the€test€to€the€facts€of€this€case.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àà ` àFinally,€the€€mother€argues€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€Trial€CourtððsÐ 0"€  Ðaward€of€custody€to€the€father.€€The€standard€of€review€of€an€initial€custody€determination€is€ð ðòòdeÐ #l! Ðnovoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€theÐ $X" Ðfinding,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.ðð€€òòHass€v.€Knightonóó,€676€S.W.2d€554Ð ô$D # Ð(Tenn.€1984).€€Furthermore,€because€custody€decisions€are€factually€based€and€often€are€determinedÐ à%0!$ Ðby€the€credibility€of€the€testimony,€the€appellate€courts€are€hesitant€to€reverse€the€trial€courtsððÐ Ì&"% Ðdecisions€because€the€trial€judge€was€able€to€observe€the€witnesses€and€judge€their€credibility.€Ð ¸'#& ÐòòAdelsperger€v.€Adelspergeróó,€970€S.W.2d€482€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997).€€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àà ` àò òó óIt€is€well„settled€in€this€jurisdiction€that€in€custody€cases,€the€ð ðwelfare€and€bestÐ |*Ì%) Ðinterests€of€a€child€are€of€paramount€concern.ðð€€òòKoch€v.€Kochóó,€874€S.W.2d€571€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð h+¸&* Ð1993).€€To€determine€what€is€in€the€childððs€best€interests,€courts€are€instructed€to€look€at€numerousÐ ° Ðfactors,€as€set€forth€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð36„6„106.€€ò òó óMoreover€courts€are€instructed€to€apply€theÐ œì Ðdoctrine€of€comparative€fitness,€such€that€neither€party€must€be€deemed€unfit,€but€rather€the€twoÐ ˆØ Ðpossible€custodians€should€be€compared€and€a€judgment€made€regarding€who€is€more€fit.€€òòSee€Kochóó.ò òÐ tÄ Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àà ` àó óIt€appears€that€the€twins€were€emotionally€connected€to€and€loved€both€parents,€andÐ L œ Ðthe€parents€love€the€children.€€Both€parents€work€and€can€provide€for€the€children,€and€have€in€factÐ 8 ˆ Ðdone€so,€and€the€mother€had€been€living€with€the€children,€so€continuity€is€a€factor€in€her€favor.€€€ButÐ $ t Ðher€own€instability€and€lack€of€proficiency€at€keeping€her€job€situation€and€home€life€steady€mitigatesÐ  ` Ðagainst€her€having€custody.€€Ô#†¼=»XXiÞ­#ÔÔ‡XiÞX»¼=ÔBoth€parents€have€family,€but€father€is€the€only€parent€with€family€inÐ ü L  Ðthe€area€who€regularly€interact€with€the€children.€Both€parents€appear€to€have€good€physical€health,Ð è 8  Ðbut€the€father€has€a€better€mental€health€status€than€the€mother,€given€the€evidence€about€her€angryÐ Ô$  Ðoutbursts,€violence,€mood€swings,€and€desertion€of€her€children,€and€the€like.€€There€was€alsoÐ À  Ðevidence€the€mother€physically€abused€her€children,€and€that€she€was€somewhat€neglectful.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àAccordingly,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€CourtððsÐ „Ô  Ðdetermination€of€custody.€€The€Trial€Court€had€the€opportunity€to€observe€the€ð ðmanner€andÐ pÀ Ðdemeanorðð€of€the€witnesses€who€testified,€and€the€ð ðweight,€faith,€and€credit€to€be€given€to€witnessesððÐ \¬ Ðtestimony€lies€in€the€first€instance€with€the€trier€of€factðð,€such€that€the€credibility€attached€should€beÐ H˜ Ðgiven€great€weight€by€the€appellate€court.€€òòWhitaker€v.€Whitakeróó,€957€S.W.2d€834€(Tenn.€App.€1997).€Ð 4„ Ðð ðNowhere€is€the€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€trial€courtððs€conclusions€more€applicable€than€inÐ  p Ðmatters€of€child€custody€where€the€surrounding€testimony€is€complex€and€involved€and€frequentlyÐ  \ Ðfilled€with€disputes€and€acrimony.ðð€€òòHerrera€v.€Herreraóó,€944€S.W.2d€379€(Tenn.€App.€1996).ò ò€€ó óÐ øH Ðà0  àà ° àò òÐ (#(# Ðà  àà ` àó óWe€therefore€affirm€the€custody€determination€made€by€the€Trial€Court€and€remand,Ð Ô$ Ðwith€the€cost€of€the€appeal€assessed€to€Alice€Elizabeth€Durrant.Ð À ÐÔ#†¼=»XXiÞ;3#ÔÔ‡XiÞX»¼=ÔòòÌÌóóÔ#†¼=»XXiÞ¢:#ÔÔ‡XiÞX»¼=ÔÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_________________________Ð \ ¬ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àòòHerschel€Pickens€Franks,€J.Ð H!˜ Ðóó