ÿWPC“ £O&Äì7š@gÒXÄ OM{6¢…)aÑ«_åcO˜ÝÍA»T–핵Ù¶ ­È7¥!9­Tî.^6Iæ©}!rÿƒÏÙÏ‚^ÃîRurç €-üpçs›òaÜÝõÌ=ê@é¾ö™Å$¶Š'¦fß^AjÔçÒžÝ:ÁÍÖµâÿ‘#WÞF<.ÈuìSâ}÷–ŠoÔ9 “Ù½Ÿ3‹ ¬·à·lŽ%)”gÁª¸[øh§R7°bvz.#C@/¾ ûq #œXÿŽG½ÍsÄ#:uΪ©Ž1ãìÝ!µ¡pyóFüðŠ”5T Þ}j%éÕClçïㇶ¤—“‰~û¶)QìI”¯|% 4Z‡mvQ”ÜÇyÍÑ4mÊæ0–Š¨Î¼+¤€qç`ße.D#táC@'_Ù¦<®Ù¡¿)`±š]]Ðð† ]‘Ý]þc®Öÿ? VÛç'K›Û"¹ö†ôD{ÆGX‘’¿Ó\'hÉVöpÿn“\OTAXB–ª`Ý-Atö&1n}n ÂdY):2þ·ØErb %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÁÐ ‘ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë A±Nò 0DôUN8E††††††††††††††††††††††††bˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆˆ 0ë B{{ 0¤˜ D3< D-o 0Kœœ ASçÆ: 0¤ 0D¤ A«è»o¤f+â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularòK+p}.bk23|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.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0 Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 7Ý ƒRÔh$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô¥) ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€For€the€partiesðð€and€their€lawyerððs€peace€of€mind,€we€note€that€even€if€we€had€treated€the€transcript€by€theÐ ° Ðcourt€reporter€as€having€satisfied€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€24(c),€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€as€reflected€in€that€limitedÐ tÄ Ðtranscript€or€statement€does€not€preponderate€against€the€Trial€Courtððs€findings€of€fact.€€The€result,€therefore,€would€haveÐ 8ˆ Ðbeen€the€same.(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(ÆúI Z‹6Times New Roman Regular- ù-(|G2Ôh$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ ô»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôu@ò»»Ô d(|3Åû$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ ô»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Åû$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ ô»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€L»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼á»»»ÔÑ8€qüXXdê»»d 8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î 0áÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼á»îî 0 #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓOctober€17,€2001€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XO…X»¼áÔÌÌò òÔ#†¼á»XXO…õ#ÔRUBY€FOSHIE,€òòet€al.óó€v.€WARREN€BLAKE€FOSHIE,€òòet€alóó.Ð æ 6 ÐIN€RE:€€WILLIS€FOSHIEó óÐ ú J ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òÔ€XO…X»¼áÔAppeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Hamblen€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@øøìàNo.€99„337€€€€€€Thomas€R.€Frierson,€II,€ChancellorÐ  \  ÐÌFILED€NOVEMBER€6,€2001Ð ä4  Ðà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ï` AßÐ Ð  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E„2000„02837„COA„R3„CVÐ Ë  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¢` AßÐ £ó Ðó óÓ  ÓÌÌThis€appeal€challenges€the€Trial€Courtððs€conclusion€that€Willis€Foshieððs€wife,€Ruby€Foshie,€and€his€Ð ŠÚ Ðdaughter,€Darlene€Holbert,€(ð ðPetitionersðð)€should€be€appointed€co„conservators€over€the€estate€andÐ vÆ Ðperson€of€Willis€Foshie,€and€the€Trial€Courtððs€conclusion€that€Willis€Foshieððs€gift€of€a€truck€to€hisÐ b² Ðgrandson,€Warren€Foshie,€was€the€result€of€undue€influence.€€We€were€provided€neither€a€trialÐ Nž Ðtranscript€nor€a€complete€and€accurate€statement€of€the€evidence€which€complies€with€Tenn.€R.€App.Ð :Š ÐP.€24(c).€€We€affirm.€€Ð &v ÐÌÓÀÓò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€theÐ þN ÐChancery€Court€Affirmed;€Case€Remanded.Ð ê: ÐÓ  Óó óòòÌD.€Michael€Swiney,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.,Ð Â Ðóóand€òòCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.,óó€joined.Ð ®þ ÐÌMark€A.€Cowan,€Morristown,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellants€Warren€Blake€Foshie€and€Willis€Foshie.Ð †!Ö  ÐÌDouglas€R.€Beier,€Morristown,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellees€Ruby€Foshie€and€Darlene€Holbert.Ð ^#®" ÐÌÌÌÌà@66'ìàò òOPINIONˆÐ ú'J#' ÐÌà@ÛÛ%ìàòòBackgroundóóó óˆÐ Ò)"%) ÐÌà  àà ` àOn€June€1,€1999,€Willis€Foshie€executed€a€Durable€Power€of€Attorney€and€DurableÐ ª+ú&+ ÐPower€of€Attorney€for€Health€Care€wherein€he€gave€his€grandson,€Warren€Foshie,€the€power€to€makeÐ –,æ', Ðfinancial€and€heath€care€decisions€on€his€behalf.€€Approximately€eighteen€(18)€days€later,€PetitionersÐ ‚-Ò(-ý Ðfiled€this€lawsuit€claiming€that€Willis€Foshie€was€incapable€of€taking€care€of€himself€and€handlingÐ ° Ðhis€own€affairs.€€They€also€claimed€Warren€Foshie€was€taking€advantage€of€his€grandfather€and€hadÐ œì Ðtaken€funds€as€well€as€a€truck.€€Petitioners€requested€the€Trial€Court€to€appoint€a€conservator€andÐ ˆØ Ðguardian€and€to€require€Warren€Foshie€to€account€for€the€funds.€€Petitioners€later€amended€theirÐ tÄ Ðclaim€to€assert€that€Willis€Foshieððs€purportedly€giving€the€truck€to€Warren€Foshie€constituted€anÐ `° Ðabuse€of€the€confidential€relationship€created€by€the€power€of€attorney€and€was€brought€about€byÐ L œ Ðundue€influence.€€Warren€Foshie€denied€the€pertinent€allegations,€and€he€and€his€grandfather€filedÐ 8 ˆ Ða€counter„petition.€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€trial€in€this€case€occurred€on€October€2,€2000.€€At€trial,€it€was€stipulated€thatÐ ü L  ÐWillis€Foshie€was€in€need€of€a€conservator€for€his€person€and€his€estate.€€The€issues€to€be€resolved,Ð è 8  Ðtherefore,€were€who€should€be€appointed€to€serve€as€conservator€and€whether€Warren€Foshie€shouldÐ Ô$  Ðbe€required€to€return€the€truck€or€its€value€to€the€estate.€€The€Trial€Court€noted€in€its€memorandumÐ À  Ðopinion€that€Willis€Foshie€was€experiencing€deteriorating€health,€and€had€sustained€a€fallÐ ¬ü  Ðnecessitating€transportation€to€the€hospital€and,€eventually,€admission€into€an€assisted€care€residentialÐ ˜è  Ðfacility.€€The€Trial€Court€also€made€the€following€factual€findings:Ð „Ô  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àOn€June€1,€1999,€Mr.€Willis€Foshie€executed€a€durable€power€ofÐ \¬ Ðattorney€in€favor€of€Respondent€Warren€Blake€Foshie€granting€theÐ H˜ Ðlatter€all€powers€authorized€by€T.C.A.ðð€34„6„109.€€By€this€instrument,Ð 4„ ÐMr.€Willis€Foshie€named€Respondent€Warren€Blake€Foshie€as€hisÐ  p Ðchoice€for€conservator€in€the€event€such€a€judicial€appointment€wasÐ  \ Ðmade.€€Concomitantly,€Warren€Blake€Foshie€withdrew€approximatelyÐ øH Ð$30,500.00€remaining€in€the€afore„referenced€savings€account€andÐ ä4 Ð$5,000.00€from€the€afore„referenced€checking€account.€€In€addition,Ð Ð  ÐRespondent€Warren€Blake€Foshie€transferred€title€to€a€1997€FordÐ ¼  Ðpickup€truck€to€himself,€using€said€vehicle€as€a€trade„in€for€theÐ ¨ø Ðpurchase€of€a€vehicle€which€he€now€owns.€€The€original€certificate€ofÐ ”ä Ðtitle€regarding€said€vehicle€reflects€ownership€as€W.A.€Foshie€orÐ €Ð ÐRuby€Foshie.€€Respondent€Warren€Blake€Foshie€effectuated€theÐ l¼ Ðtransfer€of€title€by€means€of€his€application€for€a€lost€title.ÐX ¨` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àOf€the€$35,500.00€withdrawn€by€Respondent€Warren€BlakeÐ 0"€  ÐFoshie€in€June€1999,€all€of€the€funds€have€been€expended€for€theÐ #l! Ðresidential€care€and€expenses€of€Mr.€Willis€Foshie,€exceptÐ $X" Ðapproximately€$2,000.00€in€savings€being€held€for€the€purpose€of€Mr.Ð ô$D # ÐFoshieððs€funeral€expenses€.ð8ðÐà%0!$` x` x ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€parties€stipulated€that€Willis€Foshie€was€in€need€of€a€conservator,€and€neitherÐ ¸'#& Ðparty€has€appealed€the€Trial€Courtððs€agreement€with€that€stipulation.€€Both€Petitioners€and€WarrenÐ ¤(ô#' ÐFoshie€sought€to€be€declared€the€conservator.€€Relying€on€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€34„13„103,€the€TrialÐ )à$( ÐCourt€observed€that€it€first€had€to€determine€what€was€in€Willis€Foshieððs€best€interest€and,Ð |*Ì%) Ðð ðsubordinate€to€the€first€determination,€is€who€is€the€appropriate€conservator€given€the€prioritizedÐ h+¸&* Ðlist€elucidated€by€statute.ðð€€The€Trial€Court€noted€that€Willis€Foshie€had€named€Warren€Foshie€asÐ ° Ðhis€conservator€and€testified€at€trial€that€this€was€who€he€wanted€to€be€his€conservator.€€On€the€otherÐ œì Ðhand,€Ruby€Foshie€had€been€his€primary€care„giver€up€until€the€time€he€was€hospitalized€and€thenÐ ˆØ Ðplaced€in€an€assisted€care€residential€facility.€€The€Trial€Court€stated€that€Ruby€Foshie€was€desirousÐ tÄ Ðof€continuing€to€provide€necessary€care€for€Mr.€Foshieððs€person,€and€Darlene€Holbert€was€capableÐ `° Ðand€properly€suited€to€perform€the€fiduciary€responsibilities.€€The€Trial€Court€then€discussed€WarrenÐ L œ ÐFoshieððs€acquisition€of€the€truck,€concluding€that€his€method€of€acquisition€(i.e.€applying€for€a€lostÐ 8 ˆ Ðtitle)€called€into€question€his€ability€to€perform€the€necessary€fiduciary€duties.€€Warren€Foshie€livedÐ $ t Ðin€Florida€700€miles€away€from€his€grandfather.€€The€Trial€Court€also€determined€that€it€would€beÐ  ` Ðin€Willis€Foshieððs€best€interest€to€have€a€conservator€who€resided€nearby,€such€as€the€Petitioners€whoÐ ü L  Ðvisited€him€every€week.€€Based€on€the€foregoing,€the€Trial€Court€concluded€it€would€be€in€WillisÐ è 8  ÐFoshieððs€best€interest€to€appoint€€Petitionerððs€as€co„conservators.€€With€regard€to€the€gift€of€the€truck,Ð Ô$  Ðthere€was€a€confidential€relationship€created€by€the€power€of€attorney.€€With€the€existence€of€thisÐ À  Ðconfidential€relationship,€the€Trial€Court€concluded€that€the€gift€of€the€truck€gave€rise€to€aÐ ¬ü  Ðpresumption€of€undue€influence€which€could€be€rebutted€only€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€ofÐ ˜è  Ðthe€fairness€of€the€transaction.€€One€way€to€establish€fairness€would€be€a€showing€of€independentÐ „Ô  Ðadvice€on€the€advisability€of€making€the€gift.€€The€Trial€Court€concluded€the€evidence€did€notÐ pÀ Ðsupport€a€finding€that€Willis€Foshie€received€any€competent,€independent€advice€regarding€theÐ \¬ Ðtransfer€of€the€truck.€€Since€Warren€Foshie€failed€to€establish€the€fairness€of€the€transaction,€the€TrialÐ H˜ ÐCourt€concluded€undue€influence€had€occurred,€and€the€value€of€the€truck€had€to€be€restored€to€theÐ 4„ Ðestate.€€Warren€Foshie€appeals.Ð  p ÐÌà@))%ìàò òòòDiscussionó óóóˆÐ øH ÐÌà  àà ` àOur€standard€of€review€with€regard€to€matters€decided€by€the€Trial€Court€is€wellÐ Ð  Ðsettled.€€A€review€of€findings€of€fact€by€a€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,Ð ¼  Ðaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€Ð ¨ø ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d);€òòBrooks€v.€Brooksóó,€992€S.W.2d€403,€404€(Tenn.€1999).€€Review€of€questionsÐ ”ä Ðof€law€is€òòde€novoóó,€without€a€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòSee€Nelson€v.€Wal„Mart€Stores,€Inc.óó,€8Ð €Ð ÐS.W.3d€625,€628€(Tenn.€1999).€Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àà ` àWe€have€a€very€limited€record€on€appeal.€€A€court€reporter€was€present€at€the€trial.€Ð D!” ÐHowever,€due€to€ð ðtechnical€difficultiesðð,€a€true€and€complete€transcript€could€not€be€prepared€andÐ 0"€  Ðwe€have€only€small€portions€of€the€testimony€of€the€witnesses.€€For€example,€on€direct€examination,Ð #l! ÐWillis€Foshie€testified€that€he€was€70€to€80€years€old,€that€Richard€Nixon€was€the€President€of€theÐ $X" ÐUnited€States,€and€he€has€lived€ð ðfirst€one€place€and€anotherðð€in€Morristown.€€On€cross€examination,Ð ô$D # ÐMr.€Willis€Foshie€testified€he€wanted€his€grandson€to€take€care€of€him€and€he€wanted€to€give€him€theÐ à%0!$ Ðtruck.€€On€re„direct€examination,€he€stated€he€did€not€know€if€his€wifeððs€name€was€on€the€title€to€theÐ Ì&"% Ðtruck,€but€that€the€truck€belonged€to€him.€€The€reason€he€gave€for€not€wanting€his€wife€to€handle€hisÐ ¸'#& Ðfinancial€affairs€was€that€she€was€ð ðwild€with€moneyðð.€€He€also€admitted€he€had€not€seen€his€grandsonÐ ¤(ô#' Ðin€two€months.€€This€is€essentially€the€entire€trial€testimony€of€Willis€Foshie€that€we€have€beenÐ )à$( Ðprovided€on€appeal.€€The€testimony€of€the€remaining€witnesses€is€similarly€incomplete€andÐ |*Ì%) Ðfragmented.€€Ð h+¸&* Їà  àà ` àThe€court€reporter€did€transcribe€the€limited€testimony€that€was€audible,€and€this€wasÐ ° Ðprovided€as€a€statement€of€the€evidence€pursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€24(c).€€A€statement€of€evidenceÐ œì Ðpursuant€to€this€rule€ð ðshould€convey€a€fair,€accurate€and€complete€account€of€what€transpired€withÐ ˆØ Ðrespect€to€those€issues€that€are€the€bases€of€appeal.ðð€€The€court€reporterððs€certification€on€theÐ tÄ Ðstatement€of€the€evidence€states:€ð ðThis€is€not€a€true€transcript€of€the€trial.€€Due€to€technicalÐ `° Ðdifficulties€that€occurred€during€the€trial€all€of€the€transcript€can€not€be€provided.ðð€€We€do€not€believeÐ L œ Ðthat€the€very€limited€transcript€we€have€been€provided€on€appeal€satisfies€the€requirement€that€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðstatement€of€the€evidence€should€convey€a€fair,€accurate,€and€complete€account€of€what€transpired.€Ð $ t ÐIn€the€absence€of€a€transcript€or€statement€of€the€evidence,€we€must€assume€that€had€the€record€beenÐ  ` Ðpreserved,€it€would€have€contained€sufficient€evidence€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€factual€findings.€Ð ü L  ÐòòTallent€v.€Catesóó,€45€S.W.3d€556,€562€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000).€€òòSee€also€Sherrod€v.€Wixóó,€849€S.W.2dÐ è 8  Ð780,€783€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992)(ð ðThis€court€cannot€review€the€facts€de€novo€without€an€appellateÐ Ô$  Ðrecord€containing€the€facts,€and€therefore,€we€must€assume€that€the€record,€had€it€been€preserved,Ð À  Ðwould€have€contained€sufficient€evidence€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€factual€findings.ðð).€€Since€theÐ ¬ü  Ðtwo€issues€presented€for€review€involve€the€Trial€Courtððs€factual€findings€as€to€which€of€the€partiesÐ ˜è  Ðwas€better€suited€to€be€Willis€Foshieððs€conservator€and€whether€undue€influence€was€present€withÐ „Ô  Ðthe€gift€of€the€truck,€we€have€no€choice€on€appeal€but€to€affirm€those€factual€findings€in€the€absenceÐ pÀ Ðof€a€complete€record€which€would€enable€us€to€properly€and€thoroughly€review€these€factualÐ \¬ Ðdeterminations€de€novo.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð H˜ ÐÌà@  %ìàò òòòConclusionóóó óˆÐ  p ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€affirmed.€€This€case€is€remanded€to€the€Trial€CourtÐ øH Ðfor€further€proceedings€as€required,€if€any,€consistent€with€this€Opinion,€and€for€the€collection€ofÐ ä4 Ðcosts€below.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€taxed€to€Appellants€Warren€Blake€Foshie€and€Willis€Foshie€andÐ Ð  Ðtheir€surety.Ð ¼  ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________________Ð 0"€  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àD.€MICHAEL€SWINEYÐ #l! Ð