ÿWPCÀ ‰B{•¥R!†Y6°«D×É8¢çû¹pZߤԖhÅ úfK¢“™¸1„äéû&ô®‹I0?ï˜[Êu\%#ƒc…Ž7ée¤«f¬hßâ'TgAš¶øuþ›ý¾4Y©ˆáý§–tþ#Xdá43b©öЬLÈ»åR‡Qßä'ZÀ¦Ú·“¸ã7wÀ¥ŒïŒ¸g)2¶n¯Äb¶µRcH"­Wc±A°Ôþi@jb¾‹ís“z‘²Ñty>@a[‘Ít´J,6R©ˆ¯ñoõðÑù€Õ¢Ÿ¼¦ºÊÊwIAñf®®µêù¹õ›Ü.8ï °WÜÐËf4 yÂ;~±øä#Ýšó\K#ãLuýÕþc4ÚqÿáóxãWÝôé´ù*—ÿ§9àUä ù\,–b˜³åÜô½[Cˆï¸K!«k:Æ·8ög#mõçnbCÞ‘Žô…•”Ž– #GÀ)j¿óû”k"¤4#šçâB³ÿCõøØùSÁÇm…Q’k†)¯TnŸ /Cù7£m‡ºÐÄÄû)“áeˆ†éãh^Ò JÝtrRŸwXªwžÑlÂÏÏÈ?^IÏVoÔ”J¼u > §(#Eb %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ Ð #ÁØ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë ë N±±±E³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³³bµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµµ 0ë½½½½ B¨¨ 0¤Å D3i D-œ 0KÉÉ ASÆg 0¤- 0DÑ A«»àv2+â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÑuV)ê:i¢Ø+003|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ ˜HP LaserJet 4050 SeriÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5- ù-(|G2ú¨$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€M»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô°åò»»Ô d(|3ÿg$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€M»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÿg$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€M»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€%»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼%»»»ÔÑ8€LÉXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îä%ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼%»îîä #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓAugust€27,€2001€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XLÉX»¼%ÔÌÌò òÔ#†¼%»XXLÉô#ÔJEANNE€ALICE€Ô_ÔGABELÔ_Ô€v.€TODD€EDWARD€GABELó óÐ æ 6 ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òÔ€XLÉX»¼%ÔAppeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Sevier€CountyÐ  \ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€98„52„II€€€€€€Richard€R.€Vance,€JudgeÐ ø H ÐÌFILED€SEPTEMBER€Ô_Ô18,Ô_Ô€2001Ð Ð  Ðà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<»` AßÐ ¼  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€E2000„02585„COA„R3„CVÐ ·  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Ž` AßÐ ß  ÐÓ  ÓÌó óÌThe€Trial€Court€entered€a€default€judgment€against€the€defendant€in€this€divorce€case€even€thoughÐ vÆ Ðthe€defendant€had€filed€an€answer€within€the€time€frame€set€forth€in€Rule€12.01.€€We€conclude€thatÐ b² Ðentry€of€the€default€judgment€was€not€appropriate€when€the€defendant€timely€filed€an€answer,€and,Ð Nž Ðtherefore,€vacate€the€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court.€€Ð :Š ÐÌÌò òà@ª ª ìàTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€As€of€Right;€JudgmentˆÐ þN Ðà@  ìàof€the€Circuit€Court€Vacated;€Case€Remanded.ˆÐ ê: Ðó óÌÌòòD.€Michael€Swiney,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHouston€M.€Goddard,€P.J.,Ð ®þ Ðóóand€òòCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.,óó€joined.ò òÐ šê Ðó óÌDonald€K.€Vowell€and€Elizabeth€K.€Johnson,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant€Todd€EdwardÐ r  ÐÔ_ÔGabelÔ_Ô.Ð ^!®  ÐÌJ.€Patrick€Stapleton,€Sevierville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee€Jeanne€Alice€Ô_ÔGabelÔ_Ô.Ð 6#†" ÐÌÌÌà@66'ìàò òOPINIONó óˆÐ æ&6"& ÐÌà@ÛÛ%ìàò òòòBackgroundóóó óˆÐ ¾($( ÐÌà  àà ` àOn€January€19,€1998,€Jeanne€Alice€Gabel€("Wife")€filed€a€Complaint€seeking€aÐ –*æ%* Ðdivorce€from€Todd€Edward€Gabel€("Husband").€€The€parties€had€one€minor€child€at€the€time€theÐ ‚+Ò&+ ÐComplaint€was€filed.€€On€January€29,€1998,€Husband€filed€an€Answer€to€the€Complaint,€respondingÐ n,¾', Ðto€the€various€allegations€and€effectively€putting€the€matters€set€forth€by€Wife€at€issue.€€In€May€ofÐ Z-ª(-ýÿ Ð1998,€Husband€filed€a€motion€to€modify€his€child€support€payments€previously€agreed€to€by€theÐ ° Ðparties€and€to€set€reasonable€Ô_Ôvisitation.Ô_Ô€€The€next€document€contained€in€the€record€is€an€Order€datedÐ œì ÐFebruary€12,€1999,€which€states,€in€pertinent€part,€as€follows:Ð ˆØ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àThis€cause€came€onto€be€heard€on€this€the€5th€day€of€February,Ð `° Ð1999€by€and€before€the€Honorable€O.€Duane€Slone.ð8ð€€The€recordÐ L œ Ðreflects€that€the€Complaint€for€Divorce€was€originally€filed€by€theÐ 8 ˆ ÐPlaintiff€in€January€of€1998,€that€the€Defendant€was€represented€byÐ $ t Ðcounsel€and€filed€an€Answer€to€said€Complaint€in€January€1998,€andÐ  ` Ðthat€subsequent€to€that€time€the€attorney€for€the€Plaintiff€has€beenÐ ü L  Ðreplaced€ð8ðand€the€attorney€for€the€Defendant€ð8ð€has€withdrawn.€€TheÐ è 8  ÐCourt€further€finds€that€the€Defendant€has€been€given€notice€pursuantÐ Ô$  Ðto€a€Motion€for€Default€filed€on€December€3,€1998,€as€verified€by€theÐ À  ÐCertificate€of€Service,€that€a€Default€Judgment€would€be€taken€if€heÐ ¬ü  Ðdid€not€file€an€Answer€within€thirty€(30)€days€from€the€date€of€saidÐ ˜è  ÐMotion.€€The€Court€further€finds€that€February€5,€is€more€than€sixtyÐ „Ô  Ð(60)€days€from€the€date€of€the€original€filing€of€said€Motion.€€ÐpÀ` x` x ÐÌThe€Trial€Court€then€granted€Wife€a€default€judgment€for€an€absolute€divorce€from€Husband€on€theÐ H˜ Ðbasis€of€inappropriate€martial€conduct.€€The€Trial€Court€also€granted€Wife€exclusive€custody€of€theÐ 4„ Ðminor€child€and€required€Husband€to€seek€visitation€rights€"through€appropriate€order€of€the€Court."€Ð  p ÐAlthough€Husband€was€not€granted€any€visitation€with€his€child,€he€was€ordered€to€pay€child€supportÐ  \ Ðin€the€amount€of€$355.00€per€month.€€Ð øH ÐÌà  àà ` àOn€March€9,€1999,€Husband€filed€a€motion€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment€claiming,Ð Ð  Ðamong€other€things,€that€he€never€received€notice€of€the€hearing€as€required€by€Rule€55.01.€€HusbandÐ ¼  Ðalso€pointed€out€that€his€Answer€had€been€filed.€€In€Wife's€response€to€the€motion€to€set€aside€theÐ ¨ø Ðdefault€judgment,€she€admitted€that€"it€is€possible"€that€Husband€did€not€receive€notice€of€the€hearingÐ ”ä Ðand€that€no€such€notice€was€contained€in€the€Trial€Court's€file.€€Wife's€counsel€also€stated€that€he€wasÐ €Ð Ðin€the€process€of€several€staff€changes,€"and€it€is€quite€possible€that,€although€his€file€showed€thoseÐ l¼ Ðnotices€had€been€mailed€to€the€Defendant,€that€in€fact,€they€may€not€have€been€mailed."€Ð X ¨ ÐNotwithstanding€these€admissions€by€Wife€and€her€attorney,€the€Trial€Court€overruled€Husband'sÐ D!” Ðmotion€to€set€aside€the€default€judgment.€€The€Trial€Court€stated€that€there€was€sufficient€informationÐ 0"€  Ðin€the€file€"to€satisfy€the€Court€that€the€Defendant€had€notice€of€the€Motion€for€Default€Judgment€andÐ #l! Ðtherefore€the€Court€finds€that€this€Judgment€shall€not€be€set€aside€based€on€any€defect€in€the€record."€Ð $X" ÐHusband€then€filed€a€motion€to€amend€the€judgment,€motion€to€reconsider,€and/or€motion€for€newÐ ô$D # Ðtrial.€€The€Trial€Court€denied€these€motions€as€well.€€Husband€appeals.€€There€is€no€motion€forÐ à%0!$ Ðdefault€or€any€notice€setting€the€motion€for€default€for€a€hearing€contained€in€the€record€on€appeal.€Ð Ì&"% ÐÌâ âÐ ¤(ô#' ÐÔ& t Ôâ âà@))%ìàò òòòDiscussionó óóóˆÐ ° ÐÌà  àà ` àA€review€of€findings€of€fact€by€a€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trialÐ ˆØ Ðcourt,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€isÐ tÄ Ðotherwise.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d);€òòBrooks€v.€Brooksóó,€992€S.W.2d€403,€404€(Tenn.€1999).€€ReviewÐ `° Ðof€questions€of€law€is€òòde€novoóó,€without€a€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòSee€Nelson€v.€Wal„Mart€Stores,Ð L œ ÐInc.óó,€8€S.W.3d€625,€628€(Tenn.€1999).€Ô't°]ÔÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àOn€appeal,€Husband€raises€four€issues:€€1)€whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€in€grantingÐ  ` Ða€default€judgment€when€Husband€did€not€have€proper€notice;€2)€whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€inÐ ü L  Ðgranting€a€default€judgment€when€a€timely€answer€had€been€filed;€3)€whether€the€Trial€Court€erredÐ è 8  Ðin€granting€a€divorce€based€on€inappropriate€martial€conduct€absent€proof€from€corroboratingÐ Ô$  Ðwitnesses€as€required€by€statute;€and€4)€whether€the€Trial€Court€erred€by€making€no€provision€forÐ À  Ðchild€visitation€when€Husband€had€filed€a€motion€requesting€same.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àà ` àOur€resolution€of€this€appeal€requires€us€to€address€only€Husband's€second€issue.€€InÐ „Ô  Ðrelevant€part,€Rule€55.01€of€the€Tenn.€R.€Civ€P.€provides€that€"[w]hen€a€party€against€whom€aÐ pÀ Ðjudgment€for€affirmative€relief€is€sought€has€failed€to€plead€or€otherwise€defend€as€provided€by€theseÐ \¬ Ðrulesð8ð€judgment€by€default€may€be€entered€ð8ð."€€Rule€12.01€provides€that€a€"defendant€shall€serveÐ H˜ Ðan€answer€within€thirty€(30)€days€after€the€service€of€the€summons€and€complaint€upon€him.ð8ð"€€ItÐ 4„ Ðis€undisputed€in€this€case€that€Husband€filed€his€Answer€within€the€time€limits€set€forth€in€RuleÐ  p Ð12.01.€€In€order€to€determine€if€the€Trial€Court€acted€"within€the€range€of€permissible€alternativesÐ  \ Ðavailable€to€it€in€granting€the€motion€for€default€judgment,€we€must€examine€the€prerequisite€that€theÐ øH Ðnonmovant€failed€to€defend€the€lawsuit€as€provided€by€the€rules."€€òòState€of€Tennessee€v.€Looperóó,€No.Ð ä4 ÐM1999„00662„COA„R3„CV,€2000€WL€354404€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Apr.€7,€2000).€€This€generallyÐ Ð  Ðbecomes€a€question€of€whether€an€answer€or€other€allowable€defensive€pleading€was€filed€within€theÐ ¼  Ðapplicable€time€limits.€€òòId.óó€€In€discussing€the€effect€of€filing€a€timely€answer€insofar€as€Rule€55.01Ð ¨ø Ðis€concerned,€this€Court€in€òòLooperóó€stated:Ð ”ä ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWe€think€a€timely€answer€precludes€default€judgment€under€the€clearÐ l¼ Ðlanguage€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€55.01,€but€that€same€language€clearlyÐ X ¨ Ðauthorizes€entry€of€default€judgment€where€no€answer€has€been€filedÐ D!” Ðwhich€complies€with€the€time€limitations€established€by€the€rules.Ð0"€ ` x` x ÐÌòòLooperóó,€2000€WL€354404€at€*€6€(relying,€in€part,€on€òòTolbert€v.€Tolbertóó,€No.€03A01„9406„CV„00230,Ð $X" Ð1994€WL€705230€*1€at€n.1€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Dec.€15,€1994)(no€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€applicationÐ ô$D # Ðfiled)(A€default€judgment€is€not€appropriate€when€an€answer€has€been€timely€filed)).€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòWitterÐ à%0!$ Ðv.€Nesbitóó,€878€S.W.2d€116,€119€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993)(Although€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€55.01€provides€forÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€entry€of€a€default€judgment€against€a€party€who€has€failed€to€plead,€this€rule€should€not€applyÐ ¸'#& Ðwhen€pleadings€are€filed€on€behalf€of€a€defendant€pursuant€to€the€Tennessee€Uninsured€MotoristÐ ¤(ô#' Ðstatute.).Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àà ` àWe€conclude€that€the€Trial€Court€committed€reversible€error€when€it€entered€a€defaultÐ ° Ðâ âjudgment€against€Husband€who€had€filed€his€Answer€within€the€applicable€time€frame€set€forth€inÐ œì ÐRule€12.01.€€Because€of€this€the€Trial€Court's€judgment€is€hereby€vacated€in€its€entirety,€and,Ð ˆØ ÐÔ_Ôtherefore,Ô_Ô€the€remaining€issues€raised€by€Husband€are€pretermitted.Ð tÄ ÐÌà@  %ìàò òòòConclusionó óóóˆÐ L œ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€vacated.€€This€case€is€remanded€to€the€Trial€CourtÐ $ t Ðfor€further€proceedings,€as€necessary,€consistent€with€this€Opinion.€€Costs€of€the€appeal€are€taxed€toÐ  ` Ðthe€Appellee€Jeanne€Alice€Ô_ÔGabelÔ_Ô.Ð ü L  ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________________Ð pÀ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àD.€MICHAEL€SWINEYÐ \¬ Ð