ÿWPC– mæEóBb¸õ@øÁÑÄÃÁ#RÒ‡¢:™óBb¸í‹Þq…ðë#{ŠœH¿]a^c¦[ùrÏ2t°;FC&{«ÈÂA{Yi μœÒÒ) ið€ôÑèÎiäïú!FM;û!ì>7yNSuXsž³àu±™LŽ&ŽW¡NnD¤M8)`¬{˜Oå¿íÁKŸU`›I4ÈQœb`þÞJØX„Prc÷<…ØÕAÞ£A¹kŽíq÷€Ž¬Âã5©“9ïmæׄIÞ(¸ ®±«0´àòÿd¦~SPð êÂâçE¤r——§Å9†`'ÝǤڻ ÿa>Dkö7¿HQ Û“_¬îTTʇÇ>¡„¶âÇúFZN3‡^nùøvÛ`ìï(”ÐõB((ž£Ý<$r[Ù¯ðéJ¶âÄçÂ9;ᬫðy dúˆFR3õ$N?¾%x¯žÖ Ïû†Wø.w€ëž±îùþs~lμ·£Ùa…–**ÞúË¡ßp&Ž9î°¡Cuá‚‘˜7›yg15MÑ13RÅxEPÑÅq”hC9>_‚ÁÇcÿ•eŸNu2x½ º¡)±jôb• XB¯‰=,m¨?ÑÛq$<™GûÈb#É\ %% ^ + 0ˆ7 UN¿ w 4 z% ÒŸ q € m‚ Ô™ Æm Æ3ÆùÆ¿¿N………E‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡‡b‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰ 0ë‘‘‘‘ B|| 0¤™ D5= D-r 0KŸŸ ASêÆ= 0¤ 0D§ A«ë˜\\ib01s01\clerk1nasÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»0sv1 (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular„‚–0B011C8 ˜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 Humphreys COAKitchBinkley PLLCcontemptsShifletunrefuttedin in S.W.BlountLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5- ù-(|G2Êë$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X‘»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôùIò»»Ô d(|3Gˆ$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X‘»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Gˆ$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X‘»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€X‘»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼X‘»»»ÔÑ8€=XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î\8X‘ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼X‘»îî\8 #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  Ó€July€6,€2004€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡X=X»¼X‘ÔÌò òÔ#†¼X‘»XX=ò#ÔCHARLES€NICHOLAS€GRIFFITHòòóó€v.€JESSICA€LYNN€GRIFFITHÔ‡X=X»¼X‘Ôó óÐ úJ ÐÌAppeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Humphreys€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€CH„01„048€€€€€R.E.€Lee€Davies,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2003„01060„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€ò òFiled€November€22,€Ô_Ô2004ó óÔ_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<€` AßÐ Ñ  ÐÌÓ  ÓThe€sole€issue€before€the€court€in€this€protracted€domestic€relations€litigation€is€the€finding€by€theÐ |Ì  Ðtrial€court€that€Appellant€was€in€criminal€contempt€for€failure€to€make€mortgage€and€tax€paymentsÐ h¸ Ðon€the€marital€residence.€€Appellant€asserts€on€appeal€that€the€trial€court€did€not€set€a€specificÐ T¤ Ðdeadline€for€payment€and€that€the€uncontested€proof€shows€that€Appellant€lacked€the€ability€to€payÐ @ Ðwhen€the€debt€became€due.€€We€reverse€the€trial€court€action€finding€that€the€evidence€does€notÐ ,| Ðestablish€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€Appellant€had€the€ability€to€pay.Ð h ÐÓ¢ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ ð@ ÐReversed€and€Remandedó óÐ Ü, ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼X‘»àX=p#ÔÔ‡X=X.¼X‘ÔWilliam€B.€Cain,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€PòòATRICIAóó€J.€CòòOTTRELLóó,€òòóóand€òòóóFòòRANKóóÐ ´ ÐG.€CòòLEMENTóó,€JòòRóó.,€JJ.,€joined.Ð  ð ÐÌJohn€D.€Kitch,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Charles€Nicholas€Griffith.Ð xÈ ÐÌMike€W.€Binkley,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Jessica€Lynn€Griffith.Ð P   ÐÌÓÿÓò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼X‘»XX=.#ÔÔ‡X=X»¼X‘ÔÐ ("x! ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼X‘»XX=0 #ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X=X»¼X‘Ôà  àThis€appeal€involves€the€aftershock€from€a€domestic€relations€earthquake€involving€extensiveÐ $P# Ðmarital€property,€extensive€marital€debt,€and€convoluted€legal€maneuvering€by€the€parties.€€JessicaÐ ì$< $ ÐLynn€Griffith€and€Charles€Nicholas€Griffith€were€married€on€January€27,€1966€and€are€parents€ofÐ Ø%(!% Ðthree€children€born€to€the€marriage,€two€of€whom€were€already€emancipated€at€the€time€the€divorceÐ Ä&"& ÐComplaint€was€filed€on€March€13,€2001.€€This€was€the€first€marriage€for€both€parties.€€During€theÐ °'#' Ðcourse€of€the€marriage€the€parties€accumulated€vast€marital€real€property€holdings,€along€with€veryÐ œ(ì#( Ðsubstantial€marital€debt€relative€to€these€real€estate€holdings.€€Honorable€R.E.€Lee€Davies,€CircuitÐ ˆ)Ø$) ÐJudge€of€the€21st€Judicial€District,€was€designated€by€the€Chief€Justice€to€try€this€Humphreys€CountyÐ t*Ä%* Ðcase.Ð `+°&+ Ðâ âÐ L,œ',ý ÐÔ_Ôà  àThe€record€reveals€that€between€the€filing€of€the€Complaint€on€March€13,€2001,€and€theÐ ° Ðâ âAmended€Final€Order€of€Divorce€on€May€29,€2003,€the€parties€favored€the€court€with€a€seeminglyÐ œì Ðendless€array€of€petitions,€motions,€affidavits,€and€various€other€procedural€devices€mostly€dealingÐ ˆØ Ðwith€the€management€of€extensive€property€holdings,€and€reflecting€a€mutual€desire€to€fight€it€outÐ tÄ Ðto€the€bitter€end€on€every€issue.€€Ð `° ÐÌà  àOn€May€29,€2003,€the€trial€court€entered€its€fifteen€page€Amended€Final€Decree€of€DivorceÐ 8 ˆ Ðgranting€a€divorce€to€Mrs.€Griffith€on€grounds€of€adultery€and€dividing€57€separate€tracts€of€maritalÐ $ t Ðreal€property€between€the€parties€with€a€value€division€of€$942,245€to€Mr.€Griffith€and€$772,490€toÐ  ` ÐMrs.€Griffith.€€In€addition,€a€total€of€$96,000€in€value€was€assigned€to€Mr.€Griffith€as€his€separateÐ ü L  Ðproperty€and€$10,000€in€value€assigned€to€Mrs.€Griffith€as€her€separate€property.€€The€Final€DecreeÐ è 8  Ðfurther€provided€for€the€division€of€some€$55,000€in€personalty.€€Because€of€the€limited€issue€beforeÐ Ô$  Ðus€on€appeal,€we€need€not€consider€the€domestic€relations€issues€between€the€parties€except€insofarÐ À  Ðas€such€issues€are€relevant€to€the€criminal€contempt€finding€as€to€Mr.€Griffith.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àIn€the€May€29,€2003€Amended€Final€Decree€the€trial€court€held:Ð „Ô  ÐÌà8  àà ` àWith€regard€to€the€contempt€issues,€the€Court€finds€that€Mr.€Griffith€is€guiltyÐ \¬ Ðof€criminal€contempt€on€one€count€set€forth€in€one€Petition€for€Contempt€filed€by€Mr.Ð H˜ ÐBinkley€on€behalf€of€his€client,€Mrs.€Griffith.Ð4„Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àAs€to€Mrs.€Griffithððs€Second€Amended€and€Supplemental€Petition€forÐ  p ÐContempt€alleging€that€Mr.€Griffith€violated€another€court€Order,€which€was€theÐ  \ Ðcourtððs€Order€entered€on€March€12,€2002,€which,€òòinter€aliaóó,€ordered€Mr.€Griffith€toÐ øH Ðpay€the€property€taxes€associated€with€the€home€place,€as€well€as€the€mortgageÐ ä4 Ðassociated€with€the€home€place,€the€Court€finds€that€Mr.€Griffith€is€guilty€beyond€aÐ Ð  Ðreasonable€doubt€of€willful€criminal€contempt€of€the€Courtððs€Order€of€March€12,Ð ¼  Ð2002€by€willfully€failing€to€pay€the€home€property€taxes€associated€with€the€partiesððÐ ¨ø Ðfamily€home,€as€well€as€the€mortgage€payments€on€the€partiesðð€home,€as€required€byÐ ”ä Ðthe€Courtððs€Order€of€March€12,€2002.€€The€Court€specifically€finds€that€Mr.€GriffithÐ €Ð Ðwas€ordered€to€pay€the€property€taxes€and€the€home€mortgage€in€March€2002€and€thatÐ l¼ Ðthe€required€payments€were€in€the€nature€of€support€and€it€is€certainly€something€thatÐ X ¨ ÐMr.€Griffith€had€the€assets€and€financing€ability€to€pay€had€he€made€some€plan€for€theÐ D!” Ðpayment€of€the€Court€ordered€payments.€€Therefore,€the€Court€finds€that€Mr.€GriffithÐ 0"€  Ðis€in€willful€criminal€contempt€of€the€Courtððs€Order€of€March€12,€2002€by€violatingÐ #l! Ðthe€Courtððs€Order€in€failing€to€pay€the€property€taxes€associated€with€the€partiesððÐ $X" Ðhome€place€and€by€failing€to€pay€the€mortgage€on€the€home€place,€as€required€by€thisÐ ô$D # ÐCourtððs€Order€of€March€12,€2002.Ðà%0!$Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àAs€to€Mr.€Griffithððs€punishment,€the€Court€finds€that,€taking€intoÐ Ì&"% Ðconsideration€the€fact€that€Mr€Griffith€is€an€attorney,€and€that€he€failed€to€follow€theÐ ¸'#& Ðspecific€orders€of€the€Court,€the€Court€finds€that€Mr.€Griffith€should€be€fined€$50.00Ð ¤(ô#' Ðand€incarcerated€in€the€Williamson€County€jail€at€a€time€to€be€set€by€the€Court€if€anÐ )à$( Ðâ âappeal€is€not€taken€on€the€contempt€issue€or€if€the€appeal€is€unsuccessful.Ð|*Ì%)Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àIn€the€event€Mr.€Griffith€wishes€to€appeal€the€decisions€relative€to€contempt,Ð ° Ðâ âbond€is€hereby€set€at€$1,000.00.ÐœìÐ Ð  ÐÌIt€is€from€this€finding€of€criminal€contempt€that€Mr.€Griffith€appeals.€€No€procedural€issue€is€raisedÐ tÄ Ðas€to€the€criminal€contempt€finding,€and€the€only€issues€before€the€Court€are€the€assertions€by€Mr.Ð `° ÐGriffith€that€the€Order€allegedly€violated€ð ðdid€not€set€a€specific€deadline€for€complianceðð€and€furtherÐ L œ Ðthat€the€proof€at€the€contempt€hearing€did€not€establish€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€he€had€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðability€to€pay€at€the€time€required€by€the€Order.€€Before€considering€the€issues€on€appeal€it€isÐ $ t Ðnecessary€to€address€certain€matters€that€have€come€before€the€Court€after€the€filing€of€the€record€onÐ  ` Ðappeal.Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àOn€January€28,€2004,€Honorable€Michael€W.€Binkley,€attorney€for€Jessica€Lynn€Griffith€inÐ Ô$  Ðthis€case,€filed€in€this€Court€a€Motion€to€be€allowed€to€withdraw€as€counsel€for€Jessica€Lynn€GriffithÐ À  Ðfor€reasons€stated€in€an€affidavit€attached.€€This€affidavit€asserted:Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà8  àà ` à1.à ¸ àI€am€a€licensed€attorney€practicing€law€in€Nashville,€Davidson€County,Ð „Ô  ÐTennessee.€€I€have€been€practicing€law€since€graduation€from€Vanderbilt€Law€SchoolÐ pÀ Ðin€1977.Ð\¬Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à2.à ¸ àI€have€represented€Jessica€Lynn€Griffith€in€the€lower€court€with€regardÐ H˜ Ðto€her€divorce€case,€which€was€an€extremely€lengthy,€convoluted€and€complexÐ 4„ Ðdivorce€case.€€The€case€was€tried€before€The€Honorable€Special€Judge€Robert€E.€LeeÐ  p ÐDavies,€who€was€appointed€by€the€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€to€hear€this€divorceÐ  \ Ðcase,€which€was€originally€filed€in€the€Chancery€Court€of€Humphreys€County,Ð øH ÐTennessee.€Ðä4Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à3.à ¸ àThe€trial€of€this€case€lasted€three€days€and€was€tried€on€November€18,Ð Ð  Ð2002,€December€2,€2002€and€December€27,€2002.€€After€the€trial€of€this€case,€thereÐ ¼  Ðwere€post„trial€motions€ruled€upon€by€the€trial€judge.€€An€Amended€Final€Decree€ofÐ ¨ø ÐDivorce€was€finally€entered€in€this€case€on€May€29,€2003.ДäÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à4.à ¸ àThereafter,€on€September€12,€2003,€the€Appellant,€Charles€NicholasÐ €Ð ÐGriffith,€filed€his€bankruptcy€petition€in€the€United€States€Bankruptcy€Court€for€theÐ l¼ ÐMiddle€District€of€Tennessee.€€The€case€number€of€the€bankruptcy€proceedings€filedÐ X ¨ Ðby€Mr.€Griffith€is€303„11723„M83„11.ÐD!”Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à5.à ¸ àShortly€thereafter,€I,€along€with€my€client,€Jessica€Lynn€Griffith,€hiredÐ 0"€  ÐRobert€J.€Mendes,€attorney€with€Mendes€&€Gonzales,€PLLC,€120€30th€AvenueÐ #l! ÐNorth,€Nashville,€Tennessee€37203€to€represent€our€interest€as€creditors€of€Mr.Ð $X" ÐGriffith€in€the€Federal€Bankruptcy€Court.Ðô$D #Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à6.à ¸ àAfter€several€weeks€of€negotiations,€depositions€and€furtherÐ à%0!$ Ðnegotiations,€the€parties,€through€their€attorneys,€were€able€to€reach€a€ð ðsettlementÐ Ì&"% Ðagreement,ðð€a€copy€of€which€is€annexed€to€this€Affidavit€as€ò òExhibit€Aó ó.€€TheÐ ¸'#& Ðsettlement€agreement€was€subsequently€approved€by€the€Federal€Bankruptcy€Court.€Ð ¨(ø#' ÐA€copy€of€the€Courtððs€Order€approving€the€partiesðð€settlement€agreement€is€annexedÐ ”)ä$( Ðâ âto€this€Affidavit€as€ò òExhibit€Bó ó.€€As€evidenced€by€the€copy€of€the€lengthy€settlementÐ €*Ð%) Ðagreement,€Section€6(d)€stated€a€portion€of€the€agreement€between€the€parties€asÐ ° Ðfollows:ÐœìÐ Ð  Ðâ âà8  àà0` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` Ð ` Ð àIn€connection€with€the€Divorce€Case€Appeal,€Ms.€Griffith€andÐ ˆØ ÐBinkley€agree€to€not€participate€substantively€in€the€Divorce€CaseÐ tÄ ÐAppeal.€€This€agreement€only€requires€Ms.€Griffith€and€Binkley€toÐ `° Ðtake€no€position€regarding€the€existing€finding€of€contempt€in€theÐ L œ ÐDivorce€Case€Appeal.€€Ms.€Griffith€and€Binkley€are€not€under€anyÐ 8 ˆ Ðobligation€to€take€any€affirmative€steps€regarding€the€existing€findingÐ $ t Ðof€contempt€or€regarding€the€Divorce€Case€Appeal.Ð `¸ Ð ¸ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à7.à ¸ àIn€consultation€with€my€client,€Jessica€Lynn€Griffith,€and€inÐ ü L  Ðconsultation€with€our€attorney,€Robert€J.€Mendes,€we€have€concluded€that€theÐ è 8  Ðsettlement€agreement€would€be€breached€if€Ms.€Griffith€filed€a€responsive€brief€inÐ Ô$  Ðthis€cause€and€Ms.€Griffith€and€I€agree€that€the€appropriate€procedure€under€theÐ À  Ðcircumstances€would€be€for€me€to€withdraw€as€her€attorney€of€record€in€this€case.€Ð ¬ü  ÐMs.€Griffith€fully€understands€that€procedurally€and€in€order€to€comply€with€the€termsÐ ˜è  Ðof€the€settlement€agreement€in€the€bankruptcy€court€that€I,€as€her€attorney€of€record,Ð „Ô  Ðcannot€file€a€responsive€brief€in€this€cause€because€such€filing€of€a€brief€opposing€Mr.Ð pÀ ÐGriffithððs€position€in€the€appeal€of€this€case€would€be€a€substantial€breach€of€theÐ \¬ Ðagreement€entered€into€between€the€parties€and€the€respective€attorneys€and€approvedÐ H˜ Ðby€the€bankruptcy€court.Ð4„Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à8.à ¸ àTherefore,€Ms.€Griffith,€with€the€full€understanding€of€her€obligationsÐ  p Ðand€responsibilities€under€the€settlement€agreement€and€in€compliance€with€theÐ  \ Ðprocedures€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€with€regard€to€her€obligation€and€my€obligationÐ øH Ðð ðto€take€no€position€regarding€the€existing€finding€of€contempt€in€the€Divorce€CaseÐ ä4 ÐAppeal,ðð€I,€along€with€the€approval€of€my€client,€respectfully€request€that€I€beÐ Ð  Ðallowed€to€withdraw€as€attorney€of€record€for€Ms.€Griffith€in€the€appeal€of€this€case.м Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à9.à ¸ àMs.€Griffith€fully€understands€that€I€am€withdrawing€as€her€attorneyÐ ¨ø Ðof€record€in€this€appeal€and€understands€the€reasons€for€my€withdrawal€of€myÐ ”ä Ðrepresentation€of€her€in€this€appeal€pursuant€to€Section€6(d)€of€the€settlementÐ €Ð Ðagreement€in€the€bankruptcy€court€in€this€cause.Ðl¼Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` à10.à ¸ àI€have€been€in€communication€with€counsel€for€Mr.€Griffith€and€heÐ X ¨ Ðfully€understands€and€agrees€with€my€withdrawal€from€representing€Ms.€Griffith€inÐ D!” Ðthe€appeal€of€this€case€based€upon€the€settlement€agreement€reached€in€the€UnitedÐ 0"€  ÐStates€Bankruptcy€Court€for€th€Middle€District€of€Tennessee.Ð#l!Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIt€thus€appears€that€all€issues€existing€between€the€parties€have€been€resolved€in€bankruptcyÐ ô$D # Ðcourt€to€their€mutual€satisfaction€and€it€is€only€because€criminal€contempt€involves€an€affront€to€theÐ à%0!$ ÐCourt€that€this€appeal€presents€a€justiciable€issue.€€Criminal€contempts€are€punitive€in€character€andÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€proceeding€is€to€vindicate€the€authority€of€the€law€and€the€court€as€an€organ€of€society.€€òòShifletÐ ¸'#& Ðv.€Stateóó,€400€S.W.2d€542,€544€(Tenn.€1966).Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àThe€difficulty€for€the€Court€in€this€case€is€that€the€practical€abandonment€in€this€Court€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðsupport€of€the€action€of€the€trial€court,€either€by€appearance€and€argument€of€counsel€or€byÐ h+¸&* Ðsupporting€appellate€brief,€leaves€this€Court€to€consider€the€essentially€unrefuted€assertions€ofÐ ° ÐAppellant€with€nobody€as€advocate€in€support€of€the€trial€court€action.€€Laboring€under€this€handicapÐ œì Ðwe€address€the€issues€on€appeal.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àOn€March€18,€2002,€the€trial€court€ordered€Mr.€Griffith€to€continue€to€pay€bills€and€expensesÐ `° Ðof€the€family€home€place€including,€but€not€limited€to,€mortgage€expense,€home€insurance,€and€homeÐ L œ Ðtaxes.€€On€December€20,€2002,€Ms.€Griffith€filed€her€Second€Amended€and€Supplemental€PetitionÐ 8 ˆ Ðfor€Contempt€asserting€willful€failure€by€Mr.€Griffith€to€pay€home€property€taxes€associated€with€theÐ $ t Ðfamily€home.€€This€was€coupled€with€a€failure€to€pay€the€annual€mortgage€debt€on€the€premises.Ð  ` ÐÌà  àThe€assertion€on€appeal€by€Mr.€Griffith€that€the€Order€did€not€set€a€specific€deadline€forÐ è 8  Ðcompliance€is€without€merit.€€He€knew€the€date€on€which€the€mortgage€payment€was€due€and€heÐ Ô$  Ðknew€the€dates€on€which€property€taxes€were€due.Ð À  ÐÌà  àIt€is€the€second€issue€on€appeal€which€is€determinative.€€While€the€marital€property€figuresÐ ˜è  Ðset€forth€in€the€May€29,€2003€Final€Divorce€Decree€show€a€combined€marital€property€value€ofÐ „Ô  Ð$1,714,735,€these€represent€net€figures€as€to€the€value€of€real€property.€€If€such€figures€could€showÐ pÀ Ðliquid€assets€of€$942,245€available€to€Mr.€Griffith€at€the€time€the€mortgage€debt€and€taxes€becameÐ \¬ Ðdue€he€would€clearly€be€in€criminal€contempt.€€The€difficulty€is€that€these€57€parcels€of€real€estateÐ H˜ Ðshow€a€gross€value€of€$4,649,200€encumbered€by€$2,934,465€of€mortgage€debt€secured€by€theÐ 4„ Ðrespective€parcels€of€land€with€extensive€cross€collateralization€of€security.€€The€essentially€unrefutedÐ  p Ðtestimony€of€Mr.€Griffith€is€that€he€had€more€money€going€out€in€mortgage€debt€than€was€comingÐ  \ Ðin€as€income€and€that€the€depressed€state€of€the€real€estate€market,€together€with€his€inability€toÐ øH Ðmarket€properties,€left€him€in€an€impossible€financial€situation.€€During€his€testimony€the€followingÐ ä4 Ðexchange€tells€the€story.Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àà ` àTHE€COURT:€The€real€answer€to€the€question€is,€the€bank€was€hollering€aÐ ¨ø Ðlot€louder€than€the€court€order,€right?ДäÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àTHE€WITNESS:€There€wasnððt€enough€money.ЀÐÐ Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àTHE€COURT:€I€know.Ðl¼Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€had€listened€to€this€tale€of€woe€throughout€the€day€and€the€following€finallyÐ D!” Ðoccurred:Ð 0"€  ÐÌà8  àà ` àTHE€COURT:€You€know€what,€all€this€is€kind€of€missing€the€point,€I€think.€Ð $X" ÐThis€order€went€down€in€March.€€You€knew€it€was€due€in€September.€€Thereððs€a€lotÐ ô$D # Ðof€time€to€plan€for€that€payment.€€Youððve€got€property.€€You€could€have€come€intoÐ à%0!$ Ðcourt€and€petitioned€the€Court€to€sell€a€piece€of€property€to€take€care€of€thisÐ Ì&"% Ðobligation.€€You€could€have€petitioned€the€court€to€require€Ms.€Griffith€to€refinance.€Ð ¸'#& ÐYou€just€didnððt€want€to.€€There€are€just€lots€of€things€you€could€have€done,€but€youÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdidnððt.€€Weððre€wasting€time.€Ð)à$(Ð Ð  Ðà8  àà ` àTHE€WITNESS:€Can€I€explain€just€a€little€about€„€„€Ð|*Ì%)Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àTHE€COURT:€No,€I€donððt€want€to€hear€it,€I€really€donððt.Ð h+¸&* Їà  àThe€controlling€law€provides:Ð ° ÐÌà8  àà ` àCriminal€contempts,€on€the€other€hand,€are€intended€to€preserve€the€powerÐ ˆØ Ðand€vindicate€the€dignity€and€authority€of€the€law,€and€the€court€as€an€organ€ofÐ tÄ Ðsociety.€€òòDaughertyóó,€137€Tenn.€at€127,€191€S.W.€at€974;€òòGunn.€v.€Southern€Bell€Tel.Ð `° Ð&€Tel.€co.óó,€201€Tenn.€38,€41„42,€296€S.W.2d€843,€844„45€(1956).€€Therefore,Ð L œ Ðsanctions€for€criminal€contempt€are€generally€both€punitive€and€unconditional€inÐ 8 ˆ Ðnature.€€òòId.óó€€While€criminal€contempts€may€arise€in€the€course€of€private€civilÐ $ t Ðlitigation,€such€proceedings,€ð ðin€a€very€true€sense€raise€an€issue€between€the€publicÐ  ` Ðand€the€accused.ðð€€òòDaughertyóó,€191€S.W.€at€974€(internal€citations€and€quotationsÐ ü L  Ðomitted).€€In€the€trial€of€a€criminal€contempt€case,€therefore,€guilt€of€the€accused€mustÐ è 8  Ðbe€established€by€proof€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt.€€òòRobinsonóó,€377€S.W.2d€at€912.ÐÔ$ Ð Ð  ÐÌòòBlack€v.€Blountóó,€938€S.W.2d€394,€398€(Tenn.€1996).Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àConsidering€the€record€as€a€whole€we€find€no€evidence€that€Mr.€Griffith€diverted€money€toÐ „Ô  Ðhis€own€use€to€the€exclusion€of€mortgage€creditors.€€As€a€result,€the€evidence€does€not€rise€to€theÐ pÀ Ðrequired€proof€of€guilt€beyond€a€reasonable€doubt€that€Mr.€Griffith€had€the€ability€to€pay.€€Tenn.€R.Ð \¬ ÐApp.€P.€13(e).€€òòSee€Thigpen€v.€Thigpenóó,€874€S.W.2d€51,€53€(Tenn.Ct.App.€1993).òò€óó€On€this€basis€theÐ H˜ Ðjudgment€of€the€trial€court€as€to€criminal€contempt€is€reversed.€€The€case€is€remanded€to€the€trialÐ 4„ Ðcourt€for€such€further€proceedings€as€may€be€necessary.€€Costs€of€the€cause€are€assessed€to€Appellee.Ð  p Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE