WPCe ס0_ظWT6΢-LRV>r ,VVEuXϬlj9=U4P4Ze$T o3,>IIqB=&o@J<&“C)Xڢ27)aE? BA#].WeM|o(BBqarH F%G~&Ld`Htn\rOf="SwuFv ;l#a|4bxctq*)\I`RSZiZ[L?N ,H5qڷ/sm:5?|P^-$(:4+uJo Mh~"Q.29A (~E5c.#ΌA. fk>뽗A* z2 Z8Vt<"pADb %\^ b 0nUNwD4H\ zk m # U N   k 1N 0DVEPPPPPRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRbZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 0bbbb BMM 0j D3 D-A 0Knn AS  0 0Dv A;x+ (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman RegularuV)bk2\Ȩ3|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.wptUHP LaserJet 4050 Seri0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5  R $      1    _ԀTheclericalerrorinenteringtheDivorceJudgmentasofApril16,1983wasnotaddressedbyDefendantin  the1983Motion.(#$  0    R $      2    _ԀAtsomepointduringthe14plusyearlapseinactivityinthismatter,Plaintiffdied.Defendants1998Motion  allegesthatshefiledaclaimagainstPlaintiffsestate.AfterDefendants1998Motionwasfiled,Plaintiffswidow, t BarbaraHavely,filedaPetitiontoIntervenewhichwasgrantedinNovember1998.Thereafter,whilethismatterwas 8 pendingonappeal,BarbaraHavelydiedandtheadministratrixofherestate,TheresaWaller,wasallowedtosubstitute L aspartyappellee.Forsimplicityssake,wewillrefertoJeromeFelix_Havely_,Barbara_Havely_ԀandBarbara_Havely_s  estates_administratrix_Ԁas Plaintiff. - -(|G2 $ !.8dd8         0   d(|3^$ !.8dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3^$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _  8[XXdd8  @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE0  # #&(#(#   July12,2001Session L _X[X_ #XX[#JEROMEFELIXHAVELYv.ALMEDAMATTHEWSHAVELY   6 @@ X[XԀAppealfromtheDomesticRelationsCourtforHamblenCounty  \ @@No.1176_JoyceWard___0 @ ,Judge  H ___FILEDAUGUST15,_2001__   @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.E200002275_COA_ԄR3CV   ____AV) ` dE<` A   _ _  ___In_Ԁ1983,___JeromeFelix_Havely_Ԁand_Almeda_ԀMatthews_Havely__Ԁwere_divorced._Ԁ___Theyhad_Ԁenteredinto v aPropertySettlementAgreementwhichwas___incorporatedinto_ԀtheJudgmentofDivorce( Divorce b Judgment).NeithertheDivorceJudgmentnorthePropertySettlementAgreement___mentioned_Ԁ___the_ N militarypensionof_____Jerome_ԀFelix_Havely_Ԁ( Plaintiff).Approximatelyonemonthaftertheentryof : theDivorceJudgment,______Almeda__ԀMatthews_Havely_Ԁ_( Defendant)_Ԁfiledamotionessentiallyseeking &v reliefunderTenn.R.Civ.P.60.02inwhichsheallegedthattheDivorceJudgmentshouldbeset b asidebecauseshe_had_Ԁnot_been_ԀawareofherentitlementtoPlaintiffsmilitarypension._________This_Ԁmotion N wasdismissed_in1984_ԀbytheTrialCourtforfailuretoprosecute.Thismatterlaydormantfor : ___fourteen_Ԁ_plus_ԀyearsuntilDefendantfiledtwomoreRule60.02motions.Defendantsthirdandfinal & Rule60.02motion,filedin1999,isthesubjectofthisappeal.Afterthreenoticesofhearingwere  filed,theTrialCourtdismissedDefendantsmotionwithoutprovidingitsreasonsforthedismissal.  Defendantappeals.Weaffirm.  __ Tenn.R.App.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheDomesticRelationsCourtAffirmed.  ^!  __  _D._Ԁ_Michael_Ԁ__Swiney__,_J.,_Ԁdeliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich_Houston_Ԁ_M._Ԁ__Goddard__,__P.J.__, "$r# and_Herschel_Ԁ_P._Ԁ_Franks,_Ԁ_J.,_Ԁjoined. %^ $ DavidW._Blankenship_,Kingsport,Tennessee,fortheAppellant,_Almeda_ԀMatthews_Havely_. &6"& ClintonR.Anderson,_Morristown_,Tennessee,fortheAppellee,Theresa_Waller_,_administratrix_Ԁfor ($( theEstateofBarbara_Havely_. )$) (@*_Ԉ__ n,', __ԇ___@66' OPINION   @% Background     ` Therecordonappealinthismatter_contains_Ԁ_onlythe___Ԁtechnicalrecordandisdevoid ` ofanytranscriptorstatementoftheevidenceorproceedings.SeeTenn.R.App.P.24.In1983,the L  partiesobtainedadivorce._____________Plaintiff_______ԀfiledhisComplaintfordivorceonApril26,1983,and 8  _Defendant_______ԀfiledherAnsweronthesamedate.Inanapparentclericalerror,theentrydateofthe $ t DivorceJudgmentwasmarkedas April16,1983.(emphasisadded).TheDivorceJudgment  ` incorporatedbyreference_anundated_ԀPropertySettlementAgreement_________executed_Ԁbybothpartiesand  L  theirattorneys.ThePropertySettlementAgreementmakesnomentionofPlaintiffsmilitary  8  pensionbutstatesthat [_t]he_Ԁpartiesherebydeclarethattherehasbeennofraudorcollusioninthe $  procurementofthisagreement._ԀNoappealwastaken._Ԁ      ` Thereafter,inJune1983,Defendant,representedbynewcounsel,filedaPetitionto   Rehear( 1983Motion)whichwasessentiallyaRule60.02motionforrelieffromtheDivorce   Judgment.ThegroundsforDefendants1983MotionwerethatDefendantdidnotlearnofher p entitlementtoPlaintiffsmilitarypensionuntilMay15,1983,thedaybeforetheDivorceJudgment \ wasentered. #  1      ׀InherMotion,Defendantalleged,without_any_Ԁsupportingaffidavit,thatshe_had_Ԁnot H _been_ԀawareofherentitlementtoPlaintiffspensionbutthatPlaintiffhadtoldherthatheknewshe 4 wasentitledtothepension.Thereafter,inMarch1984,theTrialCourtdismissedthe1983Motion  p forfailuretoprosecute._ԀNoappealwastaken._  \    ` Thenextpleading_containedin__the_Ԁtechnicalrecord___was_ԀfiledinAugust1998,_more_ 4 _thanfourteen_Ԁyears_after_Ԁthe___March1984order,_ԀandisDefendantsMotionforRelieffromJudgment   ( 1998Motion).InDefendants1998Motion,DefendantarguedthattheDivorceJudgment_was_   voidunderTenn.R.Civ.P._60.02(3).______ԀThe1998Motion_Ԁcontainsanumberofgrounds,including  1)theDivorceJudgmentwaserroneouslyenteredbytheTrialCourtclerkonApril16,1983;2)the  DivorceJudgmenterroneouslystatesthatahearingwasheld;and3)theTrialCourterroneously  grantedPlaintiffsgroundsfordivorce,whichwascruelandinhumanetreatment._ #  2      _Ԁ l    ` InDecember1998,theTrialCourtenteredanOrderwhichreferencedaNovember D! 20,1998,hearingregardingDefendants1998MotioninwhichoneofDefendantsformerattorneys 0"  andthecourtclerktestified.TheTrialCourtheld,initsOrder,thattheDivorceJudgmentshould #l! havebeendatedMay16,1983,andassessedcostsagainstDefendant.Theremaininggroundsof  Defendants1998MotionwerenotaddressedintheTrialCourts1998Order( 1998Order)._ԀNo  appealwastakenfromthisorder._     ` InNovember1999,Defendantfiledathird_Rule60.02_ԀmotionattackingtheDivorce ` _Judgment_( 1999_Ԁ_Motion)._______This1999Motionanditsdismissal_Ԁisthesubjectof___this_Ԁappeal.Inher L  1999Motion,DefendantreiteratedtheobjectionstotheDivorceJudgment___made_Ԁinherprevious 8  _motions_Ԁfiledin1983and1998.Asinher1983Motion,Defendant_allege__s_ԀthattheDivorce $ t JudgmentshouldbesetasidebecausePlaintifffraudulentlyconcealedDefendantsentitlementto  ` hismilitarypension,citingasauthoritythe entirerangeofreliefavailabletoherunderRule60.02  L  ....Moreover,despitetheTrialCourts1998Orderwhichcorrectedtheerroneousdateofentry  8  ontheDivorceJudgment,DefendantspecificallypledthereliefprovidedbyTenn.R.Civ.P. $  60.02(3)forvoidjudgmentsand_again_ԀarguedtheDivorceJudgmentsdateofentryshowsthatthe   divorcewas_entered_ԀpriortothefilingoftheDivorceComplaint.      ` DefendantfiledaNoticeofHearingwithher1999Motion___setting_ԀaJanuary2000,   hearingdate.The1999Motion_apparentlywas_ԀnotheardinJanuary_2000.____ԀThe_Ԁtechnicalrecord p containstwomoreNoticesofhearingapparentlyissuedbytheTrialCourtclerkforthe1999Motion, \ settingtwohearingdatesinAugust.Afterthetwohearingdatespassed,presumablywithouta H hearing,theTrialCourtenteredanOrderofDismissalwhich_____contained_Ԁ_no_Ԁexplanationforthe 4 _dismissal________._ԀDefendantappeals.Weaffirm.  p @))% Discussion  H    ` Defendantsargumentonappealisrather_unclear,_Ԁand_she____cite__s_Ԁ_no_Ԁlegalauthorityin   supportofherargument.SeeTenn.R.App.P.27(a)(7).Althoughnotexactlystatedassuch,it   appearsthatDefendantarguesonappealthat:1)thedivorcejudgmentshouldbesetasideunder  Tenn.R.Civ.P.60.02(2)or60.02(3);2)theTrialCourterredinfailingtoinvestigatethefraudulent  concealmentofPlaintiffsmilitarypension;3)theTrialCourterredindismissingDefendants1999  Motionwithoutanynoticetoeitherparty;and4)Defendantsdueprocessrightswereviolatedby l theTrialCourtsdismissalofthe1999Motionwithoutahearing.Plaintiff_____raisesnoadditional_ X  _____issues_ԀonappealbutcontendsthatDefendantsappealis_frivolous.______________ D! _     ` AmotionforrelieffromajudgmentpursuanttoRule60.02addressesthesound #l! discretionofthetrialjudge[,and]thescopeofreviewonappealislimitedtowhetherthetrialjudge $X" abusedhisdiscretion.Banksv._Dement_ԀConstr.Co.,Inc.,817 X[XXX[S.W.2d#X[XX X[w=#Ԁ16,18(Tenn.1991). X[XXX[ԀA $D # discretionaryjudgmentoftheTrialCourtwillnotbereversedforabuseofdiscretionunlessit %0!$  affirmativelyappearsthattheTrialCourtsdecisionwasagainstlogicorreasoning,andcausedan &"% injusticeorinjurytothepartycomplaining.Marcusv.Marcus,993S.W.2d596,601(Tenn.1999) '#& (quoting_Ballard_Ԁv._Herzke_,924S.W.2d652,661(Tenn.1996)).#X[XX X[=# (#'    ` Tenn.R.Civ.P.60.02provides,inpertinentpart,thefollowing: |*%) e8  h+&*!! e8  8`   Onmotionanduponsuchtermsasarejust,thecourtmayrelievea  partyorthepartyslegalrepresentativefromafinaljudgment,order  orproceedingforthefollowingreasons:` x` x 8  8`   (2)fraud(whetherheretoforedenominatedintrinsicorextrinsic), ` misrepresentation,orothermisconductofanadverseparty;L ` x` x 8  8`   (3)thejudgmentisvoid...$ t` x` x 8  8`   Themotionshallbemadewithinareasonabletime,andforreasons  L  (1)and(2)notmorethanoneyearafterthejudgment,orderor  8  proceedingwasenteredortaken.$ ` x` x    ` TosetasideajudgmentunderRule60.02,themovingpartyhastheburdentoprove   _ that_Ԁheisentitledtorelief,andtheremustbeproofofthebasisonwhichreliefis_sought._ԀBanks   v._Dement_ԀConstr.Co.,Inc.,817 X[XXX[S.W.2d#X[XX X[E#Ԁat18;FederatedIns.Co.v._Lethcoe_,18 X[XXX[S.W.3d#X[XX X[sF#Ԁ621,__624   (Tenn.2000).Themovingpartymustestablishbyclearandconvincingevidencethatrelieffrom p thejudgmentiswarranted.Duncanv.Duncan,789S.W.2d557,563(Tenn.Ct.App.1990). \    ` Rule60.02wasdesignedtostrikeaproperbalancebetweenthecompeting 4 principlesoffinalityandjustice.Banksv._Dement_ԀConstr.Co.,817S.W.2dat18(quotingJerkins  p v._McKinney_,533 X[XXX[S.W.2d#X[XX X[=I#Ԁ275,280(Tenn.1976)).OurSupremeCourt,inexaminingthepurpose  \ ofTenn.R.Civ.P.60.02,heldasfollows: H 8  8`    Rule60.02actsasanescapevalvefrompossibleinequitythatmight   otherwisearisefromtheunrelentingimpositionoftheprincipleof   finalityimbeddedinourproceduralrules....Becauseofthe  importanceofthis principleoffinality,the escapevalveshould  notbeeasilyopened.` x` x Id.(quoting_Toney_Ԁv.MuellerCo.,810 X[XXX[S.W.2d#X[XX X[DL#Ԁ145,146(Tenn._1991)______._Ԁ X     ` Inthismatter,thedeterminativeissueonappealiswhethertheTrialCourtabusedits 0"  discretionindismissingDefendants_____________1999Rule60.02Motion._ԀTheTrialCourtsOrderofDismissal #l! doesnotprovidethereason___the_ԀTrialCourtdismissedthe1999Motion.Thetechnicalrecordclearly $X" shows,however,thatDefendants1999Motionwasnot_filedtimely_Ԁ___according_Ԁtotherequirements $D # ofTenn.R.Civ.P.60.02._ %0!$    ` With_ԀrespecttoDefendantsclaimthattheDivorceJudgmentshouldbesetaside '#& becauseoffraudunderTenn.R.Civ.P.60.02(2),theruleclearlystatesthat_such_Ԁamotionforrelief (#' fromjudgmentshouldbefiled_withinareasonabletimeand_Ԁ notmorethanoneyearafterthe )$( judgment...was_________entered...._ԀAccordingly,Defendants1999Motion,filedmorethansixteen |*%) yearsaftertheentryoftheDivorceJudgment,failstocomplywithRule60.02.Therefore,wefind h+&* noabuseofdiscretionintheTrialCourtsdismissalofDefendants1999_Rule60.02(2)Motion._ԀSee  Banksv._Dement_ԀConstr.Co.,817S.W.2dat18;Marcusv.Marcus,993S.W.2dat601.     ` Moreover,_evenif_ԀDefendants_Rule60.02(2)_Ԁ1999Motionwastimelyfiled, t Defendant_______presentsno_Ԁproofintherecord_____to_ԀshowthatPlaintiffmadeafraudulentmisrepresentation ` regardinghismilitarypensionbeforetheDivorceJudgmentwasentered.SeeTenn.R.Civ.P. L  60.02(2);Brownv.Brown,863S.W.2d432,434(Tenn.Ct.App.1993).Infact,inDefendantsfirst 8  Rule60.02motion,the1983Motion,Defendant_______alleged__ԀthatthePropertySettlementAgreementwas $ t incorporatedintothedivorcedecreedatedMay16,1983______________________________________________.Defendantalsoallegedthatshelearned  ` ofherentitlementtoaportionofPlaintiffsretirementonMay15,1983,thedaybeforetheDivorce  L  Judgmentwasentered._Ԁ_See_ԀBrownv.Brown,863S.W.2dat434(holdingthattosupportaRule  8  60.02motion,defendantneededevidencethatafraudulentmisrepresentationwasmadebyplaintiff $  priortothefinaljudgment)._Ԁ__Defendant_ԀdoesnotallegethatshedidnotknowaboutPlaintiffs   militarypensionbut_allegesonlythat_Ԁshedidnotknowthatshewasentitledtoituntilthedaybefore   theDivorceJudgmentwasentered.Defendants_allegation,eveniftrue,_ԀisnotfataltotheDivorce   Judgmentas thisisamistakeoflawandnotamistakeoffact.Amistakeoflawoccurswhena   partyknowsthefactsofthecasebutisignorantofthelegalconsequences.Sprucev.Spruce,2 p S.W.3d192,195(Tenn.Ct.App.1998)(quotingHaasv.Haas,No.02A019709CV00241,1998 \ WL599529,at*4(Tenn.Ct.App.Sept.11,1989)(alterationsinoriginal)).OurSupremeCourt H heldthat ifignoranceofthelawisapropergroundforreliefunderRule60.02...,itishardto 4 conceivehowanyjudgmentcouldbesafefromassaultonthatground.Id.(quotingFoodLion,Inc.  p v.WashingtonCo.BeerBd.,700S.W.2d893,896(Tenn.1985)(alterationsinoriginal)).Moreover,  \ Defendantsunswornallegationsin_____her_ԀthreeRule60.02motionsdonotconstituteproof.SeeState H v.Draper,800S.W.2d489,493(Tenn.Ct.App.1990)(holdingthat_ [_a]llegations__Ԁcontainedin 4 pleadingsandstatementsmadebycounselduringahearingorthetrialarenotevidence).   Accordingly,weholdthat_even_ԀifDefendants_Rule60.02(2)_Ԁ1999Motionwastimely_filed,which   itwasnot,_ԀtheTrialCourtdidnotabuseitsdiscretionindismissingthe_Motion_ԀsinceDefendant  failedtoestablishbyclearandconvincingevidencethattheDivorceJudgmentneededtobesetaside  duetofraud.SeeBanksv._Dement_ԀConstr.Co.,817S.W.2dat18;Marcusv.Marcus,993S.W.2d  at601. l ___ X[XXX[   ` DefendantalsoallegesonappealthattheDivorceJudgmentshouldbesetaside D! becauseitisvoidunderTenn.R.Civ.P.60.02(3).AsalreadydiscussedinthisOpinion,theTrial 0"  Courtinits1998OrderresolvedthisissuebycorrectingtheTrialCourtClerkserroneousentrydate #l! oftheDivorceJudgment.TheTrialCourts1998Orderresolvingthisquestionrendersthisissue $X" moot.#X[XX X[h#_ $D # ___   ` In_Ԁlightofourholding,wefindthatDefendantsremainingissuesonappeal_are_Ԁmoot._ &"% We,therefore,neednotaddressthemanyfurther._ '#&    ` WenowaddressPlaintiffsargumentthatDefendantsappealis_frivolous________._ԀItappears )$( fromtherecordonappealthatDefendantisattemptingtouseTenn.R.Civ.P.60.02toobtainmore |*%) thanonebiteattheapple.Infact,Defendanthasusedthisrule,albeitunsuccessfully,toobtainthree h+&* bites_afterentryoftheDivorceJudgment._Ԁ__Ԁ_Defendant_Ԁraisedtheissueoffraudinher1983Motion  whichwasdismissedforfailureto_prosecute._Ԁ_Sheraisedit_Ԁagaininher1999_Motion,_Ԁwhich___alsowas_  dismissed.DefendantalsotwiceraisedtheissuethattheDivorceJudgmentwasvoid,citingthe  samegrounds,thatis,theclericalerrorinthedateofentryoftheDivorceJudgment.___________The_ԀTrialCourt t heldahearing_onDefendants1998Motion_ԀandenteredanOrdercorrectingthisclericalerror._ԀThat ` Orderisfinalasnoappealwastakenastoit._ L     ` PlaintiffarguesthatDefendantsappealisfrivolousandrequestsanawardof $ t _attorneys_Ԁfees.Tenn.CodeAnn.271122provides:  ` 8  8`    ` x` x 8  8`   Whenitappearstoanyreviewingcourtthattheappealfromanycourt  8  ofrecordwasfrivolousortakensolelyfordelay,thecourtmay,either $  uponmotionofapartyorofitsownmotion,awardjustdamages   againsttheappellant,whichmayincludebutneednotbelimitedto,   costs,interestonthejudgment,andexpensesincurredbytheappellee   asaresultoftheappeal. ` x` x Afrivolousappealisone devoidof_merit,..._Ԁoronewherethereislittleprospectthat_[an_Ԁ_appeal]_ \ canever_succeed._ԀIndustrialDev.Bd.oftheCityof_Tullahoma_Ԁv.Hancock,901S.W.2d382,385 H (Tenn._Ct.App._Ԁ1995)(quotingCombustion_Engg_,Inc.v.Kennedy,562S.W.2d202(Tenn.1978)). 4 Inaddition,thisCourthasheldthat [_f]ailure_Ԁtociteanyevidenceorruleoflawentitlingthe  p appealingpartytoreliefisoneindicatorthantheappealmaybefrivolous.Jacksonv._Aldridge_,6  \ S.W.3d501,504(Tenn.Ct.App.1999). H    ` Plaintiffhasincurred___attorneys_ԀfeesbecauseDefendantappealedtheTrialCourts   dismissalofherthirdRule60.02motiondisputingthe1983DivorceJudgment._ԀDefendantsappeal   isdevoidofmeritandhadnorealisticprospectofsuccess.Additionally,Defendantfailedtociteany  lawsupportingherposition._Ԁ_Defendants_Ԁ________Ԁ_appeal____Ԁisfrivolous,and,therefore,_Ԁwe_award_Ԁ_Plaintiffs_  ___reasonable_Ԁattorneysfees_andexpenses_Ԁincurred_______asaresultoftheappeal._ԀOnremand,theTrial  CourtshalldeterminetheamountofPlaintiffs_reasonable_Ԁ_expensesand__attorneys_Ԁfeesincurred l _becauseof__this_Ԁappeal. X  ____  X[XXX[_______________@FF%CONCLUSION _Ԉ 0"     ` ThejudgmentoftheTrialCourtisaffirmedandthiscauseisremandedtotheTrial $X" Courtforsuchfurtherproceedingsasmayberequired,ifany,consistentwiththisOpinion,andfor $D # collectionofthecostsbelow.ThecostsonappealareassessedagainsttheAppellant,____________________Almeda_ %0!$ Matthews_Havely_,_Ԁandher_surety. &"% ___________________   `     h     #X[XX X[#___________________________________ |*%)    `     h     D.MICHAEL__SWINEY_,JUDGE X[XXX[ h+&* #X[XX X[ #