ÿWPC  ¹Vå«ÏìÐÐå¯ôA)°¿Qw|Z· ‰ÚÒå{ÛŪvesn¤>Êþ×TÊÆÅ'\9›!š‚ã¥WÑ®}ƽ;t¨:] l·=´ÌÏåƒuþ7ˆ„¸IT©±ÓEjzŠÅfÅ–.$Z0` †Ù_ 1èWá¯YWñ/”ñpŒJei¯W(Ó¦:VuÃùLv~üq‘zÒ ·±xƒb—€ÌõIpΖ›¸ bô°ª¬QX»(f±ySû¹¯ M?I™©Ÿ?j":}.Aç¥{ †iAµ§êÒÇØ¤qäAÓ[ÉÇʈ0þåÅÜù¬çBO>"-Ka‚¾†û<ÞÁ”¿qîã=ÁÊtÎ@¤MjD ]ÐÆ8«æÀÕ[‘üDm€x}áq·:äýp}nX§‰ÔËÔeA««Ò'É(%ŠØF+ŽÌc(r…™?â›:Ârk‰†¯]ëŒÚ†äÊPn´ñÖ "pî¹#Š}å|?z“Uy6%²-å_Ò’é×Dv7bBéiB»ƒœ€õ4îȤb-«d²n’GQSÈüùÜXr/Ívã“Ș+‹û¥¢-ØV;þŒ sšÀ¯Ë@™Êœ´&çaA ¥µ K…ih(’9”.b#É\ %% UN+ 0ˆy UN ^ O w[ zq Òë 4½ Ñ à mâ Æù Æ¿ Æ…ÆKKNEb 0ë B 0¤% D3É D-ü 0K)) AStÆÇ 0¤ 0D1 A«u˜\\IB01S01\CLERK1NASÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular/Ï E ˜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.wptqdj/ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5- ù-(|G2æ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Xy»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôöò»»Ô d(|3‰^$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Xy»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3‰^$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Xy»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Xy»»dXXdì8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼Xy»»»ÔÑ8€eXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îHxXyÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼Xy»îîHx#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓJULY€8,€2003€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XeX»¼XyÔÌò òÔ#†¼Xy»XXe#ÔÔ_ÔRICKYÔ_Ô€LEE€JENKINSòòóó€v.€HEATHER€MICHELE€JOHNSONòòóóÔ‡XeX»¼XyÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€General€Sessions€Court€for€White€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€CV€3122€€€€€€Clara€W.€Byrd,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2001„02103„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CVññ€„€Filed€December€3,€Ô_Ôññññññ3ññññññ2003ññÔ_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÔ‡XeXXXeÔThis€appeal€arises€from€the€lower€courtððs€modification€of€a€child€custody€arrangement.€€The€trialÐ xÈ  Ðcourt€found€that€a€material€change€in€circumstances€had€occurred€and€awarded€primary€residentialÐ d´ Ðcustody€to€Father.€€For€the€following€reasons,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€lower€court.Ð P  ÐÔ#†XeXXXe½#ÔÔ#†¼Xy»XXeŸ#ÔÔ‡XeX»¼XyÔÌÓ±ÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3;€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€General€Sessions€Court€Affirmedó óÐ d ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Xy»àXe~#ÔÔ‡XeX.¼XyÔAlan€E.€Ô_ÔHighersÔ_Ô,€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòDavid€R.€Farmer,€J.,€óó€and€òòDonÐ ì< ÐÔ_ÔR.AshÔ_Ô,€S.J.,€óó,€joined.Ð Ø( ÐÌThomas€F.€Bloom,€Nashville,€TN,€for€AppellantÐ ° ÐÌGary€W.€Ô_ÔDodsonÔ_Ô,€Sparta,€TN,€for€AppelleeÐ ˆØ ÐÓ%ÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼Xy»XXeT#ÔÔ‡XeX»¼XyÔÐ `° ÐÌÔ#†¼Xy»XXeC #ÔÔ‡XeX»¼XyÔÓ  ÓÔ‡XeXXXeÔò òà@ÿÿìàFacts€and€Procedural€Historyó óˆÐ 8!ˆ  ÐÌà  àÔ_ÔRickyÔ_Ô€Lee€Jenkins€(ð ðFatherðð)€and€Heather€Michelle€Johnson€(ð ðMotherðð)€were€granted€aÐ #`" Ðdivorce€by€the€lower€court€on€May€30,€2000.€€At€this€time,€both€parties€lived€in€White€County,Ð ü#L# ÐTennessee.€€As€part€of€its€decree,€the€trial€court€ordered€that€the€parties€share€equal€parenting€andÐ è$8 $ Ðvisitation€time€with€their€minor€daughter,€who€was€born€in€January€of€1998.€€The€lower€court€furtherÐ Ô%$!% Ðordered€that€the€child€be€enrolled€in€Cumberland€Family€Centers€Daycare€prior€to€enrollment€in€pre„Ð À&"& Ðschool€or€kindergarten.€€Mother€subsequently€married€Roger€Johnson€(ð ðJohnsonðð)€on€July€13,€2000.€Ð ¬'ü"' Ѐ€€Ð ˜(è#( Ðà  àOn€September€13,€2000,€Mother€filed€a€petition€to€modify€the€final€decree€of€the€trial€court.€Ð „)Ô$) ÐMother€argued€that€a€material€change€in€circumstances€had€arisen,€after€entry€of€the€final€decree,€thatÐ p*À%* Ðentitled€Mother€to€sole€custody€of€the€child.€€Mother€alleged€several€bases€for€the€modification:Ð \+¬&+ ÐFatherððs€failure€to€obtain€proper€medical€attention€for€the€childððs€rashes;€Fatherððs€vile€andÐ H,˜', Ðinappropriate€language;€and€unauthorized€trips€taken€by€Father€with€the€child.€€In€his€answer,€FatherÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_Ôdenied€all€allegations€levied€by€Mother.€€Father€then€filed€a€counter„petition€to€modify€the€finalÐ ° Ðdecree,€also€alleging€a€material€change€in€circumstances.€€Father€based€his€claim€upon€allegationsÐ œì Ðthat€Mother€was€living€with€her€romantic€partner€and€had€allowed€smoking€in€the€presence€of€theÐ ˆØ Ðchild,€both€of€which€were€forbidden€by€the€trial€court€in€its€decree.€€He€further€maintained€thatÐ tÄ ÐMother€generally€provided€an€unhealthy€environment€for€the€child,€resulting€in€physical€andÐ `° Ðemotional€problems€for€the€child.€€Mother€denied€all€allegations€raised€by€Father€in€his€counter„Ð L œ Ðpetition.€€During€this€period,€in€April€of€2001,€Mother€moved€with€Johnson€to€Smithville€in€De€KalbÐ 8 ˆ ÐCounty,€Tennessee.€€Soon€thereafter,€Mother€learned€of€a€head€start€educational€program€for€pre„Ð $ t Ðschool€age€children€in€Smithville€that€ran€all€day€from€Monday€to€Thursday.€€Mother€argued€at€trialÐ  ` Ðthat€the€partiesðð€child€could€attend€this€program,€in€lieu€of€the€Cumberland€Family€Centers€Daycare,Ð ü L  Ðif€she€were€awarded€sole€custody.€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àAt€trial,€the€partiesðð€arguments€differed€somewhat€from€those€raised€in€the€pleadings.Ð À  ÐSpecifically,€Mother€placed€substantial€emphasis€upon€Fatherððs€refusal€to€communicate€with€herÐ ¬ü  Ðregarding€their€child.€€Mother€alleged€that€this€failure€to€communicate€contributed€to€the€materialÐ ˜è  Ðchange€of€circumstances€that€necessitated€a€modification€of€the€custody€arrangement.€€UponÐ „Ô  Ðcompletion€of€the€trial,€the€lower€court€found€that€a€material€change€of€circumstances€had,€indeed,Ð pÀ Ðarisen€since€the€entry€of€its€final€decree.€€The€trial€court€then€ruled€that€the€child€had€adjusted€wellÐ \¬ Ðto€her€placement€at€Cumberland€Family€Centers€Daycare€in€White€County€and€that€the€child€shouldÐ H˜ Ðnot€be€removed€from€this€placement.€€Accordingly,€the€lower€court€awarded€primary€residentialÐ 4„ Ðcustody€to€Father,€who€had€remained€a€resident€of€White€County.€€Mother€then€timely€filed€thisÐ  p Ðappeal€challenging€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð  \ ÐÌà@ìì'ìàò òIssuesó óˆÐ ä4 ÐÌà  àMother€raises€the€following€issues€for€our€consideration:Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àI.à0 ` àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€primary€residential€custody€to€FatherÐ ”ä Ðdespite€the€fact€that€Fatherððs€conduct€rendered€the€joint€custody€arrangementÐ €Ð Ðunworkable.€Ðl¼` (#` (# ÐÌà  àII.à0 ` àWhether€the€trial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€are€contrary€to€a€preponderance€of€theÐ D!” Ðevidence.Ð0"€ ` (#` (# Ðà  àÌà  àFather€raises€an€additional€issue€for€our€review:Ð $X" ÐÌà  àIII.à0 ` àWhether€the€instant€appeal€is€frivolous.Ðà%0!$` (#` (# ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàˆÌÌâ âà@žž!ìàò òStandard€of€Reviewó óˆÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àOur€review€of€the€trial€courtððs€conclusions€on€issues€of€law€is€òòde€novoóó,€with€no€presumptionÐ ° Ðâ âof€correctness.€€òòKendrick€v.€Shoemakeóó,€90€S.W.3d€566,€569€(Tenn.€2002).€€Our€review€of€the€lowerÐ œì Ðcourtððs€findings€of€fact€is€òòde€novoóóupon€the€record,€with€a€presumption€of€correctness€unless€theÐ ˆØ Ðevidence€preponderates€otherwise.€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(d);€òòKendrickóó,€90€S.W.3d€at€569.€€Ð tÄ ÐÌà@??ìàò òChild€Custody€Modificationó óˆÐ L œ ÐÌà  àMother€maintains€that€it€was€error€for€the€lower€court€to€award€primary€residential€custodyÐ $ t Ðto€Father.€€She€alleges€two€bases€of€error.€€First,€Mother€argues€that€Father€should€not€have€beenÐ  ` Ðawarded€primary€custody€because€it€was€his€behavior€that€rendered€the€joint€custody€arrangementÐ ü L  Ðunworkable.€€She€also€argues€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings€of€fact€thatÐ è 8  Ðunderlie€the€lower€courtððs€judgment.€€We€will€address€each€contention€in€turn.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àMother€alleges€that€a€line€of€Tennessee€cases€stands€for€the€proposition€that,€when€a€parentÐ ¬ü  Ðis€responsible€for€the€deterioration€of€a€joint€custody€arrangement,€the€trial€court€is€prohibited€fromÐ ˜è  Ðawarding€that€parent€primary€custody.€€We€disagree.€€The€cases€at€issue€are€òòDix€v.€Carsonóó,€No.Ð „Ô  Ð02A01„9704„CV„00093,€1998€WL€886555,€at€*1€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1998),€òòDeVault€v.€DeVaultóó,€No.Ð pÀ Ð01„A„01„9601„CV00012,€1996€WL€482968,€at€*1€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996),€and€òòDalton€v.€Daltonóó,€858Ð \¬ ÐS.W.2d€324€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).€€Mother€relies€primarily€upon€the€following€language€in€òòDixóó:Ð H˜ Ðð ðThus,€the€Court€[in€òòDeVaultóó]€found€that€the€mother€should€not€be€permitted€to,€by€her€behavior,Ð 4„ Ðmake€joint€custody€unworkable€and€then€be€awarded€sole€custody.ðð€€òòDixóó,€1998€WL€482968,€at€*12.€Ð  p ÐShe€maintains€that€this€language€codifies€a€ð ðwell„settledðð€principle,€applied€in€the€cases€listed€above,Ð  \ Ðthat€ð ðthe€party€who€renders€the€joint€custody€arrangement€unworkable€by€his€or€her€behavior€ò òcannotó óÐ øH Ðreceive€sole€custody.ðð€€We€find€that€Motherððs€argument€mischaracterizes€our€holdings€in€these€cases.Ð è8 ÐÌà  àWe€note,€as€an€initial€matter,€that€child€custody€determinations€are€concerned€solely€with€theÐ À Ðneeds€of€the€children.€€òòLentz€v.€Lentzóó,€717€S.W.2d€876,€877€(Tenn.€1986);€òòGaskill€v.€Gaskillóó,€936Ð ¬ü ÐS.W.2d€626,€630€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).€€A€court€should€never€use€custody€to€punish€or€reward€theÐ ˜è Ðparents.€€òòGaskillóó,€936€S.W.2d€at€630.€€Instead,€a€court€should€promote€the€interests€of€children€byÐ „Ô Ðplacing€them€in€the€environment€that€provides€the€best€emotional€and€physical€support.€€òòIdóó.€€Tenn.Ð pÀ ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€36„6„106€(2003)€provides€certain€factors€to€consider€when€determining€which€custodyÐ \ ¬ Ðarrangement€will€best€serve€a€childððs€needs.€€One€of€the€factors€to€be€considered€is€ð ðeach€parentððsÐ H!˜ Ðpast€and€potential€for€future€performance€of€parenting€responsibilities.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„Ð 4"„  Ð106(a)(10).€€Ð  #p! ÐÌà  àIn€the€cases€relied€upon€by€Mother,€our€holdings€do€not€create€a€rule€that€conclusivelyÐ ø$H # Ðdetermines€the€outcome€of€a€custody€proceeding.€€Instead,€these€holdings€take€into€consideration,Ð ä%4!$ Ðas€one€factor€among€many,€the€willingness€of€a€parent€to€communicate€with€another€about€the€rearingÐ Ð& "% Ðof€their€child.€€The€willingness€to€communicate€reflects€upon€a€parentððs€ability€to€effectively€fulfillÐ ¼' #& Ðhis€or€her€parenting€responsibilities.€€This,€in€turn,€informs€the€courtððs€determination€of€what€custodyÐ ¨(ø#' Ðarrangement€promotes€the€best€interest€of€the€child.€€Accordingly,€a€court€properly€considers€aÐ ”)ä$( Ðparentððs€reluctance€or€refusal€to€communicate€with€the€other€parent.€€This€factor,€however,€is€but€oneÐ €*Ð%) Ðof€many€to€be€considered€and€does€not€provide€a€conclusive€answer€to€a€courtððs€inquiry€by€itself.€Ð l+¼&* ÐThere€was€no€error,€therefore,€when€the€lower€court€considered€this€factor,€yet€still€awarded€primaryÐ ° Ðcustody€to€Father.€€Ð œì ÐÌà  àMother€next€argues€that€the€lower€courtððs€findings€of€fact€are€against€the€preponderance€ofÐ tÄ Ðevidence.€€She€first€maintains€that€the€lower€court€erred€in€finding€that€both€parents€are€ð ðreal€goodÐ `° Ðparents.ðð€€According€to€Mother,€the€evidence€indicates€that€Father€is€a€violent€person€who€usesÐ L œ Ðinappropriate€language€in€front€of€the€child.€€The€evidence€does€indicate€that€Fatherððs€ex„wifeÐ 8 ˆ Ðbrought€an€assault€charge€at€one€time.€€However,€the€evidence€also€indicates€that€this€occurred€moreÐ $ t Ðthan€ten€years€ago.€€Mother€was€further€unable€to€adduce€any€additional€credible€evidence€toÐ  ` Ðpersuade€the€trial€court€that€Father€posed€any€physical€or€emotional€threat€to€their€child.€€We€bearÐ ü L  Ðin€mind€that€trial€courts€are€in€the€best€position€to€ð ðobserve€witnesses€as€they€testify€and€to€assessÐ è 8  Ðtheir€demeanor,€which€best€situates€trial€judges€to€evaluate€witness€credibility.ðð€€òòWells€v.€Tenn.€Bd.Ð Ô$  Ðof€Regentsóó,€9€S.W.3d€779,€783€(Tenn.€1999).€€If€Mother€failed€to€persuade€the€lower€court,€throughÐ À  Ðher€testimony,€that€Father€was€anything€but€a€loving€parent,€we€will€not€disturb€this€finding.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àMother€also€maintains€that€there€was€no€evidence€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€thatÐ „Ô  Ðthe€child€is€thriving€in€the€Sparta€daycare.€€She€bases€this€conclusion€on€the€fact€that€the€child€onceÐ pÀ Ðslapped€a€teacher€at€the€daycare.€€Considering€that€this€is€a€single€act€by€a€toddler,€we€cannot€say€thatÐ \¬ Ðthis€basis€provides€much€support€for€Motherððs€argument.€€We€also€note€that€the€record€indicates€theÐ H˜ Ðchild€appeared€before€the€lower€court€and€was€found€to€be€ð ða€very€bright€three„year„old,€veryÐ 4„ Ðarticulateðð€who€seemed€ð ðvery€well„adjusted.ðð€€Further,€the€lower€court€had€the€opportunity€to€observeÐ  p Ðthe€testimony€of€a€worker€from€Cumberland€Family€Centers€Daycare€regarding€the€status€of€theÐ  \ Ðpartiesðð€child€at€that€facility.€€This€testimony€supported€the€conclusion€of€the€lower€court.€€In€sum,Ð øH Ðwe€find€Motherððs€contentions€on€this€issue€without€merit.€€The€evidence€does€not€preponderateÐ ä4 Ðagainst€the€lower€courtððs€findings€of€fact.ò òó 󀀀РР ÐÌà@  "ìàò òFrivolous€Appealó óˆÐ ¨ø ÐÌà  àFather€raises€the€issue€of€whether€Mother€should€be€held€liable€for€damages€for€institutingÐ €Ð Ða€frivolous€suit.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€27„1„122€(2003)€provides€that:Ð l¼ ÐÌÓ XÓÓ XÓWhen€it€appears€to€any€reviewing€court€that€the€appeal€from€any€court€of€record€wasÐ D!” Ðfrivolous€or€taken€solely€for€delay,€the€court€may,€either€upon€motion€of€a€party€or€ofÐ 0"€  Ðits€own€motion,€award€just€damages€against€the€appellant,€which€may€include€butÐ #l! Ðneed€not€be€limited€to,€costs,€interest€on€the€judgment,€and€expenses€incurred€by€theÐ $X" Ðappellee€as€a€result€of€the€appeal.Ð ô$D # ÐÓ Xº9ÓÓ X¬9ÓÌThis€statute€must€be€applied€strictly€so€that€legitimate€appeals€are€not€discouraged.€€òòWakefield€v.Ð Ì&"% ÐLongmireóó,€54€S.W.3d€300,€304€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2001)€(citing€òòDavis€v.€Gulf€Ins.€Groupóó,€546€S.W.2dÐ ¸'#& Ð583,€586€(Tenn.€1977)).€€An€appeal€is€only€deemed€frivolous€if€it€is€devoid€of€merit€or€without€anyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðreasonable€chance€of€success.€€òòWakefieldóó,€54€S.W.3d€at€304.€€We€find€that€Motherððs€appeal,€thoughÐ )à$( Ðultimately€unsuccessful,€is€not€so€lacking€of€merit€as€to€be€deemed€frivolous.€€As€such,€we€declineÐ |*Ì%) Ðto€award€damages€to€Father.Ð h+¸&* Їà@  %ìàò òConclusionó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€lower€court.€€Costs€of€appeal€areÐ ˆØ Ðtaxed€to€the€Appellant,€€Heather€Michele€Johnson,€and€her€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÐ tÄ Ðnecessary.Ð `° ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à__________________________Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGE€€€€€€€€Ð $ t Ðà  à€€€€€€€€€Ô#†XOÉXXX¿Ð¶ #ÔÔ#†¼µ»XXOÉ‹ #ÔÐ  ` ÐÌÌÌ