WPC 7# UN %k 04q 0w@r4 AQ 0D&.jbjN  m 0J% 0To 0^ 0h! 0r 0| 0w 0 1u 0d Bf  0DI 0@ 0D D/ B@ D3]U >B)DC AM:U*Jev~`vHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLl'"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular( U$  (}(25$ U!   XXX   `   0   b b U E U U U  Ӏ _#3|x !"#$&C<< C(#$  0  McDowellNewby- -mcdowell v. boyd - opinion   '  0 .    U2 0Indent123  2" 0Indent20 23  2, 0Indent30 0 23  26 0Indent40 0 0 23  2@ 0Indent50 0 0 0 23  2J 0Indent60 0 0 0 0 23  2T 0Indent70 0 0 0 0 0 23  2^ 0Indent80 0 0 0 0 0 0 23   ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P 8Mac DefaultMac Default ` X dLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  ("$    ($$   1  ((' dxdP Pd 'dxd<  9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d////7Border 1dd!#0C << G<  9p`(Arial @ !  #d#..   ""  22   YYY FILED2XDecember5,1997CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerk   [ !#d#..   $   X .X         ݛ_AfterMr.Boydscheckwasdishonoredforinsufficientfunds,Ms._McDowell_ԀaskedoneofhisbrotherstoreturnthechecktoMr.Boyd.Mr.Boydlaterhonoredh_isgift_bygivinghisbrotheronehundreddollarsandbyrequestinghimtogivethemoneytoMs.McDowelltogivetoherson.PtPtHH(FG(HH(d'`Styl{WP}01  HH  2$HH  Geneva  <Px443!#4$*$$*$ KK  Geneva  Geneva .,6 Geneva   ion-F Geneva  ion-F Geneva ! . ..     X  \RA'\_7dXXd7.    ћ @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE@ MIDDLESECTIONATNASHVILLE!. R130A1-j|`  `@RߛPHILLIPGENE_McDOWELL_, )      ) Plaintiff/Appellee,  )      )       )VS.      ) VanBurenChancery      ) No.1062      )ROBERTA_GRISSOM_ԀBOYD, )Individuallyandas_Administratrix_ ) AppealNo.oftheEstateofDavid_Carah_ԀBoyd, ) 01A019509CH00413Deceased,     )       ) Defendant/Appellant.  )@ APPEALFROMTHECHANCERYCOURTFORVANBURENCOUNTY@ ATSPENCER,TENNESSEE@ THEHONORABLECHARLESD._HASTON_,JUDGEForthePlaintiff/Appellee:    FortheDefendant/Appellant:DavidR._Swafford_     HowardL._Upchurch__Pikeville_,Tennessee     _Pikeville_,Tennessee@ .AFFIRMEDANDREMANDED .        WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGE    . ̛@ OPINION .̛̜ Thisappealinvolvesaposthumouspaternitydispute.Whilethedecedentsestatewaspendinginprobatecourt,apersonclaimingtobethedecedentssonfiledapetitionintheChanceryCourtforVanBurenCountyagainstthedecedentsestateandhiswidowseekingtoestablishthepetitionersrighttoinheritpartofthedecedentsestate.Thetrialcourtheardtheevidencewithoutajuryanddeterminedthatthepetitionerhadpresentedclearandconvincingevidencethathewasthedecedentsbiologicalson.Thedecedentswifeassertsonthisappealthattheevidencedoesnotsupportthetrialcourtsconclusion.Weaffirmthejudgment.@ I.  MavisImogeneMcDowellhadaromanticaffairwithDavidCarahBoydinthelate1940s.Ms.McDowellwasadivorceinhermidtwentieswithtwochildren,andMr.Boydwasayoung,marriedserviceman.Duringthisaffair,Ms.McDowellgavebirthtoPhilipGeneMcDowellonJanuary20,1949inBledsoeCounty.Shedidnotlistthefathersnameonhersonsbirthcertificate.AfterMr.Boydlefttheservice,hedivorcedhisfirstwifeandmovedtoVanBurenCountywhereheworkedinthetimberbusiness.Mr.BoydmarriedRobertaBoydinMay1959. Ms.McDowellraisedherthreechildrenalone.WhenMr.McDowellbecameoldenoughtoaskabouthisfather,Ms.McDowelltoldhimthatMr.Boydwashisfather.ShealsodiscouragedhimfromapproachingMr.Boydandtoldhimthat allitwilldoisbringtrouble...youredoingfinethewayyouareandleaveitthewayitis.Accordingly,Mr.McDowellwentthroughhisyouthandadolescencewithoutarelationshipwithMr.Boyd. Mr._McDowell_sparentagewasapparentlyasourceoffrictionbetweenMr.andMs.Boyd.WhenMr.McDowellwasabouttograduatefromhighschoolandentertheUnitedStatesNavy,hismotheraskedhimtoaccompanyhertoaneighborshouseforanarrangedmeetingwithMr.Boyd.There,inthepresenceofMs.McDowellandJamesNewby,Mr.BoydaskedMr.McDowell, DoyouknowwhoIam?TowhichMr.McDowellreplied, Yeah,DavidBoyd,youremydaddy.AccordingtoMr.Newby,Mr.BoydthenembracedMr.McDowellandgavehimacheckfor$100asagraduationpresent. 4    Mr.McDowellandMr.Boydneverbecamecloseandtooknorealpartineachotherslivesduringtheensuingyears.Mr.BoydcontinuedinthelumberbusinessinVanBurenandsurroundingcounties,andMr.McDowellbecamearailroadswitchmanandlatersettledinChattanoogawhereheraisedafamilyofhisown.Mr.BoydaskedmutualacquaintancesaboutMr.McDowellfromtimetotime.Ononeoccasion,Mr.BoydgaveMr._McDowell_ԀsomemoneyduringachanceencounterataVFWclub.Onanotheroccasioninthefallof1988,Mr.BoydvisitedMr.McDowellinChattanooga.ThetwomendidnotkeepintouchwitheachotheraftertheirvisitinChattanooga. Mr.BoydcommittedsuicideinJune1993.BecauseMr.Boyddidnotleaveawill,theVanBurenCountyProbateCourtappointedMs.Boydasthepersonalrepresentativeofhisestate.Ms.BoydfiledapetitionforadministrationrepresentingthatMr.Boyddiedwithoutsurvivingchildrenandthatshewashissoleheirunderthelawsofintestatesuccession.Whiletheestatewaspendinginprobate,Mr.BoydsoldersisterinformedMr.McDowellthatMr.Boydhadleftanestatevaluedatapproximately$60,000.InJuly1993,Mr.McDowellfiledapetitionintheChanceryCourtforVanBurenCountyseekingtoestablishthatMr.Boydwashisbiologicalfatherforinheritancepurposes.Ms.Boydopposedthepetition.ThetrialcourtheardtheevidencewithoutajuryandconcludedthatMr.McDowellhadprovedbyclearandconvincingevidencethatMr.Boydwashisbiologicalfather.@ II.  ThesolequestionpresentedbythisappealiswhetherMr.McDowellhasprovidedsufficientcredibleproofthatMr.Boydwashisbiologicalfather.Childrenmayassertpaternityclaimsaftertheirfathersdeath,butinordertobesuccessful,theymustestablishpaternitybyclearandconvincingevidence.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.312105(a)(2)(B)(Supp.1997);_Bilbrey_Ԁv._Smithers_,937S.W.2d803,808(Tenn.1996);Woodsv.Fields,798S.W.2d239,24243(Tenn.Ct.App.1990). Theclearandconvincingstandardofprooffallssomewherebetweenthepreponderanceoftheevidencestandardincivilproceedingsandthebeyondareasonabledoubtstandardrequiredincriminalproceedings.SeeInreEstateofWalton,950S.W.2d956,960(Tenn.1997).TheTennesseeSupremeCourthasrecentlyexplainedthatclearandconvincingevidence mustproduceinthemindofthetrieroffactsafirmbelieforconvictionastotheallegationssoughttobeestablished._Fruge_Ԁv.Doe,952S.W.2d408,412n.2(Tenn.1997);seealso_ODaniel_Ԁv.Messier,905S.W.2d182,188(Tenn.Ct.App.1995). Inthiscase,thetrialcourtheardthetestimonyofeighteenwitnesses,consideredanotherwitnesssdeposition,andreviewedtwentytwoexhibits,includinganumberofphotographsofMr._McDowell_ԀandMr.Boyd.ThetrialcourtalsowasabletoobserveMr._McDowell_Ԁfirsthandandtoevaluatehisandotherwitnessessdemeanorandcredibility.Initsownwords,thecourtconcludedthat theoverwhelmingweightoftheevidenceprovedthatMr.BoydwasMr._McDowell_sbiologicalfather.Wemustnowreviewthisconclusionintwosteps.First,inaccordancewithTenn.R.App.P.13(d),wemustdeterminewhethertheevidencesupportsthefactsfoundbythetrialcourt.SeeInreEstateofWalton,950S.W.2dat95960;InreEstateofArmstrong,859S.W.2d323,328(Tenn.Ct.App.1993).Second,wemustthendeterminewhetherthesefacts,whenconsideredtogether,demonstrateclearlyandconvincinglythatMr.BoydwasMr._McDowell_sbiologicalfather.̛@ III.  Parentagemaybeprovedusingseveraldifferenttypesofevidence.Inadditiontodirectevidenceofpaternitythroughbloodtests,thecourtsmayconsider(1)thedeclarationsandconductofthechildsbiologicalmother,seeInreEstateofWalton,950S.W.2dat959,(2)acknowledgmentbythefather,seeAllenv.Harvey,568S.W.2d829,835(Tenn.1978),(3)familyresemblance,seeInreEstateofArmstrong,859S.W.2dat326,and(4)evidenceconcerningaccess,opportunity,andcapacitytohavechildren.Neitherpartyinthiscaseofferedevidenceoftheresultsofbloodtesting,eventhoughthisevidencewouldhavebeenthemostreliableandconclusiveavailable.Instead,theyundertooktosupporttheirclaimsusingmainlyanecdotalevidenceofMs._McDowell_sandMr.Boydsstatementsandconductduringtheirlifetimes.@ A. @  EvidenceofAccessandCapacity  TherecordcontainsundisputedevidencethatMs._McDowell_ԀandMr.BoydϜwereinvolvedinasexualrelationshipbeforeMr._McDowell_Ԁwasborn.ThisevidenceprovidesclearandconvincingproofthatMr.BoydhadaccesstoMs._McDowell_ԀandtheopportunitytobecomeMr._McDowell_sfather.Inaddition,therecordcontainsnoothercredibleproofthatsomeoneotherthanMr.BoydcouldhavebeenMr._McDowell_sfather. Ms.BoydattemptedtoundercutthisevidencewithproofthatMr.Boydwasincapableofhavingchildrenbecauseofachildhoodillness.ShepresentednocompetentmedicalevidencetosupportthisclaimbutratherreliedoncircumstantialevidenceconsistingofstatementsMr.BoydhadmadetoherandtoanotherwomanwithwhomMr.Boydhadanextramaritalaffairinthemid1960s.However,Mr.BoydssisterandsisterinlawtestifiedthatMr.Boydsfirstwifebecamepregnantsometimeinthe1940'swhensheandMr.BoydwerestationedinCalifornia. Ms.BoydhastheburdenofprovingthatMr.Boydwasincapableoffatheringchildren.Afterconsideringtheconflictingproof,thetrialcourtdeterminedthatMs.Boydsproof neverrosetomorethanmeresuppositionfromcircumstancesthatwerelessthanconvincingtothecourt.Wehavenobasistodisagreewiththisconclusion.̛̜@ B. @  DeclarationsandConductofMs._McDowell_  TherecordcontainsnoevidencethatMs._McDowell_ԀevernamedanyoneotherthanMr.BoydasMr._McDowell_sfather.ShetoldMr._McDowell_repeatedlythatMr.Boydwashisfather,andshealsoacknowledgedthefacttohersister,toaclosefriendandneighborwhowasamemberofMr.Boydsfamily,andtoMr.Boydsbrother.Inaddition,Ms._McDowell_ԀdidnotcontradicteitherMr.BoydorMr._McDowell_ԀduringthemeetingpriortoMr._McDowell_sgraduationfromhighschoolwhenMr._McDowell_ԀidentifiedMr.Boydashisfather,andMr.Boydacknowledgedhissonbyembracinghimandgivinghimagift. Ms.BoydpointsoutthatMs._McDowell_ԀtoldherononeoccasionthatMr.BoydwasnotMr._McDowell_sfather.ThisoccurredduringanunexpectedconfrontationatMs._McDowell_shome.ApparentlywhileMs._McDowell_Ԁwasentertainingguests,Ms.BoyddroveuptoMs._McDowell_shouseandbegantoarguewithheroverwhetherMr.BoydwasMr._McDowell_sfather.Finally,ratherthanprovokinganadditionalconfrontationandinordertoplacateMs.Boydwhohadbecomeextremelyangry,Ms._McDowell_ԀtoldMs.BoydthatMr._McDowell_Ԁ [did]notbelongtoDavid,andgoonandforgetaboutit.Inlightofthecircumstancesinwhichitwasmade,thisstatementdoesnotunderminetheclearprobativeforceofMs._McDowell_sotherstatementsandconductidentifyingMr.BoydasMr._McDowell_sfather.@ C. @  AcknowledgmentbyMr.Boyd  Mr.BoydsstatementsconcerningMr._McDowell_Ԁwerenotconsistent.AfterhemarriedMs.Boyd,thesubjectofMr._McDowell_sparentagewasobviouslyasorepoint,andsoMr.Boydavoidedaddressingthesubjectdirectlywithher.Yet,heacknowledgedtofriends,includingJames_Newby_,John_Scarbrough_,_Eula_ԀHale,and_J.C._ԀWomack,thatMr._McDowell_Ԁwashisson.HealsotoldMs.BoydandotherfamilymembersthatMr._McDowell_Ԁwasnothisson. ThetrialcourtheardtheconflictingaccountsofMr.BoydsstatementsaboutMr._McDowell_.Acknowledgingthattheissuewasadifficultoneforthe_Boyds_,thetrialcourtopinedthat [_t]his_ԀmayexplainwhyMr.Boydspokeratherfreelyregarding[Mr._McDowell_]tothoseoutside[Ms.Boyds]familycircleandlesssotothoseinsideherfamily.WeagreethatthisanalysisprovidesthemostrealisticandcommonsenseexplanationforMr.Boydsinconsistentstatements.Accordingly,wecannotconcludethattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsconclusionthatMr.BoydacknowledgedMr._McDowell_Ԁashisson.@ D. @  TheEvidenceofPhysicalResemblance  Asafinalmatter,thepartiespresentedphotographsofMr.BoydandMr._McDowell_Ԁpurportingtodemonstratetheircommonphysicalfeatures.Whilethesephotographsdonotshowastrikingfamilyresemblance,theyunquestionablyshowthatMr.BoydandMr._McDowell_Ԁhaveatleastthreecommonfacialfeatures.Theshapeandpositionofbothmensearsaresimilar.Bothmenhavesloping,raisedcenterbrows,andbothmenhavelong,ovalfaces.Inadditiontothephotographs,twoofMr.BoydsbrothersandMr._McDowell_saunttestifiedthatMr._McDowell_Ԁwalkedlikehisfather.ThisevidenceofcommonfacialcharacteristicsandmannerismsfurtherbuttressesMr._McDowell_sproofthatMr.Boydwashisfather.@ IV.  Theevidenceinthiscaseisnotfreeofcontradiction.However,theproofofMs._McDowell_srepeatedinsistencethatMr.BoydwasMr._McDowell_sfather,coupledwithMr.BoydssolemnacknowledgmentofhissonontheoccasionofMr._McDowell_sgraduationfromhighschool,providesclearandconvincingevidencethatMr.BoydwasMr._McDowell_sbiologicalfather.Accordingly,weaffirmthetrialcourtsconclusionthatMr.BoydwasMr._McDowell_sbiologicalfather.Weremandthecasetothetrialcourtforwhateverfurtherproceedingsmayberequired,andwetaxthecostsofthisappealtotheEstateofDavid_Carah_ԀBoydanditssuretyforwhichexecution,ifnecessary,mayissue.       ____________________________       WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,JUDGECONCUR:_________________________________HENRYF.TODD,PRESIDINGJUDGEMIDDLESECTION_________________________________SAMUELL.LEWIS,JUDGE