ÿWPC|  ~M¢Rët¤Gop/ÚQ–dë7$Âð? ½;Ôp3ÇkzåAó‰yrWX¾‘ ÄI;çÛâx(Æ0øä|G‡­yƒww#ä!$“VN—òA(’m¤VûÕJ{ŠT<æ <%­À QË82ëâá@4> ®Õ(ý‰ 1MDP T"ã6 å(æÕ^ƒþä)½(Y™ú¿qÅg‰Ñ7Åfî™F§wÉ–‘DÑàÎ)ƒúS¥––ÔD…l¯'fë%Üh›‹ÃkìD1j ‘ü©éÐ÷ÁÊ!èÑkî/Õ¶ŸÿµÐ$PåöïÄc!öõ"Ÿõ[ѶŸw’â‰&Eè㋯Pq sËÕ ©ÚîÖÉ£ÿ1<ÄdS¤$q•âL(Ê Ýq|WøCàQ¤‚ÑÈÁ?1³ÌTàfâKBOZc-Á¦cáuíÄdxÉ(<òû²ãêã¥'T¾t)Zg:­›ÎC6’H— žòþV EÊÅ{¹MŒ‘FïŸ ³œL£msjäý~ìäÞ[)ežI·4cëè©ÑâÏäiÙi“[‰ Q'™]óu‹2%Añv9ü*éÑ@Bãšû8Ì×/ååÝ6Ïsn«yóÚn»sû`µlˆºý‚Ød_Â= ß×IÿF*# LU:W %‘ 0(—b ¿LËw@4_s‚U:„¾U:ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà AQýÆN 0D 0DX 0Dœ œ D/à B B, D3I ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡- ù -C:\OFFICE\WPWIN\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPT DDUDÓ€Õcl&3|x øÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ XÏîXXXÔÔ€ $X XÏîÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ XÏîX $ÔÐ  ÐÌApril€7,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ûÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XÏîXXXÔÔ€$XXÏîÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÏîX$ÔÐ  ÐÌNovember€5,€1998ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýññ›ññÑ°ÑÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ€ÑÑ7€ÏîXXdæXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò òÔ€¼fO¼XXÔÓ  Óññññßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô ` 8ttxP,ð  rßññññññññßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô ` 8ttxP,ð  rßññññññññññññ›ññññññßt€ )>.*jxHò` `€€@E<ú` 8ttxPt2ð È tß›ññà@  êàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌà@¦¦(êàAT€NASHVILLEó óÔ€XÏîX¼¼fOԈР ÐÌÌÌÌœOTHA›€SMITH,à ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð È À Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àPlaintiff/Appellant,à à àà 8 àà  à)Ð ”Œ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àAppeal€No.Ð zr  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è à01„A„01„9802„CH„00068Ð `X  ÐœVS›.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð F>  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àGiles€ChanceryÐ ,$  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àNo.€9074Ð   ÐMARJORIE€SMITH,à à àà 8 àà  à)à è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # àÐ øð  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àDefendant/Appellee.à 8 àà  à)Рļ ÐÌÌà@8 8 êàAPPEALED€FROM€THE€CHANCERY€COURT€OF€GILES€COUNTYˆÌà@  $êàAT€œPULASKI›,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@° ° êàTHE€HONORABLE€JIM€T.€œññHAMILTONññññWEATHERFORDññññ,ññ›€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌÌROBERT€D.€MASSEYÌP.€O.€Box€409ÌœPulaski›,€Tennessee€38478Ìà Ø àAttorney€for€Plaintiff/AppellantÌÌJOE€W.€HENRY,€JR.Ì119€South€First€StreetÌœPulaski›,€Tennessee€38478Ìà Ø àAttorney€for€Defendant/AppelleeÌÌÌÌÌÌà@DD$êàAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIEDˆÌà@¿¿(êàAND€REMANDEDˆÌÌÌÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌKOCH,€J.ÌCAIN,€J.ÌÐ  Î8Æ17× ÐÓÓò òÔ€„Œ „XXÏîÔòòà@tt(êàO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÔ€XÏîX„„Œ ԈР ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àFollowing€an€in€camera€proceeding,€the€trial€court€declared€the€partiesÏdivorced,€and€awarded€the€real€property€at€issue€to€the€husband.€€The€wife€filed€aÏMotion€to€Alter€and€Amend,€which€resulted€in€a€new€hearing,€and€a€new€decreeÏwhereby€the€real€property€was€equally€divided€between€the€parties.€€The€husbandÏclaimed€on€appeal€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€re„opening€the€case€after€his€initialÏdecree.€€We€affirm€the€trial€court,€but€we€amend€its€final€order€to€make€sure€there€isÏno€doubt€that€the€parties€have€been€legally€divorced.ÌÌà@€€"êàò òI.€€Marriage€and€Divorceó óˆÐ üô ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àœOtha›€Smith€and€Marjorie€May€married€on€November€16,€1993.€€DuringÏthe€course€of€their€brief€marriage,€they€purchased€a€35€acre€piece€of€land,€which€wasÏtitled€in€Mr.€Smithððs€name€alone.€€The€$5,000€down€payment€for€the€land€was€providedÏby€Marjorie€Smith.€€When€the€mortgage€note€was€renewed,€her€name€was€added€toÏthe€deed€of€trust.€€At€some€point,€the€parties€added€to€their€holdings€by€purchasing€aÏone€acre€tract,€which€was€deeded€in€the€names€of€both€parties.€€€€ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àOn€October€11,€1995,€Mr.€Smith€filed€a€complaint€for€divorce,€stating€asÏgrounds€cruel€and€inhuman€treatment,€or€in€the€alternative€irreconcilable€differences.ÏMs.€Smith€answered,€admitting€that€irreconcilable€differences€had€arisen€between€theÏparties,€but€denying€that€she€had€been€guilty€of€cruel€and€inhuman€treatment.€€SheÏalso€counter„claimed€for€divorce€on€the€ground€of€inappropriate€marital€conduct.€ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€case€was€set€for€trial,€but€was€continued€several€times€because€Ms.ÏSmithððs€attorney€believed€that€her€psychological€condition€rendered€her€incapable€ofÏtestifying€in€open€court.€€The€hearing€was€finally€scheduled€for€April€8,€1996.€€On€thatÐ ”8Œ16 Ðdate,€Ms.€Smithððs€attorney,€Joe€W.€Henry€Jr.,€approached€Mr.€Smithððs€attorney,€W.ÏœHowell›€œForrester›,€and€suggested€that€they€avoid€the€acrimony€of€a€trial,€and€submitÏthe€issues€to€some€form€of€Alternate€Dispute€Resolution.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€attorneys€agreed€to€a€procedure€whereby€the€trial€judge€would€hearÏeach€of€the€parties€separately€in€his€chambers,€without€their€attorneys€being€present,Ïand€without€limitation€as€to€what€could€be€discussed.€€The€judge€would€then€renderÏa€decision€based€on€their€statements€to€him.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àOn€April€24,€1996,€the€trial€court€issued€an€order€declaring€the€partiesÏdivorced€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„4„129(b),€and€awarding€the€husband€allÏright,€title€and€interest€to€the€36€acres.€€The€wife€was€awarded€the€mobile€home€thatÏshe€had€purchased€and€placed€on€the€property,€but€was€ordered€to€remove€it€withinÏthirty€days.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àOn€May€15,€1996,€Ms.€Smith€filed€a€timely€motion€through€her€attorneyÏto€set€aside€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€See€Rule€59.02,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€€In€theÏalternative,€she€asked€the€court€to€alter€or€amend€the€judgment€to€make€an€equitableÏdistribution€of€the€marital€estate.€€Mr.€Smith€filed€a€response€in€opposition€to€theÏmotion.€€The€response€alleged€that€the€parties€had€agreed€that€the€trial€courtððsÏjudgment€would€be€final,€and€that€no€change€of€circumstances€had€occurred€toÏwarrant€a€change€in€the€order.Ì€€€€€Ìà Ø àà 0 àOn€March€10,€1997,€the€parties€scheduled€a€hearing€on€Ms.€SmithððsÏmotion.€€On€that€day,€Mr.€Henry€and€Mr.€œForrester›€agreed€to€waive€the€hearing€on€theÏmotion,€and€to€retry€the€case€instead.€€The€trial€court€accordingly€conducted€aÏcomplete€trial,€at€which€both€parties€testified.€Ð ¨9 26 Їà Ø àà 0 àOn€March€21,€1997€the€trial€court€entered€a€new€order,€based€on€theÏhearing€of€March€10.€€The€judge€found€that€the€36€acre€property€was€part€of€theÏmarital€estate,€and€that€both€parties€had€contributed€to€its€acquisition€andÏpreservation.€€He€accordingly€ordered€that€the€property€be€surveyed,€and€that€it€beÏdivided€equally€between€the€parties.€€W.€œHowell›€œForrester›€subsequently€withdrew€asÏcounsel€for€Mr.€Smith,€and€Robert€D.€Massey€was€enrolled€in€his€place.€€Mr.€MasseyÏfiled€a€Motion€for€Findings€of€Fact€and€Amendment€of€Judgment,€which€was€denied.ÏThis€appeal€followed.€ÌÌà@==!êàò òII.€€Arbitration€or€Waiver?ó óˆÐ èà ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€appellant€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€re„opening€the€caseÏafter€issuing€its€decree€of€April€24,€1996.€€He€contends€that€the€procedure€the€partiesÏinitially€agreed€upon€amounted€to€a€type€of€Alternative€Dispute€Resolution€(œADR›)€akinÏto€binding€arbitration,€with€the€trial€court€acting€as€arbitrator.€€The€appellant€points€outÏthat€under€the€Uniform€Arbitration€Act,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„5„301,€et€seq.,€anÏarbitration€award€may€not€be€modified€or€vacated€except€under€circumstances€notÏpresent€here.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„5„310,€313€and€314.€€Ð è&à" ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àHowever,€the€proceeding€conducted€by€the€trial€court€differed€in€manyÏimportant€respects€from€an€arbitration€of€the€sort€which€is€governed€by€the€UniformÏArbitration€Act.€€It€appears€to€us€that€some€of€the€provisions€of€the€Act€were€adoptedÏas€safeguards,€to€prevent€parties€from€being€victimized€by€the€very€finality€that€makesÏarbitration€the€procedure€of€choice€for€certain€types€of€disputes.€€Thus,€an€agreementÏto€arbitrate€must€be€in€writing,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„5„302(a).€€Further,€a€party€mayÏnot€waive€his€right€to€be€represented€by€an€attorney€at€any€proceeding€or€hearing.ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€29„5„307.ÌÐ ¨9 26 Ðà Ø àà 0 àIn€the€present€case,€there€was€no€written€agreement€to€arbitrate,€and€theÏattorneys€have€presented€differing€accounts€as€to€the€nature€of€the€agreement€theyÏreached.€€The€appellant€submitted€the€affidavit€of€Mr.€œForrester›,€which€was€to€theÏeffect€that€he€and€Mr.€Henry€had€agreed€that€the€decision€of€the€judge€following€theÏin€camera€proceeding€would€be€final,€and€the€ð ðcase€would€forever€be€concluded€basedÏon€his€ruling.ððÌ€Ìà Ø àà 0 àIn€response,€Mr.€Henry€filed€his€own€affidavit,€in€which€he€explained€theÏcircumstances€that€led€him€to€suggest€that€some€method€of€œADR›€be€used€to€decideÏthe€case,€but€denied€that€he€had€ever€agreed€to€waive€his€right€to€appeal€anÏunfavorable€outcome.€€Ms.€Smith€also€filed€an€affidavit,€in€which€she€stated€that€herÏattorney€told€her€that€if€the€decision€was€adverse,€the€process€of€appellate€review€wasÏstill€available.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àInsofar€as€the€appellant€is€suggesting€that€the€appellee€has€lost€her€rightÏto€appeal€as€the€result€of€a€waiver,€we€must€also€reject€that€argument.€€Since€theÏopposing€affidavits€balance€each€other,€we€are€obligated€to€find€that€Mr.€Henry€hadÏnot€waived€his€clientððs€right€to€appeal,€for€it€appears€to€us€that€the€greater€burden€ofÏproof€must€rest€on€the€person€claiming€the€waiver€of€a€legal€right,€not€on€the€personÏattempting€to€exercise€that€right.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àMr.€Henry€also€argues,€correctly€we€believe,€that€Mr.€œForrester›Ïsurrendered€any€objections€he€may€have€had€to€re„opening€the€case€when€he€agreedÏto€forego€the€hearing€on€Mr.€Henryððs€motion€to€set€aside€the€judgment,€and€to€proceedÏdirectly€to€a€trial€of€the€cause.€€This€is€borne€out€by€a€finding€of€the€trial€court€in€itsÏorder€overruling€Mr.€Smithððs€Motion€for€Findings€of€Fact€and€Amendment€of€Judgment.ÌÒ0 €ÒÒ„ÒÓÓà ˆ àThe€Court€finds€that€prior€to€the€March€œ10th›€hearing,€inÏopen€court,€everyone€agreed,€the€parties€as€well€as€counsel,Ïthat€the€prior€hearing€held€in€chambers€between€the€CourtÐ ¨9 26 Ðand€the€parties€and€the€Courtððs€ruling€based€on€that€hearing,Ïwould€be€held€do€novo€(sic).€ÌÒ€0 ÒÒ„ÒÌÓÓà Ø àò òÌà@ÇÇ êàIII.€€Correcting€an€Oversightó óˆÐ ¸ ° ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àAs€we€stated€above,€the€trial€courtððs€order€of€April€24,€1996€declared€theÏparties€divorced€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„4„129(b).€€The€order€of€March€21,Ï1997€divided€the€property,€but€did€not€mention€divorce.€€The€appellant€argues€that€theÏmore€recent€order€should€be€set€aside€because€it€is€fatally€deficient,€and€that€a€newÏhearing€should€be€ordered.€€He€contends€that€the€order€of€April€24€had€been€totallyÏsuperseded,€and€that€the€more€recent€order€failed€to€deal€with€the€primary€issueÏbefore€the€court€„„€the€dissolution€of€a€marriage.€€A€necessary€corollary€implication€isÏthat€the€parties€are€still€married,€and€can€no€longer€be€considered€to€be€legallyÏdivorced.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àWhile€we€do€not€fault€the€appellantððs€attorney€for€using€any€wedge€heÏcan€find€to€attack€the€property€division,€it€is€apparent€to€us€that€the€courtððs€failure€toÏmention€the€divorce€was€a€mere€oversight.€€The€appelleeððs€Statement€of€the€Evidence,Ïwhich€was€adopted€by€the€court,€reveals€that€the€court€not€only€heard€evidenceÏrelating€to€the€property€at€issue€in€the€trial€of€March€10,€but€also€evidence€as€to€theÏviability€of€the€marriage.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€evidence€included€testimony€that€Mr.€Smith€abused€his€wifeÏthroughout€the€course€of€their€marriage,€including€physical€abuse€so€severe€that€anÏambulance€had€to€be€called,€that€he€was€a€user€of€drugs,€that€he€made€threats€withÏfirearms,€and€that€he€was€involved€sexually€with€young€boys.€€No€purpose€can€beÏserved€by€continuing€a€marriage€under€such€circumstances.€€òòSeeóó€òòFox€v.€Foxóó,€676Ð Ø6Ð/3 ÐS.W.2d€956,€958€(Tenn.€1984).€€While€we€believe€that€the€parties€have€been€validlyÐ ¸8°15 Ðdivorced,€we€direct€the€trial€court€to€modify€its€order€to€reflect€this€fact,€in€order€toÏremove€any€possible€doubts€as€to€the€dissolution€of€the€marriage€between€the€parties.€Ì€€€€€€Ìà@oo-êàò òIV.ó óˆÐ ¨   ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€order€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€as€modified.€€Remand€this€causeÏto€the€Chancery€Court€of€Giles€County€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€thisÏopinion.€€Tax€the€costs€on€appeal€to€the€appellant.€œÌÌÌÌ›ÓÓà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 à_____________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌÌ_____________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌœ_____________________________ññÌWIññññÌWIññLLIAM›€B.€CAIN,€JUDGEÌÌœññÐ  x-p&) Ðññ›Ñ  ќԀ¼Çæ¼XX9Ôò òññà@êê.êàññ›œñÿñIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ  Ðà@™™(êàAT€NASHVILLEñÿñó óñÿñÔ€X¹hX¼¼—ôԈР ÐÌÌÌÌÌœOTHA›€SMITH,à ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð ä Ü Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àPlaintiff/Appellant,à à àà 8 àà  à)Рļ  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àAppeal€No.Ð ´¬  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è à01„A„01„9802„CH„00068Ð ¤œ  ÐœVS›.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ð ”Œ  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àGiles€ChanceryÐ „|  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)à è àNo.€9074Ð tl  ÐMARJORIE€SMITH,à à àà 8 àà  à)à è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # àÐ d\ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  à)Ìà Ø àDefendant/Appellee.à 8 àà  à)Ð D< Ðœ›ÌœÔ€¼—ô¼XX¹hÔò òòò›à@uu'êàJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€œTóóó óñúñˆÐ $ Ðñúñ›ÌÓӜԀX¹hX¼¼—ôÔ›à Ø àà 0 àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€theÐ PH ÐChancery€Court€of€Giles€County,€and€briefs€of€counsel;€upon€consideration€whereof,Ïthis€Court€is€of€the€opinion€that€œin€the›€decree€of€the€Chancellor€œthere€is€no€reversibleÏerror,€and€it€should€be›€affirmed€as€modified.Ìà Ø àà 0 àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€of€the€Court€filed€herein,€it€is,€therefore,Ïordered€and€decreed€by€this€Court€that€the€decree€is€œaffirmed,›€œbut€is›€œmodified€to€reflectÏthe€fact€that€the€parties€have€been€legally€divorced.›€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€theÏChancery€Court€of€Giles€County€for€the€enforcement€of€the€decree€and€for€theÏcollection€of€the€costs€accrued€below.Ìà Ø àà 0 àCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€œOtha›€Smith,€Principal,€and€RobertÏD.€Massey,€Surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓÌà Ø àÌÌœ›à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 à_____________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 à_____________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 à_____________________________________Ìœñÿññüñà Ø àñüññÿññýñà Ø àñýñ›à 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€œJUDGEñÿññþññûñÐ 0;(47° Ðñûññþñ›