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B-ã?ã?~@ËŽAŽAŽAŽAŽAŽAŽA 0ëYDYDYDYD BDEDE 0¤aE D3F D-8F 0KeFeF AS°FÆG 0¤ÉG 0DmH A«±H˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0({ÿ* »(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular¤}â*am FilesÔi© ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó CulleokaLewisburgStegallcommittethWINGOtelecopiedBraneganremediateMcWilliamsHoalcraftGorskiRagainsHarbourHarwell vÝ ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMs.€Steagall€admitted€that€she€had€overreacted€when€she€threatened€to€have€Mr.€Steagall€arrested€for€kidnapingÐ ° Ðwhen€he€took€their€son€to€Wal„Mart€to€purchase€tennis€shoes€after€obtaining€permission€from€the€boyððs€grandmother. nÝ ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMs.€Steagall€admitted€that€she€had€told€her€son€that€she€and€Mr.€Steagall€were€still€married€in€the€eyes€of€GodÐ ° Ðand€that€Mr.€Steagall€had€sinned€for€marrying€another€woman.€€She€also€admitted€that€she€had€purchased€a€Bible€for€herÐ tÄ Ðson€to€give€his€father€as€a€Christmas€present€and€that€she€had€underlined€in€that€Bible€the€passage€quoting€Jesus€as€sayingÐ 8ˆ Ðð ðWhoever€shall€put€away€his€wife,€and€marry€another,€committeth€adultery€against€her.ðð€òòMarkóó€10:11€(King€James).€Ð üL ÐFinally,€she€testified€that€ð ðat€this€present€time€I€still€really€care€deeply€for€this€man€[Mr.€Steagall]€and€I€care€deeply€for,Ð À Ðyou€know,€what€might€happen€with€him.ðð Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMs.€Steagall€testified€that€the€boy€was€ð ðright€at€grade€Ô_ÔlevelððÔ_Ô€in€mathematics€and€social€studies. ¥Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€record€does€not€contain€a€transcript€or€summary€of€the€trial€Ô_ÔcourtððsÔ_Ô€interview€with€the€Ô_ÔpartiesððÔ_Ô€son.€Ð ° ÐHowever,€the€transcribed€comments€of€the€trial€court€and€the€lawyers€at€other€stages€of€the€proceeding€indicate€that€theÐ tÄ Ðchild€told€that€trial€court€that€he€desired€to€live€with€Mr.€Steagall,€at€least€in€part,€to€enable€him€to€see€the€other€membersÐ 8ˆ Ðof€Mr.€Ô_ÔSteagallððsÔ_Ô€family€more. pÝ ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMr.€Steagall€also€testified€that€he€and€his€new€wife€had€complied€with€Ms.€Ô_ÔSteagallððsÔ_Ô€request€and€that€the€boyÐ ° Ðattends€a€Baptist€church€with€his€cousin€when€he€is€staying€with€his€father. !Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMs.€Steagall€also€testified€that€Ô_Ôð ðWeððveÔ_Ô€been€spending€a€lot€of€time€in€reading€his€Ô_ÔBible.ððÔ_Ô …Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔBased€on€the€trial€Ô_ÔcourtððsÔ_Ô€statements,€even€a€casual€observer€would€have€understood€that€the€trial€court€did€notÐ ° Ðintend€to€dismiss€Mr.€Ô_ÔSteagallððsÔ_Ô€petition€to€change€custody. ²Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòPage€v.€Ô_ÔTurcottóóÔ_Ô,€179€Tenn.€491,€503,€167€S.W.2d€350,€354€(1943)€(circuit€courts);€Ô_ÔòòMassengillÔ_Ô€v.€Ô_ÔMassengillóóÔ_Ô,Ð ° Ð36€Tenn.€App.€385,€390,€255€S.W.2d€1018,€1020€(1953)€(chancery€courts). ÒÝ ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔBecause€this€facsimile€was€not€included€in€the€record,€we€cannot€know€with€certainty€either€the€contents€ofÐ ° Ðthe€facsimile€or€whether€the€facsimile€was€sent€contemporaneously€to€Mr.€Steagallððs€lawyer.€€We€presume€that€Ms.Ð tÄ ÐSteagallððs€lawyer€also€sent€the€facsimile€to€Mr.€Steagallððs€lawyer€because€to€do€otherwise€would€have€amounted€to€anÐ 8ˆ Ðinappropriate€ex€parte€communication.€€Based€on€the€trial€courtððs€response,€it€is€safe€to€conclude€that€the€facsimile€mustÐ üL Ðhave€dealt€with€the€public€school€issue.€€ ‡Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔWe€are€left€to€speculate€about€the€reason€for€this€tactical€decision.€€It€could€have€been€the€lateness€of€the€hourÐ ° Ðbecause€at€that€time€it€was€approaching€5:40€p.m.,€or€it€could€have€been€the€belief€that€the€parties€had€settled€all€theirÐ tÄ Ðdisputes.€€We€have€concluded€that€the€latter€is€more€probable.€€Had€Ms.€Ô_ÔSteagallððsÔ_Ô€lawyer€intended€to€present€additionalÐ 8ˆ Ðevidence,€he€would€have€inquired€when€the€trial€would€resume.€€His€inquiry€regarding€the€preparation€of€the€order€isÐ üL Ðmore€consistent€with€a€belief€that€the€Ô_ÔpartiesððÔ_Ô€disputes€had€been€resolved€because€an€order€would€otherwise€have€beenÐ À Ðunnecessary. ‰Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔLawyers€may€file€motions€and€other€documents€by€facsimile€only€in€the€Sixteenth€Judicial€District.€òòIn€reÐ ° ÐPetition€For€Facsimile€Filings€in€the€Trial€Courts€of€Rutherford€County€óó(Tenn.€Dec.€20,€1990).€€In€other€circumstances,Ð tÄ Ðthe€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€has€declined€to€approve€the€transmission€and€filing€of€documents€by€facsimile.€€òòLove€v.Ð 8ˆ ÐCollege€Level€Assessment€Ô_ÔServsÔ_Ô.,€Inc.óó,€928€S.W.2d€36,€38„39€(Tenn.€1996).€€€€*+ ÿÿ(_26Ô2ÔÔ3  Ôà..à ^Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMs.€Steagall€objected€to€questions€such€as:€ð ðHow€many€books€are€in€your€Ô_Ôhouse?ððÔ_Ô€and€ð ðHow€many€times€doÐ ° Ðyou€read€for€your€Ô_Ôchild?ððÔ_Ô*G+G ÿÿ(_25Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*8+8 ÿÿ(_24Ó  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÓ  Ó 8Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔMs.€Steagall€testified€that€her€pastor€had€told€her€that€the€school€was€unaccredited€because€ð ðthey€teach€themÐ ° Ðmore.€€Rather€than€just€staying€down€here,€they€are€way€up€Ô_Ôhere.ððÔ_Ô€€She€added€that€ð ðStanford€is€not€accredited,€to€myÐ tÄ Ðunderstanding;€Ô_ÔHarvardððsÔ_Ô€not€accredited,€to€my€Ô_Ôunderstanding.ððÔ_Ô€€*5+5 ÿÿ(_23Ó ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÓ ` Ó \Ý ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔAccording€to€the€notice€of€appearance€and€brief€filed€by€Ms.€Steagallððs€new€lawyer,€The€Rutherford€InstituteÐ ° Ðis€ð ðnonprofit€religious€based€civil€liberties€organization€that€defends€the€rights€of€persons€of€all€religious€faiths€throughoutÐ tÄ Ðthe€United€States€on€a€òòpro€bono€óóbasis..€.€.€Protecting€the€religious€rights€for€all€Americans€in€the€face€of€direct€attack€onÐ 8ˆ Ðthose€rights€is€the€interest€of€TRI.ðð€- ù-*2+2 ÿÿ(_22Ó ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÓ ¸ Ó*/+/ ÿÿ(_21Ó  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÓ  Ó*,+, ÿÿ(_20Ó h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÓ h Ó*)+) ÿÿ(_19Ó À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓppÈ xÐ ÓÓ À Ó*&+& ÿÿ(_18Ó  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÓ  Ó*AA ÿÿ(_17Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  Ó*GG ÿÿ(_16Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó*88 ÿÿ(_15Ó  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÓ  Ó*55 ÿÿ(_14Ó ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÓ ` Ó*22 ÿÿ(_13Ó ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÓ ¸ Ó*// ÿÿ(_12Ó  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÓ  Ó*,, ÿÿ(_11Ó h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó pÈ xÐ ÓÓ h Ó*)) ÿÿ(_10Ó À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓppÈ xÐ ÓÓ À Ó(&& ÿÿ&_9Ó  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€ÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÓ  Ó(AA ÿÿ&_8Ó  ÓÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ5+° °` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ 5ÓÓ  Ó(GG ÿÿ&_7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ/%` ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ /ÓÓ ¨ý ÓÓ ° Ó(88 ÿÿ&_6Ó  ÓÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ,"¸ ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ ,ÓÓ  Ó(55 ÿÿ&_5Ó ` ÓÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ) hÀpÈ xÐ )ÓÓ ` Ó(22 ÿÿ&_4Ó ¸ ÓÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ&hhÀpÈ xÐ &ÓÓ ¸ Ó(// ÿÿ&_3Ó  ÓÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ#ÀÀpÈ xÐ #ÓÓ  Ó(,, ÿÿ&_2Ó h ÓÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ pÈ xÐ ÓÓ h Ó()) ÿÿ&_1Ó À ÓÓppÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓppÈ xÐ ÓÓ À Ó&&& ÿÿ$_Ó  ÓÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓÈÈ xÐ ÓÓ  Ó)Hairline d tÝ ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThere€is€no€direct€or€indirect€indication€in€this€record€that€Ms.€Steagall€ever€withdrew€her€objection€to€theÐ ° Ðportion€of€order€eventually€filed€on€July€10,€1998,€directing€her€to€enroll€the€partiesðð€child€in€public€school. ÁÝ ƒR?M$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔWe€are€not€saying€that€there€would€have€not€have€been€an€appeal€following€the€resumed€trial.€€Had€the€trialÐ ° Ðcourt€dismissed€Mr.€Steagallððs€petition€to€change€custody,€Mr.€Steagall€may€very€well€have€appealed.€€On€the€other€hand,Ð tÄ Ðhad€the€trial€court€decided€to€award€Mr.€Steagall€custody€of€the€partiesðð€child,€Ms.€Steagall€could,€and€probably€would,Ð 8ˆ Ðhave€appealed.€€However,€in€that€circumstance,€the€issues€would€have€involved€whether€the€trial€court€had€an€adequateÐ üL Ðbasis€to€change€custody.(|G2?M$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€]Í»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôá…ò»»Ô d(|3‘$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€]Í»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3‘$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€]Í»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€]Í»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑTRY,3Ø'LetterXà3Ø' Letter 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼]Í»»»ÔÑ8€XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îQ]ÍÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼]Í»îîQ`#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓApril€15,€1999€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XX»¼]ÍÔÌò òÔ#†¼]Í»XXG#ÔBILLY€RHODES€STEAGALL€v.€NANCY€ROSE€STEAGALLÔ‡XX»¼]ÍÔó óÐ úJ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Marshall€CountyÐ ú J Ðà@@øøìàNo.€7194€€€€€€F.€Lee€Russell,€JudgeÐ æ 6 ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<©` AßÐ ªú  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M1998„00948„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€July€27,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÐ ¥õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€appeal€involves€a€post„divorce€dispute€regarding€the€custody€of€a€15„year„old€boy.€€In€AugustÐ xÈ  Ð1997,€the€boyððs€father€petitioned€the€Chancery€Court€for€Marshall€County€to€change€the€minorððsÐ d´ Ðcustody€because€of€his€concern€that€the€motherððs€attempt€to€home€school€the€boy€had€underminedÐ P  Ðhis€education€and€development€of€social€skills.€€The€mother€opposed€the€petition€and€requested€anÐ <Œ Ðincrease€in€child€support.€€During€the€June€1998€trial,€the€father€presented€evidence€raising€seriousÐ (x Ðquestions€about€the€progress€of€the€childððs€education€and€development€of€social€skills,€as€well€asÐ d Ðother€aspects€of€the€motherððs€approach€to€parenting.€€The€mother€presented€no€evidence€of€her€own.€Ð P ÐInstead,€after€the€close€of€the€fatherððs€proof,€she€asserted€that€the€trial€court€could€remediate€theÐ ì< Ðacknowledged€deficiencies€without€changing€custody.€€Thereafter,€the€parties€and€the€court€discussedÐ Ø( Ðat€length€the€provisions€of€a€proposed€remedial€order,€and€the€hearing€was€adjourned€when€theÐ Ä Ðparties€and€the€court€believed€they€had€agreed€on€the€contents€of€the€proposed€order.€€Before€the€trialÐ ° Ðcourt€entered€the€proposed€order,€the€wife€took€issue€with€a€provision€requiring€her€to€enroll€the€childÐ œì Ðin€public€school.€€The€trial€court€informed€the€parties€that€it€had€understood€that€both€parties€hadÐ ˆØ Ðagreed€to€send€their€child€to€public€school€and€that€it€would€resume€the€trial€if€its€understanding€wasÐ tÄ Ðincorrect.€€Rather€than€requesting€the€trial€court€to€resume€the€hearing,€the€mother€filed€this€appealÐ `° Ðclaiming€that€the€trial€court€had€infringed€on€her€constitutionally€protected€right€to€raise€her€child.€Ð L œ ÐWe€have€determined,€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(a),€that€the€mother€is€not€entitled€toÐ 8!ˆ  Ðappellate€relief€because€she€is,€in€part,€responsible€for€the€error€and€because€she€failed€to€pursue€theÐ $"t! Ðreasonably€available€steps€that€would€have€nullified€the€harmful€effect€of€the€error.€€Accordingly,€weÐ #`" Ðaffirm€the€judgment.€€Ð ü#L# ÐÌÓôÓò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óÐ Ô%$!% ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼]Í»àX¹#ÔÔ‡XX.¼]ÍÔWilliam€C.€Koch,€Jr.,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòWilliam€B.€Cain€óóandÐ ¬'ü"' ÐòòPatricia€J.€Cottrell,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð ˜(è#( ÐÌGregory€D.€Smith,€Clarksville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Nancy€R.€Steagall.Ð p*À%* ÐÌBarry€B.€White,€Lewisburg,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Billy€Rhodes€Steagall.Ð H,˜', ÐÓ°ÓÐ 4-„(-ý Ðò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼]Í»XXß#ÔÔ‡XX»¼]ÍÔÐ ° ÐÌÔ#†¼]Í»XXÕ#ÔÔ‡XX»¼]ÍÔÓ  Óà  àNancy€Rose€Steagall€and€Billy€Rhodes€Steagall€married€in€1981.€€Their€only€child,€a€son,€wasÐ ˆØ Ðborn€in€March€1986.€€The€parties€were€divorced€by€the€Chancery€Court€for€Marshall€County€inÐ tÄ ÐMarch€1988.€€In€accordance€with€their€marital€dissolution€agreement,€Ms.€Steagall€received€soleÐ `° Ðcustody€of€their€son,€and€Mr.€Steagall€received€non„specific€visitation€rights.€€Mr.€Steagall€was€alsoÐ L œ Ðrequired€to€pay€Ms.€Steagall€$70€per€week€in€child€support.€€Thereafter,€Ms.€Steagall€and€the€partiesððÐ 8 ˆ Ðson€moved€to€Culleoka€in€Maury€County.€€Mr.€Steagall€remained€in€Lewisburg€and€eventuallyÐ $ t Ðremarried.€€Ms.€Steagall€is€employed€as€a€paramedic€by€the€Williamson€Medical€Center€EmergencyÐ  ` ÐMedical€Service,€and€Mr.€Steagall€is€employed€as€a€paramedic€by€the€Rutherford€County€AmbulanceÐ ü L  ÐService.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àAfter€the€divorce,€Ms.€Steagall,€as€the€custodial€parent,€made€all€the€major€decisionsÐ À  Ðregarding€the€childððs€education,€his€exposure€to€his€extended€family,€and€the€nature€of€his€visitationÐ ¬ü  Ðwith€Mr.€Steagall.€€Even€though€she€was€elected€to€the€Maury€County€Board€of€Education,€Ms.Ð ˜è  ÐSteagall€withdrew€her€son€from€public€school€after€the€third€grade€and€began€home€schooling€him.€Ð „Ô  ÐHer€decision€was€based,€in€large€part,€on€her€Christian€beliefs€and€her€apprehensions€about€the€publicÐ pÀ Ðschool€curriculum.€€Ms.€Steagall€home€schooled€the€partiesðð€son€for€the€fourth,€fifth,€and€sixthÐ \¬ Ðgrades.€€During€these€years,€Mr.€Steagall€grew€increasingly€concerned€about€the€boyððs€attitude€aboutÐ H˜ Ðhis€studies€and€his€social€skills.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àThings€came€to€a€head€in€1997.€€Mr.€Steagall€decided€that€Ms.€Steagallððs€style€of€parentingÐ  \ Ðand€her€heavy„handed€attempts€at€gate„keeping€between€him€and€his€son€were€adversely€affectingÐ øH Ðthe€childððs€development.€€He€was€concerned€about€the€adequacy€of€the€boyððs€education€and€theÐ ä4 Ðdevelopment€of€his€social€skills.€€He€was€also€concerned€that€Ms.€Steagall€had€gone€too€far€in€tryingÐ Ð  Ðto€shape€the€boyððs€world€view.€€Finally,€he€was€concerned€that€his€own€differing€views€aboutÐ ¼  Ðparenting€were€causing€his€efforts€at€visitation€to€become€extremely€contentious.€€In€August€1997,Ð ¨ø Ðafter€the€boy€expressed€a€desire€to€live€with€him,€Mr.€Steagall€petitioned€the€Chancery€Court€forÐ ”ä ÐMarshall€County€to€change€custody.€€Ms.€Steagall€objected€to€changing€custody€and€requested€anÐ €Ð Ðincrease€in€child€support.Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€conducted€a€hearing€in€Jun€1998€on€the€issues€of€custody€and€child€support.€Ð D!” ÐMr.€Steagall,€as€the€moving€party,€had€the€burden€of€proving€that€there€had€been€a€material€changeÐ 0"€  Ðin€the€childððs€circumstances€and€that€it€would€be€in€the€childððs€best€interests€to€change€custody.€€HeÐ #l! Ðundertook€to€carry€this€burden€by€suggesting€that€the€trial€court€interview€the€partiesðð€son€inÐ $X" Ðchambers€and€by€presenting€his€own€testimony€as€well€as€that€of€Ms.€Steagall.€€At€the€lawyersððÐ ô$D # Ðrequest,€the€trial€court€interviewed€the€partiesðð€son€in€chambers€before€hearing€the€other€witnesses.€Ð à%0!$ ÐThe€lawyers€were€present€during€the€interview,€but€the€parents€were€not.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Thereafter,€Mr.€SteagallððsÐ Ì&"% Ðlawyer€called€Ms.€Steagall€as€his€first€witness.€€Ms.€Steagallððs€testimony€plainly€did€not€help€herÐ ° Ðcause.€€Mr.€Steagallððs€lawyer€was€able€to€elicit€testimony€that€made€her€appear€extremelyÐ œì Ðoverprotective׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€unable€to€accept€that€Mr.€Steagall€had€remarried€and€was€moving€on€with€hisÐ ˆØ Ðlife.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àMost€significantly,€Ms.€Steagall€admitted€that€her€attempts€at€home€schooling€had€not€beenÐ L œ Ðentirely€successful.€€She€conceded€that€she€had€refused€to€permit€the€partiesðð€son€to€take€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðstandardized€achievement€tests€until€after€Mr.€Steagall€filed€his€petition€to€change€custody.€€SheÐ $ t Ðexplained€her€decision€by€saying€that€school€officials€had€declined€to€permit€her€to€examine€the€testÐ  ` Ðin€advance€and€because€she€believed€that€the€test€contained€inappropriate€personal€questions€aboutÐ ü L  Ðthe€household.׃%x×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€She€also€conceded€that€the€partiesðð€son€had€recently€taken€a€standardized€test€andÐ è 8  Ðthat€this€test€had€revealed€that€he€was€two€years€below€grade€level€in€science€and€that€he€was€oneÐ Ô$  Ðyear€below€grade€level€in€reading€and€language€arts.×ƒÈ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú5Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð À  ÐÌà  àMr.€Steagall€testified€that€he€had€initially€agreed€that€Ms.€Steagall€could€home€school€theirÐ ˜è  Ðson,€even€though€he€had€reservations€about€home€schooling.€€He€stated€that€he€became€increasinglyÐ „Ô  Ðconcerned€as€time€went€on€about€what€the€boy€was€studying€and€his€attitude€about€his€homework.€Ð pÀ ÐHe€estimated€that€at€least€thirty€percent€of€the€school€work€was€religious׃T ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú6Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€that€he€had€observedÐ \¬ Ða€ð ðdrop€in€.€.€.€[his€sonððs]€eagernessðð€to€do€his€homework€after€Ms.€Steagall€withdrew€the€boy€fromÐ H˜ Ðpublic€school.€€He€also€testified€that€Ms.€Steagall€had€made€visitation€ð ðas€complicated€as€it€could€beððÐ 4„ Ðand€recounted€how€Ms.€Steagall€had€instructed€him€not€to€permit€their€son€to€accompany€his€newÐ  p Ðwife€to€Roman€Catholic€services€because€Roman€Catholics€were€not€going€to€heaven€because€theyÐ  \ Ðprayed€to€the€Virgin€Mary€rather€than€to€Jesus.€€Mr.€Steagall€expressed€concern€that€the€partiesðð€sonÐ øH Ðwas€picking€up€on€some€of€the€prejudicial€feelings€that€his€mother€has€towards€different€religionsÐ ä4 Ðand€different€kinds€of€people.׃à ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú7Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð Ð  ÐÐ ¼  Ðà  àMr.€Steagall€also€testified€that€Ms.€Steagall€had€consistently€refused€to€discuss€his€concernsÐ ° Ðabout€home€schooling.€€However,€after€he€filed€his€petition€to€change€custody,€Ms.€Steagall€indicatedÐ œì Ðthat€she€was€considering€enrolling€their€son€in€a€small,€unaccredited€school€operated€by€her€church,Ð ˆØ Ðcalled€Lighthouse€Baptist€Academy.׃)×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú8Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€While€on€the€witness€stand,€Ms.€Steagall€confirmed€that€sheÐ tÄ Ðhad€decided€to€send€the€partiesðð€son€to€Lighthouse€Baptist€Academy€beginning€with€the€next€schoolÐ `° Ðyear.€€However,€she€could€provide€little€information€about€the€schoolððs€curriculum€or€activities€otherÐ L œ Ðthan€to€say€that€ð ðthey€do€the€swimming€and€all€the€other€sports.ððÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àThe€case€took€an€unusual€turn€at€the€close€of€Mr.€Steagallððs€proof.€€Ms.€Steagall€moved€toÐ  ` Ðdismiss€Mr.€Steagallððs€petition€to€change€custody.€€During€the€colloquy€that€followed,€Ms.€SteagallððsÐ ü L  Ðlawyer€conceded€that€the€trial€courtððs€concerns€about€home€schooling€were€ð ðlegitimateðð€and€that€theÐ è 8  Ðpartiesðð€son€was€ð ðunderperforming€pursuant€the€standardized€test€in€home€schooling.ðð€€He€alsoÐ Ô$  Ðconceded€that€Ms.€Steagall€may€have€been€ð ða€little€bit€overprotective.ðð€€However,€Ms.€SteagallððsÐ À  Ðlawyer€insisted€that€the€trial€court€could€remedy€these€matters€without€changing€custody.€€He€invitedÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€trial€court€to€enter€a€more€specific€visitation€schedule,€saying€ð ðthatððs€probably€what€should€haveÐ ˜è  Ðhappened€a€long€time€ago.ðð€€He€also€stated€that€it€would€be€ð ðlegitimateðð€for€the€trial€court€to€orderÐ „Ô  ÐMs.€Steagall€to€stop€home€schooling€the€partiesðð€son€and€to€ð ðput€him€in€some€sort€of€private€school.ððÐ pÀ ÐÌà  àRather€than€ruling€directly€on€Ms.€Steagallððs€motion€to€dismiss,€the€trial€court€construed€herÐ H˜ Ðlawyerððs€arguments€as€an€invitation€to€address€the€education€and€visitation€problems€she€hadÐ 4„ Ðacknowledged.׃Ü×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú9Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Accordingly,€the€trial€court€told€the€parties€ð ðwhat€I€would€do€if€this€were€all€theÐ  p Ðproof€that€I€was€going€to€hear€today.ðð€€After€stating€that€the€home€schooling€had€been€ð ða€failedÐ  \ Ðexperimentðð€and€expressing€concerns€about€the€childððs€ð ðisolation,ðð€the€trial€court€stated:Ð øH ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àI€think€what€I€would€want€to€do€if€I€were€deciding€the€case€onÐ Ð  Ðthe€evidence€before€me€is€not€to€change€custody€yet,€but€rather€to€splitÐ ¼  Ðthe€time€during€the€summer€equally€between€the€parties€and€then€goÐ ¨ø Ðback€to€an€arrangement€during€the€school€year€where€she€wasÐ ”ä Ðcustodial,€he€had€every€other€weekend€and€some€additional€time€thatÐ €Ð Ðwould€need€to€be€worked€out.€€With€the€addition€that€I€would€wantÐ l¼ Ðhim€to€act€as€custodial€parent€when€he€did€have€the€child,€because€IÐ X ¨ Ðdonððt€think€we€need€the€kind€of€control€that€she€thinks€is€appropriateÐ D!” Ðon€issues€like€trips€to€New€York.€€I€donððt€think€he€[Mr.€Steagall]Ð 0"€  Ðneeds€to€have€to€get€her€permission€to€do€things€like€that€when€he€hasÐ #l! Ðthe€child.Ð$X"` x` x Ðâ âÐ ô$D # Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àShe€has€a€lot€of€fears.€€Some€of€them€in€my€mind€are€actuallyÐ ° Ðâ âgrounded€in€the€fact€that€sheððs€not€past€this€marriage€yet.€€Sheððs€notÐ œì Ðreally€over€him€yet.€€Some€of€that€is€her€religious€beliefs,€which€I€canÐ ˆØ Ðrespect€ð!ð€or€I€can€respect€that€belief€at€any€rate.€€But€I€think€she€is€notÐ tÄ Ðgetting€on€with€her€life€a€bit,€and€thereððs€some€fears€there.€€ThereððsÐ `° Ðcontrol€that€sheððs€insisting€on€keeping€that€doesnððt€reflect€the€realityÐ L œ Ðof€dangers€to€the€child.Ð8 ˆ` x` x ÐÌà  àDuring€the€ensuing€discussion,€the€parties€and€the€trial€court€began€negotiating€the€specificÐ  ` Ðterms€of€the€visitation€arrangements,€Mr.€Steagallððs€modified€child€support€obligations,€which€parentÐ ü L  Ðcould€claim€the€child€as€a€dependent€for€federal€tax€purposes,€and€the€possibility€of€awarding€Ms.Ð è 8  ÐSteagall€her€attorneyððs€fees.€€During€the€discussion€regarding€visitation€during€the€summer€of€1998,Ð Ô$  Ðthe€following€exchange€between€the€trial€court€and€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€occurred:Ð À  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àMR.€WINGO:€€€And€then€at€the€end€of€the€summer,€I€guess€whenÐ ˜è  Ðschool€starts,€he€would€ð!ð€Your€Honor€would€require€him€to€go€toÐ „Ô  Ðregular€school?ÐpÀ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€€Yes.ÐH˜` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àMR.€WINGO:€€€Okay.Ð p` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àTHE€COURT:€€€We€will€have€to€define€regular€school.ÐøH` x` x ÐÌOn€two€occasions,€the€trial€court€declared€a€recess€to€enable€the€lawyers€to€consult€with€their€clientsÐ Ð  Ðabout€the€terms€of€their€agreement€and€to€enable€the€trial€court€to€discuss€the€proposed€summerÐ ¼  Ðvisitation€arrangements€with€the€partiesðð€child.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àAt€the€conclusion€of€these€discussions,€the€parties€had€agreed€to€a€modified€specific€visitationÐ €Ð Ðschedule€and€an€increase€in€Mr.€Steagallððs€child€support.€€Without€asking€the€trial€court€to€rule€onÐ l¼ Ðhis€motion€to€dismiss€and€without€calling€any€of€the€witnesses€who€were€present€to€testify€on€Ms.Ð X ¨ ÐSteagallððs€behalf,€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€simply€asked€the€trial€court€if€it€was€going€to€prepare€theÐ D!” Ðorder€containing€the€partiesðð€agreements.׃!×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú10Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Mr.€Steagallððs€lawyer€volunteered€to€draw€the€order€afterÐ 0"€  Ðthe€trial€court€declined€and€assured€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€that€he€would€send€him€a€draft.Ð #l! ÐÌà  àMr.€Steagallððs€lawyer€prepared€an€order€reflecting€his€understanding€of€the€partiesððÐ ô$D # Ðagreements€with€the€court.€€We€surmise€that€he€provided€a€copy€of€this€order€to€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyerÐ à%0!$ Ðsince€the€copy€of€the€order€presented€to€the€trial€court€contained€the€signatures€of€both€lawyersÐ ° Ðindicating€that€the€order€was€ð ðapproved€for€entry.ðð€€Reflecting€the€discussions€during€the€June€12,Ð œì Ð1998€hearing,€the€order€(1)€contained€a€well„defined€visitation€schedule,€(2)€provided€that€Mr.Ð ˆØ ÐSteagall€would€have€all€the€rights€of€a€custodial€parent€while€his€son€was€visiting€him,€(3)€increasedÐ tÄ ÐMr.€Steagallððs€child€support€from€$70€per€week€to€$116.19€per€week,€(4)€provided€that€the€partiesÐ `° Ðwould€alternate€claiming€their€son€as€a€tax€deduction,€and€(5)€ordered€Ms.€Steagall€to€refrain€fromÐ L œ Ðmaking€ð ðgratuitous€criticismsðð€of€Mr.€Steagall€in€their€sonððs€presence.€€In€addition,€the€order€directedÐ 8 ˆ ÐMs.€Steagall€to€enroll€the€partiesðð€son€in€ð ðpublic€school.ððÐ $ t ÐÌà  àOn€July€8,€1998,€apparently€after€he€signed€the€proposed€order,€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€sentÐ ü L  Ða€facsimile€to€the€trial€court€apparently€objecting€to€the€portion€of€the€order€directing€Ms.€SteagallÐ è 8  Ðto€enroll€the€partiesðð€child€in€public€school.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú11Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€July€9,€the€trial€court€sent€the€following€letter€byÐ Ô$  Ðfacsimile€to€the€lawyers€for€both€parties:Ð À  ÐÌÔ#†¼]Í»XX-#ÔÔ‡ôá…ò»¼]ÍÔà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àI€am€in€receipt€of€Johnððs€[Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyerððs]€fax€of€July€8,€1998,€atÐ ˜è  Ð4:21€P.M.Ð\¬ ` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àAt€the€end€of€the€evidence€in€this€case,€I€felt€that€Mrs.€Steagall€had€madeÐ ä4 Ðsome€decisions€about€the€rearing€of€.€.€.€[the€partiesðð€son]€that€raised€serious€doubtsÐ ¨ø Ðabout€her€fitness€to€raise€the€child€in€the€absence€of€active€direction€by€me.€€It€wasÐ l¼ Ðmy€understanding€of€Johnððs€closing€statement€that€he€and€Mrs.€Steagall€were€askingÐ 0€ Ðthat€I€modify€any€unacceptable€custodial€decisions€by€Mrs.€Steagall€òòin€lieu€óóofÐ ôD Ðchanging€custody€outright€to€Mr.€Steagall.€€I€believe€that€if€you€will€examine€theÐ ¸ Ðtranscript€of€the€closing€statements,€you€will€find€that€John€made€that€ð ðoffer.ðð€€IÐ |Ì Ðthink€you€will€also€find€that€in€a€question€put€to€me€by€John€after€I€had€begun€toÐ @ Ðannounce€my€opinion,€he€made€reference€to€a€change€to€ð ðpublic€schoolðð€and€IÐ T Ðresponded€in€the€affirmative.€€It€is€possible€that€this€exchange€was€off€the€record,Ð È Ðbut€I€do€not€believe€that€it€was.€€I€may€have€been€asked€by€Barry€[Mr.€SteagallððsÐ ŒÜ Ðlawyer]€at€some€point€what€my€ruling€had€been€at€an€earlier€point,€but€no€part€of€myÐ P  Ðdecision€was€announced€in€Johnððs€absence.€€I€intended€for€the€child€to€be€in€publicÐ d Ðschool.ÐØ(` x` x Ðà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àIf€I€misunderstood€Johnððs€offer€to€allow€me€to€make€what€are€ordinarilyÐ œì Ðcustodial€decisions,€and€if€Ms.€Stegall€[sic]€is€now€insisting€on€her€right€to€have€theÐ `°  Ðchild€in€a€parochial€school,€then€I€think€we€need€to€resume€the€hearing.€€I€want€toÐ $ t! Ðrevisit€the€issue€of€custody€if€my€choice€is€between€an€ð ðunsupervisedðð€custody€byÐ è 8" ÐMs.€Stegall€[sic]€and€custody€by€Mr.€Stegall€[sic].Ь!ü#` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àI€have€to€say€again€that€I€am€utterly€amazed€that€an€elected€member€of€theÐ 4#„% ÐMaury€County€Board€of€Education€refuses€to€have€her€son€in€the€public€schools€ofÐ ø#H& ÐMaury€County.м$ '` x` x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà ¸ àPlease€schedule€the€resumed€hearing€if€we€are€going€to€need€one.ÐD&”!)` x` x ÐÔ#†¼]Í»òôá…=N#ÔÔ‡XX»¼]ÍÔÌà  àThe€record€does€not€reveal€when€or€if€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€ever€responded€to€the€trialÐ œì Ðcourtððs€July€9,€1998€letter.€€What€is€certain€is€that€on€July€10,€1998,€the€trial€court€entered€the€orderÐ ˆØ Ðprepared€by€Mr.€Steagallððs€lawyer€and€signed€by€both€counsel.€€It€is€also€certain€that€Ms.€SteagallÐ tÄ Ðnever€attempted€to€schedule€the€ð ðresumed€hearingðð€mentioned€in€the€trial€courtððs€letter€and€neverÐ `° Ðfiled€a€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€59€motion€to€alter€or€amend€the€judgment.€€Instead,€Ms.€Steagall€replacedÐ L œ Ðher€lawyer€with€another€lawyer€furnished€to€her€without€charge€by€The€Rutherford€Institute׃,×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú12Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðfiled€a€notice€of€appeal.Ð $ t Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÌà@¬¬)ìàò òI.ó óˆÐ ü L  ÐÌà  àAt€the€outset,€we€express€our€concern€about€the€effect€that€the€informality€of€the€proceedingsÐ Ô$  Ðduring€and€after€the€June€1998€trial€had€on€the€appellate€record.€€Both€the€trial€court€and€counsel€forÐ À  Ðthe€parties€appear€to€have€lost€sight€of€the€fact€that€Tennesseeððs€civil€trial€courts€are€ð ðcourts€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðrecordðð׃ ×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú13Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€whose€proceedings€are€governed€by€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure.€€Accordingly,Ð ˜è  Ðall€motions€or€other€applications€to€the€trial€court€for€an€order,€unless€made€during€the€course€of€aÐ „Ô  Ðtrial,€should€be€in€writing€and€filed€with€the€court.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€7.02(1).€€Similarly,€all€of€a€trialÐ pÀ Ðcourtððs€orders€and€judgments,€excluding€rulings€made€during€the€course€of€trial,€should€be€reducedÐ \¬ Ðto€writing€and€entered€on€the€minutes.€€òòAllen€v.€McWilliamsóó,€715€S.W.2d€28,€29€(Tenn.€1986).Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àAs€far€as€this€record€shows,€the€July€8,€1998€facsimile€sent€by€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€to€theÐ  p Ðtrial€court€was€not€presented€in€the€form€of€a€motion€and€was€never€formally€filed€with€the€trial€court.€Ð  \ ÐWe€know€nothing€of€its€substance,€and€we€know€of€its€existence€only€because€the€trial€court€referredÐ øH Ðto€it€in€its€July€9,€1998€facsimile€to€the€lawyers.€€While€the€reliance€on€facsimile€technology€is€nowÐ ä4 Ðwidespread€in€the€legal€profession,€its€application€in€judicial€proceedings€is€limited.׃"ð×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú14Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€To€conformÐ Ð  Ðto€the€plain€requirements€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€7.02(1),€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€should€haveÐ ¼  Ðcommunicated€his€clientððs€disagreement€with€the€proposed€order€prepared€by€Mr.€Steagallððs€lawyerÐ ¨ø Ðusing€a€written€motion€duly€filed€with€the€trial€court€and€entered€on€the€permanent€records€of€theÐ ”ä Ðcourt.Ð €Ð ÐÌâ âÐ X ¨ Ðà  àThis€case€is€also€another€example€of€the€problems€that€can€occur€when€a€trial€court€choosesÐ ° Ðâ âto€communicate€its€decisions€to€the€parties€using€some€means€other€than€an€order€entered€on€itsÐ œì Ðminutes.€€Like€the€July€8,€1998€facsimile€from€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer,€the€trial€courtððs€July€9,€1998Ð ˆØ Ðfacsimile€to€the€parties€was€apparently€never€entered€on€the€trial€courtððs€minutes.€€Accordingly,€theÐ tÄ Ðtrial€courtððs€decision€ð!ð€which€is€of€pivotal€importance€in€the€case€ð!ð€would€have€been€missing€had€Ms.Ð `° ÐSteagallððs€appellate€lawyer€not€requested€that€his€clientððs€copy€be€included€in€the€record.€€The€trialÐ L œ Ðcourt€should€have€responded€to€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyerððs€July€8,€1999€facsimile€with€a€written€orderÐ 8 ˆ Ðthat€could€have€been€entered€on€the€minutes€of€the€court.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àNotwithstanding€these€shortcomings,€we€have€pieced€together€the€events€that€most€likelyÐ ü L  Ðoccurred€in€the€trial€court.€€If€we€are€mistaken€in€any€particular,€our€error€is€due,€not€to€a€lack€ofÐ è 8  Ðeffort€to€read€the€tea€leaves€we€have€been€provided,€but€rather€to€the€lack€of€an€adequate€appellateÐ Ô$  Ðrecord.€€We€are,€at€least,€confident€that€the€record,€such€as€it€is,€provides€an€adequate€factual€basisÐ À  Ðfor€our€disposition€of€this€appeal.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà@……)ìàò òII.ó óˆÐ „Ô  ÐÌà  àThe€outcome„determinative€issue€in€this€case€does€not€involve€Ms.€Steagallððs€decision€toÐ \¬ Ðhome€school€the€partiesðð€son.€€It€is€axiomatic€that€following€a€divorce,€the€parent€granted€soleÐ H˜ Ðcustody€of€a€child€has€the€prerogative€to€make€the€major€decisions€regarding€the€childððs€upbringing,Ð 4„ Ðsubject€of€course€to€the€courtððs€oversight.€€òòNeely€v.€Neelyóó,€737€S.W.2d€539,€542€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð  p Ð1987).€€Thus,€in€the€absence€of€some€limitation€imposed€by€the€courts,€the€custodial€parent€has€theÐ  \ Ðsole€power€to€determine€the€course€of€a€childððs€education.€€òòHoefler€v.€Hoefleróó,€No.€M1998„00966„Ð øH ÐCOA„R3„CV,€2001€WL€327897,€at€*5€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Apr.€5,€2001)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11Ð ä4 Ðapplication€filed).€€The€courts€should€interfere€as€little€as€possible€with€post„divorce€family€decisions,Ð Ð  ÐòòAdelsperger€v.€Adelspergeróó,€970€S.W.2d€482,€484€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997).€€Accordingly,€the€courtsÐ ¼  Ðshould€decline€to€second„guess€a€custodial€parentððs€decisions€regarding€his€or€her€childððs€educationÐ ¨ø Ðunless€these€decisions€are€contrary€to€state€law€or€harmful€to€the€child.€€òòRust€v.€Rustóó,€864€S.W.2d€52,Ð ”ä Ð56€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1993).Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àHome€schooling€is€an€educational€alternative€that€is€entirely€consistent€with€state€law.€€òòRustÐ X ¨ Ðv.€Rustóó,€864€S.W.2d€at€56.€€Thus,€Ms.€Steagallððs€decision€to€home€school€the€partiesððs€son,€in€andÐ D!” Ðof€itself,€is€not€subject€to€judicial€review.€€However,€the€question€does€not€end€there.€€The€courtsÐ 0"€  Ðmay,€and€in€fact€must,€intervene€when€they€are€presented€with€competent€evidence€that€the€homeÐ #l! Ðschooling€in€a€particular€case€is€harming€the€child.€€Evidence€that€a€child€is€being€adversely€affectedÐ $X" Ðby€home€schooling€provides€the€trigger€required€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„6„101(a)(1)€(Supp.€2000)Ð ô$D # Ðbecause€it€substantiates€the€existence€of€a€change€in€the€childððs€circumstances€that€is€adverselyÐ à%0!$ Ðaffecting€the€child€in€a€material€way.€€òòSeeóó€òòHoalcraft€v.€Smithsonóó,€No.€M2000„01347„COA„R10„CV,Ð Ì&"% Ð2001€WL€775602,€at€*17€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€July€10,€2000)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed);Ð ¸'#& ÐòòGorski€v.€Ô#†¼]Í»XXªX#ÔÔ‡XX»¼]ÍÔRagainsóóÔ#†¼]Í»XXBu#ÔÔ‡XX»¼]ÍÔ,€No.€01A01„9710„GS„00597,€1999€WL€511451,€at€*3€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€July€21,Ð ¤(ô#' Ð1999)€(No€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€11€application€filed)€(requirements€for€changing€custody).€Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àThe€trial€court€found€that€Ms.€Steagallððs€efforts€at€home€schooling€were€a€ð ðfailedÐ ° Ðâ âexperiment.ðð€€The€record€contains€ample€evidence€to€support€this€conclusion,€and€even€Ms.€SteagallÐ œì Ðconceded€that€home€schooling€had€harmed€the€partiesðð€son.€€Her€lawyer€admitted€that€the€trial€courtððsÐ ˆØ Ðconcerns€about€the€childððs€lack€of€achievement€were€ð ðlegitimate,ðð€and€Ms.€Steagall€herself€stated€thatÐ tÄ Ðshe€had€decided€to€discontinue€home€schooling€beginning€in€the€1998„1999€school€year.€Ð `° ÐAccordingly,€the€propriety€of€home€schooling€as€opposed€to€other€educational€experiences€is€notÐ L œ Ðbefore€the€court€in€this€case.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àSimilarly,€the€outcome€of€this€case€does€not€hinge€on€whether€the€July€19,€1998€order€wasÐ  ` Ðan€agreed€order.€€To€be€sure,€parties€ordinarily€may€not€challenge€orders€they€have€agreed€to€andÐ ü L  Ðacknowledged€in€open€court.€€òòHarbour€v.€Brownóó,€732€S.W.2d€598,€600€(Tenn.€1987);€òòREM€Enters.,Ð è 8  ÐLtd.€v.€Fryeóó,€937€S.W.2d€920,€922€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996).€€However,€even€if€a€party€has€initiallyÐ Ô$  Ðagreed€to€an€order,€it€is€free€to€withdraw€its€agreement€any€time€before€it€is€formally€accepted€by€theÐ À  Ðtrial€court€in€open€court€or€signed€and€entered€as€the€judgment€of€the€court.€€Thus,€in€the€words€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðthe€Tennessee€Supreme€Court,€ð ða€valid€consent€judgment€cannot€be€entered€by€a€court€when€oneÐ ˜è  Ðparty€withdraws€his€[or€her]€consent€and€this€fact€is€communicated€to€the€court€prior€to€the€entry€ofÐ „Ô  Ðthe€judgment.ðð€€òòHarbour€v.€Brownóó,€732€S.W.2d€at€599.€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àViewed€in€its€most€charitable€light,€Ms.€Steagall€and€the€trial€court€had€differentÐ H˜ Ðunderstandings€about€the€significance€of€the€trial€courtððs€insistence€that€the€partiesðð€son€could€beÐ 4„ Ðrequired€to€attend€ð ðregularðð€school.€€In€using€this€phrase,€the€trial€court€evidently€meant€ð ðpublicÐ  p Ðschool.ðð€€However,€Ms.€Steagall€evidently€understood€the€phrase€to€mean€any€school€other€thanÐ  \ Ðhome€schooling.€€This€misunderstanding€came€to€a€head€when€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€sent€a€facsimileÐ øH Ðto€the€trial€court€on€July€8,€1998,€apparently€objecting€to€the€provision€in€the€proposed€orderÐ ä4 Ðrequiring€her€to€enroll€the€partiesðð€child€in€public€school.€€Based€on€the€record€before€us,€there€is€noÐ Ð  Ðquestion€that€Ms.€Steagall€never€specifically€agreed€in€open€court€to€send€the€partiesðð€child€to€publicÐ ¼  Ðschool€and€that€her€lawyer€communicated€the€withdrawal€of€her€consent€to€the€proposed€order€beforeÐ ¨ø Ðthe€trial€court€entered€it€on€July€10,€1998.€€Accordingly,€the€trial€court€should€not€have€entered€theÐ ”ä Ðproposed€order€on€July€10,€1998€containing€the€provision€directing€Ms.€Steagall€to€enroll€the€childÐ €Ð Ðin€public€school€unless€it€received€an€additional€communication€from€Ms.€Steagall€after€its€July€9,Ð l¼ Ð1998€facsimile€stating€that€she€had€withdrawn€her€objection€to€the€proposed€order.׃J×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú15Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð X ¨ ÐÌà@^^(ìàò òIII.ó óˆÐ 0"€  ÐÌà  àThe€outcome„determinative€issue€in€this€case€involves€whether€Ms.€Steagall€is€entitled€toÐ $X" Ðseek€appellate€relief€from€the€trial€courtððs€July€10,€1998€order.€€Even€when€a€trial€court€commits€plainÐ ô$D # Ðerror,€the€aggrieved€party€will€not€be€entitled€to€relief€on€appeal€if€it€was€responsible€for€the€error€orÐ à%0!$ Ðif€it€ð ðfailed€to€take€whatever€action€was€reasonably€available€to€prevent€or€nullify€the€harmful€effectÐ Ì&"% Ðof€.€.€.€[the]€error.ðð€€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(a).€€Based€on€this€record,€Ms.€Steagall€could€have€easilyÐ ¸'#& Ðnullified€the€harmful€effect€of€the€trial€courtððs€July€10,€1998€order€but€deliberately€chose€not€to.Ð ¤(ô#' Їà  àUnless€Ms.€Steagall€withdrew€her€objection€to€the€proposed€order,€the€trial€court€should€notÐ ° Ðhave€entered€the€order€requiring€that€Ms.€Steagall€enroll€the€partiesðð€child€in€public€school.€Ð œì ÐHowever,€on€July€9,€1998,€the€trial€court€informed€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€that€it€would€ð ðresume€theÐ ˆØ Ðhearingðð€if€its€understanding€of€the€partiesðð€agreement€during€the€June€1998€hearing€was€incorrect.€Ð tÄ ÐIn€fact,€the€trial€court€invited€Ms.€Steagallððs€lawyer€to€ð ðreschedule€the€resumed€hearing€if€we€areÐ `° Ðgoing€to€need€one.ðð€€Based€on€this€unequivocal€offer,€it€is€clear€that€the€trial€court€would€haveÐ L œ Ðresumed€the€trial€had€Ms.€Steagall€so€requested€prior€to€July€10,€1998,€and€that€the€trial€court€alsoÐ 8 ˆ Ðwould€have€vacated€its€July€10,€1998€order€and€resumed€the€trial€had€Ms.€Steagall€filed€a€timelyÐ $ t ÐTenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€59.04€motion€to€alter€or€amend.€€Ms.€Steagall€chose€not€to€pursue€either€remedy.Ð  ` ÐÌà  àThis€court€has€held€that€a€party€who€declined€four€offers€for€a€mistrial€could€not€obtainÐ è 8  Ðappellate€relief€from€the€error€that€would€have€entitled€her€to€a€mistrial.€€òòHarwell€v.€Waltonóó,€820Ð Ô$  ÐS.W.2d€116,€120€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991).€€While€òòHarwell€v.€Walton€óóis€couched€in€terms€of€ð ðwaiver,ððÐ À  ÐMs.€Harwell€in€reality€forfeited€her€right€to€appellate€relief€by€failing€to€pursue€the€relief€readilyÐ ¬ü  Ðavailable€to€her€ð!ð€the€mistrial€ð!ð€that€would€have€nullified€the€harmful€effect€of€the€error€in€the€trialÐ ˜è  Ðcourt.€€Like€the€trial€courtððs€offers€of€a€mistrial€in€òòHarwell€v.€Waltonóó,€the€trial€court€in€this€caseÐ „Ô  Ðoffered€to€resume€the€trial€to€enable€Ms.€Steagall€to€present€whatever€evidence€she€could€muster€toÐ pÀ Ðsupport€her€decision€to€send€the€partiesðð€child€to€Lighthouse€Baptist€Academy.€€Ms.€Steagall,€forÐ \¬ Ðreasons€of€her€own,€decided€not€to€accept€the€trial€courtððs€offer.€€Had€she€done€so,€this€appeal€wouldÐ H˜ Ðhave€been€entirely€unnecessary.׃K×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú16Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Accordingly,€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(a),€we€haveÐ 4„ Ðconcluded€that€this€appeal€must€be€dismissed.Ð  p ÐÌà@dd)ìàò òIV.ó óˆÐ øH ÐÌà  àWe€dismiss€this€appeal€and€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€We€remand€the€case€to€theÐ Ð  Ðtrial€court€for€whatever€further€proceedings€may€be€required€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€We€alsoÐ ¼  Ðtax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€Nancy€Rose€Steagall€and€her€surety€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,Ð ¨ø Ðmay€issue.Ð ”ä ÐÌÌÔ#†¼]Í»XXŽu#ÔÔ€XX»¼]ÍÔà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#à_______________________________________ÐX ¨À(#À(# Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE