WPC W0_ R<ˑ >#ɾSzdbfxGАsi^s=]Z}xf*|,EstUtB'|-Pӿbr*p;m^*VW̫)`8]6-c~YNJ-Z n)[ R 'A)OB&(1n;lDfw?:?Lp}2OSX6eV9N8Bb\jDH6 em*(bXXqrm`uH [*XU@{S; b8'QJwob[9ʽth-X᪾31Zw^^fMJ7[ ӭl:kیUFNG]%,naitoߺ . <&9{Cqr xT~fQHVZ:76Lxkޏtb %\#b 0# U/N 0D = Z z`  Q ^ w 4 !s9NHJ mLEceeeeU@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmb 0 B 0 D5 D- 0K AS9 0R 0D A:HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5e,,,,0(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(#$  0    R$        1    _ԚMostofthesedisputesinvolvealackofcooperationbetweentheparties. R$        2    _ThecasehadpreviouslybeentransferredfromtheChancerycourttoJuvenilecourt. 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.wpt G R$        3    _Thetrialcourtsorderspecifiedwhowouldhavethechildrenon:springbreak,MemorialDay,July4th,Labor  Day,Halloween,Thanksgiving,Christmas,MothersDay,FathersDay,aswellasonthechildrensrespectivebirthdays. t Wemustcommendthetrialcourtontheclarity,specificity,andtheultimatefairnessofitsorderinregardtovisitation.~R) sM)̝Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 53|xU (O Z(Times New Roman - -(G2$ !.8dd8           0   d(|3z$ !.8dd8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3z$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _  8IXXdd8  @ INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE# #Ԉ &   JUNE14,2000Session L XIX #XXI#FRANKANDBETTYWARDv.BOBANDJUDYTURNERXIX  J @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtforOvertonCounty  J @@No.3441;TheHonorableVernonNeal,Judge  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.M199900719_COA_ԄR3CVFiledOctober18,_2000_   AV) ` dE<|` A }       Thisappealarisesoutofacustodydisputebetweenmaternalandpaternalgrandparents.The x  issueofcustodyaroseafterthechildrensparentswerekilledinanautomobileaccident.The d OvertonCountyCircuitCourtreversedthejudgmentofthejuvenilecourtandawardedcustodyto P thematernalgrandparents. <  Tenn.R.App.P.3;AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourtAffirmed  d   #XIo#XIX.AlanE.Highers,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichW.FrankCrawford,P.J.,W.S., < andHollyKirbyLillard,J.,joined. ( RobertToddJackson,GaryD.Copas,fortheAppellants  JohnB.Nisbet,III,fortheAppellees   OPINION #XXI#XIX ` #XXI#XIX  BobandJudyTurnerappealfromthedecisionoftheOvertonCountyCircuitCourt,whichgave 8!  primaryphysicalcustodyofthepartiesgrandchildrentoFrankandBettyWard.Forthereasons $"t! statedherein,weaffirmthedecisionofthetrialcourt. #`" @ I.FactsandProceduralHistory  $8 $   Thefactsofthiscasearenotindispute.OnNovember9,1996,BrianandDonnaTurner, &"& theparentsofSavanahandMatayaTurner,werekilledinanautomobileaccident.Atthetimeofthe '"' accident,nolegaldocumentexistedwhichprovidedforthecareofthechildrenintheeventoftheir (#( parentsdeaths.Adisputeovercustodyarosealmostimmediately.FrankandBettyWard,the )$) childrensmaternalgrandparents,filedamotionfortemporarycustody,aswellasapetitionfor p*%* permanentcustody.BobandJudyTurner,thechildrenspaternalgrandparents,alsofiledfor \+&+ permanentcustodyofthechildren. H,',  4-(-   Duringthetimefollowingtheaccident,thechildrenwerelivingwiththeWardsunderan  informalagreementreachedshortlyafterthedeathofthechildrensparents.Theagreementincluded  liberalvisitationrightsfortheTurners.Unfortunately,numerousdisputesarosebetweentheparties  regardingthechildren. #  1      ׀OnDecember4,1997,anagreedorderwasenteredwherebythechildren t wouldstaywiththeWardspendingafinalhearingoncustody.Asubsequentorder,datedNovember ` 3,1998,orderedthattheWardscontinueastheprimarycustodiansofthechildrenandgrantedthe L  Turnersspecificvisitationrights. 8    OnMarch5,1999,theJuvenileCourtofOvertonCountyheldahearingonthematter.T #  2      ׀The  ` courtconsideredthetestimonyofthepartiesandtheirvariouswitnesses,theexhibits,homestudies,  L  andtheguardianadlitemreport.Thecourtconcludedthatbothpartieswereemotionally,physically,  8  andfinanciallyabletocareforthechildren.ThecourtalsofoundthattheWardshadbeenthe $  primarycaregiverssincethedeathsofthechildrensparents.However,thecourtconcludedthatthe   childrenslivingconditionswerenotstableasaresultoftheWardsrefusaltoallowthechildren   morecontactwiththeTurners.Assuch,thecourtconcludedthattheTurnersshouldbegiven   primarycustodyofthechildren,withtheWardsentitledtoliberalvisitation.     AftertheJuvenileCourtdecision,theWardsimmediatelyfiledanoticeofappealandmotion \ tostaythejuvenilecourtjudgmentintheCircuitCourtofOvertonCounty.Afterahearing H conductedonJuly14,1999,theCircuitCourtawardedlegalcustodyofthechildrentotheWards. 4 Underthecourtsorder,thechildrenwouldlivewiththeWardsduringtheschoolyear,withthe  p Turnershavingspecificvisitationrights.Duringthesummer,thechildrenwouldlivewiththe  \ Turners,withtheWardshavingspecificvisitationrightsduringthattime.Theorderalsoprovided H forthepartiesrespectiverightstothechildrenonholidaysandbirthdays.Itisfromthisorderthat 4 thepresentappealarises.   @WW  II.LawandAnalysis     Asaninitialmatter,wequestionwhetherthepartieswouldhavebeensatisfiedwithany  decisionthatthetrialcourtcouldhavemade.Thiscaseistragicnotonlybecausethesechildrenhave l beenleftwithoutparents,butalsointhefactthatthepartiesseemunabletoworktogetherinthebest X  interestoftheirgrandchildren.Theunwillingnessofthesepartiestocompromisecannotbe D! remediedthroughthejudicialprocess,andwehavenodoubtthatourdecisionwillbenomore 0"  acceptablethanwasthetrialcourtsdecision. #l!   Essentially,thetrialcourtsdecisionattemptedtoprovideaworkablesolutiontoacomplex $D # situation.Disregardingtheconceptoflegalcustodyforamoment,thetrialcourtfashionedaremedy %0!$ thatallowedforbothpartiestohavethechildrenforextendedperiodsoftime.Duringthetimethat &"% thechildrenwerelivingwithonesetofgrandparents,theothergrandparentsweregivenliberal '#& visitation.  #  3      ׀Inthisregard,webelievethetrialcourtattemptedtostrikeabalancebetweentherights  andinterestsofbothsetsofgrandparents.Wefindourselvesunabletoprovideascenariowhich  wouldbeanymorefairorjust.    ThetrialcourtvestedlegalcustodyofthechildrenwiththeWards.Ourreviewofthetrial ` courtsdecisionisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthe L  correctnessofthefinding,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.T.R.A.P.13(d); 8  SeealsoHassv.Knighton,676S.W.2d554,555(Tenn.1984);Bahv.Bah,668S.W.2d663(Tenn. $ t Ct.App.1983).Tenn.CodeAnn.366106providestherelevantfactorstobeconsideredwhen  ` acourtisconfrontedwithaquestionofcustody.Thatsectionprovides:  L  8  Inasuitforannulment,divorce,separatemaintenance,orinanyother $  proceedingrequiringthecourttomakeacustodydeterminationregardingaminor   child,suchdeterminationshallbemadeuponthebasisofthebestinterestofthe   child.Thecourtshallconsiderallrelevantfactorsincludingthefollowingwhere   applicable:    8  8`   (1)Thelove,affectionandemotionaltiesexistingbetweenthe \ parentsandchild;H` x` x 8  8`   (2)Thedispositionoftheparentstoprovidethechildwithfood,  p clothing,medicalcare,educationandothernecessarycareandthe  \ degreetowhichaparenthasbeentheprimarycaregiver;H` x` x 8  8`   (3)Theimportanceofcontinuityinthechildslifeandthelengthof   timethechildhaslivedinastable,satisfactoryenvironment;   provided,thatwherethereisafinding,under#XXI #XIXԀ366106(8),ofchild  abuse,asdefinedin#XXI&#XIX#XXI,'#XIXԀ3915401or3915402,orchildsexual  abuse,asdefinedin#XXIr'#XIXԀ371602,byone(1)parent,andthatanon  perpetratingparenthasrelocatedinordertofleetheperpetrating l parent,thatsuchrelocationshallnotweighagainstanawardof X  custody;D!` x` x 8  8`   (4)Thestabilityofthefamilyunitoftheparents;#l!` x` x 8  8`   (5)Thementalandphysicalhealthoftheparents;$D #` x` x 8  8`   (6)Thehome,schoolandcommunityrecordofthechild;&"%` x` x  '#& 8  8`   (7)Thereasonablepreferenceofthechildiftwelve(12)yearsofage  orolder.Thecourtmayhearthepreferenceofayoungerchildupon  request.Thepreferencesofolderchildrenshouldnormallybegiven  greaterweightthanthoseofyoungerchildren;t` x` x 8  8`   (8)Evidenceofphysicaloremotionalabusetothechild,totheother L  parentortoanyotherperson;provided,thatwherethereare 8  allegationsthatone(1)parenthascommittedchildabuse,[asdefined $ t in#XXI (#XIX#XXI~-#XIXԀ3915401or3915402],orchildsexualabuse,[asdefinedin  ` #XXI-#XIXԀ371602],againstafamilymember,thecourtshallconsiderall  L  evidencerelevanttothephysicalandemotionalsafetyofthechild,  8  anddetermine,byaclearpreponderanceoftheevidence,whether $  suchabusehasoccurred.Thecourtshallincludeinitsdecisiona   writtenfindingofallevidence,andallfindingsoffactsconnected   thereto.Inaddition,thecourtshall,whereappropriate,referany   issuesofabusetothejuvenilecourtforfurtherproceedings; ` x` x 8  8`   (9)Thecharacterandbehaviorofanyotherpersonwhoresidesinor \ frequentsthehomeofaparentandsuchpersonsinteractionswiththe H child.4` x` x 8  8`   (10)Eachparentspastandpotentialforfutureperformanceof  \ parentingresponsibilities,includingthewillingnessandabilityfor H eachoftheparentstofacilitateandencourageacloseandcontinuing 4 parentchildrelationshipbetweenthechildandtheotherparent#XXI^.#XIX,   consistentwiththebestinterestofthechild. ` x` x   Baseduponourreviewoftherecord,weareunabletosaythattheevidencepreponderates  againstthetrialcourtdecision.ManyofthefactorslistedinT.C.A.#XXIu3#XIXԀ366106areeither l inapplicable,ordonotjustifyawardingcustodytoonepartyovertheother.BoththeWardsand X  Turnersaresuitableastheprimarycustodiansofthechildren.Bothsetsofgrandparentsclearlylove D! thesechildren.Nobodyquestionsthepartiesemotional,physical,orfinancialabilitytocareforthe 0"  children.However,webelievethetrialcourtsoughtstabilityforthechildrenbyplacingthemwith #l! theWards.TherecordindicatesthatthechildrenhavelivedwiththeWardsforthemajorityofthe $X" timesincetheirparentswerekilled.Inouropinion,thatisonefactorwhichpreponderatesinfavor $D # ofonepartyovertheother. %0!$   Webelievethatthisisthetypeoffactualsituationwhereanydecisioncanbemetwith '#& criticism,butweareboundbyourstandardofreview.Thetrialcourtwasinthebestpositionto (#' judgetheevidence.Basedonourreviewoftherecord,weareunabletoconcludethatthe )$( preponderanceoftheevidencegoesagainstthetrialcourtdecision.Itisoursincerehopethatthese |*%) partieswillfindcommongroundintheirloveforthechildren.Thejudicialprocesscannotprovide h+&* theremedytheyseek,asneitherpartyhasanexclusiveclaimtothechildren.Webelievethetrial  courtsdecisionstrikesthebestpossiblebalancebetweeneachpartysinterests.Assuch,the  Turnershavefailedtoovercomethepresumptionofcorrectnessthatattachestothetrialcourts  findings. t @  % Conclusion  L    Fortheaforementionedreasons,thedecisionofthetrialcourtgivingprimaryphysical $ t custodytoFrankandBettyWardisaffirmed.CostsofthisappealaretaxedtotheAppellants,Bob  ` andJudyTurner,forwhichexecutionmayissue,ifnecessary.  L    #XXI4#XIX   `     h     ___________________________________      `     h     ALANE.HIGHERS,JUDGE