ÿWPC òT¤-8]ƒ‘ä1‘àü¾•9Ï„Ÿ©Ë8=ÁNz¤ÙWÔ¼¿ØíE¦mý-Á U4ˆÅ¾ÝGˆÕž£LÓ,­‚Ëþ=Ù‘|ß®U] ÓNëÛþˆCz·¯~³»ÕlìLù“® ‚ö&¿ÝýÎÆXÃã:ýy’ÀÖÑY•«¶°šñ„·ÐfWëÌX‘†¼‰Q9ÔÀû{@ö'cxÛÜ ¤âaδ¶æjH2ãepødý¯z4õ¬•Eƽ\‚ô¶ùˆ1)D;Ò™p^¡D§n–®OË,­?Ÿ 2¶“Ñ›ê-Wå :±Z‰»cØ4‹*ÖÉÜë˜Î}æ‚HH­SDZˆ¯\Éí¦z€”.¹‡pX^a(s`gž|ìŸõ*ó™„]¯bNÞ¤E´äôt‰ž’#£@K|CvB2½4@åÜX¦¬§¤_ê@=ªöWwl4ÅËõÓ\³E­¥Šq¸7 õÈô'»¡Br`ñ¿o3í˜nÈV—؃QyäÕIå(æþ±Á2‘ ÒSyExíbxM©W䎋V¨%‹Z«pP›òcwæ±Ü–FlêùÃh®"tAÀ`‰Šåbõ9ò¼à «Ç‡f®wìiŠ$ßÿùÄ %I-˜äŸ¡ùW3ki 䣢b#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz UN‘ Æß Æ¥ Æk Æ1 0D÷N;=‰EEÎçÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐb···································· 0ë¿¿¿¿ Bªª 0¤Ç D3k D-ž 0KËË ASÆi 0¤/ 0DÓ A«˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0 »Á8+â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularòK+ê:i¢Ø+00 ˜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|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó  Ý ƒR÷Ü$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ X;[X» »ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€Court€commented€that€he€was€familiar€with€the€husbandððs€counsel€and€had€practicedÐ ° Ðextensively€with€him.€€He€noted€that€when€he€(the€Judge)€was€practicing€he€could€not€get€$300.00€Ð œì Ðper€hour.Ð ˆØ Ð ÝÝ ƒR÷Ü$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€ X;[X» »ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔCounsel€cites€wifeððs€perjury€which€occurred€early€in€the€case€but€the€impact€on€the€ultimateÐ ° Ðissue€was€minimal.€€While€the€wifeððs€perjury€is€a€serious€matter,€generally€speaking,€the€doctrine€ofÐ œì Ðð ðclean€handsðð€is€not€applicable€in€determining€whether€to€award€attorneyððs€fees.Ð ˆØ Ð- ù-(|G2÷Ü$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Aü»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X7,X»»Ô d(|3Î$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Aü»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Î$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Aü»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€F¬»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ ¼lG»» »ÔÑ8€(<XXdê»»d 8Ñà@¦ ¦ ìàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@””$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEˆÐ  Ðà@ZZìàAugust€29,€2001€SessionˆÐ Ô$ ÐÔ‡ X;[X» ¼lGÔÌò òÔ#† ¼lG»X X;[¡#ÔÓ  ÓLONNIE€H.€WILDER€v.€LESLIE€PERKINS€WILDERòòóóÔ‡ X;[X» ¼lGÔó óÐ Ò" ÐÓçÓÌà@Š Š ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Claiborne€CountyˆÐ Ò " Ðà@B B ìàNo.€12,615€€€€€€Hon.€John€McAfee,€JudgeˆÐ ¾  ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àFILED€SEPTEMBER€24,€2001Ð – æ  Ðà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<` A߈Ð ‚Ò  ÐÌà@¶¶ìàNo.€E2000„03184„COA„R3„CV€ˆÐ }Í  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<T` AßÐ U¥  Ðó óÌÌIn€this€divorce€case,€the€Trial€Court€awarded€husband€attorneyððs€fees€against€wife.€€On€appeal,€weÐ <Œ Ðreverse.Ð (x ÐÌÔ#† ¼lG»X X;["#ÔÔ‡ X;[X» ¼lGÔò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Reversed.ó óÐ P ÐÌòòHerschel€Pickens€FranksÔ#† ¼lG»à X;[K#ÔÔ‡ X;[X. ¼lGÔ,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€whichòò€Houston€M.€Goddard,Ô#† ¼lG»à X;[#ÔÔ‡ X;[X. ¼lGÔÐ Ø( ÐP.J.,óó€andòò€Charles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€Ô#† ¼lG»à X;[Ÿ#ÔÔ‡ X;[X. ¼lGÔJ.óó,€joined.Ð Ä ÐÌÌCecilia€S.€Petersen,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€Appellant,€Leslie€Perkins€Wilder.Ð ˆØ ÐÌJohnny€V.€Dunaway,€LaFollette,€Tennessee,€for€Appellee,€Lonnie€H.€Wilder.Ð `° ÐÌÌÌà@66'ìàò òOPINIONó óÔ#† ¼lG»X X;[#ÔÔ‡ X;[X» ¼lGԈР!`  ÐÌòòà  àà ` àÌà  àà ` àóóÔ#† ¼lG»X X;[k#ÔÔ‡ X;[X» ¼lGÔIn€this€divorce€action,€the€sole€issue€on€appeal€is€whether€the€Trial€Judge€abused€hisÐ Ô#$# Ðdiscretion€in€ordering€the€wife€to€pay€$18,000.00€of€the€husbandððs€attorneyððs€fees.Ð À$ $ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€parties€were€married€in€1989,€and€one€child€was€born€in€June€of€1995.€€TheÐ ˜&è!& Ðhusband€is€a€safety€inspection€supervisor€for€a€coal€mining€company,€earning€approximatelyÐ „'Ô"' Ð$65,000.00€a€year.€€The€wife€is€an€elementary€school€teacher,€earning€approximately€$32,000.00€aÐ p(À#( Ðyear.€€During€the€marriage,€the€parties€acquired€a€home€which€has€an€equity€of€approximatelyÐ \)¬$) Ð$36,000.00,€various€items€of€personalty,€and€retirement€accounts€of€$30,000.00€for€the€husband€andÐ H*˜%* Ðthe€wifeððs€retirement€of€approximately€$8,000.00.€€Ð 4+„&+ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€wife€became€sexually€involved€with€a€local€school€official€in€December,€1995,Ð  -\(-ý Ðand€the€husband€first€became€suspicious€of€the€wife€in€June€of€1999.€€In€August€1999,€€he€confrontedÐ ° Ðher€with€his€suspicions€of€her€infidelity,€which€she€initially€denied.€€He€then€hired€a€privateÐ œì Ðinvestigator,€and€in€September€of€1999€filed€a€divorce€complaint.€€On€September€14,€1999,€a€hearingÐ ˆØ Ðwas€held€for€a€Temporary€Restraining€Order,€where€the€wife€denied€extra„marital€affairs,€withÐ tÄ Ðcustody€of€the€child€remaining€with€the€husband.€€In€the€ensuing€months,€the€parties€had€greatÐ `° Ðdifficulty€cooperating€as€to€the€wifeððs€visitation.Ð L œ ÐÌà  àà ` àOn€February€1,€2000,€a€lengthy€hearing€was€held€to€grant€the€divorce.€€The€wifeððsÐ $ t Ðcounsel€attempted€to€stipulate€that€husband€was€entitled€to€a€divorce€on€the€grounds€of€adultery,€butÐ  ` Ðhusbandððs€counsel€insisted€on€a€full€hearing€on€fault.€€At€the€conclusion,€a€divorce€was€granted€toÐ ü L  Ðthe€husband€on€the€grounds€of€adultery,€temporary€custody€remained€with€husband,€and€the€wife€wasÐ è 8  Ðordered€to€pay€temporary€child€support.€€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Court€also€granted€a€Rule€35€Motion€for€a€psychiatric€examination€of€the€wife,Ð ¬ü  Ðbased€upon€her€statement€about€committing€suicide€when€the€parties€first€separated,€but€stressedÐ ˜è  Ðmore€significantly,€her€more€serious€problem€with€ð ðlove€addictionðð.€€In€ordering€the€examination,Ð „Ô  Ðthe€Court€felt€that€ð ðsomething€must€be€wrong€with€herðð€and€that€she€had€a€ð ðdeep„seated€problem€thatÐ pÀ Ðhas€to€be€dealt€withðð€because€of€her€multiple€affairs.€€The€Judge€commented€that€ð ðher€behaviorÐ \¬ Ðdoesnððt€seem€natural€.€.€.€because€of€its€pattern€and€consistency€over€five€yearsðð.€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àà ` à€At€another€hearing€on€November€16,€2000,€the€parties€announced€that€all€issuesÐ  p Ðregarding€permanent€custody,€child€support,€and€property€division€had€been€settled.€€The€terms€ofÐ  \ Ðthe€settlement€distributed€$71,292.00€of€the€marital€assets€to€husband,€and€$35,700.00€in€maritalÐ øH Ðassets€to€wife.€€Each€party€was€to€receive€$18,000.00€in€the€equity€in€the€marital€residence,€with€theÐ ä4 Ðhusband€retaining€possession.€€The€parties€further€agreed€that€time€would€be€shared€equally€with€theÐ Ð  Ðchild,€and€that€neither€party€would€pay€the€other€child€support.€Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€income€and€expense€statements€filed€show€that€the€husband€had€a€gross€incomeÐ ”ä Ðof€$5,400.00€per€month€and€expenses€of€$2,770.00,€for€a€net€income€of€$2,630.00€per€month.€€TheÐ €Ð Ðwife€earns€approximately€$1,800.00€per€month€and€has€expenses€of€$2,200.00€per€month.€€At€thatÐ l¼ Ðhearing,€the€Court€heard€testimony€on€the€remaining€issue€of€attorneyððs€fees.€€Wife€had€incurredÐ X ¨ Ð$18,000.00€in€attorneyððs€fees€and€$2,000.00€for€the€Rule€35€psychiatric€examination.€€The€CourtÐ D!” Ðfound€that€although€her€fees€and€expenses€were€reasonable,€she€was€not€entitled€to€an€award€due€toÐ 0"€  Ðher€misconduct.€€The€husband€testified€that€he€had€incurred€$39,360.00€in€attorneyððs€fees,€$7,870.00Ð #l! Ðfor€the€investigators€fees,€and€$2,450.00€for€court€reporting€fees.€€No€billing€statements€wereÐ $X" Ðsubmitted€in€support€of€the€husbandððs€attorneyððs€fees.€€The€Court€took€judicial€notice€that€theÐ ô$D # Ðhusbandððs€counsel€charged€$300.00€per€hour,׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€which€is€not€the€traditional,€reasonable€rate€for€thatÐ à%0!$ Ðlocality.€€The€husband€was€then€awarded€$18,000.00€which€ð ðwould€include€the€investigatorððs€fees,Ð Ì&"% Ðthat€would€include€the€attorneyððs€fees,€whatever€is€outstanding,€or€anything.ðð€€The€award€could€thenÐ ° Ðbe€set€off€against€the€wifeððs€equity€in€the€marital€home.Ð œì ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Court€gave€its€reasons€for€this€ruling,€stating€that€the€proceedings€were€createdÐ tÄ Ðbecause€of€the€wifeððs€adultery,€opining€that€had€the€divorce€been€filed€on€no„fault€grounds,€clearlyÐ `° Ðeach€spouse€would€pay€its€own€attorneyððs€fees.€€He€said€that€the€husband€was€entitled€to€this€feeÐ L œ Ðbecause€ð ðthis€was€all€being€motivated€because€of€his€ex„wifeððs€behavior€in€this€case.ðð€€The€JudgeÐ 8 ˆ Ðwent€on€to€comment€that€ð ðafter€taking€into€consideration€the€fault€in€this€case,€taking€intoÐ $ t Ðconsideration€„€and€Iððm€also€looking€at€Mr.€Wilder€coming€in€here€and€basically€agreeing€to€settleÐ  ` Ðthis€case.€€Itððs€clear€from€the€evidentiary€hearings€that€weððve€had€that€Mr.€Wilder,€at€least€to€thisÐ ü L  Ðpoint,€held€to€high€ground€.€.€€.ðð.€€Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àà ` àAn€award€of€attorneyððs€fees€in€divorce€cases€is€treated€as€a€form€of€spousal€support,Ð À  Ðand€the€award€is€characterized€as€alimony€òòin€solidoóó.€€òòSannella€v.€Sannella,€óó993€S.W.2d€73,€76;€òòSmithÐ ¬ü  Ðv.€Smithóó,€984€S.W.2d€606€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997);€and€òòAnderton€v.€Andertonóó,€988€S.W.2d€675,€682Ð ˜è  Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988);€€òòGilliam€v.€Gilliam,€óó776€S.W.2d€86€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1988).€Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€Trial€Court€has€wide€discretion€to€award€attorneyððs€fees.€€Upon€review,€this€CourtÐ \¬ Ðwill€not€interfere€with€an€award,€except€upon€a€showing€of€abuse€of€discretion,€where€the€evidenceÐ H˜ Ðpreponderates€against€the€award,€and€a€manifest€injustice€will€be€done€if€the€Trial€Courtððs€decisionÐ 4„ Ðis€allowed€to€stand.€€òòLong€v.€Longóó,€957€S.W.2d€825€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997);€€òòKincaid€v.€Kincaidóó,€912Ð  p ÐS.W.2d€144€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995);€òòElliot€v.€Elliotóó,€825€S.W.2d€92,€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1991);€andÐ  \ ÐòòButler€v.€Butleróó,€680€S.W.2d,€470€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).Ð øH ÐÌà  àà ` àSpousal€support€decisions€require€a€ð ðcareful€balancingðð€of€the€factors€set€forth€inÐ Ð  ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð36„5„101(d)(1).€€òòAnderton,€óó683.€€Of€those€factors,€the€Courts€have€held€that€theÐ ¼  Ðmost€important€are€real€need€of€the€disadvantaged€spouse,€a€demonstrated€financial€inability€toÐ ¨ø Ðobtain€counsel,€and€the€ability€of€the€obligor€spouse€to€pay.€€òòCranford€v.€Cranfordóó,€772€S.W.2d€50Ð ”ä Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989)òòóó.€€If€a€party€has€adequate€property€and€income€from€which€to€pay€their€ownÐ €Ð Ðexpenses,€and€after€consideration€of€all€relevant€factors,€it€may€not€be€appropriate€to€award€attorneyððsÐ l¼ Ðfees.€€òòUmstot€v.€Umstotóó,€968€S.W.2d€124€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1997);€€òòHoughland€v.€Houghlandóó,€844Ð X ¨ ÐS.W.2d€623€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992);€òòDuncan€v.€Duncanóó,€686€S.W.2d€573€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).Ð D!” ÐÌà  àà ` àIn€this€case,€the€Trial€Judge€did€not€engage€in€the€analysis€and€balancing€of€theÐ #l! Ðstatutory€factors€in€making€the€award,€never€addressing€the€issue€of€the€husbandððs€need€and€theÐ $X" Ðwifeððs€ability€to€pay.€€While€the€Judge€did€state€that€he€considered€ð ðthe€totality€of€the€circumstancesðð,Ð ô$D # Ðhe€nonetheless€focuses€singularly€upon€the€wifeððs€behavior€and€fault€in€committing€adultery.€TheÐ à%0!$ Ðrecord€is€devoid€of€any€indication€that€the€Judge€considered€the€husbandððs€financial€need€or€theÐ Ì&"% Ðwifeððs€ability€to€pay,€which€are€the€two€cornerstones€of€the€balancing€test.€€òòGilliamóó€at€86.€TheÐ ¸'#& Ðhusband€did€not€carry€the€burden€of€showing€that€he€could€not€afford€to€retain€counsel.€€Moreover,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðthe€Courtððs€award€increased€the€disparity€of€the€property€settlement€to€approximately€90/20Ð )à$( Ðdistribution€in€the€husbandððs€favor.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àà ` àIt€is€well€settled€that€while€fault€is€a€factor€to€be€considered,€it€must€not€be€appliedÐ ° Ðin€a€punitive€manner€against€a€guilty€party€in€determining€the€award€of€alimony.€€òòGilliamóó,€at€81;Ð œì ÐòòFisher€v.€Fisheróó,€648€S.W.2d€246€(Tenn.€1983).€€In€òòDuncanóó,€571„572,€this€Court€specifically€rejectedÐ ˆØ Ðthe€notion€of€ð ðpunitive€alimonyðð,€noting€that€while€alimony€may€be€reduced€due€to€a€spouseððsÐ tÄ Ðmisconduct,€unneeded€alimony€may€not€be€added€to€punish€a€guilty€spouse.€€òòId.€óóWe€have€statedÐ `° Ðð ðalimony€is€not€and€never€has€been€intended€by€our€legislature€to€be€punitive.€€(Citations€omitted).€Ð L œ ÐNor€do€we€believe€it€was€intended€simply€as€an€award€for€virtue.ðð€€òòLancaster€v.€Lancasteróó,€671Ð 8 ˆ ÐS.W.2d€501,€503€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).€€The€punitive€nature€of€this€ruling€is€further€demonstratedÐ $ t Ðby€setting€the€award€at€$18,000.00€to€the€husband,€the€exact€amount€of€the€wifeððs€equity€in€the€house.€Ð  ` ÐThis€amount€has€no€rational€relationship€to€the€husbandððs€fees€and€expenses,€and€represents€theÐ ü L  Ðsingle€most€valuable€asset€received€by€the€wife.€€€Further€evidence€of€the€Courtððs€intent€to€punish€theÐ è 8  Ðwife€is€demonstrated€by€requiring€her€to€undergo€a€psychiatric€evaluation€for€conduct€that€ð ðdoesnððtÐ Ô$  Ðseem€naturalðð€to€the€Judge.€The€exam€was€ordered,€despite€overwhelming€testimony€that€the€wifeÐ À  Ðwas€a€good€mother€to€the€child,€and€the€Court€disregarded€the€holding€of€òòVarley€v.€Varley,€óó934Ð ¬ü  ÐS.W.2d€639,€667€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1996),€and€òòMimms€v.€Mimmsóó,€780€S.W.2d€739€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.Ð ˜è  Ð1989),€which€held€that€sexual€infidelity€is€relevant€in€a€child€custody€determination,€only€as€it€relatesÐ „Ô  Ðto€the€matter€of€neglect€of€the€child€and€affecting€the€childððs€best€interest.€The€wife€was€required€toÐ pÀ Ðundergo€the€expense€of€an€evaluation,€despite€the€Courtððs€acknowledgment€the€child€was€in€noÐ \¬ Ðdanger,€there€was€no€concern€for€the€safety€of€the€child€in€the€motherððs€presence,€and€the€testimonyÐ H˜ Ðof€all€witnesses,€including€the€husband,€that€the€wife€was€a€good€and€attentive€mother.€€Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€husband€advances€the€ð ðclean€handsðð€doctrine€to€support€the€award,€which€we€findÐ  \ Ðto€be€without€merit.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€evidence€preponderates€that€the€award€of€attorneyððs€fees€to€the€husbandÐ øH Ðagainst€the€wife€was€based€upon€fault,€and€in€making€the€award€the€Court€abused€its€discretion€underÐ ä4 Ðthe€statute.€€The€husband€is€in€a€significantly€better€financial€situation€than€the€wife€and€has€theÐ Ð  Ðability€to€pay€attorneyððs€fees.€€To€punish€the€wife€by€depriving€her€of€the€single€most€valuable€maritalÐ ¼  Ðasset€would€only€serve€to€impoverish€her€and€adversely€affect€her€ability€to€provide€for€the€child.€€Ð ¨ø Ðà  àà ` àÌà  àà ` àAccordingly,€we€reverse€the€Judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€and€remand,€with€the€costÐ €Ð Ðof€the€appeal€assessed€to€the€appellee,€Lonnie€H.€Wilder.Ð l¼ ÐÌÌà  àà ` àÌÔ#† ¼lG»X X;[û#ÔÔ‡ X;[X» ¼lGÔÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_________________________Ð $X" Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àòòHerschel€Pickens€Franks,€J.Ð ô$D # Ðóó