Thomas Fain Dalton v. Linda Faye Dalton

I N THE COURT OF APPEALS

THOMAS FAI N DALTON, ) M M NN CI RCUI T
c I
) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9606- CV- 00201
)
Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l e e )
)
)
)
)
)
vs . ) HON. EARLE G. MURPHY
) J UDGE
)
)
)
)
)
LI NDA FAYE DALTON, ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED
)
De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt )

GEORGE H. WATERS, M r yvi l l e , f or Appe l l a nt .
a

DONALD B. REI D, At he ns , f or Appe l l e e .

O P I N I O N

M M r a y, J .
c ur
 I n t hi s d i vor c e c a s e , t he a ppe l l a nt ( wi f e ) ha s a ppe a l e d f r o m

t he f i n a l di vor c e de c r e e a nd di vi s i on of ma r i t a l a s s e t s by t h e

Ci r c u i t Cour t f or M M nn Count y.
c i

The wi f e pr e s e nt s t he f ol l owi ng i s s ue s f or our c ons i de r a t i o n :

1. W t he r t
he he t r i a l c our t e r r e d b y f a i l i ng t o
de s i gna t e whi c h pa r t of t he r e ma i ni ng fire
i ns ur a nc e pr oc e e ds wa s s e pa r a t e pr ope r t y a nd whi c h
pa r t wa s ma r i t a l pr ope r t y be f or e de t e r mi ni ng a n
e qui t a bl e di vi s i on of t he pa r t i e s ' f i r e i ns ur a nc e
pr oc e e ds .

2. W t
he he r t he t r i a l c our t e r r e d by f a i l i ng t o ma ke a
di vi s i on o f t he pa r t i e s ' f i r e i ns ur a nc e pr oc e e ds
t ha t wa s e qui t a bl e c ons i de r i ng t he pa r t i c ul a r f a c t s
a nd c i r c ums t a nc e s a s i s r e qui r e d by s t a t ut e .

3. W e t he r t he t r i a l c our t e r r e d by a wa r di ng a n
h
i ns uf f i c i e nt a mount of r e ha bi l i t a t i ve a l i mony t o
t he De f e nda nt i n c ons i de r a t i on of t he i nt e nt a nd
gui de l i ne s f or r e ha bi l i t a t i ve a l i mony s e t f or t h by
s t a t ut e a s a ppl i e d t o t he pa r t i c ul a r c i r c ums t a nc e s
of t he pa r t i e s .

4. W t he r t he t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d by f a i l i ng t o or de r
he
Pl a i nt i f f t o ma i nt a i n a de qua t e l i f e i ns ur a nc e of
$250, 000 in c hi l dr e n' s f a vor to i ns ur e t he
c ont i nua t i on of c hi l d s uppor t .

5. W t he r t he t r i a l c our t e r r e d by
he g r a n t i ng t he
di vor c e to Pl a i nt i f f on t he gr ounds of
i na ppr opr i a t e ma r i t a l c onduc t .

The wi f e b a s i c a l l y a r gue s i n t he f i r s t t wo i s s ue s t ha t t he

d i vi s i on of t he ma r i t a l pr o pe r t y wa s i ne qui t a bl e . The di s t r i but i on

o f ma r i t a l pr ope r t y i s gov e r ne d by Te nn. Code Ann. § 36- 4- 121( c ) .

Fu r t h e r , it is we l l - s e t t l e d t ha t a n e qui t a bl e di vi s i on i s no t

ne c e s s a r i l y an e qua l one . Tr i a l c our t s ar e a f f or de d wi d e

2
d i s c r e t i on i n d i vi di ng t he i nt e r e s t of pa r t i e s i n j o i nt l y own e d

p r o p e r t y. Ha r r i ngt on v. Ha r r i ngt o n , 798 S. W 2d 244 ( Te nn.
. Ap p .

1990) ; Fi s he r v. Fi s he r , 648 S. W 2d
. 244, 246 ( Te nn. 1983) .

Ac c o r d i ngl y, t he t r i a l c our t ' s di s t r i but i on wi l l be gi ve n gr e a t

we i g h t o n a ppe a l , Edwa r ds v. Edwa r ds , 501 S. W 2d 283,
. 288 ( Te n n .

Ap p . 1 9 73) , a nd wi l l be pr e s ume d c or r e c t unl e s s we f i nd t he

p r e p o n d e r a nc e of t he e vi de nc e is ot he r wi s e . La nc a s t e r v.

La nc a s t e r , 671 S. W 2d 501,
. 502 ( Te nn. App. 1984) a nd Ba r nhi l l v.

Ba r n h i l l , 826 S. W 2d 443 ( Te nn. App. 1991) .
.

Sh or t l y be f or e t he pa r t i e s s e pa r a t e d, t he i r home a nd its

c on t e nt s we r e c ompl e t e l y de s t r oye d by f i r e . The pa r t i e s r e c e i v e d

s e v e r a l pa yme nt s f r om t he i r i ns ur a nc e c ompa ny, but a t t he t i me o f

t he h e a r i ng f or di vor c e , a p p r o xi ma t e l y $63, 750. 00 ha d not be e n

d i v i d e d b y t he pa r t i e s . At t he t i me of t he f i r e , t h e wi f e ' s mot he r

wa s l i vi ng wi t h t he pa r t i e s . Cons e que nt l y, t he wi f e f i l e d a mot i o n

t o j o i n he r mot he r a s a n i ndi s pe ns a bl e pa r t y, a nd t he di vi s i on o f

f i r e i n s ur a nc e pr oc e e ds wa s de l a ye d unt i l a l l pr ope r pa r t i e s c o u l d

be b r o u g ht be f or e t he t r i al c our t . Al l ot he r ma t t e r s we r e

r e s o l v e d. The he a r i ng on t he di vi s i on of t he i ns ur a nc e pr oc e e ds wa s

h e l d o n J a nua r y 16, 1996. Tha t he a r i ng a l s o a ddr e s s e d t he wi f e ' s

mo t i on t o a l t e r or a me nd t he f i na l de c r e e . At t he t i me of t h a t

h e a r i n g , t he pa r t i e s ha d us e d $6, 550. 25 t o r e pl a c e c e r t a i n i t e ms ,

s o t h e r e ma i ni ng f und t o b e di vi de d wa s $56, 949. 75. The hus b a n d

c l a i me d t ha t hi s mot he r - i n- l a w, who wa s una bl e t o a t t e nd t h e

3
 1
h e a r i n g due t o he a l t h pr obl e ms , wa s e nt i t l e d t o $ 1 0 , 250. 00. The

wi f e a r gue d t ha t he r mot he r ' s pr ope r t y wa s wor t h mor e . The t r i a l

j u d g e a wa r de d t he wi f e ' s mot he r $10, 351. 00, $26, 505. 32 t o t he wi f e ,
2
a n d $ 2 0 , 504. 06 t o t he hus b a nd.

The wi f e i n he r f i r s t i s s ue a r gue s t ha t t he t r i a l c our t e r r e d

b y ma k i n g a di vi s i on of t he pa r t i e s ' r e ma i ni ng f i r e i ns ur a n c e

p r o c e e ds be f or e de t e r mi ni ng wha t por t i ons of t he f i r e i ns ur a n c e

p r o c e e d s we r e s e pa r a t e pr ope r t i e s a s oppos e d t o ma r i t a l pr ope r t y .

The wi f e ma i nt a i ns t ha t mor e t ha n $7, 000. 00 of t he pr oc e e d s

r e pr e s e nt e d c ompe ns a t i on f or he r s e pa r a t e pr ope r t y. She c or r e c t l y

a r g u e s t ha t s e pa r a t e pr ope r t y mus t be d e t e r mi ne d be f or e r e a c hi n g a n

e q u i t a b l e di vi s i on a c c or d i ng t o Te nn. Code Ann. § 36- 4- 121 ( c ) ,

s upr a . Se e Ba t s on v. Ba t s on , 769 S. W 2d 849,
. 856 ( Te n n . Ap p .

1989) .

The hus ba nd ma i nt a i ns t ha t t he t r i a l c our t di d a c c ount f or t h e

s e pa r a t e pr ope r t y of t he pa r t i e s a l t hough t he c our t di d not

s p e c i f i c a l l y s e t out wha t por t i on of t he pr ope r t y wa s s e pa r a t e a n d

wha t p o r t i on wa s ma r i t a l . The hus ba nd a l s o c l a i ms t ha t t he wi f e

r e c e i v e d s ubs t a nt i a l l y mor e mone y f r om pr oc e e ds e a r l i e r di s t r i bu t e d

to t he pa r t i e s f r om t he i ns ur a n c e c ompa ny be f or e t he f i na l

1
Hu s b a n d v a l u e d t h e wi f e ' s mo t h e r ' s p r o p e r t y a t $ 1 6 , 9 6 2 . 8 2 . Th e i n s u r a n c e
c o mp a n y p a i d 6 0 . 4 % o f t h e t o t a l v a l u e t h e p a r t i e s h a d c l a i me d , wh i c h wo u l d
e n t i t l e t h e mo t h e r t o a p p r o x i ma t e l y $ 1 0 , 2 5 0 . 0 0 .

2
Th e a wa r d s t o t h e h u s b a n d a n d wi f e i n c l u d e d $ 2 0 5 . 3 2 t o e a c h i n a c c u mu l a t e d
i nt e r e s t .

4
di vi s i on. The i s s ue of t he a mount of mone y pr e vi ous l y di s t r i bu t e d

wa s h o t l y c ont e s t e d. The wi f e c l a i ms t ha t t he mone y pr e vi ou s l y

d i s t r i but e d wa s f or l i vi ng e xpe ns e s a f t e r t he f i r e , a nd t hus i s n o t

p r o p e r l y c ons i de r e d i n t he f i na l di vi s i on.

The t r i a l c our t ma de no s pe c i f i c f i ndi ng a t t he f i na l he a r i n g

wh e t he r t he pr oc e e ds f r om i ns ur a nc e di s t r i but e d ear l i er we r e

p r o p e r l y di vi de d or di s t r i but e d. The c our t s i mpl y not e d " I do n ' t

t hi nk t h e r e ' s a ny di s put e i n t hi s a mo unt of mone y, or i t doe s n ' t

r eal l y ma t t e r to whos e be ne f i t it we nt ... b e c a us e it' s no t

i n c l u d e d i n t he mone y t o be di vi de d. "

W ha ve r e vi e we d t he t e s t i mony e l i c i t e d a t t he f i na l he a r i n g
e

c o n c e r n i ng t he ear l i er di s t r i but i on of pr oc e e ds , a nd f i nd t he

t e s t i mo ny of t he pa r t i e s t o be c onf l i c t i ng a s t o t he na t ur e of t h e

p r i o r d i s bur s e me nt s . Unde r t he s e c i r c ums t a nc e s , we wi l l de f e r t o

t he j u d g me nt of t he t r i al c our t . On a ppe a l f r om a non- j u r y

j u d g me n t , t hi s Cour t mus t ge ne r a l l y de f e r t o t he f i ndi ng of t h e

t r i al c our t as t o t he we i ght a nd c r e di bi l i t y of wi t ne s s e s wh o

t e s t i f i e d i n pe r s on. Dunc a n v. Dunc a n , 686 S. W 2d 568 ( Te nn. Ap p .
.

1984) . Fur t he r , s i nc e t he r e c or d i s s i l e nt a s t o whe t he r t he t r i a l

j u d g e , i n hi s di vi s i on of t he pr ope r t y, f i r s t de t e r mi ne d t he va l u e

o f s e p a r a t e p r ope r t i e s , t h e r e i s no e r r or . A publ i c of f i c i a l , i n

t h e a b s e nc e of pr oof t o t he c ont r a r y, i s pr e s ume d t o do hi s du t y .

Se e St a t e e x r e l . Bi ggs v. Ba r c l a y , 188 Te nn. 26, 216 S. W 2d 7 1 1
.

5
( Te n n . 1948) . The r e f or e , in t he a bs e nc e of e vi de nc e s howi n g

o t h e r wi s e , we mus t pr e s ume t ha t t he t r i al j udge c or r e c t l y a nd

a de qu a t e l y c ons i de r e d al l e vi de nc e on al l i s s ue s pr ope r l y

p r e s e nt e d.

The wi f e r a i s e s a s a s e c ond i s s ue whe t he r t he di vi s i on of t h e

fire i n s ur a nc e pr oc e e ds wa s e qui t a bl e unde r t he c i r c ums t a nc e s .

Sp e c i f i c a l l y, s he c l a i ms s he wa s e nt i t l e d t o s ubs t a nt i a l l y mo r e

t ha n h a l f of t he i ns ur a nc e pr oc e e ds due t o he r c ont r i but i ons t o t h e

ma r r i a ge , i . e . , be i ng a f ul l t i me home ma ke r a s oppos e d t o pur s ui n g
3
a c a r e e r i n me di c i ne . She a l s o c l a i ms t ha t s he wa s r e qui r e d t o

s p e n d l a r ge a mount s of t i me pr e pa r i ng t he l i s t of t he f a mi l y ' s

b e l o n g i ngs af t er t he fire f or t he i ns ur a nc e c ompa ny. We ha ve

r e vi e we d t he r e c or d a nd t he j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t , a nd do n o t

f i n d t h a t t he c our t ' s di vi s i on wa s i ne qui t a bl e or c ont r a r y t o t h e

p r e p o n d e r a nc e of t he e vi de nc e . It i s we l l - s e t t l e d l a w t ha t t he

t r i a l c o ur t ha s wi de di s c r e t i on i n a dj udi c a t i ng t he pa r t i e s ' r i gh t s

a nd i nt e r e s t s i n t he ma r i t a l es t at e, a nd t ha t t he t r i a l c our t ' s

f i n d i n g s a r e e nt i t l e d t o g r e a t we i ght on a ppe a l . Se e e . g . , Ba t s o n,

s upr a . It is we l l - s e t t l e d l a w t ha t t he d i vi s i on of ma r i t a l

p r o p e r t y mus t me r e l y be a n e qui t a bl e one a nd not ne c e s s a r i l y a n

e q u a l d i vi s i on. W f i nd no e r r or i n t he c our t ' s di vi s i on of t h e
e

p r o p e r t y.

3
M s . Da l t o n h a s e x t e n s i v e p o s t - g r a d u a t e wo r k ,
r a n d h a s c o mp l e t e d a
s i g n i f i c a n t p o r t i o n o f me d i c a l s c h o o l .

6
 Ap pe l l a nt ' s t hi r d, f our t h a nd f i f t h i s s ue s c onc e r n ma t t e r s
4
t h a t we r e r ul e d upon by t he t r i a l c our t i n t he e a r l i e r he a r i n g .

Al t h o u g h t he wi f e r a i s e s t he s e i s s ue s on a ppe a l , we ha ve ne i t he r a

t r a n s c r i pt nor s t a t e me nt o f t he e vi de nc e i n t he r e c or d c onc e r n i n g

t ha t h e a r i ng. " I n t he a bs e nc e of a por t i on of t he r e c or d, we mu s t

c o n c l u s i v e l y pr e s ume t ha t t he f i ndi ngs of t he t r i al c our t ar e

s u p p o r t e d by e vi de nc e he a r d i n t he t r i a l c our t . " J . C. Br a df or d &

Co . v . M r t i n Cons t r uc t i on Co. , 576 S. W 2d 586, 587 ( Te nn. 197 9 ) .
a .

W a r e t he r e f or e una bl e t o r e a c h t h e me r i t s of t he s e i s s ue s , bu t
e

mus t c o n c l us i ve l y pr e s ume t ha t t he e vi de nc e pr e s e nt e d j us t i f i e d t h e

j u d g me n t of t he t r i a l c our t . Se e I n r e : Roc kwe l l v. Ar t hur , 673

S. W 2 d 512 ( Te nn. App. 1983) .
.

Th e j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t i s a f f i r me d i n a l l r e s pe c t s .

Co s t s a r e t a xe d t o t he a ppe l l a nt a nd t hi s c a s e i s r e ma nde d t o t h e

t r i a l c our t .

___________________________ _ _ _
Don T. M M r a y, J udge
c ur

CONCUR:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________________________
Ho u s t o n M Godda r d, Pr e s i di ng J udge
.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____________________________

4
Ap p e l l a n t ' s f o u r t h i s s u e c o n c e r n i n g l i f e i n s u r a n c e o n t h e h u s b a n d wa s
me n t i o n e d i n t h e 1 9 9 6 h e a r i n g . Ho we v e r , n o p r o o f wa s i n t r o d u c e d , a n d t h e t r i a l
c o u r t r e f u s e d t o a l t e r o r a me n d i t s 1 9 9 5 d e c i s i o n .

7
Ch a r l e s D. Sus a no, J r . , J udge .

8
 I N THE COURT OF APPEALS

THOMAS FAI N DALTON, ) M M NN CI RCUI T
c I
) C. A. NO. 03A01- 9606- CV- 00201
)
Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l e e )
)
)
)
)
)
vs . ) HON. EARLE G. MURPHY
) J UDGE
)
)
)
)
)
LI NDA FAYE DALTON, ) MODI FI ED I N PART, AFFI RMED AS
) MODI FI ED AND REM ANDED
De f e nda nt - Appe l l a nt )

JUDGMENT

Thi s a ppe a l c a me on t o be he a r d upon t he r e c or d f r om t h e

Ci r c u i t Cour t of M M nn Count y a nd br i e f s f i l e d on be ha l f of t h e
c i

r e s p e c t i ve pa r t i e s . Upon c ons i de r a t i on t he r e of , t hi s Cour t i s o f

t he o p i ni on t ha t t he r e wa s no r e ve r s i bl e e r r or i n t he t r i a l c ou r t .

Th e j udgme nt of t he t r i a l c our t i s a f f i r me d i n a l l r e s pe c t s .

Co s t s a r e t a xe d t o t he a ppe l l a nt a nd t hi s c a s e i s r e ma nde d t o t h e

t r i a l c our t .

PER CURI AM