IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
April 14, 2004 Session
LINDA C. GORRELL v. TYREE B. HARRIS, IV
Appeal from the Juvenile Court for Davidson County
No. 9619-27809 Max D. Fagan, Judge
No. M2003-00629-COA-R3-JV – Filed October 15, 2004
This is a child support modification case. The child involved was born out of wedlock to the parties
on June 13, 1996. Mother brought suit in the Juvenile court of Davidson County in July of 1996
seeking to establish paternity of the father and to establish child support. Both parties were
represented by counsel, and on May 30, 1997, the juvenile court entered an Order of Compromise
and Dismissal. The parties settled the case by Settlement Agreement under which Mr. Harris agreed
to pay to Ms. Clark (now Gorrell) the sum of $20,000 cash for any and all claims against Mr. Harris
through June 30 of 1998, including her child support claims as to the minor child. From June 13,
1998 forward, Mr. Harris agreed to pay $12,000 per year as child support together with medical
insurance until the child reached age 18. On February 23, 2001, Mother filed a Petition to Modify
the child support in order to bring it in compliance with Child Support Guidelines. The trial court
held the Settlement Agreement to be void and set prospective child support but declined to either
award retroactive child support or to order an upward deviation in child support because of failure
of the father to visit the child. We affirm the ruling of the trial court that the Settlement Agreement
is void, modify prospective child support, reverse the trial court on retroactive child support, deny
an upward deviation as to retroactive support, but grant such deviation as to future support. The case
is remanded for further proceedings.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Juvenile Court
Affirmed in Part, Modified in Part, and Reversed in Part
WILLIAM B. CAIN , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which PATRICIA J. COTTRELL, J. and R.E.
LEE DAVIES, SP. J., joined.
George Ellis Copple, Jr., Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, Linda C. Gorrell.
Alfred H. Knight, Katherine A. Brown, William R. Willis, Jr. and Alan Dale Johnson, Nashville,
Tennessee, for the appellee, Tyree B. Harris, IV.
OPINION
Linda C. Clark (now Gorrell) and Tyree B. Harris, IV had an intimate relationship to which
a child was born out of wedlock on June 13, 1996. Gorrell brought suit to legally establish the
paternity of Harris in the Juvenile Court of Davidson County in July of 1996. Both parties were
represented by counsel, and a Contract and Settlement Agreement prepared by counsel was agreed
to by the parties. Pursuant thereto, an Order was entered by the juvenile court on May 30, 1997,
which provided:
It appearing to the Court, as evidenced by the signatures of counsel of record
for the respective parties herein, that all matters and things in controversy by and
between the Plaintiff, Linda Sue Clark, and the Defendant, Tyree B. Harris, IV, in
this case have been fully and finally compromised and settled;
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that
all prior restraining orders in this case are dissolved and set aside, that this cause is
hereby expressly dismissed and that all of the statutory costs of this cause shall be
and are hereby taxed against the Defendant, Tyree B. Harris, IV, for which execution
may issue, if necessary, but in no event shall there be an award of discretionary costs
to or on behalf of either of the parties herein.
Pursuant to T.C.A. § 37-1-107, this Order becomes the final judgment of the
Juvenile Court if an appeal is not filed within five days, excluding Saturdays,
Sundays, and legal holidays, from the date this Order is entered. This Order may be
appealed to the Juvenile Court by filing a request for rehearing with the Juvenile
Court Clerk. This Order shall be obeyed unless or until the Judge rules otherwise.
ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER IS PUNISHABLE BY
CONTEMPT, FOR WHICH THE PENALTIES MAY INCLUDE A FINE AND/OR
IMPRISONMENT.
ENTERED this 30 day of May, 1997.
This Order was signed by Juvenile Judge Andrew Shookoff and entered of record.
The Agreement was never approved by the trial court and, as far as the record shows, was
never even submitted to the trial court. Under the Agreement, Clark (Gorrell) was to have primary
custody of the minor child, and Harris was to have reasonable visitation. The Agreement further
provided:
V.
On the date of the execution of this Contract and Settlement Agreement, Mr.
Harris shall pay directly to Ms. Clark the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars
($20,000.00) and by its receipt Ms. Clark expressly agrees and acknowledges that
such consideration is paid, conveyed and accepted in full settlement of any and all
claims, whether contractual or tortious, which Ms. Clark may have as and against Mr.
Harris as of this date arising out of the subject matter of this instrument and extends
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to, applies to, covers and includes all unknown, unforeseen, unanticipated and
unsuspected injuries, damages, loss and liability as well as the consequences thereof
whether or not ascertainable at the time of the execution of this instrument as well
as those now disclosed and known to exist and further expressly agrees and
acknowledges that such consideration is likewise paid, conveyed and accepted in full
settlement as and for the prospective support and maintenance of Sydney Tyree
Harris Clark, the minor child of Ms. Clark and Mr. Harris, through 13 June 1998,
except as otherwise provided herein.
VI.
For so long as Ms. Clark shall be the primary physical custodian of Sydney
Tyree Harris Clark, the minor child of Ms. Clark and Mr. Harris, Mr. Harris
expressly agrees that on or before 13 June 1998 and on or before that same day of
each succeeding calendar year through the year 2013 or until the death of Mr. Harris,
the marriage of Mr. Harris to Ms. Clark, the death of Sydney Tyree Harris Clark, the
minor child of Ms. Clark and Mr. Harris, or until Sydney Tyree Harris Clark, the
minor child of Ms. Clark and Mr. Harris, is adopted by a third party, whichever event
shall first occur, Mr. Harris shall pay to Ms. Clark the sum of Twelve Thousand
Dollars ($12,000.00) as and for the prospective annual support and maintenance for
the minor child, Sydney Tyree Harris Clark.
The Agreement contained other provisions obligating Harris to pay medical insurance and
maintain a $250,000 life insurance policy on his life to be used for the use and benefit of the minor
child.
On February 23, 2001, Gorrell filed a Petition acknowledging the execution of the Agreement
of May 13, 1997, and the Order of the juvenile court of May 30, 1997, and then asserts:
4. Petitioner now brings this action to modify the previous $12,000 per
year child support so as to bring it into line with the requirements of the Tennessee
Child Support Guidelines, based on respondent’s current income.
5. Specifically, petitioner alleges that respondent has an income in
excess of $150,000 per year, although petitioner does not know precisely
respondent’s average income and will require financial documentation to prove
respondent’s relevant average monthly income in order to calculate the proper child
support. Petitioner believes and alleges that respondent’s income is in excess of
$150,000 per year, i.e. in excess of an average of $12,500 per month, and accordingly
his child support payments for one child under Tennessee Child Support Guidelines
would be in excess of $1,796 per month.
6. Since respondent does not visit with the minor child, petitioner is
entitled to an upward deviation in the support to be awarded under the Child Support
Guidelines, which provide in pertinent part as follows: “Factors justifying upward
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adjustment for support include . . . . less than average overnight visitation being
exercised by the parent paying support . . . .” . Said provision in the Child Support
Guidelines is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.
After the trial court denied a Motion to Dismiss, Harris, on September 19, 2001, filed an
Answer and a cross-complaint relying primarily on the validity of the Settlement Agreement of May
13, 1997, and seeking to enjoin Gorrell from alleged personal harassment. On November 2, 2001,
Gorrell filed an Amended Petition asserting that the private Agreement of May 13, 1997 was not
approved by the trial judge and that no findings were made that the child support referred to in the
Agreement was in accordance with the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines. This Amended Petition
further sought an upward deviation in child support and retroactive support. On December 11, 2001,
Harris answered the Amended Petition, essentially relying on the May 13, 1997 Agreement and
otherwise denying the allegations of the Petition.
Final hearing was held December 28, 2001, before the Honorable Max D. Fagan, Juvenile
Judge sitting by interchange. At the conclusion of all the proof, the trial court took the matter under
advisement and, on January 14, 2002, entered a Final Order providing in pertinent part:
The court finds that the previous agreement entered into by the parties does
not bar this petition as res judicata. Therefore the petition to modify child support
is considered in reference to the parties’ respective situations in accordance with
applicable statutes.
The parties have had a contentious relationship for years, and it is clear that
the animosity they share has made their dealings with each other considerably more
difficult. The court finds that the father, Mr. Harris, has not exercised visitation with
the minor child. However, this lack of visitation has been precipitated by the actions
of the mother, Ms. Gorrell, in that she has threatened the father and otherwise
harassed and antagonized him through various means, including contact with his
employment which appears to be for the purpose of embarrassing and humiliating
Mr. Harris.
While the Petitioner has sought an upward deviation from the child support
guidelines due to a lack of visitation, the court finds that the petitioner has directly
contributed to the lack of visitation by her conduct toward the Respondent. The
petitioner has threatened, harassed, and intimidated the Respondent by threatening
to make accusations about him which would tarnish his reputation, even if
unfounded. As a result, the court in its discretion finds that it would be unjust to
order an upward deviation.
The court finds that the respondent’s average gross income over the years
1997 through 2000 has been one hundred thirty eight thousand six hundred thirty four
dollars ($138,634.00). As such, the amount of child support pursuant to the child
support guidelines would equal $1,671.00 per month, or an annual total of 20,052.00
per year. This amount is due and payable since the date of the filing of the petition
in this cause, as the court finds that the Petitioner has received benefits under the
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previous agreement which are not so equitably dissimilar to the above amount to
merit a judgment beyond the date of filing.
The petition in this cause was filed on March 13, 2001. Therefore, the
following tabulation should reflect the present payment accrual versus the payment
history, to wit:
Pmt. due Amount Due
March 2001 $1,671.00
April 2001 $1,671.00
May 2001 $1,671.00
June 2001 $1,671.00
July 2001 $1,671.00
Aug. 2001 $1,671.00
Sept. 2001 $1,671.00
Oct. 2001 $1,671.00
Nov. 2001 $1,671.00
Dec. 2001 $1,671.00
Jan. 2002 $1,671.00
TOTAL $18,381.00
Payments Credited ($15,000.00)
Net Arrearage $ 3, 381.00
In addition to the child support and the arrearage which has accrued as
outlined above, the court finds it appropriate for the Respondent to continue to cover
the minor child on his medical insurance and for the parties to divide equally any co-
payments and uninsured medical and dental expenses. The court finds that each party
should alternate claiming the child for purposes of federal income taxes each year,
with the Respondent claiming the child in odd numbered tax years and the Petitioner
claiming the child in even numbered tax years. The court also finds that each party
should be responsible for the payment of their own attorneys fees.
Finally, in considering the testimony and proof in this mater, the court finds
that the Respondent has faithfully performed the obligations he assumed under the
parties’ prior agreement, and that the Petitioner has engaged in inappropriate conduct
as set forth above. Therefore, the court finds it appropriate that the Petitioner be
restrained and enjoined from coming about the Respondent at his home, place of
employment or otherwise, and that she be prohibited from contacting the Respondent
for the purpose of harassing, embarrassing, intimidating or threatening the
Respondent, or for any other purpose except through counsel.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the
Respondent pay child support in the amount of $1,671.00 per month, beginning
February 1, 2002. Said amount of child support may be paid annually in advance at
the discretion of the Respondent. The Petitioner is granted a judgment for an accrued
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arrearage in child support payments in the amount of $3,381.00, which shall be paid
on or before August 1, 2002. The respondent shall maintain health insurance on the
minor child, and the parties shall divide equally any co-payments or uninsured
medical and dental expenses. Each party shall be responsible for their own attorney
fees.
Following post-trial motions, the trial court modified its Final Order to provide:
The court finds that the previous agreement entered into by the parties is
indeed void as against public policy, and as to future enforcement. The court,
however, does not discount or ignore the benefits which have been provided to the
Petitioner by the Respondent under the prior agreement. The court has considered
those benefits in comparison to the benefits which would have accrued under the
child support guidelines in determining the net resulting rights and responsibilities
of the parties. As such, the court holds that the benefits which have actually been
paid or provided by the Respondent to the Petitioner, conform economically to the
benefits which would have accrued had the guidelines been followed in lieu of the
parties’ private agreement. As such, the court does not find it appropriate to make
additional adjustments to the accrued benefits previously paid.
The Petitioner has requested that the arrearage award be clarified to explain
the court’s calculation and credit of $15,000.00 toward the Respondent’s obligation.
The court has determined that the proper guideline amount of support is $1,671.00
per month, based upon the Respondent’s current annual income of approximately
$138,634.00. The Respondent has historically paid an annual sum of $12,000.00 in
June of each year, or an equivalent amount of $1,000.00 per month. Therefore, the
court gives credit for $1,000.00/month for the months of March, April and May of
2001 (or an aggregate sum of $3,000.00 for those months). Thereafter, the
Respondent paid another annual sum of $12,000.00 in June of 2001. The accrued
benefit which should have been paid at a rate of $1,671.00 (from March of 2001
through January of 2002) totaled $18,381.00. The court gives the Respondent credit
for the $3,000.00 paid for the months of March, April and May of 2001 plus the
$12,000.00 paid in June of 2001 for a total credit of $15,000.
The Petitioner has requested an upward deviation in the amount of child
support ordered, based upon the proof which showed that the Respondent has failed
to exercise “standard” visitation. However the court finds that such a deviation, in
this case, is inappropriate based upon the actions and misconduct of the Petitioner.
Specifically, the unrebutted proof in this cause indicated that the Petitioner has
threatened to accuse the Respondent of child abuse, even without a basis for such
allegation, for the sole purpose of damaging the Respondent’s personal and
professional reputation. The Petitioner has exhibited a history of malicious conduct
toward the Respondent, including damage to the Respondent’s property, threats to
and assault of the Respondent, harassment, fraud in the conception of the parties’
minor child by asserting that the Petitioner was on birth control when indeed she had
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discontinued the use of same without informing the Respondent, defamation of the
Respondent by fax to his office and otherwise as evidenced by exhibit and testimony
offered at the trial in this cause and otherwise. The Petitioner’s conduct toward the
Respondent in a consistently antagonistic manner over a period of years is a basis
upon which the Respondent might reasonably believe that he would be subjected to
an additional risk of defamation and false accusation(s) by the Petitioner if he did not
attempt to minimize the provocation of the Petitioner’s ire by distancing himself from
her. Unfortunately, the Respondent’s efforts at self preservation have resulted in his
forfeiture of a relationship with his daughter. Because the Petitioner’s conduct
toward the Respondent has precipitated his lack of contact, the court finds it
inappropriate to “reward” the Petitioner by an award of additional compensation
through an upward deviation in the amount of child support ordered. The court
further finds that the amount of child support ordered is sufficient to provide for the
child’s needs, as a result of the Respondent’s income upon which such award is
based, and upon the expenses which are incurred on behalf of the child by the
Petitioner.
The parties have each incurred expenses in this litigation, including the cost
of the fine representation afforded to each party by their respective counsel. Because
of the nature of the dispute, including a consideration of the totality of the
circumstances and proof presented in this cause, including those mentioned above,
the court finds it appropriate for each party to bear the expense of their own
attorney’s fees.
Both parties timely appealed.
I. The contract.
The record plainly shows that each of these parties was represented by competent counsel
at the time and entered into the May 17, 1997 Contract and Settlement Agreement for the support
of their minor child in the utmost of good faith. With equal clarity the record shows that, under the
principles laid down in Berryhill v. Rhodes, 21 S.W.3d 188 (Tenn. 2000), the Agreement is void as
against public policy.
The Child Support Guidelines have been in existence in Tennessee since long before the May
17, 1997 Agreement of the parties, and they have the force of law under a legislative mandate from
which the courts are not authorized to deviate except in the manner that is allowed by the guidelines
themselves. Nash v. Mulle, 846 S.W.2d 803 (Tenn. 1993); Barnett v. Barnett, 27 S.W.3d 904 (Tenn.
2000). Harris asserts that the Agreement between the parties was supported by adequate
consideration and should be an enforceable contract as written, particularly since the decree of
dismissal of the action in 1997 was based upon the existence of such contract. Relying on Burton
v. Burton, 343 S.W.2d 867 (Tenn. 1961), Harris asserts that there is no allegation or fact showing
fraud or mutual mistake and that, under such circumstances, the consent decree of dismissal cannot
be successfully impeached. Harris further asserts:
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A decree is frequently made by consent of parties. In such a case, the
court does not inquire into the merits or equities of the decree, nor
whether it is sustained by the pleadings. The only questions for the
court to determine are: 1) are the parties capable of binding
themselves by consent; and 2) whether they have consented, or do
now consent, to the proposed decree.
Gibson’s Suits in Chancery, Section 577 (4th Ed.).
All these assertions are in fact true, and no effort is made by Gorrell to state otherwise. If
the case were to be determined as involving the parties to the Agreement, it appears that Harris
would certainly prevail, as no basis exists in this record to impeach the Agreement as it relates to the
rights of the parties thereto. Since the early common law, however, the state has stood in parens
patriae of minor children within its borders. In the context of habeas corpus, the supreme court
said:
Under the change of government from a monarchy to a republic, the functions
of parens patriae did not cease to exist. Such authority passed from the king to the
government of the state or sovereign people, and it may be called into exercise by the
Legislature, the representatives of the people, and delegated by the Legislature to
other functionaries. Ewell v. Sneed, 136 Tenn. 602, 624, 191 S.W. 131; Mormon
Church Case, 136 U.S. 1, 58, 10 Sup. Ct. 792, 34 L.Ed. 481, 496.
....
As it affects the custody of infants, the writ of habeas corpus rests on the
assumption of a right in the state, paramount to any parental or other claim, to
dispose of such children as their best interests require. The legal rights of a parent
are very gravely considered, but are not enforced to the disadvantage of the child.
Such is the universal practice, and it has been followed in this jurisdiction from State,
ex rel. v. Paine, supra, to State ex rel. v. Kilvington, 100 Tenn. 227, 45 S.W. 433, 41
L.R.A. 284.
State, ex rel. Jones v. West, 201 S.W. 743, 744 (Tenn. 1918).
At remote common law, a child born out of wedlock was, to a large measure, excluded from
the scope of the state’s parens patriae oversight. A father of such child had neither a right to custody
of nor an obligation to provide support for such child. State v. Boston, 102 P.2d 889, 892
(Okla.Crim.App. 1940). The development of the law, both by statute and by common law, has been
rapid and dramatic. Historically:
At common law a child born out of wedlock was said to be filius nullius, the
child of nobody, or filius populi, the child of the people. The putative father had
neither rights nor obligations toward the child and was precluded from establishing
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his paternity of the child in a legal action. Ford v. Loeffler, 363 So.2d 23, 24 (Fla.
3d DCA 1978). From a legal standpoint, such a child simply had no father or mother.
10 Am.Jur.2d § 8 at 848. But the common law has been abrogated by statute in most
jurisdictions, affording rights both to the child and to the parents.
In Re: Guardianship of D.A. McW., 429 So.2d 699, 702-703 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1983).
In a decision strongly analogous to the case at bar, the Court of Appeals of Michigan
expressed the law as it stands today. This case, Sturak v. Ozomaro, 606 N.W.2d 411 (Mich.Ct.App.
1999), involved a putative father who had fully performed a settlement agreement with the mother
of the child, and thereafter, the mother, by petition to the court, sought to establish paternity and set
child support both retroactively and in the future. The court, basing its action on both statutory
grounds and on constitutional equal protection grounds, held:
Only a child’s adoption relieves the child’s natural parents from their obligation to
support the child. Evink, supra at 174, 542 N.W.2d 328. Furthermore, as the Court
recognized in Crego III, supra at 295, 591 N.W.2d 277 illegitimate children have the
same needs for support as other children. Smith, supra. As this Court concluded in
Crego III, supra at 296-297, 591 N.W.2d 277 Crego II supra at 818-821, 573
N.W.2d 291 and Dones, supra at 676-679, 534 N.W.2d 221, denying plaintiff’s son
the opportunity to seek additional support constituted a denial of equal protection.
See Stanton, supra at 146-148, 253 N.W.2d 114 (The Supreme Court in Stanton
retroactively applied another Supreme Court decision that held unconstitutional a
statutory provision that prevented certain agricultural employees from receiving
worker’s compensation on the basis that the statute denied these employees equal
protection, and despite the defendants’ arguments that they had relied financially on
the unconstitutional statute.). We also acknowledge the state’s interest in providing
for the support and care of illegitimate children, Crego III, supra at 294, 591 N.W.2d
277 which interest is reflected in the announced public policy of this state to treat
children born out of wedlock as no less deserving of support than those born in
wedlock. Smith, supra at 289, 283 N.W.2d 725. Although defendant enjoys a vested
contractual right that formed under §3, as a matter of public policy, the overriding
interest of the illegitimate child must prevail when defendant’s contractual right
conflicts with the child‘s right to support, especially when the child’s right to support
is considered in conjunction with the state’s interest in providing for these children.
Sturak v. Ozomaro, 606 N.W.2d 411, 420-421 (Mich.Ct.App. 1999).
In announcing the public policy of the State of Michigan to treat children born out of wedlock
as no less deserving than those born in wedlock, the court observed:
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This public interest is a longstanding one. In Bowerman v. MacDonald, 427 N.W.2d
477 (Mich.1988), the Supreme Court traced the history of the Paternity Act in
Michigan:
At common law, a father had no duty to care for his child born
out of wedlock. In 1846, the Legislature enacted the Bastardy Act to
define such a duty and provide a statutory mechanism by which he
could be required to fulfill it. The act was said to have two purposes:
to require the child’s father to provide support, and to protect society
from having to provide that support in his stead.
Bowerman, 427 N.W.2d at 479 (citations omitted).
That this equality of obligation to support applies with equal force in Tennessee is settled:
The child support guidelines require a noncustodial parent to pay an amount
of child support based on the noncustodial parent’s net income and the number of
children to be supported. See Tenn.Comp.R. & Regs. r. 1240-2-4-.03(5) (1994).
They draw no distinction between children whose parents are or were married and
those whose parents were never married. Thus, as we have held previously, the
guidelines apply not only in divorce cases but also in proceedings in which one
unmarried parent is seeking child support from the other. See Shell v. Law, 1997 WL
119581, at *2; Barabas v. Rogers, 868 S.W.2d 283, 288 n. 5 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1993);
Faircloth v. Locke, No. 01A01-9010-GS-00376, 1991 WL 259478, at *3
(Tenn.Ct.App. Dec. 11, 1991) (No Tenn.R.App.P. 11 application filed).
State ex rel. Vaughn v. Kaatrude, 21 S.W.3d 244, 249 (Tenn.Ct.App. 2000).
It is against this historical development of the law that the supreme court announced its
decision in Berryhill v. Rhodes, 21 S.W.3d 188 (Tenn. 2000). Unquestionably, Berryhill controls
the determination of the case at bar. Except insofar as Harris is entitled to credits against his support
obligations of those amounts of money which he has paid under the July 17, 1997 Agreement, his
liability for child support, both prospective and retroactive, is mandated by Berryhill. His reliance
on and good faith performance of his obligation under the Agreement are ineffective to modify his
support obligations under the guidelines.
In Berryhill it is provided:
Although this Court has not specifically addressed the issue of the validity of
a private agreement for payment of child support, other states that have considered
the issue have found such agreements violate public policy. . . .
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Courts in several jurisdictions have found that a child’s right to support
cannot be bargained away by a parent to the child’s detriment. . . .
We find the holdings and reasoning of these courts to be persuasive.
Tennessee’s statutory provisions for the establishment of paternity and support and
the Child Support Guidelines evince (sic) a policy that fathers will support their
children. Private agreements used to circumvent the obligations set forth in the
statutes and guidelines contravene that policy.
Berryhill, 21 S.W.3d at 191-192.
As in Berryhill, the Agreement in this case does not comply with Tennessee Code Annotated
section 36-5-101(h) in that the Agreement is not approved by a court, is not incorporated in a court
order and does not contain an acknowledgment that they may not alter the Agreement without court
approval. In this case, the Agreement was not incorporated in the Final Order of the juvenile court
nor specifically approved by that court. Instead, the Final Order provided: “It appearing to the Court,
as evidenced by the signature of counsel of record for the respective parties herein, that all matters
and things in controversy by and between [the parties] have been fully and finally compromised and
settled.” This language is not sufficient, even if Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-5-101(h)
could be stretched to support a private agreement that is clearly contrary to the child support
guidelines. Berryhill, 21 S.W.3d at 191.
II. Retroactive support.
This issue, likewise, is foreclosed by Berryhill. The discussion in Berryhill leaves no room
for the kind of discretion in the trial court that would allow for substantial deviation from the
guidelines.
The Court of Appeals in this case recognized the guidelines apply as a
rebuttable presumption regarding the amount of child support to be paid. The court,
however, stated that the presumption is not to be construed as an abrogation of this
Court’s statement in Coleman v. Clay, 805 S.W.2d 752, 755 (Tenn. 1991), that a
court “has broad discretion to determine the amount of such a retroactive award.”
This Court acknowledged in Coleman that a father is responsible for the support of
his child and that this obligation arises at the date of the child’s birth. Id. at 754-55.
This Court further stated that a juvenile court judge has broad discretion to determine
the amount of such a retroactive award. Id. at 755.
The Child Support Guidelines, however, were silent as to retroactive awards
when this Court decided Coleman. Subsequent to the decision in Coleman,
retroactivity provisions were added to the Child Support Guidelines. The specific
inclusion of these provisions in 1994 limited the courts’ discretion in setting amounts
of child support. While the juvenile court continues to have discretion in making
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awards of child support, that discretion must be exercised within the strictures of the
Child Support Guidelines.
Id. at 192-193.
The trial court, in declining to set retroactive child support in conformity to the guidelines,
held:
The court, however, does not discount or ignore the benefits which have been
provided to the Petitioner by the Respondent under the prior agreement. The court
has considered those benefits in comparison to the benefits which would have
accrued under the child support guidelines in determining the net resulting rights and
responsibilities of the parties. As such, the court holds that the benefits which have
actually been paid or provided by the Respondent to the Petitioner, conform
economically to the benefits which would have accrued had the guidelines been
followed in lieu of the parties’ private agreement. As such, the court does not find
it appropriate to make additional adjustments to the accrued benefits previously paid.
First of all, the comparison of benefits under the Agreement with benefits under the
guidelines clearly shows that the contractual benefits do not “conform economically to the benefits
which would have accrued had the guidelines been followed in lieu of the parties’ private
agreement.” By the trial court’s own calculations, the contractual benefit is $1,000 per month while
the benefits under the guidelines as set by the trial court’s Order are $1,671 per month. Berryhill
simply does not allow such deviation from the provisions of the child support guidelines and leaves
very little discretion in either the trial court or the appellate courts. The trial court offered no other
explanation that would support an allowable deviation. To the extent that Coleman v. Clay can be
construed to the contrary, it is specifically repudiated by Berryhill.
III. Calculations of prospective child support.
In setting child support prospectively to begin February 1, 2002, the trial court calculated the
child support on a basis of the average gross income of Harris over the years 1997 through 2000 and
established such average annual income at $138,634. This resulted in a monthly support obligation
of $1,671. The trial court does not state nor does the record indicate any reason for calculating
prospective child support on such a basis. On remand prospective child support will be calculated
based on actual income in the year 2000.
It is well settled that child support guidelines have the force of law and must be followed.
Child Support Guidelines have the force of law. Jahn v. Jahn, 932 S.W.2d
939, 943 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1996). Any deviation from the guidelines must be explicitly
stated on the record. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(e)(1). If the guidelines are not
followed, the court must make written specific findings that their application would
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be unjust or inappropriate, stating the amount that should be awarded under the
guidelines, along with justification for the deviation. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. Ch.
1240-2-4-.02(7).
State ex rel. Wrzesniewski v. Miller, 77 S.W.3d 195, 197 (Tenn.Ct.App. 2001).
IV. Child support obligation retroactively from the birth of the child until the trial court Order
of January 14, 2002.
The retroactive support obligation must be “calculated based upon the guidelines using the
average income of the obligor over the past two years and is presumed to be correct unless rebutted
by either party.” Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 1240-2-4-.04(1)(e)(1997). In this case, the proof
clearly shows that the child was born in July 1996 and that the income of Mr. Harris at that time was
somewhat less than the average income that would result from calculating his gross income
according to his experience in 1999 and 2000. Thus, as was the case in Berryhill, he has successfully
rebutted the presumption set forth in the Rule, and, on remand, his obligation for retroactive support
will be calculated on his actual gross income for each of the years 1996 through 1999.
V. Upward deviation in child support because of failure to visit.
The child support guidelines provide as follows:
1240-2-4-.04 CRITERIA FOR DEVIATION FROM GUIDELINES
(1) . . . the court shall increase the award calculated in Rule 1240-2-4-.03 for the
following reasons;
....
(b) if the child(ren) are not staying overnight with the obligor for the
average visitation period of every other weekend from Friday evening
until Sunday evening, two weeks during the summer, and two weeks
during holiday periods throughout the year, then an amount shall be
added to the percentage calculated in the above rule to compensate
the obligee for the cost of providing care for the child(ren), for the
amount of time during the average visitation period that the child(ren)
is/are not with the obligor.
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 1240-2-4-.04(1)(b)(1997).
This part of the case is the most difficult to resolve. The trial court was not impressed with
Ms. Gorrell, and for good reason. Her testimony and her attitude from the birth of the child forward
do not cast her in a favorable light. The trial court used her conduct as a basis for refusing upward
deviation in child support. The trial court found:
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The parties have had a contentious relationship for years, and it is clear that
the animosity they share has made their dealings with each other considerably more
difficult. The court finds that the father, Mr. Harris, has not exercised visitation with
the minor child. However, this lack of visitation has been precipitated by the actions
of the mother, Ms. Gorrell, in that she has threatened the father and otherwise
harassed and antagonized him through various means, including contact with his
employment which appears to be for the purpose of embarrassing and humiliating
Mr. Harris.
While the Petitioner has sought an upward deviation from the child support
guidelines due to a lack of visitation, the court finds that the petitioner has directly
contributed to the lack of visitation by her conduct toward the Respondent. The
petitioner has threatened, harassed, and intimidated the Respondent by threatening
to make accusations about him which would tarnish his reputation, even if
unfounded. As a result, the court in its discretion finds that it would be unjust to
order an upward deviation.
These findings are clearly borne out by the record. Typical of her behavior is an action
immediately after August 3, 2001. She forwarded a copy of a health care dependent audit from her
current husband’s insurance policy to Harris and to his attorney with a handwritten notation:
“Attention Tyree Harris and Bill Willis: I am so tired of messing with this insurance. As a deadbeat
dad please handle your part!!”
All this communication establishes is Ms. Gorrell’s abysmal ignorance about deadbeat dads.
Mr. Harris has complied with his contractual obligations under what was, after all, a bilateral
contract entered into by both Gorrell and Harris with the benefit of counsel. Harris has been guilty
of no bad faith and has acted honorably and faithfully in his monetary obligations to his child. While
Berryhill and its progeny were perhaps foreordained by the mandatory language of the child support
guidelines, the attorneys acting for both of these parties in July of 1997 did not have the benefit of
Berryhill, and it serves no useful purpose to second guess either the parties or their attorneys from
the lofty level of pure hindsight.
All this being said, the mandatory character of the guidelines relative to upward deviation
because of lack of visitation cannot be ignored, at least as to prospective support. We do not choose
to disturb the trial court’s refusal of upward deviation retroactively, but prospectively, the guidelines
must be applied. The trial court, on remand, will calculate and impose an upward deviation for lack
of visitation. Harris has a right to establish a relationship with his child if he desires to do so, and
further interference by Gorrell with any efforts he might make to establish such a relationship will
remain subject to the supervisory powers of the trial court.
VI. Attorney fees
The proof establishes that Ms. Gorrell is a part-time licensed practical nurse and can ill afford
the reasonable attorney fees she has incurred in this proceeding. It must be remembered that the
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purpose of such awards is to protect the child’s rights, not those of the custodial parent. Sherrod v.
Wix, 849 S.W.2d 780 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1992). However poorly this record reflects upon Ms. Gorrell,
she is, after all, enforcing the rights of the child of the parties under the Tennessee Child Support
Guidelines and has been successful in her efforts. She is entitled to reasonable attorney fees both
in the trial court and on appeal, with such fees to be determined by the trial court on remand.
VII. Conclusion
The results of this case may seem harsh when applied to a father of a child born out of
wedlock who has acted in good faith at all times and has fulfilled his obligations under a private
child support Agreement entered into at arms length with the mother when both parties were
represented by competent counsel. However, the public policy expoused in Berryhill cannot be
compromised by the good faith of the parents. The Tennessee Child Support Guidelines are
mandatory, and the rights of the child thereunder cannot be compromised because of the acrimony
existing between the parents, even when such has been precipitated, as in this case, in large measure
by the custodial parent.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed in part and reversed in part. The case is remanded
to the trial court for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.
Costs of the cause are assessed to Appellee.
___________________________________
WILLIAM B. CAIN, JUDGE
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