IN T H E C O U R T O F A P P E A L S O F T E N N E S S E E
F L E
I D
A T N A S H V IL L E
N o v e m b e r 1 6 , 1 9 9 8
P E G G Y J E A N B R A D F O R D , ) C e c il W . C r o w s o n
) A p p e lla t e C o u r t
P e t it io n e r /A p p e lla n t , ) C le r k
) A p p e a l N o .
V S . ) 0 1 -A -0 1 -9 7 1 2 -C V -0 0 6 8 9
)
J A M E S W IL L IA M A N D E R S O N ) C o ffe e C ir c u it
a n d M Y R A A L E A ) N o . 2 5 ,2 3 2
)
R e s p o n d e n t s /A p p e l l e e s , )
)
IN R E : R a c h e l L e e A n d e rs o n )
d /o /b : 1 0 /2 0 /9 0 )
A P P E A L E D F R O M T H E C IR C U IT C O U R T O F C O F F E E C O U N T Y
A T M A N C H E S T E R , T E N N E S S E E
T H E H O N O R A B L E G E R A L D L . E W E L L , S R ., J U D G E
J . B R O O K S F O X
M O O R E & H E D G E S
1 0 5 N . A t la n t ic S t re e t
P . O . B o x 1 8 1 0
T u lla h o m a , T e n n e s s e e 3 7 3 8 8
A tto rn e y fo r P e t it io n e r /A p p e lla n t
H . T H O M A S P A R S O N S
P A R S O N S , N IC H O L S & J O H N S O N
1 0 1 W e s t M a in S t re e t
M a n c h e s t e r, T e n n e s s e e 3 7 3 5 5
A tto rn e y fo r R e s p o n d e n t s /A p p e l l e e s
A F F IR M E D A N D R E M A N D E D
B E N H . C A N T R E L L
P R E S ID IN G J U D G E , M .S .
C O N C U R :
K O C H , J .
C A IN , J .
O P I N I O N
T h i s is a c u s t o d y d is p u t e b e t w e e n t h e c h ild ’s fa t h e r a n d
th e c h ild ’s m a te rn a l g ra n d m o th e r, w h o w a s n o m in a te d a s th e
c u s to d ia n in th e w ill o f t h e c h ild ’s m o th e r. T h e C ir c u it C o u r t o f
C o ffe e C o u n ty a w a rd e d c u s to d y to th e fa th e r a n d h is m o th e r. W e
a f fir m .
I.
T h e c h ild , R a c h e l L e e A n d e r s o n , w a s b o rn o n O c t o b e r 2 2 ,
1 9 9 0 to J a m e s W illia m A n d e rs o n a n d L e e s a D e y n e A n d e r s o n . T h e
p a re n ts d iv o rc e d o n A u g u s t 1 2 , 1 9 9 1 in C o ffe e C o u n ty , a n d th e
m o th e r w a s a w a rd e d c u s to d y o f th e m in o r c h ild . L e e s a D e y n e
A n d e r s o n d i e d s u d d e n ly o n A p r i l 2 9 , 1 9 9 7 le a v in g a w i l l i n w h i c h s h e
a p p o in t e d h e r p a r e n t s , P e g g y a n d J e rr y B r a d fo r d a s g u a r d ia n s o f t h e
c h i l d . J e r r y B r a d f o r d p r e d e c e a s e d h is d a u g h t e r o n A p r i l 1 9 , 1 9 9 6 .
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O n M a y 2 , 1 9 9 7 P e g g y B r a d fo r d file d a p e tit io n fo r c u s to d y
in th e C ir c u it C o u r t o f C o ffe e C o u n ty . T h e p e t it io n n a m e d J a m e s
W illia m A n d e r s o n a s a d e fe n d a n t a n d a lle g e d t h a t h e h a d d e m a n d e d
c u s to d y o f t h e c h ild , b u t t h a t p la c in g t h e c h ild in h is c u s t o d y w o u ld
b e d a n g e ro u s b e c a u s e o f h is v io le n t a n d a g g re s s iv e b e h a v io r a n d
p s y c h ia t r ic p r o b le m s .
J a m e s W illia m A n d e rs o n o b ta in e d p e rm is s io n fo r h is
m o th e r M y ra A le a t o in t e r v e n e in th e a c tio n . T h e y file d a
c o u n t e r c la im fo r jo in t c u s to d y .
T h e p r o o f s h o w s t h a t s in c e 1 9 8 0 o r b e f o r e M r . A n d e r s o n
h a d a h is to r y o f a lc o h o lis m a n d s c h iz o p h r e n i a , f o r w h i c h h e d r a w s a
s e r v ic e -r e la t e d d is a b ilit y p e n s io n . In th e p a s t h e h a s s h o w n a
p r o p e n s it y t o im p r o v e a n d th e n r e la p s e . H is a lc o h o lis m m a k e s it
m o r e lik e ly th a t h is s c h iz o p h r e n ia w ill r e c u r . In t h e o p in io n o f o n e
p s y c h i a t r i s t , a m a n w i t h M r . A n d e r s o n ’s h i s t o r y w o u l d h a v e d if f i c u l t y
w it h in t e r p e r s o n a l r e la t io n s h ip s a n d b e in g n u r t u r in g t o o t h e r s . A s a
r e s u lt , a c h ild in h is c u s t o d y w o u ld b e “ a t r is k .”
M r. A n d e rs o n o ffe re d h is tr e a t in g p s y c h ia t r is t ’s o p in io n
t h a t h e w a s c a p a b le o f t a k in g c a r e o f t h e c h ild a n d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o
p s y c h ia t r ic p a t h o lo g y th a t w o u ld p r e v e n t h im fro m d is c h a rg in g h is
p a r e n t a l d u t ie s . D u r in g t h e s ix t e e n m o n t h s M r . A n d e r s o n h a s b e e n
- 3 -
u n d e r t h e p s y c h ia t r is t ’s c a r e , h e h a s b e e n s o b e r a n d h a s ta k e n t h e
m e d ic a t io n p r e s c rib e d fo r th e s c h iz o p h r e n ia . In th e o p in io n o f th e
d o c t o r , M r . A n d e r s o n h a s s t e a d ily im p r o v e d .
M r . A n d e r s o n te s tifie d t h a t h e in t e n d e d t o t a k e t h e c h ild
t o h is m o t h e r ’s h o m e in F lo r id a u n t il h e c o u ld m a k e m o r e p e r m a n e n t
liv in g a r r a n g e m e n ts . H is s is te r liv e s a b o u t a m ile a w a y fr o m h is
m o t h e r , s o s h e c a n le n d a d d it io n a l fa m ily s u p p o r t . B o t h t h e m o t h e r
a n d s is t e r d r in k s o c ia lly .
T h e o n ly te s tim o n y a b o u t a n y a g g re s s iv e b e h a v io r o n t h e
p a rt o f M r. A n d e rs o n c a m e fro m th e m a te rn a l g r a n d m o th e r. S h e
te s tifie d th a t s h e w a s p re s e n t a t th e h e a r in g w h e n h e r d a u g h te r
o b t a in e d a n u n c o n t e s t e d d iv o r c e . R e c it in g h e r d a u g h t e r ’s t e s t im o n y
in t h e f o r m e r t r ia l M s . B r a d f o r d s a id h e r d a u g h t e r t e s t if ie d t h a t M r .
A n d e rs o n h a d a h o t te m p e r a n d w o u ld d is p la y it in p u b lic . O n o n e
o c c a s io n , M r . A n d e r s o n th re a te n e d to c o m m it s u ic id e , a n d s h o t a
h o le in t h e f lo o r o f t h e ir t r a ile r . H e o n c e h e ld a g u n t o h is w if e ’s h e a d ,
a n d o n c e l o c k e d h e r o u t o f t h e h o u s e in t h e r a i n . O v e r M r . A n d e r s o n ’s
o b je c t io n , th e t r ia l ju d g e a d m it t e d t h is t e s tim o n y u n d e r R u le
8 0 4 ( b ) ( a ) , T e n n . R . E v id . W e w ill n o t r e v ie w th e c o rre c tn e s s o f th a t
r u lin g h e r e , b e c a u s e d e s p it e t h a t e v id e n c e , t h e t r ia l ju d g e f o u n d t h a t
M r. A n d e rs o n a n d h is m o t h e r s h o u ld b e g iv e n jo in t c u s t o d y o f th e
c h ild .
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II.
N a t u r a l p a r e n t s h a v e a c o n s tit u t io n a l r ig h t t o r a is e th e ir
c h ild r e n a s t h e y s e e fit . H a w k v . H a w k , 8 5 5 S .W .2 d 5 7 3 (T e n n . 1 9 9 3 ).
O n ly w h e n it is n e c e s s a ry to p r e v e n t s e rio u s h a rm t o t h e c h ild , m a y
t h e s ta t e in t e r fe r e w it h t h e r ig h t s o f n a t u r a l p a r e n t s . Id . a t 5 8 0 .
T h e r e fo r e , in a c o n te s t b e tw e e n a p a re n t
a n d a n o n -p a r e n t , a p a r e n t c a n n o t b e d e p riv e d
o f th e c u s to d y o f a c h ild u n le s s t h e re h a s b e e n
a fin d in g , a ft e r n o t ic e r e q u ir e d b y d u e p ro c e s s ,
o f s u b s t a n t ia l h a r m t o t h e c h ild . O n ly th e n
m a y a c o u r t e n g a g e in a g e n e r a l “ b e s t in t e r e s t
o f th e c h ild ” e v a lu a t io n in m a k in g a
d e te r m in a t io n o f c u s to d y .
In R e A d o p t io n o f F e m a le C h ild , 8 9 6 S .W .2 d 5 4 6 a t 5 4 8 (T e n n . 1 9 9 5 ).
T h e b u r d e n i s o n t h e o n e s e e k in g t o d e p r i v e t h e n a t u r a l
p a re n t o f th e c u s to d y o f h is o r h e r c h ild to p ro v e t h a t t h e p a r e n t ’s
c u s to d y p o s e s a ris k o f s e rio u s h a rm t o t h e c h ild . In R e C ra w fo rd ,
0 2 A 0 1 -9 4 0 5 -C H -0 0 1 2 4 (file d a t J a c k s o n , F e b . 2 2 , 1 9 9 5 ). W e a re
s a t is fie d t h a t t h e g r a n d m o t h e r h a s fa ile d t o c a r r y th a t b u r d e n in t h is
c a s e . A lt h o u g h th e fa th e r h a s s e r io u s m e n ta l a n d d e p e n d e n c y
p r o b le m s , h is tr e a t in g p h y s ic ia n e x p r e s s e d h is o p in io n t h a t h e p o s e d
n o t h r e a t t o t h e c h il d . I n a l l o f t h e s t r a n g e b e h a v io r t h a t h e e x h ib i t e d
d u r in g h is illn e s s , t h e p r o o f d id n o t r e v e a l t h a t h e e v e r p o s e d a t h r e a t
t o t h e c h ild .
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A lt h o u g h th e t r ia l ju d g e d id n o t m a k e a s p e c if i c fin d in g
th a t th e fa t h e r d id n o t p o s e a th r e a t t o t h e c h ild , s u c h a fin d in g is
im p lic it in h is c u s t o d y o r d e r . H is o r d e r d o e s r e c it e t h e f a t h e r ’s p a s t
s u b s ta n c e a b u s e a n d p s y c h ia t r ic p r o b le m s b u t it r e lie s o n th e
t r e a t in g p h y s ic ia n ’s t e s t im o n y t h a t t h e c o n d it io n s w e r e in r e m is s io n
a n d t h e “ g e n e r a l s ta t e o f t h e la w in T e n n e s s e e r e la t iv e to g r a n t in g
p r e f e r e n c e t o p a r e n t s o v e r a ll o t h e r s .” T h e c o u r t c o n c lu d e s b y s a y in g
th a t “ th e p ro o f m a n d a te s th a t th e r e s p o n d e n t/f a t h e r , t h e n a tu ra l
fa t h e r o f t h is c h ild , b e g iv e n h e r c u s to d y a n d b e g iv e n a n o p p o rt u n it y
to r a is e h e r jo in t ly w it h h is m o t h e r .” W e d o n o t t h in k th e p ro o f
p r e p o n d e r a t e s a g a in s t t h a t f in d in g .
B o th s id e s a rg u e t h a t t h e ir e x p e r t ’s o p in io n s h o u ld b e
g iv e n p r im a r y w e ig h t . T h e g r a n d m o th e r a rg u e s th a t th e t r e a t in g
p s y c h ia t r is t h a d n o t r e v ie w e d th e m e d ic a l r e c o r d s c o v e r in g M r.
A n d e r s o n ’s e n t ir e e ig h t e e n y e a r h is to r y o f m e n t a l illn e s s . M r.
A n d e rs o n a rg u e s th a t th e g r a n d m o t h e r ’s e x p e rt o ffe re d a n o p in io n
b a s e d e n t ir e ly o n th e m e d ic a l re c o rd s w it h o u t a n y p e rs o n a l
o b s e r v a t io n . W e t h in k u n d e r t h o s e c ir c u m s t a n c e s t h e t r ia l ju d g e h a d
to m a k e a d e te r m in a t io n a b o u t w h ic h w it n e s s w a s m o r e c r e d ib le .
T h a t d e t e r m in a t io n is e n t it le d t o g r e a t w e ig h t o n a p p e a l. S t a te e x
r e l. B a ls in g e r v . T o w n o f M a d is o n v ille , 4 3 5 S W .2 d 8 0 3 ( T e n n . 1 9 6 8 ) .
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T h e g r a n d m o t h e r a ls o a rg u e s th a t t h e w ill n o m in a t in g h e r
a s c u s t o d ia n o f t h e c h ild s h o u ld b e g iv e n s o m e c o n s id e r a t i o n . S h e
c it e s T e n n . C o d e A n n . § 3 4 -1 2 -1 0 3 , a g e n e r a l s ta t u t e g o v e rn in g t h e
a p p o in t m e n t o f g u a r d ia n s . I n t h a t s t a t u t e , p e r s o n s d e s ig n a t e d in t h e
w i l l o f a p a r e n t o r p a r e n t s a r e c o n s id e r e d f o r g u a r d ia n s h ip ju s t a f t e r
t h e p a r e n t s t h e m s e lv e s .
W e d o n o t t h in k t h e s ta t u t e h a s a n y a p p lic a t io n h e r e . T h is
is n o t a g u a r d ia n s h ip p r o c e e d in g . If it w e r e , t h e s ta t u t e g iv e s fir s t
p la c e t o p a r e n t s . T h e r e fo r e , w e r e je c t t h e a r g u m e n t t h a t t h e s ta t u t e
w o u ld h a v e a b e a rin g o n t h is c a s e .
T h e ju d g m e n t o f t h e c o u r t b e lo w is a ffir m e d a n d t h e c a u s e
is re m a n d e d to th e C ir c u it C o u r t o f C o ffe e C o u n ty fo r a n y fu r t h e r
p r o c e e d in g s t h a t m a y b e c o m e n e c e s s a r y . T a x t h e c o s ts o n a p p e a l
t o t h e a p p e lla n t .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
B E N H . C A N T R E L L , P R E S ID IN G J U D G E ,
M .S .
C O N C U R :
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
W I L L I A M C . K O C H , J R ., J U D G E
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_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
W IL L IA M B . C A IN , J U D G E
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