David Cupples v. Jonathan Alan Holmes

03/31/2022
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON
January 11, 2022 Session

DAVID CUPPLES ET AL. v. JONATHAN ALAN HOLMES ET AL.

Appeal from the Chancery Court for Decatur County
No. 19-868 William B. Acree, Senior Judge
___________________________________

No. W2021-00523-COA-R3-CV
___________________________________

In this case involving a petition for grandparent visitation, where the minor child’s
parents had divorced and the mother had been admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation
facility, the maternal grandparents asserted that the minor child’s father had prevented
them from visiting with the child once the father had obtained full custody of the child.
The trial court conducted a hearing and subsequently granted to the grandparents monthly
visitation with the child plus additional time during school breaks and holidays. The
father has appealed. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm. We decline, however, to
grant an award of attorney’s fees to the grandparents on appeal.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court
Affirmed; Case Remanded

THOMAS R. FRIERSON, II, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which J. STEVEN
STAFFORD, P.J., W.S., and KENNY ARMSTRONG, J., joined.

Jonathan Alan Holmes, Ashland City, Tennessee, Pro Se.

William D. Bowen, Milan, Tennessee, for the appellees, David Cupples and Brigette
Cupples.

OPINION

I. Factual and Procedural Background

This case originated with the filing of a petition for grandparent visitation,
pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-306, by David Cupples (“Grandfather”)
and Brigette Cupples (“Grandmother”) (collectively, “Grandparents”) on April 24, 2020,
in the Decatur County Chancery Court (“trial court”), concerning their minor grandchild,
M.H. (“the Child”), who was approximately six years old by the time of trial.
Grandparents named as respondents the Child’s parents, Shayna Perez Holmes
(“Mother”) and Jonathan Alan Holmes (“Father”) (collectively, “Parents”). Grandparents
averred that as the maternal grandparents of the Child, they had enjoyed a significant
relationship with the Child since her birth until that relationship was severely limited by
Father following Parents’ divorce and the subsequent restriction of Mother’s visitation
rights due to Mother’s use of illegal drugs and her admission to an inpatient rehabilitation
facility. Grandparents claimed that inasmuch as Father had been granted custody of the
Child, they would have no ability to maintain their relationship with the Child unless they
were granted specific visitation rights. Grandparents further averred that maintenance of
their relationship with the Child was in the Child’s best interest and that severe limitation
of that relationship would cause substantial emotional harm to the Child.

Father filed a pro se answer to the petition on May 29, 2020, stating that the Child
was residing with him following his filing of a dependency and neglect petition in the
Decatur County Juvenile Court (“juvenile court”) wherein he sought emergency custody
due to Mother’s drug use. Father claimed that the original juvenile court judge assigned
to the dependency and neglect matter had to recuse himself from the case due to
attempted contact by Grandfather. Father further stated that Grandmother was or had
been employed by the Decatur County court system.

According to Father’s answer, Mother had been arrested on “multiple drug charges
and possession of a firearm in the commission” and was incarcerated in the Decatur
County jail. Father also averred that methamphetamine had been found in Mother’s
apartment, which was located on the premises of Grandparents’ residence. With respect
to the proceedings, Father indicated that he was not opposed to Grandparents’ supervised
visitation with the Child although he admitted that Grandparents’ visitation was reduced
by him at the time the “Safer At Home Order” was put in place by Tennessee’s
governor.1 Father therefore requested that Grandparents’ petition be dismissed. On June
2, 2020, the Supreme Court assigned Senior Judge William B. Acree to adjudicate this
matter.

Grandparents filed a motion for default judgment on June 26, 2020, asserting that
their counsel had received no response to the petition from either Mother or Father.
Although Grandparents acknowledged that Father had filed a response with the trial court
without serving a copy on Grandparents’ counsel, they postulated that such document did
not comply with the requirements of Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 8.02. On July
14, 2020, the trial court entered an order granting a default judgment to Grandparents.
The court found that Father had been properly served with process and that his response
“failed to meet the requirements of Rule 8.02 and Rule 5 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil

1
Governor Bill Lee issued Executive Order No. 22, also known as the “Safer At Home Order,” on March
30, 2020, requiring persons in Tennessee to stay home when possible to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
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Procedure.” The court granted Grandparents’ petition and awarded them visitation with
the Child on the second weekend of each month and other specified dates.

On August 10, 2020, Father, through counsel, filed a motion pursuant to
Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 60.02, seeking relief from the default judgment
entered against him. Father claimed that he did not receive a copy of the motion for
default judgment filed by Grandparents and was unaware of the motion hearing
scheduled on July 14, 2020. Father also asserted that he had a meritorious defense to the
petition in that he had not severely reduced Grandparents’ visitation with the Child.
Grandparents had sought to intervene in the dependency and neglect proceedings in
juvenile court and had, in fact, been granted visitation by that court. Although
Grandparents filed a response opposing relief from the default judgment, the trial court
entered an order on February 23, 2021, setting aside the default judgment against Father.
The court left in place, however, the temporary visitation schedule granted to
Grandparents pending further hearing.

Meanwhile, on August 25, 2020, Father filed a second answer to the petition,
denying that Grandparents were entitled to relief. Father responded that he did not
oppose Grandparents’ visitation with the Child and had not severely reduced same.
Father claimed that Grandparents had only sought visitation on one occasion before filing
their petition and that he had granted their request. Father further denied that there was
any danger of harm to the Child.

On March 2, 2021, Grandparents filed a motion for summary judgment. In this
motion, Grandparents asserted that because Father had failed to answer certain requests
for admission propounded to him, the matters therein should be deemed admitted, such
that there remained no genuine issues of material fact for determination. Grandparents
further posited that they were entitled to judgment as a matter of law inasmuch as Father
had admitted the necessary facts establishing grounds for an order granting grandparent
visitation. Grandparents concomitantly filed a statement of undisputed material facts as
well as a copy of the requests for admissions sent to Father and an affidavit from their
counsel stating that he had mailed such requests to Father on May 6, 2020, and that
Father had never responded.

Grandparents also filed an affidavit executed by Grandfather, stating that prior to
the Child’s placement into Father’s custody, Grandfather had “nearly daily contact with
[his] granddaughter for a period extending from approximately November 2017 through
March 2020.” Grandfather claimed that for four months after the Child was placed in
Father’s custody, he made consistent requests for visitation but was granted only a single,
one-hour, supervised visit with the Child. Grandfather related that although the Child
seemed guarded and withdrawn during this supervised visit, after the juvenile court
ordered regular visits for Grandparents, the Child’s personality returned to “normal” in

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the sense that she was happy and excited to see Grandparents. Grandmother filed a
nearly identical affidavit.

Grandparents also filed a copy of the juvenile court’s September 25, 2020 order
entered in the dependency and neglect proceeding, which provided that the Child would
remain in Father’s custody and that Mother would receive bi-monthly visitation with the
Child while Mother was in a rehabilitation facility. This visitation was to be facilitated
by Grandparents’ picking up the Child on Mother’s weekends and transporting the Child
to see Mother on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Grandparents would then
enjoy the remainder of the time during those weekends with the Child. The order further
reflected that Grandparents had withdrawn their motion to intervene in the dependency
and neglect proceeding. Subsequently, on April 12, 2021, Father filed a pro se response
to Grandparents’ motion for summary judgment wherein Father also purported to answer
the previously propounded requests for admissions.

The trial court conducted a hearing on the pending petition and motions on April
14, 2021, wherein the court considered testimony from Grandparents, Mother, Father,
and Father’s paramour. The trial court subsequently entered an order on April 29, 2021,
denying summary judgment to Grandparents while granting Grandparents’ petition for
visitation with the Child based on the evidence presented at trial. Although the trial court
did deem the requests for admissions admitted due to Father’s failure to timely respond,
the court stated that its attached findings of fact and conclusions of law were predicated
solely upon the proof presented at trial.

The trial court’s attached findings and conclusions demonstrate that the court
considered the evidence presented at trial in light of the requirements of the grandparent
visitation statute and the applicable best interest factors, determining that Grandparents
should be granted visitation with the Child. The court thus ordered that Grandparents
would enjoy monthly visitation with the Child plus additional time during school breaks
and holidays. The court specified that the monthly visitation granted to Grandparents
was to coincide with the visitation granted to Mother by the juvenile court. Father timely
appealed.

On September 23, 2021, Grandparents filed a motion in this Court seeking to
dismiss Father’s appeal due to deficiencies in Father’s appellate brief. This Court
subsequently denied the motion to dismiss “without prejudice to [Grandparents’] ability
to raise this issue in their responsive brief.” Grandparents were also granted additional
time to file their responsive brief. Upon Father’s motion, on September 30, 2021, this
Court entered an order affording Father ten days to file an amended brief complying with
the rules of this Court. On October 8, 2021, Grandparents filed a motion asking this
Court to consider certain post-judgment facts, which this Court subsequently denied.

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 II. Issues Presented

Father presents the following issues for our review, which we have restated and
condensed slightly:

1. Whether the trial court erred by granting visitation to Grandparents
when Grandparents failed to present sufficient evidence to meet the
requirements of Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-306 concerning
the length of time the Child resided with Grandparents, whether
Grandparents were full-time caretakers of the child, whether
Grandparents maintained a significant relationship with the Child,
whether that relationship was severed by Father, and whether
severance of the relationship would cause harm to the Child.

2. Whether the trial court erred in the amount of visitation granted to
Grandparents.

3. Whether the trial court erred in failing to provide for special
circumstances affecting the visitation schedule.

4. Whether the trial court erred by failing to make findings regarding
whether the visitation granted to Grandparents would interfere with
the parent-child relationship.

5. Whether the trial court erred by granting visitation to Grandparents
when Grandparents failed to present sufficient evidence that Father
had denied them the opportunity to visit with the Child before filing
their petition.

6. Whether the trial court erred by granting visitation to Grandparents
when Grandparents failed to present sufficient evidence that Father
had opposed or severely reduced their visitation with the Child.

Grandparents present the following additional issues for review:

7. Whether Father’s appeal should be dismissed due to his failure to
submit a brief that comports with the requirements of the Tennessee
Rules of Appellate Procedure.

8. Whether Grandparents should be awarded their attorney’s fees and
costs incurred as a result of Father’s appeal.

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 III. Standard of Review

We review a non-jury case de novo upon the record with a presumption of
correctness as to the findings of fact unless the preponderance of the evidence is
otherwise. See Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d); In re Estate of Fletcher, 538 S.W.3d 444, 448
(Tenn. 2017) (“This matter was heard without a jury; therefore, our standard of review is
de novo upon the record of the proceedings below with a presumption of correctness as to
the trial court’s factual determinations unless the evidence preponderates otherwise.”).
However, our review of the court’s legal conclusions is de novo with no presumption of
correctness. Estate of Fletcher, 538 S.W.3d at 448; see Blankenship v. Blankenship, 59
S.W.3d 115, 117 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001).

As this Court has recently explained concerning review of a trial court’s order
allowing grandparent visitation:

Recent Tennessee caselaw provides that the standard of review for
an appellate court reviewing a trial court’s visitation order, including one
for grandparent visitation, is governed by the abuse of discretion standard,
with the best interest of the children’s welfare given “paramount
consideration.” See Huls v. Alford, No. M2008-00408-COA-R3-CV, 2008
WL 4682219 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 22, 2008) (citing Smallwood v. Mann,
205 S.W.3d 358, 361 (Tenn. 2006)); Eldridge v. Eldridge, 42 S.W.3d 82,
85 (Tenn. 2001). A trial court abuses its discretion when it has applied an
incorrect legal standard or has reached a decision which is against logic or
reasoning that caused an injustice to the party complaining. Johnson v.
Richardson, 337 S.W.3d 816, 819 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2010) (citing Eldridge,
42 S.W.3d at 85). We will not overturn the trial court’s decision merely
because reasonable minds could reach a different conclusion. Eldridge, 42
S.W.3d at 85. Thus, the appellate court should “review a [trial] court’s
discretionary decision to determine (1) whether the factual basis for the
decision is properly supported by evidence in the record, (2) whether the
[trial] court properly identified and applied the most appropriate legal
principles applicable to the decision, and (3) whether the [trial] court’s
decision was within the range of acceptable alternative dispositions.”
Tomlin v. Baxter, No. M2014-01746-COA-R3-CV, 2015 WL 7749064, at
*3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 30, 2015) (citing Lee Medical, Inc. v. Beecher, 312
S.W.3d 515, 524-25 (Tenn. 2010) (citations omitted)).

In re Dayton R., No. W2015-01848-COA-R3-JV, 2016 WL 1403255, at *5 (Tenn. Ct.
App. Apr. 7, 2016).

We respect Father’s decision to proceed without benefit of counsel and note that
pleadings “prepared by pro se litigants untrained in the law should be measured by less
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stringent standards than those applied to pleadings prepared by lawyers.” Stewart v.
Schofield, 368 S.W.3d 457, 462 (Tenn. 2012) (citing Carter v. Bell, 279 S.W.3d 560 568
(Tenn. 2009); Hessmer v. Hessmer, 138 S.W.3d 901, 903 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003); Young
v. Barrow, 130 S.W.3d 59, 63 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003)). Although parties proceeding
without benefit of counsel are “entitled to fair and equal treatment by the courts,” we
“must not excuse pro se litigants from complying with the same substantive and
procedural rules that represented parties are expected to observe.” Hessmer v. Hessmer,
138 S.W.3d 901, 903 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003).

IV. Adequacy of Father’s Appellate Brief

As a threshold matter, Grandparents assert that Father’s appeal should be
dismissed due to his failure to submit a brief that comports with the requirements of the
Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. Grandparents contend that Father’s brief is
inadequate in several ways, including, inter alia: (1) Father’s brief fails to advance more
than a “skeletal” argument, (2) Father’s brief fails to set forth the applicable standard(s)
of review, (3) Father’s arguments do not correlate to the issues raised, and (4) Father’s
issues contained in the statement of issues are difficult to understand.

Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 27 requires that the appellant’s brief
contain the following in pertinent part:

(1) A table of contents, with references to the pages in the brief;

(2) A table of authorities, including cases (alphabetically arranged),
statutes and other authorities cited, with references to the pages in
the brief where they are cited;

***

(4) A statement of the issues presented for review;

(5) A statement of the case, indicating briefly the nature of the case, the
course of proceedings, and its disposition in the court below;

(6) A statement of facts, setting forth the facts relevant to the issues
presented for review with appropriate references to the record;

(7) An argument, which may be preceded by a summary of argument,
setting forth:

(A) the contentions of the appellant with respect to the
issues presented, and the reasons therefor, including
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 the reasons why the contentions require appellate
relief, with citations to the authorities and appropriate
references to the record (which may be quoted
verbatim) relied on; and

(B) for each issue, a concise statement of the applicable
standard of review (which may appear in the
discussion of the issue or under a separate heading
placed before the discussion of the issues);

(8) A short conclusion, stating the precise relief sought.

Although we recognize that Father is a pro se litigant and respect his decision to
proceed self-represented, Father’s appellate brief does contain certain deficiencies with
regard to the above-listed requirements. As Grandparents point out, Father’s issues listed
in his statement of issues are difficult to precisely discern, and his arguments and issues
do not completely correlate. However, we do not consider his argument to be merely
“skeletal.”

Upon review, we do not find Father’s brief so deficient as to warrant dismissal of
his appeal. We also recognize, however, that this Court has previously instructed that an
issue may be deemed waived “where it is simply raised without any argument regarding
its merits.” See Bean v. Bean, 40 S.W.3d 52, 56 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000); see also
Newcomb v. Kohler Co., 222 S.W.3d 368, 401 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006) (explaining that the
failure of a party to cite to authority or to construct an argument regarding his or her
position on appeal constitutes waiver of that issue). As this Court has acknowledged, it is
“under no duty to verify unsupported allegations in a party’s brief, or for that matter
consider issues raised but not argued in the brief.” Bean, 40 S.W.3d at 56. We will,
therefore, only address those issues for which Father has made an adequate supportive
argument.

V. Evidence Satisfying Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-306

Father posits that the trial court erred by granting visitation to Grandparents when
Grandparents failed to present sufficient evidence meeting the requirements of Tennessee
Code Annotated § 36-6-306 concerning, inter alia, the length of time the Child resided
with Grandparents, whether Grandparents were full-time caretakers of the Child, whether
Grandparents maintained a significant relationship with the Child, whether that
relationship was severed by Father, and whether severance of the relationship would
cause harm to the Child. Father further argues that Grandparents failed to demonstrate
that he had denied them the opportunity to visit with the Child or had severely reduced
their visitation prior to the petition’s filing. Grandparents counter that sufficient evidence

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satisfying the statutory requirements was presented. Upon our thorough review, we agree
with Grandparents.

Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-306 (2021) provides in pertinent part:

(a) Any of the following circumstances, when presented in a petition for
grandparent visitation to the circuit, chancery, general sessions
courts with domestic relations jurisdiction, other courts with
domestic relations jurisdiction or juvenile court in matters involving
children born out of wedlock of the county in which the petitioned
child currently resides, necessitates a hearing if such grandparent
visitation is opposed by the custodial parent or parents or custodian
or if the grandparent visitation has been severely reduced by the
custodial parent or parents or custodian:

***

(2) The child’s father or mother are divorced, legally separated,
or were never married to each other;

***

(5) The child resided in the home of the grandparent for a period
of twelve (12) months or more and was subsequently
removed from the home by the parent, parents, or custodian
(this grandparent-grandchild relationship establishes a
rebuttable presumption that denial of visitation may result in
irreparable harm to the child); or

(6) The child and the grandparent maintained a significant
existing relationship for a period of twelve (12) months or
more immediately preceding severance or severe reduction of
the relationship, this relationship was severed or severely
reduced by the parent, parents, or custodian for reasons other
than abuse or presence of a danger of substantial harm to the
child, and severance or severe reduction of this relationship is
likely to occasion substantial emotional harm to the child.

(b)(1) In considering a petition for grandparent visitation, the court shall
first determine the presence of a danger of substantial harm to the
child. Such finding of substantial harm may be based upon cessation
or severe reduction of the relationship between an unmarried minor

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 child and the child’s grandparent if the court determines, upon
proper proof, that:

(A) The child had such a significant existing relationship with the
grandparent that loss or severe reduction of the relationship is
likely to occasion severe emotional harm to the child;

(B) The grandparent functioned as a primary caregiver such that
cessation or severe reduction of the relationship could
interrupt provision of the daily needs of the child and thus
occasion physical or emotional harm; or

(C) The child had a significant existing relationship with the
grandparent and loss or severe reduction of the relationship
presents the danger of other direct and substantial harm to the
child.

(2) For purposes of this section, a grandparent shall be deemed to have a
significant existing relationship with a grandchild if:

(A) The child resided with the grandparent for at least six (6)
consecutive months;

(B) The grandparent was a full-time caretaker of the child for a
period of not less than six (6) consecutive months; or

(C) The grandparent had frequent visitation with the child who is
the subject of the suit for a period of not less than one (1)
year.

(3) A grandparent is not required to present the testimony or affidavit of
an expert witness in order to establish a significant existing
relationship with a grandchild or that the loss or severe reduction of
the relationship is likely to occasion severe emotional harm to the
child. Instead, the court shall consider whether the facts of the
particular case would lead a reasonable person to believe that there is
a significant existing relationship between the grandparent and
grandchild or that the loss or severe reduction of the relationship is
likely to occasion severe emotional harm to the child.

***

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 (c) Upon an initial finding of danger of substantial harm to the child, the
court shall then determine whether grandparent visitation would be
in the best interests of the child based upon the factors in § 36-6-307.
Upon such determination, reasonable visitation may be ordered.

A. Danger of Substantial Harm

In analyzing the trial court’s decision concerning grandparent visitation, we first
determine whether Grandparents presented sufficient evidence of the presence of a
danger of substantial harm to the Child. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(b)(1). As this
Court has previously elucidated:

Before we consider the substantive issue raised in this appeal, we
briefly review the law on grandparent visitation in Tennessee. As
explained in this Court’s opinion in Green v. Evans, No. M2011-00276-
COA-R3-CV, 2012 WL 1107887 (Tenn. Ct. App. March 30, 2012):

The decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Tennessee
Supreme Court, interpreting the federal and state
constitutions, explicitly prohibit any judicial assumption that
grandparent/grandchild relationships always benefit the child,
as contrary to the parents’ fundamental right to raise their
children as they see fit. See Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57,
66-72, 120 S. Ct. 2054, 147 L. Ed. 2d 49 (2000) (recognizing
parents’ fundamental constitutional right to make decisions
on care, custody and control of children, finding trial court
erred in presuming grandparent visits are in best interest of
children); Hawk v. Hawk, 855 S.W.2d 573, 577-82 (Tenn.
1993) (recognizing parents’ fundamental constitutional right,
finding trial court engaged in “sentimental” commentary on
grandparents and erred in “unquestioning judicial
assumption” that grandparent-grandchild relationship always
benefits child, basing award of grandparent visitation on that
presumed benefit). To avoid such an assumption, the
Tennessee constitution and Tennessee’s grandparent
visitation statute require a grandparent seeking visitation to
prove, as a threshold requirement, that the child will be in
danger of substantial harm if visitation is not ordered by the
court. Hawk, 855 S.W.2d at 581; Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-
306(b)(1). . . . Under Troxel, pursuant to the federal
constitution, in all phases of a proceeding on grandparent
visitation, there is a presumption that a fit parent is acting in
the child’s best interest, and the court must accord special
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 weight to the parent’s determinations. Troxel, 530 U.S. at 68,
70 [120 S. Ct. 2054] (plurality opinion) (“there is a
presumption that fit parents act in the best interests of their
children.”). . . .

Green, 2012 WL 1107887, at *8.

Thus, the “substantial harm” component is the threshold question in
grandparent visitation cases. As explained in Hawk:

The requirement of harm is the sole protection that parents
have against pervasive state interference in the parenting
process. As one author has stated:

For the state to delegate to the parents the
authority to raise the child as the parents see fit,
except when the state thinks another choice
would be better, is to give the parents no
authority at all. ‘You may do whatever you
choose, so long as it is what I would choose
also’ does not constitute a delegation of
authority.

Bean, Grandparent Visitation: Can the Parent Refuse?, 24
U. Louisville J. Fam. L. 393, 441 (1985-6) [hereinafter Bean,
Grandparent Visitation ]. . . .

***

We, too, agree that neither the legislature nor a court
may properly intervene in parenting decisions absent
significant harm to the child from those decisions. . . . An
approach requiring a court to make an initial finding of harm
to the child before evaluating the “best interests of the child”
works equally well in this case to prevent judicial second-
guessing of parental decisions. As one scholar has written:

If the courts attempt to resolve these disputes
when the only thing at stake is a grandparent’s
argument that visitation is a ‘better’ decision for
the child, the placement of the child with the
parent becomes subject to the court’s

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 supervision and judgment of what are the best
decisions for that child.

See Bean, Grandparent Visitation, supra, at 444-5.

By applying this type of analysis, we also seek to
avoid the “unquestioning judicial assumption” that
grandparent-grandchild relationships always benefit children,
an assumption that overlooks the necessity of a threshold
finding of harm before the state can intervene in the parent-
child relationship.

***

We hold that Article I, Section 8 of the Tennessee
Constitution protects the privacy interest of these parents in
their child-rearing decisions, so long as their decisions do not
substantially endanger the welfare of their children. Absent
some harm to the child, we find that the state lacks a
sufficiently compelling justification for interfering with this
fundamental right.

Hawk, 855 S.W.2d at 580-82 (footnote omitted).

Since the decision in Hawk, the Tennessee Grandparent Visitation
Statute has been amended to require proof of “the presence of a danger of
substantial harm” as a threshold requirement in most cases. See 2000 Tenn.
Laws Pub. Ch. 891 (H.B. 2297) (2000) (amending the Grandparent
Visitation Statute to include a substantial harm component). As succinctly
discussed in Marlene Eskind Moses and Jessica J. Uitto, The Current Status
of Tennessee’s Grandparent Visitation Law, Tenn. B. J., Jan. 2010, at 46,
24:

Because of the great deference that courts give to parental
decisions, when the court addresses grandparent visitation
rights, it must perform a lengthy and complex three-pronged
analysis. First, the grandparent seeking the court’s
intervention must show that one of six situations exists
pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(a). Second, the
court must determine whether there is a danger of substantial
harm to the child if the child does not have visitation with the
grandparent. The foregoing is based on three factors set out
in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(b)(1). In conjunction with
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 this analysis, the court must also determine if the relationship
between the child and grandparent is significant based on
three more factors set out in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-
306(b)(2). Third, if the court finds that there is danger of
substantial harm if the child does not have visitation with the
grandparent, it must decide whether the visitation would be in
the child’s best interest based on seven factors under Tenn.
Code Ann. § 36-6-307.

Id. (footnotes omitted).

McGarity v. Jerrolds, 429 S.W.3d 562, 570-72 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013) (footnote omitted).

In the instant cause, the trial court made extensive findings and conclusions, too
lengthy to be recounted verbatim herein. As pertinent to this issue, the trial court found
that the Child would likely experience severe emotional harm if she were unable to visit
with Grandparents, based on, inter alia, the following circumstances: (1) the Child had
enjoyed a close and significant relationship with Grandparents before the cessation of
visitation; (2) Grandparents had spent time with the Child almost daily for approximately
two years and had, at times, been the Child’s only caregivers; (3) the Child was six years
of age and was therefore unlikely to understand why she could no longer see
Grandparents; and (4) Grandparents and the Child enjoyed a strong emotional bond. The
evidence presented at trial supports these findings.

Grandmother testified that she was present at the Child’s birth despite the fact that
Mother and Father were living in Washington at the time. Grandmother stated that
following the parents’ divorce, the Child came to stay with her and Grandfather in
Tennessee in December 2017 while Mother remained in Washington and “transitioned
out” of the military. Grandparents were the Child’s only caretakers from December 2017
until April 2018, at which time Mother moved in with Grandparents as well. According
to Grandmother, after Mother began to reside in the home, Grandparents continued to
participate in caregiving for the Child on a daily basis unless Father was exercising his
co-parenting time, which initially occurred on alternating weekends and later occurred on
alternating weeks. Grandmother explained that the change to fifty/fifty co-parenting
occurred around October 2018 following Father’s filing of a dependency and neglect
action regarding Mother’s substance abuse.2

Grandmother further related that Mother and the Child remained in Grandparents’
home until November 2019 when Grandparents purchased a new home with a separate
apartment on the premises. Although Mother and the Child then moved into the

2
We note that the Davidson County Juvenile Court’s order awarding joint custody with alternating weeks
of co-parenting time for each parent was entered in March 2019.
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apartment, Grandparents still saw the Child on a daily basis unless the Child was visiting
with Father. According to Grandmother, the Child often spent the night at their home
because Mother was enrolled in classes and could not be home with the Child in the
evening.

Grandmother acknowledged that Mother had a history of substance abuse. In
March 2020, Grandmother discovered what appeared to be illicit drugs among Mother’s
possessions in the apartment. When Mother was confronted, she confessed that she had
been using methamphetamine. According to Grandmother, she and Grandfather
contacted Father’s mother and reported Mother’s drug use. Father then filed another
dependency and neglect action in juvenile court, resulting in the juvenile court’s award of
custody to Father on March 24, 2020.

Grandmother claimed that since Father obtained custody, Grandfather and she had
attempted to contact Father to speak or visit with the Child but that Father had either been
unresponsive or had denied their requests. Grandmother added that they had been
allowed to speak to the Child one time via telephone on her birthday in April 2020 and
had been permitted only one short, in-person, supervised visit in June 2020.
Grandmother presented various text messages she had exchanged with Father in March
and April 2020 as an exhibit, evincing that Father had instructed Grandmother to cease
contacting him on April 15, 2020, prior to the filing of Grandparents’ petition for
visitation.

Grandmother also reported that the juvenile court had allowed Grandparents to
transport the Child for visits with Mother beginning in July 2020, such that they were
able to spend time with the Child one weekend per month, plus some additional days
during the year. Notwithstanding, Father had placed additional restrictions on their
ability to see the Child that were not contained in the juvenile court’s order.
Grandparents had complied with Father’s demands in order to continue visits.

According to Grandmother, the Child appeared to be much more reserved in her
interactions with Grandparents during the visit in June 2020, which occurred after she
had not seen them for a few months. However, Grandmother related that the Child had
seemed much “better” and had returned to her normal, outgoing personality since their
visits had become more regular. Grandmother also stated that the Child at times became
upset and teary when she had to leave Grandparents and return to Father. Because of
this, Grandparents had initiated a custom with the Child of counting how many nights or
“sleeps” would pass until their next visit.

Grandmother articulated that she enjoyed a close relationship with the Child and
loved the Child very much. According to Grandmother, the Child frequently had
attended church with Grandparents in the past and had vacationed with them every year
since her birth. Grandmother urged that the Child appeared to enjoy visiting with
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Grandparents and opined that the Child would suffer substantial emotional harm if the
visits were stopped or reduced. Grandmother also stated that all of the Child’s extended
family lived in Decatur County and that she did not want the Child to lose touch with her
family.

Grandmother testified that she had encouraged the Child to have a good
relationship with both Mother and Father and that Grandmother did not desire to take
parenting time away from Father. Therefore, Grandparents proposed a visitation
schedule that coincided with Mother’s co-parenting time. Grandmother reported that
Mother was residing in an inpatient rehabilitation facility at the time of trial and that
Grandparents transported the Child to the facility to see Mother in accordance with the
juvenile court’s order. Grandmother stated that she did not believe that Father would
allow them to visit the Child regularly absent a court-ordered schedule.

During cross-examination, Grandmother acknowledged that Grandparents had
filed a motion to intervene in the juvenile court action on or around April 13, 2020,
reflecting that they wished to pursue custody of the Child; however, they had not been
allowed to intervene in that matter. Grandmother also acknowledged that the petition for
grandparent visitation had been filed approximately thirty days after Father was granted
custody. Although Grandmother conceded that she had not asked to see the Child
initially because of the “safer at home” order, she explained that she was later thwarted
by Father’s April 15, 2020 request for no contact. Grandmother expressed her concerns
that should Mother relapse, Grandparents would not be allowed visitation with the Child
absent an order from the trial court.

Grandfather also testified, indicating that his testimony would match
Grandmother’s for the most part. Grandfather related his love for the Child and
referenced the significant bond that Grandparents shared with her. Grandfather also
reported that he and Grandmother had both asked for contact and visits with the Child but
that Father had not allowed significant contact before the juvenile court’s order, with only
one telephone call and one supervised visit having been granted. Grandfather indicated
that he had previously taken the Child to church, the doctor, or wherever she needed to go
before Father obtained custody. Grandfather also reported that the Child’s personality
had proved more “normal” since their visits with her had become consistent. According
to Grandfather, the Child was quiet and reserved when they were allowed to see her in
June 2020, but she had seemed happier since they had enjoyed regular visits.

Mother testified in support of Grandparents’ visitation petition, stating that
Grandparents had accurately described their relationship with the Child and the timeline
preceding trial. Mother recounted that she and Father divorced in December 2017 and
that the Child came to reside with Grandparents in January 2018. Mother further
reported that the Child enjoyed a strong relationship with Grandparents due to their
significant contact during the life of the Child, who frequently asked when she would get
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to see them again. According to Mother, based upon her familiarity with Father, she
believed that it was unlikely that he would allow Grandparents to enjoy regular visits
with the Child absent a court order.

Mother likewise opined that cessation or reduction of Grandparents’ visits with the
Child would be detrimental to the Child. Mother testified that she did not see the Child
from March 2020 to August 2020 and that the Child, who had previously been outgoing
and playful, was much more reserved during their visit in August 2020. However, since
she and Grandparents had been having regular visits with the Child, the Child had
reverted to her “old personality” and had gotten her “spunk back.” Mother acknowledged
that Grandparents’ proposed visitation schedule would coincide with her co-parenting
time while indicating her agreement to that proposal.

Father’s paramour, M.G., testified that she had been living with Father and had
seen the Child regularly since 2018. M.G. explained that although the Child performed
well in school, she at times received negative behavior reports after spending a weekend
with Grandparents. M.G. stated that the Child returned from visits “sugared up” and
smelling of cigarette smoke despite the fact that Father had requested Grandparents not to
provide the Child excessive sugar or engage in smoking around her. M.G. opined that
Father was a good parent.

Upon taking the stand, Father testified that although he did not object to
Grandparents’ visitation with the Child, he did oppose a court order granting such
visitation. Father noted that the Child had lived primarily with Grandparents from
January 2018 to April 2018 and spent more time with them than she did with Father
during that period. Father also acknowledged that Grandparents adequately provided for
the Child.

Father reported that after Mother moved to Tennessee in April 2018, he had more
equal time with the Child but that Grandparents saw the Child as much as he did.
Although Father claimed that he had not allowed Grandparents to visit the Child from
March to June 2020 because of concerns regarding COVID-19, he admitted that he had
the Child in day care during that time period. Father also related that he cut off contact in
April 2020 because Mother was still living in the apartment on Grandparents’ property
until she was arrested in May 2020.

Our review of the evidence presented leads to the conclusion that the trial court’s
findings were supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Grandparents clearly
maintained a significant relationship with the Child, as defined in the statute, because the
Child resided in Grandparents’ home (with and without Mother) for more than six
consecutive months. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(b)(2)(A). Grandparents enjoyed
daily and then frequent contact with the Child from December 2017 or January 2018 until
March 2020, even after Mother and the Child moved into an apartment on Grandparents’
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property. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(b)(2)(C). In addition, Grandparents
presented substantial evidence concerning their close relationship with the Child, which
“would lead a reasonable person to believe that there is a significant existing relationship
between the grandparent and grandchild or that the loss or severe reduction of the
relationship is likely to occasion severe emotional harm to the child.” See Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-6-306(b)(3).

As this Court has previously explained concerning substantial harm:

Although the circumstances that constitute substantial harm cannot
be precisely defined, this court has offered the following guidelines:

[T]he use of the modifier “substantial” indicates two things.
First, it connotes a real hazard or danger that is not minor,
trivial, or insignificant. Second, it indicates that the harm
must be more than a theoretical possibility. While the harm
need not be inevitable, it must be sufficiently probable to
prompt a reasonable person to believe that the harm will
occur more likely than not.

Ray v. Ray, 83 S.W.3d 726, 732 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001) (footnotes omitted).
Moreover, “[t]o find substantial harm, there must be supporting evidence in
the record that is specific to this child’s relationship with this grandparent.”
Green v. Evans, No. M2001-00276-COA-R3-CV, 2012 WL 1107887, at
*11 (Tenn. Ct. App. Mar. 30, 2012); see Angel v. Nixon, No. M2010-
00554-COA-R3-CV, 2010 WL 4483915, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 8,
2010). For an appellate court to affirm a trial court’s finding of substantial
harm, “there must be affirmative evidence in the record showing that the
specific child at issue is likely to suffer substantial harm from the loss of
the grandparent-grandchild relationship.” McGarity, 429 S.W.3d at 577.

In re Camryne B., No. M2014-00801-COA-R3-JV, 2014 WL 7181345, at *5 (Tenn. Ct.
App. Dec. 16, 2014) (other internal citations omitted).

In the case at bar, the trial court determined that Grandparents had met their
burden of proof concerning a danger of substantial harm to the Child as required by the
statute, which demands a finding that the “child had such a significant existing
relationship with the grandparent that loss or severe reduction of the relationship is likely
to occasion severe emotional harm to the child.” See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-
306(b)(1)(A). Upon careful review, we agree that Grandparents have met this burden.
The Child had enjoyed a significant relationship with Grandparents at least since January
2018 with Grandparents acting as her sole caretakers for a period of three to four months.
On this point, Grandparents elaborated that they had taken the Child to church, the
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doctor, and on vacation, as well as having cared for her day-to-day needs during times
when the Child was not with Father.

Grandparents and Mother also observed that the Child’s personality had seemed
reserved and different during their initial visits after Father obtained custody but that the
Child had returned to a happier disposition once regular visitation was established.
Mother related that the Child often discussed when she would next be able to see
Grandparents. Grandparents described having to count “sleeps” with the Child so that
she could know how soon she would be able to see them again. We conclude that the
trial court properly determined that there was a danger of substantial emotional harm to
the Child if visitation with Grandparents was denied. We will therefore proceed to
analyze whether Grandparents met their burden of proof concerning the remainder of the
statutory requirements.

B. Proof Required by Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-306(a)

Father argues that the trial court erred by finding that Grandparents met their
burden of proof concerning the circumstances required by Tennessee Code Annotated §
36-6-306(a). This portion of the statute requires a showing that grandparent visitation
was “opposed by the custodial parent” or was “severely reduced by the custodial parent.”
See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(a). It additionally requires a showing of “any” of the
enumerated circumstances contained therein, including that the Child’s parents had been
divorced or that

[t]he “child and the grandparent maintained a significant existing
relationship for a period of twelve (12) months or more immediately
preceding severance of the relationship, this relationship was severed by the
parent or parents for reasons other than abuse or presence of a danger of
substantial harm to the child, and severance of this relationship is likely to
occasion substantial emotional harm to the child.”

Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(a)(2) and (6).

The trial court found that Father had “terminated the visitation in March of 2020
[when] the child had been with the grandparents for well over two years on a substantial
basis.” We agree. We have previously determined that Grandparents had enjoyed daily
and then frequent contact with the Child from December 2017 or January 2018 until
March 2020. Although Father claimed that he was not opposed to Grandparents’ visiting
the Child, he refused to allow visits from March to June 2020, proffering concerns
respecting the pandemic and apprehension that the Child would be allowed to be around
Mother before her arrest. However, Father failed to explain why he allowed the Child to
visit his mother and attend day care during that same time period without similar
concerns regarding illness or why Grandparents could not have been allowed visitation
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somewhere other than their home while Mother allegedly was still residing on
Grandparents’ property. In addition, Father not only refused in-person contact between
Grandparents and the Child, he disallowed all telephone contact except for one call on the
Child’s birthday.

Despite his protestations to the contrary, the exhibits presented at trial demonstrate
that Father sent a text message to Grandparents in April 2020 asking them to cease
having contact with him. This predated the filing of Grandparents’ petition for visitation.
In doing so, Father denied visitation to Grandparents by refusing to allow them further
contact such that they could not request visits. In addition, although Father points to the
single visit in June 2020 as evidence of his lack of opposition to visitation, we note that
Father placed significant restrictions on that visit by limiting Grandparents’ time with the
Child to one hour and requiring that the visit be supervised by him. This amounts to a
constructive denial of visitation. See Coleman v. Olson, 551 S.W.3d 686, 699 (Tenn.
2018) (“Constructive denial occurs when the custodial parent limits or restricts the
frequency or conditions of visitation so that it is the same as a denial of visitation.”).
Grandparents have clearly established that Father opposed and severely reduced their
visitation with the Child after he obtained custody in March 2020.

Furthermore, Grandparents sufficiently established that circumstances matching
two of the enumerated examples delineated in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-306(a)
existed, necessitating a hearing concerning grandparent visitation. It is undisputed that
Father and Mother were divorced in Washington in December 2017 before they
separately returned to Tennessee. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(a)(2). In addition,
Grandparents maintained a significant relationship with the Child for at least two years
prior to Father’s obtaining custody and halting Grandparents’ visits with the Child.
Father has neither alleged nor proven that his cessation of Grandparents’ visits was due to
any abuse of the Child by Grandparents or presence of a danger of substantial harm to the
Child occasioned by Grandparents. Furthermore, as we have previously determined,
Father’s cessation of Grandparents’ visits with the Child is likely to cause substantial
emotional harm to the child. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-306(a)(6). As such,
Grandparents have successfully proven that the circumstances listed in Tennessee Code
Annotated § 36-6-306(a)(2) and (6) were present.

VI. Evidence Concerning Best Interest Factors Contained in
Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-307

When the other statutory requirements have been met, Tennessee Code Annotated
§ 36-6-306 instructs that the court should “determine whether grandparent visitation
would be in the best interests of the child based upon the factors in § 36-6-307.”
Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-307 (2021) provides:

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 In determining the best interests of the child under § 36-6-306, the court
shall consider all pertinent matters, including, but not necessarily limited to,
the following:

(1) The length and quality of the prior relationship between the child
and the grandparent and the role performed by the grandparent;

(2) The existing emotional ties of the child to the grandparent;

(3) The preference of the child if the child is determined to be of
sufficient maturity to express a preference;

(4) The effect of hostility between the grandparent and the parent of the
child manifested before the child, and the willingness of the
grandparent, except in case of abuse, to encourage a close
relationship between the child and the parent or parents, or guardian
or guardians of the child;

(5) The good faith of the grandparent in filing the petition;

(6) If the parents are divorced or separated, the time-sharing
arrangement that exists between the parents with respect to the child;

(7) If one (1) parent is deceased or missing, the fact that the
grandparents requesting visitation are the parents of the deceased or
missing person;

(8) Any unreasonable deprivation of the grandparent’s opportunity to
visit with the child by the child’s parents or guardian, including
denying visitation of the minor child to the grandparent for a period
exceeding ninety (90) days;

(9) Whether the grandparent is seeking to maintain a significant existing
relationship with the child;

(10) Whether awarding grandparent visitation would interfere with the
parent-child relationship; and

(11) Any court finding that the child’s parent or guardian is unfit.

Father contends that the trial court erred by failing to make findings regarding
whether the visitation granted to Grandparents would interfere with the parent-child
relationship. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-307(10). Father also advances that the trial
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court erred by determining that an “unreasonable deprivation of [Grandparents’]
opportunity to visit” occurred. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-307(8). Following our
thorough review of the record, however, we determine that the trial court properly
considered the applicable best interest factors in this matter and made sufficient findings
with reference to each that are supported by a preponderance of the evidence.

Specifically with regard to factor ten, which is one of only two issues raised by
Father concerning the best interest factors, the trial court expressly determined that the
grandparent visitation ordered would not interfere with Father’s relationship with the
Child. The trial court subsequently explained that inasmuch as Grandparents’ visitation
time would completely coincide with Mother’s co-parenting time with the Child, Father’s
co-parenting time would not be impacted. We agree with the trial court that the visitation
granted to Grandparents should have no impact on Father’s co-parenting time.

In addition, we note that no evidence was presented suggesting that Grandparents
have done anything to interfere with the Child’s relationship with Father. In fact,
Grandparents each testified that they had both encouraged the Child to have a good
relationship with Father and with Mother. Given the evidence presented at trial, Father
made no showing that by allowing Grandparents’ visitation to occur, Father’s relationship
with the Child would be negatively impacted.

Father also asserts that Grandparents failed to prove an unreasonable deprivation
of their opportunity to visit with the Child by Father, as outlined in factor number eight
above. The evidence presented at trial, however, clearly demonstrated that Father
allowed Grandparents only one short, supervised visit with the Child during the more
than ninety-day period between the juvenile court’s grant of custody to Father on March
24, 2020, and its subsequent July 10, 2020 order permitting Grandparents to transport the
Child for Mother’s co-parenting time. Moreover, during that same timeframe, Father
only allowed one telephone call between Grandparents and the Child.

Although Father attempts to present arguments concerning other best interest
factors in his brief, he has raised no other issues in his statement of issues on appeal
concerning such factors. Accordingly, Father’s arguments concerning the remaining best
interest factors are waived. See Gibson v. Bikas, 556 S.W.3d 796, 810 (Tenn. Ct. App.
2018) (explaining that a party’s request for attorney’s fees on appeal would not be
considered because it had not been raised as an issue in the statement of the issues);
Ethridge v. Estate of Ethridge, 427 S.W.3d 389, 395 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013) (“Issues not
raised in the statement of the issues may be considered waived.”). We conclude,
however, that our thorough review of the trial court’s findings concerning the applicable
best interest factors establishes that those findings were supported by a preponderance of
evidence.3

3
We consider factor number three to be inapplicable in this matter inasmuch as the Child expressed no
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 VII. Father’s Remaining Issues

We similarly determine Father’s remaining issues to be waived insofar as he
neglected to offer support of those issues in the argument section of his brief, failing to
state “the contentions of the appellant with respect to the issues presented, and the
reasons therefor, including the reasons why the contentions require appellate relief, with
citations to the authorities and appropriate references to the record . . . relied on[.]” Tenn.
R. App. P. 27(a)(7)(A). See Childress v. Union Realty Co., 97 S.W.3d 573, 578 (Tenn.
Ct. App. 2002) (“[W]hen a party raises an issue in its brief, but fails to address it in the
argument section of the brief, we consider the issue to be waived.”). We will, therefore,
proceed to address the final issue raised by Grandparents.

VIII. Attorney’s Fees on Appeal

Grandparents assert that they should be awarded their attorney’s fees and costs
incurred as a result of Father’s appeal, which they characterize as frivolous. As this
Court has previously explained regarding frivolous appeals:

Parties should not be forced to bear the cost and vexation of baseless
appeals. Accordingly, in 1975, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted
Tenn. Code Ann. § 27-1-122 to enable appellate courts to award damages
against parties whose appeals are frivolous or are brought solely for the
purpose of delay. Determining whether to award these damages is a
discretionary decision.

A frivolous appeal is one that is devoid of merit or one that has no
reasonable chance of succeeding.

Young v. Barrow, 130 S.W.3d 59, 66-67 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003) (internal citations
omitted).

Similarly, Tennessee Code Annotated § 27-1-122 (2017) provides:

When it appears to any reviewing court that the appeal from any court of
record was frivolous or taken solely for delay, the court may, either upon
motion of a party or of its own motion, award just damages against the
appellant, which may include but need not be limited to, costs, interest on
the judgment, and expenses incurred by the appellee as a result of the
appeal.

preference to the trial court and was likely of insufficient maturity to do so.
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We determine that Father’s appeal was not so completely devoid of merit as to be
deemed frivolous. Therefore, we exercise our discretion to deny Grandparents’ request
for attorney’s fees on appeal.

IX. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s order awarding visitation to
Grandparents. We decline, however, to award attorney’s fees to Grandparents on appeal.
Costs on appeal are taxed to the appellant, Jonathan Alan Holmes. This case is remanded
to the trial court for enforcement of the judgment and collection of costs assessed below.

s/Thomas R. Frierson, II
_________________________________
THOMAS R. FRIERSON, II, JUDGE

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