Elizabeth Lindsey v. Mark Lindsey ( 2000 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2001-CA-00098-SCT
ELIZABETH LINDSEY
v.
MARK LINDSEY
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 9/27/2000
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. NORMAN L. GILLESPIE
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: TIPPAH COUNTY CHANCERY COURT
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: KENNETH EUGENE FLOYD, II
TOMMY DEXTER CADLE
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: WILL R. FORD
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 2/28/2002
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED: 4/1/2002; denied 6/20/2002
MANDATE ISSUED: 6/27/2002
BEFORE SMITH, P.J., COBB AND DIAZ, JJ.
DIAZ, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Mark Lindsey filed for divorce from Elizabeth Lindsey on grounds of adultery and irreconcilable
differences on August 24, 2000, in the Chancery Court of Tippah County, Mississippi. An order was
entered granting the divorce to Mark on the ground of adultery. On appeal, Elizabeth now brings the
following issues before this Court:
I. Whether Mississippi law authorizes a final decree of divorce by a chancery court sitting in
vacation and without the consent of both parties.
II. Whether the chancellor erred in failing to give notice to Elizabeth of the hearing and
rendering of the decree of divorce.
III. Whether the chancellor erred in entering a final decree of divorce when at the time
Elizabeth was pregnant.
IV. Whether, in light of testimony revealing that Elizabeth and Mark resumed sexual
relations, the chancellor erred in refusing to set aside the divorce decree based on the
defense of condonation.
FACTS
¶2. The divorce was originally set for hearing on September 12, 2000; however, the hearing was continued
until further order of the chancery court. On September 27, presiding Chancellor Norman L. Gillespie
entered a final decree of divorce in favor of Mark on the ground of adultery. The matter was heard in
vacation by the Chancery Court of Tippah County. Elizabeth failed to answer the complaint filed by Mark,
and she did not appear before the chancery court when the chancellor heard Mark's complaint for divorce.
¶3. On October 27, 2000, Elizabeth, making her first appearance before the chancery court, filed a motion
to set aside the decree of divorce. On December 4, 2000, a hearing was held on the motion to set aside the
decree of divorce. The chancery court ruled in favor of Mark and refused to set aside the divorce decree.
On December 12, 2000, Elizabeth filed a motion to reconsider, and on December 26, 2000, Elizabeth filed
a motion to declare the final decree of divorce void. Both motions were denied.
DISCUSSION
¶4. The scope of review in domestic matters is limited, and this Court will not disturb the findings of a
chancellor unless those findings are clearly erroneous or an erroneous legal standard was applied. Norton
v. Norton, 742 So. 2d 126, 129 (Miss. 1999).
I. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN ORDERING A DECREE OF DIVORCE
IN VACATION AND WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF BOTH PARTIES.
¶5. Elizabeth relies on the rule in Mississippi that the power of judges and chancellors to sign decrees and
try causes in vacation must be derived from statute or by consent of the parties. Chaffin v. Chaffin, 437
So. 2d 384, 385 (Miss. 1983); Callicott v. Horn, 137 Miss. 693,102 So. 850, 851 (1925). A decree
entered in vacation that is not in conformity with statute or not authorized by statute is void. Id. According
to Elizabeth, Mississippi provides chancellors with the authority to hear and rule on divorce matters as
follows:
(1) The proceedings to obtain a divorce shall not be heard or considered nor a judgment of divorce
entered except in open court. A chancellor may, in his discretion, hear or consider proceedings to
obtain a divorce in vacation and make and enter judgments of divorce in the same manner as he may
in other cases that may be heard in vacation pursuant to Section 9-5-91. Any judgment made or
entered contrary to the provisions of this section shall be null and void.
Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-17(1) (1994). Elizabeth argues that since Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-91 (referenced
above in § 93-5-17) was repealed in 1991, there is no longer a statute that authorizes a chancellor to hear
divorce proceedings while in recess or in vacation from its scheduled terms of court. Section 9-5-91 was
repealed; however, we do not interpret the repeal of § 9-5-91 to mean that chancellors no longer have the
authority to hear divorce matters in vacation.
¶6. Elizabeth also contends that Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-93 did not authorize the chancellor to hear the
complaint and render a final decree of divorce. Section 9-5-93 states:
Whenever the chancery court or chancellor has lawfully set any matter in vacation for confirmation or
decree, and no contest has been timely filed, if an order or decree determining the same or setting
another date therefor be not entered upon such date, the chancellor shall have the power to enter an
order or decree on any day prior to the adjournment of the next succeeding term, without further
process. Provided, that if the matter be one in which contest might have been entered prior to the date
set and such contest be filed before the entry of such order or decree, the same shall be disposed of
as if such contest had been timely filed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 9-5-93 (1991).
¶7. Elizabeth argues that since § 93-5-17, quoted above, makes no reference to § 9-5-93 that section does
not apply. Furthermore, she argues that there was no order setting the divorce hearing on September 27,
2000. The hearing was originally set for September 12, 2000. The chancery court rescheduled the hearing
for a later, undetermined date.
¶8. Mark argues that Elizabeth's proposition that chancellors are not authorized to grant judgments of
divorce while in vacation is ludicrous. He contends that to hold otherwise would void a large percentage of
divorces granted in this state.
¶9. Because Elizabeth failed to timely answer the complaint and failed to contest the divorce decree until
after the decree was entered, this Court finds that the chancellor did not err in holding the divorce hearing in
vacation without her consent. We find that Elizabeth impliedly consented to the hearing in vacation by failing
to contest the divorce to make a timely appearance before the chancery court.
¶10. Furthermore, the chancellor conducted a hearing on Elizabeth's motion to set aside the divorce decree.
Mark admitted that he tried to discuss a proposed settlement agreement with Elizabeth the day before the
September 27 hearing and that she would not sign the agreement without letting an attorney review it.
However, as the chancellor concluded, Elizabeth was served with the complaint for divorce and failed to
answer within 30 days. Mark tried to convince Elizabeth to sign a divorce agreement based on
irreconcilable differences. The chancellor found that Mark told Elizabeth that if she did not sign the
agreement, he "was going to go to the Court, wouldn't have to have her to go ahead and have the divorce."
Elizabeth missed her first opportunity to contest the divorce. She was given a second chance to contest the
divorce at the hearing on her motion to set aside the divorce decree. The record supports the chancellor's
decision to deny the motion to set aside the divorce decree.
II. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN FAILING TO GIVE NOTICE TO
ELIZABETH OF THE HEARING AND RENDERING OF THE DECREE OF DIVORCE.
¶11. In a case similar to the one before this Court, Ramona Stinson filed for divorce on the ground of
adultery, and her husband Johnny Stinson was served with process but failed to answer the complaint or
appear at the hearing. Stinson v. Stinson, 738 So. 2d 1259, 1261 (Miss. Ct. App. 1999). The chancellor
granted a divorce to Ramona even though Johnny did not have notice of the hearing on the divorce. Id. The
Mississippi Court of Appeals upheld the divorce decree ruling that the husband was not entitled to notice of
the hearing on the uncontested divorce matter. Id. This Court agrees that there is no obligation to send a
notice of hearing to one who fails to make a timely appearance.
¶12. In Rawson v. Buta, 609 So. 2d 426, 430 (Miss. 1992), this Court held that the husband was entitled
to present proof at trial rebutting the wife's allegations of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment despite the
husband's failure to timely answer the complaint. The husband, Rawson, filed an answer a few days before
the trial date. Id. at 428. He also appeared at the trial to contest the divorce. Id. at 429. However, the
chancellor heard the action as uncontested due to Rawson's failure to answer the complaint within the time
prescribed by M.R.C.P. 12(a). Id. The wife's only corroborating evidence consisted of photographs
depicting the alleged physical abuse. Id. The chancellor granted the divorce. Id. This Court found that the
corroborating photographs were insufficient to support a grant of divorce. Id. at 430. Furthermore, this
Court held that "[b]ecause of the special nature of a divorce proceeding, a defendant is not barred from
defending the action upon failure to answer the complaint." Id. at 432.
¶13. According to Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-7 (1994), in a divorce matter, no judgment by default may be
granted, and a defendant is not required to answer a complaint. This does not mean that a claimant is
barred from obtaining an uncontested divorce. According to Rule 55(e) of the Mississippi Rules of Civil
Procedure, no judgment by default shall be entered against a party to a suit for divorce unless the claimant
establishes his claim or rights to relief by evidence. M.R.C.P. 55(e). A divorce claimant must prove the
allegations of the complaint, even when the defendant has failed to answer. As stated in Rawson, the rule
for default judgments in divorce cases imposes special requirements. Rawson, 609 So.2d at 430. The
claimant must present proof in open court. Id. Furthermore, a divorce will not be granted on the
uncorroborated testimony of the claimant. Anderson v. Anderson, 190 Miss. 508, 200 So. 726, 727
(1941).
¶14. In the case sub judice, Elizabeth not only failed to answer the complaint, but she failed to make an
appearance before the chancery court until after the decree of divorce was entered. See Holmes v.
Holmes, 628 So. 2d 1361, 1363 (Miss. 1993). Nevertheless, the chancellor allowed Elizabeth to testify in
the subsequent hearing. At the hearing, Elizabeth failed to present a good reason for not making an
appearance. Furthermore, Elizabeth failed to rebut any of the allegations in the original complaint. In fact,
Elizabeth openly admitted that she committed adultery.
¶15. Although we have the order granting the uncontested divorce, there is no record of the original hearing
before this Court. Therefore, without more, there would be no way of knowing whether Mark presented
sufficient proof in the original hearing. However, in the subsequent hearing on Elizabeth's motion to set aside
the default judgment, Elizabeth admitted to committing adultery. Furthermore, the subsequent hearing
revealed that evidence of adultery was presented to the chancellor at the original hearing. In the original
hearing, Elizabeth's own father appeared as a witness for Mark and corroborated the adultery charge.
Based on the record of the hearing on Elizabeth's motion to set aside the default judgment, this Court finds
that Mark's allegations were proven in open court. Furthermore, this Court finds that there was no
obligation by the chancellor to send notice to Elizabeth of the hearing where Elizabeth failed to make a
timely appearance.
III. WHETHER THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN ENTERING A FINAL DECREE OF
DIVORCE AT THE TIME ELIZABETH WAS PREGNANT.
¶16. Elizabeth was pregnant at the time of entry of the divorce decree. However, after hearing arguments
from both parties at the hearing on Elizabeth's motion to set aside the divorce decree, the chancellor found
that no one knew about the pregnancy at the time and the pregnancy was not discovered until after the
chancery court entered its decree. Uniform Chancery Court Rule 8.01 stated that a court may not grant a
divorce if the mother is expecting a child at the time that the divorce is being heard or at the time the decree
was entered. However, that rule has been deleted and is no longer in effect.
IV. WHETHER, IN LIGHT OF TESTIMONY REVEALING THAT ELIZABETH AND
MARK RESUMED SEXUAL RELATIONS, THE CHANCELLOR ERRED IN
REFUSING TO SET ASIDE THE DIVORCE DECREE BASED ON THE DEFENSE OF
CONDONATION.
¶17. Elizabeth argues for the first time on appeal that, because she and Mark had sexual relations after he
filed for a divorce on the ground of adultery, the divorce decree should have been set aside based on
condonation. According to the record, Elizabeth and Mark did have sexual relations on September 17,
2000, after Elizabeth admittedly promised that she would cease her adulterous affair. However, Elizabeth
continued her adulterous relationship the following day and at least up until, as admitted by Elizabeth, a
week or two before the hearing conducted on December 4, 2000.
¶18. This Court has held that the defense of condonation can be avoided if after a resumption of
cohabitation, the marital offense is repeated. Wood v. Wood, 495 So. 2d 503, 506 (Miss.1986). See also
Harmon v. Harmon, 757 So. 2d 305, 309 (Miss. Ct. App. 1999). Thus, the chancellor did not abuse his
discretion in refusing to set aside the divorce decree based on the defense of condonation.
CONCLUSION
¶19. This Court finds that, based on Elizabeth's failure to contest the divorce and because she failed to
make a timely appearance before the chancery court, in the form of an answer to the complaint or
otherwise, the chancellor did not abuse his discretion by conducting a hearing on the divorce in vacation and
without notice to Elizabeth. Elizabeth's pregnancy at the time of the divorce decree is of no consequence
because Uniform Chancery Court Rule 8.01 has been abolished, and no one knew of the pregnancy until
after the entry of the divorce decree. Furthermore, the defense of condonation was without merit because
Elizabeth continued to commit the marital offense. Therefore, this Court affirms the judgment of the
chancellor.
¶20. AFFIRMED.
PITTMAN, C.J., McRAE AND SMITH, P.JJ., WALLER, COBB, CARLSON AND
GRAVES, JJ., CONCUR. EASLEY, J., DISSENTS WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN
OPINION.
McRAE, PRESIDING JUSTICE, DISSENTING ON DENIAL OF REHEARING:
¶21. Elizabeth Lindsey was pregnant when the Chancery Court of Tippah County granted a divorce in
favor of her husband; however, she did not notify anyone of her pregnancy until after the decree had been
entered. The chancellor noted at the hearing on the Motion to Declare Final Decree of Divorce Void that
although there was once a Uniform Chancery Court Rule 8.01 "whereby no divorce would be granted or
the Court may not enter a divorce if the mother is expecting a child at the time that the divorce is being
heard or at the time the decree was entered[,]" since Mrs. Lindsey's pregnancy was not common
knowledge until after the decree had been entered, issues such as the child's paternity, support and medical
expenses could be taken up by the chancery court at another time. In denying Mrs. Lindsey's Motion for
Rehearing, the majority agrees with the chancellor in saying this rule should not have been addressed. I
respectfully disagree.
¶22. The chancellor should not have granted the divorce in this case without at least considering the fact that
Mrs. Lindsey was pregnant. Even though Rule 8.01 has been abolished since the late 1980s, equitable
principles still govern. Additionally, this Court has ruled that our foremost consideration is the best interest
of the child. What of the ramifications this divorce might have on the child? There is a presumption that a
child conceived in wedlock is the legitimate offspring of the couple, even after divorce. But, in this case,
Mrs. Lindsey had already admitted adultery, and either Mark Lindsey or her paramour could be the father.
What does that mean for her unborn child? Should the Lindseys have to go back to court to determine the
identity of the child's father? Who is going to pay child support and expenses after the birth of this child?
Mrs. Lindsey's post-trial motion was timely, and, as such, the trial court should have considered how
granting the parties' divorce would affect the child, and in doing this should have used former Rule 8.01 as
an equitable principle.
¶23. Accordingly, I dissent from the denial of rehearing.
EASLEY, J., JOINS THIS OPINION.