Baggett v. Baggett , 1973 Tenn. App. LEXIS 260 ( 1973 )

OPINION

TODD, Judge.

This is the second appeal in this divorce case. In the former appeal, this Court affirmed a decree of divorce in favor of the husband-cross complainant and the award of custody of two minor children to the wife-cross defendant; however, the final adjudication of property rights and permanent custody was reserved for further consideration of the Trial Judge “at the conclusion of the present (1972) school year.”

As a result of a further hearing by the Trial Judge, it was ordered that:

1. The principal custody of the minor children of the parties be awarded to cross-defendant, Janet Bacon Baggett, with continuation of visitation privileges as previously ordered.

2. That certain property in Robertson County, Tennessee be awarded to cross-complainant, Victor Lee Baggett, as his sole property and that all right, title and interest of Janet Bacon Baggett in said property be divested out of her and vested in Victor Lee Baggett.

3. That the home place and personal property of the parties in Davidson County, Tennessee shall remain the property of both parties as tenants in common subject to the right and privilege of the cross-defendant to have the use of said property so long as she retains the principal custody of either or both of the minor children.

4. The solicitor for the cross-defendant wife was awarded a fee of $2,000.00, one-half of same to be paid by each party.

From said decree the cross-complainant, Victor Lee Baggett, has appealed and filed two assignments of error, of which the first is as follows:

“1. The Court erroneously held that it is in the best interests of the minor children for principal custody to be awarded to the Mother.”

The decree of the Trial Judge recites:

“IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that principal custody of the minor children of the parties be awarded to Janet Bacon Baggett, with the visitation privileges heretofore extended to Victor Lee Baggett to continue in full force and effect.”

The factual grounds cited in support of the first assignment are:

1. Refusal of the mother to discuss the welfare of the children with the father.

2. Mother’s alleged efforts to discourage telephone communication of children and father.

3. Refusal (on one occasion) to allow children to begin visit with father earlier than ordered to avoid bad weather.

4. An alleged false statement by mother to child about father.

5. Administration by mother of prescribed medication to child before visit to father.

6. Solicitation of sympathy by mother from children.

7. False accusation of one child by mother.

8. Better opportunities for outdoor activities at father’s home.

9. Exposure of children to company of paramour of mother and intimacies between mother and paramour in presence of children.

10. Expressed desire of one child to live with father.

The divorce was granted to the father on grounds of misconduct of the mother with the paramour with whom she still keeps company. The father is understandably disturbed that his sons, now aged 13 and 14, are exposed to such behavior. The mother retorts that there is no impropriety in her relations with said paramour, since she in now a single woman.

The first nine grounds cited supra are not deemed sufficient to justify a reversal of the discretionary grant of custody to the mother. They are cause for concern and for such remedial modifications as are proper under the circumstances.

The desire of the younger child to be with his father is deserving of consideration. However, his expressed desire was not unequivocal and was modified in other testimony. Furthermore, the older child desired to be with his mother, and there is merit in the proposition that the children should not be separated by a custody order. Furthermore, there are advantages to the boys in living with their mother in town during the school year, as against living with their father in a rural home. The contrary is true during the summer when school is not in session.

Also, in view of the provisions of § 31-201(4), T.C.A., and the decisions cited in annotation No. 13 thereunder, this Court is reluctant to affirm any adjudication of custody which might be interpreted to commit custody to the guilty wife to the exclusion of the husband to whom the divorce was granted. For this reason, the wife will not be granted principal custody, as stated in the decree of the Trial Court; but, rather, a divided custody will be entrusted to both parents.

The decree of custody, heretofore quoted, will therefore be modified to entrust divided custody to both parents, to the mother for one week prior to and during the regular period of school sessions, and to the father during the remainder of the school vacation period in the summer; that is, all of the summer vacation except the last week thereof. During the period of the mother’s custody, the visitation rights of the father shall be as previously ordered and reaffirmed by the above quoted decree. During the period of the father’s custody, the visitation rights of the mother, as provided by previous decree, shall be limited to visits at the father’s home and shall not include removal of the children therefrom.

To the extent indicated, the first assignment of errors is sustained; otherwise, it is respectfully overruled.

The second assignment of error is as follows :

“2. The Court erroneously awarded to the solicitor for the Appellee a fee of $1,000.00 to be paid by the Appellant.”

The pertinent portion of the decree appealed from is as follows :

“IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that a fee of $2,000.00 is awarded to James W. Rutherford, Attorney, with each of the parties being responsible for one-half of the fee.”

The fee was awarded principally in connection with the former appeal to this Court.

The evidence reflects that the earnings of appellant and appellee are approximately equal. The former appeal of appellant was sustained in part and rejected in part, and the costs of the appeal were divided equally between the parties.

Under these circumstances, it would appear reasonable that the other expenses of the appeal (attorney’s fees) should be borne equally by the parties. The order of the Trial Judge burdens appellant with three-fourths, rather than one-half of attorney’s expense. The fees of his own counsel would logically be one-half of the legal expense, and the fees of counsel for appellee (the wife) would be the other half. Thus the fees of appellant’s counsel plus one-half of the fee of appellee’s counsel would approximate three-fourths of the total legal expense, which is not an equal division of legal expenses.

The Trial Court may, under proper circumstances, require the husband to pay fees of counsel for the wife on appeal. 27-A C.J.S. Divorce § 203, p. 882, n. 71.10. However, such allowance should be limited by equitable considerations.

Where both parties are partially successful on appeal, it has been held that no counsel fees should be awarded in respect to the appeal. 27-B C.J.S. Divorce § 325 (2) c, p. 785, n. 12.25.

After the wife is found guilty of misconduct authorizing a divorce, it has been held reversible error to grant further suit money. 24 Am.Jur.2d, Divorce and Separation, § 596, p. 721, n. 12. See also 2 A.L.R.2d 331, 336 ff.

Granting the judicial necessity of providing a wife the legal means of asserting or defending her rights, even on appeal, this case does not represent a proper situation for the award to the wife for counsel fees on appeal. She at all times has had and still has the financial resources to assert and defend her rights in court, and there is no other meritorious ground for awarding attorney’s fees to a spouse found guilty of misbehavior.

Accordingly, the second assignment of error is sustained, and the requirement that appellant pay $1,000.00 fee to counsel for appellee will be deleted from the decree.

There is no appeal from or assignment of error as to the amount of fee allowed to counsel for appellee or the order to appel-lee to pay $1,000.00. Therefore, the validity or effect thereof is not before this Court and no ruling is made thereon.

The decree of the Trial Court is modified as to child custody and visitation as heretofore set out, and further modified to delete the requirement that appellant pay attorney’s fees. Otherwise, said decree is affirmed.

The costs of this appeal are taxed against appellee.

The cause is remanded for further necessary proceedings.

Modified, affirmed and remanded.

SHRIVER and PURYEAR, JJ., concur.