Susan Elaine Dobbs v. Brooke Anthony Dobbs

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
May 23, 2012 Session
SUSAN ELAINE DOBBS v. BROOKE ANTHONY DOBBS
Appeal from the Chancery Court for Sumner County
No. 2009D369 Tom E. Gray, Chancellor
No. M2011-01523-COA-R3-CV - Filed August 7, 2012
In appeal from final decree in divorce action, Husband contends that the trial court erred in
designating Wife as primary residential parent, in valuing the marital residence which was
awarded to Wife, and in failing to require Wife to refinance the marital residence in her name
alone. We affirm the designation of Wife as primary residential parent and the court’s
valuation of the marital residence and remand the case for the court to determine a reasonable
length of time for Wife to secure Husband’s release from the indebtedness on the marital
residence and to amend the final decree accordingly.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court Affirmed in
Part; Case Remanded
R ICHARD H. D INKINS, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which F RANK G. C LEMENT,
J R., J., and B EN H. C ANTRELL, S P. J., joined.
Carrie W. Gasasay, Clarksville, Tennessee, for the Appellant, Brooke Anthony Dobbs.
Jamie Douglas Winkler, Carthage, Tennessee, for the Appellee, Susan Elaine Dobbs.
OPINION
F ACTS
This appeal arises from the divorce of Susan Elaine Dobbs (Wife) and Brooke
Anthony Dobbs (Husband) who were married on September 4, 1993; they are the parents of
one child, born February 5, 2007. During the marriage Wife was employed as a radiation
therapist in Cookeville, Tennessee, while Husband worked as an over-the-road truck driver
at a family business in Richland Center, Wisconsin. The couple purchased a home that they
shared up until the time of their divorce in Castalian Springs, Tennessee. Wife filed for
divorce on September 11, 2009, citing irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital
conduct. Along with the petition for divorce, Wife filed a proposed Temporary Parenting
Plan, setting forth a Residential Sharing Schedule which provided that Wife would be the
primary residential parent with Husband to have residential parenting time from 5:00 p.m.
Friday to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday on alternating weeks.
The trial was held on February 18, 2011; the court entered a Final Decree of Divorce
on June 7th granting Wife a divorce on the grounds of inappropriate marital conduct.
Pertinent to the issues in this appeal, the court awarded the marital residence, which it valued
at $235,000, to Wife, with the instruction that Wife was to “be responsible and hold harmless
Husband” on the debt encumbering the property, which included a first mortgage and a
second mortgage line of credit totaling $233,792. With respect to the parenting plan the
court designated Wife as Primary Residential Parent with 283 days of residential parenting
time and Husband the Alternate Residential Parent with 82 days of residential parenting time.
Husband filed a timely appeal in which he asserts that the court erred in: naming Wife
Primary Residential Parent; failing to require Wife to refinance the former marital residence
in her name alone; and valuing the marital residence at $235,000.
I. D ESIGNATION OF P RIMARY R ESIDENTIAL P ARENT
Husband asserts that the trial court erred in applying a factor other than those listed
in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-4041 to determine the best interest of the parties’ minor child. In
designating Mother as Primary Residential Parent the court stated:
After consideration of statutory factors and other factors for best interest of the
parties’ minor child the court finds the mother shall be named primary
residential parent and the father is named the alternative residential parent.
One factor unique to this case and in favor of mother was that the father
operated an automobile with child riding in the front seat in the vehicle, which
had air bags. No evidence was presented that the air bags were inoperable.
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Father contends “the court failed to apply the factors in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106, which are
used to determine the residential schedule, and Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404, which are used to determine
the parenting plan.” There is little substantive difference between the factors applicable to parenting plans,
set out in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404(b), and those applicable to custody determinations, set out in Tenn.
Code Ann. § 36-6-106(a) as far as determining comparative fitness and the best interests of the child. Dillard
v. Dillard, No. M2007-00215-COA-R3-CV, 2008 WL2229523, at *10 ( Tenn. Ct. App. May 29, 2008 ). We
will apply the factors set out in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404(b) to this appeal.
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Strict compliance with State’s laws on child restraint and care in vehicles shall
be followed.
Husband argues that this factor is not in the statute and therefore is not applicable to the best
interest analysis. Husband further argues that the court erred in naming Wife primary
residential parent in light of evidence presented that Wife willingly attempted to thwart the
father-child relationship.2
In making parenting decisions, the paramount concern of the trial court must be the
welfare and best interest of the children. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-401(a). Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-6-404(b) sets forth specific factors that a court is to consider when determining
the designation of a primary residential parent and in the determination of residential
parenting time. See Bryant v. Bryant, No. M2007-02386-COA-R3-CV, 2008 WL 4254364,
at *5-6 (Tenn. Ct. App. Sept. 16, 2008). The statute also allows the court to consider other
matters it deems relevant to its determination. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404(b)(16). While
the trial court is obligated to consider all the relevant statutory factors in reaching its
decision, it is not required to list in its opinion or orders each of those factors along with its
conclusions as to how that factor affected the overall determination. Coley v. Coley, No.
M2007-00655-COA-R3-CV, 2008 WL 5206297, at *6 (Tenn. Ct. App. Jan.9, 2008). We
review findings of fact de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a
presumption of the correctness of the finding, unless the evidence preponderates otherwise.
Hass v. Knighton 676 S.W.2d 554 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1984). Where the trial court makes no
specific factual findings, there are no findings to which the presumption can attach; therefore
we conduct our own independent review of the record to determine where the preponderance
of the evidence lies. Coley, 2008 WL 5206297, at *6-7; Curtis v. Hill, 215 S.W.3d 836, 839
(Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). We will not disturb a parenting plan unless the plan is based on a
material error of law or the evidence preponderates against it. Adelsperger v. Adelsperger,
970 S.W.2d 482, 485 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997).
Trial courts have broad discretion to make decisions regarding parenting
arrangements, including the designation of primary residential parent. Gaskill v. Gaskill, 936
S.W.2d 626, 631(Tenn. Ct. App. 1996). Given the discretion involved and the fact that the
decision often hinges on witness credibility, we review the trial court’s ruling under the abuse
of discretion standard. Eldridge v. Eldridge, 42 S.W.3d 82, 85 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001);
2
The court found both Husband and Wife in civil contempt of court. Husband was found in civil
contempt on three counts: failure to pay temporary spousal support, failure to pay child support and failure
to inform the mother of his specific address/location while exercising his parenting time; a judgment was
entered against him for unpaid spousal and child support, and no sanctions were imposed for his failure to
keep Wife informed of the specific physical location of the child while Husband was exercising his parenting
time. Wife was found to be in contempt based on her interference with Husband’s parenting time; no
sanctions were imposed against her.
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Chaffin v. Ellis, 211 S.W.3d 264, 286 ( Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). A trial court abuses its
discretion only when it applies an incorrect legal standard, or reaches a decision, which is
against logic or reasoning that causes an injustice to the complaining party. Eldridge, 42
S.W.3d at 85.
The evidence shows that Wife has been and continues to be the child’s primary care-
giver, taking the greater responsibility for attending to the child’s daily needs. Wife enrolled
the child in a preschool program, maintained a stable, satisfactory environment for the child
in the former marital residence, and provided the child with food, clothing, medical care,
education and other necessary care. The testimony relative to Husband was that he had a
stable home environment for the child in Wisconsin, that the child had a close relationship
with Husband’s extended family located there, and that Husband had the ability to enroll the
child in school when the child comes of age.
Applying Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-401(a) to the facts of a given case is a fact
intensive inquiry, which requires the court to weigh the evidence regarding the statutory
factors as well as any other relevant factors; the weight given to each factor depends upon
the unique circumstances of the case. See White v. Moody, 171 S.W.3d 187, 191 (Tenn. Ct.
App. 2004). The court’s specific reference to Husband’s failure to comply with child
restraint laws was within the court’s discretion to consider factors deemed relevant by the
court. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404(b)(16). Similarly, the court’s finding that Wife
interfered with Husband’s parenting time was a factor to be considered and there is no
evidence that the court did not consider that factor. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-404 (b)(3).
The court determined that evidence relative to the statutory factors weighed in favor
of Wife and supported her being designated primary residential parent; upon our review of
the record, the evidence does not preponderate against that designation. See Tenn. Code.
Ann. § 36-6-404(b)(5), (6), and (11). The court did not abuse its discretion in designating
Wife primary residential parent.
II. T HE M ARITAL R ESIDENCE
The real estate owned by the parties consisted of a house and a 6.03-acre tract of land
on which the marital residence was located. Husband asserts that the trial court erred in
valuing the parties’ real estate at $235,000 and that the property should have been valued at
$288,400.
The value of marital property is a question of fact to be determined by considering all
relevant evidence regarding value. Wallace v. Wallace, 733 S.W.2d 102, 107 (Tenn. Ct.
App. 1987). Where there are conflicting opinions regarding the value of a marital asset, the
trial court may place a value on the asset that is within the range of the values presented by
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the evidence. Owens v. Owens, 241 S.W.3d 478, 489 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2007). Thus, a trial
court's decision with regard to the value of a marital asset will be given great weight on
appeal. Wallace, 733 S.W.2d at 107.
The court based its valuation of the property on the testimony of Michael Goad, a
certified real estate appraiser who testified on behalf of Wife. Mr. Goad testified that he
examined the marital property one week and a half prior to the hearing and based his
valuation on the highest and best use of the land, which he viewed as two separate parcels.
Based on comparable properties in the neighborhood, as well as a visible inspection of both
the interior and exterior of the home, he valued the real estate at $200,000 for the home and
$35,000 for the acreage. Husband testified that the value of the parties’ real estate, based on
records from the office of the Comptroller of Tennessee, was $223,300 for the residence and
$65,100 for the acreage, for a total value of $288,400.
The value placed on the property by the court was based on testimony of a certified
real estate appraiser, in close proximity to the date of the division of property,3 and was
within the range of evidence presented by the parties. The evidence does not preponderate
against the trial court’s valuation.
The trial court awarded the marital residence to Wife with the instruction to “be
responsible and hold harmless Husband,” for debt associated with the property. Husband
asserts that the court erred in this decision, and should have required Wife to refinance the
property in her name alone.
In Long v. McAllister-Long, 221 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006), this court
recognized that it “is not uncommon in divorce cases to turn over the ownership of a marital
asset to one party while the parties remain jointly liable for the debt associated with the
asset.” Id. at 10. In such instance, the court noted:
Courts and lawyers have devised several ways to address this problem. The
court may order, or the parties may agree, that the person awarded the property
will refinance it or obtain a new loan in his or her own name and then use the
proceeds to pay off the existing joint debt. The court may also order, or the
parties may agree, that the property will be owned jointly until a date certain
when the property must either be financed or sold. Finally, the parties or the
courts may include a “hold harmless” provision in the decree or marital
dissolution agreement in which the parties are required to indemnify and hold
3
The value placed on marital property should, as near as possible reflect the value of the property
on the date that it is divided. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-121(b)(1)(A).
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each other harmless from any and all future obligations stemming from
ownership of the property they receive.
Id.
The Income and Expense Statement introduced by Husband showed that he had a
monthly income of $2,174.22 and expenses of $2,214.92; he testified that, because of his
living arrangement at the time of trial, he was not paying rent, gas and water, totaling
$437.50, resulting in monthly expenses of $1,777.42. He asserts in his brief that this
evidence supports a finding that he “clearly has less of an ability to acquire capital assets and
income in the future” and that, coupled with the effect on his credit of the two mortgages
encumbering the marital residence, the court’s failure to order Wife to refinance the
indebtedness or to obtain a new loan in her name alone would “make it virtually impossible
for him to obtain a mortgage in the future for any other home.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-4-121(c)(4) requires the court to consider “the relative ability
of each party for future acquisitions of capital assets” in its division and distribution of
marital property. We are concerned that failing to make any provision for Husband’s release
from the debt encumbering the marital residence may be contrary to § 36-4-121(c)(4). As
a consequence, we remand the case for the court to determine a reasonable time for Wife to
secure Husband’s release from indebtedness and to amend the final decree accordingly. See
e.g. Long, 221 S.W.3d at 10.
Finally, Husband contends that, by failing to value the property at $288,400, the
court’s division of equity in the marital residence was inequitable and that the court should
have required Wife to pay Husband one half of the equity plus $12,500 for half of $25,000
used to fund Wife’s recording project. We have previously affirmed the valuation of the
marital residence; consequently, the arguments raised by Husband premised on the valuation
of the property are moot.
C ONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the case is remanded for the trial court to determine a
reasonable time for Wife to secure Husband’s release on the indebtedness encumbering the
marital residence and to amend the final decree in that regard. In all other respects the
judgment is affirmed.
___________________________
RICHARD H. DINKINS, JUDGE
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