Belinda Butler Pandey v. Aneel Madhukar Pandey

10/16/2017
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
August 24, 2017 Session
BELINDA BUTLER PANDEY v. ANEEL MADHUKAR PANDEY
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Davidson County
No. 13D242 Philip E. Smith, Judge
No. M2016-01919-COA-R3-CV
This action presents issues regarding the interpretation and application of a postnuptial
agreement previously executed by parties who later filed for divorce. The trial court
determined that the parties’ agreement was valid and enforced its terms, including a
provision allowing for an award of attorney’s fees to a prevailing party who was
attempting to defend the agreement. The trial court granted the wife an award of
attorney’s fees pursuant to this provision. In addition, the husband filed two motions
seeking the trial judge’s recusal, which the trial court denied. The husband timely
appealed. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm the trial court’s judgment. We
further determine that the wife is not entitled to an award of attorney’s fees incurred on
appeal.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court
Affirmed; Case Remanded
THOMAS R. FRIERSON, II, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which D. MICHAEL
SWINEY, C.J., and RICHARD H. DINKINS, J., joined.
Aneel Madhukar Pandey, Nashville, Tennessee, Pro Se.
Helen Sfikas Rogers and Lawrence J. Kamm, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellee,
Belinda Butler Pandey.
OPINION
I. Factual and Procedural Background
This divorce action was filed in the Fourth Circuit Court of Davidson County
(“trial court”) by Belinda Butler Pandey (“Wife”) against her husband, Aneel Madhukar
Pandey (“Husband”). The parties had been married for fifteen years at the time Wife
filed for divorce on January 22, 2013. Three children were born of the marriage, two of
whom have special needs. Prior to the inception of these divorce proceedings, on
December 17, 2011, the parties entered into a “Postnuptial Agreement” (“the
Agreement”). In her initial complaint, Wife asked the trial court to distribute the parties’
property according to the terms of the Agreement. The Agreement, while providing for
the immediate transfer of certain assets at the time of its execution, contains the following
provisions relative to a subsequent divorce:
Divorce or Separation.
Each party hereby agrees that in the event of their divorce or separation:
(a) Each item of property (whether real, personal or mixed)
registered to, titled to, or held in an account styled in the individual name of
one of the parties shall be the separate property of that party and may be
retained by the party in whose name such property is registered, titled or
held or in whose name such account is styled.
(b) All items of property titled in the parties’ joint names (whether
real, personal or mixed) shall be divided equally (not equitably) between
the parties. Further, any properties held in accounts styled in the parties’
joint names shall be divided equally (not equitably) between the parties.
Any untitled personal property acquired by the parties jointly shall be
divided in proportion to the contribution made by each party. If the parties
cannot agree upon a division of such property, then such jointly owned
property shall be sold as quickly as possible and the net proceeds shall be
divided by a court consistent with the terms of this subparagraph.
(c) Neither party shall have, nor assert, any interest with respect to
any income earned or received during the marriage, property or
appreciation, whether real, personal or mixed, of the other party, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, even though such property may
constitute “marital property” within the meaning of Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-
4-121, or would otherwise be subject to an equitable division under the
laws of the State of Tennessee.
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(d) Neither party shall be entitled to receive maintenance, alimony or
support of any kind from the other party, except child support, whether
temporary or permanent, whether rehabilitative, transitional or in futuro,
whether past, present or future, and whether in installments or in lump sum.
The parties acknowledge that the purpose of this Agreement is to promote
marital harmony and to discourage either party from seeking to obtain
monetary benefits by an abandonment of the marriage, or to gain benefits
from properties originally acquired by the other party before or during the
marriage. The parties hereby expressly assert their belief that the waiver of
maintenance, alimony and support and the division of their respective
properties as provided for herein are fair and equitable arrangements, and
each fully intends to be bound thereby. The parties expressly contemplate
the possibility of a divorce or legal separation. If the marriage is terminated
by legal separation or divorce, regardless of which party is at fault or
initiates such action and regardless of jurisdiction, venue, or location of
such action, the parties hereby specifically agree that this Postnuptial
Agreement, to the extent allowed by applicable law at the time of such legal
separation or divorce, shall serve as a bar or estoppel prohibiting each party
from receiving any alimony, in any form, whatsoever, from the other party.
(e) In the event that either party files an action for divorce or legal
separation, the other party agrees that he or she will not contest the action
for divorce or legal separation, as long as the final order in such
proceedings calls for the parties to comply with the provisions of this
Postnuptial Agreement.
(f) In the event of an action for legal separation or divorce, the
parties agree that the division of their properties and the subsequent
ownership of their properties as provided by the terms of this Postnuptial
Agreement shall constitute a division of their properties and the settlement
of their rights therein. Further, each party agrees that in the event of an
action for legal separation or divorce brought by either of them, that neither
he nor she will seek in any such proceeding, to enforce or claim any right in
the properties of the other in any manner, whatsoever, which are
inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement.
(Additional paragraph numbering omitted.)
3
Husband filed an answer to Wife’s complaint on March 1, 2013, alleging that the
Agreement was invalid and unenforceable due to fraud, bad faith, misrepresentation, lack
of consideration, duress, and breach of its terms by Wife. Wife thereafter amended her
complaint to alternatively seek an equitable distribution of the parties’ assets. On April
10, 2013, Husband filed a motion seeking partial summary judgment, asking the trial
court to find that the Agreement was unenforceable. This summary judgment motion was
denied by the trial court in an order entered on October 15, 2013. On November 6, 2013,
Husband filed “Husband’s Second Motion for Partial Summary Judgment,” seeking a
grant of summary judgment with regard to five issues concerning the Agreement. The
trial court subsequently denied this second motion for summary judgment in an order
entered on January 7, 2014. According to Wife, Husband then filed a complaint in the
Sixth Circuit Court for Davidson County, Tennessee, requesting that court to enter a
judgment declaring that the Agreement was void ab initio as a matter of public policy.
This pleading does not appear in the appellate record. The record does contain, however,
an “Order to Transfer and Consolidate,” dated August 19, 2014, wherein the Sixth Circuit
Court transferred the Sixth Circuit case back to the trial court and consolidated it with the
ongoing divorce action.
Meanwhile, on June 5, 2014, Husband filed a motion seeking the trial court
judge’s recusal, asserting that the trial court judge had demonstrated bias and prejudice.
The trial court denied this motion in an order entered on July 1, 2014. Husband
subsequently filed a “Motion to Clarify Existence of Fatal Error” on October 1, 2014,
again disputing the validity of the Agreement. Subsequently, on October 24, 2014,
Husband filed a “Motion to Void Postnuptial Agreement for Collusion and Incorporated
Memorandum of Law.” On October 31, 2014, the trial court entered an order denying the
“Motion to Clarify Existence of Fatal Error.” In this order, the trial court “direct[ed]
[Husband] not to file any more dispositive motions on the validity of the parties’
Postnuptial Agreement unless new facts are developed.” The trial court also denied
Husband’s motion seeking to void the Agreement for collusion in an order entered
December 19, 2014.1
The trial court conducted a hearing spanning four non-consecutive days in January
2015. On May 8, 2015, the trial court entered its “Memorandum Opinion and Decree of
Divorce.” Concerning the trial testimony, the court found Wife’s testimony and the
testimony of other witnesses to be highly credible while determining Husband’s
testimony to be “not worthy of belief.” Based on Husband’s testimony and behavior in
court, the court characterized Husband as intelligent and “very manipulative.” The court
accordingly afforded Husband’s testimony no weight.
1
We note that although numerous additional pre-trial motions were filed by the parties in the months
leading up to trial, in the interest of conciseness, we have only addressed the most pertinent motions
herein.
4
Following a thorough and detailed analysis of the Agreement’s provisions, the trial
court found the Agreement to be “valid in all respects.” The court accordingly
determined that the Agreement’s provisions would dictate the division of the parties’
assets and liabilities. Concerning the parenting plan, the court designated Wife the
primary residential parent for the parties’ children, noting that Husband had not sought
such designation. The court also designated Wife as the sole decision-maker for the
children. The court determined the amount of child support due pursuant to the
Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, finding that the child support amount provided in
the Agreement exceeded Husband’s Guideline support obligation. The court also
determined, however, that an upward deviation was appropriate based on the children’s
special needs. The court thus enforced the child support provisions in the Agreement,
finding that the best interest of the children would be served by the upward deviation
provided by the Agreement.
The trial court noted that Wife sought an award of attorney’s fees based on a
provision in the Agreement stating that fees necessary to enforce or defend the
Agreement could be recovered from the other party. The court thus ordered Wife’s
attorney to prepare an itemized statement detailing the time spent enforcing and
defending the Agreement.
On May 28, 2015, Wife filed a motion to alter or amend the trial court’s judgment,
seeking to correct certain typographical errors and to clarify the court’s ruling. On June
5, 2015, Wife filed a motion seeking to establish the amount of her attorney’s fee award
as well as an award of expenses and discretionary costs. Wife attached to the motion an
affidavit from her counsel and an itemized statement of attorney’s fees. Husband filed a
response, objecting to the amount of fees and expenses sought, and the court set Wife’s
motion for a hearing to determine fees and costs. On December 23, 2015, Husband filed
a post-trial “Summary Judgment Motion to Dismiss Wife’s Claim for Legal Fees and
Incorporated Memorandum of Law,” asking the trial court to find that Wife was not
entitled to recover her attorney’s fees because she “contested the enforceability of the
child support provision in the parties’ Postnuptial Agreement.” The trial court denied this
motion by order entered January 26, 2016. Husband sought to file an extraordinary
appeal with this Court pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 10, but this
Court denied his application.
On February 5, 2016, prior to the hearing regarding attorney’s fees, Husband filed
a “Second Motion for Judge Smith to Recuse Himself and Motion to Stay Trial.”
According to Husband, during a motion hearing held on January 29, 2016, the trial court
judge committed an “irreparable compromise of the integrity, decorum and dignity of the
courtroom” by stating on the record that he was “messing with” Husband. The trial court
5
comprehensively addressed and denied the recusal motion in an order entered on
February 10, 2016. On February 22, 2016, Husband filed another “summary judgment”
motion regarding Wife’s claim for attorney’s fees. Husband’s motion was denied by
order entered February 26, 2016, wherein the trial court found that the motion was filed
subsequent to the trial and was thus untimely.
The hearing regarding Wife’s award of attorney’s fees was conducted on March 1,
2016. On June 7, 2016, the trial court entered an order awarding to Wife attorney’s fees
in the amount of $297,363 along with various costs. Husband filed a motion to alter or
amend this award, and the trial court subsequently entered an order on August 24, 2016,
reducing the attorney’s fee award to $283,252. Husband timely appealed.
II. Issues Presented
Husband presents the following two issues for our review, which we have restated
slightly:
1. Whether the trial court erred by awarding attorney’s fees to Wife.
2. Whether the trial court erred by denying Husband’s motions seeking
recusal of the trial court judge.
Wife presents the following additional issues for our review, which we have similarly
restated:
3. Whether Husband’s issues should be deemed waived because his appellate
brief fails to satisfy the requirements of Tennessee Rule of Appellate
Procedure 27.
4. Whether the trial court erred by declining to award to Wife the full amount
of attorney’s fees she incurred in enforcing and defending the Agreement.
5. Whether Wife should be awarded attorney’s fees on appeal.
III. Standard of Review
Our standard of review is de novo with a presumption of correctness as to the trial
court’s findings of fact unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. R.
App. P. 13(d); McCarty v. McCarty, 863 S.W.2d 716, 719 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1992). No
presumption of correctness attaches to the trial court’s legal conclusions. Union Carbide
Corp. v. Huddleston, 854 S.W.2d 87, 91 (Tenn. 1993).
6
As our Supreme Court has explained with respect to the interpretation of contracts:
The interpretation of written agreements . . . is a matter of law that
this Court reviews de novo on the record according no presumption of
correctness to the trial court’s conclusions of law. A cardinal rule of
contract interpretation is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the
parties. In interpreting contractual language, courts look to the plain
meaning of the words in the document to ascertain the parties’ intent. This
Court’s initial task in construing the [agreement] at issue is to determine
whether the language is ambiguous. If the language is clear and
unambiguous, the literal meaning controls the outcome of the dispute. If,
however, the words in a contract are susceptible to more than one
reasonable interpretation, the parties’ intent cannot be determined by a
literal interpretation of the language.
Contractual language “is ambiguous only when it is of uncertain
meaning and may fairly be understood in more ways than one.” Farmers-
Peoples Bank v. Clemmer, 519 S.W.2d 801, 805 (Tenn. 1975). . . .
When contractual language is found to be ambiguous, the court must
apply established rules of construction to determine the intent of the parties.
An ambiguous provision in a contract generally will be construed against
the party drafting it. Furthermore, when a contractual provision is
ambiguous, a court is permitted to use parol evidence, including the
contracting parties’ conduct and statements regarding the disputed
provision, to guide the court in construing and enforcing the contract.
Allstate Ins. Co. v. Watson, 195 S.W.3d 609, 611-12 (Tenn. 2006) (additional internal
citations omitted).
Finally, with regard to pro se litigants, this Court has explained:
Parties who decide to represent themselves are entitled to fair and
equal treatment by the courts. The courts should take into account that
many pro se litigants have no legal training and little familiarity with the
judicial system. However, the courts must also be mindful of the boundary
between fairness to a pro se litigant and unfairness to the pro se litigant’s
adversary. Thus, the courts must not excuse pro se litigants from
complying with the same substantive and procedural rules that represented
parties are expected to observe.
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The courts give pro se litigants who are untrained in the law a certain
amount of leeway in drafting their pleadings and briefs. Accordingly, we
measure the papers prepared by pro se litigants using standards that are less
stringent than those applied to papers prepared by lawyers.
Pro se litigants should not be permitted to shift the burden of the
litigation to the courts or to their adversaries. They are, however, entitled
to at least the same liberality of construction of their pleadings that Tenn.
R. Civ. P. 7, 8.05, and 8.06 provide to other litigants. Even though the
courts cannot create claims or defenses for pro se litigants where none exist,
they should give effect to the substance, rather than the form or
terminology, of a pro se litigant’s papers.
Young v. Barrow, 130 S.W.3d 59, 62-63 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003) (internal citations
omitted).
IV. Waiver of Issues
As a threshold matter, Wife argues that Husband has waived his issues on appeal
because he failed to satisfy the requirements of Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure
27(a)(7) and Rule 6 of the Rules of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, failed to cite to the
record and applicable legal authority, and failed to include the recusal issue in his
statement of the issues.
Our Supreme Court has explained that parties to an appeal must succinctly
designate their issues and provide the appellate court with an argument pertinent to each
issue on appeal. See Waters v. Farr, 291 S.W.3d 873, 919 (Tenn. 2009) (“[P]arties must
thoroughly brief the issues they expect the appellate court to consider.”). As the High
Court has clarified:
It is not the role of the courts, trial or appellate, to research or construct a
litigant’s case or arguments for him or her, and where a party fails to
develop an argument in support of his or her contention or merely
constructs a skeletal argument, the issue is waived.
Sneed v. Bd. of Prof’l Responsibility, 301 S.W.3d 603, 615 (Tenn. 2010). Our Supreme
Court has further elucidated:
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An issue may be deemed waived, even when it has been specifically raised
as an issue, when the brief fails to include an argument satisfying the
requirements of Tenn. R. App. P. 27(a)(7).
Hodge v. Craig, 382 S.W.3d 325, 335 (Tenn. 2012). In addition, “[a]n issue not raised in
an appellant’s statement of the issues may be considered waived.” Champion v. CLC of
Dyersburg, LLC, 359 S.W.3d 161, 163 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011).
In this matter, Wife argues that Husband’s assertion that the trial court erred in
denying his second motion for recusal is not properly before this Court because Husband
did not include it in his statement of issues on appeal. Moreover, Wife claims that there
is no argument within Husband’s brief wherein he provides the information required by
Tennessee Court of Appeals Rule 6, which states in pertinent part:
(a) Written argument in regard to each issue on appeal shall contain:
(1) A statement by the appellant of the alleged erroneous action
of the trial court which raises the issue and a statement by the
appellee of any action of the trial court which is relied upon
to correct the alleged error, with citation to the record where
the erroneous or corrective action is recorded.
(2) A statement showing how such alleged error was seasonably
called to the attention of the trial judge with citation to that
part of the record where appellant’s challenge of the alleged
error is recorded.
(3) A statement reciting wherein appellant was prejudiced by
such alleged error, with citations to the record showing where
the resultant prejudice is recorded.
(4) A statement of each determinative fact relied upon with
citation to the record where evidence of each such fact may
be found.
(b) No complaint of or reliance upon action by the trial court will be
considered on appeal unless the argument contains a specific reference
to the page or pages of the record where such action is recorded. No
assertion of fact will be considered on appeal unless the argument
contains a reference to the page or pages of the record where evidence
of such fact is recorded.
9
Wife also asserts that Husband has failed to meet the requirements of Tennessee
Rule of Appellate Procedure 27, which states in pertinent part:
(a) Brief of the Appellant. The brief of the appellant shall
contain under appropriate headings and in the order here
indicated:
(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 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
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separate heading placed before the discussion of
the issues) . . . .
(8) A short conclusion, stating the precise relief sought.
Upon review, we determine Husband’s brief to be notably deficient. It contains no
statement of the case and an incomplete statement of the issues. Husband failed to
include proper record citations in his brief. He also failed to clearly present argument
with regard to his issues in accordance with the above-quoted procedural rules. We note
that although Husband is proceeding pro se on appeal, he is a licensed attorney.
Despite these deficiencies, we determine that this is an appropriate case in which
to exercise our discretion to waive the briefing requirements in order to adjudicate the
issues and argument presented by Husband. See Tenn. R. App. P. 2; Chiozza v. Chiozza,
315 S.W.3d 482, 489 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2009) (“[T]here are times when this Court, in the
discretion afforded it under Tenn. R. App. P. 2, may waive the briefing requirements to
adjudicate the issues on their merits.”). We do so in an effort to bring finality to these
protracted divorce proceedings involving the interests of children. See Chiozza, 315
S.W.3d at 489.
V. Award of Attorney’s Fees
The trial court determined the Agreement to be valid and enforceable and
distributed the parties’ assets and debts according to its terms. The trial court also
awarded attorney’s fees to Wife based upon a provision contained within the Agreement,
which states:
In the event of the filing of a divorce or separation action by either
party against the other, each party shall pay his or her own attorneys fees
and expenses incurred in such action, including pendente lite fees and
expenses, except as necessary to enforce or defend the terms of this
Agreement, in which case the prevailing party shall be entitled to
reasonable fees and expenses incurred to enforce or defend the terms
herein.
(Paragraph numbering omitted.)
Husband asserts that Wife is not entitled to an award of attorney’s fees in this
matter because she “contested” the child support provision in the Agreement by asking
the trial court to order child support according to the Tennessee Child Support
Guidelines. According to Husband, Wife cannot enforce the attorney’s fee provision in
the Agreement because she did not seek to enforce the Agreement “in toto.” Wife argues
11
that she did seek to enforce the entire Agreement and only asked the court to set child
support in accordance with the Guidelines as an alternative. From our thorough review
of the record, we agree with Wife’s assertion that she consistently sought to enforce the
parties’ Agreement while Husband repeatedly contested its validity.
In her original complaint, Wife asked the trial court to distribute the parties’ assets
and liabilities and to set child support in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. In
her amended complaint, Wife, inter alia, asked that Husband be ordered to “pay child
support for the minor children in accordance with the parties’ Postnuptial Agreement
dated December 17, 2011 and the child support guidelines.” In Wife’s motion seeking to
amend her complaint, she explained that the requested amendment was in response to
Husband’s answer wherein he claimed that the Agreement was invalid and
unenforceable. Thereafter, Wife continually and successfully sought to have the
Agreement enforced, despite Husband’s persistent objections to the Agreement’s validity.
Therefore, we determine that Wife’s request for attorney’s fees was consistent with her
attempts to “enforce or defend” the terms of the Agreement.
Furthermore, we note that “[p]arties are free to agree ‘to a child support obligation
that exceeds the amount payable directly to an obligee parent under the Guidelines . . . as
long as the resulting child support meets or exceeds the amount mandated under the
Guidelines.’” Blackshear v. Blackshear, No. E2012-02499-COA-R3-CV, 2014 WL
1092209, at *5 (Tenn. Ct. App. Mar. 19, 2014) (quoting Jones v. Jones, No. M2009-
01512-COA-R3-CV, 2010 WL 2025403, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App. May 20, 2010)) (in turn
quoting Kesser v. Kesser, 201 S.W.3d 636, 642 (Tenn. 2006)), superseded by statute on
other grounds as stated in Moore v. Moore, 254 S.W.3d 357, 360 n.5 (Tenn. 2007))
(emphasis added). As this Court has previously explained with regard to private
agreements setting an amount of child support:
When reviewing the parties’ agreement, the trial court must use the Child
Support Guidelines to review the adequacy of the child support provision.
The Child Support Guidelines, when properly applied, create a rebuttable
presumption of the proper award of child support. At the time of the
divorce decree in this case, Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-5-
101(e)(1)(A) provided:
If the court finds that evidence is sufficient to rebut this
presumption, the court shall make a written finding that the
application of the child support guidelines would be unjust or
inappropriate in that particular case, in order to provide for
the best interest of the child(ren) or the equity between the
parties. Findings that the application of the guidelines would
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be unjust or inappropriate shall state the amount of support
that would have been ordered under the child support
guidelines and a justification for the variance from the
guidelines.
“These findings must be contained in the trial court’s order in
addition to the amount of child support that would have been required
under the guidelines and the reason for the deviation from this amount.”
Neal v. Neal, No. M2003-02703-COA-R3-CV, 2005 WL 1819214, at *2
(Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 2, 2005). In the absence of such findings, the
Guidelines are mandatory.
State ex rel. Flatt v. Flatt, No. W2007-01376-COA-R3-CV, 2008 WL 794521, at *6
(Tenn. Ct. App. Mar. 27, 2008) (other internal citations omitted).
In the instant case, the trial court properly determined the amount of child support
that would be awarded to Wife pursuant to the Guidelines in order to evaluate the
adequacy of the child support provision contained in the Agreement. Following its
determination that the amount of child support provided in the Agreement would exceed
that due under the Guidelines, the court then determined whether this was an appropriate
case for an upward deviation. Based on the special needs of the parties’ children and the
extraordinary expenses associated with their care, the court determined that an upward
deviation was warranted and in the best interest of the children. The court further
determined that a “strict application of the guidelines would be both unjust and
inappropriate in this case.” We conclude that the trial court appropriately considered the
Tennessee Child Support Guidelines when evaluating the child support provision
contained within the parties’ Agreement. We further determine that such consideration
did not affect Wife’s steadfast position concerning enforcement of the Agreement. We
accordingly conclude that Husband’s argument is unavailing.
Wife contends that the trial court erred by failing to award her the entire amount of
attorney’s fees she incurred defending and enforcing the Agreement, based on the above-
quoted contractual provision. The trial court only awarded to Wife a portion of her fees
and expenses sought. As our Supreme Court has recently explained regarding the
enforcement of a contractual fee award provision in a post-divorce action:
Our courts long have observed at the trial court level that parties are
contractually entitled to recover their reasonable attorney’s fees when they
have an agreement that provides the prevailing party in a litigation is
entitled to such fees. See, e.g, Seals v. Life Inv’rs Ins. Co. of Am., No.
M2002-01753-COA-R3-CV, 2003 WL 23093844, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App.
13
Dec. 30, 2003); Hosier v. Crye-Leike Commercial, Inc., No. M2000-01182-
COA-R3-CV, 2001 WL 799740, at *6 (Tenn. Ct. App. July 17, 2001). In
such cases, the trial court does not have the discretion to set aside the
parties’ agreement and supplant it with its own judgment.
See Christenberry v. Tipton, 160 S.W.3d 487, 494 (Tenn. 2005) (“A court
‘cannot under the guise of construction make a new and different contract
for the parties.’”) (quoting Memphis Furniture Mfg. Co. v. Am. Cas. Co.,
480 S.W.2d 531, 533 (Tenn. 1972)). The sole discretionary judgment that
the trial court may make is to determine the amount of attorney’s fees that
is reasonable within the circumstances. See Hosier, 2001 WL 799740, at
*6; Albright v. Mercer, 945 S.W.2d 749, 751 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1996);
Airline Constr. Inc. v. Barr, 807 S.W.2d 247, 270 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1990);
see also Connors v. Connors, 594 S.W.2d 672, 676 (Tenn. 1980) (setting
out the appropriate factors to be used as guides in fixing reasonable
attorney’s fees); Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 8, Rule 1.5.
Eberbach v. Eberbach, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___, No. M2014-01811-SC-R11-CV, 2017 WL
2255582, at *6 (Tenn. May 23, 2017). Because the trial court has discretion to determine
“the amount of attorney’s fees that is reasonable within the circumstances,” the court is
not required to award the entire amount of fees sought. See id. Upon thorough review of
the trial court’s fee award in this matter, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in determining the appropriate amount of the award.
VI. Recusal
Husband argues that the trial court judge erred in failing to grant recusal.
Accordingly, Husband asserts that upon remand, the case should be transferred to another
judge. We disagree.
We review the trial court’s disposition of a motion for recusal under a de novo
standard of review. See Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 10B § 2.06. As our Supreme Court has
explained:
Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10, Canon 3(E)(1) states, “A judge
shall disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge’s
impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to
instances where: (a) the judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a
party or a party’s lawyer . . . .”2 We have held that a recusal motion should
be granted when “the judge has any doubt as to his or her ability to preside
impartially in the case” or “‘when a person of ordinary prudence in the
2
Effective July 1, 2012, this provision is located within Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 10, Canon 2.11(A)(1).
14
judge’s position, knowing all of the facts known to the judge, would find a
reasonable basis for questioning the judge’s impartiality.’” Davis [v.
Liberty Mut. Ins. Co.], 38 S.W.3d [560,] 564-65 [(Tenn. 2001)] (quoting
Alley v. State, 882 S.W.2d 810, 820 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994)). Even if a
judge believes he can be fair and impartial, the judge should disqualify
himself when “‘the judge’s impartiality might be reasonably questioned’”
because “the appearance of bias is as injurious to the integrity of the
judicial system as actual bias.” Id. (quoting Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 10, Canon
3(E)(1)).
Bean v. Bailey, 280 S.W.3d 798, 805 (Tenn. 2009); see Malmquist v. Malmquist, 415
S.W.3d 826, 838-39 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2011). “Adverse rulings and ‘the mere fact that a
witness takes offense at the court’s assessment of the witness,’ do not provide grounds
for recusal, however, in light of the ‘adversarial nature of litigation.’” Watson v. City of
Jackson, 448 S.W.3d 919, 929 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014) (quoting Davis v. Liberty Mut. Ins.
Co., 38 S.W.3d 560, 565 (Tenn. 2001)).
In its order denying Husband’s second motion for recusal, the trial court found it
“harbor[ed] no ill-will, prejudice, or any other pre-conceived thoughts toward either party
in the course of the proceedings.” The trial court also determined that it could be
objectively impartial and that no person of ordinary prudence with full knowledge of the
facts known to the judge would find a reasonable basis for questioning the court’s
impartiality. Specifically, the court found that no reasonable person would find the
exchange between the court and Husband, during which the judge said, “Well, I was just
messing with you, Mr. Pandey,” reason to believe the court was biased. We agree.
The trial court explained the context of its comment as follows:
To put this discussion in light of the full context of the case, Mr.
Pandey has filed and argued a vast array of different motions too numerous
to list here. The Court and Mr. Pandey have disagreed on many topics
concerning his case, most of which have resulted in adverse rulings against
Mr. Pandey. Mr. Pandey has been given every opportunity to be heard and
to argue all of his motions as well as his case-in-chief. The Court admits it
made this comment in light of the entire case and in light of the fact that the
Court and Mr. Pandey have seldom, if ever, agreed. A reasonable person,
in light of the history of this case, fully aware of the amount of motions
filed and argued, as well as the arguments made during final hearing, would
not find that this Court has been biased or impartial against Mr. Pandey.
This Court’s multiple adverse rulings, even if erroneous and continuous, do
not, ipso facto, amount to bias or prejudice, nor has the Court, in its
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opinion, issued rulings and orders whose cumulative effect have resulted in
repeated misapplication of fundamental, rudimentary legal principles that
have favored Ms. Pandey, either procedurally or substantively, over Mr.
Pandey.
In addition, the Court finds that the statement, when construed in the
context of all the facts and circumstances in determining whether a
reasonable person would construe the comment as indicating partiality on
the merits of the case, does not rise to such a level as to indicate any
impartiality or bias. The Court understands that Mr. Pandey may harbor
frustration towards the Court for his failure to obtain favorable rulings;
however, failing to obtain favorable rulings does not equate to suffering
violations of due process. The Court’s statement, in light of all the facts,
shows only that the Court and Mr. Pandey simply have not and do not agree
with respect to the issues in this case. Mr. Pandey, however, indicates that
making such a statement compromises the decorum and dignity of the
courtroom in the most serious of situations. This Court takes every party’s
situation seriously; not just in the case at bar, but also in every case that is
filed. Mr. Pandey’s case is no different than the many other cases that are
tried before this Court, and the Court submits that he has been treated no
differently than any other litigant. Mr. Pandey may believe that this Court
has been insensitive to his situation, and although Mr. Pandey apparently
feels that this Court lacks sympathy to his cause, in which event the Court
strongly disagrees, this basis does not constitute sufficient grounds for
recusal.
As this Court has previously elucidated with regard to bias:
Generally, the terms “bias” and “prejudice” refer to a state of mind
or attitude that works to predispose a judge for or against a party. Alley v.
State, 882 S.W.2d 810, 821 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). However,
[n]ot every bias, partiality, or prejudice merits recusal. To
disqualify, prejudice must be of a personal character, directed
at the litigant, “must stem from an extrajudicial source and
result in an opinion on the merits on some basis other than
what the judge learned from participation in the case.”
***
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If the bias is based upon actual observance of witnesses and
evidence given during the trial, the judge’s prejudice does not
disqualify the judge. However, if the bias is so pervasive that
it is sufficient to deny the litigant a fair trial, it need not be
extrajudicial. Id. (emphasis added) (quotations and citations
omitted); see also Spain v. Connolly, 606 S.W.2d 540, 544
(Tenn. Ct. App. 1980).
Generally, in order to justify recusal, any alleged bias must arise
from extrajudicial sources and not from events or observations during
litigation of a case. If the bias is alleged to stem from events occurring in
the course of the litigation of the case, the party seeking recusal has a
greater burden to show bias that would require recusal, i.e., that the bias is
so pervasive that it is sufficient to deny the litigant a fair trial.
McKenzie v. McKenzie, No. M2014-00010-COA-T10B-CV, 2014 WL 575908, at *3
(Tenn. Ct. App. Feb. 11, 2014).
Upon our careful and thorough review of the record, including the transcript of the
trial conducted in this matter, we discern no indication of bias or prejudice expressed or
implied by the judge. See, e.g., Watson, 448 S.W.3d at 933 (“Although we are cognizant
of the fact that the trial judge declined to grant any of [the appellant’s] pro se post-trial
motions, it is well-settled that ‘[a]dverse rulings by a trial judge . . . are not usually
sufficient to establish bias.’” (quoting Ingram v. Sohr, No. M2012-00782-COA-R3-CV,
2013 WL 3968155, at *31 (Tenn. Ct. App. July 31, 2013)); Malmquist, 415 S.W.3d at
840 (“The fact that [the trial court judge] helmed this litigation, without apparent bias,
even in the face of difficult litigants and protracted litigation, supports his discretionary
decision to remain on the case to see it concluded.”). We thus conclude that the trial
court did not err by denying Husband’s motions for recusal. As such, no basis exists for
requiring that this case be heard by a different judge upon remand.
VII. Attorney’s Fees on Appeal
Finally, Wife asserts that she should be awarded attorney’s fees incurred in her
defense of this appeal, which she characterizes as frivolous. Wife also asserts that she
should receive an award of attorney’s fees because she is, in large part, still being forced
to defend the Agreement.
Tennessee Code Annotated § 27-1-122 provides:
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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.
See Young v. Barrow, 130 S.W.3d 59, 67 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003) (“A frivolous appeal is
one that is devoid of merit . . . or one that has no reasonable chance of succeeding.”). We
determine, in our discretion, that Husband’s appeal was not so devoid of merit as to be
deemed frivolous. See Eberbach, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___, 2017 WL 2255582, at *4 (citing
Chiozza, 315 S.W.3d at 493 (“The decision to award damages for the filing of
a frivolous appeal [under section 27-1-122] rests solely in the discretion of this Court.”)).
“This discretion is exercised ‘sparingly so as not to discourage legitimate appeals.’”
See Eberbach, ___ S.W.3d ___, ___, 2017 WL 2255582, at *4 (quoting Whalum v.
Marshall, 224 S.W.3d 169, 181 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006)). We further determine that Wife
is not entitled to an additional award of attorney’s fees on appeal based on the
Agreement.
VIII. Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, we affirm the trial court’s judgment in all respects.
We further determine that Wife is not entitled to an additional award of attorney’s fees on
appeal. Costs on appeal are taxed one-half to the appellant, Aneel Madhukar Pandey, and
one-half to the appellee, Belinda Butler Pandey. This case is remanded to the trial court
for collection of costs assessed below.
_________________________________
THOMAS R. FRIERSON, II, JUDGE
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