Robert Hugh Benson v. Deborah Watkinson

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
July 13, 2005 Session
ROBERT HUGH BENSON v. DEBORAH WATKINSON
Appeal from the Circuit Court for Bradley County
No. V-03-129 Lawrence H. Puckett, Judge
No. E2004-01989-COA-R3-CV - FILED SEPTEMBER 9, 2005
Robert Hugh Benson (“Father”) sued Deborah Watkinson (“Mother”) for divorce. The parties have
two minor children. The Trial Court granted the parties a divorce and designated Father as the
primary residential parent with Mother to have no overnight visitation due to a finding of her alcohol
abuse. Mother appeals to this Court. We modify the judgment only to order Father to attend and
complete an anger management course, and affirm as so modified.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court
Affirmed as Modified; Case Remanded
D. MICHAEL SWINEY , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which HERSCHEL P. FRANKS, P.J., and
SHARON G. LEE, J., joined.
Morna K. McHargue, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the Appellant, Deborah Watkinson.
Eric S. Armstrong, Cleveland, Tennessee, for the Appellee, Robert Hugh Benson.
OPINION
Background
Father and Mother are British citizens who came to the United States in January of
2001, because of Father’s job. The parties had lived together for many years in England and had two
children together before getting married in May of 2000, in England. Originally, the parties intended
to remain in the United States only temporarily and then return to England. Plans changed and
Father now wants to remain in the United States, while Mother wishes to return to England. Father
has a work visa and is permitted to work in the United States. Mother, however, does not have a
work visa and may not work for pay while in the United States.
In February of 2003, Father filed for divorce. Mother answered the complaint and
filed her counterclaim. The case was tried in July of 2003. On November 12, 2003, the Trial Court
sua sponte entered an order granting a new trial “on the parenting plan issues in this cause focusing
on the current situations of the parties and the children.” The November 12 order required the parties
to mediate the parenting plan issues prior to the new trial. The parties did mediate, but were unable
to reach agreement on all issues. The new trial on the parenting plan issues was held in May of
2004.
This case has been contentious and the record on appeal includes multiple transcripts
and numerous exhibits. The issues raised on appeal, however, deal solely with custody. We,
therefore, confine our discussion of the facts to those directly relevant to the custody issues before
us on appeal.
Mother testified she moved in with another man, Roger Park, in February of 2004,
and that Mr. Park now is supporting her. She testified that although she and Mr. Park had two
separate apartments prior to their moving in together, Mr. Park paid for both apartments. The house
that Mother and Mr. Park now live in is across from and two doors down from Father’s house.
Mother testified that if she is awarded custody of the children, she intends to move back to England
with them.
Mother admitted that she and Mr. Park have “disagreements” about once a week.
Mother admitted that she called 911 on December 19, 2003, because Mr. Park had “gripped me and
he started shouting at me . . .” and he “stopped me going out.” Mother testified that Mr. Park is
taking anger management classes because of the December 19, 2003 incident. When asked about
her intentions with Mr. Park and the alleged abuse, Mother stated: “If things are at a level where I
think it affects the children, then I’ll move out.”
Mother testified that on April 23, 2004, she, her daughter, and Mr. Park were driving
to her daughter’s school fair. Mother testified that during that drive, Mother and Mr. Park had a
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disagreement and Mr. Park, who was driving, “lashed out …” and hit Mother on her cheek resulting
in “a little hematoma . . . .”
Mother further testified that on April 28, 2004, she, her children, two of her children’s
friends, and Mr. Park were in Mr. Park’s jeep returning from a restaurant. Mother testified that she
and Mr. Park each had consumed a couple of drinks during the hour and a half they had been at the
restaurant. Mother admitted that her daughter and the daughter’s friend were riding in the cargo area
of the jeep and were not wearing seat belts. Mother testified that the jeep was pulled over by the
police approximately one mile from her house and that Mr. Park, who was driving, was given
sobriety tests and then arrested.
Mother testified that she is taking a prescription medication as a result of her anxiety
and sickness and that this medication can make her sleepy or groggy. She testified that this
medication interacts with a strong pain killer she is taking for an injury to her finger and that the
combination “knocks me out.” Mother testified that she was taking these medications on the Friday
when her son and Mr. Park had a fight.
Mother also admitted that on May 16, 2004, less than one week prior to trial, she
became sick in the car while on the way home from a restaurant with Mr. Park and took her pants
off. Mother testified that after being sick and removing her pants, she fell asleep. Mother admitted
that she consumed alcoholic beverages while at the restaurant, but denied being drunk. She testified
that the next thing she knew, Father was carrying her into her house.
Mother admitted that her son had been suspended from school the day prior to trial
for taking a pen/letter opener with a blade to school. The pen/letter opener belongs to Mr. Park and
Mother testified that her son got the pen/letter opener from a box at her home. Mother admitted that
she did not call Father to tell him about the suspension.
Roger Park testified that he is taking anger management classes as a result of “a
bargain with the district attorney. . .” regarding a domestic violence charge connected to the
December 19 incident Mother testified about. Mr. Park admitted that he was charged with false
imprisonment and domestic assault. He also admitted that there was an occasion when he physically
pulled Mother away from the computer. When asked if he and Mother fight, Mr. Park stated: “Not
all the time. We sleep together, we eat together, we go to trips together. So we don’t fight all the
time.” When questioned about bruises, Mr. Park stated: “She does bruise easily. I do, too.” Mr.
Park testified that Mother has hit him. When asked if Mother gave him a black eye, Mr. Park stated:
Well, I bruise pretty easily, but - - she didn’t beat me up and start hitting on me like
it was a violent, violent fight in the Jeep. It was a - - it’s something that I’m sorry
about. It was an accident. Her reaction to it was a little bit, I think, premature. But
we’re not fighting all the time, if that’s what you’re trying to insinuate. I apologized
and she apologized.
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Mr. Park was questioned regarding the incident that Mother testified occurred on May
16, 2004, approximately one week prior to trial. He stated:
She undid her trousers, they would say in England, and took them off. She did.
Now, she had a long T-shirt on, …, much more than you’d have on in a swimming
pool and she sat on a towel, she did, and said, ‘I’ve got to pee,’ and she did. But, …,
she threw up.
Mr. Park testified that he got Father to help get Mother out of the vehicle when they arrived home.
Mr. Park stated:
I did that - - I feel good about that because I wanted him to come, not to see [Mother]
wasted and tired and hurting, but I thought - - because [Father] had been getting nicer
and nicer - - I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to have [Father] just come down, let’s get
her to bed. I thought that fostered both your relationship with [Father] and me and
to show [Father] that even though she didn’t have her knickers on, but covered, it
was okay. And that was my reason, for sure.
Mr. Park was questioned about Mother’s consumption of alcohol and when asked if
Mother had been drinking on one specific occasion he replied, “I don’t think she had.… [O]n her
worst day she would never drink. That’s something, isn’t it, if she’s an alcoholic?”
Officer Jennifer Hughes of the Cleveland Police Department testified regarding the
incident that Mother testified occurred on April 23, 2004, during the drive to the school fair. Officer
Hughes testified that she received a call regarding a female who had exited a vehicle at the school
fair and who apparently had been in a fight of some sort. Officer Hughes went to the school where
she spoke with Mother who told Officer Hughes that her boyfriend had hit her in the vehicle and then
dropped her and her daughter off at the school. Officer Hughes observed that Mother “had a black
eye, bloody lip, and there was blood on her shirt and also she showed me some bruises on her arms.”
Officer Hughes testified that Mother told her that the boyfriend’s name was Roger Park. Officer
Hughes further testified that Mother told her that this wasn’t the first time Mr. Park had hit her.
Officer Hughes testified she advised Mother about available help, such as shelters, and that Mother
told her that she was planning on leaving Mr. Park after the court case regarding custody.
Officer Labron Ensley of the Cleveland Police Department testified that while he was
on duty on the weekend before trial, he received a call coming from Mother’s home. Officer Ensley
testified that when he arrived at Mother’s house, the parties’ children met him at the door and the
boy stated to Officer Ensley that he had made the 911 call because he had a fight with Mr. Park.
Officer Ensley testified that the boy explained that he had been trying to wake Mother but was
unable and that Mr. Park had tried to pull him away from Mother. Officer Ensley testified that the
boy told him when Mr. Park tried to pull him away from Mother, the boy threw a cup of water at Mr.
Park and that Mr. Park then kicked the boy in the chest. Officer Ensley entered Mother’s house and
tried to wake Mother, but also was unable to do so. Officer Ensley testified that while the officers
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investigated, the children continued to attempt to arouse Mother, and that they finally were able to
do so.
Lisa Ellis, the wife of Father’s boss, testified at trial. Ms. Ellis testified that on the
Friday before trial, she observed Mother and the parties’ two children out at a restaurant with Mr.
Park. Ms. Ellis testified that Mother was slurring her words, was swearing a lot, and smelled
strongly of alcohol.
Officer Joshua Nix of the Cleveland City Police Department testified that on the
Friday prior to trial, he received a call to assist another officer and went to Father’s house. Officer
Nix testified that he observed Father in his driveway unsteady on his feet, with a heavy odor of
alcohol on his breath, and with glassy eyes. Officer Nix testified that he felt that Father was
inebriated.
Father testified that the night Officer Nix observed him drunk, he was trying to get
to Mother’s house because he was concerned for his children’s safety. Father testified that Mr. Park
had come over to Father’s house and told Father that he and the parties’ son had an argument and
that Mr. Park had pushed the boy. Father further testified that Mr. Park told him that Mother was
on the floor unconscious. Father testified that Mr. Park spent the remainder of that night at Father’s
house. Father admitted that since the court date in July of 2003, he had consumed alcoholic
beverages on numerous occasions, sometimes while the children were in his care, but that he had not
drunk to excess in front of the children.
The Trial Court entered its Final Decree of Divorce on July 7, 2004. The Trial Court
in its Final Decree found and held, inter alia, that the parties were granted a divorce and that Father
would be designated the primary residential parent with Mother restricted to no overnight shared
parenting time due to a finding of her alcohol abuse. The Final Decree also imposed certain
conditions on Mother before the Trial Court would consider overnight co-parenting time. The Final
Decree incorporated the permanent parenting plan which, among other things, required Mother to
undergo an independent assessment for alcohol abuse and stated “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE
COURT IS SATISFIED THAT THE ASSESSMENT IS PROPERLY COMPLETED AND THAT
THE MOTHER’S ALCOHOL USAGE POSES NO THREAT, THE CHILDREN SHALL NOT
STAY OVERNIGHT WITH THE MOTHER.” The permanent parenting plan provided that Mother
could petition the Trial Court for review regarding overnight parenting time after she satisfied the
requirements placed on her. The permanent parenting plan also provided that neither party will have
an overnight guest of the opposite gender who is a non-family member while the children are present
for visitation, and that neither party will consume alcohol or any illegal substance while the children
are present. Mother appeals to this Court.
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Discussion
While Mother raises two issues on appeal, the dispositive issue is whether the Trial
Court erred in designating Father as the primary residential parent with Mother to have no overnight
shared parenting time due to a finding of her alcohol abuse.
Our review is de novo upon the record, accompanied by a presumption of correctness
of the findings of fact of the trial court, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn.
R. App. P. 13(d); Bogan v. Bogan, 60 S.W.3d 721, 727 (Tenn. 2001). A trial court's conclusions of
law are subject to a de novo review with no presumption of correctness. S. Constructors, Inc. v.
Loudon County Bd. of Educ., 58 S.W.3d 706, 710 (Tenn. 2001). In applying this standard of review,
we are mindful that "[t]rial courts are vested with wide discretion in matters of child custody and the
appellate courts will not interfere except upon a showing of erroneous exercise of that discretion."
Koch v. Koch, 874 S.W.2d 571, 575 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1993). Because "[c]ustody and visitation
determinations often hinge on subtle factors, including the parents' demeanor and credibility during
the divorce proceedings themselves," appellate courts "are reluctant to second-guess a trial court's
decisions." Gaskill v. Gaskill, 936 S.W.2d 626, 631 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1996). The courts' paramount
concern in a custody case is the welfare and best interest of the parties' minor children. Ruyle v.
Ruyle, 928 S.W.2d 439, 441 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1996); Koch, 874 S.W.2d at 575. This determination
necessarily turns on the particular facts of each case. Koch, 874 S.W.2d at 575.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106(a) requires a trial court to consider all relevant factors
when making a custody determination, including but not limited to:
(1) The love, affection and emotional ties existing between the
parents and child;
(2) The disposition of the parents to provide the child with food,
clothing, medical care, education and other necessary care and the
degree to which a parent has been the primary caregiver;
(3) The importance of continuity in the child's life and the length of
time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment;
provided, that where there is a finding, under § 36-6-106(8), of child
abuse, as defined in § 39-15-401 or § 39-15-402, or child sexual
abuse, as defined in § 37-1-602, by one (1) parent, and that a
non-perpetrating parent has relocated in order to flee the perpetrating
parent, that such relocation shall not weigh against an award of
custody;
(4) The stability of the family unit of the parents;
(5) The mental and physical health of the parents;
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(6) The home, school and community record of the child;
(7) The reasonable preference of the child if twelve (12) years of age
or older. The court may hear the preference of a younger child upon
request. The preferences of older children should normally be given
greater weight than those of younger children;
(8) Evidence of physical or emotional abuse to the child, to the other
parent or to any other person; provided, that where there are
allegations that one (1) parent has committed child abuse, [as defined
in § 39-15-401 or § 39-15-402], or child sexual abuse, [as defined in
§ 37-1-602], against a family member, the court shall consider all
evidence relevant to the physical and emotional safety of the child,
and determine, by a clear preponderance of the evidence, whether
such abuse has occurred. The court shall include in its decision a
written finding of all evidence, and all findings of facts connected
thereto. In addition, the court shall, where appropriate, refer any
issues of abuse to the juvenile court for further proceedings;
(9) The character and behavior of any other person who resides in or
frequents the home of a parent and such person's interactions with the
child; and
(10) Each parent's past and potential for future performance of
parenting responsibilities, including the willingness and ability of
each of the parents to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing
parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent,
consistent with the best interest of the child.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106(a) (2004).
In addition to the foregoing, Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-101(d) establishes "the
legislative intent that the gender of the party seeking custody shall not give rise to a presumption of
parental fitness or cause a presumption or constitute a factor in favor or against the award of custody
to such party." Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-101(d) (2004).
Mother argues, in part, that the Trial Court erred when applying the best interest test
and making a comparative fitness analysis because it failed to consider that Mother had been the
primary caretaker for most of the children’s lives, that Mother has maintained contact with Father’s
extended family, and that Father has been unwilling to encourage a close and continuing relationship
between the children and Mother. Mother also argues that the Trial Court erred in basing its custody
decision upon the fact that Mother admitted to extramarital affairs.
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Mother apparently overlooks the Trial Court’s finding that Mother is abusing alcohol.
The evidence shows numerous instances that occurred mere weeks prior to trial when Mother’s
alcohol consumption impacted her ability to care for the children. The evidence shows that on April
28, 2004, Mother got into Mr. Park’s jeep and allowed her children and their friends also to get into
the jeep with Mr. Park who, during the drive home was stopped by police and arrested for D.U.I.
In addition, on that occasion, Mother admitted that her daughter and the daughter’s friend were
riding in the cargo area of the jeep without using seat belts. The evidence also shows that Mother
admitted that on the Friday before trial, she was taking a combination of medications that ‘knocked
her out,’ effectively leaving her children without assistance when her son and Mr. Park fought. The
children were forced to call 911 themselves on this occasion, and Officer Ensley testified that he was
unable to wake Mother. The evidence further shows that one week prior to trial, Mother got drunk,
threw up in the vehicle on the way home, removed her pants, and urinated on a towel. The evidence
further shows that on the Friday prior to trial, Ms. Ellis observed Mother at a restaurant with Mr.
Park and the children. Ms. Ellis also observed that Mother was slurring her words, was swearing
a lot, and smelled strongly of alcohol. The evidence does not preponderate against the Trial Court’s
finding that Mother is abusing alcohol.
Mother argues that the evidence shows that Father also drinks and that the Trial Court
did not properly consider this evidence. However, the Trial Court did consider the testimony of
Officer Nix and Father regarding this incident and noted that Father did not have custody of the
children at the time. The record is devoid of evidence showing any instances when Father drank to
excess while the children were in his custody. Father admitted to sometimes consuming alcoholic
beverages while the children were in his care, but there is no evidence that this consumption was
excessive or that Father was rendered incapable of parenting at those times.
We do, however, remind both parties that the permanent parenting plan incorporated
into the Trial Court’s July 7, 2004 order mandates that “[n]either party shall consume alcohol or
consume any illegal substance … while the minor children are present for the purpose of visitation,”
and that “[a]ny and all violations of this permanent parenting plan shall be regarded as the equivalent
of contempt of court and shall be punished as such by a court of competent jurisdiction.”
In addition, we note that the evidence shows that Mother has exposed the children
to Mr. Park who, the evidence shows, has hit Mother, kicked the parties’ son, been arrested for
D.U.I. while driving with the children and two of their friends in the vehicle, and been charged with
false imprisonment and domestic assault. The evidence shows that Mother has failed to exercise
good judgment regarding the safety and well-being of her children. The Trial Court did consider all
relevant evidence when making the custody determination. We find no error in the Trial Court’s
designation of Father as the primary residential parent with Mother’s visitation being restricted
because of her alcohol abuse.
Mother requested that Father be ordered to attend anger management classes. The
evidence presented during the first trial of this matter shows that Father hit Mother on several
occasions. In addition, one of Father’s friends, Thomas Stephen Webster, testified that Father’s
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discipline of the children “[o]ccasionally . . . goes over the top ….” Given this evidence, we find
Mother’s request for an order directing that Father attend anger management classes to be well taken
as being in the children’s best interest.
We remand this case to the Trial Court for entry of an order requiring Father to attend
and complete an anger management course, and we affirm the Trial Court’s July 7, 2004 Final
Decree as so modified.
Conclusion
The judgment of the Trial Court is modified such that on remand Father is to be
ordered to attend and complete an anger management course, and the judgment is affirmed as so
modified. This cause is remanded to the Trial Court for action consistent with this Opinion and for
collection of the costs below. The costs on appeal are assessed against the Appellant, Deborah
Watkinson, and her surety.
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D. MICHAEL SWINEY, JUDGE
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