ÿWPCƒ ITÿÖbh_3ý%Q¸B8‰#UoÅz5S¯. Œ2ý%$)_9oEê,­PŸ8!Þ+Ëb!Õdz°¼Ñ„‹•BõMMר{Êúžf˜%¥?·#(Ö’ü°4¶Š©Õy«Ù³ Õ•õÿô\ùñ˜„Ô¬ÙŠaizv?*˜ê“•¹JÕ ¥â e™wgö(ÛQÇß[†ŸTÿH¯o¹z¿³‚M¥Q¹EkE™Xê/öñ›ÈÊ ŽP[t@}$tl3îð½þOR€lÝ?‹nNìä.߇ƒû£qmw1ã½!ghΊuSÑÖl¾¸eʼjà{*:Ñ+Âm•Ó!©åf˜ØÞ¡ßˆ½cBû=&boò™”ioGÅ“¢á©K~£ãÈwôôí–ï§2°ª„¡š’+”#‰Û¬6)nºË˜à¥ ÅU îØòêˆF§‰§V¿<§>Cªlzø§ò²ÃýŒ óäµ…ßxß‹K¢ú¶ ¸Bôª*·×†è¼qé/À);å@|ÿñ!,¸aêå&`á¢lÄ/#W'•°˜>‡­¿ ©€ÌÒsåÕË‘©'ßÔa·J¾aXôD ³YY펃8©´CdÚšËRpÞ4òÁ)gø6>5æ#+aÁ‡6Ýÿ¨ãBÓã8Õ€Âÿ»„b#É\ %% UN+ 0ˆy UN ^ O w[ z_ ÒÙ 4« 0D¿  1 ÆCÆ ÆÏÆ•[N] m__Evvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvbxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 0뀀€€ Bkk 0¤ˆ D3, D-_ 0KŒŒ ASׯ* 0¤ð 0D” A«Ø˜HP LaserJet 4250 PCL 6ÈÈÈÈ0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularuœ3   ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt=€M3ê:i¢Ø+00(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó3|x 'Ý ƒR¿d$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôý ò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€This€case€came€to€be€heard€in€the€chancery€court€prior€to€the€enactment€of€the€new€ð ðincome€sharesðð€modelÐ ° Ðof€the€child€support€guidelines,€which€took€effect€in€January€of€2005.€€I€am€cognizant€of€the€limited€evidence€addressingÐ tÄ ÐFatherððs€income€in€the€years€prior€to€his€incarceration,€which€the€Appellants€attempted€to€prove€in€the€proceedings€below.€Ð 8ˆ ÐIf,€on€remand,€the€chancellor€were€unable€to€ascertain€Fatherððs€net€income€for€the€period€in€question,€the€child€supportÐ üL Ðguidelines€in€existence€when€this€case€came€to€be€heard€below€provide€for€such€a€contingency.€€ò òòòSeeóóó ó€Tenn.€Comp.€R.€&Ð À ÐÔ_ÔRegsÔ_Ô.€1240„2„4„.03(3)(e)€(1994)€(providing€the€amount€of€income€to€be€used€when€the€Ô_ÔobligorÔ_Ô€fails€to€produce€sufficientÐ †Ö Ðevidence€of€income).Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-(|G2¿d$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Lñ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôý ò»»Ô d(|3G‘$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Lñ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3G‘$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Lñ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Lñ»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼Lñ»»»ÔÑ8€XXdì»»d8ÑÑ  Ñà@ü ü ìàÔ‡îDpLñÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼Lñ»îîDp #ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓSUBMITTED€ON€BRIEFS€JULY€14,€2005Ð üL ÐÔ‡XX»¼LñÔÌò òÔ#†¼Lñ»XXþ#ÔIN€THE€MATTER€OF€Ô_ÔJ.L.C.Ô_Ô,€Ô_ÔV.R.C.Ô_Ô,€and€Ô_ÔE.R.C.Ô_ÔÐ úJ ÐJOHN€RICHARD€SIMMONS,€òòet€al.óó€v.€JAMES€Ô_ÔCORDELLÔ_Ô,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XX»¼LñÔó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Ô_ÔGrundyÔ_Ô€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€A„111€€€€€€Jeffrey€F.€Stewart,€ChancellorÐ ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2004„00538„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€28,€Ô_Ô2005Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÌÓ²Óò òÔ‡XXXXÔDISSENTING€OPINIONÐ xÈ ÐÌÌó óÓ  Óà0  àI€write€separately€to€voice€my€dissent€to€the€holding€reached€by€the€majority€in€this€case.€€Ð<Œ(#(# ÐThe€majority€concludes€that€Father€expressly€waived€the€issue€of€whether€the€trial€court€correctlyÐ (x Ðdetermined€him€to€be€voluntarily€unemployed.€€Although€Father€did€state€in€his€brief€that€he€is€notÐ d Ðchallenging€the€trial€courtððs€determination€that€he€is€voluntarily€unemployed€on€appeal,€I€believe€theÐ P Ðissue€should€nonetheless€be€addressed.€€In€doing€so,€I€would€hold€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€findingÐ ì< Ðthat€Father€was€voluntarily€unemployed€and€in€imputing€potential€income€to€Father€on€which€to€baseÐ Ø( Ðan€award€of€child€support.Ð Ä ÐÌà  àRule€13(b)€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Appellate€Procedure€provides€as€follows:Ð œì ÐÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °Ò(b)€Consideration€of€Issues€Not€Presented€for€Review.€ð"ð€ReviewÐ t Ä Ðgenerally€will€extend€only€to€those€issues€presented€for€review.€€TheÐ `!°  Ðappellate€court€shall€also€consider€whether€the€trial€and€appellateÐ L"œ! Ðcourt€have€jurisdiction€over€the€subject€matter,€whether€or€notÐ 8#ˆ" Ðpresented€for€review,€and€may€òòin€its€discretionóó€consider€other€issuesÐ $$t# Ðin€order,€among€other€reasons:€(1)€to€prevent€needless€litigation,€(2)Ð %` $ Ðto€prevent€injury€to€the€interests€of€the€public,€and€(3)€òòto€preventÐ ü%L!% Ðprejudice€to€the€judicial€processóó.Ð è&8"& ÐÌÒ°` ¾ ÒÒ°` ° ÒTenn.€R.€App.€P.€13(b)€(2005)€(emphasis€added).€€The€Advisory€Commission€Comments€to€the€RuleÐ À($( Ðprovide€as€follows:Ð ¬)ü$) ÐÌÒ` °ÒÒ` °ÒThis€subdivision€deals€with€the€very€difficult€question€of€when€anÐ „+Ô&+ Ðappellate€court€should€consider€an€issue€not€raised€by€the€parties.€Ð p,À', ÐGenerally€speaking,€control€over€the€issues€should€reside€in€theÐ \-¬(-ý ÐÔ_Ôparties,€not€in€the€court.€€Accordingly,€this€subdivision€provides€thatÐ ° Ðreview€will€typically€extend€only€to€the€issues€set€forth€in€the€briefs.€Ð œì ÐOnly€the€absence€of€subject„matter€jurisdiction,€whether€at€the€trial€orÐ ˆØ Ðappellate€level,€must€be€considered€by€the€appellate€court€regardlessÐ tÄ Ðof€whether€it€is€presented€for€review.€€Cases€appealed€to€the€wrongÐ `° Ðappellate€court€must€be€transferred€pursuant€to€Rule€17€of€these€rules.€Ð L œ ÐIn€all€the€other€situations€described€in€this€subdivision,€the€appellateÐ 8 ˆ Ðcourt€has€discretion€to€decide€whether€it€will€consider€a€matter€notÐ $ t Ðraised€by€the€parties.€€It€is€intended€that€this€discretion€be€sparinglyÐ  ` Ðexercised.Ð ü L  ÐÌÒ°` 9 ÒÒ°` G ÒI€am€mindful€of€our€need€to€use€the€discretion€vested€in€this€Court€under€Rule€13(b)€conservatively.€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àThere€is€no€greater€need€for€this€Court€to€exercise€its€discretion€to€review€an€issue€notÐ ¬ü  Ðpresented€for€review,€however,€than€when€a€trial€court€enters€a€finding€in€direct€contravention€ofÐ ˜è  Ðestablished€precedent,€thereby€causing€prejudice€to€the€judicial€process.€€ò òòòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòPanzer€v.€Kingóóó ó,Ð „Ô  Ð743€S.W.2d€612,€616€(Tenn.€1988)€(recognizing€that€neither€of€the€parties€raised€the€issue€of€whetherÐ tÄ Ða€trial€court€was€correct€in€granting€a€new€trial,€our€supreme€court€stated€that€ð ð[w]e€are€presentedÐ `° Ðwith€a€classic€case€for€the€application€of€T.R.A.P.€13(b)€that€expressly€grants€the€appellate€courtsÐ Lœ Ðauthority€to€consider€issues€not€brought€up€for€review€by€any€partyðð);€ò òòòIn€re€Z.J.S.óóó ó,€No.Ð 8ˆ ÐM2002-02235-COA-R3-JV,€2003€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS€415,€at€*14ð!ð27€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€June€3,€2003)Ð $t Ð(exercising€our€discretion€under€Rule€13(b)€to€vacate€the€€termination€of€the€fathersðð€parental€rightsÐ ` Ðdue€to€serious€procedural€irregularities);€ò òòòWaterhouse€v.€Cumberland€County€Bankóóó ó,€Nos.€03A01„Ð üL Ð9102„CH„00056,€03A01„9106„CH„00079,€1991€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS€808,€at€*4€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Oct.Ð è8 Ð8,€1991)€(recognizing€that€neither€party€raised€the€issue€of€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€thatÐ Ô$ Ðthe€plaintiff€failed€to€meet€certain€requirements€found€in€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure,€thisÐ À ÐCourt€undertook€an€examination€of€the€issue€pursuant€to€Rule€13(b));€ò òòòMoore€v.€Mooreóóó ó,€No.€1,€1986Ð ¬ü ÐTenn.€App.€LEXIS€3201,€at€*5€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Aug.€4,€1986)€(noting€that,€even€though€the€partiesÐ ˜è Ðdid€not€appeal€the€issue€of€whether€a€valid€marriage€existed€in€the€first€instance,€the€partiesðð€apparentÐ „Ô Ðdisregard€of€the€rules€governing€the€marriage€process€warranted€our€examination€of€the€issue€underÐ pÀ ÐRule€13(b)).€€The€limited€exercise€of€discretion€I€espouse€in€this€instance€promotes€this€Courtððs€roleÐ \ ¬ Ðin€correcting€clear€legal€errors€by€the€trial€courts€of€this€state€so€that€we€do€not€condone€theÐ H!˜ Ðestablishment€of€an€incorrect€precedent,€thereby€preventing€confusion€for€the€bench€and€the€bar€thatÐ 4"„  Ðwould€ultimately€ensue€should€we€allow€such€errors€to€stand.€€Ð  #p! ÐÌà  àAfter€reading€the€trial€courtððs€order€in€this€case,€there€is€no€mistaking€the€fact€that€the€trialÐ ø$H # Ðcourt€concluded€that€Father€was€voluntarily€unemployed€due€solely€to€his€incarceration.€€If€anyÐ ä%4!$ Ðambiguity€did€exist€in€the€order,€it€would€be€resolved€by€reference€to€the€trial€courtððs€statements€toÐ Ð& "% Ðthe€parties€at€the€conclusion€of€the€hearing€in€this€matter:Ð ¼' #& ÐÌÓ °ÓÓ °ÓI€think€first€I€would€like€to€point€out€and€say€for€the€record€I€do€findÐ ”)ä$( Ðthat€Mr.€Cordell€has€voluntarily€put€himself€in€a€position€of€notÐ €*Ð%) Ðearning€any€income.€€He€didnððt€certainly€quit€a€job€but€he€certainlyÐ l+¼&* Ðparticipated€in€illegal€activity€that€brought€about€losing€his€job€andÐ ° Ðbecoming€incarcerated€and€put€us€in€this€position.€€No€one€made€himÐ œì Ðparticipate€in€that.€€It€appears€he€voluntarily€chose€to€do€that.€€So€IÐ ˆØ Ðfind€that€he€voluntarily€unemployed€himself.€€The€question€is€whatÐ tÄ Ðcould€he€earn€and€what€could€he€pay€as€far€as€support€is€concerned?Ð `° Ð.€.€.€The€question€of€what€he€could€earn€is€really€somewhat€in€disputeÐ L œ Ðand€difficult€for€this€Court€to€determine€based€upon€the€proof€beforeÐ 8 ˆ Ðit.€€And€one€of€the€reasons€I€ask€about€these€prior€farm€incomeÐ $ t Ðrecords€is€that€I€think€that€would€have€established€what€he€was€ableÐ  ` Ðto€earn€off€of€this€farm.Ð ü L  ÐÌÓ °.ÓÓ ° ÓThe€trial€courtððs€finding€of€voluntary€unemployment€in€its€order,€which€is€based€on€this€faulty€lineÐ Ô$  Ðof€reasoning,€constitutes€clear€error€in€direct€contravention€of€our€existing€case€law.Ð À  ÐÌà  àð ðAlthough€there€is€no€requirement€that€a€parent€intended€to€avoid€their€child€supportÐ ˜è  Ðobligations€by€their€actions,€we€do€think€that€willful€or€voluntary€unemployment€orÐ „Ô  Ðunderemployment€òòmust€result€from€an€intent€on€the€part€of€the€parent€to€reduce€or€terminate€his€orÐ pÀ Ðher€incomeóó.ðð€€ò òòòWilson€v.€Wilsonó óóó,€43€S.W.3d€495,€497€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000)€òòò òóóó ó(emphasis€added).€€ThisÐ \¬ ÐCourt€has€previously€had€occasion€to€address€the€correctness€of€a€trial€courtððs€finding€of€willful€andÐ H˜ Ðvoluntary€unemployment€by€an€obligor€parent€under€circumstances€similar€to€those€in€the€presentÐ 4„ Ðcase.€€In€ò òòòPennington€v.€Penningtonóóó ó,€No.€W2000„00568„COA„R3„CV,€2001€Tenn.€App.€LEXIS€192,Ð  p Ðat€*2€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Mar.€14,€2001),€a€wife€filed€for€divorce€from€her€husband€in€1999€and€soughtÐ  \ Ðchild€support€for€the€partiesðð€children.€€In€1994,€the€husband,€a€doctor,€was€incarcerated€for€illegallyÐ øH Ðwriting€prescriptions€for€controlled€substances.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€at€*2ð!ð3.€€The€husband€was€released€in€1996,Ð ä4 Ðhowever,€he€was€subsequently€arrested€in€1998€for€possession€of€cocaine€and€sentenced€to€a€newÐ Ð  Ðprison€term.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€at€*3.€€The€husband€remained€incarcerated€when€the€divorce€proceedings€began€inÐ ¼  Ðthe€lower€court.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€at€*2.€€The€trial€court€concluded€that€the€amount€of€the€husbandððs€child€supportÐ ¨ø Ðobligation€should€be€based€upon€his€potential€earning€capacity,€utilizing€the€average€of€his€earningsÐ ”ä Ðin€the€five€years€preceding€his€first€arrest€in€1993.€€ò òòòId.ó óóó€at€*7.€€However,€the€trial€court€did€not€makeÐ €Ð Ða€finding€of€willful€and€voluntary€unemployment€on€the€part€of€the€husband.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€at€*10.€€HavingÐ l¼ Ðfailed€to€do€so,€this€Court€conducted€a€òòde€novo€óóreview€of€the€record€to€determine€whether€theÐ X ¨ Ðhusband€was,€in€fact,€willfully€and€voluntarily€unemployed.€€ò òòòId.óóó ó€€In€concluding€that€the€husband€wasÐ D!” Ðnot€willfully€and€voluntarily€unemployed,€we€held€as€follows:Ð 0"€  ÐÌÓ °ÓÓ °ÓThe€case€at€hand€is€analogous€to€[òòWilson€v.€Wilsonóó,€43€S.W.3d€495Ð $X" Ð(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€2000)].€€In€òòWilsonóó,€Ms.€Wilson€argued€that€becauseÐ ô$D # ÐMr.€Wilsonððs€criminal€acts€were€willful€and€voluntary,€he€wasÐ à%0!$ Ðwillfully€and€voluntarily€underemployed.€€Likewise,€in€the€case€atÐ Ì&"% Ðhand,€Ms.€Pennington€asserts€that€because€Mr.€Penningtonððs€criminalÐ ¸'#& Ðact,€using€cocaine,€was€willful€and€voluntary,€and€because€this€act€ledÐ ¤(ô#' Ðto€his€incarceration€and€resulting€unemployment,€he€was€willfully€andÐ )à$( Ðvoluntarily€unemployed.€€We€decline€to€make€this€conclusion.€€òòMr.Ð |*Ì%) ÐPennington€did€not€intend€to€become€incarcerated€and€unemployedÐ h+¸&* Ðwhen€he€made€the€choice€to€use€cocaine;€thus,€the€record€does€notÐ ° Ðsupport€a€finding€that€Mr.€Pennington€was€willfully€and€voluntarilyÐ œì Ðunemployedóó.€Consequently,€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€child€supportÐ ˆØ Ðbased€on€Mr.€Penningtonððs€potential€income€rather€than€his€netÐ tÄ Ðincome€is€reversed.€€We€remand€this€case€to€the€trial€court€for€aÐ `° Ðdetermination€of€Mr.€Penningtonððs€net€income€and€to€make€an€awardÐ L œ Ðof€child€support€based€on€Mr.€Penningtonððs€net€income.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÓ °Þ,ÓÓ °Ð,Óò òòòÌId.óóó ó€at€*13€(emphasis€added);€ò òòòsee€also€Coates€v.€Coatesóóó ó,€No.€M2001„01928„COA„R3„CV,€2002€Tenn.Ð  \ ÐApp.€LEXIS€803,€at€*7€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€Nov.€15,€2002)€(ð ðThis€court€has€rejected€the€proposition€thatÐ ø H  Ða€parentððs€dishonest€acts€which€led€to€unemployment€constitute€willful€and€voluntary€unemployment.€Ð ä 4  ÐAs€a€logical€extension€of€that€principle,€we€have€also€held€that€unemployment€or€underemploymentÐ Ð  Ðresulting€from€incarceration€is€not€willful€and€voluntary.ðð€(citations€omitted))).Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àAs€in€òòPenningtonóó,€there€is€nothing€in€the€record€before€this€Court€to€indicate€that€FatherÐ ”ä  Ðintended€to€become€incarcerated€and€unemployed€in€an€effort€to€reduce€or€terminate€his€income.€Ð €Ð  ÐThus,€the€chancellorððs€calculation€of€Fatherððs€child€support€obligation€based€upon€his€potentialÐ l¼ Ðincome€constitutes€a€clear€error€of€law€which€this€Court€should€address€to€prevent€prejudice€to€theÐ X¨ Ðjudicial€process.€€Accordingly,€I€would€reverse€the€trial€courtððs€holding€and€remand€this€case€to€theÐ D” Ðchancery€court€for€a€determination€of€Fatherððs€net€income,€consistent€with€the€child€supportÐ 0€ Ðguidelines€in€effect€when€this€case€was€tried€below,׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€and€the€entry€of€a€child€support€award€basedÐ l Ðupon€such€amount.Ð X ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÔ#†XXXXÒ#ÔÔ#†¼Lñ»XXE#ÔÔ‡XX»¼LñÔÌòòóóÔ#†¼Lñ»XX¹9#ÔÔ€XX»¼LñÔÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð T ¤ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àALAN€E.€HIGHERS,€JUDGE