Alice Faye Powers v. Stephen Edwin Powers ( 2021 )

04/07/2021
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT NASHVILLE
Assigned on Briefs February 2, 2021
ALICE FAYE POWERS v. STEPHEN EDWIN POWERS
Appeal from the Chancery Court for Humphreys County
No. 2016-CV-224 Suzanne Lockert-Mash, Judge
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No. M2019-01512-COA-R3-CV
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This is an appeal from a contested divorce involving one minor child. The father appeals
the trial court’s decision to name the mother as the primary residential parent and its
decision to grant the father less than equal parenting time. For the reasons stated herein,
we affirm the trial court’s decisions and remand.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court Affirmed
and Remanded.
CARMA DENNIS MCGEE, J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which D. MICHAEL
SWINEY, C.J., and FRANK G. CLEMENT, JR., P.J., M.S., joined.
Steven Shawn Hooper, Waverly, Tennessee, for the appellant, Stephen Edwin Powers.
Brandon E. White, Columbia, Tennessee, for the appellee, Alice Faye Powers.
OPINION
I. FACTS & PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This child custody dispute stems from a divorce action between Alice Faye Powers
(“Mother”) and Stephen Edwin Powers (“Father”) (collectively “Parents”). Parents share
one minor daughter (“Child”). While this case stems from a divorce action, the issues on
appeal only involve the permanent parenting plan for Child.
Parents were married in June 2013. Prior to the marriage, Child was born in
September 2012. Parents and Child lived together until Parents separated in December
2016. Mother worked only briefly during the marriage, and Father was the primary income
earner in the family. Parents experienced marital difficulties throughout the marriage,
culminating in a physical altercation in the parking lot of a shopping center.
On December 4, 2016, Parents, Child, and Mother’s minor son from a prior
relationship were shopping for winter clothes. During their shopping trip, with the children
present, Parents were engaged in a verbal altercation. Eventually, the altercation escalated
and resulted in Father choking Mother by her throat. When the family returned home after
shopping, Mother called the police and reported the incident. As a result of the altercation,
Father pled guilty to domestic assault. Parents separated shortly after the incident and
Mother initiated this case by filing a complaint for divorce.
In her complaint, Mother asserted several grounds for divorce, including
inappropriate marital conduct and cruel and inhuman treatment. Mother requested that she
be awarded spousal support, attorney’s fees, and that she be designated as the primary
residential parent of Child. In conjunction with her complaint, Mother also submitted a
proposed parenting plan. In her plan, Mother proposed that she be named the primary
residential parent of Child and that Father be awarded parenting time every other weekend.
On February 15, 2017, Father filed an answer to Mother’s complaint and a counter-
complaint for divorce. In Father’s answer, he admitted to being arrested for physically
assaulting Mother.1 Prior to filing his answer and counter-complaint, Father submitted his
own proposed parenting plan. In Father’s proposed plan, he asserted that Parents should
have equal parenting time and should both be named as primary residential parents.
After a hearing before the trial court, Parents agreed on several temporary matters.
Pending a final haring, Parents agreed that Mother would be named as the primary
residential parent. Parents also agreed that Father would have residential parenting time
every other weekend, from Friday through Wednesday morning.2 After several months of
protracted litigation, a final hearing was set for March 26, 2019.
Eight days before the final hearing, Father filed another proposed parenting plan.
In his new proposed plan, Father asserted that he should be designated as the primary
residential parent and that Parents should share equal parenting time.
On March 26, 2019, the trial court held the final hearing. Through mediation,
Parents had resolved several issues prior to the hearing, including division of personal
property and marital debts. Mother, Father, and Child’s paternal grandmother testified at
1
Father pled guilty to the domestic assault on September 7, 2018, nearly nineteen months after
filing his answer to Mother’s complaint.
2
Initially, Parents agreed that Father’s parenting time would occur every other week from Friday
through Sunday night and for two nights per week when Mother worked late. Prior to the final hearing, the
court entered an order that clarified Father’s time as every other weekend from Friday evening through
Wednesday morning.
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the hearing.
Mother’s testimony focused on her marital struggles with Father, the changes to her
life since their separation, and her relationship with Child. During the marriage, Child’s
maternal grandmother passed away from cancer. Mother testified that the events leading
up to her passing were made more difficult by Father. Mother stated that when she took
Child and her son to Florida (where the grandmother was living) to visit, Father was
opposed to the trip, causing her additional stress and worry. After the maternal
grandmother passed away, Mother testified that the family (including Father) drove all
night from Tennessee to Florida to attend the funeral. To avoid further conflict with Father,
Mother stated that the family stayed in Florida only “two or three hours” before returning
to Tennessee. Mother also testified at length on the domestic assault incident by Father.
Although she did not work for the majority of Parents’ marriage, Mother testified
that she was the day-to-day caregiver for Child and the family. At the time Parents
separated, Mother was working part-time as a retail employee. After Parents separated,
Mother was offered a full-time position at another store. In an effort to reduce the commute
to the new store, Mother asked the trial court for permission to change residences. The
court granted Mother’s request, and Mother moved to Columbia, Tennessee, where she
currently resides with Child.
Mother also testified on Child’s progression since Parents’ separation. She stated
that Child is enrolled in Kindergarten at a nearby school. According to Mother, Child
enjoys the school, is successful there, and has made several friends. When Child is not in
school, Mother stated that they enjoy activities such as going to the park and shopping
together. Mother believed that Child was doing “very well” with the current parenting
schedule, allowing Child to have a “solid place.” In contrast, Mother testified that equal
parenting time would not be best for Child because Father does not teach her responsibility
and only focuses on fun activities. As a result, she stated that they should maintain the
parenting schedule that allowed Father time every other Friday through Wednesday
morning. Although Mother did not agree on Father’s parenting style, she admitted that
Father has a positive relationship with Child, is a loving Father, and is an active parent.
Father also testified at the final hearing. After Mother was granted permission to
move to Columbia, Father also moved there. Father stated that his move was to ensure that
he could be closer to Child. Since his new residence is close to Child’s school, on days
Father exercises parenting time, he stated that he is able to help transport Child to school.
On weekends when Child is in Father’s care, Father testified that they usually do fun
activities such as going to water parks or museums. At various times, Father testified that
he always tries to spend as much time as possible with Child and that they have a happy
relationship together. In response to Mother’s claim that he does not provide structure for
Child, Father testified that Child does chores such as picking up her room and feedings the
pets.
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At the time of trial, Father stated that he worked as a manager of technical support,
earning approximately $70,000 per year. As a manager, Father stated that he has flexible
hours and can often work from home when he cares for Child.
In response to Mother’s discussion on Parents’ marital troubles, Father testified that
Mother took several statements out of context. He also stated that when the maternal
grandmother became ill, he supported Mother wanting to visit her in Florida. Additionally,
he testified that when Mother first left to visit her family, Father simply inquired when she
would return.
At the conclusion of the final hearing, the trial court issued an oral ruling. In its oral
ruling, the court granted Mother a divorce on the ground of “cruel and inhuman treatment.”
The court also determined that the current residential schedule was in Child’s best interest.
Meaning, Father would continue to have parenting time with Child every other week from
Friday evening to Wednesday morning. The court entered a written order of its judgment
on July 31, 2019.
In the trial court’s written order of judgment, the court restated that Mother was
granted a divorce based on Father’s physical assault towards Mother. In determining a
permanent parenting schedule that would be in the best interest of Child, the trial court
analyzed the relevant factors listed in Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-106(a).
Specifically, the court found that Child has a good relationship with both Mother and
Father, that Child is thriving under the temporary schedule, and that the temporary schedule
allowed for Child to spend quality time with each parent. Additionally, the court noted
that Father’s assault on Mother raised concerns and that Mother had been the primary
caregiver for Child. After considering the relevant statutory factors, the court determined
that it was in the best interest of Child for Mother to remain as the primary residential
parent and for the temporary parenting schedule to continue. As a result, the court allotted
Father parenting time every other week from Friday at 6:00 p.m. to Wednesday morning.
The court further stated that Parents would alternate holidays, would share spring and fall
breaks equally, and would each be allotted two nonconsecutive weeks during the summer.
The trial court incorporated a permanent parenting plan into its final order that detailed the
parenting schedule.3
Father timely appealed the trial court’s ruling.
II. ISSUES PRESENTED
Father raises two issues on appeal, which we have copied verbatim:
3
The trial court’s written ruling also determined issues that are not relevant to this appeal, such as
spousal support and marital debts.
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I. Whether the trial court erred when it designated Mother as primary
residential parent.
II. Whether the trial court erred when it failed to maximize Father’s parenting
time.
For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the trial court’s decision to designate
Mother as the primary residential parent and its determination of the parenting schedule.
III. DISCUSSION
Although Father lists two separate issues for review, because both issues hinge on
a review of the trial court’s custody determination, we shall examine them as a single issue.
In cases that are tried by a “court sitting without a jury, we review the case de novo
upon the record with a presumption of correctness of the findings of fact by the trial court.”
Rountree v. Rountree, 369 S.W.3d 122, 128-29 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2012) (citing Tenn. R.
App. P. 13(d)). We review questions of law de novo, attaching no presumption of
correctness to the trial court’s legal conclusions. Armbrister v. Armbrister, 414 S.W.3d
685, 692 (Tenn. 2013) (citing Kendrick v. Shoemake, 90 S.W.3d 566, 569 (Tenn. 2002)).
When an appellate court “review[s] a trial court’s factual determinations in matters
involving child custody and parenting plan developments,” the Tennessee Supreme Court
has emphasized that we shall employ a “limited scope of review.” C.W.H. v. L.A.S., 538
S.W.3d 488, 495 (Tenn. 2017). Meaning, a trial court’s factual findings on custody issues
are presumed correct and are afforded great deference on appeal. Id. at 495, 500. Stated
differently, “[t]rial courts are vested with wide discretion in matters of child custody” and
“appellate courts will not interfere except upon a showing of erroneous exercise of that
discretion.” Rountree, 369 S.W.3d at 129 (alteration in original) (quoting Hyde v. Amanda
Bradley, No. M2009-02117-COA-R3-JV, 2010 WL 4024905, at *3 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct.
12, 2010)). Custody issues “often hinge on subtle factors, including the parents’ demeanor
and credibility during . . . proceedings;” therefore, “appellate courts ‘are reluctant to
second-guess a trial court’s decisions.’” Id. (omission in original). In child custody cases,
a trial court abuses its discretion when its decision “falls outside the spectrum of rulings
that might reasonably result from an application of the correct legal standards to the
evidence found in the record.” Armbrister, 414 S.W.3d at 693 (quoting Eldridge v.
Eldridge, 42 S.W.3d 82, 88 (Tenn. 2001)).
When fashioning a permanent parenting plan, trial courts are required to “consider
the factors listed in Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-106(a)(1)-(15) to ascertain the
best interest of the child, in determining a residential schedule and naming a primary
residential parent.” Sullivan v. Sullivan, No. M2018-01776-COA-R3-CV, 2019 WL
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4899760, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 4, 2019) (citing Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 36-6-106(a) and
-404(b)); see also McClain v. McClain, 539 S.W.3d 170, 187 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2017). “The
paramount concern in establishing a permanent parenting plan is the best interest of the
children.” Maupin v. Maupin, 420 S.W.3d 761, 770 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2013). Effective June
6, 2011, the General Assembly amended section 36-6-106 by adding language that seeks
“to give each parent the maximum amount of time possible with the child.” Rountree, 369
S.W.3d at 129.
The current version of section 36-6-106(a) states, in part:
In a suit for annulment, divorce, . . . or in any other proceeding requiring the
court to make a custody determination regarding a minor child, the
determination shall be made on the basis of the best interest of the child. In
taking into account the child’s best interest, the court shall order a custody
arrangement that permits both parents to enjoy the maximum participation
possible in the life of the child consistent with the factors set out in this
subsection (a).
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106(a) (emphasis added). The best interest factors listed in section
36-6-106(a) are as follows:
(1) The strength, nature, and stability of the child’s relationship with each
parent, including whether one (1) parent has performed the majority of
parenting responsibilities relating to the daily needs of the child;
(2) Each parent’s or caregiver’s past and potential for future performance of
parenting responsibilities, including the willingness and ability of each of the
parents and caregivers to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing
parent-child relationship between the child and both of the child’s parents,
consistent with the best interest of the child. . . .;
(3) Refusal to attend a court ordered parent education seminar may be
considered by the court as a lack of good faith effort in these proceedings;
(4) The disposition of each parent to provide the child with food, clothing,
medical care, education and other necessary care;
(5) The degree to which a parent has been the primary caregiver, defined as
the parent who has taken the greater responsibility for performing parental
responsibilities;
(6) The love, affection, and emotional ties existing between each parent and
the child;
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(7) The emotional needs and developmental level of the child;
(8) The moral, physical, mental and emotional fitness of each parent as it
relates to their ability to parent the child. . . .;
(9) The child’s interaction and interrelationships with siblings, other relatives
and step-relatives, and mentors, as well as the child’s involvement with the
child’s physical surroundings, school, or other significant activities;
(10) The importance of continuity in the child’s life and the length of time
the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment;
(11) Evidence of physical or emotional abuse to the child, to the other parent
or to any other person. The court shall, where appropriate, refer any issues
of abuse to juvenile court for further proceedings;
(12) 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;
(13) 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 preference of older children should normally be given greater weight
than those of younger children;
(14) Each parent’s employment schedule, and the court may make
accommodations consistent with those schedules; and
(15) Any other factors deemed relevant by the court.
Id. While a court must consider each factor listed in section 36-6-106(a), “the absence of
an explicit discussion of each factor does not mean that they were not considered.”
Grissom v. Grissom, 586 S.W.3d 387, 399 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2019).
In the present case, the trial court designated Mother as the primary residential
parent. In doing so, the court stated the parenting schedule that the parties were operating
under should remain as the permanent schedule. The parenting schedule that was adopted
under the permanent parenting plan entitled Father to parenting time every other week from
Friday evenings to Wednesday mornings.4 The plan granted Father a total of 156 days per
year.
4
Again, the permanent parenting plan adopted by the trial court also entitled Father to alternating
holidays, equal time on spring and fall breaks, and two nonconsecutive weeks during the summer.
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In response to the trial court’s ruling, Father claims that the court abused its
discretion by failing to properly apply the best interest factors. Father does not dispute that
the trial court applied the factors listed in section 36-6-106(a). Instead, Father claims that
the court failed to consider the factors listed in section 36-6-404. Father cites Maupin v.
Maupin, 420 S.W.3d 761, for this claim. To his detriment, Father’s reliance on Maupin is
erroneous.
Prior to 2014, courts were instructed to consider the factors stated in section 36-6-
404(b) when fashioning a permanent parenting plan. See Rountree, 369 S.W.3d at 129-30
(applying a former version of section 36-6-404(b)). However, “in 2014, the General
Assembly amended Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-6-404(b) to replace its list of factors
with a reference to the revised list of factors contained in Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-
6-106(a).” Brunetz v. Brunetz, 573 S.W.3d 173, 179 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018). In Maupin,
the court applied the former version of section 36-6-404(b) that listed specific best interest
factors rather than referencing the factors listed in section 36-6-106(b). See Maupin, 420
S.W.3d at 770. Currently, courts are instructed to consider the factors listed in section 36-
6-106(b) in accordance with the requirements for permanent parenting plans that are stated
in 36-6-404(b). See McClain, 539 S.W.3d at 187; Sullivan v. Sullivan, No. M2018-01776-
COA-R3-CV, 2019 WL 4899760, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 4, 2019) (citing Tenn. Code
Ann. §§ 36-6-106(a) and -404(b)). After reviewing the trial court’s written order, we
conclude that the court applied the correct standard in designating Mother as the primary
residential parent and fashioning the permanent parenting schedule. It properly considered
and applied the factors listed in Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-106(a).
In the trial court’s written order granting Mother an absolute divorce, in determining
the parenting schedule, it explicitly stated that it relied on the factors listed in section 36-
6-106(a). The court found that several factors, such as factors (1), (2), (4), and (6) applied
equally to Parents. However, the court took issue with Father’s assault towards Mother
and his “controlling nature” under factors (8) and (11). Additionally, the court noted that
under factor (5), although Parents’ marriage was of short duration, Mother had been the
primary caregiver for Child. Further, under factor (10), the court stated that Child was
benefiting from the temporary residential schedule and that the schedule allowed her to
spend quality time with Mother and Father.5
The trial court’s factual determinations on the factors listed in section 36-6-106(b)
are presumed correct. C.W.H., 538 S.W.3d at 495 (quoting Armbrister, 414 S.W.3d at
692); Rountree, 369 S.W.3d at 128-29 (citing Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d)). From our review,
its findings were supported by the evidence presented. Accordingly, we decline to modify
the court’s decision in order to fashion a result that favors Father. The trial court did not
5
In its oral ruling, the court also noted that there was no evidence relating to factor (12) and that
factor (13) did not apply because Child is under twelve years of age.
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abuse its discretion by designating Mother as the primary residential parent. Further, we
find no fault in the court’s decision to set forth a parenting schedule that granted Father
less than equal parenting time.
Father is correct in stating that section 36-6-106(a) now directs courts to fashion
custody arrangements that permit the “maximum participation possible” for each parent.
See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106(a); Rountree, 369 S.W.3d at 129. However, as noted in
Rountree, the court’s ultimate determination must be guided by the best interest of the
child. Rountree, 369 S.W.3d at 129, 133. Stated differently, “the best interest of the child,
not the ‘maximum participation possible’ concept, remains the primary consideration
under the governing statutory scheme.” Flynn v. Stephenson, No. E2019-00095-COA-R3-
JV, 2019 WL 4072105, at *7 (Tenn. Ct. App. Aug. 29, 2019). “Section 36-6-106(a) directs
courts to order custody arrangements that allow each parent to enjoy the maximum possible
participation in the child’s life only to the extent that doing so is consistent with the child’s
best interests.” Id. (emphasis added) (quoting In re Cannon H., No. W2015-01947-COA-
R3-JV, 2016 WL 5819218, at *6 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 5, 2016)).
We note that although several factors weighed in favor of both Mother and Father,
“child custody litigation is not a sport that can be determined by simply tallying up wins
and losses.” Grissom, 586 S.W.3d at 395 (quoting Paschedag v. Paschedag, No. M2016-
00864-COA-R3-CV, 2017 WL 2365014, at *4 (Tenn. Ct. App. May 31, 2017)). Custody
determinations and ascertaining the best interest of a child require more than a “mechanical
tallying of the section 36-6-106(a) factors.” Id.Considering Father’s assault of Mother in the presence of Child, we cannot say the
trial court failed to “maximize” Father’s parenting time by ordering a schedule that
permitted him 156 days per year with Child. Although several factors weighed equally in
favor of Mother and Father, the trial court properly applied section 36-6-106(a) in
determining the permanent parenting schedule. The parties agreed that Child was happy
and thriving under the current parenting schedule. Therefore, we affirm the trial court’s
decision to name Mother as the primary residential parent and to grant Father that parenting
time afforded to him pursuant to the terms of the permanent parenting plan.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the aforementioned reasons, the decision of the trial court is affirmed and the
case remanded for further proceedings as may be necessary. Costs of this appeal are taxed
to the appellant, Stephen Edwin Powers, for which execution may issue if necessary.
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CARMA DENNIS MCGEE, JUDGE
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