Court of Appeals of Tennessee, 1996

Faye Louise Taylor Chadwell v. Albert Chadwell and Consolidation Coal Company

Faye Louise Taylor Chadwell v. Albert Chadwell and Consolidation Coal Company
Court of Appeals of Tennessee · Decided October 1, 1996 · Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard

Faye Louise Taylor Chadwell v. Albert Chadwell and Consolidation Coal Company

Opinion

I N THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE EASTERN SECTI ON FILED October 1, 1996 Cecil Crowson, Jr. Appellate C ourt Clerk FAYE LOUI SE TAYLOR CHADWELL ) CAMPBELL COUNTY ) 03A01- 9601- GS- 00007 Pl a i nt i f f - Appe l l e e ) ) ) v. ) HON. BI LLY J OE W TE, HI ) CHANCELLOR ) ( Si t t i ng by I nt e r c ha nge ) ALBERT CHADW ELL a nd ) CONSOLI DATI ON COAL COMPANY1 ) ) De f e nda nt s - Appe l l a nt s ) AFFI RMED AND REMANDED

J ERROLD L. BECKER a nd LUCI NDA M ALBI STON OF KNOXVI LLE FOR .

APPELLANTS J OHNNY V. DUNAW OF La FOLLETTE OF KNOXVI LLE FOR APPELLEE AY

O P I N I O N

Godda r d, P. J .

I n t hi s pos t - di v or c e pr oc e e di ng, t he Cha nc e l l or f oun d t ha t c e r t a i n a s s e t s o wne d by Al be r t Cha dwe l l a t t he t i me of t he p a r t i e s ’ d i vor c e we r e ma r i t a l a s s e t s a nd t ha t hi s f or me r wi f e ,

Co n s o l i d a t i o n Co a l Co mp a n y wa s ma d e a p a r t y i n t h e p e t i t i o n n o w o n a ppe a l t o enj oi n t he t r a ns f e r of any f unds or as s e t s hel d f or t he bene f i t of M . Ch a d we l l a n d t o r e q u i r e a f u l l a c c o u n t i n g o f s u c h f u n d s . r Fa y e Lo u i s e Ta yl or Cha dwe l l , wa s e nt i t l e d t o a j udgme nt a ga i ns t h i m o f $94, 320 whi c h i nc l ude d i nt e r e s t f r om t he da t e of t he di vor c e . The Cha nc e l l or a l s o i mpr e s s e d a l i e n a ga i ns t c e r t a i n r e a l e s t a t e or i gi na l l y owne d by M . Cha dwe l l , who l a t e r pur por t e d r t o t r a n s f e r a n i nt e r e s t t o hi s pr e s e nt wi f e . Bot h t he r e a l e s t a t e a nd t he home M . Cha dwe l l e r e c t e d t he r e on we r e pa i d f or i n r p a r t wi t h t he a s s e t s i n d i s put e i n t hi s a ppe a l .

The pr i nc i pa l que s t i on t o be de c i de d i n t hi s a ppe a l i s wh e t h e r a n or de r e nt e r e d i n a pr e vi ous pr oc e e di ng be t we e n t he p a r t i e s f ound t ha t M s . Cha dwe l l wa s not e nt i t l e d t o t he s e r s p e c i f i c f unds , t hus ba r r i ng he r c l a i m unde r t he t he or y or r e s j ud i c a t a .

The pa r t i e s we r e ma r r i e d on Oc t obe r 8, 1966.

Th r o u g h out t he i r 18- ye a r ma r r i a ge , M . Cha dwe l l wa s e mpl oye d by r Co n s o l i da t i on Coa l Compa ny. By 1984, M . Cha dwe l l ha d t hr e e r a c c o u n t s t hr ough hi s e mpl oyme nt a t Cons ol i da t i on Coa l Compa ny: a n Emp l o y e e Re t i r e me nt of Con s ol I nc . ( r e t i r e me nt pl a n) whi c h be c a me v e s t e d J une 1, 1983; a Conoc o Empl oye e s St oc k Owne r s hi p Pl a n ( CESOP) c ompos e d e nt i r e l y of DuPont s t oc k; a nd a n I nve s t me nt Pl a n f o r Sa l a r i e d Empl oye e s of Cons ol ( i nve s t me nt pl a n) .

The ma r r i a ge wa s t e r mi na t e d by a Fi na l De c r e e of Di v o r c e e nt e r e d on J une 11 , 1984. The Fi na l De c r e e pr ovi de d i n pa r t :

5. Tha t Fa ye Loui s e Ta yl or Cha dwe l l i s a wa r de d t he 9 74 Gr a nd Pr i x a ut omobi l e a nd a l l ot he r pe r s ona l p r ope r t y a c qui r e d by t he pa r t i e s , e xc e pt t he s t oc k a c c umul a t e d b y Al be r t Cha dwe l l a t hi s pl a c e of e mpl oyme nt , whi c h s t oc k i s a wa r de d 50% t o Al be r t Ch a dwe l l a nd 50% t o Fa ye Loui s e Ta yl or Cha dwe l l , wi t h e a c h pa r t y t o be r e s p ons i bl e f or hi s r e s pe c t i ve s ha r e o f i nc ome t a x d ue a t s uc h t i me a s a ny t a xe s a r e due on t h e s a i d r e s pe c t i ve pa r t y’ s s t oc k.

The s t oc k me nt i one d i n t he De c r e e wa s not f ur t he r i d e n t i f i e d or de f i ne d by t he De c r e e . The r e wa s no va l ua t i on o f t h e s t o c k a t t he t i me of t he di vor c e . Howe ve r , M . Cha dwe l l s a v e r r e d i n he r or i gi na l c ompl a i nt f or di vor c e t ha t t he s t oc k wa s wo r t h a ppr oxi ma t e l y $50, 000. The r e wa s no di s t r i but i on of t he s t o c k o r t he pr oc e e ds t he r e of t o M . Cha dwe l l . s

A he a r i ng wa s c onduc t e d on J une 4, 1986, i n t he Ge ne r a l Se s s i o n s Cour t f or Ca mpbe l l Count y. The Cour t f ound t ha t M . r Ch a dwe l l " o wns a n i nt e r e s t i n a r e t i r e me nt i nve s t me nt a c c ount o r s t o c k a c c ount i n hi s e mpl oye r , " a nd t ha t t he a c c ount ha d dr a wn a mi n i ma l of 10 pe r c e nt i nt e r e s t s i nc e t he e nt r y of t he Fi na l De c r e e . The Cour t or de r e d hi m t o pr ovi de ve r i f i c a t i on of t he a mo u n t s i n t he i nve s t me nt a c c ount s , t o de t e r mi ne t he pr e s e nt v a l u e o f t he a c c ount s , a nd t o pr ovi de M . Cha dwe l l wi t h a c c e s s t o s t h e r e c or ds pe r t a i ni ng t o t he a c c ount s .

On Fe br ua r y 19, 1988, t he Cour t a t t e mpt e d t o de t e r mi n e M . Ch a dwe l l ’ s i nt e r e s t i n t he r e t i r e me nt pl a n unde r t he Fi na l s De c r e e . The Cour t f ound t ha t " [ t ] he r e t i r e me nt pl a n f unds whi c h a r e a t i s s ue i n t hi s a c t i on a r e not me nt i one d pe r s e i n t he de c r e e . . . . Gi ve n t he di s t i nc t i ve na t ur e a nd l a r ge a mount o f t h e r e t i r e me nt pl a n i n 1984 i t woul d s e e m l ogi c a l t ha t i t woul d b e a d d r e s s e d i n i t s own t e r ms r a t he r t ha n l umpe d i n wi t h t he t e r m s t o c k. " The Cha nc e l l or s t a t e d t ha t t he i s s ue of M . Cha dwe l l ’ s s i n t e r e s t i n t he r e t i r e me nt a c c ount c oul d a nd s houl d ha ve be e n l i t i g a t e d i n 1984 a t whi c h t i me t he pa r t i e s ha d knowl e dge of i t b u t d i d not i nc l ude i t i n a di vi s i on of t he i r ma r i t a l pr ope r t y .

Th u s , t he Cha nc e l l or he l d t ha t unde r t he Fi na l De c r e e , M . s Ch a d we l l ha d no i nt e r e s t i n t he r e t i r e me nt a c c ount . M . Cha dwe l l s d i d n o t a ppe a l t he Cour t ’ s f i ndi ngs .

I n t he f ol l owi ng ye a r s , M . Cha dwe l l f a i l e d t o pr ovi d e r v e r i f i c a t i on of t he s t oc k or i nve s t me nt a c c ount s a nd he f a i l e d t o ma k e a n y di s t r i but i ons t o M . Cha dwe l l a s or de r e d by t he c our t i n s 9 8 4 a n d 1986. M . Cha dwe l l f i l e d a pe t i t i on f or c ont e mpt on s No v e mb e r 23, 1993, s e e ki ng va l ua t i on of t he he r i nt e r e s t i n M . r Ch a d we l l ’ s hol di ngs wi t h hi s e mpl oye r a nd a j udgme nt f or he r o n e - h a l f i nt e r e s t . The Cour t he l d t ha t M . Cha dwe l l wa s i n c ont e mp t r f o r f a i l i ng t o pr ovi de ve r i f i c a t i on of t he a c c ount s a nd f or f a i l i n g t o di s t r i but e 50 p e r c e nt of t he va l ue of t he a c c ount s a s h e wa s or de r e d t o do by t he Cour t i n 1984 a nd 1986. The Cour t a l s o ma de a f i ndi ng t ha t t he va l ue of t he a c c ount s wa s no l e s s t h a n $ 8 4, 927. 99, one ha l f of whi c h wa s owe d t o M . Cha dwe l l . s

On M r c h 9, 1995, M . Cha dwe l l f i l e d a n a me nde d a s p e t i t i o n f or c ont e mpt a ddi ng M . Cha dwe l l ’ s c ur r e nt wi f e , Donn a r M r i e Cha dwe l l . a M . Cha dwe l l c ompl a i ne d t ha t M . Cha dwe l l a nd s r h i s p r e s e nt wi f e ha d us e d M . Cha dwe l l ’ s por t i on of t he s t oc k s

f u n d s t o pur c ha s e r e a l pr ope r t y a nd c ons t r uc t a hous e . The p e t i t i on a l l e ge d t ha t M . Cha dwe l l ha d a t t e mpt e d t o a voi d M . r s Ch a d we l l ’ s c l a i ms a s a j udgme nt c r e di t or by c onve yi ng t he r e a l p r o p e r t y a nd t he hous e t o hi s c ur r e nt wi f e . M . Cha dwe l l r r e s p o n d e d t o t he pe t i t i on by a n a ns we r i n t he f or m of a ge ne r a l d e n i a l a l l e gi ng no a f f i r ma t i ve de f e ns e s .

At t r i a l on J ul y 12, 1995, M . Cha dwe l l ’ s r e t i r e me nt r p l a n , t he i nve s t me nt pl a n a nd t he CESOP we r e i de nt i f i e d t hr ough t h e t e s t i mony of t he s upe r vi s or of qua l i f i e d be ne f i t s a t Co n s o l i da t i on Coa l Compa ny. I t wa s e s t a bl i s he d t ha t a l l t hr e e a c c ou n t s we r e i n e xi s t e nc e a t t he t i me of t he Fi na l De c r e e i n 1984. The r e t i r e me nt pl a n be c a me ve s t e d a s of 1983 a nd M . r Ch a d we l l woul d be a bl e t o dr a w be ne f i t s f r om i t i n 1998. M. r Ch a d we l l ’ s i nve s t me nt pl a n wa s ma de up e nt i r e l y of s t oc k unt i l 9 8 1 a t whi c h t i me i t wa s c onve r t e d i nt o a de pos i t s a vi ngs a c c ount . The pl a n a l l owe d f or up t o t hr e e pa r t i a l wi t hdr a wa l s p e r y e a r a nd a t ot a l wi t hdr a wa l a t a ny t i me . The CESOP wa s c o mp o s e d e nt i r e l y of DuPont s t oc k a nd c oul d not be wi t hdr a wn u n t i l M . Cha dwe l l t e r mi na t e d hi s e mpl oyme nt . r

M . Cha dwe l l t e r mi na t e d hi s e mpl oyme nt wi t h r Co n s o l i da t i on Coa l Compa ny on De c e mbe r 31, 1990. He l i qui da t e d h i s CESOP a c c ount on Nove mbe r 19, 1992, f or t he s um of $ 1 4 , 6 4 8 . 37. He ma de no di s t r i but i on t o M . Cha dwe l l a f t e r t he s l i q u i d a t i on. The r e wa s e vi de nc e s ubmi t t e d t ha t M . Cha dwe l l r wi t h d r e w a t ot a l of $187, 044. 16 f r om t he i nve s t me nt pl a n a f t e r

t he Fi na l De c r e e . Fr om t hi s a c c ount , M . Cha dwe l l di s t r i but e d r $ 1 , 2 4 5 t o M . Cha dwe l l i n Fe br ua r y of 1986. s

The r e wa s e vi de nc e a t t r i a l t ha t M . Cha dwe l l wa s a s h o me ma k e r t hr oughout t he ma r r i a ge a nd di d not de a l wi t h t he a c c o u n t s i n a ny wa y. M . Cha dwe l l t e s t i f i e d t ha t he r hus ba nd s a l wa ys r e f e r r e d t o t he a c c ount s g e ne r i c a l l y a s " s t oc k. " Al s o , t h e r e wa s t e s t i mony t ha t M . Cha dwe l l a dmi t t e d i n 1984 t ha t M . r s Ch a d we l l ’ s s ha r e of t he a c c ount s he he l d wi t h hi s e mpl oye r wa s $ 2 6 , 0 0 0 a nd t ha t he pe r s ua de d he r t o l e a ve t he s t oc k i n t he a c c o u n t s on t he r e pr e s e nt a t i on t he s t oc k woul d e a r n mor e i nt e r e s t i f i t wa s l e f t wi t h M . Cha dwe l l . r M . Cha dwe l l c hos e not t o s l i q u i da t e o r wi t hdr a w h e r s ha r e a t t ha t t i m . e

M . Cha dwe l l a s s e r t e d a t t r i a l t ha t he wa s onl y r r e q u i r e d t o s ha r e wi t h M . Cha dwe l l t he hol di ngs i n t he CESOP s wh i c h, a t t he t i me of t he Fi na l De c r e e , he s t a t e d wa s wor t h $2, 000. M . Cha dwe l l a s s e r t e d t ha t he pa i d M . Cha dwe l l a l l r s f u n d s d ue t o he r f r om t he CESOP i n 1986 by c he c k. M . Cha dwe l l s t e s t i f i e d t ha t t he c he c k wa s f r om t he i nve s t me nt pl a n a nd wa s f o r t h e i r c hi l dr e n. M . Cha dwe l l a dmi t t e d dur i ng c r os s - e xa mi na t i o n r t h a t h e a l t e r e d t he c he c k a f t e r i t wa s r e t ur ne d t o hi m s o t ha t i t wo u l d e r r one ous l y i ndi c a t e t ha t i t c a me f r om t he CESOP r a t he r t h a n t h e i nve s t me nt a c c ount .

M . Cha dwe l l t e s t i f i e d t ha t t he i nve s t me nt pl a n wa s r p a r t o f hi s r e t i r e me nt pl a n. Howe ve r , t he r e wa s t e s t i mony f r o m

t h e s u p e r vi s or of qua l i f i e d be ne f i t s a t Cons ol i da t i on Coa l Co mp a n y t ha t t he i nve s t me n t pl a n a nd t he r e t i r e me nt pl a n we r e t wo s e pa r a t e a nd d i s t i nc t a c c ount s .

The Tr i a l Cour t f ound t ha t M . Cha dwe l l ha d a one - ha l f s i n t e r e s t i n t he CESOP a nd i n t he i nve s t me nt pl a n. The Cour t f o u n d t ha t l i t i ga t i on of t he r e t i r e me nt a c c ount wa s ba r r e d by r e s j ud i c a t a a r i s i ng f r om t he 1986 he a r i ng. The Tr i a l Cour t a wa r d e d M . Ch a dwe l l a j udgme nt of $94, 320 r e pr e s e nt i ng he r s ha r e of t h e s CESOP a nd t he i nve s t me nt pl a n a nd i mpos e d a l i e n upon M . r Ch a d we l l ’ s r e a l pr ope r t y t o s e c ur e pa yme nt of t he j udgme nt .

Af t e r t r i a l , t he Cha nc e l l or s e t a s i de t he de e d f r om M . Cha dwe l l r t o h i s c ur r e nt wi f e a s a f r a udul e nt c onve ya nc e .

I n t hi s a ppe a l , M . Cha dwe l l ha s r a i s e d s e ve r a l i s s u e s , r a l l o f whi c h a r e ba s e d on t he doc t r i ne of r e s j udi c a t a . Howe ve r , M . Ch a dwe l l a s s e r t s t ha t be c a us e M . Cha dwe l l f a i l e d t o s r a f f i r ma t i ve l y p l e a d t he de f e ns e of r e s j udi c a t a hi s a c c e s s t o t h i s d e f e ns e ha s be e n wa i ve d. M . Cha dwe l l ’ s onl y r e s pons i ve r p l e a d i n g wa s i n t he f or m of a ge ne r a l de ni a l a nd he f a i l e d t o s t a t e a ny a f f i r ma t i ve de f e ns e s .

Rul e 8. 3 of t he Te nne s s e e Rul e s of Ci vi l Pr oc e dur e r e q u i r e s t ha t a p a r t y a f f i r ma t i ve l y s e t f or t h f a c t s r e l i e d upo n t o e s t a bl i s h a n a f f i r ma t i ve de f e ns e i n a r e s pons i ve pl e a di ng.

Th e r u l e e xpl i c i t l y me nt i ons r e s j udi c a t a a s s uc h a n a f f i r ma t i v e d e f e ns e . Rul e 12. 08 of t h e Te nne s s e e Rul e s of Ci vi l Pr oc e dur e

p r o v i d e s t ha t de f e ns e s not pr ope r l y r a i s e d a r e wa i ve d. Thus , f a i l u r e t o r a i s e t he de f e ns e of r e s j udi c a t a i n a r e s pons i ve p l e a d i ng wi l l a c t a s a wa i ve r of a pa r t y’ s a bi l i t y t o r a i s e t ha t d e f e ns e .

Howe ve r , Rul e 15. 02 of t he Te nne s s e e Rul e s of Ci vi l Pr o c e d u r e s t a t e s " [ w] he n i s s ue s not r a i s e d by t he pl e a di ngs a r e t r i e d b y e xpr e s s or i mpl i e d c ons e nt of t he pa r t i e s , t he y s ha l l b e t r e a t e d i n a l l r e s pe c t s a s i f t he y ha d be e n r a i s e d i n t he p l e a d i n gs . " The Rul e s t a t e s t ha t t he pl e a di ngs ma y be a me nde d a t a n y t i me s o a s t o c onf or m t o t he e vi de nc e pr e s e nt e d a t t r i a l bu t f a i l ur e t o a me nd t he p l e a di ngs wi l l not a f f e c t t he r e s ul t of t he t r i a l of t he i s s ue s . An i s s ue i s t r i e d by i mpl i e d c ons e nt whe n t h e p a r t y oppos i ng t he i s s ue kne w or s houl d r e a s ona bl y ha ve kn o wn o f t h e e vi de nc e r e l a t i ng t o t he ne w i s s ue , di d not obj e c t t o t h e e v i d e n c e , a nd wa s not pr e j udi c e d by t he i nc l us i on of t he e vi d e nc e . Za c k Che e k Bui l de r s , I nc . v. M Le od, 597 S. W 2d 888 c . ( Te n n . 1 980) . Se e a l s o Chi s hol m v. Boha nnon , 558 S. W 2d 446 . ( Te n n . App. 1977) .

Al t hough M . Cha dwe l l di d not s pe c i f i c a l l y pl e a d r e s r j ud i c a t a a s r e qui r e d by Rul e 8. 3, t he i s s ue wa s r a i s e d t hr ough t e s t i mo ny a t t r i a l . The r e wa s no obj e c t i on ma de on be ha l f of M . s Ch a d we l l t ha t t he e vi de nc e wa s be yond t he s c ope of t he pl e a di n g s .

I n h i s opi ni on, t he Cha nc e l l or ma de a s pe c i f i c r ul i ng a s t o t he i s s ue o f r e s j udi c a t a . Fi na l l y, t he i s s ue wa s a r gue d on be ha l f

o f M . Cha dwe l l i n a mot i o n f or ne w t r i a l . r Thus , we f i nd t ha t t h e i s s ue wa s t r i e d by i mpl i e d c ons e nt a nd M . Cha dwe l l ha s no t r wa i v e d hi s r i ght t o a s s e r t t hi s de f e ns e .

M . Cha dwe l l a s s e r t s t ha t , ba s e d on a r e s j udi c a t a r t h e o r y , t he Tr i a l Cour t s houl d ha ve be e n pr e c l ude d f r om l i t i ga t i ng t he i s s ue o f whe t he r M . Cha dwe l l ha d r i ght s i n t he s CESOP a nd t he i nve s t me nt p l a n. He a r gue s t ha t t he i s s ue s we r e p r e v i o u s l y l i t i ga t e d i n 19 84 a nd 1988.

The de f e ns e of r e s j udi c a t a wi l l be a va i l a bl e i f t he p a r t y a s s e r t i ng t he de f e ns e c a n s how t ha t t he pr i or j udgme nt wa s b y a c o ur t of c ompe t e nt j ur i s di c t i on, t ha t t he s a me pa r t i e s we r e i n v o l v e d i n bot h s ui t s , t ha t t he s a me c a us e of a c t i on wa s i n v o l v e d i n bot h s ui t s , a nd t ha t t he unde r l yi ng j udgme nt wa s on t he me r i t s . Le e v. Ha l l , 790 S. W 2d 293 ( Te nn. App. 1990) . . A p r i or j udgme nt wi l l pr e c l ude onl y ma t t e r s t ha t we r e a t i s s ue i n t h e p r i or j udgme nt . " [ T] he a dj udi c a t i on, t o be c onc l us i ve , s h o u l d be upon t he ve r y po i nt br ought di r e c t l y i n i s s ue by t he p l e a d i n gs . " W t e v . W t e , 876 S. W 2d 837 ( Te nn. 1994) . hi hi .

As s t a t e d a bove , t he Cour t i n 1984 e nt e r e d a Fi na l De c r e e s e t t i ng f or t h t he r i ght s a nd dut i e s of t he pa r t i e s . As a l r e a dy not e d, t he Fi na l De c r e e ge ne r i c a l l y s t a t e d t ha t M . s Ch a dwe l l wa s t o r e c e i ve 50 pe r c e nt of t he " s t oc k" t ha t M . r

W e x p r e s s n o o p i n i o n a s t o wh e t h e r t h e i s s u e c o u l d h a v e b e e n e r a i s e d i n a mo t i o n f o r n e w t r i a l . Ra t h e r , we me r e l y r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e i s s u e wa s b e f o r e t h e Co u r t b o t h d u r i n g t h e t r i a l s t a g e a n d p o s t - t r i a l .

Ch a d we l l ha d i n Cons ol i da t i on Coa l Compa ny. The r e wa s e vi de nc e a t t r i a l t ha t M . Cha dwe l l r e f e r r e d t o a l l i nve s t me nt a nd r r e t i r e me nt a c c ount s wi t h hi s e mpl oye r a s " s t oc k. " The de f i ni t i o n a n d e x t e nt of t ha t t e r m we r e not a t i s s ue a nd we r e not l i t i ga t e d .

I t s e e ms a xi oma t i c t ha t t he i s s ua nc e of a di vor c e de c r e e wi l l n o t b e r e s j udi c a t a a s t o a n i s s ue t ha t a r i s e s a s t o t he i nt e r p r e t a t i on o f t he d e c r e e i t s e l f . M . Cha dwe l l a r gue s t ha t r t h e i s s ue c oul d ha ve a nd s houl d ha ve be e n l i t i ga t e d whe n t he d e c r e e wa s i s s ue d. But , i t s e e ms c l e a r t ha t t he r e wa s no i s s ue u n t i l t he i nt e r pr e t a t i on o f t he t e r m " s t oc k" be c a me di s put e d.

At i s s ue i n t he 1988 l i t i ga t i on wa s , a s s t a t e d by t he Ch a n c e l l or i n t ha t pr oc e e di ng, " whe t he r Fa ye Cha dwe l l wa s e n t i t l e d t o a f ul l or p a r t i a l i nt e r e s t or s ha r e i n a r e t i r e me nt p l a n o f Al be r t Cha dwe l l . " The i s s ue of M . Cha dwe l l ’ s i nt e r e s t s i n t h e CESOP a nd t he i nve s t me nt pl a n we r e not a ddr e s s e d. The Tr i a l Cour t i n t ha t a c t i on he l d t ha t t he i s s ue of M . Cha dwe l l ’ s s i n t e r e s t i n t he r e t i r e me nt a c c ount s houl d ha ve be e n l i t i ga t e d i n 9 8 4 a n d he de c l i ne d t o r e a d t he Fi na l De c r e e br oa dl y e nough t o i n c l u d e t he r e t i r e me nt pl a n. The Tr i a l Cour t i n t he pr e s e nt c a s e a p p l i e d r e s j udi c a t a wi t h r e s pe c t t o t he r e t i r e me nt a c c ount a l t h o u g h t he Cha nc e l l or e xpr e s s e d doubt s a s t o t he s oundne s s o f t he 1 9 8 6 d e c i s i on. Ne ve r t he l e s s , i t i s c l e a r t ha t t he i s s ue o f t he e x t e nt of M . Cha dwe l l ’ s i nt e r e s t i n t he CESOP a nd t he s i n v e s t me nt pl a n we r e not r a i s e d or de c i de d i n t he 1988 p r o c e e d i ng.

Al s o, t h e l i t i ga t i on i n 1988 a r os e f r om a pe t i t i on f i l e d b y M . Cha dwe l l s e e ki ng t o c ompe l M . Cha dwe l l t o pr ovi de s r v e r i f i c a t i on of t he va l ue of t he " s t oc k" whi c h he ha d f a i l e d t o d o i n v i ol a t i on of a c our t or de r i s s ue d i n 1984 a nd 1986. Al l s u b s e q u e nt a c t i on be t we e n t he pa r t i e s c ha r ge d M . Cha dwe l l wi t h r c o n t e mp t f or f a i l ur e t o pr ovi de ve r i f i c a t i on of hi s hol di ngs wi t h Co n s o l i da t i on Coa l Compa ny a nd f or f a i l ur e t o ma ke di s t r i but i o n s f r o m t h os e hol di ngs t o M . Cha dwe l l . s W t h t he e xc e pt i on of i s e e k i n g t o c ompe l M . Cha dwe l l t o c ompl y wi t h t he pr i or c our t r o r d e r s , none of t he i s s ue s pr e s e nt e d i n t he 1995 l i t i ga t i on ha d b e e n r a i s e d i n t he pr i or l i t i ga t i on, by t he pl e a di ngs or o t h e r wi s e . Thus , we hol d t ha t t he pr i or l i t i ga t i on di d not ba r M . Ch a dwe l l f r om s e e ki ng a c our t t o de c l a r e t he e xt e nt of he r s i n t e r e s t i n t he CESOP a nd t he i nve s t me nt pl a n.

Ne xt , M . Cha dwe l l a s s e r t s t ha t t he Cha nc e l l or e r r e d i n r f i n d i n g t ha t t he i nve s t me nt pl a n wa s s e pa r a t e a nd di s t i nc t f r om t he r e t i r e me nt pl a n. M . Cha dwe l l s e e ks t o i nc l ude t he r i n v e s t me nt pl a n wi t hi n t he r e t i r e me nt pl a n be c a us e t he Cour t b e l o w g a ve r e s j udi c a t a e f f e c t t o t he i s s ue of t he r e t i r e me nt pl a n.

The f i ndi ngs of f a c t of t he t r i a l c our t c ome s t o t hi s Co u r t a c c ompa ni e d by a pr e s umpt i on of c or r e c t ne s s whi c h mus t b e h o n o r e d unl e s s t he " pr e ponde r a nc e of t he e vi de nc e i s ot he r wi s e . " Ru l e 1 3 ( d) , Te nne s s e e Rul e s of Appe l l a t e Pr oc e dur e ; Uni on Ca r b i d e Co r p . v . Huddl e s t on , 854 S. W 2d 87 ( Te nn. 1993) . . W f i nd t ha t t h e e

Ch a n c e l l or ha d a mpl e e vi de nc e upon whi c h t o ba s e a f i ndi ng t ha t t h e pl a ns we r e s e pa r a t e . The r e wa s t e s t i mony f r om t he s upe r vi s o r o f q u a l i f i e d be ne f i t s of Cons ol i da t i on Coa l Compa ny a nd a n a c c o u n t a nt s t a t i ng t ha t M . Cha dwe l l ha d a n i nt e r e s t i n t he r r e t i r e me nt pl a n, t h e i nve s t me nt pl a n, a nd t he CESOP. Al s o, a l t h o u g h M . Cha dwe l l t e s t i f i e d t ha t he onl y ha d a n i nt e r e s t i n r t h e CESOP a nd t he r e t i r e me nt pl a n hi s c r e di bi l i t y ha d be e n c a l l e d i n t o q u e s t i on whe n he a dmi t t e d t o a l t e r i ng a c he c k t o M . s Ch a d we l l t ha t wa s pa i d wi t h f unds f r om t he i nve s t me nt a c c ount .

Th e Ch a nc e l l or ma de a s pe c i f i c pos t - t r i a l r ul i ng t ha t M . r Ch a d we l l ha d e nga ge d i n f r a ud a nd pe r j ur y i n r e l a t i on t o t hi s l i t i g a t i on. Thus , t he f i ndi ngs of t he Cha nc e l l or di d not p r e p o n d e r a t e a ga i ns t t he e vi de nc e . Cons e que nt l y, we a f f i r m t h e c o n c l u s i on of t he Cha nc e l l or on t hi s i s s ue .

M . Cha dwe l l ’ s f i na l i s s ue a s s e r t s t ha t t he Tr i a l Co u r t r e r r e d i n f i ndi ng t ha t M . Cha dwe l l ha d a one - ha l f i nt e r e s t i n a l l s a c c o u n t s be l ongi ng t o M . Cha dwe l l a t t he t i me of t he di vor c e . r Th i s a r gume nt i s wi t hout me r i t be c a us e t he Cha nc e l l or di d not h o l d t h a t M . Cha dwe l l ha d a one - ha l f i nt e r e s t i n a l l of M . s r Ch a d we l l ’ s a c c ount s . Ra t he r , t he Cha nc e l l or e xpr e s s l y he l d t h a t M . Ch a dwe l l ha d a one - ha l f i nt e r e s t i n t he CESOP a nd t he s i nv e s t m nt pl a n, b ut no i nt e r e s t i n t he r e t i r e me nt pl a n. e

For t he f or e goi ng r e a s ons t he j udgme nt of t he Tr i a l Co u r t i s a f f i r me d a nd t he c a us e r e ma nde d f or s uc h f ur t he r p r o c e e d i ngs , i f a ny, a s ma y be ne c e s s a r y a nd c ol l e c t i on of t he

j u d g me n t a nd c os t s be l ow. Cos t s of a ppe a l a r e a dj udge d a ga i ns t M . Ch a dwe l l a nd hi s s ur e t y. r

_______________________________ Hous t on M Godda r d, P. J . .

CONCUR:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ He r s c he l P. Fr a nks , J .

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ Cl i f f o r d E. Sa nde r s , Sp. J .

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.