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Recent Tennessee Divorce Law
Court of Appeals Decisions

Jennifer Furnas Coleman v. Marty Alan Coleman
W2011-00585-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arnold B. Goldin

This is an appeal of attorney’s fees in a post-divorce matter. The mother filed a petition to modify the permanent parenting plan and suspend the father’s parenting time with the parties’ two minor children. The mother incurred around $16,000.00 in legal expenses litigating her petition and then changed attorneys. The parties eventually settled the petition with respect to the visitation issues, but reserved the issue of attorney’s fees. Finding that the mother’s legal expenses of over $350,000.00 were not reasonable, the Special Master recommended that the father only be required to reimburse the mother for approximately $124,000.00. The trial court decreased the award further, awarding the mother approximately $42,000.00. Mother appeals, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion because all of her attorney’s fees were reasonable. Discerning no abuse of discretion, we affirm.

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