$40,000

Case Details

Stephen W. Pate, with Pate & Knott was the attorney of record for Gordon Allen, being the ex-husband. At a post trial circuit court hearing in Sumner County, Tennessee, the trial court ordered that ex-husband was responsible for child support arrearage owing to ex-wife, in addition to retroactive statutory interest, totaling in excess of $29,000.00 and in addition, ex-husband was ordered to pay ex-wife's attorney's fees in excess of $10,000.00. On appeal by Pate & Knott to the Court of Appeals of Tennessee, Middle Division at Nashville, the appellate court reversed the trial court in its entirety and ruled that the trial court had misconstrued the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines in effect as of the date of the parties trial and found that ex-husband was current in his child support obligation owing to ex-wife, did not owe any child support arrearage and was not responsible for ex-wife's attorney's fees. This favorable ruling by the appellate court saved ex-husband in excess of $40,000.00 in child support arrearage and attorney's fees.