Facts: Shortly before Child’s 18th birthday, Mother filed a petition to establish paternity and child support. Father admitted paternity but denied that Mother was entitled to retroactive child support. At trial, Father appeared but Mother and her attorney did not. Mother’s action was dismissed for failure to prosecute. Mother asked the trial court to set aside the dismissal but the trial court refused. Mother appealed.

The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court, noting that the trial had been reset several times and the sparse record did not enable it to conclude that the trial court abused its discretion.

Protip: You are guaranteed to lose if you don’t show up.

In re Maverick H. (Tenn. Ct. App. Feb. 24, 2010).