This is an action brought by the Knox County Education Association seeking a declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against the Knox County Board of Education and its then-superintendent, Allen Morgan. The trial court found that provisions of a private act granting tenure to principals employed in the Knox County School System were repealed and superseded by the enactment in 1992 of a public act, the Education Improvement Act, and that the private act, to the extent that it conflicts with the general law, violates Article XI, Section 8 of the Tennessee Constitution. The trial court further found that Knox County principals are not members of the bargaining unit represented by the Knox County Education Association as to the subjects of performance, accountability, and contract renewal. The Knox County Education Association appeals, arguing (1) the trial court erred in finding that provisions of the private act were repealed by the Education Improvement Act and (2) the trial court erred in concluding that school principals are not members of the bargaining unit as to the subjects of performance, accountability, and contract renewal. We affirm.
Knox
Court of Appeals
Raymond Mueller v. Denise Mueller M2001-00098-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Jeffrey S. Bivins
In this appeal of a divorce decree, the husband argues that the rehabilitative alimony awarded to the wife is excessive, and that his visitation schedule unnecessarily limits the time he can spend with his son. We affirm the award of rehabilitative alimony, but reduce its duration to three years. We also remand this case to the trial court for reconsideration of the visitation schedule.
Williamson
Court of Appeals
Karmen Lane v. Richard Lane M2000-01135-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge John A. Turnbull
Trial Court Judge: Muriel Robinson
This appeal challenges an award of child support which did not include private school tuition of the minor daughter, a division of property that did not take into account alleged dissipation of assets by the husband, a child support award that did not deviate upwards from the Guidelines because of lack of visitation, and a finding of criminal contempt. Also at issue is whether the trial court erred in awarding alimony in futuro rather than rehabilitative alimony. We affirm the judgment of the trial court with respect to all issues except to hold that pursuant to the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, private school tuition is an "extraordinary educational expense" which husband obligor must pay.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
State v. Stephen Bart Wood M2001-00872-COA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Steve R. Dozier
The General Sessions Court of Davidson County found the defendant guilty of thirty-six violations of an order of protection and ordered him to serve ten days for each violation. Each sentence was to be served consecutively and day-for-day. The defendant appealed to the Criminal Court and that court affirmed. We find that the Criminal Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to hear the appeal, that the sentence should be vacated, and the cause remanded to the General Sessions Court for a review of the sentence for excessiveness in accordance with the guidelines we adopt in this opinion.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
In Re: Kiersten Cierra Burchette E2010-02132-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: D. Michael Swiney, J.
Trial Court Judge: A. Benjamin Strand, Jr., Judge
This lawsuit involves whether custody of Kiersten Cierra Burchette (the "Child") should be changed from Carey A. Bible ("Mother") to Chadwick J. Burchette ("Father"). Father filed an emergency petition seeking custody. Father claimed, among other things, that the Child was being sexually abused by Mother's boyfriend. Although the emergency petition eventually was dismissed, the Juvenile Court did designate Father as the Child's primary residential parent. The Juvenile Court, however, specifically reserved ruling on who should pay certain medical expenses as well as a bill for the deposition of Father's private investigator. The Juvenile Court also reserved ruling on all child support issues. Mother appeals. We dismiss this appeal for lack of a final judgment.
Cocke
Court of Appeals
Terminix International Co. v. Department of Labor M2001-00174-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Frank Clement, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
This matter is before the Court upon a petition seeking judicial review of our administrative order. The Petition was initiated in the Chancery Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, wherein the appellants challenged the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety and Health ("TOSHA") to conduct safety inspections concerning pesticide applicators (i.e., persons who apply pesticides) and to enforce such regulations. The Chancery Court ruled that the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (TOSHA) has subject matter jurisdiction to conduct inspections and issue citations concerning the safety of pesticide applicators in the work place. We affirm.
Ragan/James Hinson vs. Kelli Gatton W2001-01763-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: J. Steven Stafford
Father filed a petition to increase visitation, for joint custody and other relief. The juvenile court modified visitation and ordered joint custody. Father appeals. We affirm.
Dyer
Court of Appeals
Robert Davidson vs. Charles Lindsey W2000-02891-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Julian P. Guinn
This appeal arises from an automobile accident involving the Appellants and the Appellees in which the Appellee's wife was killed and the Appellee was seriously injured. The Appellee, individually and as administrator of the estate of his wife, and the Appellee's children filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Henry County against the Appellants and three of the Appellees. Following a jury trial, the jury found that the Appellants were 100% liable for the accident and dismissed the claims against the three Appellees. The jury awarded the Appellee $1,250,000.00 and awarded the estate of the Appellee's wife $500,000.00. The trial court entered a judgment on the jury's verdict. The Appellants filed a motion for a new trial. The trial court denied the motion for a new trial.
Henry
Court of Appeals
Charles Salsman vs. Texcor Indus. W2001-00730-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Karen R. Williams
This appeal arises out of a petition filed in Tennessee to enroll a Texas judgment. In this case, the plaintiffs filed a petition to enroll the foreign judgment. While this was pending, the defendants filed a motion for leave to amend their answer to assert a counterclaim. Three days later, before the trial court had ruled on the motion to amend, the plaintiffs filed a notice of voluntary dismissal, including a proposed order stating that no counterclaim had been pled. The trial court entered the proposed order. Subsequently, in response to the defendants' motion, the trial court vacated its earlier order of dismissal and granted the defendants' motion to amend to assert the counterclaim. In this interlocutory appeal, we affirm, holding under Rule 41.01(1) of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure that the proposed counterclaim attached to the motion to amend is considered a "pleaded" counterclaim, thereby permitting the defendants to elect to proceed on the counterclaim despite the plaintiffs' notice of voluntary dismissal.
Shelby
Court of Appeals
Marlena Tilley vs. Gurpal Bindra W2001-01157-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Lee Moore
This appeal arises from a medical malpractice claim brought by the Appellants against the Appellee in the Circuit Court of Dyer County. The Appellee filed a motion for summary judgment. Following the deposition of the Appellants' expert witness, the Appellee filed a renewed motion for summary judgment. The trial court granted the Appellee's motion for summary judgment and renewed motion for summary judgment. The Appellants appeal the grant of the Appellee's motion for summary judgment and renewed motion for summary judgment by the Circuit Court of Dyer County. For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the trial court's decision.
Dyer
Court of Appeals
CH-00-1455-1 CH-00-1455-1
Trial Court Judge: Walter L. Evans
Shelby
Court of Appeals
Jackson-Madison County General Hospital District v. Health Facilities Commission M1999-02804-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
This appeal involves a dispute between two hospitals regarding one hospital's desire to expand its intensive care and open-heart surgery services. After Methodist Healthcare-Jackson Hospital applied to the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission for a certificate of need, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital District objected on the ground that the proposed services would unnecessarily duplicate services it was already providing. Even though the Commission denied the application, the Commission's staff issued the certificate of need after the Attorney General and Reporter opined that the Commission's vote on reconsideration was inconsistent with the Commission's enabling statute. Rather than pursuing a contested case hearing before the Commission, Jackson-Madison County filed a petition for common-law writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County asserting that the Commission's vote to deny the certificate of need was proper and that one Commission member who voted to approve the certificate should have been disqualified because of a financial conflict of interest. The trial court granted the writ of certiorari but, following a hearing, dismissed the writ because Jackson-Madison County had not exhausted its administrative remedies. Jackson-Madison County appealed to this court. While this appeal was pending, Jackson-Madison County requested and received a contested case hearing before an administrative law judge sitting in place of the Commission. After the administrative law judge determined that the Commission's vote to deny Methodist Healthcare's application for a certificate of need was proper and that one of the Commission members who voted to grant the certificate of need should have been disqualified, Jackson-Madison County moved to dismiss its appeal. Methodist Healthcare opposed dismissing the appeal. We have determined that the trial court properly dismissed Jackson-Madison County's petition for writ of certiorari and that this appeal should be dismissed.
Madison
Court of Appeals
Trinity Industries, Inc. v. McKinnon Bridge Co., Inc. M2000-00510-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Mccoy
An uncompleted highway bridge over the Tennessee River collapsed, triggering a lengthy and convoluted course of litigation between the parties involved in its construction. Litigation began when the company that fabricated the bridge's structural steel components sued the general contractor for non-payment on the contract. The general contractor filed a counter-claim which alleged that the fabricator had breached the contract by producing defective steel components that caused the collapse. The contractor named some of its other subcontractors as third party defendants, claiming that they also bore some responsibility for the collapse of the bridge. In a series of orders, the trial court dismissed the counterclaim and third party claims, and declared that its judgments were final for purposes of Tenn. R. Civ. P. Rule 54.02. After this court heard oral argument on the first of the Rule 54.02 appeals, but before it could issue an opinion, the trial court conducted a hearing on the merits of the steel fabricator's claim, and rendered a judgment in its favor. We affirm the judgment for the price of the steel and the judgment for the fabricator on the general contractor's counterclaim. We reverse the judgment dismissing the third party claims.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
Stacy Harris v. Thomas Hall M2000-00784-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Jeffrey S. Bivins
This case was transferred to a judge in another county for "binding mediation," and the mediating judge entered an order dismissing the lawsuit and enjoining plaintiff from certain actions, including further litigation. The original trial court later denied the plaintiff's Tenn. R. Civ. P. 60.02 motion for relief from orders, and the plaintiff appealed. We find the trial court had no authority to order the case to any alternative dispute resolution procedure other than one established in Tenn. R. Sup. Ct. 31, that the mediating judge had no authority to dispose of the case and, consequently, all orders entered by that judge are void. We reverse the trial court's denial of Rule 60.02 relief, vacate orders entered in the court of the mediating judge, and remand for further proceedings.
Andrew Mays vs. Deborah Mays W2000-03067-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Kay S. Robilio
This is a divorce and child custody case. Husband sued for divorce, and Wife countersued. Husband dismissed his complaint on the day of trial. Wife was granted the divorce and custody of the parties' minor child. On appeal, Husband argues that the trial court erred in its division of marital property, its decision to deny Husband rehabilitative alimony, its award of attorney's fees to Wife, and its decision not to hear evidence on the issue of child custody. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand the case to the trial court for a hearing on child custody.
Shelby
Court of Appeals
In re: Guardianship of Ashley Tatum W2001-00859-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Robert S. Benham
This case involves liability for misappropriation of funds in a guardianship estate. After a guardian was appointed by the probate court, Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland executed a guardianship bond as surety. The order appointing the guardian provided for the guardian's attorney to have joint control of the guardianship estate with the guardian. BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. owed certain sums to the ward and was notified by the guardian's attorney of the joint control provision. The guardian's attorney also requested that the funds be sent to him to be deposited in the guardianship accounts. BellSouth ignored the request and sent the check payable to the guardian. Subsequently, the guardian misappropriated the funds, and the substitute guardian was awarded judgment against F & D. F & D filed a third party complaint against BellSouth for the sums so paid, and after a nonjury trial, the probate court entered judgment for F & D against BellSouth. BellSouth has appealed. We affirm.
Shelby
Court of Appeals
CH-00-1898-2 CH-00-1898-2
Trial Court Judge: Floyd Peete, Jr.
Shelby
Court of Appeals
Ashad R. A. Muhammed Ali v. Board of Probation and Parole, et al. M2001-01194-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Petitioner seeks a writ of certiorari from the decision of the board of paroles declining to grant him parole. The Chancery Court of Davidson County, Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr., Chancellor, dismissed the petition. We affirm the chancellor.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
Johnetta Nelson v. Innovative Recovery Svcs. Inc. M2000-03109-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle
This is a declaratory judgment action by Ruby Nelson against Innovative Recovery Services, Inc. ("IRSI"), subrogation recovery agent for Tennessee Coordinated Care Network, d/b/a Access ..MedPLUS ("TCCN"), a health maintenance organization under TennCare. TCCN paid $6,266.75 in medical expenses for Ruby Nelson and, under TennCare statutes, had a subrogation interest in this amount as to any third party recovery by Ms. Nelson. The Complaint asserts that TCCN is liable to attorneys for Ruby Nelson for attorney's fees in the amount of one-third of the subrogation interest. The Chancellor held TCCN not liable for attorney's fees to the attorneys representing Ruby Nelson, and we affirm the judgment of the Chancellor.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
Jon Hall v. Bill McLesky, et al. M2000-01857-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Mccoy
A death row inmate filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgment, claiming that employees of the Department of Correction had caused his attorney's phone number to be removed from an approved calling list, and had refused to restore the number to the list in a timely way. The inmate named seven employees of the Department and a private telephone company as defendants, and demanded monetary damages. The trial court dismissed the action, because the petitioner failed to comply with the mandatory requirements of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. Because we do not believe the petitioner was entitled to relief under any of the theories he advanced, we affirm the trial court.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
Jimmy Wilson v. State M2000-02934-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
By opinion of this Court dated August 27, 1999, dismissal by the trial court of Plaintiff's Petition for Declaratory Judgment or Common Law Writ of Certiorari complaining about computation of his sentence reduction credits was affirmed with costs assessed against Petitioner. He then attempted to have his inmate trust account shielded from collection of court costs by claiming exceptions under Tennessee Code Annotated section 26-2-101, et seq. The trial court denied his application and he filed timely appeal. We affirm the trial judge.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
State vs. Florence Harrell E2001-01710-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
In this appeal from the Chancery Court for Union County the Petitioner/Appellant, the State of Tennessee ex rel. Thomas J. Harrell, contends that the Chancery Court erred in denying the State a judgment against the Respondent/Appellee, Florence E. Harrell, for retroactive child support and for reimbursement of AFDC benefits paid by the State on behalf of Mr. Harrell and his and Ms. Harrell's two minor children. We affirm the judgment of the Chancery Court.
