COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

Elenia Gray vs. Estate of Charles Gray
02A01-9803-PB-00061

Shelby Court of Appeals

Dixon vs. Bryan
01A01-9707-CV-00371
Trial Court Judge: Thomas Goodall

Sumner Court of Appeals

Home Builders Assoc. vs. Maury Co. TN & Burson
01A01-9706-CH-00259
Trial Court Judge: Jim T. Hamilton

Maury Court of Appeals

In Re: Carlton Agib Blessing, deceased
01A01-9712-CH-00691
Trial Court Judge: C. K. Smith

Wilson Court of Appeals

Durham vs. Durham
01A01-9803-CV-00129
Trial Court Judge: Buddy D. Perry

Marion Court of Appeals

James R. Reynolds, v. Tennessee Board of Parole, et al.
01A01-9701-CH-00016
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle

This appeal involves an inmate’s challenge to the denial of his application for parole by the Tennessee Board of Paroles. After serving approximately ten years ofa 35-year sentence for aggravated rape, the inmate filed a petition for a common-law writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County asserting that the Tennessee Board of Paroles was illegally and arbitrarily declining to honor his plea bargain agreement. The trial court dismissed the petition on the grounds that it failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted and because it was not timely filed. The inmate has appealed pro se. We concur that the petition was not timely filed and affirm its dismissal in accordance with Tenn. Ct. App. R. 10(b).1

Davidson Court of Appeals

Beatty vs. McGraw et al
01A01-9701-CV-00046
Trial Court Judge: Conrad E. Troutman, Jr.

Fentress Court of Appeals

James Hancock et ux vs. U-Haul Co. of TN
01A01-9801-CC-00001
Trial Court Judge: James E. Walton

Montgomery Court of Appeals

J.C. Bradford vs. Southern Realty
02A01-9801-CH-00006
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos

Shelby Court of Appeals

Shin Yi (Sunny) Lien and wife Ann Lien, v. Ruth Couch, Individually and Big Ridge Emu Ranch, Inc. et al.
01A01-9609-CV-00398
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bobby H. Capers

This appeal involves an interstate contract dispute over ten pairs of emu chicks. Two Tennessee residents declined to honor their contract to purchase the chicks after the Arkansas breeders attempted to substitute chicks different from those advertised for sale. The breeders filed a breach of contract suit in Arkansas against the purchasers seeking to recover the unpaid purchase price, and the purchasers filed suit in the Circuit Court for Wilson County seeking to recover their down payment as well as treble damages and attorney’s fees under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. After the breeders obtained a judgment in Arkansas against the purchasers, they moved to dismiss the purchasers’ Tennessee lawsuit on the ground that the Arkansas judgment was res judicata to the purchasers’ Tennessee claims. The trial court agreed and dismissed the purchasers’ claims. On this appeal, the purchasers assert that the Arkansas judgment should not have precluded them from pursuing their Tennessee Consumer Protection Act claims in Tennessee. We agree because the Arkansas court did not have the power to award the full measure of relief the purchasers are seeking in the Tennessee proceedings.
 

Wilson Court of Appeals

James Rowland Moore v. Karen Owen Moore
01A01-9708-CV-00444
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Judge Muriel Robinson

After a 1996 divorce by the Circuit Court of Davidson County the husband filed an independent damages action in the chancery court, alleging that the wife fraudulently induced him to enter into the divorce settlement. The wife filed a Rule 60.02 motion in the divorce court seeking a declaration that she was not guilty of fraud. The divorce court ruled that the chancery court was bound by the circuit court’s judgment and that the husband must pay $2500 in attorney’s fees to the wife for services in the Rule 60.02 motion. We reverse.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Permanent General Assurance Corporation, v. Gilbert Waters, et al.
01A01-9712-CV-00720
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Judge Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.

This case involves an exclusion in an automobile liability policy for a person operating the automobile without a reasonable belief that that person is entitled to do so. The Circuit Court of Davidson County dismissed the insurance company’s action for a declaratory judgment. We reverse, and declare that the exclusion precluded coverage by the company.

Davidson Court of Appeals

O. Robert E. Mayers v. Miller Medical Group, An Affiliate of Baptist Healthcare Group; Russell D. Ward, M.D. and Michel Kuzur, M.D.
01A01-9802-CV-00101
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Judge Marietta M. Shipley

Plaintiff, Robert E. Mayers, acting pro se in this medical malpractice action, appeals the decision of the Circuit Court of Davidson County denying his application for relief under Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure 60.02 from a final summary judgment rendered in favor of the defendants.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Dennis T. Crouse v. Charlane Allen Crouse
02A01-9712-CV-00312
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Judge Kay S. Robilio

This dispute concerns an award of alimony and attorney’s fees. Appellant, Dennis T. Crouse (Husband), appeals from the trial court’s order granting alimony in futuro and attorney’s fees to Appellee, Charlane Allen Crouse (Wife).

Shelby Court of Appeals

Chase Cavett Services, Inc., v. Brandon Apparel Group, Inc.
02A01-9803-CH-00055
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Floyd Peete, Jr.

Plaintiff Chase Cavett Services, Inc. (Chase) appeals an order of the chancery court granting a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction filed by Defendant Brandon Apparel Group, Inc. (Brandon). Because we find that the chancery court may exercise personal jurisdiction over Brandon, we reverse the ruling of the chancellor.

Shelby Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Lorenzo Pfeifer
02A01-9811-CC-00307
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree

This appeal involves a juvenile delinquency proceeding. Appellant, Lorenzo Carlos Pfeifer, appeals from the order of the Circuit Court in Obion County which found him a delinquent child because he was guilty of the offense of aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000.00. Appellant was committed to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for an indeterminate term. The only issue presented for review is whether the evidence is sufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Pfeifer committed the offense of aggravated burglary and theft of property over $1,000.00.

Obion Court of Appeals

Stephen P. Kopels v. Katherine Annette Bryant
01A01-9711-CV-00646
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Trial Court Judge: Judge Muriel Robinson

This is a domestic relations case. The appellant complains of the award of the residence to the appellee, and the award of the attorney’s fees. Our review of the findings of fact made by the trial Court is de novo upon the record of the trial Court, accompanied by a presumption of the correctness of the finding, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. TENN. R. APP. P., RULE 13(d); Campbell v. Florida Steel Corp., 919 S.W.2d 26 (Tenn. 1996). Where there is no conflict in the evidence as to any material fact, the question on appeal is one of law, and the scope of review is de novo with no presumption of correctness accompanying a chancellor's conclusions of law. Union Carbide Corp. v. Huddleston, 854 S.W.2d 87 (Tenn. 1993).

Court of Appeals

Gehl Corporation, v. Ruth E. Johnson, Commissioner of Revenue for the State of Tennessee
01A01-9803-CH-00165
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle

Gehl Corporation filed suit in the Chancery Court of Davidson County to contest an assessment by the Commissioner of Revenue of the "Amusement Tax" imposed by Tennessee Code Annotated section 67-6-212(a)(2).

Davidson Court of Appeals

Steve Makris v. Bob Kapos
02A01-9712-CH-00318
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor C. Neal Small

Steve Makris appeals the trial court’s denial of his claim for accrued and unpaid salaries in this partnership accounting and dissolution case. For the reasons stated hereafter, we reverse the trial court’s judgment.
 

Shelby Court of Appeals

Billy Flowers and Amy Flowers v. Charles R. Horner and Reba M. Horner - Concurring
01A01-9806-CH-00315
Authoring Judge: Judge William H. Inman
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Donald P. Harris

This controversy may, perhaps, be described as a boundary dispute. The development of Riverview Estates Subdivision began in 1971 with the recordation of a plat which provided for a cul-de-sac fifty feet in width centered on the West boundary of Lot 23.

Hickman Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee , Department of Children's Services, v. Tamra Leeann Viar, and John Fitzgerald Gross, the unknown father of Katelyn Nicole Viar, In the Matter Of: Katelyn Nicole Viarelyn Nicole Viar
01A01-9806-JV-00275
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Trial Court Judge: Judge John B. Melton, III

The parental relationship between Tamra Viar and her daughter, Katelyn, was terminated by the Juvenile Court, the propriety of which she presents for review. Our review of the findings of fact made by the trial Court is de novo upon the record of the trial Court, accompanied by a presumption of the correctness of the finding, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise.

Cannon Court of Appeals

Ann S. Wing v. James E. Wing - Concurring
01A01-9712-CC-00752
Authoring Judge: Judge William H. Inman
Trial Court Judge: Judge Marietta M. Shipley

This is a domestic relations dispute involving money only. The trial court held that a certificate of deposit and one investment account were the separate property of Husband and declined to award Wife alimony or the total amount of her attorney fees. She appeals and presents these issues for review.

Davidson Court of Appeals

IN RE: Estate of Louise C. Davis, Deceased; Sarah Foster Kelley v. Sarah Hill Martin - Concurring
01-A-01-9803-PB-00157
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Frank G. Clement

This appeal involves the validity of certain transactions entered into by the holder of a power of attorney. The trial court set aside the transactions finding that the attorney in fact had failed to rebut the presumption of undue influence which arose in light of these self-benefitting transactions. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Patsy Lorean Johnson v. James Larry Johnson
02A01-9703-CH-00069
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly Kirby Lillard
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor D. J. Alissandratos

This is a divorce case. In the original divorce, years ago, the wife was awarded shares of stock from the husband’s p ension fund. Subs equently, the pension fund was distributed to the husband, with no monies going to the wife. In this action, the trial court awarded the wife a judgment for the value o f the stock at the time of the trial co urt’s order. The husband appeals. We affirm.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Todd Harmon v. Janet Harmon
02A01-9709-CH-00212
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor John Walton West

Megan Harmon (“Megan” or “Appellant”), minor child born during the marriage of Plaintiff/Appellee, Todd Harmon (“Mr. Harmon” or “Appellee”) and Defendant Janet Harmon (“Mrs. Harmon”), by and through her Guardian Ad Litem (G.A.L.), appeals the decision of the trial court which found that Appellee was not the biological father of Appellant, and incorporated into the decree of divorce the marital dissolution agreement in which the parties agreed Appellee would have no further obligation to the child.

Carroll Court of Appeals