COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

W2002-01556-COA-R3-CV
W2002-01556-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos

Shelby Court of Appeals

W2002-01687-COA-R3-CV
W2002-01687-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: John R. Mccarroll, Jr.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Edwin Boothe vs. Fred's Inc.
W2002-01414-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: D'Army Bailey

Shelby Court of Appeals

Edwin Boothe vs. Fred's Inc.
W2002-01414-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: D'Army Bailey

Shelby Court of Appeals

Union Planters Bank vs. Bobbye Shepard
W2002-01188-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos
Executor brought this action to recover proceeds of the sale of decedent's property prior to decedent's death. Both parties moved for attorney's fees. The trial court entered judgment for defendant and awarded defendant's attorney's fees. On issues relating to decedent's property, we affirm in part and reverse in part. We reverse the award of attorney's fees and remand for a determination of reasonableness.

Shelby Court of Appeals

W2002-00489-COA-R3-CV
W2002-00489-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Rita L. Stotts

Shelby Court of Appeals

W2002-01474-COA-R3-CV
W2002-01474-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos

Shelby Court of Appeals

W2002-03016-COA-R3-CV
W2002-03016-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Robert L. Childers

Shelby Court of Appeals

W2002-02220-COA-R3-CV
W2002-02220-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Ron E. Harmon

Decatur Court of Appeals

W2002-03050-COA-R3-CV
W2002-03050-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: William B. Acree

Gibson Court of Appeals

The Oceanics Schools vs. Clifford Barbour, Jr.
E2002-00181-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
This matter is before us on the petition of the plaintiff for a rehearing pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 39.

Knox Court of Appeals

Amsouth Erectors, Llc v. Skaggs Iron Works, Inc.,
CH-01-0585-2
Trial Court Judge: Floyd Peete, Jr.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Ann Wing v. Estate of James Wing
M2001-01598-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Marietta M. Shipley
The Circuit Court of Davidson County ordered the husband involved in a divorce to pay $230 per week in support payments to the wife after the husband retired from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. When the husband retired he elected to receive guaranteed payments for 120 months and designated his daughter as the beneficiary to receive the payments if he died within the 120 month period. The court then modified its prior order to provide that the payments were a division of the husband's pension from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. After the husband's untimely death, the court ordered the Metropolitan Government and/or the husband's daughter who had been made the beneficiary of the pension to make the payments. Because we find that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over Metro and the daughter, we reverse the court's order and remand for further proceedings.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Billy Culp v. Billie Grinder
M2002-01512-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Jim T. Hamilton
The Culps brought suit against their neighbors, the Grinders, for removal of a septic tank solid line located on their property. The Culps argued that the ten foot easement reserved by the subdivision for "utilities" did not include personal septic tanks. The trial court dismissed the suit and found that the septic tank solid line placement was a type of "utility" and was within the ten foot easement; further, the court found no damages had been suffered by the Culps. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

Wayne Court of Appeals

Shin Yi Lien v. Ruth Couch
M2002-01625-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: John D. Wootten, Jr.
This is the second time the parties have been before this court in a dispute over the purchase of emu chicks. In this appeal, the Plaintiffs take issue with the trial court's limitation of damages recoverable under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. We reverse the judgment of the trial court.

Wilson Court of Appeals

State v. R.S. and K.S.
M2002-00919-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Buddy D. Perry
This appeal involves a petition filed by the Department of Children's Services to terminate the parental rights of Mother and Father to their three minor children. The trial court denied the petition and ordered the children returned to Mother and Father. The Department appeals the decision of the trial court, arguing first that there was clear and convincing evidence to support termination, and secondly, even if the denial is upheld, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to order the children's return to their parents. Because we find the petition was properly denied, but further find the trial court lacked jurisdiction to order the children's return home, we affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.

Franklin Court of Appeals

Reta Tompkins v. Kevin Helton
M2002-01244-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Chancellor Carol L. McCoy
Trial Court Judge: John A. Turnbull
The Plaintiffs, Reta J. Tompkins and her husband, Michael J. Tompkins, brought this negligence action against the Defendant, Kevin W. Helton, as the agent for the Defendant, B.K. Luna, individually and d/b/a Big Foot Speedway, Inc., a/k/a Tennessee Motor Speedway. The Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment with a copy of the Release and Waiver of Liability Agreement signed by the Plaintiffs. The trial court granted partial summary judgment, found that the release was valid as to the Defendants and released the Defendants as to all causes of action based on ordinary negligence. We affirm.

Putnam Court of Appeals

Elizabeth Snodgrass v. Allen Freemon
M2002-01247-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Stella L. Hargrove
Defendant/Cross-Claimant appeals the action of the trial court in holding that Cross-Claimant had not carried his burden of proof to establish adverse possession of the property in issue. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Lawrence Court of Appeals

M2002-02603-COA-R3-JV
M2002-02603-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Lee A. England

Lawrence Court of Appeals

Evan Roberts vs. Miller Industries
E2002-01726-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: W. Frank Brown, III
In this appeal from the Chancery Court for Hamilton County the Appellants/Defendants, Miller Industries, Inc. and Road One, Inc., contend that the Trial Court erred in awarding the Appellee/ Plaintiff, Evan J. Roberts, damages for breach of contract. The judgment of the Trial Court is affirmed in part and reversed and vacated in part, and the cause is remanded for collection of costs below.

Hamilton Court of Appeals

Royden Russell vs. Malvin L. Bray, et al.
E2002-02153-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor John S. McLellan, III

Royden Russell and Judy Russell ("Plaintiffs") entered into a contract with Malvin L. Bray and Diedre Bray ("Sellers") to purchase a house. The sales contract required Plaintiffs to obtain an inspection by a professional home inspector. Plaintiffs hired Randall L. Douthat and Holly Douthat d/b/a The HomeTeam Inspection Service ("Defendants") to perform the home inspection. Royden Russell signed a form contract ("Contract") presented by Defendants. The Contract contained an exculpatory clause limiting Defendants' liability to the lesser of the cost of repair or the amount of the inspection fee. After moving into the house, Plaintiffs discovered structural problems. Plaintiffs sued Sellers, the realtors involved in the sale of the house, and Defendants. Plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment concerning the exculpatory clause contained in the Contract. Defendants responded by filing a Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment concerning, in part, the exculpatory clause. The Trial Court held the exculpatory clause was not against public policy and was enforceable. The Trial Court also granted Plaintiffs permission to file an interlocutory appeal. Plaintiffs applied to this Court and were granted an interlocutory appeal on the limited issue of whether the Trial Court erred in holding the exculpatory clause was not against public policy. We reverse.

Sullivan Court of Appeals

Larry Benton v. Vanderbilt University
M2002-00085-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Soloman
This is a case of first impression regarding the enforceability of an arbitration agreement against a third party. The plaintiff was a passenger in an automobile accident and was treated at the defendant hospital. The hospital filed a statutory hospital lien against any proceeds the plaintiff might recover in any lawsuit arising out of the car accident. The plaintiff later successfully sued the tortfeasor for the injuries he sustained in the accident. Thereafter, the hospital sought to recover under its lien for the balance of the plaintiff's medical bills that were not paid to the hospital by the plaintiff's insurance carrier. The plaintiff filed this action against the hospital, claiming that the hospital's practice of balance billing violates the institution agreement between the hospital and the plaintiff's insurance carrier. The hospital filed a motion in the trial court to compel arbitration, pursuant to an arbitration provision contained in the institution agreement. The trial court denied that motion. The hospital now appeals the denial of its motion to compel arbitration. We reverse, concluding that the plaintiff, a third-party beneficiary to the institution agreement seeking to enforce his rights under that agreement, is bound by the arbitration provision contained within that agreement.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Rodney Johnson v. James Gulley
W2002-02357-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Robert A. Lanier

Shelby Court of Appeals

Nina Sue Holland v. City of Memphis,
W2002-01529-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Floyd Peete, Jr.

Shelby Court of Appeals

W2002-02150-COA-R3-CV
W2002-02150-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Roger A. Page

Madison Court of Appeals