COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

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

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

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

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.

Union Court of Appeals

Ricky W. Mcelhaney v. Howard B. Barnwell
E2000-02748-COA-F3-CV
Trial Court Judge: Howell N. Peoples

Hamilton Court of Appeals

Ricky McElhaney vs. Howard Barnwell
E2000-02748-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Howell N. Peoples

Hamilton Court of Appeals

Kathie King v. Billy King
M2001-00275-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Jim T. Hamilton
This is an appeal of a divorce proceeding presented to the trial court in an unusual manner, by agreement of all parties and all attorneys. Husband appeals the final judgment, and we affirm in part and reverse in part.

Giles Court of Appeals

Sharon Kaye Outten v. Russell Campbell
M2001-00490-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Tom E. Gray

Sumner Court of Appeals

In the Matter of: C.J.S.
M2000-02836-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Ben Hall Mcfarlin
A.E.S. is the mother of C.J.S., who has been in foster care for four of his five years. At the State's petition, the trial court terminated these rights based upon A.E.S.'s mental incapacities. A.E.S. appealed this decision arguing that the grounds for termination were not proven by clear and convincing evidence. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

Rutherford Court of Appeals

Dept. of Children's Svcs. vs. Jeri Layne
M2001-00652-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Earlene Y. Speer
This is a termination of parental rights case involving four small children. The parental rights of the biological father, Carl Edward Layne, were terminated after default judgment was entered against him and such termination has not been appealed. The parental rights of the biological mother, Jeri Fay Layne, were terminated by the Juvenile Court of Grundy County after a hearing based upon statutory grounds of abandonment, failure to substantially comply with the permanency plan and persistent, unremedied conditions. Mrs. Layne timely appealed and we affirm the judgment of the Juvenile Court.

Grundy Court of Appeals

Martin Walker vs. State
E2001-00629-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Martin Walker, an inmate in the Penal System of this State, filed two separate claims against the State in the amount of $30,000 and $1,000,000, alleging his constitutional rights of equal protection and due process were violated. The State's response contends that the claims he makes are not authorized against the State by T.C.A. 9-8-307(a), and also that both claims are barred by the one-year Statute of Limitations. The Claims Commissioner dismissed his claims and we affirm.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Alfred Bibbins, a/k/a Ed Owens vs. T.R. Gunn
E2001-01070-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Samuel H. Payne
The plaintiff filed a complaint seeking money damages and other relief against the defendant. The complaint alleges that the plaintiff is entitled to the requested relief based on past defamatory statements and anticipated "libelous and slanderous statements that damage plaintiff's reputation." The trial court dismissed the complaint "for lack of proof." We affirm.

Hamilton Court of Appeals

Services v. D.G.S.L.
2001-00742-COA-R3-JV
Trial Court Judge: Carey E. Garrett

Knox Court of Appeals

Ray White v. Regions Financial Corp.
M2000-02957-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: Barbara N. Haynes
In this appeal from the Circuit Court for Davidson County, the Plaintiff/Appellant, F. Ray White, contends that the Trial Court erred in granting the Defendant/Appellee, Regions Financial Corporation, a summary judgment against him with regard to his cause of action for age discrimination under the Tennessee Human Rights Act. We affirm the judgment of the Trial Court and we adjudge costs of appeal against Mr. White and his surety.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Thelia Barrett v. White House Utility District
M2000-02426-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge John A. Turnbull
Trial Court Judge: John D. Wootten, Jr.
This appeal challenges an award of damages made to the plaintiff by the trial judge after a bench trial. Defendant claims the trial judge's finding of causation is contrary to the weight of the evidence, that the damages are excessive and that it was error to award discretionary costs. Plaintiff claims that the award was inadequate. We affirm the trial court in all respects.

Wilson Court of Appeals

Ralph Alley, et al vs. Quebecor World Kingsportet al
E2004-01274-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: John K. Wilson
This is an interlocutory appeal from the Trial Court's refusal to dismiss the action on the grounds that federal laws preempt a state action. We reverse and dismiss.

Hawkins Court of Appeals

James O'Neal Vineyard, et ux. v. Walker Betty, et ux.
M2001-00642-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Robert E. Burch
Following a bench trial, the trial court found sufficient evidence to show the existence of a prescriptive easement across the property of the defendants in favor of the plaintiffs. Defendants appeal, arguing that clear and convincing evidence did not exist to support the trial court's finding and that at trial plaintiff did not submit proof of irreparable harm necessary to secure injunctive relief. Appellant failed to submit a transcript of the trial court proceedings or a statement of the evidence to the appellate court leaving this court only the technical record for consideration on appeal. In the absence of a transcript or statement of the evidence, this court must presume the evidence supported the trial court's findings. Therefore, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

Dickson Court of Appeals

12-98-044-CC
12-98-044-CC
Trial Court Judge: A. Andrew Jackson

Dickson Court of Appeals

In Re: D.M.S., G.H.S., and T.M.S.
M2004-02584-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Betty K. Adams
Mother appeals the Davidson County Juvenile Court's Order Terminating her parental rights to three children, T.M.S., and D.M.S. and G.H.S. Father of D.M.S. challenges the trial court's termination of his parental rights. We affirm the decision of the trial court in all respects.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Cedric Franklin v. Tennessee Department of Correction
M2001-00279-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.

A prison disciplinary board found a minimum security prisoner to be guilty of violation of state law. The prisoner filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, claiming that the board had denied him due process. The trial court dismissed the petition. We affirm.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Billy R. Sadler v. Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole
M2001-02341-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle

A prisoner who was denied parole filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, challenging, on constitutional grounds, the procedures followed by the Parole Board. The trial court dismissed the petition. We affirm.

Davidson Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee, Department of Children's Services, v. Jennifer Lee Netherton Whited, et al.
M2000-03213-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Special Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Trial Court Judge: Judge A. Andrew Jackson

This appeal involves the termination of parental rights. The juvenile court terminated the parental rights of both parents. Appellant/mother challenges the juvenile court’s termination of her rights contending the juvenile court erred by allowing in certain documentary evidence, that the evidence did not clearly and convincingly establish that termination was in the child's best interest, the court failed to state affirmatively that termination was in the best interest of the child, and the petition for termination was defective as it did not explicitly state the statutorily mandated language of Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(d)(3)(C) (Supp. 2000). As discussed below, we affirm the judgment of the juvenile court.
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Dickson Court of Appeals