COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

Barry Robinson v. Donald Brooks
M2003-00185-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle
This case involves the sale by auction of certain real property in Davidson County. The buyers brought suit in Davidson County Chancery Court seeking specific performance or, in the alternative, damages for breach of contract. From the trial court's grant of summary judgment for the defendants, the plaintiff buyers appeal. We affirm.

Dudley vs. Dudley
M1998-00982-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Carol A. Catalano
In this divorce case, the trial court awarded the divorce to the Wife and divided the property. Husband appeals the award of the marital residence and its contents to Wife. We affirm.

Moss vs. TN Board of Paroles
M2000-00128-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle
At the hearing where appellant's parole was revoked, the Hearing Officer admitted sworn statements of alleged victims. The Trial Court upheld the revocation. We affirm.

Wilson vs. So. Centr. Corr. Facility Disciplinary Bd
M2000-00303-COA-RM-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Jim T. Hamilton
An inmate in a privately operated prison filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari against the disciplinary board at that facility. The trial court dismissed his petition for failure to state a claim. We affirm

Joiner vs. Metro Gov't
M2000-00413-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Soloman
The Trial Court entered consent Judgment over objection of defendant. We vacate Judgment and remand.

Franklin Nat'l Bank vs. Prowell
M2000-00580-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Jeffrey S. Bivins
The Circuit Court of Williamson County refused to issue a writ of certiorari to review a judgment of the General Sessions Court of that county because the petition was untimely and the same issues were already pending in an action in Maury County. We affirm.

State Dept. of Children's Svcs. vs. L.S., In the Matter of D.S.
M1999-00847-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: John J. Maddux
The Trial Court removed minor child from the parental home on grounds child was dependent and neglected. We affirm.

Lassiter vs. Lassiter
M1999-00374-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Carol A. Catalano
This case involves a divorce ending a seven-year marriage. The divorce was awarded to the wife on grounds of the husband's inappropriate marital conduct. The trial court divided the property and debts according to the parties' stipulations. The court then awarded the wife alimony in futuro and ordered the husband to pay $750 of the wife's attorney fees. The husband appeals the awards of alimony and attorney fees. We affirm.

Turner vs. Turner
M1999-00482-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Marietta M. Shipley
This is a divorce case. Following a bench trial, the court below (1) granted a divorce to wife; (2) divided the marital property; (3) awarded wife alimony in the form of a $1,640.55 monthly payment out of husband's retirement account; and (4) declared that the alimony award was to be secured by the husband's retirement account. Husband appeals the alimony award, the use of the retirement account as security for the payment of alimony, and the trial court's division of the marital property. Wife takes issue with the division of the parties' marital property. We affirm.

Turner vs. Turner
M1999-00482-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Marietta M. Shipley
This is a divorce case. Following a bench trial, the court below (1) granted a divorce to wife; (2) divided the marital property; (3) awarded wife alimony in the form of a $1,640.55 monthly payment out of husband's retirement account; and (4) declared that the alimony award was to be secured by the husband's retirement account. Husband appeals the alimony award, the use of the retirement account as security for the payment of alimony, and the trial court's division of the marital property. Wife takes issue with the division of the parties' marital property. We affirm.

Tammy Elizabeth Hickman & Danny Ray Hickman vs. Eugenia Darlene Hickman
E2000-00927-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Jeffrey F. Stewart
Plaintiffs sued to terminate the mother's parental rights. The Trial Judge held plaintiffs failed to carry the burden of proof. We affirm.

Jimmy B. Hillard, et al vs. Buddie Ruth Franklin
E2000-00402-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Vance
This is a suit for specific performance. The plaintiffs entered into an agreement with the defendant to purchase certain real property for $80,000. Before the purchase was closed, a house on the property was destroyed by fire, and the defendant collected $35,000 as proceeds from her homeowners' insurance policy. The purchase of the property did not proceed to closing and the plaintiffs filed suit for specific performance of the contract at a purchase price of $45,000 -- this amount being the difference between the original purchase price and the insurance proceeds collected by the defendant. The trial court granted the plaintiffs summary judgment. The defendant appeals, contending that this case is not ripe for summary judgment. We affirm.

Walter E. Everette, et al vs. Hubert G. Berry, et al
E2000-00461-COA-R3-CV
Trial Court Judge: Daryl R. Fansler
In this dispute over real estate, the Plaintiffs seek to have a quit claim deed conveying certain property to the Defendants declared spurious, as well as injunctive relief relative to rights-of-way adjacent to their property. The Chancellor granted the relief the Plaintiffs sought, resulting in this appeal. We affirm.

Steamfitters vs. Phillip Morris
W1999-01061-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: James F. Russell
Union health and welfare funds brought an action against tobacco companies and their trade associations to recover the funds' costs of treating their participants' smoking-related illnesses. The tobacco companies moved to dismiss the complaint, arguing that the funds' economic injuries were derivative of the participants' physical injuries and, consequently, too remote for recovery. The trial court granted the motion to dismiss on the funds' antitrust claim but denied the motion on the funds' claims for fraud and deceit, misrepresentation, conspiracy and violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. Permission for interlocutory appeal was granted to the tobacco companies by both the trial court and the appellate court. We affirm the trial court's dismissal of the antitrust claim and reverse the trial court's denial of the motion to dismiss on the remaining claims, finding the plaintiffs' alleged injuries are too remote, as a matter of law, to permit recovery. The cause is remanded for entry of an order dismissing the plaintiffs' complaint.

Jackie McGregor vs. Gregor Scott McGregor
E1999-00877-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: L. Marie Williams
This is a divorce case. Following a bench trial, the court below (1) granted the parties a divorce on stipulated grounds; (2) divided the marital property; and (3) found that wife was not entitled to an award of alimony, but that funds withdrawn by her from a joint account immediately prior to her filing for divorce constituted necessary temporary support for her and the parties' daughter. Wife appeals the trial court's characterization of certain real property as marital property and the trial court's division of the marital property. Both wife and husband take issue with the trial court's treatment of the funds withdrawn by wife from the joint account. We affirm the judgment of the trial court, as modified.

Rhea E. Burns, Jr. vs. New York Life Ins. Co. & Robert H. Noe
E2000-00158-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Harold Wimberly
Plaintiff, an insurance sales agent for New York Life Insurance Company, alleged that he entered into an oral agreement with another New York Life Insurance agent for the two agents to sell life insurance policies to a particular family and share the sales commissions. Some time later, a dispute arose between Plaintiff and the second New York Life Insurance agent over who was entitled to receive certain sales commissions. After Plaintiff did not receive a share of those sales commissions, he sought the assistance of New York Life in resolving his dispute with the second agent. New York Life accepted statements from both agents and then declined to intervene on Plaintiff's behalf. Plaintiff brought suit against the second agent and New York Life, but later non-suited the claim against the agent. Plaintiff alleged that New York Life was contractually required to make a decision in a commission dispute between its agents, and that if it had made a decision, the industry standard practice would have required the company to decide in his favor. He sought damages from New York Life for breach of contract and under a quantum meruit theory. The Trial Court granted New York Life's Motion for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff appeals. We affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court.

Christopher J. Moore vs. Robert S. Johnson, et al
E2000-00385-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Harold Wimberly
This is a personal injury action arising out of an automobile accident. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, finding that the defendant and an unidentified driver were equally at fault in causing the accident. The defendant appeals, raising issues that require us to determine whether there is material evidence in the record to support the jury's verdict. We conclude that there is material evidence to support the verdict and thus affirm the judgment.

Clara Frazier,vs. East Tennessee Baptist Hosp., Inc. et al.
E2000-00686-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: Dale C. Workman
In this medical malpractice case brought by Clara Frazier, as Administratrix of the Estate of Josie Mae Blalock Pickens against East Tennessee Baptist Hospital, Inc., and Mark W. Jackson, M.D., the Trial Court sustained the motion of Baptist Hospital for summary judgment because the order granting an amendment to add Baptist Hospital as a party defendant after a non-suit had earlier been taken, was not timely and exceeded the one year mandated in T.C.A. 28-1-105(a). Ms. Frazier appeals, insisting that Rule 15.03 of the Tenn. R. Civ. P. is applicable and that the amendment related back to the date of the initial filing. We find the Trial Court acted properly and affirm.

Prentice vs. Prentice
M1999-01507-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Muriel Robinson
Ronald Prentice appeals from a decision of the Davidson County Circuit Court. The appeal involves a dispute over property division arising out of a divorce.

Chambers vs. Amonette
M1999-01254-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Muriel Robinson
At the time of the parties' divorce in 1992, their minor child was placed in the primary residential custody of the mother, and the father was ordered to pay child support in the amount of $300.00 per month. The mother instituted a petition to modify. The father is in the military and, at the time of trial, had a base pay of $2,888.46 per month, which included allowances for BAS, BAH, and BAQ-DIFF. The parties anticipated at the time of trial that the father would be transferred to Korea for one year of service, and then would be transferred to England. According to the father, he would continue to receive his BAQ-DIFF allowance, but, while in Korea, he would no longer receive BAS or BAH allowances. The mother sought an increase in the monthly support payments based upon a significant variation with the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines and based upon reduced visitation by the father. According to the parties' final divorce decree, the father's visitation schedule provided for an average of sixty-nine days of visitation throughout the year, as compared to the anticipated eighty days in the Guidelines. After a hearing on the matter, the trial court denied the petition and ordered the mother to pay the father's costs and attorney's fees. We reverse and remand.

Writesman vs. Writesman
M1999-00726-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Muriel Robinson
This appeal is from the trial court's order denying Husband's Petition for Modification and sentencing him to thirty days in jail for criminal contempt. Husband attempted to show that there had been a substantial and material change in the relative financial positions of the parties and that his court ordered alimony obligation should be terminated or modified. Wife counter-petitioned for contempt of court, and Husband was, thereafter, charged with criminal contempt and found guilty for his failure to pay alimony. We agree with the trial court that Husband failed to show a material change in circumstances sufficient to justify terminating or modifying his alimony obligation. We also agree with the trial court's finding of criminal contempt and uphold its sentence of thirty days in prison for such contempt. Therefore, the ruling of the trial court on all issues presented on appeal is affirmed.

Taylor vs. Heldman
M1999-00729-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Daniel Benson Taylor V Russell Heldman
Daniel Benson Taylor ("Plaintiff"), a prison inmate, filed suit for damages and other relief against two judges of the 21st Judicial District and, by amended complaint, the assistant attorneys general representing the two judges because of the alleged failure of the judges to grant his petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The trial judge granted a Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure 12.02(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The specially appointed trial judge sustained the motion and Plaintiff appeals. We affirm.

R & D Marina, Inc., et al vs. Roane County, et al
E1999-02687-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Frank V. Williams, III
Plaintiffs, a marina and its owners, were holders of a 1996 lease from Roane County to build and manage a marina. Plaintiffs received a permit from TVA to operate the marina in 1997. Plaintiffs filed suit against Roane County and four boathouse owners, seeking a declaratory judgment that the marina was entitled to monthly rent from the individual Defendants from the date of the Roane County lease until their boathouses were removed from the leased premises. The boathouse owners were holders of prior TVA permits to moor boathouses within the same area which became the marina pursuant to the 1996 lease and 1997 permit. The Trial Court ordered the boathouse owners to pay rent to the marina and to remove their boathouses. We affirm the judgment of the Trial Court insofar as it ordered the individual Defendants to remove their boathouses. We hold the Trial Court erred in ordering the individual Defendants to pay rent starting from the date of the lease rather than the date of Plaintiffs' TVA permit. Accordingly, we modify the judgment of the Trial Court to reflect that Defendants owe rent to Plaintiffs from the date of Plaintiffs' TVA permit until the boathouses were removed. The judgment of the Trial Court is affirmed, as modified, and the case is remanded.

International Deli/Caterers vs. Raymond/Kimberly Shields
W2000-00269-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: James F. Russell
This is a contract case. The defendants entered into a franchise agreement with the plaintiff to own and operate a franchise. After the defendants failed to make royalty payments for two months and then failed to make a note payment, the plaintiff filed suit alleging breach of contract. The defendants counter-claimed, alleging that the plaintiff breached the contract first by not operating a marketing fund mentioned in the franchise agreement and by not furnishing a sign provided for in the purchase agreement. At trial, the trial court allowed testimony by the plaintiff as to discussions, prior and subsequent to the signing of the agreements, in which he claimed that the parties had agreed upon different terms regarding the marketing fund and sign. The trial court found that the plaintiff had not breached the agreements by not maintaining the marketing fund or furnishing the sign, and that even if it were a breach, it was not a material breach. The defendants now appeal. We affirm.

Eric Petty, a child
W2000-00907-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: William B. Acree
This case involves an appeal regarding the lower court's determination that Eric Dylan Petty was a delinquent child. In February 2000, a petition was filed with the Juvenile Court of Obion County alleging that Eric Dylan Petty committed the delinquent acts of aggravated assault and vandalism. The juvenile court determined that Petty was delinquent and ordered him committed to the Tennessee Department of Children's Services. After a de novo hearing, the circuit court also declared Petty delinquent based on the acts of aggravated assault and vandalism and affirmed Petty's commitment to the Department of Children's Services. This appeal followed.