COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

Court of Appeals

03A01-9505-CV-00153
03A01-9505-CV-00153

Court of Appeals

02A01-9404-CV-00077
02A01-9404-CV-00077
Trial Court Judge: D'Army Bailey

Shelby Court of Appeals

02A01-9407-CV-00161
02A01-9407-CV-00161
Trial Court Judge: James E. Swearengen

Shelby Court of Appeals

02A01-9407-CV-00169
02A01-9407-CV-00169
Trial Court Judge: Darrell Blanton

Shelby Court of Appeals

02A01-9410-CH-00235
02A01-9410-CH-00235
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos

Shelby Court of Appeals

Bessie Lee King v. Davidson (NMN) Taylor - Concurring
02A01-9504-CV-000
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Judge D'Army Bailey

This appeal arises out of a paternity action filed by the Plaintiff-Appellee, Bessie Lee King, against the Defendant-Appellant, Davidson Taylor, to establish the paternity of King's minor child, Davene. The action was originally filed in the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County, but was transferred to Circuit Court after Mr. Taylor requested a jury trial. Mr.  Taylor, Ms. King, and Davene submitted to a blood test. The sworn blood test results, which accompanied Appellee's motion for summary judgment, established that Mr. Taylor had a 99.65% probability of being Davene's father. Relying on both the blood test and T.C.A. § 24-7-112(b)(2) (Michie 1994), the trial court granted Ms. King's motion for summary judgment. Mr. Taylor appeals the decision of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Paula Van Slyke (Fleming) v. Philp Edward Fleming - Concurring
01-A-01-9504-CV-00178
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Judge Muriel Robinson

This case involves the question of whether a custodial parent may claim the benefit of changes in the child support guidelines promulgated after trial on her Petition for Increased Child Support, but before the trial court filed its Final Order. Because those changes were not raised in the  proceedings below, we decline to act on them here. Instead, we remand  the cause to the trial court for further proceedings.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Laura Patricia Cutsinger v. Charles Edward Cutsinger - Concurring
01A01-9504-CV-00148
Authoring Judge: Judge David R.Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer

In this divorce case, Charles Edward Cutsinger (Husband) has appealed the trial court's judgment which awarded Laura Patricia Cutsinger (Wife) a thirty percent (30%) interest as a seller in the contract of sale of Husband's chiropractic practice. Husband also has appealed the trial court's ruling which ordered Husband to indemnify Wife for any judgment that might arise as a result of an indebtedness for a pleasure boat purchased during the marriage.

Robertson Court of Appeals

02A01-9411-CV-00260
02A01-9411-CV-00260
Trial Court Judge: Janice M. Holder

Shelby Court of Appeals

02A01-9409-CV-00174
02A01-9409-CV-00174
Trial Court Judge: James E. Swearengen

Shelby Court of Appeals

02A01-9409-CV-00201
02A01-9409-CV-00201
Trial Court Judge: Wyeth Chandler

Shelby Court of Appeals

James R. Fruge and Jane Fruge v. John Doe and Jane Doe
02A01-9408-CV-00198
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Judge George H. Brown

Defendants-Appellees.This appeal involves a suit seeking recovery under the uninsured motorist provision of a liability insurance policy. Plaintiffs, James R. Fruge and Jane Fruge, appeal from the order of the trial court granting summary judgment to the unnamed defendant-appellee, State Farm Insurance Company.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Jerry Don Lumpkins, v. Belinda Baines Lumpkins
01A01-9401-CH-00034
Authoring Judge: Judge William C.Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Special Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft

This appeal involves a dispute over child support for two pre-teen boys. Two years after their divorce in the Chancery Court for Sumner County, the parents returned to court seeking resolution of their disputes concerning the custody and visitation arrangements and the amount of child support. A special judge awarded the mother sole custody of the children, modified the father’s visitation schedule, and directed the father to pay child support in accordance with the child support guidelines. The father takes issue on this appeal with the amount of his child support. We have determined that the amount of the father’s child support should be modified to take all his income into consideration.

Sumner Court of Appeals

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, v. Nashville Park Hospitality, Inc.
01A01-9504-CH-00142
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Robert S. Brandt

Appellant, Nashville Park Hospitality, Inc. ("Nashville Park"), is the owner of the Budget Lodge, a motel in Nashville consisting of three separate buildings identified as the 100, 200 and 300 Buildings. Ninety-six suites compose the 100 and 300 Buildings, with 92 available to the public and rented on a weekly basis. The 200 Building consists of standard motel rooms which are rented nightly. Appellee, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County ("Metropolitan Government"), filed suit seeking to enjoin Nashville Park from operating the Budget Lodge in violation of the Hotel, Food, Service Establishment and Public Swimming Pool Inspection Act of 1985, T.C.A. § 68-14-301 et. seq. ("Act").1 After a hearing, the trial court granted Metropolitan Government's application for a permanent injunction, enjoining Nashville Park from operating Budget Lodge in violation of the Act. The court, however, refused to entertain the issue of whether the Act applied to the suites rented weekly,2 citing Nashville Park's failure to first exhaust its administrative remedies. Nashville Park has appealed, challenging that determination by the chancellor. For reasons to be discussed, we reverse that portion of the judgment holding the trial court without jurisdiction to decide the issue prior to an exhaustion of the administrative process.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Tennessee Department of Human Services, v. Tennessed Civil Service Commission and Frank Mahon
01A01-9504-CH-00143
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.

This appeal arises from the chancery court's reversal of a final order of the Tennessee Civil Service Commission (the Commission). The Commission's final order reinstated Appellant, Frank Mahon, an employee who had been dismissed by the Cocke County Department of Human Services (Cocke County DHS). The chancery court reversed the Commission's final order, finding that the final order was unsupported by substantial and material evidence in the record before the Commission.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Terry J. Kyte and Terry J. King, v. Tennessee Department of Safety
01A01-9504-CH-00150
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.

Appellants, Terry J. Kyte and Terry F. King, appeal from the judgment entered by the chancery court, affirming the decision of the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety (Department) to grant the Department's motion for default in a contested case proceeding concerning the seizure of Appellants' property.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Mid-State Advertising D/B/A The Nashville Scene, v. Douglas Sarmento
01A01-9504-CV-00157
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Judge Hamilton Gayden

This appeal involves a suit on a guaranty agreement. Defendant, Douglas Sarmento, appeals from the trial court's order granting plaintiff, Mid-State Advertising, d/b/a "The Nashville Scene," summary judgment. The only issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred in granting summary judgment.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Sheryl Lynny Hooke (Thompson) v. Alan Richard Thompson
01A01-9504-CV-00180
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Marietta M. Shipley

This matter concerns the custody of Wayne Nicholas Thompson, II, the minor son of Appellee, Sheryl Lynne Hooke (Thompson) ("Mother") and Appellant, Alan Richard Thompson ("Father"). Both parties sought custody pursuant to separate petitions for divorce.1 The final divorce decree awarded custody to Mother, but stated that Father was to have physical possession of the child during the time period in which Mother underwent treatment for alcoholism. The decree provided that upon Mother's completion of a treatment program, physical possession of Nicholas would revert immediately to her. Father has appealed from the trial court's judgment, challenging both the custody award and the trial court's denial of his request to discover Mother's psychiatric records. For reasons hereinafter expressed, we affirm the judgment.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Sherri Mangrum v. Frank Dean Owens
01A01-9505-CV-00183
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Judge M. Thomas Taylor, Jr.

The sole question presented by this appeal is whether defendant, Frank Dean Owens, is entitled to share with plaintiff, Sherri Mangrum, the proceeds of a settlement for the wrongful death of their minor daughter,  Lisa Michelle Owens.

Williamson Court of Appeals

Tonya Renee Jackson v. Keith George Jackson
01A01-9504-CV-00132
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Judge Henry Denmark Bell

This case involves a dispute over child custody and division of marital property as decreed by the trial court in a divorce case.

Williamson Court of Appeals

Cynthia D. Gentry v. Linda Rudolph, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services - Concurring
01A01-9504-CH-00155
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor C. Allen High

Plaintiff, Cynthia D. Gentry, appeals from the order of the chancery court that affirmed the final administrative order of the Department of Human Services (DHS). The controversy in this case arose from the receipt by Mrs. Gentry's husband of a lump sum social security disability payment in July, 1991. At the time of the payment, Mrs. Gentry was the recipient of Aid for Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits. DHS determined that the lump sum payment constituted income sufficient to render Mrs. Gentry ineligible for AFDC benefits for a period of four months. Mrs. Gentry was notified by DHS that her benefits would be terminated for four months because of the receipt of the lump sum social security payment.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Ollie Davis and R.D. Davis, v. Horace Hall
02A01-9410-CV-00245
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Wyeth Chandler

This appeal involves a suit to recover damages for personal injury and property damage arising out of an automobile accident. Plaintiffs, Ollie H. Davis and R. D. Davis, appeal from the judgment of the trial court on a jury verdict for the defendant, Horace Hall.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Charles William Coulter and wife Donna Lee Coulter, v. Richard Anthony Hendricks
03A01-9505-CH-00150
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Howell N. Peoples

I concur wholeheartedly in the majority opinion. I write separately to address the plaintiffs' contention that their sister married Richard Anthony Hendricks "in jest." Even assuming, for the purpose of argument, that the common law requirement of mutual intent to be bound is still a requirement for a valid marriage in Tennessee, an allegation that the parties married in jest is conclusory in nature. Furthermore, it is not supported in the complaint by factual allegations and hence not conceded to be true by the defendant's motion to dismiss. Such a
pleading admits well-pled facts, not conclusions of the pleader. See Swallows v. Western Electric Co., Inc., 543 S.W.2d 581, 583 (Tenn. 1976); Dobbs v. Guenther, 846 S.W.2d 270, 273 (Tenn. App. 1992). Therefore, the conclusory allegation of a marriage in jest does not render the trial court's action of dismissal inappropriate. The well-pled facts, liberally construed in favor of the plaintiffs, do not make out a cause of action.

Hamilton Court of Appeals

Earl Maney v. Paul J. Parker, Individually and D/B/A Precious Woods and Metals
03A01-9502-CH-00065
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston P. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Earl H. Henley

Earl Maney, the Plaintiff, and Paul J. Parker, the Defendant, were the parties to a written five-year lease for commercial property in Cleveland. Mr. Parker, who operated a woodworking/machine shop on the premises, took possession of the property on September 8, 1989. Late in 1990, after occupying the property for slightly more than one year, he vacated the premises. On May 6, 1993, Mr. Maney, the landlord, filed suit in the Chancery Court of Bradley County seeking back rent and damages for repairs to the building. After a trial, the Chancellor determined that Mr. Parker "had a right to abandon the premises, " but awarded damages to compensate Mr. Maney for expenses he incurred making repairs to the property. Mr. Maney appeals and presents the following issues for review.

 

Bradley Court of Appeals