COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

ROAR NORMANN RONNING v. LESLEY ANNE RONNING
E2024-00437-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Chief Judge D. Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor John D. McAfee

This appeal concerns divorce related issues including property division, alimony, and child custody. Roar Normann Ronning (“Father”) sued Lesley Anne Ronning (“Mother”) for divorce in the Circuit Court for Claiborne County (“the Trial Court”). The parties have a minor daughter, Freya (“the Child”). Over the course of multiple hearings, the Trial Court granted the parties a divorce and ultimately approved a parenting plan whereby Mother was named primary residential parent and received more parenting time with the Child than Father. One of the relevant factors in the child custody determination was Father’s career as a commercial airline pilot, which means he has a varied schedule. Father appeals, arguing among other things that the Trial Court erred in designating Mother primary residential parent, granting Mother more time with the Child than Father, and granting Mother major decision-making authority. Mother raises separate issues, including whether this appeal is frivolous. We find, inter alia, that the Trial Court did not abuse its discretion in making its custody determination. We find no reversible error in the Trial Court’s judgment. Mother’s separate issues are without merit. We affirm.

Claiborne Court of Appeals

IN RE ESTATE OF NANN-ALIX WICKWIRE-MAGRILL
E2024-00934-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor J. Eddie Lauderback

The trial court dismissed a will contest based upon the plaintiff’s failure to state a claim for which relief could be granted pursuant to Rule 12.02(6) and awarded the defendant attorney’s fees pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 20-12-119(c). Plaintiff appeals. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Johnson Court of Appeals

Pruett Enterprises, Inc., v. The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance, Co.
03A01-9609-CH-00309
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Howard N. Peoples

This non-jury case involves the interpretation of a commercial insurance policy (“the policy”) issued by The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company (Hartford) to Pruett Enterprises, Inc. (Pruett). Pruett, the owner and operator of a chain of grocery stores in Hamilton County, sued Hartford under the policy for “spoilage losses to various perishable items [caused] when electrical power to [two of Pruett’s] grocery stores was interrupted as a result of a heavy snow blizzard [on or about March 13, 1993].” Each of the parties filed a motion for summary judgment. Based upon the parties’ stipulation of facts, the trial court granted Hartford partial summary judgment, finding that the loss at 6925 Middle Valley Road, Hixson (“Middle Valley Store”) was not covered by the policy. As to the loss at Pruett’s store at 3936 Ringgold Road, East Ridge (“Ringgold Road Store”), the trial court found a genuine issue of fact and denied Hartford’s motion.

Hamilton Court of Appeals

Kim Williams v. The Lewis Preservation Trust
E2023-00085-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Melissa Thomas Willis

This is a negligent misrepresentation action in which the plaintiff filed suit against the
attorney responsible for transferring her mother’s assets into an irrevocable trust. The
plaintiff alleged that she approved the transfer because she was erroneously advised that
the terms of the irrevocable trust would require distribution upon her mother’s passing.
The trial court granted summary judgment dismissal in favor of the defendant attorney.
We affirm.

Rhea Court of Appeals