Harrison Pearison v. State of Tennessee
E2003-02158-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Douglas A. Meyer

The petitioner, Harrison Pearison, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. In this appeal, he asserts that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. The judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed.

Robert William Arndts, by Conservator, Carol Zeliff, Darrell R. Smith, v. Violet A Bonner and Tommy L. Raines
E2003-02257-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant

Action was filed by plaintiff's Conservator to recover assets transferred by his wife prior to her death. The Trial Judge awarded certain assets to plaintiff and plaintiff appealed.

Randy Hollingsworth v. Maytag Corporation
W2003-02407-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Larry B. Stanley, Jr., Sp. J.
Trial Court Judge: James F. Butler, Chancellor
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann.' 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The trial court ruled that the Employee's injury, superficial thrombophlebitis, did not arise out of his employment and that the Employee was therefore not entitled to workers' compensation benefits. The issue raised on appeal is whether the trial court erred in finding that the Employee's thrombophlebitis did not arise out of his employment pursuant to the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Act. We now reverse the trial court's finding and remand for hearing on the determination of vocational disability.

Donald Wesley Evans v. Peggy Jane Evans
M2002-02954-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Russell Heldman

This case arises from a divorce action between the Appellant and Appellee. After a hearing, the trial court divided the marital property, granted Appellee alimony in futuro, and awarded Appellee her attorney's fees. After denying Appellant's motion to alter or amend the judgment, the trial court increased Appellee's award of attorney's fees. Appellant appeals to this Court, and, for the following reasons, we affirm in part, modify in part, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

James Walter Young v. Nashville Electric Service
M2003-00020-SC-WCM-CV
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Ellen H. Lyle

In this workers’ compensation appeal, the Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel (“Appeals Panel”) affirmed the trial court’s judgment, finding that the employee failed to carry his burden of proof as to causation. The employee has filed a motion for review pursuant to Section 50- 6-225(e)(5)(B), Tennessee Code Annotated (Supp. 2003). That statute requires that a motion for review be filed within fifteen days of the issuance of the Appeals Panel’s decision. We hold that the fifteen-day period for filing a motion for review is jurisdictional and that the Court therefore is without jurisdiction to consider a motion that is not timely filed.

Christy Johnson, et al. v. Duncan E. Ragsdale
W2003-01257-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Judge John R. McCarroll, Jr.

This case involves the dismissal of Appellant’s legal malpractice claim against Appellee on the basis that Appellee, after the initial dismissal of Appellant’s medical malpractice claim, failed to file a County entered a judgment for Appellee. Appellant subsequently appealed this decision to the Circuit Court of Shelby County, which dismissed Appellant’s cause for lack of jurisdiction. We reverse the circuit court’s decision and remand for further proceedings. Tenn. R. App. P. 3; Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit

State of Tennessee v. Sheila Teresa Gaye Bobadilla and Benjamin Bernal Bobadilla
E2003-02369-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge James E. Beckner

The defendants, husband and wife Benjamin Bernal Bobadilla and Sheila Teresa Gaye Bobadilla, were each charged by the Greene County Grand Jury with possession of more than .5 grams of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver, a Class B felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. Following the trial court's denial of their motions to suppress, Benjamin Bobadilla pled guilty to the indicted offenses in exchange for an effective eight-year sentence as a Range I, standard offender, and Sheila Bobadilla pled guilty to facilitation of possession of cocaine with the intent to sell or deliver, a Class D felony, and the misdemeanor drug paraphernalia count of the indictment in exchange for an effective three-year sentence as a Range I, standard offender. Pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37(b)(2), both defendants reserved identical certified questions of law; namely, whether the search warrant and accompanying affidavit issued for their home violated the United States and Tennessee Constitutions as well as Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(c). Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

State of Tennessee, Department of Children's Services v. K.L.K.
E2003-2452-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Judge Suzanne Bailey

This appeal by K.L.K. (“Mother”) challenges the Juvenile Court’s conclusion that there was clear and convincing evidence to terminate Mother’s parental rights on three statutory grounds, and further challenges that there was clear and convincing evidence that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in her daughter’s best interest. We conclude there was no clear and convincing evidence to terminate Mother’s parental rights on two of the three grounds relied upon by the Juvenile Court, but that there was clear and convincing evidence to support the third ground. However, we also conclude there was no clear and convincing evidence that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the best interest of the child. The judgment of the Juvenile Court is, therefore, reversed.

Gregory Woods v. Dover Elevator Systems,
W2003-01548-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Larry B. Stanley, Jr., Sp. J.
Trial Court Judge: Dewey C. Whitenton, Chancellor
The Employer/Appellant contends: (1) that the trial court erred in determining that the Employee's injury was a compensable exacerbation of a pre-existing injury or condition without additionally finding an advancement, anatomical change, or an actual progression of the underlying disease; and (2) that the trial court erred in finding that the Employee gave proper notice of an injury to his neck and shoulder; and (3) that the trial court's award of forty-five percent (45%) permanent partial disability to the body as a whole was excessive and not supported by a preponderance of the evidence. As discussed herein, the panel has concluded that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.

James Walter Young v. Nashville Electric Service
M2003-00020-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Allen W. Wallace, Sr. J.
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle, Chancellor
. James Walter Young ("Employee") has appealed the trial court's decision in this case which held that Employee had failed to carry his burden of proof as to causation. The trial court denied workers' compensation benefits. As discussed below, the panel has concluded that the judgment of the Chancery Court should be affirmed.

State of Tennessee v. Calvin Reeves
M2002-02976-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Allen W. Wallace

Following a revocation hearing, the trial court revoked the probation of Defendant, Calvin Reeves, and ordered him to serve the remainder of his sentence in confinement. Defendant does not appeal the revocation of his probation but argues that the trial court erred in imposing a sentence of confinement instead of an alternative form of sentencing. After a thorough review of the record in this matter, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

In Re: A.M.T., Z.T.R. and K.W.T.
M2003-02926-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge Frank Clement, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Betty Adams Green

Two children were placed in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services because of the mother’s inability to provide stable and sanitary housing. The Department established permanency plans whereby the mother would obtain and maintain stable and sanitary housing, pay child support, attend parenting classes, work with Homemaker Services to learn how to keep the home clean, obtain a parenting assessment, and undergo counseling for her mental health issues. A third child was born while the mother’s other two children were in the Department’s custody. This child was born prematurely and required extensive hospitalization and was also placed in the Department’s custody. The Department filed a petition to terminate the mother’s parental rights as to all three children, which the juvenile court granted on the grounds of abandonment due to failure to pay child support, failing to comply with the permanency plans and persistent conditions. We reverse the juvenile court’s finding of abandonment, but affirm the termination of parental rights based on persistent conditions and failure to comply with the permanency plan. We also affirm the juvenile court’s finding that termination of the mother’s parental rights is in the best interests of the children.

In Re: A.M.T., Z.T.R. and K.W.T. - Concurring
M2003-02926-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Judge Betty Adams Green

I concur in the judgment that clear and convincing evidence establishes abundant grounds for the termination of the parental rights of the mother in  this case and further establishes that it is in the best interests of the  children to terminate her parental rights.

David Blurton and wife, Virginia Blurton, v. Grange Insurance & Casualty Company
W2003-01177-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor George R. Ellis

This is a declaratory judgment action to establish coverage under an insurance policy. The  plaintiffs’ home was insured by a homeowners policy with the defendant insurance company. The insurance company canceled the policy for nonpayment of the premium and claimed that it mailed a notice of cancellation to the insureds at that time. Six months later, the plaintiffs’ home was damaged by fire, and they filed a claim on their policy. The insurance company denied the claim. The plaintiffs filed this lawsuit to recover on the policy, asserting that they never received the cancellation notice, and that the insurance company did not properly cancel the policy. At trial, the insurance company representative testified about the company’s customary routine of sending cancellation notices, and it was undisputed that the insurance agent and the mortgagees received notices. The trial court held in favor of the plaintiffs based on, among other things, its determination that the insurance company did not prove that it had mailed a cancellation notice to the plaintiffs. The insurance company now appeals. We reverse, finding that the evidence preponderates in favor of a finding that the cancellation notice was mailed to the plaintiffs.
 

State of Tennessee v. Carl E. Muncey, A/K/A, Boo Muncey
E2003-02314-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Phyllis H. Miller

A Sullivan County Criminal Court jury convicted the defendant, Carl E. Muncey, of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of Alprazolam, Class A misdemeanors, and the trial court sentenced him to eleven months, twenty-nine days for each conviction and fined him a total of $2,500. The trial court ordered that the defendant serve his sentences for the possession of cocaine and marijuana convictions consecutively and that all of the convictions be served consecutively to Washington County sentences. The defendant appeals, claiming (1) that the trial court improperly applied enhancement and mitigating factors; (2) that the trial court erred by ordering consecutive sentencing; and (3) that the trial court erred by denying his request for alternative sentences. We conclude that the trial court properly sentenced the defendant relative to the lengths, manner of service, and consecutive nature of the offenses in this case. However, we conclude that the trial court erred in ordering these sentences to be served consecutively to the Washington County sentences, and we remand the case for modification of the judgments by deleting any reference to the Washington County cases.

Estate of Robert Samuel Reed, Deceased, Richard Gossum, Administrator C.T.A., John R. Reed v. R. S. Reed and Sons, Inc.
W2003-00210-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor George R. Ellis

This case arises from the Estate’s suit to recover a debt from defendant Corporation. The parties reached an agreement regarding payment of the debt, and the trial court entered a consent order reflecting the terms of this agreement. Appellant then filed a rule 60.02 motion for relief from the consent order. The lower court denied the motion, finding that Appellant was not a party of record in the suit and, accordingly, had no standing to challenge the judgment. We affirm.
 

State of Tennessee v. Latosha S. Martin, Alias Latosha S. Johnson
E2003-02663-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz

The appellant appeals from an order revoking her probation. After review, we conclude that the violations of probation conditions were supported by a preponderance of the evidence and affirm the trial court's judgment.

Yasmond Fenderson v. State of Tennessee
E2003-02995-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Richard R. Baumgartner

The petitioner contends that the trial court erred in dismissing his petition for writ of error coram nobis. We conclude that the trial court did not err in finding that the petition is time barred and the petitioner has not advanced any grounds for which the statute of limitations should be tolled. We affirm the dismissal by the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Marsha Yates
E2003-01900-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Phyllis H. Miller

Following a revocation hearing, the trial court revoked the probation of Defendant, Marsha Karen Yates, and ordered her to spend the remainder of her sentence in confinement. On appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion in revoking her probation. After a careful review of the record in this matter, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Nashville Lodging Co. v. Metric Partners Growth Suite Investors, L.P.
M2002-02356-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.

Nashville Lodging Company and G.P. Credit Company, LLC appeal the action of the trial court in which the trial judge having previously granted Appellants' motion for summary judgment as to liability in this breach of contract action decided all issues as to damages in favor of Appellees. We affirm the action of the trial court.

Mary Rachel Brown Williams v. Jeweline R. Crenshaw
CH-01-0197-1
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Walter L. Evans

Plaintiff brought suit on a defectively executed joint will, arguing that, despite its infirmities as a testamentary instrument, it is still enforceable as a contract for the benefit of a third party. In her suit, Plaintiff sought to recover certain property, purportedly covered by the defective joint will, that Decedent had devised to Defendant in a subsequent will. The lower court granted Defendant’s motion for summary judgment, finding that the defective joint will does not constitute an enforceable contract. For the following reasons, we affirm.

Melanie Sue Gibson v. Ernestine W. Francis
E2003-02226-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Richard R. Vance

This tort action arises out of a two-vehicle accident. At trial, the defendant Ernestine W. Francis admitted liability. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff Melanie Sue Gibson for property damage in the amount of $6,900; however, the jury declined to award her any damages on her claim for personal injuries. On appeal, the plaintiff argues that the trial court did not properly perform its role as thirteenth juror; that the verdict is contrary to the weight of the evidence; and that the trial court erred when it re-instructed the jury in response to a question from that body. We affirm.

Gregor Nadler v. Mountain Valley Chapel Business Trust
E2003-00848-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Telford E. Forgety, Jr.

Gregor Nadler ("the plaintiff") took a default judgment in the amount of $68,270.98 against Gerald H. Lucas ("Mr. Lucas") in a Florida proceeding. The judgment survived Mr. Lucas's subsequent bankruptcy filing. The plaintiff domesticated his judgment in Tennessee and then filed suit against, inter alia, the Mountain Valley Chapel Business Trust and Mr. Lucas, claiming (1) that Mr. Lucas had engaged in a fraudulent conveyance when he formed the trust and (2) that the trust was his alter ego. Following a bench trial, the court dismissed the plaintiff's complaint. From this judgment, the plaintiff appeals, challenging the trial court's rulings with respect to his fraudulent conveyance and alter ego claims. In addition, the plaintiff raises an evidentiary issue. We affirm.

Ruby Tuesday, Inc. v. Gerald Largen
E2003-01795-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Retired Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Frank V. Williams, III

This case started out as a dispute over the title to a twenty to thirty-five foot wide strip along a state highway. The Chancery Court of Roane County held that the defendant held the title, but that the plaintiff had an access easement over the property. The defendant asserts on appeal that the Court erred because the plaintiff never claimed an easement in its pleadings and that the Court simply created one. The plaintiff asserts that the Court erred in finding that the defendant held the title to the property. We affirm.

State of Tennessee v. Charles Keith
E2003-01721-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Phyllis H. Miller

The appellant, Charles Keith, was convicted by a jury in the Sullivan County Criminal Court of one count of possession of marijuana and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. The trial court sentenced the appellant to consecutive sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days confinement in the county jail, to be served at seventy-five percent. On appeal, the appellant challenges the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress evidence seized as a result of an investigatory stop of his vehicle. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.