State of Tennessee v. Mario Ricky Orlando Printiss
W2000-03032-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree

Mario Ricky Orlando Printis appeals from his convictions of driving under the influence and evading arrest. He questions the sufficiency of the evidence that he committed Class D felony evading arrest, as opposed to the Class E form of that crime, and he complains that the trial court sentenced him too harshly. Because we are unpersuaded, we affirm the convictions and sentences imposed. Due to an omission from the DUI judgment form, however, we modify that judgment to correspond with the lower court's pronouncements at the sentencing hearing.

Obion Court of Criminal Appeals

Tony Makoka v. Wendy Makoka-Mhlanga
M2001-00363-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Muriel Robinson
A prisoner filed a petition to enforce an agreed order that granted him visitation rights with his minor daughter. The child's mother asked the trial court to dissolve the agreed order. The court found that it was not in the best interests of the child to compel her to visit her father in prison, dissolved the agreed order, and enjoined the father from engaging in activities that amounted to harassment of the mother. We affirm the trial court.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Travis Poole v. State of Tennessee
W2001-01196-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

In his petition for post-conviction relief, petitioner alleges that he received ineffective assistance of counsel, he illegally pled guilty to second degree murder, and his guilty plea was not made knowingly and voluntarily. The trial court dismissed the petition. We affirm.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Winfred Lee Faulcon
W2001-01153-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Lee Moore
The Appellant, Winfred Lee Faulcon, was convicted after a trial by jury of two offenses of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance, marijuana, with intent to sell, which stemmed from events that occurred on October 21st and November 16th of 2000. Faulcon received two consecutive eighteen-month community corrections sentences with nine months of continuous confinement in the county jail. On appeal, Faulcon raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the State's action of releasing a witness which the State had subpoenaed for trial constituted misconduct when the witness thereafter became unavailable to the defense; (2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support his convictions; (3) whether the two charges against Faulcon should have been considered as one continuing criminal enterprise and thus, would have resulted in the imposition of only one sentence; (4) whether the trial court erred in imposing a sentence in excess of the minimum necessary for class E felonies; and (5) whether the trial court erred in not imposing an alternative non-incarcerative sentence for the entire period. After a review of the record, we find that Faulcon's issues are without merit. Accordingly, the judgment of the Dyer County Circuit Court is affirmed.

Dyer Court of Criminal Appeals

Maurice Pierre Teague v. State of Tennessee
W2001-00533-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Julian P. Guinn

The petitioner was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, and his conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. In his petition for post-conviction relief, he asserted that trial counsel was ineffective. The post-conviction court dismissed the petition, following a hearing.  We affirm the order of the post-conviction court.

Carroll Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Danny Davidson
W2001-00118-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge William B. Acree

Defendant was convicted of attempted manufacture of methamphetamine. On appeal, defendant submits that the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction, and the trial court erred in not charging the jury on facilitation. We conclude the evidence was sufficient to uphold the conviction, and defendant was not entitled to an instruction on facilitation. We affirm.

Weakley Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. F. Chris Cawood
E2000-02478-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Buddy D. Perry

The Defendant was indicted for two counts of promoting prostitution and for two counts of patronizing prostitution. Following a bench trial, the Defendant was convicted of two counts of attempting to patronize prostitution, a Class C misdemeanor; sentenced to thirty days suspended; and fined $50.00 for each count. The Defendant now appeals, arguing the following: (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support the convictions; (2) that the conduct by law enforcement in this case was so outrageous as to constitute a defense; (3) that a fatal variance exists between the indicted charges and the evidence presented at trial; (4) that the trial court erred in failing to suppress the audio and video tape evidence that was introduced at trial; and (5) that the trial court erred in denying the Defendant's motion to seal the audio and video tape evidence in this case. Concluding that the evidence is insufficient to support the convictions, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and dismiss the charges against the Defendant.

Roane Court of Criminal Appeals

Erica Slaughter vs. Rosetta Rowe
E2001-00840-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Samuel H. Payne
Erica R. Slaughter ("Slaughter") sued Rosetta Rowe ("Rowe") for slander and harassment after an alleged physical altercation precipitated by Slaughter's affair with Rowe's husband. After the physical altercation, Slaughter filed assault charges against Rowe leading to her arrest. The assault charge was eventually dismissed. Rowe filed a counter-claim for malicious prosecution. Each party testified at trial to her version of the events. The Trial Court concluded neither party carried her burden of proof on her claim and dismissed the entire lawsuit. Rowe appeals, and we affirm.

Hamilton Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Christopher Charles Hall
M2001-00599-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge James K. Clayton, Jr.
The defendant pled nolo contendere to reckless homicide, a Class D felony. The defendant contends the trial court erred in refusing to grant him full probation and sentencing him to two years of split confinement, with six (6) months to be served in the county jail and the remainder served on probation. Due to the reckless nature of the killing, involving alcohol use simultaneous with the handling of weapons, we conclude the trial court did not erroneously sentence the defendant to a two-year sentence involving some form of confinement. We affirm the defendant's sentence imposed by the trial court.

Rutherford Court of Criminal Appeals

Christy Bauer vs. William Bauer
M2001-00266-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Russell Heldman
In this divorce case, the Trial Court awarded custody of the child of the parties to the mother, and awarded attorney fees to the mother. Father has appealed these awards. We affirm.

Williamson Court of Appeals

Cecelia Hutcheson v. Andrew W. Hutcheson
M2000-02340-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Arthur E. Mcclellan
On August 18, 2000, Appellant was held to be in civil contempt of court for failure to pay alimony and failure to deliver property to his former wife in compliance with the previous divorce judgment in the case. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Sumner Court of Appeals

Nicole Keeler v. Michael Keeler
M2001-00684-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Carol A. Catalano
In this divorce case, the trial court awarded the parties joint custody of their minor children, with primary physical custody awarded to the father. The mother contends on appeal that she is the more fit parent and should have been given primary custody. We affirm the trial court.

Montgomery Court of Appeals

Sylvester Young v. Leah Barrow
M2001-00876-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Marietta M. Shipley
This appeal arises out of a minor intersection accident. The complaints of the driver and passenger of one of the motor vehicles against the driver of the second motor vehicle were consolidated in the Circuit Court for Davidson County. The trial court granted a directed verdict against the plaintiff driver at the close of the plaintiffs' proof. Thereafter, the plaintiff driver filed a second lawsuit against the defendant driver and her insurer. The trial court dismissed the second suit on the ground of res judicata and granted the insurer's motion for a judgment on the pleadings. The plaintiff driver has perfected this appeal. We affirm the dismissal of his second complaint.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Mark Tinsley v. Suzanne Tinsley
M2001-02319-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Robert E. Burch
Mother sought modification of child support and a judgment against Father for contempt in the form of retroactive child support due to his failure to supply her with a yearly statement of his income as required by the final divorce decree. The trial court ordered a modification of the prospective child support, determining the amount of the obligation by averaging Father's fluctuating income for the three years prior to the hearing and awarded Mother a $54,192.00 judgment for retroactive child support during the five years that Father failed to provide his income statements to Mother. Because the trial court correctly calculated the prospective child support obligation, we affirm the amount of Father's monthly obligation in the amount of $1,300.00 from the date the petition was filed. However, because the trial court has no authority to award retroactive child support modification, we vacate the $54,192.00 judgment for retroactive child support. We remand the case for further proceedings to set reasonable attorney fees.

Cheatham Court of Appeals

Paul Ivy v. Tennessee Department of Correction
M2001-01219-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Mccoy
This appeal involves a dispute between a prisoner and the Department of Correction regarding a disciplinary proceeding at the Deberry Special Needs Facility in Davidson County. The prisoner filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County alleging the disciplinary board acted illegally, arbitrarily, and vindictively by violating the Department's Uniform Disciplinary Procedures when it disciplined him for attempted escape. The Department filed a Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12.02(6) motion to dismiss, and the trial court, citing Sandin v. Conner, 512 U.S. 472, 115 S.Ct. 2293 (1995), dismissed the petition. The prisoner has appealed. We have determined that the order dismissing the prisoner's petition should be reversed in part and that the case should be remanded for further consideration in light of Willis v. Tennessee Dep't of Corr., 113 S.W.3d 706 (Tenn. 2003).

Davidson Court of Appeals

Jeffrey Haithcote v. Donal Campbell
M2001-01828-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Mccoy
A prisoner convicted of numerous crimes filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgment, arguing that the Department of Correction had erred in its calculation of his sentence expiration date, and that he was entitled to be released. The Department stood by the correctness of its calculations. The petitioner's sentence expired during the course of the proceedings, and he was released. The trial court then dismissed the petition as moot. We affirm.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Estate of Theresa Cunningham
M2001-01965-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Floyd Don Davis
The plaintiff filed a claim against the estate of the deceased more than eighteen months after the first publication of notice to creditors and twenty months after her death. The trial court granted him a judgment against the estate for the full amount of his claim. We reverse.

Franklin Court of Appeals

William Steele v. Richard Berkman
M2001-02250-COA-R10-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
This appeal arises from a medical malpractice complaint filed by the Appellees in the Circuit Court of Davidson County against the Appellant, six other doctors, and two hospitals. The Appellant filed a motion for summary judgment. The trial court denied the Appellant's motion for summary judgment. The Appellant filed an application for extraordinary appeal with this Court pursuant to Rule 10 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. This Court granted the application for extraordinary appeal. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the trial court's denial of summary judgment against the Appellant.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Thomas Dyer v. TDOC
M2001-01446-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Thomas Dyer v. TDOC
M2001-01446-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: William C. Koch

Davidson Court of Appeals

Lisa Davis v. Charles Jensen
M2001-00973-COA-R3-CV
Trial Court Judge: Alfred L. Nations
Appellant, an incarcerated prisoner in the Department of Corrections of California, appeals the action of the Juvenile Court of Williamson County in terminating his parental rights to his biological child. He refused to participate in the termination hearing by means of telephonic communication as authorized by the trial court demanding, instead, that the trial court either continue the case until after his release from confinement, or have him transported from California to Williamson County for personal participation. The trial court held that he waived his right to participation in the termination proceedings and terminated his parental rights. We affirm the trial court.

Williamson Court of Appeals

Tony Makoka v. Howard Cook
M2001-01013-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle

Davidson Court of Appeals

Tony Makoka v. Howard Cook
M2001-01013-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle

Davidson Court of Appeals

Jack Charles Blankenship v. Donal Campbell, et al
M2001-01014-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Mccoy
This appeal involves a dispute between a prisoner and the Tennessee Department of Correction regarding the prisoner's sentence credits and eligibility for parole. The prisoner filed a petition for declaratory judgment in the Chancery Court for Davidson County requesting the correction of his sentence and an immediate parole hearing. The Department filed a motion for summary judgment based on laches. When the prisoner failed to respond to the motion, the trial court granted the summary judgment in accordance with Davidson County Local R. 26.04(c), (f). Thereafter, the trial court denied the prisoner's motion to set aside the summary judgment, and the prisoner has appealed. We have determined that the summary judgment must be vacated because the Department's motion and supporting affidavit do not demonstrate that it is entitled to a judgment on its laches defense as a matter of law.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Mark Percy v. Dept of Correction
M2001-01629-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle
This appeal involves a dispute between a multiple rapist and the Tennessee Department of Correction regarding the prisoner's sentence expiration date. The prisoner filed a petition for a declaratory order in the Chancery Court for Davidson County asserting that the Department had misclassified him and that he was eligible to be released because his sentence had expired. The Department responded with a motion for summary judgment supported by an affidavit of a sentencing technician asserting that the prisoner had been correctly classified and that his sentence had not expired. The trial court granted the summary judgment and dismissed the petition. We find that the trial court reached the correct result, and, therefore, we affirm the judgment dismissing the prisoner's petition.

Davidson Court of Appeals