Vanderbilt University vs. Pamela Henderson
M1998-00929-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Thomas W. Brothers
This appeal involves a dispute between Vanderbilt University and one of its graduates arising out of two student loans. After the former student stopped repaying the loans, Vanderbilt University filed suit in the Davidson County General Sessions Court seeking to recover the principal and interest due, collection costs, and attorney's fees. The general sessions court awarded Vanderbilt University a $9,056.43 judgment. The former student perfected a de novo appeal to the Circuit Court for Davidson County. Following a bench trial, the trial court awarded Vanderbilt University a $5,051.56 judgment and established an installment payment plan for the judgment. The former student asserts on this appeal that Vanderbilt University was not entitled to a judgment against her because of its failure to comply with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the requirements of the federal student loan program and because she has fully repaid her loans. We have concluded that the record supports the trial court's decision and, therefore, affirm the judgment.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Ricky McElhaney vs. State
01C01-9806-CR-00247
Trial Court Judge: Seth W. Norman

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Melissa Roberts
01C01-9806-CR-00238

Sumner Court of Criminal Appeals

Stuart Bowden vs. Memphis Bd. Ed.
02A01-9807-CH-00217
Trial Court Judge: C. Neal Small

Shelby Court of Appeals

B.C.I. vs. City of Memphis
02A01-9709-CH-00238
Trial Court Judge: C. Neal Small

Shelby Court of Appeals

State vs. Robert P. Thurman
01C01-9806-CC-00253

Maury Court of Criminal Appeals

Morgan vs. Driskill
03A01-9802-CV-00079

Jefferson Court of Appeals

City of Cleveland vs. Bradley County .
03A01-9804-CV-00140

Bradley Court of Appeals

Beason vs. Beason
03A01-9809-CV-00314

Knox Court of Appeals

Nicely vs. John Doe
03A01-9810-CV-00322

Campbell Court of Appeals

Coleman vs. Coleman
03A01-9810-CV-00329

Cumberland Court of Appeals

Cochran vs. Lowe
03A01-9809-CV-00292

Court of Appeals

State vs. Paul & Galvin
03A01-9807-CV-00233

Carter Court of Appeals

Clark vs. Clark
03A01-9807-CH-00224

Knox Court of Appeals

Burns vs. Burns
03A01-9806-CH-00190

Bradley Court of Appeals

Lee vs. Strickland
03A01-9806-CH-00195

Monroe Court of Appeals

O3A01-9810-CV-00355
O3A01-9810-CV-00355

Jefferson Court of Appeals

Carlos L. Acevedo vs. State
01C01-9711-CR-00541

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Lon Walker
01C01-9711-CR-00535
Trial Court Judge: Leon C. Burns, Jr.

Putnam Court of Criminal Appeals

State vs. Edward L. Samuels
01C01-9803-CR-00145

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Kennedy vs. Holder et al
01A01-9805-CV-00242
Trial Court Judge: Buddy D. Perry

Franklin Court of Appeals

Bowman vs. Midstate Finance Co.
01A01-9808-CH-00424
Trial Court Judge: W. Charles Lee

Bedford Court of Appeals

Julia Leach Bryan vs. James Leach
M1998-00922-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Jim T. Hamilton
This case involves post-divorce disputes over alimony and child support and issues of contempt of court. The father commenced this appeal after the trial court declined to modify or terminate his alimony obligation and awarded the mother more than $50,000 in child support arrearages and, later, found the father in contempt of court and ordered him to pay a fine of $100 per day until all judgments were paid to the mother. On appeal, the father argues that his alimony obligation should have terminated or decreased, that a portion of his child support payments should be placed in trust for the benefit of the children, and that the trial court erred by fining him for contempt. We affirm the trial court's orders but modify the fine imposed upon the father.

Maury Court of Appeals

Julia Leach Bryan vs. James Leach
M1998-00922-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Jim T. Hamilton
This case involves post-divorce disputes over alimony and child support and issues of contempt of court. The father commenced this appeal after the trial court declined to modify or terminate his alimony obligation and awarded the mother more than $50,000 in child support arrearages and, later, found the father in contempt of court and ordered him to pay a fine of $100 per day until all judgments were paid to the mother. On appeal, the father argues that his alimony obligation should have terminated or decreased, that a portion of his child support payments should be placed in trust for the benefit of the children, and that the trial court erred by fining him for contempt. We affirm the trial court's orders but modify the fine imposed upon the father.

Maury Court of Appeals

Billy Steagall vs. Nancy Steagall
M1998-00948-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Lee Russell
This appeal involves a post-divorce dispute regarding the custody a 15-year-old boy. In August 1997, the boy's father petitioned the Chancery Court for Marshall County to change the minor's custody because of his concern that the mother's attempt to home school the boy had undermined his education and development of social skills. The mother opposed the petition and requested an increase in child support. During the June 1998 trial, the father presented evidence raising serious questions about the progress of the child's education and development of social skills, as well as other aspects of the mother's approach to parenting. The mother presented no evidence of her own. Instead, after the close of the father's proof, she asserted that the trial court could remediate the acknowledged deficiencies without changing custody. Thereafter, the parties and the court discussed at length the provisions of a proposed remedial order, and the hearing was adjourned when the parties and the court believed they had agreed on the contents of the proposed order. Before the trial court entered the proposed order, the wife took issue with a provision requiring her to enroll the child in public school. The trial court informed the parties that it had understood that both parties had agreed to send their child to public school and that it would resume the trial if its understanding was incorrect. Rather than requesting the trial court to resume the hearing, the mother filed this appeal claiming that the trial court had infringed on her constitutionally protected right to raise her child. We have determined, in accordance with Tenn. R. App. P. 36(a), that the mother is not entitled to appellate relief because she is, in part, responsible for the error and because she failed to pursue the reasonably available steps that would have nullified the harmful effect of the error. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment.

Marshall Court of Appeals