Lesley LaPointe Walker v. Kenneth Wayne Walker
M2004-00159-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Judge Muriel Robinson

Appellant was held in criminal contempt of court for failure to pay alimony. We affirm the action of the trial court and find the appeal to be frivolous.

Davidson Court of Appeals

James Saffles, et al. v. Roger Watson, et al.
E2004-002599-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant

The Chancery Court granted Rule 11 sanctions against James Saffles and Connie Saffles (“Plaintiffs”)1 based upon their actions and the resulting delay that occurred after the filing by Roger Watson and Tammy Watson (“Defendants”) of a motion seeking Rule 11 sanctions. We hold that the imposition of Rule 11 sanctions on the grounds relied on by the Chancery Court was error, vacate the grant of Rule 11 sanctions, and remand for a reconsideration of Defendants’ motion for Rule 11 sanctions and a determination of whether the imposition of Rule 11 sanctions is proper based on the grounds raised in the Rule 11 motion.

Monroe Court of Appeals

Sandra Mae Fain v. CNA Insurance Company, et al.
M2004-00260-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Trial Court Judge: Judge Clara Willis Byrd

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 plaintiff’s right hand was drawn into a machine and squeezed. She suffered a minor laceration with perhaps soft-tissue injury. She had no apparent serious injuries, and lost no time, not even one day, from her job. Expert testimony focused on a loss of grip strength. The trial judge found 65 percent permanent partial disability, and 65 percent permanent impairment. Reduced to 27.5 percent.

Wilson Workers Compensation Panel

State of Tennessee v. Eddrick Johnson
W2004-01250-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. C. Mclin

The defendant, Eddrick Johnson, originally charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, was convicted of two counts of facilitation of aggravated robbery. The trial court merged the convictions and imposed a Range II sentence of seven years. In this appeal of right, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence and argues that he was improperly sentenced as a Range II offender. The judgment is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Patrick John Marshall
W2004-01593-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roger A. Page

The defendant, Patrick John Marshall, entered pleas of guilt to one count of possession of cocaine with intent to sell and one count of possession of marijuana in exchange for an effective sentence of twelve years, to be served on community corrections. The trial court later revoked the community corrections sentence and, after a sentencing hearing, imposed a Range II sentence of twenty years' incarceration. In this appeal, the defendant asserts that the sentence is excessive. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Rickie Reed v. State of Tennessee
W2004-01878-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

The petitioner, Rickie Reed, appeals from the trial court's denial of post-conviction relief. The single issue presented for review is whether the petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. The judgment is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Kent Ousley v. David Mills, Warden
W2004-02078-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

The petitioner, Kent Ousley, appeals the trial court’s denial of his petition for habeas corpus relief.  The single issue presented for review is whether the petition was properly dismissed. The judgment is affirmed.

Lauderdale Court of Criminal Appeals

Joe H. Kelly v. Frito Lay, et al.
W2004-00297-SC-WCM-CV
Authoring Judge: Special Judge Martha B. Brasfield
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor D.J. Alissandratos

This workers’ compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, Joe Kelly, the employee, insists that the trial court erred in finding that he sustained no permanent disability from his work-related injury. The Panel has concluded that the judgment of the trial court should be reversed. Further, the Panel finds that Mr. Kelly has sustained a vocational impairment of 16% to the body as a whole due to his injury and that Mr. Kelly should receive future medical expenses in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204.

Shelby Workers Compensation Panel

Henry L. Cage v. Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance Company of America, et al.
W2004-01669-SC-WCM-CV
Authoring Judge: Special Judge Carol L. McCoy
Trial Court Judge: Circuit Judge D'Army Bailey

This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer contends that the trial court erred by finding that the employee’s lung condition was causally related to his employment, by ignoring evidence that the employee omitted his pre-existing condition on his employment application and failed to give proper notice of his work related injury, and by finding that the employee was permanently and totally disabled and holding that the employer was liable for both the employee’s pre-existing sarcoidosis and aggravated asthmatic condition. For the reasons set out below, the Panel has concluded that the judgment of the trial court is affirmed, with costs assessed against the employer.

Henry Workers Compensation Panel

State of Tennessee v. LeShaun Norwood
M2003-00541-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stella L. Hargrove

A Maury County Circuit Court jury found the appellant, LeShaun Norwood, guilty of second degree murder, and the trial court sentenced him to twenty-five years in the Department of Correction (DOC). In this appeal, the appellant claims (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction, (2) that the trial court erred by refusing to suppress his confession to police, and (3) that the trial court erred by admitting prejudicial photographs into evidence. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Maury Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Joseph Wilson
M2003-02151-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Michael R. Jones

Defendant was indicted for evading arrest, a Class E felony, in count one; for carjacking, a Class B felony, in count two; for reckless endangerment of Officer Billy Moyer, a Class E felony, in count three; for reckless endangerment of Officer Joe MacLeod, a Class E felony, in count four; for driving on a canceled, suspended or revoked license, subsequent offense, a Class A misdemeanor, in count five; and resisting arrest, a Class B misdemeanor, in count six. Following a jury trial, Defendant was found guilty of Class E felony evading arrest, carjacking, reckless endangerment of Officer Moyer, and driving on a revoked license in counts one, two, three and five. Defendant was found not guilty of reckless endangerment of Officer MacLeod and resisting arrest in counts four and six. The trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range II, multiple offender, to two years for the felony evading arrest conviction, twelve years for the carjacking conviction, two years for the reckless endangerment conviction, and eleven months, twenty-nine days for the driving on a revoked license conviction. The trial court ordered Defendant to serve his sentences concurrently for an effective sentence of twelve years. On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions for carjacking and reckless endangerment, and that the trial court erred in not instructing the jury on robbery and theft of property as lesser included offenses of carjacking. Following a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Robertson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Wesley Earl Brown
M2003-02804-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The defendant, Wesley Earl Brown, was convicted of two counts of rape of a child, a Class A felony, and three counts of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony, and was sentenced to twenty-five years for each rape conviction, to be served consecutively, and ten years for each sexual battery conviction, to be served concurrently but consecutively to the rape convictions, for a total effective sentence of sixty years. On appeal, he argues: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; (2) the trial court erred in admitting evidence of prior bad acts; and (3) the trial court erred in sentencing. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Cheryl Smith Graves v. Richard C. Graves, Sr.
E2004-02141-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Richard R. Vance

The sole issue on this appeal is whether the trial court erred in holding that Cheryl Smith Graves ("Wife") is not entitled to post-judgment interest on alimony due her under her judgment of divorce from Richard C. Graves, Sr. ("Husband"), which judgment was entered December 3, 2001, nunc pro tunc August 24, 2001. The trial court premised its judgment on its finding that "[Wife] ha[d] been obstructive in the conclusion of this matter." We hold that Wife is entitled to interest on all alimony payments to the extent that those payments were not timely made. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.

Cocke Court of Appeals

Tyrone D. Conley v. State of Tennessee
E2004-02480-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lynn W. Brown

The petitioner, Tyrone D. Conley, pled guilty in the Washington County Criminal Court to second degree murder, and he was sentenced to twenty years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a "Constitutional Challenge to Vacate Invalid Sentence." The trial court dismissed the petition, finding that if the document was a petition for post-conviction relief, it was time-barred. Further, the trial court determined that if the document was a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, the petitioner did not allege that his judgment was void. On appeal, the petitioner contests the trial court's dismissal of his petition. Upon our review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Washington Court of Criminal Appeals

Gregory Christopher Fleenor v. State of Tennessee
E2004-00943-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge R. Jerry Beck

The petitioner, Gregory Christopher Fleenor, pled guilty in the Sullivan County Criminal Court to first degree felony murder and especially aggravated robbery, and the trial court sentenced him to concurrent sentences of life and fifteen years respectively. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging (1) that he received the ineffective assistance of trial counsel and (2) that his guilty pleas were not knowingly and voluntarily entered. After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court dismissed the petition, and the petitioner now appeals. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

Michael D. McDade v. State of Tennessee
M2004-02493-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. O. Bond

The petitioner, Michael D. McDade, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that his guilty plea was unknowing and involuntary and he was denied the effective assistance of trial counsel. Following our review, we affirm the post-conviction court's denial of the petition.

Wilson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Cecil E. Anderson
M2004-02100-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

The defendant was indicted on one count of aggravated robbery (a Class B felony). Following a jury trial, he was convicted of the lesser included offense of robbery (a Class C felony) and was sentenced as a career offender to fifteen years in the Department of Correction. Upon the grant of a delayed appeal, the defendant challenges: (1) the sufficiency of the identification evidence; and (2) whether his confession was sufficiently corroborated so as to establish the corpus delicti. After careful review of the record, the briefs, and applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Williamson Court of Criminal Appeals

Raymond A. Clark v. State of Tennessee
W2004-02503-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Arthur T. Bennett

The Petitioner, Raymond A. Clark, appeals the trial court's denial of his motion to reopen his post-conviction petition/petition for habeas corpus relief. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal
Appeals. Because Petitioner has failed to allege a ground for relief which would render the judgment void, we grant the State's motion and affirm the judgment of the lower court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Cedrick Mitchell v. State of Tennessee - Concurring
M2004-00861-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stella L. Hargrove

I agree with the result reached by the majority. It is my view, however, that the petitioner is not attacking the revocation of his probation, which, as the majority correctly points out, is not permitted. It is my understanding that the petitioner claims that he would not have entered guilty pleas to the two misdemeanor charges if he had known that he was not eligible for boot camp. He also claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to determine in advance of his plea that it was the policy of the Department of Correction to arbitrarily exclude from boot camp those offenders who had originally been charged with aggravated robbery by the use of a deadly weapon.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

Cedrick Mitchell v. State of Tennessee
M2004-00861-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stella L. Hargrove

Petitioner, Cedrick Konard Mitchell, appeals from the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. In his appeal, Petitioner contends that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with the negotiation and entry of Petitioner's best interest guilty plea to the charges of assault and driving on a suspended license, and that his guilty plea was not knowingly or voluntarily entered into. After a careful review of the record in this matter, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

Vernon McBride, Jr., et al. v. Barbara Kate Sumrow
W2004-01086-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Martha B. Brasfield

This is a will construction case. The decedent died testate in May 2002. In his will, he left certain properties in trust for the benefit of his spouse during her lifetime. The will detailed how the properties were to be distributed in the event his spouse predeceased him. The will did not state how the remainder interest in the properties was to be distributed in the event his spouse survived him.  The decedent was survived by his spouse. The co-executors filed a declaratory judgment action to interpret the will. The trial court ruled that the decedent died partially intestate, with the remainder interest in the specific properties passing through the laws of intestate succession. The co-executors of the trust appealed, arguing that the there was an error in the drafting of the will and that the decedent would have wanted the properties to be distributed in the same manner, regardless of whether his spouse predeceased him. We affirm, finding that, under these circumstances, the will Ccannot be reformed and the property must pass through the laws of intestate succession.

Lauderdale Court of Appeals

Dale Anthony Scott, et al. v. Marion Yarbro, et al.
W2004-00746-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Ron E. Harmon

This appeal involves the ownership of a parcel of real property held by tenants-in-common. After reviewing the trial court’s order and the record, we have determined that the trial court’s order does not constitute a final judgment. Accordingly, this appeal is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, and the case is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.

Decatur Court of Appeals

Elton Lee Hudson v. The Aerostructures Corp., et al.
M2003-03091-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge Donald P. Harris
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. O. Bond

This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer asserts that the trial court erred in awarding to the employee eighty-five (85%) percent permanent partial disability to the right and left hands as a result of an injury sustained during the course of his employment with Aerostructures Corp. We conclude that the evidence presented does not preponderate against the findings of the trial judge and, in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated §50-6-225(e)(2), affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Wilson Workers Compensation Panel

Bernard L. Graff, et al. v. Walnut Place Subdivision Homeowners' Association, Inc.
E2004-01757-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William H. Inman, Sr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge O. Duane Slone

Two members of a homeowners' association, the governing body of a planned unit development, filed this complaint alleging that the association, a corporation, was in contempt of the court for its refusal to allow the plaintiffs to inspect corporation records. The trial judge declined to find the corporation in contempt. We affirm.

Jefferson Court of Appeals

In Re: Estate of Joe Mack Russell, Deceased
E2004-0765-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Sharon G. Lee
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Richard E. Ladd

In this appeal, the Plaintiff argues that the trial court abused its discretion in dismissing his suit to contest a will and contends that the trial court should have held the case in abeyance instead. Upon motions of the Plaintiff, the trial court had continued trial of the will contest on two prior occasions to times requested by the Plaintiff. Given this finding and further findings that the Plaintiff never requested that the case be held in abeyance and that the Plaintiff neither filed a motion that the case be continued from the date of trial nor notified the trial court beforehand that he would not be present at trial, we affirm the judgment of the trial court and remand.

Sullivan Court of Appeals