Kevin Abston v. State of Tennessee
The Petitioner, Kevin Abston, appeals the Lauderdale County Circuit Court’s denial of his pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court’s judgment pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Following our review, we grant the State’s motion and affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Lauderdale | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Marvin Anthony Matthews v. State of Tennessee
The Petitioner, Marvin Anthony Matthews, appeals the Circuit Court of Lake County’s denial of his pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus. The State has filed a motion requesting that this Court affirm the trial court’s judgment pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Following our review, we grant the State’s motion and affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Lake | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Benjamin Murrell
A Shelby County jury convicted appellant, Benjamin Murrell, of criminal attempt to commit voluntary manslaughter and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. The trial court sentenced him to an effective sentence of eighteen years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Appellant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions. After reviewing the record, the parties’ briefs, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
In Re: Jarrel X.W.
This is a termination of parental rights case in which Guardian, along with Custodial Parent, sought to terminate the parental rights of Father to the Child. Following a hearing, the trial court terminated Father’s parental rights, finding that Father abandoned the Child by failing to visit and by failing to provide child support and a suitable home; that the conditions which led to removal persisted; and that termination of Father’s parental rights was in the best interest of the Child. Father appeals. We affirm the termination of Father’s parental rights. |
Anderson | Court of Appeals | |
Sarah White v. Target Corporation
This appeal involves claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and misappropriation of image. The plaintiff, a customer of the defendant store, brought clothing into the store’s dressing room to try it on. While in a state of undress in the dressing room, the customer noticed in the reflection of her dressing-room mirror a globe on the store ceiling that appeared to contain a surveillance camera. Store employees initially told the customer that the globe contained a camera, but a store manager later told the customer that the ceiling globe did not contain a camera. Eventually, the plaintiff customer filed this lawsuit against the defendant store, seeking damages for, inter alia, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and misappropriation of image. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant store. The plaintiff now appeals. We reverse, finding that the standard for summary judgment under Hannan v. Alltel Publishing has not been met in this case. |
Shelby | Court of Appeals | |
In Re: Estate of Fred Crumley, Sr.
The Bureau of TennCare filed a petition to open Fred F. Crumley, Sr.’s estate in order to file a claim against the estate for medical assistance rendered. The court appointed an administrator, and the Bureau of TennCare filed a claim. Administrator argued that the statute of limitations barred recovery on any claim filed by the Bureau of TennCare. The trial court agreed with Administrator and dismissed the claim. The Bureau of TennCare appeals. We reverse the decision of the trial court. |
Hamilton | Court of Appeals | |
In Re: Drako J. M. & Skyler B. M.
The parents of two young children agreed to give the paternal grandparents custody of the children. The grandparents subsequently filed a petition for termination of their parental rights on the ground of abandonment, and for adoption. The father agreed to surrender his rights during the hearing on the termination petition, but the mother insisted that she had not abandoned her children. The trial court terminated the parental rights of both parents on the ground of abandonment by willful failure to pay financial support in the four months prior to the filing of the petition for termination. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(1). Mother appealed. She acknowledges that she failed to pay support during the relevant period, but she insists that her failure was not willful. We affirm the trial court. |
Sumner | Court of Appeals | |
Gary Clarke v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Acting by and through Electric Power Board as Nashville Electric Service
An employee of NES married a co-worker’s daughter and was found by the NES civil service board to be in violation of the utility’s nepotism policy that precluded related employees from working in the same “section.” The employee sought judicial review, and the trial court reversed the administrative decision. We affirm the trial court’s judgment because the administrative decision was arbitrary and capricious. |
Davidson | Court of Appeals | |
The State of Tennessee in its own behalf and for the use and benefit of the Government of Nashville and Davidson County v. Delinquent Taxpayers, etc.
Purchaser of condominium at delinquent tax sale sought excess funds remaining after taxes and court costs had been paid. Purchaser prepared a Quitclaim Deed that transferred Taxpayer’s title and redemption rights in property to Purchaser. Purchaser next prepared a Deed of Correction that corrected the spelling of Taxpayer’s name, but that also included a clause purporting to transfer to Purchaser Taxpayer’s right to the excess funds. Purchaser then prepared an Assignment of Excess Funds Payout that also purported to transfer Taxpayer’s right to the excess funds to Purchaser. Trial court awarded excess funds to Taxpayer rather than to Purchaser after finding there was no meeting of the minds and that Purchaser failed to carry his burden of proving he provided consideration for Taxpayer’s conveyance of the excess funds to him. Purchaser appealed and we affirm the trial court’s judgment. We conclude there was no consideration for the Assignment of Excess Funds Payoutand that the Deed of Correction is unenforceable because it is beyond the expectations of an ordinary person for a document titled Deed of Correction to transfer a right to receive $14,000 of excess funds to a purchaser of property. |
Davidson | Court of Appeals | |
Edna H. Irwin v. Christopher Martin Anderson
Plaintiff received serious injuries in an automobile accident, when she turned left in front of the oncoming vehicle operated by defendant. The suit resulted in a jury trial wherein the jury returned a verdict for defendant, which was approved by the Trial Judge. On appeal, we affirm the Trial Judge's Judgment. |
Anderson | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Michael R. Malone
The defendant, Michael R. Malone, pled guilty to reckless endangerment, a Class E felony, and was sentenced to two years in the Department of Correction, to be served consecutively to a prior three-year sentence for which he was on community corrections at the time he committed the present offense. On appeal, he argues that the trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentencing. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Franklin | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Joshua M. Faulk
The defendant, Joshua M. Faulk, appeals the revocation of his community corrections sentence and reinstatement of his original ten-year sentence for aggravated burglary, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion in finding that he violated the terms of his sentence based on new charges of theft and vandalism. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Rutherford | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
In Re The Estate of Roslyn F. Karesh
This appeal involves claims against a decedent’s estate. After claims were filed against the decedent’s estate, the co-executors filed exceptions to the claim and attached a letter previously sent to the claimant discussing their objections to the claims. The probate court held that the co-executors had excepted to the claims only on the basis of timeliness, and that objections in the attached letter would not be considered additional exceptions. The co-executors argued that the claims were void and unenforceable irrespective of whether exceptions were filed; the probate court did not expressly rule on this contention. The claims against the estate were found to be timely filed, so the claims were reduced to judgments against the estate without a hearing on their merits. The co-executors appeal. We affirm in part and remand for findings of fact and conclusions of law under Rule 52.01 on the issue of whether the claims against the estate are unenforceable or void on their face. |
Court of Appeals | ||
State of Tennessee v. Mack Broussard
A White County Criminal Court Jury convicted the appellant, Mack Broussard, of first degree premeditated murder, and the trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment. On appeal, the appellant contends that the trial court erred by (1) failing to instruct the jury on self-defense; (2) failing to redact the portion of the appellant’s statement to police in which he said he was on probation at the time of the crime; and (3) allowing a State witness to give a speculative opinion about the appellant’s motive for the killing. Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
White | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Jason Clinard v. State of Tennessee
The Petitioner, Jason Clinard, appeals the Stewart County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his conviction of first degree premeditated murder and resulting life sentence. On appeal, he contends that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s agreeing to transfer his case from juvenile to circuit court. Based upon the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court. |
Stewart | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Kevin Michael Jordan v. A.C. Enterprises, Inc., A/K/A Dipstick, Inc.
Plaintiff's action for retaliatory discharge resulted in a jury verdict in favor of plaintiff and an award of $120,000.00. Defendant appealed. We affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court upholding the jury verdict. |
Greene | Court of Appeals | |
In Re: Leland C.L.
This is a termination of parental rights case involving the biological father, David R. (“Father”), of the minor child, Leland C.L. The child was taken into custody on June 14, 2010, at two months of age, due to the biological mother’s drug use and the fact that he tested positive for opiates and hydrocodone at birth. The Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”) filed a Petition to Terminate Parental Rights naming the father as a respondent on January 7, 2011. Following a bench trial, the Court granted the Petition upon finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that the father had abandoned the child by failing to provide a suitable home for him, and also that the father was in substantial noncompliance with his permanency plans. The Court further found that termination was in the child’s best interest. The father appeals. We affirm. |
Anderson | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Denny McAbee
The petitioner, Denny McAbee, pled guilty in the Davidson County Criminal Court to aggravated burglary. The trial court sentenced the petitioner to fourteen years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a motion to set aside his guilty plea, which the trial court denied. On appeal, the appellant challenges the trial court’s ruling. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
David Avery v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, David Avery, appeals the Davidson County Criminal Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The petitioner was convicted of aggravated robbery, especially aggravated robbery, reckless endangerment, and attempted second degree murder and was sentenced to an effective term of forty-nine years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he contends that he was denied his right to the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal. After reviewing the record, we must conclude that the petitioner failed to establish his claim. Accordingly, the denial of relief is affirmed. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Howard Lavelle Tate
The defendant, Howard Lavelle Tate, was convicted of two counts of the sale of over 0.5 grams of a schedule II controlled substances, both Class B felonies, possession of over 26 grams of a schedule II controlled substance with intent to sell, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. The defendant received an effective sentence of forty-seven years. The defendant challenges his convictions, asserting that the trial court erred by (1) admitting evidence seized from his home without a search warrant; (2) admitting evidence that was improperly preserved with no established chain of custody; (3) allowing the State to present inconsistent evidence regarding the substance sold; (4) allowing the State to add an additional count to the indictment; and (5) ordering consecutive sentences. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that the trial court erred in denying the motion to suppress and the evidence seized as the result of the unlawful search should have been excluded from consideration by the jury. Therefore, the convictions that resulted therefrom, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and possession of schedule II controlled substance with intent to sell are reversed and remanded. The defendant’s convictions on two counts of sale of over 0.5 grams of schedule II controlled substance and sentences are affirmed. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Betty Lou Lawing v. Greene County EMS, et al
In this action the defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the grounds the statute of limitation had run on plaintiff's cause of action. The Trial Court overruled the Motion on the grounds that the tolling provisions in Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-20-201(c) was applicable to GTLA actions and granted permission to appeal pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 9. On appeal, we hold that the tolling provision does not apply because the statute did not expressly extend it to GTLA actions. |
Greene | Court of Appeals | |
IN RE J.C.H., J.C.H., and J.C.H.
This appeal involves the termination of the parental rights of a mother and father as to their three children. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services became involved after it was reported that the father sexually abused the parties’ older daughter. Initially, the children were permitted to stay in the mother’s custody under a protection agreement and a restraining order which prohibited the father from any contact with the children. In violation of both, the mother and father fled the state with the children. As a result, the children were taken into protective custody. In the ensuing dependency and neglect proceedings, the children were found to be the victims of severe child abuse by both the father and the mother, and this finding was not appealed. The father eventually pled guilty to attempted aggravated sexual battery of the child. The Department filed this petition to terminate the parental rights of both parents. The trial court found several grounds for termination, including severe child abuse and abandonment by failure to support, and terminated the parental rights of both parents. The mother and father now appeal. We reverse the finding that the father abandoned his children by failure to support, but affirm all other grounds for termination and affirm the termination of the parental rights of both parents. |
Hardin | Court of Appeals | |
City of Knoxville v. The City of Knoxville Pension Board, et al.
This appeal in a writ of certiorari action arises from a dispute over the authority of a pension board. The City of Knoxville (“the City”) filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Knox County (“the Trial Court”) challenging an action by the City of Knoxville Pension Board (“the Pension Board”). The City alleged that the Pension Board exceeded its authority in allowing a number of employees (“the Respondents”) to select a new retirement plan option despite the fact that the Respondents already had made their onetime selection for a different and now less attractive retirement plan option. Knoxville voters previously had rejected by referendum an ordinance that would have given the Respondents this opportunity for a new selection. The Pension Board argued that it merely was correcting an inadvertent error that had disadvantaged the Respondents. The Trial Court held that the Pension Board exceeded its authority and reversed the actions of the Pension Board. The Respondents appeal to this Court. We affirm the judgment of the Trial Court in its entirety. |
Knox | Court of Appeals | |
Sarah Hurst v. Colman S. Hochman, et al.
Sarah Hurst (“Hurst”) sued Colman S. Hochman (“Hochman”) and Hochman Family Partners, L.P. (“the Partnership”) alleging that Hochman had committed a battery upon her, and seeking damages for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress among other things. After a trial, the Trial Court entered its Final Decree that, inter alia, awarded Hurst damages of $2,500 against Hochman for battery; denied Hurst’s claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, and punitive damages; and dismissed Hurst’s claims against the Partnership. Hurst appeals raising issues regarding whether the Trial Court erred in denying her claim of discrimination under the Fair Housing Act and in dismissing her claims against the Partnership. We affirm. |
Hamilton | Court of Appeals | |
Ralph Wadkins & wife, Julia Wadkins v. Tanya Wadkins
This is a grandparent visitation case, in which Mother appeals the trial court’s award of specific visitation to Appellee grandparents under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 36-6306. Specifically, Mother argues that the trial court incorrectly determined that she opposed visitation, that she had failed to rebut the presumption of substantial harm under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 36-6-306(b)(4),and that grandparent visitation was in the children’s best interests. Discerning no error, we affirm. |
Montgomery | Court of Appeals |