Joan Oates v. Chattanooga Publishing Company d/b/a Chattanooga Times Free Press
E2005-00778-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor W. Frank Brown, III

Joan Oates (“Plaintiff”) was employed by the Chattanooga Publishing Company (“Defendant”) for approximately twenty-three years. In January of 2004, Plaintiff was observed on Defendant’s security camera making obscene gestures with her middle finger toward the camera and then covering the security camera with a cup for a period of time. Defendant terminated Plaintiff’s employment. Plaintiff filed this lawsuit alleging that she was terminated because of a disability.  Plaintiff also claimed that she was subjected to a hostile work environment and malicious harassment while employed by Defendant. Plaintiff also sued for intentional and/or negligent infliction of emotional distress. The Trial Court granted Defendant’s motion for summary judgment on all of Plaintiff’s claims. Plaintiff appeals, and we affirm.

State of Tennessee, Department of Children's Services v. D.H., et al. - Dissenting
M2004-1043-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Frank G. Clement, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Lee Davies

I concur with the legal principles set forth in the majority opinion and particularly with the recognition of the importance of affording a parent an opportunity to request appointed counsel, and when appropriate, a hearing and due inquiry on the request for appointed counsel in dependent and neglect proceedings. I, however, respectfully dissent, believing the facts, particularly those demonstrating the irresponsible acts and omissions of David H. and Mary Ellen H. in seeking appointed counsel and then retaining separate counsel, are sufficient to affirm the trial court.

In Re: Giorgianna H., Stuart H., Sabrina H., Savannah H., Victoria H., Benjamin H., & Sarahanna H. - Concurring
M2005-01697-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Lee Davies

I adhere to my longstanding view that a “preponderance of the evidence” standard and a
“clear and convincing evidence” standard are incompatible with each other and cannot be reconciled either in the trial court or in appellate courts. The effort to make these standards compatible, as asserted in Ray v. Ray, 83 S.W.2d 726 (Tenn.Ct.App.2001), and its progeny are in my view incorrect for reasons stated at length in Estate of Acuff v. O’Linger, 56 S.W.3d 527 (Tenn.Ct.App.2001) and In re Z.J.S. and M.J.P., No. M2002-02235-COA-R3-JV, filed June 3, 2003 (Tenn.Ct.App.2003-Cain, concurring).

In Re. Giorgianna H., Stuart H., Sabrina H., Savannah H., Victoria H., Benjamin H., & Sarhanna H.
M2005-01697-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Lee Davies

This appeal involves the parental rights of the biological parents of seven minor children. After the children had been removed from their biological parents’ custody for approximately one year, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services filed a petition in the Circuit Court for Perry County seeking to terminate the parental rights of the biological parents. The trial court conducted a bench trial and then entered an order terminating the biological parents’ parental rights because the conditions that caused the children to be removed from the parents’ custody continued to persist and because the parents had committed severe child abuse. Both parents appealed. We have determined that the record contains substantial and material evidence supporting the trial court’s conclusions that the biological parents’ conduct provides substantive grounds for terminating their parental rights and that the termination of the biological parents’ parental rights is in the children’s best interests.

State of Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Children's Services v. David H., et al.
M2004-01043-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Lee Davies

After a hearing, the Circuit Court declared seven children to be dependent and neglected and determined that their parents had committed severe child abuse. The parents claim on appeal that the court erred by refusing their request that counsel be appointed to represent them at the hearing.  After carefully reviewing the record, we find that the trial court failed to conduct a sufficient inquiry to determine whether or not the parents were financially able to retain their own counsel, and we accordingly vacate the order concluding that the children were dependent and neglected.

Kerry C. Lyons v. Gregory M. Lyons
W2004-02907-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rita L. Stotts

The trial court determined a material change of circumstances had occurred which warranted modification of the parties’ child visitation scheduled. Father appeals. We affirm.

State of Tennessee v. Courtney Means
W2005-00682-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.

Defendant, Courtney Means, was convicted of three aggravated robberies and sentenced to twelve years in each case, with two of the sentences to be served consecutively. On appeal, he argues that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the convictions; the trial court erred in allowing the hearsay statement of a deceased victim to be admitted as an excited utterance; and the court erred in sentencing. Following our review, we affirm the judgments.

State of Tennessee v. Michael Forrest Bandy
W2005-01977-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

The defendant, Michael Forrest Bandy, appeals his convictions of first degree felony murder and aggravated child abuse, a Class A felony. The sole issue on appeal is the sufficiency of the evidence.  Upon review, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support the convictions and affirm the same.

United Color Lab & Digital Imaging, Inc. v. United Studios
W2005-00133-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor D. J. Alissandratos

In this case we are asked to review a trial court’s decision to hold the defendant in contempt of the court’s order. After the plaintiff filed its lawsuit to recover amounts allegedly owed on certain invoices, the trial court ordered the defendant to file a sworn statement setting forth any amounts it believed it owed to the plaintiff and the “basis” for that statement. The defendant submitted the affidavit of its president who asserted that it owed nothing to the plaintiff and that plaintiff breached the parties’ contract. The defendant subsequently filed an answer denying it owed the money and filed a counter-complaint for breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, and fraud. The plaintiff filed a petition seeking to hold the defendant in contempt of the court’s order, asserting that the affidavit filed by the defendant did not set forth specific facts. The chancery court granted the motion and found the defendant in contempt of the order holding that the affidavit did not contain enough “detail” as required by the order. The defendant appealed to this Court. We reverse.

Jeff Bankston v. Hawker Powersource, Inc.
E2005-01277-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Special Judge Roger E. Thayer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant

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 dismissed the complaint by sustaining a motion for summary judgment. The court held the
employee’s injury did not occur in the course of employment. The judgment is reversed and the case is remanded.

Donna G. Blanton v. CVS Tennessee Distribution, Inc.
E2005-01436-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Special Judge Roger E. Thayer
Trial Court Judge: Chancello Daryl R. Fansler

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 awarded plaintiff 100 percent permanent disability. On appeal, the employer contends the
evidence does not support a finding of total disability and that the trial court was in error in accepting the testimony of a doctor who looked at the Second Edition of the AMA Guides in an attempt to give a numerical number of impairment for a Class 2 psychiatric injury when the Fifth Edition of the Guides did not contain a numerical rating. We affirm the judgment.

State of Tennessee v. Janis Sue Watson and Albert Eugene Brooks
E2004-02145-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge James E. Beckner

Janis Sue Watson and Albert Eugene Brooks, the co-defendants, were convicted of first degree premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder, a Class A felony. Each co-defendant received concurrent sentences of life in prison and twenty years, respectively. The co-defendants’ consolidated appeals address both the convictions and sentences. Having found no reversible error, the convictions and sentences of both co-defendants are affirmed.

James L. Williams, et al. v. Jordan Lee Fox
E2004-03027-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rex Henry Ogle

James L. Williams, Brenda G. Williams, Charles Roberson, and Marjorie Roberson (“Plaintiffs”) sued Jordan Lee Fox (“Defendant”) claiming, in part, that Defendant was constructing a mobile home/modular home in the Oma Lee Williams subdivision in violation of the subdivision restrictions. Plaintiffs sought, among other things, a restraining order prohibiting Defendant from constructing and completing the mobile home/modular home. The case proceeded to trial. The Trial Court entered an order finding and holding, inter alia, that the structure in question is a modular home and that under existing case law Defendant was in violation of the subdivision restrictions.  The Trial Court awarded Plaintiffs a permanent injunction and ordered Defendant to remove the structure. Defendant appeals to this Court claiming, in part, that the existing case law upon which the Trial Court based its decision dealt with double wide or manufactured homes, not modular homes. We affirm.

Health Cost Controls, Inc. v. Ronald Gifford
W2005-01381-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor William M. Maloan

This is not the first time this case has been on appeal. In this appeal, we are asked to determine if the chancery court erred when it found that an insured individual was made whole by a settlement agreement with a third party tortfeasor so as to require the insured to reimburse his insurer.  Specifically, Appellant contends that the chancery court erred in finding that the insured was not made whole because it failed to use the formula method used by federal courts for determining whether an insured is made whole and failed to engage in an analysis of the dollar amounts of the insured’s recovery and losses. We reverse and find that the insurer is entitled to reimbursement from the insured.

Tennessee Farmers Life Reassurance Company v. Linda S. Rose, et al. - Dissenting
E2005-00006-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Frank V. Williams, III

I respectfully dissent from majority’s decision to affirm the Trial Court’s grant of summary judgment. I would reverse the Trial Court’s grant of summary judgment.

Tennessee Farmers Life Reassurance Company v. Linda S. Rose, et al.
E2005-00006-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Frank V. Williams, III

Tennessee Farmers Life Reassurance Company (“Tennessee Farmers”) brought this interpleader action seeking judicial guidance as to the person or persons entitled to receive benefits under a policy of insurance insuring the life of Brenda Gail Langley (“the deceased”). The deceased designated three of her four children and a grandchild as the beneficiaries of the policy; however, prior to the deceased’s death, her sister, Linda Sue Rose, acting under her authority as attorney in fact for the deceased, changed the beneficiary of the policy to herself. After the death of the deceased, Ms. Rose, the three children, and the deceased’s grandchild, Ethan E. Langley, all asserted rights to the proceeds of the subject policy. The trial court granted summary judgment to the deceased’s children and grandchild, finding that they were entitled to the proceeds because – as found by the trial court – Ms. Rose did not have the authority under the deceased’s power of attorney to change the beneficiary on the policy. Ms. Rose appeals. We affirm.

State of Tennessee v. Albert Jones
W2004-02554-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. C. McLin

The defendant, Albert Jones, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of first degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. In this direct appeal, he argues that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a first degree murder conviction and the trial court erred by denying his request for a special jury instruction on the State’s burden of proof. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee, ex rel., Dana Monique Smith v. John Newton Ford
W2005-00564-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Harold W. Horne

The trial court awarded Petitioner child support for one child in accordance with the child support guidelines. Respondent appeals, asserting the trial court erred by failing to deviate from the child support guidelines. We affirm.

State of Tennessee v. Timothy Wade Davis - Dissenting
E2003-02162-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner

State of Tennessee v. Timothy Wade Davis
E2003-02162-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner

We granted the defendant permission to appeal to consider whether the exact copy requirement of Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(c)1 applies to an affidavit that has been incorporated by reference into a search warrant. Upon consideration, we hold that the exact copy requirement expressly applies to search warrants only and does not apply to incorporated affidavits. The record supports the trial court’s finding that the defendant a copy of the search warrant was “identical in every respect” to the original search warrant. Furthermore, even if the exact copy requirement expressly applied to affidavits, we would conclude, as did the Court of Criminal Appeals, that the insignificant differences between the original affidavit and the defendant’s copy of the affidavit do not warrant suppression of the evidence. For these reasons, we affirm the judgments of the trial court and Court of Criminal Appeals.

State of Tennessee v. Ricky Lynn Norwood, Alias
E2005-00704-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Richard R. Baumgartner

This state appeal, initially filed as a Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 3 appeal, is deemed by this court an interlocutory appeal pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 10. The state seeks review of the Knox County Criminal Court’s determination that, in the on-going driving under the influence (DUI) prosecution of the defendant, Ricky Lynn Norwood, a 1997 DUI conviction may not be used to enhance punishment. Because the record and the applicable law support the trial court’s ruling, we affirm the order.

State of Tennessee v. Steven Rollins - Concurring and Dissenting
E2003-01811-SC-DDT-DD
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolopho A. Birch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge R. Jerry Beck

State of Tennessee v. Steven Rollins
E2003-01811-SC-DDT-DD
Authoring Judge: Chief Justice William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Judge R. Jerry Beck

The defendant, Steven James Rollins, was convicted of premeditated murder, felony murder, and especially aggravated robbery. The trial judge merged the felony murder conviction with the premeditated first degree murder conviction. Upon conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the jury found that the State had established beyond a reasonable doubt the following five aggravating circumstances: (1) the defendant was previously convicted of one or more felonies, other than the present charge, whose statutory elements involve the use of violence to the person; (2) the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel in that it involved torture or serious physical abuse beyond that necessary to produce death; (3) the murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding, interfering with, or preventing a lawful arrest or prosecution of the defendant or another; (4) the murder was knowingly committed, solicited, directed, or aided by the defendant, while the defendant had a substantial role in committing or attempting to commit, or was fleeing after having a substantial role in committing or attempting to commit, any robbery; and (5) the victim of the murder was seventy (70) years of age or older. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-204(i)(2), (5), (6), (7), (14) (1999). After further finding that these aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury imposed a sentence of death.

The defendant appealed, challenging both his conviction and sentence of death.¹ The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed. The case was automatically docketed in this Court. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-206(a)(1). Thereafter, this Court entered an order specifically requesting that the parties address the following three issues at oral argument:² (1) whether the interrogation of the defendant by the sheriff’s officers after his arrest violated the defendant’s state and federal constitutional rights to counsel such that the trial court erred by refusing to suppress the defendant’s statements; (2) whether the trial court erred in refusing to allow the defendant to call his codefendant, Greg Fleenor, to the witness stand to invoke his privilege against self-incrimination in the jury’s presence; and (3) whether the mandatory review provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-206(c)(1) require reversal of the defendant’s death sentence.³ Upon thoroughly considering these and all issues raised by the defendant, the record on appeal, and the relevant authority, we affirm the defendant’s conviction of first degree murder and sentence of death.

Teresa A. Carpenter v. Timothy P. Klepper, et al.
M2004-02951-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ross H. Hicks

Plaintiff filed a medical malpractice action against doctor and his employer. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Defendants. Plaintiff appealed the admission into evidence of expert testimony offered by two physicians under the locality rule and the award of certain discretionary costs. The judgment of the trial court is reversed and the case remanded for a new trial.

Donna J. Overman v. Altama Delta Corporation - Dissenting
W2005-00794-SC-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Chief Justice William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor James F. Butler