State of Tennessee v. Latasha Akins
The Defendant, Latasha Atkins, appeals her jury conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to sell, contending the evidence is insufficient to support her conviction. We disagree and affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Dyer | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Roger V. Alexander
The Defendant, Roger V. Alexander, pled guilty to one count of possession of anhydrous ammonia, a Class E felony. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to four years in the Department of Correction. The Defendant now appeals, alleging that the trial court should have sentenced him to Community Corrections. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Humphreys | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Roger Alexander - Concurring
I join with the majority in concurring that the Defendant is not entitled to the alternative sentence of Community Corrections. The Defendant is a Range II multiple offender, possessing a criminal history evincing a clear disregard for the law and whose past efforts at rehabilitation have failed. Thus, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, he is not entitled to the presumption in favor of alternative sentencing. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-102(6). For this reason, I would affirm. |
Humphreys | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Dejuan J. Scott v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief from his second degree murder conviction, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that he received the effective assistance of trial counsel. Based on our review of the record, we conclude the petitioner failed to meet his burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. Accordingly, we affirm the post-conviction court's dismissal of the petition. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
C.B. Ragland Company v. Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc.
This case arises out of a breach of contract by the Defendant for a roof Defendant installed on Plaintiff's freezer storage facility. The case was tried before a jury, who found the Defendant had materially breached the contract between the parties and awarded Plaintiff damages in the amount of $5,655.00. Subsequently, Plaintiff filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment or, in the alternative, a motion for additur or new trial. The trial court denied the motion to alter or amend the judgment but suggested an additur increasing the award to $30,655.00, which Defendant appealed. For the following reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court. |
Davidson | Court of Appeals | |
Deborah Johnson v. Marshall Manufacturing Corp.,
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Johnson | Workers Compensation Panel | |
June Betty Williams v. Saturn Corporation
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Maury | Workers Compensation Panel | |
George D. Woodard, Jr., v. The Estate of Martha Almeda Swope Woodard, Deceased, et al.
In 1964, Mr. and Mrs. Woodard executed a Joint Last Will and Testament (the "Joint Will") which provided that the survivor would receive the decedent's entire estate in fee simple. The Joint Will further provided that, upon the death of the survivor, the survivor's estate would be divided in equal one-fourth shares among George D. Woodard ("Plaintiff"), Mr. Woodard's son from a previous marriage, and Mr. and Mrs. Woodard's three daughters. Mrs. Woodard executed a new will in 1998 (the "1998 Will"), approximately twenty years after Mr. Woodard's death. Pursuant to the terms of the 1998 Will, Plaintiff was to receive $10,000, with the remainder of Mrs. Woodard's estate to be divided equally among her three daughters. Mrs. Woodard's three daughters sought to probate the 1998 Will after she passed away. Plaintiff then filed this lawsuit claiming, among other things, that the Joint Will created a contractual obligation on the part of Mrs. Woodard to distribute her estate in accordance with the terms of the Joint Will and, therefore, Plaintiff was entitled to one-fourth of Mrs. Woodard's estate. Plaintiff sued Mrs. Woodard's estate as well as his three half-sisters, Sandra Norton, Martha Scissom, and Barbara Lambert (collectively referred to as "Defendants"). The Trial Court granted Defendants' motion for summary judgment. We conclude there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether there existed a contractual obligation on the part of Mrs. Woodard to distribute her estate according to the terms of the Joint Will. Accordingly, we vacate the judgment of the Trial Court and remand for further proceedings. |
Hamilton | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Sedrick Williams
Following a jury trial, Defendant, Sedrick Williams, was found guilty of one count of first degree murder and one count of attempt to commit first degree murder. The trial court sentenced Defendant to life imprisonment for the first degree murder conviction. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Defendant to twenty-five years imprisonment for the attempted first degree murder conviction, and ordered his sentence for attempted first degree murder to run concurrently with his sentence for first degree murder. On appeal Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. Specifically, Defendant contends that the jury misapplied the law in rejecting his defense of self-defense, and the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he acted with premeditation. Defendant also argues that the trial court's charge to the jury on flight, coupled with prosecutorial misconduct during closing argument, denied Defendant a fair trial. Defendant does not appeal his sentences. After a careful review of the record in this matter, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Knox | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Jonathan M. Light
Defendant, Jonathan M. Light, pled guilty to two counts of Class D felony burglary, one count of Class D felony theft, and one count of Class E felony theft. Pursuant to the negotiated plea agreement, he received sentences of two years for each of the Class D felonies, and one year for the Class E felony, all to be served concurrently with each other for an effective sentence of two years. Pursuant to the agreement, the manner of service of the sentence was to be determined by the trial court following a sentencing hearing. Defendant requested to serve his sentence in the Community Corrections program, but the trial court ordered the entire sentence to be served by incarceration. Defendant has now appealed this decision by the trial court. After a thorough review of the record and the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Sullivan | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Conley R. Fair v. State of Tennessee
The petitioner, Conley R. Fair, filed for post-conviction relief, alleging the ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction court summarily dismissed the petition without an evidentiary hearing and without the appointment of counsel, finding that the petition was not timely filed. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we reverse the judgment of the post-conviction court and remand for the appointment of counsel and an evidentiary hearing. |
Unicoi | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
James K. Robbins v. State of Tennessee
The Petitioner, James K. Robbins, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. 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. The petitioner has not established that the challenged judgment is void or that his sentence has expired. Accordingly, the State's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. |
Morgan | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Darcus Williams v. Metropolitan Government of
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Davidson | Workers Compensation Panel | |
In the Matter of Curtis Jason Ely
This appeal involves a state prisoner who desires to change his name for religious reasons. Even though the prisoner's petition was uncontested, the Davidson County Probate Court declined to permit the prisoner to change his name solely because he had been convicted of a felony. While we have determined that the probate court erred by denying the prisoner's petition solely because he had been convicted of a felony, we have determined that the petition was properly dismissed. |
Davidson | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Arthur Buford, III
The appellant, Arthur Buford III, was convicted by a jury of two counts of first degree murder. After being sentenced to two consecutive life sentences, the appellant presents the following issues or our review: (1) whether the trial court abused its discretion by allowing the introduction of photographic evidence of the crime scene; (2) whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain the convictions; and (3) whether the trial court properly sentenced the appellant. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Cornelius Richmond
A Shelby County jury convicted the defendant, Cornelius Richmond, of one count of robbery and three counts of forgery. The trial court ordered the defendant to serve an effective sentence of thirtythree years as a career offender. On appeal, the defendant contends: (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his statement to the police; (2) the evidence is insufficient to support his robbery conviction; and (3) the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on facilitation as a lesser-included offense. Upon review of the record and the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Shelby | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. David G. Housler
A Montgomery County jury convicted the Appellant, David G. Housler, of four counts of felony murder. Housler's convictions stem from the robbery of a Clarksville Taco Bell and the execution-style murders of four of its employees. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed four consecutive life sentences. Housler appeals, presenting the following issues for our review: (1) Whether his confessions were properly admitted into evidence when the State and the trial court knew the confessions were false and unreliable; (2) Whether the State committed prosecutorial misconduct by using the recanted testimony of Robert Eastland, Robert Dawson, and Michael Miller and by failing to inform defense counsel or the trial court that Jeremy Thompson had recanted his statement; (3) Whether he is entitled to a new trial based upon the newly recanted testimony of Larry Underhill; (4) Whether the trial court erred in denying a new trial when a juror fell asleep during the trial; (5) Whether the Mathews time-line proves his innocence; (6) Whether the State prosecuted Housler and Courtney Mathews under inconsistent theories; and (7) Whether consecutive sentencing was proper. After review, we find no error of law requiring reversal. Accordingly, we affirm Housler's convictions and the imposition of four consecutive life sentences. |
Montgomery | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
James W. Stephenson v. The Third Company, et al.
The plaintiff filed suit for repayment of $25,000 which he purportedly loaned to the defendant. The defendant contended that the money was not a loan, but was placed with him for a specific investment. Since the investment ultimately failed, the defendant claimed that he did not owe anything to the plaintiff. The trial court noted that the documents evidencing the transactions at issue were “replete with ambiguities,” but found that they were nonetheless sufficient to establish an enforceable loan contract. The court accordingly rendered a plaintiff’s judgment for $25,000 plus interest. We reverse. |
Robertson | Court of Appeals | |
James Stephenson v. The Third Company - Dissenting
I agree on both counts. The “loan agreements” are poorly drafted, and they do not reflect |
Robertson | Court of Appeals | |
Overnite Transportation v. Teamsters Local Union No. 480
This case arose out of a labor dispute. In October 1999, the defendant union began a labor strike at the plaintiff trucking company's Nashville facility. The company filed a petition in the lower court seeking to enjoin the union from engaging in violence and intimidation in connection with the strike. The company later amended its complaint to include a claim against the union for intentional interference with business relations. Between October 1999 and January 2000, the trial court entered five injunctions against the union, each more restrictive than the one before, enjoining the union from engaging in the alleged unlawful violence and intimidation. In August 2000, the trial court issued a show cause order, citing 128 alleged violations of the injunctions, requiring the union to show cause why it should not be held in civil contempt. In March 2002, the trial court determined that the company's petition for civil contempt was moot because, by that time, the contemptuous conduct had ceased. In August 2002, the trial court dismissed the company's claim for intentional interference with business relations for failure to state a claim. The plaintiff trucking company now appeals. We reverse the dismissal of the civil contempt petition, finding that the company may seek damages caused by conduct in violation of the injunctions, and affirm the dismissal of the intentional interference claim. |
Davidson | Court of Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Thomas Marion Hardin
Defendant, Thomas Marion Hardin, entered "open" pleas of guilty to two counts of sale of cocaine in an amount of 0.5 grams or more, and one count of conspiracy to sell cocaine in an amount of 0.5 grams or more. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Defendant to serve ten years as a Range I standard offender for each Class B felony conviction for sale of cocaine, and to four years to serve as a Range I standard offender to the Class C felony conviction for conspiracy. The sentences for the sale of cocaine convictions were ordered to be served concurrently with each other, and the conspiracy charge was ordered to be served consecutively to the convictions for sale of cocaine. Therefore, the effective sentence was fourteen years of confinement. In his sole issue on appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court erred by not ordering his sentence to be served in the Community Corrections Program, rather than by incarceration. After a review of the briefs of the parties and the entire record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Marshall | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Donald W. Brymer, Jr.
The Defendant, Donald W. Brymer, Jr., appeals from the Williamson County Circuit Court's revocation of his probation that he received for his guilty plea to one count of statutory rape. The Defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by revoking his probation and sentencing him to confinement. We affirm the trial court's judgment. |
Williamson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
Ricky Hill Krantz v. State of Tennessee
The Appellant, Ricky Hill Krantz, appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief by the Davidson County Criminal Court. Krantz is currently incarcerated as a result of his jury convictions for first degree felony murder and aggravated assault. On appeal, Krantz raises the single issue of whether he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. After review of the issue, the judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Carlos Salvador Angel, Jr.
The Appellant, Carlos Salvador Angel, Jr., was convicted of aggravated sexual battery by a Davidson County jury and sentenced to ten years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, Angel argues that: (1) the admission of testimony by his former girlfriend, who was not the victim in this case, was irrelevant and unduly prejudicial and (2) the ten-year sentence imposed was excessive. After review of the record, the judgment of conviction and sentence are affirmed. |
Davidson | Court of Criminal Appeals | |
State of Tennessee v. Brian Goodrich
The defendant pled guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, a Class E felony, and simple possession of cocaine, a Class A misdemeanor. The Rutherford County trial court imposed an effective one-year sentence with ninety days incarceration followed by probation. On appeal, the defendant raises two issues: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying judicial diversion; and (2) whether the trial court erred in denying full probation. We affirm the judgments of the trial court. |
Rutherford | Court of Criminal Appeals |