Dept of Children's Srvcs, vs. TLC
E2002-00699-COA-R3-CV
Trial Court Judge: Suzanne Bailey
The Trial Court terminated the mother's parental rights on statutory grounds. On appeal, we affirm the Trial Court's Judgment.

Billy Joe Smith vs. Lisa Ricel
E2001-02436-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: Thomas J. Seeley, Jr.
In this appeal from the Circuit Court for Johnson County the Appellant, Billy Joe Smith, asserts that the Circuit Court erred in denying his motion to alter or amend the Court's prior judgment dismissing his complaint for alleged violations of his civil rights upon grounds that the complaint failed to allege any causes of action other than violations of the United States Constitution. We affirm the judgment of the Circuit Court.

E2002-00442-COA-R3-JV
E2002-00442-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Thomas J. Wright

State of Tennessee v. Jason Howard Copely
E2002-00468-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz

The Defendant pled guilty to facilitation of attempt to commit especially aggravated robbery. The trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range II multiple offender to seven years in the Tennessee Department of Correction, with eleven months of the sentence to be served in the Knox County jail followed by probation for the remainder of the sentence. A probation violation warrant was subsequently issued against the Defendant, alleging that the Defendant had violated his probated sentence by leaving his residence without permission and by removing his electronic monitor. An amended probation violation warrant was later filed alleging that the Defendant had also violated his probation by committing misdemeanor theft. Following a hearing, the trial court revoked the Defendant's probation and ordered him to serve his sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. This appeal ensued. After reviewing the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Ronnie Watson
W2001-03084-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge L. Terry Lafferty

Convicted of aggravated robbery, Ronnie Watson appeals the Gibson County Circuit Court’s denial of his motion to suppress the statements he gave to a law enforcement officer shortly after the commission of the crime. We hold that the issue has been waived by Watson’s failure to include it in his motion for new trial.

State v. Richard Hale Austin
W1999-00281-SC-DDT-DD
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: C. Creed Mcginley

State v. Richard Hale Austin
W1999-00281-SC-DDT-DD
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: C. Creed Mcginley

State of Tennessee v. William R. McLeod, Jr.
M2001-03070-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

The defendant, William R. McLeod, Jr., pled guilty in the Williamson County Circuit Court to two counts of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the defendant received an eight-year sentence for each conviction with the issue of concurrent or consecutive sentencing to be decided by the trial court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered that the defendant serve his sentences consecutively for an effective sentence of sixteen years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The defendant appeals, claiming that the trial court erred in ordering consecutive sentences. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Earley Story
W2001-00529-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge John P. Colton, Jr.

The appellant, Earley Story, was convicted in the Shelby County Criminal Court of one count of selling not less than one-half ounce nor more than ten pounds of marijuana, a Class E felony. The appellant was sentenced to one year of incarceration in the Shelby County Jail, which sentence was immediately probated. On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in failing to conduct a hearing on the appellant's pro se motion alleging a failure to afford him a speedy trial; (2) whether the trial court wrongly forced the appellant to trial with unwanted counsel, which counsel were appointed without any evidence that the appellant was unable to employ counsel of his choosing; and (3) whether the trial court erred in admitting purported transcripts of tape recordings. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Carlos Bierner
E2001-01857-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.

Defendant, Carlos Bierner, was charged with aggravated sexual battery. After his trial had commenced, but prior to its conclusion, Defendant entered a plea of guilty to the lesser charge of attempted aggravated sexual battery, a Class C felony. In accordance with the negotiated plea agreement, Defendant received a sentence of eight years, as a multiple Range II offender, with the manner of service to be determined by the trial court. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court denied probation or any other form of alternative sentencing and ordered that Defendant serve the eight years in confinement, at thirty-five percent eligibility. In this appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court erred by ordering a sentence of continuous confinement. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. David D. Bottoms
M2001-02693-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The Appellant, David D. Bottoms, appeals from the Davidson County Criminal Court's order of restitution following his conviction for arson. On appeal, Bottoms argues the amount of restitution was excessive. Upon de novo review, we find that the victim did not provide sufficient evidence of his pecuniary loss for damages to the rental property. Accordingly, the amount of restitution as imposed by the trial court is modified, and the case is remanded for entry of a sentencing order in accordance with this opinion.

Terry Hardin v. Teresa Hardin
M2001-01845-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: C. L. Rogers
In this divorce action, the Trial Court classified monthly benefits paid to husband as marital property. On appeal, husband contends payments are disability benefits. We affirm.

Morris Rucker v. State of Tennessee
M2001-02020-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

On September 14, 1984, the petitioner, Morris Rucker, was convicted of three violent offenses and was sentenced to imprisonment for life plus sixty years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On June 21, 2001, the petitioner mailed from prison a petition for post-conviction relief alleging four grounds for relief. The post-conviction court dismissed the petition as being time-barred. On appeal, the petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred in dismissing his petition. Upon reviewing the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Renee Griffith v. James Griffith
M2001-02369-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Michael R. Jones
Renee Shelby Griffith ("Mother") and James Alden Griffith ("Father") were divorced in 1995. Mother originally was awarded primary physical custody of the parties' two minor children. Father later sought a change of custody. The Trial Court granted Father's motion to modify custody, finding that a material change in circumstances had occurred and that a change of custody would serve the best interests of the children. Mother appeals. We affirm, in part, and vacate, in part, and remand.

State of Tennessee v. Christopher John Eddinger
M2001-02493-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier
A Metropolitan Parks and Recreation Department officer observed the defendant, who was wearing only a T-shirt and fishnet stockings and had a spiked leather strap wrapped around his testicles, as the defendant was sitting in his car, with the door open, in a Nashville public park. The defendant was given a misdemeanor citation charging him with violating Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-511, “[p]ublic indecency - [i]ndecent exposure.” He was tried and convicted in the general sessions court, and appealed the conviction to the criminal court, where he was convicted of public indecency, a Class B misdemeanor, and ordered to pay a $500 fine. The defendant then timely appealed to this court, arguing that the evidence was insufficient, that the search of his vehicle violated his constitutional rights, that he was acquitted of public indecency in his first trial and, therefore, could not be convicted of it following the appeal, and that the testimony of the arresting officer should have been suppressed. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of conviction.

Joe Burton v. Warren Farmers Cooperative
M1999-00486-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Charles D. Haston, Sr.
This appeal involves a dispute between a farmer and a co-op over a disappointing soybean crop. The farmer filed suit against the co-op in the Circuit Court for Warren County, alleging that his crop had been damaged by the manner in which the co-op had sprayed herbicide on his fields early in the growing season. At the close of the farmer's proof, the trial court granted the co-op's motion for involuntary dismissal under Tenn. R. Civ. P. 41.02(2) after concluding that he had failed to prove his breach of contract and negligence claims. The farmer asserts on this appeal that the trial court erred by dismissing his lawsuit. We have determined that the trial court properly dismissed the farmer's complaint at the close of his proof.

State of Tennessee v. Kenneth Ray White
M2002-00125-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Burch

The Appellant, Kenneth Ray White, appeals from the sentencing decision of the Humphreys County Circuit Court denying his request for probation. In this appeal, White raises the issue of whether the trial court abused its discretion by ordering a sentence of incarceration rather than the less restrictive alternative of community corrections. After review, we find no abuse of discretion. As such, the trial court's decision is affirmed.

Insura Property & Casualty Ins. v. Terry Ashe
M2002-00374-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: C. K. Smith
This is a declaratory judgment action wherein Plaintiff insurance company seeks a declaration as to coverage under its commercial general liability insurance policy issued to Lineberry Properties, Inc. Defendant, Dewey Lineberry, and his wholly owned corporate entities, Defendants Lineberry Properties, Inc. and Lawdog Communications, LLC, sought defense and indemnity from Plaintiff insurance company relative to a defamation, libel, slander, and outrageous conduct complaint previously filed against them in the Circuit Court for Wilson County, Tennessee by Defendants, Terry and Judy Ashe. The trial court granted summary judgment to the insurance company holding that the general commercial liability policy provided no coverage as to the underlying action. We affirm the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Joseph G. Batts
M2001-00896-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The appellant, Joseph Batts, was convicted by a jury of the offense of rape. He was sentenced to a term of twelve (12) years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. In this appeal he contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the conviction for rape and that his sentence is excessive. After carefully reviewing the record as presented, we are of the opinion that the evidence is legally sufficient to support the conviction. Moreover, in the absence of a transcript of the sentencing hearing we must presume the sentence is correct. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Tamika Washington v. Federal Express Corporation
W2001-02215-WC-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Trial Court Judge: Kay S. Robilio, Judge
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employee questions the trial court's disallowance of permanent disability benefits. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the evidence fails to preponderate against the findings of the trial court. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e) (21 Supp.) Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed JOE C. LOSER, JR., SP. J., in which JANICE M. HOLDER, J., and HAMILTON V. GAYDEN, JR., SP. J., joined. Steve Taylor, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellant, Tamika Washington J. Mark Griffee and Robert B. C. Hale, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellee, Federal Express Corporation MEMORANDUM OPINION It is undisputed that the employee or claimant, Tamika Washington, suffered a work related injury when she slipped while working for the employer, Federal Express, on September 29, 1999. She received medical and temporarydisability benefits from the employer, but was denied permanent disability benefits because the treating physician found no permanent impairment and prescribed no permanent restrictions. She commenced this civil action to recover permanent disability benefits on November 16, 1999. The case was tried on August 13, 21. The trial court found that the claimant's proof failed to establish permanency by a preponderance of the evidence, but awarded medical benefits as provided by law. The claimant seeks a reversal of the denial of permanent partial benefits and an award of such benefits by this tribunal. For injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1985, appellate review is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness of the findings of fact, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(2). The reviewing court is required to conduct an independent examination of the record to determine where the preponderance of the evidence lies.

R.B. Toby v. State of Tennessee
E2000-03127-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rex Henry Ogle
The appellant filed a Motion to Vacate an Illegal Sentence. The trial judge treated the motion as a petition for post-conviction relief and dismissed the case as time barred. In this appeal, the appellant claims the actions of the trial court were erroneous. We respectfully disagree. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

James William Dash v. Howard W. Carlton, Warden
E2001-02867-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lynn W. Brown

The petitioner, James William Dash, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus which was denied by the trial court for lack of jurisdiction. In this appeal of right, the petitioner argues that the trial court clerk erroneously filed the petition in the criminal court rather than the circuit court, that his judgment of conviction is void, and that the trial court erred in the assessment of costs. The trial court's order taxing costs to the petitioner is reversed. Otherwise, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Dept of Children's Services v. Florence Hoffmeyer
M2002-00076-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Max D. Fagan

M2002-00076-COA-R3-JV-
M2002-00076-COA-R3-JV-
Trial Court Judge: Max D. Fagan

Gregory Hedges v. TDOC
M2002-00140-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Barbara N. Haynes