03C01-9501-CR-00004
03C01-9501-CR-00004
Trial Court Judge: James E. Beckner

03C01-9501-CR-00027
03C01-9501-CR-00027

03A01-9509-CV-00320
03A01-9509-CV-00320

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Jack Layne Benson vs. State
M1999-01649-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Trial Court Judge: W. Charles Lee
The petitioner, Jack Layne Benson, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. Convicted in 1996 of first degree felony murder and especially aggravated robbery, and sentenced to consecutive terms of life and 24 years, the petitioner contended that he was entitled to post-conviction relief on the grounds that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal. In this appeal, the petitioner argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately communicate, for failing to adequately investigate, and for failing to obtain a transcript of the preliminary hearing. The petitioner argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to present additional issues on direct appeal. Because the petitioner has been unable to establish both deficiency in the performance of his counsel and prejudice in consequence thereof, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

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State of Tennessee v Carla Jo Fitch - Concurring
01C01-9209-CC-00290
Authoring Judge: Judge Penny J. White
Trial Court Judge: Judge William Charles Lee

I concur with Judge Cornelius' reversal of this case, but write separately to address other issues.

State of Tennessee v. Darryl Gene Farmer
01C01-9409-CC-00328
Authoring Judge: Judge William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Judge Charles D. Haston

The appellant, Darryl Gene Farmer, appeals as of right pursuant to Rule 3 (b) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure from his conviction of murder in the first degree following a jury trial in the Circuit Court for Warren County. The appellant was sentenced to life in prison. In this appeal he presents five (5) issues for our review.

(1) Whether the evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find the appellant guilty of first degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt;
(2) Whether the indictment against the appellant was invalid because of irregularities in the selection of the venire and/or the presence of an unauthorized individual during grand jury proceedings;
(3) Whether certain statements made by the prosecuting attorneys during closing argument constituted prosecutorial misconduct;

(4) Whether the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence statements made by the appellant on the night of his arrest;
(5) Whether the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence statements made by the decedent.

After a thorough review of the record in this case, the applicable law, and arguments of counsel, we conclude that with regard to issues one (1) through three (3) no reversible error appears in this case. However, because the record is inadequate with regard to whether the appellant’ s right to counsel was violated during police questioning, we remand the case for further factual findings on issue number four (4). We conclude that error exists with regard to issue number five (5).

State of Tennessee v. Arnold V. Porter
01C01-9410-CC-00353
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Gerald L. Ewell, Sr.

The defendant, Arnold V. Porter, appeals from a jury conviction in the Circuit Court of Coffee County for two counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, a Class E felony. The defendant received two two-year sentences as a Range I, standard offender to be served concurrently in addition to a fine of twenty-five hundred dollars in each count. In this appeal as of right, he presents the following issues:

I. whether the evidence is sufficient to support guilty verdicts for felony reckless endangerment,
II. whether he was denied a fair trial because the jury did not represent a fair cross-section of the community,
III. whether the trial court imposed an excessive sentence, and
IV. whether the trial court abused its discretion in raising his bond pending appeal.

State of Tennessee vs. Carla Jo Fitch
01C01-9209-CC-00290
Authoring Judge: Special Judge Allen R. Cornelius, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Charles Lee

A Lincoln County jury convicted Carla Jo Fitch of murder in the first degree. The trial court approved the verdict and imposed a sentence of life in the Tennessee State Penitentiary for Women. Her motion for a new trial was denied, and she has appealed to this Court. The defense presents four main issues, of which the first three issues have sub-issues.

Shade T. Underwood, Jr. v. Governor Ned Ray McWherter - Concurring
01-A-01-9508-CV-00360
Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Trial Court Judge: Judge Walter C. Kurtz

This is an appeal by petitioner/appellant, Shade T. Underwood, Jr., from the trial court's dismissal of his petition for declaratory judgment and violations of civil rights. The sole issue presented by petitioner is "[w]hether the trial court properly dismissed the petition for want of prosecution."

Jack Keller, Jordan S. Keller, v. Colgems-EMI Music, Inc., Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc., EMI Music Publishing, Inc.
01A01-9505-CV-00212
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Judge Walter C. Kurtz

On June 28, 1994, Plaintiff Jack Keller sued the defendants in the Davidson County Circuit Court claiming a breach of fiduciary duty by fraudulently failing to disclose the contents of a contract amendment signed in 1960. Jordan Keller, to whom a part of the contract rights had been assigned, joined his father as plaintiff.

Explosive Specialists Inc. v. Whaley Construction Co., Inc., - Concurring
03A01-9509-CH-00305
Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor David H. Cate

In this action, plaintiff was awarded judgment for work performed under a contract, and defendant has appealed, insisting that plaintiff did not perform in accordance with the agreement between the parties.

Gordon Burks, v. Belz-Wilson Properties, a joint venture, comprised of Belz Investment Company, et al.
02A01-9411-CV-00254
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Judge James M. Tharpe

Appellant, Gordon Burks, (Burks) brought this negligence action against Appellee, Pride Construction Company, Inc., (Pride) and various other defendants, in the Circuit Court of Shelby County. Pride's motion for summary judgment was granted and, from that judgment, Burks appeals.

Penny Campbell, et al., v. Don Sundquist, Governor of the State of Tennessee, et al. - Partially Dissenting
01A01-9507-CV-00321
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell

I respectfully dissent from part I of the majority opinion holding that the appellants have standing to maintain this action under the Declaratory Judgment Act. In my opinion this case does not involve present rights that have accrued under presently existing facts. See Dobbs v. Guenther, 846 S.W.2d 270 (Tenn. App. 1992).

Exchequer 1982-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership, et al., v. Charles R. Miller, Jr., Citizens Bank of Tennessee and William A. Thorne
01A01-9502-CH-00072
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Vernon Neal

This case comes before us as an interlocutory appeal pursuant to T.R.A.P. 9. The 1This suit was originally filed by a total of fifteen limited partnerships. The claims of the five Keystone Partnerships; to wit: Keystone 1983-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; Keystone 1983-2 Oil an Gas Drilling Partnership; Keystone 1984-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; Keystone 1984-2 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; and Midco 1983-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership, are not at issue in this appeal. 2 Appellant, Citizens Bank of Tennessee (hereinafter "Citizens"), appeals the chancellor's denial of its Motion for Summary Judgment against the Plaintiffs below, a group of ten
limited partnerships; to wit: Exchequer Associates Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership 1982-1; Exchequer 1983-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; Exchequer 1983-2 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnerships; Exchequer Synergy 1983-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; First Energy 1983-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; First Energy 1984-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; Overlord 1983-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; Overlord II 1984-1 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; Overlord III 1984 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership; and Overlord IV 1984 Oil and Gas Drilling Partnership (hereinafter "Partnerships").1

Indian Hills Club Homeowner's Assn., Inc., v. Clayton L. and Cindy Cooper - Concurring
01A01-9507-CH-00319
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Judge Charles Hill Beaty

Indian Hills ClubHomeowners' Association ("Plaintiff"), filed suit against Clayton and Cindy Cooper ("Defendants"), seeking an injunction prohibiting Defendants from building a driveway extension/parking pad and walkway onto their property. The trial court granted Plaintiff a permanent injunction, holding that the proposed construction would violate certain restrictions of record that prohibited any construction or improvements without approval from the Board of Directors of the Indian Hills  Homeowners' Association. Defendants have raised three issues for our consideration: (1) whether the Plaintiff's denial of Defendants' application and approval rested upon a lawful and legitimate basis; (2) whether the  Board's decision to deny the application was an arbitrary and capricious exercise of control; and (3) whether it would be unfair and inequitable to enforce the restrictive covenant. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the decision of the trial court and order that the injunction be dissolved.

03C01-9304-CR-00135
03C01-9304-CR-00135

02A01-9408-CH-00184
02A01-9408-CH-00184
Trial Court Judge: Joe C. Morris

Donald L. Mott, Murl Kennamore, and K & M. Petroleum Corp., v. D. Dean Graves and Security Title Insurance Co., Inc.
02A01-9410-CH-00244
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor John Hill Chisolm

Appellant D. Dean Graves ("Graves") appeals the chancellor's decision requiring 2 Graves to specifically perform a contract by purchasing an $85,000 parcel of real estate offered for sale by the Appellees, Donald L. Mott ("Mott") and Murl Kennamore ("Kennamore").

02A01-9501-CH-00007
02A01-9501-CH-00007
Trial Court Judge: Joe C. Morris