State of Tennessee v. Anthony Harville
M2015-02116-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge John D. Wootten, Jr.

Defendant, Anthony Harville, was convicted of three counts of the sale of a Schedule II controlled substance and received an effective sentence of fifteen years.  Defendant appeals his convictions, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and his sentence.  After a review, we affirm the convictions and sentences.

Smith Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Mandricuss Lashon Robertson
M2015-01935-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

Defendant, Mandricuss Lashon Robertson, pled guilty to twelve counts of aggravated burglary and an agreed-upon effective sentence of twenty years as a Range II, multiple offender in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining twenty-three counts of the presentment.  The trial court denied an alternative sentence after a lengthy sentencing hearing.  Defendant now appeals.  After a review, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in imposing a sentence involving incarceration.  Accordingly, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Randall Boaz
M2015-01532-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Russell Parkes

Defendant, Randall Boaz, appeals his Giles County conviction for reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.  His single issue on appeal is a claim of insufficient evidence that he used his vehicle as a deadly weapon.  Upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Giles Court of Criminal Appeals

Jorge A. Alfonso, et al. v. Linda V. Bailey, Executrix and Personal Representative of the Estate of Robert M. Bailey, et al.
E2015-02100-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Telford E. Forgety, Jr.

This appeal stems from a foreclosure. Jorge A. Alfonso and Madelyn Alfonso (“Plaintiffs”) defaulted on their mortgage on real property owed to CitiMortgage, Inc. (“Citi”). Plaintiffs wanted to effectuate a short sale in order to avoid foreclosure. However, certain real estate investors (“Defendants”) attended the foreclosure sale, bid on, and purchased the property. Plaintiffs sued Defendants and Citi in the Chancery Court for Sevier County (“the Trial Court”), alleging in part that Defendants knew that Plaintiffs and Citi were engaged in discussions to complete a short sale but purchased the property anyway. The Trial Court granted Citi’s motion to dismiss finding that Citi had the right to pursue foreclosure even if it was in talks with Plaintiffs to conduct a short sale. Plaintiffs do not appeal that order. The Trial Court later granted a motion to dismiss claims against the remaining Defendants. Plaintiffs appeal to this Court. We find and hold that Plaintiffs have stated no cause of action against the remaining Defendants. We affirm the judgment of the Trial Court.

Sevier Court of Appeals

Amanda Peters-Asbury, et al v. Knoxville Area Transit, Inc.
E2015-01816-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Arnold B. Goldin
Trial Court Judge: Judge William T. Ailor

This is a Governmental Tort Liability Act (GTLA) case involving a plaintiff who fractured her ankle when she fell exiting a bus owned and operated by the defendant. The plaintiff filed this lawsuit alleging that the defendant negligently caused her fall by dropping her off in a dangerous location and/or causing the bus to move as she exited. Following a non-jury trial, the trial court found that the defendant did not negligently drop the plaintiff off in an unsafe location but did negligently cause the bus to move as she exited. The trial court assessed liability against the defendant and awarded the plaintiff $101,969.30 in damages. The defendant timely appealed. Having thoroughly reviewed the record, we hold that the evidence adduced at trial does not support the trial court’s finding that the bus was moving as the plaintiff exited. We therefore reverse the judgment of the trial court.
 

Knox Court of Appeals

Shango Aton Ramsey v. State of Tennessee
E2015-01464-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ben W. Hooper, II

Shango Aton Ramsey (“the Petitioner”) appeals the Cocke County Circuit Court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The Petitioner contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel in connection with his guilty plea and that the State withheld evidence pursuant to Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1962). Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Cocke Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Rodney Love
M2015-02074-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steve R. Dozier

The Appellant, Rodney Love, appeals as of right from the Davidson County Criminal Court’s denial of his Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1 motion to correct an illegal sentence.  The Appellant contends that the trial court erred in concluding that Rule 36.1 relief was not available because the alleged illegal sentence had long ago expired.  Following our review, we affirm the trial court’s denial of the Appellant’s Rule 36.1 motion.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kari Diane Speck
M2016-00254-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Trial Court Judge: Judge Gary McKenzie

Appellant, Kari Diane Speck, appeals the denial of her motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1.  Because Appellant has failed to state a colorable claim that her sentences are illegal, the decision of the trial court is affirmed.

Putnam Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Edward Allen Carter
E2015-01212-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Steven W. Sword

The defendant, Edward Allen Carter, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to sell within a drug-free zone, possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of an item with a defaced serial number, evading arrest, and driving on a suspended license, and he reserved certified questions of law relative to the validity of the city ordinance that formed the basis of the traffic stop which led to his arrest. Because the certified questions are overbroad and fail to meet specificity requirements, the appeal is dismissed.

Knox Court of Criminal Appeals

Robert Harold Douglas v. Susan Mercedes Douglas
W2015-02044-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge J. Steven Stafford
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Carma Dennis McGee

In this divorce proceeding, Husband appeals from the trial court’s classification of an account as Wife’s separate property. On appeal, Husband asserts that the account is marital property based on the doctrine of transmutation. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Benton Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Marcus Hampton
W2015-00780-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee V. Coffee

The Defendant, Marcus Hampton, appeals from the Shelby County Criminal Court’s denial of his petition to suspend the remainder of his effective four-year workhouse sentence for his convictions of aggravated assault and evading arrest. Because he has failed to show facts supporting an alteration of the sentence in the interest of justice, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Ashli Fallon Bryan v. Billie Dee Miller
M2015-00550-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Arnold B. Goldin
Trial Court Judge: Judge Ross H. Hicks

At issue in this case is the custody of a minor child. Although the child had previously been in the physical custody of his maternal grandmother pursuant to a temporary order, the child’s mother regained custody after the grandmother failed to show that the child would be subjected to substantial harm if returned to the mother. We affirm.

Montgomery Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Bryant M. Hunt
W2015-02249-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald H. Allen

The defendant, Bryant Montrell Hunt, pled guilty to one count each of arson, aggravated burglary, and vandalism of property over $500. The plea agreement provided the defendant would be sentenced as a Range I, standard offender. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court denied the defendant’s request for alternative sentencing and imposed the maximum sentences of six years for arson, six years for aggravated burglary, and two years for vandalism over $500, to be served concurrently in confinement. On appeal, the defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion for alternative sentencing. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Adrian Delk v. State of Tennessee
W2015-01246-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.

Petitioner, Adrian Delk, appeals from the post-conviction court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief and from its dismissal as time-barred of his petition for writ of error coram nobis based on newly discovered evidence. Following a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the post-conviction court and remand for entry of a corrected judgment in Case No. 13-05543 to reflect the correct code sections.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Terron Kinnie
W2015-00943-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

Defendant, Terron Kinnie, was indicted by the Madison County Grand Jury for two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, and one count each of aggravated burglary and aggravated assault. Defendant filed a motion to suppress a statement he gave to the police, arguing that his statement was not voluntarily given. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court granted Defendant's motion to suppress, finding that Defendant's statement was coerced. The State filed a motion seeking permission to file an interlocutory appeal under Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, and it was granted. Upon a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Jennifer L. Al-Athari, et al v. Luis A Gamboa, et al
M2015-00278-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Trial Court Judge: Judge Thomas W. Brothers

In the second appeal of this case, Plaintiffs seek reversal of orders awarding damages to Defendants for Plaintiffs’ prosecution of a frivolous appeal and denying motions for relief from orders which served as the basis of the first appeal. Finding no error, we affirm the judgments. We have also concluded that this appeal is frivolous and remand for the trial court to determine the amount of damages which Defendants are entitled to pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 27-1-122.

Davidson Court of Appeals

In Re: Ryder R.
M2015-02461-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Sharon Guffee

This case involves the termination of a mother’s parental rights to her son. The trial court found that two statutory grounds for termination were proven by clear and convincing evidence – abandonment by willful failure to support and persistence of conditions. The trial court also concluded that termination of the mother’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest. We conclude that there is not clear and convincing evidence of either ground for termination relied upon by the trial court. Therefore, we reverse the termination of the mother’s parental rights.  

Williamson Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee David Allen Jackson
E2015-02033-CCA-R9-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge James F. Goodwin, Jr.

The Defendant, David Allen Jackson, was arrested without a warrant for driving under the influence (DUI), a Class A misdemeanor; failure to exercise due care while driving, a Class C misdemeanor; and failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility, a Class C misdemeanor. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-8-136, -10-401, -12-139. Over a year after the Defendant's arrest, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and agreed to have his case bound over to the grand jury. The grand jury subsequently indicted the Defendant for the misdemeanor offenses listed above as well as two counts of reckless aggravated assault, a Class D felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-102. After the grand jury returned the indictment, the Defendant filed a motion in Sullivan County Criminal Court seeking to dismiss the misdemeanor charges. The Defendant argued that the affidavit of complaint filed following his arrest was void and that prosecution had not commenced with respect to the misdemeanor charges until after the applicable statute of limitations had expired. The trial court granted the Defendant's motion to dismiss the misdemeanor charges. The State sought and was granted an interlocutory appeal of the trial court's decision. On appeal, the State contends that the fact that the affidavit of complaint was sworn before a notary public rather than a qualified judicial officer was a mere “technical defect” that should not render it void. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Sullivan Court of Criminal Appeals

Tommy L. Harris v. State of Tennessee
W2015-02132-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Robert Carter Jr.

The pro se petitioner, Tommy L. Harris, appeals the post-conviction court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief and/or his petition for a corrected judgment, arguing that the court erred by summarily dismissing the petition without an evidentiary hearing or the appointment of counsel. Following our review, we affirm the dismissal of the petition.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Anthony Dewayne Blaylock v. State of Tennessee
W2015-01560-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

The petitioner, Anthony Dewayne Blaylock, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that he received effective assistance of trial counsel. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court denying the petition.

Madison Court of Criminal Appeals

Vincent Sims v. Wayne Carpenter, et al
M2014-00687-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Trial Court Judge: Judge Russell T. Perkins

Capital defendant brought a declaratory judgment action seeking to enjoin his execution, asserting that he meets the statutory criteria of being intellectually disabled and, therefore, is ineligible to be sentenced to death. Defendants, the warden of the institution where he is incarcerated and the Tennessee Attorney General, moved to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction, that the suit was barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity, and that the suit failed to state a claim for relief. The trial court granted the motion and dismissed the case. Finding no error, we affirm the holding of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Tyrone Chalmers v. Wayne Carpenter, et al
M2014-01126-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Trial Court Judge: Judge Russell T. Perkins

Capital defendant brought a declaratory judgment action seeking to enjoin his execution, asserting that he meets the statutory criteria of being intellectually disabled and, therefore, is ineligible to be sentenced to death. Defendants, the warden of the institution where he is incarcerated and the Tennessee Attorney General, moved to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction, that the suit was barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity, and that the suit failed to state a claim for relief. The trial court granted the motion and dismissed the case. Finding no error, we affirm the holding of the trial court.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Lee Stack, III v. Joann Valerie Stack
M2014-02439-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Trial Court Judge: Senior Judge Walter C. Kurtz

This appeal arises from post-divorce efforts to modify custody and child support established in a Montana divorce. After the divorce, the mother and the child moved to Tennessee. Although the father was living in Montana, he filed a petition to modify parenting time and child support and for other relief in Tennessee. The trial court found a material change in circumstance sufficient to modify the residential parenting schedule and that modification would be in the child’s best interest. The trial court also found a significant variance between the Montana child support amount and the amount presumed under the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines and modified the child support order. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to modify the Montana custody determination but did have authority to enter a temporary order enforcing visitation. We also find that, although the court had jurisdiction to modify the Montana child support order, the court incorrectly calculated the mother’s gross income and failed to credit the father for his payment of the child’s health insurance premium. Therefore, we vacate and remand with instructions to dismiss the Father’s petition to the extent it seeks modification of the parenting time. To the extent Father seeks to enforce visitation with his child, we affirm the specific visitation schedule ordered by the trial court and remand for the court to set a time for expiration of the temporary visitation schedule. To the extent the petition seeks to modify child support, we vacate and remand for a calculation of child support in accordance with the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines and this opinion.

Williamson Court of Appeals

In Re Destiny S.
M2016-00098-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge Arnold B. Goldin
Trial Court Judge: Judge P. Hudson

This appeal involves the termination of a mother’s parental rights to her minor child. Following a bench trial, the trial court found that clear and convincing evidence existed to support termination on the statutory grounds of substantial noncompliance with a permanency plan, persistent conditions, and severe child abuse. The court further found by clear and convincing evidence that termination was in the child’s best interest. The mother appeals. Having reviewed the record, we hold that only the ground of substantial noncompliance with a permanency plan is supported by clear and convincing evidence. Additionally, we hold that clear and convincing evidence supports the trial court’s finding that termination is in the child’s best interest. Because the record contains clear and convincing evidence to support one statutory ground for termination and that termination is in the child’s best interest, we affirm the trial court’s termination of the mother’s parental rights.

Putnam Court of Appeals

Accredo Health Group, Inc. v. GlaxoSmithKline, LLC f/k/a SmithKline Beecham Corporation d/b/a GlaxoSmithKline
W2015-01970-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge J. Steven Stafford
Trial Court Judge: Judge Rhynette N. Hurd

The plaintiff purchaser of pharmaceuticals brought suit against the defendant manufacturer of the pharmaceutical for failure to provide discounted pricing based on the parties‘ contract. The defendant filed a motion for partial summary judgment based on the issue of contract interpretation. The trial court granted the defendant‘s motion. The plaintiff requested permission for this interlocutory appeal challenging the trial court‘s interpretation of the parties‘ contract. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Shelby Court of Appeals