APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Carolyn Stovall v. Lois Clarke

M2001-00810-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 03/18/02
Calvin Tankesly v. Sgt. Pugh, et al.

M2000-01520-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/18/02
M2001-01735-COA-R3-JV

M2001-01735-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Tim Brock
Coffee County Court of Appeals 03/18/02
Glen Tucker vs. Steve Howell

W2001-00999-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff home owner sued defendant construction company for damages resulting from defendant's failure to complete construction of plaintiffs' home. The Chancery Court of Decatur County, Tennessee entered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs in the amount of $17,057.00. Defendant has appealed. We dismiss the appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Ron E. Harmon
Decatur County Court of Appeals 03/14/02
Susan J. Hicks v. Crescent Resources, Inc.

M2001-00079-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff was granted summary judgment for commissions due and owing from defendant. On appeal, we vacate and remand.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:J. Russ Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 03/11/02
William Allen v. Donal Campbell, et al

M2001-00277-COA-R3-CV
Petitioner, a state inmate, filed the underlying pro se declaratory judgment action pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act to seek review of the Tennessee Department of Correction's refusal to answer a petition for a declaratory order. Petitioner requested a declaratory order to determine his entitlement to both good conduct sentence credits and good and honor time credits. The trial court granted the Department's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim holding that petitioner was not entitled to duplicate sentence credits. For the following reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/11/02
Travelers Indemnity Co. vs. Kenton Freeman, et al

M2001-00657-COA-R3-CV
Travelers Indemnity Company [Travelers] filed a complaint for a declaratory judgment respecting its liability to pay UM coverage for the minor child of its policyholder who was divorced from the child's mother, with joint custody having been awarded. Mother was killed in a traffic accident in Alabama; her passenger child was injured. Mother owned and was driving her automobile, and she also had UM coverage. The adverse driver had split liability coverage all of which was paid, in equal parts, to the Administrator of the mother's estate, and to the minor child. Mother's UM carrier paid its entire policy proceeds to her administrator. Travelers objected, inter alia, to the lack of allocation of the proceeds of mother's UM coverage. Travelers' insured, on behalf of his minor child, filed a counter-claim against Travelers for the entire UM coverage, notwithstanding an amount certain had never been determined. The court found that Travelers had never disputed that the value of the minor child's claim exceeded the UM coverage and rendered a summary judgment against Travelers for an amount certain. We vacate and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/28/02
John Pitt d/b/a Pitt Excavating vs. Tyree Org. Ltd. & Doug Suess Concrete

M2001-00115-COA-R3-CV
This is a declaratory judgment action involving the interpretation and application of an indemnification provision contained in a construction contract. Defendant, Doug Suess d/b/a Doug Suess Concrete (hereinafter "Suess"), appeals from the final order of the trial court granting summary judgment to both plaintiff, John Pitt, II d/b/a Pitt Excavating (hereinafter "Pitt") and defendant, Tyree Organization Limited (hereinafter "Tyree"). We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/28/02
Rutherford County vs. Martha Wilson

M2000-01382-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute over the interpretation of a grant of real property giving a life estate to the grantor's daughter with the remainder to go to the "heirs of her body" and, if at her death there were none, to the grantor's heirs at law. Rutherford County condemned a portion of the property, and the parties dispute apportionment of the condemnation proceeds. The life tenant is still living; therefore, her life estate has not terminated. However, the widow of the life tenant's deceased son claims that she has a one sixth (1/6) interest in the property because her husband owned a vested transmissible interest in the remainder, which passed in part to his widow on his death by intestate succession. The trial court found that Tennessee's statute governing class gifts requires that the son's issue, living at the termination of the life estate, would take his share of the remainder. Therefore, the widow would not be entitled to a portion of the remainder. The widow now appeals to this court. For reasons discussed herein, we affirm the trial court's determination that the widow had no interest in the remainder.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Don R. Ash
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 02/28/02
Tony Makoka v. Wendy Makoka-Mhlanga

M2001-00363-COA-R3-CV
A prisoner filed a petition to enforce an agreed order that granted him visitation rights with his minor daughter. The child's mother asked the trial court to dissolve the agreed order. The court found that it was not in the best interests of the child to compel her to visit her father in prison, dissolved the agreed order, and enjoined the father from engaging in activities that amounted to harassment of the mother. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/26/02
Erica Slaughter vs. Rosetta Rowe

E2001-00840-COA-R3-CV
Erica R. Slaughter ("Slaughter") sued Rosetta Rowe ("Rowe") for slander and harassment after an alleged physical altercation precipitated by Slaughter's affair with Rowe's husband. After the physical altercation, Slaughter filed assault charges against Rowe leading to her arrest. The assault charge was eventually dismissed. Rowe filed a counter-claim for malicious prosecution. Each party testified at trial to her version of the events. The Trial Court concluded neither party carried her burden of proof on her claim and dismissed the entire lawsuit. Rowe appeals, and we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Samuel H. Payne
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 02/25/02
Christy Bauer vs. William Bauer

M2001-00266-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case, the Trial Court awarded custody of the child of the parties to the mother, and awarded attorney fees to the mother. Father has appealed these awards. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Nicole Keeler v. Michael Keeler

M2001-00684-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case, the trial court awarded the parties joint custody of their minor children, with primary physical custody awarded to the father. The mother contends on appeal that she is the more fit parent and should have been given primary custody. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Carol A. Catalano
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
William Steele v. Richard Berkman

M2001-02250-COA-R10-CV
This appeal arises from a medical malpractice complaint filed by the Appellees in the Circuit Court of Davidson County against the Appellant, six other doctors, and two hospitals. The Appellant filed a motion for summary judgment. The trial court denied the Appellant's motion for summary judgment. The Appellant filed an application for extraordinary appeal with this Court pursuant to Rule 10 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. This Court granted the application for extraordinary appeal. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the trial court's denial of summary judgment against the Appellant.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Jack Charles Blankenship v. Donal Campbell, et al

M2001-01014-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute between a prisoner and the Tennessee Department of Correction regarding the prisoner's sentence credits and eligibility for parole. The prisoner filed a petition for declaratory judgment in the Chancery Court for Davidson County requesting the correction of his sentence and an immediate parole hearing. The Department filed a motion for summary judgment based on laches. When the prisoner failed to respond to the motion, the trial court granted the summary judgment in accordance with Davidson County Local R. 26.04(c), (f). Thereafter, the trial court denied the prisoner's motion to set aside the summary judgment, and the prisoner has appealed. We have determined that the summary judgment must be vacated because the Department's motion and supporting affidavit do not demonstrate that it is entitled to a judgment on its laches defense as a matter of law.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Thomas Dyer v. TDOC

M2001-01446-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Mark Tinsley v. Suzanne Tinsley

M2001-02319-COA-R3-CV
Mother sought modification of child support and a judgment against Father for contempt in the form of retroactive child support due to his failure to supply her with a yearly statement of his income as required by the final divorce decree. The trial court ordered a modification of the prospective child support, determining the amount of the obligation by averaging Father's fluctuating income for the three years prior to the hearing and awarded Mother a $54,192.00 judgment for retroactive child support during the five years that Father failed to provide his income statements to Mother. Because the trial court correctly calculated the prospective child support obligation, we affirm the amount of Father's monthly obligation in the amount of $1,300.00 from the date the petition was filed. However, because the trial court has no authority to award retroactive child support modification, we vacate the $54,192.00 judgment for retroactive child support. We remand the case for further proceedings to set reasonable attorney fees.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Robert E. Burch
Cheatham County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Jeffrey Haithcote v. Donal Campbell

M2001-01828-COA-R3-CV
A prisoner convicted of numerous crimes filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgment, arguing that the Department of Correction had erred in its calculation of his sentence expiration date, and that he was entitled to be released. The Department stood by the correctness of its calculations. The petitioner's sentence expired during the course of the proceedings, and he was released. The trial court then dismissed the petition as moot. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Thomas Dyer v. TDOC

M2001-01446-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:William C. Koch
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Lisa Davis v. Charles Jensen

M2001-00973-COA-R3-CV
Appellant, an incarcerated prisoner in the Department of Corrections of California, appeals the action of the Juvenile Court of Williamson County in terminating his parental rights to his biological child. He refused to participate in the termination hearing by means of telephonic communication as authorized by the trial court demanding, instead, that the trial court either continue the case until after his release from confinement, or have him transported from California to Williamson County for personal participation. The trial court held that he waived his right to participation in the termination proceedings and terminated his parental rights. We affirm the trial court.

Originating Judge:Alfred L. Nations
Williamson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Harrison M.X. Pearison v. Donal Campbell,

M2000-01105-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Carol L. Soloman
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Steven Bohanon, et al vs. Jones Bros., Inc.

M1998-00954-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a property damage claim arising from blasting activities incident to the construction of improvements to State Highway 52 in Macon County. Two neighboring property owners filed suit against the contractor responsible for the blasting in the Circuit Court for Macon County seeking actual and punitive damages. A jury returned a verdict for the contractor, and the trial court denied the property owners' post-trial motions. The property owners assert on this appeal that the trial court erred by permitting the introduction of incompetent evidence regarding compliance with the Tennessee Blasting Standards Act of 1975 and by failing to give a promised curative instruction. They also challenge the evidentiary support for the verdict. We have determined that the trial court did not commit reversible error either by admitting the evidence regarding the contractor's seismic monitoring or by overlooking the requested curative instruction. We also decline to second-guess the verdict to the extent that it rested on an assessment of the property owners' credibility regarding the nature and extent of the damages caused by the blasting. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Ernest B. Pellegrin
Macon County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Mark Percy v. Dept of Correction

M2001-01629-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute between a multiple rapist and the Tennessee Department of Correction regarding the prisoner's sentence expiration date. The prisoner filed a petition for a declaratory order in the Chancery Court for Davidson County asserting that the Department had misclassified him and that he was eligible to be released because his sentence had expired. The Department responded with a motion for summary judgment supported by an affidavit of a sentencing technician asserting that the prisoner had been correctly classified and that his sentence had not expired. The trial court granted the summary judgment and dismissed the petition. We find that the trial court reached the correct result, and, therefore, we affirm the judgment dismissing the prisoner's petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
W2001-01941-COA-R3-JV

W2001-01941-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Christy R. Little
Madison County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Estate of Theresa Cunningham

M2001-01965-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiff filed a claim against the estate of the deceased more than eighteen months after the first publication of notice to creditors and twenty months after her death. The trial court granted him a judgment against the estate for the full amount of his claim. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Floyd Don Davis
Franklin County Court of Appeals 02/22/02