APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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W2000-01548-COA-R3-CV

W2000-01548-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Martha B. Brasfield
McNairy County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Janet Scarbrough vs. Edd Scarbrough

W2000-01807-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves issues stemming from the parties' divorce. The trial court terminated Husband's obligation to pay rehabilitative alimony. In addition, the trial court valued Husband's life estate in certain real property at $200,000.00, and the court awarded Wife $100,000.00. Both parties appeal the decision of the trial court. For the following reasons, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:William Michael Maloan
Weakley County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Cheryl/Edwin Oliver vs. Earl Quinby

W2000-02158-COA-R3-CV
This case arises out of an automobile accident caused by a pile of carpet lying in the roadway. Plaintiffs allege that the accident was caused by an unknown motorist. Plaintiffs' insurance carrier filed a motion for summary judgment, and the trial court granted the motion. For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court's entry of summary judgment.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Karen R. Williams
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Gloria Lane vs. W.J. Curry

W2000-01580-COA-R3-CV
This case involves a dispute about the responsibility for trees on adjacent properties. The plaintiff and defendant own adjacent properties. Located on the defendant's property are three large oak trees whose branches overhang the plaintiff's roof. The roots from the trees grow onto the plaintiff's property and have infiltrated the plaintiff's sewer lines on several occasions. After a limb from one of the trees fell through the plaintiff's roof, the plaintiff complained to the defendant. The defendant twice sent someone to cut back the trees' branches. The plaintiff continued to complain about the trees, and the defendant refused to provide any additional assistance. This lawsuit ensued. The trial court found that the plaintiff's only remedy was self-help. The plaintiff now appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Gloria Guinn vs. Lucious Guinn

W1999-01809-COA-R3-CV
This is a post-divorce proceeding pursuant to Tenn.R.Civ.P. 60. Defendant-husband filed a motion to set aside a final decree of divorce granted on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, because there was no written agreement settling property rights. Plaintiff-wife filed a motion pursuant to Rule 60 to amend the final decree of divorce to show that the ground for divorce is inappropriate marital conduct. The trial court denied Husband's motion, granted Wife's motion and entered an amended final decree showing the ground for divorce as inappropriate marital conduct. Husband appeals. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:George H. Brown
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Largent Contracting vs. Dement Construction

W1999-02736-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff-landowner sued county along with road contractor and subcontractor for damages allegedly sustained when the defendant stored a large amount of broken concrete on his land allegedly without his permission and for the defendant's failure to remove the concrete when told to do so. The trial court granted summary judgment to road contractor and the subcontractor, and granted partial summary judgment to the county. After a nonjury trial on the remaining issue as to the county, the trial court entered judgment for the county. Plaintiff appeals as to all three defendants. We reverse in part, affirm in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Jon Kerry Blackwood
Fayette County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Phillip Page vs. Lucille Page

W2000-01314-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:John R. Mccarroll, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
William Fann vs. Annette Fann

W2000-02431-COA-R3-CV
Husband sued for divorce, alleging inappropriate marital conduct. Wife filed an answer and counter-complaint, but later dismissed the counter-complaint and chose to contest the divorce. Trial court granted divorce to husband. Wife appeals, alleging that the trial court abused its discretion in granting the divorce on grounds of inappropriate marital conduct without evidence to corroborate husband's allegations and that husband had failed to carry his burden of proving cruel and inhuman treatment. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Ron E. Harmon
Carroll County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Lorrie Barnes vs. Richard Barnes

W2000-01285-COA-R3-CV
Father filed a petition for change of custody of the parties' three minor children. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court found that there had been a material change of circumstances and that a change of custody to Father was in the best interest of the children. Mother has appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Don H. Allen
Madison County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Shawn Farien vs. Regina Farien

W2000-00656-COA-R3-CV
This is a child custody case. The parties and their minor child lived in Tennessee with the father's parents. The mother moved to Georgia with the child to live with her parents. Custody was awarded to the mother, and the father was granted broad visitation rights. The father appeals. We affirm, finding that the custody award is based in large part on the trial court's determinations of credibility and assessment of the parties' demeanor, and finding that the evidence does not preponderate against the award of custody to the mother.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:D'Army Bailey
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
William Wilson vs. Patricia Wilson

W2000-01384-COA-R3-CV
This is a divorce case in which alimony is in dispute. At trial, the parties stipulated to the grounds for divorce, and the issue of fault was not considered. The trial court awarded the wife alimony in solido of $750 per month until she reached the age of sixty, and specified that it was non-modifiable upon the wife's death or remarriage. The husband appeals. On appeal, we affirm the trial court's decision awarding the wife alimony in solido, and modify the amount to $500 per month until she reaches the age of sixty.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Jeffrey Ward vs. Valarie Ward

W2000-01081-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a change of child custody action. Mother was awarded custody of Child pursuant to a marital dissolution agreement. Thereafter, Mother had sexual relations with a minor. This relationship led to an assault on minor by a third party in the presence of Child. This assault revealed the relationship of Mother and minor to the minor's parents. Pursuant to a deal with the minor's parents, Mother was forced to relocate to another state. When Father discovered the circumstances surrounding this relationship, he petitioned for a change of custody on the basis that Mother had exposed Child to criminal activity. In addition, Father cited Mother's refusal to grant him visitation and charged that she was improperly caring for Child. The trial court found a material change of circumstances requiring a comparison of the fitness of the parents. The court found Father more fit and granted a change of custody. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:George R. Ellis
Crockett County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Phillip Page vs. Lucille Page

W2000-01314-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:John R. Mccarroll, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Shawn Farien vs. Regina Farien

W2000-00656-COA-R3-CV
This is a child custody case. The parties and their minor child lived in Tennessee with the father's parents. The mother moved to Georgia with the child to live with her parents. Custody was awarded to the mother, and the father was granted broad visitation rights. The father appeals. We affirm, finding that the custody award is based in large part on the trial court's determinations of credibility and assessment of the parties' demeanor, and finding that the evidence does not preponderate against the award of custody to the mother.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:D'Army Bailey
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Gary Willingham vs. Gallatin Group, Inc., et al

M1998-00990-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute between a secured creditor and two local governments regarding the priority of their claims against the proceeds from the sale of the assets of a judicially dissolved corporation. Following a bench trial, the Chancery Court for Sumner County held that the local governments' claims for delinquent business taxes had priority over the claim of the secured creditor. We have determined that the secured creditor's claim should have been given priority over the local governments' claims and, therefore, reverse the judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Tom E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 02/16/01
Debra Cissom, et al vs. Al Miller, et al

E1999-02767-COA-R3-CV
The Plaintiffs sue the Defendants, alleging a nuisance created by chicken houses owned and operated by them in close proximity of the Defendants' property. The Trial Court found a temporary nuisance was created and that, although T.C.A. 44-18-102 was a complete bar to any claims the Plaintiffs might have insofar as three older chicken houses were concerned, is not a bar to their claim as to five new chicken houses. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Jerri S. Bryant
Bradley County Court of Appeals 02/16/01
Jonathan Wilson vs. Sandra Wilson

E2000-01374-COA-R3-CV
This appeal from the Loudon County General Sessions Court questions whether the Trial Court erred in awarding a change of residential custody from Appellant, Sandra Kay Wilson to Appellee, Jonathan David Wilson. Ms. Wilson appeals the decision of the General Sessions Court. We affirm the decision of the Trial Court and remand for such further proceedings, if any, consistent with this opinion. We adjudge costs of the appeal against the Appellant, Ms. Sandra Kay Wilson and her surety.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:William H. Russell
Loudon County Court of Appeals 02/16/01
State ex rel Debbie Whitfield vs. Michael Honeycutt

M1999-00914-COA-R3-CV
Appellant, who was married to the mother at the time of the child's birth, responded to a petition for contempt regarding past due child support with a request to determine paternity of the child. A paternity test is irrelevant in this case because even proof that he is not the child's father would not be a defense to contempt for failure to comply with a valid court order. We affirm the trial court's denial of the request.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Carol A. Catalano
Robertson County Court of Appeals 02/16/01
Opinion With Judge Cain Specifically Concurring In Part Vi Thereof. P

M1998-00987-COA-R12-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Court of Appeals 02/16/01
Ernest F. Phillips vs. County of Anderson, et al

E2000-01204-COA-R3-CV
The defendants, Anderson County and the City of Clinton, entered into an agreement to jointly finance the development of an industrial park to be owned and operated by the City. The plaintiff, Ernest F. Phillips, brought this action for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the County's financing of a portion of the industrial park is illegal and unconstitutional and that the defendants violated various statutory requirements for the development of industrial parks. The trial court granted the defendants summary judgment. The plaintiff appeals, arguing: (1) that the County's use of bond proceeds to finance its portion of the industrial park's infrastructure costs constitutes a lending or giving of credit to or in aid of a corporation within the meaning of Article II, Section 29 of the Tennessee Constitution; (2) that the agreement between the County and the City is not legally sufficient under the Industrial Park Act; (3) that the County obtained a statutorily-required certificate of public purpose and necessity by fraud and misrepresentation; and (4) that the County's bond resolutions are fatally defective and call for prohibited expenditures. The City argues (a) that the plaintiff lacks standing to challenge the City's actions and (b) that the plaintiff's appeal is frivolous. We affirm the grant of summary judgment to the defendants but do not find the plaintiff's appeal to be frivolous.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:William E. Lantrip
Anderson County Court of Appeals 02/16/01
M1998-0987-COA-R12-CV

M1998-0987-COA-R12-CV
Court of Appeals 02/16/01
Ernest Frye vs. Blue Ridge Neuroscience Center, et al

E2000-02155-COA-R9-CV
Plaintiff sued Defendants on November 25, 1998, alleging medical malpractice. Summonses were issued but never served on Defendants or returned to the court. Process was never reissued on the first Complaint. A voluntary nonsuit was entered by the Trial Court on June 8, 1999. On November 22, 1999, Plaintiff refiled a similar lawsuit, process issued, and Defendants were served the next day. Defendants filed summary judgment motions claiming that the statute of limitations had run because Plaintiff failed to have process reissued on the first Complaint as required by Rule 3 of the Tenn. R. Civ. P. Plaintiff claimed compliance with Rule 3, and, therefore, that the second lawsuit was filed within the statute of limitations. The Trial Court denied the summary judgment motions after determining that Defendants had actual notice of the first lawsuit and thus the spirit of the rules had been complied with. The Trial Court granted Defendants' request for an interlocutory appeal. We granted this interlocutory appeal to decide whether Plaintiff can comply with Rule 3 of the Tenn. R. Civ. P. not by obtaining issuance of new process in his original lawsuit within the one year period provided for in Rule 3, but instead by voluntarily dismissing the first lawsuit and refiling a similar lawsuit with the issuance of process in the second lawsuit within the one year period. Our answer is "no." We reverse the decision of the Trial Court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:John S. Mclellan, III
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 02/16/01
M1998-0987-COA-R12-CV

M1998-0987-COA-R12-CV
Court of Appeals 02/16/01
Cynthia Coppage vs. Grady Coppage

E2000-01630-COA-R3-CV
At issue in this divorce case is the trial court's valuation and division of two parcels of real property and the court's decree with respect to the parties' credit card debt. The husband appeals, arguing that the trial court erred (1) in its valuation and division of the two properties; and (2) in denying his post-trial motion to sell the two parcels and divide the proceeds equally. The wife asserts as an additional issue that the husband should be required to place in his sole name the credit card debt assigned to him by the trial court. We find and hold that the wife's request is a reasonable one, and, accordingly, modify the trial court's judgment so as to require the husband to convert the debt over into his name by no later than December 31, 2001. As modified, the judgment is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:L. Marie Williams
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 02/16/01
Terry Hahn vs. Thomas Hahn, et al

E2000-00330-COA-R3-CV
An intra-family business transaction which occurred nearly 30 years ago fomented this litigation involving an undisclosed interest in a hotel in Gatlinburg. The original parties are former spouses; the intervenors are their children. The complaint was dismissed on motion for summary judgment. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Telford E. Forgerty, Jr.
Knox County Court of Appeals 02/15/01