APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Cecilia Hutcheson v. Andrew Hutcheson

M2000-00894-COA-R3-CV
Before these parties were married, Husband earned $60,000.00 per year as an independent insurance agent. Wife earned $50,000.00 yearly as a registered nurse. After their marriage in 1986, Husband never earned more than $10,000.00 yearly. Wife became disabled in 1997 and thereafter received social security benefits. She was awarded alimony of $150.00 weekly upon a finding that Husband was reasonably capable of earning an income from which he could pay this amount. He disagrees. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Sumner County Court of Appeals 10/31/00
Ronald Davis vs. Robert Sanders, et al

M2000-01600-COA-R3-CV
A prisoner filed a petition under the Public Records Act, asking the court to order a prosecutor and a police chief to send him their files on his case. The prosecutor claimed that he had in fact sent a copy of the requested files to the petitioner. The trial court dismissed the petition. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Stella L. Hargrove
Maury County Court of Appeals 10/31/00
City of Chattanooga v. Kevin Davis

2000-00664-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 10/31/00
City of Chattanooga vs. Kevin Davis

E2000-00664-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 10/31/00
Cheryl N. Buckner, et al vs. David F. Hassell, M.D., et al

E1999-02564-COA-R3-CV
Ronald L. Buckner was diagnosed with a rare form of melanoma which ultimately resulted in his death. His wife, Cheryl N. Buckner, brought this medical malpractice action against her husband's family physician, Dr. David F. Hassell. The Trial Court excluded portions of the testimony of Mr. Buckner's dermatologist and dermatopathologist due to Ms. Buckner's failure to name these physicians as expert witnesses in her answers to interrogatories pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 26. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Dr. Hassell, and thereafter, Ms. Buckner filed a Motion for New Trial based upon the weight of the evidence and the Trial Court's exclusion of the dermatologist's testimony regarding the standard of care. The Trial Court denied the Motion. On appeal, Ms. Buckner contends that the Trial Court erred in excluding the testimony at issue because Dr. Hassell did not suffer any prejudice from these physicians not having been identified as expert witnesses in Plaintiff's answers to interrogatories as his attorney was aware of the dermatologist's opinions prior to his deposition for proof, and because each of these treating physicians whose testimony was excluded was not a Rule 26 expert witness. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Dale C. Workman
Knox County Court of Appeals 10/30/00
Dunlap vs. Fortress Corp. and Covenant Health

E2000-00103-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff's action for personal injuries sustained at defendant's fitness center was dismissed by the Trial Court because plaintiff's agreement with the center contained an exculpatory clause. We vacate the Judgment.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Harold Wimberly
Knox County Court of Appeals 10/27/00
E2060-00255-COA-R3-CV

E2060-00255-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:John B. Hagler, Jr.
McMinn County Court of Appeals 10/27/00
Roy R. Ferguson v. Sherry Hoppe, Donna Pierce, and Harold L. Underwood

03A01-9902-CV-00038

In this action, the Trial Court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint, and he has appealed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Russell Simmons, Jr.
Court of Appeals 10/26/00
Madu vs. Madu

M1999-02302-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the dissolution of a three-year marriage between a naturalized citizen and a foreign national attending school on a temporary student visa. Soon after the parties were divorced by agreement in the Circuit Court for Davidson County, the foreign national sought to set the divorce aside because of its effect on her efforts to remain in the United States. The trial court declined to set the divorce aside. The foreign national asserts on this appeal that the trial court should not have declared the parties divorced and that the trial court erred by denying her motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. We have determined that the record supports the trial court's decision to declare the parties divorced and that the trial court did not err when it denied the foreign national's post-trial motion. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/25/00
Blumberg vs. Dept. of Human Svcs.

M2000-00237-COA-R3-CV
Frederic Blumberg ("Blumberg") filed a petition against his wife in the Sumner County Circuit Court, seeking all his wife's marital assets and an increase in his minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance. On September 16, 1998, the Sumner County Circuit Court issued an Order requiring Mrs. Blumberg to pay as support for the benefit of Mr. Blumberg, all of her monthly income. Subsequently, Blumberg applied for Medicaid benefits on behalf of Mrs. Blumberg, administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services ("DHS"), for which he was approved. On October 26, 1998, Blumberg received notice from DHS that his request for an income allocation was denied. Thereafter, Blumberg requested an administrative hearing appealing the denial of spousal allocations. On December 8, 1998, an administrative hearing with DHS was held, and Blumberg's appeal was denied. The Chancery Court affirmed the decision of the DHS, finding that the support order was not validly adjudicated because of lack of notice to DHS. This appeal followed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Don R. Ash
Originating Judge:Tom E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 10/25/00
Maelene Fowler vs. Jerry Wilbanks

W2000-00452-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiffs sued to enjoin Defendant from denying their right to use a private dirt and gravel road on Defendant's property in order to access their property. The trial court held that Plaintiffs established an easement by implication and/or prescription in the private road, and enjoined Defendant from preventing Plaintiffs' future access to the road. Defendant appeals.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Dewey C. Whitenton
McNairy County Court of Appeals 10/25/00
Russell vs. Russell

E1999-02742-COA-R3-CV
This appeal from the Hamilton County Chancery Court concerns whether the Trial Court erred in awarding primary residential responsibility of the minor child to the Appellee, Burgess Stephen Russell. The Appellant, Linda Sharion Russell, appeals the decision of the Chancery Court. We affirm the decision of the Trial Court and remand for further proceedings, if any, consistent with this opinion. We adjudge costs of the appeal against the Appellant, Linda Sharion Russell and her surety.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Howell N. Peoples
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 10/25/00
Rackley vs. DeKalb Co. Fire Dept.

M2000-00885-COA-R3-CV
A purchaser of real property invited the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department to burn down a house on the property for training purposes. After the house was destroyed, the seller re-took possession of the property, because the buyer failed to pay the rest of the purchase price. The seller brought suit against the County for inverse condemnation and trespass. The trial court dismissed the complaint. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:John A. Turnbull
DeKalb County Court of Appeals 10/25/00
Hunt vs. Claybrooks, et al

M1999-01582-COA-R3-CV
This litigation began as a pro bono case. Defendant/Appellant James Goodner ("Goodner") represented himself pro se on October 22, 1997 at the General Sessions Court and received a judgment against him. Goodner timely appealed the decision to the Circuit Court. Plaintiff/Appellee Allie Mae Hunt ("Hunt") died after the case was appealed from the General Sessions Court to the Circuit Court for Davidson County, Tennessee. Thereafter, the trial court dismissed Goodner's appeal and this case took on a different character. David E. Danner ("Danner") filed a Rule 60.02 motion to get the case reinstated, allegedly accusing Hunt's attorney, C. Bennett Harrison ("Harrison") of "fraud, misrepresentation or other misconduct." Harrison filed a response to the motion containing a motion for Rule 11 sanctions against Danner. Subsequently, Danner asked for sanctions against Harrison, which were denied. Hunt's case was reinstated, but the trial court ordered Danner to pay attorney fees of $100 to Harrison as a sanction of Rule 11. We affirm and modify the trial court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Judge Don R. Ash
Originating Judge:Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/25/00
2002-00734-COA-R3-CV

2002-00734-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:John F. Weaver
Knox County Court of Appeals 10/23/00
Jackie Reynolds vs. Tammy Battles

W2000-00340-COA-R3-CV
This case involves three alleged criminal conspiracies committed by the Appellees against the Appellants. The Appellants filed a complaint against the Appellees in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The district court dismissed the Appellants' complaint for lack of jurisdiction. The Appellants then filed a complaint against the Appellees in the Circuit Court of Hardin County. The Appellees brought a motion to dismiss. The trial court granted the Appellees' motion to dismiss, finding that the Appellants' complaint was barred by the statute of limitations and failed to state a claim for which relief can be granted. The Appellants appeal the dismissal of the Appellants' complaint. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the trial court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:C. Creed Mcginley
Hardin County Court of Appeals 10/23/00
Rick Roelke vs. William Hickerson

W2000-00455-COA-R3-CV
This is a medical malpractice case. The trial court dismissed the plaintiff's complaint because it was not filed within the applicable statute of limitations. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Karen R. Williams
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/23/00
Jerry Maness vs. Charles Woods

W2000-01049-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal by Plaintiffs from a grant of summary judgment in favor of Defendants. Plaintiffs sued to recover property which they claim was wrongfully seized by employees of the Defendant. Defendants filed a request for admissions which included an admission that the property seized did not belong to Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs failed to timely respond and thus the admission was conclusively established. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Roger A. Page
Henderson County Court of Appeals 10/23/00
In Matter of Jo'Nise Perry

W2000-00209-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from an order terminating parental rights. The father was imprisoned during the hearing of this case. The father argues on appeal that the juvenile court should have allowed him to be physically present at the hearing and should have granted him discovery he requested, and also contends that terminating his parental rights was not in his daughter's best interest. We find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in deciding not to transport the father to the hearing, and in limiting the father's discovery. We also find that the trial court did not err in finding that termination of the father's parental rights was in the child's best interest. On this basis, we affirm the order terminating the father's parental rights.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:George E. Blancett
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/18/00
Shirley Marcum vs. Michael Trippett

W1999-00255-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the interpretation of a marital dissolution agreement pertaining to a division of marital property. The trial court interpreted the agreement to require Husband to begin paying $1,200.00 per month to Wife for her interest in the marital property, an insurance agency. Husband has appealed.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Wyeth Chandler
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/18/00
Peltz vs. Peltz

M1999-02299-COA-R3-CV
The issue on appeal is whether a notary was negligent when she attached her certificate to a forged signature on a deed. The Chancery Court of Williamson County held that she was not. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 10/18/00
Judy Pennington vs. Frank Pennington

W2000-00568-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a divorce proceeding. The Chancery Court of Madison County granted the Appellee a divorce on the grounds of inappropriate marital conduct and adultery. The trial court calculated child support based on the Appellant's average income prior to his first incarceration. In lieu of child support payments, the trial court awarded the Appellee an office building titled solely in her name. The trial court also awarded the Appellee $5,000.00 as alimony in solido to help defray her attorney's fees and expenses but declined to award periodic or rehabilitative alimony due to the trial court's division of marital property.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris
Madison County Court of Appeals 10/18/00
Edward Tuggle vs. AMISUB

W1999-02444-COA-R3-CV
Patient sued hospital for injuries sustained when she fell after hospital personnel failed to respond to her call for assistance to go to the bathroom. Patient went to the bathroom without incident and then decided to bathe her feet while she was out of bed. Patient filled a pan of water and sat in a chair bathing her feet when the telephone rang. When she got up to answer the telephone across the room, her wet feet slipped on the floor, and she fell, sustaining injuries. The trial court granted hospital summary judgment, and patient has appealed.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/18/00
Robert Burton vs. Kent Gearin

W1999-01022-COA-R3-CV
The Appellee was appointed by the Circuit Court of Weakley County to represent the Appellant in his petition for post conviction relief. The circuit court denied the Appellant's petition, and the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed. The Appellant filed a complaint for legal malpractice against the Appellee. The Appellant also filed a motion to hold the matter in abeyance until he was released from prison. The trial court failed to rule on the motion for abeyance. The trial court entered summary judgment in favor of the Appellee. The Appellant appeals the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the Appellee and the trial court's failure to rule on the motion for abeyance. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Weakley County Court of Appeals 10/18/00
Oliver Valentine

W1999-01293-COA-R3-CV
This is a termination of parental rights case. A twenty-one month old boy was removed from his parents' home after the mother beat him with a belt, leaving bruises on his back, chest, head, and face. Three and a half years later, after the parents had failed to satisfy the conditions in the son's plan of care, the Department of Children's Services filed a petition to terminate their parental rights. The Juvenile Court for Shelby County terminated the mother's and father's parental rights. The mother and father appeal, arguing that the Tennessee Constitution prohibits a non-attorney, elected juvenile court judge from appointing a special judge, who is an attorney but not elected, to hear a termination of parental rights case. They also argue that there is not clear and convincing evidence to support the termination of their parental rights. We affirm, finding that the Tennessee Constitution does not prevent an elected, non-attorney juvenile court judge from appointing a juvenile court referee, who is an attorney but not elected, to hear cases involving the termination of parental rights, and that there is clear and convincing evidence to support the termination of parental rights in this case.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:George E. Blancett
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/18/00