APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Please enter some keywords to search.
Porter Freeman vs. Robert Ring, County Executive, Jerry Sharber, Mayor, et al., - Concurring

01-A-01-9705-CH-00237

The appellant sought to enjoin both city and county officials from the sale of general obligation bonds. The Chancery Court of Franklin granted all  defendants' motions to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12.02(6) of the  Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. On appeal, we must determine  whether the trial court erred in not considering the petition for injunction on the merits as against either the city or the county defendants.

Authoring Judge: Judge Walter W. Bussart
Originating Judge:Chancellor Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Appeals 01/09/98
Robert J. McCurley, Patricia G. McCurley, v. City of Jackson, Tennessee, Charles Farmer, and J.B.Glassman and wife, Brenda Glassman, and Harold Angus

02A01-9703-CV-00059

This is an action in negligence arising out of the June 1993 acts of the appellant, Harold Angus, in demolishing the “Glassman” building, located at 111 North Highland Avenue in Jackson, pursuant to a contract with the city. Angus’ demolition of the building, which had been declared condemned by the city code, is not disputed. Nor is it disputed that, as a result of the building’s demolition, damage was sustained to the building located adjacent thereto, identified as the “Carmen’s” building, and owned by the appellees, Robert J. McCurley and wife, Patricia G. McCurley.1 The two buildings shared a common “party wall.” At issue in this case is whether Angus was negligent in its demolition of the Glassman building so as to be held legally accountable to the McCurleys for the damages they sustained. The case proceeded to a trial by jury where, at the close of all proof, the trial court directed a verdict in favor of the appellees on the issue of liability.2 Angus has appealed challenging the correctness of the trial judge’s decision in this regard. For the reasons hereinafter stated, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Whit A. Lafon
Madison County Court of Appeals 01/09/98
Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Health Related Boards and The Board of Medical Examiners, v. W. Dwight Frisbee, M.D.

01A01-9511-CH-00540

This appeal presents an issue of first impression concerning the evidentiary standards applicable to disciplinary proceedings involving licensed physicians. The Tennessee Department of Health perfected an interlocutory appeal to the Chancery Court for Davidson County after an administrative law judge disqualified its expert witness for failing to satisfy the locality rule generally applicable in medical malpractice cases. The trial court reversed the administrative law judge’s decision after concluding that a physician’s conduct should be measured by a statewide standard of minimum competency rather than a particularized local standard of care. While the administrative law judge’s decision was correct with regard to two of thecharges, we affirm the trial court’s decision in part because several of the charges in this proceeding only require proof that a physician has failed to meet statewide, minimal competency standards.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Robert S. Brandt
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/09/98
William J. Bunch v. Walton I. Bunch and Steven B. Bunch

02A01-9705-CH-00106

This case involves a suit to partition certain real and personal property owned by three brothers as joint tenants with the right of survivorship. Walton and Steven Bunch appeal the order of the trial court granting the sale for partition.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Chancellor George R. Ellis
Gibson County Court of Appeals 01/08/98
LBJ, Inc., D/B/A Laurel Wood Farm, a Tennessee Corporation, and Lawrence J. Banner, v. Buford L., Craig, Glen L. Craig, Southern Garden Designs, Inc., et al.

03A01-9706-CH-00243

This is an action for damages for breach of contract involving the sale of the assets of a corporation doing business as North River Nursery in Chattanooga. The selling price was $370,000.00, to be paid $305,000.00 cash and $65,000.00 in seven (7) promissory notes, each of which provides “That all or a substantial portion of the debt evidenced hereby shall be paid by work to be performed . . . . . as set out in a letter . . . ”

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Chancellor Howard N. Peoples
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 01/08/98
Union Planters National Bank, as Executor and Trustee Under the Will of James A. LeRoy, Deceased, v. Betty Clair Reinhardt Dedman, John Dedman, Bernice A. LeRoy, Jill LeRoy Dimiceli, and Sue LeRoy Henderson, et al.

02A01-9701-PB-00026

Union Planters National Bank (“Bank”), as executor for the estate of James A. LeRoy (“Testator”), filed an action in the Probate Court of Shelby County for probate of Testator’s will on January 5, 1989. Bank subsequently filed suit for declaratory judgment against the beneficiaries and legatees of Testator’s property (“appellees”) alleging that the residuary estate provided for in Testator’s will to pay all death taxes was insufficient to cover his tax liability and seeking restitution from the appellees for their proportional share. Dedman appellees responded by contending that the post-death appreciation of residuary estate assets and the receipt of income from those assets had sufficiently increased the value of the residuary estate to enable it to sufficiently cover all death taxes requested by Bank. The Special Master appointed by the trial judge confirmed the sufficiency of the residuary estate on the date the taxes were due. The trial court entered judgment for appellees confirming the report of the Special Master finding that there was no shortfall in the residuary estate established by the testator in his will and thus rendering appellees not liable to Bank for reimbursement of death taxes in any amount. We find the decision of the lower court as to the issue of post-death income to the residuary trust to be in error and remand. Due to the complicated facts of this case and our determination that one issue in this case requires a remand to the lower court, we will only present the facts relevant to that issue.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Leonard D. Pierotti
Shelby County Court of Appeals 01/07/98
William T. Rawls, v. N.V. Hodge, Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Inc., and James Moyer Massey

03A01-9707-CV-00293

William T. Rawls (plaintiff) brought this action to recover damages resulting froma collision between a truck in in which he was a passenger and a train owned by Norfold Southern Railway Company. The truck was being driven by the defendant, James Massey. The train engineer was the defendant, N.V. Hodge. Rawls alleged that Norfolk Southern's locomotive was at the timeof the collison being operated in a negligent manner under the circumstances existing at the crossing where the accident took place.  He alleged that Hodge failed to give warning by blowing the train's whistle or horn, and that the crossing was not sufficiently marked by adequate warning devices. Rawls also sued Dycho Company, the owner of the land adjacent to to the rialway, alleging that a fence which Dycho had placed onits land, together with various structures and objects inside the fence, constituted a dangerous obstruction which blocked the view of the oncoming train.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/06/98
Gerry Sue Hasek v. Donna Keene Holt and Gilreath and Associates

03A01-9706-CV-00210

This is a legal malpractice action. The Plaintiff alleges that she employed the defendants to reporesent her in a medical malpractice claim against Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee, Dr. Robert Hall or the proper party to be sued. Suit was brought against Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee and was, after mediation, eventually settled. Dr. Hall was not sued. The failure to bring an action against Dr. Hall is the basis of this action.

 

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler Rosenbalm
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/06/98
Suzanne Monique Swilley Ely v. Kenneth Ray Ely

03A01-9707-CH-00255

The pivotal issue on this appeal is whether or not the trial court erred in its calculation of the gross income of the obligor for determining his child support obligation.

Authoring Judge: Special Judge Clifford E. Sanders
Originating Judge:Chancellor Fred D. McDonald
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/06/98
Kohn Ashmore, b/n/f Angela Ashmore and Rodney Ashmore v. Hamilton County, Tennessee - Concurring

03A01-9706-CV-00201

The plaintiffs instituted this action against Hamilton County (defendant) charging that the defendant was negligent in maintaining Levi Road in that the county allowed shrubbery to grow along the right-of-way of Levi Road which impaired the vision of persons entering upon the roadway from adjacent properties. No roadway intersection was involved in the accident. The minor plaintiff, Kohn Ashmore, entered upon Levi Road from the lawn of property owned by a Mr. Sands. After a bench trial the trial court entered judgment in favor of the defendant. It is from this judgment that the plaintiffs' appeal. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Robert M. Summitt
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 01/06/98
Josephine Brown, Whitfield Brown, and Earline Culp, v. Dr. Kenneth Kudsk and UT Medical Group, Inc.

02A01-9611-CV-00291

This is an appeal from a summary judgment in a medical malpractice case. The trial 2 court entered an order of summary judgment on behalf of Defendant, Dr. Kenneth Kudsk (“Dr. Kudsk”). Plaintiffs, Josephine Brown ( “Brown”), Whitfield Brown, and Earline Culp, appeal the judgment citing, inter alia, errors in the trial court’s granting of summary judgment when the Plaintiffs’ expert affidavits and deposition testimony were proper responsive proof to the Defendant’s motion for summary judgment. For reasons stated herein, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Judge Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 01/02/98
State, ex. rel. Rion vs. Rion

01A01-9704-CV-00194

Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 12/31/97
Wigginton vs. Wigginton

01A01-9704-CH-00163
Court of Appeals 12/31/97
Williams vs. Comer

01A01-9701-CH-00008

Originating Judge:Thomas E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Steiner vs. The Parman Corp.

01A01-9705-CV-00233
Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Bragg vs. Metro Gov't.

01A01-9703-CV-00111

Originating Judge:Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Barnett vs. Barnett

01A01-9704-CV-00187

Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
01A01-9701-CH-00035

01A01-9701-CH-00035

Originating Judge:Tyrus H. Cobb
Marshall County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Turnbo vs. Turnbo

01A01-9307-CH-00314
Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Haulers vs. Burke

03A01-9611-CV-00356
Bradley County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Boatman's Bank vs. Steven Dunlap

02A01-9607-CH-00166

Originating Judge:Floyd Peete, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Estis, et. al. vs. Kelley, et. al.

01A01-9709-CV-00513

Originating Judge:Robert L. Jones
Maury County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Hammock vs. Sumner Co.

01A01-9710-CV-00600

Originating Judge:Henry F. Todd
Sumner County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Turnbo vs. Turnbo

01A01-9307-CH-00314

Originating Judge:Jim T. Hamilton
Wayne County Court of Appeals 12/30/97
Stewart vs. HCA Health Services

01A01-9603-CV-00111

Originating Judge:Thomas W. Brothers
Davidson County Court of Appeals 12/30/97