APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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02A01-9504-CV-00095

02A01-9504-CV-00095

Originating Judge:D'Army Bailey
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/12/96
01A01-9511-CH-00501

01A01-9511-CH-00501

Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/11/96
01A01-9602-CV-00078

01A01-9602-CV-00078

Originating Judge:Donald P. Harris
Williamson County Court of Appeals 09/11/96
01A01-9603-CH-00125

01A01-9603-CH-00125

Originating Judge:Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Appeals 09/11/96
01A01-9601-CV-00038

01A01-9601-CV-00038

Originating Judge:Thomas Goodall
Sumner County Court of Appeals 09/11/96
01A01-9601-CV-00038

01A01-9601-CV-00038
Court of Appeals 09/11/96
02A01-9504-CH-00080

02A01-9504-CH-00080

Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/11/96
Henry County Medical Center, v. Henry Gronski, M.D.

02A01-9412-CV-00279

This is a breach of contract action brought by Henry County Medical Center (HCMC) against Henry Gronski, M.D. (Gronski). In response, Gronski admitted the amounts owed to HCMC under the contract but claimed that he was owed a larger amount as set-off. The trial court awarded HCMC a judgment of $44,900.40 on the contract and awarded Gronski $56,204 as set-off. The court also ordered HCMC to pay Gronski's attorney's fees and accountant fees. HCMC appeals the court’s award of set-off to Gronski as well as the award of attorney’s and accountant fees. We affirm the trial court on all issues.

Authoring Judge: Judge Holly Kirby Lillard
Originating Judge:Judge C. Creed Mcginley
Henry County Court of Appeals 09/09/96
Herman Davis and wife, Darnell Davis, v. Paul A. Hatcher, Sr., M.D.

03A01-9601-CV-00016

This malpractice action was dismissed on motion for summary judgment. It arose from a routine prostate resection which went awry, resulting in adverse consequences to the plaintiff. A device referred to as a resectoscope manufactured by the Circon ACMI Ohio Manufacturing Company,1 malfunctioned while being used by and under the control of the defendant, Dr. Paul Hatcher [hereafter, the “defendant”]. It is not disputed that a portion of the penis of the plaintiff, Herman Davis [hereafter, “plaintiff”], was either chemically, thermally or electrically burned away, with disastrous results unnecessary here to be recounted.

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Knox County Court of Appeals 09/09/96
Harold Wayne Gibson, and wife, Sylvia Gibson, v. Kit G. McGlothlin, D/B/A Kit McGlothlin Builders, Inc., et al.

03A01-9601-CH-00019

This is an action for damages for breach of a construction contract and of an implied warranty of good workmanship and materials and for negligent construction.

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 09/09/96
William Bland and Lena Bland, v. Allstate Insurance Company

02A01-9412-CV-00273

This is a suit brought by William Bland (Bland) against Allstate Insurance Company (Allstate) for breach of contract for failure to pay a claim under his homeowner’s insurance policy. At trial, the jury found for Bland and awarded him damages under the insurance contract for the loss of his home and its contents due to a fire. Allstate argued at trial that material misrepresentations on the application, as a matter of law, warranted Allstate’s decision to void Bland’s policy ab initio. Allstate appeals the denial of its motion for directed verdict and alleges error in a number of the jury instructions. We affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Holly Kirby Lillard
Originating Judge:Judge Robert A. Lanier
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/09/96
Eldred L. Reid v. Jerry Stover and Charles Noles

02A01-9601-CV-00016

Plaintiff, Eldred Reid, is a prisoner currently incarcerated at the Northwest 2 Correctional Center in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Plaintiff brought this suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that various officials at the correctional center violated his constitutional rights.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Judge Joe G. Riley. Jr.
Lake County Court of Appeals 09/09/96
Herman Davis and wife, Darnell Davis, v. Paul A. Hatcher, Sr., M.D.

03A01-9601-CV-00016

This malpractice action was dismissed on motion for summary judgment. It arose from a routine prostate resection which went awry, resulting in adverse consequences to the plaintiff. A device referred to as a resectoscope manufactured by the Circon ACMI Ohio Manufacturing Company,1 malfunctioned while being used by and under the control of the defendant, Dr. Paul Hatcher [hereafter, the “defendant”]. It is not disputed that a portion of the penis of the plaintiff, Herman
Davis [hereafter, “plaintiff”], was either chemically, thermally or electrically burned away, with disastrous results unnecessary here to be recounted.


Originating Judge:Senior Judge William H. Inman
Knox County Court of Appeals 09/09/96
Joseph Tyree Glanton, v. Brenda Richardson Glanton (Cherry)

01A01-9601-PB-00013

This appeal involves a post-divorce contempt proceeding. The appellant, Mrs. Brenda Cherry, filed an unverified complaint in the Probate Court for Davidson County seeking to recover unpaid child support from her former husband, Mr. Songoleke Kurante Kotunu (formerly Joseph Tyree Glanton). Mr. Kotunu filed a Motion to Dismiss arguing the Complaint was defective since Mrs. Cherry had not verified it. The probate court agreed with Mr. Kotunu, and dismissed Mrs. Cherry’s suit. The court also awarded Mr. Kotunu his attorneys fees. Mrs. Cherry asserts on appeal that the probate court erred by requiring her to have verified her complaint, and in granting Mr. Kotunu’s attorneys fees. We partially disagree with Mrs. Cherry, and therefore affirm the probate court in part.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Marietta M. Shipley
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/06/96
Allen E. Cole, v. Tennessee Board of Paroles

01A01-9605-CH-00216

This is an appeal by petitioner, Allen B. Cole, from the judgment of the Chancery Court of Davidson County granting the motion to dismiss of respondent, the Tennessee Board of Paroles ("the Board").

Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Originating Judge:Chancellor Robert S. Brandt
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/06/96
Douglas E. Samuelson, as the Natural Father and Personal Representative of Kevin L. Samuelson, v. Cecil E. McMurtry, M.D., et al.

01A01-9602-CV-00060

In this wrongful death case we have determined that when the plaintiffappellant accepted a jury verdict finding the decedent was forty-nine percent at fault, that finding became binding in the appeal of the trial judge’s action in dismissing another defendant on the day of the trial. We, therefore, pretermit the issues raised by the appellant and affirm the judgment below.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas W. Brothers
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/06/96
Allen B. Cole, v. Tennessee Board of Paroles

01A01-9605-CH-00216

Even though I concur completely with Judge Lewis’s opinion, I have prepared this separate opinion to elaborate further on the procedure whereby a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is converted to a motion for summary judgment. Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12.02(6) requires this conversion whenever “matters outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by the [trial] court.”

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Court of Appeals 09/06/96
Douglas E. Samuelson and Kevin L. Samuelson v.Cecil E. McMurtry, M.D., et. al. - Dissenting

01-A-01-9602-CV-00060

This appeal involves one of the central principles of our comparative fault system - that all persons involved in an occurrence giving rise to injury or damages should have their rights and liabilities determined in one action. Douglas Samuelson perfected this appeal solely to obtain appellate review  of the summary dismissal of his malpractice claim against one of  several defendants on the day of trial. Rather than deciding this question, the majority has decided that the jury’s verdict with regard to the remaining parties somehow forecloses Mr. Samuelson from ever obtaining relief from the defendant who was removed from the case even before the trial started. I cannot agree with this decision.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/06/96
Afsoon Vafaie (formerly) Jane Doe, v. Walter R. Owens, III and wife, Cheryl Roberts Owens

01A01-9510-CV-00472

In this case, Plaintiff-Appellant, Dr. Afsoon Vafaie Elmore, appeals the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to Defendant-Appellee, Dr. Walter R. Owens, III, with respect to Plaintiff’s claims against Dr. Owens for assault, malicious harassment and civil conspiracy. Plaintiff also appeals the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to Defendant-Appellee, Cheryl Roberts Owens as to Plaintiff’s claims against Mrs. Owens for assault, malicious harassment, outrageous conduct and civil conspiracy. Plaintiff further appeals certain evidentiary rulings made by the trial court during the course of Plaintiff’s jury trial against Dr. Owens in which the Plaintiff sought to recover damages for severe emotional distress, arising from the alleged outrageous conduct of Dr. JuOwens.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Barbara N. Haynes
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/06/96
Dodson Roberts, v. National Safety Associates, Inc.

02A01-9506-CH-00134

This is an action by Appellee, Dodson Roberts(Roberts), to recover the compensation allegedly due him from his former employer, the appellant, National Safety Associates, Inc. (NSA).

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Chancellor Neal Small
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/04/96
Jeannie Farrow v. Warren G. Reed

03A01-9603-CV-00089

In this medical malpractice action, Plaintiff-Appellant, Jeannie Farrow (“Farrow” or “Plaintiff”), appeals the trial court’s judgment granting the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant-Appellee, Warren G. Reed (“Dr. Reed” or “Defendant”).

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm
Knox County Court of Appeals 09/04/96
Jeannie Farrow, v. Warren G. Reed

03A01-9603-CV-00089

In this medical malpractice action, Plaintiff-Appellant, Jeannie Farrow (“Farrow” or “Plaintiff”), appeals the trial court’s judgment granting the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant-Appellee, Warren G. Reed (“Dr. Reed” or “Defendant”).

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm
Knox County Court of Appeals 09/04/96
Tracy W. Moore, Deceased, by Parent and Next of Kin, Shirley Moore; and Shirley Moore, Individually, v. James A. Prescott, II

02A01-9609-CV-00277

Plaintiff Shirley Moore, on her own behalf and on behalf of her deceased son, Tracy W. Moore, appeals the trial court’s order granting the motion for summary judgment filed by Appellee Haulers Insurance Company, Moore’s uninsured motorist carrier. In granting the motion, the trial court ruled that the automobile insurance policy issued by Haulers did not cover Moore’s claim because Moore failed to give prompt notice of the claim to Haulers as required by the policy provisions. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Whit A. Lafon
Henderson County Court of Appeals 09/01/96
01A01-9602-CH-00069

01A01-9602-CH-00069

Originating Judge:William B. Cain
Maury County Court of Appeals 08/30/96
01A01-9604-CH-00190

01A01-9604-CH-00190

Originating Judge:Robert S. Brandt
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/30/96