APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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01A01-9601-CH-00030

01A01-9601-CH-00030

Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/17/96
01A01-9510-JV-00474

01A01-9510-JV-00474

Originating Judge:Andrew J. Shookhoff
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/17/96
01A01-9510-JV-00479

01A01-9510-JV-00479

Originating Judge:Andrew J. Shookhoff
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/17/96
02A01-9502-CH-00025

02A01-9502-CH-00025

Originating Judge:Dewey C. Whitenton
Fayette County Court of Appeals 05/16/96
01A01-9506-JV-00262

01A01-9506-JV-00262

Originating Judge:W. Nowlin Taylor
Bedford County Court of Appeals 05/15/96
01A01-9508-CH-00365

01A01-9508-CH-00365

Originating Judge:Allen W. Wallace
Court of Appeals 05/15/96
03A01-9509-CH-00318

03A01-9509-CH-00318
Carter County Court of Appeals 05/14/96
Terry T. Johnson, v. Michael H. McCommon & MLG & W

02A01-9502-CV-00029

This action was brought against Michael McCommon and Memphis Light, Gas, and 2 Water (MLG&W) for personal injuries sustained when McCommon, an employee of MLG&W, struck plaintiff with his vehicle. McCommon was dismissed from the suit prior to trial. Following a bench trial, the lower court held that plaintiff's negligence was greater than that of the defendant and that plaintiff proximately caused her own injuries. Because we do not find that the evidence preponderates against the trial court's determination, we affirm the judgment dismissing plaintiff's case.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Judge Wyeth Chandler
Shelby County Court of Appeals 05/09/96
Waymon Frederick Axley, v. Beverly Anne Mallette Axley

02A01-9412-CV-00283

After a thirty year marriage,1 Waymon Frederic Axley (Husband) and Beverly Anne Mallette Axley (Wife) were divorced by final decree entered by the trial court in August 1994.2 This appeal concerns the trial court’s award to Wife of $1,500 per month as alimony in futuro and, as additional alimony, $177.62 per month for 36 consecutive months to continue Wife on Husband’s health insurance through his employer. Wife seeks an increase in the award as well as her attorney’s fees for services rendered in this appeal. She frames the issues as follows: I. Did the trial judge err by awarding Wife only $1,500 per month in periodic alimony? II. Should this Court remand this matter to the trial court with the instruction to set a reasonable amount of attorney’s fees for this appeal?

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Chancellor W. Michael Maloan
Shelby County Court of Appeals 05/09/96
Waymon Frederic Axley, v. Beverly Anne Mallette Axley

02A01-9412-CV-00283

After a thirty year marriage,1 Waymon Frederic Axley (Husband) and Beverly Anne Mallette Axley (Wife) were divorced by final decree entered by the trial court in August 1994.2 This appeal concerns the trial court’s award to Wife of $1,500 per month as alimony in futuro and, as additional alimony, $177.62 per month for 36 consecutive months to continue Wife on Husband’s health insurance through his employer. Wife seeks an increase in the award as well as her attorney’s fees for services rendered in this appeal. She frames the issues as follows:

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Chancellor W. Michael Maloan
Shelby County Court of Appeals 05/09/96
Charles Steven Denbow, v. Sandra Kay Denbow

02A01-9410-CH-00238

This is a domestic relations case with an unusual twist. On May 3, 1994, plaintiff filed a complaint in the Chancery Court of Chester County seeking a divorce from defendant on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. At the same time, plaintiff filed a marital dissolution agreement (“agreement”) executed by the parties on May 2, 1994. The agreement provided that the parties would have joint custody of their two minor children, then ages 13 and 15, with the children residing with plaintiff. No child support was to be paid by either party. In addition, the agreement did not make any allowances for alimony and purported to divide the real and personal property between the parties. Plaintiff was represented by counsel at the time the parties executed the agreement, but defendant was not. Shortly thereafter, defendant employed counsel and on June 3, 1994, filed a motion to set aside the agreement. In her motion defendant contended that she was forced to sign the agreement under duress and fear of bodily harm. She also contended that the agreement did not adequately provide for the care and maintenance of the parties’ minor children or make an equitable settlement of the 2 parties’ property as required by T.C.A. § 36-4-103(b) (1991). Defendant’s motion asked the court to set the agreement aside and allow the parties to proceed with the divorce as if the agreement had never been executed.

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge Tomlin
Originating Judge:Judge Joe C. Morris
Chester County Court of Appeals 05/09/96
Joyce Ann Neal, Individually and as parent and next of kin of the minor child, Brandon Devoris Neal, v. Fayette County Board of Education, Dale Summitt, et al.

02A01-9412-CV-00271

This matter arose out of a personal injury action brought against Fayette County 2 Board of Education by plaintiff, Joyce Ann Neal, as parent and next of kin of Brandon Neal, a minor. Brandon, age eleven, was injured while playing basketball when his finger became caught in the goal. Reasoning that the goal was neither dangerous nor defective and that Brandon caused his own injuries through his misuse of the goal, the trial court held in favor of the school board. On appeal, plaintiff contends that the evidence preponderates against the trial court's determination that the goal was not dangerous or defective. Plaintiff further alleges that the trial court erred in failing to find that the school board was negligent. For the reasons stated below, we find these contentions to be without merit; therefore, we affirm the trial court's judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Fayette County Court of Appeals 05/09/96
Oak Highlands Homeowners' Association, Inc., v. Continental Development and Construction, Inc. and Nicholas S. Psillas

01A01-9511-CH-00535

The captioned plaintiff has appealed from the non-jury dismissal of its suit to enforce restrictions and has presented the following issues for review:

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Chancellor C. Allen High
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
Jimmy Arnold v. Tennessee Board of Paroles, et al., - Concurring

01-A-01-9508-CH-00375

The Chancery Court of Davidson County dismissed the appellant’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari to review the Parole Board’s denial of parole. We affirm because we find that the petition in the lower court does not contain any  allegations which show that the Board acted illegally, arbitrarily, or in excess of its jurisdiction.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Chancellor C. Allen High
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
Harlan White, v. State of Tennessee, Department of Correction

01A01-9602-CH-00071

This is an appeal by petitioner, Harlan White, from the trial court’s order dismissing his petition for declaratory judgment on the ground that petitioner failed to exhaust his administrative remedies.

Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Originating Judge:Chancellor Robert S. Brandt
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
Dewey Richard Farley and wife, Pamela Farley, and Tommy West, v. James Clayton, Individually and D/B/A Luv Homes, Clayton Homes, Inc. et al.

01A01-9510-CV-00429

This is an action for misrepresentations and inducement of breach of contract relating to the trial and settlement of a personal injury case. The original plaintiffs and a co-defendant have sued the other defendants for misrepresenting or concealing material facts which (1) induced the plaintiffs to settle their original claim for less than its worth, and (2) induced the defendants’ insurance company not to represent the other defendant. The Circuit Court of Putnam County granted summary judgment to the defendants. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge John A. Turnbull
Putnam County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
Dewey Richard Farley and wife, Pamela Farley, and Tommy West v. James Clayton, Individually and D/B/A Luv Homes, Clayton Homes, Inc., Individually and D/B/A Luv Homes and Ch of Al, Inc. et al.

01A01-9510-CV-00429

This is an action for misrepresentations and inducement of breach of contract relating to the trial and settlement of a personal injury case. The original plaintiffs and a co-defendant have sued the other defendants for misrepresenting or concealing material facts which (1) induced the plaintiffs to settle their original claim for less than its worth, and (2) induced the defendants’ insurance company not to represent the other defendant. The Circuit Court of Putnam County granted summary judgment to the defendants. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge John A. Turnbull
Putnam County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
Evelene V. Stein, v. Davidson Hotel Company

01A01-9509-CV-00407

This is an appeal by plaintiff/appellant, Evelene N. Stein, from a judgment dismissing five of the seven claims alleged by Ms. Stein against defendant/appellant, Davidson Hotel Company ("Davidson").

Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Originating Judge:Judge Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
James Michael Gee v. Amy Elizabeth (Mischell) Gee - Concurring

01-A-01-9509-CH-00427

The captioned defendant has appealed from a partial judgment which resolved some, but not all, of the issues in this divorce case. The judgment is not a final judgment appealable as of right, and is subject to revision by the Trial Court at any time before all issues are determined. T.R.A.P. Rule 3(a).

Authoring Judge: Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Chancellor Alex W. Darnell
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
Gertrude Jackson and Josephine J. Johnson, v. Helen Patton, Executrix of the Estate of Jennie Mai Jackson, Deceased.

01A01-9511-CH-00528

The captioned executrix has appealed from a non-jury judgment of the Chancery Court that a will dated April 6, 1989 is the true, whole and last will and testament of Jennie Mai Jackson, deceased.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Chancellor Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
Frank R. Dalton v. Tennessee Board of Paroles - Concurring

01-A-01-9601-CH-00029

This appeal involves a prison inmate’s efforts to be paroled. After the Tennessee Board of Paroles declined to parole him, the inmate filed a petition for common-law writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County seeking review of the board’s decision. The trial court dismissed the petition on the ground that it failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted, and the inmate appealed to this court. We have determined that the board has not demonstrated that it is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law, and therefore, we vacate the judgment and remand the case for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Robert S. Brandt
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/08/96
Giles E. Roberson and wife, Hazel B. Roberson, v. Mary Margaret (Darwin) Wasson and Pug Martin, individually and D/B/A Century 21 Pug Martin Realty and Stephen N. Snyder and, Barbara L. Snyder

03A01-9509-CH-00299

This suit was filed by Plaintiffs Giles E. Roberson and his wife Hazel B. Roberson against Defendants Mary Margaret (Darwin) Wasson and Pug Martin, individually , and D/B/A Century 21 Pug Martin Realty. The Plaintiffs sought to have the Court declare that a strip of land approximately 18 feet in width, titled in the name of Mrs. Wasson, which lay between separate tracts owned by them (see appendix) "to have been abandoned and to be non-existent." The complaint was later amended to advance the theory of adverse possession, and still later to add as parties Defendant Stephen N. Snyder and wife Barbara L. Snyder, who had purchased the property from Mrs. Wasson.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Chancellor Jeffrey F. Stewart
Rhea County Court of Appeals 05/06/96
James Dale Barnes, v. Miller Medical Group, P.C. Edgefield Hospital, Inc., Dr. Douglas Dorsey, and Dr. J. Shepherd

01A01-9512-CV-00549

The husband of a woman who suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after being discharged from a hospital emergency room filed a medical malpractice suit against the treating doctor and the medical group for which he worked. The trial court dismissed the claim against the defendant doctor because the plaintiff failed to obtain service on him. A summary judgment was subsequently granted to the defendant medical group on the ground of the plaintiff’s failure to produce a qualified affidavit on the proper standard of care and on causation, as is required by the Medical Malpractice Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-115. We affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/03/96
Julius Michael Harris, v. Suzanne Zulieme Harris

01A01-9511-CV-00518

he plaintiff/ex-husband has appealed from the dismissal of his post-divorce decree
petition seeking relief from child support and change of custody.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Special Judge Lee Ofman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 05/03/96
Clifford Scott Goodwin, v. Judith Annette Wetz F/K/A Judith Annette Goodwin

01A01-9512-CH-00547

The captioned petitioner has appealed from the dismissal of his suit to enroll and modify a foreign divorce decree.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Judge Leonard W. Martin
Cheatham County Court of Appeals 05/03/96