APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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James P. Hyde v. State of Tennessee

E2004-02177-CCA-R3-PC

The pro se petitioner, James P. Hyde, appeals from the trial court's order denying the petitioner's motion to reopen his post-conviction petition. The states moves the court to affirm the judgment of the trial court pursuant to Rule 20 of this court's rules. The motion was properly denied for lack of merit. Accordingly, the state's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge James E. Beckner
Hamblen County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/04
Charles Conner v. Commissioner Michael Magill, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, et al.

W2003-01988-COA-R3-CV

This is an unemployment compensation case in which Appellant was denied benefits by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. At all administrative levels it was determined that Appellant was discharged for “misconduct connected with such claimant’s work” and that he was, therefore, disqualified from receiving benefits under Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-7-303. This ruling was then affirmed by the lower court. Appellant then timely filed this appeal challenging the ruling of the lower court. For the following reasons, we affirm and remand for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Chancellor Walter L. Evans
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/18/04
B.M.M. v. P.R.M.

M2002-02242-COA-R3-CV

This is a child custody dispute. The mother and father entered into a permanent parenting plan naming the mother the primary residential parent of their daughter. Under the plan, the father had supervised visitation because the mother was concerned about sexual abuse by the father. The father later sought to modify the parenting plan to allow for unsupervised visitation. The mother then filed a notice that she intended to move to Florida with the daughter, which the father opposed. The trial court granted the father's petition for unsupervised visitation and denied the mother's request to relocate to Florida with the child. The mother and daughter then left for a scheduled trip to Florida, with the understanding that they would return for the father's scheduled visitation. The mother remained in Florida with the daughter for six weeks, asserting that she, the mother, was too ill to travel. The father was granted an emergency change of custody. The father then retrieved the daughter through a private investigator, coordinating with Florida officials. Upon return to Tennessee, the trial court found the mother in criminal contempt for interfering with the father's visitation and for moving to Florida. The father was named the primary residential parent and the mother was granted supervised visitation. The mother was also required to pay the father for the cost of the private investigator. The mother appeals the denial of her request to move to Florida with the child, the award of unsupervised visitation to the father, the finding of contempt, the change of custody, the requirement that her visitation be supervised, and the requirement that she pay the private investigator's fee. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Judge Clara W. Byrd
Wilson County Court of Appeals 08/18/04
In Re: C.A.H.

M2004-00523-COA-R3-PT

Mother appeals termination of her parental rights. The juvenile court found that Mother was in substantial noncompliance with the permanency plan, that she failed to remedy the persistent conditions that prevented her child's return, and that termination was in the child's best interest. We affirm. The record contains numerous extraneous documents that do not pertain to the petition to terminate parental rights or the issues raised on appeal. The parties and the clerk have a responsibility to abridge the record. Tenn. R. App. P. 8A(c). Failure to abridge the record may result in a reduction of the juvenile court clerk's fee for the cost of preparing and transmitting the record. Tenn. R. App. P. 40(g).

Authoring Judge: Judge Frank Clement, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Timothy R. Brock
Coffee County Court of Appeals 08/18/04
State of Tennessee v. Anthony Carrier

E2003-02768-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Anthony Carrier, pled guilty to aggravated burglary, felony theft, and misdemeanor vandalism. Pursuant to his plea agreement, he received an effective sentence of three years, with the manner of service of the sentences to be determined by the trial court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the Defendant to serve his sentences in confinement. It is from this order that the Defendant appeals. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/17/04
Lamar Advertising of Tennessee, Inc., v. City of Knoxville

03A01-9609-CH-00294

Lamar Advertising of Tennessee (Lamar) appeals from an order of the Chancerty Court of Knox County that upheld the validity of a provision of the kNoxville City Code, Article V, Section 10-N (Ordinance) that assesses a license fee per annum for the inspection of all existing ground and portable signs within the City of Knoxville. Lamar owns and maintains 350 outdoor advertising sturctures within the City of Knoxville and has challenged the validity of the ordinance.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Chancellor Frederick C. McDonald
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
James C. Murray v. State of Tennessee

M2003-01239-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, James C. Murray, appeals the denial of post-conviction relief relating to his convictions for premeditated first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. On appeal, the petitioner contends: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial; and (2) the post-conviction court erred in refusing to admit Leonard Rowe's testimony. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/17/04
Rhonda Lee Smith (Baliles) v. Home Beneficial Life Insurance Company

03A01-9606-CH-00195

This case is before us pursuant to the grant of two Rule 9 Interlocutory Appeals, one to Plaintiff Rhonda Lee Smith and the other to Larry Wallace, in his offical capacity as Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Chancellor Earl H. Henley
Bradley County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
State of Tennessee, Department of Human Services v. Joe Eric Taylor, Sr.

03A01-9609-JV-00286

This is an appeal from a judgment of the juvenile court of Knox County wherein the court terminted the parental rights of the appellant (defendant). For reasons hereinafter stated, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Carey E. Garrett
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Planned Parenthood Association of Tennessee, v. Don Sundquist, Governor of the State of Tennessee

01A01-9601-CV-00052

This appeal presents a multifaceted challenge to the constitutionality of Tennessee’s abortion statutes. After a physician and a clinic in Knoxville were charged with violating these statutes, two other clinics in Memphis and Nashville, joined by three physicians, filed suit in the Circuit Court for Davidson County seeking declaratory and injunctive relief under the Constitution of Tennessee. The trial court struck down the residency requirement, the waiting period, and the requirement that physicians inform their patients that an abortion is a major surgical procedure. After making its own substantive revisions in the statutory text, the trial court upheld the mandatory hospitalization requirement, the remaining informed consent requirements, and the newly enacted parental consent requirement. We have determined that the trial court erred by revising the text of several provisions. We have also determined that the emergency medical exception enacted by the General Assembly is unconstitutionally narrow, that the combined effect of the waiting period and the physician-only counseling requirement places an undue burden on women’s procreational choice, and that the remaining challenged provisions as construed herein pass constitutional muster.
 

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
David T. Bailey and E. Lynn Wagner in their own right and derivative for the use and benefit of Southeastern Healthcare Svcs., L.P., v. Tom Holbert, as general partner of Southeastern Healthcare Svcs. L.P. et al.

03A01-9606-CV-00190

This is a suit by David T. Bailey and E. Lynn Wagner in their own right and derivatively for the use and benefit of Southeastern Healthcare Services, L.P., a Limited Partnership in which they were partners, against Tom Holbert, as general partner, Moore's Pharmacy, Inc., D/B/A Marcum's Healthcare Services, and Carl Marcum and Gina Marcum Pinney, as Officers and Directors and/or Employees and Agents of and for Moore's Pharmacy, Inc., and Tom HOlbert, Carl Marcum and gina Marcum Pinney, Individually. The suit stems from the purchase by Southeastern Healthcare Services of a unit dosage pharmacy business from Moore's Pharmacy, Inc., for the sum of $275,000. The complaint alleged a cause of action for negligent misrepresentation and breach of warranty.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge Harold W. Wimberly
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Charles Montague, v. Tennessee Department of Correction and Warden Howard Clayton - Concurring

01A01-9711-CH-00667

I concur with the court’s conclusion that Mr. Montague’s complaint fails to state a claim for which relief can be granted under Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 4-5-223 through 4-5-225 (1991 & Supp. 1997).

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Mike T. Hunter, v. Damien V. Burke and Donnie Wear, and Joe Guffey, Individually and doing business as J.D. Auto Sales, and Edwin Thompson, A/K/A Edward Thompson

03A01-9606-CV-0027

This is a suit for damages arising out of personal injuries sustained by Mike T. Hunter (Hunter) when he was hit by an automobile driven by the defendant Damian V. Burke (Burke). Burke's vehicle ws owned by the defendants Donnie Wear (Wear) and Joe Guffey (Guffey). The trial court directed a verdict against all of the appealing defendants. 1. The jury then awarded Hunter compensatory damages of $270,000. These defendants appealed, raising the following questions for our resolution:

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge John B. Hagler, Jr.
Bradley County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Patty Jean Talbott and Sam Talbott, v. Judy F. Slaven

03A01-9609-CV-00304

Patty Jean Talbott and her husband, Sam Talbott, appeal a judgment entered in the Circuit Court for KNox County which, in accordance with a jury verdict, awarded her $2264.59 for personal injuries received in an automobile accident. The jury obviously found that Mr. Talbott suffered no damages and fixed his recovery at zero.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler Rosenbalm
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
State of Tennessee v. Terry Wayne Perkins

E2003-02885-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Terry Wayne Perkins, was indicted on charges of driving under the influence, fourth offense, operating a motor vehicle after being declared an habitual motor vehicle offender, violation of the implied consent law, and driving on a revoked license. He was acquitted of the D.U.I. charge. A jury convicted him of violation of the implied consent law and driving on a revoked license. He was sentenced to an 11- month-and-29-day sentence at 75% for the violation of the implied consent law and six months at 75% for the driving on a revoked license conviction. The two sentences were ordered to run concurrently and the trial court ordered the appellant to serve 15 days of the sentence in the county jail, after which he would be released on probation, and assessed a $100 fine for each conviction. On appeal, the appellant challenges the trial court's decision to order him to serve 15 days in jail. For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Campbell County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/17/04
Williams Holding Company D/B/A Raleigh Hills Apartments v. Sharon T. Willis, et al.

W1999-02733-COA-R3-CV

Plaintiff, owner of an apartment complex, filed suit seeking damages caused by a fire in an apartment occupied by Defendants. The parties consented to arbitration. The parties stipulated to the damages in the amount of $73,414.64. Further, it was stipulated that Plaintiff settled with two of the three Defendants whereby the two Defendants payed 50%, $36,707.32, of the property damage. Subsequently, the arbiter ruled that the remaining Defendant was 100% at fault and liable for the total amount of damages, $73,414.64. Plaintiff filed a motion with the trial court to confirm the arbiter's award. In response, the remaining Defendant filed a motion to modify, correct, and/or to vacate the arbitration award and a motion for credit, set off and reduction of award. The trial court confirmed the arbiter's award, thereby denying Defendant's motions. Defendant appeals. For the following reasons, we reverse the decision of the trial court and modify the arbitration award.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Robert A. Lanier
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
State of Tennessee v. Johnnie Darrell Rice

M2003-01294-CCA-R3-CD

The Appellant, Johnnie Darrell Rice, was convicted by a Davidson County jury of driving under the influence (DUI), first offense. Following a sentencing hearing, Rice was ordered to serve twenty days in periodic confinement. Rice appeals both his conviction and sentence arguing that: (1) the arresting officer had no reasonable suspicion to stop his vehicle; (2) the trial court erred in ruling that Sergeant Ben Cook was an "expert" witness; and (3) his twenty-day sentence was excessive. Finding no reversible error, the judgment of conviction and sentence are affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Carol L. Soloman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/17/04
Roy S. Oakes, v. Harry Lane Nissan, Inc.

03A01-9609-CH-00302

In this action for damages for breach of lease, the Trial Judge awarded damages in the amount of $25,000.00 and defendant has appealed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Chancellor William L. Jenkins
Hamblen County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
TBC Corporation, v. Gene Wall, Geraldine Wall, Joe Wall, and Helen Wall, v. Marvin Bruce

02A01-9310-CH-00229

TBC Corporation (“Plaintiff”) filed suit in the Chancery Court of Shelby County against Joe Wall, Helen Wall, Gene Wall and Geraldine Wall (collectively “The Walls” or “Defendants”) seeking a judgment for an amount due on an account secured by personal guaranties signed by defendants. The defendants filed an answer and a thirdparty complaint, the latter against Marvin Bruce, plaintiff’s president, (“Bruce”), by which they sought indemnification in the event plaintiff obtained a judgment against them. In their answer, the defendants denied that the guaranties were still in effect, and in addition, raised the affirmative defenses of release, waiver, abandonment and estoppel.1 The answer and third-party complaint also demanded a jury.

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge Hewitt P. Tomlin
Originating Judge:Chancellor Floyd Peete, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Jordan Ashton Danelz v. John Gayden

W2003-01649-COA-R3-JV

Mother and husband divorced. In her complaint for divorce, mother stated that her son was born of their marriage. Husband paid son’s child support. Upon reaching the age of majority, son filed a paternity action against alleged father. Son relied upon mother’s affidavit as proof of requisite sexual contact. The alleged father filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim arguing mother was judicially estopped from making the statements contained in her affidavit in light of her statements made in her divorce complaint. The juvenile court granted the motion to dismiss. For the following reasons, we reverse the decision of the trial court and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Kenneth A. Turner
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Gerald A. Ottinger v. Kimberly S. Ottinger

03A01-9801-CV-00027

This is a child custody case in which both Gerald Ottinger (father) and Kimberly Ottinger (mother) filed petitions for primary residential custody of their daughter, Marlah Whitley Ottinger. The trial court granted joint legal custody to the parties and awarded primary residential custody to the father. The mother appeals, asserting that the court should have awarded her primary residential custody. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Ben Hooper, II
Cocke County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Robert T. Irvin, v. The Plasma Center, et. al.

01A01-9701-CV-00028

Robert T. Irvin sued the defendants for refusal to continue to accept his donation of plasma to The Plasma Center. Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. The trial court entered an order stating that the complaint failed to state a cause of action and, that if Mr. Irvin’s cause of action lies in medical malpractice, he failed to meet his requisite burden in responding to the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. The motion for summary judgment was granted and Mr. Irvin appeals.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge James E. Walton
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Steven Clay Holley, v. Sherri Lynn Hufford Holley

03A01-9812-CH-00391

In this divorce action, the Trial Judge granted the parties a divorce, and allocated the marital and separate assets.

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Chancellor R. Vann Owens
Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Paula Ruth Sheffield Hartman, v. Melvin Thomas Hartman, Jr.

03A01-9608-CV-00249

Melvin Thomas Hartman, Jr., appeals a divorce judgment rendered by the Circuit Court for Hamilton County, On apeal he insists that the Trial Court erred in its award of certain jewelry to his wife, Paua Ruth Sheffied Hartment, as separate property which was in fact marital preperty. Mr. Hartman also insists that the Trial Court made an inequitable division of the marital estate since the Trial Court refused to consider the tax consequences of awarding Mr. Hartman certain retirement funds in exchange for Ms. Hartman receiving the equity in their home and other real property. Mr. Hartman filed a motion for reference to a Special Master due to the "complex valuation and categorization issues. "

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge Samuel H. Payne
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Susan Pykosh, et al., v. Stephanie A. Earps, et al.

M2004-01507-COA-R10-CV

This extraordinary appeal involves a Tenn. R. Civ. P. 35.01 request for a physical examination of an opposing party. Following a vehicular collision in Wilson County, one of the drivers and her passenger filed suit in the Circuit Court for Wilson County seeking damages from the driver and owners of the other vehicle. Issues involving the extent and permanency of the plaintiff driver's injuries caused by this collision arose after the plaintiff driver was injured in another accident, and the defendants requested permission for their medical expert to examine the plaintiff driver. The trial court denied the request, and the defendants filed a Tenn. R. App. P. 10 application with this court. We have determined that, under the facts of this case, the trial court's denial of the defendants' Tenn. R. Civ. P. 35.01 motion departs from the accepted and usual course of judicial proceedings of this sort. Therefore, we grant the Tenn. R. App. P. 10 application and reverse the order denying the Tenn. R. Civ. P. 35.01 motion.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Clara W. Byrd
Wilson County Court of Appeals 08/17/04