APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Sterling Lamarr Cooper v. Shawn Phillips, Warden

E2020-01568-CCA-R3-HC

The Petitioner, Sterling Lamarr Cooper, appeals the summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Jeffery Hill Wicks
Morgan County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/27/21
State of Tennessee v. Torijon Coplin

W2019-01593-CCA-R3-CD

A jury convicted the Defendant, Torijon Coplin, of aggravated assault and tampering with evidence, and he received an effective sentence of four years suspended to supervised probation after eleven months and twenty-nine days of service. On appeal, the Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions and argues the trial court erred in charging the jury as to criminal responsibility. Because the criminal responsibility charge did not include the natural and probable consequences requirement and because the error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt as to the tampering with evidence conviction, we reverse the conviction for tampering with evidence and remand for further proceedings. The judgments are otherwise affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/21
Joseph Riccardi v. Carl Little Construction Company, Inc Et Al.

E2020-00678-COA-R3-CV

Plaintiff Joseph Riccardi brought this action for negligent construction of his residence against Carl Little Construction Company (“Defendant”), builder of the residence, and the Bridgewater Condominiums Property Owners Association (“Bridgewater POA”). He alleged that Defendant negligently built the residence on non-compacted fill dirt, causing structural and cosmetic damages to the residence. Plaintiff alleged that Bridgewater POA was contractually responsible for repairs to the exterior of the residence. The trial court granted summary judgment to Defendant based on its finding that the statutes of limitation and repose had run. The court held that Bridgewater POA was liable for repairs to the porches and patios of the property, but not the foundation or the cracks in the interior. We vacate summary judgment against Defendant, finding that Plaintiff presented evidence sufficient to establish genuine issues of material fact regarding when Plaintiff’s cause of action accrued and whether Defendant fraudulently concealed the defects in the residence. We affirm the judgment against Bridgewater POA.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Judge Jean A. Stanley
Washington County Court of Appeals 07/26/21
State of Tennessee v. Torijon Coplin - Concur in Part/Dissent in Part

W2019-01593-CCA-R3-CD

J. ROSS DYER, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part. While I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the criminal responsibility instruction in the instant matter was deficient, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion that the proof presented at trial is not sufficient to support a determination that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/21
State of Tennessee v. Terry Newsom

W2020-00695-CCA-R3-CD

A Madison County jury convicted the Defendant, Terry Newsom, of evading arrest, reckless endangerment, and driving with a suspended license. The trial court imposed an effective three-year sentence to be served in the Tennessee Department of Correction and ordered the Defendant to pay the fines imposed by the jury. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for reckless endangerment, that the trial court erred when it sentenced him, and that the fines were improperly imposed. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/21
Terrence Lewis v. State of Tennessee

W2020-00653-CCA-R3-PC

Terrence Lewis, Petitioner, appeals after the trial court denied post-conviction relief and dismissed his post-conviction petition in which he alleged that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. Because Petitioner failed to prove his allegations by clear and convincing evidence, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/21
Tywan Sykes v. James Berrong Et Al.

E2021-00726-COA-UNK-CV

Because the notice of appeal in this case was not timely filed this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal.

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Judge David Reed Duggan
Blount County Court of Appeals 07/26/21
Ginger Lougene Hutsell Denton v. Steven Lee Denton

E2020-01105-COA-R3-CV

This appeal arises from a divorce. Acting pro se, the former husband fails to present an issue for this Court to review. Because his brief falls well short of the requirements of both the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure and the rules of this Court, we dismiss the appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Chancellor Telford E. Forgety, Jr.
Jefferson County Court of Appeals 07/26/21
Michael Murphy v. Richard Sarta Et Al.

E2020-00445-COA-R3-CV

Following a judgment in their favor in a personal injury action, the defendants were granted an award of discretionary costs in the amount of $3,499.81. Appellant appeals, raising several arguments in opposition to the costs awarded. Because many of Appellant’s arguments were not properly raised in the trial court, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion on the remaining issues, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Judge Alex E. Pearson
Hamblen County Court of Appeals 07/26/21
State of Tennessee v. Sharod Winford Moore

M2020-00879-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Sharod Winford Moore, was convicted by a jury of first degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. In the first direct appeal, this court found that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the conviction but that the Defendant waived all other issues for failure to file a timely motion for new trial. The Defendant was subsequently granted a delayed appeal. He now argues that (1) the trial court erred in allowing the State to present unfairly prejudicial evidence of his alleged gang membership, (2) the State engaged in prosecutorial misconduct by making inflammatory and prejudicial remarks about his alleged gang membership in closing argument, (3) the trial court erred in not allowing evidence of the victim’s propensity for intoxication and violence, and (4) the trial court erred in determining that a State’s intellectually disabled witness was competent to testify. We affirm the conviction.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge M. Wyatt Burk
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/21
Arthur Jack Shipley v. Christa Elise Shipley

E2021-00670-COA-R3-CV

Because the notice of appeal in this case was not timely filed this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal.

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Judge John B. Bennett
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 07/26/21
State of Tennessee v. Maurice "Ricky" Blocker

W2020-00543-CCA-R3-PC

Petitioner, Maurice “Ricky” Blocker, appeals the denial of his post-conviction petition, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding effective assistance of counsel at both trial and on appeal. Following our review of the entire record and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Originating Judge:Judge W. Mark Ward
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/21
State of Tennessee v. Tracy Lynn Harris

W2020-01564-CCA-R3-CD

Pro-se petitioner, Tracy Lynn Harris, appeals from the Carroll County Circuit Court’s summary dismissal of his motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1. Following our review of the entire record and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Originating Judge:Judge Donald E. Parish
Carroll County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/23/21
State of Tennessee v. The City of Greeneville, TN et al.

E2020-01106-COA-R3-CV

A police officer appealed his termination by the Town of Greeneville to the Greeneville Civil Service Board, which upheld it. Appellant then appealed to the trial court, which also upheld the termination. Because we conclude that the record lacks information necessary to conduct appellate review, we vacate the trial court’s judgment and remand the case to the Board for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Judge Douglas T. Jenkins
Greene County Court of Appeals 07/23/21
Kelly Turner et al. v. WW Steeplechase, LLC. et al.

E2020-00579-COA-R3-CV

The issues on appeal arise from a personal injury action commenced by two tenants of an apartment complex against the owner of the complex and the property management company. The complaint alleged that one of the plaintiffs fell through an inadequately supported floor vent in the master bedroom of their apartment. The plaintiffs asserted that the management company should have discovered the defective condition while conducting maintenance and repairs on the apartment. The trial court summarily dismissed the complaint after finding the undisputed facts showed the defect was concealed and the management company had no duty to test the vent’s structural integrity. Prior to entry of a final judgment, the plaintiffs then filed an amended complaint based on negligence per se against only the management company. The plaintiffs asserted that a local building code established a minimum live load for apartment floors. The court dismissed the amended complaint after finding the building code did not apply. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Frank G. Clement Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Kristi M. Davis
Knox County Court of Appeals 07/23/21
State of Tennessee v. Angela Kilgore

M2020-00121-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Angela Kilgore, was convicted by a jury of first degree premeditated murder, first degree felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, aggravated arson, and theft of property valued $2,500 or more but less than $10,000. After merging the felony murder conviction into the premeditated murder conviction, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to an effective term of life plus eighty years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred by overruling her motion to suppress the results of the search of her pickup truck, the evidence was insufficient to sustain her convictions for first degree murder, aggravated arson and especially aggravated robbery, her dual convictions for especially aggravated robbery and theft violate principles of double jeopardy, and the trial court erred in ordering consecutive sentences. We affirm the judgments of the trial court but remand for a corrected judgment in count six to reflect that the theft conviction merges into the conviction for especially aggravated robbery.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Senior Judge Don R. Ash
Marion County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/23/21
State of Tennessee v. Justin Case Jenkins

W2020-00577-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Justin Case Jenkins, appeals the Madison County Circuit Court’s imposition of an effective 16-year sentence and $9,820.35 in restitution for his guiltypleaded convictions of burglary, theft, vandalism, identity theft, felony evading arrest, and various driving offenses. We affirm the imposition of consecutive sentences but, because the trial court failed to comply with the statutory requirements in ordering restitution, we reverse the restitution orders and remand for a new restitution hearing.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/22/21
State of Tennessee v. Jimmy Lee Pearce, Jr.

W2020-00552-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Jimmy Lee Pearce, Jr., appeals the trial court’s denial of his “Petition for Pretrial Jail Credits.” On appeal, he claims that the trial court erred by failing to enter amended judgments to include credits noted in the trial court’s amended revocation order. Following our review of the entire record and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Originating Judge:Judge J. Weber McCraw
Fayette County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/22/21
State of Tennessee v. Shannon Bruce Foster

E2020-00304-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Shannon Bruce Foster, was convicted by a Knox County Criminal Court jury of second degree murder, a Class A felony. See T.C.A. § 39-13-210 (2018). The Defendant was sentenced to seventeen years’ incarceration. On appeal, he contends that (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction, (2) the trial court erred by instructing the jury that he had the duty to retreat before engaging in self-defense, and (3) the trial court erred by admitting a photograph depicting the victim with his young children. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Bobby R. McGee
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/22/21
State of Tennessee v. Vincent Rodolphus Helser

M2020-00557-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant-Appellant, Vincent Rodolphus Helser, pleaded guilty to one count of violation of the sexual offender registry in case number 2018-CR-129 and one count of sale of methamphetamine over 0.5 grams in case number 2018-CR-205. The Defendant received a two-year probationary sentence in case number 2018-CR-129 and an effective nine-year sentence, to be served on supervised probation after 180 days in confinement, in case number 2018-CR-205. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that the trial court erred in revoking his probation and ordering the remainder of his sentence to be served in confinement. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.  

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Gary McKenzie
DeKalb County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/22/21
In Re Chance B. Et Al.

M2020-01555-COA-R3-PT

This appeal involves the termination of a mother’s parental rights. The Trial Court found the mother to be indigent and appointed counsel to represent her. The Trial Court conducted a trial and entered an order finding that two statutory grounds of abandonment existed for termination of the mother’s parental rights and that termination was in the children’s best interest. There is no transcript or statement of the evidence included in the record to permit appellate review of the mother’s issues on appeal concerning the termination of her parental rights. As such, we vacate the Trial Court’s judgment terminating the mother’s parental rights to the children and remand to the Trial Court for further proceedings consistent with this Opinion.    

Authoring Judge: Chief Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Chancellor Laurence M. McMillan, Jr.
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 07/21/21
In Re Jayda J. Et Al.

M2020-01309-COA-R3-PT

In this parental rights termination case, the trial court ruled that DCS proved five grounds for terminating Mother’s parental rights to her two children: mental incompetence, persistence of conditions, abandonment by failure to support, abandonment by failure to provide a suitable home, and failure to manifest a willingness and ability to assume custody of the children. The trial court also ruled that termination of Mother’s rights was in the children’s best interest. We reverse the trial court’s rulings as to the grounds of mental incompetence and abandonment by failure to support. We also reverse the trial court’s ruling that termination of Mother’s rights is in the children’s best interests.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Judge Amy V. Hollars
Putnam County Court of Appeals 07/21/21
Tabitha Gentry v. State of Tennessee

W2020-00637-CCA-R3-PC

A Shelby County jury convicted the Petitioner, Tabitha Gentry, of theft of property valued over $250,000 and aggravated burglary. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of twenty years. On appeal, this court affirmed the judgments. See State v. Tabitha Gentry, No. W2015-01745-CCA-R3-CD, 2016 WL 4264266, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Jackson, Aug. 12, 2016), perm. app. granted (Tenn. Dec. 14, 2016). On appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court, the supreme court affirmed. State v. Gentry, 538 S.W.3d 413 (Tenn. 2017). The Petitioner timely filed a post-conviction petition, alleging that she received the ineffective assistance of counsel. After multiple hearings, the post-conviction court denied relief, concluding that the Petitioner had not proven that Counsel was deficient or that the Petitioner was prejudiced by Counsel’s representation. On appeal, the Petitioner maintains that she received the ineffective assistance of counsel. After review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge James M. Lammey
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/21/21
Marcus Thomas v. State of Tennessee

E2020-00751-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Marcus Thomas, appeals from the Knox County Criminal Court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief from his guilty pleaded conviction to attempted first degree murder. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred by dismissing his petition and denying relief on his claims alleging that his guilty plea was involuntary and unknowing and that he received the ineffective assistance of trial counsel. We affirm in part and reverse in part the post-conviction court’s judgment and remand the case for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge G. Scott Green
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/21/21
State of Tennessee v. Cindy B. Hinton

M2020-00812-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Cindy B. Hinton, appeals her convictions for vehicular homicide by intoxication and vehicular homicide by reckless driving. The Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient relative to the Defendant’s intoxication and that the court erred by imposing a sentence of eleven years in confinement. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Suzanne Lockert-Mash
Cheatham County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/21/21