APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Harold Lovelace, D/B/A The Last Chance Club, et al vs. City of Knoxville

E2000-01609-COA-R3-CV
In this Declaratory Judgment action the Trial Court held portions of a City Ordinance unconstitutional relative to notice provisions, the term "open for business" and "open display". We affirm in part, reverse in part and remand.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Sharon J. Bell
Knox County Court of Appeals 02/12/01
Vesta Mosley vs. Tennessee Water Service & Sales

E2000-01713-COA-R3-CV
In this appeal from the Circuit Court of Anderson County the Defendant/Appellant, Tennessee Water Service and Sales, Inc., appeals the Circuit Court's order which denied Tennessee Water's motion for a new trial and overruled its objection to entry of a final judgment in favor of Plaintiff/ Appellee, Vesta G. Mosley. It is our finding that Tennessee Water did not receive notice of the hearing which resulted in the final judgment against it and, therefore, we vacate such judgment and reverse the Circuit Court's order overruling Tennessee Water's objection to entry of the judgment and its motion for a new trial. We remand this cause for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:James B. Scott, Jr.
Anderson County Court of Appeals 02/12/01
Wallace Downey James, Jr. v. Tennsco Corporation, et al

M1999-01088-WC-R3-CV
Appellant presents one issue to be determined and that is whether the trial court erred in finding that the appellant did not carry the requisite burden of proof in establishing that he sustained a compensable workers' compensation injury. In addition to the issue raised by Appellant, Appellee presents to the Court the issue of whether the employee's appeal should be dismissed for failure to comply with the Rules of Appellate Procedure. While the deficiencies are serious violations of the Rules of Appellate Procedure, the issue raised by the Appellant has been thoroughly reviewed by the panel, and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Tom E. Gray, Sp. J
Originating Judge:Leonard W. Martin, Chancellor
Dickson County Workers Compensation Panel 02/12/01
State of Tennessee v. Stacey Philander Baldon

W2000-00524-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant was convicted by a Lauderdale County jury of possession of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine with intent to deliver, a Class B felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. In addition, defendant entered a guilty plea to felony possession of a firearm, a Class E felony. He was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender, and received concurrent sentences of twelve years, eleven months and twenty-nine days, and two years respectively. Defendant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to the search warrant; (2) whether the trial court erred by denying his request for a severance of defendants; (3) whether the trial court erred in excluding the prior recorded testimony of his co-defendant; (4) whether the trial court improperly allowed the arresting officer to testify as to his opinion regarding the veracity of co-defendant's admission; (5) whether the jury pool was tainted by statements of a potential juror; and (6) whether the state improperly exercised its peremptory challenges. Upon our review of the record, we find defendant's allegations to be without merit; thus, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/12/01
Luke Keeling v. Florida Steel, Now Known As Ameristeel

W1999-00433-WC-R3-CV
The defendant appeals from the trial judge's finding that: the plaintiff sustained an injury within the course and scope of his employment; that he suffered a thirty-five percent vocational disability; and that he did not have a meaningful return to work. The defendant also appeals the trial court's holding that it was not entitled to a set off for funds paid to the plaintiff under a self-insurance plan. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Sr. J.
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris, Chancellor
Madison County Workers Compensation Panel 02/12/01
State of Tennessee v. Kevin Wayne Brim

M1999-01925-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant appeals from the revocation of his probation, contending that the trial court erred in ordering consecutive sentences. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/09/01
Barbara Jo Heck, et al v. City of Sevierville

E2000-00464-COA-R3-CV

In this suit the Plaintiffs seek damages for injuries received by Barbara Jo Heck when she slipped on a patch of ice and fell on property owned by the City of Sevierville. The Trial Court found that the City had no actual or constructive notice of the presence of the ice causing Mrs. Heck to fall and, accordingly, dismissed the complaint. We affirm under Rule 10(a) of the Court of Appeals.

 

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge Rex Henry Ogle
Sevier County Court of Appeals 02/08/01
State of Tennessee v. Tiffany R. Weatherspoon

W2000-00971-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Tiffany R. Weatherspoon, pled guilty in the Hardin County Circuit Court to the Class B felony of unlawful possession of over .5 grams of a Schedule II controlled substance, to wit: cocaine, with the intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell. She received the agreed-upon sentence of eight years, as a Range I offender, and a $2,000 fine. The trial court denied alternative sentencing and ordered that the defendant be incarcerated. She appealed, arguing that the court erred in denying alternative sentencing. Based upon our review, we affirm the order of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge C. Creed McGinley
Hardin County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/07/01
Tommie A. Drumwright v. Anderson Hickey Company and

W1999-00817-WC-R3-CV
The plaintiff, Tommie A. Drumwright, appeals the judgment of the trial court which found the plaintiff failed to carry her burden of proving a work-related injury and dismissed her claim. For the reasons stated in this opinion, We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: W. Michael Maloan, Sp. J
Originating Judge:Martha B. Brasfield, Chancellor
Anderson County Workers Compensation Panel 02/07/01
Jerry Trusty, et al., v. Capri Robinson, et al.

M2000-01590-COA-R3-CV

This appeal arises from a landlord-tenant dispute over damage to residential property. After the landlords obtained a $3,600 judgment in the Smith County General Sessions Court, the tenants appealed to the Circuit Court for Smith County. A jury awarded the landlords $4,500. On this appeal, the appellants assert that the trial court erred by (1) permitting the landlords' lawyer to exercise a peremptory challenge in a racially discriminatory manner, (2) permitting the landlords' lawyer to make prejudicial statements to the jury during opening argument, (3) providing a supplemental instruction in response to the jury's question, and (4) failing to enter a detailed order denying their motion for new trial. We find nothing deficient in the trial court's order denying the motion for new trial. In addition, the absence of either a transcript or a statement of the evidence or proceedings prevents us from considering the substance of the tenants' other issues. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment and find that the appeal is frivolous.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Clara W. Byrd
Smith County Court of Appeals 02/06/01
James Robert Whitworth v. State of Tennessee

W2000-02000-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, who is currently in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, entered pleas of guilty in 1974 in the Shelby County Criminal Court to the offenses of assault and battery with intent to rape and attempt to commit a felony, to wit: crime against nature. In 2000, he filed a petition to vacate and set aside these sentences, claiming that his pleas of guilty were not voluntary, that his counsel had been ineffective, and that he was innocent of the charges. The post-conviction court dismissed the petition as untimely, the statute of limitations having expired before it was filed; and the petitioner timely appealed. Based upon our review, we affirm the order of the post-conviction court dismissing the petition as untimely.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/06/01
State of Tennessee v. John E. Parnell

W1999-00562-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant was convicted by a Shelby County jury of criminally negligent homicide and aggravated child abuse. The trial court sentenced him to concurrent sentences of two years for the homicide charge and twenty years for the aggravated child abuse charge. In this appeal as a matter of right, the defendant alleges (1) he was incompetent to stand trial, and (2) the evidence was insufficient to sustain the guilty verdict for aggravated child abuse. The defendant was indicted in count one for aggravated child abuse by treating the child in a manner so as to inflict injury; the defendant was indicted in count two for aggravated child abuse by neglecting the child so as to adversely affect his health and welfare; the jury was instructed to consider count two only if the defendant was found not guilty of count one; the jury found guilt only as to count one; the jury never returned a verdict on count two; and the evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict under count one. Although the evidence overwhelmingly establishes guilt of aggravated child abuse by neglect as alleged in count two, the jury's failure to return a verdict on this count requires a remand for retrial on count two. We affirm the conviction for criminally negligent homicide.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph B. Brown
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/06/01
John Hapney, et al., v. James Warren, et al.

E2000-00783-COA-R3-CV

In this case the plaintiffs are seeking damages for personal injuries received in a vehicle accident. The plaintiffs were exiting the interstate and were bumped from the rear by the vehicle driven by Mrs. Warren. While other facts relating to the accident were disputed, it was undisputed that there was no physical injury to either of the vehicles or their contents. The police were not called to the scene and no report was made. The plaintiffs filed suit to collect damages for injuries to Mrs. Hapney's neck which she claimed were received in the accident. The jury found no negligence on the part of the defendants. One of the doctors, who saw Mrs. Hapney, testified for the defendants in the case as to causation of Mrs. Hapney's injuries. In their motion for a new trial and on appeal, the plaintiffs contend that the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of the doctor. The trial court denied the motion for a new trial. The plaintiffs appeal challenging the jury verdict and the admission of the doctor's testimony. We affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge O. Duane Slone
Sevier County Court of Appeals 02/06/01
Kenneth Crotts v. Benchmark Mechanical Contractors,

W1999-00711-WC-R3-CV
The plaintiff, Kenneth Crotts, appeals the judgment of the Circuit Court of Hardin County which found the plaintiff failed to carry his burden of proving an injury by accident and dismissed his claim. For the reasons stated in this opinion, We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: W. Michael Maloan, Sp. J,
Originating Judge:C. Creed Mcginley, Judge
Hardin County Workers Compensation Panel 02/05/01
Ronald L. Davis v. Donal Campbell

M1997-00234-COA-R3-CV

This appeal involves a dispute between a prisoner serving a 99-year sentence and the Department of Correction regarding the calculation of the prisoner's release eligibility date. After the Department declined to issue a declaratory order changing his release eligibility date, the prisoner filed an action in the Chancery Court for Davidson County asserting that the Department had incorrectly classified him as a Class X felon because he had not been convicted of a Class X crime, and he had not received credit for jail time served prior to his prison sentence. The Commissioner of Correction moved to dismiss the complaint, and the trial court, after converting the Commissioner's motion to a motion for summary judgment, dismissed the prisoner's complaint. On this appeal, the prisoner essentially reargues the same issues raised in his complaint. We have determined that the trial court correctly concluded that the material facts are not in dispute and that the Commissioner is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Accordingly, we affirm the summary judgment

 

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/05/01
Bradley J. Brown v. Mickey Joe Rogers

M2000-01277-COA-R3-CV

The biological father appeals the termination of his parental rights which allowed the adoption of his two children by the stepfather after the mother's death. Although the evidence that the father abandoned his children was clear and convincing, the proof, when supplemented with post-judgment facts, was insufficient to determine whether termination of parental rights was in the best interests of the children. We remand for a hearing on the children's best interests.

Authoring Judge: Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Judge Don R. Ash
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 02/05/01
State of Tennessee, ex Rel. Elisa Crippen, v. Lawrence Johnson

E1999-01855-COA-R3-CV

This case concerns the modification of a child support award. In addition to the child for whom support was set in the instant case, the obligor father had three other children. At one point in the past, he was required by court order to support these three other children; but, by the time of the hearing below, his obligation had been terminated except for an arrearage on which he was continuing to pay. In determining the proper award in the instant case, the trial court considered the father's other three children and deviated from the Child Support Guidelines due to the father's "hardship." The State, as assignee of the mother's right to child support, appeals. We modify the trial court's award.

 

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Carey E. Garrett
Knox County Court of Appeals 02/02/01
Evelyn Logue, v. Shelbyville Housing Authority, et al.

M1999-02555-COA-R3-CV

The controlling issues in this appeal are (1) whether under the terms of an employee policy manual the dismissed employee was something other than an employee at will, and (2) whether the action of the Board of the Shelbyville Housing Authority in upholding the dismissal was arbitrary or illegal or lacked material evidence to support it. The Chancery Court of Bedford County reviewed the record and found that the Board’s action was supported by substantial and material evidence and was not arbitrary nor illegal. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Chancellor Tyrus H. Cobb
Bedford County Court of Appeals 02/01/01
State of Tennessee v. Billy J. Coffelt

M1998-00337-CCA-R3-CD

The petitioner appeals the trial court's denial of his motion for delayed appeal regarding his petition for post-conviction relief. We remand the case to the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/01/01
Sharon Glenn v. Gordon Construction, Inc., et al.

M2000-01805-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff filed suit against construction company for negligent repair of tornado damage to her home. Parties submitted an Agreed Order of Compromise, Settlement, and Dismissal which was signed by the trial court and filed on the same day it was received. The construction company retained new counsel and filed a motion to set aside the order. Plaintiff sought contempt because the construction company refused to comply with the Agreed Order. Months later Plaintiff issued execution against construction company after failure to comply with the terms of the Agreed Order and garnished over $11,000 from its bank account. The trial court denied a motion to quash execution filed by the construction company. The construction company appeals arguing that the agreed order could not have been entered after one of the parties withdrew consent for the settlement. We affirm the decision of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/31/01
Elizabeth Moxham vs. Eric Crafton, et a l

M2000-00803-COA-R3-CV
During the trial of a construction dispute, the parties reached a settlement in the hallway of the courthouse, and subsequently announced the terms of their agreement to the trial court. Before the agreed order was entered, however, the plaintiff attempted to withdraw her consent. The plaintiff argues on appeal that the trial court erred by signing and entering the agreed order, and by denying her motion to set it aside. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/31/01
State of Tennessee v. Robert Ervin

W2000-01035-CCA-R3-CD

Robert Ervin, also known as Muhammad Jabbar, was convicted of attempted second degree murder and sentenced to twenty-five years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, Ervin raises one issue for our review: Whether the evidence produced at trial was sufficient to support the verdict. After review, we find the evidence sufficient and affirm the judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/31/01
Daniel Sherwood v. Microsoft

M2000-01850-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/31/01
Orion Pacific, Inc. vs. Exchange Plastics Company

M2000-02345-COA-R3-CV
The defendant Ohio company purchased truckloads of plastic from the Tennessee division of a Texas company. When the Ohio company refused to pay for all the plastic, the Texas company filed suit for the balance in a Tennessee court. The defendant argued that it did not have sufficient contact with Tennessee to subject it to personal jurisdiction in this state's courts. The trial court disagreed, and following a hearing, rendered a judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $11,288. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Robert E. Corlew, III
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 01/31/01
Kristen Bridges vs. Carla King

W2000-01919-COA-R3-CV
Paternity of minor child was established by a juvenile court consent order entered November 26, 1991, and custody of the child was awarded to Mother. In January, 2000, Father filed a petition to change custody on the basis of change of circumstances and the best interest of the child which was granted by the juvenile court referee. The referee's findings and recommendations were confirmed and made the decree of the court on May 25, 2000. Subsequently, on Mother's petition, an evidentiary hearing was held before the juvenile judge, and on July 6, 2000, after the evidentiary hearing, an order was entered reconfirming the referee's ruling of May 25, 2000. Mother has appealed. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:George E. Blancett
Shelby County Court of Appeals 01/31/01