APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State of Tennessee v. William Makransky

E2000-00048-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, William Makransky, appeals his convictions for aggravated sexual battery, sexual battery, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He contends that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and that the trial court applied the incorrect standard for the prejudice prong in denying him relief on this issue in his motion for a new trial. Although we determine that the trial court did apply the incorrect standard for prejudice, our de novo review reveals that the defendant's trial attorney was not ineffective. Because of an error in the judgments, the sentences for contributing to the delinquency of a minor are modified.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Carroll L. Ross
Bradley County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/28/01
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Supreme Court 06/28/01
State of Tennessee v. Thomas J. Tackett

M1999-02541-CCA-R3-CD

Thomas J. Tackett appeals from his Warren County especially aggravated robbery conviction, for which he received a 25-year incarcerative sentence. He urges us to find error based upon insufficiency of the convicting evidence, admission of certain evidence at trial, jury instructions not given, and sentencing. Although there is no merit in the issues advanced by the defendant, we notice as plain error that the defendant's conviction is for a greater crime than that which is charged in the indictment. We therefore modify his especially aggravated robbery conviction to aggravated robbery and remand for sentencing for that crime.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Charles D. Haston, Sr.
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/28/01
Donnie Walton v. Credit General Insurance Company

W1999-01769-SC-WCM-CV
The trial court found the Plaintiff, Donnie Walton ("Walton"), suffered a permanent partial impairment of fifty percent to the body as a whole. The Defendant, Credit General Insurance Company ("General Credit"), stated the evidence does not support the finding. We affirm and modify the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Don R. Ash, Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Martha Brasfield, Chancellor
Lauderdale County Workers Compensation Panel 06/28/01
State of Tennessee v. Christopher Michael Vigil

E1999-02740-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant appeals two convictions for stalking, contesting the sufficiency of the evidence and the admissibility of photographs. We affirm one of the defendant's convictions for stalking, but we vacate the judgment of conviction for the other because the evidence reflects the existence of only one stalking offense.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Lynn W. Brown
Washington County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/28/01
Bobby Gates v. Jackson Appliance Company

W1999-00743-SC-WCM-CV
The defendant, Jackson Appliance Company, appeals the judgment of the Chancery Court of Madison County awarding plaintiff, Bobby Gates, twenty-five (25) percent permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. For the reasons stated in this opinion, We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: W. Michael William Michael Maloan, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Joe C. Morris, Chancellor
Madison County Workers Compensation Panel 06/27/01
Leon Terrell Phillips v. State of Tennessee

M2000-02383-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner appeals the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief from his 1999 guilty plea to and resulting conviction for the attempt to commit first degree murder. He contends that his plea resulted from the ineffective assistance of counsel in that he was not advised that a jury could consider lesser included offenses to the offense charged in the indictment. He also contends that the trial court based the dismissal of his case upon an improper standard. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand the case for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge William Charles Lee
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/27/01
State of Tennessee v. Jennifer Gale McClure

W2000-01822-CCA-R3-CD

This is an appeal by permission pursuant to Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. The Defendant, Jennifer McClure, was indicted by the Haywood County Grand Jury for various charges arising out of the seizure and subsequent search of the commercial motor carrier in which she and her husband were traveling. The trial court suppressed the evidence obtained as a result of that seizure and search, ruling that the seizure of the motor carrier was unconstitutional. The State then filed a motion for an interlocutory appeal, which was granted by the trial court. This Court likewise granted the State's application for permission to appeal. On appeal, the State asserts: (1) that the trial court abused its discretion by refusing the State's request to either reopen the proof or be allowed to file with the court the rules and regulations governing Department of Safety inspections; and (2) that if these rules and regulations are considered, the trial court erred by granting the Defendant's motion to suppress. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing the State's request to reopen the proof or to file the applicable rules and regulations because the trial court did permit the State to file with the court the rules and regulations regarding Department of Safety inspections. In addition, we hold that the trial court did not err by granting the motion to suppress because the seizure of the Defendant's commercial motor carrier was conducted in violation of the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Haywood County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/27/01
State of Tennessee v. William Cash Pate

M2000-02442-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, William Cash Pate, was convicted by a jury of second offense driving under the influence (DUI). In this appeal as of right, he argues that the trial court erred by failing to suppress the evidence obtained against him because that evidence was the fruit of his unlawful seizure at a roadblock. We agree. Accordingly, we reverse the Defendant's conviction and the trial court's order denying the Defendant's motion to suppress.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Donald P. Harris & Judge Cornelia Clark
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/27/01
Dr. Nord's Mouth As Was Successfully Done Bycounsel In Kerr v. Magic Chef, 793 S.W.2D 927, 928-

W1999-00743-SC-WCM-CV
The defendant, Jackson Appliance Company, appeals the judgment of the Chancery Court of Madison County awarding plaintiff, Bobby Gates, twenty-five (25) percent permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. For the reasons stated in this opinion, We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Henry D. Bell, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Joe C. Morris, Chancellor
Madison County Workers Compensation Panel 06/27/01
State of Tennessee v. Kelvin Wilson

W2000-02704-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and sentenced to ten years incarceration. Following direct appeal to this Court, which affirmed the Petitioner's conviction and sentence, and to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which denied permission to appeal, the Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. The post-conviction court conducted a hearing and denied relief. The Petitioner now appeals the post-conviction court's decision. Having reviewed the record, we conclude that the Petitioner's representation at trial was adequate and therefore affirm the post-conviction court's denial of post-conviction relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Fayette County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/27/01
John Sands v. Murray Outdoor Products, Inc.

W2000-00468-SC-WCM-CV
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Worker's Compensation Panel of the Supreme Court inaccordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _ 5-6-225(e) for a hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The plaintiff has appealed contending that the trial court erred in granting the defendant a motion to dismiss his complaint pursuant to Rule 41, Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, for a work-related injury occurring on October 6, 1998. After a review of the entire record, briefs of the parties and applicable law, judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e) (1999) Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court is Reversed and Remanded. L. TERRY LAFFERTY, SR. J., in which JANICE M. HOLDER, J., and JOE C. LOSER, JR., SP. J., joined. Ricky L. Boren, Jackson, Tennessee, for the appellant, John Sands. J. Arthur Crews, II and Michael A. Carter, for the appellee, Murray Outdoor Products, Inc. MEMORANDUM OPINION The plaintiff, age forty (4), testified that on April 29, 1997, while pulling a load of engines, he twisted his back and it popped. The plaintiff reported his injury and he was treated by Dr. John Holancin, but Workers' Compensation sent the plaintiff to see Dr. David Johnson who ran an MRI. The plaintiff lost no work and was on light duty for six (6) weeks. Between his return to work and October 1998, the plaintiff's back would lock up and his legs would tingle from prolonged standing about three to four times a month. The plaintiff stated that on October 6, 1998, he was picking up a unit off the floor to set it on the line, when his back went out and he hit the floor in pain. The plaintiff saw Dr. Holancin, who ordered a CT scan. At the request of the defendant, the plaintiff was referred to Dr. John Brophy. The plaintiff stated that he was restricted in his ability to do any lifting or bending while on light duty. The plaintiff testified that he saw Dr. Robert Barnett and that Dr. Barnett's nurse took down his history. When asked if he told the nurse about the October 1998 injury, the plaintiff stated, "I believe I did." In several parts of his testimony, the plaintiff is sure that he told the nurse about his October injury and cannot explain why such event is not recorded in her intake notes. The plaintiff admitted that while talking to Dr. Barnett he did not tell Dr. Barnett about the October injury. In his deposition, Dr. John D. Brophy, a neurosurgeon, testified that he first saw the plaintiff on January 6, 1999. Dr. Brophy obtained the plaintiff's historyin which the plaintiff injured his back in April 1997, while pulling a load of engines at work. An MRI was within normal limits. After conservative treatment, the plaintiff described approximately a twenty percent (2%) improvement from his injury. In October 1998, the plaintiff re-injured his back from lifting a lawn mower. Dr. Brophy reviewed the films of a CAT scan which revealed a bulging disc at L-5 S- 1. Dr. Brophy would not call this bulge a "ruptured disc." It was Dr. Brophy's opinion that the clinical exam of the plaintiff was a myofascial pain syndrome, with no evidence of radiculopathy. Dr. Brophy permitted the plaintiff to return to work full time without any restrictions on January 18, 1999. Dr. Brophy recommended to the plaintiff that he commence a physical exercise program, which consisted of walking and other activities. Dr. Brophy saw the plaintiff on March 17, 1999, with a complaint of no improvement in his pain syndrome. Dr. Brophy recommended that he continue his walking exercises. An evaluation of AP and lateral spine thoracic films demonstrated multi-level spondylosis. On October 6, 1999, the plaintiff returned with a complaint of continuing pain to his back and leg. Dr. Brophy's physical overall exam found the plaintiff's strength, gait, sensory, and symmetric reflexes normal. As of October 6, 1999, Dr. Brophy opined that the plaintiff had a zero permanent partial impairment rating, with no permanent restrictions. When asked about the differences in the MRI of 1997 and the CAT scan of 1998, the question was: Q. Doctor, certainly a lifting incident is capable of causing a bulging disc, is that correct? A. Yes. Q. And - - A. - - And the most common hist ory I get is I just woke up with it, Doctor, I don't understand. Q. But that's not the history you got in this case? A. No. -2-
Authoring Judge: L. Terry Lafferty, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Julian P. Guinn, Judge
Carroll County Workers Compensation Panel 06/27/01
State of Tennessee v. Marty Scott Slatten

M2000-01155-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant was convicted by a jury of theft of a vehicle worth more than $10,000, a Class C felony, for which he received a fifteen-year sentence as a career offender. He contends that the evidence is insufficient to convict him of theft and that the trial court erred in allowing evidence of his attempt to steal gasoline that led to his arrest. We affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Lillie Ann Sells
White County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/27/01
State of Tennessee v. Jessie Nelson Hodges

W2000-00742-CCA-R3-CD

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of theft of property less than $500. He was subsequently sentenced to eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days in the Lauderdale County jail. In this pro se appeal, Defendant argues that the State failed to provide him with discoverable material or information under Rule 16 of Tenn. R. Crim. P. After a review of the record, briefs of the parties and applicable law, we conclude that the State complied with the mandates of Rule 16. Thus, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/27/01
State of Tennessee v. Joshua Lee Williams and Maurice Miguel Teague

W2000-01435-CCA-R3-CD

The defendants, Joshua Lee Williams and Maurice Miguel Teague, encountered each other on the street where Teague produced a pistol and attempted to shoot Williams. When the gun did not fire, Williams knocked it from Teague's hands, picked it up, and fired in turn at Teague, in the process fatally wounding a neighborhood resident. Williams was indicted for first degree murder for the shooting death of the deceased, and criminal attempt to commit first degree murder of Teague, who was indicted for criminal attempt to commit first degree murder of Williams. At the conclusion of their joint trial, Williams was found guilty of second degree murder and criminal attempt to commit second degree murder, and Teague guilty of criminal attempt to commit second degree murder. Williams received an effective sentence of twenty years at 100% as a violent offender. Teague was sentenced as a standard, Range I offender to ten years. Teague raises essentially three issues on appeal: (1) sufficiency of the evidence; (2) not instructing the jury on aggravated assault as a lesser-included offense; and (3) the propriety of his sentence. Williams challenges the sufficiency of the evidence in support of his conviction for second degree murder. After a careful review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Julian P. Guinn
Henry County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/27/01
State of Tennessee v. Orlando Crayton

W2000-00213-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Orlando Crayton, was convicted of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon, and two counts of vandalism under $500.00. The trial court sentenced the defendant to 11 months, 29 days for each vandalism count, six years for aggravated assault, two years for reckless endangerment and 11 months, 29 days for unlawful possession of a weapon. Because the sentences were ordered to be served concurrently, the effective sentence is six years. In this appeal of right, the defendant challenges (1) the admissibility of evidence indicating the defendant's gang affiliation; (2) the admission of an estimate regarding the damage to a vehicle; and (3) the admission of a hearsay statement. The judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Gibson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/27/01
John T. Bell, et al vs. Richard Gene Nolan, et al

M2000-02684-COA-R3-CV
The parents of a woman who died after being assaulted by her husband on the premises of an American Legion post filed a wrongful death claim, which named the husband and the American Legion post as defendants. The parents alleged that the Legion's employees had failed to render assistance to the injured woman. The trial court dismissed the complaint against the American Legion, reasoning that the surviving spouse is the only party entitled to maintain an action for the wrongful death of the other spouse. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:John W. Rollins
Coffee County Court of Appeals 06/26/01
Karrie Gentry vs. Bryan Gentry

E2000-02714-COA-R3-CV
This is a divorce case. Karrie Beth Gentry ("Mother") was awarded primary residential custody of the parties' two minor children, and Bryan Keith Gentry ("Father") was ordered to pay child support of $2,100 per month. Father appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in imputing income to him for the purpose of determining child support. Because we find that the trial court properly calculated Father's income based upon what it found to be the only credible evidence presented at trial, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:L. Marie Williams
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 06/26/01
State of Tennessee v. Michael P. Healy

W1999-01510-CCA-R3-CD

On November 24, 1998, the Shelby County Grand Jury indicted the Defendant for one count of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated assault. Following a subsequent jury trial, the Defendant was convicted on both counts. On September 30, 1998, after a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant as a career offender to serve thirty years incarceration for the aggravated robbery consecutively to fifteen years for the aggravated assault. The court also ordered both sentences served consecutively to a sentence for which the Defendant was on parole. On appeal, the Defendant claims that the trial court should have instructed the jury to consider robbery and theft as lesser-included offenses of aggravated robbery and that the trial court should have instructed the jury to consider reckless endangerment, reckless aggravated assault and simple assault as lesser-included offenses of aggravated assault. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.as lesser-included offenses of aggravated assault. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court., we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph B. Dailey
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/26/01
Volunteer Investments, Inc. vs. Feller Brown Realty & Auction Co., et al

M2000-02644-COA-R3-CV
A developer who purchased three real estate tracts at auction filed suit to rescind the purchase on the grounds of misrepresentation or mutual mistake. The trial court dismissed his complaint. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 06/26/01
Jerome Beasley, et al vs. Lloyd Amburgy

M2000-03122-COA-R3-CV
A limousine driver, after taking Tylenol and two or three shots of novocaine for an abscessed tooth, suffered a blackout and lost control of the automobile. The trial court granted summary judgment to the driver and his employer on the ground that the blackout was not reasonably foreseeable. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Barbara N. Haynes
Davidson County Court of Appeals 06/26/01
Jerry Russell v. Bill Heard Enterprises, Inc.,

W2000-00965-WC-R3-CV
In this appeal, the employer-appellant insists (1) the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the expert testimony of an independent medical examiner, (2) the award of permanent partial disability benefits based on 2 percent to the body as a whole is excessive and (3) the trial court erred in commuting the award to a lump sum, sua sponte. The employee-appellee insists the award of permanent partial disability benefits should be increased to one based on 4 percent to the body as a whole. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the award should be reduced to one based on 15 percent to the body as a whole, payable periodically.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:James F. Russell, Judge
Shelby County Workers Compensation Panel 06/26/01
Don Stone vs. Donald Brickey, et al

M2000-03093-COA-R3-CV
The trial court found that the plaintiff had a prescriptive easement over an old county road that abutted his land. The defendants argue that the trial court was in error because the plaintiff did not prove all of the elements required to establish a prescriptive easement. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Tom E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 06/26/01
State of Tennessee v. Rhonda Grills

E2000-01031-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Rhonda Grills, was convicted of facilitation of the felony rape of a child less than 13 years of age. The trial court imposed a Range I sentence of 10 years. The defendant was fined $25,000.00. In this appeal of right, the defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence. Because the evidence is adequate to support the facilitation of the rape of a child, the judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/26/01
State of Tennessee v. Marcia C. Robinson and Sammy Claude Wilson

W2000-02085-CCA-R3-CD

After a jury trial, Defendants were convicted of one count of attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and two counts of possession of methamphetamine. The trial court sentenced each Defendant to three (3) years in the Department of Correction for attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days for possession of methamphetamine. In this appeal as of right, Defendants assert that the trial court erred as to whether Defendant, Sammy Wilson, gave Investigator Markin consent to search his truck. From our review of the transcript of the motion to suppress, the trial record, briefs of the parties and applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/26/01