APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State vs. Charles S. Jones

M1999-02335-CCA-R3-CD
On October 30, 1997, the defendant offered guilty pleas to six counts of aggravated burglary, five counts of theft over one thousand dollars, one count of theft under one thousand dollars, and one count of possession of an illegal weapon. After a December sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the defendant placed on probation and granted him post-trial diversion for a period of six years during which he was to comply with a variety of requirements. Subsequently, separate affidavits were filed in July and September of 1998 alleging that the defendant had violated the terms of his probation. Following a March 1999 hearing concerning these allegations, the trial court entered judgment on the defendant's aforementioned twelve guilty pleas and sentenced him as a Range I Standard Offender to serve an effective sentence of four years for the burglary and theft charges consecutively to eighteen months for the possession of an illegal weapon offense. On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court erred by (1) failing to consider him for alternative sentencing; (2) improperly enhancing his possession of an illegal weapon sentence and one of his aggravated burglary sentences; and (3) ordering the possession of an illegal weapon charge to run consecutively. After having reviewed the record and applicable authorities, we find these issues to be without merit and, therefore, affirm the trial court's sentence.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:John H. Gasaway, III
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
John Paul Seals v. State of Tennessee

E1998-00367-SC-R11-PC
Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:James E. Beckner
Hamblen County Supreme Court 06/20/00
Design Concept Corporation vs. Ralph Phelps, et ux

E1999-00259-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 06/20/00
State vs. Rhonda Jennings

M1999-01093-CCA-R3-CD
On October 28, 1998, at the conclusion of a bench trial, Rhonda Jennings, the defendant and appellant, was found guilty of one count of theft over five-hundred dollars and one count of theft under five-hundred dollars. Following a sentencing hearing on February 26, 1999, the trial court ordered the defendant to serve two years on community corrections after serving twenty days in jail. On April 29, 1999, a warrant was filed against the defendant alleging that she had violated a condition of her community corrections sentence. After an evidentiary hearing on July 12, 1999, the trial court revoked the defendant's community corrections sentence and re-sentenced her to eighteen months incarceration. On appeal, the appellant claims that her sentence is excessive. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
State vs. Clifford Douglas Peele

E1999-00907-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Carter County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
State vs. Frank Michael Vukelich

M1999-00618-CCA-R3-CD
On December 8 through December 17, 1998, Frank Vukelich, the defendant and appellant, was tried in the Davidson County Criminal Court for one count of conspiracy to deliver 700 pounds or more of marijuana, three counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and five counts of money laundering. The jury found the defendant not guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, but guilty on all other counts. Following a subsequent sentencing hearing, the court effectively sentenced the defendant to thirty-four years of incarceration and ordered the defendant to pay fines totaling $180,000. After a hearing regarding the defendant's motion for new trial, however, the trial court dismissed four money laundering counts. The defendant appeals here, arguing; (1) that the trial court erroneously allowed the consolidation of indictments; (2) that although the trial court correctly dismissed four money-laundering counts, the trial court erred by refusing to dismiss the counts prior to trial, thus prejudicing the defendant; (3) that the trial court erroneously denied the defendant's motion to suppress the fruits of two search warrants executed at the defendant's home; (4) that the defendant's confrontation rights were violated by the introduction of hearsay at trial; (5) that the trial court erroneously refused to grant a mistrial; (6) that the trial court erroneously allowed the introduction of prior acts of the defendant at trial; and (7) that his sentence is excessive. The State also appeals here, arguing that the trial court's dismissal of the four money-laundering counts was erroneous. After a review of the record, we hold that the trial court erroneously dismissed the four money laundering counts, and those counts must be reinstated. As to the defendant's claims, we find no merit. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed in part and reversed in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
Joey Lee Smith vs. State

M1999-01896-CCA-R3-PC
In April of 1995, a Bedford County jury convicted the petitioner of one count of child rape, multiple counts of aggravated sexual battery, one count of sexual battery, and two counts of reckless endangerment. For these offenses he received an effective sentence of nineteen years. Having unsuccessfully pursued a direct appeal, the petitioner filed a pro se post-conviction petition and subsequently received appointed counsel. Through his amended petition the petitioner contended that counsel's alleged misdeeds had risen to the level of ineffective assistance of counsel and also that certain actions taken by the trial court had violated his due process rights. The trial court conducted an evidentiary hearing on these matters and denied the petitioner relief. From this denial the petitioner brings this action again asserting that he received ineffective assistance both at trial and on direct appeal. However, following our review of the record, we find that the trial court correctly denied the petition, and we, therefore, affirm the lower court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:William Charles Lee
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
John Paul Seals v. State of Tennessee

E1998-00367-SC-R11-PC
Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:James E. Beckner
Hamblen County Supreme Court 06/20/00
State vs. Sheila Kay Cooper

E1999-00220-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:James B. Scott, Jr.
Anderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
Hampton-Hoover vs. Hoover

M1999-01922-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 06/20/00
State of Tennessee v. Jeffrey Antwon Burns

M1999-01830-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
In the matter of B.B.

M1999-00643-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Burton D. Glover
Davidson County Court of Appeals 06/20/00
State vs. Jack Welch

W1999-00860-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:J. Steven Stafford
Dyer County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
State vs. Owens

W1997-00237-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Joseph B. Dailey
Shelby County Supreme Court 06/20/00
James Earl Kirk, et al. vs. State

M1999-01369-CCA-OT-CO
In this interlocutory appeal the State raises the question of whether the Maury County Circuit Court, relying on Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5(a), erred by ordering that all proceedings in a case heard in general sessions court must be heard in the court closest to the location of the offense. It is the opinion of this Court that the plain language of Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5(a) controls the outcome of this case. The controversy in this case turns on the word "nearest" as used in the statute. A cursory reading of the statute could understandably lead one to believe that the term "nearest" was intended to convey geographic proximity. However, such a narrow reading of the word does not yield the desired result the Rule was intended to have, and cannot be read within the strict confines of the plain language set forth therein. The term "nearest" is broader in scope than mere geographical distance. It is the opinion of this Court that as used in Tenn. R. Crim. P. 5(a), "nearest" was intended to be analyzed temporally.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Jim T. Hamilton
Maury County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/20/00
Cora B. Cantrell, et al vs. Knox County Board of Education, et al

E1999-01557-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Harold Wimberly
Knox County Court of Appeals 06/19/00
Jacob E. Warren v. American Holding Company d/b/a

M1999-00012-WC-R3-CV
This Workers' Compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6- 225(e)(3) for a hearing and reporting of finding of fact and conclusions of law to the SupremeCourt. The sole issue on appeal is whether the trial court's award of 4 weeks of permanent total disability benefits is contrary to Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-27(4)(A)(i), which cuts off permanent total benefits when the worker reaches 65 years of age provided the compensable injury occurred before the workerreached age 6. We hold that the trial court's award of 4 weeks exceeds the number of weeks payable under Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-27(4)(A)(i). For the reasons set forth below, the judgment of the trial court is modified to reflect an award of 195 weeks of permanent total disability benefits. Tenn.R.App.P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Trial Court Modified TOM E. GRAY, SP. J.DROWOTA, J., in which FRANK F. DROWOTA, III, J. and SAMUEL L. LEWIS, SP. J., joined. Bryan Essary, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, American Holding Company d/b/a Wilson Sporting Goods, and Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company. Ronald Thurman, Cookeville, Tennessee, for the appellee, Jacob E. Warren. OPINION This Workers' Compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6- 225(e)(3) for a -2-
Authoring Judge: Tom E. Gray, Sp. J.Drowota, J.
Originating Judge:John J. Maddux, Jr., Judge
Warren County Workers Compensation Panel 06/19/00
Bean vs. Bean

M1999-01822-COA-R3-CV
In the appeal of this divorce case, the Court dismissed the appeal for failure of appellant to substantially comply with T.R.A.P. Rule 27 and Court of Appeals Rules 6 and 15.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Robert L. Holloway
Lawrence County Court of Appeals 06/19/00
State vs. Dennis Ray Gilliland

M1997-00072-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Allen W. Wallace
Dickson County Supreme Court 06/19/00
State vs. Lawrence Ralph, Jr.

M1999-01635-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Charles D. Haston, Sr.
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/16/00
State vs. Charles William Young

M1999-01240-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/16/00
Cline vs. Cline

M1999-00811-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Donald P. Harris
Williamson County Court of Appeals 06/16/00
State vs. Franklin Robert Bigsby

M1999-01887-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:James K. Clayton, Jr.
Rutherford County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/16/00
James R. Rosenthal, Sr. v. City of Dyersburg, et al.

W1999-02699-WC-R3-CV
This is an appeal by James R. Rosenthal, Sr., a police officer for the City of Dyersburg, Tennessee, who brought two suits against the City of Dyersburg and the Tennessee Municipal League Risk Management Pool for workers' compensation benefits. One suit was filed July 16, 1996, against the defendants alleging that the plaintiff had sick sinus syndrome that developed as a result of his employment for the City of Dyersburg. Another suit was filed on September 19, 1997, alleging that the plaintiff had vasodepressor syncope that grew out of his employment. In both cases, the plaintiff alleges that Tennessee Code Annotated _ 7-51-201, hereinafter quoted, is applicable. These two cases were consolidated for trial and treated by both parties and the trial judge as one case. The trial court found in favor of the defendants, holding that the plaintiff was permanently and totally disabled but that the evidence did not establish that Tennessee Code Annotated _ 7-51-201 was applicable. The court also found that the plaintiff failed to bear the burden of proof in establishing that he sustained an accidental injury growing out of and in the course of his employment. In his only issue, the plaintiff says that the trial court erred in holding that he is not entitled to the presumption of causation afforded by Tennessee Code Annotated _ 7-51-201. We find that the judgment of the trial court must be affirmed.
Authoring Judge: F. Lloyd Tatum, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:R. Lee Moore, Judge
Dyer County Workers Compensation Panel 06/16/00
Knox Loudon Corporation vs. Town of Farragut

E2000-00174-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Dale C. Workman
Knox County Court of Appeals 06/16/00