APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Wilson vs. Wilson

M1999-02045-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from the trial court's refusal to modify Mr. Wilson's child support obligation after he was terminated from his place of employment. We reverse the trial court's judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/31/00
Freethy vs. Maconi

M2000-00107-COA-R9-CV
This Rule 9 interlocutory appeal consists of the singular issue of whether Steven Maconi has sufficient minimum contacts with the state of Tennessee for it to exercise personal jurisdiction over him, thus requiring him to defend a paternity action brought in Tennessee. The Trial Court held that Mr. Maconi had sufficient minimum contacts with the state of Tennessee, and thus, it could exercise personal jurisdiction over him. We reverse the finding of the Trial Court and hold that Mr. Maconi does not have sufficient minimum contacts with the state of Tennessee for it to exercise personal jurisdiction over him.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:L. Raymond Grimes
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 07/31/00
Donna Jean Sexton v. State of Tennessee

E1999-02226-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Lynn W. Brown
Carter County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/31/00
Teresa Miles vs. Earl Pace

W1999-00407-COA-R3-CV
Four tenants in common, each owning a one-eighth interest in the property, filed suit for sale for partition against the other tenant in common, owning a one-half interest. After a non-jury trial, the court found that the property was so situated that it could not be partitioned and also found that it would be manifestly for the advantage of the parties that the property be sold rather than partitioned. The tenant in common owning one-half interest has appealed. We affirm, because the evidence does not preponderate against the findings of the chancellor.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris
Madison County Court of Appeals 07/31/00
State vs. Lester Douglas Giles

E1999-02236-CCA-R3-CD
On June 21, 1999, the defendant pled guilty in the Monroe County Criminal Court to attempted rape and was sentenced to four years as a Range I standard offender. The sentence was suspended, and he was placed on probation. On July 6, 1999, a probation violation was issued, alleging that the defendant had violated his probation by having contact with the victim's family. Following a hearing on August 16, 1999, the trial court ruled that the defendant had violated the terms of his probation, a ruling which the defendant timely appealed. Based upon our review, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and reinstate the defendant's probation.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Carroll L. Ross
Monroe County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/31/00
Larry Parish vs. Robert Marquis

W1999-02629-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiffs Larry E. Parrish and Larry E. Parrish, P.C. (collectively, "Parrish"), appeal the trial court's final summary judgment that dismissed Parrish's claim for malicious prosecution against Defendants Robert S. Marquis, McCampbell & Young, P.C., Ronald C. Koksal, and Butler, Vines & Babb, PLLC. The Defendants also have raised an issue on appeal, contending that the trial court erred in denying their motions to dismiss for improper venue. We conclude that the Shelby County Circuit Court was not the proper venue for Parrish's malicious prosecution claim. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's dismissal of Parrish's malicious prosecution claim on the alternative ground of improper venue.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:James E. Swearengen
Shelby County Court of Appeals 07/31/00
Taylor vs. Campbell

M2000-00217-COA-R3-CV
Daniel B. Taylor filed a petition for declaratory judgment against the Commissioner and several other employees of the Tennessee Department of Correction, alleging that he is entitled to various sentence reduction credits and that his sentence is void and illegal. The trial court dismissed Taylor's petition. We vacate the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/31/00
Howell vs. Howell

M1999-00753-COA-R3-CV
In this post-divorce case, Talisa Gayle Kelly, formerly Howell, ("Wife") filed a petition seeking to increase child support and to enforce other provisions of the judgment of divorce. The trial court ordered Gary Morris Howell ("Husband") to pay Wife the balance due her for her interest in the former marital residence. It further found Husband in contempt for failing to maintain a life insurance policy for the benefit of the parties' minor child and ordered him to pay Wife an amount approximating what he would have paid in insurance premiums had he maintained the policy as required by the divorce judgment. Wife was also awarded half of her attorney's fees. We reverse the trial court's award of the unpaid premiums; in all other respects, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:John A. Turnbull
Maury County Court of Appeals 07/31/00
Abbott vs. Gateway

M1999-00653-COA-R3-CV
The General Sessions Court of Davidson County awarded a judgment against the defendant below, Nationwide Insurance Company, in a case involving a car accident. Nationwide filed an appeal to the Davidson County Circuit court but failed to secure a trial date within 45 days as required by Davidson County Local Rule of Practice 20(b) (1999). The circuit court dismissed the case due to Nationwide's failure, and Nationwide filed a Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 60.02 motion to set aside the circuit court dismissal due to its attorney's excusable neglect. When the circuit court denied Rule 60.02 relief Nationwide appealed to this court. On appeal, we reverse the decision of the circuit court finding that it should have granted Nationwide's request for Rule 60.02 relief and set aside the dismissal of Nationwide's circuit court appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Carol L. Soloman
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/28/00
Clark vs. Crow

M1999-00916-COA-R9-CV
We grant this interlocutory appeal to consider a question of first impression regarding whether there is a right to jury trial prior to the issuance of an order of protection pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-3-605, (hereinafter "order of protection"). Specifically, we are asked to determine whether a party against whom an order of protection is sought is entitled to a jury trial as a matter of right before this order is issued. After reviewing Tennessee's constitutional and statutory guarantees to a jury trial, we have determined that there is no right to a jury trial prior to the issuance of an order of protection. The circuit court's decision is affirmed and remanded for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Marietta M. Shipley
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/28/00
Glenda Tate vs. Baptist Memorial

W1999-00553-COA-R3-CV
Hospital employee was accused of negotiating payroll checks of other employees and was discharged. Employee filed defamation suit, and trial court granted summary judgment because the pleadings and affidavits established that there was no publication of the alleged defamatory words since all communication thereof was to hospital employees.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio
Shelby County Court of Appeals 07/28/00
State vs. Bobby Perkins

W1999-01368-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Bobby Earl Perkins, appeals his conviction for especially aggravated robbery, contending that the trial court erred (1) by allowing a witness to testify about the defendant's statement a year before the robbery that he planned to rob the victim, (2) by allowing a police officer to testify to statements the victim made regarding the defendant, and (3) by sentencing the defendant to twenty-one years. We affirm the conviction, but we modify the sentence to twenty years.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:J. Steven Stafford
Haywood County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/00
George Todd vs. State

M1999-00976-CCA-R3-PC

The Defendant appeals from the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. The trial court found that the petition was barred by the statute of limitations. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:L. Craig Johnson
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/00
Mona Koja vs. Abed Koja

W1999-00993-COA-R3-CV
Wife was granted a divorce and received a division of marital property and alimony in futuro. The trial court denied Wife attorney fees and expenses. Wife has appeal. The trial court's order denying an award of attorney fees and expenses is reversed. The case is remanded for entry of an order awarding one-half of the attorney fees and expenses.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Karen R. Williams
Shelby County Court of Appeals 07/28/00
State of Tennessee v. Christopher Kevin Padgett

M2000-00038-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Leon C. Burns, Jr.
Putnam County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/00
Rodney Buford vs. State

M1999-00487-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Rodney Buford, is serving an effective sentence of life plus twenty years. His petition for habeas corpus relief was properly dismissed by the trial court because the judgment is not facially invalid and the sentence has not been served.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Hickman County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/00
Blankinship vs. TDOC

M1999-02381-COA-R3-CV
A prisoner filed a petition to compel the Department of Correction to establish a mandatory parole date for his benefit. The trial court dismissed the petition for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/28/00
William Lavern Davis vs. State

M2000-00341-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner argues that in finding that his trial counsel was not ineffective and denying his post-conviction petition, the petitioner appeals from the trial court's denial of his post-conviction petition. He argues that the trial court erred by finding that his trial counsel was not ineffective. The trial court's order is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:William Charles Lee
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/00
Roger Harris vs. State

E1999-02056-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, convicted of first degree murder and reckless endangerment, filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief in March 1995. The petition was amended several times, first by the petitioner, then by the public defender, and ultimately by private counsel. The trial court summarily dismissed the petition by order because it was not "verified by any oath or affirmation." We reverse and remand, holding that the original petition was filed under a statute that did not require verification by oath or affirmation and, in the alternative, that the affirmation executed by the private counsel is sufficient under the current law.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Lynn W. Brown
Unicoi County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/00
State vs. Edward T. Flye

M1999-01183-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Edward T. Flye, challenges the sufficiency of the evidence used to convict him of aggravated burglary and evading arrest. Because the evidence is adequate to support the convictions, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/00
Tuttle vs. Tuttle

M1999-01578-COA-R3-CV
In a previous appeal, this divorce case was remanded to the trial court for a determination of whether the parties had any marital property and, if so, for the trial court to make an equitable division thereof. From the trial court's final decree in compliance with the order of remand, defendant appeals.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:L. Craig Johnson
Coffee County Court of Appeals 07/28/00
State of Tennessee v. Michael F. Maraschiello

M1997-00049-CCA-R10-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Robert W. Wedemeyer
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/28/00
Mary Zelek v. Flagstar System,

M1999-00269-WC-R3-CV
The employer contends the trial judge erred by accrediting the expert medical testimony of a non-approved physician chosen by the employee, or her attorney, and that the award of permanent partial disability benefits is excessive.
Authoring Judge: Loser, Sp. J.
Originating Judge:J. O. Bond, Judge
Wilson County Workers Compensation Panel 07/28/00
Phelps vs. TDOC

M1999-02109-COA-R3-CV
Petitioner/Appellant, a state prisoner, filed his petition for common law certiorari asserting that he was being unconstitutionally and illegally incarcerated by the state and had not been given proper credits under various sentence reduction credit statutes and policies. The trial court granted summary judgment and Petitioner appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/28/00
Jeffrey Harris vs. Percy Pitzer

W2000-00187-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the incarceration of the Appellant in the state of Tennessee pursuant to a contract between the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Corrections Corporation of America. The Appellant filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus Relief in the Circuit Court of Hardeman County. The trial court entered an order granting the Appellee's Motion to Dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The Appellant appeals from the dismissal of his Petition filed in the Circuit Court of Hardeman County. For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the trial court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Jon Kerry Blackwood
Hardeman County Court of Appeals 07/28/00