APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State of Tennessee, ex rel., Kimberly Norfleet v. Tommy Dobbs, Jr.

01A01-9805-CV-00228

This appeal involves a parent’s efforts to avoid paying child support for her two children. Approximately two years after the Circuit Court for Davidson County awarded custody of the parties’ two children to their father, the children’s mother, with the assistance of a lawyer furnished by the IV-D contractor for Davidson County, filed a petition to eliminate her child support obligation because she was unemployed and her only income was Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) payments. Following a bench trial, the trial court denied the mother’s petition on the ground that she was voluntarily unemployed. The mother asserts on this appeal that the trial court’s order conflicts with the child support guidelines because she will be required to use her SSI payments to pay her child support. We have determined that the evidence does not preponderate against the trial court’s finding that the mother is voluntarily unemployed and that the trial court’s order is consistent with the child support guidelines. Therefore, we affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/01/99
Curtis G. Mayes v. Margaret C. Culpepper, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Employment Security and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

03A01-9801-CH-00032

This is an appeal from the denial of unemployment compensation benefits. Through the entire procedure, including an appeal to the Chancery Court for Knox County, the appellant has been denied unemployment compensation benefits because he had been guilty of misconduct arising out of the scope and course of him employment and  T.C.A . § 50 -7-303( a ) ( 2 ) bars him from recovery of unemployment compensation benefits. We reverse the judgment of the Chancery Court and remand this case to the trial court for entry of an order awarding unemployment benefits as provided by law.

 

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Chancellor Frederick D. McDonald
Knox County Court of Appeals 02/01/99
Charles Walton Wright v. State of Tennessee

01S01-9709-CR-00196

We granted this appeal to determine whether the appellant’s due process rights were violated when the lower courts dismissed his post conviction petition as timebarred by the three-year statute of limitations since the asserted violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215 (1963), did not arise until after expiration of the three-year statute of limitations.

Authoring Judge: Chief Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Supreme Court 02/01/99
Scottie Allen Yant v. Arrow Exterminators, Inc.

01A01-9801-CV-00004

The manager of an exterminating company brought criminal charges against the owner of a competing company for the alleged theft of a piece of equipment. The general sessions court determined that probable cause existed, but the grand jury declined to indict. The defendant in the criminal case subsequently filed suit for malicious prosecution. The trial court granted summary judgment to the civil defendant. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Barbara N. Haynes
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/01/99
State of Tennessee v. William Henry Barney

01S01-9802-CR-00033

The defendant, William Henry Barney, was convicted of eleven counts of rape of a child and seven counts of aggravated sexual battery. He is currently serving a total effective sentence of eighty years. Upon the Court of Criminal Appeals’s affirmance of these judgments, the defendant filed an application for permission to appeal to this Court. We granted the application in order to determine whether the language of the indictment was  sufficient under State v. Hill, 954 S.W.2d 725 (Tenn. 1997), and to determine whether the multiple convictions for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery violate the constitutional principles of due process or double jeopardy. We conclude that the indictment is sufficient under Hill. In addition, we conclude that, under the facts and circumstances of this case, multiple convictions for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery are justified and do not violate the constitutional principles of due process or double jeopardy.

Authoring Judge: Justice Aldolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Supreme Court 02/01/99
Edmund George Zagorski v. State of Tennessee

01S01-9711-CC-00240

ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR REHEARING
Appellant Edmund George Zagorski has filed a petition to rehear this cause
pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 39 contending that our opinion conflicts with and/or
overlooks principles of law regarding trial counsel’s duties to investigate mitigation
evidence and fully advise a defendant regarding a potential mitigation defense. We
have reviewed all of the arguments raised in the petition, and we find them to be
without merit.

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Robertson County Supreme Court 02/01/99
Margaret McCormick, v. Donald McCormick

01A01-9801-CH-00019

This case concerns a dispute over the division of marital property, alimony, and attorney’s fees. Appellant, Donald F. McCormick (Husband), appeals from the Final Decree of Divorce that, inter alia, awarded Appellee, Margaret Ann McCormick (Wife), proceeds from a 1 Husband’s W-2 form from the Frigidaire Company reveals that his wages for 1996 were $94,063.26. 2 In 1996, Wife’s gross annual earnings were approximately $9,000.00. 2 401K account, rehabilitative alimony, and attorney’s fees.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Chancellor Tom E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 02/01/99
State of Tennessee v. Kristina Schindler

03S01-9804-CR-00040

We granted this appeal to address whether a trial court can consider prior grants of diversion or previously expunged offenses in determining a defendant's suitability for diversion. In the case now before us, the trial court denied the defendant's request for judicial diversion because the defendant had previously been placed on diversion on two different occasions. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision to deny the defendant's application for judicial diversion. Upon review, we hold that evidence of prior diversions may be considered in determining whether a defendant is a suitable candidate for diversion.

Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Originating Judge:Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz
Knox County Supreme Court 02/01/99
Carl G. Berning v. State of Tennessee, Department of Corrections

01A01-9804-CH-00180

The Tennessee Civil Service Commission upheld the termination of a veteran supervisory employee for sexual harassment, conduct unbecoming a state employee, and failure to maintain a satisfactory and harmonious working relationship with fellow employees. The Chancery Court of Davidson County affirmed the Commission’s order. On appeal the employee asserts that he was denied progressive discipline prior to termination, and that he was denied due process of law. On the strength of the proof, he also claims that his conduct does not fit the definition of “conduct unbecoming” or support a conclusion that he failed to maintain a harmonious working relationship, and that his conduct was constitutionally protected. We affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/01/99
Estate of Foster Hume, III, Deceased, The University of the South v. Meredith Klank

01S01-9709-PB-00182

We granted this appeal to determine whether the probate rule of ademption by extinction applies to the specific bequest of a house, where the house is sold at foreclosure before the testator’s death and sales proceeds representing the testator’s interest are identifiable after his death.

Authoring Judge: Chief Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Judge Frank G. Clement, Jr.
Supreme Court 02/01/99
Robby McCurry v. Container Corp. of America, a Division of Jefferson Smurfit Corporation

03S01-9705-CH-00050

The appellee, Robby McCurry, filed a second motion to rehear on December 28, 1998, petitioning this Court to reconsider our decision in the above styled case. The appellee filed this petition without first seeking permission from this Court as prescribed in Rule 39(f) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. Accordingly, the motion is not well taken.

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Campbell County Supreme Court 02/01/99
Loyal Miller vs. Tennessee Board of Paroles - Concurring

01A01-9806-CH-00293

This appeal involves the fundamental fairness of the procedures used by the Tennessee Board of Paroles to revoke the parole of a person accused of committing child sexual abuse. The Board revoked the parole based solely on hearsay testimony concerning statements made by his alleged victim. The parolee filed a petition for a common-law writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County seeking judicial review of the Board’s decision-making process. After the trial court denied the petition, the parolee appealed to this court. We have determined that the Board’s hearing officer acted arbitrarily and illegally by applying an incorrect standard to determine whether good cause existed for not allowing the parolee to confront or to cross-examine his only accuser.  Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s denial of the parolee’s petition for a common-law writ of certiorari and remand the case to the trial court for the entry of an order directing the Board either to conduct a proper parole revocation hearing forthwith or to return the parolee to parole status.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/01/99
Olympia Child vs. City Maryville

03A01-9804-CV-00136
Court of Appeals 01/29/99
Scott vs. Scott

03A01-9708-CH-00305
Court of Appeals 01/29/99
Simmons vs. Simmons

03A01-9805-CV-00158
Bradley County Court of Appeals 01/29/99
State vs. Tiffany Betts

02C01-9709-CC-00337
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/99
State vs. Ricky Woodard

01C01-9802-CC-00056

Originating Judge:Donald P. Harris
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/99
State vs. Tony Williams

02C01-9810-CC-00301
Henry County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/99
State vs. Donald Stephens

01C01-9711-CC-00551

Originating Judge:Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/99
Robert James Watkins v. Inman Construction Corp.

02S01-9710-CH-00098
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 hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The plaintiff, Robert James Watkins, injured his right ankle on February 2, 1995 in the course of his employment for Inman Construction Company. He was temporarily working in Oxford, Mississippi, but was employed to work in Memphis, Tennessee. After hearing the evidence, the trial judge found that the plaintiff sustained a permanent partial disability of thirty-five percent to the right leg. The court also found that the plaintiff had been paid temporary total disability benefits for the period prior to October 1, 1995. The trial judge also found that the plaintiff worked sporadically on a part-time basis for the defendant from October 3, 1995 until December 29, 1995 and that plaintiff was entitled to temporary partial disability benefits through that period. The court also found that the plaintiff suffered temporary total disability from the date of the injury until November 7, 1996, excluding the periodfor temporary partial disability, and that the plaintiff was entitled to recover additional temporary total compensation for the period from October 1, 1995 until November 7, 1996 except for the aforesaid period for which an award was made for temporary partial disability benefits. The court also directed the defendant to pay the medical expense incurred for treatment of plaintiff by Dr. T. E. Rizk in the sum of $85.. On this appeal, the defendant presents two issues: (1) Whether the trial court's award of temporary total disability benefits following the date of maximum medical improvement was error. (2) Whether the trial court erred in ordering the employer to pay for the medical treatment of Dr. T. E. Rizk. The defendant does not attack the portion of the judgment awarding compensation for 35 percent permanent partial disability to the leg. It is conceded that the plaintiff injured the Achilles tendon of his right ankle while working on a construction site for defendant on February 2, 1995. He was treated conservatively by Dr. Wayne Lamar until May 16, 1995 when Dr. Lamar performed surgery 2
Authoring Judge: F. Lloyd Tatum, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Neal Small, Chancellor
Shelby County Workers Compensation Panel 01/29/99
State vs. Huskey

03C01-9811-CR-00410

Originating Judge:Richard R. Baumgartner
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/99
State vs. Michael Clark

01C01-9802-CC-00087
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/99
Macklin vs. Macklin

03A01-9807-CV-00232
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/29/99
State vs. Christopher Eacholes

02C01-9803-CR-00065
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/99
Slate vs. Hooper

03A01-9809-CH-00299

Originating Judge:Ben W. Hooper, II
Sevier County Court of Appeals 01/29/99