APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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James Walker Hurst v. Scruggs, Inc.

03S01-9703-CH-00032
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. Review of the findings of fact made by the trial court is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of the correctness of the findings, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(2); Stone v. City of McMinnville, 896 S.W.2d 548, 55 (Tenn. 1995). The application of this standard requires this Court to weigh in more depth the factual findings and conclusions of the trial court in a workers' compensation case. See Corcoran v. Foster Auto GMC, Inc., 746 S.W.2d 452, 456 (Tenn. 1988). We find the record supports the finding that the plaintiff is permanently and totally disabled. We modify the apportionment of liability between the employer and the Second Injury Fund.1 The trial court found the plaintiff was injured within the scope of his employment with the defendant on June 17, 1994. The plaintiff had two previous compensable injuries. On June 6, 1983, he was found to have a 6 percent disability to the body as a whole, and on October 8, 1993, he was found to have a 7.5 percent disability as a result of an injury. The trial judge found the plaintiff was totally and permanently disabled from work following the injury of June 17, 1994 (this case). Further, the trial court found, and the record shows, the plaintiff met three out of four requirements for Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-242, which would permit the trial court to exceed the multiplier caps of the statute and award recovery for 4 weeks. In this case, however, the trial court found the plaintiff was entitled to receive benefits until age 65 under the provisions of Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-27(4). In fixing the disability between the employer and the Second Injury Fund, the trial court found that the employer was liable for 32.5 percent of the injury to the plaintiff and the Second Injury Fund was liable for 67.5 percent. At the time the 1 This case was filed March 13, 1997 and has awaited the Supreme Court's decision in Bomely v. Mid-America Corp., ___ S.W.2d ___ (Tenn. 1998), which was filed May 26, 1998. 2
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Frederick D. Mcdonald,
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 08/10/98
Donna Lee Stephen v. R. C. Leamon and Conditionaire Company, Inc.

03SO1-9707-CH-00091
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. section 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this claim for death benefits, the claimants contend the evidence preponderates against the trial court's findings that the decedent was an independent contractor and that the defendant, Leamon, was not a statutory employer. At the conclusion of the trial, the chancellor made the following findings and conclusions: "The issue in this case is whether Mr. Stephens, Mr. Raymond Stephens, was an employee or independent contractor. In resolving that issue, the Court has placed primary reliance upon the testimony of Kim Ray, Leon Evans and WilliamLevon Stephens, because those are the witnesses who were most intimately involved in the work that was performed by Raymond Stephens. "It's undisputed, based on the testimony of these witnesses that Mr. Raymond Stephens did perform services for Conditionaire Company. In particular, he installed duct work for heating and air systems. He would perform that work in accordance with plans and specifications that were provided by Conditionaire. "He was not directly supervised in the performance of his work. There was no one on a daily basis, or even an hourly basis, who reviewed his work or the method in which he did his work. The work that he did was reviewed from time to time and, upon completion of the assigned work, was reviewed by Mr. Kim Ray and by Mr. Leon Evans on behalf of Conditionaire. The purpose of that review was to ensure that the work complied with the plans and specifications and with the applicable codes. "Mr. Stephens was at times provided with time frames within which the work was to be done, but he was not given a specific time to report to work each day and a specific time to terminate work each day. He was not directed as to when he could eat or when he could take breaks. Primarily, he provided his own tools; however he did from time to time use ladders and a vacuum cleaner that were provided by 2
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Howell N. Peoples,
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 08/10/98
State vs. Don Carter

02C01-9711-CC-00424
McNairy County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/10/98
Jacob E. Carter v. Lumbermen's Underwriting

03S01-9610-CH-00095
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. Review of the findings of fact made by the trial court is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of the correctness of the findings, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(2); Stone v. City of McMinnville, 896 S.W.2d 548, 55 (Tenn. 1995). The application of this standard requires this Court to weigh in more depth the factual findings and conclusions of the trial court in a workers' compensation case. See Corcoran v. Foster Auto GMC, Inc., 746 S.W.2d 452, 456 (Tenn. 1988). The issues raised on appeal are: whether the evidence preponderates against the finding by the trial judge that the plaintiff is permanently and totally disabled; whether the trial court erred in apportioning the liability of the insurer at 25 percent and of the Second Injury Fund at 75 percent; and whether the trial court erred in limiting the insurer's liability to 25 percent of 4 weeks and imposing liability on the Second Injury Fund for the remainder of the weeks until the plaintiff reaches age 65. We affirm the findings of the trial court that the plaintiff is permanently and totally disabled and that the apportionment of this liability is on the basis of 25 percent to the insurer and 75 percent to the Second Injury Fund. We modify the apportionment of the liability at 25 percent of 4 weeks to the insurer and the remaining liability to the Second Injury Fund. We apportion the award in accordance with the holding of the Supreme Court in Bomely v. Mid-American Corp., ___ S.W.2d ___ (Tenn. 1998). The plaintiff has an extensive medical history as demonstrated by the medical evidence in this case, which consists of the depositions of five physicians, the report of physician, and the appearance of two physicians at trial. Additionally, the medical records of one physician were introduced by the Second Injury Fund. The medical evidence consists of physical evaluations and treatment, as well as a psychiatric evaluation. The plaintiff also presented a vocational expert's testimony at trial. 2
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Frederick D. Mcdonald,
Carter County Workers Compensation Panel 08/10/98
State vs. Franklin

03C01-9706-CR-00219

Originating Judge:Leon C. Burns, Jr.
Cumberland County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/10/98
Ancro Finance vs. Consumers Ins.

02A01-9708-CV-00177

Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/10/98
State vs. Ramsey

03C01-9708-CR-00361

Originating Judge:Phyllis H. Miller
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/10/98
Roger Terry Johnson v. State of Tennessee

01C01-9705-CR-00172

The appellant, Roger Terrance Johnson, appeals as of right from the Davidson County Criminal Court’s dismissal of his petition for post conviction relief. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/07/98
State of Tennessee vs. Charlene Hardison - Concurring/Dissenting

01C01-9705-CC-00196

I concur with a ll portions of Judge Lafferty’s op inion with the exception of the portion that reduces the period of confinem ent from six (6) months to ninety (90) days. I might agree with that ultimate result after a specific finding of facts by the trial court following the dictates of the Tennessee Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989. However, it is my opinion that the more appropriate disposition of this particular case is to remand it back to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing which follows the specific requirements of the A ct. See State v. Ervin, 939 S.W.2d 581, 584-85 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996) and cases cited therein.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/07/98
State of Tennessee vs. Charlene Hardison

01C01-9705-CC-00196

The defendant, Charlene Hardison, appeals of right from a ruling of the Williamson County Criminal Court in which the trial court imposed a sentence of six (6) months confinement in the Williamson County Jail for the offense of driving on a revoke d license. Also, the Williamson County Criminal Court consolidated an appeal of the defendant for violation of probation from the Williamson County General Sessions Court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court upheld the judgment of the General Sessions Court and ordered the defendant to serve six (6) months, less forty-five (45) days credit, as per her plea of guilty, to run concurrently with the sentence for driving on a revoked license. Af ter a review of the entire r ecord, brief s of the parties and applicable law, we affirm the trial court’s judgment as to the revocation of probation, but remand the sentences as modified.

Authoring Judge: Special Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Originating Judge:Judge Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/07/98
Anna Lee Crisp, v. Irville C. Boring and wife, Wanda Sue Boring

03A01-9711-CV-00527

This is a boundary dispute. The plaintiff alleges that the location of the boundary line between her property and the adjoining land of the defendants is shown by a survey made by Sterling Engineering, Inc.

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Judge W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 08/06/98
Phillip W. Twitty and Alice F. Twitty v. Young v. Kenton, Young, and Roy Edward Brown and Volunteer Realty Company of Knoxville, Inc.

03A01-9801-CH-00031

On October 26, 1993, plaintiffs purchased an new residence in Oak Ridge from the defendants. Thereafter, the unfinished basement of the residence flooded on several occasions after heavy rainfall.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Chancellor Frederick D. McDonald
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/06/98
Wanda C. Tate, v. Sally Seivers and Carole Mitchell, L'Argent Inc., v., Wanda C. Tate

03A01-9710-CV-00459

This is an action on a promissory note. In 1993, plaintiff, Wanda Tate, sold her women's clothing store to the defendants, Sally Seivers and Carole Mitchell and their corporatin, L'Argent, Inc. (collectively "buyers"). Several months after the sale, the buyers, dissatisfied with some of the inventory sold to them, tendered less than the full payment amount called for by the promissor note they had signed in partial consideration for the sale. Tate rejected the partial payment and sued for recovery of the full amount due under the terms of the note. The buyers argued tha Tate had made material misrepresentations regarding some of the the inventory, resulting in the value of the inventory they purchased being substantially less than anticipated at the time of the sale.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm
Court of Appeals 08/06/98
Jon Hoscheit v. Johanna G. Hoscheit

01A01-9709-CH-00493

This action began with a complaint filed by the appellee, Jon Hoscheit, (husband) seeking an absolute divorce from the appellant, Johanna G. Hoscheit (wife). After a bench trial, the court entered a final judgment granting an absolute divorce, custody of the parties' minor child to the father, dividing the marital estate and awarding alimony to the wife. From the judgment of the trial court the wife has appealed. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

 

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Chancellor Tom E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
Marvin E. Alexander, D/B/A Alexander Auctions & Real Estate Sales, v. John Hopkins and Rhonda Hopkins, Individually and D/B/A Richland Creek Sod Farm

01A01-9710-CH-00590

A licensed auctioneer and real estate broker filed suit against the defendant landowners for breach of an auction contract, because the defendants sold their land prior to the scheduled auction without his participation. The trial court held that the auctioneer was entitled to the anticipated commission amount. We affirm the trial court’s holding that the property owners are liable, but we modify the amount of damages.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton
Giles County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
Jimmy Key, v. Tennessee Board of Paroles

01A01-9610-CH-00480

This appeal involves a dispute between the Board of Paroles and a prisoner convicted of being an habitual criminal over the inmate’s right to custodial parole and the calculation of his sentence credits. The Chancery Court for Davidson County granted the Board’s motion to dismiss, and the prisoner has appealed. We affirm the dismissal of the prisoner’s suit in accordance with Tenn. Ct. App. R. 10(b).

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
Michael G. Binkley, et ux., et al. v. Rodney Trevor Medling

01A01-9708-CH-00421

The captioned defendant has appealed from a judgment of the Trial Court which reads in full as follows: This cause came on to be heard on this the 23rd day of July, 1997, before the Honorable Allen W. Wallace, Chancellor, upon stipulation of the parties, certified copies of various documents, statement of counsel, and upon the entire record. From all of which the Court finds that the Defendant improperly opened a cul-de-sac located on Timberland Drive, New Johnsonville, Tennessee, and Lot No. D-6 of the Countrywood Estates Subdivision, Section IV, and further that the Defendant violated the restrictions and protective covenants of Countrywood Estates Subdivision, Section IV, as a street or driveway to unrestricted and non-conforming adjoining property, and particularly the 11.7 acre tract that was purchased by the Defendant.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Judge Allen W. Wallace
Humphreys County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
Tracy Renee Miglin v. Daniel Walter Miglin - Concurring

01-A-01-9707-CH-00362

The husband in this divorce case challenged almost every aspect of the trial court’s orders, including child custody, alimony, the division of marital property and the terms of an injunction imposed to prevent him from interfering with the wife’s authority over the children. We modify the injunction because we believe that its provisions are overbroad. In all other respects, we affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton
Maury County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
Brookridge Apartments., Ltd. v. Universal Constructors, Inc., et al. - Concurring

01A01-9709-CV-00523

Plaintiff appeals to this Court on the refusal by the Trial Judge to grant plaintiff relief pursuant to Tennessee Rules of Procedure, 60.02(1). The underlying action was dismissed on July 23, 1996 by the Trial Judge “for want of prosecution.” On July 18, 1997, plaintiff filed a motion to set aside the judgment pursuant to Rule 60, T.R.C.P. on the ground the judgment was entered because of mistake, inadvertence, and excusable neglect. The motion explained that the plaintiffs “former counsel William J. Hart, did not receive notice from the Court that the case would be dismissed for lack of prosecution pursuant to local Rule 37.02.”

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Barbara N. Haynes
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
John Anderson Kinard v. Linda Kinard

01A01-9606-CH-00265

This appeal involves a divorce ending a long-term marriage. The husband filed suit to divorce his wife of thirty years in the Chancery Court for Rutherford County, and the wife counterclaimed for a divorce from bed and board. The trial judge, sitting without a jury, declared the parties divorced, divided the marital property, and awarded the wife rehabilitative alimony for three years. The wife takes issue on this appeal with the decision to declare the parties divorced, the division of marital property, and the failure to award her long-term spousal support and attorney’s fees. She also insists that the trial judge should have recused himself because of his prior professional association with the husband’s lawyer. We conclude that the trial judge was not disqualified from hearing this case. While we also find that declaring the parties divorced was proper, we have determined that the division of marital property and the spousal support award should be modified but that the wife should not receive an additional award for her legal expenses.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Robert E. Corlew, III
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
State of Tennesse vs. Samuel Lamb, Jr.

01C01-9703-CC-00095

The appellant, Samuel L. Lamb, Jr., appeals as of right the sentencing decision of the Marshall County Circuit Court. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the appellant pled guilty to three counts of theft of property and received an effective five year sentence.1 Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered that the appellant serve 270 days of this sentence in the county jail with the balance of the sentence to be served in the community corrections program. In this appeal, the appellant contends that the trial court erred by denying full probation or placement in community corrections. After review, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge W. Charles Lee
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/05/98
Daniel Scott Bradley, et ux. LInda Bradley, v. Geneva Lynn McCord McLeod, et vir Rodrick McLeod

01A01-9702-CH-00062

This case involves a dispute between two neighbors in the Fairview community of Williamson County concerning the use of a gravel driveway. Three years after purchasing a tract of land on which portions of the driveway were located, the property owners filed suit in the Chancery Court for Williamson County to quiet title to the portions of the driveway they believed to be on their property. Their neighbors responded that the driveway was their only access to a pubic road and that they had acquired a right to use the driveway by adverse possession. After the trial court granted the plaintiffs’ uncontested motion for summary judgment, the defendants filed a Tenn. R. Civ. P. 59.04 motion asserting that they had an “easement of presumption” to use the driveway. The trial court denied the post-judgment motion on the ground that the new defense had not been timely raised. On this appeal, the losing property owners take issue with the trial court’s decision to grant the summary judgment and to deny their post-judgment motion. We affirm the summary judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Cornelia A. Clark
Williamson County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
Linda Janiece Wright-Miller v. Harvey Granville Miller - Concurring/Dissenting

02A01-9708-CV-00196

This is a divorce case. The parties, Granville Harvey Miller1 (Husband) and Linda Janiece Wright-Miller (Wife), were married for approximately 5 years before a final decree of divorce was entered in August 1997.2 During the marriage, the parties resided at a home located at 2166 Aztec Drive. On appeal, Husband challenges the correctness of the trial court’s classification of this property as marital as well as its determination that the asset is unencumbered. Husband contends that the true owner of the property is Heartland Investments, Inc. (Heartland), a corporation that he founded prior to the parties’ marriage and of which he is president and sole shareholder or, alternatively, that the parties own the property encumbered by a mortgage executed in favor of the corporation. Wife has also raised an issue with respect to the trial court’s finding that there was no increase in value of Heartland stock during the marriage. After review of the record, we affirm in part and reverse in part. We set forth our reasons below.

Authoring Judge: Judge Farmer
Originating Judge:Chancellor Joe C. Morris
Dyer County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
Linda Janiece Wright-Miller v. Harvey Granville Miller - Concurring/Dissenting

02A01-9708-CV-00196

I concur in the majority opinion insofar as it affirms the judgment of the trial court. However, I must respectfully dissent from the majority opinion, which reverses the trial court’s decision concerning the division of the increase in value of the Heartland stock.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Dyer County Court of Appeals 08/05/98
Yvette Porter Caira v. Ronald Stephen Caira

01A01-9709-CH-00508

This case is before us on appeal from the trial court’s decree of divorce and grant of child custody and support to the Appellee, Ronald Steven Caira. In bringing this appeal, Appellant raises two issues for consideration. 1. Whether the trial court erred in failing to award primary custody of the minor children of this marriage with Defendant/Appellee. 2. Whether the trial court made an equitable property distribution of the debts, assets and retirement proceeds of this marriage.

Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Chancellor Carol A. Catalano
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 08/05/98