Barbara Jean Hooper Flynn v. Robert Dean Flynn
W2011-01138-COA-R3-CV
The trial court denied Husband’s petition to modify alimony upon finding he was voluntarily underemployed, and found him to be in civil contempt. We vacate the finding of voluntary underemployment, affirm the finding of contempt, and remand for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Donna Fields |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 01/27/12 | |
Todd Marsh, et al. v. Larry A. Storie, et al.
E2011-00101-COA-R3-CV
Todd Marsh and Kari Marsh (“Plaintiffs”) sued Larry A. Storie (“Storie”) and First Tennessee Bank National Association (“First TN Bank”) with regard to, among other things, ownership of real property which had been the subject of both a tax sale and a foreclosure sale. After a hearing, the Trial Court entered an order on January 4, 2011 granting partial summary judgment dismissing First TN Bank from the case, and certifying the judgment as final as to First TN Bank pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 54.02. Plaintiffs appeal the dismissal of their claims against First TN Bank. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Senior Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood |
Blount County | Court of Appeals | 01/26/12 | |
Artis Reese v. State of Tennessee
W2011-00609-CCA-MR3-PC
Artis Reese (“the Petitioner”) filed for post-conviction relief from his convictions of two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated criminal trespass, alleging that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at his jury trial and that one of his convictions offends due process. After a hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief, and this appeal followed. Upon our review of the record, we affirm the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey S. Bivins
Originating Judge:Judge James C. Beasley Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/26/12 | |
Eric Thomas v. Charles Trauber, Chairman of Board of Probation and Parole, and State of Tennessee
W2011-01157-CCA-R3-HC
The Petitioner, Eric Thomas, appeals the Shelby County Criminal Court’s dismissal of his petition for habeas corpus relief from his four 1999 convictions for robbery. He claims that he is illegally incarcerated because his sentences expired before his resentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/26/12 | |
In Re: Sierra D.M., et al
E2011-01663-COA-R3-PT
The State of Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”) filed 1 a petition seeking to terminate the parental rights of Susan M.M. (“Mother”) and Mark M. (“Father”)2 to the minor children Sierra D.M. (“Sierra”) and Hunter Z.M. (“Hunter”) (or collectively “the Children”) pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 36-1-113(g)(1) and (g)(3). After a trial, the Juvenile Court3 entered its order on August 17, 2011 finding and holding, inter alia, that clear and convincing evidence existed to terminate Mother’s parental rights to the Children under Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 36-1-113(g)(1) and (g)(3), and that clear and convincing evidence existed that the termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the Children’s best interest. Mother appeals to this Court. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Judge Sharon Green |
Washington County | Court of Appeals | 01/25/12 | |
Robert F. Meredith et al. v. Kenneth L. Weller et al.
E2010-02573-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiff, Robert F. Meredith (“the Owner”), appeals a judgment rendered against him in favor of his home builder, Kenneth L. Weller (“the Builder”), on the Builder’s counterclaim for breach of contract and for attorney’s fees incurred in defending the Owner’s claims for, among other things, defective construction, misrepresentation, breach of contract, and violations of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 47-18-101 et seq. (2001)(“the TCPA”). The Builder asks us to award him his attorney’s fees incurred in defending the Owner’s appeal. We affirm the judgment of the trial court in all respects. We also award the Builder his reasonable attorney’s fees incurred on appeal and remand to the trial court for a hearing to determine those fees.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor W. Frank Brown, III |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 01/25/12 | |
Jonathan Paul Gray v. Casey Renea Jeans
E2011-00692-COA-R3-CV
Casey Renea Jeans (“Mother”) and Jonathan Paul Gray (“Father”) are the parents of two minor children, Tyler and Alexia (“the Children”, collectively). Mother and Father never were married. As part of the Permanent Parenting Plan (“the PPP”), Mother and Father shared custody of the Children, with Father designated as the primary residential parent.
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Judge John K. Wilson |
Hamblen County | Court of Appeals | 01/25/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Doyle Everette Haney
E2010-02149-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Doyle Everette Haney, appeals his Cocke County Circuit Court jury convictions of sale of .5 grams or more of cocaine and delivery of .5 grams or more of cocaine for which he received concurrent sentences of 30 years’ incarceration as a career offender. In addition to contesting the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions, the defendant argues that the State failed to comply with discovery requirements, that juror misconduct infected his trial, and that the trial court erred at sentencing. Although not raised by the defendant, we determine that the trial court erred by failing to merge the jury verdicts into one judgment of conviction. On remand, the trial court shall enter a single judgment of conviction indicating the merger of the jury’s verdicts, and the judgment in count two shall be vacated.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Ben W. Hooper, II |
Cocke County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/25/12 | |
In Re: Ronald L.D.
E2011-01619-COA-R3-PT
This is a termination of parental rights case in which the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (the “Department”) removed Ronald L. D. (the “Child”) from the custody of Ronald B. (“Father”). The Child was adjudicated dependent and neglected, and after Father failed to comply with the permanency plan, the Department petitioned to terminate Father’s parental rights. Following a hearing, the court terminated Father’s parental rights, finding that Father failed to substantially comply with two permanency plans, that the conditions which led to removal persisted, and that termination of Father’s parental rights was in the best interest of the Child. Father appeals. We affirm the decision of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge Jeffery Hill Wicks |
Roane County | Court of Appeals | 01/25/12 | |
Donna Crawford v. Department of Finance and Administration and State of Tennessee Civil Service Commission
M2011-01467-COA-R3-CV
Appellant, a civil service employee with the State of Tennessee, appeals the trial court’s judgment affirming the decision of the Civil Service Commission terminating her employment. The Commission had affirmed the initial order by the Administrative Law Judge, who upheld the decision of the Department of Finance and Administration to terminate Appellant’s employment for the good of the service pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 8-30-326. Discerning no error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Chancellor Carol L. McCoy |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 01/24/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Horace Oscar Wakefield
M2009-01828-CCA-R3-CD
This is a delayed appeal from a jury conviction for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (DUI), ninth offense. Following a sentencing hearing, the Defendant, Horace Oscar Wakefield, received a sentence of four years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction. After a review of the record, we conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support the Defendant's conviction for DUI. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton |
Fentress County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/24/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Andrew Mann
E2010-00601-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Andrew Bryan Mann, was convicted of two counts of first degree premeditated murder after he shot and killed his girlfriend’s father and stepmother. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in the Department of Correction. The primary issue at the defendant’s trial was whether or not the defendant’s killing of the victims was premeditated. On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court erred by: (1) denying his motion to suppress; (2) refusing to allow his expert witnesses to testify concerning the defendant’s ability to premeditate; (3) admitting photographs of the crime scene; (4) excluding a report made in 2003 by his girlfriend to the Department of Child Services claiming that she had been abused by one of the victims, and (5) imposing consecutive life sentences on the grounds that he was a dangerous offender. After carefully reviewing the record and the arguments of the parties, we reject each of these claims and affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Richard R. Baumgartner |
Knox County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/23/12 | |
Roger Joseph v. State of Tennessee
E2010-01891-CCA-R3-PC
On April 25, 2001, Petitioner, Roger Joseph, pled guilty to first degree murder. The Bradley County Criminal Court sentenced him to life in prison with possibility of parole. Petitioner filed a pro se petition for post-conviction relief on February 17, 2010. On February 28, 2010, the post-conviction court summarily dismissed the petition for being untimely and because Petitioner had filed a previous petition. On appeal, Petitioner argues that he was taking various psychiatric medications at the time he entered his guilty plea and, therefore, his plea was not entered voluntarily. He also argues that trial counsel was ineffective because he knew Petitioner was taking medication. Because Petitioner has shown no due process violation or other reason for tolling the statute of limitations, we conclude that the post-conviction court properly dismissed the petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Amy Reedy |
Bradley County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/23/12 | |
Oliver J. Higgins v. Mark Gwynn, et al.
M2011-00553-COA-R3-CV
Petitioner who sought judicial review of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s denial of his request for disclosure of investigative records pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act appeals the trial court’s dismissal of the petition. Finding that the records requested are excepted from disclosure, we affirm the judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Originating Judge:Chancellor Carol L. McCoy |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 01/23/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Alma Cisneros Childers
M2011-00827-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Alma Cisneros Childers, appeals the sentence of incarceration she received following the revocation of her probation by the Lincoln County Circuit Court. She pled guilty to violating the terms and conditions of her probation but now contends that she should have been given a community corrections sentence rather than one of incarceration. After review, we conclude that the defendant has not shown that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering the revocation or in imposing a sentence of incarceration. Therefore, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Robert Crigler |
Lincoln County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/23/12 | |
James Fitzpatrick Dendy v. Amy Michelle Dendy
E2010-02319-COA-R3-CV
This divorce case covered a span of years in the Trial Court, and the Trial Court ultimately granted the parties a divorce, awarded primary custody of the children to the father, denied alimony to the mother and divided the marital estate between the parties. The mother appealed and has raised numerous issues. Many of the issues raised pertain to matters occurring after the appeal was filed, and we decline to consider these issues. The record establishes the mother did not attend the final hearing wherein the divorce was granted. We vacate that part of the final decree, dividing the marital assets and liabilities, on the ground that the mother established grounds of excusable neglect for failing to attend the trial, and remand to the Trial Court to grant a new trial on this issue. We otherwise affirm the rulings in the Judgment by the Trial Court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Bill Swann |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 01/20/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Heather Richardson
M2010-01360-SC-R11-CD
We granted the State’s applications for permission to appeal in these two cases to clarify the remedy that should be applied when there is an abuse of prosecutorial discretion in the denial of an application for pretrial diversion. In each case, the prosecutor denied the defendant’s petition for pretrial diversion and the trial court ruled there was no abuse of discretion. The Court of Criminal Appeals decided in each case that there was an abuse of discretion because the prosecutor failed to weigh all the relevant factors in reaching his decision to deny pretrial diversion to the defendant and remanded the case to the trial court to order the prosecutor to approve the defendant’s pretrial diversion application. We hold that when a prosecutor has abused his or her discretion byfailing to consider and weigh all the relevant pretrial diversion factors or by considering and relying upon an irrelevant factor, the appropriate remedy is to vacate the prosecutor’s ruling and remand to the prosecutor to consider and weigh all of the relevant factors. Accordingly, the judgments of the Court of Criminal Appeals are reversed, and the cases are remanded to the trial courts with directions to remand the case to the district attorney general to consider and weigh all of the relevant pretrial diversion factors.
Authoring Judge: Justice Sharon G. Lee
Originating Judge:Judge David Bragg |
Rutherford County | Supreme Court | 01/20/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Darren Allan Vincent - Concurring
M210-02468-CCA-R3-CD
I concur in the results reached in the majority opinion. I, however, would affirm the trial court on the merits of its sentencing decision.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey S. Bivins
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas W. Graham |
Sequatchie County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/20/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Brian David Thomason
W2007-02910-SC-R11-CD
We granted the State’s applications for permission to appeal in these two cases to clarify the remedy that should be applied when there is an abuse of prosecutorial discretion in the denial of an application for pretrial diversion. In each case, the prosecutor denied the defendant’s petition for pretrial diversion and the trial court ruled there was no abuse of discretion. The Court of Criminal Appeals decided in each case that there was an abuse of discretion because the prosecutor failed to weigh all the relevant factors in reaching his decision to deny pretrial diversion to the defendant and remanded the case to the trial court to order the prosecutor to approve the defendant’s pretrial diversion application. We hold that when a prosecutor has abused his or her discretion byfailing to consider and weigh all the relevant pretrial diversion factors or by considering and relying upon an irrelevant factor, the appropriate remedy is to vacate the prosecutor’s ruling and remand to the prosecutor to consider and weigh all of the relevant factors. Accordingly, the judgments of the Court of Criminal Appeals are reversed, and the cases are remanded to the trial courts with directions to remand the case to the district attorney general to consider and weigh all of the relevant pretrial diversion factors.
Authoring Judge: Justice Sharon G. Lee
Originating Judge:Judge Clayburn Peeples |
Gibson County | Supreme Court | 01/20/12 | |
State of Tennessee ex rel. Marsha Campbell v. Jeffrey D. Penuel, Sr.
M2009-01688-COA-R3-CV
Father filed a petition to terminate child support payments, due to the child for whom the support was payable reaching the age of majority. In disposing of the petition, the trial court, inter alia, assessed an arrearage and waived interest on the arrearage. The State appeals the action of trial court in waiving interest on the arrearage. We find that the court erred in waiving interest on the arrearage and remand the case for a determination of the amount of interest.
Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Originating Judge:Judge C. L. Rogers |
Sumner County | Court of Appeals | 01/20/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Nathanael Anderson
E2010-01774-CCA-R3-CD
After being indicted by a Sevier County Grand Jury, the Defendant, Nathanael Anderson, representing himself, pled guilty to one count of perjury. The Defendant then, through counsel, filed a motion to continue the sentencing hearing, which the trial court denied. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to eleven months and twenty-nine days to be served in confinement. After the sentencing hearing, the Defendant filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and filed a motion to reconsider the denial of the motion to continue the sentencing hearing. The trial court overruled the motion to withdraw the guilty plea, but it granted the motion to reconsider the motion to continue the sentencing hearing. In a subsequent resentencing hearing, the trial court considered the testimony of a psychologist who had diagnosed the Defendant with Simple Deteriorative Disorder, or Simple Schizophrenia. After the second sentencing hearing, the trial court entered an amended judgment, sentencing the Defendant to eleven months and twenty-nine days with six months to be served in confinement and the remainder to be served on supervised probation. On appeal, the Defendant contends: (1) the trial court erred in overruling his motion to withdraw his guilty plea because it applied the incorrect legal standard; (2) his guilty plea was not knowingly and voluntarily entered; (3) the trial court improperly admitted evidence at the sentencing hearing; and (4) the trial court improperly sentenced him. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Richard R. Vance |
Sevier County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/20/12 | |
William Lee Drumbarger v. State of Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole, Charles Traughber et al.
M2011-00086-COA-R3-CV
Inmate appeals the dismissal of his petition for writ of certiorari for failure to comply with the statutory requirement of verification. We find no error in the trial court’s decision.
Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Chancellor Ellen H. Lyle |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 01/20/12 | |
In Re: Estate of Viola B. Copas
E2010-00877-COA-R3-CV
This appeal concerns whether the son of a decedent breached his fiduciary duty under a power of attorney and as the personal representative of the decedent’s estate. The siblings sued their brother, asserting that he used undue influence over their mother in order to unlawfully obtain her funds for his benefit to the exclusion of his mother and her estate. The brother argued that the money was properly used to take care of his mother and to run her farm. The trial court entered a judgment in favor of the siblings for $2,040,276, plus attorney fees totaling $102,576.36, upon finding that the brother failed to meet his burden to rebut, by clear and convincing evidence, the presumption of undue influence. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Chancellor G. Richard Johnson |
Washington County | Court of Appeals | 01/20/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Oscar Dimery
E2010-01430-CCA-R3-CD
A Hamilton County jury convicted the Defendant, Oscar Dimery, of second degree murder, and the trial court sentenced him to serve twenty-three years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred when it admitted the Defendant’s clothing into evidence because the State failed to establish a chain of custody. The Defendant also asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction. After a thorough review of the record and the applicable law, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Don W. Poole |
Hamilton County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/20/12 | |
In Re Noah D. and Kevin D.
M2011-01087-COA-R3-PT
The trial court terminated the parental rights of the mother of two children on the grounds of abandonment by failure to establish a suitable home, persistence of conditions, and severe child abuse. Mother appeals, contending that the evidence does not clearly and convincingly establish the grounds of termination. We affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights on the grounds found by the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Originating Judge:Judge John J. Maddux, Jr. |
Pickett County | Court of Appeals | 01/20/12 |