Aisha Wiggins v. State of Tennessee
W2011-00670-CCA-R3-PC
The Petitioner, Aisha Wiggins, appeals the post-conviction court’s dismissal of her petition for post-conviction relief. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge R. Lee Moore Jr. |
Dyer County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/11/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. John C. Crim
M2010-01281-CCA-R3-CD
A jury convicted the Defendant-Appellant, John C. Crim, of eight counts of rape of a child, Class A felonies, and six counts of aggravated sexual battery of a child less than thirteen years old, Class B felonies. The trial court sentenced him to an effective 212-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant argues that (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress; (2) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; and (3) his sentence is excessive. Upon our review, we affirm the denial of the motion to suppress and the judgments of conviction. We further agree with the state that the matter should be remanded for a new sentencing hearing.
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge David Earl Durham |
Wilson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/10/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Kenneth Ryan Mallady
M2010-02142-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant-Appellant, Kenneth Ryan Mallady, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the offenses of first degree premeditated murder, attempted first degree premeditated murder, and aggravated assault. He appeals the trial court’s order denying discharge from involuntary commitment under the terms of a mandatory outpatient treatment program. Mallady argues that the trial court’s finding that he was unsuitable for discharge was in error because it contradicted the clear weight of the evidence. Upon review, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for the entry of an order discharging Mallady to mandatory outpatient treatment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Robbie T. Beal |
Hickman County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/10/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Sidney S. Stanton, III
M2010-01868-CCA-R9-CD
The Defendant, Sidney S. Stanton, III, appeals from the Warren County Circuit Court’s order denying the Defendant relief from the assistant district attorney general’s denial of pretrial diversion. After a hearing, the trial court affirmed the denial of diversion and found no abuse of prosecutorial discretion but granted the Defendant’s motion for this interlocutory appeal. The Defendant contends that the assistant district attorney general abused his discretion by denying the Defendant’s application for pretrial diversion and that the trial court erred in declining to grant certiorari, finding that there was no abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton, Special Judge |
Warren County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/10/12 | |
Joshua N. Lee v. Lyons Construction Company, Inc.
E2010-02388-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff and others sustained injuries in a single car accident and sued defendant construction company and the Tennessee Department of Transportation, alleging that defendant construction company had recently completed work on that section of the highway where the accident occurred, and that a low point in the pavement caused plaintiff to lose control of his vehicle and wreck. Defendant answered, stating that they had completed the required construction on that section of the highway, and the State had accepted its work pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §12-4-501 et seq. which provides upon proper completion of the work the contractor "is discharged from all liability to any party". Defendant filed a Motion for Summary Judgment which the Trial Court granted and plaintiff appealed. We hold that summary judgment for the defendant in this case was proper, and affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Richard Vance |
Sevier County | Court of Appeals | 01/10/12 | |
Rebecca L. Inman v. James A. Inman, et al.
E2011-01748-COA-R3-CV
A show cause order was entered in this case on November 21, 2011, directing the pro se appellant to show cause why this appeal should not be dismissed as premature. The appellant has responded to the show cause order within the time specified, but the argument presented in the response does not appear to present good cause for maintaining this case in this court. The review of the record reveals that the judgment to which the notice of appeal is directed is not “a final judgment adjudicating all the claims, rights, and liabilities of all parties” from which an appeal as of right would lie. See Tenn. R. App. P. 3(a). Specifically, the order of dismissal does not address the counterclaims filed by the appellees below or finally resolve the award of attorneys’ fees to the appellees. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal as premature.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Chancellor Thomas R. Frierson |
Hamblen County | Court of Appeals | 01/10/12 | |
RonAllen Hardy v. State of Tennessee
M2011-00497-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Ronallen Hardy, filed a petition for post-conviction relief from his four felony convictions and the accompanying effective sentence of life plus twenty-two years, alleging that his counsel were ineffective. The post-conviction court denied the petition, and the petitioner now appeals. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge David M. Bragg |
Rutherford County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/09/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Marcus Donnell Jones
M2010-02597-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant entered a negotiated best interest plea to three counts of theft over $1,000. In accordance with the plea agreement, the Defendant received an effective sentence of six years, to be served on probation, and the State dismissed other pending charges against him. The parties agreed to allow the trial court to determine whether the Defendant’s probationary status should be governed by the judicial diversion provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-313. After a hearing, the trial court denied the Defendant’s request for diversion. The Defendant now appeals that judgment. After a thorough review of the record and relevant authorities, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/09/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Randy Ray McFarlin a/k/a Mac Ray McFarlane
M2010-00853-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Randy Ray McFarlin, also known as Mac Ray McFarlane, appeals as of right his Rutherford County Criminal Court jury convictions of one count of first degree premeditated murder, see T.C.A. §39-2402(a) (1981), and one count of second degree murder, see id. § 39-2403(a), for which he received a sentence of life imprisonment. On appeal, he contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss the indictment, that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions, and that the trial court erred by admitting (1) scenes from the movie Miller’s Crossing, (2) evidence of the defendant’s and victim’s participation in a 1982 robbery, (3) evidence of the defendant’s abusive treatment of his ex-wife, and (4) photographs of the victim’s partially decomposed body. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Don R. Ash |
Rutherford County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/09/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Demeturus Alexander
W2010-02675-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Demeturus Alexander, was convicted of aggravated robbery, a Class B felony, by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury and sentenced to ten years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he challenges the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/06/12 | |
Michael V. Morris v. State of Tennessee
M2010-02069-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Michael V. Morris, appeals the Davidson County Criminal Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his conviction for aggravated robbery and resulting thirty-year sentence. On appeal, the petitioner contends that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and on appeal. Specifically, the petitioner contends that trial counsel failed to object to the trial court’s sentencing him in violation of ex post facto protections; that appellate counsel failed to address the lack of a written waiver of ex post facto protections;and that trial counsel failed to review discovery,namely a surveillance video of the robbery, with him. Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Monte Watkins |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/06/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Tom Perry Bell
E2010-01504-CCA-R3-CD
A Hamilton County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Defendant, Tom Perry Bell, for burglary, misdemeanor theft, possession of burglary tools, and vandalism valued at more than $10,000. Defendant subsequently pled guilty to burglary, a Class D felony. The trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range II, multiple offender, to eight years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, Defendant argues that his sentence is excessive because the trial court did not properly apply enhancement and mitigating factors. After a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Don W. Poole |
Hamilton County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/06/12 | |
Gary Joseph Latham v. State of Tennessee
E2010-01885-CCA-R3-PC
Petitioner, Gary Joseph Latham, appeals from the post-conviction court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief following an evidentiary hearing. Petitioner asserts in this Court that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at the trial which resulted in his conviction for aggravated child abuse. He also argues that he is entitled to post-conviction relief because “the introduction of perjured testimony [at trial] invalidate[s] the conviction.” Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Leon Burns, Jr. |
Cumberland County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/06/12 | |
James Leon Parker v. David R. Sexton, Warden
E2011-01472-CCA-R3-HC
Petitioner, James Leon Parker, appeals the Johnson County Criminal Court’s denial of habeas corpus relief. Because we determine that Petitioner has failed to establish that his judgments were void or his sentences were expired, we affirm the denial of relief.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Robert E. Cupp |
Johnson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/06/12 | |
CK Development, LLC v. Town of Nolensville, et al.
M2010-00633-COA-R3-CV
The Developer of a Planned Unit Development in Nolensville sought final approval from the planning commission of phase 7 of the development. The planning commission conditioned its approval of the plan on the developer’s agreement to construct the roads in phase 7 in accordance with more recent road standards that were adopted in 2007. The developer filed a petition for writ of certiorari claiming it had vested rights in the earlier road standards and that complying with the more rigorous standards would require it to spend more money than it had originally planned. The trial court agreed with the developer and concluded that it had vested rights in the earlier road standards. The town appealed. We reverse the trial court’s decision because the developer did not rely on any final governmental approval, the application of the improved road standards was not a zoning change, and the developer has neither engaged in substantial construction of phase 7 nor incurred substantial liabilities with respect to phase 7. We also reject the developer’s argument that the planning commission exceeded its jurisdiction by acting in a legislative rather than an administrative capacity when it determined the developer was required to comply with the 2007 road standards.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Judge Robbie T. Beal |
Williamson County | Court of Appeals | 01/06/12 | |
Frederica April Dawn Bell v. Dennis Lynn Bell
M2011-02618-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from an order returning temporary custody of the parties’ child to the father pending a further hearing. Because the order appealed does not resolve all the claims between the parties, we dismiss the appeal for lack of a final judgment.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Judge Robert E. Burch |
Humphreys County | Court of Appeals | 01/06/12 | |
Randy Flippo v. State of Tennessee
M2010-02325-CCA-R3-PC
Randy Flippo (“the Petitioner”) filed for post-conviction relief, alleging (1) that he was denied effective assistance of counsel in conjunction with his guilty plea to theft of property between five hundred and one thousand dollars; and (2) that his plea was not voluntarily made. After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief, and the Petitioner has appealed solely as to the ineffective assistance of counsel claim. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey S. Bivins
Originating Judge:Judge Robert G. Crigler |
Moore County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/06/12 | |
2850 Parkway General Partnership v. C. Dan Scott, et al
E2010-02413-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff brought an action for declaratory judgment, asking the Court to declare that while plaintiff's sublease required it to pay the property taxes, the master lease required the lessor to pay the property taxes, and asked the Court to declare the lessor liable for the property taxes. Following trial, the Trial Court declared that the sublessee was liable for the property taxes, as it agreed to pay under the sublease. On appeal, we affirm the Judgment of the Trial Court on the grounds that under the fact of this case, plaintiff is equitably estopped to avoid paying property taxes, as agreed to in the sublease.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Chancellor Telford E. Forgety |
Sevier County | Court of Appeals | 01/05/12 | |
Rheaetta F. Wilson, et al. v. Americare Systems, Inc., et al.
M2011-00240-COA-R3-CV
Decedent’s next of kin filed this wrongful death action against an assisted living facility, two nurses, and the facility’s management company for failure to provide proper care and treatment. This appeal concerns only the jury verdict and judgment finding the management company directly liable for failure to provide adequate staff at the assisted living facility. We find no material evidence to support a conclusion that any staffing deficiency proximately caused the decedent’s death. We therefore reverse the judgment finding direct liability on the part of the management company.
Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge Franklin L. Russell |
Bedford County | Court of Appeals | 01/05/12 | |
State of Tennessee, ex rel Alexandria Price v. Christopher Childers
E2011-00457-COA-R3-JV
The State brought this action against the defendant to establish paternity and require support for the dependent child. A default judgment was taken against defendant, which determined that he was the father of the child and he was ordered to pay child support, and it was ordered that the child support be withheld from his paycheck. During these proceedings the defendant was a member of the United States military, and he subsequently filed a pro se motion for DNA testing. The DNA test established that he was not the biological father of the child, and the support withheld from his paycheck was ordered reimbursed to defendant. The State appealed, and we hold that the Juvenile Court did not have subject matter jurisdiction to require the State to reimburse defendant for the child support withheld from his paycheck.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Suzanne Bailey |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 01/05/12 | |
State of Tennessee v. Sheddrick Harris
W2010-02512-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Sheddrick Harris, appeals his Shelby County Criminal Court jury convictions of first degree felony murder, see T.C.A. § 39-13-202(a)(2) (2006), and especially aggravated robbery, see id. § 39-13-403. At the penalty phase of the trial, the jury found two enhancement factors beyond a reasonable doubt: “[t]he defendant was previously convicted of one (1) or more felonies, other than the present charge, whose statutory elements involve the use of violence to the person,” see id. § 39-13-204(i)(2); and “[t]he murder was knowingly committed, solicited, directed, or aided by the defendant, while the defendant had a substantial role in committing or attempting to commit, any . . . robbery,” see id. § 39-13-204(i)(7), and it unanimously imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, see id. § 39-13-204(f)(2). At a separate sentencing hearing concerning the especially aggravated robbery conviction, the trial court sentenced the defendant to 60 years’ incarceration as a career offender to be served consecutively to the life without parole sentence. In addition to challenging the sufficiency of the evidence to support his conviction of first degree felony murder, the defendant contends that the trial court erred by (1) imposing increased security procedures during trial, (2) denying his motion for mistrial, (3) limiting his cross-examination of a witness, and (4) excluding residual doubt evidence from the penalty phase of the trial. Discerning no paucity of evidence and no error, the judgments of the criminal court are affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/05/12 | |
In Re Estate of Benjamin M. Bates and Estate of Pearl Bates
M2011-01064-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a claim filed against two decedents’ estates to recover the value of improvements made to real estate since 2000. The claimant is one of nine children of the decedents, husband and wife, who died in 1959 and 1962, respectively. The court granted the appellee’s claim for the value of improvements made since 2000 to the decedents’ former home place. Because the decedents died intestate, their real property immediately vested in their heirs in 1962. Therefore, the real estate the claimant improved beginning in 2000 was not owned by either decedent at that time or thereafter; thus, the award of a claim against the estates of these two decedents is a nullity. Accordingly, the judgment is vacated and the case is remanded.
Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge Larry B. Stanley |
Warren County | Court of Appeals | 01/05/12 | |
Kimberly Anne Chavez v. James Albert Chavez, Jr.
M2010-02123-COA-R3-CV
Wife sought a divorce and Husband counterclaimed for a divorce. The trial court granted the divorce to both parties. Wife was designated the primary residential parent and was awarded transitional alimony and alimony in solido. Husband appeals. Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge John H. Gasaway, III |
Montgomery County | Court of Appeals | 01/05/12 | |
William N. Nusbaum v. Lucile E. Nusbaum
M2011-00832-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce appeal, wife challenges the distribution of husband’s federal retirement benefits, the award of transitional alimony, and the court’s failure to award her attorneyfees. Because of an error in the percentage of husband’s FERS classified as marital assets, we reverse the trial court’s decision. As to transitional alimony, we affirm the award of $500 per month but extend the award until the time of husband’s retirement. We affirm the trial court’s decision regarding attorney fees.
Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge C. L. Rogers |
Sumner County | Court of Appeals | 01/05/12 | |
Jacqueline L. Shultz v. Kirby Fuller
E2011-00874-COA-R3-CV
Upon the divorce of the parties, the permanent parenting plan designated the mother as the primary residential parent of the couple’s daughter. Both parties eventually filed petitions to modify the permanent parenting plan. The trial court concluded that there had been a material change of circumstance and that it was in the best interest of the daughter that her parenting be shared equally between the parties. Mother appeals the trial court’s modification decision. We reverse the order of the trial court and remand for further proceedings regarding the best interest of the child.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 01/04/12 |