APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State of Tennessee v. William Parker, Jr.

M2003-01423-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, William J. Parker, Jr., was indicted for driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. A jury acquitted him of the DUI charge, but found him guilty of driving on a revoked license, a Class B misdemeanor. The trial court imposed a sentence of six months, with sixty days to be served in confinement and the balance to be served on probation. In this appeal, the Defendant raises three issues: 1) whether the State’s failure to provide him with a copy of his driving record constitutes a violation of his due process rights; 2) whether the trial court erred by admitting into evidence a sworn affidavit; and 3) whether the sentence imposed by the trial court is excessive.  We conclude that the trial court erred by admitting the affidavit into evidence. Because we are unable to conclude that the error was harmless, the judgment of the trial court is reversed and the case remanded for a new trial.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Larry B. Stanley, Jr.
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/19/04
State of Tennessee v. William Parker, Jr. - Dissenting

M2003-01423-CCA-R3-CD

I respectfully dissent from that portion of the majority opinion which finds reversible error in this case due to the erroneous admission into evidence of Mr. Birdwell’s affidavit. While I agree that admission of the affidavit was error, under the particularly unique facts of this case, I conclude that it is harmless error.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Larry B. Stanley, Jr.
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/19/04
Monroe Brown v. State of Tennessee

E2003-02512-CCA-R3-HC

The petitioner, Monroe Brown, appeals the trial court's order denying his petition for writ of habeas corpus. The state has filed a motion requesting that this court affirm the trial court's denial of relief pursuant to Rule 20, Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. The petition fails to establish either a void judgment or an expired sentence. Accordingly, the state's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Originating Judge:Judge E. Eugene Eblen
Morgan County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/19/04
State of Tennessee v. Jason C. Polston

W2003-02556-CCA-R3-CD

A Shelby County jury convicted the Defendant, Jason C. Polston, of reckless aggravated assault.  The trial court sentenced the Defendant to two years in the workhouse, suspended except for 60 days to serve on weekends, a $500.00 fine, and 200 hours of community service. On appeal, the Defendant contends that: (1) insufficient evidence exists to support his conviction; (2) the trial court erred by failing to suppress the Defendant’s statement made in a telephone conversation with a police officer because the State did not disclose the statement prior to trial; (3) the trial court erred by instructing the jury on flight; (4) the trial court erred by failing to charge the defenses of necessity and duress; (5) the trial court erred bydenying the Defendant’s application for judicial diversion; and (6) the trial court erred by ordering the Defendant to serve sixty days in jail. We conclude that the trial court erred by failing to suppress the Defendant’s telephone conversation with a police officer because the State did not disclose the statement to the Defendant prior to trial in violation of Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 16. Therefore, we reverse the Defendant’s conviction and remand for a new trial.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Bernie Weinman
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/19/04
In Re: C.A.H.

M2004-00523-COA-R3-PT

Mother appeals termination of her parental rights. The juvenile court found that Mother was in substantial noncompliance with the permanency plan, that she failed to remedy the persistent conditions that prevented her child's return, and that termination was in the child's best interest. We affirm. The record contains numerous extraneous documents that do not pertain to the petition to terminate parental rights or the issues raised on appeal. The parties and the clerk have a responsibility to abridge the record. Tenn. R. App. P. 8A(c). Failure to abridge the record may result in a reduction of the juvenile court clerk's fee for the cost of preparing and transmitting the record. Tenn. R. App. P. 40(g).

Authoring Judge: Judge Frank Clement, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Timothy R. Brock
Coffee County Court of Appeals 08/18/04
Teresa A. Martin v. Johnny L. Drinnon

E2003-02106-COA-R3-CV

This litigation arises out of a two-vehicle collision in Hawkins County. Teresa A. Martin ("the plaintiff") and her husband sued the driver of the other vehicle, Johnny L. Drinnon ("the defendant"), seeking damages and charging him with common law and statutory acts of negligence. The defendant answered and filed a counterclaim. The jury returned a verdict, finding the parties equally at fault. Judgment was entered on the jury's verdict and the trial court denied the plaintiff's motion for a new trial. The plaintiff appeals, raising, in effect, three issues. We vacate the trial court's judgment and remand for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Kindall T. Lawson
Hawkins County Court of Appeals 08/18/04
James Clark v. State of Tennessee

W2004-00326-CCA-R3-CD

The petitioner, James Clark, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his motion to correct an illegal sentence. Because the petitioner has no appeal as of right under Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(b), the appeal is dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Originating Judge:Judge J. C. McLin
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/04
State of Tennessee v. Donald Wayne Boxx

W2004-01104-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant entered a guilty plea to driving under the influence. The trial court imposed a sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days to be served forty-eight hours of confinement followed by probation. As a part of the guilty plea, the defendant reserved for appeal the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress. See Tenn. R. Crim. P. 37(b)(2)(i). The judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R. Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Arthur T. Bennett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/04
In Re: T.H. and J.H.

M2003-02265-COA-R3-PT

Mother appeals the termination of her parental rights to her two children. The circuit court found that Mother was in substantial noncompliance with the permanency plan, that she failed to remedy the persistent conditions that prevented her child's return, and that termination was in the child's best interest. We affirm. The record contains numerous extraneous documents that do not pertain to the petition to terminate parental rights or the issues raised on appeal. The parties and the clerk have a responsibility to abridge the record. Tenn. R. App. P. 8A(c). Failure to abridge the record may result in a reduction of the circuit court clerk's fee for the cost of preparing and transmitting the record.

Authoring Judge: Judge Frank G. Clement, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Royce Taylor
Cannon County Court of Appeals 08/18/04
James P. Hyde v. State of Tennessee

E2004-02177-CCA-R3-PC

The pro se petitioner, James P. Hyde, appeals from the trial court's order denying the petitioner's motion to reopen his post-conviction petition. The states moves the court to affirm the judgment of the trial court pursuant to Rule 20 of this court's rules. The motion was properly denied for lack of merit. Accordingly, the state's motion is granted and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge James E. Beckner
Hamblen County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/04
Charles Conner v. Commissioner Michael Magill, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, et al.

W2003-01988-COA-R3-CV

This is an unemployment compensation case in which Appellant was denied benefits by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. At all administrative levels it was determined that Appellant was discharged for “misconduct connected with such claimant’s work” and that he was, therefore, disqualified from receiving benefits under Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-7-303. This ruling was then affirmed by the lower court. Appellant then timely filed this appeal challenging the ruling of the lower court. For the following reasons, we affirm and remand for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Chancellor Walter L. Evans
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/18/04
B.M.M. v. P.R.M.

M2002-02242-COA-R3-CV

This is a child custody dispute. The mother and father entered into a permanent parenting plan naming the mother the primary residential parent of their daughter. Under the plan, the father had supervised visitation because the mother was concerned about sexual abuse by the father. The father later sought to modify the parenting plan to allow for unsupervised visitation. The mother then filed a notice that she intended to move to Florida with the daughter, which the father opposed. The trial court granted the father's petition for unsupervised visitation and denied the mother's request to relocate to Florida with the child. The mother and daughter then left for a scheduled trip to Florida, with the understanding that they would return for the father's scheduled visitation. The mother remained in Florida with the daughter for six weeks, asserting that she, the mother, was too ill to travel. The father was granted an emergency change of custody. The father then retrieved the daughter through a private investigator, coordinating with Florida officials. Upon return to Tennessee, the trial court found the mother in criminal contempt for interfering with the father's visitation and for moving to Florida. The father was named the primary residential parent and the mother was granted supervised visitation. The mother was also required to pay the father for the cost of the private investigator. The mother appeals the denial of her request to move to Florida with the child, the award of unsupervised visitation to the father, the finding of contempt, the change of custody, the requirement that her visitation be supervised, and the requirement that she pay the private investigator's fee. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Judge Clara W. Byrd
Wilson County Court of Appeals 08/18/04
Clyde Norman Brewer, Jr., v. Carol Cordell Coletta and Coletta & Company, Inc.

Shelby Equity No.104568-1

This appeal involves an action for breach of an employment agreement. Defendants, Carol Cordell Coletta and Coletta & Company, Inc., appeal from the judgment of the chancery court which entered judgment in the amount of $31,800.00 in favor of the plaintiff, Clyde Norman Brewer, Jr.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Chancellor C. Neal Small
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Floyd Campbell v. Kevin Myers, Warden

M2003-02084-CCA-R3-HC

This is a habeas corpus appeal. A jury convicted the petitioner of seven counts of rape of a child, one count of incest, and three counts of aggravated sexual battery. He received an effective sentence of twenty-two years incarceration. In April 2003, the petitioner submitted a pro se petition for habeas corpus relief, alleging the sentences for child rape committed in 1992 are illegal because the record is unclear as to whether these offenses were committed before or after July 1, 1992, the effective date of the child rape statute. The trial court dismissed the petition, and the petitioner appeals the dismissal. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Robert L. Holloway
Wayne County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/17/04
State of Tennessee v. Anthony Carrier

E2003-02768-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Anthony Carrier, pled guilty to aggravated burglary, felony theft, and misdemeanor vandalism. Pursuant to his plea agreement, he received an effective sentence of three years, with the manner of service of the sentences to be determined by the trial court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the Defendant to serve his sentences in confinement. It is from this order that the Defendant appeals. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/17/04
Lamar Advertising of Tennessee, Inc., v. City of Knoxville

03A01-9609-CH-00294

Lamar Advertising of Tennessee (Lamar) appeals from an order of the Chancerty Court of Knox County that upheld the validity of a provision of the kNoxville City Code, Article V, Section 10-N (Ordinance) that assesses a license fee per annum for the inspection of all existing ground and portable signs within the City of Knoxville. Lamar owns and maintains 350 outdoor advertising sturctures within the City of Knoxville and has challenged the validity of the ordinance.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Chancellor Frederick C. McDonald
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
James C. Murray v. State of Tennessee

M2003-01239-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, James C. Murray, appeals the denial of post-conviction relief relating to his convictions for premeditated first degree murder and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. On appeal, the petitioner contends: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial; and (2) the post-conviction court erred in refusing to admit Leonard Rowe's testimony. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/17/04
Rhonda Lee Smith (Baliles) v. Home Beneficial Life Insurance Company

03A01-9606-CH-00195

This case is before us pursuant to the grant of two Rule 9 Interlocutory Appeals, one to Plaintiff Rhonda Lee Smith and the other to Larry Wallace, in his offical capacity as Director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Chancellor Earl H. Henley
Bradley County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
State of Tennessee, Department of Human Services v. Joe Eric Taylor, Sr.

03A01-9609-JV-00286

This is an appeal from a judgment of the juvenile court of Knox County wherein the court terminted the parental rights of the appellant (defendant). For reasons hereinafter stated, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Carey E. Garrett
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Planned Parenthood Association of Tennessee, v. Don Sundquist, Governor of the State of Tennessee

01A01-9601-CV-00052

This appeal presents a multifaceted challenge to the constitutionality of Tennessee’s abortion statutes. After a physician and a clinic in Knoxville were charged with violating these statutes, two other clinics in Memphis and Nashville, joined by three physicians, filed suit in the Circuit Court for Davidson County seeking declaratory and injunctive relief under the Constitution of Tennessee. The trial court struck down the residency requirement, the waiting period, and the requirement that physicians inform their patients that an abortion is a major surgical procedure. After making its own substantive revisions in the statutory text, the trial court upheld the mandatory hospitalization requirement, the remaining informed consent requirements, and the newly enacted parental consent requirement. We have determined that the trial court erred by revising the text of several provisions. We have also determined that the emergency medical exception enacted by the General Assembly is unconstitutionally narrow, that the combined effect of the waiting period and the physician-only counseling requirement places an undue burden on women’s procreational choice, and that the remaining challenged provisions as construed herein pass constitutional muster.
 

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
David T. Bailey and E. Lynn Wagner in their own right and derivative for the use and benefit of Southeastern Healthcare Svcs., L.P., v. Tom Holbert, as general partner of Southeastern Healthcare Svcs. L.P. et al.

03A01-9606-CV-00190

This is a suit by David T. Bailey and E. Lynn Wagner in their own right and derivatively for the use and benefit of Southeastern Healthcare Services, L.P., a Limited Partnership in which they were partners, against Tom Holbert, as general partner, Moore's Pharmacy, Inc., D/B/A Marcum's Healthcare Services, and Carl Marcum and Gina Marcum Pinney, as Officers and Directors and/or Employees and Agents of and for Moore's Pharmacy, Inc., and Tom HOlbert, Carl Marcum and gina Marcum Pinney, Individually. The suit stems from the purchase by Southeastern Healthcare Services of a unit dosage pharmacy business from Moore's Pharmacy, Inc., for the sum of $275,000. The complaint alleged a cause of action for negligent misrepresentation and breach of warranty.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge Harold W. Wimberly
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Charles Montague, v. Tennessee Department of Correction and Warden Howard Clayton - Concurring

01A01-9711-CH-00667

I concur with the court’s conclusion that Mr. Montague’s complaint fails to state a claim for which relief can be granted under Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 4-5-223 through 4-5-225 (1991 & Supp. 1997).

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Mike T. Hunter, v. Damien V. Burke and Donnie Wear, and Joe Guffey, Individually and doing business as J.D. Auto Sales, and Edwin Thompson, A/K/A Edward Thompson

03A01-9606-CV-0027

This is a suit for damages arising out of personal injuries sustained by Mike T. Hunter (Hunter) when he was hit by an automobile driven by the defendant Damian V. Burke (Burke). Burke's vehicle ws owned by the defendants Donnie Wear (Wear) and Joe Guffey (Guffey). The trial court directed a verdict against all of the appealing defendants. 1. The jury then awarded Hunter compensatory damages of $270,000. These defendants appealed, raising the following questions for our resolution:

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge John B. Hagler, Jr.
Bradley County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Patty Jean Talbott and Sam Talbott, v. Judy F. Slaven

03A01-9609-CV-00304

Patty Jean Talbott and her husband, Sam Talbott, appeal a judgment entered in the Circuit Court for KNox County which, in accordance with a jury verdict, awarded her $2264.59 for personal injuries received in an automobile accident. The jury obviously found that Mr. Talbott suffered no damages and fixed his recovery at zero.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler Rosenbalm
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
State of Tennessee v. Terry Wayne Perkins

E2003-02885-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Terry Wayne Perkins, was indicted on charges of driving under the influence, fourth offense, operating a motor vehicle after being declared an habitual motor vehicle offender, violation of the implied consent law, and driving on a revoked license. He was acquitted of the D.U.I. charge. A jury convicted him of violation of the implied consent law and driving on a revoked license. He was sentenced to an 11- month-and-29-day sentence at 75% for the violation of the implied consent law and six months at 75% for the driving on a revoked license conviction. The two sentences were ordered to run concurrently and the trial court ordered the appellant to serve 15 days of the sentence in the county jail, after which he would be released on probation, and assessed a $100 fine for each conviction. On appeal, the appellant challenges the trial court's decision to order him to serve 15 days in jail. For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Campbell County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/17/04