APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Rose Marie Harper Britt v. Elmer Lee Britt

W2003-00430-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris
Madison County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
Cordell Taylor vs. Donnie & Vick Williams

E2003-00199-COA-R3-CV
In this dispute over the boundary line between the parties' property, the Trial Court established the line and declared an easement. Defendants have appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Frank V. Williams, III
Morgan County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
CH-02-0609-1

CH-02-0609-1

Originating Judge:Walter L. Evans
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
Patricia Lyman v. Lawrence James

E2002-02859-COA-R3-CV
After over thirty years of marriage, Patricia A. Lyman ("Wife") left Lawrence A. James ("Husband") and moved to the state of Washington and began living with her new boyfriend. After Husband learned of Wife's affair, the parties agreed to a divorce based on irreconcilable differences and entered into a marital dissolution agreement ("MDA"). Both parties signed the MDA before a Notary Public, but neither party was administered an oath prior to his or her signing. The MDA provided that Husband would receive the entire amount of his pension. Over six months after the parties were granted a divorce, Wife filed a new lawsuit claiming she gave up any claim to Husband's pension because of Husband's fraud and/or misrepresentations. Wife also claimed the court which granted the divorce lacked personal jurisdiction to enter the final divorce decree because neither Husband nor Wife were administered oaths prior to signing the MDA, which Wife claimed resulted in the MDA not being properly notarized. The Trial Court concluded the failure of the Notary Publics to administer oaths did not render the MDA invalid. The Trial Court also concluded Wife failed to meet her burden of proving fraud and/or misrepresentations on the part of Husband. Wife appeals, and we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:W. Neil Thomas, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
Combustion Federal Credit Union vs. John Farmer

E2003-00107-COA-R3-CV
A judgment was rendered against Mr. Farmer in 1992. It remained unpaid, and the judgment creditor's petition for revival was granted. Mr. Farmer appeals, claiming that he never signed the note which formed the basis of the 1992 action. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:W. Neil Thomas, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
State of Tennessee v. Darwin Treece

W2002-02738-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant pled guilty to one count of delivering a Schedule II controlled substance (Hydromorphone). He was sentenced to 50 months to be served with Corrections Management Corporation, a community-based alternative, after service of 180 days in the county jail. The defendant appealed the sentence, contending that it was excessive. We hold that the trial court properly rejected mitigating factor one because drug dealing inherently involves the risk of bodily injury and that the defendant’s prior criminal behavior justified the sentence imposed. Finding no error, the judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
McNairy County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/03
W2002-02166-COA-R3-CV

W2002-02166-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Donn Southern
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
James Jackson vs. Jackson, Johnson & Murphey

E2002-02476-COA-R3-CV
This litigation is between a former shareholder of the defendant accounting corporation. These parties entered into an employment contract together with a deferred compensation agreement. After two years, each party claimed the other was in material breach: the Plaintiff asserted a breach because, inter alia, the Defendant refused to treat him as an employee, while the Defendant asserted a breach because the Plaintiff prepared a number of tax returns [66], inter alia, for clients of the firm without recourse to the firm. The trial court found that no mutual material breaches had occurred, and that the Plaintiff was entitled to recover the balance of his deferred compensation which had been terminated by the Defendant owing to the Plaintiff's alleged breaches. The judgment is modified.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:W. Neil Thomas, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
Sun Splash Painting v. Homestead Village

M2002-00853-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a challenge to the trial court's refusal to award attorney's fees pursuant to the Prompt Pay Act, and to the court's denial of prejudgment interest. We affirm the trial court in all respects.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
Ronnie Johnson vs. Mark R. White

E2002-02815-COA-R3-CV
These three cases were consolidated for trial. Each Respondent agreed to an Order of Protection sought by their kinsman, who was married to the daughter of Mark V. White, the sister of Mark R. White and niece of Michael Scott Webb. The throes of the divorce action between the Petitioner and his wife, Jennifer White Johnson, precipitated a purported assault on the Petitioner by the Respondents which resulted in criminal charges in addition to an order of protection. Thereafter, the Petitioner and his wife attended the Fourth Circuit Court for a hearing, and the Respondents upon instructions of their attorney in the criminal case also attended, and followed the Petitioner "about the courthouse" placing him in fear. They were cited for criminal contempt, found guilty, and sentenced to ten days confinement, with five days suspended. Each appeals, complaining that the evidence of criminal contempt is insufficient. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Bill Swann
Knox County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
Frankie Maples vs. Frank Maples

E2003-00722-COA-R3-CV
Husband, for the second time, seeks a reduction in his alimony obligation, claiming that his bona fide retirement coincided with a substantial decrease in income. The trial court modified the obligation by reducing it to $919.50 monthly. Wife receives $752.00 from social security. Her reasonable expenses were found to be $2176.00. Husband appeals, insisting that the reduction is insufficient. Wife presents for review the issue of whether any reduction was justified. We reinstate the initial award, finding that Husband, as in the prior appeal, continued his pattern of conduct in restructuring his assets to award his obligation.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Bill Swann
Knox County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
Jimmy Ray Robinson v. State of Tennessee

W2002-02151-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner appeals from the post-conviction court’s denial of relief. He contends he received ineffective assistance of counsel. After careful review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Lee Moore
Dyer County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/03
W2002-02353-COA-R3-CV

W2002-02353-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Robert A. Lanier
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
State of Tennessee v. Deborah Kay Thomas Atkins

W2002-02312-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant entered pleas of guilt to possession of a Schedule II controlled substance with the intent to deliver or sell, possession of a Schedule III controlled substance with the intent to deliver or sell, and possession of marijuana. The trial court imposed concurrent Range I sentences of eight years, two years, and 11 months and 29 days, respectively. The defendant was required to serve one year in jail followed by seven years in community corrections. Later, the community corrections sentence was revoked and an eight-year sentence imposed. An appeal resulted in a remand by this court with directions to credit both jail time and the length of service within the program. In this appeal, the defendant argues that the trial judge erred in the imposition of the resentence. The judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Julian P. Guinn
Henry County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/03
Clemmye Mullenix Berger v. Brenda O'Brien,

W2002-00227-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/15/03
Nancy Gail (Paulk) Doran v. Oather Paul Doran

W2003-00170-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Steve Beal
Hardin County Court of Appeals 10/14/03
Rena Thompson vs. Charles Hensley

E2003-00456-COA-R3-CV
Rena Thompson ("Plaintiff") filed this lawsuit claiming her grandson, Charles Hensley, and his wife, Karen Hensley (collectively "Defendants"), breached an oral contract. Specifically, Plaintiff claims she conveyed her house and real property to Defendants in exchange for their oral promise to take care of her and allow her to remain living in the house with them. Plaintiff suffered a stroke and went to live with her son, Perrian Hensley ("Plaintiff's son" or "her son"). After living with her son for approximately one year, Plaintiff wanted to return to her house. When she was not allowed to return to her house, Plaintiff sued Defendants for specific performance. The Trial Court found there was no contract. Plaintiff appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Jerri S. Bryant
Monroe County Court of Appeals 10/14/03
Brian & Candy Chadwick v. Chad Spence

W2003-00931-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/14/03
W2003-00001-COA-R3-CV

W2003-00001-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Daniel L. Smith
Hardin County Court of Appeals 10/14/03
W2003-00334-COA-R3-CV

W2003-00334-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:George H. Brown
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/14/03
State of Tennessee v. Donald Franks

W2003-00003-CCA-R3-CD

A Hardin County jury convicted the defendant, Donald Franks, of rape of a child. The trial court sentenced the defendant to thirty-seven years as a Range II multiple offender. On appeal, the defendant argues: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction; (2) the trial court erred in instructing the jury on flight; and (3) the trial court imposed an excessive sentence. Based upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge C. Creed McGinley
Hardin County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/14/03
State of Tennessee v. Paul Regan, Alias

E2003-00014-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant appeals the trial court's denial of judicial diversion contending that the court abused its discretion by not articulating specific reasons on the record for the denial. We agree with the defendant and remand for a new sentencing hearing in order for the trial court to place its reasoning upon the record.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge John K. Byers
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/14/03
Eddie Belcher vs. State

E2003-00642-COA-R3-CV
This claim against the State of Tennessee arises out of a two-vehicle accident. Eddie W. Belcher was driving to church with his wife, Sara O. Belcher, when their vehicle struck the rear of a vehicle driven by Eric Wilson . The Belchers, who sustained severe injuries as a result of this accident, filed a claim against the State, alleging that a dangerous condition existed on the portion of the interstate where the accident occurred and that the section of the interstate was negligently designed and maintained. The Claims Commission determined that the State was negligent in its design of that stretch of interstate, but held that its negligence was not the proximate cause of the Belchers' injuries. The Belchers appeal, arguing that the Claims Commission erred in the second of these two determinations. By way of a separate issue, the State contends that the Belchers' claim is barred by the four-year statute of repose. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Robert A. Fellman
Court of Appeals 10/14/03
Russell A. Siegfried v. The Grand Krewe of Sphinx,

CH-00-0307-3

Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/14/03
Pache Industries vs. Wallace Hardware

E2003-01483-COA-R3-CV
Pache Industries, LLC ("Plaintiff") sued Wallace Hardware Co., Inc. ("Defendant") for unpaid invoices. Defendant was served with the summons and complaint, but did not answer within thirty days. Plaintiff filed a motion for default judgment. After being served with the motion for default judgment, Defendant hired an attorney, filed an answer to the complaint, and filed responses to discovery requests. The Trial Court granted Plaintiff a default judgment. Defendant filed a motion to set aside the default judgment. The Trial Court denied the motion. Defendant appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Kindall T. Lawson
Hamblen County Court of Appeals 10/14/03