APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Robert Dallis Payne v. State of Tennessee - Order

M2002-01389-CCA-R3-PC

The Appellant, Robert Dallis Payne, appeals the order of the Hickman County Circuit Court summarily dismissing his motion to reopen his petition for post-conviction relief. Upon review of the record before this Court, we conclude that the Appellant has failed to perfect his application for permission to appeal in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions and, therefore, the appeal should be dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Hickman County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/21/03
State of Tennessee v. Christopher G. Greenwood

M2002-01349-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant was convicted of driving under the influence of an intoxicant with a blood alcohol content of .10% or more, third offense. On appeal, he contends: (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial after the jury heard evidence of other crimes committed by the defendant; (2) the trial court erred in barring testimony of the arresting officer that he opined the defendant's blood alcohol content was rising at the time of the blood withdrawal; and (3) the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction because the state presented no evidence extrapolating his .12% test result back to the time he was driving. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Donald P. Harris
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/21/03
Daniel Bills v. Conseco Insurance

M2002-01906-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Tom E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
Donald Curlee v. State Auto Mutual

M2002-01627-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the interpretation of a permit bond. The contractor and a surety entered into a permit bond relating to work the contractor was to perform for a metropolitan government. The bond was written in favor of the metropolitan government as well as property owners whose property was damaged due to the contractor's violation of certain metropolitan government codes. In the underlying lawsuit, a property owner was awarded a judgment against the contractor. In this lawsuit, the property owner sued the surety for failing to pay the judgment against the contractor. The trial court granted the surety's motion to dismiss, finding that there was no contractual relationship between the property owner and the surety on which a claim could be based, nor was the property owner a third-party beneficiary of the permit bond. The property owner appeals. We review the trial court's decision as a motion for summary judgment and affirm, finding that the record does not show that the property owner was among the parties protected under the language of the Bond.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Marietta M. Shipley
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
Randall Cook v. Frank Hanner

M2002-01083-COA-R3-CV
Robertson County -This case involves allegations of an improper verdict form and jury instructions. As Appellants failed to make timely objections concerning these issues, and failed to file a motion for a new trial based on these perceived irregularities, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Ross H. Hicks
Robertson County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
State v. Travis Thompson

M2001-02354-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the Tennessee Health Club Act. The defendant/appellees purchased a health club and failed to obtain a certificate of registration. Three months later, the health club owners obtained a certificate of registration. The State of Tennessee, through the Attorney General, filed a lawsuit against the health club owners alleging violations of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and the Health Club Act seeking injunctive relief, substantial fines, and several hundred thousand dollars in restitution. The trial court granted partial summary judgment to the health club owners, holding that the remedies under the Health Club Act were available only to consumers, not the State, and that there was no proof of an "ascertainable loss" under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. The trial court also granted the health club owners' request for attorney's fees and costs. The State appeals. We affirm in part and reverse in part, finding, inter alia, that the State may seek remedies under the Health Club Act on behalf of consumers, affirming the trial court's ruling that proof of an ascertainable loss is required, and affirming the award of attorney's fees.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
Gabriel Bryan Baggett v. State of Tennessee

M2002-00591-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Gabriel Bryan Baggett, pled guilty to second degree murder and especially aggravated robbery, receiving sentences of fifty years and twenty-five years, respectively, at 100%. He filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel and that his pleas of guilty were involuntary. Following a hearing, the post-conviction court dismissed the petition, and this appeal followed. We affirm the order of the post-conviction court dismissing the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/03
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Lee Miller, Sr.

E2002-01921-CCA-R3-CD

Jerry Lee Miller, Sr. appeals from the Sullivan County Criminal Court's imposition of incarcerative sentencing for his effective five-year sentence for two counts of statutory rape. Miller pleaded guilty to the offenses as a Range II offender, and the manner of service of the sentence was reserved for the lower court's determination. Miller posits on appeal that he should have been afforded a sentence involving either split confinement or straight probation. We disagree, however, and affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Phyllis H. Miller
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/03
E2002-01156-COA-R3-CV

E2002-01156-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Dale C. Workman
Knox County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
State v. All Parties with an Interest in the Property /Map 158, Parcel 34

M2002-01137-COA-R3-CV
This is a case involving the proposed disinterment of Indian burial grounds. The Appellants urge this Court to consider numerous issues. Having determined that the only issue properly before this Court is the propriety of the trial court's denial of Appellants' motion to intervene, we affirm the trial court's denial of intervention.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
State of Tennessee v. Leon J. Robins and Tabatha R. White

M2001-01862-CCA-R3-CD

The defendants, Leon J. Robins and Tabatha R. White, both were convicted of first degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. In their appeals, they argue that the evidence was insufficient to sustain their convictions for first degree murder; the trial court should have instructed as to the lesser offenses of voluntary manslaughter and facilitation to commit voluntary manslaughter; evidence of a photographic lineup was improperly admitted; and the trial court improperly admitted Robins' mugshots as exhibits and improperly limited the cross-examination of a prosecution witness as to prior bad acts. Based upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/03
Daniel Bills v. Conseco Insurance

M2002-01906-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Tom E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
R.P. Industries v. United States Aluminum

M2002-00897-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a dispute over an agreement to issue joint checks. The trial court found that the parties had an agreement whereby the general contractor was to issue checks jointly payable to the sub-contractor and the materials supplier, which the general contractor breached when it issued single payee checks. The court awarded the materials supplier $17,500.00. The parties raise two issues on appeal. For the following reasons, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Carol L. Soloman
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
James Corbin v. Tom Lange Co.

M2002-01162-COA-R3-CV
This case involves a noncompetition agreement. An employee signed a noncompete agreement when he began working for an employer. The employee resigned and began working for a competitor of the employer. The employee sought a declaratory judgment that the noncompete agreement was unenforceable. Approximately eighteen months into the two-year noncompetition period, the trial court issued a ruling that the agreement was not enforceable. The employer appeals. We affirm, finding that neither the training provided to the employee nor the employee's relationship with the employer's customers created a business interest that warranted the protection of a noncompetition agreement.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/20/03
State of Tennessee v. Richard D. Batey

M2001-02958-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Richard D. Batey, pled guilty in the Davidson County Criminal Court to one count of possession of more than .5 grams of a substance containing cocaine with intent to sell, a Class B felony. The trial court sentenced the appellant to eight years split confinement, with one year to be served in confinement and the remaining seven years to be served in the community corrections program. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the appellant reserved the right to appeal as a certified question of law the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/03
State of Tennessee v. John Winston McMurry

M2001-03117-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant's probation was revoked after his house was searched and a twelve-gauge shotgun was found inside. The defendant contends there was insufficient evidence to revoke his probation. The defendant contends the rules of probation and a police report were improperly admitted into evidence. Because the trial court is only required to find a violation of probation by a preponderance of the evidence, we affirm the trial court's revocation of probation.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/03
State of Tennessee v. Phetsamay Inthavong

M2001-03005-CCA-R9-CD

In this interlocutory appeal, the defendant challenges the trial court's upholding of the district attorney general's denial of her application for pretrial diversion. She argues that the district attorney general erred in not considering all required factors in the diversion denial and the trial court erred in taking testimony, upon which it relied in upholding the denial of diversion. Based upon our review, we reverse the order of the trial court denying pretrial diversion and remand for a reconsideration by the district attorney general of the defendant's diversion application.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge J. O. Bond
Wilson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/03
Estate of John Acuff v. Brenda Olinger

M2002-01629-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from the granting of appellee's motion for discretionary costs. For the following reasons, we find that the motion was not timely filed and reverse the court below.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Jeffrey F. Stewart
Marion County Court of Appeals 03/19/03
State of Tennessee v. Edwin Nelson Lunceford

M2001-01207-CCA-R3-CD

A Montgomery County jury convicted the Defendant of robbery, and the trial court sentenced him to ten years' incarceration. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant argues (1) that the trial court erred in instructing the jury by failing to limit the definition of "property" in its instruction to the jury; (2) that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence at the sentencing hearing a transcript of a prior trial; and (3) that his sentence is excessive. Finding no error by the trial court, we affirm the judgment of the lower court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge John H. Gasaway, III
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/03
Delbert Lee Harris v. State of Tennessee

M2002-00777-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Delbert Lee Harris, was convicted in the Dickson County Circuit Court of aggravated assault, rape, rape of a child, and attempted sexual battery. The petitioner was ultimately sentenced to an effective sentence of thirty-two years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction.  Subsequently, the petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief, complaining that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel and that several errors occurred during trial. The postconviction court partially granted the petition and dismissed the remainder of the petitioner’s issues.  The petitioner and the State timely appealed. Upon review of the record and the parties’ briefs, the judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed in all respects except for the dismissal of the rape conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Robert E. Burch
Dickson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/03
State of Tennessee v. Keith Dwayne Guthrie - Order

W2001-01910-CCA-R3-CD

In this appeal the appellant was convicted of theft of property over $500 and sentenced to two (2) years on community corrections. Approximately three (3) months later he was convicted of vandalism of property valued under $500. At the time of his arrest on the vandalism charge the appellant was intoxicated. As a result of his conduct while on community corrections his sentence to this program was revoked. He was re-sentenced to one (1) year of continuous incarceration followed by one (1) year of community corrections.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Henry County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/03
State of Tennessee v. Justin Genel Hill

W2001-01274-CCA-R3-CD

An Obion County grand jury indicted the defendant, Justin Genel Hill, of two counts of first degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder. In a separate indictment, Clarence Carnell Gaston, Miqwon Deon Leach, and Mario Deangelo Thomas were also charged with crimes arising out of the same criminal episode. The defendant and these three men were tried in a single jury trial. The jury found Gaston, Leach, and Thomas guilty of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, second degree murder, and first degree felony murder and found the defendant guilty of facilitation to commit second degree murder. See State v. Clarence Carnell Gaston, No. W2001-02046-CCA-R3-CD, 2003 WL 261941, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. at Jackson, Feb. 7, 2003). For the defendant's conviction, the trial court sentenced him to serve a ten-year sentence in the Department of Corrections. The defendant now brings this appeal of his conviction, alleging that the evidence introduced at trial is insufficient to support his conviction. After reviewing the record and applicable law, we find that the defendant's allegation lacks merit and accordingly affirm the defendant's conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge William B. Acree
Obion County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/03
State of Tennessee v. Darrell W. Smith

M2002-00735-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Darrell W. Smith, pled guilty in the Franklin County Circuit Court to evading arrest and operating a motor vehicle in violation of the Motor Vehicle Habitual Offenders Act, both Class E felonies. The parties agreed that the appellant would be sentenced on each conviction to one year and one day with the sentences to be served consecutively. The manner of service of the sentences was to be determined by the trial court. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the appellant to serve 120 days in the county jail, with the balance of the sentences to be served in the community corrections program. On appeal, the appellant challenges the period of confinement. After reviewing the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge J. Curtis Smith
Franklin County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/03
Ethan Rider v. Laurie Rider

M2002-00556-COA-R3-CV
This appeal, from a grant of summary judgment, involves the imposition of a constructive trust on life insurance proceeds. The lower court imposed the constructive trust, for the benefit of Father's son from his first marriage, on proceeds distributed to Father's second wife. The basis for the constructive trust arose from Father's obligation, under the decree of divorce dissolving his first marriage, to maintain life insurance benefitting his minor son. For the following reasons, we reverse the ruling of the lower court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 03/19/03
Jose & Gioconda Matus, et al v. Nashville General Hospital

M2002-01407-COA-R3-CV
This is a medical malpractice case against a municipal hospital pursuant to the Governmental Tort Liability Act. Originally, the defendants included a private physician and two nurse employees of the hospital. Plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that the two nurse employees were partially at fault, and their negligence attributed to the hospital was a cause of the damages alleged. Prior to the trial date, a settlement was reached by the plaintiffs with the private physician and the two nurse employees. Over defendants' objection, plaintiffs were allowed by motion on the eve of trial to amend their complaint to allege that previously un-named nurse employees of the hospital were negligent, which contributed to the damages alleged for which the hospital was responsible. Defendants also filed a motion for summary judgment asserting that, because the two nurse employees were no longer liable and thus their liability could not be attributed to the hospital, the hospital was entitled to summary judgment because there was no allegation of negligence on the part of other employees of the hospital. The trial court granted plaintiffs' motion to amend the complaint and denied the hospital's motion for summary judgment. At the conclusion of a nonjury trial, the hospital was assigned a percentage of fault for the damages incurred, and judgment was entered accordingly. Hospital appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Carol L. Soloman
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/19/03