APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Jimmy L. Slatton

M2001-01529-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Jimmy L. Slatton, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated sexual battery and agreed to a six-year sentence. The plea agreement provided that the trial court would determine the manner of service of the sentence. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court denied any form of alternative sentencing and imposed incarceration in the Department of Correction. From this determination, the defendant appeals. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. O. Bond
Wilson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/03/02
Larry Patterson v. Premier Medical Group, P. C.,

M2001-01380-WC-R3-CV
In this appeal, the appellants contend (1) the trial court erred in awarding disability benefits in light of the appellee's refusal to undergo carpal tunnel release surgery, (2) the trial judge erred in admitting into evidence and considering testimony of a vocational expert called by the appellee, and (3) the trial judge erred in awarding permanent total disability benefits for a scheduled injury. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the award of permanent partial disability benefits should be modified to one based on 1 percent to both arms.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Allen Wallace, Judge
Houston County Workers Compensation Panel 06/03/02
State of Tennessee v. Jimmy L. Slatton

M2001-01529-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Jimmy L. Slatton, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated sexual battery and agreed to a six-year sentence. The plea agreement provided that the trial court would determine the manner of service of the sentence. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court denied any form of alternative sentencing and imposed incarceration in the Department of Correction. From this determination, the defendant appeals. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. O. Bond
Wilson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/03/02
State of Tennessee v. Michael Danelle Harvey

W2001-01164-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant was convicted for one count of statutory rape and one count of criminal exposure to HIV. Defendant appeals alleging (1) that there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions and (2) the imposition of consecutive sentences was excessive. We affirm the trial court judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/31/02
State v. John Phillips

M2001-02396-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the forfeiture of two motorcycles and $15,910 seized by the District Attorney General for the Twentieth Judicial District as part of a proceeding to abate a motorcycle club as a nuisance. The owners of the club requested the Criminal Court for Davidson County to return the motorcycles and cash because they had not been used to maintain or conduct the motorcycle club. The trial court conducted a bench trial and ordered that the property be forfeited. The motorcycle club's owners have appealed. We have determined that the evidence supports the forfeiture order with regard to the two motorcycles and all but $680 of the cash.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Jerry L. Johns v. Donal Campbell

M2001-02110-COA-R3-CV
Jerry L. Johnson, pro se, seeks a declaratory judgment that he is being held in the Tennessee Department of Correction without proper authority. The trial court sustained a Motion for Summary Judgment filed by the Commissioner and we affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Wayne Fuller v. Donal Campbell

M2001-01719-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Deborah Coates v. Thomas Coates

M2001-01928-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arose after the trial court rejected the father's petition to reduce child support. Because the father showed a substantial variance between the amount of child support he was ordered to pay and the amount of child support called for under the guidelines, we reverse the trial court's order denying modification prospectively. Because the court originally awarded support from the father's property, we affirm the denial of modification of that portion of the child support award.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Stella L. Hargrove
Maury County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
J.D. Hickman v. Board of Parole

M2001-02346-COA-R3-CV
Inmate filed a motion for declaratory relief regarding his rights to access certain materials held by the Board of Probation and Parole and sought an order from the trial court mandating the production of those materials at the expense of the Board. The trial court denied the motion for summary judgment filed by the inmate and dismissed the action in its entirety because the requirements for a mandatory injunction had not been met, but stated that the inmate was not prohibited from again seeking the materials by identifying the specific documents he wanted copied and paying in advance for the copies. We affirm the trial court's decision to deny the motion for summary judgment, but reverse the dismissal and remand.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Wayne Fuller v. Donal Campbell

M2001-01719-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Behi Hamidy v. W. Dyrk Halstead

M2001-02791-COA-R3-CV
This is a suit for breach of contract wherein the trial court held that a promissory note, rendered non-negotiable by provisions relating to payment prior to maturity by means other than money, was nonetheless a binding contract between the parties thereto. Holding that parol evidence was inadmissible to vary the unambiguous terms of the contract, the trial court entered judgment for the plaintiff. We affirm the action of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:R.E. Lee Davies
Williamson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Karen Gale Engel v. Jerry Burton Young, Sr.

M2001-00734-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arose after a paternity and custody proceeding was resolved by the trial court in which custody of the child was granted to Mother and visitation was granted in part to Father and in part to the child's half-siblings, Father's adult daughters. Mother appeals, arguing that the third party visitation order violates her constitutional rights as a parent and that she should have been awarded the tax deduction for the child. Because the trial court was incorrect in ordering the third party visitation, we reverse that portion of the trial court's decision which awarded visitation to the child's half-siblings. Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion in awarding the tax deduction to Father, we affirm that portion of the trial court's decision. We also decline to award Mother attorney's fees on appeal
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Clara W. Byrd
Wilson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Dept. of Children's Services v. C.M.S.

M2001-02893-COA-R3-JV
This case involves the termination of parental rights of the mother of two children, both of whom were born while the mother was a minor. At the time of the hearing the son was almost five and the daughter was almost three, and they have been in state custody since they were one year old and three months old, respectively. The trial court terminated the mother's parental rights because of the persistence of conditions which prevent the safe return of the children to the mother and because there was little likelihood the conditions would be remedied at an early date to allow a safe return in the near future. We affirm that decision.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:George L. Lovell
Maury County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Dan Johnson v. Department of Correction

M2001-02424-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute between a prisoner and the Tennessee Department of Correction regarding historical sentencing information contained in his records. The prisoner filed a petition for writ of mandamus in the Chancery Court for Davidson County seeking an order directing the Department to remove an outmoded release eligibility date from his records and to certify him as eligible for parole. The trial court granted the Department's motion for summary judgment, and the prisoner has appealed. We affirm the judgment because the manner in which the Department maintains its records is not a ministerial function and because the prisoner does not have a legal right to require the Department to maintain his records in any particular way.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Kelly Lee Crawford, et al. v. Brian C. Beatt

M2001-01661-COA-R3-CV
The Circuit Court of Davidson County granted summary judgment to the defendants on this medical malpractice case, holding that the claim was barred by the statute of limitations. The court also awarded the defendants their costs and attorney's fees as sanctions for the plaintiffs' false answers in discovery. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Soloman
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Jabari Issa Mandela v. Donal Campbell

M2001-01956-COA-R3-CV
Davidson County -After a federal court barred an inmate legal helper from submitting further filings, the warden removed the legal helper from his job. The prisoner filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgment against the Warden and the Commissioner of Correction in an attempt to have his job restored. The trial court dismissed the petition for failure to name a proper party and failure to state a claim for which relief can be granted. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Kelley McEvoy v. Kimberly Brewer

M2001-02054-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the custody of a seven-year-old girl. Her parents initially agreed to joint custody in their marital dissolution agreement that was approved by the General Sessions Court for Sumner County. Both parties later petitioned for sole custody. The general sessions court determined that the father should be the child's primary custodial parent because the mother had married a man who posed a credible threat of domestic abuse or violence toward the child and because the existing alternating custody arrangement was no longer workable. The mother asserts on this appeal that the evidence does not support the general sessions court's decision to change custody. We have determined that the evidence does not preponderate against the court's decision to modify the custody arrangement and to award the father primary physical custody of the child.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:C. L. Rogers
Sumner County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
Marshall Moffett v. Dept. of Correction

M2001-03011-COA-R3-CV
Petitioner filed, pro se, a "Petition for Nunc Pro Tunc" in which he asserted that he was presently confined and that the defendant added 1775 days to his sentence unlawfully. The trial court granted the defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and we affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/31/02
In Re: Sanford & Sons Bail Bonds, Inc.

E2001-01479-CCA-R3-CV

The appellant, Sanford & Sons Bail Bonds, Inc., appeals the judgment of the Hamblen County Criminal Court forfeiting $5,000 bail in the case of criminal defendant Florentino DeJesus Hernandez. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this case for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge James E. Beckner
Hamblen County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/30/02
Washshukru Al-Jabbar A'La vs. State

E2001-03133-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Court of Appeals 05/30/02
In Re: The Adoption of D.P.M.

E2001-00958-COA-R3-CV
This case started with competing petitions for adoption filed by the maternal and paternal grandparents of D.P.M., who is six years old. After the Trial Court terminated the parental rights of both natural parents on the basis of abandonment, the adoption of D.P.M. was awarded to the maternal grandparents. The parties agreed the paternal grandparents would be granted visitation, and the Trial Court set forth the amount of visitation and the rights and restrictions of the paternal grandparents when exercising visitation. Notwithstanding the maternal grandparents' agreement to this visitation, they appeal the granting of visitation, as well as the rights granted to the paternal grandparents when exercising this visitation. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:John F. Weaver
Knox County Court of Appeals 05/30/02
Washshukru Al-Jabbar A'La vs. State

E2001-03133-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:D. Michael Swiney
Court of Appeals 05/30/02
State of Tennessee v. Jody Alan Ferguson

W2001-02786-CCA-R3-CD

On November 9, 1999, the Appellant, Jody Alan Ferguson, pled guilty to nine counts of forgery in the Obion County Circuit Court and was sentenced to two years of community corrections after service of thirty days confinement in the county jail. On March 9, 2000, Ferguson pled guilty to four counts of forgery and received an effective sentence of two years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Ferguson's placement in the community corrections program was revoked and his nine two-year sentences were ordered to be served in the Department of Correction concurrently with his March 9th sentences. On June 21, 2000, Ferguson was granted determinate release by the Department of Correction for the series of two-year sentences imposed on November 9, 1999, and March 9, 2000, and he was returned to supervised probation. On June 26, 2000, Ferguson again pled guilty to two counts of forgery and received concurrent two-year suspended sentences to be served concurrently to all outstanding sentences previously imposed. On August 28, 2001, probation violation warrants were issued against Ferguson. The warrants alleged that Ferguson had violated the following conditions: (1) failed to report to the probation officer; (2) failed to pay supervision fees; (3) failed to pay restitution and court costs; and (4) failed to perform community service work. On November 9, 2001, the trial court revoked Ferguson's probationary status and ordered him to serve the remainder of his two-year sentences in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, Ferguson does not contest the trial court's finding that he violated the terms of his probation. Rather, Ferguson argues that the trial court abused its discretion by not again placing him on probation or community corrections. After review, we find no error and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge William B. Acree
Obion County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/29/02
State of Tennessee v. Douglas A. Mathis

E2001-02042-CCA-R3-CD

A Sullivan County jury convicted the defendant of theft over $1,000 for stealing a car. On appeal, he argues the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Phyllis H. Miller
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/29/02
State of Tennessee v. William J. Burns

E2001-01601-CCA-R3-CD

William J. Burns appeals from his aggravated burglary and theft convictions. He was convicted at a jury trial in the Sevier County Circuit Court, and he is presently serving an effective fifteen-year sentence as a persistent offender for these crimes. He claims in this appeal that the evidence is insufficient to support his aggravated burglary conviction and that the lower court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial. Because we disagree, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Rex Henry Ogle
Sevier County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/29/02