APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Jan W. Gamble v. Alex Grady Gamble, Iii

2001-01392-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:L. Marie Williams
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
Hilton Jeffries v. TDOC

M2001-02300-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a prison disciplinary proceeding. A prisoner at the Southeast Regional Correctional Facility was charged with four serious disciplinary infractions. He pleaded guilty to three charges, and a prison disciplinary board found him guilty of the fourth. The board placed the prisoner in punitive segregation for five days and ordered him to pay $810 in restitution from his inmate trust fund account. The prisoner filed a petition for common-law writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County alleging (1) that his guilty pleas had been coerced and (2) that he had been denied due process on the fourth charge by the board's failure to provide him twenty-four hours notice of the hearing and its interference with his opportunity to present exculpatory evidence. The trial court granted the Tennessee Department of Correction's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the prisoner's petition. We have determined that the trial court erred by granting the summary judgment with regard to the $810 restitution order because the record contains material factual disputes regarding whether the prisoner waived his right to twenty-four hours notice of the hearing and whether the board refused to permit him to call an exculpatory witness.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
Christina Fortenberry vs. G.T.George

E2000-02984-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Dale C. Workman
Knox County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
Christine Bilyeu vs. Bobby Bilyeu

E2001-01556-COA-R3-CV
The Trial Court ordered the parties divorced and classified and divided marital property. Both parties appeal. We affirm, as modified.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Steven C. Douglas
Cumberland County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
Michael Couillard vs. Martha Couillard

E2001-01770-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Thomas J. Seeley, Jr.
Carter County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
State v. William R. Stevens

M1999-02067-SC-DDT-DD
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Supreme Court 05/14/02
State of Tennessee v. Willie J. Cowan, Jr.

W2000-03140-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant was convicted by a Shelby County jury of vehicular homicide by intoxication and reckless driving. He received an effective sentence of nine and a half years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Defendant now appeals, arguing the following: (1) that insufficient evidence was presented at trial to convict him of the charged offenses and (2) that the trial court erred in sentencing the Defendant. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/14/02
Emily Lewis vs. Life Care Centers of America

E2001-01812-COA-R3-CV
Emily Lewis, a student enrolled in a Certified Nursing Assistant's training program operated and supervised by Nursetrainers, Inc., sues Life Care Centers of America, Inc. The suit seeks damages for injuries resulting to Ms. Lewis, who was taking training to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. As a result of Life Care's negligence, the original complaint alleged several other causes of action, all of which have been abandoned on appeal. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:L. Marie Williams
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
Michael Couillard vs. Martha Couillard

E2001-01770-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Thomas J. Seeley, Jr.
Carter County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
Barry Bernstein v. Debra Bernstein

M2001-01631-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the dissolution of a nineteen-year marriage. After the husband filed a complaint in the Circuit Court for Davidson County seeking a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct, the wife counterclaimed for divorce on the same grounds. Following a bench trial, the trial court declared the parties divorced, divided their meager marital estate, and ordered the husband to pay the wife $350 per month as long-term spousal support. The husband asserts on this appeal that he is unable to pay the amount of long-term spousal support ordered by the trial court. We disagree and have determined that the record supports the trial court's decision regarding spousal support.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
Dan Evans v. Phillip Matlock

M2001-02631-COA-R9-CV
An antique Dr. Pepper Dispenser was offered for sale on e-Bay's auction site on the internet. After the plaintiff's bid was allegedly accepted, the seller sold the dispenser to another party. This litigation ensued between the users of the e-Bay service, alleging breach of contract, fraud, conspiracy, inducement of breach of contract, and other counts. The seller moved for summary judgment on the ground that the User Agreement provided that disputes must be arbitrated. The trial court held that the arbitration clause was inapplicable to disputes between users. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Robert L. Jones
Maury County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
Roy Gray vs. Nancy Gray

E2001-02470-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case from the Circuit Court for Knox County the Appellant, Roy William Gray, contends that the Trial Court erred in failing to disqualify counsel for the Appellee, Nancy Jane Gray. Mr. Gray further contends that the Court erred in dividing the marital assets, in granting both parties a divorce, and in awarding Ms. Gray post trial attorney's fees. Ms. Gray asserts that she should be reimbursed for attorney's fees incurred by her in responding to this appeal upon the grounds that the appeal is frivolous and devoid of merit. The judgment of the Trial Court is affirmed in part and reversed in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Bill Swann
Knox County Court of Appeals 05/14/02
April Grant Ingle vs. Robert Wayne Ingle

E2001-02802-COA-R3-CV
This is a post-divorce case. The parties were divorced in 1998. On September 21, 2000, April Grant Ingle ("Mother") filed a petition to modify the parties' divorce judgment. She alleged that Robert Wayne Ingle ("Father") had been unemployed at the time of the divorce, and, consequently, was not ordered to pay child support. She further alleged that he had subsequently become employed and that he should now be ordered to pay child support computed pursuant to the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines ("the Guidelines"). Mother also sought to modify Father's visitation as set forth in the divorce judgment. After comparing the parties' respective incomes, the trial court ordered Father to pay child support of $177 per month. Mother appeals. We vacate the trial court's child support award and the effective date of that award. The remainder of the trial court's order is affirmed. This case is remanded to the trial court for such additional proceedings as may be necessary and for the entry of an order consistent with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:W. Neil Thomas, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 05/13/02
John Sicard vs. Leon Williams, Inc.

E2001-02928-COA-R3-CV
The Trial Court awarded plaintiff commission under Agreement between the parties. On appeal, we reverse on grounds that plaintiff's misrepresentation in procuring a contract with a third party, denied his contractual right to the commission.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 05/13/02
Herschel Edwin Luna v. Gaf Fiberglass Corporation,

M2001-01155-WC-R3-CV
In this appeal, the employer insists (1) the claim is barred by Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-23 and (2) the trial court's award of permanent partial disability benefits based on 1 percent hearing loss is excessive. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment should be affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Carol Soloman, Judge
Davidson County Workers Compensation Panel 05/13/02
State of Tennessee v. Tracy T. Bostic

M2000-02941-CCA-R3-CD

The Williamson County Grand Jury returned separate, one-count presentments against the defendant, Tracy T. Bostic, charging him with felony sale or delivery of a controlled substance, in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-417, and with felony sale or delivery of a counterfeit controlled substance, in violation of Code section 39-17-423. The defendant was tried and convicted on the controlled substance charge, and the trial court imposed an incarcerative sentence of nine years as a Range II, multiple offender and assessed a $25,000 fine. The defendant elected to forego a trial on the counterfeit controlled substance charge, and he entered a “blind” guilty plea to that offense, for which he received a three-year incarcerative sentence as a Range II, multiple offender, which was ordered to be served consecutively to the nine-year sentence. On appeal, the defendant contests the sufficiency of the evidence upon which his controlled substance conviction rests, and he complains about the length and manner of service of his combined sentences and about the $25,000 fine. Based upon our review of the video record in this case and our consideration of the briefs of the parties and applicable law, we affirm the defendant’s convictions and the incarcerative portion of his sentences, but we modify the $25,000 fine imposed to $15,000.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/13/02
John Marshall v. Sverdrup Technologies, Inc.

M2000-02951-WC-R3-CV
The employer appeals an award of permanent total disability benefits to age 65, and the Second Injury Fund appeals the apportionment of liability for 3 percent of the benefits to the Fund. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Howell N. Peoples, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Jeffrey Stewart, Chancellor
Marshall County Workers Compensation Panel 05/13/02
E2001-02926-COA-R3-CV

E2001-02926-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 05/13/02
Donald R. Moore v. L and D Transportation

E2000-02779-WC-R3-CV
The trial court found the plaintiff had suffered a compensable back injury and awarded 35 percent permanent partial disability. The plaintiff has three prior awards of workers' compensation benefits beginning in 1975 with an award of 7 percent for an injury to his left hand, which translates into 2.625 percent to the body as a whole, and, for back injuries, an award in 198 of 25 percent to the body as a whole and in 1998, an award of 59.718 percent to the body as a whole from the State of Kentucky. The trial court apportioned 12.657 percent to the defendant and the balance to the Second Injury Fund. The employer questions whether the evidence supports a finding that the plaintiff suffered a work-related injury resulting in 35 percent disability. The plaintiff appeals and argues he is permanently and totally disabled. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Sr. J.
Originating Judge:John F. Weaver, Chancellor
Moore County Workers Compensation Panel 05/13/02
William J. Vincent v. Reid Troutman, Executor, Et Al.

2001-03035-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Billy Joe White
Campbell County Court of Appeals 05/13/02
Durnelco, Inc. vs. Double James

E2001-02010-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the interpretation of a commercial lease agreement. The tenant, Durnelco, Inc. ("Durnelco"), filed a complaint for declaratory judgment, seeking a declaration that it properly terminated the lease agreement on July 31, 2000. Durnelco also asked that it be permitted to remove, at its expense, certain improvements made by it to the leasehold premises, including some flooring, walls, doors, windows, bathroom fixtures, and exterior decking. The present landlord, Double James, LLC ("Double James"), answered and filed a counterclaim asserting that Durnelco had breached the lease and had refused to surrender possession of the premises. It sought damages as a result of Durnelco's alleged holdover tenancy. The trial court allowed Durnelco to remove only two signs and certain light fixtures. The court awarded Double James $7,000 in rent for the period of July through December, 2000. Durnelco appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:W. Frank Brown, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 05/13/02
In Re: Madelanie Redman, Ray & Martha Bowen v. Nathan Redman

E2001-02730-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Kindall T. Lawson
Hawkins County Court of Appeals 05/13/02
Elaine Wynn vs. Joseph Hames

W2001-00269-COA-R3-CV
This a medical malpractice case. Plaintiff's decedent saw Defendant, an emergency room physician, who diagnosed decedent with pneumonia and sent decedent home with antibiotics. Plaintiff's decedent died the next day from congestive heart failure. Plaintiff, wife of decedent, sued Defendant for malpractice. The jury's verdict found decedent 90% at fault and Defendant 10% at fault, and the trial court entered judgment for Defendant on the jury verdict. Plaintiff appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Julian P. Guinn
Benton County Court of Appeals 05/13/02
In Re: Mackenzie J. Marlowe, Gregory Marlowe v. Stacy

E2002-00105-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:John W. Walton
Unicoi County Court of Appeals 05/13/02
In Re: Madelanie Redman, Ray & Martha Bowen v. Nathan Redman

E2001-02730-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Hawkins County Court of Appeals 05/13/02