APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Gloria Neuenschwander vs. Roy Neuenschwander

E2001-00306-COA-R3-CV
Trial Judge refused to recuse, set amount of alimony, and established rental value of parties' property. On appeal we reverse the change in the amount of alimony by the Trial Court, but otherwise affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:William M. Dender
Knox County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Kevin Stumpenhorst vs. Jerry Blurton Jr.

W2000-02977-COA-R3-CV
This case arises from an automobile accident in which the Appellee was injured while a passenger in a truck driven by the Appellant's son. The Appellee filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of Madison County against the Appellant and his son. The Appellant and his son filed an answer which specifically pled an affirmative defense of comparative negligence. The Appellee filed a motion for summary judgment against the Appellant and his son. The trial court denied the motion for summary judgment against the Appellant and granted the motion for summary judgment against the Appellant's son. The Appellee filed a motion to strike the affirmative defense of comparative negligence. The trial court granted the motion to strike. Following a jury trial, the jury found that the Appellee's injuries were caused by the negligence of the Appellant's son and that the Appellee was entitled to recover $1,300,000.00 in damages. The jury found that the Appellant was liable under the family purpose doctrine. The Appellant filed a motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, for a new trial, or for a remittitur. The trial court denied the Appellant's motion. The Appellant appeals the decision of the Circuit Court of Madison County disallowing the Appellant to introduce evidence of the Appellee's comparative negligence. The Appellant also appeals the jury verdict finding the Appellant liable under the family purpose doctrine for $1,300,000.00 in damages. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse and remand this case for a new trial in accordance with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
J.D. Hickman vs. TN Board of Paroles

M2000-02846-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a prisoner's efforts to obtain a mandatory parole date. After the general counsel for the Tennessee Board of Paroles informed him that he was ineligible for mandatory parole, the prisoner filed a common-law writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County seeking a declaration either that he is entitled to a mandatory parole date or that the Board had been employing the wrong legal standards with regard to his parole date and the parole dates of all other prisoners sentenced after 1989. In response to the Board's Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12.02(6) motion, the trial court dismissed the prisoner's petition because it was not timely filed and because the Tennessee Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1982 had prospectively repealed mandatory parole by implication. On this appeal, the prisoner asserts that his suit was timely filed and that the trial court erred by concluding that he was not entitled to a mandatory parole date. We have determined that the prisoner's complaint was timely; however, we have also determined that he is not entitled to a mandatory parole date.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
State of Tennessee v. Marion Lee Chapman

W1999-00410-CCA-R3-CD

A Carroll County jury convicted the appellant, Marion Lee Chapman, of one (1) count of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. The trial court sentenced the appellant to eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days, suspended after serving ten (10) days in confinement. On appeal, the appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a continuance on the day of trial. We hold that the appellant has waived this issue for failing to prepare an adequate record for this Court's review. In addition, we conclude that, based on the limited record before us, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for a continuance. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge C. Creed McGinley
Carroll County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/16/01
Stacy Harris vs. 4215 Harding Road Homeowners Association

M2000-02414-COA-R3-CV
The appellant, a unit owner in a high-rise condominium, sued the Homeowners Association, claiming that her assessment for common expenses had been too high for the twenty years she had owned the unit. She sought reimbursement of the overpayment and an injunction against further assessments based on the percentage of her ownership stated in the Master Deed. The Chancery Court of Davidson County granted summary judgment to the Association and ordered the appellant to pay attorney's fees and costs. We affirm and remand the cause for the assessment of attorney's fees for the appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Richard Jolly vs. Lynette Jolly

W2001-00159-COA-R3-CV
This is a divorce case regarding the distribution of marital property. The wife moved from Tennessee to Kansas with the parties' four minor children and later filed a petition for divorce. The Kansas court awarded the wife a divorce, custody of the children, and child support but found that it did not have jurisdiction to order a division of the parties' marital property located in Tennessee. Thereafter, the wife filed this action in Tennessee seeking a division of the parties' marital property in Tennessee. The trial court ordered that the Tennessee property be sold and that the husband's share of the sale proceeds be reduced by the amount of unpaid child support. On appeal, the husband argues, inter alia, that the trial court erred in recognizing the Kansas divorce decree. We affirm, finding that the Kansas decree was entitled to full faith and credit and that the trial court did not err in dividing the parties' marital property in Tennessee.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Martha B. Brasfield
McNairy County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Jeffrey E. Dunlap v. State of Tennessee

E2001-00189-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Jeffrey E. Dunlap, appeals the trial court's denial of post-conviction relief. The single issue presented for review is whether the petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. The judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Ray L. Jenkins
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/16/01
Beal Bank vs. RBM Co., Est. of H.A. Webster, Michael Webster, and Richard Webster

E2001-00520-COA-R3-CV
The trial court admitted into evidence the loan records from NationsBank through a witness who was thoroughly familiar with the record-keeping process. On appeal, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Frank Brown, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Polk County vs. Glenda B. Rogers , d/b/a Ocoee River Rats

E2001-00004-COA-R3-CV
In this appeal from the Polk County Chancery Court the Appellant , Glenda B. Rogers, d/b/a Ocoee River Rats, contends that evidence presented at trial showed that the classification of whitewater rafting businesses and their customers under a private act applicable to the Appellee, Polk County, assessing a privilege tax on guided rafting ticket sales by such businesses in Polk County is without reasonable basis and that the Trial Court's finding to the contrary was in error. We affirm the judgment of the Trial Court and we adjudge costs of the appeal against the Appellant.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Jerri S. Bryant
Polk County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Jessie Anthony vs. Melbourne Holland

W2001-00745-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from a judgment by the trial court, sitting without a jury, that the defendant's negligence was not the proximate cause of plaintiff's injuries. We hold that the evidence does not preponderate against the factual findings of the trial court. We therefore affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
State of Tennessee vs. Clifford Peele

E1999-00907-SC-R11-CD
We granted appeal to determine (1) if Tenn. R. App. P. 3(b) permits the appeal of a denial of a motion to withdraw a guilty plea; and (2) whether a Tenn. R. Crim. P. 32(f) motion to set aside a guilty plea filed prior to the time the judgment becomes final tolls the time for filing an appeal to permit the trial court to rule on the motion. We hold (1) that a denial of a motion to set aside a guilty plea may be appealed pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 3(b); and (2) that a trial court retains jurisdiction to rule on a motion to set aside a guilty plea if the motion is filed prior to the date the judgment becomes final. Accordingly, the holding of the Court of Criminal Appeals is reversed, and the case is remanded to the intermediate appellate court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Originating Judge:Arden L. Hill
Carter County Supreme Court 10/16/01
State of Tennessee v. Arhonda Rice

W2000-03004-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant pled guilty to theft over $1,000.00, a Class D felony, and the trial court sentenced her to two years incarceration as a Range I standard offender. The trial court suspended the Defendant’s sentence and placed her on seven years probation. The trial court also ordered the Defendant to serve one hundred weekends at the Shelby County Correctional Center, perform five hundred hours of community service, and pay $8,400.00 in restitution. The Defendant now appeals, arguing (1) the trial court erred in denying her judicial diversion, and (2) that the trial court erred in denying her full probation. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/16/01
Taylor Brown vs. Jerry Nowlin

W2001-01455-COA-R3-CV
This dispute addresses the applicability of the "made whole" doctrine to the subrogation rights of TennCare, Tennessee's medicaid waiver program, where the insured and the tortfeasor reached a settlement agreement without the participation or consent of TennCare. We hold that the made whole doctrine did apply to TennCare at the time this case was settled and the order entered. Affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Sarah Whitten vs. Dale Smith

W2001-01347-COA-R3-CV
This is a suit for the failure to pay a real estate commission. The Appellant filed a complaint against the Appellees in the Chancery Court of Hardin County. The Appellees filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and improper venue. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss. The Appellees filed an answer and counter-complaint. A trial was held on the complaint and counter-complaint. The trial court entered an order finding that the Appellees did not owe the Appellant a real estate commission and dismissing the counter-complaint. The Appellant appeals the order of the Chancery Court of Hardin County finding that the Appellees did not owe the Appellant
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Ron E. Harmon
Hardin County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Tip's PackageStore, Inc. vs. Commercial Ins. Mgrs., Inc.

E2000-02070-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiffs H. Wayne Tipton ("Tipton") and Tip's Package Store, Inc., (Tip's) brought this lawsuit against George P. Taylor ("Taylor") and Commercial Insurance Managers, Inc., ("Commercial") seeking indemnification for an agreed judgment entered against Tip's in a lawsuit involving the tragic deaths of two young University of Tennessee students. Plaintiffs claim that Defendants improperly obtained for them an "occurrence" liability policy as opposed to a "claims made" liability policy, thereby resulting in a lack of insurance coverage for the wrongful death claims. After a jury trial, the Chancery Court entered judgment in favor of both Plaintiffs in the amount of $1,000,000 for indemnification based on the jury's answers to interrogatories. Defendants appeal, arguing, among other things, that: (1) the statute of limitations had run; (2) a covenant not to execute entered into between the families of the deceased young women and Plaintiffs extinguished any potential liability; and (3) the jury's responses to interrogatories were fatally inconsistent. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Sharon J. Bell
Knox County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
E2000-02268-COA-R3-CV

E2000-02268-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Russell E. Simmons, Jr.
Roane County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Pamela K. Cantrell v. James Michael Cantrell, Jr.

2001-00259-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Jerri S. Bryant
Bradley County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Linda Musick vs. Calvin Musick

E2001-01140-COA-R3-CV
The Trial Court granted parties a divorce, divided marital property, and awarded alimony. The parties have appealed on issues of evidence, division of marital property, the granting of alimony, and wife's attorney's fees. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:John S. Mclellan, III
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 10/16/01
Vicky Lockhart vs. Robert Lockhart

W2000-02922-COA-R3-CV
The Appellant and the Appellee were divorced by final decree of divorce incorporating a marital dissolution agreement entered into by the parties. The marital dissolution agreement provided that the Appellee was to have custody of the parties' two minor children. The Appellant filed a petition to modify custody of the parties' children in the Chancery Court of Tipton County. At the hearing on the petition, the Appellant first raised the issue that the Appellee was not the biological father of one of the children. The trial court held that the Appellant was judicially estopped to raise the issue of the paternity of one of the children and denied the petition to modify custody. The Appellant appeals the decision of the Chancery Court of Tipton County holding that the Appellant was judicially estopped to raise the issue of paternity and denying the petition to modify custody. For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the trial court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Martha B. Brasfield
Tipton County Court of Appeals 10/15/01
Joy Mcvey Porter v. Money Tree Finance Corporation Ii,

2001-01142-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Jean A. Stanley
Washington County Court of Appeals 10/15/01
State of Tennessee v. Linnell Richmond and Shervon Johnson - Concurring

E2000-01499-CCA-R3-CD

I concur with Judge Woodall's lead opinion as to the defendant Johnson and would affirm in all respects. I disagree with Judge Smith that this court should reverse Johnson's aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated robbery convictions on a plain error basis for failure to instruct on the lesser offenses of robbery and attempted robbery. Johnson did not present the issue on appeal.  Five factors determine whether the failure to charge lesser included offenses qualifies as reversible, plain error:

1. The record must clearly establish what happened in the trial court;
2. a clear and unequivocal rule of law must have been breached;
3. a substantial right of the accused must have been adversely affected;
4. the accused did not waive the issue for tactical reasons; and
5. consideration of the error is necessary to do substantial justice.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Richard R. Baumgartner
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/01
Mark Wishon, et ux vs. Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates, PC., et al

E2001-01031-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiffs appeal from summary judgments in medical malpractice case granted to defendants, and from the Trial Court's refusal to grant them a voluntary dismissal during the pendency of the summary judgment motions. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Thomas J. Seeley, Jr.
Washington County Court of Appeals 10/15/01
State of Tennessee v. Linnell Richmond and Shervon Johnson

E2000-01545-CCA-R3-CD

Following a jury trial, a Knox County jury found the Defendants, Linnell Richmond and Shervon Johnson, guilty of aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery and two counts of attempted first degree premeditated murder. Defendant Johnson was also convicted of the additional attempted aggravated robbery of Leonard Hill. The trial court sentenced Defendant Richmond to an effective sentence of twenty-two years for his convictions. Defendant Johnson was order to serve an effective sentence of seventy years for his convictions. The trial court further ordered that both Defendants serve their state sentences consecutively to a federal sentence arising out of the same situation and conduct as the state sentences. In this appeal as of right, the Defendants raise the following issues:

1) whether the evidence was sufficient to convict each Defendant of attempted first degree premeditated murder, attempted aggravated robbery and aggravated robbery; 2) whether the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the natural and probable consequences rule; 3) whether the trial court erred in allowing the state to proceed under a theory of criminal responsibility against Defendant Richmond, when the indictment failed to charge him with criminal responsibility; 4) whether the trial court erred in failing to charge lesser-included offenses; 5) whether the trial court erred in failing to allow the victim, Mose Cuxart, to be impeached with false statements concerning his income tax returns; 6) whether the trial court erred in admitting photographs of Shannon Brown and Kevin Brown; 7) whether the trial court erred in amending the indictment for aggravated robbery; and 8) whether the trial court erred in ordering the Defendants’ state sentence to run consecutively to their federal sentence. After a thorough review of the evidence and the applicable law, a majority of the panel affirms each of Defendant Johnson’s convictions and sentences. A majority of the panel reverses and remands for a new trial Defendant Richmond’s convictions for aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, and attempted murder.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Richard R. Baumgartner
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/15/01
State, ex rel Steven Wrzesniewski, vs. Lori Miller

E2001-00317-COA-R3-CV
Appellant was not ordered to pay child support when divorce was granted. Subsequently, retroactive child support was ordered. On appeal, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 10/15/01
Eva Woods vs. County of Dyer

W2001-00224-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from the Appellees' denial of an application for a beer permit filed by the Appellant. The Appellant filed a petition for writ of certiorari against the Appellees in the Circuit Court of Dyer County. Following a hearing on the petition for writ of certiorari, the trial court affirmed the decision of the Appellees and dismissed the petition for writ of certiorari. The Appellant appeals the dismissal of the petition for writ of certiorari by the Circuit Court of Dyer County. For the reasons stated herein, we affirm the trial court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Lee Moore
Dyer County Court of Appeals 10/15/01