APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Willard Hawk, Jr., et al vs. Chattanooga Orthopaedic Group, P.,C., et al

E1999-00687-COA-R9-CV
This is a medical malpractice case. We granted the plaintiffs' Tenn. R. App. P. 9 application for an interlocutory appeal in order to review an order of the trial court dismissing the amendments to the plaintiffs' original complaint and granting the defendants' motion in limine pertaining to evidence of a disabling hand condition of the defendant surgeon, Dr. David M. O'Neal. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Samuel H. Payne
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 07/24/00
State vs. Timothy Higgs

W1999-01534-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant appeals from a jury trial conviction for possession of contraband in a penal institution, a Class C felony. In this appeal, the defendant alleges the evidence was not sufficient to support his conviction. Concluding that the evidence was sufficient, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Weakley County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/24/00
State of Tennessee v. Carlos Mcdonald

W1999-01459-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/24/00
Dempsey vs. Dempsey

M1998-00972-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the award of alimony and the division of one particular piece of marital property at the dissolution of a nineteen year marriage. Mr. Dempsey appeals the award of alimony in futuro rather than rehabilitative alimony, the amount of alimony as beyond his ability to pay, and the award of a tax refund for the year of the divorce to Ms. Dempsey. We modify the award of alimony in futuro to an award of rehabilitative alimony and affirm the distribution of marital property.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Appeals 07/21/00
State of Tennessee v. James Admeral Yandal

W2002-01521-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Obion County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/21/00
Logan vs. Winstead

E1999-01056-SC-R11-CV
This appeal arises from a prisoner's pro se action for legal malpractice against the attorney who represented him in criminal court on the charges underlying his sentence. The attorney filed a motion for summary judgment supported by an expert affidavit. The prisoner, relying upon Whisnant v. Byrd, 525 S.W.2d 152 (Tenn. 1975), filed a motion to hold the proceedings in abeyance until he was released from prison and able to appear in court. The trial court failed to rule on the motion for abeyance. The trial court entered summary judgment in favor of the attorney on the grounds that the prisoner had not offered an expert affidavit to rebut the attorney's proof. The Court of Appeals upheld the judgment. We granted review to determine under what circumstances an incarcerated plaintiff is entitled to have a civil action held in abeyance until he or she is released from custody.
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Originating Judge:John K. Wilson
Hawkins County Supreme Court 07/21/00
Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency vs. Trinity Marine Nashville, Inc .

M1999-02162-COA-R3-CV
In this eminent domain condemnation proceeding, the Trial Court granted partial summary judgment to the condemnor on the amount of relocation expenses to be awarded the property owner as incidental damages based upon deposition testimony of an officer of the property owner. The property owner argues on appeal that summary judgment is improper in condemnation proceedings, and that the Trial Court erred in excluding from incidental damages amounts for a "burden rate" the property owner added to its actual hourly labor costs incurred in relocating from the condemned property. As the issue is a question of law and there are no questions of disputed material fact, summary judgment is appropriate. As the "burden rate" claimed by the property owner is not recoverable under the applicable statute, the judgment of the Trial Court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Barbara N. Haynes
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/21/00
Vowell Ventures vs. City of Martin

W1999-01445-COA-R3-CV
Vowell Ventures, a partnership, sued the City of Martin alleging that the City denied Vowell Ventures' application for a building permit due to the fact that there was a sewer line and storm drain crossing the property. The complaint alleged that the denial of the application for the building permit constituted a taking of property without just compensation and sought judgment against the City for the taking. The trial court granted the City of Martin's Motion To Dismiss Or For Summary Judgment and we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Weakley County Court of Appeals 07/21/00
R. David Ashley and E. Diana Ashley vs. Thomas A. Snapp

E1999-00908-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a grant of summary judgment in the Knox County Circuit Court. On appeal, R. David Ashley and E. Diana Ashley, the Appellants, argue that there are genuine issues of material fact with respect to their suit for malicious prosecution and abuse of process against Thomas A. Snapp and Robin Gratigny, the Appellees, and thus, the Trial Court erred in granting summary judgment. We vacate the Circuit Court's grant of summary judgment on the issue of malicious prosecution and remand to the Trial Court on that issue, and we affirm the Trial Court's grant of summary judgment on the issue of abuse of process.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Harold Wimberly
Knox County Court of Appeals 07/21/00
In re: K.A.H.

M1999-02079-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the termination of parental rights regarding a child who was removed from the mother's home by the Department of Children's Services in 1996 and placed in foster care. DCS devised a Plan of Care for the mother, which, among other things, required her to address her drug and alcohol addictions. During the two years between the removal from the home and the filing by DCS of the petition to terminate parental rights, the mother made some efforts to improve her situation, but her substance abuse continued. The trial court terminated the mother's parental rights on grounds (1) that the conditions that led to the child's removal continued to persist with little likelihood of remedy and (2) that the mother failed to comply with the Statement of Responsibilities as provided in the Plan of Care. Because DCS has established grounds for termination and has established that termination is in the best interest of the child, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Wayne C. Shelton
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 07/21/00
Bobby Ray Carper v. Ramer Wood Products

W1999-02147-WC-R3-CV
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _5-6-225(e) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The defendant, Ramer Wood Products (Ramer), appeals the judgment of the McNairy Chancery Court awarding permanent partial disability of thirty percent (3%) to the right arm and twenty-five percent (25%) to the left arm. For the reasons stated in this opinion, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as modified to a single award of twenty-seven and one-half percent (27-1/2%) permanent partial disability to both arms.
Authoring Judge: William Michael Maloan, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Dewey C. Whitenton, Chancellor
McNairy County Workers Compensation Panel 07/21/00
Larry Simpson vs. Donal Campbell, Commissioner, et al

M2000-00218-COA-R3-CV
Larry Simpson, a prison inmate, appeals the dismissal by the trial court of his Petition for Declaratory Judgment asserting that he was entitled to mandatory parole under former Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-3614 and Tennessee Code Annotated Section 40-20-115. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/20/00
Joe H. Walker v. Sidney Gilreath &Amp; Associates,

E1999-01012-COA-R3-CV-

Originating Judge:Dale C. Workman
Knox County Court of Appeals 07/20/00
Frazier vs. Whisman

M1997-00225-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from the efforts of an inmate of the Tennessee Department of Correction to have his sentence recalculated. The prisoner initially wrote to an employee of the department requesting the recalculation. Ten months after receiving the department's letter denying his request, the prisoner filed a petition for a declaratory judgment in the Chancery Court for Davidson County. The trial court dismissed the petition, and the prisoner appeals. We affirm the trial court because the prisoner did not file his petition within sixty days of the department's decision.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/19/00
Watauga Industries, Inc. vs. Harry W. Greenwell, et al

E1999-00699-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:G. Richard Johnson
Carter County Court of Appeals 07/19/00
Davis vs. TN Bd. of Paroles

M2000-00668-COA-R3-CV
This is another in a series of cases filed by a certain prison inmate, Ronald L. Davis, this time seeking the issuance of a common law writ of certiorari on the basis that the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole improperly refused to grant him early release. The board cited the seriousness of the offense for which he was convicted as the basis for its decision and moved for dismissal of the petition or alternatively for summary judgment. The trial court held this suit to be barred by Tennessee Code Annotated section 41-21-812 which prohibits the filing of subsequent lawsuits by inmates who have unpaid costs related to previous suits. The trial court dismissed this case under Tennessee Code Annotated section 41-21-812 and on the basis that the Petition for Writ of Certiorari failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/19/00
First Utility District of Knox County vs. Eleanor Jo Jarnigan-Bodden

E1999-01674-COA-R3-CV
The property owner objected to service of process and asserted due process violations relating to a utility district easement condemnation. Service of process by publication was proper notice to the non-resident Cayman Islands resident, there was no showing that the condemnation for public purpose was not necessary, and there was no right for the property owner to demand a jury of view to determine the proper easement for a water line. Judgment of the Trial Court is affirmed and the case remanded for determination of the compensation due the property owner for the taking.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Harold Wimberly
Knox County Court of Appeals 07/19/00
State vs. Barry Speck

W1999-00436-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Barry L. Speck, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The state contends that the petition should have been dismissed because of the statute of limitations. The petitioner contends that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney failed to use documents provided by the petitioner to impeach the state's witnesses and to provide an alibi for dates listed in the bill of particulars. We hold that the petition was properly considered on its merits, but we affirm the trial court's denial of post-conviction relief.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:John P. Colton, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
Thomas W. Yelton vs. State

M1999-00597-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Thomas W. Yelton, appeals the denial by the Bedford County Circuit Court of his petition for post-conviction relief from his 1992 convictions of fabricating evidence, theft of property worth more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), coercion of a witness, and harassment. Specifically, he alleges that he is entitled to relief from his convictions because he received ineffective assistance of counsel during trial proceedings. The petitioner predicates his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel upon the following grounds: (1) trial counsel failed to submit to the trial court a motion requesting the severance of his offenses; (2) trial counsel maintained inadequate contact with the petitioner during trial proceedings; (3) trial counsel failed to adequately investigate his case; and (4) trial counsel failed to adequately advise the petitioner concerning the waiver of his right to appeal his convictions. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:William Charles Lee
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
State vs. Wayne Joseph Burgess, Jr.

M1999-02040-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Wayne Joseph Burgess, Jr., was convicted by a jury in the Giles County Circuit Court of one count of first degree felony murder, with the underlying felony being aggravated child abuse. The trial court sentenced the appellant to life in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in overruling the appellant's motion to strike the jury panel because the appellant's race was substantially under- represented on the venire from which the petit jury was selected under a practice providing "the opportunity for discrimination;" (2) whether the trial court erred in overruling the appellant's motion to suppress a confession that was obtained by the use of intimidation, threat, and coercion by the Pulaski Police Department; (3) whether the trial court erred in overruling the appellant's objection to allowing the prior inconsistent statement of Rickey Sikes to be entered into the record as substantive evidence; (4) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the appellant's conviction of first degree murder in the perpetration of aggravated child abuse as the State failed to prove the requisite mental status of "knowing" to commit that offense. 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:Jim T. Hamilton
Giles County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
Watauga Industries, Inc. vs. Harry W. Greenwell, et al

E1999-00699-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:G. Richard Johnson
Carter County Court of Appeals 07/19/00
Kelly vs. So. Central Corr. Facility Disciplinary Bd.

M1999-02083-COA-R3-CV
Petitioner, Henderson Kelly, appeals the action of the trial court in granting a Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 12.02(6) motion to dismiss his petition for a writ of certiorari requesting review of an agency decision. We affirm the action of the trial judge.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Robert L. Jones
Wayne County Court of Appeals 07/19/00
State vs. Christina L. Howard

M1999-02473-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant Christina L. Howard was found guilty by a Williamson County jury of possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine in an amount greater than 300 grams, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range I standard offender to concurrent terms of twenty years for cocaine possession, one year for marijuana possession, and one day for possession of drug paraphernalia. Defendant raises the following issues in this appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred when it did not instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of facilitation of a felony; (2) whether the trial court erred when it sentenced Defendant as a standard offender; and (3) whether the trial court erred when it denied Defendant alternative sentencing. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Henry D. Bell
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
State of Tennessee v. Arnold L. Jones

II-1-98-353

Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
The Bogatin Law Firm vs. Hallum Motors

W2000-00409-COA-R3-CV
Appellee, an Arkansas corporation, and Appellant, a Delaware corporation authorized to do business in Arkansas and Tennessee, entered into an asset sales agreement for the sale and purchase of assets relating to an automobile dealership in West Memphis, Arkansas. Earnest money was placed in escrow with the Bogatin Law Firm, PLC in Memphis, Tennessee. Dispute concerning the asset sales agreement arose, and both parties made claim to the earnest money. The Bogatin Law Firm filed a complaint for interpleader in Shelby County, Tennessee. Appellee filed a motion to dismiss based upon improper venue which the trial court granted. We reverse, finding that venue in Shelby County was proper and that Appellee submitted to jurisdiction in Shelby County, Tennessee.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Floyd Peete, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 07/19/00