APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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
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
State vs. Jere Joseph

W1999-00651-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Jere Lowell Joseph, Jr., appeals two post-conviction cases, claiming that the trial court erred in holding that the petitioner received the effective assistance of counsel in both cases. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:J. Steven Stafford
Dyer 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
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
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
Donna Martin vs. Mary Coleman, et al

M1999-02238-COA-R3-CV
This is a dispute over real property which was the subject of an installment land sales contract between the parties and over the proceeds of an insurance policy after the dwelling on the property burned. The trial court ordered that the title to the property be divested from the Seller and be vested in the Buyer and that the remaining proceeds of the insurance policy be awarded to Buyer after all overdue payments of taxes and insurance and the incurred clean up costs were deducted. The Seller appeals on the grounds that the evidence was contrary to the judgment and that the plaintiff had breached the contract and is entitled to neither the property nor the insurance proceeds. For the reasons below, we affirm the judgment as modified.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Allen W. Wallace
Humphreys 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
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
State of Tennessee v. James E. Mathis

II-1098-328-C

Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
State vs. Michael N. Grey

M1999-01428-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Michael N. Grey, was convicted by a jury in the Dickson County Circuit Court of two counts of aggravated robbery, a class B felony, and two counts of theft under $500, a class A misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced the appellant to ten years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction for the aggravated robbery convictions. The trial court also sentenced the appellant to eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration in the Dickson County Jail for the theft convictions.The trial court further ordered that the appellant's sentences be served concurrently. The appellant raises the following issue for review: whether the appellant was denied due process because the State failed to provide him with proper pre-trial exculpatory evidence. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm in part and reverse in part the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Allen W. Wallace
Dickson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
State vs. Jeffery Leon Medley

M1998-00439-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Jeffrey Leon Medley, appeals his sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration imposed by the Warren County Circuit Court pursuant to the appellant's conviction of improper influence of a juror. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we dismiss this appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Charles D. Haston, Sr.
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
First Utility District of Knox County, Tennessee v. 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:Judge Harold Wimberly, Jr.
Knox County Court of Appeals 07/19/00
Travis Plummer vs. State

M1999-01406-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Travis Plummer, was convicted by a jury in the Criminal Court of Davidson County of one count of rape of a child, and subsequently also pled guilty to one count of rape. The trial court sentenced the petitioner to twenty years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction for rape of a child and to twelve years incarceration for rape. The trial court further ordered that the petitioner's sentences be served consecutively. In this post conviction proceeding, the petitioner raises the following issue(s) for review: whether the petitioner was denied his constitutional rights at trial and at the plea proceeding when his counsel(s) failed to investigate and evaluate his competency to stand trial and to plead guilty. Upon 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:Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/19/00
Ronald Bradford Waller vs. State

E1999-02034-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner was convicted in the Hamilton County Criminal Court in 1992 of first degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and theft over $1,000, receiving an effective sentence of life plus twenty-three years. The convictions and sentences were affirmed on direct appeal in 1993; and the petitioner subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction relief, presenting as issues, whether there was a variance between the indictment and the proof, whether he was improperly compelled to participate in a courtroom demonstration, whether he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal, whether his convictions constitute double jeopardy, whether the trial court erred in evidentiary rulings, whether he was improperly convicted because of prosecutorial misconduct or cumulative errors at the trial, and whether his convictions amount to a miscarriage of justice. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court denying the petition for post-conviction relief.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/18/00
Robert B. Clark v. State of Tennessee

W2007-01440-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Lee V. Coffee
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/18/00
State vs. Marcus Morrow

M1999-00769-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, the State of Tennessee, appeals the order of the Maury County Circuit Court permitting the appellee, Marcus Morrow, to participate in a work release program during his forty-five-day incarceration for driving under the influence of an intoxicant (DUI), second offense. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we reverse the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Jim T. Hamilton
Maury County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/18/00
State vs. Reginald Tyrone Donnell

M1999-02184-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant, Reginald Tyrone Donnell, was indicted on two counts of first degree murder. A Wilson County jury found him guilty of two counts of second degree murder. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to twenty-five (25) years in the Department of Correction for each count, with the sentences to run consecutively. The Defendant now appeals contending: 1) the evidence was insufficient to support convictions of second degree murder, 2) the trial court failed to exclude autopsy photographs of the victims, 3) the sentences imposed by the trial court were excessive, and 4) the trial court erred in ordering consecutive sentences. After review of the record, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:J. O. Bond
Wilson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/18/00
Ann Phillips v. Marvin Windows

W1999-02243-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)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The defendant, Marvin Windows (Marvin), appeals the judgment of the Lauderdale Chancery Court awarding the plaintiff, Ann Phillips (Phillips), permanent partial disability of seventeen percent (17%) to the body as a whole.
Authoring Judge: William Michael Maloan, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Martha B. Brasfield, Chancellor
Lauderdale County Workers Compensation Panel 07/18/00
Karen Garrett Humphries v. David Alison Humphries

E1999-02694-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Jean A. Stanley
Washington County Court of Appeals 07/18/00
William Andrew Dixon vs. Flora J. Holland, Warden

M1999-02494-CCA-R3-PC
William Andrew Dixon was convicted of kidnapping for ransom in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-2603 in April 1981 in the Circuit Court of Dickson County. The offense was committed in April 1978. Between the time of the offense in 1978, and the time of trial in 1981, kidnapping for ransom was redesignated by the legislature as the offense of aggravated kidnapping; the maximum punishment was reduced by the legislature from life imprisonment without parole to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. The Tennessee Department of Correction maintains that it is incarcerating Petitioner under a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Petitioner filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Criminal Court of Davidson County, asserting the judgment is illegal and void. The petition was denied. The judgment is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/18/00
Henry Eugene Hodges vs. State

M1999-00516-CCA-R3-PD
The appellant, Henry Eugene Hodges, seeks post-conviction relief from his 1992 first degree murder conviction and sentence of death. The Davidson County Criminal Court denied the appellant's petition and this appeal was taken. This court is presented with the following issues: (1) the effectiveness of trial counsel; (2) the post-conviction court's failure to provide funds for expert services; and (3) the post-conviction court's denial of a continuance and refusal to bifurcate the post-conviction evidentiary hearing. Following review of the record, we conclude (1) the appellant was not denied the effective assistance of counsel; (2) the post-conviction court properly denied the appellant's request for funds for additional expert services; and (3) the post-conviction court properly denied the appellant's request for a continuance of the evidentiary hearing. Accordingly, we affirm the post-conviction court's finding that the appellant is not entitled to post-conviction relief.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/18/00
M2008-01607-COA-R3-PT

M2008-01607-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Larry G. Ross
Warren County Court of Appeals 07/17/00
State vs. Ducker

M1997-00074-SC-R11-CD
We granted review to determine (1) whether aggravated child abuse is a lesser-included offense of the charged offense of first degree murder for the reckless killing of a child; (2) whether the knowing mens rea of aggravated child abuse refers to the conduct of the defendant or to the result of that conduct; (3) whether the evidence supports the defendant's convictions; and (4) whether the defendant was properly convicted of Class A felonies when the trial court failed to charge the jury on the age element contained in the aggravated child abuse statute.
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Originating Judge:Charles D. Haston, Sr.
Warren County Supreme Court 07/14/00
Beasley Cotton Co. vs. Ralph

W1999-00273-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a breach of contract between Farmer and Broker. After signing a contract to deliver cotton to Broker, Farmer failed to do so. Broker was then forced to purchase the cotton elsewhere for a substantial loss and brought suit to recover the losses. At the start of the trial, Farmer requested that the trial court dismiss the case and order the parties to proceed to arbitration. Finding that Farmer had waived his rights under the contract to arbitration, the trial court refused. Proceeding with the case, court found that Farmer had breached the contract and awarded damages to Broker. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Dewey C. Whitenton
Tipton County Court of Appeals 07/14/00