APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Beverly Bledsoe vs. Marion Bledsoe

W1999-01515-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:George R. Ellis
Gibson County Court of Appeals 04/11/00
Tennessee Roofing Corp. and Cna Insurance Co. v. Randall Lloyd

03S01-9902-CH-00016
This worker's compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Randall Lloyd appeals an award of 25 percent to the body as a whole as inadequate. We agree and modify the award.
Authoring Judge: Howell N. Peoples, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Daryl R. Fansler,
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 04/11/00
Annette Burnett v. Goody's Family Clothing, Inc.

03S01-9904-CV-00044
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The employer, Goody's Family Clothing, Inc., has appealed from the action of the trial court in awarding the employee, Annette Burnett, 6% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. The employer raises several issues on appeal. The primary issue is whether the expert medical evidence is sufficient to establish that plaintiff's physical condition resulted from an incident or activity at work. Other issues are whether the trial court was in error in holding proper notice of injury was rendered and whether the court properly exceeded the 2 _ times cap under T.C.A. _ 5-6-241(a)(1). Plaintiff was 49 years of age and had completed the 9th grade. She later obtained a G.E.D. certificate. She became employed by Goody's in 1996 and was employed as a "tagger" which involved placing price tags on clothing for retail sale. On May 12, 1997, she was standing on a stool tagging clothing when she unintentionally stepped off of the stool. She testified she attempted to grab a pole but missed it and she immediately felt pain in her left leg from the groin down.1 She described the pain as mild something like a cramp. She reported the incident to her supervisor and helped complete an accident report. She declined to seek medical attention thinking it was unnecessary. She continued to work and said the pain would leave and return over the next two months. She stated that during July 1997 the pain became more severe and began to spread into her hip and down her leg to her ankle. She saw her family doctor during August and received a cortisone shot which did not relieve her symptoms. Arrangements were made by her doctor to see an orthopedic surgeon. She continued to work until surgery was later performed during November 1997. On September 18, 1997, she was seen and examined by Dr. Paul H. Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon. He operated on her on November 12th and did a 1This is the only description of the incident at work. It is not clear whether she fell to the floor or caught herself and landed on her feet. 2
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Dale C. Workman
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 04/11/00
Lipscomb vs. Doe

W1997-00132-SC-R11-CV
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Originating Judge:D'Army Bailey
Shelby County Supreme Court 04/11/00
State vs. Blackstock

E1994-00004-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Stephen M. Bevil
Hamilton County Supreme Court 04/10/00
Marion Co. Bd. of Education vs. Marion Co. Education Assoc.

M1999-00213-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from a declaratory judgment action on behalf of the Marion County School Board seeking a determination as to whether or not the decision by the director of schools to transfer a principal to a teaching position was subject to binding arbitration under a collective bargaining agreement in effect between the school board and the Marion County Education Association. A cross-claim was filed by the Association requesting an injunction to force the Board to arbitration, and both parties filed motions for summary judgment. The trial court granted the Association's motion for summary judgment and mandated the Board to go to final and binding arbitration under the agreement. We reverse the decision of the trial court and hold that the statutory authority of the director of schools to hire and select principals may not be limited by a collective bargaining agreement and that such an agreement cannot authorize an arbitrator to determine who will be principal at a particular school.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Jeffery Stewart
Marion County Court of Appeals 04/10/00
Charles Rooker v. Donal Campbell

M1999-01657-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute between a prisoner and the Department of Correction over his release eligibility date. Dissatisfied with the response to his petition for a declaratory order, the prisoner filed a petition for a declaratory judgment in the Chancery Court for Davidson County, asserting that the extension of his release eligibility date violated the Department's policy regarding punishment for escape and the terms of his plea agreement. He also claimed that the Department had wrongfully deprived him of sentence reduction credits. The trial court dismissed the petition, and the prisoner has appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 04/10/00
William Fox vs. Marcella Fox

M1999-01720-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case ending an eighteen year marriage, the trial court awarded as separate property only the items owned by each party at the time of the marriage. The court awarded the marital home to both parties as tenants in common, allowing Wife to retain possession while the children were minors but requiring her to make the mortgage payments. Upon the sale of the property, the parties were to divide the proceeds of the sale, after costs and encumbrances were paid, with Wife receiving 60% and Husband receiving 40%. Wife appeals, contending that the court was required to classify the gifts during the marriage as separate property, and that the court's distribution of the marital property was not equitable. She also argues that the trial court violated federal law by awarding Husband a percentage of the real property and by ordering her to pay the mortgage, claiming the source of the equity in the property and of her income is her disability benefits, and those funds are exempt from "attachment, levy, or seizure." The evidence does not preponderate against the court's classification of property, and we find the division to be equitable. We find no violation of federal law in the award of the real property or in the requirement that Wife pay the mortgage so long as she occupies the premises.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Jeffrey F. Stewart
Franklin County Court of Appeals 04/10/00
Daniel White vs. State ex rel Brenda Armstrong

M1999-00713-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the State's liability to repay child support payments made by a man who had voluntarily legitimated a child he believed to be his own. After this court directed the Davidson County Juvenile Court to grant him prospective relief from the legitimation order in accordance with Tenn. R. Civ. P. 60.02(4), the man requested the juvenile court to order the State and the child's biological mother to reimburse him for the child support payments he had made following the entry of the legitimation order. The juvenile court denied the request on the ground that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction to order the State to reimburse "overpaid child support." We have determined that the juvenile court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims and, therefore, affirm the juvenile court's order.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Betty Adams Green
Davidson County Court of Appeals 04/10/00
John J. Kobus v. Colonial Moving Company

M1999-00034-WC-R3-CV
This case is before the Court upon the entire record, including the order of referral to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel, and the Panel's Memorandum Opinion setting forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Putnam County Workers Compensation Panel 04/10/00
Sammartano vs. Sammartano

M1999-00415-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case, the defendant/wife appeals complaining of an inequitable division of marital assets, an inadequate award of rehabilitative alimony and the denial of attorney fees. As modified herein, we affirm the decision of the trial court
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Williamson County Court of Appeals 04/10/00
Thomas Joiner vs. Dora Taylor Joiner

M1999-01721-COA-R3-CV
Wife appeals the conversion from a divorce from bed and board (now known as a "legal separation") to an absolute divorce, claiming the trial court was required to hold another evidentiary hearing concerning the support and property rights of the parties. The parties had ostensibly agreed to a final division of property at the time of the divorce from bed and board, and the trial court had held a later hearing regarding the fairness of the division and Wife's capacity to make such an agreement. Because we find that the trial court made "a final and complete adjudication of the support and property rights of the parties," as required by statute, when it incorporated the agreement of the parties at the time of the divorce from bed and board, we affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Robert E. Burch
Stewart County Court of Appeals 04/10/00
State vs. Fitz

W1997-00186-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Joseph H. Walker, III
Tipton County Supreme Court 04/10/00
Shirley Dale Reeves v. Wal-Mart, Inc.,

M1998-00879-WC-R3-CV
This case is before the Court upon the entire record, including the order of referral to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel, and the Panel's Memorandum Opinion setting forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Lewis County Workers Compensation Panel 04/10/00
Douglas DuBois vs. Rosemary DuBois

M1999-00330-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff/Appellant, Douglas Robert DuBois, and Defendant/Appellee, Rosemary Ann DuBois, are parents of two minor children, Caitlin Michel DuBois and Thomas Jackson DuBois. The Decree of Divorce was entered on November 5, 1998, following two days of trial that occurred on the 8th and 9th of October 1998. Both parties filed T.R.C.P. Rule 59 motions to alter or amend the final decree which, in effect, sought a redetermination by the trial judge of almost everything in issue. All of these motions were heard on May 12, 1999, after which, on June 15, 1999, the trial judge entered an order determinative of these Rule 59 motions. From this order, Plaintiff, Douglas Robert DuBois, appeals. We affirm the trial judge.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:John W. Rollins
Coffee County Court of Appeals 04/10/00
Estate of John Acuff, Sr., et al vs. Brenda O'Linger

M1999-00680-COA-R3-CV
The singular dispositive question on this appeal is whether or not two deeds, purportedly executed by the late John E. Acuff, Sr., conveying certain property to Brenda O'Linger, bear the forged signature of John E. Acuff, Sr. An advisory chancery jury, acting under "preponderance of the evidence" instructions, held that the signatures were forged thereby voiding the two deeds. The chancellor adopted, without comment, the findings of the advisory jury and entered judgment for the plaintiffs voiding the two deeds. Defendant appeals and upon consideration of the record we reverse the chancellor.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Jeffrey F. Stewart
Marion County Court of Appeals 04/10/00
Troy C. Ledbetter v. Batesville Casket Company

M1998-00670-SC-WCM-CV
This case is before the Court upon the entire record, including the order of referral to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel, and the Panel's Memorandum Opinion setting forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Franklin County Workers Compensation Panel 04/10/00
State vs. Keough

W1997-00201-SC-DDT-DD
Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:L. Terry Lafferty
Shelby County Supreme Court 04/10/00
State of Tennessee v. Gary Lamar McBride

M1999-00319-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant/appellant, Gary Lamar McBride, appeals as of right from a conviction for murder second degree by a Davidson County jury. The Davidson County Criminal Court imposed a sentence of sixteen (16) years in the Department of Correction. The defendant presents three appellate issues:

1.     Whether the trial court erred in allowing the defendant’s statement to be read to the jury and not suppressing the same.

2.     Whether the trial court erred in not finding that the proof adduced at trial by the State is in conflict with the physical facts rule applicable to criminal cases.

3.     Whether the evidence adduced at trial was sufficient to convict the defendant of murder second degree.

Authoring Judge: Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/07/00
State of Tennessee v. Steven D. Pittman

M1999-00320-CCA-R3-CD

A Davidson County jury convicted the appellant, Steven D. Pittman, of one (1) count of possession with the intent to sell over 0.5 grams of cocaine, one (1) count of felonious possession of a weapon and one (1) count of simple possession of marijuana. The trial court sentenced the appellant as a Range I offender to concurrent terms of eleven (11) years for possession with the intent to sell cocaine, two (2) years for felonious possession of a weapon and eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days for marijuana possession. On appeal, the appellant contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions. After a thorough review of the record before this Court, we conclude that the state presented sufficient evidence to support the appellant’s convictions. We therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/07/00
State of Tennessee v. Mell Thomas Bruton

M1999-00956-CCA-R3-CD

In June 1998, the appellant, Mell Thomas Bruton,1 pled guilty to one (1) count of aggravated assault and received a sentence of six (6) years as a Range II offender.2 The trial court ordered that the appellant be placed on community corrections after serving six (6) months of his sentence. In July, a warrant was filed against the appellant alleging that he had violated two conditions of his community corrections sentence. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court revoked the appellant’s community corrections sentence and re-sentenced him as a Range II offender to nine (9) years incarceration. On appeal, the appellant claims that the trial court erred in revoking his community corrections sentence and in increasing his sentence to nine (9) years. Because we find that the appellant was not eligible for community corrections in the first instance, and further that, in any event, ample reason exists to revoke the appellant’s community corrections placement and increase his sentence, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/07/00
Karuna T. Soni, et al., v. Kenneth P. Tully, et al.

M2000-00594-COA-R10-CV

This extraordinary appeal involves an automobile collision. The driver of the automobile that was struck from behind and her husband filed a negligence action in the Circuit Court for Davidson
County against the driver and record owner of the automobile that struck her. The trial court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment on the issue of the driver’s liability. The defendants applied for an extraordinary appeal after the trial court declined to grant them an interlocutory appeal. We have determined this is a proper case for an extraordinary appeal and that the plaintiffs are not entitled to a partial summary judgment because of the existence of material factual disputes regarding liability. Accordingly, pursuant to Tenn. Ct. App. R. 10(b),1 we reverse the partial summary judgment and remand the case for further proceedings. Tenn. R. App. P. 10 Extraordinary Appeal; Judgment of the Circuit Court Reversed.
 

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Marietta M. Shipley
Davidson County Court of Appeals 04/07/00
State of Tennessee v. Everett D. Robinson

W1999-01348-CCA-RE-CD

The Defendant was indicted by the Henry County Grand Jury for (1) driving under the influence (fourth offense); (2) driving while license is cancelled, suspended, or revoked; (3) violation of the “light law”; and (4) failure to appear. He pleaded guilty to driving while license is cancelled, suspended, or revoked and to violation of the “light law.”1 He was then tried on the remaining offenses, found guilty of DUI, and acquitted of failure to appear.

Authoring Judge: Judge Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Julian P. Guinn
Henry County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/07/00
State of Tennessee v. Arcenta Van Harrison

M1999-01184-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Arcenta Van Harrison, pled guilty in the Davidson County Criminal Court to three (3) counts of theft of property over $500 and two (2) counts of theft of property over $1,000. The trial court sentenced the appellant to concurrent terms of four (4) years for the theft over $500 counts as a Range II offender and eight (8) years for the theft over $1,000 counts as a Range III offender.  The trial court ordered that the appellant serve his sentence on community corrections. A warrant was subsequently issued alleging that the appellant had violated the terms of his community corrections sentence. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court revoked community corrections and re-sentenced the appellant to an effective term of nine (9) years incarceration. On appeal, the appellant contends that: (1) the trial court erred in revoking his community corrections; (2) the trial court erred in enhancing his sentence to nine (9) years; and (3) the trial court imposed illegal sentences for three (3) of his convictions. After a review of the record before this Court, we conclude that the trial court did not err in revoking the appellant’s community corrections sentence; and we affirm that portion of the trial court’s judgment. However, because the trial court did not conduct an appropriate sentencing hearing, before increasing the appellant’s sentence, we reverse and remand this case to the trial court for re-sentencing.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/07/00
Farmers & Merchants Bank, a Tennessee Corporation, v. Midway Supply Company, Inc., a Tennessee Corporation

M1999-00147-COA-R3-CV

This appeal involves a suit to recover money advanced by a construction lender to a building supply company to pay for building supplies which the bank mistakenly thought had been delivered to the bank’s debtor. Plaintiff, Farmers & Merchants Bank (Bank) sued defendant, Midway Supply Company, Inc., (Midway) to recover the sums advanced after Midway failed to deliver the supplies and applied the advanced funds to pay other accounts of the Bank’s debtor. From the judgment of the Circuit Court awarding judgment to Bank for the advanced funds less certain credit, Midway has appealed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Judge James E. Walton
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 04/07/00