APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Robert Bean, Franklin Shaffer, David Autrey, Mack Roberts, Kevin Antle, Tom NIchols, Tammie P. Beasley, and Roxanne Luce, v. Ned Ray McWherter, Governor, State of Tennessee et al.

M1999-01493-COA-R3-CV

This is a constitutional challenge to an Act of the legislature regulating the possession and sale of animals. Owners, dealers, and licensed propagators of various wildlife species challenged the Act on grounds that it is vague, overbroad, and a burden on interstate commerce. The Chancery Court of Davidson County rejected the constitutional challenge. We affirm the decision on the vagueness and overbreadth charge. We think, however, that there are disputed facts bearing on the question of whether parts of the Act impermissibly burden interstate commerce. We, therefore,  remand for further proceedings on that issue.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 12/03/99
Lori Ann Parr v. Miiddle Tennessee State University and Treyton Williams

M1999-01442-COA-R3-CV

Lori Ann Parr, proceeding pro se, has appealed the trial court’s dismissal of this invasion of privacy, breach of confidentiality, and civil rights intimidation via malicious harassment1 action that was brought against Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), Treyton Williams (Williams) and other unnamed individuals. Based upon the following, we affirm the trial court’s dismissal.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Judge James L. Weatherford
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 12/03/99
Estate of Effie S. Hooker, Deceased and Harold E. Matheny, Administrator, C.T.A. of the Estate of Effie S. Hooker, Deceased, v. Suntrust Bank of Nashville, Bank of Nashville, N.A. et al.

M1999-01479-COA-R3-CV

This case concerns a claim filed by SunTrust Bank, Nashville, N.A.(hereinafter SunTrust) against the estate of Effie S. Hooker, the second wife of famed Middle Tennessee lawyer John J. Hooker, Sr. Mr. Hooker died on Christmas Eve of 1970, leaving the majority of his estate to his widow. According to the prevailing probate practice of the day, a portion of Mr. Hooker’s estate was placed
in a trust for the benefit of Mrs. Hooker during her life, the remainder to the children of Mr. Hooker’s first marriage.

Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Chancellor Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 12/03/99
Bellevue Properties, LLC., v. United Retail Incorporate, et al.

M1999-01480-COA-R3-CV

This case concerns the burden placed on a commercial landlord in mitigating damages caused by a commercial tenant’s abandonment of the leased property. Although our courts heretofore have required a landlord who suffers breach to use reasonable commercial methods to reduce his damages, this tenant-in-breach would read two additional duties into those reasonable commercial methods. First, the tenant would require that the abandoned property be marketed specially and apart from the landlord’s other commercial space inventory. Second, the landlord would be required to market the property at the original contract rental rather than its going market value. Under the facts as established in the record and according to the common law of this jurisdiction, we disagree.

Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 12/03/99
Randy Hill, v. Tennessee Board of Paroles, et al.

M1997-00065-COA-R3-CV

This appeal involves a state prisoner’s efforts to be paroled from an eight-year sentence for aggravated child abuse. After the Tennessee Board of Paroles declined to parole him, the prisoner filed a certiorari petition in the Chancery Court for Davidson County seeking judicial review of the Board’s decision. The trial court dismissed the petition on the grounds that it was not timely filed. We affirm the trial court in accordance with Tenn. Ct. App. R. 10(b).1

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 12/03/99
Terry Compton v. Tennessee Department of Correction and Nashville Community Service Center

M1997-00066-COA-R3-CV

This appeal involves a state prisoner’s efforts to obtain judicial review of a disciplinary action taken by the Nashville Community Service Center. After the Commissioner of Correction upheld the finding that he been drinking while on work release, the prisoner filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Circuit Court for Davidson County. The trial court clerk refused to file the petition and required the prisoner to file a second petition because the pauper’s oath accompanying the first petition was not on the proper form and had not been notarized. Thereafter, the trial court granted the Department of Correction’s motion to dismiss the second petition because it was not timely filed. We have determined that the trial court clerk exceeded his authority when he declined to accept and file the prisoner’ petition and, therefore, that the trial court erred by dismissing the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 12/03/99
Steven R. Linn, Susan D. Linn, David L. Linn, Wilma R. Linn, v. Vera E. Elrod, and Olin D. Elrod, v. Anna Lee Leinart Gross, Trustee of the Anne Lee Leinart Gross Trust

03A01-9903-CH-00080

The suit presently on appeal originated by Steven R. Linn and his son, David L. Linn, and their wives filing suit against Vera E. Elrod and Olin D. Elrod, seeking a mandatory injunction requiring removal of a fence erected upon property the Linns claim to be owned by them. Upon the filing of an answer and the counter-complaint by the Elrods and the adding of a third-party, Anna Lee Leinart Gross, as a Defendant, it resolved itself into a property line dispute.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Chancellor Billy Joe White
Campbell County Court of Appeals 12/01/99
03C01-9810-CR-00358

03C01-9810-CR-00358

Originating Judge:Leon C. Burns, Jr.
Cumberland County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/30/99
03A01-9812-CH-00415

03A01-9812-CH-00415
Court of Appeals 11/30/99
Northcott vs. TDOC

M1999-01223-COA-R3-CV
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
Truss vs. TN Dept. of Human Svcs.

M1999-01317-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
01C01-9901-CC-00027

01C01-9901-CC-00027

Originating Judge:Robert E. Burch
Cheatham County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/30/99
Westvaco vs. TN Assessment Appeals Comm, et al

M1999-01226-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Benton County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/30/99
Dennis vs. Miceli

M1997-00056-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Charles D. Haston, Sr.
Van Buren County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
03A01-9901-CH-00070

03A01-9901-CH-00070
Court of Appeals 11/30/99
03C01-9906-CR-00222

03C01-9906-CR-00222

Originating Judge:James E. Beckner
Greene County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/30/99
Maberry vs. Maberry

M1999-01322-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:C. K. Smith
Jackson County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
03A01-9902-CH-00041

03A01-9902-CH-00041
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 11/30/99
Tomlin vs. Collegiate Technologies, et al

M1999-01329-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
Kelly vs. TN Civil Svc. Comm.

M1999-00168-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
03A01-9902-CH-00044

03A01-9902-CH-00044
Cocke County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
M1999-00138-COA-R3-CV

M1999-00138-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:Clovis G. Parnell
Perry County Court of Appeals 11/30/99
03A01-9810-CH-00320

03A01-9810-CH-00320
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 11/30/99