Patrick v. Kelfalla,
01C01-9608-CR-00357
Originating Judge:Seth W. Norman |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/10/97 | |
Hunter vs. Brown
03S01-9607-CV-00070
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Supreme Court | 11/10/97 | ||
Mary A. Clark v. Micropore, Inc. & Berwind Industries Management
01S01-9703-CH-00062
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. This complaint was filed April 17, 1995, alleging that the plaintiff had been employed at Porelon since 1974 and that in 1993 she began to develop pain in her right shoulder and arm which was evidence of a gradually developing compensable injury. Micropore, Inc. (formerly Porelon) filed its answer on June 7, 1995, alleging that it was sold on May 6, 1994 with a resulting change in workers' compensation insurers. It denied having notice of any claimed injury and affirmatively alleged that it is not liable for "any benefits due plaintiff which accrued on or after May 6, 1994." The plaintiff amended her complaint on June 21, 1995 and joined Berwind Industries Management Company as a defendant. She alleged that in 1993 and until May 1994 the manufacturing plant known as Porelon, where she worked and developed the gradual injury, was owned by Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc. ["JWA"], which sold the plant to Berwind in May 1994. The plant continued to operate under the name of Micropore, Inc., allegedly a subsidiary of Berwind. Micropore, Inc. answered the amended complaint, acknowledging the sale of the plant by JWA to Berwind in May 1994. It again denied that, although the plaintiff was regularly employed by Porelon for 2 years and was so employed May 1994, when the change in ownership occurred, the plaintiff had developed a gradually occurring injury as alleged. It admitted that on November 3, 1993, the plaintiff reported to management that she had been diagnosed with fibromyosis, but that she did not relate that the condition was work related. Berwind answered the amended complaint on July 26, 1995, asserting that the plaintiff was last employed on March 6, 1995, and that it was not liable for benefits under the gradual occurring rule. The Chancellor ruled that the plaintiff's injuries were gradual "and manifested themselves in May 1993, but they did not progress to the point of making the plaintiff unable to work until March 3, 1995, and therefore March 3, 1995, under Tennessee 2
Authoring Judge: William H. Inman, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Vernon Neal, |
Putnam County | Workers Compensation Panel | 11/10/97 | |
John Shultz v. City of Lawrenceburg, et al .
01S01-9701-CV-00017
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. section 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer, City of Lawrenceburg, contends (1) the evidence preponderates against the trial court's finding of a compensable injury by accident arising out of and in the course of employment, (2) the evidence preponderates against the trial court's finding that the employee's compensation rate is $38.8, (3) the evidence preponderates against the trial court's award of temporary total disability benefits from August 5, 1994 through October of 1995 and (4) the trial court erred in commuting permanent partial disability benefits to a lump sum. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment should be affirmed. The employee or claimant, John Schultz, was forty-nine years old at the time of the injury. He has an eighth grade education and a GED. He has worked as a heavy equipment operator since 1968. On January 21, 1994, while working for the employer, he injured his neck and back while operating a backhoe as a jackhammer on frozen ground. He injured his left shoulder again on August 5, 1994 while working for the employer and running out of a hole filling with water. He attempted to work the next day before going to a doctor's appointment, then was totally disabled until October 18, 1995, when he reached maximum medical improvement. The claimant was treated or evaluated by a number of physicians and assigned permanent impairment ratings of from six to ten percent from the injuries which the physicians related to the work he was performing. He continues to have neck and shoulder problems. The record contains conflicting documentary evidence as to the employee's average weekly wage, but the employer had actually paid benefits of $38.8 from the August injury until the date of maximum medical improvement, for his temporary total disability. The trial court awarded no additional temporary total disability benefits, but did award the claimant's reasonable and necessary medical expenses and permanent partial disability benefits based on thirty-two percent to the body as a whole, payable in a lump sum. The claim against the Second Injury Fund was dismissed. Appellate review is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness of the findings of fact, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. section 5-6-225(e)(2). 2
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Jim T. Hamilton, |
Lawrence County | Workers Compensation Panel | 11/10/97 | |
State vs. Orlando Hobson
01C01-9612-CC-00527
Originating Judge:Jim T. Hamilton |
Maury County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/10/97 | |
Jimmy R. Turner v. Travelers Insurance
01S01-9610-CV-00203
Authoring Judge: William S. Russell, Retired Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. |
Sequatchie County | Workers Compensation Panel | 11/10/97 | |
Evans & Arnold vs. Board of Paroles, et. al.
01S01-9610-CH-00210
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Davidson County | Supreme Court | 11/10/97 | |
01C01-9510-CR-00347
01C01-9510-CR-00347
Originating Judge:Jerry Scott |
Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/10/97 | ||
J. C. Mcdowell v. United Technologies/Carrier Corp.
01S01-9703-CH-00045
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. This complaint in Chancery was filed November 9, 1995 seeking benefits for a back injury which the plaintiff alleged he suffered on March 14, 1995 while attempting to move a heavy tank. The employer defendant answered in course, alleging that the plaintiff had a degenerative back condition of many years duration and denying the plaintiff suffered a compensable injury as alleged or that it had notice of any injury. The trial judge referred the case to the Clerk and Master pursuant to RULE 53, TENN. R. CIV. P.1 A judgment was entered finding that the plaintiff sustained a compensable injury on March 14, 1995 resulting in a 3 percent permanent partial disability to his whole body, and benef its were awarded accordingly. The defendant appeals and presents the issue of whether the evidence preponderates against the finding of a compensable injury. We hold that it does not for reasons hereafter recited, and therefore affirm the judgment. The plaintiff is 52 years old and has been employed at Carrier since 1972. He had three prior back surgeries in 1975, 1976, and 1985. On March 14, 1995, while working on a chiller tank, he twisted his body, and, as he stated, "I hurt myself." He did not report for work the following day, but on March 16, 1995, he went with a shop steward to see Joel Holt, the Safety Director. He testified that he reported to Holt that he had injured his back and requested some time off. He saw his family physician who said the pain was not work related. In course, he was referred to Dr. George Lien, a neurosurgeon who performed surgery on May 7, 1995. The plaintiff returned to work on August 23, 1995 with restrictions. 1A Spec ial Maste r may b e appo inted in any ca se, and his/her du ties ma y be particula rized. W e ass um e the Clerk and M aste r was appo inted as S pec ial Ma ster to hear and r epo rt the t estim ony, with recommendation, but there is no Appointing Order in the record. There are two relevant documents in the record. The first such is a Finding of Fact signed by the trial judge. The second is an Order reciting that "the cause came on to be heard before the Honorable Charles D. Haston, Judge., etc. who referred the matter to J. Richard McGregor, Special Master. Thereafter, the court . . . filed a finding of fact . . . which is incorporated herein . . ." This Order [i.e. Judgment] is signed, not by the trial judge, but by J. Richard McGregor. "In the absence of the Judge, J. Richard Mc Gregor, sitting as Chancellor pro tem ." So far as the record reveals the Spe cial Master filed no repo rt, and the trial judge thus made findings o f fact without hearing any proof. The anomaly continues: the Special Master, as Judge Pro Tem, also entered the final judgment, thereby approbating his prior action. The parties make no issue of this `unusual' procedure, and we therefore treat the case as one heard in compliance with RULE 53.4. 2
Authoring Judge: William H. Inman, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Charles D. Haston, |
Warren County | Workers Compensation Panel | 11/10/97 | |
Vera Maureen Higgs v. Gayle Lynn Higgs
01A01-9702-CV-00057
Each of the captioned parties filed a notice of appeal from a judgment of the Trial Court
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Judge Donald P. Harris |
Williamson County | Court of Appeals | 11/07/97 | |
Franklin Thomas Burns v. Bernice A. Burns - Concurring
01-A-01-9705-CH-00218
This is an appeal by respondent/appellant, Bernice A. Burns (“Wife”), from the order of the trial court granting Wife and petitioner/appellee, Franklin Thomas Burns (“Husband”), a divorce, dividing the marital property, and granting temporary alimony. Wife complains the court erred when it divided the parties’ property and awarded Wife $400.00 alimony per month for six months. The facts out of which this matter arose are as follows.
Authoring Judge: Judge Walter W. Bussart
Originating Judge:Chancellor Alex W. Darnell |
Montgomery County | Court of Appeals | 11/07/97 | |
Maxine Nelson v. The Pacesetter Corporation
01A01-9703-CH-00141
This is a suit for damages for an alleged retaliatory discharge brought pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-1-304. As winnowed, the plaintiff alleges that she was discharged because she refused to participate in gambling activities which were illegal under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-501.
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 11/07/97 | |
James C. Tomlinson and Charles F. McKelvey, v. Edna J. Kelley and Jeanette M. Coke
01A01-9608-CV-00378
This appeal involves a controversy surrounding the appointment of a local city official. The mayor and the city manager of the City of Berry Hill filed a defamation action in the Circuit Court for Davidson County against two city residents who publicly questioned the circumstances surrounding the interim appointment of a member of the Board of Commissioners. The trial court granted the residents’ motion for summary judgment and dismissed the city officials’ complaint. On this appeal, the city officials assert that the trial court should not have granted the summary judgment because the record contains evidence that the residents knew or should have known that their critical statements made to a local newspaper were false. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Barbara N. Haynes |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 11/07/97 | |
International Supply Co., Inc. v. The Warner Group LTD - Concurring
01-A-01-9705-CH-00235
This appeal involves a question of personal jurisdiction over a nonresident corporation. The Chancery Court of Sumner County dismissed the complaint. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Tom E. Gray |
Sumner County | Court of Appeals | 11/07/97 | |
State of Tennessee vs. Dorothy Sheldon - Concurring
01C01-9604-CC-00151
I concur in the result reached by the majority. I write separately however because I have reached the conclusion that venue is proper in this case through a somewhat different rationale than that expressed in the majority opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Leonard W. Martin |
Dickson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/06/97 | |
State of Tennessee vs. Dorothy Sheldon
01C01-9604-CC-00151
The appellant, Dorothy Sheldon, was convicted by a jury of forgery. She was sentenced as a Range III, persistent offender to four years incarceration. She appeals raising the following issues for our review: 1. Whether the evidence is sufficient to support her conviction; 2. Whether the evidence is sufficient to establish venue in Dickson County; and 3. Whether the manner of service of her sentence is proper. Upon review, we affirm the trial court’s judgment of conviction and sentence.
Authoring Judge: Judge Paul G. Summers
Originating Judge:Judge Leonard W. Martin |
Dickson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/06/97 | |
State of Tennessee vs. Dorothy Sheldon - Dissenting
01C01-9604-CC-00151
The majority concludes that venue was proper in Dickson County. I respectfully disagree. In finding venue in Dickson County, the majority, relying upon Girdley v. State, 29 S.W.2d 255 (Tenn. 1930), employs an agency theory to establish the appellant's constructive presence in Dickson County. I am unable to agree with the majority's rational for two reasons. First, in Girdley, the defendant was charged with the offense of uttering or attempting to pass a forged check. Had the appellant in this case been charged with uttering or passing a forged writing, I would agree that venue would have been proper in Dickson County. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-114(b)(1)(D). However, as reflected by the indictment, the State chose to indict the appellant in Dickson County for forgery. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-114(b)(1)(A).
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Leonard W. Martin |
Dickson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/06/97 | |
Herbert Carson Branum, v. City of Maynardville, Paul Bowman, Bill P. Graves, Russell Gillenwater, Len Padgett, and H.E. Richardson
03A01-9604-CH-00127
Plaintiff Herbert Carson Branum appeals dismissal of his suit against the City of Maynardville and its Commissioners, seeing reinstatement to his position as Water Commissioner and damages for his wrongful discharge, both compensatory and exemplary. He also seeks an order enjoining the Defendants "from any further ultra vires acts against the Plaintiff" based upon his contention that they had violated certain of our State Statutes.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Chancellor Billy Joe White |
Union County | Court of Appeals | 11/06/97 | |
State of Tennessee vs. Andrew R. Ewing
02C01-9604-CR-00119
The appellant, Andrew R. Ewing, and his co-defendant, Derrick C. Brooks, were tried jointly by a jury for first degree murder. Ewing and Brooks were found guilty of felony murder for committing a murder during the perpetration of an aggravated burglary. Both men were sentenced to life in prison. Because Derrick C. Brooks’ appeal has been severed from Andrew R. Ewing’s appeal, we will address only the issues presented by Andrew Ewing in this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Paul G. Summers
Originating Judge:Judge W. Fred Axley |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/05/97 | |
City of Memphis v. The Civil Service Commission of the City of Memphis and Stanley Shotwell
02A01-9512-CH-00289
This case involves a chancery court review of a decision by a civil service commission. The
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly Kirby Lillard
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Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 11/04/97 | |
State of Tennessee vs. Steven E. Baker
01C01-9608-CR-00349
The defendant, Steven Eugene Baker, pled guilty to one count of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of sexual battery. The trial court imposed concurrent, Range I sentences of nine years and one year, respectively. In this appeal of right, the defendant challenges the length of the sentence and the trial court's denial of alternative sentencing.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R. Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/04/97 | |
Paul Farnsworth, A/K/A Ronnie Bradfield, v. Richard Kenya, et al.
02A01-9707-CV-00145
The plaintiff, Paul Farnsworth a/k/a Ronnie Bradfield, sued defendants Richard Kenya,1 Stephen Dotson and two John Doe defendants. The complaint alleges that Plaintiff is an inmate at the Lake County Regional Correctional Facility (LCRCF), Richard Kenyon is identified as an employee and Stephen Dotson as the associate warden at LCRCF. The complaint alleges that Plaintiff was given permission to marry while incarcerated, wedding plans were formulated but, within less than 24 hours prior to the wedding, he was advised that the wedding was cancelled.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
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Lake County | Court of Appeals | 11/04/97 | |
State of Tennessee vs. Woody Dozier
02C01-9610-CC-00357
The appellant, Woody J. Dozier, appeals his jury convictions for the crimes of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape. Following these convictions, the Circuit Court of Dyer County sentenced the appellant to concurrent sentences of eight years for the aggravated kidnapping conviction and fifteen years for the aggravated rape conviction. On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues:
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge J. Steven Stafford |
Dyer County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 11/04/97 | |
First Tennessee Bank National Association, v. C.T. Resorts Company, Inc., C. Gary Triggs, and James C. Childers
03A01-9704-CH-00134
This appeal is from a summary judgment granted to plaintiff against defendants by the Trial Judge. Essentially, defendants insist that the record contains evidence of misrepresentations of the value of the property by plaintiff’s agents, which was 1Triggs’ and Childers’ earlier affidavits apparently claim that Stooksbury showed them both Smith appraisals. Their later affidavits, however, refer only to the second Smith appraisal. 2 purchased by defendants, and that these representations are actionable under their counter-claims.
Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Chancellor Sharon Bell |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 11/03/97 | |
Cody Glasner, a minor, by next friend and parents, Deryl and Polly Glasner, and Deryl and Polly Glasner individually, v. John Howick, M.D., Humana of Tennessee Inc., John A Shull, M.D., Jane L. Rohrer, M.D. and William D. Crawley, M.D.
03A01-9612-CV-00401
This is a medical malpractice action brought by Deryl and Polly Glasner individually and as parents and next friend of Cody Glasner, who was born October 6, 1991.1 As winnowed by pleadings, the surviving claim is on behalf of Cody, who was born brain dead. The parents of Cody conceded that their individual claims were time-barred. This condition is known as a prolapsed cord. His resuscitation is alleged to have been contrary to the prevailing standard of care in this jurisdiction, since he had no reasonable prospect for a qualitative life.
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Judge Robert M. Summitt |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 11/03/97 |