APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Michael Scott Evans, v. Karen Marie Bisson Steelman - Concurring

01A01-9511-JV-00508

I fully concur in Judge Cantrell's opinion. I have read with much interest Judge Koch's dissenting opinion. The matters set forth in the dissenting opinion might make good public policy, but the setting of public policy is not a matter for this court or any court in Tennessee.

Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/02/96
State of Tennessee, Ex. Rel., v. Brook Thompson, Riley Darnell, Charles Burson, Don Sundquist, and Penny White

01S01-9605-CH-00106

These consolidated cases arise from the efforts of appellants, Lewis Laska and John Jay Hooker, to have their names placed on the ballot for the August 1, 1996, statewide election to the office of Supreme Court  Justice. The deadline for filing nominating petitions for this election was 12:00 noon on May 16, 1996, in accordance with T.C.A. § 2-5-101.

Authoring Judge: Chief Justice William H. D. Fones
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Supreme Court 10/02/96
State of Tennessee, v. John Russell Turner

03C01-9510-CC-00321

The appellant, John Russell Turner, appeals from his conviction by a jury for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. The Circuit Court of Blount County sentenced the appellant to eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration in the county jail and suspended all but five days. On appeal, the appellant contends that the evidence adduced at trial is insufficient to support a conviction, because the State failed to prove that he intended to operate a vehicle.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Appeals 10/01/96
State of Tennessee v. John Russell Turner

03C01-9510-CC-00321

The appellant, John Russell Turner, appeals from his conviction by a juryfor driving under the influence of an intoxicant. The Circuit Court of Blount County sentenced the appellant to eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration in the county jail and suspended all but five days. On appeal, theappellant contends that the evidence adduced at trial is insufficient to support a conviction, because the State failed to prove that he intended to operate a vehicle.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Appeals 10/01/96
Fred Johns, Administrator of The Estate of Sue Eva Johns, v. Takoma Adventist Hospital

03A01-9604-CV-00130

In this action for damages for personal injuries to the deceased, the complaint alleged the deceased was placed in a room while in defendant hospital, and on April 18, 1991, she ws found lying on the floor with injuries about her head and face. It was further alleged that it was not learned until wll after her death, in conversation with the physicians of the plaintiff decedent, that the decedent more likely would have survived for many years had she not fallen...

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge John K. Wilson
Greene County Court of Appeals 10/01/96
Debra Jewell Young Ford v. Dennis Clifford Ford

03A01-9606-CH-00197

This appeal arises from the judgment of the trial court which, among other things, awarded a divorce to the defendant, provided for custody of the parties' minor children and made a division of the marital estate. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Chancellor Earl H. Henley
Court of Appeals 10/01/96
Arthur Blair v. Marilyn Badenhope - Concurring

03A01- 9604- CH- 00128

Joy Badenhope is the child of Susan Badenhope and Arthur Blair.  Susan Badenhope, a resident of North Carolina, died when the child was less than one year old.  After her death, Joy began residing with her maternal grandmother, Marilyn Badenhope, in Tennessee.  The grandmother was granted custody by a North Carolina court in an action for custody she filed some two months after the mother's death.  The father soon thereafter moved to Tennessee and filed an action in Tennessee to increase visitation and attain custody.

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Chancellor Dennis H. Inman
Greene County Court of Appeals 10/01/96
Florine Vandyke v. Plumley Rubber Company and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.

02S01-9604-CV-00039
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 5-6-225 (e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer, Plumley Rubber Company and the insurance carrier, Liberty Mutual, contend the trial court erred in granting judgment for medical expenses to the employee after they had been paid by the employee's health plan. The panel agrees and reverses the judgment of the trial court. It was stipulated that the employee's total medical expenses totaled $22,278.55. It was further stipulated that the Plaintiff had paid prior to trial $669.29 in out-of-pocket medical expenses. Her remaining medical expenses were paid by Plumley through its group health care plan. The insurance company paid the remainder. The parties further stipulated that Plumley's group health insurance plan did not contain a specific set-off clause for workers' compensation benefits. Plumley is self-insured for group health benefits. This panel holds that under T.C.A. _ 5-6-24 that the employer is responsible for payment of medical expenses and that the employee is not entitled to a judgment against the employer for medical bills which have already been paid. This panel holds that this case is controlled by Bituminous Casualty Corp. v. Smith, 288 S.W.2d, 913, 916 (Tenn. 1956). The judgment of the trial court is reversed and remanded for appropriate action under this decision. The costs are taxed to the Plaintiff/Appellee.
Authoring Judge: Special Judge Billy Joe White
Originating Judge:Hon. C. Creed Mcginley,
Henry County Workers Compensation Panel 10/01/96
Susan Renee Wright Williamson v. John Houston Williamson

03A01-9602-DR-00073

In this divorce action the Trial Court awarded to each party an absolute divorce from the other on the grounds of  inappropriate marital conduct. The Court awarded the custody of the parties' two minor children to the mother, ordered the father to pay child support and based upo the guidelihes, and in dividing the parties' marital estate  concluded that their home was a gift from the husband's paretns to him alone, and therefore separate property. From this latter determination, the wife has appealed.

 

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge William R. Brewer, Jr.
Court of Appeals 10/01/96
State of Tennessee, v. Brian K. Collins

03C01-9510-CC-00305

The defendant, Brian K. Collins, was convicted of violating a habitual traffic offender order, violation of registration, and evading arrest. He was sentenced as a range one offender to two years for violating the order, thirty days for violation of registration, and eleven months and twenty nine days for evading arrest, all to be served concurrently. This is his appeal of right.

Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R. Wade
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 10/01/96
Faye Louise Taylor Chadwell, v. Albert Chadwell and Consolidation Coal Company

03A01-9601-GS-00007

In this post-divorce proceeding, the Chancellor found that certain assets owned by Albert Chadwell at the time of the parties' divorce were marital assets and that his former wife, Fay Louise Taylor Chadwell, was entitled to a judgment against him of $94,320, which included the interest from the date of the divorce. The Chancellor also impressed a lien against certain real estate originally owned by Mr. Chadwell, who later purported to transfer an interest to his present wife. Both the real estate and the home Mr. Chadwell erected thereon were paid for in part with the assets in dispute in this appeal.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Chancellor Billy Joe White
Campbell County Court of Appeals 10/01/96
02C01-9503-CC-00065

02C01-9503-CC-00065
Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
01C01-9512-CR-00399

01C01-9512-CR-00399
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
Michael Eugene Sample v. State of Tennessee

02C01-9505-CR-00131

After a thorough review of the record and authority, we conclude that the trial court erred in dismissing the petitions. The trial court’s judgments are reversed, and these cases are remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Judge Bernie Weinman
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
02C01-9509-CR-00274

02C01-9509-CR-00274
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
01C01-9506-CR-00184

01C01-9506-CR-00184

Originating Judge:Thomas H. Shriver
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
01C01-9512-CR-00399

01C01-9512-CR-00399
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
Gregory Leverett v. State of Tennessee

03C01-9511-CR-00362
The appellant, Gregory Leverett, pled guilty to rape. He was sentenced to twelve years incarceration. He petitioned for post-conviction relief. The petition was dismissed as untimely. He now appeals that dismissal. We respectfully reverse and remand for an evidentiary hearing.
Authoring Judge: Paul G. Summers
Originating Judge:Hon. Douglas A. Meyer, Judge
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 09/30/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 09/30/96
01C01-9512-CC-00420

01C01-9512-CC-00420

Originating Judge:Henry Denmark Bell
Hickman County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
02C01-9506-CC-00170

02C01-9506-CC-00170

Originating Judge:Julian P. Guinn
Henry County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
01C01-9510-CC-00342

01C01-9510-CC-00342

Originating Judge:John W. Rollins
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
01C01-9512-CC-00420

01C01-9512-CC-00420

Originating Judge:Henry Denmark Bell
Hickman County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96
Gary W. Hardin v. Great Rivers Employment Aptitude and Technical Service, Inc., et al

02S01-9603-CH-00028
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 5-6-225 (e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer contends that no notice was given by the employee. The panel concludes the judgment should be affirmed as modified. On January 16, 1995, Plaintiff began working at Young Radiator Company as a welder. (T.T. at 16). Plaintiff testified that after he had been working for a period of three weeks, he experienced pain and numbness in his left hand. (T.T. at 17-18). Plaintiff went to see Dr. Charles White of his own accord on February 6, 1995, and paid for the visit through TennCare. (T.T. at 5, 18, 51). Plaintiff testified that he continued to have pain and numbness in his hand and saw Dr. John Phillips on February 22, 1995. (T.T. at 22). Dr. Neblett first saw Plaintiff on February 27, 1995. (Neblett Depo. at 3). Following Dr. Neblett's evaluation, Plaintiff elected to have carpal tunnel release surgery, which was performed on March 9, 1995. (Neblett Depo. at 5-6). The Plaintiff testified that the pain started when he banged on metal and this was what he told his doctors. (T.T. at 61). He further testified, ". . . (b)ut I told them that I didn't know exactly, you know, if that was the cause or not, because I didn't know because I'm not a doctor." (T.T. at 61). Casual connection between the injury and work was related to the employee on March 31, 1995 by Dr. Neblett. (T.R. at 58). Written notice was provided to the employer on April 5, 1995. This panel finds that notice was given within thirty (3) days of knowledge of his injury pursuant to T.C.A. _ 5-6-21 and this case should be affirmed on this issue.
Authoring Judge: Special Judge Billy Joe White
Originating Judge:Hon. Joe E. Morris,
Hardin County Workers Compensation Panel 09/30/96
02C01-9607-CR-00213

02C01-9607-CR-00213

Originating Judge:Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/30/96