APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Samuel Shawn Harvey v. Amy Elizabeth Harvey

M2023-01269-COA-R3-CV

This case involves a post-divorce petition for criminal contempt filed by the husband against the wife for alleged violations of the parties’ permanent parenting plan. The trial court determined that the husband had not met his burden of proof to establish criminal contempt. The husband timely appealed to this Court. Because the husband’s appellate brief does not comply with Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 27 and Tennessee Court of Appeals Rule 6, we hereby dismiss the appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Judge Michael E. Spitzer
Lewis County Court of Appeals 08/21/24
Larry E. Parrish, P.C. v. Nancy Strong et al.

M2024-01140-COA-T10B-CV

The Petitioner sought recusal of the trial court judge. The trial court denied the motion. The Petitioner appeals to this court. Because the petition on appeal was not filed within twenty-one days of the entry of the order, we dismiss the appeal as untimely.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey Usman
Originating Judge:Chancellor J. B. Cox
Lincoln County Court of Appeals 08/21/24
State of Tennessee v. William Roger Campbell

M2023-00779-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, William Roger Campbell, was convicted by a Montgomery County jury of two counts of premeditated first-degree murder, and the trial court imposed consecutive life sentences. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court erred in admitting one of the victim’s cellphone records into evidence; the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions; and the trial court erred in ordering his life sentences be served consecutively. Following a thorough review of the record, the briefs, and oral arguments of the parties, we affirm the defendant’s convictions. However, we reverse the imposition of consecutive sentences and remand to the trial court for a new sentencing hearing for consideration of the consecutive sentencing factors outlined in State v. Wilkerson, 905 S.W.2d 933 (Tenn. 1995).

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Originating Judge:Judge Robert Bateman
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/21/24
Larry E. Parrish, P.C. v. Nancy Strong et al.

M2024-01141-COA-T10B-CV

The Petitioner sought recusal of the trial court judge. The trial court denied the motion. The Petitioner appeals to this court. Because the petition on appeal was not filed within twenty-one days of the entry of the order, we dismiss the appeal as untimely.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey Usman
Originating Judge:Chancellor J.B. Cox
Lincoln County Court of Appeals 08/21/24
SH Nashville, LLC Et Al. v. FWREF Nashville Airport, LLC

M2023-01147-COA-R3-CV

This appeal arises out of a contract for the sale of a hotel property near the Nashville airport.
After numerous amendments to the purchase and sale agreement, the seller declared the
prospective buyer to be in default, sold the property to a different buyer, and retained over
18 million dollars in earnest money. The prospective buyer filed suit against the seller for
a declaratory judgment that the liquidated damages provision in the contract was
unenforceable and for conversion. The trial court dismissed the conversion claim and ruled
in favor of the seller on summary judgment. We have concluded that the trial court erred
in its disposition of both causes of action.

Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Chancellor Anne C. Martin
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/20/24
In Re Conservatorship of Susan Davis Malone

W2024-00134-COA-T10B-CV

This second recusal appeal in the underlying conservatorship case is currently before this Court on remand from the Tennessee Supreme Court. This Court had issued an opinion vacating, for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, three orders entered by the trial court, including the trial court’s order denying the second motion to recuse that is the subject of this appeal. The Supreme Court reversed that decision, holding that (1) the stay imposed by this Court during pendency of the first recusal appeal did not divest the trial court of subject matter jurisdiction over the case and (2) the proponents of the stay had waived any argument that orders entered by the trial court should be vacated because they were entered prior to issuance of the mandate. Accordingly, the second recusal motion is again before this Court. Upon thorough review, we affirm the trial court’s denial of the second motion to recuse.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Judge Joe Townsend
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/20/24
In Re Conservatorship of Susan Davis Malone - Dissent

W2024-00134-COA-T10B-CV

I must respectfully dissent from the majority opinion finding that recusal is not justified in this case. Like Judge Armstrong, I believe that the majority “fails to consider the cumulative effects of the trial court’s actions, and wholly fails to consider the fact that the ultimate result of these actions is usurpation of the autonomous decisions Ms. Malone made for her own care when she was competent to do so.” Malone v. Malone, No. W2023- 00843-COA-T10B-CV, 2023 WL 8457951, at *14 (Tenn. Ct. App. Dec. 6, 2023) (Armstrong, J., dissenting).

Authoring Judge: Judge Carma Dennis McGee
Originating Judge:Judge Joe Townsend
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/20/24
Ronnie Bennett v. Tennessee Department of Human Services

W2023-01200-COA-R3-CV

This appeal arises from a decision by the Tennessee Department of Human Services denying a recertification application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to a one-person household based upon the determination that the household’s income exceeded the eligibility requirements. After the petitioner questioned the finding, the trial court affirmed the decision of the agency and dismissed the petition for judicial review. Upon our review of the record, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge JoeDae L. Jenkins
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/20/24
State of Tennessee, ex rel., Kathy Garbus v. Lazaro Ramos

W2022-00334-COA-R3-JV

This appeal arises from an order establishing the amount of retroactive child support owed by the father for the care of two of his children. The father challenges the trial court’s decision to impute income to him for the purposes of instituting that order. Finding no error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Carma Dennis McGee
Originating Judge:Judge William A. Peeler
Tipton County Court of Appeals 08/20/24
State of Tennessee v. Cedric Anton Taylor

M2024-00192-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Cedric Taylor, was indicted for possession with intent to deliver 26 grams or more of cocaine (count one), possession with intent to deliver between one half ounce and ten pounds of marijuana (count two), and resisting arrest (count three). He entered an open guilty plea as charged in counts one and three, and the State agreed to nolle prosequi count two. The trial court imposed concurrent sentences of fourteen years for count one and six months for count two to be served in confinement as a Range II multiple offender. 1 On appeal, Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion denying his request for community corrections. Following our review of the entire record and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Originating Judge:Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/20/24
Ron Jobe Et Al. v. Erie Insurance Exchange

E2023-01157-COA-R3-CV

This is a dispute over homeowner’s insurance coverage. The trial court granted summary judgment to the insuror, finding that the insureds made a misrepresentation on their application for insurance which voided the policy pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 56-7-103. Because whether the insureds made a misrepresentation is a question of fact for the jury in this case, we reverse.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Chancellor Katherine Leigh Priester
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 08/20/24
Emily Gordon Fox v. Robert Gordon

M2024-01083-COA-T10B-CV

This is an accelerated interlocutory appeal as of right pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B section 2.02 from the trial court’s denial of a motion for recusal. Having reviewed the petition for recusal appeal, we affirm the trial court’s decision to deny the motion for recusal.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Frank G. Clement
Originating Judge:Judge Stanley A. Kweller
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/16/24
Jimmy Moats v. State of Tennessee

M2023-01296-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Jimmy Moats, appeals from the Coffee County Circuit Court’s denial of post-conviction relief from his guilty-pleaded convictions to kidnapping and evading arrest. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred by denying relief on his ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim, which he asserts resulted in unknowing and involuntary guilty pleas. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge William A. Lockhart
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/24
State of Tennessee v. Francisco Oliva

W2023-01572-CCA-R3-CD

A Shelby County jury convicted the Defendant, Francisco Oliva, of second degree murder, and the trial court ordered him to serve a twenty-year sentence. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/24
State of Tennessee v. Jackie Lee Kirby

E2023-00545-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Jackie Lee Kirby, was convicted after a bench trial of attempted aggravated kidnapping. On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction and that structural constitutional error occurred when the trial court left the bench three times while defense counsel refreshed the victim’s recollection using audio recordings. Following a thorough review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway
Originating Judge:Judge Andrew M. Freiberg
McMinn County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/24
In Re Lilah G.

E2023-01425-COA-R3-PT

In this termination of parental rights case, the trial court determined that (1) the father had abandoned his child by willfully failing to pay child support and (2) termination of the father’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest. The father has appealed, contending that his failure to pay child support was not willful because the mother intentionally blocked his access to the child and because he was actively seeking visitation rights with the child in two separate juvenile court actions when the petition for termination was filed. The father also argues that the trial court did not properly evaluate and weigh the evidence in its analysis of the best interest factors.
Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Chancellor Jerri Bryant
Bradley County Court of Appeals 08/15/24
In Re Lynell S.

E2024-00243-COA-R3-PT

This appeal concerns the termination of a father’s parental rights. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”) filed a petition in the Juvenile Court for Knox County (“the Juvenile Court”) seeking to terminate the parental rights of Charles S.(“Father”) to his minor son, Lynell S. (“the Child”). Father pled guilty to aggravated assault on the Child’s mother. After a hearing, the Juvenile Court entered an order terminating Father’s parental rights to the Child on grounds of abandonment by wanton disregard, substantial noncompliance with the permanency plans, and failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody. Father appeals, arguing among other things that he addressed his domestic violence issues by taking certain classes, even though he assaulted Mother after having taken these classes. We find that all three grounds found for termination were proven by clear and convincing evidence. We find further by clear and convincing evidence, as did the Juvenile Court, that termination of Father’s parental rights is in the Child’s best interest. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Judge Timothy E. Irwin
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/15/24
Angelia Juanita Carter (Stroud) v. Troy Stroud

E2023-01699-COA-R3-CV

Because no final order has been entered in the underlying trial court proceedings, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Judge L. Marie Williams
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 08/15/24
State of Tennessee v. Kavaris Javon Booker and Clifton Donnell Craig

M2022-01329-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant Kavaris Javon Booker and Defendant Clifton Donnell Craig were each charged in separate indictments of first degree premeditated murder (count one), felon in possession of a firearm (count two), and aggravated assault resulting in death (count three). The trial court granted the State’s motion to join the two cases and in a joint trial, a jury convicted Defendant Booker as indicted in count two but convicted him of the lesser-included offense of facilitation of first degree murder in count one and facilitation of aggravated assault in count three. The jury convicted Defendant Craig of all the indicted charges. Defendant Booker received an effective seventeen-year sentence; Defendant Craig received a sentence of life imprisonment. In this consolidated appeal, Defendant Booker claims that the trial court denied him a speedy trial, the trial court erred in denying his motion to sever his case from Defendant Craig, and that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for facilitation of first degree murder. Defendant Craig likewise claims the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions and that the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the weight afforded to circumstantial evidence. Following our review of the entire record, the briefs of the parties, and applicable authority, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers
Originating Judge:Judge Stella L. Hargrove
Maury County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/14/24
In Re Derek S. ET AL.

W2023-01001-COA-R3-PT

This appeal concerns the termination of a mother’s parental rights with respect to her two children. The trial court concluded that three grounds for termination were established, and thereafter, it determined that it was in the best interests of the children for the mother’s rights to be terminated. Because we conclude that clear and convincing evidence supports the establishment of three grounds for termination as well as the finding that termination was in the best interests of both children, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Arnold B. Goldin
Originating Judge:Chancellor Steven W. Maroney
Madison County Court of Appeals 08/14/24
In Re Ryan B.

M2023-01653-COA-R3-PT

The Juvenile Court for Franklin County (“the Juvenile Court”) terminated the parental rights of Chasity R. (“Mother”) to her son, Ryan B. (“the Child”). Mother has appealed, challenging only the Juvenile Court’s finding that termination of her parental rights was in the Child’s best interest. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Chief Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Judge David L. Stewart
Franklin County Court of Appeals 08/14/24
Hamid Houbbadi v. Chase T. Smith

M2023-01162-COA-R3-CV

While incarcerated for first-degree murder, Appellant filed suit against Appellee, an attorney who represented Appellant during his criminal trial, for legal malpractice. Shortly after filing the complaint, Appellant filed a motion to appear for hearings by video. The trial court did not rule on the motion to appear by video and proceeded to enter several orders on other motions on the pleadings only, including an order dismissing the complaint with prejudice. Because the trial court failed to address Appellant’s motion to appear by video, we vacate specific orders of the trial court in their entirety, including the final order dismissing the complaint. The case is remanded to the trial court with instructions to consider Appellant’s motion to appear by video.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kenny Armstrong
Originating Judge:Judge Matthew Joel Wallace
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 08/14/24
Kandy Page v. Holly Cikalo et al.

M2023-00849-COA-R3-CV

This appeal arises from a finding of dependency and neglect and dismissal of adoption proceedings. Adoption petitioner contends that the chancery court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to address dependency and neglect, which the juvenile court had exclusive jurisdiction to hear. Concluding that the chancery court had exclusive jurisdiction over the adoption petitions, we affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge Daryl A. Colson
Overton County Court of Appeals 08/13/24
State of Tennessee v. Evanny Littlejohn

W2023-01690-CCA-R3-CD

The Appellant was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to twenty-five years' imprisonment. On appeal, she argues: (1) the evidence is insufficient to support her conviction because the State failed to establish she acted knowingly; and (2) the trial court erred by admitting evidence of three prior acts of domestic violence against the victim. After review, we affirm the trial court's judgment.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Carlyn L. Addison
Court of Criminal Appeals 08/12/24
Jah'Quie Brown v. State of Tennessee

W2024-00327-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Jah’quie Brown, appeals the post-conviction court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief as untimely. He argues he is entitled to tolling of the statute of limitations because his trial counsel failed to inform him of his right to file a direct appeal or petition for post-conviction relief. After review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph T. Howell
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/12/24