Danny Grubbs Dodd v. Judith Gail Paris Dodd
M2012-00153-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce proceeding, Husband appeals the trial court’s award of alimony in futuro to Wife. Finding no error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Originating Judge:Judge C. L. Rogers |
Sumner County | Court of Appeals | 01/09/13 | |
Melinda Sanford v. Ricky Baines et al.
M2012-02599-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from an order granting a Motion for Default and authorizing the clerk and master to sell the parties’ real property. Because the order appealed does not resolve all the claims between the parties, we dismiss the appeal for lack of a final judgment.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Chancellor Charles K. Smith |
Wilson County | Court of Appeals | 01/09/13 | |
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Kirkpatrick
E2011-01091-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant was convicted of burglary and theft, both Class D felonies. The defendant was sentenced to two concurrent seven-year terms in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court erred by admitting evidence of the defendant’s participation in an additional burglary and by ordering him to serve his sentence in confinement. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood |
Knox County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/09/13 | |
Ernest B. Kleier, Jr., M.D. v. Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners
M2012-00463-COA-R3-CV
A physician convicted of driving under the influence in another state was adjudged to have engaged in “unprofessional, dishonorable or unethical conduct”, as proscribed by Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-214(b)(1), by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners; the Board placed the physician’s medical license on probation and ordered him to obtain treatment and counseling. On petition for review, the Chancery Court held that the statute was unconstitutionally vague and reversed the Board’s decision. We reverse, holding that Tenn.Code Ann.§ 63-6-214(b)(1) provides sufficient notice to the physician that his conduct was subject to potential discipline by the Board.
Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Originating Judge:Chancellor Carol L. McCoy |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 01/09/13 | |
Mario Morris v. State of Tennessee
W2011-02165-CCA-R3-PC
The pro se petitioner, Mario Morris, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that he received effective assistance of counsel at trial and on appeal. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court denying the petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge W. Mark Ward |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/08/13 | |
David Desgro v. Paul Pack d/b/a Resi Chek
E2012-00918-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff, David Desgro, alleged that he hired defendant, Paul Pack d/b/a Resi Chek, to perform an inspection on a house plaintiff wanted to purchase. After defendant inspected the house and reported the house had no major problems, plaintiff purchased the house in reliance on defendant’s report. Plaintiff claims that he then discovered multiple serious issues with the house, including plumbing problems, insulation and heat pump problems, and inadequate floor support. Plaintiff filed suit 13 months after the inspection was completed, and defendant moved for summary judgment, claiming that plaintiff’s signed contract with defendant provided that plaintiff must file suit on any claims within one year of the date of inspection. The trial court found that plaintiff signed such an agreement and that the contractual limitations period of one year was reasonable. The trial court granted summary judgment to defendant, ruling that plaintiff’s claims were untimely. Plaintiff appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas J. Seeley, Jr. |
Carter County | Court of Appeals | 01/08/13 | |
State of Tennessee v. Lavon Douglas Robertson
M2011-00868-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Lavon Douglas Robertson, was convicted by a jury of one count of promotion of methamphetamine manufacture, a Class D felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-433. The Defendant was sentenced as a Range I, standard offender to four years of supervised probation. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant contends (1) that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress the evidence seized during a search of a one-room "dwelling" used by the Defendant and (2) that the evidence was insufficient to sustain the Defendant’s conviction. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton |
Lawrence County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
Shavon Page v. State of Tennessee
E2012-00421-CCA-R3-PC
The Petitioner, Shavon Page, pled guilty to five counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, three counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of aggravated robbery, and one count of aggravated burglary, in exchange for an effective sentence of thirty years, to be served at 100%. The Petitioner filed a timely petition for postconviction relief, alleging that he had received the ineffective assistance of counsel. On appeal, the Petitioner contends first that the post-conviction court erred when it denied his request, pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Evidence 615, to have his trial counsel excluded from the courtroom during the post-conviction hearing. He next contends that the post-conviction court erred when it dismissed his petition because his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately investigate his case, which rendered the Petitioner’s guilty plea unknowingly and involuntarily entered. After a thorough review of the record and applicable authorities, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Bob R. McGee |
Knox County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
State of Tennessee v. Lavon Douglas Robertson-separate concurring opinion
M2011-00868-CCA-R3-CD
Respectfully, I would not engage in an analysis of standing relative to the dirt road leading from the public road to the defendant’s building.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton |
Lawrence County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
Brenda Reynalda Inzunza v. State of Tennessee
M2011-02641-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Brenda Reynalda Inzunza, appeals the dismissal of her petition for post-conviction relief as time-barred, arguing that her trial counsel provided ineffective assistance for failing to advise her of the deportation consequences of her guilty plea and that the statute of limitations should be tolled because Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. ___ , 130 S. Ct. 1476 (2010), announced a new rule of constitutional law that did not exist at the time she entered her plea. In the alternative, she argues that due process considerations should operate to toll the statute of limitations. Following our review, we affirm the summary dismissal of the petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
Jose Rodriguez A.K.A. Alex Lopez v. State of Tennessee
M2011-01485-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Jose Rodriguez, brings a post-conviction challenge to his guilty plea, asserting that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. The petitioner claims that, under Padilla v. Kentucky, 130 S.Ct. 1473, 1483 (2010), his counsel was deficient in failing to advise him regarding the deportation consequences of his guilty plea. The petition was filed more than one year after the guilty plea, and the post-conviction court denied relief based on the statute of limitations pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-30-102(a). We conclude that a post-conviction action does not lie when the petitioner’s record has been expunged and no conviction exists. In addition, the trial court was correct in concluding the petition was time-barred. Accordingly, we affirm the post-conviction court’s summary dismissal.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Seth Norman |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
State of Tennessee v. James William Floyd
E2012-00907-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant, James William Floyd, pled guilty in the Blount County Circuit Court to the offense of robbery. Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, Defendant received a sentence of four years to be served by split confinement with incarceration of 49 days and the balance on supervised probation. He was released from jail on June 3, 2011, to begin the probation portion of his sentence. On March 9, 2012, a probation violation warrant was issued. Following a hearing, the trial court revoked probation and ordered him to serve the balance of his sentence by incarceration. Defendant appeals, and does not challenge the revocation of probation, but argues that the trial court erred by ordering the entire sentence to be served by incarceration. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Tammy Harrington |
Blount County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
Jose Rodriguez A.K.A. Alex Lopez vs. State of Tennessee-concurring and dissenting opinion
M2011-01485-CCA-R3-PC
I concur with affirming the trial court’s summary dismissal of the petition for post-conviction relief. I respectfully disagree, however, with the majority opinion’s reasoning. I believe the Petitioner’s expunction of his legal proceedings is not a legal impediment to his bringing a post-conviction action. On the other hand, the petition was filed late, and the decision in Padilla v. Kentucky, 130 S.Ct. 1473 (2010), as to being advised of potential immigration consequences of a guilty plea has been held not to apply retroactively. See, e.g., Francisco Miquel Jose v. State, No. M2011-00295-CCA-R3-PC (Tenn. Crim. App. Sept. 28, 2012).
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Seth Norman |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
William Glenn Wiley v. State of Tennessee
M2012-00158-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, William Glenn Wiley, appeals the denial of post-conviction relief from his convictions for first degree felony murder and aggravated robbery, arguing that he is entitled to a new trial based on "the State’s systematic late-disclosures of exculpatory evidence," which rendered his trial counsel presumptively ineffective under United States v. Cronic, 466 U.S. 648 (1984). In the alternative, he argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel under the Strickland standard based on counsel’s inadequate response to the late-disclosed evidence and failure to call two exculpatory witnesses at his trial. Finally, the petitioner argues that he is entitled to a new post-conviction evidentiary hearing because of the post-conviction court’s denial of his request for a continuance and an order to have the potentially exculpatory fingerprint evidence analyzed. Following our review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s denial of the petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Senior Judge Walter Kurtz |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
State of Tennessee v. Robert M. Deunes-Cruz
M2011-00879-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Robert M. Deunes-Cruz, was convicted by a Montgomery County Circuit Court jury of statutory rape by an authority figure and incest, Class C felonies. SeeT.C.A. §§ 39-13-532, 39-15-302 (2010). The trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range I, standard offender to concurrent terms of three years’ confinement. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Michael R. Jones |
Montgomery County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/07/13 | |
State of Tennessee v. Ronald Gene Pullon
E2012-00385-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant was convicted after a trial by jury of two counts of sexual battery, Class E felonies. He was sentenced to eighteen months probation on each count, with the sentences to be served concurrently. On appeal, the defendant claims that the trial court erred by ruling that the defendant could not cross-examine the victim concerning her history of mental illness and use of prescription medications. After review, we conclude that the trial court did not err by limiting the scope of the defendant’s cross-examination of the victim. We affirm the judgments of the trial court accordingly.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr. |
Sullivan County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/04/13 | |
Dexter L. McMillan v. Aubrey L. Davis
E2011-02267-COA-R3-CV
This is an action for legal malpractice against a court-appointed attorney in a criminal case. The Circuit Court of Knox County entered a judgment for the defendant. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Harold Wimberly |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 01/04/13 | |
State of Tennessee v. Raymond Lee Swett, Jr.
M2011-00439-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Raymond Lee Swett, Jr., appeals his Davidson County Criminal Court jury convictions of aggravated burglary, especially aggravated kidnapping, second degree murder, and felony murder, claiming that (1) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions of especially aggravated kidnapping, second degree murder, and felony murder; (2) the trial court erred by refusing to grant his motion for a mistrial; (3) the trial court erred by effectively amending the indictment via the instructions to the jury; and (4) the sentence was excessive. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Steve Dozier |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/04/13 | |
Perry Kirkman v. State of Tennessee
M2011-01781-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Perry Kirkman, pled guilty in the Davidson County Criminal Court to two counts of aggravated sexual battery and received concurrent sentences of fifteen years in the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC). Thereafter, he filed for post-conviction relief, alleging that his counsel was ineffective and that his guilty pleas were not knowingly and voluntarily entered. The post-conviction court denied the petition, and the petitioner timely appealed. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/04/13 | |
In Re: Austin L.A.
E2012-00662-COA-R3-PT
This appeal concerns a termination of parental rights. Custodial Parents filed a petition for adoption and termination of Mother and Father’s parental rights to the Child. The trial court terminated Mother and Father’s parental rights, finding that there was clear and convincing evidence to support several statutory grounds of termination and that the termination of parental rights was in the best interest of the Child. The Parents appeal the court’s best interest finding. We affirm the decision of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas J. Wright |
Greene County | Court of Appeals | 01/03/13 | |
Jimmy Lee Whitmire v. State of Tennessee
M2011-00955-CCA-R3-PC
Petitioner, Jimmy Lee Whitmire, was convicted of one count each of especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, and aggravated burglary. He received an effective sentence of eighteen years. State v. Jimmy Lee Whitmire, No. M2007-01389-CCA-R3-CD, 2009 WL 2486178, at *7 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Aug. 13, 2009). He subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction relief arguing that he was afforded ineffective assistance of counsel. After conducting a hearing on the matter, the post-conviction court denied the petition. On appeal, Petitioner argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel because trial counsel failed to properly advise him regarding testifying at trial. After a thorough review of the record, we conclude that Petitioner has not shown that trial counsel was ineffective or that if trial counsel was ineffective that he suffered prejudice from such. Therefore, we affirm the denial of the petition for post-conviction relief.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Robert Crigler |
Marshall County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/03/13 | |
Robert Laurence v. Tower Insurance Company
E2012-00127-WC-R3-WC
The employee, a satellite dish installer, injured his head while installing equipment at the residence of a customer of the employer. When the employer denied workers’ compensation benefits for permanent partial disability, the employee filed suit. The trial court awarded temporary total disability benefits and a 70% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. The employer appealed. Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51, this appeal has been referred to a special workers’ compensation appeals panel for a hearing and a report of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Because an employee is entitled to temporary total disability benefits only until he is able to return to work or reaches his maximum recovery, the trial court erred by awarding an additional fifty weeks of temporary total disability benefits. Otherwise, the judgment is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Chief Justice Gary R. Wade
Originating Judge:Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant |
Monroe County | Workers Compensation Panel | 01/03/13 | |
State of Tennessee v. Ray Neil Thompson
M2011-01613-CCA-R3-CD
Appellant, Ray Neil Thompson, was convicted by a Davidson County jury of one count of aggravated robbery. He was sentenced to twenty-seven years in incarceration as a Range III, persistent offender. After the denial of a motion for new trial, Appellant initiated an appeal. On appeal, he argues: (1) that the trial judge improperly refused to recuse himself; (2) that the trial court improperly denied a motion to suppress Appellant’s statement; and (3) that the trial court improperly sentenced Appellant. After a review of the evidence and authorities, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the request for recusal or the motion to suppress and that the trial court properly sentenced Appellant. As a result, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Steve Dozier |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/03/13 | |
James Edward Phelps vs. Jacqueline Ann Newman, et al
E2012-01065-COA-R3-CV
After he lost his job at the University of Tennessee, the plaintiff filed this action against UT and several of his coworkers. The complaint can be summarized thusly: the plaintiff had an intimate relationship with a female coworker and, after it ended, she and three of her friends, who were also coworkers of the plaintiff, set out to get him fired. He seeks to impose liability on the four individuals and UT under various theories. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss which the trial court granted. The plaintiff filed a motion to alter or amend which the trial court denied. The plaintiff appeals. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 01/03/13 | |
Dewone Alexander v. Tennessee Department of Correction
M2012-00245-COA-R3-CV
A prison inmate filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the chancery court, seeking review of a prison disciplinary action. Numerous respondents were listed in the complaint, and one respondent filed a motion to dismiss. The trial court granted the respondent’s motion to dismiss because, among other things, the petition was not verified or sworn, and it did not state that it was the first application for the writ. The petitioner appeals. We dismiss the appeal for lack of a final judgment.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Chancellor Stella Hargrove |
Wayne County | Court of Appeals | 01/02/13 |