APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Balmoral Shopping Center, LLC v. City of Memphis ET AL.

W2022-01488-COA-T10B-CV

This is an appeal of a trial judge’s denial of a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B motion for the recusal of the trial judge from the case. We affirm the trial court’s denial of the recusal motion.

Authoring Judge: Judge Arnold B. Goldin
Originating Judge:Judge Carol J. Chumney
Shelby County Court of Appeals 11/18/22
State of Tennessee v. Tyshon Booker

E2018-01439-SC-R11-CD
Tyshon Booker challenges the constitutionality of Tennessee’s mandatory sentence of life
imprisonment when imposed on a juvenile homicide offender. In fulfilling our duty to
decide constitutional issues, we hold that an automatic life sentence when imposed on a
juvenile homicide offender with no consideration of the juvenile’s age or other
circumstances violates the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment under the
Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Mr. Booker stands convicted of
felony murder and especially aggravated robbery—crimes he committed when he was
sixteen years old. For the homicide conviction, the trial court automatically sentenced Mr.
Booker under Tennessee Code Annotated section 40-35-501(h)(2) to life in prison, a
sixty-year sentence requiring at least fifty-one years of incarceration. But this sentence
does not square with the United States Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Eighth
Amendment. When sentencing a juvenile homicide offender, a court must have discretion
to impose a lesser sentence after considering the juvenile’s age and other circumstances.
Here, the court had no sentencing discretion. In remedying this constitutional violation, we
exercise judicial restraint. We need not create a new sentencing scheme or resentence Mr.
Booker—his life sentence stands. Rather, we follow the policy embodied in the federal
Constitution as explained in Montgomery v. Louisiana, 577 U.S. 190 (2016) and grant Mr.
Booker an individualized parole hearing where his age and other circumstances will be
properly considered. The timing of his parole hearing is based on release eligibility in the
unrepealed version of section 40-35-501(h)(1), previously in effect, that provides for a term
of sixty years with release eligibility of sixty percent, but not less than twenty-five years
of service. Thus, Mr. Booker remains sentenced to sixty years in prison, and after he has
served between twenty-five and thirty-six years, he will receive an individualized parole
hearing where his age and other circumstances will be considered. Our limited ruling,
applying only to juvenile homicide offenders, promotes the State’s interest in finality and
efficient use of resources, protects Mr. Booker’s Eighth Amendment rights, and is based
on sentencing policy enacted by the General Assembly.
Authoring Judge: Justice Sharon G. Lee
Originating Judge:Judge G. Scott Green
Knox County Supreme Court 11/18/22
State of Tennessee v. Tyshon Booker (Concur)

E2018-01439-SC-R11-CD
Not so long ago, it was commonplace for states to require juveniles convicted of
homicide to serve sentences of over fifty years. Now, that practice has vanished. A review
of sentencing statutes enacted by state legislatures and court decisions shows that there is
now only one state where juvenile offenders face a mandatory non-aggregated sentence of
more than 50 years for first-degree murder with no aggravating factors—Tennessee. In the
entirety of the nation, Tennessee stands alone.
Authoring Judge: Justice Holly Kirby
Originating Judge:Judge G. Scott Green
Knox County Supreme Court 11/18/22
State of Tennessee v. Tyshon Booker (Dissent)

E2018-01439-SC-R11-CD
I respectfully dissent from the result reached by a majority of the Court today. Quite
frankly, I find the policy adopted as a result of the plurality opinion of Justice Lee and the
concurring opinion of Justice Kirby to be sound. However, it is just that. It is a policy
decision by which the majority today has pushed aside appropriate confines of judicial
restraint and applied an evolving standards of decency/independent judgment analysis that
impermissibly moves the Court into an area reserved to the legislative branch under the
United States and Tennessee Constitutions.
Authoring Judge: Justice Jeffrey S. Bivins (C.J. Page, joins)
Originating Judge:Judge G. Scott Green
Knox County Supreme Court 11/18/22
State of Tennessee v. Aaron Dewayne Troutt

M2021-01248-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Aaron Dewayne Troutt, appeals as of right from the trial court’s dismissal of his Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36 motion to correct a clerical error. The Defendant contends that the trial court erred by concluding it was without jurisdiction to modify a final judgment to award behavioral and pretrial jail credit. After review, we affirm the trial court’s decision in part, reverse in part, and remand for findings on whether a clerical error exists regarding the Defendant’s pretrial jail credit.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kyle A. Hixson
Originating Judge:Judge Vanessa A. Jackson
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/18/22
In Re Trust of Katherine D. Graham

M2021-00967-COA-R3-CV
Decedent created a trust and named one of the beneficiaries and Appellee, a third-party
bank, as co-trustees. The trust beneficiaries petitioned for Appellee’s removal and for the
substitution of another beneficiary as co-trustee. The petitioners also sought an order
directing Appellee to reimburse the trust for fees paid to Appellee as co-trustee. The trial
court held that Appellee administered the trust diligently and without any malfeasance,
misfeasance, or non-feasance. As such, the trial court implicitly found that Appellee was
entitled to its fees. The trial court further found that it would violate a material purpose of
the trust to appoint, as co-trustee, another related beneficiary. Ultimately, the trial court
declined to remove Appellee and to substitute another beneficiary as co-trustee. Appellant
is the only petitioner/beneficiary to appeal. Although we conclude that the trial court erred
in its material purpose finding, for reasons discussed below, we affirm the trial court’s
decision not to remove Appellee as co-trustee. Further, we affirm the trial court’s denial
of the petitioners’ request that Appellee reimburse the trust for its fees. Appellee’s motion
for appellate attorney’s fees is denied.
Authoring Judge: Judge Kenny Armstrong
Originating Judge:Judge David Randall Kennedy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/17/22
Vanessa Colley v. John S. Colley, III

M2021-00731-COA-R3-CV

Appellant/Husband voluntarily nonsuited his post-divorce lawsuit involving issues of alimony and the parties’ alleged settlement of an IRS debt. Appellee/Wife moved for an award of her attorney’s fees on alternative grounds, i.e., the abusive lawsuit statute, Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-41-106; the parties’ MDA; and Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-5- 103(c). The trial court granted Wife’s motion and entered judgment for her attorney’s fees and costs. The trial court specifically held that Husband’s lawsuit was not abusive, and Wife does not raise this as an issue on appeal. As such, we conclude that she is not entitled to her attorney’s fees under the abusive lawsuit statute. As to her claim for attorney’s fees and costs under the MDA and Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-5-103(c), both grounds require that Wife be a “prevailing party” in the underlying lawsuit. Because Husband took a voluntary nonsuit, neither party prevailed in the action, and Wife is not entitled to her attorney’s fees and costs. Reversed and remanded.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kenny Armstrong
Originating Judge:Judge Philip E. Smith
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/17/22
Jennifer Gaby v. Tony Gaby

E2022-00217-COA-R3-CV

This is the second appeal of this action concerning the father’s petition to modify the permanent parenting plan for his two children. In the first appeal, we remanded the case back to the trial court for submission of additional findings of fact and conclusions of law. The father now appeals the decision on remand. We vacate the order of the trial court and remand for entry of a new permanent parenting plan for the remaining minor child.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas J. Wright
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 11/17/22
First Bank F/D/B/A Northwest Georgia Bank v. Mountain Apartments, LLC Et Al.

E2021-01433-COA-R3-CV

The plaintiff bank appeals the trial court’s summary dismissal of its breach of contract action against the defendants pursuant to the law in Georgia. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge John B. Bennett
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 11/16/22
State of Tennessee v. Marlon J. Johnson, Jr.

E2022-00098-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant-Appellant, Marlon J. Johnson, Jr., appeals the revocation of his six-year probationary sentence for two counts of aggravated burglary, domestic assault, misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor theft, and misdemeanor false imprisonment. The Defendant conceded the probation violation before the trial court and on appeal. Accordingly, the sole issue presented for our review is whether the trial court erred in ordering the Defendant to serve the balance of his sentence in confinement. Upon review, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge James F. Goodwin, Jr.
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/16/22
Lori S. Fernandez v. Tennessee Department of Revenue

M2021-01417-COA-R3-CV

Lori S. Fernandez (“Appellant”) was employed by the Tennessee Department of Revenue from 2014 until March 6, 2020, when she resigned. Following her resignation, Appellant sued the Department and several of its employees (the “Appellees”) for various causes of action including, inter alia, racial and disability discrimination. Appellees filed a motion to dismiss which the trial court granted. Thereafter, Appellant filed a Tenn. R. Civ. P. 59 motion to alter or amend the trial court’s order, as well as an amended complaint. The trial court denied the motion to alter or amend and declined to address the outstanding amended complaint. Appellant timely appealed to this court. We conclude that the order appealed from is non-final. Accordingly, this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, and the appeal must be dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas W. Brothers
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/16/22
Farm Credit Leasing Services Corp. v. Jeffrey Daniels

W2020-01576-COA-R3-CV

Lessee disputes the trial court’s denial of his emergency motion to continue leasing company’s summary judgment hearing. Lessee also appeals the trial court’s grant of summary judgment for leasing company, despite not responding to discovery requests or submitting evidence in opposition to summary judgment. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Chancellor William C. Cole
Lauderdale County Court of Appeals 11/16/22
Kevin J. McNeill v. Blount Memorial Hospital Incorporated, Et Al.

E2022-00209-COA-R3-CV

The pro se plaintiff appeals the trial court’s summary judgment dismissal of his action against the defendant hospital and its Chief Executive Officer. The trial court also granted the hospital CEO’s motion for a reasonable award of attorney fees and costs in defending against the lawsuit in his personal capacity pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated § 29- 20-113. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge David R. Duggan
Blount County Court of Appeals 11/16/22
State of Tennessee v. Thomas Adam Blackwell

M2020-01171-CCA-R3-CD
Thomas Adam Blackwell, Defendant, claims that the trial court abused its discretion by
revoking his probation, denying an alternative sentence, and ordering his three-year
sentence for fourth offense driving under the influence (“DUI”) to be served consecutively
to the seven-year sentence that he was serving on community corrections when he was
arrested for the DUI. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Dee David Gay
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/15/22
Donta Lamar Weir v. State of Tennessee

M2021-01254-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Donta Lamar Weir, appeals the summary dismissal of his petition for postconviction relief, which petition challenged his 2021 guilty-pleaded convictions of delivery of cocaine in a drug-free school zone, delivery of cocaine, and delivery of a counterfeit controlled substance. He argues that the post-conviction court erred by concluding that he failed to state a colorable claim for relief. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Larry B. Stanley, Jr.
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/15/22
John E. Sullivan, Jr. GST Exempt Trust, et al. v. Frank G. Sullivan, et al.

W2022-00518-COA-R3-CV

This case concerns the administration of a generation-skipping exempt trust. On review of the record, we conclude that the trial court’s order is not a final judgment, so as to confer subject matter jurisdiction on this Court. Specifically, the trial court did not adjudicate: (1) the parties’ requests for attorney’s fees; (2) Appellees’ prayer to remove David M. Sullivan as trustee; (3) Appellees’ motion to disqualify David M. Sullivan from acting as legal counsel for the Trust; or (4) Trustee’s motion for sanctions against Appellees and Appellees’ legal counsel. Appeal dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kenny Armstrong
Originating Judge:Judge Kathleen N. Gomes
Shelby County Court of Appeals 11/14/22
State of Tennessee v. Demarcus Wooten

W2022-00315-CCA-R3-CD

A Shelby County jury found the Defendant, Demarcus Wooten, guilty of the offenses of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. The trial court imposed a total effective sentence of life plus twenty-nine years. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his murder and attempted murder convictions, arguing principally that the proof did not establish the elements of intent and premeditation. We respectfully disagree, and we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Tom Greenholtz
Originating Judge:Judge W. Mark Ward
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/14/22
Christopher Brown v. State of Tennessee

W2021-01331-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Christopher Brown, was convicted of one count of first degree murder and three counts of aggravated assault by a Shelby County jury. The Petitioner later filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel when trial counsel failed to disclose discovery materials and failed to call particular witnesses. The post-conviction court denied the petition after an evidentiary hearing. On appeal, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Tom Greenholtz
Originating Judge:Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/14/22
State of Tennessee v. Jeremy Lynn Thornton

W2021-01127-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Jeremy Lynn Thornton, was convicted in the Benton County Circuit Court of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or deliver, possession of heroin with intent to sell or deliver, simple possession of alprazolam, simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple possession of diazepam and received an effective ten-year sentence to be served as one year in confinement followed by nine years on community corrections. The State appealed the Defendant’s community corrections sentence, and this court reversed the decision of the trial court and remanded the case for a new sentencing hearing. On remand, the trial court again imposed an effective ten-year sentence to be served as one year in confinement followed by community corrections. The State appeals, claiming that the Defendant is not eligible for community corrections due to his past pattern of behavior indicating violence and pattern of committing violent offenses. Based upon the oral arguments, the record, and the parties’ briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Charles C. McGinley
Benton County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/14/22
State of Tennessee v. Stephen Hampton and Margaret Hampton

W2021-00938-CCA-R3-CD

Stephen Paul Hampton and Margaret Mary Hampton were charged in the Madison County Circuit Court with drug and weapon offenses, but the charges were dismissed after the trial court granted their motions to suppress statements made to a police officer and evidence found in their vehicle. On appeal, the State contends that the trial court erred by granting the motions to suppress because the statements were not made during a custodial interrogation and because the police officer had probable cause to search the vehicle. Based upon the oral arguments, the record, and the parties’ briefs, we reverse the trial court’s orders granting the motions to suppress, vacate the order dismissing the indictment, and remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge John w. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/14/22
State of Tennessee v. Marcus Davis

W2021-01147-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Marcus Davis, was convicted by a Shelby County Criminal Court jury of attempted first degree premeditated murder, a Class A felony, and employing a firearm during the attempt to commit a dangerous felony, a Class C felony, and was sentenced by the trial court to an effective term of twenty-one years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, he argues that the evidence is insufficient to show premeditation and that the trial court erred by denying his request for a jury instruction on self-defense. Based on our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/14/22
In Re Joseph D.

M2021-01537-COA-R3-PT

This appeal involves a petition to terminate parental rights. The juvenile court found by clear and convincing evidence that six grounds for termination existed as to the mother: (1) abandonment for failure to provide a suitable home; (2) substantial noncompliance with a permanency plan; (3) persistent conditions; (4) severe child abuse; (5) failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody or financial responsibility; and (6) mental incompetence. The juvenile court also found that termination was in the best interests of the child. The mother appeals. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Carma Dennis McGee
Originating Judge:Judge Amy Cook Puckett
Hickman County Court of Appeals 11/10/22
In Re Elijah F.

M2022-00191-COA-R3-PT

In this case involving termination of the mother’s parental rights to her child, the Davidson County Juvenile Court (“trial court”) determined that several statutory grounds for termination had been proven by clear and convincing evidence. The trial court further determined that clear and convincing evidence established that termination of the mother’s parental rights was in the child’s best interest. The mother has appealed. Having determined that three of the statutory grounds were not supported by sufficient findings of fact and conclusions of law, we reverse the trial court’s judgment with respect to the grounds of abandonment by an incarcerated parent by failure to support, abandonment by exhibiting wanton disregard for the child’s welfare prior to incarceration, and failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody of or financial responsibility for the child. We affirm the trial court’s judgment in all other respects, including the termination of the mother’s parental rights.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Judge Sheila D. J. Calloway
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/10/22
Jacob Tate v. State of Tennessee

E2022-00147-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Jacob Tate, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, which petition challenged his 2018 guilty-pleaded convictions of especially aggravated kidnapping and rape, arguing that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel and that his guilty pleas were not knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently entered. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt
Originating Judge:Judge G. Scott Green
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/10/22
Toni Barrios et al. v. Charlie Simpkins et al.

M2021-01347-COA-R3-CV

In this boundary line dispute in which the plaintiffs sought declaratory judgment concerning the boundary between the parties’ adjoining parcels of real property, the trial court, following a bench trial, entered declaratory judgment adopting the boundary line of a survey presented by the plaintiffs over other competing surveys. The court, however, did not adopt a boundary line alternatively propounded by the plaintiffs claiming adverse possession of a disputed portion of land. The court dismissed all other claims with prejudice, including, inter alia, competing trespass claims and the plaintiffs’ claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress and assault. The plaintiffs have appealed, raising issues regarding the trial court’s denial of their adverse possession and trespass claims and requests for damages and injunctive relief. We affirm the trial court’s dismissal of the plaintiffs’ adverse possession claim and the court’s declaration of the parties’ boundary line. However, determining that the trial court erred in applying an intent to trespass as a necessary element of civil trespass, we vacate the trial court’s dismissal of the plaintiffs’ trespass claim. We remand for the trial court to (1) apply the proper intent standard for trespass to determine, with the boundary line as declared by the trial court, whether the defendants trespassed on the plaintiffs’ property; (2) if trespass occurred, determine the type(s) of damages to be awarded; and (3) if trespass occurred, set the amount of damages to be awarded with discretionary costs as appropriate. Discerning that the trial court made no findings regarding the plaintiffs’ request for injunctive relief, we also remand for consideration of that request based on relevant factors and entry of an order granting or denying injunctive relief with appropriate findings of fact. We affirm the trial court’s judgment in all other respects. We deem the plaintiffs’ and the defendants’ respective requests for attorney’s fees on appeal to be waived.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Judge Kelvin D. Jones
Cheatham County Court of Appeals 11/10/22