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| State of Tennessee v. Marcia Lynn Williams
M2000-02593-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Marcia Lynn Williams, entered a best interest guilty plea in the Circuit Court of Marshall County to one count of obtaining drugs by false pretense, a class D felony. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed a sentence of three years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant argues that the trial court erred by denying the appellant a sentence in the community corrections program. After a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge W. Charles Lee |
Marshall County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| 2001-00383-COA-R3-CV
2001-00383-COA-R3-CV
Originating Judge:W. Neil Thomas, III |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Tennessee Farmers Mutual Ins. Co. vs. SA W. Jeong
E2001-00246-COA-R3-CV
Tennessee Farmers Mutual Insurance Company ("Tennessee Farmers") brought a declaratory judgment action against Sa W. Jeong ("the injured party"); her daughter, Hyunlan Lee; and her son-in-law, Jack Sung K. Lee (the defendants Lee are referred to herein collectively as "the Lees"), asking the trial court to "declare whether or not Tennessee Farmers is obligated to afford liability coverage to [the Lees] in connection with the lawsuit filed against them by [the injured party]." At the conclusion of a bench trial, the trial judge ruled in favor of the defendants, finding that the word "reside" and its derivatives "resident" and "residing," particularly as the latter two words are used in the policy language excluding coverage of a claim by a "covered person" or one "residing in the same household," are ambiguous, and that the language of the policy should be construed against Tennessee Farmers as the drafter of the policy. The court ordered Tennessee Farmers to provide liability coverage to the Lees with respect to the subject lawsuit. Tennessee Farmers appeals, raising issues as to whether the trial court correctly ruled that the policy is ambiguous, and whether the trial court was correct in finding that the word "resident" was susceptible to a reasonable meaning that would exclude the injured party from the ambit of the subject exclusionary language in the policy. We find that the subject policy provision is not ambiguous; however, we conclude that the injured party was not "residing in [the Lees'] household" as that language has been construed by applicable case law. Accordingly, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Lawrence H. Puckett |
Bradley County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| James Laney vs. Evelyn Oldham
E2000-02710-COA-R3-CV
Evelyn B. Oldham ("Defendant") sold to James C. R. Laney ("Plaintiff") a house and lot located next to a Chalet owned by Defendant. Defendant granted Plaintiff an easement for use of a driveway. Plaintiff later converted his residence into a business. In 1993, the Trial Court entered an Order interpreting the easement to allow Plaintiff's use of the driveway for a "normal amount of delivery." No appeal was taken from this Order. In 2000, the Trial Court, but a different trial judge, entered another Order interpreting the 1993 Order to allow for a normal amount of business deliveries using the driveway. We conclude that the 1993 Order permits only a normal amount of deliveries consistent with a residential use. We reverse the decision of the Trial Court, and remand for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:W. Frank Brown, III |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Phillip Ledford vs. Bradley Memorial Hospital
E2001-00291-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiffs, Phillip A. Ledford ("Ledford") and his wife, Elizabeth Ledford, filed suit against the defendants, Daniel V. Johnson, M.D., Bradley Memorial Hospital ("the Hospital"), and Southeast Tennessee Orthopedics, Inc. ("Southeast"), alleging medical malpractice arising out of surgery performed by Dr. Johnson on Ledford's broken arm. The trial court granted the defendants summary judgment. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Lawrence H. Puckett |
Bradley County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| In Re: Estate of Lois Chandler
E2000-03055-COA-R3-CV
Buster Chandler, Jr. ("Chandler") was appointed administrator of the estate of his mother, Lois Chandler, who died intestate in 1998. Chandler is incarcerated in Kentucky for a murder he committed in 1990. Chandler requested the Chancery Court arrange for his transportation from prison in Kentucky to Knoxville, Tennessee, so he could be present for the hearing regarding the closing of his mother's estate and so he could meet with the Knox County Attorney General regarding his murder conviction in Kentucky. Chandler argued that the Attorney General wanted to try him for the murder in Knoxville and would assist in obtaining a pardon from the governor of Kentucky. The Chancery Court denied his request, closed his mother's estate, and assessed court costs against Chandler as administrator. Chandler appeals. We affirm the Chancery Court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:John F. Weaver |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Patrick Reinshagen vs. PHP Companies, Inc.
E2001-00025-COA-R3-CV
In this action for breach of employment contract and defamation, the Trial Court granted summary judgment to defendants. Plaintiff appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Frank Brown, III |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Eddie McNabb
M2000-01490-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant appeals from his maximum sentence of six (6) years for voluntary manslaughter and the trial court's imposition of consecutive sentences. After review, we hold that the trial court properly sentenced the defendant to six (6) years for the voluntary manslaughter conviction and correctly ordered the defendant's convictions for voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault be served consecutive to one another. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas W. Graham |
Marion County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Dorothy Owen vs. George Summers
W2001-00727-COA-R3-CV
This is an action to set aside a warranty deed. Plaintiff-Grantor filed suit on February 11, 1997, to set aside a deed executed July 11, 1989, on the grounds of fraud and mental incompetency. The defendant grantee denied fraud and mental incompetency and affirmatively relied upon the seven-year statute of limitations. Following a jury trial, which ended in a mistrial, the parties stipulated that the case be submitted to the chancellor who conducted the trial for a nonjury determination from the trial transcript and trial exhibits. The chancellor found that the seven-year statute of limitations had been tolled by virtue of the grantor's mental incompetence, the deed was procured by fraud, and that the grantor was mentally incompetent on the date of the execution of the deed. The chancellor rescinded the deed. Defendant-Grantee has appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Dewey C. Whitenton |
Fayette County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Michael Cheslock vs. Bd. of Admin., etc .
W2001-00179-COA-R3-CV
On December 14, 1995, Memphis Police Lieutenant Michael Cheslock appeared before the Pension Board of Memphis, Tennessee, to request a line of duty disability pension as provided by the Memphis Code of Ordinances, Section 25-1(27). Mr. Cheslock had been diagnosed by two psychiatrists as disabled by job related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Pension Board refused the line of disability pension, determining that Mr. Cheslock did not meet the requirements as defined by the code. Mr. Cheslock filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court of Shelby County. The petition was denied and this appeal followed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Floyd Peete, Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Natalya Mazor vs. Kenneth Isaacman
W2000-01485-COA-R3-CV
This is a dental malpractice case. The patient visited the defendant dentist in August 1997 for routine root canal surgery. After the surgery, the patient began experiencing "constant" pain in the tooth in which the root canal was performed. She was told by the defendant dentist that this was pain ordinarily felt after root canal surgery. In February 1999, the patient visited another dentist who discovered that a piece of a drill bit had been left inside patient's tooth during the previous root canal. In December 1999, the patient filed a lawsuit against the defendant dentist for dental malpractice. The defendant dentist filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the patient did not bring the claim within the one year statute of limitations. This motion was granted and the patient now appeals. We reverse, finding that the patient had one year from the time she discovered or should have discovered the foreign object in which to file her lawsuit.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Arthur Anderson vs. Edwin Roberson
W2000-01879-COA-R3-CV
This appeal presents the sole issue of in personam jurisdiction of a nonresident corporation and the nonresident individual owning a majority interest in the corporation by virtue of their activities, as described in the Tennessee Long Arm statute, or alternatively, as co-conspirators with defendants, subject to the jurisdiction of the court.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:George H. Brown |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Judy Burroughs vs. Robert Magee
W2001-00238-COA-R3-CV
This is a personal injury and wrongful death case. The plaintiff and her husband were involved in an automobile accident. The plaintiff sued the driver of the other vehicle for her husband's wrongful death as well as for injuries she sustained in the accident. The plaintiff named the driver's physician as an additional tortfeasor, alleging that the physician negligently prescribed drugs to a known drug addict, negligently prescribed two contraindicated drugs, and negligently failed to warn his patient of the risks of driving while under the influence of the drugs. The trial court granted the physician's motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the physician had no duty to unidentifiable third parties such as the plaintiff. We affirm in part and reverse in part, finding that the physician owed a duty to the plaintiff and the decedent to warn his patient of the risks of driving while under the influence of the prescribed drugs.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Joseph H. Walker, III |
Lauderdale County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Wanda Steinbrunner vs. Tuner Funeral Home, Inc., et al
E2001-00014-COA-R3-CV
Six years after her husband died, Wanda J. Steinbrunner sued the Chattanooga funeral home that handled his burial and the medical examiner that performed his autopsy. She made various claims based upon theories of negligence, gross negligence, and outrageous conduct. The trial court granted the funeral home and the medical examiner summary judgment. Steinbrunner appeals, challenging the grant of summary judgment. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Jacqueline E. Schulten |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Roberts vs. Everhart Steel Const. Co. Inc.
E2001-00187-COA-R3-CV
In this action for damages for personal injuries allegedly caused by defendant's negligence, a jury awarded damages. On appeal, we conclusively presume the Judgment is correct, because we cannot review all of the evidence heard by the jury.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Samuel H. Payne |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Robert Blanton, Jr. - Order
M2000-01899-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Robert Blanton, Jr., was indicted by the Montgomery County Grand Jury on June 6, 1995, on one count of sale of marijuana and one count of delivery of marijuana, both Class E felonies. The defendant pled guilty to the indictment, and the trial court sentenced the defendant to probation. An affidavit of violation of probation was filed on April 17, 1996, and amended on September 6, 1996.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
|
Montgomery County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Southwest Williamson County Community Assoc. et al vs. Bruce Saltsman
M2001-00943-COA-R3-CV
Being dissatisfied with the State's concept of, and planning for, the extension of State Route 840 through southwest Williamson County, three residents in the County, two nonprofit corporations, and a partnership that owns property in the County, sued J. Bruce Saltsman, Sr. ("the Commissioner"), in his official capacity as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Transportation ("TDOT"). Following a bench trial, the court below entered a final judgment including (1) a writ of mandamus ordering the Commissioner to perform a number of "duties" in connection with Route 840; and (2) a permanent injunction enjoining him from moving forward with the planning and construction of Route 840 through Williamson County until he complies with the trial court's order. The Commissioner appeals. In addition to other bases for reversal, he asserts that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction of this controversy. We agree with the appellant that the trial court was without subject matter jurisdiction. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment below in its entirety and dismiss the petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:J. Russ Heldman |
Williamson County | Court of Appeals | 08/28/01 | |
| Howard Zoldessy vs. Ingrid Davis, et al
E2000-02526-COA-R3-CV
Upon the application of Howard Zoldessy, a temporary injunction was issued by the trial court against the defendants, Ingrid Davis and Arthur Davis. The Davises are the parents of Zoldessy's deceased wife and the grandparents of Zoldessy's daughter, Rachel. The injunction in question prohibits the defendants "from coming about [Howard Zoldessy] and his daughter, Rachel Zoldessy, or contacting him in any manner whatsoever." Following a bench trial, the trial court found that both defendants had committed willful criminal contempt by "coming about [Zoldessy's] residence on October 4, 1999." Each defendant was sentenced to 48 hours imprisonment for their contempt. Mr. Davis was also found in contempt for sending letters to Zoldessy and was sentenced to an additional term of imprisonment of 48 hours. The defendants appeal the trial court's findings of contempt, as well as the sentences imposed. We affirm the finding of contempt as to the letters sent to Zoldessy; however, we reverse the finding of contempt for the defendants' purported "coming about" Zoldessy and his daughter.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:William E. Lantrip |
Anderson County | Court of Appeals | 08/27/01 | |
| Philip Owens vs Bristol Motor Speedway, Inc.
E2000-02667-COA-R3-CV
In this putative class action suit, the plaintiff, Philip Owens, alleges that the defendant, Bristol Motor Speedway, Inc. ("Bristol Speedway"), engaged in a conspiracy to fix the prices of souvenirs sold at its racetrack. The trial court denied certification of the alleged class and granted Bristol Speedway's motion for summary judgment as to the plaintiff's individual claims. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Richard E. Ladd |
Sullivan County | Court of Appeals | 08/27/01 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Larico S. Ficklin
W2000-01534-CCA-R3-CD
A Shelby County jury convicted the defendant of second degree murder, and the trial court sentenced him to 25 years as a Violent Offender. In this appeal, the defendant alleges (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction, and (2) the trial court erroneously admitted the defendant's custodial confession. We conclude that the defendant's initial arrest was without probable cause, and that the defendant's confession was obtained approximately 53 hours from his arrest without a judicial determination of probable cause. The defendant's confession was, therefore, erroneously admitted, and the error was not harmless. We reverse the defendant's conviction and remand for a new trial.
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge W. Fred Axley & Judge James C. Beasley, Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/27/01 | |
| United States Pipe & Foundry Company v. Steven L. Camp
E2000-01198-WC-R3-CV
The trial court found the employee had sustained a temporary injury to his back and awarded medical benefits to treat his symptoms. On appeal the employee insists his injury was of a permanent nature. Judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Thayer, Sp. J.
Originating Judge:L. Marie Williams, Circuit Judge |
Knox County | Workers Compensation Panel | 08/27/01 | |
| Meloney Carr vs. Grady Carr
W2000-02420-COA-R3-CV
This is a child custody case. The parties were separated in February 2000 and the father was awarded temporary custody of the parties' two minor children. After the trial, the mother was granted the divorce, but custody of the two children remained with the father. The father was required to pay rehabilitative alimony on the condition that the mother enroll in EMT classes. The mother appeals, asserting that the trial erred in denying a continuance when several of the mother's witnesses were unavailable to testify at the hearing, in awarding custody to the father, in making the rehabilitative alimony conditional on the mother enrolling in EMT classes and in the division of marital property. We reverse the award of custody to the father, modify the order on rehabilitative alimony, modify the division of marital property, and remand to the trial court to determine issues relating to child support.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:George R. Ellis |
Haywood County | Court of Appeals | 08/27/01 | |
| James Moody vs. William Lea
W2000-02916-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute over an oral contract to lease farming equipment. The agreement provided that the defendant could use the plaintiff's farming equipment for an amount to be determined by a formula. The defendant began farming his land, intending to plant cotton, when the Mississippi River rose and the backwater covered his property. Because the backwater remained on the land for such a long period of time, the defendant could no longer grow cotton; he had to grow soybeans instead. Subsequently, the defendant refused to pay the plaintiff the amount the plaintiff claimed under the contract, and the plaintiff sued. The trial court held that the contract was enforceable and that the defendant's performance was not excused by the doctrine of frustration of commercial purpose. The defendant appeals the ruling of the trial court. For the reasons below, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand the case to the trial court to modify the judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:R. Lee Moore Jr. |
Dyer County | Court of Appeals | 08/27/01 | |
| Ryder Driver Leasing, Inc. v. Wilson
E2000-00905-WC-R3-CV
The trial court found the plaintiff had a compensable psychiatric injury. We affirm the findings of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Sr. J.
Originating Judge:Dale Workman, Circuit Court Judge |
Knox County | Workers Compensation Panel | 08/27/01 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Andreia Jones
W2000-01536-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant challenges the denial of pretrial diversion by the District Attorney General and subsequent denial of relief by the trial court. We conclude that the defendant failed to file a petition for writ of certiorari and improperly sought to have the trial court consider matters not presented to the District Attorney General; thus, defendant has failed to establish that the District Attorney General abused his discretion in denying pretrial diversion. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph B. Dailey |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/27/01 |