APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State of Tennessee v. Phillip Michael Cisson

E2000-02138-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Phillip Michael Cisson, entered pleas of guilt on two counts of burglary and two counts of theft over $1,000. The plea agreement provided for concurrent two-year sentences on each conviction. The single issue presented for review is whether the trial court erroneously denied probation. The judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge James B. Scott, Jr.
Anderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/01
State of Tennessee v. James E. Gordon

M2000-02435-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner appeals the post-conviction court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. He claims that he received ineffective assistance of trial counsel because trial counsel failed to call certain witnesses and did not call the petitioner to testify on his own behalf at trial. After review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court denying the petitioner any relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Donald Paul Harris
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/01
State of Tennessee v. Ronald W. Byrd

E2000-00520-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Ronald W. Byrd, was convicted in the Sullivan County Criminal Court of attempt to commit aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal trespass, and resisting arrest. The trial court sentenced the appellant to a total effective sentence of six years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court should have permitted the jury to consider the issue of whether the appellant's conduct was fairly motivated by his desire to make a citizen's arrest; and (2) whether the evidence is sufficient as a matter of law to sustain a conviction of attempted aggravated kidnapping. Upon 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 Phyllis H. Miller
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/01
Gulf Insurance Co. vs. Construx, Inc., et al

M1999-02803-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from the grant of Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment. The case arises from a construction contract in which Gulf Insurance Co. provided Construx, Inc. the required payment and performance bonds, and in return obtained an indemnity contract with the individual Defendants as indemnitors. Additionally, a Settlement Agreement was executed in connection with the permanent loan financing and Gulf settled the subcontractor liens with the remaining proceeds of the construction loan. After payments were made, Gulf sued for indemnity under the indemnity contract for payments made. Construx asserted that the Settlement Agreement barred Plaintiff's claims or, alternatively, Gulf did not act reasonably and in good faith in settling the claims and is not entitled to recovery. Summary judgment was granted to Gulf and Construx appealed. For the reasons below, we reverse and remand finding that there are genuine issues of fact, making summary judgment inappropriate.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 07/26/01
Justin C. Marr v. State of Tennessee

M2000-01412-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner appeals the post-conviction court's denial of his petition. He claims that he received ineffective assistance of counsel and his plea of guilty was involuntarily entered. After review, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/01
State of Tennessee v. Ryan Jacob Cummins

M2000-02226-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant appeals from the trial court's imposition of the maximum sentences within the range. The State agrees that the trial court erred in applying enhancement factor (7). After review, we conclude that neither enhancement factor (7) nor (15) is applicable under these facts. Therefore, the defendant's sentence is modified to the statutorily required sentences of eight years in the Department of Correction at 100 percent for the aggravated sexual battery offense and to three years on each attempted aggravated sexual battery offense.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/01
Kathy Phillips, et al vs. Scotty Redmon, et al

M1999-01619-COA-R3-CV
In this appeal from the Circuit Court for Wilson County the Appellant, Justin Redmon, a minor child, through his guardian ad litem, questions whether the Trial Court erred in granting a petition filed by the Appellee, Kathy Phillips, to change custody from Justin's natural father, Scotty Redmon, to Ms. Phillips, Mr. Redmon's sister. We affirm the judgment of the Trial Court and remand for collection of costs below.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Clara W. Byrd
Wilson County Court of Appeals 07/26/01
Raymond O. Jackson v. State of Tennessee

M1999-02106-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. Specifically, he contends that the trial court denied him an opportunity to have a full and fair hearing on the merits of his claim. After review, we agree with the trial court and affirm the dismissal.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/26/01
Christina Mae Stroud vs. Jimmy Stroud

M1999-02239-COA-R3-CV
In this post-divorce case, the mother appeals the trial court's refusal to overturn a 1995 order awarding the father a judgment against her and sentencing her to ten days in jail for contempt of court. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/26/01
State of Tennessee v. Clarence Boling

E2000-01985-CCA-R3-CD

After waiving his right to a trial by jury, the defendant was convicted of possession of marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver. For this offense he received a sentence of two years as a Range I, standard offender. However, the trial court ordered this sentence suspended after the service of thirty days. Through this appeal the defendant alleges that the trial court erred in allowing impeachment evidence to be introduced through Officer Steve Blankenship and that the evidence is insufficient to support his having possessed the marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver it. After reviewing the record, we find that neither of these claims merit reversal and, therefore, affirm the defendant's conviction, but remand for correction of the judgment to reflect the defendant was convicted at a bench trial.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/01
Thomas Fulbright vs. Bevans Fulbright

E2000-02040-COA-R3-CV
Thomas Fulbright ("Husband") filed for divorce alleging inappropriate marital conduct on the part of Bevans Ramsey Fulbright ("Wife"). Wife filed a counter-claim seeking a divorce on the same basis. The Trial Court granted both parties a divorce, divided the marital property, awarded Wife rehabilitative alimony, and granted primary physical custody of the three minor children to Wife. Husband appeals all of these determinations, and Wife appeals the Trial Court's refusal to award her attorney fees. We affirm as modified.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:L. Marie Williams
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 07/25/01
State of Tennessee v. Samuel K. Robinson

M1999-00559-CCA-MR3-PC

The appellant appeals from the dismissal of his post-conviction petition wherein he attacks the validity of a probation revocation proceeding. After a review of the record we affirm the decision of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Robert L. Jones
Giles County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/01
State of Tennessee v. Floyd Allen Angela and Phyllis Mae Angela

M1999-00236-CCA-R3-CD

In this felony drug possession case, the state appeals from the trial court's order suppressing as evidence all items, including marijuana, seized during a search of the defendants' home. It contends that the trial court erred in determining that the affidavit for the search warrant did not establish probable cause to warrant a search. Based upon the record before us, we are constrained to affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/01
Clifton D. Wallen v. State of Tennessee

E2000-02052-CCA-R3-PC

The summary dismissal of the petition for post-conviction relief is affirmed because the petitioner failed to adequately allege ineffective assistance of counsel based upon conflict of interests and the claim of incompetency to stand trial is waived.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge James E. Beckner
Hawkins County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/01
Thomas Paul Gagne, Jr. v. State of Tennessee

E2000-03073-CCA-R3-PC

Thomas Paul Gagne, Jr. appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief in which he alleged he received the ineffective assistance of counsel in his conviction proceedings, which ultimately caused him to plead guilty rather than take his case to trial. Gagne is serving an effective term of two consecutive life sentences consecutively to a prior twelve-year sentence. His petition involves his convictions upon guilty pleas for crimes of larceny, theft, aggravated burglary and two counts of felony murder. Following an evidentiary hearing, the lower court ruled that Gagne failed to establish his ineffective assistance claim. We hold that he has failed to demonstrate the error of that ruling, and we therefore affirm the lower court's dismissal of the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Ray L. Jenkins
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/01
Dale Conrad McQuiston vs. Thomas Ward, Sheriff of Perry County

M2001-00201-COA-R3-CV
Dale Conrad McQuiston filed a pleading entitled "Writ of Replevin" wherein he sought to recover $1,000 cash and various items of personal property which were alleged to have been seized by the defendant Thomas Ward, Sheriff of Perry County, Tennessee. The trial court granted Defendant's motion for summary judgment. We affirm on the basis that Mr. McQuiston's suit was barred by the three year statute of limitations set forth in section 28-3-105 of the Tennessee Code Annotated.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Perry County Court of Appeals 07/25/01
State of Tennessee v. Frank R. Clark

M2000-00862-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant was convicted in a jury trial of driving under the influence (DUI), third offense, and of driving on a revoked license. In this appeal, the defendant contends (1) that the stop of his truck was an unreasonable seizure, (2) that the state failed to lay a proper foundation for admission of his breath test results, (3) that the breath test was invalid because it was given when he had tobacco in his mouth, and (4) that his DUI sentence to confinement to be served at one hundred percent is legally impermissible. We affirm the convictions, but we conclude that the defendant is entitled to good conduct credits. Because of discrepancies between the sentencing transcript and the judgments of conviction, we remand the case for review of the sentences and entry of corrected judgments, if necessary.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Charles D. Haston, Sr.
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/01
Warbington Construction, Inc. vs. Franklin Landmark, LLC

M2000-00676-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the vacating of an arbitration award by the court below. The trial court applied nonstatutory grounds to vacate the decision of the arbitrator. Because we decline to adopt the nonstatutory grounds for judicial review of an arbitration award under the Federal Arbitration Act, we reverse.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/25/01
State of Tennessee v. Allan Preston Brooks

M2000-00909-CCA-R3-PC

The appellant, Allan Brooks, appeals from the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The appellant claims that he was denied effective assistance of counsel due to trial counsel's failure to (1) demand a sequestered jury, (2) object to a display used by the prosecution during cross-examination of the appellant, (3) object to the mention of the appellant's first trial, and (4) seek an interlocutory appeal of the trial court's ruling regarding the testimony of Josh Peyton, the victim's six year old son. We find that the appellant received effective assistance of counsel and that his claims to the contrary are without merit. The decision of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/01
Dennis Plemons, et al vs. Larry Moses, et al

E2000-02781-COA-R3-CV
Dennis Plemons ("Plaintiff") leased the Crossroads Market to Larry Moses ("Defendant") pursuant to a five-year lease. Prior to the expiration of the lease, Plaintiff found new tenants willing to pay significantly more to lease the property. Plaintiff informed Defendant about the new potential tenants and gave Defendant the opportunity to continue leasing the property if he would pay this higher rent. Defendant declined to lease the property for this increased amount. Plaintiff allowed Defendant to continue leasing the property until the new tenants were ready to assume possession of the property. When the new tenants were ready to assume possession, Defendant refused to vacate the premises claiming that he was a holdover tenant and entitled to possession of the property under a year-to-year tenancy after the expiration of the lease. The Circuit Court held that a new month-to- month tenancy had been created and, therefore, Plaintiff was entitled to possession. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:John B. Hagler, Jr.
Monroe County Court of Appeals 07/24/01
Patricia Williams vs. Canada Life vs. James Williams/Deborah Elg

W2000-03096-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiff's husband died from a single gunshot wound to his chest which occurred while the two were alone in their home. By whose hand he died was the sole issue at both the trial and on appeal. If the plaintiff's husband shot himself, as she claims, she receives the proceeds from an insurance policy on his life. However, if she shot and killed her husband, as his adult children assert, they receive the insurance proceeds. Following the trial, the chancery court concluded that the death occurred as the result of a suicide. The defendants appealed, arguing that the presumption against suicide compels the conclusion that their father was shot to death by the plaintiff, their stepmother. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgment of the chancery court that the death occurred as the result of a suicide.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:J. Steven Stafford
Dyer County Court of Appeals 07/24/01
State of Tennessee v. John Wayman Orr

E2000-00931-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, John Waymann Orr, appeals from his probation revocation which resulted primarily from his conviction for public intoxication and alcohol abuse. He contends that with his alcohol abuse and mental health problems, he should be receiving treatment and should not be confined in jail. We affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/24/01
Gatlinburg Airport Authority, Inc. vs. Ross B. Summitt, et al

E2000-02646-COA-R3-CV
An electrical transmission line owned and maintained by TVA is located about 1000 feet from the eastern end of the runway at the airport owned and operated by the Gatlinburg Airport Authority [GAA]. The transmission line was constructed before the Airport was established. The two have coexisted without mishap, and no official publication, State or Federal, warns of any danger to aircraft posed by the transmission line. However, because of the transmission line, 360 feet of the runway cannot be used by aircraft landing or taking off. The GAA, after 35 years, concluded that the transmission line was an airport hazard. TVA is immune from suit, but agreed to relocate its transmission line if GAA would acquire the necessary easement over lands of the defendants. The trial court dismissed the eminent domain action, holding that (1) the plaintiffs should seek relief against TVA if the transmission line is hazardous, (2) the line is not hazardous, (3) there is no necessity to remove the line, (4) the attempted condemnation is arbitrary and capricious. The judgment is vacated.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Sevier County Court of Appeals 07/24/01
State of Tennessee v. Vincent Thomas Gallo

E2000-03025-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant was convicted upon his guilty pleas to three counts of unlawfully photographing individuals in violation of their privacy, a Class A misdemeanor, and received concurrent eleven-month-twenty-nine-day sentences to be served in confinement in the county jail. The defendant appeals the trial court's denying him probation of any type. We affirm the denial of probation, but we remand the case for entry of corrected judgments.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge O. Duane Slone
Jefferson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/24/01
Tracy Lamar Belle, Sr. v. State of Tennessee

E2000-02787-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Tracy Lamar Belle, Sr., appeals the denial of post-conviction relief contending that his right to due process has been violated by the application of the statute of limitations. Because the notice of appeal was not timely filed and because "the interest of justice" does not require the waiver of a timely notice, this appeal is dismissed. See Tenn. R. App. P. 4(a).

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/23/01