APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Tracy McGowan vs. Dr. Crants/Alan Bargery

W2000-02398-COA-R3-CV
This is a civil lawsuit filed by a prisoner. The inmate filed a complaint against the prison warden and the chairman of the board of the company which owns and operates the prison, alleging negligence and violations of his constitutional rights. The inmate moved for default judgment, which was denied. The defendants then filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting that there were no material facts in dispute. The trial court granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment. The inmate now appeals. We reverse, finding that there are genuine issues of material fact.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Jon Kerry Blackwood
Hardeman County Court of Appeals 02/23/01
Jerry LaQuiere, et al vs. Daniel W. McCollum

M1999-00926-COA-R10-CV
This appeal involves a dispute arising out of the sale of a tract of real property in Antioch. After a survey revealed that the size of the tract was significantly less than the size stated in the contract, the purchaser filed suit in the Chancery Court for Davidson County seeking both specific performance of a provision in the contract requiring an adjustment in the purchase price and damages for breach of contract and misrepresentation. The purchaser also filed a lis pendens notice with the Davidson County Register of Deeds. The trial court granted the vendor's motion for summary judgment on the issue of specific performance and ordered the lis pendens notice removed. However, the trial court declined to grant summary judgment on the issue of damages for breach of contract and misrepresentation. We granted the purchaser's Tenn. R. App. P. 10 application for an extraordinary appeal. We now affirm the trial court because we concur with its conclusion that the price adjustment provision in the contract is not clear, definite, and complete.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/23/01
State of Tennessee v. Curtis Cleggins

W1999-00657-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, indicted for aggravated sexual battery for intentionally engaging in sexual contact with a child under the age of thirteen, pled guilty to one count of sexual battery, a Class E felony, and received a two-year sentence. The trial court ordered that the defendant serve ninety consecutive days in jail, with the remainder of the sentence suspended, and the defendant placed on three years' probation. Counseling was ordered as a condition of probation. The defendant challenges the sentencing imposed, arguing that the trial court erred in denying his requests for full probation, service of his sentence of incarceration on weekends, or judicial diversion. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Bernie Weinman
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/23/01
State of Tennessee v. Michael P. Malley

M2000-00041-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant was convicted by a Shelby County jury of assault, a Class A misdemeanor. He was sentenced to the maximum term of eleven months and twenty-nine days, to be served as a split sentence with five months and twenty-nine days served in confinement at the workhouse, and the balance served on probation. In this appeal as of right, the defendant asserts that the trial court erred in allowing the victim, his former wife, to testify as to two other bad acts committed by the defendant, one a prior beating incident and the other an act of vandalism of the victim’s car. Having reviewed the entire record, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the testimony. Judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge W. Otis Higgs, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/23/01
John Justice vs. Holly Justice

M1998-00916-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute between a physician and a pharmacist regarding the provisions in their divorce decree for spousal support and legal expenses. In its decree ending their fourteen-year marriage, the Circuit Court for Davidson County directed the physician, among other things, to pay the pharmacist $50 per month in alimony in futuro until her death or remarriage, as well as $4,500 to partially defray the legal expenses she had incurred in the divorce proceeding. The physician asserts on this appeal that the spousal support award was punitive and that the pharmacist received sufficient assets as a result of the division of the marital estate to pay her own legal expenses. We have determined that the record supports the trial court's decisions regarding both the spousal support and the legal expenses and, therefore, affirm the judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/23/01
State of Tennessee v. Cedric Terry

W1999-01568-CCA-R3-CD

A Shelby County jury convicted defendant of one count of premeditated first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder. Defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment for first degree murder and twenty years for each attempted first degree murder conviction. The two twenty-year sentences run concurrently with each other but consecutively to the defendant's life sentence. In this appeal as of right, defendant challenges: (1) the trial court's denial of his motion to suppress his identification by the two surviving victims, (2) the sufficiency of the evidence, and (3) the length and consecutive nature of his sentences. Upon our review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Bernie Weinman
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/23/01
Tip and Barbara Terry vs. Scott Botts

E2000-01288-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Michael A. Davis
Scott County Court of Appeals 02/22/01
Misty L. Cooper vs. Roy K. Norris, et al

E2000-01208-COA-R3-CV
Misty L. Cooper sues Claiborne County Board of Education for breach of a teaching contract she contends was entered into with her. The School Board contends that the offer of employment was contingent upon her passing the National Teachers Examination, which she did not do. The Trial Court found in favor of the Board. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:William M. Dender
Claiborne County Court of Appeals 02/22/01
Tip and Barbara Terry vs. Scott Botts

E2000-01288-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Michael A. Davis
Scott County Court of Appeals 02/22/01
Janet Scarbrough vs. Edd Scarbrough

W2000-01807-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves issues stemming from the parties' divorce. The trial court terminated Husband's obligation to pay rehabilitative alimony. In addition, the trial court valued Husband's life estate in certain real property at $200,000.00, and the court awarded Wife $100,000.00. Both parties appeal the decision of the trial court. For the following reasons, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:William Michael Maloan
Weakley County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Gloria Lane vs. W.J. Curry

W2000-01580-COA-R3-CV
This case involves a dispute about the responsibility for trees on adjacent properties. The plaintiff and defendant own adjacent properties. Located on the defendant's property are three large oak trees whose branches overhang the plaintiff's roof. The roots from the trees grow onto the plaintiff's property and have infiltrated the plaintiff's sewer lines on several occasions. After a limb from one of the trees fell through the plaintiff's roof, the plaintiff complained to the defendant. The defendant twice sent someone to cut back the trees' branches. The plaintiff continued to complain about the trees, and the defendant refused to provide any additional assistance. This lawsuit ensued. The trial court found that the plaintiff's only remedy was self-help. The plaintiff now appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Largent Contracting vs. Dement Construction

W1999-02736-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff-landowner sued county along with road contractor and subcontractor for damages allegedly sustained when the defendant stored a large amount of broken concrete on his land allegedly without his permission and for the defendant's failure to remove the concrete when told to do so. The trial court granted summary judgment to road contractor and the subcontractor, and granted partial summary judgment to the county. After a nonjury trial on the remaining issue as to the county, the trial court entered judgment for the county. Plaintiff appeals as to all three defendants. We reverse in part, affirm in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Jon Kerry Blackwood
Fayette County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Paul Freeman v. State of Tennessee

W2000-00943-CCA-R3-PC

Paul Freeman appeals from the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. In this appeal, Freeman collaterally attacks his DUI conviction in the City Court of Jackson upon grounds that his uncounseled guilty plea was not knowingly and intelligently entered. Freeman asserts that at the time he entered his guilty plea, he was still under the influence of alcohol from his arrest approximately eight hours earlier that same morning. After review, we find that the proof does not support a knowing and voluntary plea. Accordingly, we reverse the ruling of the trial court, vacate Freeman’s judgment of conviction, and remand the case to the City Court of Jackson for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Roger A. Page
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/21/01
W2000-01548-COA-R3-CV

W2000-01548-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Martha B. Brasfield
McNairy County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Gloria Guinn vs. Lucious Guinn

W1999-01809-COA-R3-CV
This is a post-divorce proceeding pursuant to Tenn.R.Civ.P. 60. Defendant-husband filed a motion to set aside a final decree of divorce granted on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, because there was no written agreement settling property rights. Plaintiff-wife filed a motion pursuant to Rule 60 to amend the final decree of divorce to show that the ground for divorce is inappropriate marital conduct. The trial court denied Husband's motion, granted Wife's motion and entered an amended final decree showing the ground for divorce as inappropriate marital conduct. Husband appeals. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:George H. Brown
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
Paul Freeman v. State of Tennessee - Dissenting

W2000-00943-CCA-R3-PC

As noted in the majority opinion, the appellant does not contend the City Court did not advise him of his constitutional rights. The sole issue in this case is whether the appellant was impaired to the degree that he did not voluntarily enter his guilty plea.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Roger A. Page
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/21/01
Cheryl/Edwin Oliver vs. Earl Quinby

W2000-02158-COA-R3-CV
This case arises out of an automobile accident caused by a pile of carpet lying in the roadway. Plaintiffs allege that the accident was caused by an unknown motorist. Plaintiffs' insurance carrier filed a motion for summary judgment, and the trial court granted the motion. For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court's entry of summary judgment.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Karen R. Williams
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/21/01
State of Tennessee v. Abebreellis Zandus Bond

W1999-02593-CCA-R3-CD

Abebreellis Bond was convicted by a Carroll County jury of two counts of sale of cocaine. Based upon trial counsel's failure to perfect a direct appeal, Bond sought post-conviction relief in the Carroll County Circuit Court asserting ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction court granted Bond's request for a delayed appeal. Additionally, the post-conviction court ordered that all remaining ineffective assistance of counsel issues raised in the post-conviction petition be consolidated with the delayed appeal. Bond now perfects his delayed appeal before this court, raising the following issues for our review: (1) whether trial counsel was ineffective; and (2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict. After review, we find the post-conviction court's procedural ruling, wherein the court refused to dismiss the remaining ineffective assistance of counsel claims after granting the delayed appeal, conflicts with our previous holding in Gibson v. State, 7 S.W.3d 47 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1998). Thus, we remand for entry of an order consistent with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge C. Creed McGinley
Carroll County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/21/01
Phillip Page vs. Lucille Page

W2000-01314-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:John R. Mccarroll, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
William Fann vs. Annette Fann

W2000-02431-COA-R3-CV
Husband sued for divorce, alleging inappropriate marital conduct. Wife filed an answer and counter-complaint, but later dismissed the counter-complaint and chose to contest the divorce. Trial court granted divorce to husband. Wife appeals, alleging that the trial court abused its discretion in granting the divorce on grounds of inappropriate marital conduct without evidence to corroborate husband's allegations and that husband had failed to carry his burden of proving cruel and inhuman treatment. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Ron E. Harmon
Carroll County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Jehiel Fields vs. State

E1999-00915-SC-R11-PC
The sole issue in this appeal is whether our decision in State v. Burns, 6 S.W.3d 453 (Tenn. 1999), changed the standard by which appellate courts review denials of post-conviction relief based on allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel. The Court of Criminal Appeals in this case affirmed the denial of the appellant's post-conviction petition, although it expressed concern that this Court inadvertently changed the standard of appellate review in Burns to require a de novo review of a trial court's factual findings regarding claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. While we reaffirm that such claims are mixed questions of law and fact subject to de novo review, we emphasize that Burns did not change the standard of review in this context. Consistent with the Rules of Appellate Procedure, our language in Burns meant only that a trial court's findings of fact be reviewed de novo, with a presumption that those findings are correct unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. A trial court's conclusions of law are also reviewed under a de novo standard, although the trial court's legal conclusions are accorded no deference or presumption of correctness on appeal. Because the Court of Criminal Appeals correctly applied the appropriate standard of review in this case, the judgment of that court is affirmed, and the appellant's petition for post-conviction relief is dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Originating Judge:R. Steven Bebb
Bradley County Supreme Court 02/20/01
Jeffrey Ward vs. Valarie Ward

W2000-01081-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a change of child custody action. Mother was awarded custody of Child pursuant to a marital dissolution agreement. Thereafter, Mother had sexual relations with a minor. This relationship led to an assault on minor by a third party in the presence of Child. This assault revealed the relationship of Mother and minor to the minor's parents. Pursuant to a deal with the minor's parents, Mother was forced to relocate to another state. When Father discovered the circumstances surrounding this relationship, he petitioned for a change of custody on the basis that Mother had exposed Child to criminal activity. In addition, Father cited Mother's refusal to grant him visitation and charged that she was improperly caring for Child. The trial court found a material change of circumstances requiring a comparison of the fitness of the parents. The court found Father more fit and granted a change of custody. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:George R. Ellis
Crockett County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Phillip Page vs. Lucille Page

W2000-01314-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:John R. Mccarroll, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Lorrie Barnes vs. Richard Barnes

W2000-01285-COA-R3-CV
Father filed a petition for change of custody of the parties' three minor children. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court found that there had been a material change of circumstances and that a change of custody to Father was in the best interest of the children. Mother has appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Don H. Allen
Madison County Court of Appeals 02/20/01
Shawn Farien vs. Regina Farien

W2000-00656-COA-R3-CV
This is a child custody case. The parties and their minor child lived in Tennessee with the father's parents. The mother moved to Georgia with the child to live with her parents. Custody was awarded to the mother, and the father was granted broad visitation rights. The father appeals. We affirm, finding that the custody award is based in large part on the trial court's determinations of credibility and assessment of the parties' demeanor, and finding that the evidence does not preponderate against the award of custody to the mother.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:D'Army Bailey
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/01