APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State vs. Marilyn Skaggs

M1999-00428-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated burglary, one count of theft, and three counts of forgery. The Defendant was sentenced to serve sixty days in jail followed by six years of supervised probation. Subsequently, the Defendant's probation officer alleged that the Defendant violated the terms of her probation for numerous reasons. Following a hearing, the Defendant's probation was revoked. The Defendant now argues the following: (1) that the trial court erred in admitting as an exhibit a computer printout of summary notes, (2) that the trial court erred in admitting as an exhibit a faxed copy of an affidavit in lieu of the actual affidavit, and (3) that the court erred in revoking the Defendant's probation. After a review of the record and applicable law, we find no merit to the Defendant's contentions and thus affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Stella L. Hargrove
Wayne County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/00
State vs. Susan Blackburn

M1999-00295-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Susan Blackburn, was charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant and driving with a blood alcohol content of .10 percent or more. She was subsequently tried by jury in Williamson County and found guilty of third-offense driving under the influence. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred by overruling her motion for mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct, by improperly instructing the jury concerning the Defendant's level of blood alcohol concentration, by allowing the prosecutor to make improper remarks during closing arguments, and by improperly denying the Defendant's motion to suppress the results of her blood tests. We hold that the trial court properly overruled the Defendant's motion for mistrial based on prosecutorial misconduct, that the trial court properly instructed the jury with regard to the Defendant's blood alcohol concentration, that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by overruling the Defendant's objection to remarks made during closing arguments, and that the trial court did not err by overruling the Defendant's motion to suppress the results of her blood tests. Accordingly, we affirm the Defendant's conviction.
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Donald P. Harris
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/00
Reagan vs. Troy Malone, Sandra Malone and Dan Connelly

E1999-01846-COA-R3-CV
On a Rule 60, T.R.C.P. motion of plaintiff, the Chancellor combined judgments and added interest as one judgment. On appeal, the combined judgment was vacated.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Frank Brown, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 07/25/00
State vs. Matthew Johnston

E1999-00496-CCA-R3-CD
A Roane County jury convicted the Defendant of theft of an automobile valued at greater than $1,000.00, a Class D felony. He now appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the lesser-included offense of unauthorized use of an automobile. We conclude that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the requested lesser-included offense but that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:E. Eugene Eblen
Roane County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/00
State vs. Robert D. Ring

E1999-02088-CCA-R3-CD
After pleading guilty to vehicular homicide by intoxication, a Class B felony, the trial court ordered the defendant to serve his eight-year sentence on intensive probation, in-house arrest circumstances, subject further to the following conditions: (a) zero use of alcohol; (b) not own or drive an automobile; (c) alcohol counseling after evaluation; (d) payment of liquidated restitution to the victim's family within twenty-four (24) months; (e) any other conditions deemed prudent after intake of the Probation Department. The State appeals and asserts that the trial court erred in placing this defendant on probation because the trial court failed to consider the victim's impact testimony at the sentencing hearing. We agree that the trial court misapplied the applicable law characterizing the victim's impact testimony as a "victim's impact statement" and unduly limited the consideration of such statement to enhancing and mitigating factors. However, after de novo review of the record, we affirm the trial court's judgment, after considering all evidence presented, including the victim's impact testimony, concluding that the factors favoring an alternative sentence, specifically intensive probation, clearly outweigh any factors favoring incarceration.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/00
State vs. Greg Hartman

E2000-00685-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant was convicted by a Rhea County jury of attempt to commit kidnapping. The Defendant now appeals arguing that there was insufficient evidence presented at trial to convict him of attempt to commit kidnapping. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Thomas W. Graham
Rhea County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/00
Robert L. Taylor v. Michelle Bowers Taylor

E1999-01774-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:G. Richard Johnson
Unicoi County Court of Appeals 07/25/00
Morgan Lewis Ray vs. State

M1999-00531-CCA-R3-CD

Morgan Lewis Ray appeals his conviction by a jury in the Bedford County Circuit Court of one count of driving under the influence, fifth offense, a class A misdemeanor, and one count of driving on a revoked license, second or subsequent offense, a class A misdemeanor. The trial court imposed a sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration in the Bedford County Jail for driving under the influence, requiring service of one hundred percent of the sentence. The trial court also imposed a sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration for driving on a revoked license, requiring service of seventy-five percent of the sentence. On appeal, the appellant presents the following issue for review: whether the evidence produced at trial was sufficient to support both convictions. Following a review of the record and parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/00
State vs. Billy Joe Phillips,a.k.a. Billy Joe West, a.k.a Joseph L. Phillips

E1999-00542-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant was convicted by a jury of one count of driving while his driver's license was revoked, one count of criminal impersonation, and was found guilty of violating the implied consent law. The defendant claims there was insufficient evidence introduced to support his convictions. After a careful review, we affirm the defendant's conviction of criminal impersonation and reverse and dismiss the defendant's conviction for driving on a revoked driver's license.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:E. Eugene Eblen
Morgan County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/00
Christine Griffin v. Fireman's Fund Insurance Company,

W1999-02150-WC-R3-CV
This worker's compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _5-6-225 (e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The employer's insurance company, Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, appeals the judgment of the Chancery Court of Dyer County where the trial court held that future medical treatment would remain open in the two workers' compensation cases filed by the plaintiff, Ms.Griffin; and if the plaintiff required future medical care, a determination of responsibility would be made based upon the facts presented at that time. For the reasons stated in this opinion, We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Weatherford, Sr. J.
Originating Judge:J. Steven Stafford, Chancellor
Dyer County Workers Compensation Panel 07/25/00
Daylon Demetric Roberts vs. State

E1999-02180-CCA-R3-PC
The Defendant was convicted of murder perpetrated in an attempt to commit a robbery. His conviction was affirmed on appeal to this Court, and the Tennessee Supreme Court denied permission to appeal. The Defendant subsequently filed a petition for post-conviction relief. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied the petition. The Defendant now appeals the trial court's denial of post-conviction relief, arguing that conflicts with his attorneys prevented the attorneys from providing him effective assistance of counsel at trial and that the trial court forced him to proceed to trial despite those conflicts. Finding no error in the record before us, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Ray L. Jenkins
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/25/00
State of Tennessee v. Carlos Mcdonald

W1999-01459-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/24/00
State vs. Shannon Prier

W1999-01436-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant appeals her conviction for theft over $1,000 for which she received a two-year suspended sentence. The defendant comes before this court raising the following issues: 1) whether the evidence was sufficient to support her conviction; and 2) whether the trial court properly denied her petition for judicial diversion. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Joseph H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/24/00
State vs. Eddie Taylor

W1999-01803-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/24/00
Knoxville's Community Development Corp. vs. Woodfam Investments, L. P.,

E1999-02317-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff sued to reform or void release of deed restrictions on property owned by defendant. The Trial Court ruled plaintiff failed to establish a basis for relief by clear and convincing evidence. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Sharon J. Bell
Knox County Court of Appeals 07/24/00
State vs. Timothy Higgs

W1999-01534-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant appeals from a jury trial conviction for possession of contraband in a penal institution, a Class C felony. In this appeal, the defendant alleges the evidence was not sufficient to support his conviction. Concluding that the evidence was sufficient, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Weakley County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/24/00
Willard Hawk, Jr., et al vs. Chattanooga Orthopaedic Group, P.,C., et al

E1999-00687-COA-R9-CV
This is a medical malpractice case. We granted the plaintiffs' Tenn. R. App. P. 9 application for an interlocutory appeal in order to review an order of the trial court dismissing the amendments to the plaintiffs' original complaint and granting the defendants' motion in limine pertaining to evidence of a disabling hand condition of the defendant surgeon, Dr. David M. O'Neal. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Samuel H. Payne
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 07/24/00
Investments, Inc. vs. Hackney Petroleum, Inc.

E1999-02665-COA-R3-CV
In a dispute over the meaning of a notice of termination provision in the Lease, the Trial Judge ruled the notice given did not comply with the Lease and awarded damages for breach. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Jacqueline E. Schulten
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 07/24/00
Dempsey vs. Dempsey

M1998-00972-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the award of alimony and the division of one particular piece of marital property at the dissolution of a nineteen year marriage. Mr. Dempsey appeals the award of alimony in futuro rather than rehabilitative alimony, the amount of alimony as beyond his ability to pay, and the award of a tax refund for the year of the divorce to Ms. Dempsey. We modify the award of alimony in futuro to an award of rehabilitative alimony and affirm the distribution of marital property.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Appeals 07/21/00
R. David Ashley and E. Diana Ashley vs. Thomas A. Snapp

E1999-00908-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a grant of summary judgment in the Knox County Circuit Court. On appeal, R. David Ashley and E. Diana Ashley, the Appellants, argue that there are genuine issues of material fact with respect to their suit for malicious prosecution and abuse of process against Thomas A. Snapp and Robin Gratigny, the Appellees, and thus, the Trial Court erred in granting summary judgment. We vacate the Circuit Court's grant of summary judgment on the issue of malicious prosecution and remand to the Trial Court on that issue, and we affirm the Trial Court's grant of summary judgment on the issue of abuse of process.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Harold Wimberly
Knox County Court of Appeals 07/21/00
State of Tennessee v. James Admeral Yandal

W2002-01521-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Obion County Court of Criminal Appeals 07/21/00
Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency vs. Trinity Marine Nashville, Inc .

M1999-02162-COA-R3-CV
In this eminent domain condemnation proceeding, the Trial Court granted partial summary judgment to the condemnor on the amount of relocation expenses to be awarded the property owner as incidental damages based upon deposition testimony of an officer of the property owner. The property owner argues on appeal that summary judgment is improper in condemnation proceedings, and that the Trial Court erred in excluding from incidental damages amounts for a "burden rate" the property owner added to its actual hourly labor costs incurred in relocating from the condemned property. As the issue is a question of law and there are no questions of disputed material fact, summary judgment is appropriate. As the "burden rate" claimed by the property owner is not recoverable under the applicable statute, the judgment of the Trial Court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Barbara N. Haynes
Davidson County Court of Appeals 07/21/00
Logan vs. Winstead

E1999-01056-SC-R11-CV
This appeal arises from a prisoner's pro se action for legal malpractice against the attorney who represented him in criminal court on the charges underlying his sentence. The attorney filed a motion for summary judgment supported by an expert affidavit. The prisoner, relying upon Whisnant v. Byrd, 525 S.W.2d 152 (Tenn. 1975), filed a motion to hold the proceedings in abeyance until he was released from prison and able to appear in court. The trial court failed to rule on the motion for abeyance. The trial court entered summary judgment in favor of the attorney on the grounds that the prisoner had not offered an expert affidavit to rebut the attorney's proof. The Court of Appeals upheld the judgment. We granted review to determine under what circumstances an incarcerated plaintiff is entitled to have a civil action held in abeyance until he or she is released from custody.
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Originating Judge:John K. Wilson
Hawkins County Supreme Court 07/21/00
Bobby Ray Carper v. Ramer Wood Products

W1999-02147-WC-R3-CV
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _5-6-225(e) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The defendant, Ramer Wood Products (Ramer), appeals the judgment of the McNairy Chancery Court awarding permanent partial disability of thirty percent (3%) to the right arm and twenty-five percent (25%) to the left arm. For the reasons stated in this opinion, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as modified to a single award of twenty-seven and one-half percent (27-1/2%) permanent partial disability to both arms.
Authoring Judge: William Michael Maloan, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Dewey C. Whitenton, Chancellor
McNairy County Workers Compensation Panel 07/21/00
Vowell Ventures vs. City of Martin

W1999-01445-COA-R3-CV
Vowell Ventures, a partnership, sued the City of Martin alleging that the City denied Vowell Ventures' application for a building permit due to the fact that there was a sewer line and storm drain crossing the property. The complaint alleged that the denial of the application for the building permit constituted a taking of property without just compensation and sought judgment against the City for the taking. The trial court granted the City of Martin's Motion To Dismiss Or For Summary Judgment and we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Weakley County Court of Appeals 07/21/00