APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Barry Wells vs. Ron Rickard

02C01-9610-CV-00358

Originating Judge:Joseph H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/09/97
State of Tennessee v. David Paul Martin

03S01-9604-CR-00040

We granted review in this case to determine whether a court-ordered mental evaluation violated the defendant’s right against self-incrimination and the right to counsel under the United States and Tennessee Constitutions.

Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Judge Richard Baumgardner
Supreme Court 06/09/97
Pacific Properties, v. Home Federal Bank of Tennessee, v. Michael S. Stalcup

03A01-9701-CV-00020

This action for conversion was submitted to a jury which returned a general verdict for the plaintiff, thereby implicitly finding that the fact-driven principal defense of the Statute of Limitations was not well-taken. Home Federal appeals and presents for review issues which, as paraphrased, question the propriety of the submission of the case to the jury, whether the defense of Statute of Limitations was well-taken, as a matter of law, whether requested jury instructions should have been given and whether the drawer of a check adequately instructed the drawee Bank as to its disposition. Pacific Properties

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Judge William R. Holt, Jr.
Court of Appeals 06/09/97
Whitney Leigh Davidson, Minor Child, by next friend, Rozan Davidson, v. Donna Wright, et al.

03A01-9702-CH-00051

The Knox County Board of Education adopted a policy against the possession of weapons on school campuses for the school year beginning in September 1995. Whitney Leigh Davidson was provided a copy of the West High School Handbook which explained the policy and the consequences of its violation. On January 23, 1996, while a junior at West High School, she was suspended for a violation of the policy. Following a series of administrative hearings the Board of Education held a plenary hearing and upheld the decision to expel Ms Davidson for one year. Judicial review resulted in a finding that the Board had not acted arbitrarily, illegally or beyond its jurisdiction in expelling Ms. Davidson.

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Chancellor William Everett Lantripp
Knox County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
Keith Hardware, Inc. v. Douglas L. White and Carolyn L. White - Concurring

03A01-9610-CH-00339

The issue on this interlocutory appeal granted pursuant to T. R. A. P. Rule 9, is whether the lease between the parties is too broad to be enforceable, as was held by the Trial Court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Chancellor Lewis W. May
Washington County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
Crystal M. Trueitt v. Alan A. McCurry and Carmen Y. Silvels, v. Alan A. McCurry

03A01-9612-CV-00399

Crystal M. Trueitt and Carmen Y. Silvels, individually and as mother and next friend of Christopher M. Silvels, a minor,2 appeal jugements rendered in heir favor in the Circuit Court for Hamilton County in the amount of $1,033.36, $1,004.60, and $98.50, respectively.

 

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston P. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge Samuel H. Payne
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
Corbin Dale Meador, v. Linda J. Meador

03A01-9612-CV-00405

The controversy presently on appeal attacks a judgment entered in a post-divorce petition for contempt, wherein Linda J. Meador seeks to recover property she contends was awarded he i the divorce decree and to find her fomer husband, Corbin Dale Meador in contempt of court for refusing to deliver the property to her.

 

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert M. Summitt
Originating Judge:Presiding Judge Houston P. Goddard
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
State of Tennessee vs. Eldred Reid

01C01-9511-CC-00390

The Appellant, Eldreid Reid, appeals as of right his conviction and sentence for one count of rape. He argues on appeal:

 (1) The trial court erred when it permitted the State to introduce evidence that Dorey Horton’s daughter had charged her with assault.
(2) The trial court erred in refusing to permit him to elicit certain testimony from Dorey Horton and in not allowing him to make an offer of proof regarding that testimony.
(3) The trial court erred when it prohibited him from introducing testimony that the first grand jury which considered the case returned a no true bill.
(4) His sentence is excessive.


We have reviewed the record presented in this appeal and find no reversible error. Accordingly, we affirm the Appellant’s conviction and sentence.

Authoring Judge: Judge William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Judge J. S. Daniel
Rutherford County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/06/97
Casey Lynn Burgess, v. Brenda Lea (Burgess) Welch

03A01-9703-PB-00077

By this appeal Casey Lynn Burgess insists that the Trial Court was in error in dismissing his petition for change of custody of his two children, custody of whom by the divorce decree was awarded to Ms. Welch.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Judge John A. Bean
Cumberland County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
State of Tennessee vs. Michael Robey

01C01-9607-CR-00291

The appellant, Michael Wayne Robey, was indicted on two counts of aggravated burglary and two counts of theft. As part of a plea agreement, the two theft charges were dismissed; and he pled guilty to two counts of aggravated burglary. The appellant was classified as a Range II, multiple offender and the state recommended concurrent sentences of seven years at 35%.

Authoring Judge: Judge Paul G. Summers
Originating Judge:Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/06/97
Gladstone Ralph Hobbs v. Mollie Jane Hobbs - Concurring

03A01-9702-CV-00063

This is a divorce action. The defendant (wife) assertson this appeal, among other things, that the trial court abused its discretion in denying a continuance of the trial. The record reflects that there was a great deal of confusion as to the way and manner the case was set for trial because of the resignation of the former Circuit Judge. The wife's counsel claims to have had no notice of the trial date until the day the case was set for trial. On that date, he applied to the court for a continuance. The court continued the case until the following morning at 7:00 a.m. Prior to the trial, the court allowed the wife's attorney to make a motion for a continuance on the record, with a written motion, to be filed as exhibit No.1. Counsel's affidavit supporting the motion for a continuance was allowed to be filed as exhibit 2.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Chester Mahood
Greene County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
Aeyon Cho v. Dae-Young Jeong - Concurring

03A01-9608-CV-00257

We granted the application of Dae-Young Jeong (Husband) for an interlocutory appeal pursuant to Rule 9, T.R.A.P., to consider whether the trial court has subject matter jurisdiction to grant his wife, the plaintiff Aeyon Cho (Wife), an absolute divorce.

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Bill Swan
Knox County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
State of Tennessee vs. John Claude Wells, III

01C01-9505-CR-00146

The appellant, John Claude Wells, III, (defendant), was convicted of nine (9) counts of aggravated sexual battery, a Class B felony, by a jury of his peers. The trial court, finding the defendant to be a standard offender, imposed a Range I sentence consisting of confinement for ten (10) years in the Department of Correction in each of the nine counts. The sentences must be served consecutively. The effective sentence imposed was confinement for ninety (90) years in the Department of Correction.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joe B. Jones
Originating Judge:Judge Ann Lacy Johns
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/06/97
First Tennessee Bank, National Association, v. Jessi O. Quillian

03A01-9701-CH-00014

This case originated as an action to collect monies due under the terms of a promissory note executed by the defendant to the plaintiff First Tennessee Bank, National Association. An answer was filed by the defendant admitting the execution of the note and that there was an outstanding balance thereon. He also filed a counterclaim in which he sought a setoff and damages for forged checks drawn on his account and paid by the bank. The trial court on motion of the plaintiff, entered a summary judgment against the defendant on the original complaint and dismissed the counterclaim. A judgment in the amount of $34,399.24 was entered against the defendant. This appeal resulted. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Chancellor R. Vann Owens
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
Anthony W. Nance and Brandon Nance v. Christopher H. Strunk

03A01-9701-CV-00037

In this action arisitn grom a motor vehicle accident, the defendants were granted summary judgment and plaintiffs have appealed.

Authoring Judge: Justice Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Conrad E. Troutman, Jr.
Campbell County Court of Appeals 06/06/97
Jorge Ariel Sanjines, M.D., v. Ortwein and Associates, P.C., William H. Ortwein, J. Cris Helton, and John R. Morgan

3A01-9702-CV-00060

Plaintiff, incarcerated in prison, brought this action against this attorney for alleged malpractice in representing him in the charges brought against him for criminal conduct.

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 06/05/97
W. Dale Gordon v. Robbyn Gordon - Concurring

03A01- 9702- CV- 00054

This is a divorce case that comes to us in an unusual posture. The Husband filed his original complaint on April 3, 1996.  No answer was filed by the Wife.  A marital dissolution agreement was filed on June 12, 1996. The marital dissolution agreement provided for the division of  the parties' property and further contained the following provision:

The parties agree that they are equally responsible for the breakdown of  the marriage and respectfully request the court to declare them divorced rather than awarding a divorce to either party alone.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Conrad Troutman, Jr.
Scott County Court of Appeals 06/05/97
Deborah Hendrix, v. First Tennessee National Corporation, D/B/A First Tennessee Bank

03A01-9701-CV-00032

This action for damages for defamation and outrageous conduct was dismissed on motion for summary judgment. The plaintiff presents the propriety of the dismissal for appellate review, which is de novo on the record with no presumption of correctness. Johnson v. EMPE, Inc., 837 S.W.2d 62, 68 (Tenn. App. 1992).

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Judge G. Richard Johnson
Court of Appeals 06/05/97
Brian Grant vs. Tonya Grant

02A01-9603-CV-00053
Court of Appeals 06/05/97
Mabel Donnelly v. Robert E. Walter M. D. and Hermitage Nursing Center - Concurring

03A01-9610-CV-00323

Plaintiff Mabel Donnelly (Donnelly) appealed the trial court’s denial of her motion to reconsider a grant of summary judgment to the defendants Dr.  Robert E. Walter (Dr. Walter) and Hermitage Nursing Home (Hermitage).  She presents for our review the question of whether the denial of her  motion to reconsider was an abuse of the trial court’s discretion. For their part, the defendants contend that Donnelly’s appeal should be dismissed because of her failure to serve a copy of the notice of appeal on the clerk of this court. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor G. Richard Johnson
Carter County Court of Appeals 06/05/97
Richard Gause D/B/A Roofworks of Tennessee, v. Anice Cole, D/B/A Riverside Shop and Jerry Ogle

03A01-9707-CH-00001

This case originated as an action to enforce a lien for work and materials pursuant to  T. C. A. § 66- 11- 126. The plaintiff alleged that he had furnished equipment, labor, and materials which were used for improvements on the property which the defendant, Cole occupied as lessee and the defendant, Ogle, was an owner. The defendant, Ogle, filed an answer, generally stated that he owned an interest in the subject property, but was without sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations set forth in the complaint.

 

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Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Chancellor Chester R. Rainwater, Jr.
Sevier County Court of Appeals 06/05/97
Terri G. Bowers, v. Frederick Allan Bowers

03A01-9701-CV-00008

In this custody dispute, the Trial Judge granted custody of the parties' child to the father, and the mother has appealed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Originating Judge:Judge Bill Swann
Knox County Court of Appeals 06/04/97
Edward J. Eyring, M.D., v. Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center, Inc., and Fort Sanders Alliance, Inc.

03A01-9607-CV-00240

We are primarily called upon in this appeal to decide whether the Tennessee Peer Review Law of 1967 ( T. C. A. § 63-6-219) ( t he La w), grants immunity to hospitals for actions taken against physicians. 1. Parkwest Hospital was purchased by Fort Sanders Alliance in 1990 and became known as Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center. We hereafter refer to the hospital as "Parkwest". 2.  upon recommendations of peer review boards or committees.  For reasons hereinafter stated, we believe that the law was intended to, and does, grant hospitals such immunity. We affimr the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm
Knox County Court of Appeals 06/04/97
State of Tennessee vs. Michael D. Frazier

03C01-9602-CR-00084

The appellant, Michael Frazier, appeals from the sentencing judgment of the Criminal Court of Knox County. He was tried for attempt to commit murder in the first degree and was convicted of attempt to commit voluntary manslaughter, a Class D felony. The appellant received a sentence of four years as a standard (Range I) offender. On appeal the following issues are raised: (1) sentencing at the maximum time within the range and (2) the denial of probation.

Authoring Judge: Judge Curwood Witt
Originating Judge:Judge Richard Baumgartner
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/04/97
Christopher Brian Minnich, v. Nancy Graves Roberson

03A01-9612-CV-00384

This is an appeal from the judgment of the trial court granting joint custody of the parties' minor children to the parties, with the husband having primary residential custody. For reasons hereinafter stated, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Don T. McMurray
Originating Judge:Judge Bill Swann
Court of Appeals 06/04/97