APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State vs. Walter Lee Allen

E1998-00416-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Originating Judge:Ben W. Hooper, II
Jefferson County Supreme Court 02/22/02
Tony Makoka v. Howard Cook

M2001-01013-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Estate of Theresa Cunningham

M2001-01965-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiff filed a claim against the estate of the deceased more than eighteen months after the first publication of notice to creditors and twenty months after her death. The trial court granted him a judgment against the estate for the full amount of his claim. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Floyd Don Davis
Franklin County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Lisa Davis v. Charles Jensen

M2001-00973-COA-R3-CV
Appellant, an incarcerated prisoner in the Department of Corrections of California, appeals the action of the Juvenile Court of Williamson County in terminating his parental rights to his biological child. He refused to participate in the termination hearing by means of telephonic communication as authorized by the trial court demanding, instead, that the trial court either continue the case until after his release from confinement, or have him transported from California to Williamson County for personal participation. The trial court held that he waived his right to participation in the termination proceedings and terminated his parental rights. We affirm the trial court.

Originating Judge:Alfred L. Nations
Williamson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
William Steele v. Richard Berkman

M2001-02250-COA-R10-CV
This appeal arises from a medical malpractice complaint filed by the Appellees in the Circuit Court of Davidson County against the Appellant, six other doctors, and two hospitals. The Appellant filed a motion for summary judgment. The trial court denied the Appellant's motion for summary judgment. The Appellant filed an application for extraordinary appeal with this Court pursuant to Rule 10 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. This Court granted the application for extraordinary appeal. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the trial court's denial of summary judgment against the Appellant.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
State vs. Walter Lee Allen

E1998-00416-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Originating Judge:Ben W. Hooper, II
Jefferson County Supreme Court 02/22/02
Tony Makoka v. Howard Cook

M2001-01013-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
Christy Bauer vs. William Bauer

M2001-00266-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case, the Trial Court awarded custody of the child of the parties to the mother, and awarded attorney fees to the mother. Father has appealed these awards. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 02/22/02
State of Tennessee v. Timothy S. Oglesby

M2000-02134-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Timothy S. Oglesby, pled guilty to the offense of felonious possession of a weapon.  He received a two (2)-year sentence. Contemporaneously with the entry of the guilty plea the appellant and the State entered an agreed order purporting to reserve a certified question of law for appeal pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37(b)(2)(i). The certified question of law alleged to be dispositive of the case is stated in the agreed order as “the denial of his suppression motion.” We hold that the absence in the judgment of the certified question of law or of a statement incorporating the agreed order into the judgment compels a dismissal of this appeal. In addition, the failure of the agreed order to set forth the certified question with sufficient specificity compels the dismissal of this appeal even if the agreed order had been incorporated by reference into the judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge L. Craig Johnson
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/21/02
Omawali Shabazz, aka Fred Edmond Dean vs. Greeley Wells

E2001-02315-COA-R3-CV
In this suit, wherein Omawali Ashanti Shabazz, a/k/a, Fred Edmond Dean, seeks to acquire certain materials held in the office of the District Attorney General. The Trial Court denied the relief he sought because, under Tenn.R.Crim. P. 16, he was not entitled to the material while a post-conviction proceeding was pending. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 02/21/02
Omawali Shabazz, aka Fred Edmond Dean vs. Greeley Wells

E2001-02315-COA-R3-CV
In this suit, wherein Omawali Ashanti Shabazz, a/k/a, Fred Edmond Dean, seeks to acquire certain materials held in the office of the District Attorney General. The Trial Court denied the relief he sought because, under Tenn.R.Crim. P. 16, he was not entitled to the material while a post-conviction proceeding was pending. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 02/21/02
Don Long vs. Ralph & Edna Langley

W2001-01490-COA-R3-CV
This a lawsuit between the two stockholders of Gene Langley Ford, Inc., an automobile dealership. The issues involve the percentage of ownership owned by the two stockholders and whether the defendant paid himself an excessive salary for managing the business. The Chancellor held that the plaintiff owns forty-nine (49%) of the stock and the defendant owns fifty-one percent (51%). He further held that the defendant's salary was not excessive. We reverse the Chancellor's decision regarding the ownership of the stock and hold that each party owns fifty percent (50%). We affirm the Chancellor's decision that the defendant's salary was reasonable.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Acree
Originating Judge:George R. Ellis
Gibson County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
Shelia Bland vs. Jerry Bland

W2001-01705-COA-R3-CV
Husband appeals from a final decree of divorce as to the amount of alimony awarded and the award of attorney fees. We affirm and modify.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris
Henderson County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
ANR Pipeline Co., Colonial Pipeline Co., Columbia Gulf Transmission Co., et al. v. TN Board of Equalization

M2001-01098-COA-R12-CV
Pipelines for the transport of petroleum products were installed sub-surface by various companies which acquired easements over affected freeholds. These pipelines were assessed as real estate for purposes of taxation. Petitions for Review were filed by the Pipeline Companies alleging that the pipelines were personal property. The decision of the Board of Equalization is reversed.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Williamson County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
Angela Lem Mons v. P & P Enterpr Ises, Llc

M2001-00616-WC-R3-CV
The employee appeals the finding of the trial court that she failed to carry her burden of proof that her injuries arose out of and in the course of her employment. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Howell N. Peoples, Special Judge
Originating Judge:James E. Walton, Judge
Robertson County Workers Compensation Panel 02/20/02
Joyce Howell vs. Phillip Howell

W2001-01167-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris
Madison County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
Joyce Howell vs. Phillip Howell

W2001-01167-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris
Madison County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
Alfred/Florence Garionis vs. Andre Pride & Charles Holland

W2001-01682-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiffs filed a suit for personal injuries arising out of an automobile accident. Through their attorney, they reached a settlement of their claims. Thereafter, they sought to set aside the settlement upon the grounds that they had not authorized their attorney to accept the defendants' offer. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court found that the plaintiffs had authorized their attorney to settle the case and entered an order enforcing the settlement. We hold that the findings of the trial court are supported by a preponderance of the evidence and affirm the lower court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Acree
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
State of Tennessee v. Gonzalo Moran Garcia

M2000-01760-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Gonzalo Moran Garcia, appeals his conviction by a jury in the Davidson County Criminal Court of one count of possession of one thousand grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, a class A felony. He raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying his pre-trial motion to suppress; (2) whether the trial court erred in admitting at trial the testimony of Daniel A. Rosales, an officer employed by the Houston Police Department in Texas; (3) whether the evidence underlying the appellant’s conviction is sufficient; and (4) whether the trial court erred in rejecting his proposed jury instructions. Following a thorough review f the record and the parties’ briefs, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this case
to the trial court for a new trial.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/20/02
Marilyn Yount v. Bruce Yount

M2001-01335-COA-R3-CV
The trial court granted a divorce to the wife, and awarded her alimony in futuro of $2,000 per month. The husband argues on appeal that the wife does not need any alimony, and that he himself does not have the ability to pay the alimony. The proof shows that he does indeed have the ability to pay, but that the wife's needs are more appropriately served by an award of rehabilitative alimony. We modify the alimony award accordingly.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Carol A. Catalano
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
State/Mae Clark vs. Charles Clark

W2001-01896-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves an obligor parent's failure to comply with court ordered child support obligations. The State of Tennessee, on behalf of a custodial parent, sought to reduce arrearage in the obligations to judgment. The State was successful and the custodial parent was awarded $14,000.00 in arrearage. The obligor parent appealed and, for the following reasons, we affirm the lower court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Clayburn L. Peeples
Haywood County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
State of Tennessee v. Gonzalo Moran Garcia

M2000-01760-CCA-R3-CD

After careful review of the record, I write separately because I reach a different conclusion than that expressed in the majority opinion with respect to the defendant's motion to suppress the evidence obtained during the search of his vehicle. I agree with the majority on all other matters raised in this appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/20/02
Eagle Vision vs. Odyssey Medical

W2001-01772-COA-R3-CV
This is an action for misappropriation of trade secrets in which the manufacturer of a surgical product allegedly misappropriated the product design and marketed a competing product after the developer discontinued its relationship with manufacturer. Trial court granted summary judgment in favor of manufacturer on all claims. We reverse and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/20/02
Jarrett W Illiam Utley v. Bridgestone/Firestone

M2001-00090-WC-R3-CV
The employee appeals and contends the trial court erred (1) in finding his claim for a work-related repetitive injury was barred by the statute of limitations, and (2) in concluding that his injury on September 2, 1997 did not result in any permanent disability. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Howell N. Peoples, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Tom E. Gray, Chancellor
Sumner County Workers Compensation Panel 02/20/02
David Schwab v. David Miller

M2001-00932-COA-R3-CV
The Chancery Court of Williamson County held that in order to claim a major benefit of an employment contract the employee had to be employed when the other contingencies in the contract were met. We affirm the lower court's interpretation.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:R.E. Lee Davies
Williamson County Court of Appeals 02/20/02