APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Robert Smith vs. Warden Larry Craven

W2001-00955-COA-R3-CV
Petitioner appeals from the trial court's order denying Petitioner's petition for writ of certiorari. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Jon Kerry Blackwood
Hardeman County Court of Appeals 10/12/01
State of Tennessee v. Michael Fields

M2000-01657-CCA-R3-CD

In 1992, the defendant, Michael Fields, was convicted of two counts of sale of cocaine; the trial court imposed concurrent sentences of eight years in community corrections. In 1993, the defendant pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to sell; the trial court imposed an additional sentence of eight years in community corrections and ordered it to be served concurrently with the 1992 sentences. In February of 1997, the trial court revoked the community corrections sentences and ordered the defendant to serve the remainder of his sentences in the Department of Correction. In May of 1997, the defendant entered a plea of nolo contendere to possession with intent to sell less than one-half gram of cocaine; the trial court imposed a sentence of three years, consecutive to his prior sentences, for an effective sentence on all offenses of 11 years, and granted probation. On July 1, 1998, a probation violation warrant was filed in all three cases. The defendant was ordered to serve 30 days of periodic confinement for the violations. On August 1, 1999, another probation violation warrant, which was later amended, was served on the defendant. Ultimately, probation in all three cases was revoked. In this appeal of right, the defendant complains that he had completed his sentence and the trial court had no authority to revoke probation. In the alternative, the defendant argues that if the sentence had not been completed, he should have been returned to intensive probation. The judgments are affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge John H. Gasaway, III
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/12/01
State of Tennessee v. Michael Dean Baugh

M2001-00354-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant entered a best interest guilty plea to aggravated burglary for an agreed sentence of three years as a Range I standard offender, with the potential for alternative sentencing left to the discretion of the trial court, and a misdemeanor theft count was dismissed. Prior to the sentencing hearing, the defendant filed a motion to set aside his plea pursuant to Tenn. R. Crim. P. 32(f), claiming he unknowingly entered it. Following a hearing, the trial court concluded the plea was knowingly entered and denied the defendant's request for alternative sentencing. In this appeal, the defendant claims the trial court erred (1) by denying his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, and (2) by denying alternative sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Lee Russell
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/12/01
In re: The Estate of Luther Garrett

M1999-01282-COA-R3-CV
The testator, a father of six, left a will which devised to one of his children a specific tract of land which, according to the will, was described in an attached survey map. No survey map was attached to the will. Appellant, the recipient of that bequest, disagreed with his siblings about the size of the tract to which he was entitled. After hearing both parties' evidence, the trial court found that the testator's intent was to devise separate seven acre tracts to both Appellant and one of his brothers with the remainder of the estate's property to be divided equally among the six children. Appellant then commenced this appeal. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Billy Joe White
Fentress County Court of Appeals 10/12/01
Sheila Byrd vs. David Buhl

M2001-00070-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a custody and visitation dispute brought by divorced parents having joint custody of their child. After the mother of the child moved out of state, the child's father petitioned the court for change of custody. The mother then counter-petitioned the court for an increase in child support. After a hearing on the matter, the court altered the previous visitation agreement, increased child support, granted the father the right to claim the child as a dependent for income tax purposes, and refused to grant the mother attorney's fees. This appeal followed and for the following reasons, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Carol A. Catalano
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 10/12/01
Terry Brough vs. Muriel Adcroft

W2001-00786-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a trial court's grant of prejudgment interest on arbitration awards. Subsequent to an automobile accident, the plaintiffs filed suit against their uninsured motorist policy carrier and another individual involved in the accident. The case proceeded to arbitration and the plaintiffs were awarded $140,000.00, which was paid by the insurance company. Upon obtaining new counsel, the plaintiffs learned of a relationship between the arbitrator and the insurance company and motioned the court to vacate the arbitration award. The trial court granted plaintiff's motion and resubmitted the case for a second arbitration. The plaintiffs were awarded $245,000.00 at the second arbitration and, soon after, motioned the court for prejudgment interest on the award. The trial court awarded the plaintiffs $71,042.72 of prejudgment interest. The insurance company appealed the decision to grant prejudgment interest and both parties have contested the method of calculation employed by the trial court. For the following reasons, we affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand this case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:George H. Brown
Shelby County Court of Appeals 10/12/01
James E. Gunter v. U.C.H.R.A. and Kristi A. Poore

M1999-01591-COA-R3-CV
In this appeal, the appellant, Mr. Gunter, filed a claim for personal injury and property damages against a local governmental entity in general sessions court. The governmental entity orally moved to dismiss citing the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, which grants exclusive jurisdiction over these cases to the circuit court. The general sessions court denied the motion and transferred the case to circuit court, and that court dismissed the action based on the statute of limitations. Mr. Gunter now appeals the dismissal of his case by the circuit court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Conrad E. Troutman, Jr.
Fentress County Court of Appeals 10/11/01
State of Tennessee v. Jerry W. Jordan - Concurring and Dissenting

M1999-00813-CCA-R3-CD

I agree with the majority opinion in all respects except for the failure to charge the lesser included offense. Although I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the failure to charge reckless homicide was error, I would find the failure to charge the lesser offense harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/11/01
Eileen Dunloy v. Brian Dunloy

M2000-03103-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Lee Russell
Marshall County Court of Appeals 10/11/01
Eileen Dunloy v. Brian Dunloy

M2000-03103-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Lee Russell
Marshall County Court of Appeals 10/11/01
M2001-00095-COA-R3-CV

M2001-00095-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Frank G. Clement, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/11/01
Charles Moore v. Clyde Green

M2000-03203-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute concerning the estate of Nellie K. Ellis. The plaintiffs, Charles W. Moore, Linda Moore Maggart (Executrix of the estate of Herschel Moore, deceased), Ray Swing, Juantia Swing Sircy, Jeane S. Pennington, and James E. Swing, contested the decision to admit the will to probate. Their position is that the will is invalid because of a train of circumstances which shows the will was (1) not properly executed, (2) the testator lacked sufficient mental capacity, or (3) the beneficiary exercised undue influence over the testator. The trial court granted the defendant Clyde Green summary judgment, holding that the will was properly executed and that the plaintiffs did not adequately prove undue influence or lack of mental capacity. We affirm the trial court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Judge John J. Maddux, Jr.
Originating Judge:Frank G. Clement, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/11/01
State of Tennessee v. Jerry W. Jordan

M1999-00813-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Jerry W. Jordan, was convicted of second degree murder in the Criminal Court of Davidson County. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range I offender to twenty-two years of imprisonment. In his appeal as of right pursuant to Rule 3(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Defendant argues that (1) the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support a verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, (2) the Defendant’s Due Process and Equal Protection rights were violated when the State excluded four African-American jurors, (3) the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury as to reckless homicide as a lesser-included offense, and (4) the trial court erred in sentencing the Defendant to twenty-two years.  We reverse the Defendant’s second degree murder conviction due to the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury regarding reckless homicide as a lesser-included offense to first degree murder.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/11/01
Thomas Harrison, et al. v. Earl Laursen, et al.

M2001-00073-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves pre-judgment interest on unpaid attorney's fees. The defendants owed the law firm attorney's fees alleged to be in the amount of $16,544.52 that accrued between November 1990 to April 1993. In 1996, the parties orally agreed to a lesser payment of $7,000.00 in settlement of the larger debt. The defendants paid $1,500.00 but failed to pay the remaining balance owed. The trial court ordered Defendants to pay pre-judgment interest on the unpaid fees and Defendants appeal. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Robert L. Jones
Giles County Court of Appeals 10/10/01
Kenneth Varney v. Heather Roemer

M2000-03234-COA-R3-CV
This is a post-divorce custody case in which Father alleged a change of circumstances due to step-father disciplining the two minor children in an inappropriate manner, Mother not being able to provide a stable and consistent home and school environment, the children experiencing emotional problems while in Mother's home, and Mother voluntarily relinquishing custody. The trial court found that Father failed to demonstrate a change of circumstances warranting change of custody. Although the two children had been living with Father, the court refused to change the initial award of custody to Mother. We find that the evidence preponderates against the trial court's determination regarding changes in circumstances and that, by focusing on one alleged incident of inappropriate discipline, the court failed to consider other circumstances relevant to the inquiry.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Arthur E. Mcclellan
Sumner County Court of Appeals 10/10/01
John T. King v. Anne B. Pope, Commissioner of The Tennessee

M2000-02127-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/10/01
Kurt Seraphine v. Aqua Bath

M2000-02662-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from the grant of Appellees' motion for summary judgment. Appellant, a former employee of Appellee company, brought various claims against the company, and the company's top executives. Against the company, Appellant sought damages and specific performance based on an alleged breach of a stock option agreement and damages for breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing. Against the individual defendants, Appellant sued on claims of statutory and common law inducement to breach. Appellees counterclaimed for a declaratory judgment that Appellant had no option to purchase shares in the company because the option expired when his employment terminated. Summary judgment was granted on Appellees' declaratory judgment claim and Appellant's claims were dismissed. We reverse the trial court's holding that the stock option expired with termination of employment, but find Appellant has not demonstrated a breach of the stock option agreement or his right to any remedy thereunder. We affirm the trial court's grant of summary judgment on the breach of duty of good faith and intentional interference claims.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Claudia C. Bonnyman
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/10/01
State of Tennessee v. David M. Black

M2000-02935-COA-R3-CD

Originating Judge:Clara W. Byrd
Sumner County Court of Appeals 10/10/01
State v. David Black

M2000-02935-COA-R3-CV
The State has petitioned this court to rehear its decision in this case. The state also requested, and was twice granted, additional time to supplement or correct the appellate record to include an amended judgment reflecting the details of Mr. Black's 1997 conviction and sentencing. The State has now filed this amended judgment properly certified by the trial court which heard Mr. Black's petition for restoration of citizenship. The amended judgment was introduced at the hearing on the restoration petition but was not included in the record in the appeal. Because the trial judge has certified that the amended judgment was introduced and considered in the hearing, we grant the State's motion to supplement the record.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Clara W. Byrd
Sumner County Court of Appeals 10/10/01
State of Tennessee v. Timothy Clark Newson

E2001-00974-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Timothy Clark Newson, appeals from his conviction for aggravated kidnapping, contesting the sufficiency of the evidence. We affirm the judgment of conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/10/01
State of Tennessee v. Terry Jerome Thomas

E2001-00431-CCA-R3-CD

Following a trial, a Hamilton County jury convicted the defendant of rape, and the trial court sentenced him to ten years imprisonment. In this appeal, the defendant alleges (1) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction, and (2) his sentence was excessive. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/10/01
State of Tennessee v. Stephanie Renae Person

W2000-02859-CCA-R3-CD

A Madison County jury convicted the Defendant of misdemeanor theft of property, and the trial court sentenced her to eleven months and twenty-nine days of incarceration. The judgment of the trial court specified that the Defendant must serve seventy-five percent of the sentence prior to eligibility for work release, furlough, trusty status, and rehabilitative programs. The Defendant now appeals, challenging both the sufficiency of the evidence and the sentence that was imposed. Finding that the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction and that the sentence was properly imposed, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/10/01
City of Lebanon vs. Raymond Harris

M1999-01025-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the zoning and sign ordinances of Lebanon, Tennessee. Mr. Harris had placed small outdoor insulated metal storage buildings at several properties within the city of Lebanon. The buildings had on the sides information advertising his company and a phone number to contact him for information to buy or rent one of these buildings. He was fined for violations of the City of Lebanon ordinance allowing only one principal building and its customary accessory buildings on a lot and for violation of the sign ordinance. The circuit court reversed the city court's fines and held that the buildings were not principal buildings and that they were not portable signs. For the reasons below, we affirm the circuit court's decision in part and reverse in part.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Clara W. Byrd
Wilson County Court of Appeals 10/10/01
Oliver Randolph, et al vs. Coffee County Beer Bd.

M2001-00077-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal by the Coffee County Beer Board from a decision of the Coffee County Circuit Court ordering the Beer Board to issue permits to Oliver Randolph and Susan Nichols. The trial court concluded that the Coffee County Beer Board regulation prohibiting the issuance of a beer permit to an applicant within two thousand feet of a school or church was void because of discriminatory application of this regulation. The County has appealed this decision insisting that it had uniformly enforced its distance rule including a grandfather provision which authorized the reissuance of permits to nonconforming locations who had enjoyed such a privilege prior to the readoption of the county resolution in 1980. For the reasons stated in this opinion, we affirm the trial court's decision and remand the case.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. S. Steve Daniel
Originating Judge:John W. Rollins
Coffee County Court of Appeals 10/10/01
Raymond Workman, et ux v. Wal-Mart Stores East, Inc.

M2001-00664-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal by Wal-Mart, Inc., from a jury verdict and a judgment totaling $30,000 in favor of Raymond D. Workman and Nola Ann Workman, for damages caused by a slip and fall Mr. Workman suffered at Wal-Mart's store. Wal-Mart, Inc. has appealed this judgment insisting that the trial court erred by not setting aside the jury verdict and directing a verdict in their favor, or not granting a new trial. For the reasons stated in this opinion, we affirm the trial court's decision and remand the case.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. S. Steve Daniel
Originating Judge:Robert L. Holloway
Maury County Court of Appeals 10/10/01