APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Charter Lakeside Behavioral Health vs. Tennessee Health Facilities Comm., et al

M1998-00985-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute arising out of the construction of a mental health treatment facility in Shelby County. As the facility neared completion, a corporation operating a competing facility filed a petition with the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission seeking a declaratory order that the new facility could not begin operating until it obtained a certificate of need. After the Commission declined to render a declaratory order, the competing corporation petitioned the Chancery Court for Davidson County for a declaratory judgment that the new facility could not begin operating without a certificate of need. The trial court initially dismissed the petition because of the competitor's delay in challenging the construction of the facility. After this court reversed and remanded the case for further consideration, the trial court remanded the case to the Commission to determine whether the new facility had been constructed before the certificate of need laws had been expanded to cover such facilities. On this appeal both the competing corporation and the Commission assert that the trial court erred by not rendering a declaratory judgment based on the existing administrative record. While this appeal was pending, the competing corporation sold its Shelby County facility to another corporation but retained its interest in this litigation. We have determined that this appeal no longer involves a justiciable issue because the competing corporation no longer operates a facility in Shelby County and, therefore, is not entitled to judicial relief. Accordingly, we vacate the judgment and remand the case to the trial court with directions to dismiss the petition for declaratory judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/30/01
State of Tennessee v. Reco R. Douglas

W2000-00085-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant's conviction for first degree murder during perpetration of robbery was reversed by this court in 1998. The defendant was subsequently retried, again convicted of first degree murder during the perpetration of a robbery, and sentenced to life imprisonment. This appeal followed, whereby the defendant alleges the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction, and the trial court erroneously admitted the audio recording and transcript of the victim's phone call to 911. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the defendant's conviction and sentence.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge W. Fred Axley
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/30/01
In the Matter of: All Assessments, Review of Ad Valorem Assessments of Public Utility Companies for Tax Year 1999 and Tax Year 2000

M2000-00399-COA-R12-CV
In these consolidated cases, a consortium of counties and cities appeals the actions of the Tennessee State Board of Equalization in reducing public utility assessments by fifteen per cent. Acknowledging that all sub-constitutional issues involved in the cases have been foreclosed by the decision of the Tennessee Supreme Court in In Re: All Assessments 1998, No. M1998-00243-SC-R11-CV, 2000 WL 1710174 (Tenn. Nov. 16, 2000), Appellants challenge the constitutionality of Tennessee Code Annotated section 67-5-903(f) and section 67-5-1302(b)(1). We hold both sections of the Code to be constitutional and affirm the decision of the Tennessee State Board of Equalization.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Court of Appeals 01/30/01
Kevin Johnson vs. Donna Johnson

M2000-00358-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the dissolution of a ten year marriage. The trial court awarded the husband a divorce after concluding that the wife was guilty of inappropriate marital conduct. The trial court granted custody of the parties' three minor children to the father and refused the mother visitation rights, and held her in criminal contempt of court. The wife now appeals. We have determined that the trial court properly awarded custody to the father but the trial court erred in refusing the mother visitation, and in convicting her of criminal contempt. Accordingly, we affirm in part and reverse in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 01/30/01
Emmanuel Churches of Christ, et al vs. Frances Foster, et al

M2000-00812-COA-R3-CV
This is a dispute between a separating local church and the national organization over the church property in Smithville. The dispute involves the interpretation of two deeds, one in 1940 and another in 1943. The Chancery Court of DeKalb County held that the majority of the property belonged to the local congregation. Against the national church's arguments that the chancellor's order violated the separation of church and state and was contrary to the law and the facts, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:John A. Turnbull
DeKalb County Court of Appeals 01/30/01
Marcia Hackett vs. Roy Hackett

M1999-01576-COA-R3-CV
This is a divorce case wherein Wife appeals from the distribution of marital property and seeks attorney's fees and costs on appeal. We affirm the action of the trial judge.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/30/01
AT & T v. Ruth Johnson

M2000-01407-COA-R3-CV
This case involves (1) the issue of the liability of AT&T for sales and use taxes assessed by the Commissioner for the years 1990 through 1994, and (2) the issue of whether the Chancery Court had subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate a claim for refund of taxes where the taxpayer failed to file a formal claim for each of the years, 1993 excepted, "under oath and supported by proper proof." AT&T sold telephone central office equipment and provided engineering services to BellSouth and insisted that these sales and services were industrial machinery and therefore exempt from sales and use taxes.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/30/01
State of Tennessee v. Robert D. Walsh

W1999-01473-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Robert D. Walsh, was convicted after a jury trial in the Shelby County Criminal court of the aggravated sexual battery of a foster child who was in his care. He appeals this conviction, alleging various errors in evidentiary admissions, impermissible comment on the evidence by the trial court, and improper sentencing. We modify the defendant's sentence to Range I classification and remand for correction of a clerical error in the judgment form. Otherwise, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge W. Fred Axley
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/30/01
Robert Terry Davis, et al vs. Wilson County, TN

M2000-00785-COA-R3-CV
Wilson County sought to modify its health insurance plan providing coverage for "retired" employees. Two employees, fitting the definition of retired employees but not yet retired, challenged the modification on the ground that their rights in the prior plan had vested. The Chancery Court of Wilson County held that the employees had a vested right to continue under the prior plan. We hold that health insurance benefits are welfare benefits that do not vest absent a contractual provision that they cannot be changed. We therefore reverse the lower court's decision and dismiss the complaint.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:John D. Wootten, Jr.
Wilson County Court of Appeals 01/29/01
Linda Kinard v. John Kinard

M2000-00674-COA-R3-CV
Upon remand from earlier appeal, the trial court determined (1) Husband owed Wife past due alimony without interest; (2) Husband owed Wife additional $47,933.50 on note with interest from 30 days after the entry of the Court of Appeals opinion until the amount is paid; (3) Husband was not required to release the residence as collateral on the home equity loan; (4) Husband retained ownership of the insurance policy; (5) no attorney's fees were awarded to either party. Wife filed a second appeal to dispute the decision of the trial court and to determine the date at which post-judgment interest begins to accrue, whether husband should be required to discharge the home equity loan, whether husband should be restricted in use of life insurance policy, and whether attorney's fees should have been awarded. For the following reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court in regards to the attorney's fees, life insurance policy, and home equity loan and reverse the decision of the trial court with respect to post-judgment interest.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Robert E. Corlew, III
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 01/29/01
Dwayne Hawkins v. Patrick Hart

M2000-02449-COA-R3-CV
This matter began when Plaintiffs signed an agreement to purchase an automobile dealership from Defendant, Patrick Hart. Defendant Hart refused to honor this agreement and later agreed to sell the dealership to Defendant, Nelson Bowers. The current case flows from these breach of contract and inducement of breach of contract actions previously dismissed by the trial court and appealed to this Court. We are now asked to determine whether the trial court correctly applied the Court of Appeals decision in this matter. Plaintiffs appeal two orders issued by the trial court on remand: (1) an order dismissing claims for conversion and interference with business relations against the Bowers Defendants, reinstating the discretionary costs previously vacated by this Court in favor of the Bowers Defendants, and denying Plaintiffs' motion to amend to add additional claims and parties; and (2) a second order dismissing Plaintiffs' separate action against European Motors and Sonic Automotive, parties whom Plaintiffs had previously tried to join in the original action. We find that the trial court correctly interpreted and applied the Court of Appeals decision and affirm both orders in their entirety.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Barbara N. Haynes
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/29/01
Marika Avery vs. Thomas Avery

M2000-00889-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case ending a 25 year marriage, the trial court classified a bequest made solely to the husband as marital property under an "implied partnership" theory and divided the bequest equally. The parties' other property was divided, and the wife was awarded alimony in futuro. The husband appeals the classification and division of property and the award of alimony in futuro. We reverse the trial court's classification of the bequest as marital property and classify the original bequest as Husband's separate property. We find the increase in value of that separate property to be marital because of the parties' contribution to its maintenance and increase. We modify the award of marital property accordingly, modify the alimony award, and decline to award Wife attorney fees on appeal.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Russell Heldman
Williamson County Court of Appeals 01/29/01
Allison Coats v. Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority

M2000-00234-COA-R3-CV
This action was brought by the plaintiff against the defendant following two requests by the plaintiff pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act for certain documents relating to the Smyrna Airport negotiations with Wiggins Group, PLC./Plane Station, Inc. The plaintiff alleged a statutory right to inspect certain documents. Ultimately, the trial court ordered all of the documents released to the plaintiff, but ordered correspondence addressed to or signed by the SRCAA attorney placed under seal pending appeal. The principal issue on this appeal is whether the appellee is entitled to the documents under seal pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 10-7-503.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Robert E. Corlew, III
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 01/29/01
State of Tennessee v. Bryan Herman Dowdy

W2000-01011-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Bryan Herman Dowdy, appeals his jury convictions for vehicular homicide by intoxication, two counts of vehicular assault, and felony evading arrest. He was sentenced to eight years and six months for vehicular homicide, two years for each of the vehicular assaults, and two years for felony evading arrest, with an effective sentence of ten years and six months. In this appeal, he raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain his convictions; (2) whether items from his vehicle were improperly admitted; (3) whether his blood alcohol test result was improperly admitted into evidence; (4) whether the underlying DUI charge should have been severed; (5) whether he was improperly denied access to an officer's personnel file during cross-examination; (6) whether the trial court erroneously instructed the jury to use their "common sense;" and (7) whether his sentence was excessive. After our review of the record, we find all issues to be without merit and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/26/01
State of Tennessee v. Bobby J. Hughes

W1999-00360-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Bobby J. Hughes, was indicted by the Shelby County Grand Jury for the offense of attempted second degree murder. He was subsequently tried by jury and found guilty of attempted second degree murder. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant argues (1) that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction; (2) that the trial court erred by allowing into evidence four photographs of the victim's wounds; (3) that the trial court erred by allowing the victim to identify the Defendant from a photograph during trial; (4) that the trial court erred by allowing the State to question the Defendant about prior convictions after defense counsel concluded redirect examination; and (5) that the trial court erred by not instructing the jury on attempted voluntary manslaughter. We conclude that the trial court's failure to instruct the jury on the crime of attempted voluntary manslaughter as a lesser-included offense was plain error and was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we reverse the Defendant's conviction and remand the case to the trial court for a new trial.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph B. Dailey
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/26/01
Lula Moody vs. Gen. Motors

W2000-01658-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiffs sued General Motors Corporation and Townsend Chevrolet-Buick-Pontiac, Inc. as a result of injuries sustained by Ms. Moody as a result of a single car accident. In a separate complaint they sued Townsend alleging that it had sold them a purportedly new vehicle when in fact the odometer had been rolled back. The cases were consolidated for trial and the accident case resulted in a jury verdict in favor of the defendants. The case involving the odometer was dismissed by the trial court. Appellants failed to present this court with either a transcript or a statement of the evidence. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:C. Creed Mcginley
Decatur County Court of Appeals 01/26/01
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Supreme Court 01/26/01
Susan Sellers vs. Randall Sellers

W2000-01475-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a belated attempt by the appellant, Randall Lee Sellers, to obtain relief from child support obligations based upon a claim that he is not the biological father of the child. For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Ron E. Harmon
Carroll County Court of Appeals 01/26/01
Musson Theatrical vs. Federal Express

W2000-01247-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiffs, as shippers, sued defendant, FedEx Corporation, for fraud and misrepresentation because of defendant's practice of charging more for economy two-day service than for one-day service for certain packages. Defendant's motion to dismiss was granted on the basis of preemption by federal law, Airline Deregulation Act, and for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Plaintiffs appeal. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Floyd Peete, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 01/26/01
Patricia Mora vs. Gilberto Mora

W1999-02483-COA-R3-CV
This case involves a dispute stemming from the parties' divorce in 1991. The divorce decree provided that Ms. Mora and the parties' adult daughter could live in the marital home for thirty months following the divorce, at which time the home was to be put on the market for sale and the proceeds divided. After the thirty month period expired, Mr. and Ms. Mora attempted to settle the dispute concerning the marital home. The parties each executed documents, and a dispute arose as to which document embodied the parties' intentions. The trial court ruled on the parties' settlement dispute, and the court also appointed Ms. Mora as the adult daughter's guardian and ordered that Mr. Mora provide support for his daughter. For the following reasons, we affirm in part and reverse in part.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 01/26/01
Stoney Mccarter v. Transportation Insurance Company,

W1999-00667-WC-R3-CV
The plaintiff, Stoney McCarter, appeals the judgment of the Circuit Court of Shelby County granting defendants' motion for summary judgment. The trial court held plaintiff's court-approved lump sum settlement was not entered into pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-241(a)(1) and therefore could not be reopened pursuant to _ 5-6-241(a)(2). For the reasons stated in this opinion, We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: W. Michael William Michael Maloan, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers, Judge
Carter County Workers Compensation Panel 01/25/01
Timothy Ellington vs. Linda Maddox

W2000-00948-COA-R3-CV
Natural father filed a petition to obtain custody of his son against the maternal grandmother and her husband, the child's custodians by previous court order. After an evidentiary hearing, the juvenile court denied father's petition and retained custody in the maternal grandmother and husband. Father appeals, and we reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:J. Roland Reid
Haywood County Court of Appeals 01/25/01
In matter D.I.S.,

W2000-00061-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the termination of parental rights. The juvenile court, sua sponte, dismissed the petition to terminate the parental rights of the mother at the end of the petitioner's proof. The petitioner appeals. We affirm, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support the trial court's finding that termination of the mother's parental rights would not be in the child's best interest.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:George E. Blancett
Shelby County Court of Appeals 01/25/01
Carroll Co. Waste vs. Odillion Collins

W1998-00754-COA-R3-CV
This case involves a dispute over issues surrounding Carroll County's imposition of a garbage collection fee on its residents. The trial court granted summary judgment to Plaintiff, and the Defendant appeals.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Julian P. Guinn
Carroll County Court of Appeals 01/25/01
Billie Mae Manis vs. Donald Ralph Manis

E1999-01927-COA-R3-CV
Wife sought a divorce after 41 years of marriage on grounds of inappropriate marital conduct. With Husband acting pro se, the parties filed a Marital Dissolution Agreement. After retaining counsel, Husband withdrew the agreement and filed a counterclaim for divorce, also alleging inappropriate marital conduct. The Trial Court appointed a Special Master, who conducted two hearings and filed a lengthy and comprehensive Special Master's Report. Both parties filed Objections to the Report, and the Special Master held a third hearing addressing the issues raised in the parties' objections. Husband filed Objections to the Special Master's Amended Report. Wife had no objections to the Amended Report. The Trial Court held a fourth hearing, at which arguments of counsel and Husband's offer of additional proof were made. The Trial Court's Final Judgment adopted the Report of the Special Master, as amended, and affirmed the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the Special Master with minor exceptions. Husband raises ten issues, primarily involving the Special Master's valuation and distribution of marital assets and the amount of alimony he was ordered to pay. Wife contests the amounts awarded to her for periodic alimony and for her interest in the marital estate, and also claims that the Trial Court erred in not placing more restrictions on Husband's future business transactions so as to more fully protect her interest in her marital share. We affirm the judgment of the Trial Court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Richard R. Vance
Sevier County Court of Appeals 01/25/01