COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

Julia Wilkes v. Fred's, Inc.
W2001-02393-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Robert A. Lanier
Plaintiff slipped and fell on liquid laundry detergent which had spilled in the customer service area in Defendant's store. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the Defendant. We affirm

Shelby Court of Appeals

Smith, Deceased v. Jerry Smith
E2001-03132-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Thomas R. Frierson, II

Hamblen Court of Appeals

Phillip Burdett vs. Kathy Burdett
E2002-01071-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Lawrence H. Puckett
In this divorce action, the issue is whether the division of marital property by the Trial Court is equitable. We affirm.

Monroe Court of Appeals

State ex rel. Heather Middleton vs. Stanley Cochran
E2002-00164-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Suzanne Bailey

Hamilton Court of Appeals

State ex rel. Heather Middleton vs. Stanley Cochran
E2002-00164-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney

Hamilton Court of Appeals

Teresa Lynn Kidwell Atkins v. Ronal Lee Atkins
E2001-02043-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: John D. Mcafee

Union Court of Appeals

Teresa Lynn Kidwell Atkins v. Ronal Lee Atkins
E2001-02043-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: John D. Mcafee

Union Court of Appeals

Joseph Bolinger vs. Sharon Ann Bolinger
E2002-00103-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: Conrad E. Troutman, Jr.
In this divorce case, the sole issue for our review is whether the Trial Court properly classified three IRAs held by Joseph D. Bolinger ("Husband") as partially marital and partially separate assets. Applying the analysis set forth by the Supreme Court in the case of Langschmidt v. Langschmidt, 81 S.W.3d 741 (Tenn. 2002), we hold that the IRAs, which were funded with premarital assets, should be classified as Husband's separate property. We therefore vacate the Trial Court's judgment that the IRAs are partially marital assets and remand this case.

Campbell Court of Appeals

Wallace Forsythe v. Timothy Gibbs
M2001-02055-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Barbara N. Haynes
A laborer injured on the job during horseplay initiated by his employer claimed that he was entitled to damages in tort for his employer's actions. The trial court dismissed the suit, ruling that the plaintiff was bound by the exclusive remedy provisions of the Workers' Compensation Statute. We affirm.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Cooper Mgmt. vs. Performa Entertainment.
W2001-01134-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Robert A. Lanier
This appeal involves a chancery court's decision to hold an enjoined party in both civil and criminal contempt for failing to abide by an injunction. The injunction required the enjoined party to remove a tent structure from certain property within a reasonable time. The enjoined party was also ordered to refrain from placing further encroachments on the property. Following a petition for contempt, the court found that the enjoined party had failed to remove the tent structure within a reasonable time and had, instead, placed more items on the property. Accordingly, the court found the enjoined party in civil and criminal contempt. Under the civil contempt charge, the enjoined party was sentenced to jail until he complied with the court's order. For the criminal contempt charge, the court ordered the party to serve seven days in jail. Five days into the enjoined party's sentence, he complied with the court's order and was released on bond. He now appeals the remaining two days on his sentence. For the following reasons, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand this case to the chancery court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Ronnie Sykes v. Robbie Richardson
M2001-02097-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Don R. Ash
Tenured teacher filed a petition for review of board of education action discharging him from his teaching position. The trial court, the Honorable Don R. Ash, presiding by interchange, upheld the decision by the board of education. Petitioner appeals. We affirm.

Smith Court of Appeals

Debra Bolin v. Carl Bolin
M2001-02168-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Carol A. Catalano
Wife filed for divorce soon after Husband was sentenced to four years in prison for causing the death of Son. The trial court granted Wife the divorce on the grounds of inappropriate marital conduct. The court also determined that section 31-1-106 of the Tennessee Code prohibited Husband from collecting his portion of Son's life insurance policy. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

Montgomery Court of Appeals

James Cone, dec. by next friend Tim Cone v. State
M2001-02242-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
After his father was killed while crossing railroad tracks located in Sumner County, Tim Cone ("Plaintiff"), as next friend and on behalf of his father James R. Cone, sued the State of Tennessee ("Defendant") in the Claims Commission. Plaintiff claimed Defendant exercised control over the railroad crossing and was responsible for the dangerous condition at that crossing. Plaintiff also claimed Defendant negligently deprived James R. Cone of certain statutory rights. The Claims Commission granted Defendant's motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted holding it did not have jurisdiction over Plaintiff's three claims. Plaintiff appeals. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand this case to the Claims Commission.

Sumner Court of Appeals

Eugene/Mark Selker vs. Russell Savory
W2001-00823-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: John R. Mccarroll, Jr.
This appeal involves a dismissed claim for malicious prosecution. The plaintiffs in the present action filed their complaint one year and thirty days after a final judgment was issued in the underlying suit. The defendants responded by filing separate motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim. The trial court sustained the defendants' motions, holding that the plaintiffs' claim was barred by the one year statute of limitations. The plaintiffs appealed and now argue that the statute of limitations on their claim did not begin to run until the applicable period for appeal in the underlying litigation expired. For the following reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Appeals

G.L. Vanhorn v. Dan Webb and Bryant M. Raines D/B/A Mickey's Late Night Party
M2001-00807-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly Kirby Lillard
Trial Court Judge: Judge Carol L. Soloman

This case arises from commercial property leases. The defendants operated a late night dance club on premises leased from the plaintiff. The plaintiff landlord unilaterally terminated the leases, changed the locks, and filed suit to recover for damage to the premises. While several pretrial motions were pending, the trial court scheduled the final hearing. The trial court found that the defendant tenants had a week-to-week oral lease and that the tenants violated the lease by engaging in illegal activity on the premises. On appeal, the defendant tenants argue that they were not given sufficient notice prior to the final hearing. We affirm, because the record does not show that the issues raised on appeal were presented to the trial court.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Clifford W. Russell, et al., v. Susan I. Russell
M2001-00926-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Frank G. Clement, Jr.

This appeal involves a will contest coupled with a suit to construe the same will. The trial court granted summary judgment to the proponent on the will contest and summary judgment to the contestants on the will construction issues. We hold that the issues cannot be resolved on summary judgment and reverse the trial court.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Elizabeth Ann Baker v. Merrol Hyde, et al.
M2001-01752-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Thomas E. Gray

Elizabeth Ann Baker ("Plaintiff") is a school teacher. Plaintiff sued Steve Shepard, the principal of her school, and Sheila Pryor, another teacher. Plaintiff also sued Merrol Hyde, the director of Sumner County Schools, and Jeff Helbig, the school system's assistant director. Plaintiff claimed the four defendants ("Defendants") were liable for negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy. In addition to her Answer, Pryor filed a Counter-Complaint against Plaintiff for slander. All four Defendants filed Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12.02(6) Motions to Dismiss. The Trial Court granted Defendants' Motions to Dismiss but did not address Pryor's pending Counter-Complaint. Plaintiff appeals. Because the judgment appealed from is not a final judgment under Tenn. R. App. P. 3, we dismiss and remand.

Sumner Court of Appeals

Gallatin Housing Authority v. Rebecca and Dionisio Montesillo and Gallatin Housing Authority v. Margarita Flores
M2001-02260-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas W. Brothers
Trial Court Judge: Judge C. L. Rogers

This appeal arises from two detainer warrants issued on behalf of appellee Gallatin Housing
Authority (hereinafter, "GHA"), in the General Sessions Court for Sumner County against the
appellants, public housing tenants. The cases were consolidated when appellants appealed to the Circuit Court of Sumner County. The Circuit Court entered an order restoring possession of the properties to GHA, finding that the termination of the leases was based on the appellants' theft of cable services, a lease violation that was not eligible for certain grievance procedures that might otherwise be necessary for the termination of a public housing lease. After appealing the Circuit Court's decision, appellants obtained a stay which allowed them to remain in possession of the properties while their case was pending. Shortly thereafter, appellants entered into new leases with GHA. These new leases contained no terms reserving GHA's right to evict appellants in the event that their appeal failed. We find that the new leases extinguished GHA’s right to evict the appellants for their breach of the prior lease. We therefore reverse the decision of the trial court and remand this cause with instructions to vacate its order restoring possession to GHA, and to dismiss GHA's cause against the appellants.

Sumner Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Kristopher Roberts
W2001-01702-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

This case involves a juvenile's appeal from an adjudication of delinquency. The jury found that the juvenile was guilty of disorderly conduct as a result of his actions at the Tipton County School Board building. The jury also found the juvenile guilty of assault and resisting arrest due to his actions in the Juvenile Court of Tipton County. We affirm the jury's verdict.

Tipton Court of Appeals

Andre Mayfield v. Ricky Bell
M2001-00486-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Mccoy
Appellant, a pro se inmate in the Department of Corrections, appeals the dismissal by the chancellor of his case pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 41-21-812. We affirm the action of the chancellor.

Davidson Court of Appeals

America Online v. Commissioner of Revenue
M2001-00927-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle
The Chancery Court of Davidson County granted summary judgment to America Online, Inc. on the Commissioner of Revenue's claim that AOL's activities in this state gave it a sufficient nexus to subject it to state taxes. Because we find that this question is fact-specific and that the record does not show that AOL is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law, we reverse.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Rocky Hitson v. Dept. of Correction
M2001-02903-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
This appeal involves a dispute between a prisoner and the Department of Correction regarding a disciplinary hearing held at the Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City. The prisoner filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County alleging that he had been substantially prejudiced by the Department's failure to follow its disciplinary rules. The trial court, relying on Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 115 S. Ct. 2293 (1995), granted the Department's Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12.02(6) motion and dismissed the petition. The petitioner has appealed. We have determined that the trial court's order should be vacated and remanded for further consideration in light of Willis v. Tennessee Dep't of Corr., ___ S.W.3d ___, 2003 WL 22019138 (Tenn. Aug. 27, 2003).

Davidson Court of Appeals

Randy Hensley v. Dept of Correction
M2001-02343-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle

Davidson Court of Appeals

Randy Hensley v. Dept of Correction
M2001-02343-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle

Davidson Court of Appeals

Jeffrey Simmons v. Gath Baptist Church
M2001-02511-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Charles D. Haston, Sr.
A man arrested for child sexual abuse brought an action against the church he once worked for, as well as against the Department of Children's Services and other governmental agencies, claiming that his arrest was procured by illegal or unconstitutional means. The trial court dismissed the action for failure to state a claim for which relief can be granted, and the passing of the Statute of Limitations. The court further held that the defendant governmental entities were immune from civil liability. We affirm.

Warren Court of Appeals