Edwin Boothe vs. Fred's Inc. W2002-01414-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: D'Army Bailey
Shelby
Court of Appeals
Union Planters Bank vs. Bobbye Shepard W2002-01188-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos
Executor brought this action to recover proceeds of the sale of decedent's property prior to decedent's death. Both parties moved for attorney's fees. The trial court entered judgment for defendant and awarded defendant's attorney's fees. On issues relating to decedent's property, we affirm in part and reverse in part. We reverse the award of attorney's fees and remand for a determination of reasonableness.
Shelby
Court of Appeals
W2002-00489-COA-R3-CV W2002-00489-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Rita L. Stotts
Shelby
Court of Appeals
W2002-01474-COA-R3-CV W2002-01474-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby
Court of Appeals
W2002-03016-COA-R3-CV W2002-03016-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Robert L. Childers
Shelby
Court of Appeals
W2002-02220-COA-R3-CV W2002-02220-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Ron E. Harmon
Decatur
Court of Appeals
W2002-03050-COA-R3-CV W2002-03050-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: William B. Acree
Gibson
Court of Appeals
The Oceanics Schools vs. Clifford Barbour, Jr. E2002-00181-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
This matter is before us on the petition of the plaintiff for a rehearing pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 39.
Ann Wing v. Estate of James Wing M2001-01598-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Marietta M. Shipley
The Circuit Court of Davidson County ordered the husband involved in a divorce to pay $230 per week in support payments to the wife after the husband retired from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. When the husband retired he elected to receive guaranteed payments for 120 months and designated his daughter as the beneficiary to receive the payments if he died within the 120 month period. The court then modified its prior order to provide that the payments were a division of the husband's pension from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. After the husband's untimely death, the court ordered the Metropolitan Government and/or the husband's daughter who had been made the beneficiary of the pension to make the payments. Because we find that the court lacked personal jurisdiction over Metro and the daughter, we reverse the court's order and remand for further proceedings.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
Billy Culp v. Billie Grinder M2002-01512-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Jim T. Hamilton
The Culps brought suit against their neighbors, the Grinders, for removal of a septic tank solid line located on their property. The Culps argued that the ten foot easement reserved by the subdivision for "utilities" did not include personal septic tanks. The trial court dismissed the suit and found that the septic tank solid line placement was a type of "utility" and was within the ten foot easement; further, the court found no damages had been suffered by the Culps. We affirm the decision of the trial court.
Wayne
Court of Appeals
Shin Yi Lien v. Ruth Couch M2002-01625-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: John D. Wootten, Jr.
This is the second time the parties have been before this court in a dispute over the purchase of emu chicks. In this appeal, the Plaintiffs take issue with the trial court's limitation of damages recoverable under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. We reverse the judgment of the trial court.
Wilson
Court of Appeals
State v. R.S. and K.S. M2002-00919-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Buddy D. Perry
This appeal involves a petition filed by the Department of Children's Services to terminate the parental rights of Mother and Father to their three minor children. The trial court denied the petition and ordered the children returned to Mother and Father. The Department appeals the decision of the trial court, arguing first that there was clear and convincing evidence to support termination, and secondly, even if the denial is upheld, the trial court lacked jurisdiction to order the children's return to their parents. Because we find the petition was properly denied, but further find the trial court lacked jurisdiction to order the children's return home, we affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.
Franklin
Court of Appeals
Reta Tompkins v. Kevin Helton M2002-01244-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Chancellor Carol L. McCoy
Trial Court Judge: John A. Turnbull
The Plaintiffs, Reta J. Tompkins and her husband, Michael J. Tompkins, brought this negligence action against the Defendant, Kevin W. Helton, as the agent for the Defendant, B.K. Luna, individually and d/b/a Big Foot Speedway, Inc., a/k/a Tennessee Motor Speedway. The Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment with a copy of the Release and Waiver of Liability Agreement signed by the Plaintiffs. The trial court granted partial summary judgment, found that the release was valid as to the Defendants and released the Defendants as to all causes of action based on ordinary negligence. We affirm.
Putnam
Court of Appeals
Elizabeth Snodgrass v. Allen Freemon M2002-01247-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Stella L. Hargrove
Defendant/Cross-Claimant appeals the action of the trial court in holding that Cross-Claimant had not carried his burden of proof to establish adverse possession of the property in issue. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Lawrence
Court of Appeals
M2002-02603-COA-R3-JV M2002-02603-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Lee A. England
Lawrence
Court of Appeals
Evan Roberts vs. Miller Industries E2002-01726-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: W. Frank Brown, III
In this appeal from the Chancery Court for Hamilton County the Appellants/Defendants, Miller Industries, Inc. and Road One, Inc., contend that the Trial Court erred in awarding the Appellee/ Plaintiff, Evan J. Roberts, damages for breach of contract. The judgment of the Trial Court is affirmed in part and reversed and vacated in part, and the cause is remanded for collection of costs below.
Royden Russell and Judy Russell ("Plaintiffs") entered into a contract with Malvin L. Bray and Diedre Bray ("Sellers") to purchase a house. The sales contract required Plaintiffs to obtain an inspection by a professional home inspector. Plaintiffs hired Randall L. Douthat and Holly Douthat d/b/a The HomeTeam Inspection Service ("Defendants") to perform the home inspection. Royden Russell signed a form contract ("Contract") presented by Defendants. The Contract contained an exculpatory clause limiting Defendants' liability to the lesser of the cost of repair or the amount of the inspection fee. After moving into the house, Plaintiffs discovered structural problems. Plaintiffs sued Sellers, the realtors involved in the sale of the house, and Defendants. Plaintiffs filed a motion for partial summary judgment concerning the exculpatory clause contained in the Contract. Defendants responded by filing a Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment concerning, in part, the exculpatory clause. The Trial Court held the exculpatory clause was not against public policy and was enforceable. The Trial Court also granted Plaintiffs permission to file an interlocutory appeal. Plaintiffs applied to this Court and were granted an interlocutory appeal on the limited issue of whether the Trial Court erred in holding the exculpatory clause was not against public policy. We reverse.
Sullivan
Court of Appeals
Larry Benton v. Vanderbilt University M2002-00085-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Soloman
This is a case of first impression regarding the enforceability of an arbitration agreement against a third party. The plaintiff was a passenger in an automobile accident and was treated at the defendant hospital. The hospital filed a statutory hospital lien against any proceeds the plaintiff might recover in any lawsuit arising out of the car accident. The plaintiff later successfully sued the tortfeasor for the injuries he sustained in the accident. Thereafter, the hospital sought to recover under its lien for the balance of the plaintiff's medical bills that were not paid to the hospital by the plaintiff's insurance carrier. The plaintiff filed this action against the hospital, claiming that the hospital's practice of balance billing violates the institution agreement between the hospital and the plaintiff's insurance carrier. The hospital filed a motion in the trial court to compel arbitration, pursuant to an arbitration provision contained in the institution agreement. The trial court denied that motion. The hospital now appeals the denial of its motion to compel arbitration. We reverse, concluding that the plaintiff, a third-party beneficiary to the institution agreement seeking to enforce his rights under that agreement, is bound by the arbitration provision contained within that agreement.
Davidson
Court of Appeals
Rodney Johnson v. James Gulley W2002-02357-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Robert A. Lanier
McMinn County vs. Ocoee Environmental E2002-00702-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: John B. Hagler, Jr.
This appeal questions the validity of a resolution enacted by Appellant McMinn County imposing a surcharge for solid waste disposal at all Class I landfills located in McMinn County. The resolution as initially passed imposed a surcharge of $4.00 per ton of waste, and was subsequently reduced by McMinn County to $2.75 per ton. Appellee Environmental Trust Company ("ETC"), which owns one of the two landfills in the county, refused to pay the surcharge, asserting that it was actually an unlawful tax. McMinn County filed this action to require ETC to pay the surcharge. The Trial Court held that the resolution imposed an unlawful tax, and granted summary judgment in favor of ETC. We affirm the judgment of the Trial Court.
McMinn
Court of Appeals
Ann Utter vs. Howell H. Sherrod, Jr. E2002-00848-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Kindall T. Lawson
Howell H. Sherrod, Jr. ("Defendant") and Jerry A. Mooneyhan ("Dr. Mooneyhan") were partners. Defendant sued Dr. Mooneyhan regarding one of their partnership projects, Quality Dental Products. Dr. Mooneyhan died during the pendency of that matter. That suit resulted in a jury verdict for Dr. Mooneyhan that was affirmed on appeal. After the Quality Dental Products suit, Defendant withheld Dr. Mooneyhan's portion of the rents from another partnership property, the Bristol building. Ann Utter (formerly Mooneyhan) as Executrix of the Estate of Jerry A. Mooneyhan, deceased ("Plaintiff"), sued Defendant in chancery court seeking partition of the Bristol building and an accounting as to another partnership business, World Tech Fibers. Defendant claimed the chancery court lacked jurisdiction because he previously had filed a claim against the estate in probate court, which, Defendant argued, caused jurisdiction to be vested solely in the probate court. The Trial Court determined it had jurisdiction over the partition action and issues relating only to the Bristol building and World Tech Fibers. The Trial Court ordered and then confirmed partition by sale, awarded Plaintiff a judgment for certain sums related to the Bristol building and World Tech Fibers, and awarded Defendant a winding up fee as the surviving partner. Defendant and Plaintiff each appeal. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.
