COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

IN RE JAKARA K.
E2025-00366-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Douglas T. Jenkins

The appellees filed a petition in chancery court seeking to terminate a father’s parental rights. After a bench trial, the trial court granted the petition and entered an order terminating the father’s parental rights based on the grounds of (1) failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody, (2) abandonment by failure to visit, and (3) abandonment by failure to support. The trial court also determined that termination of the father’s parental rights was in the child’s best interests. We affirm the trial court’s ruling as to the first ground, we vacate the trial court’s ruling as to the second and third grounds, and we affirm the trial court’s ruling as to best interests. Consequently, we affirm the trial court’s overall ruling that the father’s parental rights must be terminated.

Pruett Enterprises, Inc., v. The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance, Co.
03A01-9609-CH-00309
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Howard N. Peoples

This non-jury case involves the interpretation of a commercial insurance policy (“the policy”) issued by The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company (Hartford) to Pruett Enterprises, Inc. (Pruett). Pruett, the owner and operator of a chain of grocery stores in Hamilton County, sued Hartford under the policy for “spoilage losses to various perishable items [caused] when electrical power to [two of Pruett’s] grocery stores was interrupted as a result of a heavy snow blizzard [on or about March 13, 1993].” Each of the parties filed a motion for summary judgment. Based upon the parties’ stipulation of facts, the trial court granted Hartford partial summary judgment, finding that the loss at 6925 Middle Valley Road, Hixson (“Middle Valley Store”) was not covered by the policy. As to the loss at Pruett’s store at 3936 Ringgold Road, East Ridge (“Ringgold Road Store”), the trial court found a genuine issue of fact and denied Hartford’s motion.

Kim Williams v. The Lewis Preservation Trust
E2023-00085-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Melissa Thomas Willis

This is a negligent misrepresentation action in which the plaintiff filed suit against the
attorney responsible for transferring her mother’s assets into an irrevocable trust. The
plaintiff alleged that she approved the transfer because she was erroneously advised that
the terms of the irrevocable trust would require distribution upon her mother’s passing.
The trial court granted summary judgment dismissal in favor of the defendant attorney.
We affirm.