SUPREME COURT OPINIONS

State vs. Bobby Blackmon
01S01-9709-CR-00187

Sumner Supreme Court

Sanjines vs. Ortwein & Assoc.
03S01-9712-CV-00139

Hamilton Supreme Court

Sanjines vs. Ortwein & Assoc.
03S01-9712-CV-00139

Hamilton Supreme Court

Alcazar vs. Hayes
03S01-9804-CV-00035

Bradley Supreme Court

Walker vs. Saturn Corp.
01S01-9703-CV-00048

Supreme Court

Walker vs. Saturn Corp.
01S01-9703-CV-00048

Supreme Court

Est. of Ruth Garrett vs. St. Thomas Hospital
01S01-9710-CV-00218

Supreme Court

Est. of Ruth Garrett vs. St. Thomas Hospital
01S01-9710-CV-00218

Supreme Court

Wilson vs. Wilson
01S01-9807-CV-00130

Supreme Court

Robert L. DeLaney v. Brook Thompson, et al.
01S01-9808-CH-00144
Authoring Judge: Chief Justice Ames Davis, Special Supreme Court
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle

In this case, we are invited to decide whether the Tennessee Plan for election of appellate judges, codified as Title 17, Chapter 4 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, is unconstitutional for a variety of reasons, but most particularly because it contemplates “retention elections” for incumbent appellate judges. In general, the Tennessee Plan provides that an incumbent appellate judge may run for reelection unopposed on the ballot, provided the incumbent’s retention has been recommended by the judicial evaluation commission; the judge will be retained in office if a majority of those voting in the election for that judge’s seat vote for such retention. Tenn. Code Ann. § 17-4- 115(d)(1)(1994). It is the duty of all courts, including the Supreme Court, to pass on a constitutional question only when it is absolutely necessary for the determination of thecase and of the rights of parties to the litigation. Glasgow v. Fox, 214 Tenn. 656, 666-667, 383 S.W. 2d 9, 13-14 (1964). See also, Jackson v. Davis, 530 F. Supp. 2, 4 n. 1 (E.D. Tenn.), aff’d, 667 F. 2d 1026 (6th Cir. 1981). We hold that it is not necessary to address the constitutionality of the Tennessee Plan in this case, because it is not applicable to the facts of this case. For that reason, the Court of Appeals erred in holding the Tennessee Plan constitutional, just as the trial judge erred in holding the Plan unconstitutional. We reach this conclusion because the express provisions of the Tennessee Plan render it inapplicable to the election for which defendant Brook Thompson, State Coordinator of Elections, refused to accept a qualifying petition submitted by the plaintiff, Robert L. DeLaney.

Supreme Court

Fay Thomas Nutt v. Champion International Corporation
01S01-9705-CH-00114
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Jim T. Hamilton

We granted this appeal to determine whether an employer is entitled to an offset of long-term disability payments against a workers’ compensation award for permanent total disability. A 1996 amendment to Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-114 permits offsets against workers’ compensation benefits for payments made to an employee under an employer-funded disability plan. The plaintiff’s injury pre-dated the effective date of the statute. We hold that the amendment is not retroactive and the employer is not entitled to an offset in this case.
 

Davidson Supreme Court

Fay Thomas Nutt v. Champion International Corporation
01S01-9705-CH-00114

This cause came on to be heard upon the record on appeal from the Special Worker’s Compensation Appeals Panel, and the briefs and argument of counsel; and upon consideration thereof, this Court is of the opinion that the 1996 amendment to Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-114 of the Workers’ Compensation Act is not retroactive and the employer is not entitled to an offset against the worker’s compensation award in this case.

Wayne Supreme Court

Billy R. Phillips v. Tennessee Technological University, State of Tennessee
01S01-9708-BC-00173
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Commissioner W.R. Baker

We granted this appeal to address whether the State may be liable for discretionary costs pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 54.04(2) in a workers' compensation case. We hold that the State may only be taxed for costs expressly permitted by either the Tennessee claims commission statute or the Workers' Compensation Act.

Supreme Court

Billy R. Phillips v. State of Tennessee v. Tennessee Technological University, State of Tennessee
01S01-9708-BC-00173
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Commissioner W.R. Baker

We granted this appeal to address whether the State may be liable for discretionary costs pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 54.04(2) in a workers' compensation case. We hold that the State may only be taxed for costs expressly permitted by either the Tennessee claims commission statute or the Workers' Compensation Act.

Davidson Supreme Court

Baptist Hospital, et al., v. Tennessee Department of Health and Department of Finance and Administration
01S01-9711-BC-00249
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Commissioner W. R. Baker

We granted this appeal to determine whether the Tennessee claims commission has subject matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffs’ challenge to certain Medicaid reimbursements paid to them by the State. Upon review, we hold that the Tennessee claims commission lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this case. Because the plaintiffs’ challenge is based upon an assertion that a state Medicaid regulation is invalid under federal law, the Tennessee Department of Health was the agency with subject matter jurisdiction over this case pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-5-223 of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act ("UAPA").

Davidson Supreme Court

Baptist Hospital v. Tennessee Departments of Health and Finance and Administration
01S01-9711-BC-00249
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Trial Court Judge: Commissioner W. R. Baker

We granted this appeal to determine whether the Tennessee claims commission has subject matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffs’ challenge to certain Medicaid reimbursements paid to them by the State. Upon review, we hold that the Tennessee claims commission lacks subject matter jurisdiction over this case. Because the plaintiffs’ challenge is based upon an assertion that a state Medicaid regulation is invalid under federal law, the Tennessee Department of Health was the agency with subject matter jurisdiction over this case pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-5-223 of the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act ("UAPA").

Davidson Supreme Court

Edmund George Zagorski v. State of Tennessee
01S01-9711-CC-00240
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft

We granted this post-conviction appeal to determine whether there is ineffective assistance of counsel where, at the express instruction of a competent and fully informed defendant, defense counsel does not investigate or present mitigating evidence at the sentencing phase of a capital trial. For the reasons provided herein, we hold that there is not.

Davidson Supreme Court

State vs. Pike
03S01-9712-CR-00147

Knox Supreme Court

State vs. Paul Dennis Reid and Christopher Davis
01S01-9809-CC-00175

Montgomery Supreme Court

The Tennessean, et al vs. Electric Power Board of Nashville
01S01-9709-CH-00181

Supreme Court

Terry vs. Niblack, et al
01S01-9709-CV-00180

Supreme Court

Terry vs. Niblack, et al
01S01-9709-CV-00180

Supreme Court

Rice vs. Sabir
03S01-9709-CV-00110

Supreme Court

Rice vs. Sabir
03S01-9709-CV-00110

Supreme Court

State vs. Bolden
02S01-9711-CC-00102
Trial Court Judge: Joe G. Riley. Jr.

Supreme Court