William Crawford vs. Gregory Dodson W1998-00805-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: C. Neal Small
This is a boundary line dispute. The defendants appeal a jury verdict finding that the boundary line was situated where the plaintiffs had maintained. The defendants assert that the trial court erred in denying their motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and also appeal several other rulings by the trial court. We affirm the trial court, except to remand for modification of the trial court's award of discretionary costs to the plaintiff.
Shelby
Court of Appeals
Shirley Williams vs. Donald Thrailkill W1999-01032-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: William A. Peeler
This case involves visitation rights for an aunt of the minor child. In 1992, the aunt and her husband were granted visitation rights by the Shelby County Juvenile Court. In 1997, after the child's father had moved with the child to Tipton County, the aunt and her husband filed a petition in the Tipton County Juvenile Court to hold father in contempt for failing to abide by the visitation order, to change custody, and alternatively to enforce visitation. After an evidentiary hearing, the Tipton County Juvenile Court held that the prior Shelby County Juvenile Court order granting visitation to aunt was in full force and effect and incorporated the Shelby County order and its order by reference. Father has appealed.
Tipton
Court of Appeals
State vs. James Robert Ledford E1999-00917-CCA-R3-CD
A Bradley County jury found the appellant, James Robert Ledford, guilty of one count of conspiring to present a false insurance claim, presenting a false insurance claim, and arson of personal property. For these offenses, the appellant was sentenced to five years, with all but ninety days suspended. In this appeal as of right, the appellant contends that (1) the trial court erred in denying suppression of his statement to the police which was obtained in violation of his constitutional rights and (2) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for conspiracy to present a false insurance claim. After review, we affirm.
Bradley
Court of Criminal Appeals
William Bret Robinson vs. State E1999-00950-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: James B. Scott, Jr.
The state appeals the trial court's exoneration of a bond forfeiture taken against AA Bonding Company. The trial court exonerated the bonding company of the entire bond amount of $8,000, even though the forfeiture was final and the full amount had been paid to the trial court clerk. Concluding that Tenn. Code Annotated section 40-11-204(a) authorizes the action of the trial court and that the record reflects no abuse of the trial court's discretion, even though the trial court granted the exoneration via an $8,000 credit against AA Bonding's future forfeitures in Anderson County, we affirm the trial court's order to grant exoneration; however, we reverse as to the amount of, and the manner of effectuating the refund.
State vs. Swindle M1998-00362-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Trial Court Judge: Seth W. Norman
This is an appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County, which convicted the defendant of two counts of facilitation of child rape and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. The defendant appealed, arguing that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on Class B misdemeanor assault as a lesser-included offense of aggravated sexual battery. After the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the convictions, the defendant sought, and this Court granted, permission to appeal on the following issue: whether the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on Class B misdemeanor assault as a lesser-included offense of aggravated sexual battery. We hold that Class B misdemeanor assault is a lesser-included offense of aggravated sexual battery and that it was error for the trial court not to instruct the jury accordingly. Nevertheless, having determined that such error was harmless, the defendant's convictions for aggravated sexual battery are affirmed.
Davidson
Supreme Court
State vs. Jefferson M1997-00115-SC-R11-PC
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Walter C. Kurtz
This case is before us upon a jury's resentencing of the defendant, James Thomas Jefferson, on his conviction for premeditated first degree murder. In the original appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction, vacated the sentence, and remanded the matter to the trial court for resentencing. On remand, the defendant requested a new jury trial on the merits in addition to the already-ordered resentencing. The trial court denied the request for a new trial. After a new hearing, the jury fixed a sentence of life imprisonment. The defendant appealed of right, challenging the trial court's overruling of his motion for a new trial on the merits. Relying on the "law of the case" doctrine, the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the trial court's judgment. We granted the defendant's application for permission to appeal and now hold that the Court of Criminal Appeals properly determined that the law of the case doctrine barred the trial court from granting Jefferson's motion for a new trial. The Court of Appeals is, therefore, affirmed.
This appeal arises from a slip-and-fall accident which occurred on property owned by the Defendant Lineberry Properties and leased by the Defendant Robin Media Group. The latter appeals from the jury verdict entered in the Wilson County Circuit Court. The jury assigned one hundred percent of the fault for the Plaintiff's injuries to Robin Media. After the court denied its motions for remittitur or a new trial, the present appeal arose.
Wilson
Court of Appeals
Baggett vs. Baggett M1999-00742-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Allen W. Wallace
This is a divorce case involving child custody. After awarding the mother temporary custody of the parties' children during the pendency of the case, the trial court granted the father sole custody and granted the mother visitation. The mother appealed the custody award. We affirm.
Houston
Court of Appeals
Colbaugh vs. Colbaugh M1999-00755-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Stella L. Hargrove
This is a post-divorce visitation case. The mother and father lived with their infant child in Columbia, Tennessee. After the couple separated, the mother took the parties' child to her hometown of Bowling Green, Kentucky, over one hundred miles from Columbia. Upon the parties' divorce, the trial court awarded custody of the child to the mother and visitation to the father for twelve days each month, no greater than fourteen days apart. The trial court ordered the mother and father to meet halfway between their two residences to exchange the child for the father's visitation. The mother appealed the trial court's visitation schedule, arguing that it adversely affects the child's sense of stability, that it places overly burdensome travel requirements on the mother and the child, and that it is unworkable in this case because of the mother and father's inability to cooperate. We affirm.
Maury
Court of Appeals
Wilson vs. Tittle M2000-00115-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Arthur E. Mcclellan
This is a child custody case. The mother and father, who were never married, had a child in Tennessee. The mother subsequently married another man and filed petitions in a Tennessee court to establish paternity of the child and for adoption by the stepfather. During the pendency of the suit, the mother and stepfather moved with the child to Texas. The Tennessee court awarded custody of the child to the mother but denied the mother's petition for adoption. The court awarded the father visitation. Later, the father filed petitions in the Tennessee court for contempt and for change of custody, arguing that the mother had refused to allow him visitation. Mother subsequently filed a petition in a Texas court to modify the Tennessee court's prior order. The Tennessee court found that the mother's denial of the father's visitation rights was a substantial change of circumstances and that the best interests of the child favored an award of custody to the father. The mother appeals. We affirm.
Sumner
Court of Appeals
Tennessee Pine vs. David/Patty Via W1999-00558-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Joe C. Morris
A timber company filed a declaratory judgment suit to determine its rights and to declare its contract with a landowner valid and enforceable. The trial court modified the contract and declared the contract as modified valid and enforceable. The landowner has appealed and presents the sole issue for review as whether the trial court erred in not holding the contract unenforceable because of laches.
Madison
Court of Appeals
State vs. Orlando Ward W1999-00609-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Cornelia A. Clark
Trial Court Judge: W. Fred Axley
Undercover police officers arrested defendant and recovered 2.7 grams of cocaine from his vehicle. Defendant was indicted for possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, a Class C felony. He entered a plea of guilty to the lesser offense of attempt to commit possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, a Class D felony. As a part of the negotiated plea agreement defendant agreed to a sentence of two (2) years as a standard offender. The manner of service was left for determination by the trial court. Defendant now appeals the trial court's finding that he should serve his sentence without the opportunity for alternative sentencing. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Shelby
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Arthur Clark W1999-01747-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Chris B. Craft
The defendant was found guilty by a Shelby County jury on two counts of rape. The second count of the indictment, charging rape of a "physically helpless" victim, was merged by the trial court with the first count, charging forcible rape; and the defendant was sentenced to eight years and three months. In this appeal as of right, he argues the trial court should have forced the State to elect one count of the indictment upon which to proceed. He further challenges the sufficiency of the evidence as to both counts of the indictment. We conclude the State was not required to make an election. We further conclude that the evidence is sufficient to support the defendant's conviction for forcible rape, but not rape of a "physically helpless" victim. Thus, we remand to the trial court for entry of a new judgment in accordance with this opinion.
Shelby
Court of Criminal Appeals
Susan/Donald Smytka vs. Dayton-Hudson W1999-01751-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Robert A. Lanier
This appeal arises out of a complaint for personal injuries sustained when the Plaintiff was struck by a shopping cart in the parking lot of the Defendant's store. The Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment arguing that it did not violate the duty of care owed to the Plaintiff. The trial court granted the motion and entered judgment accordingly.
Shelby
Court of Appeals
Gary Wayne Robertson vs. Lori Vanhooser Robertson E2000-01698-COA-RM-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: W. Neil Thomas, III
The Supreme Court granted Mr. Robertson's application for permission to appeal and remanded this case to us "for reconsideration in light of Crabtree vs. Crabtree [16 S.W.3d 356 (Tenn. 2000)]." Upon reconsideration, we adhere to our original opinion.
Hamilton
Court of Appeals
Underground, Inc., d/b/a The Underground, vs. City of Knoxville E2000-00609-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Trial Court Judge: Daryl R. Fansler
The Beer Board summarily suspended Petitioner's licence to sell beer and following a hearing, revoked the permit. On appeal to Chancery Court, the Chancellor upheld the revocation. We affirm.
Arzolia Charles Goines vs. State E1999-02459-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Ray L. Jenkins
The appellant, Arzolia Charles Goines, appeals the dismissal of his writ of error coram nobis by the Knox County Criminal Court on September 1, 1999. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Danny S. Cosby vs State M1999-01861-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Steve R. Dozier
The Appellant, Danny S. Cosby, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first degree murder and to two counts of aggravated assault. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the Davidson County Criminal Court sentenced the Appellant to an effective sentence of thirty years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Appellant subsequently filed for post-conviction relief, claiming that his plea was constitutionally defective because he was inadequately represented. The trial court denied relief. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Davidson
Court of Criminal Appeals
Gretchen Bish vs. Sofamor W1998-00373-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: John R. Mccarroll, Jr.
These are consolidated interlocutory appeals of products liability suits against the manufacturers of spinal fixation devices. The trial court dismissed plaintiffs' negligence per se claims based on the alleged violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act (FDCA) and the Medical Device Amendments (MDA). In one of the cases, the trial court also granted defendants' motion in limine to exclude all Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory evidence information and documents concerning the fixation devices. Plaintiffs appeal the rulings of the trial court.
Shelby
Court of Appeals
State vs. Willie Smith W2001-02973-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Joseph H. Walker, III
The defendant, Willie Nathaniel Smith, appeals as of right his conviction by a jury in the Tipton County Circuit Court of delivery of .5 grams or more of cocaine, a Class B felony, and his resulting fifteen-year sentence. He also appeals the concurrent fifteen-year sentences received following his guilty pleas to two additional counts of delivery of .5 grams or more of cocaine. He contends (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction in case number 4149; (2) the trial court erroneously allowed a police investigator to testify about what he heard on a recording device; and (3) his sentences in both cases are excessive. We affirm the judgments of conviction.
Tipton
Court of Criminal Appeals
State vs. Jeremy Jones E1999-02207-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: James Edward Beckner
The defendant appeals his conviction and sentence for theft of property, asserting that insufficient evidence supported the verdict and that the trial court erroneously sentenced him to three years of incarceration. We affirm the conviction and modify the sentence to two years of incarceration.
Greene
Court of Criminal Appeals
Sarah Anita James vs. Susan Kay Swindell E1999-02407-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: L. Marie Williams
This appeal arises out of an automobile accident. The Defendant lost control of her vehicle, crossed three lanes of traffic, and hit Plaintiff's vehicle. Plaintiff suffered injuries and sued Defendant for damages. A jury trial ensued. The jury found Defendant to be 100% at fault and awarded $15,000 in damages to Plaintiff. The Plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial alleging juror misconduct and presented a juror's affidavit in support of her position. The Defendant untimely presented counter affidavits by jurors. The trial court judge granted a new trial based on juror misconduct. At the second trial the jury found the Defendant 100% at fault and awarded Plaintiff $27,608.60 in damages. On appeal, the Defendant claims that the trial court erred in failing to grant Defendant's motion for a directed verdict and in granting a new trial. We affirm the trial court's denial of a directed verdict for the Defendant and reverse the trial court's granting of a new trial based on juror misconduct. We remand the case to the trial court for the reinstatement of the jury verdict at the first trial.