William J. Reinhart v. Rising Star Ranch, LLC
M2009-01776-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Trial Court Judge: Judge Franklin L. Russell

This case arises from an alleged breach of an agreement to train horses belonging to the Appellant herein. The trial court found that the appellee training facility performed the agreed upon services, and that the appellant did not meet his burden to show either breach of contract or damages arising therefrom. Judgment was entered in favor of the appellee, and the appellant's case against appellee was dismissed with prejudice. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Bedford Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Ronald Jerome Gleaves
M2009-01045-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Mark J. Fishburn

The Defendant, Ronald Jerome Gleaves, was indicted following the execution of a search warrant that led to the discovery and seizure of narcotics. The defendant moved to suppress the evidence seized during the search, arguing the warrant was unconstitutionally issued. The trial court granted the defendant's motion and dismissed the charge against the defendant. The State appeals, contending the warrant was valid, and the evidence was admissible. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we reverse the order suppressing the drugs found during the execution of the search warrant. We vacate the order dismissing the indictment and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Gerald Harris v. Tennessee Board of Probation & Parole
M2009-01904-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Carol L. McCoy

This is an appeal from the dismissal of an inmate's petition for common law writ of certiorari. The petition alleged, inter alia, that the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole arbitrarily and illegally denied the inmate's request for parole. The Board filed a motion to dismiss the petition pursuant to Rule 12.02(6) of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. Rather than issue the writ and order the filing of the certified record, the trial court dismissed the petition for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The inmate appealed. We affirm.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Robert M. Linder v. State of Tennessee
E2008-00693-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Michael H. Meares

Petitioner Robert M. Linder was convicted of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor following a bench trial in the Blount County Circuit Court. The trial court sentenced him to 12 years, and on appeal this Court modified his sentence to 11 years. He then filed a petition for post-conviction relief and, due to irreconcilable differences with his appointed counsel, has proceeded through the post-conviction process pro se. After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief. Petitioner now appeals, alleging numerous errors in his conviction and subsequent appeals as well as ineffective assistance of trial, appellate, and post-conviction counsel. Although we conclude that the trial court enhanced Petitioner's sentence in violation of the rule announced in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. 296 (2004), that violation was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, it does not provide the basis for an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Similarly, none of Petitioner's other claims afford a basis for post-conviction relief. Consequently, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Blount Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. George Washington Matthews - Concurring
M2009-00692-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Seth Norman

I concur in the court’s opinion and express the view that the pivot upon which
the appeal in this case teeters is very finely pointed.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. George Washington Matthews
M2009-00692-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Seth Norman

The Defendant, George Washington Matthews, was convicted by a Davidson County Criminal Court jury of facilitation of the sale of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine, a Class C felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. The defendant was sentenced as a career offender and received an effective sentence of fifteen years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction. In this appeal as of right, the defendant contends that (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to dismiss his case; (2) the trial court erred in approving the jury's verdict as the thirteenth juror; (3) the evidence was insufficient to sustain his conviction of facilitation of the sale of 0.5 grams or more of cocaine; and (4) the trial court erred in sentencing the defendant as a career offender. Following our review, we reverse the judgments of the trial court because the trial court failed to fulfill its role as the thirteenth juror. We remand the defendant's case for a new trial.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals

Rebecca L. (Vanover) Million vs. Fairly Vanover
E2009-02149-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel Pickens Franks
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Hon. G. Richard Johnson

Plaintiff's action sought to reopen a divorce case which became final in 1982, to obtain part of her former husband's military pension. The Trial Court held the action was not filed within a reasonable time after the divorce and dismissed the action. On appeal, we affirm.

Unicoi Court of Appeals

Tina Johnson, et al vs. David J. Richardson, M.D. - Concurring
W2009-02626-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Judge Karen R. Williams

I concur in the majority opinion, but concur separately only to elaborate on establishing the similarity of medical communities for the purpose of qualifying a medical expert witness.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Tina Johnson, et al vs. David J. Richardson, M.D.
W2009-02626-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Trial Court Judge: Judge Karen R. Williams

This is a medical malpractice case. Plaintiff/Appellant appeals from the trial court's disqualification of her expert witness and grant of the defendant/appellee's motion for directed verdict. Finding that the appellant failed to show that her expert was familiar with the standard of care in a community similar to the defendant's community, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Flagstar Enterprises Inc. vs. Erie Hurst, Individually, and as Executrix of the Estate of Arnold Hurst, Deceased
W2010-00036-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Martha B. Brasfield

Defendant appeals the award of summary judgment to plaintiff in this action for specific performance of an option to purchase real property which plaintiff asserts is contained in a lease agreement. Finding a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding the authenticity of the option to purchase, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

McNairy Court of Appeals

Charles Beard vs. Jepco, Inc., et al
E2009-02393-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jacqueline Schulten Bolton

This lawsuit was filed by Charles Beard ("Plaintiff") against Jepco, Inc. ("Jepco"), and Mike Phillips (collectively "Defendants"). Plaintiff rented a storage unit from Jepco. Mike Phillips is a manager for Jepco. Plaintiff essentially claims that Jepco raised the rent on the storage unit he rented in violation of the rental agreement. Plaintiff initially filed this lawsuit in the Hamilton County General Session Court. He appealed the unfavorable sessions court judgment to the circuit court. Thereafter, defendants filed a properly supported motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff's response to that summary judgment motion failed to create any genuine issue of material fact and, accordingly, the trial court granted summary judgment to defendants. Plaintiff appeals, and we affirm.

Hamilton Court of Appeals

Paul Keener v. Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole
M2009-01788-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Carol L. McCoy

This is an appeal from the denial of a Rule 60.02 motion to set aside a prior order of dismissal. The trial court dismissed an inmate's petition for writ of certiorari for failure to comply with Tennessee Code Annotated sections 41-21-805 and -807, which govern inmate lawsuits. Nearly two years later, the inmate filed a Rule 60.02 motion to set aside the order of dismissal. The trial court denied the motion and the inmate appealed. Because the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying the requested relief, its ruling is affirmed.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Terrance G. Motley v. State of Tennessee
W2009-00991-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge John P. Colton, Jr.

A Shelby County jury convicted the Petitioner, Terrance G. Motley, of attempted first degree murder and of being a felon in possession of a handgun, and the trial court sentenced him to forty-four years in prison. We affirmed the Petitioner's convictions and sentence on direct appeal. The Petitioner then filed a petition for post-conviction relief, which the post-conviction court denied. The Petitioner now appeals, claiming the post-conviction court erred when it dismissed his petition for post-conviction relief because: (1) he received the ineffective assistance of counsel; and (2) the trial court improperly refused to appoint him another attorney after he waived his right to counsel. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the post-conviction court's judgment.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

Edna N. Zulueta v. Stephen A. Montgomery, MD
M2009-02406-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joe P. Binkley, Jr.

Plaintiff's complaint was dismissed after she failed to respond to the defendant's motion to dismiss and failed to appear at the hearing on the motion. The trial court denied her subsequent motion to set aside the order of dismissal, finding that she had not presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that she was not served with the motion to dismiss. We affirm.

Davidson Court of Appeals

John Crumby, Jr. v. Rural/Metro Corporation of Tennessee
E2009-00430-WC-R3-WC
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor John F. Weaver

In 2001, the trial court found that Employee's coronary artery disease had been advanced by his employment. Medical benefits were awarded in accordance with the workers' compensation law. In 2007, a dispute arose between Employee and Employer as to whether certain medications and tests were related to the work injury. Employee filed a motion to compel Employer to provide the medications under the 2001 judgment. The trial court granted the motion, and ordered Employer to provide all of the medications at issue. On appeal, we conclude that the trial court erred by requiring Employer to provide medications for Employee's diabetes. We otherwise affirm the order.

Knox Workers Compensation Panel

In Re Isaiah S.
M2009-02114-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Trial Court Judge: Judge Denise Andre

Father sought to become the primary residential parent due to the failure of Mother to comply with the parenting plan. The trial court designated Father as the primary residential parent. Mother appealed. We affirm.

Williamson Court of Appeals

Elmer Elliott, Jr., v. Pearl Elliott, et al.
W2010-00302-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor George R. Ellis

Plaintiff appeals the trial court's award of summary judgment to Defendants. We dismiss the appeal for the failure to appeal a final judgment.

Gibson Court of Appeals

Kilven Neal v. State of Tennessee
W2009-02492-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Weber McCraw

The petitioner, Kilven Neal, appeals the Fayette County Circuit Court's summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. The State has filed a motion requesting that we dismiss the appeal based on the petitioner's failure to file a timely notice of appeal, or, in the alternative, affirm the lower court's judgment pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Court of Criminal Appeals. Following our review, we conclude that there was no timely notice of appeal filed and that the petitioner's claims do not warrant that we waive the timely notice of appeal requirement in the interest of justice. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal.

Fayette Court of Criminal Appeals

Harold K. Gause v. State of Tennessee
W2009-01221-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr.

The petitioner, Harold Gause, appeals the summary dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. He entered a plea of guilty to reckless driving on April 30, 2003, in exchange for a sentence of seventeen days, which he had already served. He filed a petition for post-conviction relief on April 15, 2009. On appeal, he argues that: it was improper for the post-conviction court to summarily dismiss the petition; his allegations established a colorable claim for relief; the State failed to adequately answer the allegations contained in his petition; and this court should take judicial notice of the petitioner's complaint filed with the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding the representation of trial counsel. After careful review, we affirm the summary dismissal from the post-conviction court.

Shelby Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Michael Jermaine Harris
E2009-01383-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Don W. Poole

A Hamilton County jury convicted the defendant, Michael Jermaine Harris, of one count of aggravated arson. The trial court sentenced him to 19 years' incarceration to be served at 100 percent as a violent offender. The defendant appeals his conviction and argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction, that the trial court erred in failing to give a proper jury instruction regarding eyewitness identification, and that the trial court erred in enhancing his sentence on the basis of factors not determined by the jury. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the Hamilton County Criminal Court.

Hamilton Court of Criminal Appeals

State of Tennessee v. Edward Pope
M2009-01538-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Don R. Ash

The Defendant, Edward Pope, pled guilty to attempted aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, with an agreed effective sentence length of seven years and with the trial court to determine manner of service. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered the Defendant to serve his sentence in confinement. The Defendant appeals, claiming the trial court erred in denying him an alternative sentence. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial [*2] court.

Rutherford Court of Criminal Appeals

Randall C. Trent vs. Wayne Anderson, et al
E2009-02064-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Trial Court Judge: Judge John S. McLellan, III

Randall C. Trent ("Plaintiff") was incarcerated at the Sullivan County jail for several months before being transferred to the Tennessee Department of Correction. Plaintiff claims that while incarcerated at the Sullivan County jail, he was denied proper medical care and retaliated against for complaining about the lack of proper medical care. Plaintiff initially brought numerous claims against various defendants. This appeal involves the dismissal of plaintiff's claims brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. _ 1983, 42 U.S.C. _ 1985, and 42 U.S.C._ 12101, also known as the Americans with Disabilities Act. These various federal claims were dismissed by the trial court after finding that the applicable one-year statute of limitations had expired by the time the complaint was filed. On appeal, plaintiff claims that the "continuing violation" doctrine applies to save his untimely claims. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Sullivan Court of Appeals

Darrell W. Lunsford v. Howard Carlton, Warden - Dissenting
E2009-01259-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Cupp

Irespectfully dissent from the conclusion that the incorrect release eligibility date (RED) was not a material part of the plea agreement. I do not believe the record justifies such a conclusion without an evidentiary hearing. I also do not believe that the habeas court should be the forum to determine whether the Petitioner should be entitled to withdraw his plea. Once the habeas court determines that an illegal sentence has been imposed and vacates the judgment of conviction, what then occurs in the original case should be left to the convicting court to decide.

Johnson Court of Criminal Appeals

Darrell W. Lunsford v. Howard Carlton, Warden
E2009-01259-CCA-R3-HC
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert E. Cupp

The Petitioner, Darrell W. Lunsford, appeals the dismissal of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, in which he alleged that his sentence was illegal. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court.

Johnson Court of Criminal Appeals

William Earl Robinson A.K.A. Edward Baxter v. State of Tennessee
M2009-01170-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl Blackburn

The petitioner, William Earl Robinson, a.k.a. Edward Baxter, appeals the Davidson County Criminal Court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The petitioner pled guilty to rape, a Class B felony, and was sentenced to eight years, which was suspended to probation upon acceptance of the plea. After his probationary sentence was revoked, the petitioner filed a post-conviction petition, alleging that his plea was entered unknowingly and involuntarily based upon the ineffective assistance of counsel. On appeal, he specifically contends that trial counsel was ineffective by failing to properly advise the petitioner of his potential range of punishment for the charged offenses prior to his acceptance of the plea. Following review of the record, we find no error and affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.

Davidson Court of Criminal Appeals