State of Tennessee v. Kevin Jones
W2001-01381-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

A Shelby County Criminal Court jury convicted the defendant, Kevin Jones, of aggravated child abuse, a Class A felony, and the trial court sentenced him as a Range I, violent offender to twenty years in confinement. The defendant appeals, claiming (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction; (2) that the trial court erred by failing to grant his request for a mistrial when a police officer testified that the defendant refused to give a statement to the police; (3) that the trial court should have ordered a mistrial when the state failed to provide him with Jencks material; and (4) that his sentence is excessive. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Kevin Jones
W2001-01381-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Trial Court Judge: Judge Bernie Weinman

A Shelby County Criminal Court jury convicted the defendant, Kevin Jones, of aggravated child abuse, a Class A felony, and the trial court sentenced him as a Range I, violent offender to twenty years in confinement. The defendant appeals, claiming (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction; (2) that the trial court erred by failing to grant his request for a mistrial when a police officer testified that the defendant refused to give a statement to the police; (3) that the trial court should have ordered a mistrial when the state failed to provide him with Jencks material; and (4) that his sentence is excessive. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Audrey Owen v. William Martin
M2001-02940-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle
This case was previously remanded by this Court for a determination of monthly payments due to Appellee from a resulting trust. Appellant appeals from an Order entered by the Chancery Court upon remand. The Order set the amount of the monthly payments but set no end date for those payments. We hold (1) that the corpus of the resulting trust is the equity Appellee possessed in the Property and is, therefore, a finite amount, (2) that the corpus should be reduced by rental amounts owed to Appellant by Appellee, and (3) that the remainder of the corpus may be paid as provided by the trial court.

Paul Peak v. Travelers Indemnity
M2001-03047-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Trial Court Judge: Robert E. Corlew, III
The named insureds in an automobile liability insurance policy providing $300,000 per accident liability insurance appeal a trial court grant of summary judgment that they had effectively reduced their uninsured motorist limits per accident to $60,000. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

M2001-02505-COA-R3-CV-
M2001-02505-COA-R3-CV-
Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.

Patrick Wingate v. State of Tennessee
M2001-02785-CCA-OT-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Charles Lee

Patrick Wingate appeals the Bedford County Circuit Court's summary dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. He is serving sentences of life and 25 years in the Department of Correction as a result of his 1998 convictions of first-degree murder and arson. This court affirmed the convictions. See State v. Patrick Wingate, No. M1999-00624-CCA-R3-CD (Tenn. Crim. App., Nashville, May 25, 2000), perm. app. denied (Tenn. 2000). Wingate's post-conviction petition challenged (1) the effectiveness of his trial counsel's assistance and (2) the sufficiency of the convicting evidence. On April 30, 2001, the post-conviction court entered an order dismissing the petition on grounds that it contained mere conclusions of law and bare, unsupported factual allegations. Because we agree that the post-conviction petition was properly dismissed, we affirm.

Jeremy Kyle Massey v. State of Tennessee
M2001-02736-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Stella L. Hargrove

The petitioner, Jeremy Kyle Massey, appeals the Lawrence County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. He challenges his conviction pursuant to a plea agreement with the state and contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel and that his guilty plea was
involuntary and constitutionally deficient. He further complains that the post-conviction court erroneously excluded certain testimony as irrelevant. We affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.

State of Tennessee v. Robert S. Lutrick
M2001-02720-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert L. Jones

After a Giles County Circuit Court jury convicted the defendant, Robert S. Lutrick, of aggravated assault, a Class C felony, he applied to the court for an order of diversion. The trial court denied the request and sentenced the defendant to the minimum Range I sentence of three years, to be served on probation. The defendant now appeals the denial of judicial diversion. Upon review, we affirm.

Steven Griffin v. William Roberts
M2002-01898-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Marietta M. Shipley
An inmate in the custody of the Department of Correction filed a legal malpractice suit against the court-appointed attorney who represented him in his post-conviction appeal. Despite many attempts, the inmate failed to obtain service on the attorney. More than three years after suit was filed, the court dismissed the case for lack of prosecution. We affirm the trial court.

River Links at Deer Creek v. Joseph Melz
M2002-00043-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: R.E. Lee Davies
The developer of a golf course brought a fraud complaint against the property owner who furnished the land for the course, and against the companies he controlled. The defendants argued that the plaintiff's remedies were limited by the arbitration clauses in two of the three contracts that defined the relationship between them. The trial court ruled that the arbitration clauses were not applicable to the plaintiff's claims. We affirm the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Rufus Steven Johns
M2002-00599-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Steve Daniel

The Defendant, Rufus Steven Johns, entered a nolo contendere plea to illegally registering to vote, a class E felony. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range I standard offender to eighteen months to be served on probation. In this appeal as of right, he raises three issues: (1) whether the district attorney general abused his discretion by denying the Defendant pretrial diversion, (2) whether the trial court abused its discretion by refusing to grant judicial diversion, and (3) whether the trial court imposed an excessive sentence. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Lisa Wade v. William Wade
M2002-00555-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Carol A. Catalano
This appeal arises from a change in child support, increasing the Appellant's monthly support obligation and awarding Appellee one half of all un-reimbursed medical and dental expenses while Appellant is in the military. Concerning child support, we affirm in part, with modification, and reverse and remand in part. Concerning un-reimbursed medical and dental expenses, we affirm.

Basil Marceaux v. Governor Don Sundquist
M2002-01356-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Appellant filed a complaint in the Davidson County Chancery Court naming Governor Don Sundquist, all members of the United States Congress representing Tennessee, all members of the state legislature, all Tennessee District Attorneys General, all Tennessee Sheriff's Departments, and others as defendants. The complaint alleged the numerous defendants were guilty of "kidnapping, extortion, and racketeering" through the application of laws calling for mandatory car insurance, and the practice of routine traffic stops. The trial court dismissed the complaint finding, inter alia, that Appellant failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. We affirm.

Christina Cliburn v. Paul David Bergeron
M2002-01386-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: J. Steve Daniel

Betty Brown v. Melvin Brown
M2002-00728-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Marietta M. Shipley
The trial court granted the wife a divorce after a marriage of twenty-five years, and ordered the husband to pay her $300 per month as alimony in futuro. Eight years later, the husband filed a Petition to Modify the Final Decree and eliminate the alimony obligation, citing a significant increase in the wife's earnings. The trial court denied the petition. We affirm the trial court.

In Re: The Estate of Harley Price
M2002-00332-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge J. S. Steve Daniel
Trial Court Judge: Jeffrey F. Stewart
This case involves an appeal by Mrs. Cynthia A. Price, widow of Harley Timothy Price, who appeals the trial court's determination that Mr. Price was domiciled in Marion County, Tennessee thereby providing a jurisdictional basis for the probate of his will. In responding to this appeal, the estate of Harley Timothy Price appeals the trial court's determination that Mrs. Cynthia A. Price has standing to contest the jurisdiction of the Court. The trial court found that Mrs. Price had standing to contest jurisdiction. It also found that Mr. Price was domiciled in the State of Tennessee and, therefore, the letters testamentary were issued. For the reasons stated in this opinion, we affirm the trial court's decision as to both issues.

State of Tennessee v. Chester Floyd Cole
W2001-02871-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.

The defendant appeals his conviction and sentence for rape of a child alleging insufficient evidence and excessive punishment. The trial court failed to apply pre-July 1995 sentencing guidelines for this April 1995 crime, and the trial court erred in applying one enhancement factor. After careful review, we affirm the conviction and remand for a new sentence.

Eric D. Wallace v. Warden, James M. Dukes
W2002-00882-CCA-R3-CO
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

In 1995, petitioner was convicted of first degree murder and attempted first degree murder and sentenced to consecutive sentences of life and fifteen years, respectively. Petitioner now files for habeas corpus relief, alleging he was convicted based on defective indictments. The trial court summarily dismissed petitioner's claim. We affirm the trial court's dismissal.

Dept. of Children Serv. vs. Sarah Owens
W2002-00905-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Clayburn L. Peeples
Petitioners filed a petition to intervene and for temporary custody in a dependent and neglect proceeding filed against the adoptive parents of the subject child. Pursuant to a later filed petition to terminate the parental rights of the adoptive parents, the juvenile court entered an order terminating the parental rights. The court then ruled that the petition to intervene and temporary custody was moot on the basis that juvenile court lacked jurisdiction over the dispute because of the previous order terminating the parental rights of the child's adoptive parents and granting guardianship of the child to the state. The petitioners appealed to the circuit court for a trial de novo, and the circuit court subsequently dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Petitioners appeal. We affirm the circuit court's finding that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the appeal but amend the order of the trial court to transfer the case to the Court of Appeals rather than dismissal.

Ervin Lee Hayes v. State of Tennessee
M2001-02913-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The Petitioner was indicted for two counts of attempted first degree murder. Following a jury trial, the Petitioner was convicted of both counts of attempted first degree murder. The trial court sentenced the Petitioner as a Range II, multiple offender to thirty-five years for each count and ordered that the sentences be served consecutively. The Defendant appealed, and this Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court. The Tennessee Supreme Court denied permission to appeal. The Petitioner then filed a pro se motion for post-conviction relief. The trial court found that the Petitioner failed to state any grounds for which relief could be granted and ordered that the Petitioner respond within fifteen days. Receiving no response, the trial court dismissed the petition. Eventually, with permission from the trial court based on extenuating circumstances, the Petitioner filed an amended pro se petition, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied the petition. The Petitioner now appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Ricky E. Pullen
M2001-02140-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge James K. Clayton, Jr.

The defendant, Ricky E. Pullen, was indicted by a Rutherford County Grand Jury on one count of rape of a child and one count of aggravated sexual battery. After a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of aggravated sexual battery and acquitted of child rape. The trial court sentenced him as a violent offender to eight years in the Department of Correction. Only one issue is raised on appeal: whether the evidence was sufficient to convict the defendant of aggravated sexual battery. We conclude that the evidence was sufficient and affirm the conviction.

Terry David Stephens v. State of Tennessee
M2001-01036-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Trial Court Judge: Judge Cheryl A. Blackburn

The petitioner was convicted in 1996 of aggravated rape and sentenced to confinement for twenty years as a Range I, standard offender. The conviction was affirmed on direct appeal and, subsequently, he filed a timely petition for post-conviction relief. The post-conviction court dismissed the petition following a hearing, and the petitioner timely appealed, alleging that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to convey settlement offers and to request jury instructions as to lesser-included offenses. The post-conviction court dismissed the petition following a hearing, and we affirm that dismissal.

Charjoray P. Weir v. State of Tennessee
M2002-00079-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. O. Bond

The Petitioner was indicted for first degree murder. Pursuant to a plea agreement, he pled guilty to second degree murder, and received a sentence of fifteen years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Petitioner then filed a petition for post-conviction relief, alleging that he was denied effective assistance of counsel resulting in an unknowing and involuntary guilty plea. The trial court dismissed the petition based on its untimely filing. However, our Court reversed that finding. The Petitioner filed an amended petition, and following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied the request for post-conviction relief. The Petitioner now appeals, arguing that the trial court erred by denying him post-conviction relief. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State of Tennessee v. Ernest Wilson
M2000-01997-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

This appeal arises from Ernest Edward Wilson's conviction for second degree murder in the Criminal Court of Davidson County. At the close of trial, the trial court instructed the jury on first degree murder, second degree murder, and voluntary manslaughter; it did not instruct the jury on reckless homicide and criminally negligent homicide. The jury convicted Wilson of the lesser-included offense of second degree murder, and the trial court imposed a sentence of twenty-four years in the Department of Correction. On direct appeal, Wilson challenged the trial court's failure to instruct on lesser-included offenses. The Court of Criminal Appeals, in a split decision, affirmed the judgment of the trial court. We granted review and now conclude that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on reckless homicide and criminally negligent homicide. Further, we hold that this error was not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals and remand the case for a new trial in accordance with this opinion.

Terrance Burnett v. State of Tennessee
W2000-01954-SC-R11-PC
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joseph H. Walker, III

Terrance Burnett, appellant, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony murder, two counts of attempted first degree murder, and one count of especially aggravated burglary. He received sentences of life without the possibility of parole, twenty years, and eight years, respectively. One year later, Burnett filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging several constitutional violations that he claimed entitled him to relief from the above judgments. After having appointed counsel, the trial court dismissed the petition without having conducted an evidentiary hearing. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the judgment. On appeal to this Court, Burnett contends that the trial court erred in dismissing his petition without an evidentiary hearing. For the reasons discussed herein, we are of the opinion that the trial court acted in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Post-Conviction Procedure Act of 1995. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court and the Court of Criminal Appeals is affirmed.