| In Re Eden B. et al.
M2025-00617-COA-R3-PT
The trial court terminated a mother’s parental rights to two minor children after finding that the mother abandoned the children through failure to support and subjected the children to severe abuse. The mother appeals to this Court, and, discerning no error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Judge M. Wyatt Burk |
Marshall County | Court of Appeals | 03/11/26 | |
| 4U2ASKY Entertainment, Inc. v. Blessing Chibueze Offor
M2023-00238-COA-R3-CV
A music publisher sued a musician for breach of contract. The musician, saddled with legal fees related to this litigation, eventually filed for bankruptcy and claimed certain musical works as his own intellectual property during the bankruptcy proceedings. The parties settled by agreeing that ownership rights to a subset of the musician’s songs would be transferred to the publisher. Subsequently, the publisher contacted a licensing agency in pursuit of royalties, claiming ownership of more songs than were actually provided for under the settlement. The musician objected to the licensing agency, asserting that the publisher misrepresented the breadth of works it obtained in the settlement. This led to a second lawsuit with the music publisher asserting breach of contract against the musician. The musician filed a counterclaim against the publisher in this second lawsuit, asserting that the publisher’s communications with the licensing agency amounted to tortious interference with the musician’s existing and prospective business relationships. The publisher sought to dismiss the musician’s counterclaim under the Tennessee Public Participation Act (TPPA). The trial court dismissed the publisher’s TPPA petition. The publisher appeals the denial of its TPPA petition. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey Usman
Originating Judge:Chancellor Russell T. Perkins |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 03/09/26 | |
| Tino Cartez Sutton v. State of Tennessee et al.
M2026-00318-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from an order denying relief under Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 60.02. Because the appellant did not file his notice of appeal within thirty days after entry of the order as required by Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a), we dismiss the appeal.
Authoring Judge: PER CURIAM
Originating Judge:Senior Judge Robert E. Lee Davies |
Bedford County | Court of Appeals | 03/09/26 | |
| In Re Dahlia S.
W2025-01293-COA-R3-JV
A father filed several documents in the Juvenile Court for Madison County (the “trial court”) seeking, inter alia, parenting time with his minor child. The trial court dismissed the father’s petition, and the father filed a timely appeal to this Court. Because the father’s brief fails to comply with the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure addressing briefing, father waives any issues purportedly raised. This appeal is dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Judge Christy R. Little |
Madison County | Court of Appeals | 03/09/26 | |
| Legends Bank v. Samson Orusa et al.
M2026-00233-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from an order denying a motion to reconsider. Because the appellant did not file his notice of appeal with the Clerk of the Appellate Court within thirty days after entry of the order as required by Rule 4(a) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, we dismiss the appeal.
Authoring Judge: PER CURIAM
Originating Judge:Chancellor Kimberly Lund |
Montgomery County | Court of Appeals | 03/06/26 | |
| IN RE AYBREE Y.
E2025-00400-COA-R3-PT
This action involves the termination of a mother’s parental rights to her minor child. Following a bench trial with neither the mother nor her counsel present, the court found that clear and convincing evidence established several grounds of termination and that termination was in the best interest of the child. The mother argues on appeal, inter alia, that the court erred in permitting counsel to withdraw on the day of the hearing. We vacate the judgment and remand for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Chancellor Timothy E. Irwin |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 03/05/26 | |
| MARY SUE GASTON LEE v. DANNY C. LEE
E2024-01696-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce matter, the trial court classified and valued the parties’ assets, subsequently fashioning a distribution of the marital assets and liabilities that the court deemed equitable. The husband has appealed. We reverse the trial court’s determination regarding the classification and valuation of two assets and remand those issues to the trial court for further determination. Accordingly, because of these unresolved classification and valuation issues, we vacate the trial court’s overall distribution of marital property and remand that issue for further determination as well.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant |
McMinn County | Court of Appeals | 03/03/26 | |
| In Re Penelope S.
W2025-00732-COA-R3-JV
The juvenile court magistrate denied Appellant/Father’s petition for custody of the minor child on its finding that Tennessee was not the child’s home state under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Father filed a timely request for review by the juvenile court judge under Tennessee Code Annotated section 37-1-107(d)(1)(A). Because the trial court’s order denying review fails to comply with section 37-1-107(d)(1)(E), it is vacated.
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge W. Mark Ward
Originating Judge:Magistrate W. Ray Glasgow |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 03/02/26 | |
| Ben C. Adams v. Buchanan D. Dunavant, et al.
W2023-01505-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from an interpleader action filed by a trustee of a trust who held funds that were to be distributed to a beneficiary but were subject to claims by other parties. The trial court granted the trustee permission to deposit the funds, discharged him from liability, and ordered some of the funds to be disbursed in accordance with settlement agreements the beneficiary had entered into in other litigation involving his children. The trial court proceeded to consider the claims of various other parties to determine who was entitled to the remainder of the interpleaded funds. Law firms who had represented the beneficiary in separate litigation filed an answer and claimed that they had an attorney charging lien against the trust distributions. After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court determined that the law firms presented no proof of an attorney lien against the trust distributions. As such, the trial court ordered the remaining funds to be distributed to other parties. After an additional hearing on motions to revise, the trial court again found that no attorney lien existed. The law firms appealed. For the following reasons, the decision of the trial court is hereby affirmed and remanded.
Authoring Judge: Judge Carma Dennis McGee
Originating Judge:Judge Joe Townsend |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 02/27/26 | |
| Breanna Nicole Emerson v. Samuel Ryan Emerson
M2026-00244-COA-T10B-CV
This accelerated interlocutory appeal is taken from the trial court’s order denying Appellant’s motion for recusal. Because Appellant’s application for appeal is untimely under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10B, §2.02, this Court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction over the appeal, and it is dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge W. Mark Ward
Originating Judge:Judge Matthew Joel Wallace |
Montgomery County | Court of Appeals | 02/27/26 | |
| John H. Capps v. OneCare Dental Solutions, LLC et al.
M2024-00436-COA-R3-CV
In this dispute between members of a limited liability company, the plaintiff alleged that the defendant breached her fiduciary duty through the unilateral sale of company assets. The trial court referred the matter to a Special Master, who determined the assets were significantly undervalued in the sale and recommended a judgment in favor of the plaintiff. The defendant filed no objections to the Special Master’s report. The trial court subsequently adopted the findings and recommendations. On appeal, the defendant challenges the trial court’s adoption of the report, asserting that the trial court failed to make independent findings. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey Usman
Originating Judge:Judge David D. Wolfe |
Dickson County | Court of Appeals | 02/27/26 | |
| IN RE ISAIAH M.
E2026-00053-COA-T10B-CV
Petitioner seeks accelerated review of the denial of her motion to recuse the trial judge. The motion to recuse was filed after the entry of a judgment and the denial of a motion under Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 59. Because issues related to the denial of the motion to recuse may be raised in petitioner’s appeal of the final judgment, we dismiss this appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Chancellor Suzanne Cook |
Washington County | Court of Appeals | 02/27/26 | |
| Kimberly P. Urquia v. Eric D. Neal
W2024-01842-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the application of Tennessee Code Annotated section 56-7-1206(d) in a personal injury lawsuit in which the plaintiff seeks to proceed directly against her uninsured motorist insurance carrier. The trial court granted summary judgment to the carrier. The plaintiff appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Carma Dennis McGee
Originating Judge:Judge Cedrick D. Wooten |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 02/27/26 | |
| Kimberly P. Urquia v. Eric D. Neal - DISSENT
W2024-01842-COA-R3-CV
I agree with the underlying facts of this dispute as stated in the majority opinion. I disagree with the trial court and the majority in their application of Tennessee Code Annotated section 56-17-1206 (“UM statute”). My disagreement is two-fold. First, the trial court should not have looked any further than the plain language of section (d) of the UM statute. Second, although I would hold section (e) of the UM statute inapplicable here, I also take issue with the trial court’s findings that led to its grant of summary judgment under section (e).
Authoring Judge: Judge Valerie L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Cedrick D. Wooten |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 02/27/26 | |
| In Re Daisy B.
M2025-00470-COA-R3-PT
Great-Grandmother appeals the denial of her petition to terminate Mother’s parental rights. The trial court found one ground for termination but concluded that termination of Mother’s parental rights was not in the child’s best interest. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey Usman
Originating Judge:Chancellor Louis W. Oliver |
Sumner County | Court of Appeals | 02/27/26 | |
| CONTRACK WATTS, INC. v. RELYANT GLOBAL, LLC
E2025-00933-COA-R3-CV
Because the orders from which the appellant has filed an appeal do not constitute a final, appealable judgment, this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction to consider this appeal.
Authoring Judge: JOHN W. MCCLARTY, P.J., E.S.; THOMAS R. FRIERSON, II, J.; and KRISTI M. DAVIS, J.
Originating Judge:Chancellor David Reed Duggan |
Blount County | Court of Appeals | 02/26/26 | |
| Clint Johnson v. Airtight Resources Inc. et al.
M2023-01336-COA-R3-CV
As permitted by statute, the plaintiff in a personal injury action amended his complaint to add a nonparty as a new defendant based on the original defendant’s allegations of comparative fault in an amended answer. The new defendant filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the statute of limitations barred the claims against him because the original defendant lacked permission to file the amended answer. The trial court struck the amended answer and dismissed the claims against the new defendant on statute of limitations grounds. Because the original defendant had written consent to file the amended answer, we reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph P. Binkley, Jr. |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 02/26/26 | |
| Bridget Mathis v. Jason Mathis
M2024-01800-COA-R3-CV
Husband/Appellant failed to answer Wife/Appellee’s complaint for divorce. On Wife’s motion, the trial court granted default judgment against Husband. Husband moved to set aside the default judgment, and the trial court denied his motion. Husband appeals. Discerning no error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge W. Mark Ward
Originating Judge:Judge Jessica Parrish |
Wayne County | Court of Appeals | 02/26/26 | |
| Rimon Abdou v. Marcy McCool et al.
M2024-00905-COA-R3-CV
The trial court entered an agreed order dismissing some of Appellant’s claims with prejudice, an order granting Appellant’s voluntary dismissal of all of his claims in two consolidated cases without prejudice, and an order awarding discretionary costs to Appellees. Appellant later sought relief from each of these orders pursuant to Rule 60 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. In litigating the Rule 60 motion, Appellant filed a motion to disqualify Appellees’ counsel and a motion to compel compliance with subpoenas he issued against his own prior counsel, and the parties filed cross-motions for sanctions. The trial court denied Appellant’s Rule 60 motion, motion to disqualify, and motion to compel. The trial court also denied both motions for sanctions; however, Appellant was awarded his attorney’s fees in opposing Appellees’ motion. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm the trial court’s ruling in all respects. Appellees are also awarded their attorney’s fees for defending this frivolous appeal.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Judge Lynne T. Ingram |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 02/26/26 | |
| Pamela Moses v. State of Tennessee
W2025-00386-COA-R3-CV
This appeal concerns a health care liability lawsuit. Pamela Moses (“Moses”) sued the State of Tennessee (“the State”) in the Claims Commission after receiving dental treatment from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (“UTHSC”). Moses alleged that her root canal was botched, leaving her injured. The State filed a motion to dismiss. The Claims Commission granted the State’s motion to dismiss on multiple independent grounds including that Moses failed to file a certificate of good faith with her complaint in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-26-122. Moses appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Special Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Commissioner James A. Hamilton, III |
Court of Appeals | 02/25/26 | ||
| Stephen Johnson v. David A. LeFeve et al.
Majority Opinion
This case stems from an alleged oral promise by the owner of two companies to pay the chief financial officer of one company a bonus of ten percent of the “profits” of both companies for work performed for the companies, including related to the sale of certain real property by one company. The plaintiff sued, alleging breach of contract, promissory estoppel, fraud, and unjust enrichment. The defendants, the companies and their owner, filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds that the claims were barred by the parties’ written contract and the Tennessee Real Estate Broker License Act. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss but later granted summary judgment on all of plaintiff’s claims and ruled in favor of the defendant as to their defense under the real estate broker statute. Both parties appeal. We affirm the grant of summary judgment as to the plaintiff’s claims for fraud and unjust enrichment but reverse as to the claims for breach of oral contract and promissory estoppel. We also reverse the trial court’s grant of summary judgment to the defendants on their defense under the real estate broker statute.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph A. Woodruff |
Williamson County | Court of Appeals | 02/25/26 | |
| Lisa Leann Linder v. Garry Phillip Linder
M2026-00048-COA-R3-CV
A husband appeals from a Final Order of Absolute Divorce. Because the husband did not file his notice of appeal with the Appellate Court Clerk within thirty days after entry of the final order as required by Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a), we dismiss the appeal.
Authoring Judge: PER CURIAM
Originating Judge:Chancellor Ben Dean |
Montgomery County | Court of Appeals | 02/24/26 | |
| Adrian Delk v. ATV Powersports, et al.
W2025-00785-COA-R3-CV
Appellant, Adrian Delk, has appealed an order of the Shelby County Circuit Court that was entered on March 13, 2025. We determine that the trial court’s order does not constitute a final appealable judgment. As a result, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal. The appeal is, therefore, dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Judge Rhynette N. Hurd |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 02/23/26 | |
| In Re John W. et al.
M2025-00833-COA-R3-PT
The mother of two minor children appeals the termination of her parental rights. The trial court found that multiple grounds for termination had been proven and that termination of her parental rights was in the children’s best interest. Finding no error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Chief Judge Frank G. Clement, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Adrienne Gilliam Fry |
Montgomery County | Court of Appeals | 02/23/26 | |
| In Re Skylar K. et al.
M2024-01890-COA-R3-JV
A circuit court found four children dependent and neglected because they were suffering from abuse or neglect. It also determined that the children’s father committed severe child abuse. Upon review, we conclude that the court’s severe child abuse finding is not supported by clear and convincing evidence. So we reverse that finding and affirm the lower court’s decision as modified.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Judge Adrienne Gilliam Fry |
Montgomery County | Court of Appeals | 02/20/26 |