Sharon Faye Brown Hartman v. Leonard Lee Hartman
E2000-1927-COA-R3-CV
Originating Judge:Thomas R. Frierson, II |
Greene County | Court of Appeals | 07/20/01 | |
Rhonda Lowrimore vs. Certified Industries, Inc.
M1998-00938-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves an award of front pay damages in a retaliatory discharge case. An employee who had been injured on the job five times in less than two years filed a retaliatory discharge suit in the Circuit Court for Lewis County alleging that her employer had discharged her in retaliation for her workers' compensation claims. A jury awarded the employee $10,390 in back pay and $20,000 in punitive damages. Thereafter, the trial court determined that reinstatement was not feasible and awarded the employee an additional $36,327 in front pay. On this appeal, the employer challenges the front pay award on two grounds. First, it asserts that the employee was not entitled to front pay. Second, it asserts that if the employee is entitled to front pay, the amount of front pay awarded by the trial court is too high. We have determined that the trial court correctly determined that the employee is entitled to front pay. However, we have also determined that front pay award must be reduced to $25,429 because of an error in the trial court's computations.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Donald P. Harris |
Lewis County | Court of Appeals | 07/19/01 | |
Rachel Rice vs. Lee Rice
M1998-00973-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the dissolution of a four-year marriage. Both parties requested the Circuit Court for Davidson County to grant them a divorce. On the day of trial, the parties stipulated that they should be declared divorced and agreed upon the division of their modest marital estate. Accordingly, the trial court heard proof regarding child custody and child support as well as the wife's request for rehabilitative spousal support. The trial court gave sole custody of the parties' child to the wife and directed the husband to pay $570 per month in child support, as well as all the child's healthcare expenses not covered by insurance. The trial court also ordered the husband to pay the wife $250 per month in rehabilitative support for twenty-four months. On this appeal, the husband takes issue with the trial court's decisions to grant the wife sole custody of the parties' child, to require him to pay the child's medical expenses not covered by insurance, and to pay the wife $250 per month in spousal support for twenty-four months. We have determined that the trial court's decisions are amply supported by the record, and accordingly, we affirm the judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/19/01 | |
John Watson Little, et. al. and Leslie Earl Little, Executors for the Estate of Leslie H. Llittle, Deceased, . v. Michael Hogan, Jeff Payne et. al.
01A01-9707-CV-00291
The captioned executors filed this suit to recover damages for the wrongful death of 88
Authoring Judge: Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Judge Lee Russell |
Bedford County | Court of Appeals | 07/18/01 | |
Sara J. and Jerry H. Malone v. First Capital Home Improvements
02A01-9704-CV-00091
Defendant First Capital Home Improvements appeals the trial court’s judgment entered in favor of Plaintiffs/Appellees Sara J. Malone and Jerry H. Malone in this breach of contract action. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Judge John Franklin Murchison |
Madison County | Court of Appeals | 07/18/01 | |
Jean Kelly Fisher Wallace v. Richard Edward Wallace
02A01-9702-CH-00029
This is a post-divorce custody proceeding. Jean Kelly Fisher Wallace (“mother”) was
Authoring Judge: Judge Hewitt P. Tomlin
Originating Judge:Judge C. Neal Small |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 07/18/01 | |
George Stinson, Edward D. Lewis, and Gelsco of Tennessee, Inc., v. 138 Fifth Avenue South, et. al. and Metro Development and Housing Authority - Concurring
01A01-9702-CV-00060
I concur in the conclusion that paragraph 17 of the lease was not triggered by the sale from the lessors to MDHA. I am also of the opinion that the critical sentence beginning with “All damages awarded for such taking . . .” refers to a partial taking, because the damages are described later in the sentence as “compensation for diminution in value to the leasehold or to the fee of the property herein leased.” A taking of the whole would not diminish the value of the leasehold or the fee; it would extinguish the leasehold and the fee and replace them with a monetary award.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
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Court of Appeals | 07/18/01 | ||
Sheila Faye Hagen McCall Barnett v. Ronald Edward Barnett, Sr.
01A01-9706-CV-00244
Plaintiff, Sheila Faye Hagen McCall Barnett (Wife), and defendant, Ronald Edward Barnett, Sr. (Husband), were divorced by decree entered January 9, 1997. Husband appeals and presents issues concerning property division, alimony, and attorney’s fees.
Authoring Judge: Presiding W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Judge Muriel Robinson |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/18/01 | |
Barbara Korthoff vs. Herbert Korthoff
W2001-01712-COA-R10-CV
In this pending divorce action, the trial court ordered Husband to transfer $300,000.00 to Wife as a partial distribution of the marital estate. Husband filed an application for extraordinary appeal pursuant to Rule 10 Tenn. R. App. P. which this Court granted. Husband contends that the trial court is without authority to make a partial distribution of marital funds during the pendency of the divorce action. Furthermore, if the court had such authority, it could not do so absent an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the property was marital or separate. The application was granted and the order of the trial court reversed.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 07/18/01 | |
State of Tennessee, Department of Children's Services, v. Amy Diane Bottoms, and Brian Bottoms, Sr. In the Matter of: Brian Scott Bottoms, Jr., Israel Vaughn Bottoms, and Elijah Keane Bottoms
01A01-9706-JV-00249
Brian Bottoms, Sr., and Amy Bottoms have appealed from the judgment of the Juvenile
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Judge Andrew J. Shookhoff |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/18/01 | |
Harpeth Valley Utilities Dist. of Davidson and Williamson Counties, v. The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County - Concurring
01A01-9711-CH-00686
We concur with the results of the presiding judge’s opinion because we believe that the holding of Davidson County v. Harmon, 200 Tenn. 575, 292 S.W.2d 777 (1956) controls the outcome of this case. The Harpeth Valley Utility District has been operating since 1959 under the aegis of the Utilities Law of 1937 [Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 7-82-101, -804 (1992 & Supp. 1997)] providing water and sewerage disposal services to areas of Davidson, Williamson, and Cheatham Counties. As such, it is a governmental entity. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-82-301(a)(1) (Supp. 1997); First
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
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Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/01 | |
Dept. of Children's Svcs. vs. Pamela Cox, et al
M1999-01598-COA-R3-CV
This case presents two issues. The first is whether proper notice was given to the mother of a dependent and neglected child to meet due process requirements and allow adjudication of her right to visitation and of the goal of the permanency plan for the child. The second issue is whether the evidence preponderated against the trial court's decision to change the goal of the permanency plan to termination of parental rights and terminate the mother's visitation. We affirm the circuit court on both issues finding no due process violation and more than adequate evidence to support the trial court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Robert L. Holloway |
Lawrence County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/01 | |
William Ware, Virginia Ware, and Summer Ware, et. al. v. Michael C. Green, Commissioner, State of Tennessee Department of Safety
01A01-9604-CH-00170
This appeal involves the forfeiture under the Tennessee Drug Control Act of $4,710.75 in cash, twenty-two pistols, rifles and shotguns, a video camera, silver bars, and assorted gold and silver coins during a search of a residence in Waynesboro. The Commissioner of Safety ordered the currency and personal property forfeited despite the family’s contention that an initial search of their home and property without a warrant was illegal. The family filed a petition for judicial review in the Chancery Court for Davidson County. The trial court found the personal property was lawfully seized after the officers obtained a search warrant and affirmed the forfeiture order. The family perfected this appeal. We have determined that there is substantial and material evidence to support the commissioner’s decision. Originating Judge:Chancellor Robert S. Brandt |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/01 | |
James Dortch, Sr. vs. Evonne Dortch
M1999-02053-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute over the division of a marital estate following a seventeen-year marriage. Both parties sought a divorce in the Circuit Court for Davidson County. During a short bench trial, they stipulated that each of them had grounds for divorce but contested the classification, valuation, and division of their separate and marital property. The trial court declared the parties divorced and undertook to divide their marital estate equally. Both parties are dissatisfied with the division of the marital estate. The husband asserts that the trial court made a significant mathematical error in calculating the amount required to equalize the division. For her part, the wife asserts that the trial court misclassified items of separate property as marital property. We have determined that the trial court properly determined that the parties should receive equal shares of the net marital estate. However, we also find that the trial court misclassified a number of items of the wife's separate property and erroneously calculated the amount to be awarded to the wife to equalize the division of the marital estate. Accordingly, we have corrected the errors and affirm the judgment as modified herein.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/01 | |
Recognized Ground of Equity. Chambers v. City of Chattanooga, 71 S.W.3D 281, 284 (Tenn. Ct. App.
M2006-02424-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/01 | |
Connie McGahey vs. James Wilson
M2000-01931-COA-R3-CV
Upon divorce, the parties entered into an agreement that provided the parties would retain ownership as the marital residence as tenants in common, but could not sell the property without mutual consent. Mrs. McGahey now desires to partition the property over her former husband's objection. The special master found that the contract provision barring partition was unenforceable. The chancellor found the provision enforceable but only for a reasonable period of time (sixteen years). Mr. Wilson now appeals the trial court's judgment ordering partition by sale. Resolution of this appeal requires us to examine the effect of a contract barring partition between tenants in common when no time limitation or purpose for the restriction against sale was stated in the agreement. We hold the contract provision to be unenforceable.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/01 | |
James Ray vs. Thomas Richards
M2000-01808-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff filed a complaint against Defendant for personal injuries resulting from an alleged assault which occurred on October 20, 1998. The jury found for Defendant. Plaintiff appeals raising two issues: (1) Whether the trial court committed reversible error by admitting evidence of Plaintiff's character, reputation, conduct, and criminal records, and (2) whether the trial court erred in allowing the neighbor's petition describing Plaintiff as a public nuisance into evidence. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr. |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/01 | |
Peggy Lane, et al vs. Luella Spriggs, et al
E2001-00163-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the validity of an unsigned warranty deed in the plaintiffs' chain of title. Following a bench trial, the court below reformed the deed to add the missing signature. The defendants appeal, arguing, among other things, that the unsigned deed is inoperative and cannot be reformed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Telford E. Forgerty, Jr. |
Cocke County | Court of Appeals | 07/13/01 | |
Investors Group I, LTD. vs. Knoxville's Community Dev. Corp.
E1999-00395-COA-R3-CV
The complaint seeking damages for breach of contract was signed and filed by a general partner of Investors Group I, Ltd., a limited partnership. The Chancellor dismissed the case, holding the complaint was void because a limited partnership is a legal entity, and can neither appear pro se nor by a general partner who is not a licensed attorney. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Sharon J. Bell |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 07/13/01 | |
Dennis Mauk vs. Debra Perry, et al
E2001-00485-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiff seeks a judicial declaration regarding the proper interpretation of a will. The trial court found a will provision leaving "real property and contents" to the decedent's son, the plaintiff Dennis Mauk, is not ambiguous and that the word "contents" includes a 27-year old mobile home on the decedent's property. The decedent's other four children appeal, contending the will is ambiguous. They argue the trial court erred in failing to consider parol evidence as to the meaning of the subject language. They further contend the trial court erred in ordering a $6,000 bequest to the appellants to be paid into court, thus making it subject to the debts of the estate. We modify the trial court's judgment to provide that the share of personal property bequeathed to each of the decedent's children should be burdened with one-fifth of the decedent's debts. In all other respects, the trial court's judgment is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Thomas R. Frierson, II |
Hawkins County | Court of Appeals | 07/13/01 | |
Kimberly J. Svacha, et al vs. Waldens Creek Saddley Club, et al
E2000-03121-COA-R3-CV
The trial court granted defendants' motion for summary judgment relying, at least in part, on oral testimony from one of the plaintiffs. This testimony was not transcribed, filed with the trial court, and provided to this court as part of the record on appeal. Due to the somewhat peculiar procedural aspects of this case, we conclude that defendants had the responsibility to file a transcript of this testimony. Because we cannot evaluate the propriety of the grant of summary judgment without having before us this evidence relied on by the trial court, we vacate the grant of summary judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Rex Henry Ogle |
Sevier County | Court of Appeals | 07/13/01 | |
Tex Helton, et al vs. Colonial Loan Assoc., Inc. et al
E2001-00060-COA-R3-CV
Tex Helton and his wife sue Colonial Loan Association, Inc., and Lakeview Motors, Inc., seeking damages in connection with Colonial Loan's repossession of an automobile sold to them by Lakeview Motors. The Trial Court granted a summary judgment as to Colonial Loan. The claim as to Lakeview Motors has been concluded and this appeal only concerns the granting of a summary judgment in favor of Colonial Loan. We vacate the order granting summary judgment and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John K. Wilson |
Hawkins County | Court of Appeals | 07/13/01 | |
Donald Miller, et al vs. Choo Choo Partners
E2001-00007-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Samuel H. Payne |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 07/13/01 | |
Tex Helton, et al vs. Colonial Loan Assoc., Inc. et al
E2001-00060-COA-R3-CV
Tex Helton and his wife sue Colonial Loan Association, Inc., and Lakeview Motors, Inc., seeking damages in connection with Colonial Loan's repossession of an automobile sold to them by Lakeview Motors. The Trial Court granted a summary judgment as to Colonial Loan. The claim as to Lakeview Motors has been concluded and this appeal only concerns the granting of a summary judgment in favor of Colonial Loan. We vacate the order granting summary judgment and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John K. Wilson |
Hawkins County | Court of Appeals | 07/13/01 | |
Donald Miller, et al vs. Choo Choo Partners
E2001-00007-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Samuel H. Payne |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 07/13/01 |