APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

In this case, the defendant, The Krystal Company (Krystal), appeals a jury verdict holding it liable for personal injuries received by the plaintiff, Ali Agha Batebi (Batebi), from a criminal assault by a third party while on Krystal's property. We affirm.

The sole issue in this case is whether a plaintiff in a medical malpractice action may recover from a defendant health care provider the amount of plaintiff’s medical expenses paid by the Tennessee Medicaid program which is a part of the federal social security program.

The Court below held defendant in civil contempt for violating a permanent 2 injunction that prohibited him from obstructing the right-of-way on a state highway. Defendant has appealed and takes issue with the trial court’s denial of his motion to dismiss and with the sufficiency of the judgment. We have determined that the record supports the trial court’s finding of civil contempt and, therefore, we affirm.

The original plaintiff in this case, Billy Gwin Mitchell (“plaintiff” or “Mitchell”) filed suit in the Chancery Court of Shelby County seeking to enjoin the foreclosure of a deed of trust. Named as defendants were Sam F. Cole, Jr., Substitute Trustee  f the Estate of Prudence Reynolds, and Gerald W. Pickens, Administrator CTA (“defendants” or by name). Defendants filed an answer and a counter-complaint in which they contended, among other things, that the records of Mitchell’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case reflected Mitchell’s confirmed amended plan of reorganization mandated that Mitchell pay the mortgage indebtedness to Ms. Reynolds in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. As counter-plaintiffs, Cole and Pickens sought a money judgment for the principal balance due and owing on the note, plus accrued interest and attorney’s fees and costs. At the conclusion of all the proof, the case was submitted to a jury, and after issues of fact had been resolved, the special chancellor entered a judgment in favor of the Reynolds estate in the amount of $41,101.64 on the promissory note and attorney’s 2 fees in the amount of $21,900.00.