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Supreme Court | 09/24/01 | ||
State of Tennessee v. Thomas L. Jones
W2000-01028-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant was convicted by a jury in the Shelby County Criminal Court of second degree murder and was sentenced as a violent offender to twenty-one years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the evidence was sufficient to convict the appellant of second degree murder; and (2) whether the trial court erred by refusing to grant a mistrial because of improper jury instructions characterizing the appellant's statement as a confession. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge John P. Colton, Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/24/01 | |
Dawn A. Dugan v. Elliott R. Myers (Deceased),
E2001-00281-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John L. Kiener |
Washington County | Court of Appeals | 09/24/01 | |
State of Tennessee v. Thomas E. Cowan, Jr.
E2000-02705-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Thomas E. Cowan, Jr., was found guilty of contempt. The trial court imposed a jail sentence of 10 days, six of which were suspended. In this appeal of right, the defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient; that the trial judge should not have acted as a witness; and that the sentence was excessive. Because the evidence was insufficient, the judgment is reversed and the cause dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Lynn W. Brown |
Carter County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/24/01 | |
Dawn A. Dugan v. Elliott R. Myers (Deceased), Et Al.
E2001-00281-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John L. Kiener |
Washington County | Court of Appeals | 09/24/01 | |
State of Tennessee v. Neil Friedman
E2000-02877-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Neil Friedman, was convicted of driving under the influence, third offense, and driving on a revoked license. The trial court imposed a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, six months of which was to be served in the county jail, for driving under the influence. A consecutive sentence of six months, 30 days of which was to be served, was imposed for driving on a revoked license. This court affirmed the judgment on direct appeal. State v. Neil M. Friedman, No. 03C01-9704-CR-00140 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Apr. 14, 1998). The application for permission to appeal to the supreme court was denied December 21, 1998. In a hearing conducted on the following day, the trial court reduced the DUI sentence to 120 days, which the defendant has since served, followed by seven months and 29 days of probation. Over one year later, the trial court revoked the probation and ordered service of the remainder of the sentence. In this appeal, the defendant contends that the trial court no longer had authority to revoke the probation. Because the sentence had been fully served and the probationary term had ended when the probation revocation warrant was issued, the judgment must be reversed and the cause dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Lynn W. Brown |
Carter County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/24/01 | |
Mary Ellen Barnes v. Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance
W2000-02559-SC-WCM-CV
In this appeal, the employee insists the evidence preponderates against the denial of workers' compensation benefits and asks this tribunal to determine the extent of her vocational impairment. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment of dismissal should be reversed, the conditional award of permanent partial disability benefits based on 3 percent to the body as a whole affirmed, and the cause remanded with instructions.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio, Judge |
Shelby County | Workers Compensation Panel | 09/24/01 | |
Lori Castle vs. Jeffrey Baker
E2000-02772-COA-R3-CV
These parties were divorced in May 1992. Custody of their daughter, Brittany, then 5 years old, was awarded to Mother pursuant to an Marital Dissolution Agreement [MDA] which obligated Father to pay $575.00 monthly support. About three months after the divorce was granted, the custodial care of Brittany was transferred to Father, by agreement of the parties and without recourse to the Court. In June 1998, Mother sought contempt liability against Father alleging that he was in arrears with his child support obligation in the amount of $40,800.00: at trial, the amount was stipulated to be $36,800.00. Father responded by filing a petition for change of custody, alleging that Brittany had resided with him for several years, a material change in circumstances. He also sought forgiveness of the arrearage. The Trial Court found a change in circumstances and awarded custody of Brittany to her father who was also credited with the monetary value of the necessities he furnished Brittany from August 1992 through February 1997. Mother appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John S. Mclellan, III |
Sullivan County | Court of Appeals | 09/21/01 | |
State of Tennessee v. Marvin W. Hill, Jr.
E2000-02789-CCA-R3-CD
In July 1999, the Defendant pled guilty to evading arrest and possession of marijuana, both Class A misdemeanors, and received concurrent sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days supervised probation. In December 1999, the Defendant was indicted for assault and aggravated criminal trespass, both of which are also Class A misdemeanors. In January 2000, a violation of probation warrant was issued against the Defendant, alleging that he had violated his probation in the first two cases. In March 2000, the Defendant pled guilty to the assault and aggravated criminal trespass charges, and a combined sentencing hearing and probation violation hearing was held by the trial court. The trial court revoked the Defendant's probation in the first two cases and imposed concurrent sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration. The court also imposed sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration in the second two cases, to run concurrently with each other but consecutively to the sentences imposed in the first two cases. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred in imposing sentences of incarceration in each case. Because our review of the record reveals that the sentences were proper, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr. |
Blount County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/21/01 | |
Ben Doubleday vs. Larry Hargrove
M2000-02648-COA-R3-CV
This is an action to recover the balance due on a contract for the sale of timber. The purchaser's defense was impossibility of performance, because the seller had allegedly destroyed access. The seller testified that the purchaser cut and removed 95 percent of the timber, while the purchaser said he removed only about 40 percent owing to lack of access. The trial judge awarded the seller a judgment for the balance owing less some off-sets not relevant here. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Tamra L. Smith |
Bedford County | Court of Appeals | 09/21/01 | |
State of Tennessee v. Matthew Patrick Frontera, a/k/a Matthew Anthony Frontera, a/k/a Patrick Matthew Foster, a/k/a Derrick Joshua Foster
M2000-02747-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Matthew Patrick Frontera, pleaded guilty to criminal impersonation, a Class B misdemeanor. Sentencing was left to the discretion of the trial court. As part of his plea agreement, the Defendant attempted to reserve the right to appeal a certified question of law relating to the legality of his stop, detention and questioning by police officers. In this appeal, the Defendant asserts that the trial court erred by refusing to suppress the evidence obtained against him due to an unlawful stop and detention. He also argues that the trial court erred by sentencing him to serve six months in the county jail with release eligibility at seventy-five percent. Because the Defendant failed to properly reserve his issue concerning his stop and detention, we are unable to reach the merits of that issue. We affirm the sentence imposed by the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Donald P. Harris |
Williamson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/21/01 | |
Parks Properties, et al vs. Maury County, et al
M1997-00235-COA-R3-CV
Parks Properties and Columbia Warehouses, Inc. have filed a petition pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 39 requesting a rehearing of this court's August, 17, 2001 opinion. We requested and have now received an answer to this petition on behalf of Maury County and Judy Langsdon. Parks Properties and Columbia Warehouses insist that our conclusion that they lacked a protectable property interest in constructing the two warehouses without installing the automatic required sprinkler systems is based on our "misunderstanding that the warehouses would have contained tobacco or other combustible products." They assert that "there was never any evidence before the trial court that the warehouses would be used to store tobacco or other combustible products." This argument misses the point. The lynchpin of our opinion is that the record contains no evidence (1) that the Parks family ever told any county official that tobacco and other combustible materials would not be stored in these warehouses and (2) that the Parks family never sought a waiver of the automatic sprinkler requirements under Section 402.4.1 exception
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:William B. Cain |
Maury County | Court of Appeals | 09/20/01 | |
King David Johnson v. State of Tennessee
M2000-02756-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, King David Johnson, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The issue presented for review is whether the petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. The judgment is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton |
Maury County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/20/01 | |
Marta Monzon vs. Miguel Angel Monson
E2000-03155-COA-R3-CV
The appellant, Marta Monzon, filed her notice of appeal more than 30 days after the entry of the trial court's final judgment. As a consequence of this late filing, we are without jurisdiction to hear this appeal. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:L. Marie Williams |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
Kelvin A. Taylor v. State of Tennessee
W2001-00166-CCA-R3-PC
The Appellant, Kelvin A. Taylor, appeals from the dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief by the Weakley County Circuit Court. Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, Taylor entered a "best interest" plea to class D felony child abuse, and was sentenced to six years in the Department of Correction as a range II offender. In this collateral attack of his conviction, Taylor presents two issues for our review: (1) whether the general sessions court's revocation of his bond without a hearing and the resulting confinement prior to indictment violated double jeopardy and due process rights; and (2) whether trial counsel was ineffective. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge William B. Acree |
Weakley County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
Marta Monzon vs. Miguel Angel Monson
E2000-03155-COA-R3-CV
The appellant, Marta Monzon, filed her notice of appeal more than 30 days after the entry of the trial court's final judgment. As a consequence of this late filing, we are without jurisdiction to hear this appeal. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:L. Marie Williams |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
State of Tennessee v. Scott Ray Anderson
E2000-03040-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant appeals the judgment entered by the Circuit Court of Blount County revoking his community corrections sentence. The sole issue on appeal is whether the court abused its discretion in ordering the defendant to serve the remainder of his sentence in the penitentiary. After careful review, we affirm the trial court's judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr. |
Blount County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
CH-00-0135-2
CH-00-0135-2
Originating Judge:Floyd Peete, Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
State of Tennessee v. Janet Lawson
E2000-02486-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant pled guilty to one count of theft over $1,000.00 and the trial court sentenced her as a Range I standard offender to three years probation. The defendant appeals from the revocation of her probation, contending that the trial court abused its discretion by ordering her to serve the remainder of her sentence in confinement. Because we conclude that the record supports that trial court's decision to revoke the defendant's probation, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Lillie Ann Sells |
Cumberland County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
Venelsia Stephens vs. Shelby Co. Govt.
W2000-01353-COA-R3-CV
County employee sued county for on-the-job injury benefits resulting from carpel tunnel syndrome. Employee filed suit over one year after the county denied her claim for benefits. After a nonjury trial, the trial court dismissed plaintiff's case with prejudice as barred by the one-year statute of limitations. Employee appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:D'Army Bailey |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
Darin Shaffer vs. Shelby Co.
W2000-02215-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves an accident in which a mother and son were hit by an automobile. The mother received fatal injuries in the accident. The survivors brought an action against Shelby County for the wrongful death of the mother and for negligent infliction of emotional distress with respect to the son. A jury found Shelby County liable for $12,039,049.01. The award was reduced in accordance with the Governmental Tort Liability Act (the GTLA) to $260,000.00 plus discretionary costs of $5,434.55. The plaintiffs appealed the reduction of liability alleging that the GTLA violated the Tennessee Constitution and should be judicially abrogated. The plaintiffs further allege that even if the GTLA is upheld, liability should be capped at $350,000.00 as opposed to $260,000.00. Shelby County also raises several issues in this appeal. First, Shelby County alleges that it was performing a discretionary function, which immunizes it from liability. Shelby county also contends that the proof shows the mother to be at fault and fails to show that the son suffered a serious emotional injury. In addition, Shelby County argues that the verdicts were excessive and were tainted by inappropriate arguments made during the plaintiffs' closing. Finally, Shelby County alleges that the trial court erred by assessing discretionary costs, which caused the award to exceed the GTLA's statutory cap on damages. For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court's award of discretionary costs and affirm the trial court in all other respects.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
Marilyn Reddick v. Murray, Inc.
W2000-02178-SC-WCM-CV
In this appeal, the plaintiff insists the trial court erred in dismissing her claim at the close of her proof. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded for full trial of all issues fairly raised by the pleadings.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris, Chancellor |
Madison County | Workers Compensation Panel | 09/19/01 | |
State of Tennessee v. Morris Jason Pepper
M2000-00883-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Morris Jason Pepper, was convicted by a jury in the Lincoln County Circuit Court of one count of first degree premeditated murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain his conviction; and (2) whether the trial court erred by failing to grant the appellant's motion to suppress. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge W. Charles Lee |
Lincoln County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
Dolores E. Rossello vs. Michael Magill, Commissioner
M2001-00113-COA-R3-CV
The judgment of the Chancery Court is affirmed pursuant to Rule 10, Rules of the Court of Appeals.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr. |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 09/19/01 | |
Pilgrim Emmanual Baptist Church vs. Albert Buckingham, et al
M2000-02377-COA-R3-CV
The parties agreed to the consolidation of two cases for trial and appellate proceedings. The plaintiffs in each case sought broad injunctive relief to correct alleged irregularities in the affairs of the church. All named parties, plaintiffs and defendants, were enjoined from disturbing or disrupting any worship service or church meeting, and certain safeguards were placed on church funds and property. Thereafter, the church moved for summary judgment which was granted, thus effectively terminating the litigation. Mr. Buckingham appeals.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 09/19/01 |