APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Please enter some keywords to search.
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Anderson County Court of Appeals 01/12/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Hamblen County Court of Appeals 01/12/96
03C01-9502-CR-00034

03C01-9502-CR-00034

Originating Judge:Mayo L. Mashburn
Bradley County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/12/96
General Oils Company, Division of Ashland Oil, Inc., v. Claude Ramsey, Assessor of Property for Hamilton County, Tennessee and TN State Board of Equalization

01A01-9504-CH-00153

General Oils Company ("plaintiff") filed suit in the Chancery Court of Davidson County against the Assessor of Property for Hamilton County ("Hamilton County Assessor") and the Tennessee State Board of Equalization ("Board of Equalization") seeking judicial review of the decision by the Assessment Appeals Commission ("AAC") of the Board of Equalization that for tax assessment purposes plaintiff's petroleum storage tanks located in Hamilton County were real property. The chancellor reversed the AAC, holding that the tanks were personal property. On appeal Hamilton County Assessor and Board of Equalization present one issue 1On appeal the Board of Equalization only challenges the lower court's action to the effect that tanks are automatically considered tangible personal property under T.C.A. § 67-5-903(f) for property tax purposes. Because the broader issue raised by Hamilton County Assessor in essence encompasses this secondary issue, we approach this case from the standpoint of Hamilton County Assessor. 2 for our consideration: Whether the trial court erred in holding that the storage tanks should be classified as personal property for tax assessment purposes.1 For the reasons hereinafter stated, we find no error and affirm.

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge Tomlin
Originating Judge:Chancellor Robert S. Brandt
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 01/12/96
03C01-9501-CR-00004

03C01-9501-CR-00004

Originating Judge:James E. Beckner
Hancock County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
03A01-9509-CV-00320

03A01-9509-CV-00320
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 01/11/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 01/11/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Sevier County Court of Appeals 01/11/96
01C01-9408-CC-00286

01C01-9408-CC-00286

Originating Judge:Jim T. Hamilton
Maury County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
03C01-9501-CR-00027

03C01-9501-CR-00027
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Bradley County Court of Appeals 01/11/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Rhea County Court of Appeals 01/11/96
01C01-9404-CR-00154

01C01-9404-CR-00154

Originating Judge:Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
01C01-9503-CC-00063

01C01-9503-CC-00063

Originating Judge:Lee Russell
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
01C01-9411-CC-00391

01C01-9411-CC-00391

Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/11/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 01/10/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/10/96
Jack Layne Benson vs. State

M1999-01649-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Jack Layne Benson, appeals the trial court's dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. Convicted in 1996 of first degree felony murder and especially aggravated robbery, and sentenced to consecutive terms of life and 24 years, the petitioner contended that he was entitled to post-conviction relief on the grounds that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal. In this appeal, the petitioner argues that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to adequately communicate, for failing to adequately investigate, and for failing to obtain a transcript of the preliminary hearing. The petitioner argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to present additional issues on direct appeal. Because the petitioner has been unable to establish both deficiency in the performance of his counsel and prejudice in consequence thereof, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/10/96
State of Tennessee v. Darryl Gene Farmer

01C01-9409-CC-00328

The appellant, Darryl Gene Farmer, appeals as of right pursuant to Rule 3 (b) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure from his conviction of murder in the first degree following a jury trial in the Circuit Court for Warren County. The appellant was sentenced to life in prison. In this appeal he presents five (5) issues for our review.


(1) Whether the evidence was sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find the appellant guilty of first degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt;
(2) Whether the indictment against the appellant was invalid because of irregularities in the selection of the venire and/or the presence of an unauthorized individual during grand jury proceedings;
(3) Whether certain statements made by the prosecuting attorneys during closing argument constituted prosecutorial misconduct;

(4) Whether the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence statements made by the appellant on the night of his arrest;
(5) Whether the trial court erroneously admitted into evidence statements made by the decedent.


After a thorough review of the record in this case, the applicable law, and arguments of counsel, we conclude that with regard to issues one (1) through three (3) no reversible error appears in this case. However, because the record is inadequate with regard to whether the appellant’ s right to counsel was violated during police questioning, we remand the case for further factual findings on issue number four (4). We conclude that error exists with regard to issue number five (5).

Authoring Judge: Judge William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Judge Charles D. Haston
Warren County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/05/96
State of Tennessee vs. Carla Jo Fitch

01C01-9209-CC-00290

A Lincoln County jury convicted Carla Jo Fitch of murder in the first degree. The trial court approved the verdict and imposed a sentence of life in the Tennessee State Penitentiary for Women. Her motion for a new trial was denied, and she has appealed to this Court. The defense presents four main issues, of which the first three issues have sub-issues.

Authoring Judge: Special Judge Allen R. Cornelius, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge W. Charles Lee
Lincoln County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/05/96
State of Tennessee v Carla Jo Fitch - Concurring

01C01-9209-CC-00290

I concur with Judge Cornelius' reversal of this case, but write separately to address other issues.

Authoring Judge: Judge Penny J. White
Originating Judge:Judge William Charles Lee
Lincoln County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/05/96
State of Tennessee v. Arnold V. Porter

01C01-9410-CC-00353

The defendant, Arnold V. Porter, appeals from a jury conviction in the Circuit Court of Coffee County for two counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, a Class E felony. The defendant received two two-year sentences as a Range I, standard offender to be served concurrently in addition to a fine of twenty-five hundred dollars in each count. In this appeal as of right, he presents the following issues:


I. whether the evidence is sufficient to support guilty verdicts for felony reckless endangerment,
II. whether he was denied a fair trial because the jury did not represent a fair cross-section of the community,
III. whether the trial court imposed an excessive sentence, and
IV. whether the trial court abused its discretion in raising his bond pending appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Gerald L. Ewell, Sr.
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/05/96
Jack Keller, Jordan S. Keller, v. Colgems-EMI Music, Inc., Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc., EMI Music Publishing, Inc.

01A01-9505-CV-00212

On June 28, 1994, Plaintiff Jack Keller sued the defendants in the Davidson County Circuit Court claiming a breach of fiduciary duty by fraudulently failing to disclose the contents of a contract amendment signed in 1960. Jordan Keller, to whom a part of the contract rights had been assigned, joined his father as plaintiff.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/05/96
Shade T. Underwood, Jr. v. Governor Ned Ray McWherter - Concurring

01-A-01-9508-CV-00360

This is an appeal by petitioner/appellant, Shade T. Underwood, Jr., from the trial court's dismissal of his petition for declaratory judgment and violations of civil rights. The sole issue presented by petitioner is "[w]hether the trial court properly dismissed the petition for want of prosecution."

Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/05/96
Explosive Specialists Inc. v. Whaley Construction Co., Inc., - Concurring

03A01-9509-CH-00305

In this action, plaintiff was awarded judgment for work performed under a contract, and defendant has appealed, insisting that plaintiff did not perform in accordance with the agreement between the parties.

Authoring Judge: Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Chancellor David H. Cate
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/03/96