APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Geraldo vs. Vanderbilt University

01A01-9610-CH-00467

Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/19/97
Frazier vs. George

01A01-9703-CV-00110

Originating Judge:John W. Rollins
Coffee County Court of Appeals 11/19/97
State vs. David Volz

01C01-9604-CC-00171
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/19/97
Pratt vs. Smart

03A01-9701-CV-00024
Knox County Court of Appeals 11/18/97
03A01-9704-CH-00133

03A01-9704-CH-00133
Greene County Court of Appeals 11/18/97
State vs. David Moss

02C01-9610-CC-00365
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/18/97
Charles Fossett vs. State of TN

02A01-9703-BC-00061
Court of Appeals 11/18/97
State vs. Jerry Cooper

01C01-9604-CC-00150

Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Lincoln County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/17/97
Hutton vs. Johnson

01S01-9705-CH-00101

Originating Judge:James L. Weatherford
Giles County Supreme Court 11/17/97
State vs. Charles A. Pinkham, Jr.

02S01-9611-CR-00096
Supreme Court 11/17/97
State vs. Utley

01S01-9604-CR-00120
Supreme Court 11/17/97
State vs. Jerry Cooper

01C01-9604-CC-00150

Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Lincoln County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/17/97
03S01-9512-CC-00133

03S01-9512-CC-00133
Sevier County Supreme Court 11/17/97
Charter Oak Fire Ins. Co. v. Lexington Ins. Co.

M2002-01752-COA-R3-CV
On November 16, 1997, a fire destroyed a Chili's Restaurant ("Chili's") in Nashville, Tennessee. At the time of the fire, the premises were owned and operated by RMR Investments and Gower Center, Ltd. ("RMR/Gower") and leased to Chili's. Under a 20-year lease agreement, Chili's agreed to insure the improvements against loss or damage by fire and other casualties and to insure against property damage and public liability arising out of occurrences on the premises. RMR/Gower was to be named as a loss payee or additional insured under the insurance policies obtained by Chili's. According to the lease, in the event the premises and/or the improvements were destroyed by fire or other casualty, Chili's had the option to terminate the lease, and all insurance proceeds were to be paid to RMR/Gower, except for the portion payable to Chili's for loss of personal property. Pursuant to the lease agreement, Chili's obtained insurance coverage through Lexington Insurance Company ("Lexington"). The certificate of insurance dated December 5, 1997 listed RMR/Gower as certificate holder and named RMR/Gower as additional insured. After the fire, Chili's elected to terminate the lease agreement due to the condition of the premises. Lexington paid the proceeds for the loss of the building to RMR/Gower, less amounts paid to Chili's for loss of personal property. RMR/Gower submitted an additional claim for damages it incurred for the loss of rental income and other charges it would have otherwise collected from Chili's. This claim was denied by Lexington. RMR/Gower then submitted a claim to its insurer Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company ("Charter Oak") for the loss of rental income, which Charter Oak paid. After Lexington refused to reimburse Charter Oak for the amounts it paid RMR/Gower for the loss of rental income, Charter Oak filed suit against Lexington for breach of contract under the theory of third party beneficiary. Parties filed cross motions for summary judgment. On June 26, 2002, the trial court granted Lexington's summary judgment motion and denied Charter Oak's motion. Notice of this appeal soon followed. For the reasons set forth below, the order of the trial court is reversed in part and affirmed in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge Don R. Ash
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/16/97
City of Memphis vs. Civil serv. Comm., et al

02A01-9607-CH-00158

Originating Judge:C. Neal Small
Shelby County Court of Appeals 11/14/97
Wolf vs. The University of TN.

01A01-9611-CH-00514

Originating Judge:William M. Dender
Franklin County Court of Appeals 11/14/97
Elsie Hopkins v. San Antonio Shoe, Inc.

01S01-9610-CH-00216
This Workers' Compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. On May 2, 1994, the plaintiff, Elsie Hopkins, fell at work and injured her right shoulder. At trial and on appeal the defendant, San Antonio Shoe, Inc., accepted the claim as compensable. The trial court awarded thirty-five percent (35%) permanent partial disability to the body as a whole and assessed a bad faith penalty of twenty percent (2%) of the temporary total disability benefits due in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _5- 6-225(k). The defendant employer contends on appeal the evidence preponderates against a vocational disability award of thirty-five percent (35%) permanent partial disability to the body as a whole and any finding of bad faith. The plaintiff requests an award of post judgment interest. For the reasons stated in this opinion, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. The scope of review of issues of fact is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness of the findings, unless the preponderance of evidence is otherwise. Tennessee Code Annotated _ 5-6-225(e)(2). Lollar v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 767 S.W.2d 143 (Tenn. 1989). When a trial court has seen and heard witnesses, especially where issues of credibility and weight of oral testimony are involved, considerable deference must be accorded the trial court's factual findings. Humphrey v. David Witherspoon, Inc., 734 S.W.2d 315 (Tenn. 1987). However, where the issues involve expert medical testimony which is contained in the record by deposition, as it is in this case, then all impressions of weight and credibility must be drawn from the contents of the depositions, and the reviewing court may draw its own impression as to weight and credibility from the contents of the depositions. Overman v. Williams Sonoma, Inc., 83 S.W.2d 672, 676-77 (Tenn. 1991). Plaintiff, Elsie Hopkins, is 48 years of age and has a tenth grade education . Her prior work history consists of repetitive work in the garment and shoe industry and she has no vocational training. She was employed by the defendant, San Antonio Shoe, Inc., for approximately 8 years when she injured her right shoulder on May 2, 1994. She reported the injury to her employer and was taken by her supervisor, Paul Darrow, to be seen by Dr. Jack Milam. Dr. Milam treated her conservatively and placed her arm in a sling for 6 to 8 weeks. 2
Authoring Judge: W. Michael Maloan, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Jeffrey F. Stewart,
Franklin County Workers Compensation Panel 11/14/97
Mississippi Farm Mutual vs. Latonia & Thomas Jones

02A01-9607-CV-00151

Originating Judge:George H. Brown
Shelby County Court of Appeals 11/14/97
State of Tennessee Department of Human Services, v. Sylvia Fetterolf Ford, and Stanley Fetterolf

01A01-9704-JV-00171

This is an appeal by respondents/appellants, Stanley Fetterolf and Sylvia Fetterolf Ford, from a decision of the Putnam County Juvenile Court terminating their parental rights. Ms. Ford argues petitioner/appellee, State of Tennessee Department of Human Services (“Department”), filed its petition for termination of parental rights in the wrong court and contends the proper venue was the Overton County Juvenile Court which had handled the initial custody proceedings.1 The pertinent facts are as follows.

Authoring Judge: Judge Walter W. Bussart
Originating Judge:Judge John Hudson
Putnam County Court of Appeals 11/14/97
William Boyle vs. Virginia Thomas

02A01-9601-CV-00022

Originating Judge:Robert A. Lanier
Shelby County Court of Appeals 11/14/97
Jones vs. Rudolph

01A01-9611-CH-00513

Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy
Davidson County Court of Appeals 11/14/97
Susie Buchanan vs. Memphis Light, etc.

02A01-9610-CV-00245

Originating Judge:James E. Swearengen
Shelby County Court of Appeals 11/14/97
Nelson vs. The Application Group

01A01-9703-CV-00137
Court of Appeals 11/14/97
State vs. Michael Ware

02C01-9610-CR-00354
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 11/14/97
Kitsie Hendrix vs. James Cox, et al

02A01-9510-CV-00233

Originating Judge:Wyeth Chandler
Shelby County Court of Appeals 11/14/97