APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State of Tennessee v. Tony Thomas and LaRonda Turner (Concur in Part and Dissent in Part)

W2019-01202-SC-R11-CD

I agree that Tony Thomas’s murder convictions should be affirmed. The Brady v.
Maryland issue raised by Mr. Thomas is a close question. Before trial, Mr. Thomas
requested the prosecution to provide witnesses’ prior inconsistent statements. The trial
court ordered disclosure, the prosecution failed to disclose the statements in its possession,
and the statements were favorable to Mr. Thomas. In my view, the State’s failure to disclose
the witness’s statements until he testified at trial was nondisclosure, not delayed disclosure.
However, the nondisclosed statements had to be material to Mr. Thomas’s defense for his
Brady claim to prevail. Because the statements were not sufficiently material, his Brady
claim fails.

Authoring Judge: Justice Sharon G. Lee
Originating Judge:Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.
Shelby County Supreme Court 03/07/24
State of Tennessee v. Anthony Duane Gray, Jr.

M2022-01233-CCA-R3-CD

A Montgomery County jury convicted the Defendant, Anthony Duane Gray, Jr., of assault,
kidnapping, possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin, four counts of possession with
the intent to sell or deliver four different scheduled drugs, and possession of drug
paraphernalia. The trial court sentenced him as a Multiple Offender to an effective
sentence of fourteen years of incarceration. On appeal, the Defendant contends that: (1)
the trial court erred when it denied his motion to sever his offenses; (2) the trial court erred
when it denied his motion to suppress evidence found during the search of a motel room;
(3) the trial court erred with it denied his motion to suppress evidence obtained from the
search of two cell phones; (4) the State violated his right to due process by intentionally
allowing false testimony; (5) the trial court erred when it denied his motion for a judgment
of acquittal to the charge of especially aggravated kidnapping; (6) the evidence was
insufficient to sustain his conviction for kidnapping; and (7) the trial court erred when it
denied his motion for new trial. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge William R. Goodman, III
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/06/24
In Re Conservatorship of Susan Davis Malone

W2024-00134-COA-T10B-CV

This is the second interlocutory appeal as of right, pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court
Rule 10B, filed by the appellants seeking to recuse the trial judge in the underlying
conservatorship action. After this Court entered its opinion and judgment in the first
interlocutory appeal, the trial judge entered several orders before the mandate was entered
with the trial court. In this second interlocutory appeal, appellants request, inter alia, that
we declare those orders void for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. After careful review,
we determine that the stay of trial court proceedings imposed by this Court in the first
interlocutory appeal remained in place until the mandate was entered. Taking into
consideration the limits of our review in a Rule 10B appeal, we vacate the trial court’s
orders entered between the time the appellants filed their second motion to recuse and the
trial court’s ruling on the recusal motion. We also vacate the trial court’s order denying
the second motion to recuse. Because the trial court’s order denying the second motion to
recuse is vacated, all remaining matters in this second interlocutory appeal are pretermitted
as moot.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Judge Joe Townsend
Shelby County Court of Appeals 03/06/24
Chaquana P. Williams v. Dollar General Corporations, LLC

E2023-00702-COA-R3-CV

Appellant filed a premises liability claim against the defendant store after she fell at its entrance. The trial court granted the defendant summary judgment. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Judge Kyle E. Hedrick
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 03/06/24
Ann Calabria v. Corecivic of Tennessee, LLC

M2023-00424-COA-R3-CV

The mother of an incarcerated person filed suit against the prison operator for injuries
allegedly sustained when a chair in the prison visitation room collapsed as she sat in it.
The trial court denied the mother’s motion for sanctions based upon allegations of
spoliation of evidence. The trial court then granted summary judgment in favor of the
prison operator. We affirm the trial court’s decisions on both motions.

Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge Amanda Jane McClendon
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/06/24
Stephen Boesch v. Scott D. Hall

E2023-00935-COA-R3-CV

The Circuit Court for Sevier County (“the Trial Court”) dismissed the motion for summary judgment filed by Stephen Boesch (“Plaintiff”) due to his failure to file a separate statement of undisputed material facts in accordance with Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 56.03. The Trial Court additionally denied Plaintiff’s oral motion for default judgment against Scott D. Hall (“Defendant”) and granted Defendant’s motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff has appealed. Upon our review, we affirm the Trial Court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Judge David R. Duggan
Sevier County Court of Appeals 03/06/24
Jerome Penzich v. Lauren Woodall

E2023-01235-COA-R3-JV

Because the order from which the appellant has filed an appeal does not constitute a final appealable judgment, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge John McClarty
Originating Judge:Judge Sharon M. Green
Johnson County Court of Appeals 03/05/24
State of Tennessee v. Alfonso Thomas Peck

E2023-01123-CCA-R3-CD

Pro se Petitioner, Alfonso Thomas Peck,1 was convicted by a Hamilton County jury of two counts of aggravated rape, for which he received concurrent sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He filed a motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1, which the trial court summarily denied in part and granted in part. On appeal, the Petitioner challenges the partial summary denial, arguing that his sentences are illegal because the judgment documents fail to specify the sentence length in years. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Amanda B. Dunn
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/05/24
Earl David Crawford v. State of Tennessee

E2022-01745-CCA-R3-CO

The Petitioner appeals as of right the Bradley County Criminal Court’s order dismissing his motion to correct illegal sentences. Upon our review, we conclude that the Petitioner has failed to prepare a sufficient brief compliant with Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 27(a)(7) and Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals Rule 10(b). Accordingly, the Petitioner’s issues are waived, and his appeal is dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Andrew M. Freiberg
Bradley County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/05/24
Natacha D. Hudgins v. Global Personnel Solutions, Inc., Et. Al.

E2023-00792-SC-R3-WC

This is an appeal from the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board which affirmed a judgment of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims finding that Appellee Natacha Hudgins’ back injury was compensable and that the date of her maximum medical improvement was January 6, 2022.  The appeal has been referred to the Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel for findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51.  We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Justice Dwight E. Tarwater
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas L. Wyatt
Davidson County Workers Compensation Panel 03/05/24
State of Tennessee v. Antonio Glover

W2023-00578-CCA-R3-CD

A Shelby County jury convicted the defendant, Antonio Glover, of aggravated rape for
which he received a sentence of seventeen years with the Tennessee Department of
Correction. On appeal, the defendant contends that the evidence presented at trial was
insufficient to support his conviction and that the trial judge in preventing him from
impeaching the victim with evidence of the victim’s prior sexual history. Following our
review, we affirm the defendant’s conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/05/24
Blakele Bakker M.D. v. Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority D/B/A Erlanger Health System

E2022-00872-COA-R3-CV

The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant hospital in this premises liability case, finding that the defendant had no notice of the alleged dangerous or defective condition on its premises. The plaintiff has appealed. Following our review, we determine that the plaintiff was not provided notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond to all issues to be considered by the trial court at the summary judgment stage. Accordingly, we vacate the trial court’s grant of summary judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Judge W. Jeffrey Hollingsworth
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 03/05/24
Glen Hale v. Brian Bergmann et al.

M2022-00782-COA-R3-CV

Two neighboring property owners had the right to use the same easement for ingress and egress. For many years, the neighbors used and maintained a shared gravel road to access their properties. Then one property owner unilaterally removed gravel from part of the road and created an alternate route. The other property owner filed suit, seeking to protect his easement rights. The trial court held the owner who damaged the road liable for “acting beyond his legal rights” and “changing the nature and character of the easement.” Among other things, the court awarded the damaged party a judgment for the costs of the repairs plus pre-judgment interest and a permanent injunction. Because the evidence preponderates against the damages awarded, we modify the judgment by reducing the award. We also vacate the permanent injunction because the damaged property owner did not seek that relief. We affirm the trial court in all other respects.

Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Chancellor J.B. Cox
Coffee County Court of Appeals 03/04/24
State of Tennessee v. Jose S. Loredo (In Re A Close Bonding Co., LLC, Surety)

W2023-00088-CCA-R3-CD

The Appellant, A Close Bonding Co., LLC, acting as the bail bond surety in the criminal
case of the Defendant, Jose S. Loredo, appeals the Madison County Circuit Court’s denial
of the Appellant’s motion to recuse and motion to set aside final forfeiture of the
Defendant’s bond. Based upon the oral arguments, the record, and the parties’ briefs, we
conclude that the trial court did not err and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/04/24
State of Tennessee v. Connie Reguli

M2022-00143-CCA-R3-CD

A Williamson County jury convicted the Defendant, Connie Reguli, of one count of facilitation of custodial interference and two counts of being an accessory after the fact. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of three years of probation after service of thirty days in confinement and denied the Defendant’s request for judicial diversion. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the evidence is legally insufficient to support her convictions. She also asserts that the trial court erred by (1) failing to dismiss the indictment for its failure to include an essential element of the underlying felony of custodial interference; (2) failing to instruct the jury concerning the essential elements of custodial interference; and (3) failing to instruct the jury on the defenses of voluntary surrender and legal representation. Finally, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred in imposing a sentence of split confinement and denying her request for judicial diversion. Consistent with our decision in State v. Hancock, 678 S.W.3d 226 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2023), we recognize that the principal’s actions in this case did not violate Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-13-306 at the time they occurred. As such, we hold that the Defendant cannot be guilty of facilitating the felony of custodial interference or being an accessory after the fact. Accordingly, we respectfully reverse the trial court’s judgments, vacate the Defendant’s convictions, and dismiss the case.

Authoring Judge: Judge Tom Greenholtz
Originating Judge:Judge William B. Acree
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/04/24
Roderick Bates v. State of Tennessee

E2023-00278-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Roderick Bates, appeals from the Hamilton County Criminal Court’s denial
of his post-conviction relief from his jury-trial convictions for especially aggravated
burglary and first degree murder, for which he is serving an effective life sentence. On
appeal, he contends that the post-conviction court erred in denying relief for his ineffective
assistance of counsel claims. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Barry A. Steelman
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/04/24
Brittany Sharayah Lehmann v. Jerry Scott Wilson

M2023-00232-COA-R3-CV

The appellant challenges his convictions on two charges of criminal contempt for violating an order of protection prohibiting him from contacting his former partner. The convictions arise from two communications between the appellant and the appellee when exchanging their minor child. We have determined that the underlying orders lack the required level of clarity and contain significant ambiguities. We, therefore, reverse the convictions.

Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge Barry R. Tidwell
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 03/04/24
Thomas Kaminski v. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

M2024-00291-COA-R3-CV

This is an appeal from a final order affirming the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s denial of a request for termination of registration on the Sex Offender Registry. Because the appellant did not file his notice of appeal with the clerk of the appellate court within thirty days after entry of the final judgment as required by Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a), we dismiss the appeal.

Authoring Judge: PER CURIAM
Originating Judge:Chancellor I’Ashea L. Myles
Davidson County Court of Appeals 03/01/24
Staci L. Robinson v. Eric S. Robinson

E2023-00546-COA-R3-CV

Husband moved for relief from a final decree of divorce under Tennessee Rule of Civil
Procedure 60.02(2). He claimed that his former spouse intentionally misrepresented her
income and assets during the divorce proceedings. The trial court denied the motion. We
affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Chancellor Douglas T. Jenkins
Hawkins County Court of Appeals 03/01/24
State of Tennessee v. Michael Clarence Craft, Jackie Dewayne Davis, and Zachary Stuart Tablack

M2022-01720-CCA-R3-CD

Michael Craft, Jackie Dewayne Davis, and Zachary Stuart Tablack, collectively “Defendants,” pled guilty as Range I offenders to two counts of voluntary manslaughter with the issue of judicial diversion and, alternatively, the length and manner of service of their sentences, to be determined by the trial court. Following a sentencing hearing, the court sentenced each Defendant to concurrent terms of six years’ incarceration. On appeal, Defendants Davis and Tablack claim that the trial court erred by denying judicial diversion, by denying probation, and by sentencing them to the maximum sentence. Defendant Craft claims that the court erred by imposing the maximum sentence. Discerning no reversible error, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Robert T. Bateman
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/01/24
State of Tennessee v. Jeffrey Lynn Wilkes

W2023-00619-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Jeffrey Lynn Wilkes, pled guilty in the Dyer County Circuit Court to
burglary, a Class D felony, and was sentenced by the trial court as a Range II, multiple
offender to five years in the Tennessee Department of Correction, to be served
consecutively to his prior Tennessee sentences and to his sentence in a pending Florida
case. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred by denying a sentence of
split confinement that would have enabled the Defendant to enter a rehabilitative program
to treat his drug addiction. Based on our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Mark L. Hayes
Dyer County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/29/24
State of Tennessee v. Matthew Smith

W2023-00482-CCA-R3-CD

After a Shelby County jury trial, Defendant, Matthew Smith, was convicted of aggravated rape, aggravated burglary, robbery, and theft of property valued at $10,000 or more but less than $60,000. The trial court sentenced him to an effective term of thirty years in the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC). On appeal, Defendant argues the evidence produced at trial was insufficient to sustain his convictions and that his dual convictions for robbery and theft violate his protections against double jeopardy. We conclude the evidence was sufficient to sustain Defendant’s convictions, but we also conclude the trial court should have merged Defendant’s convictions for robbery and theft. We, therefore, remand the case to the trial court to merge the appropriate counts but affirm the judgments of the trial court in all other respects.

Authoring Judge: Judge Matthew J. Wilson
Originating Judge:Judge Chris Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/29/24
In Re Daxleigh F. Et Al.

E2023-00749-COA-R3-PT

This is a termination of parental rights case. Appellant/Mother appeals the trial court’s termination of her parental rights on the grounds of: (1) abandonment by failure to support; (2) persistence of the conditions that led to the children’s removal; and (3) failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume legal and physical custody of or financial responsibility for the children. The trial court also determined that termination of Mother’s parental rights is in the children’s best interests. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Arnold B. Goldin
Originating Judge:Judge Sharon M. Green
Washington County Court of Appeals 02/29/24
Essy Kazemi et al. v. Hamid Arab

M2022-00707-COA-R3-CV

The Defendant signed a promissory note and borrowed $500,000 from the Plaintiffs, with the loan secured by his home. Months later, the parties entered into a note modification agreement that increased the principal to $900,000. The Defendant did not pay back the loan, making no payments, so the Plaintiffs sued to recover under the agreements. Over two years after the original answer was filed, the Defendant moved to amend his answer to add several affirmative defenses. The trial court denied the motion to amend. After a trial, the trial court found that the Defendant owed the Plaintiffs $843,011.47. The Defendant appeals the denial of his motion to amend and raises multiple other issues primarily relating to the amount owed. We find no error and affirm the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey Usman
Originating Judge:Judge Deanna B. Johnson
Williamson County Court of Appeals 02/29/24
Raymond T. Throckmorton, III, et al. v. Steven L. Lefkovitz, et al.

M2022-01124-COA-R3-CV

The plaintiff attorneys filed this action alleging tortious interference with a business relationship and unlawful procurement of breach of contract, Tennessee Code Annotated section 47-50-109, against the defendant attorney and his law firm for his defense of their former clients in an action to recover fees. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant attorney and the law firm. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Chancellor Anne C. Martin
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/29/24