APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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State of Tennessee v. Chad Crabtree

E2001-02374-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Chad Crabtree, was convicted of three counts of rape of a child, Class A felonies. The trial court imposed concurrent twenty-five-year sentences. In this appeal, the defendant asserts (1) that the trial court erred by denying his access to certain records regarding the victim and the lead investigator; (2) that the evidence was insufficient to support one of his convictions; (3) that the trial court was not impartial; (4) that a witness for the state improperly bolstered the credibility of the victim; and (5) that the sentence was excessive. The judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Stephen M. Bevil
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/31/03
State of Tennessee v. James Anthony McCurry

W2002-00298-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to sell; reckless driving; two counts of driving with a suspended, cancelled, or revoked license; possession of cocaine; aggravated assault; and felony evading arrest. The trial court sentenced him to an effective sentence of twelve years and ordered him to serve his sentence on probation. The Defendant's probation officer subsequently filed a probation violation report, and following a probation revocation hearing, the trial court revoked the Defendant's probation. In this appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court improperly relied on rebuttal testimony as substantive evidence at the hearing and thus that the court improperly revoked his probation. Finding no error by the trial court, we affirm the trial court's decision to revoke probation in this case.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/31/03
James Boyd vs. Billy Riley

M2002-01384-COA-R3-CV
This appeal, filed pro se, involves two separate law suits that were filed and pursued in the trial court without consolidation and heard without consolidation on appeal. One complaint alleges negligence, and the other complaint alleges malpractice. The trial court dismissed both actions, and we affirm the actions of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Stella L. Hargrove
Wayne County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Joe Mitchell v. CCA

M2002-00371-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Robert L. Jones
Wayne County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Joyce Mullins v. Crotty Corp.,

M2002-00159-WC-R3-CV
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer questions the trial court's findings as to causation, permanency, extent of vocational disability and mileage reimbursement. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the evidence fails to preponderate against the findings of the trial court. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e) (22 Supp.) Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed JOE C. LOSER, JR., SP. J., in which FRANK F. DROWOTA, III, C. J., and JOHN K. BYERS, SP. J., joined. Kirk L. Clements, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellants, Crotty Corp. and Employee Benefit Insurance Company Edwin Sadler and James D. Madewell, Cookeville, Tennessee, for the appellee, Joyce Mullins MEMORANDUM OPINION The employee or claimant, Ms. Mullins, initiated this civil action to recover workers' compensation for an alleged work related injury by accident. After a hearing on all issues raised by the pleadings, the trial court awarded permanent partial disability benefits based on 75 percent to the left arm and reimbursement of $2,313.3 for mileage incurred to receive authorized medical treatment. The employer, Crotty Corp., and its insurer have appealed. Appellate review is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness of the findings of fact, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(2) (22 Supp.). The reviewing court is required to conduct an independent examination of the record to determine where the preponderance of the evidence lies.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:John D. Wooten, Jr., Judge
Jackson County Workers Compensation Panel 01/31/03
Marcus Lewis v. Dept of Correction

M2002-00608-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Newell Smith v. Brenda Smith

M2001-02231-COA-R3-CV
Wife filed petition for civil contempt against former Husband for failure to pay alimony as set forth in the Martial Dissolution Agreement and final decree. Husband responded, arguing that he did not have the ability to pay the alimony as agreed. The trial court found Husband in willful contempt of the previous order of the court due to his failure to pay the first two alimony installments and ordered Husband incarcerated if he did not appeal or make those payments within thirty days. Because the trial court found that Husband did not have the ability to pay at the time of the contempt hearing, we vacate the order incarcerating Husband if he does not pay.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Charles K. Smith
Wilson County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Joe Mitchell v. CCA

M2002-00371-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Robert L. Jones
Wayne County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Marcus Lewis v. Dept of Correction

M2002-00608-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Naomi Hausler v. Discounts R. Us

M2002-01465-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff, pro se, appeals the action of the trial court in denying her Petition in the Nature of a Petition to Vacate a Void Judgment and Collateral Attack. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:John D. Wootten, Jr.
Smith County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Sylvester Young v. Nashville & Davidson County

M2000-02455-COA-R3-CV
A prisoner allegedly slipped and fell on a wet floor in the Davidson County Jail, injuring his back. He brought suit against the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County for deprivation of civil rights and negligence. The Chancery Court dismissed his civil rights claim on a Rule 12.02(6) motion, and transferred the negligence claim to Circuit Court. After a bench trial, the Circuit Court dismissed the negligence claim. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Soloman
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Dwight James v. State

M2002-01557-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves Dwight James' unsuccessful attempt to qualify as a candidate for Hickman County Road Superintendent and be placed on the August, 2002, election ballot. The trial court granted the Tennessee Highway Officials Certification Board's summary judgment motion, finding that the Board had not acted arbitrarily, capriciously or illegally in not certifying Mr. James as qualified to run for the office of County Road Superintendent. We have determined that the appeal is moot.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/31/03
Jerry Lytle v. Fru-Con, Inc.,

W2002-01337-WC-R3-CV
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer insists (1) the trial court erred in accrediting the testimony of the plaintiff, (2) the trial court erred in accepting the expert opinion of an examining physician over that of a treating physician, and (3) the award of permanent partial disability benefits based on 2 percent to the body as a whole is excessive. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the trial court committed no reversible error and the evidence fails to preponderate against the trial court's findings.. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e) (22 Supp.) Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Chancery Court Affirmed JOE C. LOSER, JR., SP. J., in which JANICE M. HOLDER, J., and JOHN K. BYERS, SR. J., joined. W. Stephen Gardner and Robert Joseph Leibovich, Memphis, Tennessee, for the appellant, Fru-Con Pala Industrial, Joint Venture David Hardee, Jackson, Tennessee, for the appellee, Jerry Lytle MEMORANDUM OPINION This civil action was initiated by the employee or claimant, Mr. Lytle, to recover workers' compensation benefits for a work related injury by accident. At the conclusion of the trial on February 26, 21, the trial court awarded, among other things, permanent partial disability benefits based on 2 percent to the body as a whole. The employer-appellant has appealed. Appellate review is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness of the findings of fact, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(2) (22 Supp.). The reviewing court is required to conduct an independent examination of the record to determine where the preponderance of the evidence lies.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris, Chancellor
Madison County Workers Compensation Panel 01/30/03
State of Tennessee v. Scott L. Haycraft

E2001-02922-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant pled guilty to violating a habitual traffic offender order and to a second offense of driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Pursuant to his plea agreement the defendant received a sentence of three years as a multiple offender for violating the habitual traffic offender order and eleven months and twenty-nine days for the second offense of driving under the influence. The trial court ordered these sentences to run concurrently. At the conclusion of a subsequent sentencing hearing, the trial court denied the defendant's request for probation or any other form of alternative sentencing. Through the instant appeal the defendant challenges this denial. After reviewing the facts and relevant caselaw, we find the denial appropriate concerning the violation of the habitual traffic offender judgment and, therefore, affirm the trial court's determination in this regard. We also affirm the denial of alternative sentencing with respect to the defendant's second offense of driving under the influence. However, because of a conflict between the transcript of the sentencing hearing and the judgment, we remand this case for correction of the judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge Phyllis H. Miller
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/30/03
State of Tennessee v. Reginol L. Waters

M2001-02682-CCA-R3-CD

A Davidson County jury convicted the defendant, Reginol L. Waters, of two counts of aggravated rape, one count of aggravated robbery, and one count of aggravated burglary. The trial court sentenced him as a Range I offender to twenty-three years for the first count of aggravated rape, twenty-five years for the second count of aggravated rape, ten years for aggravated robbery, and as a Range II offender to ten years for aggravated burglary. The trial court further ordered the two sentences for aggravated rape and the sentence for aggravated burglary be served consecutively and the sentence for aggravated robbery be served concurrently, for an effective sentence of fifty-eight years. In this appeal of right, the defendant raises the following issues: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying the motion to suppress testimony regarding the "showup" identification of the defendant; (2) whether the trial court erred in denying the motion to suppress the defendant's statements to the police; (3) whether the trial court erred in admitting the tape recording of the victim's telephone call to the police; (4) whether the state failed to establish a proper chain of custody for evidence found during a search of the defendant's vehicle; (5) whether the two convictions for aggravated rape should be merged; (6) whether the conviction for aggravated burglary violates due process because it was incidental to the offenses of aggravated rape and aggravated robbery; and (7) whether the sentences are excessive. Upon review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/30/03
Buford Barrett v. State of Tennessee

W2001-02862-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Buford Barrett, appeals the McNairy County Circuit Court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his conviction for rape of a child and resulting twenty-year sentence. He claims that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel because his trial attorney (1) refused to let him testify at trial; (2) failed to subpoena his cousin, who could have testified that the petitioner was not present when the alleged crime occurred; (3) failed to request a DNA test for the victim; and (4) failed to investigate the facts surrounding a statement that his wife gave to the police in which she admitted that she had sexually abused the victim. In addition, the petitioner contends that the cumulative effect of his attorney's deficiencies prevented him from receiving a fair trial. We affirm the trial court's denial of the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
McNairy County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/30/03
Dept of Children's Srvcs vs. A.N.G. & S.L.G

E2002-01114-COA-R3-JV
The State of Tennessee, Department of Children's Services ("State" or "DCS") obtained temporary custody of the three minor children of A.N.G. ("Mother") and S.L.G. ("Father")(collectively referred to as "Parents") after Parents' two year old son was found in a roadway near their home. DCS later sought to terminate Parents' parental rights. After a trial, the Juvenile Court determined there were sufficient grounds to terminate Parents' parental rights and doing so was in the best interests of the children. Parents appeal, claiming DCS failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that there were sufficient grounds to terminate their parental rights. Parents also claim DCS failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that termination of their parental rights would be in the best interests of the children. We affirm the judgment of the Juvenile Court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Thomas J. Wright
Greene County Court of Appeals 01/30/03
State of Tennessee v. Anthony Tony Sandy

M2001-02376-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Anthony "Tony" Sandy, was indicted by the Lawrence County Grand Jury for first degree murder. Defendant was convicted by a jury of the lesser-included offense of voluntary manslaughter. The trial court sentenced Defendant, as a Range I standard offender, to serve four years and six months in the Tennessee Department of Correction and imposed a fine of $10,000, which was assessed by the jury. In this appeal as of right, Defendant argues that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and that the trial court erred in sentencing Defendant. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Robert L. Jones
Lawrence County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/30/03
State of Tennessee v. Sammy D. Childers

W2002-00006-CCA-R3-CD

The Appellant, Sammy D. Childers, appeals his jury convictions for two counts of aggravated assault. Following these convictions, the Circuit Court of Hardin County sentenced Childers to concurrent sentences of five years, with ninety days to be served in confinement, followed by four years and nine months of supervised probation. On appeal, Childers raises one issue for our review; whether he is entitled to a new trial because of alleged juror misconduct. After reviewing the record before us, we find this issue to be without merit and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge C. Creed Mcginley
Hardin County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/30/03
State of Tennessee v. Charles E. Delapp, Jr., a.k.a. Charles E. Jackson, Jr.

W2001-02370-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Charles E. Delapp, Jr., a.k.a. Charles E. Jackson, Jr., appeals as of right his conviction by a Lauderdale County Circuit Court jury for reckless aggravated assault, a Class D felony, and the resulting five-year, six-month sentence. He contends (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction and (2) that his sentence is excessive. We affirm the trial court's judgment of conviction.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/30/03
State of Tennessee v. Don Woody McGowan

M2002-00542-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant was indicted for driving on a revoked license, driving on a revoked license second offense, evading arrest, and reckless driving. After the State presented its proof at trial, the trial court entered judgments of acquittal for the charges of evading arrest and reckless driving. At the conclusion of the trial, a Marion County jury convicted the Defendant of driving on a revoked license and assessed a fine of $500. The Defendant waived a jury as to the second offense driving on a revoked license, and the trial court found him guilty. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to eleven months and twenty-nine days for second offense driving on a revoked license and ordered that the sentence be served on probation except for thirty days to be served in the county jail. The Defendant now appeals, arguing that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence a Tennessee Department of Safety driving record as proof of the Defendant's prior conviction for driving on a revoked license. Finding no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas W. Graham
Marion County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/03
State of Tennessee v. Clazelle Jennings

W2001-01022-CCA-R3-CD

A Shelby County jury convicted the defendant, Clazelle Jennings,1 of aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault. The trial court sentenced him to concurrent sentences of ten years for aggravated robbery and four years for each of the aggravated assaults. On appeal, the defendant presents the following issues: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his statements to police; (2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the convictions; (3) whether the convictions for aggravated robbery and aggravated assault upon the same victim violate double jeopardy; and (4) whether the sentence is excessive. Upon review of the record and the applicable law, we reverse and dismiss one of the aggravated assault convictions due to a double jeopardy violation. We remand for a clerical correction of the remaining aggravated assault judgment. We affirm in all other respects.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge John P. Colton, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/03
State of Tennessee v. Kenneth King

W2002-00938-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Kenneth King, was convicted of burglary of a building and was sentenced to twelve years in the Tennessee Department of Correction as a career offender. Defendant now appeals his conviction alleging that the trial court erred in refusing to grant a mental evaluation prior to trial to determine Defendant's competency to stand trial. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/29/03
K.D.F., et al vs. J.F.

E2002-01117-COA-R3-CV
This is a suit by K. D. F. and her present husband, R. J. F., Jr., seeking to terminate the parental rights of J. F. as to Z.T.J.F (d.o.b. June 8, 1998), preparatory to Mr. F. adopting the child in a future proceeding. Mr. F. appeals a determination by the Trial Court that his parental rights should be terminated, contending that the statutory grounds for such a determination were not met. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Thomas R. Frierson, II
Greene County Court of Appeals 01/29/03
John Oliver Harper v. Cathy Lynn Harper

2002-01259-COA-R3-CV

Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 01/29/03