APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Precision Electric vs. State

E2002-01340-COA-R3-CV
This litigation arises out of an accident involving a truck owned by Precision Electric Company, Inc. ("the Claimant") and a vehicle owned by the State of Tennessee ("the State"). The Claimant filed a claim against the State with the Tennessee Claims Commission, seeking compensatory damages of $19,845 for, inter alia, the diminution in value of the Claimant's vehicle and a loss of net profits. The case was tried before an Administrative Law Judge ("the ALJ"). The ALJ awarded the Claimant $2,217 for a wrecker bill and certain interest charges, but declined to award the remaining elements of damages sought, finding that the Claimant had failed to carry its burden of proof with respect to these latter damages. On appeal, the Claimant argues that the ALJ erred in refusing to award the full amount of damages sought by it. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Mattielyn B. Williams
Court of Appeals 02/21/03
State of Tennessee v. Michael Kennedy

W2001-03107-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Michael Kennedy, pled nolo contendere to numerous burglary, theft and vandalism charges in Chester and Henderson Counties. He received an effective sentence of fifteen years. The cases were consolidated at the trial level and on appeal. Pursuant to the plea agreement reserving a certified question of law, the defendant contends the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress items found during an illegal search. We conclude that we do not have jurisdiction as to three of the cases in Henderson County because the certified question of law is not dispositive of these cases. We affirm the remaining judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Chester County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/21/03
State of Tennessee v. William Roy Gray

W2001-02573-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, William Roy Gray, was convicted in the Circuit Court of Madison County of possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor, and resisting arrest, a Class B misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced the appellant to eleven months and twenty-nine days in the county jail and imposed a one hundred fifty dollar fine ($150) for the possession of drug paraphernalia conviction and six months in the county jail for the resisting arrest conviction. The trial court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively. On appeal, the appellant contends that the trial court erred in denying the appellant's motion to suppress, in failing to consider certain mitigating factors when sentencing the appellant, and in ordering the appellant to serve his sentences consecutively. After a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/21/03
State of Tennessee v. Tim D. Gardner

M2001-01436-CCA-R3-CD

A Robertson County jury convicted the Appellant, Tim D. Gardner, of possession of over 300 grams of cocaine, with intent to sell, a class A felony. Gardner raises one issue for our review: whether the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction. After review, we conclude that the proof is sufficient. Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Michael R. Jones
Robertson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/20/03
State of Tennessee v. Terry Lynn Carter

W2001-02329-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Terry Lynn Carter, appeals her conviction in the Hardeman County Circuit Court for aggravated assault. Defendant was sentenced, as a Range II multiple offender, to serve nine years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, Defendant argues that the evidence is insufficient to support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; that the trial court erred by allowing the assistant district attorney to make improper comments at trial; and that the prosecuting attorney failed to provide defense counsel prior to trial with a copy of a letter that Defendant wrote to the victim. After reviewing the record, we conclude that the trial court erred in admitting the letter into evidence because the State violated its discovery obligation to Defendant. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for a new trial.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood
Hardeman County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/20/03
Lance Grigsby, et al vs. City of Plainview

E2004-01644-COA-R3-CV
East Tennessee Pioneer Oil Company owned and operated a Spur convenience store in Plainview, Tennessee. As part of a bankruptcy proceeding, the Spur was sold at public auction. Potential purchasers were informed prior to the sale that the Spur was being sold with an active beer permit so long as the purchaser retained Wanda Cherry Evans ("Evans") as manager. In September of 2002, Lance and Lori Grigsby purchased the Spur, retained Evans as manager, and continued to sell beer after renaming the store the All American Market and Deli. On February 20, 2003, the beer board (the "Board") for the City of Plainview voted to revoke the beer permit. On July 3, 2003, the Grigsbys and Evans ("Plaintiffs") filed a complaint requesting the Trial Court grant a writ of certiorari and review the action of the beer board in revoking the beer permit. The City of Plainview (the "City") filed a motion to dismiss claiming that the Trial Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction because the complaint was not filed within sixty days from the entry of the Board's order or judgment and, therefore, the complaint was time barred. The Trial Court agreed and dismissed the complaint. We vacate the judgment of the Trial Court and remand for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Billy Joe White
Union County Court of Appeals 02/20/03
State of Tennessee v. John A. Carter, Sr.

M2001-02490-CCA-R3-CD

John A. Carter, Sr., was tried and acquitted of second-degree murder in the Davidson County Criminal Court for the stabbing death of Simon Doig; he was convicted of the lesser-included offense of reckless homicide. At the subsequent sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed a mid-range, three-year sentence. Carter claims in this appeal that the court should have given him a minimum, two-year sentence. Because we find no error in the trial court's sentencing pronouncement, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/20/03
Amy Butler v. Michael Butler

M2002-00347-COA-R3-CV
The mother of a minor child, as custodial parent, appeals the action of the trial court in denying her application to relocate with the child from the Nashville area to the Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas area pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-108(d). We affirm the action of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/20/03
In the Matter of: CAF

M2002-00516-COA-R3-JV
The trial court terminated the parental rights of the mother and the biological father of a three-year-old girl. It ruled, however, that there were no legal grounds to terminate the parental rights of another man who had signed a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, but who admitted that he was not the actual father. We affirm the trial court's actions as to the child's biological mother and father, but reverse as to the other respondent.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Nolan R. Goolsby
Putnam County Court of Appeals 02/20/03
Geraldine Miles vs. John Walsh

W2002-00234-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a medical malpractice action. Sitting without a jury, the trial court found plaintiffs had failed to prove defendants' conduct fell below the standard of care. The trial court accordingly entered judgment for defendants. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/19/03
CH-00-1102-3

CH-00-1102-3

Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/19/03
State of Tennessee v. Mary Jean Mayrand

E2001-01051-CCA-R3-CD

A Rhea County jury convicted the Defendant of first offense DUI, and the trial court sentenced her to forty-eight hours' confinement. In this direct appeal, the Defendant argues (1) that insufficient evidence was presented to support her conviction; (2) that the trial court erred by denying her challenge to one of the jurors during voir dire; (3) that the trial court erred by denying her pre-trial motion to dismiss the indictments; (4) that the trial court erred by allowing the arresting officer to testify as to the contents of an alcoholic beverage; and (5) that her constitutional rights were violated when the State failed to provide her with a "legible" copy of a videotape taken of her at jail following her arrest. We conclude that sufficient evidence was presented to support the Defendant's conviction and that the trial court erred by allowing the arresting officer to testify as to the contents of an alcoholic beverage, but that the error was harmless. We further conclude that the Defendant has waived all other issues on appeal. We therefore affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge J. Curtis Smith
Rhea County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/19/03
Cinderella Osborne vs. Mountain Life Ins.

E2002-01023-COA-R3-CV
This appeal raises a question of coverage under a policy of credit life insurance. The Plaintiff, Cinderella Ferrell Osborne, brought this action against Mountain Life Insurance Company ("Mountain Life"), alleging that it wrongfully denied her claim under a credit life insurance policy on the life of her deceased husband, Kenneth Scott Osborne. The Trial Court granted Mountain Life's motion for summary judgment, finding that Mr. Osborne died within six months after the effective date of coverage, from a disease for which he received medical treatment within six months of the effective date of the insurance. The Court held that these facts triggered a limitation of liability provision in the policy, which limited Ms. Osborne's recovery to the premium paid. We reverse the judgment of the Trial Court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John K. Wilson
Hawkins County Court of Appeals 02/19/03
CH-01-1559-3

CH-01-1559-3

Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/19/03
Medical Center v. Allstate Insurance Company V.

W2002-01439-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/19/03
W2002-01746-COA-R3-CV

W2002-01746-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Shelby County Court of Appeals 02/19/03
This Case Arises Out of The Same Set of Facts As Carroll v. Whitney, 29 S.W.3D 14 (Tenn.

W2002-02105-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Court of Appeals 02/18/03
State of Tennessee v. Billy F. Johnson

M2001-00330-CCA-R3-CD

A Davidson County Criminal Court jury convicted the defendant, Billy F. Johnson, of first degree premeditated and felony murder and theft of property valued more than five hundred dollars but less than one thousand dollars, a Class E felony. The trial court merged the murder convictions and sentenced the defendant to life in the Department of Correction (DOC). For the theft conviction, the trial court sentenced the defendant to two years to be served concurrently to the life sentence. The defendant appeals, claiming (1) that the evidence is insufficient to support his premeditated murder and theft convictions; (2) that the trial court erred by denying his motion to suppress his confessions; and (3) that the trial court erred by refusing to order the prosecutor to stop misstating the facts during closing argument. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/18/03
State of Tennessee v. Genore Dancy

W2001-02451-CCA-R3-CD

After a Shelby County Criminal Court jury found the defendant, Genore Dancy, guilty of four counts of aggravated rape, seven counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, five counts of aggravated robbery, and one count of aggravated burglary, the trial court merged the aggravated rape verdicts into two aggravated rape convictions, imposed the remaining convictions, and sentenced the defendant to an effective incarcerative term of 150 years. In his appeal, the defendant claims that his especially aggravated kidnapping convictions violate principles of due process, that the evidence in one of the aggravated rape counts was insufficient to support that conviction, that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury as to the lesser-included offense of facilitation, and that, in sentencing the defendant, the trial court erred in not applying a mitigating factor and in misapplying various enhancement factors. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph B. Dailey
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/18/03
State of Tennessee v. Kendrick F. Love

M2002-00126-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Kendrick F. Love, was indicted by the Giles County Grand Jury on four counts of delivery of cocaine and four counts of the sale of cocaine, all Class B felonies. Defendant was convicted by a jury of his peers of facilitation of the sale of cocaine, facilitation of the delivery of cocaine, three counts of the sale of cocaine, and three counts of delivery of cocaine. Defendant received a total effective sentence of twenty-eight years as a Range II multiple offender. On appeal, Defendant argues that his sentence is excessive and that the trial court erred in denying his motion to sever the offenses. After a careful review of the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Robert L. Jones
Giles County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/18/03
Roscoe H. Woods v. State of Tennessee

E2001-01790-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner appeals the denial of his petition for post conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in finding that he received effective assistance of trial counsel. Based on our review, we conclude that the petitioner failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance. Accordingly, we affirm the post-conviction court's denial of post-conviction relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge James B. Scott, Jr.
Anderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/18/03
City of Oakland, Tennessee v. Lenita Mccraw,

W2002-01552-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:William H. Inman
Fayette County Court of Appeals 02/18/03
State of Tennessee v. Betsy Dowdy

W2001-03104-CCA-R3-CD

On September 20, 1999, the Defendant pled guilty to theft of property valued over $1000 and to attempted aggravated robbery. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to two years for the theft conviction and to six years for the aggravated robbery conviction. The trial court suspended both sentences and placed the Defendant on six years' probation. On June 24, 2001, the Defendant was arrested for theft of property valued over $500. Based on the arrest, the trial court revoked the Defendant's probation. The Defendant now appeals, arguing that the trial court erred by revoking her probation. Finding no error, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge James C. Beasley, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/18/03
State of Tennessee v. Joshua Aaron Roush

E2002-00313-CCA-R3-CD

The Appellant, Joshua Aaron Roush, appeals the sentencing decision of the Knox County Criminal Court. Roush pled guilty to attempted second degree murder and, following a hearing, was sentenced as a Range I offender to a term of eleven years in the Department of Correction. Roush appeals, asserting that his sentence was excessive because the trial court failed to comply with relevant sentencing principles and erred in not applying six mitigating factors. After a review of the record, we find that Roush's issue is without merit. Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Richard R. Baumgartner
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/18/03
Frank Fly v. Simple Pleasures

M2002-01385-COA-R3-CV
Landlord appeals an Order granting summary judgment to Tenant on the effect of a holdover tenancy after the expiration of the term of the lease. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:J. S. Daniel
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 02/18/03