| First Citizens Nat'l Bank for Will Wray vs. Janice Wray
W2002-00525-COA-R3-CV
This case involves a trust. The decedent established a trust in his will. His son-in-law and a bank were designated as co-trustees. A parcel of property with a home was placed into the trust. The trust allowed one of the beneficiaries, the decedent's grandson, and his wife to live in the house at no charge. The beneficiary and his wife divorced, and as part of their marital dissolution agreement, the beneficiary gave his ex-wife his possessory interest in the home, at no charge. The son-in-law/trustee died, leaving the bank as the sole trustee. The bank required the ex-wife to begin paying rent; she declined. The bank then filed the instant lawsuit against the ex-wife for past rent from the time they first requested rent from her, and also a declaratory judgment permitting the bank to sell the home. The trial court found that the trustees ratified the terms of the MDA between the beneficiary and the ex-wife, allowing her to remain in the home rent-free until the trust expired. The bank appeals. We reverse, finding that the trustees could not ratify the MDA, a contract to which the trust was not a party.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Lee Moore |
Lake County | Court of Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| Willie Joseph Lagano v. State of Tennessee
M2001-01576-CCA-R3-CO
Petitioner, Willie Joseph Lagano, filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the trial court. The trial court summarily dismissed the petition without an evidentiary hearing. Petitioner appealed. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Gregory Key
M2002-00154-CCA-R9-CD
Defendant, Gregory Key, was indicted by the Rutherford County Grand Jury on two counts of aggravated sexual battery. During a hearing on several pretrial motions, defense counsel, Darrell Scarlett, advised the trial court of a joint business venture between himself and Detective Lawson, an investigating officer in the case. The court entered an Order disqualifying Defendant's attorney from further representation, finding that the relationship constituted an appearance of impropriety. Pursuant to Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, Defendant appeals the trial court's disqualification of his attorney and argues that he waived any conflict or appearance of impropriety after full disclosure.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge James K. Clayton, Jr. |
Rutherford County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| James E. Swiggett v. State of Tennessee
E2002-00174-CCA-R3-PC
The Defendant, James E. Swiggett, was convicted by a jury in 1992 of first degree premeditated murder. His conviction was affirmed on direct appeal. See State v. James Swiggett, No. 03C01-9209-CR-00312, 1994 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 766 (Knoxville, Nov. 23, 1994), perm. appeal den. (Tenn. 1995). The Defendant subsequently filed for post-conviction relief, which petition was denied by the trial court as barred by the statute of limitations. This ruling was affirmed on direct appeal. See James E. Swiggett v. State, No. 03C01-9804-CR-00161, 1999 Tenn. Crim. App. LEXIS 422 (Knoxville, May 4, 1999), perm. appeal den. (Tenn. 1999). The Defendant then filed the instant petition for post-conviction relief, claiming grounds for tolling the statute of limitations. The trial court summarily dismissed the instant petition on the grounds that a prior petition had already been filed. This appeal followed. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge James E. Beckner |
Greene County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Nelson Edward Meeks
M2001-03108-CCA-R3-CD
Nelson Edward Meeks appeals the sentence imposed for three convictions for third offense driving under the influence, reckless driving, and driving on a revoked license. He claims that the lower court erred in (1) failing to consider the statutory sentencing principles and considerations, and (2) imposing a sentence not authorized by law. Because we disagree in both respects, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas W. Graham |
Marion County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| Mid-America Apt. Communities vs. Country Walk
W2002-00032-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiff filed suit for damages to ponds on its property caused by silt flowing from upstream property under development by Defendants. The trial court found that the suit was timed barred by the three year statute of limitations applicable to causes of actions for injuries to property and accordingly entered judgment in favor of the defendants. We reverse and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Floyd Peete, Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| Robert Stephenson vs. Mary Stephenson
W2002-01064-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a will contest. The trial court found the testator to be competent at the time the will was executed and held that the will was the "complete, whole, true and valid Last Will and Testament" of the testator. For the following reasons, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Christy R. Little |
Madison County | Court of Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Marquez Winters
W2001-00740-CCA-R3-CD
The Shelby County Grand Jury indicted the Defendant for two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping and for one count of criminal attempt to commit first degree murder. The Defendant was subsequently convicted of one count of aggravated kidnapping and of one count of criminal attempt to commit first degree murder. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to consecutive maximum sentences totaling thirty-seven years. The Defendant now appeals his sentences, arguing that the trial court erred in its application of enhancement factors, that the trial court improperly imposed maximum sentences for both convictions, and that the trial court erred in ordering the sentences to be served consecutively. Although the trial court erred in its application of certain enhancement factors, we conclude that it properly considered other enhancement factors which warranted sentencing the Defendant to consecutive maximum terms. Therefore, we affirm the sentences imposed by the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge W. Fred Axley |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| Lafayette Romine Sr./Debra Romine vs. Julia Fernandez & Johnathan Isom
W2002-00703-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| Antonio M. Miller v. State of Tennessee
M2001-01265-CCA-R3-PC
Antonio M. Miller appeals from the Rutherford County Circuit Court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. Miller is presently serving an effective nineteen-year sentence for convictions of second-degree murder, six counts of aggravated burglary, and one count of felony drug possession. He claims that two of his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance. The lower court ruled against the petitioner, and upon review of the record, we affirm that ruling.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. Steve Daniel |
Rutherford County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Roy L. Denton
E2001-03018-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Roy L. Denton, was convicted by a jury of DUI and public intoxication. The Defendant now appeals as of right, raising the following issues: whether the trial court should have dismissed the indictment; whether the trial court should have stayed the proceedings; whether the trial court should have suppressed evidence; whether the trial court erred in refusing to admit certain evidence proffered by the Defendant; whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain the Defendant's conviction of DUI; whether the prosecutor engaged in misconduct during trial; whether the trial court should have granted the Defendant's motions for mistrial and/or new trial; whether the Defendant received ineffective assistance of counsel; and whether the trial court erred with respect to advising the Defendant about his right to appeal. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas W. Graham |
Rhea County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Ricky Brandon and Jimmy W. Brandon
M2002-00073-CCA-R3-CD
The Appellants, Ricky Brandon and Jimmy W. Brandon, were convicted by a Coffee County jury of misdemeanor assault. In this direct appeal of their convictions, the Appellants argue that they received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial and, as such, their convictions should be vacated. After review, we find no error and affirm the judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge L. Craig Johnson |
Coffee County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| Kubota Credit vs. Doug Tillman
W2002-00885-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiff creditor in this case filed suit to recover a tractor that was subject to a security agreement and was pawned to the defendant pawnbroker. The court below awarded summary judgment to the creditor. The pawnbroker appeals, claiming the creditor's security agreement was not properly perfected, and that the creditor therefore does not have a superior right to possession of the tractor. We find issues of material fact exist regarding whether the security agreement was perfected, whether the pledgor had authority to pawn the tractor, and whether the pawn transaction was entered into in good faith. We reverse summary judgment and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Joseph H. Walker, III |
Tipton County | Court of Appeals | 10/15/02 | |
| Mark VII Trans. vs. Joseph Belasco
W2002-00450-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a declaratory judgment action filed by Mark VII Transportation Co., Inc., in which it sought a judgment declaring the parties' respective rights and obligations under an asset purchase agreement. The trial court awarded summary judgment to the Defendant. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 10/14/02 | |
| Jacqueline McKinley vs. Samuel Simha
W2001-02647-COA-R3-CV
Patient brought medical malpractice action against physician and medical group for complications that allegedly arose from injury to patient's right ureter suffered during total abdominal hysterectomy performed by defendant physician. The trial court denied defendants' Motion for Directed Verdict on the issues of cause and permanency of patient's condition. The trial court entered judgment on jury verdict for patient and subsequently awarded prejudgment interest to patient. Physician and medical group appealed. We affirm the trial court's denial of the directed verdict motion and its judgment on the jury verdict, and reverse the court's award of prejudgment interest.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:George H. Brown |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 10/14/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. William A. Marshall
M2001-02954-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, William A. Marshall, appeals the Sumner County Criminal Court's revocation of his probation of a two-year sentence for sexual battery. Because we disagree with the trial court's view of whether the defendant satisfied a condition of his probation by "completing" a sexual offender treatment program, we reverse the revocation and dismiss the warrant.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft |
Sumner County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/14/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. William Roy Gray
W2002-00460-CCA-R3-CD
Following a bench trial, the Defendant, William Roy Gray, was found guilty of possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor, and resisting arrest, a class B misdemeanor. He received consecutive sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days and six months, respectively, to be served in jail. However, approximately two months later, the trial court entered an order allowing the Defendant to serve his sentences at home due to the Defendant's poor health. The court revoked this order based on the Defendant failing to comply with the conditions of his release from jail and the Defendant being arrested for theft. Moreover, the court ordered that the Defendant not be given credit for the portion of his sentences that he served at his home. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant argues that the order of the trial court denying him credit for the time he served outside of jail serves to increase his sentence and to effectively punish him twice for the same offense in violation of the double jeopardy clauses of the United States and Tennessee Constitutions. We disagree and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen |
Madison County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/14/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Jerry Waymon Travis, aka Jerry Waymon Ray
W2001-01914-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant claims it was error for the trial court to sentence him to the Department of Correction for three years, then order one-year split confinement with the balance on Community Corrections. The defendant contends that a one-year split confinement sentence will require him to serve 1.2 months longer in confinement than a three-year sentence at 30% to the Department of Correction. We conclude the sentence imposed did not violate the principles of sentencing and, accordingly, affirm the judgment from the trial court as modified.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Julian P. Guinn |
Henry County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/14/02 | |
| Virginia Abernethy v. Robert S. Brand
M2002-00274-COA-R3-CV
This is a malicious prosecution case. In the underlying case, plaintiff was sued by the defendants herein seeking recovery of damages for plaintiff's alleged fraud and embezzlement. In a bench trial, judgment was entered for plaintiff. Plaintiff filed the instant case alleging malicious prosecution. Defendants raise the defense of advice of counsel and their motion for summary judgment was granted. Plaintiff has appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Stella L. Hargrove |
Lawrence County | Court of Appeals | 10/14/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Andre Dealto Perkins
W2001-02635-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant appeals his jury conviction for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell. He argues the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction. We find this issue is waived because the defendant has failed to include a trial transcript in the record. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Julian P. Guinn |
Henry County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/14/02 | |
| Jeremie Sparrow vs. John Sparrow
W2001-01290-COA-R3-CV
This is a child support case. Although Mother received $4000 a month in rehabilitative alimony, the trial court set her child support obligation at nothing. Because the trial court did not fully set out its reasoning for this deviation from the Child Support Guidelines as required by statute, we reverse and remand.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris |
Madison County | Court of Appeals | 10/14/02 | |
| River Park Hospital v. BlueCross BlueShield & Volunteer State Health
M2001-00288-COA-R3-CV
This case involves a dispute over rates paid to a TennCare health care provider. The plaintiff hospital had been a participating provider for the defendant TennCare managed care organization ("MCO") for several years, being paid an agreed contractual rate for services provided to the MCO's enrollees. When the parties' contract expired, it was not renewed. After expiration of the contract, the hospital continued to provide emergency services to the MCO's enrollees, as it was required to do under federal law. For those emergency services, the hospital billed the MCO at its full, standard rates. The MCO refused to pay the hospital's standard rates, and instead paid the hospital the same rate it had paid under the parties' expired contract. This was the same rate the MCO paid hospitals that were participating providers. The hospital filed this lawsuit against the MCO, seeking to recover its full, standard rates for the emergency services provided to the MCO's enrollees after expiration of the parties' contract. After hearing proof on liability, but not damages, the trial court initially denied recovery on all grounds. The hospital moved for reconsideration and to reopen the proof. The trial court granted the motion and ultimately determined that the MCO had been unjustly enriched by the hospital's provision of services to its enrollees. Both parties appealed. We affirm, finding a contract implied in law, and remand to the trial court to determine a reasonable rate for services provided by the hospital and, based on this, for a determination of damages.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Charles D. Haston, Sr. |
Warren County | Court of Appeals | 10/11/02 | |
| Larry Seal v. Charles Blalock & Sons
E2001-00050-SC-WCM-CV
In this workers' compensation case, we are asked to determine whether the trial court erred in awarding benefits for a 93% vocational disability to the body as a whole. The employer contends that compensation should be limited to an award for loss of a scheduled member. After reviewing the record and applicable authority, we conclude that the evidence preponderates against the trial court's award of benefits for disability to the body as a whole; accordingly, we modify the judgment of the trial court to provide for an award of 100% disability to the leg. Additionally, we find no error in the trial court's admission of the physical therapist's testimony.
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Kindall T. Lawson |
Hancock County | Supreme Court | 10/11/02 | |
| Dept. of Transportation v. John Wheeler
M1999-00088-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute between a farmer and the Department of Transportation arising from the Department's condemnation of a portion of his farm for a new highway and bridge. The parties agreed on the fair market value of the property taken but disagreed on the amount of incidental damages to the remaining property. Following a trial in the Circuit Court for Sequatchie County, a jury awarded the farm owner $200,000 in incidental damages. The Department asserts on this appeal (1) that there is no evidence that the remaining property suffered incidental damages, (2) that the trial court erred by permitting an unlicensed real estate appraiser to offer an expert opinion regarding the value of the remaining property, and (3) that the evidence does not support the jury's damage award. While we have determined that the trial court erred by admitting the opinion testimony of the unlicensed appraiser, we have determined that this error did not affect the judgment and that the evidence supports the jury's decision regarding the existence and amount of incidental damages.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Buddy D. Perry |
Sequatchie County | Court of Appeals | 10/11/02 | |
| State of Tennessee v. Randy Tyrone Crawford - Order
M2001-03063-CCA-R3-CD
The Appellant, Randy Tyrone Crawford, appeals from the order of the Sumner County Criminal Court revoking his probation and ordering him to serve his sentence in the Department of Correction. We affirm the judgment of the trial court pursuant to Rule 20 of the Rules of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
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Sumner County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 10/11/02 |