APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Dawn A. Dugan v. Elliott R. Myers (Deceased),

E2001-00281-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John L. Kiener
Washington County Court of Appeals 09/24/01
State of Tennessee v. Thomas E. Cowan, Jr.

E2000-02705-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Thomas E. Cowan, Jr., was found guilty of contempt. The trial court imposed a jail sentence of 10 days, six of which were suspended. In this appeal of right, the defendant argues that the evidence was insufficient; that the trial judge should not have acted as a witness; and that the sentence was excessive. Because the evidence was insufficient, the judgment is reversed and the cause dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Lynn W. Brown
Carter County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/24/01
Dawn A. Dugan v. Elliott R. Myers (Deceased), Et Al.

E2001-00281-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John L. Kiener
Washington County Court of Appeals 09/24/01
State of Tennessee v. Neil Friedman

E2000-02877-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Neil Friedman, was convicted of driving under the influence, third offense, and driving on a revoked license. The trial court imposed a sentence of 11 months and 29 days, six months of which was to be served in the county jail, for driving under the influence. A consecutive sentence of six months, 30 days of which was to be served, was imposed for driving on a revoked license. This court affirmed the judgment on direct appeal. State v. Neil M. Friedman, No. 03C01-9704-CR-00140 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Knoxville, Apr. 14, 1998). The application for permission to appeal to the supreme court was denied December 21, 1998. In a hearing conducted on the following day, the trial court reduced the DUI sentence to 120 days, which the defendant has since served, followed by seven months and 29 days of probation. Over one year later, the trial court revoked the probation and ordered service of the remainder of the sentence. In this appeal, the defendant contends that the trial court no longer had authority to revoke the probation. Because the sentence had been fully served and the probationary term had ended when the probation revocation warrant was issued, the judgment must be reversed and the cause dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Lynn W. Brown
Carter County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/24/01
Mary Ellen Barnes v. Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance

W2000-02559-SC-WCM-CV
In this appeal, the employee insists the evidence preponderates against the denial of workers' compensation benefits and asks this tribunal to determine the extent of her vocational impairment. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment of dismissal should be reversed, the conditional award of permanent partial disability benefits based on 3 percent to the body as a whole affirmed, and the cause remanded with instructions.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio, Judge
Shelby County Workers Compensation Panel 09/24/01
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Supreme Court 09/24/01
State of Tennessee v. Marvin W. Hill, Jr.

E2000-02789-CCA-R3-CD

In July 1999, the Defendant pled guilty to evading arrest and possession of marijuana, both Class A misdemeanors, and received concurrent sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days supervised probation. In December 1999, the Defendant was indicted for assault and aggravated criminal trespass, both of which are also Class A misdemeanors. In January 2000, a violation of probation warrant was issued against the Defendant, alleging that he had violated his probation in the first two cases. In March 2000, the Defendant pled guilty to the assault and aggravated criminal trespass charges, and a combined sentencing hearing and probation violation hearing was held by the trial court. The trial court revoked the Defendant's probation in the first two cases and imposed concurrent sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration. The court also imposed sentences of eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration in the second two cases, to run concurrently with each other but consecutively to the sentences imposed in the first two cases. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred in imposing sentences of incarceration in each case. Because our review of the record reveals that the sentences were proper, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/21/01
Ben Doubleday vs. Larry Hargrove

M2000-02648-COA-R3-CV
This is an action to recover the balance due on a contract for the sale of timber. The purchaser's defense was impossibility of performance, because the seller had allegedly destroyed access. The seller testified that the purchaser cut and removed 95 percent of the timber, while the purchaser said he removed only about 40 percent owing to lack of access. The trial judge awarded the seller a judgment for the balance owing less some off-sets not relevant here. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Tamra L. Smith
Bedford County Court of Appeals 09/21/01
State of Tennessee v. Matthew Patrick Frontera, a/k/a Matthew Anthony Frontera, a/k/a Patrick Matthew Foster, a/k/a Derrick Joshua Foster

M2000-02747-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Matthew Patrick Frontera, pleaded guilty to criminal impersonation, a Class B misdemeanor. Sentencing was left to the discretion of the trial court. As part of his plea agreement, the Defendant attempted to reserve the right to appeal a certified question of law relating to the legality of his stop, detention and questioning by police officers. In this appeal, the Defendant asserts that the trial court erred by refusing to suppress the evidence obtained against him due to an unlawful stop and detention. He also argues that the trial court erred by sentencing him to serve six months in the county jail with release eligibility at seventy-five percent. Because the Defendant failed to properly reserve his issue concerning his stop and detention, we are unable to reach the merits of that issue. We affirm the sentence imposed by the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge Donald P. Harris
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/21/01
Lori Castle vs. Jeffrey Baker

E2000-02772-COA-R3-CV
These parties were divorced in May 1992. Custody of their daughter, Brittany, then 5 years old, was awarded to Mother pursuant to an Marital Dissolution Agreement [MDA] which obligated Father to pay $575.00 monthly support. About three months after the divorce was granted, the custodial care of Brittany was transferred to Father, by agreement of the parties and without recourse to the Court. In June 1998, Mother sought contempt liability against Father alleging that he was in arrears with his child support obligation in the amount of $40,800.00: at trial, the amount was stipulated to be $36,800.00. Father responded by filing a petition for change of custody, alleging that Brittany had resided with him for several years, a material change in circumstances. He also sought forgiveness of the arrearage. The Trial Court found a change in circumstances and awarded custody of Brittany to her father who was also credited with the monetary value of the necessities he furnished Brittany from August 1992 through February 1997. Mother appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John S. Mclellan, III
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 09/21/01
King David Johnson v. State of Tennessee

M2000-02756-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, King David Johnson, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief. The issue presented for review is whether the petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial. The judgment is affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Judge Jim T. Hamilton
Maury County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/20/01
Parks Properties, et al vs. Maury County, et al

M1997-00235-COA-R3-CV
Parks Properties and Columbia Warehouses, Inc. have filed a petition pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 39 requesting a rehearing of this court's August, 17, 2001 opinion. We requested and have now received an answer to this petition on behalf of Maury County and Judy Langsdon. Parks Properties and Columbia Warehouses insist that our conclusion that they lacked a protectable property interest in constructing the two warehouses without installing the automatic required sprinkler systems is based on our "misunderstanding that the warehouses would have contained tobacco or other combustible products." They assert that "there was never any evidence before the trial court that the warehouses would be used to store tobacco or other combustible products." This argument misses the point. The lynchpin of our opinion is that the record contains no evidence (1) that the Parks family ever told any county official that tobacco and other combustible materials would not be stored in these warehouses and (2) that the Parks family never sought a waiver of the automatic sprinkler requirements under Section 402.4.1 exception
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:William B. Cain
Maury County Court of Appeals 09/20/01
Venelsia Stephens vs. Shelby Co. Govt.

W2000-01353-COA-R3-CV
County employee sued county for on-the-job injury benefits resulting from carpel tunnel syndrome. Employee filed suit over one year after the county denied her claim for benefits. After a nonjury trial, the trial court dismissed plaintiff's case with prejudice as barred by the one-year statute of limitations. Employee appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:D'Army Bailey
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/19/01
State of Tennessee v. Morris Jason Pepper

M2000-00883-CCA-R3-CD

The appellant, Morris Jason Pepper, was convicted by a jury in the Lincoln County Circuit Court of one count of first degree premeditated murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the appellant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the evidence is sufficient to sustain his conviction; and (2) whether the trial court erred by failing to grant the appellant's motion to suppress. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge W. Charles Lee
Lincoln County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/19/01
Darin Shaffer vs. Shelby Co.

W2000-02215-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves an accident in which a mother and son were hit by an automobile. The mother received fatal injuries in the accident. The survivors brought an action against Shelby County for the wrongful death of the mother and for negligent infliction of emotional distress with respect to the son. A jury found Shelby County liable for $12,039,049.01. The award was reduced in accordance with the Governmental Tort Liability Act (the GTLA) to $260,000.00 plus discretionary costs of $5,434.55. The plaintiffs appealed the reduction of liability alleging that the GTLA violated the Tennessee Constitution and should be judicially abrogated. The plaintiffs further allege that even if the GTLA is upheld, liability should be capped at $350,000.00 as opposed to $260,000.00. Shelby County also raises several issues in this appeal. First, Shelby County alleges that it was performing a discretionary function, which immunizes it from liability. Shelby county also contends that the proof shows the mother to be at fault and fails to show that the son suffered a serious emotional injury. In addition, Shelby County argues that the verdicts were excessive and were tainted by inappropriate arguments made during the plaintiffs' closing. Finally, Shelby County alleges that the trial court erred by assessing discretionary costs, which caused the award to exceed the GTLA's statutory cap on damages. For the following reasons, we reverse the trial court's award of discretionary costs and affirm the trial court in all other respects.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/19/01
Marilyn Reddick v. Murray, Inc.

W2000-02178-SC-WCM-CV
In this appeal, the plaintiff insists the trial court erred in dismissing her claim at the close of her proof. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded for full trial of all issues fairly raised by the pleadings.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris, Chancellor
Madison County Workers Compensation Panel 09/19/01
Dolores E. Rossello vs. Michael Magill, Commissioner

M2001-00113-COA-R3-CV
The judgment of the Chancery Court is affirmed pursuant to Rule 10, Rules of the Court of Appeals.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/19/01
Pilgrim Emmanual Baptist Church vs. Albert Buckingham, et al

M2000-02377-COA-R3-CV
The parties agreed to the consolidation of two cases for trial and appellate proceedings. The plaintiffs in each case sought broad injunctive relief to correct alleged irregularities in the affairs of the church. All named parties, plaintiffs and defendants, were enjoined from disturbing or disrupting any worship service or church meeting, and certain safeguards were placed on church funds and property. Thereafter, the church moved for summary judgment which was granted, thus effectively terminating the litigation. Mr. Buckingham appeals.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/19/01
Charles David Killion vs. Johnny Huddleston

M2000-02413-COA-R3-CV
This is an action for damages for negligent misrepresentation. The plaintiff invested $50,000.00 in Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company at the advice and urging of the unlicensed defendant who was to receive a substantial commission. The investment was a scam. Recovery for the loss was allowed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 09/19/01
Vince Mullins vs. Theresa Mullins

E2001-00912-COA-R3-CV
The Trial Court granted parties a divorce, awarded custody of minor child to mother, and ordered rehabilitative alimony and attorney's fees to mother. Husband appealed. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Thomas R. Frierson, II
Greene County Court of Appeals 09/19/01
State of Tennessee v. Charles R. Francis

E2000-02599-CCA-R3-CD

In an indictment returned by the Morgan County Grand Jury, defendant, Charles R. Francis, was charged with fourth offense DUI. Count 1 of the indictment alleged that the triggering offense of DUI occurred on December 10, 1998. Count 2 of the indictment alleged that he had previously been convicted of DUI on three separate occasions in Morgan County, Tennessee. The defendant entered a "blind plea" to DUI, fourth offense, and sentencing was submitted to the trial court for a later hearing. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court ruled that defendant was convicted of the Class E felony of DUI, fourth offense, ordered a sentence of two (2) years, with service by split confinement of 150 days in the county jail, and the balance of the sentence to be served in the Community Corrections program. Asserting that he should have been sentenced for commission of a Class A misdemeanor DUI, fourth offense, rather than a Class E felony, defendant has appealed. The original judgment entered by the trial court reflected conviction of a Class A misdemeanor, but the judgment was later amended to reflect conviction of a Class E felony, in accord with the trial court's ruling at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing. We affirm the amended judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge E. Eugene Eblen
Morgan County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/19/01
State of Tennessee v. Terry A. Rogier

W2001-00551-CCA-R9-CD

The appellant, Terry A. Rogier, by means of an interlocutory appeal seeks review of the trial court's decision affirming the district attorney general's denial of pre-trial diversion. Rogier was indicted by a Madison County Grand Jury for the offenses of reckless endangerment, a class E felony, and reckless driving, a class B misdemeanor. After review, we find that the prosecutor failed to consider all the relevant factors in denying diversion. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court's finding that the prosecutor did not abuse his discretion and remand to the trial court for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/19/01
Sandra Krug vs. Jean Wahl

E2000-02959-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from the Trial Court's refusal to set aside a judgment rendered in Oklahoma which Plaintiff Sandra Krug petitions to have registered on the ground that the Defendant, Jean E. Wahl, was never served with process in connection with the Oklahoma proceedings. Because there is no transcript of the hearing below, we must conclusively presume that the evidence supported the determination of the Trial Court. We affirm
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Telford E. Forgerty, Jr.
Sevier County Court of Appeals 09/19/01
David Brown vs. Ruth Johnson, Commissioner, TN Dept. of Revenue

M2000-02114-COA-R3-CV
Taxpayer purchased baled straw from farmers which he sold to landscapers, sales tax free. A Notice of Assessment was served on the taxpayer for the sales tax, plus penalty and interest. After payments of these amounts taxpayer filed suit for refund, challenging the assessments. The trial judge found that the sales taxes were properly assessed, but that both interest and penalty should be waived. Both parties appeal. We hold that the taxpayer is liable for the tax together with penalty and interest.
Authoring Judge: Sr. Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:John W. Rollins
Coffee County Court of Appeals 09/19/01
Chemical Residential vs. Donna Hodge

W2000-02958-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the negligent impairment of a security interest. Plaintiff Chemical Residential Mortgage Corporation held a note and deed of trust on the subject real property. Subsequently, defendant Commercial Credit, Inc., negligently executed and filed a release deed on the property. Later, defendant Southern Financial made a second loan to the debtor secured by the same property. After Chemical Residential realized that its deed had been released in error, it brought the instant declaratory judgment action against Southern Financial and Commercial Credit, seeking a declaration that its deed was senior to that of Southern Financial. Southern Financial filed a cross-claim against Commercial Credit for the impairment of its security interest. The trial court found in favor of Chemical Residential and Southern Financial against Commercial Credit, and held that Chemical Residential's deed was senior to that of Southern Financial. On the cross-claim, the trial court awarded Southern Financial damages against Commercial Credit in an amount equal to the total amount due on the secured note. Commercial Credit now appeals, arguing, inter alia, that the trial court's measure of damages was erroneous. We reverse on the issue of damages and remand for a redetermination of those damages.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Appeals 09/19/01