APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Thomas J. Williams vs. State

M2000-00506-CCA-R3-PC
Thomas J. Williams appeals from the Hickman County Circuit Court's denial of his pro se petition for post-conviction relief. After review, we find the trial court's summary dismissal proper because the petition (1) is time barred; (2) fails to state a colorable claim; and (3) raises claims which are waived as they were not raised in previous petitions. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's denial of the petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Hickman County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/22/00
State vs. Shirley Cooper

E1999-01810-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant was charged with violation of probation for harassment. The trial court found that the defendant had materially and repeatedly violated the terms of her probation, and that, given her history, she was not capable of successfully completing a term of supervised probation. Consequently, the trial court revoked the defendant's probation, ordering that she serve her original sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine days in jail, with credit given for the forty-one days of jail time she had already served. The defendant filed a timely appeal, presenting the sole issue of whether the trial court erred in revoking her probation. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/22/00
State of Tennessee v. Demetrius Levar Mcneil

W2000-00276-CCA-R3-CD

Originating Judge:Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/21/00
Betty L. Fox vs. Food Lion, Inc., Store #539

E1911-00015-COA-R3-CV
Betty L. Fox sued Food Lion, Inc., Store #539, seeking damages for personal injuries sustained when she fell in an aisle of the defendant's store. The trial court approved the jury's verdict for the plaintiff and entered judgment in her favor for $112,000. The defendant appeals, raising three issues, which we restate as follows: (1) whether there is material evidence that the defendant had actual or constructive notice of the allegedly dangerous condition that caused the plaintiff's fall; (2) whether the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff; and (3) whether there is material evidence to support the jury's allocation of fault. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Harold Wimberly
Knox County Court of Appeals 09/21/00
Jerry Wayne Killion vs. Sandra Faye Sweat

E1999-02634-COA-R3-CV
In this post-divorce proceeding, the father of Dustin Lynn Killion filed a petition seeking the child's custody. The trial court denied the father's petition. The father appeals the trial court's determination that the proof fails to demonstrate a material change of circumstances warranting a change of custody. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Robert M. Summitt
Campbell County Court of Appeals 09/21/00
Brenda D. Estes, et al vs. Sandra H. Peels, et al

E1999-00582-COA-R3-CV
This case arises out of a motor vehicle accident that occurred when a vehicle exited a manufacturing plant's parking lot and collided with the plaintiff's vehicle on a public highway. Brenda D. Estes and her husband sued the owner of the plant for negligence. The trial court granted the plant owner summary judgment. We hold that, under the circumstances of this case, the plant owner did not owe a duty of care to the plaintiff and therefore affirm the grant of summary judgment.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Ben W. Hooper, II
Jefferson County Court of Appeals 09/21/00
Mary Schremp vs. David Schremp

W1999-01734-COA-R3-CV
Mother, the custodial parent of minor children, desired to relocate out of state to live with her new husband. Father protested the move and filed a petition in opposition. Finding that Mother's new husband could easily move to Memphis to live with his new family and that dislocating the children was not in their best interest, the trial court granted the petition. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:John R. Mccarroll, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/21/00
State vs. Deborah Clark

W1999-00893-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Deborah Darlene Clark, was convicted by a Madison County jury of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, and criminal impersonation. In this appeal the defendant claims the evidence is insufficient to support the verdicts. The court finds the evidence clearly sufficient to support the convictions and thus affirms the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:Roger A. Page
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/21/00
Stephenson vs. Carlton

E1998-00202-SC-R11-CD
We granted this appeal to determine whether the appellant's sentence of life without parole for first- degree murder was an illegal sentence and, if so, whether the appellant was entitled to habeas corpus relief. The trial court dismissed the petition for habeas corpus and the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed. We conclude, and the State concedes, that the sentence of life without parole was not a statutorily authorized punishment at the time the appellant committed the offense of first-degree murder and that the illegal sentence was properly challenged in a habeas corpus petition. We reverse the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals and remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Lynn W. Brown
Johnson County Supreme Court 09/21/00
State of Tennessee v. Jerry Wayne Southerland

W1999-01083-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Obion County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/21/00
Marvin Catron v. State of Tennessee

W2007-02408-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:John T. Fowlkes, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/21/00
State vs. Eric Young

W2000-00057-CCA-R3-PC
In this appeal from the trial court's denial of his post-conviction petition, the petitioner argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel and that his guilty plea was unknowing and involuntarily entered. We find no error in the trial court's denial of the post-conviction petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/21/00
Eric Petty, a child

W2000-00907-COA-R3-CV
This case involves an appeal regarding the lower court's determination that Eric Dylan Petty was a delinquent child. In February 2000, a petition was filed with the Juvenile Court of Obion County alleging that Eric Dylan Petty committed the delinquent acts of aggravated assault and vandalism. The juvenile court determined that Petty was delinquent and ordered him committed to the Tennessee Department of Children's Services. After a de novo hearing, the circuit court also declared Petty delinquent based on the acts of aggravated assault and vandalism and affirmed Petty's commitment to the Department of Children's Services. This appeal followed.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Obion County Court of Appeals 09/21/00
Wilson Pharmacy, Inc., vs. General Computer Corp.

E2000-00733-COA-R3-CV
The origin of this appeal is a complaint filed by Plaintiff Wilson Pharmacy, Inc., against Defendant General Computer Corporation, seeking damages for allegedly furnishing defective computer hardware and software programs pursuant to contracts entered into between the parties. The Trial Court found that the provision providing suit must be brought within one year after accrual of the action barred Wilson Pharmacy's claim. Wilson Pharmacy appeals, contending the contract they entered into was one of adhesion, rendering the contract limitation period ineffective. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Thomas J. Seeley, Jr.
Washington County Court of Appeals 09/21/00
International Deli/Caterers vs. Raymond/Kimberly Shields

W2000-00269-COA-R3-CV
This is a contract case. The defendants entered into a franchise agreement with the plaintiff to own and operate a franchise. After the defendants failed to make royalty payments for two months and then failed to make a note payment, the plaintiff filed suit alleging breach of contract. The defendants counter-claimed, alleging that the plaintiff breached the contract first by not operating a marketing fund mentioned in the franchise agreement and by not furnishing a sign provided for in the purchase agreement. At trial, the trial court allowed testimony by the plaintiff as to discussions, prior and subsequent to the signing of the agreements, in which he claimed that the parties had agreed upon different terms regarding the marketing fund and sign. The trial court found that the plaintiff had not breached the agreements by not maintaining the marketing fund or furnishing the sign, and that even if it were a breach, it was not a material breach. The defendants now appeal. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:James F. Russell
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/21/00
State vs. Billy Hancock

W1999-01746-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Billy Hancock, pled guilty in Shelby County Criminal Court to vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, aggravated child endangerment, three (3) counts of child endangerment, and reckless driving. The trial court sentenced the defendant to serve twelve (12) years for vehicular homicide, four (4) years for vehicular assault, four (4) years for aggravated child endangerment, nine (9) months for each of the three (3) counts of child endangerment, and six (6) months for reckless driving. The court ordered that the sentences for vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, and each of the three counts of child endangerment were to be served consecutively to each other, and that the sentences for reckless driving and aggravated child endangerment were to be served concurrently with the sentence for vehicular homicide. The total effective sentence was eighteen (18) years and three (3) months. On appeal, this court affirms the imposition of consecutive sentences because the trial court properly found that the defendant was a dangerous offender and had an extensive criminal history.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry Smith
Originating Judge:Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/21/00
State vs. Hooper

M1997-00031-SC-R11-CD
The single issue in this appeal is whether the proof introduced at the sentencing hearing is sufficient to support a denial of probation based solely upon the need for deterrence. The Court of Criminal Appeals initially affirmed the sentence and held that proof of deterrence was not needed because drug use and possession cases are "deterrable per se." Upon the defendant's petition to rehear, however, the intermediate court reversed itself, holding that a "per se" rule of deterrence is inconsistent with the holding of this Court in State vs. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166 (Tenn. 1991). The State appealed to this Court. For the reasons given herein, we hold that the proof in this case is sufficient to justify denial of probation on the sole ground of deterrence. The judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals granting an alternative sentence is reversed, and the defendant's original term of incarceration is reinstated.
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Allen W. Wallace
Humphreys County Supreme Court 09/21/00
State vs. Kenneth Sisco

M2000-00036-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant pleaded guilty to the offense of robbery. His plea agreement provided that he would be sentenced as a Range II multiple offender, with the length of the sentence to be determined by the trial judge. Following a sentencing hearing, the judge sentenced him to ten years in the Department of Correction. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial judge erred by setting his sentence at ten years. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Steve R. Dozier
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/20/00
Scott Yother vs. Laine Yother

E2000-01046-COA-R3-CV
In this post-divorce case, Elaine Hines Yother ("Mother") appeals from an order awarding primary residential custody of the parties' minor child, Avery Raechelle Yother (DOB: April 2, 1995), to the child's father, Scott Christopher Yother ("Father"). Mother argues (1) that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to modify the custodial arrangement decreed in the parties' divorce judgment; and, alternatively, (2) that the evidence preponderates against the trial court's judgment changing custody. Because we find that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to address the issue of custody, we reverse the judgment below.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Jacqueline E. Schulten
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 09/20/00
State vs. ThomasLawrence and Joseph Hatton

M2000-00493-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Thomas Lawrence, was convicted by a jury in the Marshall County Criminal Court of one count of possession of cocaine with intent to sell, a class C felony, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced Lawrence, as a Range II offender, to eight years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction for the possession of crack cocaine conviction and assessed a $2000 fine. The trial court further sentenced Lawrence to eleven months incarceration in the Marshall County Jail for the possession of drug paraphernalia conviction. The trial court ordered Lawrence to serve these sentences concurrently. The appellant, Joseph Hatton, was convicted by a jury in the Marshall County Criminal Court of two counts of selling crack cocaine, a class C felony, one count of possession of crack cocaine with the intent to sell, a class C felony, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a class A misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced Hatton, as a Range I offender, to four years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction for each sale of crack cocaine conviction and four years incarceration for the possession of crack cocaine with the intent to sell conviction. The court assessed a total of $4250 in fines. The trial court further ordered Hatton to serve his sentences for selling crack cocaine concurrently with each other but consecutive to the sentence for possession of crack cocaine with the intent to sell.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/20/00
Cunningham vs. Cunningham

W1999-02054-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a divorce after seven years of marriage. The trial court granted the wife a divorce, divided the property, awarded the wife rehabilitative alimony and alimony in solido, awarded child support for the parties' minor child, established an educational trust fund, and ordered the husband to maintain life insurance for so long as he is obligated to pay child support. On appeal, husband takes issue with all of the above and also raises the constitutionality of the child support guidelines. In addition, wife takes issue with the failure of the trial court to award her litigation expenses. We have determined that the trial court's judgment should be affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Joe C. Morris
Madison County Court of Appeals 09/20/00
The Pointe vs. Lake Mgmt.

W2000-00211-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a declaratory judgment action to determine rights in a privately-owned lake. Plaintiffs purchased land adjacent to the artificially-created lake for the purpose of developing residential lots. Subsequent to the sale of the property, Plaintiffs' grantor conveyed title to the lake to Defendant. Defendant claims it has the right to control use of the lake and that Plaintiffs have no right to lake access without Defendant's permission. The trial court granted Defendant's motion for summary judgment on the grounds that: (1) the lake is unnavigable, and no riparian rights can therefore flow to adjoining landowners; (2) the Defendant, as owner of the land subjacent to the lake, has a right to the unimpeded use and control of the property; and (3) any use of the lake by the adjoining property owners without Defendant's consent would constitute a trespass. Plaintiffs appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Walter L. Evans
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/20/00
State of Tennessee v. Michael Brady

II-798-239-A

Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/20/00
Antonia Regina Rose v. Emerson Motor Company

W1999-02705-SC-WCM-CV
This is an appeal by the defendant/employer. The only issue presented is whether the evidence preponderates against the trial court's award of 35% permanent partial disability to each of the plaintiff's arms. We find it does not and affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: J. Steven Stafford, Special Judge
Originating Judge:George R. Ellis, Chancellor
Gibson County Workers Compensation Panel 09/20/00
State vs. Kenneth Ray Jarman

M1999-01382-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Kenneth Ray Jarman, pled guilty in the Montgomery County Criminal Court to one count of driving under the influence (hereinafter "DUI"), fourth offense or over, a class E felony; one count of driving on a revoked license, sixth offense, a class A misdemeanor; and one count of violating the open container law, a class C misdemeanor. The trial court sentenced the appellant to two years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction for the DUI conviction, and imposed a $3000 fine. The trial court also sentenced the appellant to eleven months and twenty-nine days incarceration in the Montgomery County Jail for the driving on a revoked license conviction, and imposed a $350 fine. The trial court further sentenced the appellant to thirty days incarceration in the Montgomery County Jail for the violation of the open container law. Additionally, the trial court ordered the appellant's sentences to be served concurrently. The appellant raises the following issues for review: (1) whether the enhancing factors applied by the trial court were inapplicable to this case; and (2) whether the trial court erred in sentencing the appellant to serve the full term of his two-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Upon review of the record and the parties' briefs, we affirm in part and modify the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:John H. Gasaway, III
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/20/00