APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Gerome Smith vs. State

M1999-02511-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Gerome Smith, appeals the trial court's disposition of his petition for post-conviction relief. While granting the petitioner 60 days within which to file an application for permission to appeal to our supreme court this court's affirmance of the original conviction and sentence, the trial court otherwise denied post-conviction relief. The single issue presented for review is whether the petitioner was denied the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on appeal. Because the petitioner has been unable to meet his burden of proof, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/31/00
State vs. Delwin Keith O'Neal

M2000-00650-CCA-R3-CD
In 1997, the defendant pled guilty in Marshall County to aggravated assault. Pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement, he was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender and received a six-year sentence, consecutive to a prior Montgomery County sentence. The defendant now claims his sentence does not comport with the plea agreement and asks this court to modify the sentence. Upon our review of the record, we conclude the defendant did not timely challenge his sentence and deny relief.
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:W. Charles Lee
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/31/00
Home Builders Assoc. of Middle TN vs. Maury Co.

M1999-02383-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Stella L. Hargrove
Maury County Court of Appeals 08/31/00
Zettersten vs. Zettersten

M1999-01186-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from an action for divorce and division of marital assets. The court below granted Linda Jean Zettersten ("Wife") a divorce on grounds of Rolf Birger Zettersten's ("Husband's") stipulation of inappropriate marital conduct; awarded Wife alimony in futuro and rehabilitative alimony and child support for the parties' minor child; awarded Wife $11,923.50 in attorney's fees, discretionary costs and court costs. Wife appeals.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Donald P. Harris
Williamson County Court of Appeals 08/31/00
Cruse vs. Peak

M1999-02228-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from the trial court's refusal to grant the appellant's request for visitation with her granddaughter. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/31/00
Tennessee Farmers vs. Judy Cobb, et al

W1999-01729-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a motion to set aside a default judgment. The trial court entered a default judgment against the defendants based on their failure to respond to the lawsuit. Seven months later, the defendants filed a motion to set aside the default judgment. The trial court denied the motion, and the defendants appealed. We affirm, finding no abuse of discretion in the denial of the motion to set aside the default.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:J. Steven Stafford
Dyer County Court of Appeals 08/31/00
Home Builders Assoc. of Middle TN vs. Maury Co.

M1999-02383-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Stella L. Hargrove
Maury County Court of Appeals 08/31/00
State vs. Joe Hurt

W2001-02742-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant contends the trial court should have sentenced him to a Community Corrections Program. We conclude ample evidence exists to support the trial court's findings that incarceration is necessary to protect society from the defendant. The defendant has a long history of criminal conduct. We affirm the judgments from the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:C. Creed Mcginley
Hardin County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/31/00
State of Tennessee v. Gdongalay Parlo Berry

M1999-01901-CCA-MR3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/31/00
State vs. Tywan Faulk

M1999-01124-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Tywan Faulk, appeals his conviction by a jury in the Montgomery County Circuit Court of one count of possession of more than .5 grams of cocaine with intent to deliver and within 1,000 feet of a school, a class A felony. Prior to trial, the appellant pled guilty to driving on a revoked license, a class B misdemeanor. Pursuant to the appellant's conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, the trial court imposed a sentence of fifteen years incarceration in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Additionally, the trial court imposed a sentence of thirty days incarceration in the county jail for the driving on a revoked license conviction. The trial court further ordered that the appellant's sentences be served concurrently. On appeal, the appellant presents the following issues for review: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying the appellant's motion to suppress evidence seized as a result of an unlawful detention; (2) whether the trial court erred in denying the appellant's motion for judgment of acquittal with regard to possession with intent to sell or deliver at the close of the State's case in chief as the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction; (3) whether the trial court erred by allowing the arresting officer to testify that the passenger in the appellant's car had a certain amount of cash in his possession; (4) whether the trial court erred by giving supplemental instructions to the jury without first putting the instructions in writing; (5) whether the trial court erred by repeatedly referring to the prosecutor as "General" in the presence of the jury throughout the proceeding; and, (6) whether the prejudicial effect of these errors cumulatively requires reversal of the appellant's conviction. 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:Robert W. Wedemeyer
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/31/00
Union Planters Bank vs. Choate

M1999-01268-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a breach of contract case filed against Mickie Davis ("Davis") by Carole Choate ("Choate"). Choate alleged that Davis breached her contractual and fiduciary duties by authorizing release of funds to Rochford Realty ("Rochford") for a construction project. The trial court granted Davis' motion for summary judgment. Choate appeals.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/31/00
Miller vs. Miller

M1999-00724-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce, both Husband and Wife have appealed contesting the trial court's division of marital property and alimony awards. The division of marital property is affirmed, alimony awards are modified, and the case is remanded for a determination of the value of Husband's retirement plan and a proper division thereof.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 08/31/00
State of Tennessee v. Michael Byrd

M1999-00456-CCA-R3-CD-

Originating Judge:Jim T. Hamilton
Giles County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/31/00
Teddy Tedder/Maurice Tedder vs. Union Planters

W1999-01971-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiff worked for a temporary employment agency and was assigned to work for a bank. The plaintiff fell in the bank parking lot as she was reporting to work. She filed a negligence lawsuit against the bank for her injuries. The trial court granted the bank's motion for summary judgment on the basis that the plaintiff was a co-employee of the bank under the loaned servant doctrine; therefore, the suit was precluded under the workers' compensation statute. The plaintiff appeals. We affirm, finding that the plaintiff was a co-employee of the bank under the loaned servant doctrine.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:James F. Russell
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/30/00
State vs. Eddie Lowe

W1999-00881-CCA-R3-PC
The petitioner, Eddie Lee Lowe, appeals the trial court's denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his second degree murder and especially aggravated robbery convictions pursuant to guilty pleas. The petitioner contends that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel because neither his juvenile court attorney nor his trial attorneys preserved his right to appeal his transfer from juvenile court to criminal court for trial as an adult. Because the petitioner had no right to an acceptance hearing in the trial court, we hold that his juvenile court attorney was not deficient for failing to move for such a hearing. Also, we hold that the petitioner has failed to show deficient performance or prejudice by the fact that his trial attorney did not seek to reserve a certified question of law on the transfer issue. We affirm the trial court's denial of the petition.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/30/00
Alfred Tompkins vs. Annie's Nannies

W1999-00372-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiffs' nine year old child, Alexandria, while under the direction of her day care center, broke both kneecaps while participating in a downhill race. Plaintiffs sued the day care center on a negligence theory, arguing that the day care center breached their duty of care. The trial court directed a verdict for the day care center, finding that the injuries sustained by the nine year old were not foreseeable, and, thus, no duty of care arose. Additionally, at trial, plaintiffs' counsel made an offer of proof whereby testimony was introduced that two girls fell and bumped heads in a race immediately preceding Alexandria's. The trial court excluded this testimony from the jury. Plaintiffs allege error. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:George H. Brown
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/30/00
State vs. Terrance Pulliam

W1999-00277-CCA-R3-PC
The Defendant, Terrence Pulliam, appeals as of right from the trial court's denial of post-conviction relief. He asserts that the trial court erred by finding that he received effective assistance of counsel at trial. The Defendant argues generally that counsel was ineffective due to failure to thoroughly investigate his case and to call relevant witnesses, failure to properly advise him throughout the process, and failure to properly impeach State witnesses. We conclude that the evidence does not preponderate against the trial court's finding that the Defendant received effective assistance of counsel at trial. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Carolyn Wade Blackett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/30/00
State vs. Ryan Little

W1999-01033-CCA-R3-CD
Ryan J. Little was convicted of one count aggravated robbery, one count aggravated burglary, and three counts of attempted aggravated robbery. An effective twenty-four year sentence was imposed. In this appeal as of right, the appellant contests the trial court's imposition of partial consecutive sentences. The proof before this court supports the trial court's finding that the appellant is a "dangerous offender." Accordingly, we affirm the sentencing decision of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/30/00
Jennifer Thomas vs. Stephen Thomas

W1999-00284-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case, the trial court, among other things, made a division of marital property, awarded Wife alimony in solido, made an award of child support, and ordered payments of various debts by the parties. Both parties have appealed presenting issues concerning the court's above stated actions.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Floyd Peete, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/30/00
State vs. Anthony Carlton

W1999-00407-CCA-R3-PC
The defendant, Anthony Carlton, was convicted by a Shelby County jury of attempted first-degree murder. Following this court's affirmance of that conviction, the defendant sought post-conviction relief in the Shelby County Criminal Court, and that court denied relief. On appeal, this court finds (1) the defendant did not prove that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to advise him of his right not to testify, and (2) we are precluded from considering the adequacy of the defendant's appellate representation when that issue was not raised in the court below.

Originating Judge:Carolyn Wade Blackett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/30/00
Willie James Robinson, Jr. vs. State

E1999-00945-CCA-R3-PC
The defendant seeks habeas corpus relief from two life sentences, claiming that the sentences are void because the trial judge failed to sign the judgments or the minutes. We hold that the failure to sign the judgments and the minutes does not render the petitioner's sentences void. The trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:E. Eugene Eblen
Morgan County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/30/00
Clemmye Berger vs. Brenda O'Brien vs. Sylvia Berger

W1999-00861-COA-R3-CV
This case involves the settlement of an estate. After the estate was settled, the trial court assessed a portion of the fees and expenses of the guardian ad litem and the attorney ad litem as costs against an intervening defendant and beneficiary of the estate. The intervening defendant appealed the assessment of these expenses to this Court. On appeal, we affirm the decision of the trial court, finding that the trial court was within its discretion to assess a portion of the fees and expenses of the guardian ad litem and attorney ad litem against the intervening defendant as discretionary costs.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/30/00
Mertis Johnson vs. Willie Steverson

W1999-00627-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a dispute between Plaintiff Mertis Johnson and Defendant Willie A. Steverson regarding an automobile accident involving Ms. Johnson and Virden Steverson, Mr. Steverson's son. Ms. Johnson filed a complaint against Mr. Steverson alleging that the negligence of Virden was the cause of this accident and seeking damages for her personal injuries. At the conclusion of a jury trial on the matter, Mr. Steverson made a motion for a directed verdict, which was denied by the trial court. The jury subsequently returned a verdict in favor of Ms. Johnson and awarded her damages in the amount of $14,000.00. Mr. Steverson filed a motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict or, in the alternative, for a new trial, which was also denied by the trial court. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the ruling of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:John R. Mccarroll, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/30/00
Emergicare Consultants vs. Barbara Woolbright

W1998-00659-COA-R3-CV
In this action, Emergicare Consultants, Inc., seeks to pierce the corporate veil of Medic Ambulance Service, Inc. Emergicare and Medic entered into a contract whereby Emergicare was to manage Medic. The purpose of the management contract was to streamline Medic in preparation for a sale to an ambulance consolidator. Emergicare claims that once it delved into the management of Medic, it discovered several abuses of the corporate form. As a result, Emergicare now seeks to pierce the corporate veil to impose personal liability on Medic's president, Barbara Woolbright, in order to recover $64,000 due under the management contract.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/29/00
Jerry Worrell vs. Ann Worrell

W1999-01786-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a dispute over insurance proceeds between Nephews, as remaindermen of their Aunt's life estate, and their Aunt, as the life tenant of certain property. The trial court awarded the Aunt sole rights to insurance proceeds obtained after the destruction of that property to the exclusion of the Nephews. The Nephews appeal that ruling as well as the trial court's omission of certain hearsay testimony, and its failure to award them declaratory judgment. We affirm the rulings of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:L. Terry Lafferty
Crockett County Court of Appeals 08/29/00