Sean N. Geiger v. Percy Pitzer, et al.
W1999-01776-COA-R3-CD
An inmate presently in custody in the Whiteville Correctional Facility sued the warden and the CEO and Chairman of Corrections Corporation of America in a pleading styled Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. He seeks release from that facility contending that the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) released him when it surrendered him to a facility outside the borders of the State of Wisconsin for incarceration. The trial court dismissed the cause of action and we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood |
Hardeman County | Court of Appeals | 05/04/00 | |
State of Tennessee v. Montrell Perry
W1999-01419-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant entered guilty pleas to two counts of sale of cocaine, Class C felonies, and was sentenced to four years confinement in the Department of Correction. The appellant argues, in this direct appeal, that the trial court erred in ordering total confinement. The record supports denial of an alternative sentence. The judgment is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 05/04/00 | |
State of Tennessee v. Michael Anderson Peek, alias Big Country, alias Michael Peak alias Michael Anderson Peak
E1998-00038-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant was convicted of fourteen felonies, consisting of various rape, robbery, and burglary charges arising from complaints of five victims. He received an effective sentence of ninety-nine years. Appealing these convictions, he alleged, inter alia, that the trial court should have severed the offenses, rather than allowing all five to be tried in a single trial; that blood, saliva, and hair samples should have been suppressed; that he should not have been shackled during the trial, and that his sentence was improper. Of these assignments, we find error in the trial court’s allowing the complaints of all five victims to be tried in a single trial, and in the court’s not following the required procedures before shackling the defendant during the trial. The errors were harmless and, accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge Douglas A. Meyer |
Hamilton County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 05/03/00 | |
Claude Willis v. Lola Mae Willis
W1999-01537-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from a dispute between Plaintiff Claude Willis and Defendant Lola Mae (Wright) Willis regarding the terms of their divorce. The trial court granted an absolute divorce to Ms. Wright,1 divided the parties’ marital property, allocated the parties’ marital debt, and awarded Ms. Wright alimony in solido, alimony in futuro, and attorney’s fees. On appeal, Mr. Willis argues that the trial court’s division of marital property and allocation of marital debt are inequitable, and that, assuming an award of alimony is appropriate in the case at bar, the court should have awarded Ms. Wright rehabilitative alimony rather than alimony in futuro. Additionally, Ms. Wright requests on appeal that her award of attorney’s fees be designated as alimony. We affirm the ruling of the trial court; however, we modify the court’s ruling to reflect that attorney’s fees are awarded to Ms. Wright as alimony.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Chancellor Ron E. Harmon |
Benton County | Court of Appeals | 05/03/00 | |
Walter A. Farris, et al., v. William S. Todd, et al.
E1999-1574-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves the question of whether the Appellants, Walter and Gordon Farris, complied with the statute of limitations when filing their complaint for legal malpractice and conversion. The Appellees, William S. Todd and Thomas S. Dossett, filed a motion to dismiss the complaint because it was barred by the applicable statute of limitations. Appellants moved to amend their complaint to include declaratory judgment relief for determination of the ownership rights of the parties in a particular art work. The Circuit Court for Sullivan County granted the motion to dismiss the complaint and denied the motion to amend. We affirm in part and vacate in part the Circuit Court’s judgment.
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman
Originating Judge:Presiding Judge Houston M. Goddard |
Sullivan County | Court of Appeals | 05/03/00 | |
Rebecca J. Amell, By Next of Kin Marvin H. Amell v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
03S01-9905-CV-00056
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. (hereafter "Liberty Mutual") appeals an award of workers' compensation death benefits to the surviving spouse of an employee killed in the course and scope of her employment. The trial court, acting on a motion for summary judgment, made an award of $77,196 to be paid at the rate of $144.75 per week to the surviving spouse, who was the only dependent of the employee. Liberty Mutual contends that the maximum award to the surviving spouse with no other dependents is limited to $57,9 (4 weeks x $144.75). We affirm the judgment of the trial court. Appeal from a summary judgment order in a workers' compensation case is not controlled by the standard of review provided by T.C.A. _ 5-6-225, but by Rule 56, T.R.C.P. Downen v. Allstate Ins. Co., 811 S..W.2d 523 (Tenn.1991). Where, as in this case, the facts are not in dispute, "the question on appeal is one of law, and our scope of review is de novo with no presumption of correctness accompanying" the trial court's conclusions. Union Carbide Corp. v Huddleston, 854 S.W. 2d 87, 91 (Tenn. 1993); Smith v. Norris, 218 Tenn. 329, 43 S.W.2d 37 (1966). On March 27, 1998, Rebecca J. Amell sustained fatal injuries in the course and scope of her employment with Arrow Factory Store in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. She was survived by Marvin H. Amell, her spouse. Her average weekly wage was $289.49 generating a workers' compensation rate of $192.99. The maximum weekly benefit on March 27, 1998, as defined by T.C.A. _ 5-6-12(7)(a), was $492. Liberty Mutual asserts that T.C.A. _ 5-6-21(e)(1) limits the benefits payable to a surviving spouse with no dependent child to one-half of the employee's average weekly wage for 4 weeks. It cites Spencer v. Towson Moving & Storage, Inc., 922 S.W.2d 58 (Tenn. 1996) as limiting the benefits to 4 weeks, and Schultz v. Majik Market, a Div. of 2
Authoring Judge: Peoples, H.N., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Hon. Rex Henry Ogle |
Knox County | Workers Compensation Panel | 05/03/00 | |
Rebecca J. Amell, By Next of Kin Marvin H. Amell v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
03S01-9905-CV-00056
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. (hereafter "Liberty Mutual") appeals an award of workers' compensation death benefits to the surviving spouse of an employee killed in the course and scope of her employment. The trial court, acting on a motion for summary judgment, made an award of $77,196 to be paid at the rate of $144.75 per week to the surviving spouse, who was the only dependent of the employee. Liberty Mutual contends that the maximum award to the surviving spouse with no other dependents is limited to $57,9 (4 weeks x $144.75). We affirm the judgment of the trial court. Appeal from a summary judgment order in a workers' compensation case is not controlled by the standard of review provided by T.C.A. _ 5-6-225, but by Rule 56, T.R.C.P. Downen v. Allstate Ins. Co., 811 S..W.2d 523 (Tenn.1991). Where, as in this case, the facts are not in dispute, "the question on appeal is one of law, and our scope of review is de novo with no presumption of correctness accompanying" the trial court's conclusions. Union Carbide Corp. v Huddleston, 854 S.W. 2d 87, 91 (Tenn. 1993); Smith v. Norris, 218 Tenn. 329, 43 S.W.2d 37 (1966). On March 27, 1998, Rebecca J. Amell sustained fatal injuries in the course and scope of her employment with Arrow Factory Store in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. She was survived by Marvin H. Amell, her spouse. Her average weekly wage was $289.49 generating a workers' compensation rate of $192.99. The maximum weekly benefit on March 27, 1998, as defined by T.C.A. _ 5-6-12(7)(a), was $492. Liberty Mutual asserts that T.C.A. _ 5-6-21(e)(1) limits the benefits payable to a surviving spouse with no dependent child to one-half of the employee's average weekly wage for 4 weeks. It cites Spencer v. Towson Moving & Storage, Inc., 922 S.W.2d 58 (Tenn. 1996) as limiting the benefits to 4 weeks, and Schultz v. Majik Market, a Div. of 2
Authoring Judge: Howell N. Peoples, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Rex Henry Ogle |
Knox County | Workers Compensation Panel | 05/03/00 | |
State of Tennessee v. Leon Goins
W1999-00157-CCA-R3-CD
A jury found the defendant guilty of selling 0.5 grams of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. He received a 15 year sentence as a Range II offender, consecutive to a prior felony. The defendant asserts error in allowing the state’s expert witness to testify to the aggregate weight of cocaine sold, when the witness did not test every particle of the submitted evidence. The defendant further asserts error in the trial court’s admitting a video tape of the sale and in the trial court’s sentencing. The judgment from the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:Judge Russell Lee Moore, Jr. |
Dyer County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 05/02/00 | |
State of Tennessee v. Roy D. Nelson
E1997-00021-SC-R11-CD
This is an appeal from the Criminal Court for Washington County which convicted the
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Originating Judge:Judge Lynn W. Brown |
Knox County | Supreme Court | 05/02/00 | |
State of Tennessee v. Carlos C. Beasley
W1999-00426-CCA-R3-CD
The appellant, Carlos C. Beasley, referred herein as “the defendant,” appeals as of right from a conviction for especially aggravated robbery by a Shelby County jury. The same jury found the defendant guilty of voluntary manslaughter, from which the defendant does not appeal. The Shelby County Criminal Court imposed a sentence of twenty-five (25) years for especially aggravated robbery in the Department of Correction. The defendant presents two appellate issues: 1) whether the evidence is sufficient for a rational trier of fact to find that every element of especially aggravated robbery has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt; and 2) whether the record shows that the trial court in its capacity as thirteenth (13th) juror failed to independently weigh the evidence upon consideration of the motion for a new trial.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Judge James C. Beasley, Jr. |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 05/02/00 | |
Venessa Lynn Totty v. Michael Alan Totty
W1999-02426-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute regarding a final decree of divorce entered in the Shelby County
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Judge Kay S. Robilio |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 05/02/00 | |
Kenneth L. Storey v. Randall E. Nichols, et al.
E1998-00851-SC-R3-CV
The dispositive issue in this case is whether an appeal as of right from a trial court’s judgment in an attorney-disciplinary proceeding initiated pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 23-3-201–2041 lies in the Court of Appeals or in the Supreme Court. Because we hold that jurisdiction over an appeal as of right in a statutory disciplinary proceeding lies in the Court of Appeals, we reverse the intermediate appellate court’s order transferring the case to the Supreme Court, and we transfer the case to the Court of Appeals for its review on the merits. Tenn. R. App. P. 3; Transfer Order of the Court of Appeals Reversed; Case Transferred to Court of Appeals
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Originating Judge:Chancellor David H. Cate |
Knox County | Supreme Court | 05/01/00 | |
Donald E. Griffin v. Shelter Mutual Insurance Company
M1997-00042-SC-R11-CV
The appellant, Donald E. Griffin, brought suit seeking damages for injuries he sustained when his vehicle was struck from the rear in Maury County by a car driven by Richard Vaughn. After obtaining a judgment against Vaughn in the amount of $225,000, Griffin learned that Vaughn had only $50,000 of liability insurance coverage. Griffin then requested that his uninsured motorist carrier, the appellee Shelter Mutual Insurance Company (“Shelter”), pay the remainder of the judgment up to its policy limit of $100,000. When Shelter refused the claim, Griffin brought this action against Shelter in the Chancery Court for Davidson County. The Chancellor granted summary judgment to Shelter, finding that Griffin had failed to comply with the notice provisions of the insurance policy and with the service provisions of Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1206(a). The Court of Appeals agreed that Griffin had failed to comply with the service provisions of Tenn. Code Ann. § 56-7-1206(a) and thus affirmed the grant of summary judgment in favor of Shelter. This Court thereafter granted Griffin’s application for permission to appeal. Tenn. R. App. P. 11 Appeal by Permission from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court; Judgment of the Court of Appeals Affirmed DROWOTA, J.,
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Originating Judge:Chancellor Carol L. McCoy |
Davidson County | Supreme Court | 05/01/00 | |
Clifford Taylor vs. State, et al
M1999-02418-COA-R3-CV
An inmate of the Tennessee Department of Correction sought a declaratory judgment that the Department had incorrectly calculated his sentence. The trial court dismissed the petition, finding no improper calculation. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
Rocky Lee Coker vs. TN Dept. of Correction
M1999-02268-COA-R3-CV
An inmate in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction filed a petition for a declaratory judgment, claiming that his sentence reduction credits had been improperly calculated and that his "safety valve" release date had been wrongly cancelled. The trial court granted the state's motion for summary judgment and the petitioner appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Carol L. Mccoy |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
State vs. Samuel D. Land
M1999-01023-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter |
Williamson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
State vs. Robert Bassett Brown
M1999-00867-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Acree
Originating Judge:J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
State of Tennessee v. Donald Curtis Reid
01C01-9903-CR-00077
Originating Judge:J. Randall Wyatt, Jr. |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
Karen Mundy vs. James Mundy
E1999-02697-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:John B. Hagler, Jr. |
Bradley County | Court of Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
State vs. Larry Brumit
M1999-00154-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:James K. Clayton, Jr. |
Rutherford County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
Trebing vs. Fleming Companies
M1999-00473-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Barbara N. Haynes |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
Jabari Mandela vs. Jim Rose, et al
M1999-02552-COA-R3-CV
The trial court summarily dismissed the plaintiff pro se prisoner's complaint for lack of jurisdiction before service of process was had or response filed. Based on the record before us, we reverse.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Stella L. Hargrove |
Wayne County | Court of Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
Groner vs. On-Site Grading
E1999-00219-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Howell N. Peoples |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
Beaman Pontiac vs. Gill
M1999-00666-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Carol L. Soloman |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/28/00 | |
Trebing vs. Fleming Companies
M1999-00473-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Barbara N. Haynes |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/28/00 |