APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Dennis Down D/B/A Knoxville Lifestyle v. Steve Hall D/B/A Greater Tennessee Flooring

E2016-00647-COA-R3-CV

After the trial court entered a final judgment awarding plaintiff damages and attorney’s fees, defendant filed a timely motion requesting additional findings of fact and conclusions of law. The trial court then entered a second judgment incorporating the requested findings of fact and conclusions of law. After entry of the second judgment, plaintiff filed a motion for an award of additional attorney’s fees, which the trial court treated as a motion to alter or amend. The plaintiff later withdrew his motion for additional attorney’s fees, and the trial court entered an order authorizing the withdrawal. Later, in response to a motion to quash a garnishment, the trial court entered a third judgment, which granted the motion but otherwise incorporated by reference the court’s previous rulings. Defendant filed a notice of appeal within thirty days after entry of the third judgment but more than thirty days after the order granting plaintiff leave to withdraw his motion for additional attorney’s fees. Because we conclude the notice of appeal was untimely, we dismiss the appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Judge Michael W. Moyers
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/29/17
James Ellis Phillips v. The Pictsweet Company

W2016-01704-SC-R3-WC

James Phillips (“Employee”) worked for The Pictsweet Company (Employer”) as a truck driver and mechanic. He alleged that he sustained a compensable back injury on December 2, 2013. Employer eventually denied the claim primarily because the treating physician’s opinion was that Employee’s symptoms were caused by preexisting degenerative changes and were not related to his work. Although Employee received additional medical treatment through Tenncare, his condition did not improve. An IME physician opined that Employee’s condition was work-related and that he retained permanent impairment. The trial court found that Employee had sustained a compensable injury and awarded permanent partial disability benefits of 72% to the body as a whole. Employer has appealed that decision. The appeal has been referred to the Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel for a hearing and a report of findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51. We affirm in part, modify in part, and reverse in part.

Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Acree, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge George R. Ellis
Crockett County Workers Compensation Panel 08/28/17
State of Tennessee v. Michael Smith

W2016-01513-CCA-R3-CD

The pro se defendant, Michael Smith, appeals the summary denial of his motion to correct clerical errors on the face of an order suspending a forty-month sentence for a felony escape conviction. The defendant argues the trial court actually resentenced him to one year, time served, and the order did not accurately reflect this ruling. The defendant further argues the trial court should have entered an amended judgment reflecting the resentencing. On review, we conclude the record is insufficient to support the defendant’s arguments and affirm the trial court’s denial of the motion.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Originating Judge:Judge J. Weber McCraw
Hardeman County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/28/17
State of Tennessee v. Mark Harold Lullen aka Luellen

W2016-00709-CCA-R9-CD

We granted this interlocutory appeal to review the trial court’s order granting the motion of the defendant, Mark Harold Lullen a.k.a. Luellen, to suppress his statement because officers did not give Miranda warnings. Upon review, we conclude Miranda warnings were unnecessary because the defendant was not in custody when questioned by law enforcement, so the trial court erred when granting the defendant’s motion to suppress on that basis. Despite arguments by the defendant that he did not voluntarily give his statement because he was under the influence of prescription drugs, the trial court failed to make findings of fact in this regard. Accordingly, we remand for full hearing and additional findings as to whether the defendant’s statement was voluntary.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Originating Judge:Judge J. Weber McCraw
Fayette County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/28/17
State of Tennessee v. Robert Lamar Kelley

M2016-01425-CCA-R3-CD

Following the trial court’s denial of his motion to suppress, the Defendant-Appellant, Robert Lamar Kelley, entered a guilty plea in the Wilson County Criminal Court to the charged offense of possession of more than ten pounds of marijuana, a Class D felony, for which he received a sentence of four years, with service of six months in confinement and the remainder on supervised probation. See T.C.A. §§ 39-17-417(a)(4), (g)(2). As a condition of his guilty plea, Kelley properly reserved two certified questions of law pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37(b)(2) regarding the stop and search of his vehicle. After reviewing the record, we find no error in the denial of the motion to suppress and affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Brody N. Kane
Wilson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/28/17
Dinah Bostic Norman v. John Arthur Norman, IV

M2015-02364-COA-R3-CV

This case arises out of the demise of a long-term marriage. The trial court declared the parties divorced, equitably divided the marital estate, and awarded the wife alimony in solido, rehabilitative alimony, and alimony in futuro. On appeal, the husband raises many issues, including whether the doctrine of unclean hands should bar wife from receiving an award of alimony in solido, whether the court’s division of the marital estate was inequitable, and whether the court’s alimony awards were based on a clearly erroneous assessment of the evidence. Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm the trial court’s decision in all respects.

Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Chancellor James G. Martin, III
Williamson County Court of Appeals 08/28/17
Anzar McFarland v. State of Tennessee and Randy Lee, Warden

E2017-00212-CCA-R3-HC

The Petitioner, Anzar McFarland, appeals as of right from the Johnson County Criminal Court’s summary dismissal of his petition for writ of habeas corpus. He claims entitlement to habeas corpus relief, alleging that his judgment of conviction for class A felony rape of a child was void because he was not granted pretrial jail credit. Following our review, we affirm the habeas corpus court’s summary dismissal of the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Lisa N. Rice
Johnson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/28/17
Raymond Gibson v. Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation et al.

W2016-01403-SC-R3-WC

After Employee suffered a lower back injury in the course and scope of his employment, the parties reached a settlement as to his permanent partial disability benefits. Employee later filed a petition for modification of the award, and the trial court found that Employee is permanently and totally disabled. Employer appeals, contending the trial court erred in finding Employee permanently and totally disabled and in finding Employer liable for ninety percent of the award. Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51, this workers’ compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel for a hearing and a report of findings of fact and conclusions of law. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Acree, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge George R. Ellis
Crockett County Workers Compensation Panel 08/28/17
State of Tennessee v. James Mark Thornton

E2016-01022-CCA-R3-CD

The State appeals as of right from the Cocke County Circuit Court’s grant of the Defendant’s, James Mark Thornton’s Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1 motion to correct an illegal sentence. The State contends that the trial court erred because the challenged sentence was not illegal. We agree with the State and dismiss the Defendant’s Rule 36.1 motion.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Ben W. Hooper, II
Cocke County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/28/17
State of Tennessee v. Kalpesh Patel and Patikkumar v. Patel

M2016-00460-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendants, Kalpesh Patel and Pratikkumar V. Patel, were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, a Class A felony, and one count of solicitation to commit first degree murder, a Class B felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-12-102, -103, -107. The trial court merged the solicitation convictions into the conspiracy convictions and sentenced each Defendant to fifteen years as Range I, standard offenders. On appeal, the Defendants raise the following issues: (1) both Defendants contend that the evidence was insufficient to sustain their convictions for conspiracy to commit first degree murder; (2) both Defendants contend that the trial court erred in denying their motions to suppress evidence retrieved during warrantless searches of their cell phones; (3) Defendant Kalpesh contends that the trial court erred by not sentencing him as an especially mitigated offender; (4) Defendant Kalpesh contends that a new trial is warranted based on newly discovered evidence impeaching the State’s primary witness; (5) Defendant Pratikkumar contends that the State withheld exculpatory evidence; and (6) Defendant Pratikkumar contends that he received ineffective assistance of counsel from his trial counsel. Following our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge David M. Bragg
Rutherford County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/25/17
State of Tennessee v. Danielle Chandria Jensen

M2016-01553-CCA-R10-CD

Following the trial court’s denial of an interlocutory appeal pursuant to Rule 9 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure, the State sought and was granted permission for an extraordinary appeal pursuant to Rule 10 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. In this appeal, the State argues that the trial court erroneously dismissed a burglary count in a superseding indictment against the Defendant, Danielle Chandria Jensen, who had previously been charged with theft of property valued at $500 or less, assault, and criminal trespass involving the same conduct. See T.C.A. §§ 39-13-101(a)(1), 39-14-103, -105(a)(1), -402(a)(3), -405 (Supp. 2014). We affirm the judgment of the trial court dismissing the burglary count.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge David A. Patterson
Putnam County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/25/17
State of Tennessee v. Edward Joseph Benesch, II

M2015-02124-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Edward Joseph Benesch II, stands convicted by a Dickson County jury of aggravated child neglect and voluntary manslaughter, for which the trial court sentenced him to an effective term of eighteen years’ incarceration. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant raises the following allegations of error: (1) that the trial court erred by denying the Defendant’s motion to suppress his statement to police after he first requested an attorney and that request did not need clarification in the Defendant’s opinion; (2) that the evidence was insufficient to support the Defendant’s convictions because he did not intentionally neglect the victim and because the element of adequate provocation was absent; (3) that the trial court abused its discretion when it admitted photographs of the victim taken at the crime scene and during the victim’s autopsy given their gruesome nature; (4) that trial court erred by allowing a paramedic to testify as an expert about the “significance of the force” that caused the victim’s injuries; (5) that it was improper for the trial court to allow two witnesses, Shannon Edmonson and Shara Tisdale, to testify about the Defendant’s alleged drug usage and drugs being found in his home; (6) that the trial court should not have allowed testimony from the Defendant’s next-door neighbor that bore “no indicia of reliability and was completely unverifiable”; (7) that the trial court’s refusal to allow the Defendant’s “mitigation expert” to testify regarding how the Defendant told her he fell on the victim violated the Defendant’s constitutional right to present a defense; and (8) that the trial court erred when it allowed the State to play, as a prior inconsistent statement, the video recording of Judith Lane’s interview with law enforcement. Following our review of the record and the applicable authorities, we must conclude that the evidence was insufficient to support the Defendant’s conviction for voluntary manslaughter because the Defendant was not adequately provoked by the eighteen-month-old victim, and therefore, that conviction is reversed and vacated. However, because the proof is sufficient to support the lesser-included offense of reckless homicide, we remand this matter to the trial court for entry of an amended judgment reflecting a reckless homicide conviction and imposition of a consecutive, four-year sentence for that conviction. The Defendant’s remaining issues do not entitle him to relief, and his conviction for aggravated child neglect is affirmed. Accordingly, the trial court’s judgments are affirmed in part and reversed in part.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Larry J. Wallace
Dickson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/25/17
Anthony T. Brandon v. State of Tennessee

M2017-00080-CCA-R3-PC

Petitioner, Anthony T. Brandon, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his convictions for possession with intent to sell .5 grams or more of cocaine and simple possession of marijuana. Petitioner argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel. Upon our review of the record and the briefs of the parties, we determine that Petitioner has waived his claim for failing to present an adequate argument in his appellate brief. Waiver notwithstanding, we also determine that Petitioner failed to prove his claim by clear and convincing evidence. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Forest A. Durard, Jr.
Bedford County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/25/17
State of Tennessee v. Christopher Scottie Itzol-Deleon

M2014-02380-SC-R11-CD

We granted the State’s application for permission to appeal in this case in order to determine (1) whether we should expressly overrule our decision in State v. Barney, 986 S.W.2d 545 (Tenn. 1999), and (2) whether the Court of Criminal Appeals erred in merging two of the Defendant’s convictions. We expressly overrule Barney and hold that double jeopardy principles apply when determining whether multiple convictions of sexual offenses arise from a single act of sexual assault. We further hold that, in light of the factors we adopt herein, under the facts and circumstances of this case, the Court of Criminal Appeals did not err in merging two of the Defendant’s multiple convictions. Accordingly, albeit for different reasons, we affirm the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Authoring Judge: Chief Justice Jeffrey S. Bivins
Originating Judge:Judge Mark J. Fishburn
Davidson County Supreme Court 08/25/17
State of Tennessee v. Edward Nolan Lee Thomas

M2017-00040-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Edward Nolan Lee Thomas, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and theft of property valued at less than $500. By agreement, the Defendant’s sentence was four years for the burglary conviction, concurrent with a sentence of eleven months, twenty-nine days for the theft conviction, with the trial court to determine the manner of service. The trial court subsequently ordered the Defendant to serve the sentences in confinement. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred when it denied him judicial diversion and imposed a sentence of continuous confinement. After a thorough review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.
 
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/25/17
Steven Woodrow Johnson v. State of Tennessee

M2016-02363-CCA-R3-PC
A Davidson County jury convicted the Petitioner, Steven Woodrow Johnson, of first degree felony murder, especially aggravated burglary, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and the trial court sentenced him to an effective sentence of life in prison. This court affirmed the Petitioner’s convictions on appeal, save the especially aggravated burglary conviction, which we modified to aggravated burglary. State v. Steven Woodrow Johnson, M2011-00859-CCA-R3-CD, 2012 WL 3877787, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Sept. 7, 2012), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Feb. 13, 2013). In 2013, the Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief alleging that he had received the ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction court held a hearing on the petition and denied relief. On appeal, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.
 
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Mark Fishburn
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/25/17
State of Tennessee v. Corey E. Huddleston

M2017-00029-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Corey E. Huddleston, pleaded no contest to sexual battery on February 8, 2016. As a result of the no contest plea, he was sentenced to one year of incarceration and placed on the sex offender registry. Defendant sought to withdraw his no contest plea, and the trial court denied the motion. Defendant appeals the denial of his motion to withdraw his plea. We affirm the trial court’s decision.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Larry Wallace
Dickson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/25/17
State of Tennessee v. James W. Burton

M2016-01190-CCA-R3-CD
A Fentress County jury convicted the Defendant of perjury, and the trial court sentenced him to serve eleven months and twenty-nine days on supervised probation. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that the evidence is insufficient to support the jury’s verdict against the Defendant for perjury. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
 
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge E. Shayne Sexton
Fentress County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/25/17
State of Tennessee v. Jeanet Marie Covington

M2016-02310-CCA-R3-CD

A Davidson County jury convicted the Defendant, Jeanet Marie Covington, of aggravated arson, and the trial court sentenced her to serve fifteen years in the Department of Correction. The Defendant timely filed a motion for new trial, which the trial court denied. The Defendant appeals the trial court’s denial of her motion, maintaining that the evidence was insufficient to support her conviction. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Monte Watkins
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/24/17
Maurice O. Byrd, Jr. v. State of Tennessee

M2016-01061-CCA-R3-PC

A Montgomery County jury convicted the Petitioner, Maurice O. Byrd, Jr., of aggravated robbery, first degree felony murder, and premeditated first degree murder, and the Petitioner received an effective sentence of life. On appeal, this court affirmed the judgments. See State v. Maurice O. Byrd, No. M2010-02405-CCA-R3-CD, 2012 WL 5989817, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App., at Nashville, Nov. 29, 2012), perm. app. denied (Tenn. Dec. 11, 2013). The Petitioner filed a post-conviction petition, and the post-conviction court denied relief following a hearing. On appeal, the Petitioner maintains that he received the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. After review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge William R. Goodman, III
Montgomery County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/24/17
Kristin Holloway v. Group Properties, LLC

W2016-02417-COA-R3-CV

This negligence case was brought by Appellee/Tenant, who suffered injuries when a light fixture and a portion of the rental property ceiling fell due to a water leak. Tenant received a judgment in the general sessions court, and Appellant/Landlord appealed to the circuit court. Following de novo review, the circuit court entered judgment in favor of Tenant. Landlord appeals. Discerning no error, we affirm and remand.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kenny Armstrong
Originating Judge:Judge Robert Samual Weiss
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/24/17
The Germantown Manor Homeowners Association, Inc. v. GGAT Development Corp., et al.

W2016-01461-COA-R3-CV

Appellee, homeowner’s association, filed suit against Appellants, owners of lots in the development, to collect association fees. The trial court held that Appellee, a non-profit corporation, was not authorized to formally assess association fees until it elected a board of directors. Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-58-101. The trial court charged Appellants’ with association fees accruing after the election of the board and also denied Appellants’ counter-complaint for quantum meruit damages allegedly accrued for upkeep of certain common areas, which remained under Appellants’ ownership. Discerning no error, we affirm and remand.

Authoring Judge: Judge Kenny Armstrong
Originating Judge:Judge Felicia Corbin Johnson
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/24/17
Jonah Paul Anders v. Mayla Anders

W2016-02290-COA-R3-CV

Because the order appealed is not a final judgment, we must dismiss this appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Judge Gina C. Higgins
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/24/17
State of Tennessee v. Raymond Deshun Ross

W2016-01220-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Raymond Deshun Ross, appeals the dismissal of his motion, filed pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1, to correct what he believes to be an illegal sentence imposed for his 2005 Henderson County Circuit Court jury convictions of aggravated assault, carjacking, felony theft, and misdemeanor reckless endangerment. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Henderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/24/17
State of Tennessee v. William Christopher Davis

E2016-02132-CCA-R3-CD

Upon the request of the Department of Safety, the State filed a petition to declare William Christopher Davis, the Defendant, a “habitual offender” pursuant to Motor Vehicle Habitual Offenders Act (“the MVHO Act”). The trial court dismissed the petition after concluding that the MVHO Act was ambiguous regarding when the State had a duty to file a petition. On appeal, the State argues that it has an appeal as of right under Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(c) from the dismissal of its petition and that the trial court erred in dismissing its petition on the grounds that the MVHO Act was ambiguous and penal in nature. The Defendant argues that the State does not have an appeal as of right from the dismissal of its petition and that the trial court correctly dismissed the petition. After a thorough review of the facts of this case and applicable case law, we conclude that the State does not have an appeal as of right from the dismissal of a motor vehicle habitual offender petition, and thus we dismiss the State’s appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Bobby R. McGee
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/24/17