State of Tennessee v. Kelly Ray Turnbow
W2024-01363-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Kelly Ray Turnbow, appeals from the Carroll County Circuit Court’s probation revocation of his three-year sentence. The Defendant contends that the trial court erred by (1) finding he violated the terms of his probation based on conduct not alleged in the probation violation warrant and (2) failing to articulate its reasoning to support the full revocation of his probation. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand this case for additional findings consistent with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Bruce I. Griffey |
Carroll County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/14/25 | |
Lou Ann Zelenik v. Crowell Homebuilding, LLC et al.
M2021-00735-COA-R3-CV
A buyer signed an agreement with a contractor for the construction of a custom home. After disagreements arose over the construction and its pace, the buyer sued the contractor and its owner seeking damages and to quiet title to the property. The trial court awarded the buyer damages, title to the property, and attorney’s fees and costs. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Judge L. Craig Johnson |
Rutherford County | Court of Appeals | 08/14/25 | |
Debbie Antista v. Barry Craft et al.
M2024-01010-COA-R3-CV
In this dispute between neighboring property owners, the trial court determined that a concrete fence built by one neighbor violated a setback ordinance and entered an injunction requiring the neighbor to remove the fence. We have determined that the trial court erred in so ruling and reverse that portion of the trial court’s decision.
Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Chancellor Russell Parkes |
Maury County | Court of Appeals | 08/14/25 | |
State of Tennessee v. Craig Rickard
M2025-00159-CCA-R3-CD
Six years after his convictions for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery, the Petitioner, Craig Rickard, filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the trial court. In that petition, he asserted that the two convictions should have merged under principles of double jeopardy. The trial court summarily denied relief, and the Petitioner appealed. Upon review, we conclude that the Petitioner does not have an appeal as of right from the trial court’s denial of the petition. Accordingly, we respectfully dismiss the appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge Tom Greenholtz
Originating Judge:Judge Larry J. Wallace |
Cheatham County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/14/25 | |
Robert W. Smith, et al. v. Maxie Jones d/b/a Tennessee River Investors
W2024-00810-COA-R3-CV
This appeal stems from a boundary line dispute. Mr. Jones sold the Smiths two lots within a subdivision in Hardin County. It is undisputed that the Smiths bought Lots 87 and 88 on September 11, 2012. Several years later, Mr. Jones claimed that the Smiths had encroached on “Lot 89.” The Smiths insisted they occupied only the 80 linear feet purchased from Mr. Jones. When the parties were unable to come to a resolution, the Smiths filed suit in chancery court to quiet title to Lots 87 and 88, declare the lot numbers on the survey misnumbered, and prayed for damages for slander of title and attorney’s fees. Mr. Jones filed a counter-complaint to quiet title to “Lot 89,” for ejectment, conversion and/or civil theft, civil conspiracy, breach of contract, defamation, and punitive damages. After a bench trial, the trial court held that “Lot 89” did not exist, granted damages to the Smiths for slander of title, and dismissed Mr. Jones’s counter-complaint. We affirm the trial court’s holding that “Lot 89” does not exist and the dismissal of Mr. Jones’s counter-complaint. We vacate the court’s decision as to slander of title, reverse the grant of attorney’s fees as to damages, and remand to the trial court for proceedings consistent with this Opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Valerie L. Smith
Originating Judge:Chancellor Vicki Hodge Hoover |
Hardin County | Court of Appeals | 08/14/25 | |
In Re Gabby G.
M2024-00541-COA-R3-JV
he child’s mother, the child’s biological father, and the mother’s former husband who believed himself to be the child’s biological parent for the majority of her life. After the mother disclosed the child’s parentage to both men, the biological father filed a petition to be named the child’s parent and for a parenting plan to be established. The mother agreed with his petition in all respects. But the mother’s former husband soon intervened with a petition to be awarded stepparent visitation pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-303. Following the filing of the stepparent visitation petition, the mother and the biological father, who at this point had never had any unsupervised or overnight visitation with the child, executed an agreed parenting plan in which they would share joint custody and equal parenting time with the child, as well as waive child support. After a joint hearing on both petitions, the trial court adopted the mother and biological father’s proposed parenting plan, except that the former husband was granted stepparent visitation with the child every other weekend and over the summer holiday; the former husband’s weekend visitation only occurred during the time that the proposed plan would have allotted to the mother. The mother now appeals this decision. We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Judge Gerald L. Ewell, Jr. |
Franklin County | Court of Appeals | 08/13/25 | |
DORIAN JONES v. AUTOMATED BUILDING SYSTEMS INC. ET AL.
E2024-00383-COA-R3-CV
Appellant sued appellees alleging breach of contract, fraud, and property damage. The trial court granted separate default judgments against the two appellees. Appellees moved the trial court to set aside the default judgments due to a lack of personal jurisdiction and due to mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect. The trial court set aside the default judgments over the objections of appellant, and the case proceeded to a bench trial. The trial court involuntarily dismissed appellant’s complaint at the conclusion of his case-in-chief. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Chancellor John C. Rambo |
Washington County | Court of Appeals | 08/13/25 | |
Donald Bartsch, Jr. v. Premier Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, PLC
M2024-00971-COA-R3-CV
This is a health care liability case that centers around the application of the discovery rule. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss with prejudice after determining that the discovery rule did not toll the accrual of the statute of limitations to the time asserted by the plaintiff. The trial court based this determination on two independent bases. The first basis was predicated on certain information provided by the defendants, which was taken from the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website. The trial court took judicial notice of this information and determined that it indicated that a reasonable person would have been able to discover the identity of the defendant. The second basis, an express alternative finding, stated that even if the information was not considered, sufficient information existed in exhibits attached to the plaintiff’s complaint to support its determination. The plaintiff appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Carma Dennis McGee
Originating Judge:Judge Lynne T. Ingram |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 08/12/25 | |
Christopher O. Curry, Jr. v. State of Tennessee
W2024-01555-CCA-R3-PC
The Petitioner, Christopher O. Curry, Jr., pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and the trial court sentenced him to twelve years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. More than a year after his judgment became final, the Petitioner filed a pro se post-conviction petition, alleging he had received the ineffective assistance of counsel. After a hearing, the post-conviction court dismissed the petition as untimely. On appeal, the Petitioner asserts that due process requires tolling of the statute of limitations. After review, we affirm the post-conviction court’s dismissal of the petition.
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Joseph T. Howell |
Madison County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/12/25 | |
KELLY BROOKE MARTIN v. NGHIA TRONG VAN
E2024-01887-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises out of a divorce proceeding. The trial court granted appellee a divorce on the ground of inappropriate marital conduct by the appellant, divided the parties’ assets and debts, and entered a permanent parenting plan designating appellee as primary residential parent of the parties’ minor child, granting the parties equal co-parenting time, and providing appellee with sole decision-making authority with respect to the child. Appellant raises a number of issues on appeal; however, each of those issues has been waived due to appellant’s failure to comply with the relevant rules of briefing in this Court. Additionally, appellee argues that the trial court erred in awarding the parties equal co-parenting time and requests his attorney’s fees incurred on appeal pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 27-1-122. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. However, in the exercise of our discretion, we decline to find this appeal frivolous and further decline to award appellee his attorney’s fees and costs incurred on appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Chancellor Henry E. Sledge |
Loudon County | Court of Appeals | 08/12/25 | |
ANGELA LYDTIN ET AL. v. ADAM BLAKE CARRINGER
E2025-00064-COA-R3-CV
This appeal concerns the trial court’s dismissal of a petition for an order of protection filed by the appellant mother against the appellee father. We affirm the trial court’s dismissal of the order of protection.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Chancellor Jerri S. Bryant |
Bradley County | Court of Appeals | 08/12/25 | |
State of TEnnessee v. Robert Joseph Atkins
E2024-00320-CCA-R3-CD
A Knox County jury convicted the Defendant, Robert Joseph Atkins, of delivery of a
Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Steven Wayne Sword |
Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/11/25 | ||
Alexander Georg Warnatzsch v. Ashly Camille Warnatzsch
M2024-01298-COA-R3-CV
This appeal concerns the modification of a parenting plan. Alexander Georg Warnatzsch (“Father”) filed a petition against his ex-wife Ashly Camille Warnatzsch (“Mother”) in the Chancery Court for Rutherford County (“the Trial Court”) seeking to modify the parties’ parenting plan concerning their three minor children. Mother exercised most of the parenting time under the original plan. Following a hearing, the Trial Court found that Father had proven a material change in circumstances and that the residential parenting schedule should be modified. Mother remained primary residential parent, but Father was granted equal parenting time. Mother appeals, raising various issues implicating the Trial Court’s discretion. We find no reversible error. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Chief Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Judge Bonita Jo Atwood |
Rutherford County | Court of Appeals | 08/11/25 | |
State of Tennessee v. Craig Kitt
M2025-01116-CCA-R8-CO
The Defendant, Craig Kitt, has filed a motion seeking review of the trial court’s
Authoring Judge: Judge Jill Bartee Ayers; Presiding Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer; Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Deanna B. Johnson |
Williamson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/11/25 | |
State of Tennessee v. Desmond Johnson
W2024-01628-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Desmond Johnson, pled guilty in the Shelby County Criminal Court to aggravated assault, a Class C felony, in exchange for an agreed sentence of four years as a Range I offender, with the manner of service to be determined by the trial court. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant to supervised probation. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred by denying his request for judicial diversion. Because the Defendant failed to file a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (“TBI”) certificate of eligibility for judicial diversion with the trial court, we conclude that the trial court was precluded from considering the Defendant’s request for judicial diversion. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell
Originating Judge:Judge Carolyn W. Blackett |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/11/25 | |
State of Tennessee v. Joshua Terelle Gaines
M2022-01178-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Joshua Terelle Gaines, was convicted in the Davidson County Criminal Court of first degree felony murder, second degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony drug offense and received an effective sentence of life plus five years in confinement. On appeal, the Defendant claims that the trial court erred by redacting his psychological expert’s report and by limiting the expert’s testimony. Based upon our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. Campbell, Sr.
Originating Judge:Judge Steve R. Dozier |
Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/08/25 | |
Shirley Jean Cupples Blankenship v. Charles Gary Blankenship, Sr. and Charles Gary Blankenship, II v. Shirley Jean Cupples Blankenship
W2024-01248-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from the death of the husband during a divorce proceeding. While the divorce was pending, the spouses sold real property they owned as tenants by the entirety and deposited the proceeds with the clerk of the court pursuant to an agreed order. Subsequently, the husband died and the wife filed a motion to dismiss the case and to distribute the proceeds. The chancery court determined that the husband’s death abated the divorce proceedings and that the proceeds had been owned by the spouses as tenants by the entirety. Thus, the court granted the motion to dismiss and determined that the wife was entitled to distribution of the proceeds as the surviving tenant by the entirety. The spouses’ son, acting as administrator of the husband’s estate, appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Carma Dennis McGee
Originating Judge:Chancellor Michael Mansfield |
Gibson County | Court of Appeals | 08/08/25 | |
INDUSTRIAL BOILER & MECHANICAL CO., INC. v. TYLER ANDREW EVATT ET AL.
E2024-00952-COA-R3-CV
The plaintiff in this non-compete dispute raised several causes of action in the operative complaint but later filed a notice of voluntary nonsuit as to one of the claims within the suit. The defendants did not object at the time but nearly two years later filed a motion to dismiss the entire suit. The defendants asserted that Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 41.01 does not allow plaintiffs to dismiss one or more but fewer than all of the claims in a lawsuit. The trial court agreed and dismissed the plaintiff’s remaining claims without prejudice. The plaintiff appeals. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge Kristi M. Davis
Originating Judge:Chancellor Jeffrey M. Atherton |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 08/08/25 | |
Zachary Rye Adams v. State of Tennessee
W2025-00823-CCA-R9-PC
This matter is before the Court upon the application of the Petitioner, Zachary Rye Adams, for an interlocutory appeal pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Appellate Procedure 9. The Defendant seeks to challenge the post-conviction court’s order granting the State’s motion in limine to exclude a recorded post-trial statement of his codefendant, Jason Autry. The Petitioner argued that the trial court erroneously determined that the statement did not satisfy the statement against interest exception to the hearsay rule. See Tenn. R. Evid. 804(b)(3). The State has filed a response in opposition to the motion. Based on the following, we deny the Petitioner’s motion for an interlocutory appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge Matthew J. Wilson, Judge Camille R. McMullen, Judge J. Ross Dyer
Originating Judge:Judge J. Brent Bradberry |
Hardin County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/08/25 | |
State of Tennessee v. Christian Workman
W2024-01347-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Christian Workman, appeals from the revocation of his probation, arguing the trial court improperly revoked his probation based upon his failure to pay court costs and supervision fees. The State concedes error, and after review, we agree. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and dismiss the revocation warrant.
Authoring Judge: Judge Kyle A. Hixson
Originating Judge:Judge Bruce Irwin Griffey |
Carroll County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/08/25 | |
NONA G. ROGERS v. MICHAEL L. ROGERS
E2024-01486-COA-R3-CV
Following a divorce, a husband appeals the trial court’s classification of marital assets, division of marital assets, and alimony determination. Discerning no error, we affirm the trial court’s order. We grant the wife’s request for reasonable attorney fees on appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Chancellor Michael J. Dumitru |
Bradley County | Court of Appeals | 08/08/25 | |
IN RE DEZIRAY J., ET AL.
E2024-01553-COA-R3-PT
This is an appeal by a father of the termination of his parental rights to his daughter. The Juvenile Court for Sevier County (“the Juvenile Court”) terminated the father’s parental rights after finding by clear and convincing evidence that the conditions which led to his daughter’s removal persisted, that he had failed to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody of his daughter, and that termination of his parental rights was in his daughter’s best interest. The father appealed. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Chief Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Chancellor Keith Cole |
Sevier County | Court of Appeals | 08/08/25 | |
Antonio James v. State of Tennessee
W2025-00021-CCA-R3-PC
Petitioner, Antonio James, appeals the denial of his post-conviction petition, arguing that the post-conviction court erred in denying his claim that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel because the sufficiency of the evidence was not challenged on appeal. Following our review of the entire record, the briefs of the parties, and applicable law, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen |
Madison County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/07/25 | |
State of Tennessee v. Ivan Antjuan Burley
M2023-01604-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Ivan Antjuan Burley, appeals from his Sumner County conviction for attempted possession with the intent to sell or deliver twenty-six grams or more of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance. He contends that the trial court erred by admitting evidence of his contemporaneous drug-related activities in Davidson County in violation of Tennessee Rule of Evidence 404(b). Additionally, the Defendant raises several other constitutional and evidentiary claims. After review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Kyle A. Hixson
Originating Judge:Chancellor Louis W. Oliver, III |
Sumner County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 08/07/25 | |
Alexander C. Ricketts v. Ashlee N. Bennett
M2024-01689-COA-R3-JV
The trial court approved a parenting plan jointly proposed by an unmarried Mother and Father, who at the time were living together. Their relationship, subsequently, deteriorated, and each parent later sought modification of the existing plan. With some minor alterations, the trial court largely adopted Mother’s proposed parenting plan. Father appeals. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Jeffrey Usman
Originating Judge:Judge A. Ensley Hagan, Jr. |
Wilson County | Court of Appeals | 08/07/25 |