APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Sneed (Ford) vs. Sneed

01A01-9612-CH-00542

Originating Judge:William B. Cain
Maury County Court of Appeals 06/25/92
02C01-9508-CR-00222

02C01-9508-CR-00222
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/24/92
State vs. Audrey Black

E1999-01391-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/23/92
DeShayne Neal v. Jerry Neal

M2003-02703-COA-R3-CV
This is an appeal from the chancery court order refusing to modify the parties' divorce decree and permanent parenting plan. Mother filed a Petition to Modify, and Father filed an Answer and Counter Petition also requesting modification. The Chancellor dismissed both the Petition and Counter Petition finding that there had not been sufficient change in circumstances since the initial entry of the divorce decree to justify modification. Upon review of the Permanent Parenting Plan and Final Decree of the Chancery Court, we find that this Permanent Parenting Plan and the judge's approval of such plan do not meet the requirements of Tennessee law. As such, the Permanent Parenting Plan is vacated, and the case is remanded to the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Gerald L. Ewell, Sr.
Fentress County Court of Appeals 01/31/92
Eddie Dobbins vs. George Dobbins

02A01-9710-PB-00246

Originating Judge:Donn Southern
Shelby County Court of Appeals 01/28/92
State vs. Frederick Sledge

W2001-02402-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant was convicted of first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery and was originally sentenced to death and twenty years, respectively. The trial court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively. On appeal, this court affirmed both convictions but reversed the death sentence and remanded it for resentencing. On remand, the defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment after a new sentencing hearing. The life sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to the original twenty-year sentence for especially aggravated robbery. The only issue raised on this appeal is whether, on remand, the trial court erred by not reconsidering the issue of consecutive sentencing when resentencing the defendant for the murder conviction. We affirm the sentence as imposed on remand by the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:James C. Beasley, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 12/10/91
State vs. Frederick Sledge

W2001-02402-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant was convicted of first degree murder and especially aggravated robbery and was originally sentenced to death and twenty years, respectively. The trial court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively. On appeal, this court affirmed both convictions but reversed the death sentence and remanded it for resentencing. On remand, the defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment after a new sentencing hearing. The life sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to the original twenty-year sentence for especially aggravated robbery. The only issue raised on this appeal is whether, on remand, the trial court erred by not reconsidering the issue of consecutive sentencing when resentencing the defendant for the murder conviction. We affirm the sentence as imposed on remand by the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:James C. Beasley, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 12/10/91
Traci Sorrells vs. Donald Lee Sorrells

E1999-01658-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:C. Van Deacon
Bradley County Court of Appeals 11/15/91
State of Tennessee v. Robert Lee Smartt

M2005-00176-CCA-R3-CO
Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:John W. Rollins
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/21/91
01A01-9510-CV-00454

01A01-9510-CV-00454

Originating Judge:Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 06/28/91
Tamco Supply, et al vs. Tom Pollard, et al

W1999-01725-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Lee Moore
Dyer County Court of Appeals 03/29/91
Kline vs. Kline

03A01-9706-CV-00240
Court of Appeals 03/12/91
02A01-9411-CV-00265

02A01-9411-CV-00265

Originating Judge:Wyeth Chandler
Shelby County Court of Appeals 09/15/90
Diana Morris v. State

M1999-02714-COA-RM-CV
This appeal involves a dispute between the State of Tennessee and a former employee of the Department of Correction arising out of a work-related injury. After the Department discharged her for failing to return to work, the employee filed a retaliatory discharge claim with the Tennessee Claims Commission asserting that she had actually been fired because she had filed a workers' compensation claim. The Tennessee Court of Appeals determined that the Commission lacked subject matter jurisdiction over retaliatory discharge claims and vacated the Commission's $300,000 award to the employee. While the employee's appeal was pending before the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Tennessee General Assembly retroactively broadened the Commission's jurisdiction to include retaliatory discharge claims. The Tennessee Supreme Court reversed this court's decision and remanded the case to this court for further consideration. We have determined that the Tennessee General Assembly may enact retroactive laws waiving the State's sovereign immunity with regard to past events, and we accede to the Tennessee Supreme Court's decision in this case that the General Assembly validated the results of this proceeding. We also have concluded that the Commission had authority to award front pay damages. Accordingly, we affirm the Commission's award.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Court of Appeals 08/24/90
Cecil Ayers vs. Minda Ayers

W1999-01261-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Shelby County Court of Appeals 07/31/90
Tony Blan D v. State of Tennessee

W2002-01784-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Carolyn Wade Blackett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/19/90
Tony Bland v. State of Tennessee

W2002-01784-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Carolyn Wade Blackett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 06/19/90
Arthur Ray Lepley

01C01-9903-CR-00084
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/27/90
Lorri Bailey (Capps) vs. David Capps

M1999-02300-COA-R3-CV
This child custody case has already been the subject of one appeal before this Court. The father was awarded sole custody of the parties' only child, with the mother receiving liberal visitation rights. The mother petitioned for a change of custody. The trial court found that there was no material change in circumstances sufficient to warrant an award of sole custody to the mother. However, the original custody order was modified to provide that the parties had joint custody, with the father being the "primary residential custodian." The trial court also ordered that the mother was no longer required to pay child support and that the mother owed no arrearage in child support. The father appeals. We affirm in part and reverse in part, affirming the order of joint custody and the order that the mother is not required to pay child support, but we reverse on the issue of the mother's child support arrearage.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Originating Judge:Clara W. Byrd
Wilson County Court of Appeals 04/27/90
Joe Utley vs. State of Tennessee

01C01-9709-CR-00428

The appellant, Joe L. Utley, appeals as of right from a judgment of the Davidson County Criminal Court denying his petition for post-conviction relief. The petitioner alleges that trial and appellate counsel rendered ineffective assistance in several areas. After a through review of the record, we REMAND to the trial court with instructions to enter a findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Authoring Judge: Senior Judge L. T. Lafferty
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 12/08/88
In Re: Estate of Warren Glenn Brown, Candice Mathis, v. Joe Brown

01A01-9809-PB-00471

In this case, the decedent’s grand niece, Candice Mathis, the petitioner, appeals the trial court’s finding that she failed to establish, by clear and convincing evidence the lost or destroyed will of her grand uncle, Warren Brown. The trial court ordered that the administration of the estate proceed as an intestate estate. For the following reasons, we reverse.

Authoring Judge: Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Judge Andrew Jackson
Dickson County Court of Appeals 10/07/88
Pruett Enterprises, Inc., v. The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance, Co.

03A01-9609-CH-00309

This non-jury case involves the interpretation of a commercial insurance policy (“the policy”) issued by The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company (Hartford) to Pruett Enterprises, Inc. (Pruett). Pruett, the owner and operator of a chain of grocery stores in Hamilton County, sued Hartford under the policy for “spoilage losses to various perishable items [caused] when electrical power to [two of Pruett’s] grocery stores was interrupted as a result of a heavy snow blizzard [on or about March 13, 1993].” Each of the parties filed a motion for summary judgment. Based upon the parties’ stipulation of facts, the trial court granted Hartford partial summary judgment, finding that the loss at 6925 Middle Valley Road, Hixson (“Middle Valley Store”) was not covered by the policy. As to the loss at Pruett’s store at 3936 Ringgold Road, East Ridge (“Ringgold Road Store”), the trial court found a genuine issue of fact and denied Hartford’s motion.

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Howard N. Peoples
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 08/17/04
Kim Williams v. The Lewis Preservation Trust

E2023-00085-COA-R3-CV

This is a negligent misrepresentation action in which the plaintiff filed suit against the
attorney responsible for transferring her mother’s assets into an irrevocable trust. The
plaintiff alleged that she approved the transfer because she was erroneously advised that
the terms of the irrevocable trust would require distribution upon her mother’s passing.
The trial court granted summary judgment dismissal in favor of the defendant attorney.
We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Chancellor Melissa Thomas Willis
Rhea County Court of Appeals 12/12/23
Kris Young v .State of Tennessee

E2022-00235-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner, Kris Young, appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief,
which petition challenged his convictions of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery,
and aggravated burglary, alleging that the trial court erred in the jury instructions, that the
evidence was insufficient to support the aggravated kidnapping conviction, that the
kidnapping statutes are unconstitutionally vague, that his aggravated kidnapping
conviction violates the principles of double jeopardy, and that trial and appellate counsel
performed deficiently. Discerning no error, we affirm the denial of post-conviction relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge G. Scott Green
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/03/23
Gary Charles Hill v. Insurance Company of North America

03S01-9712-CH-00150
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. The trial court awarded the employee, Gary Charles Hill, 1% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. The insurance carrier, Insurance Company of North America, has appealed contending the evidence does not support a finding of permanent disability. Employee Hill was 41 years of age at the time of the incident in question and was a high school graduate. A great deal of his work experience has been as a painter but he has operated construction equipment and worked as a carpenter. He had been employed by Raytheon since 1994 and was doing industrial painting on about February 16, 1995. He testified he was operating a grinder under a large- like air compressor when he felt a pull in a muscle. When this pain occurred he was lying down in a somewhat twisted position and was working over his head. He reported the incident to his employer and was given a list of three physicians. He chose Dr. Lester F. Littell and saw him on March 2, 1995. Dr. Littell told him he had a pinched nerve and would probably need surgery. Hoping to avoid surgery, he went to see a private physician, Dr. Ernest Forsten. Dr. Forsten scheduled an M.R.I. examination and later referred him to Dr. Larry Gibson, a neurologist. Plaintiff continued to work with his complaints and was terminated from employment on August 22, 1995. His employer told him the termination was due to his "arrest record." At the trial he told the court the accident caused neck pain and numbness in some of his fingers and thumb. He said he felt his recovery was about 75% back to normal status but he was still having pain in the back of his shoulder and down his left arm. He said he could not return to industrial painting work but he had worked at small painting jobs such as painting bedrooms, porches, fences, etc. All of the expert medical testimony was presented by deposition. Dr. Larry Gibson testified plaintiff had damage or a pinching of his 6th and 7th nerve with subsequent weakness in the left triceps. He stated a nerve conduction study confirmed the diagnosis. Testing also revealed a bulging disc which was due 2
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Jeffrey F. Stewart,
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 02/16/11