COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

Thomas Dyer v. TDOC
M2001-01446-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: William C. Koch

Mark Percy v. Dept of Correction
M2001-01629-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle
This appeal involves a dispute between a multiple rapist and the Tennessee Department of Correction regarding the prisoner's sentence expiration date. The prisoner filed a petition for a declaratory order in the Chancery Court for Davidson County asserting that the Department had misclassified him and that he was eligible to be released because his sentence had expired. The Department responded with a motion for summary judgment supported by an affidavit of a sentencing technician asserting that the prisoner had been correctly classified and that his sentence had not expired. The trial court granted the summary judgment and dismissed the petition. We find that the trial court reached the correct result, and, therefore, we affirm the judgment dismissing the prisoner's petition.

Jeffrey Haithcote v. Donal Campbell
M2001-01828-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Carol L. Mccoy
A prisoner convicted of numerous crimes filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgment, arguing that the Department of Correction had erred in its calculation of his sentence expiration date, and that he was entitled to be released. The Department stood by the correctness of its calculations. The petitioner's sentence expired during the course of the proceedings, and he was released. The trial court then dismissed the petition as moot. We affirm.

Estate of Theresa Cunningham
M2001-01965-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Floyd Don Davis
The plaintiff filed a claim against the estate of the deceased more than eighteen months after the first publication of notice to creditors and twenty months after her death. The trial court granted him a judgment against the estate for the full amount of his claim. We reverse.

William Steele v. Richard Berkman
M2001-02250-COA-R10-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
This appeal arises from a medical malpractice complaint filed by the Appellees in the Circuit Court of Davidson County against the Appellant, six other doctors, and two hospitals. The Appellant filed a motion for summary judgment. The trial court denied the Appellant's motion for summary judgment. The Appellant filed an application for extraordinary appeal with this Court pursuant to Rule 10 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. This Court granted the application for extraordinary appeal. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the trial court's denial of summary judgment against the Appellant.

Mark Tinsley v. Suzanne Tinsley
M2001-02319-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Trial Court Judge: Robert E. Burch
Mother sought modification of child support and a judgment against Father for contempt in the form of retroactive child support due to his failure to supply her with a yearly statement of his income as required by the final divorce decree. The trial court ordered a modification of the prospective child support, determining the amount of the obligation by averaging Father's fluctuating income for the three years prior to the hearing and awarded Mother a $54,192.00 judgment for retroactive child support during the five years that Father failed to provide his income statements to Mother. Because the trial court correctly calculated the prospective child support obligation, we affirm the amount of Father's monthly obligation in the amount of $1,300.00 from the date the petition was filed. However, because the trial court has no authority to award retroactive child support modification, we vacate the $54,192.00 judgment for retroactive child support. We remand the case for further proceedings to set reasonable attorney fees.

Omawali Shabazz, aka Fred Edmond Dean vs. Greeley Wells
E2001-02315-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: R. Jerry Beck
In this suit, wherein Omawali Ashanti Shabazz, a/k/a, Fred Edmond Dean, seeks to acquire certain materials held in the office of the District Attorney General. The Trial Court denied the relief he sought because, under Tenn.R.Crim. P. 16, he was not entitled to the material while a post-conviction proceeding was pending. We affirm.

Omawali Shabazz, aka Fred Edmond Dean vs. Greeley Wells
E2001-02315-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Trial Court Judge: R. Jerry Beck
In this suit, wherein Omawali Ashanti Shabazz, a/k/a, Fred Edmond Dean, seeks to acquire certain materials held in the office of the District Attorney General. The Trial Court denied the relief he sought because, under Tenn.R.Crim. P. 16, he was not entitled to the material while a post-conviction proceeding was pending. We affirm.

Joyce Howell vs. Phillip Howell
W2001-01167-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Joe C. Morris

Joyce Howell vs. Phillip Howell
W2001-01167-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Joe C. Morris

Don Long vs. Ralph & Edna Langley
W2001-01490-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Acree
Trial Court Judge: George R. Ellis
This a lawsuit between the two stockholders of Gene Langley Ford, Inc., an automobile dealership. The issues involve the percentage of ownership owned by the two stockholders and whether the defendant paid himself an excessive salary for managing the business. The Chancellor held that the plaintiff owns forty-nine (49%) of the stock and the defendant owns fifty-one percent (51%). He further held that the defendant's salary was not excessive. We reverse the Chancellor's decision regarding the ownership of the stock and hold that each party owns fifty percent (50%). We affirm the Chancellor's decision that the defendant's salary was reasonable.

Alfred/Florence Garionis vs. Andre Pride & Charles Holland
W2001-01682-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Acree
Trial Court Judge: Robert L. Childers
The plaintiffs filed a suit for personal injuries arising out of an automobile accident. Through their attorney, they reached a settlement of their claims. Thereafter, they sought to set aside the settlement upon the grounds that they had not authorized their attorney to accept the defendants' offer. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court found that the plaintiffs had authorized their attorney to settle the case and entered an order enforcing the settlement. We hold that the findings of the trial court are supported by a preponderance of the evidence and affirm the lower court.

Shelia Bland vs. Jerry Bland
W2001-01705-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Joe C. Morris
Husband appeals from a final decree of divorce as to the amount of alimony awarded and the award of attorney fees. We affirm and modify.

Eagle Vision vs. Odyssey Medical
W2001-01772-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: D. J. Alissandratos
This is an action for misappropriation of trade secrets in which the manufacturer of a surgical product allegedly misappropriated the product design and marketed a competing product after the developer discontinued its relationship with manufacturer. Trial court granted summary judgment in favor of manufacturer on all claims. We reverse and remand.

State/Mae Clark vs. Charles Clark
W2001-01896-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Clayburn L. Peeples
This appeal involves an obligor parent's failure to comply with court ordered child support obligations. The State of Tennessee, on behalf of a custodial parent, sought to reduce arrearage in the obligations to judgment. The State was successful and the custodial parent was awarded $14,000.00 in arrearage. The obligor parent appealed and, for the following reasons, we affirm the lower court's decision.

David Schwab v. David Miller
M2001-00932-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: R.E. Lee Davies
The Chancery Court of Williamson County held that in order to claim a major benefit of an employment contract the employee had to be employed when the other contingencies in the contract were met. We affirm the lower court's interpretation.

ANR Pipeline Co., Colonial Pipeline Co., Columbia Gulf Transmission Co., et al. v. TN Board of Equalization
M2001-01098-COA-R12-CV
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Pipelines for the transport of petroleum products were installed sub-surface by various companies which acquired easements over affected freeholds. These pipelines were assessed as real estate for purposes of taxation. Petitions for Review were filed by the Pipeline Companies alleging that the pipelines were personal property. The decision of the Board of Equalization is reversed.

Marilyn Yount v. Bruce Yount
M2001-01335-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Carol A. Catalano
The trial court granted a divorce to the wife, and awarded her alimony in futuro of $2,000 per month. The husband argues on appeal that the wife does not need any alimony, and that he himself does not have the ability to pay the alimony. The proof shows that he does indeed have the ability to pay, but that the wife's needs are more appropriately served by an award of rehabilitative alimony. We modify the alimony award accordingly.

Trent Marcus vs. Lorraine Marcus
W2001-00906-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: George H. Brown
This case involves a petition to enroll a foreign judgment. The parties were married in Tennessee and later moved to North Carolina. While living in North Carolina, the parties separated and the husband filed for divorce in North Carolina. The wife filed a counterclaim for divorce in North Carolina, seeking permanent and pendente lite alimony. The North Carolina court ordered the husband to pay pendente lite alimony. While the North Carolina proceedings were pending, husband moved to Arkansas and obtained a divorce in Arkansas. In light of the Arkansas divorce, the wife filed a voluntary dismissal of her North Carolina counterclaim. The husband then filed a motion in North Carolina under a North Carolina statute, seeking reimbursement of the pendente lite alimony he had paid to the wife. The North Carolina court entered a judgment ordering the wife to reimburse the husband for the alimony payments. The wife did not file an appeal in North Carolina. The husband then filed a petition to enroll the North Carolina judgment in Tennessee. The Tennessee trial court enrolled the North Carolina judgment. The wife now appeals. We affirm, finding that the North Carolina court had subject matter jurisdiction under its statutes to enter the judgment and that the North Carolina judgment was not contrary to Tennessee public policy.

Mechanic's Laundry vs. Auto Glass
W2001-01113-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: George H. Brown
In this breach of contract case, defendant corporation denies liability under the contract because defendant's employee who signed the contract, ostensibly on behalf of the corporation, had no authority to do so. Plaintiff contends that the person signing the contract had apparent authority to act for the corporation. The trial court granted summary judgment to the plaintiff. Defendant appeals. We vacate, render, and remand.

Judith Steele vs. Columbia Health Care
W2001-01692-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: William B. Acree
This is a medical malpractice case. Plaintiff's husband, Mr. Steele, arrived at Defendant's emergency room complaining of chest pains. An EKG illustrated that he was suffering a heart attack. Mr. Steele underwent subsequent treatments and an additional EKG. The second EKG was abnormal, and Dr. Urankar, a physician at Defendant's emergency room decided to administer tPA, a "clot busting" drug. While Dr. Urankar was preparing to administer the tPA, Mr. Steele's condition significantly worsened, and he eventually died. At trial, Plaintiff introduced expert testimony from Dr. Carr regarding the applicable standard of care and causation. Defendant objected to portions of Dr. Carr's testimony. The jury awarded Plaintiff damages, and Defendant appeals, citing error in Dr. Carr's testimony. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

Lorenzo Childress Jr. vs. Union Realty
W2001-01742-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: George H. Brown
Plaintiff lessee in this case sued defendant landlord for damages associated with loss of personal property, interruption of business, and lost profits which resulted from the collapse of a roof and flooding of plaintiff's leased medical offices. The jury awarded plaintiff $168,000.00 in damages. Defendant appeals, arguing that this is, in effect, a subrogation suit by plaintiff's insurance carrier. We find no evidence that this is a subrogation suit and affirm judgment for plaintiff.

Anthony Doty vs. Patrick Whalen
W2001-01854-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Dewey C. Whitenton
Petitioner-inmate filed a petition for writ of mandamus to require the defendants, prison warden and other officials, to restore visitation privileges of the plaintiff's girlfriend and to expunge from the prison records all references to the revocation of the visitation privileges and to the alleged sexual misconduct that precipitated the revocation. After a nonjury trial, the trial court entered an order of dismissal. Plaintiff has appealed. We affirm as modified and remand for further proceedings.

Dept. of Children Serv. vs. Davina Frazier
W2001-01935-COA-R3-JV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Christy R. Little
Minor child was removed from mother's custody because mother neglected to provide child with proper medical care and treatment. Mother entered into a permanency plan and child was temporarily placed with a family member. The trial court terminated mother's parental rights to the child, finding clear and convincing evidence that: (1) mother had not substantially complied with the conditions of the permanency plan; (2) there was little likelihood that the conditions leading to child's removal would be remedied in the near future, and that the continuation of the parent-child relationship would greatly diminish the child's chances of early integration into a safe, stable and permanent home. Mother has appealed. We affirm

Margaret Parker vs. Kroger Co.
W2001-01977-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: James F. Russell
Plaintiff, a Tennessee resident, slipped and fell in a Kroger store in Texas. Plaintiff sued defendant in Shelby County Circuit Court, and the parties agreed that Texas law was applicable. The trial court granted summary judgment for defendant, and plaintiff appeals. We reverse and remand.