COURT OF APPEALS OPINIONS

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

Court of Appeals

Sherry Denise Thearp Ervin, v. Dale Edward Ervin
02A01-9605-CH-00097
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Dewey C. Whitenton

This is an appeal from a Final Decree of Divorce entered January 5, 1996. Plaintiff, Sherry Denise Thearp Ervin (Wife), appeals from the order of the trial court granting her an absolute divorce from the defendant, Dale Edward Ervin (Husband). 1 In her first issue, Wife argues that the trial court should have awarded her the parties’ ski boat. We will consider this assertion with the second issue. 2 Wife appeals the trial court’s decision concerning the division of the marital property, the amount of child support, and the denial of an award of attorneys’ fees.

Hardeman Court of Appeals

01A01-9605-CH-00218
01A01-9605-CH-00218
Trial Court Judge: Samuel L. Lewis

Court of Appeals

P. 54.04(2); See Lock v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., 809 S.W.2D 483, 490 (Tenn.
01A01-9606-CV-00251

Davidson Court of Appeals

Driber vs. Physicians Health Care
01A01-9607-CH-00310
Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle

Davidson Court of Appeals

James P. Mitchell, v. James Davenport, Commissioner of the Departmentof Employment Security of the State of Tennessee, Noma Outdoor Products, Inc.
02A01-9510-CH-00230
Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Joe C. Morris

In this unemployment compensation case, James Mitchell (“Mitchell”) filed a claim 2 for unemployment compensation with the Tennessee Department of Employment Security (“TDES”). TDES approved Mitchell’s claim, and Mitchell’s employer, NOMA Outdoor Products, Inc. (“NOMA”), appealed TDES’ claim approval. On appeal, the Appeals Tribunal ruled that Mitchell was not eligible for unemployment benefits pursuant to T.C.A. § 50-7-303(a)(2) due to work-connected misconduct and declared that the $1,190.00 in unemployment benefits that Mitchell had previously received was an overpayment. Mitchell thereafter requested that TDES waive his $1,190.00 overpayment pursuant to T.C.A. § 50-7-303(d)(2). The Appeals Tribunal denied Mitchell’s request for a waiver of the overpayment, and Mitchell appealed the decision of the Appeals Tribunal to the Board of Review. The Board of Review adopted the findings of fact and decision of the Appeals Tribunal and denied Mitchell’s request for a waiver of the overpayment. Mitchell thereafter filed a petition to rehear which was denied by the Board of Review. Pursuant to T.C.A. § 50-7-304(i), Mitchell filed a petition for certiorari in chancery court seeking judicial review of the Board’s decision. The chancery court dismissed Mitchell’s petition for certiorari and affirmed the decision of the Board of Review, denying Mitchell’s request for a waiver of the overpayment. Mitchell appeals from the order of the chancery court arguing that the chancery court erred in admitting additional evidence and erred in not vacating or setting aside the decision of the Board of Review. For the reasons stated hereafter, we affirm the judgment of the chancery court.
 

Madison Court of Appeals

William Thomas Winchester, v. Glenda Rachelle Winchester
02A01-9604-CH-00092
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly Kirby Lillard
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Joe C. Morris

This is a child custody case. The trial court awarded Appellant William Thomas Winchester (“Husband”) and Appellee Glenda Rachelle Winchester (“Wife”) joint custody of the minor child of the marriage, which both parties appeal. We vacate the trial court’s award of joint custody and remand the case to the trial court to conduct further findings of fact concerning each party’s comparative fitness and to award custody to either Husband or Wife.

Chester Court of Appeals

Johnny Glenn Hilliard v. Misty Lynn Hilliard and Terry Minton - Concurring
02A01-9609-CH-00230
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor William Michael Maloan

Johnny Glenn Hilliard (Father) appeals from the order of the trial court granting visitation rights to his son’s maternal grandmother. Father and Misty Lynn Hilliard (now Schrems) (Mother) married in 1992. Alexander Glenn Hilliard (Alex) was born in May 1993. The parents divorced in January, 1995 and temporary custody1 was awarded to Terry Minton, the maternal grandmother. At that time, Mother was living with her mother, Terry Minton. Mother currently resides in Florida with her present husband.

Weakley Court of Appeals

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

Court of Appeals

Jonthan Hyler v. Charles Traughber, Chairman Tennessee Board of Paroles, et al.
01A01-9610-CH-00482
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.

The captioned petitioner has appealed from the judgment of the Trial Court dismissing his petition for certiorari from the action of the Board of Paroles denying hisapplication for parole from the custody of the Department of Correction.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Michael Kindall v. Jim H. Rose - Concurring
01A01-9610-CH-00495
Authoring Judge: Judge Henry F. Todd
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jim T. Hamilton

The captioned petitioner, an inmate of an institution operated by a private contractor for the Tennessee Department of Correction, has appealed from the summary dismissal of his petition for certiorari for review of disciplinary actions of the defendants.

Wayne Court of Appeals

Tina R. Guffey vs. Wenco of Shelbyville, Inc., d/b/a Wendy's Restaurant - Concurring
01A01-9609-CV-00400
Authoring Judge: Judge Henry F. Todd
Trial Court Judge: Judge Lee Russell

This is a “slip and fall case” in which the jury awarded $173,250, and the defendant appealed.

Bedford Court of Appeals

Joe Larry Turnbo vs. Brenda Jane (Thompson) Turnbo
01A01-9307-CH-00314
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Henry F. Todd

The defendant/appellee has filed a respectful petition to rehear. It appears that a rehearing is appropriate, and same is hereby granted.

Court of Appeals

City Bank & Trust Company and B. Timothy Pirtle, v. Dave Allen Webb and Debbie Lynn Webb
01A01-9605-CH-00198
Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor John W. Rollins

This is an appeal by defendants Dave Allen Webb and wife Debbie Lynn Webb, from the trial court's judgment setting aside a foreclosure sale and, in effect, putting the parties in the same position they were in before the foreclosure.

Warren Court of Appeals

Nathan Jack Toler, a minor child, B/N/F Shirley Lack and Shirley Lack next of kin and as Administratrix of the Estate of Nathan Jack Toler, Jr., v. City of Cookeville, D/B/A Cookeville General Hospital, et al.
01A01-9605-CV-00225
Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Trial Court Judge: Judge John A. Turnbull

Appellee, Dr. Mark Giese, is one of several defendants involved in a medical malpractice suit arising out of the alleged wrongful death of Nathan Jackson Toler, Jr. The trial court entered an interlocutory order granting summary judgment to Dr. Giese based upon the plaintiffs' failure to properly secure service of process on him. Pursuant to Tenn. R. App. P. 9, Plaintiffs have appealed. We have determined that the trial court was correct and therefore affirm the grant of summary judgment.

Putnam Court of Appeals

James Fletcher and Ronald Lanier Fletcher v. Kenneth Sterlin Vasser
01A01-9606-CH-00252
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Judge Gerald L. Ewell, Sr.

The holder of an easement across his neighbor’s property sought to replace two gates with cattle guards. The Chancery Court of Coffee County denied the request. We affirm.

Coffee Court of Appeals

Vickie Elaine Spiegel, v. Jeremy Percy Julian Spiegel
01A01-9607-CH-00294
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Robert E. Corlew, III

The issues on appeal in this divorce case include the restrictions put on the father’s visits with his minor daughter and the award of attorneys fees to the mother. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

 

Rutherford Court of Appeals

Barbara Gatlin, v. State of Tennessee, Department of Human Services, In the Matter of Felicia Gatlin, a child under the age of 18
01A01-9607-JV-00311
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Judge Andrew J. Shookhoff

The Juvenile Court of Davidson County terminated Barbara Gatlin’s parental rights respecting her ten year old daughter, Felicia. Because we find that the record does not contain clear and convincing evidence of abandonment, we reverse.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Mavis A. Combs, v. The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, and the Civil Service Commission
01A01-9608-CH-00385
Authoring Judge: Judge Samuel L. Lewis
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle

This is an appeal by petitioner/appellant, Mavis A. Combs, from the decision of the Davidson County Chancery Court upholding the decision of respondent/appellee, the Metropolitan Civil Service Commission (“the Commission”), to deny Ms. Combs in-line-of-duty injury leave. The facts out of which this matter arose are as follows.

Davidson Court of Appeals

Mohammad Al-Haddad v. Walter Ritter and Wife, Helma Ritter
01A01-9608-CV-00369
Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Trial Court Judge: Judge Donald P. Harris

Pursuant to Rule 11, Tenn. R. Civ. P., the trial court sanctioned the appellants and their attorneys. The appellants argue on appeal that they cannot be sanctioned under Rule 11 because they did not sign the offending pleading and that the facts do not establish a violation of the rule. We hold that a party may be sanctioned under Rule 11 without actually signing the pleadings, but we find that the facts of this case do not justify a Rule 11 sanction and that the proof fails to show any expenses incurred as a result of the alleged violation. Therefore we reverse the judgment against the appellants for sanctions.

Williamson Court of Appeals

Amanda Carol Croslin and Phyllis Croslin Baker, v. Danny Keith Croslin, wife Betty Jean Croslin and Stanley Gardner Haskins
01A01-9607-CV-00297
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Trial Court Judge: Judge John A. Turnbull

This is an adoption case. Petitioners, Amanda Croslin and Phyllis Croslin Baker, the adoptive child’s mother and maternal grandmother respectively, filed a petition to set aside the adoption of the child, Danna Elisabeth Croslin, by the maternal grandfather, Danny Keith Croslin, and his wife, Betty Jean Croslin. Also named as a defendant in the petition is Stanley Gardner Haskins, the adoptive child’s natural father. From the order of the trial court nullifying and setting aside the adoption, Danny Keith Croslin has appealed. Mr. Haskins did not file any pleading in the trial court and is not a party to this appeal.

Smith Court of Appeals

Aetna Insurance Company and Church of God of Prophecy, v. Little Giant Mfg. Co., Inc. and Edwin L. Wiegand Division of Emerson Electric Company
03A01-9601-CV-00024
Trial Court Judge: Senior Judge William H. Inman

This complaint was filed by the Church of God of Prophecy against the Little Giant Mfg. Co. and Kick-Shaw, Inc., alleging that its property was destroyed by fire caused by a defective water heater manufactured by Little Giant and sold to the plaintiff by Kick-Shaw, Inc. Various defenses were interposed by the defendants, none of which is relevant to the issue before us. Thereafter, the complaint was repeatedly amended; new parties came and went; and, in its present posture, the plaintiffs are Aetna Insurance Company and Church of God of Prophecy and the defendants are Little Giant Mfg. Co., Inc. and Emerson Electric Company.

Court of Appeals

State of Tennessee, Department of Human Services v. Charlene Avery Fountain
03A01-9601-JV-00021
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam

This appeal came on to be heard upon the record from the Juvenile Court of Knox County and briefs filed on behalf of the respective parties. Upon consideration thereof, this court is of the opinion that there is no reversible error in the trial court’s judgment.

Knox Court of Appeals

Erma Hardesty and Jim Hardesty v. Service Merchandise Company, Inc.
02A01-9510-CV-00235
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert A. Lanier

This appeal is taken from the trial court’s order of June 7, 1995, granting summary judgment in favor of Defendant Service Merchandise Company, Inc. (hereinafter, “Service Merchandise”). Specifically, the trial court found that there was no proof of a dangerous condition created by Service Merchandise and no proof that Service Merchandise had either actual or constructive notice that a dangerous condition existed. Upon consideration of the record before us, the trial court’s order is affirmed.

Shelby Court of Appeals

Erma Hardesty and Jim Hardesty, v. Service Merchandise Company, Inc.
02A01-9510-CV-00235
Authoring Judge: Judge Paul G. Summers

The majority holds that the plaintiff cannot establish constructive notice. I am constrained to agree. However, I invite our Supreme Court to revisit this area of law.

Court of Appeals