APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Shirley Pegues vs. Lester Graves

W2000-02831-COA-R3-CV
Plaintiffs, husband and wife, sued physician when wife became pregnant after physician had performed a pregnancy avoidance procedure and allegedly guaranteed the results thereof. Defendant moved for a directed verdict which the trial court granted, but plaintiffs contend that it was granted after plaintiffs took a nonsuit. Plaintiffs appeal. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Kay S. Robilio
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
Lisa Heath vs. Memphis Radiology

W2000-02770-COA-R3-CV
This is a medical malpractice case. Plaintiff sued physician, radiological group and hospital, alleging failure to discover and diagnose her malady resulting in permanent physical impairment. The trial court entered judgment for the defendants on a jury verdict, and plaintiff appealed asserting evidentiary errors and the failure of the trial judge to perform his duty as the thirteenth juror. We affirm
Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Robert L. Childers
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
Laquita Ailsworth vs. Autozone

W2000-03024-COA-R3-CV
This appeal arises from the fall of the Appellant outside the Appellee store. The Appellant filed a complaint against the Appellees in the Circuit Court of Shelby County alleging that her injuries were proximately caused by the Appellees' negligence in allowing an icy condition to exist on the walkway in front of the store. The Appellees filed motions for summary judgment. The trial court granted the Appellees' motions for summary judgment. The Appellant appeals the grant of summary judgment in favor of the Appellees by the Circuit Court of Shelby County. For the reasons stated herein, we reverse the trial court's decision.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Originating Judge:Robert A. Lanier
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
Direct Insurance Co. vs. George Brown

E2001-00412-COA-R3-CV
Trial Court declared coverage under policy issued by plaintiff to defendant for a motor vehicle accident, holding the vehicle operated by defendant was a replacement vehicle. On appeal, we reverse.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Richard E. Ladd
Sullivan County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
Martha Mcelroy v. Norma Sharp And Victoria L. Sharp

E2000-02708-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Dale C. Workman
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
Alfred Earl Vincent vs. Cheryl Lynn Vincent

E2000-02529-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case, the Trial Court awarded custody of the minor child to father and divided the parties' marital assets. The wife appealed and we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Frank V. Williams, III
Morgan County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
Roy Shanks vs. Hazel Albert

E2001-00066-COA-R3-CV
Roy Michael Shanks appeals dismissal of his suit seeking to overturn a determination of the Board of Review that he was not entitled to unemployment compensation because of misconduct. We concur in the determination of the Chancellor and affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Thomas R. Frierson, II
Hamblen County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
State of Tennessee v. Darlene Renee Blackhurst

E2000-01864-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Darlene Renee Blackhurst, pled guilty to second offense driving under the influence of an intoxicant ("DUI"), leaving the scene of an accident involving injury, and three counts of reckless aggravated assault. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court imposed an effective sentence of three years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days, to be served on intensive probation following a mandatory period of 45 days in confinement for the DUI second offense. In this appeal, the State contends that the trial court erred when it placed Defendant on full probation because the trial court failed to properly consider the victim's testimony during the sentencing hearing. Our de novo review reveals that the trial court did err in its application of the law concerning victims' statements and in granting probation for the full time remaining in Defendant's sentence following confinement. However, our conclusion regarding the impropriety of probation is based on sentencing considerations other than the testimony of the victim. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court's judgment regarding the manner of service of Defendant's sentence and remand this matter to the trial court to determine whether Defendant should be incarcerated for the full term of her sentence or, in the alternative, serve the balance of her sentence in split confinement.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/30/01
James Nelson s. Victoria Nelson

E2000-02873-COA-R3-CV
James Roger Nelson ("Husband") filed a Complaint for Absolute Divorce ("Complaint") against Victoria Kay Goad Nelson ("Wife"). Wife filed an Answer and a Counter-Complaint for divorce. Wife admitted to Husband she had been and still was involved in an extramarital affair with a co-worker. Before trial, Husband obtained a temporary restraining order against Wife, and Wife obtained an Order of Protection against Husband. Wife testified Husband had subjected her to verbal and physical abuse in front of their minor children. Wife also testified Husband had threatened her with a gun while their children were at home with them. The Trial Court granted both parties a divorce, divided the parties' property, and awarded custody of the children to Husband. The Trial Court based its custody decision upon Wife's extramarital affair and the fact that Husband, at the time of trial, had the more stable home environment. The Trial Court failed, however, to address Wife's allegations that she was abused by Husband. Wife appeals the custody award and portions of the Trial Court's property division. We vacate, in part, and affirm, in part, and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Michael A. Davis
Morgan County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
Gwen Lay vs. Mark Lay, et al

E2000-02914-COA-R3-CV
In this case the second wife of Mark Lindsay Lay seeks an increase in child support for their child. Because an attack was made on the constitutionality of the Tennessee Child Support Guidelines, the Attorney General of the State was permitted to intervene. Although neither the former wife nor Mr. Lay appeals, the Attorney General does appeal. We vacate the judgment insofar as it addresses the constitutional issue before the Trial Court, and remand.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:John D. Mcafee
Campbell County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
State ex rel Mickey Phillips vs. Gwen Knox

E2000-02988-COA-R3-JV
The Trial Court found Gwen Knox ("Knox") to be in civil contempt for failure to pay child support. This is the second appeal in this case. This Court, in State ex rel. Phillips v. Knox, No. E1999-00205-COA-R3-CV, 2000 WL 217936, at * 2 (Tenn. Ct. App. Feb. 25, 2000), vacated and remanded the Trial Court's dismissal of Knox's Second Petition to Vacate and Modify the Trial Court's order finding that Knox was in contempt for failure to pay child support. On remand, the Trial Court denied Knox's petition, again holding, among other things, Knox in civil contempt but reducing Knox's incarceration time for contempt from thirty days to ten days and her purge amount from $1,000 to $100. Knox appeals. We reverse, in part, and affirm, in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge David Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Ronald N. Murch
Anderson County Court of Appeals 08/30/01
Paul Seaton, et al vs. Richard Rowe, et al

E2000-02304-COA-R3-CV
Monroe County -This is an action for specific performance of an option agreement for the sale of some farmland acreage, from which a 60-acre tract was excepted. The trial court dismissed the action, holding that the option agreement did not satisfy the statute of frauds because the description of the excepted property was inadequate and that the deficiency could not be remedied by parol evidence. Thereafter, the plaintiffs filed a motion to "reopen the proof" to introduce evidence to support reformation of the description of the excepted property. The motion was denied. The plaintiffs appeal, arguing that the trial court erred in (1) finding that the option agreement did not satisfy the statute of frauds; (2) refusing to consider parol evidence of the location of the excepted property; and (3) refusing to "reopen the proof" on the issue of reformation. The defendants argue that the appeal is frivolous. We find that the option agreement is sufficiently definite to satisfy the statute of frauds and that parol evidence should have been admitted to locate the excepted property. We therefore vacate the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:John B. Hagler, Jr.
Monroe County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
Rouse Construction Co. vs. Interstate Steel Corp.

E2001-00242-COA-R3-CV
This is a case wherein the Plaintiff/Appellant, Rouse Construction Company, seeks damages for breach of contract from the Defendant/Appellee, Interstate Steel Corporation. The Chancellor found that there was no meeting of minds between the parties as to essential contract terms and, therefore, ordered that Rouse's claim be denied. The Chancellor further determined that Interstate should be allowed a judgment in the amount of $19,090.00 for materials and plans delivered to Rouse. We concur in the determination of the Chancellor and affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Sharon J. Bell
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
State of Tennessee v. Glenn Russell Parvin

E2000-01756-CCA-R3-CD

The Sullivan County grand jury issued presentments against the defendant on one count of operating a motor vehicle without a face shield; two counts of speeding; three counts of driving under the influence; three counts of driving on a revoked license; two counts of driving on revoked license after second or subsequent conviction for driving while intoxicated; one count of driving on revoked license after second or subsequent conviction for driving under the influence; one count of driving while intoxicated, fourth offense; and one count of driving under the influence, fourth offense. The charges resulted from three separate cases. The defendant pled to all of the crimes in two different plea hearings and the defendant was sentenced as a career offender to a total of eighteen years, with a minimum jail time of 585 days, and with his last six years to be served on probation. The trial court sentenced the defendant as a career offender and did not apprise the defendant of the possibility that he could be sentenced as a persistent offender, as opposed to a career offender. He moved to withdraw his guilty pleas on this ground. The trial court denied his motion, and he appeals the denial. Furthermore, the defendant waived his right to request probation or alternative sentencing in one case, and the state agreed to allow the defendant to serve probation in one case. In the third case, the defendant requested probation or alternative sentencing. The trial court denied his request, citing his extensive criminal history in support of its denial. The defendant also appeals this denial. After reviewing the record and applicable case law, we find these issues to be without merit and therefore affirm the lower court's denial of defendant's motion to withdraw his guilty pleas and its denial of probation or alternative sentencing.

Authoring Judge: Judge Jerry L. Smith
Originating Judge:Judge R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/29/01
Jeffrey Miller v. State of Tennessee

E2000-01192-CCA-R3-CD

Jeffrey Miller appeals the Meigs County Criminal Court's dismissal of his petitions for writ of error coram nobis and writ of habeas corpus. Both petitions seek redress for Miller's grievance that he has been required to serve felony sentences in the Department of Correction, although his plea agreements designated the location of confinement to be the Meigs County Jail. Because neither coram nobis nor habeas corpus relief is available to address a concern of this nature and because the petitioner's claims are factually unfounded, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge E. Eugene Eblen
Meigs County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/29/01
David Miller vs. State

E1998-00247-SC-R11-PD
We granted petitioner, David Earl Miller's application for permission to appeal to determine whether this Court's decision in State v. Brown, 836 S.W.2d 530 (Tenn. 1992) created a new state constitutional rule regarding the elements of deliberation and premeditation. Petitioner claims that Brown created a new state constitutional rule and that the jury instructions given at his initial trial violated this rule by relieving the prosecution of its burden to prove the elements of premeditation and deliberation beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the petitioner argues that his conviction of first-degree murder was not supported by sufficient proof. After due consideration, we conclude that Brown did not announce a new state constitutional rule, did not implicate any constitutional right, is not retroactive, and may not serve as the basis for post-conviction relief. Accordingly, we conclude that the petitioner's complaint about the jury instructions given at his initial trial has been waived because it was not raised on direct appeal and that his complaint about the sufficiency of the evidence to support premeditation and deliberation was previously determined by this Court on direct appeal. Accordingly, the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Originating Judge:Ray L. Jenkins
Knox County Supreme Court 08/29/01
CH-00-1207-2

CH-00-1207-2

Originating Judge:Floyd Peete, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
Carl O. Koella, Jr. vs. Fred McHargue, et ux

E2001-00544-COA-R3-CV
Defendants have right of first refusal on tract of real property. The Trial Court held that the giving of a quitclaim deed did not trigger the right of first refusal. Defendants appealed, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:C. K. Smith
Blount County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
Denise Frazier vs. Robert Frazier

E2000-02929-COA-R3-CV
Appellant ask the Court to void portions of the marital settlement agreement incorporated in the parties' Divorce Decree in the State of Illinois. The Trial Court refused and granted appellee summary judgment. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Sharon J. Bell
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
George Tipton vs. Axis Fabrication & Machine Co.

E2001-00258-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
George Tipton vs. Axis Fabrication & Machine Co.

E2001-00258-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
New Covenant Baptist Church vs. Panther Sark

E2000-02930-COA-R3-CV
In this suit New Covenant Baptist Church seeks a declaration that certain restrictions applicable to Technology Park West subdivision do not preclude New Covenant from using one of the lots for driveway purposes to other unrestricted property owned by New Covenant outside the subdivision. Panther Sark, a partnership, and certain other owners of lots in the subdivision were named as Defendants and they filed a counter-complaint seeking a declaration to the contrary. The Trial Court found in favor of New Covenant. We reverse and hold in favor of the partnership and other owners of lots in the subdivision.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Thomas R. Frierson, II
Knox County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
Myron Hubbard vs. Sandi Hubbard

E2001-00110-COA-R3-CV
The Trial Court granted appellee Judgement before the 30 days to answer process provided in the Rules of Civil Procedure had expired. On appeal, we vacate and remand.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Dale Young
Blount County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
Lonnie Wilder vs. Leslie Wilder

E2000-03184-COA-R3-CV
In this divorce case, the Trial Court awarded husband attorney's fees against wife. On appeal, we reverse.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:John D. Mcafee
Claiborne County Court of Appeals 08/29/01
State of Tennessee v. Mark A. Doolen, Jr.

M2000-01953-CCA-R3-CD

In this appeal, Mark A. Doolen, Jr. challenges the order of the Dickson County Circuit Court requiring the appellant's payment of restitution in the amount of $6,611.76 for his vandalism of two antique automobiles. Following a review of the record and the parties' briefs, we conclude that the appellant should have filed his appeal with the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

Authoring Judge: Judge Norma McGee Ogle
Originating Judge:Judge Allen W. Wallace
Dickson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/29/01