APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Montague vs. TDOC

M1999-00513-COA-R3-CV
This Court determined a previous appeal by Charles Montague to be frivolous and remanded the case to the trial court to set attorney's fees. The state submitted evidence of attorney's fees incurred, both in the trial court and in this Court. Montague appeals and we modify the judgment of the trial court so as to only allow attorney's fees on the initial appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/22/01
Mary Browning vs. Harold D. Vandergriff, Jr., D/B/A Sunrise Market & Deli

E1999-02711-COA-R3-CV
In this appeal from the Circuit Court of Knox County the Defendant/Appellant, Harold D. Vandergriff, Jr., appeals the Circuit Court's judgment entered pursuant to a jury verdict allowing damages to Plaintiff/Appellee, Mary Browning, for negligent infliction of emotional distress. We reverse the judgment of the Circuit Court, dismiss the complaint and remand for collection of costs below.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Dale C. Workman
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/22/01
E2000-00824-C0A-R3-CV

E2000-00824-C0A-R3-CV

Originating Judge:John B. Hagler, Jr.
Bradley County Court of Appeals 01/22/01
Alpha Financial Services, Inc. vs. Karl Kindervater

E2000-01425-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Neil Thomas, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 01/22/01
Alpha Financial Services, Inc. vs. Karl Kindervater

E2000-01425-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:W. Neil Thomas, III
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 01/22/01
Billy Ray Holley v. Bobby Holley,

W1998-00737-WC-R3-CV
The issue presented for review is whether or not Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church was the plaintiff's statutory employer as defined by Tennessee Code Annotated _ 5-6-113. We reverse the judgment of the circuit court and dismiss the cause as to Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church.
Authoring Judge: Wil V. Doran, Sp. J.
Originating Judge:James E. Swearengen, Judge
Shelby County Workers Compensation Panel 01/22/01
Stanley R. Wilbanks v. Corrections Corporation of

W1999-01732-WC-R3-CV
Review of the findings of fact made by the trial court is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by the presumption of correctness, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(2). The appellant presents the following issues for review: (1) Did the trial court err in ruling that the plaintiff gave proper notice of the alleged back injury?; (2) Did the trial court err in ruling that Dr. Frazier related causation of the back injury to the accident which occurred on July 24, 1998?; and (3) Did the trial court err in relying on the testimony of Dr. Joseph C. Boals, III, as competent expert testimony? The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Wil V. Doran, Sp. J.
Originating Judge:C. Creed Mcginley, Judge
Hardin County Workers Compensation Panel 01/22/01
Erskine Leroy Johnson vs. State

W1997-00024-SC-R11-PD

The sole issue in this capital post-conviction appeal is whether the State improperly withheld material, exculpatory evidence at the appellee's capital sentencing hearing. The appellee was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to death in 1985, and in 1991, he filed a post-conviction petition alleging, among other things, that the State improperly withheld a police report that was discoverable under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). The post-conviction court denied relief, but the Court of Criminal Appeals reversed and vacated the capital sentence. Finding that the police report was exculpatory and material, the intermediate court held that a new sentencing hearing was constitutionally required. The State then appealed to this Court. For the reasons given herein, we hold that the State improperly withheld the police report, which was both "evidence favorable to the accused" and material as to the issue of sentencing. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals vacating the appellee's sentence, and we remand this case to the Shelby County Criminal Court for a new capital sentencing hearing.

Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Originating Judge:William H. Williams
Shelby County Supreme Court 01/19/01
State of Tennessee v. John Ruff

W1999-01536-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, John Ruff, appeals the dismissal without prejudice of the charges against him. He asks this Court to enter an order dismissing his case with prejudice. We hold that the trial court properly dismissed the charges against the Defendant without prejudice; thus, we affirm the action of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Originating Judge:Judge John P. Colton, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/19/01
State of Tennessee v. John Ruff - Concurring and Dissenting

W1999-01536-CCA-R3-CD

I concur with the majority’s rationale that led to the conclusion that the charges were properly dismissed below without prejudice. However, I also agree with the majority’s statements about the unavailability of a Rule 3 appeal in this case. Because no appeal as a matter of right is
availed to the defendant under Rule 3, I would conclude that this court is without jurisdiction to consider the defendant’s issue with respect to the dismissal of charges without prejudice. See Tenn. R. App. P. 3(b). Although the practical result is the same in that the action of the trial court is not being reversed, I would dismiss the appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge John P. Colton, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/19/01
James Rines v. State of Tennessee

E2000-01066-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner appeals the trial court’s dismissal of his “petition to correct illegal judgment/sentence.” Finding no basis for a rightful appeal or a discretionary appeal via the common law writ of certiorari, we dismiss the appeal.

Authoring Judge: Judge James Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Rex Henry Ogle
Cocke County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/19/01
Joseph Hough v. State of Tennessee

E2000-01621-COA-R12-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Michael S. Lacy
Greene County Court of Appeals 01/19/01
Janine S. Taylor Hines vs. Richard Michael Tilimon

E2000-00912-COA-R3-CV
This is an interstate custody dispute. Janine S. Taylor Hines ("Mother") filed this action seeking a declaratory judgment pertaining to the custody of the parties' minor child. She also sought to modify certain foreign orders pertaining to the visitation rights of the defendant, Richard Michael Tilimon ("Father"). The trial court (a) entered a default judgment against Father, (b) declared Tennessee to be the child's home state, (c) decreed that custody would remain with Mother, and (d) limited Father's visitation to supervised visits in the state of Tennessee. The court later denied Father's motion to set aside the default judgment. Father appeals, raising issues as to subject matter jurisdiction, in personam jurisdiction, venue, and service of process. He also argues that the trial court erred (1) in denying his request for a continuance of the hearing on the plaintiff's motion for default judgment; (2) in not allowing him to participate by telephone in the hearing on his motion to set aside the default judgment; (3) in denying his motion to set aside the default judgment; (4) in ordering supervised visitation; and (5) in awarding Mother her attorney's fees. By a separate issue, Mother seeks attorney's fees for this appeal. We affirm and remand for a hearing to set Mother's fees on appeal.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Bill Swann
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/19/01
In Re: Estate of Constantine Anagnost

E2000-02321-COA-R3-CV
This litigation involves a claim against an estate. The claimant asserts that the decedent breached a contract which purportedly obligated the decedent to convey to the claimant a certain parcel of property upon the claimant's satisfaction of his contractual obligations. The estate moved for summary judgment, arguing that the issues relating to the existence of the purported contract had been decided adversely to the claimant in an earlier suit, thereby barring the present claim under the doctrine of res judicata. The trial court granted summary judgment to the estate, and the claimant now appeals, asserting that the prior judgment does not bar the instant claim. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Daryl R. Fansler
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/19/01
Custom Packaging, Inc. vs. Patti Holliday, et al

E2000-01744-COA-R3-CV
Custom Packaging, Inc., appeals a summary judgment granted against it in its suit seeking recovery on a sworn account for merchandise sold according to the complaint to "Patti Holliday, Ind. & d/b/a Repeat Fibre." The Trial Court sustained Ms. Holliday's motion for summary judgment, finding there are no material disputed facts. We vacate the judgment below and remand the case for further proceedings.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Daryl R. Fansler
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/19/01
State vs. King

E1998-00283-SC-R11-CD
We granted review to determine whether the trial court committed reversible error by conducting trial proceedings in violation of a common law rule that prohibits judicial functions on Sunday. The Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the defendants' convictions for second-degree murder and remanded for a new trial, holding that the trial court violated a common law rule prohibiting judicial functions on Sunday and that such proceedings were "absolutely void." We conclude that conducting judicial proceedings on Sunday does not violate the Tennessee Constitution or any state statute and that the justifications for the common law rule are no longer sufficiently persuasive to invalidate Sunday proceedings as a matter of law. We further hold that the issue of whether to conduct judicial functions on Sunday rests within the discretion of the trial court. In exercising this discretion, the trial court should be deferential to the preferences of the litigants, witnesses, jurors, and attorneys; must be mindful of the need for every participant in a trial proceeding to be prepared and rested; must respect and accommodate the genuinely-held religious view of any litigant, witness, juror or attorney; and must weigh all of these concerns against whatever pressing need or compelling interest may necessitate a Sunday proceeding. We conclude that the trial court abused its discretion under the facts of this case and, therefore, affirm the result reached by the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals on the separate grounds stated herein.
Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Douglas A. Meyer
Hamilton County Supreme Court 01/19/01
State Department of Children's Services vs. RC

E2000-01939-COA-R3-CV
In this action to terminate parental rights, the mother didn't appear for trial and the Trial Court terminated her parental rights. On appeal, she argues her constitutional rights were violated by proceeding to trial in her absence, and termination was not supported by clear and convincing evidence. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:William H. Russell
Loudon County Court of Appeals 01/19/01
State vs. Fields

E1998-00388-SC-R11-CD
The issue raised on this appeal is whether the defendant's conviction of the Class C felony of facilitation of an illegal drug transaction within 200 yards of a school overcomes the presumption in favor of alternative sentencing so as to justify a sentence of confinement. The trial court and the Court of Criminal Appeals found confinement necessary to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense. We conclude that the evidence presented is insufficient to overcome the presumption of alternative sentencing. Therefore, we reverse the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals and remand this case to the trial court to determine an appropriate alternative sentence.
Authoring Judge: Justice William M. Barker
Originating Judge:James E. Beckner
Greene County Supreme Court 01/19/01
Elsie Anne Bullock v. Medical Professional, Inc., and

E1998-00315-WC-R3-CV
The appellant, Elsie Bullock, appeals the dismissal of her claim for workers' compensation benefits. The trial court found that she had "failed to meet her burden of proof that the conditions of which she complains are related to work-related accident of February 14, 1996." Ms. Bullock contends the trial court (1) erred in finding that she did not have a compensable injury to her back, and (2) erred in finding she did not have a compensable mental injury as a result of the injury she sustained at work. We affirm in part and reverse in part.
Authoring Judge: Peoples, H.N., Sp. J.
Originating Judge:James B. Scott, Jr., Judge
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 01/18/01
State of Tennessee v. Donald Craig Miller

M2000-00962-CCA-R3-CD

The Defendant, Donald Craig Miller, pled guilty to burglary, Class D felony, pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement wherein he was to receive a sentence of four (4) years, with the manner of the service of the sentence to be determined by the trial court following the sentencing hearing. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court accepted the four-year sentence, but ordered three and one-half years incarceration, followed by service of four years in Community Corrections in a "split-confinement" sentence. Subsequently, the Defendant filed a "Motion for Clarification of Judgment Order" which was denied by the trial court following a hearing. The Defendant filed a notice of appeal. We hold that this matter should be treated as a petition for common law writ of certiorari rather than a Rule 3, T.R.A.P. appeal, and reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/18/01
David Palmer v. State of Tennessee

M2000-00371-CCA-R3-PC

The petitioner filed a post-conviction petition for relief from his conviction for aggravated child abuse, arguing that: (1) he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial; (2) his due process rights were violated because he was not present during voir dire; and, (3) he was denied his constitutional right to testify in his own behalf. After the post-conviction court denied his petition, the petitioner appealed to this court. We affirm the post-conviction court's denial of the petition.

Authoring Judge: Judge Alan E. Glenn
Originating Judge:Judge J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/18/01
Hagan Paul Roberts v. State of Tennessee

E2000-00007-CCA-R3-PC

Hagan Paul Roberts (herein petitioner) appeals the dismissal of his petition for post conviction relief. The petitioner claims his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to interview and call two witnesses to testify at the trial. The trial Court found that the petitioner did not inform his trial counsel of these witnesses and dismissed the petition. We affirm the trial Court.

Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Acree
Originating Judge:Judge Phyllis H. Miller
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/17/01
Carol Dickens v. Federal-Mogul Systems Protection, Inc.,

M1999-02264-WC-R3-CV
The trial court found the plaintiff had suffered a twenty percent vocational disability to the body as a whole and that she was entitled to receive temporary total disability payments from August 27, 1997, through May 11, 1998. The defendant raises as issues the failure of the trial judge to exclude a medical deposition entered into evidence by the plaintiff; the failure of the trial judge to limit the award to two and one-half times the medical impairment rating of five percent; and questions the extent of the temporary total benefits awarded. We affirm the judgment in part and modify the judgment in part.
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Sr. J.
Originating Judge:J. O. Bond, Judge
Smith County Workers Compensation Panel 01/17/01
Brian Mayes v. Ronald LeMonte

M2002-00625-COA-R3-CV
In this dog bite case, the trial court awarded a meter reader $5000 in compensatory damages against the dog owner. The dog owner claims on appeal that he was not negligent in handling his dog and that the sitting trial judge was biased and prejudiced against him. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Russ Heldman
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 01/17/01
State of Tennessee v. Parker Odell Doney, Jr.

M2001-01187-CCA-R3-CD

The defendant, Parker Odell Doney, Jr., appeals his convictions for one count of aggravated robbery and two counts of aggravated assault and his sentences totaling fifteen years in the Department of Correction. The defendant contends the evidence presented against him at trial was insufficient to support his convictions, and the trial court erred in sentencing him. After a thorough review of the record, we reduce the aggravated assault sentences but otherwise affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Joe G. Riley
Originating Judge:Judge Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/17/01