APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Levenhagen vs. Levenhagen

M1998-00967-COA-R3-CV
Husband appeals the trial court's refusal to vacate its order divorcing the parties, claiming the order is void because it failed to include an affirmative finding that the parties made adequate provision by written agreement for the custody and maintenance of their children. In addition, Husband contends that the trial court violated his due process rights by suspending his visitation with the couple's children until he received counseling, and then ordering supervised visitation. He also maintains that the trial court improperly based its finding that he was guilty of criminal contempt for failure to pay child support on insufficient evidence. Husband claims he was entitled to a jury trial on the contempt issue. We affirm the trial court in all respects.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Lee Russell
Lincoln County Court of Appeals 09/14/00
Henderson vs. Henderson

M1999-00912-COA-R3-CV
This appeal involves a dispute over the Trial Court's valuation and division of marital property in this divorce action. Mrs. Henderson contends that the Trial Court undervalued the marital business, Quality Systems, Inc. Additionally, Mrs. Henderson asserts the Trial Court erred in dividing the marital assets and liabilities, denying alimony and attorney's fees and in ordering her to refund alimony pendente lite payments. We affirm the Trial Court's order, except for the denial of alimony. We vacate the Trial Court's determination on the issue of alimony and remand for a determination of the proper type and amount of alimony to be awarded to Mrs. Henderson.
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Originating Judge:Donald P. Harris
Williamson County Court of Appeals 09/14/00
Ofman vs. Woodford

M1999-00736-COA-R3-CV
This is a suit by an attorney for breach of an oral contract relative to the professional services of an expert witness. Suit was instituted by civil warrant in the general sessions court. Following a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff, an appeal was perfected by the defendant to the circuit court where the case was tried de novo, non-jury and resulted in a judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $2,500.00. The defendant appealed, and we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Timothy L. Easter
Williamson County Court of Appeals 09/14/00
State vs. Henry Marshall Jr.

W1999-01159-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant Henry Marshall, Jr. was convicted of reckless aggravated assault following a jury trial in the Madison County Circuit Court. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court sentenced Defendant as a Range I Standard Offender to a term of two years, with the Defendant to serve eleven months and twenty-nine days in the local jail, and the remaining one year and one day on supervised probation. The Defendant challenges his conviction and his sentence, raising the following issues: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying Defendant's request for an instruction on self-defense, (2) whether the trial court erred in denying Defendant's request for an instruction on the lesser-included offense of simple assault and (3) whether the trial court correctly sentenced the defendant. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as modified herein.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/13/00
State vs. Willie Boyland

W1999-00634-CCA-R3-CD
Following a jury trial in the Hardeman County Circuit Court, Defendant was convicted of the offense of casual exchange of marijuana. On appeal, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the conviction. He also asserts that the trial court erred by prohibiting Defendant from questioning a state witness about a civil warrant and judgment against the witness and that the trial court erred by overruling his objection to the State eliciting testimony from its primary witness regarding the witness' employment. We have reviewed the record on appeal and the briefs of the parties and find no reversible error. Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Jon K. Blackwood
Hardeman County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/13/00
State vs. Ronnie Bradfield

W1999-02344-CCA-R3-PC
Petitioner, Ronnie Bradfield, was convicted by a jury in the Shelby County Criminal Court of three counts of attempt to commit second degree murder, which this Court affirmed on direct appeal. Petitioner subsequently filed a pro se petition together with an amended and supplemental petition for post-conviction relief alleging, primarily, ineffective assistance of counsel. The post-conviction judge denied relief following an evidentiary hearing which took place over numerous days. Petitioner now appeals the judgment of the post-conviction court denying his petition. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:James C. Beasley, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/13/00
State vs. John Palmer

W1999-01310-CCA-R3-CD
Defendant, John David Palmer, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and especially aggravated robbery following a jury trial in Gibson County Circuit Court. He was sentenced to serve three years for voluntary manslaughter and twenty years for especially aggravated robbery with the sentences to be served concurrent with each other. He does not appeal the voluntary manslaughter conviction or sentence. However, regarding the conviction for especially aggravated robbery, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the conviction and argues that the trial court committed reversible error by not instructing the jury on the lesser-included offense of theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle, i.e., joyriding. After review, we reverse and remand for a new trial on the offense of especially aggravated robbery.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Dick Jerman, Jr.
Gibson County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/13/00
State vs. Edward Mitchell

W1999-01314-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Edward Mitchell, appeals as of right from his conviction by a jury in the Shelby County Criminal Court for two counts of aggravated assault, a Class C felony. His sole issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred by denying him a continuance because of the unavailability of a witness. After a review of the record, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for a new trial.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Carolyn Wade Blackett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/13/00
State vs. Joshua Dailey

E1999-01342-CCA-R3-CD
The Defendant, Joshua Dailey, pled guilty to two counts of the Class E felony offense of violation of the Habitual Motor Vehicle Offender Act. The trial court sentenced Defendant to two years for each conviction, to be served consecutively. Furthermore, the trial court ordered the first sentence to be served in split confinement, with 300 days incarceration in the county jail followed by placement in Community Corrections. The Defendant appeals, challenging the length of the total effective sentence and arguing that he should serve the entire sentence in Community Corrections. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/13/00
State vs. James M. Loveday

E1999-02072-CCA-R3-CD
Following a jury trial, Defendant, James M. Loveday, was convicted of one count of attempted first degree murder, four counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of reckless endangerment. The trial court sentenced him to twenty-five (25) years for the attempted first degree murder conviction, six (6) years for each of the four aggravated assault convictions, and two (2) years for each of the reckless endangerment convictions. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively to each other for a total sentence of fifty-three (53) years. On appeal, he challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the convictions of attempted first degree murder and aggravated assault, and argues that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of prior bad acts, improperly considered victim impact letters in the presentence report, and argues that the sentences are excessive and that the trial court erred by ordering consecutive sentencing. After a review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the trial court as modified herein.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Richard R. Vance
Sevier County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/13/00
Michael Alger vs. Corrections Corp.

W2000-00500-COA-R3-CV
An inmate sued Corrections Corporation of America and various individuals alleging failure to provide dental and medical care. The trial court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The judgment of the trial court is reversed in part and affirmed in part.
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Jon Kerry Blackwood
Hardeman County Court of Appeals 09/13/00
Johnny L. Frye v. Athens Products

03S01-9904-CV-00043
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Review of the findings of fact made by the trial court is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of the correctness of the finding, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. TENN. CODE ANN. _ 5-6-225(e)(2); Stone v. City of McMinnville, 896 S.W.2d 548, 55 (Tenn. 1995). The application of this standard requires this Court to weigh in more depth the factual findings and conclusions of the trial courts in workers' compensation cases. See Corcoran v. Foster Auto GMC, Inc., 746 S.W.2d 452, 456 (Tenn. 1988). The plaintiff appeals from the trial court finding that he had failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that he had sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of his work. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. There is little need to go into significant detail concerning the facts in this case. There are significant discrepancies between the testimony of the plaintiff at trial and in the statements he made to medical providers concerning whether he sustained an injury on June 1, 1998, or whether he experienced pain on the prior Sunday while walking in the mall, or whether he sustained an injury at work on June 2nd. The plaintiff gave the only evidence concerning an alleged accidental injury. The determination of the trial judge was, by necessity, based upon his assessment of the evidence and his ruling based upon the testimony of the plaintiff. The trial court found that the plaintiff did not tell the defendant of any work- related accident until June 28th but found that he did notify the physician and especially the nurse practitioner on June 2nd that he sustained a work-related injury on June 1. The court found this unusual and ruled that the two histories cancelled out each other, thus causing the plaintiff to fail in carrying his burden of proof. 2
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. John B. Hagler
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 09/13/00
Eddie Ray Harper v. Lockheed Martin Energy Systems,

E1999-01150-WC-R3-CV
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 appellant-employee appealed the trial court's award of 12.5% permanent disability to the body as a whole which was based on a finding the employee had made a meaningful return to work resulting in capping the award at two and one-half times the medical impairment under T.C.A. _ 5-6-241(a)(1). On appeal, appellant argues he did not return to work for the "pre-injury employer" and the six times medical impairment under subsection (b) should control the award. Judgment of the trial court is affirmed as the new employer was a successor or substitute employer for the original employer by reason of a change of contractors at the U.S. government facility.
Authoring Judge: Thayer, Sp. J.
Originating Judge:James B. Scott, Jr., Judge
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 09/12/00
Clayton D. Eller v. Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc.,

E1999-00874-SC-R3-CV
This workers' compensation appeal from the Cumberland County Circuit Court 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 Cumberland County Circuit Court dismissed the plaintiff's claim for Tennessee workers' compensation benefits on the basis that the plaintiff affirmatively elected to seek workers' compensation benefits in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. After a review of the entire record, briefs of the parties and applicable law, we affirm the trial court's judgment.
Authoring Judge: L. Terry Lafferty, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:John Maddux, Judge
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 09/12/00
Theodore Davis v. U. S. Coal Inc.

E1999-01297-WC-R3-CV
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 appellant-employer appealed the trial court's ruling awarding appellee-employee 32% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. Appellant argues the trial court was in error in accepting certain medical testimony when the doctor failed to follow AMA Guides in conducting examination and evaluation of employee. Judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Thayer, Sp. J.
Originating Judge:Billy Joe White, Chancellor
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 09/12/00
Mervin Reed v. Abb Combustion Engineering, Inc.

E1999-00589-WC-R3-CV
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _ 5-6-225 (e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the plaintiff/appellant asserts that the trial court erred in basing plaintiff's award of permanent disability benefits on a percentage of impairment other than that supported by the medical evidence at trial. After a complete review of the entire record, briefs of the parties and applicable law, we affirm the trial court's judgment.
Authoring Judge: L. Terry Lafferty, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:W. Frank Brown, III, Chancellor
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 09/12/00
State vs. Joe C. Anderson a/k/a Uncle Tom

E1999-02485-CCA-R3-CD
Raising issues of sufficiency of the evidence and improper sentencing, Joe C. Anderson appeals from his conviction of second degree murder in the Loudon County Criminal Court. Because we discern no error requiring reversal, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Originating Judge:E. Eugene Eblen
Loudon County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/12/00
State vs. Myra L. Smith

E1999-02196-CCA-R3-CD
Myra L. Smith appeals the sentencing decision of the Knox County Criminal Court revoking her non-incarcerative sentence and ordering service of the sentence in the TDOC. In September 1998, Smith pled guilty to the class C felony of facilitating aggravated robbery and was placed under the supervision of the Knox County Community Alternative to Prison Program (CAPP). Four months later, a violation warrant issued. On appeal, Smith argues that the trial court acted arbitrarily in revoking her suspended sentence by failing to consider her extreme drug addiction, her history of mental illness, and her lack of intent to violate the conditions of probation. Finding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion, we affirm.
Authoring Judge: Judge David G. Hayes
Originating Judge:Mary Beth Leibowitz
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/12/00
William Collins vs. State

E1999-02759-CCA-R3-PC
Because the trial court properly treated a habeas corpus petition as one for post-conviction relief and because the statute of limitations barred any review of constitutional issues, the petition was properly dismissed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Lynn W. Brown
Washington County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/12/00
E1999-02594-COA-R3-CV

E1999-02594-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:William R. Brewer
Blount County Court of Appeals 09/12/00
State vs. Shannon Corley

E2000-00382-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant seeks full probation after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary and theft. She claims the trial court erred in requiring her to be incarcerated for ninety days of her four-year sentence. We affirm the sentence as imposed.
Authoring Judge: Judge John Everett Williams
Originating Judge:D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/12/00
E2000-00256-COA-R3-CV

E2000-00256-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Herschel P. Franks
Originating Judge:Wheeler A. Rosenbalm
Knox County Court of Appeals 09/12/00
State vs. Mark Williams

W1999-01456-CCA-R3-CD
The defendant, Mark Williams, was indicted for attempted first degree murder. After being convicted for attempted second degree murder, he was sentenced, as a Range I offender, to 12 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. In this appeal of right, the defendant contends that because the indictment did not allege an overt act, the conviction is void. He further asserts that the jury charge on attempted second degree murder was erroneous in that it did not require the jury to find that he intended to kill the victim. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Chris B. Craft
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/12/00
State vs. Gilford Williams

W1999-01556-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:John Franklin Murchison
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/12/00
State vs. Michael Addison

W1999-00432-CCA-R3-PC
Because the evidence does not preponderate against the trial court's determination that the petitioner received the effective assistance of counsel at trial and on direct appeal, the order denying post-conviction relief is affirmed.
Authoring Judge: Judge Gary R Wade
Originating Judge:Bernie Weinman
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 09/12/00