APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Duffy Tool & Stamping, Inc., v. Bosch Automotive Motor Systems, formerly known as BG Automotive Motors, Inc.

M1997-00144-COA-R3-CV

This appeal involves a contract dispute between a manufacturer of automobile parts and one of its suppliers. After the manufacturer complained repeatedly about the quality of its parts, the supplier informed the manufacturer that it would no longer supply the parts even though two years remained on its contract. The manufacturer rejected a portion of the supplier’s last shipment of parts and contracted with another supplier to take over the manufacturing of the parts. The original supplier then filed suit against the manufacturer in the Chancery Court for Sumner County for the balance due on its last shipment, and the manufacturer counterclaimed for breach of the supply contract. The trial court heard the case without a jury and determined that the supplier had breached the supply contract but was also entitled to a set-off based on its last delivery of parts. Accordingly, the trial court awarded the manufacturer a $133,542.66 judgment against the supplier. On this appeal, the supplier takes issue with the judgment on three grounds: that the parties modified their original contract; that the manufacturer waived its breach of contract claim; and that the trial court did not employ the proper measure of damages. We have determined that the evidence supports the trial court’s conclusion that the supplier breached the contract but that the trial court incorrectly calculated the damages. Accordingly, we reduce the manufacturer’s     judgment against the supplier to $18,953.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Tom E. Gray
Sumner County Court of Appeals 02/01/00
In the Matter of: K.E.C.D., a child Under the Age of 18 Years

M1998-00759-COA-R3-CV

This appeal involves a dispute over the surname of a child born to unmarried parents. The biological father (“Father”) of the minor child, seeks reversal of the juvenile court’s denial of his motion to change the child’s last name. Over the objections of the mother (“Mother”),1 Father sought to change his son’s last name to his own to reflect his paternity. For the following reasons, we vacate and remand.2

Authoring Judge: Judge Patricia J. Cottrell
Originating Judge:Judge Barry Brown
Sumner County Court of Appeals 02/01/00
Robert Bean, Franklin Shaffer, David Autry, Mack Roberts, v. Ned Ray McWherter, Governor of the State of Tennessee, et al.

M1999-01493-COA-R3-CV

The appellants have asked the court to rehear this appeal because we did not address the facial conflict between the definitions of Class II and Class III wildlife, leaving the public without any guidance as to what species are in Class II. Since the possession of Class II wildlife without a permit is a crime, and no permit is required for the possession of those species in Class III, the determination of what is included in Class II is the critical determination. And a person of ordinary intelligence must be able to make it. State v. Thomas, 635 S.W.2d 114 (Tenn. 1982).

Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/01/00
Barry Stokes and Pamela Stokes v. Torina Arnold

M1998-00749-COA-R3-CV

The Chancery Court for Dickson County terminated a mother’s parental rights to three young children and allowed the foster parents to proceed with the adoption of the children. Because we find that the record does not contain clear and convincing evidence upon which to base the termination of the mother’s parental rights, we reverse.
 

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Chancellor Allen W. Wallace
Dickson County Court of Appeals 02/01/00
Johnnie Lamont Dalton v. State of Tennessee

M1999-00369-CCA-R3-PC

The appellant, Johnnie Lamont Dalton, appeals the Davidson County Criminal Court’s dismissal of his petition for post-conviction relief. On May 5, 1997, the defendant entered a plea of guilty to murder second degree during the voir dire of a jury, wherein he was charged with the offense of murder first degree. The petitioner, collaterally, attacks his guilty plea and conviction for murder second degree upon the grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel. More specifically, he contends that trial counsel failed to (a) adequately investigate and prepare for trial; (b) failed to interview and subpoena state witnesses; and (c) failed to subpoena potential witnesses, including one witness who the defendant contends would have established that the defendant was not the murderer. The petitioner asserts that were it not for the above actions, he would not have pled guilty on the mistaken advice of counsel.  After a review of the record, we AFFIRM the trial court’s denial of post-conviction relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge L. Terry Lafferty
Originating Judge:Judge Seth W. Norman
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 02/01/00
State of Tenessee o/b/o Carol A. Vaughn v. Peter Kaatrude - Concurring

M1997-00146-COA-R3-CV

This appeal involves a father’s obligation to pay support for a non-marital child. Fifteen years after the child’s birth, the Tennessee Department of Human Services, acting on behalf of the child’s mother, filed suit in the Montgomery County Juvenile Court seeking to establish paternity and to obtain past and future support from the father. Following a bench trial, the trial court entered an order establishing paternity and ordering the father to pay $542.50 per month in child support. The juvenile court also awarded the mother $50,000 in back child support. The father now takes issue with the amount of the award for back child support. We have concluded that the evidence does not support the amount of the award for back child support and accordingly remand the case for further proceedings.

Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Charles E. Bush
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 02/01/00
Steven B. Dargi and Andrea L. Dargi v. The Terminix International Company, State of Tennessee, et al. - Concurring

M1999-00145-COA-R3-CV

The plaintiff repeatedly cursed and insulted the defendant’s attorney during a taped deposition. The attorney played portions of the tape during the trial. The trial court found that the plaintiff’s utterances constituted criminal contempt. We affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/01/00
Carl Scott and Alma Scott, v. Rogers Group, Inc.

M1999-00048-COA-R3-CV

This is a case involving breach of contract. Plaintiffs/appellants, Carl Scott and Alma Scott (referred to herein as “the Scotts”) appeal from the order of the trial court granting summary judgment to defendant/appellee, Rogers Group, Inc.

Authoring Judge: Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Judge Barbara N. Haynes
Davidson County Court of Appeals 02/01/00
Rutherford Co. Bd. of Ed. vs. Rutherford Co. Comm.

M1999-00288-COA-R3-CV
This is a declaratory judgment action on undisputed facts. The question for disposition is whether the Public Building Authorities Act of 1971 authorizes the Rutherford County Commission to direct the Rutherford County Public Buildings Authority to hire architects, select a contractor and prepare school building design plans for presentation to the Rutherford County School Board. The trial court held that it is the responsibility of the Rutherford County Board of Education to plan, locate, erect and furnish public schools in Rutherford County and that the Rutherford County Commission was without authority to direct the Rutherford County Public Buildings Authority to act in this respect. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Robert E. Corlew, III
Rutherford County Court of Appeals 01/31/00
Brown vs. Wal-Mart

M1997-00138-SC-R11-CV
Authoring Judge: Justice E. Riley Anderson
Lawrence County Supreme Court 01/31/00
State vs. Daniel

E1997-00142-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Supreme Court 01/31/00
State vs. Daniel

E1997-00142-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Supreme Court 01/31/00
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance vs. Brian Howard, et al

E1999-02558-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Blount County Court of Appeals 01/31/00
Gregory James Harper vs. State

E1999-00798-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring Judge: Judge David H. Welles
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/31/00
E1999-02550-COA-R3-CV

E1999-02550-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/31/00
State vs. Danny Spradlin

E1995-00019-SC-R11-CD
Authoring Judge: Justice Adolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Originating Judge:D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.
Blount County Supreme Court 01/31/00
E1999-02098-C)A-R3-CV

E1999-02098-C)A-R3-CV
Hawkins County Court of Appeals 01/31/00
Gragg vs. Gragg

W1998-00734-SC-R11-CV
Authoring Judge: Justice Frank F. Drowota, III
Supreme Court 01/31/00
Rhonda Pritchett V.Brewer, Krause & Brooks & American Mining Insurance Co .

M1998-00715-SC-WCM-CV
This case is before the Court upon motion for review pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. _ 50-6-225(e)(5)(B), the entire record, including the order of referral to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel, and the Panel's Memorandum Opinion setting forth its findings of fact and conclusions of law, which are incorporated herein by reference; Whereupon, it appears to the Court that the motion for review is not well taken and should be denied; and It is, therefore, ordered that the Panel's findings of fact and conclusions of law are adopted and affirmed, and the decision of the Panel is made the judgment of the Court.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Rhonda Pritchett
Davidson County Workers Compensation Panel 01/28/00
E1998-00745-COA-R3-CV

E1998-00745-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Claiborne County Court of Appeals 01/28/00
William George Baltrip vs. Roy K. Norris, et al . Carolyn Turner vs. Monroe Farmers Cooperative

E1999-02545-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Houston M. Goddard
Blount County Court of Appeals 01/28/00
Jeffrey L. Lawson v. University of Tennessee

E1999-02516-COA-R9-CV

We granted this Rule 9, T.R.A.P., application to determine whether the defendant University of Tennessee (“the University”) can be sued for a violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. We find that it cannot be sued for such violations under the current state of the law. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s order denying the University’s motion to dismiss.

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Sharon Bell
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/28/00
State vs. Ricky Lee Turner

E1999-00919-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Joseph M. Tipton
Originating Judge:Buddy D. Perry
Rhea County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/28/00
E1999-02516-COA-R9-CV

E1999-02516-COA-R9-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/28/00
E1999-02518-COA-R3-CV

E1999-02518-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/28/00