State of Tennessee v. Gerald Robert Stevens, Laurie Ann Williams, and James Darren Brothers Stevens, et al.
02S01-9712-CC-00112
We granted this appeal to determine whether a conclusory allegation in an affidavit that information was provided by a “concerned citizen source” is sufficient to establish the presumptive reliability of the information for the issuance of a search warrant under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 7 of the Tennessee Constitution.1 There is a distinction in Tennessee law between “citizen informants” and “criminal informants” or those from the criminal milieu. Information provided by an unnamed ordinary citizen is presumed to be reliable, and the affidavit need not establish that the source is credible or that the information is reliable. State v. Melson, 638 S.W.2d 342, 354 (Tenn. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1137, 103 S. Ct. 770, 74 L. Ed. 2d 983 (1983). On the other hand, where information is provided by an anonymous criminal informant, the affidavit must establish (1) the basis of the informant’s knowledge, and (2) the reliability of the informant or the information. State v. Jacumin, 778 S.W.2d 430 (Tenn. 1989).
Authoring Judge: Chief Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Judge Julian P. Guinn |
Henry County | Supreme Court | 02/01/99 | |
Scottie Allen Yant v. Arrow Exterminators, Inc.
01A01-9801-CV-00004
The manager of an exterminating company brought criminal charges against the owner of a competing company for the alleged theft of a piece of equipment. The general sessions court determined that probable cause existed, but the grand jury declined to indict. The defendant in the criminal case subsequently filed suit for malicious prosecution. The trial court granted summary judgment to the civil defendant. We affirm.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Judge Barbara N. Haynes |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
State of Tennessee, ex rel., Kimberly Norfleet v. Tommy Dobbs, Jr.
01A01-9805-CV-00228
This appeal involves a parent’s efforts to avoid paying child support for her two children. Approximately two years after the Circuit Court for Davidson County awarded custody of the parties’ two children to their father, the children’s mother, with the assistance of a lawyer furnished by the IV-D contractor for Davidson County, filed a petition to eliminate her child support obligation because she was unemployed and her only income was Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) payments. Following a bench trial, the trial court denied the mother’s petition on the ground that she was voluntarily unemployed. The mother asserts on this appeal that the trial court’s order conflicts with the child support guidelines because she will be required to use her SSI payments to pay her child support. We have determined that the evidence does not preponderate against the trial court’s finding that the mother is voluntarily unemployed and that the trial court’s order is consistent with the child support guidelines. Therefore, we affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Muriel Robinson |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
Carl G. Berning v. State of Tennessee, Department of Corrections
01A01-9804-CH-00180
The Tennessee Civil Service Commission upheld the termination of a veteran supervisory employee for sexual harassment, conduct unbecoming a state employee, and failure to maintain a satisfactory and harmonious working relationship with fellow employees. The Chancery Court of Davidson County affirmed the Commission’s order. On appeal the employee asserts that he was denied progressive discipline prior to termination, and that he was denied due process of law. On the strength of the proof, he also claims that his conduct does not fit the definition of “conduct unbecoming” or support a conclusion that he failed to maintain a harmonious working relationship, and that his conduct was constitutionally protected. We affirm the trial court.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Ben H. Cantrell
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr. |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
Loyal Miller vs. Tennessee Board of Paroles - Concurring
01A01-9806-CH-00293
This appeal involves the fundamental fairness of the procedures used by the Tennessee Board of Paroles to revoke the parole of a person accused of committing child sexual abuse. The Board revoked the parole based solely on hearsay testimony concerning statements made by his alleged victim. The parolee filed a petition for a common-law writ of certiorari in the Chancery Court for Davidson County seeking judicial review of the Board’s decision-making process. After the trial court denied the petition, the parolee appealed to this court. We have determined that the Board’s hearing officer acted arbitrarily and illegally by applying an incorrect standard to determine whether good cause existed for not allowing the parolee to confront or to cross-examine his only accuser. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s denial of the parolee’s petition for a common-law writ of certiorari and remand the case to the trial court for the entry of an order directing the Board either to conduct a proper parole revocation hearing forthwith or to return the parolee to parole status.
Authoring Judge: Judge William C. Koch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr. |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
State of Tennessee v. William Henry Barney
01S01-9802-CR-00033
The defendant, William Henry Barney, was convicted of eleven counts of rape of a child and seven counts of aggravated sexual battery. He is currently serving a total effective sentence of eighty years. Upon the Court of Criminal Appeals’s affirmance of these judgments, the defendant filed an application for permission to appeal to this Court. We granted the application in order to determine whether the language of the indictment was sufficient under State v. Hill, 954 S.W.2d 725 (Tenn. 1997), and to determine whether the multiple convictions for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery violate the constitutional principles of due process or double jeopardy. We conclude that the indictment is sufficient under Hill. In addition, we conclude that, under the facts and circumstances of this case, multiple convictions for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery are justified and do not violate the constitutional principles of due process or double jeopardy.
Authoring Judge: Justice Aldolpho A. Birch, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz |
Davidson County | Supreme Court | 02/01/99 | |
Robert Leland Bryant, and wife Linda Kay Wolfson Bryant, Sandry Lynn Todd Bryant, v. James Ashley Bryant
01A01-9806-CV-00337
This is a termination of parental rights and adoption case. Petitioners-Appellants, Robert 1 Sandra Lynn Todd Bryant, wife of Respondent and mother of the minor children involved, joined the Petitioners in the petition to terminate the Respondent’s parental rights. In the petition, she consents to the termination of her parental rights. 2 Respondent’s wife subsequently left the couple’s home in Colorado to pursue job training in Florida. Upon completion of the two month job training course in Florida, she moved to Utah while Respondent continued his military career in Colorado. 2 Leland Bryant and Linda Kay Wolfson Bryant,1 appeal the trial court’s order denying their petition to terminate the parental rights of Respondent-Appellee, James Ashley Bryant, with respect to his minor children, Megan Rae Bryant, born December 13, 1991, and Devon Michael Bryant, born December 30, 1993.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Judge Muriel Robinson |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
Edmund George Zagorski v. State of Tennessee
01S01-9711-CC-00240
ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR REHEARING
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
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Robertson County | Supreme Court | 02/01/99 | |
Estate of Foster Hume, III, Deceased, The University of the South v. Meredith Klank
01S01-9709-PB-00182
We granted this appeal to determine whether the probate rule of ademption by extinction applies to the specific bequest of a house, where the house is sold at foreclosure before the testator’s death and sales proceeds representing the testator’s interest are identifiable after his death.
Authoring Judge: Chief Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Judge Frank G. Clement, Jr. |
Supreme Court | 02/01/99 | ||
Charles Walton Wright v. State of Tennessee
01S01-9709-CR-00196
We granted this appeal to determine whether the appellant’s due process rights were violated when the lower courts dismissed his post conviction petition as timebarred by the three-year statute of limitations since the asserted violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215 (1963), did not arise until after expiration of the three-year statute of limitations.
Authoring Judge: Chief Justice E. Riley Anderson
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz |
Davidson County | Supreme Court | 02/01/99 | |
Randall Craig Cobb, v. Sharon Ruben Cobb
01A01-9803-CV-00127
In this case Appellant challenges the action of the trial court in denying his application for relief under Rule 60.02 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, holding him to be in criminal contempt of court and denying his application for modification of alimony.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Judge Muriel Robinson |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
Margaret McCormick, v. Donald McCormick
01A01-9801-CH-00019
This case concerns a dispute over the division of marital property, alimony, and attorney’s fees. Appellant, Donald F. McCormick (Husband), appeals from the Final Decree of Divorce that, inter alia, awarded Appellee, Margaret Ann McCormick (Wife), proceeds from a 1 Husband’s W-2 form from the Frigidaire Company reveals that his wages for 1996 were $94,063.26. 2 In 1996, Wife’s gross annual earnings were approximately $9,000.00. 2 401K account, rehabilitative alimony, and attorney’s fees.
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge W. Frank Crawford
Originating Judge:Chancellor Tom E. Gray |
Sumner County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
Paula Lynn Barnett vs. Robert McAlister Barnett, III - Concurring
03A01-9709-CH-00414
This is a post-divorce action to modify child support and alimony. The mother sought to increase child support, and the father sought to terminate periodic alimony payments. The trial court granted the mother’s request for an increase in child support, with a portion of the child support to be placed in an educational trust, and denied the father’s petition for modification of alimony. Both parties appealed. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and modify.
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly Kirby Lillard
Originating Judge:Judge L. Marie Williams |
Hamilton County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
State of Tennessee v. Preston Carter - Concurring
02S01-9705-CR-00045
In this capital case, the defendant, Preston Carter, pled guilty and was convicted on two counts of felony murder. A jury sentenced him to death on both counts, finding that the murders of Thomas and Tensia Jackson were especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-2-203(i)(5). The jury imposed sentences of death based upon the presence of this sole aggravating circumstance.
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Originating Judge:Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood |
Shelby County | Supreme Court | 02/01/99 | |
Robby McCurry v. Container Corp. of America, a Division of Jefferson Smurfit Corporation
03S01-9705-CH-00050
The appellee, Robby McCurry, filed a second motion to rehear on December 28, 1998, petitioning this Court to reconsider our decision in the above styled case. The appellee filed this petition without first seeking permission from this Court as prescribed in Rule 39(f) of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. Accordingly, the motion is not well taken.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
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Campbell County | Supreme Court | 02/01/99 | |
Curtis G. Mayes v. Margaret C. Culpepper, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Employment Security and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
03A01-9801-CH-00032
This is an appeal from the denial of unemployment compensation benefits. Through the entire procedure, including an appeal to the Chancery Court for Knox County, the appellant has been denied unemployment compensation benefits because he had been guilty of misconduct arising out of the scope and course of him employment and T.C.A . § 50 -7-303( a ) ( 2 ) bars him from recovery of unemployment compensation benefits. We reverse the judgment of the Chancery Court and remand this case to the trial court for entry of an order awarding unemployment benefits as provided by law.
Authoring Judge: Per Curiam
Originating Judge:Chancellor Frederick D. McDonald |
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 02/01/99 | |
State of Tennessee v. Kristina Schindler
03S01-9804-CR-00040
We granted this appeal to address whether a trial court can consider prior grants of diversion or previously expunged offenses in determining a defendant's suitability for diversion. In the case now before us, the trial court denied the defendant's request for judicial diversion because the defendant had previously been placed on diversion on two different occasions. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision to deny the defendant's application for judicial diversion. Upon review, we hold that evidence of prior diversions may be considered in determining whether a defendant is a suitable candidate for diversion.
Authoring Judge: Justice Janice M. Holder
Originating Judge:Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz |
Knox County | Supreme Court | 02/01/99 | |
State vs. Tony Williams
02C01-9810-CC-00301
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Henry County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/29/99 | |
State vs. Christopher Eacholes
02C01-9803-CR-00065
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Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/29/99 | |
Slate vs. Hooper
03A01-9809-CH-00299
Originating Judge:Ben W. Hooper, II |
Sevier County | Court of Appeals | 01/29/99 | |
Olympia Child vs. City Maryville
03A01-9804-CV-00136
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Court of Appeals | 01/29/99 | ||
Scott vs. Scott
03A01-9708-CH-00305
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Court of Appeals | 01/29/99 | ||
Macklin vs. Macklin
03A01-9807-CV-00232
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Knox County | Court of Appeals | 01/29/99 | |
State vs. Huskey
03C01-9811-CR-00410
Originating Judge:Richard R. Baumgartner |
Knox County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/29/99 | |
State vs. Lamb
03C01-9708-CC-00346
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Hamblen County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 01/29/99 |