APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

State of Tennessee v. Barenton Barnett

E2018-01735-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Barenton Barnett, was indicted by the Polk County Grand Jury for theft of property valued at $60,000 or more, a Class B felony. Defendant pleaded no contest to vandalism of more than $2,500, a Class D felony, in exchange for a sentence of three years to be suspended on probation, and Defendant was ordered to pay $8,207 in restitution. Defendant sought to withdraw his plea. Following an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied Defendant’s motion. Defendant appeals. Having reviewed the record and the briefs of the parties, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Andrew M. Freiberg
Polk County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/09/20
State of Tennessee v. Gary Strange

E2019-00016-CCA-R3-CD

Defendant, Gary Strange, was convicted of three counts of rape of a child and one count of incest following a jury trial. The trial court sentenced Defendant to thirty years for each count of rape of a child and eight years for incest. The trial court ordered two of the thirty-year sentences to run consecutively with each other and concurrently to the remaining sentences for an effective sixty-year sentence as a Range II offender. On appeal, Defendant contends that: (1) the trial court erred by admitting the victim’s forensic interview; (2) the trial court erred by failing to require the State to make an election of offenses; (3) the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions; (4) there was a fatal variance between the indictment and the evidence; and (5) his sentence is excessive. After a thorough review of the briefs and the record, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:Judge Bobby R. McGee
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/09/20
Samantha Beau Ballard v. Casey John Ballard

M2019-00990-COA-R3-CV

A father filed a petition to modify a parenting plan in which he sought to change the primary residential parent or modify the residential schedule. The trial court denied his petition, and he appealed. We hold that the father failed to establish a material change of circumstances to justify any change to the parties’ parenting plan and affirm the trial court’s judgment.
 

Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge Ted A. Crozier
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 04/09/20
Steven J. Strange Et Al. v. Hank E. Roberts, Et Al.

M2019-01060-COA-R3-CV

The owners of the dominant estate sued the owners of the servient estate of an easement to Tanner’s Bar, a piece of land near a river.  The trial court ruled that the easement was an easement appurtenant for ingress and egress only and did not entitle the dominant estate owners to engage in recreational activities at Tanner’s Bar.  The trial court further ruled that a member of the dominant estate family had to accompany all invitees to the easement.  Having concluded that the intent of the easement was for the dominant estate owners to have the right to enjoy the river at Tanner’s Bar, we reverse the decision of the trial court prohibiting recreational use.  We have further determined that the trial court erred in requiring that a dominant estate family member be present with invitees. 

Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge Christopher V. Sockwell
Maury County Court of Appeals 04/09/20
In Re Zaylee W.

M2019-00342-COA-R3-PT

A father appeals the trial court’s decision to terminate his parental rights based on the grounds of (1) abandonment by willful failure to support, (2) substantial noncompliance with the permanency plan, and (3) failure to manifest an ability and willingness to personally assume legal and physical custody or financial responsibility of the child.  He further challenges the trial court’s finding by clear and convincing evidence that termination of his parental rights was in the best interest of the child.  We affirm the trial court’s termination of the father’s parental rights but vacate the court’s judgment regarding two of the grounds for termination.

Authoring Judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating Judge:Judge Barry R. Tidwell
Cannon County Court of Appeals 04/09/20
IN RE ELI S.

M2019-00974-COA-R3-PT

In this termination of parental rights case, both parents appeal the trial court’s termination of their parental rights to their son upon numerous statutory grounds and upon its finding that termination was in the child’s best interest.  Upon our review, we conclude that the record contains clear and convincing evidence supporting the trial court’s determinations with respect to certain grounds though not others and that termination was in the best interest of the child.  Accordingly, we reverse portions of the court’s order finding that certain grounds for termination were established, affirm the remainder of the grounds and the best interest determination, and affirm the termination of Mother’s and Father’s parental rights.

Authoring Judge: Judge Richard H. Dinkins
Originating Judge:Judge Charles L. Rich
Bedford County Court of Appeals 04/09/20
Shirley Collins et al. v. John D. Carter et al.

E2018-01365-COA-R3-CV

Four family members sued their former employer and eight individual defendants after their employment was terminated amid allegations of malfeasance. The complaint alleged nine causes of action. The court dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims against the former employer and six of the eight individual defendants on summary judgment. The plaintiffs and the remaining two defendants then became embroiled in an extended discovery battle. The battle ended with the trial court dismissing the remaining claims with prejudice based on the plaintiffs’ failure to cooperate in discovery. We conclude that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment on the contract claims because the contract at issue was not ultra vires. Because we reverse that portion of the trial court’s decision, we also reverse the award of attorney’s fees under Tennessee Code Annotated § 29-20-113(a). We affirm the trial court in all other respects.

Authoring Judge: Judge W. Neal McBrayer
Originating Judge:Judge Alex Pearson
Greene County Court of Appeals 04/09/20
State of Tennessee v. Anthony Wallace

W2019-01175-CCA-R3-CD

Anthony Wallace (“Defendant”), pro se, appeals the summary dismissal of his Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36 motion to correct what he claims were errors in his judgments of conviction. Defendant filed an untimely notice of appeal. Because we can find no errors in the judgments of conviction, the interest of justice does not warrant waiver of timely filing. The appeal is dismissed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge James M. Lammey
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/08/20
State of Tennessee v. John David Hudson

W2019-00337-CCA-R3-CD

A Madison County jury convicted the Defendant-Appellant, John D. Hudson, of evading arrest (motor vehicle flight) (count one), criminal impersonation (count two), driving with a revoked license (count three), a first offense seat-belt infraction (count four), and failure to obey a traffic control device (count five). Following a hearing, the trial court sentenced the Defendant as a Range II multiple offender to four years for evading arrest, six months for criminal impersonation, six months for driving on a revoked license, thirty days for the seat belt infraction, and thirty days for the failure to obey a traffic control device. The trial court ordered counts one, two, and three to be served consecutively, and a concurrent term of thirty days for the remaining counts, for an effective sentence of five years imprisonment. The sole issue presented on appeal is whether the trial court abused its discretion in imposing partial consecutive sentencing. Upon review, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Donald H. Allen
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/08/20
William Langston v. State of Tennessee

W2019-01354-CCA-R3-PC

William Langston, Petitioner, was initially indicted for voluntary manslaughter. The State obtained a superseding indictment charging Petitioner with first degree murder. Following a jury trial, Petitioner was convicted of second degree murder. This court affirmed his conviction on direct appeal, and the Tennessee Supreme Court denied further review. State v. William Langston, No. W2015-02359-CCA-R3-CD, 2017 WL 1968827, at *1 (Tenn. Crim. App. May 12, 2017), perm app denied (Tenn. Sept. 22, 2017). Petitioner filed for post-conviction relief claiming that he was denied the effective assistance of his first retained counsel (“trial counsel”). Following a hearing, the post-conviction court denied relief. On appeal, Petitioner asserts that trial counsel failed to convey to him a four-year settlement offer before the State obtained the superseding indictment. After a thorough review of the facts and applicable case law, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge J. Robert Carter, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/08/20
State of Tennessee v. Tyshon Booker

E2018-01439-CCA-R3-CD

During a botched robbery, sixteen-year-old Tyshon Booker, the Defendant-Appellant, shot and killed the victim, G’Metrick Caldwell. Following extensive hearings in juvenile court, the Defendant was transferred to criminal court to be tried as an adult.  At trial, the Defendant admitted that he shot the victim several times in the back while seated in the backseat of the victim’s car; however, he claimed self-defense. A Knox County jury convicted the Defendant of two counts of first-degree felony murder and two counts of especially aggravated robbery, for which he received an effective sentence of life imprisonment. In this appeal as of right, the Defendant raises the following issues for our review: (1) whether the process of transferring a juvenile to criminal court after a finding of three statutory factors by the juvenile court judge violates the Defendant’s rights under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000); (2) whether the State’s suppression of alleged eyewitness identifications prior to the juvenile transfer hearing constitutes a Brady violation, requiring remand for a new juvenile transfer hearing; (3) whether the juvenile court erred in transferring the Defendant to criminal court given defense expert testimony that the Defendant suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and was amenable to treatment; (4) whether the trial court erred in finding that the Defendant was engaged in unlawful activity at the time of the offense and in instructing the jury that the Defendant had a duty to retreat before engaging in self-defense; (5) whether an improper argument by the State in closing arguments constitutes prosecutorial misconduct requiring a new trial; (6) whether evidence of juror misconduct warrants a new trial and whether the trial court erred in refusing to subpoena an additional juror; and  (7) whether a sentence of life imprisonment for a Tennessee juvenile violates the United States and Tennessee Constitutions. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge G. Scott Green
Knox County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/08/20
In Re Caydan T.

W2019-01436-COA-R3-PT

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Mother appeals the termination of her parental rights, which the trial court granted on the grounds of persistent conditions, severe child abuse, and failure to manifest a willingness and ability to parent. Mother also appeals the trial court’s finding that the termination of her parental rights was in the child’s best interests. Finding no error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating Judge:Judge William A. Peeler
Tipton County Court of Appeals 04/07/20
Latoya Ledford, ex rel. Nayeli Roriguez v. State of Tennessee

E2019-00480-COA-R3-CV

This appeal is from the Claims Commission’s order granting the defendant’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated sections 9-8-402, 29-26-121, and 29-26- 122. We must affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Originating Judge:Commissioner William A. Young
Court of Appeals 04/07/20
State of Tennessee v. Shonique Nechelle Smith

E2019-01400-CCA-R3-CD

Shonique Nechelle Smith, Defendant, appeals from the trial court’s judgment revoking community corrections and requiring her to serve the balance of her sentence in incarceration. Discerning no error, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Barry A. Steelman
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/07/20
State of Tennessee v. Stephen Damian Ledet

E2019-00909-CCA-R3-CD

Stephen Damian Ledet, Defendant, was convicted by a jury of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance for resale and tampering with evidence. On appeal, Defendant claims the evidence was insufficient to sustain the convictions. After review of the record and briefs, we affirm the convictions.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert L. Holloway, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Donald Ray Elledge
Anderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/07/20
Jason Matthew Wyatt v. State of Tennessee

M2019-00250-CCA-R3-PC

The Petitioner, Jason Matthew Wyatt, appeals the Sumner County Criminal Court’s order summarily denying relief pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1 and summarily dismissing post-conviction relief. The Petitioner argues the trial court erred in (1) holding that the Criminal Savings Statute in Code section 39-11-112 did not apply to the amendments to the theft grading statute in Code section 39-14-105 and (2) dismissing his Rule 36.1 motion/post-conviction petition without appointing counsel. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.

Authoring Judge: Judge Camille R. McMullen
Originating Judge:Judge Dee David Gay
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/06/20
In Re: Cumberland Bail Bonding

M2017-02172-SC-R11-CD

We granted this appeal to determine whether a trial court may suspend a bonding company for violating a local rule of court requiring an agent of the bonding company to be present at court appearances of defendants for whom the bonding company serves as surety. We conclude that the local rule does not conflict with state statutes and is not arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable, and that the trial court did not err by suspending the bonding company for violating the local rule. Accordingly, the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeals is reversed, and the judgment of the trial court is reinstated. 

Authoring Judge: Justice Cornelia A. Clark
Originating Judge:Judge Larry B. Stanley, Jr.
Van Buren County Supreme Court 04/06/20
Leonard Edward Smith v. State of Tennessee

E2019-00596-CCA-R3-ECN

In 1985, a Hamblen County jury convicted the Petitioner, Leonard Edward Smith, of the first degree felony murder of victim Pierce and the first degree premeditated murder of victim Webb. Multiple appeals and remands ensued, following which the Petitioner was ultimately sentenced to two consecutive life terms. In 2017, the Petitioner filed a motion to reopen post-conviction proceedings and a petition for a writ of error coram nobis. The trial court held a hearing and denied relief. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that his motion to reopen should have been granted based on newly discovered evidence, which deprived him of a fair trial, and that he is entitled to coram nobis relief based upon the newly discovered evidence. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer
Originating Judge:Judge Thomas J. Wright
Hamblen County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/06/20
State of Tennessee v. Benjamin Scott Brewer

E2019-00355-CCA-R3-CD

Benjamin Scott Brewer, Defendant, was convicted after a jury trial of six counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, four counts of reckless aggravated assault, driving under the influence, violation of motor carrier regulations, and speeding. As a result, Defendant was sentenced to an effective sentence of 55 years in incarceration. Defendant appeals his convictions and sentences, arguing on appeal that the State violated Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963); that the trial court improperly certified a witness as a drug recognition expert; that the evidence was insufficient to show intoxication; and that the trial court improperly sentenced Defendant to consecutive sentences. Following our review, the judgments of the trial court are affirmed.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge Don W. Poole
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/06/20
In Re The Estate of Jesse L. McCants, Sr.

E2019-01159-COA-R3-CV

This is the second appeal arising from probate proceedings involving the estate of Jesse McCants, Sr. The first appeal concerned the accuracy of the personal representative’s final accounting. The trial court determined that some expenses identified by the personal representative should not be allowed. This Court affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded “for the entry of a modified order consistent with this Opinion and for such further proceedings as may be necessary and consistent with our direction herein.” The primary issue in this appeal is whether the trial court properly followed our instructions on remand. We conclude that the trial court did so; therefore, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating Judge:Chancellor Jeffrey M. Atherton
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 04/03/20
ORNL Federal Credit Union Et Al. v. Estate of Helen D. Turley Et Al.

E2019-00861-COA-R3-CV

This appeal concerns a lawsuit between brothers over funds belonging to their late mother, Helen D. Turley (“Decedent”). Tim Turley, executor of Decedent’s estate (“the Estate”), deposited $138,605.14 from a Y-12 Federal Credit Union (“Y-12 FCU”) account owned by Decedent into an estate account at ORNL Federal Credit Union (“ORNL FCU”). An issue arose because William Dean Turley was named sole payableon- death beneficiary on the Y-12 FCU account, and he asserted the funds were his. ORNL FCU filed a complaint for interpleader in the Chancery Court for Anderson County (“the Trial Court”) to determine the funds’ owner. In a cross-claim, Tim Turley and the Estate alleged that William Dean Turley exercised undue influence over Decedent and that Decedent was incompetent when she named William Dean Turley as the payable-on-death beneficiary on the account. William Dean Turley filed a motion for summary judgment, which the Trial Court granted. The Estate and Tim Turley appeal. We hold that William Dean Turley successfully demonstrated that the evidence at the summary judgment stage is insufficient to establish undue influence, fraud, or lack of mental competency, and there are no genuine issues of material fact for trial. We reverse the Trial Court’s judgment, however, to the extent it awarded attorney’s fees and expenses to William Dean Turley, as these fees and expenses were awarded in contravention of the American Rule. Otherwise, we affirm.

Authoring Judge: Judge D. Michael Swiney
Originating Judge:Chancellor M. Nichole Cantrell
Anderson County Court of Appeals 04/03/20
Jeremy Cooper v. State of Tennessee

W2019-01080-CCA-R3-PC

Petitioner, Jeremy Cooper, pled guilty to possession with intent to sell or deliver methamphetamine in an amount over .5 grams. Petitioner was sentenced to twelve-years’ incarceration to be served concurrently with a ten-year, Madison County, sentence he was already serving. Petitioner filed a petition for post-conviction relief arguing he received ineffective assistance of counsel. The
post-conviction court denied relief. After a reviewing the record, we affirm the judgement of the post-conviction court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter
Originating Judge:Judge R. Lee Moore, Jr.
Lake County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/03/20
Charles Huddleston Heaton Jr. Et Al. v. Catherine L. Mathes Et Al.

E2019-00493-COA-R9-CV

The plaintiffs filed a health care liability action against a pharmacy and other medical defendants, claiming, inter alia, that the defendants failed to provide proper patient counseling and failed to warn of the risks associated with a prescription drug. The pharmacy defendants subsequently filed a motion to dismiss, asserting that the gravamen of the complaint against them was a products liability action rather than a health care liability action. The defendants further asserted that the “seller shield” defense found within the Tennessee Products Liability Act provided them with immunity from liability. The trial court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss, ruling that the complaint stated a health care liability action rather than a products liability action. The trial court subsequently granted the defendants’ motion for permission to seek interlocutory appeal regarding whether the seller shield defense contained within the Tennessee Products Liability Act could be asserted when the plaintiffs’ claim is made pursuant to the Tennessee Health Care Liability Act. Following our thorough consideration of the issue, we affirm the trial court’s judgment, determining that the seller shield defense found in the Tennessee Products Liability Act is inapplicable to claims made under the Tennessee Health Care Liability Act.

Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating Judge:Judge Deborah C. Stevens
Knox County Court of Appeals 04/03/20
Roy L.Crawford v. Georgia Crowell, Warden

E2019-01199-CCA-R3-HC

The Petitioner, Roy L. Crawford, appeals the Johnson County Criminal Court’s summary dismissal of his petition for a writ of habeas corpus for the alleged unlawful detainment related to an escape charge, for which he was not convicted, and to his second degree murder conviction, for which he received a life sentence.  The Petitioner contends that the habeas corpus court erred by summarily dismissing his petition.  We affirm the judgment of the habeas corpus court.

Authoring Judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Originating Judge:Judge Stacy L. Street
Johnson County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/02/20
Carlos Rice v. Jonathan Lebo, Warden

W2019-01753-CCA-R3-HC

The pro se petitioner, Carlos Rice, appeals the denial of his petition for writ of habeas corpus by the Circuit Court for Lauderdale County, arguing the habeas corpus court erred in summarily dismissing the petition. The petitioner asserts that his sentence has expired and that he is being held past his release date. Following our review, we affirm the habeas court’s dismissal of the petition because the petitioner has failed to show he is entitled to relief.

Authoring Judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Originating Judge:Judge Joe H. Walker, III
Lauderdale County Court of Criminal Appeals 04/02/20