
Here is today's issue of TBALink Opinion-Flash. What follows is the document name, first paragraph and the names of the attorneys for the parties (If you know one of them you might want to give them a call, chances are they don't know about the opinion yet) of each electronic opinion/rules released TODAY from the three appellate courts.
- 00-New Opinons From TSC
- 00-New Opinons From TSC-Rules
- 10-New Opinons From TSC-Workers Comp Panel
- 08-New Opinons From TCA
- 10-New Opinons From TCCA
There are three ways to get the full opinion from the Web: (TBALink members only)
George Dean
TBALink Chief Editor

JUANITA D. BEAN,v. ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY and CKR INDUSTRIES, INC., Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel For the Appellant: For the Appellee: Randolph A. Veazey Clinton H. Swafford Connie Jones SWAFFORD, PETERS & PRIEST GLASGOW & VEAZEY 100 First Avenue, SW Washington Square Winchester, Tennessee 37398 222 Second Ave N., Suite 312 P. O. Box 198681 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 Judge: CHILDERS First Paragraph: This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Our review is de novo on the record accompanied by a presumption that the findings of fact of the trial court are correct unless the evidence preponderates otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(2). The trial court awarded Ms. Bean $8,831.04 permanent partial disability benefits, representing forty-eight (48) weeks at the benefit rate of $183.98 per week, or twelve percent (12%) to the body as a whole; future medical expenses pursuant to the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Act; and reasonable costs of Dr. Rodriguez services. The trial court also allowed attorneys fees of twenty percent (20%) of the award, in the amount of $1,766.21, to be paid in lump sum. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/BEAN.OPN.WP6HELEN CARROLL, v.MOORE AND ASSOCIATES and TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY, Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel FOR APPELLEE: FOR APPELLANTS: ROBERT S. PETERS W. RITCHIE PIGUE 100 First Avenue, S.W. WILLIAM G. McCASKILL, JR. Winchester, TN 37398 One Union Street P. O. Box 198169 Nashville, TN 37219-8169 Judge: RUSSELL First Paragraph: This appeal from the judgment of the trial court in a workers' compensation case has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated Section 50-6-225 (e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The injured employee was awarded compensation for a 65% permanent occupational disability to her right arm. The court also ordered the recovery of the medical charges of Dr. Keith Brown, who treated the employee without the express prior approval of the employer. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/CARROLL.OPN.WP6
DONNA FORRESTER, v. OSHKOSH B'GOSH and TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY, Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel FOR APPELLANT: FOR APPELLEES: Charles L. Hicks William Ritchie Pigue Post Office Box 424 William G. McCaskill, Jr. 9 N. Court Square One Union Street Camden, TN 38320 Post Office Box 198169 Nashville, TN 37219-8169 Judge: CLARK First Paragraph: This worker's compensation appeal has been referred to the special worker's compensation appeals panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. S50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer contends the award of permanent partial disability benefits based on thirty (30%) percent to the body as a whole is excessive. This panel concurs, and modifies the award of the trial court for the reasons stated below. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/FORRESTE.OPN.WP6
BILLY GIBSON, v. AETNA CASUALTY AND SURETY CO. and WOLF TREE EXPERTS, INC., Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel For the Appellants: For the Appellee: David E. Smith Dwight E. Stokes Hodges, Doughty & Carson 119 Court Avenue 617 West Main Street Sevierville, TN 37862 P. O. Box 869 Knoxville, TN 37901-0869 Judge: THAYER First Paragraph: This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Plaintiff, Billy Gibson, was awarded 100 percent permanent disability benefits by the Circuit Court of Sevier County as a result of an accident on June 24, 1991, when he fell backward from a truck to the ground injuring his back. Defendants, Wolf Tree Experts, Inc. and The Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, have appealed insisting the evidence preponderates against the finding of total disability. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/GIBSONB.OPN.WP6
ANGELA K. HILL, v. ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY and CKR INDUSTRIES, INC., Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel For the Appellant: For the Appellee: Randolph A. Veazey Clinton H. Swafford Connie Jones SWAFFORD, PETERS & PRIEST GLASGOW & VEAZEY 100 First Avenue, SW Washington Square Winchester, Tennessee 37398 222 Second Ave N.,Suite 312 P. O. Box 198681 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 Judge: CHILDERS First Paragraph: This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Our review is de novo on the record accompanied by a presumption that the findings of fact of the trial court are correct unless the evidence preponderates otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(2). The trial court awarded Plaintiff Hill $16,212.00 permanent partial disability benefits, representing eighty (80) weeks at the benefit rate of $202.65 per week, or twenty percent (20%) permanent partial disability to the body as a whole; and future medical expenses pursuant to the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Act. The trial court also allowed an attorneys fee of twenty percent (20%) of the award, in the amount $3,242.40, to be paid in lump sum. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/HILL.OPN.WP6
BARBARA ANN HOLT, v. ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY and CKR INDUSTRIES, INC., Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel For the Appellant: For the Appellee: Randolph A. Veazey Clinton H. Swafford Connie Jones SWAFFORD, PETERS & PRIEST GLASGOW & VEAZEY 100 First Avenue, SW Washington Square Winchester, Tennessee 37398 222 Second Avenue North P. O. Box 198681 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 Judge: CHILDERS First Paragraph: This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Our review is de novo on the record accompanied by a presumption that the findings of fact of the trial court are correct unless the evidence preponderates otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(2). The trial court awarded Ms. Holt $13,196.80 permanent partial disability benefits, representing eighty (80) weeks at the benefit rate of $164.96 per week, or twenty percent (20%) to the body as a whole; and future medical benefits pursuant to the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Act. The trial court also allowed attorneys fees of twenty percent (20%) of the award, in the amount of $2,639.36, to be paid in lump sum. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/HOLT.OPN.WP6
JOHNNY JOBE, v. M. K. FERGUSON, and SECOND INJURY FUND, Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel For Appellant: For Appellee, Jobe: Donald B. Oakley J. Anthony Farmer Morristown, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee For Appellee, Second Injury Fund: Charles W. Burson Attorney General & Reporter Dianne Stamey Dycus Senior Counsel Nashville, Tennessee Judge: Loser First Paragraph: This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. section 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The issue in this appeal is whether the award of permanent disability benefits is excessive. As discussed below, we have concluded the judgment should be modified. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/JOBEVMKF.OPN.WP6
KERRY ALAN NAPIER, v. CINCINNATI CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY and NORTH CENTRAL TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE, Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel For the Appellants : For the Appellee: Jacky O. Bellar Frank D. Farrar 212 Main St. William Joseph Butler P.O. Box 332 Farrar & Holliman Carthage, TN 37030 102 Scottsville Hwy. P.O. Box 280 Lafayette, TN 37083 Judge: INMAN First Paragraph: This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The issue in this case is whether the award of 75 percent disability to the plaintiff's right hand is in accord with the preponderance of proof. Appellate review is confined to a review de novo on the record, accompanied by a presumption that the trial judge's findings of fact are correct unless the evidence otherwise preponderates. T.C.A. S 50-6-225(e)(2). A concomitant rule is that we are as enabled as the trial judge to judge the probative worth of depositional testimony. Landers v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 775 S.W.2d 355, 356 (Tenn. 1989). URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/NAPIER.OPN.WP6
SHIRLEY DIANE TRAIL, v. ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY and CKR INDUSTRIES, INC., Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel For the Appellant: For the Appellee: Randolph A. Veazey Clinton H. Swafford Connie Jones SWAFFORD, PETERS & PRIEST GLASGOW & VEAZEY 100 First Avenue, SW Washington Square Winchester, Tennessee 37398 222 Second Avenue North P. O. Box 198681 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 Judge: CHILDERS First Paragraph: This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Our review is de novo on the record accompanied by the presumption that the findings of fact of the trial court are correct unless the evidence preponderates otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(2). The trial court awarded Ms. Trail $19,421.00 permanent partial disability benefits, representing one-hundreed (100) weeks at the benefit rate of $194.21 per week, or twenty five percent (25%) to the body as a whole; and future medical benefits pursuant to the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Act. The trial court also allowed attorneys fees of twenty percent (20%) of the award, in the amount of $3,884.20, to be paid in a lump sum. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/TRAIL.OPN.WP6
RALPH D. WEST, v. SONIC DRIVE-IN and ANCO INTERSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, Court:TSC - Workers Comp Panel For the Appellants: For the Appellee: W. Stuart Scott Jacky O. Bellar SunTrust Center, 14th Floor 212 Main St. 424 Church St. P.O. Box 332 Nashville, TN 37219 Carthage, TN 37030 Judge: CHILDERS First Paragraph: This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. S 50-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The plaintiff alleged that he injured his back on November 27, 1991 while employed as a cook. He sought medical treatment about one month later and in course was referred to Dr. Fonda Bondurant, an orthopedic surgeon in Lebanon, Tennessee, who performed a hemilaminectomy and discectomy on January 27, 1992. The surgery was successful, and the plaintiff was released to return to work on March 31, 1992. Utilizing the AMA Guidelines, Dr. Bondurant gave the plaintiff an impairment rating of eight percent "strictly because he had surgical intervention performed." URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/WEST.OPN.WP6
BARNES & NOBLE SUPERSTORES,INC., d/b/a BOOKSTAR, v. JOE B. HUDDLESTON, COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE, STATE OF TENNESSEE, Court:TCA CHARLES W. BURSON Attorney General & Reporter SEAN P. SCALLY Assistant Attorney General Nashville, Tennessee Attorneys for Defendant/Appellant MARIAN F. HARRISON ALAN D. JOHNSON WILLIS & KNIGHT Nashville,Tennessee Attorneys for Plaintiff/Appellee Judge: ALAN E. HIGHERS First Paragraph: In this case, the Tennessee Commissioner of Revenue ("Commissioner") appeals from the trial court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Bookstar. The primary issue with which we are presented is whether Bookstar's sale of cards that entitle its customers to a discount on merchandise is subject to Tennessee sales tax. We hold that these sales are not subject to taxation. Consequently, we affirm the judgment of the court below. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCA/BARNESN.OPN.WP6
IN THE MATTER OF:SEAN MICHAEL CRAWFORD, a minor under 18 years of age THOMAS MATTHEW CIHLAR, v. MARY ANN CRAWFORD and RONALD SHANE CRAWFORD, Court:TCA WAYNE DETRING 103 Hazel Path Court Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075 ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER/APPELLEE JOHN L. SCHLECHTY 222 Second Avenue North Suite 360M Nashville, Tennessee 37201 ATTORNEY FOR RESPONDENTS/APPELLANTS Judge: SAMUEL L. LEWIS First Paragraph: In this appeal respondents, Mary Ann Crawford and Ronald Shane Crawford, question the trial judge's decision to deny Mary Ann Crawford's motion to dismiss the petition of petitioner, Thomas Matthew Cihlar, to "legitimate" Mary Ann Crawford's biological child. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCA/CRAWFORD.OPN.WP6
JASON NARENKIVICIUS, v. WILLIAM M. LOCANTE, D.D.S., Court:TCA GEORGE BAILEY, Memphis, Attorney for Plaintiff. RICHARD GLASSMAN, Glassman, Jeter, Edwards & Wade, Memphis, Attorney for Defendant. Judge: TOMLIN First Paragraph: This is a dental malpractice case. Jason Narenkivicius ("Plaintiff") filed suit against William Locante, D.D.S. ("Defendant") in the Circuit Court of Shelby County, alleging that the defendant had been guilty of negligence in performing a routine root canal procedure on him, that later produced an infection. Following a bench trial the court gave plaintiff a judgment in the amount of two thousand two hundred thirty five and 68/100 ($2235.68) dollars in special damages and forty thousand ($40,000.00) dollars in compensatory damages. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCA/NARENKIV.OPN.WP6
DONALD R. SHADRICK, and wife, VALERIE SHADRICK, v. CENTENNIAL MEDICAL CENTER and WESLEY L. COKER, M.D., Court:TCA G. Thomas Nebel, John B. Carlson Williams & Associates, P.C. of Nashville For Plaintiffs-Appellants Robert L. Trentham, G. Brian Jackson Trabue, Sturdivant & DeWitt of Nashville For Appellee, Wesley L. Coker C. J. Gideon, Jr., William S. Walton of Nashville For appellee, HCA Health Service of Tennessee d/b/a Centennial Medical Center Judge: W. FRANK CRAWFORD First Paragraph: Plaintiffs, Donald R. Shadrick and wife, Valerie Shadrick (hereinafter Mr. Shadrick), appeal from the order of the trial court that granted summary judgment to defendants, Centennial Medical Center (CMC) and Wesley L. Coker, M.D. In December of 1988, plaintiff Donald Shadrick suffered a disabling work-related back injury. In March of 1989, Mr. Shadrick began seeing Dr. Wesley Coker, an orthopaedic surgeon in Nashville. After examining Mr. Shadrick, Dr. Coker determined that surgery was necessary, and on April 13, 1989, Dr. Coker performed a percutaneous dissectomy on Mr. Shadrick's spine. Dr. Coker's office notes for April 18, 1989, indicate that Mr. Shadrick's back pain increased following the surgery. On May 12, 1989, Dr. Coker performed a second surgery on Mr. Shadrick in which he excised one of the discs in Mr. Shadrick's spine. Dr. Coker's notes following the second surgery indicate that Mr. Shadrick continued to experience pain in his back following the surgery. On February 5, 1990, Dr. Coker performed a third surgery on Mr. Shadrick's spine. The third surgery involved the injection of a steroid into his back. Dr. Coker's March 6, 1990 notes state that the steroid injection did not alleviate Mr. Shadrick's pain, and that following the injection "[h]is pain, in fact, is somewhat worse across his foot into his right leg in a classic distribution which he had described all along." URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCA/SHADRICK.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE, ex. rel., DOUGLAS M. SIZEMORE, Commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Insurance for the State of Tennessee, v. MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF TENNESSEE, Court:TCA CHARLES W. BURSON Attorney General and Reporter GINA J. BARHAM (BPR 10368) Deputy Attorney General 500 Charlotte Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0485 ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE DONALD R. O'GUIN, SR. 2204 Lebanon Road Nashville, Tennessee 37214 PRO SE FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT Judge: HENRY F. TODD First Paragraph: This appeal arises from the termination of the receivership of Mutual Insurance Company of Tennessee which originated on May 12, 1977. The former president of the corporation and a claimant against the estate has appealed from the final order of the Trial Court which reads as follows: This cause came on to be heard before the Honorable C. Allen High on May 5, 1995, upon the motion of the Special Deputy Commissioner David S. Weed, for an order permitting him to remit the remaining unclaimed assets of the receivership to the Division of Unclaimed Property, to approve the final accounting, to dissolve the receivership, to release the Special Special Deputy Commissioner from any further obligations and to dismiss the case. Whereupon after consideration of the motion, arguments of counsel and statements of Donald R. O'Guin, Sr. and the entire record in this cause, the Court found that the motion was well taken and should be granted. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCA/SIZEMORE.OPN.WP6
CAROL DENISE LICK STAPLES, v. MELVIN RAY STAPLES, Court:TCA John S. Wilder, Sr., Andrew S. Johnston of Somerville, Defendant-Appellant. For Appellee Richard G. Rosser of Somerville For Appellant Judge: CRAWFORD First Paragraph: This appeal involves child custody and visitation ordered by the trial court in a final decree of divorce. Plaintiff, Carol Denise Lick Staples (hereinafter Mother), and defendant, Melvin Ray Staples (hereinafter Father), were divorced by decree entered March 3, 1995. The decree awarded each a divorce from the other upon grounds of inappropriate marital conduct and divided the marital property. The decree awarded temporary custody of their four year old child, Thomas, to Mother, but postponed a decision on the issue of permanent custody. After hearings to determine the issue of permanent custody and visitation, the court entered an order on September 13, 1995 that awarded joint custody of the child to the parties with Mother having custody and control from August 15 to June 15 of each year, and Father having custody and control from June 15 to August 15 of each year. The order granted Father visitation rights consisting of weekends in Minnesota provided that Mother has two weeks advanced notice, half of Christmas vacation and spring school vacation in Tennessee. The order also provided that each party may call the child by telephone while he is in the custody of the other and that each party may be with the child on the child's birthday. Father filed a "Motion to Alter, Amend, Rehear, or for New Trial" which was denied by the trial court. Father has appealed and presents four issues for review: (1) whether the trial court erred in considering the report of Mother's psychiatrist; (2) whether the trial court erred in granting joint custody of the parties' minor child with Mother being designated as the custodial parent; (3) whether the trial court erred in its order of visitation rights; and (4) whether the trial court erred in denying Father's Motion to Alter, Amend, Rehear or for New Trial. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCA/STAPLEMR.OPN.WP6
IN RE: ESTATE OF ROBERT E. YATES, DECEASED, FRED MAYO, JR., v. ARCHIE N. SPAIN, NATIONSBANK, INC., Executor of the Estate of Robert E. Yates, Deceased, and TREVECCA NAZARENE COLLEGE, INC., Court:TCA V. Michael Fox; Bruce, Weathers, Corley, Dughman & Lyle of Nashville, for Appellant J. Robin McKinney, Jr. and Thomas T. Overton of Nashville, for Appellee, Spain T. Richard Travis; Manier, Herod, Hollabaugh & Smith of Nashville, for Appellee, Nationsbank Judge: W. FRANK CRAWFORD First Paragraph: This appeal involves a dispute concerning the purported wills of Robert E. Yates, deceased. The record on appeal, which consists only of the technical record, reflects a most bizarre series of proceedings. The record indicates that Robert E. Yates died on July 22, 1994. On August 11, 1994, Nationsbank filed a petition in the Probate Court of Davidson County to probate the will of the decedent, dated July 13, 1994, in common form, and to be appointed executor of the estate as designated in the will. An order was entered on August 11, 1994, signed by R. H. Bradshaw, Jr., Probate Master, that admits said will to probate and appoints Nationsbank as executor of the estate. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCA/YATESRE.OPN.WP6
DON ZSELTVAY, v. METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, Court:TCA DAN R. ALEXANDER, #7065 2016 8th Avenue South Nashville, Tennessee 37204 ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT ERIKA GEETTER, #14617 2016 8th Avenue South Nashville, Tennessee 37204 ATTORNEY FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE Judge: HENRY F. TODD First Paragraph: The plaintiff, Don Zseltvay, has appealed from the judgment of the Trial Court dismissing his suit to enforce the Tennessee Open Meetings Act as to an action of the Board of Parks and Recreation and to invalidate a resolution of the Metropolitan Council because it was not based upon a valid action of the Board. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCA/ZSELTVAY.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. MICHAEL ALDERSON Court:TCCA For the Appellant: For the Appellee: Gregory D. Smith Charles W. Burson Contract Appellate Defender Attorney General of Tennessee One Public Squire and Clarksville, TN 37040 Kimbra Spann (AT TRIAL AND ON APPEAL) Assistant Attorney General of Tennessee 450 James Robertson Parkway John P. Damron Nashville, TN 37243-0493 District Public Defender P.O. Box 1208 T. Michael Bottoms Pulaski, TN 38478 District Attorney General (At TRIAL) P.O. Box 459 Lawrenceburg. TN 38464-0459 and Robert C. Sanders Assistant District Attorney General 22 Public Square Columbia, TN 38402-1619 Judge:Joseph M. Tipton First Paragraph: The defendant, Michael Alderson, appeals as of right from the sentences imposed by the Maury County Circuit Court after it revoked his placement in the South Central Tennessee Community Correction Program. The trial court sentenced the defendant, as a Range I, standard offender, to a four-year term in the custody of the Department of Correction for aggravated assault, a Class C felony, a consecutive one-year term for selling a counterfeit controlled substance, a Class E felony, and a concurrent eleven-month-twenty-nine-day term for evading arrest, a Class A misdemeanor. The defendant contends that the trial court erred by enhancing the aggravated assault sentence to one year above the minimum and by requiring the two felony sentences to be served consecutively. He does not contest the revocation. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/ALDERSON.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. GILL AUSTIN Court:TCCA FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE: MICHAEL R. JONES CHARLES W. BURSON Public Defender Attorney General and Reporter 113 Sixth Avenue, West Springfield, TN 37172 CLINTON J. MORGAN Assistant Attorney General 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-0493 JOHN CARNEY District Attorney General DENT MORRISS Assistant District Attorney General 500 S. Main Street Springfield, TN 37172 Judge:DAVID H. WELLES First Paragraph: This is an appeal pursuant to Rule 3 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure. The Defendant appeals from an order of the trial court which denied the Defendants motion to correct an illegal sentence, and also denied the Defendants motion for street time. We find no error and affirm the judgment of the trial court. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/AUSTING.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE V. ANDRE CHAMBERLAIN Court:TCCA FOR THE APPELLANT FOR THE APPELLEE Robert P. Ballinger Charles W. Burson Washington Square Two, Ste. 417 Attorney General and Reporter 222 Second Avenue, North 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashvillle, Tennessee 37201 Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0493 Richard McGee Karen M. Yacuzzo Washington Square Two, Ste. 417 Assistant Attorney General 222 Second Avenue, North 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashvillle, Tennessee 37201 Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0493 Katrin Miller Assistant District Attorney General Washington Square, Ste. 500 222 Second Avenue, South Nashvillle, Tennessee 37201 Paul DeWitt Assistant District Attorney General Washington Square, Ste. 500 222 Second Avenue, South Nashvillle, Tennessee 37201 Judge:William M. Barker First Paragraph: The Appellant, Andre Chamberlain, appeals as of right his convictions and sentences for possession of 300 grams of a controlled substance with intent to sell and two counts of aggravated assault. He argues on appeal that: (1) Evidence introduced at trial should have been suppressed because it was obtained as a result of an unlawful investigatory stop. (2) The evidence presented at trial was insufficient to establish the serious bodily injury element of aggravated assault. (3) The evidence presented at trial was insufficient to establish possession of 300 grams of a controlled substance with intent to sell. (4) The trial court erred in imposing consecutive sentences. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/CHAMBERL.OPN.WP6
WILLIAM HATMAKER V. STATE OF TENNESSEE Court:TCCA For the Appellant: For the Appellee: R. Jackson Rose Charles W. Burson Route 2, Box 1-R Attorney General of Tennessee Nettleton Road and Harrogate, TN 37752 Michael J. Fahey, II Asst Attorney General of Tennessee 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-0493 William Paul Phillips District Attorney General P.O. Box 10 Huntsville, TN 37756-0010 Michael O. Ripley Assistant District Attorney General P.O. Box 323 Kingston, TN 37757-0323 Judge:Joseph M. Tipton First Paragraph: The petitioner, William Hatmaker, appeals as of right from the judgment of the Criminal Court of Campbell County denying his petition for post-conviction relief. Pursuant to an agreement, the petitioner entered a guilty plea on July 6, 1991, to first degree murder, while charges of conspiracy and solicitation to commit first degree murder were dismissed. The petitioner is currently serving a life sentence in the Department of Correction. He asserts on appeal (1) that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel and (2) that he did not voluntarily and knowingly enter his guilty plea. We disagree. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/HATMAKER.OPN.WP6
THOMAS HEBRON V. STATE OF TENNESSEE Court:TCCA FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE: Tommie Hebron, Pro Se Charles W. Burson West TN High Security Facility Attorney General & Reporter P.O. Box 1050 Henning, TN 38041-1050 Karen M. Yacuzzo Assistant Attorney General 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-0493 Joseph D. Baugh, Jr. District Attorney General Ronald L. Davis Asst. Dist. Attorney General P.O. Box 937 Franklin, TN 37064 Judge:Joseph M. Tipton First Paragraph: The appellant was convicted of first degree murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. The Tennessee Supreme Court denied permission to appeal in 1986. In 1987, the appellant was denied habeas corpus relief. In 1989, the appellant filed his first petition for post-conviction relief. The petition was dismissed. In 1994, he filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus and/or Post-Conviction Relief. His second petition was summarily dismissed. In 1995, the appellant filed a Motion to Reopen First Post-Conviction Relief. The motion was dismissed and the appellant appeals. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/HEBRONT.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE V. STEVE MCCAIN Court:TCCA FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE: JOHN HENDERSON CHARLES W. BURSON Public Defender Attorney General & Reporter 407 C Main St. P.O. Box 68 TIMOTHY F. BEHAN Franklin, TN 37065-0068 Asst. Attorney General 450 James Robertson Pkwy. Nashville, TN 37243-0493 JOE D. BAUGH District Attorney General MARK L. PURYEAR, III Asst. District Attorney General P.O. Box 937 Franklin, TN 37065-0937 Judge: JOHN H. PEAY First Paragraph: The defendant was indicted on two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of theft of property valued over one thousand dollars ($1000). He pled guilty to one count of aggravated robbery, a class B felony, with sentencing left to the court. After a hearing, the court below sentenced the defendant as a Range I standard offender to ten years incarceration. A Range I sentence for a class B felony is not less than eight and not more than twelve years. T.C.A. S 40-35-112(a)(2) (1990 Repl.). The defendant appeals as of right, complaining that his sentence is excessive. Finding no error, we affirm the sentence set by the trial court. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/MCCAINS.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE, v. ROBERT F. ODOM, Court:TCCA FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE: W. Casey Reed Charles W. Burson Attorney at Law Attorney General & Reporter 211 Printer's Alley Bldg., Suite 400 Nashville, TN 37201 Michael J. Fahey, II Assistant Attorney General 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-0493 Victor S. (Torry) Johnson District Attorney General Kymberly Haas Asst. Dist. Attorney General Washington Square, Suite 500 222-2nd Avenue North Nashville, TN 37201-1649 Judge: PAUL G. SUMMERS First Paragraph: The appellant petitioned for habeas corpus relief. He alleged that his sentence had expired. As can be gleaned from the record, he was sentenced to nine years in 1986. He was paroled in 1989. He violated his parole and was returned to custody in 1992. He was re-paroled in 1993. He again violated his parole and was taken into custody in 1994. The parole board refused to provide the appellant credit for "street time," due to his parole violations, and recalculated his sentence. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/ODOMRF.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE, v. JACK PROTZMAN, Court:TCCA For the Appellant: For the Appellee: William Carter Conway Charles W. Burson 236 Court Square Attorney General and Reporter Suite 205 450 James Robertson Parkway Franklin, TN 37064 Nashville, TN 37243-0493 Joe P. Binkley, Sr. Sarah M. Branch First American Center 450 James Robertson Parkway Suite 2395 Nashville, TN 37243 315 Deadrick Street Nashville, TN 37238 Joseph D. Baugh (On Appeal Only) District Attorney General Derek K. Smith Assistant District Attorney P.O. Box 937 Franklin, TN 37065-0937 Judge: William M. Barker First Paragraph: The appellant, Jack Protzman, appeals as of right the sentence he received after pleading guilty in the Williamson County Circuit Court to possession with intent to sell not less than ten (10) pounds nor more than seventy (70) pounds of marijuana. He was sentenced to the maximum eight (8) years as a Range II offender and a $50,000 fine was imposed. Appellant raises three issues on appeal: (1) the trial court violated sentencing principles when it sentenced him to the maximum term and imposed the maximum fine; (2) the trial court erred in ordering that the current sentence be served consecutively to any outstanding sentences in North Carolina or Texas; and (3) the trial court erred in not allowing proof of a mitigating factor. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/PROTZMAN.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE, v. JOHN WAYNE SLATE, Court:TCCA FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE: EDWARD C. MILLER CHARLES W. BURSON Public Defender Attorney General and Reporter P. O. Box 41 Dandridge, TN 37725 HUNT S. BROWN Assistant Attorney General 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243 AL SCHMUTZER, JR. District Attorney General STEVEN R. HAWKINS Assistant District Attorney Sevierville, TN 37862 Judge: JERRY L. SMITH First Paragraph: Appellant John Wayne Slate appeals the judgment of the Sevier County Criminal Court imposing a twenty-five year sentence for his second degree murder conviction. Appellant presents the following issues for review: (1) whether the trial court erred in refusing to expunge his conviction for first degree murder and (2) whether his sentence is excessive. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/SLATEJW.OPN.WP6
STATE OF TENNESSEE v. GARY W. WITHERSPOON Court:TCCA For the Appellant: For the Appellee: Larry D. Drolsum Charles W. Burson Assistant Public Defender Attorney General of Tennessee 407 C Main Street and P.O. Box 68 Clinton J. Morgan Franklin, TN 37068-0068 Counsel for the State 450 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-0493 Joseph D. Baugh, Jr. District Attorney General and Jeff P. Burks Assistant District Attorney General Williamson County Courthouse P.O. Box 937 Franklin, TN 37065-0937 Judge:Joseph M. Tipton First Paragraph: The defendant, Gary W. Witherspoon, appeals as of right from his convictions by a jury in the Williamson County Circuit Court for burglary, a Class D felony, and theft over five hundred dollars, a Class E felony. As a Range II, multiple offender, he received consecutive sentences of eight and four years, respectively, and was fined $500.00 for each offense. The defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence for his theft conviction and the consecutive nature of his sentences. URL:http://www.tba.org/tba_files/TCCA/WITHERS2.OPN.WP6

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