The defendant, Vincent Tredeau McCord, was convicted of three counts of rape of a child, three counts of aggravated sexual battery, and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor by electronic means, and he was sentenced to an effective term of sixty years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. On appeal, the defendant argues that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his convictions and that the trial court erred in allowing testimony that the victim’s mother suffered a medical event that caused the loss of a pregnancy. Following a thorough review of the record, the briefs, and oral arguments of the parties, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

In 1996, a Montgomery County jury convicted the Defendant, Courtney B. Mathews, of four counts of felony murder and one count of especially aggravated robbery. The Defendant received consecutive terms of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for each felony murder conviction and twenty-five years for the especially aggravated robbery conviction. This court affirmed his convictions and sentences on direct appeal. The Defendant sought post-conviction relief, and this court subsequently held that he was entitled to post-conviction relief with respect to the motion for a new trial. On remand, the Defendant filed an amended motion for a new trial, and following a hearing, the trial court reduced his sentence for especially aggravated robbery to twenty years but otherwise denied his motion. On appeal, the Defendant raises challenges regarding the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction for especially aggravated robbery, the validity of the indictment, and the State’s failure to elect an offense; the admission into evidence of a black denim jacket; the State’s failure to correct false testimony; the trial court’s failure to grant a mistrial based on an impermissible outside influence on the jury; the trial court’s refusal to allow additional closing arguments after it gave a supplemental jury instruction on criminal responsibility during jury deliberations; the trial court’s failure to issue an enhanced identification jury instruction; the trial court’s jury instruction on the reliability of fingerprint evidence; the State’s reliance on the especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel aggravating circumstance during his trial while asserting that the aggravating circumstance could not be supported during the co-defendant’s subsequent trial; and the trial judge’s failure to recuse himself from the trial and post-trial proceedings. The Defendant also argues that the cumulative effect of the errors entitles him to a new trial. Upon our review, we respectfully disagree and affirm the judgments of the trial court.

This is an appeal concerning the application of the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act, specifically to Tennessee Code Annotated sections 29-20-203, 29-20-204, and 29-20- 205 of the Act. At issue is the trial court’s entry of summary judgment dismissing the plaintiff’s claims against a county government for damages sustained from an automobile accident allegedly caused by the washout of a road maintained by the county. For the reasons stated herein, we conclude that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment regarding the plaintiff’s claims under Tennessee Code Annotated sections 29-20-203 and 29-20-204. As to certain holdings the trial court made with respect to the pursuit of relief pursuant to section 29-20-205, we do not disturb the action of the trial court inasmuch as the plaintiff effectively abandons any reliance on that particular Code section on appeal.

This action involves the termination of a father’s parental rights to his minor children. Following a bench trial, the court found that clear and convincing evidence existed to establish the statutory grounds of severe child abuse and failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody of the children. The court also found that termination was in the best interest of the children. We affirm the trial court’s termination decision.

This is a dependency and neglect case. Appellants/parents do not dispute the trial court’s finding that the children are dependent and neglected. Rather, the sole issue involves whether the trial court’s disposition, under Tennessee Code Annotated section 37-1-130, was made in compliance with section 37-1-130(c) and, if so, whether the placement of the children with their aunt was “best suited to the protection and physical, mental and moral welfare of the child[ren].” Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-130(a). Affirmed and remanded.

In this divorce action, the husband appeals the trial court’s (1) distribution of the marital estate; (2) award to the wife of modifiable transitional alimony; and (3) two awards to the wife of alimony in solido, one for half of what the court found to be assets dissipated by the husband and one for attorney’s fees incurred in prosecuting the divorce. The husband also appeals the trial court’s adoption of the wife’s proposed permanent parenting plan and a requirement that the husband attend in-person reunification therapy with the parties’ children in their home city of Chattanooga. Upon careful review, we determine that the trial court erred in failing to set a determinate time period for transitional alimony, and we accordingly modify the transitional alimony award to a five-year period. We affirm the trial court’s judgment in all other respects. Exercising our discretion, we deny the wife’s request for an award of attorney’s fees on appeal.

This is a termination of parental rights case. The trial court terminated Mother’s parental rights to the two minor children on the grounds of: (1) abandonment by failure to visit; (2) abandonment by failure to establish a suitable home; (3) substantial noncompliance with the permanency plans; (4) severe child abuse; (5) persistence of the conditions that led to the children’s removal; and (6) failure to manifest an ability and willingness to assume custody. The trial court also determined that termination of Mother’s parental rights is in the children’s best interests. As an initial matter, Mother asserts that, having surrendered her parental rights at the outset of the hearing (she later rescinded her surrender), the trial court was required to continue the hearing under Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1- 112. We hold that Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1-112 does not require a trial court to either continue or delay a contested termination hearing when a parent surrenders his or her parental rights before or during the hearing. We reverse the trial court’s termination of Mother’s parental rights on the ground of severe child abuse. We affirm the trial court’s termination of Mother’s parental rights on all remaining grounds and on its finding that termination of Mother’s parental rights is in the children’s best interests.

In a TBA Today news item last week, the funeral information for Former Judge Anthony Andrew "Andy" Jackson was incorrect. A visitation with the family will be held on Sept. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. CDT at the Clement Railroad Museum, 100 Frank Clement Pl., Dickson 37055, with a Memorial Mass to follow at 2 p.m. at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 713 W. College St.

Tennessee Court Talk, a podcast produced by the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts, offers insights into legal topics for judges, attorneys, law students and the general public. The latest episode features Justice Roger Page, who retired from the Tennessee Supreme Court at the end of August. He reflects on 25 years of judicial service. This and other episodes can be accessed at www.tncourts.gov or on popular podcast platforms.

The elevators at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center are in a state of disrepair, causing significant inconvenience and safety concerns for employees, visitors and inmates, the Daily Memphian reports. The county plans to replace the elevators, but construction is years away. In the meantime, the paper reports that workers in the building have expressed frustration and concern over the ongoing issues, including the risk of violence when inmates must be escorted through public hallways due to malfunctioning elevators. Earlier this year, Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies relocated inmates after a power surge broke cell locks at the jail. In related news, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is asking the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for $15.5 million for “emergency” jail repairs. That request is set to be considered at the commission's meeting on Monday.