Court of Appeals Opinions

Format: 05/19/2013
Format: 05/19/2013
Ruby Blackmon v. Eaton Electrical, et al.
W2012-02039-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Presiding Judge Alan E. Highers
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Arnold B. Goldin

Appellant’s claim for unemployment benefits was denied based upon a finding of work-related misconduct. Appellant sought review in the chancery court, which upheld the decision of the Commissioner’s Designee. On appeal to this Court, Appellant claims that the chancery court erred in denying her request for a continuance and in affirming the decision of the Commissioner’s Designee without considering the evidence which purportedly would have been introduced had a continuance been allowed. We affirm the decision of the chancery court.

Shelby County Court of Appeals 05/17/13
Willowmet Homeowners Association, Inc. v. City of Brentwood, Tennessee
M2012-01315-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Frank G. Clement
Trial Court Judge: Judge Timothy L. Easter

The homeowners’ association of a residential subdivision in Brentwood,Tennessee seeks just compensation from the City of Brentwood for loss of property rights in a portion of the subdivision’s open space. The City acquired the property by purchasing it from the developers of the subdivision without the Association’s knowledge. The Declaration of Protection Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions of the subdivision, which the developers drafted and of which the City was on notice, states that the developers “will deed the completed Open Space on the subject Properties to the Association free and clear of any encumbrances before the first Lot is conveyed to a Lot Owner.” Although they sold the first individual lot in 2001, the developers did not convey any of the open space to the homeowners’ association until after the sale to the City. This action by the homeowners’ association ensued. The trial court summarily dismissed the action on the City’s motion, finding the homeowners’ association did not own a compensable property right in the Open Space when it was sold to the City. We have determined the homeowner’s association had an equitable interest in the Open Space pursuant to the Declaration of Protective Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions when it was sold to the City; therefore, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

Williamson County Court of Appeals 05/16/13
D'Army Bailey, et al. v. Shelby County, Tennessee, et al.
W2012-01498-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Senior Judge Donald P. Harris

Plaintiffs, former part-time Shelby County employees, claim they were wrongfully excluded from Shelby County’s retirement plan. The trial court dismissed all claims based on the six year limitations period applicable to contract actions. We affirm in part, reverse in part, vacate in part, and remand.

Shelby County Court of Appeals 05/16/13
Robert Trey Wood, III v. Jennifer Rose Wood
W2012-01250-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Trial Court Judge: Judge W. Michael Maloan

Mother appeals the trial court’s order naming Father primary residential parent and setting child support. Discerning no error, we affirm and remand.

Obion County Court of Appeals 05/16/13
Tyrone Spates v. Tracy Howell and Robert Preston
W2012-02743-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Trial Court Judge: Judge J. Weber McCraw

Appellant appeals the dismissal of his complaint against the prison’s medical staff for failure to properly diagnose and treat him. The trial court determined that Appellant prisoner’s claims were barred by the applicable statute of limitations, which was not tolled by operation of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 29-26-121. Appellant also appeals the trial court’s findings concerning his status as an indigent person. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm and remand.

Hardeman County Court of Appeals 05/16/13
Minor Miracle Productions, LLC, An Idaho Limited Liability Company, and David L. Richards v. Randy Starkey
M2012-01145-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Judge George C. Sexton

This is the second appeal in this case. In the first appeal, this Court affirmed the trial court’s enrollment of a foreign judgment acquired by the petitioners against the respondent in Idaho, and the case was remanded for enforcement proceedings. On remand the respondent refused to comply with the Idaho judgment, so the petitioners filed a motion for contempt and for an order to compel compliance with the judgment. The respondent did not attend the hearing. The trial court found the respondent to be in contempt of court for refusing to comply with the Idaho judgment. The respondent now appeals. We dismiss the appeal, because the issues raised on appeal were not first raised in the trial court, and the respondent did not comply with either Rule 24(c) or Rule 27 of the Tennessee Rules of Appellate Procedure.
 

Cheatham County Court of Appeals 05/15/13
Kim Brown v. Autozone, Inc., et al.
W2012-01255-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Trial Court Judge: Judge Robert L. Childers

The trial court entered summary judgment in favor of Defendants in this action asserting claims for fraudulent misrepresentation; civil conspiracy; negligence, breach of contract; and violation of the Consumer Protection Act. Plaintiff appeals; we affirm.

Shelby County Court of Appeals 05/15/13
Federal National Mortgage Association v. TN Metro Holdings XII LLC et al
M2012-01803-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Tom E. Gray

Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) initially brought this action for foreclosure and damages against a borrower,TN Metro Holdings XII LLC (“TN Metro XII”) alleging default by failure to make scheduled principal and interest payments, by improperly allowing liens against the mortgaged property in violation of the loan agreements and by misapplication of rents collected from leasing the mortgaged property. FNMA subsequently filed an amended complaint seeking relief in the nature of personal liability against Defendant Selim Zherka under the loan. The trial court granted FNMA summary judgment and held both the borrower and “Key Principal” liable for the deficiency following a foreclosure sale and for damages. We vacate the summary judgment, holding that (1) FNMA failed to provide written notice and a thirty-day period to cure the alleged defaults as required by the parties’ agreement; and (2) there are genuine issues of material fact making summary judgment improper regarding FNMA’s claim for damages resulting from the alleged misapplication of rents.

Sumner County Court of Appeals 05/14/13
In Re: Mya E. et al
M2012-02323-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Trial Court Judge: Judge Betty Adams Green

This is a termination of parental rights case involving a set of young twins, Mya E. and Kaleah E. (“the Children”). The Children were born out of wedlock to Jasmine E. (“Mother”) and Darius M. (“Father”) on June 1, 2008. The Children, found to be dependent and neglected by Juvenile Court Order entered January 28, 2011, were placed in the custody of their maternal grandmother, Olivia E. Olivia E. filed a petition seeking to terminate the parental rights of Father and Mother on March 30, 2012. The petition alleged as grounds statutory abandonment and persistence of conditions. Mother later joined in the petition to terminate her parental rights. Following a bench trial, the trial court granted the petition to terminate Father’s parental rights upon its finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that Father had abandoned the Children by willfully failing to visit and support them. The court also found clear and convincing evidence that the conditions leading to removal persisted and were unlikely to be remedied in the near future. The court further found, by clear and convincing evidence, that termination of parental rights was in the Children’s best interest. Father has appealed. We affirm.

Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/13/13
In Re: Hope A.A.
E2012-01209-COA-R3-PT
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor James E. Beckner

This case concerns the termination of the mother’s parental rights. The subject child is the second born to the mother. The petitioner is a friend of the mother with whom the child has lived continuously for several years. We have determined that the record contains clear and convincing evidence to support terminating the mother’s parental rights on the three grounds relied upon by the trial court: abandonment for failure to visit and to provide support and persistence of conditions. The record further supports the conclusion that terminating the mother’s parental rights is in the child’s best interest. Accordingly, we affirm the findings of the trial court.

Hamblen County Court of Appeals 05/10/13
Jerry Dean Harkleroad v. Linda Althea Turner Harkleroad
E2012-01804-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge John W. McClarty
Trial Court Judge: Judge Jean A. Stanley

This appeal concerns a requested post-divorce modification of alimony in futuro. Husband sought a reduction in his support obligation owed to Wife, alleging that he had not received a paycheck in two years and that Wife was eligible for Medicare and no longer in need of his assistance for health insurance coverage. Following a hearing, the trial court reduced Husband’s health insurance obligation but held that Husband failed to prove a material change in circumstances that necessitated a modification in the remainder of his support obligation. Husband appeals. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

Washington County Court of Appeals 05/10/13
Thomas Goodman Rutherford v. Melodey Joice Lawson Rutherford - Separate Concurrence
M2012-01807-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joe Binkley, Jr.

I have carefully considered Judge Stafford’s energetic dissent in this case, and find that I cannot agree. I submit this separate concurrence to explain my position.
 

Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/07/13
Thomas Goodman Rutherford v. Melodey Joice Lawson Rutherford - Dissent
M2012-01807-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Trial Court Judge: Judge Joe Binkley, Jr.

Based on the application of Rule 6.02 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure to the facts of this case, I must respectfully dissent from the majority. While the majority concludes that Father’s petition is barred byhis failure to timelyfile his petition in opposition to the relocation, I would instead remand to the trial court for specific findings of fact and conclusions of law on the issue of whether Father’s delay in filing his petition was the result of excusable neglect.
 

Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/07/13