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Case Law Database

Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. 01C01-9606-CC-00236
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 18, 1998

State v. Pat Bondurant (Death Penalty)

Pat Bondurant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and arson. The jury found aggravating factors, including a prior violent felony conviction and that the murder involved torture or depravity of mind, leading to a death sentence. Bondurant appealed, raising numerous issues concerning jury selection, pre-trial publicity, counsel's effectiveness, sufficiency of evidence, marital privilege, prior criminal acts, and the constitutionality of the death penalty. The appellate court affirmed all convictions and the death sentence, finding no reversible error and concluding that the evidence supported the jury's findings, and the sentence was not arbitrary or disproportionate.

MurderArsonFirst-degree murderCapital punishmentDeath penaltyPremeditationDeliberationCircumstantial evidenceJury selection irregularitiesIneffective assistance of counsel
References
176
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 11, 2001

State v. Carruthers

The Tennessee Supreme Court reviewed the convictions and death sentences of Tony Carruthers and James Montgomery for three counts of first-degree premeditated murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated robbery. The Court affirmed Carruthers' convictions and death sentences, finding no reversible errors and sufficient evidence. However, the Court reversed Montgomery's convictions and sentences, remanding for a new trial due to prejudicial error in denying his motion for severance, exacerbated by Carruthers' self-representation. The opinion also discussed the admissibility of co-conspirator statements and the constitutionality of gag orders on trial participants.

First-degree MurderDeath Penalty AffirmationConviction ReversalSeverance ErrorPro Se RepresentationForfeiture of CounselGag Order ConstitutionalityCo-conspirator HearsayPremeditated KillingAggravated Kidnapping
References
129
Case No. E2002-01123-CCA-R3-DD
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 22, 2005

State of Tennessee v. Arthur T. Copeland

Arthur T. Copeland was convicted of first degree premeditated murder in Blount County and sentenced to death. On appeal, he raised numerous issues including sufficiency of the evidence, exclusion of jurors, validity of indictment, admission of testimony, and various constitutional challenges to the death penalty. The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee reversed the conviction and sentence, finding reversible error in the trial court's handling of the defendant's right not to testify. Additionally, the court concluded that the death penalty in this case was disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering the nature of the crime and the defendant's role. The case was remanded for further proceedings.

First degree murderPremeditated murderDeath penaltyAggravating circumstancesMitigating circumstancesCriminal responsibilityEyewitness identificationProsecutorial misconductDiscovery violationsRight to testify
References
130
Case No. M2003-00539-CCA-R3-DD
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 27, 2006

State v. Reid

The defendant, Paul Dennis Reid, Jr., was convicted of multiple counts of premeditated murder, felony murder, attempted murder, and especially aggravated robbery stemming from a McDonald's restaurant incident. He was subsequently sentenced to death. The Supreme Court of Tennessee affirmed the convictions and death sentences, addressing various issues including the defendant's competence to stand trial, the admissibility of evidence regarding weapon possession and financial condition, the introduction of evidence from prior murders to establish a 'mass murder' aggravating circumstance, and the trial judge's denial of a recusal motion. The court found no reversible error in the trial proceedings or the sentencing phase, upholding the death sentences based on overwhelming evidence of aggravating circumstances despite the presentation of mitigating factors related to his unstable childhood and mental health.

MurderFelony MurderAttempted MurderAggravated RobberyDeath PenaltyCompetency to Stand TrialAggravating CircumstancesMitigating CircumstancesProportionality ReviewEyewitness Identification
References
148
Case No. 06-19-00063-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 05, 2020

Reverse Mortgage Funding, LLC v. Carla Nagle Blevins Robertson

Reverse Mortgage Funding, LLC (RMF) appealed a default judgment entered against it after failing to timely answer a lawsuit filed by Carla Nagle Blevins Robertson. Robertson sought to quiet title, asserting that Katie Nagle, who entered a reverse mortgage with RMF's predecessor, only possessed a life estate that terminated upon her death, rendering the mortgage void. RMF moved for a new trial, claiming a meritorious defense as a bona fide mortgagee without actual or constructive notice of Robertson's claim. The Court of Appeals initially affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding RMF failed to factually support its claims of lacking notice. Subsequently, the parties settled, leading to the appeal's dismissal, though the court denied the request to withdraw its earlier opinion, citing its public importance.

Default JudgmentMeritorious DefenseBona Fide MortgageeQuiet Title ActionLife EstateReverse MortgageActual NoticeConstructive NoticeAppellate ProcedureMotion for New Trial
References
24
Case No. 10-14-00157-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 04, 2015

Thomas H. Sinclair v. Estate of Fernando Ramirez and Eva Ramirez, Individually, and Personal Representative of the Estate of Fernando Ramirez, and on Behalf of All Wrongful Death Beneficiaries

This case involves an appeal from a jury verdict in a wrongful death and survivorship action. Appellant Thomas H. Sinclair challenges the verdict in favor of the Estate of Fernando Ramirez and Eva Ramirez. Fernando Ramirez died after an altercation at Sinclair's cabaret, following heavy drinking. The jury found Sinclair partly responsible, but the appellate court reversed the judgment, concluding that the appellees failed to present legally sufficient causation evidence directly connecting Sinclair’s purported negligence with the decedent’s death due to the lack of expert medical testimony ruling out other plausible causes.

NegligenceProximate CauseWrongful DeathSurvivorship ActionExpert TestimonyMedical CausationBlunt Force Head InjuriesAlcohol IntoxicationAppellate ReviewLegal Sufficiency
References
37
Case No. W2012-00612-CCA-R3-PD
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 29, 2014

Robert Faulkner v. State of Tennessee

The Petitioner, Robert Faulkner, appealed the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his conviction of first degree premeditated murder and death sentence. The Court concluded that due to the jury foreperson’s false statements about past domestic violence and criminal history, the Petitioner was denied his constitutional right to a fair and impartial jury. This juror failed to disclose relevant information during voir dire and on the questionnaire, which is considered a structural error requiring automatic reversal. The judgment of the post-conviction court is reversed, the conviction and death sentence are vacated, and the case is remanded to the trial court for a new trial.

Criminal LawCapital PunishmentPost-Conviction ReliefJuror BiasDomestic ViolenceIneffective Assistance of CounselDeath PenaltyDue ProcessEighth AmendmentConstitutional Law
References
71
Case No. W2006-01381-CCA-R3-PD
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 01, 2009

Perry Anthony Cribbs v. State of Tennessee

Perry Anthony Cribbs appealed the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from convictions including first-degree felony murder and a death sentence, raising claims of actual innocence and ineffective assistance of counsel. The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee, while affirming the post-conviction court's ruling on mental retardation based on specific IQ cutoffs, focused on the trial counsel's deficient performance. The court found that counsel failed to adequately investigate and present mitigating evidence concerning Cribbs' mental impairments during the sentencing phase. This oversight rendered the sentencing phase fundamentally unfair, leading to the reversal of the death sentence and a remand for a new capital sentencing hearing. The judgment regarding the guilt phase of the trial was affirmed, and the presiding post-conviction judge was disqualified from further proceedings.

Capital PunishmentDeath Sentence ReversedIneffective Assistance of CounselMental ImpairmentPost-Conviction ReliefSentencing RemandNeurological DysfunctionBrain AtrophyIQ ScoresAdaptive Behavior Deficits
References
92
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Arena v. Crown Asphalt Co.

Thomas Arena (decedent) sustained a work-related foot injury in 1980, leading to workers' compensation benefits and subsequent renal failure. Decedent and his wife (claimant) filed a third-party medical malpractice action against treating physicians and the hospital, which was settled in 1988 through a structured settlement. A stipulation between the carrier and decedent outlined the carrier's offset credit against decedent's workers' compensation claim and reserved rights against future death benefits claims, but claimant was not a signatory. After decedent's death in 1993, claimant filed for death benefits, prompting the carrier to seek an offset credit from the third-party settlement proceeds. The Workers’ Compensation Board initially found the carrier entitled to a credit, but later reversed itself, ruling against any credit. The appeals court determined that the carrier sufficiently preserved its offset rights through a general release signed by both claimant and decedent. However, it found no clear agreement on the specific offset amount in the stipulation or settlement that applied to claimant's death benefits. Consequently, the Board's decision of zero credit was reversed, and the matter was remitted for a factual determination of the precise credit amount.

Offset CreditThird-Party SettlementDeath Benefits ClaimRenal FailureMedical MalpracticeStipulation AgreementGeneral ReleaseWaiver of RightsStructured SettlementApportionment of Damages
References
12
Case No. 772 S.W.2d 417
Regular Panel Decision
May 15, 1989

State v. Melson

Hugh Melson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He filed a post-conviction petition alleging ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to present mitigating evidence during the sentencing phase of his trial. The trial court denied the petition, but the Court of Criminal Appeals reversed, finding counsel ineffective and ordering a new sentencing hearing. The Supreme Court of Tennessee reversed the Court of Criminal Appeals' decision, holding that counsel's decision not to re-offer cumulative mitigating evidence at the sentencing phase was a reasonable strategic choice, as such evidence had already been extensively presented during the guilt phase. Consequently, the Supreme Court dismissed Melson's post-conviction petition.

Post-conviction reliefIneffective assistance of counselDeath penaltySentencing phaseMitigating evidenceStrategic decisionsSixth AmendmentAdversarial processJudicial scrutinyCumulative evidence
References
31
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