CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Masters v. Industrial Garments Manufacturing Co.

The plaintiff employee, Jessie Lee Masters, sought worker's compensation benefits for a 50% permanent partial disability of the body as a whole, attributed to a back injury sustained while lifting bundles on the job in April 1977. The defendant employer appealed the Chancery Court's decree, challenging the finding of an employment-related injury and compliance with notice provisions. Although medical evidence from Dr. Ronald Rosenthal supported the causation and permanency of her chronic lumbosacral strain superimposed on preexisting degenerative arthritis, the Supreme Court determined that Masters failed to provide the employer with sufficient actual knowledge of an injury as required by T.C.A., § 50-1001. The court emphasized that merely requesting a 'bundle boy' due to strenuous work did not constitute proper notice of an injury claim. Consequently, the judgment in favor of the plaintiff was reversed, and her suit was dismissed.

Permanent Partial DisabilityBack InjuryNotice of Injury RequirementActual Knowledge DoctrineEmployer ResponsibilityMedical Causation EvidenceDegenerative Arthritis ConditionLumbosacral Strain DiagnosisAppellate Court ReviewTennessee Compensation Law
References
4
Case No. W1999-01719-COA-RM-CV
Regular Panel Decision
May 25, 2000

Mary Johnson v. Leboheur Children

This medical malpractice case involves Mary Johnson and her daughter, Amman Johnson, suing LeBonheur Children's Medical Center and several physicians. The core issue on appeal was whether the hospital could be held vicariously liable for its resident physicians, who are immune from suit under the Tennessee Claims Commission Act. The trial court denied the hospital's motion for partial summary judgment, and the appellate court affirmed this decision. The court reasoned that the residents' statutory immunity does not automatically extend to their principal or master in an established master/servant relationship, allowing evidence of the residents' actions to establish the hospital's responsibility.

Medical malpracticeRespondeat superiorVicarious liabilityResident physiciansImmunityTennessee Claims Commission ActSummary judgmentAppellate reviewCardiac arrestBrain damage
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
May 15, 2006

Land Master Montg I, LLC v. Town of Montgomery

In this case, petitioners Land Master and Roswind Farmland Corp. challenged the Town of Montgomery's new Comprehensive Plan and Local Laws 4 and 5, arguing they constituted unlawful exclusionary zoning and violated the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The court, presided over by Judge Joseph G. Owen, granted the petitioners' motion regarding these claims, declaring the local laws null and void. The decision highlighted the Town's failure to adequately consider local and regional affordable housing needs and to undertake a thorough environmental review. While some of the petitioners' other claims were dismissed, they were awarded attorneys' fees. The court ordered the reinstatement of petitioners' land use applications under the prior zoning laws.

Zoning LawExclusionary ZoningAffordable HousingState Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)Comprehensive PlanLocal LegislationLand Use PlanningMulti-Family HousingTraffic ImpactJudicial Review
References
19
Case No. 80 Civil 4699
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 17, 1982

Wallace v. INTERN. ORGANIZATION OF MASTERS, ETC.

Plaintiff Oscar L. Wallace sued the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and its Ex. President Capt. Robert J. Lowen after his application for union membership was denied. He alleged wrongful denial of admission, termination of applicant status, denial of due process, equal protection violations, refusal to refer to job assignments, violation of his right to sue, conspiracy, and racial discrimination. The court dismissed most of his claims, including those based on alleged membership rights and civil rights violations, finding he had no vested right to membership and failed to show state action or a conspiracy. However, the court denied the motion to dismiss the claim for breach of fair representation, acknowledging the union's duty to an applicant regarding job referrals.

Union MembershipFair RepresentationDue ProcessCivil RightsFederal JurisdictionMotion to DismissLabor LawConspiracyRacial DiscriminationEmployment Rights
References
38
Case No. 15-25-00201-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 06, 2025

WCH Master Community, Inc. v. Thomas Wolf and Eileen Wolf

This case involves an appeal by WCH Master Community, Inc. (Appellant/Plaintiff) challenging a trial court's order concerning restrictive covenants. The Association denied the Wolfs' (Appellees/Defendants) application to install a 25-foot pole for a security camera, citing violations of aesthetic harmony and design guidelines. The trial court denied the Association's summary judgment motion and partially granted the Wolfs' motion, interpreting the Texas Property Code as broadly prohibiting restrictions on security measures. The Association argues this interpretation is overly expansive, potentially undermining all restrictive covenants, and that their denial was specifically for the pole's placement, not the security camera itself.

Restrictive CovenantsHomeowners AssociationSecurity MeasuresTexas Property CodeSummary JudgmentAppellate ReviewArchitectural ControlTexas LawProperty RightsFencing
References
13
Case No. 13-00-578-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 28, 2002

Tony Bender, D/B/A Master Trainer Co. v. Ruben Moya

Tony Bender d/b/a Master Trainer Co. appealed a take-nothing judgment in his suit for breach of contract and fraud against Ruben Moya. Bender alleged Moya failed to obtain building permits for a dog kennel facility, leading to stop-work orders from the City of Corpus Christi. The jury found that Moya did not agree to obtain the permits. Bender contended that the trial court erred by refusing his requested jury instruction, which incorporated an implied covenant for contractors to comply with relevant city codes. The appellate court distinguished the referenced case, noting Bender's knowledge of platting requirements and the lack of evidence that Moya agreed to plat the property. The court affirmed the trial court's judgment, concluding there was no abuse of discretion in refusing the instruction.

Breach of ContractFraudJury InstructionAppellate ReviewAbuse of DiscretionImplied CovenantConstruction ContractBuilding PermitsPlatting RequirementsCity Codes
References
5
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Fourakre v. Perry

This is an abridged opinion concerning a wrongful death action filed by Theron Fourakre against James D. Perry, a State Trooper, following a vehicle collision on August 24, 1980, which resulted in the death of Fourakre's wife. Perry appealed an order from the Trial Court denying his motion to dismiss, which argued that a prior decision by the Board of Claims for the State of Tennessee, exonerating Perry from negligence, rendered the current action res judicata. The Board of Claims had found insufficient evidence of Trooper Perry's negligence while operating an emergency vehicle during an emergency call. The appellate court examined the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel, particularly regarding administrative agency decisions and the mutuality of estoppel in cases involving a master and servant, even when parties are not identical. Ultimately, the court determined that Fourakre had waived his right to a jury trial on the issue of negligence by participating in the Board of Claims proceeding and that the Board's finding of no negligence against the State (master) estopped the plaintiff from relitigating the issue against the trooper (servant). The Trial Court's decision to overrule the motion to dismiss was reversed, and the case was remanded for the entry of summary judgment, dismissing the plaintiff's suit.

Wrongful DeathInterlocutory AppealMotion to DismissSummary JudgmentRes JudicataCollateral EstoppelAdministrative Agency DecisionMutuality of EstoppelMaster-Servant LiabilityWaiver of Jury Trial
References
21
Case No. 05-13-01734-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 19, 2014

Robert Karlseng v. Wells Fargo, N.A.

Robert Karlseng appealed a trial court's order authorizing a receiver to take possession of his income as a lawyer to satisfy a judgment. Karlseng argued there was no order adjudicating Wells Fargo's right as a judgment creditor and that his income constituted "wages" exempt from execution. The court found that a letter from the Comptroller of the Currency sufficiently established Wells Fargo's authority to enforce the judgment after merging with Wachovia Bank. Regarding the income, the court affirmed that Karlseng failed to prove his income was exempt wages, as he did not demonstrate an employer-employee (master-servant) relationship, particularly given his wife's significant salary from the same company without active employment. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's order.

Turnover OrderReceiver AppointmentJudgment CollectionWages ExemptionIndependent ContractorEmployer-Employee RelationshipAppellate ReviewAbuse of DiscretionPostjudgment RemediesTexas Civil Practice
References
8
Case No. No. 1215; No. 1215-A
Regular Panel Decision

Eagle Trucking Co. v. Texas Bitulithic Co.

This case involves consolidated appeals stemming from a collision between a dump truck driven by Johnnie Wesley Guin and a winch truck operated by Robert G. Fitch on a Texas highway. The appellate court addressed issues of negligence per se, comparative negligence, and vicarious liability. The court found Fitch and Eagle Trucking Company negligent as a matter of law for blocking the highway, and reversed and remanded the judgment against Guin and Peden for a new trial on damages and comparative negligence. Additionally, the court affirmed directed verdicts for G & G Construction Company and Texas Bitulithic Company, concluding that Guin was an independent contractor and no master-servant relationship existed for vicarious liability.

Vehicle CollisionNegligence Per SeProximate CauseComparative NegligenceIndependent ContractorVicarious LiabilityMaster-Servant RelationshipStatutory ViolationHighway SafetyPersonal Injury
References
53
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Calhoun v. Hill

Edward P. Calhoun and wife sued Homer A. (Bud) Hill for the wrongful death of their son, Robert Calhoun, who died after being crushed by a hydraulic gate at Hill's feed lot. The incident occurred when Robert and another employee, Wesley Johnson, were racing through a dipping vat, with foreman Ted Hankins acting as a starter, during work hours but while waiting for lumber. The jury initially found in favor of the Calhouns, determining that Johnson and Hankins were in the course of their employment and negligent. However, the trial court granted Hill's motion for judgment non obstante veredicto. On appeal, the court affirmed the trial court's decision, holding that the employees' actions (the race) were personal and not in furtherance of Hill's business, thus suspending the master-servant relationship and relieving Hill of liability. The court also ruled that the foreman's awareness did not impose a duty on the employer to forbid such personal activities.

NegligenceWrongful DeathScope of EmploymentMaster-Servant RelationshipJudgment Non Obstante VeredictoVice-PrincipalPersonal ActivityEmployer LiabilityAppellate ReviewProximate Cause
References
13
Showing 1-10 of 1,895 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational