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Case Law Database

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

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 12, 1990

Commissioners of State Insurance Fund v. Valenzano

The Commissioners of the State Insurance Fund initiated an action against Marcello Valenzano, doing business as ABC Contracting Co., for unpaid workers' compensation insurance premiums. The defendant failed to comply with discovery requests, leading to an order conditionally striking his answer and later, a default judgment. Defendant's pro se motion to vacate the default judgment, asserting non-receipt of documents and partial compliance, was denied by the IAS court. The court found service proper and noted the defendant's failure to demonstrate a meritorious defense. The appellate court affirmed the decision, finding the lower court acted within its discretion to strike the answer for willful failure to comply with discovery, considering the lack of reasonable excuse and meritorious defense.

Default JudgmentDiscovery SanctionsFailure to ComplyWorkers' Compensation InsuranceVacate JudgmentMeritorious DefenseService of ProcessAppellate ReviewCivil ProcedureSupreme Court
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

John R. Wills, Jr. v. The City of Memphis

John R. Wills, Jr., sought to subdivide his property, Lot 94, in the Belle Meade Subdivision into two lots, but his application was denied by the Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board and the Memphis City Council. Wills subsequently filed a petition for writ of certiorari, leading the Chancery Court of Shelby County to reverse the City Council's decision and remand the case for a rehearing. The City of Memphis and the Memphis City Council appealed this decision. The appellate court identified an ambiguity in the Unified Development Code (UDC) regarding the applicability of "contextual infill development standards" (Section 3.9.2) to Wills' property, specifically concerning the definition of "development" in the context of surrounding properties established before 1950. The court concluded that the trial court's ruling, which stated Wills' application complied with all UDC provisions, was premature. Consequently, the appellate court affirmed in part and vacated in part the trial court's order, remanding the case for further proceedings to the City Council to definitively interpret and apply UDC Section 3.9.2(B)(1) based on the existing record.

ZoningSubdivision RegulationsLand Use ControlUnified Development Code (UDC)Administrative ReviewWrit of CertiorariAppellate ReviewArbitrary and Capricious DecisionStatutory InterpretationRemand Order
References
44
Case No. 02-12-00318-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 13, 2013

Will Williams v. America First Lloyds Insurance

Will Williams appealed the trial court's order granting summary judgment to America First Lloyds Insurance regarding his workers' compensation claim. Williams challenged a 0% impairment rating for a workplace injury, contending it should be 19%. The trial court granted summary judgment based on Williams's failure to respond to requests for admissions, which were subsequently deemed admitted. The Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment, finding no violation of due process rights, as Williams demonstrated a callous disregard for responding to the requests and provided no good cause for his inaction or evidence of fraud.

Workers' CompensationSummary JudgmentImpairment RatingDeemed AdmissionsDue ProcessAppellate ReviewMedical EvidenceTexas LawCivil ProcedureHernia Injury
References
26
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Black v. Wills

The case concerns an appeal from a summary judgment in favor of attorney Don Wills, who was sued for legal malpractice by Yuman Black. Black's original worker's compensation claim was dismissed in November 1982 due to Wills' failure to appear for trial. Black subsequently filed a malpractice suit against Wills in April 1985, alleging negligence, breach of contract, and breach of implied warranty. Wills sought summary judgment, arguing the two-year statute of limitations applied, which the appellate court affirmed. The court ruled that legal malpractice actions are tortious in nature and subject to a two-year statute of limitations, and Black failed to timely plead or prove facts for the discovery rule to apply. Black's motion for a new trial based on 'newly discovered evidence' was also denied due to lack of due diligence.

Legal MalpracticeStatute of LimitationsDiscovery RuleTort LawContract LawGross NegligenceBreach of ContractBreach of Implied WarrantySummary JudgmentAppeal
References
27
Case No. W2017-00551-COA-R3-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 28, 2017

In Re: Last Will and Testament of Mary Theresse Erde

This case is a will contest concerning the holographic will of Mary Theresse Erde. Appellant Carl Barton challenged the will, claiming lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence by Beneficiary Deborah Lawson. The trial court denied Barton's motion to set aside the order admitting the will to probate and found that Decedent possessed testamentary capacity and that the presumption of undue influence was rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision, finding no abuse of discretion in striking Barton's amended counter-petition due to futility and upholding the findings regarding testamentary capacity and the rebuttal of undue influence through independent legal advice and lack of suspicious circumstances.

Will contestHolographic willTestamentary capacityUndue influenceConfidential relationshipIndependent legal adviceFutility of amendmentRule 15.01 Tennessee Civil ProcedureRule 60.02 Tennessee Civil ProcedureAppellate review
References
60
Case No. 2016 NY Slip Op 08300 [145 AD3d 492]
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 08, 2016

Netzahuall v. All Will LLC

This case concerns an appeal regarding the denial of defendant Lime Light's cross-motion to dismiss common-law indemnification claims brought by defendant All Will LLC. The plaintiff, Gabriel Netzahuall, an employee of Lime Light, sustained injuries but not a "grave injury" as defined by Workers' Compensation Law § 11. Although the Workers' Compensation Board previously determined Lime Light to be the plaintiff's employer, the Appellate Division affirmed the lower court's finding that All Will, the premises owner, was not collaterally estopped from challenging this determination. The court reasoned that All Will was not a party to the prior Workers' Compensation proceeding and therefore did not have a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue of plaintiff's employer.

indemnificationcollateral estoppelWorkers' Compensation Lawemployer-employee relationshipgrave injurypremises liabilityappellate practicestatutory interpretationprivity of partieslitigation opportunity
References
4
Case No. M2011-00653-WC-R3-WC
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 16, 2012

Danneil Edward Keith v. Western Express, Inc.

The employee, Danneil Edward Keith, a truck driver, was injured in a vehicle accident while on duty. His employer, Western Express, Inc., denied workers' compensation benefits, citing the employee's willful violation of established safety rules, specifically hours-of-service regulations. The trial court found in favor of the employer, concluding that the employee willfully and intentionally disregarded these rules. On appeal, the employee argued that the evidence did not establish the necessary "perverseness" for the willful misconduct defense. The Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel affirmed the trial court's decision, determining that the employee's failure to comply with the hours-of-service rules was willful, and his explanation lacked credibility.

Workers' CompensationTruck DriverSafety Rules ViolationWillful MisconductHours of ServiceAffirmative DefensePerversenessCredibilityMethadone DisclosureTraffic Accident
References
13
Case No. M2011-00410-SC-R3-WC
Regular Panel Decision
May 08, 2012

Troy Mitchell v. Fayetteville Public Utilities - Dissent

In the Supreme Court of Tennessee case, Troy Mitchell v. Fayetteville Public Utilities, Justice Janice M. Holder issued a dissenting opinion on May 8, 2012, regarding a workers' compensation claim. The majority adopted Larson's four-element test, concluding that Mr. Mitchell's removal of his gloves constituted a willful failure to comply with safety rules, thereby denying him benefits. Justice Holder argued that willful misconduct necessitates more than negligence or recklessness, stressing that Mitchell believed he was in a safe zone at the time of the incident. She contended that the evidence did not preponderate against the trial court's finding that Mitchell's conduct was not willful, and expressed concern that the majority's test encourages the use of the willful misconduct defense in cases of mere negligence or bad judgment.

Workers' CompensationWillful MisconductSafety RulesEmployee NegligenceEmployer DefensesTennessee Supreme CourtDissenting OpinionLarson's TestWorkplace SafetyInjury Compensation
References
7
Case No. W2024-01234-COA-R3-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 18, 2025

Celeste Lachapelle as the beneficiary of the will of James Russell Pace v. Blanchard E. Tual

Appellant Celeste LaChapelle sued the law firm Tual Graves, PLLC, and attorney Blanchard E. Tual for professional negligence. LaChapelle alleged that the firm negligently prepared a will for her fiancé, James Russell Pace, which was later invalidated in Mississippi due to improper execution. The trial court granted summary judgment for the law firm, concluding that LaChapelle's claim accrued in May 2021 when she had to respond to the will contest, thereby exceeding the one-year statute of limitations. This appellate court affirmed the trial court's decision, finding no reversible error, and agreed that the claim accrued when LaChapelle incurred expenses defending the will. The court also rejected the argument of fraudulent concealment by the appellees, stating that reasonable diligence would have led to the discovery of the injury earlier.

Professional negligenceLegal malpracticeStatute of limitationsDiscovery ruleWill contestProbate lawFraudulent concealmentSummary judgmentAppellate reviewAccrual of claim
References
42
Case No. E2019-00736-COA-R3-PT
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 26, 2019

In Re Kolton C.

This case concerns an appeal by Cassandra C. (Mother) against the termination of her parental rights to her minor child, Kolton C. The trial court had terminated her rights on grounds of severe child abuse, abandonment by willful failure to visit, and abandonment by willful failure to support. The Court of Appeals reversed the termination based on failure to support, noting Mother's participation in a rehabilitation program made her failure not willful. However, the court affirmed the termination based on severe child abuse due to prenatal drug use and failure to visit. The decision emphasizes that termination remains in the child's best interest given the child's bond with the appellee, Erin S., and the mother's unaddressed issues.

Parental Rights TerminationChild AbusePrenatal Drug ExposureAbandonmentFailure to VisitFailure to Support (Reversed)Best Interest of the ChildNeonatal Abstinence SyndromeRehabilitation ProgramAppellate Review
References
33
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