Cheryl Ellen Mouton v. Michael J. Mouton
Case number: E2016-00231-COA-R3-CV
Authoring judge: Judge Andy D. Bennett
Originating judge: Judge W. Neil Thomas, III
In this parental relocation case, the trial court erred in finding that the mother did not have a reasonable purpose in relocating to another state for her employment. Furthermore, mother’s purpose in relocating was not vindictive. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is reversed.
In Re: Chance D. – DISSENT
Case number: E2016-00101-COA-R3-PT
Authoring judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating judge: Judge L. Marie Williams
I fully concur in the majority’s affirmance on the ground of severe abuse as to Chance D. Because I cannot agree that Foster Parents have shown clear and convincing evidence sufficient to forever sever the parent-child relationship at issue in this case, however, I must respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision to reverse the trial court and grant Foster Parents’ petition to terminate Mother’s parental rights
In Re: Chance D.
Case number: E2016-00101-COA-R3-PT
Authoring judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating judge: Judge L. Marie Williams
This is a termination of parental rights case involving Chance D., who was age four at the time of trial. The mother, Carla D. (“Mother”), and the father, Julius D. (“Father”), have three children currently involved in termination actions: Chance D., Gabriella D., and Jude D. (collectively, “the Children”). Mother and Father have an extensive history with child welfare agencies and the courts in both Tennessee and Georgia. In March 2012, the Hamilton County Juvenile Court (“juvenile court”) granted temporary legal custody of the Children to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”). Upon their placement in DCS custody, the Children were placed in the home of Karen P. and Thomas S. (collectively, “Foster Parents”). DCS did not seek a finding of severe child abuse against Mother in the dependency and neglect action in juvenile court. Foster Parents filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of Mother and to adopt Chance D. (“Chance”) in the Hamilton County Circuit Court (“trial court”) on July 31, 2013. Foster Parents concomitantly filed separate termination of parental rights actions involving Chance’s two siblings, Gabriella D. (“Gabriella”) and Jude D. (“Jude”). Following a bench trial, the trial court found by clear and convincing evidence that Mother had committed severe child abuse against Chance while he was in her custody. The trial court also found, however, that Foster Parents had not proven by clear and convincing evidence that the conditions leading to the removal of the Children persisted or that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in Chance’s best interest. The trial court thereby denied the petition to terminate Mother’s parental rights to Chance. Foster Parents have appealed. We affirm the trial court’s finding that the statutory ground of severe child abuse was proven by clear and convincing evidence. However, having determined that Foster Parents also proved by clear and convincing evidence that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the best interest of Chance, we reverse the trial court’s denial of the termination petition. We therefore grant Foster Parents’ petition for termination of Mother’s parental rights to Chance. We remand this matter to the trial court for an adjudication regarding Foster Parents’ petition for adoption.
Darien B. Clay v. State of Tennessee
Case number: E2015-02107-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring judge: Judge Robert H. Montgomery, Jr.
Originating judge: Judge Barry A. Steelman
The Petitioner, Darien B. Clay, appeals from the Hamilton County Criminal Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief from his guilty plea convictions for aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, two counts of theft of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000, theft of property valued at $10,000 or more but less than $60,000, aggravated burglary, burglary of a business, and statutory rape, for which he received an effective 13-year sentence. On appeal, he contends that the post-conviction court erred in denying relief on his ineffective assistance of counsel claim and that the court erred in determining that the Petitioner’s guilty plea was knowingly and voluntarily entered. We affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.
Christopher Dylan Thompson v. Best Buy Stores, L.P.
Case number: E2015-02304-COA-R3-CV
Authoring judge: Judge Charles D. Susano, Jr.
Originating judge: Judge L. Marie Williams
Plaintiff Christopher Dylan Thompson ingested several doses of a liquid form of a drug, which he says was estazolam, before reporting to work for his employer, defendant Best Buy Stores, L.P. At work, he appeared tired and slow, and a manager told him to clock out and end his shift early. On his way home, plaintiff was involved in a car accident. He brought this negligent entrustment action, alleging that defendant breached a duty by not stopping him from leaving his place of employment in his own vehicle. The trial court granted defendant summary judgment, holding defendant “had no duty to prevent [plaintiff] from leaving the premises driving his own vehicle,” and relying on Lett v. Collis Foods, Inc., 60 S.W.3d 95 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001), a factually similar case decided by this Court. We affirm.
David Alan Hunter v. State of Tennessee
Case number: E2015-02177-CCA-R3-PC
Authoring judge: Judge J. Ross Dyer
Originating judge: Judge Don W. Poole
The petitioner, David Alan Hunter, appeals from the post-conviction court’s denial of relief from his conviction for first-degree murder and attempted especially aggravated robbery. On appeal, the petitioner argues he received ineffective assistance of counsel due to trial counsel’s failure to adequately explain the benefits of accepting a plea agreement despite his assertion of innocence and failure to convey a formal plea offer made by the State. Following our review, we affirm the denial of the petition.
In Re: Gabriella D.
Case number: E2016-00139-COA-R3-PT
Authoring judge: Judge Thomas R. Frierson, II
Originating judge: Judge L. Marie Williams
This is a termination of parental rights case involving Gabriella D., who was age seven at the time of trial. The mother, Carla D. (“Mother”), and the father, Julius D. (“Father”), have three children currently involved in termination actions: Chance D., Gabriella D., and Jude D. (collectively, “the Children”). Mother and Father have an extensive history with child welfare agencies and the courts in both Tennessee and Georgia. In March 2012, the Hamilton County Juvenile Court (“juvenile court”) granted temporary legal custody of the Children to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”). Upon their placement in DCS custody, the Children were placed in the home of Karen P. and Thomas S. (collectively, “Foster Parents”). DCS did not seek a finding of severe child abuse against Mother in the dependency and neglect action in juvenile court. Foster Parents filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of Mother and to adopt Gabriella D. (“Gabriella”) in the Hamilton County Circuit Court (“trial court”) on July 31, 2013. Foster Parents concomitantly filed separate termination of parental rights actions involving Gabriella’s two siblings, Chance D. (“Chance”) and Jude D. (“Jude”). Following a bench trial, the trial court found by clear and convincing evidence that Mother had committed severe child abuse against Chance while he was in her custody. The trial court recognized that the determination of severe child abuse against Chance was a ground for termination of Mother’s parental rights to Gabriella. The trial court also found, however, that Foster Parents had not proven by clear and convincing evidence that the conditions leading to the removal of the Children persisted or that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in Gabriella’s best interest. The trial court thereby denied the petition to terminate Mother’s parental rights to Gabriella. Foster Parents have appealed. We affirm the trial court’s finding that the statutory ground of severe child abuse was proven by clear and convincing evidence. However, having determined that Foster Parents also proved by clear and convincing evidence that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the best interest of Gabriella, we reverse the trial court’s denial of the termination petition. We therefore grant Foster Parents’ petition for termination of Mother’s parental rights to Gabriella. We remand this matter to the trial court for an adjudication regarding Foster Parents’ petition for adoption.
In Re: Gabriella D. – DISSENT
Case number: E2016-00139-COA-R3-PT
Authoring judge: Judge J. Steven Stafford
Originating judge: Judge L. Marie Williams
I fully concur in the majority’s affirmance on the ground of severe abuse as to Gabriella D. Because I cannot agree that Foster Parents have shown clear and convincing evidence sufficient to forever sever the parent-child relationship at issue in this case, however, I must respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision to reverse the trial court and grant Foster Parents’ petition to terminate Mother’s parental rights. v