Tennessee Case Commentaries

State of Tennessee v. Daryl Hooper: Establishing the Deterrence-Based Incarceration Standard

Date: Sep 22, 2000

State of Tennessee v. Daryl Hooper: Establishing the Deterrence-Based Incarceration Standard Introduction State of Tennessee v. Daryl Hooper, 29 S.W.3d 1 (Tenn. 2000), serves as a pivotal case in...

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. Brandon Wilson: Indictment Sufficiency Confirmed and Boykin Plea Challenges Restricted to Post-Conviction Relief

Date: Sep 19, 2000

STATE OF TENNESSEE v. Brandon Wilson: Indictment Sufficiency Confirmed and Boykin Plea Challenges Restricted to Post-Conviction Relief Introduction In the landmark case State of Tennessee v. Brandon...

Tennessee Supreme Court Affirms Ten-Year Statute of Repose Not Tollable by Mental Incompetence

Date: Aug 26, 2000

Tennessee Supreme Court Affirms Ten-Year Statute of Repose Not Tollable by Mental Incompetence Introduction In the landmark case Gayle Penley v. Honda Motor Company, Ltd., et al. (31 S.W.3d 181), the...

Clarifying Indictment Requirements for Criminal Attempt: Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds General 'Attempt to Kill' Charge

Date: Jul 28, 2000

Clarifying Indictment Requirements for Criminal Attempt: Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds General 'Attempt to Kill' Charge Introduction The legal landscape surrounding criminal attempt charges often...

Establishing Duty in Legal Malpractice: Implications of Failure to File Rule 54.04 Motion

Date: Jul 21, 2000

Establishing Duty in Legal Malpractice: Implications of Failure to File Rule 54.04 Motion Introduction The case Joe H. Walker v. Sidney Gilreath Associates, et al., reported at 40 S.W.3d 66, presents...

Aggravated Child Abuse as a Lesser-Included Offense: Analysis of STATE OF TENNESSEE v. JENNIE BAIN DUCKER

Date: Jul 15, 2000

Aggravated Child Abuse as a Lesser-Included Offense: Analysis of STATE OF TENNESSEE v. JENNIE BAIN DUCKER Introduction In the landmark case of State of Tennessee v. Jennie Bain Ducker, the Supreme...

Affirmation of Death Penalty in Farris Genner Morris Jr. for Heinous, Atrocious, and Cruel First-Degree Murder

Date: Jul 11, 2000

Affirmation of Death Penalty in Farris Genner Morris Jr. for Heinous, Atrocious, and Cruel First-Degree Murder Introduction In the landmark case of State of Tennessee v. Farris Genner Morris, Jr. (24...

Application of the Natural and Probable Consequences Rule in Criminal Responsibility: The State v. Franklin Howard Decision

Date: Jul 7, 2000

Application of the Natural and Probable Consequences Rule in Criminal Responsibility: The State v. Franklin Howard Decision Introduction In State of Tennessee v. Franklin Howard, decided by the...

Admissibility of Prior Inconsistent Statements without Objection: Insights from State v. Donald Ray Smith

Date: Jul 1, 2000

Admissibility of Prior Inconsistent Statements without Objection: Insights from State v. Donald Ray Smith Introduction In the landmark case State of Tennessee v. Donald Ray Smith, decided on June 30,...

Reaffirming Due Process in Jury Sentencing Instructions: Commentary on STATE OF TENNESSEE v. JAMES C. NICHOLS

Date: Jul 1, 2000

Reaffirming Due Process in Jury Sentencing Instructions: Commentary on State of Tennessee v. James C. Nichols (24 S.W.3d 297) Introduction The case of State of Tennessee v. James C. Nichols (24...

Continuing Offense Doctrine in Aggravated Child Abuse: Insights from State v. Adams

Date: Jul 1, 2000

Continuing Offense Doctrine in Aggravated Child Abuse: Insights from State of Tennessee v. Adams Introduction State of Tennessee v. John Adams and Rita Adams, 24 S.W.3d 289 (Tenn. 2000), is a pivotal...

Affirmation of Death Penalty in Premeditated Murder: State of Tennessee v. Dennis Wade Suttles

Date: Jun 27, 2000

Affirmation of Death Penalty in Premeditated Murder: State of Tennessee v. Dennis Wade Suttles Introduction The case of State of Tennessee v. Dennis Wade Suttles (30 S.W.3d 252) adjudicated by the...

Sufficiency of Indictment Notice Without Explicit Culpable Mental State: Doyle Hart v. State of Tennessee

Date: Jun 23, 2000

Sufficiency of Indictment Notice Without Explicit Culpable Mental State: Doyle Hart v. State of Tennessee Introduction Doyle Hart v. State of Tennessee, 21 S.W.3d 901 (Tenn. 2000), adjudicated by the...

Tolling the Statute of Limitations in Post-Conviction Relief Cases Due to Mental Incompetence: Seals and Spellman v. State of Tennessee

Date: Jun 21, 2000

Tolling the Statute of Limitations in Post-Conviction Relief Cases Due to Mental Incompetence: Seals and Spellman v. State of Tennessee Introduction Seals and Spellman v. State of Tennessee is a...

Application of Enhancement Factors in Sentencing Despite Acquittal: Insights from State of Tennessee v. Johnny Edd Winfield

Date: Jun 21, 2000

Application of Enhancement Factors in Sentencing Despite Acquittal: Insights from State of Tennessee v. Johnny Edd Winfield Introduction State of Tennessee v. Johnny Edd Winfield, 23 S.W.3d 279...

Admissibility of Prior Acts Under Rule 404(b): Insights from STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DENNIS RAY GILLILAND

Date: Jun 20, 2000

Admissibility of Prior Acts Under Rule 404(b): Insights from STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DENNIS RAY GILLILAND Introduction The case of State of Tennessee v. Dennis Ray Gilliland, decided by the Supreme...

Acceptance of Promissory Notes and Personal Liability in Partnership Dissolution: Analysis of DAN ALEXANDER v. JAY ARMENTROUT, JR. and PATRICIA RUTH ARMENTROUT

Date: Jun 10, 2000

Acceptance of Promissory Notes and Personal Liability in Partnership Dissolution: Analysis of DAN ALEXANDER v. JAY ARMENTROUT, JR. and PATRICIA RUTH ARMENTROUT Introduction DAN ALEXANDER, Appellant...

Establishing Permanent Total Disability and the Revival of Temporary Total Disability Benefits in Worker’s Compensation: Cleek v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Date: Jun 3, 2000

Establishing Permanent Total Disability and the Revival of Temporary Total Disability Benefits in Worker’s Compensation Case: Cleek v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 19 S.W.3d 770 (Supreme Court of...

Fourth Amendment Implications of Canine Vehicle Sweeps: Tennessee Supreme Court's Decision in STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DENNIS R. ENGLAND

Date: May 31, 2000

Fourth Amendment Implications of Canine Vehicle Sweeps: Tennessee Supreme Court's Decision in STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DENNIS R. ENGLAND Introduction The case of STATE OF TENNESSEE v. DENNIS R. ENGLAND,...

Enforceability of Private Child Support Agreements: Tennessee Supreme Court in Berryhill v. Rhodes

Date: May 31, 2000

Enforceability of Private Child Support Agreements: Tennessee Supreme Court in Berryhill v. Rhodes Introduction The case of Betty Berryhill v. Charles Thomas Rhodes (21 S.W.3d 188), decided by the...