Tennessee Case Commentaries

Application of Statute of Limitations in Post-Conviction Relief: SANDS v. STATE OF TENNESSEE

Date: Jun 27, 1995

Application of Statute of Limitations in Post-Conviction Relief: SANDS v. STATE OF TENNESSEE Introduction Robert Lee Sands v. State of Tennessee is a pivotal case adjudicated by the Supreme Court of...

Reaffirming the Public Duty Doctrine under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act: Ezell v. Cockrell

Date: Jun 6, 1995

Reaffirming the Public Duty Doctrine under the Tennessee Governmental Tort Liability Act: Ezell v. Cockrell Introduction The case of Kimberly S. Ezell versus various defendants, including Joseph...

Tennessee v. Palmer: Upholding Full Sentence Enforcement in DUI Cases under the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989

Date: Jun 6, 1995

Tennessee v. Palmer: Upholding Full Sentence Enforcement in DUI Cases under the Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989 Introduction State of Tennessee v. Charles R. Palmer, 902 S.W.2d 391 (Tenn....

Accrual of Statute of Limitations in Legal Malpractice: Carvell v. Bottoms and Plant

Date: May 31, 1995

Accrual of Statute of Limitations in Legal Malpractice: Carvell v. Bottoms and Plant Introduction In the landmark case of Kent Carvell and Jane Gay Carvell v. Thomas M. Bottoms and Paul Plant, the...

Balanced Jury Instructions on Eyewitness Identification: Insights from STATE of Tennessee v. Dyle and Ellis

Date: May 16, 1995

Balanced Jury Instructions on Eyewitness Identification: Insights from STATE of Tennessee v. Dyle and Ellis Introduction The landmark case of STATE of Tennessee, Appellant, v. Dennis Lee Dyle and...

Affirmation of Death Sentence: Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds Application of Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989

Date: May 2, 1995

Affirmation of Death Sentence: Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds Application of Criminal Sentencing Reform Act of 1989 Introduction In the case of STATE of Tennessee v. Olen "Eddie" Hutchison (898...

Allocation of Fault in Emergency Vehicle Accidents: Wright v. City of Knoxville

Date: Apr 18, 1995

Allocation of Fault in Emergency Vehicle Accidents: Wright v. City of Knoxville Introduction The case of Tina Wright v. City of Knoxville et al. (898 S.W.2d 177) adjudicated by the Supreme Court of...

Norton v. Everhart: Clarifying Procedural Jurisdiction and Equitable Tolling in Parole Revocation Cases

Date: Mar 21, 1995

Norton v. Everhart: Clarifying Procedural Jurisdiction and Equitable Tolling in Parole Revocation Cases Introduction In Richard Lynn Norton v. Don Everhart, Warden, State of Tennessee, 895 S.W.2d 317...

Reaffirming the Rebuttable Presumption of Causation under Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-51-201(a)(1): Stone v. City of McMinnville

Date: Mar 21, 1995

Reaffirming the Rebuttable Presumption of Causation under Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-51-201(a)(1): Stone v. City of McMinnville Introduction The case of Charles E. Stone v. City of McMinnville (896 S.W.2d...

Mandatory Application of Tenn.R.Crim.P. 33(f): Trial Judge's Duty as Thirteenth Juror Affirmed

Date: Mar 14, 1995

Mandatory Application of Tenn.R.Crim.P. 33(f): Trial Judge's Duty as Thirteenth Juror Affirmed Introduction In the landmark case of State of Tennessee v. Leander Charles Carter, 896 S.W.2d 119 (Tenn....

Affirmation of Death Penalty Standards and Non-Applicability of Mental Retardation Defense in State v. Sylvester Smith

Date: Feb 22, 1995

Affirmation of Death Penalty Standards and Non-Applicability of Mental Retardation Defense in State of Tennessee v. Sylvester Smith Introduction State of Tennessee v. Sylvester Smith (893 S.W.2d 908,...

Clarifying Comparative Fault Apportionment and Duty of Care in Tennessee: Eaton v. McLain

Date: Jan 18, 1995

Clarifying Comparative Fault Apportionment and Duty of Care in Tennessee: Eaton v. McLain Introduction The Supreme Court of Tennessee, in the landmark case Pauline Eaton v. James McLain and Tammy...

Adkisson v. Tennessee: Reinforcing Standards for Corroboration of Accomplice Testimony and Limits on Cross-Examination of Defense Witnesses

Date: Dec 9, 1994

Adkisson v. Tennessee: Reinforcing Standards for Corroboration of Accomplice Testimony and Limits on Cross-Examination of Defense Witnesses Introduction Adkisson v. Tennessee, reported at 899 S.W.2d...

Duty to Warn Prescription Drug Users: Pittman v. The Upjohn Company Establishes Critical Precedent

Date: Nov 29, 1994

Duty to Warn Prescription Drug Users: Pittman v. The Upjohn Company Establishes Critical Precedent Introduction The case of Donald Wade Pittman, Sr. and Reba Pittman as guardians of the person and...

Reaffirmation of Statute of Limitations in Tennessee Post-Conviction Relief: Passarella v. State

Date: Nov 29, 1994

Reaffirmation of Statute of Limitations in Tennessee Post-Conviction Relief: Passarella v. State Introduction In the landmark case of Sam John Passarella v. State of Tennessee, reported at 891 S.W.2d...

Recognition of Retaliatory Discharge Claims under the Tennessee Motor Carriers Act: Reynolds v. Ozark Motor Lines

Date: Nov 1, 1994

Recognition of Retaliatory Discharge Claims under the Tennessee Motor Carriers Act: Reynolds v. Ozark Motor Lines Introduction The case of Barbara Reynolds and Jason Stephens v. Ozark Motor Lines,...

Impact of STATE v. MIDDLEBROOKS on Capital Sentencing: A Comprehensive Analysis of State v. Bigbee

Date: Oct 4, 1994

Impact of STATE v. MIDDLEBROOKS on Capital Sentencing: A Comprehensive Analysis of State v. Bigbee Introduction The legal landscape surrounding capital punishment and the felony murder doctrine in...

Cooper v. Insurance Company of North America: Establishing Limits on Combining Disability Ratings in Workers' Compensation

Date: Sep 24, 1994

Cooper v. Insurance Company of North America: Establishing Limits on Combining Disability Ratings in Workers' Compensation Introduction The case of Floyd Clinton Cooper v. Insurance Company of North...

Reversing Police Immunity: Landmark Tennessee Supreme Court Decision on Liability in High-Speed Chases

Date: Aug 30, 1994

Reversing Police Immunity: Landmark Tennessee Supreme Court Decision on Liability in High-Speed Chases Introduction The case of Kathleen Haynes et al. v. Hamilton County represents a pivotal moment...

Enhancement Factors Must Not Constitute Essential Elements of the Offense: Tennessee v. Jones

Date: Aug 30, 1994

Enhancement Factors Must Not Constitute Essential Elements of the Offense: State of Tennessee v. Jones Introduction State of Tennessee v. Efrem Zimbulist Jones is a seminal case adjudicated by the...