Tennessee Supreme Court Decisions 2022

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of special appeals affirming Defendant's conviction and sentence for twenty-four counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, holding that the trial court did…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court answered a question of law certified by the district court in the negative, holding that two video streaming services - Netflix, Inc. and Hulu, LLC - did not provide "video service" within the meaning…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the court of criminal appeals reversing Defendant's convictions and remanding the case for a new trial based on a purported problem with the jury instructions that had not been…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the court of criminal appeals affirming Defendant's conviction of premeditated first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery, holding that Defendant was not entitled to…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court held that a statute that repeals a criminal offense does not "provide for a lesser penalty" within the meaning of the criminal savings statute, but rather, a person who commits an offense that is later…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court vacated the judgments of the lower courts in this appeal addressing mootness when a law challenged in the trial court is altered or amended after the trial court issued its final judgment and while the…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the decision of the court of appeals upholding that trial court's determination that the plaintiff homeowner's award of attorneys fees and costs under Tenn. Code Ann. 20-12-119(c) was limited…

Justia Opinion Summary: Starbuck filed a nominating petition seeking to be placed on the ballot for the Republican primary for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District for the U.S. House of Representatives. The Tennessee Republican Party, through…

Justia Opinion Summary: Phillips was convicted of offenses, including felony murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated rape, especially aggravated kidnapping, and especially aggravated burglary. The Court of Criminal Appeals modified…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgments of the trial court convicting and sentencing Defendant for multiple drug offenses that occurred in a drug-free zone within 1,000 feet of a city park, holding that the offenses…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this interlocutory appeal, the Supreme Court held that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) lacked the authority to refuse to comply with a final expungement order issued by the trial court. After Plaintiff…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case concerning a constitutional challenge to the Tennessee Education Savings Account Pilot Program (the ESA Act), Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-2601, the Supreme Court held that the ESA Act does not implicate the Home…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court vacated Defendant's convictions, holding that the trial court committed reversible error by allowing impeachment evidence of a material defense witness without sufficient evidence, and the error was not…

Justia Opinion Summary: In this appeal concerning the revocation of Defendant's probation the Supreme Court affirmed the court of criminal appeals' decision affirming the judgment of the trial court revoking Defendant's probation and ordering…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed the judgments of the court of appeals and the trial court concluding that the Health Care Liability Act, Tenn. Code Ann. 29-26-101 to -122, did not apply to Plaintiffs' medical battery and…

Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of Melissa Kampmeyer's loss of consortium claim brought after her husband, Steven Kampmeyer, was injured in an accident, holding that Tenn. Code Ann. 9-8-402(a)(1) requires…