United States District Court

WESTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE—WESTERN DIVISION

by AUDREY CALKINS

Covers jury trials from July 2022-December 2022

DISTRICT JUDGE JOHN T. FOWLKES, JR.

1. USA v. Rodercus Freeman: No. 20-20164

Trial from August 1, 2022 through August 5, 2022

Attorneys for Prosecution: Tony Arvin and Scott Smith

Attorney for Defendant: Blake Ballin

Charges in Indictment: 2 counts of credit union and bank robbery and 1 count of attempted robbery of a credit union.

Verdict: Guilty as to bank robbery and attempted credit union robbery; not guilty as to credit union robbery.

DISTRICT JUDGE SHERYL H. LIPMAN

1. USA v. David Moore: No. 21-20219

Trial from July 11, 2022 through July 13, 2022

Attorneys for Prosecution: Regina Thompson and Marque Young

Attorneys for Defendant: Robert Thomas and Ned Germany

Charges in Indictment: 1 count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Verdict: Not guilty.

SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE SAMUEL H. MAYS

1. USA v. Travis Lester:, No. 21-20152

Trial from August 8, 2022 through August 11, 2022

Attorney for Prosecution: Raney Irwin

Attorney for Defendant: David Bell

Charges in Indictment: 1 count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Verdict: Guilty.

SENIOR DISTRICT JUDGE JON P. MCCALLA

1. Kim King and Darren King v. William Chase, Jr.: No. 22-2030

Trial from July 11, 2022 through July 12, 2022

Attorney for Plaintiff: Drayton D. Berkeley

Attorney for Defendant: William Christopher Frulla

Complaint for negligence related to a car wreck.

Verdict: Defense verdict.

DISTRICT JUDGE MARK S. NORRIS

1. USA v. Jeffery Sevier, Jacquez Reverand, and Cortney McIntyre: No. 19-20205

Trial from July 11, 2022 through July 25, 2022

Attorneys for Prosecution: Greg Allen and Michelle Kimbril-Parks

Attorneys for Defendants: James Jones, Ruchee Patel, and Andre Mathis

Charges in Indictment:

Count 1: conspiracy to possess over 1 kilogram of a heroin mixture with intent to distribute (against Sevier, Reverand, and McIntyre)

Count 2: conspiracy to possess over 5 kilograms of a mixture containing cocaine with intent to distribute (against Sevier, Reverand, and McIntyre)

Counts 3 and 5: conspiracy to use or carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (against Sevier, Reverand, and McIntyre)

Counts 4 and 6: conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (against Sevier, Reverand, and McIntyre)

Counts 7 and 8: brandishing, discharging, carrying, and using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (against Sevier and Reverand)

Count 9: attempting to corruptly persuade a potential witness not to speak with law enforcement with the intent to hinder a federal investigation (against Sevier)

Count 10: possession of heroin with intent to distribute (against McIntyre)

Count 11: possession of 100 grams or more of heroin with intent to distribute (against McIntyre)

Count 12: possession of two firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (against McIntyre)

Verdict: Guilty as to Jeffery Sevier on Count 2; Guilty as to Jacquez Reverand on Counts 2, 5, 8; Guilty as to Courtney McIntyre on Counts 1, 10, 11. Not guilty as to Jeffery Sevier on Counts 1, 5, 7, 8, 9. Not guilty as to Jacquez Reverand on Counts 1. Not guilty as to Cortney McIntyre on Counts 2, 5, 7, and 12. Not guilty as to all Defendants on Counts 3, 4, 6.

DISTRICT JUDGE THOMAS L. PARKER

1. Ariane D. Grant v. Blues City Brewery, LLC: Trial from August 22, 2022 through August 24, 2022

Attorneys for Plaintiff: Ralph T. Gibson, Alexandria Holloway, and Emily Johns

Attorneys for Defendant: Louis P. Britt, III and Mollie Katherine Wildmann

Complaint for sex discrimination and retaliation.

Verdict: Jury verdict for Plaintiff on sex discrimination claims. Summary judgment for defendant on retaliation claims.

Judgment: $240,000.00 including $14,478.80 in backpay, $25,521.20 in compensatory damages, and $200,000 in punitive damages.

2. Kenneth W. Parnell v. Johnny Yolanda Fitz, Matthew Cochran, and F/N/U Baucom, Correctional Employee at WTSP: No. 17-2847

Jury trial on liability from October 24, 2022 through October 28, 2022; bench trial on damages on October 31, 2022

Attorneys for Plaintiff (at trial only): Jacob Brown

Attorneys for Defendants: Dean Seif Atyia, Demetrius Alan Daniels-Hill, Frank LoGrippo

Complaint for violation of the Plaintiff’s First Amendment rights related to his efforts to file a grievance.

Verdict: Jury verdict for Plaintiff on liability as to Fitz. Defense verdict as to Cochran and Baucom.

Damages: Judge Parker awarded $1,776.00 in compensatory damages.

CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE S. THOMAS ANDERSON

1. USA v. Preston Antwan McNeal: No. 19-10007

Trial from August 1, 2022 through August 4, 2022

Attorneys for Prosecution: Adam Davis and Josh Morrow

Attorney for Defendant: Greg Gookin

Charges in Indictment: 1 count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine (ICE), 3 counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 1 count of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of actual methamphetamine (ICE), 1 count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and 1 count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine (ICE).

Verdict: Guilty on 1 count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine (ICE); 1 count of possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of actual methamphetamine (ICE); 1 count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and 1 count of possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine (ICE). Not guilty on 3 counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

DISTRICT JUDGE J. DANIEL BREEN

1. USA and DeAnna Yarbrough v. Chad Ables d/b/a

Pops Cove: No. 18-1249

Trial from December 6, 2022 through December 9, 2022

Attorneys for Plaintiff: Vic Ivy, Beth Frank, Katherine Raimondo, Oneshia Sheiska Herring, Abigail Nurse

Attorney for Intervenor Plaintiff: Vanessa Bullock and James David DiMarco

Attorney for Defendant: James Noble Grant, III Complaint for violation of the Fair Housing Act for alleged sexual harassment and disparate treatment of female tenants.

Verdict: Jury verdict for Plaintiff.

Judgment: $7,500.00 in compensatory damages and $10,000.00 in punitive damages to Bethany Baggett; $5,000.00 in compensatory damages and $10,000.00 in punitive damages to Cassandra Patterson; $3,000.00 in compensatory damages and $10,000.00 in punitive damages to Stephanie S.; $2,500.00 in compensatory damages and $10,000.00 in punitive damages to Shelia Teague; $500.00 in compensatory damages and $500.00 in punitive damages to Mahkia Serrano; $1,500.00 in compensatory damages and $10,000.00 in punitive damages to Deanna Yarbrough.