TOM SLAGLE ET AL. v. CHURCH OF THE FIRST BORN OF TENNESSEE ET AL. - Articles

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TOM SLAGLE ET AL. v. CHURCH OF THE FIRST BORN OF TENNESSEE ET AL.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 13, 2026

Court: TN Court of Appeals

Attorneys 1: J. Thomas Smith and Philip L. Robertson, Nashville, Tennessee, Keith Jordan, Goodlettsville, Tennessee, and Heather Elyse Tackett, Springfield, Tennessee, for the appellants, Church of the First Born Association, Chester H. Cole, Kelvin Gregory, Jon James, Billy H. Ray, Roger Ray, Tom Slagle, and Michael Spears.

Attorneys 2: Tonya Jenkins Austin, Larry Lamont Crain, and Joshua Ray Denton, Brentwood, Tennessee, for the appellees, Church of the First Born of Tennessee, Inc., David Adamson, John Edward Andrews, Helen Andrews, Brenda Barber, Roger Brewer, Jason Broadway, Randy Cline, Naomi Cooper, Joe David Cron, Dayspring Academy, Chad Hardin, Larry Hardin, Daphner Harms, Calvin Harrison, Jennifer Harrison, Mark Henderson, Danny Hinson, Tim Hunter, Heather Martin, David Mayhew, Jon Mayhew, Kellye Mayhew, Theresa Nix, Terry Nix, Esther Poole, Jamie Summers, Dale Suttle, Frances Winters.

Judge(s): BENNETT

In protracted litigation concerning a dispute over church property, a new chancellor took office several years after a jury verdict, post-trial motions, and an order granting partial summary judgment. The new chancellor set aside the jury verdict and the summary judgment order. We have determined that, under the unique circumstances of this case, the trial court erred in setting aside the jury verdict and in setting aside the order granting partial summary judgment. Therefore, we reverse and remand.

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