Oak Ridge City Court was scheduled to resume in-person court proceedings today (Monday, May 11), with some changes because of COVID-19.
The changes, made for health and safety reasons, include:
[Read more…]Municipal Building, playgrounds remain closed; greenways, parks open
The Oak Ridge Municipal Building remains closed to the public but is moving to a public check-in area where visitors can be escorted to secured areas of the building, City Manager Mark Watson said in an update Tuesday.
Playgrounds and basketball courts remain closed. Disinfection options are being reviewed for limited open times, the update said.
The Oak Ridge Public Library will begin curbside delivery of library materials beginning in mid-May, the update said.
Oak Ridge City Court is working to resume in-person hearings on May 11 with COVID-19 precautions, the update said. COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly. It has caused a global pandemic.
The city manager’s update said there is planning for a phased re-opening of the Oak Ridge Senior Center.
[Read more…]Applewood Apartments: Case that once called for $400,000 fine has been dismissed
The rear of the Applewood Apartments building at 186 Hillside Road is picture above on Saturday, July 1, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 12:25 p.m.
CLINTON—A court has dismissed a case that once called for a $400,000 fine against the owner of three now-vacant Applewood Apartments buildings on Hillside Road in Oak Ridge.
Charges against the original defendant, former Applewood Apartments manager Tammy Sandlin, have been dismissed, and she is the only properly named defendant in the complaint, Anderson County Circuit Court Judge Don R. Elledge said in a dismissal order filed Wednesday, June 21.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals had issued an opinion on October 15, 2015, that vacated, or voided, the $406,520 judgement against Applewood Apartments owner Joseph J. Levitt Jr. because he had not been effectively added as a defendant in the city’s lawsuit, Elledge said.
At that time, the Court of Appeals remanded the case, or sent it back to, Anderson County Circuit Court in Clinton for further proceedings, “including the filing and serving of an amended complaint or city warrant against Mr. Levitt,” Elledge said in his order to dismiss.
The Court of Appeals decision essentially said that Levitt has to be given a chance to defend himself, Elledge said during a motion hearing in Circuit Court on Friday, June 9. A jury trial had been scheduled for March 9, 2018. The City of Oak Ridge is the plaintiff.
But no amended complaint has been filed by the city since the Court of Appeals decision almost two years ago, and Levitt has never been served with an amended complaint, Elledge said during the June 9 motion hearing. [Read more…]
Bond reduced for Cromwell, driver in fatal parking lot crash
Lee Cromwell, 65, of Oak Ridge, right, is escorted through Anderson County General Sessions Court on Tuesday by Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Derek Setzer. Cromwell has been charged with homicide and aggravated assault, among other charges, after a fatal parking lot crash after July 4 fireworks in Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 a.m. July 30.
Bond was reduced to $100,000 on Tuesday for an Oak Ridge man accused of killing one person and injuring 11 people in a parking lot crash after July 4 fireworks.
There were concerns about whether Lee Cromwell, 65, considers himself a “sovereign citizen” and denies governmental authority, and Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Roger Miller reported that Cromwell was somewhat defiant at his arraignment.
Still, Miller lowered bond for Cromwell from about $205,500 to $100,000, more than cutting it in half.
Cromwell was released Tuesday evening. He is prohibited from contacting the victims. [Read more…]
Updated: Attorney Tunnell charged with assault, Judge Miller recuses himself
William Lawrence Tunnell
Note: This story was updated at 11:55 a.m. Jan. 21.
William Lawrence Tunnell, an alternate Oak Ridge city judge who is believed to be the oldest practicing attorney in Tennessee, was arrested January 13 for allegedly hitting a man with his car and knocking him to the ground in November.
Tunnell, 94, has been charged with one count of aggravated assault. He has a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday in Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge.
(Update: Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Roger Miller has recused himself from hearing this case, and a special judge will be appointed. A new hearing date had not been set as of Wednesday morning.)
According to an arrest warrant, the incident occurred Friday evening, November 21, at the intersection of West Outer Drive and Waltham Lane. [Read more…]
