Ott Law Firm

Tommy Eugene Atkins, Respondent, v. Director of Revenue, State of Missouri, Appellant

Decision date: UnknownED75844

Parties & Roles

Disposition

Mixed outcome

  • {"type":"affirmed","scope":null}
  • {"type":"reinstated","scope":null}

Slip Opinion Notice

This archive contains Missouri appellate slip opinions reproduced for research convenience, not the final official reporter version. Official source links remain authoritative where provided. Joseph Ott, Attorney 67889, Ott Law Firm - Constant Victory - Personal Injury and Litigation maintains these public legal archives to support Missouri case research and to help prospective clients connect that research to the firm's courtroom practice.

Related Legal Help

Researching a similar criminal law issue?

This archive page is for legal research. For a practical overview of claims, deadlines, evidence, and next steps, start with the related practice page.

Opinion

This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court. Opinion Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Case Style: Tommy Eugene Atkins, Respondent, v. Director of Revenue, State of Missouri, Appellant Case Number: ED75844 Handdown Date: 11/09/1999 Appeal From: Circuit Court of City of St. Louis, Hon. Edward Sweeney, Jr. Counsel for Appellant: James A. Chenault, III Counsel for Respondent: Harold E. Horsley, Jr. Opinion Summary: The Director of Revenue appeals from a judgment that set aside the revocation of Mr. Atkins's driver's license and assessed costs against the Director. AFFIRMED AS AMENDED. Division One holds: 1)The trial court did not err in reinstating Mr. Atkins's driving privileges. 2) Section 536.087.1 RSMO 1994 does not authorize the assessment of costs against the Director in a driver's license proceeding. Citation: Opinion Author: James R. Dowd, Judge Opinion Vote: AFFIRMED AS AMENDED. Gaertner and Simon, JJ., concur. Opinion: The Director of Revenue ("Director") appeals from a judgment of the Circuit Court of St. Louis City. This judgment reinstated Mr. Atkins's driver's license and assessed costs against the Director. "Absent a statute to the contrary, costs are not recoverable from the state in its own courts." Reed v. Director of

Revenue, 834 S.W.2d 834, 837 (Mo.App. 1992). Section 536.087.1 RSMO 1994 provides for recovering costs against the state; however, driver's license proceedings are excluded from this statute by Section 536.085.1 RSMo 1994. Furthermore, Mr. Atkins conceded this issue at oral argument. Point granted. The Director also contends that the trial court erred in finding that Officer Williams did not have reasonable grounds to arrest Mr. Atkins. We disagree. In reviewing a court-tried case, we must sustain the judgment below unless there is no substantial evidence to support it, it is against the weight of the evidence, it erroneously declares the law, or it erroneously applies the law. Murphy v. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30, 32 (Mo.banc 1976). We must accept all evidence and inferences supporting the judgment and disregard all evidence and inferences to the contrary. Gibson v. Adams, 946 S.W.2d 796, 800 (Mo.App. E.D. 1997). There is substantial evidence to support the trial court's judgment. The judgment is not against the weight of the evidence. It does not erroneously apply the law. Point denied. Pursuant to Rule 84.14, we affirm the judgment but amend it to delete the costs assessed to the Director. Separate Opinion: None This slip opinion is subject to revision and may not reflect the final opinion adopted by the Court.

Authorities Cited

Statutes, rules, and cases referenced in this opinion.

Statutes

Rules

Cases

Related Opinions

Other opinions in the same practice area.

In re: Brian Todd Goldstein, Respondent.(2026)

Supreme Court of MissouriJanuary 23, 2026#SC101182

dismissed

The Missouri Supreme Court found that attorney Brian Todd Goldstein violated professional conduct rules by mishandling client funds and engaging in dishonest conduct, including taking clients without informing his law firm, misrepresenting trust account practices, and misappropriating over $585,000 from more than 100 clients. The Court ordered Goldstein disbarred based on violations of rules governing safekeeping of property and dishonest conduct.

Corporate LawCivil Litigationper_curiam2,484 words
Read opinion

In re: Mark W. Arensberg, Respondent.(2026)

Supreme Court of MissouriJanuary 13, 2026#SC101157

modified

Attorney Arensberg was disciplined for knowingly drafting fraudulent loan documents to diminish a client's son's marital estate during divorce proceedings. Rather than the agreed-upon reprimand, the court imposed an indefinite suspension with a six-month waiting period for reinstatement, stayed pending successful completion of one-year probation.

Family LawCivil Litigationper_curiam3,367 words
Read opinion