Stay current with legal news in Tennessee. This page features the latest news for and about the Tennessee legal community, either produced by the Tennessee Bar Association or collected from news sources.
Memphis attorney Lauri Prather decided to parlay her private firm experience into the nonprofit arena when she left Martin Tate Morrow & Marston PC after 12 years to become in-house counsel with ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. A graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Prather said losing her mother in 2010 to cancer was an impetus to become more familiar with the mission of the hospital. The Memphis Daily News has the feature.
American International Group (AIG) announced it will not be joining the $25 billion shareholder lawsuit against the U.S. government over the terms of its bailout at the height of the 2008 financial crisis, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports. Facing certain backlash and outrage from Washington and beyond, AIG declined to join the lawsuit especially amidst the "Thank You America" ad campaign it is currently running to show gratitude for being rescued from the brink of collapse.
Working Mother magazine recently named three law firms with Tennessee offices among the best in the country for working mothers. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in Nashville, Husch Blackwell in Chattanooga and Memphis, and Littler Mendelson in Memphis and Nashville all were noted for leading the way in attracting, retaining, and promoting women lawyers.
The Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case testing whether police must get a warrant before forcing a drunk driving suspect to have her blood drawn, NPR reports. The court has long held that search warrants are required when government officials order intrusions into the body, such as drawing blood. However, opponents of the law state that time is of the essence since a person’s blood alcohol starts to dissipate after they stop drinking so the need for quick blood-alcohol testing is necessary.
John Tarpley of Lewis King Kreig & Waldrop in Nashville has been named chair of the Editorial Board for the American Bar Association Journal. Tarpley, former president of the Tennessee Bar Association, will assume the role in August for a three-year term.
The 15th Judicial District Bar Association recently elected new officers for 2013: President Jennifer Porth of Stephen Brown PC, Vice President Lisa A. Tomlinson of MacPherson & Youmans, Secretary Karen Parker-Casey of Agee & Agee, and Jonathan M. Tinsley of Tressler and Associates.
The Board of Professional Responsibility has an opening for a disciplinary counsel in its Litigation Section. Applicants must be licensed in Tennessee and have a minimum of seven years litigation experience. Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to handle difficult people or highly emotional situations with diplomacy and efficiency are necessary. Learn more or download an application form.
Hawkins County attorney James Franklin Taylor was disbarred yesterday and ordered by the Supreme Court to pay restitution before reinstatement. The court temporarily suspended Taylor’s law license last June and suspended him in October. The Board of Professional Responsibility filed petitions for discipline, charging Taylor with misappropriation of client funds and foundation funds, and filing false claims with the Administrative Office of the Courts. Taylor submitted a conditional guilty plea, and was ordered to pay the expenses and costs of the disciplinary proceedings against him and fully comply with the requirements and obligations of disbarred attorneys. Download the BPR notice.
Chancellor Carol McCoy said today in court that she will review a sample of records of children who died after being brought to the attention of the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) in order to determine whether the agency is required to release child fatality records. McCoy presides over the lawsuit brought by the Tennessean and a coalition of other news organizations against DCS for allegedly violating the Tennessee Public Records Act by declining to disclose the records of about 30 children who died in the first half of 2012 while under the agency’s supervision.
A 2011 legislative bill that limits HOPE scholarship funding is catching up with nearly 3,000 students who are expected to run out of funding over the next two years, the Tennessean reports. Students who have double majors, changed their majors, or transferred school are especially at risk. State Sen. Doug Overby, R-Maryville, said he plans to reintroduce a bill that would provide lottery scholarship money through eight full semesters, not just through the minimum number of hours required to complete a degree program.
The 108th General Assembly convened Tuesday by re-electing House Speaker Beth Harwell of Nashville and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville. The legislature has its largest freshman class in years, with 31 new members of the 132. The 99-member House has 23 new members, and the Senate has eight. Republicans rule both chambers with a supermajority of more than two-thirds of the membership in each house. Read more at the Commercial Appeal.
Editorial boards across the country are urging the Senate to move past partisan politics and confirm federal judges, Gavel Grab reports. Editorials from Sacramento, Fort Worth, Tulsa, and Reno, to name a few, are demanding the Senate approve qualified individuals for judgeships to alleviate the judicial vacancy crisis. “Further delays are affecting case flow and impeding litigants’ day in court,” the Tulsa World editorial says.
Memphis City Council members Shea Flinn and Jim Strickland will present a proposal to increase the city sales tax rate one-half percent in an effort to raise $27 million annually for Pre-K education and $20 million more to fund a city property tax reduction, the Memphis Business Journal reports. The increase would put Memphis sales tax rate at 2.75 percent, the highest rate allowed under state law. Combined with the state tax, shoppers would pay 9.75 percent on purchases.
American International Group (AIG) may join a $25 billion lawsuit against the U.S. government, claiming the insurer’s $182 billion bailout harmed shareholders, the ABA Journal reports. The complaint alleges the government charged “punitive” interest rates on its loans and enabled a “backdoor bailout” of the insurer’s Wall Street clients by using AIG money to pay off credit default swaps. If the company does not join the suit and the action ultimately proves successful, it could face additional shareholder lawsuits.
The Tennessee chapter of National Federal of Independent Business (NFIB) said this week that it will support reforms to the state’s workers’ compensation system. State Director Jim Brown said in a news release that the organization looks forward to working with Gov. Bill Haslam and members of the General Assembly to improve workers’ compensation. The Nashville Business Journal has more.
The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) executive director Erik Cole is leaving the organization at the end of January. Cole, who has served as executive director since 2005, is moving to the Nashville mayor’s office, where he will be working on creating new programs related to financial stability and empowerment for low-income Nashvillians.
The National Law Journal issues a Pro Bono Hot List each year and this year, a corporate legal department has made the top 10 list for the first time. The magazine reports that it included International Business Machines Corp. in recognition of the company’s work on behalf of Hurricane Sandy victims. It also says that inclusion of the legal department highlights the increasing corporate commitment to pro bono projects. “Legal departments are making it clear that they care and expect their outside counsel to do likewise,” the editors write.
The University of Memphis School of Law, in conjunction with the Russian Cultural Center of Memphis, will convene a workshop on private international law Jan. 13-14. During the first day of the program, participants will take part in cultural events at the Russian Cultural Center. The workshop will continue on Jan. 14 at the law school with a program on the prospects and challenges for Russian-American bilateral trade and cultural exchange following Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization. See the full schedule or contact Ryan Jones by email or phone at (901) 678-4910.
Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell says she’s ready to “fight for” rule changes she’s proposed to modify how the chamber does business. Considering those rules will be job number one when the General Assembly convenes Tuesday, she says. Harwell will first name a special rules committee, and within hours it could take up her suggestions, reports WPLN. At least one proposed rule, which limits each member to sponsoring just 10 bills, has resulted in grumbling among lawmakers and lobbyists. Harwell says it will make the House run more efficiently. Read more about the rules changes being considered and about the new faces in the legislature this session.
Nashville lawyer William Alan Alder was suspended from the practice of law for one year, ordered to pay restitution to a former client and undergo an assessment with the Tennessee Lawyers’ Assistance Program on Dec. 28, 2012. The Tennessee Supreme Court found that he Improperly used his trust account for personal use, caused several bank overdrafts, failed to provide legal services to clients, was not diligent in handling client matters, failed to adequately communicate with clients and submitted false affidavits to the Commission on Legal Education and Specialization claiming to have participated in legal training which he never attended. Download the BPR notice
