TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jun 30, 2026

The University of Tennessee System Board of Trustees has approved a $1.9 million settlement with former University of Tennessee assistant professor Tamar Shirinian, ending a federal lawsuit over her firing for a social media post about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Knox News reports. Under the agreement, Shirinian will not be reinstated. The settlement remains subject to approval by state officials, including the attorney general and Gov. Bill Lee. Shirinian was dismissed after posting a comment on Facebook following Kirk's 2025 assassination. The university said settling the case would avoid the costs and demands of continued litigation. Court filings indicate the parties must finalize the settlement by Aug. 28.