TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Jun 23, 2022

Davidson County Election Commission Chair Jim DeLanis yesterday filed a federal civil complaint against Metro Nashville and his former employer, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, the Nashville Post reports. DeLanis claims two Baker clients, Metro and Metro Nashville Public Schools, threatened to drop the firm if they did not get DeLanis to drop his push via the election commission for an anti-tax ballot referendum. DeLanis says he was fired from Baker Donelson last year, but the firm said he retired. The complaint names Metro Councilmember Bob Mendes as a defendant, claiming Mendes “berated” and “threatened” the commission during public debate on the referendum proceedings. Though the complaint is civil, DeLanis accues Metro and Baker of potential criminal violations, including extortion and conspiracy. He is asking for $1 million in damages.