Democratic state House candidate Bryan Goldberg of Knoxville has filed a lawsuit seeking to block what he says are "defamatory attacks" against him and his wife, Knox News reports. Goldberg says the ads "have escalated beyond the bounds of acceptable political discourse." He is asking a Knox County chancellor to issue an injunction against his opponent, incumbent Rep. Elaine Davis, R-Knoxville, the state Republican Party, House Republican Caucus and Parthenon Strategies. The ads center on claims that Goldberg did not timely pay his property taxes. Goldberg says he was the victim of identity theft and a check for the taxes was modified and cashed by the thief. Goldberg says he appreciates that Davis publicly condemned the ad and asked her party leadership to stop running it.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has opened an investigation into Impact Plastics in Erwin, Knox News reports. Employees of the company have alleged management did not allow workers to leave the facility even as flood warnings were issued and floodwaters from the Nolichucky River swamped the building. According to the paper, two employees died and several were missing at the time of the report. Steve Finney, district attorney for the First Judicial District, requested TBI investigate the business to "identify any potential criminal violations." The company denies that it forced anyone to continue working as waters rose.

The Davidson County General Sessions Domestic Violence Court has been selected to participate in a domestic violence court mentorship program run by the Center for Justice Innovation and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Nashville Banner reported on the development in a recent newsletter (scroll to the seventh story). The goal of the program is to provide resources and education on how to better handle domestic violence cases and improve outcomes for victims and children. Davidson County’s domestic violence docket was established in 2014, and is currently presided over by three judges: Allegra Walker, Ana Escobar and Marcus Floyd.

The 21st Annual TBA Leadership Law (TBALL) program is accepting nominations for the 2025 class through tomorrow. Nominees should have from five to 15 years of experience in practice. Nominations should be submitted using this online form. Last year, 35 lawyers from across the state were accepted into the program. The new class will kick off in January 2025 with an opening retreat at Montgomery Bell State Park and end next June with a commencement ceremony during the TBA Annual Convention in Franklin. Email TBALL coordinators Tanja Trezise or Jarod Word with any questions.

The U.S Justice Department announced Monday it plans to launch a review of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a white mob attack on a Black district in Oklahoma. The attack is considered one of the worst single acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history, according to Associated Press. The review — initiated under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, a federal cold-case initiative — aims to detail findings by year's end. While prosecutors have "no expectation" of living perpetrators, the descendants of survivors have embraced the news. The Oklahoma Supreme Court previously dismissed a lawsuit by survivors seeking reparations. According to the article, survivors hope the investigation will bolster their efforts to seek financial amends for the attack.

The TBA's annual Animal Law Forum is taking place this Friday at the Nashville Zoo. This unique CLE will provide updates on trends and advancements in animal law while allowing participants to network with each other and enjoy all the zoo has to offer. Topics at this year’s forum include a legislative update, veterinarians and animal cruelty, pet trusts, pet liability and attorney wellness. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included with the program. Do not miss this event; you never know who is going to show up!

A survey by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism found nearly a quarter of lawyers in that state were victims of workplace bullying within the past year, according to Reuters. Of the more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers surveyed, 24% said they had recently experienced bullying on the job, with the rate higher among women, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ and younger lawyers, the survey reports. The report recommends that legal workplaces develop and enforce anti-bullying policies, that law schools offer anti-bullying training, and that judges enforce anti-bullying policies in their courtrooms.

A Memphis man who drowned while saving a child from a flooded ditch has been posthumously honored with the Carnegie Medal, a prestigious award recognizing civilian heroism, according to the Daily Memphian. Will Drennan, a father of two, died in August 2022 while attempting to rescue a young boy during a severe storm. This has earned him national recognition for his bravery. Drennan’s son, Hayden, who was present at the scene of the accident, often describes his father as a superhero, the paper reports.

Ascension Saint Thomas, Rutherford County’s largest hospital, plans to rebuild and expand its sexual assault exam program according to Tennessee Lookout. Earlier this year, the hospital had allegedly stopped providing specialized sexual assault nurse exams (SANE exams) according to the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center in Murfreesboro and a Rutherford County district attorney, who also noted that the exams yield key evidence needed to bring perpetrators to justice. A hospital spokesperson earlier this month denied claims that the hospital had stopped performing exams. The hospital now has released a written plan outlining its commitment to “rebuilding and expanding" the program, which it said had been facing staffing shortages.

Tennessee's congressional delegation is advocating for the establishment of a federal passport agency in Nashville, citing legal concerns related to access and efficiency in passport processing for residents. Currently, Nashville-area residents must travel several hours to the nearest agency in Atlanta, hindering timely applications and renewals, according to Axios Nashville. The delegation, led by the U.S. Rep. John Rose, a Republican from Cookeville, has formally questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Nashville's exclusion from the State Department's recent announcement of six new passport offices. In the letter, the representatives highlight the significant legal and practical challenges faced by constituents who require expedited passport services.