Russ McKamey, owner of Summertown attraction McKamey Manor, on Friday filed a lawsuit against Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and the State Fire Marshall Carter Lawrence. The Tennessean reports that McKamey is seeking a court order to ensure he will not have to testify in a state investigation he considers politically motivated. In late 2023, a Hulu documentary prompted Skrmetti's office to open an investigation into McKamey Manor's business practices. The lawsuit stems from that investigation, arguing that providing testimony is not necessary for Skrmetti’s office to conduct its probe. The suit also argues that information obtained under oath could lead to discovery of evidence that could be used to prosecute McKamey.

Two bills with the potential to affect foster children are on their way to Gov. Bill Lee's desk for his signature. HB2169/SB1738 would block the Department of Children's Services (DCS) from excluding potential adoptive or foster parents who hold anti-LGBTQ beliefs for "religious or moral" reasons. Another bill, SB2359/HB1726, would prohibit DCS from requiring foster parents to get the flu or whooping cough vaccine, regardless of the medical vulnerabilities of the child. Republicans have claimed that both bills will widen the pool of prospective foster families, while Democrats have voiced concerns over the mental and physical well-being of vulnerable children. The Tennessean has the story.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on March 22 suspended 20 attorneys for failure to pay the annual registration fee; 12 of them also failed to file proof that client funds are held in an IOLTA-compliant account. View the fee suspension order and IOLTA suspension order. See the list of all lawyers suspended and reinstated for fee and IOLTA violations in 2024 or access all administrative suspensions dating back to 2005.

State Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morristown, experienced a medical emergency during a Senate floor session Monday and was taken to the hospital, WPLN reports. A spokesperson for the Senate speaker’s office stated that other senators came to Southerland's aid and removed him from the chamber, before emergency personnel attended to him. Southerland was alert when he was taken out. He represents District 9, which serves parts of Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Sevier and Unicoi counties.

The Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts (VLPA) and the law firm Bradley partner each month to provide free business-oriented legal services to Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits. Assistance includes business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts, and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Client registration for the April 18 clinic is open through April 15. Then on May 1 from 6-8 p.m., the Arts & Business Council will hold a Creatives Pro Bono Legal Clinic. These clinics offer 30-minute in-person sessions to income-qualified artists, musicians and creatives. These clients should register here.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue will host a free webinar tomorrow from 8:30-11:30 a.m. CDT specifically designed for new businesses. Participants will learn about state tax obligations for new businesses and other resources that may help new business. Learn more or register here. The webinar is one in a series of educational sessions held by the department each month.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will be at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law on Wednesday to hear oral arguments in three cases. The proceeding will begin at 9 a.m. CDT with the case of State of Tennessee v. Christopher Oberton Curry Jr., which will test whether there was sufficient evidence to support Curry’s conviction and whether the trial court jury instructions properly defined the term “crime of violence.” At 10:15 a.m, the court will hear arguments in the case of Leah Gilliam v. David Gerregano, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Revenue et al. Gilliam is challenging the department’s revocation of her vanity license plate more than 10 years after issuing it. At 1:15 p.m., the court will hear the final case, State of Tennessee v. Andre Jujuan Lee Green, which will test whether the scent of marijuana detected by a canine is probable cause for a warrantless search. Green will argue that a canine cannot distinguish between the smell of illegal marijuana and legal hemp. The proceedings will be livestreamed on the court’s YouTube page.

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance has ended an 18-month inquiry into Tennessee Stands founder Gary Humble’s 2022 Senate campaign, the Tennessean reports. The registry had been looking into Humble’s records to determine whether his campaign unlawfully coordinated with the group.

The 16th Judicial District Recovery Court recently celebrated the graduation of five individuals who completed an 18-month program focused on intervention, treatment and rehabilitation for substance use disorders. At an event marking the occasion, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sarah K. Campbell delivered remarks and congratulations to the participants. Also on hand were Rutherford Mayor Joe Carr, Recovery Courts Support Foundation President and attorney Thomas Parkerson, Recovery Courts Director LaChelle Ricks and Circuit Court Judge Jimmy Turner. Yahoo News has more in a story from the Daily News Journal. The court, which serves Cannon and Rutherford counties, has seen 400 participants graduate since the program was founded in 2000, by now retired Circuit Court Judge Don R. Ash. More information is available online or in this YouTube video.

The Biden administration last week announced new guidance on how federal agencies can and cannot use artificial intelligence, National Public Radio reports. In a memo released by the Office of Management and Budget, officials said the guidance is a significant step in trying to ensure safe use of AI by balancing risk and innovation. Among the provisions, the guidance directs each agency to appoint a chief artificial intelligence officer and lays out plans to hire 100 AI professionals by the summer. Agencies have until Dec. 1 to implement the required safeguards.