The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection met on April 11 to consider claims from clients alleging financial loss due to the illegal actions of their lawyers. The fund approved two claims: one against Madison County attorney Angela Joy Hopson in the amount of $2,022 and one against Knox County lawyer Douglas A. Trant in the amount of $7,500. It also directed both to reimburse the fund for the expenses. The Fund for Client Protection was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court to reimburse individuals for losses caused by dishonest conduct by attorneys. The fund is operated by a board, which meets quarterly to consider claims. In September 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court amended Rule 25 to require the fund to notify the Tennessee Bar Association of claims paid. News releases also are posted online.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation has launched a new IOLTA Capital Improvement and Technology Enhancement (CITE) Grant, a one-time grant to help legal aid and civil legal services providers strengthen operational capacity and technology. Funding can be requested for capital improvements, projects that enhance efficiency and improving client service with technology, or projects that drive innovation through technology. Applications should be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CDT on April 23. Read more in a press release from the foundation or access detailed guidelines — including eligibility requirements, application standards and evaluation criteria — and frequently asked questions on the foundation’s website.

The ABA Center for Professional Responsibility has circulated for comment a memorandum and discussion draft of possible amendments to ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.14: Client with Diminished Capacity. The memorandum explains the reason for the amendments, while the discussion draft sets forth possible amendments to address that need. Comments about the possible amendments should be sent to modelruleamend@americanbar.org by May 12,. Comments also may be posted on the ABA’s website. Please contact Mary McDermott or Ellyn Rosen with any questions.

Let us help you switch your office UPS account to TBA’s UPS member advantage account and save up to 65% off Domestic Next Day shipments. Contact Membership Director Mindy Thomas for account transfer details and to compare service rates. Savings include next day air, international, ground and express. Visit UPS's TBA page for specific services and discounts.

The TBA again this year is honoring the work of Tennessee journalists through the Fourth Estate Award, which honors courageous reporting on justice and the law. Don't miss the opportunity to nominate a journalist or group of journalists! Nominations are due by April 30. The TBA strongly supports freedom of expression under the First Amendment, as exercised by lawyers on behalf of their clients and by journalists on behalf of the public, and particularly wants to recognize and encourage journalists who promote public understanding of the rule of law and our system of justice through vigorous exercise of their First Amendment rights. Attorneys who have relationships with reporters or observed a particularly compelling piece of journalism in 2024 are encouraged to submit a nomination. Read about past recipients here and read the TBA's full press release.

The Nashville Bar Association (NBA) will hold its annual Law Day Luncheon on May 1 from noon to 1 p.m. CDT at the Four Seasons Hotel, 1000 Demonbruen St., Nashville 37201. The event will feature a keynote address by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Curtis L. Collier. Learn more and register online or view a flyer for the event. This year’s Law Day theme — Out of Many, One — celebrates the constitution’s ability to bridge differences and unite Americans.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN), this week filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Rutherford County families and PEN America against the Rutherford County Board of Education. The suit challenges the school board’s ban of more than 145 books from school libraries in the county. The three families, who are anonymous, include two rising freshmen and a rising senior who will attend Rutherford County schools next year. PEN America, a national free expression organization, joined the lawsuit on behalf of its author members, 32 of whom have had a total of 53 books banned or restricted by the Rutherford County school board. Read more in a release from the group.

Five international students at the University of Memphis are in limbo after ICE terminated their student visas this week, the Daily Memphian reports. The university confirmed the students’ Student Exchange Visa Information System records were terminated. “Our division of International Affairs is actively working with the impacted students in addition to advising all U of M international students on how to navigate and maintain their status,” said university spokesman Trent Shadid. The move comes after students at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville also were notified their student visas had been revoked.

Adams & Reese recently announced a “comprehensive rebrand and website refresh.” According to the firm, the redesign caps off a quarter century of growth and commitment to building collaborative partnerships with clients. Managing Partner Gif Thornton explains: “This is a refreshed identity, reflecting an even deeper understanding of our clients’ evolving needs, as we continue to collaborate as their business and legal partners across our footprint and beyond.” Founded in 1951, Adams & Reese has more than 320 attorneys and advisors in 18 offices across 10 states and the District of Columbia. Offices in Tennessee are located in Chattanooga, Memphis and Nashville. The rebrand was handled by New York-based communications firm Starfish. The website redesign was handled by New York-based technology firm Reflexions. Read more about the rebrand and the significance of the new color palette and styling of the firm name.

Sullivan County lawyer Steven Carl Frazier received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 17. The court found that Frazier violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4(a), 1.5(a) & (b) and 1.15(a) & (b). It conditioned the censure on refunding his client $2,500 within 30 days. Frazier was retained by the client for representation in a property boundary dispute. The court found that Frazier did not deposit the retainer fee into his trust account and wrongfully commingled the client funds with his own. The court also found that he did not track his time, issue an invoice for legal services, or communicate the rate of his fee or expenses the client would pay. He also did not obtain a signed explanation of the parties’ intent and amount of non-refundable funds. He later stopped responding to the client’s requests for updates and took no further action on the case. Finally, the court found that while Frazier offered to refund one-half of the client’s fees three years after the client filed a disciplinary complaint, the fees were never refunded.