A lawsuit against the National Museum of African American Music brought by former CEO Henry Hicks III — who departed the role in August 2023 — was dismissed last week after the parties reached a settlement out of court. Hicks’ suit, filed in August, alleged that the museum owed him $293,654 of $350,000 promised as part of a separation agreement. The agreement allegedly included assurances that Hicks would drop certain unspecified claims he had against the museum in exchange for the pay out. The Nashville Business Journal reports on the deal.

The Nashville Metro Council’s Public Health and Safety Committee held its final special meeting on domestic violence policy this week. Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk and Assistant District Attorney Christina Johnson, who leads that office’s domestic violence team, spoke, recommending several changes they said would improve Nashville’s response. Among their suggestions was sending a domestic violence professional or survivor advocate on calls with police, hiring someone specifically to work on gun dispossession, and changing state law to remove assaults between roommates from the domestic violence statute. Johnson said those cases do not include the sort of intimate partner violence the law was meant to address. Read more in the Nashville Banner’s newsletter.

Tennessee’s CLE compliance deadline is just two months away. Are the CLE Scaries starting to haunt you? If so, the TBA has you covered. Terrifying highlights include: new live webcasts such as Legal Writing Rules You SHOULD Be Breaking, Friends … An Ethical Sitcom and Essential Presentation Skills for Attorneys; 1-Click packages from your favorite forums by practice area or by hour; new topics including corporate counsel, litigation, business law and estate planning; and 250 on-demand programs, including 40+ ethics titles. New videos are being added weekly and TBA Members enjoy free CLE and exclusive discounts. Check out the full calendar of upcoming events. Not a member yet? Join here.

A reception on Nov. 14 will benefit the Judge Dinkins Educational Center, a vocational program dedicated to providing career training and mentorship to adolescents who have been involved in the justice system. Named for the late Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Richard H. Dinkins, the center aims to equip young people with the skills and guidance they need to build a brighter future. The event will take place beginning at 4:30 p.m. CST with a presentation at 4:45 p.m. at the Law Offices of Spencer Fane, 511 Union St., #1000, Nashville 37219. RSVP by Nov. 7 to Tim Forbes, 615-571-9667. View the invitation.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has asked the Board of Professional Responsibility to review the actions of Kentucky lawyer Darren Craig Lamb and take whatever action the board may deem warranted. In August, Lamb entered a plea of nolo contendere to the Class A misdemeanors of stalking, harassment and violation of a No Contact Order in the case of State of Tennessee v. Darren Craig Lamb. The Davidson County General Sessions Court judge who heard the case granted judicial diversion pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. §40-35-313.

The Tennessee Supreme Court temporarily suspended Knox County lawyer Gary Lee Anderson from the practice of law after finding that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility about a misconduct complaint. Anderson is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Nov. 28. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee and the Washington County Bar Association will hold a legal advice clinic in Washington County on Saturday from 9-11 a.m. EDT. The event will take place at Good Samaritan Ministries, 100 N. Roan St., Johnson City 37601. Contact Caitlin Torney with questions or to volunteer. Also on Saturday, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will hold a clinic at the Antioch Library Southeast Branch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT. Prospective clients are encouraged to fill out an intake form in advance of the event. Attorneys can sign up to volunteer here. The library is located at 5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy #201, Antioch 37013.

TBA’s Group Health Insurance, provided by BlueCross BlueShield, offers guaranteed issue coverage, with no health questions and no pre-existing condition exclusions. The Cookeville law firm Byars Law made the switch. Here is what attorney Gordon Byars says about the program: “TBA’s health insurance allows our firm to offer competitive insurance benefits to our employees. If we did not have this resource, we could not afford to offer a similar plan through the normal marketplace. The price is competitive, and the coverage is amazing. Having this benefit to offer has allowed us to recruit better quality employees as we expand our practice." Find out more or get your quote now.

Carter County lawyer Jason Lee Holly was temporarily suspended from the practice of law after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that he failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility regarding three misconduct complaints. Holly is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Nov. 27. The suspension will remain in effect until dissolution or modification by the court.

In recognition of Celebrate Pro Bono Month, Nashville lawyer and TBA Young Lawyers Division Board member Alix Rogers writes in a recent piece about how pro bono work not only helps those in need but also can be a valuable tool for professional growth. In "The Professional Power of Pro Bono: Building Skills, Networks and Purpose," Rogers reflects on her own experience and well as those gleaned from working with law students to outline the ways pro bono work can build critical skills and connections. Rogers is director of career and professional development at Belmont University College of Law. She serves on the TBA's Access to Justice Committee as well as Middle Tennessee Governor on the YLD Board. For many years, she also has coordinated the YLD's pro bono activities.