Tennessee counties received $31.4 million from the state’s Opioid Abatement Council in the first round of payments, Tennessee Lookout reports. Additional payments will occur yearly over the next two decades. Funds come from a $600 million pot paid into by AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson and Johnson & Johnson. Under state law, 35% of the funds go directly to counties while the other 65% is set aside for grant programs. The news outlet has an interactive map showing how much each county will receive. In addition, Tennessee could have access to another $490 million if proposed settlements with Allergan, CVS, Teva, Walgreens and Walmart are approved.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law has promoted Jordan Houser to director of career services and alumni relations. In his new role, Houser will lead the Office of Career Services and counsel current law students and alumni regarding all aspects of career development. Houser joined the law school in 2021 and has been serving as assistant director of career services. A 2017 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law, Houser previously served as a staff attorney in the Tennessee Valley Authority's Office of General Counsel and as a real estate associate in the Knoxville office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz.

The latest version of the state of Tennessee’s app includes a new section for mental health and addiction resources featuring the top services from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. MyTN app users can easily click to call or text the Statewide Crisis Line and the Tennessee REDLINE. The app also has information on connecting to treatment services for those who are uninsured including the Behavioral Health Safety Net and addiction treatment Continuum of Care. Read more about the app from the state.

Former state Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, is replacing his legal team after a federal judge rejected his motion to vacate his guilty plea to campaign finance crimes, the Tennessee Journal reports. In a court filing on Wednesday, Kelsey said he has hired J. Alex Little and Zachary Lawson of Burr & Forman. They replace Paul Bruno, David Rivera, Jerry Martin and David Warrington. The move comes amid what Kelsey’s new lawyers called a “deterioration of attorney-client relationships.” The new team also says they are looking at the potential for litigation against prior counsel. Little and Lawson asked a judge overseeing the case to delay Kelsey’s sentencing date by at least a month so they can get up to speed on the case.

A Canadian judge has ruled a farmer’s thumbs-up emoji constituted approval of a contract texted to him by a grain buyer, the ABA Journal reports. The farmer, Chris Achter, argued that the emoji merely indicated he had received the contract, not that he agreed to its terms. Under the court’s ruling Achter was ordered to pay $82,200 in Canadian dollars for breach of contract. The amount equals about $61,000 in U.S. dollars. Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman tells the New York Times that the precise meanings of emojis in both the United States and Canada depend on the facts of the case. “This case won’t definitively resolve what a thumbs-up emoji means,” he said. “But it does remind people that using the thumbs-up emoji can have serious legal consequences.”

The TBA Young Lawyers Division is replaying three CLE webcasts from earlier in the year to help lawyers refresh and rejuvenate their practice. On Aug. 25, join colleagues for How to Log Off When Your Workday is Done. This program will focus on carving out time for yourself even when others expect you to be available at a moment’s notice. Panelists will discuss tips and tricks for setting boundaries around your personal time, managing expectations with clients and other attorneys, incorporating wellness into your day, and the benefits of logging off and getting out of the office.

Early voting is underway for the Aug. 3 election in Davidson County. Voters will cast a ballot for mayor, vice mayor, and district and at-large Metro Council seats. The special general election for state House District 52 and the Democratic and Republican primaries for state House District 51 also will be on the ballot. For those who want to vote absentee, the deadline to request a ballot is July 27. Find polling places, hours and other election information.

Sullivan County lawyer Samuel Ervin White was suspended from the practice of law on June 30 after the Tennessee Supreme Court found that he misappropriated funds for his personal use and posed a threat of substantial harm to the public. On July 6, White filed documentation with the court that he repaid the funds at issue and had brought the matter to a “complete resolution.” He asked the court on July 10 to either dissolve the suspension or provide an additional 30 days to make all required notices of the suspension. White noted that he has the three upcoming jury trials and numerous criminal defense appointments through the end of the year. The court granted the extension and directed the Board of Professional Responsibility to consider his dissolution request “with the utmost speed consistent with due process."

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday extended a monitoring agreement requirement for Shelby County lawyer Philip Logan Wyatt in conjunction with a petition for conditional admission. Wyatt now must remain in substantial compliance with an agreement from the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program until May 20, 2027.

Murders in Tennessee dropped 14.55% in 2022, while reported cases of rape and kidnapping respectively fell 10.6% and 11.98% from 2021, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's latest annual "Crime in Tennessee" report. However, the report, which is based on annual crime statistics submitted by state and local law enforcement agencies, showed that motor vehicle thefts rose 26.91% and reports of identity theft grew 25.55% from 2021 to 2022. The TBI also says the number of crime victims also rose last year by 1.08% to 346,362. The Times Free Press has more on the report’s findings. Read the full report.