Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Holly Kirby will be featured in an upcoming event from the Memphis Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society on March 25 at noon CDT. The program, The Tennessee Constitution: Its History and Key Distinctives, will take place virtually. Those who wish to register may do so by contacting Greg Grisham or by signing up online. A link to the webcast will be sent following registration.   

Austin Peay State University is seeking volunteer attorneys to help with a virtual legal clinic for the student body on March 29 from 3 to 5 p.m. CDT. The clinic is a free opportunity for students to discuss their civil legal problems with volunteer attorneys. The clinic will be conducted via Zoom and is not limited to local attorneys. Register here to volunteer for the event.

Law on Call, the first law firm to be owned entirely by nonlawyers in the U.S., opened its doors recently in Utah, the ABA Journal reports. The firm’s opening is a result of sweeping changes to legal services regulation in Utah that were approved by the Utah Supreme Court in August. The two-year pilot project allows law firms with nonlawyer owners and nontraditional legal service providers to operate in a “regulatory sandbox” in the state. Law on Call clients pay $9 per month to get unlimited phone access to lawyers who can offer advice in the areas of business law, end-of-life planning, contracts, employment, housing and real estate. If legal work is needed, the discounted rates start at $100 per hour.

Legislation that would allow for permitless handgun carry for most adults 21 and older in the state has advanced through the Tennessee Senate, the Associated Press reports. Senators approved the HB18/SB318 on a 23-9 vote and it must now pass the state House. Gov. Bill Lee has backed the bill, which applies to concealed or open carry, and is expected to sign it into law. Republican senators tweaked the original bill to ban those who had been convicted of stalking or driving under the influence from being able to carry a firearm. Those who had been hospitalized or judicially committed in a mental institution would also be banned. The bill carries an estimated $17.7 million price tag because it increases penalties on gun-related crimes and anticipates more incarcerations as a result. 

State legislators are considering a new bill that would take many lawsuits filed against the state away from Nashville judges, WPLN reports. Under Tennessee law, lawsuits against state government may only be filed in Davidson County courts. House Bill 1196/Senate Bill 454, sponsored by Rep. Johnny Garrett, R-Goodlettsville, would let Tennesseans file suits in their county of residence. Garrett, an attorney with Bone McAllester Norton in Nashville, presented the bill earlier this week, saying he became aware of the issue after his law practice was contacted by a West Tennessee resident interested in suing the state. Garrett said he “realized that [the resident's] only choice was to drive all the way to Nashville and file that lawsuit.” The measure comes after HR23, which sought to remove Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle from the bench, was defeated in a House subcommittee last week. The HB1196/SB454 is currently scheduled to be heard by the House Civil Justice subcommittee next week.

A partial evacuation of the Metro Nashville Courthouse yesterday was prompted by a “suspicious” letter that criticized the city’s $2.25 million settlement of a police shooting lawsuit, the Tennessean reports. Metro Council on Tuesday approved the agreement to settle the civil lawsuit brought by the family of Daniel Hambrick, a Black man who was shot and killed by a white Metro Nashville police officer in 2018. An employee in the city’s legal department opened the letter, saying they had a “perception” that a dangerous substance was inside. Officials with the Nashville Fire Department said hazmat crews isolated two people who came into contact with the “suspicious substance,” but confirmed no dangerous substances were identified. The FBI has the letter and is conducting an investigation into its origin.

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority announced this week that TBA member Amber Floyd would be joining its team as general counsel. In that role, Floyd will be responsible for overseeing Airport Authority legal matters including litigation, legal advice, claims, leasing and contracts and risk management. Most recently, Floyd served as deputy city attorney for the City of Memphis. Prior to that posting, she was a senior associate at Memphis law firm Wyatt, Tarrant and Combs LLC where she worked for eight years. Floyd is also a member of the Memphis Bar Association, as well as Tennessee Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Commission. She is on the board of directors for the Ben F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association. Floyd is a member of the TBA Young Lawyers Division, Local Government Practice Section and chairs the TBA Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity. She was a member of the TBA Leadership Law Class of 2016 and now serves on the steering committee of that program.

TBA CLE will present the virtual 2021 Communications Law Forum on April 16 from 9 a.m. until noon CDT. Attendees will hear presentations on anti-SLAPP, liable defamation, the Public Records Act, a U.S. and Tennessee Supreme Court update and more. Remember, members of the Communication Law Section will receive discounted pricing on this CLE. Not a member? Sign up today.

A new episode of the TBA’s Legislative Updates podcast is now streaming on the TBA website. In this episode, TBA Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs Berkley Schwarz and Adams and Reese attorney and TBA lobbyist Brad Lampley offer listeners a brief status report on SB1366/HB0237 regarding child custody and support, concerns raised over SB1097/HB1164 on probate issues and news on  HB519/SB884, which seeks to eliminate the state’s professional privilege tax (PPT). Lampley says of the PPT bill, “we’re getting some good momentum, that’s positive, but we certainly don’t want to suggest that we’re home free.” He and Schwarz continue to urge members to reach out to their state legislators and voice their opinion on the elimination of the tax. A new episode of Legislative Updates drops every Thursday and can be found on the TBA’s Facebook page or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 

The TBA Litigation Law Ethics Forum is just around the corner. Make plans now to join colleagues on March 30 from 9 a.m. until noon CDT. The program will feature commentary and analysis of litigation and other concerns about vaccines and COVID-related issues in the workplace, a discussion on access to justice issues exacerbated by the pandemic and an examination of the tricky ethical issues that arise when mixing jurors, jury selection and social media. Members of the Litigation Section can purchase the program at a discounted price. Not a section member? Join today!