Michael Reed, who lost his wife and two daughters in the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire, on Thursday filed a malpractice suit against the attorneys who represented him in his federal case against the National Park Service, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Reed’s new suit alleges attorneys Sidney Gilreath and Gordon Ball were unfamiliar with and did not follow the process for filing a Federal Torts Claims Act and failed to file pertinent documents with the court. Reed’s new attorney, David Randolph Smith, argues the original lawsuit would have been successful if the paperwork had been completed correctly. Reed sued the National Park Service for failing to warn people about the incoming flames against the park's policy. In the new suit, Reed is seeking $13.5 million in damages as well as other costs.

Johnnie Louis Johnson III, now a resident of Kingsland, Georgia, was today disbarred by the Tennessee Supreme Court by Order of Reciprocal Discipline. Johnson was disbarred by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. The Tennessee Supreme Court entered a Notice of Reciprocal Discipline in September, giving Johnson 30 days to demonstrate to the court why he should not be disbarred in Tennessee. Johnson failed to respond to the directive. He must pay the court’s costs and expenses within 90 days.

New Nashville Judge Lynne Ingram is facing accusations from a former client that she rushed through her last trial as an attorney, the Nashville Post reports. The former client, Dr. Hau La, was convicted on 11 counts of distribution of a controlled substance during a July trial. By then, Ingram had won the May 3 Democratic primary and, since there were no Republican contenders, effectively won her seat on the Davidson County Circuit Court. Ingram removed herself from the case immediately after the trial because she was “preparing to take the bench …” La filed a motion for a new trial on Friday, alleging Ingram and co-counsel Bryna Grant should never have brought the case to trial so quickly and that the pair never interviewed key government witnesses or reviewed the government’s discovery evidence “in any meaningful way.” The motion also claims the defense team’s own expert witness told Ingram and Grant they were unprepared and should seek a continuance.

Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon this week announced two additions to his leadership team at the juvenile courthouse, the Commercial Appeal reports. Stephen Bush, a former public defender, will serve as the chief administrative officer. Bush is behind the Jericho Project, a pre-trial diversion program in Shelby County. Stephanie Hill will serve as deputy chief administrative officer and the chief of strategy and innovation. Hill has most recently served as the impact assessment associate for Slingshot Memphis, a local group that funds non-profits that focus on fighting poverty. Sugarmon said the new hires bring experience that will help develop a roadmap for true reform that not only ensures fairness for every child but will also hold youth accountable in ways that advance public safety.”

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands is accepting applications for a reentry attorney and a family law attorney. The reentry attorney represents income-eligible clients in civil cases that address barriers to reentry created by interaction with the criminal justice system. The family law attorney will represent survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking with a focus on divorce and orders of protection in Davidson and Williamson counties. Find these and other job postings on the TBA’s JobLink page.

Belmont University College of Law first-year student Laurel Anne Flaherty died Oct. 12 as a result of a motor vehicle accident. She was 22. Flaherty moved to Nashville from Pembroke, Massachusetts, to attend Belmont. She earned a BSW from the university earlier this year before enrolling in the law school. According to her obituary, Flaherty was passionate about improving the lives of others and gave tirelessly to many organizations, as well as being an avid equestrian and animal lover. A funeral mass will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. EDT at Saint Thecla's Church, 145 Washington Street, Route 53, Pembroke. Burial will follow at Pembroke Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to; International Justice Mission, P.O. Box 96961, Washington, DC 20090-6961 or to Saddle Up Nashville, 1549 Old Hillsboro Road, Franklin, TN 37069-9136.

Elder Law Basics 2022 will be presented virtually on Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Designed for attorneys new to the practice or those looking to brush up on their knowledge, this program will provide an overview of the intangibles of Elder Law. Topics will include powers of attorney, estate recovery, reverse mortgages, how clients can find and afford health care in retirement, ethics and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from seasoned practitioners providing the information you need to stay on top of developments and changes in the field. Register here.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission has forwarded the names of Audrey Lee Anderson, Stanley A. Kweller and Stephanie J. Williams to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration in filling the 20th Judicial District circuit court vacancy. The seat was made vacant by the passing of Judge Philip E. Smith in September. The 20th Judicial District covers Davidson County. Read more on each candidate from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Witness an all-star lineup of women attorneys discuss resiliency in our profession during times of change, nontraditional legal careers, women supporting other women and much more during the “Raising the Bar” program next week. Produced by the TBA Women in the Profession Committee, the in-person event will kick off with a keynote address from Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle (retired), JAMS: Mediation, Arbitration and ADR Service, on withstanding career adversity, overcoming challenges and growing from those experiences. Programming will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. CST at Baker Donelson’s Nashville office and will be immediately followed by a networking reception. Learn more and register for the program.

In what could be its final public hearing, the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol unanimously voted to subpoena former President Donald Trump, The Hill reports. Trump is expected to challenge the subpoena in the court, a process that would likely outlast the life of the special committee which is set to end later this year. If Trump declined to comply with the compulsory order to testify, the committee and then the House could vote on whether to send a contempt of Congress referral to the Justice Department. It’s not clear when the subpoena will be formally served or what response date deadline would be given to Trump.