Work is complete on the state-of-the-art Rhea County Justice Center, which will serve as the new home of the county’s Circuit, Chancery and General Sessions courts. Located three miles north of the historic Rhea County Courthouse that it’s replacing, the 94,000-square-foot Justice Center boasts a number of technological and security-related upgrades that will make court run more safely and more smoothly for judges, staff and court users. The building will also house the Rhea County Sheriff’s Department and a new county jail, which can house 342 inmates. Other parts of the building will be rented out by a variety of different agencies, providing room for the Tennessee Highway Patrol, public defenders, probation, and parole offices. The historic Rhea County Courthouse was made famous as the site of the Scopes Trial and houses a museum dedicated to the trial. The Administrative Office of the Courts has more on the new Justice Center.

The U.S. Department of Justice yesterday filed a civil rights lawsuit against Cumberland County for failure to act on charges of sexual misconduct by former Solid Waste Department Director Michael Harvel, the Crossville Chronicle reports. The DOJ says four current and former Solid Waste Department employees filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission detailing sexual harassment they, and other women, were subjected to by Harvel. The suit also references six employees who did not file complaints with the EEOC. The suit says that from February 2015 through February 2018, Harvel subjected female employees to unwelcome, nonconsensual sexual contact on a “daily or near daily basis.” The suit seeks monetary and non-monetary relief, including that the county establish better measures to prevent and correct sexual harassment. A settlement is expected in the case by April 8. Harvel also faces criminal charges related to the complaint.

The FBI yesterday released findings from its investigation into the Christmas Day bombing in downtown Nashville, including what they believe motivated the man who detonated the bomb, WPLN reports. According to the report, Anthony Warner of Antioch sought to end his own life due in part to “life stressors” like paranoia and beliefs he adopted from several conspiracy theories. “The FBI’s analysis did not reveal indications of a broader ideological motive to use violence to bring about social or political change, nor does it reveal indications of a specific personal grievance focused on individuals or entities in and around the location of the explosion,” the report said. Several reviews of the explosion are still ongoing, including Metro Nashville Police Department’s review of its own handling of a 2019 tip from Warner’s girlfriend that he was building a bomb in his RV.

U.S. District Judge for the Western District Mark Norris yesterday ruled that the Centers for Disease Control exceeded its legal authority by issuing an order halting evictions, the Daily Memphian reports. The ruling clears the way for landlords in the Western District of Tennessee’s 22 counties to resume evicting tenants who are late in paying rent. Norris ruled in favor of seven Memphis-area landlords and property management firms who filed suit in September. They argued that Congress never authorized the CDC to impose the order. Congress did approve a six-month halt on evictions last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After it expired, the CDC extended the moratorium with the support of former President Donald Trump. However, Norris ruled there was no law authorizing the CDC to impose the order.

According to a bankruptcy plan filed late Monday night, Purdue Pharma will pay $500 million up front to settle hundreds of thousands of injury claims linked to its role in the opioid crisis, NPR reports. Billions of dollars in additional payments will be made over the next decade, with the company predicting as much as $1 billion in additional payouts happening by 2024. Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery today responded to the filing, calling the plan a “significant step,” but adding that the state’s “support is still contingent on remaining unresolved issues.” Two dozen state attorneys general rejected the plan, calling Purdue a “criminal enterprise” in a joint statement and demanding more money up front to help communities affected by opioid addiction.

A new episode of the TBA Member Spotlight Series is available today, featuring a conversation between TBA President Michelle Greenway Sellers and Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins of Memphis. Jenkins discusses his passions outside of the law, how to educate the community about the important role the judiciary plays in their everyday lives and more. Catch up on past episodes, like Michelle’s conversation with HCA Senior HR Counsel and TBA Chief Diversity Officer Mary Beard and 26th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney and TBA YLD President Terica Smith.

Third year Vanderbilt Law School student Ramon Ryan is the guest co-host of this month’s episode of the TBA BarBuzz Podcast. Ryan helps recap the latest legal news, upcoming and recent events at the bar association and gives some special shout outs to attorneys in the Tennessee legal community for their good work. Ryan also discusses his recent ABA award-winning scholarship on the Federal Communication Commission’s policy that excludes commercial satellites from environmental review. BarBuzz is a monthly show and is part of the TBA Podcast Network. It can be found anywhere you listen to podcasts or on the TBA’s website.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands has announced dates for a series of virtual legal clinics to assist victims of the March 2020 Middle Tennessee tornadoes. The clinics, held for low-income residents of Davidson, Putnam and Wilson counties, will be staffed by pro bono attorneys with experience in legal issues stemming from natural disasters. The Davidson County clinic will be held this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. CST. More information can be found here.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is now hiring for a senior environmental counsel position. The position requires a minimum of five years of experience in the full-time practice of law. Experience applying the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), SMCRA, CERCLA and/or RCRA is preferred. The position is located in Nashville, but TDEC attorneys are currently working remotely and there is expected to be some flexibility going forward. Read the full job description and instructions on how to apply.

President Joe Biden today signed his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue package into law, The Hill reports. The bill includes funding for $1,400 direct payments to most Americans, vaccine distribution efforts, school reopenings, enhanced unemployment benefits through September and state and local governments, along with an expansion of the child tax credit and an expansion of ObamaCare, among other provisions. The White House says it expects many Americans to receive their direct payments by the end of March. Biden will deliver a prime-time address later this evening about the administration's pandemic response.