As part of the Year End CLE Blast, the TBA is offering more than 20 packages from section forums that have taken place over the past year. From business and construction law to environmental and immigration law, 1-Click packages offer a convenient way to catch up on any practice-area specific forums you missed when they aired live. Check them out here. And remember, TBA members save money on all CLE courses.

President Donald Trump yesterday signed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, avoiding a partial government shutdown, NPR reports. The package includes direct payments to qualifying Americans, worth up to $600 per adult and child; a boost in weekly unemployment benefits; and funds for small-business aid and vaccine distribution. Trump’s signature comes after he unexpectedly called the bill a “disgrace” and asked lawmakers to increase the direct payments to Americans to $2,000 per qualifying individual and $4,000 for couples. He also asked that “wasteful items” be removed from the bill. Trump said in a statement last night that lawmakers will pursue some of his suggested changes.

Looking for CLE around a specific topic or just need a certain number of credit hours? TBA has you covered with new packages designed specifically for your needs. Topic-based packages include courses on legal basics, legal essentials, attorney wellness and section forums. Hour-based packages are also available for those who need 15, 12, 10, eight, six or four hours of credit. See all the options here. Questions? Contact the TBA staff for help. And thanks to Blast presenting sponsor Clio and event partner Geico for supporting this month-long event.

The Tennessee Department of Revenue has rescheduled its next free tax webinar for Jan. 12 at 9 a.m. CST due to AT&T connectivity issues caused by the Nashville explosion last week. The webinar is the latest in a series of programs being offered to the public. It will focus on franchise and excise exemptions for insurance companies and third party securitization as well as consolidated net worth applications. Register here for the new January program date and see the list of other upcoming webinars.

Memphis attorney John Thomason died Dec. 24 at 91. Thomason earned his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1952 and, after graduating, served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps until 1955. In 1967, he helped found Crawford, Thomason and Hendrix, which became Lewis Thomason in 2014. During his years in practice, he tried hundreds of jury trials in both state and federal jurisdictions.  He was selected for membership in the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Association of Defense Counsel, and Best Lawyers in America, and served as chairman of the General Practice Section of the American Bar Association. In 2002, after fifty years in the bar, he retired from the practice of law. He was a prolific writer and went on to author three books.

Former Collierville and Germantown city attorney Tom Cates died Dec. 23 at 79. Cates earned his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School and practiced law for 48 years before retiring from Burch, Porter & Johnson in 2013.  He became attorney for Germantown in 1991 and for Collierville in 1995, holding both positions until his retirement. During his time as Germantown attorney, Cates helped the city negotiate the development of Wolf River Boulevard and was a key legal adviser in the formation of municipal school districts in Shelby County suburbs. “He was a unique individual,” said Nathan Bicks, who followed Cates as Collierville’s attorney. “He was a lawyer who could handle a multi-million-dollar transaction, but also handle a jury trial in federal court, and he could do it well.” The Daily Memphian has more on Cates’ legacy.

A $500,000 endowment from the family of late Memphis attorney James S. “Jim” Gilliland Sr. has been given to the Legal Clinic at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys Law School, the Daily Memphian reports. Gilliland was a partner at Glankler Brown for 30 years before passing away in February at 86. The law school’s 30-year-old clinic, which allows law students to provide free legal services to underserved populations, will be renamed to the James S. Gilliland Legal Clinic. Although Gilliland was not an alum of the law school, University of Memphis President M. David Rudd said the endowment will extend “Jim’s wonderful legacy of justice and community-building while inspiring and supporting generations of law students to use their degrees in service of the public.”

Several bills that would weaken state vaccination requirements will be up for consideration when the state legislature convenes in January, the Daily Memphian reports. State law currently allows parents to refuse to vaccinate their children for religious beliefs or practices, as long as the state is “in the absence of an epidemic or immediate threat of an epidemic.” HB0010/SB0007 sponsored by Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, and Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, would eliminate the “pandemic clause,” allowing parents to forego having their children vaccinated against COVID-19. HB0013 from Rep. Bud Hensley, R-Kingsport, would prevent state or local authorities from “forcing, requiring, or coercing” a person to get a COVID-19 vaccine against their will. House Education Committee Chairm Mark White, R-Memphis, says he is conflicted about the issues and plans to hear from medical experts when considering the bills. “We need to have some hard discussions and be thoughtful about this. I think we’re going to have to do a lot of listening,” he said.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announced last week that former Republican Rep. Andy Holt of Dresden has been appointed to serve as the department’s director of business development, the Associated Press reports. In this role, Holt will support economic development initiatives and the expansion of the agriculture and forestry industries. Holt served in the state House from 2010 until this year. He was an Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee chair and spent time as chair of the Budget Subcommittee when Rep. Glen Casada was House speaker. Holt and his wife own and run Holt Family Farms agritourism and livestock operation in Dresden.

The TBA is experiencing intermittent phone issues due to the explosion in Nashville on Christmas morning. If you are unable to reach a TBA staff member by phone, you can direct your questions to email@tnbar.org. The TBA's online CLE platform has also experienced some technical delays. Staff members are working with providers and support teams to improve performance.