TBA member and Chattanooga lawyer Marc Harwell has received the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel’s President’s Community Service Award for his service related to the #FeedThePartnership campaign. Through Harwell’s work, the campaign has provided over 600 meals to the residents and staff of the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, which provides shelter to victims of domestic violence and emergency shelter for homeless families in the Chattanooga community. Harwell is the founder of the Harwell Law Group PLLC, a past president of the Chattanooga Bar Association, and a member of the federation’s executive committee.

Join the Litigation Law Section on Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. CDT for a one-hour roundtable conversation titled, “From the Supreme Court to the Trial Courts - Navigating COVID-19 Orders, Rules and Local Practices." Section Chair Todd Presnell, along with executive council members Marty Phillips and Zac Greene, will discuss the current practices and procedures of the court. The discussion will include working in the COVID-19 orders, rules and practices from the Supreme Court. Don’t miss this open and lively conversation by registering NOW.

The 2020 Adoption Law Forum is live and all virtual on Sept. 24 from noon until 3:45 p.m. CDT. This program will take a deep dive into post adoption contact agreements, including recent changes, basics and ethics regarding PACAs. General counsel from the Tennessee Department of Children's Services will also join the event to provide legislative updates affecting the practice area. Make sure you stick around for the networking reception immediately following the program so you can meet TBA and section leadership. Register now.

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will host a phone clinic on Monday for members of the public with questions about housing and renters’ rights, bankruptcy, medical bills, debt collection, domestic violence, SNAP benefits and unemployment benefits. The clinic will run from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. CDT. LAS is looking for attorneys to help with the clinic. To volunteer, contact Andrae Crismon or Kendra Cheek or call 615-780-7131. See the list of clinics for all of August.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made feeling a sense of loss or feeling out of control universal themes. Understanding and processing these feelings can be daunting, but according to a recent CNN article featuring an interview with clinical psychologist Ronald Breazeale, pushing them aside can lead to more trouble down the road. Breazeale says the first step in the processing routine is accepting that you’re having certain feelings and recognizing what those emotions are. From there, talk them through with yourself or someone supportive, or write about them, to figure out what you can do to express them in a healthy way. Breazeale says it’s also important to know that this process is a continuing situation and something you’ll need to go through more than once. To deal with the added stress of the pandemic, Breazele says that “people are going to have to get comfortable with a lack of control.” He adds that “flexibility is going to be critical for people to get through this pandemic.”

Gov. Bill Lee yesterday signed into law a bill that provides protections for businesses, schools and nursing homes against “frivolous” COVID-19 lawsuits, the Associated Press reports. The law was enacted today, but is retroactive, covering claims arising from COVID-19 on or before Aug. 3. The act will be repealed on July 1, 2022, but will continue to apply to any loss, illness, injury or death occurring before that date.

Last week, a story was run in TBA Today about the TBA’s support of extending federal authorization to keep a U.S. bankruptcy judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. The article stated that upon the retirement of Judge Marcia Parsons, who has held that post for 27 years, all bankruptcy cases in the easternmost counties of Tennessee will be shifted to the docket in Knoxville. It was brought to our attention that the cases in the Northeastern Division of the Eastern District will be heard by Judge Shelley D. Rucker of Chattanooga, and not shifted to Knoxville as previously stated.

When the 19th Amendment was ratified, cities around the country rang bells in celebration. Nashville, however, did not. Now, 100 years later, the Nashville Public Library’s “I Ring the Bell” campaign today invited everyone to create a video of themselves ringing bells and explaining why they were doing so. Administrative Office of the Courts Director Deborah Taylor Tate joined in the celebration, ringing a bell outside the Tennessee Supreme Court Building. Additional events and celebrations taking place to commemorate the 19th Amendment’s centennial included the Tennessee House of Representatives’ reenactment of the historic vote on the House floor and the Tennessee State Museum’s Lunch & Learn on the fight for the right to vote, which is scheduled for tomorrow at noon to 1 p.m. CDT. An overview of all these events and more can be found on the Tennessee State Courts website. A round-up of commemorative events around the state is also available from the TBA.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee today temporarily suspended Anderson County lawyer Kevin Carmack Angel from the practice of law after finding that he poses a threat of substantial harm to himself and the public. Angel is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases and must cease representing existing clients by Sept. 18. After that time, Angel shall not use any indicia of lawyer, legal assistant or law clerk or maintain a presence where the practice of law is conducted. Angel must notify all clients, co-counsel and opposing counsel in pending matters of the order suspending his license and he is required to deliver to all clients any papers or property to which they’re entitled. This suspension remains in effect until dissolution or modification by the Supreme Court. Angel may for good cause request dissolution or modification of the suspension by petition to the Supreme Court.

Attorney General Herbert Slatery today announced his office has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Joel Scott Craig for fraudulently billing TennCare for unnecessary foot and ankle strapping services. The state alleges that Craig, who operates Milan Foot Care, concocted a scheme to treat patients with medically unnecessary procedures and afterwards present false information to TennCare for payment. The state estimates Dr. Craig has overbilled TennCare by more than $150,000 and is requesting a jury trial, damages three times the amount the defendant is accused of falsely overbilling and a civil penalty of $5,000-$25,000 for each violation. Read the entire complaint on the AG’s website.