Thomson Reuters has filed a lawsuit against legal research startup ROSS Intelligence alleging it stole content from Westlaw to build its competing legal research product, Robert Ambrogi’s LawSites blog reports. Thomson Reuters claims ROSS “intentionally and knowingly” had legal research and writing company LegalEase Solutions use its Westlaw account to reproduce data and deliver it to ROSS. Westlaw does not give licenses to competitors and had previously denied a license to ROSS on that basis. The complaint further alleges that, upon investigating a spike in usage, Westlaw discovered a bot was being used to download and store its content in bulk. ROSS issued a press release today denying the allegations and claiming the lawsuit was “motivated by fear of competition.”

The Legal Services Corporation will host a virtual briefing on Domestic Violence and Civil Legal Services during the Coronavirus Pandemic on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. CDT. Rep. David E. Price, D-North Carolina, Rep. Susan W. Brooks, R-Indiana, and Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wisconsin, will deliver remarks during the briefing and Chief Justice Cheri Beasley from the Supreme Court of North Carolina will provide an update on how North Carolina’s courts have handled the pandemic. A panel will also be held to discuss serving domestic violence survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic with attorney panelists from civil legal organizations from across the country. The event invitation has information on how you can watch the event via Facebook or Zoom.

Following Monday’s ruling that declared Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account program unconstitutional, the state has now appealed the decision, the Tennessean reports. Attorney General Herbert Slatery filed a 165-page appeal application with the Tennessee Court of Appeals on Wednesday arguing the state has the “exclusive authority” to provide for schools and that halting the vouchers program would be detrimental to students. The voucher law would allow eligible families in Davidson and Shelby counties to use public money for private school tuition and other educational needs and was scheduled to begin this fall. "The constitutional issue presented for review pits the State’s ability to engage in significant educational policy reform against a county’s ability to insist on local rule,” the state’s application said. According to the state, about 2,500 students have applied so far and on average, each would receive about $7,100 through the program.  

The 2020 Family Law Forum is now available in a convenient 1-click online package. The four-hour program will cover extensive revisions to the Child Support Guidelines set to take effect on May 10. In addition to revisions surrounding what happens when a stepparent has health insurance coverage for the child and whether a person can claim voluntary unemployment while incarcerated, the program also covers required federal changes. Other topics in the forum include key issues in family law during the COVID-19 pandemic, G.A.L. essentials and ethics in family law. Visit the TBA course catalog to see all available online courses.  

Shelby County lawyer Elizabeth Margaret Cummings was today transferred to disability inactive status by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Cummings cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. She may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the state Supreme Court upon showing clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume the practice of law.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee today disbarred Shelby County lawyer Michael Constantine Skouteris from the practice of law and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $1,023,344.70 and costs of the disciplinary proceeding. Skouteris entered a conditional guilty plea on Feb. 18, admitting he knowingly and intentionally misappropriated client funds received in the settlement of personal injury litigation claims; knowingly misled clients regarding the status of their cases and the filing of pleadings, and failed to communicate. Skouteris forged client signatures on settlement paperwork and began new representations while temporarily suspended. Skouteris must comply with the state Supreme Court rules regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys and may not return to active practice until an order of reinstatement has been entered by the Supreme Court.

Grab your yoga mats and join us tomorrow for free virtual yoga to round out the TBA’s Lawyer Well-Being Week programming. From 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mandy Herring of NuPower Yoga + Barre will guide participants through yoga exercises that are appropriate for new beginners as well as seasoned experts. This even is limited to the first 100 registrants. Once registered, participants will receive an email with information on how to access the yoga session. Get registered now!

Part two of the HealthyBar podcast episode Path to Lawyer Well-Being is now streaming! Mary Griffin and Julie Sandine of the TBA’s Attorney Well-Being Committee and Lindsey O’Connell from the Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) are back to talk about wellness skills and tips for overcoming stress. Make sure to check back with the TBA’s Lawyer Well-Being Resources page for a full rundown of resources, episodes and virtual events happening this week in celebration of attorney wellness. Are you interested in joining the Attorney Well-Being Committee? Sign up now to advocate for wellness with other healthy-minded attorneys!

Attorneys for 59-year-old Harold Nichols asked the Tennessee Supreme Court last week to delay his execution due to the COVID-19 threat, the Tennessean reports. The filing states the COVID-19 health crisis creates a dangerous environment for carrying out an execution and prevents necessary work and preparation to apply for clemency and pursue court challenges. The state Supreme Court has already postponed inmate Oscar Smith’s execution from June to February because of the virus threat. Byron Black has also asked to have his Oct. 8 execution delayed. The Dec. 3 execution date of Pervis Payne is the last execution Tennessee has scheduled.

An inmate at Trousdale Turner prison in Hartsville has died from COVID-19, marking the state’s first reported death of an incarcerated person infected with the illness, the Tennessean reports. The unidentified 67-year-old-man’s cause of death is still pending; he tested positive for the virus while in the hospital. Six inmates who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently in the hospital, with one in serious condition. Gov. Bill Lee announced on Friday that all Tennessee inmates and correction staff will be tested this week in an attempt to mitigate the spread of the virus. This news comes on the same day as the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office’s announcement that it had tested all inmates and staff and the results were 100% negative. The Chattanoogan has that story.