October is Celebrate Pro Bono Month, and all month long the TBA will be highlighting pro bono opportunities and events for Tennessee attorneys. A free legal clinic will be held in Oak Ridge on Oct. 17 at the Legal Aid Society. The clinic will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at 575 Oak Ridge Turnpike. For more information, contact the Legal Aid Society of East Tennessee at (865) 483-8454. See more Celebrate Pro Bono events statewide here.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued guidance on the steps courts should follow when a creditor sells collateral used to obtain a loan, but does not provide the required notice of the sale. The case involved a bank loan that was used to purchase an airplane, with the plane itself and additional guarantors securing the transaction. When the debtor failed to maintain insurance, the bank, Regions Bank, placed the loan in default, and the resulting accelerated payments were not made. The bank filed suit against the guarantors. While that action was pending, Regions also repossessed the plane and spent money to make it flightworthy and marketable. Regions then ultimately sold the plane at a private sale for less than the amount owed to Regions. The Court concluded that resolution of this issue was a fact question for the trier of fact, in this case the trial court, to decide. The court expressly rejected the Court of Appeals’ evidentiary requirement regarding proof negating a debtor’s or guarantor’s ability or motivation to redeem or purchase the collateral. The court then spelled out the proper procedures for a trial court to utilize to resolve this issue.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Friday reinstated S. Brad Dozier to the practice of law. He had been suspended June 20 for a period of two years, with 30 days active suspension and the remainder on probation subject to conditions. Dozier filed a petition for reinstatement pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 30.4(c), which the board found satisfactory. Dozier will remain on probation until June 20, 2019, during which time he must engage a practice monitor and incur no new complaints.