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Lawsuit Alleges Student was Expelled for HIV Status

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 22, 2017
A lawsuit filed against a Knoxville trade school alleges that the college’s dean removed a student from its cosmetology program after she disclosed she had been diagnosed with HIV as the result of a rape, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Civil rights attorney Troy Bowlin filed the $25 million suit on behalf of a student against Virginia College and the school’s dean, Christine Adams. The suit further alleges that school administrators publicly humiliated the student by disclosing her status to classmates.

AOC Launches Grant Program to Upgrade Courthouse Security

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 22, 2017
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has launched a one-time court security grant program to improve courtroom security and to provide safe and secure facilities. The past year has yielded at least two serious security breaches in Lewis and Coffee counties, one resulting in serious injuries to a deputy. Money has been made available by the General Assembly and Gov. Bill Haslam for this purpose. A committee of judges from across the state will determine the qualifications and criteria for grant awards. Preference will be given to counties with courtrooms that do not currently meet the present minimum courtroom security standards as well as counties that have experienced a courtroom security breach during the 12-month period of July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Grant applications will be accepted until Oct. 16.

Jeremy Durham Files Lawsuit for Pension, Health Insurance

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 22, 2017
Former state representative Jeremy Durham has filed a federal lawsuit claiming his expulsion from the legislature was unconstitutional and that the state should still provide him with pension and health insurance, the Tennessean reports. The suit says that because Durham was expelled during a special session focused on highway funding, the ouster falls outside the purview of what the legislature was allowed to take up during the session. Director of Legislative Administration Connie Ridley, Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Larry Martin and state Treasurer David Lillard are named as defendants.

Drug Court Foundation Tied to Moreland Repays Travel Expenses

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 22, 2017
The foundation tied to former Nashville judge Casey Moreland’s drug court has repaid $8,868 that was spent for private employees to travel to conferences, the Tennessean reports. The Davidson County Drug Court Foundation did so as a part of fulfilling one of three recommendations from an internal Metro Nashville audit, which was completed Friday. The audit found other problems, including an employee who was improperly paid out vacation time and nearly $20,000 in city bus passes purchased but not accounted for. The second phase of the audit is ongoing.

Bradley County Will Investigate Sheriff’s Office Finances

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 22, 2017
The Bradley County Commission has voted to move forward with a forensic audit targeting the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, which has been marked by scrutiny and scandal in the past months, the Times Free Press reports. A group of three commissioners and the county attorney will lead the forensic audit, which will look for evidence of financial wrongdoing. Allegations of credit card misuse, missing money and other problems led the Tennessee Department of Investigation to look into the Sheriff’s Office, a process that is now in its 14th month. Sheriff Eric Watson was indicted last month on forgery charges.

Before Health Law Program, Attend Health Law Primer

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 22, 2017

For newer health law practitioners, the Annual Health Law Primer program provides a general health law overview and discussion of hot topics by experienced healthcare leaders. Attend this year's program on Oct. 4 in Cool Springs and learn about fraud and abuse laws, key healthcare issues in transactions, the basics of HIPAA and employment and medical staff issues.

7 Apply for 16th Judicial District Vacancy

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 22, 2017
The Trial Court Vacancy Commission will consider seven applicants for the Circuit Court Judge vacancy in the 16th Judicial District, serving Rutherford and Cannon counties. The judicial vacancy was created by the death of the Hon. M. Keith Siskin. The applicants are Ben E. Bennett of Milton, R. Michelle Blaylock–Howser of Christiana, Aaron J. Conklin of Murfreesboro, E. Evan Cope of Murfreesboro, Daryl M. South of Murfreesboro, Barry R. Tidwell of Murfreesboro and Matthew F. Wright of Murfreesboro. The commission will interview the applicants on Sept. 15 at the Historic Rutherford County Courthouse in Murfreesboro and is expected to vote immediately following the interviews then forward three names to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.

Judge Denies Witness Chance to See Eclipse

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 21, 2017
A witness in a federal trial who had booked travel into the “path of totality” for the solar eclipse was denied the chance to see it, after a judge refused to allow him to get out of a trial scheduled for today, Above the Law reports. The witness, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the request to Judge Steven D. Merryday of the Middle District of Florida. Merryday shot it down, adding, “When an indispensable participant, knowing that a trial is imminent, pre-pays for some personal indulgence, that participant, in effect, lays in a bet. This time, unlike Carly Simon’s former suitor, whose ‘horse, naturally, won,’ this bettor’s horse has — naturally — lost.”

2 Attorneys in Running for Nashville Chancery Seat, Incumbent Still to Announce

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 21, 2017
Two Nashville attorneys have thrown their hats in the ring for the Davidson County Chancery Court seat that was held by Carol McCoy until her retirement last year, the Nashville Post reports. Anne Martin, with Bone McAllester Norton, and Scott Tift, with Barrett Johnston Martin and Garrison, have filed to run. Martin is a commercial litigator and employment attorney, and Tift represents plaintiffs in civil rights and labor and employment cases. The current occupant of the seat, Chancellor Bill Young, was appointed to the position last year by Gov. Bill Haslam. He has not yet said whether he will run for a full term.

Memphis Councilman Calls for Special Legislative Session On Confederate Monuments

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Aug 21, 2017
Memphis City Councilman Bill Morrison is urging officials to call for a special legislative session to repeal the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act of 2016, which protects Confederate statues and monuments. Humphrey on the Hill reports that Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, has also introduced a bill that would exempt Shelby County from the law, but it would not be considered until the next legislative cycle in January unless a special session is called. Morrison said that the law is “wrong and must be repealed. It doesn’t protect our heritage. It only serves to protect memories of white supremacy and shrines for modern-day followers.”
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