TBA Law Blog

TBA Law Blog

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House Subcommittee Finds Rep. Staples in Violation of Harassment Policy

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 10, 2019
Rep. Rick Staples has been directed to take "preventative action" and "remedial measures" after an internal investigation found he violated the legislature's sexual harassment policy, the Tennessean reports. The Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Subcommittee, part of the house Ethics Committee, met recently to review complaints against the Knoxville Democrat, and found him in violation of the policy. A letter from the committee detailing the findings did not specify what disciplinary actions are being taken against him, but it confirmed he has been instructed to work on his behavior.

Hamilton County Lawyer Censured

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 10, 2019
News Type: BPR Actions
Hamilton County lawyer Lisa Bowman Luthringer received a public censure on Monday from the Board of Professional Responsibility. After being retained in a child visitation case in November 2012, Luthringer waited over seven months to file a motion for mediation. The case languished another 13 months until October 2014, when she finally filed a motion to modify the parenting plan. Luthringer waited another 19 months to file a motion to set the case for a hearing. By the time the parties completed discovery, another year and a half had passed. Luthringer violated the Rules of Professional Conduct and was censured for this violation.

Belmont, Legal Aid Society Seeking Volunteers for a Saturday Clinic

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 10, 2019
News Type: Upcoming
Belmont University and Legal Aid Society are hosting their monthly clinic this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Belmont Ministry Center, which is located at 2005 12th Ave. South, Nashville, TN, 37204. All lawyers are invited to help at this advice-only clinic. To volunteer or for more information please contact Jorge Salles Diaz, 615-780-7131.

Immigration Law Forum Set for April 25

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 9, 2019
News Type: TBA CLE
Join your colleagues for a program packed with a variety of issues facing immigration, family, criminal, corporate counsel, employment and business law attorneys. The morning sessions at the Tennessee Bar Center will address family immigration and court issues while the afternoon sessions address labor and employment immigration issues. Finish the day with an ethics CLE dual representation employment immigration hour. 

Learn Techniques to Manage Stress and Burnout at TBA Convention

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 9, 2019
News Type: TBA Convention 2019
The popular "Better Right Now" CLE is returning for this year's TBA Annual Convention in Nashville! The three-hour program is packed with strategies to create positive change in a challenging environment as well as effective tools to manage burnout and stress. As always, there will also be activities and prizes that will keep everyone moving and engaged and new this year, free chair massages. Register for Convention before April 30 to get at the Early Bird discount. Don't miss this program!

Bill Allowing Unlicensed 'Natural Hair Styling' Heads to Gov. Lee for Signature

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 9, 2019
Legislation allowing unlicensed “natural hair styling” passed the House of Representatives last night despite opposition from Memphis lawmakers, The Daily Memphian reports. The legislation will now head to the governor's office for his signature. Rep. Antonio Parkinson was one of the opposition voices, saying that he grew up in his mother’s hair salon and witnessed “atrocities” done to people who visited unlicensed hair professionals. However, despite efforts to add amendments to the bill, sponsor Rep. Mary Littleton stood firm against changes and it passed along party lines.

Charter Schools' Morality Clause Potentially 'Problematic,' Counsel Says

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 9, 2019
News Type: Legal News
After a charter school organization and the Catholic Diocese of Memphis entered into a leasing agreement with a “morality clause,” the Shelby County School District’s general counsel has weighed in, saying the agreement has the “potential to be problematic” but that state law limits how the district can intervene. The Commercial Appeal reports that the six schools in question are currently open as private Catholic schools, but will close and reopen this year as public charter schools. The lease agreements contain a clause that requires the schools not teach or promote any position that would be considered "gravely immoral" to the church, at the discretion of the Memphis bishop. 

Bill Requiring Smaller Businesses to Use E-Verify for Employees Passes House

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 9, 2019
A bill that would require Tennessee companies with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify immigration and employment status check passed in the state House yesterday, the Nashville Scene reports. Currently, only businesses with 50 or more employees must use the program. The sponsor, Rep. Bruce Griffey, R-Paris, originally proposed reducing the employee ceiling for E-Verify to six, but pushback from business and other interests resulted in the 25-employee compromise. Griffey, a freshman representative, has introduced a number of immigration-related bills during his first term in office, but they faced opposition from members of his own party and failed to pass.

Appeals Court Finds Inmates Had Standing to Sue Over Sterilization Practice

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 9, 2019
News Type: Legal News
A federal appeals court last week said inmates had a right to sue a judge who shortened people's jail sentences if they agreed to get vasectomies or other forms of birth control, the Tennessean reports. The lawsuit, filed in 2017, said White County Sheriff Oddie Shoupe and Judge Sam Benningfield violated the constitution by allowing inmates to get 30 days off a jail term if they agreed to a birth control implant or vasectomy. A federal district court judge said the lawsuit was rendered moot after the state passed a new law banning such deals. But the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, because the inmates who sued still stood to benefit from the 30-day credit they were denied because they refused to participate in the deal. The appeals court also said the inmates had standing to sue, suggesting the White County practice violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Hamilton County's First Countywide African-American Judge Sworn In

Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Apr 9, 2019
News Type: Legal News
Gerald Webb II, a former assistant district attorney and criminal defense lawyer, was recently sworn in as the newest judge on the Hamilton County General Sessions Court. He is the first African American judge to hold a countywide judgeship in Hamilton County. Webb is taking the place of Judge Clarence Shattuck, who recently retired after 36 years on the bench. Webb was appointed to the position by the Hamilton County Commission.
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