The Knoxville New Sentinel filed a lawsuit today asking Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee to unseal evidence in the rape cases against ex-Vols football players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams. The evidence includes search warrant applications for Johnson's apartment and DNA samples for Johnson and Williams.

The Tennessee Supreme Court yesterday (Feb. 11) temporarily suspended Shelby County lawyer Michael C. Skouteris from the practice of law upon finding he misappropriated funds and poses a threat of substantial harm to the public. Skouteris is immediately precluded from accepting any new cases, and he must cease representing existing clients by March 13. This suspension is immediate and remains in effect until dissolution or modification by the Supreme Court. Read the BPR release.

Chicago attorney Moria Bernstein is suing Avvo, claiming the company’s online lawyer directory is violating Illinois' right of publicity law that bars use of professional information without permission. Bernstein is seeking to ban the use of her own and other lawyers’ information. She is also asking for statutory and punitive damages and attorney fees. Avvo’s chief legal officer said the lawsuit is “completely ludicrous.” Read more from the ABA Journal. 

Nashville attorney Gerard Stranch IV, a partner in Branstetter Stranch & Jennings, was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee that will coordinate the multidistrict litigation against Volkswagen. The automaker is facing more than 175 class actions in 32 states, including Tennessee, after the company admitted to installing “defeat devices” in certain vehicles in order to pass emission tests. Stranch joins 22 attorneys on the steering committee appointed by Judge Charles R. Breyer of California’s Northern District Court.

Misael Chica-Arguenta was convicted yesterday of three counts of attempted voluntary manslaughter, but acquitted of seven other charges, after firing at Memphis police in 2014. The jury found him not guilty of attempting to kill two officers who were in the vehicle Chica-Arguenta fired on. Chica-Arguenta said he only intended to kill himself that night. Micah Gates, Chica-Arguenta’s attorney, argued "this was a suicide by cop.” Chica-Arguenta will be sentenced in March, The Commercial Appeal reports.

Defense attorney Minton Mayer motioned to strike certain “offensive” allegations outlined in a $37.5 million lawsuit filed in November against Brentwood’s Fellowship Bible Church involving the rape of a three-year-old boy, Brentwood Home Page reports. The lawsuit, filed in Williamson County Circuit Court, alleges the church tried to hide the incident from the parents and included phrases like "the church was a haven for predators.” Mayer argues the statements were intended to catch the attention of the media. Judge Michael W. Binkley denied Mayer’s motion to strike, but said a gag order in the case may be fair following an investigation by counsel.

Columbia’s City Judge Tom DuBois has been reappointed for a two-year term, the Columbia Daily Herald reports. DuBois was nominated by the Columbia City Council last night following confusion when the judge appointment appeared on its January agenda without a name attached.

Nashville public defender Dawn Deaner has teamed up with the district attorney, the Criminal Court Clerk's Office and Metro Schools to offer a “cafeteria courtroom” program to parents. The goal is to help low-income parents, chosen by the schools, understand and resolve minor legal issues without having to choose between going to work and going to court. "The reality is that a $50 ticket for someone living below the poverty line has such greater consequences," Deaner said. Read more from The Tennessean.

The Chattanoogan outlines how much money judicial candidates for Criminal Court, Division II have collected: Judge Tom Greenholtz reported $71,641, Mike Little reported $22,850 and Boyd Patterson reported $20,134. Gov. Bill Haslam appointed Greenholtz to the position in September following the retirement of Judge Rebecca Stern.

The defendant, Horace Dunlap, appeals the denial of his Rule 36.1 motion to correct an illegal sentence. Because the defendant?s sentences have expired, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.