The University of Tennessee College of Law launched its new Graduate Certificate in Contractual and Legal Affairs in Engineering and Construction. The 15-credit-hour graduate certificate is offered in conjunction with the UT College of Engineering. The program is designed to give lawyers a background in construction and engineering. “Law students will gain a greater perspective by taking classes with engineering students and individuals currently working in the construction field,” said Alex B. Long, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law.

Next City, a nonprofit organization that seeks to inspire change in cities through journalism, profiles attorney Steve Barlow’s “blight fight” in Memphis. Barlow said he was inspired to begin tackling the city’s blight problem more than a decade ago after attending a conference put on by a national blight elimination nonprofit. He later filed the city’s first ever blight lawsuit under the state’s Neighborhood Preservation Act. “I feel like it is my job to be sure irresponsible owners are held accountable to a very high standard of property maintenance," Barlow said.

The city of Rocky Top settled its lawsuit with House of Bryant Publications, the copyright holders of the popular bluegrass tune with the same name. The company sued the city in 2013 in an effort to prevent the name change. The city is now allowed to sell trademarked items, as long as money raised goes to the city. The Associated Press reports a separate settlement with the development group that proposed the tourist complex, Rocky Top Tennessee Marketing and Manufacturing, is still under negotiation.

A state House Ad Hoc Select Committee, created by House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, and tasked with investigating Rep. Jeremy Durham, held its first meeting today and unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing state Attorney General Herbert Slatery III “to conduct a full fair and thorough investigation of the allegations of disorderly and inappropriate behavior and misconduct by Representative Durham.” Slatery responded in a statement, “Everyone has one goal – to ensure a thorough and fair investigation while respecting the process and those involved.” Durham, R-Franklin, is accused of having an affair with a former representative and sending inappropriate text messages to women. Read more from the Nashville Scene. 

The American Bar Association House of Delegates today passed a resolution urging the Federal Bureau of Prisons to amend its policy of monitoring emails between federal prisoners and their attorneys. The federal government requires that users of TRULINCS, the email system for federal prisoners, waive attorney-client privilege. Carol A. Sigmond, the resolution’s sponsor, argues attorney-client privilege “is what distinguishes us from LegalZoom.” Read more from the ABA Journal.

Students at the University of Tennessee College of Law will offer free tax preparation help through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. The VITA program, which runs through April 14, offers free tax help and electronic filing to persons with disabilities, limited English-speaking taxpayers and more. Assistance is available from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursday in Suite 157 of the College of Law. Call 865-974-2492 for more information.

Former Metro Nashville Councilman Loniel Greene was indicted Friday on a felony charge of coercion of a witness, The Tennessean reports. Greene admitted last week he phoned a jail to speak with his cousin, Travis Buchanan, and said he would “work on” the woman Buchanan was accused of assaulting. Last week, Nashville prosecutors announced Greene would not face charges for lying in court.

Nashville attorney Bill Ramsey of Neal & Harwell and Anne-Marie Moyes, a federal public defender in Nashville, will join others in the criminal justice system for a panel discussion of the Netflix show "Making a Murderer." The panel, hosted by The Tennessean, is planned for Feb. 11, 6 p.m., at Flying Saucer, 111 10th Ave South #310. 

The ongoing investigation of Memphis attorney Keith K. Dobbs, a Department of Veterans Affairs-appointed fiduciary, means veterans he represents are unable to access their accounts. Tennessee law limits an individual other than a family member to no more than 13 VA guardianships at a time; The Commercial appeal reports Dobbs may have been in control of 14 VA estates. Dobbs has been removed from control of estates for four Memphis veterans thus far, and more removals are expected.