Federal lawsuits filed by Jeffrey Anderson claim four popular Nashville restaurants are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Anderson, who travels in a wheelchair, alleges Bagel Face, Marche, Noshville, and Sitar lack compliant parking, required widths in restaurants and in bathrooms, and handrails. He is requesting that the restaurants be ordered into compliance and that his attorneys’ fees be paid. Read more from the Nashville Post.

Attorneys for a Signal Mountain man accused of planning an attack on a mosque in New York have requested to be removed from the case, the Times Free Press reports. The motion filed by Robert Doggart’s attorneys, Bryan Hoss and Janie Varnell Parks, said the request comes “after several weeks of irreconcilable conflict ended in a complete communication breakdown.” The attorneys say Doggart met with another defense attorney without telling them. U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier filed a different motion Monday changing the trial date to allow Doggart to retain different counsel.

The defendant, Billy S. Watson, appeals his McMinn County Criminal Court jury convictions of aggravated burglary, attempted theft, and vandalism, claiming that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions. Discerning no error, we affirm.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Charles Powell Jackson III to disability status on Jan. 4. The Davidson County lawyer had been temporarily suspended by the Court on July 3, 2014. He cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. Read the BPR release.

Several Tennessee lawmakers and officials have responded to President Barack Obama’s proposed executive action on gun control. Obama's proposal would require those selling guns at gun shows and online to be licensed and would close a loophole that allows buyers of some dangerous weapons to obtain them without going through a background check, The Tennessean reports. “Additional gun laws would not have stopped the violence in California, Chattanooga or Charleston," Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said. "Instead of focusing on those who commit the violence, the President wants to make it harder for the law-abiding to obtain the firearms they need to defend themselves.” Nashville mayor Megan Barry praised the president’s actions, saying, “The proposals (Obama) has put forward are common sense approaches focused on promoting public safety and reducing the proliferation of illegal guns on our streets.”

A California federal judge certified a class action status to a discrimination suit in which a group of female current and former attorneys of Farmers Insurance claim the company paid men higher salaries. Lynne Coates, who had worked for Farmers for a total of nine years, filed the original complaint in which she alleged Farmers was paying less-experienced male employees a larger salary than her own. Twelve attorneys have joined the suit. Read more from the Insurance Journal.

If you missed the Dec. 31 CLE compliance deadline, registration is now available for upcoming programs in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Franklin, Memphis, Gatlinburg and Nashville. Online courses -- including Hot Topics in International Law and Adoption and Termination Law Update -- are also available for registration.

The Tennessean reports Senate Minority Leader Lee Harris, D-Memphis, may challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the Ninth Congressional District Democratic primary in August. Cohen has held the seat since 2006. “The question becomes whether it is time to pull the curtain back,” Harris said.

The University of Tennessee announced Monday it had reached a $750,000 settlement with its former associate director of sports medicine and two ex-Lady Volunteers strength coaches in a gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit. Jenny Moshak, Heather Mason and Collin Schlosser claimed in the 2012 lawsuit that they received less compensation than employees holding similar positions and performing comparable tasks for men's teams. School officials said that "the university unequivocally denies that any of the three former employees suffered any discrimination or retaliation." Read more from the Associated Press.

Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, again filed the "Woman's Ultrasound Right to Know Act," which requires women to undergo an ultrasound test before they have an abortion. The Tennessean reports the bill, revised from a 2015 edition, also requires the doctor to give the woman the opportunity to see the live ultrasound, see a picture from the ultrasound and hear any heartbeat that may exist. "I think it’s just an attempt by politicians to frighten women who are often in emotional or stressful situations," Jeff Teague, head of Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee, said.