Cell phone records previously revealed University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones made calls to police and players shortly after an alleged rape involving team members, but the records also show Jones called Knoxville attorney Wilson S. Ritchie. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that within months of the alleged rape, accused former player A.J. Johnson would retain attorneys from Ritchie’s late brother’s firm. Johnson, who along with Michael Williams was indicted for rape in 2015, is also currently employed by Ritchie’s family business. UT athletics department spokesman Ryan Robinson said Friday that Jones and Ritchie did not discuss representation for or employment for Johnson. 

The Tennessean reports Jimmy Haslam, CEO of Pilot Flying J, agreed to be deposed as part of lawsuits claiming the company was involved in a fraud rebate scheme. Haslam’s attorney said that he will only sit for a deposition under specific circumstances, including a provision delaying any deposition until after an 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. Haslam has denied knowing about the scheme and has not been charged. 

Attorneys Ben Bennett, Andrae P. Crismon and Jeffrey L. Peach joined the race for the newly-created General Sessions Part IV judge seat in Rutherford County, the Daily News Journal reports. Bennett is the founding member of Bennett & Scarlett Law Office in Murfreesboro. Crismon is the managing attorney of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee’s Murfreesboro office. Peach is the city attorney for the Town of Smyrna. Visit the TBA’s Tennessee Judicial Election Information Center for more information on judicial candidates.

A trial involving Donald Trump and the now-defunct Trump University is scheduled for Nov. 28, meaning the possible president-elect could be called to take the witness stand. Trump is named in a class-action lawsuit that alleges his real estate seminars were a scam. The Associated Press reports two other lawsuits have been filed against the school. 

The American Atheists Inc. and a Bradley County resident filed a lawsuit against Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson and the county for promoting Christianity on the sheriff’s department’s Facebook page. The suit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga, also claimed critics’ posts have been deleted from the page. The group said Watson and his office violated the First Amendment, the Times Free Press reports. 

The Defendant, Joseph Anthony Rivera, was convicted by a Knox County Criminal Court jury of first degree felony murder committed during the attempt to perpetrate a kidnapping, first degree felony murder committed during the attempt to perpetrate a burglary, second degree murder, a Class A felony, especially aggravated burglary, a Class B felony, and aggravated assault, a Class C felony.

Defendant, Brian Allen Cathey, pled guilty to possession with intent to sell or deliver over one-half ounce of marijuana and to possession with the intent to use drug paraphernalia in exchange for a one-year sentence as a Range I, standard offender with the manner of service of the sentence to be determined by the trial court after a sentencing hearing. The trial court denied alternative sentencing. On appeal Defendant challenges the denial of an alternative sentence. We determine that the trial court did not abuse its discretion.

The U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee is recruiting for an administrative attorney position. The position will be located in Knoxville. The administrative attorney provides objective advice to the Clerk of Court. Duties include conducting legal research, analyzing and interpreting federal statutes and regulations, and drafting administrative orders for review by the chief judge. The application must be submitted by May 18.

The Petitioner, Dallas Jay Stewart, appeals from the denial of his petition seeking post- conviction relief from his convictions of rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery, and exhibition of harmful material to a minor. On appeal, the Petitioner contends that the post-conviction court erred by finding that trial counsel was not ineffective by failing to object to testimony that the Petitioner took a polygraph test and by “opening the door” to evidence of an uncharged allegation that the Petitioner committed a sexual offense in Williamson County.

The workers? compensation claimant was an independent contractor for the defendant, a common carrier engaged in interstate commerce. The claimant and the defendant agreed that the defendant would provide workers? compensation coverage to the claimant based on Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-106(1)(B) (2012). The claimant was injured while driving a tractor trailer for the defendant. The claimant?s claim for benefits was denied, and he sued for workers? compensation benefits.