The House Civil Justice Committee yesterday failed to pass HB2558 by Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, that would have eliminated a cause of action against nursing homes in the form of a class action in the Tennessee Adult Protection Act. The measure’s companion, SB2063, by Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon, was removed yesterday from the Senate Judiciary Committee calendar.

The Tennessean reports cell phone records released today from University of Tennessee head football coach Butch Jones reveal phone calls to police and players shortly after an alleged rape involving two members of the football team. The records do not reveal the content of the conversations, but do support a timeline outlined by former UT player Drae Bowles as part of a federal sexual assault suit against the school. Bowles said Jones told him he had “betrayed the team” by helping the woman who said she was sexually assaulted. 

The Tennessee Supreme Court today disbarred Shelby County lawyer Christopher Lee Brown from the practice of law and ordered he make restitution as a condition of reinstatement. The order is effective today. Brown was previously suspended in 2013 and disbarred in 2015. He has not been reinstated from the suspension or disbarment. Read the BPR release.

The Senate’s State and Local Government Committee today killed a measure seeking to allow communities to hold elections to reverse annexation by cities. The committee voted to study the measure after the legislation session ends, the Associated Press reports.

It is unclear when law firms are legally required to reveal data breaches to the public or law enforcement. The Wall Street Journal explores guidelines outlined by 47 states, the American Bar Association and state bar associations following recent data breaches at several prestigious law firms. 

Larry W. Bridgesmith, coordinator of the Program on Law and Innovation at Vanderbilt Law School, writes for The Tennessean on how the legal profession may be transformed by the capabilities of artificial intelligence. "Improving efficiency and reliability could result in more appropriate justice for more people, especially those who are most in need of adequate legal representation in civil and criminal matters,” he writes.

The Chattanooga City Council voted yesterday to drop a subpoena it had issued to District Attorney Neal Pinkston. The city council said Pinkston’s agreement to meet Friday with the mayor to discuss the city’s gang reduction initiative has fulfilled the purpose of the subpoena. Read more from The Chattanoogan. 

The Tennessee Bar Association and the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute offer the Spanish for Lawyers Series, which focuses on communication skills for lawyers with Spanish-speaking clients. The online CLE courses include Basic Skills and Introductions, The Law Office and Client Interview, and Criminal Law. Each course offers one hour of dual credit.

The House State Government Committee yesterday approved a resolution (SJR 0467) that would require Attorney General Herbert Slatery to sue the federal government over refugee resettlement. The resolution includes a provision that would allow the legislature to hire outside counsel. Proponents of the measure argue “the government failed to consult with Tennessee on the continued placement of refugees,” according to The Tennessean. The Senate last month approved the resolution. It now heads to the House finance committee.

President Barack Obama has reduced the prison sentences for 61 people serving time for drug-related offenses, the Associated Press reports. Most are non-violent offenders and more than a third of the inmates were serving life sentences. WBIR reports three of the inmates are from Tennessee. The majority of the inmates will be released July 28.