A $1.25 million negligence lawsuit recently filed in Anderson County Circuit Court claims floor refinishing is to blame for a devastating fire, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. The complaint, filed against Lawrence Troendle, owner of Tennessee Floor Care of Lenoir City, said Troendle or his employees were negligent because they "consciously disregarded a known and obvious risk of serious and substantial harm."

Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield is set to resign from his post at the end of this month, The Tennessean reports. Schofield, who has drawn criticism over reported problems with officers and inmates, will take a job with a private prison corporation. While Gov. Bill Haslam has praised Schofield, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said, “I've made no secret of the fact that I think that the Department of Correction could benefit from a fresh perspective at the top.” 

House Speaker Beth Harwell's 3-Star Legislative Task Force is weeks away from showing federal Medicaid officials some of its plan for improving insurance access for Tennesseans. According to WPLN, the group is favoring giving more support to clinics, over offering residents insurance through Medicaid. As many as 300,000 Tennesseans cannot afford insurance through the Affordable Care Act, but still do not qualify for Medicaid.

Attorney General Herbert Slatery issued an opinion on May 26 that outlines his authority to investigate embattled state Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin. State Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, requested the opinion. Slatery cites permission from a House Committee granted in February as providing authority over the investigation into sexual harassment claims against the lawmaker. Slatery’s investigation of Durham remains ongoing, The Tennessean reports. 

Politico reports that a ruling issued today by the U.S. Supreme Court will permit more businesses to challenge the Clean Water Act. The court unanimously ruled in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. Inc. that Army Corps of Engineers wetland determinations are reviewable by courts.

The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Thursday in Nashville. The first two cases will be heard at 8:30 a.m. at Lipscomb University as part of the American Legion Auxiliary’s Volunteer Girls State program. Then, later that day at 2 p.m., the court will hear two cases at the Supreme Court Building. 

Joe Russell, Rutherford County sheriff's office administrator, last week requested a public defender represent him following his indictment on federal fraud charges. But the Daily News Journal reports that the request comes just weeks after Russell obtained a permit to build a $600,000 home. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Bryant approved Russell’s request for representation, but warned him that he could face additional charges if his application for a public defender contained any fraudulent information. 

Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee today issued a stay of the trials of former University of Tennessee football players A.J. Johnson and Michael Williams, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. Prosecutors requested the hold due to an appeal still pending in the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals over access to social media by the players' accuser and witnesses. McGee also denied a request by the News Sentinel to access sealed records in the case. 

“Eight, as you know, is not a good number for a multi-member court,” according to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who remarked on the court’s unfilled vacancy at the conference for the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Ginsburg added that when the court is evenly divided “that means no opinions and no precedential value.” Read more from the ABA Journal. 

The annual $400 professional privilege tax is due on Wednesday. Professionals who are subject to the tax may file and pay it online. More information is available from the Tennessee Department of Revenue.