According to the Tennessean, several environmental advocacy groups are preparing a federal lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for planning to replace an endangered fish nursery at the Gallatin Fossil Plant with a pollution control facility. The TVA last month announced its plan to remove the Cumberland River Aquatic Center from the Gallatin site to make room for a 15-story coal-ash dump as part of a $1 billion plan to overhaul the plant’s pollution equipment. The Sierra Club, Tennessee Environmental Council and other groups allege the move will harm endangered fish and mussels, violating the Endangered Species Act. 

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 15 former employees of FedEx's worldwide hub facility in Memphis for allegedly stealing items from the U.S. Mail ranging from marijuana to gift cards, the Memphis Business Journal reports. The cases are being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of FedEx Security, and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Bailey, Leetra Harris and Deb Ireland on behalf of the government.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision and unanimously ruled to reinstate the trial court’s judgment awarding tenured Memphis City Schools teacher Saundra Thomas back pay and damages after the board of education improperly terminated her. Thompson’s suit alleged violation of the Tenure Act and right to due process guaranteed by the 14th Amendment after the board did not provide written charges or an opportunity for a hearing prior to the termination.

After obtaining his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering, Hermant Gupta prepared for a promising career in medical research until he met a patent lawyer. Instead of completing his master degree as he originally intended, Gupta entered the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. He is now one of a handful of patent lawyers in private practice in Memphis. The Memphis Daily News has more in its Law Talk column. 

Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper has announced that his office has partnered with the Homeownership Preservation Foundation to provide a free hotline to help distressed homeowners find mortgage relief programs. Residents in need of reliable information or referrals to foreclosure prevention counseling are encouraged to call the hotline at (855) 876-7283. Chattanoogan.com has more

One year after being denied accreditation by the American Bar Association, the faculty and staff at Lincoln Memorial University John J. Duncan Jr. School of Law have worked tirelessly preparing a second application due Dec. 31. In October, LMU hired a new interim dean, dropped its federal lawsuit against the ABA and began working cooperatively with the accrediting body during the reapplication process. The Knoxville News Sentinel has the story.

U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan dismissed a legal claim that Senate filibusters, a stalling tactic often used to block judicial nominations, deny majority rule in an unconstitutional fashion, Gavel Grab reports. Judge Sullivan said that Common Cause and other plaintiffs did not have a legal right to litigate the issue, and that it would infringe on the Senate’s power if the court took the case.

The Tennessee Supreme Court announced Friday that six attorneys have applied to fill the chancery court vacancy in the 8th Judicial District created by the death of the Judge Billy Joe White. The Judicial Nominating Commission will hold a public hearing on Jan. 18, 2013, at 9 a.m. in Tazewell to interview the follow candidates: Elizabeth C. Ashbury of Jacksboro, James L. Cotton Jr. of Oneida, Kathy Parrot of Jacksboro, Charles Patrick Sexton of Oneida, Thomas Jackson Tabor Jr. of Tazewell and Andrew R. Tillman of Huntsville. Learn more about each of the candidates on the AOC website.

Although law school application numbers are down, enrollment in non-J.D. programs at ABA-approved law schools has increased substantially, the ABA Journal reports. According to preliminary data released Friday by the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, schools have experienced a 52 percent increase in enrollment over the last 12 years, and a 39 percent increase in just the past seven years. Popular programs include those for nonlawyer professionals who want to learn about basic concepts in the law or about the legal and regulatory environments that apply to their field of work, and lawyers who want to pursue additional degrees, such as a master of laws, to develop expertise in a particular practice area.

Tennessee Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville will join the Legislative Leaders Advisory Board of GOPAC in 2013, reports the Nashville Ledger. Formed in 1978, GOPAC is a conservative political group that recruits and trains Republican political candidates. According to Ramsey, the group was crucial to his early success in the legislature.