A federal appeals court overturned an $82.6 million judgment and civil charges against Renal Care Group, Renal Care Group Supply Co., and Fresneius Medical Care Holding Inc. for improperly billing Medicare from 1999-2005. According to the Memphis Daily News, Judge R. Guy Cook concluded the companies did not intentionally disregard legal mandates related to Medicare submissions. The three-judge panel also sent back five other allegations stemming from a whistleblowing lawsuit to be heard by U.S. District Judge William J. Haynes Jr. in Nashville.

University of California at Hastings law dean Frank Wu and University of Cincinnati tax law professor Paul Caron agree that law schools need reform but they disagree on the best solution, the ABA Journal reports. While Wu stated in a Huffington Post editorial that schools should reduce class size and increase tuition, Caron opposed the idea in his blog TaxProf stating law school is twice as expensive as 20 years ago but students are not receiving legal education that is twice as good.

Tennessee is one of 24 states that has not determined a position on whether to choose state, federal or federal/state partnership-operated health exchange to facilitate individual purchases of health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, attorney Dick Cowart writes in a column. The individual and Medicaid mandates have been much in the news and in the courts already, but Cowart explains that the "employer mandate" will be the next hurdle, and some employers are worried. Read his column in the Tennessean.

Lawyer Paul Campbell Jr. died this morning in Chattanooga. He was 96. A graduate of George Washington University Law School, Campbell was admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1940 and joined his father in law practice at the firm the elder Mr. Campbell founded in 1908, which continues today as Campbell & Campbell. Campbell was a special agent for the FBI and also served in the United States Navy Reserve. He was the father of former Tennessee Bar Association President Paul Campbell III. Arrangements are not available at this time.

Re-filed malpractice lawsuits must comply with state laws currently in effect at the time of the re-filing, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The court unanimously voted to dismiss Curtis Myers' re-filed malpractice complaint based on failure to adhere to new state laws, the Chattanoogan reports. Myers dismissed his suit on Oct. 21, 2008, and re-filed in September 2009. However, the new statutes went into effect on Oct. 1, 2008, and were amended in July 2009. Read the full opinion here. 

Kentucky Circuit Court Judge Eddie Lovelace may be the first meningitis outbreak victim in Tennessee, the Tennessean reports. The 78-year-old died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Sept. 17, and although representatives from Vanderbilt have not confirmed that Lovelace died from the outbreak, they have confirmed the first reported casualty was a 78-year-old man who died there on Sept. 17. Reports claim that Lovelace’s symptoms and condition were consistent with symptoms of fungal meningitis. Lovelace’s lawyer is working to confirm cause of death.

Attorney Tracy Kane’s childhood interest in foreign language and international affairs has shaped her career and broadened the global reach of the city of Nashville. The Tennessean spoke with the Franklin native about her work with Sister Cities of Nashville, an organization that links Nashville with cities across the world through civic exchanges, professional or business connections, and the arts. “Our mission in essence is to promote peace and mutual respect and understanding amongst diverse cultures through citizen diplomacy,” Kane says.

The Federal Public Defenders Office recognized Nashville attorney David Komisar as Panel Lawyer of the Year at the 21st Annual Panel Appreciation Banquet, which honors court-appointed private attorneys who represent federal defendants. Komisar is a Nashville native and graduate of the University of Memphis law school. The Tennessean has the full story.

The Davidson County Sheriff’s office did not violate Metro Charter or other state laws when it contracted with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to perform immigration enforcement duties, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today. The court ruled against plaintiffs Daniel Renteria- Villegas, David Gutierrez-Turcios and Rosa Landaverde, who challenged the agreement arguing that only the Chief of Police has authority under the Charter to provide immigration enforcement. Read the full opinion.

Leigh Chiles of Baker Donelson helped raise more than $15,000 for 20 seniors at Soulsville Charter School who were invited to attend the vice presidential debate next week at her alma mater, Centre College in Danville, Ky. Chiles works with the Leadership Memphis program to improve college access to several Memphis high schools, including Soulsville Charter School, which graduated its first senior class last spring. All 51 students were accepted into college, the Commercial Appeal reports.