This year's Creditor's Practice Forum will take place tomorrow in Nashville. The program, which offers three general and one dual credits, will cover topics including AI and its application to law practice, charging orders and related post judgement strategies, and using contractual and statutory liens to increase likelihood of payment. The program will conclude with a "tips and tricks" session presented by bankruptcy attorneys.

Registration is open for this year's Disability Law Forum, which will be in person for the first time since 2019! Make plans to join your colleagues on Oct. 20 at Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club in Hendersonville. Attendees can earn up to three general and one dual CLE credits. Sessions will cover a variety of topics applicable to disability law practitioners, including ways to prepare a successful GRID case, a session featuring best practices from a vocational expert, a DDS/OHO update and an ethics course designed to help you "un-stick" stuck cases. A happy hour will follow the day's programming.

The Tennessee Supreme Court recently issued several rulings. First, it clarified that the economic loss doctrine, which limits the recovery of economic losses under tort law, applies only to products liability cases, not to contracts for services, and should not be expanded. This decision allowed a construction subcontractor to recover damages on its tort claims against a general contractor. Second, the court addressed the concept of personal jurisdiction, ruling that for a Tennessee court to have authority over a case, there must be a sufficient connection between the defendant and the state. Lastly, the court held that defendants convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication cannot receive probation as specified in the 2017 amendment to the probation eligibility statute.

Join the Department of Revenue on Oct. 4 at 8:30 a.m. CDT for a free webinar designed specifically for new businesses. In this webinar, participants will learn about state obligations for new businesses and other resources that may help them. Topics covered include tax registration, sales and use tax, business tax, franchise and excise taxes, and how to get help from the Department of Revenue as well as other state tax agencies. Register here.

Shelby County Probate Court Division 1 Judge Kathleen Gomes today ruled to end the conservatorship over retired NFL player Michael Oher and allowed Oher's case against conservators Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy to continue. Oher filed a petition in Shelby County Probate Court on Aug. 14 asking to terminate the conservatorship, which he claimed the family duped him into entering. The Daily Memphian reports that in addition to ending the conservatorship, Oher is seeking a full accounting of funds he believes the Tuohys made during the conservatorship, including money for “The Blind Side” movie, which he says he never received. He also has requested an unspecified amount.

Franklin Orrin Craft died on Sept. 15 at age 88. A graduate of Memphis State University and Southern Law University, he passed the Tennessee bar in 1961. In 1968, he started Dennies Contracting Co. Inc., sold the company and retired in 1986. He and his wife moved to Siesta Key, Florida, in 1992. A memorial service will be held Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. EDT at Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home, 170 Honore Ave., Sarasota, Florida 34232. A Memphis remembering will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

M. David Perez died Aug. 24 at age 54. He practiced law in Cheatham and Blount counties before settling in Gainesboro in Jackson County. A memorial service will be held Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. CDT at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 1216 Sneed Rd. W., Franklin 37069.

The Texas State History Museum Foundation (TSHMF) will honor Dean of Belmont College of Law and former U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales as a 2024 History-Making Texan at the 20th annual Texas Independence Day Dinner in February. The award recognizes living Texas legends whose contributions to the state and the nation have been truly historic and exceptional in scope. Gonzales notes, “I am incredibly honored to be receiving such an award from my home state, and it is especially humbling to be joining the esteemed company of past honorees of the Texas State History Museum Foundation. I am grateful for those involved in my selection and for the many mentors, friends and family members who have supported me throughout my life.”

Clarksville is celebrating the opening of a new mental health court as part of a statewide effort to expand access to such courts, WKRN reports. Mental health courts are designed to reduce correctional costs, enhance community safety and improve public welfare. Participants are identified through a screening and assessment process, and they voluntarily agree to engage in community-based treatment. Tennessee has seen a significant increase in the number of mental health courts, with 17 now in operation due to increased funding and support from the state. These courts are seen as a way to reduce incarceration rates, improve public safety, and help individuals lead better lives.

There is increasing discussion among elected officials in outlying Shelby County cities about the possibility of forming a new county, though it remains a complex and challenging endeavor. The Daily Memphian reports that the idea has resurfaced in connection with topics like utility districts and concerns about crime rates and the governance of Shelby County. While some officials believe it's worth exploring the concept of a new county, others caution against raising unrealistic expectations and emphasize the difficulties involved in meeting constitutional requirements for creating a new county, including size and voter approval thresholds.