The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has introduced new guidelines for safeguarding the rights of pregnant workers, building on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which became effective on June 27. The law extends the Americans with Disabilities Act to cover pregnant employees, necessitating that companies with 15 or more workers offer reasonable accommodations. The Nashville Business Journal reports that the proposed rule outlines various accommodation options, such as adjusted work schedules, equipment modifications and telework, while emphasizing that employers must promptly address accommodation requests, even without formal written notice from employees.

Saul Belz, a lawyer in Memphis for more than 40 years, died Wednesday. He was 81. Belz graduated from the University of Texas in 1964 and earned his law degree in 1967 from Vanderbilt University. Since 2000, he had practiced business litigation at Glankler Brown. Burial will be at 10 a.m. CDT on Monday at Temple Israel Cemetery, 1708 Hernando Rd., Memphis 38106. The Daily Memphian has this remembrance.

The American Bar Association (ABA) reports that former ABA President Philip S. Anderson Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas, died Tuesday at age 88 of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Arkansas in 1959. Anderson was active in the ABA throughout his career, serving in the House of Delegates for 30 years, as chair of the House of Delegates from 1992-1994 and as president from 1998-1999.

The city of Memphis plans to appeal a court ruling by Judge Gina Higgins, which allowed a group of plaintiffs to bring a class action lawsuit against the city for failure to test over 12,000 rape kits. The Commercial Appeal reports that the city's attorneys point to a separate case involving Alicia Franklin as a basis for their appeal. Franklin had filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging inadequate investigation by the Memphis Police Department, and while her case was dismissed, the city argues that the conflicting rulings highlight the need for a uniform legal approach. The city is seeking to pause the rape kit case while an appeal is pending.

A recent piece in the Nashville Business Journal looks at some of the issues clients are concerned about in interviews with three local attorneys. Former TBA Executive Director Joycelyn Stevenson tells the journal that attorneys in Littler’s Nashville office are handling a number of employment concerns, including public image, budgets and employment verification compliance. Todd Rolapp with Bass Berry & Sims says his firm focuses on helping clients anticipate what rulings, regulations or financial developments are on the horizon so they can prepare for an appropriate response. Finally, DarKenya Waller, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, says some of the greatest needs of their clients are housing, healthcare and a living wage.

The Biden administration has extended and expanded temporary protected status (TPS) for Ukrainians already in the United States, citing the ongoing Russian military invasion and resulting humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. According to The Hill, the expansion will make around 166,700 more individuals eligible for TPS, and an additional 26,000 beneficiaries will retain their TPS through April 2025. The extension, which was set to expire on Oct. 19, has been lengthened by 18 months due to the ongoing conflict and displacement of millions of Ukrainians.

Tennessee’s Black Caucus is urging Tennessee State University’s (TSU) President Glenda Glover to remain at the helm of the university through 2025 to provide stability, saying she has been “unfairly targeted” by Republican lawmakers. The Tennessee Lookout reports that Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville, and the chair of the caucus, says Glover’s announcement that she will retire from TSU in June 2024 “seems rushed,” coming on the heels of an uproar over a campus housing crunch that triggered a comptroller’s audit.

Metro Nashville and homeless outreach advocates are criticizing the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for clearing out multiple encampments on state property without offering resources, including housing. They also claim the sweep has created new encampments and more problems for people experiencing homelessness. WKRN reports that a TDOT spokesperson said the agency is not clearing out encampments but attempting to maintain their property after receiving complaints about safety and cleanliness from taxpayers and first responders.

This year's Hot Topics in Real Estate will take place virtually, allowing attendees to learn from the comfort of their home or office. The program, produced in cooperation with the Tennessee Land Title Association, is a staple for Tennessee dirt lawyers, designed to keep attorneys on the cutting edge of developments in this practice area. More information coming soon!

Former Tennessee state Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for campaign finance violations after pleading guilty to felonies related to illegal campaign funding maneuvers, the Tennessean reports. Kelsey's attempt to retract his guilty plea and claims of innocence earlier this year were unsuccessful, leading to a longer sentence recommendation from prosecutors. The case revolved around improper movement of campaign funds through political action committees to support his unsuccessful congressional campaign, with prosecutors highlighting his misuse of funds and betrayal of public trust.