The Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday ruled that Bobbie Jo Denson complied with Tennessee’s health care liability pre-suit notice statute. Denson sent pre-suit notice and later filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of two minor grandchildren under Tennessee’s Health Care Liability Act after she gained legal custody of the children. In the pre-suit notice, Denson identified herself rather than her grandchildren as the claimants. Defendants filed motions to dismiss, arguing Denson did not substantially comply with notice requirements because the minor children were not identified in the notice. The trial court found that Denson substantially complied with the requirements. A divided panel of the Court of Appeals reversed. The Supreme Court sided with the trial court, finding that Denson properly identified herself as the claimant because as minors, the grandchildren were unable to give notice or file a lawsuit.

Knoxville attorney Roy Lewis Aaron died Oct. 6 at age 78. He received his degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1969, and his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law) in 1972. Licensed to practice in both Florida and Tennessee, Aaron joined the law firm of Hodges, Doughty & Carson in 1976 with a focus on estate planning and tax law, becoming a partner in 1980. He retired in 2017 but continued in an “of counsel” capacity with the firm. He was a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Knoxville Bar Foundation. A memorial service will be held on Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. EST at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, 9132 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37923. Receiving of friends will follow in the Welcome Hall. Memorials may be made to the Clarence Brown Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Ave., Knoxville 37916 or Friends of the Smokies.

Tuesday through Friday of this week, the TBA communications team that produces TBA Today will be at the National Association of Bar Professionals (NABE) Communications Workshop, being hosted by the NABE Communications Section in Boise, Idaho. Stacey Shrader Joslin, Julia Canada Wilburn and Azya Thornton will be learning from and networking with other communications professionals from bar associations across the country. Joslin and Wilburn will be serving on a panel focused on “Serving the Whole of Your Membership” while Wilburn will be moderating a panel on “Creating a Communications Plan.” Wilburn also is chairing the section’s award committee, which will be presenting a number of awards at the conference. Additionally, the team will be producing the newsletter from the Mountain Time zone so sending times may be a little different. Thanks to our TBA colleagues who will be pitching in to help this week!

Despite a state law passed in 2021 prohibiting solitary confinement for longer than two consecutive hours in juvenile detention centers, reporting from MLK50 reveals that the Shelby County Youth and Justice Center has been holding teens as young as 13 in seclusion since 2023. Records show that the Memphis-Shelby County’s Juvenile Court has been aware that youth in one unit are separated from the general population and confined to their cells for most of the day since at least 2024. During the same time period, juvenile court magistrates incarcerated more youth at the center than the previous court administration, even as the number of youth charged with serious offenses declined. Meanwhile, inspection records show Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services (DCS) has been aware that youth in one unit are separated from the general population since at least 2024.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection on Oct. 7 paid a $2,040.78 claim filed against Roane County lawyer Christopher Shawn Roberts. The fund also directed Roberts to reimburse the fund. The fund was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court to reimburse individuals for losses caused by dishonest conduct by attorneys. The fund is operated by a board, which meets quarterly to consider claims. In September 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court amended Rule 25 to require the fund to notify the Tennessee Bar Association of claims paid. News releases also are posted online.

Millions of Americans, including more than 668,000 Tennesseans, could lose access to food assistance programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if a government shutdown continues. Axios reports that WIC could run out of funds within weeks, while SNAP benefits are only guaranteed through this month. Tennessee officials say WIC will continue operating for now as the state monitors the situation and awaits federal guidance.

Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis has told city commissioners that roughly 700 to 900 federal law enforcement officers are currently in Memphis as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, with National Guard deployments expected by Friday. Davis said the Guard’s role will focus on visibility and deterrence rather than direct policing, and MPD is coordinating with federal analysts to identify gang activity. According to the Daily Memphian, Davis emphasized that federal assistance is long overdue but not a permanent solution to crime, and noted that both local and federal agencies are tracking overlapping enforcement data. Davis also highlighted falling crime rates — including a decline in homicides and aggravated assaults — and pointed to expanded downtown surveillance and new command centers as key safety improvements. The Commercial Appeal also reports on the developments.

The White House reportedly has offered nine universities, including Vanderbilt University, financial incentives in exchange for signing a “Compact for Academic Excellence,” which would require the schools to align campus and hiring policies with administration guidelines. The Nashville Post reports that the compact includes measures such as banning race- or sex-based admissions, freezing tuition, capping international enrollment and enforcing the government’s gender definitions in campus facilities and sports. In exchange for signing the compact, schools would get privileged access to federal funds. Vanderbilt confirmed receipt of the proposal, which it says it is "carefully reviewing."

The city of Columbia on Oct. 3 unveiled a statue of Thurgood Marshall to represent the former Supreme Court justice's time in the city following the 1946 Columbia Uprising nearly 80 years ago. The Daily Herald reports that in addition to the statue, the monument features four historical markers telling the story of the uprising and Marshall's role in the aftermath. Chancellor Doug Jenkins, president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference, spoke during the dedication ceremony, saying the Marshall statue was "proper" so that "your community will always remember his association with it and your role in the larger struggle occurring at the time. ... To those whose energy and admiration to make this happen, thank you."

Chattanooga family law and criminal defense attorney Alan Ray Beard died Oct. 3 at age 69. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Southern Illinois University and served two tours in the U.S. Army, including time as a judge advocate general (JAG) attorney with the 101st Airborne. Details on a military service and celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by the Companion Funeral Home.