Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has filed an unredacted copy of a lawsuit filed in October 2023 against Meta Platforms Inc., the company formerly known as Facebook. The lawsuit alleges the company’s Instagram platform causes mental health harms to its young users. “The unredacted complaint makes clear that Meta knew its platforms were hurting kids and made a very clear decision to choose money over the mental health of its young users,” Skrmetti said of the filing.

The U.S. Justice Department is issuing new guidance to police to ensure more care and accountability in specialized law enforcement teams like the Memphis Police Department's (MPD) SCORPION unit. NPR reports that one year after Tyre Nichols' death, federal officials are calling for mayors and police chiefs to assess whether specialized units are necessary to solve community problems, to take care that members assigned to such units have clean work and disciplinary histories, and to ensure that members are properly supervised. In related news, a Memphis City Council committee Tuesday split 7-6 in a non-binding vote calling for the replacement of MPD Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis. New Memphis Mayor Paul Young has stated publicly that he supports Davis' reappointment, but acknowledged that he would make a change if she does not produce the results the city needs.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic in law, and the TBA is creating a new AI Task Force to educate and provide guidance to Tennessee lawyers on issues surrounding this technology. Some of the goals of the task force will be to help inform lawyers about the proper use of AI in the substantive practice of law, the potential risks of using AI, and the beneficial use of AI in the administrative practice of law. The group also will review AI tools and contribute new information to the TBA's online practice management resources. If you are interested in participating in this new task force, please email TBA Coordinator Chelsea Bennett before Jan. 31.

The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) on Monday released the “State of the Child in Tennessee 2023” report. The report provides a comprehensive look at the lives and deaths of Tennessee’s children and the economic and social forces that shape their childhoods, from poverty to educational achievement, access to health care and housing. With regard to childhood deaths, the Tennessee Lookout reports that Tennessee has one of the highest overall rates of child homicide in the nation and ranks even higher for the rate of kids killed by guns. Read highlights from the report.

Nashville-based law firm Thompson Burton has acquired Huntsville's Maples Law Firm and opened its first out-of-state office. The acquisition adds two attorneys to Thompson Burton’s existing 39 attorneys and a third office to its current spaces in Nashville and Franklin, reports the Nashville Business Journal. The joining of the two firms grows Thompson Burton’s existing bankruptcy and distress practice and expands services to existing clients for both firms in the rapidly growing North Alabama area.

Gov. Bill Lee is planning to unveil proposed legislation that addresses the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the music industry, reports the Nashville Business Journal. While current state law protects image and likeness, new protections would be more tailored to audio according to the Journal. Lee’s plan would update current law to include protections for songwriters', performers' and music industry professionals’ voices from the misuse of AI. A full announcement is expected Wednesday.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance is accepting public comments regarding the licensure of court reporters and the sunsetting of the Board of Court Reporting. Written comments will be accepted through Jan. 19 via this form or in person at a Jan. 11 meeting starting at 1 p.m. CST in Nashville. That event will take place at 500 James Robertson Pkwy., Davy Crockett Tower, Conference Room 1-B, Nashville 37243. Read more about the comment process and access a link to watch a livestream of the meeting. The department says that all comments will be shared in full with members of the Tennessee legislature's Government Operations Joint Subcommittee on Commerce, Labor, Transportation and Agriculture.

Tennessee law firm Baker Donelson announced that Lang Wiseman, head of the firm’s public policy practice, and Jacob Baggett will lead the firm’s new emphasis on government relations, the Nashville Post reports. Wiseman returned to Baker Donelson in 2022 after working as deputy governor and chief counsel to Gov. Bill Lee. Baggett was hired as a public policy adviser after working as a senior public policy attorney at Bass, Berry & Sims. Wiseman announced that Baggett will serve as the firm’s "boots on the ground" at the Tennessee legislature. The Memphis-based firm, which has 22 offices in mostly southern states, plans to replicate its new emphasis on lobbying in other states.

Barry Neil Shrum and Dennis Disney have formed the law firm of Shrum Disney & Associates, located at 54 Music Square East, Nashville 37203, reports the Nashville Post. Shrum, who will serve as CEO and managing partner, is a longtime Music Row attorney who also has taught entertainment law at Belmont University. Disney, who will serve as senior associate, has nearly four decades of experience in the music industry, having held positions in artist management, book publishing and at record labels. He also has taught at Belmont's Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. The boutique firm's practice includes intellectual property matters, endorsements, licensing and start-up work. According to the firm's website, clients include SESAC and GRAMMY winning songwriter Dan Penn.

The Shelby County Commission met this week and voted to send a proposal to recodify the Citizen Law Enforcement Review Committee (CLERC) to a fourth reading. The commission also approved a study to address low wage and retention rates among county employees, reports the Commercial Appeal. The study proposal was sponsored by Commissioner Erika Sugarmon, who said it will help the county stay competitive with other employers in the area. The last comprehensive wage study was conducted in 2017 according to the paper.