The equity shareholders at Ogletree Deakins have elected Nashville lawyer Liz Washko as the firm’s next managing shareholder, and the first woman to serve in the role. She will take office in January 2024. Washko has practiced in the Nashville office since 2000 and has held almost every leadership role within the firm. She is currently one of two managing directors and has served on the board of directors since 2021. She was a member of the Compensation Committee from 2017-2021, office managing shareholder of the Nashville office from 2010-2018, and co-founder of the Pay Equity Practice Group in 2016. She continues to co-chair that group. Washko earned her law degree from Rutgers University. She practices in the areas of health law and labor and employment. Read more from the firm.

A federal judge in Nashville has set a hearing for March 10 to consider competing claims in a lawsuit brought by former Tennessee vaccine chief Michelle Fiscus, who was fired from state government during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Tennessee Lookout, Fiscus is seeking a so-called “name clearing” hearing, which would require her former Department of Health bosses to attend and review the circumstances behind her firing. Lawyers for the department are asking the judge to bring the lawsuit to a close without holding the hearing. Fiscus was fired from her job in July 2021 after she circulated a memo outlining when healthcare providers are allowed to give vaccines to adolescents without parental permission. Following criticism by legislators, department officials released information criticizing Fiscus’ performance.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) recently promoted assistant professor Anna Rickels to director of bar success. Rickels will continue to teach but also will coordinate the school’s supplemental bar success programming. She will teach the required bar courses, oversee transition to the “NextGen Bar Exam” and provide tailored advising and mentoring to students and graduates. Rickels joined the LMU Law faculty in 2020 after graduating in 2014 from the University of Tennessee College of Law and working as an elder law and criminal defense attorney. Immediately before joining the school, she was a fellow with UT Law’s ExpungeTN Project helping those with criminal records.

Those interested in running for an elected office in the Tennessee Bar Association or as a delegate in the American Bar Association have until Feb. 15 to qualify for the 2023 ballot. To qualify, candidates must file a nominating petition with the TBA executive director by email or by mail to 3310 West End Ave., Ste. 590, Nashville, TN 37203. Because of limitations brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, scanned signatures can be collected and submitted electronically. Those interested in a seat on the TBA House of Delegates must file a declaration of candidacy that includes their name, principal place of law practice, district of interest and contact information. This information should be submitted to the TBA executive director via email. The TBA’s website has more information on the election process and a list of available positions.

All courts housed in the D'Army Bailey Courthouse at 140 Adams Ave. in Memphis will be closed tomorrow due to inclement weather. This includes circuit, chancery, probate and general sessions civil courts. 

The Memphis Police Department confirmed a seventh, unnamed officer has been relieved of duty and further actions could be imminent at the start of the internal investigation into the murder of Tyre Nichols, the Daily Memphian reports. Four of the five ex-MPD officers charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of Nichols were suspended or received a written reprimand during their tenure with the department. Additionally, the Commercial Appeal reports that three Memphis Fire Department personnel were fired yesterday for failing to provide Nichols an "adequate patient assessment" when they were called to provide medical aid after he was beaten by police officers. Nichols will be laid to rest tomorrow at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Midtown Memphis. Rev. Al Sharpton will give Nichols’ eulogy at the funeral, which will also be attended by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Artificial intelligence program ChatGPT received less than mediocre scores recently when asked a series of questions about the U.S. Supreme Court, the ABA Journal reports. SCOTUSblog posed 50 questions to the chatbot, which has made headlines recently for its passing scores on two sections of a practice bar exam. ChatGPT missed 26 of the 50 questions and was outperformed by Google, even though Google can’t generate multiple paragraphs of text or have a conversation like the chatbot can. “ChatGPT’s mistakes varied widely,” SCOTUSblog reports. “Sometimes, it nailed the spirit of the question but misstated a factual detail or two, forcing us to mark the answer incorrect.” Read more ChatGPT’s answers.

WPLN’s Curious Nashville series examines liabilities behind damages caused by dump trucks – even those that brandish “Keep Back 100 Feet” or “Not Responsible for Any Damage” signs. “They have the appearance of avoiding or waiving legal responsibility, but they are just signs,” says Isaac Kimes, a Nashville attorney who specializes in civil litigation. For motorists who’ve been impacted by dump truck damage, the piece recommends they take down the company name, license plate number or the truck owner’s name if they wish to pursue legal action.

Tennessee Department of Children's Services Commissioner Margie Quin yesterday asked for approval to spend nearly $27 million to increase bed capacity and foster care placements for hundreds of children in state foster care, the Tennessean reports. The funding request is separate from the $156 million previously requested by DCS. The supplemental funds would primarily focus on increasing bed space for older and high-need children, in addition to increasing foster care placements for teenagers and large sibling groups. General state funds and TennCare would contribute the bulk of the funds, with some federal money added in. The department could begin using the funds immediately following legislative approval.

Lewis Thomason announced today that it is launching a statewide government investigations practice group. Five of its lawyers will join the group. They are: Jim Weatherly, John Manson, Miles McDowell, Preston Hawkins and Chris Sullivan. According to a release from the firm, the five bring more than 50 years of combined experience to the new group. They all have experience representing businesses and employees subject to state and federal investigations for alleged fraudulent conduct. Previous representations have included businesses accused of violating the Consumer Protection Act and environmental protection laws, and engaging in Ponzi schemes and improper billing practices. Representation of individuals includes those facing charges of Social Security and Medicare fraud, sales and use tax fraud, money laundering, wire fraud and RICO violations.