Tennessee veterans are underrepresented in the Veterans Affairs’ Department (VA) claims and appeals process, but a new three-hour CLE planned for Aug. 12 is designed to encourage new advocates to become VA accredited. The live virtual program will cover representation before the VA, claims procedures, benefits eligibility, right to appeal, disability compensation, dependency, indemnity compensation and pension benefits. Speakers include James R. Drysdale with the VA Office of General Counsel in Washington, D.C., and two VA-accredited attorneys: Rita Gibson Rayford, chief development officer for Memphis Area Legal Services, and Seth Ogden with Patterson Intellectual Property Law in Nashville.

A coalition of legal groups, including the TBA, recently announced that residents impacted by spring storms, tornadoes and flooding in Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties now have access to a free legal assistance hotline. The service, a partnership between the TBA, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, Legal Aid Society, ABA Young Lawyers Division and Federal Emergency Management Agency, allows those in federally declared disaster areas to receive free legal assistance with insurance claims, replacement of important documents, mortgage-foreclosure problems, landlord-tenant problems, government benefits and other needs. Those living in the affected counties between March 25 and April 3 are eligible for the service and can start the process by calling 844- HELP4TN (435-7486) or posting questions online. Those impacted also are encouraged to register with FEMA online or by calling 800-621-3362. In addition, volunteer lawyers are needed to provide legal information, advice and representation to those affected. Those willing to help should complete this online form.

Jackson lawyer Jay Ernest DeGroot died May 18. He was 60. Originally from Illinois, he graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology-Kent College of Law in 1986. He first went to work as an assistant to regional counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation/Urban Mass Transportation Administration. In 1987 he joined the law firm of Lawrence W. Leck & Associates in Chicago. In 1992, he relocated to Tennessee and joined the Law Offices of Jeffery A. Garrety, where he handled workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. The family celebrated his life at services yesterday at Lambuth Memorial United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer's Association.

Paul Revere Leitner, a lawyer in the Chattanooga office of Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan for more than 60 years, died Saturday. A graduate of the McKenzie College of Law in Chattanooga in 1954, Leitner first joined the firm while a law student. Following graduation, he became an associate and was named a partner in 1957. Leitner was active in the local and statewide legal community, serving as president of the Tennessee Defense Lawyers Association, a member of the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education, and state chair of the Defense Research Institute. He was a fellow of the Chattanooga Bar Foundation, Tennessee Bar Foundation and American College of Trial Lawyers, and a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, International Association of Defense Counsel, Trial Attorneys of America, American Board of Trial Advocates and U.S. 6th Circuit Judicial Conference. Services will be held Wednesday at noon EDT at First-Centenary United Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has issued two proposed amendments to Rule 13 and requested that comments be filed by Aug. 19. The first proposed change would amend Section 5(a)(1) and (d)(1). The second would amend Section 5(e)(4)-(5). Both amendments have been proposed by a coalition including the Choosing Justice Initiative, Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Tennessee Post-Conviction Defender Organization. Written comments may be submitted by email or by mail to Clerk James Hivner, 100 Supreme Court Building, 401 Seventh Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37219.

The YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee will hold its next “Stand Against Racism” event Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. CDT. This virtual program will focus on teaching and talking about racism in U.S. history. Speakers include Metro Nashville Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer Andrea Blackman; Tennessee State University professor Dr. Learotha Williams; and Vilmaris González with the Education Trust. Register here for the free program.

The General Assembly has ratified and approved proposed changes to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Appellate Procedure. The changes will go into effect on July 1. The state House approved the civil rules changes (Resolution 21) and the appellate rules changes (Resolution 22) on March 22. The Senate approved the civil rules changes (Resolution 19) and the appellate rules changes (Resolution 20) on April 5. Read the notice from the Tennessee Supreme Court clerk. The court adopted the changes in December 2020 pending approval by the legislature. View red-line versions of the revised rules.

Williamson County General Sessions Court Judge Denise Andre will run for reelection in the May 3, 2022, Republican primary, Williamson Herald reports. Andre has held the Division 1 seat since 2006. Among the accomplishments she touts are creating the first General Sessions DUI Recovery Court in the county; starting the first General Sessions TNRocs docket in the state, which addresses drug offenders who also have co-occurring behavioral health issues; serving as president of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference; and being involved in a wide range of legal and community organizations.

A month after the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance authorized its director to negotiate a payment plan with former Tennessee Senator and Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron, the director is raising doubts about whether payment plans are legal. “I think that’s a very close question,” Bill Young, executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance, said this week. The question may be moot, however, as Ketron now plans to pay the entire amount in a lump sum, the Tennessee Lookout reports. Avoiding a payment plan also clears away any questions of whether Ketron would be eligible to qualify to run for elected office in 2022. Young said the board will consider Ketron’s payment proposal at its July meeting.

President Joe Biden yesterday signed legislation that aims to combat the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans that has occurred since the coronavirus pandemic, The Hill reports. The legislation is designed to improve hate crime tracking and reporting, as well as bolster support for state and local officials investigating hate crimes. The advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate says it has received reports of more than 6,600 anti-Asian hate incidents in the United States since the start of the pandemic. Read the president’s remarks at the signing ceremony.