Gary Ronald Thompson died Feb. 26 at the age of 77. A native of Ashland, Kentucky, Thompson attended Morehead State College before transferring to Western Kentucky University. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star. Thompson returned to Nashville and worked at National Life and Accident Insurance Company while attending Nashville School of Law at night. Following graduation, he opened a private law practice in Huntingdon, where he also sat as a judge on occasion. He later moved back to Nashville and worked at Third National Bank as an in-house attorney until 1994. He finished his law career as senior counsel at the Tennessee Attorney General's office where he worked until his retirement in 2010. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Alzheimer's Association or Woodmont Christian Church.

The Tennessee Senate reopened to the public today after shutting down most access during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tennessee Journal reports. The public now can access the Cordell Hull Building through the main entrance on Rep. John Lewis Way. Elevator access to the 7th floor is allowed but will be monitored by General Assembly staff. Senate Hearing Room I and the Senate Gallery are open with limited and socially distanced seating. Other hearing rooms remain closed. The public may access the Capitol through the tunnel for Senate floor sessions but no group meetings or tours will be allowed. Members of the public must wear face masks at all times and are encouraged not to enter a legislator’s office without an appointment. Finally, committee chairs may continue to choose whether to hold in-person or remote meetings.

The Tennessee Supreme Court today affirmed the assessment of costs associated with disciplinary proceedings taken against Memphis attorney Larry E. Parrish. The court also ordered him to pay the costs within 45 days. Parrish had challenged the assessment of fees, arguing that the court should have used a revised 2014 version of Rule 9, which was in place when he was reinstated, rather than the version of the rule in place in 2013 when disciplinary action against him was initiated. The court found that the version of Rule 9 that should be used in disciplinary cases is the version in effect at the time the proceedings are filed or initiated, not when the attorney is reinstated. The court also notes that failure to pay the costs on time may serve as grounds for revocation of reinstatement. Read more from the court.

Nashville's legal team wants to pay $2.25 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Daniel Hambrick, a Black man fatally shot by police officer Andrew Delke in 2018. The proposed settlement would resolve a $30 million lawsuit filed by Hambrick’s family that claims police officers are trained to rely on lethal force and discriminate against people of color. Neither party would admit wrongdoing or liability as part of the settlement, the Tennessean reports. Delke is charged with first-degree murder and is free on bond awaiting trial. Delke's lawyers argue that he acted in self-defense after determining that Hamrick was armed with a pistol. In a statement, Delke's defense attorney David Raybin said the civil settlement would have no impact on the upcoming criminal trial.

Two men terminated by the Rutherford County Circuit Court Clerk, one of them disabled with cerebral palsy, are claiming they were wrongfully fired after suffering harassment and discrimination. Tennessee Lookout reports that Nicholas Trail, who has a physical disability, and Stephen LaQuire filed the suit last week against court clerk Melissa Harrell. The two argue that Harrell violated the state’s Human Rights Act, Disability Act and Public Protection Act by discriminating against them and others, using her office computer for outside work, and allowing an employee to run a canteen business in the office. They also claim other office workers made derogatory remarks about Trail’s disability and treated him differently than another employee with the same job responsibility. LaQuire also claims he was sexually harassed by numerous female employees in the office.

The House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on Wednesday will consider HB519, which would completely eliminate the professional privilege tax. HB519, sponsored by Rep. Ron Gant, R-Rossville, in the House, and the Senate companion bill, SB884, sponsored by Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon, have a great chance of passing this year if elected officials hear from their constituents. Please take a few minutes to reach out to your legislators and ask them to support these bills. Tennessee has more than 100 licensed professions; yet only seven professions, including attorneys, are still being singled out to pay a $400 professional privilege tax. Tennessee lawyers must help members of the General Assembly understand that forcing a small sliver of professionals to pay a $400 tax is both burdensome and discriminatory.

The TBA’s 2021 Law Tech Forum is now available online for on-demand viewing. Sessions, which can be purchased separately, feature a judicial panel with civil court judges and one with criminal court judges, a discussion of election law and technology, facial recognition technology and using technology to successfully handle remote depositions and trials. The ever-popular Bill & Phil Show will be rescheduled. Watch for a new date for that program coming soon.

The Memphis Veterans Legal Clinic — a joint project of Memphis Area Legal Services, the Memphis Bar Association and the Memphis VA — will take place tomorrow from noon until 2 p.m. CST by telephone. If you would like to volunteer or have any questions about volunteering, please email Jake Dickerson. Lawyers are especially needed to help veterans with family law, wills and estates, employment issues, consumer protection, fair housing, criminal law and expungements. The clinic does not handle veterans’ benefit issues.

Six lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for failure to pay the professional privilege tax. The list includes four suspended in 2020, one suspended in 2019 and one suspended in 2018.

A number of lawyers have been reinstated after being suspended for failure to meet CLE requirements. The list includes 16 suspended in 2020, two suspended in 2019, two suspended in 2017 and one in 2016.