Shelby County lawyer Elizabeth Margaret Cummings was today transferred to disability inactive status by the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Cummings cannot practice law while on disability inactive status. She may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the state Supreme Court upon showing clear and convincing evidence that the disability has been removed and she is fit to resume the practice of law.

The Supreme Court of Tennessee today disbarred Shelby County lawyer Michael Constantine Skouteris from the practice of law and ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $1,023,344.70 and costs of the disciplinary proceeding. Skouteris entered a conditional guilty plea on Feb. 18, admitting he knowingly and intentionally misappropriated client funds received in the settlement of personal injury litigation claims; knowingly misled clients regarding the status of their cases and the filing of pleadings, and failed to communicate. Skouteris forged client signatures on settlement paperwork and began new representations while temporarily suspended. Skouteris must comply with the state Supreme Court rules regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys and may not return to active practice until an order of reinstatement has been entered by the Supreme Court.

Grab your yoga mats and join us tomorrow for free virtual yoga to round out the TBA’s Lawyer Well-Being Week programming. From 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mandy Herring of NuPower Yoga + Barre will guide participants through yoga exercises that are appropriate for new beginners as well as seasoned experts. This even is limited to the first 100 registrants. Once registered, participants will receive an email with information on how to access the yoga session. Get registered now!

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order yesterday approving a reopening plan for the 6th Judicial District in Knox County. According to the Knoxville Bar Association, the plan emphasizes staggered dockets to limit the number of people in courtrooms and courthouses at any given time. The court also this week approved plans for the 2nd Judicial District, 5th Judicial District, 13th Judicial District, 15th Judicial District, 22nd Judicial District, 25th Judicial District, 26th Judicial District and 28th Judicial District. Today, the court approved plans for the 9th and 11th Judicial Districts. See all plans here. All districts now have plans in place.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) has announced that staff attorney Linda Hall has been promoted to director of operations, Chattanoogan.com reports. Hall joined the organization in April 2018 and has represented more than 700 older individuals with a variety of legal needs, including elder abuse, real property, probate, debt collection, evictions and contracts. Before joining LAET, Hall owned and operated her own family law firm in Soddy Daisy.

Shelby County lawyer Barbara Morris Zoccola was reinstated to the practice of law today. She had been suspended for two months on April 20, retroactive to Jan. 15. Zoccola filed a petition for reinstatement, which the Board of Professional Responsibility found to be satisfactory. Read the press release from the board.

The attorneys general for 11 Midwestern states are urging the U.S. Justice Department to pursue a federal investigation into market concentration and potential price fixing by meatpackers in the cattle industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr yesterday, the attorneys general noted that the domestic beef processing market is highly concentrated, with the four largest beef processors controlling 80% of the industry. The group alleges that the meatpacking industry is posting record profits, while ranchers are suffering significant market price losses. WMC News 5 has more from the Associated Press.

During Gov. Bill Lee's news briefing yesterday, Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said her department is looking to bring on additional contact tracers “probably sometime in June.” The department hired 230 workers last month to help trace those who have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, the Times Free Press reports. Contact tracers interview those who test positive for the virus to gain information about their recent contacts. They then try to find and speak to those contacts, many of whom likely do not know they came in contact with the virus. Also yesterday, Gov. Lee announced the state would distribute five million masks to local health departments to help businesses safely reopen across the state, and would provide all business owners with up to 10 free thermometers to screen employees returning to work. Read more about that move in WATE.com.

The current pandemic has forced dramatic changes to policy and operations of the courts, from how cases are prepared and argued to the way they are decided. In these times of change it is critical to stay on top of new trends. Please join the TBA on Wednesday at 1 p.m. CDT for a roundtable discussion of these issues. Appellate Practice Section past chair and American Academy of Appellate Lawyers member Buck Lewis, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee, and Clerk of the Appellate Courts Jim Hivner will discuss remote arguments, the recent oral argument white paper from the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, and Justice Lee’s views on both. This event is free and open to all TBA members but registration is required. Log in information will be provided following registration.

The COVID-19 pandemic and response has created unprecedented tension, including unsettled work environments. This friction can manifest in overreactions and strained work relationships. While crisis can bring about positive connections and change in organizations, anxiety over the current situation is putting pressure on people's coping skills. Unfortunately, in stressful situations, it can be more challenging to demonstrate empathy. Harvard Business Review addresses these challenges and shares some tips for increasing compassion for colleagues, including accepting that people have very different coping approaches and avoiding comparing levels of distress with what others are experiencing.