President Donald Trump has approved federal assistance for victims of Tuesday's tornado in Davidson, Putnam and Wilson counties, the Tennessean reports. Individuals can now register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, which can provide initial funding for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Rental payments also are available for those whose homes are unlivable. In addition, FEMA offers low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance, and up to 75% of costs to replace personal property not covered by insurance. Funds are also available to meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation, unemployment and other disaster-related costs. In addition to individual assistance, small businesses and non-profit organizations can take advantage of loans. For more information call 800-621-3362.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated two lawyers to the practice of law on Feb. 28. Illinois lawyer Rebecca Alixe Lipe was reinstated retroactive to Feb. 6. She had been placed on inactive status in June 2018 and military exempt status in January 2010. Hamilton County lawyer Leslie Anne Starritt Molinski was reinstated retroactive to Feb. 20. She had been placed on inactive status in January 2013.

Putnam County attorneys will offer free advice on legal issues for those affected by the recent tornado tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon at two locations in Cookeville: Double Springs Church of Christ, 4665 Norton Dr. and The Biz Foundry, 114 N. Cedar Ave. Possible areas of assistance include insurance contract and policy review, identification and document replacement, housing terms and income protection. For more information contact Kevin Christopher with Rockridge Venture Law.

Memphis Area Legal Services will hold a Veterans Clinic Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Memphis Vet Center, 1407 Union Ave. Ste 410, Memphis 38104. This clinic is specifically for veterans with questions about their rights and benefits, including basic eligibility for benefits, discharge status upgrades/appeals, disability compensation, pensions, dependency and indemnity compensation, representation before the Veterans Affairs Department and appealing a denial of benefits.

U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Senior Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey will be honored by the Nashville Public Library on March 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for her contributions to the library’s “Votes for Women” collection. Her donations include a vast body of feminist literature, including the “History of Woman Suffrage” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and four works bearing inscriptions from Susan B. Anthony. Daughtrey will join Special Collections Division Manager Andrea Blackman for a conversation about the works. RSVP by March 25.

Former TBA President George T. "Buck" Lewis was honored last week for his long-standing commitment to access to justice, including his vision and dedication to building and launching Free Legal Answers, the model virtual clinic. Now adopted by the American Bar Association, Free Legal Answers is actively available in 38 states and multiple international jurisdictions. With 7,000 volunteer attorneys registered, the program will answer its 100,000th question later this year. The ABA recently produced a brief promotional video for Free Legal Answers that features legal community leaders including Lewis and ABA President Judy Perry Martinez. 

Schrader Lane Church of Christ will host a legal clinic tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to offer free legal advice to those affected by the storms in Middle Tennessee and help those who have insurance and housing questions. The church is located at 1234 Schrader Lane, Nashville, 37208. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Susan T. Jones.

Rep. Ryan Williams, R-Cookeville, and Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, are working to introduce a bill that would provide tax relief for residents affected by Tuesday morning’s deadly tornados, the Tennessean reports. The legislation would allow displaced residents and homeowners with severe damage to their residence to get a tax refund for items such as major appliances and furniture. The bill would not be limited to residents in Cookeville or Sparta, but would be available for all Tennesseans impacted by the storm. Bailey said he is working with state officials on how to verify who would be eligible. Similar measures were made after the 2010 Nashville flood and the 2016 Gatlinburg fires.

A former inmate is seeking $1 million in a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court against Wellpath, a for-profit medical care provider that handles medical services at the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center, the Commercial Appeal reports. Erik Honeycutt filed the Civil Rights complaint in U.S. District Court, alleging he had seizures after he was given the wrong medication to combat his non-epileptic seizure disorder. A CNN investigation last year revealed that Nashville-based Wellpath is facing dozens of lawsuits and allegations that it is responsible for as many as 70 deaths. Two former Wellpath employees in Shelby County also filed suit for wrongful termination after they raised concerns about the company’s practices.

A team of three Belmont University College of Law students took the title of regional champions last month at the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition in New York. That team, made up of Eric Donica, Marisa Garcia and Joseph North, went undefeated at the competition, which included 32 moot court teams and nearly 100 individual competitors. Belmont also placed first in every category of the competition, including number one best brief and number one best oral advocate, which was awarded to Garcia. The team, coached by Belmont professor and director of advocacy Amy Moore will now advance to nationals in April. Belmont's website has the full story.