The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Nashville tomorrow on five cases: a health care liability action; a challenge to a judicial district’s local rule of court, which requires certain actions by bonding agents; a contract dispute; and two disciplinary matters pending before the Board of Professional Responsibility. Read more about the cases in this release from the court.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands will hold its monthly legal help clinic at the Gallatin Civic Center tomorrow from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The center is located at 210 Albert Gallatin Ave., Gallatin 37066. The clinic is staffed by the Sumner County Bar Association but residents from all Middle Tennessee counties are welcome.

Memphis Area Legal Services will hold a Veterans Clinic tomorrow 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.

The TBA’s Estate Planning & Probate Forum 2020 is set for Feb. 21 in Franklin at the Embassy Suites Cool Springs. This year’s program offers six hours of CLE, including an hour of dual credit. Programming will focus on timely, relevant topics to help you stay on top of trends in this practice area and will include the ever-popular legislative update and probate panel sessions. The TBA has also secured a block of rooms at a discounted rate at the Embassy Suites for those who would like to stay at the hotel.

John McBride, husband of country singer Martina McBride, and Blackbird Studios (which is co-owned by the singer) were found to have violated the retaliation provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, FOX 17 News reports. John McBride and Blackbird Studios were sued by former operations manager Rich Hanson, who claimed Blackbird failed to pay proper overtime wages to assistant recording engineers and unpaid interns were being assigned improper tasks, including running personal errands and performing security at the McBride's personal residence. After reporting the activity to the U.S. Department of Labor, Hanson was fired. The verdict includes damages for back pay, compensatory damages and attorney’s fees, which could make Blackbird and McBride’s total exposure in the half million dollar range, subject to court approval.

Show your support for legislation that would eliminate the professional privilege tax at the Professional Privilege Tax Lobby Day. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at the Tennessee State Capitol. If you plan to attend, please send a quick email to publicpolicy@tnbar.org. Here's a schedule of events. The only door to the Capitol that is open early will be the first floor entry, west side.

The Sevier County Bar Association has announced there will be a Portrait Unveiling Ceremony for the late judge Richard R. “Dick” Vance on Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. EST. The event will take place on the third floor of the Sevier County Courthouse. Vance was a circuit court judge in the Fourth Judicial District. He died in 2017 at the age of 76.

The Knoxville Bar Foundation is accepting applications for its 2020 grant awards now through 5 p.m. EST on March 2. Individual grant awards usually are $5,000 or less and funds cannot be used for operating expenses. Submit applications to Charles Swanson, Chairman, Knoxville Bar Foundation, P.O. Box 2027, Knoxville 37901 or deliver to 505 W. Main St., Ste 50, Knoxville 37902. The foundation was established in 1992 to improve the administration of justice, enhance the public’s understanding of and confidence in the legal system, and serve the legal profession. It has award $455,000 for local law-related projects and programs since its inception.

Roy Wesley Hendrix Jr. died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loved ones on Jan. 13. Hendrix served in the Pacific theater during World War II and afterward graduated from Memphis State University and Vanderbilt University Law School. Returning to Memphis to begin his career, he co-founded Thomason, Crawford & Hendrix, now Lewis Thomason. Services were held Jan. 16 at the Germantown Presbyterian Church with burial following in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the Margie L. and Roy W. Hendrix Family Fund, 2090 Old Oak Dr., Memphis 38119.

Vanderbilt University has named Michelle Tellock as its new deputy general counsel, the school reported this week. Tellock joins the school from the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Hogan Lovells, where she was a senior associate in its education practice. Tellock will manage and supervise the distribution of legal work of the office, allowing Ruby Z. Shellaway, vice chancellor, general counsel and university secretary, to focus on key matters and strategic planning.