Nashville-based Patterson Intellectual Property Law has hired David Rue as the office’s chief operating officer. Rue, an attorney, has spent most of his career in operations, business development and management roles, including service as an independent consultant and work at law firms and other businesses. He previously held positions at Bass, Berry & Sims, including chief strategy officer and managing director for strategic pricing and client value. The Nashville Post has more on his background and new position.

Birmingham-based law firm Burr & Forman has launched a specialized practice group focused on college athletes and their new endorsement opportunities, the Nashville Post reports. The new group includes lawyers from a number of offices, including two in Nashville: partner Alex Little and associate Zack Lawson. Bill Lawrence, who leads the group, says the ability of college athletes to now sign lucrative endorsement deals presents “amazing opportunities” for students.

The Chattanooga Bar Association yesterday presented its annual Liberty Bell Award to Major General Bill Raines during the group’s Law Day Luncheon, Chattanoogan.com reports. The retired Army Reserves general is active in veterans affairs issues including serving on the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council and helping lead the campaign to build the Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Heritage Center. The award recognizes a non-lawyer who has strengthened the American system of freedom under law.

Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd says the county should withhold funds being used to pay Melydia Clewell, an employee in the district attorney’s office and wife of District Attorney Neal Pinkston, Chattanoogan.com reports. Boyd argues that Pinkston previously told commissioners that county funds would not be used to pay any relatives. He also says the commission has asked Pinkston three times to appear before the panel to answer questions about the pay for relatives but he has declined. County Attorney Rheubin Taylor said the commission does not have subpoena power but can control the expenditure of county funds.

Federal Judge Sheryl Lipman is expected to make a ruling this week in the lawsuit over Gov. Bill Lee’s Executive Order 84, which allows parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates, the Daily Memphian reports. Three families who have children with disabilities filed suit over Lee’s order, arguing that it violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Lipman granted a temporary restraining order against the opt out policy on Sept. 3. It is set to expire on Friday. The plaintiffs have also requested class-action status in the suit and their attorney, Bryce Ashby, believes a ruling on that matter will also come quickly. State’s attorney Jim Newsom argued in a hearing last week that school districts can be creative and work outside normal limits to find solutions for students who are vulnerable to serious consequences if around other unmasked students.

Johnathan Minga has announced he plans to run in the Republican primary for Washington County General Sessions Judge, Part III. A Washington County native, Minga earned his law degree from the Appalachian School of Law. He has practiced in several areas since launching his legal career in 2008, including family law, criminal defense, juvenile law, civil litigation and personal injury. Minga joined the Law Offices of Tony Seaton in 2019, where he focuses on serious personal injury and trial practice. He has previously served on the board of the Washington County Bar Association and is a current board member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON) will host a virtual fundraiser on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. CDT. “Oye Vecino LIVE” will feature an evening of live music, followed by a panel discussion on immigration in America. Attendees will enjoy tunes by Grammy-award winning artist Giovanni Rodriguez and a compelling panel discussion with Valentina Harper of Valentina Design, Karla Ruiz of Karla’s Catering and Dr. Alex Jahangir. Panelists will share their personal immigration stories and conduct an open discussion. Oye Vecino is a Spanish language podcast launched by JFON in 2020. It seeks to empower immigrant families living in the U.S. by providing trustworthy and reliable information. Register for the event here. 

Latitude, an on-demand legal services firm based in Nashville, is expanding to Austin and Boston, the Nashville Post reports. Founded in 2014 by former Bass Berry & Sims partner Ross Booher, Latitude expanded to Miami last year and has additional offices in Indianapolis and Atlanta. Latitude provides lawyers on a contract basis to corporate legal departments and law firms. “More and more legal departments and law firms are looking at flexible legal talent as part of new ways to deliver legal services, and our ability to fill those needs has been fuel for our growth,” Booher said in a release.

Defense attorney Amanda Dunn this morning announced that she is running to fill the seat of retiring Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don Poole, the Chattanoogan reports. Dunn has been a defense attorney for nearly 20 years and has practiced with Chattanooga’s Houston & Alexander law firm since 2018. “I’m one of the rare attorneys in town who has practiced in criminal, state and federal court, along with juvenile court,” Dunn said this morning. “I’ve been in every courthouse with the exception of bankruptcy.” Poole oversees the third division of criminal court, which is in charge of mental health court.

A new mask requirement went into effect yesterday in Washington County sessions court, which includes civil, juvenile and Tennessee Highway Patrol matters, News Channel 11 reports. “In response to a rise in COVID-19 numbers, Judges Robert Lincoln, Don Arnold and Janet Hardin are requesting all parties wear masks while in their courtrooms,” Washington County Communications Director Susan Saylor said in an email. The mask requirement does not extend to other courts inside the George Jaynes Justice Center or other county offices.