The two parties in the legal dispute over ownership of the Swan Ball have reached a "settlement in principle" that will determine who owns the annual event, the Cheekwood Botanical Garden or a group of volunteers who produce the multi-day, invitation-only event. Attorneys for both parties submitted a joint statement to a federal judge on Oct. 14 saying that the court mandated mediation — which lasted 10.5 hours, resulted in the preliminary agreement, according to the Nashville Business Journal. In July, a group of volunteers sued Cheekwood, accusing it of "planning a coup" to take control of the gala's planning and operations, Cheekwood then filed a countersuit. In September, a court ruled in favor of the volunteers, finding that the group overseeing the event provided "sufficient evidence" of ownership. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes gave the parties until Nov. 15 to file formal paperwork to dismiss the lawsuit or to update the court on efforts to reach a finalized agreement.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee Reagan Fondren announced her office is joining the Department of Justice in commemorating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Last month, the Justice Department's Office on Violence Against Women awarded over $228.5 million in grants for services for survivors of domestic violence. DVAM also includes a national day of action, "Purple Thursday," observed Oct. 17, when advocates are encouraged to wear purple and start a conversation about domestic violence. Read more about DVAM and domestic violence resources in a release from Fondren's office.

On Oct. 25, the Corporate Counsel Section will host a webinar that will explore how in-house legal teams can effectively balance the strategic advantages and inherent risks of integrating artificial intelligence (AI). Topics will include what AI is and its practical applications, key risks and considerations to address before implementing AI, AI governance frameworks and compliance, ethical challenges and responsible AI use. Attendees will gain insights on managing AI in the corporate environment while mitigating legal and ethical concerns. Register here.

TBA’s Group Health Insurance, provided by BlueCross BlueShield, offers guaranteed issue coverage, with no health questions and no pre-existing condition exclusions. The Knoxville law firm Butler Vines & Babbs made the switch. Here is what firm administrator David T. Kristy says about the program: “When the TBA Member Insurance Solutions Plans first came out, the benefits and premiums offered were so close to what we currently had for our small firm (18 participants) that we elected to pass on the opportunity. However, we evaluated these plans each year and in 2023, the insurance carrier, benefit levels and especially premium costs were clearly way ahead of the competition! We went with the TBA plan in 2023 and over the past two years have saved over $62,000 for the same level of coverage for our employees. I would not hesitate to recommend that other law firms seriously evaluate the TBA plans.” Find out more or get your quote now.

Judge Barry Brown, who served as Sumner County’s juvenile judge for 32 years, died Oct. 10. During his time with the court, Brown established a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in the county, a Sumner County Teen Court, a Victim/Offender Reconciliation Program (VORP) and a program to educate first-time offenders about the dangers of drug abuse. The Nashville School of Law graduate retired from the bench in 2017. Services were held today. Memorial donations may be made to Sumner County CASA, 182 West Franklin St., Gallatin, TN 37066. Main Street Media has more on his career and reflections from colleagues.

Brentwood-based CoreCivic, the leading private prison company in the U.S., has spent more than $4.4 million to settle dozens of complaints alleging mistreatment at its Tennessee prisons and jails since 2016. The Associated Press reports that those complaints include at least 22 inmate deaths, and more than $1.1 million of the payouts involved Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, which is now under federal investigation. The Tennessee Department of Corrections has fined CoreCivic $37.7 million across four prisons since 2016, including $11.1 million for problems at Trousdale, according to the news outlet.

Memphis-based Community Legal Center has announced the appointment of Betsy Prendergast as its interim executive director. She replaces Diana Comes, who was with the center since 2021 and oversaw the organization’s move to Brinkley Plaza. Prendergast has been serving as a staff attorney and was a past member of the group's board of directors. The center also announced that Dawna E. Snipes is a new elder law staff attorney and Susie Espinoza is a new program coordinator. Finally, the center is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with an event on Nov. 8 from 7-9 p.m. CDT at the Crosstown Theater. Buy tickets here or contact Austin Brown at 901-402-0509 with questions.

Judge Joshua Turnbow was sworn in to the 23rd Judicial District Circuit Court on Sept. 13. He received a degree in finance from the University of Tennessee and his law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. After his first year of law school, he participated in a program that paired him with then 23rd District Circuit Court Judge Robert Burch. "He would let me ride with him to every county," Turnbow said. “[H]e also helped start the drug court program here in the 23rd district ... I was so impressed by that program and the impact it can have on peoples’ lives and the impact Judge Birch had on peoples’ lives through his judgeship." The 23rd Judicial District covers five counties: Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys and Stewart. Turnbow grew up in Charlotte, in Dickson County, a few miles from the courthouse where he will preside. Read more from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) and Egerton McAfee Armistead & Davis will hold the 2024 Pro Bono Recognition Night on Nov. 7 from 5-8 p.m. EST. The event will take place at The Standard, 416 W. Jackson Ave., Knoxville 37902 and will honor the work of area pro bono attorneys over the past year. Since 1965, LAET has transformed lives throughout the region, and this has been made possible through pro bono attorneys who volunteer their time. Purchase tickets here.

Layla Soliz, a Knoxville woman arrested in May during pro-Palestinian protests on the campus of the University of Tennessee College of Law, is suing the Knox County Sheriff's Office in federal court. The suit stems from a mug shot of Soliz taken without her hijab that was subsequently made public, despite assurances to the contrary. According to Knox News, Soliz is suing for at least $250,000 in damages and for her picture to be expunged from the sheriff's office database. She also wants to amend the sheriff's office policy so that hijabi women no longer have to remove their head coverings for future mug shots.