According to The Tennessean, a complaint filed against state Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds is headed to the Tennessee Ethics Commission. The complaint alleges that Reynolds accepted paid travel from her former employer ExcelinEd for two out-of-state trips after being named to the state position. Reynolds later reimbursed ExcelinEd with personal funds. In response to the complaint, Reynolds' lawyer, the governor's chief ethics counsel, says the repayment is not an admission of wrongdoing. The paper also reports that Reynolds ultimately was reimbursed for her out-of-pocket costs by the state. The complaint will likely be taken up at the commission's next meeting on Aug. 29.

Attorneys are needed to staff two upcoming legal clinics in Knoxville. The Veteran's Legal Advice Clinic is scheduled for Aug. 14 from noon-1 p.m. EDT. This is a general advice and referral clinic which serves between 20 and 30 veterans in the community. A Debt Relief Legal Advice Clinic will be held Aug. 17 from 9 a.m.-noon EDT. If a client qualifies for and desires to file a bankruptcy petition, during the clinic the volunteer attorney and client will schedule a follow-up appointment to move forward with a case. Both clinics will take place at the Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office, 1101 Liberty Street.

In case you missed it, recordings from the recent TBA Business Law Forum are available on-demand as individual videos or in a convenient 1-Click CLE package. This package includes an interesting dual credit session for business lawyers that offers observations on professional responsibility and ethics using characters, transactions and business dealings from HBO Max's Succession. Another session features Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who provides an overview of important cases and developments that effect the practice of law, consumers and private business in Tennessee. Two sessions take a deep dive into the much discussed Corporate Transparency Act. The last session looks at the nonprofit and for-profit legal entities comprising the business of OpenAI (the developer of ChatGPT). As always, Business Law Section members receive a section member discount on both the individual videos and the 1-click package.

A Nashville postal worker has been placed on leave after a viral TikTok video showed the employee dumping mail into a dumpster. The USPS is under fire following the incident, with the public demanding accountability. The video, which has garnered millions of views, shows the worker repeatedly tossing bins of mail into a dumpster. "This type of behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated and is a rare occurrence," Public Information Officer Charlene Cerra told The Tennessean. The incident has raised concerns about mail security and service reliability and the USPS Office of the Inspector General is conducting an investigation into the matter.

Gov. Bill Lee has approved hiring Gilbert Dickey, a former associate White House counsel during the Trump administration, to represent state officials in a legal dispute over a mailing campaign that demanded proof of U.S. citizenship from voters. The campaign, which involved sending 14,375 letters, has been criticized as voter intimidation and potentially illegal, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union to threaten a lawsuit. Dickey, now a partner at Consovoy McCarthy, will be paid $450 per hour for his services, The Tennessean reports.

Clarksville attorney Austin Peay VII died Tuesday at age 56. Peay received his law degree from The University of Tennessee College of Law in 1993 and spent his career practicing law at Batson-Nolan Law Office in Clarksville. He was a member of the Montgomery County and Tennessee Bar Associations, as well as the Tennessee County Attorneys Association, "but can be best remembered for his riddling responses and uncanny humor among friends." The family will receive friends from 3-6 p.m. CDT on Aug. 11 and from 10-10:45 a.m. on Aug. 12 at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home, 1209 Madison St., Clarksville 37040. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Greenwood Cemetery, 976 Greenwood Ave. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Peay's memory to the Humane Society of Clarksville-Montgomery County.

A former employee of Dave Ramsey's company, Ramsey Solutions, is suing the company for religious discrimination. Former employee Brad Amos claims he was fired for refusing to comply with company policies regarding COVID-19 precautions, which he believes conflicted with his religious beliefs. “From the outset, Ramsey and Lampo management were hostile to employees taking any sort of protective measures against the virus,” Amos reported to the Nashville Banner. A lower court dismissed the case, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit have reversed that decision, allowing the case to proceed.

Williamson County may soon remove the Confederate flag from its official seal. A Confederate heritage group, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, challenged the county's plan to remove the Confederate flag from the seal, arguing that a state law protecting Civil War monuments prevented such changes. The Tennessee Lookout reports that Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal ruled that the county seal does not qualify as a protected historical monument under state law and clears the way for the county to redesign its seal, which has been a symbol of division since its adoption in the 1960s. 

Gov. Bill Lee has declined to review the case of Gary Sutton, a death row inmate convicted of a double murder in 1992. According to Fox Chattanooga News, friends and family of Sutton held a press conference at the state capitol to demand a review of the conviction. Despite evidence and appeals from family, friends and local officials questioning Sutton's guilt, the governor has stated he will not consider any death penalty case until the state finalizes a new death penalty protocol.

A group of Chattanooga high school students recently participated in a unique summer camp focused on the Ed Johnson lynching case. The program, offered by the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society, provided students with an immersive experience exploring the case’s legal and historical significance. Through site visits, expert lectures and hands-on projects, participants gained a deep understanding of the case and its impact on the American justice system. The program aims to inspire future generations of legal professionals and promote civic engagement. The Hamilton County Herald has the story.