The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-0 today that insurers have a broad right to weigh in on bankruptcies that may put them on the hook for paying claims. The decision is a victory for an insurer challenging the restructuring plan of a manufacturer of asbestos-containing products, Reuters reports. The opinion, written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, held that Truck Insurance Exchange should have been allowed to object to Kaiser Gypsum's proposed $50 million settlement of thousands of asbestos-related lawsuits through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, because the deal would be funded largely by the company's insurance policies.

Gov. Bill Lee announced today that he will back three state House candidates who are aligned with him on the issue of school vouchers, Tennessee Journal reports. The beneficiaries of his support are: Jason Emert in District 20 in Blount County, Lee Reeves in District 65 in Williamson County and Aron Maberry in District 68 in Montgomery County. The seats are being vacated respectively by Republican Reps. Bryan Richey of Maryville, Sam Whitson of Franklin and Curtis Johnson of Clarksville.

Pittsburgh-based boutique law firm, the Cozza Law Group PLLC, said this week it has opened a Nashville office and is looking to hire attorneys in the new location. “We are absolutely thrilled to begin to work with clients in Nashville," managing partner Rocco Cozza said in a statement. “When looking at strategic locations to expand, we were drawn to Nashville’s rich business community, hospitality industry and, of course, its renowned music scene. We believe our values closely align with the area’s mission for continued growth, honesty and collaboration.” The firm, which focuses on business, entertainment and employment law, will occupy space at 611 Commerce St., Nashville, TN 37203. Read more in the Nashville Business Journal.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have reached a deal that clears the way for potential antitrust investigations into the dominant roles that Microsoft, OpenAI and Nvidia play in the AI industry. Reuters reports that the agreement means regulatory scrutiny is gathering steam amid concerns over concentration in the industries that make up AI. Microsoft and Nvidia not only dominate their industries but are also the world's two biggest companies by market capitalization.

The American Civil Liberties Union has announced plans to sue the White House over President Biden's new executive order that would close off access to asylum when border numbers surge, Axios reports. "A ban on asylum is illegal just as it was when Trump unsuccessfully tried it," Lee Gelernt, who successfully argued a similar challenge under former President Trump, told the news source. Government officials say humanitarian exemptions and the fact that the asylum restrictions only lock into place when border numbers surge make Biden's order different from similar actions attempted by Trump via executive order.

The legacy of former Court of Appeals Judge Richard H. Dinkins will live on through the Judge Dinkins Educational Center (JDEC), Executive Director Tim Forbes writes in the Tennessean. The center, which will open ithis fall, is designed to be a diversionary trade school for youth in the juvenile courts. It will offer pre-construction and pre-apprenticeship programs in the trades of carpentry, electrical, plumbing and welding. After completing the program, students will work toward a journeyman’s license. “Naming [the center] for Judge Dinkins, a man who spent his professional life continually looking to give others an opportunity for growth and redemption, is appropriate and an honor,” Forbes writes. Dinkins died in October 2023.

The TBA’s Court Square Series is back with a program planned in Jackson on June 28. Come hear from General Sessions Judge Christy Little, Nashville-area lawyer John Day, and Jackson lawyers Nancy Choate and Kortney Simmons. The Court Square Series is intended to bring top speakers to local legal communities and foster relationships and collegiality among lawyers across the state.

The American Bar Association (ABA) issued a statement today opposing the executive order issued this week by President Joe Biden to limit asylum claims when border encounters exceed a seven-day average of 2,500 and until the numbers fall below 1,500. The group says the rule “violates critical provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, international law and due process … jeopardizes the safety of thousands of vulnerable individuals and families on both sides of the border and diminishes America’s longstanding role as a sanctuary for the oppressed.” Read the full statement.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation has announced that Nashville lawyer John Murphy will serve as its new executive director beginning July 1. Murphy will replace longtime director Barri Bernstein, who announced in January she would retire. Bernstein will continue on as a consultant for the next year to ensure continuity of programs. Murphy brings a diverse professional background to the position, including legal practice, nonprofit management and public service. He most recently served as senior advisor for economic inclusion at the Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County. He has been an active member of the TBA, serving on the Young Lawyers Division Board as sponsorship chair.

The Nashville Business Journal has awarded its 2024 Lifetime Achievement distinction to Nashville lawyer David Tarpley, the lead attorney for housing and consumer law at Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. Tarpley graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1971 and joined Legal Aid Society the same year, becoming managing attorney of the consumer section in 1974. He has served on the board of directors for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Middle Tennessee for more than two decades and has won numerous awards and recognition, including the TBA’s Public Service Attorney of the Year in 1997 and a lifetime achievement award from the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services in 2021. An interview with Tarpley will appear in the journal’s July 26 print issue.