Nashville-based Bass, Berry & Sims has announced the establishment of a new practice group focused on controlled substances, the Nashville Post reports. The Controlled Substances Enforcement & Diversion Group will advise Drug Enforcement Agency-registered clients, including health care providers, in their efforts to comply with drug regulations. The group will be led by Lisa Rivera, a former federal prosecutor, and Brian Irving.

Chattanooga attorney Michele Coffman announced yesterday that she is running for Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Division III, the Chattanoogan.com reports. The seat will be vacant when Judge Marie Williams retires. Coffman has more than 23 years of experience at her law firm McColpin & Coffman PLLC. In announcing her candidacy, Coffman said, “I’ve built my career as an attorney on my three defining principles of efficiency, transparency and respect … I plan to apply those same principles” on the bench. Coffman earned her law degree from Thomas Cooley Law School.

Metro Nashville filed suit yesterday seeking to overturn recently passed legislation giving state leaders appointments on the Metropolitan Sports Authority, the board that oversees Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena and other Nashville sports facilities. The Nashville Post reports that Metro Legal Director Wally Dietz said in a release that the city “cannot sit idly by and let the state deprive the Metropolitan Government and the people who live here of their rights under our Tennessee Constitution.” In passing the legislation, state leaders argued they should have a voice on the board because the state is financing $500 million in bonds for construction of a domed stadium to replace Nissan Stadium. Metro is seeking an injunction ahead of the law's effective date of Jan. 1, 2024.

Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (TADP) and the American Baptist College Presidential Lecture Series will present “Doomed to Repeat: The Legacy of Race in Tennessee’s Death Penalty and Criminal Legal System” over a six-week period beginning this Friday. The speaker series will run from 6-7:30 p.m. CDT each Friday. The lectures will be free and open to the public, and video recordings will be available following each event. The goal of the series is to provide students and the community an opportunity to hear from legal experts and those who have been directly impacted by the death penalty. Learn more in a news release from the groups. Register for this week’s program.

Teams from several Tennessee high schools recently competed in the Empire Windy City Classic Mock Trial Tournament in Chicago with Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) winning the championship round against Centennial High School from California. This was MBA’s fifth Empire championship, tying Trinity Pacific School of California for the most titles ever. Two other schools from Tennessee also competed. CSTHEA, a Chattanooga home school, finished in sixth place while St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Memphis finished in 12th place. Three students from St. Mary’s also took home individual awards: Krithica Vaidyanathan won fifth place Best Witness, Caroline Hunt was named fifth place Best Attorney and tied co-student Zoe McMullen for seventh place Best Witness. MBA will return to Chicago in November to compete for the Empire World Championship. See photos from winning team.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold a child support clinic on Oct. 19 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. EDT at the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. The in-person event will provide advice to those seeking to secure child support. Pre-registration for clients is encouraged. Attorney volunteers are needed. Those interested in helping should email Mary Frances Devoe at mdevoe@laet.org. View a flyer for the event.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection met recently to consider claims from clients alleging financial loss due to the illegal actions of their lawyers. The fund approved three claims: $8,335 against Shelby County lawyer A. Sais Phillips Finney, $2,500 against Shelby County lawyer Robert Harris Golder and $11,975 against Sevier County lawyer James Ralph Hickman Jr. The Fund for Client Protection was established by the Tennessee Supreme Court to reimburse individuals for losses caused by dishonest conduct by attorneys. The fund is operated by a board, which meets quarterly to consider claims. In September 2022, the Tennessee Supreme Court amended Rule 25 to require the fund to notify the Tennessee Bar Association of claims paid. News releases also are posted online.

Sumner County lawyer Ramsdale O’DeNeal Jr. received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 11. The court found that O’DeNeal, while representing a client in a criminal matter, accepted a flat fee for services but later requested the client pay an additional $1,000. O’DeNeal did not receive informed consent to change the fee. The client paid the fee, but during the disciplinary investigation, O’DeNeal refunded the $1,000 to the client. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5 and 1.8.

Shelby County lawyer Brian Chadwick Rickman received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 11. The court found that Rickman, while representing a client in a car wreck matter, agreed to a settlement offer from the defendant without his client’s knowledge or approval. Rickman also failed to respond to the disciplinary complaint. His actions were determined to violate Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.16 and 8.1.

THAPAR, Circuit Judge. When Officer Josh Patrick tried to arrest LaRhonda Perez, she ran. After a chase, Perez suddenly stopped at a street, and Officer Patrick tased her. Perez sued, alleging Officer Patrick used excessive force. The district court denied him qualified immunity. Because Officer Patrick’s appeal rests on a factual dispute, we dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.