The TBA’s annual Health Law Primer is an introductory program that provides an opportunity for newer associates to learn more about the health law practice area or for more seasoned lawyers to brush up on the essentials of a health law practice. This year's event is taking place Nov. 1 from noon to 4:30 p.m. CDT at the Nashville office of Bass, Berry & Sims. Topics to be covered include an introduction to the U.S. health care system, the basics of fraud and abuse, and a look at provider licensure, employment and contracting.

Frost Brown Todd has reelected Nashville attorney Robert Sartin as chair of the firm, the Nashville Business Journal reports. He will begin his third three-year term with the firm on Jan. 1. Sartin focuses his practice in the energy and automotive industries. The Cincinnati-based firm, with 556 attorneys across 16 offices, has 25 lawyers in its Nashville office.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee will hold a number of clinics and a special pro bono recognition event in October as part of Celebrate Pro Bono Month. Clinics include a virtual name change clinic on Oct. 5, an expungement clinic on Oct. 11 and a child support clinic on Oct. 19. The annual Pro Bono Night will take place Oct. 26 at Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall beginning at 5 p.m. EDT. Retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee will serve as the master of ceremonies and the guest of honor. LAET will present several awards. The Alexander Hamilton Award will go to three organizations helping with a resource fair at the Hamilton County Courthouse on Sept. 28 from 1-4 p.m. They are: Tennessee Department of Corrections Community Resource Center, the American Job Center and the city of Chattanooga’s Office of Community Health. The Bruce C. Bailey Volunteer Lawyer of the Year Award will be presented to Laura Higbee of Husch Blackwell and Brad Harvey of Miller Martin. The Pro Bono Firm of the Year Award will go to the Tennessee Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. And the Chief Justice William M. Barker Equal Access to Justice Award will be presented to Court of Appeals Judge John McClarty. Read more about the award recipients in the Hamilton County Herald.

The Defendant, Timothy Michael Crabtree, was convicted in the Henry County Circuit Court of aggravated assault and was sentenced as a Range II, multiple offender to ten years in confinement. On appeal, he contends that the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction because the evidence fails to show the victim suffered serious bodily injury and that his sentence is excessive. Upon review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The Defendant, Cedric Konard Mitchell, appeals the trial court’s revocation of his ten-year sentence for two counts of domestic assault and one count of aggravated assault in case numbers 14908 and 15052. On appeal, he argues that the trial court erred by fully revoking his probation and ordering him to serve the remainder of his ten-year sentence in confinement. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

New Jersey is the latest state to limit its mental health and substance abuse disclosure requirement for those applying to join the bar, Reuters reports. The move comes amid pressure from mental health advocates who say the disclosures discourage law students from seeking help. Beginning Oct. 1, the Supreme Court of New Jersey will revise a question on the state’s mandatory "character and fitness" questionnaire about mental health and substance abuse diagnoses and treatment to ask applicants whether they currently have a substance abuse or mental health issue that affects their ability to practice law in a competent and ethical manner. New York, Ohio and Virginia are among the states that recently eliminated mental health questions from their character and fitness reviews.

The Appellant, Tracey Lynn Carter, was convicted by a Lincoln County jury of attempted aggravated assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and public intoxication. He received an effective sentence of eight years’ imprisonment. On appeal, the Appellant alleges that: (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his conviction for attempted aggravated assault; (2) the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury on voluntary intoxication; and (3) the trial court erred in denying a sentence of split confinement. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.

Plaintiffs sued for injuries and damages allegedly resulting from an automobile accident. The trial court dismissed one of two defendants based on the statute of limitations. Although the complaint was filed within one year of the accident, the original summons went unserved, and plaintiffs did not obtain issuance of new process until over a year after the issuance of the previous process. On appeal, plaintiffs contend that, because the automobile accident resulted in a criminal prosecution, the time period for issuance of new process under Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 3 was extended. We affirm.

A General Assembly subcommittee this week recommended extending the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth for another four years, just months after an effort to dissolve the commission failed, the Tennessean reports. The Joint Government Operations Subcommittee voted on the recommendation on Tuesday, opting to extend the commission, which focuses on child welfare and oversight of the Department of Children's Services. Republican leaders backed off of a bill to dissolve the commission after pushback from stakeholders in the child advocacy community, according to the paper.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti recently sat down for an interview with David Plazas, director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. The two talked about a range of issues, including Skrmetti’s legal career, philosophy, and how he views his role. Skrmetti also explains why he supports legal challenges to federal authority and that one time (so far) that he could not "in good faith" defend a particular Tennessee law. Read an edited version of the interview or watch for the full video to be posted online.