A Knox County jury convicted the defendant, Erik Courtney Lehto, of two counts of rape of a child, one count of solicitation of rape of a child, and one count of aggravated sexual battery for which he received an effective sentence of eighty-six years in prison. On appeal, the defendant contends the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his convictions. After reviewing the record and considering the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

The petitioner, Jessica R. Adkins, appeals the denial of her post-conviction petition, arguing the post-conviction court erred in finding she received the effective assistance of counsel. After our review of the record, briefs, and applicable law, we affirm the denial of the petition.

The Nashville Bar Foundation recently honored its 2023 class of fellows at an evening event, which also included presentation of the David Rutherford Award. This year’s award was presented posthumously to Judge Philip E. Smith, who served as a circuit court judge in Nashville from 1990-1994. The award is given to a fellow who exemplifies the memory and ideals of David Rutherford, which include professionalism, charitable contributions in the legal field and in the community as a whole, and the spirit of collegiality among bench and bar. Read more in a press release from the group.

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Alumni Chapter will honor five Memphis-area lawyers at its annual Pillars of Excellence event set for Aug. 26 at the Fed Ex Forum. Those receiving awards are: Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen; Robert L. Dinkelspiel, founding member of Dinkelspiel Rasmussen & Mink; Mike McLaren, shareholder at Black McLaren Jones Ryland & Griffee; David Wade, shareholder and director at Martin Tate Morrow & Marston; and Ruby R. Wharton, founder and partner with The Wharton Law Firm. U.S. District Court Judge Phipps McCalla with the Western District of Tennessee will receive the 2023 Friend of the Law School award. The event will start with a reception at 6 p.m. CDT followed by dinner, awards and an after party. Proceeds from the evening will support the law school and student scholarships.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined 22 other attorneys general in urging the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to advance artificial intelligence governance policies that prioritize robust transparency, reliable testing and assessment requirements, and allow for government oversight and enforcement for high-risk uses. Read more about the issue or read the letter.

A story in yesterday’s issue of TBA Today about two Jackson individuals prosecuted for bank fraud did not include details about the sentence for Benjamin Vargason. He was sentenced to time served and placed on supervised release for three years, with six months to be served in home confinement. Read the full press release from the U.S. attorney’s office for the Western District of Tennessee.

Seventeen sponsors have signed up to help underwrite the costs of this year's TBA Annual Convention. Thank you to diamond presenting sponsor Fastcase; platinum sponsor TriStar Court Reporting; gold sponsor Attorneys Insurance Mutual of the South; silver sponsor TBA Member Insurance Solutions; bronze sponsors Clio and The Bar Plan; and YLD sponsors Lexitas and SoFi. Exhibitors include Conservatorship Association of Tennessee, HealthCare Appraisers, JAMS, PageOne, ProbateCash, Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program and Tradeline LLC. Non-exhibiting sponsors include SoFi and Time Miner. Check out our sponsor page for more information and make sure to visit exhibit booths during the Convention. If you're at convention, please visit all exhibitors and enter our Exhibitor Passport drawing for great prizes!

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced today that 14 attorneys in the firm’s Nashville office have been recognized by the Tennessee Supreme Court as 2022 “Attorneys for Justice.” Since 2013, the court has recognized lawyers who work a minimum of 50 pro bono hours. Attorneys are acknowledged for their pro bono work and their dedication to the legal profession and service to the citizens of Tennessee. The goal of the recognition program is to increase statewide pro bono work to 50% participation. Among those recognized at Bradley are Marc Bussone, Tim Capria, Charles Elder, Madison Crooks Haynes, Claire Fox Hodge, Alexandra Lynn, Russell Morgan, Ocasha Musah, Edmund Sauer, Jeffrey Sheehan, Rachel Sodée, Richard Swor, David Taylor and Heather Wright.

Jennifer Azbill-Hall and Benjamin Vargason of Jackson were sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a bank fraud scheme. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentences today. Hall and Vargason were indicted in December 2019 in connection with a scheme to steal $820,000 from B&H Finance by opening fictitious accounts in the names of former B&H customers where Hall was employed.

For the week of June 5, 2023 - June 9, 2023