Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon released hundreds of public records on Monday related to the city’s hiring process to replace police chief Eve Thomas, who retired in 2022 amidst controversy over the city’s rising homicide rate. The mayor’s office had previously denied a request by KnoxNews for the records claiming the search for a new chief was not subject to open records law since the city had hired an outside party, Police Executive Research Forum, to conduct the search. KnoxNews sued the mayor’s office in July and in December, Chancellor John Weaver ruled that KnoxNews could depose city officials to answer questions about the suit under oath. Read more at KnoxNews.

The Defendant, Jasmine Lashay Bland, was convicted by a Tipton County Circuit Court jury of leaving the scene of an accident, assault, and burglary of a vehicle. She was sentenced by the trial court as a Range I, standard offender to concurrent terms of two years for the felony burglary of a vehicle conviction, six months for the assault conviction, and thirty days for the leaving the scene of an accident conviction, with the sentences suspended after thirty days of incarceration. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court committed reversible error by not allowing her to cross-examine the victim about a potential source of bias related to the victim’s alleged insurance claim for personal injuries. Based on our review, we conclude that this issue is waived because it was not raised in the trial court. Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

This is a divorce action filed by Meredith Lee Taylor (“Mother”) against Christopher Bryan Taylor (“Father”). The trial court divided the marital estate nearly equally and granted Mother primary residential custody of the parties’ child. Father was granted 130 days per year of parenting time. Father appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in its valuation of several marital assets. He also asserts that the trial court should have awarded him more parenting time. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Because the order appealed from does not constitute a final appealable judgment, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal.

KnoxNews is investigating Tennessee attorney Gordon Ball’s use of the cy pres doctrine, which allows unclaimed class action lawsuit money to be reclaimed and used for other purposes with a judge’s approval. Ball has redirected cy pres funds to make over $3 million in donations to universities and charities throughout Tennessee, KnoxNews reports. Ball has also petitioned the University of Louisville Medical School to return a $128,000 donation he made to the school after hearing that a doctor who had aided Ball in a heart transplant was no longer on staff. The cy pres process has come under fire from some attorneys and judges who think there should be a process in place to direct money that isn't given to plaintiffs to organizations that have some connection to the purpose of the lawsuit that secured the money. Tennessee Judge John D. McAfee from the Eighth Judicial District has called the practice “a racket.”

At issue is whether Tennessee Code Annotated § 28-3-104(a)(2) extends the statute of limitations for a personal injury action to two years when a traffic citation for the violation of Memphis City Code Ordinance § 11-16-3 for Failure to Maintain Safe Lookout is issued to the driver alleged to be at fault. Stated another way, is an exception created to the oneyear statute of limitations for personal injuries if a person involved in an automobile accident receives a ticket for the violation of a municipal ordinance from that accident? The trial court ruled in the negative. We affirm.

Nominations are now open for the 2023 American Legal Technology Awards to be held on Oct. 8 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. The awards honor exceptional achievements in legal technology. This year, the annual event is adding a lifetime achievement award to recognize an individual who has displayed leadership, excellence and vision over a long career in law. The deadline to submit nominations is July 31. Finalists will be announced in August. Read more at LawNext.

The Tennessee Secretary of State's office announced the House District 3 Special Election will be held Aug. 3 to fill the seat of former Rep. Scotty Campbell. Campbell resigned in April after it became public that the Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Subcommittee had found him guilty of ethics violations. Qualifying candidates must register by May 11. The Johnson County Commission will appoint a temporary replacement at a special meeting that same day. Read more from Johnson City Press.

Register now for the 2023 Tennessee Faith and Justice Summit to be held at Motlow State Community College in LaVergne, June 2 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. CDT. Registration is limited.

This year's Litigation Forum will offer essential and useful material for litigators. Programming will include a session covering the economic loss doctrine, court-mandated ADR, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in the legal landscape. The virtual forum will take place this Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT. Register now to reserve your spot!