In honor of approaching Hispanic Heritage Month, observed Sept. 15-Oct. 15, the Knoxville Latino Bar Association (KLBA), University of Tennessee Law Latin American Law Students Association (LLSA) and Lincoln Memorial University Hispanic Law Students Association (HLSA) are co-hosting a "Lawtino Mixer" on Sept. 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. EDT at Radius Rooftop Lounge in Knoxville. This networking event offers an opportunity for Latino legal professionals and students to connect in a relaxed setting. RSVP here.

The Tennessee Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection on Sept. 5 paid a $39,585 claim filed against Anderson County attorney Kevin Carmack Angel. It also directed Angel to reimburse the fund for the expense. 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.

In response to recent rallies by extremist groups in Nashville, the Metro Council is considering a series of measures to discourage hate-motivated behavior, WPLN News reports. Last month, Mayor Freddie O'Connell proposed several bills, including restrictions on flier distribution, masks, public building access and highway signs. Now two council members also are proposing changes. Jeff Preptit is seeking to prohibit Metro employees from joining extremist groups, while Zulfat Suara would require public commenters to be Tennessee residents. The council began consideration of these ideas this week.

The Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) on Thursday hosted its annual Bench & Bar Celebration. The KBA’s Diversity in the Profession Committee presented the 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award to Legal Aid of East Tennessee, and attendees heard about the organization's innovative efforts to be accessible to clients and provide a meaningful and welcoming workplace for all employees. See photos from the event.

Attorneys interested in estate planning will have the chance to gain valuable knowledge and enjoy a round of Topgolf at a special event on Nov. 7. The program, which will feature three hours of CLE programming, is designed for new attorneys and those looking to add estate planning to their practice. The event will include breakfast, lunch and two hours of golfing after the presentations. The program will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT. Learn more or register here.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says the state is working to resume executions, after an effective pause on the death penalty has continued for more than two years. Lee’s comments came during a session with reporters in Knoxville last week, WBIR reports. Among his comments, Lee said, "I think it's important that we move as quickly as we can, but take as long as we need to, to make sure we get it right. I've tasked our team with getting a protocol in place. This has to be done, it's the law of our state. We need to be in a position to fulfill that law. But as you know, if you don't have the correct protocols in place, then the outcomes are not what any of us want in this state. I suspect that we are closer than further from having a protocol in place and will be allowed then to continue that process." In April 2022, Lee paused executions moments before an inmate was scheduled to die citing issues with protocols. He then launched an independent review of the lethal injection preparation process. According to reports, the state struggled to follow its own lethal injection rules at several steps, including the chemicals' testing and storage prior to the pause. WKRN also has details of Lee's recent remarks.

In this appeal of a compensation order, the employee alleges she retained a permanent impairment as a result of a fall at work and is entitled to permanent partial disability benefits. The employee alleged injuries to her neck, shoulder, and back when she slipped and fell onto a piece of machinery. The employer acknowledged the compensability of the accident and provided a panel of medical providers. Following authorized medical treatment with several providers, a spine specialist released the employee at maximum medical improvement with no permanent medical impairment rating. The employee obtained her own medical examination and sought additional medical care for her neck and treatment for her shoulder. Following an expedited hearing, the court denied the employee’s request for medical benefits related to the shoulder, determining the employee was not likely to prevail at trial in proving her shoulder complaints were primarily related to the work injury. However, the court ordered the employer to provide additional medical benefits related to her neck and lumbar spine complaints. Thereafter, the employee returned to the spine specialist, who again released her at maximum medical improvement. At trial, the court determined that the injuries to the employee’s neck and back were compensable, entitling her to future reasonable, necessary, and causally-related medical care. However, the trial court determined the employee did not prove that she retained any permanent disability as a result of the work accident and denied her claim for permanent disability benefits. The employee has appealed. After careful consideration of the record, we affirm the trial court’s order and certify it as final.

A pro se litigant brought suit against the State of Tennessee in the Tennessee Claims Commission, where his suit was dismissed for a lack of jurisdiction and a failure to abide by the statute of limitations. We hold that the appellant has waived all issues on appeal by failing to set forth a legal argument, and we affirm the judgment of the Claims Commission.

KAREN NELSON MOORE, Circuit Judge. Three Kentucky Republican Party county executive committees challenge the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance’s prohibition on expending funds in support of a state constitutional amendment on the November general- election ballot. The district court denied the executive committees’ application for a preliminary injunction. The executive committees seek an injunction pending appeal of the preliminary- injunction decision. Because we conclude that the executive committees are likely to succeed on the merits of their First Amendment claim, we grant the injunction pending appeal and order expedited briefing on the appeal of the denial of the executive committees’ motion for preliminary injunction.

A pro se litigant brought suit against the State of Tennessee in the Tennessee Claims Commission, where his suit was dismissed for a lack of jurisdiction and a failure to abide by the statute of limitations. We hold that the appellant has waived all issues on appeal by failing to set forth a legal argument, and we affirm the judgment of the Claims Commission.