Former Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell has settled a suit filed over campaign finances in her 2022 run for Congress. Tennessee Lookout reports that Harwell and the Government of the People PAC reached a settlement with the Federal Election Commission for a $16,000 civil penalty. The group alleged that Harwell violated campaign finance rules regarding soft money during her campaign for the 5th District congressional race. Harwell claimed at the time that a transfer of funds from her state political action committee to a super PAC that supported her bid was vetted by attorneys working for her campaign. According to the news source, because Harwell did not try to hide the transfer she was not charged for violating the law.

Pharmaceutical company AbbVie has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up its fight to protect corporate records, warning that a lower court ruling threatens to erode the shield that protects most attorney communications. The company is appealing a decision from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the filing of a sham patent-infringement suit can overcome attorney-client privilege, Reuters reports. The appeals court found that such cases can be considered fraudulent activity and trigger the “crime-fraud exception,” which allows attorney-client privilege to be set aside.

The Tennessee Trial Court Vacancy Commission met rcently in Sevierville to consider eight applicants for a circuit court judge vacancy in the 4th Judicial District, which covers Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties. After holding a public hearing and interviews, the commission selected three nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration. They are: Dandridge lawyer and Assistant District Attorney Jeremy D. Ball; Newport attorney Jeffery S. Greene with McSween, McSween & Green; and Sevierville lawyer Adrienne Waters Ogle with Ogle McCarter. Greene is also the attorney for the towns of Parrotsville and Dandridge. Ogle is also a Sevier County Juvenile Court magistrate and attorney for the city of Gatlinburg. The vacancy in this district was created when the General Assembly approved funding for a new judge.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on Thursday announced that Dollar General has agreed to pay a $12 million fine and improve conditions at its thousands of retail stores nationwide to make them safer for workers, reports the Associated Press. The Goodlettsville-based retailer in July reached a settlement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to resolve alleged violations that included unsafe storage, blocked emergency exits and fire extinguishers and inaccessible electrical panels. That agreement states, in part, that if inspectors find similar problems in the future, Dollar General may be fined $100,000 a day for any that are not resolved within 48 hours.

Join colleagues online on Aug. 15 from 11 a.m. to noon CDT for a webcast with attorney Jim Romer as he discusses the process of opening a University of Tennessee Medical Center in Jamestown. Register here and watch for more details coming soon.

Legal Aid of Tennessee, the TBA YLD, Chattanooga Trans Liberation Collective and the Chattanooga Bar Association YLD hosted their triannual virtual name change clinic on July 11. Seven attorneys from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville logged on to assist 11 clients with drafting name change petitions and advise them on next steps. See a photo from this event.

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The ABA recently reported that being an attorney is the most stressful occupation. Many attorneys do not need data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to verify this. They know it first hand. One of the least stressful occupations is working in forestry, most likely because of the time these workers spend close to nature. With this information in mind, the TBA YLD is excited to introduce "Exploration: A CLE Series!" The series will begin at Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Manchester on Oct. 23. This program will provide three hours of CLE ethics credits and a ranger-guided hike. Save the date and watch for registration information coming soon. Plans are in the works to offer additional CLE programs across Tennessee at our beautiful state parks.

The YLD will continue its focus on health and wellness in other ways as well. Join colleagues online Sept. 12 at noon CDT for an informative panel discussion on "Demystifying TLAP." Click here for more information and to register. And watch for a new Health and Wellness section in each issue of the TBA YLD newsletter.

There is still time to sign up for the 2024 Elder Law Forum, which will take place in person Friday, July 19, at Belmont University College of Law. This annual staple for Tennessee attorneys provides insight from top professionals while allowing attendees to meet with other lawyers in the practice area. This year’s forum features timely topics such as conservatorships, dementia, client intake, ethics, litigation in elder law and more. The event will run from from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to learn and earn CLE with colleagues.

The Mid-South Commercial Law Institute recently named new officers and five new directors to its 25-member board. Officers are President Paul Jennings with Bass, Berry & Sims in Nashville; Vice President/President-Elect Cara Alday with Patrick, Beard, Schulman & Jacoway in Chattanooga; Secretary Cynthia N. Podis with Podis & Podis in Nashville; Treasurer Stephen D. Barham with Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel in Chattanooga; and Immediate Past President James E. Bailey III with Butler Snow in Memphis. New directors, elected to five year terms, are: R. Bradley Banks with Richard Banks & Associates in Cleveland, Blair B. Evans with Baker Donelson in Memphis, Nashville attorney Erica R. Johnson, Chapter 7 Trustee F. Scott Milligan in Knoxville, and Daniel H. Puryear with Puryear, Pippenger and Cook in Nashville. See the list of the full 2024 board.