The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to settle its claims in an antitrust case accusing Live Nation Entertainment and its Ticketmaster subsidiary of illegally monopolizing the live music industry, the AP reports. A trial on the case began last week. Under the tentative deal, Live Nation would pay a $280 million fine, divest itself of at least 13 amphitheaters, cap ticketing service fees at 15% and open its ticketing processes to competitors. The suit was brought by DOJ and a coalition of states. A number of those states — including Tennessee — said they would not join the settlement but continue with the trial.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the 3rd Judicial District Circuit Court following the appointment of Judge William E. Phillips II to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. The district covers Greene, Hamblen, Hancock and Hawkins counties. A public hearing for the position will be held April 27 at 9 a.m. EDT at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, 821 W. Louise Ave., Morristown, 37813. To be considered, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) must receive a completed application by noon CDT on March 25. The application and instructions are available online. Any member of the public may attend the hearing to express, orally or in writing, objections concerning applicant(s) for the vacancy. For questions or additional information, contact John Jefferson at the AOC at 615-741-2687.

Three candidates have stepped into the race to succeed Lt. Gov. Randy McNally in Senate District 5, following the senator's announcement last month that he will retire from the legislature. According to Knox News, former state Rep. Jimmy Matlock, the owner of Matlock Tire Service and Auto Repair in Lenoir City, picked up candidate papers to enter the Aug. 6 Republican primary. Former state Sen. Stacey Campfield, a Knoxville Republican, also picked up papers, but declined to confirm whether he plans to run. Finally, David Miller, a retired educator and Anderson County school board member, says he is running in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary. McNally, a longtime Republican lawmaker representing Anderson, Loudon and parts of Knox counties, announced Feb. 26 that he will retire after decades in office. The primary election is Aug. 6 and the general election is Nov. 3. March 10 is the deadline for candidates to enter the race.

The city of Murfreesboro recently announced the hiring of Smyrna Town Attorney Jeffrey L. Peach to be its next city attorney beginning in May. Peach has 17 years of experience as a Tennessee municipal attorney. He has served as town attorney for Smyrna since 2013 and was hired as a staff attorney in 2008. The Murfreesboro City Council voted to appoint Peach during a council meeting last week following a public interview at a council workshop in February. “Jeff Peach has faithfully served as town attorney and staff attorney for the town of Smyrna for more than 17 years, working on a number of important and complex legal matters, including civil litigation, employment, land use planning and zoning concerns, and other municipal legal issues,” Mayor Shane McFarland said.

More than 250 lawyers attended the 2026 Estate Planning & Probate Forum on Friday at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin. The program offered seven hours of continuing legal education, including one hour of dual credit, and featured sessions on litigation and estate planning, public receivership, a probate panel and a legislative update. Speakers included Estate Planning & Probate Section Chair Robert Malin as well as Rebecca Blair, Chancellor William Cole, Arthur Cook, Jennifer Exum, Donald Farinato, General Sessions Judge Toby Gilley, Zachary Glaser, Lisa Helton, Robin Miller, David Parsons, Al Secor, Andrea Sinclair, Jared Smith and Ashley Stearns. Attendees also were able to interact with 17 exhibitors who were on hand to promote services and products that benefit estate planning practioners. See photos from the event.

Murfreesboro attorney Dewey Russell Thomas died March 5 at age 73. Thomas was a personal injury litigator and operated his practice, The Thomas Law Firm, for more than 48 years. He also was a member of the Rutherford and Cannon County Bar Association and a former president of Andrew Jackson American Inns of Court. Funeral services were held today at Bradyville Church of Christ in Bradyville followed by interment at Thyatira Cemetery in Readyville. Donations may be made to Alive Hospice of Murfreesboro or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The TBA will host its 30th Annual Labor & Employment Law Forum on May 1 in Nashville. The daylong program, held at the Tennessee Bankers Association building, will feature sessions on return-to-the-workplace issues, Federal Trade Commission noncompete rules and trade secrets, wage and hour developments, and an ethics session addressing sexual harassment and assault. The program will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT and attendees may earn up to five general and one dual CLE credits. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

A judge in Memphis will hear arguments this week on whether death row inmate Tony Carruthers is mentally competent to be executed, the Nashville Banner reports. Attorneys with the Federal Public Defender’s Office argue Carruthers suffers from schizoaffective disorder and psychotic delusions that prevent him from rationally understanding why the state plans to execute him. A forensic psychiatrist retained by the defense is expected to testify that Carruthers’ delusional beliefs — including that a conspiracy of judges and attorneys framed him and that his release from prison is imminent — render him incompetent for execution. Experts for the state are expected to argue he is fit to be executed. If the court finds him competent, Carruthers’ execution is scheduled to take place on May 21 at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. Carruthers was sentenced to death in 1996 for the kidnapping and murders of three people in Shelby County.

Feedback about the Tennessee Supreme Court's order considering a range of potential changes to regulation of the legal profession is due to the TBA Legal Access and Regulatory Reform Task Force by March 16. The task force will be reviewing responses submitted by email as well as comments submitted as part of a statewide survey and six virtual town hall events, which took place in January and February, and ongoing conversations with stakeholders. The task force then will make recommendations for any proposed action to the TBA Board of Governors. Members are encouraged to review the TBA's Legal Access & Regulatory Reform resource page to become familiar with the issues at stake. Feedback to the task force should be submitted via email to townhall@tnbar.org. Comments on the court order also may be filed directly with the court by April 30.

Building on the success of the TBA Young Lawyers Division's popular Trial College, the TBA YLD is launching Business College, a new in-person program focused on sharpening transactional law skills. Designed for new and young lawyers — and any attorney wanting a refresher — this hands-on course covers core business law concepts, ethical considerations and emerging issues. Attendees will leave with practical insights and actionable tools they can immediately use to handle business matters with greater confidence. 

Session 1

Jack Wagster, Eden Firm PLLC, Nashville
Business Formation Fundamentals

Choosing the right business structure is one of the most important early decisions for any organization. This session provides a practical overview of the major business entity types and the mechanics of formation, helping attorneys identify structural options, avoid common pitfalls and understand the key legal formalities that matter when clients are starting or restructuring a business.

Session 2

Laura Chastain, Board of Professional Responsibility, Brentwood
Ethics for Transactional Lawyers and Ethics Updates from the Board of Professional Responsibility

This session will explore the ethical responsibilities of transactional lawyers, including managing conflicts of interest, responding when a client provides false or misleading information and navigating engagements involving services for third parties at a client's request. The session will also address other challenging ethical issues that arise in transactional practice. In addition, attendees will receive important ethics updates from the Board of Professional Responsibility.

Session 3

Claire Tuley, Baker Donelson, Chattanooga
How to Get to Closing: Deals, Documents and Averting Disasters

Your client signed the purchase agreement — now what? Turning a contract into a closed deal requires more than paperwork. This practical session on real estate and business transactions will walk through the key steps from contract to closing, including essential closing documents, county-specific variations and signature page best practices. Learn how to avoid the common mistakes that delay closings and how to handle the worst-case scenarios when they arise.

Join colleagues on Friday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT at Baker Donelson, 1600 West End Ave. in Nashville.
Parking and lunch are included. For more information and to register for the Business College, visit the TBA website.