The TBA Young Lawyers Division will present a new installment of its Rookie Series on Jan. 29, 2026, at noon CST in collaboration with the TBA's General, Solo & Small Firm Section. The live webcast "Opening Your Own Firm" is tailored to aspiring solo practitioners and entrepreneurial attorneys interested in launching a solo or small law firm, and will help those lawyers begin answering the question "Are you ready to build your own legal practice and take control of your career?" Whether fresh out of law school or transitioning from an established firm to a solo practice, or launching a firm with colleagues, this program will provide a valuable opportunity to learn from attorneys who successfully have made similar transitions. The webcast will cover essential steps for opening a firm, including practical tips and common pitfalls to avoid, as well as providing information on how the TBA may be an asset during the transition. For more information and to register for the program visit the TBA website.

At the Tennessee Alliance for Black Lawyers (TABL), diversity is more than a value, it is the foundation of all it does. While TABL was created to uplift and support Black lawyers across Tennessee, the group welcomes anyone who shares its commitment to equity, opportunity and inclusion within the legal community. TABL currently has three vacancies on its board of delegates and is seeking dedicated leaders to fill the positions. Available roles include a representative from Knoxville, a representative from the SL Hutchins National Bar Association (NBA) chapter in Chattanooga and a law professor delegate. For the Chattanooga and law professor delegate seats, nominees must be members of their local NBA affiliate. There is no affiliate in Knoxville so the requirement does not apply for that role. TABL membership is free. Learn more at tablawyers.org or contact Chicoya Smith for more information.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 6 dissolved a temporary suspension imposed Sept. 9 on Sumner County lawyer William Shea Forgety. The suspension was imposed after Forgety failed to respond to the Board of Professional Responsibility concerning a complaint of misconduct. The court reports that Forgety now has responded to the complaint and complied with all conditions imposed by the order of suspension, and immediate dissolution of the temporary suspension is appropriate.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Sept. 29 directed the Board of Professional Responsibility to hold an immediate hearing on a petition from Michael Lloyd Freeman to dissolve a suspension imposed on Sept. 3. The court suspended Freeman for failing to respond to the board about four complaints of misconduct. Freeman alleges he has responded to the board and should be reinstated. The court directed the board to consider the petition and report back to the court with its recommendation.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on Oct. 6 referred two cases to the Board of Professional Responsibility for “whatever action” it may deem warranted. The court referred the case of Madison County lawyer James Richard McFall, who was found guilty of driving under the influence and was sentenced to 56 hours of incarceration and 11 months and 29 days of supervised probation. It also referred the case of Davidson County lawyer Kenneth Ervin Yager, who was found guilty of driving under the influence in Georgia and was sentenced to 12 months, with one day to be served in custody and the remainder to be served on probation.

A Montgomery County jury convicted the Defendant, Decory Sanchez Smith, of first degree felony murder and attempted aggravated robbery. The trial court sentenced him to life plus ten years. On appeal, the Defendant asserts that: (1) the evidence is insufficient to support his convictions and (2) the trial court erred when it sentenced him by imposing a ten-year sentence for his robbery conviction and ordering consecutive sentencing. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgments.

Defendant, Jessie Rose Hodge, appeals the Knox County Criminal Court’s decision to deny judicial diversion for her guilty-pleaded conviction of criminally negligent homicide, a Class E felony. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-212. Following our review, we affirm.

In this interlocutory appeal, the employer questions the trial court’s decision to deny its third motion to compel discovery. The court granted the employer’s first motion to compel and ordered the employee to provide written authorizations for the release of his medical records. The employee also provided responses to written discovery requests, but the employer asserted they were incomplete and filed another motion to compel, after which the employee supplied additional information. The employer then amended its motion to compel, arguing the employee’s responses were still incomplete because he had objected to its request for copies of his bank statements. In a decision on the record, the trial court denied the employer’s motion to compel production of the employee’s bank statements, and the employer has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s decision and remand the case.

September 29, 2025 - October 3, 2025.

The TBA’s Animal Law Section held its annual forum at the Nashville Zoo, where attendees heard from experts on issues affecting veterinary clinics, equine concerns, conservation, sensitive habitat development, case law updates, ethics and more. Participants also had the chance to explore the zoo during lunch and meet some of its residents, including a skunk, tamandua, hairy armadillos and rhinos. Attendees also learned about the blue-tongued skink and observed him running amok in the CLE room. See photos from the event.