Brad Gaines, a former Vanderbilt University football player and father of conservative political activist Riley Gaines, is entering the race for Tennessee's 6th Congressional District. The Tennessean reports that he joins fellow Republicans Dale Braden, former Tennessee congressman Van Hilleary, Rep. Johnny Garrett and Knoxville businessman Joe Reid. Democrat Mike Croley and unaffiliated candidate Christopher Monday — who ran for the same seat as an independent in 2020 — also have thrown their hats in the ring. U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville, is leaving Congress to run for Tennessee governor. The 6th Congressional District includes parts of Nashville, Ridgetop and Goodlettsville.

The TBA Construction Law Section will host the inaugural Joint Georgia/Tennessee Construction Conference Oct. 9-10 in Chattanooga. The two-day event will kick off with a welcome networking reception followed by a day of high quality CLE sessions for both Georgia and Tennessee lawyers. Topics include regional differences in construction law, a view from the bench session featuring judges and arbitrators, insurance 101, AI and ethics, construction defect trends and a case study session. The program will offer 6.75 total CLE hours, including one dual hour. CLE credit will be submitted to both Georgia and Tennessee. Get more information and register.

A Dyer County jury convicted the Defendant, Guy Willie Toles, of felony reckless endangerment. The trial court sentenced the Defendant to one and a half years of confinement, suspended to probation after the service of sixty days of incarceration, and it imposed a $750 fine. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the trial court erred when it set his fine because the trial court failed to place any findings on the record in support of the fine. After review, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.

In this interlocutory appeal, the State asks this court to review the trial court’s suppression of Defendant’s blood alcohol test. After reviewing the entire record, the briefs and oral arguments of the parties, and the applicable law, we reverse the trial court’s order granting Defendant’s motion to suppress the result of his blood alcohol test.

The Defendant, Jerome Cole, Jr., pled guilty in the Knox County Criminal Court to possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a violent felony and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Pursuant to the plea agreement, he received concurrent eight-year sentences with the trial court to determine the manner of service. After a sentencing hearing, the trial court ordered that he serve the sentences in confinement. On appeal, the Defendant claims that the trial court erred by denying his request for alternative sentencing. Based on our review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

JOHN K. BUSH, Circuit Judge. Jay Pemberton brought federal and state claims against his former employer, Bell’s Brewery. He claims the Brewery failed to accommodate him, discriminated against him based on his age and disability, and retaliated against him for engaging in protected activity—all in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101; Michigan’s Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act, Mich. Comp. Laws § 37.1202; Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Mich. Comp. Laws § 37.2101; and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e. The district court granted summary judgment to the Brewery, holding that Pemberton failed to timely exhaust his administrative remedies for certain claims and failed to establish pretext for others. On appeal, we are tasked with addressing, among other things, the adequacy of his Charge of Discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the prima facie requirements for disability discrimination claims. Because the district court did not err in granting the Brewery’s motion for summary judgment, we AFFIRM.

Morristown lawyer Joseph “Randall” Shelton died Aug. 31 under the compassionate care of Caris Healthcare Hospice, surrounded by his family. A 1964 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law), Shelton served in the U.S. Army and later opened his East Tennessee law practice, where he provided 50 years of dedicated legal service. A Celebration of Life will be held Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. EDT at Gateway Church, 503 S. Jackson St., Morristown 37813. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or Rotary Foundation. Call 866-976-8279 to donate by mail.

The Tennessee Supreme Court unanimously elected Justice Jeff Bivins to be the next chief justice of the court. Bivins was elected for a three-year term beginning Sept. 1. This is the second time he has held the role having previously served in the position from 2016-2021. Bivins was appointed to the court by then-Gov. Bill Haslam. He previously served on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and the 21st Judicial District Circuit Court. Following election by his colleagues, Bivins said, “Tennessee has the finest judiciary in the country. Our judges are dedicated public servants who serve with integrity. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with all of them to strengthen public confidence in our courts, access to justice, and the rule of law in Tennessee.” Read more in a release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

In this compensation appeal, the employee questions the trial court’s order granting the employer’s motion for summary judgment and dismissing the employee’s petition for additional medical benefits. The employee suffered a compensable left ankle sprain and received medical treatment before he was placed at maximum medical improvement by the authorized treating physician and released with no permanent medical impairment. The employer filed a motion for summary judgment, which the court granted in part with respect to the issue of permanent disability benefits. The employee’s right to future medical benefits related to his left ankle sprain remained open for any reasonable and necessary medical treatment arising primarily from the work accident. Thereafter, the employee filed a motion for additional workers’ compensation benefits, including medical treatment, and the employer filed a second motion for summary judgment. The court granted the motion, noting that any request for payment for unauthorized treatment that occurred before entry of its prior order was barred by the doctrine of res judicata and that the employee was not entitled to the other relief he sought. The employee has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s order and certify it as final.

An epidemic of lawyers making AI-related mistakes in court filings, including errors in legal citations, is spurring law schools to teach responsible use of the technology, Bloomberg Law reports. For example, classes offered this fall at the University of Chicago Law School include “Generative AI in Legal Practice” and “Editing, Advocacy and AI,” while students at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School will have access to ChatGPT Edu in their legal writing classes. Yale Law School has a pro-bono legal clinic in which students train large language models about media law and learn its setbacks, limitations and practical uses.