This matter involves an ongoing dispute between a landlord and a tenant in Pulaski, Tennessee. Following a detainer action in General Sessions Court over unpaid rent, the tenant, representing himself, filed the present case against the landlord, alleging numerous causes of action. The trial court dismissed all the tenant’s claims against the landlord, finding that the tenant erred in failing to join his claims in the original detainer action. The tenant, still representing himself on appeal, challenged the trial court’s dismissal of his claims. Due to the deficiencies in his brief, we conclude that he has waived consideration of any issues on appeal and hereby dismiss the appeal.

In this interlocutory appeal, the employer challenges the trial court’s award of medical and temporary disability benefits. The employee, a commercial truck driver, claimed that the cab of his truck shook violently over a ninety-minute period as he attempted to park at a truck stop, causing an injury to his cervical spine. The employer initially accepted the claim as compensable based on the authorized physician’s opinion and provided medical and temporary disability benefits. The employer then retained an orthopedist to perform a medical records review, and that physician concluded the employee had reached maximum medical improvement with respect to his alleged work-related accident. Consequently, the employer ceased paying temporary disability benefits. The employer also reviewed data from the truck’s vehicle monitoring systems, and, because those reports did not reflect the alleged event as described by the employee, it denied any further benefits. The treating physician eventually recommended cervical spine surgery and opined the need for surgery was caused primarily by the alleged work accident, but the employer had, by that point, denied the claim. The employer then asked the orthopedist it previously retained for the medical records review to perform a medical examination of the employee, and he opined that even if the incident occurred as described by the employee, it was less than fifty percent the cause of the need for the recommended surgery. After an expedited hearing, the trial court found the employee was likely to prevail at trial in showing that his cervical spine condition arose primarily out of the event he had described. It also determined the authorized treating physician offered the most probable explanation of the primary cause of the need for surgery, and it awarded additional medical and temporary disability benefits. The employer has appealed. Upon careful consideration of the record and the arguments of counsel, we reverse the trial court’s order and remand the case.

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) has appealed a judge's decision that struck down an executive order targeting law firm Susman Godfrey, Reuters reports. DOJ asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to reverse the decision from U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan. The executive order, issued on April 9, suspended security clearances and restricted access to government buildings, officials and federal contracting work for lawyers at the firm. Susman said it would "fight the administration's unwarranted appeal and continue to defend the rights of … clients and our colleagues."

TBA General, Solo & Small Firm Section members are excited to host networking events in Johnson City and Nashville! Join section members on Oct. 2 at Wellington's in Johnson City from 4:30-6:30 p.m. EDT. We'll be back at it Oct. 8 at Monday Night Brewing in Nashville from 5-7 p.m. CDT. TBA section members as well as any TBA member interested in learning more about the section and networking with other solos and small firm attorneys are invited to attend. Make plans now to join colleagues at these networking events. Please RSVP if possible, as it helps us track the expected number of guests. We hope to see you there!

CLICK HERE to RSVP for the Johnson City event on Oct. 2

CLICK HERE to RSVP for the Nashville event on Oct. 8

Thank you Crystal Cole with CRC Legal Group for sponsoring the Nashville event!

The federal judiciary is taking “special measures” and “technical steps” to respond to a hack of the courts’ case management system, according to the Department of Justice. The remarks come after the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts announced the judiciary was strengthening protections “in response to recent escalated cyberattacks of a sophisticated and persistent nature on its case management system.” The ABA Journal has more on the developments. In related news, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, has asked U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to commission an independent review of the judiciary’s cybersecurity practices. Wyden noted that the recent breach marks the second time since 2020 the system had been hacked by foreign actors exploiting the same cyber vulnerabilities, Reuters reports.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee recently announced two judicial appointments and one district attorney appointment. Lee named Chris Frulla as the new circuit court judge and Raymond Lepone as the new criminal court judge in the 30th Judicial District, which covers Shelby County. Frulla currently serves as a partner at Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell. He will take the bench immediately to fill a vacancy created by the elevation of Judge Valerie Smith to the Court of Appeals. Lepone currently serves as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. He will take the bench immediately to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Paula Skahan. Finally, Lee named Thomas Dean as new district attorney general for the 18th Judicial District, which serves Sumner County. He currently works as an assistant district attorney in the office and will take over when Ray Whitley retires on Sept. 1.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order on Aug. 27 referring Sevier County lawyer Aaron Michael Kimsey to the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) for whatever action it may deem warranted. The court took the action after Kimsey pled guilty to one count of driving under the influence, a Class A misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days, with all but 48 hours to be served on supervised probation.

The Tennessee Supreme Court transferred the law license of Anderson County lawyer of Steven R. Seivers to disability inactive status on Aug. 27. Seivers may not practice law while on inactive status. He may return to the practice of law after reinstatement by the court upon showing that his disability has been removed.

A story in the Aug. 20 issue of TBA Today highlighted a number of new hires at Tennessee law schools. A new professor at Belmont College of Law was omitted. Joe Sliskovich will be teaching courses in business associations, federal income tax and business and tax planning. Previously, Sliskovich was tenured at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Read more about him on the school’s website.

The next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits is set for Sept. 18 in Nashville. The clinic, sponsored by the Arts & Business Council's Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts and Bradley, provides assistance with business formation and corporate governance, review of contracts and guidance in navigating local ordinances and state regulations. Prospective clients should register by Sept. 15. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.