An undisclosed number of Knoxville firefighters are under investigation after crews pronounced a woman dead, but a medical examiner later found signs of life and revived her. The Knoxville Fire Department is conducting an internal investigation and firefighters involved have been placed on administrative duty, Knox News reports. The incident occurred last week after the Knoxville Police Department responded to a call about an unresponsive woman. Firefighters pronounced the woman dead shortly after she was found. When examiners from the Knox County Regional Forensic Center arrived, a death investigator observed signs of life, administered Narcan and performed CPR. The woman was then transported to a hospital. Her family has since contacted the investigator to report she is improving. Firefighters involved will remain on paid administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

Former Tennessee state representative Jeremy Durham has been sentenced after being found guilty on multiple charges according to NewsChannel 5. He received a one-year jail sentence with all but seven days suspended, one year of probation, a $350 fine and a one-year suspension of his driver’s license. Durham was convicted in May on five of six charges, including two counts of driving under the influence, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. The charges stemmed from a crash in downtown Nashville in which Durham sideswiped another vehicle. The victim testified he experienced whiplash from the incident and missed two weeks of work as a result. It was Durham’s second DUI offense in less than two years. He was expelled from the legislature in 2016 following an investigation that found he had sent inappropriate text messages to several women.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has announced the restoration of nearly $7 million in annual Title X health care funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funding — previously revoked in 2023 due to the state’s abortion laws — will go to the Tennessee Department of Health to support prenatal care, health screenings, counseling and education services. Tennessee has administered Title X funds for five decades and was awarded a five-year grant in 2022 before the Biden administration halted funding. The attorney general’s office filed suit, arguing the administration’s abortion-related mandates exceeded Title X authority. In May, the HHS agreed to restore the funds and drop enforcement of those mandates. “Our Office is gratified that HHS has restored these grant funds, which will provide thousands of Tennesseans, especially expectant mothers, with important healthcare resources,” Skrmetti said in a press release.

Circuit Court Judge Kathryn “Katy” Olita recently was elected president of the Tennessee Trial Judges Association (TTJA), becoming the first woman and the first judge from the 19th Judicial District to hold the position. “I’m excited about continuing to do the good work that our organization has done, especially over the last couple of years,” Olita said. “There’s been a lot of good cooperation between the [Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)] and the TTJA, and even the leadership of the appellate courts. We’ve kind of all found this uniform way of trying to make sure everybody is looked out for ... so I’m very encouraged by all of that and want to continue that work while I’m the president.” Olita also has appointed 1st Judicial District Criminal Court Judge Stacy Street as vice president, 12th Judicial District Chancellor Melissa Willis as secretary, and 29th Judicial District Chancellor Tony Childress as treasurer of the group. The TTJA is a non-partisan association of circuit, criminal and chancery court judges and is dedicated to maintaining a fair, independent and efficient judiciary. Read more in a press release.

Another inmate at the Shelby County Jail has died, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said in an emailed statement Tuesday. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) also confirmed it has been asked to investigate the death, The Daily Memphian reports. TBI identified the man as Rockez McDaniel and said an autopsy is being performed to determine the cause and manner of death. McDaniel was found experiencing a medical emergency at the jail on Monday and was transported to Regional One Health, where he later was pronounced dead. He had been in the jail for more than a week on charges of escape and evading arrest. McDaniel is at least the sixth inmate to die at the jail this year and the 63rd since 2019. His death also is the second this year in which TBI has been asked to investigate.

The TBA's Estate Planning Tee-Off is returning on Sept. 12 to Nashville's Topgolf. Produced by the Estate Planning & Probate Section, this annual favorite will feature three hours of CLE programming designed for attorneys new to the estate planning practice as well as those interested in adding this field to their portfolio. Don't miss this unique opportunity to build practice knowledge and fine-tune your drive game all in one day! Registration includes breakfast, lunch and two hours of Topgolf following the presentations. Get more information and register here. Section members enjoy discounted registration. Not a section member? Join now for additional savings and benefits. Thanks to our lunch sponsor Pinnacle Financial Partners, golf experience sponsor Southeastern Trust Company and breakfast sponsor Diversified Trust.

The legal landscape surrounding non-compete agreements is shifting, and fast.

Tennessee employers accustomed to relying on non-compete clauses to safeguard proprietary information and client relationships may soon need to rethink their approach. A legislative study is underway, and proposed bills in the General Assembly signal a potential overhaul of how — and whether — non-competes can be enforced in our state.

Legislative Reform on the Horizon

In early 2025, the Tennessee General Assembly introduced House Bill 1034 and Senate Bill 995, which would broadly prohibit non-compete agreements for nearly all employees and contractors. If enacted, these bills would:

• Invalidate most non-compete clauses, regardless of duration or geographic scope.
• Eliminate carveouts for health care professionals, except for a narrow category of physicians employed by hospital-affiliated entities.

While the bills did not pass, and instead were deferred to the Banking and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee to Second Calendar of 2026, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and other stakeholders have called for further study, suggesting that Tennessee may follow the national trend toward limiting or banning non-competes altogether.

This mirrors developments at the federal level, where the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) 2024 rule banning most non-compete agreements was blocked in court but remains under appeal. The FTC has since launched a Joint Labor Task Force to investigate restrictive labor practices, including non-competes.

Current Law: What’s Still Enforceable?

Under existing Tennessee law, non-compete agreements are enforceable only if they meet strict criteria:

• Reasonableness in duration (typically six months to two years), geographic scope and scope of restricted activities.
• Adequate consideration, such as a promotion, bonus or specialized training — not just continued employment.
• Legitimate business interests, such as protecting trade secrets, confidential information or customer relationships.

Courts apply a reasonableness standard and may modify (“blue pencil”) overly broad agreements rather than invalidate them entirely. For a detailed breakdown, see LegalClarity’s guide.

Alternatives to Non-Competes: What Should Attorneys Recommend?

As the legal environment evolves, attorneys can help clients pivot to enforceable alternatives that protect business interests without running afoul of pending legislation.

1. Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

NDAs protect confidential information and trade secrets without restricting employment. They’re generally enforceable and less controversial than non-competes. Attorneys should ensure NDAs are:

• Specific in scope and duration.
• Aligned with the Tennessee Uniform Trade Secrets Act.
• Supported by clear definitions of what constitutes confidential information.

2. Non-Solicitation Clauses

These clauses prevent former employees from poaching clients or staff. Courts are more likely to enforce them if they’re narrowly tailored to:

• The employee’s role and relationships.
• Existing clients or employees, not prospective ones.
• A reasonable time frame (typically 12–24 months).

3. Garden Leave Provisions

A less common but effective tool, garden leave requires employees to remain on payroll during a notice period while refraining from competitive activity. This avoids post-employment restrictions and can be framed as a paid transition period.

Looking Ahead

Whether Tennessee enacts a full ban or opts for incremental reform, the message is clear: non-compete agreements are no longer a safe default. Employers must rethink how they protect their interests, and attorneys must be ready to guide that transition.

Tommy Fridy is a corporate associate in the Memphis office of Wyatt Tarrant & Combs LLP. He assists with counseling clients regarding mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and provides operational, regulatory and general transactional support. His practice also includes the development, leasing, acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate and lending.

Let's face it. Lawyers are busy people! While we can't always control the chaos, we can control how we respond to it. While we can't always control our work, we can control how we manage our stress. Stress is normal, but how we handle it makes all the difference. Feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start? That's totally normal. Here are a few low-pressure, realistic ways to manage stress when things get hectic:

• Start with a list

Write everything down — big tasks, small tasks, everything in between. Breaking larger tasks into bite-sized pieces makes them feel way more doable. 

• Move a little

Even small bits of movement help. Take the stairs, stretch between meetings or go for a quick walk. A few minutes of physical activity can go a long way toward clearing your head.

• Take brain breaks

Step away from your screen (this includes your phone!) for a few minutes throughout the day.

• Hydrate and eat (real food!)

This might sound basic, but drinking enough water and eating balanced meals can make a huge difference in how you feel. Your brain and body will thank you. Unpopular opinion: coffee doesn't count as water!

• Talk it out

Whether it is a mentor, coworker or friend, talking things through with someone can offer support, solutions or just a much-needed moment of connection.

• Be kind to yourself

Set realistic expectations and remember that learning is part of the job.

Stress might be part of the job, but it doesn't have to consume you. Small steps toward self-care can help you stay grounded and keep you moving forward.

The TBA Academy offers an exciting opportunity for a limited number of TBA members to be admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. The next admission ceremony will take place Dec. 1 in Washington, D.C. In addition to taking part in an admission ceremony before the U.S. Supreme Court, participants will gather for a special celebration dinner and a tour of the U.S. Capitol. Each attendee also will receive three hours of prepaid credits to use toward future TBA CLE programming. The group will stay at the Hay Adams Hotel. The cost to register is $1,250 for TBA members, which includes the application fee, one hotel night, dinner on Sunday, and breakfast, lunch and transportation to the court on Monday. Guests can be added to the trip for a cost of $500 each. Those interested in participating should complete the online interest form by Aug. 5. Applicants then will be contacted with instructions to complete the full application process. Participants will be selected on a first-come basis. Contact TBAAcademy@tnbar.org with any questions.

The Knoxville Municipal Court and the Knoxville Bar Association (KBA) will host a reception and portrait unveiling honoring City of Knoxville Municipal Judge John R. Rosson Jr., who served in the role for 37 years. The event will be Aug. 6 from 5 to 6 p.m. EDT at the City of Knoxville Municipal Court, located at 1650 Huron St., Knoxville 37917. Members of the local legal community are invited and should register on the KBA's website.