In this compensation appeal, the employee suffered a compensable injury and entered into a court-approved settlement agreement for payment of her “original award.” She later filed a petition for additional disability benefits, asserting that her wages after she was placed at maximum medical improvement were significantly less than her wages prior to the work accident, thereby entitling her to increased benefits. In response, the employer asserted the employee’s base rate of pay at the time her initial compensation period ended was higher than her base rate of pay at the time of the injury. Both parties filed competing motions for summary judgment. Following a hearing, the court granted the employer’s motion and dismissed the employee’s petition for increased benefits, and the employee has appealed. Because the employee has offered no legal argument in support of her position on appeal, we affirm the trial court’s order and certify it as final.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public statement Tuesday after President Donald Trump's call to impeach a federal judge who ruled against his administration in a high-profile deportation case. “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose,” Roberts said. In his 2024 year-end report, Roberts reiterated concerns about judges’ safety and condemned elected officials who intimidate judges or defy court rulings. The Hill has more.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) on behalf of the Tennessee Supreme Court has proposed a new structure for handling the appointment of attorneys in indigent cases. One question that has been raised is why the AOC chose to propose a new system rather than work to raise the hourly rate of compensation. In a recent interview with TBA President Ed Lanquist Jr., AOC staff explained they were encouraged to look at different approaches and be experimental, proactive and forward thinking. In addition to increasing compensation, the proposed plan also is designed to increase the number of attorneys willing to take cases and get those attorneys paid quicker and on a more regular basis. The AOC staff also noted that several states that have raised their hourly rates — in one case, double of what Tennessee pays — still struggle to find enough lawyers to take cases. As part of this plan, the AOC is asking for an additional $17 million in recurring funding, which will allow it to build out the new system and increase compensation — a win for lawyers and the judicial system. Watch the full interview or learn more about the plan and indigent representation in Tennessee.

The Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) has announced the appointment of Caitlin Torney as its new director of career services and alumni relations. Torney earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Since 2020, Torney has served as director of pro bono for Legal Aid of East Tennessee. She also has served as co-chair of the Knoxville Bar Association's Access to Justice Committee since 2023. LMU Law Vice President and Dean Matt Lyon said, “[Caitlin] is uniquely situated to build on the foundation our Career Services Office has created with employers throughout our region and beyond, while also expanding pro bono and service opportunities for our students and graduates.” Read more in a press release from the school.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights reports it has opened two investigations into American universities. The first is looking at 60 universities — including the University of Tennessee (UT) — over allegations of antisemitic discrimination and harassment. UT was included on the list due to it being “under investigation or monitoring in response to complaints.” According to Knox News, a university spokesperson confirmed a student complaint was filed in 2023, but that the school has “cooperated fully” with the department. A second investigation was opened into 45 universities — including Vanderbilt University — alleging the institutions engaged in race-exclusionary practices by partnering with “The Ph.D. Project,” an organization that provides doctoral students with insights into obtaining an advanced degree. The department says the program limits eligibility based on the race of participants.

The Energy, Environment & Land Use (EELU) Program at Vanderbilt Law recently announced the launch of the Private Climate Governance (PCG) Lab, which will serve as a hub for innovative scholarship, resources and student learning opportunities in the emerging field of private climate governance. According to the school, the lab provides feasible solutions to private actors — ranging from individuals to corporations, financial institutions, religious organizations and advocacy groups — that can effectively contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. “Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time, and it is more important now than ever to engage everyone in the fight,” said Ethan Thorpe, inaugural fellow for the lab. “The Lab will provide a platform for educational and practical resources that support interdisciplinary climate action,” he said. Read more in a press release.

The Family Safety Center of Memphis and Shelby County abruptly ceased operations on March 5. The agency served as a “one-stop shop” for victims of domestic violence, aiding victims in obtaining orders of protection in coordination with police and the district attorney’s office, and connecting families to housing, food and other resources. The Tennessee Lookout reports that federal funding for victims of crime in Tennessee has dwindled in recent years from a peak of $68 million in 2018 to $16 million last year. The center received $742,000 in federal crime victim funding in 2020, according to the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP), which distributes federal funding to Tennessee nonprofits. This year, that funding was about $132,000. The OCJP received notice March 6 that the center had shuttered the previous day. Ethel Hilliard, the center’s executive director, “stated that the closure was due to a board decision related to financial issues,” an OCJP spokesperson said. A group of advocates is asking the state legislature to provide additional funding.

A bill allowing interest rates to increase at payday lending places is now headed to Gov. Bill Lee's desk, reports News Channel 5. HB775/SB694 would allow for any amount of $100 or more to have an effective borrow rate of 36%. Sponsored by Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, and Sen. Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, the bill passed in the Senate along party lines, but in the House a few Republicans voted against the measure for a breakdown of 61-26-8. One Republican opponent, Rep. Mike Sparks, R-Smyrna, said he opposed the bill for raising interest rates on the working poor. House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, said it was time to update state law: "We adjust [the rate] from time to time, to allow those companies to still be able to survive, even though they were taking very high risk loans for folks ... Those companies have to come to us, and prove to us there has to be an adjustment before we’re comfortable raising that limit."

Wally Dietz, legal director for Metro Nashville Government, suffered a minor stroke at the office on Monday and was taken to the hospital. Alex Apple, spokesperson for Mayor Freddie O’Connell, stated the following in an email to The Nashville Banner: “Director Dietz became ill at work, and he is in the hospital, but he is doing well.” The paper reports that during his nearly four years with Metro Legal, Dietz’s most prominent role has been advocating for the jurisdiction in legal actions against the state. The city is due in appellate court later this week to fight a state law that would cut the size of the metro council in half.

The Tennessee Senate passed SJR25 on Monday, the first step in putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot for voters. The measure would amend the constitution to allow judges to deny bond to suspects accused of committing heinous crimes. Under current law, judges only have authority to decline bail in capital offenses. In advance of the vote, the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference issued a press release and a resolution in support of the measure, telling Fox17 it is "the singular most important criminal justice bill we have evaluated in over a decade." Opponents of the bill say it will lead to overcrowding in jails and be too costly, and likely will not have an overall impact on crime. The next step is a vote in the House. The House Judiciary Committee approved its version on Feb. 26. If approved by the House, the measure would need to pass again in the 114th General Assembly before being placed on the next gubernatorial ballot. To be adopted by voters, the proposal would have to win a majority of those voting in the governor’s election.