Christopher Aaron Posey died Feb. 3 after a long and challenging battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 45. Posey earned his undergraduate degree from Tusculum University in Knoxville and his law degree from the Ave Maria School of Law in Naples, Florida. Prior to pursuing a career in law, Posey spent 20 years as an auto sales consultant in Knoxville, as a part owner of Quality Auto Sales in Knoxville and then in Naples with high-end luxury brands. Visitation will be held Saturday from 1-2 p.m. EST in the chapel of West-Murley Funeral Home, 18641 Alberta St., Oneida 37841. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, P.O. Box 5041, Boone, IA 50950; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The Tennessee Attorney General’s (AG) Office announced this week that the Tennessee Public Utility Commission denied almost all of a $13.9 million annual rate increase requested by Tennessee-American Water Company, which would have affected utility customers in and around Chattanooga. The AG’s Consumer Advocate Division, joined by the city of Chattanooga, opposed the rate increase. Also this week, in advance of Sunday’s Super Bowl, the AG’s office warned consumers of the risks of wagering with an unlicensed sportsbook. The office said that scammers use fake sites to steal both money and consumers’ identities. Tennesseans should ensure whatever company they use is licensed with the state.

Belmont Law, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands and the Metro Nashville Office of Conservatorship Management will hold a conservatorship clinic on Feb. 12 from 5-8 p.m. CST. Attorney volunteers are needed to assist pre-screened clients with the conservatorship process. Belmont Law students will assist the attorneys by filling out paperwork. The event will take place at Belmont Law, 1901 15th Ave. S., Nashville 37212. Want to volunteer? Contact Ginny Blake at ginny.blake@belmont.edu.

Registration is now open for the next free advice clinic for Black-owned small businesses and nonprofits, set for Feb. 20 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. Register by Feb. 17 to participate. Attorneys should email vlpa@abcnashville.org to volunteer.

The TBA Intellectual Property (IP) Section will hold the second installment of its 2025 webcast series on Feb. 19 with a look at best practices in trademark law. The presentation, featuring John Stevens with Patterson Intellectual Property Law, will provide a brief discussion of the foundations of trademark law followed by a look at common issues encountered by IP practitioners. The presentation will wrap up with a discussion of the pitfalls in this practice area and how to avoid them. Section members enjoy discounted registration. Not a section member yet? Get started here and save the date for the next installment of the series: Protecting Your Copyright Registration on March 5.

A Cumberland County jury convicted the Defendant, Robert David Morse, of first degree premeditated murder, and the trial court sentenced him ot life in prison. On appeal, the Defendant contends that the evidence is insufficient to sustain his conviction and that the trial court committed two evidentiary errors: (1) admitting multiple autopsy photographs depicting the victim's body; and (2) limiting his cross-examination of Agent Davenport about the Defendant's statement to the police. After review, we affirm the trial court's judgment.

Defendant, Paul Michael Cheairs, was convicted by a Madison County jury of two counts of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and or deliver, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of misdemeanor unlawful possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The trial court imposed an effective sentence of seventeen years. Defendant appeals, arguing that the evidence was insufficient to support his convictions and that the trial court erred in admitting a rap video made after the arrest, by allowing expert testimony from a lieutenant, and in sentencing. Upon our review of the entire record, the briefs of the parties, and the applicable law, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

This appeal concerns the trial court’s grant of a petition for civil contempt for failure to comply with orders regarding the division of marital assets and awards of spousal and child support against the husband and his relatives, who held an interest in the properties at issue. We affirm the trial court’s grant of orders of civil contempt against all parties. We also conclude that this appeal is frivolous and remand for an assessment of damages.

Ina Grace Jacobi sued VendEngine, Inc. (“VendEngine”), alleging that she was wrongfully arrested due to VendEngine’s negligent design and operation of an inmate messaging system. The trial court determined that the gravamen of Ms. Jacobi’s claim was for malicious prosecution and granted summary judgment to VendEngine after concluding she failed to prove the elements of that claim. Ms. Jacobi appealed. Discerning no error, we affirm the trial court’s decision.

This appeal arises from a divorce. The former husband challenges the classification and division of the marital estate. Because the husband failed to comply with our procedural rules, we deem his issues waived and dismiss the appeal.