The University of Tennessee College of Law has awarded its Tom & Elizabeth Fox Faculty Award for Service to the Bench & Bar to assistant professor of law Sherley Cruz. The award recognizes a faculty member for significant contributions to the work of national and local bar associations and the judiciary. “Professor Cruz maintains a very close connection to the Bench and Bar,” said Dean Lonnie Brown. “She actively engages practicing lawyers and judges in providing essential pro bono legal services to underserved citizens in our community, while at the same time exposing her students to an unparalleled learning experience.” Cruz explained her drive saying, “My service to the bar is one way for me to give back. My expertise and research can help Tennesseans across the state by influencing the work of lawyers, advocates and community organizers.” Read more in a news release from the school.

In this action filed pursuant to 42 United States Code § 1983, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendant law enforcement officers had violated one plaintiff’s constitutional rights by using excessive force when the officers shot and injured him at the scene of a “road rage” incident that did not involve the injured plaintiff. The defendants subsequently moved for summary judgment, arguing that the officers’ use of deadly force was objectively reasonable under the totality of the circumstances because the injured plaintiff had appeared at the scene of the road rage investigation suddenly and without warning, had approached the officers rapidly, and had been armed with a rifle. Following a hearing, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants and dismissed the action with prejudice, determining, inter alia, that the officers’ use of deadly force had been objectively reasonable. The plaintiffs timely appealed. Discerning no reversible error, we affirm.

Because the order from which the appellant has filed an appeal does not constitute a final appealable judgment, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider this appeal.

This compensation appeal arises from the trial court’s dismissal of the employee’s claim for benefits. The employee alleged he suffered multiple injuries when he fell several feet at work while repairing a garage door. The employer provided medical treatment and temporary disability benefits; however, the employee continuously expressed dissatisfaction with his authorized physicians and frequently failed to attend appointments. The employer filed a motion to dismiss based in part on the missed appointments and the employee’s conduct throughout the litigation, including inappropriate, often profane, and occasionally threatening language in communications directed to the employer’s attorney, the court clerk, the trial court, and other individuals involved with the case. The employee also failed to appear for his deposition despite a court order to do so. As a result, the trial court granted the employer’s motion and dismissed the case, and the employee has appealed. After careful review of the record, we affirm the trial court’s decision to dismiss the employee’s case and certify the trial court’s order as final.

Grundy County lawyer Russell Shane Mainord received a public censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on Jan. 29. Mainord represented three separate clients in immigration cases. Complaints against him included that he failed to provide a client with a copy of his files after being terminated, failed to take proper action on behalf of his clients when he failed to file court documents, and failed to exercise managerial and supervisory authority over his nonlawyer staff, which caused a delay in the proceedings. The court determined that these actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.15, 1.16, 3.2, 5.1 and 5.3. In addition to the censure, the court directed Mainord to refund $1,700 in attorney fees to the first client, $4,000 in attorney fees to the second client and $3,500 in attorney fees to the third client.

The links in yesterday's TBA Today news item about the 2025 Reporters Workshop have been updated to go to the current year application form. This year’s event will take place April 25-26 in Nashville. Journalists interested in attending should apply before 5 p.m. CDT on March 11. Learn more about the program.

The Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberland (LAS) will hold a free legal clinic in Antioch Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CST. The clinic will take place at the southeast branch of the Nashville Public Library, 5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Ste. 202, Antioch 37013. The general civil clinic will assist clients with issues such as landlord/tenant disputes, family law, estate planning and debt collection. Those in need of assistance should register online. Contact Kendra Cheek at 800-238-1443 or kcheek@las.org to volunteer.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Reporters Workshop. Sponsored by TBA’s Communications Law Section, the program will be held in person April 25-26 in Nashville. Organizers will select 15 print, online, television and/or radio journalists who want to develop a deeper understanding of media law issues that may affect their everyday work, including access to government information, defamation and privacy concerns in reporting. Journalists interested in attending should apply before 5 p.m. CDT on March 11. Read more about the program and the application process. Tennessee lawyers are encouraged to share this opportunity with members of the media with whom they have relationships.

SUTTON, Chief Judge. Kevin Lavery invented a vision screening device and contracted with Pursuant Health, a company that makes vision screening kiosks, to sell it. He transferred his patent to the company in exchange for royalties on its kiosk sales. When Lavery’s patent expired and Pursuant Health stopped paying him, he sued. The district court ruled that the expiration of his patent made the royalty unenforceable and granted summary judgment to Pursuant Health. We affirm.