The Tennessee Bar Association will hold its first ever Conference on Artificial Intelligence & the Law (TCAIL) in Nashville on Dec. 6. This unique day-long event will take place at the Tennessee Bankers Association, 211 Athens Way #100, Nashville 37228. The day will begin with an introductory session presented by TBA AI Task Force Chair A.J. Bahou, followed by sessions on AI and the substantive practice of law, including how AI impacts legal research, document generation, e-discovery and more. Two judicial panels and an ethics session will round out the day. Lunch will be provided. Members of TBA's Law Office Technology & Management Section and General, Solo & Small Firm Section are eligible for discounted registration. Reserve your spot by registering today.

Members of the TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and YLD Fellows gathered on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas this past weekend for the Fall Board Meeting. YLD President Sean Aiello recognized several board members for their work over the last quarter, including Donelson lawyer Patrick Morrison for his development of CLE programming and his role as health and wellness coordinator; Nashville attorney Ginny Blake for her creativity and outstanding work increasing engagement as the YLD's social media coordinator; and Nashville attorney and YLD Secretary Ross Smith for his contributions to numerous pro bono clinics and law school visits. Finally, Murfreesboro lawyer Alix Rogers was awarded the "disco gavel" by YLD Fellows Liaison and Marshall County General Sessions Court Judge Lee Bussart for her enthusiasm and efforts to bring people together. During the meeting, members planned for upcoming events, including pro bono clinics, the Diversity Leadership Institute, the Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition and new CLEs. They also discussed how best to engage young lawyers and law students across the state. See photos from the meeting.

Make plans now to join colleagues on Nov. 7 from noon to 1 p.m CST for a unique webcast with University of Tennessee College of Law Professor Ben Barton. In "Contextualizing the Polarization and Public Perception of the Judiciary," Barton will present long-term data to show how public confidence in the American judiciary has fluctuated over time, with the goal of helping lawyers better understand the historical context of and address current challenges facing the judiciary. For more information and to register, visit the TBA website.

The TBA Health Law Section will provide a plated lunch for section members at its annual forum on Friday, Oct. 18. At this lunch business meeting, we will recognize and celebrate the leadership of Section Chair Ian Hennessey and formally vote on leadership for the 2024–2025 bar year.

This free event is open to ALL section members regardless of forum attendance. A link to RSVP is included below. Space is limited and the form will close once attendance is at max capacity. Please contact Section Coordinator Jarod Word with any additional questions. 

Thanks to Barnes & Thornburg for sponsoring this year's section lunch!

When: Friday, Oct. 18, 12:15-1:15 p.m. CDT
Where: Embassy Suites Cool Springs, 820 Crescent Centre Dr., Franklin 37067

RSVP NOW

Don’t miss this week’s Health Law Forum, taking place Oct. 17-18 in Cool Springs. The must-attend event for Tennessee health care lawyers features top experts providing essential updates and discussion on issues affecting the practice area. Topics for this year’s forum include digital health, cybersecurity, litigating enforcement actions, provider/payor disputes, AI in health care, regulatory fraud and abuse, transactions, Tennessee legislative updates, a state case review, ethics and more. View the agenda and register here.

Former Memphis police officers Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith Jr. each filed motions Friday requesting their convictions in the Tyre Nichols federal criminal case be reversed, reports the Commercial Appeal. Bean and Smith were convicted last week of witness tampering related to a cover-up of the beating of Nichols, but acquitted of civil rights charges. The motions allege a lack of evidence that adequately established that Bean and Smith were attempting to lie or mislead their MPD supervisors.

CHAD A. READLER, Circuit Judge. Following an accident, Jeremy Marchek sued his auto insurer, United Services Automobile Association, claiming that the company breached the terms of the policy it issued to Marchek. According to Marchek, USAA wrongfully failed to compensate him for sales taxes and mandatory fees necessary to purchase a replacement vehicle after USAA declared his vehicle to be beyond repair. The district court dismissed the complaint on the basis that USAA was not contractually obligated to compensate Marchek for taxes and fees. Because the plain language of the contract plausibly requires USAA to compensate Marchek for those costs, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

JANE B. STRANCH, Circuit Judge. Laurie DeVore retired from her post at the University of Kentucky rather than comply with its COVID-19 test-or-vaccinate policy. She then filed this lawsuit, alleging that the Policy conflicted with her sincerely held religious beliefs and that the University’s failure to accommodate those beliefs violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The district court granted summary judgment for the University. We AFFIRM.

Petitioner, Lacy L. Austin, appeals from the Montgomery County Circuit Court’s denial of his petition for post-conviction relief related to his convictions for two counts of possession of twenty-six grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to sell or deliver within 1,000 feet of a school zone; possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony; possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony drug offense; possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony involving the use of force or violence; simple possession of marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Petitioner argues that the post-conviction court erred in denying relief based upon his claims that he received ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel. After a thorough review of the record, we affirm the judgment of the post-conviction court.

Appellant/Mother appeals the trial court’s entry of a parenting plan naming Appellee/Father primary residential parent, awarding him sole decision-making authority, and awarding Mother 80 days of visitation. Because the trial court did not engage in a best-interest analysis as required under Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-6-106, and because the trial court’s orders are too vague to allow this Court to conduct a meaningful review of its decisions, we vacate the trial court’s judgment and remand for further proceedings.