Attorneys general from 10 additional states have joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s suit against Live Nation, arguing that the concert promoter and Ticketmaster illegally inflated concert ticket prices and hurt artists. The filing also added claims for triple damages on behalf of state residents. About two dozen states, including Tennessee, and a number of other plaintiffs allege that the companies monopolized markets across the live concert industry. In a statement issued today, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti welcomed the new states to the suit. “I am grateful for our ongoing partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division in this great bipartisan effort, coming on the heels of our historic win against Google’s search monopoly,” he said.

LARSEN, Circuit Judge. Joel M. Guy, Jr. brutally murdered his parents with the calculated goal of collecting the proceeds of his mother’s insurance plans. He argues that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) requires that he receive those benefits. The district court disagreed, concluding either that ERISA does not preempt Tennessee’s slayer statute or that the federal common law prevents Guy from benefitting from his murders. Guy now appeals. We AFFIRM.

COLE, Circuit Judge. Pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Adam N. Berry alleged that Experian Information Solutions, a consumer reporting agency (CRA), negligently or willfully published inaccurate information in Berry’s consumer report that he owed spousal and child support. After Berry sent Experian court orders that allegedly demonstrated that he had no outstanding support obligations, Experian continued to report that the Michigan Office of Child Support (OCS) showed Berry had a balance due. For the foregoing reasons, we REVERSE the judgment of the district court and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

An investiture ceremony for David H. Veile will be held Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. CDT in the Justice Cornelia A. Clark Courtroom at the Williamson County Historic Courthouse, 305 Public Square, Franklin 37064. Veile will take office as a circuit court judge for the 21st Judicial District, which serves Williamson County. Veile, a Franklin trial attorney and former police officer, won the Republican primary for the seat in March. He ran unopposed in the general election earlier this month. Veile serves on the TBA Board Governors as a middle Tennessee governor. View the invitation.

August 12, 2024 - August 16, 2024

Tennessee courts are lagging behind other government agencies in adopting technology to increase transparency and accessibility, according to a report from the Nashville Banner, while public trust in the courts has declined for years, according to the National Center for State Courts. Despite calls for more open court proceedings, including live streaming and virtual options, implementation varies across the state. The paper found that while higher courts stream oral arguments, lower courts often lack such technology due to resource constraints and privacy concerns. It also found that e-filing is limited to larger counties, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted disparities in judges' technological proficiency. The Tennessee Supreme Court created a committee in 2023 to develop a strategic plan for broader technology adoption. However, challenges remain in balancing efficiency with public access. A spokesperson from the Administrative Office of the Courts told the Banner that “deploying scalable technology solutions is a priority.”

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new rules barring non-compete agreements for most workers is facing a third legal challenge. A tax services firm and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among others, have sued the FTC in Texas, and a federal judge has temporarily blocked the agency's ban pending outcome of that case. A Florida retirement community has challenged the rule, arguing it would harm its business model. And a Pennsylvania tree service has sued, contending the ban infringes on states’ rights to regulate employment laws. The cases are pending in the three states and could reach the U.S. Supreme Court, Knoxville News Net reports.

The Nashville Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD) will host its annual Carbolic Smoke Ball fundraiser Aug. 23 at Emerson Hall in East Nashville from 7:30-10:30 p.m. CDT. Attendees will enjoy live music from musicians who have performed in bands such as War and Treaty and with other Grammy-winning artists. All proceeds will benefit CASA Nashville and the Nashville Children’s Alliance, two organizations dedicated to supporting vulnerable and abused children in the community. CASA advocates for abused and neglected children in foster care, providing trained volunteer advocates to be their voice. The Nashville Children’s Alliance offers no-cost services to children who have experienced sexual or severe physical abuse, including therapy, court support and crisis services. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

A family is suing Bristol police and paramedics after a police body camera video obtained by the Associated Press revealed their son, Austin Hunter Turner, was subjected to excessive force during a medical emergency. The family says the footage contradicts the official determination of a drug overdose death. The lawsuit alleges that officers treated Turner as a suspect rather than a patient, using physical restraint and a Taser despite his seizure, and then covered up the treatment.  A judge will decide whether the lawsuit can proceed in court. According to the Associated Press, the case highlights issues of accountability in cases of police-involved deaths where force, but not a firearm, is used.

Six criminal court judges in Nashville recently held a hearing to examine the circumstances surrounding Bricen Rivers' release on bond. Rivers is accused of killing his girlfriend, Lauren Johansen, in Mississippi. A clerical error prevented the full implementation of Rivers' bond conditions, which included restrictions on traveling outside of Davidson County. According to The Tennessean, a bondsman testified that Nashville magistrates often do not accept the surrender of defendants who violate bond conditions. A representative from Brooke's Bail Bonding explained that this was why the company did not return Rivers to court after he violated his court order by leaving the county. The judges are considering potential changes to bond procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future, the paper reports.