Jefferson County lawyer Agnes Sipple Trujillo received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 7. The court found that while handling an appeal, Trujillo failed to (1) file the trial transcript with the appellate court; (2) request an extension to file a response to two dismissal motions — which resulted in the client’s case being dismissed; (3) provide the client with copies of pleadings; and (4) notify the client that the case was dismissed. The court also found that the fee Trujillo charged was not reasonable based on the legal services provided. Finally, the court found that Trujillo did not return the file to the client, which hindered his ability to obtain alternate counsel. These actions violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4(a), 1.5(a), 1.15(d) and 8.4(d).

Rutherford County lawyer David Bennett LaRoche received a censure from the Tennessee Supreme Court on April 7. The court reports that LaRoche received a private reprimand on July 30, 2025, for violations of Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.16. The court also ordered him to refund $500 of a client’s money. The court now has found that LaRoche failed to meet the condition of his private reprimand, did not refund the client’s money and failed to respond to a lawful demand for information from the disciplinary counsel concerning the matter. The censure was imposed for violations for Rules of Professional Conduct 3.1, 8.1 and 8.4.

MATHIS, Circuit Judge. Rieth-Riley Construction Company and the union representative for some of its workers have been in a nearly decade-long conflict. The dispute began in 2018 when Local 324, International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL-CIO (the “Union”), sought to withdraw from a multiemployer bargaining arrangement so that it could negotiate individually with Rieth-Riley and the other employers. But what should have been typical collective-bargaining negotiations turned into several alleged unfair labor practices, a weeks-long employee lockout, and a strike that continues to this day. The National Labor Relations Board issued a decision ordering Rieth-Riley to bargain in good faith with the Union after finding that Rieth-Riley committed various unfair labor practices throughout the dispute. Rieth-Riley now challenges the Board’s decision, and the Board asks us to enforce it. For the reasons below, we deny Rieth-Riley’s petition for review and enforce the Board’s order.

The Defendant, Antonio D. Bennett Tate, appeals from the Blount County Circuit Court revocation of his community corrections sentence. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court erred by improperly admitting video footage from a police officer’s body- worn camera during the revocation hearing. Following our review, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

The Defendant, Christopher Lance Osteen, entered a guilty plea to two counts of aggravated kidnapping. As a part of his plea, and pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 37, the Defendant sought to reserve one certified question of law related to the trial court’s finding that his right to a speedy trial did not attach when he was arrested in Florida due to his escape status as well as being served with a warrant from Kentucky; one certified question related to the trial court’s finding that the Defendant’s verbal request to the Florida court to invoke his constitutional rights was insufficient to properly invoke his rights to speedy trial and due process; and one certified question related to the trial court’s finding that the Defendant’s written letters and motion to dismiss sent to both the general sessions clerk and the district attorney’s office failed to properly invoke his constitutional rights to a speedy trial and due process as it pertained to his Henry County, Tennessee general session case arrest warrants. Because the Defendant did not properly reserve certified issues for review, we are without jurisdiction to review the merits of the Defendant’s claims, and we dismiss his appeal.

The Defendant, Boone Beverly, appeals the trial court’s revocation of his probation. On appeal, the Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying the Defendant’s request to allocute or speak on his own behalf at his revocation hearing. Discerning no error, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

This is an appeal from a final decree of divorce. The wife primarily challenges the trial court’s decision to deny her alimony. Finding no error or abuse of discretion, we affirm the trial court’s decision.

The appellants seek to challenge the settlement agreement by which the action was dismissed as well as the trial court’s summary judgment rulings entered earlier in the litigation. We dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.

At its recent spring meeting, the TBA Board of Governors voted to fill two vacancies on the board. Filling the open seat for the Western Grand Division governor will be Geoffrey Lewis, associate general counsel at Memphis Light, Gas & Water. Lewis previously was in private practice and an assistant city prosecutor for the City of Memphis. He also serves in the TBA House of Delegates and as co-chair of the Leadership Law program. Filling the open seat of 7th District governor will be Joshua Dougan with Dougan Law and Mediation in Jackson. Dougan previously was active with the Young Lawyers Division, assisting with the Wills for Heroes program and serving on the Mock Trial Committee. He recently transitioned from the 26th Judicial District Attorney’s office to his own private practice. Both will take office at the board’s June meeting to be held conjunction with the TBA Annual Convention.

Tennessee lawmakers on Tuesday approved a $100 million state disaster fund intended to provide assistance to local governments and individuals when Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aid falls short, Fox 43, reports. The bill, SB2232/HB2543, now heads to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk. The measure would establish the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund. The fund, administered by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, would provide grants and low- or no-interest loans for eligible recovery costs. Bill sponsor Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray, said the fund is intended to address smaller-scale disasters that do not meet Federal Emergency Management Agency thresholds. The legislation also outlines eligibility requirements for local governments and individuals, including proof of need and residency. Lawmakers raised questions about whether the funding will be sufficient and debated provisions such as the lawful residency requirement for aid, but the bill ultimately passed with broad support in both chambers. The governor proposed the fund in March.