Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery today announced that Tennessee, alongside 45 attorneys general, has joined a $1.25 million multistate settlement with Carnival Cruise Line following a 2019 data breach. About 180,000 Carnival employees were impacted by the breach, which included included names, addresses, passport numbers, driver’s license numbers, payment card information, health information and some Social Security numbers. The state will receive $19,855.20 from the settlement. Read more on the story from the AG’s office.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission is now accepting applications for a vacancy on the 6th Judicial District Criminal Court, which covers Knox County. The vacancy was created after the appointment of Judge Kyle A. Hixson to the Court of Criminal Appeals – Eastern Section. Attorneys 30 years of age or older, who have been residents of the state for five years and are currently residents of the 6th Judicial District, can submit the Trial Court Vacancy Commission Application by noon CDT on July 7. Candidates will be publicly interviewed on Aug. 2. Read the vacancy notice.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced he will reappoint David Rausch to serve a second term as director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Tennessee Journal reports. Rausch’s new six-year term will begin on July 1 and will expire on June 30, 2028. A U.S. Army veteran, Rausch has been TBI director since 2018. Before that he spent 25 years with the Knoxville Police Department, serving on the SWAT Team and as chief of police for seven years.

The Tennessee Historical Commission last week ruled that Confederate memorabilia inside a Giles County jury deliberation room could be moved to a Maury County museum, the Tennessean reports. The room came into the spotlight in 2020 when a Black man argued in court filings that his conviction by an all-white jury that deliberated in the room violated his right to a fair trial. He was granted a new trial in December. The Confederate items have long been on loan to Giles County from the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), causing the UDC to take the question of their removal to the Historical Commission. The UDC and Giles County filed a joint petition to move the items to the National Confederate Museum in the Elm Springs mansion outside of Columbia. The petition was approved by the commission on Friday.

Davidson County Election Commission Chair Jim DeLanis yesterday filed a federal civil complaint against Metro Nashville and his former employer, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, the Nashville Post reports. DeLanis claims two Baker clients, Metro and Metro Nashville Public Schools, threatened to drop the firm if they did not get DeLanis to drop his push via the election commission for an anti-tax ballot referendum. DeLanis says he was fired from Baker Donelson last year, but the firm said he retired. The complaint names Metro Councilmember Bob Mendes as a defendant, claiming Mendes “berated” and “threatened” the commission during public debate on the referendum proceedings. Though the complaint is civil, DeLanis accues Metro and Baker of potential criminal violations, including extortion and conspiracy. He is asking for $1 million in damages.

The TBA BarBuzz podcast closes out its second season with special co-host Julia Wilburn, the new editor of the Tennessee Bar Journal. Tune in for important legal news, upcoming events and a brief recap of the TBA Annual Convention. BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and can be found on the TBA’s website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TNDAGC) last week announced it has elected new members to its executive committee. The state’s 31 district attorneys general have chosen 9th District Attorney General Russell Johnson to serve as the committee’s president. Russell, who serves Loudon, Meigs, Morgan and Roane counties, will lead the committee in managing a budget of more than $130 million and 1,100 employees. Other elected officers include 26th District Attorney General Jody Pickens, who will serve as vice president, and 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, who will serve as secretary. Newly elected committee members include: 7th District Attorney General Dave Clark; 8th District Attorney General Jared Effler; 14th District Attorney General Craig Northcott; 18th District Attorney General Ray Whitley; 28th District Attorney General Frederick Hardy Agee; and 30th District Attorney General Amy Weirich. Read more from the TNDAGC.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) recently presented a number of awards during its commencement celebration. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne Bauknight delivered the commencement address, telling the 75 graduates the importance of focusing on their character as they enter the legal profession. Also during the ceremony, Victoria Ungos was presented with the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Leadership, Dustin Young was selected for the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Character, and Nicole Human received the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Service. Finally, Associate Professor of Law Stevie Swanson was awarded Professor of the Year Award, which is voted on by the entire law school student body. Read more about the awards.

Those who can own up to their mistakes will be better leaders and will improve their work environment, Bigspeak Executive Vice President Ken Sterling writes in Inc. Most people do not like to admit to mistakes. From an early age we are taught that mistakes are bad so we learn to deny, minimize and deflect them. But this creates a culture of distrust and blame. The irony, Sterling says, is that admitting mistakes has the best rewards in the long term — especially for your own leadership, building trust with those around you and creating a work culture of accountability. Learn more about being honest about mistakes in his article “Why Taking Ownership of Your Errors Improves Work Culture and Leadership."

Two individuals from East Tennessee have been accused of fraud in the federal Paycheck Protection Loan Program, Tennessee Lookout reports. Leslie Danielle Bethea of Surgionsville has been indicted on wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors argue she fabricated a fake business and used the funds instead to get plastic surgery in Florida. She also allegedly lied on her application by failing to note she was previously convicted of fraud. In addition, Antonio Dewayne Menifee of Chattanooga has been accused of submitting fake forms to garner a loan for a nonexistent construction firm. When law enforcement searched his home they found cocaine and a stolen gun. He previously was convicted of conspiracy to sell cocaine and guns. Both Bethea and Menifee are behind bars. Federal officials say the cases are typical of the “epic swindle” they are finding in the loan program.