A Nashville law firm has filed a lawsuit against a landlord and tenant for their alleged responsibility in the November 2022 fentanyl overdose death of an infant. Stranch, Jennings & Garvey PLLC is representing Mickey Rose, the grandfather of Ariel Rose, a one-year-old who was exposed to a lethal dose of fentanyl while at Nashville's Highroad Transitional Housing Facility. Rose is also seeking damages under Tennessee’s Drug Dealer Liability Act (DDLA), which provides a civil remedy to persons damaged in a community as a result of illegal drug use.

Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, raised about $2 million in their week-long absence from the state House after expulsion in March. The Tennessee Lookout reports that the removal of Jones and Pearson allowed the lawmakers to raise money during the legislative session, which is normally not permitted. Jones raised $1,079,688.86 over the first six months of the year, and Pearson raised $1,058,036.34. Part of Pearson’s total includes the roughly $52,000 he raised at the start of 2023 to win his House seat in a special election held in January. Both face Republican opponents in the Aug. 3 general election.

Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Mary Wagner on Friday ruled that Alicia Franklin will not have her civil case against the city of Memphis re-opened. Franklin said she was raped by Cleotha Abston-Henderson a year before he was charged with Eliza Fletcher's murder and kidnapping in September. The Commercial Appeal reports that Franklin's case — which alleges the Memphis Police Department did not investigate her rape despite providing the name, contact information and social media account of the man who did it — was dismissed in March this year.

The Cozza Law Group is planning an expansion to Nashville this fall. The Nashville Post reports that the firm is focused on business and entertainment law and has a presence in New York City and Pittsburgh. Firm founder Rocco Cozza is also the CEO of Alpha LPO, a legal process outsourcing provider.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee yesterday appointed Shari Tayloe as District Attorney General for the 10th Judicial District to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of General Stephen Crump, effective immediately. The 10th Judicial District covers Bradley, McMinn, Monroe and Polk counties. Tayloe brings nearly 25 years of prosecutorial experience to her new role, most recently serving as deputy district attorney general for the 10th Judicial District, a position she has held for six years. Tayloe earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law.

“Welcome to Capitol Hill,” a new book by veteran Tennessee state house reporters Joel Ebert and Erik Schelzig, will be available Aug. 17 through Vanderbilt University Press. The book covers Gov. Ray Blanton's pardon scandals, the secret FBI wiretap used in the Rocky Top investigation and more recent examples of sexual misconduct in the legislature. Axios Nashville reports that the authors say studying the scandals is more than just an academic exercise; it reveals the vital importance of the media as a watchdog. Several times, the public learned of politicians' dubious behavior through investigations by Nashville journalists, including Schelzig and Ebert's own reporting of the more recent scandals.

The Wilder Youth Development Center in Fayette County, from which three juveniles escaped in March, will receive almost $2 million for updates, including security cameras and more than 100 beds. According to ABC24 in Memphis, a recent report by Disability Rights Tennessee entitled “Designed to Fail: A Report on Wilder Youth Development Center, a Department of Children’s Services Facility," documented what the rights group describe as “destructive practices” upheld by the Wilder Center. The report also alleged that parties responsible for investigations of physical and sexual assault did not follow up or perform in-depth reviews of center employees who were the subject of 10 or more investigations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed a new rule that would prohibit disclosure of medical records of individuals who cross state lines to obtain legal abortion or gender-affirming care. The Tennessee Lookout reports that Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined counterparts in 18 states in an effort to prevent the federal government from shielding those records. Under the proposed rule, the records would be protected from law enforcement, court subpoenas in civil lawsuits and family court proceedings.

Registration is now open for the TBA’s 37th Annual CLE Ski set for Jan. 20-25, 2024, in Snowmass, Colorado. The CLE package offers 15 hours of credit in a variety of practice areas while allowing time to enjoy the beautiful slopes and one of Colorado's premier ski resorts. Participants will stay at The Stonebridge Inn, located in the heart of Snowmass Village just 10 miles from Aspen and central to four remarkable ski areas: Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain and Buttermilk. An opening reception on Jan. 20 will kick off this year's program. Reserve your spot now or learn more in the online CLE course catalog.

The Montgomery County Commission has approved a $180,600 grant from the Tennessee Mental Health Court Program to launch a new mental health court in the county, News Channel 5 reports. The county had previously received a $232,000 grant for the court. The program will be voluntary for residents of the county facing criminal charges, said Circuit Court Judge Katy Olita. Some offenses will be excluded, including all Class A felonies. Sharita Brown will be the court's coordinator. The new court will begin taking applications on Sept. 7.