News
July 22, 2019
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court held that a trial court should not have considered the constitutionality of the Public Safety Act prior to entering two defendants’ guilty pleas.The defendants, A.B. Price, Jr., and Victor Sims, were charged with crimes in separate cases,…
July 22, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court has reversed an award of summary judgment and sent a contract dispute back to the trial court based on factual disputes about the parties’ intent to substitute a new contract for an existing one. A development company had contracted with a Nashville architect firm,…
July 9, 2019
While the criminal justice side of the opioid epidemic has received significant attention, the civil legal issues it has caused have quietly smoldered into a raging inferno, overwhelming legal aid providers, families, social service providers, and courts. The Legal Services Corporation, which funds…
July 2, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld a decision of the Chancery Court of Knox County that disbarred Knoxville attorney Loring Edwin Justice.The disbarment stems from Mr. Justice’s conduct in a federal personal injury lawsuit in which he represented the plaintiff. The federal district court…
June 19, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court today, in a divided opinion, dismissed a negligence lawsuit filed by the estate of a woman who committed suicide.In 2011, the defendant, Dr. Jerry Scott Wilson, a psychiatrist, and the decedent, Christina Marie Cotten, a registered nurse who worked with him, embarked on…
June 7, 2019
In 1990, Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey became the first woman ever appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Her appointment signaled a coming sea of change. In the ensuing two decades, women would go from being an anomaly on the Court to a persistent majority. Serving as witnesses to this…
May 29, 2019
Lipscomb University will host the Tennessee Supreme Court this week as part of the American Legion Auxiliary’s Volunteer Girls State program, which provides Tennessee’s high school female leaders the opportunity to experience and learn about civic engagement. On Thursday morning, the…
May 29, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court today issued two opinions that presented the same legal question: whether a Circuit Court retains jurisdiction (authority) to decide post-divorce petitions seeking modifications of permanent parenting plans if the petitions include allegations that satisfy the statutory…
Tennessee Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to a Search Warrant in Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Case
May 22, 2019
In an opinion released today, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the validity of a search warrant used to gather evidence in a case involving charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. The defendant, Anthony Jerome Miller, was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor after a…
May 20, 2019
This year marks the nineteenth year in a row that the Tennessee Supreme Court will hold oral arguments before an accomplished group of Tennessee’s high school students at American Legion Boys State. The Court session is just one element of weeklong programs in which 600 students participate…
May 13, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld an attorney’s public censure, concluding that the sanction was not arbitrary or capricious and was supported by substantial and material evidence. This disciplinary matter arose out of Carlos Eugene Moore’s representation of his client in a personal…
May 8, 2019
In five separate lawsuits, the Tennessee Supreme Court held today that cities with their own school systems are not required to share with counties the tax proceeds the cities receive from the sale of liquor for on-premises consumption, called “liquor-by-the-drink.” Tennessee…
May 7, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court today rejected the petition for reinstatement filed by a Chattanooga attorney whose law license has been suspended since 1998.In 1997, attorney Nathan E. Brooks faced serious discipline for complaints filed against him by multiple clients. In 1998, he agreed to a two-…
May 6, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on May 7, 2019. The details of the cases are as follows: Tuesday, May 7, 2019Board of Professional Responsibility v. James S. MacDonald- In this attorney-discipline matter, Mr. MacDonald challenges the trial court’s determination of…
April 30, 2019
Two local institutions have joined together to promote the cause of legal education and to further the legacy of widely respected former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank F. Drowota III, who passed away just over a year ago.The Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society has partnered with…
April 25, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed the disbarment of Knoxville attorney John O. Threadgill.Mr. Threadgill’s disbarment was based on his conviction for felony tax evasion in federal district court, which was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr.…
April 15, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court addressed a certified question from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee regarding whether an insurance company can depreciate the cost of labor when calculating actual cash value payments for property damage claims.The homeowners in this…
April 5, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court has designated Saturday, April 6 as the kickoff for the third annual HELP4TN Days, a time dedicated to bringing free legal resources to Tennesseans in need. Throughout the month of April, more than 100 free legal clinics will be held throughout the state, and online and…
April 2, 2019
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear two cases on April 4, 2019. The details of the cases are as follows: Thursday, April 4, 2019State of Tennessee v. A.B. Prince, Jr., and Victor Tyrone Sims – On January 1, 2017, the Public Safety Act of 2016 became effective.…
March 29, 2019
The Tennessee Supreme Court has amended Supreme Court Rule 7, which focuses on the licensing of attorneys to practice law in Tennessee. These most recent changes follow other modifications that were made to the rule over the past several years, including adoption of the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) and…