News
November 19, 2012
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that the Chancery Court for Carter County properly disbarred Thomas Ewing Cowan from the practice of law in Tennessee.In 2009, Mr. Cowan pleaded guilty in federal district court to the felony offense of willful attempt to defeat or…
November 19, 2012
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld a decision of the Chancery Court for Franklin County to permit the continued development of Cooley’s Rift, a 1,400‑ acre residential development near Monteagle, Tennessee despite objections from some original homeowners to changes in the development plan.…
November 16, 2012
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld a trial court’s decision to dismiss a grandmother’s second petition requesting visitation with her granddaughter. In 2009, following the death of her daughter, Jeanette Jackson filed suit in the McNairy County Chancery Court seeking visitation with her…
November 16, 2012
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the disbarment of Knoxville attorney M. Josiah Hoover, III by the Board of Professional Responsibility.In five separate cases, Hoover was found to be negligent in the representation of his clients or otherwise in violation of his…
November 16, 2012
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court held that signing an affidavit of attesting witnesses is not the same as signing a will. In the case before the Court, Mr. Thomas Grady Chastain signed a one-page affidavit of attesting witnesses but failed to sign his separate two-page will…
November 15, 2012
In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that a judge may not properly charge an attorney with contempt of court when the behavior neither disrupts the proceeding nor disparages the court, even if the judge believes that the attorney behaved unethically.In 2009…
November 5, 2012
More than 300 attorneys are expected to be sworn in this week across the state as the Tennessee Supreme Court travels from Knoxville to Memphis to welcome the most recent members of the legal profession.Seventy-two attorneys were sworn in Monday in Knoxville. Two swearing in ceremonies will be held…
October 30, 2012
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the building that houses the Tennessee Supreme Court, original handwritten versions of the three state constitutions will be on display for the public for the first time.The display is part of a week-long celebration of the building and includes the opening of…
October 23, 2012
Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee will present the compelling stories of five American soldiers captured and held as prisoners of war by the Germans in World War II. Although they were of different backgrounds and faiths and had different prison experiences, the young men shared some…
October 12, 2012
Nashville, Tenn. – In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Carl J. Wagner’s convictions of especially aggravated robbery and first degree felony murder for shooting nineteen-year-old Adriel Charles Powell in the laundry room of a Nashville apartment complex on August 27, 2008…
October 10, 2012
Nashville, Tenn.– In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court rejected claims by Travis Kinte Echols that police lacked probable cause for his arrest and that his felony murder conviction should be reversed because of several errors during his jury trial.On June 18, 2005, a man later…
October 4, 2012
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that the agreement between the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (“Metro”), through the Davidson County Sheriff, and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) does not violate the Metro Charter or other…
October 4, 2012
Nashville, Tenn.– In a unanimous opinion, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that a re-filed malpractice lawsuit must follow state statutes in effect at the time of re-filing.In 2006, Curtis Myers suffered a stroke and was treated by various healthcare providers. The next year, he filed a complaint…
October 1, 2012
The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld a trial court’s damage award against a mother who misled her boyfriend by telling him he was the child’s father when he was not. In its ruling, the Court stated that an intentional misrepresentation claim, which is already recognized in Tennessee’s courts,…
October 1, 2012
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that misdemeanor convictions for passing worthless checks may be used to impeach credibility because the offense of passing worthless checks involves dishonesty.Wanda F. Russell was indicted on four counts of theft over $1,000 but less than $10,000. The State…
September 27, 2012
10th Judicial District, Athens, Tenn. – Thanks to ongoing generous donations from the Frist Foundation’s Ansley Fund, attorneys and community members and organizations, students attending 12 public and private schools in the 10th Judicial District will hear oral arguments in three state Supreme…
September 27, 2012
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld the 45-day suspension of a Chattanooga attorney’s law license. In a unanimous opinion, the Court affirmed the decision of a hearing panel of the Board of Professional Responsibility that Fred T. Hanzelik violated ethics rules governing the collection of fees,…
September 27, 2012
The Tennessee Supreme Court has upheld a ten-day suspension of a student at Hillsboro High School in Nashville.On September 5, 2008, Christian Heyne, a senior and captain of the football team, injured another student when he pinned the student’s foot under one of the wheels of his car. The…
September 26, 2012
Knoxville, Tenn. – In a unanimous opinion which is expected to limit the prospects of a reduced sentence in the appeal of a criminal case, the Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated the trial court’s three-year sentences of Susan Renee Bise of Greene County.In September of 2008, construction tools and…
September 21, 2012
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court today upheld the jury verdict against T. Ray Brent Marsh, operator of the Tri-State Crematory in Noble, Georgia, resulting from Marsh’s mishandling of a corpse.In February of 2002, authorities discovered that Marsh had not been cremating bodies that…