Tennessee

Embattled Judge Refuses to Recuse Himself From Hearing Cases

An embattled Tennessee judge facing ethics charges refused Wednesday to recuse himself from hearing cases until the charges against him are resolved. Hawkins County, Tenn., Judge James “Jay” Taylor is accused (PDF) of converting money from a client for his own use, pocketing money he collected for a Ten Commandments…

Jan 26, 2012 10:59 PM CST

Woman Who Returned Adopted Son to Russia Faces Lawsuit by Adoption Agency

The American woman who sent her adopted son back to Russia was never charged with a criminal offense, but she faces a lawsuit by the adoption agency. The suit filed against Torry Hansen in Shelbyville, Tenn., seeks child support, the Associated Press reports. According to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, the World…

Jan 24, 2012 12:04 PM CST

Federal Judge Nixes Duncan Law TRO, Calls School’s Future Success in Suit Against ABA ‘Unlikely’

A federal judge in Knoxville today refused to grant preliminary injunctive relief sought by the plaintiff Tennessee law school in an antitrust lawsuit against the American Bar Association that also alleges due process violations. Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law is “unlikely” to succeed on the merits in the…

Jan 19, 2012 12:06 AM CST

Former Vanderbilt Law School Manager Is Accused of Embezzling More than $600K

A fired administrative services manager at Vanderbilt law school in Nashville has been charged with theft based on accusations he stole at least $600,000 from the school. U.S. Marshals arrested Jason Hunt, 34, in Arkansas on Friday, according to NewsChannel5.com and the Tennessean. He had worked at the school since…

Jan 17, 2012 3:19 PM CST

Labor Law Firm Fisher & Phillips Plants Flags in Massachusetts and Tennessee

A growing national labor and employment boutique is expanding into Massachusetts and Tennessee with the additions of well-known senior practitioners from other firms to its attorney roster. Fisher & Phillips has brought in Joseph W. Ambash, who formerly co-chaired the practice group at the Boston office of Greenberg Traurig, to…

Jan 10, 2012 7:20 PM CST

Rise in Number of Tenn. Lawyers Disciplined for Stealing or Misusing Client Funds

More Tennessee lawyers are facing discipline for stealing or misusing client funds as the economy continues to take a toll on firms and solo practitioners. Others have simply closed up shop and disappeared without notice, the Associated Press reports. “Some lawyers are just abandoning their practices because they can’t make…

Jan 6, 2012 6:45 PM CST

Defendants Convicted in Torture Slayings Get New Trial Because of Judge’s Pill Addiction

Four defendants convicted in the 2007 torture slayings of a University of Tennessee student and her boyfriend will get new trials because of evidence that the judge in their case was committing crimes to obtain prescription medications. The judge, Richard Baumgartner of Knox County, Tenn., resigned from the bench earlier…

Dec 5, 2011 5:45 PM CST

Amended Ruling Reprimands Bankruptcy Judge for Membership in Country Club

In a decision issued last month, a judicial conduct panel criticized a soon-to-be-retired chief bankruptcy judge for failing to resign from a Tennessee country club, but refused to sanction the judge for the ethics violation. This month, the Federal Judicial Conference’s Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability changed its collective…

Dec 5, 2011 3:14 PM CST

Panel Says Judge’s Membership in Country Club Is Ethics Violation, But Withholds Sanction

A bankruptcy judge violated the ethics code when he failed to resign from a Nashville, Tenn., country club that had no blacks or women as voting members, according to the Federal Judicial Conference’s Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability. But the panel opted against disciplining Judge George Paine II because…

Nov 22, 2011 11:30 AM CST

Storied Tenn. Law Firm Is Struggling, Sues Ex-Managing Partner Over $225K Removed from Trust Account

Once a mighty force in high-profile government cases, a storied Tennessee law firm is struggling financially after the deaths of its founding partners and has sued a former managing partner. Willis & Knight contends Tyree B. Harris IV wrongfully removed $225,000 from a trust account as part of a scheme…

Nov 3, 2011 5:16 PM CDT

Baker Donelson Plants Flag in Texas with Acquisition of 7-Attorney Spain Chambers

A Tennessee-based law firm with 14 offices in southern states and a significant presence in Louisiana is expanding westward and opening its first office in Texas. Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz announced today that it will be acquiring seven-attorney Spain Chambers in Houston. Baker Donelson has about 600 attorneys…

Oct 24, 2011 6:42 PM CDT

Trailblazing Judge Bernice Donald Joins 6th US Circuit Bench, Says She Stands on Others’ Shoulders

Crediting those who came before her, including her parents, for her new role as the first black woman on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Bernice Donald was sworn in today at a packed ceremony in Memphis, Tenn. “It’s wonderful to be in America, to be an American…

Oct 20, 2011 11:27 PM CDT

Pillsbury Winthrop to Centralize Back-Office Functions; New Tenn. Facility Could Employ 150

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman plans to centralize the administrative services for its 14 offices in a new facility in Nashville, Tenn., that will house up to 150 employees after it opens next year. The chief financial officer and chief information officer of the New York City-based law firm will move…

Oct 18, 2011 5:10 PM CDT

Collection Law Firm Fires Employee Accused of Stealing $13K From Elderly Couple

A law firm has fired an employee accused of stealing a little over $13,000 from an elderly couple he apparently met while going door-to-door collecting past-due taxes for the city of Memphis, Tenn. The employee is accused of accepting $13,273 in checks written to him personally by the couple between…

Oct 17, 2011 9:13 PM CDT

Alberto Gonzales Has a Second Nashville Job, This One at a Law Firm

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has two employment gigs in Nashville. Earlier this week came the announcement that Gonzales will become a law professor at Belmont University, a new law school in Nashville. Now Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis has announced that Gonzales is joining the Nashville law firm in…

Oct 6, 2011 3:10 PM CDT