Tennessee

Ford & Harrison Opens in Nashville, Plans to Hire More Lawyers There

A national labor and employment law firm announced today that it is opening a new office in Nashville, Tenn., and expects to be hiring more lawyers to work there. Headed by Lewis P. Britt III, who also works out of Memphis, Tenn., the office is the second for Ford &…

Oct 4, 2011 9:29 PM CDT

Ex-AG Alberto Gonzales to Teach as Chaired Professor at New Law School

Initially underemployed after his controversial service as the nation’s top law enforcement official, former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales plans to accept a chaired professorship at a new law school. Beginning early next year, he will serve as the Doyle Rogers Distinguished Chair of Law at Belmont University, reports the…

Oct 3, 2011 11:23 PM CDT

Free CLE Course on Elvis Presley Law Is ‘Bait and Switch’ to Get Lawyers to Listen to Pro Bono Pitch

A legal aid group in Tennessee is trying a clever and unusual tactic to drum up an audience of attorneys to listen to a pro bono pitch: Elvis Presley. Legal Aid of East Tennessee will be offering a free continuing legal education course on Tuesday on Elvis Law. The state…

Sep 29, 2011 3:35 PM CDT

Tenn. Lawyer Loses License for 4 Months Due to His Conduct in a Family Matrimonial Matter

A Tennessee attorney has had his law license suspended for four months in a disciplinary matter related to a protective order obtained by his ex-wife. Richard A. Demonbreun was found to have “violated disciplinary rules by violating an order of protection and submitting a false pleading to the court,” reports…

Sep 22, 2011 9:07 PM CDT

Tennessee Supreme Court Nixes Lifetime Alimony for Ex-Spouse Earning $72K a Year

A woman who earned $72,000 in an information technology position wasn’t entitled to lifetime alimony from her higher-earning ex-husband, the Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled. The woman, Johanna Gonsewski, received no alimony judgment at the trial level, but an appeals court had awarded her $1,250 a month until her death…

Sep 20, 2011 11:00 AM CDT

Bernice Donald is Confirmed to the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals

A longtime federal judge in Memphis, Tenn., breezed through the U.S. Senate confirmation process today with bipartisan support for a seat on the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. After 30 minutes of debate, U.S. District Judge Bernice Donald was approved by a 96-2 vote, reports the Commercial Appeal. She…

Sep 7, 2011 12:11 AM CDT

Tenn. Proposal Would Give Some Indigent Defense Work to Low-Bidding Lawyers

A proposal in Tennessee seeks to cut down on indigent defense costs by giving some of the work to lawyers who bid for the right to do the work on a fixed-fee basis. Critics claim the proposal would put justice up for sale to the lowest bidder, the Knoxville News…

Aug 31, 2011 2:25 PM CDT

Firm Honors Civil Rights Lawyer with Full Scholarship, Summer Associate Gig & Job Offer

Corrected: Louisville, Ky.-based Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs is honoring the legacy of civil rights lawyer Benjamin L. Hooks by establishing a full scholarship in his name for students bound for law school in Memphis. Every three years, the firm will provide full tuition, books, supplies and other fees, plus the…

Aug 10, 2011 8:27 PM CDT

Admitted Miley Cyrus Hacker Beats That Rap But Reportedly Pleads on 2 Other Charges

A 21-year-old who admittedly hacked into Miley Cyrus’ email and Myspace accounts and posted private images of the young singer hasn’t been charged with doing so. However, Josh Holly, also known online as “Trainreq,” pleaded guilty today in federal court in Nashville, Tenn., to other charges related to his possession…

Aug 1, 2011 11:19 PM CDT

Tennessee Supremes Approve Do-It-Yourself Divorce Forms, Offer Fashion Advice

The Tennessee Supreme Court has approved plain-language forms for uncontested divorces without significant legal issues, known as “agreed” divorces in the new documents. The forms can be used by divorcing couples without children or dependents, without property or businesses, and without retirement benefits, the Commercial Appeal reports. The documents (PDF)…

Jul 28, 2011 12:15 PM CDT

Appeals Court Rejects Found-in-Trash Claim, Orders Davy Crockett Marriage Doc Returned to County

Calling a found-in-the-trash claim made on an Antiques Roadshow television episode a dog that won’t hunt, a Tennessee appellate panel has also agreed with a lower court that an unexecuted 1805 marriage license for Davy Crockett, the famed American frontiersman, soldier and politician, must be returned to the courthouse from…

Jul 27, 2011 7:44 PM CDT

101-Year-Old Lawyer Still Goes to Work at Bass Berry

Lawyer James Bass is 101 years old and still practicing law at Bass Berry & Sims, the firm his father helped found. A friend who sits near Bass in church wrote about the lawyer for the Tennessean. Bass attended Harvard Law School, was elected to the state legislature, and served…

Jul 21, 2011 1:37 PM CDT

Lawyer Charged with Tax Evasion, Accused of Using Firm Accounts to Pay for Daughter’s Wedding

A Tennessee lawyer has been charged with evading taxes by using law firm bank accounts to bankroll his daughter’s wedding and other personal expenses. Knoxville lawyer John Threadgill was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of evading more than $1.4 million in income taxes, the Knoxville News reports.…

Jul 20, 2011 12:25 PM CDT

Big Nashville Firm Sees 10 Percent of Partners Leave for Other Jobs Over 18-Month Period

As the economy strengthens, partners at the biggest law firm in Nashville, Tenn., have been taking the opportunity to leap to other jobs. A total of 10 have left over the past 18 months or so, amounting to about 10 percent of the partner roster at Waller Lansden Dortch &…

Jul 11, 2011 5:08 PM CDT

Judge Agrees to Unseal Records re Former Fellow Jurist

A Tennessee judge has agreed to unseal records concerning former Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner. Baumgartner, who previously oversaw a drug court program, abruptly stepped down from the bench earlier this year. He has pleaded guilty to a criminal official misconduct charge and sought addiction treatment, according to…

Jun 24, 2011 4:33 PM CDT