News
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 9, 2012
CENTER CITY, MN — The Hazelden Legal Professionals Program awarded its first “Excellence in Legal Community Leadership Award” to Judge Robert L. Childers of Tennessee, immediate past Chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs.Link Christin, Hazelden’s Legal…
October 8, 2012
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court today adopted six plain-language forms that can be used in certain civil cases in general sessions courts. General sessions courts handle specified civil cases that involve matters up to a limited dollar amount.The forms simplify legal…
October 8, 2012
Judge Wheeler A. Rosenbalm, Circuit Court Judge for the Sixth Judicial District, has announced his retirement from the bench, effective January 1, 2013.In a letter to Governor Bill Haslam dated October 4, Judge Rosenbalm said, “It has been a great pleasure and tremendous privilege for me to have…
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
Nashville, Tenn. – The Judicial Nominating Commission is now accepting applications for the Court of Appeals vacancy in the Eastern Division. The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Herschel P. Franks on December 31, 2012.
Interested applicants must be an attorney who is at least 30…
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 27, 2012
Tennessee’s longest serving State Judge, Herschel P. Franks, Presiding Judge of the Court of Appeals, has announced that he will be retiring from the Court on December 31, 2012. In a letter to Governor Bill Haslam, he wrote: “Words cannot adequately express my heartfelt and sincere appreciation for…
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 26, 2012
On Wednesday, September 26th at the annual Equal Justice University, the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services will present the following awards: The 2012 B. Riney Green Award will be presented to Margaret L. Behm, first chair of the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission. The 2012 New…
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…
September 21, 2012
Nashville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled today that in a workers’ compensation case, the employee must exhaust the benefit review conference process before filing suit as required by state law.On June 3, 2010, Lacey Chapman, an employee of DaVita, Inc., fell and injured her elbow as she…
September 21, 2012
Nashville, Tenn.—The Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization announced it has awarded funds from its reserves to projects supporting the Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Initiative. The Commission’s reserves accumulate from fees paid by lawyers who do not complete the…