News
July 2, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that a challenge by death row inmates to electrocution as an alternative execution method is premature and therefore unripe for resolution by the courts at this time.In a unanimous opinion, the Court determined that the issue is not “ripe” because none of the…
July 1, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that a widow whose husband died after a five-year battle with lung cancer will get a new trial to determine the amount of damages owed by her husband’s employer as a result of its negligence in contributing to her husband’s illness.For over 40 years, Winston…
July 1, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that a Nashville chiropractic clinic’s patient did not effectively assign his rights to insurance proceeds received from a third party’s insurance company. The case stems from a 2011 automobile accident that injured defendant Prentice Delon Hyler.…
June 30, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has reversed a trial court’s dismissal of a health care liability lawsuit against an East Tennessee doctor and hospital, concluding that delivery of pre-suit notice of a health care liability action via FedEx is a proper method of service under Tennessee law. In…
June 25, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has affirmed multiple convictions stemming from a domestic incident in which Terrence Feaster inflicted serious injuries upon his then-girlfriend, Molly Kate McWhirter, at her Knox County residence.In May of 2012, Feaster accompanied McWhirter to a sports bar in Knox…
June 23, 2015
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has appointed James Edwin Lauderback of Johnson City as Circuit Court Judge in the First Judicial District.The position became open with the retirement of Judge Thomas J. Seeley Jr. effective June 30. The district includes Johnson, Carter, Washington and Unicoi…
June 18, 2015
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is again accepting applications for a criminal court judge vacancy in the 11th Judicial District – Hamilton County. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Rebecca J. Stern effective June 1.Pursuant to an executive order signed by Gov.…
June 17, 2015
From the Governor's website:Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today appointed David Lee Allen of Lawrenceburg as Circuit Court Judge for the 22nd Judicial District. Allen, 62, replaces Judge Jim T. Hamilton, who has retired. The 22nd Judicial District includes Giles, Lawrence, Maury and Wayne…
June 17, 2015
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments met on June 17, 2015 in Memphis to hold a public hearing and conduct interviews of candidates for the chancery court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District, which serves Shelby County.After interviewing the candidates and conducting a vote, the…
June 12, 2015
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider nine applicants when it meets July 14 in Clarksville to select nominees for the impending circuit court vacancy in the 19th Judicial District, which serves Montgomery and Robertson counties.The vacancy was created by the legislature…
June 11, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has added another path for attorneys to become part of the “Attorneys for Justice” program via the Court’s yearly Access to Justice annual pro bono recognitions.
Each year, the Court lauds attorneys who have provided 50 or more hours of pro bono service, that is…
June 9, 2015
The Madison County Juvenile Court has partnered with the University of Memphis at Lambuth to give non-violent juvenile offenders training and tutoring instead of time in a detention center.Madison County Juvenile Court Judge Christy Little worked with Dr. Niles Reddick, vice provost of the…
June 5, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court reversed a trial court’s ruling that an arbitration agreement between a purchaser and a manufactured homebuilder was unfair and unenforceable, so it permitted the purchaser to sue the manufactured homebuilder in court. Richard A. Berent purchased a manufactured home…
June 3, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court rejected a Memphis defendant’s argument that he was entitled to a new trial because a witness on the stand said he was unable to recall his earlier statements about the murder.Marlo Davis was convicted of second degree murder and reckless homicide in the 2006 death of a…
June 1, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has six cases set for oral argument this week in Nashville:Stephanie D. Turner v. Kevin Turner–This case involves the termination of a mother’s parental rights by default judgment. The trial court, in setting aside its previous order, determined that the father failed to…
May 29, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that, in health care liability lawsuits, the obligation to disclose the number of violationsof the certificate of good faith requirement does not compel any disclosure if there are no previous violations.In Tennessee, if a party files suit against a…
May 26, 2015
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments will consider seven applicants when it meets June 17 in Memphis to select nominees for the Chancery Court vacancy in the 30th Judicial District, which serves Shelby County.The vacancy was created by the death of the Honorable Oscar C. Carr, III.The…
May 22, 2015
The Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments is now accepting applications for a new circuit court judge in the 19th Judicial District – Montgomery and Robertson counties. The vacancy was created by the legislature this spring and signed by Gov. Bill Haslam May 18. The position is effective…
May 21, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court will hold oral arguments before hundreds of high school students next week as participants in the Girls and Boys State programs see Tennessee’s highest court in action.The Court session is just one element of weeklong programs students participate in to learn through…
Supreme Court Grants New Trial, Allows More Evidence of Surgical Risks in Health Care Liability Suit
May 18, 2015
The Tennessee Supreme Court has granted a new trial for an East Tennessee man who claims that his doctor failed to provide him with adequate information before operating on his back.In 2006, Ike J. White III, was suffering from back pain. He sought treatment from Dr. David A. Beeks, an orthopedic…