Two transgender patients whose medical records were acquired as part of an investigation into potential billing fraud at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) have filed a class-action suit against the hospital in chancery court, reports the Nashville Scene. The suit alleges the medical center shared the patient’s medical information in violation of hospital privacy policies and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In addition, the suit alleges, “VUMC knew about the State’s active targeting of the transgender community.” The suit goes on to claim some of the patient records that were disclosed were not patients of the VUMC Transgender Health Clinic; that patient’s personal information was not protected; and that patients were not informed their records had been acquired by the Tennessee attorney general’s office.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis has asked Gov. Bill Lee to make a disaster declaration for Shelby County, after severe thunderstorms last week damaged businesses, homes and utilities, Action News 5 reports. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris declared a local state of emergency on July 21. In his letter to the governor, Cohen noted that the West Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has estimated that damage from high winds will exceed $11 million. In addition, a diesel fuel leak from a generator in Germantown has affected approximately 4.5 million gallons of water. Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo told a press conference that the diesel-contaminated water will be "pumped away" from homes into the stormwater conveyance system that leads to the Wolf River, reports the Commercial Appeal.

Tennessee Attorney Jonathan Skrmetti on Friday released a statement intended to clarify his opposition to a proposed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ privacy rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Skrmetti recently joined with 18 other state attorneys general in opposing the rule and said that some commentators have equated this opposition to asserting a right to prosecute women who go out of state for abortions. “This is simply not true,” he said Friday. “Tennessee’s abortion law does not apply to women who seek abortions, I have no enforcement authority with respect to Tennessee’s abortion law, and I am the attorney general of Tennessee and not some other state.” He said he opposed the rule because it is “a hastily-assembled mess that is bad for Tennessee and bad for America.” Read the full statement.

Barrett Johnston Martin & Garrison reportedly has paid $4 million for a two-story structure at 200 31st Ave. North in Nashville’s West End corridor. The law firm, which traces its history to 1962 and focuses on representing whistleblowers, consumers and rank-and-file workers, operates at Philips Plaza, 414 Union St. in downtown Nashville. Officials with the approximately 18-person firm declined comment regarding plans for the building, according to the Nashville Post.

A group of Covenant School parents have co-founded two nonprofits dedicated to protecting children from gun violence, WPLN reports. The first is Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows, which will focus on education and mental health support. The second, the Covenant Families Action Fund, will focus on legislation. The group recently held a news conference to explain how they will advocate for gun reform measures including safe storage, closing loopholes on background checks and limiting access to firearms for people who are a threat to themselves or others.

The Boston-based First Circuit Court of Appeals today was scheduled to take up claims from the country of Mexico that U.S. gun makers should be held responsible for facilitating the trafficking of deadly weapons across the border. Mexico is appealing dismissal of the suit last year by federal Judge F. Dennis Saylor, who found that federal law "unequivocally" bars lawsuits seeking to hold gun manufacturers responsible when people use guns for their intended purpose. Saylor said the law contained several narrow exceptions but none of them applied. Reuters has more on the case.

Tennesseans may take advantage of savings on back-to-school and other items this coming weekend, July 28-30, as state and local sales tax will be suspended on school and office supplies, computers and clothing. In announcing the benefit, Gov. Bill Lee thanked the General Assembly for partnering with his office to provide direct financial relief for taxpayers. Residents also will see additional savings from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31 from a three-month grocery tax suspension, also approved by the legislature.

Magistrate Judge Debra Poplin ruled today that unclaimed funds set aside from a lawsuit involving international accounting firm KPMG be directed to the Institute for Law & Economic Policy, KnoxNews reports. The Eastern District U.S. judge chose the recipient at the recommendation of law firm Cohen, Milstein, Sellers and Toll.

Alabama lawmakers declined to create a second majority-Black congressional district today in defiance of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in June to give minority voters a greater voice in elections, reports Associated Press. The senate instead created a plan to increase the percentage of Black voters from 31% to 40% in the state’s 2nd District. The map was completed hours before a court-imposed deadline. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to sign the legislation.

Stanford law dean Jenny Martinez informed students in an email yesterday that Tirien Steinbach has stepped down as associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, reports Reuters. On March 9, Steinbach joined students protesting a visit by 5th U.S. Circuit Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan, who had been invited by the campus chapter of the Federalist Society. A widely circulated video showed Steinbach intervening on behalf of protestors and claiming Duncan's positions on LGBTQ+ people and others might make his presence painful for some students. Steinbach was criticized for her comments and that her failure to stop the protestors was in violation of Stanford’s free speech policies.