Metro Nashville on Tuesday filed suit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over more than $11 million in denied reimbursement claims stemming from the 2010 Nashville flood, the Nashville Post reports. Metro says it spent the money on repairs to the K.R. Harrington Water Treatment Facility and Metro Transit Authority facilities following the flood. Reimbursement requests for the repairs have been denied several times by FEMA. Metro claims reimbursements were denied once due to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency failing to timely forward its appeal request on to the federal government. Another denial, Metro alleges, was due to “a typographic error.” Baker Donelson is representing Metro in the case.

Nashville attorney Daniel Horwitz, who is suing CoreCivic over the death of an inmate at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, has been ordered by a federal magistrate judge to delete certain tweets about the private prison firm. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffery Frensley ordered Horwitz to remove some of his tweets, including one that described CoreCivic as a “death factory,” and limit his public commentary going forward. Frensley’s order was in response to CoreCivic’s arguments that the public posts put the company’s right to a fair trial at risk. Horwitz argued his tweets amounted to constitutionally protected free speech and that he has “ethical duties and affirmative obligations” to his clients to speak publicly about the case. He also maintained that while CoreCivic has a public relations team, he is the only advocate for his deceased client. The Associated Press has the full story.

Richard Manson, founder of Nashville law firm Manson Johnson Conner, has been elected to serve as 2023 board chair of the Metro Hospital Authority Board, the Nashville Post reports. Manson, who is also president of Sourcemark surgical products wholesaler, was first appointed to the board by former Mayor Megan Barry in 2017. Manson expressed his support for Nashville General Hospital in a press release. “An investment in the city hospital is important as we continue attracting corporations and individuals based on Nashville’s commitment to serving all its citizens,” Manson said.  

Gov. Bill Lee announced yesterday that more than 40 independent schools, pending approval, will immediately make seats available to students enrolled in the state’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program. The Davidson County Chancery Court last week lifted an injunction on the program after it was upheld by the state Supreme Court in May. According to the Tennessean, an education department representative swore in court documents that it needed 36 business days for a successful rollout, but will now only get 18. Metro Nashville and Memphis-Shelby County public schools released statements expressing concern about the “rush to implement” the program and argued it will “divert funds away from Memphis and Nashville schools.” Lawyers for families who oppose the program on Tuesday signaled their intent in a court filing to request a new injunction as the case against the ESA program continues to be litigated.

Travis Reinking, convicted in February of multiple first-degree murder charges and four felony murder charges at a Nashville area Waffle House, has now been sentenced to four consecutive life sentences, the Tennessean reports. Reinking faced 16 counts in total and was found guilty on all charges. The jury gave him four sentences of life without parole on the first-degree and felony murder charges. Judge Mark Fishburn's task was to use victim impact testimony, along with guidelines in the law, to determine whether the sentences should be consecutive or concurrent. He also sentenced Reinking to an additional 114 years for charges not considered by the jury.

Earlier this month, the East Tennessee Lawyers’ Association for Women hosted a summer social and conversation with five of east Tennessee’s female judges. The panel featured U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Crytzer, Blount County General Sessions Judge Kenlyn Foster, Juvenile Court Magistrate Robin Gunn, Court of Workers' Compensation Claims Judge Lisa Lowe, and U.S. District Court Magistrate Jill McCook. Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Kristi Davis moderated the discussion.

Four experts and a prominent legal journalist will join ABA President Reginald Turner on July 28 from noon to 1 p.m. EDT to discuss how new federal judges are changing the federal judiciary. The free one-hour online webinar – “The Changing Face of the Federal Judiciary: Is it Permanent or Temporary?” – coincides with the release of the 2022 ABA Profile of the Legal Profession, an annual compilation of statistics and trends among lawyers, judges and law students. New to the report this year is a lengthy statistical look at the changing federal judiciary.

The Sullivan County Commission is set to consider a proposal tomorrow that would apply daily cost of living fees to inmates at the county jail, WJHL reports. Proposal sponsor Commissioner Herschel Glover says the measure is intended to help fund a $93 million addition to the jail. Under the program, inmates at the county jail would pay $35 per day during their stay. But local court and law enforcement officials are expressing concern. Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy has said such a proposal “sets an inmate up for failure.” Several county judges as well as the public defender and district attorney all expressed concerns about the idea.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division, Belmont Law and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee & the Cumberlands hosted an expungement clinic at Belmont Law last weekend. Attorneys and law students worked with the Davidson County Clerks to help more than 30 low-income individuals expunge more than 70 criminal charges. Clients also received help with fee waivers and driver's license reinstatement, resulting in more than $7,000 in free legal help being provided. Other local nonprofits also were on site to provide additional resources, like employment and housing help. Thank you to Martin Heller Potempa & Sheppard PLLC for sponsoring the event.

The Tennessee Bar Foundation recently installed Knoxville attorney Angelia Nystrom as its 41st chair during its annual membership meeting. Nystrom was first elected to the board in 2015 as East Tennessee trustee. She has also served as secretary and was a member of the committee responsible for creating the “Tennessee Legal Initiatives Fund,” which has granted $3,300,000 to law-related, new initiatives across the state. Nystrom is the executive director of Specialty Programs for Institutional Advancement for the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. She will chair the foundation through June 2023. Read the release from the Tennessee Bar Foundation.