Davidson County Election Commission Chair Jim DeLanis yesterday filed a federal civil complaint against Metro Nashville and his former employer, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, the Nashville Post reports. DeLanis claims two Baker clients, Metro and Metro Nashville Public Schools, threatened to drop the firm if they did not get DeLanis to drop his push via the election commission for an anti-tax ballot referendum. DeLanis says he was fired from Baker Donelson last year, but the firm said he retired. The complaint names Metro Councilmember Bob Mendes as a defendant, claiming Mendes “berated” and “threatened” the commission during public debate on the referendum proceedings. Though the complaint is civil, DeLanis accues Metro and Baker of potential criminal violations, including extortion and conspiracy. He is asking for $1 million in damages.

The TBA BarBuzz podcast closes out its second season with special co-host Julia Wilburn, the new editor of the Tennessee Bar Journal. Tune in for important legal news, upcoming events and a brief recap of the TBA Annual Convention. BarBuzz is part of the TBA Podcast Network and can be found on the TBA’s website or anywhere you listen to podcasts. 

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TNDAGC) last week announced it has elected new members to its executive committee. The state’s 31 district attorneys general have chosen 9th District Attorney General Russell Johnson to serve as the committee’s president. Russell, who serves Loudon, Meigs, Morgan and Roane counties, will lead the committee in managing a budget of more than $130 million and 1,100 employees. Other elected officers include 26th District Attorney General Jody Pickens, who will serve as vice president, and 13th District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, who will serve as secretary. Newly elected committee members include: 7th District Attorney General Dave Clark; 8th District Attorney General Jared Effler; 14th District Attorney General Craig Northcott; 18th District Attorney General Ray Whitley; 28th District Attorney General Frederick Hardy Agee; and 30th District Attorney General Amy Weirich. Read more from the TNDAGC.

Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law (LMU Law) recently presented a number of awards during its commencement celebration. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Suzanne Bauknight delivered the commencement address, telling the 75 graduates the importance of focusing on their character as they enter the legal profession. Also during the ceremony, Victoria Ungos was presented with the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Leadership, Dustin Young was selected for the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Character, and Nicole Human received the Lincoln Lawyer Award for Service. Finally, Associate Professor of Law Stevie Swanson was awarded Professor of the Year Award, which is voted on by the entire law school student body. Read more about the awards.

Two individuals from East Tennessee have been accused of fraud in the federal Paycheck Protection Loan Program, Tennessee Lookout reports. Leslie Danielle Bethea of Surgionsville has been indicted on wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors argue she fabricated a fake business and used the funds instead to get plastic surgery in Florida. She also allegedly lied on her application by failing to note she was previously convicted of fraud. In addition, Antonio Dewayne Menifee of Chattanooga has been accused of submitting fake forms to garner a loan for a nonexistent construction firm. When law enforcement searched his home they found cocaine and a stolen gun. He previously was convicted of conspiracy to sell cocaine and guns. Both Bethea and Menifee are behind bars. Federal officials say the cases are typical of the “epic swindle” they are finding in the loan program.

The Nashville law firm formerly known as Collins & Hunter, has changed its name to HMC Civil Rights Law to reflect new management and ownership. The firm, which focuses on employment discrimination cases, was founded by Heather Moore Collins. In a release announcing the name change, she says she is excited for this next chapter of growth. “We have a lot of strategic initiatives planned and I am thrilled to be walking through this with our team." Associate attorneys Ashley Walter and Caroline Drinnon, office manager and trial paralegal Erica Runnels and EEOC & discovery paralegal Shanisha Cooper remain with the firm, which now can be found online at hmccivilrights.com.

The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS) is accepting nominations for its three annual Access to Justice Awards: Janice M. Holder Award, B. Riney Green Award and New Advocate of the Year Award. Nominations and any supporting documents must be submitted by July 8. The awards will be presented at the 2022 Equal Justice University Conference Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Learn more about the awards process or contact Judy Fazi with any questions.

Ongoing problems at the Department of Children's Services (DCS) could lead to a class action lawsuit on behalf of children in the state’s foster care system, Nashville’s NewsChannel 5 reports. Nashville attorney David Raybin, who was involved with a similar lawsuit against DCS in 2000, said “very active discussions” about a class action are taking place "unless the state steps up.” Raybin says high turnover among case workers, high caseloads and not enough foster homes mirror the problems the department faced in 2000, which led to a court takeover of DCS. Court supervision of the department stopped in 2019, but Raybin says DCS has “just slipped right back into the old ways.” He is urging DCS and Gov. Bill Lee to make changes.

Memphis Area Legal Services has found new headquarters at One Memphis Place, the Memphis Business Journal reports. The building, which is located at 200 Jefferson Ave., sits the next block over from the Shelby County Courthouse. According to MALS CEO and general counsel Cindy Cole Ettingoff, the nonprofit has also gone from 14,000 square feet to a little more than 6,000 “because the pandemic taught us that people can work remotely." Ettingoff said the group is using the money saved from its reduced square footage to embrace the newest legal industry trends in storage, accessibility, and remote working. The savings will also go toward hiring, due to what Ettingoff says is a “great” demand for public defense services.

New York-based law firm Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz has opened a Nashville office that will focus on copyright, royalty and other entertainment industry issues, the Nashville Post reports. Bobby Altchiler will lead the new Nashville office. He’ll be joined by attorney Megan Zarling. Wolf Haldenstein was founded in the 19th century and has additional offices in San Diego and Chicago.