This appeal involves an employee's claim for workers' compensation benefits relating to her alleged contraction of the COVID-19 virus at work. The appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel for a hearing and a report of findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51. We affirm the judgment of the Appeals Board and adopt its opinion as set forth in the attached Appendix.

Federal officials traveled to Memphis on Monday to tout the city’s falling crime rate, attributing a 48% decline in murders to the 56-day existence of the Memphis Safe Task Force. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi was joined by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta. The group announced that the task force has made 3,000 arrests and seized more than 500 guns. The Daily Memphian has more on the press conference.

In related news, nine Shelby County Criminal Court judges addressed jail overcrowding in an order that includes recommendations for the Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk’s Office and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office designed to help alleviate current problems. The recommendations center on staffing issues, records management, charging errors and transportation delays according to Action News 5. The clerk’s office has responded, saying it shares many of the same concerns, especially with regard to funding and staffing shortages. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, also recently addressed the issue, saying that funding for any plan to replace the aging Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar would be "upon the locals," not the state, the Commercial Appeal reports. Sexton was asked specifically about overcrowding at the Criminal Justice Center, reports WREG. He reiterated his stance for tougher sentencing laws and expansion of state prison capacity, adding that Shelby County could borrow the money needed for its own jail, or pursue other options, including relying on federal detention facilities.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated two lawyers to the active practice of law on Nov. 24. Davidson County lawyer Emily Claire Foster was reinstated after being on inactive status since Dec. 5, 2017. Michigan lawyer Brian Robert Leibrandt was reinstated after being on inactive status since May 10, 2012. The Board of Professional Responsibility determined that both of their reinstatement petitions were satisfactory and that reinstatement was appropriate.

The Tennessee Supreme Court issued an order on Nov. 24 adopting a new rule regarding email filing in local courts. Rule 46B provides that any circuit, chancery, criminal, probate, juvenile or general sessions court in the state may adopt local rules allowing for the acceptance of court filings via email. The rule also allows court clerks to adopt reasonable service charges applicable to such filings, clarifies that emailed filings are subject to the applicable service requirements, and signatures in emailed filings are to be treated as original signatures. The rule takes effect immediately.

The TBA is offering a five-day Black Friday sale on its CLE Made Easy Packages. Options include four packages offering eight, 10, 12 or 15 hours of credit. The sale begins today and will run through Sunday. Sale prices are listed under package pricing once added to your cart.

Former Republican Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson has been directed to report to Alderson, a minimum security federal prison in West Virginia, by 2 p.m. on Jan. 5, reports Chattanoogan.com. In October, Smith was sentenced to serve eight months in prison and pay a $7,500 fine for her role in the legislative fraud case that also involved former House Speaker Glen Casada and his top aide, Cade Cothren. Smith pleaded guilty to honest-services wire fraud connected to a taxpayer-funded mailer scheme. After her guilty plea, she cooperated with prosecutors in their cases against Casada and Cothren, who were convicted and given prison time, but pardoned recently by the president. Smith is seeking to have her sentence reduced. One of her attorneys also has sought a presidential pardon.

Tennessee lawyer and former Knoxville Mayor Randy Tyree died Nov. 24 at the age of 85. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee (now Winston) College of Law, Tyree first worked for the FBI in Washington and Puerto Rico. He later served as a patrolman and detective in the Knoxville Police Department, as the city's police and fire commissioner, as an attorney with Egerton, Armistead, Davis & McCord and then Morrison, Morrison, Tyree & Morrow and finally as mayor. During his time in the mayor’s office — from 1976-1984 — he brought the World's Fair to Knoxville. He ran for governor in 1982, but lost to then-incumbent Gov. Lamar Alexander. Knox News looks at his legacy.

The TBA Pro Bono Portal provides a centralized source for lawyers and law students to find pro bono opportunities across Tennessee. Whether looking for virtual opportunities, in-person clinics or longer-term cases, volunteers can go online and search options by date or type of representation. Learn more about the portal in a press release from the TBA or visit the site today to begin volunteering! Thank you to Paladin and World Within for making the first year of the portal free to the Tennessee legal community.

Gary Humble has ended his state senate campaign just two months after launching a bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, citing “personal and organizational commitments.” According to the Williamson Scene, Humble made the announcement last Friday, saying, “after much prayer, thought, and honest conversations with my family, I have reached the conclusion that this is not the right pursuit for me at this time.” The founder and executive director of Tennessee Stands will continue to run that organization. He has offered a full refund to anyone who donated to his campaign.

The Tennessee Bar Association will be closed Wednesday through Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. An abbreviated edition of TBA Today will be published on Wednesday. Visit the TBA website at any time to access CLE offerings and contact information for individual staff members. The office will reopen Dec. 1 at 8 a.m. CST. Happy Thanksgiving!