This appeal requires us to determine whether the Tennessee Public Participation Act mandates dismissal of Appellants/Builders’ slander claim and whether the trial court properly awarded attorney’s fees. After Appellants filed a construction lien against Appellees/Homeowners’ property, Appellees filed a complaint against Appellants with the Tennessee Board of Licensing Contractors, wherein they asserted that Appellants did not have a valid Tennessee contractor’s license. After Appellees filed the instant lawsuit, Appellants filed a counter-complaint, asserting, as relevant here, a claim for defamation based on allegedly false statements made to the Board regarding Appellants’ licensure. Appellees filed a motion to dismiss Appellants’ slander claim. Appellees’ motion, which was predicated on the dismissal provision contained in the Tennessee Public Participation Act, asserted that Appellants’ defamation claim was filed in response to Appellees’ exercise of their constitutional right to free speech on a matter of public concern. The trial court granted Appellees’ motion for partial dismissal and awarded attorney’s fees. Appellants appeal. Discerning no error, we affirm.

The Defendants, Evelyn D. Kennedy1 and Christoper L. Kennedy, bring this consolidated appeal from their convictions for first degree felony murder and aggravated neglect of an elderly or vulnerable adult resulting in serious bodily injury, a Class B felony. See T.C.A. §§ 39-13-202(a)(2) (2018) (subsequently amended) (felony murder), 39-15-508 (2025) (aggravated neglect of an elderly or vulnerable adult resulting in serious bodily injury). The trial court sentenced both Defendants to concurrent terms of life for their felony murder convictions and twelve years for their aggravated neglect convictions. On appeal, the Defendants contend that: (1) their convictions violate the ex post facto protections of the State and federal constitutions and (2) the trial court abused its discretion in admitting graphic autopsy photographs. We affirm the judgments of the trial court.

The Defendant, Victor Gordon, appeals from his convictions for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery. Specifically, he argues the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for rape of a child because the State failed to present evidence of sexual penetration. He further contends that he is entitled to plain error relief as to both convictions on the basis that the trial court failed to make the required statutory findings for the admission of the victims’ forensic interviews pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 24-7-123. After review, we affirm the judgments of the trial court.

To resolve Employee’s workers’ compensation claim, Employee and Employer entered into a “doubtful and disputed” settlement agreement under the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law, Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-240(e). Employee then brought a tort action against Employer in relation to the same injuries. Employee moved for partial summary judgment that the exclusive remedy provision did not bar her tort claim, relying on the agreement’s silence as to the issue of compensability. The trial court granted the motion, finding the injuries to not be compensable, such that Employee was not limited to workers’ compensation remedies. Because such settlements are clearly provided for by statute, we conclude that the parties’ agreement amounts to a workers’ compensation remedy. Thus, we determine that Employee’s tort action is barred by the exclusive remedy provision and the trial court’s judgment must be reversed.

May 11, 2026 - May 15, 2026.

State legislators sent Gov. Bill Lee two prison reform measures aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in Tennessee correctional facilities, the Nashville Scene reports. HB2531/SB2111, which is awaiting the governor's signature, would create a statewide family advisory board made up of relatives of currently and formerly incarcerated individuals to improve communication with the Tennessee Department of Correction, support family reunification and provide feedback to lawmakers on prison conditions and operations. A second measure, HB1718/SB1820, was signed into law by the governor. It establishes a one-year body camera pilot program at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, a CoreCivic-operated private prison that has faced reports of violence and is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Supporters of the bills say they are intended to improve safety, transparency and accountability within Tennessee prisons.

Last week, the NAACP and the League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that the redistricting map passed by the state legislature discriminates against Black voters, the Nashville Banner newsletter reports. Two weeks ago, on the same day the legislature passed the map, the NAACP filed a similar lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court. The new complaint addresses the fact that the new map splits Memphis, the state’s biggest hub of Black voters, into three congressional districts. Like the other lawsuits filed against the state since the end of the special legislative session, the complaint seeks an injunction against implementation of the new map. In related news, the Daily Memphian reports that the state has tapped Consovoy McCarthy, the Virginia law firm central to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning affirmative action in college admissions in 2023, to help defend the new congressional map in court.

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti today announced the appointment of Madeline Clark as solicitor general for the state of Tennessee, effective June 8. Clark succeeds Matt Rice, who will leave the office in June to join Kirkland & Ellis. Clark joined the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office in 2025 as principal deputy solicitor general. Prior to joining the office, she worked as an associate at Jones Day. Her credentials include judicial clerkships for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Amy Coney Barrett. As solicitor general, Clark will oversee the office’s appellate litigation. “I look forward to building on the outstanding legacy of the Tennessee Solicitor General’s Office,” Clark said in a press release.

Tens of thousands of people are seeking to stop the scheduled execution of Tony Carruthers, which is set for Thursday. According to the Fox 13, about 80,000 people have signed a petition urging Gov. Bill Lee to halt the execution. Advocates argue that untested DNA and fingerprint evidence could point to another suspect. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also is pursuing efforts in both state and federal courts to delay the execution until additional forensic testing can be conducted. The latest request for a stay was denied Friday by U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson of the Middle District of Tennessee, who wrote that Carruthers “lacks a significant likelihood of success on each of his claims.” The ACLU has appealed that ruling to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Cornelius Smith, who testified during two trials that he participated in the killing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, pleaded guilty Friday, the Commercial Appeal reports. Smith is the final defendant connected to the case to resolve charges in Shelby County Criminal Court, more than four years after the rapper’s death. Under the plea agreement, Smith pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman, who prosecuted most of the Young Dolph-related cases, said Smith’s cooperation helped secure the conviction of co-defendant Justin Johnson.