The TBA Health Law Primer will take place Nov. 12 in the Nashville office of Barnes & Thornburg. Now in its 25th year, the program provides an opportunity for lawyers new to health law to learn the essentials of the practice area. Experts will provide an overview of the U.S. health care system and discuss the intangibles regarding the transactions, reimbursement issues, fraud and abuse, and more. Health Law Section members receive a discounted rate to attend. Register now.

This year’s TBA Health Law Forum returns to Nashville Nov. 13-14. The must-attend event for Tennessee health care lawyers allows you to fulfill all necessary CLE requirements for the year and meet with colleagues from across the state. Topics at this year’s forum include controlled substances enforcement, medical malpractice, the "Big Beautiful Bill," AI contracting issues, GLP-1s and telehealth, ethics, and much more. Health Law Section members receive a discounted rate to attend. Learn more and register here.

The 2026 law school admissions cycle just began and data from the Law School Admission Council indicates the pool of applicants is 33% larger than it was at this time last year. According to Reuters, experts attribute the increase to the political climate and a tough job market for new college graduates. The current increase comes on top of last year’s boom, when the cycle started with a 26% jump in applicants before ending in an 18% increase — with 12,000 more people seeking a seat in law school.

The Tennessee Supreme Court reinstated Maryland lawyer Mohammad Ali Syed on Oct. 9. Syed had been on inactive status since Oct. 22, 2018. The Board of Professional Responsibility reported that the reinstatement petition was satisfactory and that Syed met the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, § 10.8(c).

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission met in Nashville on Oct. 15 to select nominees for a vacancy in the 20th Judicial District’s Third Circuit Court. After holding a public hearing and conducting public interviews, the commission selected the following nominees to forward to Gov. Bill Lee for his consideration: Bethany P. Glandorf, Morgan E. Smith and John R. Wilks. Read about the nominees on the Administrative Office of the Courts’ website. The lawyer chosen by the governor will fill a vacancy created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Phillip R. Robinson on Oct. 17.

Due to the resignation of Christopher R. Stanford, district attorney general for the 31st Judicial District, Gov. Bill Lee’s office is accepting applications to fill the position until the next biennial election in August 2026. Applicants must have been a resident of the state for five years and a resident of the district — which covers Van Buren and Warren counties — for one year. To be considered, attorneys should submit a resume and cover letter to Chief Counsel to the Governor Erin Merrick by 5 p.m. CDT on Oct. 27 by emailing her assistant Katelin Brown. Read more in the official notice.

While Tennessee recognizes Celebrate Pro Bono Month throughout the month of October, the American Bar Association (ABA) promotes one week of the month as a National Celebration of Pro Bono. This year’s event will take place Oct. 19-25 with the theme of "Supporting Communities." Also held during the week is ABA Giving Day, set for Oct. 23 this year. Organized by the ABA's Fund for Justice and Education, this effort raises support for programs that help others through public service, policy initiatives and education programs. Read more in a press release about the upcoming celebration.

The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations has released its report on the state of crime labs in Tennessee. According to The Tennessean, the report found that a rise in violent crimes is threatening to create a dire situation with regard to the backlog of evidence. The report contains several recommendations to improve the situation, including moving ahead with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's (TBI) plan to renovate or expand current labs. The TBI currently operates three state-run labs in Nashville, Jackson and Knoxville. A draft version of the report released in July recommended the state build a new crime lab in Chattanooga.

The Memphis Safe Task Force — made up of federal and state law enforcement agents — reportedly is using a new state law that went into effect on July 1 to block access to its activities, the Tennessee Lookout reports. The law makes it illegal to approach a police officer within 25 feet if the officer is engaged in official duties and has ordered the person to stop advancing. Hunter Demster, a leader with Free the 901 (a coalition of groups opposing the task force) says he was told to stand 25 feet back while filming police activities. The paper notes that Tennessee’s law is similar to laws in Indiana and Louisiana, which federal courts have ruled unconstitutional. A coalition of news organizations have sued the state of Tennessee over the law.

Belinda LeMaire ("Employee") sustained an injury to her right foot while working for Lowe's Home Centers, LLC ("Employer"). The claim was accepted as compensable, and the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims ("trial court") entered a compensation order awarding permanent-partial disability benefits along with future reasonable and necessary rnedical benefits. Employee subsequently filed a petition for benefit determination stating that she had been discharged by her treating physician, and Employer was refusing to provide additional medical treatment. Following a hearing, the trial court ordered Employer to provide Employee with a new panel of physicians qualified and willing to treat her work- related injury. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board ("Appeals l3oard") affirmed. Employer has appealed and the appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel 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.