U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman on Tuesday declined to dismiss key portions of the civil rights lawsuit filed by Tyré Nichols’ family and estate against the city of Memphis. Lipman ruled that the city’s motion to dismiss was denied in part, saying Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, had shown enough evidence to argue that the actions of former Memphis police officers who beat Nichols in January 2023 could have stemmed from lax supervision and a corroded police culture, the Daily Memphian reports. Lipman also declined to dismiss Police Chief C.J. Davis from the suit and rejected the city's arguments of qualified immunity, but did dismiss three EMTs who responded to the scene on Jan. 7, 2023. Wells and her attorneys said they look forward to continuing the fight for accountability.

In October, Tennessee lawyers are joining colleagues across the country to increase meaningful access to justice and commitment to pro bono work. Now in its 17th year, Tennessee’s statewide Celebrate Pro Bono Month initiative brings together legal services providers with bar associations, law schools, law firms and individual volunteers to offer free services to those unable to afford a lawyer. The month of October is an opportunity to focus attention on the significant need for pro bono services as well as a time to celebrate the outstanding work of those in the legal community who volunteer their services throughout the year. Events, including in-person and virtual opportunities to volunteer, will be promoted in TBA Today throughout the month. The American Bar Association's National Pro Bono Celebration will be held the week of Oct. 19, recognizing lawyers' roles in supporting communities through pro bono work. If you have information about an upcoming pro bono event, please share it with TBA at tbatoday@tnbar.org.

Two law schools have introduced optional essay questions incorporating AI on their applications this year, reflecting the technology’s growing role in legal education and the practice of law, Reuters reports. The University of Miami School of Law’s new essay asks applicants to submit a detailed prompt for a generative AI large language model to generate a “comprehensive analysis” that will help them make an informed decision about which law school to attend. Applicants must also provide three to five follow-up AI prompts to help explore their law school options. The new AI essay has proven more popular, with 45% of applicants submitting responses so far. Additionally, the University of Michigan Law School has a new optional essay question that requires them to use AI to answer a question on how they use generative AI tools and asks them to predict how much they will use generative AI by the time they graduate from law school and why.

University of Tennessee (UT) leadership, partners, faculty and students gathered Sept. 9 to dedicate the newly named Winston College of Law and Frank Winston Law Building on the Knoxville campus. “We are profoundly grateful to the Bill Gatton Foundation for its transformational gift, which apart from the naming also establishes the Frank Winston Public Interest and Business Law Fellows, a signature scholarship program that will enable us to attract talented future lawyers who will carry on Frank Winston’s storied legacy for years to come,” Dean and Elvin E. Overton Distinguished Professor of Law Lonnie T. Brown Jr. said in a press release. The fellowships will provide full scholarships covering three years of studies, plus a stipend, paid summer work experience and additional educational and professional activities. The gift also introduces Frank Winston Law Grants, which will award $1,000 annually for three years to at least 50 students in each class to help with the cost of law school. In May, UT announced the college’s naming in recognition of the Gatton Foundation’s gift honoring Winston, an alumnus of the college and former Tennessee lawmaker.

Knoxville attorney Dalton Lynn Townsend died Sept. 27 age 82. He attended the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law), where he served as an editor of the Tennessee Law Review and graduated with top honors as a member of the Order of the Coif. Townsend was a member of the ROTC in college and, after his admission to the bar in 1968, served as an Army captain on active duty, including a tour in Vietnam. After returning home, he began practicing law and joined Hodges Doughty & Carson in 1973, where he worked for more than 40 years. Townsend was a member of the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors, the Tennessee Bar Association Committee for the Study of Standards of Professional Conduct and the American Board of Trial Advocates. A military service will be held at 11 a.m. EDT on Oct. 13 at the pavilion of Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville 37917. In the event of rain, the service will be held at the mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Church of the Ascension.

The TBA will host three ethics webcasts on Nov. 6, featuring the CLE Performer Stuart Teicher. The sessions will blend humor, pop culture and professional responsibility to provide insightful lessons on attorney ethics. When (and How) to Dump a Client ... the Ethical Way will tackle the difficult issue of parting ways with problem clients. Something's Gotta Give in Lawyer Cyber-Ethics will explore whether the practice of law is in the midst of a shifting technological-ethical paradigm. Rocking the Rules: Lessons in Attorney Ethics from Iconic Classic Rock Collaborations will cover some of the greatest rock and roll collaborations and how they reveal the dynamics of trust, communication and ethical boundaries that are just as vital in the practice of law. Attorneys can register for these interactive webcasts through the TBA website.

The TBA Young Lawyers Division will continue its CLE Exploration Series this fall with the addition of the inaugural "Does it Please the Court?" program. On Oct. 10, join Tennessee State Supreme Court Justices Holly Kirby and Mary Wagner at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park outside Memphis. Attorney Jessica Van Dyke from the Tennessee Innocence Project will have a presentation on "Outside of the Box Advocacy," and TBA YLD past president, Quinton Thompson, will lead a panel of attorneys on "The Ethics of Saying 'No': Boundaries, Clients and Conscience." Earn three dual credits while networking and enjoying the natural beauty of one of Tennessee's state parks. The event will begin at 9 a.m. CDT with sessions running from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The program will include lunch and a ranger-led hike. For more information and to register, click here.

The 2025 TBA Animal Law Forum will take place Friday at the Nashville Zoo. This unique opportunity provides updates on trends and advancements in animal law while allowing participants to network and enjoy the fun and activities the zoo offers. Topics at this year’s forum include practicing animal law, development in sensitive habitats, equine concerns, conservation, a case law update, ethics and more. Zoo admission, breakfast and lunch are included with the program. Do not miss this event; you never know who is going to show up! Register now.

Join the Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR) on Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. CDT for a free webinar specifically designed for new businesses. Participants will learn about state tax obligations for new businesses, as well as other resources that may help their business. Each new business webinar, offered quarterly, covers topics such as tax registration, sales and use tax, business tax, franchise and excise taxes, and how to get help from the DOR, as well as other relevant state agencies.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET) will hold a clinic in Washington County on Saturday at Good Samaritan Ministries Inc., 100 North Roan St., Johnson City 37601. The event will provide free legal assistance to individuals in need, focusing on various legal issues. For more information, visit the LAET website.