This appeal requires us to determine whether the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to the Appellees, finding that Appellant’s own inattention was the cause of her accident and that she was more than 50% at fault for her injuries. Discerning no error, we affirm.

The Trial Court Vacancy Commission has received four applications for a vacancy in the 1st Judicial District following the appointment of Judge Stacy Street to the Court of Criminal Appeals. The applicants for the criminal court vacancy are: Elizabethton Assistant Public Defender Mark A. Fulks, Blountville Assistant Public Defender Tessa Nichole Lunceford, Unicoi County General Sessions Judge Robert Mitchell Manuel and Jonesborough Assistant District Attorney Lawrence Scott Shults. The public hearing for this position will be held June 4 at 9 a.m. EDT at the George P. Jaynes Justice Center, 108 West Jackson Blvd., Jonesborough 37659. Any member of the public may attend the public hearing and can express, orally or in writing, objections concerning applicant(s) for the judicial vacancy. Contact Assistant General Counsel John Jefferson at the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) at John.Jefferson@tncourts.gov or 615-741-2687 with questions. Read more in a press release from the AOC. The 1st Judicial District covers Carter, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.

The Tennessee Supreme Court on May 5 dismissed a reinstatement petition filed by Georgia lawyer Meredith Gardial. On Feb. 23, Gardial filed a petition to reinstate her Tennessee law license. The Board of Professional Responsibility opposed the petition, noting that she had outstanding requirements with the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education. On March 17, the court directed Gardial to satisfy those requirements by May 1 or face dismissal of her petition. It now reports that Gardial has not satisfied those requirements. It dismissed the petition without prejudice so she can refile once she completes all outstanding CLE obligations.

The latest episode of BarBuzz is out! In this installment, TBA Communications Coordinator Azya Thornton interviews fellow staff members Director of Education and Professional Development Jennifer Vossler and Senior Education and Professional Development Coordinator Jarod Word. They talk all things continuing legal education (CLE), from TBA's many online courses to the annual section forums. Thornton also talks with Estate Planning Section Chair Rob Malin and speaker Ashley Sterns at the section’s annual forum in March. Listen to this episode on the TBA’s website or directly here. Did you miss a past podcast episode? Catch up here. To access TBA's on demand CLE library or see upcoming events visit the CLE website.

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners today nominated by acclamation Willis Lincoln "TJ" Hardaway III to fill his father's seat in Tennessee House District 93. Democratic State Rep. G.A. Hardaway died on April 24. "This could not have been better timing. Last year, I spent various moments one on one with my father, for no other reason other than wanting to know more about the man ... turns out I already knew the man because I already know myself," Hardaway said. The Commercial Appeal reports that the commission moved quickly to fill the seat due to the specially-called legislative session focused on redrawing the state’s congressional map, including the state’s last Democrat-controlled district in Memphis. TJ Hardaway will travel to Nashville tonight to be sworn in.

Alabama has joined Texas and Florida in removing the American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited law school graduation requirement for bar exam eligibility, part of a broader push to reduce the ABA's influence over lawyer licensing. Reuters reports that the move stems from an ongoing conflict between the ABA and the Trump administration over a number of issues. The U.S. Department of Education also is reviewing whether to strip the ABA of its official law school accreditor status. Tennessee is weighing a similar change, framing it as an access-to-justice issue, and received backing from both the FTC and DOJ's Antitrust Division, who argued the ABA's outsized role limits the supply of lawyers and drives up costs. The ABA maintains that national accreditation is the "gold standard" and prevents a state-by-state patchwork of requirements. Read the TBA's comment filed April 30 with the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Save the date for this year's Elder Law Forum, the premier event for Tennessee senior-centric lawyers. Join speakers Amy Bryant, Barbara Moss, Beverly Sharpe, Jon Toy and Karl Warden on July 17 at the Nashville School of Law for sessions on conservatorships, fraud concerns, guardians ad litem, special needs trusts, ethics and more. For more information and to register, visit the TBA's website.

End-of-life planning is a complicated matter fraught with emotional and ethical quandaries. Dementia can complicate this issue, making it difficult to reconcile a person’s lucid wishes with their existing mental challenges. While an advance directive can alleviate most of these concerns, there are still situations where the law, individual interests and questions regarding quality of life collide. A recent piece in the New York Times examines the controversial procedure of “minimal comfort feeding,” in which medical providers suspend scheduled feedings and instead offer dementia patients just enough food and liquid to ensure comfort when they show signs of hunger or thirst. The practice is a legal grey area that few medical facilities will honor because of concerns regarding malpractice suits, penalties from regulators and running afoul of Medicare and Medicaid rules. According to National Institutes of Health estimates, dementia affects more than six million Americans, or about one in 10 adults over age 65.