The 2025 Southeast Complex Litigation Conference will be held Oct. 29 at the Tennessee Bankers Association in Nashville, offering updates on mass torts, class actions and whistleblower cases. National litigators will discuss emerging litigation involving medical devices, pharmaceutical drugs and consumer products, as well as best practices for identifying, prosecuting and defending complex cases. Session topics include class actions and multidistrict litigation basics, whistleblower claims under the False Claims Act and key trends in aggregate litigation. Speakers include Mark Chalos of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein and Tricia Herzfeld of Herzfeld, Suetholz, Gastel, Leniski & Wall, with additional speakers and content to be announced in the coming weeks. For more details, to register and to stay updated, visit the TBA website.

The state of Tennessee is appealing a federal judge’s order that permanently blocked a state law making it a crime to “recruit” minors for the purpose of obtaining an out-of-state abortion. The provision, included in a 2024 abortion trafficking law, was blocked by Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Julia Gibbons in July. Gibbons argued the provision was a clear violation of First Amendment rights, noting that is only criminalizes one side of speech about abortion. Gibbons, who sits on 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, presided over the case after several other judges recused themselves. The state has appealed the ruling to the 6th Circuit, Tennessee Lookout reports.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder has launched his campaign for the 5th Congressional District, seeking to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles of Columbia, the Nashville Post reports. Molder has served as mayor since 2018. He announced in July that he would not seek a third term. A graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Molder practiced law in Columbia before running for office. As a new lawyer he was active in the TBA Young Lawyers Division. According to Molder, his campaign will be “focused on bringing people together to build new coalitions and bring voters from all across the political spectrum.” The Columbia Herald has photos from the announcement.

Brad Gaines, a former Vanderbilt University football player and father of conservative political activist Riley Gaines, is entering the race for Tennessee's 6th Congressional District. The Tennessean reports that he joins fellow Republicans Dale Braden, former Tennessee congressman Van Hilleary, Rep. Johnny Garrett and Knoxville businessman Joe Reid. Democrat Mike Croley and unaffiliated candidate Christopher Monday — who ran for the same seat as an independent in 2020 — also have thrown their hats in the ring. U.S. Rep. John Rose, R-Cookeville, is leaving Congress to run for Tennessee governor. The 6th Congressional District includes parts of Nashville, Ridgetop and Goodlettsville.

The TBA Construction Law Section will host the inaugural Joint Georgia/Tennessee Construction Conference Oct. 9-10 in Chattanooga. The two-day event will kick off with a welcome networking reception followed by a day of high quality CLE sessions for both Georgia and Tennessee lawyers. Topics include regional differences in construction law, a view from the bench session featuring judges and arbitrators, insurance 101, AI and ethics, construction defect trends and a case study session. The program will offer 6.75 total CLE hours, including one dual hour. CLE credit will be submitted to both Georgia and Tennessee. Get more information and register.

Morristown lawyer Joseph “Randall” Shelton died Aug. 31 under the compassionate care of Caris Healthcare Hospice, surrounded by his family. A 1964 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law), Shelton served in the U.S. Army and later opened his East Tennessee law practice, where he provided 50 years of dedicated legal service. A Celebration of Life will be held Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. EDT at Gateway Church, 503 S. Jackson St., Morristown 37813. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or Rotary Foundation. Call 866-976-8279 to donate by mail.

The Tennessee Supreme Court unanimously elected Justice Jeff Bivins to be the next chief justice of the court. Bivins was elected for a three-year term beginning Sept. 1. This is the second time he has held the role having previously served in the position from 2016-2021. Bivins was appointed to the court by then-Gov. Bill Haslam. He previously served on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and the 21st Judicial District Circuit Court. Following election by his colleagues, Bivins said, “Tennessee has the finest judiciary in the country. Our judges are dedicated public servants who serve with integrity. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with all of them to strengthen public confidence in our courts, access to justice, and the rule of law in Tennessee.” Read more in a release from the Administrative Office of the Courts.

An epidemic of lawyers making AI-related mistakes in court filings, including errors in legal citations, is spurring law schools to teach responsible use of the technology, Bloomberg Law reports. For example, classes offered this fall at the University of Chicago Law School include “Generative AI in Legal Practice” and “Editing, Advocacy and AI,” while students at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School will have access to ChatGPT Edu in their legal writing classes. Yale Law School has a pro-bono legal clinic in which students train large language models about media law and learn its setbacks, limitations and practical uses.

Following a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia imposing remedies for Google’s unlawful monopolization in search and search advertising, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said his office would “work to ensure that consumers enjoy the benefit of meaningful competition in search markets.” The court decision prohibits Google from entering or maintaining exclusive contracts relating to the distribution of Google Search, Chrome, Google Assistant and the Gemini app; directs Google to make certain search index and user-interaction data available to rivals and potential rivals; and orders Google to offer search and search text ads syndication services to enable rivals and potential rivals to compete. Skrmetti praised the ruling for bringing “transparency to advertisers so that consumers have real choices.” Tennessee joined a coalition to sue Google. The company previously was found to illegally dominate two markets for online advertising technology. Read more about the remedies from the DOJ. Read Skrmetti’s full statement.

The TBA YLD Rookie Series continues with a webcast on "Working with U.S. Magistrate Judges: Perspectives from East Tennessee" on Dec. 3 at 12 p.m. CST. Make plans now to join U.S. Magistrate Judges Mike Dumitru, Debra Poplin and Cynthia Wyrick for a panel moderated by TBA YLD Board member and East Tennessee CLE Chair Weslen Lakins. The judges will cover magistrate authority and consent in civil cases, and offer practical guidance on discovery referrals and dispute resolution, professionalism and courtroom/virtual etiquette, and written advocacy that resonates with the bench. To register and for more information visit the TBA website.